Category: English

Heading to a meeting with my boss, I unexpectedly ran into his nemesis, who shot me a few glances. My boss raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled. He asked me, “Do you know him?” I shrugged, replying, “Not really.” But after the meeting wrapped up, the dashing man cornered me against the restroom wall and kissed me fiercely. He murmured, his breath warm against my cheek, “We share a bed every night. You say you don’t know me?”

“You’ll just have to get Ariel pregnant immediately. That way she’ll be chained to you forever.” my fiancé’s father’s voice is cold, calculating. “She knows her place.” my fiancé replies. “She’ll fall in line and become a proper wife in short time.” My heart sinks when I realize that they’re talking about me – and not as a soon-to-be newlywed Princess, but just as…as some kind of surrogate. All my life I’ve been the perfect Princess – learning manners, diplomacy, and always flashing the perfect smile for the camera. Today I’m going to take the biggest step I can towards helping my nation: I’m going to marry the Prince of Gangidor to build the military alliance. For one more extra rehearsal of our immediate wedding, I snuck into the prince’s private suite and overheard the conversation that shocked me. The King, my Prince’s father, chuckles darkly. “Don’t underestimate her, son. Her claws are too sharp now, you will have to nullify that part of her.” “Sharp claws or not, she’s just a girl,” my fiancé says, his voice thick with derision. “What’s the worst she can do? All she’s been trained for is taking pictures, buying jewelry, and decorating the house, just like mom.” “Ariel Sinclair is not like your mother, who came to me ready to kneel,” his father replies. “This Princess has been over-indulged; her parents and brother have doted on her and allowed her to learn skills that women shouldn’t touch. You’ll have to break her, son, and fast. The best path to that is to get her pregnant tonight.” My jaw drops open in shock, my hand covering my mouth to hold back my appalled gasp. Never – not once has the Prince indicated that he felt this way about women! About me! “Ariel’s a prude,” my fiancé says on a disappointed sigh, and my cheeks burn with embarrassment. “She barely lets me kiss her, so I don’t think knocking her up tonight is going to happen. ” “There’s a great deal at stake in this, son,” the King snaps, and I silently peek around the door’s edge to see the two men standing in the middle of the room, their arms crossed in their wedding tuxedoes, casually discussing how to break me. Rage mixes with the disgust in the pit of my stomach, turning over and over until I feel sick. “You need this girl under your thumb,” the King continues. “Conquer her, and then all the resources of her kingdom will pass to us. If she won’t submit to you willingly tonight, you will force her.” “She’ll scream! Her guards will come running!” “She won’t,” the king growls. “It’s in the female nature to submit – women are animals, they obey the strong. Just show her that you are her Alpha – she’ll fall to her knees soon enough.” “And if she says no? Or tries to escape?” My Prince turns considering eyes on his father now, clearly encouraged and liking this plan. “There’s no way she can escape from us,” the King growls. “In our Kingdom, we have complete control over women. Even if she will one day be the Queen, Edward, she belongs to you.” Both men’s lips turn upwards in greedy smiles. And me? I almost vomit with fear and disgust. I’m already out of the suite and dashing down the hall, tears streaking down my cheeks as I run away from the Great Hall where I’m supposed to be married. My mind reels with how much my world just fell apart. Too much is tied up in this wedding – and it’s all my fault. I’m the one who pushed for it, wanted to make the political ties that would give us the extra forces we need to end this war even though my mom told me to wait for love. And I want so much to run to her arms now – but if I do that? Then she’s going to tell my dad – Dominic Sinclair, the most powerful Alpha in the entire world – and he will rip that horrible Prince to shreds without thinking twice. And that will start a second war – I sob harder as I run, totally confused -And suddenly as I turn around a familiar corner, I know exactly where I’m going and where I want to be. I hurry my steps, dashing for the old brown door, shoving it open with all my might. The door bangs hard against the wall as I stumble into the room. My brother Rafe and cousin Jesse look up at me with wide, shocked eyes, both of their jaws falling open. “I can’t do it!” I gasp, falling back against the open door, my face a mess of tears. “Ariel!” Rafe gasps, springing to my side and pulling me away from the door, pushing it shut. “What the hell happened!?” Jesse stands and takes me by the hand, leading me over to the couch as I tell them everything in stuttering sobs. Jesse sits next to me, nodding and listening to every word, but Rafe stands at my side, a deep growl growing in his chest as my story progresses. By the time I finish, his whole body is tense and shaking. “I’m going to kill him,” Rafe growls, and he takes one long step towards the door, clearly meaning it. “I’m going to rip his head off –“ “Rafe!” Jesse snaps, leaning forward and grabbing Rafe’s arm before he can get any further. “Calm the hell down.” “So, you run,” Rafe says, pulling his hands away from his face and staring at me. “You leave he at the altar, and the press paint him as the wounded party.” I nod. “Mom and dad can salvage the treaty this way, even without a marriage. But I…I have to disappear, or else Prince will force me into it – I have too much leverage on him now.” “But where the hell will you go, Ariel?” Rafe asks, sitting up, shaking his head. “He’s going to come after you! No matter where you are, he will find you!” “Nah,” I hear Jesse say, and my eyes fly open to see a wicked smirk on his face. “I never liked that guy anyway – he’s a dick. You deserve more than this. Let’s run.” “What?” I gasp, staring at my cousin. “Where?” Jesse just continues to smirk at me. “With us. Rafe and I are enrolling tomorrow anyway – we’ll just leave tonight and take you along to Alpha Academy.” I stare at my cousin for a moment in shock, and then I let out a frantic little laugh and throw myself into his arms because – because that might actually be perfect. This plan gets me out of the palace and I’ll be somewhere that no one – especially not the Prince Edward – will ever expect me to go. A notoriously secretive all-male military academy designed to weed out and train the nation’s toughest Alpha warriors. Alpha Academy.

“You two,” Rafe mutters, and I glance over to see him pressing the bridge of his nose between his fingers, just like dad does. “This is going to cause a damn firestorm that I am going to have to sort out.” “But you’re the best at solving our problems!” Jesse points out, laughing. “Come on, cousin,” he says, giving Rafe a little punch in the arm. “It’s an adventure.” Two hours later we’re in the boxcar of a train headed east, towards the war front where the Academy is located. It was shockingly easy to smuggle me out of the palace once I got rid of the wedding gown. Jesse just gave me some of the clothes he had packed, and after I had rolled the hem of the pants about a dozen times and tied the waist with some ribbon torn off of my gown…honestly, the clothes don’t fit so bad. “Okay,” Rafe murmurs, leaning back into the hay that fills the boxcar, grimacing as he types out messages on his phone. “Mom and Dad are on board.” “They are?” I ask, wide-eyed with surprise. “I mean,” Rafe says, flicking his eyes at me, “I didn’t give them any details about where we are or where we’re going, and mom is completely flipping out about you being gone from the palace without a guard for the first time in your life. But…she gets it. And they trust us.” We were always inseparable. I didn’t even really figure out that I was a girl – or that being a girl meant something different than being a boy – until I was around eight years old and I had to go to ballet class when Rafe and Jesse went to martial arts. I was devastated when I figured out that being different genders meant we had different futures in store for us. But, well. I figured out pretty quickly that being a Princess means I have my own responsibilities. Even though I loved running wild with Rafe and Jesse, I learned how to be pretty, quaint, and sweet because I knew it would help mom and dad. Plus, it kind of came natural to me. Rafe and Jesse, they secretly taught me everything they learned in their fighting lessons because they didn’t want me to feel left out. But I’m mom’s tiny twin – petite with long rose-gold hair and a heart-shaped face. I’m not built for hand-to-hand combat the way Rafe and Jesse are, but things like ballet come naturally to me.And while I thought that I was eager to do my duties as a Princess, to marry a Prince to save our nation from war? Honestly, I don’t think my heart has ever been as happy as it is right now, running away from those duties and hopping a train with my two best friends. I’m so excited that I can barely catch my breath. Of course, Rafe throws a wet blanket on my excitement. “Okay,” he sighs, tossing his phone into his backpack, finished talking to mom and dad. “What the hell are we going to do with Ariel when we get to the Academy?” “Seriously, why don’t we just take her along with us?” Jesse asks, wrapping his arms around his knees. “What?” Rafe asks, frowning at him. “You mean like, into Alpha Academy?” “Sure,” Jesse says, glancing over at me. “I mean, you promised our moms that we’d keep her safe, right? If we have to keep an eye on her, what’s easier than keeping her by our side?” I gape at the audacity of Jesse’s plan. I’ve been hearing about Alpha Academy all my life and always dreamed about going – but, of course, it only accepts male students. And while Rafe and Jesse will certainly take the warrior track, I fantasized about taking up some of the other things you can study – like espionage, or becoming a master poison maker. There’s even a rumor that you can study battle magic if you have an affinity for it. But honestly – no one really knows what goes on inside of the Academy, it’s all top secret and shrouded in mystery. But whenever one of the Alpha graduates came to the palace to consult with dad or report on the amazing advances they made for our nation? They always had this air about them – like they could take on the world. And damn, did I envy that. Still – my dreams never got far. While we always knew Rafe and Jesse would go, I had to make other plans.“Well, I’m definitely not letting her out of our sight,” Rafe grumbles, his voice growing deeper at the mere idea of it. He shifts his eyes, studying me. I sigh a little, hanging my head, knowing it’s impossible. “It’s not that I don’t want you there, Ariel,” Rafe sighs, guilty. “It’s just not a safe place for girls –“ My head whips up and I open my mouth, ready to protest that I can take care of myself, but my brother is already waving a hand, dismissing the idea. “It’s over a hundred testosterone-fueled Alpha males in their early twenties, Ariel,” Rafe says, frowning, “with no female attention for months. You’ll get eaten alive. There are going to be guys there like Luca Grant –“ “Luca Grant’s going to be there?” I ask, my eyes going wide as my head snaps up. Grant’s a minor celebrity – he’s the junior heavyweight boxing champion of our nation as well as a rather notorious ladies’ man. But he just retired from boxing to join the military in a show of national pride. His story has been plastered all over the news. And it doesn’t hurt that he is…insanely good looking. He’s got these dimples that… Well. His dimples are beside the point. But I had no idea he was going to the Academy or that he’d be part of Rafe and Jesse’s class. “Isn’t the simplest thing just to just keep plans the same?” Jesse asks, interrupting my thoughts. “Ariel just…comes with us.” “You’re being ridiculous,” Rafe scoffs, glaring at Jesse and starting to lose his temper a bit. “What, we’re just going to waltz into the candidate barracks filled with a bunch of hormonal Alphas like ‘oh hey, we brought our little sister! Don’t touch her! Hands off!’” “No,” Jesse says, his eyes bright and eager. “We don’t waltz in with your sister,” he says, pulling his backpack over and rustling around in it, pulling out a grey camo-print patrol cap, standard issue for all Academy candidates. He plops it on my head. “We waltz in with your brother.” “What!?” Rafe seethes, appalled. “No, it’ll work!” Jesse says, grinning now as he scoots next to me and begins to tuck my rose-gold hair up under the cap. I grin right back at him, realizing where this is going. “Rafe,” Jesse says, turning to my brother with a wide grin, “meet Ari. Ari Sinclair.” Rafe’s mouth drops open as I laugh and then rearrange my face, trying to look tough and do my best impression of a dude. “Oh my god,” Rafe groans, allowing himself to fall back into the welcoming softness of the hay. “No, absolutely not – this will never work –“ “No, it will!” I insist, excited now. “It will work, I can do it! I’m Ari!” “No, you’re not,” Rafe mutters, his voice further muffled by the hands still pressed over his face. “You’re Ariel – you do ballet, and you arrange flowers, and you like making seating charts –“ “Not anymore,” I say, turning and grinning at Jesse, who nods eagerly at me. “Now, I’m Ari. And I’m a boy.”

Now I’m Ari Clark, a family cousin on Aunt Cora’s side. But things start to get immediately real as Rafe and Jesse sling their backpacks over their shoulders and we start to walk towards Alpha Academy, a rugged castle built on top of the cliffs that rise before us. I gulp as I stare up at the castle, a little shiver running through me. “It’s cold here,” I murmur, even though it’s just towards the end of summer right now. “You’ll warm up,” Jesse assures me with a wink. “Besides, see that hill?” he says, and I look where he points. “There are apparently some hot springs over there. If you get too cold, we’ll just dunk you.” I move to elbow Jesse in the stomach for this suggestion but he neatly dodges me, laughing. Anxiety twists in my stomach we continue to walk, though. Can I really do this? “Stop stressing about it,” Jesse murmurs, leaning close and bumping his shoulder against me, knocking me a bit sideways. I scowl, wishing I was taller. “You’re trying to solve problems you haven’t even come across yet. Just chill out.” “Classic Jesse advice,” Rafe mutters, shooting him a little glare as we start to climb the hill, “which doesn’t make any sense right now because we actually have very real problems to solve. Like the fact that Ari Clark doesn’t have any ID? And is also in possession of – you know, girl parts? And is tiny, and about to get his ass beat by a bunch of gigantic wolves?” “Hey!” I protest, giving Rafe a shove that…well, proves his point more than it does mine, because he doesn’t budge at all. “I can stand up in a fight against both of you! Don’t doubt me now!” “Are you serious, Ariel?” he asks, stopping in his tracks, his shoulders slumping. “Seriously think about this – about everything that you’re suggesting here. Are you just trying to get away from your asshole fiancé? Or do you actually want to train at Alpha Academy?” My face falls a bit as I realize that his question is a good one – that so far, I’ve basically been running on adrenaline. I take a second to think about it, tilting my head back and looking up at the castle on the cliff. And as I think about it…my mind flashes to all the things I wanted to do but was discouraged from because I’m a Princess and a girl – hockey lessons, and weapons training, and long chats with dad and Uncle Roger about war strategy. It was all boy stuff, but it means a thousand memories of doors closed in my face, a constant reminder that I had to learn a completely different set of skills. Because I’m a girl. Because I’m…a Princess. But I can’t be a Princess right now. I need to hide at least until this all blows over and Edward and his family leave our nation with a treaty intact. That’s all going to take some serious time. And quite suddenly, without the weight of my Princess title for the first time since I was eight…I realize how completely free I feel. I can do…whatever I want. And I know, instinctually, deep in my heart, precisely what I want. My wolf lifts her rose-gold snout to the sky, giving me a little howl of courage. Tell them, she urges. So, I bring my gaze back to my brother and my cousin. “I want to do this,” I say quietly determined. “If it had ever been an option for me, this is what I’d have chosen for myself. And now that it is?” I nod steadily. “I want it, Rafe. I want to be here.” I look around the room while I finish rolling up the wrists and the ankles of my uniform, my hair tucked discreetly up under my cap. And I can’t help but stare open-mouthed at all of the boys wandering around the barracks. I mean, it’s not that I haven’t been around guys before – but the sight of boy after boy flooding through the door? I mean…it’s pretty great. I mean, I’ve flirted a little – and Edward, he kissed me a few times before the wedding, mostly chaste stuff for press, but in general… Well, I’m a Princess. It sort of makes sense that I’ve lived a pretty sheltered life, right? Any guy who wanted to date me had to get through my gigantic overprotective dad, the King, and not many were very willing to do that. I blush now as I look around at all of these guys in front of me. Because they’re all so fit, like they’ve been training for weeks before submitting themselves as candidates for Alpha Academy so that they can hit the ground running. And I have to admit…it’s kind of a buffet. A few guys in particular catch my eye. There’s a tall blonde one who has set up shop in the bed almost diagonal from us, with a jaw so precisely molded it looks like it was cut with a diamond. And nobody can miss Luca Grant at the center of the room – god, he’s actually signing autographs. But he’s just as good looking as he is on TV – maybe even hotter. And then there’s a sort of shy, slim boy with dark hair that falls into his eyes who looks moody and watches everyone. I mean, I never thought that was my type before, but now? I have to admit, I find my eyes drawn to him. Rafe slings his own supplies onto the bed next to Jesse’s and then smacks my arm as he points to the bunk above his. “Up,” he commands, interrupting my reverie. “What?” I ask, confused. “You’re up here,” he says, patting the upper bunk and giving me a big fake grin that lets me know it’s not a request. “Where I can watch you. All the time. And smack you when you stare too openly at all of the guys who are now your comrades, not your eye candy.”

The next two hours are…an education in boy world. I sit perched up on my bunk, staring around in awe. This room has more than a hundred boys in it right now, and we’ll all be sleeping in here together through candidacy. When that’s done, if we make it, we’ll move up to the castle to more private dorms. But seriously? Until then? I’m kind of…thrilled. The atmosphere here – it’s totally different than anything I’ve ever experienced. There’s a great deal of shouting and laughter, and two fist fights have already broken out, along with quite a few arm-wrestling matches. Girls? We’d all be simpering and sizing each other up. Guys? They just clasp hands and smack each other on the back, instant friends. But then a boy walks by in his underwear – which I’m not complaining about in itself – but my eyes go wide with shock when he just blatantly, casually dips a hand into his boxers and scratches his balls – “So, what do you think, cousin,” Jesse says, making me jump as he pops up at my side, standing on Rafe’s bunk and using the leverage to hook his arms over the edge of mine, grinning at me. “Regretting your choices yet?” “Boys are…” I whisper, still looking around with awe, “a completely different species.” “I think our prim little Princess likes it,” Jesse says with a laugh, observing my fascination. I laugh too and lift a finger to my lips. “Don’t tell Rafe,” I whisper, knowing my brother – like my dad – is crazy over-protective. “Your secret is safe with me,” Jesse whispers back, giving me a wink. “Just…try to look more boyish, all right? You’re sitting up there like a pretty little barn owl, staring around with those big eyes.” I gasp a little, realizing that he’s probably right. I hunch my back a little, unfolding my legs so that I’m not so prim. “Is this better?” I murmur, pitching my voice lower and laughing because I feel ridiculous. “Just scratch your ass a little more around people,” Jesse suggests with a grin, “let people see you burp.” Horrified, I glare at him. “Absolutely not.” Jesse laughs and then holds out his arm to me, wrist up. “Here,” he says. “What?” I ask, tapping at his closed fingers, thinking he has some little present hidden in his fist. “No,” Jesse says, laughing, and then he beckons me closer. I lean towards him and, lightening quick, Jesse wipes his wrist across both sides of my neck and then across my own wrists. “What’s that for?” I ask, frowning, confused. “Scent marking,” he replies in a whisper. “Sometimes you smell like a girl. This will disguise it a little, make it not so obvious.” “Won’t I just smell like you?” I ask, confused. He shrugs. “We’re cousins,” he replies. “No one will notice or care.” “Oh,” I say, and then I lean back in my bunk as Jesse jumps down and goes to talk to a light-haired boy who has just come to introduce himself to Rafe. I didn’t even think about smelling like a girl – what else is going to give me away? I try to think it through, to strategize, but soon the room is so filled with young men that I can’t really think about anything else besides watching them, studying how they move so I can move like that and start to blend in. I can’t even really keep track of which one is which as they all move around the room, unpacking their personal items and introducing themselves to their neighbors. Which is why it is so incredibly disconcerting when I find my head snapping to the left, my eyes frantically searching because… Because I swear, I just smelled…the most amazing scent that has ever crossed my nose – My wolf leaps inside me, which is itself shocking – she’s usually so calm that I sometimes forget she’s there – Get it, she commands, instantly starting to prowl, go find it – you have to – it’s ours – “What?!” I say aloud as I sit up stark straight, suddenly a little freaked out. But then I lift my nose and almost moan aloud when I smell it again – that incredible, amazing scent – the sharp bite of citrus, bergamot and wet pavement baking under the summer sun, apricots and almonds – Something snaps within me, an almost physical twist that redirects everything in me – all of my goals, all of my dreams – just wipes them away in the singular pursuit of it, of him – Mate!, my wolf howls, lifting her nose to the sky and singing the word, her feet dancing. Go! Get up! Go and find him – Mate! Mate! Mate! And I gasp, pressing myself back against my pillows because I know it now – know it for certain in my heart and my bones – that my mate is here – But as I look around, frantic, something…something else crosses my path. And I do moan aloud this time, my lower lip starting to shake as I go limp, falling back against my pillows. I have to press my eyes shut against the leather and whiskey scent of him – red hot cinders and the sharp bite of pine on a night so cold even the air freezes – And, to my horror, something else snaps within me, shaking me to the core, so much so that my shoulders start to tremble with it. Because…because the other one is still there – and this one too – They’re both still there, both bonds now calling to me, urging me to run in two different directions at once – I’m suddenly nauseous, my head spinning as gravity reorients itself in two directions, trying to point both north and south at the same time, my internal compass spinning – I raise my hands to my temples and give another soft moan. “Ari,” Rafe says, coming to the side of the bed and peering over at me, concerned. “Are you all right?” But I don’t reply, my eyes pressed tightly shut as I concentrate on my wolf, on the ridiculous thing that she’s saying – Inside of me she prowls back and forth, giving little hops of excitement, turning in eager circles, her tongue lolling from the side of her mouth. Get up! She urges me, snapping her teeth with glee, go and find them! Now! What?! I say to her, frantic. But that’s ridiculous – we can’t – we’re in disguise! Go!, she commands, and I find myself sitting up straight, my eyes flying open despite myself. Go and find them! We need to meet our mates! But as I look around the room – it’s too much of a mess. I know that they’re here – but I have absolutely no idea which ones they are. “Seriously, Ari,” Rafe says, peering at me closely. “You’re…all pale. Are you okay?” I spin my head to look at my brother with frantic eyes, my breath coming fast now. Behind him I see Jesse turn, confused, looking at me with curious worry. I open my mouth to stumble something out – anything – to beg them to help – But before I can, a loud clap sounds at the head of the room and we all spin towards it. Everyone goes silent, staring at the Academy Captain standing there with four Sergeants. He’s a gigantic man with a rough, craggy face that doesn’t look like it’s seen a smile for twenty years. But I can’t think about that now – my head still spins, and I do my very best to keep my eyes forward and concentrate on walking as my body begins to adjust, not allowing myself to be distracted by my surroundings or by my stupid wolf, who is howling at me – begging me to go find them, to hunt them down, to strip off my uniform right now and – The Captain scowls around at us, clearly displeased with our disorder. “Fall in,” he snaps. “It’s time for your first examination.”

“Time for the ranking,” the Captain growls, looking around at us with distaste. “You’re dressed in your grey candidate fatigues because you have not yet earned your Academy black. The bottom twenty percent of candidates will be cut at the end of the second week of candidacy. I suggest you take this seriously.” The Captain surveys us, his eyes cold. “Today’s test,” he barks out, “measures what you won’t survive without at the Academy: physical prowess. Rafe Sinclair! Kenny Dextrin! You’re up – first blood wins!” The Academy is famous for teaching its students the most cutting-edge methods and technologies – but first ranking is determined by a fist fight!? The match is over shockingly fast. Rafe knocks Kenny down and bloodies his nose within thirty seconds. When Luca Grant is called, I smirk a little. Luca dances around his opponent and taunts him for a while before whipping out a swift uppercut that knocks the other boy clean over. I bite my lip a little, admiring his technique – and the spread of his muscled shoulders – when to my horror I hear my own name. Or at least, my pretend name. “Ari Clark! Robert Brown!” My jaw just drops open because – god, I’m such an idiot – but as long as I’ve been standing here watching, I’ve never thought about how I was going to have to do this! I groan as I realize that I slipped into my Princess identity – I’m used to standing on the sidelines, watching Rafe and Jesse fight – “Let’s go, Clark!” The Sergeant snaps when he sees that I haven’t stepped forward. Rafe, next to me, sighs and puts a hand on my back, shoving me forward. I look back at him in shock but he just shrugs, his eyes clearly saying you wanted to join the Academy, kid. Frantic, I turn to Robert, who is already stepping into a fighting stance. As he puts his fists up and I finally realize that I’m actually supposed to punch him, the candidates all around us start to shout and whistle. “Come on!” Robert shouts, urging me forward. “Let’s do it!” But I just stand there, shocked. Someone starts to laugh uproariously and then bellows, “The shrimp’s scared!” Others start to laugh too, and then they pick up a call: “Shrimp! Shrimp! Shrimp!” This, somehow, spurs me on – and finally gets my wolf to pay attention to something besides that insane thing that happened this afternoon – two boys – two scents – Kill him, she growls, stalking forward within me. Show ‘em all… And so I start to step forward, my lips curling back, raising my own fists the way Rafe and Jesse taught me to, moving fast towards the other boy – Everything goes black. When I open my eyes I see Jesse staring right at me, peering again over the edge of my bunk. “Hey there, Shrimp,” he says, smirking at me, but not without sympathy. “How you feeling? He got you good.” I open my mouth to say something but pain instantly flares over my entire face. “Ith it…” I say, my voice all stuffy from my poor injured nose, which I raise a hand to gingerly touch, “Ith it broken?” Jesse takes a moment to press my nose between his thumbs, pushing at it experimentally, which hurts like hell. I gasp and wince, but he shakes his head. “Nah, cousin, you’ll be all right in a few days. You’ll have one hell of a black eye, though.” Well, also, I can’t smell anything with my nose all messed up, can I? So, I have no idea which of these boys are… God, I can’t even think the word to myself. Mate! My wolf gleefully supplies, dancing around inside of me, ignoring my pain. Your mates! Both of them! Get up now, shift into me! I can smell them! I can do it! I would love to do it! I scowl, ignoring her and closing my eyes again, wishing I was still knocked out. A few minutes later, though, my rest is interrupted by something landing on my pillow that makes me jump. I gasp, opening my eyes, and then I scowl when I see a cellophane-wrapped sandwich and a water bottle next to me, along with a packet of pain killers. “You okay, kid?” Rafe asks quietly, and I jump a little to see him standing where Jesse was before, peering at me closely. “No, I’m dying,” I sigh dramatically, collapsing back onto my pillow. “That breaks the pact,” he says, shoving me lightly on the shoulder. “You die, mom kills me – then dad’s only got Markie and Juniper left, their two worst kids. You know we can’t do that to them.” I smirk, laughing a little, but then I flinch when laughing hurts. “Hey,” I say, suddenly remembering that I missed the big event. “Did you win?” Rafe just gives a casual shrug but Jesse pops up behind him. “Of course he won!” Jesse says, looping a proud arm around Rafe’s shoulders. “You should have seen the brute he had to take out though, Ari,” he continues, his eyes wide and thrilled. “You’re being dramatic,” Rafe murmurs, shrugging Jesse off even though he can’t keep the corners of his lips from turning up. “No seriously,” Jesse says, leaning in to me. “He was like, bigger than Rafe, maybe – or at least as big – and totally brutal. You could tell he had never been formally trained, but he just went into his fights like a damn madman –“ “Really?” I ask, curious, sitting up a little. “Which one was it?” “That big boulder over there,” Jesse murmurs, pointing across the room. I see him instantly – who couldn’t? He’s seriously gigantic – rivaling even my dad in size. He hunches over in his bunk, looking down at his mattress with his arms resting lightly on top of his knees, totally stoic but clearly disappointed to have come in second. His dark hair falls in his face like he can’t be bothered to push it away. “You beat him?” I ask, turning shocked eyes on my brother. “Don’t act so surprised,” Rafe snaps, frowning at me, offended. I laugh a little and lean over to give him a shove on the shoulder. “You’re right,” I say in an overly-girly voice, like a deranged cheerleader, teasing him. “No one can beat Rafe Sinclair!” Jesse laughs with me, turning to watch Rafe turn red as he scowls. “Eat up,” Rafe mutters as he hops down from the bed, “and take the painkillers.” Then he hesitates, looking over his shoulder, and leans in to whisper. “There are some closed shower stalls, but…I don’t think you should go in there anytime soon. All right?” “I’ll do it in the morning,” I say with a yawn, reaching out to grab the cold water bottle and press it to my face, moaning a little at the instant relief. “I’ll get up at 3, before anyone else.” “Okay. Wake me up too. I’ll come with you.” “No,” I say, shaking my head. “You need sleep. It’ll be okay.” “Just wake me,” my brother growls. I nod to appease him and lean back against my pillow with a groan. Fine, my wolf growls as I drift of, displeased. But tomorrow, we’re finding them! Unfortunately, as fate would have it, tomorrow is too long of a wait.

I wake up in the middle of the night and groan a little with pain from my stiff muscles and my aching face. I prod at my nose, pleased to find that it’s already much better – the speed of wolf healing really is great, even though my nose is still too swollen to truly smell anything. But as I sit up, I realize that the real problem here is that I am…grimy. I’m completely covered in sweat and blood and my body feels…disgusting. I stick out my tongue as I survey myself, not even really able to believe that I was able to fall asleep like this. I mean, how much pain had I even been in? A lot, my wolf reminds me, nudging me with her nose. Can we go find them now? I scowl and mentally push her away, not able to think of it – or maybe just not wanting to, not right now. I mean, what the hell does it mean – what do I even feel about any of this? Did I imagine it? Or did…did two mating bonds actually snap into place yesterday afternoon, the day after I left Prince Asshole at the altar? But no. That’s impossible. You get one fated mated – just one! And most people don’t even get that! I don’t even know what one mating bond snapping into place feels like, let alone two. My wolf must be wrong – whatever happened must have just been…I don’t know, some kind of hormonal reaction to being around so many boys all at once. I’m not wrong! she growls, snapping her teeth at my denial. But I ignore her again. I quickly move to the wide communal bathroom at the end of the room. I grab a set of supplies from the waiting shelf and dash towards the shower stall. But when I pull back the curtain I gasp – actually gasp – in horror at the site before me. The floor and walls are covered in muck, and boy hair, and – oh my god, is that even blood in the corner? I scowl at myself, hating this side of me that’s decidedly a Princess… …but I have to get clean. And quite suddenly I remember what Jesse said on the way in – that there are some hot springs over the far hill. I breathe out a little moan, instantly wanting nothing more than a long, hot bath all by myself. To get clean, and to refresh myself – I just know it’s the one thing that will set me right. —— After about five minutes of searching for the hot springs, I find them. They’re everything I hoped they would be. Clean, fresh water – smelling just slightly of sulfur – bubbles out through a set of rocks, creating a little steaming pool that’s just deep enough to sink into. With a quick glance over my shoulder to check that I’m actually alone, I strip off my clothes and fling off my hat, running my fingers through my hair as I wade into the pool, moaning a little at the luxurious warmth of it enveloping my exhausted and battered body. When that’s finished, I tie my hair back in a knot at the base of my head and I take a deep breath, closing my eyes and turning my face up to again stare at the castle against the sky as I start on my body. As I run the bar of soap all over my skin, pampering myself a little as my muscles unwind, my mind turns to the question of battle magic, and just how the Academy might teach something like that. Because Rafe and Jesse and I – we’re all supposed to have some kind of magic, a gift from our Grandmother, the Goddess. Mom and Aunt Cora told us each about it when we turned sixteen, but…none of us have manifested anything yet. Mom is an incredible healer, and Aunt Cora can control the weather, but the three of us?

Not so much as a spark, no matter what we’ve tried. Mom tells us not to worry about it, that the Goddess will reveal her gift in time… But the Academy…would it have a way to bring something like that out in me? And if so…what form would my magic take? My imagination spins as I consider the possibilities as I soap myself down and I smile a little, staring to feel, finally, like myself again. I even hum to myself a little bit, carried away by how good this feels. Of course, the feeling is short lived because just as I set the soap aside and splash a handful of water up against my face, a voice rings out behind me. “What the hell are you doing here?” And I gasp, spinning and instinctually dipping low into the pool so that I’m up to my chin in the opaque water, staring up at the dark figure standing at the edge of the pool. I push myself away from him through the water, terrified but unable to see who it is – But as I reach the far side of the pool, terror streaking through me, the cloud covering the moon skates away revealing… Another candidate – and not my brother or cousin. My eyes go wide in shock as I realize, quite suddenly, that it’s Luca Grant – all six-foot-two of him, staring down at me – “Seriously, Shrimp,” he says, crouching down and looking all around. “What are you even doing here? And did you see a girl running around? I’m looking for her.” My mouth drops open a little as I realize that…that in the dark he can’t see my long hair knotted at the back of my neck, or any details about my body underneath the water. And, simultaneously, I realize that I smell like all girl right now because in soaping myself down I washed off all of the scent Jesse rubbed on me, which was covering me up – My mind whirs, but luckily my mouth responds without me. “Um,” I say, pitching my voice a little lower. “No, I haven’t seen anyone.” “Shit luck,” the boxer says, standing and sighing as he shoves his hands in his pockets. “I’ve been getting bits and pieces of her scent all day…she’s got to be around, but I can’t figure out where…” “Why…” I say again, hesitating and rubbing at my nose, desperate now to be able to smell something – “why are you looking for her?” “’Cause,” he says, sighing in frustration. “She’s my mate.” “Impossible,” a growling voice snaps, making both of us jump and spin towards the hulking figure that comes out of the shadows next. And my eyes go wide when I realize that… That it’s the huge, scarred brute that Rafe beat in the last bout – who hung his head in disappointment in his bunk – “Pardon?” The boxer says, raising an eyebrow at the bigger candidate who comes close to glower over him. To his credit, Luca doesn’t flinch. “She can’t be your mate,” the brute snarls, glaring down at Luca and not even sparing me a second glance. “Because she’s mine.” Yes! Yes! Yes! My wolf yelps within me, spinning in eager circles, holding her tail high like a banner. Our mates! Both of them! But my reaction is the opposite. “Ohhhh no,” I whisper, shaking my head as I look between them. Two mates – both looking for me? And neither of them realizing that I’m treading water right here!? How the hell am I going to get out of this?

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I, Maggie Queen, met my tragic end at the hands of a criminal on my sixteenth birthday. The scene was horrific; my body was left unrecognizable, dismembered, and scattered across various trash bins. I was severed from my father, Irwin Queen, and my brother, Mark Queen, leaving behind only a restless spirit. Before all this unfolded, the thug had threatened me with a smirk, “Irwin’s daughter? Ha! You’ve got a rough road ahead, little girl. Blame your dad for making waves and stirring up trouble with my crew.” Fear coursed through me; I recognized him as one of Irwin’s enemies. He was out for revenge. “What a pity. You’ve crossed the wrong people.” His words left me confused. “Poor thing, just starting high school, huh?” He waved a half-damaged school ID in front of me, mocking my youth. I looked at them with pleading eyes, silently begging for mercy because of my age. “Hahaha! Look at this girl. The way she’s staring at me, it’s like she’s trying to seduce me…” My mouth was tightly gagged, and all I could do was shake my head violently, a cold wave of terror washing over me. “Here’s the deal: you can call your dad. If he coughs up two million in ransom, we’ll let you go. Otherwise, you’re at our mercy,” said the greasy man with tattoos on his arms, a sinister grin plastered on his face. The kidnappers forced me to call home. I feared these ruthless thugs would hurt Irwin and Mark if I did. I shook my head desperately, refusing to make the call. In response, I received a few hard slaps that left me dizzy, my face swelling, and blood trickling from my mouth. “Damn it, you’re making this hard on yourself! I’ll call!” he growled. “How could he even know Irwin’s number?” My mind was spinning in confusion. Then, he dialed the number himself. After a few rings, the call connected, and my heart raced in my chest. They ripped the tape off my mouth. “Hello, who is this?” Mark’s voice came through the line. It was the home phone. The kidnapper took the phone over. “Irwin? Your daughter’s with us.” Mark’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “Maggie, is this your idea of a prank? Getting someone to kidnap you? “How much do you want? A million? Five million?” “No! Mark, help me!” I cried out, my voice trembling with fear and desperation. “Mark, hurry and light the candles…” I heard Megan Queen’s voice in the background. They must have been celebrating a birthday. My heart felt like it was being pierced by a thousand needles, the pain overwhelming. “Is this some kind of trick? You think I’ll forgive you for this? Mom died trying to save you, and you’re still a piece of work! Even if you die out there, it wouldn’t matter!” He slammed the phone down hard. “You know, your family really hates you. Can you imagine how they’d react if they found out you were really dead? Hahaha!” The kidnapper’s laughter sent chills down my spine. The rest of the ordeal felt like a nightmare. I thought, “I don’t have a mother anymore, and my dad… he probably wouldn’t care either. Mark only acknowledges Megan as his sister. If he knew I was gone, he’d probably be happy since he’s always wanted me to step aside for her. What are my dad and brother doing right now?” Even in death, I couldn’t shake my concern for the only family I had left. I floated back home, my spirit heavy with sorrow.

The bright lights filled the room, casting a warm glow that felt so foreign to me. Ever since I turned ten, I hadn’t experienced the warmth of a loving home. Right now, Irwin and Mark were busy celebrating Megan’s birthday. The birthday cake sparkled in the candlelight, its sweet aroma mingling with the sounds of laughter, creating a beautiful scene. Megan stood in the center, wearing a white dress, her eyes sparkling with joy, looking every bit like a little princess. Irwin and Mark surrounded her, their faces lit up with smiles, radiating happiness that felt like a world away from me. Since I turned eight, I had been cut off from this warmth. Megan was my nominal sister, the apple of Irwin and Mark’s eyes. She was the student my mother, Miranda Queen, had sponsored since the day I was born. We shared the same birthday, both born in the same month and year, but she grew up in a poor mountainous area. Miranda had said that by sponsoring a sister for me, she was building good karma. This sister, who had no blood ties to me, bore a slight resemblance to Miranda, which made Irwin and Mark dote on her. Far more than they ever had on me. I looked like my rough-edged father, Irwin, and often wished I could resemble Miranda instead. Maybe then, Irwin and Mark wouldn’t harbor such resentment toward me. Megan had a knack for brightening people’s spirits, and her likeness to Miranda won her the love and attention of Irwin and Mark. As for me? I only reminded them of the mother and wife they had lost. A bitter taste spread through my heart, and tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. By ten o’clock, they were getting ready for bed, and no one mentioned me at all. Irwin glanced at the clock, his irritation palpable. Megan bit her lip and cautiously said, “Maggie still hasn’t come home. Do you think she’s okay?” Mark ruffled her hair and said reassuringly, “She’s fine. It’s a special day, and Maggie probably just lost track of time. She might feel embarrassed to come back. Don’t worry about her, Megan.” Those words hit me hard. They thought I was just avoiding home out of guilt when, in reality, I was gone forever. Irwin frowned but didn’t say anything more. He had received a call about a body found at the dump, and he left early to investigate. In recent years, Cloudia City had seen a significant drop in violent crime, so it was unusual to encounter a case as gruesome as this. I drifted over to take a look at my own lifeless body. My torso lay there, bruised and withered, unrecognizable—like a grotesque puzzle piece. Once a vibrant teenage girl, I had been reduced to something that would terrify a child. Irwin and the other officers had cordoned off the area with police tape, surrounding the site where my dismembered body had been discarded in various trash bins. Two hours later, they collected what remained of my body, but my head was still missing. Those present gasped in horror at the sight of the dismembered pieces. Even the seasoned detectives couldn’t keep their stomachs in check and had to turn away. Mark, a top forensic expert, was urgently called to the scene. I watched helplessly as he began piecing together my shattered form. My body was covered in bruises and scars, each mark a testament to the violence I had endured. I focused on my left hand, where a small mole sat in the center of my palm. It was a reminder of a childhood accident when I accidentally drove a nail into my hand while playing with Mark. Irwin had given Mark a good thrashing for that, and Mark had felt guilty for a long time afterward. Suddenly, Mark stopped working, his sharp gaze fixed on my palm. My heart raced. “Could he realize it’s me? Does he remember that moment from our childhood?” His colleague noticed Mark’s intense focus and eagerly asked if he had found something. Mark snapped back to reality, hesitating before shaking his head. “Nothing. Just something about it feels familiar.” A wry smile crept onto my face. I should have realized it long ago—since I turned ten, Mark had never looked at me the same way again. Maybe he had forgotten that incident. Without my head, DNA testing would take at least three days, and they still couldn’t confirm my identity. “Preliminary assessment suggests the victim is a female aged between fourteen and sixteen, with a time of death not exceeding twenty-four hours,” Mark stated coolly, analyzing the situation with a furrowed brow. His eyes held a mix of sorrow and regret as he concluded that the victim had been alive during the horrific acts inflicted upon her. It was a brutal case of torture and murder. Mark remained composed and objective, unaware that the girl who had suffered such unimaginable pain was the very sister he had always resented. Meanwhile, Irwin was busy gathering evidence and conducting his own investigation.

This was the worst case the city had seen in a decade, and a heavy atmosphere hung over the entire police department. The higher-ups were taking it very seriously, ordering Captain Irwin to solve the case within a strict deadline. Based on the clues they had gathered, the police quickly reviewed surveillance footage from the area. Before long, they identified a chilling scene: three masked men using a van to abduct a female student. Unfortunately, the footage was grainy, making it impossible to see their faces clearly. The abduction was swift and brutal, leading the officers to conclude it was a targeted kidnapping. Irwin stared at the blurry figures, a look of confusion crossing his face. “I can’t shake the feeling that these guys look familiar.” “Could it be someone you know? Maybe a former inmate back out on the streets?” his colleague Vincent Green pondered aloud, a hint of concern in his voice. Just then, Irwin’s phone rang, interrupting their discussion. It was my teacher, Nancy Dona. “Hello, this is Nancy Dona, Maggie’s teacher. I’m calling because Maggie didn’t show up for school today. Is everything okay?” Her voice was laced with worry. Irwin frowned, irritation creeping into his tone. “I don’t know. I’m busy with work right now. If you’re concerned about her, go talk to her uncle.” Nancy hesitated, wanting to say more, but Irwin abruptly hung up, his patience wearing thin. Vincent looked at him, worry etched on his face. “Maggie’s not the type to just disappear. What if something’s really wrong?” “Wrong? What could possibly happen? She’s at her uncle’s place, safe and sound.” Irwin’s tone was dismissive. He was clearly reluctant to discuss me. Seeing Irwin’s stubbornness, Vincent could only shake his head in resignation. When I was younger, Irwin sometimes brought me to the police station. Vincent and the others always treated me like a little princess, showering me with kindness. But after that incident, I hadn’t set foot in Irwin’s workplace since. They all knew that I spent Miranda’s memorial day at my uncle’s house. Irwin’s deep-seated bias against me wasn’t something that could be easily brushed aside with a few kind words. “Irwin… today marks your wife’s memorial. You should take a moment for yourself,” Vincent said gently, hoping to encourage him to take a break. But the pressure from above was relentless. Vincent said, “I’ll be fine. The more I keep busy, the less I’ll dwell on her,” Irwin replied, his voice weary yet resolute. “Alright then, let’s crack this case as soon as we can. And remember, Maggie’s not responsible for what happened. It’s been a while since Miranda passed, and you’ve distanced yourself from her. “Maggie’s hurting too. You lost a wife, and she lost a mother… “She’s always reticent. I bet she’s hurting inside. “That poor girl, she’s about the same age as the victim. Just think how devastated her family must be. Once this case wraps up, maybe you could show Maggie a little more care. Parents and children shouldn’t be at odds.” Vincent’s words struck a chord deep within me, making my heart ache. He saw things clearly from the outside, while Irwin remained stubbornly blind to the reality of the situation. Irwin stood there, momentarily stunned, as if Vincent’s words had finally pierced through his defenses. “Yeah…” was all Irwin managed to say. Vincent recognized that Irwin was beginning to listen.

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Aimee’s Determination While I was waiting in line at the Juice Bar, a little boy suddenly dashed in from outside. He anxiously scanned the store, then stood before me and pleaded, “Miss, I’m Ethan Schmidt. Please don’t be the other woman. Don’t destroy my family!”

In my previous life, my husband, Felix Hastings, was snatched away by my best friend, Rachel Worthington, who was the only daughter of the richest man, Kenneth Worthington. They mocked me, insulted me, and even pushed me down the stairs to my death. Given a chance to relive my life, I set my sights on Kenneth, who was wealthy and handsome. He had few offspring, only one adopted daughter. It was on his account that Rachel had been so unscrupulous in murder. Surprisingly, I was born with a high chance of getting pregnant. Soon, I seduced him and had four babies. In this life, I wanted you to beg me and call me “Mom”. … In a daze, I staggered towards the room on the second floor of the villa. Kenneth, wearing silver-rimmed glasses and wrapped in a bathrobe, was initially taken aback when I suddenly barged in. His surprise quickly gave way to a cold expression. I bumped into him, feigning innocence and mumbling softly. At that moment, I had not yet experienced the damage of the fertility injection, and my appearance was as charming and attractive as a fairy. My soft hair was entangled between Kenneth’s fingers, and he caught a whiff of a light fragrance, which turned him on. His expression darkened instantly. Every detail about me, including the length of my straps, the curve of my neckline, the placement of my skirt’s slits, and even the tone of my voice in every sentence, was meticulously planned. I knew that by missing this opportunity, I would never get close to Kenneth again. He swallowed, and his gaze was burning hot. Suddenly, he pulled me into a tight embrace, and I could feel the warmth of his body and the rapid beat of his heart. He whispered in my ear, “Do you realize what you are doing?” ​At that moment, I distinctly felt his eagerness and eagerness.​ I knew my plan worked. Early the next morning, a scream woke me up. “Abigail! What are you doing? This is my father!” Rachel stood at the door, while everyone who had attended her birthday party the day before gathered there with mixed expressions. Staring at her innocently, I wrapped myself in the quilt tightly and interrupted Kenneth, who was about to speak. “I was drunk yesterday. We just chatted under the quilt. Nothing happened.” I understood that a wealthy man who was well-known in the business world would not want to be laughed at by others. Moreover, Rachel was not the only witness. Her expression changed from shock to anger. She clenched her teeth, staring at me with doubt and resentment. “Do you regard me as a fool?” With that, she was about to rush over to hit me. But she was stopped by Kenneth. “That’s enough! Didn’t you hear what she just said? “It was just an accident!” Rachel was stunned and was eager to retort. I leaned close to her ear and whispered, “You’d better buy my story. Otherwise, if your father is really interested in me, you will have to call me Mom.” Her eyes widened in amazement. After a moment of hesitation, she glared at me fiercely, pivoted around, and forced a smile at the guests at the door. “Don’t misunderstand. They just chatted all night.” The guests glanced at each other, laughed embarrassedly, and left. Rachel shot me a menacing look, identical to the one she had given me when she pushed me down the stairs in my previous life. I was born in a place called Belle Village. All the girls there were naturally beautiful and attractive. As a result, I was abducted three or four times during my childhood. Finally, I escaped to an orphanage and met Rachel. When I was a child, while other kids were pale and thin, I was healthy and attractive. The orphanage was not some paradise on earth, and the competition among the children was intense. Among them, only Rachel took care of me. Although many people wanted to adopt me, each attempt ended in failure. Not long after, Rachel was taken away and adopted by Gu Kenneth, who was known as a business tycoon. I was truly happy for her and genuinely believed she was the most important person in my life. Therefore, in my previous life, I was dumbfounded when Rachel touched her belly and told me that she was pregnant with Felix’s child. They mocked and insulted me for being infertile. Moreover, when I threatened to use legal means to divorce Felix and claim all the assets, Rachel pushed me down the stairs, resulting in my death. I woke up to find myself back in a time before anything had happened. It was so painful to discover that the two people I trusted most had betrayed me and that I never got to say before my death in my previous life, “It’s not my problem. The one who can’t have a child is Felix!”

Our family had a natural fertility trait, but I kept it a secret for Felix’s sake. Rachel, you relied on Kenneth, who was the richest man, to be so unscrupulous in murder. Since you liked my infertile husband so much, I would give the scumbag to you. I thought Kenneth was an ideal husband. He had good looks, wealth, and you as his only adopted daughter. When I gave birth to his own biological child, he would no longer care about you. In this life, I would make you beg me and call me “Mom”. When we got dressed and went downstairs, Rachel sat on the sofa furiously. “Dad, Abigail, there is no outsider. Do you have any sense of shame?” Shame? How ridiculous! That word should have never crossed Rachel’s mind when she slept with Felix in my previous life. Even so, I resisted the urge to curse. Covering my face, I cried softly, pretending to be pitiful. “I have no idea what happened. I just drank the glass of wine you handed me yesterday, and then everything became like this.” Rachel panicked “What! Do you mean I hurt you?” I explained, feeling hurt, “Of course not. You’re my best friend. How could I doubt you? But the people around you don’t seem trustworthy. Could they be acting behind your back?” Rachel flew into a rage. The upper class in Avalonville had always been hostile to her. She had put in a lot of effort to invite every guest to her birthday party yesterday. “You bitch, if you like my father, just admit it. Don’t talk nonsense.” Kenneth interrupted her, “She was indeed unconscious yesterday. “I taught you myself and know what kind of person you are. It’s also because I tend to spoil you too much. “You’ve actually made some undesirable friends. I’ve suspended your black card. You’re not allowed to socialize with them for now. Stay home and reflect on your mistakes.” “Dad.” “That’s it.” Rachel ran out in frustration. At that moment, only Kenneth and I were left. I said, “Mr. Worthington, yesterday was just an accident. I only intended to attend Rachel’s birthday party. I didn’t expect it to end up like this.” I choked up again. “But I hope you can forget the accident.” Kenneth was caught off guard. He had encountered women who tried to seduce him before, but I was indeed unconscious last night and tried to struggle several times. ​He remembered that Rachel had been the culprit in the accident.​ A hint of guilt surged within him. “I can give you any compensation you want.” I shook my head and smiled bitterly, “You are a victim, too. “To be honest, I’m already married, but I can’t get over this. I feel sorry for my husband and want to divorce him. “But we established the company together. If he learns of the reason for my divorce, all my hard work will be destroyed.” Kenneth patted my head hesitantly. “I understand. Don’t worry. What’s yours will be yours.” I gazed at him seriously with some admiration, my eyes wide. “Thank you, Mr. Worthington. You are so nice.” Kenneth felt that I was different from all the women he had met before. He had caused me to fall into such a state, yet I still thanked him. He walked me to the door and asked the driver to take me home. I exited the villa when something suddenly occurred to me. After turning around, I bumped into his arms, just like last night. He subconsciously hugged my waist. I took two steps back to create some distance and handed him my business card carefully.

“Mr. Worthington, I hope we can get to know each other again. “We’ll meet again in the business world.” Sitting in the car, I noticed Kenneth’s reluctant gaze, but I didn’t look back. Since he had promised me that he would handle my divorce, I didn’t have to worry about the division of property. I made a phone call and had all my stuff removed from the house. Additionally, I warned Felix, my ex-husband, that I had evidence of his affair with Rachel and instructed him to stay out of my sight. I thought that he cheated on me because we didn’t have children after several years of marriage. After being reborn, I found out that he and Rachel had been in constant contact. They actually played with me. Since you were so ruthless, don’t blame me for making life difficult for you. I stroked my belly gently. I could sense that I had succeeded yesterday and that new life was already growing strong in my belly, just waiting for the right moment. In the following month, although I gave Kenneth my business card, he did not reach me on his own initiative. Yet, I was not in a hurry. With Rachel around, how could she allow Kenneth to contact me? However, I was very confident that I could capture his heart. The memory of that night would be embedded in his mind like a stubborn nail, impossible to erase. Now, I was still the boss of the company. Coincidentally, this planning project was in cooperation with Kenneth’s company, and we had been communicating online before. ​When we next met, I was exactly a month and a half into my pregnancy.​ I revised several plans and chose the most perfect version. I leaned back in my office chair and sighed, feeling fortunate to have returned at the perfect moment. Now, in the prime of my life, I was not forced to quit my job for pregnancy preparation or to care for Felix’s mother all day, avoiding becoming anxious, pale, and thin or gaining excessive weight. On the day of the contract negotiation, I was dressed in a light blue business suit and carried a thick stack of documents in my hands. In the meeting room, Kenneth sat in the center with a stern look. However, at the sight of me, he was slightly startled. I smiled politely, as if I didn’t know him, and handed the document to him. He took the document, and his fingertips accidentally touched my hand. I felt the warmth of his fingertips, and my heart skipped a beat. Our eyes met, and the atmosphere was subtle. I was in charge of this project, while my ex-husband merely played a figurehead role, making occasional sounds but contributing nothing substantial. This situation highlighted my professionalism even more. In the negotiation, I did not give in. After several rounds of confrontation, we reached a consensus. Everyone exchanged pleasantries cheerfully. Just as I was about to see them off, Rachel pulled me aside and said angrily, “I spotted you flirting with my father behind my back. Do you still want to be my stepmother?” I replied calmly, “How could that be? I’ve been concentrating on my work. Given your time to worry about me, you might as well address your own relationship problems. I’ve divorced Felix, but why hasn’t he married you yet?” Her face suddenly darkened, and she stammered, “How did you know? No, I mean, what nonsense are you talking about?” “But you are right about one thing,” I smiled. “I really want to hear you call me Mom. “I’m pregnant!” I paused deliberately and then mouthed, “Your father’s child.” In a fit of rage, Rachel momentarily lost control and rushed towards me, wildly beating me and swearing at me. She pushed me to the floor, and the pain came instantly. Everyone was shocked. Kenneth hurriedly stepped forward to pull her away and asked, “What’s going on?” I raised my head, tears welling up in my eyes, and sobbed, “I don’t know! I thought Rachel just wanted to catch up with me, but she suddenly hit me!” Upon hearing this, Rachel immediately retorted, “That’s not true! My father can only have me as his daughter. He can’t have another child. How dare you claim that you are pregnant!” Before she could finish her words, Kenneth slapped her hard in the face, interrupting her speech. She covered her face, as if she realized what she had said. “You actually hit me for her?” Kenneth gritted his teeth, his face livid. “That’s enough. Shut up. In fact, Abigail and I have been in a relationship since she divorced.” Suddenly, someone exclaimed, “She’s bleeding!” I glanced down and saw that my lower body was already covered in blood.

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My fiancé Logan Perez’s high school sweetheart, the one he had loved long before me, was now gravely ill. She was an orphan, and her greatest wish before she died was to have a “legitimate” family. So, Logan, who was supposed to marry me, secretly married her instead. And just like that, I went from being his fiancée to a third wheel in someone else’s marriage.

I fell in love with the offish and poor student, Alyssa Davis, and was willing to be her bootlicker. She took away my supplementary card but didn’t allow me to be around her. “Get away from me! As I see you only care about material gain, I feel disgusted!” Alyssa used my money to buy luxury goods to pursue the poor school hunk, Scott Young, and even held a birthday celebration for him in the most expensive hotel. Then, she became the envied lady of a wealthy family. But I remain infatuated, and after graduation, I use all my family’s assets as engagement gifts to finally marry her. On our honeymoon, Alyssa watched me drown in the water, “I long for you to die every time I think about how you use money to manipulate me.” As I opened my eyes again, I was back in the university classroom. This was the day when Alyssa asked me to transfer money into her account. I slapped her face with my card. “Even beggars know to kneel down and beg. Who do you think you are?” “Ulysses Vanderbilt, why can’t I pay with your card? You caused Scott and I a huge embarrassment!” In front of me, Alyssa was holding my secondary card and slamming the desk with an angry look on her face. Scott patted her on the back and said sarcastically, “Ulysses, I know you’re jealous of how well Alyssa treats me, but without money, it’s her who feels embarrassed. “You did this without considering Alyssa at all!” As I looked at them, a sudden realization struck me. This was the day when she had booked a hotel to celebrate Scott’s birthday. On that day, there was a maintenance of the banking system, and her card reached its limit when she tried to pay money. Alyssa left everyone behind, rushed back to school, found me, who was not invited, and scolded me severely. At that moment, I acted irrationally and found myself apologizing to her profusely, even going as far as personally calling the bank to have the transaction limit lifted. After this incident, Alyssa became known as the lady of a wealthy family, and Scott became the envied object of everyone. Thinking of my tragic death in my previous life, I held my throbbing temples. “Of course, you can’t pay because this card doesn’t belong to you.” Finishing saying that, I snatched the secondary card from her hand and put it back in my pocket. Scott looked at Alyssa in shock and confusion as I smoothly executed my actions. “Alyssa, what does he mean?” Her face twitched a few times, and she glared at me. “Ulysses, you are the son of a housekeeper, so how dare you show disrespect towards me? “I’ll count to three. Call the bank immediately and have the transaction limit lifted, or else, don’t blame me for being impolite!” I raised my eyebrows as usual. “Alright then, let’s don’t pretend to be friendly with each other.” Scott saw how arrogant I was and immediately started to criticize me. “Ulysses, Alyssa supported you out of pity, helping a butler’s son like you to go to school. What is your attitude now?” His voice was so loud that the students who came back later could hear it clearly and echoed him, “Ulysses is crazy. How dare he disrespect his hostess?” “Well, you don’t seem to know. Ulysses secretly loves Alyssa, and he is jealous of Scott.” “How disgusting! How can a poor student like him compare with Scott?” I raised my eyes slightly and observed the two people in front of me. One was wearing the designer clothes and bag I gifted, while the other was wearing the branded sneakers purchased using my card. Compared to my preference for simplicity, they indeed appeared more lavish in their attire. But when did dressing simply become a reason for a person to be humiliated? I sarcastically remarked to the disrespectful classmate, “Since you’re so good at pleasing her, how come you got kicked out of the hotel?” Alyssa got very angry and whispered a threat to me, saying, “Ulysses, if you dare to continue saying anything, you’re as good as dead!” I looked at her harsh expression and felt full of disdain. I never realized before that this lady from a poor family pretended to be noble in front of me but liked to act like the lady of a wealthy family in front of outsiders. But I didn’t know how she could show off her wealth without my supplementary card.

Seeing that I didn’t continue to refute, Alyssa thought she had won. She cleared her throat, and once everyone’s attention was on her, Alyssa smiled happily, “Today, this incident was indeed unexpected. There was a considerable volume of financial transactions, which led to temporary monitoring by the bank…” Before she finished speaking, everyone exclaimed, “Is this the strength of the lady of a wealthy family? I don’t even know what banking regulation and supervision is.” “Nonsense, Ms. Davis is the only lady of a wealthy family. There are many things you don’t know.” Listening to everyone’s praise, Alyssa couldn’t control her laughter. “But today, because of my mistake, everyone made a wasted trip. “So, I have decided to change the location for Scott’s birthday celebration to my villa!” Students fell silent for a few seconds, and then they erupted into an incessant scream. “I didn’t hear it wrong, did I? I have never been to a villa in my entire life!” “Ms. Davis is too powerful. How can we get there?” “It is my great fortune to be able to be classmates with the lady of a wealthy family!” Amidst all the praise, Alyssa looked at me with a cold face. “You go and arrange it.” I stood still and met everyone’s gaze. “What arrangements can I make? Where did you get the villa?” Seeing how rude I was, she was completely stunned. But Alyssa reacted quickly and dragged me out of the classroom. “Ulysses, you’d better understand the current situation! “It’s all because of you! You made me lose face today, and our classmates almost thought I had no money! “You must arrange for everyone to go to the villa to celebrate Scott’s birthday, or else I will never pay attention to you again!” I smiled indifferently, “Why? Are you a powerful person? “If you don’t pay attention to me, it’s like a fish losing its bicycle. I’m truly terrified.” Seeing that I was not moved by her threat, Alyssa thought I was jealous of Scott. She clenched her fists and panted violently. After a long time, she seemed to have finally made up her mind. “As long as you cooperate with me, I’m willing to be your girlfriend for a week after this.” I tried to keep my mouth shut, but a sneer still escaped my lips. But just before I could refuse, I suddenly thought of a better idea. Instead of letting her continue to deceive others with her status as the lady of a wealthy family, it would be better to expose her true nature at my villa. Thinking of this, I tried hard to suppress my laughter and nodded. Seeing that I agreed, she resumed her aloof attitude. “Just one week, not a second longer. Also, don’t try to take advantage of me.” Saying that, Alyssa left me, who was twitching from trying so hard to hold back my laughter, and walked away. As I returned to the classroom, everyone stopped gossiping and looked at me. “Just a moment ago, you were so arrogant. Now you have been taught a lesson and realized how formidable Alyssa can be.” “It’s the first time I’ve seen a servant’s son disobey the young lady. Alyssa is just too kind.” My deskmate, Yohan Wilson, nervously pulled my sleeve, saying, “Ulysses, are you okay? Don’t pay attention to their words.” Seeing that there was still someone willing to help me, Scott rolled his eyes at Yohan. “Indeed, birds of a feather flock together, and people tend to gather with those who are similar to them.” Hearing that, I didn’t get angry. Instead, I looked at Alyssa and Scott meaningfully. “You’re right, scumbags can indeed get along well.” She glared at me unkindly. “Ulysses, be respectful and contact the driver to pick us up now.” I pressed my lips at her arrogant look and called the driver. Soon, more than a dozen different luxury cars stopped at the school gate. As the students saw this scene, which was comparable to a luxury car show, they were shocked. “No, Alyssa, are these all your cars? I wouldn’t dare to do this even in my dreams!” Alyssa smiled, walked coldly to the first car, opened the door elegantly, and invited Scott to get in. He laughed happily and got into the car with the help of her, not forgetting to roll his eyes at me. I watched this scene with a smile and walked forward to open the other car door. She took a step forward and stopped in front of me. “You are not allowed to go.” I looked around in surprise, and the surrounding classmates burst into laughter. “Seeing Ulysses get humiliated makes me happier than eating a full banquet.” “You dared to show attitude towards your hostess just now, so now you must accept the consequences.” I never thought that Alyssa would be so bold. At this time, Scott, who had already boarded the car, stuck his head out of the window, “Alyssa, let’s go quickly.” She responded with a happy face, then pushed me aside and asked all the classmates to get on the cars. I believed that this scene would be recalled repeatedly by Alyssa and regarded as the highlight of her life. Unfortunately, as she gave the order to start, all the drivers looked at me motionlessly. “Are you not getting in the car?” She was a little anxious. “I said, drive! Drive now!” The students also whispered, “Ulysses is really capable. Why does these drivers listen to him so much?” “You don’t know this, right? The son of the butler will also be the butler in the future. Of course, the driver has to listen to the butler.” I ignored everyone’s comments and raised my eyebrows at Alyssa. She glared at me indifferently and said, “Get in the car.”

A row of luxury cars drove back to the villa. Getting out of the car, the classmates looked up at the front courtyard in extreme shock. “No, I thought a villa was just a villa, but this the villa looks like a palace!” “Oh my god, I’ve made it. It seems like I’m going to be crowned the emperor!” Alyssa stood in front of the door with her chin up and made a gesture to everyone. “Welcome everyone, this is just the smallest of my assets.” It was indeed the smallest one. This villa was built halfway up the mountain, offering a cool retreat during the summer. My parents often came here to escape the heat. That was why I chose this location. Moreover, the architectural appearance of this villa imitated a palace, so there was a plaque at the gate. There were big words written on it -Vanderbilt Villa. Soon, one classmate noticed something was amiss and pointed at the plaque, asking, “Alyssa, why does the villa bear the Ulysses’ last name instead of yours?” As she shouted like that, everyone looked up. Alyssa glared at me fiercely and spoke after a long while. “As you all know, my family’s butler is Ulysses’ father. “My parents are kind-hearted. Ulysses’ family often stays in this villa, so…” Following her nonsensical explanation, everyone suddenly realized something. “Your family treat your servants too well. No wonder Ulysses dares to be so arrogant.” “If I were Alyssa, I would have fired this servant and his family long ago!” I stood quietly outside the gate, watching this group of people pointing and whispering about me, the villa’s owner. I almost got internal injuries from trying to hold back my laughter! She wanted to enter, but Scott clearly didn’t want to miss the opportunity to humiliate me. It was only after the murmurs of the crowd subsided that he held her hand, looked up with an air of superiority, and entered the villa in a masterly manner. “Alyssa, I wonder when this plaque can be given a new surname.” She leaned on him, her brain almost lacking oxygen due to excitement. Then, Alyssa looked at Scott gently and answered, “Maybe in a few days, this place will be named after my boyfriend.” Hearing these ambiguous words, he smiled and lowered his head. The crowd gathered behind, cheering and shouting for them to be together. They surrounded Alyssa and Scott and stepped onto the stairs but were stopped by the security guards at the gate. “This is a private villa, no visitors allowed.” Her face turned pale, and she looked at me in disbelief. “What tricks are you playing?” I chuckled at the security guard, “Let them in. These are my friends.” The security guard immediately let them go after hearing this, but now, the students’ expressions became subtle. Scott leaned over to whisper in Alyssa’s ear, and I knew what they were talking about without having to listen. He was merely advising her to manage the servants well and not let me surpass her as the true master. Soon, Alyssa nodded in agreement and took the opportunity to hold Scott’s hand. I ignored the inquiring eyes of my classmates and shouted at the door, “Mom and Dad, I’m back!” She immediately pulled me back with a stern face and whispered, “Ulysses, don’t do anything tricky to me.” I forcefully let go of her hand and said loudly, “I only said I would lend you the villa, not give it to you.” Hearing this, the students stopped moving. All these anomalies made them doubt the ownership of the villa. But what I didn’t expect was that my parents, who usually stayed here to escape the summer heat, were not present today. Seeing that no one answered after I shouted for a long time, Alyssa finally relaxed. Now, in front of Scott, she was determined to save face and insist that this villa belonged to her. “Ulysses, I’m warning you for the last time. Don’t make the same mistake again! “Why are your parents here? Your parents are now…” At this point, she still didn’t dare to utter any offensive words and said, “They should be busy now!” As soon as this was said, the classmates misunderstood the meaning again and sneered in low voices, “He spoke these lies so convincingly that he even called out for his parents for a while before remembering that his parents were actually working as servants under her.” “I want to crown Ulysses as the best pretender on campus.” “She can tolerate this. No wonder Alyssa is wealthy. She even treats her servants so well that I envy them.” I didn’t get angry but smiled and looked at Alyssa, “Alyssa, they dare to speak, and you dare to listen. Do you really consider this villa as your own home?” Seeing that I dared to say more, my classmates pushed me out of the door. I accidentally stumbled to the ground, and the butler, Mark Adams, who had been so polite to them, immediately frowned. The bodyguards standing guard outside the villa rushed in and surrounded them.

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My husband, Dominick Hampton’s sister, Angie Hampton, was the darling of their entire family. On our wedding day, she wore an extravagant princess gown that stole all the attention away from me. She even deliberately spilled hot water all over me. My chest was scalded red, but she only looked at Dominick with teary eyes and said, “Oh, Dominick, I’m always so clumsy.” Dominick gently patted her head and comforted her, “You are not clumsy. It’s just that Lynda didn’t catch your cup properly.” Later, she even tagged along with us on our honeymoon to the islands. While we were diving, she took the chance to block my oxygen tube, leaving me to drown beneath the sea. Everyone thought it was just an accident. Back home, Angie seized my jewelry, bags, and luxury car. With her wealthy background, she quickly made a name for herself in the entertainment industry. But fate smiled on me, granting me a second chance. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day of my wedding to Dominick. The grand doors opened slowly, and all the lights converged on the red carpet. I lifted my wedding gown and took my father’s arm, ready to step into the ceremony. Just then, a woman in a fluffy pink dress suddenly started walking slowly from the other end of the red carpet. Her dress was even more ostentatious than my wedding gown, adorned with glittering rhinestones that dazzled under the lights. She wore a crown, her makeup was flawless, looking every bit like a Barbie doll. It was my husband’s sister, Angie. “Lynda, you look so beautiful today,” she loudly praised, drawing everyone’s attention to herself. She smiled and waved at the guests with an innocent charm, like a celebrity on the red carpet, as if this wedding was her show, the red carpet and spotlights all meant for her. Then, she opened her arms as if wanting to embrace me. In my past life, she took the opportunity during this hug to tear off my veil and undo the zipper at the back of my dress, making a spectacle of me on the red carpet. Afterward, Angie feigned an apology and stood to the side, watching me squirm in embarrassment. When the flower petals began to fall, she just so happened to be standing in the shower of flowers, striking various sweet and elegant poses. The carefully planned entrance ceremony was completely ruined. Dominick and I hurriedly exchanged rings. Dominick’s mother was thoroughly pleased with Angie’s beauty and grace. This time, just as Angie was about to hug me, I swiftly took a small blade from my father’s pocket and warmly approached her. I thought, “If she wants to be in the spotlight, I’ll make sure she gets enough of it.” Angie tried to use her necklace to tear my veil, so she hugged me tightly. Holding the blade, I silently made a few quick slashes along the side of her chest. As she attempted to unzip my dress, her princess gown suddenly slipped down, revealing her chest. A wave of hushed whispers rose from the crowd below. Angie hastily pulled up her dress. She tried to zip it up, only to find that the side of her dress had been slit open. “How did this happen?” To show off her figure, she had chosen a tight-fitting gown. Now, the more she tried to hold the fabric together, the more the material gave way, tearing even further. I slipped the blade back into my pocket and pretended to help Angie up with a look of surprise. “Angie, you’re so enthusiastic today.” Because her skirt was heavy, as soon as Angie stood up, it started slipping down again. The kids in the audience laughed heartily, and a few ill-intentioned men began taking photos. The livestream I arranged was already up and running. “Don’t do that. Stop it, please,” Angie pleaded, her shoulders hunched in mortification. So, she did know how humiliating it was to be embarrassed in front of everyone. Dominick descended from the stage and took off his suit jacket, draping it over Angie. “Angie, go change your clothes first.” Angie looked up at the petals piling overhead, hoping to grab attention again when the petals fell, but with her dress ruined, she had no choice but to leave in frustration. My father placed my hand into Dominick’s. “Dominick, I’ve known you since you were a child, and I have faith in you. “I hope you and Lynda have a happy, blessed life together.” My father and Dominick’s father were once teachers at the same school. Later, my father resigned and went into business, but they remained good friends. This marriage was strongly encouraged by both sets of parents. Under the witness of the officiant and guests, Dominick placed the diamond ring on my finger. At that moment, the flower petals began to drift down, creating an incredibly romantic scene. Dominick was handsome. Though his job didn’t pay much, it was stable and respectable. To put my father’s mind at ease, I tried to open my heart to him. But as I gazed deeply at Dominick, his eyes were not on me. He kept glancing backstage, where Angie had just left. I squeezed his hand, and he finally snapped out of it. “Sorry, Lynda. Angie’s always been clumsy and can’t take care of herself. “I’m worried she won’t know where to find her clothes.” I rolled my eyes. I thought, “Angie is already 26. Does she really need her brother to help her find clothes?” Before I could complain further, Angie was already at the small side door backstage, waving at Dominick. “Dominick, come here.” Dominick let go of my hand and strode toward Angie. Watching his retreating figure, I thought, “How did I not notice in my past life how close they were?”

When Angie reappeared, she was wearing the dress I had specially prepared for the wedding party. She looked at herself with satisfaction in the mirror, admiring how she looked in the dress. She casually asked me, “Lynda, you don’t mind I wear your dress, do you?” “I didn’t bring any other clothes, and Dominick said I could wear this one.” Angie set up her phone on a tripod and began striking various poses for the camera. This dress was custom-made by a high-end designer, with fabric and style that were one-of-a-kind. Angie had wanted to wear it for a long time, so the moment she got the chance, she eagerly put it on to show off. I found a plastic bag behind the makeup counter, and Angie’s T-shirt and jeans were inside. “Angie, aren’t these your clothes?” I said, tossing the bag in front of her and waiting for her to take off my dress. Angie looked down at her plain clothes, her fingers reluctantly caressing the fine fabric of my dress. The wedding party was about to start, and Dominick came to find me. Seeing him, Angie lit up as if she’d spotted a savior and threw herself into his arms. “Dominick, I don’t know what I did to upset Lynda. She won’t let me wear her dress.” Her eyes started to redden, and soon, tears were welling up, ready to spill over. Dominick frowned slightly, pointing to the clothes hanging on the rack. “Can’t you just wear these?” he asked me. Those were dresses I had tried on and discarded, and they couldn’t compare to the custom-made gown. “Why doesn’t Angie wear these instead? “Today is my wedding day. It only happens once in a lifetime. “Why should someone else wear the dress I had specially made while I settle for the leftovers?” Angie hid behind Dominick, quietly sobbing. “I’m sorry, Dominick. I’m just too silly. I didn’t know I was wearing Lynda’s favorite dress. “I’ll take it off right now.” She began tugging at the buttons on the dress with exaggerated emotion. She deformed the original exquisite diamond buttons, making them hang loosely on the dress. Clearly, she didn’t want me to wear this dress as well. Dominick soothed her as if calming a child, his voice gentle and low. When he spoke to me, he was always polite but rarely showed any real emotion. I used to think he was just stoic and emotionally stable. But now, watching him comfort Angie, I realized he had a sensitive, caring side too, However, he had never shown that side of him to me. “In that case, let Angie wear the dress and take my place to attend the party with you.” I lifted my wedding gown and sat down on the sofa. “Lynda.” Dominick’s tone became impatient. “Stop this nonsense. You’re the bride. How do you think the guests outside will react to this?” I let out a cold laugh, thinking, “He’s finally realized that I am the bride today.” “Angie is still a child. Don’t hold it against her. “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll apologize to you on her behalf.” His tone wasn’t apologetic at all. It was more like he was blaming me for being unreasonable. I looked at him and Angie, my thoughts drifting to the wedding gift my father had prepared for me. Angie reluctantly took off the dress she had messed up. She turned and carefully chose another unique-looking dress. I tossed the ruined gown she returned into the trash and changed into my everyday clothes. When my father and the guests saw me wearing a shirt and wide-leg pants to the party, they were all very surprised. “The dress got dirty from mice. It’s more comfortable in regular clothes,” I explained. Angie, who followed me out, looked embarrassed but couldn’t say anything. She spotted a waiter bringing over a pot of hot water, and a sly smile crept onto her lips. I knew she was planning to pull the same prank from my previous life. Sure enough, she filled a cup to the brim with hot water and carefully handed it to me. “Lynda, I apologize for what just happened. Here, have some water.” She looked sincere as if she genuinely wanted to make amends. Dominick nudged me with his elbow, signaling for me to take the cup. I knew that if I reached out, Angie would “accidentally” spill the hot water on my chest. The burn from last time took me two months to heal. I turned and walked over to my father’s business associates and greeted them. Angie had no choice but to follow me, and the hot water scalded her fingers, making her wince. At this table sat CEOs of companies worth tens of billions of dollars. Dominick’s mother wanted Angie to make a good impression on them, hoping she might marry into a wealthy family someday. I introduced Angie to them. “This is my husband’s sister, Angie. She’s pursuing a master’s in art and will be a great artist in the future. “Angie, go ahead and offer a toast to these respected gentlemen.” I picked up the kettle and kept refilling her cup with hot water. As the water spilled over the rim, Angie could only grit her teeth and endure it. By the time she had greeted everyone at the table, her fingers were covered with blisters. Dominick was heartbroken, but there was nothing he could say.

As soon as the wedding ended, we returned to the villa my father had gifted me. Dominick said it was close to Angie’s school, so he suggested she move in with us. The moment we opened the front door, Angie’s mouth dropped open in surprise, and she immediately started snapping pictures with her phone. “Dominick, this is perfect! This is going to be our home from now on,” she exclaimed. “Our home?” I thought. “Don’t get too excited just yet.” I sent a message to my lawyer, Pearson Diaz, asking him to draft a prenuptial agreement. My father’s wedding gifts to me included three tech companies, a Porsche, and this sprawling villa. The jewelry left by my mother after her passing was also in my custody. In my last life, I trusted Dominick and didn’t bother dividing up the assets. After I died, the three tech companies rode the wave of the AI boom, and their stock prices soared. Dominick became a new star in the tech world. Meanwhile, his sister flaunted my luxury car and my mother’s jewelry all around town. My body was cremated hastily on an island. Dominick and his sister put on a show of grief, saying they felt guilty for not taking better care of me. The tour guide and local police assumed it was an accident. After all, diving came with its risks. As I struggled for breath, I also thought there was a problem with my equipment. Angie always acted like she needed looking after, playing the role of a clumsy girl, and I believed she wasn’t truly malicious. It wasn’t until she pulled out my oxygen tube and pushed me deeper into the sea that I realized just how deep her malice ran. But by then, it was too late. I reviewed the draft of the prenuptial agreement Pearson sent me and made several adjustments. I wasn’t going to let Angie get away with a single penny. After his shower, Dominick came over, wrapped in a towel, and tried to embrace me. He kissed me as a matter of routine. Suddenly, a scream came from the next room, and Dominick immediately pulled away from me, rushing toward Angie’s room. Angie stood there in a nightdress that barely covered her thighs, her hair still wet. “Dominick, the water from the heater here is scalding hot,” she whimpered, extending her hand where the blisters from the morning were starting to turn red. “Can you help me adjust it, please?” Dominick attended to her, applying ointment and adjusting the water heater in the bathroom. By the time he returned, I was already asleep. That night, we slept back-to-back without any physical contact. The next morning, despite there being a housekeeper, Angie insisted on making breakfast herself. She served a plate of charred eggs and a few chopped-up pieces of toast. She placed the food in front of Dominick and me as if she were showing off her culinary skills. Dominick didn’t mind at all. He finished his portion and even praised her. “Angie, you finally know how to make breakfast. Well done.” I pushed the plate of burnt food aside and asked the housekeeper to make another. “Dominick, sign this, and then we’ll go register our marriage.” I slapped the printed prenuptial agreement on the table. Angie grabbed the document first, reading it word by word. “Prenuptial agreement,” she sounded out slowly. “What do you mean by this? Do you think Dominick is after your money?” She put on a righteous act, defending Dominick, but her eyes betrayed a flicker of panic at having her lie exposed. “That’s not it. The company’s finances are tight lately. I’m just worried about dragging Dominick into debt, so it’s better to separate things in advance.” Currently, the market didn’t have high expectations for those three companies, and the financial reports were a mess. Dominick skimmed through the document and said it was fine. He claimed he was willing to share everything with me. “Then at least put up five million dollars, just in case,” I said, tapping my fingers on the table, closely observing his and Angie’s reactions. Dominick frowned, lost in thought, seemingly trying to figure something out. Angie whispered a few words in his ear. Shortly after, Dominick picked up the pen and signed. After we got married, Dominick went to work, and I headed to my company as usual. In the afternoon, my secretary, Zoya Flores, slipped into my office, holding her phone. “Mrs. Hampton, isn’t this influencer’s dress the same as your wedding gown?” I took the phone and saw an influencer named SunshineAngie posting nine selfies. In the pictures, she was wearing my wedding dress. The background was the hotel where I’d held my wedding. The photos had so many filters I almost didn’t recognize Angie. As I was looking, I noticed she’d posted a new update. The caption read: [My diamonds are shining bright!] accompanied by a selfie of her wearing a pink diamond necklace. Her followers were commenting in awe: [That pink diamond used to belong to a princess, right? It’s worth at least tens of millions of dollars.] [Who would’ve thought Angie is actually loaded!] [Look at the bottom left corner of the picture. Isn’t that a painting by that famous artist?” [Oh my, it really is. How much would that have cost?” [She’s so humble; who would’ve known she’s got such wealth?] That pink diamond necklace was my mother’s, carefully stored in the jewelry room. I thought to myself, “Angie really isn’t holding back, is she?”

When I got home, I noticed the necklace had been returned to its original place. I contacted the security company and had tiny trackers installed on each piece of jewelry. The next day, Zoya informed me that Angie had taken pictures wearing a white pearl bracelet. She had practically worn and flaunted every single one of my mother’s pieces of jewelry and bags. Once, she even carried a limited-edition Kelly bag, which caused quite a buzz online. After all, the famous actress Claudette Greville had been trying to get that exact style but never managed to, while SunshineAngie, just a minor influencer, somehow owned not one but two. Riding on this wave of attention, Angie’s follower count skyrocketed by a million. She fashioned herself as the daughter of some mysterious tycoon. I showed the photos to Dominick. He didn’t seem to see any problem. “Angie’s always loved these things since she was a kid. She’s just borrowing your stuff for a bit.” “But she didn’t ask for my permission,” I replied. Dominick took two steps back, looking as if he were deeply disappointed in me. “Lynda, we’re family now. Why make a fuss over such trivial things? “Angie might not be the brightest, but she’s innocent and kind. Why can’t you try to accept her?” Dominick’s words made me feel sick. I insisted we have a serious talk. “Alright, Lynda, now that we’re married, we’re a family. “As a family, you should look out for her. Can you do that?” I was completely disillusioned with Dominick. Just then, Zoya messaged me. Claudette had finally obtained the Kelly bag she had longed for. In the photo, Claudette posed with Angie. The caption read: [Thanks, Angie, for the lovely gift.] To worm her way into the entertainment industry, Angie had set her sights on my personal belongings. Two weeks later, Angie triumphantly announced she had landed the role of the third female lead in a star-studded TV drama. “Ms. Greville personally recommended me to the director. We have quite a few scenes together,” she bragged. Her fans were thrilled. They claimed that Angie came from a powerful family and had never bothered to enter the entertainment industry before because she didn’t need to. They said she was talented, so the moment she joined a project, she was already acting alongside an award-winning actress. Some die-hard fans even followed Angie to the villa. Once photos of the villa were posted, it only further confirmed Angie’s image as a wealthy heiress. However, someone also caught a picture of me heading out for work. That day, I was attending a business dinner, and I wore a full set of Cartier jewelry. Angie’s fans immediately launched an attack against me. [Isn’t that Angie’s jewelry? Who is this woman, and why is she flaunting Angie’s things like that?] [She must have snuck them out while Angie wasn’t home and wanted to show off.] Angie casually replied in the comments: [Thanks for your concern, everyone. She’s just the housekeeper, and it’s okay to let her borrow them.] Many replied underneath: [Angie, you’re so kind! Do you need another housekeeper? I’d love to work for you!] On the first day of shooting, Angie drove my father’s gifted Porsche to the press conference, making quite the grand entrance. Even Claudette greeted her with a warm smile. Although Angie was only the third female lead, she managed to steal the spotlight from the main actress. During the group photo session, Angie pretended to be clueless about where to stand, wandering around aimlessly. In reality, she firmly positioned herself in the center, causing quite a bit of discontent among the other top actors. At that moment, I called the police and reported that luxury bags and a car worth millions of dollars had been stolen from my home.

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I put away the signed documents and was about to step into the wedding venue when I heard a commotion outside. Zayne was gently holding another woman in a wedding dress. I felt dizzy. I was standing right here, but who was this woman who looked almost exactly like me? Then it daunted on me. It was Daisy, his first love who disappeared ten years ago. Zayne actually found her? While I was frantically preparing for the wedding, he was busy looking for his first love!

Right after I had a miscarriage, Yves Salvatore forced me to take the fall for his sister and go to jail. I was totally heartbroken by it. But after I got out, he begged on his knees, asking me to give him another chance.