Author: Momo Chan

The day I gave birth, I saw my best friend secretly swap our daughters in the hospital. I pretended not to notice. I took her daughter home and raised her with love and care. Twenty years later, the daughter I raised had become a renowned artist. But my biological daughter, raised under my best friend’s cruel hand, was left disabled from years of mistreatment. On the day of the art exhibition, my best friend arrived with my injured daughter and a paternity test in hand. “The hospital mixed up our babies all those years ago. It’s time to switch them back.” I smiled calmly and replied, “Alright.” “my mom brought some fresh fruit from home—I thought I’d bring some over for you and Emily to enjoy.”My best friend, Lila Cooper, knocked on my door just like she always did. Ever since I brought her daughter, Emily, home to raise, Lila had been finding excuses to visit constantly. Sometimes, she’d say she wanted to share parenting tips. Other times, she’d claim the two kids needed to spend more time together so they wouldn’t grow up lonely. Once, she showed up at dawn, saying she’d had a nightmare about Emily getting hurt. Her excuses were endless, so much so that my husband, Lucas Hayes, often complained. “She’s been here more times over the years than I’ve traveled for work!” he’d grumble. To make things easier, Lila even bought the house next door, claiming that best friends should live close so their bond wouldn’t fade. But I knew the truth—she just wanted to keep an eye on her daughter. I didn’t expose her. I simply opened the door as usual. There she stood, dressed in an elegant designer dress, holding a basket of fruit. Behind her was a frail, bruised girl with hollow cheeks. That was my biological daughter. Lila had named her Sophie. As soon as she walked in, Lila set the fruit basket down and made a beeline for Emily. “Emily, your art exhibition is next week! What do you want as a gift? I will get you anything you want!” She gently stroked Emily’s hair, her adoration impossible to hide. Emily smiled sweetly. “Anything you buys for me, I’ll love!” Hearing that, Lila’s grin grew even wider. “Our Emily is such a darling! Not like that useless girl of mine—she’s dumb and ugly!” She shot a sharp glare at Sophie, then stormed over, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her inside. “Get in here, you little brat! What are you standing at the door for, like some kind of statue?” “You’re such bad luck—just looking at you ruins my mood!” Without another word, she slapped Sophie across the face, hard. Sophie fell to the ground, her lip splitting open, blood dripping down her chin. Emily flinched, startled by the sudden violence. But Sophie didn’t cry or protest. She simply got up, wiped the blood from her mouth, and muttered, “I’m sorry, Mom. I was wrong.” Apologizing after being beaten was something Sophie had grown used to over the years. It wasn’t the first time it had happened in my house, either. I quickly grabbed the first aid kit and started treating Sophie’s wound. As I worked, I couldn’t hold back my frustration any longer. “Lila, how can you treat your own daughter like this?” I snapped. “No matter what she’s done, she’s still your child. Don’t you feel even the slightest bit of pity for her?” But Lila just waved me off, her expression indifferent. “Why should I? She’s nothing but bad luck!” “Just look at her—she’s pathetic! She’ll never measure up to Emily. If I haven’t beaten her to death yet, she should consider herself lucky!” With that, Lila turned her back on Sophie and walked over to Emily, her face lighting up with a smile again. “Emily, I ordered that princess dress you love. I’ll bring it to you on the day of your exhibition!” “Thank you,” Emily replied politely. She’d always been gracious about Lila’s favoritism, never letting it bother her. Watching this, Sophie hesitated for a moment before timidly speaking up. “Mom… next week is my birthday, too. Could you maybe… get me a paintbrush?” I glanced down and noticed the paintbrush in her hand—it was short, worn, and the bristles were nearly gone. It was one of Emily’s old brushes, thrown away two years ago. Lila had picked it up and declared that Sophie didn’t deserve anything better. And Sophie had been using it ever since, even now, with her fingers red and frozen from the cold. “You? A new brush?” Lila sneered. “You’re lucky you even have that one! A birthday? Do you think you deserve that?” She raised her hand again and started beating Sophie mercilessly, screaming insults with every strike. The room filled with the sound of her shouting, Sophie’s cries, and the dull thuds of her fists. I watched the scene unfold, silent and expressionless. Lucas tried to intervene, and even Emily joined in, pleading for Lila to stop.

It seemed Lila Cooper didn’t want to risk upsetting Emily’s mood for painting, so she dragged Sophie out of my house without hesitation. The next day was the big painting competition for Emily. Lila showed up at my door bright and early, carrying a brand-new set of paintbrushes and art supplies. Behind her, there was no sign of Sophie. Lucas frowned in confusion and asked, “Where’s Sophie? Today’s her birthday too. Why isn’t she here?” Lila waved it off like it was nothing. “Oh, her? I broke her hand last night when we got home. It’s probably still hurting too much for her to come.” She said it so casually, her tone light and even a little smug, as if breaking my daughter’s hand was something to be proud of. Without waiting for a response, she breezed past Lucas’ stunned expression and walked into the house. She placed the shiny new art supplies in front of Emily, her voice dripping with affection. “Emily, sweetheart, it’s your big day! I won’t let anything unlucky ruin it for you!” As Emily reached for the paintbrushes, the sleeve of her shirt slid back slightly, revealing a faint bruise on her arm. Lila’s face darkened the moment she saw it. She turned to me, furious, and snapped, “What’s wrong with you, Danielle? How could you let Emily get hurt like this?” I replied flatly, “Kids get bumps and bruises all the time. Isn’t your daughter always covered in them too?” Hearing this, Lila’s face turned red with anger, and she yelled, “How dare you compare that useless girl to Emily? Emily is—” She stopped herself abruptly, realizing she’d almost said too much. Forcing a smile, she composed herself and said, “What I mean is, Emily has been pampered her whole life. She’s far more delicate and precious than that worthless brat. You’d better take better care of her!” Lucas, who had been silent until now, furrowed his brow and said sharply, “You’ve got some nerve to talk. If you hadn’t beaten your own daughter to the point where there was blood all over our house yesterday, Emily wouldn’t have felt the need to help clean up and accidentally hurt her arm.” At this, Lila turned to Emily, her expression a mix of disbelief and concern. “Emily, is that true?” she asked. Emily nodded earnestly. “Yes, I just wanted to help Dad and Mom out a little.” Hearing this, Lila’s heart practically melted. She stroked Emily’s hair lovingly and said, “Sweetheart, you don’t always have to be so thoughtful. Leave the hard work to your dad, okay?” “Your only job in this family is to enjoy yourself, understand?” After fussing over Emily for a while longer, Lila began meticulously preparing everything for the painting competition. She personally sorted the paints, arranged the brushes, and double-checked every detail. When the competition ended, Lila was practically glowing with pride. She couldn’t wait to ask Emily, “Emily, tell me—what’s your biggest dream? Whatever it is, I will help make it come true!” Without hesitation, Emily smiled and said, “I want to become a renowned artist!” Lila’s eyes sparkled with joy as she patted Emily’s head. “I might not be able to help you with that, but with your talent, I know you’ll make it happen. And when you do, I will give you a one-of-a-kind reward!” Her eyes were brimming with love and pride as she looked at Emily. I stood to the side, my lips curving into the faintest of smiles. A one-of-a-kind reward, huh? Oh, Lila… Don’t worry. I’ve prepared one for you, too.

Every time Emily entered a competition, Lila Cooper was far more enthusiastic than Lucas Hayes or me. As for my own daughter, after that day when her hand was broken, she disappeared from my life entirely. Whenever Lucas asked about her, Lila would wave him off, her face full of irritation. “Don’t bring up that little jinx! Just thinking about her makes me furious!” Because of Lila’s deliberate avoidance, I didn’t see my daughter again until years later—on the day Emily finally achieved her dream of becoming a renowned artist. At the celebration party I threw for Emily’s success, Lila arrived, dragging her limping daughter into the grand hall. She pulled out a carefully prepared paternity test report and, in front of all the guests, handed it to me. “Danielle,” she began, her tone heavy with feigned sorrow, “Sophie has been having a lot of health issues lately. I took her to the hospital for some tests, and that’s when I found out… she’s not my daughter.” “Apparently, the hospital mixed up our babies all those years ago. Sophie is your biological daughter, and Emily is mine.” Lila took a dramatic pause, her voice trembling as she continued. “We’ve been separated from our own children for far too long. It’s time to make things right. We need to switch them back.” She even managed to squeeze out a few tears, looking at Emily with a mix of love and regret, as though she were the one who had endured years of hardship. She stared at Emily with such intensity, her eyes filled with a calculated blend of affection and guilt, as if she were the victim of some tragic mistake. The room erupted in murmurs: “After all these years, they’re just supposed to hand over the daughter they’ve raised so carefully? That’s absurd!” “Think about everything Danielle has done for Emily—her success as an artist is entirely because of Danielle’s dedication. You can’t just erase twenty years of love and effort!” “Exactly! Who could bear to give up a daughter like Emily, especially for a child they’ve barely known?” One was a brilliant, successful young artist raised with love and care. The other was a frail, disheveled girl who could barely walk without stumbling. Anyone could see which choice would be easier to make. But as the voices buzzed around me, I simply smiled and said calmly, “Alright.” “If it was a mistake, then yes, we should correct it.” My words stunned the entire room into silence. Even Lila’s eyes widened in shock, clearly not expecting me to agree so quickly. Lucas stared at me in disbelief. “Danielle, have you lost your mind? You’re just going to give Emily to her, based on her word and some report that might not even be real?” My mother-in-law chimed in, equally panicked. “She’s right, Danielle! This is a serious matter. You can’t just make a decision like this without investigating it properly!” Ignoring their protests, I spoke with unwavering certainty: “Emily is indeed her child.” “I saw it myself, twenty years ago, when the two babies were switched.”

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To run off into the sunset with his secretary, my husband teamed up with his subordinates to frame me for leaking corporate secrets. “I’m a businessman,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. “I don’t need a workaholic who only knows how to bury herself in research. What I need is a woman who can navigate social circles with grace and support me like a real partner.” “Mom,” my son chimed in, his tone sharp and dismissive, “you’re always so busy with work. Miss Lee understands Dad’s needs so much better than you do.” After being blacklisted in the industry, I didn’t collapse under the weight of their betrayal. Instead, I joined a mysterious family as a mentor and, without intending to, became the guiding light for three lost children. I pulled them out of the darkness of self-doubt and watched them shine—one in business, one in art, and one in academia. Seeing them succeed filled my heart with pride. But just as I thought I’d left my old life behind, my son came knocking on my door. “Mom,” he began arrogantly, “with Miss Lee’s help, Dad has expanded into the international market. He’s even working with families as powerful as the Rothschilds.” “They’ve groomed me as the heir to the family business, and now I’m a rising star in the corporate world.” “And Miss Lee? She’s become a top-tier management consultant. Companies are lining up for her advice… But you, you’re still stuck in the past, doing nothing with your life.”

“Still,” he added with a smug smile, “you are my mom. Stick with me, and I’ll make sure you live comfortably.” Ethan—my son—looked me up and down, his gaze cold and appraising, as if I were some outdated piece of furniture instead of his mother. It was the same look he’d always given me. “I remember you used to have a few loyal admirers. They’re big shots now, aren’t they?” “Let’s toss out those old clothes of yours and get you dressed up properly. I’ll make sure you live the good life.” He kept talking, weaving a fantasy of wealth and status, but anyone with half a brain could see through his intentions. He wanted to use his own mother as bait—a trophy mistress to charm the powerful men he needed to further his ambitions. I stared at Ethan coldly, the last shred of maternal warmth I had for him dissolving completely. Back then, it was the same story. I had just developed a breakthrough in renewable energy technology—a key innovation that had the potential to change the industry. The announcement had garnered widespread attention, and I was on the verge of securing massive investments to begin production. But Ethan stepped forward and destroyed everything. “Mom said it’s easy to steal a flawed technology and con a bunch of idiots into investing,” he told everyone with feigned innocence. “Then she can just claim the technology has issues later and keep all the money for herself.” “I can’t let my mom keep doing bad things!” With just a few words, he ruined me. No one bothered to verify the truth of his claims. They ran with the story, praising Ethan for his “childlike honesty” while condemning me as a fraud. The internet exploded with outrage: “How greedy can someone be? Even her own kid couldn’t stand it!” “What a scammer. Why doesn’t she just die? I really thought we’d finally solved the renewable energy crisis!” “When will the government crack down on these con artists? Ordinary people like us can’t keep getting cheated like this!” I confronted Ethan, begging him to tell the truth. “The technology wasn’t stolen! You don’t understand—you’re jeopardizing my research! You’ll ruin opportunities for countless companies to grow and innovate!” But his father, Henry, stepped in, blocking my path. “This is exactly what I hate about you. You prioritize work over everything else. Can’t you be more like Miss Lee? Gentle, graceful, and supportive?” Ethan chimed in, his voice full of disdain. “Other people’s moms are elegant and charming—like goddesses. If you can’t be that for me, I’ll find someone who can.” “I think Miss Lee would make a great mom.” I never could have imagined that the two people I loved most would stab me in the back like this. One wanted a new wife. The other wanted a new mom. And to get what they wanted, they didn’t hesitate to drag me into the depths of ruin. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “Let’s divorce,” I said finally, my voice calm but resolute. “I don’t want anything from you.”

As I got into Ethan’s car, my phone started buzzing nonstop. The three kids I’d mentored called me one after another, asking where I was, if I needed backup, or if I needed someone to “teach a lesson.” Their fierce protectiveness was almost endearing, but I stopped them immediately. I chuckled bitterly and said, “I’m just going to see what kind of ‘good life’ my own son has planned for me. What’s wrong with taking a day off for that?” Ethan glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his expression filled with disdain. To him, I was nothing more than a greedy, washed-up woman who was well past her prime. When we arrived at the Brown family’s estate, the driveway was packed with luxury cars. Ethan led me straight into the grand banquet hall. He pushed me toward a man and flashed an ingratiating smile. “Mr. Quinn, didn’t you mention you needed a date for tonight? What do you think of her?” “This deal is critical for us. You’re the key player here… Please, consider it.” The man was someone I knew—a former college classmate. He’d pursued me relentlessly for four years, only for me to reject him. I’d told him to focus on his studies and build a future for himself, but he’d taken it badly. “You’re just a shallow gold digger,” he’d spat at me back then. “You think I’m not good enough for you? Fine! Just wait—I’ll make sure you can’t even dream of being in my league.” And, well, he’d done it. He’d built an empire in finance and investments. “Brown’s choice of a date suits me perfectly,” he said with a smirk. “I’ll give the investment some serious thought.” I tried to pull away, but Mr. Quinn grabbed my hand and held on tightly. At the party, Henry—my ex-husband—and Miss Lee, his secretary-turned-new-wife, were glued to each other, acting like the perfect power couple. Miss Lee took center stage, presenting her latest corporate management proposal. It included a new incentive mechanism that she claimed would revolutionize efficiency. To impress the crowd, she even arranged a live demonstration, which left many of the attending businesspeople intrigued. But I saw through it immediately. That mechanism had a glaring flaw—it was overly aggressive, disrupting the balance of the workplace. It created exclusivity, sidelining regular employees and sowing chaos within organizations. The next part of the evening was the investment round. Interested investors would have their assistants coordinate and record offers for further negotiation. But the room was silent. No one wanted to take the first risk. Ethan was visibly anxious, glancing repeatedly at Mr. Quinn for a response. Just as Mr. Quinn was about to step forward, I yanked his hand back. I leaned in and whispered, “This project is a disaster waiting to happen. You’ll lose everything, and it’ll put the companies involved at risk of collapse.” I’d kept my voice low, but someone overheard me—a young man I’d once helped fund through school. “She’s just jealous,” he announced loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. “What gives you the right to criticize Miss Lee’s work? You’re just bitter because she’s more successful than you.” “And you’re a known fraud, aren’t you? Someone who steals other people’s work has no business judging anyone else.” All eyes turned to me, sharp and cutting. If looks could kill, I’d have been dead a thousand times over. Miss Lee noticed me too. Her smug expression quickly shifted to one of feigned vulnerability, her voice trembling as she said, “I only asked Ethan to bring you here out of kindness, and this is how you treat me?” “You can’t assume everyone is a liar just because you were accused of stealing in the past. Not everyone is like you…” Henry pulled her into his arms, his expression full of reproach as he looked at me. After all these years, his unwavering support for Miss Lee hadn’t changed. Ethan, of course, was on her side as well. “If you keep insulting my mom, then you need to leave.” The three of them stood united, painting me as the villain in their perfect little family. “Miss Lee’s proposals are always brilliant,” someone sneered. “This project has great potential. I’m ready to invest!” The voice belonged to Sarah Yates, a woman who looked at me like I was dirt under her shoe. Her words were laced with venom. “You really think you’re still the old Danielle Hayes? You’re nothing but a fallen phoenix, trampled by everyone. And now you think you can ruin Miss Lee’s event? Pathetic.” “You’re a disgrace. You should just stay in the dirt where you belong, like the insignificant bug you are.” I didn’t understand why Sarah hated me so much. Years ago, I’d met her in a poverty-stricken town while researching a charity project. She’d been cornered by a local thug, begging for help. I’d stepped in, paid off the thug, and taken her with me. I’d even found her a job, helping her get on her own two feet. But when I was falsely accused of stealing, Sarah had stood by and watched. Worse, she’d actively helped Miss Lee fan the flames, leaking my personal information to the public and fueling the online harassment that nearly destroyed me. Sarah’s voice dripped with contempt as she continued, “Just because you helped me once doesn’t make you my savior. If you’d treated me half as well as Miss Lee has, maybe I wouldn’t hate you so much.” “You think giving me a thousand dollars a month was enough? That doesn’t buy designer clothes, doesn’t get me a good apartment. It barely covers a few meals out.” She’d asked me to sign over my house to her, and when I refused, her resentment only grew. Miss Lee had taken full advantage of that, gifting her a few designer outfits and completely winning her over. To prove her loyalty, Sarah had even destroyed key documents I’d needed to clear my name. When I confronted her about it, she’d shrugged, utterly indifferent. “The unloved one is always the third wheel,” she said with a smirk. “Your husband and son don’t love you. Why won’t you just let go of your place? Have some dignity, for once in your life.” I’d seen enough. In the end, everything in this world revolved around self-interest.

With my reputation ruined, no company dared to hire me. My assets were frozen, and I had nowhere to turn. Just as I hit rock bottom, a butler approached me with an offer: they wanted me to become a live-in tutor for the infamous Morgan family. The Morgans were surrounded by sinister rumors—three sons, two dead, and one missing. The two remaining sons had left behind three children. But since no one was willing to take responsibility for them, the kids had grown into wild, uncontrollable troublemakers. No school would accept them. The butler had hired several tutors, but all of them had been scared off by the children’s antics. Their infamy had spread far and wide. The eldest, Mason Morgan, had nearly beaten someone to death in a fight. The second, Miles Morgan, was physically frail but strikingly handsome. He’d been bullied so badly that he almost lost his eyesight. The youngest, Maddie Morgan, was a quiet little girl who had trained in martial arts. She feared no one and could take down anyone who crossed her. On my first day, I wasn’t prepared for what awaited me. The three kids locked me in a dark storage room. But I wasn’t about to let them win. I smashed my way out, dragged each of them one by one, tied them up, and threw them into the same storage room. I left them there for three days without food. When I finally let them out, they were pale and subdued. I looked at their defeated faces and said calmly, “Today’s lesson is simple: respect others, and you respect yourself.” As time passed, I slowly pulled them back from the edge of destruction. Day by day, I began to uncover the truth behind their behavior. Mason had nearly beaten someone to death because that person had mocked the Morgans, saying their family was cursed. He’d laughed that Mason would die soon too, and once the Morgans were gone, their rivals would swallow up their legacy. He’d even joked that Mason’s siblings were so attractive they could be sold for a good price. Miles had almost lost his eyesight because someone told him to get rid of his younger sister—claiming it’d be better for the family fortune if there was one less heir to split the inheritance. Maddie had gone on a rampage because she overheard people plotting to harm her two brothers. They even talked about blinding them. Maddie had snapped and beaten those people so badly they couldn’t walk for weeks. The more time I spent with them, the more I grew to love these kids. Mason had a passion for business, so I taught him the strategies and skills he’d need to succeed. Miles adored art, so I opened his eyes to the beauty and power of creativity. Maddie loved to learn, so I encouraged her curiosity and guided her through every subject she wanted to explore. Our bond grew stronger with each passing day. Eventually, they stopped calling me “teacher” and started calling me “Mom.” A sudden vibration from my phone pulled me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Ethan. “Don’t mess with my mom’s plans. If you ruin things for her, your good days will be over.” “You’re not the Danielle Hayes you used to be. Stay in your lane.” How ironic. He didn’t even bother to call me “Mom” anymore. I stared at the message and let out a cold laugh. What a perfect son I’d raised. When Ethan was little, he’d suffered from a rare blood disorder that left him weak and on the brink of death. For three years, I dedicated myself to researching a cure, pouring everything I had into saving him. Once I’d found a way to treat him, I spent every waking moment nursing him back to health. His survival was my greatest achievement. I could still remember how he used to throw his little arms around me, tears streaming down his face. “Thank you, Mom. Thank you so much.” “Will I ever get strong enough so you don’t have to work so hard anymore?” But those days were long gone. Now, those memories were nothing but smoke, drifting away into the distance, leaving only cold indifference behind.

With Sarah Yates leading the charge to invest, others began to follow suit, one after another. Miss Lee’s assistant was running around frantically, grinning from ear to ear as she juggled all the offers. Henry stepped down from the side stage and walked over to me. His expression was complicated, something between guilt and hesitation. “Why don’t you stay this time?” he said. “You haven’t seen Ethan in years, have you? Maybe this is a chance to reconnect.” Before I could respond, Quinn stepped in front of me, his face darkening with irritation. “What’s this, Henry? Feeling nostalgic? Trying to have it both ways now?” Quinn sneered. “Too bad you’re late. Your son already handed his dear mother over to me.” Henry’s face turned black as thunder. He looked at me with a mix of disbelief and outrage. “I can’t believe you’ve fallen this low,” he spat. “Do you think you’re still some young girl? Selling yourself like this? At your age?” He didn’t bother to lower his voice. Everyone in the room heard him. Miss Lee gasped dramatically, covering her mouth in mock horror. “Danielle, how… how could you degrade yourself like this?” “You went to school for so many years, and this is what you’ve chosen to do? Be someone’s mistress? How could you face your parents?” My parents had been well-known entrepreneurs in the industry, respected for their work even during their years at multinational corporations. Now, the cameras meant for recording the investment pitches turned toward me. Some bold reporters pushed through the crowd, microphones in hand. “Are you Danielle Hayes, the disgraced entrepreneur who disappeared five years ago?” “What gives you the audacity to show your face here again?” “Do you have any conscience? If your project had gone through and you’d successfully scammed investors, do you know how many businesses would have gone under?” “Are you not afraid of karma coming for you?” I smiled and said simply, “No, I’m not.” To them, my calm demeanor was just proof that I was shameless, someone who’d given up all pretense of dignity. A few onlookers had already started live-streaming the scene with their phones. The comment sections were flooded with insults. Most people didn’t even know the full story from five years ago, but as soon as someone explained it, they joined in on the mob. [Livestream Comments:] “This is the most shameless person I’ve ever seen.” “How does she even dare say she’s not afraid of karma? Some people are truly invincible when it comes to being shameless.” “I’m so mad. My brother believed in her project back then. He was hoping it would succeed so he could transition his company… but then it was exposed as plagiarism. He was devastated, and when his company went bankrupt, he still regretted it wasn’t real.” The crowd was growing more agitated, their anger boiling over. Quinn gave my arm a gentle tug, his expression flickering with concern. “Maybe you should leave,” he murmured. “Just give me your contact info, and we can figure out the rest later.” I was surprised by his reaction. I’d expected him to humiliate me, to take advantage of the situation like everyone else. Instead, his face flushed red under my gaze, and he avoided looking directly at me. “I’m just worried some of these people might take things too far. As long as I can find you later, we’ll deal with the rest then…” Before he could finish, the sound of heavy, synchronized footsteps echoed from the entrance. A group of people in official-looking uniforms marched in, their presence commanding immediate attention. Someone in the crowd whispered nervously, “Wait a second, isn’t that the uniform for the financial crime investigation unit? Why are there so many of them here?” The sharpest minds in the room immediately ruled me out as the target of the officials’ visit. Instead, they turned their attention to the star of the evening, Miss Lee. After all, if the officials were here, it had to mean there was something significant enough to catch their attention. Some people even started congratulating her: “Mrs. Brown, your management proposal must have caught the eye of the authorities. This could be your big break!” But in the back of everyone’s mind, one phrase loomed large: corporate audit. People began to sweat, wondering if this would include investigations into previously overlooked violations—illegal loans, financial fraud, who knew what else? Miss Lee, clearly flattered by the attention, couldn’t stop herself from smiling. The idea of working hand-in-hand with the authorities made her momentarily forget her petty schemes against me. She hurried to greet the officials. “Hello, may I ask—” But the man leading the group cut her off.

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On my 18th birthday, I was tossed overboard 18 times like a worthless dog by a young master. And all of it—just to make his first love laugh. Outside the morgue. My mom clutched the $180,000 they handed her, smiling through her tears. In an instant, she transformed into their new “stepmother” and “mother-in-law.” Unbelievable. The woman I had endured endless humiliation to support—the fragile, helpless, eternally sick woman—turned out to be the long-lost first love of one of the wealthiest tycoons. But my mother’s hunt had only just begun. My mom is a lunatic. When I was little, she could still scrape together some money to raise me. But after I turned 15, her condition worsened, and she was sent to a psychiatric hospital. From then on, I dropped out of school and started working to support her. I never knew my father. When I asked, she’d either have a meltdown, destroy everything in sight, or hurt herself while screaming that he was dead. Eventually, I stopped asking. At the hospital, my mom spent her days playing the role of a rich heiress, claiming to be the unattainable first love of every high society bachelor. She even roped in other patients to act out ridiculous soap opera dramas with her. She had no idea. To keep her fed, clothed, and comfortable in that hospital, I had become nothing more than a plaything for the rich men.

My mom was beautiful and statuesque. Even the fragments of her beauty I inherited were enough to make those rich boys lose themselves. But between wealth and poverty lies a chasm called class. While my peers were busy enjoying their youth and burying themselves in books, I was on my knees, pouring drinks and laughing at jokes for some trust fund brat. I met Manhattan’s golden boy, Logan Carter, at one of those parties. One of the young heirs sneered, “If you can make Logan laugh, I’ll give you $10,000.” Ten grand—just loose change to them—was three days’ worth of my mom’s treatment. The doctor had said her condition was curable, but the cost of medication was astronomical. I had no choice. I wanted her healed. I wanted to go back to school. I wanted to sit in a bright, clean classroom like everyone else my age. But that dream could only come true if I kept her alive. I’d already heard stories about Logan Carter before I met him. Back in high school, he had fallen in love with a girl who rejected his passionate confession and moved abroad. Heartbroken, he hadn’t smiled since. How dramatic and precious, I thought. I’d never met his first love, Serena Brooks, but I imagined she was the kind of pure, perfect girl who lived in the daydreams of every teenage boy. So when I washed off my makeup, tied my hair into a ponytail, and put on a school uniform to stand before Logan, something unexpected happened. He cried. That was the night I made my name. I became Serena Brooks’ replacement—the little bird Logan Carter kept in a gilded cage. For three years, he made me dress like her, talk like her, laugh like her. He played games with me, confessed to me, and showered me with the kind of care I thought only existed in fairy tales. I thought Logan Carter was my salvation. But when Serena came back, everything I’d built crumbled to dust. On my 18th birthday, he cast me into the freezing depths of despair.

Logan Carter didn’t break his promise. He threw me a grand birthday celebration on his yacht—a party fit for royalty. “Baby, I’ll always protect you, no matter what…” he whispered as he knelt before me, holding a ring. Surrounded by the cheers of onlookers, he was just about to slip the ring onto my finger when a sob shattered the moment. Serena Brooks. Her sudden appearance caught me completely off guard. For three years, I thought I’d smoothed over Logan’s heartbreak and carved out a place for myself in his life. I even allowed myself to fantasize that their story had ended. But when Serena cried and threatened to jump overboard, Logan didn’t hesitate. He sprinted to her side, wrapping her in his arms as the crowd erupted into applause. I stood frozen, my entire body growing cold. All I could hear were the jeers around me: “She’s just a pathetic toy. What makes her think she could compare to Serena?” “A whore who’s happy with a few grand—let’s see how many splashes she can make!” Before I could identify the voices mocking me, someone shoved me into the ocean. Icy water flooded my nose and mouth as panic gripped me. They pulled me out, only to throw me back in again. Over and over, I was dragged to the brink of death. And Logan Carter? He didn’t stop them. Instead, when he saw Serena laugh at my humiliation, he joined in. He personally threw me overboard, like I was nothing more than a dead dog. On the 18th time he hurled me into the freezing waters, as Serena’s radiant smile lit up the night, I finally surrendered to the embrace of death.

The party on the yacht didn’t stop just because I sank to the bottom of the ocean. It wasn’t until dawn broke that they finally sailed away from international waters. I used to love the freedom and vastness of the sea. But now, floating on its endless expanse, I found myself longing for my mom. Days later, my broken body was discovered by a fishing boat and eventually sent back to the States. At the morgue. For the first time in three years, I saw my mom. She looked so much better now—her health had improved dramatically, her condition stable after years of care. The doctors had even said that she might soon be able to leave the psychiatric facility and try living like a normal person again. But now, as she stumbled out of the morgue, she was a hollow shell of the woman I’d nurtured back to health. Gone was the vibrant spark she wore while playing her dramatic heiress roles at the hospital. Her lifeless eyes and vacant expression made it seem like she was teetering on the edge of another breakdown. Calm on the surface, but I could feel the storm brewing inside her. Mom. My mom. Please, please don’t lose yourself now. If you fall apart, then everything I endured will have been for nothing. “Mrs. Parker, our deepest condolences. This $180,000 is a small token from us on behalf of Nia. Please, we hope you won’t refuse it.” Serena Brooks appeared, arm linked with Logan Carter, as if they hadn’t just orchestrated my death. Their audacity made my ghostly fury burn hot. How dare they? How dare they show up here with money to insult my mother like this? Serena held a paper bag filled with crisp, blood-red bills, shoving it toward my mom’s trembling hands. My mom blinked in confusion, raising her head slowly. “And… you are?” “We were Nia’s friends,” Serena said, dabbing at her dry eyes with a tissue, pretending to be overwhelmed by emotion. “We’re heartbroken over what happened. Please, Mrs. Parker, you have to stay strong for her sake.” She forced the bag of money into my mom’s hands again, her fake concern dripping with malice. I was seething, my ghostly rage flaring. Mom, don’t take it! That’s blood money! If she accepted it, the case would be buried for good.

But the next second, my mother took it. I watched in agony as her slender fingers closed around the bag. In the corner of the room, I noticed someone discreetly snapping photos of the scene. “Such kind children,” my mom mumbled. Her voice was flat, and her smile didn’t reach her vacant eyes. She gripped the bag tightly, muttering, “Thank you… thank you so much…” Serena’s lips curled into the faintest hint of a sneer, a flicker of disdain flashing in her eyes. My anger surged. She shivered as if feeling the cold touch of my wrath. Logan quickly made an excuse to leave. “Mrs. Parker, please take care of yourself. We’ll be going now.” My mom stood frozen, clutching the money as though it anchored her to this world. Her lips moved silently, whispering something I couldn’t make out. “Logan, I’m scared,” Serena said softly as they walked away, her voice trembling with mock vulnerability. “Do you think she’ll find out the truth?” “Don’t worry,” Logan replied, his tone dismissive. “Even if she does, it won’t matter. She’s crazy. No one would believe anything she says, and it’s not like she has any proof.” “You’re so good to me, Logan.” “You’re the treasure I thought I’d lost forever. If I’m not good to you, who else would I be good to?” “You’re terrible!” she laughed, lightly swatting his arm. “But I have to admit, I was surprised. Her mom’s so elegant—she reminds me of some old Hollywood star. Good thing Nia didn’t inherit too much of that. Otherwise, you’d have forgotten all about me ages ago.” “Impossible,” Logan said, leaning closer to her. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” Their words sliced through me like knives as they walked straight through my ghostly form, oblivious to my presence. I was useless in life. Now, I was just as useless in death. I couldn’t protect myself. I couldn’t protect my mom. “Wait.” My mom’s voice broke through the silence. Logan froze, turning back to her. She stared at him intently, her gaze locking onto his face as though searching for something. “Logan Carter…” she said slowly, her voice trembling. “What’s your connection to Charles Carter?”

Logan Carter blinked in surprise. “Mrs. Parker, you know my father?” My mom snapped out of her trance-like focus and shook her head, mumbling under her breath, “No… no… I don’t know him. I don’t know anyone…” “She really is crazy,” Logan muttered, exchanging a smirk with Serena Brooks. Relieved, they turned and left. “$180,000?” “Hah!” “Charles Carter once begged me to have lunch with him for more than $180,000. Logan’s even more pathetic than his father.” Beneath the curtain of her long hair, the corners of my mom’s mouth curled into a slow, sinister smile. That predatory glint in her eyes—it was like watching a hunter preparing for the kill. I had no idea how my mom managed to get released from the psychiatric facility, but she did. I followed her back to the rundown apartment we used to call home. She spent hours methodically sorting through my belongings, rifling through my phone, and piecing together every humiliating detail of my life. She didn’t flinch, didn’t cry. Her expression was blank the entire time. When she stumbled across a few moments of happiness I’d recorded on my phone, she even chuckled softly to herself. “What an idiot,” she muttered. Excuse me? Mom, do you even hear yourself right now?! After sitting in eerie silence for an entire day and night, she suddenly got up, grabbed the $180,000 she’d accepted, emptied the last few thousand dollars I had in my savings, and stormed off to the designer boutiques downtown. By the time she was done, she’d blown all the money except for enough to buy a hamburger. This woman is insane! Even back when Logan Carter treated me like a princess, I never dared to spend money so recklessly. Two pieces of chiffon sewn into a cocktail dress—was that supposed to be more important than her medication or basic necessities? Did she think she’d die if she didn’t have the perfect hairstyle or high heels? She’s almost 40 years old, still clinging to some delusional dream of being a high-society debutante. I wanted to shove her right back into the psychiatric hospital so she could act out her soap opera fantasies there. “Silly girl,” she sighed later, as if lecturing me. “You know, men’s money is meant to be spent. If you don’t spend it, someone else will. And if you’re not careful, that money might just come back as the knife in your back…”

She’d been rambling nonstop these past few days, always throwing in little jabs at me. Her words hit so hard I almost wanted to come back to life just to argue with her. But every time I cooled off, I had to admit she wasn’t entirely wrong. Take now, for example. She strutted into the most exclusive club in the city, head held high, and booked the largest VIP diamond suite like she owned the place. Then, without batting an eye, she ordered eighty male models to fawn over her. She was sitting there like a queen, completely ignoring the fact that she had less than $10 left in her pocket. Because of her, I got to indulge in a bit of luxury myself, though I couldn’t help stressing over how she was planning to get out of this mess. Places like this didn’t operate without the backing of some serious power players. When she finally decided she’d had enough fun, she got up to leave, acting like nothing had happened. Predictably, a group of bouncers appeared to block her path. I floated above them, hopping mad. But my mom? She didn’t even blink. She sipped her wine gracefully, raised her chin, and said, “Go get your boss. Let’s see if he’s brave enough to take my money.” Mom, are you out of your mind?! This wasn’t the hospital—no one was going to humor her delusional high-society theatrics here. If she didn’t leave now, she was going to get herself killed. And sure enough, things escalated quickly. Word spread that someone was causing trouble in the club. Soon enough, Ryan Cole—one of the rich heirs who’d once paid me to amuse Logan Carter—showed up with a group of lackeys, making a big scene. “Do you even know where you are?” Ryan sneered. “Other than Logan, the last idiot to pull a stunt like this ended up six feet under, and that was 18 years ago!” “Logan hasn’t even been coming around since that whole Nia Parker mess,” one of his friends added with a groan. “This place has been so boring without him.” “Shut your mouth!” Ryan snapped. “Serena said no one’s allowed to mention that bad-luck ghost anymore. Keep your lips sealed about what happened in international waters, or you’re dead!” As they bickered, my mom sat in the middle of the room, perfectly composed, swirling her wine. At the mention of my name, her eyes narrowed dangerously. Before Ryan could say another word, she smirked and raised her glass toward him. “Kid,” she said coolly, “I’m not here for you. I want to see Liam Cole. Three minutes. That’s all I’ll wait.” Ryan’s face darkened with rage. But then, as he got a closer look at her, he froze. His anger evaporated, replaced by a flicker of fear. Without a word, he pulled out his phone and rushed to the corner of the room to make a call. I watched as he glanced nervously at my mom, his expression a mix of panic and disbelief. “Dad,” he hissed into the phone, “that lady from 18 years ago—the one who skipped out on her bill and started a fight—she’s back!” Excuse me?!

“Vivi… is it really you, Vivi?” Liam Cole, the elusive and powerful owner of the club, came stumbling out from the private floors below in less than two minutes. He practically fell to his knees in front of her, looking as awestruck as a loyal dog seeing its goddess. My mom, however, remained completely indifferent, her expression calm and unreadable. She leaned down, gently pinching his chin, and said three sentences: “Tell Charles Carter he has half a day to clean out the pests in his family.” “Your younger generation… they need better discipline.” “Oh, and remember what I told you years ago? Keep gambling, and you’ll end up at the bottom of the river.” Liam, visibly shaken, nodded frantically, agreeing to everything she said. He even begged her to stay in the presidential suite of the five-star hotel next door, all in the hopes of earning one approving word from her. As we left the club, my mom gave Ryan Cole, Liam’s son, a faint, enigmatic smile. I swear I saw the color drain from his face like the sky was falling. If that wasn’t bizarre enough, less than an hour later, Charles Carter himself—the legendary business mogul of the East Coast—showed up at the hotel. And then, to my utter disbelief, the man knelt before my mom with tears in his eyes, holding up an enormous diamond ring. “Vivi, will you finally marry me?” My mom accepted the ring, but her response was as cold as ever: “No marriage license. No public announcement. No shared bedroom.” “Anything you want!” Charles said desperately. “As long as you stay with me, I’ll agree to it all.” I stared, completely dumbfounded. So, it turns out all those over-the-top dramas my mom had acted out in the psychiatric hospital, with her “haughty heiress” persona? They weren’t just an act. And all those high-society characters she mentioned? They were real. Once the shock faded, an uncomfortable weight settled in my chest. If my mom was this capable, then why had she spent years holed up in a rundown apartment, raising a child alone and eventually losing her mind? If any of these powerful people had known about her struggles, would I have still suffered through all those humiliations? Would I have ended up dead at 18? The tangled relationships and the bitter irony of it all made me want to laugh. And yet, here she was, about to become Charles Carter’s kept woman. Just another gilded bird in the Carter family’s cage.

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My adopted brother, Ethan Clark, and I were trapped in the fire. My dad rushed into the burning house to save and comfort the frightened Ethan, regardless of his safety. The firefighters arrived and rescued them from the living room. A firefighter wanted to go further inside to look for survivors, but my dad stopped him. “Let’s go, sir. It’s too dangerous. There’s no one else here.” My dad had forgotten about me, who was preparing a birthday gift for him in the studio. Watching him walk away, I didn’t yearn for his love. I woke up in the hospital, with no one by my side. There was an interview with the renowned entrepreneur Garry Carlson on TV. “Thankfully, my son is safe. Thanks to the firefighters.” As Garry spoke, he looked at Ethan beside him lovingly. That caring look had never fallen on me. “Another survivor has been rescued from the fire. Is it true?” a reporter asked. Garry’s face darkened as he heard this. “Yes. It’s just a servant. I’m sorry to take up the public’s attention.” There were some images of the fire scene on the screen. The “servant” Garry mentioned was me, his own son. The next day, Garry and Ethan went to my ward. I rubbed my eyes, thinking I had an illusion. Ever since Garry adopted Ethan, he had always ignored me. I was puzzled as to why he would come to see me today. Garry hadn’t cared about me when I almost died from a high fever. But when Ethan felt a bit unwell, he would be overwhelmed with worry. “Dad, does Austin not want me here?” Ethan’s voice was laced with fear, and tears welled up in his eyes. Garry snorted, “You have forgiven him, yet he dares hate you? If it weren’t for him, this accident wouldn’t have happened. He fooled himself with fire and almost hurt you. He deserves it!” I painted in the studio, and there was no flame. Besides, the news had stated that the fire started in Ethan’s room, but Garry simply put the blame on me. As usual, no matter what happened, I was the culprit, while Ethan was the most well-behaved one in Garry’s view. Ethan gave me a smug look yet said pitifully, “It’s my fault. My ankle is sprained, or Dad would have saved you first. Just take out your anger on me. Please don’t blame Dad.” Ethan was lying, but Garry believed him. He hissed, and his face flushed with fury, “Don’t pull a long face. No one has wronged you, and you’re fine now.” I thought to myself, “If it weren’t for Garry telling the firefighters there was no one left in the house, I wouldn’t have struggled to scrawl through the flames and gotten hit by a falling easel, resulting in 30% burns. Looking at me, he still thought I was fine.” When Ethan cut his finger with a fruit knife, Garry treated it like an emergency. But I was wrapped up like a mummy; he thought I was “fine” and could even see the displeasure under my bandaged face. Garry warned me, “I’m here to inform you to keep quiet in front of the media. Remember, the fire started in your room.” My silence annoyed him. His eyes glinted with fierce. “If any rumors unfavorable to Ethan emerge, I won’t let you off, Austin Carlson.” After warning me, Garry left with Ethan. In his eyes, I wasn’t his son but a villain trying to harm Ethan. Ever since childhood, whenever Ethan stumbled, Garry accused me of being malicious. When Ethan handed his toys to me and then cried to Garry that I had stolen them, Garry compared me to my deceased mother and scolded me for always trying to take what wasn’t mine. Even when he witnessed Ethan bullying me, he would say I must have provoked Ethan first, forcing him to get even. In Garry’s view, I was nothing but a villain. His visit today was merely to warn me.

The day after Emma Wade, my mom’s best friend, visited me, Garry unexpectedly came to see me again. This time, he wasn’t his usual arrogant self. Instead, he looked a little cautious and even brought a gift. He showed me a handmade toy car, smiling. “Look, Austin, I brought you your favorite toy car. You used to beg me to make these cars with you when you were little.” When I was seven, right after my mom passed away, he brought Ethan home. I asked him to help me with my art project, a toy car, but he said he had no time and told me to do it myself. I cried, clinging to his leg, begging him to help me, but he kicked me away. Then, he helped Ethan make it. With that, Garry handed me the car keys. “I bought you your favorite car.” A new car? It was quite rare since I usually got things Ethan didn’t want. This was the first new thing Garry had given me since my mom died. Garry admitted that it was his fault for not noticing I was also in the house during the fire, causing me so much suffering. Then, he apologized that he had been wrong all these years for neglecting me and promised to treat Ethan and me equally from now on. Just as I was about to believe his sincerity, Garry hesitantly asked, “Austin, was it Emma who visited you yesterday?” As I expected, he wasn’t here out of concern but for his ulterior motives. Emma was my mom’s best friend. She came from the Wade family, the top family in Ladora. After my mom died, she cut off relations with my family. Knowing that Emma had come to visit me, Garry rekindled his ambitions. I coldly replied, “Yes.” “Your mom gave you a pendant before she died. It’s an engagement token with Lisa Wade. Austin, give it to Ethan,” Garry said. Seeing my disfigured face, he added, “Your face is scarred, and you’re not good enough for Lisa.” My appearance could be restored through skin grafts, but Garry refused to pay for the medical treatment, leaving me with only conservative care. He even accused me of not being worthy of this engagement. Garry continued, “Besides, giving Ethan the engagement is just as good. He is your brother. With your condition, you’ll need his help anyway.” I couldn’t help laughing bitterly at this. “I don’t have a brother. My mom only had me. Help me? Huh, he put sand in my milk, tore up my test papers, threw away my lunch box, and hid my exam permits… I don’t need his ‘help’?” The door swung open, and Ethan rushed to my bedside. “Austin, I know you don’t like me, but I didn’t do those things. Please don’t misunderstand me!” Looking at his pitiful face, Garry comforted him, “I believe you. Austin is jealous of you. He wants to drive a wedge between us. Don’t be sad, good boy.” Turning to me with anger, Garry said, “Austin, you’re too mean. You don’t deserve to be my son.” After they left, I looked at the car keys. Engraved on them was a small word—Ethan.

After the villa burned down, I had to move back into the small apartment my mom left me. As I approached the door, I heard loud music blaring from inside. Opening it, I saw a crowd of relatives and friends gathered in the living room. There was a large cake in the center with “Happy Birthday, Dad” written on it. Before the fire, I had been eagerly preparing a birthday gift for Garry, hoping that after receiving it, he would treat me like he did Ethan. Ever since Ethan came into my life, I had been trying every way to win Garry’s affection. But now, I had forgotten today was his birthday. Garry’s eyes flickered with guilt when he saw me. Ethan, momentarily stunned, greeted me calmly, “Austin, how could you be late on such an important day as Dad’s birthday?” No one had told me about this party. How could I be late? The relatives chimed in, “Ethan is so considerate, always handling everything perfectly. He’s better than a biological son.” “Tsk, the biological son doesn’t even remember his dad’s birthday.” Hearing their praises, Ethan looked smugly at me. “Austin is good, but he’s just busy with work. I have more free time, so it’s more suitable for me to handle these events.” Throughout his life, Ethan had always been polite and considerate in front of relatives, making them favor him over me. When it was time to give gifts, Ethan presented an emerald he had bought at an auction, which was of excellent quality. Garry’s face wreathed with smiles upon receiving it, and the relatives envied him for having such a thoughtful son. After showing off his gift, Ethan turned to look at me. “Austin, what gift did you prepare for Dad?” He knew full well that my gift had been destroyed in the fire. He continued, “I heard you prepared a special birthday gift for Dad. He has been looking forward to it. Show it to us!” Garry watched this scene, letting the relatives criticize me for being thoughtless. I stood there awkwardly, feeling humiliated. After the guests left, Ethan said, “Austin, if you didn’t prepare a gift, you shouldn’t have come and embarrassed Dad here.” Garry shot a frosty look. “I’m your father, but you didn’t even bring me a birthday gift.” I said, “Your birthday gift is that oil painting. It was burned in the villa.” A few months ago, Garry mentioned that his business rival had an oil painting that brought him prosperity, and he wanted one too. I spent all my free time working on that painting in the studio, only for it to be destroyed by the fire. Garry lowered his head, remaining silent for a long time. He and Ethan stayed seated in the living room, not intending to leave. I pointed towards the door. “I need to rest. Please leave.” Ethan yelled, “I didn’t ask you to leave, but now you’re kicking me out?” I lost my temper. “This is my house!” He looked smugly at me. “Dad gave me this apartment.” I stared at Garry in disbelief. A trace of guilt crossed his face before he regained his composure. “Here is closer to Ethan’s company. As his brother, you should make way for him.” I couldn’t contain my anger, yelling at Garry, “How can you be so biased? No matter what he wants from me, you always ask me to let him have it. Even when I do, I don’t get any appreciation. “My mom left me many things, but he has ruined it all, leaving me with just this small apartment. Now you still want to take even this away from me. I’m your real son. What did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?” By this point, I was unable to speak through my sobs.

Garry’s expression softened a bit, but he remained silent. He didn’t intend to return the apartment, so I knew I had to take it back on my own. After a moment of thought, I asked, “You want the pendant my mom left me, right?” Garry and Ethan both looked at me eagerly, waiting for me to continue. I stayed quiet for a while before saying, “Okay.” Their faces lit up with joy. “But you have to agree to three conditions,” I added. Ethan was excited, while Garry looked displeased. He believed everything I had should be his anyway, so he didn’t have to make any deals. I said, “The first condition: Move out of this apartment.” Garry had given Ethan many houses under various pretexts, each better than this one. He wanted this apartment just to spite me. Ethan readily agreed and waited for me to state the second condition. I continued, “The second condition: Ethan must kneel and clean up the mess you made today here.” Before Ethan could object, Garry interrupted, “Austin, he’s your brother. How can you treat him like this?” “Why are you getting so upset? I’m just giving him a taste of his own medicine. When I asked for my mom’s photo back, he did the same thing to me.” Garry was there watching when it happened. He said Ethan was young and innocent, and that as his brother, I had to be more tolerant and clean rooms on my knees if I wanted the photo back. Today, they needed something from me. Either they agreed to my condition, or they wouldn’t get what they wanted. Ethan reluctantly agreed, but Garry couldn’t bear to see him clean the apartment alone and helped him. Looking at Garry, who seemed tired from helping clean, I stated my third condition, “We’re even from now on.” Garry was stunned, asking, “What do you mean?” I clarified. “We’re done. You’re no longer my father, and we have nothing more to do with each other.” Garry became angry. “I raised you for over twenty years. How can you be so heartless to me?” I sneered, “It’s true, but you never treated me like a son. Apart from those who knew my birth, no one knows I’m your son. “When you went to parent-teacher conferences, you were Ethan’s father. At friends’ gatherings, you brought him with you. Even now, the son you present to the media is still him.” Anger came off Garry. “No matter what, you’re still my son. You can never walk away from me.” I shrugged. “Fine, but then the pendant stays with me.” Garry hesitated, while Ethan gave him pleading looks. Finally, Garry made up his mind. “Alright, I agree.” Ethan had a triumphant grin, erasing the humiliation of kneeling to clean. Tears blurred my eyes. Once again, Garry chose Ethan over me. I was heartbroken. However, they wouldn’t succeed in using that pendant to ingratiate themselves with the Wade family.

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I was reported by the parents for visiting the hospital a few times. “It’s such a crucial time in senior year. As the homeroom teacher, you should be on call 24/7. Is it really necessary to go to the hospital? Can’t you just tough it out?” “Even on weekends, what if something urgent comes up and we can’t reach you? If you don’t even have this basic awareness, how can you be a homeroom teacher?” “Bottom line, you’re just selfish. Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be a teacher!” I was both angry and shocked. For the past two years, I had poured my heart and soul into bringing this class from the bottom of the grade to the top. I had worked myself sick but never dared to take a day off, fearing it might affect the students. And now I’m being accused of selfishness? When my students learned about the complaint against me, they all looked indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with them. My heart turned cold. Let someone else be the homeroom teacher if they want it so badly. A few months later, these parents were standing at my doorstep: “Ms. Anderson, please come back. We’re begging you.”

I had been reported. All the parents in my class had jointly filed a complaint against me, accusing me of being irresponsible and demanding that the school immediately remove me from my position as homeroom teacher and math instructor. When the principal told me about this, I felt like I had been struck by lightning. Since taking over this class, I had put my heart and soul into it, working tirelessly and always putting the students first. I had given everything I had, short of cutting out my own heart. How could the parents accuse me of being irresponsible?! “The parents in your class are very adamant. They’ve even threatened to report this to the Department of Education if the school doesn’t meet their demands.” My face turned ashen. The principal said sternly, “Ms. Anderson, what you need to do now is to reflect on yourself. If you truly had done nothing wrong, how could all the parents collectively file a complaint against you?” This was utterly absurd! How had this become my fault? I was about to argue back when the principal waved his hand impatiently. “That’s enough. Go back and wait for the school’s decision.” As I left the principal’s office, I felt more and more upset. Finally, I couldn’t hold back and posted a message in the class group chat. “Dear parents, since I became the homeroom teacher, I have always prioritized my work for the class. I may not have given my last measure of devotion, but I have certainly been diligent and conscientious. If you feel there have been any shortcomings in my work, you could have communicated with me directly. Baseless misunderstandings and accusations truly dishearten educators.” A few minutes later, a message popped up. Jacob’s mom: “Misunderstanding? How could we possibly wrong you? As a homeroom teacher, you’re constantly running off to the hospital. Do you think that’s appropriate? Who gave you that right? Who gave you that freedom? How can you focus on the students like this? It’s such a critical time in the last semester of senior year. Would you die if you didn’t go to the hospital?” This series of unrelenting questions left me stunned.

Two years of intense work had led to serious problems with my spine and neck. The pain kept me awake every night. The doctor strongly advised me to take an extended leave to rest. But since it was already senior year, I was worried that changing homeroom teachers would disrupt the students. So I could only find time each week to go to the hospital for conservative treatment. As for resting, I’d have to wait until after the students graduated. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that parents would complain about me for this reason. I patiently replied, “Jacob’s mom, homeroom teachers are human too. Getting sick is inevitable, and I’ve only been going to the hospital on weekends during my personal time. It hasn’t affected my work for the class.” But her next words were even more exasperating. “Oh, please! Personal time? What personal time? You’re a teacher, a homeroom teacher. You should be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!” At this point, other parents started chiming in. Emily’s dad: “I agree with Jacob’s mom. If you’re going to be a homeroom teacher, you need to be prepared for this. If you can’t handle it, why be a homeroom teacher at all?” Sophia’s dad: “Last semester, you took three days off to get married. I thought that was inappropriate even then.” Lucas’s mom: “We agreed to let you be the homeroom teacher because of your experience and seniority. If we had known you’d have so many issues, we would have preferred a younger teacher from the start!” I couldn’t help but argue back. “Parents, I do have some health issues, but I’ve never let them interfere with my responsibilities to the class. For the past two years, no matter how exhausted or in pain I’ve been, I’ve persevered for the sake of the class. If I truly wanted an easier time, I could have easily resigned from my position as homeroom teacher.” But Jacob’s mom retorted, “Oh, give me a break! Stop with the noble act. You’re just in it for the money. Everyone knows homeroom teachers get paid more than regular teachers.”

My blood pressure instantly skyrocketed. At that moment, I wanted to curse. Yes, homeroom teachers do get paid a bit more than regular subject teachers. An extra hundred dollars per semester. Can you believe it? We wake up earlier than roosters and go to bed later than dogs. We spend seventeen to eighteen hours a day at school, attending endless homeroom teacher meetings, handling countless class affairs, writing endless evaluation assignments, responding to endless parent feedback, and working non-stop on weekends and holidays to provide summaries and reports. Our phones are on 24/7 to deal with all kinds of emergencies at any time. In summary, the workload of a homeroom teacher is at least ten times that of other subject teachers. And they think I’m killing myself for that extra hundred dollars? Am I really that desperate? The attacks on me continued in the class group chat. “Homeroom teachers not only get higher salaries, but they also get more opportunities for awards and honors!” “No wonder you won’t give up the position even when you’re sick… Hah, I can’t believe this.” “Damn it, if you want to make money, don’t do it at the expense of our children! Do we owe you something?” “Just get lost already!” I was too angry to speak. If I wanted to make money, I would have left long ago. The private high school next door once offered me double my current salary to poach me, but I politely declined. What was I doing this for? For the students! For their precious children! Mr. Robinson, the English teacher, couldn’t stand by any longer. “How can you say such hurtful things to Ms. Anderson when she’s been working through her illness for the students? Don’t the students’ grades speak for her dedication?” In the two years since I took over the class, we had gone from being at the bottom of the grade to the top. This was an undeniable fact. There was a brief silence in the group chat. Suddenly, one parent said, “That’s just because the kids worked hard on their own. It would have been the same with any teacher. It has nothing to do with you.” This was immediately followed by a chorus of agreement. “Exactly, my son studies until midnight every day. Of course his grades are good with that kind of effort!” “The pile of practice books my daughter has gone through is almost as tall as she is!” “You’re really trying to take credit for their hard work, aren’t you?”

My neck pain flared up from anger. Yes, the students worked hard, but it was because I pushed them to develop good study habits. To be blunt, the students in Class 6 had poor foundations and lacked initiative in their studies. If they had been assigned a teacher with even slightly less dedication or ability, they absolutely would not have made such progress. For the past two years, I had stayed up countless nights designing personalized teaching plans suited to our students. I gave up my daily break times to provide one-on-one tutoring, often having nothing but a sandwich and a bottle of water for dinner. I offered free tutoring at home on weekends and holidays. I spent my own money buying various study materials and rewards for the students. I dare say I put in more effort than any other teacher in the school. But now these parents were saying that the students’ achievements had nothing to do with me. Nothing to do with me! I angrily said, “If you all believe that the students’ success is entirely their own doing, then how could my personal activities outside of work hours have any impact on them?” The parents vehemently disagreed. “What, so grades are all that matter for students? Tell me, what if my child doesn’t eat enough at school? What if they forget to drink water? What if they catch a cold because they’re not dressed warmly enough? What if they’re not feeling well?” “The kids are already exhausted from studying. The homeroom teacher should be responsible for chores like cleaning the classroom.” “The evening self-study sessions end too late. If you ask me, the homeroom teacher should be responsible for escorting the students home.” Mr. Robinson sent me a private message. “These parents have lost their minds. Do they think a homeroom teacher is some kind of personal nanny?” As I watched the messages flooding the group chat, my temples throbbed. I took a deep breath. With my last ounce of patience, I sincerely said: “Parents, there’s less than half a year left until the college entrance exam. I implore you to trust me and give me one more chance. I promise I will do my absolute best to fulfill my duties as a homeroom teacher.” Jacob’s mom’s response instantly broke me. “You’re really shameless, aren’t you? Don’t tell me you’re planning to get revenge later by making things difficult for our children!” Jacob’s mom’s words instantly broke me. Fine, fine, fine. This homeroom teacher job? I quit!

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I, Nina Reed, was running around taking care of everything while my son, Lucas Reed, was seriously ill in the hospital. While I was waiting in line to pay the bill, a man suddenly bumped into me. The woman behind me helped me up. “Sorry! My son is sick, and my husband’s a bit anxious.” I looked at the figure, and surprisingly, it seemed a bit familiar. When I focused, I realized it was my husband, Zachary Reed, whom I hadn’t seen in years! But his return ticket was supposed to be for next week… “What are you doing here? Are you coming to see those people again? “I’ve told you so many times, stay away from the orphanage. Who knows what kind of viruses those people might have?” Before I could speak, I was hit with a barrage of scolding. I struggled to hold back my anger and hurt, trying to stay calm. But my voice trembled uncontrollably. My heart raced, and I felt a chill all over my body. “I haven’t even asked you yet. What are you doing here? “Weren’t you still in Rivendale? Didn’t your flight leave next week? “And who is this?” Zachary’s brows furrowed tighter. “This is Madeline Hayes. She’s…” As Zachary struggled to figure out how to introduce the child Madeline was holding, the child suddenly called out, “Daddy, when can I see the doctor? My tummy hurts so much.” Zachary’s whole face softened, a look I had never seen before, one that neither Lucas nor I had ever experienced. He gently soothed the child. “I’ll talk to the lady for a moment, and then we’ll go see the doctor, okay?” My mind went blank. After three years, my husband suddenly had such a big child. So, who was I? And who was Lucas, the one waiting for me in the ward? Madeline, the woman, gave me a provocative look, extended her hand to me, and flashed a beautiful smile. “I know you. You’re that orphan who has been in love with Zachary for years, right? I really sympathize with your situation, but love and sympathy aren’t the same thing.” I looked directly into Madeline’s eyes. I didn’t back down. “I’m an orphan, but I haven’t been in love with him for years. Let me introduce myself. I’m Zachary’s legal wife, Nina Reed.” I made sure to emphasize the word legal. She just smiled and covered her mouth. “Nina? I don’t believe that’s your name.” “Names are given by parents. Ms. Hayes, show some respect!” No sooner had I finished speaking than Zachary quickly stepped in, pulling Madeline behind him to shield her. “Why are you yelling? “Madeline grew up abroad. She has a more open mindset. She doesn’t care about these things, unlike you. “Forget it. There’s no point trying to explain to you right now. Just go back.” After saying that, he took the child in one arm and Madeline by the hand, and they turned and entered the doctor’s office. If this had happened before, I would have chased after them to demand answers. After all, this was the man I was supposed to spend my life with. But today, I only stood there for a moment, sneering ironically. Then I turned and went upstairs to Lucas’ ward.

“Lucas, your mom is really good to you. When you grow up, make sure you treat her well. “Your dad has been overseas for years. It’s all thanks to your mom that the family has been managing. You and your dad are really lucky.” The others in the hospital room were teasing Lucas. I gave an awkward smile. My mind wandered back to the argument Zachary and I had before he left for his trip. I had just given birth and was supposed to be resting after delivery. He mentioned there was a paid opportunity for further training at his company, something rare and valuable. I cried and complained. “I’m still recovering from giving birth, and you’re already leaving for overseas. “And you’ll be gone for years. How are we supposed to live without you?” At first, Zachary tried to patiently calm me down. But soon, his patience wore thin. He grabbed a pillow and threw it hard onto the floor. “You women never understand! I can’t stand being controlled! “I’ve already missed so many opportunities because of you. If you keep being so difficult, I might as well quit my job! “Damn it. How did I end up marrying a woman like you?” Lucas’ laughter snapped me back to the present. “Mom, when is Dad’s flight next week? After he comes back, I want him to take us on a trip! “Mom, you’ve been working hard. I’ll give you a kiss.” For the past few months, since Lucas fell ill, I’d been the only one taking care of him. During the day, I had to work, so I hired a nurse. I had once complained to Zachary, asking why his mother couldn’t come and help. He yelled at me for being unreasonable. “My mom’s an intellectual. How could she do something as dirty as taking care of a child? “Handling poop and pee, doesn’t that disgust her? “Figure something out yourself.” So, I had no choice but to hire help. But then Zachary was upset about that, too. “I only make so much money in a year, and you spend it all!” What he forgot to mention was that he stopped sending money home a long time ago. He said there were plenty of places to spend money overseas, and he needed to save it for emergencies. Even so, I still didn’t want to go against his wishes. So, I lied to Lucas, who wasn’t even three yet. “Mom and Dad both have to work, so there’s no one to take care of you during the day. “But Dad says he trusts you. You’re a man now. You can take care of yourself, right? “If you need help, you can always ask someone.” And that was how we made it through. Finally, we heard the news that Zachary was coming home. But I never imagined we’d be reunited under these circumstances. That evening, Zachary brought Madeline and her child back to our house. I was about to head to the hospital to stay with Lucas when I ran into all three of them. Even Zachary’s mom was shocked. Madeline gave Zachary’s mom a warm hug and then grabbed her son’s hand, asking him to call her grandma. Zachary stood there, smiling and watching. I didn’t have time to admire their harmonious scene. I pushed through the crowd. “Excuse me.” Zachary stopped me. “Where do you think you’re going? You’ve been avoiding us ever since we arrived. Who are you acting all cold to? “Go serve them some food. Madeline doesn’t eat basil, thyme, or anything spicy. See if we need to cook a few more dishes.” I awkwardly smiled and mocked him, “Should I make you a feast while I’m at it? “Why should I bother cooking for you?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, both of their faces turned ugly. Madeline opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but after glancing at Zachary’s mother and Zachary, she held it back. Zachary raised his hand as if to slap me, but maybe out of guilt, he finally lowered it with a frustrated sigh. “Don’t mind her. She just loves to get jealous. She thinks every woman I talk to is somehow involved with me. “Not like you, who knows how to be understanding.” I spent three years abroad, taking care of Zachary’s mother and son, working hard to support the family. And now he came back with another woman and a child. And he still said I was the one who didn’t understand. When I watched the way they were so loving with each other, my heart ached. Just when I reached the bus stop downstairs, Zachary chased after me. Before I could even react, he slapped me across the face. “There were others around earlier, so I spared you. “But remember this. Madeline is my benefactor. I will never allow anyone to target her.” I covered my face and stared at Zachary, unable to gather myself for a while. He turned and walked away, not saying another word. I touched my swollen face, then looked at his well-built figure as he walked away. I swiftly took off the cheap wedding ring from my fourth finger and tossed it into the trash can nearby. I spent a sleepless night at the hospital. The next morning, Lucas was scheduled for some tests, and the nurse came to take him. The nurse noticed my sunken eyes and dark circles and told me to go home and get some rest first. “Lucas will be fine with us. Don’t worry. You’ve been through so much alone. “I heard Lucas’ dad is coming back. You and your son will finally have a good time.” Tears filled my eyes, but I showed a bitter smile. I didn’t want to respond to the nurse. Back at home, I found Zachary still asleep. I changed clothes and lay on the far side of the bed, as far from him as possible. But somehow, he suddenly pulled me into his arms. His warm body pressed against mine, his breath brushing against my ear. “Baby, it’s been three years. Did you miss me?” If it were before, I would have gently turned to him, wrapped my arms around his neck, and told him how much I missed him, silently letting my tears speak for my longing. But now, all I felt was disgust. How could he call me his wife while having a child with someone else? I pulled away from him with all my strength, not saying a word. He let out a low laugh. “Still angry? It’s not what you think. The child is mine, but Madeline and I are just friends. “She helped me a lot while I was abroad, and I’m very grateful to her.” “So, to repay her, you gave her a child?” I said with disdain. “What century are we living in? You’re still making such a sacrifice?” “What are you talking about? We’re really innocent. The child was conceived through IVF. Nothing happened between Madeline and me,” his eyes turned red, and his voice was filled with grievance as he looked at me with sincerity. “Her parents are never around, and she’s been living alone. It’s lonely and hard, so I agreed to donate sperm. “Nina, I swear I never betrayed you.” The sincerity in his voice reminded me of when we first started dating. “Nina, I will love you and protect you forever.” But it had only been five years of marriage, and everything had already changed. What kind of woman would agree to have a child for a man? I didn’t believe that Zachary didn’t understand. Maybe he was just pretending not to understand. He and Madeline were testing my limits. I closed my eyes, and Lucas’ cute smile flashed in my mind. I sighed. “Zachary, let’s get a divorce.” Zachary’s face twisted with disbelief as he yelled angrily. He shook my shoulders roughly. “What right do you have to talk about divorce? Don’t forget. It was my parents who adopted you. If not for them, who knows where you’d be now! “You married me out of gratitude to my parents, so why can’t I give Madeline a child out of gratitude to her? “I’ve told you, it was IVF. There was nothing more to it. Can’t you stop being so petty? “People with a dark heart really see dirt in everything!” As I looked at the man in front of me, his face contorted with rage, I felt so unfamiliar with him. Zachary was practically ranting, his words coming in quick succession. But I felt nothing. After all, I had heard these words countless times before. What I couldn’t understand was why I ever agreed to marry him in the first place. And I couldn’t understand why his views were so completely unreasonable! He even thought it was my fault for not being able to accept this!

It wasn’t until he slowly calmed down that I spoke. “Zachary, I’m not joking. Let’s get a divorce. “I didn’t marry you out of gratitude for your parents. I married you because I loved you.” He seemed momentarily stunned. Then, his tone dropped without him realizing it. “Okay, don’t be mad. It’s just a kid. I won’t deal with them anymore. “I’m back now. I’ll treat you and Lucas well.” But when I heard his words, I only became more certain that divorce was the right choice. He could give Madeline a child out of gratitude yet casually say he wouldn’t deal with them in the future. He knew full well that Madeline had ulterior motives, but he still basked in her admiration, enjoying the ambiguous relationship and not wanting to leave it. A man like Zachary… in the end, he only loved himself. It was so pathetic. I got out of bed, pulling the blanket off. I wasn’t going to argue with him anymore. I simply repeated for the third time, “Zachary, let’s get a divorce.” Soon, Madeline arrived. She mocked me, “You always talk about being a good wife and mother, but now that your husband’s back, you’re not taking care of him. Instead, you’re causing all this trouble at home. “Really, I don’t know what Zachary sees in you. “You’re such a waste.” I didn’t respond. I took a few steps forward and slapped her across the face. I put all my strength into it, and her fair face quickly became marked with five clear red handprints. She covered her face and cried as she threw herself into Zachary’s arms. I coldly watched them, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction in my heart. Madeline sobbed, “How could you hit her? Don’t you know you should use words, not fists?” I replied with an emotionless expression, “Oh? What kind of words? Words in bed? “Madeline, don’t think just because you went abroad early, no one will find out about everything! Do you remember Lily Bennett?” The moment she heard that name, Madeline’s face turned pale.

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At the party, my boyfriend Jason Miller’s childhood best friend, Lily Carter, shoved me straight into the pool. She smirked. “Jason cares about me the most. He’ll save me first.” And just like that, he did. Again. When I came to, something felt… off. The mirror confirmed it—I wasn’t me anymore. I was Jason. Jason always told me Lily was sweet and innocent, and that I was overreacting. Bullshit. She’d been messing with me from day one, playing her little games, always making sure I was the one left looking petty. Well, now it was his turn to see her for who she really was. The first thing I saw when I came to was Lily Carter’s face hovering over me, panic written all over it. Her expression lit up as she threw herself into my arms, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Oh my god, you’re awake! You scared the hell out of me—you just went under all of a sudden! “What would I do if something happened to you?” My whole body tensed. What the hell was she up to this time? I shoved her away, frowning. Just moments ago, she had deliberately dragged me to the edge of the pool and pulled me in with her. She said she wanted to prove who Jason Miller cared about the most. No surprise—he chose her again. “What do you want now?” The second I spoke, I realized something was wrong. My voice—it wasn’t mine. And then, I noticed something even more terrifying. The body I was in… was Jason’s. Meanwhile, my own body lay motionless not far away. That’s when it hit me—when Jason had jumped in to save Lily, his leg had cramped up, and he’d blacked out too. “Cough, cough.” A familiar voice rasped from the other side. Jason—now trapped in my body—had finally come to. His eyes widened as the realization sank in. We had swapped bodies. He stared at me, completely stunned, lips parted as if trying to say something. Lily, assuming he was about to defend me, took the chance to play the victim first. “Jason, don’t be mad at Jo. I know she’s upset with me, and maybe she just lost her temper for a moment. “Please, don’t fight because of me. I don’t mind taking the blame.” Before her words even settled, a few of our so-called friends chimed in. “This can’t just slide. Jo has to apologize!” “Yeah, or we won’t let this go.” “If you’re really our brothers, make her apologize to Lily!” Jason shot me a look, sharp and full of disappointment, like I was some reckless troublemaker he had to clean up after. Before I could even get a word in, he had already decided I was in the wrong. With a guilty expression, he turned to Lily. “I’m sorry, Lily. This is my fault. It won’t happen again.” For a split second, something flickered in her eyes—surprise. Because normally, I would have stubbornly refused, insisting I had done nothing wrong. Then we’d have a blowout argument, the night would crash and burn, and she’d slink right in—playing the sweet, understanding friend, wrapping him around her little finger. She must have felt something was off, but it didn’t stop her from putting on her usual act. “Since it’s Jason asking, I’ll let it slide this time.” With that, she reached out, pretending to help me inside. I instinctively pushed her away—only to catch Jason’s sharp glare. That was a silent warning—didn’t pick a fight with Lily again. I let out a quiet sigh, allowing her to lean in close, pressing her whole body against mine like she always did. As we walked away, she glanced over her shoulder at Jason. He froze. I didn’t even need to look to know why. Because every time she successfully stirred the pot, she would flash me that smug, taunting smile—like a twisted trophy. Jason had never seen that side of her before. But now? He couldn’t unsee it.

On the drive back, Jason Miller was fuming, his voice cold and accusing. “Jo Summers, are you happy now? If you hadn’t pushed Lily, we wouldn’t be in this mess! “How many times do I have to tell you? Lily is my sister. When will you stop being so damn unreasonable?” It didn’t matter what had just happened. One look from Lily, and I was still the villain in his eyes. “She pushed me first,” I said, my voice quiet. It wasn’t the first time I’d tried to defend myself. And it wouldn’t be the last time no one believed me. Jason let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Enough. Haven’t you lied enough already? “You’ll say anything to make her look bad, won’t you? “Lily and I grew up together. She’s kind, innocent—there’s no way she’d ever do something like that.” Just like every other time before this, he chose to believe her without hesitation. And once again, I was the one being unreasonable. A dull ache settled in my chest. I didn’t even feel like arguing anymore. The first time I met Lily, I knew she wasn’t as harmless as she pretended to be. The day she returned from abroad, we went to pick her up at the airport. The second she saw Jason, she flung herself into his arms like a butterfly, spinning in circles. “Jason, I missed you so much! Did you miss me?” She practically purred the words before leaning in and planting a kiss on his cheek. Jason’s ears turned red, and his gaze softened, filled with indulgence. “Come on, let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend, Jo Summers.” That was when she finally seemed to notice me. The smile on her face faltered slightly as her gaze swept over me from head to toe. That look—cold, assessing—made my skin crawl. Like she was evaluating an object. A moment later, she smiled again, but something flickered in her eyes—something condescending. “Thank you, Jo, for taking care of Jason while I was gone.” I should’ve known. At the time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about the way she said it. That was the moment she decided she didn’t like me. Not long after we got home, Lily texted Jason again. Apparently, the pool party wasn’t wild enough for her, so now they were hitting up a bar. I told him to make up an excuse and turn it down. Given our current situation, it wasn’t exactly the best time to be hanging around them. But Jason, as always, folded—because when Lily Carter pouted and batted her lashes, saying no simply wasn’t an option. He texted back, agreeing to go. I sighed. Fine. I’d go, make an appearance, and leave as soon as I could. But Jason wasn’t having it. “You’re in my body right now. I can’t let you put Lily in an awkward spot or hurt her feelings.” I let out a dry laugh. This was actually happening. My boyfriend was more worried about another woman’s feelings than mine. At the bar, everyone seemed surprised to see Jason—well, me—show up. Lily wasted no time. She hooked her arm through mine, batting her lashes as she looked at Jason. “Jo, are you at a bar? Didn’t think this was your scene. Or are you just here to spy on Jason? “Come on, do you really think we’d do anything behind your back? We’re all Jason’s closest friends. Can’t you trust us?” Jason blinked, caught off guard by the accusation. For once, he had no idea what to say. He looked at me, confused. I stayed calm. “Jo just came by coincidence. That’s all.” Hearing me stand up for Jason, a flicker of displeasure flashed in Lily’s eyes. As soon as we sat down, a few drinks in, someone suggested a game. I was never good at these, and, unsurprisingly, I lost. My punishment was a dare. One of the guys smirked, “Kiss the girl to your left.” My left was Lily. She let out a soft gasp, tilting her head coyly. “Oh, come on. Jo’s watching. We don’t want a repeat of last time, do we?” Then she sighed dramatically, flashing an apologetic smile to the group. “I mean, I get it—some people just aren’t built for this kind of game.” A couple of them laughed. Jason said nothing. I froze. The first time I went to a bar with them. The first time I watched her pull this same damn move. She had lost a game back then too. Had to kiss someone. Plenty of single guys were there. But she hadn’t even looked at them. Instead, she turned straight to Jason—her so-called best friend. And the worst part? He hadn’t pushed her away. They had kissed. A full three minutes. Slow, deep, lingering. By the time they finally pulled apart, their breathing was heavy, lips swollen. And me? I was right there. Watching. When we got home, I snapped. Told him he had no sense of boundaries, and that this wasn’t okay. Jason had just scoffed, “Jo, seriously? It was just a game. Grow up. “Lily is like a sister to me. If I actually liked her, do you think you’d even be here?” I had trembled with anger, but the worst part was—I couldn’t find the words to fight back. After that night, I never stepped foot in a place like this again.

I wanted to refuse. But before I could speak, Jason cut in. “It’s just a game. Just say yes. I don’t mind.” The room fell silent for a second. People exchanged looks, visibly taken aback. Even Lily hesitated for a moment, suspicion flickering in her eyes. Then, someone broke the silence. “Whoa, Jo’s actually being chill about this? What are we waiting for? Kiss! Kiss!” The crowd quickly jumped in, clapping and chanting. Jason shot me a look, silently telling me to go through with it. I met Lily’s expectant gaze, and all I could think about was every little thing she had done to me over the years. And suddenly, I couldn’t do it. “I’m not feeling great. I’m heading out. You guys have fun—I’ll catch you later.” I didn’t bother waiting for a response. Just turned and walked out. Behind me, voices murmured in hushed tones. “He doesn’t look sick at all. If anything, he looked like he was disgusted by Lily.” “Shut up, Jason and Lily are close. He literally spoils her.” “Yeah, but he has a girlfriend. Maybe this time, they pushed it too far?” Lily’s expression darkened as she watched him walk away. For the first time, Jason hadn’t played along with her little game. The first time he had ever left her hanging. I waited in the car for a while before Jason finally came out. His expression was dark, brows furrowed in frustration. “Jo, what the hell did you do to Lily? Why would she say something like that to me?” I gripped the steering wheel, pulling out of the parking lot before responding. “What did she say?” He hesitated, like he was struggling to find the right words. “She was upset that you embarrassed her back there, so I tried to smooth things over.” “And?” I prompted. His fingers curled into fists. “She told me not to feel too good about myself tonight… that I’d regret it sooner or later.” I had a slow smirk. Exactly what I expected. “I’ve never seen her so…” He trailed off, looking uncomfortable before finally forcing out the word. “Harsh.” Then, just as quickly, he shook his head. “You must’ve done something to provoke her. “Jo, why do you always have to pick on her? She’s just a girl, for god’s sake.” His voice was full of exasperation, like he was sick of my so-called jealousy. Like I was some bitter villain making life hell for his poor, innocent childhood best friend. Meanwhile, the real villain? She was sitting back, waiting for him to come running. I had no interest in arguing. He wasn’t going to believe me anyway. “Think whatever you want.” Jason blinked, surprised by my indifference. After a beat, he exhaled sharply. “For now, just try to get along with Lily, okay? I’ll talk to her too.” I barely held back an eye-roll. Yeah. Sure. As if that had ever worked. Jason was the CEO of the company, and I was his secretary. Usually, we worked in the same office, so it wasn’t strange for him—well, me—to be sitting there. At least, until Lily strolled in. She barely spared me a glance before her gaze locked onto Jason, still in my body, sitting behind his desk. For a split second, something dark flickered in her expression. Then she tilted her head and smirked, “Jo, seriously? Sitting in the CEO’s chair? A mere secretary acting like she runs the place? “If word got out, wouldn’t that make Jason look bad?” Jason froze, clearly taken aback. After an awkward second, he got up from the seat. I leaned back, unfazed. “Relax, there’s no one else here. I told him to sit there.” Lily blinked, lips pressing together in displeasure. But she didn’t argue. Instead, her eyes gleamed with something else—something calculating. Then she turned to him, smiling sweetly. “Jo, could you get me a cup of coffee? Thanks.” She always did this. Every time she dropped by, she’d treat me like some personal errand-runner. If it wasn’t coffee, it was making me stand in line for two hours at some trendy bakery to get her stupid desserts. And every time I refused, she’d pout at Jason, and he’d immediately tell me to do it. “Jo, you’re my girlfriend, and Lily’s like my little sister. That means she’s your sister too—so what’s the big deal about helping her out?” That’s what he’d always say. But today? Today, Jo was Jason. So, of course, he got up and eagerly went to make her coffee. Lily reached out to take the cup, but just as her fingers brushed the mug, a flicker of mischief danced in her eyes. And I knew. She was about to pull some shit. Sure enough, the next second, the coffee spilled all over her pristine white dress. Lily let out a gasp. “Oh my god! It’s boiling hot!” Jason panicked, fumbling to help her. “Shit, sorry! Let me—” She slapped his hand away. “Jo, seriously? I only asked for coffee. Did you really have to dump it on me?” Jason froze. “I didn’t! You were taking it, and I—” Lily’s eyes turned red-rimmed, her voice thick with unshed tears. “Jason, I know Jo doesn’t like me, but this is just too much.” She turned to me, expecting me to do what I always did—snap at Jason, make a scene. And Jason just sat there, completely stunned—like his entire worldview had just taken a hit. Instead, I leaned back and asked him calmly, “Are you going to apologize?” Jason looked at me, utterly lost. “But… I didn’t even do it.” Lily sniffled, throwing herself into my arms—his arms—with a pout. “Jason, it’s okay. If Jo won’t admit it, I’ll just let it go. Please stop arguing because of me.” Jason hesitated, then sighed, “I’m sorry. It was my fault.” Lily’s brows furrowed slightly, eyes flicking toward him in suspicion. She had expected a fight. Instead, Jo had immediately taken the blame. I smoothly pulled away, keeping my tone casual. “Well, since he already apologized, let’s just drop it. “I have work to do, so you can head out now.” Lily bit her lip, clearly annoyed that her little plan hadn’t worked. Still, she had no choice but to leave. But before she walked out, she shot Jason a sharp glare, as if something wasn’t adding up. Jason slumped into the chair, rubbing his temples. His tone sounded a bit wronged. “I swear, I didn’t pour that coffee on her.” I smirked, “I know.” His expression flickered. “Has Lily… done this before?” I nodded. More than once. His jaw tightened. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?” I met his gaze, completely unfazed. “I did. You just didn’t believe me.” Every time Lily framed me, he would only stand by her side and believe her unconditionally. Jason stiffened. Guilt flickered in his eyes. “She’s just… she’s always been a little childish. She doesn’t mean any harm.” I said nothing. He would always have an excuse for her. Even now. But I didn’t care about it anymore. After a long pause, he muttered, “Once we switch back, this won’t happen again.” I just shrugged. What I didn’t tell him… was that after we switched back, there wouldn’t be an “us” anymore. On the day we swapped bodies, I had intended to break up with him.

Lily had been reaching out to Jason more and more lately. Luckily, we had been drowning in work for the company’s biggest project. Jason was too busy to leave the office, which meant he wasn’t forcing me to see her. Finally, after weeks of exhausting work, we wrapped up the final stages. It was past midnight when we got home. Both of us collapsed onto the couch, completely drained. Not long after, Jason clutched his stomach, groaning in pain. A sharp instinct flared inside me. I thought back to the past few weeks—he hadn’t been eating properly, running on caffeine and sheer willpower. Especially today. The only thing he’d consumed was coffee. I knew my body. An empty stomach and stress were the perfect triggers for gastritis. Jason broke into a sweat, his face pale as a sheet, his body curled up in agony. “What… what’s happening to me?” he rasped. “Gastritis.” I let out a quiet sigh, heading to the drawer for medicine. Empty. Right. I had finished the last dose. “We need to get you to a hospital. This prescription isn’t over-the-counter.” I helped him up, preparing to leave, when his phone rang. It was Lily. I pressed the speakerphone, and her panicked voice spilled through the line. “Jason! It’s Momo—she’s been so weak these past two days. I think she’s sick.” As she kept talking, her voice started to tremble, and soon, she was sniffing through the phone. “I’m really scared. Can you come home and take us to the vet?” I turned to Jason. I already knew what would happen next. Whenever Lily cried, no matter the situation, Jason would drop everything. Just like that time. That time when I was the one in pain. That time when I had begged him to take me to the hospital. Lily had called then, too. She was crying, saying her dog was about to give birth. Jason hadn’t hesitated. “Shh, don’t cry. You know I can’t stand it when you cry. I’ll be right there.” I had grabbed his sleeve, my body trembling from the pain, tears spilling down my face as I pleaded. “Please, just take me to the hospital first.” But he had yanked his arm away, his voice sharp with irritation. “Stop being so dramatic. It’ll pass. “Momo’s our dog. She’s giving birth for the first time. I’m her dad—I can’t miss this.” And then he had left without looking back. I had barely managed to call an ambulance myself, hands shaking. Hours later, while I was lying in a hospital bed with an IV drip in my arm, Jason had been celebrating. He had posted a picture online—he and Lily was cuddling the newborn puppies. The caption read: [Officially dog parents! So happy!] After five years with Jason Miller. That was the moment I had finally, completely, given up on him. Now, Lily’s sniffles echoed through the speaker. “Jason? Did you hear me? I need you. I’m scared.” Jason swayed, his body barely holding up. His lips trembled as he tried to form words. “Do you… do you think I should go?” I tilted my head, watching him. “You tell me.” He hesitated. For once, he hesitated. Then, gritting his teeth, he gasped, “Take me to the hospital. I… I can’t take this.” A slow smirk showed on my face. I turned to the phone. “Jo’s sick. I’m taking him to the hospital. “Take Momo to the vet yourself.” “But Jason, Momo—” I hung up before she could finish. Jason was already collapsing against me. I had planned to let him suffer a little. Just enough for him to understand what I had gone through. But this was still my body. I wasn’t about to mess around. I rushed him to the hospital, got his prescription, and brought him home. As he rested, I went to the kitchen to make something light. I was stirring a pot of porridge when the door swung open. It was Lily. She blinked in surprise. “Jason? You’re cooking?” She laughed. “You hate cooking.” I kept my voice calm. “Jo’s sick. She doesn’t have much of an appetite. Takeout isn’t great for digestion, so I’m making porridge.” It was an excuse, but she didn’t need to know that. Her gaze flickered toward the steaming bowl, something dark flashing in her eyes. Jealousy. But when she looked back at me, her expression softened into something fragile and sweet. She stepped closer, looping her arm around mine. “Jason, let’s go check on Momo together. She’s still not eating, and she needs her dad. She needs her family.” I swallowed down the nausea crawling up my throat and smoothly slipped my arm free. “She’s sick. Take her to a vet. I’m not a doctor.” I snapped the lid onto the container, my tone flat. “I need to bring Jo her food.” I didn’t turn back as I walked out. But I could feel the anger rolling off her in waves. At the hospital, Jason had recovered enough to sit up. He looked at me, confused. “Since when was your gastritis this bad?” I packed away the containers, my voice steady. “It’s always been this bad.” His brows furrowed. “Really?” Of course, he wouldn’t know. The condition had started when I used to accompany him to business events, drinking on an empty stomach, and pushing past my limits. The first time I had collapsed in pain, Jason had held me close, eyes red-rimmed as he swore, “Jo, I’ll never let you suffer like this again. I’ll take care of you.” So I had stopped complaining. I swallowed the pain and bore it alone. Until that time. Until he had left me for a dog. Until he had walked away like I was nothing. Jason’s face shifted, as if something had finally clicked. “So… when you said you were sick before… you weren’t faking it?” I shot him a dry look. His expression faltered, guilt creeping in. “I thought you were just jealous of Lily. That you were trying to stop me from going to her.” I didn’t respond. Didn’t even look at him. I simply stood, brushing invisible dust off my clothes. “Get some rest.” As I reached the door, his voice stopped me. “I’m sorry.” I didn’t turn around. And I didn’t answer.

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When I, Olivia Pierce, was suffering from morning sickness, vomiting and diarrhea during my pregnancy, my husband, Noah Sinclair, and the nanny, Sophia Caldwell, hid in the storage room, whispering sweetly to each other. Sophia was wearing my pajamas and spoke in a seductive tone. “Mr. Sinclair, I also want to have your baby.” Noah’s eyes darkened, his voice hoarse. “You’re still young. Pregnancy is too hard. I can’t bear it.” I silently booked an abortion and a plane ticket to Eldoria after hearing all this. After the abortion, I returned home, pale-faced. The moment I opened the door, I was greeted by a house full of gifts. Noah lovingly hung a diamond necklace worth tens of millions of dollars around my neck. “Sweetheart, you’ve worked hard with the pregnancy.” He gently helped me sit on the couch and expertly massaged my sore, swollen calves. “I always go with you to every checkup, but this time you insisted I didn’t need to. Look at you. You’re so pale from exhaustion.” Up until now, he still thought I went for a checkup. Noah and I were childhood sweethearts, from school to marriage. Since I got pregnant, he treated it like a battle. Instead of reading up on finance, he was studying pregnancy care in his study. My morning sickness was severe, so he taught himself to cook, trying everything to get me to eat. In three months, I lost more than 10 pounds, and Noah cried as he held me. “Just one child. After that, I’ll get a vasectomy!” Noah loved me deeply, to the point that if science allowed it, he would have carried the baby for me. But none of this stopped him from sending flirty text messages to Sophia one after another. His excuse for learning to cook was nothing more than a way to spend time alone with Sophia. Every night, after lulling me to sleep, he couldn’t wait to slip into the nanny’s room… The next morning, after taking a shower to hide all traces, he would curl up next to me for a cozy nap. He thought his actions were flawless, but I still saw the faint, ambiguous scratch marks on his back. That night, I sat in silence, feeling numb. The baby inside me seemed to sense my sadness and gave a gentle nudge in my palm. At that moment, I overheard Noah trying to calm Sophia. “Pregnancy is so tough. Once Olivia’s baby is born, I’ll have the child call you godmother.” In that instant, it felt as if the world stopped. Tears unknowingly rolled down my face, growing faster and faster. Shaking, I opened my phone and booked the abortion. I couldn’t let my child be born into a loveless home. That would be irresponsible to her.

“Baby, after our little one is born, how about the three of us go to Northfield to see the snow in winter, and climb mountains in spring?” Noah was daydreaming about our future while I slightly turned my head, pretending not to see the hickey on his neck. What Noah didn’t know was that the little life he was so excited about had already died due to his betrayal. “Mr. Sinclair and Mrs. Sinclair are so happy. I want to find someone just like Mr. Sinclair,” Sophia said, and Noah immediately shot a nervous glance at me. “Well, I’ll let him go to you then… Hmm!” Noah immediately covered my mouth, his teeth clenched in anger. “Stop talking nonsense.” He leaned in close. Looking into his eyes, I felt like I was back to the summer when I was 17, the first time Noah kissed me, his eyes full of nervousness and caution. “Olivia, I won’t be like my dad, looking for other women. “I love only you.” Noah’s dad had an affair that drove his mom to her death, and he hated his dad for it his whole life. Like father, like son. Noah had ended up becoming the very thing he despised the most. At dinner, Sophia handed Noah some juice and secretly brushed her palm against his. Unable to tolerate it anymore, I slapped her across the face. “Ah!” Sophia covered her face, tears falling one by one. “Olivia, what gives you the right to hit me?” She turned to Noah with a pitiful look, her eyes red, like a bunny. But Noah didn’t spare her a glance. Instead, he held my hand to his lips, blowing on it gently. “Did it hurt you? “Getting upset isn’t good for your health, especially since you’re pregnant.” Since I was little, my health had always been weak. My parents were busy with their business and didn’t have time for me. Noah had taken the small, fragile me home and cared for me with great attention. People joked that I was his burden, but Noah would always gently defend me. “She’s not a burden. She’s my rose.” Noah would pull the thorns from my body and then… drive them deep into my heart until it bled uncontrollably. Seeing herself ignored, Sophia wiped away her useless tears, and her cheeks were red and swollen. That night, after Noah tucked me in, he quietly went to Sophia’s room. After that, a series of soft noises reached my ears. In the dark, I opened my eyes and called my mentor. “Professor, I’m willing to go to Eldoria and join the secret research organization.” “Are you sure? Once you join, you won’t be able to contact the outside world for five years, and your identity will be erased.” “Yes, I’m sure.” My mentor hesitated slightly. “Then get ready. You leave in three days.” I wouldn’t disappear without a word. I would let Noah know that I knew about his affair before I “killed” myself. Just like how his mom died. I would make sure he lived forever in guilt.

The next day, I saw Sophia wearing a ruby necklace. Noah had said it was a birthday gift for me, but clearly, the birthday gift had turned into Noah’s apology to Sophia. Sophia smiled and played with her bracelet in front of me. “Did you know about me and Noah being together all along?” I looked at her without saying anything, and Sophia continued. “You should have some self-respect. Right now, Noah loves me.” I scoffed. “Then you should have Noah divorce me.” Sophia didn’t get angry. Instead, she laughed out loud. “You’ve just been around him longer than me. I have plenty of ways to steal him away.” Just then, Noah called, as usual. Even though there were many servants at home, he was still worried and wanted to hear my voice. But I didn’t answer, letting it ring. Half an hour later, he rushed back from work. “Baby, why didn’t you pick up my calls or reply to my messages? “I was really scared.” Noah looked pale, clearly shaken by the fear. Noah was really strange. He’d cancel million-dollar contracts just to check on me, but on his way home, he could still send flirtatious texts to Sophia. [Put on the white stockings and wait for me at home.] Sophia flaunted it in front of me. “Every corner of the house is filled with traces of our love. “Especially your bedroom. We’ve tried so many positions in there.” I looked at Noah, trying to suppress the pain and sadness in my heart, and said, word by word. “I aborted the baby.” Noah paused for a moment, then burst out laughing. When he laughed, two little dimples appeared on his cheeks. “Olivia, you’re hilarious!” He knew exactly how much I wanted to be pregnant. Because of my infertility, I had taken a lot of medicine and had countless injections. During that time, I gained a lot of weight from the hormones. I cried every night, afraid that Noah would find me unattractive. After hearing me, he gently kissed my forehead and said, “I will always love you, no matter how you change.” Sweet promises slipped from his lips so easily, and as I thought back on it, I realized he had probably already cheated on me back then. Because Noah was never good at sweet talk, but when he casually said that, someone had clearly been pestering him to say such things, and over time, it just came out naturally.

“Sweetheart, you’ve been so cold to me these past few days.” Noah complained, trying to snuggle up to me. But when I thought of his body being kissed and touched by Sophia, I felt sick and vomited. Without hesitation, Noah quickly caught my vomit in his hands. I hadn’t eaten much in the past few days, so all that came out was bile. “Ah!” The maid, Harper Turner, hurried over to take me to clean up, and Noah tried to follow, but Sophia grabbed him by the arm. When I finally came out, Noah’s concern was a little too late. “Do you need to go to the hospital?” Though he was trying to hold himself together, his voice was still breathless, his lips a bright red. Sophia stood by, blushing, and provocatively raised an eyebrow at me. My phone dinged, and I saw a message from Sophia. [He just kissed my lips until they were swollen and said it was so exciting.] Tears welled up in my eyes from the discomfort, and Noah’s face started to blur. I felt like I had never truly seen him.

The day I committed “suicide” happened to be my birthday. Noah bought every rose in the city, and the buildings around us had huge screens playing Happy Birthday on a loop. People on the internet snapped photos and sighed. Netizen 1: [Another day to cry over the beautiful love story of the heirs.] Netizen 2: [Word is, this is the president of Sinclair Group celebrating his wife’s birthday.] Netizen 3: [First wish for the afterlife. To be Mrs. Sinclair’s firstborn.] Because I had been suffering from the pregnancy, Noah decided to take me to the church to pray. He bought over 20 prayer slips in one go. The vendor joked, “Young man, don’t be too greedy.” Noah smiled lightly. “I don’t want anything for myself. This is for my wife and our unborn child.” The vendor gave him a thumbs up. “Good man!” I silently wrote something on a slip of paper. Noah leaned over to peek, so I quickly hid it. “Alright, alright, I won’t look,” he said, gently ruffling my hair, thinking I was just shy. After placing the papers down, we were about to leave the mountain. Noah’s phone dinged, and he glanced at it quickly before turning it off. What he didn’t know was that Sophia had sent me the same picture. A photo of her in lace, with a maid’s uniform. [Master, I accidentally broke your favorite vase. Want to punish me?] I glanced at Noah, who smiled a playful smile, clearly already having made up his mind. The next moment, his expression shifted to urgency. “Sweetheart, there’s an emergency at the company that I need to handle. “Can I have dinner with you tonight instead?” I coldly replied, “The company’s business is more important.” What Noah didn’t know was that I would never wait for him to have dinner with me again because I was going to die. Before leaving the church, I went to look at the more than 20 prayer papers Noah had left behind. [May Sophia be blessed with peace and joy.] [May Sophia encounter fewer misfortunes and only meet good people.] Out of all Noah’s prayer papers, every single one was about Sophia. There were only a few scattered ones for me and the child. My heart felt like it was being slowly ground by a dull knife, the pain so intense I almost couldn’t stand. A gentle breeze passed by, and the words on my paper flickered in and out of view. [May I never see Noah again in this life, even in death.]

I followed the road’s surveillance cameras and reached a steep cliff. Anyone who fell from here would be gone without a trace. In the salty air of the sea breeze, I sent Noah the evidence of his affair and the text messages Sophia had sent me. Normally, when I sent him a message, he would reply quickly. But 10 minutes passed, and there was no response. He was probably busy with Sophia… I stood up, left my phone and shoes behind, and staged the scene to look like a suicide. Then, I bypassed the cameras, got into a car sent by my mentor, and from that moment on, Olivia was gone. The world would never know her again. Before boarding the plane, I saw a news report on the big screen. [Mrs. Sinclair committed suicide. The Sinclair heir is suspected of dying for love.] The screen showed Noah kneeling at the edge of the cliff, calling my name.

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The day my family went bankrupt, my fiancée married the man she loved. I, Wyatt Anderson, didn’t say a thing. I simply married Ava Anderson, the woman who confessed her love to me and helped me through the tough times. After we married, I took care of her for seven years while she was paralyzed from the waist down. Then, on the day she stood up, I overheard her and her best friend, Olivia Carter, speaking in Lapine. “Ava, are you really going to spend your whole life with him? What if Dylan Montgomery gets hurt again?” Ava, peeling shrimp for our daughter, answered slowly, “Of course not! Dylan is special, and Wyatt’s not. How could I bear to make Dylan sad?” “I’m just like Mommy. I like handsome Uncle Dylan, but I hate ugly Daddy,” our daughter added in Lapine. What they didn’t know was that I understood Lapine. The fake love she had served me, I’d never take another look. Ava gently touched our daughter Sydney’s forehead, clearly pleased, and instinctively praised her in Lapine. “Sydney’s so well-behaved. Uncle Dylan and I are glad to hear that. “When you’re older, Uncle Dylan and I will have a pretty little sister for you. Then, you will have a companion at school.” Sydney clapped her hands excitedly, answering in clumsy Lapine. “Yay, that’s awesome! “I like Uncle Dylan and Mommy the most, and I like the pretty little sister Mommy’s going to have. If only we didn’t have this scary, mean Daddy. I don’t like him at all. He annoys me.” I froze, shocked. I couldn’t believe what I had just heard. Ava must have noticed my stare because she smiled and helped me with some lettuce, speaking gently, “Baby, what’s wrong?” I shook my head, my heart aching so much it felt like it was being torn apart. A suffocating feeling spread through my body. Ava must have forgotten that I was the first one to learn Lapine in this family. She must also have forgotten that I never eat lettuce. My expression darkened. Noticing my silence, Ava became nervous and unsure. She gently took my hand. “Baby, why do you look so upset all of a sudden?” I pulled my hand away and smiled awkwardly, trying to keep the facade up. “It’s nothing. I just can’t believe you forgot that I don’t like lettuce,” I said, pretending to act cute. “By the way, what were you saying just now? Speaking in Lapine?” Ava froze for a moment, clearly guilty, not daring to look at me. “Oh, it was nothing. It’s just that Olivia is jealous of how good our relationship is.” She quickly came up with an excuse and tried to shift the attention away. “I’m sorry, baby. I’ll remember from now on, and I won’t let you eat lettuce again. “You’re the best, and you should only have sweet things, never anything bitter.” She continued to comfort me in a soft voice while picking out the lettuce from my plate. Our daughter rolled her eyes at me and huffed, “Humph, so dramatic. It’s just lettuce. It’s not going to kill you. “You’re a man, and you’re still picky? How embarrassing.” Ava, who had been gentle just moments ago, immediately turned serious and scolded our daughter. “Sydney, don’t speak to your father like that! Apologize right now!” Our daughter reluctantly stuck out her tongue and mumbled, “Sorry!” Even Olivia, unable to stand it any longer, made a comment. “Alright, we get it. You two have a great relationship. No need to keep showing off. Why are you scolding the kid?” Ava shot her a proud look. “Ha, you’re just jealous that I have such a handsome, understanding husband. I’m going to show off as much as I want. After all, I’m the one who admires him. I’ll show off a thousand times a day if I want.” I set my fork down and looked at Ava quietly. She tried to look all loving, and when she noticed me looking at her, she quickly served me a bowl of soup, blowing on it before offering it to me. “Baby, do you want some soup? “Baby, you’ve worked so hard these seven years taking care of me and the kid. “Baby, I can finally stand up. You don’t need to worry anymore. I’ll love you with everything I’ve got from now on.” If I had heard these words in the past, they would have brought tears to my eyes. But now, all I felt was a deep, bitter sting and irony. She had fooled me so well that I almost convinced myself that the conversation in Lapine had been nothing but my imagination.

Without waiting for me to speak, Olivia glanced at her phone a few times before urging me again in Lapine. “Ava, stop dragging your feet. Hurry up! Dylan is calling for you in the group chat. It’s such an important day. Don’t make him wait anxiously.” Ava froze for a moment. She set down her soup bowl, pressed a kiss to my lips, and then reluctantly spoke up, “Honey, can you have the maid clean up the dishes and go to bed early? Please? Our friends are asking me to go out and hang out. Please, let me go, honey.” I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw her like this. “Sure, go ahead. “But you’d better not do anything to make me angry. “If I find out you did, I won’t hesitate to leave you.” She froze, panic and unease flashing in her eyes. But in the end, with her phone ringing nonstop, she picked it up, stood up, and started putting on her coat. As she walked out, she tried to reassure me with a serious tone. “Honey, don’t worry. I belong to you in life and death. “My husband is only you. “Sydney, listen to Daddy at home. Don’t make him angry. If you do, I’ll come back and punish you!” When the door finally shut behind her, cutting off all sound, I snapped back to reality. I let out a long sigh, my eyes starting to sting. Sydney shot me a look of disdain and cursed me in Lapine, thinking I wouldn’t understand. “Ugly freak, even crying. No wonder Mom doesn’t like you. “Useless.” I chuckled bitterly and wiped away a tear from my eye. I knew I should let go, but I just couldn’t. After seven years of love, any cold heart should have warmed up by now. I was just reluctant to accept it. Sydney was six this year. Since birth, she had never been apart from me. I’d given almost all my love to Ava and her. For seven years, I had been a husband and a father, but never really myself. Yet, like her mother, she had forgotten that it was me who taught her Lapine. For three straight days, Ava didn’t come home. But every day, she’d send me messages, gently letting me know her leg was recovering and that she’d been out having fun. I quietly read the messages, silently packing my things and planning to leave. On the seventh day of Ava’s absence, I dug up the agreement from my email’s trash folder, opened the link, and carefully signed my name. I had already walked 99 steps toward Ava and Sydney. This last step, I wanted to take for myself. I had just bought a flight ticket for three days later, ready to shut off my phone, when I saw Sydney, who hadn’t spoken to me in a week, glaring at me with a serious face. I didn’t rush to hug her like I usually did. I just stood up and calmly walked away. She got mad, stomping past me, muttering a curse in Lapine that I had taught her. “Ugly freak, always messing with my mom. “Who are you trying to scare with that plane ticket? If you’re so tough, just get out of my house for real.”

I thought I would be hurt again by her sarcasm, but at that moment, I felt strangely calm. Watching her run up the stairs, I spoke in Lapine. “Okay, I’ll leave.” As soon as the words left my mouth, she suddenly turned around. Her face froze as if she had seen a ghost. In a panic, she quickly opened her smartwatch and typed a message to her mom in Lapine. [Mom, Mom, something’s wrong. He understands Lapine.] Within seconds, a voice message came. It was Dylan’s voice, clearly filled with disdain. “Sydney, what nonsense are you talking about? Your dad’s family went bankrupt years ago. How could he possibly learn Lapine? “Behave yourself, and stop bothering me while I’m out with your mom. “I’ll bring you some snacks next time.” Sydney, her face tense, stared at me for a long moment. When she saw I wasn’t reacting, she shrugged off what I had just said and cheerfully replied to Dylan. “Okay, Uncle Dylan, enjoy your time with Mom! “I hope you and Mom have a baby sister for me soon.” Lately, I kept thinking about my past with Ava. After thinking about it, I forced myself to forget. The sounds of video games continued to come from Sydney’s room. I didn’t take the game console away like I usually did, nor did I urge her to go to sleep. I didn’t remind her about homework, either, since the teacher would check it tomorrow. Since she hated me so much, it was fine if I didn’t act like a father anymore. But for days, I couldn’t figure out why Ava’s acting was so convincing. At 2 a.m., I received another provocation from Dylan. [Wyatt, Ava has been messing with me nonstop these days. She’s really greedy. Are you not up to it? She even said you can’t turn her on at all.] Along with the message, there was a photo. Ava stood in front of him, and his hand was suggestively reaching into her collar, his eyes filled with desire that couldn’t be hidden. I tortured myself by looking at the photo over and over, my heart feeling as though it was being squeezed in someone’s hand, ready to burst. The pain was unbearable. Staring out at the pitiful moonlight, I remembered when the Anderson family went bankrupt, when my fiancée left me, and I had nothing. Ava had appeared like a goddess, helping me pay off debts and start over. Back then, I truly believed that Ava, who was paralyzed from the waist down, was my salvation in this life. For these seven years, she had shown me so much love. The world called her a woman who spoiled her husband to the extreme, someone who loved me to the core. I believed it too. That was why I set aside my pride and devoted myself to taking care of her, making meals for her, and doing everything for seven years. But the truth was, while she said she loved me, she had been entangled with her brother Dylan, who had no blood relation to her. It wasn’t until recently that I learned the painful truth. For all these years, she had secretly given all her true feelings to Dylan, hiding it from me.

I spent the entire day burning every trace of my existence. Whether it was clothes or photos, nothing was left behind. My flight was for tomorrow. After tomorrow, they would no longer be a part of my life. Ava still hadn’t come back, but from Dylan’s taunts, I could tell she was busy, really busy, trying new positions with him. As for Sydney, she completely ignored me. I did my duty as a father one last time, cooking a table full of her favorite dishes. But when she came home, she merely snorted, ordered takeout, and wouldn’t speak a single word to me. I sat by the cold food, watching as the night grew darker. In a daze, I heard faint sounds at the door. By the light of the moon, I saw Ava finally come back, along with her beloved Dylan. Ava’s cheeks were flushed, and she was sitting on Dylan’s lap, eagerly seeking a kiss. Her hand was sliding down to stir things up. Dylan held her head with one hand, deepening the kiss, while his other hand firmly supported her hips. They were all over each other the moment they came in, kissing urgently, undressing, and tangled up in breath. Ava quietly reminded him. “Dylan, don’t wake up my husband.” Dylan, with jealousy, pulled her close and bit her earlobe, his voice full of sorrow and complaint. “Ava, didn’t you say I’m the only one you love? “Didn’t you say it would be more exciting and satisfying to do it in front of Wyatt? “Didn’t you say Wyatt’s just a tool to protect our love? “Why do I have to care about him?” Dylan was so hurt. Ava’s heart ached. She kissed him softly, her hands lovingly caressing him, and whispered sweet words to soothe him. “Dylan, I said this just to make it more exciting.” Their passionate breaths grew louder, and my heart, already bleeding, was torn open again. I curled up on the couch, the nauseating scent filling the air as my heart turned to ash. I didn’t know how much time had passed, but when they moved from the kitchen to the living room, they noticed my presence. Ava’s breath quickened. She pressed her hand over Dylan’s mouth, hiding the lust in their eyes, and they embraced as they climbed upstairs. In the quiet of the deep night, all I could hear was her subdued warning. “Dylan, stop. If Wyatt finds out, with his temper, it’ll be all over. “He’s still Sydney’s dad. We can’t make things too awkward.” I didn’t know how much time had passed, but eventually, Ava came downstairs carefully and tucked me in. She still smelled like their heated moments together, and her open collar was covered with countless hickeys. I stiffened and pushed her hand away. She noticed something was off. “Baby, what’s wrong? Have you been upset because I haven’t been home the past few days?” I shook my head bitterly. “No. “Ava, I dreamed you were cheating on me.” She froze, panic flashing across her face. “Baby, what are you talking about? I swear to you, you’re the only one I’ll ever love!” At that moment, I felt disgusted beyond words. I turned my head stubbornly and curled up in bed, exhausted. “I’m a bit tired. I’m going to sleep.” I turned away, not wanting to look at her anymore. When I woke up, I’d be gone for good.

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I was doing laundry for my girlfriend when I noticed a small hole in her panties. It was a burn mark from a cigarette. But I had quit smoking over a year ago. There was a tiny hole on the lace trim of the panties, barely noticeable unless you looked closely. With my five years of smoking experience, I immediately recognized the yellowish circular burn mark that only a cigarette could make. My heart sank. I had quit smoking long ago, and my girlfriend never smoked. Who could explain this situation to me? I stood in the bathroom, holding the panties, unable to stop my mind from racing. The more I thought about it, the more unsettling it became. The more I thought, the more my face turned green with jealousy. Just then, my girlfriend sent me a message on SnapChat. “Babe, I have to work overtime again tonight. Don’t wait up for me~”

I had helped Chloe get a job through my connections at a private company as an HR assistant, hoping it would be an easy position for her. But lately, she had been working overtime frequently, coming home close to 10 PM every night. I hadn’t thought much of it before, assuming she was genuinely busy, but now… Something was definitely wrong. Absolutely fucking wrong. Suppressing my anger, I replied: “What time will you be done? I’ll come pick you up.” “Oh, don’t bother, honey. You know how it is, it’s the end of the year and we’re super busy. I’m not sure when I’ll finish here.” I immediately got dressed and drove to Chloe’s company. The lights were on in her office, and I could faintly hear people talking inside. Was she really working overtime? I didn’t rush in. Instead, I took out my phone and called Chloe. “I’m worried about you coming home alone. I’ll wait for you downstairs at your office.” “Didn’t I tell you not to come?” “It’s no trouble, baby. I’m already here at your office building.” Chloe’s voice on the other end clearly changed, becoming more flustered: “What? You really came? Why did you come here?” Why did I come? Of course, I came to see what you’re up to. I didn’t say much more to her and hung up the phone, then hid in the stairwell. A few minutes later, Chloe came out, followed by a man in a business suit. The two of them embraced as soon as they reached the elevator!

They kissed goodbye, reluctant to part. The man kept groping Chloe’s body while kissing her. It’s one thing to suspect, but it’s another to witness it with your own eyes. Rage consumed me, blood rushing to my head. I wanted to rush out and strangle these two cheaters right then and there. At that moment, I heard the man laughing: “Your boyfriend really cares about you, huh?” “Don’t mention him. He’s like a clingy leech, such a mood killer!” Chloe’s words were like a bucket of cold water poured over my head, temporarily suppressing my urge to confront them immediately. The man continued with his sleazy talk. “Why don’t you let him wait downstairs while we continue?” “What are you thinking? He could come up at any moment.” “We’ve done it before when he called you, remember? What are you afraid of?” “Oh, you’re so bad! I hate you~” Fuck, so I’ve been part of their little game all along? The desire to kill them grew even stronger… At that moment, I saw the man’s face clearly. It was him!

Chloe had posted photos of a company team-building event on her social media before, so I recognized him. This man was the company’s vice president, Greg Phillips. He looked decent enough, but knowing that his subordinate had a boyfriend and still doing such a shameless thing, he was nothing but a scumbag. Moreover, from the way he talked, he clearly enjoyed the thrill of fooling me, treating me like an idiot. Suddenly, I didn’t want to confront them face to face anymore. If I exposed everything now, we’d just have a big fight or maybe even a physical altercation, then Chloe and I would break up. That would be letting them off too easy. Before Chloe entered the elevator, I secretly took a photo of the two of them holding hands. I took the stairs down. Chloe was already waiting by the car. Pretending I knew nothing, I said: “I thought you’d be much longer, so I went to use the restroom on the first floor.” Maybe because I had ruined her plans, Chloe subtly rolled her eyes and said in an annoyed tone: “We finished early! Hurry up and open the door, I’m freezing!” On the way home, she pretended to be exhausted and closed her eyes to rest. That was fine by me. I didn’t want to talk to her either, afraid that if I opened my mouth, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from asking her why she would do this to me. That night, while she was sleeping, I checked her phone. The more I saw, the angrier I became. Chloe had been fooling around with Greg Phillips for months. She joined the company in June, and by August, she was already flirting with Greg. Recently, they had finally taken the last step, using overtime as an excuse to openly have an affair in the office. While these two cheaters were having their fun, I was at home like an idiot, cooking and doing laundry for Chloe, worrying that she was working too hard, fearing for her safety on her way home, and dreaming about our future marriage. This is what she said about me to Greg in their messages: “I’m pretty, so of course he worships me. Isn’t that how it should be?” “He’s so easy to manipulate. He never suspects me and is always willing to spend money on me.” “Marriage? That’s not certain yet. Besides, my parents always want me to find someone richer.” She also said: “What’s so great about your boring wife? She’s old and dull.” “Why don’t you divorce her? If you divorce, I’ll break up with Lucas.”

I couldn’t believe these words came from the person sleeping next to me. But the thousands of chat messages, each like a whip lashing at me, were undeniable evidence. Chloe was right. Before today, I never doubted her, never questioned her schedule, never looked at her phone. That’s probably why she felt safe enough not to delete their chat history. Looking at the person sleeping beside me, I suddenly felt she was so dirty, disgustingly so. The next morning, while Chloe was doing her makeup, her phone rang. She answered naturally, speaking in a formal tone: “Hello, Mr. Phillips. What can I do for you?” “Yes, I understand. I’ll try to arrive early today to review that with you.” I asked her: “Something up at work?” “Yeah, the boss is urging me to get in early. Can’t be helped, it’s year-end and there’s so much to do. I’ll probably have to work overtime again today.” Looking at her brightly painted lips and tight-fitting skirt, I pretended to care and said: “Why don’t I help you find another job? I can’t bear to see you so exhausted.” “No!” Chloe exclaimed loudly. Then, realizing her reaction was a bit excessive, she laughed awkwardly and said: “I mean, I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m still young, it’s good to work hard. Besides, you already used your connections to get me this job, I have to consider your feelings too, right?” As she was leaving, she tried to kiss me. Just thinking about how she had been passionately kissing that scumbag last night with those same lips made my stomach churn. I quickly pretended to look for something to avoid her. Chloe and Greg had an agreement. When calling in my presence, she would address him as “Mr. Phillips.” When I wasn’t around, she’d call him darling, baby, hubby, and all sorts of pet names. Chloe even called him “daddy” in their messages. You can imagine how wild they must be in private. Greg was clearly deliberately calling in the morning when I was around. Maybe they got a thrill out of flirting behind my back. Damn it, if they love to play games so much, I’ll play along to the bitter end.

I investigated Greg’s background. It turned out this bastard not only had a wife but also two kids. His wife had quit her job after having children to focus on being a full-time mom and homemaker. His parents, both retired university professors, lived in the same community to help take care of the grandchildren. I paid someone to follow Greg for a while and discovered another of his secrets. This scumbag was still secretly involved with his married ex-girlfriend! Every time they met, they went straight to a hotel. Well, well, well. I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. Keeping his family intact while fooling around outside, huh? To outsiders, Greg might seem like a life winner with a perfect family and successful career. But in reality? He was nothing but a shiny turd, a real piece of work. However, the more dirt Greg had on him, the better it was for me. I gathered all sorts of evidence and, with some effort, managed to get the contact information for him, his family members, his ex-girlfriend, and her husband. In this age of big data, no one truly has privacy. That day, Chloe lied to me again about working overtime. I coldly replied: “Alright, don’t forget to eat. I’d be heartbroken if you starved yourself.” “Mm-hmm, you too, babe. Be good and eat your dinner, okay?” In the evening, I drove to her company and used a new phone number I had prepared to send a text to Greg’s wife. “Does your husband always say he’s working overtime? You’d better be careful, don’t be fooled. Some people are all too happy to eat their own vomit.” She called back almost immediately. I didn’t answer. She had to resort to texting: “Who are you? What do you mean?” “He has an ex-girlfriend he dated for a long time, doesn’t he?” I said no more, ignoring all her subsequent messages. For a woman who has devoted all her energy to her family, planting even a small seed of doubt about her husband would be enough. I waited patiently in my car, and sure enough, Greg came rushing out of the building shortly after. He looked nervous, running towards the parking lot while frantically trying to explain something on the phone.

I laughed. The sight of this bastard fleeing in panic was truly amusing. Chloe followed behind with a constipated expression. When I saw her come out, I stepped on the gas and left. Although Greg’s wife was just a housewife, she was no pushover. Her parents owned a local business, and she had two older brothers. She had been pampered since childhood and was known for her fiery temper. Given that Greg was already in a murky situation with his ex-girlfriend, my anonymous tip-off would make it difficult for him if his wife decided to investigate. As a result, this scumbag had become notably more low-key recently. Not only did he return home on time every day after work, but he also stopped flirting with Chloe over SnapChat late at night. This infuriated Chloe. Like all mistresses aiming to replace the wife, Chloe looked down on Greg’s spouse. She sent Greg a message: “What’s so great about being controlled by that old tiger? She’s old and fierce. Am I not better than her?” Ha, how naive. For married men like Greg, especially those who are doing well in life, what they want is a stable family with a wife and kids at home, while having fun fooling around outside. Home is home, play is play, and they keep the two very separate. However, I needed to give Chloe a little push, or how else would the game continue? To provoke Chloe, I also did a complete 180 in my attitude towards her during this time. When we argued or had conflicts, I no longer gave in. I often made her so angry that her face turned red and her neck swelled. “Lucas, you’re yelling at me? You dare to yell at me?!” Yelling is the least of what I should do. Normally, I should slap you. “Was all your kindness in the past fake? Men are indeed bastards, once they get what they want, they stop cherishing it!” Me, not cherishing you? When you insult me, don’t you think about whether you deserve to be cherished? I let her rant, not even bothering to comfort her. I shrugged: “Think whatever you want.” Provoked by my attitude, Chloe’s desire for revenge grew stronger. She frantically messaged Greg late at night while I was asleep. She even threatened him, saying that if he dared to ignore her again, she would go directly to his wife. This scared Greg. Moreover, after being under his wife’s strict supervision for a while, Greg was indeed feeling frustrated. So the two of them came up with a plan: a business trip.

As soon as Chloe entered the door, she rushed straight to the bedroom to pack her clothes, unable to hide her excitement. “Honey, our company has arranged a sudden HR training. I have to go on a business trip tomorrow!” “Oh? For how many days?” “Just two days.” I pretended to ask her: “Baby, did you forget? Tomorrow is Saturday, and we had planned to have dinner with your parents.” Chloe was busy selecting clothes from a pile and didn’t even look up. “We can have dinner anytime, but I can’t miss this training opportunity!” I smirked inwardly, thinking this was the perfect chance I’d been waiting for. She and that adulterer were quite cunning, going to great lengths for their secret rendezvous. The adulterer, fearing his wife might inquire at the company, had actually arranged a real business trip for himself. But he would leave on Friday and return on Saturday. As for Chloe, she lied to me about a business trip, but actually planned to spend the entire weekend fooling around with her lover in a hotel. I found the hotel booking information in her phone’s text messages. With Greg’s every move now under his wife’s scrutiny, even booking a hotel room had to be done by Chloe herself. She had bought an extremely sexy lingerie set at some point and secretly stuffed it into her suitcase. She had never even worn this lingerie for me. The next day, Chloe refused to let me drive her to the train station, and I didn’t insist. While her words expressed reluctance to leave me, her heart had already run off, eager to meet her lover as soon as possible. After she left, I didn’t sit idle. I bought a few gifts and first went to visit Chloe’s parents.

Their home was less than a two hours’ drive from the city. Neither of her parents had proper jobs, and they had a son, Chloe’s brother, who was unemployed and spent all day playing video games. “Uncle, Auntie, Chloe doesn’t know I’m here today. Actually… I’m planning to propose to her.” Her mom and dad exchanged a glance, their smiles not particularly warm: “Lucas, you and Chloe have been dating for over a year, and it is indeed time to talk about marriage. But marriage is no small matter.” I quickly said: “I understand. Marriage needs to be discussed properly between both families. Don’t worry, Chloe is a wonderful girl, and my family will definitely show enough sincerity in marrying her.” Her father’s eyes scanned the gifts I had brought: “As parents, we don’t ask for much. We just hope our daughter can find an understanding family who values her and treats her well.” That sounds nice, but what do they mean by “understanding” and “valuing”? Isn’t it just about how much bride price the groom’s family can offer? Chloe’s parents had asked her more than once how much bride price my family could offer for the wedding. I had already inquired about this. In Chloe’s area, the usual bride price ranged from 66,000 to 88,000 yuan, which wasn’t considered excessive. But if it were just this amount, her parents wouldn’t be beating around the bush with me now. I smiled: “Uncle, you’re absolutely right. Please rest assured, the bride price from my family will definitely be more than others. I guarantee Chloe won’t lose out compared to anyone else.” Hearing my ambiguous response, her father cleared his throat. Her mother took the cue: “Lucas, my daughter has a bachelor’s degree and is beautiful. You probably don’t know, but even though I’ve told people Chloe has a boyfriend, matchmakers keep coming to our house one after another to introduce potential partners for her. Last month, our neighbor’s daughter got married, and her conditions were far inferior to Chloe’s, yet the groom’s family still gave a bride price of 200,000 yuan!” I slowly said: “Auntie, my family will offer a bride price of 500,000 yuan.” “H-how much?” “500,000 yuan.” “500,000 yuan!” Her mother was so shocked she almost jumped up. Her father, who was in the middle of drinking water, choked and started coughing repeatedly.

“Lucas, are you serious? Is this what your parents think too?” I suppressed the mockery in my eyes: “Yes, I’ve discussed it with my parents, and they agree.” I showed the elderly couple a fake chat log I had prepared. Her mother’s face instantly lit up with joy: “Oh my, look at me! Lucas has been here for so long, and I forgot to pour him some tea!” I stopped her. “Auntie, I’m not finished yet. The apartment I’m living in now was bought outright by my parents. I’ll add Chloe’s name to it later. Once Chloe marries me, I want to give her complete security.” Upon hearing this, both of them were so happy they didn’t know what to say. “What are you standing there for? Go get some fruit for Lucas!” I could hear the sound of video games coming from the bedroom, which I knew was Chloe’s good-for-nothing brother, Ryan. “Uncle, Auntie, I was thinking it’s not good for Ryan to stay at home all the time.” Her father shook his head: “This useless boy, he turns down every job we find for him. He says the easy ones don’t pay enough, and the well-paying ones are too tiring. He just stays at home all day, making us angry!” “A friend of mine has started a company and needs a driver. It’s just driving clients around, with a monthly salary of nearly 10,000 yuan. Should I ask about it for Ryan? The job is easy, pays well, and offers flexible hours. What do you think?” Hearing this, her parents excitedly gripped my hands and wouldn’t let go. “Really, Lucas? If you can make this happen, you’ll be solving a big problem for our family!” Her mother was even more excited, raising her voice by several octaves: “I’ve always told his father that Lucas wouldn’t let us down! Entrusting Chloe to him is absolutely the right choice! What a reliable, good boy!” Heh, that’s not what you said when you called Chloe to come back for arranged dates, is it? It doesn’t matter. Life is a stage, and it’s all about acting skills. Then Chloe’s parents strongly insisted that I stay for dinner, but I politely declined. Today’s schedule was very tight, and I still had important business to attend to.

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