Category: English

My name is Violet Petrov. I’m pregnant and taking care of my longtime companion cat, Lucy. My husband’s sister, Riley Jacobs, urged me to get rid of Lucy, but I refused. Later, while I was not home, she secretly killed Lucy and threw her into the neighborhood trash bin. After I safely gave birth, she went around bragging, “If I hadn’t killed the cat to prevent her from getting toxoplasmosis, how could she have had a healthy baby?” Later, my daughter Nora Jacobs became more and more outstanding, while her son couldn’t even graduate from middle school. Riley completely broke down and pushed me and Nora off a cliff during a trip. When I opened my eyes again, both she and I had been reborn. She looked at me holding Lucy with a mocking expression. “This time, I won’t try to persuade you again. Let’s see if you can still have a healthy baby!” ***** “Violet, yesterday Riley saw online that cats can transmit toxoplasmosis, so pregnant women shouldn’t keep cats. “Why don’t you just take her advice and get rid of Lucy?” Aaron’s mother, Emily Jacobs’ voice came through, snapping me back to reality. It wasn’t until my fingers touched my slightly rounded belly that I realized I had been reborn. Seeing me stay silent, Emily turned to Riley. “Riley, say something.” Riley stood up, tone full of disdain. “What do you want me to say?” “If she’s so determined, then let her raise it.” “Don’t worry about it anymore. She insists her cat is very clean, so why bother persuading her? We should respect others’ choices.” As soon as these words were spoken, I knew Riley had been reborn too. In my past life, she always claimed it was for my own good, but in reality, she just couldn’t stand me spending money on my cat. I had already discussed with my friend to send Lucy to her place. But Riley wouldn’t listen to me at all and insisted on killing Lucy. She even pretended to persuade me, “Why spend so much money on a cat? You might as well buy a few more outfits for my son!” “I’m doing this for your own good! If you catch toxoplasmosis and have an unhealthy baby, you’ll regret it!” I held the things I just bought online for Lucy, feeling heartbroken. Emily criticized Riley behind my back. “Violet already said she’d give the cat away, why do you have to kill it?” “What if she’s too upset and it affects my grandson?” Riley sneered and said with a smirk, “Mom, you’re too naive. She says she’ll give it away, but isn’t she still thinking about it every day?” “Look at how much stuff she bought for that cat! This money could have paid for several classes for my son!” “Besides, what right does she have to use Aaron’s money to raise a cat? Even if I kill that cat, so what? Who would be sad over an animal?” Emily was actually convinced by her and nodded repeatedly. “True, Aaron works so hard to earn money, and she doesn’t work, just spends recklessly.” I was so furious that I trembled all over, had a big fight with Riley, and almost went into premature labor. She sold everything I bought for Lucy and took all the money. When Nora was born, she went around bragging that it was because she killed my cat that my daughter didn’t end up a fool or disabled. Later, on the day Nora got into a prestigious middle school with the top score in the city, she asked me to help get her useless son into the same school. I directly refused, “The school isn’t mine, I really don’t have that ability.” Her face immediately darkened. “Isn’t your daughter the top student? Tell her to go to the principal and say if they don’t accept my son, she won’t go either!” “Pull some strings, slip in some money to smooth things over, and my son will definitely get in.” I was stunned by her shameless words. I shook my head in disbelief. “No way. Have my daughter threaten the principal? How do you think people will see her?” “Besides, that middle school isn’t just somewhere anyone can get into. You…” I hadn’t finished speaking when she interrupted me. She angrily said, “Your daughter has what she has today all because of me! I killed that cat to save her!” “Is this how you treat your savior? If I had known, I wouldn’t have agreed to Aaron marrying you.” “You ungrateful person!” I completely broke ties with Riley. Later, Aaron kept speaking up for Riley, trying hard to reconcile us, and even arranged a family trip. Only then did I reluctantly let it go. But I never expected that crazy Riley would actually push Nora and me off a cliff.

Thinking of that inexplicable tragic death in my past life, I clenched my fists, hatred surging in my heart. Seeing that I remained silent and Riley didn’t try to persuade me, Emily sighed and hesitated before speaking, “Violet, this cat…” I held Lucy tightly in my arms, gently nuzzling its soft fur with my cheek, and said firmly, “Lucy is like a child to me, I will never give it away.” I shot a cold glance at Riley, my tone suddenly turning icy. “If anyone dares to touch my cat, don’t blame me for turning hostile.” Riley instantly got angry. “Violet, don’t think I’ll kill this cat for your child’s health like I did in our past life!” “I’d like to see what happens to your child without my help!” Emily looked completely puzzled. I gently put Lucy down and unceremoniously kicked Riley out the door. “Are you even human? Cursing your own niece! Get out! Get out of here right now!” Riley stumbled from my push, almost falling. She furiously yelled, “Violet, you bitch! Just you wait and see!” After Riley left, Emily looked at me with reproach in her eyes. “No matter what, Riley is Aaron’s sister. How could you fall out with her over a cat?” “Now that you’ve kicked her out, where is a single mom with a child supposed to live?” I ignored her, held Lucy, and turned back to my room. When I was 25 weeks pregnant, Riley divorced her husband and left with her child, taking nothing. Emily kept complaining to me about how hard life was for Riley. Aaron also repeatedly assured me that Riley wouldn’t affect our lives, so I agreed to let Riley and her son move in. But from that day on, Emily’s heart completely leaned toward Riley’s son. I didn’t say anything, just made up my mind, “When my baby is born, if Emily doesn’t have time to help, I’ll hire a nanny.” In my past life, that was indeed my plan. But in the end, I couldn’t make it happen. Emily said, “I can take care of them, why spend extra money on a nanny?” But in the end, I was the only one taking care of the child. Every day, I had to work on illustrations for others, take care of my daughter, and still find time to cook and clean. Emily and the unemployed Riley refused to do anything. Under such circumstances, I single-handedly raised Nora. But Riley’s son, Anton James, was raised by Emily herself. Compared to Nora, she favored Anton more and even allowed him to bully Nora. After Nora and I died, she hated me for dragging Riley to death with me. She didn’t bury us but instead allowed Anton to scatter our ashes. Aaron watched all this happen and then turned around, took my house and property, and married the woman he had been involved with during my pregnancy. I am now 29 weeks pregnant, lying in bed, stroking my belly and thinking about divorce. Half-asleep, I drifted off. Until a piercing cat’s cry startled me awake. “Beast! How dare you bite me!” Aaron roughly grabbed Lucy by the neck, a fierce look on his face as he was about to walk out. I jumped out of bed, rushed in front of him, grabbed Lucy, and screamed, “What are you doing? What do you want to do to my cat?” A trace of impatience flashed in Aaron’s eyes, followed by a fake smile. “Better not keep this cat. Didn’t Riley say cats have toxoplasmosis, which isn’t good for kids?” “For the sake of the child, let’s send it away.” Before I could speak, Riley’s mocking voice came from outside the door. “Aaron, don’t waste your effort. What does it matter to you if she keeps a cat?” “Anyway, she’s carrying a girl. If the baby turns out to be a fool, just divorce her.” Emily immediately asked nervously, “Riley, did you go with Violet for the ultrasound? Is it really a girl?” Riley said confidently, “Mom, trust me, she’s carrying a girl.” “Then let her keep the cat. If she gives birth to a fool, she’ll be the one to regret it.” Emily stayed silent, and Aaron didn’t say a word either. I couldn’t hold it in and burst out laughing. Riley is Emily’s daughter, and she loves her dearly. But when it comes to me, they don’t want me to have a daughter. It’s ridiculous. I stared at Aaron, my gaze cold. “Aaron, there’s no need to wait until the baby is born. Tomorrow, we’ll file for divorce.”

The three of them were all stunned. Aaron was the first to react, instinctively reaching out to grab me, but I pushed him away. He suppressed his anger and asked me, “What nonsense are you talking about? You’re divorcing me over a cat?” I looked at him expressionlessly, my tone cold. “Aaron, you know very well why I want a divorce.” “Now, take your mom and your sister, and leave this house immediately.” Riley’s gaze was like a knife, wishing to tear me apart. “This house belongs to Aaron too! What right do you have to kick us out?” I sneered, “Do you even have the nerve to mention that? Did he contribute a single cent?” “His meager salary barely covers the utilities, and I pay for everything else. To put it bluntly, I’m supporting your whole family!” “You have no gratitude towards me, only endless complaints. I’ve put up with you for so long.” Seeing the argument between Riley and me escalating, Aaron shouted, “Enough! Riley, say less!” He turned to me, his tone gentle yet helpless. “I don’t know what upset you, but since you don’t want to see us right now, we’ll leave for now.” “I’ll take them to a hotel for a few days. When you’re feeling better, we’ll come back.” “Don’t get too upset, take care of the baby in your belly.” They casually packed a few clothes. Seeing that I never spoke to ask them to stay, they hesitated before getting ready to leave. Just as they were about to leave, I suddenly spoke, “Aaron.” He turned back in surprise. “Are you…” I interrupted him, “Monday at 9 a.m., we’ll go handle the divorce procedures.” Aaron froze but ultimately said nothing and left with them. The originally sound-asleep Anton was woken up and cried uncontrollably. Riley held him, glaring at me with a vicious look that sent a chill down my spine. At that moment, Lucy suddenly appeared out of nowhere, crouching by the door. Riley didn’t even look and kicked hard. Lucy slammed into the chair leg, letting out a painful cry. I held my stomach, carefully squatted down to pick up Lucy, and spoke harshly, “Riley, if you don’t want your foot anymore, I’ll chop it off for you!” She gave me a sidelong glance, a mocking smile curling at her lips. “If I don’t kill this beast to teach you a lesson, you can wait to give birth to an idiot.” “I will teach my son well, make sure he gets into a good school, and countless honors will belong only to him!” Aaron stood by as always, blankly watching Riley humiliate me and the baby in my belly, without saying a word to defend me. I no longer had any expectations of him and slammed the door shut. Outside, Emily’s wails echoed, “How did my son end up marrying such an unreasonable woman!”

My name is Hannah Martin. Watching my good friend Jayla Howard diligently do laundry, cook, feed medicine, and massage the elderly Louis Gordon upstairs, I knew she had also been reborn. In my previous life, Jayla and I were roommates, and we were often woken up in the middle of the night by Louis’s violent coughing. I went upstairs to find out and learned that he was paralyzed in both legs, with no children or family. I felt compassion and immediately decided to take care of him, bringing him meals and giving him massages every day. A month later, Louis suddenly handed me a bank card with a serious expression. “There’s eight million dollars here as your reward.” With this money, I immediately settled my dad’s medical bills. Later, Louis even directly transferred the ownership of the house we were renting to me. He said, “When your dad gets discharged, you can all move in together. That way, I’ll have some company too!” But Jayla, knowing this news, grew jealous of me. During the days I had insomnia, she put an overdose of sleeping pills into my water cup and watched me die in agony. After I died, my boyfriend Anton Sanchez, claiming to be my “fiancé,” cut off my dad’s medical expenses and took the bank card. Jayla spread rumors in front of the neighbors, saying that Louis gave me money because I sold my body. Six months later, the two of them held a grand wedding and fully paid for a villa in the city center. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Louis was coughing uncontrollably. ***** The poor soundproofing of the high floor allowed Louis’s coughing and wailing to occasionally reach Jayla and me. I slightly sat up, only to be pushed back onto the bed by Jayla the next second. She glared at me warily. “What are you doing? Don’t move!” Saying that, she quickly put on her shoes, threw on a jacket, and rushed out the door without looking back. The heavy sound of the door closing instantly snapped me awake. Watching her actions, I was certain she had been reborn too. Half an hour later, a disheveled Jayla came home. Pinching her nose, she stuffed a pile of smelly clothes into the washing machine. Afterward, she pulled out disinfectant wipes and vigorously scrubbed her fingers. Noticing my gaze, she slowly looked up, her eyes openly filled with hatred toward me. “You were woken up by the coughing too, weren’t you?” She casually tossed the wet wipe into the trash. “Too bad, you’re a step late. “This lifetime, all the wealth and glory belong to me.” I blinked, pretending to look confused. “Jayla, what are you talking about?” She awkwardly swallowed and tentatively asked, “The person upstairs is coughing so badly, you really didn’t hear it?” “I heard it,” I replied calmly. She sneered, “You’re so overflowing with compassion, are you planning to take care of him already?” I shook my head. “I still have a ton of things to do, where would I find the energy to care about others?” Hearing this, Jayla visibly breathed a sigh of relief. When she spoke again, her tone softened quite a bit. “You better stick to your word!” “Anyway, I’m the one taking care of this old man now, so don’t even think about stealing my credit!” The last sentence, she practically shouted through gritted teeth. I smiled calmly. “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t.” Louis is no ordinary person! Jayla, that fool, only saw the money and property he gave me but completely ignored what I lost. In my previous life, I softened for a moment, seeing Louis lonely and helpless, and decided to take time to care for him. When Jayla found out, she mocked me every day. “I never thought you’d be this naive!” “You take care of him, and what will you get in the end? Probably just a pair of old man’s pee-soaked pants!” Faced with her mockery, I felt embarrassed, but I never regretted taking care of Louis. Of course, I took care of him willingly, not because I wanted anything from him. But I never expected that a month later, Louis, who was originally paralyzed, suddenly stood up. He was very happy and laughed, saying it was all thanks to me. I was happy for him too, but I didn’t expect a sudden bad news to arrive. My dad was hospitalized after a car accident. As if he noticed my embarrassment, he handed me a bank card. “I have no family, and no one to spend my money.” “You’ve taken care of me for so long, I have no way to repay you. You must accept this money.” That night, he knocked on my door again and placed a key in my palm. He pointed at the house Jayla and I were renting. “You’re a good kid, and this house is mine too. But soon, it’ll be yours!” “I had someone prepare the transfer documents this afternoon. All you need to do is sign them.” “From now on, this is your home. When your dad is discharged, just bring him here to live.” I was too shocked to speak, and by the time I reacted to refuse, he was already gone. When Jayla heard this, she was furious, her face turning bright red. “Why is Louis being so generous to you?” “Did you sleep with him?” “Hannah, you really disgust me!” Being accused by a good friend, I couldn’t hold back despite my good temper and ended up arguing with her. I never expected that she would hold a grudge and poison me to death. After my death, I found out that Jayla and Anton were high school classmates and had always maintained an ambiguous relationship. The notification sound suddenly chimed, pulling me straight back to reality. I opened my phone and saw it was a payment link sent by Anton. He also sent a message urging: [Hurry up! Pay now! Or I’ll break up with you!]

Looking at the number on the bill, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes. I messaged him: [You spent seven hundred dollars on a meal alone? What did you eat?] As soon as the message was sent, Anton’s call came in. “Why do you care what I ate?” “Hurry up and pay! Can’t you see there’s a countdown on it? Quick! Or I’ll have to place the order again!” I had the speakerphone on and looked up, only to meet Jayla’s face full of schadenfreude. She was touching up her lipstick in the mirror and said without looking up, “I’m heading out later, don’t lock the door.” I nodded and said into the phone, “What did you just say?” “You said if I don’t pay for you, you’ll break up with me?” Anton was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly raised his voice. “Yes! If you don’t pay for me, I’ll break up with you immediately!” Facing his outburst, I calmly said, “Then let’s break up. Remember to return the $30,000 you owe me.” “I’ll give you one day. If you don’t return it, then see you in court!” After saying that, I hung up the phone and muted his messages. Jayla was stunned seeing this. After a long pause, she finally spoke, “Did I hear that right? You actually broke up with Anton?” “Are you crazy? With your situation, you should be grateful that Anton is willing to be with you. How dare you break up with him?” She got more and more agitated, constantly poking my shoulder. I rudely pushed her arm away. “If you think he’s so great, then you be with him!” Saying that, I reached out my hand to her. “Or, will you help him pay back the money?” She bit her lip and then glanced at her phone. A few minutes later, she angrily pushed open my bedroom door. “Give me your bank account! Isn’t it just thirty thousand dollars? I’ll pay it back for him!” Hearing that, I excitedly picked up my phone and sent her my bank account. The notification sound of a successful transfer filled the bedroom; Jayla was somewhat reluctant to part with her money. She said, “I gave you the money, from now on, Anton has nothing to do with you.” “You are not allowed to keep bothering him!” I nodded frantically. “Alright, no problem.” Just thinking about what they did to me in the past life makes me so angry. I can’t wait for them to stay far away from me! I never thought I could get back this $30,000, after all, I know very well what kind of person Anton is. He loves saving face, so overspending has become second nature to him. After he got together with me, all the food and drinks were on my dime. During this time, I kept hesitating about breaking up with him, but I was also worried I wouldn’t get the money back after breaking up, so I kept delaying it. I didn’t expect such a perfect opportunity to come up today, truly lucky! Just before leaving, Jayla suddenly turned around and arrogantly waved her phone. “Oh, by the way, I haven’t told you yet. “Just now, Anton and I got together. “We also posted it online, make sure to give it a like!” I obediently nodded. “Wishing you both happiness!” Not getting the response she wanted, her face twisted with anger. She slammed the door hard and walked away cursing all the way. After she left, I quickly started looking for a place on rental websites. Louis’s incident left me deeply traumatized. This place feels so eerie, I don’t want to stay a moment longer. I kept scrolling through rental listings until I fell asleep at 3 a.m. But at 7 a.m. the next morning, a commotion suddenly erupted outside. “Honey, we can be together openly from now on!”

I couldn’t be more familiar with that voice. Anton and Jayla kissed without restraint, and the sounds grew louder. Lacking sleep, I had no choice but to wear earplugs. Half an hour later, a phone call instantly silenced them. “Mr. Gordon, are you awake?” “Great! I’m coming up right away. I’ve bought everything you wanted to eat!” “I even learned a new massage technique, just waiting to help you relax today!” “Don’t worry, I guarantee you’ll be satisfied!” Jayla hung up the phone and immediately got up to leave. Anton, puzzled, grabbed her arm. “I’m not done yet. Where are you going?” “Taking care of the old man upstairs? Are you crazy?” Jayla lowered her voice. “Keep it down! I’m doing all this for our future.” “He’s really rich!” “You’ll know when the time comes!” For the following week, to avoid awkwardness, I stayed in the company’s office. During these days, I found a house I liked and took my dad for a full medical check-up. I only felt completely relieved after the report showed everything was normal. On Monday morning, I took leave to prepare for the move. But when I got home to pack my luggage, I suddenly realized that my bedroom had been taken over by Jayla. She had piled all her stuff on my bed. I kicked open her bedroom door, and inside, two people were naked, embracing. Seeing it was me, they slowly got dressed without any rush. A few minutes later, Jayla appeared in front of me, and I was so startled that I stepped back. It had only been a few days, but she looked like she had aged over ten years. The wrinkles at the corners of her eyes were obvious. Even scarier, she emitted a sour stench, similar to the smell on Louis. “What are you doing here?” She ignored my fear and gave me a shove. “I’m asking you a question, didn’t you hear me?” I clenched my fists. “You still have the nerve to ask why I’m here?” “I’m a tenant here too. I paid the rent. Why can’t I come?” Anton smugly threw the contract in my face. “Open your eyes and take a good look at whose house this really is!” I looked down and saw, to my shock, a property transfer contract. No wonder Jayla aged so quickly! Turns out she took Louis’s house. Anton, with a cigarette in his mouth, mocked, “Got a good look?” Jayla smoothly sat on his lap, but I noticed a trace of disdain flash in Anton’s eyes. Jayla said, “Hannah, now, get out of my house immediately!” “Otherwise, I’ll call the police and report you for trespassing!” “Getting you detained for a few days is no problem!” I shook my head. “No matter whose house this is, I rented it for a year, and I’ve only lived here for three months.” “According to the contract, as the landlord, you should compensate me for my losses.” Anton sneered. “Money? We don’t have any. If you want to stay, then stay!” But Jayla looked at me and Anton with a nervous expression. In the end, she bit her lip and said softly, “Fine, I’ll compensate you! Once you get the money, leave immediately!”

In my past life, I, Sofia Harvey, along with my good friend Talia Porter, married into the medical family, the Larson family. She married the Larson family’s eldest son, Jared Larson. I married the Larson family’s younger son, Jeremia Larson. However, after marriage, Talia had three children, all medical prodigies. But I only had one daughter, and she was mentally disabled. Jeremia, who cared deeply about his reputation, felt utterly humiliated. Years later, at a medical seminar, I brought my daughter along. She stuttered and called out “Daddy,” causing everyone to burst into laughter. Jeremia, feeling humiliated, angrily stabbed my daughter to death and then struck me dead with a blow. When I opened my eyes again, Jeremia and I had both been reborn. This time, at the family arranged marriage event, Jeremia took Talia’s hand first and said, “I like you. Will you marry me?” ***** The Larson family hosted a banquet, inviting renowned figures from the medical field and New York’s elite families. It was a public matchmaking gathering. My family is a lineage of doctors. Our private hospital recently encountered problems, and I attended the banquet to seek help from the Larson family. Thinking of the experiences from my past life, my eyes filled with bitterness. Jared and Jeremia stood at the front, surrounded by people, full of confidence. I heard the people beside me whispering softly. “Jeremia has such a great demeanor, he looks like a gentleman.” “Jared is handsome too, just a bit aloof.” “He’s more than just a bit aloof! You have no idea how indifferent he is. I heard he’s highly skilled in medicine, but he won’t treat anyone he doesn’t like. Jeremia, on the other hand, is different; he treats every patient kindly. I think a gentle husband like him is the way to go!” “But I heard Jeremia is an illegitimate child.” “So what? Didn’t he get acknowledged and brought back?” Talia listened, her face lighting up with excitement as she grabbed my hand, her eyes fixed on Jeremia in the crowd. When she accidentally made eye contact with him, she shyly looked away. I, however, let out a mocking cold smile. In my previous life, I was also deceived by Jeremia’s appearance. 我的祖父、父亲和哥哥都是医生，我也是。甚至因为我的天赋极高，我成了小有名气的医生。 Because of my renowned talent and beautiful appearance, I was chosen by Jeremia as his marriage partner. It was then that I realized Talia liked Jeremia. But that night, she got drunk and accidentally had a relationship with Jared. A month later, she got pregnant and eventually had to marry Jared. After getting married, Jeremia and I had a wonderful time together. He truly was, as everyone said, a gentle person. At that time, I was glad I had married a good husband, but I never expected this would be the source of my pain for the rest of my life. Not long after Talia married Jared, she gave birth to three healthy sons in a row. Jared’s father, Daniel Larson, praised Talia highly and gave her nine billion dollars. But I was never able to get pregnant. Gradually, Jeremia changed. He started becoming impatient with me, irritable, and quick-tempered, deeply bothered by others saying he had no children. He blamed me for having health issues and forced me to take countless medicines. To ensure I focused on preparing for pregnancy, he forced me to quit my hospital job and stay home. But I’m a doctor. If I haven’t gotten pregnant for so long, wouldn’t I check my own body? The one with health issues is clearly him! For ten whole years, I took countless medicines, ruined my health, yet still couldn’t get pregnant. I couldn’t take it anymore and wanted a divorce, so another woman could have his child. He sneered, “I’ve spent so much effort on you, and now you want a divorce?” “I chose to marry you back then only because of your medical talent! Did you really think I’d genuinely like you? And what happened? You can’t even have a child. No matter how skilled you are in medicine, what’s the use if you can’t have a baby? Useless!” After a big argument, I fainted. When I woke up, I found him sitting by my bed with a smile, saying I was pregnant. He seemed back to normal, caring for me attentively. In the end, I gave birth to a daughter. However, I couldn’t feel happy. Talia’s three children officially started studying medicine and were praised as medical prodigies by their teachers and family. Daniel directly announced his retirement, handing over all the Larson Family’s business to Jared. But my daughter is a slow-witted fool. Jeremia broke down, cursed me as a useless woman who couldn’t bear a son, and kicked me out of the house. I didn’t feel wronged; instead, I felt relieved and started a new life with my daughter. But at a medical seminar, my daughter stuttered and called Jeremia “Daddy,” causing everyone to burst into laughter. Jeremia’s face turned red instantly, feeling humiliated. That day, he broke into my house and stabbed my daughter to death. He said, “It’s you, you fool, who made me lose face in front of everyone! Go to hell!” I used all my strength to push him away, trying to hold my daughter and rush to the hospital for rescue. But Jeremia went completely mad, attacking me from behind with a twisted face. Before dying, I held my daughter tightly, my blood turning cold as I gradually lost consciousness. I never expected to be reborn, even returning to the day of the banquet. Overwhelming hatred made my fingertips tremble as I coldly stared at Jeremia. He didn’t look at me but walked straight toward Talia. I trembled all over, suddenly realizing he was reborn too.

“My two sons spend all day studying medicine, and they’re almost thirty but still not married. When will I ever have grandchildren?” Daniel sighed, pretending to be helpless. Everyone present knew that today was a family marriage banquet, and Daniel was looking to choose marriage partners for his two sons. Jared, born to Daniel’s ex-wife, is highly gifted and renowned in the medical field. Jeremia, born to Daniel’s current wife, once sparked controversy over his status but won everyone’s favor with his gentle nature. In his previous life, Jeremia had already investigated everyone attending the banquet. His medical talent couldn’t compare to Jared’s, and he didn’t diligently practice medicine, so he wanted to have a smart child to make up for his shortcomings in medical skills. So, he had long decided to choose me as his marriage partner. But in this life, he didn’t even glance at me. Instead, he walked straight to Talia, took her hand in front of everyone’s astonished eyes, and said, “I like you. Will you marry me?” Everyone present was stunned and quietly asked who that woman was. Talia’s family had some assets, but they weren’t even on the guest list. She liked Jeremia and begged me to bring her in. At the time, I didn’t think much of it because marriage alliances were based on family backgrounds. Her presence wouldn’t make a difference. Daniel frowned and asked in a deep voice, “Are you sure?” Jeremia smiled and nodded. “Actually, I’ve liked Ms. Porter for a long time, and today I took the chance to confess and propose to her.” He looked at Talia affectionately. Talia’s eyes reddened with excitement, and she quickly agreed, “I’m willing to marry you!” At that moment, Jeremia seemed to glance at me unintentionally. The disdain, contempt, and loathing in his eyes almost overwhelmed me. I felt a chill all over, recalling the fear and hatred before my death in my past life. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deeply into my palms, the pain jolting my nerves. Just as I was about to lunge at him and slap him, a warm hand held my cold wrist. I instinctively looked up, meeting his deep eyes. The man before me, dressed in a tailored suit with an aloof demeanor, slightly smiled and said, “Shall we get married?” The crowd was in an uproar. Everyone whispered, wondering if Jared and Jeremia were secretly dating. Something happened at my family’s hospital, and everyone knew that marrying me meant solving my family’s troubles first. My marriage partner hasn’t gained any benefits yet but has to save my family’s hospital first. Seeing me attend the banquet, no one thought the Larson family would choose me. Daniel frowned but said nothing. After all, it was his son getting married, not him. But Jeremia, standing nearby, looked grim. “Jared, before getting married, you’d better check her health. If she can’t have children, you’ll regret it later.” Anger surged instantly, and just as I was about to retort, Jared took my hand. His tone was indifferent. “Who I marry is none of your concern. You should worry about your own partner.” “Besides, I’m marrying her because I like her, not to have children.” Jeremia’s face stiffened; he felt Jared was mocking him. Jeremia’s Freya Larson quickly spoke up in his defense. “Jared, Jeremia is just concerned about you. But since you both have chosen the ones you love and they are willing, then just pick a date and get married.” Daniel stayed silent, tacitly approving his two sons’ choices. The guests sighed and found excuses to leave. Jeremia held Talia close as they left. Passing by us, he sneered and said, “Jared, this woman is indeed pretty. But there are plenty of pretty women. Don’t act on impulse and regret it for a lifetime. It won’t be long before you realize how useless she is. You’ll regret it.”

Back home, my parents already knew about my union with Jared. Their hearts, tense for months because of the hospital issue, finally relaxed. They actively prepared the wedding with the Larson family while discussing how to exchange benefits. The day before Jeremia’s wedding, Talia came to see me. Her face was full of happiness, yet she seemed uneasy the moment she saw me. “Sofia, I was stunned by Jeremia’s confession that day and didn’t get a chance to speak up for you. “I really like Jeremia, and he said he would give me the best life.” She paused for a moment and softly advised me, “I heard Jared is hard to get along with. He probably chose to marry you to take over your family’s hospital. I think you should reconsider.” I looked at her, pretending to care for me, and sneered inwardly. Before marriage, Talia was indeed my best friend. But after, she became the one who loved to mock me the most. In my previous life, she also said Jeremia didn’t like me and advised me to marry someone I loved. When I was tormented by Jeremia, she smiled and said to me, “See, I told you so, but you didn’t listen. Since you can’t have children, why not let Jeremia marry someone else? Then you can raise their child without going through the pain of childbirth.” I thought, “Talia, I hope that after experiencing everything I went through in my past life, you can still think this way.” She eagerly anticipated a grand wedding, hoping to bask in the glory. But to her surprise, Jeremia had no intention of hosting a grand wedding; it was even downright shabby. He only invited close relatives, set up a few flower arrangements, hired an officiant for a simple ceremony, and called it a wedding, leaving Talia so upset that she cried in grievance. Jeremia comforted her, saying Daniel disliked extravagance and promised to make it up to her with a grand banquet once she had a child. I heard it and couldn’t help but laugh out loud. In New York, Talia’s family could never reach high society. After Jeremia was reborn, he chose her as his marriage partner because she had given birth to three medical geniuses in her previous life. But he cared about his pride and felt marrying a woman whose background didn’t match his was reason enough not to hold a grand wedding. Does the Larson family lack the money for a wedding? Only Talia naively believed Jeremia’s words. In my previous life, I also believed those words. At that time, I thought Jeremia married me and treated me well because he liked me. After three years without getting pregnant, he completely changed. On my wedding day, Jared held a wedding at the Larson Manor, inviting countless elite families from New York. Jared, dressed in a pure white suit, had a joyful expression on his usually stern face. He wrapped his arm around my waist, lifted my veil amid everyone’s cheers, and kissed my lips. “Happy wedding.” My cheeks flushed, and my heart raced. I thought, “Isn’t Jared supposed to be cold and distant?” “But why does the person in front of me seem nothing like the rumors?” In my previous life, he rarely appeared with Talia, always looked cold at family banquets, and spent his days studying medicine, either at the hospital or in his private apartment. And Talia, besides mocking me, always said Jared was like a work robot. After the wedding, Jared took me to live in an apartment outside. I was a bit surprised. “Don’t we need to live with your parents at the Larson Manor?” In my previous life, Jeremia insisted on living with his parents and told me we must be filial and not let them feel lonely. Jared tugged at his tie and gave a faint smile. “No need. How can we enjoy our time together if we live with them?” My face turned red, not knowing how to respond. Jared picked me up and carried me into the bedroom. When I woke up again, the housekeeper told me he had gone on a business trip to treat a patient. I looked at the message he sent on my phone, feeling a bit lost. It seems he really loves his work.

People in the circle all say Talia is Jeremia’s true love, and the two are considered a model couple. Jeremia cares a lot about Talia’s health and bought her many supplements. To protect her, he even argued with Freya. He almost always gives in to her, earning the media’s title of “ideal husband.” But somehow, my news spread to the hospital where I work. “The day after their wedding, her husband went on a business trip. Sofia really is just a pawn in a marriage alliance. Maybe Jared has someone he loves out there!” “Could be! What’s the point of a grand wedding? Marriages in wealthy families are just mutual benefits.” Colleagues at the hospital talked about me behind my back. I don’t even know who I offended; even the media started spreading rumors that Jared was forced to marry a woman he doesn’t love and avoids coming home after the wedding. And these rumors about me finally erupted completely at a family dinner. After a year apart, Talia doesn’t seem as great as others claimed. Her figure was out of shape, her eyes filled with exhaustion, and a few pimples appeared on her face. When she saw me, shock and jealousy flashed in her eyes. “Sofia, I didn’t expect you to be doing so well without Jared around.” I smiled. “He’s away on a business trip, of course I’m doing just fine.” Talia pursed her lips, then clung to Jeremia’s arm with a hint of pride in her tone. “Jeremia treats me so well, he wouldn’t bear to go on long business trips. He even tells me not to work too hard and just stay home to enjoy life.” Seeing that I didn’t seem to react, she added, “Why don’t you quit your job too? Working at the hospital is so exhausting. Could it be that Jared isn’t giving you money to spend?” I smiled and said, “Do I need a man to support me? You know my family is wealthy. Besides, how do you know my husband hasn’t given me money?” Talia was momentarily speechless. Before she could say anything else, Jeremia suddenly spoke, “It seems like you really like Jared being away on business trips often.” I replied indifferently, “Of course, I love my husband.” Jeremia’s face suddenly darkened, letting out a cold snort. Talia’s gaze shifted back and forth between Jeremia and me, and she hurriedly tried to pull him away. Jeremia, who had always been obedient to her, suddenly shook off her hand, causing her to stumble and almost fall to the ground. Jeremia’s face darkened as he said coldly, “Sofia, after marrying Jared, do you think no one else matters? Do you really believe your marriage is that solid?” “Jared can solve your family’s problems, and I can make your family face problems again!” I let out a cold laugh, not wanting to argue with him anymore, and turned to leave. But at that moment, Jeremia suddenly grabbed my hand. “I won’t allow you to like anyone else!” As I struggled, a cold shout came from the doorway, “Let her go!”

My name is Stefan Jenkins. On the day I returned home, Maeve Stewart sent me a photo of a baby. She asked me to name the baby, bring my ID, and said she had a big surprise waiting for me at City Hall. When I arrived with baby supplies, she and her friends were mocking me. “I told you, he’s been abroad for a year, but he’s still my sidekick. As long as I beckon, he’s willing to help me raise a child!” After speaking, she still looked at me with an amused expression. “Stefan, how are you still so naive? A joke can make you rush over like this!” They laughed at me without restraint. But when I walked past them, registered my child’s birth certificate, and took a commemorative photo with my wife in my arms, Maeve’s eyes turned red from crying. ***** After a year apart, Maeve still seems to dislike me. Watching them clutch their stomachs and laugh until they squatted on the ground, I couldn’t help but clench my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. “Stefan, you’re really stupid. Chasing Maeve for so many years, haven’t you improved at all?” “Every time we think you’ve finally decided to leave, you turn around and cling back again!” “Wake up, even if you’re willing to help Maeve raise her child, she still looks down on you!” Sharp taunts pierced my ears, and I trembled all over with anger. Maeve saw me staying silent and pretended to be concerned, pinching her voice as she said, “Stefan, do you not like the gift I prepared for you? What should I do? I spent so much time on it.” She spoke while pretending to be angry toward her friends. “You guys are a bit too much. Stefan just got off the plane and rushed over, how can you bully him like this!” After she finished, there was another burst of laughter, with Maeve’s voice particularly grating. Just as I turned to leave and end this farce, she suddenly called out to me, pulling out a big dog from behind and handing me the leash. She said, “Stefan, I can’t take advantage of you for nothing. This is a stray dog Robert picked up, and he just got the dog license. He doesn’t have time to take care of it, and since you want to be a dad, let this dog be your son.” After she finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter again. “Maeve, let me remind you, be careful of someone using dog care as an excuse to pester you every day!” Looking at the dog leash in Maeve’s hand with Robert Griffin’s name and phone number written on it, I froze in place, motionless. If it were the old me, I would have taken the dog leash with a big smile and repeatedly promised to take good care of the dog. But now, I directly shook off her hand and took a few steps back. “Sorry, I have a baby at home, not suitable for keeping a dog!” The whole room fell silent for a moment, then erupted into even sharper laughter. “Stefan, are you still dreaming? Do you really want to be a dad to someone else’s kid?” “We are all well-educated people, how can your mind be so slow?” “I never thought you were so despicable!” She glanced at me with the same familiar disdain and contempt, speaking while patting her skirt, as if afraid I might dirty her white dress. Even though I had imagined countless times what it would be like to reunite with Maeve before returning home, I never thought it would be like today.

Before the plane took off, I posted the flight information on Instagram. Then, I got a call from Maeve. She said something had happened and asked me to go straight to City Hall as soon as I landed. I still remember my trembling hands when her call appeared on my phone, and I can’t forget my racing heartbeat when her anxious voice reached my ears. I thought she had finally realized that when she needed help the most, I was the one always by her side. But what I didn’t expect was that after hanging up, she posted the entire setup of this farce on Instagram. However, she seemed to forget to block me, someone she hadn’t contacted for a year, so I ended up knowing their entire script. When the flight attendant reminded me to turn off my phone, tears were already streaming down my face. She took advantage of my ten years of unwavering obedience to her, which is why she hurt me so recklessly time and again. She once said that if one day she got tired, she would marry me and have a child. Now she’s not tired, but I am. I came to City Hall indeed to apply for a birth certificate for a child, but it’s for my own child. I rubbed the bottle in my hand, tucked it into my arms, and walked past Maeve to handle the paperwork. She immediately blocked my way. “Stefan, that’s enough, don’t get too carried away!” “If you could really move on from me and have a child with another woman, would I have given you a dog? Who are you pretending to be so devoted for?” I couldn’t be bothered to explain and felt disgusted even looking at her. Perhaps my sudden coldness caught her off guard, as she grabbed my arm and refused to let go. Just as I was about to pull my arm away and leave, Robert rushed over. “Maeve!” Hearing this, Maeve immediately let go of me and threw herself into Robert’s arms, instantly putting away her sharpness and showing a warm smile. “Didn’t you say you’d come with me to get the dog license when I had time? There are so many viruses out there, what if the dog gets sick?” He took the leash and looked at me while speaking. Then, as if just noticing me, he quickly said, “Stefan, when did you get back? Are you holding formula and diapers? Do you have a child?” Maeve quickly covered her mouth and laughed, “Who could he have a child with? I tricked him by saying I needed to get documents for a baby, and he actually believed I had a baby and even bought so many baby supplies.” “Isn’t he silly?” Seeing her openly mocking me, Robert immediately interrupted her, “Maeve! Stefan rushed over because he was worried about you. You shouldn’t make fun of him like that.” As always, he played the considerate and magnanimous good guy, while I ended up being the one who couldn’t let go. I didn’t want to get entangled with them any longer, so I patiently explained, “Sorry, I have something to do. Please let me through.” After saying that, I prepared to leave again. Just as I turned around, Robert grabbed me, and the bottle in my arms fell to the ground, spilling milk everywhere. The people around all looked over with expressions of disdain. “Stefan, why are you still carrying a bottle?” Robert seemed startled, looking at me in shock. Maeve wanted to say something else, but I interrupted her directly, “Yes, I said from the beginning that I came to get a birth certificate for my child. But you refused to believe me. Now look, the bottle’s broken, and my wife will be mad later.” Hearing this, the smile on Maeve’s face froze instantly. At that moment, my wife Andrea Nelson made a video call, and I put it on speaker. I said, “I’m already here, but there was a bit of an accident. You might need to find a nursing room to feed the baby yourself later!” The woman’s voice and the baby’s cries from the call reached everyone’s ears without missing a word.

I looked at Maeve, whose face was gloomy, and said calmly, “I came here today not because of your call asking me to come, but because my child really needs to get the birth certificate done today.” “Because my wife left in a hurry and didn’t bring baby supplies, I bought them right after getting off the plane.” Maeve sneered and said, “Stefan, what’s the point of lying? Can you just claim to have a child out of nowhere? You’ve really gone to great lengths to get my attention.” She rolled her eyes at me, full of disdain. Seeing that she still didn’t believe me, I had no choice but to take out the birth certificate application form. Her friend snatched it first, opened it, and read aloud, “Father: Stefan Jenkins, Mother: Andrea Nelson…” Hearing Andrea’s name, Maeve’s tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed a bit. She looked at me with disdain, full of mockery. “Stefan, if you’re going to fake it, at least put some effort into it, okay? Andrea Nelson, the heir of The Nelson family, is someone you think you can reach?” “You even claim to have a child with her. Do you think I’m as stupid as you?” After she finished speaking, she shoved the application form back into my arms without even looking. Robert glanced at me meaningfully after seeing that. “Stefan, as a man, I understand the feeling of unrequited love. Maeve can be a bit willful, but you really don’t need to lie just to get back at her.” “I know your ten-year relationship is extraordinary, but…” “Who has a ten-year relationship with him? I have no feelings for him at all, Robert, don’t misunderstand!” Maeve hurriedly distanced herself from me. After speaking, she added, “My Bella and Max have been with me for ten years too, but who says ten years of feelings must mean anything?” Bella was the cat I gave her on her eighteenth birthday, and Max was the dog she adopted to keep Bella company. The more she explained, the more her voice trembled, almost breaking into tears. And my heart grew colder bit by bit with her anxious words. Maeve’s friends said I was shameless, ugly, and still trying to climb up to the Nelson family. Maeve took the lead in jeering, and the others immediately chimed in. For a moment, it felt like I had committed an unforgivable crime. I quietly put away the application form. Reason told me that such people weren’t worth wasting my time explaining to, but seeing their contemptuous looks, I stubbornly wanted to prove that I was telling the truth. Then, I took out my phone and pulled up my wedding photos with Andrea and pictures of our child’s birth. I said, “These are photos of our family of three. If you don’t believe me, see for yourselves.” I held up my phone and swept it past them one by one. When it was Maeve’s turn, she just glanced at it, and the smile on her face vanished completely. She stared at the phone in a daze for a long time, unable to react. The person next to her noticed her reaction, quickly grabbed the phone, and flipped through the photos one by one, still speaking with disdain. “I want to see how long you can keep pretending.” Maeve stood aside pretending not to care, but her eyes kept staring intently at the phone. Until the girl holding the phone spoke softer and with more hesitation, Maeve finally couldn’t hold back and snatched the phone away. When she saw the photo of our family of three on the phone, her hand trembled slightly, and then she glared at me with bloodshot eyes, her tone no longer as confident as before. “Stefan, don’t think that faking a few photos will make me soften and marry you. I want to see how many more fake pictures you’ve prepared just to be with me!” Robert quickly stepped forward to support her and gently comforted, “Maeve, when we get married, I’ll take you to the beach for wedding photos, okay?” But Maeve didn’t respond sweetly as usual; she just kept scrolling through the phone. As the photos flashed by, her face grew paler and paler.

My name is Harley Bennet. The girl I adopted, Malia, is an ungrateful person. She competes with me in everything, seduces my husband David Hayes, even gets pregnant with his child, and teams up to kill me, taking all my property. When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn to the day I first met her at the orphanage. ***** “This girl is adorable, well-behaved, and obedient. You’ll definitely like her.” The orphanage director, Freya Perkins, stood beside me, pointing at a little girl with pigtails, introducing her with a bright smile. “Hello,” she said with a smile, revealing sweet dimples. I stared at that hauntingly familiar face, my eyes filled with hatred. She is Malia. In my past life, because I couldn’t have children and desperately wanted one, I discussed with David about adopting from an orphanage. I originally wanted to adopt a four- or five-year-old child, but seeing Malia’s innocence and charm, I instantly liked her and adopted her at twelve. But unexpectedly, her nature was truly vile. In the first six months at my home, she behaved very well, studied diligently, and occasionally helped with chores. By the time she started middle school, she completely changed. She stopped studying seriously, refused to do homework, and her exam scores gradually fell behind. She came home very late at night and spent weekends going to bars to drink, sing, and dance with her friends from outside. She smashed the birthday gift I gave her, put dead mice in my drawer, broke my lipstick, and added lemon juice to my milk. She would even make up lies to drive a wedge between me and my family. She started caring whether David spent weekends with her or me, and whether the dishes David cooked were her favorites or mine. She barely paid attention to me and often stuck to David. I once thought it was just teenage rebellion and patiently guided and educated her. Until one time, when I entered the room to bring her fruit, I found her straddling David’s lap. I questioned them about what they were doing. She said, “We didn’t do anything.” David also complained, “Why are you so worked up? I’m just helping her with homework.” I was half-convinced but unwilling to think the worst of people. I just told her she’s no longer a child and should maintain boundaries when interacting with the opposite sex. Later, while I was busy working to support the family, Malia was busy seducing David. Less than a year later, I found out Malia was pregnant. It turned out David hadn’t failed to maintain boundaries; they had been involved all along. I broke down and demanded a divorce from David. But before the divorce, they conspired to kill me, claiming I accidentally fell to my death. The truth was they tricked me into going near the window and pushed me down. David’s mother, Sophia Hayes, was involved too. She despised me for not being able to have children, but Malia could, so Malia was more qualified to be David’s wife. Afterward, they received a huge insurance payout and inherited my assets. I can’t rest in peace. When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn. I returned to the day in my past life when I first met Malia at the orphanage. She still flattered me, warmly saying I was young and beautiful. But this time, I ignored her kindness and pointed at the quiet little boy standing in the corner, watching me from afar, saying, “I want him.”

Malia was stunned, and Freya was also stunned. Freya quickly came to her senses. She said, “Him? Sure. His name is Charlie, and he doesn’t talk much. I’m getting old and forgetful, almost forgot about him.” “Charlie, come here, this is Ms. Bennet.” Freya cleared her throat, looking calm, then waved Charlie over. I know this orphanage will be closed in three years because Freya committed child molestation. In my previous life, she recommended Malia to me, saying she liked me and persuaded me to adopt her. But it wasn’t because of Malia’s outstanding behavior; it was because of their improper dealings. They made a deal: as long as Freya could help Malia find a wealthy family, Malia wouldn’t report Freya. And Charlie once rejected Freya. That’s why Freya always ignored him. “Ms. Bennet, hello,” Charlie said timidly. I reached out and ruffled his messy hair, softly saying, “Hello, Charlie. Ms. Perkins, I’ll take him.” Hearing this, Malia’s face changed drastically. She almost blurted out, “Why didn’t you choose me?” People around cast surprised glances. I narrowed my eyes slightly. Normally, if not chosen by a preferred parent, she would at most feel sad and disappointed, not angrily question. I thought, “Could it be that she was reborn too?” “If that’s the case, even better.” Originally, I felt a trace of guilt toward this Malia who hadn’t done anything wrong yet, but now, my burden is completely gone. The evil she committed in her past life can be settled all at once in this life. I turned my head and asked, “Julia, didn’t you also want to adopt a child?” I didn’t come to the orphanage alone; I came with my colleague Julia Lakin. Julia is my subordinate. She is in her forties, believes in staying single and childless, and had adopted a girl in her early years, but sadly, the child passed away due to illness. Today, she came to the orphanage with me because she wants to adopt another child. In her past life, she chose Charlie. Charlie is quiet, sensible, filial, and excels in academics. However, Julia, who appears honest and simple on the surface, is actually a psychologically twisted sadist. In her past life, Charlie couldn’t bear her torment and committed suicide two years later. I suspect the cause of that previous girl’s death was most likely also due to Julia’s abuse. In this life, I will protect Charlie. As for Malia, let her and Julia torment each other. Julia was already interested in Malia under Freya’s strong recommendation. Previously, since I was her boss, she didn’t dare compete with me. Now that she sees I didn’t choose Malia, she immediately agrees with delight. “Alright, then I’ll take Malia!” Malia’s expression was complex, with a hint of confusion in her eyes. In my past life, I was afraid she couldn’t handle it, so I never told her about Charlie’s suicide. She naturally doesn’t know now either. She saw that although Julia was older, her family was fairly well-off, so she reluctantly nodded in agreement. Before leaving, she still glanced at me several times, unwilling to let it go. I smiled and waved goodbye to her. Wasn’t enjoying all my wealth in her past life enough? She wants to do it again in this life? Dream on!

When I brought Charlie home, David, as usual, lost his temper with me. “Didn’t we agree to adopt a four or five-year-old? Why did you adopt such an older child?” “I agreed to you adopting a child, but I never said a teenager! What are you doing? Do you think my life isn’t chaotic enough?” I ignored him and went straight to the room to start packing. He followed me, continuing to yell, “Didn’t you hear me? Playing deaf? What are you trying to do? You’ve got some nerve!” I stopped what I was doing and looked at him calmly. “Let’s get a divorce.” David’s job is easier than mine, his salary is lower, yet he leaves early and comes home late, then just lies in bed playing on his phone, never doing any housework. Whenever work frustrates him, the first thing he does after coming home is take it out on me. I wanted a child and suggested visiting the orphanage on the weekend, but he made an excuse about working overtime and told me to go alone. Since we got married, he’s been avoiding all troubles like this. In my past life, I silently endured it, fearing gossip from relatives and neighbors, until I discovered his affair with Malia and finally decided to divorce. Now reborn, I will no longer endure. My salary is four times his, and I cover almost all the household expenses. This marriage is already meaningless. If we divorce, I can take good care of the child on my own. “What did you say?” David widened his eyes, unable to believe that I, always submissive, would say such a thing. I repeated, “I said, I want a divorce!” At first, he disagreed, but Sophia was thrilled. “David, she hasn’t been able to have a child for so long, she’s useless! You should’ve divorced her ages ago! She’s finally letting you go!” “She can leave if she wants! Anyway, the house is ours, and where she lives afterward is none of our business.” “Hurry up and find a virtuous wife, and have a child quickly!” “By the way, that colleague Jasmin you mentioned before, isn’t she interested in you? She hasn’t been married, right? Is there a chance for you two?” David blushed and retorted, “Mom, don’t talk nonsense. We’re just ordinary colleagues.” I do have some impression of Jasmin Griffin. In my past life, I found their chat history on David’s phone. David cried and promised me he would never do it again, begging for my forgiveness. At that time, I was in the prime of my career, so I didn’t pursue it further and didn’t know what happened afterward. Sophia smiled brightly and unilaterally confirmed their relationship. “I think she’s great, let’s go with her!” With her help, David and I quickly got divorced. Not long after, David and Jasmin quickly registered their marriage. Sophia specifically messaged me, asking me to see how happy David was after leaving me. I completely ignored it. She was waiting to see me end up on the streets, but I turned around and bought a detached villa in full. She assumed I’d be exhausted taking care of the child alone. But Charlie is obedient, independent, and eager to learn, leaving me nothing to worry about. My good days are just beginning. And their happy life is about to end. Because they don’t know that the one with fertility issues isn’t me, but David.

I wore stunning makeup and a sexy deep-V dress the day I divorced billionaire Richard Sterling. He looked at me with disgust. “Dressed like that? Already on the prowl?” I touched the ruby at my throat and smiled. “Yes. And you even know him.” He scoffed.”Delusional. You’re forty and divorced. Who’d want you? Beg, and I might take you back.” Offended? Please. Just last night at my bachelorette, seven guys asked for my digits. A handsome one even proposed on the spot. Richard didn’t head for the courthouse right away. He drove in the opposite direction. Catching my questioning look, his voice was ice. “Valerie will be there today. Once we’re done, I’m marrying her. She’s waited twenty years. No more waiting.” So that was it. Our entire marriage-a hollow, convenient arrangement. A performance that had run its course. When we arrived outside Valerie Hayes’s house, I got out to buy a bottle of water. When I came back, she was in my seat. “Scarlett, I always ride up front with Richard. You understand, don’t you?” Why would I? We were here to get a divorce anyway. I simply climbed into the back seat. Just then, Valerie turned her head, her eyes fixed on my wrist. “What a beautiful bracelet!” “Scarlett, give Valerie the bracelet,” Richard ordered, his hands on the steering wheel, not even glancing back. This bracelet was a birthday gift from Richard three years ago. My fiancé wouldn’t want me wearing another man’s jewelry, so I slipped it off and held it out to Valerie. “I have plenty of jewelry at home. If you like it, I’ll send all of it to you.” Seeing this, Richard nodded, satisfied. “Scarlett, as long as you don’t cause a scene, I promise no one in our circle will know about our divorce.” I didn’t answer. He had no idea I was getting remarried very soon myself. Suddenly, my phone vibrated. It was my fiancé. “I’ve boarded, I’ll be there soon.” His voice was full of tenderness. “I miss you so much!” I happily replied, “Okay, see you in a bit.” Richard caught the smile on my lips in the rearview mirror. A surge of irritation flared in him. He was about to ask who it was when Valerie, sitting in the passenger seat, suddenly shrieked. “What’s wrong?” Richard asked gently, turning his head. Valerie cried, “Oh no, the bracelet broke! It was fine a moment ago.” I was still busy on the phone, completely unaware of the bracelet. Richard’s anger immediately ignited. He grabbed the broken bracelet and hurled it at me. Before I could even react, Richard snatched my phone and threw it out the car window. My phone was instantly crushed by a passing car. “Richard Sterling, what the hell is wrong with you!” I yelled, furious. Richard pulled the car to the side of the road and dragged me out. My heel slipped, and I twisted my ankle the moment my foot hit the ground. Seeing my swollen ankle, he scoffed and threw my hand away in disgust. “I only asked you to give Valerie a bracelet, and you deliberately broke it. Scarlett, how can you be so vicious!”

He convicted me without even asking? I looked up at Valerie in the car. She quickly averted her eyes, flustered. From the moment she arrived, I was recast in Richard’s story as the villain. My investment in his family firm became a scheme to force his hand in marriage. My ambition to excel was a plot to steal his empire. Even my choice of clothes was a calculated bid to stir his jealousy. Now, even though Valerie had deliberately broken the bracelet, he still thought it was my doing. But today, I was too tired to argue with him. “Yes, that’s right. I didn’t want to give it to her. I wanted to spite her. Are you satisfied now?” Gritting my teeth against the searing pain in my ankle, I straightened up and turned, walking away down the road without looking back. He stood by the car, haughty. “Scarlett, since you admit it, don’t blame me for punishing you! You can walk to the courthouse yourself today!” Ha, leave me? Hadn’t he abandoned me for Valerie enough times? At our wedding, he received a message from Valerie and left without a word of explanation, right in front of all our guests. The night I had appendicitis, he also abandoned me to go see Valerie. After all that, my heart had long since turned to ice. By the time I reached the courthouse, my foot was incredibly swollen. I was leaning against a wall by the roadside to rest when someone suddenly rushed up from behind and forcefully swept me into his arms. “Richard Sterling, put me down!” Richard’s face was taut. As if he hadn’t heard me, he walked straight inside. As we passed Valerie, a flash of resentment flickered in her eyes. The moment we entered, a staff member approached us. “Sir, madam, are you here for a marriage certificate?” Richard’s face darkened, and his grip instantly loosened, setting me down. “No, we’re here for a divorce.” After the paperwork was done and I had my divorce certificate, I sat aside, waiting for my fiancé to pick me up. “Scarlett, aren’t you leaving? Your foot looks pretty bad. Richard and I can take you to the hospital after we get our marriage certificate!” Valerie said, smiling sweetly as she intimately linked her arm with Richard’s. I touched up my lipstick in my compact mirror. “No thanks, I’m waiting for my fiancé. He’ll take me to the hospital later.” “Oh, what a coincidence! Richard, why don’t we wait with Scarlett for a bit?” Valerie pulled Richard to sit next to me. “Once we’re done with our marriage certificate, if Scarlett’s fiancé still hasn’t arrived, we can give her a ride.” Valerie probably thought I was fabricating a “fiancé” to maintain my dignity. Richard tenderly took her hand and put it in his pocket to warm it. “You’re always worrying about others, you know.” The sky was getting dark, and my fiancé still hadn’t arrived. I reached into my pocket for my phone, only to remember it had been crushed by the car earlier. Annoyed, I stood up, about to leave. Valerie, clutching her freshly acquired marriage certificate, walked over, smiling. “Scarlett, why isn’t your fiancé here yet? You don’t have to lie to us, you know. Where would you get a fiancé? Let us take you to the hospital!” I checked my pockets again. I hadn’t brought a single cent. So, I didn’t refuse her offer. Stepping outside, I carefully descended the steps, holding onto the railing. “Scarlett, let me help you.” Valerie hurried to catch up. I was on the verge of dismissing her when- “Ah!” A sharp cry. Her foot seemed to slip, and she fell backwards. Richard caught her effortlessly. She clung to his chest, tears instantly welling in her eyes. “Scarlett, I only wanted to help. Why would you push me?” Richard gently stroked her back, his face filled with tenderness. He turned and grabbed my hand, yanking me down the steps. “You’re truly ungrateful, Scarlett.” I was clutching my ankle. He saw it, and a flicker of hesitation crossed his face. He was about to tell me to get in the car when Valerie’s lips parted slightly, and she murmured, “Richard…” He immediately pulled her in his arms into the car. They drove away, leaving me behind.

I hobbled to the police station and asked an officer to take me to the hospital. I had my assistant bring me a new phone. The moment I inserted my old SIM card, a call came through. “Scarlett! You finally picked up! What happened?” My fiancé sounded on the verge of tears. I looked at my freshly bandaged foot, my eyes lowered. “Nothing serious, just twisted my ankle.” “What! Is it bad? Did you go to the hospital?” His words were urgent; he sounded like he wanted to teleport beside me. “My plane had to turn back halfway because of the weather. The moment it landed, I called you, but no one picked up. I was terrified.” I reassured my fiancé. After hanging up, I saw that Richard, who never posted on Instagram, had actually posted. It was his wedding photo with Valerie. I commented, “Congratulations on your marriage! Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness.” Soon, Richard called me. I hung up and blocked his number. Just as I walked out of the examination room, I bumped into Richard and Valerie coming out of the room next door. “Alone?” Richard instinctively furrowed his brow. Valerie’s face contorted with a flash of pure malice. Then she stepped forward, winding her arm around Richard’s waist, her expression smoothing into saccharine sweetness. “Scarlett, still no fiancé? If he were real, wouldn’t he be here with you?” Just then, my phone rang again. I didn’t offer another word. I quickly hobbled out of the hospital. They followed slowly behind me. “Scarlett, you didn’t just make someone up because Richard and I got married, did you?” Richard’s face melted into understanding. He cupped Valerie’s cheek. “Scarlett, drop the act. You don’t need to invent a fiancé. Very few people are capable of a devotion like Valerie’s-waiting over twenty years.” Valerie pouted, clinging to Richard’s arm. “Richard, let’s not bring up the past. I’d do anything for you.” My phone vibrated again. I gestured to my phone to the people behind me. “Excuse me, my ride is here. I’ll introduce him to you both another day.” “Scarlett, what time is it, and you’re still lying to us?” Richard stood not far from me, seemingly waiting to see if I had actually called a car. The driver pulled over. Richard pulled out a wad of cash and tossed it through the car window. “Cancel this ride. You don’t need to pick them up.” He then turned back to me, looking at me with a smirk, as if convinced the person I spoke of was imaginary. “Where are you going? I’ll give you a ride.” Valerie enthusiastically opened the back door for me. “Scarlett, why don’t you just admit it! Even if you just made someone up on a whim, it’s fine. Richard and I promise we won’t laugh at you.” I sighed, feeling a slight urge to laugh. Since these two were so desperate to know who my fiancé was, revealing it a little early wouldn’t hurt. They both knew him, and they knew him very well. The car began to move. Valerie fed Richard fruit one moment, then nestled into his arms to sleep the next. Richard kept glancing my way, but saw only that I was engrossed in my phone, replying to messages, a faint smile playing on my lips. A wave of irritation washed over him. My phone kept pinging with notifications. It wouldn’t stop. Seeing this, Richard’s stifled anger finally broke through. “What,” he snapped, “are you having your friends message you now? To pretend it’s him?” I sent my last reply and locked the screen. “That won’t be necessary.” He gritted his teeth, reaching to snatch my phone. I shifted my hand just enough to avoid him. “Richard Sterling, you have no right to check my phone now.” Anger creased his brow. He finally looked away, his voice tight. “Fine. Let’s see how long you can keep up the act.” At our destination, I stepped out to wait. Valerie, her expression one of smug anticipation, linked her arm through Richard’s and drew him aside to watch. As the crowd thinned, she smirked. “Scarlett, it’s freezing today. Letcs go home. This time, I’ll make sure Richard takes you all the way home-” Her words died when my fiancé approached, pulled me into a close embrace, and kissed me. Richard’s face turned ashen as he strode over and pulled me away. “Scarlett! You can’t be with him!” Valerie looked even more furious, a hand flying to her chest. Then she seized my fiancé’s arm. “How can you be with her!”

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At our seventh anniversary dinner, my husband said just one thing. “Babe, pass the lemon juice.” My best friend instantly rose and passed it to him. I stared, stunned. Chloe quickly explained. “Habit,”she said. “We’re always passing things at family dinners. Do you need some lemon, Valerie?” “No, thank you.” I kept my smile perfectly in place. My fork clattered to the floor. Bending to pick it up, I saw it: my husband’s leg and Chloe’s, tangled under the table, snapping apart. After the party, I told Mark calmly. “Let’s get a divorce.” Mark was shocked. “What the fuck?! Because she passed me the lemon juice?!” Mark turned on me, furious. “Your leg was tangled with hers under the table,” I stated, my voice cold. Mark scoffed. “You’re imagining things. I stretched. My leg brushed hers. That’s it. What, am I not allowed long legs now?” He wouldn’t admit a thing, so I pressed harder. “You also cut her favorite salmon for her, poured her favorite orange juice. Since when do you know Chloe’s favorites?” Mark’s face darkened. “Valerie, have you lost your mind? I was being hospitable. Since when is that a crime?” I didn’t stop. “No wonder she’s stayed single. Tell me, Mark. When did it start with you two?” Mark fell silent, then stormed out, slamming the door. I sank into a chair, overwhelmed, staring at the messy table. We met in college. I came from money but never held his humble start against him. For two years, I was the one who paid the bills. He had always been gentle with me. And yet he cheated. With my best friend. At 11 PM, he still wasn’t home. I went straight to Chloe’s bar. Before I even pushed open the door, I heard Mark’s complaining voice from inside. “You guys know I’m being bullied by my crazy wife, and you’re laughing? Don’t you have any sympathy?” The room was packed, mostly with our mutual friends. Chloe toyed with a glass, leaning against Mark. “Whose fault is it for being so careless, calling me ‘babe’ right in Valerie’s house?” “I thought she wouldn’t be so sensitive. Guess I was wrong, she still figured it out.” She set down her glass and lit a cigarette with the limited-edition lighter I’d given her for her birthday last year. But as she took a drag, Mark casually took the cigarette from her. “You’re pregnant, you can’t smoke!” “Fine, fine. Whatever you say. No smoking. After all, you’re the father of my baby, so you’re the boss.” She stroked her still-flat stomach, resting her head on Mark’s shoulder, a smile playing on her lips. All the blood in my veins turned to ice in that instant. Chloe and Mark weren’t just having an affair; they were having a baby!

“Honestly, Valerie’s such a fool, always insisting on that child-free lifestyle.” “She’s been pampered too much, so she doesn’t know how to think about others.” Everyone around them was siding with the cheating couple. And my husband, Mark, held Chloe’s hand, saying deeply. “Chloe, the fact that you’re willing to bear my child makes you the love of my life!” Hearing his words, tears streamed down my face, and I almost collapsed. My mother had a difficult childbirth when I was born, suffering a massive hemorrhage and passing away before she could even hold me. Because of this, I’d always been terrified of childbirth, and I told Mark about it early in our relationship. But Mark had held me tight then, saying. “Meeting you in this lifetime is enough for me. Children aren’t important at all. My love for you won’t diminish one bit!” I was so touched back then. But now, seeing Mark’s heartfelt gaze toward Chloe, I knew I had been wrong! Just then, someone asked. “Are you two planning to hide it from Valerie forever?” Everyone looked at them expectantly. Mark immediately shook his head. “Chloe and Valerie have been friends for over twenty years. I don’t want to see their friendship ruined. Besides, my business is deeply intertwined with Valerie’s family’s empire. I can’t afford to divorce her.” So, the fundamental reason Mark stayed with me was purely for personal gain. A ripple of murmurs went through the room, and some cast sympathetic glances at Chloe. “Chloe, you’re such a proud person. Are you really content with this?” Chloe kissed Mark, then replied. “Who even cares about marriage anymore? Besides, isn’t this… more thrilling?” Laughter filled the private room, but I felt like I’d fallen into hell. Even worse, I was the last one in our friend group to know about it. With tears streaming down my face, I walked out of the bar and dialed the legal department. “Prepare the divorce papers for me. I want Mark to leave with nothing. Also, I need you to do a few other things for me…”

The following day was the eightieth birthday of Mark’s grandfather, David Davies. But when I walked through the estate gates, I found Chloe inside, seated as if she were family. Mark’s mother was holding her hand warmly, her face alight with fond attention. “Chloe, dear, pregnant women need to focus on nutrition. You’re too thin; it breaks my heart to see. From now on, I’ll prepare your three meals a day, and Mark will bring them to you every day!” Chloe smiled sweetly and innocently, showing no hint of panic when she saw me enter. “Valerie, it’s such a big day, why are you only just arriving? I’ve been waiting for ages.” Before I could answer, Mark’s mother interjected. “She’s a privileged rich girl, it’s a wonder she came at all, why expect so much?” Mark’s mother finished, then immediately offered a strawberry to Chloe. “This strawberry is so sweet, eat more.” I sat across from Chloe. “When did you get pregnant? Mark’s mother knows, but I’m still completely in the dark.” A flicker of guilt crossed Chloe’s face, then she smiled. “Just found out. I was planning to tell you today.” “Yes, pregnant women have a special aura about them. Those of us who’ve had children can spot it right away!” Mark’s mother chimed in, smoothing things over, but not forgetting to take a jab at me. “Valerie, you haven’t had children, so you wouldn’t understand.” I ignored her, my gaze still fixed on Chloe. “Who’s the baby’s father? When are you two planning to get married?” Sensing the coldness in my voice, the smile on Chloe’s lips faded slightly. “I don’t believe in marriage. I never planned to.” But I smiled. “Are you really willing to let your child be branded as illegitimate, laughed at by other kids at school?” Chloe’s face cycled between green and white, glaring at me, unable to utter a word. Just then, Mark, who hadn’t appeared yet, finally entered, assisting Grandpa David. The moment he saw Chloe at the dining table, his face instantly changed. “Chloe, what are you doing here? Who invited you?” “I invited Chloe!” Mark’s mother suddenly stood up and declared loudly. Then she pointed at me and scolded. “Mark’s grandfather is over eighty, and you still haven’t given us an heir! Now that Chloe has finally conceived Mark’s child, of course I have to invite her!” Mark was furious, almost jumping up. “Mom, what are you talking about? Chloe and I are innocent; how could she be carrying my child?” He desperately winked at his mother, but she pushed him away. “What’s there to hide? It’s Valerie’s fault for not being able to have children! And now she dares to be so brazen, calling my grandson illegitimate!” “I’ve wished for this grandson for so long, how can I allow anyone to insult him like this!” Mark was on the verge of tears, about to explain, but Chloe stood up, looking directly at me. “Valerie, you already knew, didn’t you?” “Since it’s come to this, I won’t hide it from you anymore. I am indeed pregnant with Mark’s child.” “All these years, I’ve seen how good he’s been to you and all his sacrifices. I’ve envied you, and I’ve also resented you for not appreciating what you had, for not even being willing to have a child for him.” “You don’t treasure such a good man, but there are plenty of women who want him!” Right in front of me, she grabbed Mark’s hand and declared confidently. “Everything Valerie can give you, I can give you too! I’m tired of holding back. Today, I’m going to be with you openly!” Mark’s eyes flickered, calculating. Then, decisively, he took Chloe’s hand. His gaze when he looked at me was final. “Since the truth is out, Valerie, let’s make this clean. We’ll divorce. I don’t want a cent of yours. But the Davies Corporation is mine. I built it. You won’t lay a finger on it.” I looked at his utterly shameless face and laughed. Without me, how could a poor student like him have gotten his first round of funding? How would he have taken it public in a decade? It didn’t matter. I had more than just revenge in mind. I had a better game to play. Right there, in front of them both, I took out my phone. “It’s Valerie Yates. The corporate ambush on Hayes Group and Davies Corporation can now commence.”

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The day Jace broke my legs for his sweetheart, I swallowed a full bottle of sleeping pills. As my consciousness faded, I clutched the old train ticket from when we eloped. Then I saw him. Jace. But he was eighteen again. “Does it hurt? I’m gonna kill that bastard!” Eighteen-year-old Jace, the hot-tempered gangster, wiped at my tears, furious. He held a blood-stained steel pipe, pure menace rolling off him. “Tell me. Who did this to you?” My gaze caught on the familiar scar above his brow. Trembling, I pointed at the news report on the TV, where the billionaire Jace Thorne stood in a sharp suit. “It’s your future self!” When I opened my eyes, I wasn’t greeted by the sterile white walls of a hospital. Instead, I was staring at the moldy ceiling of a mansion’s storage room. I tried to move. A piercing pain shot through my legs. Looking down, I saw both legs encased in thick plaster casts. “You’re awake?” The voice was familiar, young, and exploded right beside my ear. I painstakingly turned my head. Crouched by the bed was a boy in ripped jeans, a scar above his brow. Eighteen-year-old Jace Thorne. His eyes were bloodshot. He still clutched the bloody steel pipe. His hand reached for my legs, then froze in mid-air and recoiled. His hand was trembling. “Scarlett, does it hurt?” His voice was hoarse, and fat tears rolled down his face. “Don’t worry, I’ll get us out of here. We’ll fight our way through this.” I looked at him, despairing. I wanted to tell him it was useless. Just then, the storage room door was kicked open. The loud bang sent dust raining down. Thirty-year-old Jace Thorne stood in the doorway. Behind him, Serena Hayes, clad in a white dress, wore a look of contrived innocence. The scene was so ironic. Eighteen-year-old Jace would have sold his blood just to buy me a hot meal. Thirty-year-old Jace had personally broken my legs just to soothe Serena’s anger. Jace strode in, his expensive leather shoes clicking heavily on the floor. He saw the twelve-year-old elopement ticket still clutched tightly in my hand. His eyes instantly filled with utter disgust. “Scarlett, stop playing games.” “Who are you trying to scare with a whole bottle of sleeping pills? Breaking your legs was meant to teach you a lesson. Stay away from Serena.” I said nothing, just stared at him. In the air, the eighteen-year-old Jace went berserk. “Stop, you bastard!” The boy roared. He raised the steel pipe and swung it in a wild arc at the thirty-year-old man. “That’s Scarlett! How could you?! How dare you!” The pipe hissed through empty air, passing clean through his torso. The eighteen-year-old Jace froze. He stared at his own hands, then raised the pipe and brought it down again. Once. Twice. Three times. Each swing passed through nothing but air. The boy unleashed a raw, guttural scream, his face twisted in agony. “Why can’t I hit him! Why?!” “Is he a monster?! That’s Scarlett!” Thirty-year-old Jace couldn’t hear or see any of this. He was already turning to comfort a “frightened” Serena. She buried her face in his chest, a trembling finger pointed in my direction. “Jace, Scarlett’s eyes are terrifying. She looks like she wants to kill me… I’m so scared.” Jace’s face darkened. To soothe the woman in his arms, he kicked the glass water cup on my bedside table. Smash. A sharp crack. The cup shattered, sending glass shards flying. Several pieces of broken glass sliced my cheek, and blood instantly began to flow. Warm, sticky. I watched the phantom Jace drop to his knees. His ethereal hands frantically scrambled to catch the blood flowing from my face. He was trembling. “Stop… Please, stop bleeding…” “Scarlett, I can’t protect you. I’m so useless…” At the boy’s despair, I laughed. I turned my gaze to the cold, indifferent billionaire Jace, my voice a sandpaper rasp. “You deserve to die.” Jace frowned, a flicker of displeasure in his eyes. I stared into his eyes, enunciating each word. “You personally murdered the year you loved me most.” Jace’s heart inexplicably clenched. The sudden, sharp pain made his face go pale for a moment. But he quickly dismissed the strange sensation. He scoffed, wrapped an arm around Serena, and turned to leave. Only a single, icy sentence was left hanging in the air. “Keep an eye on her. Don’t let her die. She’s nothing but bad news.” The door slammed shut. Only the eighteen-year-old ghost remained, kneeling by my bed, repeatedly slamming his forehead against the floor to the empty air.

Jace was holding his autobiography launch. To cultivate a perfect entrepreneurial image, his PR team suggested he completely erase his “gangster” past. That, naturally, included me. The next morning, several bodyguards stormed into the storage room. They roughly grabbed my shoulders and dragged me off the bed. A tearing pain shot through my broken legs. I broke out in a cold sweat but bit my lip, refusing to make a sound. The eighteen-year-old Jace went wild. He swung a phantom knife, stabbing wildly at the bodyguards. “Don’t touch her! Get your hands off her!” He dodged between them, slashing and screaming. But it was useless. The bodyguards acted oblivious, pinning me down without pause. Jace walked in. In his hand was a laser tattoo removal device. Across my collarbone ran a line of black ink: “JT&S.” Jace had dragged me to get it done when we were eighteen. We had no money back then, so we went to some dodgy parlor. It hurt so much I cried. He held me and comforted me all night, swearing he’d never get it removed. Now, thirty-year-old Jace stood before me and switched on the machine. “Remove it.” He commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I don’t want Serena seeing these filthy things and getting the wrong idea, and I certainly don’t want the media catching wind of it.” I looked at him and suddenly found it hilarious. “Jace, you begged me to get this done.” Jace’s face was expressionless. “I was young and stupid back then. Now, I just find it disgusting.” The moment the laser hit my skin, a smell of burning flesh filled the air. Excruciating pain, like an electric current, shot through my entire body. I bit my lip so hard my nails dug into my flesh, but I didn’t make a single sound. I wanted to see if this man’s heart was truly made of stone. “Ah!!!” The phantom Jace beside me let out a heart-wrenching shriek. He knelt beside me, clutching his own collarbone as if the laser were burning him. “Don’t touch her! I endured that pain for an entire night to get that done!” “That’s Scarlett’s skin! How dare you, you bastard!” The boy cried, his body convulsing, tears and snot streaking his face. He tried to push away the doctor holding the machine, but his hands passed through the man again and again. On the TV mounted on the wall, the preview for the launch event was being broadcast live. Serena Hayes was present, introduced as Jace’s “soulmate.” She wore a haute couture gown, and around her neck hung the “Heart of Eternity” diamond necklace that was originally meant for me. Eighteen-year-old Jace had promised me he’d buy it for me someday when he made enough money. Now, it sparkled brightly around another woman’s neck. I was in such extreme pain that I started to hallucinate. I thought I saw young Jace, holding my hand, running in the sunset. He said, “Scarlett, when I get rich, I’ll build you a palace.” I wanted to laugh, but I couldn’t. I don’t know how long it took, but the laser finally stopped. The letters on my collarbone were now a mangled, bloody scar. Its original form was unrecognizable. Jace walked over to inspect his “handiwork.” He looked at the raw flesh and nodded in satisfaction. “Clean that up properly. No scars.” With that, he turned to leave. In the corner, young Jace was curled up, hugging his knees. He was no longer screaming, no longer raging. He just bowed his head, his voice as faint as popping bubbles. “I’m sorry, Scarlett… My current self is such trash.” “I can’t protect you… I can’t even protect a tattoo.” I endured the intense pain, painstakingly raising my hand. I made a gesture as if to pat his head in the empty air. “It’s okay.” I whispered, and tears finally streamed down my face. “I don’t want him anymore.”

On Serena’s birthday, Jace, in an act of ultimate humiliation, hosted the party at his home. He even forced me, in my wheelchair, to serve drinks and appetizers to his glamorous guests. Clad in a maid’s uniform, I navigated the crowd in my chair. Every shift sent a dull ache through my broken legs. “”Well, well. If it isn’t the fierce Scarlett we all remember.” One of Serena’s friends covered her mouth in feigned surprise. “To think she’d end up a crippled maid. How the mighty have fallen.” A ripple of laughter spread through the room. Serena clung to Jace’s arm as she approached, pretending concern. “Please, don’t speak of Scarlett that way. She’s suffered enough. Scarlett, why not tidy that mess in the corner for me?” She pointed to a pile of clutter. My eyes followed, and my pupils tightened. On top lay a worn wooden guitar. It was my birthday gift from eighteen-year-old Jace, who saved for three months doing construction and selling his blood to buy it. It was the purest romance he’d ever given me during that desperate age. I pushed my wheelchair like a madwoman, rushing towards it. “Don’t touch it!” I screamed, my voice hoarse. A flicker of malice crossed Serena’s eyes. She lifted her stiletto heel and savagely stomped through the guitar’s soundbox. “CRACK!” “Oh, my, why is this junk so fragile?” Serena disdainfully scraped her shoe on the floor. “It’s covered in dust, so dirty.” In that moment, the string of my sanity snapped. I don’t know where I found the strength, but I lunged from my wheelchair. I bit down hard on Serena’s ankle. “AHHH!!” Serena let out a bloodcurdling scream. “Jace! Help! This lunatic is biting me!” “Scarlett! You have a death wish!” Jace’s furious voice roared above me. Immediately, a massive force struck me. He slammed his open palm across my face. SMACK. The blow was incredibly heavy. I was sent flying, crashing hard against the corner of a coffee table. My ears rang, and the world instantly went silent. Blood seeped from my ear, staining the carpet crimson. I couldn’t hear the gasps around me, couldn’t hear Serena’s cries. But I saw it. I saw eighteen-year-old Jace Thorne, completely unhinged. He knelt on the floor, picking up the shattered guitar, trying to piece it back together, but it was impossible. He clutched the broken remains, letting out a silent, anguished wail that tore through the heavens. Then, he suddenly stood, picked up a sharp wooden shard, and lunged at Jace and Serena. He wanted to kill those despicable two. He charged again and again, passing through their bodies each time. Jace held a “frightened” Serena. His eyes, full of disgust, were fixed on my crumpled form. “Lock this crazy woman in the basement!” He pointed at the guitar fragments on the floor. “Burn all this junk! It’s an eyesore!” In the courtyard, flames blazed sky-high. That guitar, which carried all the boy’s love, was tossed into the fire pit. Flames devoured the instrument, crackling and popping. Young Jace, oblivious to everything, rushed into the fire. He wanted to snatch the guitar back. The flames passed through his body as he twisted and struggled in the inferno. “Don’t burn it! That’s for Scarlett! That’s for Scarlett!” He knelt in the fire pit, his hands fruitlessly grasping at the ashes. In that moment, I couldn’t even clearly see the eighteen-year-old Jace anymore. This, I thought, is what it feels like for your heart to die. Jace suddenly felt a pang of panic. That feeling of dread was even stronger than before. It was as if something vital was slipping away from him forever.

Late at night, the rain poured relentlessly. I was locked in the basement, burning with a high fever. My broken legs were swollen like inflated balloons, and the wounds had started to fester. I knew if I didn’t leave soon, I would die here. I dragged my broken legs, crawling towards the narrow vent window. Every inch I crawled left a trail of blood on the floor. “Scarlett, crawl out! Don’t look back!” The phantom boy crawled ahead of me in my hallucination. He was clearing a path for me. He used his ethereal body to shield me from the nonexistent wind and rain. “Almost there, just a little further.” He looked back at me, a encouraging smile on his face, but his eyes were full of anguish. I gritted my teeth, my nails digging into the dirt, inching forward. Finally, I crawled out of the basement. The torrential rain instantly drenched me. I greedily gasped for the outside air. However, the next second, several powerful flashlight beams hit my face. The blinding light made it impossible to open my eyes. “Running? Where do you think you’ll go?” Jace, holding a black umbrella, emerged from the rain. He wore polished leather shoes, and the tip of one shoe hooked under my chin, his eyes full of mockery. “Serena is pregnant. She can’t handle stress.” “Since you love causing trouble so much, you can go stay somewhere quiet.” My body went cold. The “quiet place” was a fully enclosed psychiatric hospital in the city outskirts. Two burly orderlies roughly grabbed me, throwing me onto a bed like a dead dog. My limbs were tightly bound with leather straps. “Give her a shot. Make her quiet.” Jace stood outside the glass window, giving cold instructions. A large dose of sedatives was injected into my body. My consciousness began to scatter, but my heart pounded as if it would explode. I was allergic to this medication. Breathing became difficult, my throat felt as if it were being choked. The monitoring equipment let out a shrill alarm. “Mr. Thorne, the patient seems to be having an allergic reaction, respiratory failure…” The doctor called to ask for instructions. On the other end of the line, Jace was with Serena for her prenatal check-up. His impatient voice came through. “Don’t let her cause trouble. Increase the dosage. If she dies, it’s on me.” The doctor hung up, his eyes turning ruthless. The orderly roughly yanked my oxygen mask aside. “This woman is such a hassle. She’d be better off dead.” A suffocating sensation washed over me like a tide. I opened my mouth wide, but couldn’t draw in a single breath of air. My vision blurred, and the world turned black and white. Just when I thought I was truly going to die. The bloody boy returned. This time, he was no longer an ethereal shadow. The light bulbs in the ward suddenly exploded. “Bang! Bang! Bang!” Sparks flew, and darkness descended. The heart monitor no longer beeped; it emitted a sharp, piercing shriek. Jace Thorne stood in the center of the ward, covered in blood. His body… had solidified! It was an entity forged from ultimate hatred. “Touch her… you dare touch her…” The boy lowered his head, his voice a guttural rasp, thick with the scent of blood. He abruptly looked up, his eyes blazing crimson like a demon. BOOM! He drove his fist through the one-way mirror. A storm of glass filled the air. Jace stood outside the glass, having just rushed to the hospital. His eyes were wide with horror. He stared at the “monster” who looked exactly like his younger self but radiated pure murderous intent. Across the shattered window frame, Jace glared back at his future self. Rain streaked his face, cutting through the blood. His lips drew back, revealing a chilling, blood-stained grin. He mouthed silently. “I told you.” “I’m taking you to hell.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “331631”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #校园School

When Derek Miller showed up with his secretary, Serena Cross, he pointed a finger right at my face. “You’re nowhere near as sweet or stunning as Serena, and you can’t even handle our kid. Let’s get a divorce.” Serena scoffed, too. “I warned you, Chloe. Women need to know how to keep their men happy, or they’ll just get replaced.” I let out a dry chuckle, looking at Serena’s smug face. “Alright, ex-husband. Enjoy your ‘happiness’.” Less than three minutes later, I’d cleared out the bedroom for them. I swiftly packed my bags, ready to walk out. As I left, I thoughtfully pulled Leo out of his room and pushed him into Serena’s arms. “Leo, this is the new mommy your dad found for you. Now you’ll have someone new to spoil you.” The words had barely left my lips when Leo punched Serena’s stomach. A piercing shriek echoed through the living room. “Honey, it hurts so much! My baby, our baby!” Only then did I notice Serena’s stomach was subtly rounded. At least three months along, I’d guess. Derek rushed forward, pulling Leo away, his face etched with worry as he cradled Serena. Leo, meanwhile, sat on the floor, kicking and screaming. Mrs. Miller, Derek’s mom, came out, drawn by the cries. Seeing her precious grandson wailing on the floor, she immediately snapped at me. “What kind of mother are you, Chloe? You can’t even manage one child?” “All you do is lecture! Do you even know how to be a woman anymore?” I glanced at Serena, about to explain that today had nothing to do with me. Serena immediately took a few deep breaths, straightened up, and forced a smile. “Mrs. Miller, it’s all my fault. Leo accidentally bumped into me, and when Derek pulled him away, it upset Leo.” Mrs. Miller’s expression softened instantly when she saw Serena. She smiled warmly. “Kids are rambunctious; a few cries are nothing.” Her gaze then turned to Serena’s belly, gleaming with anticipation. “Serena, are you alright?” “I’m fine, I’m fine,” Serena said, flashing an ingratiating smile. She pulled out a gaming device and knelt in front of Leo. “Leo, Auntie’s sorry. Auntie forgot to bring a present for our little darling.” “Let’s not be angry anymore. Auntie will play games with you, okay?” Before I could stop him, Leo’s chubby body launched into Serena’s embrace. He snatched the gaming device and began excitedly fiddling with it. Serena shot me a triumphant glance, then started smiling as she showed Leo how to play. Seeing Leo happily nestled in Serena’s arms, Derek immediately shot me a look of pure disdain. “Chloe, what ‘sickness’ could Leo possibly have? It’s just your overly strict parenting that makes him defiant and difficult. Look how calm he is with Serena.” “Since you can’t manage a husband or a child, just stay at the office from now on. Don’t be an eyesore at home.” Serena also looked up, her voice cloyingly sweet and slightly nasally. “Ms. Hayes, Derek has so much on his plate every day; he’s exhausted physically and mentally. How can you burden him with petty family matters?” “Don’t worry about staying at the office. I’ll take good care of Derek and Leo from now on.” Every word from Serena dripped with blatant provocation and indifference, as if I, the actual wife, was nothing but a pushover. But they seemed to forget that not only did I hold twenty percent of AlphaCorp’s shares, but all the company’s core technology patents were developed and filed by me. They were the very foundation of the company. If lust had completely clouded Derek’s judgment, then I guess I didn’t mind running AlphaCorp myself. I swallowed my fury, smiled, and pulled out the divorce papers I’d had ready for ages. “Derek, Ms. Cross is so beautiful, sweet, and understanding. You wouldn’t want her to be called a mistress, would you? Sign these, and she can become Mrs. Miller legitimately.” Derek scoffed. “Chloe, you’ve threatened divorce so many times; aren’t you just trying to get me to ditch my other women?” “If you insist on divorce, fine. Take ten million and leave. The company is absolutely off-limits for you.” From his first affair with an intern to the club managers and bar hostesses, I’d threatened divorce countless times. But he’d always calmly lecture me about ‘human nature’: Chloe, we were college sweethearts, and you were with me from the ground up when we founded AlphaCorp. Ten years of marriage, I truly loved you, and I still do. But I’m a successful man; I have needs, and I crave passion and excitement. You can’t expect me to be like those boring, conventional guys who stick with one woman forever, can you? He sugar-coated his depravity with such pompous justifications. I was tired of his shameless excuses. This time, I didn’t want to drag it out. Since he was handing me the blade, I might as well slice out the poison. I couldn’t be bothered with more talk. I grabbed my suitcase and walked out of the mansion. The moment I stepped outside, I made a call. “Mark, I need you to audit the company accounts immediately, tally the total assets, and have a lawyer draft a divorce settlement.” “Yes, I want Derek to leave with absolutely nothing.”

The first time Derek cheated, I caught him in the underground parking garage. He was terrified, weeping and kneeling before me, begging for my forgiveness. He even slapped himself a hundred times, pleading with me not to divorce him. The company was just stabilizing, and I’d just found out I was two and a half weeks pregnant. For the sake of our child and our business, I forgave him. The stress festered in my heart, and when Leo was born, he was diagnosed with a genetic condition. The second time was with a club manager. He actually bought her the most upscale club in the city. By then, Derek had started to sound self-righteous. “She’s just some tart, right? She offers her services, I pay the bill, and she even helps with clients. Don’t be so petty.” Until the third time, the fourth time… He finally became so nonchalant that he’d tell me about these things as casually as he’d discuss eating or drinking. After a year of heartache, I came to a realization: Leo was still young, the company wasn’t fully stable, so I just started seeing him as a glorified cash cow. After all, I held twenty percent of the company shares, plus my patents, and another thirty percent I’d anonymously acquired. Getting rid of him would be a piece of cake. Love faded like smoke, but the money remained. For an orphan like me, who started from nothing, that wasn’t too hard to swallow. I drove straight to the luxury apartment I’d privately bought. Pushing open the door and flicking on the warm orange light, I finally felt a sense of peace, a moment to truly breathe. Ever since Leo was born, every day was filled with Mrs. Miller’s criticisms, Leo’s volatile temper, and Derek’s endless string of women. Mrs. Miller would say I spent too much time in the business world during my pregnancy, which is why I “gave” her Miller family a “defective grandson.” Leo would throw tantrums for his games, hitting the nannies, screaming and crying if he didn’t get his way, biting and kicking me. Derek’s women would brazenly bring him home, drunk, and they’d kiss goodbye in the entryway as if I didn’t exist. Only here did I feel like I was truly home, a place where I could shed my exhaustion, recharge, and muster the courage to return to the battlefield the next day. After a solid night’s sleep, I put on a bold, striking makeup look and a vibrant red dress, feeling refreshed as I headed for the office. Passing by Leo’s school, I couldn’t resist stopping to glance. Sure enough, there was Derek. Serena was kneeling in front of Leo, one hand holding a cotton candy, the other a fried chicken, as she tried to pacify him. Leo greedily devoured the fried chicken, occasionally licking the cotton candy. I sighed. The doctor had warned that children with Leo’s condition shouldn’t be overly indulged; if they don’t get what they want, they can explode with even greater aggression. And definitely no junk food. Serena proudly patted Leo’s head. “Derek, see how well-behaved Leo is? He’s not nearly as difficult as Ms. Hayes said.” She then turned Leo’s face towards her and asked, “Leo, would you like me to be your new mommy? What if I have a little brother for you to play with later?” A bad feeling twisted in my gut. Before I could even cover my eyes, Leo’s tiny fist flew, connecting squarely with Serena’s eye. “I don’t want a brother! I’m going to kill him!” Then he kicked Serena’s stomach again. By the time Derek reacted, Leo had already grabbed Serena’s hair and furiously scratched her face. Serena shrieked in agony, falling to the ground. Derek rushed to pull them apart, but Leo was stout and strong, and Derek couldn’t restrain him right away. I massaged my temples, letting out a small, wry chuckle, then slammed my foot on the accelerator, heading for the office. Leo has his condition, but he’s not intellectually disabled. His possessiveness is extreme. Once, when I mentioned having another baby, he picked up a vase and threw it at me. It had taken a lot of explanations and promises that he wouldn’t have a sibling for his rage to calm down. I just hoped Serena had enough luck to keep her baby. When I arrived at the company, a few of the executives I’d discreetly cultivated offered respectful greetings. “Ms. Hayes, good morning.” I gave a slight nod and strode purposefully toward my office. Before I could even sit down, Derek called. “Chloe, get to the hospital now. Look at the wonderful son you’ve raised; he kicked Serena so hard she’s having contractions!”

I didn’t want to go, but then I heard Leo’s shouts in the background, and my heart tightened. I immediately got up and rushed to the hospital. No matter his issues, Leo is still the son I carried for nine months. And his outbursts have been slowly decreasing; he’s capable of understanding reason now. If it weren’t for Mrs. Miller’s constant interference, Leo’s condition would probably have improved significantly by now. When I arrived at the hospital room, I found Leo on the floor, crying his heart out, screaming “no little brother!” and “I hate little brothers!” Derek was holding him by the collar, yelling at him. I rushed over, pulling Leo into my arms. “Derek, what are you doing? The doctor said not to agitate Leo, have you forgotten?” “Didn’t you say Serena was so gentle and caring? Is this how she looks after Leo?” I shot a chilling glare at Serena. Derek let go, his face dark. “This is all because you spoil him! He just needs a good beating to learn his lesson.” “Serena was kindly buying him food, and he viciously kicked her in the stomach! What kind of monster will that child become when he’s older?” Before I could speak, Serena, feigning fragility, quickly interjected. “Honey, I really was taking good care of Leo. But he’s… developmentally challenged. I was just thinking, if he had a younger sibling, they could look after him later and also inherit AlphaCorp, bringing honor to your name.” “AlphaCorp is such a big company; we can’t possibly leave it to Leo, can we?” Only then did I notice the long scratches on Serena’s face, her eyes bruised black like a panda’s, as she glared at me with hatred. Serena’s provocations were always blatant. After all, she wasn’t just Derek’s best bedmate, but also his most capable assistant. She was a Harvard MBA grad, outwardly pure but with a seductive charm that made men drool. She’d even sent me videos of them tied up with whips in bed, openly taunting me to learn how to “satisfy a man.” My arms instinctively tightened around Leo, covering his ears. “Serena, you pathetic mistress, and your unborn bastard who doesn’t know his place—how dare you call Leo ‘developmentally challenged’ and dream of inheriting my company? Not a chance.” Serena’s face flushed red, and tears welled in her eyes. “Ms. Hayes, I only said Leo was ‘challenged’ because I feel for Derek, working so hard, hoping for a helper later. How can you be so vicious, cursing my baby?” I frowned, about to tell her she was delusional, when Derek’s enraged voice cut in. “Chloe, I think you’ve completely ruined Leo. He’s inherited your malice deep in his bones.” “Tomorrow, I’m sending Leo to a special education school, and you can go with him to take care of him. Serena will take your VP position. She’s all the help I need at the company now.” I stared at Derek in shock, biting my lip hard. If I wasn’t afraid of scaring Leo, I would have kicked him, slapped him senseless, and taught him what it meant to be a decent human being. Before I could even speak, Leo suddenly shot forward like a little rocket, slamming his chubby head directly into Serena’s stomach. “I don’t want to go to special school! That place is full of bad kids! I’m not a bad kid!” Serena immediately cried out, collapsing to her knees, clutching her stomach and wailing. I rushed over, pulling Leo into my arms, trying to comfort him. Mrs. Miller had once threatened to send him to a special school after he bit her, claiming it was full of “tigers and snakes that eat naughty children.” From that moment, terror had taken root in Leo’s young heart. Derek instantly exploded in fury. He grabbed Leo by the back of his shirt collar and slapped him across the head. “You little monster! How dare you lay a hand on Serena? I’m going to teach you a lesson you won’t forget!” As his hand came down again, I spun, shielding Leo. The slap landed squarely on my head, my ears ringing violently. Leo seized the opportunity and bit Derek’s hand. Derek cried out in pain and flung Leo against the wall. Leo’s forehead hit the wall, and blood immediately gushed out. My pupils dilated. I raised my hand and slapped Derek across the face. “Derek, you’re doing this to Leo for some cheap woman? Are you even human?” I rushed over and scooped up the unconscious Leo. Seeing his son unconscious, Derek also calmed down, his face dark. “This child is completely beyond hope. All thanks to your wonderful parenting.” I cradled Leo’s head, straightened up, and stared at Derek coldly. “Derek, let’s divorce. I’ll take my twenty percent of the shares, plus another ten percent for Leo. That way, you won’t be delayed in having your ‘excellent son’ with your little mistress.”

Before Derek could speak, Serena interjected, her voice vulnerable. “Derek, the doctor said it’s a boy. It’s not that I don’t care for Leo, but if this keeps happening, I’m afraid I might also give birth to a child with… similar issues.” Serena didn’t finish her sentence, her gaze falling pointedly on Leo. Derek’s brows furrowed. I spoke calmly. “Derek, if you don’t agree, I’ll sue you for adultery and emotional distress, and I’ll make sure the court sees all your blatant infidelities. Do you think the court will rule in your favor then?” “Leo is your biological son. If you’re so reluctant to give up shares, fine, I’ll even give you Leo’s shares. But I’ll have people watching you, and if you dare mistreat Leo in any way, I will prosecute you for child abuse.” My gaze lingered on Leo’s forehead as I stared coldly at Derek. Derek hesitated, deep in thought. Serena immediately clutched her stomach, stood, and leaned into him. “Derek, it’s only ten percent of the shares, right? Don’t worry, I’ll help you earn it all back. After a couple more years, we’ll buy up all the loose shares.” “With you and me working together, AlphaCorp will have a brilliant future.” She then lowered her voice. “Worst case, we can slowly undermine the company from within, buy back those shares at rock-bottom prices.” “Giving shares to Leo isn’t giving them to a stranger, right? It just shows what a loyal, good man you are.” Right there, in front of me, they shamelessly began plotting to seize the shares I had anonymously acquired. I couldn’t help but scoff. This decisive divorce was absolutely the right move. Otherwise, those two dogs would have hollowed out the company sooner or later. Fine, if that’s how it is, I won’t hold back either. I’ll just let them go bankrupt and drown in debt. I’d love to see how brilliant their future will be with their combined genius. Derek nodded approvingly, embracing Serena with a cheerful laugh. “You truly understand me best. Meeting you is the biggest blessing of my life.” Then he turned, looking at me with disgust. “You’re always so obsessed with money. If you were even half as sweet and understanding as Serena, I wouldn’t be like this.” “I’ve agreed to the shares. But from now on, you’re not allowed to interfere with the company. Just live a quiet life with Leo. And if I ever find out you’re cheating on me, I won’t let you get away with it.” Derek moved fast. Within twenty minutes, his lawyer had the divorce papers and the share transfer agreement drafted, signed, and ready. I signed swiftly, picked up Leo, and walked out. The moment we stepped outside, Leo’s tiny hand brushed my cheek. “Mommy, I know I have a problem. I’ll be good from now on and won’t make you angry.” I hadn’t cried when Serena insulted me, or when Derek slapped me. But now, I cried. I knew my Leo would be alright. He understood everything; he just couldn’t control himself. Within an hour, I decisively sold my shares and the patents I had developed. Well, it was a bargain. AlphaCorp’s sworn rival, Victor Thorne, almost split his face smiling as I signed the papers. Of course. Acquiring those patents meant seizing AlphaCorp’s lifeblood. All of Derek’s products in sales and those currently in production were now unlicensed. Victor Thorne could bankrupt him in minutes if he wanted to. I wasn’t heartless. The moment he threatened to send Leo to a special school and kick me out of the company, all ties between us were irrevocably severed. There was no need for me to consider the future of someone who had so viciously plotted against me. Looking at the substantial balance in my bank account, I took Leo and flew directly overseas. The moment we landed, Serena “thoughtfully” video-called me. “Ms. Hayes, it’s the company’s anniversary gala tonight. Such a shame you won’t be accompanying Derek for his speech.” “Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Derek and the company from now on. After all, this will be my son’s legacy someday.” On the video, Serena, stunning in a silver evening gown, was arm-in-arm with Derek, who wore a dark patterned suit. They looked like a bride and groom, intimately standing on the grand stage, basking in everyone’s fawning praise. Anyone who didn’t know would think it was their wedding day. Just as Derek excitedly announced Serena’s official appointment as Vice President and their imminent marriage, Victor Thorne burst in with a team of black-suited bodyguards. Derek was about to loudly protest when Victor Thorne raised his hand, projecting the share certificate and patent ownership onto the large screen. “Mr. Miller, since when does a minor shareholder like you have the authority to appoint a glorified courtesan as Vice President?” “As of now, I am AlphaCorp’s majority shareholder. From this moment on, I am your boss.” Through the video, I watched Derek’s pupils slowly dilate, his face morphing inch by agonizing inch into pure terror. Serena reacted, her face drained of color, rushing to the camera and screaming, “Chloe! How could you be so cruel? Do you really have to destroy us?” I let out a soft laugh, my voice calm. “Yes, Serena. I’m going to send you straight to hell.”

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When I was ten, Matteus secretly played with fire in the storage room and caused a massive blaze. Trying to save him, a burning beam fell on me, leaving 80% of my body with severe burns. I went from being a sweet, adored little girl into a monster. For ten years, Matteus was the kindest person to me. He often held me as I trembled from the agonizing skin grafts, his eyes red as he whispered: “Lena, I’ll take care of you forever. Anyone who dares to humiliate you, I’ll kill them.” Mom and Dad also spent every last penny for me. In this house, I seemed like the most cherished treasure. Until that day, when Matteus brought home a beautiful fiancée. I heard it with my own ears, Matteus, the one who swore to protect me forever, his voice ice-cold: “Don’t worry, once we’re married, I’ll send that monster to a care facility out in the countryside.” “Just looking at her face makes me so disgusted I lose my appetite.” I knew then, it was time for me to leave. 0 The lights were off in the room, and the curtains were tightly drawn. I was used to the dark. Because only in the dark, the person in the mirror, like a melted wax figure, wouldn’t look so grotesque. “Lena, drink your medicine.” Mom came in with a bowl, her eyes somewhat evasive. The medicine was bitter, but I didn’t even flinch, tilting my head back and swallowing it down. After multiple skin grafts from the burns, my facial nerves were damaged, so I could barely make any expressions anymore. “Mom, is Matteus coming home today?” My voice was hoarse; my vocal cords were also injured in that fire. Mom’s hand, as she took the bowl, paused, then she forced a smile: “Yes, of course, he’s coming home. It’s your birthday, after all.” I nodded, though it was an almost imperceptible movement. That fire ten years ago. Matteus was completely unharmed. But I was turned into half-human, half-ghost. Since then, my birthday had become our family’s grim anniversary. Every celebration felt like a constant reminder to everyone. Of what I had sacrificed for this family, and what I had become. The sound of keys turning in the lock came from outside the door. Even through the door, I could hear the lightness in Matteus’s footsteps. This was rare. Ever since my accident, Matteus had always been heavy in this house, carrying a guilt-ridden silence. “Mom! I’m home!” Matteus’s voice was high-pitched, filled with barely concealed joy. Immediately after, a soft female voice chimed in: “Hello, Aunt Eleanor, I’m Chloe.” I sat in the darkness, my fingers instinctively clenching the bedsheet. Due to skin contractures, my hand was twisted like a bird’s claw. We had a guest. And it was a girl Matteus had brought home. I heard Mom’s flustered voice: “Oh, oh, hello… Well, you didn’t tell us you were bringing anyone…” “Just wanted to give you a surprise,” Matteus said with a laugh. “Chloe is a colleague from the hospital, and she’s my girlfriend.” The living room filled with cheerful chatter. The sound of fruit being sliced, the TV, and that girl’s laughter, clear as a bell. Her laugh was so lovely. Unlike mine, which only pulled at the scars on my face, making me look worse than if I cried. I hunched in the corner of my room, trying to make myself as invisible as possible. This wasn’t the time for me to appear. As long as I didn’t show myself, Matteus would still be that excellent doctor. A perfect man, without a blemish. Not a “pity case” with a monster for a sister. But biological needs are uncontrollable. I’d been holding it in my room for three hours. Listening to the noise outside die down slightly, I thought they’d gone to the kitchen. I put on my heavy baseball cap, pulled up my specialized face mask, and donned long sleeves and pants. Only after making sure not an inch of my skin was exposed did I carefully push open my door. In the living room, Chloe was sitting on the sofa, peeling an apple. Hearing the door open, she turned her head. Our eyes met. She froze. Even though I was completely covered, my twisted posture, and the dark red scars peeking out from the edge of my mask, still exuded an unsettling aura. “Ah—!” A scream tore through the cozy atmosphere of the house. The fruit knife clattered to the floor. Chloe recoiled in terror, pointing at me: “W-what is that thing?!” 0

“Chloe! Don’t be scared!” Matteus rushed out from the kitchen, embracing his trembling girlfriend. Mom also hurried over, positioning herself in front of me, trying to shield my damaged body. “This is… this is Matteus’s sister, Lena.” Mom’s voice was low, tinged with a humble plea. Chloe, still shaken, hid in Matteus’s arms. Her eyes shifted from fear to disgust, then to disbelief. “Sister? Matteus, you never said your sister was… was like this…” She didn’t say the word, but everyone understood. A monster. An outcast. Matteus’s grip tightened around her, his face darkening. He didn’t look at me, but instead lowered his head, gently reassuring his girlfriend: “I’m sorry, I didn’t prepare you. She… she became like this after that fire.” I stood still, unable to move forward or back. The baseball cap pressed painfully against my head. I needed to use the bathroom, my bladder ached painfully, but I didn’t dare to move a step. “I’m sorry.” I squeezed these three words from my throat, my voice rough like sandpaper grating against wood. Chloe flinched. Matteus finally looked up at me. His eyes held none of the tenderness of yesteryear. Only a fleeting flicker of embarrassment. “Lena, go back to your room,” Matteus’s voice was cold, a command. “Don’t come out and scare our guest.” My body stiffened. This was the first time Matteus had ever spoken to me like that. Before, even if some insensitive kids called me a monster outside, Matteus would rush over and send them packing. Then he would gently tell me: “Lena is the prettiest, they’re just blind.” But now, he was telling me not to scare people. “Matteus! Is that how you talk to your sister!” Mom, unable to bear it, scolded him. Matteus ran a frustrated hand through his hair: “It’s true! Look how scared Chloe is!” “I told you I was bringing my girlfriend home today, why did she have to come out wandering around now?” My heart felt like it was being squeezed by something merciless. I didn’t explain that it was because I needed to use the bathroom. I just lowered my head, dragging my inflexible right leg, and slowly shuffled back to that dark room. The moment I closed the door, I heard Chloe’s tearful voice: “Matteus, I can’t… I’m really scared… that face is terrifying…” “If your family is like this, I’ll have to rethink our marriage.” “No, Chloe, let me explain…” Matteus’s voice was filled with panic and pleading. I leaned against the door, slowly sliding to the floor. The heavy clothing made me sweat all over, and the healing wounds began to itch again. The itch was agonizing, like countless ants crawling under my skin. I couldn’t scratch; one scratch and it would break, then get infected. I could only pinch my thigh hard, until it was bruised, using the pain to suppress the itch. So, I was already a stumbling block on Matteus’s path to happiness. The boy who once said, “I’ll take care of you forever,” had finally bowed his head to reality. I didn’t go out for dinner. Mom brought a bowl of food into my room, piled high with my favorite dishes. “Lena, don’t blame him. He’s just… too concerned about Chloe.” “Chloe’s family is well-off, and she’s beautiful. Matteus’s grown up, it’s not easy for him to start a family.” Mom rambled on, her eyes red. I scooped a spoonful of rice and vegetables into my mouth, trying to swallow it. “I know, Mom.” “I don’t blame Matteus.” What right did I have to blame him? It was my own fault for being so frighteningly ugly. It was me who had burdened this family for ten whole years. 0

Over the next few days, the atmosphere at home was suffocatingly heavy. Matteus left early and returned late every day. He smelled of smoke when he came back. His arguments with Mom and Dad in the living room, even when deliberately muffled, still reached my ears. “Chloe said she’ll marry me, but we can’t buy a house in this neighborhood.” “She said every time she thinks about someone like… *that* being in the house, she has nightmares.” That was Matteus’s voice, thick with exhaustion. “Then what do you want to do? Lena wouldn’t have been like this if she hadn’t saved you…” Dad slammed the table, his voice trembling. “I know! I know she saved my life!” Matteus suddenly exploded, his voice rising to a shout: “That’s why I’ve spent the last ten years of my youth! Every penny I earned went to her treatment! Isn’t that enough?” “Dad, Mom, I want to live a normal life too!” “I’m almost thirty, how many relationships have I messed up because of my disabled sister, do you even know?” “I finally found someone who didn’t care about my modest income, and now, because of Lena… it’s going to fail again!” Silence descended upon the living room. In my room, I bit down hard on the back of my hand. My numb skin bled, and the metallic taste filled my mouth. So, these were Matteus’s true feelings. All those “I’m not tired,” “I’m willing.” Ultimately, in the face of daily despair, they had transformed into “I’m almost thirty,” “I want to live a normal life too.” “Then what are you going to do?” Mom asked, crying. “Send her to a care facility,” Matteus’s voice turned cold, resolute. “I found a cheaper one in the suburbs. We’ll send her there, and I’ll visit her every month.” “As long as she’s not in the house, Chloe will accept it.” “You bastard!” *Slap!* It sounded like Dad had hit Matteus. “Send your sister to a place like that? That’s basically sending her to die! You’re trying to force her to her death!” “Then are *you* trying to force *me* to my death?!” Matteus slammed the door and left. That night, I had a dream. I dreamed it was ten years ago, and the fire hadn’t started yet. Matteus held a lighter, smiling at me: “Lena, look at the fireworks.” If only then, I hadn’t rushed in and pushed him out. If only then, it had been him trapped under the burning beam, not me. Would everything be different now? Or, if that fire had just killed me outright. Then Matteus would have mourned me forever, instead of wishing I would disappear like this. The next day, Matteus brought Chloe home. This time, they were delivering an ultimatum. I heard them in the living room discussing the wedding date, and the financial aspects of their marriage. Finally, the conversation turned to me again. When they weren’t paying attention, I secretly opened the door a crack. I wanted to see Matteus one last time. I wanted to see what the Matteus who once carried me to every hospital in the city looked like now. Through the crack, I saw Chloe nestled in Matteus’s arms, playfully whining: “So, when is your sister moving out? My parents are coming to see the house next month.” Matteus was peeling an orange, offering a segment to her lips. His face held an appeasing and relaxed expression I had never seen before: “Don’t worry, I’ve arranged everything.” “She’ll be gone next week.” “I went to the care facility; it’s a bit out of the way, but no one will see her once she’s inside, so she won’t scare anyone.” Chloe pouted: “Honestly, that day really disgusted me. How can someone look like that, like a burnt monster?” Matteus’s hand paused. I thought he would object. Thought he would say, “Shut up,” like he did when we were kids. But he didn’t. He just put the orange into Chloe’s mouth and said flatly: “It is pretty disgusting.” “If I had known it would turn out like this, it would have been better if she had just died in that fire.” “Living like that is just suffering, and dragging the whole family down with her.” In that instant, the last bit of warmth in my body’s blood turned completely cold. So, I wasn’t just a burden. In Matteus’s heart, I had become so disgusting that he wished I had died. I gently closed the door. Without making a sound. I turned around, looking at myself in the mirror, completely bundled up. It was indeed disgusting. Even I couldn’t bear to look for long. Since Matteus wanted to live a normal life so badly, since my existence was the greatest misfortune for this family, then it was time to end everything.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “331624”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic