Category: English

The day I died, the man I loved most married the woman he adored. I sat among the guests, smiling through my tears, applauding their union. Twenty-five years of my youth taught me one bitter truth: Turns out, even a lifetime of shared memories can be eclipsed by a dramatic, destined connection. But thankfully, I was dying soon. All that once was, would fade into the past. Clara Reed and Alexander Sterling’s story was finally coming to an end. At Alex Sterling’s wedding, I had a few too many drinks. When he and Isabella Hayes came over to our table to make their rounds, I clumsily stood, raising my glass. “Alex, congratulations.” “May you grow old together and be blessed with a beautiful family.” Alex frowned, his gaze fixed on me, but in the end, he said nothing, just tilted his head back and drained his glass. Isabella smiled at me, a soft, knowing look in her eyes. “Thank you, Clara.” She giggled gently, her hand caressing her slightly swollen belly. “When the baby’s born, we’d love for you to be the godmother.” Alex’s eyes finally softened, a faint smile touching his lips as he looked at her stomach. He said, “Clara, you absolutely have to come to the baby’s one-month celebration.” I smiled back, raised my glass, and emptied it in one gulp. Too bad, I wouldn’t live to see that day. After toasting our table, Alex, hand-in-hand with Isabella, walked away. I set my glass down, watching their retreating figures, lost in their seemingly perfect world. They were perfect, a true match made in heaven. He was a handsome, talented man, and she was a beautiful woman. And me? My looks were just passable, my personality dull and uninteresting. No wonder Alex didn’t want me. Someone as effortlessly distinguished and proud as him, truly, he was meant for someone as aloof and self-assured as Isabella. The table was filled with Alex’s older relatives, people who’d watched Alex and me grow up since we were kids. They looked at me with pity. “Clara, you and Alex simply weren’t meant to be. Just forget about everything from your childhood.” I didn’t reply, simply stood up, my head swimming. My stomach churned, a familiar, sharp pain coiling within me. Gritting my teeth against the agony, I headed for the restroom. Behind me, someone sighed softly. “How twisted fate can be. Back then, everyone thought Alex Sterling would marry Clara Reed.” “Exactly! Their bond was so strong back then.” … Yes, everyone thought I would be Alex’s wife. Who would have imagined that years later, I’d be sitting at a guest table, sipping celebratory wine, watching him marry another woman with my own eyes? I never even dreamed of such a thing. Outside, white snow fell softly, silently. I looked back, watching his tall, imposing figure in the distance. Suddenly, I remembered a snowy night many years ago. “Clara Reed, I love you.” “From this moment, through all the years to come, may we share a lifetime, never parting, until our final breath.” “Clara Reed, will you marry me?” I will. I truly will. But… The boy who promised to marry me that night was lost somewhere in the years, never to return.

Alex and I were childhood sweethearts. From my earliest memories, I was always like his shadow, trailing behind him, calling him “Alex, my big brother.” He was always so reserved, barely acknowledging anyone. But I was persistent. The more he ignored me, the more I wanted to cling to him. “Alex, wait for me!” “Alex, will you play on the swing set with me, please?” “Alex, someone’s bothering me, can you help?” I was clumsy and slow, doing everything at a snail’s pace. Even though Alex would often complain, he’d always follow behind me, cleaning up my messes. Of course, he’d punish me too. If I accidentally ruined his paintbrushes, he’d get mad and draw whiskers on my face. If I accidentally left dirty handprints on his new shirt, he’d deliberately frame it and hang it in the most obvious spot, silently mocking me. If I threw a tantrum and refused to eat, he’d threaten me, saying he’d never speak to me again. He was truly awful. He knew perfectly well that being ignored by him was my biggest fear. Once, someone teased him, asking if he’d marry me when we grew up. I was little then, happily munching on an apple, beaming. “Yes, please! When I grow up, I want to be Alex’s bride!” His face flushed red. He grabbed a tissue and covered my face. “Wipe your face, you’re so messy.” The Reeds and the Sterlings were old family friends. We lived close by and had a very close relationship. When I was little, I’d often sneak off to Alex’s house and stay there all day. All day, I’d only stick to Alex. He was three years older than me, with a calmness and maturity beyond his years. Back then, I thought that by having a small corner in his life, I could have him for a lifetime. But time flies. Neither of us ever imagined that a childhood love could be eclipsed by a fated encounter.

I was hunched over the toilet, throwing up until I felt lightheaded. Someone knocked on the door. “Do you need help?” I fumbled to flush the toilet, wiping my mouth. The glaring red on the back of my hand, I didn’t have time to clean it, so I hid my hand behind my back. When I opened the door, Mrs. Sterling, Alex’s mother, stood there. She looked surprised to see me. “Clara?” I awkwardly greeted her and quickly made my escape, feeling utterly disheveled. “Clara!” Mrs. Sterling hurried after me, her eyes a little red. She looked at me, hesitating to speak. After a moment, she quietly said, “I’m sorry.” My throat felt parched, my voice hoarse. “Mrs. Sterling, you don’t need to apologize.” What happened back then was my own choice. Nothing else mattered. Mrs. Sterling looked at me with aching sympathy, tears welling in her eyes. “Clara, you and Alex weren’t meant to be. Just forget him.” Everyone said Alex and I weren’t meant to be. Even I believed it. But why? Back then, our love was so fiery, so passionate. Why could Isabella’s appearance erase over a decade of our shared history? I clutched my chest, suppressing the agonizing, tearing pain, and forced a pale smile. “Mrs. Sterling, I let go a long time ago.” As I left the hotel, I saw Alex and Isabella standing by the entrance, seeing off guests. I didn’t go over, just watched Alex from a distance. Someone bid him farewell. “Congratulations, Alex, you finally married the girl you love.” He rarely smiled, but at that moment, a touch of genuine joy softened his eyes and lips. “Thank you.” I watched him, and it felt as if time and space had frozen. It was like going back years, to that sweltering summer. He held my hand under the stars, giving me a rose as a promise. “Clara, why haven’t you grown up yet?” “I wish I could marry you sooner, my silly girl.” Once upon a time, there was a boy who loved me with such devotion. In the most beautiful years of our lives, we promised each other forever. We shared our first innocent kisses on snowy nights. And finally, in a spring filled with pear blossoms, we pledged our lives to each other. Time flowed on and on. In the end, the boy I loved married someone else.

Back home, I couldn’t hold on any longer and coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood. I numbly wiped the blood from my lips, poured a glass of warm water, and swallowed my medicine. Stomach cancer, compounded by depression, was slowly consuming my life. I knew I was dying soon. But I didn’t want to die in a messy way. Even if I was dying, I wanted to do it with dignity. I packed my things overnight and drove out to the countryside. The old Reed family estate was there. It held the most beautiful memories of my youth with Alex. The house was old and dilapidated, covered in a thick layer of dust. The cobblestones in the yard were blanketed by pristine white snow. It looked exactly like the night, years ago, when Alex first kissed me. Alex and my story started here. And it should end here. I wondered if he would come to see it, if he heard of my death. Would he remember that night, beneath the old locust tree on the estate, he’d promised a girl a lifetime of devotion, a love for only one?

I put on pretty makeup, wore my favorite white dress, and in the dead of winter, walked barefoot on the snow. I was here to say goodbye. But in the end, I couldn’t help but wander through the old house. The rusted door lock, the small casement windows rotted by the wind. The chipped red walls, and the faded clay figurines. A male and a female figurine sat quietly on the windowsill of the east wing. Those were the figurines I had meticulously molded and hand-painted when I was fifteen, a birthday gift for Alex. After we broke up, Alex returned them to me. I couldn’t bear to throw them away, but I didn’t want to be constantly reminded of him, so I left them at the old estate. They represented the purest emotions of my youth. Now, they, along with their owner, were abandoned. It turns out, things not cherished, just like people, become so cheap. A chilling cold crept from my toes, straight to my heart. I clutched my chest, unable to bear it anymore, and vomited a large gush of blood. The fresh blood stained the pristine white snow. Just like my relationship with Alex. The clean, pure first love in my memory had actually become utterly muddied long ago. Before I died, I desperately crawled to the locust tree in the courtyard. On its trunk, immature handwriting carved two names. Clara Reed. Alexander Sterling. I traced the ancient letters on the tree trunk, laughing dazedly. People always move forward. Alex had already moved on. Only I stubbornly remained in place. Clinging relentlessly to those shattered memories, living out the rest of my days. I leaned against the tree. In a haze, I seemed to hear my dad’s voice. “Alex, came to play with Clara again?” “I’m here to help her with her homework.” Young me, wearing his favorite white dress, ran out of the attic, overjoyed. “Alex, my big brother!” The girl was so lovely, with rosy cheeks and eyes that crinkled when she smiled. She stood before the boy, looking up at him with a sweet smile. Her starlit eyes held only him.

The wind howled, and snowflakes drifted down, dampening the corners of my eyes. Time flowed, and the old house seemed to regain its former tranquility. My mom sat in the living room knitting, smiling at Alex. “Alex, how about you marry Clara when she’s older?” I took a bite of my apple, the sweet juice reaching my heart, and smiled, my eyes crinkling. “Yes, please! When I grow up, I want to be Alex’s bride!” The boy’s face turned red. He covered my face with a tissue. As if that could hide his shy gaze. The clock ticked on. Ten years passed in a blink. Under the moonlight, the boy had grown into a handsome young man. I secretly climbed over the wall, knocked on his window, and pulled him to the locust tree. On the century-old tree, our names were carved in childish handwriting. The moonlight that night was beautiful, and the wind was gentle. I mustered my courage and looked at him. “Alex, my big brother, will you be my boyfriend?” He was silent for a long time, as if frozen by the night, not speaking for what felt like an eternity. My eyes reddened, feeling wronged and sad. “You don’t want to?” “If you don’t, then just pretend I didn’t say anything.” He snapped back to reality, sighed, and pulled me into his arms. “My silly Clara, it’s a boy’s job to confess first.” I leaned into his embrace, listening to his wildly pounding heart, so happy I felt like I could fly. Later, he cradled my face, kissing me devoutly. “Clara, I love you. Will you be my girlfriend?” “In this lifetime, I only want you.” But childhood promises were too light. The “lifetime” Alex spoke of only lasted a mere three years.

I never imagined Alex would abandon me. He loved me so much. My hands and feet were always cold. In winter, he would wrap my small hands in his warm ones, placing them against his chest to warm them. At night, he would check the floor heating in my room and thoughtfully prepare a hot water bottle for me. When I was fifteen, I had an argument with him and angrily ran away. He was too proud to chase after me. That night, I encountered some thugs on the street and almost got into trouble. He rushed to my rescue, using his young fists to fight off the menacing drunkards. That was the first time I saw fear and panic in his eyes. He held me tightly, his injured lips resting against my ear, whispering my name repeatedly. “Clara.” “Clara.” “I’m sorry, it’s my fault.” “There won’t be a next time.” “From now on, I won’t let anyone hurt you.” He succeeded in not letting anyone else hurt me. Later, he was the one who personally plunged the knife deep into my heart. Uttering the cruelest words in the calmest voice. He said, “Clara, I don’t love you anymore.” But Alex, do you know? More than not being loved, I would rather you had simply not wanted me.

I died, but my soul lingered in the courtyard. My body rested quietly beneath the tree. My delicate, pale face, with frozen tears like beads of ice at the corners of my eyes. What was I thinking in my final moments? It was probably during my freshman year of college. It was the eve of my nineteenth birthday. Alex had secretly taken a day off from school, coming a day early to surprise me for my birthday. When I saw him at the campus gates, he was wearing a white sweater and black casual pants, his hair casually falling across his forehead. Those normally aloof, distinguished eyes, when they saw me, would curve slightly, softening with a hint of a smile. I screamed and ran to him, jumping into his arms and covering his face with kisses. “Alex, my big brother, what are you doing here?” His handsome face flushed slightly. He carried me toward a secluded corner. “So many people around, you’re shameless.” “What’s there to be afraid of? You’re my boyfriend.” I held him tightly, as if I was embracing the whole world. At that moment, I innocently believed I was the happiest person alive. That day, we walked through the city’s streets and alleys, watching the myriad of lights. We shared tender, lingering kisses as fireworks exploded in the sky. That night, I, blushing, secretly slipped into his bed. I knew what he wanted. But he was always afraid of hurting me, always holding back. That night, Alex kissed me with almost sacred devotion, each kiss a potent poison. “Clara, I’ll be responsible for you.” “Next year, when you turn twenty, we’ll get married.” That night, the moon was bright and the stars shone. The boy’s face, in my eyes, drifted closer and further away. The night was gentle, and his eyes were like the vast summer sky. Full of tiny stars, and all of them were me.

The Reapers came to take my soul. They looked at my body, very angry. “Why did you kill yourself? Your time wasn’t up, suicide goes against the natural order of things!” I looked at them helplessly. “I have stomach cancer and depression. Death was only a matter of time.” The Black Reaper said, “You have a fated romance ahead of you; you can’t die yet.” But I didn’t want to live anymore. I said, even if you don’t let me die, I’ll still find a way to end it. The White Reaper glared at me. “I’ll give you one chance, one hour to return to your body, to do what you want, and see if you can find a reason to live.” I agreed. The first thing I did after returning to my body was to take out my phone and dial Alex’s number. The call took a long time to connect. “Clara, what is it?” Hearing his voice, I was momentarily lost. Even after we broke up, he still habitually called me Clara, never changing it. As if, between us, there had never been a separation. And I was still the girl he cherished, forever his. “Alex, my big brother.” I looked up at the falling snowflakes, and for a moment, it felt like I was back in that snowy night ten years ago. There was a long silence on the other end of the line. I knew he probably hadn’t processed it. After all, I hadn’t called him that since we broke up. “Alex, my big brother,” I whispered again, “If…” “Honey,” Isabella’s questioning voice came through the phone. “It’s so late, who are you talking to?” I heard the click of a lighter. Alex must have lit a cigarette. “No one,” he said. “Just a casual acquaintance.” A casual acquaintance. So, in his heart, I was nothing more than a casual acquaintance now. I laughed sardonically and hung up the phone. The snow had stopped. The moon emerged from behind the clouds, gentle and beautiful. I gazed at the moon, tilting my head back, trying not to let my tears fall. “Alex, my big brother,” I softly murmured, speaking the words I hadn’t had time to say. “If I died, would you be sad?” I knew I would never get an answer. He probably wouldn’t be too sad. After all, I was just an insignificant passing stranger in his life. Of no consequence. I died again. My soul floated in the air. The Reapers looked at me, huffing and puffing. “Do you truly have no desire to live?” I nodded.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298625”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

I woke up from a vivid dream, and it was like the entire plot of a book had been laid bare to me. Turns out, I was nothing but the villainess, and my non-blood related, obsessive brother was the one and only male lead. I was madly in love with the second male lead, Julian, and in my desperation, I did everything I could to provoke and hurt my brother, Caleb. Later, Caleb would be saved by the female lead, Seraphina. Only then would I realize who my heart truly belonged to, but by then, it would be far too late. And just moments ago, I had personally forced Caleb to drink that spiked wine… I shot up, the wine glass in my hand shattering into a thousand pieces. We were in a noisy private room, and my small outburst didn’t catch anyone’s attention except for Julian, who was sitting next to me. He glanced over, his sharp and captivating eyes promising little warmth, yet his voice was deceptively gentle. “Anya, what’s wrong?” I shivered, my teeth chattering as I looked at the man before me, the same man who would one day treat me worse than a stray dog. The thought of his future cruelty – how he’d beat me until I miscarried, then force me to sleep with clients right after being discharged from the hospital – instantly wiped away any love I had for him. It was as if, after waking from that dream, I couldn’t find a single reason why I ever had to love him. “My stomach hurts, I need to use the restroom…” I stammered, a well-placed grimace of pain on my face. “Go on, I’ll wait for you.” Julian’s expression remained unchanged; he believed me. I nodded obediently, then slowly walked out of the private room. The moment the door closed, I bolted, running like a madwoman towards the hotel rooms upstairs. … I had just done something incredibly stupid. I had personally handed my brother a glass of spiked wine. I remembered Caleb’s eyes, red-rimmed, as he asked if he *really* had to drink it. I cruelly said: “Of course. If you don’t drink it, I will.” Using myself to blackmail him, he had no choice. He had always been helpless against my whims. He took the glass and emptied it in one gulp. I laughed with delight, reaching up to gently caress his earlobe. “Good boy, Caleb. Always be this good.” His eyes, already red, grew even redder. I thought he just didn’t like drinking. He’d always been a good kid, the golden boy, destined for greatness in everyone’s eyes. But after the entire plot of the book was revealed to me, I finally understood: Caleb was an obsessive lunatic. He had already figured out that Julian and I were setting him up. He had willingly walked right into our trap. The drug took effect quickly. Caleb’s face was flushed, his consciousness fading. Julian had someone take Caleb to a hotel room, ready to execute the second part of their plan. As I left, I heard Caleb calling my name, again and again. “Anya… Anya… I don’t feel well… Please take me away…” I didn’t even turn my head. I laughed sweetly, clinging to Julian’s side, eagerly awaiting his praise. Like a cheap discount item. Lost in my infatuation back then, I had no idea that I was just one of many insignificant pawns at Julian’s feet, as easily discarded as a broken toy. The only reason he gave me any special attention was because my brother, the brilliant man he couldn’t ignore, loved me too much. Back then, I was Caleb’s only weakness.

All the hotel rooms looked exactly the same. I didn’t know where Julian’s people had put Caleb, so I had to search room by room. Knocking, accidentally walking in, apologizing. My steps were hurried, my eyes red-rimmed, but I couldn’t stop. I was terrified of being too late. Until I inadvertently stumbled into a room that wasn’t properly closed. The sound of running water came from the bathroom. I crept closer, pushing open the slightly ajar door, and saw Caleb, disheveled, soaking in the bathtub. He was safe for now. I let out a long sigh of relief, then turned to close the door. As I did, I caught sight of a girl in the hallway, backing out of another room. She was muttering to herself, as if talking to someone invisible. “System, didn’t you say the male lead was spiked and locked up nearby? I’ve knocked on so many wrong doors, if I make another mistake, security will come kick me out!” “Did someone get to him first? No way! If I can’t win him over, how am I supposed to go home?” My gaze fixed on the girl walking towards me. Seraphina. The female lead of this story. The one I, trapped in this book, could never defeat no matter how hard I tried. The one who would save Caleb, exposing his obsessive true nature and making him love her to death. She had appeared. No one would guess that Seraphina, fragile like a delicate white flower on the outside, was far more cunning and ruthless than any villainess like me, known for my wicked ways. The biggest difference between us was that she excelled at hiding her true self from Caleb. While I just kept stirring up trouble. Initially, Seraphina approached Caleb to complete a System mission. But then she gradually tasted the benefits of having the System and the opulent life Caleb provided. She decisively gave up the chance to return to her original world, choosing to stay and spend her life with him. At that time, there was one major obstacle standing between them. Me. So Seraphina targeted me, suppressing me at every turn. We fought tooth and nail. Ultimately, I was brutally defeated. I, Anya, the adopted daughter of the Lu family, because of my endless misdeeds, was erased from existence by the System. No, I won’t be erased. And I won’t let my brother fall in love with anyone else. Since I’m destined to be the villainess in this book, then let me be a wicked person one more time. *Knock, knock, knock…* The door was knocked. I opened it, calmly meeting the gaze of the girl standing before me. Seraphina. She didn’t know me yet. “Can I help you?” “Uh… is this your room?” Seraphina’s eyes darted past me, boldly exploring the gap beside me, fixated on the bathroom. But I had already closed the door tightly. I smiled faintly. “Of course. Who are you looking for?” “Oh, my bad, I must have gotten the wrong room.” Seraphina stuck out her tongue and quickly walked away. From behind, she seemed to still be complaining to her System. My smile flattened. I quickly closed the door and called the front desk. I told them there was a suspicious girl in the hallway, knocking on doors everywhere, and that she might be a dangerous person. I hoped they would take it seriously. After hanging up, I sat by the bed in a daze for a while. Suddenly, I heard the sound of a heavy thud from the bathroom. I rushed in. “Caleb…”

Caleb was awake. He had climbed out of the tub himself, but his legs gave out and he fell awkwardly to the floor, his heavy body unable to stand. This was Julian’s goal: to use the drug to restrict Caleb’s mobility. Afterwards, he would arrange for a few men to come, take some compromising videos, and then he would lead others to “accidentally” walk in, witnessing Caleb’s humiliation and exposing it to the public. This would completely ruin the golden boy. Once the scandal broke, no company would dare to invest in Caleb’s products, no one would collaborate with his company, and Caleb would have no chance of rising again, only to be forever suppressed and forgotten. Julian was on the verge of succeeding. Unfortunately, Seraphina, with her System’s special power-ups, appeared and changed everything. She found Caleb in advance, took him out of the dangerous room, and used her body to help him detox. Julian’s plot was foiled, but Seraphina and Caleb’s entanglement began then. Only this time, I wouldn’t give anyone else a chance. I was going to change my own destiny. Even if I was just cannon fodder, I wouldn’t die a tragic death. “Caleb, I’ll take you out of here.” I grabbed Caleb’s arm, trying to pull him up from the floor, but I’d severely overestimated my own strength. After several tries, he just pulled me down with him. “Anya.” His breathing was ragged, his bloodshot eyes, strained with effort, looked at me, wet and shimmering. There was even a hint of barely suppressed hurt in his voice. “Didn’t you… not want me anymore?” “If you didn’t want me, why did you come looking for me?” His petulant words held a hidden choke in his voice. But clearly, his eyes still concealed a restrained joy. My heart twisted. Damn it, the old me. How could I have repeatedly hurt this man who loved me more than life itself, all for a bastard who didn’t treat me like a human being? “How could I not want you? You’re my most important brother!” I said seriously. When I was abandoned at the orphanage, Caleb’s parents wanted to adopt a daughter. They were actually looking at someone else, but Caleb insisted on choosing me. Later, when our adoptive parents’ jobs changed and they were often away, Caleb was the one who raised me, cooked my meals, and helped me with my homework. He even bought my first pad, blushing as he showed me how to use it with instructions. From childhood, Caleb and I had always been so close. So close that I couldn’t stand to hear anyone say anything to hurt him, or do anything to hurt him. But I don’t know when it started, I changed. I began to resent Caleb. I hated him for paying too much attention to me, hated him for meddling in my life, hated him for not approving of my feelings for Julian. The hatred came so inexplicably, just like my inexplicable love at first sight for Julian. A promiscuous playboy. He was definitely not my type. It was the book’s narrative, forcing me onto this path, pushing me to hate Caleb, turning me into someone I didn’t even recognize. Caleb’s eyes darkened upon hearing my words, devoid of joy. I suddenly remembered how I’d used the exact same sweet-talk to trick him into showing me his product design plans, only to immediately steal them and hand them over to Julian as a gift. Later, two tech products were released one after another. Caleb’s was the second, causing him to be branded a plagiarist and nearly bankrupting his fledgling company. Now, his company’s reputation was in tatters, and a large part of that was my doing. “Anya, you need to go. Leave here. I don’t want to hurt you.” Caleb’s breathing became more rapid, his entire face flushed a deep, alarming red, like he’d been boiled alive. Julian’s drug was potent; he was at his limit. I knew Caleb couldn’t wait any longer. Just as I was about to call, a frantic knocking echoed at the door. “Caleb! Caleb, are you in there?!” “Open up! If you don’t open the door, you’ll die!” It was Seraphina. She had returned, and the System must have given her Caleb’s exact location. With her System’s special power-ups, a mere security guard couldn’t stop her. I reached out and touched Caleb’s trembling face, then tore off a bath towel and wrapped it around his wet, transparent clothes, tying it securely. *Humph*, Caleb was mine, and only I could see him like this. Done, I stood up, intending to open the door. Caleb frantically reached out and grabbed my hand. His eyes were terribly red. His voice was broken. “Are you… abandoning me again?” His consciousness was already hazy. His reactions were mostly subconscious. I knew exactly how to soothe him. Better than anyone. I gently leaned down and pressed a kiss to his slightly cold lips. “Caleb, I would never abandon you. I’m just going to open the door.” A flicker of starlight seemed to pass through Caleb’s eyes. He hesitantly released my hand.

When I opened the door for Seraphina, I was on the phone with a doctor from the downtown hospital. The lock was about to be violently forced open, but I unhurriedly stepped forward and opened the door. Outside, Seraphina was holding a fire extinguisher, poised to smash it down. I made a ‘wait a moment’ gesture, and she froze. “Yes, at the Grand Hotel. It was an accidental poisoning from something he consumed. Can an ambulance be here in ten minutes? Good, I’ll bring the patient down.” I hung up, then looked at Seraphina with a sincere expression. “Are you my brother’s friend? He accidentally got food poisoning. Could you help me get him down to the hotel lobby? The ambulance will be here any minute.” “…” Seraphina’s expression shifted unpredictably. The situation was completely different from what she had expected. But she couldn’t figure out what had gone wrong. In the hotel lobby, Caleb leaned against me, his thin lips pressed tight, long lashes trembling, and a slight crease in his brows gave him a fragile, almost broken look. The book described him as a rare beauty, saying even the hottest celebrities couldn’t compare. Before, I was so used to Caleb that I thought he just *was* that way. After my awakening, watching him quietly in my arms, my usually calm heart started pounding like a drum. I couldn’t stop it. He was so freaking handsome… Anyone who didn’t find him attractive must be truly blind. Caleb’s consciousness was hazy, and his head unconsciously leaned towards Seraphina. I quickly pulled him back, giving her a look that said, “My bad, looks like my man is quite the sight, isn’t he?” It was provocative, but subtle. Seraphina’s scrutinizing gaze grew colder. Ah, fighting the female lead for the male lead, it really was exhilarating. When the ambulance arrived, the paramedics carried Caleb onto the gurney. I followed him in, then turned to see Seraphina about to step in. I politely but firmly refused, “Thank you so much for your help, but there’s clearly not enough space in here. This is as far as you need to go.” Seraphina’s mouth opened. She was probably wondering why I was deviating from my character. Julian’s lapdog, caring about Caleb’s life? But I didn’t want to give her time to react, nor did I care about her souring expression. I slammed the door shut. At the hospital, I explained Caleb’s situation to the doctor. I told them he had consumed an unknown liquid. The doctor diagnosed it as poisoning and rushed him to the emergency room for stomach pumping. Half an hour later, Caleb was moved to a private room. He was still sleeping. I went to the convenience store to buy clean towels and water; I wanted to wipe his face later. When I returned to the room, I saw Seraphina standing by the bed, slowly leaning down, as if she intended to kiss Caleb. “CALEB!” I screamed. Seraphina instantly recoiled, a flush of embarrassment on her face.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298626”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Right in front of everyone, Caleb let his childhood sweetheart, Seraphina, douse me with scalding hot soup. And then, he demanded I apologize. All because I’d said a few blunt words to her. I cried, asking him if my life was worth less than a single one of Seraphina’s fingers. He just gave a dismissive laugh, scoffing, “Stop being so dramatic. You won’t die from a little splash.” I was completely blindsided when Seraphina hurled that entire bowl of spicy, chili-infused soup at me. I froze, my eyes uselessly clapped shut. My carefully chosen dress, my meticulously applied makeup—all of it was utterly ruined, drenched in crimson oil. The pungent spice burned my nostrils and eyes, and tears streamed down my face instantly. The private room fell into a stunned, deathly silence. Everyone just sat back, casually watching the spectacle unfold. I stood there alone, utterly isolated and defenseless. Through my blurry, tear-filled vision, I looked at Caleb. He sat to the side, arms crossed, a frown of clear impatience on his face. “Luna Hayes, apologize to Seraphina.” A wave of overwhelming hurt surged through my brain, instantly bringing fresh tears. For the first time in a long time, I completely lost my composure in front of Caleb, shouting in despair. “I’m your girlfriend! You just stood there and watched me get bullied by an outsider, and now you want *me* to apologize?” Caleb’s frown deepened. He grabbed a wet wipe from the table and dabbed at his sleeve, which had been splashed. “If you hadn’t insulted Seraphina first, why would she have thrown it? And anyway, Seraphina isn’t an outsider.” Seraphina, meanwhile, casually played with her nails, interjecting, “Caleb, is this the kind of daughter-in-law your mother picked? Yelling in public like this, it’s truly a disgrace to the Sterling name.” The icy glare in Caleb’s eyes felt like a sharp blade, piercing right through me. “Luna Hayes, where are your manners?” Soaked and humiliated, I looked at the distant, aloof expression on his face and Seraphina’s triumphant smirk. A bitter laugh escaped me. “What if Seraphina held a knife to my throat one day? Would I still not be allowed to fight back? Or would *that* also be ‘bad manners’ in your eyes?” Caleb scoffed dismissively, “You always overthink everything. It was just a splash, are you going to die?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298627”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

When I, Camila Barnes, stood in the real estate office, my friend Amber Stevens beat me to it and bought the foreclosed house I had my eye on. At that moment, I finally confirmed that she had also been reborn. In my previous life, both Amber and I had some savings. She invested all her money in the stock market, while I chose to buy a house to live in. Due to limited funds, I ended up buying a foreclosed house where a murder had occurred. Unexpectedly, I discovered a safe in the ceiling cavity containing ten million dollars in cash and over a dozen gold bars. Meanwhile, Amber lost all her money in the stock market and was drowning in debt. Seeing me move into a mansion, drive luxury cars, and spend money lavishly, she angrily lured me onto the street and had a speeding truck kill me. My soul floated in the air as I watched her and my boyfriend Nathan Warren deceive the police together, claiming I had died from drunk driving. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day I was supposed to buy the foreclosed house. ***** “I’ll take this one!” Amber’s voice rang in my ears as I stared at everything before me in a daze. The agent looked at me somewhat awkwardly, then said to Amber, “I’m sorry, miss, but this lady saw the house first.” Amber replied, “So what? She hasn’t paid yet. If I pay first, the house is mine.” Seeing her determined expression, I realized she had also been reborn. She said, “Camila, I want this house too. Why don’t you look at something else? There are plenty of similar houses in this neighborhood.” As she spoke, her expression carried a hint of probing, wanting to see if I had also come back. I snapped back to reality and frowned, “Alright then, if you like it, you can have it. I’ll look at others.” Hearing me say this, Amber breathed a sigh of relief and immediately prepared to make the deal with the agent. The agent said, “Ms. Stevens, I must remind you that a murder occurred in this house previously, which is why the price is so low. Are you sure you still want to purchase it?” Amber said impatiently, “I’m sure! The murderer was caught long ago, what’s there to be afraid of? Besides, I’m not going to live…” She stopped mid-sentence! I smiled slightly, understanding what she meant. In my previous life, I had some savings and was tired of renting long-term, so I decided to buy a house to settle down. But with limited funds, there were very few houses that met my requirements. Finally, the agent showed me a house where a murder had occurred. The couple who previously lived there had family conflicts, and the husband killed his wife. Later, the husband was sentenced to life imprisonment, and this house became a murder house that everyone avoided. After understanding the situation, I still decided to buy it. After all, ghosts aren’t scary—being poor is scary. But later, I discovered a huge fortune in that house, while Amber fell into the lowest point of her life. So this time, she wanted to steal what originally belonged to me. She gave me a mocking smile, “You’d be better off taking your money to play the stock market. Maybe one day it’ll surge and you could buy a big house.” I pretended not to understand her meaning and asked back, “This house still has several thousand dollars in monthly mortgage payments. Are you sure you can afford them? After all, you don’t have much in savings, so making the payments might be difficult. If it comes to that, I could help you.” Amber’s money was barely enough for the down payment at most. Provoked by my words and thinking about that huge fortune in the future, she immediately got emotional, “Who says I can’t? I’ll buy it outright with cash. Don’t even think about competing with me—this is mine!” The agent didn’t expect her to be so determined about this house, and paying in full would naturally be best. So he immediately put me aside and focused on serving Amber, “Excellent, Ms. Stevens. How would you like to make the payment?” Having already spoken, Amber couldn’t take back her words in front of me, so she pulled out a card, “I’ll pay part of it now, and make up the rest in three days. That should work, right?” The agent took the card and nodded happily, “Of course, no problem. Let’s go sign the contract then.” Since that was the case, I had no reason to stay any longer. I turned and left the real estate office, heading straight back to my rental apartment.

That evening, I had just gotten into bed when my phone rang. It was Nathan calling. He said coldly, “Let’s break up, Camila. I’m sick of you. Don’t bother me anymore.” I listened expressionlessly, and after he finished speaking, I could faintly hear a woman’s soft laughter on the other end. Even though I already had a pretty good idea who it was, I still pretended to be shocked and asked, “Are you cheating on me? Who are you with right now? Nathan, how could you do this to me?” The angrier my voice became, the more pleased the people on the other end seemed to be. “I’ll tell you the truth—I was only with you to get into your company through you. Now that I’ve achieved my goal, I don’t want to put up with being disgusted by you anymore.” So that was it. Because of my excellent resume, I was hired by a major company right after college graduation. Later, after I had established myself at the company, I recommended both Nathan and Amber for positions there. “Stop bothering us, Camila. We’re going to be rich now, and we’re not in the same social class as you anymore. We move in different circles—why force yourself to fit in?” Amber took the phone and said to me. “You two actually betrayed me!” I gasped, feigning shock. Now they both burst out laughing. I played along with a cold snort: “Hmph, I’d like to see how well you do without me. So what if you bought a house? What’s the big deal?” “You’ll find out soon enough. You’re just an ordinary person—what do you have to compete with me?” After the call ended, I let out a cold laugh. How utterly foolish. In this law-abiding society, if someone could really get such a large sum of money out of thin air, how could they possibly escape police investigation? The next day, I went to work as usual, only to see Amber and Nathan walking into manager Aaron Coleman’s office together, submitting their resignation letters. Aaron was somewhat surprised by this sudden decision and tried to persuade them to stay, but Amber arrogantly refused: “Sorry, Mr. Coleman, I suddenly came into some unexpected inheritance. It’s not much—just a few hundred million dollars. So working doesn’t really have any meaning for me anymore.” Hearing this, Aaron almost doubted his own ears. Colleagues around us also gathered around. “Amber, are you still half-asleep? That much money? Did you rob a bank?” “Did you win the lottery? How did you do it? Any tips? Teach me.” “What kind of joke is this? You’re bragging, aren’t you?” In response to these teasing or questioning voices, Amber decided to show them. She said, “How about this—come to my place in three days, and you’ll see for yourselves.” After saying this, she directly posted the address in the work group chat. Seeing her so determined, Aaron couldn’t say much more and eventually approved their resignation applications. While packing up, Amber caught sight of the Chanel bag on my desk and immediately became sarcastic: “How can you afford that?” A few seconds later, she seemed to suddenly realize something: “Oh, I get it now. You deliberately bought a fake to show off, right? Trying to one-up me? I’d advise you to give up. There’s no need to put on airs. A canvas bag for ten bucks would suit you better.” I rolled my eyes and held the bag up to her face: “Open your eyes and look carefully. How could a fake have such perfect stitching? I just bought this from the boutique yesterday. Do you need me to show you the payment receipt?”

Amber kept staring at my bag, her eyes scanning it back and forth as if trying to determine whether it was authentic. Her gaze flickered for a moment before she quickly regained her composure. She said, “So what? It’s just a bag. I could buy a hundred of them. But you, with that measly salary of yours, buying this kind of bag must not have been easy, right? Don’t tell me you got it with a payday loan?” I shot back without hesitation: “Ha, you’re really full of hot air. Why don’t you go buy one and show me? I think you’re just bluffing.” “Hmph, I’ll go buy one right now. Just wait and see.” Amber glared at me fiercely, then headed straight to the mall after work and bought several luxury brand bags in one go. After her shopping spree, she posted about it on Instagram and even sent me a private message, as if afraid I might miss it. I did the math in my head—those bags weren’t cheap. Together, they cost at least two hundred thousand dollars. Where that money came from was pretty obvious. Over the next few days, Amber seemed determined to one-up me. Every time I bought a bag, she immediately bought a more expensive one. But what she didn’t know was that all my posts were only visible to her—I was posting them specifically for her to see. Sure enough, she took the bait easily. This weekend I had some free time, so I went to the mall to browse around. I had a gala to attend in a few days and wanted to buy some jewelry. After understanding my needs, the salesperson brought out several jewelry sets and placed them in front of me, introducing each one. Just then, there was a commotion at the entrance. “What’s your most expensive diamond ring? Bring it out and let me see it!” This arrogant tone immediately drew everyone’s attention in the store. I looked up and, sure enough, it was Amber and Nathan. What a small world. A salesperson approached them, looked them up and down, and gently reminded them: “Miss, our most expensive diamond ring is worth ten million dollars. Are you sure you want to see it?” Amber was clearly stunned by the price: “Ten million dollars? That expensive? Aren’t diamonds just carbon?” Her comment made all the customers in the store laugh, and I couldn’t help but chuckle too. That’s when they noticed me and walked over. “What are you doing here? This isn’t a place you can afford to shop. Don’t tell me you followed us here?” Nathan looked smug, as if convinced I still had feelings for him. I said, “Are you sick? I was here first, okay? If anyone’s following anyone, it’s you following me.” The salesperson confirmed: “Indeed, this lady arrived first.” Seeing they couldn’t argue with that, Amber immediately changed the subject, looking at the jewelry I was selecting: “Can you even afford it? You’re just wasting time looking.” I said, “What’s it to you? You talk like you can afford it.” Thinking I really couldn’t afford it, Amber became smug: “Of course I can. How much are these sets? I’ll take them all.” The salesperson smiled: “Five million dollars per set. These sets together total twenty million dollars.” Both of them were immediately speechless. After a few seconds of silence, they started making excuses: “Actually, I don’t think these sets are anything special, and one person can’t wear this many anyway.” I interrupted impatiently: “Are you buying or not? If not, I’ll take them.” With that, I signaled the salesperson to wrap up all the jewelry. Seeing her failed attempt to show off her wealth in front of me, Amber was seething with rage. She quickly grabbed the salesperson’s hand and pointed at a ruby jewelry set, saying, “I’ll take this one!” Nathan still hesitated, tugging at her sleeve and lowering his voice, “It’s five million dollars. Isn’t that too expensive?” By now, Amber was completely furious and insisted on getting the jewelry set no matter what, urging the salesperson to hurry up and ring it up. However, when they swiped several credit cards, all showed insufficient funds. In the end, the two of them nearly emptied all their savings to barely cover the payment. Three days passed quickly. Amber had gathered enough money to buy the house, found a real estate agent to handle the transfer procedures, and successfully obtained the house keys. As the appointed time approached, I also arrived at the residential complex. Other colleagues gradually showed up as well, all curious to see how Amber was doing. Soon after, Amber and Nathan arrived too. She scanned everyone present, confirmed that I was there, and nodded with satisfaction, “Good, let’s all go up together.” Along the way, colleagues looked at the complex’s environment and raised various doubts. “Amber, this complex looks pretty old. It probably isn’t worth much, right?” “Yeah, there’s no landscaping either, and it’s mostly elderly people living here.” “There aren’t any amenities around either. The only advantage is being close to the office, but since you’ve already quit, that doesn’t matter anymore.” Hearing these comments, Amber looked at them like they were idiots, her tone filled with smugness, “This house is indeed cheap and not worth much. But the things inside are valuable. Now that the house is mine, naturally everything inside belongs to me too.” Upon hearing this, some colleagues immediately thought of news they’d seen online about people finding millions of dollars in cash in foreclosed properties. Everyone was shocked, but some remained rational and asked, “You’ve never even been inside this house. How can you be sure there’s really valuable stuff in there?” Amber naturally couldn’t reveal that she had been reborn, so she could only say vaguely, “I have my ways of knowing.” Her mysterious demeanor actually convinced some people, who immediately started flattering her, “Amber, when you strike it rich, don’t forget about us!” At this moment, Amber’s vanity reached its peak, and she couldn’t stop grinning. When we reached the door of the house, Amber took out the key and inserted it into the lock, but couldn’t open the door no matter what. Her smile gradually froze as she repeatedly turned the key, but the door wouldn’t budge. The colleagues also sensed something was wrong and asked, “What’s happening?” Amber forced a smile, “The key might be rusty, so the door’s a bit hard to open.” As she spoke, she applied even more force. Just then, the door suddenly opened from the inside. “Which lunatic dares to pick my lock! Are you tired of living or what!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398217”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #Rebirth #Betrayal #BestFriends #Revenge

My name is Arya Griffin. My boyfriend David Nielsen’s friend Emilia Cooper abused performance-enhancing drugs in competitions, but somehow transferred all the side effects to me. She stood on the winner’s podium time and again, gaining both fame and fortune, worshipped by the public as the “Swimming Goddess.” Meanwhile, I was banned and expelled for “drug abuse,” plagued by illness, and eventually hospitalized. When I realized everything was connected to Emilia, I immediately reported her. However, everyone believed I was falsely accusing Emilia out of jealousy. Emilia said smugly, “Arya, I know you can’t accept the fact that you were caught using performance enhancers and want to drag me down with you. But I’m completely clean—I earned all my medals through skill!” David looked at me with disgust: “Arya, you didn’t win the championship because you lack the ability. How could you frame Emilia like this?” I was thrust into the eye of public opinion, cursed by thousands, and even beaten by Emilia’s fanatic fans who tracked me down to the hospital. Until one international championship event, Emilia used performance enhancers frantically to claim victory. In the end, she became the country’s first Grand Slam winner and happily accepted David’s marriage proposal on the podium. As for me, I died from multiple organ failure caused by drug overdose, despite all rescue efforts. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day of the competition. I immediately withdrew from the race, grabbed my camera, and headed straight to Emilia’s locker room to start a live stream. In this life, I wanted to see how she would use performance enhancers under everyone’s watchful eyes! “David, press harder!” I had just pushed open the locker room door when I saw David with his hand on Emilia’s thigh. Seeing me enter, David showed no restraint and even frowned in reproach: “I’m just giving Emilia a massage. You’d better keep your jealousy in check!” Emilia also said disdainfully, “Arya, you’re so petty. David and I have a purely platonic friendship—don’t think of us so disgustingly.” I silently clenched my fists but put on an innocent expression as I pointed my phone camera at them: “Why would I be angry? David’s massage technique is so good—perfect for my live stream viewers to learn from.” “You’re live streaming?” Emilia’s face instantly changed, eyeing my phone warily. David became even more impatient: “The competition is about to start, and instead of preparing, you’re doing a live stream? Are you that desperate for attention?” I smiled slightly: “I’ve already withdrawn from the race. I just sprained my ankle, and the doctor said it’s too severe for me to compete.” “You withdrew?” David’s expression immediately darkened. After all, everyone considered me the most likely candidate to win the championship. In my previous life, I had participated in the competition with full confidence, only to end up disgraced and fallen into the abyss. In that race, Emilia, whose performance had always been mediocre, suddenly excelled beyond expectations and won the championship. Meanwhile, I tested positive for performance enhancers and was banned from competition. I was bewildered and confused because I had never used performance enhancers! Later, every time Emilia competed, I would experience difficulty breathing, high fever, and other symptoms. Doctors diagnosed it as “performance enhancer overdose reaction.” I suspected she was using drugs and somehow transferring all the side effects to me. I chose to report her, but everyone thought I was maliciously slandering Emilia out of jealousy. David broke up with me without hesitation: “Arya, you abused performance enhancers and then tried to frame Emilia. I’ve never seen such a vicious woman!” Emilia’s fanatic fans hurled abuse and attacks at me, even storming into the hospital wanting my life. Until one international championship event, Emilia used performance enhancers frantically to win the title. She became America’s first Grand Slam winner and accepted David’s marriage proposal under the spotlight, basking in unlimited glory. Meanwhile, I died alone in the hospital from multiple organ failure. Remembering the agony before my death in the previous life, I trembled with hatred. Since God gave me a chance to be reborn, I would never let such things happen again! This time, I would definitely uncover the truth and make Emilia pay the price she deserved. With this thought, I waved my phone and flashed a sweet smile: “Emilia, since I can’t compete, it’s all up to you now. Live streaming can boost your popularity and help you quickly gain fans—there’s absolutely no downside.” But Emilia still looked reluctant and was about to refuse. David’s eyes lit up with excitement: “Exactly, Emilia! Since Arya has nothing else to do anyway, let her help boost your popularity.” Emilia had no choice but to reluctantly agree. My smile grew brighter as I pointed the camera at her. In this life, I wanted to see how you would use performance enhancers under my live stream camera!

The competition was about to begin, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. I stood by the pool, my eyes fixed on Emilia, anxiety churning in my chest. From before the race started until now, I had stayed by Emilia’s side the entire time, making sure she had no opportunity to use performance-enhancing drugs. I tried to catch a glimpse of panic on her face, but she remained calm, even confident, which made me even more uneasy. The starting gun fired, and the swimmers dove into the water. When I saw Emilia take the lead immediately upon entering the water, swimming at an abnormally fast pace, my heart sank as I stared at the scene before me in disbelief. How was this possible? Soon, Emilia finished the race, stepped onto the podium, and received the champion’s medal. Witnessing all this, my mind went completely blank! This couldn’t be happening! Throughout the entire pre-race period, I had been watching her constantly—she had no chance to use any drugs. The only time she left my sight was when she went to the restroom. But she was only wearing her tight-fitting swimsuit then, with nowhere to hide anything. I was certain she wasn’t carrying any prohibited substances. So how did she manage it? When Emilia walked up to me, radiant with joy and holding the bouquet I had given her, I still hadn’t recovered from the shock. She looked at me with arrogance: “So? Did you get good shots of me winning the championship?” David exclaimed excitedly: “Emilia, you were incredible! Arya’s speed couldn’t even compare to yours. Even if she hadn’t withdrawn from the race, she wouldn’t have stood a chance against you!” “Of course!” Emilia glanced at me dismissively. “I just wasn’t giving it my all before. Otherwise, she never would have had a chance to compete.” Media personnel swarmed in, eager to interview this sudden dark horse, and I was knocked to the ground by the crowd. A familiar wave of dizziness hit me, and my body began to heat up. I knew exactly what this was—the side effects of performance-enhancing drugs. Emilia had transferred the side effects to me again! At that moment, despair washed over me. Even after being reborn, was I still unable to escape the tragic fate of my previous life? Emilia pretended to be concerned as she approached me: “Arya, are you feeling unwell?” I glared at her fiercely and asked through gritted teeth: “Emilia, how did you do it? Why are you trying to destroy me?” She looked completely innocent: “How could I possibly hurt you? You sprained your ankle and couldn’t compete—how is that my fault? I know you’re feeling a bit upset, but you can’t just accuse me like this!” David looked at me with disgust and scolded: “Arya, how can you be so jealous! You lost your chance to compete because of your injury, and you still have the nerve to blame others? Even as your boyfriend, I have to say—even if you had competed, Emilia would have left you far behind!” The crowd echoed his sentiments, accusing me of being malicious and envious, while viewers in the livestream also criticized me. The cyberbullying I had experienced in my previous life seemed to be repeating itself. My breathing became rapid, and my whole body trembled. Emilia flashed me a malicious smile and walked away smugly with her bag. I stared intently at her retreating figure, because she didn’t know that I had already planted a hidden camera in her bag. I refused to believe I couldn’t uncover the truth this time!

Next, Emilia effortlessly claimed victory after victory just like in my previous life, winning the adoration of countless devoted fans. Meanwhile, I still couldn’t find any clues in the videos and continued to suffer from her steroid abuse, landing in the hospital where doctors diagnosed me with organ failure symptoms. If this continued, my condition would only worsen, and I wouldn’t be far from death. Soon, another important competition of Emilia’s arrived. When I spotted her secretly bringing a vial into the stadium through the video, my eyes lit up immediately. Despite my weakened state, I contacted the media and event staff right away. Just as Emilia was about to inject the substance in the video, I burst through the door with a group of people. Unable to contain my excitement, I shouted, “Emilia, what are you injecting? Don’t you know steroids are banned substances explicitly prohibited in competitions!” Camera flashes flickered rapidly as reporters swarmed forward with their microphones. Officials also approached Emilia with serious expressions, demanding she hand over the syringe. I breathed a slight sigh of relief. Though the truth hadn’t come to light yet, at least I could get Emilia temporarily suspended, buying myself more time. However, what I never expected was that Emilia didn’t panic at all. Instead, she looked at me helplessly: “Arya, I never imagined you’d hate me to this extent, even bringing all these people here!” My heart sank as an ominous feeling washed over me. The next second, Emilia calmly handed over the syringe: “This isn’t the steroid you’re imagining—it’s just ordinary glucose.” The officials examined the syringe and confirmed: “That’s right, it’s indeed glucose.” I froze on the spot, my ears ringing as I struggled to accept this reality. Emilia smiled bitterly at the reporters: “I never thought that winning just a few championships would make someone target me like this. Maybe I shouldn’t have won those titles at all.” David rushed out from the crowd to protect Emilia, kicking me hard with disgust written all over his face: “You bitch! Are you never going to stop? How can you be so vicious?” Emilia’s fans also surged forward angrily, pulling my hair and beating me on the ground, venting their rage for their beloved goddess. I was hospitalized. The steroid aftereffects combined with my physical injuries left me curled up in agony on the hospital bed, struggling to breathe with blurred consciousness. Meanwhile, the TV was broadcasting Emilia’s latest championship victory, the glaring light making my eyes ache! After the competition, Emilia came to visit me wearing her gold medal, putting on a fake show of concern. I endured the pain and questioned her: “Emilia, what method did you use? Why did you transfer all the steroid side effects to me!” Before she could respond, David frowned and snapped: “Arya, you can’t find evidence to frame Emilia so now you’re spouting nonsense? Transferring side effects? I think you got your brain damaged from the beating! If you dare talk nonsense again, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Emilia pretended to mediate: “David, don’t get angry. These little girls are just prone to jealousy and overthinking. That’s why I don’t like dealing with girls.” David looked at me with disgust: “Arya, I came here today to break up with you. I’m warning you—if you dare trouble Emilia again, I won’t let you off!” Shortly after they left, I saw photos of myself on Emilia’s account—bruised, battered, and emaciated. Not only that, but the post also included my medical examination report. After seeing those detailed test results, netizens began discussing heatedly!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398218”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #Rebirth #Cheating #Paranormal #Revenge

After my rebirth, the first thing I, Ava Welch, did was go from one blood donation van to another, donating blood until I collapsed. Because in my previous life, my fiancé Felix Stevens’ newly recruited female intern Dianne Scott had bound herself to a blood exchange system. Every milliliter of blood she donated would drain from my body. In just one month, she transformed from an ordinary college student into a “blood donation angel,” gaining both fame and fortune. Meanwhile, I was fired from the hospital due to severe anemia that left me unable to perform my duties. When I tried to expose Dianne’s scheme to Felix, he disgustedly broke off our engagement: “It’s bad enough that you’re too cowardly to donate your rare blood type, but now you’re slandering Dianne? And you call yourself a doctor, believing such nonsense!” From then on, every time Dianne donated blood, I would experience heart palpitations and dizziness, sometimes even collapsing on the spot. I sought help from the department doctors, but Felix refused me treatment, claiming “Ava is maliciously wasting medical resources out of jealousy.” Later, to secure early promotion and steal my position, Dianne donated 1000 milliliters of blood during a live news broadcast. I died from hemorrhagic shock due to excessive blood loss. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day Dianne announced she had a rare blood type. ***** “Young people these days really go all out – starting with 500 milliliters for blood donation…” said Finley Wagner, the chief physician of the hematology department at the next table. I hadn’t yet recovered from my daze when everything went black, and I nearly collapsed onto the dining table. But I had just eaten, so it couldn’t be low blood sugar. It wasn’t until I saw Dianne walking over with a smile, holding blood donation souvenirs, that I was certain I had truly been reborn. In my previous life, Dianne had made a big show of announcing she possessed a rare blood type, vowing to contribute to society. Every milliliter of blood she donated silently drained from my body. At this moment, my face was deathly pale, yet I heard her say she planned to donate more blood after finishing her meal. She said, “Just 500 milliliters – I don’t feel a thing. I’ll go donate another 300 milliliters in a bit!” She pretended not to see me, her tone light and cheerful, but every word reached my ears clearly. Finley was so shocked he nearly choked, coughing violently for quite a while before grabbing her arm to dissuade her: “Dianne, I know you young people are enthusiastic, but blood donation is no joke. For a normal person, 400 milliliters every six months is already the limit!” Another doctor nearby also looked worried as he chimed in: “Exactly, you can’t gamble with your health. Don’t let a moment of impulse ruin your body!” But Dianne completely ignored their warnings. To prove her “selfless love,” she barely touched her pasta before rushing back to the blood donation center. Seeing her about to get up, I immediately rushed out of the cafeteria. With this second chance at life, I had to strike back before she could act. I took the afternoon off. Afraid that donating at the hospital would limit the amount, I took a cab directly to the blood donation vans in front of the mall. The plaza had blood donation vans positioned in four directions. As long as I donated at each one before the system uploaded the data, I wouldn’t be discovered. This time, I was determined to figure out exactly what method Dianne had used to push me toward death. But as soon as I got on the blood donation van, I ran into Felix. Seeing me rush over with a pale face, he stepped in front of me first, his voice full of disdain: “Aren’t you the one who treasures your rare blood type the most? What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you saw how much attention I’ve been giving Dianne and came here to donate blood to get my attention?” In my previous life, ever since Dianne was assigned as an intern under Felix, his attitude toward me had taken a sharp turn for the worse. The two of them were inseparable at the hospital, and when I questioned him about it, he said I was being unreasonable. He said, “Dianne is my intern. I have the duty and responsibility to help her familiarize herself with the hospital and improve her professional skills. Ava, how can your mind be so twisted?” Later, when the hospital organized a group blood donation drive, I couldn’t participate due to pneumonia, and Felix misunderstood this as cowardice. Meanwhile, Dianne donated 600 milliliters in one go, becoming the hospital’s headline story. Feeling ashamed, I thought I had misjudged her and even bought nutritional supplements to apologize to her. But from that point on, Dianne seemed to have flipped some kind of switch. She began donating blood frequently, and every time she donated, I felt heart palpitations and dizziness. During several subsequent occasions, I even collapsed directly in the operating room while performing surgery on patients. I underwent countless full-body examinations, but aside from severe anemia, everything else was normal. When I shared my suspicions with Felix, he accused me of being psychologically twisted and maliciously slandering Dianne. Dianne’s blood donation amounts kept increasing, drawing high-level attention from the city. Since she was an intern personally trained by Felix, he absolutely wouldn’t allow any questioning of Dianne’s image. I dragged my weakened body around, begging department doctors to help me uncover the truth, but Felix forbade them from paying attention to me, claiming I was “being unreasonable and wasting medical resources.” Facing public doubts about Dianne’s abnormally high blood donation amounts, she donated 1000 milliliters live on camera to prove her innocence. Amid flowers and applause, I died from excessive blood loss. After my death, Dianne took over my position, became an attending physician, and married Felix that same month. This time, I was determined to find out exactly what Dianne had done to me!

Facing Felix’s mocking expression, I suppressed the discomfort rising within me. “You’re overthinking it. I just want to donate some blood after recovering from pneumonia, to do my part. But you—you’re afraid of blood, so why aren’t you staying in the duty room instead of coming here to make a scene?” Felix’s face instantly turned pale at my words. In my previous life, I never exposed his secret of being a doctor who was afraid of blood, even until my death. I told everyone he couldn’t perform surgeries due to trauma syndrome, and I even used my late father’s connections to keep him in outpatient care, preserving his dignity. I never imagined that instead of being grateful, he would team up with Dianne to destroy me. Felix was left speechless by my sudden attitude, his face flushing red. I pushed past him and walked straight to the staff member. “I’m Rh-negative, and I want to donate 200 milliliters.” Before the staff could respond, a familiar figure approached from the side. “Dr. Welch, I know you’re upset that Felix and I are close, but you really don’t need to donate blood just to get his attention. That’s not love—that’s pity.” Dianne rolled up her sleeves and stepped forward, completely dismissing me. I quickly sat down in the blood donation chair. Since this was a blood exchange system, the blood being drawn was mine, and my body would suffer the loss. I wanted to see if she would become anemic and faint when I lost blood. Dark red blood slowly flowed out, but my gaze remained fixed on Dianne. At that moment, some patients I had previously treated recognized me and praised my kindness, saying I was not only skilled in medicine but also willing to give back through action. Dianne was furious that I had stolen her moment, but she maintained her composure and looked at me with feigned concern. “Dr. Welch, you don’t look well. Having a caring heart is good, but don’t push yourself just for reputation.” I smiled faintly. “It’s only 200 milliliters. Unlike you, who donated 600 milliliters just this morning. You can’t donate again today—if something goes wrong, the hospital can’t take responsibility.” I deliberately mentioned her donation record to get the staff to stop her from donating again, leaving myself an escape route. Sure enough, Dianne panicked. But aside from that, she showed no signs of discomfort. Seeing that the crowd reacted calmly to hearing she had donated 600 milliliters that morning, she immediately waved her hand, demanding the staff continue drawing blood. “I can still donate more. Come draw mine. Dr. Welch is leading by example, so we young people can’t back down. Every milliliter we donate gives patients another chance at life.” With that, she actually picked up a syringe with one hand and began operating it skillfully. I immediately cried out in alarm: “Are you crazy? You donated blood this morning—if something happens, no one at this donation center can escape responsibility! You’re being reckless and dragging others down with you! If you really care about patients, go back and study more cases to improve your professional skills instead of playing games with your body.” My tone was loud and serious, making Dianne look like a clown in comparison—hasty and reckless. The crowd began whispering, and Dianne instinctively looked to Felix for help, but he was worried about more people discovering his fear of blood and pretended not to see her. As my 200 milliliters were nearly finished, Dianne still looked perfectly normal. Feeling unwilling to give up and thinking of the suffering I endured in my previous life, I gritted my teeth and added another 200 milliliters. However, when the donation ended, my face was deathly pale while Dianne’s cheeks remained rosy, showing no signs of anemia. Kind citizens helped me to a nearby café to rest. By then, I was clearly exhausted and quickly grabbed a sandwich to eat. Only after my strength partially returned did I realize that this blood donation was a one-way transfer. In other words, when Dianne donated blood, it was my body’s blood that was lost, but when I donated blood, her body suffered no loss whatsoever. The thought sent chills down my spine. Before I could figure out the truth, I had to prevent Dianne from donating blood again at all costs.

With this thought, I immediately took a taxi back to the hospital. Considering the physical toll of donating blood that morning, I went straight to the nutrition department and got an IV drip to replenish my strength. However, the longer the IV ran, the weaker I felt. Eventually, everything went black and I collapsed in the infusion room. When I woke up, Finley was holding my test results, his expression stern as he criticized me: “Physicians can’t heal themselves. You’re already severely anemic—why are you still competing with young people like Christmas to donate blood? What if you collapse in the operating room? What happens to your patients? How would we explain that?” Hearing those familiar words again, I felt a sharp pain in my chest. In my previous life, it was precisely because I had fainted from anemia in the operating room that the hospital fired me for being unable to perform my duties. And Dianne had effortlessly taken everything that should have been mine. Without bothering to explain to Finley, I immediately got up and rushed to my office, pulling up the blood bank’s donation records. Sure enough, after I left the blood donation center, Dianne had gone to another location and donated 400 milliliters of blood. This was what caused me to collapse while receiving the nutritional IV. What made me break out in a cold sweat was the latest registration information showing Dianne’s name listed third on the waiting list at another donation center. That meant she was still in line to donate blood! Furious, I immediately called Felix: “Felix, control your woman. If she keeps this up and something really happens, you won’t escape responsibility either!” But his mocking voice came through the phone: “Ava, who’s really making a scene here? Dianne just donated blood twice more than you, and you can’t stand it? She’s always looked up to you as her mentor—you’ve really disappointed me. I don’t think our engagement needs to continue!” I was shaking with rage. Just as I was about to argue back, another wave of dizziness hit me. Fighting to stay conscious, I quickly accessed the backend system, flagged Dianne’s name, and synchronized all her donation records across major blood donation websites. The next second, Dianne’s call came through: “Ava Welch, what the hell are you trying to do? Do you know how many people die every day because they can’t get timely blood transfusions due to Rh-negative blood shortages? You’re too cowardly to donate blood yourself—what gives you the right to stop me? You think just because you synchronized my information in the backend, I can’t donate anymore? Dream on!” Dianne on the other end was nearly hysterical, deliberately raising her voice so everyone around would know my identity, even specifically shouting out my full name. I hadn’t expected my backend operation to be discovered so quickly, but at this point, as long as she would stop, I still had a chance. But her next words made me gasp in horror. She said: “Doctor, I want to donate another 600 milliliters!” I was completely stunned. 600 milliliters would be enough to kill me. The fear of impending death washed over me again, and I felt cold all over. I said: “Dianne, I don’t know what you’ve done to me, but every milliliter you donate, my body loses the same amount of blood. We have no grudges between us—why do you insist on killing me?” My chest heaved violently, and I was so weak I could barely speak complete sentences. Before I could finish, I passed out again. Fortunately, this happened at the hospital where I was quickly discovered, which saved my life once more. This time, however, I was sent directly to the ICU. The day I was transferred to a regular ward, I didn’t expect Dianne to visit me. She came in arm-in-arm with Felix, her face full of smugness as she showed off, then hypocritically came over to hug me. She whispered in my ear, her voice dripping with triumph: “Forgot to tell you—my total blood donation has broken the city record. Tomorrow morning, the TV station is coming to the hospital to interview me, and I’ll be donating 1000 milliliters live on the news broadcast! So, Dr. Welch, you have one day left to make your final arrangements.” I was burning with rage but could only lie helplessly in the hospital bed. Despair, defeat, and resentment wrapped around me in layers as tears unconsciously slid down my face. Instinctively, I reached for the antidepressants I always carried in my pocket. However, when I opened my palm and saw that the originally white pills had a layer of pale red powder at the bottom, alarm bells went off in my mind. I immediately contacted a friend in the lab department. It wasn’t until the test results came through on my phone that I finally understood everything.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398219”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #Rebirth #Paranormal #Betrayal #Doctor

“That red dress looks *so* good on you.” For three days straight, I kept getting these creepy texts from an unknown number. But I *never* wear red dresses! Just now, I felt a puff of air on my neck. I snapped my eyes open, and suddenly, there was breathing, right next to my ear… **Chapter 1** In the dark, there was a faint dripping sound, and what felt like light breathing right next to my ear. I forced my eyes open. The breathing stopped. The room was dead quiet. I flicked on the light and scanned around. Nothing. But the window next to my bed was open. I distinctly remember closing it before I fell asleep! I walked around the room, checking every corner. Nothing. So what was that breathing sound just now? I’m an atheist, so my mind didn’t jump to ghosts. Ghosts don’t have body heat, but my ear had felt distinctly warm, almost burning. It wasn’t my imagination; someone was definitely in my room! Suddenly, in my peripheral vision, I caught sight of something near the window – a footprint. It was only half a print, but by its size, it looked like a man’s! My heart immediately leaped into my throat, and every pore on my body felt like it was oozing ice. One thought screamed in my mind: *Someone got in!* The atmosphere instantly grew heavy with tension. *Ding-ding.* I jumped, my heart threatening to burst out of my chest. I grabbed my phone. It was another unknown number, and the message made my skin crawl. It was a photo. A photo of me walking around my room. This person knew I was searching for them, and even took a picture! They were hiding in the shadows, watching me! “Your scented candle smells incredible. I wish I could wake up to that every single day.” A chill ran through me, despite the summer breeze. I pulled out my phone and called security, asking them to check the surveillance cameras for my building to see if anyone had climbed in through my window. Their reply was that the cameras were down and hadn’t been fixed yet. What are the odds? I summoned my courage and walked to the window, peering out. Outside was a patch of greenery. Aside from that half-footprint on the windowsill, there was nothing. I called the security office again, asking them to come up and search with me. A security guard arrived quickly. He was tall, maybe 5’9″, wearing a mask that only revealed his eyes. “Hi, I’m the new guard.” I couldn’t help but stare for a moment. A new guard? I hadn’t heard anything about it. “Are you sure someone got into your room?” His question made my heart skip a beat. I changed what I was about to say: “I’m not sure, which is why I was hoping you could help me check things out.” “Alright.” “It’s really not safe for a single woman to be living alone. Don’t you have a boyfriend who could stay with you?” He was rummaging through my room, chatting casually. His questions made me uncomfortable. But out of politeness, I answered him. “No.” “Oh.” It was just a one-bedroom apartment; if someone was hiding, they couldn’t stay hidden for long. But there was definitely no one there. After searching, the guard left. I couldn’t sleep no matter what, constantly feeling like he might pop out from somewhere. I decided to go stay at Chloe’s for the night and find someone to install security cameras tomorrow. But as soon as I opened my door, Mr. Henderson was standing there. He was the night shift security guard. He looked apologetic. “I was in the restroom earlier, missed your call. I saw you called twice and worried something happened, so I came by. Is everything alright?” “Didn’t your security office get a new guy? Didn’t you run into him when you went out?” Mr. Henderson looked confused and said something that filled me with dread: “Our security office hasn’t hired anyone new.” No one new? Then who was the person who just came in?! Could the guy I’d just let into my apartment be the same person who was texting me and got into my room?! I asked Mr. Henderson to check the main surveillance footage at the security office, but he told me it was still broken and would take a few days to fix. I was still wondering how this could all be such a coincidence when I felt someone touch my hand. I looked up to see Mr. Henderson’s wrinkled face, staring at me with a leering, unpleasant look. His greasy, lecherous eyes scared me, and I quickly recoiled, backing away from him. **Chapter 2** I slammed the door shut, my heart pounding. I heard him curse loudly outside my door before he grumbled and left. Mr. Henderson had been harassing me, subtly, ever since I moved in. Usually, I’d avoid him whenever possible. But today, I was so shaken that I let my guard down for a moment. I rushed to the bathroom and scrubbed the back of my hand where he’d touched me, rubbing until it was raw and red before I stopped. After Mr. Henderson left, I double-locked all the doors and windows. I didn’t dare go out, fearing the person might still be hiding outside. I didn’t sleep a wink that night, too terrified to close my eyes, staying awake until dawn. I considered moving out. But I’d just paid six months of rent, and having only recently started my job, I had no savings. My finances simply wouldn’t allow me to find another place. As soon as it was light, I called the police. Two officers arrived quickly. The first one in was an older officer, Detective Miller, followed by a younger officer, Officer Ben Carter, with a notebook and pen. “You said someone got into your apartment last night, took your photo, and sent you harassing texts?” “Yes.” I handed them my phone, showing them the texts and photos, my heart still racing with lingering fear. “About a week ago, I felt like someone was following me, but I never saw anyone. Then last night, they somehow got my number and sent me that photo of me searching my room.” “I immediately called security, but the person who came up was a tall man, about 5’9″, wearing a mask. He claimed to be a new guard. I strongly suspect he’s the one who’s been stalking me!” My voice was shaking, my fists clenched, fear still etched on my face. Detective Miller looked at the photos and texts, his brow furrowed. “This person knows a lot about you… To know where you live, they must have been watching you for a long time. And judging by the angle of the photo…” He stood up, still holding my phone, and walked around the room, finally stopping at my bedroom door. What he said next made my blood run cold. “That person took the photo from right here.” He was pointing at my bedroom door, directly facing my bed! I sat on the couch, my face ashen. I slowly stood up, my legs trembling, and pushed open the door. If he was standing there last night when I woke up, I would have seen him. It was impossible not to. My hand on the doorknob shook uncontrollably, my teeth chattering. “But last night, when I woke up, I didn’t see anyone standing here.” Detective Miller took a quick glance around the room, then focused on the door itself, specifically the lock. It was a solid mahogany door with a standard lock. I moved aside, and the officer knelt down, examining the lock closely. “Do you have a star-shaped screwdriver?” “Yes! I’ll get it.” I brought him a small screwdriver. I watched as he unscrewed the lock, taking off the inner cover from my side of the door, revealing… a tiny camera! One of the small screws on the lock was missing, and that pinhole camera was perfectly wedged into its place. And from that position, it could capture me holding my phone and searching the room last night. When did that camera get installed?! “It seems this person had a plan. Who else has keys to your apartment?” “Besides me, only my landlord.” I called my landlord, talked for a moment, and then hung up. “My landlord said that before me, the apartment was rented by a girl, but she only stayed for three months before leaving.” “We’ll need to take the camera for evidence. That person might come back for you. It’s best you don’t stay here until we catch them.” I nodded. I had already planned to stay at Chloe’s for a few days. I’d asked Chloe to pick me up even before I called the police. I left them my number. They said they’d call me when they had results. **Chapter 3** I didn’t start packing until the police left. Suddenly, my phone rang, making me jump. It was Chloe. As soon as I answered, her loud voice burst through. “Stella! I just saw two cops leaving your place! What the hell happened?” I explained everything to her. She sounded shaken. “Thank God you were okay last night. Those sick, twisted freaks! I’m coming up in the elevator now!” The next second, she screamed, and before I could ask what was wrong, the call disconnected. My nerves instantly frayed. I dialed her back frantically. It rang twice before she answered. “What happened? Why did you scream?” “Oh, I just bumped into some old guy coming out of the elevator, dropped my phone by accident and hung up.” An old guy? For some reason, Mr. Henderson was the first person who came to mind. I knew it wasn’t right to speculate behind someone’s back, but every time I thought of the way he looked at me, the idea just popped into my head. “I’m at your door. Are you ready?” “Yeah, I’m ready.” Chloe’s interruption broke my train of thought, and I quickly grabbed my bag and headed out. As I stepped out, I saw Mr. Henderson again. He was directing people to fix the surveillance cameras. He greeted me, but I couldn’t bring myself to meet his gaze. I walked quite a distance with my head down, still feeling his greasy, burning stare on me. Chloe shot him a fierce glare, then put her arm around my shoulders, fuming. “He’s the one who bumped into me in the elevator! I thought he was just old and clumsy, but the way he ogled pretty girls was absolutely disgusting!” I said worriedly, “Don’t go near him. He’s not a good person.” “Don’t worry, I’m not stupid. If he even *tries* anything, I’ll kick him so hard he won’t be having kids ever again!” I let out a shaky laugh and, linking arms with her, we left. I stayed at Chloe’s for a week. Then, the police called to say they’d caught the person—it was Mr. Henderson. I remembered that one time I lost my keys and found them at the security office. He must have secretly made a copy then! I couldn’t believe how disgusting he was! In the end, Mr. Henderson was arrested, fined a thousand dollars, and spent a few days in lockup. The security company also fired him. I moved out of Chloe’s place. The whole ordeal had terrified me. I bought two pinhole cameras and installed them in my apartment, and had all the locks changed before I finally felt safe again. Just when I thought everything was okay… That day, I came home from work as usual. But when I turned the doorknob— Something was wrong

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298615”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

The scion of a powerful family, Caleb, was pushed down the stairs by his sister and fell into a coma. Caleb’s parents demanded that his sister marry into their family and take care of Caleb for the rest of his life. His sister, dreaming of becoming the lady of a prominent household, eagerly agreed. Little did she know, she’d be tormented so relentlessly, she’d wish she were dead. In my past life, I enjoyed Mom and Dad’s doting affection, got into the State University, and after graduation, became an executive at a leading tech company, earning a multi-million dollar salary. My sister, consumed by jealousy, killed me. She sent me back to the day Caleb fell down the stairs. This time, she pointed a finger at me, accusing me of pushing Caleb. “She’s the one who hurt Caleb! Make her marry him!” She thought she had cleverly swapped our fates, unaware of who truly pulled the strings. My sister stood at the top of the stairs, her finger pointed viciously at me. “She’s the one who pushed Caleb! Make her take care of him and pay for her sins!” Before anyone else could speak, Scarlett lunged into Mom’s arms, tears welling up as she promised, “Mom, I’ll get into the State University, I’ll earn so much money, I’ll take care of you and Dad, I’ll make sure Blair honors you both.” Eleanor shot me a glare, then spoke the words Scarlett had been longing to hear. “Blair hurt my son, so she’ll marry my son and take care of him for the rest of his life. Otherwise, you’ll all face a lawsuit.” Mom broke down, sobbing, and nodded. Just then, the ambulance arrived, rushing Caleb to the hospital. Outside the operating room, Mom clutched my hand, tears streaming down her face. “Blair, even though you made a mistake, you’ll always be my child. Remember that Mom will always be thinking of you, even when you’re in the Lin household.” I nodded, meeting Scarlett’s triumphant gaze. She believed she had chosen the right path, but she had no idea a bottomless abyss awaited her.

The Lin family was incredibly wealthy; they certainly didn’t lack housekeepers. In my previous life, the Lin family tried to groom Scarlett as an heiress, but she was utterly incapable. Despite pouring endless resources into her, she never improved. Eventually, the Lin family gave up on her, making her serve them like a mere servant. Just then, Caleb woke up. Learning he’d never walk again, his personality completely transformed. He relentlessly tormented Scarlett, the sister who had caused his injuries. Caleb’s parents turned a blind eye, never interfering. Meanwhile, I enjoyed Mom and Dad’s affection, consistently ranked first in my class, received scholarships, and secured a spot at the State University. After graduation, I was hired as an executive at a leading tech company, earning a multi-million dollar salary. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to enjoy my wealth for long before Scarlett killed me. Reborn into this life, Scarlett didn’t hesitate to make me take the fall. She might not have had jewels, luxury goods, or a massive allowance, but she had Mom and Dad’s love, and a future full of hope. She leaned in, whispering with a smirk, “Sister, this time, it’s my turn to enjoy everything.”

Mrs. Eleanor, just like in my previous life, held high expectations for her future daughter-in-law. She scheduled me for grueling classes, hired countless top tutors, and packed every single minute of my day. “As a daughter-in-law of the Lin family, this is your duty.” Mrs. Eleanor’s strictness and displeasure were barely veiled. I simply nodded, accepting her arrangements. A flicker of surprise crossed Mrs. Eleanor’s eyes, as if she hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. But her surprise quickly turned to disgust. “Your teachers will report your progress to me. Don’t even think about pretending to comply while secretly undermining me.” Why would I ever do that? I wished I could split myself in two, devouring every bit of knowledge, determined to forge a beautiful future with my own hands. I didn’t even waste my breaks, either buried in a book or grinding on exercises. Scarlett, arm in arm with her boyfriend, Dylan, sauntered over to taunt me. “Hard work, isn’t it, sis?” she purred. “Your precious youth, all wasted on these dull, boring things. No time to relax, no chance for fun. But me? I have a boyfriend who adores me, parents who spoil me, and a brilliant future ahead.” I looked up and met Dylan’s eyes. I recognized him instantly. He was the same Dylan from my past life. He had pursued me back then, but I’d turned him down. Later, I learned he’d borrowed a ton of high-interest loans to fund his lavish lifestyle, constantly dating rich girls to find a sugar mama to pay off his debts. Back then, Scarlett was trapped in the Lin household, cut off from the outside world, so she naturally wouldn’t have known. I had no intention of telling her. Consider it a thank you for making me take the fall. “Congratulations, Scarlett, on getting everything you wished for.” Their love was fervent and thrilling. Dylan would sneak into the school radio room and declare his love for Scarlett over the loudspeaker. Scarlett would skip class, climb over the school wall, and buy Dylan his favorite snacks. They would share cigarettes on the rooftop, passionately kiss with no regard for anyone else. They would go to bars, get wasted, and couldn’t wait to be intimate. They documented it all, posting every moment on SnapChat. Scarlett, fearing I wouldn’t have time to check SnapChat, shoved her phone in my face, smugly telling me, “Look, this is what living your youth to the fullest looks like. Too bad you’ll never get to experience it again.”

As she said, I really didn’t have the chance to experience it. Because I had secured a spot in the provincial math competition by ranking first in the entire school, and I needed to focus entirely on preparing. This opportunity was mine in the previous life too; I even placed third in the provincial competition and successfully advanced to the national level. So, Scarlett rushed up to me, utterly bewildered, demanding, “Why? That opportunity should have been mine! Why are you stealing what belongs to me?” I paused my problem-solving, speaking calmly, “This was the school’s decision. If you think I stole it from you, feel free to try and take it back.” Scarlett confronted the school principal, intending to make a scene. Unexpectedly, the principal gave her a past competition paper, promising her the spot if she could score ninety points. Scarlett couldn’t solve a single problem. She just guessed on a few multiple-choice questions, then slunk away. For several days, Scarlett didn’t come to school. Rumors about her only grew, with whispers that she was now living with Dylan. I just felt a lot more peace. My hard work paid off; I achieved first place in the math competition. Victor and Eleanor were so delighted, they specially came home to celebrate with me. After dinner, Eleanor excitedly told me, “Blair, it’s time to set a date for your wedding with Caleb. We plan to hold the engagement party next week and announce your marriage.” I nodded obediently. “Thank you, Aunt Eleanor.” In my previous life, Scarlett had been with the Lin family for years, yet Victor and Eleanor never publicly acknowledged her as their daughter-in-law. This time, with the Lin family’s resources behind me, I would go much further. Victor and Eleanor booked the largest hotel in the city, hired a designer to remodel the venue, and invited all the prominent families in the area, along with many media reporters for coverage. I wore a custom-made gown, exquisite makeup, and confidently socialized beside Eleanor. After the banquet, I instantly dominated every headline. Yet, my life didn’t change at all; it was still endless classes and grinding on practice problems. A classmate, seeing my dedication, sighed, “No wonder Blair is so lucky to have the Lin family’s approval. She’s just so hardworking and exceptional.” Scarlett swaggered over to me, a smug look on her face, and touched her stomach. “No matter how hard you work, how obedient you are, the Lin family will only ever see you as Caleb’s stepping stone, his punching bag. But I have Dylan’s devoted love, and his baby. I’m going to marry him and live the pampered life of a powerful family’s young madam.” I couldn’t help but let a slight smile curl my lips. Well, congratulations to you. If I hadn’t subtly fed information to Dylan’s creditors, they wouldn’t have hounded him so quickly, and he wouldn’t have gotten her pregnant so soon. I fought to suppress my smile, forcing a calm expression. “So, your wedding with Dylan, is that on the agenda now?” Scarlett’s smile stretched almost to her ears as she proudly bragged, “Dylan said I’m newly pregnant and shouldn’t be stressed. All the tiresome things like wedding photoshoots and engagement parties can wait until after I’ve had the baby. He’s going to plan a grand,世纪 wedding for me, so I can marry him in style.” I feigned concern. “Dylan truly loves you; he can’t bear for you to suffer even a little.” Scarlett beamed, casually replying, “Of course he does.” I pressed the record button on my voice recorder and went back to my practice problems. After school that afternoon, Dylan personally came to pick up Scarlett. They walked out of class, arm in arm. At the school gates, I sat in the Lin family’s luxury car, watching through the window as Dylan and Scarlett were shoved into a minivan. The van swiftly disappeared into traffic.

In my previous life, before the Lin family gave up on her, Scarlett didn’t hesitate to bully me, leveraging their influence. She ordered her little crew to drag me into the bathroom, forced me to drink from the toilet, smeared glue on my chair, and tore up the practice books I’d saved money for ages to buy… She once told me directly, “Sister, why are you living so well while I suffer in the Lin family? Shouldn’t we, as sisters, share our joys and sorrows?” So, this time, I prepared a generous thank-you gift for her. That evening, I received a call from Mom. Crying, she said Scarlett and her boyfriend had been kidnapped, and the kidnappers demanded five million dollars, or they’d kill them. She hoped I could lend her some money, promising Dylan would pay me back when he returned. I didn’t give her money, but I pointed her in the right direction, advising her to seek help from Dylan’s family. Mom must have been quite surprised when she saw the tiny “Dylan’s family mansion,” built of mud and straw. Sure enough, around ten o’clock that night, Mom and Dad called me from a dark, remote village, complaining and demanding I send the Lin family’s driver to pick them up. “Blair, that con artist Dylan isn’t a powerful family heir at all! His house is practically falling apart, the windows and doors are rotting, and it’s colder inside than out! Your sister was completely fooled by him!” I feigned surprise. “Oh? Really? He was so generous with Scarlett; his family shouldn’t be like that, should it?” Mom kept complaining into the phone. I put my phone aside and continued grinding on my practice problems. Mom talked for a long time until Dad impatiently cut her off, grumbling, “Shut up already. Let’s just get Blair to send a car to pick us up first.” Mom finally reacted, urging me to send the Lin family’s driver. I put on a crying voice, sounding wronged and helpless. “Mom, Victor and Eleanor are out, probably at some banquet. All the family drivers went with them to pick up guests. They told me to study hard at home and didn’t take me.” “Mom, Dad, I miss you. Can you pay the Lin family some medical expenses and take me home?” Mom’s attitude immediately did a complete one-eighty. Her voice turned harsh and cold. “You good-for-nothing! Your father and I worked so hard to raise you for over a decade, and before you could even earn money to honor us, you became someone else’s property. Now you want money from us? Do you think we’re a printing press? I’m telling you, right now, immediately send a driver to pick us up, or when I get back, I’ll skin you alive!” I sneered. She finally couldn’t hide her true colors. In my previous life, after Scarlett went to the Lin household, Mom and Dad started living like royalty, quitting their jobs and idling around at home. They dumped all the housework on me, and I barely squeezed in time to do my homework. I scavenged cardboard and empty bottles from their drinks and alcohol, selling them to buy my practice books. A few times, they found out, snatched all the money, accused me of stealing, and tied me to a pillar, whipping me with a belt for ages until they were tired. Later, Scarlett struggled in the Lin family, unable to give them money or the life they wanted. But I won third prize in the provincial math competition. Neighbors who used to gossip about Mom and Dad now came to congratulate them. Mom and Dad found new jobs, feigned being loving parents, and started doting on me. Later, I certainly didn’t disappoint their expectations, becoming a multi-million dollar executive. Mom and Dad never showed their true colors to Scarlett. I guessed it was because of Dylan, her “powerful family boyfriend.” Now that their dream was shattered, could they still keep up the act?

A week later, Scarlett and Dylan returned, battered and bruised. I heard they’d managed to escape when their creditors weren’t paying attention. Scarlett, upon learning that Dylan was not only from a powerful family but also heavily in debt, came to confront me. “Blair, you b*tch, did you know all along that Dylan’s family was broke and he was drowning in debt? You deliberately pushed me into this hellhole, didn’t you?!” “I’ll kill you, you b*tch!” Scarlett’s palm hadn’t even landed on my face before the Lin family’s bodyguards had her pinned down. I spoke, feigning kindness, “Be gentle, please. My sister is pregnant; don’t hurt the baby.” I leaned in close, whispering in her ear, “Scarlett, I know it’s hard to believe, but you’re already carrying his child. You two need to figure out how to pay off the debt and be responsible for the baby.” Scarlett was dragged away by the bodyguards. No sooner had she left than Eleanor sent someone to say she was waiting for me in her upstairs room. Eleanor was as poised and elegant as ever. “You need to give me an explanation.” I understood. She was referring to Scarlett’s situation. My little manipulations might have fooled Scarlett and Mom and Dad, but not her. I explained that Scarlett used to bully me and even blamed me for pushing Caleb down the stairs. I was simply returning the favor. “I don’t want to interfere in your personal affairs, but you need to understand what’s truly important.” I nodded. Of course I understood. I wouldn’t let anything stand in my way. Most of my time was still spent in classes, grinding on practice problems, preparing for the national competition. Half a month later, Scarlett appeared before me, looking exhausted. She seemed to have lost weight, and her gaze towards me was fierce and unsettlingly familiar. In my previous life, she always looked at me that way. “Blair! Tell me, why has everything turned out like this?!” “Dylan extorted a huge sum of money from me before he let me go. Mom and Dad are like completely different people; they hit and curse at me, order me around, and all the chores are piled on me. I remember it wasn’t like this in the last life, why is all this happening!?” I stared at her with innocent, wide eyes. “You and Dylan broke up, so your child will be born without a father.” Scarlett gritted her teeth. “There’s no way I’m keeping that bastard child. I already had an abortion.” I took Scarlett’s hand, speaking gently and kindly. “Scarlett, Mom and Dad are just angry. They thought you were about to marry into a powerful family and live a life of luxury, only to find out you were tricked. You’re still young and beautiful; don’t waste it.” A flicker of light appeared in Scarlett’s eyes. By my calculations, my fiancé would be waking up soon. Don’t disappoint me, you two. Sure enough, Scarlett appeared at school the next day, meticulously dressed. She pretended to study diligently, as if she were determined to turn over a new leaf. She even made a point of asking me for help with problems. Of course, I couldn’t dampen her ambition, but I had to visit my fiancé at the hospital. So, I just had to trouble Scarlett to come with me. Coincidentally, Caleb woke up. Scarlett’s eyes welled with tears, and she covered her mouth, softly sobbing, whispering, “Caleb, you’re finally awake.” I made an excuse about asking the doctor about Caleb’s condition and quickly left the room, giving them space alone. Before his accident, Caleb and Scarlett had already been a couple. That day, it was because they had an argument that Scarlett accidentally pushed him down the stairs. Now that Scarlett had faced Mom and Dad’s cold shoulder, would she choose to rekindle things with Caleb, and continue her dream of being the lady of a powerful family? I was rather looking forward to it. In the days that followed, Scarlett often came to me with questions, but every time I explained something, her mind seemed elsewhere. I knew her heart wasn’t in her studies, but on Caleb. I decided to grant her wish. “Scarlett, I’m preparing for the national competition now, so I probably won’t be able to pay much attention to you. You can go ask Caleb to explain problems to you. You can also keep him company for me, so he doesn’t get bored alone in the hospital.” Scarlett hesitated for a while before reluctantly agreeing. She certainly didn’t disappoint my expectations. She visited the hospital more and more often, even taking time off school to be with Caleb during his check-ups. Through my daily efforts, I achieved first place in the national competition, securing guaranteed admission to the State University. When I brought fruit to visit Caleb at the hospital, I happened to see Scarlett nestled in his arms, looking up and passionately kissing him. I pulled out my phone and snapped several pictures, then silently handed the fruit to the nurse and left the hospital. Victor proactively brought me into the company to learn from him. Eleanor stopped many of my classes, giving me time to study at the company. At school, Scarlett, beaming, approached me, a triumphant look on her face. “Sister, you just keep learning from Victor. Later, you’ll work for the Lin family, helping Caleb and me manage the company. The lady of the Lin family can only be me. No matter how capable you are, Caleb doesn’t like you.” I nodded, feigning an appearance of knowing when to retreat. “Scarlett, you’re right. Caleb doesn’t love me, and forced love never lasts. I’ll make sure to tell Victor and Eleanor and step aside for you.” Would Victor and Eleanor choose the capable me, or the incompetent Scarlett? There was no need to even ponder it.

That evening, I showed Victor and Eleanor the photos of Scarlett and Caleb embracing, kissing, and being intimate. “Uncle Victor, Aunt Eleanor, Caleb has someone he loves. I think I should step aside.” Eleanor’s breathing quickened with anger. It took her a while to compose herself. “Blair, in a family like ours, feelings are the least important thing. The daughter-in-law of the Lin family can only be you. I’ll make Caleb break up with her.” I stopped Eleanor. “Aunt Eleanor, Caleb loves Scarlett. His body hasn’t fully recovered yet. If you suddenly separate them, it might upset Caleb, which isn’t good for his recovery. A gentle reminder should suffice.” After all, Scarlett still had a big task to accomplish; she couldn’t withdraw so easily. The next day, Scarlett stormed up to me, yelling, even raising her hand to hit me. I caught her wrist, then slapped her back. The sharp smack drew the attention of all our classmates, and a glaring red handprint appeared on Scarlett’s fair face. “Caleb and I are engaged. You, a mistress, dare to challenge me? You clearly don’t know your place.” Scarlett clutched her face, glaring at me, unable to squeeze out a single word for a long moment. Finally, she burst into tears and ran away. Within a minute, I received an angry call from Caleb. “Whoever I love will be the daughter-in-law of the Lin family. What right do you have to hit my sister? Apologize to her immediately, or I’ll sue you for assault. You pushed me down the stairs and caused severe injury; that’s enough to send you away for years.” I retorted calmly, “Caleb, aren’t you clear on who actually pushed you down the stairs? If you want your beloved to pay for hurting you, then go ahead.” Caleb hung up, fuming. The doctor told me Caleb demanded to be discharged and return to school. Not because he loved learning, but because he wanted to protect Scarlett. What surprised me was that this time, his legs could recover completely, just like a normal person’s. But this was even better for my plan. Victor and Eleanor were naturally overjoyed to hear their son wanted to go to school, thinking their precious boy had finally come to his senses and was willing to improve. Caleb knitted scarves during class, and during breaks, he and Scarlett were all over each other, hugging and kissing. During lunch, they went to the rooftop to make out. Scarlett taught Caleb how to smoke and drink with her, experiencing a passionate and thrilling youth. On the first day of school, Victor and Eleanor personally went to pick Caleb up, but they waited until the very end and Caleb never showed. Victor and Eleanor searched anxiously for a long time but couldn’t find him. It wasn’t until past midnight that Caleb finally returned home, thoroughly drunk. The next day, Caleb eagerly rushed back to school to see Scarlett. Soon, Victor and Eleanor learned of Caleb and Scarlett’s scandalous behavior at school and immediately had bodyguards forcibly bring Caleb home. “Caleb, I’m telling you, break up with Scarlett immediately, study hard, and after graduation, you’ll start training at the company.” Caleb violently stood up and protested, “What right do you have to control my life? I’m not a puppet you can manipulate at will! You can’t control me!” Victor threatened coldly that if Caleb didn’t agree, he would cut off his allowance. In the end, Caleb couldn’t stand up to Victor and Eleanor. Eleanor arranged many classes for Caleb, but he didn’t attend a single one. He secretly climbed over the school wall and disappeared. It wasn’t until past ten at night that he irritably called, saying he was out with friends for a party and it was too late, so he’d just stay at a hotel. But I knew that the so-called party was just him and Scarlett. Because Scarlett sent me several pictures in the middle of the night of her and Caleb lying in bed, wearing pajamas. I immediately saved the pictures and screenshotted the chat history. Just as I finished, Scarlett recalled the message and sent a new one: Sorry, sent it to the wrong person. I pretended not to see it and didn’t reply. Scarlett, you really need to step up your game. Don’t disappoint my expectations.

Victor and Eleanor stormed the school, personally tied Caleb up, and dragged him home. They even ordered someone to whip him a few times, but Caleb stubbornly refused to back down, insisting on being with Scarlett. When Scarlett found out, she was moved to tears, yet also incredibly smug. I sternly reprimanded Scarlett, then specifically chose a time when Victor and Eleanor were home to advise Caleb to break up with Scarlett. This precisely triggered Caleb’s rebellious streak. He adamantly stated that he would not only refuse to break up with Scarlett but also wouldn’t study hard and certainly wouldn’t take over the company in the future. News of Caleb’s falling out with his family over a woman quickly spread. This wasn’t my doing, as I knew Victor and Eleanor cared too much about appearances; they dreaded family scandals becoming public. It was Scarlett, eagerly wanting everyone to know Caleb’s favoritism towards her, who frantically spread the rumors. I heard Eleanor specifically went to the school to inquire about Scarlett’s grades and behavior. After she returned, she never again mentioned arranging classes for Caleb. Instead, she urged me to study hard and manage the company. After these incidents, Scarlett and Caleb’s relationship seemed to grow even stronger. Every time I saw them at school, they were joined at the hip, constantly intimate without a care in the world. Scarlett even seemed to have bribed Mom and Dad. Mom specifically called to lecture me, saying I was useless, and that the position of the Lin family’s young madam would eventually be Scarlett’s. She told me to defer to Scarlett and help her, otherwise, Scarlett wouldn’t make my life easy after marrying Caleb. Scarlett, emboldened by Caleb’s love and Mom and Dad’s support, started to provoke me. “Sister, Caleb told me he hates boring bookworms like you most of all. He likes me; I’m passionate and wild, and I bring excitement to his life.” I picked up the hot water on the table and splashed it in her face. “What are you being so arrogant about? Victor and Eleanor will always be on my side. Once I have a Lin family child, you’ll completely lose any threat to my position.” Scarlett seemed to realize something, throwing herself into Caleb’s arms for comfort. This time, however, Caleb didn’t come to bother me. He simply took Scarlett to a hotel room to comfort her. Aside from classes, most of my time was spent learning the business of the Lin Group. A little over a month later, Scarlett, predictably, bounced back into my life. Caleb said he had something important to discuss with everyone and summoned Victor, Eleanor, and me. Caleb wrapped his arm around Scarlett, placed a paternity test report in front of Victor and Eleanor, and solemnly announced, “Scarlett is pregnant. I’m breaking off my engagement with Blair and getting engaged to Scarlett.” Eleanor stated flatly, “Impossible.” I grabbed Eleanor’s hand, speaking gently and gracefully. “Aunt Eleanor, it is the Lin family’s child, after all. Your own grandchild.” She pulled me up to her second-floor bedroom, asking me with a hint of guilt, if I was truly willing to accept this child.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298616”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

My sister has always been a liar, always setting me up since we were kids. She stole money, got caught, and said I took it. She accidentally tumbled down the stairs, but claimed I pushed her. She ran off with strangers who turned out to be traffickers, just for a cellphone. When she was rescued, she swore I’d abducted and sold her. My brothers called me a born evil. My parents’ brutal beatings became a daily occurrence. Until one day, I heard my sister’s inner thoughts: “Hahahaha, a bunch of idiots! Hurry up and drive Alice to her death. Next, it’s the brothers’ turn. Watching you turn on each other is going to be so satisfying, serves you right!” Everyone stared at my sister, disbelief etched on their faces. She was so screwed. When my sister, Willow, was in her senior year of high school, she faked being sick for a whole week, all for a cellphone. She’d hide under her covers, playing games all night. One time, she was cursing out her teammates so loudly that Mom caught her. In a fit of rage, Mom confiscated her phone. Willow immediately threw a massive tantrum, battling our entire family. After her inevitable defeat, she stormed out of the house. It was snowing that day, and our whole family split up to find her. Mom and Dad called almost everyone in their contact list, asking all our relatives, teachers, and classmates. They came up empty-handed. Finally, I found Willow at a downtown spot. She was about to get into a stranger’s car. I ran over and pulled her, trying to get her to come home with me. But then, two burly men got out of the car, claiming to be Willow’s friends. They roughly pushed me to the ground, telling me to mind my own business. Willow stood behind them, a phone in her hand, a smug look on her face as she told me, “See? Anyone is better to me than Mom and Dad. I don’t want to spend another minute in this messed-up home. I’m cutting ties with all of you and going to live a good life.” With that, she willingly got into the car and drove off without a care. Later, I found out Willow had been abducted and taken to a remote, isolated compound. When we finally found her, she was in a dilapidated shack, forced to care for an old, disabled man. The moment she saw us, she burst into uncontrollable sobs, throwing herself into Mom’s arms. Mom took one look at the surroundings and, completely overwhelmed, hugged Willow and cried herself unconscious. Dad leaned against the wall, slapping himself repeatedly, consumed by regret. My brothers watched the scene in silence. Over the years, our family had searched high and low for my sister. Through countless sleepless nights, Mom and Dad were heartbroken with guilt, even imagining the worst possible outcome. What we saw now, though unbearable, was still our greatest comfort: Willow was alive, safe and sound, standing right in front of us.

That night Willow returned, she whispered threats in my ear. “Alice, your good days are over. I’m going to take everything precious from you.” My smile froze, and I stared blankly at Willow, wondering if I’d misheard. Because just moments ago, she had told Mom and Dad that all these years she was gone, I was the one she missed most. “What? Scared? I’ve got even scarier things to show you, want to see?” Before I could react, Willow grabbed my hand and slapped herself hard across the face. My palm went numb. Her lip was busted, her cheek swelled rapidly, and her mouth was full of blood. I snatched my hand back in a panic, staring at her in disbelief. “Willow, what are you doing?” The smile was gone from Willow’s face. She suddenly looked at me in terror, backing away as if she’d seen a ghost. “Sister, why did you hit me? All I wanted was to come back to Mom and Dad. Was I wrong? Why can’t you stand me?” Willow’s voice was loud enough to alert the whole family. Dad came out of his study. Seeing Willow’s terrified look, he quickly shielded her behind him and asked me what was going on. Liam and Noah, my brothers, rushed out of their bedrooms. They grabbed my arms, roughly pulling me into a corner, creating distance between me and Willow. Mom, who was in the kitchen, stormed out with a wooden spoon in her hand. Everyone watched Willow tremble as she hid in Dad’s arms. She looked at me with horror, as if I were a monster, continuously pleading, “Sister, I’m sorry, please don’t hit me, Sister, please don’t hit me.” I was utterly speechless. I knew Willow had always been dishonest and loved to lie since she was little. But before, she’d only lie and make me the scapegoat when she got into trouble and was afraid of the consequences. This was more than just lying, though. She was clearly making trouble, intentionally framing me. Sure enough, everyone fell for Willow’s performance. Mom’s chest heaved with anger. Without a word, she rushed over and slapped me across the face. The blow was so hard that half my face went numb. They stared at me, their faces etched with disappointment, as if I were a death row inmate. A flash of triumph flickered in Willow’s eyes. As expected, she had won again. She tugged at Mom’s sleeve, putting on the most pitiful, vulnerable act. “Mommy, am I really unwanted? Did Alice really trick me into getting into the trafficker’s car all those years ago? She told me you had enough with just one daughter, and I was redundant…” Willow was lying again. But her words successfully sent shockwaves through each of us.

Everyone stared at me. Their gazes were filled with disappointment, but mostly with rage. Willow had loved causing trouble since she was little. She’d broken dishes in the kitchen, snapped Mom’s lipstick, killed the fish in the tank, stolen the neighbor’s packages… whatever she did wrong, when the truth came to light, she’d always lie and make me take the blame. I was never good with words, so I became the bad kid in Mom and Dad’s eyes, the born evil in my brothers’ words. Being beaten was a daily occurrence for me. In the years Willow was gone, I’d finally had a moment of peace. But now, I was terrified. I glared at her, retorting, “Willow, I never said anything like that! I tried to stop you back then, but I couldn’t. *You* were the one who said you were cutting ties with us.” “Alice, of course, wouldn’t admit it.” Willow was a weeping mess. She cut me off, feigning weakness and understanding. “It’s all in the past now. Those nightmarish years are over. I don’t blame Alice. I just beg you, Sister, for the sake of being my blood sister, please don’t try to hurt me again, okay?” I frantically explained, “I didn’t! I really didn’t!” Willow nodded. “Right, right, you didn’t. Such a big deal, let’s just say I framed you. After all, murderers never admit their crimes, do they?” Mom hugged Willow tightly, her whole body trembling with anger. Dad clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with fury. He stepped forward, grabbed my collar, and cursed at me. “You ungrateful daughter! I always knew you were competitive, always wanting to win against your sister, but I never imagined you could be so evil!” Liam and Noah just stood by. Like countless times before when Dad had disciplined me, they watched coldly, letting Dad beat me without saying a word. A storm of blows rained down on me. I convulsed with pain, crying until my voice was hoarse, repeatedly explaining, “I didn’t! It wasn’t me!” But my words were too weak, and no one believed them. They even thought I was lying, calling me unrepentant, just like countless times in my childhood when faced with Willow’s undeniable accusations that I refused to admit. Mom, like a hen protecting her chick, screamed at me with pure hatred. “You’re a born evil! Might as well kill you! How dare you abduct and sell your own sister? I won’t find peace until I break every bone in your body!” When I was covered in injuries, Dad finally grew tired of hitting me. He pressed his hard leather shoe onto my ankle and cursed, “You’re worse than an animal! Willow just shared her gifts with you, calling you her only sister, she’s so kind, yet you try to destroy her like this.” Liam frowned, looking at me. “Alice, you’re utterly heartless. Why wasn’t it *you* who got abducted by traffickers?” Noah’s eyes were also filled with disappointment. “Alice, when you do something wrong, there’s a price to pay.” Everyone, without knowing right from wrong, shielded Willow. Their regret and anger, as if finally finding an outlet, turned into violence unleashed upon me. I coughed up blood. Even breathing hurt. I could only open my mouth, feebly and weakly arguing, “I didn’t… I really didn’t…” Willow cried even harder. She had become the family’s favorite. In a few words, she had completely ruined my reputation. Just as I closed my eyes in despair, I suddenly heard Willow’s voice. “Crushing it, hahahaha! Alice, that loser, is still as stupid as ever. A few simple tricks and I’ve got her utterly defeated.” “Hahahaha, what a bunch of idiots! Hurry up and drive Alice to her death, then I’ll be the sole favorite. Next, it’s the two brothers’ turn. Watching you turn on each other is going to be so satisfying, serves you right!” “Everyone can just die, not a single good person among you. After you’re all gone, I’ll inherit everything.” I looked up in terror. Willow was quietly cowering in Mom’s arms, timid as a frightened kitten. Her mouth hadn’t moved at all. What was going on? Why could I hear her voice? Just as I wondered if I was hallucinating, I noticed everyone’s gazes had shifted from me to Willow. Their eyes were still filled with raging fury. But this time, it wasn’t directed at me.

Willow didn’t seem to notice anything unusual. In her mind, she was still thinking: “I’m so badly hurt, Mom and Dad must be heartbroken. If only Alice could just die! Why should she enjoy life here when I suffered so much out there? Unless I chop her into a thousand pieces, I won’t appease my hatred.” “What’s with them? Why are they all staring at me? Are they retarded? Well, yeah, if they weren’t idiots, they wouldn’t have confiscated my phone back then and gotten me abducted to the countryside, making me suffer so much. It’s all your fault, I hope you all die a terrible death.” “Mom’s slap on Alice was too light. Was it really that hard to knock out all her teeth with two slaps? Dad was more effective, though. Looks like my trick of feigning injury worked. Ouch, it hurts so much. If I’d known it would hurt this much, I wouldn’t have been so hard on myself.” The house was deadly silent. Willow’s mental curses against our entire family echoed exceptionally loud. Mom stared at Willow in disbelief, still unsure if those vicious inner thoughts had truly come from her. Dad’s eyes were red-rimmed with anger. Both my brothers looked at me, their faces full of shame and guilt. I was expressionless. The pain throughout my body made me feel utterly hopeless. Dad still seemed to think he was hallucinating. He asked Willow, uncertainly, “Willow, was it really your sister who abducted and sold you all those years ago?” Willow quickly nodded. But after glancing at me, she shook her head in feigned terror. “No, I don’t blame Alice. It must have been something I did wrong for Alice to sell me. It must have been my fault…” Her words undeniably sealed my fate. Dad’s anger, which had finally extinguished, flared up again. He seemed to think my beating just now was not undeserved. But soon, I heard Willow’s thoughts again: “Hmph! I’m not stupid. How could I tell them I basically sold myself for a crappy phone? It’s all Alice’s fault for not stopping me back then, she’s useless. Today, I’ll make sure she takes the blame fully.” “But Alice, that idiot, is quite pretty. Maybe I’ll find a chance to sell her to some rural area. Butch, that pig, still needs a wife. Just thinking about him defiling Alice, hahahaha, it’s so satisfying!” Mom let out a shout of anger. “You wouldn’t dare!” Dad stared at Willow with a complex expression, and my two brothers quickly rushed to help me up. Everyone came to my side, shielding me. The hatred and resentment they had felt towards me moments ago were now replaced with guilt and self-reproach. I shook them off and walked to my bedroom without a word, my heart cold and desperate. “Alice,” Dad called out to me, his voice soft. “We’re a family. There’s no misunderstanding that can’t be cleared up. I’ll take you both to the hospital first. We can talk about everything else later.” On the way to the hospital, our entire family’s faces were grim. Mom sat between Willow and me. She looked at me, then turned to glance at Willow. After a moment’s hesitation, she finally reached out and pulled Willow into her arms. But to my surprise, Willow was ranting wildly in her mind. “So fake! Why didn’t they just kill Alice? What’s the point of going to the hospital? Was that beating for nothing?” “Ugh, my stomach hurts so bad. Mom’s cooking is still as disgusting as ever, like pig slop. A family of taste-blind idiots, how can they swallow this? To be stuck with a mom like this, what a total downer!” “Dad’s gifts are ugly too. And the bedroom my brothers decorated, pink? Seriously? I’m the Queen of Revenge, are they treating me like a three-year-old? Annoying!” Willow continued her mental rant. Mom’s face was grim. She released Willow and turned to look at me. I angrily turned my face away, refusing to look at her. No one had expected that all their painstaking efforts to make amends to Willow were, in her eyes, completely fake and worthless. The doctor examined my injuries, and Mom immediately arranged for my hospitalization. In the hospital room, Mom hugged me with tenderness, apologizing. “I’m so sorry, Alice. I never thought Willow would use such a method to frame you. Our whole family was used by her. I’m so sorry, sweetie.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298617”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

For the sake of the kingdom and its people, the Crown Prince sent his heavily pregnant wife to the enemy. And I was his wife. Two lives gone, in one cruel sweep. My body, merely a discarded battlefield casualty. That very day, he returned to the capital with the transmigrator woman, ascending happily to the throne. When I opened my eyes again, I woke up in the body of a palace maid. He stared at me. “I feel like you resemble someone I once knew.” When we marched off to war, I was already three months pregnant. The King was advanced in years then, already hinting at abdication. The political currents were turbulent in court. My parents were caught in the crossfire, both thrown into the royal dungeons. My mother gripped my hand, her eyes swimming with tears. “Elara, the royal family knows no mercy, my dear. Don’t get too deeply entangled.” To serve a King is like walking with a tiger. We had long foreseen such an outcome. I comforted my mother. “Mother, Dorian will soon ascend to the throne. When he does, I’ll have you released from the dungeons.” Dorian – my childhood sweetheart, the Crown Prince, and the future King. My mother couldn’t speak, just wept incessantly. My status had become sensitive. When Dorian led his troops to war, he took me with him to protect me. He comforted me. “Don’t be afraid, Elara. Just stay in the camp, and be careful not to overexert yourself and harm the baby.” I nodded, not refusing. If all went as planned, after this war, our return to the capital would be the day the King abdicated. As the Crown Princess, I was naturally the future Queen. Then, I’d find some reason to clear my parents’ names, and our family could be reunited. I believed this without a shadow of a doubt. It wasn’t until we reached the battlefield, seeing the armies clash, that I realized things weren’t as simple as I’d imagined. Heavily pregnant, I could do nothing. And in the camp, besides me, there was another woman. Her name was Skylar, a field medic traveling with the army. Every day, she would leave with Dorian and return with him. Whispers began to circulate in the camp behind my back. They said the Crown Prince was about to take a new woman. I understood the look in Skylar’s eyes when she gazed at Dorian. She liked him. Her medical skills were astonishing, almost miraculous. She was different from me; she said she came from another world, a transmigrator. I didn’t understand what she was talking about, but every time she spoke, Dorian would listen intently. A focus in his eyes I hadn’t seen in a long, long time. Skylar was free-spirited and unconventional; she claimed everyone was equal. So, she dismissed the maids who attended me. She declared that women are just as capable as men. And so, heavily pregnant, I found myself standing on the battlefield. That was the day the enemy general saw my face. My beauty was famed across the kingdoms, my dances legendary, my beauty unmatched – a true siren, rare in this world. The enemy army was strong and well-equipped, pushing us back relentlessly, causing heavy casualties. Dorian was forced to surrender. The enemy general, wanting to humiliate him, demanded me from Dorian. I sat on the plush divan, despair washing over me, my tears long since dried. I understood the look in Dorian’s eyes. He wanted to agree. That day, I looked at him, my eyes filled with utter disappointment. He gripped my hand, promising solemnly: “Elara, be good. It’s just a feigned surrender. I’ll lead the troops back to rescue you immediately!” Skylar also urged me. “Your Royal Highness, for the sake of the kingdom, please consider the bigger picture.” If I didn’t go, the city would fall, all its people would die, and so would our soldiers. They piled on the pressure, painting me as the kingdom’s only hope. I had no choice but to agree. And so, heavily pregnant, I was lifted into a sedan chair and carried into the enemy camp. That day, I was forced to dance barefoot on a mosaic of broken pottery. My soles were pierced, blood flowing freely. Several times, I nearly fainted, but I forced myself to stay conscious. I couldn’t collapse, couldn’t harm the baby in my belly. Dorian promised he would come for me. Inside me, our child was still alive. When I returned to the city, my parents were waiting for me to rescue them. I ignored the enemy soldiers’ taunts. Dorian said he would come to save me soon. Clinging to that hope, I danced until past midnight, but Dorian never came. The enemy general grabbed my arm, dragging me onto the divan. His voice was laced with mockery. “Waiting for someone to save you, perhaps? “Your husband has already returned to his capital with his little beauty.” It was then that I truly despaired. I had been abandoned. That night, I didn’t survive. All I knew was the numb agony, blood staining the divan crimson, and the child in my belly dissolving into a pool of blood, gone from me forever. Two lives gone, in one cruel sweep. Dorian returned to the capital with that transmigrator woman. On the very day my body was discarded, he donned his King’s robes and held his coronation. The new King, devoted to his realm, had sacrificed his wife for peace and prosperity. Skylar, with her miraculous healing, had earned great merit. And I? I was merely a footnote in their tale of glory, an insignificant detail. My parents, unable to await my return, died in the royal dungeons. All my despair gradually transformed into hatred. I opened my eyes, unwilling to accept my fate, only to see Skylar now dressed in fine silks and luxurious robes. The woman who once preached equality now had an army of maids at her beck and call. And I had become one of them. She stepped on my head, forcing me to gnaw on the leftover bones she had discarded on the floor. “You’re just an illegitimate daughter. Eating my leftovers is already a privilege for you.” My hair was disheveled, and I knelt on the floor, saying nothing. Skylar lounged on her plush chaise lounge, laughing hysterically, pointing at me and chattering with Gemma, her head maid.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298618”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic