Category: English

My crazy sister, completely hooked on soap operas, insisted on divorcing her husband, firmly believing a Billionaire would fall in love with her, a divorced woman with a child. I tried everything to dissuade her, and for a while, she seemed to calm down. But she just wouldn’t give up. To “accidentally” run into a Billionaire, she drained her savings on all sorts of high-end places. At one fancy hair salon, her mischievous son, Leo, grabbed a pair of scissors, planning to cut a customer’s hair. Luckily, I stopped him in time, preventing a disaster. But then, out of nowhere, another naughty kid copied Leo and snipped that same customer’s hair. And guess what? That kid’s mom ended up marrying into a wealthy family! When Chelsea found out, she completely lost it. She blamed me for ruining her chance with a Billionaire. She hit me with her car, leaving me paralyzed from the neck down. Then, she made Leo take the scissors and cut into my flesh. I was tortured to death. Before I took my last breath, I heard her whisper, full of venom: “Victoria, if there’s a next life, please, *please* don’t meddle in my business anymore!” The next moment, I opened my eyes. I was back at the time Chelsea was fighting with her husband about the divorce. I immediately raised both hands in support: “Do it! You absolutely HAVE to divorce him!”

After I said that, both Chelsea and her husband stared at me with shocked expressions. “Victoria, it’s bad enough Chelsea is being ridiculous, but why are you joining her?!” Ryan, her husband, practically yelled. “Do you even know why she wants to divorce me? She says she’s going to find true love with our son, and that *I’m* standing in the way of her marrying into a wealthy family!” “Chelsea, seriously, look at yourself! Do you honestly think a Billionaire would even glance at you? And with Leo, who’s just a complication, no Billionaire in their right mind would marry you!” In my past life, I, like Ryan, thought Chelsea was completely insane. But her brain had been so utterly poisoned by those soap operas. She genuinely believed she was the suffering heroine from one of those shows, waiting for her Billionaire savior to rescue her. Last time, I tried to reason with her: “Chelsea, honey, in those soap operas, when a Billionaire marries a woman with a child, it always turns out the kid is actually the Billionaire’s biological child.” “What kind of Billionaire would marry a divorced woman who already has a kid? Do you think those wealthy families would actually raise someone else’s son?” But Chelsea just scoffed: “That just means you haven’t watched enough soap operas! I’ve seen plenty where Billionaires marry divorced women with kids. Oh, just stop interfering in my life. Once I marry into a wealthy family, won’t you be living the good life too?” Eventually, I gave up. Ryan and I were practically on our knees begging her to reconsider. In the end, I had to promise her thirty thousand dollars for her to temporarily agree not to divorce Ryan. Now, I stood by Chelsea’s side: “I respect every decision Chelsea makes. She must have a plan for doing this! Divorce is a huge deal, she wouldn’t do it if she wasn’t sure!” Chelsea excitedly grabbed my hand: “Victoria, you’re the only one who understands me!” Understand you? How could I not? You lunatic, you practically ruined my life in the last one! “Ryan, if you don’t divorce me, I’ll sue you for adultery! I’ll even call the police and accuse you of domestic abuse!” Ryan’s face was beet red with anger. “Fine! Divorce then!” Finally, Chelsea got her divorce, just as she wished.

Just like in my previous life, Chelsea blew through money, dragging Leo to all sorts of high-end places. Today, she asked me to accompany her to an upscale salon to get Leo’s hair cut, and I knew the turning point was coming. The moment we walked into the salon, I spotted *the* Billionaire already there, talking to a stylist. Chelsea’s eyes lit up, and she nudged my elbow. “Victoria, did you see him? He’s definitely a rich guy.” “Soon, Leo will cut his hair, and then we’ll fall in love at first sight!” My eyes nearly popped out of my head. Had she been reborn too? Then she added: “I had a dream yesterday, and it was in this very salon. Leo was about to cut the Billionaire’s hair, but you stopped him.” “Then another kid did it instead, and that kid’s mom fell in love with the Billionaire and successfully married into his family!” “It actually woke me up, you know? That’s why I brought Leo here for a haircut today.” “This time, you are NOT allowed to mess things up for me, understand? If anything goes wrong because of you, I swear I’ll never forgive you!” *Phew*, I thought. Good thing she only dreamed about part of the last life. Otherwise, if she knew I’d also been reborn, how would I get to watch her self-destruct? “Don’t worry, Chelsea, you specifically told me not to, so how could I ruin your plans?” “Go ahead and do whatever you want, bravely! Whatever you do, I’ll support you!” Chelsea, touched, patted my hand: “Victoria, I’m so glad I have you! Everyone else thinks I’m crazy, but you’re the only one who supports me unconditionally!” “Of course! I’m your sister, after all! Our parents passed away early, and I raised you! So I have absolute faith in you. I know that anything you set your mind to, you can achieve!” Chelsea’s eyes welled up with tears. “Victoria, once I marry into the wealthy family, I’ll make sure you come live with us and enjoy the good life!” I nodded. “Okay, I’ll be waiting!” Leo had been playing with a pair of scissors the whole time. When he saw the Billionaire, who had just had his hair washed, sitting there, he crept up quietly. *Snip!* He cut off a huge chunk of the Billionaire’s hair. The Billionaire gasped, instantly touched his head, and let out a furious bellow: “Whose kid is that?!” Chelsea was ecstatic. She immediately rushed forward and took her son’s hand. “Oh, I’m so sorry, sir. My son was just playing, and I wasn’t watching him.” She even deliberately chose what she thought was her most flattering angle, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. The Billionaire looked like he was about to lose it. “Do you have any idea how important my image is? I have an international meeting tomorrow! How am I supposed to meet clients looking like this?” “I’m so sorry, I’ll definitely compensate you for your losses!” She pulled out her phone. “How about we exchange contact information? It’ll be easier to get in touch later.” “No need. Just contact my lawyer directly!” Chelsea grabbed the Billionaire’s arm. “Oh, come on! Even though I’m a single mom, I promise I’ll pay back every penny of what I owe! Not a single cent less!” “And if I really can’t afford it, well, marrying you is always an option too!” She even winked at the Billionaire. He got even angrier. “Let go!” He yanked his arm, pushing Chelsea so hard she landed squarely on her backside on the floor. “Running into someone like you first thing in the morning? What rotten luck!” Seeing the Billionaire about to leave, Chelsea scrambled up from the floor and chased after him. Just as the Billionaire got into his Maybach, she rushed over and grabbed the car door. “You can’t leave! We haven’t exchanged contact information yet!”

The Billionaire looked utterly disgusted, throwing out a cold, “Forget the compensation. Just get lost!” Chelsea still clung to the car door, refusing to let go. “No! We haven’t exchanged contact info, and I *have* to compensate you for this money!” To keep the Billionaire there, Chelsea shouted and tried to open the car door. But the door was locked, and she couldn’t budge it. The Billionaire said coldly, “Drive.” The driver immediately hit the gas. Chelsea was dragged along, but she still wouldn’t let go, screaming at the top of her lungs. “This is destiny, a fated love! We HAVE to exchange numbers, or who knows when we’ll meet again!” The Billionaire rolled up his window, completely ignoring her. After being dragged for hundreds of feet, Chelsea finally couldn’t hold on any longer and let go. I quickly ran after her with Leo. “Victoria, quick, call an ambulance!” Chelsea said that then passed out. I had no choice but to take her to the hospital. After the doctors examined her, they said she only had minor scrapes and bruises. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. That woman truly had nine lives. During the few days I took care of her in the hospital, she was constantly glued to her phone, tinkering with something. The day she was discharged, she excitedly told me: “Victoria, I found out! My future husband’s name is Alexander Vance, and he’s the heir to Vance Group!” I just said, “Oh.” Chelsea grew even more excited: “If I go to his house as a maid, he’s definitely going to fall in love with me! After all, that’s how it always happens in the soap operas – the Billionaire falls for the housekeeper!” Sometimes, I honestly wanted to crack open Chelsea’s head and see what was rattling around inside. After she was discharged, she disappeared. Leo cried inconsolably, unable to find his mom. I had to take the child to Ryan, since I certainly wasn’t obligated to raise her kid. Three days later, the police called. “Are you Chelsea Vance’s sister? Chelsea Vance is suspected of unlawful entry, please come down to the police station.” I rushed to the police station and found a bruised and tearful Chelsea. “What happened?” “Victoria!” Before Chelsea could continue, Alex stormed over. “Can you control your sister?! If she has mental problems, send her to a psychiatric hospital! Don’t let her out to harm other people, please!” I was startled. “I’m so sorry, my sister doesn’t have mental problems. And she’s twenty-five years old, she’s responsible for her own actions!” “Chelsea, what exactly did you do?!” “She snuck into my house, crept into my bedroom, and almost *assaulted* me!” I was shocked again by Chelsea’s sheer audacity. “Could there be some misunderstanding?” “What misunderstanding?! She climbed in through the window, burst into the bathroom while I was showering and completely naked, and literally *pounced* on me!” “If I hadn’t pushed her off, my reputation would have been ruined! I’m pressing charges for attempted assault! I’m going to make sure she rots in jail!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “306462”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

Levi stood at the foster home entrance, his shirt worn thin. But my sister Vivian skipped to him and threw herself into his arms, cooing his name. In that instant I knew. Vivian had been reborn too. In our past life, when asked to choose between the city’s wealthy Prestons and the struggling Millers, Vivian had shoved me to the ground and sprinted for the sleek black limousine. “I’m not living in poverty, Skylar! You can wallow in misery all by yourself.” She got her wish. She lived in luxury, but the smile on her face faded with each passing day. Five years later, she was thrown out of the mansion and met a tragic end in a dirty alley. Meanwhile, I aced my exams, got into the best university, and studied abroad with Levi. With the blessing of our foster parents, we built a happy, fulfilling life together. Now, with this second chance, Vivian had chosen the exact opposite. I looked at Levi, the man I’d shared an entire lifetime with, waiting for him to speak. But he pulled Vivian behind him, his gaze icy as it fixed on me. “Stay away from her.” With Vivian’s triumphant stare burning holes in my back, I turned and walked toward the waiting stretch limousine. Perfect, I thought. I wanted a different life this time anyway.

“Get in, miss.” The Prestons hadn’t sent a welcoming committee, just a driver. On the way, he rattled off all the rules I’d need to follow once we reached the Preston estate. The car soon arrived. I followed the driver into a mansion that loomed like a palace of cold marble and soaring ceilings. “Madam, she’s here.” The elegant woman sipping tea on the sofa looked up, her gaze sweeping over me. She waved me closer. “Come here.” “What’s your name?” “Skylar.” The woman nodded. “Good. From now on, you’ll be Skylar Preston.” “Mr. Sterling, take her upstairs.” “Yes, Madam.” I trailed behind the butler, my steps quiet on the gleaming floors. The stair railing was carved from expensive sandalwood. Everywhere I looked, it screamed luxury. But honestly? I wasn’t all that impressed. In my previous life, I’d earned all this through my own grit and grind. Mr. Sterling glanced back at me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. He pushed open a door, revealing a sprawling princess-themed room. “Miss, this will be your room from now on.” “You can rest for a bit. I’ll be back later.” I stepped inside, surveying my surroundings. The environment was exquisite. It was clear the Prestons spared no expense, even for an adopted daughter. The room exuded the refined luxury of high society. A wave of pure excitement surged through me. Last time, I had to claw my way up from nothing to earn a life like this. This time, with the Prestons’ power behind me? I was going to conquer the world.

I was lost in thought when shouts erupted behind me. The door burst open, and a basketball flew out of nowhere, hitting me square in the head with a dull thud. “Hey, you! Country bumpkin! Go get my ball!” a spoiled voice called out. I turned slowly. A boy who looked about my age, though taller, stood there. His chin tilted up in pure, unadulterated arrogance. If my memory served, this was Jax Preston, the family’s only son. He was the epitome of a spoiled heir, obsessed with racing and skydiving and completely uninterested in the family business. In my past life, a racing accident crushed his lower body, leaving him paralyzed. His temper became legendary after that. “Hey, what are you gawking at? Did you hear me?” His impatient voice cut through the air. I snapped back to reality, picked up the basketball, and handed it to him. Remembering the driver’s instructions, I softly said, “Here you go, Jax.” He paused, then sneered. “Playing nice already, huh? Think that’s gonna get you a piece of the Preston fortune?” He scoffed and walked off. Over the next few days, I rarely saw Mrs. Preston, and Jax was practically a ghost. Mr. Sterling took me around, helping me familiarize myself with the mansion. The entire estate was huge. After the tour, he handed me a schedule. It was packed with various business management courses. “Here is your class schedule. Beginning tomorrow, you will begin private lessons in corporate management. Mrs. Preston has arranged it all. Your sole focus is to apply yourself. Do well, and you will be rewarded.” “So, think you can handle it?” This was the kind of stuff Levi and I only got into when we started our own business in my last life. To be exposed to it at just fifteen? I was thrilled. I nodded. “Of course, I can.” A flicker of surprise crossed his face, but he said nothing, continuing to give me instructions. To ensure I didn’t fall behind on my middle school studies, Mrs. Preston also hired a private tutor for me. But I’d already mastered all of this in my previous life, so it was a breeze. In just one year, I absorbed all the knowledge and applied it flexibly. “This child is a fast learner! Not only has she mastered all the middle and high school subjects, but she can also grasp those complex professional corporate management courses.” The tutor praised me relentlessly to her. I sat quietly, listening. “At this rate,” he said, beaming, “Skylar won’t even need to finish high school! She could go straight to studying abroad!” But that wasn’t Mrs. Preston’s plan. She wanted me to accompany Jax through high school first, then go abroad with him. The official reason was “so you can look out for each other.” The real reason, which I understood perfectly, was to make me her wild son’s keeper. Mrs. Preston gave the tutor a generous bonus, and her gaze towards me held a new level of approval. “Come here.” She pulled me down to sit beside her, handing me an acceptance letter. “Well done. Since Jax’s grades aren’t improving, you’ll help him. I don’t expect miracles-just keep him from failing.” “Once you both graduate high school, I’ll send you abroad. How does that sound?” Without any preamble, Mrs. Preston laid out her demands. I didn’t hesitate. “Thank you, Mom.” Her eyebrows lifted, clearly pleased. She squeezed my hand tighter. “Good girl.”

As a reward, Mrs. Preston gave me a credit card and told me to enjoy a free day out. It was the most relaxed I’d been since coming to the Preston mansion. The driver dropped me off in the bustling city center, and I got out alone. I hadn’t walked far when a familiar figure appeared. It was Vivian, or rather, Vivian Miller now. She was standing on the roadside, under the scorching sun, handing out flyers. The Millers were practically penniless, with almost no spare cash, so it was no surprise she was forced to work to earn money. My past life had been just like that; during summer break, I’d juggle three jobs a day while still keeping up with my studies. Not only that, but I also had to help my foster parents with all sorts of chores. They claimed to treat us equally, but in reality, they never made Levi lift a finger. I even found out later that my foster parents had initially adopted me not because they wanted a sweet, affectionate daughter. But because they were looking for free labor. “Hello, would you like to see this?” A flyer was thrust in front of me. Vivian’s voice abruptly cut off when she looked up and saw me. “Skylar?” Noticing my luxury brand clothes and well-maintained skin, a flicker of jealousy crossed her face. She smiled. “You’re living pretty comfortably now, aren’t you? But don’t say I didn’t warn you, the Prestons are a family that’ll chew you up and spit you out. Mrs. Preston is far scarier than you can imagine. You’ll find out soon enough.” “Fine.” My flat reply annoyed her slightly. She began to boast about her foster family. “Mr. and Mrs. Miller are so good to me. My days are packed, and Levi even tutors me. And we were both admitted to Northwood High this year!” Northwood High… The acceptance letter Mrs. Preston had given me was also for Northwood High. Only students from influential backgrounds or those with exceptionally high grades were admitted. In my previous life, Levi and I were the ones who got in on merit. “Our lives are only going to get better, while you, well, you’re going to meet a tragic end on the streets.” She sounded absolutely certain. My lips parted, just as I was about to say something. “Vivian!” “Levi! What are you doing here?” Vivian beamed, throwing herself into Levi’s arms. Levi, carrying a lunchbox, handed it to her. “Mom told me to bring you lunch. It’s too hot and tiring at midday. Why don’t I take over for a bit?” “No thanks, Levi. I can do it.” The Millers would rather pinch every penny to send Levi to expensive tutoring than let Vivian take a single break. I was exploited the same way in my previous life. “You’re working hard.” As he spoke, Levi noticed me standing nearby. “Levi, this is Skylar, my sister. You met her at the foster home before.” Vivian introduced. Levi scrutinized me, his cold expression laced with a hint of disgust. He ignored me, turning to Vivian. “Don’t hang around with sketchy people. Let’s go.” Without giving me a chance to speak, Levi pulled Vivian away. “Levi, why were you so mean? What if you scared her?” “Silly Vivian, that person just now didn’t look like good news. You should stay away from her in the future, otherwise, who knows how she might hurt you behind your back.” Their sharp voices faded behind me. I couldn’t understand his sudden hostility, but the question only flickered briefly in my mind before vanishing. Instead, I took out the card Mrs. Preston had given me and went on a shopping spree, buying out half the luxury store.

When I emerged, laden with shopping bags, Vivian’s face was green. “Hmph, what’s there to be so proud of? You’ll still end up dead eventually. Not like Levi and me; we’re going to open a big company.” I chuckled, amused by her naivete. Then I turned and headed back to the Preston mansion. Actually, none of the things inside were for me. They were all for Mrs. Preston, Jax, and the other staff members in the house. When I got back, Jax was home, a rare sight. He saw me and sneered. “Well, well, been with us for only a short while and already hauling in bags? You really think the Prestons’ stuff is yours?” “Jax!” Mrs. Preston warned him, “She’s your sister.” Jax pouted. “Sister? What kind of sister? I don’t have a country bumpkin sister like her. It’s embarrassing to even be seen with her.” Jax and I never got along, so I wasn’t about to stick my head in the lion’s mouth. I pulled out the gifts one by one from the bags. “Mom, this is for you.” I handed her the gift box, which contained a sheer, silky scarf. Then I gave gifts to the other staff members who had been looking after me-Mr. Sterling and the housekeepers. I saw an expression of genuine satisfaction on Mrs. Preston’s face, different from her usual demeanor. Mr. Sterling and the other staff members also looked pleasantly surprised. Jax’s face fell immediately. “Hmph. You think you can bribe people with a few presents? You think you’re-” “Jax,” I cut in, acting as though I hadn’t heard him. “This one is for you.” I pulled out the final gift. It was a race car model. “I heard Mom say you like racing, so I bought this when I saw it at the mall.” He froze, mumbled something, and took it.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “306463”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

In my previous life, Caleb’s first love died taking a knife for me. He hated my guts for it. He locked me away and subjected me to years of relentless torture, day and night. Until my twenty-second birthday. My body and mind were utterly exhausted, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I chose to slit my wrists. Before I lost consciousness, I saw Caleb’s bloodshot eyes. He warned me: “In your next life, don’t love me. And don’t ever stand between me and Luna again.” As he wished. When I woke up, I was sitting in my high school classroom. The clamor of a basketball game drifted in from the sports field outside the window. Caleb pushed the door open, casually tossing his jacket into my lap: “Hold this for me. Luna’s coming to watch the game later.” For the first time, I didn’t greet him with my usual eager smile. Caleb had no idea. In this life, I would automatically keep my distance from him. His school jacket floated lightly onto my desk. I subconsciously moved my wrist. There was no agonizing pain. These wrists, in my previous life, had been bound to the headboard of a bed with Caleb’s tie for seven whole days. All because, on the anniversary of Luna’s death, I still refused to admit guilt. Admit guilt for what? Luna was my older sister, the real daughter of the family. The moment she was found and brought home, she immediately won over everyone’s affection. I admit, I used to envy her. And for a long time, I resented her. Resented her for appearing and stealing my mom and dad. Stealing my Caleb. But she was so tiny and frail. When she was first brought back, her face was pale. She would only gently call me: “Rosie.” Suddenly, my heart softened. I thought, maybe having an older sister… wouldn’t be so bad. My parents said Luna wasn’t healthy. I needed to always give in to her. So, she wanted my room. I gave it to her. She wanted my dolls, I gave those too. She liked pretty dresses I had my eye on, I gave them all up. But when I started middle school, I found out Luna also liked Caleb. This time, I wasn’t giving way. He was my favorite Caleb, the one I’d grown up with since childhood. I couldn’t give him up. What I didn’t expect was that I only argued with Luna once. Just once. The cost, however, was a life. And my own miserable four years. Luna taking a knife for me was incredibly sudden. She fell into a pool of blood. Her last words were: “Rosie… I’m giving Caleb back to you. Please don’t blame me, okay?” At that moment, Caleb rushed over, and that’s the scene he saw. Luna had taken a knife for me. She bled profusely. And with her blood clotting disorder, she didn’t make it to the ambulance. She died on the spot. And her cryptic last words made Caleb hate me to the core. That day, my Caleb asked with a chillingly calm expression: “Rosie, why wasn’t it you who died?” It was only then that I knew. That afternoon, Luna had actually planned to confess her feelings to Caleb. But by an unfortunate coincidence, they ran into some hoodlums looking for a fight. In the chaos, she pushed me away.

It was strange. Everyone was strange. After learning Luna had died taking a knife for me, I became the target of everyone’s accusations. The home I’d lived in for over ten years was completely shattered. Dad’s hair turned white overnight. He told me: “You shouldn’t have lived.” Mom punched and kicked me, screaming hysterically: “You b*tch, you killed Luna! Give me back my Luna!” They stopped letting me go to school. They locked me in the basement for days on end. But… Why blame me, instead of the assailant? Wasn’t I the victim? Was being the one who lived the mistake? I didn’t know. I only knew, just as they said. I owed Luna for a lifetime, owed her my life. I stayed in that pitch-black basement for a long, long time. Until my eighteenth birthday. Caleb convinced my parents. Finally, they let me out. Seeing sunlight after so long, my legs felt weak. I could barely stand. Caleb didn’t say a word, just carried me on his back. Step by step, he walked all the way to Oxford. Oxford, that was the university I wanted to attend. And it was also Luna’s dream. In the season of blooming jacarandas, Caleb’s voice was very, very soft. “Rosie, do you know? This was Luna’s dream too, but she can never achieve it now.” I didn’t respond. I just silently cried on his back. This day was my eighteenth birthday. And it was Caleb’s last moment of tenderness towards me. After that, I was expelled from school. Locked away in the attic of the house. My parents went abroad, completely abandoning me. Caleb had no more reservations. At first, I would beg for mercy. “Please let me go, Caleb.” But the attic was so dark, so gloomy. Not a single ray of sunlight. Trapped inside, I lost track of time. Lost track of the seasons. Gradually, my mind began to unravel. On another anniversary of Luna’s death, when Caleb told me to kneel. We had a furious argument. “I won’t kneel!” “I hate her! I hate her! I hate all of you!” “I never asked her to save me.” “Just kill me, Caleb! Why don’t you just finish me off?” I must have been half-mad then. Caleb kicked me in the knee. He didn’t like it when I disobeyed. As punishment for talking back, he dislocated my wrist again. Binding me to the headboard in a humiliating position. Caleb’s tone was cruel. “Don’t blame me, Rosie, this is what you owe Luna.” “You’re not wronged. At least you’re still alive.” Oh. So my being alive. Was a mistake. Then I didn’t want to live anymore. On the night of my twenty-second birthday, I couldn’t bear it any longer. Blood soaked the sheets. I chose to slit my wrists. To fulfill their words: to give my life back to Luna.

Caleb’s handsome brows furrowed. He waved a hand in front of my eyes. “Rosie?” I snapped back to reality. The boy’s eyes were clear now. None of the gloom and hatred from the previous life. But I instantly jumped up. Putting as much distance between us as possible. “Um… I have something to do. I won’t be going to the basketball game.” “You guys go.” I was scared of Caleb. Truly scared. I trembled every time he came close. The person opposite me froze slightly. He seemed unaccustomed to me refusing him for the first time. After all, every interaction between us had always been me chasing after him. He thought for a long time before finally speaking: “Rosie, are you mad? Because I brought a gift for Luna the other day and not for you.” Mad? I gave a bitter laugh. What right did I have to be mad? In my previous life, Caleb never said he liked me, nor did he say he liked Luna. But he was always by Luna’s side. Yet I was blind. I deluded myself with foolish hopes. And competed with Luna. No wonder I met such a tragic end. The school bell rang on cue. If I remembered correctly, this was P.E. class. Classes 1 and 2 had a basketball game. Luna was in the next class, already standing at the door. Caleb finally didn’t say anything else, just glanced at me. Then he turned and ran towards Luna, who was waiting by the classroom door. Watching their shoulders side by side as they walked away. I let out a long sigh of relief. However, having just been reborn, I hadn’t even had a chance to properly enjoy the sunlight. When school was almost out, my mom’s phone call summoned me to the hospital again. The reason: Luna had an attack. And needed a blood transfusion. Just like in my previous life, whenever she needed it. I was still her walking blood bank. Actually, at first, Mom and Dad said Luna had a rare illness. And needed frequent blood transfusions. And when they found out my blood type matched perfectly. I was even quite relieved. Because I had so much blood. I could save my sister. I knew very early on that Mom and Dad loved Luna more. After all, Luna was their biological daughter. That was understandable. I only thought, if I could just be a little nicer to Luna, just a little more. My parents would be happy. And when they were happy, they would love me again too. But Luna was too greedy. She was always crying, always needing my blood. The increasingly frequent transfusions made it hard for me to cope. Especially when Caleb was around, it was particularly noticeable. Like right now. I took a cab and rushed over. Before I was pushed into the ward, Caleb hurriedly slipped a gift box into my hand.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “306458”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #校园School

My roommate, Chelsea, who had interned at my mom’s company for three months, suddenly claimed to be pregnant with my dad’s baby. “Chloe, please, I’m begging you, make your dad acknowledge this child. I know I’m just a poor student and not good enough for your family’s status, but the baby is innocent…” I was completely flummoxed. “Chelsea, are you sure you have the right person? My dad passed away a long time ago.” The words had barely left my lips when my boyfriend, Albert, slammed a paternity test report onto my face. “Chloe King, to defend your father, you’d cook up a lie like that?” “Don’t think I don’t know, you’re just scared the baby Chelsea’s carrying will cut into your inheritance, right?!” Hundreds of thousands of viewers flooded the comments, cursing me out, saying I deserved to die for helping my scumbag father deceive someone. It wasn’t until I saw the so-called intimate photo on Chelsea Miller’s phone wallpaper that I burst out laughing. Turns out, the “baby daddy” she was talking about was my mom – all six feet of her, so striking, people often couldn’t tell her gender at first glance. So what was up with that paternity test report?

I was busy revising my graduation thesis when my boyfriend, Albert, suddenly called, his voice accusatory. “Chloe King, what the hell is wrong with you?! Chelsea is your roommate! How could you help your dad do something so disgusting?!” I couldn’t quite process it. “Albert, what are you talking about?” “Still playing dumb?!” Albert continued to roar into the phone. “Go watch Chelsea’s live stream yourself! She’s pregnant and standing outside your house! You and your father, the Kings, are truly a pair of despicable monsters!” The call was abruptly cut off. My fingers trembled as I clicked open SnapChat. The first thing I saw was a huge push notification: **[Poor Female Student, Unwed and Pregnant, Exposes Corrupt Businessman’s Deception, Only to Be Threatened by His Daughter and Cruelly Abandoned!]** The cover photo was my roommate, Chelsea Miller. She stood outside my house, her stomach slightly protruding, tears streaming down her face. Behind her, a crowd of angry netizens livestreaming on their phones had gathered. I rushed home. Sure enough, the entrance was swarming with people. When Chelsea saw me, she dramatically fell to her knees, her voice a desperate wail. “Chloe, I’m begging you, make your dad acknowledge this child! I know I’m just a poor student and not good enough for your family, but the baby is innocent…” The live stream comments instantly exploded. “Holy crap! The villain is here! So young, yet helping her own father deceive people, even preying on her roommate! How disgusting!” “Exactly! She looks like a good person, but her heart is so evil!” I was fuming, shaking with anger, and tried to pull her up. “Chelsea, get up! Explain yourself! Who deceived you? My dad has been…” Before I could say “dead” a tall figure suddenly burst forward. He pushed me aside, shielding Chelsea. It was my boyfriend, Albert. The look he gave me was filled with disappointment and disgust. “Chloe King, I never thought you’d be this kind of person! Chelsea is so pure and kind, yet you used her trust to trick her into your family’s company, letting your dad exploit her! You utterly sicken me!” Chelsea nestled into Albert’s arms, crying her eyes out. “Albert, don’t blame Chloe. It’s my fault for falling for someone I shouldn’t have. Chloe just doesn’t want her inheritance to be split with a younger sibling…” Seeing her fake demeanor, my stomach churned with disgust. As graduation approached, I noticed Chelsea only had $500 a month for living expenses and often couldn’t afford food. So, out of kindness, I offered her an internship at my mom’s company, paying $300 a day, plus free meals. She had thanked me profusely back then. Now, this is how she repays me? I was so angry I laughed. “Chelsea Miller, are you out of your damn mind?” “You keep claiming my dad deceived you, but his ashes have been cold for eight years! How could he possibly get you pregnant? In your dreams?” The crowd went silent for a moment. Chelsea lifted her tear-stained face, whimpering. “Chloe, how can you curse Mr. King like that? When I interned, I was with him every day. He even told me he was single and really admired me…” With that, she pulled out her phone and showed me her wallpaper. The photo showed someone in a crisp black suit, with slicked-back hair and features as handsome as a movie star, slightly tilted their head, listening to Chelsea speak. That profile, that aura—it was breathtakingly handsome. But my vision swam. That was my mom! Though my dad passed away early, my mom was incredibly capable, single-handedly keeping the entire company afloat. She was tall, with short hair, and always dressed in suits, exuding an imposing presence. Nine out of ten strangers mistook her for a successful, powerful CEO. I never imagined Chelsea would make the same mistake, but what about the baby in her belly?

I took a deep breath, trying to explain. “Chelsea, you’ve got it all wrong! That’s not my dad, that’s my mom!” The words had barely left my lips when Albert let out a scoff. “Chloe King, you really just lie without thinking! To avoid responsibility, you’d even change your own father’s gender?” “Your mom? Why don’t you say it’s your grandma?” The live stream comments erupted in mockery. “LOL, this woman is desperate, she’s talking nonsense!” “Exactly, she just doesn’t want to share her inheritance! Selfish and greedy, afraid of a younger sibling taking her stuff!” “Don’t worry, streamer, we support you! That scumbag must take responsibility!” Chelsea weakly tugged on Albert’s sleeve. “Albert, don’t say that about Chloe, she’s just having a hard time accepting it. Mr. King is so masculine, how could he be a woman?” Watching the two of them play off each other, I felt my blood pressure shoot up. I pulled out my phone, found the number saved as “The Dragon,” dialed it, and put it on speaker. A low, neutral voice answered. “Honey? What is it? I’m in a meeting!” I practically yelled into the phone. “Alex! What kind of mess have you gotten yourself into?! Someone’s at our door saying you got her pregnant!” My mom on the other end was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly snapped. “Watch your tone, young lady! I’m working myself to the bone every single day. When would I have time to father a love child? You’ve probably run into some scammer. Deal with it yourself!” Immediately after, the call was abruptly hung up. Chelsea’s face turned pale, and tears instantly welled up. “Everyone heard that, right? Chloe just called him ‘Dad,’ not ‘Mom.’ And she just lied, saying her dad was dead.” “Mr. King clearly said he liked me a lot. Chloe must be threatening him not to acknowledge me…” I was so angry I laughed. “Alex is my mom’s name! A powerful name for a powerful woman!” “My grandpa named her that, saying a woman needed a commanding presence so she wouldn’t be bullied…” But before I could finish, Albert cut me off. “Chloe King, that’s enough! The baby in Chelsea’s belly is your own brother! How can you be so vicious, not even giving him a chance?” Seeing him blindly defend Chelsea without bothering to learn the truth, my heart went cold. But mostly, I was furious at his stupidity. “Albert! Are you out of your damn mind?! The ‘Mr. King’ Chelsea is talking about is my mom!” “She’s a woman! How could she possibly get Chelsea pregnant? Did she impregnate her with her mind?!” But Albert wouldn’t believe it. “Mental impregnation? Chloe King, you’re getting more ridiculous by the second!” The people who came with Chelsea, calling themselves online judges, sneered. “Where’s the proof? You say she’s a woman, and we’re supposed to believe it?” “They’re definitely in cahoots, the father and daughter, that’s why the scumbag is avoiding them!” “Poor streamer, her youth and good years wasted by a monster roommate and an old man!” Chelsea clutched her waist, looking like she might faint at any moment, and cried into the camera. “I know my family isn’t well-off, and I’m not worthy of the King family, but I truly love Mr. King. I don’t ask for a title, just for my child to have a legitimate identity.” “Chloe, you get $600,000 a month for living expenses! Just a little bit of that money would be enough for my baby and me to live comfortably for life. Why do you have to be so cruel?” Her words instantly ignited the anti-rich sentiment among the onlookers and online viewers. “$600,000 a month? No wonder she’s so arrogant!” “Exactly, that money must be dirty. We need to report her and demand an investigation!” “Support the streamer! Give birth to that son and inherit the family fortune, just to piss off this evil older sister!” Watching Chelsea’s pathetic act, I felt sick to my stomach. I must have been blind to think she was innocent and pitiful.

“Chelsea Miller, stop your acting! My mom is a woman, that’s an undeniable fact!” “The baby in your belly has absolutely nothing to do with my family!” To prove my innocence, I rushed back inside, found my dad’s death certificate, and shouted. “Look closely! My dad, David King, passed away in a car accident eight years ago!” Seeing the death certificate, the crowd quieted down again, and some faces showed hesitation. A flicker of panic crossed Chelsea’s eyes, but she quickly suppressed it. She clutched her stomach, her voice tearful. “This certificate must be fake! Chloe, you’d even forge a death certificate just to avoid acknowledging your little brother…” Albert, hearing this, snatched the certificate, ripped it to shreds without even looking, and yelled. “Chloe King, you came well prepared to deny the baby in Chelsea’s belly, even getting a fake document in advance!” “If Mr. King really is a woman, would you dare let us check her bedroom?” The surrounding crowd started to chant. “Yes! Let the facts speak for themselves! Fakes can’t be real, and real things can’t be faked! If you don’t let us see, it means you’re hiding something!” Incited by provocateurs, the crowd started pushing their way into my house, unstoppable. Chelsea had been to my house before and led them straight to my mom’s master bedroom on the second floor. The door swung open, revealing a massive walk-in closet. Inside, rows of designer menswear hung neatly—not a single piece of women’s clothing could be found. Chelsea looked as if she’d caught me red-handed, her face alight with excitement. “Everyone, look! If Mr. King is a woman, why are there only men’s clothes in her closet?” The public opinion, which had just wavered, swung back again. “Exactly! This is solid proof now! That death certificate must be fake!” “This Chloe King is full of lies, all to monopolize the family fortune!” “So selfish, she can’t even tolerate her unborn brother!” Albert looked at me coldly. “Chloe King, what else do you have to say?” I was speechless, veins throbbing in my forehead. “My mom is tall, women’s clothes don’t fit her well, she just likes wearing neutral clothing! What can I do about that?” “Besides, who says women can’t wear men’s clothes?” “Oh yeah? Then explain this!” Chelsea suddenly pulled a report from her bag and slammed it down in front of me. “If he’s a woman, how do you explain this?” Seeing the conclusion on the last page of the report, my mind went completely blank. Paternity probability: ninety-nine percent. It supports Alex King as the biological father of the fetus. My hand, holding the report, trembled slightly. A massive sense of absurdity threatened to drown me. How was this possible? My mom was clearly a woman; how could she have gotten Chelsea pregnant?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “306459”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #校园School

When we were planning our Christmas show, Tiffany, our queen bee, convinced everyone to chip in for matching uniforms. But when the uniforms arrived, mine was a joke. The fabric was thin and scratchy, and the size I had ordered as a 3XL had been swapped for a Small. I went to Tiffany to ask for an exchange. She cut me off impatiently. “You’re bigger than everyone. Your uniform costs more. What quality did you expect? Maybe if you weren’t so fat, you wouldn’t have this problem. Figure it out.” After humiliating me, she turned and walked away. But when I refused to just accept the uniform, she panicked. Tiffany’s humiliating words cut through the room. Every classmate turned to stare, their judgmental eyes burning into me. Tiffany didn’t care. She pressed on, sharp and merciless.. “Let’s be real, you’re fat. If you were thinner, it would fit. It’s that simple.” “This was a custom order with our names on it. You can’t just return it just because you feel like it.” “Just make it fit. Stop being so difficult!” I bit my lip white, still struggling to be heard. The fabric was cheap and rough. It was not smooth like the others. And the size was wrong. This was not the 3XL I ordered. Everyone else was in their perfec uniforms. I stood there, a misfit. I took a breath, shut out their stares, and spoke. “Tiffany, never mind the quality. This uniform is too small. I can’t even get into it.!” The words had barely left my mouth when Tiffany’s face twisted with impatience. “I said no!” She yelled. “How do I know you didn’t just mess up your own size? And besides, we’re not that close!” I instinctively took a half-step back, my voice dropping. “Sorry, I-” Ashley, Tiffany’s friend, cut me off. “Oh my god, you fat pig, you’re doing too much! You filled out the form yourself, and now you’re complaining it’s too small? What do you even want?” “You’re being so pushy! She’s not your nanny. Who do you think you are, some kind of princess?” I shook my head, trying to deny it. But Ashley wasn’t listening. “Well, can’t you just squeeze your fat into it then? How small can it possibly be?” Just then, Tiffany, who had been quiet, spoke up. Her voice carried a strange, wounded tone. “Chloe, are you trying to cause trouble on purpose? You clearly filled out a Small yourself. Why are you trying to make it look like I deliberately ordered the wrong size for you?” With that, she pulled up the digital form where we’d submitted our sizes. I leaned in, my heart sinking. My size was listed as S, not the 3XL I knew I had entered! Before I could process it, others crowded around to see. Someone snatched the uniform from my hands to check the tag. “It is a Small,” they said, their eyes sweeping over me without a hint of shame. “Of course it doesn’t fit. Is she pretending to be skinny or something? She filled it out herself, so who knows what she’s trying to pull.” “Seriously?” another voice chimed in. “I’m 110 pounds and I wear a Large. You, at over 200, put down an S? The audacity.” “She’s so disgusting. She messed up her own order and has the nerve to blame Tiffany.” Their words came at me, one after another, suffocating me. I gained weight two years ago because I was sick and on hormone medication. After I recovered, I tried desperately to lose weight, but with little success. Now, it had become their weapon to attack me. I looked at them, enunciating each word. “I reported 3XL. I’m fat, and I’m well aware of it.”

Tiffany suddenly stepped forward, glaring at me and speaking loudly. “So, you’re saying we changed it? Seriously, no one is that bored, Sweetie!” “If you’re really that bothered, I’ll pay for a new custom one for you myself. What bad luck to run into someone like you.” Seeing this, the other classmates grew even more disgusted with me. “Fat pig, is this really necessary? You’re not going to let Tiffany off the hook, are you?” “First you accuse her of changing your size, and now you want her to pay for a new uniform? Have you no shame at all?” I swallowed the bitter taste rising in my throat. “That’s not what I mean. Even if I made a mistake with the size, there are plenty of people here wearing a Small. So why is mine the only one made from this cheap, scratchy fabric?” As I spoke, I pushed my uniform towards them. Tiffany’s eyes flickered. She snatched my uniform, holding it close as if to inspect it. “Oh really? Well, Well, why didn’t you just say that from the beginning?” But I had. I’d brought up the quality first. She was the one who had cut me off, citing my size as the cause for the cheap material. She knew she’d been caught. She threw my uniform back at me, pushing all the blame back onto my shoulders. “Next time, just get to the point, okay? Don’t beat around the bush like this. It’s exhausting!” Ashley also chimed in.”Seriously, a simple explanation would have saved us all this drama.” I let out a deep breath. I honestly didn’t know what the “point” was-the size or the quality. It was obvious that only my uniform had both the wrong quality and the wrong size. Seeing me fall silent, Tiffany snorted. “Fine,” she said, her tone dripping with condescension. “Just send me your size and the money. Don’t waste any more of our time.” “Everyone wears a uniform. Ruin the performance without one, and Mr. Miller will have your head. Don’t expect me to save you.” She paused, then shot me a glance and continued, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you! The district officials are coming to this performance, and it affects our school’s funding for next year. If you hold us back, you’ll face the consequences alone!” I didn’t rush to answer. Instead, I looked directly at her and retorted, “But I’ve already paid for the uniform. The vendor made a mistake, so why should I have to pay again?” Tiffany exploded. “The vendor had a problem? What about your problem? You messed up the size yourself!” “I’ve never seen someone as shameless as you. Do you expect the vendor to just do it for free?” “And this is a designer uniform! Do you think it’s some cheap thing from a discount store, that you can just return it whenever you want?” I bit my lip hard. I had double-checked the size when I filled out the form. And I was the only one in the entire class who had put 3XL. I even specifically mentioned it to Tiffany. Tiffany pushed me, her face darkening. “Speak up! Are you refusing to pay?” I lost my footing and stumbled back a few steps. Tiffany got even angrier, her eyes blazing. “What are you acting like, you fat pig! You’re so heavy, how could I possibly push you? Do you think you’re some delicate little thing?” “It’s absolutely disgusting! If you don’t want to pay, just say so. Don’t waste everyone’s time here!” Hearing her mock my weight again, I clenched my fists, my jaw trembling with rage. “I didn’t say I wouldn’t pay. It’s just not my fault, so I shouldn’t have to.” Tiffany crossed her arms and sneered. “Fine, I won’t push it. If you want to be cheap, we can all chip in.” “There are fifty of us besides you. Can everyone just contribute ten bucks? I don’t want to waste any more time.” She looked at me, her tone dripping with passive-aggression. “Otherwise, people might think I’m bullying you.” Her words were clearly mocking me, implying I was faking pity. Faced with her humiliating suggestion of a collection, I finally looked up and raised my voice. “No need. As you said, if I made a mistake with the size, then the vendor also made a mistake with the fabric. I’m willing to negotiate with the vendor myself.” “Can you give me the contact information for the custom uniform vendor?” Tiffany stared at me for a long time, then seemed to concede. “Fine, fine, I’m just tired of dealing with someone as nitpicky as you. Transfer the money to me, and I’ll handle the vendor.” “Honestly, I’ve never met anyone so slow!” I turned away without another word. The show was over, and the audience dispersed, heading back with their uniforms.

Tiffany kept saying she’d handle the negotiations. But as Christmas performance day approaching, and my uniform was still nowhere to be found. Everyone else came and went, wearing their new uniforms. I sat in a corner, feeling like a total outsider. People started ignoring me. If I took an extra bite during meals, I’d be laughed at and called a fat pig. When I practiced the routine in my own clothes, people would always stare. The uniform became an obsession. I carried the weight of it everywhere. I even secretly took pictures of the other uniforms, desperately trying to find the vendor. But no one sold this specific custom design. Left with no choice, I contacted Tiffany again. “Has the uniform exchange been processed?” Her reply came much later. She ignored my question entirely, zeroing in on my phrasing. “Is that how you ask for a favor? Where are your manners? Not even a ‘hello’?” I stared at the screen, baffled. Wasn’t my question polite enough? Still, I tried again, forcing patience into my words. “Hello, Tiffany. Has the vendor given you an update on the exchange?” She still dodged the question. “Use ‘please’ ! I’m the Tiffany! Do you have manner? You’re impossible!” “But I’m a bigger person, so I’ll let this small thing slide! I’ll tell you when the uniform arrives!” The words I wanted to say got stuck in my throat. I was just asking a normal question, did she really need to get so angry? At two in the morning, my phone started blowing up with messages. I groggily answered the FaceTime call, and Tiffany’s angry shouts came through. “Are you dead? Why are you answering so late?” “Didn’t you see all the messages I sent you?” I checked the time and frowned. “Sorry, my phone was on silent, I didn’t hear it. What’s up?” She said a nonchalant. “It’s nothing big. The uniform is back.” Hearing that, my heart leaped with joy. Just as I was about to speak, her furious voice erupted again. “I’ve been running around, dealing with your uniform, and you can’t even say thank you?” “Seriously, I don’t know how your parents raised you! So ill-mannered!” A knot of anger formed in my chest. I opened my mouth to argue, but she hung up directly. The next day, the day of the Christmas performance. Tiffany finally sauntered over with my uniform and threw it at me. “Go change into your uniform quickly! Don’t hold everyone up!” “I already stressed that the district officials are coming to this Christmas performance. If anything goes wrong, don’t blame Mr. Miller for kicking you out of our class.” I picked up the new uniform she’d had custom-made and saw the size printed on it. It felt like something exploded in my head. XS size! This uniform was even smaller than the last one. So small I probably couldn’t even get my leg into it. I pushed open the bathroom door and shoved the uniform directly into Tiffany’s face. “Tiffany, this is XS! Can’t you tell the difference between 3XL and XS? Why did you get the smallest size again?!” Tiffany slapped my hand away, fuming. “I told the vendor to make the largest size! How was I supposed to know they’d send an S? It’s the vendor’s fault, not mine! What good does it do to blame me?” “You are such a pain! I can’t deal with this anymore. Figure out your uniform situation yourself!” I stared at her for a long time. “Fine, I’ll figure it out myself.” She turned and walked away. I looked at the XS uniform in my hand and tried it on. But that tiny, almost childlike garment made me break down again. The horn for the Christmas performance sounded. Tiffany’s urgent message came through. “Gather up! If the uniform’s too small, just wear it anyway and get over here!” I tossed the uniform aside. In the very last second before our formation was about to go on stage, I rushed to the field. Mr. Vance, who had been waiting at the venue, frowned when he saw me. “What’s wrong with this class? So undisciplined! Why aren’t their uniforms uniform, everyone wearing their own thing?” Hearing that, Tiffany spun around, her eyes, spitting venom, locking onto me. She screamed without restraint. “Chloe! I told you to wear your uniform!”

I wasn’t flustered in the slightest. I challenged her openly. “I wanted to ask you the same thing! You prepared uniforms that were too small for me twice! How long are you going to keep targeting me like this?” Publicly called out, Tiffany exploded in rage, cursing and reaching out to hit me. “Damn it, you absolute bitch! What are you talking about?! When have I ever targeted you?! Do you have a death wish?!” “Tiffany!” The slap never landed. It was cut short by Mr. Miller’s sharp, commanding voice cutting through the air. Mr. Miller’s face had turned a ghostly pale. Beside him, Vice Principal Thompson was visibly shaking with rage, his jaw clenched and fists tight. On the stage, the district official glanced at Principal Evans, a dry, humorless smile on his lips. “The ‘culture’ here at your school is certainly…unique.” Mr. Evans forced a smile. “Please excuse us, Mr. Vance. These kids are just playing around.” He probably thought Mr. Vance would drop the matter to save face. But he didn’t. He continued, as if to himself, “Playing around? It looked like bullying to me!” Those words sent a chill down Mr. Evans’s spine. He lowered his head and shot Mr. Miller a look, urging him to quickly get us out of there. He then changed the subject. “No, no, that’s not it at all! Let’s watch the next class’s formation, I guarantee it won’t disappoint you!” Because our class was the first to perform, we left a bad impression on Mr. Vance right from the start. As a result, he barely paid attention to the subsequent performances. As soon as they were over, he made an excuse and left. Our class was kept back, and everyone remained silent. Only Tiffany was covering her face and crying. As soon as she saw Mr. Miller and Mr. Thompson appear, she choked up and ran to them, sobbing. “Mr. Miller, help me! I really wasn’t targeting Chloe. It’s her own fault for being too fat, that’s why the uniform seams ripped.” Mr. Miller remained silent, but Mr. Thompson snorted. “Then how do you explain secretly switching her 3XL uniform to an S-size?” “I just heard about this on my way over! Chloe’s uniform was replaced twice, and both times it was unwearable. What are you going to do about it?” “Are you sure this isn’t targeting?” Yes. That was the question. If this wasn’t targeting, what was it? If the first wrong size was a genuine mistake, I would have accepted it. But the second time, I confirmed my size was 3XL, repeatedly. What arrived was an XS. And after trying it on for just a few minutes, a red rash had already bloomed around my neck-proof of the uniform’s toxic quality. Wasn’t all this targeting? A mistake could happen once, but twice? Tiffany sobbed, trying to defend herself. “This really isn’t my fault. Maybe the vendor was negligent.” “Besides, maybe it’s because Chloe is too fat, and they just didn’t have enough fabric, so they could only make a smaller size. How is that my fault?” Mr. Thompson, being a reasonable man, didn’t buy her nonsense. He pointed at the uniform I’d taken off, gritting his teeth. “Isn’t this supposed to be a designer brand? Such a big company doesn’t have enough fabric to make clothes?” “Send me the manufacturer’s contact information. I’ll call them personally. I want to see how they make their clothes!” This made Tiffany panic. She clutched her phone, frozen. Mr. Thompson’s tone was unyielding as he repeated, “Did you hear me? Send me the manufacturer’s contact information!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “306460”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #校园School

After I was reborn, my first priority was to cancel our anniversary trip with my husband, Leo. I was still trying to figure out how to tell him that our booked flight was destined to crash. Then I overheard him on the phone with Stella, his childhood sweetheart. “With this second chance,” he said, “I finally see clearly. You’re the one. The regret I can’t live with.” That night, he came to me. “Iris, why don’t you go ahead tomorrow without me? Something’s come up. I’ve rescheduled my flight.” In that moment, I knew the truth. Leo had been reborn too. And this time, he had chosen to let me die alone. Seeing me dazed, he stepped closer and repeated himself. “What’s wrong? Not happy?” “Silly, I’ll rush to meet you the moment I wrap things up here..” The bitterness in my chest spread to the tip of my tongue. My clenched fingers dug deep into my palms. My body trembled, almost uncontrollably. My thoughts were a tangled wreck. The words spilled out before I could stop them. “Then I’ll reschedule with you. We can go together after you’re done.” But his eyes skittered away, a flash of pure panic. He couldn’t meet my gaze. “You still go first. The change fees are outrageous. It’s a waste of money.” “Be good. I’ll drive you to the airport tomorrow.” With that, he decided for me. Without waiting for a reply, he muttered something about work and retreated to his study. Countless questions warred in my mind, rendering me momentarily speechless. I didn’t even know where to begin. After a daze, I pulled out my phone to check our flight tickets. I tried to delude myself, searching for any evidence that the plane crash was just a nightmare, that Leo and I hadn’t been reborn at all. But the stark, familiar flight number glaring from the screen sent a searing pain through my pupils, scorching my very soul. The pilot’s final announcement began to echo incessantly in my ears, each word etched into my mind. “The flight is going down. Passengers, please help one another and stay strong…” This year was our fifth wedding anniversary. Before takeoff, I’d been excitedly chatting about our plans. He was distracted, constantly checking his phone. I finally asked, “Are you waiting for someone’s message?” He just said, “No, just checking the time.” It wasn’t until we hit violent turbulence over the Caspian Sea that I was truly terrified. I clung to Leo, sobbing. He fixed an oxygen mask over my face, helped me into a life vest, and held me steady. Then he held my face, his voice urgent but calm. “Iris! Listen to me…” “No matter what happens, I’ll be with you.” “But… if I’m not here, and you have a chance to survive, you must live on. You have to live a good life.” A love forged in the face of death should be unforgettable. So why, when given a second chance, did his choice change?

I hadn’t slept at all. At eight sharp, Leo knocked on my bedroom door. “Honey, are you awake?” “We’ll be late if you sleep any longer. Come on, up you get.” I dragged myself out of bed and opened the door. He looked refreshed after a night in his study, while I was completely exhausted. He seemed willfully blind to the shadows under my eyes. He gently pushed me into the bathroom to get ready. When I emerged, our luggage was already packed and waiting by the door. “This early? The flight isn’t until noon.” He just smiled, ruffled my hair, and handed me a boiled corn and a coffee. “Better to be safe than sorry. I’ve got some things to take care of later.” With that, he picked up the suitcases and walked out. On the way to the airport, he didn’t connect his phone to the car’s Bluetooth as he always did. Instead, he placed it on his left, occasionally glancing at incoming messages, an unconscious smile flickering on his lips. After we arrived, I hesitated before security. He gave me a gentle push. He gave me a gentle push. “It’s the same waiting inside. Iris, I really have to go now. The company is waiting.” I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. Was he really… hoping I’d die? I picked up my luggage, passed through security, and sat down at the gate. I secretly pulled Leo’s tablet from my bag. I’d taken it from his study that morning. His SnapChat was still logged in. The top contact, saved as “Sweetheart,” was Stella, his childhood sweetheart. Last night, Leo and Stella had been on a FaceTime call for five hours, from ten at night until four in the morning. Even after hanging up, they couldn’t get enough of each other. Leo: “I’ll see you tomorrow. Too excited to sleep.” Stella: “Silly, we have a lifetime together ahead of us.” Leo: “You didn’t have a wedding the first time you got married. When we get married, I’ll make sure you have an unforgettable ceremony.” Stella: “I’ll go confront him tomorrow about a divorce. What about you? When will you tell Iris?” Leo: “Don’t worry, I’ll handle it.” The tablet in my hands felt like it was about to snap. Of course, he’d handle it. He wouldn’t even need to mention divorce. Because, he’s waiting for me to die… I opened Leo’s Ins feed. He had posted something visible only to Stella. “You are the regret of my youth, and the joy of my future.” The photo accompanying it was their high school graduation picture. Two innocent-looking teenagers, holding hands in their school uniforms. And on his Ins feed, all posts related to me had been deleted overnight. Tears splashed onto the screen. The boarding announcement began. I sniffed, grabbed my luggage, and walked towards the gate.

Reborn, I wasn’t sure if this flight would crash again. I guessed Leo wasn’t sure either, which was why he was waiting. Ten minutes before the plane doors closed, I grabbed my luggage, preparing to get off the plane. The flight attendant asked me, confused, “Ma’am, is everything alright? Do you need any help?” I said, “I suddenly have a fear of flying, and my heart feels uncomfortable.” “I’m voluntarily ending my trip.” After the flight attendant consulted with the pilot, they let me leave. I returned to the boarding gate, standing by the glass window, watching the plane taxi to the runway. Then it gradually ascended, disappearing from my sight. I had thought about warning the people on the plane that it might crash. But rebirth felt too ethereal. I was afraid they’d think I was crazy. So, I could only pray in my heart for their safe journey. I sat in the airport for three hours, constantly staring at Leo’s chat logs. After dropping me off at the airport, he had immediately gone to meet Stella. They met at a hotel. He had screenshotted the group-buy room details and a delivery order for condoms, sending them to her. He asked her, “Is there anything else you need me to prepare?” She replied, “I heard men aren’t so good after twenty-five. Are you ready?” He answered, “Maybe not for others, but for you, you’ll be the one screaming you’re done.” Shortly after that message was sent, a notification popped up on the screen: a consumption record. The details showed a pharmacy, male enhancement products. I took photos of all the content in their chat and then took a cab to the old house where Leo and I used to live. Leo and I were college classmates. Though he struggled financially, he was handsome and academically gifted, which made teachers and classmates alike want to look out for him. My mother, who was also his professor, was especially kind. She often invited him home for dinner and bought him clothes and daily necessities, treating him almost as her own son. At that time, I only saw him as a classmate. I never thought about dating him. It wasn’t until shortly after college graduation that my mother passed away from cancer. Leo, along with other classmates, came to mourn my mother. But while others left, he stayed. He helped me tirelessly with all the funeral arrangements. My father had left when I was very young. After my mother passed, I felt like an orphan. Friends and relatives urged me to be strong. But those two words were easy to say, yet so incredibly difficult to embody. Thankfully, Leo stayed by my side during that time. He told me, “Iris, I’m here for you.” “Your mother was so kind to me. Now that she’s gone, I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life.” At first, I didn’t want to accept his kindness. A part of me was afraid of falling for him. But no matter how hard I tried to push him away, he remained steadfastly by my side Everything changed on the first anniversary of my mother’s death. Grief-stricken, I drank too much. I kissed him wildly, tearing at our clothes and pulling him onto the bed. He didn’t refuse me. His touch was nothing but gentle. The next morning, I told him we could pretend it never happened. But Instead, he immediately asked me to marry him. I was stunned for a moment, then hesitantly refused. “I don’t want you to marry me out of gratitude.” “You’ve already repaid your debt to my mother.” He didn’t say anything, just got dressed and left. I thought he would never come back. But to my surprise, less than an hour later, he reappeared, breathless, with flowers, a ring, and breakfast. “I want to marry you because I genuinely love you, Iris.” “Not for anyone else, only for you.” That ring, which he bought with all the money he had, is still on my hand today. Even though he bought me many other rings later, I never replaced it. I opened the door to the old house. Having been empty for so long, the air seemed to float with endless dust. The familiar scene made me feel like I was witnessing Leo’s proposal again. I chuckled self-deprecatingly. I took off the ring on my right ring finger and placed it on the console by the entrance. Perhaps he and I were a mistake from the very beginning.

In the afternoon, I was so tired that I drifted off to sleep on the sofa. I was woken by a series of phone calls. All my friends were calling me. Messages flooded in, one after another. “Iris! Are you okay?” “You’re not on the plane, are you? Please tell me you’re not!” “I’m begging you, text me back…” “Leo wasn’t on the plane, right? Why did you go alone?!” I glanced at the time: 8:30 PM. I numbly searched for news about the flight. The top trending headline read: Air disaster, crashed into the sea, no survivors. Those keywords flashed before my eyes. I understood then; the accident still happened. I didn’t immediately reassure everyone. Instead, I wanted to see Leo’s reaction. He posted a tribute online, titled “In Loving Memory of My Deceased Wife.” It was a rambling, thousand-word essay explaining that he couldn’t go with me due to an emergency. He also recounted our story, how we met and fell in love. He played the role of the devoted husband, his words brimming with apparent grief. He even declared that whether I was alive or dead, he would love me forever. He wrote that after the funeral, he would adopt a child to be “our child.” The picture accompanying the post was our wedding photo. Only, my half of the photo had been photoshopped in black and white, while his half remained vibrant red. In the comments, many comforted him, telling him to accept his condolences. Some even transferred him money, calling it a small token of sympathy. A sharp pain twisted in my chest. I opened his chat with Stella. Stella: “Iris is gone?” Leo: “Yeah, it was an accident.” Stella: “Then what about us… if we get together now, everyone will trash me.” “Leo, I’m with you because of love. I don’t want people to think I’m a home-wrecker because of this.” “You promised you wouldn’t let me get hurt.” Leo sent several sixty-second voice messages, continuously coaxing her, reassuring her of his feelings. He said, “Regardless of whether this accident happened, you are the only one I love.” “Please don’t leave me, you’re all I have left…” “After Iris’s funeral, we’ll get married.” “And we’ll bring you and his child to live with us.” “We’ll tell everyone it’s a child I adopted for Iris.” “Don’t worry, I would never let you be wronged.” “As for Iris’s inheritance, her mother’s old house, I’ll transfer it to the child.” A wave of bitter anger rose in my chest, so potent it felt suffocating. My hands trembled violently. How could he shamelessly say such things? I took several deep breaths to calm the choking emotions. So be it. If he’s so eager to hold my funeral, I’ll be sure to give him a parting gift he’ll never forget.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “306461”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

My wife came home from her business trip and found me in a compromising position with the nanny on our living room couch. She exploded. She called her family. They dragged me outside, tying me to a tree in our courtyard for a public shaming. “Leo Thompson, why?” Chloe wailed in front of everyone. “Was I not enough for you?” Her intern, Alex, hit me with a branch. Called me scum. I tasted blood and tears. I looked straight at Chloe. “Does this scene look familiar, Chloe? It’s just like the day Lily died.” Chloe froze. “You… you remembered?” “Leo Thompson!” Chloe’s voice was a raw, furious roar, her eyes blazing. “Our daughter has been gone for a month. One month! And you’re already screwing the nanny in our home? Do you have no shame?” Chloe’s eyes were blazing red, her voice a furious roar. I calmly lit a cigarette. “Feel free to cheat too. I wouldn’t mind.” “Stop acting so innocent. You’re never home. You’re probably already screwing someone else.” The nanny, Maya, pulled on her black stockings with a smirk, twisting the knife. I chuckled. Chloe completely lost it. She lunged at Maya, hand flying toward her face for a slap. But I caught her wrist in a tight grip. And I let Maya walk away. “Leo! You’re actually protecting some outsider? You scumbag! You bastard!” Chloe’s eyes were wide with shock. She started wildly punching my chest. “Stop being crazy!” I impatiently shoved her away. Just then, Alex, Chloe’s intern, arrived with her family. They saw Chloe collapsed on the floor, and everyone erupted. Alex charged at me, grabbing my collar. “Leo Thompson!” he snarled. “Not only are you cheating, you hit your wife? Are you even a man?” “Do you have any respect for Lily’s memory?” His spit sprayed across my face. “You don’t get to talk about my daughter!” I snapped. My fist connected with his jaw, sending him stumbling back. Chloe panicked. “Have you gone rabid? Why did you hit Alex?” Her family saw I wouldn’t back down. Rage burned in their eyes. “My daughter gave you everything! he didn’t care that you came from nothing, with no car and no house, and she still married you.” “How could you betray her?” “We shouldn’t have been soft-hearted! Even if you’d knelt in the rain until you died, we shouldn’t have allowed this marriage!” “Today, I’m going to let everyone see your true colors! And I’ll make sure you can never work in the medical field again!” All her relatives swarmed me. I was overwhelmed. They dragged me, helpless, to the center of the complex and tied me to a tree. They ripped my clothes off, leaving me in nothing but my boxers. “Everyone, come look! Look at this cheating, wife-beating bastard!” “Someone tell me,” a relative wailed, “why is my niece so pathetic? She gave her all to her family, and her husband runs off with the nanny!” “This animal was fooling around with the nanny right in front of his own daughter’s memorial photo! It’s an outrage!” Chloe’s family cried and screamed, drawing the entire neighborhood to crowd around. When people heard what happened, they stared at me with pure fury, cursing me as subhuman, saying I deserved to die. “You were hospitalized after your accident, and Chloe cared for you day and night! After just a few days, this is how you repay her? Where is your conscience?” “You pathetic, weak pig! I’ll kill you!” Chloe’s parents slapped me wildly. Encouraged by this, some in the crowd spat on me. Others grabbed dirt and rocks and started throwing them.

I was utterly humiliated. Chloe’s eyes were hazy with tears as she questioned me. “Leo Thompson, tell me! Why did you cheat?” I let out a bitter, self-mocking laugh. “You know why.” “Was I not enough for you? But that closet full of lingerie, I bought all of it for you! What more do you want?” Chloe cried even harder, almost screaming in despair. That was all the provocation the crowd needed. Their fury ignited. “Chloe, this bastard is hopeless. Today, I’ll make sure you get your revenge.” Alex first wiped away Chloe’s tears, then picked up a branch from the ground and savagely lashed me. “You rotten scumbag!” Again and again he struck, until my body was a mess of bloody welts. And the crowd cheered. “Hit him harder!” Chloe’s family yelled. “Don’t let him off easy!” Only Chloe stopped Alex. “Leo, we’ve been together for ten years, it wasn’t easy.” “If you admit your mistake and promise in front of everyone that you’ll change, I’ll give you one last chance.” The crowd praised her for her kindness, lamenting that such a wonderful woman was wasted on a man like me. “Admit my mistake?” I ground my teeth until I thought they would crack. “Chloe, doesn’t this scene look just like the day our daughter, Lily, died?” Chloe’s pupils immediately constricted. “You… you remembered everything?” “It was over a hundred degrees,” I pressed on, seeing her freeze. “Lily was surrounded, being screamed at by a crowd.” “Your favored and beloved intern, Alex, didn’t help. He locked her in a dog cage to ‘teach her a lesson’.” “Do you have any idea how desperately she cried?” Chloe’s fists clenched tightly, and she murmured, “Alex didn’t mean to.” Hearing her words, a few blood-tinged tears slid from my eyes. “Chloe! Lily was your own daughter! How could you be so heartless?” “That day, Lily couldn’t even get a sip of water. The sun peeled her skin, and her lips cracked and bled.” “When you saw her dead, didn’t your heart ache?” My accusations rang out. Chloe trembled all over, and Alex beside her looked nervous. The residents of the complex all stared at them, their gazes becoming strange. “Her own daughter was killed by her intern, and the mother still keeps him around? Is she sick?” “They probably have something going on.” “No wonder the husband cheated for revenge, his heart must have turned to ice.” Besides that. Mrs. Thompson also glared at Chloe, demanding, “Didn’t you say Lily’s death was an accident?” “Alex, what exactly happened?” Mr. Thompson glowered at Alex, waiting for an explanation. “It’s all my fault…” Alex slapped himself, feigning remorse and sobbing, “That day, I took Lily out to play. I just went to buy water for a second, and when I turned around, Lily was gone.” “Later I found out she ran into a bakery to steal bread, was caught by the store owner, thrown into a cage, and put on the roof as punishment.” “During that time, Chloe was busy with surgery. I sent messages and called Leo, but no one answered.” “I’m sorry, I didn’t watch Lily properly, I deserve to die!” After saying that, he wildly slapped himself again. “Okay, stop hitting yourself.” Chloe was heartbroken and quickly stepped forward to stop him. “I didn’t get any calls or messages from you that day, you killed my daughter…” Before I could finish. Chloe turned and slapped me, raging, “How many times have I told you? It has nothing to do with Alex! It was the bakery owner who committed the evil act, and he’s currently wanted by the police.”

“Besides, if you hadn’t abused Lily, not given her food, would she have stolen bread?” I suddenly froze. “As a mother, don’t you know your own daughter? Would she really steal like that?” “Don’t you know how much Lily adored me?” Chloe was always busy with work, performing multiple surgeries every day, so I decisively quit my job at the hospital to care for Lily. If Lily wasn’t eating enough or dressed warmly, she would have been malnourished long ago. Moreover, Lily was a sweet and well-behaved child, she would rather starve than steal bread! Chloe remained silent. Alex, however, indignantly said, “Leo Thompson, stop making excuses!” “I investigated at the daycare. The teacher said Lily fainted a few times, but always recovered after eating something or having a drink.” “I have surveillance footage as proof!” With that, he pulled out his phone and played a video. The teacher was playing games with the children. Lily suddenly fainted. “I have dozens of videos like this! Leo Thompson, what more do you have to say?” Alex said coldly. “You bastard, you actually didn’t give Lily food? What kind of father are you?” “My poor granddaughter must have been starving to steal bread. It’s all your fault, you irresponsible father.” Mr. and Mrs. Thompson cried out, rushing forward to hit and curse me. The other relatives followed suit. The surrounding residents cheered again, wishing they could all rush up and strangle me on the spot. Chloe looked at me, saying disappointedly, “Alex kept this quiet out of respect for me.” “But what about you? You repay kindness with cruelty, actually slandering Alex!” “Killing Lily wasn’t enough, you want to kill Alex too? When did you become so malicious?” Hearing her righteous accusation. I smiled bitterly, tears in my eyes. “Chloe, some things aren’t facts just because you see them with your own eyes.” “What if I told you Lily had low blood sugar? Would you believe me?” Chloe momentarily froze. Alex sneered, “Leo Thompson, are you trying to use this to say you didn’t cheat? That what Chloe saw was all fake?” “Exploiting your deceased daughter, you’re truly disgusting!” At his words, Chloe raged, “Leo Thompson, I’m not just Lily’s mother, I’m also a doctor!” “Do you think I wouldn’t know if she had low blood sugar?” “Don’t try to twist the facts to justify your cheating!” Mr. and Mrs. Thompson and the others cursed me as an animal. In the endless barrage of insults, I stared intently at Chloe and shouted, “I never cheated! You and Alex framed me!” “Bullshit!” Alex immediately retorted, “You were caught red-handed and you’re still denying it! You have no shame!” “Still spouting nonsense, I’ll smash your mouth!” Mr. Thompson pulled off his shoe and viciously threw it at my mouth. My mouth bled profusely. Yet my attitude remained unchanged. I said coldly, “I can prove my innocence in a moment, but some people won’t be so lucky.” I stared fiercely at Alex and Chloe, my eyes filled with hatred. “Enough!” “Do you really think people will believe you with empty words? Are you treating us like I was born yesterday?” Chloe put a hand on her hip, indignant. “I’m telling you now!” “The moment you admit your mistake today, is the moment we let you go. Otherwise, you’ll stay here under the blazing sun!” I didn’t utter a word. The surrounding residents all said I was stubborn to the core, utterly despicable. I was still under the scorching sun, like a skewer roasting, burning from the inside out.

Sweat soaked my clothes. But evaporated just as quickly. Dehydration left my mouth parched, my lips cracked, and my head spinning. I thought of my daughter. She was in this very weather, alone on that rooftop, calling out to no one, crying for help that never came. Her tiny life, slowly slipping away, eventually dying of dehydration. She must have been so desperate, so in pain. She surely wished her mommy and daddy would suddenly appear like superheroes, handing her a bottle of water and a popsicle. “I bought watermelon and popsicles, and various cold drinks, everyone can have them for free!” Alex’s shout broke my thoughts. He had someone bring a cart of watermelons and three portable ice chests, offering relief to everyone around. “Alex, you’re so thoughtful.” Chloe took the cold drink Alex offered, a happy smile playing on her lips. “It’s nothing, just what I should do.” Alex smiled, then distributed cold drinks and popsicles to Chloe’s family. “This young man is so capable.” “He’s eighteen times better than some scumbag!” Mr. and Mrs. Thompson praised him profusely. The surrounding residents also gave thumbs up. Only I felt sick to my stomach. Alex took a popsicle, walked up to me, and sneered in a low voice, “Hot and thirsty, aren’t you?” “Just call me ‘Dad,’ and I’ll give you some. Otherwise, you’ll just end up like your daughter, baked to a crisp.” “I even recorded how pathetic she looked back then. I rewatch it every night…” My eyes were bloodshot. I spat a bloody phlegm at Alex, cursing, “You monster!” Chloe rushed over, glanced at the bloody phlegm on Alex’s face, and immediately lashed out at me. “Leo Thompson!” “Alex was kindly offering you a popsicle, and you repay his kindness with cruelty, you ungrateful jerk!” “I must have been blind to ever fall for someone like you!” Still not satisfied, she raised her hand to slap me. “Keep your filthy hands to yourself!” Just then, a playful female voice cut through the air. Everyone looked over. It was Maya, the nanny, who had returned, followed by a team of police officers. They immediately untied me. Chloe was furious, glaring at Maya. “You homewrecker, you actually dared to come back!” “I’ve seen shameless people, but never someone this shameless. Being a homewrecker and then having the nerve to call the police!” Alex also cursed her with disgust. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson’s fists clenched, grinding audibly, as if they wanted to tear Maya apart. “Anyone can talk big.” “What evidence do you have to call me a homewrecker?” Maya asked. “I… I saw it with my own eyes!” Chloe gritted her teeth. “So, you have no evidence, huh?” Maya’s lips curved into a smile. She turned to the police officers and said, “Chloe Thompson and Alex slandered me as a homewrecker and deliberately assaulted Leo Thompson.” “Please arrest them!” At her words, I, who had played along, also smiled. The show was just beginning! Alex immediately panicked. “You homewrecker, you’re actually playing the victim! You’re utterly despicable!” “Can’t afford to live anymore? A homewrecker being so arrogant!” Chloe frowned, looking at me. “Leo Thompson, if you’re still a man, admit it!” I took a sip of the cold drink Maya handed me. “I’m innocent, why should I admit to anything?” “If you think I cheated, then show me the evidence.” Hearing me, Chloe threw the popsicle in her hand, indignantly saying, “I saw you two intimately close on the sofa with my own eyes!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “306120”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

Three years after my death, I suddenly ‘woke up.’ No flesh, no memory, just a wisp of a soul. I was trapped, tethered to Jason’s side, forced to watch him and his wife in their blissful ignorance. Then, one day, his wife was cleaning out the attic and stumbled upon a photograph of me. “Who’s this?” she asked offhandedly, a casual chuckle on her lips. Jason’s voice was flat as he tossed the photo into the trash. “Just a dead person. Elara, I think? I can barely remember her name anymore.” Elara. So that was my name. A forgotten ex-wife. But that very night, I saw Jason secretly drugging his wife. Through the reflection in the glass, his eyes met mine. “Elara,” he whispered. “See? I’m avenging you.” For a moment, I almost believed Jason could actually see me. My soul quivered, the words right there. But Jason simply held the milk, turned, and walked away. Such a shame. He still couldn’t see me. Seraphina, suspecting nothing, drank the milk and fell into a deep sleep. The moment she did, Jason rushed to the trash and carefully retrieved my photo, clutching it to his chest. “I’m sorry, Elara. I’m so sorry.” “I made you dirty, did it hurt when you fell? It’s all my fault.” Jason’s voice was low and hoarse, filled with guilt. He repeatedly wiped the glass frame with the cuff of his expensive suit, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. He pressed his warm lips to the glass, gently coaxing. “Just a little longer. Soon, five days at most.” “I’ll make Seraphina lose everything. Her wealth, her reputation, everything she stole from you. Then I’ll send her down to apologize.” “And then, Elara, we… we can be together again.” Jason picked up his phone and dialed a number. His voice instantly turned cold. “You can proceed. Make sure it’s clean.” After that, Jason held my photo, practically frozen in his study. Sometimes he would weep uncontrollably, large tears splashing against the glass. Other times, a gentle, yet chilling, smile would twist his lips. And then, he’d press his forehead to the frame, letting out strangled, guttural sobs. For three whole hours, Jason acted like a madman, crying and laughing. He was more terrifying than I, a mere ghost. A belated realization dawned on me. This man, Jason, he seemed to… truly love me. Until his phone screen lit up again, a distinctive vibration breaking the silence of the study. Jason snatched up his phone. The message was concise. “Mr. Jason, it’s done. Mr. Thorne fell to his death after drinking too much.” He didn’t reply, simply putting my photo frame away carefully. He rose and walked towards the master bedroom, pushing the door open forcefully. Seraphina on the bed seemed disturbed by the rough sound, stirring uneasily. But the sleeping pills worked their magic, and she didn’t wake. Jason walked to the bedside, gazing at her for a few seconds. His eyes were as cold as if he were looking at an inanimate object. Suddenly, Jason did something utterly insane. He lunged out, not to wake Seraphina, but to grab her hair viciously and smash her forehead hard against the solid wooden headboard! A dull, sickening thud echoed in the room. Seraphina jolted awake from the extreme pain and terror, letting out a piercing scream. The moment her eyes flew open, I watched the coldness vanish from Jason’s face, replaced by feigned concern. He pulled her into his arms, his voice soft. “Seraphina, what’s wrong?” “How did you manage to hit your head just sleeping? Was it a nightmare?” “Shhh, it’s alright now. I’m here.” Before she could even begin to collect herself, her phone on the nightstand erupted with a shrill ring. “Hello?” The next second, Seraphina’s pupils constricted, her face turning ashen. “No! Dad! That’s impossible!” She desperately grabbed Jason’s arm, sobbing incoherently. “Jason! My dad… my dad had an accident. They said he fell from a building, and he’s gone.” “What do I do, Jason! What am I going to do!” Jason reacted quickly. He immediately pulled Seraphina tightly into his embrace, his voice carrying just the right amount of shock and grief. “What! How could this happen?” “It’s okay, I’m here for everything. If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up for you. Calm down, tell me slowly.” Seraphina clung to Jason even more. Her face buried in his chest, she wept, murmuring words. But where Seraphina couldn’t see, I clearly saw Jason’s expression. There was no grief on his face; instead, he smirked at me with a twisted, eerie smile. Yet, the words he spoke were so gentle and reassuring. “Seraphina, your family’s problems are my problems!” “I’ll handle everything!”

“Jason, thank god you’re here.” Mrs. Thorne wiped her tears, clutching his hand. “With her father gone… who knows what those vultures outside might do to our family without you here.” Jason’s face was a mask of sorrowful resolve. He squeezed her hand in return. “As long as I’m here, no one will ever dare touch the Thorne family.” Then, he drew a sealed envelope from his pocket. The words “To My Dearest Wife” were written on the front. “I… came across this in Mr. Thorne’s study,” he said, his voice gentle as he handed it to her. “It must be for you.” He paused and handed it to Mrs. Thorne. “Perhaps you should read it when you feel a little stronger?” With that, Jason left. Mrs. Thorne’s trembling hands tore open the envelope. That letter was a fake. I had watched Jason forge it. He seemed to have practiced Mr. Thorne’s handwriting for a long time, his fingertips calloused. As he wrote each word, a pang of sorrow and melancholy welled up in me. I vaguely sensed that the Jason I remembered shouldn’t be like this. He should have been the bright, flamboyant young man, pure as a fresh breeze and clear moonlight. Not this… this twisted, dark, ruthless man, almost a demon driven to madness, all for me – someone who didn’t remember him at all, someone who had been dead for three years. Jason, you should have lived your life well. When Mrs. Thorne returned after reading the letter, her expression was already dazed. Jason feigned tenderness, stepping forward to support her, and whispered words that pierced her heart. “Mrs. Thorne, what Mr. Thorne said in the letter is true, isn’t it?” “It was you, thinking you were so clever, working with Seraphina to murder Elara. It was you who raised Seraphina to be just like you, a useless person who only knows how to kill to solve problems. The Thorne family has been caught red-handed; there’s no way to recover. “The Thorne family was destroyed by your hands. He’ll never forgive you, even in death.” Mrs. Thorne’s body began to tremble violently, her gaze fixed on her husband’s portrait. “I didn’t! I never mean to kill Elara.” She mumbled. “She was just an orphan. Who cared if she died? It’s been three years. No one will-” “Won’t they?” Jason cut her off, his voice dropping to a venomous hiss. “After Elara fell to her death three years ago,your people chopped her body into twenty-eight pieces. Each piece cemented into the building.” He continued, the words cold and precise. “I hear they’ve started renovations on it recently. They might have already dug her up.” “If someone discovers it, the Thorne family will be completely finished. Tell me, will you also be chopped into twenty-” Jason didn’t finish his sentence. Mrs. Thorne suddenly let out a shrill, ear-splitting shriek, pushing Jason away violently. She had completely lost her mind. She lunged towards Mr. Thorne’s altar, screaming, laughing, falling into complete delirium, repeatedly yelling. “I didn’t mean it! Old Thorne, I did it all for Seraphina.” “That slut was hogging Jason, so I killed her. Only then could my daughter take her place! I wanted to throw her down! To chop her up!” Mrs. Thorne then grabbed Seraphina’s hand, trembling and pleading through tears. “Don’t come for me, I already cemented you in the concrete.” “Elara, you’re dead. Why don’t you reincarnate? Why are you tormenting me! Don’t extort the Thornes anymore, we’re out of money!” Seraphina had been lost in grief over her father’s death, but hearing her mother’s words, she was utterly terrified. She grabbed her mother, blurting out. “Mom! What are you talking about? Are you crazy?”

But it was too late. The altar, which had been deathly silent, erupted into a greater uproar. Everyone’s eyes darted frantically between the delirious Mrs. Thorne and the ashen-faced Seraphina. Some people even started recording videos. Just then, Jason steadied the swaying Seraphina. His voice was grave and urgent. “Seraphina, listen. Your mother is having a mental breakdown right now; she’s speaking nonsense.” “So many people have heard it, and some are secretly recording. If someone makes trouble and calls the police, they’ll definitely investigate. Then not only will your mother be finished, but you’ll also be questioned repeatedly. The Thorne family will be completely ruined!” Seraphina was stunned by Jason’s words, clutching his clothes, trembling. “Then… then what do I do? Jason, I’m so scared.” A cold glint flickered in Jason’s eyes, but his tone grew even calmer. “There’s only one way. forcefully send your mother to a mental hospital.” “You must maintain a consistent story externally, saying that your mother suffered too great a blow from your father’s sudden death. That she’s experiencing severe schizophrenia and delusions. This is the only way to protect her, and to protect you. Understand?” A dazed Seraphina had long lost her judgment, relying completely on Jason. Tears streaming, she nodded frantically. “Okay!” Under Jason’s ‘guidance,’ Seraphina shakily signed the admission papers. Several burly ‘staff members’ in uniform stepped forward, unceremoniously grabbing the still delirious, screaming, and struggling Mrs. Thorne, one on each side. “Let me go!” “Seraphina, I’m not sick! I’m your mother! Say something, they’re trying to hurt me!” “I don’t want to go! Seraphina, don’t let them take me!” Mrs. Thorne shrieked as she was forcibly dragged from the altar, her black high heels kicking off and clattering to the ground. I floated out after them. I saw that the vehicle waiting wasn’t an ambulance at all, but an unmarked black van. She was shoved roughly into the back seat. Her struggles lasted only a moment. A cold-faced man in the passenger seat raised his hand and slapped her, again and again. Smack! Smack! Smack! “Be quiet! You murderer!” Mrs. Thorne was knocked sideways into the seat, left with only terrified whimpers. The man emotionlessly pulled out his phone and reported. “Mr. Jason, the person has been picked up. Following your instructions, we’ll ‘take good care’ of her!” By the time I floated back to the altar, the guests had left. A funeral that should have been solemn and dignified had turned into a deeply embarrassing farce. Seraphina, shocked and enraged, simply fainted. But this time, Jason didn’t help her. He watched her coldly. Then, with the tip of his shoe, he disdainfully and scornfully prodded Seraphina’s limp body. His contempt was undisguised. “Wake her up.” A bucket of ice water was splashed on Seraphina. Seraphina jolted awake in the biting cold. “Jason, what… what are you doing? Why…” Jason curved a cold smile, leaning down to look at her. “Why what?” “I just don’t want to pretend with you anymore.” Seraphina’s voice instinctively trembled. “Pretend? Is it because the Thorne family has fallen, and you think I’m useless now?” “Jason, you weren’t like this before, you used to constantly say you loved…” Jason angrily cut Seraphina off. “Enough! What right do you have to speak of ‘love’! In that villa, there was never a single photo of Elara. Everything that belonged to her, I took care of three years ago, cleanly, not a trace left.” “When you deliberately let me see it, I knew. You were testing me.” Jason took a step forward, the invisible pressure almost suffocating Seraphina. “You asked me who she was, didn’t you?” “Now, I’ll give you the answer.” Jason’s gaze drifted upward, all pretense gone, his cruel nature laid bare. “Her name was Elara. She was the only wife I’ve ever had.” “Three years ago, at the abandoned factory west of the city, you pushed her. Your mother had the body dismembered into twenty-eight pieces to cover it up. Your father arranged for them to be cemented into the factory’s foundation during the renovation.” I floated in the air. I watched, cold and detached, as Seraphina trembled in absolute terror, too afraid to even sob. Jason gripped Seraphina’s neck, his eyes burning with monstrous hatred. “I married you,” he snarled, “to get close to my wife’s murderer. Closer and closer…” “…until I could kill you. Slowly.”

The body beneath his hand went limp. Seraphina, overwhelmed by terror, fainted again. “Mr. Jason, should we wake her up again?” A bodyguard whispered, seeking instructions. “No need. Lock her in the basement. The game… is more fun when played slowly.” Jason’s voice was devoid of emotion. He turned and walked directly towards the study. The moment the wooden door closed, his shoulders sagged slightly. Looking at his back, I instinctively felt a bone-deep weariness and vulnerability. Jason walked to the bookshelf, pressing certain book spines. With the sound of mechanical movement, a hidden compartment popped open. I expected top-tier jewelry, confidential documents, or something similar. But no, there was only a neatly folded, old dress, a faded hair tie, a few polaroid photos with worn edges, and… my meticulously clean photo frame. A sense of familiarity and fragmented memories surged. I knew those were my things. “Elara…” Jason murmured, his voice terribly hoarse. “Did you see? I made her afraid, she’s finally afraid.” He chuckled, but as he laughed, tears unexpectedly streamed down, turning into suppressed, painful sobs. “Elara… twenty-eight cuts. Were you scared then?” Jason questioned, clutching the photo frame. Standing behind Jason, my soul trembled. I frantically shook my head, hoping he wouldn’t continue to torment himself like this. But I was just a wisp of a soul, only able to helplessly float around him. Jason’s tone grew increasingly obsessive and deranged. “I was your husband, and I failed to protect you. I couldn’t get there… I’m guilty.” “Elara, I should also suffer twenty-eight cuts!” As soon as he spoke, Jason abruptly pulled a sharp utility knife from the study drawer. I gasped in alarm, immediately wanting to grab his hand to stop him, but I could only watch my soul fruitlessly pass through Jason’s arm. Jason didn’t hesitate, raising his hand and savagely slashing his left arm. Blood instantly gushed out! “Does it hurt? Elara.” He stared at the photo, his eyes unfocused. It was as if he was looking through it at me, who had suffered all those years ago. I was frantic with tears, silently comforting him. It doesn’t hurt anymore. Jason, it stopped hurting a long time ago. “Was it… was it this painful back then?” The second cut was deeper. Blood instantly stained most of his white shirt. I was in unbearable agony, but no matter how I pleaded or cried out. Jason couldn’t hear or perceive me. Just as I tried to stop Jason’s self-mutilation again, my “hand” desperately brushed against the computer keyboard. Clack! One of the keyboard caps pressed down ever so slightly, yet distinctly. I could actually press a key! The sound was faint. But in the study’s deathly silence, a silence broken only by the blade slicing through flesh, it echoed like thunder. Jason’s movements froze instantly. His hand, poised to make another cut, halted mid-air. His bloodshot eyes stared in disbelief at the computer screen. There, on the screen, in a blank document I had personally pulled up, a few words slowly appeared. “It doesn’t hurt” Time itself seemed to freeze.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “306121”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

I took thirteen stab wounds for Jacob. After I got out of the hospital, he married me. But at the wedding, right after he slipped a ring on my finger, he pulled out an even bigger diamond ring and walked straight toward his first love, Celeste. “Celeste,” he choked out, “I never forgot my promise to put a wedding ring on your finger. I’m sorry I failed you.” Jacob started sobbing in front of everyone. Celeste held him gently, her eyes lifting over his shoulder and locking on mine. “Maya, you saved Jacob, so he should marry you. Besides… I’m dying. Promise me you’ll take care of him. I’ll watch over you both from heaven.” Then the two of them kissed—completely lost in each other. Everyone laughed at me. I slipped off my ring. “Jacob, go marry this bitch. I wish you both the best.” My few words seemed to infuriate Celeste. She clutched her heart, coughing and twitching violently. I knew it was an act. But Jacob didn’t. “Maya Hayes, you are absolutely vicious!” He roared, his voice raw. “I’m marrying you! What else could you possibly want? Celeste is dying, and you’d curse her? Do you have any heart? Are you even human?” He screamed these words at me in front of all our friends and family. Then, gnoring the desperate pleas from both our parents, he scooped Celeste into his arms and stormed out of the wedding. His exit was absolute. There wasn’t a shred of hesitation. Not a flicker of regret for me. It was as if he’d forgotten the story behind every scar that marked my skin. In the lavish wedding hall, only I, the bride, remained. The mocking whispers of the guests echoed in my ears. “This was supposed to be a beautiful wedding, and she ruined everything. Couldn’t she just suck it up? She had to make such a scene, it’s completely disgraced the Reed family.” “She can’t keep a man’s heart, and then she throws tantrums. She’s hopeless. We should have just made some food at home, just a casual meal, instead of this ridiculous wedding.” “We’re out of patience. You’re on your own.” Jacob’s parents unleashed all their anger on me, making me their scapegoat. No matter what, the Reed family was blameless, Jacob was blameless. No one spoke up for me. Because I grew up in an orphanage, with no family, no connections. My eyes welled up as I watched Jacob’s parents and the guests leave. I looked up at the bright chandeliers. My pristine white wedding dress, at this moment, felt like a shroud, mourning seven years of my pathetic, unrequited love.

Seven years. I alone knew the truth of my sorrow. Thinking back, I couldn’t hold back my tears. Jacob had told me his family was old money, and his parents valued heritage. To gain their approval, I had to work hard. I loved Jacob, and I knew the path ahead was difficult, but I rushed headfirst into it, like a moth to a flame. I always obeyed Jacob’s parents, giving up my dream of becoming a detective to be a housewife. Even then, I wasn’t allowed to sit at the dinner table. Because of my humble origins, Jacob’s parents found me ‘unclean’. They saw me as beneath them, tainted by my background. I thought with time, I could warm them up. But Jacob’s passion for me steadily dwindled, while his interactions with Celeste became more frequent. Even so, I clung to a sliver of hope. So, when Jacob was attacked by thugs, I didn’t hesitate, shielding him and fighting them off, taking thirteen knife wounds! Blood soaked my clothes, blurring my vision. As I lay bleeding, consciousness fading, I heard Jacob screaming my name. In that second, I felt Jacob’s love and thought dying for him was worth it. But it was all my hallucination. Jacob had always truly loved Celeste… I sighed, wiping away my tears, and was the last to leave the hotel. To my surprise, Jacob’s father was waiting outside. “I’ll arrange a press conference. You’ll admit your mistake and take all the blame, don’t you dare affect Jacob.” He saw me and spoke, his tone an order.

“Mistake? What mistake have I made?” I shot back. “If you still want to remain a Reed, and be Mrs. Reed, then do as I say. Otherwise, don’t bother coming home!” Mr. Reed’s face darkened. He delivered his harsh ultimatum, then got into his car and drove away. I clenched my fists. Even if I was as obedient as a dog, wagging my tail at their slightest gesture, overjoyed by a scrap they threw me. Even if I offered my life, I still wouldn’t get their approval. Celeste’s status would always be higher than mine. The weather bureau had announced a possible hailstorm today, but I didn’t call the Reed family to beg for forgiveness as I usually would. I refused to be threatened, refused to compromise anymore. I thought about finding shelter back inside the hotel, but the security guard stopped me. It was definitely the Reed family’s doing again. They wanted to force me to behave like a dog. I still refused to comply, walking alone on the street. My phone was in my car, so I couldn’t call a ride. The sky grew darker, and finally, the hail began to fall. I had nowhere to hide. I let the hailstones pelt me, feeling like I was being stoned. My head was bleeding, and I collapsed onto the ground. My white wedding dress was stained red again. Suddenly, I felt ridiculous. Seven years of my youth had led to this pathetic, desolate end. My consciousness started to fade. “The choice I gambled my life on… in the end, it was wrong…” I finally succumbed and passed out. When I woke up, I was in a hospital’s VIP room. My entire body was wrapped in bandages. I asked the nurse and learned that a patrol officer had happened to pass by and saved me. Otherwise, I might have been killed by the hail. After all, my old wounds hadn’t fully healed, and now I had new ones. Even a person of iron couldn’t endure it. “Mr. Reed, there’s already someone in this room. She’s very badly injured.” “So what? The last VIP room is for Celeste! I’m Jacob Reed, the heir to the Reed fortune, and the hospital has my family’s shares. Who dares defy me will be fired!” Suddenly, I heard Jacob and a nurse arguing outside. Before I could even process it, the door flew open. Jacob stormed in, carrying Celeste in his arms. Without so much as a glance toward the bed, he yelled, “You! Move the patient in this bed to another room, now! I’ll take full responsibility for any consequences!” “And I want Celeste taken care of immediately! Or everyone gets fired!” Only when his orders were given did he finally look up and saw me. He froze, startled. “What are you doing here?”

His surprise lasted only two seconds before Jacob frowned, an impatient expression on his face. “Maya, you must be very angry for following us here!” “I’m so sorry, I had an episode, that’s why Jacob dropped the wedding and rushed me to the hospital.” “Blame me, don’t blame Jacob.” Celeste squeezed out a few tears, looking pitifully at me. She acted like she was apologizing, but her saccharine words were pure poison. This, of course, made Jacob’s heart ache all over again. “Maya! Celeste is like this, how can you still blame her? Can’t you be more understanding?” He snapped at me, annoyed. “Have I said a single word since you both walked in?” I retorted, my voice cold. My entire body was wrapped in bandages, an IV drip in my arm, yet Jacob didn’t ask about my condition or show any concern. His eyes were only on Celeste. True love, indeed. Jacob was momentarily speechless, knowing I had a point, but he quickly went back to his accusing tone. “Even if you didn’t say anything, you deliberately followed us, then faked an injury to compete with Celeste for the VIP room. You’re truly malicious.” “I honestly regret ever knowing you!” “Give up the bed to Celeste immediately, and I might still forgive you!” His icy words were like a command to a dog. “Jacob, don’t be angry. Maya certainly didn’t mean it…” Celeste feigned concern, tugging on Jacob’s clothes, trying to ‘calm’ him. In reality, she was just adding fuel to the fire. “Celeste, you’re just too kind.” Jacob’s gaze softened the moment it landed on Celeste. When it flicked back to me, it had iced over completely. “Maya, stop this nonsense. Move.” He urged. He was desperate to appease his first love. The old me would have shuffled aside without a word, anxious not to cause him any trouble. But not this time. “I’m a patient here, too,” I said, holding his cold stare. “Why should I be the one to move?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “306122”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

Luke deleted Tiffany’s number and wiped out every trace of her from our place. He even fixed our busted wedding photo and hung it back up above our bed. I thought, maybe I should give him one more shot. Then, bam—two envelopes show up on the same day: my prenatal appointment reminder… and Tiffany’s damn wedding invite. He didn’t even hesitate—drove straight to her wedding. Right in front of everyone, he pulled Tiffany behind him and slammed a check on the groom’s chest. “Here’s $880,000. Now get the hell out.” The video blew up online. Everyone was obsessed with the runaway bride and their so-called epic love story. That’s when it hit me—Luke never let Tiffany go. And that night, I lost the baby. When my friend sent me the wedding-crashing video, I was making soup for Luke. “Is that him?” “What the hell happened?” “He and that massage girl are back together?” Countless messages flooded my phone. It was exactly like three years ago, when Luke got into a brawl and threw a guy off a third-floor balcony for Tiffany, landing himself all over the news. The same damn story. And of course, people in the comments recognized him. “OMG, this guy’s crazy streak showed three years ago!” “If you’re not marrying me, I’ll crash the wedding! We’re destined to be tangled till we die.” “Right? This is like a dark romance novel come to life, the kind of toxic love-hate saga everyone secretly binge-reads!” I slowly scrolled through the comments, forgetting to turn off the stove. The ceramic pot cracked. Boiling soup scalded my skin. But I barely felt the pain. I just silently called Luke. His phone was off. I let out a laugh, my heart growing colder. He had promised me this morning he would come with me for my prenatal check-up after work. He had sworn on his knees by my hospital bed that he would be a good husband. Was I sad? Was I hurting? I wasn’t sure. After all, I’d already experienced the deepest despair three years ago. I calmly cleaned up the kitchen. Then I called the hospital. “Please cancel my prenatal check-up. Could you book an abortion for me instead? The sooner, the better.”

Luke got home at three in the morning. I sat on the couch, my eyes raw from exhaustion. Our gazes met. A heavy silence stretched between us. On the table, the tablet played his wedding-crashing video on loop. “Here’s $880,000…” Once, twice, three times. Luke strode over and shut it off. Then, slowly, he knelt. He was kneeling for that woman. The thought alone was pathetic. “I know it’s too late for excuses,” he said, his voice rough. “But I swear, this is the last time I help her.” “Her dad has lung cancer, he needs money for surgery.” “She came to me first, but I refused to see her. That’s why she was selling herself to that man.” “I just felt sorry for her, you have to believe me…” Just pity. How many times had Luke said that? He probably lost count long ago. But I remembered every single time. Because every time he said it, I was the one who suffered. Funding her education, out of pity. Arranging her job, out of pity. Buying her a house, out of pity. Getting into a fight for her, out of pity. And now, even stopping her from marrying someone else, he still claimed it was out of pity? “Your compassion knows no bounds.” The sarcasm hit its mark. He stood to hug me, but I shoved him away. “Claire, are you going to leave me again?” Luke knelt on one knee, his eyes watering. “Luke, the one who gave up first doesn’t get to make demands.”

I never imagined Luke would cheat. The day I discovered his betrayal marked exactly 5,200 days since we first met. Childhood sweethearts. High school lovers. Married young. Over a decade of shared history. All of it shattered by the tears of a massage girl. In those days, Luke was always working late. Friends would joke, asking if I ever worried he was having an affair. I’d just smile serenely and say. “Why worry? If a man is tainted, you simply throw him away.” But I had overestimated Luke’s loyalty, and underestimated the depth of my own love. To love anyone more than you love yourself comes with a price. And my punishment arrived on schedule. Luke had spent half a million dollars at that massage parlor. The truth slipped out from his friend over dinner. A sudden silence swallowed the table. That was the day I most wished I could forget. Because it was the same day I discovered I was pregnant. I had planned to share our happy news with everyone at that table. Instead, I shattered. I demanded to know which parlor, which woman. When I confronted Tiffany, the man who usually walked on eggshells around me, suddenly stood in front of her and yelled at me. “Are you done making a scene?!” “I’m so sorry, Claire. I’m the one who seduced Luke. If you want to hit or scold anyone, just direct it at me.” Losing all reason, I pushed Luke aside and slapped Tiffany’s pitiful face. Luke held the sobbing woman, glaring at me with furious hatred. “Claire, don’t you dare go too far!” “You’re always so bossy with me, forcing me to do this and that, so what if I just want to spend some money on her?!” His words felt like an ice-cold punch to the gut, making me tremble with rage. From that day on, Luke and I fell into a continuous cold war. Everyone thought he would be the first to back down. After all, it was clearly his fault, and for so many years, he had always been compliant with my every wish. But in the end, it was me who had to use the pregnancy to get him back.

I never realized how much I loved Luke. From our student days, he was always the one chasing me, the one giving everything. The moment I realized I couldn’t lose him, I even started to wonder. Was I really too strong-willed with him? So that day when I called him, I poured out every soft, pleading word I could think of. “Just come back, just cut ties with that woman, and we can pretend nothing ever happened, okay?” My voice was so careful, so pathetic. But he said no. He said he had to protect Tiffany. “She’s had such a tough life, I just feel like I owe her, I have to make it up to her.” To get him to come home, I agreed to give Tiffany a monthly allowance. I thought that would finally be enough. But Luke kept finding excuses to see her every single day. If a friend brought delicious pastries, he would immediately take them to that girl so she could try. If he got concert tickets, his first thought was to take that girl so she could see the world. He even opened a bar for Tiffany, naming it “The Siren’s Gaze.” When a drunk man harassed Tiffany, Luke didn’t hesitate to throw him off a balcony. Fortunately, the man’s fall was broken by a tree. After we paid a hefty settlement, the case was closed. “When you did that,” I asked, my voice trembling, “did you ever think of me? Of our child?” “Do you want our child to be born with a criminal for a father?” But Luke just accused me of having no compassion before he started destroying our home. When our wedding photo shattered, the glass cracked perfectly between us – separating his image from mine forever. Broken mirrors are hard to restored. The tragedy is, I was too young back then to understand that simple truth. On our wedding anniversary, I waited at a restaurant we’d booked months ago until closing time. What I got instead was a post on Tiffany’s Ins. “Thank you for showing me that even if you’re not perfect, you can still be loved.” In the photo, she was wearing the latest Chanel haute couture dress, carrying a Louis Vuitton bag. All identical to mine. She was telling me that everything I had, she would have too. Luke was raising her all over again, using my lifestyle. In that instant, nausea and an unspeakable sense of grief overwhelmed me. I drove, tears streaming down my face, directly to the villa Luke had bought for her. The moment I pushed open the door, I froze. There was Tiffany, wearing my wedding dress. They were kissing. I think I truly lost my mind then. I screamed, a raw, hysterical sound, and rushed forward to tear them apart. In the struggle, Tiffany shoved me. I fell to the floor. And then I felt it – the warm blood spreading beneath me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “306123”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn