Category: English

My mom had never celebrated my birthday because it happened to be the same day my sister died. On my sister’s birthday, she made me wear her clothes and eat the seafood my sister liked. Once, I ended up in the hospital with a severe allergic reaction, but my mom just told the doctor, “She ate seafood because she craved it.” When I got accepted to a college, she flipped out and insisted I change my name to my sister’s, claiming, “Your sister never got to go to college, so why should you?” I ran out crying and bumped into Jonas, who was smoking outside. He offered me his hand and said, “Wanna go watch the sunset together?” I made the most rebellious choice ever and hopped on his motorcycle. After I disappeared, Mom called me, saying, “Hilary, come back. I’ll celebrate your birthday this time.”

My boyfriend, Bert Evans, had promised to propose to me on our fifth anniversary. However, on that day, he reserved the mall and threw a grand birthday party for his close female friend, Della Flynn. Looking at the diamond ring about the size of a pigeon’s egg on Della’s finger, I had naively thought it was meant for me. “Della, I want to give you a birthday party that you will never forget,” Bert said loudly as if announcing something important. Then, he took the tab from an empty soda can and handed it to me. “Those tacky things are not worthy of you. You deserve something more special.” He took my hand and put the soda can tab onto my finger, treating it as a proposal. He gave Della a grand birthday party but left me with nothing but heartbreak. Later, when he found out I was going to marry someone else, he came to me with a ring, got down on one knee, and begged me to marry him instead. ***** After the birthday party, Bert supported Della, who was dressed in an evening gown, out of the mall. The night wind was chilly. He took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders. As they got into the car, Bert finally noticed me standing there, looking dazed and heartbroken. He rolled down the window and looked at me. “Are you lame? Hurry up. What are you upset about? It’s just a birthday party for Della, not a proposal.” My gaze fixed on Della sitting in the passenger seat, admiring the diamond ring on her finger. I snorted coldly, “Weren’t you supposed to propose to me today? You tricked me here just to watch you two be all lovey-dovey, huh?” Bert shrugged, resting his hand on the edge of the window, saying with a mocking smile, “Lucy Perry, haven’t I proposed to you? Are you getting in or not? If not, I’m leaving.” I glanced at the soda can tab in my hand. Its sharp edges had already cut a deep gash into my skin. “So, I’m worthless to you, huh?” With that, I threw the soda can tab onto the ground where Bert’s car was parked. Della frowned, looking in my direction. “Lucy, you… Are you angry? Bert only bought me a 50-thousand-dollar diamond ring. Is that really worth getting this upset over? Besides, it’s my birthday. Why do you have to compete for his attention today?” Bert turned to buckle Della’s seatbelt, then turned back to reassure her. “Don’t be upset, Della. That’s just how Lucy is. She has always been jealous. Forget it. She’s just wasting my time. Let’s go.” Della had a triumphant look as she rolled up the car window. I took a deep breath, standing frozen in place, watching Bert drive away. A huge disappointment overwhelmed me. I couldn’t snap out of it for a while. I had thought the elaborate scene Bert had carefully set up was for the proposal. Unexpectedly, the huge backdrop displayed Della’s name. He hadn’t taken anything I said to heart, but he perfectly remembered every detail about Della. I arrived at the mall, meticulously dressed, and I should have been the star of the grand scene. Instead, I wasn’t even a supporting character. The gown that had hung at home for half a month, and the ring kept in a box, were both on Della today. I had imagined myself in that gown, with Bert proposing to me with that ring. That feeling would certainly be extremely happy. But the reality struck hard and fast. He handed me a soda can tab from a drink he had finished and put it on my finger. In the end, our relationship over the years meant nothing to him.

As night fell, there was a light snow. I pulled my coat tighter around me and took out my phone to call my mom, Ebony Perry. “Mom, I’ll listen to you about my marriage.” Ebony paused for a moment before responding, “Alright, I’ll send you Henry’s contact information. Baby, I’m glad you’ve come to your senses.” She didn’t say too much, just a few words of advice before hanging up. I seemed to have lost all interest in my future life because of Bert. My parents had always mentioned Henry Ross, a potential match for me, but I had resisted and refused them. Now, I thought even if Henry wasn’t perfect, he couldn’t be worse than Bert. It was a short distance from the mall to my house, but it took me two hours. When I finally arrived, Bert hadn’t returned yet. The house was messy, with his clothes scattered on the floor. If it were before, I would have immediately cleaned them, but now, I didn’t want to do it at all. I threw all the clothes on the floor into the trash can. The carefully prepared candlelit dinner on the table was tossed into the garbage. I had imagined that after the proposal, we would return home to a blissful night. But now, it was just my wishful thinking. Before going to bed, I picked up my phone and scrolled through my social media feed. Della had posted several updates: [Mr. Evans, thank you for giving me a memorable birthday.] [The gown was beautiful, and I loved it. I hope next year’s birthday will be just as special, with you by my side and full of surprises.] I scrolled past these posts and saw Bert’s comment below. Bert, who had always been aloof, would publicly post about Della. Despite my requests, he had never made our relationship public. [Della, you’re the beautiful princess tonight.] Those few words stabbed at my heart. What I had desperately sought, Della had obtained easily. I pondered, but I couldn’t figure out what I lacked compared to Della. Shedding tears over Bert wasn’t worth it, but recalling our five-year relationship, I couldn’t hold back any longer. Tears soaked my pillow. Nearly at dawn, Bert finally came home. Perhaps because of the snow, he exuded a strong chill. Instinctively, I moved to the side. He pulled me back into his embrace, whispering into my ear, his warm breath caressing every inch of my skin, “Lucy, are you still upset about tonight?” Seeing that I didn’t respond, he teasingly nibbled my earlobe. “Why aren’t you talking?” Disgusted, I pushed Bert’s hand away and wriggled out of his grasp. The unique scent of Della’s perfume permeated his body. It almost made me vomit. “Bert, let’s break up.” I lay flat, blankly staring at the ceiling, my eyes showing an unprecedented calmness. Bert abruptly sat up, turning on the light and staring at me. “Are you crazy, Lucy? You want to break up over something so trivial? You’re overly petty. I can propose again on another day.” His gaze turned fierce, and the earlier tenderness had gone. He still didn’t realize that his feelings for Della had long surpassed those of ordinary friends, and he refused to admit it, always insisting that Della was just his friend. I didn’t bother arguing with him. “Yes, I’m too petty, so you’d better find someone as considerate as Della.”

Bert sighed, pulled out a cigarette from the cigarette box on the nightstand, and started smoking, seemingly lost in thought. I wanted to stop him but held back. I had told him to put dirty clothes in the washing machine, take out the trash when he went out, and not to smoke in the bedroom countless times, but he never remembered any of them. Maybe because I had always indulged him, he never took my words seriously. I was tired. Since I couldn’t change him, maybe it was time to part ways. Bert said with a straight face, flicking ash onto the floor, “Work on your temper, Lucy. Besides me, no one else could tolerate you. Can you stop being so hostile towards Della? She’s my friend, and you’re my girlfriend. You’re both important to me. I won’t break up with you.” He thought I was just throwing a jealous tantrum, unaware that I was serious this time. ***** The next morning, Bert had already left when I woke up. I picked up my phone and saw a new friend request on WhatsApp. Last night, I had forgotten to contact Henry, so early in the morning, he had taken the initiative to send a friend request. I accepted the request, and Henry immediately messaged me: [The wedding is in ten days. If it’s too soon, we can postpone it.] Because of what happened with Bert, I dared not have expectations for any man and show my whole feelings, fearing it would end up hurting me once more. I replied: [Alright, let’s do it your way.] After that, I went to the office to finish up my resignation procedure before heading home. Since Bert and I had lived together, I had been paying the rent of the apartment. I posted the sublet information on a website after sorting out the company affairs. Just as I stepped out of the company building, I received a call from Bert. “Lucy, come to Stary Bar. I have something urgent to tell you. Hurry up.” He sounded anxious, and through the phone, I could hear Della and his friends’ voices. Because of these friends, Bert hadn’t been to the office in a long time. It wouldn’t be surprising if the company soon went bust. “Okay, I have something to tell you too.” I got into a ride-hailing car and headed straight to Stary Bar. Pushing open the private room door, I entered, and a cacophony of noise greeted me. Bert, who had been holding Della around the waist, reluctantly moved his arm when he saw me. Bert’s friends laughed, “She really came at the drop of a hat. Bert does have a loyal pet.” “You know, the proposal ring Bert gave her was just a soda can tab!” Those people around Bert recounted the embarrassing moment I had been in that day. I glanced at them indifferently and walked over to Bert’s side. The alcohol had tinted his usually pale face with a rosy hue. He pointed to a glass of alcohol on the table. “Lucy, you love me the most, right?” I snorted coldly, “Cut the crap. Just say what you want.” Bert’s soft gaze turned colder as he pushed the glass of alcohol toward me. “Della lost a round of Truth or Dare. You know she’s allergic to alcohol, so drink this for her. Anyway, you’ve covered for me plenty of times.” Bert still remembered those times I had drunk for him. In the early days of the company, there were many business dinners, and every time, I would go along, worried about his health. Seeing him vomit blood from drinking too much, I felt heartbroken. From then on, I drank every glass of alcohol for him. All his projects were achieved by my cups of alcohol. But now, he was asking me to drink for Della.   “I came to tell you something, not to drink for you,” I sneered. Della gave a half-smile and stood up straight, staring at me. “Do you want to know what Bert said after he lost a round of Truth or Dare? He said you’re not fit to lick my boots. That’s why he gave you that proposal ring. Isn’t that funny?” She leaned closer to me, the strong, cheap perfume on her body hitting my nose. I instinctively stepped back, putting some distance between us. “I’m talking to Bert. You don’t have to show off. I’m not interested in what he said.” Della’s smile faded as she huffed and sat down on the sofa. Bert, annoyed by my attitude, rubbed his temples and looked up at me. “What do you want to say? You want a breakup? Or are you still upset about what happened last night? Be mature, okay? You’re not a kid.” “I’m serious, Bert. Let’s break up.” My words were resolute. Bert seemed unconvinced. He sneered, picked up the glass of alcohol in front of him, and poured it over my head. “You know what you are saying? Get a grip, Lucy. Is that enough? If not, I have more.” He refilled the glass and continued to pour alcohol over me. Tears mixed with the alcohol, wetting my face. Once again, he humiliated me in public, just like yesterday. Della crossed her arms, watching this scene with amusement, while the others on the couches egged Bert on. “See? I knew it! Even if Bert treats Lucy like this, she won’t leave him. She’s really devoted.” “Yeah, but only Della deserves to be with Bert.” “I bet Lucy will get angry but won’t leave, just like yesterday. Anyone want to bet?” The others nodded in agreement, while Bert stood there, remaining indifferent to their mocking words towards me. I coldly scanned the room, finally fixing my gaze on Bert. My lips trembled, but no words came out. Turning away, I ran out of the private room. This time, I wouldn’t give him the chance to hurt me anymore. As I walked out of the bar, I realized Bert had followed me. He stood at the door, calling out to me. I thought he had changed his mind, but it was only to scold me for Della’s sake. Bert warned me, looking fierce, “You didn’t drink for Della, and she ended up drinking herself and now has an allergic reaction. Lucy, if anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive you.” Before I could respond, he rushed back inside. Soon, he came out with the feeble Della in his arms. Those people hurriedly took Della to the hospital, while I, drenched and shivering from the cold wind outside, stumbled a few steps before being knocked down by a passing motorbike. I fell hard onto the ground. The rider didn’t show any remorse, scowling and scolding, “Watch where you’re going, idiot!” He then sped off. I stared at the bloody wounds on my palms and knees, the sharp pain making it difficult for me to stand up. After a while, I managed to get up, leaning heavily on my legs. By the time I got home, it was dark outside. Shaking, I went to take a shower and finally had time to treat my injuries. I knew Bert had called me there to appease Della, but I had gone anyway to tell him face-to-face that we were done. I had said that, but I had endured humiliation from Bert and his friends. After today, I never wanted to have anything to do with them again. It wasn’t completely dark yet. I packed my clothes into a suitcase. Everything else from living with Bert, I threw them into a box and intended to throw it out downstairs. After finishing all this, I picked up my phone and saw Bert’s message: [I’ll be home in half an hour. Make dinner to apologize to Della.] It was sent an hour ago. Seeing the cold, commanding words, I replied: [I’m getting married on the 28th. If you are free, bring Della to the wedding feast.] Just as I sent the message, there was a knock on the door.

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My husband, Roy Morrison, made me his and Karen Marshall’s son’s surrogate mother, and I pretended to have no clue about that. Instead, their son, Frank Morrison, was carefully raised by me for twenty-five years. When Frank finally got the shares of my company and took over the Hawkins Group, Roy showed up with Karen, who was in a wheelchair. “Gloria Hawkins, Frank is our son. You have dominated him for twenty-five years; now it’s time to release him and let him be with his own mother, Karen,” said Roy to me. Grinning meaningfully, I replied, “Sure, but I’m afraid Frank will say no.” “Gloria, how can you treat Frank like that? He’s still a little boy, and you plan to drown him with these piles of homework?” Karen used to be Roy’s younger brother’s wife. She pulled the weeping Frank into her arms with a coax. “Frank, don’t cry. Mom is so bad, right? What are these math quizzes for? You’re still a child!” Then, she dropped the pen and took Frank’s hand while saying to him tenderly, “How about we go to the yard and do some research about insects?” Playing with insects was one of Frank’s favorites, and his cloudy little face immediately turned sunny as he threw himself into Karen’s arms. Suddenly, he timidly turned his head to me as if asking for my permission. Karen’s husband passed away in a car accident, and she also lost her legs just to save my husband. Fate deprived her of her chance to be a mother from that nightmare. Therefore, Karen poured all her maternal love into Frank. People praised this young woman for being so benevolent since she cared for her deceased husband’s parents even after his death while looking after her nephew like he was her son. Despite her reliance on the wheelchair, she still persisted in walking Frank to and back from school every day, not even daunted by snow. Once there was a blizzard, and Karen fell down from the wheelchair with her forehead bumped, bleeding. However, she still showed up at the gate of Frank’s school in the afternoon with her wound roughly bandaged. She was in charge of everything that Frank put into his mouth, chose all the outfits for this little boy, and always stood by him when he went to drink water or to play. All of this selfless and meticulous care for Frank was, as claimed by Karen because she wanted someone to be there for her, a wretched and infertile woman, when she aged. The very fact was, that Frank was Karen’s biological son with my husband. Reluctant to expose the truth, I just indulged her excessive maternal love for Frank. To be honest, the company wore me out, and piles of contracts and documents needed my signature. Besides, Frank needed company during his childhood. But letting Karen be with Frank didn’t mean giving in to my way of education. I still brought Frank to various activities to teach him what the big picture was and the correct outlook on life. After all, Frank’s having a life view like a homewrecker was the last thing I wanted in my whole life. Back to what was happening now, Karen was about to take Frank to the yard when I strode over to pull my son back. “Karen, don’t spoil him. You don’t want him to become a lazy, cocky man, right?” I said. She replied impatiently, “It’s just a break. Why so fussy?” As she said that, she stroked Frank’s face and continued, “Frank’s gonna be the CEO of both the Hawkins and the Morrison Group. He’s not like those sad sacks. Even if he can do nothing, people will swarm to work for him.” Then, she turned her wheelchair and took Frank’s hand. I couldn’t help but sneer at this shortsighted woman. Sparing myself the trouble of debating with her, I pulled Frank back. He was my nominal son, and I would definitely not give in even an inch in terms of his education. Unexpectedly, the pull was so hard that Karen fell onto the floor with a painful moan. Then, she covered her head and curled up on the floor. A trace of jealousy and hatred flashed in her gaze at me. All of a sudden, someone rushed to us while inquiring anxiously, “What happened? Why did you fall, Karen?” Then, a robust man strode to Karen and carried her in his arms. The terrifying expression on her face immediately switched to a delicate frown, tears rolling down her cheek. She muttered, “Roy, I just wanted to play with Frank and let him feel relaxed a little bit. He has been working on those math problems for more than an hour. But Gloria blamed me for spoiling Frank, and she just…” Meanwhile, Karen hugged Roy’s arm and sobbed. Roy’s face obviously dropped after learning the whole story and reprimanded me, “I know you’re a workaholic, but can you please spare my son? He’s only eight years old! Don’t brainwash my son with your creed of life and make him a robot!”

I calmly looked at Roy, the man I entrusted myself to. Although he was not a very ambitious or competitive man, he was born into a family as wealthy as mine with good looks. For people from powerful families like us, marriage was less about one’s true feelings but was more about the pursuit of maximum benefits. I had to confess that I didn’t love Roy very much, let alone treat him with tenderness and admiration. As the second son of the Morrison family, Roy had no advantage in the competition for the inheritance, considering his elder brother, Hank Morrison, occupied a rather important position in the Morrison Group, while his illegitimate younger brother, Alan Morrison, won the favor of the elders. So, pursuing me was his best choice. The Morrison family and the Hawkins family were respectively recognized as the most affluent families in the northern and southern regions of the country. As the only heiress to the Hawkins family, I had the undoubted right to dispose of my family business. At that time, our families were negotiating about a five-year cooperation in new energy resources, and Roy treated me so tenderly and never defied me during that period of time. Meanwhile, due to a disagreement with somebody, I married Roy in a fit of pique. Then, I stared at Roy coldly. “Frank will take over the Morrison and the Hawkins Group someday. You really think it’s good for him to grow up without any guidance or restraints?” “A spoiled heir will be very likely to ruin your family business that you take over from your forefathers,” I added. Roy wavered after hearing that. Just as he looked at Frank, who was still weeping, Karen cut in timidly, “Gloria, don’t be an alarmist. Taking a short break doesn’t mean Frank will be ruined. He is only eight years old. You can’t rob him of his childhood for money.” Then, she looked at Roy with pitiful eyes. “Roy, what do you think?” Roy lowered his head to show her a smile and put her back into the wheelchair. Then, he carried Frank with one hand and railed at me, “You really should learn how to be a tame woman like Karen. Be a good mother, and stop just talking about money all the time. You look impersonal.” Sneering, I glared at the loving family in front of me and retorted, “May I remind you that Frank is my son. An outsider like her shouldn’t have any right to intervene in his education, right?” After saying that, I provoked Karen with my eyes. Roy was terrified as he looked at Karen and shouted at me, “Watch your mouth, Gloria! Karen saved my life, and my son will be hers. It’s a warning—never call Karen an outsider ever again as long as I’m still in this family. You dare to say that again, and I will definitely make you regret it.” After that, he wheeled Karen out in her wheelchair with Frank. The joyful laughter leaped into the house just after a while. Standing on the balcony on the second floor, I saw Frank riding on Roy’s shoulders and Karen smiling with satisfaction, and sighed at the younger vision of me. If I hadn’t been so strong-headed, maybe Roy could have lived a happy life with Karen without me as their barricade. As Roy backed her, Karen became even more cocky. She stopped asking about my opinion and directly managed the family affair on her own. Watching Karen and Roy flirting, I even felt pity for them since they couldn’t just fuck in this very house. Karen ruined her life just for a hypocritical man like Roy. I wondered whether she was gonna regret this decision someday. As for Frank’s education, I could tolerate them looking after and playing with him, but I would always be at the helm of Frank’s cultivation. I told the vice president of the Hawkins Group to take care of all the unnecessary cocktail parties while spending my nights reading with Frank and telling him stories. Every summer and winter vacation, I would take Frank to top universities around the world and lead him to the world of academics. Meanwhile, I sent him to learn business administration regardless of the sky-high tuition fees. I could tell that Frank didn’t like my seriousness, but as he grew up and had a wider horizon, he started enjoying talking about life with me and sharing his unusual but wonderful thoughts. Every time I brought Frank out for more than half a month, Karen would bombard me with numerous calls, asking me to put more clothes on him or not to put strange foods in his mouth. Seeing Frank frowning at those calls, I asked him with a smile, “Frank, do you think that I have been too strict with you since your childhood and am not as gentle and caring as Karen?”

After pondering for a while, Frank said, “Mom, trees need help to grow upright, right? I am a man. I should work hard to learn so that I can contribute to the country and society like some of my predecessors. That is a meaningful life.” I patted him on the shoulder. He was surely the son of a great expert. Genetics was amazing. With the cultivation of me, Karen, and Roy, Frank grew up a hard-working and outgoing young man who outshone his peers among other wealthy families. At the age of eighteen, he successfully matriculated in the best engineering college in this country. Roy’s father, Teddy Morrison, held high expectations for Frank and gifted him twenty percent of the Morrison Group’s shares as encouragement. The funny thing was that neither Hank’s daughter nor son gained even one percent, not to mention he himself only held twenty percent of the shares. During the last eighteen years, Roy had established his status due to the investment from the cooperation of the Hawkins Group, enabling him to surpass his elder brother. Teddy nodded at every decision Roy made without blinking his eyes because he knew Roy got me behind his back. Even if there were something wrong, I would clean his ass with my own money. Those shrewd senior managers in the Morrison Group had already stood on Roy’s side and made Hank a figurehead of this company. Three years later, Frank graduated and returned home. On that very day, I showed him a four-hour video of the shit between his real father and real mother. Frank, staying mute for like a century, finally managed to utter, “Mom, what do you want to do?” I asked him really calmly, “Are you sure you can put aside their love and devotion to you for twenty years and turn to my side?” Thinking for a while, Frank said, “Mom, I know what I am doing. If he still has the slightest bit of conscience, I will do it softer.” I patted my son on the shoulder and smiled with relief. My little boy had grown up and become more sophisticated than me in some aspects. I knew he wouldn’t let me down. According to my suggestion, Frank soon interned at the Morrison Group. With the support and guidance of his father and grandfather, Frank tripled the corporate stock price. Facing such a big achievement, Teddy began to think about handing the Morrison Group directly to Frank. A couple of days before Frank’s twenty-fifth birthday, we had a family meeting. I proposed that I wanted to transfer all my shares to Frank and let him take over the Hawkins Group to enjoy my retirement. “I’m just a woman, after all, and I’m tired after working so strenuously for twenty years,” I said. Roy’s face was brimming with joy after hearing my decision. Then, I glanced at Karen, who sat in a corner. Her eyebrows raised as she was probably trying her best to suppress the grin on the corner of her mouth. Nevertheless, the excitement in her eyes betrayed her. Meanwhile, Teddy tapped his cane in deep thought. If Frank controlled the Hawkins Group, he would absolutely not be able to serve the Morrison Group anymore. After all, the Hawkins Group and the Morrison Group hadn’t been merged together. Teddy was very reluctant to see his grandson make another corporation thrive. Suddenly, he took my hint that I meant to merge the Hawkins and the Morrison Group into one and form a company mainly led by the old Morrison Group named the ZenithPlex Group. With Frank as its CEO, the ZenithPlex Group would rank first among all the companies in Zephyria. Teddy was thrilled at this conception. The Morrison Group would still be itself as Frank, his grandfather, took it over, while the Hawkins Group was totally wiped off in the business field. The Morrison Group would still thrive in Zephyria after merging with the Hawkins Group. Hank, however, opposed this idea, and I just acquired all his shares at a higher price to erase this trouble of my plan. Facing Teddy’s pressure, Hank finally surrendered and left in a rage with the money. Karen represented her deceased husband and approved my plan without hesitation. She said generously, “Alan passed away, and I don’t have any children. I always treat Frank as my own flesh and blood. I will count on him when I am old, so let this young chap have everything.”   After discussion, we planned to hold a press conference on Frank’s twenty-fifth birthday to announce the merger of the Morrison and the Hawkins Group with Frank taking over this new company. People flooded into the press conference, and all the upper circle of Zephyria attended it, too. The whole place was brimmed with jealous exclaims and congratulations. From now on, the ZenithPlex Group would earn their admiration and be the most optional choice of their business partner. In the presence of lawyers, Frank walked onto the stage with all the shareholders’ trust and signed the contract of share transfer. Then, he gave an inaugural address. The moment he finished his speech, applause broke out in the crowd. Right after his speech, Roy wheeled Karen, who was rugged out at her best, to the stage. With Roy’s help, she managed to stand up with her feeble legs trembling and hugged Frank. She said excitedly, “My son, you finally grow up. May days of being forced to separate my child finally come to an end!” Then, she pulled out a DNA test she conducted twenty years ago and handed it to me in front of the cameras. “Gloria, you hated me because Roy cared about me, so you cooked up a car accident to kill Alan and disable me. You even took my son away!” Glaring at Karen, who was engrossed in a revenge drama, I was kind of surprised to know that she could still reduce her moral bottom line when it was already so low. Maybe that was why she was not religious because she wasn’t afraid to be punished by God when making those things up. Everyone was attracted to Karen’s story with sobs and couldn’t help looking back and forth at Roy, Frank, and me. Then, whispers quietly broke out. “What’s this all about?” said a person. Another murmured, “Frank is not Ms. Hawkins’ son?” “She robbed motherhood of the widow of Mr. Morrison’s younger brother?” someone chimed in. “But that young man is an adult now. If Karen reclaims her motherhood right now, Ms. Hawkins’ years of raising Frank will be in vain!” “Hold on. If Ms. Hawkins transfers her company to Frank now, she will have nothing left if Karen’s claim is true.” Meanwhile, Roy just said to me in disappointment, “Gloria, I know it was the shock of giving birth to a dead infant that drove you mad, making you regard Frank as your own flesh and blood. For two decades, Karen didn’t reclaim her son for you. Now, Frank has grown up, and he deserves to know who his mother really is.” I just stared at Roy, who seemed to be moved by his own lie. He and Karen must be the best work of Cupid as they were all gifted liars. Then, I glanced at Teddy, who awkwardly cleaned his throat and averted my gaze with his face turning to another side. Now, everything was crystal clear. The whole family tacitly approved Roy’s plan to borrow my uterus and even helped with it. No wonder none of them doubted why the widow of an illegitimate son of Teddy could still stay in the family. They used me to cultivate a qualified heir and boost their family business. What a nice plan. Unfortunately, it would have been even nicer if I hadn’t keenly discerned it years ago. I could have had every drop of blood drained by those vampires and been kicked out of the Morrison family, suffering bullying and insults every day. Showering in people’s astonished eyes, I smiled at Frank and asked, “Frank, what about your opinion? Recognize Karen as your real mother and kick me out of this family, or treat me as your mother, considering my effort for your achievement. Which one will you choose?”

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On my birthday, Logan Mitchell, my husband, told me he was too busy with work to celebrate with me. Instead, he had someone deliver a cake. He even called to reassure me, as if that would make up for it. “Babe, I can’t be with you today. You’re not mad at me, right? But I got a surprise for you in the cake!” I stared at the property deed I had just pulled out of the cake. The name on it wasn’t mine. It belonged to a girl I’d never heard of. I took a deep breath and said calmly, “No, I’m not mad.” I wasn’t angry. But I knew, at that moment, that our seven-year marriage was over. ***** I threw the cake in the trash and mailed the property deed to the address on the packaging. Then, I sat at the edge of my bed, feeling completely hollow, like my soul had been drained out of me. I never thought the boy who once swore he’d have no reason to live if I didn’t choose him would turn out to be so… ordinary, so filthy. What disgusted me even more was that the apartment he bought for her was in our neighborhood and the same building. His favorite saying came to mind. “The safest place is often the most dangerous.” Thinking back, I should’ve seen this coming. His affair had probably been going on for six months now. For half a year, he’d been getting work calls in the middle of the night and leaving, saying he had to put in extra hours. It wasn’t even an hour after I tossed the cake that Logan called. “Babe, don’t be mad, okay? Just wait for me to get home so I can explain.” I hung up, bitterness welling up inside me. Explain what, exactly? That he just made the one mistake all men make? As I sat there in a daze, a friend request popped up in my contacts. I tapped on it. The profile picture looked familiar. I’d seen it before on Logan’s phone. The contact name he’d saved was Max Emerson. Max was his male assistant. But this profile picture was a woman. And he was the one who kept calling in the middle of the night about work emergencies. I had met Max before. But Logan never let me hear his calls with him. So this had been right in front of me the whole time. I accepted the request. The girl messaged me first. [Hi, Vanessa! I’m Madison Brooks.] I let out a dry laugh. The same name that had been on the property deed. Then, another message came through. [Vanessa, don’t get the wrong idea about Logan. There’s nothing between us. He just treats me like a sister.] [If it bothers you, I can give up the apartment.] Then, she sent a sticker of a teary-eyed, pitiful-looking cartoon. I knew exactly why she was reaching out now. She’d been hidden away for six months. And now? She finally had a chance to step into the light. I ignored her and checked her Instagram instead. Her posts from the last six months were all about Logan. I scrolled all the way down to the beginning of their first meeting. The photo was taken in a hospital. She was lying in a bed, and Logan was peeling an apple, carving it into the shape of a rabbit. The caption read: [Oh my God, I think I’m in love. This accident must’ve been fate bringing us together!] Carving apples into rabbits. Logan’s signature trick. Back when we were young, he’d always do that just to make me laugh. I checked the date. And suddenly, I remembered something. That was the day I had a miscarriage. On his way to the hospital, Logan hit a young girl with his car. He ended up staying at the hospital, taking care of her for two whole weeks. When I finally recovered enough, I offered to go visit her with him. He told me no and said I had just gotten better and shouldn’t worry too much. And I, like a fool, actually believed it. I thought I had married the right person. I thought he was still the same boy who had promised to love me forever. But love was just an act. And he missed his calling. He would’ve made one hell of an actor.

When Logan came home and saw me sitting there calmly, waiting for him, he hesitated before walking over and sitting beside me. Then, in an attempt to please me, he pulled out a necklace. “Babe, this is the surprise I wanted to give you tonight.” The necklace in his hand was one I had admired for a long time but never bought for myself. That was just the kind of person Logan was, full of surprises, always remembering the things I liked. And yet, even now, I still couldn’t believe someone like him would cheat. He avoided talking about the affair, hoping that a gift would smooth things over. But looking at this necklace only made me feel sick. Because today was also Madison’s birthday, an hour ago, she had posted a picture of herself wearing this exact necklace on Instagram, along with a photo of a property deed. It was clear how much Logan adored her. Even after knowing I had caught him cheating, he still chose to indulge her longer. Once, all of his love belonged to me. But now, he had given it to someone else. “Let’s get a divorce, Logan.” My sudden words shattered the illusion of peace between us. The smile on Logan’s face froze. He didn’t yell or argue, almost as if he had expected this. Instead, he leaned back on the couch, looking utterly defeated. “The divorce procedure will take three months. Think it over. Without me, you have nothing. I just made a mistake, that’s all. You don’t have to do this so quickly. “Madison is just a young girl who recently graduated. Don’t go after her. She’s only at the beginning of her life. This is all on me. Whatever you want to do, do it to me.” A sharp pain twisted inside me. Logan hadn’t just divided his love. His heart had already chosen a side. And he was right. I had nothing. I had been raised by my grandmother, and when she passed, she entrusted me to him. Now, I had no one. But that didn’t mean I lacked the courage to start over. I stood up, ready to speak, but a sudden pain flared in my stomach, making me break out in a cold sweat. This was a problem I had developed years ago when I had scrimped and saved to help Logan pay off his debts after his failed startup. Back then, Logan had been beside himself with worry. He had searched everywhere for remedies, cooked nutritious meals for me no matter how exhausted he was, and made sure I took my medicine every day. Because of his care, I hadn’t had an episode in a long time. Logan rushed me to the hospital in a panic. The pain was bad this time. I needed to stay on an IV drip for a few days. It was already past midnight. I told Logan to go home and rest, but he refused, insisting on staying with me. The scene felt so familiar. There was a time when I had spent an entire night in pain, unable to sleep, and Logan had stayed up with me, on edge, not daring to rest. That night, he had been so distressed he even cried with me. But things were different now. Thinking I was asleep, Logan took out his phone and called Madison. “Baby, go to sleep, okay? I can’t be with you tonight.” “But I don’t want to! She’s already asleep anyway. Just sneak over for a bit, please? I have a surprise for you. You’ll regret it if you don’t come.” Logan didn’t answer right away. He hesitated. Then, after making sure I was really asleep, he left. Only after hearing the door close did I finally let out a quiet, pained gasp. But no matter how much my body hurt, it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.

I didn’t know when I fell asleep, but when I woke up, the sun was already up. Logan was sitting by the hospital bed, resting his chin on his hand, dozing off. It was as if he had never left. The IV drip had already been changed to a new bottle. He must have come back about an hour ago. My stomach was empty, and the hunger was making me uncomfortable. I reached for my phone on the bedside table, planning to order some food. But my small movement startled Logan. He looked delighted for a second when he saw me awake, then quickly noticed what I was doing. He smiled and said, “Are you hungry? I made some soup to warm your stomach. Wait here while I go heat it up.” That was when I noticed the pink food container sitting on the side table. I frowned, wanting to refuse, but before I could say anything, Logan had already grabbed the container and was heading out. Before leaving, he ruffled my hair just like he used to and told me to wait for him. Watching his back as he left, a bitter, nauseating feeling twisted inside me. Even now, he was using Madison’s food container. On my way home, Logan called. “Vanessa, why did you leave? Where are you now?” “I went home.” “Why didn’t you tell me? Do you know I stayed with you all night? I’m exhausted. Can you stop throwing tantrums?” Hearing him take credit for staying overnight, I almost laughed. “Then just think of it as me throwing a tantrum.” I hung up and told the driver to take me to the law firm instead. I printed several copies of the divorce agreement. While waiting in the car, I played on my phone for a bit and stumbled upon a viral video. Someone was being beaten up for being a homewrecker. And the homewrecker? None other than Madison. Even better, the ones beating her up were familiar faces, Logan’s sister, Sophia Grayson, and his mother, Evelyn Mitchell. Madison was pinned to the ground, getting punched and kicked. Her clothes were torn, exposing more than they should. She lay there, barely moving, her body and the ground stained with bright red blood. Someone must have called the police because soon enough, sirens blared, and both the police and an ambulance arrived. All three of them were taken away. When I got home, I was still wondering why his mother and sister had attacked Madison. Then Logan stormed in, his face twisted in fury. Before I could say a word, a stinging slap landed across my cheek. I stared at him in shock. Anger and disbelief surged through me. This was the first time he had ever hit me. “I told you to leave Madison alone! She’s just a young girl who just started working. Why are you so cruel?” Logan spat through clenched teeth. I held my face, my gaze turning ice cold. “What did I do to her? You’re talking about how your mom and sister beat her up because she was the other woman? “I didn’t tell them, Logan. And I wouldn’t waste my breath doing so.” “Don’t lie, Vanessa! If not for you, why would my mom and sister go after her? Do you have any idea that she…” Logan suddenly stopped, looking away evasively. “She’s not in good health. This is my final warning to you.” I felt a crushing pain gripping my chest, making it hard to breathe. What he stopped himself from saying… Madison was pregnant with his child. And me? After my miscarriage six months ago, the doctor said I might never be able to conceive again. So, he had wasted no time finding someone else to have his baby. Right now, I was his wife, yet he was standing here, defending his mistress to my face. He had never felt more like a stranger to me than he did at this moment. The air between us froze. Then, a sudden knock at the door broke the silence. “Mom? Sophia? What are you two doing here?” Logan had just opened the door when he saw Evelyn and Sophia standing outside, both fuming with rage. “What’s your relationship with Madison? “Why did you bail her out, too?” Sophia jabbed a finger at Logan and shoved him hard, her eyes blazing with anger. Her emotions were completely out of control. Evelyn quickly pulled her daughter back and then glared at Logan. “Logan, you better explain yourself! Why are you protecting that homewrecker? Don’t forget who your real family is!” Logan sighed helplessly and looked at both of them. “Mom, Sophia, don’t listen to Vanessa’s nonsense. Madison is just a kid who’s new to society. You didn’t even get the facts straight before attacking her. “You even ruined her reputation! If it weren’t for me, you two wouldn’t be standing here right now.” Their heated argument completely ignored my presence. I didn’t care to get involved either. I was about to head back to my room when Logan called out to me. “Vanessa, come explain everything so there’s no misunderstanding.” He winked at me, clearly signaling me to cover up the fact that Madison was, indeed, the other woman. I had no idea how his mom and Sophia found out, but one thing was for sure. I wasn’t about to lie to him. “Explain what? Explain how you got her pregnant?” Evelyn and Sophia gasped in shock at the same time. “What?! What’s going on? What’s your relationship with her?” “Vanessa, stop making things up!” Logan was clearly flustered, his confidence shaken now that I had exposed his lie. “Logan, you better tell me the truth! Why the hell do you have a child with that bitch?” Sophia was like a raging beast, throwing her purse at Logan’s head over and over. Evelyn didn’t stop her. In fact, she slapped Logan across the face and yelled. “Why did you get involved with that whore? Do you have any idea that she’s Ryan’s mistress?”

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Eighteen years ago, my husband, Anthony Parker, and his lover, Amber Owens, died in a car accident, leaving me to raise our twin boys. Eighteen years had passed in a flash. I worked hard to raise them, and they were accepted into Ivy League colleges. On the day they received their acceptance letters, Anthony and Amber miraculously came back to me. Amber hugged Anthony, smiling, “Thanks to your efforts, my sons made it to the Ivy League colleges. “Without you, we couldn’t have enjoyed ourselves for so long…” Anthony suggested divorcing me to reunite with Amber. Instead of crying, I smiled faintly, “Okay!” ***** “Mom! We are admitted into the Ivy League colleges!” I heard my sons, Micah and Maxwell, excitedly shouting in the study while I prepared dinner. “Mom! Micah and I are admitted into the Ivy League colleges!” They rushed out and hugged me tightly. I looked at them, who were a head taller than me, with satisfaction. I said, “You both are amazing. I’m so proud of you.” Since Anthony’s death, I had raised two children alone for eighteen years. Now, as they get admitted to top universities, my heart swells with joy. Back then, Anthony and Amber both died, leaving me with a pair of twins. Despite everyone’s opposition, I insisted on keeping and raising the twins. Eighteen years passed in a flash, and the twins grew up. Through my unwavering efforts, they were admitted into the Ivy League colleges. Seeing them to be successful, I was particularly delighted. “Thank you, Mom, for your years of hard work in raising us.” “We wouldn’t be who we are today without you.” Micah and Maxwell were always filial. They understood my years of effort in raising them and promised that after graduation and securing good jobs, they would support me to enjoy my life. With their birthday just two days away, I considered how to celebrate. In the past, I always booked hotel rooms for their birthdays. But this year, I decided to combine it with their graduation party for a bigger celebration. I booked a ballroom at one of the city’s best hotels. At the same time, I shared the news that my two sons were admitted to Ivy League colleges in the family group chat. The group soon buzzed with excitement. [Micah and Maxwell are so awesome!] [If Anthony knew how successful his sons were, he’d be at peace.] I briefly skimmed the messages and posted the party location to the group. After that, I turned off my phone notifications and quietly awaited the celebration.

The birthday party was set for two days later at 10:00 am. I arrived early at the hotel that morning to review the menu and ensure every detail of the party was perfect. Most attendees were relatives of the Parker family, but my parents were absent. Back then, I ignored their objections and insisted on adopting Anthony and Amber’s children. When my parents found out, they were so angry that they almost had a heart attack. Even after so many years, they never understood why I chose to raise someone else’s kids instead of leading a more secure life. Anthony’s parents, Richard and Sofia, entered the hall, assisted by the crowd. They walked straight to the main table and sat down, where Anthony’s brother and sister sat with their families. There were eight people seated at the main table. They surrounded my sons, and the seat was so full that there was no seat for me. “Hannah, what are you waiting for? Hurry and get Mom and Dad some water,” Lydia called out, grabbing some snacks from the table. Lydia was Anthony’s sister. She had endured an unhappy marriage and domestic abuse, and she was criticized for not being able to give birth to a son. Now, at forty years old, she had given birth to a boy, which made her walk with a newfound confidence. Micah and Maxwell attempted to get up to help but were restrained by Richard and Sofia. “Micah and Maxwell, come talk to me,” Sofia urged. “Look at how handsome the boys are, just like my brother,” Lydia said. “They look more like Amber to me,” Anthony’s brother remarked. Richard and Sofia glared at him fiercely, and he quickly shrank back into his seat, not daring to say a word. I moved between the tables, serving food and pouring wine. Micah and Maxwell couldn’t bear it any longer and added a chair between them. They pushed me into my seat and said, “Mom, our birthday is your day of suffering. Sit down and take a rest.” This prompted a shift in the room’s atmosphere. Lydia smirked, “Hannah, my brother would be thrilled to see his son raised so well by you.” Richard coughed lightly, effectively silencing her. “Hannah, today is such a nice day. I have something to discuss with you,” Sofia said, her eyes sparkling. “Go ahead,” I replied. Sofia continued, “Micah and Maxwell are going off to college soon. It’ll be empty for you in that three-bedroom apartment. “When they start school, Richard and I will move in, and I’ll cook for you while you work.” So that was her plan. My parents had initially put a down payment on the house I lived in, intending to add Anthony’s name. Six months into our marriage, he took a drive with Amber and had a fatal car accident. And both of them died. When I saw him again, he was just a handful of ashes. My parents had helped me pay the mortgage, so the property was solely in my name. Now, as my children grew up, Richard and Sofia were eyeing my house. I explained, “Mom, it’s not that I won’t let you live there. Micah and Maxwell will be studying abroad. “That’s why I’ve sold the house and will downsize to a one-bedroom apartment, using the rest for their education.” Richard’s face turned pale. He slammed the table. “As a part of the Parker family, why don’t you discuss such matters with us?” “I’m doing this for Anthony’s children,” I replied, feigning surprise. Richard continued, “What about the money from the house sale? You can give it to Sofia. She will save it for you. I’m worried about your extravagant spending.” In the past, as long as I claimed it was for the children’s benefit, they usually remained quiet. But today, Richard and Sofia’s demeanor suggested I was now expendable with my sons heading to college. Thinking of this, I said calmly, “I’ve instructed my lawyer to deposit the money into a growth fund. “Micah and Maxwell will receive ten thousand dollars monthly until they turn forty.” Richard’s furrowed brow finally relaxed at that. He said, “Good to see you’re thinking ahead and leaving money for my grandchildren. “You don’t need to buy a house. Just rent one, and don’t waste the money.”

As the chatter continued, the hotel manager approached and handed me the microphone. He said, “Today is your sons’ birthday and graduation party. “As their mother, I’d like to ask you to share a few words and some insights.” Taking the microphone, I began, “Thank you all for attending Maxwell and Micah’s graduation party. Today…” “Today, my sons have been accepted into Ivy League colleges. It’ll be a pity if their biological parents are not present on such a significant day.” Before I could finish, a commotion interrupted me. A man and a woman entered arm in arm. I looked up and, despite the eighteen years that had passed, instantly recognized them, my late husband Anthony and his beloved Amber. The hall buzzed with murmurs. Richard and Sofia, seated at the main table, showed no excitement at seeing their son returned from the dead. Instead, they calmly invited Amber to sit beside them. Anthony, who had been “dead” for eighteen years, approached me. He said, “Hannah, you may not be a good wife, but you’ve been a good mother.” My sons, finally breaking free from their shock, looked confused. “What’s going on?” Anthony pointed at Amber and said, “Amber is your biological mother. Hannah couldn’t have children. “If she hadn’t refused to divorce me and threatened me to commit suicide back then, our family wouldn’t have been torn apart for eighteen years.” Before I could defend myself, the Parker family members turned to my sons. “He’s right. It was Hannah’s refusal to divorce that kept you from your birth parents for eighteen years.” “Don’t think Hannah treated you well. She didn’t have the best intentions.” “Well, now that you’re grown and have been admitted to Ivy League colleges, the family can finally reunite.” Micah and Maxwell stood frozen, unsure of how to react. Amber wailed, taking their hands and showing them her phone, “I’m your biological mother. I send you gifts every year. “I even sneak in to see you after school.” As she spoke, she turned to me and added, “Hannah, thank you for raising my two sons so well.” Anthony wrapped his arm around her shoulders and looked at me with a hint of sarcasm. He demanded, “You and I are getting a divorce. After eighteen years, I’m marrying Amber.” Everyone thought I would disagree, or even make a scene. But facing the discussions and inquiring eyes of dozens of people from the Parker family, I laughed, “Okay! I agree. I’ll file for divorce tomorrow and reunite your family.” My words stunned the audience. They couldn’t believe I would give away the sons I had raised for eighteen years. Even Anthony and Amber stared at me in disbelief. They thought I would throw a tantrum and cry but didn’t expect me to agree so readily. Anthony looked at me in disbelief and asked puzzledly, “Are you out of your mind?” I replied directly, “What? Not happy about it?” Amber quickly pulled on Anthony’s arm, and he, fearing I might change my mind, retrieved a divorce agreement from his bag. He said, “Then sign the divorce agreement. From now on, Micah and Maxwell have nothing to do with you, and you can’t see them again.” Without reading it, I signed. “Mom? You don’t want us anymore?” Micah and Maxwell looked at me, hurt and confused by my quick compliance. Amber tucked the agreement away and said complacently, “Hannah, thank you for making us whole. “If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t be so carefree out there.” Looking at her two tall sons, Amber grinned with a proud smile. “Okay, there’s nothing more for you to do here. Just go.” Richard waved me off impatiently. I said, “Now that the agreement is signed, it’s time to tell you the truth.” “What do you mean?” Amber asked, confused. I sighed with relief. After eighteen years, it was finally over. I clapped my hands and called to the door, “Come in.” Moments later, two figures entered the hall.

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My boyfriend Charles Lane’s mom, Karen Wilson, called us to come over for dinner. When we got to his place, a five-year-old kid suddenly rushed into his arms, yelling, “Daddy!” A plainly dressed woman with a big smile waved at me and said, “Nancy Stone! It’s been forever—can’t believe you actually managed to snag Charles.” I shot a confused look at Charles, and he shrugged casually. “Quinn Scott got divorced and moved back here. She had nowhere to stay, so I told her she could bring the kid and keep my mom company for a while.” I struggled through that dinner, barely keeping it together. Afterward, I agreed to a blind date my family had been pushing for—and within a week, I was married. ***** At the dinner table, Charles’ family sat together, chatting and laughing like it was the most natural thing in the world. While I huddled quietly in the corner. Karen cradled five-year-old Tyler Collins in her arms, her smile so bright it seemed her face might burst. Out of nowhere, Tyler turned to Charles and shouted, “Daddy, I really like the toy car you got me this time!” “Glad you like it,” Charles replied, warm and indulgent. The way he looked at Tyler—it was like he was gazing at his own kid. Maybe Quinn caught the sour look on my face because she quickly jumped in to hush her son. “Tyler, how many times have I told you? Don’t call Mr. Lane ‘Daddy.’ He’s not married yet.” Her words sounded like a scolding, but her face told a different story—she wasn’t mad. If anything, she looked amused, her whole expression lit up with a smile. Then Quinn speared a piece of fried fish with her fork and popped it into Charles’ mouth. “Charles, try this—see if my cooking’s gotten rusty. I made it special for you since I knew you’d be back.” Her movements were so smooth and casual, you’d think they were the couple here. “Delicious,” Charles said, taking the bite without hesitation, his lips brushing her fork like it was no big deal. “I’ve been craving this for years while you were abroad. Now that you’re back, I’m in for a treat.” A wave of nausea hit me, and my appetite vanished completely. I stared into space when Quinn speared another piece of fried fish with her fork and moved it toward my plate. “Nancy, you’ve got to try my cooking too!” I jerked my plate away and snapped, “No thanks, I don’t like it. I’m a germaphobe.” The smile plastered on Quinn’s face froze for a second before crumbling. Her lips were pursed into a pout, and it looked like tears were about to spill. Charles quickly scooped the fish she’d offered me into his own plate, then shot me a glare. “What’s your deal? We’ve been together for years—since when are you a germaphobe? Are you just trying to start something?” I’d hold it together until then, but his words shattered the dam. All the hurt I’d been bottling up came flooding out, and tears welled up in my eyes. Before I could even get a word out, Quinn jumped in again, her voice trembling with exaggerated woe. “Charles, don’t blame Nancy. It’s my fault—I got too carried away.” Before she even finished speaking, a tiny hand slapped me across the face. “Don’t you dare bully my mom!” I looked up, tears stinging my eyes, to see Quinn’s son Tyler standing there, hands on his hips, his little face puffed up with anger. I was so furious I started shaking. “Where are your manners?” I snapped. My shout startled him, and he burst into tears. Karen swooped in, scooping him up to comfort him, then turned to scold me. “Can’t you just talk things out calmly? Why would you yell at a little kid who doesn’t know better? Kids scare easily—you’re only making trouble for yourself.” Quinn stood up, pointing at me accusingly. “Nancy, no matter what’s going on, you don’t take it out on a child.” Charles hurried to calm her down, ushering her back into her seat, then nudged me. “Come on, apologize to the kid. You’re a grown adult—how can you stoop to arguing with a child?” That was it—I couldn’t hold back the flood of hurt any longer. I dropped my fork and knife, stood up, and stormed toward the door. As I passed the cabinet, a bright toy car caught my eye—the one Tyler had raved about, the one Charles had asked me to buy for his “nephew.”

Before we came, Charles mentioned a little nephew would be there too. I hadn’t thought much of it, assuming it was his sister’s kid. But no—it was Quinn’s son all along. Realizing that, I grabbed the toy, yanked the door open and hurled it outside. When I stepped out, Tyler’s cries and Charles’ furious shouts erupted behind me. “Nancy, have you lost your mind?” I ignored the chaos inside and kept walking, leaving his house behind. As I waited for the elevator, Charles came charging out. He grabbed me by the arm and dragged me back toward his place. “Go back and apologize! How can you be so petty with a kid?” I yanked myself free from his grip, my eyes blazing as I yelled back, “Charles, don’t you think the one who should apologize is that brat with no manners?” Out of nowhere, a sharp slap landed across my face. I froze, stunned. “Tyler’s already got it rough without a dad,” Charles snapped. “Can’t you just cut him some slack? Calling a kid like that—don’t you think you’re being cruel?” His biased words almost made me laugh. “Cruel? Fine, call me cruel then. But if you think I’m apologizing, you’re dreaming.” Right then, the elevator doors slid open. I darted inside, leaving Charles fuming outside as the doors shut. Back at the house, I shared with Charles, I quickly packed up all my stuff and shipped it back home. I booked a flight for that same day—after seven years in his city for him, I was done for good this time. Charles blew up my phone with calls, but I didn’t pick up once. It was the first time I didn’t cave. Looking back, I was such a fool. He’d secretly flown overseas to see Quinn behind my back, all because she’d said, “I miss you.” He even sold the small company he’d spent years building from scratch to pay off Quinn’s debts, leaving himself with nothing. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg—I could go on forever. Time after time, I let my heart soften, feeling sorry for him. I even went behind his back, begging my family to pull strings and open doors for him, smoothing the way for his career. But no matter how much I did, I could never compete with Quinn, his childhood sweetheart. To him, she was worth more than his own life. And yet, even with all that, Quinn still chose someone else back then. When I dragged my bags through the door back home, my mom, Megan, gave me a sharp look. “Oh, you finally remembered where home is. Guess you’ve had enough of learning the hard way, huh?” Her words stung, but she still reached over to grab one of my bags. I flashed an awkward smile, not daring to talk back. She was right—I’d messed up, big time. My parents, Megan and Dylan, never liked Charles and were dead-set against us dating. It took me crying and begging for a solid month before they grudgingly gave in. But their approval came with a catch: they wanted Charles to move to our city. I knew right away he’d never agree—his pride was way too strong for that. So, in the end, I snuck off to his city behind their backs. Reality, though, had a way of slapping me hard across the face. That evening, my dad, Dylan Stone, got home from work just as we sat down to dinner. The second he saw me, he let out an angry huff and stormed off to his study. Megan shot me a quick look, nudging me with her eyes. I scrambled to my feet and followed him. Ten minutes later, I’d sweet-talked him out of his mood, and soon enough, our family was back to its old chatter and laughter. Over dinner, Dylan mentioned he’d found someone for me to meet—a hardworking guy who’d built himself up from nothing, ambitious and decent.

My parents both turned to me, their faces lit with hope. Megan hesitated, her lips twitching like she wanted to nudge me along, worried I’d push back. I’d always hated the idea of blind dates, after all. Dylan, meanwhile, sat there with a dark look, practically daring me to say no—like he’d rip me apart if I did. I couldn’t help but laugh. “Dad, send me his number. I’ll meet him tomorrow.” The second I said it, their faces broke into huge, relieved smiles. After dinner, I was deleting the handful of photos I’d taken with Charles over the years when his video call popped up. I figured it was as good a time to clear the air with him once and for all. But the second I answered, Charles launched into me. “I’m not coming home tonight. You need to think long and hard about what you did. You finally visit my mom’s place, and you manage to upset everyone. “I even had you buy that toy so Tyler might warm up to you, but this is how you treat a kid—like some shrew. “Now Tyler doesn’t like you, my mom doesn’t like you—what are we supposed to do about that?” He unloaded all that on me, then stared expectantly, waiting for my response. He didn’t even notice that the background behind me wasn’t our little shared home anymore. I almost laughed at how absurd it all sounded. Why should my relationship with him depend on some kid’s approval? Before I could say anything, a woman’s voice cut in, “Charles, how do I look in this?” A second later, Quinn appeared on screen, dressed in a slinky nightgown. She plopped down next to him, then spotted me in the call. “Oh, Nancy, it’s you! Don’t be mad at Charles, okay? Tyler’s already over it, so there’s no need to keep fighting with him.” Her tone dripped with fake concern, but it was obvious she was taunting me, pressing herself against Charles in that skimpy outfit. Charles’ face flushed down to his neck, but he didn’t budge—just let her stay glued to his side. Honestly, this wasn’t exactly new for them. They’d done plenty of couple-like things in the past, all while pretending to be friends on the surface. Out of nowhere, Megan appeared behind me. Before I could react, she snatched my phone from my hands. “Don’t ever contact my daughter again—you two are done,” she snapped, then hung up the call in a huff. Charles must’ve panicked because, not even a second later, he dialed back. I didn’t pick up—and I had no intention of doing so. Megan, worried I might waver, quickly chimed in with a reminder to stay strong. I gave her a reassuring pat, letting her know I wouldn’t cave this time. The next morning, I met the guy my parents had set me up with. He was polished, funny, and easy to talk to, plus his background matched ours pretty evenly. The conversation flowed, and by the end, we were both feeling good about it. His name was Nathan Smith—a rising star in the business world. Not even thirty, he’d already taken over his family’s company and turned it into a thriving success. My parents had done their homework: no messy dating history, just a guy who’d poured everything into his career and earned a stellar reputation. He seemed like someone worth building a life with. After our meeting, since our parents already knew each other, the two families wasted no time finalizing the engagement. The wedding was set for the end of the month—just a few days away. Late that night, after wrapping up a call with Nathan, I was aimlessly scrolling through my social feed when I stumbled across something ridiculous. Charles had taken Quinn and her son on a trip—staying in the same hotel, no less. Quinn had gone out of her way to post about it, complete with a caption and photos. Her caption read: [More than friends, not quite lovers—shouldn’t be long before we’re a real family of three.] The pictures? One of the hotel room’s double beds and another of Charles give her son a bath in the bathroom. The comments below were from Charles’ buddies and Quinn’s best friends—people I knew, all mutual connections. They were teasing her. [Guess you finally see how great Charles is now, huh?] Quinn replied with a shy emoji. Someone else commented: [Good thing you came around quick, or Charles might’ve ended up with someone else.] One of her friends added, suddenly enlightened: [Wait a sec—Charles dated that other girl for years and never proposed. Was he waiting for you all along? So happy for you, haha!] Then came a flood of congratulations. [Congrats! Wishing you a speedy wedding—maybe give Tyler a little sister next, and you’ll have the perfect boy-girl pair!] I smirked and deliberately copied that last comment, posting it myself. No sooner had it gone up than a classmate messaged me: [Did you and Charles break up?] I thought about it—technically, we hadn’t said it out loud, but it was pretty much a done deal. So I replied that: [Yeah, we’d split.] Once she got the confirmation, she offered some unexpected sympathy. [Charles is a total jerk. Good riddance—hope he and Quinn stay together forever and stop messing with anyone else.] I laughed it off, assuring her I was fine. I added: [I’m actually getting married soon. I’ll invite you guys when the time comes.] After exchanging a few pleasantries with her, I started flipping through my photo album. And pulled up a picture of a wedding dress I’d saved seven years ago. Time had changed things—what used to be my favorite gown now looked outdated and unappealing. It wasn’t expensive or anything special, and I couldn’t even remember why I’d loved it so much back then. For seven years it’d sat there, untouched. Looking at it now, I thought my old taste was pretty terrible. Just then, my phone rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Charles. Curious about what he’d have to say, I picked up. “Nancy, don’t get the wrong idea,” he said. “Quinn and I are sharing a room because it’s easier to look after Tyler. It’s a twin-bed room—you saw that. So don’t overthink it. “If you’re over what happened the other day, just wait for me at home like a good girl. Once I’ve taken them out to unwind, I’ll come get you, okay?” When I didn’t respond, he must’ve assumed I was still mad. His tone shifted to that soft, coaxing voice he used when he was trying to smooth things over—like he was talking to a kid. “Come on, don’t be upset. Even Tyler, a little kid, isn’t holding a grudge. You’re an adult—don’t make a big deal out of it. I shouldn’t have pushed you to apologize that day; I got carried away. Can you forgive me, babe?” He only ever called me “babe” when he knew he’d done something to upset me. In the past, I might’ve let it slide, but not anymore. I was ready to let go—to step out of this vague, messy thing he had with Quinn. I was done being a pawn in their little game. With that in mind, I smiled and said, “Well, have a great time then.” My voice carried no trace of jealousy—just pure, genuine cheer, which threw him off for a second. “Charles, honey, come to bed—Tyler wants you to cuddle him to sleep,” Quinn’s voice chimed in from the background. Charles fumbled a quick “Gotta go” and hung up in a rush. I took a deep breath and called Nathan, “Let’s move the wedding up—to the day after tomorrow.” He didn’t sound the least bit surprised. Instead, his voice softened with concern. “Are you okay? You don’t sound happy.” I hadn’t expected Nathan—pushing thirty with zero dating experience—to pick up on my mood so keenly. The night before the wedding, I sent the invitations to our class group chat, and it blew up almost instantly.

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When I turned eighteen, my family suddenly struck it rich. My father, Samuel Cooper, made a fortune in business. We moved into a big mansion with a full staff of maids and drivers. My younger brother, Dylan Cooper, was sent to Leranda to study and soon after graduated, marrying a beautiful and wealthy woman. Together, they helped our family business thrive. The only problem was that I had caught a cold and missed the SATs, so my parents married me off to a poor, rural bachelor. I was locked in the basement, tortured day after day. I finally managed to escape and return home, but my parents’ attitude was disgustingly cold. “Such a burden. Why didn’t you just die in the mountains?” Dylan took me out to cheer me up, then pushed me under a moving truck. I ended up with broken bones and was sent to the ICU. As I lay on the brink of death, Dylan, dressed in an expensive suit, whispered in my ear, “I’ll let you die knowing the truth. Our family didn’t get rich from business. It was all because of the 100 million dollar lottery ticket you won. “We secretly claimed the prize, and kept it from you all this time.” With regret, I breathed my last. After I died, my body was “married off” for a dowry of 120 thousand dollars. Then, I opened my eyes again, back to the day I bought the lottery ticket. “This is your ticket. Keep it safe. You might just win big.” I stared at the ticket in my hand, dazed. I had been reborn. Back in the day, I bought that lottery ticket! In my past life, I’d bought the same ticket, but Dylan had barged into my room and stolen it. I had always considered myself unlucky and didn’t believe I’d win, so I didn’t give the ticket much thought. Soon after, our family’s business started booming. We quickly moved into a mansion and became one of the city’s wealthiest families. Dylan was sent off to study abroad in Leranda. I had even suggested studying abroad myself, but my mother, Madison Cooper, shot it down immediately. “You’re a girl. You’ll get married and settle down. What’s the point of studying abroad? It’s just a waste.” I had been the top student in my entire grade. But ever since I bought that lottery ticket, my bad luck never stopped. Even on SAT day, I fell ill, collapsed from diarrhea, and missed the exam. My parents married me off to a poor rural bachelor, and I was locked in a basement, abused daily. I eventually managed to escape and return home. Covered in bruises and injuries, I stood at the door, but my parents only scolded me. “Look at you, like a beggar. You’re embarrassing our family! How could you not die in that village?!” Dylan’s wife, dripping in expensive jewelry, wrinkled her nose at me and sneered, saying to Dylan, “Is this really your sister? She’s even worse than a beggar!” Only Dylan held me close and whispered, “Zoey, I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through.” He took me out to cheer me up. Then, when the security cameras couldn’t see us, he pushed me under a speeding truck! I ended up with multiple fractures and was rushed to the ICU. In my final moments, Dylan, dressed in his luxurious suit, bent over and whispered in my ear, “I want you to die knowing the truth. Our family didn’t get rich from business. It was all because of the 100 million dollars you won from that lottery. That’s how the company started. That’s how I got the chance to study abroad. I really should be thanking you.” He paused, then coldly added, “But as long as you’re alive, there’s a risk you’ll find out the truth. What if one day you start making trouble? That’s why our parents sent you off to the village, and told the villagers to torture you. We never expected you to escape… but this time, you’re going to die. Just die peacefully. Our family will be grateful.” With regret, I took my last breath. After I died, my body was married off for a dowry. Thinking back on my past life, I clenched the lottery ticket in my hand and silently vowed. This time, I will never let them take the 100 million dollars from me again! “Zoey, I knew you’d be here!” I turned around in shock, only to see Dylan standing in front of me, though I didn’t know when he had appeared. He saw the ticket clenched tightly in my hand. His eyes lit up, and he reached out to grab it.

“Zoey, what’s that in your hand? Is it a lottery ticket? Let me see.” Dylan grabbed my hand forcefully, his eyes gleaming with greed. When he saw that I couldn’t open my fist, he kicked me in the leg. I winced in pain and accidentally loosened my grip. “Heh, I knew you were hiding a lottery ticket!” He looked down, his expression a bit confused. My hand was empty. Nothing was there. “Where’s the ticket? Where did you hide it?” Dylan stared at me, unable to believe it, scanning me up and down. I rubbed my sore leg, feeling a bit wrong. “What lottery ticket? I just passed by a lottery shop. I didn’t even buy one.” Dylan clearly didn’t trust me. He searched every inch of my body, panicking when he found nothing. He didn’t bother with me anymore, rushing into the lottery shop and grabbing the shopkeeper by the collar. “Who bought a ticket just now?” The shopkeeper, used to eccentric customers, shrugged Dylan off without a second thought. “Lots of people come and go all day, how would I remember?” Dylan was trying to recall the lottery ticket worth 100 million dollars. But after so long, his memory was fuzzy, and all he could remember were the first few digits. He took a deep breath. Then his eyes glinted as he thought of something. He pulled me over and glared at me. “You go buy it. “You better pick the right one, or I won’t let you off!” Hearing this, I felt a chill in my heart. Now, I finally understood what Dylan’s behavior was about! It turned out he had also been reborn! To make sure he wouldn’t miss out on the lottery win this time, he followed me all the way to the lottery shop and made me buy the ticket for him. I chose a ticket based on the first few digits he had given me. Still holding the ticket, Dylan looked at me with doubt, scanning me up and down. Clearly, he was still suspicious that I had hidden the ticket somewhere. At dinner, Dylan was irritated, tapping his fork on the table. Madison quickly picked up some food for him. “What’s wrong? Did someone at school upset you? Let me handle it.” Samuel also put down his fork and looked at him seriously. “Yeah, did some classmate look down on you again?” Dylan waited until he thought they were concerned enough, then finally looked up, sneering, and pointed at me. “She bought the lottery ticket and didn’t show it to me.” My parents exchanged glances. Samuel frowned first and scolded me. “What’s the matter with you? I’ve told you before, as the older sister, you should be considerate of your younger brother! What did you do to upset Dylan? Apologize to him now!” Madison sighed, gently brushing her rough hand over mine and saying softly, “Zoey, I’m not criticizing you, but your brother is our only son. As his older sister, you need to learn to take care of Dylan.” I felt the touch on my hand, and a shiver ran down my spine.

The outcome of my past life seemed to be clear as day. “My sister bought a lottery ticket but kept it from me, even lying and saying she didn’t get one. Mom, what should we do?” Dylan looked at me provocatively. My dad slammed his fork down. “Hurry up and hand over the ticket! You’re not going to win anyway. What’s the harm in letting Dylan play with it?” Dylan chuckled. “What if my sister wins the grand prize and decides she’s too good for our family?” My mom stood up immediately and shoved me into my room. She searched every corner of the place, even checking the lining of my underwear. “Zoey, where is it? Hand it over now!” my mom yelled angrily, pointing at me. I felt my eyes water as I looked at them, feeling wronged. “I told you, I didn’t buy a lottery ticket. But none of you believe me! “I only bought that one ticket. The only one Dylan took.” Dylan frowned and looked at me, suspicious. After all, he had just rushed over after his rebirth and hadn’t seen whether I went into the lottery shop or not. Once the door to my room was closed, I quickly pulled the ticket from my hair. Thankfully, I had hidden the ticket there in time, or else this family would’ve found it. But now, my room didn’t feel safe. I quickly took advantage of the time when I went to the bathroom to seal the ticket in a plastic bag and hid it in the toilet tank. Dylan took a few days off from school but still wasn’t giving up. He kept coming to my room, snooping around. I remained calm, watching him rummage through my things without a hint of panic. My mom also made up an excuse to take me shopping for clothes. While I was in the dressing room changing, she went through my bag. Of course, they found nothing. Because I had hidden the ticket in a place they never would’ve thought to look. Soon, the day of the lottery draw arrived. Just like in my past life, the ticket I bought won 100 million dollars! Soon, I would be able to claim the prize and make up for the regrets of my last life! But when I got home from school, I suddenly sensed something was off. As soon as I walked in the door, my mom slapped me across the face. My cheek burned with the sting. “If it wasn’t for the toilet being clogged, I never would’ve found out you hid the lottery ticket in the tank,” my mom sneered, shaking the ticket in her hand. My brother grinned at me. “See, I told you she hid a ticket! You didn’t believe me!” I rushed to the toilet tank, only to find it empty. My dad kicked me, his fist clenched in anger. “You’re getting bold now! You actually dared to hide it. You think you’re some kind of lucky one?” With a look of disdain, my dad held up the ticket and coldly laughed. “Today, I’ll let you watch your little fantasy come crashing down!” Saying that, he gripped the ticket and was about to rip it up. “Dad! No!” Dylan screamed, rushing forward to grab onto my dad’s leg, shouting, “Don’t tear it! This ticket could win 100 million!”   “One hundred million dollars? Are you kidding? Even if someone really won 100 million, it couldn’t possibly be your sister!” Dylan was still in shock and shouted, “The drawing has already happened! This ticket won 100 million! We can finally buy a big mansion. This crappy house is falling apart. My body can’t take it anymore! “I’ll marry a rich, beautiful woman and carry on the family line.” My parents couldn’t believe it. They stared at the numbers on the TV screen, completely ecstatic. “We’re rich! Our family is rich!!!” I crawled up from the floor, tears streaming uncontrollably, my whole body shaking as I screamed. “This is my ticket! Why are you stealing it from me?” My mom shouted back, “You used the money I gave you to buy that ticket! What are you shouting for? Even if we win 100 million dollars, you won’t get a single cent!” They had never given me living expenses, and all the money I made came from tutoring! Without saying anything else, they began to tidy up and prepare to leave to claim the prize. Before they left, they locked me in my room, ignoring my cries and struggles. “Zoey, you really are the chosen one. You casually bought a ticket worth 100 million. “But this time, just watch as we take home the 100 million! You’ll regret it. You’ll suffer!” I watched as my family left, the pain on my face fading away. Instead, a smile began to form because the real show was about to start… I quickly packed my bags and documents, then rented a place outside to focus on studying. On the way, Dylan called me on a video call. When the call connected, Dylan’s arrogant face appeared on the screen. He lowered his voice and said, “Zoey, you’ve been reborn too, right? How does it feel? Too bad, even if you have another life, you still can’t beat me. You’ll still have to watch me take home that 100 million. “Don’t even think about calling the cops. It won’t help. We’re family, and your money is ours. The police won’t be able to do anything. “Feeling hopeless? If you really are, just jump out of the window. Maybe you’ll get to the ticket before we do.” My family strutted off to the lottery center, proud as peacocks. My dad went straight to the counter, announcing loudly, “We’re here to claim our prize! We won 100 million!” “What? One hundred million?” The lottery store was packed with people on the weekend, and when the crowd heard this, they stopped and stared in shock. “One hundred million! Could it be that the winner is from their family?” “Someone actually won 100 million!” “Oh my God, why wasn’t it me?” More and more people gathered around, stopping whatever they were doing to crowd around my family. “Yes, it’s us! We won 100 million!” Dylan casually looked around, then held up the ticket high. “You should call the reporters now. Your store will make the front page of the news today, all thanks to us!” “By the way, there’s one more thing.” My dad suddenly paused and turned to the reporters gathering around. “Everyone, be a witness!” With the crowd surrounding us, my dad smiled confidently at the cameras flashing all around us. “This 100 million ticket only belongs to the three of us. It’s not for my daughter Zoey! “And from now on, our family is cutting ties with Zoey. After her SATs, we’ll wash our hands of her and let her fend for herself!” He ignored the murmurs of the crowd and turned to the store owner with a smug smile. “Now, give us the prize!” The store owner’s face turned red with excitement, sweat trickling down his forehead. He took the ticket with both hands, inspecting it closely. Then, he froze. The crowd held their breath, waiting to witness the miracle of 100 million. After a long pause, the store owner slowly looked up. “What? What’s wrong?” the crowd murmured. “Didn’t win?” “They did.” The store owner said, “But… it’s only ten dollars!”

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My father, who had bravely stood up for justice, was on the verge of being sentenced to life imprisonment. Yet, I sat there calmly, observing my manicured nails. The jury members glared at me indignantly, their eyes as if they could flay me alive. Even the judge proposed a temporary recess, suggesting I sort out my thoughts and evidence. After all, at that moment, I was not only my father’s daughter but also his defense lawyer. I slumped casually in the chair and spoke calmly, “Although you rescued the girl from the clutches of the perpetrator, you continued to stab him after he lost the ability to resist. Legally, this constitutes intentional homicide.” My mother dropped to her knees before me, pleading with tears streaming down her face. “Sienna, please plead for your father. He’s your father!” I evaded her outstretched hand and brandished my lawyer’s license. “I’m sorry. I stand for what’s right, not for my relatives merely because of blood ties.” My mother crumpled to the ground, her forehead beaded with sweat, her voice quivering. “But people say the thug was about to attack your father, and your father was just acting in excessive self-defense. “Sienna, you still haven’t forgiven your father, so you’re deliberately making up an excuse to send him to prison, aren’t you?” Her eyes were filled with suspicion. That thought was justified, though. After all, we had a huge fight before my father’s heroic act. I glanced at my mother and let out a cold snort. “I’m your daughter. You should know me well. Who do you believe, netizens or your own daughter?” My mother was momentarily stunned. Soon, she clutched her chest and began to cry her heart out. “So what are we supposed to do now? Just watch your father be sentenced to life imprisonment?” In the end, she even started retching, clearly on the brink of a complete breakdown. “That’s your biological father who has raised you for twenty-six years. Do you really want to send him to prison with your own hands?” The deep affection between my parents made me, their daughter, seem shockingly cold and detached. But I just smiled indifferently. “Isn’t this a good thing? The prison provides food and shelter. I’ll see that he has a place to spend his remaining years. You don’t need to worry about his basic needs. “Frankly, before my dad acted bravely, he probably didn’t consider how we’d manage if he died. Why worry so much about him now? You might as well find a new partner for yourself.” With that, I poured myself a glass of water, turned on the latest variety show, and burst into laughter watching it, waiting for the court session to resume. When my mother saw my nonchalant demeanor, her eyes turned red. But she was just a housewife, lacking the means to solve this problem on her own. She was at her wits’ end, and this desperate act was the only way she could think of to save her husband. She smashed the cup in my hand and pressed a shard to her neck. “Sienna Walker, I don’t care if you hate your father or if, as you claim, he committed murder on purpose. You must save your father! “So many people online say your father was acting in excessive self-defense. There must be room for negotiation. If you don’t find a way out, I’ll die right in front of you.” The other relatives in the recess room regarded me with disapproval. “Sienna, we may not understand legal matters, but there are people on the internet who do. Now everyone is speaking up for your father. If you have any difficulties, just tell us. You can’t send your father to jail just based on what you’ve said.” My mother suddenly seemed to have an epiphany. She tightly grasped my arm, her eyes pleading. “You want to buy a house, right? Weren’t you arguing with your father because he refused to give you the down payment? “Help your father. Then, I’ll use all our family savings to buy you a house, okay?” The relatives in the recess room seemed to have grasped what they thought was my true motive and looked at me with contempt. Before I could respond, the door was flung open. A relative, who had been sent to gather information, rushed in, his face etched with worry. “I heard that the lawyer hired by the other side is the best in the country and has never lost a case. If the case proceeds like this, Steve may never get out.” He gave me a rather furtive glance. The eyes of an elder in my family flashed with anxiety, and then he fixed me with a stern look. “Sienna, I’m asking you one last time. Are you really going to insist that your father committed murder on purpose and let him spend his entire life in prison?”

Under their expectant yet intense gazes, I nodded slowly but resolutely. At the sight of this, the elder angrily crushed the paper cup in his hand, his face contorted with anger while glaring at me. “I can’t believe our Walker family has such an unfilial daughter as you! “I won’t talk about how your father rushed you to the hospital when you were sick as a child. Do you remember the year before last when you had uremia? It was your father who donated his kidney to you! “If it weren’t for him, would you have a healthy body now? “Not to mention, all the living expenses for your family of three were earned by your father, who worked day and night. Without your father’s hard-earned money to support your studies, could you have become a renowned lawyer today? “Sienna, you can’t be so ungrateful. Your father needs your help right now. If you act so heartlessly, you may get your retribution later!” The elder’s heartfelt questioning was sincere, and by the end, he even choked up. The other relatives also chimed in, pointing their fingers at me. “He’s right. You’re the only daughter in the family, and Steve dotes on you the most. If he doesn’t buy a house for you, who else would he buy it for? He must be considering the current declining housing prices and wants to wait and see. You can’t send your own father to jail just because of this.” “Look, you don’t even have a partner yet. If a man finds out that your father is in prison, who would be willing to marry you? Even for your own future, you have to get your father out.” “That’s right. There’s no such thing as an eternal feud between a father and his daughter. Sienna, we all know you’re a smart girl. You can’t be so foolish now.” The relatives’ chatter grew louder and more insistent. I sat on the sofa, legs crossed, looking composed and unfazed. I seemed impervious to everything around me. Seeing my indifference, my mother crumpled in despair, screaming in pain. She knelt before me once again, pleading desperately, “Sienna, I’m your biological mother who gave birth to you and raised you. I’m begging you, please save your father. “As long as you’re willing to save your father, I’ll transfer all the family’s money to you. Whether you want to buy a house or do something else with it, we won’t interfere. What do you say? “If you think that’s not enough, I’ll sell our house and give you the money, okay?” Upon hearing this, I finally uncrossed my legs and sat up straight. When my mother saw my changed posture, a glimmer of hope flashed across her face, and she hastily swore to me, “Sienna, as long as you promise to help your father, I’ll give you everything we have!” The older relatives present, seeing my mother’s abject state, turned away in anger. I took out my phone and started calculating. The combined assets under my parents’ names were sufficient for me to afford a car and a house easily. This sum of money was enough to fund my father’s defense in the upcoming trial. This seemed like a worthwhile deal.

I looked back at my mother and nodded silently in assent. An impatient look flickered across my mother’s face. “Check if the evidence is complete. Is there anything else you need to prepare? You can’t make any mistakes in the upcoming trial.” My hand reached for the materials on the table, but suddenly I clasped my hands together. “I can help my dad, but what if you go back on your word after the trial? “There should be at least one million dollars in cash at home. Transfer it to me first, and then we’ll sign a property transfer contract. I promise to get my dad acquitted later. How about that?” When my mother heard my words, her face was filled with disbelief. She felt as if she was being toyed with, and her face contorted into a hideous expression. “Most of that money is in paper passbooks, and we have to go to the bank to deal with it. How can I transfer it to you right now? “The court will resume soon. We don’t have the time now. Sienna, please don’t do this! I’m begging you. If you’re really worried, give me a contract, and I’ll sign it now. I will never renege on my promise.” I shrugged. “That won’t do. Even if you sign the contract, if you’re set on being a deadbeat, there’s not much I can do, right? “Either transfer the money now, or my dad goes to jail. The choice is yours.” The other relatives in the recess room could no longer tolerate my actions. The eldest among them even threw the wooden bracelet in his hand at me. “Your father must have done something heinous to have a child as disrespectful and unfilial as you. “Your mother shouldn’t have given birth to you. She should have strangled you at birth!” My eyes sharpened as I stared back at the elder. “This counts as intentional injury, and the minimum sentence is three years. What? Do you want to go to jail and keep my dad company?” The elder’s daughter, my cousin with whom I was quite close, looked at me with disappointment in her eyes. “Sienna! When did you become like this? Did you take money from the other side and do this on purpose? “Is money really more important than your family?” Her eyes were bloodshot, brimming with pain and questions. She hugged my mother tightly and consoled her. “Connie, just leave her alone. No matter how much we plead with a heartless person like her, she won’t help us. “If things turn out to be bad today, we can still appeal for a retrial. Then we can hire a better lawyer, and surely there will be people on the Internet who will come to our aid.” Seeing the devastated look on the face of the only person in my family I was close to, I couldn’t help but feel a momentary pain in my heart. My parents had been too busy to take care of me since I was a child, so I was practically raised by my cousin. When I failed the bar exam the year I graduated from college, it was she who firmly pressured me to quit my job that paid a meager 3,000 dollars a month. She supported me financially each month so that I could focus on preparing for the bar exam. At that time, I vowed to be good to my cousin and her family for the rest of my life. But now, the disappointed looks from my cousin and her father were almost unbearable. I turned my head away silently, not daring to look any longer. Suddenly, the door of the recess room opened. “The court session is about to resume. Please get ready.” It was the court’s messenger. My cousin squeezed my mother’s hand firmly and said, “Connie, don’t worry. Even if the worst-case scenario occurs, we still have hope.”   I donned an indifferent facade and sneered. “We’ll see about that.” My mother glared at me with hatred and walked out first. When I was the only one left in the room, I took several deep breaths, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. Once I had composed myself, I took my place in the dock and argued that my father had committed intentional homicide. There was an immediate outcry from the jury, but an even louder commotion came from outside the door. The police on the scene were unable to hold anyone back. A large group of people suddenly burst into the room, each holding a cell phone. “Sienna Walker! How could there be a lawyer and a daughter as morally blind and deranged as you?” “We’ll expose your true colors to the world, even if it means breaking the law and going to jail, to seek justice for Mr. Walker.” I turned to look at the jury, knowing very well that they must have contacted these live-streamers during the recess, attempting to use public opinion to reverse the situation. Sure enough, a glimmer of hope shone brightly on my mother’s face. I stared at the live-streamers being restrained by the police and spoke without the slightest hint of shame, “Do you know that trespassing is illegal? “And Mr. Walker, the ‘hero’ you all claim him to be, actually did kill a young man. How could you want a murderer to be free?” In response, a torrent of curses rained down on me. “That’s bullshit! That guy was molesting a teenage girl. Such scum deserved to die!” “The surveillance footage clearly shows that Mr. Walker was acting in self-defense. At most, it was excessive self-defense. You’re his lawyer and his daughter. How can you not stand up for your own father?” “Someone saw you in contact with the other party’s family before the trial. Did you take bribes? You’re such a heartless monster who cares about nothing but money!” “Aren’t you afraid that there won’t be any more heroes in this country because of you?” “Aren’t you afraid that you’ll encounter the same situation one day, but no one will help you because of your disheartening actions?” I lifted my head, stared straight into their cameras, and smiled. “You’ve wrongly labeled a reckless person as a hero. What we advocate nowadays is to act with wisdom, not just recklessly. “Although his intention was good, he broke the law and must pay the price. If you have the power, you should work on amending the law instead of yelling here.” My taunts sparked a huge uproar, and the viewership of their live-stream rooms skyrocketed. The comments scrolled so fast that they almost looked like a blur, filled with insults aimed at me. But my eyes were fixed on a corner of the jury that no one else was paying attention to. The girl, wearing a mask and a hat, had tears in her eyes, yet she gave me a firm gesture and nodded. My handcuffed father suddenly dropped to his knees, just like my mother had, and looked at the live-streamers. “Please turn off the live stream. Since my daughter says I’m guilty, then I’m guilty. I admit it! “Please don’t cyberbully my daughter. I won’t be able to rest easy in prison if you do!” Then, my father looked up at the judge. “Sir, I plead guilty! Please sentence me to life imprisonment!” He then turned and looked at me. “Sienna, are you satisfied now?” I glanced at the number of viewers in the live-stream room and smiled with satisfaction. “Not yet. I want you sentenced to death!”

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My best friend, Hazel Prescott, whom I had cared for over the years, gave me a bottle of perfume. Without hesitation, I turned and poured it all into the toilet. In my past life, the moment I wore that perfume, my body began to sprout fur and emit a terrible stench. Colleagues avoided me like the plague. My boss and boyfriend, Wyatt Dawson, dumped me without a second thought and got together with Hazel. Desperate for a cure, I searched everywhere, only to die in agony and despair. It was only after my death that I learned the truth. Hazel had tampered with the perfume. Now, as I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day she gave it to me. “Charlotte, I saved up half a month’s salary to buy this perfume for you. It’s just a small gift. “Don’t look down on it. I promise I’ll get you something even better once I have more money.” Hazel crinkled into a smile as she handed me the beautifully wrapped gift. I staggered back in shock, glancing around at my familiar office surroundings, realizing. I had been reborn. Ignoring the puzzled stares from my coworkers, I rushed to the bathroom and stripped off my clothes. Staring at my reflection, I let out a shaky breath of relief. My skin was smooth and flawless. In my past life, the moment I sprayed that perfume, my entire body became covered in thick fur, carrying a faint, nauseating stench that drove everyone away. Hazel came from a poor background. When she first joined the company, she nearly got fired due to her lack of experience. Out of kindness, I helped her. After that, I continued to treat her sincerely, sharing fun moments and bringing her food whenever I got something nice. She seemed grateful, so when she gifted me the perfume, I simply thought it was a token of appreciation. A colleague jokingly wondered if it was some kind of unregulated product since she couldn’t even name the brand. I didn’t take it seriously and just thought they were messing around. But not long after, something started changing in my body. At first, it was just redness and itchiness. Then, patches of fur started growing all over me. I tried hair removal creams, but the next day, the fur grew back even thicker. I went to top hospitals. I tried every remedy, both medical and folk. Nothing worked. After that, I took leave and hid in the employee dorm, too afraid to step out. Hazel, pretending to check on me, brought the entire department along. The moment they saw me looking like a caveman, they gasped as if they’d seen a ghost. A gossip-loving coworker uploaded a video of me online, calling me the Hairy Beauty. The internet went wild. Influencers camped outside my apartment, demanding I go live. Meanwhile, Wyatt seized the opportunity to break up with me. Hazel, on the other hand, became even more stunning. On one of her so-called visits, her breathtaking looks caught the attention of bloggers. Seizing the moment, she engaged with netizens, quickly skyrocketing to fame. Within half a month, she had amassed over a million followers. And me? Unable to accept my ruined face and body, I slit my wrists in the bathroom. Only after death did I finally learn the truth. Hazel had envied my success and beauty. The perfume she gifted me wasn’t just a present. It was a cursed object meant to steal my fate.

After my death, she got what she wanted. Wyatt became her boyfriend. Seeking excitement, they even indulged in their passion right in my old room beneath my memorial photo. The tragic memories of my past life flashed before my eyes. My jaw clenched, every cell in my body boiling with rage. I dug my fingertips deep into my palm, the sharp pain pulling me back to reality. “Darling, what’s wrong? Come try this perfume.” Hazel blinked her big, innocent eyes, looking as harmless as ever. But beneath that facade lay a heart as venomous as a snake’s. When I didn’t reach out to take it, she carefully extended the porcelain bottle toward me. I immediately sprang from my seat, pointing to the slightly cluttered desk with caution. “Just put it there.” A flicker of frustration flashed across Hazel’s face before she quickly masked it, pressing me again. “This was made by the florist back home. You won’t find it anywhere, no matter how much you’re willing to pay! I spent half my month’s salary just to get this for you. “Come on, it’s just perfume, not some venomous snake. What’s there to be afraid of?” I glanced at the gloves she was wearing. If my guess was right, the perfume wasn’t just toxic in scent. Touching the bottle itself might be dangerous. Seeing my reluctance, Hazel suddenly bit her lip hard, her eyes welling up with tears that streamed down her face. “Charlotte, I know I come from a poor family, and this isn’t some fancy brand. It’s normal if you don’t like it… but I just wanted to show my appreciation…” I once saw her as a friend, yet she wanted me dead! Now she was trying to guilt-trip me, thinking she could manipulate me so easily? What a joke! Suppressing my anger, I let out a cold laugh. “Hazel, that’s really hurtful. “I stayed late to finish your unfinished work, unpaid. I helped you, yet instead of appreciating it, you think I’m looking down on you? That’s truly disappointing. “If I really looked down on you, why would I go out of my way to help? “Just because I didn’t take the perfume, you assume I think less of you? That’s completely unreasonable!” My voice trembled slightly as I spoke, drawing the attention of our colleagues. Everyone here knew how much I had helped Hazel in the past. Hearing this, they immediately chimed in. “Hazel, hasn’t Charlotte done enough for you? And now you’re saying she treats you badly?” “I remember plenty of times when you just walked out while Charlotte stayed behind, working late into the night. What have you ever done for her?” “Didn’t Charlotte cover your meals when payroll was delayed last month? I don’t recall you ever treating her back. And now you’re playing the victim?” “By the way, what brand is this perfume? Why is it in a porcelain bottle? And why are you wearing disposable gloves? Don’t tell me it’s poisonous.” Most of our coworkers didn’t have a good impression of Hazel. While speaking up for me, they were also venting their long-held frustration. Hazel had always loved playing the pity card. Whenever someone refused her request, she would turn around and cry to the others, acting like she was being bullied just because she was poor, implying that people should naturally cater to her. But after a while, everyone saw through her act and stopped entertaining her. Her expression darkened as she stared at the perfume bottle on my desk. Then, showing a stiff smile, she gave a slight bow. “Sorry, Charlotte, I spoke without thinking. I’ll just leave it here. Once you try it, you’ll realize how great it is. “We’re coworkers, after all. Why would I ever want to hurt you?”

I couldn’t stand her fake, pretentious face. I wanted to smash the porcelain bottle right into her smug expression, but I held back. I needed her to expose her true colors so I could get my revenge. Showing a casual smile, I pressed my lips together lightly. “Hmm, I’ll give it a try another day. I’ll just leave it here for now.” Hazel’s face lit up with joy. She eagerly took my arm and chirped about how the perfume should be used within a week, or else the scent would fade. I nodded absentmindedly, pretending to listen while my mind was racing. The moment Hazel stepped away to use the restroom, I sprang into action. Mask on, gloves on, I carefully opened the porcelain bottle. I snapped a picture of the perfume bottle and sent it to a friend who specialized in perfume packaging, offering a high price for an identical one to be delivered to my office ASAP. By the end of the workday, the replica had arrived. I discreetly dumped Hazel’s so-called gift down the toilet and tossed the original bottle into the trash. Over the next few days, Hazel kept sneaking glances at my desk, checking to see if the perfume bottle was still there. Every time she confirmed its presence, she nodded in satisfaction. To be extra sure, she even found excuses to go to the restroom with me, probably hoping to see if her little trick was taking effect. I decided to have some fun. I sprayed myself with a mix of water and garlic extract, a smell so foul it could make someone gag. Hazel had an excited twitch over her lips, convinced that her perfume was working its magic. Little did she know, she was stepping right into the trap I had laid out for her. Wyatt, my boyfriend, had been calling me into his office more often, looking for excuses to get close. Each time, I found a way to avoid him. Sensing my growing distance, he decided to make a grand gesture. That evening, he showed up at the employee dormitory with a bouquet of fresh flowers. “Baby, there’s a new restaurant in the old town. Let’s go check it out together.” I barely glanced at him, my tone indifferent. “I don’t feel well. I have no appetite.” “Then let’s pick another day.” I switched off the lights without another word. Wyatt knocked for a while before finally leaving in disappointment. Hazel, who had been eavesdropping nearby, saw me staying put. Wasting no time, she threw on a full face of makeup, slipped into her high heels, and hurriedly followed after him. Not long after, she updated her social media. The location was that brand-new restaurant in the old town. “Could she be any more desperate? Let’s see what tricks these two lovebirds are up to.” Wrapping myself up in a hoodie and mask, I hopped on the subway and made my way to the restaurant. Through the window, I spotted them at a corner table. Wyatt was holding Hazel’s hand, his gaze burning with desire. His fingers had already slipped under her collar. Hazel, playing her part well, perched herself onto his lap. Her long, manicured fingers trailed downward, making Wyatt’s face flush with excitement. “Wyatt, I should go. If Charlotte finds out, it won’t end well.” Wyatt yanked her back into his arms, pulling her in for a deep, sloppy kiss. “So what? I’ll just break up with her. That woman is nothing compared to you. “She’s as dull as a dead fish in bed. Nothing like you, baby. And besides, we’ve been doing this for over a year. Has she even noticed anything?” Hazel draped her arms around his neck, her eyes gleaming with wicked delight. “You’re right. If she weren’t so stupid, she wouldn’t believe everything I say. “You’re such a bad boy.” Wyatt chuckled, tapping her nose affectionately as his hands roamed freely. “Bad boys are what girls love, aren’t they? You like it when I’m bad, don’t you?” “Ugh, Wyatt! You’re so annoying!” My hands clenched into fists as I listened, seething with rage. So this was how they saw me? A fool to be toyed with? A stepping stone for their selfish desires? Then Wyatt asked, “Any progress with the perfume? She doesn’t seem all that different.” Hazel frowned. “Yeah, weird, right? Maybe the perfume isn’t close enough to her. I’ll slip it into her bag next time. That should work. “But don’t worry. She already reeks. Soon, I’ll take her place, become rich, beautiful, and unstoppable.” A crazed, triumphant glint flickered in Hazel’s eyes. The two of them raised their glasses in a twisted toast. Just as I suspected, even being near the perfume had an effect. An idea sparked in my mind. Wasting no time, I hailed a cab straight to the office. Digging through the trash, I retrieved the discarded porcelain bottle. That night, while Wyatt and Hazel were busy getting a hotel room, I poured the last few drops of liquid from the bottle, blending it into her perfume. Then, I submitted a vacation request to headquarters, claiming I needed a break. I invited a few colleagues on a getaway and disappeared for half a month. During that time, Hazel blew up my phone with calls. I ignored every single one. Two weeks later, I returned to the dorm with my coworkers, laughing and chatting. The moment I opened the door, an overwhelming stench filled the air. And what I saw next left everyone utterly speechless.

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At the entrepreneurial team competition, Rachel Foster, Howard Jackson’s childhood sweetheart, volunteered to be the team leader in hopes of securing a recommendation for graduate school. I prioritized the overall situation and firmly rejected her proposal. So she withdrew from the competition and, following her parents, returned to her distressed hometown to get married. The team I led won the championship, emerged as a rising star in the business world, and all members secured recommendations for graduate school. Later, I married Howard. When we were celebrating the company’s IPO on a yacht, he pushed me—six months pregnant—off the yacht while I was off my guard. Before I drowned, I struggled while asking him why he did this to me. Howard’s face turned cold as he replied, “If you hadn’t selfishly taken the position of team leader, Rachel wouldn’t have left the competition, gotten married, and ended up dying from domestic violence.” When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day when Rachel, a poor student, had volunteered to be the team leader. ***** “Lola, I’m just a few credits short of securing a recommendation for graduate school. The team leader in the entrepreneurship competition will get extra credits. Can you let me take the role of team leader?” When I heard those familiar words, I was shocked. I glanced at the clock on the wall and immediately realized I had been sent back to the day when Rachel first proposed to be the team leader of the entrepreneurship competition. In my previous life, Rachel didn’t major in finance, and my parents had promised to invest in my team and connect us with business elites for guidance. Given these factors, I could only reject her sternly on the grounds that she wasn’t suitable for the position. I also explained to her that if we excelled in the competition, all of us could potentially secure recommendations for graduate school, so she didn’t need to be the team leader. However, she felt that I was deliberately humiliating her and, as a result, dropped out of school, followed her parents back to her distressed hometown, and got married. Later, I leveraged my parents’ connections to attract resources for my team. In the end, we won the championship, all members secured recommendations for graduate school, and we emerged as rising stars in the business world. Three years later, I married Howard. While I was pregnant, he inherited my family’s company. The company founded by my team also went public successfully. Howard became a prominent figure and enjoyed immense success. In the name of celebration, Howard invited me onto a yacht. When I was off my guard, he kicked me, who was six months pregnant, into the sea. The water around me turned red with my baby’s blood. I pleaded with him to save our baby, but he threw a stone at me and sneered, “If you hadn’t been so selfish and driven Rachel away, she wouldn’t have gotten married and died of domestic violence while pregnant. You owe her.” It was at that moment that I realized Howard had harbored hatred toward me for so many years because of what had happened to Rachel. Seeing that I remained silent, Howard frowned and dragged me along with evident displeasure. “Lola, did you hear us? Rachel needs the position of team leader more than you do. You should let her take this role.” Hearing Howard’s impatient voice, I snapped back to reality. I looked at the pitiful Rachel beside me and sneered, “Didn’t you say that the team leader would be whoever could attract investment and make the greatest contribution? Now that I’ve delivered on that, you want me to step down?” When Rachel heard what I said, tears streamed down her face. “Lola, that’s not what I meant. I just want to pursue a master’s degree. I’m from a really tough background. If I can’t secure a recommendation for graduate school, I’ll have no choice but to go home and get married. Please, have mercy on me.” Having said that, Rachel immediately bowed to me. Her action instantly drew the attention of the entire class, and everyone gathered around. Rachel’s voice trembled with even more sorrow. “Lola, I really don’t want to go back to my hometown and marry some old bachelor. Please don’t make me drop out of school, okay?”

The crowd watching immediately grew indignant upon hearing this. “Lola, what are you doing? Who are you to make Rachel drop out of school? Why are you so vicious?” “Rachel comes from a poor family, but it doesn’t mean you can bully her like this.” “Lola, how could you use your family’s wealth to bully Rachel like this? That’s absolutely despicable.” Howard grabbed my arm and said earnestly, “Lola, I know you’ve always been spoiled and willful, but this time it’s about Rachel’s future. You can’t ruin her life over something as trivial as a team leader position. It’s really no big deal to let her have it.” I was infuriated by his words. They had once urged me to take on the responsibility of being the team leader. Why didn’t they suggest Rachel be the team leader when I had to stay up all night writing proposals? Where was Rachel when I went to countless companies to humbly seek investment for my team? Now, with the competition about to end, she wanted to replace me, and Howard described the team leader position as trivial. I said coldly, “I didn’t make her drop out of school. I’m the one who secured the investment for this competition. What qualifications does Rachel have to replace me?” Howard laughed dismissively. “Lola, stop bragging about your fundraising. You only managed to do that because our team is excellent. Even if we let Rachel seek investment, she could do it—and might even do a better job.” Rachel said shyly, “Lola, you can’t dismiss our team’s excellence just to highlight your own capabilities. Howard is a well-known financial genius. I guess it’s him who actually attracted the investment.” Howard was clearly pleased with Rachel’s compliment, and his expression grew even more arrogant. “Rachel is right. Lola, I might not have cared about this before, but if you’re going to be so selfish as to ruin Rachel’s future, I’ll never agree.” I raised my eyes and chuckled, “In that case, I’ll let her take the role.” Howard’s face lit up with satisfaction at my words. “Lola, that’s the spirit. I admire how sensibly you’re handling this. You’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future, but Rachel can’t afford to lose this one.” I nodded readily. “Then I wish you great success in the competition.” Rachel seemed a bit displeased, thinking that I was trying to shirk responsibility. “Lola, even though you’re no longer the team leader, you’re still a member of this team. You should still be responsible for the part you worked on before.” I sneered and said sarcastically, “Rachel, I was the team leader and handled 70% of the team’s workload. Now you want to replace me and still expect me to do most of the work? How shameless.” Rachel’s face turned pale. “That’s not what I meant. The competition is about to end, and it’s not a good idea to change the team leader now.” I nodded. “You knew the competition was about to end, so you chose to take the credit at this time.” As soon as I said this, the onlookers understood what was going on and began to accuse Rachel of being scheming and hypocritical—trying to take the credit without doing any work. Rachel hurriedly tried to explain, but no one believed her. After all, many classmates had seen me working tirelessly during this period—leaving school early and coming back late to run our business. Seeing that Rachel was on the verge of tears again, Howard stepped in front of her protectively and scolded me angrily. “Lola, Rachel is doing this for the good of our team. Don’t slander her. She is the team leader now and has the right to tell you what to do. You’d better be obedient. If you don’t follow her instructions, we can only kick you out of the team.”

I stared at Howard with wide eyes and clapped my hands excitedly. “Okay, I’m quitting right now.” Howard’s expression turned cold and stern, clearly taken aback by my sudden declaration. “Lola, don’t be impulsive. Rachel is a reasonable person and won’t make things difficult for you just because you targeted her before. If you quit now, you’ll definitely regret it.” I smiled dismissively, “Regret? Sorry, but I won’t. I’m quitting right now, and I won’t have anything to do with your team anymore.” With that, I turned around and walked away, not sparing a glance at Howard’s and Rachel’s sullen faces. Start a business? Forget about it. Wasn’t it better to inherit my family fortune worth billions of dollars? Howard was indeed exceptional. I invested in his development, propelling him to the top of the financial world where he became a leading figure and could attract investments. But at present, Howard hadn’t yet reached the level where his fame could attract vast investments. My uncles invested in our team simply to make me happy. That evening, I posted a message on social media, announcing my departure from the startup team. As soon as I posted it, my uncles all commented. [Dear Lola, you’re quitting the startup? Just go for it. Your father and uncles can provide you with substantial investment. Even if you fail, it’s okay.] [Lola, if you quit, I will withdraw my investment.] My cousins at school heard about how I was forced to quit and posted about it in the comment section. The comment section flooded with messages all at once. That very night, my uncles decided to withdraw their investment and announced they would blacklist the team in the industry. I didn’t stop them. The next day, I went to school as usual. After leaving the entrepreneurship competition, I had some free time and focused on studying and applying for graduate school. After class, I received a call from my dad asking me to draft a planning proposal for him. It was a small project, and my dad often gave me tasks like this to gain some experience. In the afternoon, I brought the proposal I had prepared to my dad’s company. He took the contract, glanced through it, and expressed his satisfaction. When I was walking out of the company, someone suddenly bumped into me. I glanced over and saw Howard. After spotting the documents on the ground, he suddenly laughed. “Lola, I knew you didn’t really want to leave our team. Did you know we were coming to Clarke Group, so you prepared a proposal and waited for us here?” Howard reached out to take the proposal from my arms, but I stepped aside to dodge him. “You’re overthinking it. I didn’t prepare it for you.” Howard frowned. “Lola, stop messing around. If you didn’t prepare it for us, are you planning to start your own business?” I was stunned, and suddenly it hit me—I had done most of the tasks in the team by myself. So why couldn’t I start my own business? Thinking of this, I suddenly smiled, “You’re right. I want to start my own business.” With that, I walked away, ignoring Howard’s cursing and shouting behind me. Three days later, I submitted my business plan and secured all the previous investments. When I was leaving school in the afternoon, Howard and Rachel suddenly stopped me. Howard said, “Lola, I didn’t expect you to go to such shameless lengths just to steal our investment. You’ve slept with so many men. You’re not worthy of being my girlfriend.” His slander instantly drew the attention of many curious onlookers. I said, “Howard, watch your language.” Rachel took Howard’s arm and said, “Lola, how could you cheat on Howard?” I frowned. “What nonsense are you talking about?” Howard pulled out a stack of distasteful photos and threw them in my face. “No wonder you were able to attract so much investment. The way you sought it is despicable.” Seeing everyone pointing fingers at me and gossiping loudly about me, I took out my cell phone and called the man in the photo. “Uncle Cam, please come to my school with our family photo.”

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