Author: Momo Chan

On a luxurious cruise ship, a notorious ex-crime lord, who’d gone straight, was marrying his beloved. 99 other women, stand-ins for his bride, were treated like mere playthings and distributed to his men. Only I remained, unwanted and alone, chilling on the deck, my heart set on dying. I had been thrust into this world, and I’d poured everything I had into saving four male leads, who’d been driven to madness by the story’s true heroine. But I failed. The System said I could return to my real world for three precious days to say goodbye to Grandma if I died here. Without a second thought, I plunged into the icy water. Release. It was finally here. But as consciousness faded, I saw someone swimming desperately towards me… Guests swarmed around the crime lord’s bride, their celebratory chatter meaningless to me. I easily found a secluded spot. My broken leg screamed in protest, each movement a tearing agony as I hoisted myself over the railing. What was a little pain, if it meant seeing Grandma? With a relieved smile, I resolutely jumped. In the frigid embrace of the ocean, I looked back on fifteen years of absurd existence. I had been thrust into this world with a mission: to save the male leads driven to madness by the heroine. If I could successfully save just one of them, I could escape a fatal car accident in my real world. But in the end, I failed all four. Every time Isabella, the world’s chosen heroine, reappeared, all my efforts at redemption were instantly erased. Seawater flooded my nose and mouth. I thought I could finally find release. But then, a strong arm clamped around me, holding me tight. Through the haze, I saw his frantically worried face. Then, I completely blacked out. When I woke up, my throat burned. Staring at the unfamiliar white ceiling, I knew I hadn’t died. Why was even dying so difficult?! I turned my head and saw an exceptionally handsome face. His gaze was downcast, his expression utterly blank. He looked like a marble statue, or an ancient deity stepped out of a forgotten legend. Wait, wasn’t this Julian? One of my targets. The Julian who once told me, “Without you, I would have already fallen into hell.” As if possessed, I reached out and touched the blessed wooden bracelet I’d gotten for him years ago, still on his wrist. His eyes snapped open, a sharp gaze piercing me. “Scarlett, what game are you playing now?” I pulled my hand back as if burned, my heart seizing in my chest. He thought I was trying to manipulate him again, to win his pity. But he’d forgotten. Fifteen years ago, it was Isabella, the woman he deeply loved, who framed him, destroying his family. He’d plunged into utter despair, retreating from the world. It was *I* who stayed by his side, day and night, tirelessly caring for him, shielding him from all the ruthless debt collectors, helping him rebuild his life bit by bit. He’d once held me tight and said he wouldn’t exist without me. But now, his eyes held nothing but disgust and contempt for me. All my sacrifices, in his eyes, were utterly worthless. Julian spoke with chilling indifference: “Isabella has always been frail.” “And she’s been busy all day. She’s not feeling well now and needs your blood.” The doctor nearby tried to interject, “Miss Scarlett just fell into the water, she’s very weak…” “She’s perfectly fine. She’s got a thick skin, a little blood is nothing,” He brutally cut off the doctor. “This is the only way she can help Isabella. She should be grateful.” I stared at Julian, a bitter taste spreading through my heart. “If you love her so much, why aren’t you by her side?” “Watching her marry Roman, becoming his hidden shadow… are you truly content with that?” The System said he was going to turn dark, that I needed to save him. But this pathetic, self-sacrificing devotion for love… how was this “turning dark”? “Isabella is different,” His features softened instantly. “Back in the orphanage, she was the only one who gave me warmth.” “That kindness, I’ll never forget it.”

The orphanage again. I looked at him, my mind a blank. Right, the System had said it. Isabella was the destined heroine of this world. She and the four male leads shared a supposedly beautiful childhood in that orphanage. Even if she later left them bruised and battered, all it took was her return, a few tears, and a few soft words, and everything anyone else had done for them seemed to reset to zero. After they were done draining my blood, my vision swam, threatening to black out completely. I was on the verge of losing consciousness, my mind drifting: If I just sleep now… Will I finally return to my world and see Grandma? Grandma, Scarlett misses you so much… Late that night, I woke up again, feeling a little stronger. Damn it, I still couldn’t die. Even death was this difficult. I looked around, recognizing this as Julian’s secluded retreat. Then I remembered the rumors: the remote trails behind the retreat were rumored to be infested with venomous snakes… Without hesitation, I stumbled towards the back trails. My broken leg made my steps agonizingly slow, but I pushed on, utterly resolute. Just as a venomous snake was about to strike, I was violently pulled back. “Scarlett! Are you insane?!” It was Julian! How was he here *again*?! He gripped my arm, his strength so immense I thought my bones would shatter. His face was contorted with a mixture of panic and fury I’d never seen before. “Are you trying to die, huh?!” He growled, complex emotions swirling in his eyes. “First jumping off the cruise, now provoking venomous snakes! Are you *that* desperate for my attention?!” “Attention?” I yanked my arm from his grasp, a cold laugh escaping my lips. “If I die, I won’t be in your way anymore, and I won’t threaten Isabella, the woman you hold so dear, will I?” “You should be happy!” I shoved him away, turning back towards the snake. Death. I *had* to die here today! He grabbed me again, and my arm scraped against a rock, a sharp sting. “Stop trying to play the victim!” He roughly seized my hand, his voice thick with impatience. “Go put some ointment on that wound!” As he forcibly dragged me back, I saw the bracelet on his wrist again. It reminded me of the lucky charm Grandma gave me. Good thing I hadn’t given *that* to this ungrateful bastard back then. I was going home to Grandma now, and I needed to take it with me. While they weren’t paying attention, I quietly slipped away. That lucky charm, Grandma had embroidered it herself. The stitches were meticulously neat, depicting beautifully embroidered lovebirds, a symbol of enduring happiness, imbued with her deepest blessings for me. Grandma had always hoped I’d find a good husband and live a life of peace and happiness. I used to naively think that if I could successfully save any of them, I’d give that lucky charm, imbued with Grandma’s heartfelt wishes, to him, letting her witness my happiness. But alas, none of them deserved it. I returned to my uncle Ryder’s house to get the charm. But I found him staring blankly at a portrait of Isabella. Ryder, a decorated veteran, who’d been confined to a wheelchair. He willingly served as Isabella’s personal security, only to be brutally humiliated by her. She even manipulated him, causing him to become permanently disabled. It was I who stayed by his side, day after day, helping him with his physical therapy, encouraging him to stand again. I cooked for him every day. He initially resented my presence, but later, he grew protective, doting on me, forbidding me from cooking. He lovingly prepared every single meal for me. But then Isabella came back, and with a sudden, casual mention of a dog fur allergy, He didn’t hesitate to throw the little dog we’d raised together for so long, who we treated like family, from a tall building. That little dog was a gift from him, bought after he finally accepted me. We had promised to rely on each other. It had accompanied us through so many happy times. But because of Isabella’s dismissive comment, he ended its life without a single blink. I used to fear such abandonment. Now, I craved it. I ignored my uncle and walked straight into my room. Only to find it completely empty. “Where are my things?”

I fought down my fury, asking Ryder in a cold voice. “Isabella didn’t want any of your things here, so I cleared them out,” Ryder said, his voice distant. “I’ll find you somewhere else to live.” Cleared out? He made it sound so simple. “Just like you got rid of that innocent little dog, are you trying to get rid of me?” I let out a cold, hollow laugh. From start to finish, I was always the extra one. “You…” I cut him off, my voice trembling with emotion. “You can do whatever you want with everything else, I don’t care. I just want that box!” Inside was Grandma’s lucky charm, my only connection to her! “What do you want it for?” Ryder’s face instantly darkened, his eyes turning wary and harsh. He thought I was going to use the contents of the box to stir up trouble with Roman again. “You’ll never be as kind and wonderful as Isabella!” “Roman would never like a manipulative, vile woman like you!” “I’m warning you, I will *never* let you ruin Isabella’s wedding!” Kind? In his eyes, only the heroine of this world was truly kind. I had once told Ryder about that box. Under the moonlight, he’d said, with a hint of jealousy, that he’d keep it safe for me until I found my true love. I’d also said that if I could ever be with him, I’d give him the box. Back then, his expression was serious and loving, filling me with hope. Now, he was warning me with the most vicious words: “You stay put! Don’t you dare try to cause any more trouble for Isabella!” “If you don’t tell me where the box is, I’ll go tell Isabella right now exactly what kind of filthy, hidden thoughts you have about her!” I intentionally provoked him. Ryder was indeed completely enraged. He retrieved the box from a corner and violently threw it to the ground. The box shattered, and the lucky charm fell out. He snatched up the charm and brutally tore it to shreds, the pieces scattering across the floor. “Scarlett, you’re so ungrateful! I’m going to teach you a lesson you’ll never forget today!” I looked at the shredded lucky charm, my heart twisting in agony. This was the man I had poured everything into caring for. His inherent ruthlessness had never disappeared! Good. His cruelty was exactly what I needed to end my life, to see Grandma sooner. I clutched the torn pieces of the charm tightly in my hand, looking at Ryder’s enraged face, and smiled. “We’re completely even now.” With that, before he could react, I lunged, smashing into his previously injured leg. The pain from my broken leg made me stumble, but I put all my remaining strength into the impact. Excruciating pain instantly flared, and I coughed up blood, my vision blurring. I knew it was his sore spot, the scar left by Isabella. I deliberately provoked him, wanting only to finish this quickly and leave this world. Ryder froze, stunned that I would do such a thing. His face flashed with shock, self-reproach, and pain, as he looked at me helplessly. But soon, these emotions were replaced by fury. “Scarlett! You couldn’t seduce Roman, so now you’re trying to seduce *me*?! You have no shame!” I was fading fast, my consciousness blurring, but I saw Julian had arrived too. When I woke again, I found myself in a dark, damp basement. “Didn’t Julian take me away? How did I end up here?” As I wondered, Isabella stood before me, a triumphant look on her face. “Scarlett, you’re in such a wretched state, and you still can’t leave them alone?” Isabella looked down at me from above, mocking, “Do you really think a pathetic wretch like you can compete with me?” Before I could even process what she was saying, she suddenly leaned close to my ear and whispered, “I’ll show you today.” “All your struggles and efforts are nothing but a futile joke.” “But, seeing how pitiful you are, I’ll give you a fair chance to compete.” I grew even more confused. Just as I was about to demand an explanation, I heard sounds of a struggle outside. Then, the door burst open, and Roman rushed in, yelling frantically: “Isabella, are you okay?!”

He immediately saw Isabella and me tied together, connected to a complex device, and his face instantly turned grave. I understood at once: this was Isabella’s self-orchestrated kidnapping! The device connected to two ropes, each tied to Isabella and me. The other end of the ropes connected to two syringes filled with venom. Once the device activated, both ropes would tighten simultaneously. One would snap, pulling its syringe into the person it was tied to. Meaning, Roman could only choose one of us to save. Isabella looked at Roman, feigning vulnerability. “Roman, save me…” I looked at Roman, my heart a desolate void. Roman, the formidable crime lord… he was once such a proud man. But Isabella had left him utterly broken. When he was at his lowest, before being acknowledged by his family in the underworld, Isabella brought people to humiliate him, forcing him to eat dog food and live in a dog kennel. He endured endless torment. When he finally returned to his family, his personality had warped, becoming ruthless, cruel, and unapproachable. I had placed my last hope in him, wanting to save him. As his exclusive sparring partner, I silently endured his relentless torment, staying by his side, never leaving. One day, he beat me black and blue. I turned to leave, utterly desperate. But he suddenly pulled me back from behind, holding me tightly in his arms. His deep voice rumbled in my ear: “Where are you going?” “Stay here.” My ear rested against his chest, listening to his powerful heartbeat, thinking my redemption efforts had finally paid off. I thought he, having been hurt the most, would be the most resistant to Isabella’s allure. But I was wrong, so terribly wrong. In the end, he was the one who remained devoted to Isabella, refusing to marry anyone else, even holding such a grand wedding for her. And all the suffering I’d endured by his side, helping him transition his empire into legitimate ventures, had become a colossal joke. To prevent Isabella from discovering our past, he found 99 other women, stand-ins for her. As if to prove I wasn’t special, wasn’t unique. He was just so desperate for Isabella that he found so many women who resembled her. To prove his loyalty to her, he even sacrificed me to his sworn enemy. I was tortured for a day and a night, and the tiny life growing inside me was lost. Roman looked at the intricate device, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. Seeing this, Isabella immediately feigned weakness again. “Roman, save her. She was with you for a long time when you weren’t around…” “I’m content marrying you now, I couldn’t ask for more.” She then brought up old memories from the orphanage, each word hitting Roman where it hurt the most. Roman’s heart ached. He turned to me, furious. “Scarlett, aren’t you satisfied? Must you cause such a scene! You saw Isabella and I were getting married, so you deliberately set up this scheme, only to be kidnapped yourself. Are you happy now?!” Just then, Julian and Ryder also rushed in. Seeing Isabella in danger, they both grew anxious, vehemently accusing me of being manipulative and bringing this on myself. I looked at them, their past gentleness and promises now turned into icy accusations and condemnations. I’d given everything, only to be met with their disgust and scorn. Why did it come to this? My heart felt as if it was being torn apart; I couldn’t breathe from the pain. I didn’t want to waste any more time. I scoffed directly: “You were all manipulated like puppets by Isabella, and now you’re fawning over her like desperate dogs! How pathetic! I must have been blind!” “You idiots! You were all played by that bitch Isabella, wrapped around her little finger!” “And now you’re still fawning over her like a bunch of tail-wagging dogs, completely devoted!” “It’s the most pathetic joke in the world!” “I, Scarlett, must have been blind to ever think of saving you ungrateful bastards!” Roman was indeed enraged. His eyes turned bloodshot, veins throbbing on his forehead. With the three men’s unspoken coordination, Ryder quickly subdued the kidnappers, and Julian immediately shielded Isabella. Roman, meanwhile, lunged at me, savagely plunging his dagger into my shoulder! Agony ripped through me, blood instantly staining my clothes. I looked at his bloodshot eyes, filled with madness and hatred. “I never wronged you. Why do you hate me so much?”

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My best friend got scammed out of seventy-five thousand dollars through an AI face-swap impersonating me. She dropped to her knees right there in the public square, a dramatic spectacle designed for virality. She cried that it was her entire life savings. She begged me to pay her back, claiming I was an influencer and made money easily. The entire internet rallied against me, guilt-tripping me into paying her. Even my own brother said Chloe was pathetic and blamed me for the whole mess. I just smirked. Trying to get rich off my back? Dream on! Chloe stood in the middle of the plaza, my photo glaring from the giant screen behind her. “Serena Hayes, you’re a beauty influencer with millions of followers. You make tens of thousands of dollars from a single video. But that seventy-five thousand dollars is all I have! Please, just give it back to me!” “If I hadn’t trusted you so much, if we weren’t best friends, how could I have possibly been scammed out of seventy-five thousand dollars?” “Serena, you spend thousands on an outfit. But this seventy-five thousand dollars? I slaved away for years to save it! My parents are counting on that money for their medical bills and retirement! I’ll do anything for you, be your slave, just give me my money back!” Chloe sobbed, tears streaming down her face, her forehead hitting the ground with loud thuds. Onlookers whipped out their phones, some snapping photos, others starting live streams. “What’s going on? Serena scammed her friend?” “Are all influencers this heartless? She makes thousands so easily, but she’ll still rip off her friend’s life savings?” “No one would beg like this in public unless they were truly desperate. Serena definitely stole the money.” “Influencers like her should be blacklisted! She’s a menace to society. I’m embarrassed to even say I live in the same city as her.” “She’s just standing there, watching her friend bow and scrape, not even a word of comfort. See? Only the shameless ones get rich these days.” Suddenly, a guy, a male fan, charged at me, pointing his finger right in my face. “Serena Hayes, you scammer, pay her back!” The scene erupted into chaos, many people shouting, “Pay her back!” I calmly pulled out my phone and dialed the police. At the same time, I raised my voice. “Chloe, I truly sympathize with you for falling victim to a deepfake scam. What you should be doing right now is reporting it to the police; maybe you can recover some of your losses. I’ve already called 911 for you.” Chloe shrieked, “That account *was* yours! It had your voice, your videos, even private details only you and I knew! You’re the one who scammed me! You just don’t want to pay me back, do you?” I turned to the police officers who had just arrived, shaking my head regretfully. “She’s very agitated right now. I’m worried she might be susceptible to further scams.” “You’re still lying!” Chloe suddenly lunged at me, slapping me across the face. “Serena, you must have scammed so many people! I have proof! It was you!” “You make so much money off your fans, why would you still steal my hard-earned cash? You’re shameless!” Chloe hurled insults, trying to hit me again. The police officers quickly intervened, restraining her. I touched my stinging cheek, tears welling in my eyes. I slowly turned, making sure every camera angle caught my vulnerable, pathetic expression. Just then, my brother, Caleb Hayes, rushed onto the scene. Caleb didn’t even glance at me, immediately launching into an accusation. “What is wrong with you? It’s just seventy-five thousand dollars! Just give it back to Chloe and this whole thing is over. Now everyone knows, have you even considered the impact on your image?” “Chloe lives so frugally, unlike you. You rake in tens of thousands from one ad deal.” “You make money so easily, you should be more understanding of your friend’s struggles. Don’t you agree?”

My eyes widened, staring at my brother in disbelief. A female officer stepped forward to explain. “Sir, please try to understand the situation first. Chloe was a victim of an AI deepfake scam; Serena is also a victim here.” “Caleb,” I said, my voice tinged with disappointment, “Chloe just slapped me. It really hurts.” Caleb glanced around, seeing the crowd holding up their phones, hungry for drama, and waved his hand impatiently. “Oh, please. Chloe was scammed out of seventy-five thousand. She’s way worse off than you are. How can you be so heartless?” I continued to numbly play the role of the internet celebrity betrayed by her own brother. “Caleb, am I your sister or your enemy?” He tried to grab my arm, but I pulled away. Noticing everyone around us was filming, I pretended to wipe my face, a subtle smirk playing on my lips. Caleb and I headed to the Cybercrime Investigation Center together. “Stop pouting,” Caleb grumbled loudly. “So what if Chloe was a little emotional? She lost seventy-five grand, it’s understandable. Can’t you just be the bigger person?” When there was no audience, I simply looked at Caleb, my expression cool and collected. He sheepishly shut his mouth. Caleb was my actual brother, and my fans all knew him as my valuable “assistant” in my career. After I blew up online, I started to pivot, creating couple-themed content, with Caleb playing my boyfriend. But in reality, he was nothing more than a convenient prop I’d carefully selected. Now, with Chloe’s little stunt, I figured it was time to cut him loose. As I quickly strategized how to sever ties with Caleb without hurting my account’s numbers, I asked the staff about Chloe’s situation. Soon, investigators confirmed that Chloe had indeed fallen victim to an AI deepfake scam. On a niche social media platform called “GlamMirror” with only about ten thousand users, someone had used AI technology to synthesize my photos and videos, mimicked my voice, and impersonated me. Chloe, thinking it was me, didn’t verify and simply believed the scammer’s request for money, transferring seventy-five thousand dollars to a specified account. But Chloe still insisted the account was mine, that the money was in my hands, and that I needed to pay her back. Caleb sighed after hearing the details. “Chloe was so good to you, lending you seventy-five thousand just like that. So loyal. And you? She’s on her knees begging you, and you won’t budge. You’re truly ruthless.” I ignored Caleb and raised a question. “Chloe was scammed at 5 PM yesterday. I was in my storage room selecting products at that exact time, and she lives right next door. Why didn’t she just ask me directly?” Chloe retorted, “Everyone knows you’re a big influencer, you’re so image-conscious. That’s why you didn’t want to ask me for a loan face-to-face, you just SnapChatted me. So I transferred the money.” “If I didn’t trust you, I wouldn’t have given you the money. Officer, I have proof, that account was definitely Serena’s,” Chloe said excitedly. A familiar female officer next to me shook her head helplessly. Caleb sighed again, “Chloe, you’re truly something. Don’t worry, Chloe, I’ll make sure Serena gives you an explanation.” I elbowed Caleb hard. Caleb winced. “Serena, you really are partly responsible for this. You’re a public figure, and you’ve even done anti-scam PSAs before. You should take more responsibility.” “If you had just registered an account on that platform earlier, you wouldn’t have been impersonated, and Chloe wouldn’t have fallen for it,” Caleb said, as if it were obvious. I threw my hands up, exasperated by my cluelessly naive brother’s comments. Chloe clung to her story, insisting the account was mine, crying endlessly about how important the money was to her. Caleb was even more indignant. “Don’t worry, Chloe, I’ll give you Serena’s debit card. You can use it to buy whatever you need these next few days.” In an unnoticed corner, Chloe suddenly turned to me. “Serena, who told you to be an influencer? It’s your fault you make money easily. I swear, I’ll make you pay me back for this.”

It clicked. Chloe was doing this on purpose. She knew perfectly well she’d been scammed, but she didn’t want to bear the loss herself, so she planned to make me pay for it. The only thing that puzzled me was why Chloe, knowing my personality, would think I’d ever ask someone for money. Even more, I was in my storage room selecting products at the time, my phone left in my room. There was no way I could have SnapChatted her for a loan. Chloe’s room faced the storage room; she couldn’t *not* have seen me. Yet she still transferred the seventy-five thousand. I was pondering the strange inconsistencies. Chloe started sobbing again. Caleb, who had just returned with a glass of water, quickly handed her a tissue and tried to comfort her. “Don’t worry, Chloe. Since this whole thing involves Serena, I’ll make sure she takes full responsibility. You won’t lose seventy-five thousand for nothing.” Chloe clutched Caleb’s arm tightly. “Really? I know you two run a million-follower account together, you don’t lack this kind of money. You’re such a good person, but Serena… can you guarantee she’ll pay me back?” “Caleb.” I frowned, my gaze like a knife. Caleb wriggled free from Chloe’s grasp. “Just stop crying, okay? We’ll figure it out when we get there.” Not getting a clear promise from Caleb, Chloe’s expression stiffened slightly. I pretended not to notice the silent exchange between them. I mused that this incident might be the perfect opportunity for my account’s transformation. And I could finally shed Caleb and operate the account independently. As I was leaving the police station, Officer Davis, who I knew well, called out to me. “Serena, you’ve always cooperated with us on anti-scam campaigns. I’ve seen all your hard work.” “But this situation with your friend has had a terrible impact. Your role as a Cyber Safety Ambassador might have to be put on hold for a while.” I froze. As a top beauty influencer, I’d seen too many peers lose followers and plummet in engagement due to various unforeseen events. I’d been planning for all possibilities for a long time. The Cyber Safety Ambassador role was a strategic move to diversify my presence. It would be a lie to say I wasn’t disappointed. I didn’t hide my feelings. “Officer Davis, Chloe is too emotional right now, and I can’t really reason with her.” “I know this money is important to her, but if I pay her back, it sets a bad precedent for anti-scam efforts.” In the future, anyone who encounters a similar situation might demand compensation. Officer Davis understood my point. “You’re right, you shouldn’t have to pay. Legally speaking, no one can force you to compensate her.” “Thanks, Officer Davis. Actually, I was thinking, if people are willing to start a fundraiser for Chloe, I’d contribute a significant amount myself to help her through this.” I voiced my true thoughts. Everyone wanted to guilt-trip me into paying seventy-five thousand. But when an actual fundraiser began, I wondered how generous these people would really be. Officer Davis looked surprised. “Serena, you’re really too kind.” I smiled, accepting her praise. Little did she know, the transformation from a small-town girl to a million-follower influencer had nothing to do with kindness; it was all about calculated moves for maximum gain. Back at my apartment, I finally had time to check the online chatter. Chloe’s public kneeling video was already attention-grabbing. My influencer status only added fuel to the fire. The comment section of my latest video was a warzone, flooded with angry netizens. They demanded to know why I wouldn’t pay her back, why I’d just stand there while my best friend knelt. I opened various beauty forums and social media platforms; everywhere, people were calling for a boycott against me: *This kind of unethical influencer should be blacklisted! Everyone unfollow her! Like if you agree!* Responses poured in. A few reasonable people said, “It was an AI deepfake scam! Go after the criminals! Why should a rich person pay just because someone got scammed?” Unfortunately, most people were selectively blind, continuing to hurl insults at me. Until the police released an official statement. Major beauty communities and influencer groups also put out alerts: *Ms. Yao, the best friend of a well-known beauty influencer, Ms. Fang, was scammed out of seventy-five thousand dollars through an “AI deepfake impersonation” on a social media app. At the time of the incident, Ms. Fang and Ms. Yao were living together in their shared apartment. Ms. Yao believed the AI-synthesized video call without verification and transferred the money, resulting in a loss. We hope all netizens learn from this and remain vigilant.* Both the police and social media platforms had made their statements. After the incident was officially classified, Chloe became even more frantic. She went straight to the apartment rooftop, claiming I had driven her to despair and she was going to commit suicide. She was eventually rescued by firefighters. She caused the scene, but I was the one getting dragged.

Chloe’s suicide attempt immediately trended online. My comment section was drowned in a flood of hateful messages: “Are all influencers this heartless? Serena’s face just screams bad news. She definitely set up the scam.” “A twenty-something girl kneeling in public and attempting suicide? That alone tells me she’s not faking it. There’s definitely a twist to this story; wait for the police investigation results.” “Even if the police investigated, everyone knows that money from AI scams is impossible to get back. Chloe fell for it because of Serena, so Serena should be responsible!” “Didn’t Serena always say she donated to charity every year? Now her own best friend is in trouble, and she’s playing dead?” “Can you trust an influencer’s persona? It’s probably just a scripted drama for views. Serena is so shameless, using her best friend for popularity.” “Haha, Serena finally crashed and burned, serves her right! Chloe used to appear in Serena’s videos, and Serena always used Chloe to make herself look better. Hope everyone sees Serena’s true colors soon.” I’d been in the social media game for so long, I knew exactly how many of those comments were from paid trolls. Clearly, Chloe didn’t just want my money; she wanted to destroy my career. An idea began to form in my mind. Because of this media storm, two major makeup brands had already said they were pausing their partnerships with me. My brother, Caleb, was furious when he found out. “How can you be so brainless? It’s just seventy-five grand! You should’ve just paid Chloe and been done with it. Now you’ve jeopardized the whole account. If you can’t handle this, maybe I should take over.” I scoffed. “Caleb, what the hell are you talking about?” I started my social media journey in my freshman year of college. Back then, when my followers first broke fifty thousand, I convinced Caleb to film some fake couple videos with me to attract more traffic. Those videos unexpectedly went viral because Caleb’s good looks attracted a ton of new followers. My account growth had hit a plateau, and simple beauty and fashion videos weren’t attracting new fans anymore. After much thought, I realized I could use the “sweet couple” persona with Caleb to pivot and attract more views. Even though my brother had plenty of flaws, for the sake of my career, I still convinced him to keep playing along. I meticulously planned every video, laying groundwork for when I’d eventually split the account. After this whole mess, I figured more and more fans would demand I go “solo.” I silently listened to Caleb’s unpleasant words. His current behavior was exactly what I needed for my next step in the rebrand. After parting ways with Caleb on bad terms, I contacted Officer Davis. “Officer Davis, this ten thousand dollars is my personal donation to Chloe. Could you please discreetly transfer it to her? I don’t want to hurt her pride.” The entire internet was calling me heartless. But as long as I occupied the moral high ground first, no one could guilt-trip me anymore. And Chloe? She was now leveraging her “victim” status, starting live streams to milk sympathy. Chloe began live streaming in the apartment living room, day and night. “Serena, I don’t even have money for food now. My parents passed away, so I can only rely on live streaming to make money. You don’t mind, do you?”

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My heart was ripped out and placed into the chest of Eleanor’s adopted daughter, Tiffany Thorne. On my birthday, Eleanor threw me out, cursing me, calling me a jinx, a curse on our family. My grandmother, Agnes, was murdered by Tiffany’s biological parents while searching for me. But Eleanor didn’t know the truth: I was her biological daughter. My body was discovered by Robert, my father. Only then did they realize they had been loving the wrong person all along. Even with a bitter resentment deep in her heart, Eleanor still couldn’t bring herself to let go of Tiffany. Finally, the truth came crashing down, and Eleanor herself ended Tiffany’s life. Eleanor chose to jump from the building, a desperate attempt to atone for her sins, but she never received my forgiveness. And I, a wandering spirit, watched their fates unfold. “Where is Anya Thorne? Never coming home, day after day. I should never have listened to Mother Agnes and adopted her!” “My Tiffany is so much better, she gives me no trouble at all.” My spirit hovered in mid-air, listening to Eleanor’s endless curses and complaints. Robert, my father, hung his head, not uttering a word, sighing silently. Tiffany Thorne, also an adopted daughter, lay in the hospital bed, her tiny, ashen face tugging at anyone’s heartstrings. She had just undergone heart surgery. That vibrant heart beating in her chest was mine. I looked down at my own empty chest, a wave of stunned realization washing over me. It was only on the verge of death that I truly learned I was Eleanor’s biological daughter. When Eleanor gave birth to me, there was a baby-snatching incident at the hospital, and I was the unfortunate victim. By a twist of fate, Agnes found me. She was the one who brought me home. She named me Anya, taught me how to read. Agnes always whispered in my ear, “Every time I see you, Anya, I feel such a strong connection. It seems we truly have a deep bond.” Agnes brought me to Eleanor, but I was met with no smile. Standing beside Eleanor was a little girl, roughly my age, sweet and adorable. Tiffany. I could tell Eleanor didn’t like me, but out of respect for Agnes, she kept me in the house. I tried my best to please Eleanor, but it never earned me any special attention. Instead, she said, “Don’t bother with thankless tasks. Tiffany is my only daughter. As for you, I’ll make sure you grow up with food and clothes, but don’t expect anything more.” Every word she uttered felt like a knife twisting in my gut, and I could only silently endure the pain. Tiffany suffered from a congenital heart condition. Eleanor had found her abandoned at the hospital. Eleanor couldn’t bear the pain of her own baby being stolen, so she brought the abandoned Tiffany home. Eleanor treated her like her own biological daughter, putting Tiffany first in everything. That’s why, even when I went missing, she didn’t even bother to care. The day I was kidnapped was also mine and Tiffany’s birthday. My heart full of hope, I pushed open the front door, only to realize they had forgotten my birthday. Eleanor was furious at my sudden appearance, her brows furrowed as she spoke. “You couldn’t come back earlier, couldn’t come back later, you just had to pick *today*. You’re nothing but bad luck.” Robert tried to pull Eleanor away, telling her to say less, but it only made her anger surge. “Was I wrong? Today is Tiffany’s birthday! Do you know how long I’ve been preparing for this? Why did she have to come back and mess everything up?!” A storm of insults crashed down on me. My heart ached with a dull, prickling pain, like a thousand tiny needles. I hadn’t planned on coming home today. Tiffany had sent me a message. She’d said, “Mom is really looking forward to us celebrating our birthday together. She keeps mentioning you.” Tiffany said a lot, and I genuinely yearned for Eleanor’s love. I refused to celebrate with Agnes and rushed home, hoping to make it in time. But what greeted me wasn’t Eleanor’s smile. I lifted my head, cautiously saying, “Eleanor, today is my birthday too.” She slapped me hard across the face. My cheek instantly swelled, burning with a searing pain. “An orphan like you, where do *you* get a birthday from?!” “I told you, don’t ever try to compete with Tiffany for anything! You’ll never surpass her place in my heart!” “Now, get out!” She screamed, her voice raw with fury. I turned my head and saw Tiffany’s sickeningly sweet smile. Second Chapter Outside, a torrential rain poured down, and in an instant, I was soaked to the bone. In a daze, I walked for a long time towards Agnes’s house. Carelessly, I was pulled into a car. The ones who kidnapped me were a middle-aged couple, dressed in tattered clothes. They looked at me, their eyes glinting with a hungry, predatory light. When I woke from my stupor, they were chattering to themselves. “Once Anya Thorne is gone, no one can shake our Tiffany’s position.” “That child’s fate was sealed. We had no money to cure her illness, you know.” Suddenly, I felt two pairs of eyes on me. They said with feigned regret, “Child, blame your bad luck. We can’t let you stand in the way of our Tiffany’s future.” Initially, they hadn’t planned on killing me. But then they heard Tiffany had a heart condition and desperately needed a heart transplant. Their greedy eyes locked onto my chest. Lying on the operating table, I wondered if Eleanor would feel any pain if she knew I had died. As I closed my eyes, a blur of images flashed before my eyes. I was Eleanor’s biological daughter, after all. I saw Eleanor’s joyful, expectant expression when she was pregnant with me. Every day, she sang lullabies, talked to me, and imagined our future life together. On the day of my birth, everything changed. It was Tiffany’s biological parents who secretly took me from the hospital and then abandoned Tiffany by Eleanor’s side. If Agnes hadn’t found me in a dumpster, I would have been a lost soul long ago. After so many twists and turns, my fate still ended in Tiffany’s hands. The moment my heart was torn out, my tears became a flood, unending. Slowly, I felt my body lighten, drifting up into the air. My chest was an empty, gaping hole, a gruesome sight. I followed them to the hospital and watched with my own eyes as my heart began to beat again in Tiffany’s chest. It was the vitality of life, the very life I had yearned for. Tiffany seemed to sense something, opening her eyes and flashing a disturbing smile in my direction. I understood her silent message then. This was all her doing. We were nothing but pawns in her game for survival. She lived, I died, and everyone was happy, except Agnes. When Agnes rushed to the hospital, Eleanor was coincidentally feeding Tiffany soup. Agnes couldn’t bear it. She knocked the soup bowl to the floor. The hot liquid splashed everywhere, scalding Tiffany’s tender skin. Tiffany only let out a small hiss, and immediately, Eleanor cooed in comfort. Eleanor turned to Agnes, her face contorted in anger. “What are you doing? Are you insane? Tiffany just had surgery, she’s extremely fragile!” “Whatever it is, it can wait a few days.” Agnes shook her head, seething, and pointed at Eleanor. “Where’s Anya? She hasn’t contacted me since she went there. Where is she?” Eleanor’s temper flared. Hands on her hips, she retorted, “How would I know? She’s an adult! She has legs, how could I stop her from going wherever she wants? If she hadn’t brought this bad luck on herself that day, I wouldn’t have thrown her out.” By the end, Eleanor’s voice softened guiltily, almost a whisper. After all, it was pouring rain when she threw me out. Agnes bit back her own temper and said in a low voice, “You threw Anya out? She never came back! She’s been gone for so many days, and you, as her mother, aren’t worried?” “Even if she’s adopted, if you had given Anya even a fraction of the genuine care you give Tiffany, things wouldn’t have come to this!” Eleanor remained silent, not answering Agnes. After they reached a standstill, Agnes sighed and left. Third Chapter Lying on the operating table, I wondered if Eleanor would feel any pain if she knew I had died. As I closed my eyes, a blur of images flashed before my eyes. I was Eleanor’s biological daughter, after all. I saw Eleanor’s joyful, expectant expression when she was pregnant with me. Every day, she sang lullabies, talked to me, and imagined our future life together. On the day of my birth, everything changed. It was Tiffany’s biological parents who secretly took me from the hospital and then abandoned Tiffany by Eleanor’s side. If Agnes hadn’t found me in a dumpster, I would have been a lost soul long ago. After so many twists and turns, my fate still ended in Tiffany’s hands. The moment my heart was torn out, my tears became a flood, unending. Slowly, I felt my body lighten, drifting up into the air. My chest was an empty, gaping hole, a gruesome sight. I followed them to the hospital and watched with my own eyes as my heart began to beat again in Tiffany’s chest. It was the vitality of life, the very life I had yearned for. Tiffany seemed to sense something, opening her eyes and flashing a disturbing smile in my direction. I understood her silent message then. This was all her doing. We were nothing but pawns in her game for survival. She lived, I died, and everyone was happy, except Agnes. When Agnes rushed to the hospital, Eleanor was coincidentally feeding Tiffany soup. Agnes couldn’t bear it. She knocked the soup bowl to the floor. The hot liquid splashed everywhere, scalding Tiffany’s tender skin. Tiffany only let out a small hiss, and immediately, Eleanor cooed in comfort. Eleanor turned to Agnes, her face contorted in anger. “What are you doing? Are you insane? Tiffany just had surgery, she’s extremely fragile!” “Whatever it is, it can wait a few days.” Agnes shook her head, seething, and pointed at Eleanor. “Where’s Anya? She hasn’t contacted me since she went there. Where is she?” Eleanor’s temper flared. Hands on her hips, she retorted, “How would I know? She’s an adult! She has legs, how could I stop her from going wherever she wants? If she hadn’t brought this bad luck on herself that day, I wouldn’t have thrown her out.” By the end, Eleanor’s voice softened guiltily, almost a whisper. After all, it was pouring rain when she threw me out. Agnes bit back her own temper and said in a low voice, “You threw Anya out? She never came back! She’s been gone for so many days, and you, as her mother, aren’t worried?” “Even if she’s adopted, if you had given Anya even a fraction of the genuine care you give Tiffany, things wouldn’t have come to this!” Eleanor remained silent, not answering Agnes. After they reached a standstill, Agnes sighed and left. I followed Agnes all the way to the police station. No one believed Agnes’s story; to them, she was just having a nightmare. Someone at the police station had a connection with Robert and promised to help Agnes search for me. That night, I followed Agnes back home and again encountered Tiffany’s biological parents, Brenda and Gary Miller. They said, “I know where your granddaughter is. Come with us.” Agnes, who was usually so wary, heard my name and, without a second thought, followed them. They led Agnes into the woods and pointed at a tree not far away. “See? Under this tree is your granddaughter’s head, and these are her legs, these are her hands.” “Don’t worry, she went peacefully. The rest of her usable parts, we sold.” They laughed maniacally, completely disregarding Agnes’s feelings. Agnes had no proper tool in her hands, so she started digging with her bare hands. She dug with immense strength. Blood filled her fingernails as she clawed at the earth, but she gritted her teeth, not making a sound. I cried out, “Grandma, stop digging, please stop!” But Agnes couldn’t hear me. Only after she had pieced me back together completely did all her strength leave her. A mournful wail tore through her chest, a guttural cry of despair. Her eyes were wide, staring blankly, as she completely broke down. The two culprits secretly discussed something, and they actually set their sights on Agnes. “She knows now. We can’t let this old woman ruin our plans!” “If she goes to the police, we’re finished. Tiffany will be affected too.” After much deliberation, they repeated the same method they used to kill me on Agnes. Agnes struggled for only a moment before her last breath left her. She, like me, became a spirit. Now, she could see me. “Anya, it’s all my fault. I should have kept you with me all along.” I reached out to wipe Agnes’s tears, wiping hard, for a long time. “Grandma, it’s not your fault. I was too foolish, I fell into their trap.” Agnes examined me closely, and then her spirit slowly began to fade. I cried, begging Agnes to take me with her, but it was useless. I watched helplessly as Agnes vanished before my eyes, leaving only her mutilated body behind with mine. Daylight broke, someone discovered Agnes, and the police were called. When Eleanor arrived, she nearly fainted. She saw Agnes, dead, and me, shattered… Fourth Chapter But she only saw Agnes, and her legs gave out, collapsing into unconsciousness. She remained in a coma for a long time. During that period, Tiffany, who was able to walk around, never once came to see her.

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Everyone knew I was Grandpa Davies’ personal choice for an arranged marriage, a union that would determine the sole heir to the entire Davies empire. At the engagement party, I was dressed in a custom-tailored suit, ready to announce the Davies-Thorne family alliance. But my fiancée, Serena Davies, had her fingers laced tightly with her adopted brother, Marcus Thorne, pulling him to the center of the crowd, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him. “Marcus and I are deeply in love; he’s the only man I’ll ever marry.” “Julian is far too impulsive. He’s simply not fit for the position of a Davies son-in-law.” My adopted brother had become Serena’s fiancé. Everyone’s eyes, filled with pity or mockery, turned to me. But what she didn’t know was that the only reason Grandpa Davies had chosen *me* to marry her was because my mother was the heir to the Sterling family – a reclusive, incredibly powerful dynasty. Someday, I would return to the Sterling family and inherit its vast fortune. Since Serena had already made her choice, it was time for the Davies heir to change.

Serena gripped Marcus’s hand tightly, pulling him to stand firmly before everyone. Marcus gasped, trying to pull his hand back. “Serena, you can’t do this. Your engagement to my brother was personally arranged by Grandpa Davies.” “You’re the one I love, Marcus. I won’t agree to marry anyone else.” She held Marcus’s hand firmly, her gaze fixed on Grandpa Davies, who sat on a raised platform. “Grandpa, Marcus has always been the one I love. I’ll only ever marry Marcus and make him my husband.” The guests in attendance watched, their eyes filled with pity and mockery. Everyone knew Serena and I had grown up together, practically destined for each other in Grandpa Davies’ eyes. But now, in front of everyone in this elite circle, Serena had just publicly humiliated me. Serena’s tone was absolute, leaving no room for doubt. “Even though Julian and I grew up together, I’ve always seen him as nothing more than a brother. I’ve never had any other feelings for him.” “Marcus and I are deeply in love; we’ve been together for a while now. In my heart, Marcus is the only man who can be my husband. No one else.” Mr. and Mrs. Davies’ faces instantly changed, their eyes nervously flicking towards Grandpa Davies’ expression on the main seat. Serena then linked her arm with Marcus’s and looked my way. Her eyes held a distinct glint of sarcasm. “Julian, you must know I don’t have any romantic feelings for you. Surely you don’t want to force a marriage with a woman who doesn’t love you, wasting your entire life, do you?” “Besides, Marcus and I are already together. You can’t possibly think that just because Grandpa favors you, you can butt in and break us up, can you?” I glanced at the two of them, then bowed deeply to Grandpa Davies. “Grandpa Davies, since they are so deeply in love, how could I possibly stand in the way of such profound love? Let them be together.” “I wish Ms. Davies and my brother eternal happiness and a lifetime of togetherness.” Serena’s face flickered with displeasure when she heard me say that, but Marcus cautiously took her arm. “Serena, your marriage to my brother was arranged by Grandpa. Won’t he be upset about this?” Serena patted Marcus’s hand reassuringly, soothing him softly. “Of course not. Grandpa spoils me rotten; he’d never be truly angry with me over *him*. Besides, you’re the *actual* Thorne heir, aren’t you? This alliance was always about our families, so why should anyone care about some outsider?” An outsider? Only my father and Grandpa Davies knew my true identity. My mother was the heir to the Sterling family. My father and mother’s marriage was initially a strategic alliance, and since I would inherit the Sterling family’s legacy, I took my mother’s surname. Moreover, she actually thought Marcus was my father’s biological son? Grandpa Davies frowned at Serena’s words. “Serena, don’t be ridiculous. Are you absolutely certain you want to marry Mr. Thorne?” Serena firmly slipped the ring onto Marcus’s finger, then had him press a solemn kiss to her forehead. “Grandpa, I’ve thought this through. I’m marrying Marcus, and no one else, in this lifetime.” Grandpa Davies looked at Serena with disappointment. If it were merely a change of fiancé, he wouldn’t have thought much of her. But her deliberate choice to humiliate me in front of so many people today proved that she was utterly unreliable. “Very well. As you wish.”

Once Grandpa Davies spoke, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. This family alliance had invited many prominent business figures to witness it, and everyone was eager to see how it would unfold. Amidst the whispers, Serena, holding Marcus’s hand, faced the guests who had come to celebrate and made her announcement. “Thank you all for coming today to celebrate my engagement to Mr. Marcus Thorne.” The guests’ faces showed varying expressions. No one had expected the Davies and Thorne families to pull such a last-minute switch. My father hadn’t anticipated this either; his face instantly darkened. My own expression wasn’t much better, but I forced myself to stand tall, back straight, and in the midst of the chatter, I raised my glass, offering a generous gift. “Ms. Davies actually swapped fiancés on the spot. She’s not giving Julian any face at all!” “Didn’t Grandpa Davies insist on Julian becoming his grandson-in-law? Why did he agree to the change?” “Switching fiancés on the day of the engagement party… it’s truly humiliating. I wonder what he did to make Ms. Davies take such a drastic step.” The guests’ whispers weren’t quiet. My father glared at Marcus and didn’t hold back with Serena. “What you’ve done will subject your brother to so much gossip!” “And you, Marcus! You’re not a child anymore. Don’t you ever think about the consequences? Are you trying to slap me in the face?” Marcus, chastised by my father, timidly tried to take off the ring to give it back to me. Grandpa Davies waved his hand, stopping Marcus. He gave my head a regretful pat and spoke in a deep voice. “Julian, don’t worry. Grandpa Davies will make this right for you. If you’re willing, the Davies family has several other excellent young women.” Mr. and Mrs. Davies, hearing Grandpa’s words, simply assumed he was comforting me and didn’t pay it much mind. To their shock, I pointed to Samantha Davies, the Davies family’s illegitimate daughter, who was watching the spectacle from the corner. “Actually, I’ve always had feelings for Samantha. I hope Grandpa can approve our union.” Their gazes fell on Samantha, darting back and forth between her and me. Samantha was Mr. Andrew Davies’ illegitimate daughter. After Mr. Andrew Davies passed away, she wasn’t well-regarded in the family and had a difficult life. But since she was still a Davies family child, Grandpa Davies didn’t want anyone to say the family mistreated children. So, he took her in and raised her himself. My father stared at me in shock, then leaned in, quietly trying to dissuade me. “Julian, I know you’re upset, but she’s an illegitimate daughter. The Davies family doesn’t value her.” I casually swirled my glass, raising it to Samantha as a gesture. “It’s not like she *chose* to be an illegitimate daughter. I think she’s quite remarkable, actually. I’m willing to give things a try with her.” Samantha’s eyes met mine, her expression relaxed. “If Mr. Blackwood is interested in me, then let’s give it a try.” Everyone’s gazes toward me became even more meaningful. News of the Davies family’s on-the-spot fiancée swap spread like wildfire through the circle. The moment the banquet ended, I received a text from my mother. In the private room, my mother held me close, her eyes glaring at my father. “David, how dare you let my son suffer such humiliation? I think you’re looking to get fired!” I squeezed my mother’s hand, redirecting the conversation to business. “Grandpa Davies set me up with a new fiancée. Her name is Samantha Davies, and I quite like her.” My father wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed again. “She’s just an illegitimate daughter, an outsider in the Davies family. Why would you choose her?” I looked at my parents’ confused expressions and slowly began to explain. “Grandpa Davies and Grandpa Sterling had an agreement about this alliance; I am definitely marrying a Davies woman.” “Samantha might be an illegitimate daughter, but she’s the most capable among the younger generation of Davies. She’s also the smartest and most composed. From a business perspective, she’s the most suitable partner for this alliance.”

“What’s more, she’s an illegitimate daughter. If I marry her, the Sterling family becomes her foundation for gaining a foothold in the Davies family. She’d never betray me.” Currently, Marcus Thorne was the toast of the town, flattered and courted by everyone. Countless people rushed to meet and connect with him. After all, a strong alliance between the Davies and Thorne families promised to elevate any industry they touched to new heights. I didn’t have time to bother with such matters. I was focused on completing the tasks my mother had given me abroad. One day, it was Grandpa Davies’ birthday. Marcus specifically sent me an invitation and called me several times, so I had no choice but to go. The moment I stepped through the Davies family’s front door, all eyes landed on me. I showed no trace of awkwardness, simply smiling as I handed my gift to the Davies family’s butler. “Why is Julian here? Didn’t the fiancée get swapped?” “You haven’t heard? Ms. Davies insisted on changing fiancés, and in a fit of pique, he chose to marry that illegitimate daughter from the Davies family.” “Even marrying an illegitimate daughter to get into the Davies family… Mr. Blackwood certainly is desperate.” Just as everyone was buzzing with speculation, Serena made a grand entrance, elegantly arm-in-arm with Marcus. Unlike her usual understated and gentle attire, today she wore a high-fashion couture gown, adorned with several sets of intricate and luxurious jewelry, making her appear dazzling but somewhat vulgar. As for Marcus, his suit alone was incredibly expensive, and the watch on his wrist was worth more than a luxury mansion. He spotted me there and came over, trying to sling his arm around my shoulder in a familiar gesture. “Little brother, it’s wonderful that both of us brothers can be Davies sons-in-law! For the sake of brotherhood, I’ll make sure Serena gives your wife a good boost.” I nearly burst out laughing at Marcus. Even now, he still believed I was desperate to marry into the Davies family. Serena clearly thought the same. In her eyes, I’d gone to any lengths to try and marry her. She looked at me as if I were something utterly disgusting. I couldn’t be bothered with either of them and turned to leave, but then I noticed a beautifully crafted jade pendant around Marcus’s neck. This was the Davies family’s ancestral jade pendant, always kept by Grandpa Davies. I never expected it to be on Marcus. The Davies family heir hadn’t even been formally decided yet. How could this jade pendant be with Marcus? I pointed to the jade pendant around Marcus’s neck, my gaze tinged with scrutiny. “Where did you get that pendant?” Serena showed a flicker of guilt, while Marcus stroked the jade pendant on his neck, his face showing a hint of grievance. “Little brother, this was meant for you originally, but now that I’m marrying Serena, this jade pendant naturally belongs to me.” Serena nodded righteously. After all, in her mind, she was already the undisputed heir, so there was no harm in letting her beloved wear the jade pendant a little early. “This is my Davies family’s ancestral jade pendant. I can let whoever I want wear it. What’s it to you?” After saying that, she looked me up and down with a disgusted expression and took a step back. “Don’t you dare think you can use this to cling to me. I will never like you. My heart belongs only to Marcus.” Serena’s voice wasn’t quiet, and several gazes around us landed on me. “Julian usually seems so dignified, but I never imagined he’d try to steal his brother’s fiancée just to get into the Davies family.” “They’re clearly in love. Why is he still clinging on?” Marcus, his face flushed, gently tugged on Serena’s arm. “Don’t be so harsh on my brother. Once he marries Samantha, we’ll still be family. You’ll have to help them out then.” Serena glanced at me, then affectionately tilted her head back and pinched Marcus’s cheek. “Fine, for Marcus’s sake, I won’t hold it against him. But if you have any improper thoughts about me, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” The two of them were still immersed in their sweet exchanges when a voice suddenly rang out from behind them. “Why would my husband have improper thoughts about you, Serena? You’re being incredibly rude to your future brother-in-law.” Samantha Davies entered, supporting Grandpa Davies. A smile played on her lips, and her gaze towards Serena held a hint of challenge. Grandpa Davies glanced at the jade pendant around Marcus’s neck, his expression darkening.

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Everyone in Eastwood City knew it. Julian Blackwood, the most influential CEO, had loved me for eight years and proposed 99 times. I was deeply moved, willing to abandon my adventurous exploration career and return from Iceland to the warm, comfortable city. But three years into our marriage, Julian brought home a woman with a visibly pregnant belly. That’s when I realized: all that time, he wasn’t just preparing his proposals. He’d found a stand-in to ease his loneliness. “Anya, I know you still dream of exploring, and you don’t want to have children. I’ll give you your freedom.” “Let’s keep this baby. Once he’s born, you’ll be his mother.” I looked at him quietly, my eyes red, a bitter laugh escaping me. “Is this really about my freedom, Julian? Or is it that the Blackwood family can’t be without an heir?” “Or is it that you, Julian Blackwood, have been cheating on me again and again, all these years you claimed to love me the most?” … I stared at the woman beside him, her face agonizingly familiar, and my stomach churned. “Julian, is this what you call loving me?” The man, now kneeling, stiffened. Julian looked up, his eyes filled with a tortured sort of affection. “Anya, I messed up. You kept rejecting me back then, and I felt frustrated and lost. It was like I lost my mind…” “We’d already cleared things up after we got married! This accidental pregnancy was because I was completely wasted and ran into Chloe. She looks just like you, Anya…” I pulled at the corners of my mouth, my face blank. “So, you just went with the flow for eight months, waited until her belly was too big to abort, and then told me, expecting me to just accept it?” Julian hesitated, but Chloe, standing nearby, burst into tears first. “Anya, please don’t blame Julian. I secretly kept the baby; he didn’t know.” “I’ll accept any punishment, any blame. I beg your forgiveness!” She began to kneel. But she was stopped. Julian’s face darkened, and he snapped at her: “Your belly is so big, and you’re still so careless. Are you trying to deliberately hurt the baby, just so outsiders will think Anya is bullying you and being cruel?” “Go stand over there!” He turned to me, his voice gentle. “Anya, I know you’re kind and wouldn’t want to trouble a pregnant woman. So I’ll discipline her for you.” I just found it utterly ridiculous. Did he really think I couldn’t see this was just him protecting Chloe? I watched, horrified, as an anxious, worried look – one Julian himself didn’t even seem to notice – replaced the pure, overflowing love that once filled his eyes. My heart felt as if it had been brutally pressed into scorching whiskey, choking me, suffocating me. I closed my eyes, fighting to steady the tremor in my voice. “What if I said I don’t accept this child?” Julian’s brows furrowed. His normally calm and composed face was contorted with anguish and indecision. “Anya, you know how much I love you. No matter what happens, your place in my heart will never change.” “I can promise you, as soon as the baby is born, I’ll send Chloe abroad. You’ll never see her again, and the child will only recognize you as his mother…” Julian said a lot, but he never once mentioned getting rid of the baby or sending it away. Yes, I knew Julian loved me. But if I forgave this, this child would become a constant thorn in my heart. A constant anxiety, periodically piercing my flesh, making me relive the pain of betrayal unexpectedly. My gaze hardened. Just as I was about to speak, Chloe suddenly cried out: “Ah! My stomach hurts so much!” “Julian, what do I do? Am I going into labor?” Julian’s face changed. He stood up without hesitation, scooping Chloe into his arms. “Anya, I need to take her to the hospital. I’ll come back and explain everything!” But I clearly saw the mocking curl on Chloe’s lips. Her face showed not a trace of pain. I bit my lower lip. “Julian, don’t go.” He paused. “If you leave now, then don’t ever…” “I’m sorry, Anya! I’ll take her to the hospital and be right back home… immediately! Ten minutes…” The door slammed shut with a heavy thud, thrown by the man’s hurried steps. The door closed, leaving the room utterly empty. My body slowly slid to the floor. Suddenly, I received a text message. It was a photo of hands clasped over a pregnant belly, with a message attached: “A happy family, all together. So who’s the third wheel now?” 2 My breath caught in my throat. The tears I’d fought back finally broke free, gushing uncontrollably. I clutched my phone, knuckles white. But before I could even process it, another call came in. It was Julian’s mom, Vivian. “Anya, I heard about the baby.” “You’re angry, but you also need to think. You and Julian have been married for three years without a child. If you can’t have one, are you going to stop someone else from having one?” “Don’t get me wrong, but when this baby is born, won’t you be the one who benefits? A free baby without the pain of childbirth – what’s better than that?” Vivian Blackwood had always had something against me. She used every chance to lecture me. I suddenly calmed down. “You think this is a good thing?” “You’re so open-minded about it. Maybe Julian was also ‘brought home’ by his father, from someone else?” Sure enough, the person on the other end erupted into a furious tirade. “…The moment my son was enchanted by you, I knew you’d be the biggest mistake of his life!” I hung up the phone. Vivian’s last words echoed in my ears long after. I was Julian’s mistake? But wasn’t he mine too? After Julian fell for me at first sight in college, he launched an intense pursuit. Even when I rejected him again and again, he never gave up. After graduating, I joined a world exploration team and flew to the Arctic. He followed closely, relentlessly declaring his love. His 99 meticulously planned proposal videos are still famous all over the internet. Even my heart, often so guarded, was finally moved by his daily persistence. For what I believed was true love, I put aside my dreams. But for someone accustomed to the freedom of wandering, trying to adapt to a stable life was incredibly difficult. I constantly suppressed the suffocating feeling of being trapped. Now, that pure, sincere love that first moved me was gone. Silence surrounded me. One thought became clearer and clearer in my mind. … I never waited for Julian to come home. All I got was a complaining call. “Anya, Mom said you cussed her out… Please understand, she just wants to hold a grandchild.” Suddenly, I heard a woman’s soft, whiny voice from the other end. Julian’s voice cut off abruptly. Listening to the fumbling on the other end as he muffled the phone, I let out a breath and said softly: “Julian, let’s get a divorce.” As expected, he disagreed, and started begging again. But I’d heard too many meaningless apologies. I hung up the phone, sharp and decisive, and quickly packed my bags. Besides essential necessities, everything else could be left behind and bought again. Perhaps my past exploration experiences had influenced my mindset—leaving on a whim required quick decision-making. And failed love was no different. I knew Julian was still at the hospital. The closest hospital to here would take at least half an hour. He couldn’t make it in time. —But I underestimated Julian’s madness. When I saw that steady, understated Cadillac chasing my car, its tires practically smoking, my heart leaped. Julian’s car clearly showed signs of collision, but he was still speeding up like a maniac. Afraid of an accident, I reluctantly pulled over. “Julian, what do you want?” Looking at the man whose eyes were filled with hidden fury, the emotions I’d suppressed burst out like a tsunami. “You’re the one who claimed to love me, yet found a stand-in to sleep with. You’re the one who cheated again after we married, your body and soul tainted, disgusting.” “Julian, I’m letting you have your perfect little family. Why won’t you let me go?” The love I thought was worth giving up my freedom for, turned out to be nothing but a bubble from the very beginning. The laughable part was, I had silently endured it for three years. By the end, every word was raw with pain. Julian’s eyes were also red, and he collapsed to his knees. “Anya, I didn’t betray you. This child was truly an accident. Later, I thought, I didn’t want you to get hurt having a baby…” I brushed away his hand gripping my sleeve and gave a cold, dismissive pull at my lips. “Stop with the pretty words, Julian. I don’t tolerate disloyalty in love, and besides… we’re not a good fit.” “Perfect. The baby’s born. You and your family can live happily ever after. As for us, this is the end.” With that, I turned and walked toward my car. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through the back of my neck. The last thing I saw before darkness claimed me was Julian’s crazed expression. 3 When I woke up again, I was back in my bedroom. “Anya, you’re not leaving me.” Looking at Julian, who appeared haggard, the word “captivity” surfaced in my mind. I turned my head away, refusing to look at him. Julian didn’t seem to care. “Anya, Blackwood Corp’s PR department has already released the news that you’re pregnant. Now everyone in Eastwood City knows you’re about to…” I was so angry I laughed. “How do I not know I’m pregnant?” Julian took a deep breath, looking exhausted. “Stop messing around, Anya. This child, of course, can only be yours.” “Chloe is about to give birth. Just behave yourself for a while. Once the baby is born, I’ll settle Chloe, and then we’ll…” I cut him off coldly. “Get out.” Julian tried to say more, but his phone rang. “Julian, I’m so uncomfortable. The doctor said the mother needs the baby’s father present, otherwise my mood will worsen and affect labor…” Chloe’s delicate, pleading voice wafted from the phone. Julian’s eyes filled with worry. He looked at me, hesitating. Seeing my silence, he suddenly got angry. “Anya, you don’t want to see me, but someone else desperately wants me to stay.” “If you don’t say anything, I’m really leaving?” The frustration in his eyes mounted. Julian, in a fit of pique, threw out a “Fine, don’t regret it,” and stormed out the door. Even though I was utterly disappointed, watching Julian leave still made my heart ache. I slumped onto the bed, trying to calm myself. After a long while, I dialed a number. “My darling, why are you calling today?” “We even heard about ‘Mrs. Blackwood’s’ pregnancy all the way in Iceland! Your husband was so clingy before; now that you’re about to give birth, he must be glued to your side every day…” I gently cut her off. “That baby isn’t mine.” The line went silent. Even through the phone, I could imagine the shocked expression on her face. I gave a self-deprecating laugh and continued: “I’ll send you my ID information in a bit. Help me book a flight for the day after tomorrow afternoon…” Before I could finish, the door swung open. I quickly hung up. Looking up, I met Chloe’s gaze. “Anya Reed, you look awful.” “What? Does it bother you that I can make Julian leave with just one phone call?” “I thought you’d voluntarily step aside once you knew Julian chose my child. I never thought you’d shamelessly cling to your position.” Chloe’s face was filled with blatant arrogance, a stark contrast to the timid obedience she’d shown before. I shot back without hesitation. “About to give birth and still running around like this? Aren’t you afraid you’ll lose the only thing you have going for you in that belly?” I stared at her. “Just because you’re pregnant, you naively think you can successfully become the primary partner?” Chloe’s expression turned furious, but she didn’t move, only snarled in a low voice: “Having a child might not be enough, but what if it could drive a wedge between you two?” The next second, she clutched her stomach and stumbled backward. She didn’t fall. A pair of strong arms appeared behind her, catching her. Julian shielded Chloe, his eyes blazing with anger. For the first time, he yelled at me: “What are you doing, Anya Reed! She’s pregnant! She’s innocent! How could you just lay hands on her like that?!” Chloe looked at Julian with tearful gratitude, half-wailing, half-whining: “Julian, I’m so uncomfortable, but I don’t want you to fight with Anya again because of me. It’s all my fault…” Watching Julian softly comfort the woman in his arms, I felt a bitter taste spread through my mouth. I pulled at the corners of my lips, got out of bed, and slowly walked forward. “I laid hands on her?” 4 “Watch closely. This is me actually laying hands on her!” Before either of them could react, I slapped Chloe across the face. Her head snapped to the side. Instantly, her cheek swelled, a clear red handprint appearing. Julian’s pupils constricted. He shoved me violently. “Are you crazy, Anya Reed! She’s pregnant!” My thigh slammed against the glass corner of the coffee table, leaving a long gash. Blood spurted out, and the sudden, searing pain made my face go pale. I clearly saw the disappointment in Julian’s eyes. “When did you become so vicious and unforgiving?” I bit down hard on my lower lip and scoffed. “Have *I* changed, or have *you* changed? Oh, wait, if I had known you were flattering me while sleeping with someone else, I would never have agreed to your proposal.” I stared at him, enunciating each word: “Julian, you disgust me.” Julian’s breath hitched. He suddenly slapped me. Caught off guard, I nearly fell. A ringing sound echoed in my ears. In a dizzying whirl of disorientation, my former lover’s distorted face was chillingly clear. Julian only registered what he’d done when he met my bitter smile. His arm, wrapped around Chloe, loosened slightly. He mumbled, wanting to say something, but was interrupted. “Julian, I’m so uncomfortable…” Julian hesitated for a moment, a complex mix of emotions flashing in his eyes before finally settling into indifference. “Anya, you need to reflect on yourself. I’m taking Chloe back to the hospital first.” A corner of my heart crumbled with a resounding crash. My gaze went numb as I lowered my head. Over the next few days, Julian was nowhere to be seen, but a renovation team arrived. They said Mr. Blackwood wanted to reconfigure the house layout and set up a nursery. I found it utterly ridiculous inside, but on the surface, I behaved exceptionally obediently. Seeing this, Julian agreed to let me accompany him to the hospital to wait for Chloe to give birth. Chloe was still restless as she was wheeled into the delivery room, making provocative gestures with her lips toward me. I pulled at the corner of my mouth and took a few steps forward, but Julian suddenly grabbed my wrist, clamping it tightly to the cold metal chair. He knew I disliked pain and confinement. Once upon a time, he cherished me like a rare treasure, terrified of me getting even a scratch. But now, my wrist was bruised, and the ugly scar on my thigh from two days ago didn’t even register in his eyes. Julian didn’t notice my inner turmoil. He frowned and said: “Anya, I only agreed to you coming if you promised not to cause trouble.” “Just wait patiently for Chloe to deliver. Afterward, you’ll be the first to hold the baby, to bond with him.” I took a long, hard look at the man before me, then gave a soft, almost ethereal smile, tinged with relief and lightness. “Okay.” Julian, instead, looked stunned. He stared at my calm, seemingly detached expression, and a sudden panic stirred within him. But his mom, Vivian, was still urging him on, so he had to suppress his chaotic emotions. … Chloe gave birth to a son. Blackwood Corp’s PR department immediately announced that “Mrs. Blackwood” had successfully given birth to a son, and the whole internet celebrated. The hospital room was likewise filled with joy. Vivian Blackwood couldn’t stop smiling. Julian looked at the exhausted new mother with a praiseful, tender gaze, as if he’d completely forgotten his promise hours earlier that I would be the first to hold the baby. Amidst the celebratory atmosphere, I quietly slipped out of the hospital room. But just as I stepped into the jeep waiting at the hospital entrance, Julian’s voice, trembling, called out from behind me. “Anya, where are you going?” I turned, meeting Julian’s panicked face. His eyes held a desperate plea as he frantically ran towards me. “Don’t…”

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My wife claimed to be super fertile and spent all her time messing around, even though we’d been married for five years. She never let me touch her, and she’d supposedly given birth to hundreds of kids from other men. But the first thing she did after getting AIDS was try to drag me down with her: “You swore to me we’d live and die together, remember? Are you really going to just cling to a pathetic life now?” I insisted on a divorce, but she got furious. Then she aimed her rage at the only true friend I had left in the world: “If I can’t live, I’m taking your friends with me!” I tried to reason with my friend, seeing him in trouble, but he just scoffed at me: “Why hide such a super fertile wife? Let her have a kid for me, man, help me carry on the family name.” It escalated fast. They wanted me to hand over the special cure. So they sent my brother, Leo, who was wheelchair-bound, into that notorious private club, letting over a dozen men abuse him until his lower body was… shattered. They hung my elderly parents on the Pendulum ride at an amusement park, swinging them until they died from a cerebral hemorrhage. I watched those two heartless monsters with cold eyes. They had no idea I already had the latest HIV vaccine, fresh from my lab.

My friend, Jax, ignored my warnings and insisted on sleeping with my HIV-positive wife. He thought he’d be fine after taking PEP meds, but as his body weakened day by day, he lost his last shred of sanity. Enraged, they sent my disabled brother, Leo, to that vile club, letting those perverts fulfill their sick desires. By the time I rushed into the private room, Leo was naked, his once clean body now covered in bruise after bruise. His lower body was completely ruined, and I could still smell the foul odor of someone else’s urine lingering in the air. Seeing me, he trembled, reaching up to wipe away the tears from my eyes. Leo squeezed his eyes shut, opening his mouth as if to say something, but something was stuck in his throat. Moments later, his face turned deathly pale. He suddenly lurched forward, coughing up a milky white fluid. I screamed his name, desperate, but it was no use. This was a private room in *that* kind of club. Nobody came here except *those* people. No one would care if we lived or died. Gradually, Leo went still in my arms, his body growing cold and stiff. In disbelief, I pressed my fingers to his nose… there was not a single breath. My heart seized, and tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. In my despair, I sobbed hysterically, but my wife’s mocking voice cut through the air: “Can you believe he endured so much humiliation and still held on to see you one last time?” “Asher, do you like the big gift I sent you? This is what happens when you ignore my demands!” I gasped for air, glaring viciously at my wife. She stood there, smiling helplessly: “What could I do? He wouldn’t cooperate with my plan to threaten you, right? Everyone has their fate. He was already disabled, just a burden. He was better off dead.” I lunged forward, grabbing her sleeve and roaring: “Even if my brother was disabled, it’s not your place, an outsider, to judge him!” “Besides, he always treated you like family! And you let over a dozen men assault him? How could you be so cruel?!” By the end, I was gritting my teeth, barely holding back. But she simply shrugged off my hand, stepping back with a look of disgust. “Who wanted that useless guy to be good to me? Didn’t you two brothers do all this willingly?” “He promised me so much before, and now he won’t even verbally threaten you with me. Talk about being good to me? Please!” Her brazen audacity made me see red. I was about to charge at her, ready to make her pay for Leo’s death. Then Jax stepped forward. He kicked me hard in the chest, spitting venomously: “What the hell are you looking at, you idiot? If you don’t give us the special cure, your brother’s fate will be your parents’ fate!” He kept hitting me harder, brutally breaking one of my legs completely before he finally snarled: “If you hadn’t tried to stop me back then, how would I have slept with her and gotten AIDS?!” “You’re a doctor, aren’t you? If you don’t give me the medicine to live, I’m dragging you down with me! We’ll die together!” He kicked my broken leg again, and I cried out in agony: “I *did* try to stop you! But you were the one gambling, hoping you’d get away with it! Why are you blaming me now?!” Hearing that, my wife raised her hand and slapped me hard across the face: “So what?! You were the one who swore we’d live and die together! Are you going to go back on your word now?!” “And besides, aren’t you supposed to be a compassionate doctor? If I die and you live, you’ll be infamous for letting two lives die!”

The mention of “two lives” made me realize that Blair, my super fertile wife, was pregnant again. I froze on the spot. Seeing me still unmoving, Jax panicked. He grabbed my head, forcing me to look him in the eye, then leaned in and threatened: “If either of us reports you to the hospital, your career, your entire life, will be ruined!” With that, he tied me up, then proceeded to plunge ninety-nine silver needles into my veins, his voice chillingly calm: “The needles will travel through your bloodstream to your heart, slowly causing a myocardial infarction until you die.” “You and I are tied together now, whether you like it or not. If I don’t live, you won’t either.” A fierce repulsion surged through my body, and I writhed on the floor in pain. My wife stood by, completely detached, as if it had nothing to do with her. She slowly said: “This useless guy’s been working like a dog for fifteen years, and he’s still just a junior doctor. What good is he?” “Expecting him to steal medicine from the hospital? You’d have better luck waiting for him to die first and pave the way for us to hell.” Hearing that, Jax spat a glob of thick phlegm at me, where I lay on the floor: “Maybe the old him wouldn’t have, but those silver needles are covered in both our infected blood…” “Even if he doesn’t want to save us, he’ll have to for his paralyzed brother’s funeral. He’s selfish enough to save himself.” Listening to them shamelessly discuss my brother right in front of me again, I couldn’t take it anymore: “Don’t you dare slander my brother! Even if I die, I’ll drag you both down with me to pay for what you did to him!” I pushed through the pain in my body and stood up, feeling the silver needles twitching wildly in my veins. Seeing my defiance, Jax grabbed Leo’s corpse with one hand, waving it in front of me, and sneered: “Do you still think you’re the renowned Dr. Asher from back then?” “The moment you chose to marry her, sacrificing your brother’s legs, you lost the right to wield a scalpel.” His taunt made my eyes widen, and I turned to glare at my wife, my gaze burning with fury: “Blair! I told you my secret because I valued our marriage, and you truly want to destroy me?!” Her eyes were filled with mockery, not a hint of apology as she spoke: “You’re just too stupid. That secret you’ve hidden for so long? I already broadcasted it to everyone. Your parents, your colleagues, they all know what a rotten person you are!” “Ten years ago, you watched your brother become crippled. Ten years later, you’ll watch your wife become a death that takes two lives! Asher, once these things happen, you’ll never wash away your sins!” Jax, meanwhile, continued to cruelly manipulate Leo’s lifeless body. The video call he dialed on his phone tore away my last layer of pretense. My parents’ pleading voices came through the phone, mixed with frantic shouts, and I froze solid. I could only watch, helpless, as they hung my parents on the Pendulum ride at the amusement park, then cranked the speed to maximum. Seeing me utterly broken, Jax stomped on my face, sneering viciously: “Asher, surprised, huh? You never thought you’d be this pathetic, this powerless, did you?” “You abandoned your own brother for fame and fortune, so I guess you wouldn’t care about your parents either, right?” “You always crushed me before! But now you’re so desperate, worse than a stray dog, a useless piece of trash who can’t even protect his own parents! Hilarious, hahahaha!” I realized that she and Jax were deliberately trying to trigger my deepest pain, but at that moment, I felt utterly powerless. After all, the woman who once promised to be my one and only, for life, had changed long, long ago.

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For five years, I was Alex Thorne’s personal assistant. We never spoke of love, yet we did everything intimate, until the woman who truly held his heart came back. He fired me. I had seen this coming. No tears, no drama. I just packed my bags. The very next day, he was in tears, regretting it. Half an hour ago, the news from HR hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest: I was fired. My colleague gently patted my shoulder, her eyes full of pity. “We all tried, Chloe, but the decision was final.” The announcement didn’t shock me. Instead, a strange calm settled over me, as if I’d been expecting it. Rumors had been quietly circulating in the company all last week: CEO Alex Thorne was engaged. His fiancée was Celeste Hayes, heiress to the Hayes empire, his ex-girlfriend, and the woman he’d always truly loved. Since his dream had finally come true, it was only natural that the “extra baggage” in his life would be cleared out. Even though Alex and I had never openly defined our relationship, who in the company didn’t know we had a complicated, unspoken arrangement? With that connection, no one dared to touch me. No one, unless it was Alex himself. I got the notice that morning and completed all my handovers by the afternoon. My replacement looked utterly miserable, complaining non-stop, “Chloe, what will the assistant’s office do without you?” Alex’s temper was legendary – erratic and explosive. A coffee not at the perfect temperature could send him into a rage. The assistant’s office, being closest to him, often became his punching bag. But five years ago, when I arrived, everything changed. Making his coffee, ordering his meals, submitting his reports, even smoothing over mistakes from other departments—I handled it all, calming him down. My colleagues often said those five years were the easiest they’d ever worked under Alex. I smiled, showing them again. “Get the water temperature right, and Alex won’t cause a fuss.” “I hear there’s someone in this company who understands Alex better than anyone, his ‘special exception,’ is that you?” A voice came from behind me. I turned. Celeste Hayes stood there, taking off her sunglasses, her gaze sharp. My colleague, holding her coffee, lowered her head and hurried away. I offered a polite smile. “Ms. Hayes, you flatter me. If I were a ‘special exception,’ I wouldn’t be standing here today.” “In this company, aren’t only those who lack competence fired?” Her words seemed to ignite something in Celeste. She suddenly grabbed the hot water kettle from the desk and splashed it towards me. A mocking smirk played on her lips. “You’ve got a sharp tongue, but let’s see if you can handle the heat!” The hot water splattered on me, my skin instantly turning red. Luckily, Alex always drank his coffee at a lukewarm temperature; otherwise, the consequences would have been unthinkable. Just then, Alex appeared. He walked towards Celeste with a smile, gently brushing a stray strand of hair from her forehead. Celeste linked her arm through his, stating bluntly, “I had a bit of a disagreement with an employee and couldn’t help but splash some hot water on her.” Alex finally looked at me, his eyes cold, as if I were a complete stranger. “If you splashed her, you splashed her. I’ll have someone compensate her. No need to delay our date for someone so insignificant.” “I booked that amazing Italian place you love. We can head there now.” They walked past me, embracing, Celeste’s gaze full of triumphant mockery. Whether it was the sting of the hot water or a dull ache deep in my chest, my heart felt like it was being sliced open. But that kind of pain… I never wanted to feel it again.

After leaving the company, I didn’t go straight home. Instead, I walked into a quiet coffee shop. Liam Harrison was already there, idly stirring his coffee. “Mr. Harrison, good to see you,” I greeted softly. “I’ve resigned from Thorne Corp and am ready to start at your company anytime.” Hearing my voice, Liam stopped stirring, looked up, and offered a gentle smile. “Welcome, Chloe Davis, to our team. No rush to start work, though. I hear your relationship with Alex Thorne was… unique. Now that he’s getting married, I imagine you need some time to adjust, right? I’ll give you three days to sort out your personal affairs. You can officially start after that, okay?” I subconsciously frowned. While I knew my relationship with Alex couldn’t be kept entirely secret, I hadn’t realized it was already common knowledge within their circles. Liam Harrison’s company was the first I’d contacted after leaving Thorne Corp. More accurately, he contacted me. After Celeste Hayes returned and Alex announced his engagement, Liam sought me out, offering an incredibly generous deal. Honestly, at first, I couldn’t believe it. “Mr. Harrison, if I may ask, why are you offering me such favorable terms?” I couldn’t help but ask. Liam looked calm, taking a slow sip of coffee, and gave me an answer that left me half-believing. “I know Alex. Anyone who can last five years as his assistant clearly has the skills to run an entire department for us.” “And I don’t want ‘unforeseen complications’ to arise with our business partners once you’re on board.” After some thought, I finally accepted Liam’s invitation. After all, the terms he offered were indeed enticing, and I desperately needed the money right now. Just as I nodded in agreement, a familiar cold laugh echoed from behind me. Alex Thorne walked into the coffee shop, hand-in-hand with Celeste Hayes. I knew him too well. Whenever he made that sound, it meant he was angry. Not just angry, but furious. “Well, well, Mr. Harrison. Long time no see. So, Harrison Industries is willing to pick up my company’s discards?” “But I should warn you, Mr. Harrison, this one is untrustworthy and a total gold-digger. As an employee, you’d be wise to be cautious.” I listened silently to every word Alex said about me. My fingers, hidden under the table, were digging so deeply into my knees I could almost feel blood oozing. Honestly, the moment Alex fired me, I didn’t hate him. After all, what we had was nothing more than a five-year arrangement. He gave me money, and I slept with him. But I didn’t understand why he was still so aggressive, even after I’d left Thorne Corp. I bit my lower lip hard, fighting back the sting in my nose, desperate not to let a single tear fall. “Mr. Thorne, if I truly stole anything from Thorne Corp, you can call the police and have me arrested. But please, don’t slander me!” Alex gave me a cold stare and said nothing more. But Celeste stepped forward, a smile playing on her lips. “Miss Davis, it was just a joke, why are you getting so emotional? Is the compensation not enough? Are you trying to shake me down for more?” Saying this, she pulled a wad of cash from her bag and threw it at me. “I heard your mother’s still in the hospital, needs money for treatment, right? But that doesn’t mean you can throw away your dignity.” “Consider this your payout!”

The moment Celeste’s words fell, the stack of money hit my face hard. I didn’t know which edge it was, but one of the bills cut my right cheek, leaving a faint streak of blood. All eyes in the coffee shop turned to me—some sympathetic, some mocking, and some filled with undisguised malice. “She is now an employee of Harrison Industries. She has nothing to do with Thorne Corp anymore. Do you really think I’ll stand by and let you bully people like this?” Liam Harrison’s face turned cold as he suddenly looked up at Celeste. Celeste instinctively recoiled two steps, hiding behind Alex. It was the first time I’d seen Alex so anxious about someone. He immediately shielded Celeste, glaring at Liam. Finally, he glanced dismissively at me. “So what if her face got scratched? That ten thousand dollars is compensation enough. If anything, she made out like a bandit.” As he spoke, Alex narrowed his eyes at me. I knew he was warning me to take the money and be quiet. If I didn’t, he had countless ways to make my life even harder. Five years of shared history had left no mark on his heart. He had never once been truly sincere with me. I forced a strained smile, picking up the scattered bills one by one, feeling utterly humiliated. “Don’t worry, Mr. Thorne. I definitely made out.” Every word was forced out through gritted teeth, my gums almost bleeding. Celeste scoffed. “Just like a pathetic lap dog!” I clenched my jaw, the soft flesh inside my mouth almost bitten raw, a strong metallic taste spreading on my tongue. I dared not look up, knowing I must look pathetic and ridiculous. Finally, Liam sighed, took my hand, and led me out of the coffee shop. “Rest well for three days. I’ll see you at Harrison Industries then.” Back at my rental, Alex’s jacket was still on the messy bed. I started tidying the place, gathering all his belongings into a box. I planned to return them to him sometime, or just toss them out. After hours of work, I realized that over the past five years, his presence had permeated every corner of this apartment. The toothbrushes and towels in the bathroom, the potted plant on the windowsill, the apron in the kitchen… Turns out, in those five years, I had unknowingly started treating him like a real boyfriend, not just a transaction. Though I didn’t want to admit it, that was the reality. The lock suddenly turned, and his familiar silhouette appeared, just like he used to. Alex immediately spotted the box of his things I’d packed and sneered coldly, “So, you found a new sugar daddy, and now you’re desperate to kick your old one to the curb?” “Chloe Davis, are you really that pathetic? Can’t you live without money?” I bit my lower lip hard, the deep indentations of my teeth clearly visible. So, in Alex Thorne’s mind, that’s all I was—worthless. But none of it mattered anymore. A heart that had died wouldn’t come back to life. “We agreed to five years from the start. The time’s up, you’re getting married, and I won’t hold you back.” “Besides, I’ve resigned from Thorne Corp. Mr. Thorne, you have no reason to stay here, do you?” He said nothing, his face incredibly grim. He sat on the sofa, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. I quickly pushed the organized box towards him. “I’ve packed everything. You can take it with you.” As soon as I spoke, Alex’s expression darkened even further. I didn’t know what he was angry about. Like a five-year old instinct, my mind quickly ran through every possible reason for his anger. Finally, I remembered something and told him, “I’ll be giving notice on this apartment too, don’t worry. As for our five years together, I won’t say a word to anyone, especially not to Ms. Hayes. And I won’t disturb you anymore.” Alex froze for a moment. In the dim light, his expression was unreadable. Soon, he let out a cold laugh, leaning in to pinch my chin. A moment later, a red fingerprint appeared on my jaw. “Good, you’re sensible. Otherwise, you’ll pay!” “I don’t want these things. You’ve touched them. They’re contaminated!” With that, Alex turned and left. His words stole my breath. The tears I’d been holding back finally broke free, falling one by one. I closed my eyes, letting the tears stream down. And he, he never looked back.

The next two days, I found a new place near Harrison Industries and gave notice on my old rental. After finally finishing the move, I managed to squeeze in a visit to the hospital. Mom was still the same, lying in bed, unresponsive. Ever since a car accident five years ago, Mom had been in a vegetative state. She survived only with the help of hospital equipment. As usual, I massaged her limbs to improve circulation. Then, following the doctor’s instructions, I slowly told her about my recent life. “Mom, I left Thorne Corp. I have a new job now.” “This new job pays much better. Don’t worry about me. Just focus on getting better and waking up soon.” After doing everything, Mom’s vitals remained flat, unchanged from before. Leaving the hospital, I rushed to Harrison Industries. Although the three days weren’t up yet, I chose to start work early. Thanks to Liam’s instructions, my onboarding process sailed through, given a green light every step of the way. To familiarize myself with the work quickly, I stayed late on my first day, working overtime. By the time I got home, it was already late into the night. As soon as I lay down and pulled out my phone, former colleagues from Thorne Corp’s assistant’s office started messaging me in our SnapChat group, venting their frustrations. [Alex must’ve eaten something bad today, his temper is out of control! Without Chloe here, none of us can calm him down!] [One minute he says the temperature’s wrong, the next the water’s not enough, then the coffee’s too little. Chloe, I followed all the notes you left me, and he still finds a million things wrong!] [Me too. I got yelled at all day. I don’t want to do this anymore!] I read for a while, then simply closed my phone without replying. Since I’d already left Thorne Corp, Alex Thorne’s habits had absolutely nothing to do with me anymore. In the days that followed, I fully immersed myself in my work at Harrison Industries. Soon, Liam Harrison directly assigned me a task: to create a new proposal. It was a good thing I’d always been in the assistant’s office; I’d often handled proposals. I worked overtime for several days straight, the dark circles under my eyes impossible to hide, my entire orbital bone outlined in shadow. Until the day the project bids were presented, Liam asked me to attend with him. The biggest competitor for this project happened to be Alex Thorne’s Thorne Corp. At the project banquet, Alex Thorne and Celeste Hayes were the center of attention, with many people congratulating them. It was as if they already had the project in their hands. When Liam Harrison and I appeared, we quickly caught Alex and Celeste’s attention. When our gazes locked, a silent battle of intentions played out. Celeste smirked with open provocation, directly taunting me. “Mr. Harrison, your proposal for this project isn’t by Miss Davis, is it? You’d better open your eyes wide then. This woman only knows how to con you out of money; she can’t plan for anything, otherwise, why would Thorne Corp have fired her!” “And she’s no good person. She used to be so shameless, trying to hook up with our Alex, but he rejected her. Now she’s conned her way into Mr. Harrison’s good graces.” Her voice wasn’t quiet, as if she wanted everyone to hear. Soon, it attracted the attention of many people at the banquet, and whispers erupted. I clenched my fists, gritting my teeth as I tried to defend myself. “I wasn’t fired because of my work ability, and I never tried to hook up with Mr. Thorne!” The words had barely left my mouth. Celeste pulled out her phone and played an audio clip. The clip was edited, with the beginning and end cut off, leaving only one sentence from me and one from Alex. I said, “I won’t say anything about anything that happened between us.” Then came Alex’s rejection. “They’re contaminated!” I spun around, looking at him sharply. Alex’s eyes flickered, avoiding my gaze. Celeste laughed wildly, asking me, “The evidence is all here, Chloe. What do you have to say for yourself now?”

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Julian Grayson’s first love, the woman he’d always adored, just gave birth to their third child. For our tenth anniversary, he paraded his *third* child by her in front of me, his voice strangely calm: “Serena’s children are the future of the Grayson legacy. As my wife, it’s your duty to raise them right.” I didn’t scream or break down like before. I just quietly took the baby. Loud, mocking laughter erupted, filling the ballroom. “I heard she used to throw terrible tantrums,” someone snickered. “Guess she finally learned her lesson.” “The Reynolds are bankrupt anyway,” someone whispered, “she knows fighting is pointless. No kids of her own, she’ll be tossed out eventually.” Julian simply watched, letting their snide remarks and humiliating stares wash over me. I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth, then forced a small smile. “Julian, I want a divorce.” Julian looked like I’d just told the funniest joke. He sneered, “Aurora Reynolds, if you can cough up a billion dollars right now, I’ll sign the papers immediately. Otherwise, stop this pathetic act!” I didn’t say a word. I just dialled an unfamiliar number. “I accept your terms.” The man on the other end chuckled softly, his voice cultured and smooth. “A mere billion dollars. I can have it wired to you anytime.”

“But, are you sure you want to bind yourself to me for a man who’s not worth it?” The guests’ whispers sliced through me like knives. “I heard the Reynolds are drowning in debt. They’re only surviving because Mr. Grayson throws them scraps.” “Like a stray dog. If she leaves him, she’ll be living on the streets by tomorrow, won’t she?” I looked at the baby in my arms, a child that wasn’t mine, and felt a familiar ache in my heart. Ten years of marriage. Ten years of Julian and Serena, his childhood sweetheart and the woman who helped him build his empire, having three children and giving them to me to raise. Six years ago, I cried and raged, refusing them, utterly broken. Julian showed no mercy. He used the very survival of my family, the Reynolds, to force me into submission. Three years ago, I rebelled again. Julian, without a word, confiscated my cards and threw me out. I remember freezing in the winter cold, my mind hazy with despair, until I finally returned, weeping, begging Julian for forgiveness. We fell in love young. At his most devoted, he even shielded me from an enemy’s bullet. But now, we’d grown to despise the sight of each other. It was time to end this. “I’m sure.” The man let out a pleased laugh. “Three days from now, everything will be as you wish.” The call ended. I stood in silence for a long time. Seeing my red eyes and my quiet refusal to speak, Julian’s mocking expression softened slightly. “Aurora, raising Serena’s children well is what truly matters. As long as you’re obedient, the position of Mrs. Grayson is yours forever. No more drama, okay?” He was actually *coaxing* me, a rare occurrence, but it was all for her. I had no strength left to fight. Clutching the baby, I turned and walked away. As soon as I stepped back into the Grayson mansion, a picture book slammed into my forehead. The pain was so sharp I almost dropped the baby. Six-year-old Leo, their first child, was glaring at me, his face a mask of fury. “Why didn’t you warm up my milk?!” I winced, glancing at the two nannies nearby. One was filing her nails, the other scrolling on her phone, rolling her eyes. “Mr. Grayson said it’s *your* job to look after the young master. Don’t blame us for your laziness, Mrs. Grayson.” Right… Julian had arranged all of this. Julian deliberately made me care for his and Serena’s children, under the guise of “a wife’s duty.” I remembered when Leo had a high fever, how I stayed awake for three days and nights, nursing him, a weak premature baby. When he had chickenpox, I covered myself in ointment and quarantined with him. Despite the mess between Julian and Serena, the children were innocent… Yet, the children I poured my heart into raising were now staring at me like I was their enemy. Blood truly ran thicker than water. In their eyes, I was nothing more than a glorified nanny, to be ordered around. I warmed his milk, but as I handed it to him, he violently knocked it over. “Can’t you even take care of a child properly?” Julian was back. His cold voice came from behind me. He shoved me away. “What if you burned Leo?!” My throat tightened. I’d tested the milk. It wasn’t hot enough to burn anyone, and besides… I was the one who got splashed. Leo made a smug face at me, then burrowed into Julian’s arms. “Daddy, Mommy is clumsy. When are you taking me out to play?!” Julian ruffled his hair fondly. “In three days, we’ll all go out with Serena, and bring your brother and sister.” Serena’s smile stiffened when she heard him say her name, but she clutched Julian’s arm even tighter. I noticed an emerald ring on her finger – a precious heirloom my mother had entrusted to Julian before she died. My marriage to Julian was a billion-dollar deal. Thirteen years ago, when Julian wasn’t yet the head of the Grayson Empire, we were deeply in love. Then, I was accidentally misdiagnosed with late-stage stomach cancer. To avoid burdening him and jeopardizing his fight for the family business, I faked family opposition and broke up with him. Later, when my family, the Reynolds, faced bankruptcy, Julian appeared with a billion dollars. He said if I married him, he’d use the money to save my family. I was so naive back then. I thought he loved me too much to let me go, that I was getting a second chance at our shattered love. I never imagined he came back filled with hatred. On her deathbed, my mother entrusted him with that ring. He promised, with tears in his eyes, he’d treat me well. Now, that ring sat on Serena’s hand, a bitter mockery of everything. “Aurora,” she purred, noticing my gaze, “Julian said this looks beautiful on me.” She playfully wiggled her hand. “He said you’re always focused on the kids, why bother with appearances? It’s just a waste on you.” Julian casually added, “It was just sitting there, collecting dust anyway.” My heart felt a complicated, inexpressible bitterness. I just wanted to turn and leave. “Oh!” Serena suddenly shrieked. The ring slipped from her finger, shattering into pieces on the floor. My instinct was to bend down and pick it up, but then everything went black as I crashed into the coffee table. As blood streamed down my temple, I caught a glimpse of Julian’s momentary panic. He frowned, his hand instinctively reaching out to steady me. But then Serena suddenly cried out in pain, clutching her ankle. He instantly pulled his hand back, sweeping Serena into his arms with anxious concern. I fell to the floor with a thud.

“Oh, Aurora, how clumsy can you be?” Serena leaned into Julian’s embrace, her voice sickly sweet. “Julian, should we call a doctor to check on her?” Julian frowned, glancing at me. After a moment of hesitation, his tone grew impatient. “It’s just a scratch. Don’t be so dramatic.” He turned and carried Serena and their children upstairs to rest. I walked alone to my small, forgotten annex. Behind me, the nannies’ sneers were unconcealed. “Still putting on her ‘lady of the house’ act, huh? Hope she breaks her neck!” I curled up on my narrow bed, sleeping until midnight. The wound on my forehead still throbbed. Footsteps approached outside the door, followed by Julian’s cold voice. “Grandfather’s eightieth birthday gala is tomorrow. You’d better behave yourself.” I didn’t respond. The door was abruptly shoved open. Julian’s tall figure stood in the doorway, a first-aid kit in his hand. Before I could react, he roughly pulled me up, his grip so strong it made me wince. “You know it hurts, so why didn’t you put on some medicine?” He stared at my wound, a cold smirk on his face, but skillfully took out an alcohol wipe. “You’re not trying to let Grandfather see you looking like this tomorrow so he’ll take your side, are you?” “Julian,” I asked softly, “why did you marry me?” His movements paused for a beat, then he mockingly pinched my chin. “Because you needed the Grayson family’s billion dollars.” In the darkness, I silently laughed, tears streaming down my face. I should have known. He didn’t marry me out of love. For ten years, he’d resented my parents for tearing us apart, unaware that I left him because I was misdiagnosed with cancer. By the time I wanted to tell him the truth, he hated me to his core. I pulled the divorce papers from my bag and placed them on the bed. Over the years, I’d suggested divorce a few times, but it never worked. The Reynolds were bankrupt, and Julian had me confined to the house, taking care of the children. I had no way to come up with a billion dollars for my freedom, as he’d demanded. He knew it too, never taking my requests seriously. He sounded impatient. “Aurora, are you ever going to stop this drama?” “This time, it’s real.” My voice was soft, yet firm. “I’ll find a way to pay you back. Even if you don’t believe me, my feelings for you…” Serena’s sweet, whiny voice drifted down from upstairs. “Julian~ Where did you put my pink lingerie~?” Julian immediately let go of me, crumpling the divorce papers and tossing them into the trash. “Alright, you’ve squandered every last dime you ever had. Besides me, who else would give you a billion dollars?” The door slammed shut. The next day, I forced myself to apply makeup, covering the wound on my forehead, and arrived at the birthday gala. Julian’s assistant, however, seated me in the very last row, in a corner, at the same table as the Grayson family’s drivers and nannies. “Well, isn’t that Mrs. Grayson?” A socialite passed by, covering her mouth with a delicate laugh. “What are you doing sitting here?” I sat down in silence, whispers drifting from behind me. “I heard Mr. Grayson brought another child back. Miss Hayes is so fertile, so blessed with children. No wonder he adores her.” “Right? And his legitimate wife is stuck at the staff tables. So embarrassing.” I gripped my napkin, my knuckles white. A moment later, Julian strode over, Serena trailing behind him. “Who told you to sit here?” The assistant stammered, “Miss Hayes said you wanted Mrs. Grayson to sit here.” Serena’s face instantly paled with feigned panic. But Julian merely frowned, saying nothing. Her triumphant smile returned. I followed Julian to greet Grandfather. After a few kind words and some loving concern for me, Grandfather turned to Serena, his expression displeased. “The Grayson family threshold isn’t for just anyone to cross. Next time, don’t bring strays.” Serena’s face went chalk-white. Just then, Leo and Mia suddenly rushed to her, sweetly calling her ‘Serena’. Serena’s expression softened considerably. After all, she had given Julian three children. Even if Grandfather disliked her, he would still give her face for the children’s sake. Grandfather snorted and called Julian away. I was about to stand up and leave when Serena, with a cold smile, suddenly pressed down on my shoulder. “Aurora, let’s play a game.”

Serena pulled a thermos from her handbag. In a blind spot, hidden from most eyes, she suddenly grabbed Mia’s wrist. “Good girl,” she cooed, covering the child’s eyes. “Mommy’s going to do a magic trick for you.” “No!” I lunged forward to stop her, but she shoved me away. The next second, a piercing scream echoed through the grand hall. Mia’s fair arm instantly swelled and blistered. Serena, quick as a flash, shoved the thermos into my hand. “Help me!” Serena knelt, clutching a wailing, heartbroken Mia. “Aurora, if you have a problem with me, come at me! Why would you scald Mia with boiling water?! She’s just a child!” I froze, stunned. I couldn’t believe she would do something so twisted and heartless just to frame me, even hurting her own child! Julian rushed over, saw Mia’s injuries, and without a second thought, kicked me to the ground. He roared, “How could you lay a hand on such a small child?! Are you even human?!” Julian called the family doctor to treat Mia’s burns. Leo suddenly burst into tears. I lay on the ground, struggling to push myself up. My trembling hand reached out to Leo. “Leo, baby, don’t be scared… tell Daddy… who it was just now…” Before I could finish, Leo recoiled in terror, hiding behind Julian, sobbing. “It was Mommy! She threw hot water on Mia! I’m so scared!” I instantly froze, my outstretched hand falling limply. “Just because I brought Serena to one party, you’re jealous to this extent? They’re the children you raised with your own hands!” I opened my mouth, a metallic taste of blood growing stronger in my throat. It finally coalesced into a barely audible, bitter laugh. I looked into Julian’s furious eyes. “Julian, do you really believe that?” “He’s only six! Can he lie?!” The surrounding guests buzzed with chatter. Someone pointed at me, calling me “vicious.” Someone else whispered, “No wonder she can’t have children, her heart is so cruel.” The tide of accusations washed over me, drowning me. What hurt more was Julian’s hateful gaze, like a knife twisting in my heart. In his mind, I was just a jealous, wicked woman. Serena nestled against Julian, her eyes red. “Aurora, if you’re sick, you need help. How could you do something so cruel?” Leo’s crying grew louder, saying he was scared of me. Julian pointed at me, roaring, “Aurora, get out! Get out of our sight!” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, shakily stood up, and pulled the divorce papers, which had never left my bag, from my purse. I offered a desolate smile. “Yes, I should go… Sign the papers, and I’ll obediently disappear.” Julian’s anger flared. He stood up abruptly, ripped the divorce papers to shreds, and threw them in my face. “Without a billion dollars, don’t even *think* about divorce! You, Aurora Reynolds, will be my wife for life!” Outside, the rain poured down. I stumbled into the deluge, the cold raindrops mixing with my tears, washing over me. Ten years of marriage, of genuine love and unspoken endurance. Tomorrow, when I got that money, it would all be over, right? The next second, my vision went black, and I tumbled down the stairs. I braced for impact, expecting to hit the bottom, but instead, I fell into a warm, strong embrace. “Just a little late, and you’ve already managed to get yourself into such a mess, hmm?” When I next woke, I was in a hospital bed. The man before me had handsome, striking features. He was Caspian Thorne, the current head of the powerful Monarch Group. I was about to speak when I noticed a familiar diamond cufflink on his suit sleeve. It was the gift I’d given a lifesaver on my eighteenth birthday. “Finally recognized me? My unrequited love for you for over a decade hasn’t been in vain.” Caspian leaned closer, his voice deep and magnetic. Memories flooded back. When I was eighteen, I was kidnapped. A boy risked his life to save me. As he left, I pressed my most precious birthday gift into his hand… “It’s… you…” My voice trembled. I instinctively tried to sit up. He quickly held me, his expression suddenly tense. “Careful. The doctor said you’re pregnant. Eight weeks.” My entire body stiffened. The timing was exactly when Julian last touched me. He’d been completely drunk that night, mistaking me for Serena. Caspian sneered. “Interesting. Julian Grayson kicks you out, but has no idea his wife is carrying his child.” Then he smirked, his gaze burning as he stared at me. “But not for long.” I was so overwhelmed by the rapid succession of news, I couldn’t process it. “What?” Caspian chuckled. “The billion dollars has already been transferred. He’ll sign whether he wants to or not.” At that moment, Julian was sitting in the villa garden, watching Serena and the two children play on the lawn. “Aurora didn’t come back all night. How can she be so stubborn with you, darling? The baby cried all night, it broke my heart.” Julian was about to respond with a cold laugh when his phone vibrated. He casually checked the message, still thinking about how he’d teach me a lesson when I returned. But the message on his screen made his smile freeze instantly— [Your account has received a transfer of $1,000,000,000.00. Memo: Divorce Redemption]

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I transmigrated into the villainess of a novel. But I never did anything wrong. I even became friends with the female lead and married the gentle second male lead. I always thought I was incredibly happy, Until I read my husband’s diary. Turns out, he was reborn. All these years of tender affection were just to keep me from hurting the female lead… Staring at the pregnancy test results in my hand, feeling the tiny life stirring in my belly, I felt a sense of peace I’d never known. I’d lived in this world for 13 years, and in this moment, it felt like I finally had a true home, a real connection. I transmigrated into this novel world after my death, becoming the villainess with the same name, who had done countless terrible things. But I felt incredibly lucky. When I arrived, the story hadn’t even begun, and I hadn’t done anything to offend the main characters. In fact, because Stella was so cheerful, we became the best of friends, sharing everything. I became her wingwoman, encouraging her to pursue love, watching her and the male lead fall deeply for each other, and standing as a bridesmaid as she married the man she loved. Stella was the second person I wanted to share my good news with; As for the first, well, that was my husband, of course. My husband, Liam, was originally the gentle second male lead in the novel, always silently protecting Stella. I don’t know if my presence caused a butterfly effect, but he stopped being Stella’s loyal follower and instead showered all his attention and favoritism on me. We’d walked hand-in-hand for 13 years, and I genuinely felt loved, so I married him without a second thought. Now, our little family was about to welcome a new life, and I couldn’t wait to tell him the good news.

I pondered and pondered, thinking it would be better if he discovered it himself rather than me just blurting it out. I snuck into his study, sat down in his chair, and casually pulled open a drawer. An old notebook immediately caught my eye. I noticed it right away because it stood out amongst the neatly organized files. It must have been tucked away at the very bottom, and in his rush to leave, a corner had accidentally peeked out. I carefully picked up the notebook to look at it, feeling both amused and bewildered. It was one of those girlish notebooks from our school days, quite old, but it looked like he opened it often to write. The edges were curled, and the pages were yellowed. My husband and I had always been open with each other, so I had no qualms. I naturally opened it to browse. The first page had “Forever Love” written in large English cursive. I smiled to myself, my cheeks burning. Could this be a love letter he wrote to me? I took out my pregnancy test results, intending to tuck them inside. I wanted to give him my most precious “love letter” too. I carefully turned to the first page and instantly froze – “My forever love, Stella.” Stella. The female lead of the story. Suddenly, my blood ran cold, and my entire body went numb. It felt like my throat was stuffed with thick cotton, making even breathing difficult. My fingers trembled, yet they uncontrollably turned page after page, reading every word carefully. With a compulsive, almost masochistic drive, I read the entire diary, word for word. More than a diary, it was an unsent love letter, summed up in a few crushing words: Liam loved Stella. A love unrequited. Turns out, Liam was reborn; Turns out, Liam had always loved Stella deeply; Turns out, all his care and favoritism towards me were nothing but an act! He had to keep an eye on me, preventing any possibility of me harming his beloved. The joy of pregnancy had vanished without a trace, leaving only a bitter taste in my mouth. For 13 years, I never once thought of harming Stella, but in that moment, I genuinely envied her. I envied that a brief moment of kindness and warmth she offered could make a man love her so deeply for 13 years, even sacrificing himself to entangle with the villainess just to ensure her happiness. My emotions were a tangled mess, pain and despair intertwined. I didn’t even remember how long I cried, only that my world felt horrifyingly unreal.

Exhausted, I fell asleep on the couch until Liam came home and startled me awake. He reeked of alcohol, stumbling as he walked. “Honey, I’m home…” he said, smiling at me. “Sorry, I had a work dinner tonight, got back late.” I forced a bitter smile, one that didn’t quite reach my eyes, but still performed my wifely duties. I went over to help him, loosening his tight tie and unbuttoning his collar. “Thanks, honey. You’re the best.” I looked closely at Liam and realized his thanks were perfunctory. If he had paid any attention, he would have seen the redness and swelling around my eyes. Perhaps putting on this fake act for me had simply become his habit. I helped Liam to bed, took off his socks and clothes, and even prepared to wipe his face and body. Drunkenness had lowered Liam’s guard. He seemed to drop his vigilance, unconsciously revealing his true feelings with weary exhaustion. “Stella…” My whole body stiffened. I thought I was hallucinating. My gaze was fixed on Liam, my nails digging into my palms… “Stella.” The cruel reminder struck again. As if to torture myself, I instinctively imitated Stella’s tone. “Liam, dear.” Liam suddenly clutched my hand tightly, his hazy, drunken eyes filled with undeniable tenderness. “Stella, as long as you’re happy, everything I do is worth it.” That single sentence trapped me once more in this cage of deception. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Everything around me twisted and distorted. I stumbled out of the room, desperate to escape the bedroom. The love I had given everything for, from beginning to end, was nothing but a joke.

I slept terribly. All the horrible things the original villainess, Chloe, had done in the novel replayed wildly in my mind. Chloe leading a gang to bully the female lead, Chloe hiring thugs to assault the female lead, Chloe using her family background to suppress the female lead… In my dream, Chloe suddenly turned around, and it was a face identical to mine. That face was twisted and grotesque, so terrifying that even I was horrified. Time seemed to fly by in the dream, and the male lead and second male lead quickly grew powerful, then exacted their brutal revenge on me. Liam’s cold, indifferent eyes stared at me calmly, as if I were a dead object. “Since you enjoy ruining lives so much, why don’t you experience it yourself?” I was brutally violated and left for dead in despair, abandoned beside a filthy dumpster, choking on my last breath. “No!” I screamed, waking myself up! I looked up to meet Liam’s concerned gaze, which overlapped with the brutal, ruthless image from my dream. I trembled with fear. Liam was helping me pull up the blanket, looking utterly confused by my reaction. “Honey, what’s wrong? Why are you sleeping on the couch? What if you catch a cold?” “Honey, are you mad that I drank too much last night? I’m sorry, yesterday’s client was really important.” I shook my head, enveloped by fatigue and terror. I didn’t want to say anything. There was no guest room in the house. Liam had once vowed that he would never make me mad enough to kick him out to a guest room; even if he did, he’d be considerate enough to sleep on the floor beside me. But now, with actual conflict, I didn’t even have my own space. He was clearly keeping a very close eye on me. Liam didn’t notice my distress, frowning as he whined pitifully. “Honey, my work dinner yesterday was so tough, my head is throbbing. Where’s the hangover soup?” “I forgot.” In truth, I hadn’t made any at all. Liam came from an ordinary background, while I was a typical rich kid. He always said he wanted to earn my father’s approval through his own efforts, to achieve more so he could be worthy of me. So Liam was a workaholic. He didn’t accept help from my family, instead choosing to start his own business. In the early years, to secure projects, he often drank heavily with partners, almost getting a stomach hemorrhage. I loved Liam deeply and, as his wife, I always took great care of him. To help him with the harm drinking did to his body, I sought out many remedies, often taking care of him all night just to ease his hangovers. If I hadn’t known his true intentions, perhaps I would have continued to be a dutiful wife, just like before. Yet, in reality, my efforts were all for naught. *“Chloe used her family background to harm Stella. I can’t let her have any chance to hurt my beloved Stella. I must make a name for myself in the business world, gain enough power to contend with the Chu family’s old man. If they hurt Stella like they did in the previous life, I will make the Chu Corporation pay a heavy price!”* Liam pushed himself relentlessly, only to gain real power and protect the woman he truly loved.

“Honey, what’s wrong today? You don’t look well. Are you feeling sick somewhere? Should I take you to the hospital?” I stared blankly at the man before me, wondering how much sincerity was in his concern now. I was debating whether to confront Liam when my phone suddenly rang. The caller ID showed two big words – Stella. Liam quickly grabbed the phone and handed it to me, his eyes urging me to “answer quickly.” I numbly tapped to answer, and Stella’s cheerful voice rang out. “Chloe, honey, we said we’d go to the art exhibition today, do you remember?” “I remember.” “Then let’s just meet at the coffee shop in front of the Art Gallery. Noah’s on his way to work and can drop me off.” “Okay.” After hanging up, before I could even open my mouth, Liam spoke first: “You have plans with Stella today? I’ll drive you.” “No need. Your company isn’t on the way.” Liam lovingly stroked my cheek. “Silly girl, everywhere is on the way when it’s for my wife. Go get changed!” Liam stood up and went back to the room to get ready, his back radiating happiness. He was going to see his beloved, of course he was thrilled. And he clearly forgot that he had just said he wanted to take me to the hospital because I looked unwell. After all, in Liam’s world, nothing was more important than Stella.

When Liam dropped me off at the coffee shop, Stella was happily sipping on a Mocha Cocoa Frappuccino. She naturally handed me a cup of hot milk and cheerfully greeted me. Liam gently cautioned me. “Girls shouldn’t drink too many cold drinks, it’s not good for your body, and it makes your period hurt. You’re not a kid anymore, you should take better care of yourself.” Stella laughed and teased. “Oh, wow, you two are so sweet! You’re flaunting your affection right in front of me.” Liam smiled and casually added, “You too, drink fewer cold things!” All that build-up was just to give *her* a warning. The hot milk in my hand suddenly felt scalding hot. Actually, I didn’t even like cold drinks. The care he wanted to give was never truly for me. “Alright, alright, I get it, you’re so naggy. Only Chloe can put up with you.” Liam chuckled, then turned to me and said, “I’ll come pick you two up for lunch. I remember you said you wanted to try that new Spanish restaurant in Uptown.” Once suspicion set in, I realized how clumsy his acting really was. It wasn’t *me* who wanted to try the Spanish restaurant, it was Stella. But I had been so blinded by love, and he had tried his best to deceive me. Now that the truth was exposed, I realized how naive I had been. Stella linked her arm through mine. “Okay, okay, you go now. Don’t interrupt our girl time.” She pulled me inside, still chattering excitedly. “Chloe, I’m super excited about Master Gu’s work…” I instinctively looked back at the man not far away. He was constantly observing us with a scrutinizing gaze, but the moment his eyes met mine, he instantly reined in his emotions. He put on a show of deep affection, an act of tender sweetness. Liam, aren’t you tired? After the exhibition, as soon as we exited the gallery, Liam’s car slowly pulled up. During the exhibition, he had asked me several times when he should come pick us up.

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My first day as an intern, and the new intern who started with me claimed she was the CEO’s fiancée. Naturally, she became the department’s golden child. Our manager, Mr. Davies, was so eager to kiss up to her, he rallied everyone to chip in a thousand bucks each for a grand wedding gift on the big day. Everyone meekly agreed, except for me. I just shook my head. “It’s *my* wedding, so I guess I don’t need to contribute to the gift, right?” The office erupted in laughter: “*Your* wedding? Seriously, the nerve of some people! Mrs. Sterling is right here!” “I saw her Ins full of posts crushing on Mr. Sterling. Is she, like, totally delusional?” “Seriously, she’s got some nerve, utterly shameless.” Jessica tried to smooth things over. “Let’s not be too hard on her. Maybe she needs that thousand bucks to eat.” I calmly replied, “Since you’re all so chummy with her, I assume you’re all invited to the wedding in a few days?” Jessica panicked. “How about you just transfer the money to me? The wedding tables are probably all booked. Once I’m done, Mr. Sterling and I will treat you all to dinner.” Watching her keep up the act, I turned around and sent wedding invitations to every single colleague. I couldn’t wait to see their faces when they realized *I* was the one in the wedding gown.

To better blend in with my husband’s company, I decided to go undercover as an intern. During the morning meeting, Mr. Davies, our manager, mysteriously announced some big news: “Listen up, everyone, I’ve got a secret! Mrs. Sterling herself is interning here, and she’s been assigned to our department! So you all better be on your best behavior, keep your eyes open, and be proactive, got it?” Everyone answered in unison, and I felt a bit awkward, so I started to say, “Actually, you don’t really need to…” I didn’t even finish my sentence before he cut me off with a stern lecture. “What do you know? If we don’t treat Mrs. Sterling right, our whole department could be facing a major shake-up!” “Exactly! You just graduated college, right? No wonder you don’t get it. You better work hard, don’t drag us down.” “If we get on Mrs. Sterling’s good side, promotions and raises will be a piece of cake!” Remembering I was supposed to be incognito and they hadn’t recognized me, I just nodded along. “Yes, yes, I’ll listen to the manager.” After the meeting, I found an empty desk. The moment my butt hit the chair, a male voice yelled at me: “Chloe! What are you doing?! Is that a seat you can just take?!” I turned to see Mr. Davies, the department manager, yelling at me. I looked at the workstation in front of me. I wasn’t even in *his* seat, so what was the problem? Mr. Davies came over and yanked me up from the chair. “Your spot is in the back! This prime spot, with the great lighting, is for our Mrs. Sterling!” Just as I stood there, utterly confused, the intern who started with me walked over, carrying some files. She looked down at me, a smirk on her face. Mr. Davies, ever the eager beaver, had already pulled me aside and was now beaming at her. “Next time you need any files, just tell me. No need for you to bother getting them yourself.” Wasn’t this Ashley, my old classmate? I waved at her, but she completely ignored me. Ashley glanced at her cup, and Mr. Davies immediately understood. He turned to me and snapped: “What are you staring at? Go make her a coffee, now!” Thinking I shouldn’t get fired on my first day, I swallowed my pride and went to get Ashley’s coffee. “Wait,” Ashley said, haughtily crossing her legs. “I want the hand-ground coffee from downstairs. Be a dear and go get it for me.” “Sure, I’ll go now.” It was pouring rain outside, and that quick trip soaked my pants from the knees down. She took a sip, then promptly poured the coffee all over me. “I said hand-ground, didn’t I? Are you deaf?!” The commotion made the other colleagues rush over, concerned: “Ma’am, what happened? Wasn’t the coffee to your liking?” “So clumsy, I wonder how she even got hired here. Go get another one!” I forced a laugh. “How are you all so sure *she’s* Mrs. Sterling?” Chapter

I had hidden my identity because I didn’t want to flaunt my status, but I never expected someone would exploit that loophole to impersonate me. Mr. Davies rushed out of his office, yelling at me. “Are you kidding me?! Only two interns started today. If it’s not Miss Ashley, then who is it? You, some broke nobody who rides public bikes?!” So that was it. This morning, I had grabbed a public bike, afraid that if Julian and I commuted together, we’d be recognized. That’s how Ashley got her chance to pretend to be me. Ashley crossed her arms and threw a hundred bucks at me. “Broke people will always be broke. She can’t even buy a decent coffee without my money. Go on, get me another one.” I wasn’t about to put up with her. I picked up the extra coffee I’d bought and splashed it right on her. “This *is* hand-ground! Can’t you taste it?!” Ashley gasped in shock, but the colleagues behind her were even more frantic. They scrambled, grabbing tissues and wiping her down. “Chloe! Are you insane?! How dare you pour coffee all over Mrs. Sterling!” Mr. Davies knelt on the floor, wiping Ashley’s shoes. “Ma’am, please don’t be angry. Blame only Chloe, this has nothing to do with us!” “Oh my God! Isn’t Mrs. Sterling’s dress a designer haute couture from Versace? I remember this set is custom-made, it must be worth at least a few hundred grand!” Brenda stood there, gloating, looking at me. “Chloe, that’s over a million bucks! How are you going to pay for that, huh?” “Hilarious! With her salary, she’ll never be able to pay that off, even if she worked her whole life!” The office burst into laughter, Brenda practically crying with mirth. Ashley looked incredibly pleased. “Fine, I won’t make things difficult for you commoners. Just apologize to me. Kneel before me, sincerely, and say you’re sorry. Then we’ll let this go.” I was so infuriated I almost laughed. I pulled out my phone and transferred a few hundred bucks to her. “This cheap knockoff of yours? You think I need to work my whole life to pay for *that*?” Brenda got even more hyped. “Are you saying our Mrs. Sterling is wearing a fake? You bumpkin, have you ever even seen real luxury?” “Our Mrs. Sterling is Mr. Sterling’s wife! You know Mr. Sterling, right? He’s not just our company’s CEO, he’s the richest man in Westport!” I tugged on Ashley’s dress hem, turning it over to examine. “The label’s all wrong, and you’re claiming it’s over a million?” Ashley visibly panicked, her eyes darting around. “What nonsense! How could *you* tell if it’s real just by looking?” Brenda pulled at the hem to see. “It *does* look a little different…” “But I remember fashion bloggers saying this year’s new logo has some variations, and Mrs. Sterling’s is the latest style, isn’t it?” I shook my head. “Fine. I’m not going to argue with you. If you really think I owe you that much, go ahead and take your dress to the police. I’m ready whenever you are.” “You!” Mr. Davies was about to argue further, but Ashley stopped him. “Forget it. I’m getting married in a few days, I don’t want this to spoil my mood. It’s not that much money anyway.” Immediately, everyone started praising Ashley, saying how beautiful and kind-hearted she was, just letting such a large sum go. It was truly laughable. She was clearly just guilty. Mr. Davies suddenly waved his hand, stopping everyone. “Everyone, listen up! Mr. Sterling’s wedding is in a few days. How about we all chip in a thousand bucks each, and our department can give Mr. and Mrs. Sterling a combined gift?” The office fell silent. No one wanted to fork over that kind of money. With salaries of only a few thousand bucks a month, after rent and commuting, there wasn’t much left. Now they had to give a gift to the boss? “What? You don’t want to?” “Of course not! I’ll go first!” Brenda was the most eager. “Mr. Davies, I just transferred it to you!” The remaining colleagues grudgingly coughed up the cash. Mr. Davies counted the people, then turned to me. “Chloe, what’s your deal? You’re the only one in the whole department who hasn’t paid up.” This was beyond ridiculous! “It’s *my* wedding, so I guess I don’t need to contribute to the gift, right?” Chapter

Mr. Davies roared with laughter, practically doubled over, tears streaming down his face. “Open your eyes! Mrs. Sterling is right here! How dare you impersonate her?!” “Are you sure *I’m* the one impersonating her?” I gave them one last chance. Ashley chuckled, coming over to pat my shoulder. “Chloe, I know you’ve always envied me since high school. Envied my good grades, how many guys chased me, and now you envy me marrying into wealth and living a rich life.” “But you can’t just claim *you’re* marrying Julian Sterling, can you?” I scoffed. “Did you even check? How do you know it’s not me?” Ashley froze for a few seconds, but Brenda jumped in before her. “Everyone knows Mr. Sterling’s wife is the heiress of the Sterling family!” Ashley quickly caught on. “Exactly! I’m the only one here named Sterling, so what do you think?” They didn’t know that I had taken my mother’s maiden name. My father’s actual surname *is* Sterling. But these people were so convinced by Ashley, it was useless to argue. She wanted to impersonate me, right? Then she only had herself to blame for what happened next. “Since you’re all giving such a generous gift, and you’re so close to ‘Mrs. Sterling,’ shouldn’t you all be invited to Mr. Sterling’s wedding?” A few people looked expectantly at Ashley, waiting for her to speak. A forced smile appeared on her face. “How about you just give me the cash gifts directly? You know, the Sterling family’s banquet isn’t ordinary. The number of guests and tables are all pre-arranged. So, here’s what we’ll do: I’ll treat you all to dinner separately next time.” I scoffed loudly. “The Sterling family can’t afford an extra table?” Ashley gnawed on her lip, trying to think of an excuse. “What do you know? Mr. Sterling and Mrs. Sterling are busy enough. We don’t want to cause them any more trouble. So, we’ll just have dinner together next time.” After she spoke, Brenda looked at Ashley like a fawning puppy, waiting for her praise. Ashley beamed with satisfaction. “See? Brenda gets it.” Fine, let her keep up the charade. After work, I turned around and sent wedding invitations to every single colleague in the department. I couldn’t wait to see their expressions when they saw *me* standing beside Julian Sterling as the bride. On the wedding day, I was resting in the bridal suite when the door suddenly burst open. Mr. Davies and Brenda stormed in. “Chloe? You didn’t even contribute to the gift, and you dare to show up?!” I popped a snack into my mouth. “It’s *my* wedding. If I don’t show up, who’s Julian Sterling going to marry?” Mr. Davies sighed in exasperation. “Seriously, what did I do to deserve a delusional fangirl like you in my department?” “Delusional? Me? Don’t you want to take a good look at the wedding setup in the main hall?…” “And she’s even wearing a wedding gown! If you’re not delusional, who is?! We’ve seen plenty of women like you, fantasizing about marrying Mr. Sterling!” Brenda cut me off. I truly marveled at their imagination. Mr. Davies waved his hand at me. “Hurry up, before anyone sees, take off that wedding dress.” “Exactly! Wearing a wedding dress, trying to steal the spotlight… Are you trying to get our entire department fired?!” I was about to say something when I saw Ashley walk in. Brenda immediately ran to her to complain. “Ma’am! Look, Chloe is insane! She actually dared to wear a wedding dress to your and Mr. Sterling’s wedding!” Chapter

“Ma’am, we didn’t let her go out. The VIPs outside haven’t seen her. Please, please, don’t tell Mr. Sterling.” Ashley crossed her arms, scanning me up and down. “Chloe, I knew you were always trying to compete with me. Turns out you were eyeing my husband all along.” I countered, “Ma’am, isn’t it *your* wedding today? What, did Mr. Sterling and the Sterling family not prepare a couture gown for you?” “I, I was just coming for my hair and makeup, wasn’t I?” Ashley stammered. “Everyone, come with me. There are no more private rooms at the Grand Imperial Hotel. I’ve arranged for everyone to have a meal at the hotel next door. Let’s all go there. Especially you, Chloe, don’t cause any more trouble here.” Ashley was clearly feeling guilty. She was afraid things would get out of hand, so she wanted to get these people out of there quickly. “Since we’re already here, why don’t you go say hello to Mr. Sterling?” I asked. Ashley grew agitated. “My husband is very busy! Let’s go, now!” Seeing her anxious made me want to laugh. “What are you laughing at?! We haven’t dealt with you yet! Ma’am, we can’t let her walk out dressed like this. How about we just strip her of that wedding dress?” Brenda suggested. “You wouldn’t dare.” “What wouldn’t I dare do?! If Mr. Sterling sees this, our entire department will be in big trouble!” Brenda said, then lunged at me, trying to pull off my headpiece. My golden tiara was brutally yanked off, my scalp stinging with pain. “Brenda, are you crazy?! I told you this is *my* wedding! Ashley is a fraud, *I* am…” I didn’t even finish my sentence when Ashley slapped me. “You’re right! Strip her of that wedding dress, and then throw her out!” At her words, Mr. Davies’ repulsive gaze lingered on me, full of malicious intent and offense. I recoiled, trying to warn him off with my eyes, but he showed no sign of stopping. “The lady’s orders, I have to obey them, don’t I? Who told you to wear a wedding dress to your doom?” My mind raced, frantically trying to figure out how to escape this terrible situation. I wanted to scream for help, but Mr. Davies quickly covered my mouth, holding it shut. “Go ahead and scream! Everyone here works for the lady. Who’s going to help you? You might as well just take off your clothes quietly!” As he spoke, he reached for my waist. The wedding dress was strapless, easily torn off. I clung to it with all my might, struggling desperately to break free, but the strength difference was too great. I was pinned to the ground, unmoving. Just then, the bridal suite door opened again. “Ma’am, your…” Mrs. Miller saw the scene and dropped the tray she was carrying with a clatter. I saw my savior and screamed at her, “Mrs. Miller, tell them who the *real* Mrs. Sterling is!” Brenda laughed. “Does she even need to ask? I think you’ve lost your mind! Mrs. Miller, this lowlife dared to wear a wedding dress and cause trouble. Just tell her who the *real* Mrs. Sterling is, and make her give up!” “Exactly! This person has been causing trouble for our Mrs. Sterling at the company. We absolutely cannot let her off today!” Mrs. Miller stood there, her eyes darting back and forth between me and Ashley. She looked at Ashley, as if she were afraid of something. Chapter “Mrs. Miller, I advise you to think carefully before you speak. Today is my wedding, and I’ll be taking these colleagues to another hotel in a moment.” Mrs. Miller bit her lip, her eyes on me filled with a strange mix of confusion, guilt, and reluctance.

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