Category: English

I am the real daughter of this family. My daily pursuit is to lie on the sofa and do nothing, watch TV shows and eat takeout. When my foster sister heard I was back, To prove she was better than me, she and I took over two of our family’s failing subsidiaries at the same time. The words barely left her mouth when an emergency news bulletin flashed across the screen. My old factory, which I barely remembered owning, had just been rezoned as a core development area due to new urban planning. The compensation? A staggering two hundred million dollars. “Hazel, just look at you!” My mom, Vivian Hart, jabbed a finger at my nose, trembling with rage. “Why can’t you be more like Camilla? More ambitious?” “If you had even half of Camilla’s drive, would the Hart family still be scrambling to impress the Lees?” Beside her stood my adoptive sister, Camilla Hart, who had received an elite education since childhood. Camilla was dressed in a designer suit, her makeup flawless, exuding an aura of polished professionalism. She was a top university graduate, fluent in four languages, the golden girl everyone admired. Meanwhile, I was in an oversized T-shirt and shorts, about to order a huge plate of spicy shrimp takeout. To smooth Camilla’s path, Mom had signed me up for a business gala, practically dragging me out of bed. She frowned, eyeing my T-shirt. “You’re wearing *that*? You’ll be a complete embarrassment to the Hart name!” Camilla, ever so graceful, glided over. Her voice was soft, but in her hand, she held a Dior dress she’d clearly outgrown. “Mom, don’t be upset. Hazel, I’ve only worn this Dior once. You can wear it, try not to shame the family.” Her tone was pure condescension, a charity handout. I couldn’t be bothered to argue, but Mom shoved me into the room anyway, forcing me into the ill-fitting dress. At the gala, Camilla was the center of attention, effortlessly navigating the crowd. She could chat in fluent French with guests and engage in deep discussions with top business magnates, glass of champagne in hand. Me? I just wanted to find an unnoticed corner to hide. A sleazy man with a drink in hand sidled up to me, a lecherous grin on his face. “So this must be the Hart family’s second daughter? Heard so much about you. Care to join me for a drink?” I looked at him, dead serious. “Will drinking with you get me a free spicy shrimp platter?” The entire room fell silent. The man’s face flushed crimson. Camilla elegantly came to my rescue, yet her words made me feel utterly worthless. “My apologies, Mr. Thompson. My sister is a bit… unrefined. She grew up in the countryside, isn’t used to society. Please don’t mind her.” My dad, Richard Hart, looked absolutely furious. He dragged me home, cleared his throat, then slammed two documents onto the coffee table. “These are two of the group’s near-bankrupt subsidiaries. You two girls each get one. One month. Whoever can turn their company around will have a better claim to…” He didn’t finish, but his meaning was crystal clear. He looked at Camilla, his eyes full of expectation, then glanced at me, adding coldly, “I know Camilla’s capabilities. What about you? What can you bring to the Hart family?” Camilla picked up one of the files, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips. “Dad, Mom, don’t worry. I won’t disappoint you.” She finished, then shot a challenging look my way. I nonchalantly picked up the other file, not even bothering to read the company name, and simply stuffed it into my pocket. “Sure, got it.” My attitude completely enraged them. “Hazel Hart! What kind of attitude is that?! Do you have any idea how much Camilla sacrifices for this family? She raises investments, runs deals, she’s running herself ragged! And you? All you do is lie here and order takeout!” Mom’s voice was shrill and piercing. Too lazy to argue, I turned and went back to my room.

The next day, I went to the so-called company. A dilapidated office, a few scattered desks, and a dozen employees looking utterly miserable. There was fifty grand left in the bank. I called the accountant over. “Distribute this fifty grand to the employees based on their tenure and position. Consider it severance and compensation.” The accountant was stunned. “Ms. Hart, this… this is all the company’s remaining liquid capital! If we pay it all out, the company will truly go bankrupt!” “Then let it.” My reply was concise. That afternoon, the company was dissolved on the spot. I dusted my hands and headed home, continuing my grand project of lying flat. That evening, Camilla returned, looking utterly worn out. Her heels clicked aggressively on the floorboards. She kicked open my door, a report slammed onto my face. “Hazel Hart! You useless idiot! I closed a hundred-thousand-dollar deal today! And you? You actually dissolved the company! You’re just a good-for-nothing, can’t be helped!” I slowly tore open a bag of chips, crunching loudly. “Oh, congrats.” “You…” She gasped, her chest heaving, her pointing finger trembling. “The Hart family has no room for a self-sabotaging waste like you! Just you wait!” I watched her retreating back, fuming with frustration, and popped another chip into my mouth. Why bother fighting? Lying down is so much more comfortable. The next day, I was woken from my sleep by a commotion. My mom, Vivian Hart, pushed open my door directly, followed by several household staff. “Throw out all her junk food! And all these messy clothes, every last one!” I frowned, sitting up. “Mom, what are you doing?” “What am I doing? I’m teaching you how to be a person!” She stood with her hands on her hips, looking at me with exasperated disappointment. “Your sister was up until three in the morning working for the company, and you? You slept until now! From today onwards, all your bank cards are suspended. You’ll only get a thousand dollars a month for living expenses. I want to see how you’re going to ‘lie flat’ then!” I watched the staff toss my beloved snacks, bag by bag, into the trash. It annoyed me a little. But arguing was too tiring, so I chose to stay silent. After they finished their rampage, I slowly got up and freshened up. Then I received an unfamiliar call. It was Dave, a former employee from that company yesterday. “Ms. Hart, thank you so much! My wife’s sick and desperately needed money. The money you gave me really saved my life!” On the other end, Dave’s voice was tearful, overflowing with gratitude. He said the employees had pooled money and wanted to treat me to dinner. I refused. Doing good deeds without seeking recognition – mainly, going out to dinner was too much effort. But somehow, the news reached Camilla. That evening at dinner, she started speaking in a snarky tone: “Well, well, our great philanthropist is back? I heard you used all the company’s money to buy goodwill? Hazel, you really are something. You’d rather give money to outsiders than help your own family.” My dad also snorted, “You’re a hopeless case, can’t even stand on your own, and now you’re trying to look like some kind of saint. That fifty grand, if it went to your sister, it could’ve revived a project. In your hands, it’s just money down the drain.” I took a sip of soup and said nothing. Seeing I wouldn’t engage, Camilla pressed on. She pulled a cheap cloth bag from her purse and tossed it in front of me. “Seeing as your cards are suspended, you probably can’t afford a decent bag. I happened to pass a street vendor today and picked this up for you. Twenty bucks, no need to thank me.” Her dismissive gaze was like looking at a beggar on the street. I looked at the flimsy Peppa Pig tote bag and suddenly found it a little funny. “Thanks, sis.” I accepted it calmly. It would be perfect for grocery shopping tomorrow. She turned livid with anger, left her dinner unfinished, and stormed upstairs. Mom sighed dramatically, heartbroken. “What a tragedy. Camilla is such a good child, how did she end up with a sister like you?” I quietly finished my meal. Alright, the word “sister” still sounded quite natural. They seemed to have forgotten that Camilla and I weren’t actually blood relatives.

In the days that followed, Camilla was like a woman possessed, leaving early and coming home late, constantly attending business dinners. Her company was reportedly thriving, quickly securing its second and third rounds of investment. Meanwhile, I went to the local produce market punctually every day, carrying my Peppa Pig tote bag. Because my living expenses were cut, I learned to haggle fiercely with the elderly vendors over every single cent. One day, as I was battling it out with a vendor over the price of a potato, a man in a sharp suit approached me. It was Dave. He looked much more energetic than last time, with a middle-aged man beside him. “Ms. Hart, let me introduce you. This is my cousin, Mr. Harrison. He’s in the construction materials business.” Mr. Harrison handed me a business card, his manner very polite. “Ms. Hart, I’ve heard so much about you. Dave told me everything. You’re a truly generous person. I’m looking to expand a warehouse recently, and I heard you own a disused old factory. Would you be interested in selling it?” I paused, surprised. An old factory? I remembered now. It was a birthday gift from my grandpa when I turned eighteen. He’d held my hand and said, “Hazel, you have a kind heart, unlike the others. This land will bring you blessings someday.” But that place was practically in the middle of nowhere, a forgotten wasteland for years. I’d almost completely forgotten about it. “That place… it can actually be sold for money?” “Of course!” Mr. Harrison’s eyes lit up. “Even though the location is remote, the area is huge, which perfectly suits my needs. I’m willing to offer you four hundred thousand dollars. How does that sound?” Four hundred thousand dollars. To me, that was an astronomical figure. Dave was an honest man, and his cousin looked trustworthy. I barely hesitated before agreeing. On the day of the contract signing, I deliberately brought the Peppa Pig tote bag my sister had given me, with my ID and household register inside. After getting the money, the first thing I did was go to the mall and buy a ton of snacks, then took a taxi home. When I appeared in the living room, lugging multiple shopping bags, the three Hart family members stared at me, their expressions strange. “Hazel Hart! Where on earth did you get the money for all this junk?” My mom was the first to attack. “Oh, I sold that old factory Grandpa gave me,” I replied casually. “Sold it?!” Camilla shrieked. “You actually sold it? For how much?” “Four hundred thousand dollars.” “Four hundred thousand dollars?” Camilla burst out laughing as if she’d heard the funniest joke. “Hazel Hart, are you stupid? Even though that factory is remote, the land alone is worth at least half a million! You actually sold it for four hundred thousand? You’re such a spendthrift!” She acted utterly distraught, as if the factory belonged to her. My dad’s face was grim. “Nonsense! Why didn’t you discuss family matters with us first? Four hundred thousand, you’ve been ripped off!” I looked at their outraged faces and suddenly felt completely bored. “It’s sold, what’s the point of talking about it now?” I didn’t want to waste any more words on them. I took my snacks and went upstairs. Behind me, Camilla’s scornful sneer followed. “Trash will always be trash. Even if a gold mine falls into her lap, she wouldn’t know how to keep it.”

A month later, it was the Hart family’s private dinner. Ostensibly a family gathering, it was actually a celebration for Camilla, hosted by Mom and Dad. Apparently, her subsidiary’s market value had tripled in a month, becoming a small miracle in the industry. At the dinner, Camilla wore a dazzling red gown, her chin slightly raised, basking in the praise of all the relatives. “Camilla is truly amazing, a credit to the Hart family!” “Indeed, unlike some people who occupy a position but do nothing but squander resources.” Everyone’s gaze subtly shot glances my way. I was wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans, sitting in a corner, intently gnawing on a king crab leg. It tasted good, just a little salty. Camilla, holding a champagne flute, gracefully approached me, looking down on me with a condescending air. “Hazel, I hear you’ve been living quite comfortably lately, thanks to the money from selling the factory?” I nodded. “It’s alright. I have unlimited snacks now.” She scoffed, her voice low but loud enough for everyone to hear. “Some people are just born trash, a lost cause. Give them all the wealth in the world, and they’ll still blow it. Give them an opportunity, and they’ll ruin it with their own hands.” She paused, her eyes openly contemptuous. “A month ago, we were given identical companies. I grew mine to be worth millions, while you personally dissolved yours. Now, for a mere four hundred thousand dollars, you sold the most precious sentimental keepsake Grandpa left you. Hazel, tell me, what good are you?” The entire room fell silent. Everyone stared at me, waiting to see my humiliation. My mom, Vivian Hart,’s face was a mix of embarrassment and shame, looking at me as if I were her enemy. My dad, Richard Hart, also had a face so grim he looked absolutely furious. I slowly wiped my hands, looked up, and was about to say something. Just then, on the large screen in the center of the banquet hall, where financial news was playing, an emergency bulletin suddenly interrupted. “Breaking news from the city: To support urban development, the municipal government has decided to officially designate the South City suburb as a core development area, to build a brand new tech city…” The anchor’s voice clearly resonated throughout the hall. On the screen, a huge development plan was displayed. A bright red circle was heavily marked in the center of the blueprint. That location… I squinted. Why did it look so familiar? The mocking expression on Camilla’s face hadn’t yet faded. She followed my gaze and scoffed, “What are you staring at? What does national news like this have to do with useless trash like you?” The words had barely left her mouth. In the news, the anchor continued, her voice excited: “It is reported that the demolition compensation standards for this project will reach an unprecedented high. Among them, the former Starlight Machinery Plant, located in the core center, is estimated to receive demolition compensation of… a staggering two hundred million dollars!” The Starlight Machinery Plant. Wasn’t that the factory I had just sold? The entire banquet hall instantly fell into a deathly silence. Everyone’s eyes immediately fixed on me. Camilla’s smile completely froze.

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On my birthday, my boyfriend publicly announced his engagement to someone else in front of the entire company. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I simply went to him, seeking an explanation. But then, I overheard his conversation with a friend: “Aren’t you afraid Celeste Miller will be mad if you do this?” “I can’t help it. If I don’t marry Vanessa, her family will marry her off to some stranger. I can’t just stand by and watch her suffer.” “Besides, Celeste has been with me for eight years. Everyone knows she’s mine; she has no choice but to wait for me.” Later, my family arranged a more suitable strategic alliance for me. To my surprise, my wedding day coincided with his. As the groom, Jason was restless, plagued by a bad feeling. He told his groomsmen to keep a close eye on the ceremony and make sure I didn’t show up to cause a scene. At that moment, one of the groomsmen awkwardly said, “Didn’t you know? Celeste Miller is getting married today too…” “Mom, is Julian Reed’s marriage proposal still on the table?” At my words, my mother’s hand, holding her teacup, trembled slightly. She looked at me, utterly shocked. “Celeste, why are you asking about that?” Her eyes held undisguised worry. Just moments ago, the video of Jason Hayes proposing to Vanessa Scott last night had gone viral online. Everyone knew a wedding was just around the corner for the Hayes family, but the bride wasn’t me, the woman he’d been dating for eight years. Seeing my silence, my mother anxiously said, “Celeste, marriage is a big decision. Please don’t act rashly.” I swallowed the bitterness in my heart and shook my head. “Mom, I’ve just come to my senses. The fact that you didn’t immediately reject the Reed family’s offer of marriage means you believed he was more reliable than Jason, right? I trust your judgment.” At this, my mother sighed deeply. “Julian Reed, the youngest son of the Reed family, is indeed quite impressive. But perhaps you two should meet first, and then make a decision?” “No, you can just arrange it. I’m fine with whatever.” After discussing this, I had dinner at home and then returned to my own small apartment. What I didn’t expect was for Jason Hayes to be there. Hearing the door open, he slowly put down what he was doing and looked over. “Was work busy today? You’re home quite late.” I changed my shoes and asked him, “Why are you here?” “I happened to pass by on my way back from a business dinner, so I thought I’d drop in and see you.” Jason approached as he always did, intending to hug me. As he got closer, I caught a familiar scent of women’s perfume. It was the perfume Vanessa often wore. A wave of resistance rose within me. I instinctively stepped back, avoiding his embrace. My nose unexpectedly stung with a sudden ache. “You’ve seen me. You can go now.” Jason’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air. Hearing my words, a faint smile appeared on his face. “Don’t be silly, Celeste. Weren’t you just asking me to spend more time with you a few days ago? I specifically cleared my schedule to be with you today.” Yesterday was my birthday. I waited from morning until night, but he didn’t call. It wasn’t until evening, when I couldn’t bear it anymore and decided to go look for him, that I received a video from an unknown number. It was a video of Jason proposing to Vanessa in the company, in front of all the employees. In the video, many people cheered happily. I couldn’t believe it. I rushed to his company, wanting to hear his explanation directly. But instead, I accidentally overheard his conversation with his friend. That’s when I realized that in this game of love, I had become the ultimate fool. Remembering the things he said last night, my heart felt like it had been brutally stabbed, aching to the point of suffocation. I looked up at the man before me, his eyes gentle. My eyes welled up, tears blurring my vision. I didn’t know why, but I felt so awful, like I couldn’t breathe. Jason saw my tears falling and panicked. He awkwardly wiped the tears from my eyes. “Why are you crying? Who upset you? Tell me, I’ll go take care of them!”

Growing up, Jason Hayes was the neighborhood troublemaker, unruly and incredibly mischievous, often getting chased by his mom with a broom. I, on the other hand, was a premature baby, and my health wasn’t great when I was little. My parents kept a very strict eye on me. They rarely let me go out and play with other kids, so I’d just sit by the window, enviously watching them run around freely outside. Whenever Jason saw me sitting by the window, lost in thought, he’d always sneak over to bring me little snacks, then pinch my chubby cheeks and whisper, “Little sis, when can you come out and play with me?” In junior high, my health gradually improved, and my parents finally felt comfortable letting me go out. Back then, he’d always carefully look after me, telling me, “Celeste, if anyone ever bullies you when you’re out, just tell them my name, and they won’t dare bother you.” From then on, I was never alone when I went out. He’d always accompany me wherever I wanted to go. If anyone bullied me, he’d be there in an instant, becoming my strong and powerful protector. When we got to college, we naturally fell into a relationship. He became even more gentle with me, showering me with all his special affection. It wasn’t until our junior year that Vanessa Scott’s appearance shattered all the beauty between us. She was smart, beautiful, efficient, and effortlessly graceful. She was also Jason’s classmate. They had a way of communicating that I couldn’t understand. At first, Jason would help translate for me. But later, he grew tired of it, saying, “You don’t understand what we’re talking about anyway, so why don’t you go do your own thing?” They talked about everything, from real life to online, from morning until night. Meanwhile, my conversations with Jason gradually dwindled to mere snippets. Friends warned me to pay more attention to their closeness. I brushed it off, because I believed that even couples deserved their privacy. I also trusted him; he wouldn’t fall for someone else. But reality hit me hard. That night, Jason didn’t leave. He said he was worried about me. I silently watched him for a long time. “Suit yourself.” Then, I went back to my room, locking the door just as he tried to follow. Jason stood outside the door, his eyes filled with a complicated mix of emotions. He paused, then said, “Celeste, I’ll be right outside. Come find me when you’ve calmed down, okay?” I ignored him, scalding tears falling onto my cold hand, spreading a burning sensation. Jason, I don’t want to love you anymore. I woke up the next morning, rubbing my throbbing temples, and stepped out of my room. I saw Jason frantically pulling on his jacket to leave. “Celeste, I have an urgent matter to deal with right now, so I’m heading out. I’ll pick you up tonight, and we can go out for dinner.” Without waiting for my response, he rushed out. He was so fast that before I could even react, he was gone. I pressed my lips together and looked at the sofa where he had slept, noticing that in his haste, he had left his phone. I walked over and picked it up. I was about to send it to him later. Just then, a message popped up. Jason hadn’t set a password, so any incoming message was visible. The message was from someone named “My Sweetie.” In the photo, Vanessa was sitting disheveled in the emergency room, smiling and flashing a peace sign at the camera. The message read: “Don’t rush on your way here, drive safely. I’ll wait for you here.”

At that moment, I finally understood why he had been in such a hurry to leave. I gave a bitter laugh, then called a local courier service to send his phone to his office. Afterward, I headed to work. I had joined my family’s company right after graduation. My father, wanting to train me, had me start as a junior staff member. By now, I had worked my way up to department manager through my own abilities. As soon as I arrived at the office, my assistant brought over a project proposal. “Ms. Miller, there’s a document here you need to handle. All the procedures are complete; it just needs your signature.” I took it and read it carefully. It was a project collaborating with the Hayes Group, but I had no recollection of this project whatsoever. “Did Mr. Miller approve this?” “No.” My assistant paused, then quickly replied, “Didn’t you say before that for any non-critical collaborations, the Hayes Group was always our first choice?” That’s when I remembered. I had indeed said something like that, thinking at the time that our two families would eventually become one, and it didn’t matter who earned more or less, so I hadn’t overly scrutinized the project’s profitability. “Let’s skip this one. Next time, for such matters, prioritize the best option. Company interests come first.” After working hard all day, I packed up my things after work, planning to check out a newly opened high-end restaurant. But when I arrived, I found the restaurant was already packed with customers. Just as I was about to leave, I heard a familiar voice. “Ms. Miller, are you having dinner here too?” I turned around to see Vanessa Scott and Jason Hayes sitting at a table, smiling sweetly. Jason saw me, his expression momentarily freezing, then he quickly said, “I was just about to call you to come have dinner. I can’t believe you’re already here! Come, join us for dinner.” He waved to a waiter and asked for an extra setting. I hadn’t eaten much for lunch, and by now I was starving. So, I decided to stay and sat down. “Ms. Miller, I remember you like spicy food. Should we order a few more dishes for you?” I glanced at the table; it was filled entirely with bland, mild dishes. Jason and I both couldn’t live without spicy food. He used to say that without chili, a dish was soulless; eating it felt like torture. Yet now, facing a table full of bland food, he showed no reaction. Jason gave Vanessa an annoyed look and playfully scolded, “I think *you’re* the one who wants spicy food. Don’t forget what the doctor told you today; you can only eat bland things right now.” Vanessa, scolded, let out a mischievous huff. “Alright, Bossy Pants, I’ll listen to you, okay?” Watching their interaction, my heart, which had been torn to shreds, felt strangely calm. He shook his head helplessly. “You two start eating. I’m going to make a call.” As Jason left, the smile on Vanessa’s face slowly faded, and she shot me a challenging glare. “Celeste Miller, you actually impress me. You know Jason proposed to me, yet you’re still chasing him? You’ve got some nerve.” Hearing the disdain in her voice, I looked up at her. “Is stealing someone’s boyfriend something to be proud of? Something worth flaunting in public?” “You…” Before she could finish, thick smoke suddenly billowed from the restaurant kitchen. Someone saw it first and screamed in terror, “Fire!” At those words, the bustling restaurant instantly descended into chaos, everyone scrambling in panic. I quickly reacted and stood up. Just as I was about to leave, a figure suddenly crashed into me. Before I could steady myself, I heard a familiar, anxious voice: “Vanessa, don’t be scared! I’ll get you out of here!” Jason didn’t stop, quickly pulling Vanessa out. His heart pounded with a sense of relief, a joyous feeling of having escaped disaster. He abruptly hugged her. “Thank goodness, thank goodness you’re okay…” As he said this, something suddenly occurred to him. He sharply turned around and saw me standing not far away, watching them with cold eyes. His voice caught in his throat, and he stammered, “Celeste, I… I was just so rushed, I didn’t mean to leave you…” “I know.” I interrupted him coldly. In that moment he embraced her and left, I clearly realized that the Jason Hayes who once promised to protect me for life had long since changed. Seeing that I wasn’t angry, he visibly relaxed and offered to drive me home. “No need. Ms. Scott seems quite shaken. You should take her home first.”

In the days that followed, I stopped contacting Jason. Instead, I focused on preparing for my wedding. At that time, I received a message from the designer, so I used my lunch break to pick up my custom-made wedding gown from the store. It was originally meant for *my* proposal to Jason, but I would never have that day. As luck would have it, just as I stepped into the store, Vanessa followed right in after me. She saw the gift box in my hands and looked at the designer arrogantly. “I want to try on that wedding dress.” “I’m sorry, ma’am, this is a custom order for Ms. Miller. Ownership belongs to Ms. Miller.” Vanessa scoffed disdainfully. “Oh, a custom wedding dress? Acting like you’re getting married soon…” As she said this, she seemed to realize something and suddenly bristled. “Are you planning to wear this wedding dress to ruin my wedding?!” Seeing her frantic demeanor, I couldn’t be bothered with her. “If you’re sick, go get treated. Don’t come here to make a scene.”

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On our tenth wedding anniversary, I flew back from abroad, planning a surprise for my husband, Ryan Sterling. As I used my black card to retrieve a piece of jewelry, the sales associate, who had been overly enthusiastic moments before, suddenly stiffened. “Is this *your* black card?” I frowned, confused and irritated by her sudden change in attitude. What concern was that of a sales associate like her, whether it was my black card or not? Even though the primary card was with my husband, using a supplementary card shouldn’t warrant such blatant contempt from a clerk. “Of course, it’s mine. What’s there to doubt?” I snapped impatiently, urging her to continue. Tiffany gave me a swift once-over, then retrieved the jewelry. “You’re Mr. Sterling’s mistress, aren’t you? I’m warning you, get lost! How dare someone like you even associate with Mr. Sterling?” “I don’t even get a chance to be near him, so who do you think you are?!” When she handed it to me, she deliberately let go just as I reached for it, sending the exquisite piece crashing to the floor. I stood there, stunned, unable to react. But Tiffany had already pulled the mall’s alarm. “This woman deliberately damaged a million-dollar piece of jewelry! Arrest her!”

Hearing the mention of a million dollars, the security guards immediately sprang to action. I stared at Tiffany’s baseless accusation, utterly appalled. “Trying to skip out after destroying jewelry? Grab her!” Tiffany sneered at me, her face contorted with arrogant disdain. Faced with the sudden, wild accusation, my mind went blank. Skip out? Destroyed jewelry? She was the one who couldn’t hold on to it! “Who the hell do you think you are?” I growled, my brows furrowed, my eyes icy. “You’re the one who lost your grip!” But the security guards ignored my protests. At Tiffany’s subtle nod, they moved in. They roughly pinned me to the floor with their batons, and my fingers twisted at an unnatural angle as I fell. The searing pain in my fingers shot through me. The excruciating agony instantly drained all color from my face. “Let go of me!” I struggled desperately on the ground. “This is slander!” More and more onlookers gathered. All I wanted was to end this absurd disaster as quickly as possible. “Let me go now! I’m calling the police! Otherwise, prepare for a court summons!” “You dare call the police? A summons?” Tiffany glared at me, a mocking smirk on her face. “So self-assured despite trying to skip out on a million-dollar bill!” The surrounding crowd started whispering. “Her clothes don’t look like she’d skip out on a bill, do they?” “What do you know? That designer jacket she’s wearing? There’s only one in the world, and it was bought by a foreign collector.” “Then she’s wearing a knock-off?!” “How tacky!” “And she dared to skip out on a bill? Such a huge amount, she should be locked up for ten years!” Their mocking gazes rained down on me. The taunting words in my ears were like poisoned darts, piercing me deeply. “I didn’t break it! Just check the cameras!” My eyes grew colder with anger, every ache in my hands and body tearing at my nerves. “Cameras?” Tiffany sneered. “How conveniently, the cameras broke yesterday!” My eyes widened, beginning to bloodshot. Tiffany continued her righteous accusations. “I know! You’re the one who sabotaged the cameras, aren’t you?!” Her gaze, like a venomous snake, wrapped around me inch by inch. “Your goal wasn’t to destroy the jewelry, it was to steal it!” My heart hammered in my chest. How could it be such a coincidence? My face turned ashen, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. “I have proof!” I suddenly remembered that I was recording a video for my best friend when I entered the store, and my phone was still recording! “Let go of me! Who the hell do you think you are?” My gaze, cold and certain, pierced the two security guards. They exchanged a look, hesitated for a moment, then lowered their batons. Ignoring the throbbing pain in my twisted fingers, I pulled out my phone. “See for yourselves! This video proves I didn’t break the jewelry!” I played the video, holding it up for everyone to see, my voice laced with ice. “For everything that’s happened today, I’m suing all of you for assault and battery!” Everyone crowded closer, their suspicious glances turning into looks of disbelief, as if I were insane. Tiffany was the first to let out a derisive laugh. “This video is all shaky and blurry, completely unclear! You just filmed some random shaky footage beforehand, then blurred it on purpose, hoping to escape your guilt today, didn’t you?!” The crowd chimed in. “Exactly! Only the beginning is clear, nothing after that. Do you think we’re idiots?” “Why waste time? Just send her to the police station!” Watching the grim-faced security guards slowly advancing, I quickly clicked on the video. The video was perfectly clear. Why were they all pretending not to see it? The two guards exchanged a look, then picked up their batons again, pointing them directly at me. Seeing the sharp ends of their batons, my face went white, and my whole body trembled uncontrollably. “Wait!” I pulled out my supplementary card, wanting only to escape quickly. I had no desire to deal with these barbarians any longer. After all, a hundred million was negligible to me, but being gawked at like a circus monkey made me intensely uncomfortable! “Just swipe a hundred million. Get it done.” Tiffany saw me pull out the supplementary card. Her smug expression twisted into something uglier. Tiffany scoffed, looking me up and down, then leaned in close, whispering conspiratorially. “You’re Mr. Sterling’s mistress, aren’t you? I’m warning you, get lost! How dare someone like you even associate with Mr. Sterling?” “I don’t even get a chance to be near him, so who do you think you are?!” My heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition instantly flooding my mind. I didn’t understand what she meant! Mistress? “Is this *your* card?” she sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. My face showed impatience, my eyes shooting daggers at her. “Of course, it’s mine!” Tiffany stepped forward and, to my utter shock, slapped me across the face. She yanked my hair, her eyes filled with disgust. “This is Mr. Sterling’s supplementary card. Who are you to him?” My ears rang, my breathing grew heavy. “Ryan Sterling?” My gaze fixed on her. “I’m his wife! What’s the problem?” Tiffany ignored my cold stare and burst out laughing. “Wife?” Her eyes were filled with utter disdain. She then pulled out her phone. “*She’s* Mr. Sterling’s wife! You’re just a pickpocket who stole the card, aren’t you?” My brow twitched, and I instinctively looked at the phone. When I saw the young woman nestled against Ryan Sterling, my breath caught in my throat. I felt as if I’d been struck by lightning. The woman intimately embracing my own husband wasn’t me!

My face went ashen. I snatched the phone and examined it carefully, zooming in. I finally confirmed that the man was indeed Ryan Sterling. Seeing this, the security guards became completely unrestrained. They used their batons to violently, humiliatingly, pin my body to the floor. I couldn’t fight off two grown men and could only retreat, struggling against them. “Still trying to lie?! Don’t think you can fool *me*!” Saying this, as if to vent his frustration, one of them kicked me hard in the side. The stabbing pain in my side sent my mind reeling, a blank fog descending. I gritted my teeth against the agony, my bloodshot eyes fixed on Tiffany. “You’ll regret this!” I roared, my voice hoarse. “Go get Ryan Sterling here!” Tiffany walked over, looked down at me, then squatted down and brutally pinched my cheek. She forced me into a deeply humiliating position, exposed to the gawking crowd. “You presumptuous little mistress, still daring to ask for Mr. Sterling?” She spat at me, figuratively. “You got all that plastic surgery to hook him! Shameless!” “And you dare impersonate his real wife?” She curled her lips, her eyes filled with disgust. “Mr. Sterling has plenty of admirers, and *I* haven’t even made my move yet. You’re certainly not going to!” I instantly looked at her, my mind feeling as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, churning in chaos. Did she mean… Ryan Sterling had more than one mistress?! I closed my eyes, suppressing the tremor in my heart. “Ryan Sterling ordered this set of jewelry, but *I’m* the one who signed the receipt! You can check!” Tiffany’s smile vanished, replaced by a sneer. “Hardheaded. I said you broke it, so you broke it! What’s there to argue about?” The security guards hauled me up from the ground, my hands pinned behind my back. “Enough!” My breathing was heavy, a cold warning in my voice. “Let’s see who dares touch me!” “I dare!” A striking figure emerged from the crowd. My eyes widened as I watched her approach, but seeing the young woman’s face, I felt as if I’d been struck by lightning again. She was the woman by Ryan Sterling’s side! More importantly, she bore a striking resemblance to me from ten years ago. No wonder Tiffany inexplicably accused me of plastic surgery! Her face was cold. She walked up to me, looked me up and down, then a sharp slap landed across my face. The stinging pain on my cheek and the metallic taste of blood in my mouth instantly cleared my head. “Who are you?” My throat was so dry it hurt. It took me a moment to speak. “Who am I?” She folded her arms, radiating arrogance. “You have the nerve to ask? How dare you impersonate me? Do you have a death wish?!” She scrutinized my face, then scoffed. “Sweetie, you think you can climb your way up to Ryan by getting plastic surgery to look like me? You’re just a pathetic copycat.” My breath hitched. My voice was raspy. “So, you’re Ryan Sterling’s wife?” She nodded confidently. “Of course. Who else would it be? You?” Tiffany stood by, a flicker of jealousy in her eyes as she looked at Chloe, but she still stepped forward and bowed her head. “Mrs. Sterling, you’re finally here! This woman doesn’t know her place, trying to hook up with Mr. Sterling!” Tiffany’s eyes darted, and she smirked. “She even has Mr. Sterling’s supplementary card. I wonder when she stole it!” Tiffany was fanning the flames, thinking that if I were out of the picture, she would surely succeed in becoming Mr. Sterling’s mistress. Even being his kept woman would be worth it! A look of infatuation flashed in Tiffany’s eyes as she thought of that distinguished man. Chloe’s gaze, sharp as ice, immediately pierced me. “Are you completely shameless? Flaunting your affair with a married man so openly?” She held out her hand. “Give me back the supplementary card! You shameless thing, trying to use my husband’s money to pay for your jewelry! Ugh!” The crowd watched the spectacle with relish, adding fuel to the fire. “OMG, mistresses these days are getting bolder and bolder! Caught by the wife using her husband’s supplementary card, how embarrassing!” “Exactly! In the old days, she’d be publicly shamed for life!” “So shameless!” I turned, my eyes cold, staring at the gossiping crowd. The sheer coldness and immense pressure radiating from me instantly silenced everyone. Chloe, hearing this, puffed out her chest with absolute arrogance. “I see you won’t give up until you’re utterly defeated!” She then dialed a number. “Honey,” Chloe said, her voice a soft, injured whimper, radiating vulnerability. “I’m at Sterling Mall, and there’s a crazy woman causing trouble. She insists she’s your wife! You need to come and expose her and teach her a lesson!” 七獎灐嘥幱禽旛鯆躏塠哦墎碤鄕镅灵 The man on the other end of the line paused, sounding confused. “My wife? What does she look like?” he asked tentatively. Chloe didn’t notice his hesitation. She sneered, looking me up and down. “She’s hideous. An old woman.” A faint sigh of relief came from Ryan’s end. At that moment, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Ryan Sterling. “Wife, where are you? Miss you.” A soul-devouring storm raged in my eyes. I gripped my phone tightly to prevent myself from losing control. “Still in Europe. I’ll be back in a week to see you,” I deliberately replied. Sure enough, Chloe excitedly hung up the phone. “Old woman, I’m telling you, my husband is coming right now! You just wait!”

“Oh really?” I looked at her, a strong mocking glint in my eyes. I wanted to see just how many unspeakable things Ryan Sterling had done over the years, operating behind my back and using my power. Chloe paused, surprised that I wasn’t afraid. Then she scoffed, “Heh, scared stiff, are we? You should thank me, otherwise, someone like you would never get to meet a top-tier man like my husband!” A cold light flashed in my eyes. “You’re right, I *should* thank you. You’ve helped me see exactly what kind of man he truly is!” I frowned. I was truly alone here. “You woman, of all the things to do, why impersonate me?” Chloe smugly touched her smooth, porcelain-like face, a sneer on her lips. “Look at you, so old. Trying to look like me is just a pathetic copycat.” My gaze swept over her face, and I let out a cold, dismissive laugh. But my hands, hanging at my sides, clenched tightly, a barely perceptible tremor running through them. Suddenly, Tiffany, who was standing beside me, shrieked. “The store’s centerpiece jewel is gone!” She was frantic, cold sweat streaming down her face. The previously bored onlookers, who had been losing interest, instantly perked up, their eyes wide with excitement. They straightened up, staring at us. Chloe frowned. “What centerpiece jewel?” Tiffany was panicked and distraught, her voice cracking with tears. “It’s a top-grade emerald piece, worth billions!” “How could it just disappear?” Chloe said dismissively. “Just a few billion. Why are you so worked up? No ambition.” Tiffany’s face froze, a flicker of intense jealousy in her eyes. But she took a deep breath, then her sharp gaze fixed on me. “Did *you* steal it?!” She suddenly lunged forward, her eyes red, trying to pin the blame on me. “Please, just hand it over! If the centerpiece jewel is lost, we’ll all be ruined trying to pay for it. Please, have pity on us!” Tiffany cried and pleaded, a sight that would inspire pity in anyone. I was caught off guard by this sudden, brazen accusation. “What are you doing?” I rasped. “Framing me once wasn’t enough, so you’re trying again? You’re truly incredibly stupid.” Chloe, seeing this, sneered. “Not only a mistress, but a thief too!” The surrounding crowd started pointing fingers and condemning me. “Oh my god, she broke a million-dollar piece earlier, and now she dares to steal something worth a billion! She’ll get life imprisonment!” “I say, just call the police!” Tiffany’s eyes darted. She seized the opportunity. “Your bag!” She stepped forward, reaching to snatch my bag. “It must be in your bag!” I frowned, angrily rebuking her. “How dare you!” “You’re guilty, aren’t you?!” Tiffany declared, instructing the security guards to restrain me. The guards, realizing the seriousness of the situation, moved quickly. This time, they didn’t even give me a chance to resist or struggle. One of them immediately kicked me in the abdomen. Then, they firmly pinned me to the floor with their batons. “Let go of me!” I struggled desperately, roaring a warning. Tiffany seized the opportunity, snatched my bag, and rummaged through it. “The centerpiece jewel is here!” Tiffany’s face was flushed, her expression excited as she pulled a box from my bag and opened it. “This is what we lost!” Seeing this, my mind went blank with shock. But then, I instantly understood. I narrowed my eyes, looking at Tiffany with a cold smirk. “You set this up, didn’t you?” No wonder she had been standing so close to me! She must have been looking for an opportunity to plant the jewelry in my bag! I struggled with all my might. “Let go of me! I’ll arrange to pay whatever you want!” Seeing my offer, the security guards finally loosened their grip. The chill in my eyes intensified. I pulled out my phone and made a call. At that moment, Chloe glanced at her phone. With the undeniable air of the rightful wife, she looked down at me, chin raised.

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Seven days after my daughter disappeared, I took the entire preschool hostage. All 27 students and two teachers were locked inside a classroom. I announced to the police that if my daughter wasn’t found, I would kill one child every thirty minutes. Ms. Albright, the preschool principal, wailed hysterically, pleading on her knees before me. “Your daughter went missing, it wasn’t my doing! Why drag other children into this?” I just glanced at my watch. “Twenty-nine minutes left. Find my daughter, fast.” I knew she was somewhere in this very preschool. 0 Five minutes ago, Ms. Albright’s attitude had been entirely different—arrogant, even. I leaned against the door. Inside, the children were still playing, oblivious, only the two female teachers staring at me with terrified eyes. Outside, Ms. Albright was still pounding on the door, asking irritably, “What the hell do you want?! How is your daughter going missing my problem?! Open the door! It’s almost time for dismissal!” I frowned, pulled a makeshift gun from my pocket, and without a word, fired a shot behind me. Ms. Albright instantly fell silent, trembling as she stumbled back a couple of steps. “You, you’re serious? I’m telling you, this is a crime! I’ll call the police, and holding this many kids hostage will get you shot!” I scoffed, caressing the gun in my hand. “Go ahead and call them. You’re not qualified to talk to me.” Five minutes later, siren wails filled the air outside. A gentle male voice spoke from beyond the door. I knew him: Officer Miller from the local precinct. He spoke calmly, trying to persuade me logically and emotionally. “Sarah, don’t get agitated. We’re doing everything we can to investigate your daughter’s disappearance. Just release the children, and we can talk, okay?” I gripped the gun, fighting the urge to laugh. My daughter, Lily, had been missing for seven whole days, without a trace. What was there to talk about now? Talk about how many years I’d spend in prison? I shouted, “I just want to see my daughter! If I don’t see her in thirty minutes, you’ll start seeing other children’s bodies!” The yard was already cordoned off with police tape. Parents who’d heard the news were crying their eyes out beyond the line. Worried my gun might harm the hostages, the police not only had to be wary of me but also had to hold back the surging crowd. Sweat poured down Officer Miller’s face. This was already beyond his pay grade. Detectives and the SWAT team would arrive soon. Until then, he needed to keep me calm. “Ms. Lee,” he pleaded, “we understand how you feel, but these children are innocent. You’re their teacher. How can you bear to hurt them?” The biggest regret of my life was becoming a teacher at this preschool. If I hadn’t come here, my daughter wouldn’t have disappeared. I checked the time, speaking coldly. “Twenty-eight minutes left. You don’t want anyone to get hurt, do you?” Officer Miller said nervously, “We’re doing our best to find her, but it’s not something we can do in a flash.” I roared, “I told you, she never left this preschool! Search HERE!” 0

Rainbow Haven was a private preschool, not very large. It consisted of three two-story buildings, with two small playgrounds in the front and back for the children to play freely. The day Lily disappeared, I searched every inch of that preschool, inside and out. But there was no sign of her. I asked Ms. Albright to check the surveillance footage, but she claimed the cameras were broken. What a coincidence. I suspected the principal was involved in my daughter’s disappearance. Later, I secretly snuck into the monitoring room myself. I watched the footage several times, meticulously, and finally confirmed it: Lily had never left the preschool. But where could she be within the preschool? I racked my brain, completely baffled. Officer Miller tried to pacify me from outside. “We’ve already sent people to search. You have to trust the police.” But I knew he didn’t believe a word I said. The police had searched the preschool several times initially, but they hadn’t found even a shadow of my daughter. Outside, the parents’ uncontrollable shouts and pleas merged into a chaotic din, making me uncontrollably agitated. “What does your kid going missing have to do with us? If you’re so tough, kidnap the principal! What good is kidnapping kids?” “W-w-w, please release my daughter. She’s so timid and not well. I’m begging you on my knees…” A mother knelt outside the police tape, covering her face, looking utterly pitiful. The crowd’s anger surged, demanding the police shoot me. I picked up the megaphone, ensuring everyone could hear my voice. “I don’t want to kill anyone. I just want to know where my daughter is.” I checked the time. Twenty-five minutes left. Detectives and SWAT had arrived. Snipers might already be in position. I took a deep breath. “Ms. Albright, you know, don’t you? Where’s my daughter?” All eyes turned to Ms. Albright, huddled in a corner. She gritted her teeth, retorting, “How could I possibly know?! Ms. Lee, stop snapping at everyone like a mad dog!” “Your daughter might have just run away from home. Maybe she went to find her dad…” Then, as if a thought struck her, she blurted, “Her ex-con dad must be out of prison by now, right? I bet he’s the one who took your girl!” 0

“Absolutely impossible!” The words burst out of me almost instinctively. Officer Miller quickly interjected, “We’ve already tried to contact Lily’s father, David, but we haven’t reached him yet.” “Sarah, we *will* find your daughter. Please, let the children in the room go. I promise you, we will spare no effort to find her.” “Look at you now. Even if we find your daughter, how could you face her? Do you want her to know both her parents are criminals?” My resolve wavered for a moment, a flicker of doubt. A small red ball rolled slowly towards me. A little girl called out, “Ms. Lee, can you kick it back for me?” I steadied myself, gently tossing the ball back. These children had no idea what was happening, still so innocent and lively. But would my child ever be able to play happily like this again? I couldn’t bear to think. I glanced at the time, calmly shouting outside, “Eighteen minutes left! Have you found any clues?” 0

The negotiation failed. Officer Miller sighed. His colleagues were in position, and a specialized negotiator from the state police was ready. The case had exploded across the city. Reporters and social media influencers swarmed like flies to blood. Command had issued orders: no child was to be harmed. If necessary, I could be taken out. But Officer Miller still clung to a sliver of hope. He didn’t think things had escalated to that point yet. Based on his years of experience, the woman didn’t seem like a hardened criminal, but rather a desperate mother driven to extremes by her missing daughter. “Have they pulled up the surveillance footage? Did that child really not leave the preschool?” A tech team colleague replied, “We’ve recovered the deleted footage. It shows no sign of Lily leaving the preschool.” Officer Miller fell into deep thought. Could Lily really still be in the preschool? But where could she be hidden? There were no hiding spots in the classrooms. Offices, the principal’s room, the kitchen—they’d all been searched. What place could they have forgotten? His colleagues searched inside and out again, but found nothing. Officer Stevens said exasperatedly, “Did the kid sprout wings and fly away? Otherwise, it makes no sense! Every inch here is covered by cameras, there are no blind spots!” A light bulb went off in Officer Miller’s head. “Are there cameras in the bathrooms? Search the bathrooms!” The preschool bathrooms were indoors, and Lily was last seen in the pre-kindergarten class. But that was exactly where Sarah was holding hostages. At that moment, my voice rang out again. “Fifteen minutes left! Are you all incompetent idiots?! You can’t even find one child!” 0

I leaned against the wall, my voice laced with sarcasm. “If some VIP loses a watch, you’d tear apart the whole city to find it. But a living, breathing child, for seven whole days, and not a single clue?” Officer Miller fell silent at my accusation. “Ms. Lee, maybe your daughter is closer than you think?” I froze for a moment, unable to immediately grasp his meaning. My daughter’s last known location was here, but I’d scoured every closet, every bathroom, every corner. There was no trace of her. “The entire area is covered by surveillance, except for the bathrooms. We suspect your daughter might have been taken through a bathroom.” “Ms. Lee, surrender! The police will uncover the truth.” Bathroom, bathroom. I carefully thought about the bathroom’s layout. The preschool bathrooms were unisex, with only two small stalls and a tiny exhaust fan. I looked in the direction of the bathrooms, feeling a strange sense of unease. But I just couldn’t pinpoint what felt odd. I licked my dry lips. “Ten minutes left. I just want results. If you don’t find my daughter, they’ll all die with her.” Officer Miller’s eyes were squeezed shut. A detective gave a subtle signal to the sniper behind them, indicating that if an opportunity arose, they should take the shot. “If my daughter disappeared in the bathroom, then there must be a secret passage connecting the bathroom to the outside, right, officers? I hope you find it soon. Even if you arrest me, it’ll be worth it.” I had also suspected that my daughter was taken from the bathroom. But that would require a secret passage, and it would leave clues. But I was just an ordinary woman. What I couldn’t find, I naturally had to leave to the professionals. I lowered my gaze. Now, everything was going according to plan. The second hand on my watch spun relentlessly. I beckoned a small girl over. I smiled. “Chloe, want to play a game with Ms. Lee?” 0 Five minutes remained. The police were still making futile pleas. Officer Miller’s throat was raw. “Ms. Lee, please don’t rush! Police forces from across the city are deployed, all helping to find your child!”

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Before my business trip, I left my daughter an unlimited black card. The only rule: she had to spend at least several millions every month to cultivate good spending habits. At first, I thought that if she spent well, it would motivate me to earn more. But after a while, something felt off. She bought hundreds of luxury items in three days, ten villas in five, and yesterday, she even acquired 100 intimate toys. I secretly flew back, determined to uncover the truth. But the moment I landed, I received a call. Lily, my daughter, had been hit by a car while scavenging for scraps and was in the hospital. They couldn’t even afford the medical bills. Nurse Reynolds’s voice on the phone was scathing, filled with accusation: “Ms. Thorne, I’ve never seen parents as neglectful as you. If you don’t come soon, you might not see your child again!” My heart pounding, I rushed to the hospital. There, I saw her—frail and skeletal. Amidst my anguish, my phone buzzed with a message: another black card purchase for a high-end spa. I immediately stopped Ms. Davies from canceling the card. A cold smile touched my lips. Oh, so you like swiping? Then swipe your fill!

I stepped off the private jet, clutching a meticulously wrapped birthday gift. In my mind, I pictured Lily’s adorable face, lighting up with surprise. But the moment I exited the airport, my phone buzzed with over a dozen missed calls. It rang again. I answered casually. “This is Grace Medical Center. Are you Lily Thorne’s mother?” “She was hit by a car yesterday while scavenging by the roadside. We’ve just finished saving her, but the medical bills need to be paid.” I froze, the words hitting me like a lightning bolt. “How is that possible?” I blurted out, my voice barely a whisper. The nurse’s voice sharpened, rising in volume. “Are you trying to skip out on the bill? Come to the hospital and pay immediately, or we’ll have no choice but to discharge your daughter!” Then, click, she hung up. Bewildered and alarmed, I urged Ben, my driver, to speed to the hospital. Lily? Scavenging for scraps? Even if she ran out of money, we have staff at home, she would never go hungry. Besides, with an unlimited black card, how could she not afford medical bills? The car screeched to a halt. I sprinted into the ward, my eyes falling on my daughter, lying in bed, fragile and skeletal. Both her arms and her right leg were broken, encased in thick plaster casts that made her slender limbs look even more delicate. Her dull eyes met mine and instantly welled with tears. I rushed to her, pulling her into my embrace, gently patting her back. “Shh, my sweet, don’t be scared. Mommy’s here now.” Her face was bruised and swollen in several places, and her exposed arms were covered in scratches and cuts. In just a year, my once vibrant, mischievous little princess had been reduced to this state. Lily’s tears flowed like a dam breaking. She clung to my shoulder, sobbing. “Mommy, Nurse Reynolds said today’s the deadline. If we don’t pay, they’ll kick me out.” Her hot tears seared my chest. I stroked her hair, my voice soft with concern. “Mommy left you a black card, didn’t she? How could you be out of money?” Her small body trembled. Under my encouraging gaze, she finally spoke. “Julian… Julian took my black card and gave it to Cassandra. He said I don’t deserve to be a Thorne, and I’m not good enough for him.” Julian was Mrs. Jenkins’s son, our head housekeeper. Cassandra was the child who was mistakenly swapped with Lily at birth. Julian and Cassandra had grown close. Many people whispered that Julian was destined to marry into the Thorne family and eventually take over the Thorne empire. When Lily was found and brought home, I worried she’d be unhappy, so I immediately sent Cassandra out of the mansion. I gave her enough money to live comfortably for the rest of her life. I thought I had been more than fair. I never imagined these ungrateful vipers would dare to bully my daughter. I would make them regret the day they were born. Seeing Lily’s timid, haggard appearance, my heart twisted in agony. “Mommy won’t let them get away with this. No one will ever dare to bully you again, my love.”

The words had barely left my lips when the menacing Nurse Reynolds stormed in, tossing a bill onto the bed. Her eyes narrowed with blatant disdain. “Pay up! Don’t think you can get away with this.” I took in the stench of disinfectant, the dim, crowded ward, and the filthy bed Lily lay on. My patience snapped. With one phone call, Dr. Hayes, the hospital director, rushed in with a dozen medical staff. Nurse Reynolds’s face went white with shock. “Your attitude toward patients makes you unfit to work here. You’re fired.” After his pronouncement, Dr. Hayes immediately bowed deferentially to me, profusely apologizing. “Ms. Thorne, it was our oversight. We deeply regret the distress caused to your daughter.” It was only then that Nurse Reynolds realized the gravity of her mistake. She tried to plead her case, but security guards swiftly escorted her out. I declined Dr. Hayes’s offer to move Lily to a private ward. Instead, I made another call. Within ten minutes, a professional medical team arrived, carefully transferring Lily to a private ambulance. Clad in stilettos, my sharp and efficient assistant, Ms. Davies, followed behind me, respectfully reporting. “During your absence, Julian started his own venture, publicly claiming to be your future son-in-law to gain business advantages.” “He asserted you would eventually let him inherit the company and took many projects from the corporation.” “He also declared he would only recognize Cassandra as his fiancée. Cassandra has appropriated all the assets you prepared for Lily and… even kicked Lily out of the Thorne family mansion.” The more she spoke, the colder my expression became. I had seen a certain shrewdness in Julian, paying for his elite private academy since childhood. But I gave him a little kindness, and he thought he was hot stuff. Cassandra lived as my daughter for over a decade. Not only did she show no guilt, but she was trying to completely usurp Lily’s rightful place. I clenched my fists. They seemed to have forgotten my methods. No one bullies Seraphina Thorne’s daughter and gets away with it! At that moment, my phone buzzed again with a black card spending alert—an entry fee for an auction. “Ms. Thorne, should I cancel this black card immediately?” Ms. Davies inquired. A faint smile played on my lips. “Not so fast. Cancel it just before 7 PM.” “Also, Lily and I will be attending the underground auction tonight.” “Understood, Ms. Thorne. I’ll make the arrangements.” Ms. Davies respectfully agreed. So, they like money, do they? I’ll give them a grand gift tonight. “Also, investigate how Lily got her injuries.” Thinking of the myriad of cuts and bruises on my sweet daughter’s body, I felt a fresh wave of anger and heartache. The icy aura radiating from me startled Lily. She cautiously tugged at my sleeve. “Mommy, are you mad at me?” “I’m sorry, Mommy. I won’t say bad things about my sister anymore. I can give her anything.” “Please, don’t abandon Lily.” Watching her trying so hard to please me, my throat tightened. What in the world have they been filling her head with? How could I ever abandon her? “Mommy isn’t mad at you, my sweet. Mommy’s mad at herself for not protecting her precious daughter better.” “What belongs to Lily, no one can take away. And Mommy would never abandon you, my love.” Hearing my words, her eyes suddenly lit up, shining brighter than stars. Then, she lowered her head again, murmuring softly. “But Julian said Mommy would definitely prefer the more outstanding Cassandra, and if I wasn’t obedient, I’d be sent away.” “He said he was the son-in-law chosen by Mom and Dad, and whoever he chose would be the Thorne family’s daughter.” I let out a short, humorless laugh. Where did Julian get such confidence? He was Lily’s senior at school, seemingly accomplished and popular, the type young girls usually adored. At the time, I was concerned Lily wouldn’t know anyone after returning, so I allowed Julian to continue staying at the Thorne mansion to look after her. I hadn’t realized I was inviting a wolf into the fold. I gently lifted Lily’s chin, gazing into her tear-filled eyes. I spoke each word clearly and deliberately. “Lily Thorne, you are the only child of my family and the Thorne Corporation. You will inherit everything.” “There’s no such thing as a ‘sister’ you need to impress or appease, and you don’t need a husband to ‘help’ you. You will be a future CEO, a powerhouse in your own right.” “Do you understand?” My little girl’s expression slowly cleared, and she nodded vigorously. That’s more like it.

At 7 PM, I led Lily into the opulent auction house, nine floors beneath the city center. Here, anything could be bought. “Esteemed guest, please proceed to the private lounge on the third floor.” A woman in a stunning evening gown, seeing my exclusive badge, immediately greeted us with a respectful bow and ushered us upward. This badge wasn’t simply a matter of wealth; it required both immense fortune and power. Fewer than five guests could access the third floor. The people on the first floor, any one of whom could easily be a millionaire, were relegated to simple seats. “Eat up.” The private lounge was adorned with expensive, delicate pastries and high-end drinks worth thousands. I placed a plate of butterfly cookies in front of Lily. Through the one-way glass, I spotted Cassandra and Julian in the crowd below. Cassandra sat in the center, surrounded by her classmates like a princess. I saw her fair, delicate skin and her wearing the latest designer couture. Then I looked at my own frail daughter. It felt as though someone was twisting a knife in my chest. The auction soon began. Cassandra announced it was her birthday, and she wanted to make a grand gesture for the entire class, bidding on whatever caught their eye. Every time she placed a bid, I wildly outbid her. “Who’s that on the third floor? Always going against me. Aren’t they afraid of offending the Thorne family?” Cassandra fumed, seeing a piece of jewelry originally priced at a million skyrocket to five million because of the competition. “Don’t worry, darling. Money’s just a number. Once this is over, I’ll find out who it is and make them apologize.” Julian softly reassured her, pulling out a black card to soothe her anger. Lily watched me, unsure, as I only raised bids but bought nothing. I thought she might want something specific. With a flourish, I produced a black velvet box. “Those items out there are just ordinary. This is Mommy’s birthday gift for you, my sweet.” “See if you like it?” She took it, stunned. Inside, nestled on the velvet, was an exquisite emerald necklace, once worn by a British princess. It was priceless, a one-of-a-kind treasure. All the items in today’s auction combined couldn’t buy it. “It’s too precious. I don’t deserve it…” The girl didn’t even dare to touch it. I took it directly from the box, my tone brooking no argument. “Only you deserve it, my little princess.” I fastened it around her neck myself, my expression serious. She hugged me tightly, as if she had received the most precious treasure, the first time she had initiated such an embrace. “Thank you, Mommy.” Thank you, Mommy, for not disliking me, for accepting me despite how broken I am. A warmth spread through my heart. I vowed then and there to give her only the best, and anyone who had bullied her would face dire consequences. After a few whispered moments between mother and daughter, I stepped away to take a work call. When I returned, I saw Lily surrounded by a group of students on the first floor. “Lily Thorne, Cassandra didn’t even invite you. How thick-skinned are you to tag along?” “Today, Miss Thorne is treating the whole class to this exclusive auction. She’s bought something amazing for each of us, but not for a little beggar like you!” “What cheap junk is that around her neck? It looks so fake and green.” Brittany, a short-haired girl, roughly yanked the necklace from Lily’s neck, leaving a red, bruised mark. “I bet she’s still dreaming of being a rich heiress. The nerve of her, still claiming to be a Thorne! Hahaha.” After Jake, a jock-type guy, finished speaking, everyone burst into laughter, throwing insults like “slut” and “imposter.” In the chaos, someone snatched her crutch. Several hands shoved her, sending her tumbling to the ground. Seeing this scene, I understood almost instantly how Lily had gotten her injuries. Suppressing the explosive rage that threatened to consume me, I began descending the stairs, simultaneously pulling out my phone to snap pictures. Photography was strictly forbidden in such a venue, but I was an exception.

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My six-year-old biological daughter, Rainie, was finally back with us, but she always seemed distant, reluctant to get close. Julian, my husband, said she needed time to adjust, suggesting that if I brought back more gifts after my business trip, perhaps she’d warm up to me. I was just about to leave when I unexpectedly heard my daughter’s thoughts. 【Should I tell Mom that Daisy always hits me?】 【Dad says Mom doesn’t like kids who tattle, and she definitely doesn’t like me.】 【But if I don’t say anything, I might not even live to see Mom come back.】 My heart clenched. I spun around to look at my daughter, who was huddled in the corner. Her tear-filled eyes met mine. Rainie didn’t speak, but I heard her voice again. 【Maybe the reason I got to live again is because I wanted to see Mom one more time.】 Julian, seeing me frozen in place, urged me that my plane was about to take off. I turned and slapped him across the face. Business trip? No way! I was staying right by my precious daughter’s side. Let’s see who dares try to hurt my child!

Julian covered his face, staring at me in utter shock. I have a strong personality, but I’ve never laid a hand on anyone before. Seeing that I was genuinely furious today, he quickly made an excuse about urgent company business and hurried out of the house. No sooner had he left than Rainie, who had been standing next to me, scurried behind a pillar. 【Mom is really as scary as Dad said.】 Hearing her thoughts again, I was surprised. That slap was purely out of anger and fear, fueled by hearing her say she’d been killed. Yes, I can be a bit impulsive, but truly, aside from today, I’d never physically lashed out at anyone. Why would Julian tell Rainie I was scary? After being swapped at birth, Rainie had spent six whole years growing up in an orphanage. When she came home, Julian had been painstakingly careful, even creating a detailed document of guidelines on how to interact with her. Plus, after years of marriage, he’d always been tolerant of my temper, taking on the responsibility of childcare himself. He shouldn’t have badmouthed me to Rainie. Maybe she misunderstood what he said. Seeing my daughter huddled behind the pillar, I felt an urgent need to connect with her. I knelt down, smiling. “Mom’s not working today. How about we go see your new school?” Rainie’s eyes lit up, and she nodded excitedly. I reached out and pulled her into a hug, and again, I heard her thoughts. 【Mom smells so nice, and her hug is so warm.】 【It’s a shame that in my last life, when Mom first hugged me, I was already dead and couldn’t feel the warmth.】 My heart tightened. According to Rainie’s words, in her previous life, by this time, I would have already gone abroad. This time, I was going to find out which brain-dead jerk dared to lay a hand on my daughter! I had just finished dressing Rainie in new clothes. I only went upstairs to grab my purse. That’s when I saw Daisy, the daughter who was mistakenly brought home all those years ago, pointing her finger at Rainie and yelling. “You nobody! Who said you could wear that outfit?” “That has to be mine exclusively! I’m the only princess in this house.” “You little piece of trash! You came to our house, but you’re not even our child!” Daisy shrieked, then lunged forward to yank at Rainie’s clothes.

I panicked instantly. I rushed downstairs, but by the time I reached them, Daisy had already stumbled and fallen to the floor. She still clutched a piece of fabric she’d torn from Rainie’s outfit, yet she cried and held up her arm towards me, “Mom, I don’t know why my sister hit me.” Seeing Daisy playing the victim, Rainie quickly protested, “Mom, I didn’t!” “Yes, you did!” “You said I took your place for three years, and you told me to die!” “Waaah, Mom, I can leave and give my sister her place, but please don’t let me die. I’m scared I won’t see you if I die.” Rainie stammered, wanting to explain more, but ultimately said nothing. 【If I explain any further, Mom will think I’m a bad child who does wrong and doesn’t admit it.】 【In my last life, every time Daisy bullied me, Dad and my brothers only believed her, thinking I not only bullied her but also liked to lie and play the victim.】 My heart ached with a twisting pain. I looked at my timid, cautious daughter, her head already bowed, ready to apologize. I quickly pulled her behind me. “Daisy, I saw it with my own eyes. You were the one who pulled Rainie’s clothes first. Why are you still saying your sister bullied you?” Daisy stared at me in disbelief, then suddenly wailed, “Mom, you don’t believe me, but you believe this outsider kid?!” “You’re biological mother and daughter, and I’m just an outsider, so you both bully me!” “You clearly said you’d love me just the same when she came back, but that was all a lie!” Daisy cried and ran upstairs, locking herself in her bedroom. Though angry, I reminded myself that Daisy had been spoiled by the entire family for three years. It was understandable she’d have trouble accepting she wasn’t my biological child. She was just a kid, speaking without thinking, and it was normal for her to be hostile towards Rainie. I suppressed my anger and went upstairs, intending to patiently explain things to Daisy. But then I heard Daisy’s voice from inside the room, “That old woman is already playing favorites.” “I’ve cried so much, and she still cares about the truth.” “The truth is that little monster should die!” “Just wait until she’s not home. I’ll teach that beast a lesson!” My hand, poised to knock, froze in mid-air. I never imagined that Daisy, whom I had nurtured and raised, could harbor such thoughts. Rainie caught up to me then, timidly tugging at my clothes, tears in her eyes. “Mom, I don’t want to go to school anymore.” 【Daisy is so angry today, she’ll definitely beat me to death.】 【I don’t want to be locked up with Daisy and a dog again, like in my last life.】 【The dog bites so painfully. It bit off my nose and ears.】 Hearing Rainie’s thoughts, I could no longer suppress the fury surging through my heart. After finding my biological daughter, I had initially pitied Daisy and, having lived with her for years, wanted to treat both children equally. But she dared to act like a princess and then abuse my daughter like this! I immediately called for Martha, the nanny, and loudly ordered her to send Daisy to a welfare home. Daisy’s curses abruptly ceased, but Martha looked at me in astonishment. “Madam, how can you be so biased?” “Miss Daisy is crying so much right now. If you’re so heartless, people will gossip.” “Besides, Miss Daisy is so smart and will surely achieve great things someday, unlike Rainie, who is so timid and weak. Who knows what she’ll become.” I slapped Martha across the face. “Who do you think you are, to comment on my daughter?!” “Either you send her to the welfare home right now, or you pack your things and get out!” Martha panicked. “Madam, maybe we should wait for Mr. Julian to come back. The man of the house should be in charge; it’s not proper for you, a woman, to act this way.”

I laughed, a cold, bitter sound. Not to mention, Julian is just a man who married into my wealth; everything in this house is mine. How dare a nanny, clinging to such old-fashioned ideas, try to lecture me? I sneered, “Even if Julian were here, he’d have to listen to me. And as for you, you’re fired.” I immediately called my butler and had Martha dismissed. Martha was furious, yelling that she’d get Julian to come back and teach me a lesson. But the bodyguards had already thrown her luggage out. Only when I saw her locked outside the gate was I satisfied. I took Rainie’s hand and we left. In the car, I told Rainie, “If anyone ever bullies you, you tell Mom immediately. Mom will always protect you.” Tears welled in Rainie’s eyes, then she suddenly smiled, nodding vigorously. And right then, I heard her thoughts again. 【How is Mom so different from the Mom Dad described?】 【Did Dad lie to me? Does Mom actually love me a lot?】 【But why did he say Mom didn’t want to see me, when I begged him to call her before I died in my last life?】 My heart lurched. Was Julian really involved in this? The next second, my suspicions intensified. Because the principal claimed Rainie’s name wasn’t on the enrollment list. I had clearly instructed Julian to give both my daughters 10% of Sterling Corp. shares as an enrollment gift on their first day of school. “Principal, please check again. Daisy and Rainie registered together.” The principal’s scornful gaze landed on Rainie. “Mr. Julian said when he registered that he would give 20% of Sterling Corp. shares to Daisy as an enrollment gift.” “Who is this wild girl? An illegitimate child? Then she’s certainly not worthy of any shares, is she?” I was instantly furious. “How dare you slander my daughter as an illegitimate child? Who do you think you are? I’ll give my family’s shares to whomever I please!” She scoffed at me, about to retort, but the next second, her contemptuous expression morphed into a fawning smile. “Mr. Julian, what a surprise to see you here!” I followed her hurried gaze and sure enough, saw Julian approaching. Julian ignored the principal’s overly eager greeting, walking towards me with an anxious look. “Honey, what happened at home? Why is Daisy crying so much?” I slapped Julian across the face. “Why didn’t you register our daughter for school?” Julian finally reacted, stammering, “Rainie just came home from the orphanage. She might not adapt to an elite private school environment. I was afraid she’d be bullied.” “Rainie is the sole heir to Tian’s Group. How could she be bullied? Even if she is, she should learn to fight back. Otherwise, how will she manage the company?” Julian froze. “What do you mean? Are you not giving the company to Daisy anymore? How can you be so biased?” “Even if you don’t give it to Daisy, we have three sons. How could Rainie be the only heir?” I scoffed. “It’s a family tradition for women to run our company. You didn’t have any objections when I said I’d give the company to Daisy. Why is it a problem now that it’s Rainie?” “And you have no right to accuse me of being biased. The principal just said you were going to give 20% of the shares to Daisy.” Julian looked at the principal in surprise. The principal, still pointing her finger at me, screeched, “A mistress should know her place. Don’t act all high and mighty. Do you really think Mr. Julian can’t live without you?!” “What nonsense are you spouting?! I can’t live without my wife!” Before I could speak, Julian roared at her. The principal finally realized her mistake and lowered her head awkwardly. Julian humbly explained, “Honey, I just felt sorry for Daisy. In this house full of strangers, she felt unloved, so I thought of giving her more shares.” 【Daisy isn’t unloved at all. She has a pretty auntie-mom.】 【Every time I was bitten by the dog, that pretty auntie-mom would smile and say that when I died, it would definitely make Mom so furious she’d die too, and then she could live with Dad and Daisy.】 【She also said that Dad deliberately swapped me and Daisy back then.】 【It’s a shame if I told Mom all this, she’d probably think I was lying.】

My daughter’s thoughts left me utterly stunned. My face went pale as I looked at Julian. I never imagined he had cheated on me. He used my money to support a mistress, and even deliberately swapped his illegitimate daughter with my own. I was trembling with rage. Julian, seeing me silent, thought I’d bought his story and continued, “Daisy is a sensible child. Go back and apologize to her, give her more gifts, and she’ll get over it.” I scoffed. “What’s she going to hold against me?” “She’s an illegitimate child, living off my money, eating my food. How dare she be mad at me?” Julian froze. “Wh… what illegitimate child? What do you mean?” “Julian, I’ve given you too much leeway. How dare you pull stunts right under my nose?” “Don’t you know what you’ve done?” A flicker of guilt crossed Julian’s eyes, but he still stubbornly denied it. “Rainie, you just don’t want to keep raising Daisy, so you’re framing her as my illegitimate daughter? Do you have any conscience?” “Daisy is just a child, and you want her to bear a lifetime of infamy!” He accused hysterically. I simply pulled out my phone in front of him, dialed a private investigator, and even put it on speakerphone. “I need you to investigate whether my husband, Julian Yang, has a mistress. Also, six years ago, the incident where my child was swapped – was it an accident, or was it deliberate?” Julian reached out to snatch my phone, but the private investigator had already hung up. His finger trembling, he pointed it at my nose. “How long are you going to keep making a scene? Do you have to turn this family into chaos and make all our children hate you?” “Rainie, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Our three sons cherish Daisy. If you keep this up, our sons will disown you!” “Go back now and apologize to Daisy, then let Rainie go to a different school to adjust. Everything will be fine if you just follow my plan.” Seeing I was unmoved, he took a deep breath and softened his voice. “Honey, you don’t understand how to raise children. They need to progress gradually. And this illegitimate child talk is all fabricated. Stop wasting money on detectives; there’s nothing to investigate.” “Otherwise, when our sons arrive and see you acting like this, how will you explain it to them?” “Explain?” I sneered. “I don’t need to explain anything to anyone!” “You abused my daughter and tried to give my company to your illegitimate child. I haven’t even held you accountable, and you want me to explain myself?” “You’re the one who needs to explain to Dad!” Before Julian could retort, a voice came from behind us. My three sons had arrived. Leo, my eldest, quickly shielded Julian. “Mom, you’re misunderstanding Dad like this, and making Daisy cry. Of course, you need to explain yourselves to them!” Max, my second son, pointed at Rainie and yelled, “It must be you, you little monster, lying again and trying to stir up trouble between Daisy and Mom. You’re so scheming at such a young age, why don’t you just drop dead?” Caleb, my youngest, looked annoyed. “Because of your favoritism, Daisy almost committed suicide at home. What are you standing around for? Go back immediately and tell her that she’s the only princess in this family.” “If anything happens to Daisy, I will never forgive you!” Watching my three sons’ righteous indignation, my chest ached with anger. I gritted my teeth and spoke, “Do you even know what kind of people your father and Daisy, whom you’re protecting, really are?” Their brows furrowed deeply, their faces full of suspicion. I turned and slapped the evidence the private investigator sent me onto their faces. It clearly documented that Daisy was Julian’s illegitimate daughter. And six years ago, the ironclad evidence that Rainie and Daisy were swapped was indeed Julian’s deliberate act. My three sons froze, and Julian completely panicked. He snatched my phone, roaring at me, “This is slander!”

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Everyone knew Julian Thorne and I were his absolute darlings. I wanted to see stars, so he splashed hundreds of millions to orchestrate a private meteor shower display. My son loved carousels, so Julian built the biggest amusement park *ever*, named after him. He was never stingy with his love for my son and me. The day my son and I were in a car accident, Julian Thorne brought in a renowned medical team to save me. I clung to life, begging him to save my son first. But he choked back tears and told me our son had bled out on the way to the hospital. Finally, I couldn’t hold on anymore and passed out. When I woke up, I heard him talking to the doctor outside the door. “Mr. Thorne, the young boy could have been saved. Why did you just stand by and watch your own son die?” Julian Thorne’s nonchalant voice replied. “Noah was always meant to be the donor for Seraphina’s child and mine.” “If he didn’t die, how else could I legitimately take his heart for Leo?” “I’ve been good enough to Scarlett and her son all these years. Now, it’s their turn to repay me.” So, Julian Thorne’s kindness to my son and me was just a twisted exchange for my son’s heart. All the suffering my son and I endured was orchestrated by him. If that’s the case, then I’ll play along. 0

Just outside the rescue room, separated by a single door, I heard Julian Thorne chuckle. “Mrs. Thorne’s uterus suffered severe trauma while protecting the boy. To save her life, we had no choice but to remove it.” The doctor’s voice was terrified. “Mr. Thorne, are you saying… Mrs. Thorne has already lost one child. By doing this, you’re ensuring she can never be a mother again in this lifetime.” “Don’t you think that’s too cruel?” Julian Thorne’s tone remained calm. “In this lifetime, I will only ever have one child: Leo.” “And as compensation, Scarlett Hayes will always be Mrs. Thorne.” “Proceed with the surgery quickly. I need to see Leo. He and Seraphina must need me desperately right now.” “Oh, and be careful during the procedure. My wife is sensitive to pain.” In a daze, Julian Thorne’s footsteps faded further down the hallway. My hands, clenched by my sides, were lacerated and bloody from my nails digging in. I couldn’t stop the tears from streaming down my face. It turned out that the good husband and father my son and I had been so proud of was a lie. The love he gave us was also a lie. The only truth was the six-year deception he orchestrated. Using a meticulously orchestrated car accident, he stole my son’s heart. As the anesthesia seeped into my veins, my consciousness blurred further. I only felt the cold instruments ruthlessly invading my body, and the chill plunged me into one nightmare after another. The dreams were pitch black. My son stood in the darkness, his usually beating chest hollow. He reached out to me, crying: “Mommy, Noah hurts so bad, Mommy…” “Noah!” I jolted awake from the nightmare, meeting Julian Thorne’s concerned eyes. “Honey, you’re finally awake.” “Do you know how worried I was about losing you during these two days you were unconscious?” He trembled as he embraced me. “I’ve already lost our son. I can’t lose you too.” My ear was pressed against Julian Thorne’s chest, his frantic heartbeat seeming to confirm the truth of his words. Julian Thorne continued: “Honey, the doctor said the car accident damaged your uterus. We might not be able to have any more children.” “But it’s okay. Having you is enough for me.” He spoke with such conviction. If this were before, I would have felt lucky to have married such a good man. But now, with my body scarred and ‘incomplete,’ his flawless acting sickened me. I subtly pushed him away. “Where’s Noah? I need to see him.” Julian Thorne’s expression faltered. He stroked my head, his voice low. “I’m sorry, honey. I was afraid you’d be too heartbroken to see his body, so I already arranged for the cremation yesterday.” He wasn’t afraid of me seeing Noah and getting upset; he was terrified I’d see the gaping hole where his heart used to be. I suppressed the hatred in my eyes and looked at the crooked red string bracelet on Julian Thorne’s wrist. It was a gift from our son. Before the accident, Julian Thorne often had trouble sleeping at night. Noah had asked his school teacher to teach him how to make bracelets, then wove red string and some dried herbs, which he’d heard could help with sleep, and gave it to him. Julian Thorne had looked at the clumsily made bracelet in shock, opening his mouth but unable to speak for a long time. It wasn’t until Noah called him “Daddy” again that he took the bracelet and carefully put it on his wrist. He hugged our son and said, “Noah, thank you. Daddy loves it.” Now, it seemed that while Noah worried about Julian Thorne’s insomnia, Julian’s ‘insomnia’ was him meticulously planning the ‘accident’ that would take our son’s life. Julian Thorne followed my gaze and saw the bracelet too. A complex emotion flickered in his eyes, and he quickly covered the bracelet with his sleeve. “Honey, I promise you, I will spend the rest of my life, just like you, remembering our Noah.” I lowered my eyes and said nothing more. My only solace in this moment, my one grim comfort, was that Noah had believed, until his very last breath, that Julian Thorne loved him. But I couldn’t let that make me forget that Julian was the one who killed my son. Noah, Mommy will get revenge for you. And I will leave this two-faced monster, this killer who destroyed us. 0

Because I disliked the antiseptic smell of hospitals, Julian Thorne took me home the next day. If I hadn’t seen through his demonic nature, Julian Thorne would have been a perfect husband. He would personally cook for me, thoughtfully remembering every single one of my dietary preferences and aversions. He even worried that I still harbored trauma from the accident, soaking my feet and massaging them every night. It wasn’t until the third day after we returned home that Julian Thorne finally left early, claiming he had company business. I saw a message from Seraphina Duval on his phone screen, which he hadn’t bothered to turn off yet. 【Julian, Leo keeps asking for his dad. I can’t calm him down anymore.】 Seraphina’s child wanted his dad, and Julian Thorne rushed to his side without a second thought. My son, however, died on his way to see his dad. I silently watched Julian Thorne leave, then went to the third floor and stood outside his study. For five years of marriage, Julian Thorne had kept the study locked, citing the need for personal space in a marriage. I typed in Seraphina’s and Leo’s birthdays. The lock clicked open. Inside the vast study, all four walls were covered with photos of their family of three. From Seraphina’s pregnancy and childbirth, to Leo’s milestones – his first month, his first tooth, his first steps – Julian Thorne had documented everything. Yet, my son’s entire four years, from birth to death, couldn’t even fill a small photo album. I then opened the diary on Julian Thorne’s desk. 【May 20th: Seraphina told me she had a surprise for me. Even though I suspected it was news of her pregnancy, when she placed the pregnancy test in front of me, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling.】 【January 23rd: I became a father. I named him Leo.】 【He was so tiny. When I held him in my arms, for a moment, I almost wanted to give them everything I owned.】 【But then the doctor told me Leo was born with a congenital heart condition.】 【September 30th: For Leo, I got married. The bride wasn’t Seraphina.】 【Seraphina, I will be a good husband, a good father.】 The last sentence he wrote, the words almost piercing the page, spoke of a monumental decision. I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. So, marrying me was such an agonizing sacrifice. No wonder, five years ago, when I joyfully presented my pregnancy test results to Julian Thorne, he remained silent for a long time. Then, as if checking off an item on his to-do list, he said, “Thank you.” When Noah was born, Julian Thorne didn’t even hold him. His first glance at Noah wasn’t one of warmth, but a cold command to the doctor to run a full physical, especially on his heart. On our wedding night, the room remained dark. It was only by the moonlight filtering through the window that I could clearly see Julian Thorne’s face. Before, I thought he was just shy. Now, it was clear: the person he wanted to marry wasn’t me, and the face he wanted to see wasn’t mine. The diary entries were chaotic, all about Seraphina and Leo. The latest entry was seven days ago. 【Maybe the dried herbs really do help with sleep.】 【I had a good night’s sleep. I even dreamed of…】 Julian Thorne didn’t finish the sentence, and I had no desire to read further. I took photos of the diary content, sent them to the private investigator I’d hired, then put the diary back. As I walked out of the study, Julian Thorne returned. He saw me coming down from the third floor, and a flicker of panic crossed his otherwise composed face. “Why did you suddenly go upstairs? Your injuries aren’t healed yet, you need more bed rest.” I brushed off his automatic attempt to steady me. “I got tired of lying in bed.” Julian Thorne stared at me, then, seeing my expression was normal, he subtly let out a sigh of relief. He pulled something from behind his back. “Honey, your favorite pastries from Henderson’s Bakery. I made a special trip to get them for you.” It was true, I loved Henderson’s pastries. But five minutes ago, Seraphina Duval had posted a picture of the exact same pastries on Ins. The caption read: “Just one wish from Leo, and *someone* drove two hours to get it.” She used to post these vague Ins updates often. It was just that back then, I never would have imagined that ‘someone’ was my own husband. Out of Julian Thorne’s sight, I ‘liked’ Seraphina’s Ins post. I thought, I’ll wait a little longer. Once I had enough evidence, my relationship with Julian Thorne would be over. 0

When I paid off the private investigator, Seraphina Duval contacted me. She asked to meet me at a house in the secluded outskirts. The house, decorated in warm tones, felt so inviting and homey, unlike Julian Thorne’s and my place. He always said he preferred simplicity, so our home was furnished entirely in black, white, and gray. Seraphina sat on the sofa, leisurely admiring her freshly done manicure. “So, you finally found out about Julian and me.” With Noah’s heart safely in her son, she didn’t even bother to pretend anymore. “Julian promised me he’d bring Leo and me home, making Leo officially a Thorne, rightfully inheriting his name and legacy.” I looked at Seraphina calmly. “Is that why you called me here? To tell me this?” My indifferent tone made Seraphina’s smug smile freeze. She abruptly stood up from the sofa. “Scarlett Hayes, what right do you have to speak to me like that? As Mrs. Thorne?” “Don’t be delusional! Do you really think Julian loves you?” “Back then, he married you for me and Leo, he would…” Her words abruptly stopped, but she couldn’t swallow her anger. “In a relationship, the unloved one is the outsider! And so is their child!” “My Leo will be Julian’s only son! Everything he owns will belong to Leo!” “As for your dead son, you can just mourn him in your own lonely way!” The mention of Noah ignited an uncontrollable fury in my chest. I yearned to slap her across the face, but my weakened state allowed Seraphina to grip my arm tightly. She leaned closer, enunciating each word. “You deserve this. You couldn’t even protect your own child.” Humiliation and resentment surged through me, my eyes turning red. I used all my strength to push Seraphina away. Instead, she suddenly grabbed my hand and slapped herself across the face with it. She fell to the ground, looking up at me tearfully. “Scarlett, I’m heartbroken about Noah’s death too, but what did I ever do to you that you would treat me this way?” Before I could react, a powerful force from behind shoved me. My forehead slammed against the coffee table, and blood instantly welled up. Julian Thorne, however, acted as if he hadn’t seen it. He anxiously helped Seraphina up. “Seraphina, are you okay? Are you hurt?” Seraphina shook her head, but tears streamed down her face. “Julian, my head hurts so much.” Julian Thorne’s brows furrowed, and he glared at me viciously. “Scarlett Hayes, your child is dead, so what gives you the right to come here and act crazy!” “Apologize to Seraphina right now!” I was filled with both hatred and anger, unable to control my tears any longer. “Julian Thorne, get this straight. My child was your biological son too!” “He called you Dad for four whole years!” Julian Thorne’s expression froze, and his gaze fixed on the bracelet on his wrist. In that instant, the bracelet felt like a thousand pounds on his wrist. His arm began to tremble, and he dared not meet my eyes. He awkwardly turned away, his heart feeling like it was being crushed by an invisible hand, making it hard to breathe. Only when Seraphina sobbed did Julian Thorne grasp onto her like a lifeline. He abruptly swept her into his arms. “Seraphina, I’m taking you to the hospital.” Julian Thorne carried Seraphina away. His steps were quick, yet as he passed me, they seemed unusually heavy. In the empty living room, I was left alone. On my phone, there was the audio recording I’d just made, and all the evidence the private investigator had compiled. One video showed Noah, lying in a pool of his own blood, reaching out his tiny hand to Julian Thorne. “Daddy, save me! Noah hurts so bad, Daddy…” But the man just stood there, his face cold, watching the child’s hand slowly, slowly fall to the ground. I stared at Noah’s face on the screen, watching the longing in his eyes for his father transition from hope, to confusion, then finally, to despair. So, my child, before he died, knew the truth: his daddy didn’t love him. What must he have been thinking then? *Did I do something wrong? Why is Daddy treating me this way?* Or maybe, *Mommy, run…* Pain, hatred, a whirlwind of emotions made my entire body tremble. Footsteps sounded behind me again. A five or six-year-old boy, pale-faced and clutching a toy airplane, stood at the bedroom door. He asked me, “Auntie, who are you? Why are you in my house?” His face was so familiar, and the rhythm of his heartbeat… it was agonizingly familiar. I stared at his chest, at the faint rise and fall beneath his shirt, at the heart beating there – my son’s heart. If it weren’t for Leo Duval, my Noah wouldn’t have died. So why was Noah dead, and he alive? My gaze grew icy, then, under Leo’s questioning eyes, I slowly crouched down. “Come here, Leo.” “Come home with Auntie. Auntie has candy waiting for you.” … On the drive to the hospital, Julian Thorne’s brows were tightly furrowed. My tearful questions kept flashing before his eyes, and each memory felt like a stone dropping into his gut, heavy and unsettling, making him increasingly uneasy. Suddenly, his phone rang, its chime cutting through the quiet, eerie space. Through the receiver, my voice was calm, like that of a soulless robot. “Julian Thorne, Leo Duval is with me.” The car screeched to a halt on the roadside. Julian Thorne gripped the steering wheel. A terrible thought suddenly bloomed in his mind. Could it be… she… knew the truth? 0 When Julian Thorne and Seraphina Duval arrived, I was kneeling in the living room, meticulously wiping my son’s memorial photo. My movements were so gentle, as if I was afraid of hurting him.

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On the day of our civil wedding, my boyfriend, Julian Blackwood, had me kicked out of the courthouse, then walked in with his childhood sweetheart. He looked at me with an indifferent shrug: “Seraphina’s child needs his birth registered. Once we’re divorced, I’ll marry you.” Everyone expected me, so deeply in love, to willingly wait another month for him. After all, I had waited seven years. But that very night, I accepted an arranged marriage abroad. And vanished from his world. Three years later, I returned to the country with my husband for a family remembrance trip. Asher had a sudden business emergency, so he arranged for someone from his domestic branch to pick me up. I never imagined I’d run into Julian Blackwood, whom I hadn’t seen in three years. “You’ve played this game long enough. It’s time to come back… Seraphina’s child is starting kindergarten soon, you can handle the pick-ups and drop-offs.” In the arrival hall, I spotted someone holding a sign with my English name. Walking closer, I realized it was my ex-boyfriend, Julian, whom I hadn’t seen in three years. He was with Seraphina Hayes and a few of his buddies, all craning their necks, eagerly peering into the crowd. “Julian, isn’t that your simping ex, Elara?” Julian looked surprised to see me, but quickly masked it, feigning nonchalance. “See? I told you she’d come crawling back.” They all snickered, turning their attention to me: “Elara just vanished without a word back then. Now that Julian’s made it big, she’s probably crying herself to sleep every night, filled with regret!” “But Elara, if you’re trying to stage a ‘chance encounter,’ why are you wearing casual clothes? Didn’t you bother to spruce yourself up?” “Don’t tell me without Julian, you can’t even afford decent clothes? Look how low you’ve fallen!” I used to meticulously apply my most exquisite makeup and choose the most flattering clothes, always presenting my best self whenever I met Julian. But now, there was no need. My husband didn’t allow me to wear makeup while pregnant and insisted I wear whatever was comfortable. This casual outfit was custom-made for me by someone he specifically hired. Still, listening to them, I realized they only knew my English name but had no idea *I* was the person they were supposed to be picking up. Seeing me remain silent, someone I used to be close with quickly tried to smooth things over. “Elara, it’s good you’re back. Julian has actually been looking for you all these years… asking around for any news!” Julian’s smile froze, but he quickly composed himself, speaking as if nothing had happened. “Seraphina’s child is starting kindergarten soon. You can be in charge of picking him up and dropping him off.” Julian was still as self-important and arrogant as ever. But I was no longer the girl who used to endlessly tolerate him. Seeing him again, all that was left in my heart was annoyance. Unwilling to waste time with them, I was about to reveal my identity when Seraphina spoke first: “Elara, please don’t blame Julian. He’s just trying to take care of you. After all, who knows what you’ve been doing out there for three years?” “Now that you’re looking so run-down and poor, even if he wanted to give you my personal assistant job, you couldn’t handle it.” “Don’t worry, just help me take care of my son. Nobody will look down on you for that.” Three years, and Seraphina was still so haughty, still capable of making me frown in disgust. Julian, however, misinterpreted my reaction, thinking I was still jealous and angry over him. A flicker of triumph crossed his eyes. “Alright, you’re obviously not making it out there, so what airs are you putting on?” “Just take care of the child and stop causing trouble. You need to recognize your place.” “Don’t worry, there’s still a room for the nanny at my house.” At his words, the people around us immediately broke into mocking laughter. “Elara, see how good Julian is to you? He’s worried you’d suffer out there, so he’s arranged your food and lodging.” “He’s just asking you to help Seraphina with the child—isn’t that way better than your current impoverished life? Why aren’t you thanking Julian?” Seraphina touched her earring, feigning concern. “Elara, don’t worry. If my son is naughty and disobedient, I’ll help you discipline him. I won’t let you be wronged.” Julian chuckled, giving me a dismissive glance.

“Wronged? What’s there to be wronged about? She disappeared over such a small matter back then. Now she’s back because she couldn’t make it on her own. A little hardship is what she deserves.” My heart practically stopped at those words. Even now, did he still think getting married to Seraphina was a “small matter”? The Julian who once loved me was long gone. He was no longer the boy who, despite his own injuries, carried me across half the city. Nor the young man who, with nothing, loudly proclaimed his love and promised me everything. And certainly not the successful man who once willingly cooked for me with his own hands. But it was fine. It was all in the past, no need to dwell on it. After all, I was about to have my second child. Pushing down my thoughts, I really didn’t want to waste time bickering with them here. It was pointless. I looked at Julian, my voice calm. “Aren’t you here to pick me up? Let’s go.” The scene went silent for a moment. They exchanged glances, then suddenly burst into laughter. Seraphina scoffed, her voice cold. “Wait for *you*? You think you’re worthy?!” She pointed at the sign. “Look closely, we’re waiting for Helina. Do you even know who that is?” That was my English name. Of course, I knew. “Helina is Mrs. Montgomery, the lady of the Montgomery family, Mr. Montgomery’s rightful wife.” “Mr. Montgomery is a fierce decision-maker in the business world, but personally, he’s a true romantic. Rumor has it he didn’t marry for years because he was waiting for Helina.” “Everyone in our circle knows it’s better to curry favor with Mrs. Montgomery than with Mr. Montgomery. Mrs. Montgomery is the apple of his eye.” Hearing their chattering, a happy smile touched my lips. Three years into our marriage, Asher’s business had grown exponentially, and his reputation as a doting husband had only gotten louder. Seraphina, always wanting to one-up me, seized the opportunity to show off: “To win Mrs. Montgomery’s heart, Mr. Montgomery once bought a ‘True Love Forever’ bracelet at Christie’s, valued at 20 million… dollars.” “Mrs. Montgomery is the envy of women everywhere.” She paused, then pointed at my wrist, her voice shrill. “It’s this one!” The crowd suddenly fell silent, everyone staring at my bracelet. Julian roughly grabbed my hand, scrutinizing it for a moment, then sneered. “Pretty good fake! Which broke delivery guy got this for you? Gifting knock-offs, seriously.” “Trash.” I yanked my hand away from him, a faint smile playing on my lips as I gently caressed the bracelet. Seeing my happy smile, Julian’s pupils constricted. He grabbed my wrist again, violently ripping the bracelet off. I hadn’t expected such a sudden move and he succeeded in one swift motion.

Seraphina stepped forward, examining the bracelet. She took it from Julian’s hand and toyed with it. “It’s definitely more exquisite than the fake I bought, but I’d never wear it out. People would laugh.” “Foreign knock-offs really are different; the texture is quite nice.” “Or, are you saying, Elara, that *you* are Helina, the legendary Mrs. Montgomery?!” At her words, the surrounding group burst into laughter. After all, to them, it was utterly ridiculous. Asher Montgomery was a globally renowned financial genius, ruthless and decisive in the business world. And I, three years ago, was still hanging out with them, a nobody Julian had rejected at the courthouse. It was impossible to imagine. Seraphina swung the bracelet around on her finger. “Elara, let me have this bracelet. I’ll pay double.” Fearing she might drop it, I quickly said, “Give me back my bracelet! Asher gave me that…” Before I could finish, Julian slapped me so hard my head snapped to the side, and blood welled at the corner of my mouth. “Shut up!” Julian looked at me, infuriated. “Elara, Mr. Montgomery’s name isn’t something you get to casually utter. How dare you spread rumors about being involved with him? Are you trying to get me killed?” Julian’s buddies also looked indignant, glaring at me. “Elara, do you have any idea how hard we fought to get the chance to pick up Mrs. Montgomery today?” “Julian’s company was acquired by Mr. Montgomery last year. We’re all dependent on Mr. Montgomery for our very livelihood. Only by currying favor with Mrs. Montgomery can Julian’s position be secure.” “Now you’re here spreading rumors about being involved with Mr. Montgomery? Are you trying to ruin Julian?” I wiped the blood from my lip, slowly turning my head to meet Julian’s gaze.

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My mother was killed by my husband’s childhood sweetheart. My husband, Alex Miller, a top-tier attorney, didn’t hesitate. He immediately took the woman he’d grown up with to court. But the final verdict was that Mom had staged the accident. Eight lawsuits, eight crushing defeats. Yet, Alex never gave up. Ashley Evans cried, questioning him: “We grew up together! Do you really have to keep hounding me?” Finally, after the tenth brutal defeat, he found me, his face gaunt, his beard scruffy. “There’s really no evidence to convict Ashley, Chloe. Let’s just lay Mom to rest.” I cried into his arms all night. The next day, I kidnapped Ashley Evans and started a live stream to the entire internet. I smiled at the camera: “Alex, you have ten chances to submit the real evidence. Otherwise…” With one swift cut, I severed Ashley’s pinky finger: “You’ll personally be piecing your childhood sweetheart back together!” The live stream shot up to over a hundred thousand viewers almost instantly. Ashley Evans was gagged and tied to a chair. I stood behind her, a knife in my hand, a smile on my face. Everyone watched, tense. The most anxious of them all was my husband, Alex Miller. “Chloe! There’s truly nothing suspicious about Mom’s accident! I checked thoroughly!” He yelled at me through the camera. I watched his panicked face on the big screen in the room, shaking my head with a smile: “No, you haven’t submitted all the confirmed evidence to the police yet.” The live chat exploded: [Is this woman out of her mind? Doesn’t ten lost lawsuits prove anything?] [She’s paranoid, isn’t she? Won’t be satisfied unless the driver is charged with premeditated murder?] [Her husband is a top-tier attorney! He charges seven-figure retainers for cases, and he’s impossible to book! He dropped all his other cases to fight ten lawsuits for her! That’s more than enough!] Watching the overwhelming support for him, Alex’s expression softened. His voice grew more confident: “Chloe! The facts are clear, the evidence is plain. I don’t know what else I’m supposed to submit. “Your current actions constitute a serious criminal offense! Release Ashley immediately, and I’ll defend you!” I said nothing. I grabbed Ashley’s ear and swiftly sliced it off. Alex’s expression froze. I held the ear up, dangling it for the camera: “Do you think I’m kidding?” Alex’s face turned deathly pale as he stared at the camera: “You… you’ve completely lost it!” I casually tossed the ear to the floor. The golden retriever immediately pounced on it, wagging its tail. “One.” I held up a single finger. “Alex Miller, ten lost lawsuits, ten concealments. You also have ten chances to submit the evidence you’ve hidden all ten times to all these viewers. Each time, I’ll give you ten minutes.” [??? Is she crazy? Submit what if there’s no evidence?] [Don’t drag us innocent viewers into this! We’re not just going to side with whoever’s mom died, okay?] [Besides, maybe your mom really did try to stage an accident and it went wrong? Ashley is the victim here, okay?] I watched the comments scroll wildly. Most people were accusing me of being deluded, refusing to accept the verdict of ten trials. [She’s just trying to extort money! Like mother, like daughter, a big scammer raising a little scammer! Mom failed, now the daughter continues the scam!] [Where are the police? Track her down quickly! Otherwise, this poor girl is going to be killed by this fraud!] The police also sent a private message: [We have located you. Immediately put down your weapon and surrender!] I just sneered. I had already asked my best friend to handle the technical side. My location was unstable, impossible to pinpoint, not even a general area. A cheap trick. Sure enough, minute after minute passed, and there was no movement from the police. The online viewers grew frantic, flooding the police’s social media with messages. The police station’s phone lines were even jammed by the anxious callers. Left with no choice, the police issued a statement, acknowledging the unknown location. They stated they were mobilizing top technical personnel to pinpoint me. I glanced at my watch. I pressed the knife against Ashley’s trembling face: “Ready, my dear?” “Wait!” Alex stopped my movement, cold sweat beading on his forehead: “I’ll submit…”

The evidence was submitted quickly. I glanced at it. It was new evidence, as expected. But just one look, and I spun around, plunging a pencil into Ashley’s right eye socket. “Mmph! Mmph!!” Ashley was gagged, but she still managed to make sounds. She tilted her head back in agony, blood gushing from her eye socket, her left eye streaming tears. “Chloe!!” Alex lunged closer to the camera: “I’ve already submitted it! How dare you do that!” I held the printed new evidence up to the camera, shaking it: “Do you take me for a fool? It looks convincing, but this alone isn’t enough to convict Ashley of premeditated murder!” I threw the evidence to the floor, stepping on it, staring coldly into the camera: “Alex, playing games won’t work.” Alex’s face paled even further. The online crowd was enraged: [Your mom just messed up her own scam! Submitting evidence of premeditated murder would be perjury!] [Everyone in the legal world knows Alex Miller’s stellar reputation! YOU’RE the one committing murder!] [Release the hostage!] I just smiled, glancing at my watch: “My dear, you have six minutes left.” Alex leaned on the table, glaring intensely at the camera: “The case is closed, there are no objections! What do you want me to submit?!” “You know what.” I stared back at the camera, my voice cold: “If you truly love your childhood sweetheart enough, then submit the real evidence quickly!” Alex gritted his teeth savagely: “If I had intended to deceive you, I would’ve just pointed you to some amateur lawyer! Why would I waste years fighting ten appeals for you?!” I raised my chin: “Only you know that.” The online insults against me grew fiercer. Countless people accused me of being a heartless monster, betraying my husband. The police’s negotiation team kept sending me private messages. I just sat beside Ashley, surrounded by a pool of blood, watching my watch. “Time’s up.” I stood. Ashley stared at me in terror with her one remaining eye. “Chloe!” A familiar voice echoed. I spun around. A familiar face stood before the camera. “Uncle Robert!” I froze. “Chloe, I’ve thoroughly analyzed your mother’s case. Things really aren’t as you think.”

The knife hovered over Ashley’s brow. I frowned: “Uncle Robert, what are you talking about?” Uncle Robert stood before the camera, righteous indignation in his voice: “As a forensic analyst, I’ve analyzed your mother’s case no less than ten times. This matter, indeed, was your mother’s fault.” I stared at the camera in disbelief: “Uncle Robert, are you saying my mom staged an accident?” Uncle Robert sighed: “Chloe, you must respect the facts. The crime scene analysis unequivocally indicates that.” “I think you’re the one not respecting facts!” I pointed at the camera: “She was your sister! Your own sister! “Back when we were so poor we couldn’t even afford food, Mom would return a hundred-dollar bill a stranger dropped. “From the day I was born, she taught me kindness. You’ve known her for nearly fifty years, and you actually think that of her!” Uncle Robert frowned: “Chloe, people change.” I laughed. I ripped off the cloth gagging Ashley: “I think you’re the one who’s changed.” “Help…” Ashley couldn’t even finish her word before I clamped her jaw, forcing her mouth open. Pliers reached into her mouth, one, two, three. The floor was littered with the teeth I’d wrenched from her mouth. “Ah!!” Ashley’s screams were bone-chilling. Uncle Robert leaned closer to the camera: “Enough! Stop it! Chloe! Stop it now!!” After pulling out the last tooth, Ashley collapsed, her mouth a bloody mess, her body trembling uncontrollably. “Ashley…” Uncle Robert’s pupils trembled. I glared directly into the camera: “What, Uncle Robert? You knew her all along?” Uncle Robert paused, then immediately regained his righteous expression: “Chloe! You’re a disgrace to your mother’s memory!” I chuckled, glancing at my watch: “You’ve already wasted three chances. “Fourth chance, ten minutes. Timer, start.” I sat back down on the chair beside Ashley, calmly twirling the pliers. Alex paced frantically in front of the camera. With thirty seconds left, I began to count down: “29, 28, 27…” “There’s no such thing as evidence of premeditated murder! What do you want me to submit?!” Alex was losing his mind. The online crowd was also indignant: [If there was, anyone would have submitted it by now! Isn’t she forcing Alex Miller to commit perjury?] [Exactly! Forcing Alex to ruin his career!] [This woman is utterly malicious!] “5, 4…” “Chloe!!” “3, 2…” “Chloe, come to your senses!” “1…” “Mommy!” A small, childish voice piped up. I froze, quickly standing up: “Leo…”

“Mommy!” Leo’s tiny, tear-streaked face appeared on camera, sobbing. “Leo, did Daddy bring you here?” I had specifically told my best friend not to involve the child in this. Could my friend have… “Mommy! Grandma really did run into Ms. Ashley’s car on purpose!” My pupils constricted. The online viewers grew even more displeased: [Chloe, look at what you’ve done! Such a young child forced to face all this!] [Even her child is speaking out, Chloe! Are you still going to be delusional? This is your own son!] I tightened my grip on the knife: “Leo, that’s your Grandma! The Grandma who sang you lullabies, the Grandma who broke her own leg chasing off a kidnapper to save you!” Leo cried: “Grandma really said she was going to stage an accident with Ms. Ashley! Leo isn’t lying! Leo really isn’t lying! Mommy, please let Ms. Ashley go, okay?” Alex pulled Leo into his arms: “Chloe! Are you going to doubt even your own child’s words?!” I gritted my teeth: “What did you teach him to say?” [??? Seriously, does she have a mental illness?] [Finally, I know where those idiotic male leads who never believe the female protagonist in novels come from. Art truly imitates life.] “Chloe! If you won’t listen to Leo, who *will* convince you?!” Alex was righteously indignant. I just grabbed Ashley’s hair, forcing her ravaged face towards the camera. The knife tip gently grazed her skin. I chuckled: “Alex, did you think that all this time during the appeals, I hadn’t noticed you secretly messaging her at night?” Alex’s eyes widened suddenly. “Fourth chance, gone!” I raised the knife high above Ashley’s left eye. “Mommy!!” Leo held up a letter: “Grandma told me to give you this before she left!” The knife tip stopped less than a millimeter from Ashley’s eyeball. “Mom?” I stared in disbelief at the letter Leo offered. It clearly stated that Mom, unable to bear the torment of cancer, planned to leave this world in such a manner.

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My husband transferred the deed of a multi-million dollar mansion to his intern, Amber Thorne. Amber flaunted the property deed on SnapChat: “So grateful for my amazing CEO’s care! This little pup finally has a place to call home in NYC. ❤️” The sophisticated oil paintings in the room were replaced with cheap, cutesy landscape prints. I immediately called Leo Sterling. “Explain this. How did my mansion become someone else’s?” Leo’s nonchalant voice came through the phone: “Amber doesn’t have a place in NYC. We have so many houses; we won’t miss this one.” “You have ten minutes to transfer the property back and restore everything to how it was!” Leo hung up and didn’t reply. Three minutes later, Sterling Enterprises’ partners all withdrew their investments. If he wasn’t willing to fix the problem, I wouldn’t mind destroying Sterling Enterprises! Leo still hadn’t contacted me, but Grandpa Sterling called first. “Aurora, did that brat Leo upset you? Don’t you worry, my family has six other eligible grandsons. If he’s being an idiot, just pick another! But please, don’t take it out on Sterling Enterprises!” I sneered, “Grandpa Sterling, your grandson gave my mansion to a manipulative intern. Would you tolerate that?” A few seconds of silence, then a gritted voice: “That ignorant idiot! Aurora, don’t worry, I’ll make him return the house right away.” Soon, Leo burst into the office. “Aurora Blackwood, have you lost your mind? For a damn mansion, you actually contacted Grandpa and tried to replace me as the heir to this company!” “When did you become so vicious?!” So that’s how he saw me. I gazed out at the rainy window, a chill spreading from my fingertips to my heart. “That mansion was bought with our joint marital assets. Without my permission, you had no right to give it to anyone else.” “Leo Sterling, transfer the property back immediately, and that includes all my paintings. Not one can be missing.” “Otherwise, Sterling Enterprises will lose much, much more!” Leo fell silent. He knew I always kept my word. If he didn’t do as I said today, I would truly cut off all of Sterling Enterprises’ partnerships. Finally, he sighed helplessly, “Fine, I promise.” Then he pressed his lips together, his eyes burning as he looked at me. This was his usual trick. Every time he made a mistake, he’d put on this expression. In the past, whenever he looked like that, I would always rush into his arms and hug him tight. But now, I simply instructed my assistant to show him out. As a married man, if he couldn’t even maintain the most basic boundaries, I had no reason to indulge him. Soon, the property deed was changed back and returned. I smashed his favorite antique vase and sent him a picture of the broken pieces on the floor. “Leo Sterling, you know my temper. Don’t let it happen again!” He didn’t reply. I knew he was angry. But he was the one who crossed the line; he couldn’t blame me.

The next day, right after the board meeting, I received a call from the project director. “Ms. Blackwood, something’s come up with the Northbrook project!” When I arrived on site, I found out that Amber Thorne had offended Commissioner Davies with her rude remarks. This project, a city council initiative, was a joint venture between Blackwood Corp and Sterling Enterprises. How could Leo entrust such a crucial meeting to an inexperienced intern? I immediately apologized to Commissioner Davies. He let it go, out of respect for me. But just as I was about to fire Amber, Leo burst into the conference room. “Aurora Blackwood, Amber Thorne is my intern. You have no right to fire her!” “You’re so irrational and blindly retaliating; it honestly disgusts me!” He didn’t ask for reasons, just pointed at me and yelled. The gentle, charming man he once was, now glaring at me for another woman. I put down the documents and looked at him calmly. “Mr. Sterling, please clarify your identity.” “First, you are my husband. Where do you put my reputation when you stand up for another woman?” “Second, you are the head of Sterling Enterprises. Do you really think Amber Thorne is qualified to handle such an important partnership?” “Ask everyone here, am I being irrational?!” Leo’s face went pale, his fists clenched tight, knuckles turning white. The air in the conference room seemed to freeze. Everyone held their breath. I looked at Amber Thorne. “Come on, tell us yourself. What did you do to Commissioner Davies during the meeting?” Amber hung her head, unable to utter a word for a long time. I pulled out the surveillance footage from that day and handed it to Leo. The screen showed Amber Thorne yelling at Commissioner Davies, calling him a condescending jerk, and then pouring a cup of coffee over his head. Amber quickly tried to defend herself, “Leo, he insulted me, that’s why I…” I crossed my legs and looked up at her. “You got several of the project data points wrong. He was kindly correcting you. You call that an insult?” But Leo was still defending her. “Amber is also new to such a major meeting. She might have been nervous and misspoke.” “No harm was done. Just for my sake, give her another chance.” I looked at Leo’s pleading eyes and suddenly found it incredibly laughable. “You have two choices: either fire her, or Blackwood Corp withdraws from this project.” Leo panicked. He knew this partnership was primarily based on my influence. If Blackwood Corp pulled out, the project would definitely be lost. Grandpa Sterling was already extremely displeased with him, and his six brothers were all waiting in the wings. His position as CEO of Sterling Enterprises was likely at risk. But just as he was about to make a tough decision, Amber started to sob. “Leo, it’s my fault… I shouldn’t have acted on impulse and betrayed your trust.” “But Commissioner Davies, he… he said you only got where you are by clinging to the Blackwood family, he said you were just a parasite…” “I just couldn’t stand it, that’s why…” “I know I caused you trouble. I’ll go to HR and resign now. Don’t make it difficult…” She started to walk out, but Leo grabbed her arm. “Stop! I won’t let you leave!” Watching this scene, my heart suddenly twisted with a sharp pain. The man who once promised me a lifetime together was now confronting me for another woman. I was in no mood to argue with them anymore. I called security and had them escorted out.

My persistence angered Grandpa Sterling, who immediately ordered Amber Thorne’s termination. To compensate her, Leo took her shopping for bags. After circling the luxury brand section, Amber finally stopped in front of a globally limited edition Hermès Birkin bag. Her eyes full of greed, she said, “Leo, this bag is so exquisite!” “But a bag of this caliber is probably only for socialites and wealthy ladies. How could someone as ordinary as me deserve it?” Her mouth said she didn’t deserve it, but her fingers clutched the bag strap tightly, refusing to let go. “Don’t underestimate yourself. You’re excellent. One day you’ll stand at the top and look down on everything!” “I’ll buy you this bag. Let it be your motivation.” Just then, the store manager hurried over. “I’m so sorry, this bag was reserved by Ms. Blackwood. You two can look at our other…” “Aurora Blackwood?” Amber spun around, seeing me emerge from the VIP room. A flicker of hatred crossed her face, quickly replaced by a humble expression. “Ms. Blackwood, you have excellent taste. This bag truly suits you. Someone like me is perfectly fine with a regular style.” “That’s just how the world is. I could work my entire life, give it my all, and still not even touch Ms. Blackwood’s shoelaces.” “But Ms. Blackwood is different. She was born to look down on everything.” “How could I possibly deserve this bag? Leo, let’s go.” Leo frowned at her words. “You’re both human. What makes her so superior? Don’t belittle yourself.” He turned to me, anger blazing in his eyes. “Aurora Blackwood, do you have to stomp on everyone to be satisfied?” “Amber has fought her way to where she is now through her own efforts. Someone like you, born with a silver spoon in your mouth, can’t even compare to one of her fingers!” “You’re nothing but a petty, spiteful person!” Me, a petty person? I almost laughed at the absurdity. “What does her effort have to do with me? I didn’t give birth to her, so don’t question me.” “And I reserved this bag half a year ago. Is there a problem with me coming to pick it up today?” Leo sneered, “You have a dozen bags in your closet. Will you die without this one?” He suddenly pulled out his black card and slammed it on the counter. “Today, I insist on this bag!” I looked at his hand trembling with rage, and suddenly felt a profound sense of mockery. “Leo Sterling, have you forgotten? Every single cent on your card belongs to the Blackwood family, doesn’t it?” His face instantly turned ashen. Many families wanted to marry into the Blackwood family, but it was his relentless pursuit that swayed me. “Just marry me, and I’ll love you well, I’ll never betray you.” I thought I had finally found true love, so I chose to marry him. After our marriage, I even used Blackwood Corp’s assets to support Sterling Enterprises. I had always thought that in marriage, we were one. As long as we loved each other, money didn’t matter. But I never imagined he would trample our marriage into the dirt for an intern.

Because of the bag incident, he was angry and didn’t come home for several days. It wasn’t until Grandpa Sterling arrived with his six other grandsons that Leo finally panicked. He moved back that very night. That night, Amber Thorne suddenly called, crying uncontrollably. “Leo, please, beg Ms. Blackwood for me. Tell her not to make things difficult for me.” “I really can’t keep going…” Leo quickly comforted her. “What happened? What did she do to you?!” “Leo, now all the companies are refusing to hire me. Ms. Blackwood must have put in a word.” “Please, beg Ms. Blackwood to let me go. I’m just an ant; I have no right to contend with her.” Leo’s brow furrowed. He turned and glared at me. “Don’t be scared, no one will bully you when I’m here!” After hanging up, he grabbed my collar, his eyes bloodshot. “Aren’t you going too far? Do you have to push Amber to the brink?!” “She’s just a young girl trying to make her way in the world, hardworking and ambitious.” “Don’t think that just because you have a few stinking dollars, you can treat others as nothing!” I pushed his hand away and looked at him calmly. “Leo Sterling, this is the second time. Three strikes, and you’re out. Do you know the consequences if there’s a third?” “I didn’t do those things, nor would I stoop so low. If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing I can do.” He glowered at me, then slammed the door shut and left. He only left one sentence: “I must have been blind to marry you.” My heart felt as if it was being squeezed by a pair of large hands, tearing me apart. The person I once cherished as my most precious possession now looked at me with such disgust. I, Aurora Blackwood, always so proud, had actually come to this. Leo ignored Grandpa Sterling’s pressure and openly brought Amber Thorne to various events. In the blink of an eye, Amber became a rising star in our social circle. Everyone tacitly accepted their relationship. Leo not only didn’t clarify, but he also took Amber to play golf every week and spent hours alone with her in the private lounge. It was even rumored that he replaced our wedding photo on his office desk with a picture of him and Amber. Good. Very good. The man who swore to be devoted to me had completely died. Since he was the first to violate our contract, he couldn’t blame me for being merciless. Leo Sterling, betraying me deserves a price! I had my lawyer draft the divorce papers and personally delivered them to Sterling Enterprises. Pushing open the CEO’s office door, I found Leo leaning over, guiding Amber Thorne through document revisions, their faces almost touching.

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