Author: Momo Chan

I married Ethan Blackwood, the playboy heir to a billionaire fortune. Every time he cheated, I divorced him. Three times in total. And I fell for his apologies all three times. Until he personally destroyed my mother’s tombstone for his old flame, Serena Hayes, forcing me to apologize to her in public. Ethan even abandoned me while I was pregnant with his child to save Serena, causing me to hemorrhage and miscarry. After he crushed all my pride and love, he still had the audacity to say. “It’s not normal for a man not to cheat. Is this your first day knowing me?” My heart turned to ice, and I left. Three years later, I married Ryder Collins, who genuinely cared for me, at the foot of a snowy mountain. Yet, Ethan knelt in public, begging me to come back. I simply said, coldly. “I stopped loving you a long time ago. Your belated affection is just too fake.” Anya POV I was a spoiled, headstrong heiress who married Ethan Blackwood, the city’s infamous billionaire’s son and a notorious playboy. The first year of our marriage, I caught Ethan deeply kissing a young model at a club. It caused a massive uproar, and we divorced. Three months later, due to the need to push forward a joint project between our two families, we were forced to remarry. The second year of our remarriage, I publicly slapped Ethan three times on the street for having an affair with an aspiring actress. It went viral on Ins, and we divorced again. However, this time, less than three days after the divorce, our families pressured us into reconciling. By then, our two companies were deeply intertwined and couldn’t function without each other. After getting our marriage certificate for the third time, the playboy Ethan finally relented. He held a cigarette between his fingers, his expression veiled and indifferent. “Can we just live a good life together? You cool your bad temper, and I won’t see other women outside.” I smirked, sitting in the driver’s seat and rolling up the window. “Fine, but don’t let me catch you cheating again.” “Fine, but don’t let me catch you cheating again. If you cheat one more time, I will never marry you again. Over my dead body!” What I hated most in life was a cheating scumbag! My father’s infidelity caused my mother’s mental breakdown and eventual suicide. From that moment on, I hated this world. That’s why I’d stop at nothing to hurt the cheating Ethan. I’d rather hurt myself if it meant hurting him worse. The second year after this third remarriage, I went to a snowy mountain to find inspiration for my painting. I was caught in an avalanche and nearly died there. When Ethan heard, he defied the mountain closure and danger warnings, entering the mountain alone with rescue equipment to save me. Using our tracking watches, Ethan found me, barely clinging to life. The snow that day was heavy. Ethan must have searched for me for ages; his face was red from the cold, and his hands trembled uncontrollably. “Anya, let’s go home.” I stared at him blankly, a strange surge of emotion stirring in my chest. To meet the person who would risk everything to save you, right before death’s door. Perhaps, I had truly found the right person. After the mountain rescue, our marriage entered a honeymoon phase. Ethan reined in his wild ways. For an entire year, he had no rumors with any women; he kept himself clean. He stopped going to all the entertainment venues. When his friends tried to tease him into trouble at dinners, he would just smile and say he listened to his wife, coming home for dinner before ten o’clock. We were getting better and better, and Ethan poured all his efforts into loving me. He proposed on a yacht at sunset bay in Miami. He played the piano for me beneath the Swiss Alps, holding white moon flowers. He swore eternal love under a hot air balloon in Turkey. We passionately loved each other all over the world. Until a phone call shattered the silence of the night. Ethan’s face changed after he took the call. He quickly booked a flight back home. “Something urgent came up at work. I have to leave. Anya, you can take your time enjoying yourself here.” He left a deep kiss and turned to leave. I touched my reddened lips, watching his retreating figure. A creeping sense of dread spread through my chest. “Ethan, you’d better not be lying to me.” I calmly checked out of the hotel and bought a flight ticket. Following him all the way. His methods weren’t subtle. But Ethan, too flustered and anxious, didn’t notice my tail. The next afternoon, Ethan drove to a simple apartment complex. Soon, a scarred little girl ran out and threw herself into his arms. Behind her, a stooped, tired, and aged woman followed. Ethan’s usual good temper vanished. He gripped a baseball bat and stormed inside. I got out of my car. I could only stare as Ethan, like a madman, fiercely and wildly beat an old man with the bat, blow after blow. “You married Serena and treated her so badly, and you dared to abuse Lily? I’ll kill you right now!”

Anya POV My body trembled. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Ethan had never been so out of control. For an older woman and a girl? What was their relationship? Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit me, and I clutched my mouth, dry-heaving for what felt like an eternity. It was then that I realized. During our honeymoon, I’d forgotten to use protection. Could I be pregnant? A surge of joy rose in my heart. I looked up, just about to tell Ethan the good news. My eyes snapped open in shock as I saw the scene before me! It felt like a sour, bitter wad of cotton was stuck in my throat, choking off any words. The woman stood on tiptoe and kissed Ethan’s lips. “Thank you, Ethan.” Ethan turned his head, letting her kiss his cheek. “Serena, I’ll always have your back.” I looked at Ethan, deeply embracing the woman, and a chill ran through me. It was a mix of absurdity and a sickening feeling that I should have known. “Ethan, you’ve cheated again.” I should have known. I couldn’t keep a playboy. He was too affectionate. He loved too many people. I forced myself to ignore my physical discomfort, about to turn and leave for the hospital for a check-up, when a warm gush suddenly flowed between my legs. Looking down, fresh blood stained the snow through my dress. A violent cramp instantly swept through my entire body. My vision went black, and I collapsed helplessly into the roadside grass. When I woke up again, I was in a cold hospital bed. The doctor regretfully told me that I had lost the baby due to a natural miscarriage, attributing it to cold exposure and emotional distress. I stayed in the hospital for three days. During those three days, Ethan didn’t call once. After losing the baby, my heart turned to ashes. I found a lawyer, drafted the divorce papers, and brought them home. The house was eerily silent. Suddenly, the door opened. A drunk Ethan was helped inside by Serena Hayes, who was dressed in a professional women’s suit. She saw me, her gaze slightly startled. “Are you Ethan’s wife? He’s had too much to drink; I just brought him home.” I looked at her coldly. Just as I had looked at countless other mistresses who had challenged me. “Who are you? When did you get involved with him?” Serena gently set Ethan down and told me a poignant story. In college, Ethan had fallen in love with his lecturer, Serena. But due to practical reasons, they broke up not long after they started dating. Later, they both married and went their separate ways. Recently, Serena had been abused by her husband, who even nearly beat their eight-year-old child to death. Serena was forced to call Ethan for help. “I’m sorry, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have gotten involved with Ethan.” “He saw I had no job and a child to raise, so he made me his administrative assistant.” She knelt, her face full of shame. Her obvious gray hairs made her look different from all the young, beautiful models and actresses Ethan had cheated with in the past. Serena appeared simple and pitiful. I watched her coldly, feeling the hollow ache in my abdomen where my child used to be, my heart clenching into a tight knot. Ethan opened his eyes and saw the scene. He immediately stood up and rushed over. “Enough!” He tenderly picked up Serena, looking at me with cold eyes. “What are you trying to do? I haven’t cheated with Serena, and you’re not allowed to slander her!” A furious blaze ignited within me. Slap! I slapped Ethan hard. I was about to hit him again when Serena, rushing over, stopped me. She pushed me fiercely. “I won’t let you hurt Ethan!” She was like a protective lioness, shielding him firmly. Ethan’s gaze softened, becoming complex, as he looked at her. “Serena, why are you still protecting me like you used to?” Caught off guard by her push, I stumbled and fell to the floor, my back hitting a sharp corner of the table with a piercing pain. Clutching my aching back, I struggled to stand. I maintained my composure and threw the divorce papers at him. “Ethan, we’re getting a divorce!” Ethan picked up the agreement, signed it without even looking, and tossed it back. “So, has your family, the Reeds, thought about how they’re going to get me to remarry you again?” He simply didn’t believe I could truly divorce him. The previous two reconciliations had proven one thing: The Blackwood and Reed families were inseparable.

Anya POV I picked up the divorce papers, my gaze fixed on their intertwined hands. After a long moment, I took a deep breath. “This time, I won’t remarry you. Never.” I turned and went upstairs, grabbed my passport, and left. Ethan, drinking the black coffee Serena poured for him, watched my retreating figure with an indifferent expression. “The divorce will be finalized in a month. You won’t back out, will you?” “I’ll be there.” “Has the Reed family thought about how they’ll apologize to me? This time, the divorce isn’t my fault.” His attitude remained arrogant. My face was pale, and I clutched my stomach, leaving without a word. Indeed, a leopard never changes its spots. If it happens once, it will happen countless times. Tears streamed down my face as I walked. I cried for my own momentary weakness. And I cried for the child who never got to see this world. A month after submitting the divorce application. I completed the asset division and made a call. That afternoon, I was working at the office when Ethan suddenly burst in and grabbed my wrist. “What did you do to Lily? She came home crying and wanted to drop out of school, saying you spread rumors at school that her mother broke up a family!” Ethan’s eyes were fierce as he stared at me, enunciating every word. “She’s only an eight-year-old child. Do you really need to pressure her like this?” “What?” I was about to speak, but Serena, with red-rimmed eyes, interrupted me from behind. “Ethan and I have no relationship whatsoever.” “He just took pity on me, handled my divorce case, and let me temporarily be his administrative assistant.” “Why would you slander me like this and make my child suffer!” She cried, looking disheveled and frail. Given her age, many people thought I was being unreasonable this time. “I heard Mr. Blackwood has finally settled down. Why is the Reed heiress still so relentless?” “Exactly, she even went to the school. How can that child live with this?” “Rich heiresses really do love these public humiliation games.” The overwhelming accusations made me laugh bitterly. “What evidence do you have that I did this?” “Who else would it be but you?” Ethan’s cold gaze fixed on me. “You’ve ruined that actress before, spreading rumors about her being a mistress. This time is no different.” I was speechless. “Before, I did that because I wanted to divorce you…” “Go apologize to the school immediately!” Ethan didn’t want to hear it. I was practically dragged to the school’s parent committee office. Ethan said coldly. “Now, admit in front of everyone that you spread rumors, and apologize.” I shook my head indifferently. “Impossible. I won’t apologize for something I didn’t do.” I would never back down. Serena immediately broke down. She rushed forward and slapped me twice. My cheeks stung fiercely. I was completely stunned. It had always been me, the Reed heiress, doing the slapping. No one had ever dared to hit me like this! Especially not my husband’s old flame! “You!” I, furious and humiliated, raised my hand for a slap. But Ethan gripped my hand tightly! I looked at him in shock. “You watched me get hit?! Ethan, are you out of your mind?!” Perhaps the anger and pain in my eyes pierced Ethan, because his grip loosened. Once free, without thinking, I rushed forward and kicked Serena in the stomach. Sending her sprawling to the floor! Thud! Coincidentally, there was a stair step right there. “Save me!” Serena helplessly tumbled down the stairs. Her cries faded into the air. I froze. Ethan, even more frantic, rushed down. “Serena!”

Anya POV “It hurts so much!” Serena, having rolled twice, was bleeding from her head and looked utterly pathetic. She trembled in Ethan’s arms, tears streaming down her face. “Ethan, I just want a normal life. Please, I beg you.” “Please make Anya Reed clear my name, please don’t let her hurt me anymore.” Her tears poured down, making her seem tragic and pitiable. I stood above them, looking down coldly. In that moment, Ethan’s internal balance completely tilted. He picked her up, holding her steadily in his arms. He stared at me with icy eyes. “Anya Reed, you and I are not done with this.” After saying that, he turned and left. But behind his back, where he couldn’t see, Serena flashed a triumphant smile at me. She mouthed a single sentence. “You lost.” Watching his ruthless retreating figure, my heart ached as if it had been ripped out. After a long moment, I collapsed, feeling weak all over. A searing pain shot through my abdomen. I knew I had indeed lost. Ethan would completely sever ties with me, no longer caring about my status. The last time he did something like this, a large company went bankrupt, and its executives knelt at his feet begging for mercy. And that time, it was just because that executive had tried to touch my waist. It wasn’t until dusk that I stumbled to my feet and called my father, Richard Reed. After a long wait, the call connected. “Ethan is going to target our family business…” Richard immediately cut off my words. “Why would he do that? Did you go and annoy him again?!” “It’s normal for a successful man to have other women, especially him. Can’t you be more understanding?” “You go and apologize to him right now, beg him! Otherwise, I’ll kick you out of the house and won’t give you a single penny!” After saying that, Richard hung up fiercely. I put away my phone, standing in the cold wind, shivering slightly. “So cold.” There was a time when I thought Ethan, after seemingly changing, would give me a home. But it was just an illusion. My heart would never beat for him again. I walked out of the school, step by step. My vision went black. Someone knocked me out from behind. When I woke up again, my eyes were blindfolded. I smelled the damp, foul odor of an abandoned warehouse. “Was that kick earlier really satisfying?” Serena walked up and slapped me several times. “Strip her clothes off, take a few photos, and let everyone enjoy the show.” “Oh, and I want something extra spicy.” “Also, don’t do anything else!” After saying that, Serena waved to a few tattooed thugs behind her. The men grinned and walked closer. Thinking about what fate awaited me, I managed to croak out a trembling warning. “Get lost!” “I’m the Reed heiress; you’ll be dead if you touch me!” “Get lost, no, I’ll give you money, whatever you want!” “Let me go!” “Hehehe, we love playing with rich heiresses like you!” Amidst the men’s jeering and their foul stench. I went from crying for help, struggling, to despair and numbness. I never imagined I would fall to such a state. I thought about my past days, always high and mighty. Before, I would never have thought that my pride and confidence would be brutally crushed in this small, abandoned warehouse! The men brutally ripped off my clothes. They pinched and squeezed my pale body, posing me in various ways. Taking one humiliating photo after another. One of the men couldn’t help but swallow, muttering, “Why don’t we just go for it? Buddy, I can’t hold back!” “No! If this woman reports us, our crime will be too severe. Photos are enough!” But their hands moved all over me, back and forth, and their desires flared. Soon, I heard the sound of a zipper being pulled down.

Anya POV “No! Don’t!” In desperation, I bit the inside of my mouth, spitting out a mouthful of blood. I shrieked, struggling like a trapped beast. “If you dare touch me, I’ll kill myself right here!!” The men froze, scared. They didn’t want a murder on their hands either. “Forget it, just finish the photos and leave. We’ve got our money anyway.” “Such a shame, such a beautiful woman, only allowed to touch, not to taste.” … I don’t know how long it was until I heard the door open outside. I moved my wrists and found I wasn’t tied. I staggered to my feet, stiffly putting my torn clothes back on, piece by piece. I didn’t call the police. Instead, I went to the cemetery. I lay weakly on my mother’s tombstone, crying as if to shed all the tears of my life. “Mom, they’re all bullying me because you’re not here.” The next day, with a pale face, I brought fresh flowers to my mother’s grave. I stayed there for three days, oblivious to everything. Without food or water. Just sitting with my knees hugged, staring blankly at my mother’s photo. Until I collapsed from exhaustion and was taken to the hospital by a passerby. During this time, Ethan began openly flaunting his affair in the media, taking Serena to various events only wives could attend. He also punished the parents and students who had bullied Lily at school, then announced that Lily was his child. Finally, he arranged Serena’s divorce, ensuring her ex-husband left with nothing and was even sent to prison. Serena was constantly by his side. Countless times, Serena posted on Ins, thanking him profusely. “I thought I had entered hell, but I never expected him to bring me back to heaven.” The accompanying picture showed their hands clasped together. “He said we are the happiest family of three.” A happy photo of the three of them in front of an amusement park. Ethan holding Serena and Lily, smiling brightly. “Turns out, you don’t mind my past, and you’re even willing to…” This photo was the most explicit. It showed a white five-star hotel bedsheet, with the familiar bare shoulder of a man. Seeing this picture, I only felt disgust and ridicule. I still remembered Ethan’s solemn promises that he would never cheat again. But in just one year. He was dirty once more. So disgusting. I turned off my phone, unwilling to look anymore. A week later, at my mother’s grave, I saw the person I least wanted to see. Ethan, with a group of bodyguards, was destroying my mother’s tombstone. I instantly lost control, rushing forward and firmly blocking their way. “Stop! Who gave you permission to touch my mother’s grave?!” Ethan looked at me coldly. “It’s been a week. You disappeared for an entire week. I looked everywhere and finally found you here.” “Aren’t you going to explain?” I just felt absurd. “You didn’t ask why I disappeared, but you were having an affair with Serena.” “What explanation do you want?” Ethan’s gaze darkened. “Serena and I aren’t what you think; I just feel grateful to her.” I was so angry I laughed. “Grateful? Does gratitude involve kissing, sleeping together? Does gratitude involve destroying my mother’s tombstone for her?!” “Well, that’s quite remarkable gratitude. I want that kind of gratitude from you too!” Ethan’s suppressed emotions instantly erupted. He rushed forward and gripped my wrist tightly. “If I hadn’t cleaned up your mess last time, you’d be in jail for assault and slander!” “I’m only destroying your mother’s tombstone to force you out, to make you apologize to Serena!” I struggled desperately. “Get lost! Never!” His gaze grew even more sinister, and he motioned to the bodyguards beside him. “Keep smashing. Dig up the ashes and dump them in the sewer.”

Anya POV The sound of the bodyguards’ destructive work continued. I stared at Ethan, feeling my heart tremble with pain. Finally, I closed my eyes in a daze. “Fine, I’ll apologize.” Here, the only thing I cherished was my mother, who had always held me gently. I didn’t want my mother’s resting place to be disturbed, even in death. Ethan, seeing me finally relent, let out a sigh of relief. “Let’s go, come home with me to apologize.” I paused, slightly stunned. “She’s already moved into our marital home?” Ethan also realized his words were inappropriate, his gaze flickering as he explained. “No, it’s because your actions caused her mental breakdown, so I brought her home to calm her down.” “Let’s go.” I didn’t want to hear any more. Now, all I could do was to maintain my proud facade. Pretend I hadn’t been crushed. Stepping back into this house, which I hadn’t seen in a week, felt incredibly strange. White jasmine flowers in a vase, children’s toys, books scattered around… Facing me was Serena, holding an eight-year-old girl. “Ethan, you’re back.” Her smile froze when she saw me. She lowered her head, looking meek and timid. “Anya, you’re back too.” My eyes, full of resentment and coldness, stared fixedly at her. “If I didn’t come back, this house would be taken over by a cuckoo. Were you hoping I wouldn’t return?” Serena’s body trembled; she looked at Ethan with a pitiful expression. Ethan’s brows furrowed when he heard my words. “Enough. I brought you back to apologize!” Eight-year-old Lily Hayes immediately understood what was happening and rushed out like a small cannonball. She pushed me hard. “Bad woman, you’re bullying my mother!” Caught off guard, I was pushed to the floor, my head hitting the stair railing sharply, sending a piercing pain through me. “Hiss, you damn kid!” I scrambled to my feet, ready to teach her a lesson, but Ethan gripped my arm. “I told you, apologize!” “Why do you have to argue with a child who doesn’t know any better?” Ethan’s voice grew increasingly dark. I bit my molars in pain, glaring at Ethan. “Don’t forget about your mother’s ashes.” Ethan warned. In the end, I only felt utterly disheartened. I shook off his hand and looked at Serena. “I’m sorry.” “Is that enough?” I dropped those words lightly and turned to leave. When you no longer cared about anything, an apology didn’t sting as much. Ethan looked at my decisive attitude, paused, and felt an inexplicable sense of panic. “Where are you going?” I said nothing, continuing to walk out. “Ethan, Lily says her stomach hurts!” Serena, holding the child, looked at Ethan helplessly. Two women. One needed him. One was indifferent to him. Ethan didn’t hesitate. He turned, picked up Lily, and took Serena to the hospital. Days passed by. Later, I called Ethan. “See you tomorrow. You’re not going to back out, are you?” Ethan hadn’t seen me for over two weeks, and his temper was getting worse by the day. “I’ll be there tomorrow, but will Richard Reed let you go through with it?” He hinted at something. But I had already hung up. The next day, I was preparing to sign the final documents. Suddenly, a trending topic erupted online. “Reed Heiress Plays Performance Art in Abandoned Warehouse! Racy Photos Grab Attention!” One by one, they were the scandalous photos of me from that day.

Anya POV Richard slapped me hard. I hung my head, covering my face with one hand, my expression blank. Richard looked at me with disgust, his face full of heartache. “Tomorrow, go beg Ethan. Beg him not to divorce you.” “Your body has been exposed online. Who would ever marry you now?!” As I listened, I laughed. My body trembled uncontrollably, and a single crystalline tear fell. “How ridiculous.” “You don’t ask me how those photos came to be, nor do you ask if I willingly divorced. All the blame is just dumped on me.” “Are you truly my father?” Richard’s face grew even uglier. “Shut up. Tomorrow, no matter what, you cannot sign the divorce papers.” “Otherwise, don’t blame me for disowning you!” I looked up, my eyes brimming with tears, and nodded. “Fine, I’ll make sure you get what you want.” The third day, Ethan arrived as scheduled. He looked at my swollen cheek and indifferent expression and said coldly, “It’s not too late to regret it now.” “Your photos are all over the internet. Do you think anyone would still marry you?” “Why did you take those explicit photos with those men?” “Give me a reason.” His arm seemed to tremble slightly, betraying his unstable inner state. I said nothing, simply lowered my head and signed. Then I pushed it towards Ethan. “Sign.” Ethan was momentarily speechless. He stood up, exasperated, and signed his name without hesitation. Then he grabbed his suit jacket and turned to leave. “This time, we won’t remarry so easily. You’ll have to pay the price for your mistakes!” He got into his car without looking back. Serena, in the passenger seat, gently fastened his seatbelt. She looked towards the door, smiled at me holding the divorce certificate. And mouthed once more. “Thank you.” I put the divorce certificate in my pocket, my gaze icy as I watched the car speed away. “Heh, no need to thank me.” “Ethan, that cheating scumbag, he’s all yours.” I lowered my head, pulled out my phone, and made a call. The call connected. “Mark, take me out of the country now.” My uncle, Mark Miller, smiled, relieved, on the other end of the line. “I wanted to take you abroad when your mother died, but you insisted on staying in the country to guard her grave.” “Now you’ve finally seen sense.” I looked at the swirling fallen leaves in the sky, my voice faint. “I didn’t understand before, but now I do.” Actually, I always had a way out. I remarried Ethan twice because I truly loved him. But I kept that feeling so well hidden that my father and Ethan both thought our marriage was purely for a business alliance. But Ethan, in the end, wasn’t the boy I had fallen for at eighteen. He destroyed my true feelings again and again with countless infidelities. And this time, it was the last straw. We would never meet again. That evening, I threw away my phone card, blocked Ethan and all contact numbers from the Reed family, and boarded Mark’s private jet. I was leaving the country that had nearly destroyed me.

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The third year of my secret marriage to Ethan Knight, I watched him passionately propose to another woman on our wedding anniversary. Live on TV. In that moment, I finally understood. All his tenderness was for someone else. I was merely his “compliant” toy, hidden in the shadows. He asked me, his secret wife, to personally help his “fiancée” pick out her wedding gown. He even had all the blue roses I’d painstakingly planted for him pulled out. Right in front of me. Just because she said she “didn’t like them.” My heart grew cold. I signed the Doctors Without Borders agreement and left for a distant land to pursue my dream. Three years later, I became a top trauma surgeon. When he knelt before me, pleading bitterly, I linked arms with my new love. “Mr. Knight, I stopped loving you a long time ago.” Sera Hayes’ POV It was the third year of my secret marriage to Ethan Knight when he proposed to another woman, Lana Bellweather, at a televised gala live-streamed across all major platforms. On the TV screen, the flashing lights were blinding. Ethan wore a bespoke black suit, his posture tall and commanding, his eyes holding a tenderness I knew so well. Only now, that tenderness was entirely for Lana, who stood before him. “Lana, this ring is five years late. Today, I want to put it on you.” Ethan’s voice, deep and affectionate, resonated through the screen, eliciting gasps from the audience. Lana covered her mouth, tears streaming down her face, her pale cheeks flushed with happiness. She had been in a vegetative state for five years after a car accident, only miraculously waking up last month. I sat on the sofa, quietly watching the scene unfold. There was no hysteria, just a cramping, churning feeling in my stomach. Today was our third wedding anniversary. I had specially cooked Ethan’s favorite steak and seared foie gras. Just three hours ago, as Ethan left, he’d kissed my forehead and smiled, saying, “Honey, when I get back from my business engagements, I’ll give you a huge surprise. After tonight, we won’t have to hide anymore.” The surprise I’d imagined was that he would finally make our marriage public. After all these three years, to avoid impacting Knight Enterprises’ stock price and to not upset his grandfather, Arthur, who highly valued social standing and family reputation, I’d been hidden away like a mistress in this suburban villa. He spoiled me, utterly. I’d casually mention craving macarons from that trendy bakery across town. He’d personally drive halfway across the city to buy them during a break from an international conference. My hands and feet would get cold in winter, and he’d hold my feet in his arms all night to warm them. Everyone said Ethan Knight was a cold-blooded corporate titan, but only I knew how much he loved me, how gentle he was in private. But now, that tenderness had become the sharpest knife plunging into my heart. The lock clicked softly. Ethan walked in, carrying a faint scent of cologne. Seeing me on the sofa, he paused, then quickly came over, habitually reaching to pull me into his embrace. “Why aren’t you in bed yet? Didn’t I tell you not to wait up for me?” His tone was still gentle, laced with a touch of fatigue. I subtly shifted, dodging his touch. Ethan’s hand froze in mid-air. He followed my gaze to the television. The screen was replaying the scene of him putting the diamond ring on Lana. The air instantly went silent. “Sera, let me explain.” Ethan sighed, crouching down, forcibly gripping my cold hand. “I was just putting on a show. Lana just woke up. The doctor said she has severe depression and PTSD and can’t handle any shock. She had that car accident trying to save me back then. I owe her my life.” “So, you’re paying off your debt by proposing to her?” My voice was very soft, so light it seemed a breeze could scatter it. “It’s just an act!” Ethan’s brows furrowed, his tone tinged with irritation and a sense of entitlement. “My relationship with her is fake. You’re the one I love. You’re the one who sleeps next to me every night. Once her condition stabilizes, I’ll find a way to break off the engagement with her. Sera, you’re always so understanding, so accommodating. Just this once, for my sake, can you bear with it, please?” Understanding. Accommodating. I forced a bitter smile, finding those words utterly ironic. Because I was understanding, I was meant to be hidden in the shadows for three years. Because I was accommodating, I was meant to watch my husband propose to another woman on our wedding anniversary. “Ethan, did it ever occur to you that I might be sad?” I looked up, meeting his eyes directly. Ethan gazed at me. Then, he abruptly pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly. “I know you’re upset, but I promise, this is the last time. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to pick out your favorite island. We’ll go on vacation, okay?” He was always like this, hurting me first, then trying to make amends. The old me would always soften, because I loved him, loved him until I lost myself. But now, I suddenly felt it was pointless. “Okay,” I said, without struggling, letting him hold me, my voice flat, without a ripple of emotion. Ethan sighed in relief and kissed the top of my head. “I knew it, my Sera is the best. Get some rest early, I’ll be with you tomorrow.” Watching Ethan walk into the bathroom, listening to the sound of water, I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Caleb.” My voice was exceptionally clear in the silent night. “That Doctors Without Borders aid project you mentioned, to the impoverished region in Africa. Are there still spots available?” Caleb paused, his tone turning serious. “Sera, are you sure? The conditions there are extremely harsh. It could be deadly at any moment. And once you sign, you can’t return home for at least three years.” “I’ve thought it through.” I looked at the cold steak on the table, feeling no emotion. “I’m signing up.” “Alright, I’ll handle the paperwork. The medical team departs from the airport in half a month.” “Thank you.” I hung up and deleted the call record. Half a month. Ethan, fifteen more days, and I’ll cut you out of my life forever.

Sera Hayes’ POV The next morning, Ethan, as expected, didn’t go to the office. He personally cooked my favorite sandwiches and made a hot cocoa. As if nothing had happened, he wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin on my neck, nuzzling me. “Sweetheart, after breakfast, let’s look at island brochures. Do you want to go to the Maldives or Tahiti?” His voice, soft and languid with morning sleepiness, was incredibly gentle. If I hadn’t seen that live broadcast last night, I would have thought I was the happiest woman in the world right now. I lowered my gaze and slowly pulled his hands away. “Let’s eat first, the milk will get cold.” Ethan didn’t notice my change. He smiled and kissed my cheek. Just as he was about to sit down at the dining table, his phone in the living room rang urgently. A distinctive ringtone. It was Lana. Ethan’s movements paused. He instinctively glanced at me. I quietly drank my milk, not even lifting an eyelid. He answered the call, not avoiding me, even putting it on speaker, as if to prove his transparency. “Ethan…” Lana’s delicate voice came through, tinged with a hint of expectation. “Are you free today? I want to look at wedding dresses. The doctor said getting out and about would be good for my recovery, but I’m scared to go alone…” Ethan’s brows furrowed. He instinctively refused. “Lana, I have something on today. How about I ask my assistant to go with you?” “Oh…” Lana’s voice immediately dropped, subtly tinged with a sob. “It’s okay, I know you’re busy. I just… I just haven’t been out in the world for so long, I’m a little scared. You go ahead with your work, I can go by myself, even if I have an episode…” “Lana!” Ethan’s tone instantly tensed. “Don’t overthink it, I’ll go with you.” After hanging up, Ethan looked at me, his eyes filled with apology and helplessness. “Sera, Lana’s emotional state is unstable, I have to go see her. Can we look at the island tomorrow instead?” I put down my milk glass, pulled out a tissue, and dabbed my mouth, my voice calm. “Okay.” My quick agreement made Ethan slightly suspicious. He walked over, cupped my face. “Sera, are you mad? I promise, I’m just accompanying her to pick out a wedding dress. I won’t do anything more.” “I’m not mad.” My gaze was clear. “Go ahead.” Ethan relaxed. Just as he was about to turn, his phone rang again. Still Lana. “Ethan, I heard you have a Ms. Hayes by your side, a very famous jewelry designer. I hear she has excellent taste. Could you ask her to come along and help me pick? I’m afraid you won’t like the style I choose.” The air froze again. Ethan’s face darkened. “Lana, don’t be ridiculous.” “What? I’m not being ridiculous.” Lana’s voice was innocent. “I just want to pick a wedding dress you’re most satisfied with. Surely… Ms. Hayes wouldn’t mind helping me?” Ethan covered the phone’s microphone and looked at me, his eyes pleading. “Sera, she doesn’t know about our relationship. She just thinks you have good taste. Could you please just do this for me? If you go, she won’t overthink things.” Asking his wife of three years to help his publicly proposed fiancée pick out a wedding dress. Ethan, how could you be so brutally direct? My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a fist, the pain making it hard to breathe. But I managed a faint smile. “Sure, I’ll go with you.” Anyway, I had fourteen more days. Might as well treat it as watching a play unfold. The most exclusive bridal salon downtown. Lana emerged from the fitting room in a pristine white wedding dress, like an angel fallen to earth. She lifted her skirt, walked up to Ethan, and shyly twirled. “Ethan, do I look pretty?” Ethan, sitting on the sofa, had a fleeting moment of distraction in his gaze. But he quickly recovered, instinctively looking at me, standing in the corner. I was wearing a simple trench coat, quietly standing there like an outsider. “Ms. Hayes, what do you think?” Lana suddenly turned to me, smiling. “The design concept of this dress is ‘One True Love.’ I think it’s perfect for Ethan and me. Don’t you?” I looked at the dress, my eyes flashing. The style of that wedding dress was almost identical to the one I had sketched in my design book a year ago, planning to wear it myself once Ethan made our marriage public. Ethan clearly recognized it too. His face instantly changed, and he abruptly stood up. “This one isn’t suitable, try another.” “Why?” Lana bit her lower lip, looking wronged. “I really love this one. Ms. Hayes, you’re a designer too, don’t you think it’s beautiful?” I met Lana’s seemingly innocent but actually provocative gaze, a sarcastic curve forming on my lips. “It’s very beautiful,” my voice was cool, devoid of any emotion. “Ms. Bellweather, it suits you perfectly.” Ethan snapped his head to look at me, his eyes wide with disbelief. He had expected me to get angry, to be jealous, to throw a tantrum. But I hadn’t. I was as calm as if I were evaluating a commodity completely unrelated to myself. This calmness inexplicably stirred a wave of panic in Ethan. He strode over to me, and using the blind spot created by Lana turning to look in the mirror, he grabbed my hand, lowering his voice and gritting out, “Sera, do you have to ruin the mood?” I forcefully pulled my hand away, looking at him coldly. “Mr. Knight, didn’t you ask me to come help? I offered my opinion, and you’re still not satisfied. What exactly do you want from me?” Ethan looked stung by the coldness in my eyes. He took a deep breath. “You clearly know that dress…” “I know,” I cut him off. “It’s just a dress. If Ms. Bellweather likes it, let her have it. Anyway, I won’t be wearing it.” With that, I turned to walk out of the store. “I have other commitments, I’ll be leaving now. Enjoy yourselves.” Ethan suddenly grabbed my hand from behind, trying to stop me. Suddenly, I heard Lana’s soft cry from nearby. “Ethan, my chest feels so tight, I can’t breathe…” Ethan’s grip on my wrist loosened. He glanced at me, but ultimately chose to scoop Lana into his arms. “Sera, I’m taking Lana to the hospital first. We’ll talk about us later.” I watched him disappear from my sight.

Sera Hayes’ POV Twelve days left until I leave. Since the argument at the bridal salon, Ethan hadn’t returned to the villa for three days straight. Each day, he’d send messages explaining that Lana’s condition was very bad, and he was at the hospital nursing her. I didn’t reply to any of them. I spent every day packing, little by little, the things that belonged to me. There wasn’t much, really. The villa was filled with luxury items, jewelry, and designer gowns Ethan had bought for me, but I didn’t plan to take any of them. I only took a few old clothes and my design sketches. On the fourth afternoon, Ethan finally returned. His eyes were bloodshot, stubble dotted his chin, and he looked utterly exhausted. The moment he stepped inside, he hugged me tightly, with such force it felt like he wanted to knead me into his body. “Sera, I’m sorry for neglecting you these past few days.” His voice was hoarse, filled with deep apology. “Lana’s condition has finally stabilized, and I’ve come straight back to be with you.” I let him hold me, my hands hanging naturally at my sides, not embracing him as I used to. “It’s okay,” I said faintly. Ethan sensed my coldness. He released me, pulling a delicate velvet box from his pocket. He opened it, revealing a dazzling sapphire necklace. “This is ‘Tears of the Deep Sea,’ I bought it at auction. Didn’t you say you liked it before? It’s for you. Please don’t be mad at me, okay?” He looked at me pleadingly. I gazed at the expensive necklace, my heart unmoved. Before, if I casually mentioned liking something, he would remember it. But now, that thoughtfulness was just a tool to alleviate his guilt. “Thank you, it’s beautiful.” I didn’t take it. I just turned and walked into the kitchen. “You haven’t eaten, have you? I’ll make you some pasta.” Ethan watched my calm back, his uneasiness growing. He would have preferred me to yell at him than to see me so indifferent. Just then, the doorbell rang. Ethan frowned and walked to open the door. Standing outside was Lana. She wore a white dress with a loose knit cardigan over it, looking quite pitiful. Seeing Ethan, her eyes lit up, then she shyly lowered her head. “Ethan, I… am I interrupting you?” “Why are you here?” Ethan’s face darkened. He instinctively blocked the doorway, not wanting her to see me inside. “I heard your mother say you have a villa in the suburbs with a large glass conservatory built behind it, filled with blue roses.” Lana looked up, her eyes full of anticipation. “The doctor said I need a quiet, beautiful place to recuperate. Ethan, can I stay here for a while?” Ethan’s body stiffened abruptly. That glass conservatory, he built it for me with his own hands. I loved blue roses, so he had the most expensive varieties flown in from abroad and planted them himself. His hands had been pricked and bleeding because of those flowers. It was our most secret, most precious sanctuary. “No,” Ethan refused without hesitation. “This place isn’t suitable for you. I’ll arrange the best sanatorium for you in the city center.” “But I only like it here…” Lana’s eyes instantly reddened, tears welling up. “Ethan, are you tired of me? I know I was in a coma for five years, I’m useless, but I only have you…” As she spoke, she clutched her chest, gasping for air, her face rapidly turning pale. “Lana!” Ethan was startled and quickly supported her. I quietly watched the two entangled figures outside the door. Lana leaned into Ethan’s embrace, and over his shoulder, she shot me a provocative glance, then weakly said, “Ethan, I really love that conservatory… just let me stay for a few days, okay?” Ethan looked at the barely conscious Lana in his arms, then at me. I imagined he was in agonizing struggle. “Sera…” he began with difficulty, his voice pleading. “Lana’s illness can’t handle any shock. That conservatory… could you lend it to her for a few days? I promise, once she’s better, I’ll have her move out immediately.” I looked at Ethan and suddenly found it somewhat amusing. Lend? It was a gift he gave me, a testament to our love. Now, for another woman, he was willing to destroy that testament with his own hands. “Whatever you want,” I said, placing the pasta on the dining table, then turning and walking upstairs. “Anyway, those flowers are almost withered.” The next day, Ethan called in workers. Because Lana claimed she was allergic to pollen but liked the sunlight in the glass conservatory, Ethan ordered all the blue roses in the conservatory to be pulled out. I stood on the second-floor balcony, watching the workers roughly uproot those delicate blue roses and toss them into the trash. The ground was covered in fallen petals, much like my utterly ruined marriage of three years. Ethan came up behind me and hugged me, burying his head in the crook of my neck, his voice heavy. “Sera, don’t watch. Once Lana leaves, I’ll build you an even bigger and better conservatory, filled with all the flowers you love, okay?” I didn’t struggle. I just looked downstairs and said softly, “Ethan, flowers that have been pulled out cannot be replanted.” Ethan’s heart sank abruptly, an inexplicable panic seizing him. He tightened his arms, trying to draw some sense of security from me. “Yes, they can. As long as we’re together, anything can start anew.” I closed my eyes and said nothing more. Start anew? No, Ethan. Ten more days, and we’ll be completely over.

Sera Hayes’ POV Eight days left until I leave. To appease Lana, Ethan hosted a small banquet at the city’s most luxurious club, inviting only his closest friends. Before we left, Ethan handed me a designer gown. “Sera, you’ll accompany me tonight.” My hand, which was organizing design sketches, paused. I looked up at him. “In what capacity? Your secret wife, or Ms. Bellweather’s accessory?” Ethan’s face stiffened, then softened. “Sera, don’t make a scene. Tonight, only my friends are coming, and they all know about Lana’s condition. You’ll attend as my executive assistant, to help me look after Lana, just in case anything happens to her. I feel more at ease with you by my side.” Disguising his wife as an assistant to cater to his publicly engaged fiancée. Ethan’s shamelessness continued to push the boundaries of my understanding. “Fine,” I said. I didn’t refuse. I took the dress and walked into the dressing room. The banquet hall was dimly lit and luxuriously decorated. Lana, in a red gown, leaned against Ethan, like a princess. People around raised their glasses, offering her congratulations. “Mr. Knight, your patience has finally paid off! Ms. Bellweather is awake, and you two can finally walk down the aisle!” “Exactly, Mr. Knight has been so faithful these past five years, never a single other woman by his side. Ms. Bellweather, you really need to make it up to him!” Everyone burst into laughter. I stood quietly in the corner, wearing a modest black business suit, like a ghost. I listened to those ridiculous blessings, watching Ethan with a faint smile on his lips, not refuting a single word. Faithful? Then what was I, who slept in the same bed with him every night for three years? “Hey, who’s this?” A slightly tipsy guest suddenly noticed me in the corner, his gaze dismissive. “Mr. Knight, your new assistant? Quite pretty, but she doesn’t seem to know any manners. Shouldn’t she be pouring wine?” The private room instantly fell silent. A few people here knew about my existence; they knew Ethan kept a mistress, but not a single one of them thought I was important. In their eyes, I was just a gold-digger, and now that Lana was back, I naturally had to leave. Ethan’s brows furrowed. He was about to speak, but Lana quickly grabbed his hand. “Ms. Hayes isn’t just any assistant, she’s Ethan’s wonderful helper,” Lana said, smiling sweetly at me. “Ms. Hayes, Ethan’s glass is empty. Would you mind pouring him some wine?” This was blatant humiliation. Ethan looked at me. He seemed a little hesitant, but he didn’t stop her. He probably thought that if I could endure it, once Lana was well, he would compensate me doubly. “Sera, pour the wine,” Ethan said blandly. I lowered my gaze, concealing the mockery in my eyes. I walked over, picked up the decanter from the table, went to Ethan’s side, and slightly bent to pour the wine. Just then, the guest beside me suddenly extended his foot and tripped me. Caught off guard, my body lurched forward. With a crash, the decanter smashed onto the table, sending broken glass scattering everywhere. Red wine splashed all over me, and a few drops splattered onto Lana’s gown. “Ah!” Lana shrieked, clutching her chest, her face instantly turning pale. She gasped for breath. Ethan shot up, not even glancing at me, who had fallen onto the broken glass. He immediately pulled Lana into his arms, anxiously patting her back. “Lana! Lana, are you okay? Where’s your medicine? Quick, get her medicine!” The scene became chaotic. I sat on the floor, my palm pressed onto the broken glass. Blood instantly gushed out, staining the carpet. A searing pain shot through me, but I felt nothing, just quietly watched Ethan frantically embracing another woman. This was the man I had loved for three years. “Are you alright?” A gentle voice suddenly spoke above me. I looked up and saw Caleb Reid, who had entered the room at some point. He wore a well-tailored gray suit, his brows furrowed, his eyes filled with concern. Caleb crouched down, carefully avoiding the broken glass on the floor, and gently took my bleeding hand, quickly pressing a clean handkerchief onto the wound. “Caleb…” I was stunned. “I’m here to pick you up,” Caleb’s voice was not loud, but clear enough for everyone in the room to hear. He scooped me up from the floor, then coldly swept his gaze over the chaotic crowd, finally landing on Ethan. Ethan, who was feeding Lana her medicine, turned his head at the sound and was visibly shocked to see Caleb holding me. “Caleb, what are you doing? Put her down!” Ethan’s voice was laced with suppressed fury. Caleb scoffed. “Mr. Knight is so busy taking care of his fiancée, he can’t even see his assistant is injured. Since you can’t take care of her, I’ll take her away.” With that, Caleb held me and started to walk out of the room. Seeing this, Ethan quickly rose and grabbed my wrist. “What right do you have to take her?!” Ethan’s voice was full of anger. Before I could speak, I heard Lana behind Ethan begin to cry. “Ethan, my heart hurts so much… what should I do… am I going to die…” Ethan’s grip on my wrist loosened. He quickly turned back to the frail Lana. Watching this scene, I finally let out a low laugh. “Let’s go, Dr. Reid.” He chose someone else over me, again. I should be used to it by now, shouldn’t I?

Sera Hayes’ POV Five days left until I leave. Caleb took me to the hospital to get my wound bandaged. My palm had a deep cut from the glass, requiring three stitches. Throughout the entire process, I didn’t make a sound, as calm as a puppet without sensation. “The overseas paperwork is all settled,” Caleb looked at my face and sighed. “Sera, if you can’t bear it, you can always come to me. You don’t have to carry it all alone.” “Thank you, I’m fine.” I looked at my bandaged hand, a faint smile playing on my lips. “I just feel like these three years were a bizarre dream, and now that I’ve woken up, it’s time to go.” Leaving the hospital, it was pouring rain. Caleb drove me back to the villa. As the car pulled up to the gate, we saw Ethan’s black Maybach parked in the rain. Ethan stood under a black umbrella, his face terribly grim. Seeing me get out of Caleb’s car, he strode over, roughly pulling me under his umbrella, with a force that tugged at my fresh wound. I winced. “Ethan, you’re hurting her!” Caleb pushed open his car door, angrily moving to intervene. “Get lost!” Ethan glared coldly at Caleb, his eyes like poisoned daggers. “She’s my wife, it’s none of your business! Caleb, don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. Stay away from her!” With that, he forcibly embraced me and strode into the villa, slamming the door shut. The villa was dark, no lights on. Ethan pushed me against the door, his chest heaving violently. He had clearly smelled the unfamiliar cologne on me. “Sera, what is the meaning of this?” he demanded in the darkness. “I just wasn’t there to take care of you, and you’re already rushing to find a lover? Do you have any idea what people in that room will say about you tonight?!” Leaning against the cold door, I suddenly felt very tired. “Do you care what they say about me?” My voice was especially hollow in the dark. “In their eyes, I was already a mercenary woman. Ethan, you’re the one who pushed me into that position.” Ethan was stunned. “Sera, I didn’t mean it like that…” He softened his voice, trying to take my hand. “Tonight was an accident. Lana suddenly had an episode, I was too anxious and didn’t think about you. How’s your hand? Let me see.” I avoided his touch. “Ethan, you’re always like this,” I stated calmly. “You think that as long as you apologize, as long as you explain ‘it was for Lana,’ I have to unconditionally forgive you, understand you. But why should I?” “Because you’re my wife!” Ethan blurted out. “We’re married! We’re family. Lana isn’t my family, I’m just repaying a debt! Why can’t you be a little more understanding and not make a fuss right now?” Family. I laughed, tears almost welling up. “Yes, I’m your wife,” I said softly. “So you can propose to someone else on a national live broadcast, you can make me pour wine like a servant in front of others, and you can walk away without a backward glance while I’m injured and bleeding.” “Ethan, you actually dare to call me your family. It’s truly disgusting.” “Sera!” Ethan was stung. He suddenly raised his voice. “Do you have to be so mean? I told you this is only temporary! Everything will go back to normal once she has her surgery!” Just then, Ethan’s phone vibrated wildly. He answered with annoyance. The urgent voice of a hospital nurse came through. “Mr. Knight, Ms. Bellweather suddenly became emotionally unstable and ran to the hospital rooftop, threatening to jump! Please come quickly!” Ethan’s face instantly changed. He hung up, gave me a deep look. “Sera, Lana is threatening to jump, I have to go. We’ll talk about us when I get back.” With that, he turned and without hesitation, pulled open the door and rushed out into the rainy night. I stood there, listening to the car engine start, watching the Maybach disappear into the rain. I slowly walked to the sofa, pulled out a pre-prepared divorce agreement from my bag, and placed it prominently on the table.

Sera Hayes’ POV Three days left until I leave. Ethan hadn’t returned for two days. I learned from the news that Lana had cried and thrown a fit on the hospital rooftop, insisting she was useless and unworthy of the excellent Ethan Knight, and she wanted to jump. Ethan had stayed on the rooftop, trying to persuade her, eventually rushing into the rain to rescue the distraught Lana, then taking her for psychological counseling. Netizens were moved by their “great love story.” I gave a self-mocking laugh. Suddenly, I heard the sound of the door opening. Ethan was back. He must have immediately seen the divorce agreement I’d placed on the table. “Sera!” I heard Ethan roar, followed by a rush of footsteps. He stormed up to the second-floor bedroom. In the bedroom, I was sitting at my dressing table, calmly tidying the last few pieces of jewelry. Hearing the commotion, I turned, my expression composed as I looked at the furious Ethan. “What is the meaning of this?” Ethan slammed the divorce agreement onto the dressing table, his eyes bloodshot, like an enraged beast. “Divorce? Who gave you permission to suggest divorce?!” I glanced at the crumpled paper, my voice calm, without a ripple. “I’ve already signed it. I’m leaving with nothing, you don’t need to give me any assets. Let’s make time tomorrow to finalize the divorce.” “I don’t agree!” Ethan grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like my bones would shatter. “Sera, what exactly are you trying to do? I told you Lana is just a patient, I’m just doing my duty! Do you have to push me at a time like this?” “I’m not pushing you.” I met his eyes directly, no longer seeing the love I once held, only a dead calm. “I’m helping you. Ethan, I’m tired. I don’t want to play this three-way game anymore.” “You’re the only one I love!” Ethan panicked. He abruptly pulled me into his arms, holding me tightly, his voice trembling slightly. “Sera, don’t be like this. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have left you alone in the room, shouldn’t have ignored your injury. You can hit me, scold me, just don’t mention divorce, okay?” He thought I was just angry, that if he just sweet-talked me, I would forgive him as before. “Ethan…” A weak voice suddenly spoke from the bedroom doorway. Ethan stiffened, abruptly turning his head. Lana, wearing a hospital gown, stood weakly at the door, holding a piece of paper. Seeing us embracing, tears instantly welled up in her eyes. “Lana? How did you get out of the hospital?” Ethan instinctively let go of me and walked towards Lana. Lana held up the paper in her hand, her voice trembling. “I came back to the villa to get something, and I saw this in the study drawer… Ethan, you and Ms. Hayes… you’re married?” It was a copy of our marriage certificate. Ethan’s face instantly changed. He had kept the marriage certificate well hidden, never expecting Lana to find it. “Lana, let me explain…” “You lied to me!” Lana burst into heartbroken sobs, pointing at me. “You’re clearly married, so why did you propose to me? Why did you give me hope? What am I? A mistress breaking up someone else’s family?!” “No, Lana, don’t get agitated!” Ethan frantically tried to soothe her. But Lana abruptly pushed him away, rushed to me, grabbed my collar, and screamed hysterically. “It’s you, isn’t it? You’re clinging to Ethan! You know he loves me, why are you monopolizing the position of his wife? You hussy!” I coldly watched her performance, then shoved her hand away. “Ms. Bellweather, getting too deep into character isn’t fun. Didn’t you already know?” Lana froze, then suddenly slapped herself across the face, and then fell backward, landing heavily on the floor. “My heart…” Lana clutched her chest, painfully curling up on the ground, gasping for air, her face instantly turning bluish-purple. “Lana!” Ethan roared in anger, rushing over to scoop Lana into his arms. He turned, glaring fiercely at me, his eyes filled with rage and disappointment. “Sera! Why did you push her?! You know her heart is weak and she can’t handle shock! If anything happens to Lana, I will never forgive you!” I stood there, watching Ethan protect Lana as if she were a precious treasure, watching him unhesitatingly pin a fabricated crime on me. I suddenly felt incredibly light. “She won’t die,” I said, looking down at them. “But Ethan, we’re over.” Ethan had no time to ponder my words. He picked up Lana and rushed downstairs like a madman, driving straight to the hospital. The villa fell silent once more. I walked to the dressing table, smoothed out the crumpled divorce agreement, and picked up my suitcase.

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The night before my engagement, I was gagged and dragged into an alley by several men. Just as I was stripped naked and about to be violated, my fiancé, Ethan, suddenly appeared: “Enough, stop it! Don’t hurt her!” I stumbled into Ethan’s arms in a panic, but he chuckled and patted me: “Don’t be scared, it’s all fake. I hired actors.” I froze, tears still on my face: “What did you say?” He casually pulled out a ring and slipped it onto my middle finger: “Sophia, you passed my test. You were willing to die rather than comply. Indeed, I wasn’t wrong about you.” His assistant, Chloe, emerged from the shadows with a camera: “Sophia, don’t blame Ethan. It was my idea.” “After all, you reported your professor for sexual assault back then, causing a massive scandal, and who knows if you’d just turn against us later.” “I recorded the whole thing today, and I believe you now!” I gave a bitter smile and took off the ring: “Ethan, the engagement is off.” “Sophia, what are you talking about?” Ethan’s face darkened: “I already told you, you passed my test.” Seeing that I didn’t speak, his tone softened a bit. He took off his jacket and covered my naked body: “Don’t be silly. Besides, you were sexually assaulted… who else would want you besides me?” My fingernails dug deeply into my palms. I looked up, my face covered in tears: “Ethan, you clearly know this is the deepest scar in my heart, why do you still rip it open like this?” Chloe, standing nearby, pouted: “Sophia, don’t be so dramatic. What man wouldn’t mind? He just wanted to confirm.” I yelled back: “What does it have to do with you? Did I ask you to speak?” Ethan stood still, the tenderness on his face slowly fading. “Sophia, since you’re being so difficult…” He bent down and snatched the ring from my hand: “Then please return everything I gave you.” He ruthlessly yanked off the jacket covering me. Then he looked me up and down: “Take off your shoes too.” I stood there stunned, tears silently streaming down my face. Ethan raised an eyebrow: “What? You can’t bear to?” “If we’re going to draw a clear line, don’t keep anything of mine.” I bit my lip, squatted down, and took off my shoes, placing them in front of him. Ethan didn’t even glance at them, kicking them into the nearby trash can. He held out his hand: “Give me your phone.” I instinctively clutched my phone. It was a birthday gift from Ethan. Back then, he had looked at me gently: “Sophia, I saved my number. If anything happens, you must call me first.” I placed the phone in his palm. Ethan turned and walked away without hesitation: “No one is allowed to talk to her.” Chloe gave me a smug smile and jogged after him. I was left alone in the alley. I stood barefoot, completely naked, with only a torn pair of underwear barely covering me. I squatted down and hugged myself, sobbing uncontrollably. It turned out Ethan had never trusted me from start to finish. After Dad passed away, Mom saved every penny to put me through college. That year, I reported my professor for forcing me, causing a massive scandal. While Mom was seeking justice for me, she was obstructed by those people under various pretexts. They even twisted the narrative, maliciously editing footage to turn public opinion against her. Finally, Mom got so furious she had a stroke and was immediately admitted to the ICU. I used up all my savings to save Mom, but she was still partly paralyzed. It was Ethan who firmly stood by my side, helping me pay off the medical bills I’d incurred. He was gentle, considerate, and didn’t care about my past. Mom cried tears of joy when she found out we were getting engaged. She held my hand and said over and over: “Good, my daughter finally has someone to care for her.” Tomorrow was the engagement ceremony. Mom must be tossing and turning in her hometown, unable to sleep, waiting to see me happy. I took a deep breath, wiped away my tears, and stood up. I decided to go back and pack my bags. Since Ethan never trusted me, I didn’t want him either. I walked home barefoot, step by step. I took a deep breath and pushed open the front door. The living room light was on. Chloe was draped over Ethan, their clothes disheveled. Her skirt was bunched at her waist, revealing a large expanse of pale skin. Ethan leaned back on the sofa, clutching her waist, his expression sated and languid. The next second, Ethan looked up and saw me.

My hands and feet turned cold, like someone had poured a bucket of ice water over my head. “What are you doing!” My body moved faster than my mind. I lunged towards the sofa, reaching out to pull them apart: “Have you no shame!” My fingertips had just touched Chloe’s hair when a powerful force suddenly pushed me away. Ethan protected Chloe with one arm and shoved my shoulder with the other. I stumbled backward, slipped, and fell hard to the floor. Ethan looked at me with a cold expression: “Enough! Sophia, don’t act like a shrew!” Through my tear-filled eyes, I watched Ethan calmly put on his clothes. Chloe nestled in his arms, giving me a triumphant smile. I struggled to sit up: “Why? Ethan, why are you doing this to me?” Ethan fastened his last button and looked down at me. “Because it’s fair.” I froze. “Every time I sleep with you, I always remember you being pinned down by that fifty-something professor. Sophia, I’m disgusted!” My mind went blank. But he was the one who approached me first. After I was forced by my professor, Ethan was the first to stand up and help me gather evidence. He accompanied me to the hospital for examinations, accompanied me to the police station to give a statement. When I was being pointed at and talked about by the whole school, he held my hand and walked through the crowd. The day I had a mental breakdown and slit my wrists. He broke down the door, rushing me, covered in blood, to the hospital. He guarded outside the operating room all night, and the first thing he said when I woke up was: “Sophia, no matter what happens, I’m here for you.” Chloe stood up from the sofa, the hickeys on her collarbone so glaring they made me want to vomit. She leaned languidly on Ethan’s shoulder, saying sweetly: “Ethan, you’ve torn my underwear, what should I do?” Ethan chuckled, pulling a damp lace thong from his pocket: “What to do? Then don’t wear them.” Chloe playfully hit him. I couldn’t stop trembling: “Chloe, I paid for your college tuition, I gave you living expenses, I sponsored you!” “When you couldn’t find a job after graduation, I told Ethan to make you his assistant.” “Was I not good to you?” Chloe tilted her head, smiling innocently: “Oh yes, Sophia was very good to me.” “But just because you were good to me, does that mean I have to be eternally grateful?” “You yourself slept with an old man, you’re dirty, and you still demand loyalty from Ethan?” My ears were buzzing. I squatted down, clutching my head tightly. That feeling was back. Five years ago, they said I voluntarily climbed into the professor’s bed for a master’s degree spot. They said I turned on him afterward to blackmail him, that I was unclean, shameless, and deserved it. Back then, I had the same nightmare every day. The professor’s obese body was pressing down on me, and I struggled desperately but couldn’t move. After waking up, I started self-harming, as if only pain could prove I was still alive. It was Ethan who pulled me out of that abyss. He accompanied me to see a psychologist every day, hugged me when I broke down: “Sophia, don’t be afraid, I’m here.” I thought he was my salvation. But he personally pushed me back into hell. I curled up on the floor, twitching uncontrollably. Ethan approached me, looking flustered: “Sophia? What’s wrong?” Chloe, standing nearby, rolled her eyes: “Don’t use your depression to threaten Ethan again; the story of the boy who cried wolf loses its meaning if told too many times.” Ethan paused, then stood up and looked down at me condescendingly: “Alright, stop acting! As you wish, the engagement is off.” He turned and walked out, pulling Chloe with him. Chloe looked back, giving me a mocking smile. I was left alone in the living room. My vision blurred, and my ears filled with sharp ringing. In the last second before losing consciousness, I thought: “Mom, I’m sorry. Your daughter really doesn’t seem to deserve love.”

The next day, I was woken by the doorbell. I struggled to get up, stumbling to open the door. “Sophia!” Mom leaned on a cane, one side of her body partly paralyzed, her forehead covered in sweat. It takes an hour to drive from her hometown to here; how did she, a half-paralyzed person, even get here? I quickly helped her inside: “Mom, why are you here?” Mom, leaning on me, walked into the house, her expression worried: “I’m just glad you’re okay…” She saw the cuts all over my feet, and her eyes immediately welled up: “Sophia, why are you like this? What happened?” I shook my head and helped her sit on the sofa. Mom took a breath, her voice hesitant: “Isn’t today the engagement? I waited all morning, but I didn’t get your call…” I lowered my head, not daring to look into Mom’s eyes: “Ethan’s company had an emergency, so the engagement is postponed.” “He asked me to tell you, but I forgot.” Mom froze for a moment, then let out a long sigh of relief: “That’s good, I thought something had gone wrong.” She reached out and stroked my head: “Sophia, my biggest wish in this life is to see you happy.” I endured the tearing pain in my heart, nodding hard and forcing a smile: Mom kept chattering. “All the way here, I was thinking, my daughter finally found a good partner, I hoped nothing would go wrong.” Listening to her, my eyes stung, but I dared not let the tears fall. Just then, the living room TV suddenly turned on. A scene popped up: it was me, naked, being held down by several men. In an instant, my hands and feet turned cold, and my blood ran cold. Mom’s voice trembled, disbelieving: “Sophia, what is this? Is that you?” I frantically rushed towards the TV, wanting to block the screen. But my legs gave out, and I fell to the floor. I turned around, desperately shielding the TV, and my tears finally burst forth: “Mom, don’t look!” Mom stood up, leaning on her cane, tears streaming down her face: “Who did this? Who did this to you?” Just then, the door was pushed open. Chloe walked in, looking around: “This video? Mr. Ethan asked me to play it. He said it’s better for Sophia to face reality.” Mom’s eyes widened, her lips trembling: “Impossible! Ethan wouldn’t do this to Sophia! He’s a good kid!” Chloe glanced at me, her expression knowing: “Looks like Sophia didn’t tell you? Ethan already said last night, the engagement is off.” Mom’s body swayed violently, and her cane slipped from her hand. “Mom!” I rushed to help her, but she pushed me away. Mom stared fiercely at Chloe, her eyes red: “Who are you? What right do you have to say these things here?” Chloe’s smile grew sweeter: “Me? I’m Ethan’s person.” I trembled all over, yelling at her: “Chloe, get out!” Chloe sneered: “What right do you have to tell me to get out? Mr. Ethan sent me!” She tilted her head, her tone contemptuous: “If you kneel down and apologize now, maybe Mr. Ethan will be in a better mood, and he might even…” “Enough! How dare you talk about my child like that?” Mom, her face flushed, reprimanded Chloe. But the next second, she collapsed to the ground.

Blood kept overflowing from Mom’s mouth. I held Mom’s head, screaming at Chloe. “Call 911!” Chloe tilted her head: “Ethan sent me to see if you’ve realized your mistake, not to be your nanny.” My voice was hoarse, unlike my own: “Can’t you see my mom is hurt?” Chloe smiled, then turned and walked towards the door. “What are you doing!” The next second, the door was locked from the outside. Then, the TV screen also went dark, and the whole house plunged into darkness. I rushed to the door, frantically pounding on it: “Chloe, what are you doing? Open the door!” My palms stung from hitting, but there was no response from outside. In the darkness, Mom’s breathing was so faint I could barely hear it. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. My phone was taken by Ethan, where was Mom’s phone? I trembled as I searched Mom’s pockets. But she left in such a hurry, she didn’t bring anything. Clutching a last sliver of hope, I staggered to the window, wanting to open it. But there wasn’t even a handle on the window frame. Because I had depression, Ethan was afraid I’d do something foolish. He had all the windows replaced with tempered glass and welded shut. I turned and ran back to the door, screaming desperately: “Help! Is anyone out there! Help!” My throat was raw from yelling, but there was no response. Ethan had specifically bought this villa for me. He said the air in the suburbs was good for recovery. The nearest neighbor was a mile away, and there wasn’t even a pedestrian on the road. I collapsed to the floor, all my strength drained. Mom in my arms, her breathing growing weaker and weaker. I held her, tears falling onto her face: “Mom, don’t sleep, please talk to me? Mom, hang in there, I’ll save you!” I gently placed Mom on the floor, then rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a butcher knife. Aiming at the door lock, I hacked down hard. But the door only got a shallow white mark. I hacked again and again. The web of my thumb split open, blood flowed down the handle. I hacked countless times, my arm so sore I couldn’t lift it. The blade was bent, but the door was still intact. I knelt beside Mom, pulling her back into my arms. Her eyes were half-open, her pupils were already starting to dilate. “Mom! Mom, look at me! It’s Sophia!” I gripped her hand, pressing it against my face: “Mom, don’t leave me alone! Dad’s gone, you can’t go too…” Mom’s lips moved. I leaned closer and heard her weak voice: “Live well…” Then her hand slipped from my face. “Mom!” I screamed heartbroken, holding her and crying uncontrollably. I don’t know how long I cried, until I felt like an empty shell. I carried Mom to the bed in the bedroom, covering her with a blanket. Time passed, minute by minute, until finally there was a sound. I walked into the living room. Ethan stood at the door, with Chloe behind him. He looked at me, his voice gentle as if nothing had happened: “Sophia, Chloe said you’ve realized your mistake.” Ethan walked up to me, reaching out to touch my face: “Alright, stop this. I won’t bring up that professor thing again. Chloe and I, it was just this once, we’ll live well together from now on.” He said casually: “I’ll inform everyone, the engagement will proceed as planned. You can be Mrs. Evans in peace.” Chloe stood behind him, smiling sweetly: “Yes, Sophia, a man as good as Ethan, you won’t find another if you miss him. What else are you unhappy about?” She licked her lips, her tone suggestive: “And Mr. Ethan is really good in bed…” Ethan chuckled, not denying it: “Sophia, why aren’t you speaking? Still angry?” I finally looked up, meeting his eyes. “Before that, I have a big gift for you both.” Ethan paused, then smiled: “What gift? An engagement gift?” I walked into the kitchen, picked up a knife, and hid it behind me. Ethan and Chloe exchanged glances, waiting where they stood. I walked up to Ethan, and with all my strength, plunged the knife into his abdomen. The blade pierced his shirt, sinking into his flesh. Ethan looked down at the knife in his stomach, his face filled with disbelief. The next second, I pulled out the knife and plunged it fiercely into my own heart. Blood gushed from my chest, splattering Ethan’s face.

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Austin brought her childhood friend, Glenn, home to care for him after he was paralyzed, always prioritizing him above everything else. She completely ignored my feelings, even forcing me to help him bathe. Six months later, I took in a homeless, disabled girl. “She has mental issues and no one to rely on. She’ll be bullied out there, so I couldn’t bear to leave her.” Austin, who always demanded I be generous, flew into a rage. “Jackson! Are you out of your mind?! You brought another woman home? And a mental patient? Are you that desperate?!” I frowned, facing Austin’s gaze, which felt like she was interrogating a criminal. “Can you please get rid of your filthy thoughts? Can you show some compassion? Are you just going to stand by and watch a vibrant life die?” Six months ago, Austin’s childhood friend, Glenn, got into a car accident. Austin not only stayed with him at the hospital for a month but insisted on bringing him home. I objected. Austin shot back, “Glenn has no one here. I can’t just abandon him.” “Can’t you be a little more understanding? A little more empathetic? Stop making such a big deal out of everything!” Now, I was just doing the same thing. “How is that the same thing?” Austin clenched her fists. “I’m going to the hospital to pick up Glenn right now. When I get back, I don’t want to see this woman here anymore.” She slammed the door shut, thinking a show of anger would make me back down. But I turned to the girl with a smile and reassured her, “Charlotte, I’ll go run a bath for you and get some clothes ready.” “Thank you.” Charlotte nodded obediently, leaning on her crutches. She had been filthy, her face covered in grime. After her bath and fresh clothes, I finally saw her face clearly. Delicate and pretty, she was a natural beauty. Only her body was too thin, like a withered branch. So, I ordered a big meal for her, to help her regain some nutrition. Just then, Austin returned, pushing Glenn’s wheelchair. Seeing Charlotte eating on the sofa, her face instantly turned cold. “Jackson!” “What is the meaning of this? Not only did you let her stay, but you let her wear my pajamas? How disgusting is that? How unsanitary?” Her reaction was extreme, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “I’m sorry, I’ll take them off right away.” Charlotte stood up nervously. “Please don’t argue because of me.” “No need.” I grabbed her wrist, not looking up. “It’s just a pair of pajamas, isn’t it? What’s the fuss? I’ll return them tomorrow. I’ll buy Charlotte some new ones then.” I remembered when Glenn first arrived, he took a liking to my only custom-made suit, which I only wore for important events. Austin gave it to Glenn without even asking me. Who knew Glenn would relieve himself in it? I was furious. But Austin was nonchalant. “Oh, come on! Don’t be so petty! It’s just a suit, right? It’s not like Glenn did it on purpose. You can just wash it yourself, what’s the big deal?” The next day, she even grandly bought Glenn five custom suits, which made my head spin with anger. “Austin, don’t blame Jackson. It’s just that I’ve been staying at your place for too long, so Jackson is unhappy and deliberately found an actress to make you mad.” Glenn spoke up, looking remorseful. “I’m just a burden! I’ll move out tonight. You two don’t have to argue over me.” His eyes were red as he spoke, then he maneuvered his wheelchair to leave. I glanced at Austin, curious to see her reaction. No surprises. Austin, just like before, anxiously hugged Glenn and comforted him softly, “Glenn, you’re never a burden. You’re a very important person in my life.”

Then, she shot me a rather defiant look. “You’re truly despicable.” “To get rid of Glenn, you actually came up with such a vile trick.” With that, she pushed Glenn into the master bedroom. That used to be Austin’s and my room, but Glenn claimed he had “claustrophobia.” So, Austin, again without consulting me, gave up the room, and even put a small bed next to our king-sized one. She set a rule: “Monday to Saturday, she would care for Glenn in the master bedroom, and on Sunday, she would spend time with me in the secondary bedroom.” I tried talking, I tried complaining, I even argued. But every time, Austin would say one thing and do another. That evening, after settling Charlotte, I went to my study. Late into the night, I heard Austin’s scream. “Jackson, you pervert! You psycho!” Immediately after, Austin stormed into the study, furious. She was wearing a sexy lace nightgown, black stockings, full makeup, and perfume. It suddenly hit me—today was Sunday! “Jackson, you actually gave our bedroom to that unknown woman.” Austin’s brows were tightly furrowed. “Charlotte is so pathetic. How could you make her sleep on the floor or in the study?” I didn’t turn my head, my eyes still fixed on the computer screen. These were Austin’s own words, once upon a time. Austin froze for a few seconds, then sighed, rushing over to sit on my lap. “Jackson, please stop being difficult, okay? Just send that homeless woman away. Once Glenn is a bit better, I’ll send him away, alright?” Send him away? Austin had said things like that many times. But she’d always drop it afterward, completely a tactic to placate me. Seeing I wasn’t speaking, Austin draped her arms around my neck and whispered in my ear. “Just say yes, okay?” “Today’s Sunday, our special day. Let’s not let outsiders spoil our mood.” All this time, I had liked Austin both physically and emotionally. So, she only needed to flirt a little, and I’d instantly be hooked. But after over half a year of torment, now my heart didn’t stir at all. Instead, I felt a sense of disgust. Before I could refuse, Glenn’s pained groans echoed. “Austin, please help me…” The next second, Austin abruptly pushed me away, sprang up, and rushed out of the study. “Glenn, if you need to go to the restroom, just tell me. See? You fell all by yourself.” Her voice was loud, her tone anxious and full of concern. I remembered last month, I slipped coming out of the shower, fell, and cut my knee, bleeding profusely. I called Austin several times, but she didn’t answer. Later, she even said sarcastically, “You’re a grown man, and you trip just walking? How embarrassing is that?” Glenn deliberately fanned the flames, saying, “Jackson, I won’t steal Austin from you. We’re just good friends.” “So, you don’t need to intentionally hurt yourself just to compete with me.” Hearing that, Austin immediately turned and called me childish and sick. At that moment, my heart shattered. I didn’t sleep all night. A while later, Austin texted me: “Glenn just fell. I’m worried about him, so I’ll stay with him tonight.” Similar situations had occurred more than once. Every weekend, Glenn would always feel unwell in one way or another, holding onto Austin and not letting her leave. And Austin would always agree.

The next morning, Charlotte and I were having breakfast. As soon as Austin emerged from the bedroom, she frowned unhappily. “Why isn’t there any for me and Glenn?” “If you want some, make it yourself,” I replied flatly, without looking up. What? Austin’s temper flared again. She slammed the table. “I think you’ve truly fallen for her charms, completely lost your mind over this woman.” “You’re ignoring me for a stranger.” Charlotte quickly stood up to apologize, “I’m sorry, Austin. Please, take my plate.” She picked up her untouched noodles and offered them. “Get lost!” Austin snapped, knocking the bowl over. “Ah!” The scalding noodle soup splashed all over Charlotte, her arm skin immediately turning red. “Austin, you’re absolutely insane! Charlotte was being kind, offering you food, and you not only ungratefully attacked her, but you started a fight!” I scolded Austin while grabbing ice to apply to Charlotte’s burn. This scene stunned Austin. She was so furious that veins popped on her forehead. She yelled right there, “Jackson, I’m telling you.” “It’s either her or me in this house. There’s no in-between.” “You choose!” I had been that hysterical once. But Austin, presuming upon my deep love, not only reacted calmly but said, “Can’t you be more mature? Do you really think I can’t live without you?” Now, I didn’t react much either. But before I could speak, Glenn came out of the room. “Jackson, Austin, are you two arguing again because of me?” “If I cause your divorce, I’ll feel guilty for the rest of my life.” “Maybe I should just leave.” He wore a bitter expression, seemingly thinking of Austin and me, but actually just fanning the flames. “Glenn, this has nothing to do with you. It’s all Jackson’s fault for being so petty.” Austin comforted Glenn, then looked at me coldly. “Glenn just reminded me. If you insist on going against me, then let’s get a divorce.” “I’ll find someone to draft the divorce papers today.” With that, she pushed Glenn out the door, proudly saying, “Come on, let’s go out for a fancy meal.” “Austin, please don’t misunderstand. Jackson and I really have nothing going on.” Charlotte cried out, but Austin ignored her. Charlotte then turned to me, sobbing, “I’m so sorry, Jackson. I caused you trouble. It’s all my fault.” “Maybe you should just send me to a mental hospital.” Austin paused, grinding her teeth as she muttered to herself, “Bitch!” “You just escaped. How can you go back? Just stay here and feel safe.” I comforted Charlotte. “With me here, you won’t suffer.” As my words fell, I heard Austin scoff, walking away without looking back. I didn’t mind her. After finishing our meal, I took Charlotte shopping at the mall. Unexpectedly, I caught a glimpse of Austin and Glenn at a watch store. Austin picked up a watch and put it on Glenn’s wrist. Their eyes met, full of deep affection, almost radiating sparks. I recognized that watch. It cost about fifteen thousand dollars, a style I had coveted for a long time. But Austin always said, “A watch is just for telling time, isn’t it? Why waste money on that? Better save up for our future children.” Yet now, Austin bought it for Glenn. And all of Glenn’s medical expenses for the past six months had also been paid by Austin.

“Should we go say hello?” Charlotte whispered. “No need.” I waved my hand, pulling Charlotte into the clothing store across the way. Charlotte had just picked out a dress and was trying it on when Austin burst in. “Jackson, what do you mean by this? You dare to spend money on her?” I just turned my head when Charlotte quickly said, “Austin, please don’t be angry. I’m keeping track of every expense, and I’ll pay Jackson back when I get a job later.” “You btch, shut up!” Austin’s eyes widened, and she raised her hand to slap Charlotte. But I reacted quickly, grabbing her wrist in time. “You… you’re siding with an outsider?” She grew even angrier. “Aren’t you siding with Glenn?” I calmly retorted. “This… this is different!” Austin gritted her teeth, arguing, “Our friendship is pure. You two have something shady going on.” Glenn echoed, “Jackson, what you’re doing is really going too far.” Too far? I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh, saying sarcastically, “You’re someone living in my house, eating my food and drinking my drinks for free. What right do you have to point fingers?” Hearing me say that, Glenn’s eyes instantly turned red, tears streaming down his face like a wronged child. Smack! Austin immediately slapped me. “All you ever do is bully Glenn. What kind of man are you?” “Divorce!” She said, then turned and walked away. Beside her, Glenn’s mouth curled into a defiant smirk, clearly declaring victory. I raised my hand to touch my stinging face, muttering to myself. “Austin, that slap just severed the last thread of affection between us.” That evening, Charlotte and I returned home to find no one there. On the coffee table was a document bag. I opened it to find a divorce agreement, signed by Austin. Buzz buzz! Almost simultaneously, Austin called. “Glenn wants to travel to clear his head, so I’m taking him out for three days.” “Did you see the divorce agreement on the table? In three days, either kick that btch out, or we’re officially over.” Her tone was full of arrogance. “Are you sure?” I asked calmly. “Of course.” Austin laughed. “If you’re scared, just do what I say, and think about how you’ll compensate me.” I lowered my head in silence. Then Glenn’s voice came through the phone, “Austin, my back is so itchy. Can you scrub it for me?” The next second, the call ended. I shook my head and picked up a pen nearby. “Jackson.” “Are you really getting a divorce? This is not something to joke about! You need to calm down.” Charlotte quickly tried to stop me. “Actually, I’ve been calm for a long time.” I smiled, moved Charlotte’s hand, and signed the divorce agreement. Before, I was indeed afraid of losing Austin. But a person’s patience and love always run out eventually. After signing my name, I hired a lawyer to handle the subsequent property division. Finally, I packed my bags and took Charlotte on a trip as well. That same evening, Austin had just finished showering when she received a call. “Hello, Ms. Austin? I’m Mr. Jackson’s lawyer. When would be a good time for you to discuss property division after the divorce?”

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My son, Andy, and I were on our way to confront my husband about his affair when we got into a car accident and lost our memories. Meanwhile, Steve, my husband and a psychologist, prioritized caring for his depressed first love, Olivia, and her daughter, Chloe, traveling the world with them. When Andy and I finally regained our memories, Steve was surprised to find us quiet, sensible, and incredibly independent. At first, he was pleased, believing he had perfectly balanced everything. That was until Christmas, when he went to celebrate with Olivia and Chloe again, only to overhear Andy and me talking outside the door. “Mom, is that man really my dad? Every time I call him ‘Dad,’ it just feels weird.” I nodded. “I think it’s strange too. He doesn’t seem like my type at all. How did I even end up marrying him?” Andy cleverly chimed in, “Mom, your type is Mr. Anderson, my teacher, right? Every time after school, his ears turn bright red when he sees you, and he always finds excuses to drive us home… I think you’ve got a real shot!” Before I could answer, my face flushed, Andy leaned closer to my ear. He whispered what he thought was a quiet suggestion, loud enough for anyone outside the door to hear: “Mom, how about… we just get a new dad?”

At dinner, I’d ordered two plates of hot wings, and Andy and I were sweating as we devoured them. A familiar yet strangely distant voice suddenly spoke from behind us: “You didn’t wait for me?” We jumped in fright. Turning around, we saw it was Steve, my husband. He walked closer, saw our chili-stained mouths and the spicy wings on the table, and his brow furrowed. “Six years of marriage, and you don’t know I have a sensitive stomach and can’t handle spicy food?” Andy, munching on his wings, blurted out, “We didn’t order any for you, these are for us.” Steve froze. I gave a dry laugh and quickly tried to cover. “Um… I saw on Ins that you were at the amusement park with Olivia and Chloe. I thought you’d eat with them…” “Emily.” He cut me off, his tone habitually impatient. “I’ve explained this. Olivia and Chloe were abandoned by their husband and are severely depressed. I’m a doctor; I’m just doing my job.” “But what about you? As a wife and mother, you not only caused a scene at my workplace, but you’ve also taught Andy to be nothing but jealous and petty.” He paused, his voice colder. “Was the car accident not enough for you both to reflect and change?” Memories flooded back. I remembered discovering he’d been ‘caring for’ his high school ex-girlfriend day and night. I’d taken Andy with me to confront him. He’d just pulled us aside, looking exasperated. “I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d overthink it. As a doctor, abandoning my patients would be irresponsible.” “Don’t bring Andy here and act out in front of my patients.” His calm tone made Andy and me seem like hysterical fools. So, I hired people to display signs outside his hospital that read: “Olivia and her daughter are trying to hook up with a married man.” Andy ran around the kindergarten with a megaphone, chasing Chloe and yelling, “She’s the other woman’s daughter! Don’t play with her!” Later, Olivia and Chloe cried and threatened self-harm. To force us to back down, Steve got me fired and made Andy an outcast at kindergarten. I completely broke down, threatening divorce. He finally relented, promising to keep his distance from them. Andy and I believed him. We even booked a trip for our fifth wedding anniversary, counting down the days for his rare vacation. That day, we joyfully went to the hospital to pick him up, only to receive a cold FaceTime call: “Urgent business trip, vacation postponed.” Andy and I left the hospital heartbroken. But around the corner, we clearly heard his colleagues chatting, laughing: “Dr. Steve is really devoted to Ms. Olivia, isn’t he? He took half a year off to help them with their therapy!” “Tell me about it. I heard he’s already on his way to the airport to personally escort them.” My ears rang, and my heart felt like it was being ripped out. Before tears could fall, I saw Andy’s pale little face, big tears rolling down, his voice trembling: “Mom… is Dad really… abandoning us?” That single sentence shattered my composure. I immediately grabbed Andy, and we chased after them, desperate for an answer! We needed to understand! Did he still want this family? But before we could catch up, the car accident happened. When I woke up, the world was a blank slate. Except for each other, we didn’t remember him. And he conveniently put us aside. The memories faded. Andy and I exchanged awkward glances. Even though our memories were back, our feelings weren’t. In fact, we couldn’t understand why we had been so hysterical back then. We could only reassure him repeatedly that we really wouldn’t bother them again. Steve’s face grew even darker. After a long moment, he regained his usual air of being in control. “Tomorrow, I’m taking them to the forest park for therapy. Remember to prepare packed lunches for three.” “Andy, help Chloe organize an extra set of class notes.” He turned, then added lightly, “It would be best if you truly kept your word and stopped doing… those embarrassing things.” The door closed, leaving Andy and me to look at each other, then simultaneously shrug. Then, I pulled out my phone and ordered a deluxe takeout for three. Andy sent a message to his teacher, politely asking for a backup of the class materials. As for tomorrow? We already had plans to go hiking with Mr. Anderson. Who had time for them?

Early that morning, Olivia’s soft voice drifted from the living room: “Steve, are we going alone? Or… should we still invite Emily and Andy? I’m afraid they’ll overthink things. I’m fine, but Chloe is still young and can’t handle more stress…” Chloe whispered in agreement, “Mom, I’m okay. Andy… he didn’t mean it.” Steve’s voice was gentle: “Chloe, honey, don’t overthink it. Taking them would just cause more trouble, and it’s not good for your condition.” I sighed, rolled over, and drifted back to sleep. When I opened my eyes again, I was brutally pulled from the bed. Steve practically dragged me into the living room. “Look at what your good-for-nothing Andy has done!” His voice was barely controlled rage. “Look at Chloe!” Olivia was holding a trembling Chloe, who was covered in food stains, her eyes red. Andy was sitting amidst the mess, clutching three insulated lunchboxes, his little face beet-red, tears falling in big drops onto the floor. “I didn’t push her!” he cried. “She’s a thief! She stole the lunch Mom made for me! I just wanted to get it back!” Steve didn’t even look at him. He was carefully wiping Chloe with a wet wipe, whispering words of comfort to Olivia. Only after he finished did he turn to me, his eyes filled with a weary, knowing look, as if to say, “I knew it.” “Emily, just because I asked you to make a few extra lunches, you got resentful and taught Andy to do such despicable things again?” “You made a promise last night. Are you already going back on your word?” I took a deep breath, patiently explaining: “I really didn’t. And I believe Andy isn’t lying. I already left your lunches on the dining table. Maybe Chloe accidentally picked up the wrong one…” “Enough.” Steve interrupted impatiently, his eyes like he was watching a pathetic act. “Stop acting. I haven’t forgotten what you’ve done before. You should really reflect on how to be a competent mother.” All my words caught in my throat. We had agreed to meet each other halfway; as long as he kept his distance from Olivia and Chloe, we would be fine. After that, Steve did come home on time and reported his whereabouts. But if Chloe got even a tiny scratch at kindergarten, he would always show up immediately, unilaterally demanding Andy apologize. When Andy was unable to defend himself, Steve would just coldly look at me: “Emily, are your promises so worthless? Stop making a fuss. Don’t exhaust all my patience and feelings. If it comes to that, there’ll be nothing left for us to say.” The worst time, he just dropped a line: “An Andy with such malicious thoughts? I don’t want him.” Young Andy couldn’t bear such words. He chased after him barefoot, his feet bloody from the pavement, grabbing his shirt and admitting to all the groundless accusations: “Dad! I’m sorry! It’s all my fault! I won’t ever do it again! I apologized to Chloe!” “Please don’t abandon Mom and me!” From then on, Andy never dared to defend himself. I sighed softly. What was the point of explaining? In his eyes, we were already repeat offenders with a record. I hugged Andy tight, my voice low and calm: “Andy, give them the lunchboxes.” Andy’s body stiffened, then he wiped his face hard, no longer arguing, and silently pushed the tightly protected lunchboxes toward them. Steve no longer looked at us. He bent down, picked up Chloe in one arm, and with his other hand, gently guided Olivia’s back, shielding them by his side as he turned and left. “Bang—!” The door slammed shut, clean and sharp, and the house suddenly became terrifyingly quiet. Only Andy and I were left, amidst the scattered mess on the floor. I silently picked up a cloth and began cleaning. Andy also knelt down, helping me pick up the overturned items. After a while, I quietly asked: “Andy, if one day, Mom and Dad separate…” “Who would you want to live with?” When things were at their worst with Steve, I had asked him this, and back then he had cried his heart out: “I don’t want Mom and Dad to separate. I want our family to be together forever.” But now, he barely hesitated. He looked up, his eyes clear and firm: “I’ll stay with Mom.” “No matter what happens, I’ll only stay with Mom.” I looked at him and suddenly smiled. The last bit of chill in my heart instantly melted into warmth. I stroked his head. “Okay.” Then there was nothing to be afraid of.

After cleaning up the last of the mess, the doorbell rang. “Emily? Andy? Are you home?” Andy’s eyes lit up. “It’s Mr. Anderson!” He ran to open the door. Outside, a clean-cut and handsome young man bent down, catching the child who rushed into his arms. Seeing Andy’s red and swollen eyes, Mr. Anderson’s voice immediately softened. “What’s wrong, Andy? Did you cry?” Andy buried his face in his shoulder, whimpering miserably, “Mom’s lunch… it was taken…” “It’s okay,” Mr. Anderson gently patted his back, his voice warm. “I made new ones, all the things you and your mom love to eat.” He was very good at coaxing children, and with a few words, he made Andy smile through his tears. Mr. Anderson then looked up at me, smiling apologetically. “I’m sorry, Emily. Didn’t get an answer when I called, so I got a bit worried and just came over.” “Please don’t say that,” I quickly replied. “You’re a lifesaver for Andy and me. Just call me Emily.” Half a year ago, during that car accident, it was Mr. Anderson who pulled us from the mangled car and ran red lights to get us to the hospital. Later, when he learned we had partial memory loss and were a bit slow to react, he voluntarily took on the task of providing our daily meals and taking Andy to and from school. When our memories returned, he discreetly stepped back to a respectful distance. But not long after hearing the full story of the accident, he became Andy’s new teacher at kindergarten. Mr. Anderson’s ears tinged red as he softly said, “Emily, I’ve planned all the hiking routes. Shall we head out?” Indeed, everything was perfectly organized, just as he said. He naturally took all the heavy items and put them in his backpack. When Andy got tired of walking, he naturally knelt down. “Andy, hop on.” I felt a little guilty. “Don’t spoil him too much, Mr. Anderson. You’re already carrying a lot.” He just smiled, his hand hovering gently at my side. “It’s fine, I work out regularly. I’ve got enough strength.” For some reason, looking at his clear profile, my heart skipped a beat. Even when we reached the rest area and he took Andy to buy water, that flutter hadn’t subsided. Just then, a childish yet familiar voice came from afar: “Dad! Let’s go!” Followed by Olivia’s laughing voice: “Chloe, slow down, be careful not to fall.” Finally, Steve’s smiling reply: “Chloe, I’m going to catch you!” I turned my head, and my gaze met theirs across the distance. The air froze instantly. Olivia’s face paled. She suddenly pulled Chloe into her arms, her voice trembling. “Mrs. Steve… are you, are you tracking us again?” “Steve and I really have nothing going on. Chloe just wants a dad so badly, that’s why she spoke out of turn… Whatever issues you have, take them out on me, don’t hurt the child…” Steve immediately stepped forward, completely shielding Olivia and Chloe behind him, as if I were some kind of monster. His jaw was tight, his brows deeply furrowed. “Emily, I told you this is therapy. Their emotions are very fragile, and they can’t handle stress. How many times do I have to tell you to get rid of your suspicious tendencies?” I looked at the familiar yet unfamiliar face before me, and this scene that had countless times made me lose control and break down. Yet, my heart was utterly calm, almost finding it absurd. You can’t even empathize with your past self. I don’t even know what feelings I have for this man anymore. If I loved him, I should be angry. But I waved my hand, my tone light. “I understand, it’s your duty as a psychologist. You don’t need to explain it to me.” “I’m just here to hike and happened to run into you. You guys carry on. Just pretend I’m not here.” Steve visibly froze, his gaze fixed on me. “Chloe called me Dad. You’re not angry?” I was a little confused. “Angry about what?” He stared intently at my face, trying to find a trace of pretense, but found nothing. His face grew increasingly grim, his entire demeanor colder. After a long silence, he seemed to reach a conclusion, his voice cold and firm. “Stop acting, Emily. I know you’re pouting. We’ll talk properly later, but for now, you should go home. I won’t hold this against you this time.” I was about to speak when a clear, pleasant male voice came from behind me: “Emily, what’s wrong?” Steve looked in the direction of the voice and suddenly froze. “What happened?” Mr. Anderson, holding a sticky-faced Andy who was covered in candy, walked quickly to my side. I stepped forward. “What took you so long? Did Andy get greedy again?” Catching Andy’s pleading gaze, Mr. Anderson smiled, rescuing him. “Just one small marshmallow for energy. Here’s yours.” He said, conjuring a larger marshmallow from behind his back and handing it to me. I instinctively smiled, just about to take it— “Emily,” Steve’s cold voice cut in. “Who is he?” Chloe, peeking out from behind him, whispered, “Why is Mr. Anderson here?” I paused, realizing that since Olivia and Chloe appeared, Steve had never been to the kindergarten, nor had he ever cared who helped us after the car accident. This was the first time he had seen Mr. Anderson. “This is Mr. Anderson,” I introduced. “He saved Andy and me after the car accident six months ago.” When it was time to introduce Steve, Mr. Anderson had already naturally extended his hand with a smile. “You must be Chloe’s father, then? Pleasure to meet you.”

As the words left his mouth, Steve’s face instantly turned livid. He looked at Andy and me, saw our lack of reaction, and his voice grew colder. “I am Andy’s father. But Mr. Anderson, why are you with my wife and child?” “Mr. Anderson came to hike with us!” Andy hugged Mr. Anderson’s neck, his voice full of affection. “He’s super strong! He carried me for a long time and didn’t get tired!” Steve seemed to be trying hard to suppress his anger. He pulled back the hand that was protectively around Olivia and Chloe, stepped forward, and reached out to Andy. “Come here, I’ll carry you. Don’t bother outsiders.” Andy’s smile instantly froze. He twisted his little face and buried it tightly in Mr. Anderson’s arms. “It’s no trouble at all,” Mr. Anderson said, his arms steady as he held the child, his smile still gentle. I spoke softly, “Don’t you still need to continue therapy with Olivia and Chloe? Don’t delay your important work. Go on. Andy will understand.” Steve, however, seemed glued to the spot. No matter how Chloe tugged at his sleeve, he didn’t move, just stared intently at me, his eyes filled with incredulous anger. “Emily,” his voice was hoarse. “Are you… truly so indifferent?” “Work is important,” I replied blandly. Steve scoffed, laughing in anger. “Fine. Don’t regret this.” Seeing this, Olivia’s eyes immediately reddened. She pulled her daughter close, her voice trembling: “Steve, don’t be like this… Emily and Andy must still be angry with us. You should spend time with them. Chloe and I… can just go back by ourselves…” “No need,” Steve sneered, then his voice instantly softened as he turned to her. “Didn’t you say you learned a new dish? I’d love to try it. And I can still draw with Chloe.” He said, naturally putting his arm around Olivia’s shoulder and taking Chloe’s hand. Before turning away, he gave me a deep look. “I’ll be home late tonight. Don’t call to disturb us.” I was very obedient. I didn’t call him once. It wasn’t until late at night that my phone screen lit up. It was a message from him: “Emily. Good, you are very good.” Then, for two weeks straight, Steve didn’t come home. His Ins, however, constantly showed photos of him traveling with Olivia and Chloe. The location was the Maldives—the very place we had planned for our wedding anniversary trip but never went. The scenery was indeed beautiful. I instinctively tapped ‘like’. That same night, Steve called. His voice held a hint of suppressed triumph: “Emily, stop pouting. I saw your like. Isn’t Andy’s birthday the day after tomorrow? I’ll buy him presents and rush back.” I was half-asleep. “No need to bother. Andy’s birthday was the day before yesterday. Mr. Anderson celebrated with him and gave him lots of presents.” The other end fell silent. “I… I got it mixed up.” His voice was tight. “I’ll be back tomorrow to throw Andy a make-up party.” I was about to refuse, but he hung up. Oh well. He is the child’s father, after all. The next day, I took Andy to the hotel, following the address Steve had sent. The party was grander than any before. He came forward, bending to hug Andy. “Happy birthday, Andy. All the gifts I bought you have been sent home. Do you like them?” Andy instinctively shifted, avoiding his touch, and nodded. “Thanks. I like them.” Steve’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face. He led us into the banquet hall, where a giant screen displayed scrolling photos of Chloe. He quickly explained, “It’s also Chloe’s birthday today, so I thought the two kids could celebrate together. You know, her father left them after she was born…” “It’s okay,” I cut him off. “I understand.” Chloe’s birthday celebration was first. She wore an expensive, limited-edition princess dress, dancing gracefully on stage, holding a microphone, and thanking Steve for filling the void left by her father. I looked down at Andy, who was just quietly eating his cake, completely unfazed. I smiled softly, wiping the cream from the corner of his mouth. Before it was Andy’s turn on stage, Olivia called me to the hotel poolside. She had shed her usual gentleness, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. “Emily, do you see? Even if you’ve been married for six years and have Andy, as long as I’m around, in Steve’s heart, you and your Andy will always come second to us.” “Whether it’s the trip you looked forward to, or Andy’s birthday… guilt isn’t love. It’s just pity.” “Are you suggesting I divorce him?” I said calmly. “Don’t worry, I’ll find a chance to bring it up.” She paused, looking confused. “You’d give him up? You even gave up a chance to study abroad for him back then.” I vaguely remembered that in college, Steve was a campus celebrity, handsome and brilliant. But his personality wasn’t my type. Until that one time, he saved me from a dangerous situation. After that, I became completely obsessed with him, convinced I couldn’t live without him, and pursued him all through college. I even had a huge fight with my parents, gave up my career prospects, and desperately wanted to marry him. But now, looking back, my heart was completely calm, and I even felt that my past self must have read too many romance novels back then, which led to so many embarrassing actions. I shook my head, my voice sincere. “It’s nothing. If you like him, you can have him.” “Emily, what are you saying?!” Steve stood behind us, his face ashen, his eyes slightly red. Olivia glanced behind me and coldly snorted. “Keep up the act. I’ll make you give up.” Before I could react, she suddenly fell backward! I instinctively reached out to grab her, but the momentum pulled me with her into the cold swimming pool! “Emily!” “Mom!” Cold water suddenly filled my nose and mouth. I struggled desperately. Through my blurry vision, I saw Steve hesitate for a moment, then swim without hesitation… toward Olivia. The pool water completely submerged my head, cutting off all sound. In the chaos, a firm arm suddenly lifted me, and I was pulled into a warm embrace.

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As the top sales rep, I was “downsized.” Reason for termination: Rarely in the office, failed to clock in on time. Me: “???” Bro, if I stayed in the office 24/7, where would my $3 million monthly quota come from? I didn’t understand it, but I respected the company’s decision. I immediately ripped up a $50 million contract that was just waiting for a signature, and took my clients and my elite team straight to a rival company. Half a month later, my former boss called, his tone desperately humble: “Sloane, I didn’t think things through before. Attendance really isn’t important. Can you come back?” I put him on speakerphone: “Boss, the failing company across the street is trying to poach your new partner.” 01 “Sloane, get back to the office right now.” I frowned as I read the message from our company’s HR manager. I quickly typed a reply and hit send. [I’m in a meeting. It’ll have to be later this evening.] I had just set my phone down when the HR manager called. I gave an apologetic smile to the client sitting across from me, stood up, and stepped aside to take the call. “Hello? What’s so urgent?” The woman on the other end, Ashley, suddenly shrieked, “Surprise!” Her voice was ear-piercingly shrill. I quickly pulled the phone away from my ear. “Sloane, congratulations! You’ve been optimized!” I froze, unable to process her words for a moment. Then it hit me. Optimized. She meant I was fired. I pressed my lips together, my mind racing to figure out if this was some kind of sick joke. I had been at Vertex VR for eight solid years. I watched it grow from nothing into an industry leader, establishing a firm foothold in the virtual reality sector. Unfortunately, our former CEO, for reasons known only to him, sold the company to a venture capital firm without warning any of the employees. He just packed his bags and went traveling around the world. He left a group of veteran employees staring at each other in confusion. Later, the VC firm stepped in and brought in a new management team to run Vertex. And this Ashley? She was the new CEO’s niece. A fresh-out-of-college grad installed directly as the HR Manager. It wasn’t that I looked down on recent grads. After all, everyone starts as a blank slate. But shouldn’t she at least have some relevant background? Ashley knew absolutely nothing about Human Resources. Her degree was in Supply Chain Management—completely unrelated. Since taking the job, she hadn’t done much of anything productive. Instead, she just kept firing veteran employees. The old-timers she let go all had plenty to complain about when it came to Ashley. But everyone knew whose idea this really was. If it weren’t for the team I managed, I would have left Vertex a long time ago. In the adult world, loyalty and sentimentality are just empty words. I just didn’t know what to make of this new CEO. Firing me? The top sales rep? Hilarious. 02 I glanced at the person sitting nearby: “Reason for termination?” Ashley covered her mouth and giggled on the other end of the line. “Oh, Sloane, listen to you! This isn’t a termination, this is optimization~ “As for the reason… well, because you’re rarely in the office, you don’t clock in on time, and your attendance hasn’t met the performance targets.” Me: “???” Was she even listening to the garbage coming out of her mouth? “Bro, if I was always in the office, where the hell would that $3 million monthly quota come from?” “Oh, Sloane, I’m a woman, you shouldn’t call me ‘bro.’ Besides, I’m younger than you, you should be calling me ‘little sister.’” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. I didn’t want to argue with her, so I asked point-blank: “Does Gavin know about this?” “Manager Gavin certainly knows.” I let out a soft chuckle, suddenly feeling a surge of relief that I hadn’t told Gavin about the massive contract I was about to sign today. “Fine. Let’s leave it at that. I’ll be back to discuss my severance.” Ashley laughed out loud again on the other end of the line. She pinched her voice and said: “Oh, I’m so sorry, Sloane. You’re being optimized, not terminated. There is no severance.” I laughed out loud. “Ashley, do you think I’m legally illiterate, or are you legally illiterate? What kind of nonsense are you trying to pull?” I didn’t bother engaging with her anymore and hung up the phone. I let out a breath, walked back to the table, picked up the contract lying there, and smiled at the man sitting across from me. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Mitchell. It looks like we won’t be able to sign this contract today after all.” “You heard it yourself. I’ve just been ‘optimized’ by my company.” I paused for a moment, then asked tentatively, “How about this… I’ll send someone else over to sign with you?” After all, I had negotiated this deal while at Vertex. If they used this against me later, it could have a huge impact on my career. Mr. Mitchell refused without hesitation. He handed his copy of the contract back to me. “Don’t bother sending someone else from your company to sign with me. This deal isn’t urgent. I’ll wait until you’re at your new company, and I’ll sign it with you then!” I raised an eyebrow and smiled, satisfied. “Thank you for your trust, Mr. Mitchell.” “Then I guess I better hurry up and find a good company. I wouldn’t want to keep you waiting.” 03 After exchanging a few pleasantries with Mr. Mitchell, I left his office and prepared to head back to Vertex. I glanced at my phone and realized Ashley had already removed me from the company’s Slack workspace. She really wasn’t wasting a single second. I put my phone away, turned my car around, and made a quick stop at an electronics store to buy a voice recorder. When I got back to the company, I could see Ashley standing by the entrance from far away. I smiled, clicked on the voice recorder in my pocket, and walked toward her. When Ashley saw me, her face was full of disdain, but only for a few seconds before she plastered on a fake smile and said: “Sloane, you’re back! Your keycard has been deactivated. I was worried you wouldn’t be able to get in through the main doors, so I specifically waited for you. “But this will be the last time. Hurry up, pack your things, and leave.” I gave her a flat look, shoved my empty coffee cup directly into her hands, and walked right past her into the office without saying a word. Ashley quickly followed me from behind, yelling indignantly: “Sloane, what the hell is your problem?! Throwing your garbage at me? Are you insulting me?!” The surrounding colleagues heard her voice and turned to look at us. I didn’t care. I kept walking toward my office. As soon as I entered the sales department, my entire team rushed over. “Sloane! You’re back!” “Sloane, we all heard! This is outrageous! You’re the top sales rep at Vertex! How could they possibly fire you?!” “Shh.” I pressed a finger to my lips, signaling them to keep quiet. I didn’t want my situation to negatively impact their future careers. I patted Lauren, who was standing next to me, on the shoulder and asked: “Where’s Gavin?” As soon as the words left my mouth, I heard a greasy voice fake a cough. I looked up and saw Gavin. Gavin waddled over with his prominent beer belly, smiling greasily at me. “Oh my, if it isn’t our Sloane. Looks like you’re looking for me? “Even though you’re about to leave the company, I’m still the Sales Manager now. How can you just call me by my first name? You should be calling me Manager Gavin. “Oh, it’s such a shame. Who would have thought our top sales rep would end up like this! The new CEO is just so… unsentimental. “Sloane, my hands are tied. I pleaded your case, I really did. But the CEO was adamant. I can’t protect you.” Ashley, who was standing next to him, nudged him in annoyance. Gavin instantly shut his mouth and didn’t say another word. If I couldn’t see what was going on here, I’d have to apologize to my years of professional experience. It didn’t take a genius to figure out that Gavin had been whispering in the CEO’s ear. Gavin and I joined Vertex around the same time. Like me, he started from the very bottom. But he could never outperform me. His numbers were always lower than mine. However, the guy did have one redeeming quality that made bosses and managers like him. He was a world-class kiss-ass. And sure enough, relying on his formidable brown-nosing skills, he managed to instantly transform himself into the Sales Manager the moment the new CEO arrived. After he became manager, he constantly targeted me and made things difficult for me. But because I brought in millions of dollars in revenue every month, he couldn’t touch my position. So if he couldn’t shake my position, he’d just kick me out of the company altogether? 04 I raised an eyebrow at Gavin: “Weren’t you trying to fire me? Tell me, what’s the severance package?” Gavin gave a greasy smile and glanced at Ashley beside him. “Oh, Sloane, why are you asking me? That has nothing to do with me. And this isn’t a firing, it’s just a company optimization. You’re just being optimized.” I scoffed and slammed a folder onto a nearby desk. “What’s your problem, Gavin? I’m trying to have a civilized conversation, and you’re insisting on playing games! “If you don’t want to handle this properly, then we can have a nice, long chat right here about that $2 million deal you signed when you first joined the company.” Hearing that, Gavin immediately pulled me aside, all his previous arrogance completely gone. “Oh, Sloane, didn’t we agree to never bring that up again? There are too many people here, let’s… let’s go to my office to talk.” I let out a cold laugh and strode purposefully toward Gavin’s office. As soon as we entered, Ashley coldly held out her hand. “Sloane, please hand over your phone. The conversation we’re about to have involves company confidentiality, and we need to prevent any unauthorized recording.” Gavin piled on the fake smiles beside her: “Sloane, just do what HR says so we can move on to the next step, right?” I sneered and tossed my phone to Ashley. “You haven’t grasped the basics of HR, but your paranoia is off the charts.” Ashley smugly lifted her chin and flipped her hair. “Hmph, of course.” Gavin looked a little embarrassed and nudged Ashley. Ashley finally realized what was happening and glared at me indignantly. I beamed at the two of them. They were still too young. They couldn’t even tell an insult from a compliment. “Spit it out. Skip the bullshit. What’s the severance?” Ashley’s face instantly dropped. She picked up a file and flipped through it. “Sloane, you were frequently absent from the office and failed to clock in. Management was very dissatisfied. This is a dereliction of duty on your part. What kind of severance are you expecting?” Gavin chimed in from the side: “Yeah, Sloane. I talked to management, but the CEO was determined to optimize the company. He felt the sales department was overstaffed and needed to be streamlined.” Ah, streamlined. They ‘streamlined’ me right out, the top sales rep. I didn’t say anything, just stared at them blankly. Gavin and Ashley exchanged a glance, and then he said: “Sloane, as your colleague, let me give you some honest advice. Look at your age. You’re almost thirty. If you suddenly get married and have a baby, what is the company supposed to do? “As employees, we definitely need to consider the company’s interests. The company is our home. “You’re a veteran employee, you need to think about the company, right?” I laughed out loud. Did he think I was a naive new grad, trying to gaslight me like this? “What’s wrong, Gavin? Is the company discriminating against me because I’m a woman?” Seeing my attitude, Gavin dropped the act and crossed his arms contemptuously. “How is this discrimination? Isn’t what I’m saying the truth? “You’re a woman nearing thirty. You should just go back home, get married, have kids, and be a housewife. What are you doing out here showing your face? This society isn’t a woman’s world! “You need to step aside and give opportunities to young people. Besides, your sales job is simple. “Don’t think that just because you negotiated a $50 million contract for the company, you can strut around like you own the place. They didn’t sign because of you; they signed because of Vertex’s reputation. Anyone else could have closed that deal!” I suddenly understood everything. No wonder they were in such a rush to kick me out. They wanted to swallow that contract for themselves. I smiled slightly, looking straight at that son of a bitch, and said slowly: “According to the Fair Labor Standards Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, women enjoy equal employment rights with men. Employers may not discriminate against employees based on race, sex, age, or religious beliefs. “I’m not going to waste any more breath on you. According to the regulations, a company terminating an employment contract without cause must compensate the employee. “I’ve been at Vertex for eight years, going on nine. Less than six months counts as half a year. That means the company owes me severance pay. “Oh, right, and there’s my unused PTO for this year. According to the rules, that should be paid out as well.” 05 As soon as I finished speaking, both Gavin and Ashley’s faces changed. Gavin was so angry he slammed his hand on the desk and pointed at me, yelling: “Sloane, don’t push your luck! Who do you think you are? “Making such outrageous demands! Did you not hear a single word of what I just said? Do you think the company can’t function without you? You’re way too full of yourself! “You’re a woman in sales. All you do is go out and drink with clients. Anyone can do this job! If Ashley were in your position, she’d do it even better!” Ashley scoffed coldly and chimed in ominously: “Sloane, don’t blame me for not warning you. When you look for a job in the future, if they do a background check, they’ll definitely have to contact us.” I raised an eyebrow: “What, are you threatening me?” Ashley giggled, her voice as grating as a crow’s. “Sloane, I’m just reminding you of the facts. “How about this? The company appreciates your years of service. On behalf of the company, I can offer you standard one-month severance pay. How does that sound?” Gavin sneered from the side: “Sloane, I know what you’re thinking. You’re just upset about missing out on the commission for the $50 million deal, right? Let me tell you, even if we gave you another month, you wouldn’t be able to close it! “Ashley already contacted them. They specifically requested that only Ashley handle the account, and they’ll sign immediately! Stop dreaming! “Offering you any severance is a gift. You should be grateful!” I raised an eyebrow. Ashley had already contacted Mr. Mitchell’s team? And they specifically requested Ashley to handle the account? But Mr. Mitchell is the CEO of his company. If it hadn’t been for their interference today, I would have already signed the contract. He wouldn’t lie to me. Look at how confident they are… I couldn’t help but ask, “Who did you contact?” “None of your business! Why are you asking so many questions?! You’re no longer a Vertex employee. This is company confidentiality! No comment!” I didn’t press further. I stood up and stretched my wrists and neck. This move clearly intimidated Ashley. She quickly hid behind Gavin, stammering: “Y-y-you… what, what are you trying to do!” Gavin puffed out his chest, pointed at me, and yelled: “Sloane, don’t try anything crazy! If you dare lay a hand on me, I’m calling security!” I quietly picked up my phone and glanced coldly at Ashley: “Please present my termination notice.” Both Ashley and Gavin breathed a sigh of relief. They quickly handed over the termination notice they had prepared. Gavin thought I was compromising. He immediately changed his tune, smiling as he patted my shoulder. “Sloane, this is the right move. A smart person knows when to adapt to the circumstances.” I paused the recording and coldly swatted his hand away. “Gavin, Ashley, be prepared for an arbitration lawsuit!” Gavin and Ashley froze, clearly not expecting me to pull this move. “What do you mean? Did you not listen to anything we just said?” Ashley stared at me menacingly, threatening: “Sloane, if you dare file a lawsuit, I guarantee you won’t find a job anywhere in this city!” “Bring it on. We’ll see about that.” 06 I went back to the sales department and started packing my things. My team members all gathered around. “Sloane, are you okay?” “Sloane, what are you going to do about them treating you like this?” I looked up and smiled at them. “Nothing. I’m leaving. “There are some things I can’t say, but you guys keep working hard. Let’s get together when we have time.” Lauren quickly pulled me aside and whispered: “Don’t wait until we have time. We’ve already booked a place. Let’s get together tonight.” I nodded, not refusing. “Okay. Hurry up and get back to work. It won’t look good if you’re seen.” My team was entirely handpicked by me. The hardest part was leaving this group of people. But I couldn’t just tell them to quit and come with me right now. Some of them had mortgages and car loans. Some were getting ready to get married. They couldn’t afford to be jobless right now. I hadn’t even found my next job yet. Waiting until I was established and then bringing them over was the safest approach. I casually packed a few things and left the company. Colleagues walking by glanced at me, then buried their heads back in their work. No one wanted to get caught in the crossfire. This was completely normal, especially in a tough job market. I walked out of the building, holding my cardboard box, and sighed. Eight years at Vertex, and in the end, my belongings didn’t even fill a single box. Logically speaking, I had been a bit impulsive. Daring to challenge the company before securing my next job. But I wasn’t willing to let it go. In the VR industry, while I might not be at the very top, my influence wasn’t small either. I was easily in the top five. My performance was the source of my confidence. If they dared to use such a ridiculous reason to fire me, I certainly wasn’t going to let them slaughter me without a fight. Otherwise, if this got out, what would my clients think of me? People would start questioning my professional capabilities. I got back into my car, took a picture of the cardboard box, and posted it on LinkedIn. [Got optimized! (Facepalm emoji) Any kind souls out there willing to take me in?~] I glanced at my phone. It was still early, so I drove home first. As soon as I got home, I found that many people were already asking me about it. Before I could reply, my best friend, Paige, called. I quickly answered. “Hey, Sloane, what’s going on? You got fired?” “Yeah, just now.” I briefly explained today’s situation to her. Paige snorted coldly: “This stupid company must be blind, firing you! They’re really getting ahead of themselves, thinking they can thrive without you! Sloane, what are you planning to do next?” “Go to arbitration first, and take a little break. Oh right, Paige, do you know any reliable lawyers? Recommend one to me.” “Sure, I’ll send you their contact info later. By the way, do you remember my cousin, Grayson?” I thought for a moment: “Yeah, I remember. I’ve met him a couple of times. Why?” Paige’s tone was somewhat excited as she said: “It’s like this. He started a company a while ago, and it’s right in your wheelhouse. They do VR too. “Don’t you still have a contract that hasn’t been signed? Go to my cousin’s company! If you go there and immediately land that contract, your compensation will definitely be better than before!” I thought about it and said to Paige: “Okay, send me a link to their company website. I’ll take a look first.” After chatting with Paige, I checked LinkedIn. The post I had just made already had a lot of likes, but no one was saying anything negative in the comments. Most were congratulating me, and then they turned around and sent me private messages. I started replying to them one by one. I organized today’s recordings and clipped the part where Gavin and Ashley talked about the $50 million contract and sent it to Mr. Mitchell. Less than an hour later, Mr. Mitchell sent a voice message. “Sloane, I’ve figured it out. The people at your former company contacted a scammer! He pretended to be my relative, convinced them he could secure the contract, and collected quite a bit in kickbacks from those two! “I’ll handle that scammer through legal channels. But don’t worry! I’m only giving this contract to you! Never mind anyone from Vertex—even if their CEO came, I’d only sign it with you!” Hearing that this was the reason, I couldn’t help but laugh. Let’s set Ashley aside for a moment, seeing as she’s a recent grad with no professional experience, it’s normal for her not to see clearly. But Gavin is an old pro. How could he not distinguish true from false? Or maybe, in the face of massive profit, he was too dizzy to care. 07 As soon as I got home, I received a call from an unfamiliar number. I checked the time. It was 10:00 PM. I was afraid it might be a client, so I quickly answered. “Hello?” A cool voice came from the other end of the line: “Sloane, this is Grayson.” Grayson? How did he get my number? I suddenly realized—it must have been Paige who gave it to him. “Hi Grayson, what’s up?” Grayson said calmly: “Paige told me you were let go by Vertex. Why don’t you come to my company? “As for compensation, I won’t have you working for me. You can come on directly as a partner. 20% equity, annual dividends. You can also continue doing sales. A base salary of $20,000 a month, and a 10% commission on every deal. How does that sound?” I was stunned, unable to speak for a moment. When I didn’t respond, Grayson continued: “If you feel that’s not enough, we can negotiate in person.” Me: “…” How is that not enough? That’s more than enough! You have to understand, when I was at Vertex, my commission on each deal was only 1%! Not to mention the 20% equity. This is a complete game-changer! I quickly replied to Grayson: “No, no, no, Grayson. That’s not what I meant. “It’s just so sudden, I couldn’t process it for a moment.” Grayson on the other end of the line audibly sighed in relief and said slowly: “Then are you free tomorrow? Why don’t you come to my company to take a look, and we can discuss the details in person.” “Sure. Send me the address.” After hanging up the phone, I still hadn’t recovered from the shock. I lay blankly on the sofa, staring at the ceiling. Grinding in the city for eight years. After rent and daily expenses, I really hadn’t saved much money. At least, not enough to buy a decent apartment in a prime real estate area. According to the terms Grayson offered, in less than a year, I’d probably be able to buy a luxury apartment downtown. Thinking of that $50 million contract, I suddenly felt very grateful for Gavin’s decision. Thank goodness they didn’t get their hands on it. I knew Grayson had probably heard about the $50 million contract from Paige, which is why he offered a high price to poach me. But this was completely normal. There are many sharks and little blood in the water; you have to fight for it. I didn’t think Grayson sought me out just for Paige’s sake. After all, what I possessed was real capability. Gavin thought things were simple, believing that even if I left, the client contracts would still belong to Vertex. Changing the person who maintained the client relationships would be the same. But the fact that I was able to sit in the position of top sales rep wasn’t just because of drinking and kissing ass. As a woman in the tech industry, I definitely was at a disadvantage. Many clients wore naturally tinted glasses, believing that a woman like me wouldn’t understand any professional jargon, yet still dared to sell virtual products. When I first entered the industry, a client poured red wine over my head to mock me. I didn’t confront him publicly. I didn’t yell or make a scene. Instead, I silently improved my professional knowledge. I went through all the tech industry knowledge that those arrogant men thought only men could understand, ensuring that I could comprehend and converse about anything the clients discussed. When treating clients, I was on call 24/7. Not just during holidays, but usually, as long as the client needed me, I was there whenever called. I treated them with sincerity, and only then would they treat me with sincerity. Because of this, my clients trusted my capabilities. They introduced me to their friends, bringing me even more resources. I sat in the position of top sales rep, and I deserved it. And the client who poured the red wine earlier? His company collapsed and went bankrupt less than two years later. The client resources I held in my hands—Gavin and Ashley couldn’t steal them.

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My son returned from his Harvard graduation to attend my birthday party. With his right hand, he held his biological mother, and with his left, his girlfriend. He poured a glass of red wine over my head and said that the person he hated most in this life was me, and he wished I were dead. In the moment of agonizing heartbreak, his cold, disgusted eyes became my last memory. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to five years ago. 1 “Hello, Mrs. Vance, please come down to the school. Ethan, he…” Receiving the familiar phone call, I felt a bit dazed, my heart racing as if I’d had a long dream. “Mrs. Vance, Ethan happens to have a math competition this Friday, but he suddenly pulled a stunt like this. Please talk some sense into him. His future is on the line.” The homeroom teacher adjusted his glasses, looking at the two people in the corner with frustration. Ethan Vance and his girlfriend. The two were caught dating by the teacher, and showing no signs of remorse, the parents were called in. I watched my son glare at me with sheer hatred. His little girlfriend hid behind him, her lip gloss and eyeshadow shimmering as she pouted with grievance. “I don’t need you controlling me. You aren’t even my real mom! You’re just a homewrecker.” The teacher’s expression drastically changed, and the other teachers in the office looked up at me. Ethan didn’t spare me an ounce of dignity. “Mr. Davis, I’d like to take him outside to say a few words. Sorry for the trouble.” In my previous life, I forced the two to break up, compelling Ethan to participate in the competition that was crucial for his early admission to Harvard. He didn’t disappoint, taking home the gold medal and securing his spot. But his girlfriend suddenly transferred schools. He hated me for tearing them apart. On my birthday, he intentionally brought that girl to me. The two looked at me with disgust and poured red wine all over me. Ethan gnashed his teeth and said: “You just can’t stand to see me happy. You tore my parents apart, and now you want to tear us apart. Go to hell. I will never forgive you.” Coming back to my senses, I looked at the two holding hands in front of me. “I won’t…” “I won’t oppose you guys, just don’t embarrass me in front of the teachers. I don’t want to be called to the school for this kind of thing again.” Before Ethan could speak, I beat him to it. My son stared at me in disbelief. I ignored them, nodded to the homeroom teacher, and left the office. This Friday, that girl would make Ethan choose between celebrating her birthday and taking the math competition. Obviously, no matter what, he turned eighteen last month. This time, I was handing the choice back to Ethan himself. Let him choose! 2 The homeroom teacher still didn’t give up and called me again. Half an hour before the exam, the two had skipped class. I drove to the amusement park and could faintly see their backs—youthful, unrestrained, and reckless. I checked my watch, waited until the exam start time had completely passed, and drove away. The first time I met Ethan, he was only two years old, a tiny little thing. His mother divorced his father, Richard Vance, because Richard was always busy with work. She quickly found a new love and didn’t even take him with her. Ethan’s little hand gripped my thumb, and he spoke sweetly. Though it was slurred, he said: “Mom… Mom…” I hugged him tightly. Even though he wasn’t my biological child, I decided then and there that I would treat him as my treasure and be good to him for the rest of my life. He started growing up and went to school. I didn’t yield an inch to Richard on the issue of his education. I strongly disagreed with his free-range parenting style. I read countless books on child psychology and cognitive development, yet I was afraid of applying them incorrectly on him. Worried that my lack of expertise would hold him back, I entrusted him to professional tutors. I rejoiced at his every progress and lost sleep over his every setback. I had a gentle and kind personality, but I forced myself to play the strict mother. I loved him dearly and couldn’t bear to see him cry, but I was merciless when it came to correcting his mistakes. He once made a wish to me, saying he wanted to go to the best university in the country, to Harvard. That was his dream. I etched that firmly in my heart. Ethan’s natural talent was limited; he was a bit lazy and not very self-disciplined. So, I willingly became the stepping stone beneath his feet. Even if he complained about me and resented me, I wanted to lift him up to achieve his dream. In my previous life, after discovering Ethan had a knack for math, I swallowed my pride to seek out renowned professors to tutor him. I took time off to accompany him to summer camps and traveled across the country for tests. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of dollars spent on tutoring fees, which caused me to miss out on several career promotions. But in the end, he said he hated me. He said he didn’t like math at all, and even without the competitions, he could have gotten into Harvard on his own. Now, I just wanted to see how he would get into Harvard on his own. When Richard called from overseas, nine out of ten sentences were questions about his son. “Audrey, thank you for taking such good care of him. I know it’s been hard on you all these years. Deep down, Ethan treats you like his real mom. I’ll make it up to you properly. I love you.” I coldly hung up the phone. One said he loved me; the other said he treated me like his real mom. Yet, in the end, I was humiliated by them and died full of resentment. Late that night, Ethan still hadn’t returned. I turned off the lights and fell asleep peacefully. I used to stay awake all night when he came home late, full of worry and anxiety, waiting up for him. He complained and accused me of restricting his freedom, saying my strict control was suffocating him. Now, I was setting him free. 3 When I received the call from the police precinct the next day, I wasn’t surprised. In my previous life, this same event occurred, but I had aggressively intervened and bailed Ethan out of the entire mess. The center of this incident was his crush, Chloe Harper. “Whose parent are you?” I scanned the dejected teenagers and said, “Ethan Vance’s.” “They got drunk and started a brawl. One kid got his head smashed and is in the ER right now. Nobody is admitting to throwing the punch, so we…” On Chloe’s youthful face, her makeup was heavy, her hair styled in big waves, yet she leaned pitifully against Ethan. Ethan glanced at me, lowered his head, and said stubbornly, “I want my dad here. I don’t need you!” I called his dad right in front of him. It just rang busy; no one answered. The police officer suddenly asked sternly again, “Who exactly threw the punch?” Chloe suddenly burst into tears, hugging Ethan tightly. He looked up, and our eyes met. I knew who did it, and Ethan knew too. How would he choose? “It was me. I threw the punch. I smashed the bottle over his head.” Ethan lifted his chin, his voice echoing firmly, taking the blame entirely. This was his defense of his true love, a display of his courage. He shielded Chloe in his arms like a real man. At that moment, Chloe’s mother arrived. Highly emotional, she slapped Ethan across the face: “You delinquent, ruining my daughter! Now you didn’t just end up in the precinct, you put someone in the hospital. One look at you and I know you’re a thug. You’re gonna end up in prison!” “Stay away from Chloe, do you hear me?!” Ethan’s face turned pale. As a proud, privileged boy, this was the first time he had ever been cursed at like this. He looked at me, lost and confused, unable to understand why I—who usually coddled him—was just watching him get insulted. Without a single ripple of emotion. Chloe hid behind her mother at this moment, not saying a word. Ultimately, because it was his first offense, he was a high school student, and the other party had fought back (resulting in minor injuries overall), the situation was deemed mild. As long as we actively paid compensation, it could be settled out of court. He was still wearing a ridiculous studded leather jacket, ripped jeans, and reeked of cheap alcohol. I rolled down the car window. “You, why did you…” he started blankly, looking at my reflection in the rearview mirror, a swollen red slap mark still on his face. He didn’t finish his question. After I finished handling the paperwork, we headed back to the school. 4 He used to hate me coming to his school. He wouldn’t even allow me to attend parent-teacher conferences. From the moment he started school, he never once called me Mom. Once he realized the existence of his biological mother, he stopped calling me entirely and instead began to hurl insults. He firmly believed I was the one who ruined his parents’ marriage, that I was a despicable homewrecker. I explained to him countless times that his dad and I dated normally; they had already been divorced. I was not a mistress. But Ethan clung to his own judgment. Combined with his rebellious teenage phase, he embarrassed me multiple times. He even directly invited his birth mom to family gatherings. Mother and son would sit together and pull his dad in, making me look utterly redundant. When introducing me to his friends, he would say: “Look, that’s my stepmom. She’s the mistress.” I truly loved and protected him, treating him as my own child. How could a mother hold a grudge against her kid? But then, I caught him slipping birth control pills into my water. When confronted, he made ridiculous excuses. He didn’t want me to have a child of my own, thinking I would start abusing him and that my child would fight him for the inheritance. I finally couldn’t hold back and slapped him, demanding to know why he harbored such messed-up thoughts. He glared at me, like he was looking at a sworn enemy. When I was heartbroken and in despair, Ethan suddenly apologized. He said he was wrong, and our relationship temporarily softened. I gave in again. I watched him grow from a tiny toddler into a tall, strapping young man; he was my child. He said he wanted to get into Harvard, and I did everything in my power to help him, sacrificing my own career to manage his diet and schedule. Getting into an Ivy League is no easy feat. If he could win gold in the national competition, he’d secure early admission. If he failed the competition and his SAT scores weren’t enough, I planned to arrange for him to study abroad. I had planned everything out for him, hoping his future would be smooth and brilliant. He achieved his dream; his future was bright. But it turned out he had always despised me deep down. I was a stain on his life. His warmth towards me was nothing but a fake facade, a scheme brewing to humiliate and take revenge on me. At his graduation, which also happened to be my birthday party, he was the golden boy, the envy of everyone. With his right hand, he held the birth mother who abandoned him, and with his left, the girlfriend who had once blackmailed me for $200,000. He looked at me with eyes full of pure hatred. In front of everyone, he called me a wicked stepmother with a venomous heart who abused him constantly, tearing him away from his true love and destroying his happiness. I was painted as an unforgivable, malicious woman. In front of the entire crowd, he poured red wine over my head and said he wished I were dead. In the moment my heart seized in agonizing pain, Ethan leaned close to me. He whispered that he had poisoned my medication, causing my body to fail day by day, because he truly wanted me to die. 5 I poured everything into raising him, yet he refused to attribute even a fraction of his success to me. But now, I was frequently heading to the school to clean up his messes. The homeroom teacher’s expression was one of absolute heartbreak: “Ethan, how did you end up like this? The school has always treated you as a top Ivy League prospect! And you? Now you’re dating, fighting, and ending up in the police precinct. What are you trying to do?!” “Mrs. Vance, as a parent, you have to care and discipline your child! You can’t just let them run wild! Both the school and the family need to take responsibility.” I patiently listened to the teacher’s lecture. I used to understand this logic better than him, but this was Ethan’s own choice. This time, I decided to respect all of his choices. I wanted to see if, by following his own desires, he could live a better life than in his previous one. He wasn’t expelled, but he received a major demerit and was transferred from the AP classes to the regular classes. Studying is like rowing upstream; not advancing means falling back. He was already failing to keep up with the AP curriculum anyway. Due to my outstanding work performance, I was scheduled to travel for a very important corporate meeting that week. Ethan mentioned that the class was holding a parent-teacher conference. He lowered his eyes, seemingly already knowing my choice, assuming I would choose him. I used to want to go to his parent-teacher conferences so badly as his mother. I wanted to witness his honors, to proudly show everyone the gem I had carefully polished. But he never allowed me to go. He never gave me that chance. In my past life, when he got his first top-tier grades, I turned down a major promotion from my boss just to watch him receive his award. But Ethan intentionally gave me the wrong time and place. I waited there all day like an absolute fool. I wouldn’t be a fool in this life. The next day, at his class’s parent-teacher conference, only his seat remained empty. I chose my job, fulfilling his wish from the previous life. When I walked through the door, Ethan smashed a glass cup at my feet. His eyes were dark and bloodshot: “Why didn’t you go to the school for the conference?! I was the only one in the whole class without a parent!” I looked at him silently. The scene was so strikingly similar. In the past life, he had roared at me just like this. “What right do you have to go to my school? Do you deserve to? You aren’t my mom; you’re just a disgusting homewrecker!” Time and space overlapped, shadows merging. I walked past him without a shred of emotion. In my past life, I was devastated, my heart pierced by the person I viewed as my own son. That feeling made me constantly doubt myself, wondering where I went wrong, where I had failed him. But now, my heart was completely indifferent. I wasn’t his mom, so why should I go to his parent-teacher conference? His dad finally found the time to deliver a long, trans-oceanic lecture. In the past life, he was an absentee father. He left all the “bad cop” parenting to me, occasionally popping up to play the “good cop.” It was so easy for him to become the tolerant, open-minded, ultimate good dad in his son’s eyes. “Audrey, Ethan’s teacher told me his grades have been slipping lately, and he’s not studying properly. He’s been doing all sorts of nonsense. What’s going on?” “My ability to educate him is lacking. Why don’t you come back and parent him yourself? Ethan misses his dad very much.” The man immediately changed the subject: “Sigh, studying is ultimately his own responsibility. I’m too busy over here, I want to come back too, but I really can’t get away. Audrey, you’ll have to put in more effort. I’ll call the boy and scold him too.” This was an outcome I had anticipated long ago. His son was important, but not as important as his job. Only the old me, blinded by self-righteous maternal love, willingly sacrificed everything for him. Only to receive not a single ounce of gratitude in the end. 6 My career skyrocketed, and I quickly became the general manager of the branch office. The truth is, I was never inferior to anyone; I had just poured all my time and energy into Ethan before. Meanwhile, Ethan had completely degenerated into a delinquent. Skipping class, fighting, dating, and receiving multiple school-wide disciplinary warnings. His teachers stopped calling me. If even the parents had checked out, what could a teacher possibly change? We all gave up on Ethan. He finally got to choose the freedom he desperately wanted. He didn’t have to be forced by me to drink milk every day or eat a balanced diet. He didn’t have to wake up early for study hall, didn’t have to shuttle between SAT prep classes on weekends, and didn’t have to wear the same boring uniform every day. He no longer had to endure my nagging, my supervision, or my “unnecessary” care. He started fighting with his dad: “You were always busy with work and never cared before! What right do you have to interfere in my life now?! I make my own choices!” “You ungrateful little brat! If I don’t make money, who supports the family? Who feeds you, clothes you, and apparently raises an enemy?! You better study hard and listen to me, do you hear me?!” “You guys never actually cared about me! You just treated me like a mindless puppet to satisfy your own control issues!” “What nonsense are you talking about?!” “…” “You little punk, if your teacher calls me again to say you’re failing, I’ll break your legs…” Crash— Ethan smashed his brand-new smartphone onto the floor. With bleached blonde hair and a black ear stud, he had completely transformed into a different person. He shot me a cold glare, left the house, and didn’t return all night. Time refreshed day by day, and the countdown to the SATs and college admissions had begun. My professional performance was stellar, and I was successfully transferred back to corporate headquarters, promoted to senior management. “Ms. Collins, I’d like to request some time off. My son’s school is having a parent-teacher conference. He ranked first in the entire school this time.” My subordinate, Linda, asked for leave with a proud expression. Her child sent a voice memo at that moment. “Mom, you have to come! I want you to watch me get my award.” I gladly approved her request. “Ms. Collins, your son must be taking his college entrance exams soon, right? I haven’t heard you mention him lately. Ethan, wasn’t it? You used to say he was so smart, he might just be the valedictorian this year!” I smiled. “I hope so. Hard work never deceives anyone.”

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My sister was a child prodigy. She started talking at six months and could recite the multiplication tables up to twelve backwards by age four. My whole family treated her like a precious treasure. As the older sister, I advised our parents: “Talent only takes you so far; hard work and education are just as important.” But they thought I was just jealous of her. Because of my diligence, my teachers loved me. My sister, on the other hand, slacked off and was frequently called into the principal’s office. Over time, she grew to resent me and eventually killed me in a deliberate hit-and-run. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the summer before eighth grade. This time, I smiled and flattered her: “My sister is way smarter than me. We should listen to her.” 1 “Mia, what do you think?” Mom’s voice suddenly echoed in my ears. I opened my eyes and realized I was actually wearing my middle school uniform. My younger sister, Chloe, was sitting on the couch scrolling through Amazon, while Mom looked at me with pleading eyes. The exact same scene from the past vividly played out in my mind. I realized I had been reborn. I had returned to the first day of summer vacation before eighth grade. In my past life, Mom wanted to enroll us in a summer prep program to help us test into the state’s elite magnet high school next year, but Chloe refused to go. She smugly scrolled on her phone and said, “I just have to glance at the textbooks to understand everything. Testing into an elite high school will be a breeze. I don’t want to do summer prep.” Back then, I kindly advised her that hard work was just as important as natural talent. The speaker had no ill intent, but the listener took it to heart. I didn’t realize the seeds of hatred had been planted right then. Both of us ended up testing into the top high school, but Chloe claimed she got in without needing any prep. In high school, I spent extra time going to teachers’ offices to ask questions, while she repeatedly feigned having “important things” to do to get out of studying. Under my constant pushing and supervision, Chloe relied on her talent and a tiny bit of effort to get into a prestigious university. She even studied abroad and returned as a PhD graduate. However, her fiancé dumped her, claiming her education made her too intimidating and difficult to control. Chloe blamed it all on me and ran me over with her car. And my family? To protect their precious “genius” genes, they paid someone to take the fall for her crime. Chloe walked free. The three of them lived happily ever after, completely forgetting I ever existed. But God gave me a second chance. This time, facing Mom’s question, I looked at Chloe and offered a sycophantic smile. “Chloe is way smarter than me. Let’s listen to her.” In this life, I wouldn’t spare a single drop of sisterly affection! I would watch with my own eyes as she plummeted from her high pedestal, never to climb back up! 2 Neither of them expected me to actually agree. Mom looked at me in confusion. “Mia, do you really not want your sister to go with you?” Her eyes were practically begging me to give a different answer. But I shook my head. “No, I don’t need anyone to keep me company.” A look of disappointment washed over Mom’s face. It was only after being reborn that I realized the mother I loved so much had always used me as her scapegoat. She obviously wanted both of us to attend the prep classes and get into the elite high school so she could brag to her friends. But she repeatedly asked me, forcing the harsh words out of my mouth, so she could keep her own hands clean. Perhaps from the moment Chloe first showed her “genius” traits, our weights in her heart had fundamentally shifted. Knowing she didn’t have to go to summer prep, Chloe bought a few more dresses on Amazon. She even begged Mom to take her on a vacation to Hawaii. Mom always gave in to Chloe. With just a few sweet words, she convinced Mom, who booked the flights overnight. Before leaving, Chloe tossed her summer reading and math packets at me, just like in my past life, telling me to do them for her. In my past life, she always claimed she already knew how to do the problems, saying she was “doing me a favor” by letting me practice the questions twice so I could “learn by repetition.” And like an idiot, I believed her. She was just lazy. This time, without missing a beat, I shoved the homework packets back at her. “I have to go to the prep academy this summer, and they give us homework too. I don’t have time.” Seeing her refuse to give up, she yelled loudly, “Mom, Chloe wants me to—” Before I could finish, Chloe yanked me into her bedroom and threatened me. “Try snitching on me, I dare you!” I laughed and shoved the packets back into her hands. “You’re a genius, Chloe. A mere summer packet should be a piece of cake for you, right?” “If I do it for you, people might think you’re bullying me. Since you’re so considerate of me, I obviously have to be considerate of you.” Hearing this, Chloe’s face turned as black as coal. She snatched the packets and slammed the door as she stormed out. Her furious, flustered expression was absolutely hilarious. In this life, I was done being the thankless fool! 3 Mom and Chloe spent the whole summer partying and vacationing, while I spent it reviewing all the knowledge from my previous life. Hard work always pays off. On the back-to-school placement test, I ranked second in the grade. First place was still Chloe. Even though I had lived a whole extra life, I hadn’t touched middle school textbooks in years, and I had forgotten a lot. But it didn’t matter. I didn’t believe that hard work was worthless in the face of talent. When we got home, the whole family cheered for Chloe’s test scores, completely ignoring the fact that I had won the “Most Improved” award. Mom bragged to anyone who would listen that Chloe was a prodigy. Even her Facebook cover photo was a wall of Chloe’s academic awards. Glowing with pride, Mom kept piling food onto Chloe’s plate. “Oh, Chloe, Mommy loves you so much.” I kept my head down and ate, automatically filtering out their picture-perfect family moment, silently reciting Shakespearean soliloquies in my head. It was fine. I would love myself. After dinner, Mom took Chloe out to buy a reward. I went back to my room, pulled out the Magnet School Entrance Exam Prep Book, and started doing practice problems. In my past life, I barely scraped past the cutoff score for Oakridge Academy. But while Chloe was placed in the honors program, I was stuck in the regular classes. This time, my goal wasn’t just to get in. I was going to proudly march right into the top honors class! 4 Time slipped through my fingers, and my eighth-grade year flew by. In the blink of an eye, there was only one month left until the high school entrance exams. I had buried my head in my books all year. For the entire second semester, I deliberately maintained a rank exactly one spot below Chloe’s. I had to admit, having a master-level grasp on the material and easily manipulating my test scores felt incredibly satisfying. Meanwhile, relying on her “talent,” Chloe slacked off all year. Her mind wasn’t on studying at all. Without my constant nagging in this life, she started hanging out with juvenile delinquents outside of school. Smoking, drinking, getting into fights—she didn’t miss a beat. Yet, Mom still claimed Chloe had a “great personality” and was highly sociable, mingling well with both guys and girls. While praising her, Mom never forgot to put me down. “Look at your sister. She gets good grades and has tons of friends. Look at you. All you do all day is read like a dead fish! You’re so thick-headed!” “You’re twins, but you’re as dumb as a pig. How can you be so stupid?!” In my past life, facing these words, I would only cry secretly, blaming myself, thinking everything was my fault and that I was an embarrassment to the family. But I had already died once. This time, I fired right back at her. “No matter how dumb I am, I’m still your biological daughter. If I’m a pig, what does that make you? The mother pig?” “Instead of spending your time insulting me, you should go look at your precious younger daughter’s latest mock exam scores. The door is on your left. Don’t let it hit you on the way out.” Mom was so furious she clutched her chest and rolled her eyes, nearly passing out from rage. Then, she stormed out of my room. A moment later, I heard yelling from outside. “Chloe, how did you do so poorly this time?! Your class rank dropped by a whole hundred spots!” While the argument raged on in the living room, I sat in my bedroom looking at my own report card—ranked number one in the grade—smiling so hard my cheeks hurt. Sorry, but I didn’t hold back my scores this time. I wanted to slap her right in the face. 5 However, the fire was quickly put out. When I went downstairs, I saw the mother-daughter duo had already returned to their picture-perfect harmony. Mom warmed up some milk for Chloe and even held it up to her lips. “I’m sorry, sweetie. Mommy just got a little too emotional. I believe you can definitely get into Oakridge Academy!” Chloe drank the milk reluctantly, pouting. “I told you, I only did bad this time because I forgot to bubble in the Scantron sheet! Even without the multiple-choice section, I still ranked in the top 20 of my class. If I had those points, I’d definitely be number one in the grade. Testing into Oakridge is a piece of cake.” Mom believed her nonsense, but I knew the truth. That was Chloe’s actual level. I was the one handing out the exams; how could I not see whether she bubbled the Scantron or not? But I didn’t expose her. After all, the higher she was placed, the harder she would fall. This time, I wanted to see exactly how long her “talent” could carry her. I grabbed some cold milk from the fridge, warmed it up myself, and headed upstairs. Chloe sneered at me while watching TV. “Mia, don’t think you’re better than me just because you got first place this time. Don’t forget, in the face of absolute talent, all your hard work is useless. You want to get into Oakridge Academy? I suggest you save your breath.” Facing her provocation, I felt absolutely nothing. I poked a straw into my milk carton, turned my head, and replied coldly. “Really? Then let’s wait and see.” With that, I went back to my room and did another set of practice exams. This was the third time I was going through this prep book. I had the answers memorized backwards. Oakridge Academy was already in the bag. Chloe continued watching TV downstairs. The volume was blasted, and the living room echoed with her laughter. This time, I didn’t beg her to study and prepare for the exams. Instead, I quietly put on my noise-canceling headphones, set my alarm, and crawled into bed. I dropped my savior complex and respected her fate. Everything would be revealed in two weeks after the entrance exams. After all, slapping someone in the face personally is always much more satisfying. I wanted to see if she would still be able to laugh then. 6 Dappled shadows, the hum of cicadas, the sun baking the pavement. The massive entrance exams concluded in the sweltering heat of June. The AC in my testing room was broken. By the time I walked out, the back of my uniform was completely soaked in sweat. Outside the school gates, Mom was massaging Chloe’s shoulders while holding a portable fan to cool her down, completely ignoring me standing right next to them. “Sweetie, did you know how to do all the questions?” Chloe rolled her eyes at her. “Mom, what kind of question is that? What do you mean ‘did I know how’? I crushed every single one. Just relax.” Mom’s face lit up with joy. “I knew my Chloe was the best!” The surrounding parents praised Mom for raising such a wonderful daughter. Chloe always enjoyed being worshipped. While soaking in the spotlight, she didn’t forget to drag me down. “Sister, how did you do?” The answer keys for all subjects had been posted online right after the exams finished. During their little chat, I had already checked my answers. Everything was exactly as expected. Facing Chloe’s taunt, I said casually, “We’ll know when the scores are posted, won’t we? What’s the rush?” My nonchalant attitude deflated Chloe’s ego. Unable to throw a fit in public, she resorted to passive-aggressiveness. “Don’t tell me you did so badly you’re too scared to say it. Fine, I’ll wait until results day to see if you can still act this calm and collected!” Great. I was looking forward to that day, too. 7 There was no homework over the summer before high school. From the moment the exams ended, Chloe had been partying non-stop. Once, at home, I even saw her bring back some punk with bleach-blonde hair and sleeve tattoos, a cigarette dangling from his lips. He took one look at me and strutted straight into my sister’s bedroom. At the end of the day, we shared the same blood. To say I didn’t feel a sliver of pity watching Chloe stray down the wrong path would be a lie. But then I remembered how, in my past life, she had shown zero sisterly affection and hadn’t hesitated for a second to run me over with a car. That tiny shred of pity vanished instantly. It’s hard to save someone who’s hell-bent on ruining themselves. She had to walk her own path. You only feel the pain when the whip strikes your own skin. In this life, I wouldn’t interfere with her at all. 8 The exam results were released. Not only did I rank first in the grade, but I was also the top scorer in the entire state. Oakridge Academy not only begged me to enroll but promised a full-ride scholarship covering all tuition and fees if I did. On results day, the house phone was ringing off the hook with media outlets wanting to do exclusive interviews with me. As soon as Mom hung up the phone, a bizarre silence descended upon the house. Chloe was sitting on the couch, sobbing. She had smashed most of the vases and decorations in the house; the floor was covered in shards. Mom was frantic. “Didn’t you say you had it in the bag? How did you not even meet the cutoff score for Oakridge?!” Wiping her tears, Chloe exploded like a firecracker when her sore spot was poked. “I was one point away! How am I supposed to know how the graders scored it?! I knew how to do all those questions! Even though I didn’t check the answer key, I guarantee I got them right! I probably just forgot to bubble the Scantron again.” Mom always blindly believed Chloe’s words. After Chloe spoke, Mom shot me a suspicious look. “Could they have mixed up the scores? You two are twins, you look so much alike. Maybe the scores were swapped.” I literally rolled my eyes. The exams are graded based on student ID numbers, not by what you look like. Besides, the graders can’t even see whose test they’re marking. How could there be a mix-up? Obviously, Mom couldn’t accept that her “genius” daughter had bombed the test. She consoled herself with this delusion, refusing to believe I could score so high, completely disregarding the entire year I had spent staying up late studying. Refusing to give up, Mom dragged Chloe to the school district office to demand a recount. After checking the scores again, the personal information matched perfectly. That was Chloe’s true score. The mother-daughter duo finally admitted defeat and started stressing over finding a high school. Meanwhile, I was doing TV interviews while prepping for the upcoming high school curriculum. The road ahead was long, but I knew my future was bright. As for Chloe. Her “talent” was about to run its course very soon. 9 Chloe’s score wasn’t terribly low; it was more than enough for a regular public high school. But her pride wouldn’t allow it. She insisted on going to Oakridge Academy just like me. Mom pulled every string she had and finally paid a massive $15,000 “donation” fee to squeeze her into the school. But this time, she was only placed in the regular classes. In her class, everyone knew she was a “bought” student, and rumors swirled around her constantly. Chloe was used to being the center of the universe. Unable to handle the slight, she constantly used her “genius” status to belittle others. Over time, everyone isolated her. With no friends at school, she started hanging out with even more delinquent teens off-campus. Whenever someone dared to bring up her bought-student status, she’d have her thug friends corner them. She acted one way in front of her classmates and completely differently in front of the teachers. She played the bullying game perfectly. Chloe thought no one could touch her. But her little tricks were used in the wrong place. Finally, disaster struck. The father of the girl she bullied happened to be a police officer. Chloe kicked a steel plate. She was detained at the police station for two weeks before being released. The school also issued a final warning. “Chloe was never a legitimately admitted student, and she has repeatedly violated school rules. If this happens again, she will be expelled.” Chloe was hit with a major disciplinary mark on her record. Awards, competitions, college recommendations—she was barred from all of it. Not only that, but one more mistake meant expulsion. Mom was worried sick. But Chloe didn’t think it was a big deal. “Mom, even without those extra credits, I can get into a good college just on my pure SAT scores alone. Don’t forget, I’ve been a genius since I was a kid.” “Besides, this whole thing wasn’t my fault. She kept talking trash about me first! Am I not allowed to fight back when I’m being bullied? Even if no one else believes me, you’re my own mother. Do you not believe me either?” Chloe’s eyes reddened with fake tears. Mom, remembering all of Chloe’s early childhood brilliance, quickly changed her tune. “Mommy believes you. Our Chloe started talking at six months and knew the multiplication tables backward at four. The doctors said you had a high IQ. Of course I believe you.” Mom went right back to coddling her. I stood off to the side, watching the whole thing coldly. Mom probably didn’t even know that Chloe’s test scores had tanked again. And I doubt Chloe told Mom anything about her ties with those street thugs. I smirked. Looked like my good little sister was keeping plenty of secrets from our mother. 10 Chloe laid low for a while and didn’t cause any major trouble, but turning 18 didn’t make her focus on her studies. More than once, I saw her bringing different guys into the house the moment Mom left. She was visibly spiraling into depravity. Our quiet life was soon shattered. Dad’s company ran into severe financial trouble. To secure funding, he needed to arrange a marriage between his daughter and the heir of the Sterling family. When Chloe found out the arranged match was a wealthy heir, she immediately volunteered without hesitation. “I’m smarter than Mia, and I know how to sweet-talk. All my sister knows how to do is study; she’s boring and dense. Let me marry him. Once I marry in, I’ll definitely know how to keep my husband happy.” The Sterling heir? I remembered now. It was Chase Sterling, Chloe’s fiancé from my past life. Back then, when Chloe returned from studying abroad, Chase immediately broke off the engagement. I would never forget his smug, mocking face. “Chloe’s education is way too high, and she’s seen too much of the world. Once she marries in, she’ll be too hard to control.” “Why don’t we switch brides? I think her older sister is pretty good. She’s pretty, soft-spoken, and docile. If I keep a few mistresses on the side, she definitely won’t complain.” Chase’s rejection pushed Chloe’s hatred for me to the absolute limit. That very night, she ran me over on my way out. In this life, Chloe was still babbling endlessly about the benefits of her marrying into the family. Mom finally remembered I existed. “Mia, what do you think?” Earlier, Mom had told Chloe quite a few unsavory rumors about Chase, worried that her precious sister would suffer in the marriage. But she conveniently forgot that I was also her flesh and blood. Before I could answer, Chloe grabbed Mom’s arm. “Mom, why are you asking her?!” “Don’t you love me the most? When something this good comes along, why is she the first person you think of?!” After all, this was a lifelong commitment. For the first time ever, Mom didn’t listen to Chloe. “Mia, Mom is asking you. Are you willing to marry into the Sterling family?” Chloe glared at me. “You better think carefully.” She didn’t need to remind me; I had made my decision a long time ago. I was still in school. The higher I climbed, the further I would see. What kind of good man wouldn’t I be able to find later? I wouldn’t take the Sterling heir even if they gift-wrapped him for free. I shook my head. “I don’t want to.” “Since Chloe wants to marry him so badly, let her.” 11 Chloe happily got engaged to the Sterling family. The two met over the summer, hit it off, and were soon joined at the hip all day long. Every time the Sterling heir visited, he brought luxury caviar and expensive vintage wines, making Mom beam with joy. She completely forgot all his past rumors and genuinely adored her new son-in-law. “Thank goodness Chloe was the one who got engaged. Seeing how well Chase treats her puts my mind at ease.” Chase brought thick stacks of expensive gifts for the family every time he visited, including for me. But I flat-out rejected them every single time. I had lived a past life. The way Chase looked at me wasn’t the way a brother-in-law looks at his sister. It was the way a predator looks at prey. My repeated rejections constantly ruined his mood. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore, and his true colors slipped out. When I went to the bathroom, he sneaked in behind me and locked the door. Without a word, he grabbed my waist from behind. Before I could react, he pinched my cheeks, trying to force a kiss on me. His disgusting face reflected in the mirror. I threw a harsh elbow back into his stomach, making him groan in pain and loosen his grip. Still undeterred, he tried to rip my clothes. I turned on the sink faucet and sprayed water all over him. “Get out!” Chase wasn’t scared at all. Instead, it ignited the filthy desires he had been hiding. “Who would’ve thought a girl who looks so soft and sweet could be this fiery?” “Good, I like it. I wonder if you’re as wild in bed as your sister, or if you’ve got a totally different flavor.” As his disgusting words hit my ears, I grabbed the heavy soap dish and smashed it right into his face. The dish caught him square on the nose. Instantly, blood gushed out, and he reflexively grabbed his face. Remembering how he had just touched me, I delivered a swift kick straight to his groin. “If you want a beating, just ask. Don’t act like a creep in front of me.” The house didn’t have great soundproofing. The bathroom door was quickly thrown open from the outside. When Chloe opened the door, she saw the two of us with soaked clothes, and Chase clutching his face, wiping away a bloody nose. Chloe quickly pulled Chase away and screamed at me, furious. “Mia, are you out of your mind?!” “He’s your future brother-in-law! What the hell are you doing in here with him?!” I threw the faucet hose on the floor, calmly grabbed a towel to dry my hair, and sneered. “Oh, so you do know he’s your fiancé.” “If you can’t keep your own man on a leash, what right do you have to yell at me?” “Instead of screaming at me for no reason, why don’t you ask your fiancé exactly what he was trying to do!” Even if Chloe was stupid, seeing my messy clothes and furious expression should have given her a pretty clear picture. But she was so madly in love with Chase that she firmly believed it was entirely my fault. “You shameless tramp! Trying to seduce your own sister’s fiancé! Mia, you’re a natural-born slut! A bitch!” As Chloe cursed me out, Chase smirked triumphantly at me from the shadows. My younger sister wasn’t just stupid now; she was completely, hopelessly brainwashed by love. There was no saving her. Idiot. Wait until Chase brings a whole harem of mistresses home. Then we’ll see who’s crying. 12 Chase was a master manipulator. Seeing how wild and empty-headed Chloe was, it only took a few sweet words to coax her into bed. By the time my sister found out she was pregnant, I had maintained my rank as number one in the grade for two and a half years straight. But no one in the family knew. They didn’t care, and I deliberately never brought it up. I wasn’t about to trade my success for their fake affection. Outside in the living room, while Mom and Dad were screaming at each other over Chloe’s pregnancy, an academic competition prize of $3,000 hit my bank account. At the exact same time, I received another piece of great news. My homeroom teacher texted me to say I had been accepted early into an Ivy League university with a full-ride scholarship. While they were wailing in despair outside, I was grinning ear to ear behind my closed door. Dad smashed an ashtray. “Cry, cry, cry! What’s the use of crying now?! You’re a teenager, and you let yourself get knocked up?! Where am I supposed to put my face now?!” Mom shielded my sister in her arms. “Stop hitting her! It’s already happened, what’s the point of beating her?” Furious, Dad slapped Chloe across the face. “You disgrace! So young and completely devoid of self-respect! Let’s go! While you’re not showing yet, come with me to the clinic and get an abortion!” Holding her cheek, Chloe shot back rebelliously. “Why should I?! It’s my baby! What right do you have to decide if it lives or dies?!” “You want me to get rid of it, but I’m having it! With this baby, my position as the Sterling family’s daughter-in-law is secured! Why should I throw away a perfectly good future?!” Chloe’s words had some logic to them. If this child secured her marriage into the Sterling family, it would massively benefit Dad’s company. If she gave birth to a son, as the father-in-law of the Sterling heir, his status and power would skyrocket. Seeing Dad’s expression soften slightly, Mom chimed in. “Don’t forget, the doctors said Chloe is a genius! Her genes are incredible. Her baby is bound to be a prodigy, too.” “When your grandson grows up to be someone important, you’ll be glowing with pride as his grandfather.” “We can’t get rid of this child. We need to take careful care of her to make sure he’s born safely.” “Honey, you have to think this through!” Dad’s eyes darted around calculatingly. Finally, he sighed, his expression softening. “Does Chase know about this?” Chloe shook her head. “I haven’t had the chance to tell him yet.” Hearing this, Mom quickly pulled Chloe onto the couch, pacing anxiously. “You silly girl, go call Chase right now and tell him you’re pregnant.” “Oh, wait, no. Don’t call him. Call his mother directly!” It turned out Mom knew Chase was unreliable, too. If Chase found out and forced her to get an abortion, that would be bad enough. But if he started messing around while Chloe was pregnant and grew tired of her, it would be a total disaster. But Mrs. Sterling was different. Chase was the only heir to the Sterling family, and she wanted a grandson more than anything. As long as they won over Mrs. Sterling, Chase wouldn’t dare disobey his mother.

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The spoiled heiress of New York’s elite circle went out to clear her head when her “first love” left the country. She set her sights on my brother, threatening to make him her toy. When my brother refused, she ruthlessly destroyed his career and forced his fiancée to leave him. She even used our entire family’s lives as leverage. After three humiliating years of my brother being forced to stay by her side, her first love returned, wealthy and powerful. To win back her true love, she callously allowed our entire family to be murdered in a hidden basement, leaving no trace behind. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day before she ever met my brother. Without hesitation, I chopped off my long hair, put on men’s clothes, and approached her myself, playing her like a fiddle. Later on, everyone said the untouchable New York heiress had lost her mind, desperate and completely obsessed with a woman. 1 A drunken, arrogant rich kid stumbled over to me. “Hey, kid, you’re lucky. Chloe has her eye on you. Name your price.” I wasn’t drinking. I just gently swirled the liquid in my glass. “Sorry, I’m not interested in her.” The rich kid threw his drink right in my face. “Don’t be a fool!” “Do you know who she is? Do you really think you have the right to refuse?” I was slammed to the ground. Through the overlapping shadows and flashing lights, the woman sitting in the center of the VIP booth tilted her head and smiled at me, looking perfectly innocent and pure. Of course I knew who she was. Everything I was doing here today, this entire act, was just for her. Chloe Sterling, the spoiled princess of New York’s high society. As the only daughter in a massive dynasty, she was treated like royalty. No one in the city dared to cross her, and everyone fought to flatter her. Everyone knew she had a “white moonlight”—a first love. It was Julian Montgomery, the heir to the Montgomery empire, whom she had been promised to since childhood. But Julian didn’t care about her at all. And today, her fiancé had left for Europe without a word, with no return date in sight. The little princess was furious. In a fit of rage, she came to this club, declaring she was going to buy herself a man. In my past life, she ran into my brother on her way home. He was just leaving the library. She fell for him instantly. More importantly, my brother looked remarkably like Julian Montgomery. So, she latched onto him. Even knowing my brother had a fiancée, she didn’t care. She completely destroyed the business my brother had worked so hard to build and used despicable tactics to force his fiancée away. Finally, she threatened him with the lives of our entire family. “If you don’t agree, your little sister is next. Do you really want people calling her a cheap slut who seduces men for money?” And just like that, my brother endured the humiliation, staying by her side for three years, waiting for the day she would finally get bored of him. Sure enough, when Julian returned, Chloe’s attention immediately shifted back to him. But to punish Julian for his past coldness, she deliberately acted intimate with my brother in front of him, making Julian harbor a deep, lethal grudge against him. Our entire family was sacrificed for their so-called “epic romance.” None of us survived. The night of their grand wedding was the same night our bodies went cold. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day before Chloe ever met my brother. I decisively cut off my long hair, put on men’s clothes, and took the initiative to approach her. This time, I was going to destroy them both. 2 Chloe held a cigarette between her fingers, took a drag, and blew the smoke directly into my face. “You don’t like me?” “I’m gorgeous. If you don’t like me, then who do you like?” The coldness slowly crept across the woman’s stunning face: “Whoever you like, I’ll make them disappear.” I had taken a pretty bad beating. My face was fine, but I had two broken ribs. Luckily, this body was trained; I could push through the pain. “Miss Sterling, I have no interest in the drama of high society. I just want to live a quiet life.” “Let me go, please?” She was relentless, laughing loudly: “Beg me.” “…Please.” “…” Her friends laughed, mocking me for having no spine. Chloe shot me a look of disgust: “Are you even a real man? Guess I picked wrong. You’re just a spineless coward.” She didn’t want to look at me for another second and ordered her guys to throw me out. She was the one who dragged me here, and she was the one who discarded me. True to her title as the spoiled princess, she did whatever she wanted. 3 I naturally didn’t head toward my real home. As soon as I realized I had been reborn, I made up an excuse to send my brother and his fiancée on a trip to Europe, and sent my parents to a quiet house in the countryside to relax. Now, I was alone, with plenty of time to carefully calculate my next move. My brother looked like Julian, and since we were twins, my features were a near-perfect copy of his. So, I also carried the shadow of Julian Montgomery. It was hard for Chloe to find someone who resembled her precious first love. Naturally, she wasn’t going to let me go that easily. She had people following me. I rented a run-down room in a crumbling apartment building. The moment I walked in, I called out, “Mom.” Then I locked the door, looked through the peephole, and watched the two suspicious guys following me exchange a look. They knocked on the neighbor’s door across the hall, asking about me. The new neighbor was someone I had hired. Following the script I gave her, she put on an emotional, dramatic performance. “That poor boy, Liam… his dad drank himself to death, and his mom was bedridden for years before passing away just recently. I hear him crying in the middle of the night all the time…” An orphan with no family, a tragic past, and a face that looked just like her first love. Wasn’t this the perfect setup for a brooding male lead in a novel? Chloe always loved comparing herself to the heroine of a romance novel. She craved a dramatic, earth-shattering love story and unforgettable encounters. I was lucky she was so obsessed with that trope in my past life. She used to pay people to act as character models for her, forcing wealthy scions she fancied in New York to play roles in the cringe-worthy fanfiction she wrote. So, I molded myself into the exact archetype she needed: a brooding, affection-starved boy waiting for a heroine to save him. I went to acting school. Playing a guy wasn’t hard at all. The bait was set. Now I just had to wait for the fish to bite. 4 The day the fish bit, I was being harassed by a “client.” He was an NPC I had specifically chosen. A low-level director at Sterling Corp, a guy named King. He looked friendly enough, but he was notorious for preying on young men, especially pretty, delicate-looking boys like me. This sleazy man was reaching his greasy hand toward my face. “Hey cutie, has anyone ever told you how pretty you are?” I remained entirely unresponsive, perfectly calm. An ashtray flew out of nowhere and smashed directly into his head. “You disgusting old creep, has anyone ever told you how nauseating you are?” Chloe appeared, looking down at him from her high horse, wiping her hands as she clicked over in her designer heels. … As Director King wailed in pain, Chloe tilted my chin up, lifting her head to flash a radiant smile. “See? I have money and power. Wouldn’t it be better to be with me?” I frowned and stepped back: “Miss Sterling, please respect yourself.” The woman puffed her cheeks and put her hands on her hips. “Liam! I had my people look into you! You’re an orphan with absolutely nothing. You’re so broke you can barely afford to eat. What are you being so arrogant for? What exactly do you want?!” I want your life. You idiot. My expression didn’t change. “That’s none of your business.” Chloe was angry now, her tone turning nasty: “Do you believe I can make it impossible for you to survive in this city?” Of course I believed her, but if I acted scared, the play would be over. “Miss Sterling, stop trying to insult me with your money. I’m not the kind of guy you think I am.” I raised my hand and lightly brushed a strand of hair from her head, making sure my eyes held the right amount of emotion, and gave a soft chuckle. “I’m just not interested in you, understand?” Chloe was stunned by the sudden flirtation. By the time she recovered, she was flustered and angry, chasing after me toward the back exit. “Liam!” I walked fast, and she trailed about thirty feet behind me, yelling my name, refusing to give up. This area wasn’t exactly safe. There were plenty of street thugs around, and seeing a beautiful woman alone at night naturally invited unwanted attention. I vanished into the deep shadows of an alleyway. Chloe was too scared to follow. She hesitated, unsure which way to go, and then, a group of guys surrounded her. 5 “Hey little girl, want to grab a drink with us?” “A pretty thing like you in a neighborhood like this? Looking for a thrill?” Chloe screamed at them to get lost. The situation instantly turned chaotic. I lit a cigarette, watching the drama unfold through a cloud of smoke. Honestly, I could have just destroyed Chloe right then and there, but there was more than one person responsible for my family’s death. I had to play the long game. I crushed the cigarette under my shoe, stood up, and casually picked up a brick. “Stop.” The blonde guy in front took a brick to the head, clutching his skull and howling. These guys weren’t pushovers either. They instantly surrounded me. The fight dragged on for a bit, and it even started raining. Finally, I kicked one of them into a muddy puddle, making him beg for mercy. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand. “Get lost! If I see you again, you’re dead.” The guys scrambled away in terror. Chloe was crouched in a corner, hugging her knees, looking up at me pitifully. “Liam, my ankle hurts.” I remained unresponsive, even turning as if to leave. Her face darkened: “If you ignore me, I’ll call the cops and tell them you assaulted me.” “You know I have the power to put you away for years.” I dropped the brick, wiped my hands on my clothes, and crouched down in front of her. “Get on.” She smiled and hopped onto my back. It seemed that after surviving that danger, she was starting to depend on me. Without realizing it, her usual arrogance had faded. “You risked your life to save me. Admit it, Liam, you like me.” “Liam, I’ve decided. I’m never letting you go.” I turned my head away, my voice flat. “Whatever.” —— I transferred some money to a contact saved as ‘Tiger’. “Sorry I hit you so hard earlier. I sent extra for the medical bills. Make sure you go to the hospital.” Tiger was a guy I knew from the underground, undocumented, so he couldn’t be easily traced. “No worries, man. You could hit me with a gold brick and I’d be fine. How was it? My acting wasn’t too bad today, right?” I replied with a “Thanks.” And turned off my phone. The fish took the bait. No need to rush reeling her in. I had to feed her first. I had to make her so dependent on me that my status in her heart surpassed Julian Montgomery. Only then could I catch them both in one net. 6 The rumor that the esteemed princess of New York high society had fallen for a broke nobody spread like wildfire through their circle. Every day, people found excuses to come and see what kind of guy I was. Most were just there for the gossip, but a few took it seriously and actively tried to humiliate me. “I can’t believe Chloe actually likes a guy like you. No money, no power, average height, and your only redeeming quality—your face—looks kind of feminine. What does she even see in you?” “Did you put some kind of spell on her?” “She is way out of your league. Be smart and get lost. If we find out you’re just playing with her feelings, you’re dead meat!” My eyes flickered. I saw Chloe walking toward us from behind, looking displeased. Then, the tray of drinks in my hand conveniently slipped and crashed to the floor, right as one of the guys shoved me, sending me tumbling to the ground. “Get away from him!” Chloe’s furious roar made everyone freeze. Before anyone could react, I picked out the guy who annoyed me the most and started throwing punches. I beat him relentlessly. They were all frat-boy buddies. Seeing me beat up their friend, they swarmed me. I was pinned to the ground, kicked, and stomped on. Finally, someone got so angry they grabbed a glass bottle and smashed it over my head. Blood bloomed across the floor, mixing with the shattered glass. In that moment, my brain short-circuited. I felt nothing. “STOP IT!” Chloe ordered her bodyguards to pull them off me. She had been coddled her entire life, protected by everyone around her. This was the first time she had ever seen something so brutal. She rushed over to me but stopped a few feet away, unsure of what to do. “Liam?” “Liam, are you okay?” I weakly shook my head, saying I was fine, and staggered to my feet on my own. She pointed at me, afraid to get closer: “You’re bleeding so much.” I looked down. My white t-shirt was almost completely dyed red. “Are you done having your fun, Miss Sterling?” Chloe’s face froze. “You think I intentionally hired these people to mess with you?” I sneered: “Didn’t you? Isn’t this exactly the kind of thing you do? Just like last time?” Her face twisted with a mix of grief and anger. She raised her hand to slap me, but I caught it. Then, gripping her wrist, I forcefully pushed her against the glass wall nearby, pinning her in a ‘kabedon’ pose. She struggled. “Let me go!” The cut on my forehead was bleeding steadily, the blood dripping onto my eyelashes and sliding down the corner of my eye. Reflected in the glass, I looked overly dangerous and captivating. I tilted her chin up, my tone casual, yet laced with a teasing gentleness. “Chloe.” She went silent, completely quiet. Because this was the first time I had ever called her by her name. Her face slowly flushed red, her eyes darting around. Being this close, I could hear her heart pounding. Being a woman myself, I knew exactly what she was thinking. She was attracted to me. “Did you hear what they said?” She asked blankly, “What?” “I have nothing. I can’t give you what you want. You might say I can give you my feelings, but feelings are the cheapest, most fickle thing in the world.” “How long can you hold on? How long can I hold on? I swore an oath that I would only ever have one relationship in my life, and it has to lead to marriage. Can you promise me that?” Before Chloe could answer, the guys who had just beaten me up started laughing mockingly. “Are you out of your mind, kid? Our Chloe is just using you as a toy, and you’re actually dreaming about dating her? Marrying her? Delusional!” I ignored them, looking only at Chloe with a faint smile: “I want to.” She furrowed her brow, her pupils dilating for a split second. 7 That night, Chloe made an excuse and left early. But from the way she retreated, it looked like she was running away. After that, I had a few days of peace. “Look at you. You just got back, and you completely changed your look, got yourself beaten up… did she take the bait?” Savannah was my best friend. She was a doctor. She was the only one who knew I was reborn, and she had been coming over these past few days to change my bandages. She shooed the nurse away, changing the dressing on my forehead while asking about my plan. “That group of friends of hers needs to be dealt with. Otherwise, my family and hers have a lot of overlapping business interests. I’ll have to go trip her up myself.” I only felt comfortable enough to drop the act and be myself around her. “Soon. She’ll crack.” Chloe’s every move was part of my calculation. “I found a really pretty girl for you. Her acting is top-notch.” Savannah waved her hand dismissively: “Why bother? I’ll act with you.” I frowned: “That won’t work. What if she targets you?” “Joke’s on her. The Reynolds family is just as powerful as the Sterlings.” True. The Reynolds family had massive influence overseas; they just kept a low profile in New York. Compared in sheer power, they were definitely a step above. But I was still worried. I knew firsthand how ruthless Chloe could be. Savannah scratched her head sheepishly: “Don’t worry, even if the sky falls, my fiancé has my back.” “He even said that as long as I don’t cheat on him, he’ll cover for me no matter what.” I understood. Savannah’s fiancé was incredibly powerful. And more importantly, he was totally whipped… And just like that, she became my scene partner. On the very first day of our act, Chloe appeared. She came to the breakroom where I worked—a tiny, cramped room—where I was eating my lunch. “Savannah Reynolds, what are you doing here?” Savannah stepped forward, looking smug and arrogant: “He’s my boyfriend. I’m bringing him lunch. Why wouldn’t I be here?” Chloe’s face changed drastically. She looked at me in disbelief, her eyes accusing me of being a massive player. “She’s just a friend.” I kept eating my soup, completely unfazed. Savannah deflated, complaining loudly: “Whatever. Who told you to reject her anyway? You made her fly all the way back from Europe just to chase you.” No matter how you look at it, hearing that it didn’t work out made Chloe breathe a sigh of relief. “Liam, I’m here to apologize to you.” Rare. To push this arrogant princess into apologizing. I pretended not to care: “You weren’t the one who hit me. What are you apologizing for?” She carefully chose her words and spoke slowly. “They are my friends. They only did it for my sake. I should be the one apologizing.” I sneered internally. “Miss Sterling, you don’t need to apologize. Just stay away from me, and I’ll suffer a lot less.” Savannah crossed her arms, leaning against the wall: “If loving someone means making them suffer like this, then if I were you, I’d feel too guilty to sleep. I’d either distance myself from the friends making things difficult for him, or I’d give up on the relationship.” Chloe bit her lip. For the first time ever, she left without saying a word. Savannah turned to me, palms up: “Will she do it?” I smiled. “Just a little more heat, and she’ll break.” 8 The next time I saw her was at the hospital. She had followed me. Savannah was standing very close to me, applying medication. But from Chloe’s angle at the door, it looked like we were kissing. She kicked the door open, screaming my name: “What are you two doing?!” But when she saw the situation clearly, she froze. Because on the other side of the room, in a corner she couldn’t see from the hallway, stood several medical interns. Savannah shoved her hands in her pockets: “Miss Sterling, this is a hospital, not your private club. Please keep your voice down.” Chloe blushed in humiliation and looked at me pleadingly. “Liam, I was just so worried about you, I had to come see you.” I didn’t say anything. I said goodbye to Savannah and led Chloe away. She followed behind me, explaining frantically. “I wasn’t stalking you. I was just afraid you didn’t want to see me, but I was worried about your injuries, so I snuck over.” “You’re not mad, are you?” In a quiet, deserted corner, I stopped and turned around. “I’m not mad. I just think… since we have no future, why are you still coming to see me?” “Your friends look down on me. They say I’m just a toy you found to kill time. I don’t want to live that kind of life. Can you please just let me go?” “Can you?” She took a step toward me, forceful and proud. “Also, I like it when you call me by my name. From now on, don’t call me Miss Sterling. Call me Chloe.” I feigned confusion, frowning: “From now on?” “Yes.” She threw herself into my arms, hugging me tightly. “I’ve decided. I want you to be my boyfriend. Just in name, nothing messy or complicated. Just a boyfriend.” My eyes were ice-cold, but I let her hug me. “But your friends don’t like me. Your family won’t either. What do you even get out of being with me?” She said she didn’t care. “As long as you’re by my side, I don’t care. I’ll cut ties with them if I have to. My life, the person I love… I don’t need them dictating it for me.” I smiled in satisfaction, patronizingly stroking her hair. “Silly girl.” Perfectly executed.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “420138”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I’ve been bullying my childhood friend, the heir to the Pierce family, for over a decade. Who knew that the day after he went abroad, I was exposed as a fake heiress and kicked out of my home overnight? Later, at the real heiress’s birthday party, Liam Pierce, freshly returned from overseas, confessed his love on the spot. The onlookers were moved to tears. The very next second— “What the hell, who are you?! Where’s Maya Woods?!” Thanks for asking. I was busy selling hotdogs at the night market. 01 When Liam found me, the night market was at its peak. The streets of the old downtown were bustling with people, lively, and filled with the smell of street food and smoke. He wore a custom-tailored suit vest and thin-rimmed glasses resting on his nose. A pampered young master of a wealthy family since birth, he was immaculate from head to toe, down to every single strand of hair. He looked completely out of place in this entire night market. “Maya Woods?” He stared at me in disbelief. I glanced up at him, not surprised in the least. “Oh, you’re back?” Then I looked down, skillfully flipping a hotdog on the grill. “I’m busy right now, no time to catch up. Give me a minute.” Hearing this, he instinctively frowned, then raised his voice: “Maya Woods!” I didn’t even look up. “Three bucks for one hotdog, five bucks for two. How many do you want?” Silence on the other end for two seconds, before he finally choked out: “…Two.” “You got it.” Two minutes later, he and I were crouching behind the stall, eating hotdogs. The young master, pampered his whole life, had probably never eaten something this cheap. After taking a bite, his eyebrows immediately knitted together, but under my gaze, he obediently swallowed it. Looking totally pathetic. I, on the other hand, scarfed down a hotdog in three quick bites, ready to turn back and continue my hustle— “Maya.” He called my name again. I turned to look at him. “What?” He looked at me seriously. “I went to your house to find you. You weren’t there.” “Oh, I haven’t had the chance to tell you, but I left the Woods family.” I thought for a moment, then asked: “Did you meet Chloe?” “Yeah.” “Is she pretty?” Liam frowned slightly. His lifelong elite upbringing prevented him from saying anything derogatory about a girl, so he pouted and said: “She’s alright, I guess.” After a second thought, he added. “But she’s not as pretty as you.” I nodded. “Okay then, remember this. She is the real Woods family heiress. The person who was supposed to grow up with you. She had a hard life all these years and finally managed to return to the Woods family. You have to treat her well.” At the very least, don’t make an enemy out of her because of me again. That way, you won’t end up with that tragic ending. After saying that, I turned to leave— But I couldn’t move. I was exasperated. “What is it now? Young Master?” “You said once I came back, you’d agree to be my girlfriend.” Liam grabbed my arm, blinked, and his eyes instantly turned red, like a wronged puppy. “Does that still count?” Only then did I remember. Back when Liam refused to go abroad, to coax him, I seemed to have promised some conditions. Liam and I grew up together. Relying on our childhood bond, I bullied him for over a decade. The dignified young heir of the Pierce family, sitting at the very top of the wealthy elite pyramid, was incredibly obedient only to me. Back then, I already considered Liam my property. But who could have imagined that in just two short years, the gap between us would be like heaven and earth. However… this was an ending I had anticipated long ago. “It doesn’t count anymore.” I reached out and removed his hand from my arm. Seeing the look in his eyes like he was going to cry any second, I lowered my gaze. “Liam, our statuses now are no longer equal.” So, this time, you have to live a good life. 02 In my previous life, my ending was incredibly tragic. From the day Chloe returned to the Woods family, I was obsessed with going against her, like I was possessed. Relying on my status as the childhood friend of the Pierce family heir, I tried every possible way to trip her up. In the end, everyone abandoned me, and the Woods family, unable to tolerate me any longer, worked together to throw me into a mental asylum. Chloe, on the other hand, went from an innocent little white flower to the beloved darling of the Woods family. Later, she even took the initiative to break off her engagement with Liam, turning around and slapping him in the face by marrying his shrewd and capable uncle. She ended up having triplets in one go, becoming the cherished treasure of the Pierce family’s patriarch. Chloe and I were like contrasting characters in a satisfying revenge novel. Going from being surrounded by admirers to being utterly abandoned, it was as if everything was following a pre-written plot. From beginning to end, only Liam stood firmly by my side. He defied his engagement for me, publicly went against the family elders several times, and showed no courtesy to Chloe, who was his fiancée. As a result, his position as heir was snatched away. He went from being the Pierce family heir to an outcast. Later, on the day I was sent to the asylum, he got into a car crash while trying to save me. He could have had a great life—carefree and a happy future. If it weren’t for me… So, upon being reborn, I didn’t hesitate to persuade Liam to study abroad. And on the day I was exposed as a fake heiress, I didn’t choose to kneel and beg the Woods family to let me stay. Instead, I took the money, quickly packed my things, and left. This time, I didn’t want Liam to see all my wretchedness and misery. I would rather the image he had of me in his heart forever be the bright and proud Maya Woods from our youth, the little childhood friend he grew up with. 03 I changed into my uniform and walked out of the locker room. My part-time job tonight was as a waitress at a high-end club. In the past, as the Woods family heiress, I often hung out here with other wealthy heirs, but this was my first time here as a waitress. The manager arranged for me to deliver drinks to a VIP private room. I didn’t expect that the first thing I’d see upon pushing the door open was Chloe. Just like in my previous life, she sat in the center of the crowd, wearing a white dress, surrounded by admirers. According to the timeline, she should have already adapted to the wealthy lifestyle by now. Relying on her innocent and kind personality, she had gained the approval of the Woods family and was the undisputed little princess of the Woods family. Sitting next to her were all familiar faces—my former wealthy playmates. I frowned slightly, lowered my head, and walked in. Originally, I just wanted to drop off the drinks low-key and leave because I had more important things to do. But I didn’t expect to be recognized the moment I turned around. “Maya Woods?” The person who spoke happened to be holding the microphone. As his words fell, the private room instantly went quiet, and everyone’s eyes turned toward me. “It really is you!” That person seemed to have found some entertainment, chuckling lightly. “Our great Heiress Woods, when did you get so pathetic?” As soon as he said this, laughter erupted in the room. “Sure enough, fake is fake.” “Hilarious. To think she’d see this day.” And that wealthy heir who spoke first, Chase, leaned in next to Chloe and said: “See, Chloe, I told you Maya is inferior to you in every way.” “Liam was just putting on a show for the sake of your childhood friendship. Don’t worry, over time, he’ll naturally fall for you.” Chloe glanced my way and said timidly: “But I think Liam still prefers her.” Hearing this, I instantly understood. He did it on purpose. Because at the birthday party the day before yesterday, Liam confessed on the spot and only then realized he had the wrong person, making Chloe the laughingstock of the wealthy social circles. So this group of people, to flatter Chloe, deliberately kicked me while I was down. So childish. I sneered inwardly, but my gaze fell on a girl in the crowd. My former best friend, Sarah. In my previous life, before I was exposed as a fake heiress, her family went bankrupt. They sold all their real estate just to barely pay off their debts, and the whole family moved to another city to survive. Later, after the true and fake heiress incident was exposed, although I stayed with the Woods family, my allowance was cut in half. Even so, I still gave half of my allowance to help her, helping her family get through their hardest times. Just because she was my only best friend. In this life, her family’s company unexpectedly received a massive injection of capital. Not only did they not go bankrupt, but over the past two years, their business thrived, and their assets were catching up to the Woods family. However, meeting my gaze, she shrank back unnaturally, as if she was feeling guilty. In the end, she still didn’t speak up to say a single word for me. Expectation gradually turned into disappointment. I opened my mouth, wanting to ask her, Why? But I found I couldn’t even ask. “Maya, are you okay?” Seeing this, Chloe took the initiative to walk over. “I’m sorry, they didn’t mean to mock you.” Putting on the act of a considerate little white flower. Logically, I should now put down the drinks, feeling “unable to bear the humiliation,” and turn to leave— “Hey, hey, hey, where are you going? Is this how your club trains its staff? Hurry up and pour my drink!” Chase looked like he was deliberately picking a fight, smiling incredibly smugly. “Maybe if I’m in a good mood, I’ll even give you a few thousand bucks as a tip.” “Maya, life must be really hard for you since you left the Woods family, right?” Seeing me remain silent, his eyes darted around, and he went even further: “It just so happens I need someone to warm my bed.” “I see you still have some looks, and your body is pretty hot. Why don’t you get with me…” Seeing him take it further and further, the other people in the room also showed expressions of enjoying the show. Only Chloe frowned slightly, just as she was about to speak— Bang! The door to the private room was kicked open. Liam, arriving late, with a cold face, walked in briskly under everyone’s gaze. He stopped right in front of Chase, his eyes sharp as knives, asking through gritted teeth word by word: “Who did you just say had some looks?” There was a moment of dead silence in the room. Even I was a little surprised. Liam liked peace and quiet. In the past, unless he was following me, he rarely came to these kinds of places. “L-Liam…” Chase didn’t expect Liam to suddenly appear, and his legs instantly went weak from fear. “I-I was just joking…” In front of Liam, he didn’t dare act out. “Oh?” Liam tilted his head, his face expressionless. “Who gave you the guts to joke with her?” At this time, someone next to him tried to smooth things over. It was a wealthy heir who used to be on good terms with Liam. “Hey man, Liam, we know you and Maya used to be close, but things are different now. We all grew up together, why do you have to, for her…” Before he could finish, he was cut off by Liam. “So you also know we all grew up together?” Saying that, he glanced at that heir, then looked around at the different expressions of everyone in the room. “What did she do wrong? Did she choose to be the fake heiress? Did she ever do anything to wrong any of you in the past?” “The person I treated like a princess, is this how you trample on her?” He frowned fiercely. “Are you all out of your damn minds?” 04 Actually, it wasn’t just Liam; even having lived two lifetimes, I couldn’t understand it either. Why would childhood playmates, upon learning my true identity, immediately turn around and kick me while I was down? Why would a best friend who promised to be sisters for life refuse to say a single word for me when I was at my lowest? This world seemed to have a pre-set order. Over a decade of affection vanished the moment I was exposed as a fake heiress. From beginning to end, only Liam always stood firmly by my side. So, the more it was like this, the less I wanted him involved. But unfortunately, this guy Liam, like a husky off its leash, was completely out of control. The other people in the room were stunned by his scolding. The next second, Liam, who had an intimidating two-meter aura just a moment ago, turned to look at me and instantly shrank back. “Don’t be scared, I wasn’t yelling at you.” He thought for a second, then added. “Yelling at people isn’t good. It’s a manners issue. You shouldn’t learn from this.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the others looking at me with complicated expressions. My mouth twitched, and I quickly dragged Liam out of the room. “Hey, I wasn’t finished! How could they treat you like—” “Shut up.” It wasn’t until we reached the stairwell that I turned to look at Liam. “Why are you here?” “To find you,” he looked at me, innocent. “Didn’t I tell you, our statuses aren’t equal anymore, you don’t have to follow me around…” “Maya.” He interrupted me, looking at me seriously, and asked: “So, for the past two years, on the days I wasn’t around, was this the kind of life you were living?” Hearing this, I fell silent. “Maya, I regret it. I shouldn’t have listened to you and gone abroad to study.” His eyes were full of heartache as he looked at me, making me think of my previous life in a daze. Back then, he looked at me like this too, whispering: “Maya, my heart breaks for you.” If there was anyone in this world who would love me unconditionally and without reservation. Then that person could only be Liam. Taking a deep breath, I said softly: “Liam, just give me a little more time.” I would work hard to walk back to your side once again. 05 I was waiting for someone to appear. According to the timeline of my previous life, he would appear here tonight to discuss a business deal. Ultimately, he would be schemed against, accidentally drink spiked liquor, and stumble upon Chloe, who was drinking alone after being neglected by her fiancé. Then, they would have a one-night stand. And then, it would be the sweet, face-slapping plot of having triplets in one go. Following my memories of the previous life, I waited by the stairwell. Before long, sure enough, I saw that familiar figure. However, before I could make a move, Liam, who was following me, spoke up first: “Uncle?” I was just about to remind him that this person would be his formidable rival for the heir position in the future, and he must never underestimate him… “So you’re here today waiting for my uncle?” Liam looked at me in shock, and the next second, the jealousy in his eyes was overflowing. “How is he better than me?!” My face instantly went blank. And Liam kept spouting sourness: “Fine, fine, fine, I admit my uncle still has some charm.” “But he’s already in his thirties! Do you like older men now?!” “No, what am I lacking compared to him? My uncle is old. You should look at me instead!” I reached out and pinched Liam’s babbling mouth shut. “Shut up, or I’ll kill you.” Liam nodded pitifully. Just in that short delay, Ethan had already walked closer. Now, even Liam could tell something was wrong with him. “Why is my uncle’s face so red? He’s walking weirdly too. Is he drunk?” “No, he was drugged.” I didn’t plan on hiding it. “Someone schemed against him.” “What?!” Liam was shocked like a little puppy. “Then should we go help him?” “Of course.” I smirked slightly. “Go on, you’re up.” Originally, I was worried about how I alone was going to stop a grown man like Ethan. Now, having Liam made things much easier. Receiving the order, Liam immediately went to work. In the previous life, a drugged Ethan still retained his last shred of rationality. He barely managed to escape the private room, only to bump into a drunken Chloe, sparking a fiery encounter. But this time, intercepted halfway by me and Liam, Ethan was settled into a room found by Liam. Seeing Ethan’s eyes turn bloodshot from suppressed desire, starting to struggle frantically, Liam simply carried him to the bathroom, filled the bathtub with cold water, and tossed him in. “Uncle, I’m doing this for your own good,” he said earnestly. “You’ll understand me, right?” The answer he got was Ethan shivering from the cold: “Liam, you dare… glug glug glug…” Before he could finish, his head was dunked into the cold water by Liam. “Uncle, calm down a bit.” Ethan choked on a few mouthfuls of cold water. When he looked up again, his eyebrows were twisted in anger. “You little brat, you… glug glug glug…” “Looks like you’re still not sober enough.” Liam shook his head in regret, then turned to look at me. “Leave it to me here. Don’t worry.” “It’s getting late. You can clock out now, right? Go back and get some rest.” Me: “…” Although Ethan was indeed miserable, recalling the scenes from my previous life, I couldn’t muster an ounce of sympathy for him. So, I turned around and left. Pushing the door open, the cold winter wind hit my face, instantly clearing my head quite a bit. Thinking for a moment, I dialed a number. “It’s me.” I paused, then continued, “Notify everyone, convene a shareholder meeting next week.” The person on the other end was a bit surprised: “What’s wrong? Why so sudden…” “Nothing, just feeling a little disappointed.” I pursed my lips and continued, “Find someone to report Sarah’s dad for embezzling company funds. I’m going to remove him from his position at the shareholder meeting.” In my previous life, the reason Sarah’s family went bankrupt was because her dad embezzled company funds. “You haven’t shown your face all this time. Are you going to attend this time?” “Yes.” I said softly. “I will attend this shareholder meeting.” It turned out, living a second life, without her family going bankrupt, she was no different from anyone else… After a self-deprecating laugh, I hung up the phone and looked up at the woman standing at my doorstep. “So, what brings you here?” Chloe, dressed in a white dress, stood smiling in front of me. Meeting my gaze, she gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. Then, taking two steps forward, she suddenly dropped to her knees, sliding over and hugging my legs tightly, the whole motion fluid and seamless. “Supporting Character Sis, save me!” She wailed. “I really don’t want to marry an old man and have triplets!” 06 This world was a massive CEO romance novel. This was what Chloe, who had transmigrated into the book, told me. “Let go.” “I won’t!” Chloe hugged my legs, crying like a screeching kettle come to life, so loud that my head, just cleared by the cold wind, started buzzing and spinning again. So, when Liam arrived, what he saw was Chloe hugging me, screaming, “Supporting Character Sis, how can I live without you!” “Y-You two…” He pointed at me, then at Chloe, his voice trembling, looking as if he was about to shatter. “Not only do you like old men now, but you also like girls?!” Facts proved that the screeching kettle spirit didn’t disappear; it just transferred. Liam cried louder than Chloe, like an abandoned, resentful little husband. “Is it a crime to be young and handsome?!” Me: “…” “I don’t care, I’m Maya’s most loyal lackey! You have to get in line behind me!” Chloe: “…” Before I could explain, Chloe frowned, realizing things weren’t that simple. “What do you mean by that?” I was just about to tell Liam, Please, mind your image as the heir. “I am the person who understands Maya best in this world!” At this moment, Chloe was terrifyingly confident. “Did you know Maya hates cilantro? I do!” “What?!” Liam was shocked, while his competitive spirit was simultaneously ignited. “You actually know that?” The next second, he smirked dismissively: “That’s nothing. I also know Maya hates green onions and ginger, doesn’t eat offal, and hates soup!” Liam was incredibly smug. Over a decade of childhood friendship and spending day and night together made him equally confident. However, Chloe wasn’t going down without a fight. Chloe: “Maya likes sweet and spicy food, but hates sour!” Liam: “Maya likes summer and autumn, but hates winter!” Chloe: “Maya wears size M for shirts and S for skirts!” Liam: “Maya prefers pants over skirts!” Seeing that she was running out of things to say, Chloe instinctively looked at me. Her gaze landed on my chest, and without thinking, she blurted out— “Maya’s bra size is 32C!” Me: “!” Liam stopped talking. Liam’s face instantly exploded in red. “Y-You…” He pointed at Chloe, stuttering for a long time. Finally, his gaze couldn’t help but land on my chest. Once he realized it, he immediately covered his eyes shyly. “I-I didn’t…” He still wanted to explain to me. “Hmph hmph, can’t say anything to that, can you!” Chloe was triumphant, leaning in to claim credit from me. “Look, Supporting Character Sis, look! I am the person who understands you best in this world!” I smiled faintly. Ten minutes later, holding her forehead, baring her teeth and glaring, Chloe reluctantly and fiercely said to Liam: “Sorry, Supporting Male Lead Bro. I shouldn’t have provoked you.” I nodded in satisfaction: “No bullying Liam.” Liam immediately raised his chin, like a favored, arrogant puppy. “Tch, male vixen.” Being under someone else’s roof, Chloe had to bow her head, unwilling to look at Liam again. Then she looked at me eagerly: “So, about the original plot I just told you…” Thinking for a moment, I asked: “You mean, you want to escape your fate from the original book, right?” Chloe nodded frantically like a chicken pecking at grain. I suddenly felt that this so-called original plot wasn’t something I couldn’t use. So I looked at Chloe with a smile: “Do you want to get rid of the original plot and, at the same time, make tens of millions and become a wealthy, beautiful boss lady?” Chloe’s eyes instantly brightened: “Supporting Character Sis, I would walk through fire for you!” “Alright.” I nodded. “Tomorrow, go seduce Ethan.” “Huh?” Chloe was confused, pointing at herself uncertainly and asking: “Me?” “Yes, you.” I cupped her face, starting the brainwashing. “Baby, you’re the female lead! Grasping a mere Ethan is a piece of cake for you, right?” “Since the original plot is like this, why don’t we use it?” After listening to my plan, Chloe’s eyes gradually lit up. “An innocent little white flower, right? No problem, playing an innocent little white flower is what I do best!” Seeing this, Liam shook his head, unable to watch. “Tsk, there’s no need to even act for that.”

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