Category: English

I was the company’s top salesperson; my sales alone matched half the entire company’s revenue. And because I didn’t kiss up to her on the company WhatsApp group, she completely forgot all the hard work I’d put in. She fired me on the spot and replaced me with her useless cousin. The result? Company sales plummeted, straight to zero. That’s when she panicked, sobbing and begging me to come back. “Please, Blake, come back! My boyfriend said if you don’t return, he’s breaking up with me!” Mr. Sterling, the owner, had gone on vacation and left his precious girlfriend, Amber, in charge of the company. Amber was a total spoiled brat, and on her very first day, she came for me. As soon as I walked into the office, I heard colleagues whispering that Amber had specifically asked to see me. My gut clenched. I knew this “princess” was up to no good again. Amber was Mr. Sterling’s new girlfriend. Relying on his affection, she basically ran roughshod over everyone in the company. Anyone who dared cross her would suffer. Before, a female colleague had stayed a few extra minutes in Mr. Sterling’s office after a work report. Amber fabricated lies about Isabel flirting with Mr. Sterling, forcing her out of the company. Even though I was the company’s cash cow, I still got plenty of dirty looks from her. This time, she’d finally found her chance to “deal with” me. I pushed open the door to Mr. Sterling’s office. Before I could even stand steady, A thick folder came flying right at my face. “How long has it been past working hours? Company policy says 8 AM, and you stroll in at 10 AM. Are you trying to run things here?” The edge of the folder cut my forehead, a sharp sting. Ignoring the wound, I looked up at the furious face behind the desk. My 10 AM start time was specifically approved by Mr. Sterling. It was an open secret in the company. Years ago, when the company faced bankruptcy, I pushed myself to the limit. I generated ten million dollars in sales in just one month, getting the company back on its feet. Since then, Mr. Sterling had always been grateful to me, consulting me on every major and minor decision. “Ms. Amber, I think you’re mistaken. My 10 AM start time was personally approved by Mr. Sterling.” I reminded her. “Don’t you dare mention Mr. Sterling to me! He answers to me now!” Amber rudely cut me off. “Company policy says three consecutive late arrivals lead to termination. You’ve been coming in at 10 AM for a whole month straight. Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson!” “Fire me? Have you even asked Mr. Sterling?” I challenged her. 80% of the company’s profit came from me. Where did she get the nerve to fire me? Amber scoffed, pursing her lips. “Who do you think you are? Just a salesperson. Firing you is nothing to me!” “Don’t forget, I’m the boss’s woman now. I call the shots here!” I sneered. “If that’s the case, then I’ll wait for Mr. Sterling to come back and tell me himself.” Amber was furious. “You dare talk back to me? Fine! I’ll call Mr. Sterling right now!” With that, she dialed his number. Mr. Sterling’s slightly tired voice came through the phone. “Hello, Amber? What’s up?” Amber immediately switched to a sweet, sugary tone. “Honey, I miss you!” Mr. Sterling sighed, clearly annoyed. “Get to the point.” Amber shot me a triumphant look, then whined. “There’s an employee here who doesn’t follow rules, always coming in late. I want to fire him.” “Just handle little things like that yourself. I’m tired and want to rest.” Mr. Sterling brushed me off with a quick remark, then hung up. Amber triumphantly waved her phone. “Hear that? Mr. Sterling said I call the shots! Now get out!” 2 I smirked, looking at Amber. “Are you sure you want to do this?” “If Mr. Sterling comes back and finds out you fired me, he’ll definitely hold you accountable.” I kindly warned her. After all, headhunters had been offering me lucrative deals to poach me for years. I only stayed out of loyalty to Mr. Sterling. My leaving wouldn’t be a loss to me, but for Amber, it was a different story. Amber, instead of listening, became even more arrogant and aggressive. “Who do you think you are? Just a salesperson. I’m my boyfriend’s future wife, the lady of this company. Do you really think he’d choose you over me?” Hearing her say that, I just shook my head. If she insisted, then so be it. I turned and left the office. My colleagues outside had already heard our argument. But not knowing exactly what happened, they all looked at me curiously. “Blake, what’s going on?” As I packed my things, I chuckled. “Nothing, just got fired.” My colleagues’ eyes widened in disbelief. “Fired you? Is Amber crazy? Everyone knows you’re Mr. Sterling’s golden goose! Isn’t she afraid Mr. Sterling will break up with her?” I shrugged, smiling. “That’s not for me to say. It was her decision, she’ll have to deal with the consequences.” “Besides, I’ve been working for so many years; I’ve been wanting a good rest.” I had already saved enough money to last me a lifetime, but I felt awkward bringing up taking a break. Now was the perfect opportunity. My colleagues were fuming. “No, why did she fire you? Did you upset her, Blake?” I frowned, thinking carefully. “Probably because last time, when she spread rumors about Isabel, I spoke up for Isabel.” “She’d hated me ever since, constantly finding ways to bother me, both openly and secretly.” Just yesterday, Amber posted a selfie on the company WhatsApp. Everyone was sucking up to her in the comments, but I didn’t reply. That was probably the straw that broke the camel’s back. “How about I call Mr. Sterling right now? You’re a company hero, you can’t just leave like this.” I shook my head, smiling. “Forget it. If I ever come back, it’ll be after she and Mr. Sterling break up. I really can’t stand her attitude. We’ll see.” I finished packing and went to the finance office to get my paycheck for the month. I had only worked ten days this month, but my salary plus commission was one hundred thousand dollars. I told the finance clerk I was fired and to transfer my wages to my account when the time came. Suddenly, Amber appeared at the office entrance, pointing at me and yelling. “Blake, I told you to get out! What are you still doing here?” I glanced at her indifferently. She had found a rich boyfriend and looked so smug, it was truly sickening. Seeing that I ignored her, Amber immediately got agitated, grabbing my clothes. “I’m talking to you! Are you deaf? What are you doing in finance? These are important company documents! Get out now, or I’ll call the police!” I frowned, forcefully shaking off Amber’s hand. “Let go!” “I quit, and I’m here for my monthly pay. Is there a problem? I haven’t asked for severance, that’s me being generous.” Amber glared at the young finance clerk. “How much is his salary?” The clerk nervously replied. “One hundred thousand and five hundred.” Amber’s face immediately changed. “How much?” The clerk repeated it. Amber pointed at me. “He violated company policy by being late! His salary for this month is gone!” I sneered. “One late arrival is a two-hundred-dollar deduction. How are you doing your math? Did you even graduate elementary school?” Amber, however, righteous said. “I just set a new rule: three late arrivals, and your entire month’s salary is docked! Now, get out!” 3 “What gives you the right to tell me what to do here?” Amber stood with her hands on her hips, striking a devilish pose, speaking rudely and unreasonably. “This company is mine now. I call the shots!” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her, so I shot back directly. “Fine. Then I’ll see you in court.” With that, I walked out without looking back. I got home and before I could even catch my breath, I saw Amber stirring up trouble again in the company WhatsApp group. “From now on, anyone who doesn’t reply to my messages gets fired!” It seemed she really did fire me because I didn’t suck up to her. Mr. Sterling must have been blind to pick such a piece of work. The group immediately descended into chaos, with everyone scrambling to reply. I found it annoying and just left the group. The world instantly became quiet. But Amber trying to withhold my salary? Not a chance! I had saved all my important client contacts on SnapChat. I sent a mass message to these clients, telling them I had resigned and not to contact me for company matters anymore. These were all clients I had brought in, and they partnered with the company because of me. If I left, they would definitely follow me. Sure enough, as soon as the message went out, clients started messaging me, asking which company I was moving to and saying they wanted to continue working with me. I replied to each one, saying I hadn’t found a new job yet and would let them know once I did. I had so many SnapChat clients that I was replying until late at night, eventually falling asleep from exhaustion. I woke up the next day to a message from a colleague. “Blake, big trouble! Lots of clients are terminating contracts with the company! Is this your handiwork?” It seemed my plan had worked. I chuckled smugly. “I didn’t do anything; I just told the truth.” “You’re amazing, Blake! Amber came into the office this morning, heard about it, and screamed at several salespeople until they cried, saying they were useless and couldn’t keep clients. Now many salespeople are thinking of quitting, saying they can’t stand her!” It seemed everyone in the company was fed up with Amber. I waited to see how she’d get out of this mess. At the same time, I contacted a lawyer, preparing to sue Amber to get my salary back. I didn’t care about the money, but I wasn’t going to let her get away with it. A few days later, Amber actually called me. I was a bit surprised and answered. “What do you want?” Amber’s exasperated voice immediately came through the phone. “Blake, you bastard! Where are all the company’s client numbers? They all say they’re with you! Give them to me now, or I’ll sue you!” I paused, then understood. Amber was desperate. “Stop being disgusting! Give me those client numbers, or I swear, I’ll ruin you!” 4 I sneered. “Those clients are all people I chased after, one by one, out in the field. They trust me, not you. What gives you the right to lecture me?” Amber instantly lost her temper. “Was your salary just for kicks? This is part of your job! Otherwise, are we just feeding you for free?” “You’re a total bitch! My boyfriend paid you so much money all these years, and you’re still stealing clients, you ungrateful animal!” I scoffed. “You want the client list? Fine, I’ll give it to you. Let’s see if you have the ability to get them back!” It was just a phone call. I had absolute confidence in myself. I wanted to see how Amber would finally deal with this. I hung up and sent the client contact list to my colleague, asking her to forward it to Amber. I didn’t believe she could win back many clients. The next day, my colleague sent me a video. It was Amber, secretly filmed while on the phone. She was ranting and raving into the receiver. “Did that jerk Blake say something to you? You’re all in on it together! How much did he pay you?!” “If you don’t buy, then get out! Let’s see where else you can buy!” Amber angrily hung up the phone and smashed it onto the table. “I refuse to believe this company can’t survive without these clients! All of you, hit the streets! Go find new clients! Each of you bring back five today, or you’re all fired!” The office immediately filled with complaints. The company sold large equipment. Finding one client in half a month was already good; five in one day? What a joke! Sure enough, Amber’s face immediately turned dark, her eyes wide and her expression menacing. “What? You want to rebel?” Steve, an older salesperson, stepped forward. “Maybe we should wait until Mr. Sterling comes back. You don’t understand operations; what if something goes wrong?” Amber crossed her arms, looking at him disdainfully. “Incompetent is incompetent! This company doesn’t keep dead weight! If you can’t complete the task, then get out!” Steve’s face flushed crimson from her yelling. He threw down his ID badge. “I can’t do it! Who can? You try it!” One salesperson left, and others quickly followed, taking off their ID badges. “We can’t do it either!” Amber laughed, a bitter, angry sound. “Fine, fine, fine! You’re rebelling, huh? I don’t believe this company can’t run without you all! Get out, all of you!” “Get out!” She roared, and the company’s salespeople slowly walked out. Amber pointed at their backs, cursing and muttering. “A bunch of losers! Do you really think you’re important? This company will run just fine without you!” The video ended there. My colleague sent me a message, gloating. “Blake, Mr. Sterling is going to lose his mind when he gets back! The company is going under!” I couldn’t help but smile. This Amber, she was truly on a path of self-destruction. She actually dared to drive away all the experienced salespeople! What would she do when Mr. Sterling returned? Too bad I couldn’t see it firsthand; it would definitely be a spectacle! That afternoon, my doorbell rang. I opened the door to see all the salespeople who had left that morning standing on my doorstep, looking at me expectantly. 5 I quickly ushered them inside, offering water and coffee. “What brings you all here so suddenly?” Steve looked at me, a helpless expression on his face. “We’ve come to join you, Blake. Amber went too far! She actually used the company’s name to tell other companies in the industry not to hire us! Now we can’t find jobs anywhere!” I was instantly furious. “That shameless Amber, how dare she do that!” Steve sighed. “We’re all out of work now, Blake. We have families to support. If we can’t work with you, we’ll have to change professions.” As soon as he finished speaking, a chorus of agreement rose behind him. “That’s right, Blake! We’re counting on you now!” “We should have left with you the day you quit! This company went to hell the moment Amber stepped in!” “Mr. Sterling is great in every other way, but his taste in women is terrible!” I looked at the group of people, all looking at me with hopeful eyes, and suddenly felt a huge amount of pressure. Steve seemed to sense my hesitation and said. “Blake, don’t worry. If you don’t want to do this, we won’t force you. We can switch professions or go somewhere else.” Looking at their expectant faces, a surge of adrenaline rushed through me. “It’s fine, I’ve got this!” “Starting today, we’ll go freelance! We can always go back to the old company later, after that woman Amber is gone!” Everyone cheered excitedly. I immediately felt re-energized, telling my sales buddies to start looking for new suppliers. I, in turn, began contacting our previous clients. The prices would be the same as before, maybe even a little cheaper. We would have our own supply chain and could profit from the price difference. Sure enough, the old clients all expressed their willingness to work with our small group. In less than a week, we had signed many contracts. Suppliers, upon learning the number of clients I had, also proactively approached us. Seeing the volume of deals, my buddies were stunned! This was far more profitable than just earning commission! Colleagues from the old company heard we had set up our own studio and were all tempted, many resigning to join me. Leo, the colleague who often gave me updates, told me. “Blake, you wouldn’t believe it. After you left, Amber arranged for her cousin, uncle, and aunt to all join the company as salespeople. They all became freeloaders, messing around in the office all day!” “They never went out to find clients. Since you left, they haven’t closed a single deal! And they constantly made us serve them drinks and food!” I sneered. “A perfectly good company, ruined by that foolish woman! I wonder what Mr. Sterling will think when he gets back.” “Who knows? Mr. Sterling FaceTimes her every day, asking about the company’s situation.” “Amber proudly puffs out her chest and tells him everything’s fine, everything’s normal!” Another colleague rolled his eyes. “Normal, my ass!” “She’s only been in charge for a few days, and she’s already driven away all us old employees! And she brought in her own relatives; maybe she did it on purpose!” A former colleague nodded. “Very likely! The day I left, I heard Amber talking to her uncle and aunt.” That colleague cleared his throat and began to imitate them vividly. Amber was saying to her uncle and aunt. “Are we going too far with this? What if my boyfriend gets angry when he comes back?” Amber’s Uncle Rick scoffed. “What’s there to be scared of? We’ll make sure he pays dearly for taking advantage of a ‘sweet, innocent girl’ like you! He can’t just use you and dump you for free.”

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Three days into a business trip a few states away, a new female parent unexpectedly joined my son Leo’s SnapChat group. I tapped on the voice message. A sweet, unfamiliar female voice chimed through. “Hi everyone, I’m the new English teacher at school, and I’m also Leo’s mom. Please be gentle with me!” My entire body went rigid. I tapped on the group members, comparing them repeatedly. My son’s name is Leo. She claimed to be Leo’s mother. So, who the hell am I? I immediately called my husband, Mark. “Did the wrong person join Leo’s parent group?” On the other end, his voice faltered for a second before he smoothly laughed it off. “Oh, it’s probably a mistake. So many kids at school, it’s normal for names to overlap. Why? Did something happen?” I forced a smile and said, “Nothing,” then hung up. That night, I hopped on the first available flight directly to Leo’s school. My plane landed, and I hailed a cab straight to Leo’s elementary school. He was seven this year, in first grade. It was 1:40 PM, and classes were in full swing. Mr. Henderson, the security guard, was very diligent. As soon as he knew I was a parent, he called the homeroom teacher. A few minutes later, a young woman, looking fresh out of college, rushed out. She wore a crisp white blouse and a black skirt. She wasn’t striking, just conventionally pretty, in that sweet, innocent way. But her voice was soft and gentle. My gut told me she was the woman I was looking for. Sure enough, the moment she saw me, her composure shattered. Her face went frighteningly pale, and her hands trembled uncontrollably, as if she’d just seen a demon. “Th-this parent, are you… here for something at school?” She was so scared she could barely string a sentence together. Yet, she had the audacity to loudly declare herself Leo’s mother in the parent group. “I saw the message in the group chat.” Right in front of Mr. Henderson, I cut straight to the chase. “You said you’re Leo’s mom? I’m curious.” The hands she’d clasped in her lap instantly tightened. Then, she glanced frantically at the security guard. She forced a shaky smile and explained: “Oh, that? It’s because the parent-teacher conference is coming up soon. Leo’s dad said both he and his wife were too busy to attend.” “So, to keep Leo from being sad, he specifically asked me to ‘play the role’ of his mother.” “If I caused you any trouble, I’m truly sorry!” It was a brilliant explanation, not only clearing her name but also subtly jabbed at me for being too busy with work and out of town. If I hadn’t meticulously scrolled through her Instagram feed, I might have actually bought it. Wednesday night at eight, Grand Theater. She posted a photo of a man buying roses, his back to the camera. Caption: 【The man I love isn’t a prince; he’s a king.】 The very next day, I ended up in the emergency room with a severe allergic reaction to pollen. Friday afternoon at six, a torrential downpour hit the city. She posted a selfie, sheltering under the school’s eaves. Caption: 【When will my king come to take me home?】 Three minutes later, Mark texted me. “Babe, I’m working late tonight. Can’t pick up Leo. You got this, right?” I was hooked up to an IV at the hospital when I got the message, drifting in and out of sleep from the medication. By the time I saw his text, two hours had passed. Leo, unpicked up, had stood by the security booth, exposed to the cold for a full two hours. That night, he spiked a fever of 102 degrees. On the way to the hospital, Mark kept sighing. Every sigh, every comment, was a jab at me for not checking my phone. I truly believed I was a terrible mother, stroking Leo’s flushed face, whispering “I’m sorry” all night long. But it turned out, I wasn’t the one who should have been apologizing. My hand clutched my bag, knuckles white. My gaze slowly swept over the girl’s guilt-ridden, helpless face. It landed on the glaring blue earrings dangling from her lobes, and I smiled, a cold, humorless curve of my lips: “Ms. Scarlett, your earrings are lovely. Did your boyfriend give them to you? They look expensive.” Last month, for Valentine’s Day, I’d personally found Mark’s shopping receipts. A solid gold bracelet, a pair of sapphire earrings. The bracelet was five thousand dollars. It was on my wrist. The earrings were thirty-eight thousand dollars. He’d given them to this girl standing before me. Scarlett’s face instantly drained of color when she heard my words. Her lips trembled for a long time, but no sound escaped them. Useless. That word suddenly popped into my head. Without another glance at her, I turned and walked away. On the drive home, I called my father, Mr. Sterling. He was Mark’s direct boss, the head of Sterling Enterprises. “Dad, I need a favor.” I changed my phone wallpaper from our family photo to a picture of just Leo and me, my voice unnervingly calm. “That Head of Marketing position you promised Mark? Cancel it. And find me the best divorce lawyer. I’m divorcing Mark.” “Yes, he cheated on me with Leo’s English teacher.”

My father’s actions were swift. Within half an hour, the divorce lawyer had contacted me and sent me 3 GB of evidence and documents. I clicked through. Besides Scarlett’s Instagram posts, which I’d already seen, there was a video account I’d never encountered. Eighty-three posts, and Mark’s shadow was in every single one. I discovered that last year, on Christmas, Mark had claimed to be working late, but he had actually flown to be with Scarlett. He’d even drawn little stars with her in the snow. I learned that for Leo’s seventh birthday, the gift Mark gave him was chosen by Scarlett. A teddy bear. In the video, Scarlett gleefully stuffed intimate photos of her and Mark into the bear’s belly, her smile practically oozing smug satisfaction. “A surprise for Mr. Mark’s precious son.” “Can’t wait for the day it’s discovered.” In the comments section, a clueless stranger asked: 【Is the streamer’s boyfriend from a divorced family?】 Scarlett, her profile picture a cute kitten, replied: 【Oh yeah, but don’t worry, I’ll be stepping into his mom’s shoes real soon.】 followed by a string of coy emojis. And the latest post, uploaded on the day I left for my business trip. The background was our storage room. Scarlett, holding a selfie stick, leaned against the door, smiling innocently at the camera. “Mr. Mark’s kid is being so naughty, I think I’ll lock him in the storage room as a little punishment.” In the background, I heard Leo, my seven-year-old son, crying out in terror and begging for mercy. My hand, gripping the mouse, clenched tight. I shot up from my chair with a bang, recalling the night I landed in the other state. I dialed home over a dozen times, my anxiety spiking with each unanswered ring. It wasn’t until the seventeenth call that someone finally picked up. “Why did it take so long to answer? Where’s Leo?” I was frantic, terrified something had happened at home. On the other end, Mark’s breathing noticeably hitched, and it took him a long moment to stammer out an explanation: “Leo… he just had a nightmare, and it took me ages to get him back to sleep. Can we talk tomorrow?” At the time, I didn’t think much of it, brushed off by Mark. Now, looking back, everything made sense… A gaping hole tore through my chest, and a freezing gust seemed to blow right through it. It wasn’t because Mark cheated that I was hurting, but because I could never have imagined he would let someone hurt *our child*. I remembered the year Leo was born; he only had a touch of severe jaundice and needed phototherapy. Mark was so anxious, he canceled all his work to be with him twenty-four hours a day. The coldness in my heart grew heavier. I sat back down, continuing to browse the evidence of Mark’s infidelity. Suddenly, Scarlett’s video account updated. In the video, she wore the same clothes she had on when I met her, tears staining her face, looking utterly pitiful: “Mr. Mark’s ex-wife is causing trouble again, saying I’m not fit to be his child’s mother. I’m so scared.” She sniffled, then feigned nonchalance as she showed her SnapChat chat screen with Mark. “But thankfully, Mr. Mark spoils me so much! He promised to attend the parent-teacher conference with me tomorrow. I’m finally going to be a mom to a child. I’m so nervous.” She hadn’t told Mark I was back? Looking at Mark’s generic blue profile picture, which hadn’t changed since Leo was born, I gave a soft chuckle. Well, if it’s a parent-teacher conference, then it wouldn’t be strange for the *real* mother to attend, would it?

The next day, at Leo’s school’s parent-teacher conference. I dressed subtly, blending effortlessly into the crowd, and found a seat in the furthest corner of Leo’s classroom. No sooner had I settled than Mark texted me. 【Celeste, how’s work? When are you coming home?】 He was testing me. 【Just arrived. Gotta go, meeting’s about to start.】 I replied curtly. The chat bubble instantly showed “typing…”, followed by a kitten emoji. Identical to Scarlett’s profile picture. A wave of nausea washed over me. I pocketed my phone, no longer bothering to reply. Scarlett, the new homeroom teacher this semester, took the stage. She had clearly made an effort today. A simple beige dress, her hair styled in a delicate side braid, a meticulously applied layer of makeup on her face. Unlike yesterday’s timid, fragile demeanor, she now exuded a carefully curated, almost performative, maternal warmth. The sight of it made me sick. “Good evening, parents. The theme of our parent-teacher conference today is ‘Family Harmony.’ Family has always been a child’s most important sanctuary. As parents, it’s crucial that we prioritize our children’s mental well-being and foster a happy, harmonious home environment…” From the podium, she lectured the parents endlessly. She even told several short stories, stressing the importance of parental responsibility for the family. Yet, she was the very person who was destroying my family. What was even more ironic was that after saying all this, she suddenly tapped the whiteboard, looking at the parents below with a bashful smile. “Actually, I have something else to announce today. My son, Leo, is also in this class.” Scarlett turned and waved towards the door. “Mark, Leo, come on in!” A ripple of murmurs spread through the classroom. Mark walked slowly into the classroom, holding Leo’s hand. He’d clearly made an effort, in a sharp black suit, his hair meticulously slicked back. On his wrist, he wore the expensive watch I had given him. Our son, however, was dressed in wrinkled clothes, his hair damp and matted to his forehead, as if he had a fever. My heart clenched. I almost couldn’t stop myself from rushing forward to snatch my son back. But my rational mind told me: not yet. I needed to wait for Scarlett to openly admit her intimate relationship with Mark, to completely ruin her. “Hello everyone, I’m Scarlett’s husband, Mark.” He nudged Leo, who looked dazed. His lips curved into the gentle smile I knew so well, but the words that followed sent a chill through me. “Leo, say hello to Mommy.” Leo shook his head, hiding behind him, and whispered: “She’s not my mom.” Some parents in the audience began to question it. “I remember Leo’s mom is Celeste? I saw her before school started, what happened?” “Yeah, I remember too. What’s going on?” Scarlett’s face instantly went white. She looked at Mark for help. Sure enough, after only two seconds of hesitation, he calmly stepped onto the stage, cleared his throat, and began: “There’s been a misunderstanding.” “Celeste is not my son’s mother. She’s just…” He paused, his gaze softening as it fell on Scarlett. “She’s just a nanny I hired for my son. Ms. Scarlett is my son’s real mother.” A nanny? I froze, the emotions in my eyes turning to ice. Mark and I had been together since college, through ten years of ups and downs. When his startup failed and he accumulated massive debt, I fought with my father for him. When his frequent business dinners caused stomach problems, I woke up at five every morning to make him nourishing porridge. He said he wanted children, and on the operating table, I even thought about prioritizing the baby over myself. Now, in front of my son, in front of all his classmates’ parents, he was calling me a nanny. The icy chill in my heart ignited into a furious blaze. The parents in the classroom seemed convinced, a light of understanding dawning on their faces. “So that’s it! Then Celeste is too much. She’s just a nanny, and she let the child call her mom.” Some even advised Scarlett. “Ms. Scarlett, you’re too soft-hearted, you need to be careful. Don’t let the nanny bully you. If she leads the child astray, it could be a big problem.” “Exactly, these nannies are the worst.” Scarlett was overjoyed, smiling sweetly and virtuously: “Mmm-hmm, you’re right.” “I’ll be careful.” Leo, his eyes red, retorted: “No, you’re wrong. She’s not my mom. My mom is Celeste.” A parent clicked their tongue, their face scornful: “See? I knew it. He’s already acting out, not even recognizing his own mom. He’ll grow up to be disrespectful and ungrateful. Ms. Scarlett, Mr. Mark, you really need to teach this child properly.” “That’s right, my daughter would never act like this. Ms. Scarlett, you’re just too soft on him.” “If you ask me, just take him over your knee and teach him a lesson he won’t forget, that’ll make him behave.” “Oh, that’s too violent! I say, just lock him in a closet. Only let him out when he learns to call her Mom.” The parents chimed in, one after another, offering their suggestions. Scarlett couldn’t hide the delight in her eyes, but on the surface, she feigned reluctance, looking at Mark hesitantly: “Mark, what they’re saying makes some sense, maybe…” “Wait!” I stood up, pulling down my concealing mask, and held up my phone, which had been recording the entire time. My voice resonated clearly. “Mark, I’m asking you again, in front of everyone: If Scarlett is Leo’s mother, then who am I?” The smiles on Mark’s and Scarlett’s faces froze.

Leo, seeing me, cried out in surprise: “Mom!” He tried to break free from Scarlett’s grip but was held firmly. “Let me go! I want my mom! You bad woman!” In front of so many people, Scarlett refused to release him. The hand that had been clutching Leo changed direction. By the time I realized what she was about to do, Leo had already cried out. “Mom, help me!” “She’s pinching my hand, it hurts!” I shot her a daggered look, and Scarlett also realized her slip-up. Her grip loosened slightly, and Leo immediately stumbled towards my side. I took out a tissue and gently wiped away Leo’s tears, a wave of guilt washing over me. If I had only realized something was wrong sooner, my Leo wouldn’t have suffered so much. Scarlett’s face was terrible, but under my fierce gaze, she couldn’t utter a single word of rebuttal. I stood up, my expression serious. “I’m talking to you, Mark. Can’t you hear me?” “Answer me!” “Who is Leo’s mother?!” Mark chose to play dumb, refusing to answer. Scarlett followed suit. Did they actually think I was some fragile little thing they could walk all over? The parents behind me started murmuring, the previously one-sided situation beginning to shift. 【Celeste has such a strong presence, there’s no way she’s a nanny.】 【Exactly, and Ms. Scarlett just pinched Leo. I wouldn’t hurt my own child like that.】 【Leo’s eyes look a lot like Ms. Celeste’s, actually.】 【Someone’s got a guilty conscience and is afraid to speak. Can’t you see the truth here?】 I clapped my hands, and my bodyguards entered, moving swiftly. They ‘escorted’ the pair off the stage, then, holding Leo, I slowly walked up. “Leo, tell them who your mom is.” Leo blinked his big eyes and spoke. “Celeste is my mom.” “Did Dad and Mom get a divorce?” “No.” “Has Mom ever taught you what someone like Ms. Scarlett is called?” Leo tilted his head, feigning thought, then pointed sharply at Scarlett. “The other woman! Ms. Scarlett is the homewrecker who ruined Dad and Mom’s relationship!” Immediately, the commotion in the audience intensified. Scarlett broke out in nervous cold sweat. With that kind of weak resolve, she actually thought she could be my son’s mother? Pathetic. “Ms. Scarlett, aren’t you going to explain yourself?” Scarlett, suddenly targeted, flinched like a startled bird. Perhaps to save face, she clutched her chest and began to sob dramatically. Her pitiful appearance would make anyone feel sorry for her. Her acting was commendable. Even A-list actresses couldn’t conjure tears on cue like that. Being a teacher truly was a waste of her “talent.” “Leo, you can’t disown your mother just because she’s strict with you.” “Mom only wants what’s best for you!” “You don’t understand Mom’s good intentions, and I don’t blame you. But how can you acknowledge a nanny as your mother!” Her tearful accusations quickly resonated with other parents. When it came to problematic children, only parents could truly understand. They would do everything they could to ensure their children had a good future and a place in society. I sneered, walking step by step towards Scarlett. The closer I got, the more terrified Mark and she became. Uncertain of my intentions, they grew noticeably more agitated. I extended my hand, but Scarlett instinctively flinched, shielding her face. “What are you scared of, Ms. Scarlett? I’m just reaching for the projector remote.” Scarlett lowered her hand, adjusted the unnatural expression on her face, and spoke calmly. “Celeste, I was only doing you a favor by letting you be our family nanny. Don’t push your luck. Don’t forget your place.” I thought to myself, the heiress of Sterling Enterprises, reduced to a nanny. What a joke. After grabbing the remote, I turned on the projector. I logged into SnapChat on the computer, then opened an official government records site to check our marriage status. My official marriage certificate. It popped up, clearly displaying my and Mark’s photos. Bride: Celeste Groom: Mark Anyone with eyes could see who Mark’s wife was. Oh, and she’d also spread rumors in videos that I was his ex-wife. I clicked on the divorce certificate section, which showed “empty.” Divorced? Ex-wife? Nanny? My identity certainly was diverse. I said nothing, but the blow to Scarlett’s face was undeniable. Slowly, I pulled a green booklet from my bag. The cover, emblazoned with the words ‘Birth Certificate’ in bold, unmistakable letters, made Scarlett falter. Projected onto the screen, beneath my son’s full name, was the mother’s name. “Celeste” in large letters, which I manually zoomed in on. “Ms. Scarlett, when did you change your name to Celeste? You didn’t even inform everyone. As a teacher, deceit isn’t a good trait, is it?” “Or perhaps, Mark took you for plastic surgery, and before that, you actually looked exactly like me?” Every word was a blatant jab at Scarlett and a searing indictment of Mark’s infidelity.

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That year, when loneliness gnawed at me the most, I became the benefactor of a college student who soon became my boyfriend. Later, I went overseas to recover from an illness. He cried all night by my bedside, begging to come with me, but I refused. “Your career here is paramount. When I return, I hope to see you crowned as an A-list star.” Three years later, he was indeed crowned. But I didn’t get the reunion I was promised. Instead, I found his little mistress, Chloe Miller, wearing my clothes, lording over my estate. Chloe Miller twirled my diamond ring on her finger. “I pity you. I’m letting you glimpse the kind of luxury your pathetic life could never afford. “But just look, don’t touch anything. Otherwise, you’ll be paying for it the rest of your life.” I snatched my ring off her finger and slapped her across the face. “I touched it. What now?” Chloe Miller froze. This was a reality show filming celebrity homes. On camera, I just slapped a guest. The live comments section absolutely exploded in fury: 【Who is this lowlife! How dare she slap Chloe in her own home!】 【Where’s the on-site fan club? Are you all dead?! Go up there and get that hussy!】 【Don’t worry! We’re already arguing with security. We’ll avenge Chloe once we break through the cordon!】 “You… you dared to hit me!” Chloe Miller seemed utterly spoiled, her eyes wide with disbelief, her voice trembling on the verge of tears. “Do you know who I am?!” “What’s going on?” A tall, familiar figure walked in through the doorway. Chloe Miller spun around and threw herself into his arms. “Liam!” Liam Blackwood frowned, gently touching the slap mark on her face. He turned, and his breath caught the moment he saw me. “You… you’re back?” I stared at him coldly, waiting for an explanation. A crew member anxiously asked Liam Blackwood, “Mr. Blackwood, do you know this lady?” “Yes.” Liam Blackwood admitted. Chloe Miller looked up at him through tear-filled eyes. Chloe Miller’s fan club members also stared, dumbfounded. “Just some obsessive fan of mine. She used to be a supporter, but after I turned her down, she kept following me.” Liam Blackwood’s words hit me like a physical blow. I thought I’d misheard him. But everyone else visibly relaxed. “Damn! I thought there was actually some history! You scared me; I thought that hussy was trying to steal Chloe’s man!” “I’m dying of laughter. Liam Blackwood’s fan? She actually followed him all the way here.” “Our Liam Blackwood fought his way to the top and found Chloe, who has been fighting alongside him. Does she think stalking him will get her anywhere?” I looked at Liam Blackwood, a cold smile playing on my lips. “Fought his way to the top himself?” He knew that if I hadn’t spotted his potential back in film school that year, he wouldn’t have even gotten a foot in the door of the entertainment industry. During his darkest hour, he knelt before me, clutching his mother’s urgent medical papers. “Please, help me…” That support continued until I went overseas to recover. Even though I hadn’t been by his side for three years, every single opportunity that came his way was by my explicit instruction. Including this high-profile reality show. But Liam Blackwood only froze for a split second before pulling Chloe Miller closer into his embrace. “I owe my success today to myself alone. Do you even understand actors?” Fury twisted into a bitter laugh. I don’t understand actors? How else would I know exactly which resources were best suited for him? “Liam Blackwood.” My gaze was a warning. “Get Chloe Miller and all these irrelevant people out of my house. This is your last chance.” Three years had passed, but my influence still held. He still seemed to get inexplicably nervous when I looked at him with a cold expression. But it was only for a moment. “I think you’re the one who needs to leave.” He narrowed his eyes. “This house belongs to Chloe, not you.”

The comments section exploded with laughter. 【Are people really this crazy? This show is about celebrity mansions, and even the production team confirmed this estate belongs to our Chloe. Does she really think being Liam Blackwood’s woman makes this estate hers by association?】 【She’s beyond saving, even an exorcist couldn’t fix her.】 【Look at how self-righteous she sounds claiming this is her house. Can this kind of delusion even be treated?】 【I’m a psychiatrist. Untreatable. She’s doomed.】 Seeing Liam Blackwood’s determined expression, I nodded. “Someone, strip Chloe Miller of those clothes and throw her out.” “What? How dare you!” My bodyguards didn’t hesitate. They stepped forward and dragged Chloe Miller to the ground. The zipper of my velvet gown, the one she was wearing, was roughly pulled open. Liam Blackwood frowned and stepped forward. “Stop! This is an illegal search!” “Is it?” I smiled. “I’d also like to inquire how my custom-made gown ended up on someone I don’t know. Only you would know where the dress came from, Mr. Blackwood. Have you thought about what you’ll tell the police?” “I didn’t give it to her!” Liam Blackwood gritted his teeth. “Liam! Make them stop! No! Don’t! Ahh!” Chloe Miller cried, reaching out to Liam Blackwood. He ignored my presence, raising his hand to pull her into his arms. “Hold him down!” At my command, the other bodyguards forcibly pressed Liam Blackwood’s head to the ground. Veins pulsed on his forehead. “Aria Hayes! Don’t you dare touch her!” “Continue.” I said coldly. “No!” Liam Blackwood watched furiously as Chloe Miller’s gown was forcibly torn off. “What’s all this commotion?!” An displeased voice echoed. My eyes lit up, and I whipped my head around. “Brother!” Daniel King froze. “Brother!” I rushed forward eagerly, just as I had countless times in the past, ready for a big embrace after a long separation. But this time, I was met not with my brother’s warm hug. But with a slap out of nowhere. *Smack!* I clutched my burning cheek, the pain so intense I couldn’t react for a moment. Until my brother’s cold voice cut through the air. “What have you done to my sister?” I stared at him in disbelief. “Sis… sister?”

“Brother!” Chloe Miller cried, throwing herself into Daniel King’s arms. Seeing her tattered dress, Daniel King’s heartache almost spilled from his eyes. I still couldn’t believe it. “Brother…” *Smack!* Another slap landed on my face, my head whipping to the side. My brother’s reprimand sent a chill down my spine. “It’s just an old dress! How can you be so vicious, doing something like this to a girl over a piece of fabric!” I finally knew for sure: my brother was no longer my brother. “A piece of fabric?” My lips trembled slightly. In that moment, Liam Blackwood’s words — “I didn’t give it to her!” — flashed in my mind. Perhaps he hadn’t lied. Besides Liam Blackwood, who knew the lock code to my walk-in closet? My brother knew it too… “You call this a piece of fabric?” My voice shook. “Mom designed this pattern herself before she died! Have you forgotten?!” The mention of Mom made Daniel King’s expression stiffen. But only for a moment. He quickly regained his cold composure. “No matter how significant it is, it’s just an inanimate object. How can it compare to a living person! “If Mom saw you hurting an innocent girl over a piece of fabric, she wouldn’t side with you either!” My heart tightened, and I clutched the fabric over my chest. “Get out! Get all these people out of my house!” My bodyguards immediately stepped forward. “I’d like to see who dares!” Daniel King glared fiercely at the bodyguards. “Think carefully about who the real future owner of the Hayes Corporation is.” The bodyguards halted. I stared at him in astonishment. Some of the fan club members started laughing. “I’m dying of laughter. I didn’t expect this crazy woman to actually be part of the Hayes family!” “I heard the Hayes family did adopt a child. Looks like this lady lucked out, getting adopted by the billionaire Hayes family.” “Who doesn’t know our handsome Mr. King? He must be the true bloodline of the Hayes family. What is this crazy woman barking about? She thinks she can order the masters around just because she brought a few bodyguards? Hilarious.” Perhaps there was a lingering trace of familial affection, as he had his men disperse the gawking fan club members elsewhere. I gritted my teeth. “Daniel King, you’re just an adopted son of the Hayes family! My adopted brother!” Daniel King’s brows furrowed. The bodyguards looked hesitant for a moment. “Think about it. Why did Mrs. Hayes adopt me? Wasn’t it because she needed me to inherit the family business?” At his words, the bodyguards fell into contemplation. “If you don’t want your careers ruined, release Ms. Miller now.” The bodyguard holding Chloe Miller thought for a moment, then actually let her go. A dozen or so men then stood behind Daniel King. I grabbed a vase and smashed it to the floor, making Chloe Miller flinch and shrink into Liam Blackwood’s arms. “Daniel King, I misjudged you. “Our relationship is as shattered as this vase!” Daniel King paused, startled. I stared at him intensely. “But this is Mom’s house. You have no right to wreak havoc here. “Either you leave now, or I call the police and charge you with trespassing. “But before that, Chloe Miller, leave the dress!” The words had barely left my mouth when I grabbed Chloe Miller’s shoulder and, with a loud *RIIIP*, tore the dress off her. She gasped and clutched her arms. But everyone’s attention wasn’t on the dress. Even I gasped, staring at her waist. In the middle of her lower back, near the curve of her spine… the word “SLAVE” was clearly tattooed.

Liam Blackwood and Daniel King’s eyes widened. They hadn’t imagined that a girl who seemed so pure and innocent would get such a disturbing word tattooed. Chloe Miller quickly snatched an jacket to cover herself. Her eyes were red, and she pursed her lips. A tear *plinked* down. “I… I don’t know why Aria would get someone to tattoo me like that on my lower back…” “What?” Liam Blackwood grabbed her by both shoulders. “Are you saying Aria Hayes tattooed you?” Chloe Miller just bit her lower lip, her red eyes silent. *Smack!* A slap landed unexpectedly on my face, Daniel King’s hands trembling with rage. “I remember now… You and Chloe went to the same university! She was your junior!” “I don’t even know her!” I roared. Liam Blackwood, however, seemed to recall something, his expression grave. “Chloe, you mentioned before that you were bullied in college. Was it Aria Hayes?” Chloe Miller said nothing. She just cried harder. “You hussy!” Daniel King grabbed my collar and delivered another slap to my face. My forehead hit the wall, instantly leaving a bloody print. Before I could even speak, his leather shoe kicked my abdomen. I collapsed to the floor, curling up, coughing up a mouthful of blood that splattered on his shoe. With each subsequent kick, it clung to my dress. “I swore I’d make anyone who hurt Chloe pay! “I can’t believe the culprit was you! “Do you respect Mom’s teachings?! Do you respect her memory?! Are you fit to take over her legacy?!” My breathing was ragged, and I lay weakly on the floor, panting and gritting my teeth. “I… I didn’t!” But Daniel King’s eyes were bloodshot. He turned to the bodyguards, roaring. “What are you waiting for?! She’s your chance to prove yourselves!” The bodyguards, seasoned pros in the elite circles, knew that having just broken away from me, they needed to earn the new master’s trust. So they swarmed forward, kicking my stomach and body with all their might. The dress in my hands was torn. I could only curl up, clutching the dress tightly. But I couldn’t prevent the other half from being ripped, and I let out a desperate cry. “Stop! Don’t… don’t touch the dress Mom gave me!” Tears mixed with blood, forming a puddle. The dress was torn, and I looked at Daniel King for help. He frowned. “Now you feel pain? “But this is just returning what you did to Chloe. “And even this isn’t a fraction of the harm you caused her.” My teeth were almost shattered from clenching them, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. “I didn’t!” Liam Blackwood gave me a triumphant look, then raised a hand to stop the lead bodyguard. “Mr. King, that’s enough.” Daniel King glanced at him. “Is it? Do you want to watch her keep crying?” Liam Blackwood froze. He turned, and Chloe Miller’s tearful eyes unexpectedly met his gaze. Seeing Chloe Miller’s half-exposed shoulder and tear-streaked face, Liam Blackwood’s heart clenched. He ultimately let go of the bodyguard. Chloe Miller’s tears immediately streamed down. “Aria was always so mean. Back then, I wasn’t just beaten up, I was stripped naked and thrown onto the street…” “You’re lying… Ah!” Daniel King brutally kicked my chest. He eyed the bodyguards coldly. “Drag her to the car, and take her away!” “What are you doing?! Stop!” I struggled frantically, but those bodyguards, eager to prove their loyalty, forcibly threw me into the car. It was already dark. Liam Blackwood parked the car on a deserted street. “Consider yourself lucky,” Daniel King sneered. “There aren’t many people on this street. Let’s give her a little punishment to start with.” “No! I don’t want this!” My clothes were mercilessly ripped. I grabbed Liam Blackwood’s arm. “Liam Blackwood! If you still care about all the help I gave you, just help me this one time!” Liam Blackwood frowned. In those countless lonely nights, we had sworn eternal devotion. But Chloe Miller’s tears fell again. He looked back at her, and despite my tearful headshake, he pried my fingers off one by one. “But this is what you owe her.” *Thud!* I was pushed naked out of the car. Before I could even get up, the car sped away. Rumbling noises came from a nearby trash can. A few homeless men’s eyes lit up. “Free? And what a body.” “No!” I slapped away a homeless man’s rough, dirty hand, only to have a slap land on my own face. “Damn it! Dressed like this, and you’re still playing hard to get with me!” I tumbled onto a pile of foul-smelling trash. My hand brushed against a slippery brick. The homeless man’s pants were already unzipped.

*Thud!* A brick smashed against his head. I haphazardly wrapped myself in a discarded dress and stumbled, hailing a passing taxi. “Driver! Please unlock the door!” I kept pulling the car door handle, but it wouldn’t open. “Sorry, miss. The King family paid all the drivers in this area ten thousand dollars, warning us not to pick up anyone tonight. You understand.” “What? Wait! No!” I still wanted to say something, but the driver already stomped on the gas pedal. I fell to the ground, awkwardly wiping the blood from my knees. “You little hussy!” A wine bottle crashed against the back of my head. I dropped to my knees with a *thump*. The homeless man, blood streaming from his head, choked my neck and pinned me to the ground, beginning to tear at my dress. “Coming out naked is just for kicks, isn’t it? I know exactly what you hussies are like! “Damn it, you dared to hit me? I’ll make sure you rot in the street tonight!” My dress was ripped to shreds. But I didn’t panic. Looking at the homeless man’s twisted face. I grabbed that brick again. A handful of sand flew into his eyes. The brick *thudded* against the bleeding spot on his head. I rolled over, straddling him, hitting him again and again and again, blood splattering. Until he lay motionless, without a breath, only his eyes wide with shock staring at me. Only then did I drop the brick, turn, and stumble away, heading towards the edge of the street. Rounding the corner, I finally emerged. A flash of light hit my eyes. I raised my hand to block it. But it wasn’t just one. A second, a third… Flashlights and long lenses pointed at me. They jostled for position, afraid to miss a single frame of my humiliation. Seeing the entertainment news reporters frequently hired by the Hayes Corporation, I smiled. So, Daniel and Liam Blackwood were still waiting for me here. Some “slight punishment.” They had planned this all along, waiting for me to be violated, for these reporters to document my utter humiliation. A screen on a distant high-rise building suddenly cut to a live feed. Chloe Miller, like a little princess, was flanked by Daniel King and Liam Blackwood. “Happy Birthday, Chloe Miller! An Unparalleled Honor Worth Hundreds of Millions from Mr. King and Superstar Mr. Blackwood!” On screen, Chloe Miller was in a lavish venue, charged by the minute. She was receiving compliments and countless priceless gifts from top figures in the business and entertainment worlds. Outside the screen, I stood in tattered clothes, blood streaming from my forehead, isolated under the spotlight. I had every reason to believe this was deliberately orchestrated by those two men. I walked forward, pushing past cameras and reporters. They instinctively parted, making way for me. I stood beneath the towering building where Chloe Miller’s birthday celebration was being held. The spotlights turned to me again. But this time, they weren’t the reporters’ cameras. They were helicopters. One, two, three… They were arrayed neatly, hovering directly above me. The reporters even forgot to press their shutters. They watched, eyes wide, as a group of blonde, blue-eyed bodyguards, all over six feet tall, rappelled down from the helicopters. “Madam!” The leader draped a jacket over me, but I pushed it away. The cameras followed me into the venue. The chattering instantly ceased. In my tattered clothes, I walked up to Daniel King. *Smack!* I slapped him across the face.

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My husband, Dylan Sterling, only married me because of a family alliance. After we tied the knot, I discovered the truth: his heart belonged to Serena Hayes, the nanny’s daughter. Our intimacy was a cold, distant affair, while he secretly hoarded thousands of Serena’s photos, using them to fulfill his darkest desires. I clung to the hope that I could make it work, for our daughter’s sake. Until the day both my daughter and Serena’s son were kidnapped. Faced with an impossible choice, Dylan didn’t hesitate. He chose to save Serena’s son, a boy with whom he shared no blood. I watched in agony as my daughter was pushed from the towering building, her life ending in an instant. Heartbroken, I followed, leaping from the eighteenth floor. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Reborn to a time before our wedding. This time, I chose to walk away from Dylan. This time, I decisively married his uncle! ### After my rebirth, the first thing I did was to stand before my parents, my words earnest and resolute. “Dad, Mom, for the alliance with the Sterling family, I choose to marry Julian Sterling.” My parents stared at me, their faces a mixture of surprise and confusion at my sudden request. “Eleanor, didn’t you love Dylan? Julian is Dylan’s uncle!” A flicker of sorrow crossed my eyes as I remembered the past. My voice dropped to a pained whisper. “Precisely because I know the consequences of loving him, I no longer dare to.” “Dad, Mom, I’ve never asked anything of you. As the heiress of our family’s prestige, I understand a strategic marriage is my duty. I only have this one request; please, let me have it.” Seeing the redness in my eyes, my parents sighed softly and helped me up. “Since you’ve made up your mind, your father and I will approach the Sterling family. The only issue is Julian Sterling is a man of immense power and influence. He might not agree to this union, so you must prepare yourself.” My parents comforted me as they prepared lavish gifts for their visit. The black sedan slowly pulled away, and I turned back, gazing at the familiar decor of our living room, a surreal feeling washing over me. Suddenly, my phone on the table vibrated. “Bar, now.” It was a text from Dylan Sterling, a curt invitation to meet, followed by a bar address. Remembering my purpose, I wanted to clarify the change in marriage plans, so I headed over. But the moment I pushed open the VIP room door, a bucket of ice-cold water drenched me, leaving me shivering and soaked. A chill seeped into my bones, and I heard laughter erupting from all around. “Well, well, isn’t it Eleanor Vance? Why, you’re absolutely drenched and looking pathetic!” “Serves her right! Serves her right! Who told her to chase Dylan Sterling day in and day out? This is what you get for shamelessly fawning over someone!” Dylan Sterling approached me, his face cold, his eyes dark with annoyance. “Are you that desperate to marry me? The news of our supposed alliance just leaked, and you immediately sent your parents to my house to discuss the wedding, making sure everyone knew. Now the whole social circle thinks we’re getting married. Are you satisfied?” I knew he had misunderstood. I wiped the water from my face, pushing my damp hair from my forehead. My gaze met his, calm and steady. “The alliance between the Vance and Sterling families is set. It makes no difference which house discusses it. But you needn’t worry, because this marriage has nothing to do with you.” Dylan Sterling paused, then let out a cold laugh. “Nothing to do with me? You’re not going to tell me that the person you’re marrying isn’t me, are you? Ridiculous. Besides me, who else in the Sterling family would even consider marrying you?” I was about to speak when the half-open door pushed inward. Serena Hayes burst in, her eyes welling with tears as she took in the scene. “Young Master… I… I heard you’re getting married. I came specifically to wish you happiness. I hope you and Ms. Vance have a beautiful life together, growing old and content.” With those words, she turned and rushed out, her faint sobs echoing behind her. “Serena!” Dylan Sterling instantly panicked. He shoved me aside without a second thought and chased after her. I stumbled backward, hitting the coffee table, a cut forming on my forehead. Blood trickled down, looking alarmingly stark against my pale skin. A sharp pain shot through me as I watched their retreating figures. My mind flooded with memories from my previous life. In that life, Dylan Sterling and I grew up together, and our bond was strong. When my parents mentioned the family alliance upon my coming of age, I remembered his unwavering care for me over the years and chose him without hesitation. But after the news broke, his attitude toward me slowly changed – from anger to coldness, eventually bordering on outright disgust. I didn’t understand why, but I still married him, hoping things would improve after the wedding. Yet, even after our child was born, I stumbled upon thousands of Serena Hayes’s photos hidden in Dylan’s study. It was then I realized he had always loved his nanny’s daughter, but their differing social statuses had prevented him from pursuing her. Serena eventually married someone else two years after our wedding, but their marriage was always unhappy. He drowned his sorrows in drink every day, grieving for her. The day her husband died in a car accident was the happiest day of his life. I witnessed it all, my heart a desolate wasteland. I could only force myself to ignore it, dedicating my life to raising our daughter. Until a kidnapping case embroiled both my daughter and Serena’s son. The kidnappers demanded Dylan choose one. He hesitated for mere seconds before picking the boy with whom he shared no blood. The next second, our daughter was pushed from a high-rise building and fell to her death. Watching it unfold, I broke down completely and leaped from the building myself. Now, with a second chance at life, I refused to torment myself again. I only wanted to cut all ties with Dylan Sterling! In the VIP room, Dylan’s friends continued their snarky remarks. “A forced relationship won’t bring happiness. If Dylan doesn’t want to marry someone, what good is it even if they tie the knot?” “Then Dylan won’t come home, and those who only fawn over him will be left to endure the loneliness of neglect!” Amidst the mocking, my phone rang. I picked it up and saw a message from my parents. “Eleanor! Julian agreed! The wedding is in two weeks!” My parents were usually so composed; three exclamation marks clearly showed their surprise and excitement that Julian Sterling had agreed. I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. I forced myself to stand, looking at the laughing onlookers, my eyes holding a newfound resolve. “Whether I find happiness in my marriage is none of your concern, and it has nothing to do with Dylan Sterling.” “Please tell him: I’m getting married in two weeks, and the groom won’t be him!” ###

After leaving the bar, I went to the hospital to have my wound treated. Back home, I systematically packed away everything related to Dylan Sterling, sealing it all in boxes. My parents, returning home, noticed and paused. “Eleanor, have you truly let go of Dylan? Do you no longer love him?” Seeing my unhesitating nod, they looked relieved, a smile gracing their lips. “That’s good. Julian has been busy abroad, but today the Sterling family video-called us and finalized the arrangements. He’s calm and composed, certainly a better match for you than Dylan. His reputation precedes him, and his accomplishments are impressive, so we hadn’t dared to consider him. We expected him to refuse, but he readily agreed.” My eyes welled up. When I first made up my mind, I knew Julian Sterling would agree. In my past life, due to the age difference and the awe he commanded, even among the influential families, I, too, kept my distance. We rarely interacted outside of family gatherings. I only knew he was utterly devoted to his career, building a brilliant business empire from scratch, and remained unmarried. It wasn’t until he took his own life at thirty-five that, while his belongings were being sorted, a stack of love letters was found in his bedroom. Each letter was addressed “To Star.” No one in the Sterling family knew who “Star” was. Only I knew: I was born on a night of dazzling stars, and “Star” was the nickname given to me by my closest elder. I had never realized that the man who seemed so cold, distant, and unapproachable had loved me silently all along. Now, with this second chance, I was willing to give us both an opportunity. Lost in thought, my parents presented a gift box, their voices filled with contentment. “Eleanor, tomorrow is your birthday. Julian couldn’t make it back, so he had his assistant retrieve this gift from his study. See if you like it?” I opened the box to reveal a dazzling ring. It was “Star-Picker,” the most expensive diamond ring sold by Sotheby’s in nearly fifty years. I’d seen it once and had never forgotten its beauty. It warmed my heart to think Julian Sterling would send such a priceless gift. In my previous life, Dylan Sterling hadn’t given me any gifts since the alliance was announced. I had long forgotten what it felt like to receive a present from someone who cared. The next day, my birthday banquet began promptly at seven in the evening at the city’s most luxurious hotel. Guests offered their congratulations, and with the alliance settled, a huge weight lifted from my shoulders, allowing a genuine smile to grace my lips. Then, a sudden commotion broke out among the crowd, and everyone turned to stare at the entrance. I followed their gaze, only to see Dylan Sterling, accompanied by Serena Hayes, walking into my birthday party. But that wasn’t the most mortifying part – what truly made me want to vanish was Dylan’s group of friends, making a grand entrance, carrying a massive banner straight towards me. Emblazoned in the center of the banner were the words: **HYPOCRITE** For: Eleanor Vance. Guests pressed closer, whispering and murmuring, eager for the drama. My face turned stark white. I clenched my fists tightly, my eyes fixed on the troublemakers. My voice was dangerously cold. “What is the meaning of this?” A few of Dylan’s friends sneered back, deliberately shouting their words across the room. “So the wedding preparations have begun, huh? No one’s better at playing hard to get than Ms. Vance. I’d say ‘hypocrite’ describes her perfectly!” “I told you yesterday she was just saying things in a fit of pique! Everyone knows she’s been chasing Dylan for years, even willing to give up her dignity! Now suddenly she claims she doesn’t like him, doesn’t want to marry him? That’s just a temporary tactic. In the Sterling family, only Dylan is a suitable match. Who else could Ms. Vance possibly choose?” A burst of laughter filled the hall. Dylan Sterling looked at me, his face grim. “Eleanor Vance, stop with these fake theatrics. Don’t think you can still attract me. When we get married, you’ll have the title of Mrs. Sterling, nothing else. I won’t give you anything more.” I’d heard those exact words from him in my past life. And he hadn’t lied. In seven years of marriage, beyond the title, I truly had nothing. The murmurs around me grew louder. I took a deep breath, my voice rising. “Dylan Sterling! I don’t need your title! Listen carefully: my fiancé isn’t you, nor is he from your generation. He’s your…” The name was caught in my throat, interrupted by a sudden incident. Serena Hayes suddenly clutched her nose and mouth, her face erupting in a dense rash. Her eyes red-rimmed, she collapsed into Dylan Sterling’s arms. “Young Master, I’m so itchy! Why are there so many hyacinths here? I’m allergic to hyacinths!” Hyacinths were my favorite flowers, so the entire hall was decorated with them. Hearing Serena’s increasingly ragged breathing, Dylan Sterling’s face grew anxious. He kept calling her name, then scooped her up in his arms. He left me with two parting statements. One for me: “Eleanor Vance, after we’re married, you’re forbidden from planting or displaying hyacinths anywhere!” The other for his friends: “After I leave, trash this banquet hall!” “You got it, Dylan! Mission accomplished!” Before his words even faded, his friends descended like thugs, grabbing tables and chairs and smashing everything. Birthday cake was smeared across the floor, shards of glasses and dishes flew through the air, and flowers were trampled into mud by dodging guests. “Stop! How dare you trash my birthday party? Stop!” “You’re marrying Dylan soon! Everything revolves around your husband, so what Dylan says, goes, hahahaha!” My throat grew hoarse from shouting, but I couldn’t stop the rampage. Instead, it only drew endless mockery. Finally, all the guests left, and my birthday ended in utter wreckage. ###

In the days that followed, I locked myself in my bedroom, tears blurring my vision, almost completely cutting off contact with the outside world. My parents, having learned of Dylan Sterling’s outrageous behavior, felt even more certain that not marrying me to him was the right decision. They even threatened to go confront the Sterling family, but I, finally emerging after days of seclusion, stopped them. The wedding was imminent; I wanted no more complications. After calming my parents, I left with a design sketch. During my seclusion, I hadn’t been fretting over Dylan Sterling; he was already irrelevant to me. I had been in my room, meticulously designing a wedding ring for Julian Sterling. I knew the “Star-Picker” ring was priceless, so I secretly wanted to repay his unspoken affection with a heartfelt gift of my own. I handed the design to the butler, instructing him to find a master jeweler to hand-craft it. But when the agreed-upon deadline passed, the wedding ring still hadn’t arrived. When I inquired, I learned that Dylan Sterling had come a few days prior to pick out jewelry, spotted my ring design, and after a brief inquiry, simply took it. He’d only left a message: “It’s for me anyway, no need to have Eleanor Vance come pick it up.” The staff, aware of the upcoming Sterling-Vance alliance, hadn’t stopped him. My heart sank. I rushed to the Sterling residence to confront Dylan Sterling and retrieve the ring. But the moment I entered, I saw Serena Hayes sitting amidst a pile of packages, cooing sweetly. “Young Master, you secretly emptied my Amazon cart again, didn’t you? You’re so good to me, how can I ever repay you?” “I enjoy it; you don’t need to repay me. And I’ve told you several times, don’t call me ‘Young Master’ anymore.” Serena Hayes then shyly, coyly, called him “Dylan.” Watching them exchange loving glances, I didn’t blink. I simply strode into the room. Hearing my footsteps, Dylan Sterling turned, a frown creasing his brow. “What are you doing here?” “Give me back the wedding ring you took.” Seeing my outstretched hand, Dylan Sterling raised an eyebrow. “It’s gone.” My gaze hardened, my voice dropping a few degrees. “What do you mean, ‘gone’?” Dylan Sterling was still scrambling for an excuse when Serena Hayes, still seated on the floor, spoke up timidly. “Ms. Vance, I saw online that wedding rings are easiest for opening packages, so I used it to open hundreds of deliveries. The ring is all scratched up now. Do you still want it?” With that, she opened her palm, revealing the ring, now marred and scratched. Dylan Sterling had taken *my* wedding ring and given it to Serena Hayes to open packages?! A surge of anger flared within me, rapidly spreading through my limbs. I could no longer control my emotions. My eyes red, I glared at the two nonchalant figures before me. “Dylan Sterling, by what right did you take my property? Serena Hayes, how dare you desecrate it like this? Don’t you know the meaning of the word ‘respect’?” Seeing me so distraught over a mere ring ruined Dylan Sterling’s good mood. His voice was laced with impatience. “This wedding ring was meant for me anyway. What are you even arguing about? Oh, right, I’ve decided we’ll just sign the papers, no wedding. So your ring design is useless. Don’t bother wasting your time.” His dismissive attitude made my fists clench. I stated it again, my voice firm. “Dylan Sterling, this wedding ring was not for you!” “If not for me, then who? Eleanor Vance, that’s enough. You’re overacting!” Dylan Sterling retorted, then casually tossed the ring aside, grabbing Serena Hayes’s hand as he headed for the door. “Don’t waste time with her. Serena, didn’t you say you wanted to learn to drive a few days ago? Come on, I’ll teach you.” Watching their retreating backs, countless waves of fury and indignation crashed over me. I wanted to chase after them, but I was powerless. I could only crouch on the ground, searching for the ring. It took me a good thirty minutes to find it in a flowerbed. Carefully placing it in my pocket, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. I turned and left. It was too late to remake it; I could only find someone to restore it, hoping it could be brought back to its original state. But just as I walked out of the villa, I heard a strange noise. Looking up, I saw a car hurtling straight towards me. My eyes widened in terror. With a heavy *thud*, I was thrown ten feet away, collapsing in a pool of my own blood. Serena Hayes, feigning fright, got out of the car, crying. “Oh no, oh no! I just started learning to drive, and I accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake! Now I’ve caused trouble! Ms. Vance is bleeding so much, Dylan, will something bad happen?” Seeing the large patch of blood staining the stone steps, Dylan Sterling frowned. He pulled Serena Hayes into his arms, comforting her softly. “It’s fine. She always pretends to be pitiful. She’s just putting on an act now. Ignore her. She’ll wake up when she can’t keep up the charade. Serena, don’t be scared, don’t cry.” Hearing those words through a haze, I felt a bone-deep chill. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Dylan Sterling, I had thought that even if you didn’t love me, after all our years as childhood friends, you would at least have a tiny bit of affection for me. Yet, to appease Serena, you were willing to completely disregard my life. Why, in my previous life, did I ever fall in love with you? I struggled to call for help, but just as my fingers brushed my phone, my strength completely abandoned me. An endless darkness rushed in, swallowing me whole. When I opened my eyes again, it was the next day. Soon after I woke, the doctor entered with my medical chart, speaking in a grave tone. “Why wasn’t she brought in immediately after the accident? You waited until she lost so much blood before bringing her to the hospital? This is reckless!” Recalling the scene before I lost consciousness, my lips moved, but I could only offer a bitter smile, unsure how to answer. Should I tell him my childhood friend was too busy comforting another woman to care if I lived or died? The doctor didn’t press further, continuing, “Where’s your husband? Have him sign the admission papers.” The anesthesia hadn’t worn off, and I blurted out instinctively. “He’s abroad.” The words had barely left my lips when the door to my hospital room pushed open. Dylan Sterling stood there, staring intently at me. “Who’s abroad?!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299033”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

My parents always adored my brother, Brandon. Me? I was just a *tool*, born solely to provide the umbilical cord blood that would treat his leukemia. Even the woman I fell deeply in love with, my girlfriend, Celeste, abandoned me without a second thought the moment she met my brother and fell for him. I knew she had mistaken him for me. I tried every possible way to make her see the truth, but all I earned was her deeper contempt. In the end, Brandon had me run over and killed. The last news I heard was of his wedding to Celeste. My girlfriend coldly *declared*, “People like him *deserve* to die sooner!” When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn, back to the time when Brandon and Celeste had just gotten engaged. **Chapter One** “Leo, your brother is already engaged to Celeste. Stop trying to sabotage them. Your mother and I have bought your plane ticket; you’ll stay abroad for a few years and only return after your brother’s wedding.” Seeing the “we’re doing this for your own good” expressions on my parents’ faces, I realized I had been reborn. I was back on the day my parents forced me to go abroad, the day I was meant to completely give up on Celeste. In my previous life, I had been pressured to leave just like this, but I couldn’t accept it. I’d tried countless times to explain to Celeste that I was the one she truly loved, begged my parents repeatedly to reveal the truth, to stop letting Brandon take credit for what I had done. But all I got was Celeste’s even deeper disgust. She even had the audacity to coldly tell the nurse over the phone, as I lay dying in a car accident, “What new trick is he pulling now? Tell him not to ruin Brandon’s and my wedding.” And I? I died on the operating table, watching that globally televised, lavish wedding on the TV screen, watching Brandon gently slide a ring onto Celeste’s finger, watching them bathed in everyone’s blessings… Since fate has granted me this second chance, I refuse to degrade myself, to waste my life, ever again. “Okay, I’ll go.” I reached out and picked up the plane ticket, my voice unnaturally calm. My parents were stunned by how readily I agreed. “Leo, you’re really agreeing to leave? You’re not planning another trick to sabotage your brother’s wedding, are you?!” Sabotage? It’s a bitter joke. Celeste was always *mine*. But my parents cruelly ripped her away and handed her to Brandon. More than two decades ago, Brandon was diagnosed with leukemia. My parents, without hesitation, decided to have another child. And so, I was born. My umbilical cord blood saved my brother’s life, but from that moment on, I lived entirely in his shadow. Because Brandon was always frail and sickly, my parents showered all their affection on him. From childhood, I gave way to him in everything – my room, my friends, even spots in competitions… There was only one thing I wouldn’t concede: the girl I fell for at first sight – Celeste, the Sterling heiress. She had been the belle of every ball, a darling of fate. But after a birthday party, a car accident left her blind, and her family abandoned her in a secluded estate. I kept it a secret from my family, stole the keys, and every day after school, I would climb the fence to go be with her. “I’ll be here every day.” In the darkness, my deep, resonant voice became Celeste’s only anchor, her only salvation. I never revealed my name, simply tracing “Call me Seven” into her palm, stroke by careful stroke. I combed her hair, she played piano for me, and on stormy nights, she’d press my cold hands to her chest. The night before her eye surgery, she kissed my fingertips and vowed, “When I get my sight back, you’ll be the first person I want to see. And then, we’ll be together, okay?” The surgery lasted twelve hours. But when Celeste woke up, the first person she saw was Brandon. Because as soon as my parents learned Brandon also had feelings for Celeste, they secretly slipped sleeping pills into my drink, knocking me out for an entire day and night. Then, they *lied*, fabricating stories that Brandon had been the one by her side all those years, allowing him to take my place. Celeste never suspected a thing. She and Brandon dated and became engaged, their love seemingly boundless. For three years, I tried to explain countless times that I was the one who had been with her, that I was the one she should love. But she never believed me. Not until I died. I looked at my biological parents standing before me, finding it utterly absurd. “You tried to make me leave repeatedly before. Now that I’ve agreed, you don’t believe me? Don’t you find that strange?” “That’s not what we meant. It’s best if you’re willing to go, of course. You’ll depart for Europe in half a month. Use this time to pack your things and sort out your affairs.” My parents, afraid I might change my mind, quickly added a few more instructions before happily leaving. I turned and went back to my room. The moment I closed the door, my phone vibrated. It was a SnapChat message from Celeste. [8 PM, The Grand Hyatt, Room 1808.] I stared at the message, my fingers tightening slightly. In my previous life, I was ecstatic when I received this message, thinking she was finally willing to listen to me. But when I arrived, I found she had deliberately called me there to witness her and Brandon together, to make me give up. I broke down and cried, but she just said coldly, “Did you see clearly? He’s the only one I love.” Thinking back now, it was ridiculous. I took a deep breath and replied: [Okay.] At 8 PM, I arrived at the hotel precisely. Room 1808’s door was ajar. Celeste was embracing Brandon, both of them naked. Used condoms were scattered around, and the room was thick with desire. Seeing me standing outside, Celeste let out a surprised gasp. Brandon lowered his head, tracing delicate kisses along her collarbone. Celeste’s voice was soft and seductive. “I called him here on purpose, so he’d know you’re the one I love. That way, he won’t harbor any inappropriate thoughts about me. He needs to realize I’ll only ever be his sister-in-law.” Reborn, watching this scene unfold for the second time, my heart still felt a brutal stab, bleeding profusely, an unbearable agony. But I *have* to get used to it! Because from now on, Celeste will only ever be my brother’s wife. I don’t know how much time passed. I unclenched my hands, seeing the nail marks digging into my skin. Then, Celeste, fully dressed, walked towards me. “Did you see clearly? My only love is your brother. Remember your place. I’m your sister-in-law. Don’t ever do anything so shameless again!” My face was completely devoid of emotion. “I saw clearly. And I understand.” Celeste paused, seemingly surprised by my calm reaction. After a moment, she picked up an invitation from the bedside table and handed it to me. “Brandon’s and my wedding is next month. I hope you’ll come.” I took the invitation. “I’ll be there on time. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.” Celeste stared at my face, her brows slightly furrowed. For some reason, I was uncharacteristically compliant today. But she asked nothing, allowing Brandon to lead her out of the hotel. I followed behind, my steps heavy. My head was down, my thoughts hazy, when I heard a scream beside me. The next second, the giant overhead light fixture crashed straight down. Celeste instinctively recoiled, pulling Brandon back, perfectly dodging the impact. Only I remained where I stood, struck down, covered in blood, collapsing to the floor. Waves of pain surged over me, tearing at my nerves. I trembled uncontrollably in the pool of my own blood. Large tears welled up, blurring my vision. I watched her shield Brandon, then closed my eyes. The girl whose heart had only ever been mine was truly gone. And I, at last, could finally let go completely. **Chapter Two** When I opened my eyes again, I found myself in the hospital. The nurse was changing my IV drip. Seeing me awake, she let out a sigh of relief. “You were in a coma for two days. Glad you’re finally awake. How do you feel? Your brother fainted from shock the day he brought you in. Your parents and your sister-in-law are in the next room, taking care of him. Should I call them over?” At her words, my eyelashes fluttered. I shook my head. “No need. They wouldn’t want to see me, and I don’t want to see them.” A flicker of sympathy crossed the nurse’s eyes as she turned to leave the room. “Oh, they’re brothers, but the younger one suffered a major hemorrhage and was in the ICU. Yet his family didn’t even ask about him, only tending to the ‘shocked’ older brother. They haven’t visited him once in two days.” “I heard his sister-in-law is the CEO of the Sterling Group. His brother’s social status has risen because of her. It’s understandable if they neglect the younger brother. But the sister-in-law is truly devoted; she stays by the older brother’s side, personally assisting with medication and meals. She even hired a retired psychologist for counseling, and comfort gifts are constantly pouring into his room…” Their hushed comments reached my ears clearly. But I remained expressionless throughout. I was already accustomed to such situations. In the afternoon, the doctor called me for a follow-up check-up. With no one to accompany me, I had to force my weak body out of bed on my own. As I passed the room next door, I saw my parents and Celeste gathered around Brandon, showering him with concern. My father was tucking him in, my mother peeling grapes to feed him. A sweet smile spread across his face, his voice gentle. “Mom, Dad, you’ve been taking care of me these past few days and haven’t checked on Leo. I’m full now, so why don’t you send the rest of this fish soup to him? He was injured so severely, he definitely needs to recover.” “Oh, don’t worry about him. He’ll survive anywhere. This soup took your mother all night to make. Sending it to him would just be a waste.” My father refused without a second thought, and my mother nodded in agreement. Celeste smoothed Brandon’s hair, her eyes overflowing with tenderness. “Brandon, the doctor said you fainted due to excessive anxiety. Leo has always been cold and heartless, with no regard for brotherly affection. He even dared to covet his own brother’s fiancée! Why bother with him?” Hearing her icy assessment, I gave a self-deprecating, bitter laugh. I was born with a severe seafood allergy, unable to eat any aquatic products. But Brandon adored fish, shrimp, and crab, so our family meals always featured seafood. I couldn’t touch any of it, left with only vegetables and bread, and still, my parents would scold me for being a ‘picky eater.’ Brandon put on an act of being incredibly concerned about his younger brother in front of others. But the moment we were alone, he’d unleash a barrage of cruel taunts and often resorted to punching and kicking me. Worse still, after beating me, Brandon would cry to our parents, twisting the narrative, making it seem like *I* was the aggressor. My parents, without even asking, punished me by making me kneel in the rain all night. From then on, I kept my distance from him, giving Brandon whatever he wanted. In my last life, Celeste was the only thing I wanted to fight for. But it ended in such a miserable fate. In this life, I just want to live my own life. No fighting, no snatching, and no more loving. I completed my check-up alone and went to the pharmacy to pick up my medication. The pharmacy was in a building behind us, requiring a walk through a garden. As I passed the fountain, someone stopped me. I looked up and saw Brandon. “Well, look who’s able to get out of bed so quickly. Doesn’t seem like you were hurt too badly, huh? Let me tell you, Mom and Dad are both on my side. Even if you tell Celeste that you were the one who was with her back then, that you’re the one she truly loves, it’s useless. Save your breath!” Faced with his provocation, my reaction was calm. “Don’t worry. From now on, I won’t love Celeste anymore. Everything you want, I’ll give to you.” Brandon was already accustomed to my submissive nature. The smugness in his eyes grew more pronounced. “Give? Do I need you to *give* me anything? I’ve had everything I’ve ever wanted since I was a kid. You only deserve my leftovers! You’ll never win against me in this lifetime!” **Chapter Three** I didn’t want to engage with his taunts and tried to slip past him. Seeing my attempt to leave, Brandon frowned, about to scold me further, when a familiar figure suddenly appeared in the corridor. An idea sparked in his mind. He grabbed my arm and dragged me into the fountain. Neither of us could swim. We thrashed frantically in the water, calling for help. My wounds reopened, and blood stained the water red. The icy water surged into my nostrils, making me cough uncontrollably. The pain was so overwhelming I had no strength to struggle. My body sank straight down. Just as I was about to suffocate, I saw Celeste rushing towards us, jumping into the water. She swam past me, not sparing me a single glance or offering any help, pulling Brandon straight out of the water and onto the bank. Brandon, eyes red, pulled her into a tight embrace. He looked at me, still drowning in the water, and feigned a look of urgency. “Leo accidentally pushed me into the water, Celeste. You know he’s my only brother. Could you please save him?” At his words, and seeing me in the water, Celeste’s face turned as cold as ice. “Brandon, don’t make excuses for him. He clearly intended to harm you, even going so far as to jump in himself to gain sympathy. Since he refuses to learn his lesson, let him stay in the water and reflect properly!” Every single word pierced my heart deeply. My face was turning purple, my ears buzzed with a deafening hum, every ounce of strength draining from me. My consciousness grew hazy, and the scene before my eyes blurred. I watched Celeste and Brandon leave, then lost consciousness… I don’t know how long passed, but a gust of cold wind jolted me awake. I shivered and woke to find my parents standing before me, their faces livid. “Have you lost your damn mind, daring to push Brandon into the water? Were you trying to kill him, to take his place, to be with Celeste?” “I’m telling you, as long as your father and I are alive, we will never let that happen! You don’t hold a candle to your brother in any way. You’re simply not worthy of Celeste. I advise you to face reality and stop harboring such false hopes!” Hearing their enraged shouts, I felt a chilling despair slowly creep into my eyes. The years of suppressed pain, the anguish I’d swallowed for so long, finally, violently erupted. “I’m not worthy? Does *he* deserve her? If you hadn’t fabricated stories and lied, Celeste would never have looked at him in this lifetime! You stole what was rightfully mine and gave it to him – don’t you feel any shame?!” Seeing me dare to talk back, my mother’s face flushed with anger. My father raised his hand and slapped me across the face. “You ungrateful son! We are your parents. Your life, everything you possess, we gave it to you. We can take it back, give it to your brother, whenever we please! What right do you have to object?” “If you dare to reveal the truth again, you’ll see what we—” Before he could finish, the hospital room door was flung open. Celeste walked in, her brows furrowed. “The truth? What truth?” My parents were startled by her sudden intrusion, their words stumbling. “It’s just… we were disciplining this ungrateful son of ours. Asking him to tell the truth about why he pushed Brandon into the water.” “Yes, yes. He utterly refuses to admit his fault. Your aunt and I are furious; we don’t know how to punish him.” They exchanged a glance, then smoothly changed the subject. Celeste didn’t think much of it, her gaze towards me icy cold. “Since he still won’t admit his mistake, then lock him in the morgue. He’ll stay there until he realizes his mistake.” My parents both thought it was an excellent idea and immediately called for bodyguards to lock me away. I clutched my swollen face, my eyes numb and hollow. I knew that resistance would only invite harsher punishment, so I didn’t struggle, letting them drag me away. Wrapped in the bone-chilling, eerie cold of the morgue, I could only hug my trembling body, shivering uncontrollably. In a daze, I remembered the days at the old Sterling estate, snuggled up with Celeste for warmth during thunder and lightning storms. Back then, I’d take off my jacket and give it to her, and she’d tightly hold my hand, lying in my arms, whispering again and again, “I’m here, don’t be afraid.” Sweet memories intertwined with the icy reality, tormenting my mind. Time passed minute by minute. Hunger and cold gnawed at me, and my consciousness began to fade. Then, I saw the door open. Celeste walked in, her face cold, her gaze razor-sharp. “After a day and a night in here, have you realized your mistake?” “Yes, I’ve realized my mistake. Completely.” I huddled, forcing a hoarse, ragged whisper from my throat. Watching the satisfied expression on her face, I stumbled to my feet and left, murmuring inwardly. My mistake was in believing her promise that we’d be together, in falling in love with her. **Chapter Four** After being discharged from the hospital, I returned home and cleared out everything related to Celeste. Diaries and love letters from my teenage years, photos of her I’d secretly collected, gifts I’d planned to give her, surprises I’d prepared… I had intended to tell her my story of secret love, piece by piece, once we were finally together. But now I knew that we would never have a future, and these things would never be useful. I threw them all away. As I turned, I bumped into Celeste, who had just dropped Brandon off. She glanced at the trash can, then her gaze fell on me, still indifferent. Brandon also saw the items and deliberately took her hand, smiling. “Celeste, it seems Leo has truly learned his lesson this time. He definitely won’t bother you anymore. He’s still my brother, after all, so please don’t be so cold to him.” Celeste looked at me with a detached expression. “I’m always indifferent to people I don’t like. I simply can’t force myself to be pleasant.” I listened silently, saying nothing. I took a shallow breath, swallowing down the ineffable emotions, and returned to my room. The next day was Brandon’s birthday party. The grand hall was packed with guests, buzzing with conversation. “Ms. Sterling truly put on a magnificent birthday party for her fiancé! I heard these flowers were flown in from Europe this morning. Later, there will be fireworks for three days and three nights to celebrate! Mr. Hayes’s suit and watch are said to be worth hundreds of millions; Ms. Sterling personally bid for them at Sotheby’s!” “To make her beloved happy, Ms. Sterling really went all out! Mr. Hayes is so fortunate to marry her; the Hayes family’s fortunes will soar with this marriage. It’s just a shame they have Leo, that ticking time bomb, always coveting his sister-in-law. So shameless!” “Exactly. Why is it that the two brothers are so different? Leo’s looks and personality are both inferior, and he shamelessly clings to Ms. Sterling. Even his morals are twisted! If I had such a corrupt son, I’d want to kick him out of the house. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes are truly kind-hearted!” Listening to the gossip, my heart lay still, a dead sea, stirred by no ripple. I sat like an invisible man in a corner, wanting to attract no attention. Not far away, my parents and Celeste surrounded Brandon, showering him with adoration like satellites around a star. They adjusted his suit, shielded him from toasts, lit his birthday candles, and sang “Happy Birthday” with smiles. Watching their harmonious scene, I remembered my own past birthdays. Brandon would always find an excuse to take my parents away, leaving me to celebrate alone, blowing out candles by myself. During the years I was with Celeste, having her by my side to make wishes and eat cake, receiving her gifts, I thought I would never be lonely again. But that fleeting sense of care and warmth I once had was now completely stripped away. And I wouldn’t cling to it anymore. Amidst the joyful atmosphere, Brandon closed his eyes and made a wish. Guests then presented their gifts. He unwrapped each one, from luxury handbags to exquisite jewelry, his smile unwavering. The last two gifts, from my parents and Celeste, caused a huge stir when announced. “Your mother and I deliberated for a long time and decided to make Brandon the successor of Hayes Corp, inheriting all the family assets!” “My gift to Brandon is a fifty percent stake in the Sterling Group, and the Sterling family’s heirloom wedding ring. My grandmother once told me that any couple wearing these rings is destined for a lifetime of mutual devotion and eternal love. Brandon, you are the only man I wish to marry in this life. Thank you for choosing me.” Under the gaze of a thousand eyes, Brandon personally slid the ring onto Celeste’s finger, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her. The entire hall erupted in cheers and applause, showering them with blessings. I watched from afar, a suffocating weight pressing down on my chest. I pinched my palm hard, wanting to leave, but Brandon called out to me. “Leo, where’s your gift? When are you going to give it to me?” Suddenly, all eyes were on me. I paused, took out the gift I had prepared long ago, and handed it to him. Brandon smiled broadly, about to make a snide remark, when Celeste, standing beside him, froze, staring intently at my raised hand. “Why do you have that watch?” I looked up at her, meeting her incredulous gaze, and instinctively touched the watch. During the time Celeste was blind, even though I knew she couldn’t see, I would still dress carefully to visit her. Back then, I often wore this watch. Every time she held my hand, she’d touch it, asking about the gems embedded in it. Seeing my silence, Celeste suddenly grabbed my wrist, her voice urgent.

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“I’ve made up my mind. I’ll marry that vegetable, Julian Sterling.” I leaned against the doorframe of the Vance family mansion, a mocking smile playing on my red lips. My father’s cigar nearly dropped onto the priceless Persian rug. He shot upright from his leather armchair, the wrinkles around his eyes smoothing out. “Anya, you’ve come to your senses? That’s wonderful! The Sterlings are pushing for it; you’ll need to move to Azure Bay within two weeks. What kind of wedding dress do you like? Your father will have someone order it for you…” “Is that all?” I sneered. “I’m marrying in place of your beloved love child. Aren’t you going to offer something?” The temperature in the living room plummeted. My father’s face darkened. “How dare you speak like that? What love child? That’s your sister.” “A sister is someone you share a mother with,” I chuckled, my eyes like chips of ice. “She’s the living proof of your betrayal. I’ll never acknowledge her.” A vein throbbed in my father’s temple, but he forcibly suppressed his anger before it could erupt. He took a deep breath, and ashes from his cigar fluttered down. “What do you want?” “Ten billion dollars,” I said, my red lips parting slightly. “And, after I marry, reassign Damon Cross to protect your precious love child.” My father’s expression froze. He stared at me as if I were insane. “Are you out of your mind? Ten billion will drain all my liquid assets! And Damon Cross? Isn’t he your favorite bodyguard? You used to constantly pester me about marrying him. Now you’re getting married, and you’re not taking him with you?!” “Just tell me if you agree or not,” I said, growing impatient, turning to leave. “Fine!” My father slammed his hand on the table. “The day you leave for Azure Bay to get married, both requests will be handled immediately.” He had no time to ponder; he just wanted to finalize this matter. Years ago, the Sterling family’s only son was a brilliant young man, and my father had rushed to arrange an engagement between our families, planning to marry Celeste off to him then, ensuring a good match for his younger daughter. Who would have thought that an accident would turn the Sterling heir into a vegetable? He couldn’t bear for Celeste to suffer, so he finally remembered that I, too, was his daughter… I waved a dismissive hand, my back to him. My heels clicked sharply on the marble floor, a sound like a slap across someone’s face. Just as my hand touched the doorknob, my father’s voice came from behind me again. “I understand you want money, but aren’t you crazy about Damon? How can you bear to give him to Celeste?” My fingers stiffened. I didn’t turn around, but my eyes suddenly burned. That name was like a thorn, piercing the softest part of my heart. I shoved the door open, closing my father and his question behind me. Back at the villa, it was already late. I walked upstairs in my heels, and as I passed Damon Cross’s room, I heard muffled sounds from inside. The door wasn’t fully closed. I looked up and saw a scene with perfect clarity— Damon was half-reclined against the headboard, a photo clutched between his long fingers. His eyes were closed, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and a low, sensual voice spilled from his lips: “Celeste… baby… good girl…” It was a photo of Celeste. Taken at her birthday party last year, she wore a white dress, smiling innocently. My nails dug deep crescent marks into the strap of my designer bag. Finally, I answered my father’s question in my heart. Because he, like you, only loves Celeste. The answer churned inside me, burning my insides with pain. Three years ago, I first saw Damon Cross on the day I was choosing a bodyguard. Among a group of tall, burly bodyguards, my eyes immediately fixated on him. The reason was simple: he was ridiculously handsome. Six feet two inches tall, broad shoulders, narrow waist, sharp features, especially those deep, dark eyes, cold as ice. I was known as the notorious wild child in our social circle, intending to flirt with him for fun, but over three years— I deliberately pretended to be drunk and fell into his arms, but he simply lifted me by the nape of my neck, like a kitten, and placed me back on the sofa. I wore a spaghetti-strap nightgown and knocked on his door late at night, but he immediately wrapped me in his suit jacket and respectfully escorted me back to my room. I even faked drowning in the pool. He jumped in to save me but didn’t even touch my waist. No matter how I flirted, he remained completely aloof, always prim and proper, calling me “Miss Vance.” Yet, I fell for him anyway. I don’t know how it happened. Maybe it was because, after my mother died, I was incredibly lonely. When I was seven, my father had an affair and brought home a love child. Her name was Celeste Vance, and she was only three months younger than me. It turned out that in ten years of marriage, he had been cheating for nine. That day, my supposedly happy and peaceful family completely shattered. At that time, my mother was pregnant with my father’s second child, nine months along, just days from giving birth. My mother loved my father desperately. She frantically questioned him, crying until she almost fainted. That night, she went into preterm labor and was rushed to the hospital. She didn’t even make it to the operating room; she died in childbirth, taking her unborn child with her. From then on, I hated my father, and I hated Celeste Vance. I moved out of the Vance mansion. I went to school alone, ate alone, grew up alone. It wasn’t until I became too beautiful, and too many playboys harassed me, that I thought about getting a bodyguard. Damon Cross was my first bodyguard. After that, I wasn’t alone. Damon was with me everywhere. My feelings for him progressed from admiration, to flirtation, to falling in love. But three years, over a thousand days and nights, he never even blinked an eyelash for me. I thought he was just cold by nature, until that day, when I caught him with Celeste Vance’s photo, and then watched him finish before answering a call— “Mr. Cross, how long are you going to keep playing this bodyguard game? You’re the heir to the Cross empire in Veridian City. What woman can’t you have? If you’re so smitten with Celeste, why not just sweep her off her feet? Instead, you’re playing the innocent type, becoming her sister’s bodyguard just to see her constantly?” Damon’s expression was cold. “I’ve checked. Celeste is a love child, she had a difficult upbringing and lacks a sense of security. Pursuing her directly would scare her. I want to take it slow.” “Right, how did the Cross family produce such a lovesick fool? I thought with Miss Vance flirting with you every day, you might actually develop feelings for her. I’m telling you, she’s known as the most notorious wild child in the city. The line of men who want her stretches all the way to France…” Damon seemed to smile, but his words sent me plummeting into an icy abyss. “Oh? Not interested. She’s not even worth a single strand of Celeste’s hair.” Every word was like a knife, deeply piercing my heart! In that moment, I stopped loving Damon Cross too. I don’t know how long it continued inside. For some reason, Damon Cross was taking his time today. Seeing this, I coldly curled my lips and suddenly pushed open the door— The moment Damon looked up, I saw a bottomless darkness in his eyes. Perhaps because he was naturally an alpha, his expression didn’t waver in the slightest even after being caught in such an intimate act. He calmly tucked the photo under his pillow, his long fingers unhurriedly adjusting the startling bulge in his trousers. In mere seconds, he reverted to his usual aloof, ascetic self, as if the man out of control just moments ago had been an illusion. I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. “Putting it back without finishing? Aren’t you afraid of being too pent up? Want me to help you?” Damon’s expression remained unchanged, he just leaned back slightly, creating distance between us. “Miss Vance, is there something you need?” He was always like this. He could be deeply aroused by Celeste’s photo, but with me, he was like a monk dedicated to celibacy. My nails dug into my palms as I recalled Celeste Vance’s plain, innocent face— she had a less impressive figure and was less attractive than me, yet everyone fell for her pure act. It didn’t matter. I had beauty, money, and a great body. From today onwards, anyone who didn’t like me, I simply wouldn’t bother with. “There’s an auction tomorrow. You’re coming with me,” I said coolly, then turned to leave. Damon frowned. “I believe I requested two days off…” “I heard Celeste Vance will be there too,” I said without looking back. A moment of silence, then his low, deep response: “Understood, Miss Vance.” My heart felt a prick, like a needle. Sure enough, mention Celeste Vance, and he’d break any rule. Don’t worry. Soon, I will personally deliver him to Celeste Vance. The next morning, as I stepped out of the villa, I saw Damon Cross already waiting by the car. His black suit highlighted his broad shoulders and narrow waist, his perfect physique. The morning light cast a golden edge on his stern profile. Usually, at times like this, I would playfully flirt with him, perhaps feigning a twisted ankle to fall into his arms, or deliberately breathing softly near his ear. But today, I simply got into the car with a blank expression, not even sparing him a glance. Damon seemed somewhat surprised, giving me an extra look, but quickly averted his gaze and silently settled into the passenger seat. The car drove towards the auction house. All the way, I stared out the window, not making excuses to talk to him as usual. The car was so quiet, we could hear each other’s breathing. The auction was held at the city center’s most exclusive hotel. Crystal chandeliers lit the hall as brightly as day, filled with distinguished guests and powerful figures. As soon as I entered, I spotted Celeste Vance at the front. She wore a white dress, her long, straight black hair falling over her shoulders, laughing and chatting with a few socialites, looking utterly pure and harmless. Damon Cross’s eyes immediately changed. Though he still stood behind me, fulfilling his bodyguard duties, I could feel his attention completely drawn to Celeste. “Sister!” Celeste spotted us and immediately scurried over, affectionately linking her arm through mine. “What a coincidence, you’re here for the auction too?” I coldly pulled my arm away. “Don’t touch me.” Celeste’s eyes immediately welled up, and she looked tearfully at Damon. “Damon, I just wanted to be closer to my sister…” Damon’s brow furrowed slightly, and his gaze at me held a barely suppressed distaste. Celeste seized the opportunity to tug on Damon’s sleeve. “Damon, I heard that when I had a fever last time and wanted artisanal pastries, you were the one who bought them late at night in the pouring rain and delivered them to the Vance mansion? It’s a shame I was so sick then and have been recovering these past few days, so I haven’t had a chance to thank you properly.” Damon’s stern features instantly softened. “Miss Vance, it was nothing. Just on my way.” On his way? I sneered. That day, he disappeared for five hours and returned soaked to the bone. *That* was his “on his way”? “Then I must treat you to dinner!” Celeste said sweetly. Damon didn’t refuse this time. “As Miss Vance wishes.” “Then let’s invite my sister too!” Celeste looked at me, then suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, sister, why do you look so tired? I’m the one who was sick…” I coldly cut her off. “Are we close? You’re the daughter of a mistress. Mind your own business.” Celeste’s face paled, and Damon’s frown deepened. Just then, the auctioneer announced the start of the auction, finally interrupting the awkward conversation. I couldn’t be bothered with her any longer and took my seat. I was about to marry into the Sterling family, and counting on my father for a dowry was unrealistic. I had to prepare these things myself, which was my true purpose for coming to this auction. As I settled down, the first item was presented. A pigeon’s blood ruby necklace, starting bid one million. I raised my paddle without hesitation. “Two million.” To my surprise, Celeste also raised her paddle. “Three million.” I looked at Celeste, who offered me a slight smile. “Sister, I like this piece too. You don’t mind letting me have it, do you? After all, Father’s allowance for you isn’t as much as mine.” I scoffed. Not just not as much as hers? From childhood, my father gave Celeste five million every month for allowance, while I only got five hundred. If not for my mother’s inheritance, I might have starved long ago. But now, things were different. I had ten billion. “Four million.” I raised my paddle again. Celeste was clearly stunned, but still gritted her teeth and raised the bid. “Four and a half million.” “Five million.” “Five and a half million.” After several rounds of bidding, Celeste’s face grew uglier. “Sister, where did you get so much money? Aren’t you afraid you can’t afford it?” “Ten million!” I doubled the bid directly, then looked at her with a sarcastic smile. “I’m starting to think, who’s the one who can’t afford it now?” Celeste’s face flushed from pale to red, and the surrounding guests began to whisper. The auctioneer politely asked, “Miss Celeste Vance, do you wish to bid higher?” “Wait a moment.” Celeste frantically pulled out her phone to text my father. A moment later, her face grew even more distressed. She’d clearly been rejected. Seeing this, I curled my lips. Of course he’d refuse. He’d given me ten billion; how could he have any money left to save face for his precious daughter? It was at this awkward moment that a man in a sharp suit suddenly appeared in the center of the hall and announced loudly: “He’s sweeping the auction!” The entire hall erupted in murmurs. “Sir, are you saying…?” the auctioneer asked in surprise. The man explained, “I am Mr. Cross’s assistant. Mr. Cross has instructed that any item Miss Celeste Vance takes an interest in today is to be purchased, no matter the cost.” The auction hall instantly exploded. “Mr. Cross? The only heir to the Cross family? The famous prince of Veridian City?” “Doesn’t he usually keep his distance from women? How could he sweep the auction for Miss Celeste Vance?” “It seems Miss Celeste Vance is about to climb the social ladder…” The discussions around us rose and fell. Celeste’s face shifted from shock to delight, then to unconcealed triumph. “Where is Mr. Cross? Can I thank him in person?” she asked, her face flushed. The assistant respectfully replied, “Mr. Cross finds it inconvenient to appear at the moment. When the time is right, he will naturally meet with you.” Celeste then turned to me, her eyes filled with victorious joy. “Sister, are you still bidding?” The next second, she feigned innocence and added, “Oh, I almost forgot. Mr. Cross bought out the auction for me. If you keep bidding, I’m afraid you’ll go bankrupt. After all, in this circle, who has more money than Mr. Cross?” My face instantly changed, and I sharply looked at Damon Cross, only to see him gazing at Celeste with indulgent tenderness. The rest of the auction was like a romantic drama. Any item Celeste so much as glanced at, the assistant immediately bought out. That ruby necklace, the Northern Song Ru ware tea set, even the Monet Water Lilies painting with a starting bid of eighty million—all fell into Celeste Vance’s hands. I abruptly stood up, no longer able to hold back. “Does your Mr. Cross intend to leave nothing for anyone else?” I demanded of the assistant. The assistant cautiously glanced at Damon Cross, who imperceptibly nodded. “Apologies, Miss Vance,” the assistant replied coldly. “These are all gifts from Mr. Cross to Miss Celeste Vance. He only wishes for Miss Celeste Vance to enjoy this auction. As for everyone else’s feelings, they are not within his consideration.” I laughed, my nails digging deep into my palms. I looked at Damon, but his gaze remained fixed on the triumphant Celeste. Damon Cross, you’re quite something. You truly are! The auction ended, and Celeste Vance was surrounded by a crowd of socialites and wealthy women, flattered like a star. I couldn’t bear the hypocritical scene and quickly left the venue. As soon as I got into the car, I told the driver, “To the Nightfall Club.” I needed alcohol to numb myself. To my surprise, the car door hadn’t even closed when Celeste squeezed in. “Sister, are you going to the club to have fun? I’ve been so bored lately, take me with you!” I was about to kick her out, but Damon Cross subtly held the car door open and simply told the driver, “Drive.” Throughout the ride, Celeste excitedly chatted about the day’s auction. “Damon, why do you think Mr. Cross is so good to me? We’ve never even met!” Damon’s voice was incredibly gentle. “Because he likes you.” Celeste’s eyes widened instantly, her cheeks flushed. “Damon, don’t joke around!” “A man knows a man best,” he said, his gaze intensely fixed on Celeste. “Where there’s money, there’s love. Moreover…” He paused. “Miss Vance is so wonderful, it’s not strange for him to fall for you.” “Then… do you like me too, Damon?” Celeste suddenly asked. Damon froze, about to speak, when I coldly cut him off. “If you’re going to flirt, get out of my car! This is *my* car!” Celeste’s eyes immediately reddened. “I’m sorry, Sister, I bothered you. I won’t speak anymore.” I ignored her, turning to look out the window. Through the reflection in the glass, I clearly saw Damon looking at Celeste with heartache and tenderness, while his gaze at me was cold and disgusted. I gave a self-deprecating laugh. It seemed all men only liked the manipulative innocent type. The club lights were hazy. I tipped back my third glass of whiskey. The alcohol burned my throat, but it couldn’t extinguish the frustration in my heart. On the dance floor, I swayed in my stilettos, my red dress swirling. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Damon standing by the VIP booth. He was supposed to be my bodyguard, yet he was glued to Celeste’s side. Celeste whispered something, her lips almost brushing Damon’s ear. That man, who was always icy cold towards me, actually had a faint blush on his ear. I scoffed. As I turned, I was surrounded by a group of playboys. “Miss Vance, care to share a drink?” “Want to exchange SnapChat IDs?” “I’ve wanted to meet Miss Vance for ages. Your beauty truly lives up to its reputation.” I was trapped in the corner, unable to move, unable to refuse. More men crowded around, and one even touched my waist. “Damon Cross!” I finally snapped. The man seemed to just notice my predicament, frowning as he pushed through the crowd. The muscles of his arms, encased in the black suit, were sharply defined. With just one look, he sent the playboys retreating sheepishly. “Anyone would think *she’s* your client,” I sneered, raising a hand to wipe away the drink stain on my collarbone. Damon lowered his gaze. “My apologies, I didn’t see it just now.” “Didn’t see it?” I suddenly leaned closer, my red lips almost brushing his chin. “Or simply didn’t want to see it?” My breath abruptly closed in on him. Damon’s Adam’s apple bobbed, and he took half a step back. “Miss Vance has had too much to drink.” “Don’t worry, once I’m married, you can protect Celeste Vance to your heart’s content—” My voice was completely drowned out by a sudden burst of screams from the stage. Staff rolled out an iron cage, where two adult Tibetan Mastiffs restlessly paced. “Tonight’s special event!” the host shouted excitedly. “Black Cyclone versus Fiery Red! Betting lines are open!” I frowned. The Nightfall Club often featured such bloody fighting spectacles, but I always detested them. Just as I was about to leave, the iron cage emitted a groaning creak—the latch was loose. The mishap happened in an instant. The larger Mastiff crashed through the cage door, charging straight for the nearest crowd. Amidst the screams, I saw Damon Cross turn without hesitation, instinctively rushing to Celeste’s side, shielding her completely as he pushed her towards the emergency exit. And I stood closest to the Mastiff, close enough to see the saliva dripping from its fangs. “Ah…” The searing pain came without warning. As the Mastiff’s sharp teeth tore into my calf muscle, I vaguely heard the sound of fabric and flesh ripping together. A chunk of my leg was brutally torn away, blood gushing out. I collapsed to the ground, watching in horror as the beast lunged again— “Bang!” A gunshot blasted, making my eardrums ache. The Mastiff fell instantly. The last thing I saw was Damon Cross, gun in hand, shielding Celeste, and the ceiling spinning and darkening. The smell of disinfectant. When I regained consciousness amidst excruciating pain, the first thing I saw was a pristine white ceiling. My calf felt as though it had been seared with a branding iron; every breath tugged at the wound. I painfully turned my head, and the scene at the hospital room door struck my not-yet-fully-awake brain another heavy blow. Celeste Vance was buried in Damon Cross’s embrace, sobbing. “Damon, you’re my sister’s bodyguard, why did you protect me? It’s all my fault, I shouldn’t have come…” His finely-boned hand gently patted her back, his voice incredibly soft. “Miss Vance, you don’t need to blame yourself.” “Even if I had to do it a hundred times over,” he paused, his fingertip wiping away a tear from her cheek, “I would still choose to protect you first.” “Why?” Celeste looked up, her eyes brimming with tears. Damon gazed at her, his deep, dark eyes tinged with affection. “Because… I lo—” “Smash!” The sound of a water glass shattering on the floor cut off Damon’s unfinished words.

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Eighteen years of relying on each other, inseparable, my brother died. He died on a rich socialite’s private yacht, simply because he accidentally stained her dress. She, always pampered and arrogant, ordered her men to break his bones and throw him into the ocean to feed the fish. When his body was recovered, it was already shattered beyond recognition. I didn’t shed a tear, didn’t make a scene. I only did two things. First, I found out that the rich socialite’s most beloved person was Marcus Thorne, the CEO of Thorne Enterprises. Second, I became Marcus Thorne’s personal assistant. Phoebe Sterling, since you made me lose the person I loved most, it’s time for you to taste that pain too. ### It was midnight, in the lavish Grand Imperial Hotel. I led Marcus Thorne to the presidential suite at the very end of the hall. The man beside me had quite a bit to drink today. A faint blush touched his usually stoic face, his eyes were tightly shut, and his breath reeked of strong liquor. I expertly swiped the room card, unlocked the door, and then slipped his phone from his pocket, dialing the number pinned at the top. Once the call connected, I deliberately loosened my grip, letting him accidentally pull me close as we tumbled heavily onto the bed behind us. The sound, heard from the other end of the phone, took on a completely different, suggestive meaning. Sure enough, the person on the other end instantly flared up. “Marcus? Where are you?” “Hello?” “Is there a woman there?! Marcus?” Before the person on the other end could completely lose her mind, I discreetly hung up. Everyone in their circle knew how much Phoebe Sterling loved Marcus Thorne. They had grown up together. Although Marcus Thorne was known for being aloof and self-controlled, deeply affectionate and loyal, with only her in his heart, never getting close to other women, she still lacked a sense of security. From childhood, she never allowed any other woman within arm’s reach of him. Too much love often leads to too much possessiveness. If she were to lose him completely one day, she’d surely go insane. And that, exactly, was what I wanted. Now, by deliberately creating this misunderstanding, I figured it wouldn’t be half an hour before she’d come banging on the door, making a huge scene. A cold smirk played on my lips. I set the phone aside and walked into the bathroom to wet a towel. Before stepping back into the living room, I delicately unbuttoned the top button of my shirt. The handsome man on the bed was still fast asleep. I leaned in close, gently wiping his face. He truly was the kind of man every woman in this city dreamed of but couldn’t touch. His exquisite features, his undeniably handsome face—any woman who saw him couldn’t help but feel a flutter. But what I wanted was far more than something so simple. I pressed harder, and he frowned, then opened his eyes. Seeing my face, his eyes instantly sharpened, and he grabbed my hand, questioning. “What are you doing?” Like a deer caught in headlights, I flinched back. “Mr. Thorne, you drank too much. I haven’t been with the company long, and I didn’t know your address, so I just booked a room for you upstairs from the banquet hall to rest.” “I was worried you wouldn’t be comfortable, so I used a wet towel to wipe your face.” After hearing my explanation, Marcus Thorne’s expression softened slightly. He loosened his tie, taking a deep breath. His gaze casually dropped to me. Feeling his eyes on me, I quickly clutched my neckline with a hurried hand. A rapid knocking on the door sounded, right on cue. “You little fox, get out here now!” “How dare you try to seduce my man? Are you asking for trouble?!” “Open the door!” I jumped off the bed, heart pounding, and whispered urgently, pleading with him. “Mr. Thorne, Ms. Sterling can’t know I’m in here. A man and a woman in the same room, no matter what we say, she won’t believe it.” “If she sees me, I’ll lose my job!” “Please, I’m begging you, okay?” My face was pale, my large, bright eyes wide and innocent, making me appear even more delicate and vulnerable. Marcus Thorne frowned, a silent acknowledgment of my plea. A wave of relief washed over me. I quickly scurried into the bathroom and hid. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, the vulnerable expression wiped clean from my face. Phoebe Sterling. The show is about to begin. Get ready for what’s coming… ###

The door opened, and Phoebe Sterling stormed in, her face etched with fury. She glanced around, but only saw Marcus Thorne. Some of the anger in her chest dissipated. She then noticed Marcus Thorne’s slightly haggard face and rushed to steady him with concern. “Marcus, what’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?” Marcus Thorne rubbed his temples with his strong, elegant fingers, his voice low. “I had a few too many drinks at the banquet tonight, so I just booked a room upstairs to rest.” “What is it, has someone been gossiping and upset you?” Phoebe Sterling’s face was tinged with guilt. She forced a smile, her eyes darting around the room. “No one, I just came to check on you.” “You’re just so desirable; there are so many women in this city who want you. If I’m not vigilant, and someone snatches you away, where would I go to cry?” Marcus Thorne chuckled softly, pulling her into his embrace. “Phoebe, don’t you know who’s in my heart?” “All these years, have I ever looked at another woman?” He’s always so distant; I’d never seen him look so tender since I started working for him. He really must love Phoebe Sterling. His words finally made Phoebe Sterling completely drop her guard. His gentle words melted away any lingering doubt. She helped him sit on the nearby sofa and instructed him, “You should get some rest since you’ve had too much to drink. I won’t disturb you.” With that, she turned to leave, but the next second, a “thump” suddenly came from the bathroom. Phoebe Sterling’s brows instantly furrowed, her sharp gaze sweeping fiercely towards the bathroom. “Who’s in there?” No one answered. She immediately started to walk towards it. In that critical moment, Marcus Thorne rose and went to her side, gently pulling her into his arms. “I was about to take a shower, so I turned on the faucet. It must have just fallen off.” “I told you I was alone. Don’t you trust me?” Phoebe Sterling quickly pushed him playfully. “Of course I trust you, Marcus. I’ll leave right away, don’t be angry.” In front of Marcus Thorne, the proud socialite, so used to getting her way, was actually lowering herself like this. A cold smirk played on my lips. The more she cared about Marcus Thorne, the more I would make her suffer. As the door clicked shut, Marcus Thorne’s cool voice sounded again. “You can come out now.” I emerged barefoot, carefully. Earlier, I had deliberately turned on the shower, soaking myself halfway. Now, my long, wavy hair fell loosely around my shoulders, making me look like a pure, innocent fawn that had just stumbled out of the woods. Marcus Thorne scrutinized me, his gaze cold and dismissive. Seeing this, I quickly lowered my head, looking cautious and nervous. “Mr. Thorne, I accidentally touched the shower just now. I’m sorry, it wasn’t intentional.” He spoke coldly, “Are you very afraid of her?” I bit my soft, red lips tightly, hesitating. “Yes, I am…” “I’m even more afraid of losing my job. This job is incredibly important to me.” After speaking, as if afraid he would press further, I rushed to say goodbye before he could open his mouth. “Thank you for today, Mr. Thorne. I won’t disturb your rest. I’ll be leaving now!” With those words, I grabbed my coat and hurried out the door. Downstairs, just as I was about to pull out my phone to call a ride, Marcus Thorne’s black Maybach slowly pulled up in front of me. The driver got out, opened the door, and greeted me. “Ms. Wen, Mr. Thorne asked me to drive you home.” I paused for a moment, then opened the car door and got in. With tonight’s little stunt, I was certain I had caught Marcus Thorne’s attention. But he was clever, and I still couldn’t underestimate him. ###

In the days that followed, I went about my regular duties as if nothing had happened, maintaining a calm demeanor. Even when I saw Marcus Thorne, I remained respectful but distant as always. Phoebe Sterling, however, developed an intense hostility towards me after seeing me emerge from Marcus Thorne’s office a few times. She had never known there was such a beautiful woman working so closely with Marcus Thorne. I had never doubted my own beauty; from childhood, my looks had earned me a lot of preferential treatment. And this beauty was a huge threat to Phoebe Sterling. Because of this, whenever she came to the company, she would constantly make my life hell. She’d order me to get her coffee, intentionally spill water on me, mess up my documents, and make me work late into the night. These childish games, I never took to heart, nor did I ever mention her mistreatment to Marcus Thorne. But, each time I was harassed, I would “accidentally” make sure he saw it. This evening, after Marcus Thorne finished a meeting and left the office, he paused unconsciously as he passed my cubicle, watching the woman engrossed in her work under the lamp. His eyes flickered, but he said nothing, simply walking away. I allowed a faint smile to touch my lips. Phoebe Sterling’s behavior these past few days had already planted a seed of doubt in his mind; now, I just needed to fan the flames. The next day, as soon as I sat down at my desk, a stinging slap landed hard across my face. I was knocked directly to the floor, my cheek burning with pain. Phoebe Sterling’s furious, cutting insults rained down on me from above. “I knew you were a troublemaker. It’s just as I expected.” “You’re truly shameless, doing anything to hook Marcus Thorne. Today, I’ll show you what it costs to cross me!” I clutched my cheek, looking up at her with a pitiful expression. “Ms. Sterling, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” The more vulnerable and helpless I appeared, the more Phoebe Sterling’s rage intensified, making her unable to control herself. “Still playing innocent with me? You deliberately left that lipstick stain on Marcus’s shirt, didn’t you? Do you think I don’t know?” I shook my head frantically. “It wasn’t me, I didn’t do it, Ms. Sterling, you’ve misunderstood!” “Misunderstood?” Phoebe Sterling sneered, delivering another harsh slap. “You’re the only one in the whole company who wears that shade! Still trying to deny it?” “You dress so provocatively every day, just to seduce Marcus, aren’t you? Why are you playing the innocent act with me now, huh?” The commotion quickly attracted others in the company. People surrounded me, whispering to each other. “I knew she wasn’t any good, thinking her looks could hook Mr. Thorne. It’s disgusting.” “Exactly, exactly! She probably just used her looks to get hired in the first place.” I feebly explained, “I really didn’t. I have no designs on Mr. Thorne. Ms. Sterling, you truly misunderstood!” Phoebe, blinded by rage, wasn’t listening. She grabbed my collar and started dragging me towards the door. “You’re going to kneel right here and let everyone see what a pathetic slut you are!” Then she ordered her bodyguards, “Strip her!” “She has no shame, so today I’m going to make sure she’ll be too ashamed to ever show her face here again!” With her words, two men immediately stepped forward and began to pull at my clothes. Terrified, I curled into a ball, begging for mercy. “It really wasn’t me, Ms. Sterling…” “Ms. Sterling, you truly misunderstood…” But no matter how much I pleaded, Phoebe Sterling showed no sign of letting me go. The men tugged at my clothes, and I struggled fiercely, my eyes burning red. “Enough!” A clear, calm voice suddenly interrupted the escalating scene. The main door opened, and Marcus Thorne strode in, step by step, towards the crowd. He exuded a powerful aura, making everyone involuntarily shiver. I looked up at him, my eyes instantly clouded with tears. “Mr. Thorne…” My cheeks were flushed, and my clothes were disheveled and torn, but it only made me look more fragile and beautiful. I hadn’t said a word, yet it felt as if I had conveyed everything. Marcus Thorne’s eyes flashed. His assistant immediately took off his jacket and draped it over me. Phoebe Sterling, seething, was about to speak, but Marcus Thorne cut her off. He pressed his fingers to his temples. “Phoebe, the lipstick on my collar was accidentally transferred by one of the maids at home.” “If you don’t believe me, you can check the security footage.” Phoebe Sterling froze, then blinked, a flicker of guilt in her eyes. She quickly tugged his sleeve, trying to appease him. “Marcus, I’m sorry. I just care about you too much.” “I won’t do this again, please don’t be angry, okay?” Marcus Thorne’s gaze darkened, but perhaps because he loved her so much, he said nothing more, simply instructing his assistant to escort her back. Once everyone had dispersed, he looked down at me, still kneeling on the floor. “Come to my office.” ###

In the CEO’s office, I first sent a quick text to the maid: “Well done. Payment sent.” Then, as Marcus Thorne turned around, I discreetly hid my phone, clutching the jacket around me and trembling on the sofa. I kept my head down, tears streaming down my face. Marcus Thorne looked at me and an unfamiliar sensation stirred within him. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it to me. His sharp gaze softened as he spoke calmly. “What happened today, Phoebe was in the wrong. I apologize on her behalf. She’s just a little spoiled, she doesn’t mean any real harm. Please don’t take it to heart.” *No real harm?* I scoffed inwardly, finding it utterly cynical. She thinks there’s “no real harm” now, humiliating me in front of everyone. If she *did* have bad intentions, would I end up like my brother? Such a woman—vicious and cruel—but in Marcus Thorne’s eyes, she was dismissed with a few dismissive words. Did he know that my brother was killed by Phoebe Sterling? He was the brother who raised me, who bought me the dresses I loved, working on construction sites until his hands were raw and calloused, never complaining. Even when he was accepted into a prestigious overseas university, he willingly dropped out of college to take the toughest, most exhausting jobs, just to take care of me. Though our home was poor, my brother never let me feel the hardships of life. My good, kind brother… I would never see him again. Thinking of my brother, my eyes glistened with tears even more, unstoppable. “I won’t blame Ms. Sterling, and I certainly won’t blame you, Mr. Thorne.” “I just hope that Ms. Sterling won’t misunderstand me again, and that I can work peacefully in this position.” Seeing my vulnerable appearance, Marcus Thorne couldn’t help but frown. “Is this job so important to you?” My eyes, glistening with tears, wavered. “Yes, it’s very important.” “My parents passed away when I was very young. It was my brother who gave up his studies to raise me, but a year ago, my brother also passed away.” “Our family accumulated a lot of debt for my education, so I can’t afford to lose this job.” Marcus Thorne’s gaze deepened, but he didn’t ask any more questions. “Compose yourself. You can go out later.” I nodded, leaned back on the sofa, and soon cried myself to sleep. Marcus Thorne had seen countless beautiful women. His stern eyes betrayed no other emotions, but seeing the sparkling tears still clinging to my pale face, his gaze flickered involuntarily. He took the blanket nearby and draped it over me, then half-knelt in front of me, his expression cool. Just as he was about to stand, I, in my sleep, suddenly grabbed his hand and, crying, placed it on my face. “Brother, don’t leave me…” “Brother, I miss you so much…” He paused, hesitated for a moment, then gently withdrew his hand. A few days later, Marcus Thorne was invited to a corporate gala, and as his assistant, I naturally attended with him. Phoebe Sterling saw me at the event. Though seething with anger, with Marcus Thorne present, she could only grit her teeth and put on a facade of generosity. She intended to keep a close eye on me, but unexpectedly, she felt lightheaded after only a few drinks and was about to fall asleep. She had no choice but to say goodbye to Marcus Thorne and go upstairs to rest. Watching Phoebe Sterling leave, my lips curled into a cold smile. Of course she would drink too much and leave early. Earlier, when she asked me to fetch her a drink, I had secretly put quite a bit of sleeping medicine in it when no one was looking. Now, with her gone, everything would be much easier. Many people at the banquet toasted Marcus Thorne. He was in a good mood and hardly refused anyone. Even with his high alcohol tolerance, he was swaying and about to collapse. I helped him sit down and casually poured a glass of water to hand to him. But my hand slipped, and the entire glass of water spilled directly onto him. I grabbed some tissues to frantically wipe it, but Marcus Thorne, his breathing hitched, gripped my wrist tight. “Don’t move!” His shout startled me, and I then realized the water had spilled in an awkward spot. I quickly retreated a few steps. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Thorne! I’ll go get you a clean set of clothes.” Marcus Thorne’s face was cold, and he practically gritted his teeth. “No need. You can go first.” I didn’t dare look at him again, quickly pulled a room key card from my pocket, placed it on his table, and fled in a panic. Leaving the banquet hall, I took the elevator directly to the twenty-second floor. The room key card I gave him was for Phoebe Sterling’s room, but I had already arranged for Phoebe to be sent home. I changed my clothes, lay down on the bed, and turned off the lights. Half an hour later, Marcus Thorne indeed swiped the key card and opened the door. He didn’t turn on the lights, staggering in, loosening his tie, and taking off his jacket. An intoxicating floral scent filled the air, making him instinctively reach out and pull me close. My soft, slender waist curved perfectly into his palm. He leaned down and kissed me, his voice hoarse and low. “Phoebe…”

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The 99th time I woke up in a hotel room with my childhood best friend, Liam Hayes, he was still just as wild. The next morning, my body was covered in hickeys. The slightest movement sent a sharp ache through my lower back. The lingering scent of intimacy still hung heavy in the air. Liam’s long arm wrapped around me, savoring the soft warmth of my body. “Dress formally tomorrow,” he said, his voice casual. “Come home with me.” I shot up, a surge of hope swelling in my chest. “Are you finally going to… make us public?” Liam arched an eyebrow, glancing at me sideways. “Public? About what? I have a date at my place tomorrow. I need you to help liven things up. Make sure the girl doesn’t feel awkward.” Each word landed like a thunderclap, echoing in my ears. My heart threatened to stop. My mind went completely blank. “You have a date? Then what am I to you?” Liam was already getting dressed. He spared me a lazy look. “You? You’re my go-to for everything. My dinner buddy, my gaming buddy, and, you know, my *bed buddy* for when we need to unwind.” A chill spread through me, draining the color from my face. My lips trembled. Seeing my expression, Liam’s smile slowly faded. He leaned closer. “No, Maya. You didn’t actually think we were, like, boyfriend and girlfriend all these years, did you?” His playful tone pierced my heart like a sharp knife. I fought back the stinging in my nose, my voice fracturing, barely coherent. “Wh-what are you talking about? I-I’m going to take a shower.” I scrambled off the bed, my legs shaky, and stumbled into the bathroom. The moment the door clicked shut, all strength left me. I collapsed onto the floor. His words still rang in my ears. I stared at the dense array of hickeys Liam had left all over me, and tears streamed down my face. We’d known each other for over twenty years, grown up together. We’d shared the same juice box, flipped through the same comic books. When we turned eighteen, one drunken night, we even ended up in bed together. Once became twice, then thrice… At night, our bodies fit together perfectly. During the day, we did everything a couple would. We walked hand-in-hand through crowds, kissed at New Year’s promising to be together next year, and spent hours on the phone every day to keep the spark alive… I always thought we were together, just not officially public. And now Liam was telling me we weren’t a couple? The pain was suffocating. I turned the shower on full blast with trembling hands, finally daring to cry out loud. I don’t know how long I stayed there, tears flowing until they ran dry. Only then did I compose myself and step out. Liam was already dressed and sitting on the sofa, talking on the phone. “More people are coming tomorrow, so book a bigger private room at the restaurant. Chloe prefers light flavors, so upscale Mediterranean cuisine will be perfect. A Red Velvet Cake, and pink and white roses for flowers. Send me pictures when it’s set up so I can check. And prepare a dozen suits for me to choose from, all black. Chloe only likes that color.” Hearing that name, my heart seized. Involuntarily, I glanced over and saw the sweet smile playing on Liam’s lips. Chloe? His date was Chloe Peterson? The light in my eyes dimmed. If it was Chloe, then I understood why he was so happy. In high school, Liam had a massive crush on Chloe. He’d drone on about her name in my ear dozens of times a day. But before he could ever confess, Chloe moved abroad. Since then, I’d never heard him mention her again. Later, after our own reckless night, we grew closer, and I thought he had long forgotten about Chloe. But it seems that perfect ideal, that first love he never spoke of, he’d never truly forgotten. The sharp pang in my chest returned, so intense I almost dropped my phone. *Bang!* Liam turned at the sound, a playful smile on his face. “All showered? Good. Can you check out later? I already paid for the room.” He picked up his jacket and headed for the door. Just before stepping out, he turned back, a half-smile on his face. “Maya, I’ve always thought of you as my best friend, like a brother. Don’t give me that heartbroken look again. Otherwise, I might think you’re getting some ideas about me.” “I know you inside out. You can tell what I’m thinking with just one look. Don’t you think that kind of life would be boring? If we were actually together, it would feel like the end of everything.” His voice faded with his footsteps, but his words echoed endlessly in my heart. I sat on the cold bed, then I started to laugh, and the laughter turned into tears. So, all these years, that’s what Liam thought of me. I sat there alone until late into the night before finally going downstairs to check out. A heavy rain was falling outside, but I barely registered it as I numbly walked home. My parents rushed over, dry towels in hand, their voices laced with concern when they saw me drenched to the bone. “Such heavy rain, why didn’t you take a cab?” I looked at them, my eyes vacant, my voice hoarse. “Dad, Mom, with the group’s business changes, haven’t you always wanted to move abroad? I’ve made up my mind. Let’s immigrate. Let’s never come back.” They’d been trying to convince me for months, and now, finally hearing me relent, my parents were surprised. “You’ve really thought it through? Did you break up with your boyfriend?” Recalling Liam’s words, my heart ached. I forced a bitter smile and shook my head. “There was no boyfriend. Never was. I just made it up to avoid getting hounded about marriage.” Though unsure if I was telling the truth, my parents were overjoyed. They immediately began preparing the immigration paperwork, urging me to pack. I hummed in agreement and went to my bedroom, throwing away everything related to Liam. Years of carefully preserved photo albums, all the jewelry, dresses, and handmade figurines he’d given me… Now, all of it went into the trash. “Miss Sterling, so many good things. You don’t want any of it?” The housekeeper’s voice held a touch of regret. I simply nodded, my voice flat. “No, I don’t.” Not just these things, but this relationship, and Liam himself – I wanted none of it anymore. The next day, I was woken up by Liam’s SnapChat messages. Dozens of them, asking when I was coming over. My heart felt bitter. Liam, do you even see how cruel you are? With trembling fingers, I typed out a reply: “Not feeling well today. Can’t make it.” A moment later, my parents knocked on my door. “Maya, even if you’re upset with Liam, don’t pick now to be difficult! Get dressed and go to his house. You have no idea how important this date is to Liam. He’s liked Chloe Peterson for years, and as soon as he heard she was back in the country, he practically begged your father to set them up!” “That’s right,” my mom chimed in. “Chloe took piano lessons from me for a while, and I personally went over to make this meeting happen. From gifts to dinner, everything is so formal! He’s asking you to go just to liven things up. With a girl your age there, Chloe won’t feel awkward. Liam is serious about this one, and you two are so close, how can you not help him?” Liam, upon hearing I wouldn’t come, had even called my parents! Listening to their earnest pleas, I could only swallow my tears, get ready, and head downstairs. The two families lived close by. Ten minutes later, I stood at the Hayes’ front door and opened the shoe cabinet in the entryway. It was completely empty. My little bunny slippers weren’t there. I searched high and low, finally finding them in the trash can outside the door. Besides the slippers, there was my water bottle, toothbrush, towel, pajamas… all my things. “Miss Sterling, these were all thrown out by the young master. Please use these shoe covers for now.” I stared at the trash can, silent for a long moment. Because the Sterling and Hayes families had always been close, I used to drop by almost every day and often stayed overnight. Liam had even set aside a bedroom just for me and bought me all sorts of daily necessities, specifically picking out the little bunny designs I liked. He told me the Hayes’ house was my home, and I shouldn’t be a stranger. We’d kept secrets from our parents, embracing and kissing at the front door, intertwining our fingers under the dinner table, sharing intimate moments in his study. Now that Chloe was here, he was afraid his crush might misunderstand. So he’d thrown out everything connected to me. It took me a while to compose myself and put on the shoe covers. The moment I stepped inside, I saw Liam peeling fruit for Chloe. They were laughing and chatting happily. He sat on the sofa, dressed in a custom satin suit, his hair meticulously styled, wearing cologne. He exuded a forbidden allure, like a dark academic with a hidden edge. Back in school, I’d heard countless girls say how handsome he was, that he’d look good even in a sack. If he actually dressed up, no celebrity idol could compare. But Liam was naturally wild and carefree, usually just wearing a T-shirt and jeans, not bothering with dressing up. So, he *did* fluff his feathers for the person he liked? The man who had been tangled up with me in bed just yesterday now acted like he didn’t even know me. He glanced at me once, then his gaze slid away, completely focused on Chloe. They talked about everything from hobbies to the weather, from work to jewelry brands, from childhood anecdotes to their school days. Watching Liam tirelessly find topics and chat animatedly, I lowered my eyes in self-mockery. So, he *did* take the initiative like this for the person he liked. “It’s funny, in high school,” Chloe laughed, recalling old times, “you were a year ahead of me, and we weren’t even in the same building, but we’d often run into each other at school. It felt like destiny.” I watched Liam’s ears turn red, smiling silently. Destiny? No. Those “chance encounters” were all carefully orchestrated by Liam. Back then, I’d followed him, watching him pull out all the stops for his crush, my heart aching. Later, when Chloe moved abroad, I thought I’d finally gotten what I wished for. But now, it seemed Liam was the one getting his wish. Lost in thought, I suddenly heard my name. “I heard in high school that you had a very close childhood friend. That must be Maya, right?” I paused, looking up to meet Chloe’s probing gaze. Before I could speak, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes chimed in cheerfully. “They’re incredibly close! Inseparable since birth, practically grew up joined at the hip. We were even thinking of arranging an engagement between them…” Mid-sentence, Liam’s face darkened, and he abruptly cut them off. “Mom, Dad, stop talking nonsense. I would never fall for Maya Sterling, no matter who else I liked.” I lowered my gaze, hiding the disappointment in my eyes, and forced a smile. “Me neither. Out of everyone, I would never get together with Liam Hayes.” Liam’s expression froze for a split second, then quickly returned to normal. He slung an arm over my shoulder, as if embracing a brother, and said casually, “Exactly! We have a purely platonic friendship.” Suddenly, the tension in the living room eased. I joined in the laughter, vaguely hearing Liam whisper a relieved “Thanks.” I didn’t say anything, just subtly moved a few steps away from him, creating distance. Liven up the atmosphere? No, what I said was the truth. As evening approached, the Hayes family’s car was ready to take us to the restaurant. The three young people sat in one car. Throughout the ride, Liam, who sat in the middle, lavished attention on Chloe. He adjusted the AC, fetched a blanket, and even helped unscrew her water bottle. I sat on the left, watching their lively conversation, and silently turned to gaze out the window. Halfway there, a torrential rain began to fall. The road was dimly lit, and the car in front suddenly switched on its high beams. As we drove downhill, the driver was momentarily blinded, couldn’t make the turn, and crashed directly into the guardrail. In that split second of danger, Liam instinctively pulled Chloe into his arms, shielding her. *Bang!* The car windows shattered, glass flying. I, sitting on the inner side, was left bleeding profusely. A searing pain spread through my entire body. I felt like I was coming apart. My consciousness faded, but I saw the car door on the right open. Liam, frantic, carried Chloe out of the car, calling the hospital while gently comforting her. He seemed to have completely forgotten there was another person in the car, showing no concern for me at all. When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics suggested treating the more severely injured person first. But caught between me, lying in a pool of blood, and Chloe, who was merely shaken in his arms, Liam hesitated for only a few seconds before choosing to take Chloe to the hospital first. Watching the ambulance drive away, my vision blurred, and tears I could no longer hold back streamed down my face. Liam, oh Liam. Twenty years of history, and it still couldn’t compare to one look from her! My eyelids grew heavy. The relentless pain that had tortured me dissipated like smoke. I couldn’t wait for the next ambulance. Everything went black, and I lost consciousness. I don’t know how much time passed. I heard a cacophony of voices. Opening my eyes, I saw my mother clutching her chest, her voice a mix of worry and relief. “Thank goodness, Maya, you’re finally awake! It’s a miracle the ambulance got here in time. You lost so much blood, the hospital almost ran out. You three were in one car, how is it that Chloe only scraped her hand, but you’re so badly injured?” My father sighed with relief, taking a sip of water. “That’s because Liam protected her, of course. True feelings are revealed in times of trouble, and that girl was incredibly moved. I just visited her in the next room. Liam was spoon-feeding her porridge. Just seeing the tenderness in their eyes, I’d say they’re practically official.” I listened silently. After they finished their gossip, I finally spoke, my voice hoarse. “How long was I asleep? Are the immigration papers ready?” “You slept for two days! You scared us half to death!” “Don’t you worry about the paperwork. It’ll be finalized in less than a month. Just focus on recovering.” Hearing it was less than a month away, a sense of liberated relief washed over me. For the next two or three days, I kept hearing nurses talk about all the things Liam was doing for Chloe. He stayed by her bedside constantly. If he heard her cough in the middle of the night, he’d fret for ages, then go find a nurse for hot water. He’d personally test the temperature of all her medicine and have candied fruit ready, afraid the poor girl might find it bitter. Fearing she’d be bored cooped up in the room, he’d go to great lengths to find all sorts of fun toys to cheer her up. I listened in silence, saying nothing. When the nurse pushed me for a recheck, I heard a commotion in the hallway. Passing the room next door, I glanced over and saw Liam, holding a huge bouquet of roses, confessing his feelings to Chloe. “Chloe, I fell in love with you eight years ago. All those ‘chance encounters’ were actually me deliberately trying to get close to you. I remember all your favorite things, and I know your dreams. I never got to confess back then. Will you give me a chance now?” Listening to his voice, filled with anticipation and nervousness, I couldn’t help but recall how Liam had been preparing this confession a month before Chloe moved abroad. Though it was missed due to a twist of fate, it had only been delayed by a few years. Hearing Chloe say “Yes, I will,” I gave a soft smile and walked towards the examination room. The moment I turned away, the crowd erupted in enthusiastic applause. Liam turned at the sound, and his eyes landed on my solitary, somewhat forlorn figure. The smile on his face froze, a flicker of something unsettling stirring within him. But the discomfort lasted only a moment, quickly drowned out by a tide of joy. He reached out, openly and unapologetically, pulling Chloe into his embrace. That night, I opened a booking app and searched for direct flights from Seattle to Barcelona. Just after I completed the payment, Liam arrived with Chloe. “Maya, good news! Chloe agreed to be my girlfriend. See? I’m a good friend, telling you first.” I looked at their tightly clasped hands, nodded, and said flatly, “Congratulations.” Chloe’s eyes overflowed with happiness. She smiled shyly. “Thank you for your blessings. Mrs. Sterling said you were seriously injured. Are you feeling better lately? I brought some fish soup for you. You should have some.” She spoke while urging Liam to quickly serve the soup. Seeing him obediently comply, I paused for a moment before realizing what was happening. “Thanks, but no need for the fish soup.” At my words, Liam’s face instantly turned cold. He looked at me with displeasure. “This soup was personally cooked by Chloe. I was already reluctant to give it to you. It’s because Chloe cares about your injuries that I reluctantly agreed to let you have some. How can you be so ungrateful?” He said, pouring a bowl and thrusting it into my hands, insisting I drink it now. I tried to explain, but he grabbed my wrist. In the struggle, the bowl spilled, and the hot soup splashed all over my wound. “Ah!” Pain made cold sweat break out on my forehead. My face crumpled, pale as paper. Chloe gasped, startled, and pulled out tissues, looking apologetic, trying to help wipe it away. Fearing she might get burned, Liam quickly shielded her behind him. “Chloe, this has nothing to do with you. She’s always been tough, it’s nothing serious. Don’t blame yourself.” My hand, holding the tissue, trembled several times. My heart seized. The next second, my father burst into the room. Seeing my wound start to bleed again, he quickly called for a nurse. My mother, though heartbroken, patiently put away the fish soup and explained to Chloe. “Chloe, Maya is allergic to seafood. She can’t drink fish soup. We appreciate your kindness, thank you.” Liam froze, his face turning unnatural. “Why didn’t you say so sooner?” Looking at the blood-stained bandage, my heart was filled with bitterness. He used to remember all my dietary restrictions. Every time we went to a restaurant, he would repeatedly emphasize to the waiter: no seafood, no onions, no cilantro. But now that Chloe was here, his eyes were only on her. Of course, he wouldn’t remember such a small detail about me. A person’s heart is only so big. It can only truly hold one person. The one he loved most. After a long silence, I finally pulled at my lips and replied. “You never gave me a chance to speak.” The hospital room fell silent. Chloe looked so guilty she was almost in tears. Liam, pitying her, said nothing more and left with her. Due to the wound infection, I stayed in the hospital for three more days before being discharged. Immigration day was drawing near, and the Sterling family was busy packing. My parents were too occupied, so they prepared a generous gift and asked me to visit the Hayes’ house. As soon as I entered, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes pulled me aside, apologizing profusely. “Maya, we’re so sorry. After all these years between you and Liam, in such a dangerous car accident, he only protected Chloe and didn’t even care about you. It caused you such serious injuries. We feel absolutely terrible, and we’ll make sure he apologizes to you.” I shook my head, gently comforting them. “Chloe is Liam’s girlfriend. It was right for him to protect her. I’m fine, nothing serious happened. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, please don’t worry.” Seeing that I wasn’t taking it to heart, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes finally eased their worries. After a brief chat, I brought up the real reason for my visit, informing them about my family’s immigration plans. Hearing the news so suddenly, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were shocked. “So sudden?” “Our company’s business adjusted. We actually started preparing about six months ago, but it was only recently finalized. My parents specifically asked me to come and tell you.” Sad at the thought of their old friends leaving, Mr. and Mrs. Hayes’ voices were filled with reluctance. “Will you ever come back?” I smiled, my voice remarkably clear in the quiet living room. “Once we leave this time, we won’t be coming back.” Just then, Liam returned, pushing open the door. He frowned, looking at us. “Who’s not coming back?”

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In three years of marriage, I’d been driven to the brink 108 times. When I woke up again, I found myself lying in a hospital bed, my mind a complete blank. A middle-aged couple sat beside my bed. The moment I opened my eyes, the woman frowned. “How much longer are you going to keep this up?” “Damon always loved Celeste. If he hadn’t gotten drunk and stumbled into the wrong room that night, why would he ever have married you?” Her voice was laced with impatience. “He doesn’t love you, so it’s normal for him not to come home. But you? Threatening him with suicide, over and over. After all these years, can you name one time he actually came to see you after one of your ‘attempts’?” “If you weren’t our own flesh and blood, we wouldn’t even bother.” Mr. Vance sighed too. “You’re absolutely nothing compared to Celeste.” I stared at them, bewildered. I’d lost all my memories, I didn’t even know who I was. All I could do was piece together a fractured life from the accusations of this couple who claimed to be my parents. I was supposed to be the Vance family’s heiress, but I was lost, kidnapped as a child. When I was finally found and brought home, I discovered they’d adopted a girl named Celeste Vance. The parents who should have doted on me now only had eyes for their adopted daughter. My place, the one that should have been mine, was completely taken over. Later, I fell in love with Damon Thorne, CEO of Thorne Corp, but his heart, too, belonged to Celeste Vance. Then came that banquet. Damon, drunk, stumbled into the wrong room. He slept with me. One reckless night later, he was forced to marry me, but all he gave me in return was his coldness and contempt. My parents didn’t love me, and neither did my husband. I was in agony, wishing I could just disappear. Powerless to change anything, I made desperate pleas for their notice, hoping to draw their eyes to me, just once. “Alright, we need to get back and make dinner for Celeste.” Mr. and Mrs. Vance stood up. “You stay here and think about what you’ve done.” The moment the hospital room door closed, a sharp pain shot through my chest. I had no memory, yet the despair of being abandoned by the whole world felt so real. I didn’t understand. How could parents not love their biological daughter, but adore their adopted one? And that man, Damon Thorne… He was the one who got the wrong room, he was the one who mistook me for someone else. Since he married me, why couldn’t he treat me right? Why did his coldness push me to the edge? I didn’t dare to think deeper. Just listening to these unfamiliar past events, my heart felt like it was being slowly shredded by a blunt knife. What about the old me? Facing such a situation, day after day, with parents who didn’t care and a husband who ignored me—how utterly desperate must she have been? I slowly pushed myself up and handled my discharge papers alone. But standing at the hospital entrance, I didn’t know where to go. I didn’t remember where my parents lived, nor where Damon Thorne’s house was. Even more tragically, neither home welcomed me. A sudden commotion broke out at the hospital entrance. I looked up and saw a tall, slender man striding towards me, holding a delicate figure in his arms. The man wore a sharply tailored black suit, his shoulders broad and straight. He was incredibly handsome, every step exuding an undeniable presence. The girl in his arms was carefully protected, her pale face pressed against his chest. He looked down at her with a tenderness that was blinding, his arm tightened possessively, and his steps instinctively softened, as if afraid to jostle her. “Get out of the way!” His voice wasn’t loud, yet the onlookers automatically parted, forming a path. “Oh my god, is that Damon Thorne?” someone whispered behind me. “Who else could it be? Who else in this city has that kind of presence? He’s so hot, my knees practically buckled…” I froze in place. So, this was my husband, Damon Thorne. And the girl in his arms must be Celeste Vance, my adoptive sister. As he passed me, his steps faltered almost imperceptibly. His eyes, dark as midnight, swept over me, cold as an ice blade dragging across my skin. But in an instant, he averted his gaze and hurried towards the emergency room, clutching the girl in his arms. My frail body trembled slightly. I didn’t follow them, still pondering where I should go— The next second, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to find it was Damon Thorne, coming back. He grabbed my wrist, his grip so tight I winced. “Are you RH-negative?” Without waiting for an answer, he dragged me towards the blood donation room. “Celeste was in a bad accident, a massive hemorrhage. The blood bank is low. You need to donate blood for her.” “I…” Just as I was about to speak, Damon suddenly cupped the back of my head. He leaned down and kissed me. The kiss was cold and fleeting, breaking apart as soon as it touched. “Now, can you donate?” His voice was low, devoid of any warmth. Before I could even react, I was shoved into the blood donation room. Outside the door, the nurses’ whispers were painfully clear: “That’s Mrs. Thorne, the one who’s attempted suicide 108 times? I heard the first time was to get Mr. Thorne to kiss her, the second for a date, the third for him to sleep with her… Each time, he rejected her. How pathetic is that?” “And now Mr. Thorne finally kisses her, but it’s only so she’ll donate blood for Miss Vance…” “She’s probably happy and heartbroken at the same time, right? Happy she finally got a kiss from Mr. Thorne, but heartbroken it was for someone else…” I lay on the donation chair, and through the glass window, I saw Damon Thorne standing vigil by Celeste Vance’s hospital bed, his long fingers gently enclosing her pale hand. He leaned down and pressed a light kiss to her knuckles. Strangely, I felt neither joy nor sorrow. The needle piercing my vein felt like a distant ache, as if all those gut-wrenching emotions were dulled by my amnesia. Forgetting everything… it was a blessing, a mercy from above. After donating 400cc of blood, I walked out, my face pale, my vision swimming. I struggled for a long time, but finally decided to approach Damon Thorne. “Damon, can you tell me… our home address? In exchange, I can give you a gift.” Damon frowned. “What game are you playing now? Too many suicide attempts, you’ve forgotten where you live?” “No, I have amnesia…” “Frank is at the entrance.” Damon cut me off. “He’ll drive you back.” “Thank you,” I said softly. “I’ll prepare the gift.” “No need.” Damon’s tone was icy. “I’m not interested in any gifts from you, and you don’t need to try and win my favor.” I lowered my gaze, a faint curve on my lips. Really? But this time, the gift… you’ll like it. Once in the car, I found my lawyer’s number in my contacts and sent a message: [Hello, I want a divorce and to sever parental ties. Please prepare a divorce agreement and a document to sever parental relations for me.] Mr. Davies’s reply came quickly: [Alright, Ms. Hayes. I’ll get that drafted ASAP.] I put away my phone, gazing at the fleeting scenery outside the window. My amnesia was a chance given to me by fate, an opportunity to escape completely and start a new life. “Let’s not go home yet,” I told Frank abruptly. “Take me to the immigration office.” Frank clearly froze, glancing at me in the rearview mirror, but he politely replied, “Of course, Mrs. Thorne.” The immigration process went smoothly. The officer told me all my documents would be ready in half a month. As I got back into the car, I hesitated for a moment, then spoke. “Don’t tell Mr. Thorne about today.” Frank’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. “Mrs. Thorne, Mr. Thorne has always… forbidden us from mentioning you in his presence.” I gave a small, wry smile. So Damon Thorne hated me so much he didn’t even want to hear my name. Back at the villa, I stood in the foyer, looking around. This house was both familiar and strange. Familiar because every detail matched my aesthetic. Strange because it was so cold and empty, as if no one lived here. I gently traced the embroidery on a throw pillow, imagining how eagerly I must have decorated this house, dreaming of a happy life with Damon. In our wedding photo on the wall, my eyes were full of love for him. His handsome face, however, held only cold indifference. I shook my head and turned to go upstairs. Entering the bedroom, I instinctively pulled open a drawer, and a leather-bound diary slipped out onto the floor. Flipping to the first page, the messy handwriting looked as if it had been written while drunk: [Today is my first day married to Damon. He went to his study without saying a word. It’s okay, I’ll wait.] Flipping through the pages, each entry felt like a knife twisting in my heart: [Entry #37: I tried to end it again. He still didn’t come. His assistant, Leo, said Celeste had a fever, and he stayed by her bedside all night. I lay in the ER, counting the drips of my IV until morning light.] [Entry #89: I took an overdose of sleeping pills. When I woke, I heard him on the phone in the hallway, saying, ‘Let her die.’ It was then I understood: a pain deeper than death itself is hearing the person you love most wish you dead.] [Entry #108: I’ve decided to give up. If this doesn’t work, I’ll disappear completely. After all, no one in this world cares if I exist.] I slammed the diary shut. My chest felt ripped open, and the scars on my wrists suddenly burned, each one a silent accusation of past despair. I slowly sank to the floor, hugging my knees. So for three years, I had lived so humbly, like a pathetic, tail-wagging dog, desperate for even a glance from him. “It’s okay,” I whispered, wiping away my tears and putting the diary back in the drawer. “Stella Hayes, if no one loves you, that’s fine.” The moonlight streamed through the window, casting a small patch of light at my feet. “As long as you love yourself, you haven’t lost.” I lived in this empty villa for a few days, and Damon Thorne never returned. With no memories and no love, I didn’t find the solitude hard to bear at all. In fact, waiting quietly for my immigration documents to process felt quite peaceful. Until Mrs. Vance’s call shattered that peace. “Tomorrow is Celeste’s birthday. Seven PM, The Grand Imperial Hotel.” Mrs. Vance’s voice was cold and detached. “Don’t be late.” “I don’t…” “That’s all.” The call was curtly cut off, not even giving me a chance to refuse. On the day of the banquet, I chose the simplest black dress I owned. As soon as I entered, I saw Celeste Vance, surrounded by adoring guests, and Damon Thorne, whom I hadn’t seen in days. “Celeste Vance has all the luck,” two women whispered nearby. “Her adoptive parents treat her like gold, and even Mr. Thorne is so devoted to her.” “Exactly. I heard Mr. Thorne personally organized this whole party. Look at that champagne – specially flown in from France, each bottle worth a fortune. And those flowers? Freshly air-freighted from Holland this morning. The whole ballroom is decorated like Monet’s Garden, exactly how Celeste likes it, costing millions.” The guests’ chatter kept reaching my ears. I sipped my drink, my gaze falling on Damon Thorne not far away. He was wearing a black suit today, his shirt collar casually unbuttoned, revealing a glimpse of his collarbone, giving him an air of lazy aristocracy. Yet, this very man was now half-kneeling, adjusting Celeste’s skirt. His usually cold face even held a faint smile. “And now, please welcome Mr. and Mrs. Vance to offer their blessings to their beloved daughter!” The moment the host’s words fell, my parents walked onto the stage, arm-in-arm with Celeste. Mr. Vance cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. “Today, I have an important announcement. Sixty percent of Vance Industries’ shares will be inherited entirely by Celeste.” A gasp rippled through the room. My grip on my glass tightened. Then Damon Thorne stepped onto the stage, pulling a velvet box from his pocket. He opened it, revealing an antique emerald ring. “Isn’t that the Thorne family heirloom?” someone gasped in the crowd. “I heard that emerald ring was meant for the eldest grandson’s wife!” “Oh my god, giving a family heirloom to his wife’s adopted sister. Mr. Thorne is publicly humiliating Stella Hayes…” The ring slowly slipped onto Celeste’s ring finger, a perfect fit. “Dad, Mom, Damon, isn’t this… inappropriate?” Celeste suddenly looked towards my corner, her voice laced with deliberate hesitation. “After all, Stella is your biological daughter, and Mr. Thorne’s wife. These things should belong to her, shouldn’t they?” At her words, Mr. and Mrs. Vance immediately clasped her hand. “Don’t be silly, Celeste. Stella married well; she has the Thorne family backing her. We naturally need to plan more for you. Giving you our assets is only right.” Damon’s voice was flat. “If not for that accident, this ring would have always been yours.” I stood in the center of the crowd, feeling as if I’d been stripped naked in public. My parents’ words were like slaps, Damon Thorne’s words like knives, tearing at my face. The guests’ stares felt like spotlights, pinning me down. Pity, mockery, schadenfreude – every single look screamed ‘pathetic loser.’ I could even feel Celeste’s triumphant gaze, like a victor flaunting her spoils. In the past, I would probably have been heartbroken enough to wish for death. But now, I only felt calm. I gently put down my glass. As I turned to leave, I heard someone whisper: “Look, her eyes are red…” “She’s probably going to cry in the restroom…” “So pathetic, her own parents and husband all favor her adopted sister…” I didn’t stop, walking straight to the restroom. The woman in the mirror had perfectly applied makeup, not a single tear shed. Because I’d forgotten everything. I’d forgotten how desperately I once begged for my parents’ affection, for Damon’s love. I no longer remembered how many times I’d abandoned my dignity, all for a single glance from them. These people I once humbly adored were now no different to me than strangers. Now, all I needed was to quietly wait for my immigration documents to be processed, and then learn to truly love myself. I reapplied my lipstick, and just as I was about to leave the restroom, I froze at the hallway corner. Not far away, Damon Thorne had Celeste pressed against the wall, kissing her deeply. His long fingers tangled in her hair, the other hand tightly gripping her waist as if he wanted to mold her into his very bones. Celeste’s head was thrown back, her pale neck forming a graceful arch. After what felt like an eternity, Damon finally released her, his thumb gently caressing her slightly swollen lips. His voice was low. “Satisfied?” Celeste leaned into his arms, her voice soft and sweet. “Damon, don’t you think I’m being awful? I’ve already accepted your family heirloom, and now I’m asking for a kiss… If Stella saw this, she’d probably be upset again.” “I’m just in so much pain. If that accident hadn’t happened back then, we should have been together…” Damon’s eyes were calm as he held her even tighter. “Her unhappiness has nothing to do with me.” “I never liked her, and I never will.” “It’s always been you, Celeste.” With that, he leaned down and kissed her again. I stood frozen, my heart gripped by an invisible hand, the pain so sharp I could barely breathe. I pressed my hand to my chest, thinking: *This must be the last lingering warmth of my past love for him. Once it fades, there will be nothing left.* Damon Thorne and Celeste Vance kissed for a full three minutes before finally turning and leaving. Only after their figures had completely disappeared did I step out from the shadows. I took a deep breath, adjusted my dress, and prepared to return to the ballroom to get my bag and leave. But just as I walked into the main hall, Celeste rushed over and grabbed my wrist. “Stella, if you liked the ring Damon gave me, I would have given it to you. Why did you steal it?” I froze. “Steal what? What are you talking about?” “Don’t pretend!” Celeste’s eyes were red-rimmed. “I just went to the restroom, and the ring was gone! The server said you were the only one who went near my bag!” Mr. and Mrs. Vance rushed over. Without a word, Mrs. Vance slapped me across the face. “Stella Hayes, can’t you go one day without causing trouble?!” My cheek burned, and before I could react, Mrs. Vance shrieked, “Someone, search her!” Several servers immediately surrounded me, roughly pulling at my dress. I struggled frantically. “I didn’t steal anything! Let me go!” *Rip—* The sound of fabric tearing echoed. My shoulder was exposed to the air, and gasps and snickers immediately broke out around me. “Found it!” A server pulled the emerald ring from my clutch bag. “It was with her after all!” Celeste took the ring, tears streaming down her face. “Stella, what do you have to say for yourself now?” I trembled all over. Just as I was about to speak, the crowd suddenly parted— A steady set of footsteps approached. I looked up to see Damon Thorne walking towards me, his polished dress shoes echoing on the marble floor, each step feeling like it landed on my heart. “Why would you steal it?” His voice was soft, yet the entire ballroom fell silent. “I never considered you my wife, didn’t you know that?” I looked up, meeting his icy gaze. “Stella Hayes, some things aren’t meant for you,” his thin lips parted, each word a poisoned blade. “They never will be.” I suddenly laughed. The sound made Damon’s brow furrow almost imperceptibly. He’d seen me cry, seen me rage, seen me hysterical. But he’d never seen me laugh like this – a laugh of liberation, tinged with mockery. “I didn’t steal it.” My voice was soft, yet every word was clear. “And furthermore—” I took a deep breath, each wor

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My multi-millionaire foster dad finally found his long-lost biological daughter. But the same morning he announced I was adopted, my fiancé wanted to call off our engagement. “Sera Price, so you’re not your dad’s real daughter after all. In that case, you’re simply not good enough for me anymore.” I just laughed. “Sorry to burst your bubble, but my real dad? He’s a *billionaire*.” 0My dad’s long-lost daughter was finally found, and he brought her home, publicly announcing that I was only his adopted child. My fiancé, Brandon Miller, heard the news and immediately dragged me to see his mom. Brandon and I had just gotten engaged and were busy planning our wedding. I had a sinking feeling something was off. But after two years with Brandon, he’d been so attentive, treating me like a princess. I still had faith in our relationship. As we stepped inside, Mrs. Miller sat on the sofa, slowly peeling an orange, acting as if I wasn’t even there. Usually, she’d be standing at the door, greeting me with her usual beaming smile before I even reached the house. “Mrs. Miller,” I said, holding out a basket of gourmet treats and expensive wellness products I’d bought on the way. “These are some health supplements I picked up for you. To keep you healthy.” I also had a bespoke designer gown, carefully packaged in a gift box, for her to wear to my wedding with Brandon. Mrs. Miller finally finished her orange, glancing at me. “Sera, Brandon and I heard about your family. We just wanted to hear from you directly what’s going on.” “It’s true, I’m my dad’s adopted daughter. His biological daughter’s name is Chloe Price,” I explained, forcing a smile. “What? So it’s real?” Mrs. Miller’s eyes widened, staring at me. “Sera, you’ve been to our house so many times. Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” “Uh, I didn’t know myself. Dad only told me this morning.” The news was sudden, even for me. I hadn’t expected it either. “Oh, I see,” Mrs. Miller said dismissively, popping an orange segment into her mouth. “What are you planning to do now? Do you have a job?” “I’ve already told Dad I don’t want any of his property; it all belongs to Chloe. I’m planning to move out on my own. Currently, I work at my dad’s company, I…” Before I could finish, Brandon anxiously cut me off: “Sera Price, are you crazy? Even as an adopted daughter, your dad would still give you some assets! How can you just say you don’t want anything?” Mrs. Miller’s face soured, stretching a mile long. “Sera, you’re not Mr. Price’s biological daughter anymore, so he won’t let you inherit the family business. If you move out of the Price family, you’ll have nothing. Our family has a house in Rosewood City, and Brandon has a stable corporate job. You, on the other hand, don’t have a ‘proper’ job, just working at a company for a few thousand dollars a month. Where will you two live after you get married? You’re from completely different worlds now. The gap between you two is just too wide.” I sighed, looking at Brandon’s fifty-square-meter apartment. It was indeed quite small, barely enough for one person. Brandon and I definitely couldn’t live here after we got married. So, working at a company wasn’t a ‘proper’ job? I was the CFO of my dad’s company and a minor shareholder. Was Brandon’s mom just worried sick? “I understand, Mrs. Miller, I’ll do my best at work, I…” Before I could finish, Mrs. Miller cut me off again: “Sera, how about you two just don’t bother with the wedding plans? You’re not a good match anymore; you won’t have a good life if you get married.” I choked on my words. I had wanted to say that I not only had houses in Rosewood City but also mansions, and I’d already prepared a huge apartment for us as a wedding home, expecting Brandon and her to move in with me. I’d bought a new place near the company that was currently being renovated, which was why I was planning to rent an apartment temporarily. But this woman gave me no chance, changing her tune faster than flipping a page. “Ma’am.” Brandon’s mom seemed momentarily flustered by my sudden shift back to the more formal address. “Are you refusing to let me marry Brandon?” I asked her directly. Brandon’s mom tapped her finger on the table. “How can you get married? How? Your meager salary wouldn’t even cover the down payment on a broom closet! If Brandon marries you, our family’s quality of life will plummet.” “Come back when you can actually make some money and are worthy of my son.” I looked at Brandon, who stood silently beside her, his eyes wide, a look of utter disappointment, like I was failing him. I had planned to surprise Brandon that afternoon with five six-figure custom wedding gowns. I wanted to try them on one by one for him, but now, I saw no point. “Ma’am, I’m leaving then. We won’t be getting married.” “Go on, go on.” Brandon’s mom waved her hand dismissively. I stood up to leave. “Wait,” she called out. “I won’t be wearing this dress. You don’t make much money, so keep it for yourself.” Heh. She thought my few thousands a month couldn’t afford her a nice dress. A five-figure designer dress, and you don’t want it? Fine, I’ll take it back. Walking out of Brandon’s apartment complex, he roughly yanked his hand away and snarled at me. “Sera Price, you’re so stupid! Your dad raised you for so many years, even a stray cat would show more loyalty! He’d definitely take care of you and leave you something. How could you just refuse it?” Passersby stared at me curiously, as if I were a child being scolded by her mom for a mistake. My mind went completely blank. Was this really the Brandon I used to know? He used to be so polite, speaking softly to me, so gentle and considerate. He’d never once lost his temper in front of me; even if I yelled at him, he’d just playfully try to win me over. “Come on, babe,” Brandon said, seeing my dazed expression, and stroked my head. “Go talk to Mr. Price. Don’t give up your rightful share! We’re getting married soon and we still need to buy a wedding house.” I was bewildered. Was that what I should ask for? My foster dad had raised me for so many years; I hadn’t even had a chance to repay him. Now that he’d found his biological daughter, I couldn’t bring myself to ask for anything. “Brandon, I’ve already made it clear to Mr. Price. And I’m just his adopted daughter. I won’t bring this up to him again.” “Then in your current situation, my mom won’t support me marrying you. We can’t get married.” “Brandon, I’m marrying *you*, not your mom,” I said, a bitter laugh escaping me. “If your mom disagrees, then you won’t marry me, is that it?” Seeing Brandon stand there silently, I turned and walked away. “Hey, Sera!” Brandon called out from behind me. “Are you not coming to my place tonight?” “No.” Tears welled up in my eyes; I didn’t want him to see me cry. I went alone to a Michelin-starred restaurant for dinner. It seemed only good food could soothe my current mood. Brandon and I met at my birthday party. My best friend had invited a few guys to celebrate with me. Brandon, tall and slender, stood out in his trench coat among the other guys. His gaze seemed fixed on me the entire time. After the birthday dinner, he pursued me for three whole months. He treated my roommates and me to dinner, sent me flowers, and practically tripped over himself to bring us our packages every day. When I was sick, he stayed by my side day and night. That’s how I fell for his relentless charm offensive. We dated for two years. I bought him clothes and changed his hairstyle. Gradually, he became trendier and more handsome. More and more women were throwing themselves at him, but he never looked at anyone else, always boasting to others that I was his personal glow-up specialist. We were already engaged, and I still felt a little attached to him. I wandered the streets alone, unknowingly ending up near Brandon’s current apartment. Under the streetlights, a tall, slender figure was holding a girl’s hand, clutching a woman’s designer handbag. “Babe, my shoelace is untied.” The girl extended her foot. The tall, slender figure immediately knelt down to tie it for her, saying, “Sweetheart, let me tie this other one for you too. Wouldn’t want you to fall and hurt yourself; it would break my heart.” I don’t remember Brandon ever kneeling down to tie my shoelace. I saw Brandon stand up and kiss the girl’s forehead. She linked her arm through his, and they laughed happily. Brandon was renting in an old, rundown complex, with only a small path connecting it to the main road. I couldn’t avoid them. When Brandon turned around, he met my indignant gaze. The two bubble teas I held in my hands felt awkwardly exposed. “Sera, I thought you said you weren’t coming tonight,” he said, looking surprised. “So, I’m not coming means you can find a new girlfriend, does it?” “Sera, don’t overthink it. She was introduced to me by my mom’s friend.” He paused, as if finally gathering courage. “You’re nothing now, and you refuse to ask your foster dad for money to buy a house. My mom also disapproves of our marriage. I can’t just hang myself on one tree, can I?” I looked at the girl—no, woman, I should say. I estimated she was at least thirty; no amount of makeup could hide the years. The vintage Chanel bag she was holding? It was the one I’d given to Brandon’s mom, a special order, a limited edition. Right in front of me, Brandon took the woman’s hand. “Monica’s family is quite well-off. She even bought a hundred-square-meter apartment. You know how much pressure there is in big cities these days; people are very practical. I had no reason to refuse her, did I?” Oh, wow. A single apartment was enough for Brandon to fall for a woman significantly older than him. Brandon had once again successfully lowered my opinion of him. I must have been blind to agree to date him. “Brandon, who is she?” The woman pointed at me, looking annoyed. “She’s my ex-girlfriend, just a pathetic nobody. My mom didn’t approve of us getting married, but she still won’t let go.” Brandon’s gaze on my face grew arrogant. “Well, well, well,” the woman said, wiggling her ‘snake-like’ waist, sizing me up lazily. “Her own mother doesn’t want you two to get married, so why are you, little girl, still shamelessly clinging to Brandon?” My blood ran cold. Can a person change so quickly and be so shameless? Fine. His mom was right; he and I were indeed not from the same circle anymore. “Brandon, who said I was clinging to you? If anyone’s doing the breaking up, it’s me, Sera Price. Listen closely: I, Sera Price, am dumping you, starting today.” With that, I turned around and tossed the two bubble teas in my hand into a nearby trash can. I called my driver, then got into my Rolls-Royce, heading back to my sprawling mansion. “Mom, big sis is home!” my younger brother shouted excitedly towards the house. Mom instantly rushed out. “Oh, Sera, you haven’t been home in so long, I missed you terribly!” “After you were taken from us, your dad and I searched for you for twenty years until we finally found you. Can’t you come home every day to see Mom and your brother?” My nose stung, and I hugged Mom, feeling tears well up. “Mom, I’ll come home every day from now on.” “Good, you should. Your dad’s away on a business trip, but when he gets back, he’ll announce the return of the Kensington Group’s only daughter and hold a formal welcome ceremony for you.” “Yeah, sis, Dad’s been calling every day, making sure I’m getting everything ready,” Leo chimed in, circling us. It suddenly dawned on me that after my parents found me and we reconnected, I’d still been spending most of my time with Brandon, rarely coming home. I’d neglected them. I didn’t dare tell my parents about Brandon and me; I didn’t want them to worry about me so soon after finding me. “Leo, tomorrow, let’s go to Free Restaurant,” I said, hoping to soothe my empty heart with good food. “Sounds good!” It was the weekend, and even high-end restaurants were packed. Leo and I walked straight in. The hostess skipped the waiting line and led us directly to a private table by the window. My butt hadn’t even warmed the seat when a sharp voice pierced my ears: “Excuse me, why do *they* get a window seat? Why couldn’t we sit there earlier?” Holy crap, the person pointing at us was the ‘snake-waisted’ woman from yesterday, and across from her sat Brandon. Brandon saw me too, and he saw Leo next to me. He frowned, then snapped at the waiter, “Excuse me, how did those two get in without waiting in line? They must have snuck in, didn’t they? They’re not following the rules; you should kick them out!” He deliberately shouted loudly, and the entire restaurant fell silent, customers craning their necks to look at him. I was speechless. Seriously, did I have some kind of vendetta with him? I couldn’t even eat in peace. “Asshole,” Leo muttered under his breath. The waiter quickly walked over. “Sir, it’s like this: the customers you’re referring to are our Premium VIPs. Premium VIPs don’t need to queue.” The hand pointing at us abruptly retracted, and Brandon immediately shrank back. The ‘snake-waisted’ woman beside him asked, “How do you get a Premium VIP membership? Let’s get one too.” “A Premium VIP membership requires over a million in spending within six months, or five million annually. Sir, would you like to apply for one?” the waiter asked Brandon, bowing slightly. The ‘snake-waisted’ woman tugged on his arm, looking at him expectantly. “Honey, should we get one too?” Brandon froze for a long moment, not daring to speak. “Sir? Sir, would you still like to apply for the card?”

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