Category: English

After my husband, Landon, called away all the doctors from my delivery room, just because his secretary had a minor emergency and I was a few minutes late for hers, I knew something was deeply wrong. “You said a little late was fine. I’ll have them come back and deliver your baby tomorrow!” Three days later, he came to the hospital. Seeing a cute newborn in someone else’s arms, he suddenly remembered me. “It’s been three days. Where did she go with the baby? Why isn’t she home yet?!” ‘dr. Hayes died in the operating room that day due to difficult labor, along with her baby…” “Impossible! I left five specialists there! I told them to go in the moment Amelia screamed in pain. How could she die?!” A young nurse, trembling beside him, spoke up cautiously. “The moment you left, Ms. Vance claimed her old back injury flared up and took away all the specialists you left behind…” “Actually, Ms. Vance’s back was never injured. We only found out when we checked Dr. Hayes’s medical records that the person who saved you from the fire eight years ago wasn’t Ms. Vance, but Dr. Hayes…”

‘smack!’ Landon’s hand lashed out, hitting the young nurse across the face. “Nonsense! Do you really think giving birth to a child for the Thorne family makes you special?! Now you’re spreading lies about that fire right in front of me?! Shameless!” “seraphina fell from the third floor saving me. Now, every time the weather changes, her back hurts. I’m with her every day; how could I not know?” The nurse clutched her red, stinging cheek, trembling as she placed a report on the table. “But Ms. Vance’s medical reports over the years have never shown any back injury.” “However, Dr. Hayes’s records show over a dozen comminuted fractures in her lower back, accompanied by severe burns…” “The date of her treatment was the very day the fire happened eight years ago…” “It’s all clearly written in this report. Please, take a look.” The nurse, with a hint of pleading, gently pushed the report on the table closer to Landon’s hand. Landon glanced down, then casually swept the stack of reports into the trash bin. He let out a sneering laugh. “Amelia’s tricks are getting more elaborate! Now she’s learned to hide and have you fight her battles! But I’m not an idiot! Eight years ago, on the day of the fire, I called her hundreds of times, and she never picked up! If it weren’t for Seraphina, I would have died in that fire long ago!” “And we’ve been married for years. I know her body as well as my own. Whether her back was fractured or burned, how could I, her husband, not know? Bringing up an eight-year-old incident now, your Dr. Hayes is truly becoming both wicked and foolish!” My soul floated above Landon’s head, a piercing pain radiating from my hollow chest. He truly never believed me. Not even after all these years, seeing me swallow countless pills, or noticing my unusual reactions during our intimate moments. He even saw me being rushed into the operating room while he recovered in the hospital eight years ago. Yet, he still refused to believe. He stubbornly insisted that the one who saved him from the fire eight years ago was Seraphina, not me. “Mr. Thorne…” “Enough! I don’t want to hear it! Tell your Dr. Hayes, she can come home or not; if she doesn’t, she can just die outside with the child for all I care!” ‘dr. Hayes really is dead…” Landon slammed the door shut with a thunderous bang! The deafening sound drowned out the nurse’s tearful whisper. As soon as he got home, Landon saw all the baby things I’d prepared. He kicked them aside like trash, then pulled out his phone and called Seraphina. ‘seraphina, I’m having the driver send all that baby stuff over to you. Amelia and that illegitimate brat in her belly don’t deserve anything I prepared!” Watching the driver haul away those obnoxious items, Landon let out a sigh of relief. He poured himself a glass of red wine, switched on the TV, and sank into the couch. Just as he brought the glass to his lips, the somber voice of a news anchor filled the room. [Three days ago, a renowned obstetrician from our city tragically died during childbirth, along with her baby, on the operating table she loved most. May she rest in peace.] Landon dropped his wine glass and sprang from the sofa. He stared intently at the large news headline: Obstetrician? Difficult labor? His brow furrowed, but after a few seconds, a smile spread across his face. In a huge city like this, you could throw a stone and hit an obstetrician. Besides, Amelia’s medical skills were always top-notch. She surely wouldn’t die on the operating table, she could even deliver a baby with the help of a janitor. The truth was, I wouldn’t have died that day. A mother’s fierce instinct kicked in, and I screamed myself hoarse, but no one came. I had no choice but to push through and deliver the baby myself. The baby’s head was already crowning, but my frantic pushing tore at my back injury, which still had a dozen steel pins in it. I simply couldn’t exert any more force… Landon sank back onto the sofa, pondering for a long moment, as if something had just occurred to him. He pulled out his phone and called his assistant. “Go, send some money to the family of that obstetrician who died. It’s a tough job, dying on the operating table. I don’t know whether to be happy or sad for her…” The assistant on the other end was silent for a few seconds, then spoke timidly. “Mr. Thorne, my friend told me that obstetrician was from our hospital, and her last name was… I think…” “Landon~” Seraphina’s sweet, cooing voice from the yard made Landon hang up the phone and head outside. The assistant had already started to say my name, but Landon was already walking away from the phone, engrossed in Seraphina in the yard…

I had been gone from this world for five days. Landon, returning home drunk one night, finally seemed to remember me when he saw the empty house. He called my office. “Tell your Dr. Hayes to stop playing games and come back. Even if she doesn’t want me as a husband, the child needs me as a father.” “And don’t try to fool me with those lies about being dead or alive again. That day, I left the five most authoritative specialists in the entire hospital. She’ll be fine.” The person who answered was Maya, the nurse he had slapped earlier. Her polite tone carried a hint of impatience. “As I told you, all the specialists you left were taken away by Ms. Vance!” Landon paused, mid-lighting a cigarette. “The specialists were taken by Seraphina?” The nurse on the other end seemed to see a flicker of hope. “Yes, they were all taken! Dr. Hayes was left completely alone in the hospital, so…” ‘did Seraphina’s back injury flare up? Did you examine her? How serious is it?” Landon’s eyes were filled with urgency as he cut off the nurse. The nurse on the other end froze after hearing Landon’s words. After a long pause, she spoke again. “Mr. Thorne, Ms. Vance’s back was never injured. It was Dr. Hayes who…” “Enough! Are you done or not?! You work for the Thorne family hospital; don’t keep calling her Dr. Hayes every time you talk to me! It’s bad enough she’s acting out alone; are you all joining in?!” The nurse tried to say something else, but Landon had already hung up. A flicker of irritation crossed his eyes. Five days. This was the first time he’d called my number. But no one would answer now. He impatiently tossed his phone onto the sofa, only to pick it up again a few minutes later. He found our chat window, which had been blank for days, sighed, and sent a message. “Amelia, can you please stop this? I was genuinely worried and upset with you that day Seraphina had her baby. If someone close to me got hurt, how could I do business out there? Especially Seraphina; you know she saved me eight years ago. We can’t be ungrateful.” “I always act with discretion. I asked Dean Miller about your condition beforehand, and he said a natural birth would be no problem for you. Besides, I left five specialists outside that day. We’re married, and you’re carrying my child. How could I bear for anything to happen to you?” “Please, come home with the baby. The baby is small, and you need someone to take care of you. I’ll wait for you at home.” After sending the message, Landon sank into the sofa. Outside, a sudden thunderstorm raged. He quickly stood up and called Mike, his driver. “Get ready, take me to the hospital. Amelia is terrified of thunder. I’ll go keep her company.” The phone rang again as soon as he hung up. Landon hesitated for two seconds when he saw the caller ID but answered anyway. Seraphina’s tearful voice came through. “Landon, It’s thundering outside, and the baby won’t stop crying. I’m so scared…” Mike had already come in, braving the rain. “Mr. Thorne, the car is ready.” Landon got into the car through the rain. As Mike started driving towards the hospital, Landon spoke in a low voice. “don’t go to the hospital. Go to Ms. Vance’s place.”

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My bestie and I were notorious at the orphanage, our resident bad girls, a notorious duo. I was a master of the venomous tongue, could reduce grown men to tears with my words. Skylar had brute strength that bordered on superhuman, always ready to ‘reason’ with her fists. No one in the entire orphanage dared to cross us. Even the guard dog knew better than to cross us, slinking along the walls with its tail between its legs whenever we passed. That year, when we were eight, we were busy messing with an ant hill by the wall when Director Evans walked over with a couple. They said Skylar was the Sterling family’s long-lost real daughter and had come to take her home. But Skylar insisted on bringing me. She sat on the floor, kicking her legs, and bawled, “If it wasn’t for Chloe all these years, I would’ve been bullied to death! If you don’t adopt her, I’m not going back either!” I quickly dropped my stick, put on my sweetest smile, and stepped forward to introduce myself: “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, I’m the best-behaved, most obedient kid in our whole orphanage. Adopting me would be a total win-win!” Director Evans’s face twitched. He looked like he’d just swallowed a whole lemon, or worse. Bullied? Most obedient? Did they even hear what they were saying?! As if terrified of leaving our little devils behind, Director Evans closed his eyes, steeled his heart, and made a desperate, unheard-of decision that probably made his ancestors spin in their graves.

“That’s right! Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, Skylar and Chloe are the best-behaved children in our orphanage. They’re very close and don’t want to be separated, so why don’t you take them both?” The wealthy couple seemed to waver. “It wouldn’t be difficult to raise another child, but we already have an adopted daughter at home…” My bestie and I immediately exchanged an alert glance. A fake daughter? Then there was no way I was letting Skylar go back alone. What if that was a manipulative green-tea wannabe? My sweet, innocent Skylar wouldn’t stand a chance against her! “Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, Skylar gets depressed easily and might do something drastic if she’s alone in a new environment. If you take me too, I promise to stay with her and take good care of her!” The Sterling couple flinched at my words, and Skylar immediately started to cry on cue. “Exactly! If you don’t agree, I’ll hang myself at your front door tonight, boohoohoo…” They immediately caved. Mrs. Sterling looked at me and said, “We can take you back, but there’s another sister,Brittany, at home…” “I’ll get along well with her, Mom, don’t worry!” Director Evans was so moved he had tears in his eyes, practically waving us off with cheers. “That’s wonderful! Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Sterling, on gaining two lovely daughters!” After they went to complete the paperwork, I was incredibly touched and grabbed my bestie’s hand: “Skylar, you’re so loyal! You didn’t forget our pact to get rich together!” She rolled her eyes. “I was afraid you’d get yourself beaten to death for offending people with that mouth of yours after I left.” I cackled low. “Love you! That fake daughter didn’t come today; she probably doesn’t want you back. If she’s really a green tea, I’ll deal with her for you!” All these years, we’d been unstoppable in the orphanage because our combined power was unmatched. I’d provoke them until they were spitting mad with my sharp tongue, and she’d just knock them flat. When it came to dealing with manipulators, she had zero experience. My bestie squeezed my hand gratefully. “Chloe, our fortune for the rest of our lives depends on you!” “Don’t worry, I’ve got this!” When the Sterling couple emerged after finishing the paperwork, they smiled, seeing our hands clasped together. “You two sisters are so close. That puts our minds at ease.” Once in the car, Mrs. Sterling gave us a rundown of the family situation. That’s when we learned that, besides the fake daughter Brittany Sterling, Skylar also had a biological brother who was two years older. Skylar went missing when she was three, and it was because of him. The culprit himself hadn’t even come to pick her up, showing he clearly wasn’t thrilled about Skylar coming home. Sure enough, as soon as we got out of the car, we saw a gloomy-looking teenager standing with his arms crossed by the villa’s main entrance. When he saw Skylar and me holding hands and calling him “Brother,” Derek’s face looked like it might crack. “You adopted another one?” He only relaxed when he heard that I, as an adopted daughter, had no claim to the inheritance. “I’m warning you two, don’t you dare bully my sister from now on, or you’ll regret it!” I immediately hid behind Skylar and said timidly, “Skylar, why is he so biased? If he had protected you like that back then, you wouldn’t have suffered so much in the orphanage all these years…” My unspoken meaning was: You idiot, you have no remorse for your biological sister, whom you lost, and now you’re making threats to protect the fake daughter? What is wrong with you?* Sure enough, the Sterling couple’s faces darkened. Derek was furious and wanted to retort, but I quickly pinched Skylar’s waist. She immediately caught on, covering her face and crying, “Since Derek doesn’t like me, I’d better go back to the orphanage. Chloe, let’s go!” Richard Sterling panicked and slapped Derek across the face. “You scoundrel! Is this how you welcome your sister?! Get out of my sight!” Derek clutched his face, glaring at us resentfully, but dared not speak again. Skylar and I exchanged a look. Yes! First round goes to us! However, the moment we stepped into the house, we saw the fake daughter, Brittany, crying dramatically, standing on a stool, about to hang herself. Oh no, a pity play! Before anyone could react, I stepped forward and roared, “Hold it! No swinging from the chandelier indoors!” Skylar executed a perfect sliding tackle, kicking Brittany and the stool out from under her.

Brittany hadn’t even managed to get the rope around her neck before she sprawled on the ground, limbs flailing. “Ah!” She cried out in pain, and the whole family rushed to help her up. Seeing the knot she’d tied and the stool beneath her feet, the entire family surrounded her, tense with worry. “Brittany, what are you doing?!” Brittany looked at me, standing there, tears streaming down her face, looking like a tragic heroine: “Skylar, it’s all my fault for usurping your identity for so many years, for making you suffer so much. I’ll make amends with my life now!” “Please, don’t blame others. Will you promise to take good care of them in my place?” Evelyn hugged her tightly, heartbroken. “Don’t be silly, child. In our hearts, you’re our own daughter, raised by us!” Derek glared at us from the side. “Don’t be stupid, this has nothing to do with you. Let’s see who dares to blame you!” Brittany cried rivers of tears, shrinking into Evelyn Sterling’s arms, her eyes challenging me. Definitely a manipulative green-tea wannabe! Trying to sow discord? No way!* I immediately activated my sharp tongue. “So, this is the adopted sister, Brittany? My bad, my bad, I thought some ill-mannered person was swinging from the chandelier indoors!” “Speaking of which,Brittany,were you actually trying to hang yourself? But who hangs themselves from a crystal chandelier? And with a loose knot that would just slip open? What if you didn’t succeed, and the chandelier fell down, hurting someone?” Skylar picked herself up from the floor and chimed in, “Yeah, how dangerous! Luckily, I stepped in… I mean, kicked in.” Everyone looked up at the ceiling and saw that it was indeed as I had said. Richard’s face darkened. “Nonsense! What if it had fallen on others?” Seeing that both her pity play and her attempt to sow discord had failed, Brittany could only continue to cry at me: “I’m sorry, Chloe, I only wanted to atone…” “Brittany, you’ve got the wrong person. I’m your adopted sister. She’s the sister you should be apologizing to.” I pushed Skylar forward. “Now, apologize again.” Derek, puffed up with anger, stood in front of Brittany and said, “Dad! Brittany only did this because she wanted to atone. It was clearly Skylar and Chloe who intentionally made her fall! They have no manners!” My anger flared instantly. Damn it, you can insult me, but I won’t stand for you insulting my bestie! “Derek, I know you want to be Mr. Protector, but you can’t just open your mouth and spew garbage, can you?” “Why does Skylar have no manners? Isn’t it because you lost her all those years ago? You, the culprit, dare to complain about her lack of manners?” “Skylar’s rightful place as a Sterling heiress was usurped by this thief, so how could she have ‘manners’?” “From your logic, is your brain directly connected to your mouth, or what? Honestly, your thoughts are so repulsive, even a dung beetle wouldn’t touch them!” “If you can’t say anything smart, then just keep your mouth shut and stick to barking!” After I unleashed a torrent of words, the whole room fell silent. Only Skylar was holding my hand, tears in her eyes, full of gratitude. “My girl, I love you!” Derek’s face turned ashen after he processed my words, his voice changed. “You dare to insult me?!” “So what if I insult you? I’m going to insult her too!” I put my hands on my hips and pointed at Brittany. “What are you, some vintage wine trying to act all precious? You’re faker than a three-dollar bill! Even a trash can isn’t as full of BS as you are!” “Didn’t you claim to be too sick to show your face? Your little hanging performance just now certainly didn’t look like it!” “Isn’t your ‘discomfort’ just because Skylar’s back, and you can no longer comfortably be the only little princess?” Brittany, her secret exposed, wanted to argue, but I mercilessly cut her off. “Faking illness, faking suicide, trying to sow discord? Did my bestie ever ask you to atone? We’re all princesses here, why are you the only one with something wrong in your head?” Brittany’s face turned pale from my scolding, and she could only stammer, “You, you, you!” I scoffed, cutting her off, “You what? If you stutter, go to a doctor. If your brain’s acting up, maybe try reading a book or two!” Seeing she couldn’t out-argue me, Brittany started to act the part of the fragile, manipulative green-tea girl again. “Skylar, I’m sorry, I’m just so stupid. I was afraid you’d hate me, that’s why I did that.” “Chloe, you can scold me all you want, just don’t take it out on Brother and Mom and Dad.” Here we go again, this manipulative phony never had any new tricks. I couldn’t be bothered to deal with her anymore. I turned to the gobsmacked Sterling couple and asked: “I heard we’ll be in the same class as Brittany from now on?” They nodded quickly. “That’s great, then we can help Brittany more. Oh, by the way, where are our rooms?” Evelyn Sterling quickly led us upstairs to see the rooms.

Brittany followed behind, red-eyed, pretending to be generous as she pushed open her bedroom door. “If you don’t mind, you can stay in my room. It originally belonged to you anyway…” Derek rushed over, blocking our way, acting up again. “Brittany, this is the princess room Mom decorated for you! Those ill-mannered bumpkins aren’t fit to live here!” Seeing that I was about to unleash another round of insults, Evelyn quickly shot him a glare and gently told Skylar: “Skylar, you can pick any room in the house. Consider it our way of making it up to you.” Skylar gave Brittany’s overwhelmingly pink room a look of distaste, then turned and pointed innocently at another room, larger and with better lighting. “Then we’ll take this one! It’s big enough for Chloe and me!” Derek was nearly insane with rage, his voice rising, “Are you serious?! That’s Mom and Dad’s room!” I smiled sweetly at Evelyn Sterling. “Mom, you just said we could pick any room. You’re not going to go back on your word, are you?” Evelyn’s mouth twitched, but she still nodded. “Great! We’re exhausted from a full day of traveling. Mom, Dad, you two should get some rest too!” With that, I pulled Skylar and slammed the door shut, leaving the petrified family members standing there. For the next week, Skylar and I went on a crazy shopping spree. After eight years of hardship, we finally got to experience the joy of buying whatever we wanted without looking at the price tag! We hauled back several carloads of exaggerated shopping bags, dressed like a pair of opulent socialites. Whenever Brittany would make snide remarks, dripping with envy, about us wasting money, I’d shut her down with my sharp tongue. Unable to win with words, she resorted to dirty tricks. On the first day, she deliberately played weak, throwing a vase from upstairs to try and hit us, but Skylar casually caught it with one hand. On the second day, she intentionally knocked over a soup bowl at the dinner table, trying to scald Skylar, but my bestie flicked it back with a backhand, and Brittany would yelp like a scalded cat. On the third day, she secretly tucked her diamond necklace under our pillow, then brought the whole family to “catch us red-handed,” only for me to pull out surveillance footage of her sneaking into our room. Left with no choice, she had to grudgingly give it up, crying and saying she just wanted to give us a “surprise.” Unable to outwit us with words or dirty tricks, Brittany became much more subdued. But we knew she was plotting something. Sure enough, a month later, at the class assembly at our prestigious private school, she stood there with red eyes and introduced Skylar and me to everyone: “These are the sisters my parents recently brought home from the orphanage. Please take good care of them!” With that single sentence, she made it clear that we were the adopted ones, making it seem like we were the ones who had usurped a place. The students looked at her with sympathy. “Oh, is the Sterling family really that whimsical? Just adopting two more out of nowhere.” “Poor Brittany, how much love will she have to share now…” I smiled and urged Skylar to pull out the paternity test results, then said sarcastically, “Brittany, your words are so interesting. You’ve been here for eight years, stealing someone else’s spot, and you’re still playing the victim? “You’re an adopted daughter just like me, so why the act?” “Hello everyone, I’m Chloe, the best friend of Skylar Sterling, the real heiress! I’m also an adopted daughter of the Sterling family! They adopted me not because they had too much money, but because they were afraid my bestie would be bullied by certain people, so they hoped I would protect her, just like today.” The class instantly fell silent. Everyone looked at Brittany with contempt. “What? So she was just the pot calling the kettle black all along?” Girls who usually didn’t get along with her started to jeer, “Exactly! She acts like she’s the real heiress all the time, but she’s just someone with no class trying to pass herself off as royalty.” The laughter was like a slap in Brittany’s face. She was so angry and humiliated, she almost burst into tears on the spot. From then on, she completely became the school’s resident manipulative fake daughter. To prove herself, she started frantically learning piano and dance, hoping to outshine us with her elegance. Meanwhile, I started taking lessons in stand-up comedy and public speaking. Skylar, on the other hand, signed up for martial arts and Tai Chi, taking her strengths to the extreme. Over the next few years, Brittany’s attempts to outshine us always fell flat. Every time there was a school performance, my stand-up comedy and Skylar’s performance of breaking cinder blocks on her chest always overshadowed Brittany’s carefully choreographed acts. On campus, I gained a huge following with my sharp wit and humor, and Skylar also helped many people with her brute strength. With us around, the school’s atmosphere improved significantly. Bullying and fights almost disappeared. The two former little devils finally grew into well-adjusted and universally admired young women by the time we were sixteen. The Sterling couple grew to love us more and more, planning to hold a press conference to formally announce our presence. “Skylar should be given some shares in the company for her eighteenth birthday. After all, she is our biological daughter. Our group has been heavily impacted by Everhart Industries these past two years, and we desperately need a strategic marriage alliance to stabilize the situation. Fortunately, Julian Everhart isn’t against meeting. We’ll see what kind of connection the girls have then…” Brittany, who had overheard their conversation, clenched her fists. A malicious smile flickered across her face; she seemed to have hardened her resolve.

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Candace’s house caught fire, and it spread to ours. I suffered severe burns all over my body trying to save my son, Justin. Afterwards, I was furious and wanted to hold Candace legally responsible. But Brad and Justin kept stopping me, even scolding me for being heartless. Brad said to me impatiently, “Candace didn’t do it on purpose. Her house is completely burnt to the ground, she’s suffered a huge loss. Can’t you just not make things worse for her right now?” Justin also pouted, looking at me with disdain. “Ms. Candace has always been nice to me. Now that she’s going through such a terrible mess, even if we can’t help, we shouldn’t add to her troubles!” They forced me to promise not to sue Candace. But while I was undergoing skin graft surgery, I saw Candace’s latest SnapChat update. The photo showed her with a father and son entering an amusement park, looking like a happy family of three. That father and son were none other than Brad and Justin. Furious, I filed for divorce. Brad smiled as if relieved, then quickly married Candace. And Justin proudly boasted to his friends, “Candace is my new mom now! That disfigured ugly woman has nothing to do with my family anymore!” Five years later, I picked my daughter up from preschool. My handsome and charming husband,Ryan,handed me an invitation, smiling, “The Qin family sent this through someone. Brad’s son, Justin, is having his 18th birthday celebration in a few days, and they’ve cordially invited me to attend.” “They don’t seem to know about our relationship yet. Do you want to come with me and give them a ‘surprise’ gift?”

I looked at the gold-embossed invitation, a flicker of complex emotions in my eyes. Five years had passed in a blink. The memory of them abandoning me was still vivid. Even now, thinking back, I admire how I managed to survive that painful period. I shook my head, telling Ryan, “No, I won’t go. You go alone.” Ryan tossed the invitation directly into the trash can. He gently pulled me into a hug, his voice soft. “If you’re not going, then neither am I.” “They’re getting off easy. I was planning to publicly humiliate them, but I guess I’ll let them slide this time.” I hated Brad, and I hated Candace for taking him and my son from me. But now, I had my own happy life, a loving husband who adored me, and a sweet, sensible daughter. I no longer wanted to dwell on those toxic people and that messy past. However, what I never expected was that while I wasn’t looking for trouble with Brad and Candace, they actively provoked me. The day before Justin’s 18th birthday celebration happened to be a weekend. I took my daughter, Lily, to an amusement park. This park was a gift from Ryan to me when Lily was born, personally designed and built by him, costing hundreds of millions of dollars. To my surprise, I actually ran into Brad, Justin, and Candace here. Candace was looking around, pouting sweetly to Brad, “Honey, are you sure CEO Ryan will be here today?” Brad said confidently, “I bribed Ryan’s driver and got some important information.” “Ryan loves his wife very much. This amusement park was built specifically for her, and his wife and daughter come here every weekend.Ryan also often takes time to come to the park with them, so us ‘accidentally’ running into him here won’t seem too out of place.” Justin pouted, his voice impatient, “We can’t just spend the whole day in this park, can we? What if that Ryan doesn’t show up today? Wouldn’t we be waiting for nothing?” Brad frowned, scolding Justin, “What do you know? Even if we don’t see Ryan today, we still have to stay in this park. We need to find his wife and daughter and make sure we leave a good impression on them so they’ll speak highly of us to Ryan.” Candace gently told Justin, “Our family business needs to diversify, and we have to rely on the Ryan family.” “You accidentally offended Ryan’s distant niece last time. Luckily, Ryan didn’t pursue the matter, otherwise, our family would have been in deep trouble.” “Tomorrow is your 18th birthday celebration. Your dad pulled some strings to get an invitation to Ryan, but we heard a few days ago that Ryan wasn’t planning to attend. So, we came here today to try our luck…” Justin grumbled, “The problem is, we don’t even know Ryan’s wife and daughter. How are we supposed to curry favor with them?” Brad snorted, “Ryan’s driver said that he had a secret marriage to protect his wife.” “To be his wife, she must be an extraordinary woman, her presence surely something special.” “Ryan’s daughter, her demeanor and image will definitely be exceptional compared to other little girls. I heard she just started preschool. As long as we look carefully, we’ll definitely be able to…” At this point, Brad suddenly froze. Because he saw me! Candace and Justin also noticed me, both showing looks of surprise. Especially when they saw that my face had completely recovered, and I was holding my daughter’s hand, their expressions became even stranger. I didn’t want to deal with them, so I turned and walked away with my daughter. But Brad and his group blocked our path.

Candace flashed a fake smile at me, pretending to be friendly. “Claire, what a coincidence! We haven’t seen each other in five years, have we? I can’t believe your face has completely recovered!” “I thought that disfigured face of yours would never heal!” She pretended to be happy for me, but her eyes held undisguised mockery. Brad’s brow furrowed as he looked at me holding my daughter’s hand. He said in a deep voice, “Is this your daughter? You got married after we divorced?” “Claire, you really didn’t waste any time, did you? When you called me a jerk back then, I still felt a little guilty. But now it looks like you must have been cheating during our marriage too, otherwise, how could you have found a new man so quickly?” “Who’s the father of that little brat? What kind of man is so blind he’d marry you…” Before Brad could finish, I slapped him directly. Brad clearly hadn’t expected me to strike him so decisively. He instantly raged, screaming at me, “You damn bitch, how dare you hit me?” I looked at him coldly. “Brad, watch your mouth! I don’t want to dwell on your betrayal five years ago, but don’t you dare test my patience.” My daughter was scared by Brad’s menacing look and started crying. “You’re bad people! I’m going to tell Daddy! Daddy won’t let you get away with this!” While I was comforting Lily, Brad glared at my daughter fiercely. “Shut up, you little brat!” “What is your daddy anyway? Marrying my leftovers, he must be a loser, not even fit to tie my shoelaces!” With that, Brad prepared to lay hands on us. Candace quickly stopped him, whispering, “We can’t cause a scene in this amusement park. What if Ryan’s wife and daughter see us? We’ll be in trouble.” Brad nodded, agreeing. Then he glared at me viciously. “I’ll let you off the hook today. Get out of here with that little brat. Don’t let me see you again, or don’t blame me for what happens next.” Candace looked at me with even more mockery and disdain, laughing sarcastically. As for Justin, he continuously looked at me with disgust, impatiently telling Brad and Candace, “Mom, Dad, why are you wasting time with her? Let’s stop messing around here and go find Ryan’s wife and daughter!” Watching them leave, seeing my daughter’s pitiful, tear-streaked face, my heart felt heavy. I gritted my teeth, muttering to myself, “I didn’t want to bother you, but you just had to walk straight into the firing line.” “Since you’re so intent on seeking your own demise, I’ll grant you your wish!” I pulled out my phone and called Ryan. “Honey, let’s go to Justin’s 18th birthday celebration tomorrow!”

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On the Family Reunion Show, I ripped up the DNA test with my billionaire parents right on stage. Eighteen years after I went missing, my billionaire parents finally went on the Family Reunion Show to find me. I was filthy, my clothes ragged, hadn’t showered in ten days. When they saw me, they burst into uncontrolled sobs, their voices breaking: “Lily!We are so sorry for what happened to you!” I looked down, catching the scent of Mom’s Hermès perfume and seeing Dad’s Rolex watch glinting. Looking up again, my older sister, a top concert pianist, and my older brother, an astronaut, were also weeping uncontrollably. The entire audience was deeply moved, a collective gasp echoing through the studio. Yet, I simply and calmly pulled the DNA test results from my parents’ hands. RIIIIP! I tore it in half, my face utterly blank. “You’ve got the wrong person.” My parents froze. “Y-you…what did you say?” I took a step back, my voice cold. “I’m not your daughter.” Hearing this, they frantically bent down to pick up the shredded DNA test from the floor. “99.999%… The results are 99.999%!” “How could you not be our daughter?!” Mom’s swollen eyes widened, her limited-edition crocodile-skin purse clattering to the ground. I shrugged, stating casually, “The sample you sent for the DNA test was just hair I picked out of a trash can.” “And honestly, if you hadn’t offered a thousand bucks for a strand of hair, I wouldn’t even be here.” The tears on Mom’s face seemed to freeze. Next to her, a trembling voice spoke: “Lily, are you… are you blaming us?” “Are you mad at us for losing you, and that’s why you don’t want to recognize us, right?” Dad’s voice was hoarse, his eyes bloodshot. I frowned, annoyed. “I already told you, you have the wrong person. I’m not…” “No! You are absolutely our daughter!” Dad suddenly became agitated, staring intensely at me. “You’re just… you’re the spitting image of your mother…” At that moment, all the cameras swiveled to point at my face. I instinctively raised my hand to cover it, but Mom grabbed my wrist. She brushed aside my ten-day-old bangs, pulled a Chanel silk scarf from her pocket, and gently wiped away the grime from my face. By the time I realized what was happening, my face was exposed to millions of viewers. Everyone gasped, even the host couldn’t help but exclaim: “The daughter and the mother… they truly look identical.” Mom’s hand trembled more and more, her sobs growing louder: “Lily… you are my Lily!!” Just as she lunged forward to embrace me, I took another step back, declaring firmly: “I told you, I’m not your daughter, and certainly not ‘Lily.’” “Since I got my thousand bucks, I should be going.” After my third denial, the entire studio erupted in gasps and angry whispers: “Whoa! What’s wrong with this girl?!” “The DNA results are out, the mother and daughter look identical, how can she still be so stubborn?!” “I’m seriously done… her biological parents are the world’s richest, I can’t even dream of this, and she’s rejecting them!” On stage, the two multi-billionaires quietly wept. “Lily… I’m so sorry…” “It’s my fault,I lost you back then, and made you suffer for so many years!” I rolled my eyes so hard they almost popped out, a sneer twisting my lips. “Two psychos.” Just as I turned to leave, I lifted my foot and saw a hole in my grimy, caked-on shoes, my black-stained big toe peeking out, and flakes of dead skin were everywhere on the stage. Mom followed my gaze and nearly fainted. Dad’s eyes turned red again, and he looked away. “Lily please, let us make it up to you, okay?” Mom sobbed, pulling a black card from her purse. “Just call us Mom and Dad, and you can spend the two hundred billion dollars on this card however you want.” “Whether it’s a skyscraper in New York or a resort villa on a private island, you can live wherever you wish.” “Please?”

“Holy moly! That’s insane wealth!” “Those damn kidnappers! These are my real parents!” “Please switch me back to the rural channel…” No sooner had they spoken than not only the entire audience erupted, but the show’s live chat exploded with 999+ messages. [OMG, the dirty beggar turned into a real rich missy.] [Hey, why isn’t she moving? This girl must be going crazy with happiness!] [Then she should just accept! It’s making me so anxious!] [If I were her, I’d be absolutely losing it, after all, these are the world’s richest people! The richest!] … I slowly scanned the stage. Hundreds of cameras were aimed at me. The live audience held their breath, leaning forward in anticipation. I met my parents’ hopeful gazes and gently pushed away the black card they offered. “I’m saying this one last time…” “I! Am! Not! Your! Daughter!” I declared definitively, then immediately turned away. The two-hundred-billion-dollar black card clattered to the floor. My parents were stunned. The audience instantly erupted in angry shouts: “Oh my god!” “Her brain must be squashed! Does she even know what she’s doing?!” “Am I crazy or is she crazy?! Two hundred billion! My ancestors eight generations back didn’t have this much money!” I didn’t hesitate, lifting my foot to leave. “Five hundred billion! Five hundred billion!” Mom’s urgent, choked voice came from behind me. “Lily, please, let me use five hundred billion to make it up to you.” “I am begging you.” I paused. “Five hundred billion?” Seeing me stop, Mom’s eyes instantly lit up. “Yes, yes, yes!” “Just call me Mom… no, just talk to me, and I’ll immediately send someone to get the money!” Hearing that, I grinned. “Fine.” “Give me one hundred million dollars right now, or I’m leaving.” Mom froze. I sneered, asking, “What, regretting it already?” She quickly shook her head, as if terrified I’d change my mind, and stumbled off. “I’ll go make the call right now…” At that moment, the entire audience buzzed with whispers: “Tsk, I thought this girl was really stupid, but turns out she’s pretty clever.” “Heh, calculating even her own biological parents. Just looking at her, you can tell she’s no good.” “Exactly! She’s really taking advantage. How does she deserve to get wealth so easily that others couldn’t earn in several lifetimes?!” As the audience’s angry murmurs grew louder, the host calmly announced: “Please, everyone, settle down.” Simultaneously, the large screen on the stage slowly lit up. “Perhaps after watching this video, everyone can understand Ms. Vance’s actions a little better.” I remained silent, looking up. The videographer in the clip seemed to be filming a cave, and outside the cave entrance, mountains of scrap and trash were piled up. Wait, isn’t this… “What is this? A junkyard?” “No, a junkyard isn’t this dirty and messy. It looks more like a landfill.” “Oh my god, someone’s coming out… people actually live here?!” “My god, isn’t that Lily Vance?!” The screen’s image shifted, and all the audience members collectively turned to watch. And there I was in the video, tiptoeing, rummaging through a trash can. Losing my balance, the trash can toppled over with a heavy thud, scattering leftover food mixed with greasy slop all over the ground. I squatted down and began to eat it with my hands. Everyone gasped, their brows furrowing in disgust and revulsion. Just then, Mom, panting and out of breath from rushing back with the money, saw this exact scene.

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In my past life, Liam’s beloved Maya died because of me. Liam was utterly devastated. He pretended to enter an arranged marriage with me, then ruthlessly dismantled my family’s empire, driving us into ruin. He tortured me into a deep, suffocating depression, until I had no choice but to leap from a building. In my final moments, Liam stood coldly before me, reaching out to cover my eyes. “Chloe,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth, “if there is another life… if you ever meet me and Maya again… do us all a favor and stay away.” When I opened my eyes again, I was back seven years in the past, standing on the familiar school path I walked every day. In the distance, Liam and Maya were walking towards me. Maya, with her sharp eyes, spotted me first and waved enthusiastically. “Chloe! We’re over here!” My mind, still reeling, jolted in shock. Like I’d seen a ghost, I hurled my backpack at them with all my strength, then turned and ran! “Chloe Davies! Class is starting! Where are you going?” I ignored my classmates’ shouts, weaving against the stream of students in their school uniforms. The passing breeze caught the sunlight, piercing through my chest, again and again. It felt so good! Being alive felt so good! Those oppressive shadows that had permeated my thoughts and body, tormenting me to the point of unbearable pain… they were gone. Now, I was seventeen-year-old Chloe Davies. Healthy, lively, radiant. Our families, the Davies and the Hayes, had been close for generations. Liam was a year older than me and had always been especially doting. From a simple candy when I was little, to a fancy princess dress in my youth, to a dazzling sapphire necklace for my sixteenth birthday, his kindness had filled a third of my life. Many girls liked him, but his side was always reserved for me. He was like an older brother to me, and also the boy I had secretly fallen for, I wasn’t even sure when. Then, during the school’s freshman sports meet, I suddenly fainted on the field. It was Maya who took me to the infirmary. From then on, Maya became a constant presence between Liam and me. They shared the same hobbies, both were brilliant students with impeccable reputations, and when they were together, they always had endless things to talk about. I slowly became their constant shadow. In my past life, the story of Maya being abused by her stepfather spread throughout the entire campus. Before she jumped, her hair was disheveled, and she stared at me with venomous hatred. “Chloe Davies, remember this! It’s your fault I’m doing this!” Then, with a resolute leap, she didn’t even give anyone a chance to stop her. She didn’t even give me a chance to explain. Liam went wild when he saw the note she left behind. He gripped my shoulder so tightly, his bloodshot eyes burning with a hatred that made my heart seize up. “Chloe! Why? Why would you do this?” “This… only you knew about this!” “I…” My throat constricted, dry and raw, but I managed to endure the sharp pain in my shoulder, forcing out a few broken words- “I didn’t.” “It wasn’t me.” But no one believed me. Maya’s unwavering certainty in her dying accusation, spoken in front of everyone, had already branded me a murderer. Any defense, when faced with the victim’s direct accusation, seemed pale and powerless. As a result, I faced an unprecedented wave of bullying and isolation. Everyone looked at me as if I were a killer; every student’s eyes in school held a sharp knife when they looked my way. Especially Liam. Four years later, the Hayes family proposed an arranged marriage with mine, and he agreed. It was as if he had forgotten all about Maya, returning to the way he used to be, showering me with kindness. I thought, finally, Liam believed me. Because he ruffled my hair, just like he had countless times growing up, his eyes warm and gentle. “Chloe, let’s get married.” The Liam in my memories had always been so gentle and doting. I thought my old Liam was back. Until the Davies family’s confidential information fell into Liam’s hands. He ruthlessly crushed my family’s businesses, my parents were forced to leave Westlake, and I was kept a virtual prisoner in my own home. Hatred, cold indifference, and silent cruelty filled every moment of my existence. Liam stopped pretending. His eyes were cold and distant when he looked at me. “Chloe, every bit of suffering Maya endured, you deserve to experience it too.” “Chloe, why don’t you just die? If you die, perhaps… I can forgive you.” As Liam wished, seven years later, Chloe Davies, like Maya, jumped to her death in despair. … I stood dazedly on the street, the school bell still echoing in my ears. The agonizing pain of a fractured skull, the soul tearing itself away from my body, and Liam’s cold, heartless whisper in my dying moments finally began to fade from my mind. “Chloe, if our paths cross again in another life – mine and Maya’s – do yourself a favor and stay far, far away from us.” I let out a long, shaky breath. This time, I would definitely stay far, far away from Liam and Maya. Then I turned and ran swiftly towards home.

“Chloe? Shouldn’t you be in class right now?” As I burst through the door, my mom was sitting in the backyard, leisurely sipping coffee. She looked surprised to see me. My eyes welled up, and I rushed to hug her tightly. In my past life, their life’s work was destroyed, and they were forced out of Westlake by Liam, a boy they had watched grow up. Before I died, I didn’t even get to see them one last time. “You’re so grown up and still clinging to your mom. What will you do when you get married?” My mom’s gentle, complaining voice drifted down from above. But that word, “married,” sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. I hugged her even tighter. “I’m not getting married. I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here with you and Dad, looking after the family business, and being a carefree heiress with no ambition beyond enjoying my family’s wealth…” Mom feigned helplessness but her smile deepened. “Oh, is that so? I suppose we’re stuck with our little moocher for life, then.” After a night of trying to compose myself, I went back to school normally the next day. Our driver, Mr. Clark, dropped me off at the school gate. As I got out, I caught a glimpse of Liam and Maya standing at the intersection nearby, laughing and talking. That was our usual meeting spot; they were waiting for me. Fearing they would spot me, I quickly buried my head, clutched my backpack, and hurried into school. The school path, the three of us walking together. My eyes were on Liam, but Liam’s eyes were always on Maya. This unspoken crush, it should have ended long ago. But in my naive youth, I always secretly rejoiced that I could steal another glance at Liam on this path. After school, I dawdled, slowly making my way out. Liam and Maya were waiting at the school gate. There was no escaping them, so I had no choice but to push through. Maya didn’t ask about me running away the day before; she still linked her arm through mine, as affectionate as ever. “Chloe! We waited for you so long at the intersection today, why didn’t you come?” I tried my best to resist, but couldn’t. I subtly pulled my arm away from hers. Maya’s expression froze for a second, but she quickly recovered, her smile unwavering. “It’s my birthday today, Chloe. Aren’t you going to celebrate with me?” My heart suddenly trembled. In my past life, it was on Maya’s birthday night that she got drunk, and with teary eyes, we confided in each other. She unintentionally told me about being abused by her stepfather when she was young. This time, how could I dare to listen to her secrets? I avoided looking at Liam, who stood beside her, and stammered, looking down. “I… I have something at home. I can’t go. Happy birthday.” Then, without waiting for Maya’s eyes to instantly redden, I turned and walked away quickly. Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed behind me. “Chloe Davies.” It was Liam. My heart seized up, and I hurried even faster, head still down. Liam caught up to me in a few strides, blocking my path entirely, his shadow instantly falling over me. “Why are you running?” Finally, for the first time, I lifted my head to look at the just-turned-eighteen Liam. He was wearing the familiar school uniform, his face sharp and chiseled, but the deep, distant look in his eyes, unbefitting his age, was identical to the Liam of my past life. Suddenly, I realized that the eighteen-year-old Liam wouldn’t look at me like that. I was startled, instinctively stepping back a few paces, almost losing my balance. But the Liam before me stepped closer, his shadow following mine. “Chloe, you seem… afraid of me?”

The next second, Liam’s expression softened. He reached out to ruffle my hair, just as he always had. “Chloe, are you feeling unwell? Why are you hiding from Maya and me?” “It’s Maya’s birthday today. She’ll be really sad if you don’t come. How about we go celebrate with her, okay?” Liam was smiling, but I detected a hint of suspicion. It made sense; since yesterday, I had been acting completely out of character, avoiding them whenever possible, and not showing Liam the same eagerness as in my past life. If… Liam wasn’t the eighteen-year-old Liam, he would definitely suspect if I was truly the seventeen-year-old Chloe. After three years of marriage, my feelings for Liam had long vanished, replaced by all the mental torment. Now, I both hated and feared Liam. “I… I…” I managed a strained smile, but Liam had already spoken first, addressing Mr. Clark, who was waiting by the road to pick me up: “Mr. Clark, it’s a friend’s birthday today. I’ll take Chloe to celebrate for a bit and then bring her home.” Mr. Clark, aware of the Davies and Hayes families’ close ties, smiled and nodded before driving off. I could only follow silently behind them. In the past, when the three of us were together, I mostly watched Liam and Maya talk and laugh with perfect synchronicity, my heart aching. But now, I simply watched them, my emotions flat. I was even calculating what excuse I could use to leave midway.

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After I fell down the snowy mountain, no one in my family even noticed I was missing. I tried to reach my brother on the walkie-talkie, but he just snapped impatiently. “Do you have to make a scene right now? Luna lost one of her gloves. We need to take her back. Stop trying to play the victim!” Luna. My sister-in-law. I connected to my fiancé, Daniel. His voice was even colder than Alex’s. “Luna lost a glove. I’m not in the mood to deal with your jealousy. “I bet you stole her glove, didn’t you? “If anything happens to her, you and I will be enemies for life!” With my last ounce of strength, I tried to reach Mom and Dad. My parents’ answer was to hurl the walkie-talkie into the abyss. The line went dead forever. A month later, they finally remembered me. “Luna’s fine, she doesn’t need to be so jealous. Tell Summer to come back quickly.” “Mr. and Mrs. Harrison, Miss Summer’s body has been recovered from the snowy mountain. “She didn’t make it, as she gave her own warm gear to Miss Luna. “She carved this final plea into the ice:” “ In the next life, never be a Harrison.” …

“She’d give her gloves to Luna?” Alex snorted coldly. “If she’d even thought about it, even if she hadn’t actually done it, I wouldn’t feel like I wasted my time being her brother!” “It’s true, Mr. Alex! Miss Summer not only gave up her gloves, but she also swapped her down jacket with Miss Thorne! That’s why Miss Summer didn’t make it!” “Enough!” A ceramic cup shattered at Mr. Peterson’s feet. Dad fumed with indignation. “If she just didn’t try to bully my foster daughter, that would be a miracle. How could she swap gear with Luna? Doesn’t she always complain that we only give good things to Luna and not her?” “We gave her the best equipment for this trip. What more could she be unhappy about?” My soul rushed forward, trying to shield Mr. Peterson from the flying shards. But the pieces passed right through me, cutting the back of his hand. Tears welled in my eyes instantly. “Mr. Peterson speaks the truth! Luna said her glove had a hole, so I offered to swap with her! Don’t take this out on him! He’s the one who helped raise your own children!” My sister-in-law Luna’s eyes reddened. “Mr. Peterson, I know Summer’s gloves are the warmest. How could I let her swap them with me?” Luna sighed as she spoke. “I know Summer likes to be jealous, but stealing my gloves on the snowy mountain was really too much.” “You’re lying!” I gritted my teeth so hard they ached. But I was just a ghost. My anguish couldn’t reach anyone’s ears. “But as her sister-in-law, I won’t really blame her. She shouldn’t be playing with her own life like that! “Mr. Peterson, stop getting worked up with her.” “Tell her to come back immediately, I’ll apologize to her.” A voice interrupted her. “Why should you apologize to her?” My soul looked at my fiancé, Daniel Hayes. He stared coldly at Mr. Peterson. “She’d scheme for Luna’s gloves even in minus fifty-degree weather, and now she’s playing the victim? Tell her, we’re not falling for her tricks. If she doesn’t come back today, she should never come back!” I stared at him, stunned, a tear tracing a path down my face. Daniel…even you? Mr. Peterson’s wrinkled face was filled with helplessness. “But… Sir, Ma’am… she is still your daughter. Your sister. Your fiancée.” Mom sneered. “I don’t have a sweet daughter who’s out partying it up while I’m on my deathbed.” “Exactly,” my father cut in. “When my wife was fighting for her life, all she wanted was one last look at her girl. And Where was Summer? It was Luna who stayed by my wife’s side!” Dad added. Alex also snorted. “We raised an ungrateful wretch for all these years!” No… That’s not true! I shook my head, tears streaming down my face. Mom, I didn’t know you were in critical condition that day! Luna used Alex’s phone to text me, saying you were perfectly healthy! That’s why I went to celebrate my best friend’s birthday! With a sorrowful sigh, Luna wiped the corner of her eye. “Summer hates me, I know. I won’t stay at home anymore, let her come back. Don’t worry, with her around, I’ll never appear to annoy her.” “Wait!” Mom stopped Luna. She turned to Mr. Peterson. “Daniel is right. In this family, our foster daughter is much more important than our biological daughter. If she can’t come back today, she’ll never be a Harrison again!” My heart seized with a painful spasm. I clutched my hollow chest, gritting my teeth. Don’t worry. I didn’t want to be one anyway. Hadn’t I written it in my own blood before I died? “In the next life, never be a Harrison.”

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I was in a car accident with Dylan, my wife’s childhood sweetheart, on our trip to the shooting competition. When I woke up, my eyes were bandaged. My wife Scarlett, who happen to be my attending doctor, told me my left eye was severely injured and I would be permanently blind. Meanwhile, Dylan won the gold medal at that shooting competition. At the celebration dinner, slurring his words, he confessed, “If Scarlett hadn’t transplanted Liam’s cornea to me, I would have gone blind. I’d never have made it to that podium.” Scarlett hugged him tight, “Liam lost one eye, I can spend the rest of my life making it up to him. All I want is for you to be well, standing in the spotlight.” That’s when I realized my blindness wasn’t a cruel twist of fate. It was a deliberate, human evil. A dull ache still pulsed behind my left eye, the wound not yet healed. Yet the conversation flowed around me. Dylan raised his glass to Scarlett, “I’ve known I was an orphan since I was a kid. Scarlett grew up with me, she always looked out for me, giving me the best of everything.” “I never thought that in such a crucial moment before the competition, when my eye got injured, she’d be so generous as to transplant Liam’s cornea to me.” “Scarlett, without you, my future would be nothing.” Scarlett, tears welling in her eyes, downed the wine in Dylan’s glass and said, “Silly boy, who else would I help if not you?” “I was Liam’s attending doctor. I had to assess the situation at the time. If your eye hadn’t received a cornea transplant then, you wouldn’t have been able to compete.” “You trained so hard. How could I let your career be ruined?” The family and friends inside murmured with admiration, “Your relationship is truly special. Scarlett is amazing to Dylan.” “Exactly. But Liam was also supposed to compete, wasn’t he? I can’t believe he was willing to donate his cornea to Dylan. That’s unexpected.” “He practically gave Dylan his future.” Scarlett scoffed, “Liam’s scores were nowhere near Dylan’s. It was better to ensure Dylan’s success. See? It just proves my decision was the right one.” Outside the door, I clenched my fists, a hollow, icy dread filling me. It felt like the dead of winter. I remembered before we left for the pre-competition training, Dylan, who had just gotten his driver’s license, insisted on driving. I disagreed. Scarlett said, “You don’t trust Dylan? I do. He does everything perfectly. If you’re scared, just take a cab yourself. Dylan, let’s go.” My wife pulled Dylan into the car. I had no choice but to get in with them. Dylan, trying to show off for Scarlett, kept speeding and doing drifting maneuvers. Finally, at a sharp curve, we collided with a freight truck. I was knocked unconscious. When I woke up, it was a few days later. Scarlett, wearing her white coat, sat by my bedside. My left eye was covered in thick bandages. Before I could speak, Scarlett said with a pained expression, “Honey, don’t worry. We were in a car accident, and both you and Dylan were injured. Your left eye… it’s gone blind.” Scarlett hugged me, comforting me, “Honey, don’t be scared. No matter what you become, I’ll always be by your side.” At the time, even though I was devastated by the blindness, I felt a twisted sense of relief to have such a ‘good’ wife. It never once crossed my mind that my blindness wasn’t caused by the accident, but by human malice. Scarlett’s dad’s booming voice filled the room, “Liam is such a clueless simpleton. His shooting scores are nowhere near as good as Dylan’s. I never approved of him pursuing Scarlett. If Dylan hadn’t been abroad back then, I would have preferred my daughter marry Dylan.” Scarlett blushed, “Dad, stop talking.” Dylan chimed in, “Sir, if you give me the chance, I promise I’ll treat Scarlett well. I have the ability to give her happiness now. Liam is blind in one eye; how can he possibly take care of Scarlett?” Scarlett whined playfully, “What are you saying? Liam and I aren’t divorced yet.”

In front of our relatives and friends, Dylan loudly declared, “I’ll wait for you, no matter how long it takes. I will wait for you, marry you, and give you happiness.” Amidst the cheers and teasing, the two actually embraced. Dylan was an orphan, two years younger than Scarlett. When they first met, Scarlett’s family treated him like their own son. Her dad always said I was no match for Dylan and that his daughter was unlucky to marry me. But Scarlett would always stop him from badmouthing me, then she’d reassure me, “My dad treats Dylan like a son, don’t take it to heart. You’re the one I love. I only see Dylan as a younger brother.” Yet, every single time something involved Dylan, Scarlett’s priority was always him. When we first got married, I also believed they had a simple brother-sister bond. But as time went on, I realized their feelings had long crossed that line. Still, I loved Scarlett, and I kept wanting to give her one last chance to salvage our marriage. But I never would have imagined that when my life hung in the balance, Scarlett would leave me to fend for myself, even willfully taking my cornea and giving it to Dylan. This kind of marriage? Good riddance. I stepped back, silently leaving the hotel’s celebration banquet. I went to the hospital. Since I was Scarlett’s husband, the doctors there recognized me. I had no trouble finding the ophthalmologist who performed our surgeries. The doctor looked at me with a sigh, “I never thought you and your wife would go to such lengths for Dylan.” “You’re also a marksman, and your eyes were perfectly fine. Donating your cornea to Dylan was completely unnecessary. In fact, his eyes could have recovered naturally within a year or two.” “But Dr. Scarlett insisted that Dylan needed to compete and couldn’t wait that long. And since you were unconscious, and she was your wife, she had the right to sign the donation consent form on your behalf.” My hand trembled, my heart plummeted to rock bottom. I gritted my teeth, forcing the words out, “So, Scarlett signed the donation form for me while I was unconscious, donating my cornea?” The doctor nodded, “Yes. This normally requires your personal consent, but Dr. Scarlett claimed you had a moment of lucidity, and she asked you, and you vehemently insisted on donating it yourself.” “You supposedly said your scores weren’t as good as Dylan’s, and you were willing to donate your cornea to him so he could achieve good results for the team.” “She was your wife, and she insisted so strongly, there was nothing we could do.” “What? Are you regretting it now?” I couldn’t utter another word. Ha, I vehemently insisted? She took advantage of my unconscious state, spinning a web of lies to manipulate everyone, and transplanted my cornea to Dylan. I sat on the hospital curb, my left eye throbbing faintly. My phone rang. The special ringtone was one I had specifically set for Scarlett’s calls. “Honey, where are you? Dylan’s celebration is almost over, and you’re still not here.” “Remember that watch I mentioned Dylan liked last time? Make sure you buy it as a gift for him. You know, he’s famous now; he needs some status symbols.” “That watch perfectly suits his style. Buy it, then come over, and on your way in, settle the bill for our room first.” Ha. I hadn’t attended the celebration, and she didn’t ask if I was feeling unwell. She only demanded I buy a gift and pay the bill. That watch cost over half a million dollars. Scarlett saw it and said it should be for Dylan. In the past, with my old temperament, I would have bought it without a second thought at Scarlett’s request. But now, I wouldn’t pay another cent for them. I said coldly, “I’m busy; I can’t make it. You two can pay for it yourselves.” Scarlett was momentarily stunned, then immediately exploded, “You’re not coming? If you don’t come, who’s going to pay? Tonight’s celebration, we used the best wines, and the seafood was all air-shipped today. You *have* to pay this hundred-thousand-dollar bill!”

“If you can’t come, just transfer the money to me.” I chuckled, “Scarlett, my eye hurts, I’m not feeling well. Besides, it’s Dylan’s celebration. Doesn’t he have a million-dollar prize? How can he not afford the bill for such an expensive meal?” Scarlett sounded frantic on the other end, “Dylan’s prize money is for something else; he needs to buy a house! As your brother-in-law, what’s wrong with buying him a watch and a meal?” “Liam, why have you become so petty?” Dylan interjected from his end, “Scarlett, don’t pressure Liam. He might be upset because I won the medal.” “If it’s really that difficult, I won’t buy a house for now. I’ll pay the bill first. And I don’t need the watch.” “I was actually thinking of using the prize money for a down payment on that house you liked. I was going to buy it for you, I want to be able to give you a home, protect you from the elements.” Scarlett’s voice choked with emotion, “Silly boy, how can I let you pay for this? I’m the one who suggested the celebration. I’ll pay. If Liam won’t, I will.” After she finished speaking, she said coldly into the phone, “Liam, just hoard your money. Don’t think everyone is as obsessed with money as you are.” “What do you have now besides money? Don’t forget, you’re blind in one eye, and only I’m here, sticking by your side. I thought my sincerity would be rewarded, but I never expected you to be such a narrow-minded person.” With that, she slammed the phone down. I then called the bank and froze all the secondary cards associated with my accounts. The reason Scarlett could constantly bankroll Dylan was because she always used my secondary cards to buy him various designer brands, curating his image as a successful, well-to-do young man. But outsiders didn’t know that every single thing he wore and used, every cent, came from my money. After all, the shooting club only provided basic stipends each month, barely enough for Dylan to splurge on a team dinner. Under Scarlett’s indulgence, he squandered money recklessly. They had long forgotten that everything they possessed was given by me. Less than ten minutes later, Scarlett’s call came in, “Liam, what’s the meaning of this? Why did you freeze my card?” I said coldly, “I didn’t freeze your card. I only froze *my* cards. Scarlett, the secondary card is still *my* card, remember?” “Isn’t your own card with you? If you want to pay Dylan’s bill, use your salary card. We’ve been married for years; haven’t you touched a single cent of your salary? Paying this hundred thousand should be easy for you.” Scarlett shrieked, “Use my salary card? I have no money! Liam, why have you become like this? You’re so petty about money! You were injured, hospitalized, had surgery, lost an eye… who stayed by your side through thick and thin? How can you be so heartless?” I cut her off, “Scarlett, was my eye really blinded in a car accident?” Scarlett went silent on the other end, then said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Your eye was injured in the accident. I tried my best to get you treatment. This is the best outcome.” “Don’t be absurd. Unfreeze my card immediately.” “Scarlett, there’s nothing left between us. My lawyer will contact you. Let’s get a divorce. I’m making way for you and Dylan.” After saying that, I hung up. No matter how many times she called me afterward, I didn’t answer. I went home, packed my bags, and moved to a hotel. Scarlett couldn’t reach me by phone and kept sending me messages, but I ignored them all. But I never expected her to find out my follow-up appointment time from the hospital and intercept me there.

She slapped a bill onto my chest, “The celebration bill, a total of one hundred and ten thousand dollars. You pay me back immediately. Do you know how humiliated I was to scrape together that money to pay it?” “You’re my husband, half of your money is mine. What right do you have to stop me from using it?” “I stuck by your side through thick and thin; how can you treat me like this? Where’s your conscience?” I let the bill fall to the ground, looking at her, “I told you I want a divorce. Didn’t you hear me clearly? The divorce papers have already been sent to your address.” She looked at me disdainfully, “Playing games? Do you think that will scare me? Liam, don’t say things you don’t mean. You said no matter what I did, you would never leave me.” “You’ll keep your word, won’t you?” I looked at her with utter disappointment, “So, you felt you could do whatever you please? Scarlett, how did my eye go blind? Can you tell me?” Scarlett turned her head away, “Your eye was severely injured in the car accident; that’s how you went blind.” I said softly, “Is that so? But why did I hear that my cornea was forcibly removed and donated to Dylan?” “And the person who signed the consent was you, Scarlett. You deliberately took my cornea and gave it to Dylan. You are the reason I can no longer see.” “The doctor said his eyes could have recovered. Why would you do this to me!” Scarlett suddenly became agitated, “What do you mean ‘could recover’? That would take two years! Dylan couldn’t wait that long.” “He’s in his prime right now. You couldn’t win the competition anyway, so it was better to donate your cornea to him. See, it proves my decision was right, he won the competition.” “I promise you, even if you’re blind, I’ll still be by your side, I won’t leave you. I’ll spend my entire life making it up to you.” I laughed mockingly, “Not leave me? Aren’t you staying because you need my money to support your family and Dylan?” “Without me, where would you get the money to buy all those luxury goods for your precious Dylan?” Scarlett’s face flushed crimson. She shouted, “When did I ever use your money to buy Dylan luxury goods? I used my own salary!” “Besides, I treat Dylan like my own brother. What’s wrong with buying my brother a few things?” “As his brother-in–aw, shouldn’t you buy him something too?” I laughed in exasperation, “Scarlett, you know in your heart whether you really treat him as a brother. No one goes this far for a brother.” “No matter what you say, I won’t spend another cent on you or your ‘good brother’.” With that, I turned and walked away. Scarlett yelled behind me, “Liam, who else will want you now? You’ll regret this!” I ignored her. Before leaving her, I had many things to do. The first thing I did was go to the shooting club and process my withdrawal from training. As I left the club, I ran into media interviewing Dylan. He was surrounded by reporters and various streamers and influencers chasing trending topics. “What do you have to say about winning the gold medal this time?” Dylan’s face softened as he looked at Scarlett by his side, “This time, I especially want to thank someone who has always been by my side – my best sister, my best confidante, Scarlett.” “She’s also a doctor at the Central Hospital. I was in a car accident before the competition, and she saved me. She selflessly allowed me to regain my sight.” The reporters murmured with admiration, microphones pointed at Scarlett, “Dr. Scarlett, we also heard that your husband went blind in the car accident. He’s also a marksman, isn’t he?” Scarlett’s face showed a hint of sadness, “Yes, I’m very upset about it. I’ve been staying by his side, taking care of him, hoping for his swift recovery.” “Although his scores are far worse than Dylan’s, he’s still heartbroken about losing the chance to compete. I hope everyone won’t bother him.” A reporter asked, “Excuse me, was your husband’s eye blinded in the car accident? Since Dylan had the opportunity for a cornea transplant, Dr. Scarlett, why didn’t you keep that opportunity for your husband?” Scarlett’s face turned grim. She stammered awkwardly, unsure how to respond. “Because, Dylan’s cornea, is mine.”

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“Could you perform liposuction on me?” I was on duty at the hospital when a shy patient approached me. She pointed at her chest, and her request caught me off guard. “Why liposuction? Your breast shape is beautiful; many women seek implants to achieve this look.” The patient grew even shyer. “It’s my husband.” “He loves them too much. Every time he sees them, he loses control. I thought if they were a bit smaller after liposuction, it might help him be more restrained.” I suddenly remembered my own husband, Julian, who never tired of complimenting me. “Clara, your figure is amazing. It’d be even better if your breasts were a little bigger.” It seemed all men were the same. I was about to advise her to calm down when a man walked in. “Good thing I got here in time. Otherwise, were you planning to secretly have the surgery behind my back?” That voice… I almost lost it. The man gently wrapping his arm around the woman’s waist and speaking softly to her was none other than my husband, Julian.

I was too stunned to react. But the conversation in my ear continued. “Chloe, I love you just the way you are. You don’t need to change anything for me.” Chloe giggled shyly, nestling into his arms. “But, darling, I don’t want you to exhaust yourself for me…” “We have a long life ahead of us. I want to take things slow.” Julian chuckled softly. “With my little firecracker by my side,” “We could go on forever… until the end of time.” They continued their flirtation, oblivious to anyone else. My body went cold, my blood turning to ice. Chloe suddenly let out a startled cry. “Oh, darling, the doctor is still here. Don’t let her see us making a spectacle.” Julian looked up. His expression froze when he met my pale face. But only for a second. He quickly composed himself. “Doctors have professional ethics, of course. They won’t listen or watch too closely.” “Dr. Lin, wouldn’t you agree?” I stared intently at the man before me, saying nothing. Julian leaned closer, his voice a low threat meant only for my ears. “Clara, have you forgotten? Your dream is to become the director of a hospital, and I can make that happen.” “—As long as you’re a good girl and do as you’re told.” I clenched my fists, then slowly released them. I was an aesthetic doctor, working at a cosmetic clinic. But Julian had made me a promise. If I was obedient and a good wife, in three months, he would invest in me to open my own cosmetic hospital. I took a deep breath, trying to force my emotions back down. Unexpectedly, the woman next to me yanked my arm hard. “Stay away from my husband!” Chloe glared at me, possessive, like a territorial cat. “Darling, do you know this woman?” Julian cleared his throat, his hand instinctively going to his mouth to hide a knowing smirk. “Just a doctor.” “A friend’s wife recommended her after getting some aesthetic work done.” Chloe murmured “Oh,” but her suspicious gaze remained fixed on me. “Why were you standing so close to my husband just now? Are you trying to seduce him?” Her voice was too loud, drawing strange looks from everyone around. I scoffed, instantly fed up. I pulled out the photo of my marriage certificate from my phone’s album. “Look closely. Who exactly is his husband?” “I am his legal wife, married with a certificate. You’re nothing but a shameful mistress.” Chloe’s face drained of color, inch by inch. She was utterly enraged and lunged at me, tearing at my hair. “You bitch! Don’t you have any professional ethics?!” “That photo must be Photoshopped!” “I’ve been to your clinic several times, and my husband always picks me up. You must have seen how handsome and rich he is and gotten some twisted ideas!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her, so I forcefully pushed her away. Chloe stumbled backward, losing her balance. Julian, quick as a flash, caught her, then glared coldly at me: “Who gave you permission to lay a hand on my wife?” “It seems you’re looking to be fired!” It was the first time Julian had ever looked so grim toward me. Turning back, he gently soothed Chloe. “There, there, you know I never bother with those scheming women out there.” Before leaving, he shot me a chilling look. And told the director, “Fire Clara Lin.” My body went rigid. I never imagined Julian would go this far for another woman, knowing how much I loved this job. “What are you staring at?! You pathetic woman no man wants, staring blankly at someone else’s husband, how shameless!” Chloe shoved me viciously. I lost my footing, falling backward, my head hitting a sharp corner with a sickening thud. A nurse shrieked: “Dr. Lin, are you okay?!” “So much blood…” She frantically helped me up. As my consciousness blurred, I watched Julian walk away, his arm still around Chloe. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. From beginning to end. Julian hadn’t even turned his head once when he heard I was injured. I was rushed into the operating room. When I opened my eyes, I heard the attending physician talking to the nurse: “She’s out of danger, and instrument scans show the bruise on her occipital lobe seems to have been cleared by this impact…” The doctor paused, lowering his voice. “Dr. Lin had amnesia before, didn’t she? This time, she might remember everything.”

The attending physician was right. I remembered everything. I remembered the six months of my missing memory. I remembered that in five years of marriage, Julian had kept 99 mistresses. 99 times of his outrageous behavior, and I forgave him. But the 100th time, I’d gathered enough disappointment and left. When he heard I was gone, Julian wasn’t panicked at all. He called me. “Clara, be a good girl. Do you really want to divorce me?” “After all, I’m the man you chose to marry, even if it meant abandoning your parents.” He sounded so confident when he said that. I could hear another woman’s soft, playful voice in the background. Five years of marriage. He was certain I couldn’t leave him. So, time and time again, he carelessly twisted the knife in my heart. But I had already decided I no longer wanted him. “Julian, once we’re truly over, please just let me go.” Even when he had the butler and maids lock me in the villa, not allowing me to leave, I still jumped out the window and ran. But then, I got into a terrible car accident on the road. I fell unconscious and was brought back by Julian. I had amnesia, forgetting who Julian was, forgetting his 100 betrayals. Julian stayed by my side, coaxing me with gentle words. “Clara, you had a car accident on your way to buy clothes for me. We’re very much in love.” “Clara, we’ve been married for five years, a model couple everyone envies.” “Don’t you remember? You even cut ties with your family to marry me. You said you’d be my little sunshine forever…” “And I loved you just as much. The house decor was all your design, and the passenger seat is filled with your presence.” I was moved by his seemingly deep affection. He took advantage of my amnesia, skillfully manipulating me like an idiot. But now, I remembered everything, and the hand wearing my wedding ring trembled violently. Julian came home around eight that evening. He hugged me from behind. “Are you angry?” My body stiffened, and I avoided his touch. Julian chuckled softly, looking at me as if I were a pet throwing a tantrum. He leaned in, carefully examining the injury on the back of my head. “I had no choice today. I had to put on an act.” “Chloe Monroe is the daughter of the Monroe Group’s CEO. If I can keep her happy, I can secure the contract her father is holding.” I remained silent. Julian still didn’t know I’d already regained my memory. All these years, he always had various excuses to justify or embellish his relationships with those mistresses. I had been a good wife for five years. Helping him manage everything. Compromising for him, time and again. But this time, I refused to yield anymore. I pulled out a divorce agreement. “Julian, let’s get a divorce.” Julian rubbed the papers in his hand, a smirk playing on his lips. “Clara.” “I advise you to calm down.” “If we actually divorce, you’ll regret it.” He claimed I had used every means to marry him. He also said I’d hit my head and forgotten everything, forgotten how much I loved him. To placate me, he bit my ear, whispering seductively. “Clara, good girl.” “She’s just for my… urges. There’s no real affection. She’s not like you. You’re my family.” Family? I scoffed. Was family just someone you could easily fool? Yet his mistresses outside got whatever they wished for. “Then did you hear? Chloe caused a scene at my workplace today, threatening my boss to fire me.” “Julian, I’m in trouble now. Shouldn’t you, my ‘family,’ do something?” I stared into Julian’s eyes. He sighed slightly, brushing my eyelashes. “That job of yours was too tiring anyway. This is a good chance for you to rest.” “Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll open a truly *your own* aesthetic hospital for you.” After saying that, Julian took off his jacket and went to shower. He thought I was so easily appeased. That he could dangle a carrot occasionally, and I’d be eternally grateful. I was inexplicably drawn to the safe, the one he usually never let me touch or go near. I hesitated for a few seconds. Then I entered my birthday. “Ding—” The safe door opened.

Inside were Julian’s company secrets, including equity documents, that he had never allowed me to access. Six months ago, I had given up and left, but I had only harmed myself. This time, I would put myself in a position of power. I wanted. To make Julian beg me on his knees. The next day, Julian took me to a banquet. Chloe was there too, even proudly proclaiming herself Mrs. Hayes. She boasted in the crowd about how favored she was. And how much her husband loved her. I sat quietly in a corner, sipping tea, only for them to approach me and taunt me. “Well, well, isn’t this the Dr. Lin who tried to seduce my husband the other day?” “You’re really persistent. Any trash can show up at this banquet, huh?” “Clara Lin, now that you’ve lost your job, have you resorted to seducing men to support yourself?” I scoffed, grabbing a wine glass from the table and splashing it onto her face. “I’ve handled countless mistresses for Julian, and I’ve never seen one as shameless as you.” Chloe shrieked. The surrounding crowd was stunned by the sudden turn of events. “What’s going on? Chloe, aren’t you Julian’s wife? Why is she saying you’re his mistress?” Chloe’s face was a mask of humiliation, her eyes fixed on me. “Clara Lin, you bitch! Wasn’t my husband’s lesson last time enough for you?!” I gave a cold smile. “If you truly believed you had no relation to my husband, why would you proactively provoke me?” “Did you perhaps see my name saved in Julian’s phone?” “Or… did you hear him call my name in his sleep?” With each word I spoke, Chloe’s face grew paler and paler. “You’re lying!” But whether I was lying or not was already self-evident. “Chloe!” Julian arrived, his first reaction to shield her. Chloe, her face stained with tears, threw herself into his arms. “Darling, tell everyone, who is your real wife?” “This woman just threw wine on me!” “And she… she said she’s your wife, is that true?” I looked up, silently staring at Julian. He glanced at me, frowned, then his gaze softened instantly. I remembered how, in those five years, some of his 99 mistresses also thought they could replace me. They would humiliate me in front of others, believing they would earn Julian’s favoritism. But without exception, all they got was Julian’s wrath. “Dare to bully Clara? You must have a death wish.” Within two hours, all those mistresses were banished from the city by Julian, never to be seen again. However, at this moment, Julian withdrew his gaze from me. “I have no connection to Clara Lin. She’s always tried to seduce me, but unfortunately,” “I am devoted to my wife.” Snickers erupted from the crowd. “I’ve never seen such a shameless woman! Trying to pretend she’s someone’s wife, only to show up in front of the real one.” “I thought she was Mr. Hayes’s mistress, but turns out she doesn’t even have that title. He didn’t even want her, how dare she come here to cause a scene?” “Honestly, women these days, they’ll do anything to climb into a man’s bed, they have no shame…” I bit the inside of my cheek until I tasted blood, watching Julian lift Chloe into his arms. “She ruined your dress. I’ll take you to get a new one, how about that latest couture gown?” Chloe’s eyes widened with surprise. “But that’s worth millions…” “You’re worth it.” Julian strode away, carrying her. “Julian, after five years of marriage, are you really going to humiliate me like this?” Julian stopped in his tracks. “Clara Lin, you shouldn’t bully my wife in front of so many people.” He signaled his bodyguards to throw me out. But Chloe stopped him. “Wait.” “Darling, she spread rumors at the banquet and made me lose face in front of everyone. How can this just end easily?” Julian looked at her patiently. “Tell me, sweetie, what do you want to do to calm down?” Chloe waved her hand, and someone handed her a whip as thick as a finger. “Just have someone give her thirty lashes, and we’ll call it even.” Julian gently stroked her hair and looked at his bodyguards. “Didn’t you hear what my wife said?” Julian didn’t spare me another glance. Bodyguards rushed over, pinned my arms, and forced me to my knees. I tried to struggle. I tried to speak, but the whip landed heavily on me. I was whipped until my flesh was torn and bleeding, my blood staining my clothes like crimson blossoms blooming on fresh snow. Even the other guests watching gasped. “That’s too harsh, isn’t it?” The voices around me became muffled, and a sharp pain shot through my abdomen. I clutched Julian’s jacket. “Julian, save our baby!” I was pregnant. Julian’s body stiffened, and his steps faltered. But he didn’t turn back. “Ms. Lin, please show some self-respect. My wife is right here in my arms.” “If she misunderstands something and gets upset with me, you won’t be able to bear the consequences.”

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The day my fiancé got engaged to the true heiress, I wanted to drive my car straight into the ceremony, to die with them. But just as that insane thought consumed me, my phone started ringing relentlessly. I answered. It was the hospital. “Ms. Sera, you’re pregnant…” The car engine died, and I froze in place. Half an hour later, cheerful music drifted from the chapel. I started my car, turned around, and headed to the airport. From then on, the fake heiress of the Sterling family, as everyone wished, disappeared from New York. I went a thousand miles away to a small, quiet town, clinging to life, and gave birth to my blood-related daughter. I never contacted any of them again. Until four years later, when one by one, they reappeared before me. Four years later, I saw Liam again at the kindergarten entrance. I was picking up Lily when a mom next to me suddenly leaned in: “Lily’s mom, look at that guy across the street. He looks just like that singer… what’s his name again…?” I followed her gaze and saw him. “Liam!” The mom snapped her fingers, “Right, Liam!” I pulled my gaze away. “Don’t know him.” She looked a bit surprised. “You don’t listen to music? Liam! He’s the hottest singer-songwriter these past few years! Won so many awards! “Oh, and honestly, his face, it’s a bit like yours, you’re both so good-looking…” I smiled and shook my head, continuing to walk forward, holding Lily’s hand. “Sera Sterling.” Suddenly, his voice came from behind me. I ignored him, just kept walking. “Sera Sterling!” Lily looked up. “Mommy, is that uncle calling you? Why does he call you Sera Sterling?” I shook my head, smiling. “He’s mistaken.” But as we reached the parking lot, just as I was about to open the car door, someone suddenly grabbed my arm. I turned around, and it was a breathless Liam. “Sera, you… you’re actually alive?!” His words were as sharp and venomous as ever. Perhaps he’d run too fast, his eyes were faintly red around the edges.

I dropped Lily off at the neighbor’s house. Walking back downstairs, Liam stood with his hands in his pockets. “Why are you living in this dump? Where’s your place? I’m coming up to see.” I shook my head. “There’s no need for that.” Four years ago, he himself had said that his only sister was Celeste. He’d also said that calling someone like me a sibling only disgusted him. When I was expelled from the Sterling family, abandoned by Julian Blackwood, and had nowhere to go, I even thought of finding him, my biological brother. One snowy night, I stood outside his company building all night, nearly frozen solid. But in the end, all I got was him saying his biggest wish was that I had never been his sister. “If you hadn’t been born, Celeste wouldn’t have been swapped, and wouldn’t have suffered so much. “Sister? That’s laughable. The Sterlings don’t want you, and now you’re trying to cash in on our blood ties? “I’d never acknowledge someone like you as my sister.” Only then did I realize that no matter how kind I was to him, he hated me because of Celeste. Now, he still eyed me with a scrutinizing gaze, frowning. “That child of yours, is she Julian’s? Did you run away just to have his baby?” I was silent for a moment. “She’s my child alone.” He scoffed, a corner of his mouth twisting. “Sera, that kid is a spitting image of him. Do you take me for blind? “You wouldn’t actually think that if you secretly had his child, you could win him back? Are you sick or something… “How pathetic, what an idiot…” “I said, she’s my child alone.” I cut him off. “I never thought of going back to New York, nor did I ever think of using my child to compete with your sister for Julian. You can rest assured, and you don’t need to be so nasty. “Just like you said back then, apart from blood relation, we’re strangers. I’m not interested in your life now, and I ask you not to meddle in mine.” He froze. “If you have nothing else, please leave.” I turned. “Wait.” To my surprise, he suddenly grabbed me. He opened his mouth, then closed it. “You, you…” I frowned. “What?” “Why… why did you leave back then…?” I looked at him quietly. “You were a pampered heiress who couldn’t do anything. Were a few harsh words really enough to make you play the ‘run away with a baby’ card? “If I hadn’t run into you, how much longer would you have lived this kind of miserable life? And these four years…” He paused. “How… how did you survive?”

I watched his eyes, which were once again turning red at the corners. It was probably out of anger. He likely couldn’t believe I was alive, and my existence was a threat to Celeste’s happiness. How did I survive? Someone else gave their life so I could live. But I had no need to tell him. The old Sera Sterling couldn’t do anything, like a delicate hothouse flower. The current Sera Blackwood had long since stopped crying for help or relying on others. Seeing my silence, he grew anxious. “No, why has your personality become so wishy-washy? Could it be that the massive earthquake in that remote town years ago rattled your brain? “Running off to such a secluded place, it serves you right to face an earthquake.” At that moment, a neighbor walked past and greeted me, “Hey, Sera, not dinner time yet?” I smiled. “Almost.” Liam froze. “You should leave.” I said. But he gripped my arm tightly. “Why did you change your name? Blackwood?! Did you get married? No, whose name is that?” “Whose name it is, is none of your business.” I brushed his hand away, enunciating each word. “What my name is, how I’m living, Liam, has nothing to do with you.”

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During the New Year’s Eve performance, to stop my husband’s assistant from ruining the show, I had to suggest she needed a few more years of practice. Little did I know, she stubbornly acted out of spite, going on stage without permission to perform a sawing a person in half magic trick. She botched it, resulting in a tourist’s death. Jade pointed at me, sobbing, “You ruined my life!” That very night, she jumped to her death. My husband, Damian, covered my eyes, soothing me gently. “It’s not your fault, don’t be scared.” But later, during his next tour, he invited me as a guest to experience a water torture escape trick. As I stepped into the tank, his usually gentle eyes turned icy cold: “Seraphina, I don’t blame you.” “But you still owe Jade an apology.” The next second, countless piranhas devoured me alive, the agony unbearable, until my blood stained the water in the tank crimson. When I opened my eyes again, I was back before the first tour. But Damian stopped me first. I spoke decisively: “Interested… in playing some more thrilling magic games?”

A wave of dizziness washed over me. The organizer’s furious shouts poured into my ears. “Do you even have a brain in that skull of yours? How can you mess up such a simple thing? Are you even Master Damian’s assistant?” “Don’t tell me you’re an undercover agent sent by a competitor?” Jade’s eyes welled with tears, but she didn’t utter a single word. Then, she saw me. Her look of innocent victimhood instantly morphed into angry defiance, and she defiantly snapped back at Mr. Harrison: “I just accidentally picked up the wrong prop, and besides, it didn’t affect the performance! Master won’t blame me!” “You’re deliberately targeting me, I’m going to tell Master!” With that, she turned to enter the backstage area. Mr. Harrison gasped, practically choking on his anger, and pointed at Jade, shouting. “Where is everyone?! Someone! Get her out of here!” The familiar scene, the familiar words, brought my mind into sharp focus, yet I couldn’t help but shiver. I quickly spoke up: “Stop!” When Mr. Harrison saw it was me, his expression softened slightly, but his tone still held undeniable fury. “Miss Seraphina, just look at this… Ugh!” “Mr. Damian still has several magic shows. If things go wrong again like before, affecting the audience’s experience, I won’t be able to invite Mr. Damian to my future galas.” Every word was a thinly veiled hint directed at me. My gaze sharpened as I looked at both of them. In my previous life, to appease Mr. Harrison, And to avoid impacting my husband Damian’s career, I could only pretend to be angry. I fired Jade from her assistant position and spoke harshly to her. A scolding from me, Damian’s wife, was far better than being kicked out of the venue by the organizer and ridiculed by everyone. But I never imagined that Jade wouldn’t appreciate it; instead, when no one was looking, she went on stage without permission and caused a catastrophe. She killed someone herself, then turned around and blamed me for ruining her. Ultimately, if it weren’t for her, how would I have died such a miserable death! Thinking this, I clenched my fists. After a moment of thought, I didn’t scold her as I had in my previous life. Instead, I said assertively: “She didn’t make a mistake. She simply created that commotion deliberately for the show’s effect. Jade is the assistant to a genius magician, how could she mess up a performance?” “Look how much the audience is enjoying it. Mr. Harrison, you can’t just make wild guesses and hurt my husband and his talented assistant’s feelings for no reason.” I shook my head as I spoke. Mr. Harrison started to doubt himself, hesitating, “Really?” Perhaps my tone was too certain. He pondered for a few seconds, then let out a slow sigh of relief, no longer pursuing the matter. Just then, Jade scoffed. “I don’t need your fake kindness! Did I ask you to speak for me?” She was always like that. She held an inexplicable hostility towards me. When I invited her to dinner, she’d pass out after eating and wake up claiming I poisoned her. When I gave her high-end cosmetics as a gift, she’d break out in a full-body rash and say I was jealous of her youth and beauty. When I took her on a trip abroad, she’d disappear that very night. The next day, she’d throw herself into Damian’s arms, claiming I deliberately abandoned her in a foreign country, attempting to kill her. Later, I simply stopped interacting with her. I only took care of Damian’s daily life, and she’d tell others I was a useless woman who only revolved around men. When I complained to Damian, he would just chuckle softly, “She’s young and doesn’t know any better. Why are you getting angry with her? She’ll grow out of it in a few years.” “You’re Damian’s wife, show her some grace.” Before I could say anything more, Damian stared intently at me: “Seraphina, you know.” “I love your thoughtfulness and understanding most of all.” So, I deserved to be bullied by her? Mr. Harrison’s brows furrowed again, and the anger he’d just suppressed spilled out. “Did your mother never teach you not to speak with a mouthful of sewage? Huh? Maybe I’ll just find a scrap yard and sell you off.” I was about to speak. But someone was faster than me, “Jade, don’t listen to Seraphina!” 2. Damian’s voice attracted everyone’s attention. He jogged over, his eyes filled with shock, regret, and relief. Watching Damian’s completely different reaction from my previous life, a terrifying thought formed in my mind. He, too, had been reborn! Damian and I had been in love for seven years. He once shielded me with his body during a car accident, blocking four deadly steel bars, almost losing the career he loved. He also bravely signed up as a volunteer during a pandemic that killed countless people, just to be closer to me, who had already been infected with the virus. I couldn’t believe he had become a madman because of Jade’s death. The bone-chillingly cold water, the tearing of countless sharp teeth. The pain was so intense I bit off my own tongue in agony. Thinking of the suffering before my death, my palms instantly dug into my skin, covered in crescent-shaped indents. In this life, he’d have to chew down and swallow all the suffering I endured for it to be fair. Just then, Damian snapped back to reality. He glanced at me, his gaze growing cold: “Jade, don’t you dare listen to her nonsense.” “To me, you are the best assistant, and my most outstanding partner.” “I’ve always believed in you.” His sincere and earnest tone would move anyone who heard it. Jade was no exception. She smiled, somewhat flattered, “Really, Master?” Damian nodded. They exchanged a smile, as if the entire world consisted only of them. I didn’t interrupt him, but a faint curve played on my lips. Just as I expected. The next second, Jade straightened her back, full of confidence. “Master, let me handle the performance later by myself. If you’re willing, why not be a guest and assist me?” “I believe it will be an unparalleled, spectacular performance!” I couldn’t help but let out a snort of laughter. Then, I nodded repeatedly in agreement. “Yes, Jade is the best assistant. It’s just a magic performance, it won’t be difficult for her.” “Damian, you should agree to her request.” The scene of Jade accidentally killing someone in my previous life still flashed before me. If the innocent tourist were replaced by Damian, how could that not be a good thing? On the other side. Damian’s face instantly fell; he clearly remembered the scene of the tourist’s tragic death. He asked cautiously: “Jade, there’s only one more show left. Changing the magician at the last minute would affect the audience’s experience. Next time, I’ll definitely plan a magic show exclusively for you.” “You will be the sole star.” Seeing Jade lower her head, looking hesitant, I immediately stepped in front of her and began to criticize Damian. “Honey, Jade finally wants to prove herself, why won’t you agree? Do you want her to be an assistant her whole life?” “Future plans are for the future; whether they even happen is another story.” I subtly nudged her, “Jade, don’t miss this opportunity!” Suddenly, Damian’s gaze locked onto me. His eyes subtly changed, and he asked, feigning casualness. “Seraphina, haven’t you always disliked Jade? Why the sudden change in personality today?” Having known each other for years, I naturally understood his probing. But I couldn’t let him know my secret of rebirth so soon. I linked my arm through his as usual and slowly said: “Damian, didn’t you say it? To be nicer to her.” “Just like you, treat her like a little sister.” As I said this, the smile on my face grew even brighter. Damian stared for a long moment, then said flatly. “Let’s hope so.” Hearing my words, Jade’s initial thoughts of backing down reignited. She pouted, somewhat annoyed. “Master, next time’s plan is fine, but this time… I want to perform too. Don’t you believe in me?” As she spoke, tears welled in the corners of her eyes. But Damian, remembering the tragedy of the previous life, still didn’t give in. He tried to persuade Jade patiently, but she pushed his hand away. “Master! You’ve disappointed me so much!” Just then, Mr. Harrison was urging the staff to get ready for the stage. Damian could only watch Jade run off, planning to coax her properly after the show. He decisively turned and walked to the dressing room. At this moment, someone suddenly called Jade’s name. “Where is she? She was just here, how did she vanish in an instant? Where are the props for the stage?” “Every day, why do I keep running into idiots!” My heart skipped a beat. I quickly walked backstage and, sure enough, saw Jade had changed into her costume and was pushing the props, about to go on stage. This time, Jade going on stage without permission had nothing to do with me. What would he do for her now? Unexpectedly, in the very last minute before Jade was about to go on stage, Damian appeared. He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from backstage. His voice was laced with uncontrollable panic and fear. “Jade! I told you I’d prepare an exclusive show for you next time, why won’t you listen?!” But Jade refused to give up, retorting: “Why won’t you let me on for *this* show?! You just don’t believe in me!” She covered her ears, refusing to listen to his explanation, and they pushed and pulled for about ten seconds. I leaned back, watching their argument with keen interest. Jade got so furious, she simply turned to leave, but accidentally tripped over a cable. Damian reacted quickly. He reached out and grabbed her, using his body as a cushion. The next second, he kissed Jade. Damian’s eyes melted into a tender gaze, and Jade froze too. After standing up. He looked at her, saying softly: “Just wait until my performance is over, okay?” Jade’s face flushed crimson, she no longer cared about any performance, and whispered a tiny “Mm.” I lowered my eyes, a flicker of self-mockery crossing them. The wedding ring on my ring finger felt strangely hot, burning me with a sense of unease. Without Jade’s interference, the New Year’s Eve magic show successfully concluded. Mr. Harrison immediately invited everyone to a celebration banquet, and the staff cheered excitedly. After stepping off stage, Damian didn’t take his eyes off Jade for a second. He ushered her into the car, completely unaware of me behind him. Mr. Harrison cleared his throat, “Miss Seraphina, why don’t you ride with me?” I nodded. In the car, Mr. Harrison chatted with me. Halfway through, he suddenly asked me. “Miss Seraphina, you’re so capable, why waste yourself on one man?”

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