Category: English

I woke up and realized I was in a family-pampering story. A powerhouse CEO big brother, a medical prodigy second brother, and a movie-star third brother. I thought I was the adored heroine. Turns out… I’m just the supporting character? Wait, why do my brothers dote on me so much? And the real heiress… is actually me? Content I landed in a story all about a beloved family member. My adoptive parents were wealthy, doting, and provided everything I could want. I figured I could just sit back and relax. But then, one day, a woman showed up claiming she was the real daughter, pointing a finger at me and insisting I’d stolen her place. She demanded a DNA test. And the thing is, my adoptive parents half-believed her and actually did it! Turns out, yep, I wasn’t their real daughter. Wait, what? It hit me—I’m in that book I barely read because the plot was so over-the-top, Battle for the CEO’s Heart: The Real vs. Fake Heiress! Oh, no way… I’m the “fake heiress”? What kind of plot twist was this… “Mom, Dad, Roni missed you both so much…” I sat on the sidelines as the “real heiress,” Veronica Harper, cried her heart out, clutching her mother and telling her all about her hardships. “Life at Brookfield Children’s Home was so hard! I suffered so much, if only…” She shot me a resentful glance, voice steady but full of misery, “If only you hadn’t taken my place… But I don’t blame you. I’m just happy to have found you, and I’ll be glad to get along with my sister.” They cried and hugged together, with her mother repeating how sorry she was and promising to make it up to her. That was my cue. I shouldn’t be here; I should be under the car, not in it. I slipped out to get some air. When I returned, my adoptive parents’ attitude had completely changed. “Madison, what your real parents did was absolutely selfish! They left my daughter to suffer all those years in an orphanage!” Excuse me? I looked back at Veronica, who was smirking. I could piece together what happened. Clearly, she blamed everything on my biological parents. My adoptive mother clenched her fists, saying, “After all these years, it’s time we move on. I’ll contact your biological parents and have them come pick you up.” I nodded, sincerely thanked them for everything, and volunteered to leave. But my calm acceptance gave Veronica the perfect chance to play the “sweet sister” routine, feeding my adoptive parents all sorts of things about how I was just as ungrateful as my biological parents. Of course, that made my adoptive mother even angrier, and she immediately called my biological parents.

According to Veronica, my biological parents were simple farmers who had switched our bassinets at birth, which led to my being raised in this family while she ended up in an orphanage. I was speechless. I mean, it was so dramatic it felt like something only a novel could pull off. But with my years of reading experience, I figured there had to be more to this story. Maybe a big twist was coming? In any case, I was here now, and maybe going back to the farm life wouldn’t be so bad. I waited, and soon enough, my biological parents arrived. Wasting no time, my adoptive mother quickly packed up my belongings and practically shoved me out. “Your parents are outside. Go to them.” She shut the door without a backward glance. This woman was a completely different person from the warm, gentle mother she’d been just hours ago. I couldn’t help but laugh and headed toward the door with my stuff in tow. Free money, right? I’d take it. Outside, I saw a Bentley parked out front. Standing by it was a bodyguard-looking guy and a well-dressed woman who rushed toward me as soon as she saw me. “Madison! Are you Madison?” I nodded, “And you are…?” “I’m your mother!” She pulled me into a tearful embrace. “Have you been living here this whole time? You must have suffered so much!” I paused and glanced back at the sprawling mansion behind me. Uh… sure. “What are these things you’re carrying? Were they treating you badly, sending you off with junk like this?” My real mom could tell quality, I’ll give her that. On the way to her home, she and my adoptive mother had the same reactions to finding their long-lost daughter. My new mom told me about the chaotic hospital mix-up that led to their losing me and assured me I’d be well taken care of from now on. I was starting to feel like I’d just scored big. When we arrived at the massive estate that looked like a castle, I understood why she’d thought I was suffering. Rows of servants and housekeepers stood at attention, all calling out, “Welcome home, Miss!” My new mom mentioned their farming business was actually a major, high-tech agricultural empire. We’d just sat down when I heard a deep, anxious voice outside, “Where’s my daughter? Where’s my girl?” My dad had aged like fine wine, tall and fit with barely any signs of age. After we reunited, my mom said, “This surprise was so sudden, but your brothers are all on their way home to meet you.”

By dinner, we had a full family reunion. Honestly, I nearly lost my cool when I saw them. Big brother Ashton Lockhart? Six foot two, CEO aura that screamed authority, like the quintessential boss. Second brother Dr. Alexander Lockhart? He was known in the medical world as a “miracle healer.” Gentle and courteous, his smile alone was like a breath of fresh air. Third brother Ethan? I hadn’t seen him yet—apparently, he was still on his flight home. In short, this family had looks, money, and power. If this were a dream, I’d be laughing in my sleep. Wait, don’t let me wake up! This script was heaven-sent, and I was here for it! “Oh, Maddie, aren’t you at Northview University? I’ll arrange a transfer for you to Woodcrest Private Academy,” Dad offered. Big brother pulled out his phone to make the arrangements, but I quickly stopped him. “No need, Dad. I’m almost done here, and I’d rather keep things low-key.” “Our Maddie wants to keep a low profile? Alright, as you wish. We’ll cover all your meals at Northview so you’re well taken care of.” “Thank you, Dad and Mom.” Big brother smiled as he elegantly rolled up his sleeves. “I approved that project Northview submitted last week.” “Thank you, big brother.” Second brother wasn’t about to be outdone. With a raised brow, he said, “In that case, we should make sure the clinic there is well-staffed. I’ll send two of my students to help.” “Thank you, second brother.” I was honestly winning all around. And that wasn’t even the end of it. After dinner, big brother handed me the keys to a limited-edition Rolls-Royce. Second brother gifted me a million-dollar watch, and even third brother, though he wasn’t here yet, had sent ahead a designer gown that A-listers would kill for. Mom and Dad were no exception—they gave me several platinum cards and a pile of property deeds in my name, telling me to ask for anything else I wanted. That night, lying in the princess suite they’d prepared for me, I couldn’t even sleep. Who could understand this?

The next morning, determined to keep a low profile, I left the car big brother had gifted me in the garage and took a less flashy one to school. The watch, though—second brother’s gift was so beautiful, I couldn’t resist wearing it. At the classroom door, I overheard people talking about a new student transfer who’d arrived with great fanfare that morning. I didn’t pay much attention—it’s common at Northview. But someone turned to me, “Hey, Madison, I heard the new transfer is from the Harper family. Could she be your sister or cousin?” With that hint, I wasn’t too surprised to see Veronica Harper in my class. “Hello, everyone, I’m Veronica Harper. Please take care of me.” She quickly blended in with her “sweet girl” act. After class, she came over and greeted me warmly, “Sis!” This school was a mini society, with everyone scrambling to cozy up to those with power. She could easily signal she was from the Harper family, but that “sis” left me slightly stunned. What was her game? It seemed like she wanted to play the “sisters united” role, asking if my studies were tough or if anyone was giving me a hard time. I raised a brow at her. Nearby, someone asked, “Madison, why didn’t you ever mention you had a sister? You two seem close.” Veronica jumped in, “It’s because I just came home recently!” I could guess what she was up to. Right on cue, Veronica looked pained, “Sis, I know… oh, never mind, you’re probably not used to things after leaving the Harpers.” With that, she pulled a credit card from her purse, “Mom and Dad didn’t want me to help, but as your sister, I wanted to give you a little something. I hope it’s not too little for you.” I looked at her, chuckled, and accepted the card with a smile, “How could I mind? It’s the thought that counts, right?” The “sister” routine had me questioning if I’d stepped into a drama. People around us were clearly puzzled, and Veronica took the chance to drop the real bombshell. “Actually, my sister isn’t a real Harper. Her biological parents were just farmers, and years ago, they arranged for her to end up with the Harpers. I’m glad to be home now, and I don’t blame her for what happened.” I toyed with the card in my hand, watching her act with an amused smile. “Madison… is that true?” The people listening were now casting doubtful glances my way. Unfazed, I nodded, “Yes, my biological parents were farmers.”

After my casual confirmation, everyone instinctively huddled closer to Veronica Harper. Seriously? This was supposed to be a heartwarming family story, not some royal court drama where everyone fawned over the wealthy. “Alright, everyone, settle down! We’re holding a quick meeting,” our advisor announced, sweeping into the classroom with a spring in her step. “There’s a major signing event today, important for the university’s future, and we need a student representative to give a speech on stage.” Her gaze swept the room. “Veronica Harper, you’ll do,” she declared. Me: ??? Veronica had barely transferred into Northview, and suddenly she was speaking for the entire university? “Thank you, professor, for trusting me,” Veronica replied smoothly. “I know Madison has always been the one on stage before, but I promise to do even better and not let everyone down.” She rose gracefully and turned to me with a look that made me uneasy. As expected. “I hope everyone can look past my sister’s background. She spent so many years with the Harpers, and to me, she’ll always be a dear sister.” Oh, please! Was she really pulling this “sister act” in front of everyone? My only thought: Get me out of here. Veronica’s act of innocence had me livid. Did she want the spotlight so badly? Fine. I wasn’t about to let her get away with it. “Hey, Ashton.” I called my big brother, Ashton Lockhart. By the afternoon, Northview had set up a grand stage for the signing event. Veronica had her makeup done to perfection and was even in a formal dress, looking more suited for a gala than a university event. “What? Mr. Lockhart, I—?” The university president sounded panicked.

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After six years of marriage, I brought up divorce with Joanne, my wife who’d insisted on a child-free life. She broke down, sobbing that she’d finally have children with me—until I pulled out a breast pump from her moving box. Next to it was a prenatal checkup report for twins. “I found this while packing,” I said. “The twins you’ve been asking me to look out for…they’re yours, aren’t they?” Content While packing, buried beneath some clutter, I found a box that belonged to Joanne. The lock popped open easily, and inside was a used breast pump. Although carefully cleaned, the faint scratches showed it had seen a lot of use. My heart lurched as questions raced through my mind. I’m a cardiologist, and Joanne is the head pediatric nurse at General Hospital. She’d always said she was fed up with all the screaming kids at work, claiming she didn’t want any of her own. That’s why she wanted to be child-free—or so she said. I thought she was just venting. Not long after we married, she became pregnant. I pleaded with her to keep the baby, but she refused and got an abortion. Reluctantly, I supported her decision for her health. So she wouldn’t face that pain again, I even agreed to a vasectomy at her suggestion. I looked at the pump, wondering if it could have been some mistake, maybe even misplaced. My curiosity got the better of me, and I kept digging until I found a prenatal report. My mind went blank. My fingertips tingled. It was a checkup report showing twins, with detectable heartbeats. A corner of the form with the patient’s name was torn, but the listed age matched Joanne’s. Too many coincidences to ignore. The woman who’d insisted on a child-free marriage could very well have two children in secret. I intended to ask her about it that night. But Joanne texted that she’d be covering the nurse’s station overnight. The next morning, I dragged myself to the hospital and barely made it through surgery. As soon as I was done, Joanne waltzed into my office, dropped a kiss on my neck, and said, “Guess what I made you for lunch today, sweetheart?” She handed me a container of pork stew, telling me how nutritious it was. She set the table, chattering on about the twins in her department, whose condition had worsened and urgently needed a rare surgery—one only I could perform. “I know you’re slammed, but could you just move them up in the line?” she asked, her eyes narrowed in a honeyed smile. The sun was shining, but cold dread crept over me. This was unlike her. Joanne, who’d never shown special treatment to a single patient, had become deeply invested in these twins. She’d mentioned their single dad, how hard he had it. She even checked on them every night, and during critical times, would stay by their bedsides until morning. What kind of nurse did that for strangers? Unless they weren’t strangers at all.

Staring at that familiar face, I wanted to confront her, to scream. But it felt pointless. Three years ago, I’d been sent abroad for eighteen months. It was plenty of time for her to have twins. She’d pursued me intensely when we first met at the hospital, making every excuse to be close. I was flattered. Before long, her tireless care wore down my defenses. Over the years, we’d become the “model couple,” or so everyone thought. Even I had believed it. But it was all a lie. Joanne, who’d been so relentless in capturing my heart, was now the one who’d betrayed me. I pushed the container away and pinched the bridge of my nose. “I can’t move them up. That’s unfair to the other patients waiting their turn.” Joanne’s face darkened, and she almost snapped. “It’s just a word from you. Those twins can’t wait any longer. The others can.” The words—coming from a head nurse—sounded foreign and cold. In the past, even in the most tragic situations, she’d always said, “That’s life.” Now, she was trying to pressure me into an unethical favor. She leaned in, squeezing my hand and pouting, “Come on, honey, just this once?” Normally, a little of her sweetness would have been enough to sway me, but now, her begging just felt wrong. I gave a bitter smile. “Seeing how desperate you are, anyone would think you were their mother.” Joanne flinched, forcing an awkward laugh. “You’re so silly! Of course not. I just don’t want to see them suffer any longer.” She quickly got up and straightened her clothes, as if to shake off the conversation. “Think about it. This can’t wait.” As she left, she accidentally left her phone on my desk. A strong hunch made me pick it up and unlock it with her birthday. I went straight to her shopping app and checked her purchases from three years ago.

Seeing the breast pump purchase was like having my shame nailed to a wall. It was followed by an endless list of baby bottles, diapers, blankets, and baby gear. Each item drove a spike through my heart. Joanne hadn’t even bothered to delete the receipts. The memories started piecing together. Once, while scrolling social media, I stumbled across a photo she’d posted. There was a boy and a girl, grinning as they held cotton candy. The caption read, “My little sweethearts are growing up.” She’d told me she was attending a conference, so this post threw me off. But as soon as I clicked into her profile, it vanished like some glitch. I’d asked her about it, and she’d laughed, saying, “Must be a bug. How could I have secret twins?” Another time, I found a lease agreement with her name on it, though she always came home after late shifts. When I asked, she explained that a friend in financial trouble needed a place, and she’d stepped up to help. Touched, I even sent her three grand for her generosity. In hindsight, I’d been played for a fool. She’d taken my trust and sold me out. I heard her heels clacking as she came rushing back to my office. She grabbed her phone, hesitated, and asked, “Did you look at my phone?” Feigning confusion, I replied, “No. Why?” She looked relieved and smiled awkwardly. “Nothing.” I was more certain than ever. She was hiding something.

That evening, I stayed at the hospital an extra hour before dragging myself home. Opening the door, I found the house dark, the only light coming from the candles flickering on the dining table. Joanne stood there, a forced smile on her face. “Welcome home. I’ve been waiting, love.” She was wearing a black backless dress, her curves shadowed by the candlelight. She swayed her hips as if to lure me in, but I barely managed to shrug off my coat, uninterested. Sensing my lack of response, she pressed close to my back, her breath hot on my neck. “Do you want to be a dad?” she asked, her voice low. I froze. Encouraged, she held me tighter. “Why don’t you get that reversal surgery? The success rates are high. We could have a baby.” I almost laughed. Once, I’d practically begged her to keep our child. She hadn’t even flinched, refusing until I finally caved. The day of her abortion, I’d waited on the bench outside the procedure room, crying until my eyes burned. I even got a vasectomy so she wouldn’t face the possibility again. To keep the peace, I’d even lied to my parents about the reasons we couldn’t have children. But now she was asking for them. What did this mean? She pulled me over to the table, piling food onto my plate. “You’d be a great dad, honey. And maybe if you knew what it was like, you’d understand our patients better.” My fists clenched as she went on, urging me to “just think about it” as if she were doing me a favor. I pushed the plate away and said coldly, “Being child-free works fine for me. Enjoy your meal; I’m not hungry.” Her smile twisted into fury. “Mason, what’s that supposed to mean? After all this, you won’t even eat?” “I’m tired. I’m going to rest,” I replied. Through the door, I could hear her muttering complaints. I did want a child—just not with her.

Aside from my work in the OR, I was preoccupied with planning the divorce. When I returned to my office, a container of sweet and sour fish—my favorite—sat on my desk. Joanne must have left it when I didn’t come home. Joanne despised the smell of fish. Yet she’d cleaned out the bones just so I’d enjoy the meal. She was meticulous in caring for me. My clothes, always hand-washed, were pressed to perfection. She stayed up late to make me liver broth, never complaining. Her friends used to tease her for acting “too much like a mom,” but she’d always brush it off, saying, “He’s my everything. Of course, I want to take care of him.” During my year and a half abroad, we’d video-chatted every day. She never seemed to tire of asking about my meals and sleep. She’d cry when I lost weight, saying, “I knew you couldn’t take care of yourself without me.” Eventually, she stopped calling as often, and I figured her workload was just too much. I didn’t ask questions. It’s only now that I realize, during those long time-zone gaps, Joanne was with someone else, raising the children she never let me have. When I’d been sure of our love, she’d been nursing another man’s twins. I thought we’d shared something real, but it was all an act. For six years, I’d trusted her completely. Now, I drafted the divorce papers and called my lawyer. It was time to end it. While finishing up the final sutures in the operating room, my student, Blake Ashford, called me unexpectedly. “Dr. Lake, the twins’ condition just worsened. Ms. Taylor’s in the room and really upset.” Blake shouldn’t have called me while I was in surgery, but maybe he was considering my “special relationship” with Joanne. Besides, I normally wouldn’t have answered, but by chance, this procedure went smoothly, and I’d finished early. Maybe this was fate. I handed off the case to the assisting team and stepped out of my scrubs. Crossing the pediatric hallway, I could already hear Joanne’s cries. I quickened my pace until I reached the door. Inside, a team of medical staff frantically attempted to resuscitate a child whose lips were turning a sickly shade of blue. Joanne looked shattered, her voice breaking in desperation as she shouted, “Please! Save my children!”

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One drunken night, I ended up in bed with Adrian Wells, and before I knew it, he became my live-in husband. No matter how much my family and I humiliated or belittled him, he never lost his temper, always wearing that calm, considerate mask. But just when I started falling for him, he asked for a divorce. The once-submissive man had become someone entirely different. Life flipped—my family lost everything, and he rose to success, turning into the powerful figure who now held all the power I’d once had over him. My husband is a live-in son-in-law. Originally, I’d liked his younger brother, but after a night out with friends, he saw his chance while I was drunk, and the scandal was all anyone could talk about. My father had no choice but to marry me off to Adrian, under the condition that he’d live with our family and answer to us. Adrian’s father, who’d remarried after divorcing Adrian’s mother, had always kept him at a distance. But with our family’s status, I’d been my parents’ pride and joy since birth. His father didn’t mind handing Adrian over to our family. And so, we got married. But I couldn’t stand it. My heart belonged to his younger brother, after all. Resentment simmered inside me. I treated Adrian with contempt, making him sleep on the floor, never allowing him to share the bed. At meals, my brother and I mocked him, denying him even a single dish from the table. When he’d show up in the rain to bring me an umbrella, I’d yell at him in front of everyone. No matter how much we berated him, Adrian never lost his temper. He acted like it didn’t bother him, always calm, always there to serve. He was undeniably attractive, but he’d been shy and awkward in school, scraping by academically, his grades a disappointment. His brother, by contrast, was bright, athletic, and admired by everyone. Thinking about how my budding romance with his brother had been wrecked by Adrian only made me despise him more. One night, I kicked him awake from his spot on the floor, claiming I was thirsty. He quickly got up and brought me a glass of warm water, even remembering to make it lukewarm as the weather got colder. But when I thought about how he’d taken advantage of me that night, I threw the water in his face. Even then, he didn’t react, just silently went to the bathroom. I felt a hint of guilt as I watched his tall, silent figure, but the anger over him ruining my life erased any sympathy. This went on for three years. Three years is enough time for a lot to change. My family went bankrupt. I started to feel something for him, but then… he handed me divorce papers. When he told me his “one true love” had returned, a pang hit my chest so sharply I felt I couldn’t breathe. But my pride—instilled in me since birth—kept me from showing any sign of hurt. I signed the papers quickly. After I signed, his cool voice broke the silence beside me. “Need a driver to take you somewhere?” It was only then I remembered this house—my home for over twenty years—wasn’t ours anymore. We’d lost it in the bankruptcy. Adrian, whom we had once humiliated as a live-in husband, had quietly built his own empire without touching a dime of my family’s money. He’d even bought the house. I had no right to resent him. Everything he had, he’d earned, painstakingly, from scratch. And yet, he looked at me with the same calm expression, the same unbothered patience he’d shown all these years. “No, I can manage,” I replied, rushing out. I ran out of the gate, clutching the gift in my hand as rain started to pour. It was our three-year anniversary. I’d never given him a kind word before, but realizing my feelings had started to shift, I’d wanted to finally celebrate with him. But instead, all that waited for me was divorce. I forced a laugh, letting the rain soak me. The next day, I was sick, bedridden, but I couldn’t ignore the loud arguments coming from outside. I dragged myself to the door, finding my dad sitting on the edge of a peeling brick wall, looking distraught. “I don’t want to live anymore,” he muttered. We’d ended up in a run-down apartment, but the rent was low, and that was what we needed. My mom was crying next to him, saying she’d jump too if he jumped. I tried calming them, saying, “It’s only bankruptcy, as long as we’re alive, we can recover.” My dad gave me a piercing look, the kind that sends a chill down your spine. “You could ask Adrian to help us, couldn’t you? He’s our son-in-law; he’ll help us,” he said. My mom chimed in, “Yes, yes, I’m sure he would! Even if we didn’t treat him well before, for your sake, I’m sure he’d help.” I forced a laugh; they had no idea he’d left me. I refused to ask him, but my dad practically threatened his own life. Defeated, I finally agreed. Before leaving, my mom spent our last bit of money to doll me up, putting me in a deep V-neck dress and chic heels. She even hired a stylist for my hair and makeup. Looking at myself in the mirror, I felt a wave of cynicism. I looked less like someone begging for help and more like someone looking to seduce. But I knew, deep down, that even if I showed up like this, Adrian probably wouldn’t even look twice at me now. I still couldn’t understand why he’d taken advantage of me that night at the party. Maybe he’d been drunk too, maybe he’d thought I was his “one true love.” I forced those thoughts away and braced myself to see him. I heard Adrian was at his office, so I headed straight there, while my parents waited downstairs, hopeful. Entering his office floor, I ignored the stares and mutters, keeping my head high. When I finally reached his office, I hesitated. Adrian sat in his chair, one leg crossed over the other, watching me with that same calm, piercing gaze. I twisted my fingers, feeling embarrassed but explained why I was there. His gaze turned cold, and he gave me a faint smile. “And why should I help you?” I forced a laugh. “Never mind. Forget I came.” I’d known all along he wouldn’t help us, not after how we’d treated him. How shameless could I be, thinking I had any right to ask for his help now? Turning to leave, I heard him say, “Wait. Tell me, what are you offering in return? If it’s worth my time, maybe I’ll consider.” I stopped, struggling to think of anything I could offer. This body, maybe? But that was absurd. We’d been married three years and he’d never touched me. With my head down, I mumbled, “Just… forget it.” Then he approached me, his towering height making me feel small, and he leaned in close. “Dressed like this, you could’ve saved yourself the act,” he murmured with a knowing smile. Blood drained from my face, and I wanted nothing more than to escape. But then he wrapped an arm around my waist, his smile darkening. “Three years I slept on the floor; three years of patience. So how about… you offer yourself this time?”

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Chapter 1: A Second Chance To save on rent, my sister-in-law Jessica teamed up with my mom and sweet-talked their way into moving into my newly renovated house. Later, when my nephew Ryan died of leukemia, Jessica blamed me for it. “It’s you! You deliberately used the cheapest materials, which killed my son!” she screamed, her eyes wild with grief and anger. She lunged at me with a kitchen knife, stabbing at my swollen belly. “Since my son is dead, you don’t get to have your brat either!” Eighteen stabs. Neither my baby nor I survived. Perhaps Heaven took pity on me and granted me a chance to be reborn. … I was reborn five years in the past. Still reeling from the pain of being stabbed to death in my previous life, I overheard my sister-in-law Jessica and my brother Jack’s scheming voices outside my room. “Nora’s house is newly renovated. Why don’t you talk to Mom and see if we can stay there with Ryan for a year?” Jessica suggested. “Will she agree?” Jack still had a shred of conscience, saying it was my new house for when I got married, and it might not be appropriate for them to live there with a child. Jessica glared at him. “We’re family. What’s the big deal? Besides, it’s a three-bedroom apartment. We won’t be using her master bedroom.” Hah! They said they wouldn’t use the master bedroom now, but after moving in, the whole family slept in my king-sized bed in the master bedroom. They had the audacity to say the bed was bigger and more suitable for sleeping with a child, plus it had an en-suite bathroom which was more convenient. My nephew frequently wet the bed, soiling my expensive mattress with urine stains. What’s more infuriating was that they lived in my house without paying for utilities or property management fees. When I mentioned this to my mom, she sided with my brother and sister-in-law, saying, “It’s just a few hundred dollars for utilities and fees. As a sister, isn’t it your duty to help your brother?” At the time, I thought they would keep their word and move out when my nephew started first grade. Little did I know that getting rid of them would be harder than inviting them in. They stayed for four or five years, refusing to leave. Until one day, my nephew was diagnosed with leukemia, and they blamed his illness on me. After my nephew passed away, Jessica smashed everything in my new house. “It’s you… you did it on purpose. You deliberately used the cheapest materials for renovation, intentionally killing my son.” She grabbed a knife and stabbed viciously at my belly. I instinctively tried to run, but six months pregnant and already wounded by her first strike, I couldn’t outpace her. I barely made it two steps before she dragged me back. “Nora, you bitch, die!” Jessica screamed. Blood gushed from my body, staining the new carpet red. I felt like a broken sack, holes everywhere, bleeding profusely. Jessica’s face twisted and distorted before my eyes, her screams and curses echoing in my ears, but I was powerless to respond. I never imagined she would be so brutal. I had softened my heart and let them live in my new home, never asking for a penny in rent. I even paid for their utilities and property fees. In the end, she killed me and my child, stab by stab. By the time I breathed my last, Jessica came to her senses. As my soul left my body, I watched my brother and mother frantically help Jessica dispose of my corpse. They initially planned to hide my body to protect Jessica. To quote a popular internet saying: Those who kill often know that while murder is easy, hiding a body is hard. The truth came out. My mother knelt before my husband Iker, begging for his forgiveness and pleading for a letter of understanding. That woman who gave birth to me and raised me was now kneeling for the murderer who killed me. “My grandson was killed by Nora, and Jessica just lost her mind for a moment. Iker, please forgive her… Even if you kill Jessica, it won’t bring Nora and the baby back,” my mother pleaded, tears streaming down her face. Seeing my mother’s tear-stained face, my heart turned cold. I was her daughter, after all… I could understand my brother protecting his wife, but why was my mother like this? Talking about a momentary lapse, begging my husband not to press charges. Hah, a momentary lapse that ignored my desperate pleas and stabbed me 18 times? I closed my eyes, and everything that happened in my previous life flashed before me. Chapter 2: A New Beginning I composed myself and pushed open the door. Jessica greeted me with a bowl of freshly washed fruit. “Nora, you’re up from your nap? I washed some fruit for you, have some.” Jessica’s fake smile overlapped with her twisted face when she killed me in my previous life. I mustered all my strength to hide the overwhelming hatred in my heart and replied coolly, “No need, I’m heading out.” I saw Jessica nudge my brother with her elbow. Jack quickly asked, “Will you be back for dinner? Mom said she’s roasting a chicken tonight.” I vaguely remembered that in my previous life, it was on this very night that they sweet-talked their way into moving into my newly renovated house. They said my nephew needed a place to stay for school. My newly renovated house was empty, so they asked to stay for a year, promising to move to the city next year when they bought their own place. I softened and agreed, and the result was… “I won’t be back. I have plans to go shopping and have dinner with friends,” I replied. They must be racking their brains now, trying to get me to agree to let them stay in my new house when my nephew starts school. Especially my sister-in-law Jessica. Jessica was a wolf in sheep’s clothing. In my previous life, to get me to agree to let them live in my new house, she sucked up to me for days. Usually stingy, she went out of her way to buy cherries, my favorite fruit, and even gave me a set of skincare products. Later, I found out that the skincare set was a return from a customer at her shop who had an allergic reaction to it. In my previous life, after they lived there for a year, I saw no signs of them moving out. I hinted both subtly and directly that they should move out, saying I wanted to move back in. My mother cried and yelled, calling me ungrateful for wanting to kick my own mother out of my house. Not wanting to cause a big rift, I endured it. The consequence of my endurance was being killed by them, losing two lives. In this life, I won’t endure it anymore! Not only will I not endure it, but I’ll also make them pay for what they did in my previous life. I planned to keep them on edge for a few days, then refuse when they’re desperate… That day after going out, I didn’t return to my old home. Instead, I stayed at my new apartment in town for a few days. Regarding my nephew’s leukemia, I expressed confusion. Worried that there might really be an issue with my renovation materials, I secretly called a professional formaldehyde testing company to check. After a week of continuous testing, the conclusion was that the formaldehyde levels were within the normal range. This house was renovated last October, more than half a year ago, and it had good ventilation and lighting. So Ryan’s leukemia had little to do with my house. It must have been due to his own constitution and other factors. As long as it wasn’t my house’s problem, I felt relieved. I stayed in my new house until the ninth day of the Lunar New Year, not long before school was set to start. They couldn’t sit still anymore. My mom called me several times, asking me to return to the old house. I made excuses about some unfinished work in the new house and didn’t go back. Early on the eleventh day, my mom brought my brother’s family of three to my door. “Why are you here?” I asked. Jessica smiled and said, “Well, the New Year just passed, so we brought Mom down for a look around. Ryan was also bored at home.” My brother’s family came uninvited, making themselves completely at home. My brother and sister-in-law used to work out of town, always renting places to live. Jessica lost money on her store last year and transferred the business. Now she planned to work in our small town. That’s why they set their sights on my new house. “Ryan, isn’t your aunt’s new house beautiful?” Jessica asked her son. My nephew nodded repeatedly, “It’s beautiful.” They used to rent in old, run-down neighborhoods to save money. My new house had a great environment, and I had put a lot of effort into decorating it nicely. My nephew’s eyes lit up when he entered. At five or six years old, he was curious about everything. Before I knew it, he had run from the living room to the bedroom. “Ryan Sullivan, don’t go into my room!” I called out. Suddenly remembering that in my previous life, the first time he came to my house, he also curiously went to play in my bedroom and broke my expensive floor lamp. Fortunately, this time I stopped him in time. I pulled him out and firmly closed the door. Seeing his innocent expression, remembering how pitiful his death was in my previous life, my voice softened a bit. “Go play somewhere else. The bedroom is for sleeping.” Jessica was very displeased when she saw me stop her son from entering the bedroom. She pulled him into her arms and said unhappily, “Son, your aunt’s new house is too precious. We don’t have such luck to live here. Let’s go.” Her sarcastic tone made me feel sick. In the past, I would have immediately comforted my nephew: “That’s not what I meant. We’re family, of course you can stay. How could you not be worthy?” But now, I let her angrily pull her son away without saying a word or trying to stop them. “Jessica, what’s wrong? Don’t leave,” my brother immediately pulled his wife and son back. Chapter 3: Family Tensions My mom glared at me and played peacemaker, “Nora, Ryan is your own nephew. He’s so young, why are you scolding him? What’s wrong with him being curious and wanting to look at your bedroom?” “What kind of guest goes into someone’s bedroom without permission? Mom, I’m not just saying this to you. It’s fine since it’s my house, but if this happened at someone else’s place, wouldn’t people say you have poor manners? He’s five or six years old, just starting to understand things. You need to teach him properly.” As soon as I said this, my brother, sister-in-law, and mom’s faces fell. “Nora, what do you mean?” My brother, always quick-tempered despite his lack of ability, said, “You think you’re so great because you bought a house? You’re putting on airs now?” “What airs? Can’t you tell right from wrong? I’m trying to reason with you, but you won’t listen. Forget it, pretend I didn’t say anything.” In my previous life, I was too weak and easily manipulated. Whenever my brother yelled at me, I would get so nervous I couldn’t speak, letting him have his way. Living this life again, I understood that my brother was a bully who only preyed on the weak. If he was fierce, I just needed to be fiercer. Seeing my impatience, he and my sister-in-law looked surprised. They exchanged a glance, and finally, my mom spoke up: “We’re all family, what’s there to argue about? Nora is also saying this for Ryan’s good, and she’s not wrong.” My mom patted my brother, clearly meaning that they were the ones asking for a favor from me, so they should hold their tempers. My mom was always like this, always taking my brother’s side. Although I already knew their true colors from my previous life, at this moment, I still felt hurt. After all, she was the mother who gave birth to me and raised me. Blood is thicker than water, as they say. I originally thought that if I was good to them, they would be good to me and treat me like family. But some people are born selfish and will never treat you as family. “It’s getting late. Nora, you haven’t been home for days. I brought half a chicken and bought some pork tripe. I’ll make some chicken soup with tripe, your favorite.” I did love chicken soup with tripe, but every time the soup was ready, my mom would take out the tripe and give almost all of it to my brother and grandson, along with the chicken legs… She would always tell me: “Nora, drink more soup. The soup is the most nutritious.” Bull***t, the meat is the most nutritious. As she spoke, my mom headed towards the kitchen with the groceries. “Mom, don’t bother. My kitchen can’t be used for cooking right now. The range hood isn’t installed properly and leaks smoke. The repairman said he won’t have time to fix it until after the Lantern Festival.” This was true, though in my previous life, they only discovered it after cooking for a while. By the time they noticed, my cabinets had already been blackened by smoke. Afraid they wouldn’t believe me, I opened the cabinet and shook the loose range hood, saying, “See? If we don’t fix this, it could fall and kill someone while cooking.” “Oh?” My mom clearly hadn’t expected this problem. “Then what about this chicken and tripe? They’re fresh.” “You can take them back tonight.” By saying this, I made it clear I didn’t want them staying at my place. Jessica’s face darkened even more. “Mom, are you going back tonight? I’m not planning to. I have dinner plans with my girlfriends tonight.” My brother chimed in, “I’m not going back either. I have plans to play cards tonight.” Seeing the situation, my mom immediately said, “If you both have plans tonight, then I have to stay and look after Ryan. Who else will take care of him if you go out?” It was obvious they had already planned to sleep at my place. Jessica pouted, all her previous anger gone, looking at me with a hint of pleading in her eyes. “Nora, your new house is newly renovated, and we haven’t stayed here before. You don’t mind if we sleep here for one night, right?” After saying this, Jessica brought in the things from the doorway. “Although we’re family, we can’t come empty-handed the first time we stay at your place. I bought you some cherries, your favorite.” “Oh, and this set of skincare products. I saved it for you when I transferred my shop. The set costs several thousand dollars.” My mom patted my hand and said, “See how good your sister-in-law is to you.” How good to me… I closed my eyes, the pain of losing two lives in my previous life still sharp and stinging. “Since we can’t cook at home, why don’t we go out for lunch? Nora, what do you want to eat? It’s my treat,” my brother offered. “Dad, I want to eat steak,” Ryan chimed in. “Alright, let’s have steak then.” “Yay! We get to eat steak today and stay at Aunt Nora’s new house.” I opened my eyes, looking at their happy faces, and said coldly, “Who said I agreed to let you stay?”

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When I returned to school after participating in an art competition in New York, everyone told me Orion Gray and Violet Ross were together. Who is Orion Gray, you ask? He’s my current boyfriend who chased after me for three whole years in high school. You’ve got to be kidding me. When I stormed into Orion’s classroom angrily, I didn’t see him, but instead found his group of roommates. These three roommates of his each had their own distinct personalities – the oldest was quiet and reserved, the second was always joking around without a serious bone in his body, and the third had always shown hostility towards me. Orion was the youngest, the baby of their dorm. Perhaps due to his youthful appearance and gentle nature, he had always been the one they looked after the most. “Well, if it isn’t the beautiful Zoe back from her trip,” the second oldest greeted me with a teasing smile. “Where’s Orion?” I wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries. “Oh, he might be in the cafeteria, or maybe on the sports field. Who knows, he could even be in the little forest!” He laughed after saying this, which only irritated me more. “Forget it, I’ll find him myself.” Knowing I wouldn’t get any useful information from them, I tried calling Orion again, but still no answer. “Don’t listen to him. Orion is in the study room,” the usually silent oldest one suddenly spoke up. I glanced at him, muttered a thanks, and turned to leave. Since I got back, not only did he not come to pick me up, but he didn’t even send a single message to check on me. Instead, he gave me this huge surprise. Orion Gray, you’ve really done it this time! There weren’t many people in the study room. At a glance, I spotted Orion sitting near the window. The girl next to him must be Violet Ross that everyone was talking about. I knew of Violet Ross, but wasn’t very familiar with her. If she hadn’t gotten involved with Orion, I probably wouldn’t have even known we were at the same university until graduation. I gently tapped on the desk next to Orion. He looked up at me, not seeming particularly surprised. Looks like he knew I was back. “Come out for a minute, I need to talk to you,” I said quietly. Orion closed his book and got up to follow me out. “Why didn’t you answer my calls?” I asked. “My phone was on silent, I didn’t hear it,” he replied nonchalantly. “Did you know I was coming back today?” I asked again. “Yes,” he answered. “So?” I pressed, “You knew I was coming back today but didn’t come to pick me up, didn’t answer my calls, and instead came to study with another girl.” “Did you forget we’re still in the middle of a cold war?” I nearly choked on my own breath, momentarily at a loss for words. Orion was great in every way, except when it came to arguments and sulking. For anything he believed he wasn’t wrong about, he would never be the first to back down. So most of the time, I was the one who had to reach out first, and then the matter would be considered over. This time, I had been too busy with the competition to keep in touch, and he actually thought we were still in a cold war. I had even forgotten what this cold war was about in the first place. “Are you and Violet Ross together now?” I knew the answer was definitely no, but I still wanted to hear what Orion had to say. “No,” he replied firmly. “But that’s what everyone is saying.” “I said no, and that means no.” He was being stubborn, but I knew his personality – he always told the truth. However, not being together didn’t mean there wasn’t any ambiguity between them. “I don’t like her,” I said bluntly. “Because I’ve been spending time with her?” he asked. “Not just because of that.” The name Violet Ross reminded me of some things from the past. “I might not be able to completely distance myself from her right now,” Orion hesitated before continuing, “But I’ll keep my distance from her.” I couldn’t help but laugh, “Orion, don’t you think what you’re saying is contradictory?” Orion fell silent. “Is there something you can’t tell me?” I teased, guessing it was probably his overflowing sympathy at work again. Orion was such a kind-hearted person. “I can’t tell you right now,” Orion was still firm on this issue, but he did make his stance clear to me, “But please trust me, there really isn’t anything between us.” As far as I could tell, Orion didn’t seem to be hiding anything major. I nodded, understanding, and asked, “Is it because she has depression?” Orion looked surprised, “How did you know?” “Severe OCD plus mild depression, right?” I mused thoughtfully, “Orion, when she told you all this, did she mention that she, you, and I were all classmates in high school?” “She never said that, and I never asked,” Orion replied. Why didn’t she say anything? Was it because she was afraid of being called out if she brought up the past? Violet Ross, didn’t you do your homework before targeting Orion? “I don’t object to you having friendships with other girls, but her – she’s off limits!” I made my stance clear as well. “Okay, I understand,” Orion didn’t press further, and I didn’t say more either. If he wanted to know, I would tell him eventually. If he didn’t want to know, there was no point in telling him anyway. “Let’s go get something to eat then,” I took his arm, considering the cold war over. As for his situation with Violet Ross, I decided to wait and see. Our meal together wasn’t very pleasant. His group of roommates seemed to have some kind of radar – I had barely ordered when they showed up right on time. Well, since they’re here, might as well eat together. “Oh, looks like you two made up,” the second oldest teased when he saw us. “You have no idea how miserable our little bro has been these past few days. He couldn’t eat or sleep properly.” Orion coughed lightly and turned to look out the window. “Is that so?” I asked disinterestedly while scrolling through my phone. “He didn’t send a single message or call in all these days. I thought he had forgotten he even had a girlfriend.” “Come on, don’t be like that!” The second oldest tried to smooth things over. “You know you’re the officially recognized sister-in-law of our 305 dorm, right Leo?” He nudged the third oldest with his elbow, signaling him to say something nice, but Leo didn’t play along. “That’s just what you guys say. I never agreed to it.” “Well, looks like there’s some disagreement within your group,” I put down my phone and looked at Leo. “Seems like I’m not good enough in your eyes, huh?” Leo’s hostility towards me seemed to come out of nowhere. I had asked Orion about it before, but he said there was nothing and told me not to overthink it. But eyes don’t lie – Leo’s hostility was far too obvious.

I had mentioned this to my best friend Chloe before. With her wild imagination, she asked, “Could it be that he likes your Orion and sees you as a love rival?” I rolled my eyes at her. “You need to stop reading so much BL.” “No, seriously! Your Orion always looks so soft and gentle, and his roommates keep calling him ‘little bro’ more affectionately than we do. It’s hard for me not to think in that direction,” Chloe insisted as if it was an established fact. “Give me a break. Orion is as straight as they come,” I retorted. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have chased after me for three years in high school. “Straight guys can be turned too,” Chloe seemed to be quite knowledgeable on this topic. “He might be straight, but his roommates might not be.” “Stop right there. Even if Orion was into guys, which of his roommates looks like boyfriend material?” I countered. “You have a point there,” Chloe pondered, stroking her chin. “The oldest one might have a chance, but he looks pretty straight too. As for Leo, forget it – two bottoms won’t work out. Zoe, looks like your boyfriend is safe for now.” I dismissed Chloe’s wild theories as a joke. While Leo did show hostility towards me, he had never openly expressed it. But this time, it seemed he was making a clear statement. “It’s not that you’re not good enough. I just don’t think you and Orion are a good match,” he replied. Okay, he finally said it out loud. I’m sure they must know about the Violet Ross situation, and might even be encouraging it. After all, they’ve never really approved of me as Orion’s girlfriend. “Shouldn’t the question of whether we’re a good match be asked to Orion himself?” In other words, who are you to judge whether we’re suitable or not? “Alright, Leo, Zoe and I are doing fine. Please don’t interfere in our relationship,” Orion sighed, sounding a bit exasperated. “I just don’t understand why Violet Ross isn’t good enough for you. At least she genuinely likes you and treats you well!” Leo exclaimed. The implication being that I don’t genuinely like Orion and don’t treat him well? Interesting, very interesting. I’ve only been gone for a short while, and this Violet Ross has already infiltrated Orion’s inner circle. “My relationship with Orion is between the two of us. What does it have to do with you? If you think Violet Ross is so great, why don’t you go after her yourself? Why try to set her up with Orion? Do you think I’m just a placeholder girlfriend, or do you think I’m easy to push around?” I paused for a moment before continuing, “Have you been hiding under our bed or something? How do you know I don’t treat Orion well? Are you a mind reader or somehow connected to his thoughts? Do you know better than us whether we like each other or not?” It had been a while since I’d verbally sparred with someone. I was a bit rusty. There’s no point in being polite to someone like this. Did he really think I was a pushover? Leo was left speechless by my tirade. He put down his chopsticks and stormed off angrily. I looked at Orion innocently, “Aren’t you going to go comfort him?” Orion pushed a glass of water towards me. “You must be thirsty after talking so much. Have some water.” The second oldest across from us burst out laughing, and even the usually stoic oldest one had a hint of a smile on his face. I looked at Orion suspiciously, “He doesn’t actually like you, does he?” “What are you thinking?” Orion rapped me lightly on the head with his chopsticks, sounding annoyed. “You need to stay away from Chloe in the future.” Seeing the second oldest across from us laughing uncontrollably, I once again confirmed that Chloe’s speculation was completely baseless. I didn’t see Violet Ross again until a week later. During that week, Orion spent most of his time with me. I thought the matter had been put to rest, but I didn’t expect her to actively seek me out. It was during an elective class. I had deliberately chosen a seat at the back and pulled Orion to sit with me. As luck would have it, Violet Ross also came to this elective class. Seeing the empty seat next to Orion, she sat down beside him. “What a coincidence, Orion,” she greeted him. “Mm,” Orion responded coolly. “So you’re taking this elective too? I think Professor Brown’s lectures are really good. I come to listen to his class every week,” she continued, seemingly very interested in the course. Orion shook his head awkwardly, “I’m not.” “He’s here to keep me company while I earn credits,” I turned to look at her. Was she pretending I didn’t exist? “He’s not interested in these dry, boring courses.” “And you are?” she asked, feigning ignorance. “Zoe Quinn, Orion’s girlfriend,” I extended my hand politely. “Oh, I see,” she acted as if she had just realized. “I’m Violet Ross, Orion’s friend.” “You two must have just met recently then,” I withdrew my hand. “I’ve never heard Orion mention you before.” “Yes, we’ve only known each other for less than a month,” she always had this soft, fragile demeanor, just like in high school. “But I feel like we clicked instantly, as if we’ve been friends for a long time.” “Is that so?” This level of subtle provocation had no effect on me. “After all, we all went to the same high school, right?” “Really?” She looked both surprised and delighted, as if she genuinely didn’t know. “Yes, indeed,” I nodded, resting my chin on my hand and tilting my head to look at her. “Orion had a really good friend in high school named Jack Brown. Do you remember him?” Violet Ross’s smile became a bit stiff, and her expression started to look unnatural. “I don’t remember high school classmates very clearly.” “That’s a shame. No worries, I’ll make sure to introduce you sometime,” I responded generously. “Mm,” she answered softly, opening her book. “Class is about to start.” I turned back, the smile on my face only growing. Orion leaned in and whispered, “Who’s Jack Brown? I don’t remember having a good friend by that name.” I blinked innocently at him, “Don’t you remember? You two were really close in high school.” “Cut it out,” Orion didn’t believe me at all. “I can say with certainty that I don’t know anyone by that name. So, who exactly is Jack Brown?” Great, now he’s jealous. I quickly waved my hands, “I don’t know him well either.” “If you don’t know him well, why did you bring him up and say he was my good friend?” Orion pressed on. “Just because I don’t know him well doesn’t mean others don’t,” I glanced towards Violet Ross. “Her? Didn’t she say she doesn’t remember?” Orion still seemed doubtful. “You believed her when she said she doesn’t remember, but you doubt me when I say I’m not familiar with him. Orion Gray, who exactly is your girlfriend here?” I was getting annoyed.

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Heather and I gave birth on the same day, both to baby boys. That night, while we were under observation in the hospital, I saw Heather sneakily switch my baby with hers. I said nothing. Years later, Heather’s son, under my care, became an Ivy League PhD graduate. Meanwhile, my biological son dropped out of middle school to work in a steel factory, overworked himself to illness, and developed cirrhosis. When Martha begged me to pay for his treatment, Heather scoffed, saying, “Why waste money on that mutt? Better to save it for Ezra’s future wedding!” After my son’s death, Heather decided to reveal the baby swap at Ezra’s wedding, planning to reclaim him as her son. I simply smiled, knowingly. Content “You filthy mutt! Who said you could sit at the table to eat?!” Heather slapped Calvin so hard he fell to the ground. Martha rushed to help him up but was shoved aside by Heather. “Trash like you should have been smothered in the hospital!” she snapped. Heather’s tirades always lasted for hours. Whenever Martha or I tried to intervene, she’d deflect, blaming “poor discipline” during his childhood as the reason for his supposed failures. In reality, she was venting her resentment toward me. Heather gave Calvin his name—a throwaway, as insignificant as lint. “Mom, I’m home!” Ezra’s cheerful voice broke the tension. He ran to my arms, proudly holding up a perfect test paper for me to see. Before I could take it, Heather snatched it away. “Ezra, you’re amazing! Auntie has to reward you for this!” She pulled a hundred-dollar bill from her purse and stuffed it into Ezra’s pocket. “Buy yourself something nice! If it’s not enough, just come to me for more!” Ezra, though thrilled by the gesture, hesitated. He glanced at me for permission, his upbringing keeping him cautious. Meanwhile, Calvin, his face swollen from Heather’s earlier assault, silently watched as she handed Ezra the money. “What are you staring at?! It’s not for you!” Heather sneered, pushing Calvin. “With grades like yours, you’re not even worth a fraction of Ezra’s talent!” Calvin lowered his head, too scared to respond. But Heather wasn’t finished. She grabbed Calvin by his shirt collar, dragging him to the door. “Don’t you dare covet things that aren’t yours,” she spat. “You’re nothing more than a guard dog—a lowly mutt!” “Mom,” Calvin suddenly mustered the courage to ask, “Can I go do my homework? I’ll work hard to catch up to Ezra, I promise…” He looked at her pleadingly, desperate for any acknowledgment. Heather’s response was a harsh kick, sending him sprawling to the floor. “No matter how hard you try, you’ll never measure up to Ezra. You’re destined to be beneath him for the rest of your life!” I watched as Heather’s cruel words crushed Calvin’s fragile hope, snuffing out the light in his eyes. Martha couldn’t take it anymore and shielded Calvin. “How can you treat your own child like this?!” she scolded Heather. “You don’t get it, Mom,” Heather retorted. “This is tough-love parenting!” Unable to hold back, I countered, “Even tough love has limits. Constant belittling will only destroy a child’s spirit.” “Stay out of it, Clara,” Heather snapped, bristling like a porcupine. “You focus on Ezra. Calvin is none of your business.” In truth, I only ever spoke up—I never truly saved Calvin from the hell he endured. 2 Martha fretted over Calvin’s treatment but didn’t say much. After all, Heather’s pregnancy had been the result of her teenage recklessness. Back in high school, Heather spent all her energy chasing boys, particularly Trey Walters, a local delinquent with bleached hair. When Martha found out, she warned Heather to stay away from him. Instead, Heather ran off, dropping out of school and moving into Trey’s house. Trey quickly lost interest after their fling. He threw her out, dumping her belongings onto the street. With nowhere else to go, Heather returned home, visibly pregnant. Martha believed Heather’s resentment toward Calvin stemmed from him being Trey’s child—the result of that humiliation. What she didn’t know was that Heather, on a cold, foggy night, had swapped the babies. She abused my son without guilt because he wasn’t hers. “Let’s just eat,” I said, calling Calvin over to join us. Heather coughed and said smugly, “I didn’t know you had so much free time, Clara—worrying about someone else’s kid.” “Calvin’s not hungry. He’s like a little bird—barely eats and never starves,” she quipped. But Calvin’s growling stomach betrayed her. His gaunt frame screamed malnourishment. I was about to insist when Heather hurled a slipper at the door. “Get out! Have you finished the laundry yet? Why are you standing around?!” “Sorry, Mom. I’ll get to it now,” Calvin whispered, carefully picking up the slipper and placing it by her feet before quietly leaving the kitchen. “You can use the washing machine for all those thick winter clothes,” I remarked. “Machines don’t clean as well as hands,” Heather replied. “Calvin’s too dumb to study. If he’s not diligent, he’s truly worthless.” She turned to Ezra, piling food onto his plate. “Ezra, my smart boy, you’ll go to Harvard or Yale one day. Leave the servant work to others.” Heather’s favoritism was blatant. She might as well have tattooed “Ezra is my real son” across her forehead. But I stayed silent, choosing to watch from the sidelines. Later, Heather pulled Calvin out of school, claiming she’d arranged a job for him in Detroit for $800 a month. Martha protested. “He’s just a boy! He can’t handle that kind of labor!” Even Richard couldn’t hold back. “That steel factory is brutal! You’re sending Calvin to ruin himself!” “He’s not cut out for school, so why not earn money while he’s young?” Heather argued. “It’s his choice.” “Right, Calvin?” she added, glaring at him. Calvin nodded obediently. Richard placed a hand on Calvin’s shoulder, asking gently, “Why do you want to go?” “Mom said we owe you and Aunt Clara for taking us in. I should help Ezra with his education…” Hearing this, Richard and Martha were heartbroken. Richard snapped at Heather, “We’re not so poor we need a child’s help!” Heather burst into tears, throwing a fit. “I’m doing this for the family—for Ezra’s future!” When Richard wouldn’t relent, Heather pinched Calvin hard, prompting him to grab a pair of scissors from the table and press them against his neck. “If Uncle Richard won’t let me go, I’ll end it right here!” 3 I stood by, cold and detached, as Calvin pressed the sharp edge of the scissors to his neck. Blood seeped through a tiny cut, but I still didn’t move to stop him. Richard and Martha were frozen in fear, their voices trembling as they tried to calm him down. They promised to let him go to work, begging him to put the scissors down. Only then did Calvin lower the blade. His tearful gaze darted toward Heather. Heather’s tears vanished instantly. She beamed at Calvin and said, “Good boy. Work hard, make lots of money for Ezra!” “You’re useless for anything else. But if you can support your brother, at least your life will have some value.” Calvin nodded numbly, a sign he had completely surrendered. Years passed. Under my care, Ezra flourished—earning a PhD from the Ivy League. He was brilliant, well-mannered, and had found himself a bright, accomplished girlfriend. Meanwhile, Calvin toiled away in Detroit. Word reached us that his health was failing. The factory docked his pay frequently because he wasn’t as strong as before. After saving every penny, he could only manage to send home $200 or $300 a month. Whenever his money arrived, Heather would berate him over the phone: “Useless piece of trash! Raising you was a waste of time!” “This little bit of money? It wouldn’t even cover Ezra’s pocket change!” Every time I overheard Heather’s tirades, I tuned her out. Ezra was preparing to bring his girlfriend home, and I wanted everything to be perfect. Heather was ecstatic at the news. She rushed out to curl her hair and buy a few new outfits. She smeared makeup onto her lined face, muttering complaints about her dull skin. Then, she came to me for cosmetics. “Why the sudden makeover?” I asked, feigning ignorance. “Really, Clara? You’re managing my makeup routine now?” she snapped. I handed her the cosmetics, casually adding, “You know, Calvin and Ezra are the same age. Isn’t it time Calvin found someone too?” Heather’s cheerful mood soured instantly. Her face darkened as she replied, “Calvin ‘dated’ someone at the factory last year, but she was probably just a tramp. What decent girl would be interested in Calvin?” “But for someone like him, even that’s not bad,” she added, brushing foundation on her face before changing the subject. “Speaking of which, I heard Ezra’s girlfriend is a PhD too—pretty and wealthy. She’s barely good enough for our Ezra!” Heather gushed about Ezra’s girlfriend, beaming as though it were her own engagement. By evening, Ezra and his girlfriend arrived. She was just as Ezra had described—polite, poised, and eloquent. Her words flowed gracefully, each one perfectly chosen. I served her food and asked, “How’s the meal?” She smiled warmly. “Mrs. Dawson, everything’s delicious. You’re an amazing cook.” “This whole spread was made by me!” Heather interjected, unable to contain herself. She began listing the ingredients she’d chosen and her meticulous preparation process. Richard sighed, “Let the girl eat, Heather.” Reluctantly, Heather quieted down, though her constant interruptions had already made the dinner awkward. Ezra, oblivious to the tension, suddenly noticed an empty chair and asked, “Isn’t Calvin coming home this year?” 4 The mention of Calvin cast a heavy silence over the table. “He’s staying in Detroit for the holidays,” Heather replied curtly. Ezra frowned. “I’m getting married this year. I was hoping Calvin could be my best man.” “Exactly,” Martha chimed in. “That boy hasn’t been back in years. I miss him. At least let him visit for the wedding.” Heather, clearly uncomfortable discussing Calvin in front of Ezra’s fiancée, forced a smile and made the call. The phone rang twice before it was picked up. “Hey, your grandma and cousin want you home for the wedding.” Heather’s tone was clipped, but with everyone watching, she softened it slightly. “We all miss you. You should come back.” The silence on the other end was long. Finally, a woman’s voice responded. “Hi, is this Aunt Heather? Calvin’s in the hospital. He’s been under observation.” “In the hospital? For what?” Heather demanded, standing abruptly. “What’s so serious that he needs a hospital stay? Must be a waste of money.” The woman’s tone grew sharp. “What do you mean? He’s gravely ill and running a constant fever. You don’t care, fine, but how can you complain about the cost? Money doesn’t outweigh someone’s life!” But to Heather, Calvin’s life truly was less valuable than money. Martha and Richard, hearing Calvin was sick, rushed to the phone. Heather ended the call abruptly, brushing them off. “He’s fine. Just being dramatic,” she said, smoothing her hair. “He’s probably faking it to get out of work.” Ezra, worried, asked if they should visit Calvin in Detroit. Heather shot him down. “There’s nothing to see. Right now, the priority is planning your wedding.” I watched Heather’s indifference to Calvin’s illness and couldn’t help recalling how, years ago, she had demanded hospital observation for Ezra over a minor cold. She had questioned the doctor’s competence, accused him of negligence, and fussed until Ezra fully recovered. She had even made him chicken soup every day, so much that Ezra grew nauseated at the sight of chicken. When Ezra caught chickenpox, Heather became his shadow, never leaving his side. She checked his fever constantly, ensured he didn’t scratch the sores, and even scolded me for walking too loudly, claiming it disrupted Ezra’s rest. Richard and Martha had often wondered aloud why Heather adored Ezra so fiercely. Even for an aunt, her devotion was extreme. Three months later, it was Ezra’s wedding day. Heather clutched Ezra’s hand, her tears streaming. “I’ve waited so long to see you start your own family.” “Watching you marry the woman you love—this makes my whole life worthwhile.” I watched as Heather’s emotions overwhelmed her. Her tears intensified, and I realized she was about to confess the truth. Standing on the stage, she grabbed the microphone, tears streaming down her face. “Ezra, my wonderful boy…” “I’m actually your mother!” 5 Ezra didn’t seem to take Heather’s words seriously. He smiled and said, “Aunt Heather, you’ve always cared for me like a mother.” “No,” Heather blurted, “I am your mother! You’re not Clara’s son—you’re mine!” She pulled out a document—paternity results. The report stated, with 99.99% certainty, that she and Ezra were biologically related. The room erupted into gasps. All eyes turned toward me. “Clara Dawson, you’re not Ezra’s real mother! I’m taking my son back today!” Heather declared, her voice trembling with emotion. I didn’t flinch. My face betrayed no shock or distress. It was as if she had casually asked me what I had for breakfast. I smiled faintly and nodded. “Fine. Take him back.” “What nonsense!” Richard snapped, his eyes reddening. “Ezra is our son! Clara, what’s going on here?” Even the guests, friends, and family stared at me, bewildered. After all, I had devoted years to raising Ezra, pouring my heart into him. “Clara, explain yourself!” Richard demanded, his voice shaking. I simply repeated Heather’s statement. “Ezra isn’t our child. I saw her swap the babies that night.” The guests broke into murmurs. Some glared at me in horror, while others openly accused me. “She knew her son was switched and still let this happen? How could she ignore her real child, working himself to death in Detroit?” “She let Heather abuse Calvin for years, knowing he wasn’t hers!” another guest hissed. I laid the truth bare, my tone calm, as though recounting an unremarkable story. Richard staggered backward, his expression twisting into disbelief. He raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

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My Boyfriend’s first love was crying uncontrollably. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have come between you two. I should be the one to leave,” said my boyfriend’s first love, the famous actress, as she sobbed. My boyfriend pointed at me and scolded me for being too harsh. He immediately left me behind to chase after her. Well, well, with acting skills like that, she calls herself an award-winning actress? I immediately called the billionaire, “Didn’t you say you wanted to marry me? Let’s get the marriage license tomorrow.” That afternoon, Caspian took me to the civil affairs bureau. When we came out again, I, Zinnia, was now a married woman. Caspian tapped the marriage certificate in his palm, his expression smug and irritating, completely overshadowing his handsomeness. “Didn’t you say you’d never marry me in this lifetime, and that if you married me, you’d be a dog?” I nodded, “That’s right, I married you, so you’re the dog.” “You…” Caspian gritted his teeth, “Zinnia, that mouth of yours is really…” “Really what? Asking for a beating?” I tilted my head slightly, my expression probably a bit provocative, “You want to hit me?” Caspian suddenly laughed and slowly approached me, looking mischievous in every way. Then I heard him say “asking for a kiss” before he grabbed the back of my head and kissed me. “!!” I pushed him away and wiped my mouth vigorously, “Caspian, what are you doing?” Caspian looked very displeased, “We’re married now, what’s wrong with me kissing you? Not only am I going to kiss you, but you’ll have to consummate the marriage with me tonight.” “…” “I’ve been waiting for this day, Zinnia. Just you wait, I’ll show you how I’ll deal with you tonight.” Caspian was arrogant and domineering. After saying that, he got in the car and left, even lowering the window to wave at me, his expression was really… He’s just an annoying jerk. How did he become the richest man in the country? I put away the marriage certificate and prepared to return to the company. Henry called, telling me, “Zinnia, let’s break up.” Hadn’t we already broken up? Why bother calling to tell me? When he scolded me and abandoned me for his first love, we had already broken up. I pursed my lips in annoyance, “You’re the most troublesome of the lot.” Henry: “…” I hung up the phone and suddenly remembered something… Damn it, Caspian brought me here, and now he’s driven off, how am I supposed to get back? Jerk! I called a ride-share and returned to the company. My dad saw me and looked me up and down several times, “Who’s this? I don’t recognize you. Who are you looking for?” “…” I went straight to the point, “Dad, I broke up with Henry, and also, I got married to Caspian.” My dad’s face immediately lit up with joy, showing a kind fatherly smile, “Isn’t this my precious daughter!” “…” See, even my dad has better acting skills than Henry’s first love, a hundred expressions in one second. My dad suddenly snorted coldly, “How did you break up? I thought you two were very lovey-dovey? I told you not to date him, but you wouldn’t listen.” “That’s all because you kept pushing me to marry Caspian.” If it weren’t for my parents pressuring me so much about marriage, I wouldn’t have been so rebellious and grabbed the first decent guy I saw to date, only to end up being cheated on. Caspian isn’t a good guy either, he has quite a few women outside too, don’t think I don’t know. Marrying Caspian was just a spur of the moment decision out of anger, now that I think about it, I regret it a little. No, I need to make things clear with him. “So you’ve come back to take over the company? Haha, that’s great, your mom and I can finally be free.” My dad jumped up and rushed out, his legs surprisingly agile. I quickly grabbed his arm, “Don’t go, Dad! Where are you going?” “To find your mom, of course. She wants to go to a small island for a couple of days. She’s always complaining that I don’t accompany her. Now that you’re back, I can finally go back and be filial to your mom.” Perhaps realizing his words sounded too submissive, my dad coughed lightly and changed his tune: “Compensate, it’s all because of you. You’re never home, I don’t even have time to accompany your mom.” “…”

“Dad, you probably can’t spend all your time with mom just yet. I didn’t plan on taking over the company.” “Look at you… Alright, you don’t need to come back either. Every time you come back, you just make me angry. Go on, get out.” I was kicked out of my dad’s office. So he doesn’t want this unexpected child anymore? Caspian’s SnapChat message came in at this time, reminding me, [Don’t forget to come back tonight for our wedding night.] “…” I gritted my teeth, [Would it kill you to be a bit more subtle?] Caspian’s voice message came right after, “This isn’t subtle enough? I haven’t even said to come back and sleep with me yet.” My dad’s secretary came towards me, looking at me with an ambiguous gaze, “Miss.” “…” I think I should consider living on another planet. Caspian is such a big mouth. He’s such a big shot billionaire, how come he doesn’t have any of the aura of a tycoon? Always fooling around like a playboy, it’s so annoying! Caspian sent me another address, which is where he’s living now. He also said to come back early, we’ll have dinner together tonight to celebrate. What’s there to celebrate? Is he so happy about marrying me? Well, my family is also rich and powerful, and he knows I definitely won’t bother to manage him, of course he’s happy. … At around seven, I arrived at Caspian’s apartment. As soon as I entered, the luxurious decor and flamboyant atmosphere hit me in the face. Caspian was sitting on the sofa, legs crossed casually, wearing a white T-shirt and orange floral shorts, holding a glass of red wine. “You’re back.” “…” I walked over, “Didn’t you say we were going to eat? Where’s the food? I’m hungry.” Caspian pointed to the kitchen, “It’s being prepared. Sit.” He patted the spot next to him. As soon as I sat down, he leaned in close. I leaned away, “Stay away from me, or you might get hit.” “Why did you suddenly decide to marry me? What about that unreliable boyfriend of yours?” Caspian looked like a curious puppy. He’s the unreliable one. Ahem, I’m not defending Henry. Henry’s cheating can’t be described as merely unreliable, it’s downright despicable. I cleared my throat quietly, “Because… well…” “Alright, you don’t need to say anymore.” Caspian held up his hand. Just when I thought he was being understanding for once and not forcing me to do something I didn’t like, he came out with… “You got dumped.” “…” I suspect Caspian’s head has been kicked by the donkeys on the production team more than once, I suspect this more than once. Caspian suddenly had a realization, “Wait, doesn’t that make me your rebound? So I’m your backup plan? Is that it?” “If you don’t want to be the rebound, then let’s get divorced. Besides, aren’t I your rebound too?” He’s acting like he’s the victim here. Caspian nodded, “You’re right, I am quite popular.” “…” Psycho. The person in the kitchen came out at this time to tell us dinner was ready. After eating and resting for half an hour, I did some yoga, and Caspian was beside me trying to learn. He suddenly commented on me, “Zinnia, your flexibility is pretty good.” I kicked at him, “Can’t you be more serious?” Caspian looked a bit wronged, “What’s wrong? How is complimenting you not serious?” He looked genuinely aggrieved, so maybe I misunderstood him. I got up to go upstairs to wash up, and he followed me up like a little tail. Even when I was about to enter the bathroom, he was still following behind. I turned around, and he bumped right into me. “Why did you suddenly stop?” “I’m going to take a shower, why are you following me in?” Caspian scratched his head, “To take a shower together, of course.” I gave him a hard knock on the head, and Caspian yelled out in pain: “Ouch! Zinnia, you’re trying to murder your husband!” “Don’t come in!” Who wants to shower with him? Jerk!

While soaking in the bathtub, I suddenly felt a bit dazed. Am I really married to Caspian now? I had resisted countless times in the past, even saying I’d be a dog if I married him, but now I’ve actually married him. Caspian and I could be considered childhood sweethearts, but this sweetheart of mine was truly unreliable. He liked to bully me since we were kids, either pulling my hair or tattling on me, telling my parents I was dating early, and exposing to my parents that I received love letters… And so on and so forth, I was almost annoyed to death by him! So when my parents wanted me to marry Caspian, I said I’d be a dog if I married him. Caspian immediately stated, “I don’t even like you. I have plenty of girls I’m interested in.” Later, when my parents pressured me too much, I rebelled and went after Henry. I don’t know what kind of madness possessed Caspian, but after he found out I was pursuing Henry, he actually said to me: “Why don’t we just get married? I’ll marry you, and you won’t have to go through all the trouble of chasing someone else. I don’t think you can catch him anyway.” That nasty mouth of his deserved all the beatings I gave him, thinking about it now, he really had it coming. Caspian was urging me to hurry up outside. It seems his big house only has one bathroom, doesn’t it? I got out of the bathtub and only then realized I hadn’t brought any sleepwear in with me. This is my first time here, and I don’t know where to get any. The yoga clothes I wore earlier were ones he found for me, they looked new so I wore them. I wrapped a towel around myself and walked to the door, “Caspian, do you have any new sleepwear?” “You didn’t bring sleepwear in with you?” Caspian’s annoying voice came from outside, “It’s so late, why don’t you just not wear any?” “Are you sick? You don’t wear clothes at night?” “That’s right, I don’t.” I abruptly opened the door, “Go get me some sleepwear quickly!” “Alright, alright, why are you so fierce?” Caspian glanced at me and turned to leave. Halfway there, he suddenly stopped and looked at me, “Zinnia.” “What?” Caspian smiled and said: “You have a great figure, very sexy.” I grabbed a towel from the cabinet and threw it at him, “Get lost!” He’s just a… Pervert! Caspian caught the towel and left, looking very pleased with himself. After a while, he came back with two sets of pajamas and handed one to me. I looked at the ones in his hand, “Didn’t you say you don’t wear any?” “Then I won’t wear any, I’ll take them back.” He said as he turned to leave. I quickly grabbed him back, “Stop fooling around. Let me ask you, where did you get these women’s pajamas? Do you often bring women here?” “How could that be possible? I don’t bring women back here, you can rest assured about that. I bought these new for you today.” Caspian looked very proud, “The size is just right, I can tell just by looking at you. After all, I’ve been looking at you since we were kids…” I kicked him, almost making him unable to have children. “Zinnia, not only are you trying to murder your husband, but you’re also trying to kill our future children, you heartless woman!” Caspian bent over, instantly becoming a member of the crotch-protecting club. “Get lost!” I couldn’t be bothered with him anymore and went in to change. Behind me, Caspian’s annoying voice rang out again, “Zinnia, I saw your underwear just now.” I turned and rushed back, determined to finish him off today! “Ah…” Caspian’s scream echoed throughout the room. Half an hour later, Caspian came out of the bathroom, and I was sitting on the edge of the bed with my arms crossed, “Come here, I have something to tell you.” Caspian came over while drying his hair with a towel, “Go ahead, I’ll agree to anything except not consummating the marriage.” “I’m not talking about that.” I pursed my lips helplessly, “I want to set some ground rules with you. Sit.” I patted the spot beside me. Caspian came over and sat down obediently. After washing his hair, his bangs had fallen down, making him look much more docile, like a little puppy instead of a little brat. Not bad, not bad. I patted Caspian’s head, “Good boy.” “Don’t be disrespectful.” Caspian brushed my hand away. “You’re only one month older than me, why are you acting so mature?” I rolled my eyes and continued with the main topic, “Since we’re married now, I have a few rules I need to tell you first.”

“First, I don’t care how many women you have outside, but you can’t have children with them.” “Second, if you really find someone you like, tell me, and we’ll divorce immediately.” “Third, during our marriage, at least make people believe we’re a loving couple. I don’t want our families’ companies to be affected.” I stated these three rules in one breath, then continued: “Now it’s your turn. What rules do you have? Say them.” “I agree to everything you said. I only have one condition.” Caspian held up one finger, “In our marriage, you can’t get too close to other men.” “That’s natural.” I agreed without even thinking. But wait, that’s not right. “This is a double standard. Can you cut off all ties with other women?” “Of course I can. I can do that in a minute.” Just as Caspian finished speaking, his phone rang. I glanced at his phone screen, the contact was saved as “Baby”. I rolled my eyes dramatically. Caspian answered the phone, made a few noncommittal sounds, then hung up. I sneered, “It’s fine. I said as long as you don’t have children, I don’t care about you.” “What are you talking about?” Caspian casually tossed his phone aside, “Let’s go to sleep.” “…” Forget it, there’s no point talking to him. He won’t even give me a chance to be upset. I turned and crawled into bed, and he followed. “Um… lights on or off?” he asked me. What’s going on? Why do I feel like he’s a bit nervous? It’s making me nervous too. “Turn them off.” Caspian turned off the lights, then pressed down on me and started kissing me. I resisted the urge to push him away, “Do you even know how to kiss? You’re biting me.” “You’re the one who doesn’t know how to kiss.” Caspian coughed lightly, “Zinnia, you’re trembling. Could it be that this is your first time?” “No… of course not.” I took a deep breath, “Don’t tell me it’s your first time?” “How could that be?” Caspian’s tone was quite proud, “I’m very experienced.” … After a night, my conclusion is that Caspian was bluffing. How could someone with such poor skills be experienced? Who is he trying to fool? Caspian was still sleeping, holding me tightly. Just thinking about last night made me angry. I pushed him away and got out of bed. I put on my clothes and went to the bathroom. Suddenly, Caspian’s voice came from behind, “Zinnia, does it hurt?” “It doesn’t hurt.” I gritted my teeth. It hurts like hell, okay? “Zinnia.” Caspian called my name again. Why is he so annoying? “What?” I turned around and glared at him. Caspian pointed with his eyes at the small bloodstain on the bed, “Didn’t you say it wasn’t your first time?” “…” I closed my eyes in frustration. How could I have forgotten about that? Caspian seemed to be in a very good mood. I was just annoyed, so I deliberately tried to upset him, “That’s because your technique is so poor. I’ve never seen anyone with such bad skills. Do you even know what you’re doing? And you call yourself experienced, you’re just bluffing.” The smile on Caspian’s face instantly disappeared… No, the smile didn’t disappear, it just transferred to my face. I hummed a tune as I walked towards the bathroom. Behind me came the sound of Caspian angrily hitting the bed. He shouted at my back: “Zinnia, you just wait. I will… I will…” I laughed and turned back to ask him, “You will what?” Caspian paused for a moment, then suddenly struck a sexy and charming pose on the bed, “I will definitely make you succumb beneath me.” “Are you sick? Pervert!” I gave him a disgusted look and entered the bathroom. “I don’t know who it is, still lying about it being their first time when it clearly was, getting caught red-handed. I was wondering why you wanted the lights off, turns out you were just shy…” I grabbed another towel and went out, rubbing it up and threw it at Caspian’s face.

I received a call from Lily, she wanted to meet me. Lily is Henry’s first love. Henry and I have already broken up, why does she still want to see me? Only after meeting did I realize that she just wanted to show off her victory to me. “Zinnia, you should actually thank me. If I had gone back to find Henry earlier, he would have been mine long ago. You wouldn’t have had the chance to date him at all.” Looking at Lily’s smug face, I found it amusing. “Is Henry some kind of trophy to be shown off in your eyes?” I sneered, “You’re so inexperienced, tsk tsk, I almost feel sorry for you. How about this, I’ll introduce you to a couple of better guys, what do you say?” Lily chuckled lightly, “You don’t have to do that. We’re both women, I understand how you’re feeling right now…” “Don’t say you’re a woman, you’re really giving women a bad name.” I smiled as I interrupted her words, “But I understand. I advise you to read more books and improve yourself.” Lily’s phone suddenly rang. She answered it right in front of me, “Hello, Blue Planet? Movie or TV series? Okay, I’ll be right there.” She hung up the phone and looked at me, “Ms. Chen, I have to go now. I have an audition. By the way, order whatever you want, it’s on me.” I smiled and said, “Thank you.” After seeing Lily off, I immediately returned to the company. “Dad, give me some money. I want to invest in a few IPs.” “That has to come from my own account. Ask your mom to transfer it to you.” My dad said, then added: “You should practice investing and such now.” “Got it, thanks Dad!” … Soon I contacted the crew of “Blue Planet”, expressing my intention to invest. Of course they were willing. I put in 200 million, becoming the biggest investor, which means I have the final say on this show. I also got news that Lily had already gone for the audition, and it was for the female lead. She had a very high chance of being selected. But with just one word from me, she would be immediately eliminated. However, I didn’t do that. I let her pass the first few rounds of auditions. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fun. Actually, I hadn’t planned to do anything to her originally. But being a mistress was one thing, she shouldn’t have come to show off to me. If I don’t teach her a lesson, wouldn’t I have lived these twenty-some years in vain? Since that’s the case, I won’t let Henry off either. He should really thank his precious first love. I waited until the final round of auditions before I showed up. The audition location was in a hotel. I was about to enter the elevator when someone pulled me out. “Didn’t you see our Miss Brown was about to take the elevator?” I looked up and saw Lily walk into the elevator. She gave me a proud and challenging look. Just as the elevator doors were about to close, she spoke up: “Oh, Zinnia, it’s you. Why don’t you come up too?” The assistant beside her, acting high and mighty, said, “Who does she think she is? How could she ride in the same elevator as you, Lily?” Lily just smiled without saying anything more. The elevator doors closed. I shook my head with a smile. My phone rang at this moment. It was Caspian calling. “You want to invest in a movie? Why didn’t you tell me? I have a film company, I can give it to you if you want.” I was a bit surprised, “Why are you being so nice and generous today?” “Zinnia, you ungrateful wretch. When have I ever not been generous to you? Tell me!” I thought about it, and it was true. Although Caspian is a terrible person, from childhood until now, on my birthdays or holidays, the gifts he gave me were always extravagant. Okay, I wronged him then. “We’ll talk about it when I get back tonight. I’m at the audition location now, selecting actors.” I hung up the phone, and the elevator came down. I got in. For the final round of auditions for the female lead, there were only three actresses left, with Lily being the first one. I sent a message to the casting director to move Lily to the last spot. So when I came out of the elevator, I saw Lily storming out of the audition room. “What’s going on? How could they put me last? If the director takes a liking to someone else first, won’t I lose my chance? It’s already the final round, I must get this role. Quick, call Chen!” Her arrogant little assistant was still flattering her, “Don’t worry, Lily. Those two’s acting skills are no match for yours. Being last is actually better. After the director sees their terrible acting, he’ll definitely be impressed when he sees you. He’ll make his decision on the spot!” I have to say, this little assistant’s flattery skills are quite impressive. It’s partly thanks to her that Lily, with such poor acting skills, is still so confident… The other half of the credit goes to the other staff around Lily who praise her day after day, leading to her current blind confidence and arrogance. Lily looked up and saw me. Her little assistant, ever the bootlicker, immediately came over, “Why are you still lurking around? This is not a place for you to be. Get lost quickly!” I hadn’t even dealt with Lily yet, but this arrogant little assistant caught my interest. “Little girl, I advise you to watch your mouth and leave yourself a way out. Don’t you understand the principle of not burning all your bridges?” The little assistant rolled her eyes dramatically, “Even lowly people can talk about principles now. Fan behavior has its limits. I don’t care who your idol is, but this is the audition area for the crew, not a place for you to chase stars. Get out, get out, get out quickly!” “Very well, I’ll leave then. But I’m afraid you’ll be begging me to come back later.” I smiled and turned to enter the elevator. I booked a room on the top floor and waited there. The producer sent me updates on the situation and clips of the auditions. One of the actresses named Zoe caught my eye. Her eyes were indeed quite good. I had already made up my mind. Soon it was Lily’s turn to audition. The casting director told Lily, “Not everyone is here yet. Let’s end today’s auditions here.” I was on a video call with the casting director. On the phone screen, I saw Lily’s expression freeze, her displeased look barely contained. “But I’m all prepared. Weren’t the other two able to audition when not everyone was here?” “The investor has already seen the audition clips of the other two. Originally, the investor had high hopes for your acting skills and wanted to come see you perform in person, but was stopped and chased away halfway here.” “Chased away? How could they be chased away? Where are they now? I’ll go find them right away.” Lily was extremely anxious. “She’s very angry now. Even if you go beg her, she won’t come. I’m afraid your audition is probably off.” The casting director sighed. Lily was even more regretful, “That’s not possible. I’m going to find her now. I’ll definitely impress her with my acting skills.” The casting director nodded, “Alright then, go find her.” He then gave Lily my room number. I ended the video call. After a while, there was a knock on the door. Here she comes. The knocking continued. I slowly went to open the door. When Lily saw it was me, she was naturally shocked. “Zinnia, it’s you again?” “I should be the one asking you that. What are you doing here?” I asked coldly with a sneer. Lily paused, looked at the room number, and after confirming several times, she looked at me in disbelief, “You… you’re here. Is there anyone else inside?” I raised an eyebrow, “Just me.” Lily turned around and slapped her assistant hard across the face. The assistant was stunned. Lily, however, turned back very calmly and gave me a slight smile. She spoke as if nothing had happened, “Miss White, if you’re still not satisfied, you can hit me yourself. I won’t stop you.” The assistant finally reacted and knelt down, “Miss White, I was wrong. I was blind and didn’t recognize you. Please forgive me this once, you’re a big person who doesn’t hold grudges against small people.” I gave her a chance, but she didn’t know how to take it. She can’t blame me now. Seeing that I wasn’t softening, Lily said again, “I will blacklist her from the entire industry. Is that enough?” I was very dissatisfied with her attitude. The assistant was just being arrogant because of her backing. How could she still try to distance herself? “Miss White, please give me a chance to live. I’m begging you.” The assistant pleaded tearfully. But I wasn’t moved by this. “Why are you begging me? Did I tell you to be arrogant and look down on people? Beg yourself.” I said, then looked at Lily, “Do you have anything else to say? If not, I’m closing the door.” I gave her one chance to apologize to me. It’s up to her whether she knows to cherish it or not. Lily narrowed her eyes slightly, “Zinnia, are you sure you want to go against me?” “…” Are actors so powerful nowadays? They dare to confront investors now. Does she think her backing is very powerful? Fine. I directly closed the door. Lily left. I received a call from Henry. On the phone, Henry said, “Zinnia, can we meet?” I asked with interest, “What’s the matter?” After two seconds of silence, Henry spoke again, “You’re the biggest investor in Lily’s new show. I hope you won’t make things difficult for her. The person who wronged you was me. You can come at me instead.” His words made me laugh, “What makes you think I would let you off?” Henry: “…” “Lily’s matter has nothing to do with you. It’s her own problem. Your first love doesn’t have very good character. I don’t care if others fall for her act, but she’s messed with me now, and I won’t indulge her.” I laid it out there. Henry paused again, “Zinnia, do you still love me?” “??” Did my ears stop working? “What did you say?” “I know you still love me. Everything you’re doing is because you can’t let go of me, so you want to take revenge on me…” “Didn’t you say you wanted to see me?” I interrupted Henry’s words, “Where? When?” Henry: “…” … The place where Henry and I met was in a very quiet club. I entered the private room, and Henry slowly stood up. Without a word, I went up and slapped him hard across the face. The sound of “slap” was crisp and loud. Henry was first incredulous, then his expression turned to anger. I smiled and asked him, “Are you angry? Do you want to hit me? You’re angry, you want to hit me, that’s because you still love me, so you want to take revenge on me.” Henry choked, his lips pressed tightly together. I sat down, “What did you want to tell me? You can say it now.” “Lily said you’re making things difficult for her. I said, if you have any dissatisfaction, you can come at me.” I looked up slightly, “I also said, I won’t let you off. Don’t be in a hurry.” “Are you sure you want to go against me?” Henry asked in a deep voice. “Go against you?” I couldn’t help but laugh, “No, no, you’ve got it wrong. I’m not going against you, Henry. I’m unilaterally crushing you.” Henry nodded, his voice still heavy, “Alright, Zinnia. Don’t blame me for not giving you a chance later.” 8 Although Henry and I left the club one after another, we were still photographed and quickly made it to the financial news section. That night when I returned to Caspian’s home, as soon as I entered, I saw him reading the newspaper. I went over to look, and there was such a large section about Henry and me. Looking at Caspian’s face, it was so dark it looked like the bottom of a pot. I quietly cleared my throat and sat down beside him, “The reporters only caught us going out one after another. They didn’t capture me slapping Henry inside.” Caspian scanned me, seeming to become interested, “You hit him?” I nodded. He half-believed, half-doubted, “Really?” I raised my hand, “Do you want me to demonstrate for you?” Caspian suddenly grabbed my wrist and pulled me into his arms, leaning down to kiss me. Is he sick? I pushed him away, “What are you doing?” “You’re shy?” Caspian seemed to be in a much better mood, smiling as he asked. I rolled my eyes, “Which eye of yours saw that I was shy? I just… I’m not used to it.” Although we’re married, I’m really not used to being so intimate and lovey-dovey with Caspian. It always feels a bit awkward. I’m more used to bantering with him. “Then we’ll get used to it with more kisses?” Caspian’s tone was matter-of-fact. “…” He put his arm around my shoulders, “Come on, tell your brother, what are your plans?” “What plans?” Caspian’s face instantly darkened, “Zinnia, you’re using a double standard. You’ve been going against me for so many years. I say one thing and you have ten things waiting for me. He cheated on you, and you’re not even getting revenge? Do you still have lingering feelings for him?” “Oh, you mean this.” I smiled, “What, do you have any good suggestions? Let’s hear them.” Caspian whispered something in my ear. My ear tickled, and I couldn’t help but shrink away a few times. But he’s really quite mischievous. However, I like this suggestion. “Alright, I’ll take your advice then.” “So how are you going to repay me?” He looked at me, his gaze gradually becoming heated. I vaguely sensed something changing in the atmosphere and couldn’t help but swallow. The next second, Caspian leaned in and kissed me. This time, I didn’t resist. … Just as Caspian said, Henry indeed invested to get resources for Lily. It was another movie. After I got the news, I immediately increased my investment, becoming the largest investor, and changed the female lead. When Henry found out, he threw in another 50 million. So I threw in another 100 million. After all, mine was money. Henry had limited funds and couldn’t compete with me in this bidding war. He withdrew his investment. He invested in another project, and even though it was kept confidential, I still had channels to get the information. I also withdrew my investment from the previous project and followed Henry to invest in his current project, determined to be the largest investor, then replace the female lead. When Henry withdrew his investment, I immediately withdrew mine too. After several rounds like this, Henry finally couldn’t hold back and found me again. “Zinnia, I said, if you have any issues, come at me. It has nothing to do with Lily!” “Alright then, I’ll come at you.” I’m really considerate, doing whatever he says. I really went after Henry. He invested in another project, and I pushed the funding to a peak before backing off. Henry invested three hundred million more in this project than he originally planned. Next, I was going to go after Henry’s company. Competing with him for projects. I have money anyway, and he’s spent all his liquid funds on getting resources for his dear Lily, so he has no more cash flow. In a few months, I had snatched three or four of Henry’s projects. My dad even started praising me. Actually, Caspian taught me these underhanded tactics. Caspian was very proud of this, smugly asking me, “Isn’t your husband smart?” Seeing how pleased he looked, I didn’t have the heart to burst his bubble, so I nodded. In fact, how is this smart? It’s clearly just being mean. 9 I got the latest news that Lily’s new show was cancelled due to lack of investment. Lily asked to meet me, wanting to know what it would take for me to let her off. I blinked innocently, “I never thought about letting you off. If you’re doing well, I’ll feel upset. You know, people shouldn’t get angry, especially women. Holding in anger is very bad for your health.” Lily took a deep breath and straightened her back, “You think this is enough to bring me down? I can completely quit the entertainment industry and be content as a rich man’s wife.” “Then why don’t you go be one and let me see?” I smiled slightly.

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Eli’s “true love” always believed I had stolen her man. She came to confront me, but on her way, she accidentally started a wildfire. I didn’t call Eli for help. Instead, I ran to the top of Smoky Ridge Forest by myself. In my previous life, Eli had heard both Belle and me calling for help. Despite the pressure, he chose to save me first. Belle, devastated, refused all rescue attempts and perished in the fire. After that, Eli became incredibly attentive and caring. I thought I had finally earned his love. But shortly after giving birth, Eli wheeled Belle—seemingly disabled—into the hospital room and took our baby away. Leaning close to my ear, his voice laced with venom, he said: “Because of you, Belle almost died!” “If it weren’t for you, she wouldn’t be crippled or unable to have children!” “You’ll pay for what you’ve done. Belle and I will raise your child as our own.” In utter despair, I grabbed a paring knife and stabbed him in the chest. Then I took Belle down with me. Only in my final moments did I realize Belle had faked her death and her disability. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Belle started the fire. Content 0

“Savannah Nolan, you don’t actually think Eli loves you, do you?” “Eli and I have been together for years. Every time you struggled with morning sickness, he was with me.” “All those late-night work excuses? He was with me. The gifts he brought you? They were just my rejects.” Belle paraded her collection of photos—her “trophies”—like a proud peacock. Each one showed her in bed with Eli. But I didn’t have the energy to care about her so-called victories. Earlier, while driving up here, she’d been smoking. Her cigarette had ignited the dry brush in the forest, and the fire was spreading fast. I shoved Belle aside and sprinted toward the mountaintop, dialing the BlueSky Rescue Team. The voice on the other end was dismissive, his tone tinged with mockery. “Come on, Savannah, don’t play games with us. Is this some petty drama between you and Belle?” “This isn’t a joke! The forest is on fire! Send help!” “Save it. Public resources aren’t your playthings. If this is some stunt, it’s not funny.” Before I could say more, the line went dead. Belle was still oblivious to the spreading flames. She grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin. “What’s your problem? Everyone knows Eli and I are together. You just love playing the clown, don’t you?” “Let go!” It took all my strength to wrench free. When she finally turned and saw the fire racing toward us, her face twisted in fear. She shoved me to the ground and bolted toward the top of the ridge. But before either of us could reach safety, an explosion echoed behind us. Flames consumed everything, blocking our escape. Covering my nose and mouth with my sleeve, I could barely breathe. My lungs burned with every shallow gasp. Soon, chaotic voices rose from below—it was Eli and the BlueSky Rescue Team. “Eli…” Belle’s weak voice called out from ahead of me. Eli didn’t even glance my way. He ran straight to her. “Eli, your wife is still here!” one of the team members shouted. He hesitated for a moment but kept going. “Belle, don’t worry. I’m here now.” A sharp, aching pain spread through my chest. In my previous life, Eli had rescued me first. Belle had died in the fire. Afterward, he’d seemed like a changed man—attentive, affectionate, devoted. I thought I’d finally won his love. But every act of kindness was a blade, cutting me deeper when I wasn’t looking. When I gave birth, he brought Belle—faking disability—into my hospital room. He took our baby and left me suffocating on the shards of my broken heart. Now, as the smoke thickened around me, my vision blurred. “Belle, Belle! Are you okay? Stay with me!” Eli’s voice cracked, tinged with desperation. “Eli, what about your wife?!” One of the firefighters tried to give me an oxygen mask, but Eli pushed him away, insisting Belle needed it more. “She’s coughing her lungs out! Focus on the critical patients!” “But Savannah’s pregnant!” “So what? She’s been active throughout her pregnancy. She can walk on her own!” The disbelief in the air was palpable, but Eli’s authority silenced the dissent. Left alone in the smoke, my breaths grew shallow. My vision darkened. The last thing I saw before passing out was a firefighter rushing toward me, his face etched with determination. “Ma’am, can you hear me?!” “She’s inhaled too much smoke! And she’s pregnant—she’s unconscious!” Strong arms lifted me gently. “Stay with us, ma’am! We’ll get you out of here!” As the paramedics carried me to safety, I felt an unfamiliar sense of security—something Eli had never given me. Even as I faded in and out of consciousness, I could hear Eli soothing Belle with soft words. 0

When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed. The room was quiet except for the steady beeping of monitors. A nurse quickly fetched the doctor, who ran a series of tests. “You’re lucky we got to you in time. Smoke inhalation is serious. You’ll need time to recover, but…” The doctor hesitated. “The baby might not make it.” I already knew. I had made my decision. “Go ahead and do it,” I said, my voice trembling. The doctor paused. “We’ll need your family’s consent.” “He’s not here. He’s with his first love. When the fire started, my husband chose to save her.” A heavy silence filled the room, broken only by gasps of disbelief. “You mean the woman next door? The one who barely has a scratch but had half the staff catering to her?” “That’s your husband?” The murmurs of the medical staff carried a weight of judgment. “I thought they were a couple,” a young nurse whispered. The head nurse elbowed her, but the damage was done. I gave a bitter laugh. Everyone had seen it: the way Eli doted on Belle, leaving me to fend for myself. Pregnancy had been a lonely ordeal. Eli had blocked my number to avoid hearing my cries during bouts of morning sickness. Every checkup, I’d gone alone. And every time I begged him to accompany me, he made excuses. His colleagues adored Belle, letting her roam freely through BlueSky Rescue Team headquarters. Meanwhile, I was “the jealous wife,” a nuisance in their eyes. I’d lived through the misery of a widow-like marriage. And I was done. 0

Within days, I scheduled a medical termination. During that time, Eli never visited me once. Instead, he spent every moment by Belle’s side. The procedure went smoothly. I rested my hands on my now-flat stomach, quietly planning my next move. Outside my room, the commotion of voices broke the silence. A few nurses whispered urgently to each other. “Reporters! They’re here to interview the rescue hero!” The attending doctor rushed out to restore order, and for a while, things quieted down. But soon, a swarm of reporters burst into my hospital room, cameras and microphones thrust toward me. “Ms. Nolan, is it true you used your pregnancy to force our hero Eli Foster into marrying you?” “Rumor has it you intruded on Eli’s relationship with his first love, Isabelle Morgan. Care to comment?” The flashing lights overwhelmed me. I instinctively raised my arm to shield myself, but this only seemed to spur their relentless questions. The medical staff quickly intervened, ushering the reporters out, but I already knew who had orchestrated this. Belle wouldn’t stop until I was completely destroyed. The reporters had barely left when Eli stormed into my room. “Savannah, Belle’s been upset! Could you stop causing trouble for a couple of days?” I stared at him in disbelief. Anger boiled beneath my confusion. “You came to my room just to tell me that?” “Eli, if you’re losing your mind, take it elsewhere. I’m recovering.” “And don’t forget—I’m your wife. Belle is just a nameless mistress.” Outside the door, I heard the sound of a body hitting the floor. Belle, clearly eavesdropping, had stumbled and collapsed at the word “mistress.” Eli rushed out in a panic, gathering her into his arms. “I’m sorry, sister…” Belle murmured through her hands, tears running dramatically down her face. Yet, I caught the glint of triumph in her eyes. After placing her on a nearby chair, Eli stormed back in, his face livid. Without warning, he struck me across the face. The sting burned my cheek, but I remained calm. “I won’t let you speak about Belle that way! Apologize to her!” he roared. I smiled coldly. “Apologize? For what? Should I publish our marriage license online? Should I share footage from our home surveillance so the world can see what you and your little tramp have been doing?” “You wouldn’t dare.” His voice faltered, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. “I want a divorce, Eli.” He laughed as though I’d told a ridiculous joke. “A divorce? Savannah, is this some childish ploy to get attention?” Out in the hallway, Belle’s lips curled into a brief, victorious smile before she forced her expression back to one of pained innocence. But I saw it all. “I said, I want a divorce.” “Fine,” Eli sneered. “But don’t come crying back to me, begging for help after you realize what a mistake you’ve made.” “You won’t have to worry about that,” I said quietly. “The baby is already gone.” 0

Eli yanked back the covers, his gaze fixating on my flat stomach. For a moment, he seemed stunned, a flicker of hurt and disbelief in his eyes. What was he mourning? He’d never wanted this baby. But whatever sorrow he felt vanished as Belle, clutching his arm, began to sob softly. “It’s all my fault,” she whimpered. “If it weren’t for me, Savannah wouldn’t have had to go through this…” Eli stroked her hair, murmuring comfort. “You’re heartless, Savannah,” he spat. “Do you think this is just about the baby? You know why I saved Belle first. You know she’s…” “Depressed?” I interrupted sharply. “Eli, you’ve been using that same excuse since we started dating. Belle, you know better than anyone whether or not you actually have depression.” I let my words hang in the air before continuing. “You were right about one thing. If I hadn’t inhaled so much smoke, if I hadn’t been so physically compromised, I wouldn’t have chosen to terminate the pregnancy.” “This baby couldn’t have survived, regardless. But the ones who truly killed this child are you two.” Belle froze, her body trembling as she fainted on the spot. Eli panicked, calling for doctors and nurses. Even as they carried her out, he turned to me with a venomous glare. “Savannah, if anything happens to Belle, I’ll make sure you pay for it with your life.” He never considered the toll this had taken on me—or the child I’d just lost. All he saw was Belle’s pain. “Savannah, you’re not just heartless. You’re evil. You don’t deserve to be a mother!” “Did you even ask my permission to get rid of the baby?” “And now you’re making Belle faint with your cruel words? What is this? Some plan to attack her when she’s at her weakest?” “But let me tell you something. As long as I’m alive, I won’t let you harm Belle.” He delivered his ultimatum with cold finality. “Once you can walk again, we’re going straight to finalize the divorce.” “But before that, you’ll go online and admit everything: that you came between me and Belle, that you forced me into this marriage, and that you used this child to manipulate me.” “That way, Belle won’t carry any guilt when she finds out we’re divorced.” Even in divorce, he prioritized Belle’s feelings above all else.

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Husband was tormented by a brain tumor, enduring terrible pain. Before the surgery, he tenderly held my hand and said: “The house in Coastal City and 500,000 in savings are all for you. You and our son can have a good life in the future.” I thought he was confused from his illness, mistaking our child for a daughter. Besides, our family was already deep in debt from his medical expenses. How could we possibly have a house and 500,000? Then, a look of longing appeared on his face, one I had never seen before, as he earnestly said: “Sophie, I loved you in this life. I have no regrets in death.” The nurse wheeled him into the operating room, and the red light turned on. I repeated his words, dazed, and collapsed to the ground. Sophie wasn’t even my name. After the surgery, my husband suffered from cognitive confusion. In simple terms, he mistook me for Sophie. 1. The corridor outside the operating room was filled with families of patients. An elderly lady kindly helped me up. “Child, that white dress must be expensive, don’t get it dirty.” It was then I realized I was wearing the dress Daniel had given me. We had been married for eight years, and this was the only piece of clothing he had ever given me. I had always hesitated to wear it. This morning, in a flurry, I had randomly grabbed something from the closet, not expecting it to be this. My daughter told me that Dad, who usually disliked shopping, had searched the entire shopping street to pick out this dress. When he gave it to me a few days later, he looked downcast, as if handing me a piece of cabbage. I thought he just struggled to express himself and didn’t pay much attention. Although it was a bit short and the waist was loose, I still treasured it dearly. I thanked the elderly lady and found a spot to sit down, but my mind was filled with Sophie’s name. Sophie was Daniel’s college classmate. In the graduation photo, she stood in front of him, both smiling brightly. That graduation photo was framed and placed beside our wedding photo on the bedside. Daniel often stared at the photo, lost in thought. I never knew if he was looking at me in my wedding dress or someone else. I had never met Sophie. I only heard her name mentioned at a gathering for Daniel’s classmates, where everyone looked at him knowingly and laughed. Perhaps they had a passionate romance during college, which is why he subconsciously said such things before the surgery. But what about the house and savings? To buy the house we currently lived in, we had spent all our savings. Even the 150,000 surgery fee was something I had borrowed 80,000 from my parents to gather. Why did Daniel say there was another house in Coastal City, along with 500,000 in savings? Was he confused and imagining things, or did it actually exist? I sat there dazed for six hours until the nurse pushed Daniel out after the surgery. The doctor informed me that the tumor had severely invaded the brain tissue, and there might be some aftereffects. “We can’t accurately judge the specific symptoms. You need to be with him 24/7 to prevent any accidents.” The anesthesia still hadn’t worn off completely. Daniel lay peacefully on the hospital bed, a faint smile on his lips, as if he saw something beautiful. To care for Daniel, I had taken a week off in advance, and our daughter was already sent to her grandparents. According to the doctor, what he said before entering the operating room might have just been ramblings from brain damage. Thinking this way, much of my unease faded away. Although Daniel lacked affection, he handed over his entire monthly salary, making him a responsible husband and father. Even if he mentioned Sophie, that was all in the past. Just then, Daniel’s phone pinged with a message. A contact named Teacher Harris said there would be a parent-teacher meeting for sixth-grade class two tomorrow at 2 PM, hoping parents would attend on time. Sixth grade? But our daughter was clearly only in fourth grade, and her homeroom teacher’s last name was Hill, not Harris. I wanted to open the message to ask what was going on. Though we had met through introductions, after all these years of marriage, we had been respectful toward each other. I never thought to check his phone. But this was different; the teacher’s message couldn’t have been sent in error. To unlock it, I tried his birthday, our daughter’s birthday, and finally my birthday, along with our wedding anniversary. None of them worked. The input box on the screen trembled, and the phone locked me out. After the lock period, I attempted to unlock it using his fingerprint. But he hadn’t set up a fingerprint password, only facial recognition. I was too exhausted to stand, so I leaned against the chair beside the bed. The person on the bed had an utterly ordinary face, and life seemed to hold no special elements. Had he truly betrayed me? Was he having an affair with Sophie? Was that sixth grader his and Sophie’s child? Overcome by both physical and mental exhaustion, I leaned back in the chair and fell asleep. When I woke up, Daniel was gradually coming to. Seeing me, his eyes lit up, and his smile widened. “Sophie, you finally wore the dress I gave you. It looks beautiful.” 2. I was momentarily at a loss for how to react, my body stiff as I sat there. But Daniel’s joy was evident; his gaze never left me. “Sophie, I just had a long dream. In the dream, we got married and had a child.” “I was afraid it was fake and couldn’t dare to open my eyes.” “But now you are right in front of me, wearing that white dress like before.” Daniel’s tone grew more excited, and a tear rolled down his cheek. He struggled to move his left hand, placing it over mine. Upon feeling my skin and warmth, he trembled with excitement. “It’s real; everything is real.” The nurse saw Daniel wake up and called the doctor to check on his recovery. Daniel still remembered the doctor’s last name was Lin and the nurse’s name. Dr. Nelson asked him a few questions about what happened before the surgery, and Daniel recalled everything clearly. Finally, the doctor glanced at me and casually asked, “What about Grace White? Do you still remember Grace White?” To the doctor, it seemed like a simple question. But Daniel frowned, as if he had never heard of her. “Grace White? Who is she?” Dr. Nelson paused writing the medical record, looking at me with a complex expression. “Think carefully again.” After hearing the doctor, Daniel looked at the ceiling, as if trying hard to search his brain for something. A few seconds later, he finally found the answer but looked at me with apology first. “Sophie, don’t mind me.” Daniel answered Dr. Nelson in a very small voice: “Grace White was my blind date from eight years ago.” He hurriedly explained: “It was arranged by the elders, and I couldn’t refuse. I only had dinner with her once and never contacted her again.” Before the surgery, Dr. Nelson had told me that some patients with damaged brain nerves might activate a self-protection mechanism. To alleviate their pain, they would treat their most desired subconscious things as reality. And those things that had once hurt them and caused them torment would miraculously disappear. It turned out that our eight years of marriage had been the things Daniel wanted to forget the most. The nurse silently handed me a tissue. Only then did I realize that my face was already covered in tears. Daniel grew anxious, ignoring the doctor’s obstruction, trying to sit up to wipe my tears. “Sophie, don’t be sad.” “I swear, that Grace whatever is not even a fraction of you. I have no connection to her at all.” “If I had known it would hurt you, I would have never met her.” It felt as if someone had injected poison into my heart. My chest tightened, and I couldn’t breathe. The concern on Daniel’s face was something I had never seen before. Even when I had a severe hemorrhage during childbirth, he had remained calm as if he were an outsider. It turned out he wasn’t calm but indifferent. “Sophie… Sophie…” Daniel broke free from the nurse and sat up frantically, and the bandage on his head began to ooze blood. I raised his phone, pointing it at his face. The moment it unlocked, I snatched the phone back and rushed out of the hospital room. The house in Coastal City, 500,000 in savings, and that sixth-grade son. For eight years, Daniel had treated me like a fool, keeping me in the dark. Today, I had to uncover the truth. 3. I stood in the corridor between two buildings and opened Teacher Harris’s chat. Scrolling through the history messages, I learned that that sixth-grade boy was named Kevin Garcia. In addition to various notifications, there were also transaction records for clothing fees and material fees that Daniel had paid for Kevin Garcia. Daniel was very concerned about Kevin Garcia’s academics. Every time exam results came out, he would chat with Teacher Harris at length. But he hardly ever worried about our daughter, Garcia. I continued searching for Kevin Garcia’s name in his Snapchat, and a profile picture of a snowy mountain popped up. Daniel hadn’t saved her contact, and the chat box displayed her name: Jade Snow. Their exchanges about Kevin had thousands of messages. Jade Snow mentioned that Kevin had a fever, and Daniel replied that he would drive over immediately. Kevin wanted to go to the amusement park, and Daniel explained he would take a day off tomorrow to accompany him. These times, Daniel had told me were for overtime work and socializing, and he couldn’t return home. Jade Snow often showed concern for Daniel’s health, urging him not to eat greasy food and to take walks more often. Daniel would send some photos for her to comment on. Their conversations were more intimate and casual than that of an average couple. Daniel Wilson didn’t save her contact. The chat window showed her Snapchat name, Jade Snow. They mentioned that Kevin Garcia’s chat history had over ten thousand messages. Jade Snow said Kevin had a fever, and Daniel replied that he would drive over right away. Kevin wanted to go to the amusement park, and Daniel said he would take a day off tomorrow to take him. In Daniel’s words, this time was for overtime work and socializing, so he couldn’t go home. Jade Snow often checked in on Daniel’s health, reminding him not to eat greasy food and to go out for walks. Daniel would send her some photos for her feedback. Their conversation was even more intimate than that of an average couple. There were countless messages from Daniel transferring money to Jade Snow, with each amount in the thousands. He handed over his salary to me every month, so how could he have so much money? I found his bank card linked to Snapchat, and indeed, there were two cards I had never known about. No wonder Daniel had been with the company for ten years, earning a salary of 6,000 that had never increased. It turned out bonuses and performance pay were being used for something else. All these years, he had always complained about being poor in front of me. I never had the heart to blame him and even left him 2,000 for living expenses. All household expenses were deducted from my salary first; he wouldn’t even spare money to buy a bottle of toner. Going through his chat records with Jade Snow, Daniel never mentioned his brain tumor, and he rarely even talked about headaches. The most recent chat was from yesterday. He said he would be very busy these days and asked Sophie to take care of herself and Kevin. “The house is yours. The quarterly bonus from the company is about to arrive, so keep an eye out for it.” That was the last message Daniel sent. Opening Jade Snow’s Moments, she was either practicing yoga or traveling, seemingly not needing to work, enjoying a leisurely and comfortable life. Her face looked almost unchanged compared to her graduation photo. An absurd thought struck me. Daniel and Sophie were the real loving couple, while I was merely his live-in housekeeper, and I even had to contribute living expenses. Eight years of tolerance and endurance, eight years of time and energy, had resulted in Daniel forgetting and resenting me. What’s more ridiculous is that he even treated me like Sophie, putting on that nauseating display of affection. After enduring ten minutes of cold wind, a nurse finally found me. She said that aside from not recognizing me, Daniel was fine. “Dr. Nelson was afraid of agitating the patient, so he didn’t tell him you are Grace White.” “Ms. White, if you don’t want to stay in the hospital, I suggest you find a 24-hour caregiver. The patient is still very weak and needs someone around.” The nurse seemed to predict that I wouldn’t take care of Daniel personally anymore. I saw my reflection in the glass window. My long hair was messily tied back, and my thin face had particularly prominent dark circles. The ill-fitting white dress made me look even more fatigued and ridiculous. For the past six months, I had been running between the hospital and the company to treat Daniel’s illness, hardly having time to eat. I thought that once he recovered, we would return to being a simple but stable family. Unfortunately, Daniel didn’t think so. Eight years of effort were like Daniel’s brain tumor, already removed and discarded.

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Due to rising costs, I raised the price of cafeteria meals by 25 cents, which led to complaints. “School cafeterias are for little kids—they don’t even eat much. Why raise prices?” “How do we know the food he’s serving is fresh?” “This guy is just a greedy crook, trying to make money off us!” For the past three years, I’ve only used top-quality ingredients for school meals. I barely broke even, never making a single penny in profit. Now, I’m being labeled as greedy over 25 cents. I’m done. I won’t manage the cafeteria anymore. Months later, those same parents showed up at my restaurant. “Walter Monroe, we’re begging you to come back!” Content I was called into a meeting. Some parents had reported me to the District School Board, accusing me of price-gouging and serving stale food. They demanded the school terminate my cafeteria contract. When Ms. Helen Whitaker, the school director, told me this, she admitted she thought the accusations were baseless. “Ever since you took over the cafeteria, you’ve been using fresh ingredients, getting up before dawn to pick them out yourself. You’ve always prioritized the kids’ health with balanced meals. And now they’re calling you a greedy crook?” “The parents are adamant,” Helen said with a sigh. “They said if we keep you as the cafeteria contractor, they’ll cause a scene daily.” Her words left me fuming. Helen glanced at me with an all-too-knowing look. “Walter, we’ve got hundreds of students here. Adding 25 cents to every dish must be raking in quite a bit. Don’t be too greedy.” This was absurd. My temper flared. “Helen—” She waved me off impatiently. “Go home. We’ll discuss this at the next board meeting.” I stewed over her dismissive attitude all night. The next day, I stood firm. The prices stayed raised by 25 cents. Helen stormed into the cafeteria that morning. “Walter Monroe! Didn’t we just discuss this? Why haven’t you reversed the price increase? The parents are in an uproar!” She thrust her phone in my face, showing me messages from the PTA Chat Group. Calvin Bradshaw Sr. was leading the charge: “Why are the meal prices still raised? Is the administration ignoring our feedback?” Marissa Collins chimed in: “The cafeteria at Riverbend Charter Academy charges less! Walter Monroe is just a greedy crook!” Tamara Caldwell was more aggressive: “If the school doesn’t handle this, we’ll escalate to the District School Board. Let’s see how they explain letting this slide!” I scrolled through their messages, speechless. I hadn’t raised prices once in three years. At best, I barely broke even after covering costs. My family had been urging me to quit this contract for years. But I stuck with it because these were kids. As long as I wasn’t losing money, I thought I would ensure they had healthy meals. Was worth it And yet, here I was—labeled greedy over a measly 25 cents. The parents could easily spend hundreds on a meal at a fancy restaurant. How could they lose their minds over a quarter? I told Helen to add me to the PTA Chat Group. If they wanted answers, I’d give them. Walter Monroe: “Dear parents, Due to rising costs, I had to raise prices by 25 cents to continue serving fresh and healthy meals. If you think I’m lying, please visit Hillside Farmer’s Market and check prices yourself.” The backlash was swift. Calvin Bradshaw Sr.: “Please. Everyone at the market knows you—they’d never tell us the truth. You’re all in on it together.” His comment unleashed a flurry of agreement. Marissa Collins: “Exactly! He’s colluding with the vendors to scam us!” Benjamin Harper: “I doubt the food is even that fresh. It can’t cost much to make those meals.” Tamara Caldwell: “Three years with no price changes, and now this? Something’s fishy. We only agreed to let him run the cafeteria because the food seemed decent then.” I kept trying to explain. Walter Monroe: “Parents, the price increase is solely due to rising costs. Even with the change, a vegetable dish costs $1, and a meat dish $2.50. That’s still incredibly cheap.” “I haven’t earned a cent in profit over three years. I only raised prices because I couldn’t sustain it anymore.” But Calvin shot back: “Spare us the sob story. If you didn’t make money, why keep the cafeteria? Who knows how much ‘black-hearted’ money you’ve already pocketed.”

I wanted to punch something. It was impossible to reason with people like Calvin. Running the cafeteria was all about conscience, not profit. For three years, I hadn’t earned a dime. I got up before sunrise every morning, trudged to Hillside Farmer’s Market, and haggled with vendors over pennies to get the freshest ingredients. My days were an endless cycle of chopping, cooking, sanitizing dishes, serving meals, and scrubbing everything clean—leaving me so exhausted I could barely stand. Sure, I could cut corners. I could use bulk suppliers or cheap frozen meat to lower costs. But how could I serve kids subpar food? Did they think I was going through all this trouble just to earn 25 cents per plate? Meanwhile, the PTA Chat Group kept piling on. “I Cafeteriaontracts rake in at least $15,000 a year.” “No wonder he’s so desperate to stay on. No way he’s losing money.” “He probably feeds the kids garbage just to make a buck!” “Kick him out already!” Their ridiculous accusations almost made me laugh. Their creativity in twisting facts was impressive. I had the skills and integrity to run a successful restaurant. Managing the school cafeteria was a passion project, not a cash grab. And yet, here I was—painted as a villain. Some parents defended me. “It’s normal for meal prices to go up. Everything’s getting more expensive.” “Walter’s just trying to make a living like anyone else. Twenty-five cents isn’t much.” But others drowned them out with more venom. “If it’s so cheap, why don’t you cover the cost for all our kids?” “Other schools haven’t raised prices—why should he?” “What makes his cafeteria so special?” No matter what I said, it was brushed aside. They didn’t realize most cafeterias reused leftover food as long as it wasn’t spoiled. For three years, I’d only served fresh meals. Not once had I compromised on quality. Students who wanted seconds always got them for free, as long as they didn’t waste food. I’d done everything possible to ensure these kids ate well and stayed healthy. But to these parents, I was just a greedy crook. Fine. I’d had enough. “Fresh food? Balanced nutrition? If you think I’m greedy over 25 cents, don’t expect me to care about any of that anymore!” I snapped in the chat. The group exploded. “You can’t do that! These are kids—nutrition is critical!” “How can they study if they’re not eating well?” “We want our kids to thrive! That’s your responsibility!” Helen tapped my shoulder, signaling me to calm down. I swallowed my rage and typed a final message. Walter Monroe: “I guarantee the 25-cent increase is only to cover rising costs. I’m not profiting at all. Please trust me—I’ll ensure your kids are well-fed and healthy.” Calvin’s response cut deep. “If you’re not profiting, why are you so desperate to stay? Are you planning to take it out on the kids?” That was it. I was done. “I won’t manage this cafeteria anymore.”

Ms. Helen Whitaker tried to smooth things over in the PTA Chat Group. “Parents, I can assure you that this incident was Walter Monroe’s mistake. I will personally oversee his work moving forward. Let’s give him a chance to make things right.” She even posted a public reprimand and attached a written apology I had to draft. That seemed to settle things—for a while. But just a few days later, chaos erupted again. A group of furious parents stormed into the cafeteria. Calvin Bradshaw Sr., as usual, led the charge. “I knew it! You’re not just greedy—you’re trying to take revenge on us by poisoning our kids!” “Let’s trash this place!” he bellowed. “Make him pay for what he’s done!” Without hesitation, they began smashing chairs, tables, and kitchen equipment, leaving the cafeteria in complete disarray. I ran to intervene, but Calvin shoved me to the ground. He grabbed my shirt collar and waved a paper in my face, his anger boiling. “My kid came home yesterday throwing up and having diarrhea after eating here. The hospital confirmed it—food poisoning!” Tamara Caldwell shrieked, “My daughter Lila had a stomachache too. Same diagnosis—food poisoning. We’re not letting this monster off the hook!” Before I could respond, Calvin swung at me, landing a solid punch. Other parents joined in the attack. My pregnant wife, Lydia, tried to pull them off me, only to be shoved aside. Seeing her stumble, I lost it. I pushed them back and shielded her. “I’m calling the police. None of you are getting away with this.” That stopped them in their tracks. Benjamin Harper sneered, “Fine! Call them! Let’s see who the cops believe—you or us. Your poison food hasn’t been accounted for yet.” I wasn’t worried. I handpicked yesterday’s ingredients, ensuring everything was fresh. Moreover, I always kept meal samples for safety inspections. “Accusing me of poisoning your kids? Do you have proof? There are hundreds of students eating here every day—why is it just your kids who got sick? You’re just making this up to scam me for money!” I shot back. “In three years of running this cafeteria, no one has reported food poisoning. Every health inspection has been spotless.” Calvin thrust the paper in my face. “My kid didn’t eat anything else after leaving school. It had to be your food.” He turned to the other parents. “Isn’t that right? The kids ate here and went straight home—nothing else. Who’s with me?” The crowd rallied behind him, voices rising in agreement. Marissa Collins added, “Think about it! Our kids eat here every day. Can you trust this guy anymore?” Their accusations ignited a mob mentality. I stared Marissa down. “Can you swear your kid ate nothing on the way home? Any snacks, a drink from somewhere? Are you all 100% certain the cafeteria is to blame?” I didn’t wait for a reply. “I’ve already called the police and the health department. We’re getting to the bottom of this—and I’m holding everyone accountable.”

Shortly after, the police and the health inspectors arrived. We all headed to the Health Inspection Agency for testing and questioning. The results came back quickly: the cafeteria’s food was perfectly safe. Calvin Bradshaw Sr. sheepishly approached me, wringing his hands. “Walter, I was just worried about my kid. You know how it is—I overreacted. Don’t take it personally.” Marissa Collins chimed in with a saccharine smile. “Walter, you’re about to become a dad yourself. Sure, you understand our panic. We didn’t mean to take it so far.” Oh, so now they wanted to play nice? Not a chance. “I filed the police report, and you smashed up my cafeteria. I expect full compensation for the damages and a formal apology.” They froze, stunned that I wasn’t backing down. Calvin tried to rally the group. “Our kids got sick from his food! Isn’t that right, everyone?” Benjamin Harper loudly agreed, shooting knowing glances around. The parents quickly fell in line, insisting the cafeteria caused their kids’ illnesses. Their coordinated lies were laughable, but the police didn’t buy them. After some investigation, the real story emerged. The doctor treating their children explained, “This isn’t food poisoning. The children drank contaminated water—likely from the nearby creek.” The parents’ bravado faltered. Calvin weakly protested, “But they drank the school’s water…” I didn’t let him finish. “The cafeteria uses the school’s water supply. You should take it up with the school if you think it’s contaminated. Don’t pin this on me.” The police pressed further and learned the truth: the kids had a water-drinking water-drinking creek. after school “Now that we’ve established the cause, let’s address the damages to the cafeteria,” the officer said firmly. My wife, Lydia, handed over an itemized list of everything they’d broken. The parents grudgingly paid for the repairs. Despite the compensation, my heart sank as I surveyed the wreckage. Cleaning up the mess would take hours, and the students would be left without meals for the day. Thankfully, it was a weekend. Then Helen showed up. “Walter, how could you demand money from the parents? You need to return it immediately.” I couldn’t believe my ears. “Helen, I haven’t made a single cent running this cafeteria. If you want me to return the money, you must cover my losses yourself.” She glared at me. “Walter, if you want to keep running this cafeteria, you’ll have to suck it up. Even if they’d beaten you to a pulp, you’d have to take it.” That was the last straw. “There are six months left on my contract. I’ll pay the penalty for breaking it early, but I’m done.”

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