After my mother remarried, my younger brother, Jon, discovered from Dad’s old box of belongings that Grandpa’s family came from a prestigious military background, one that held power in the Old Guard Social Circle. Jon immediately clung to the idea of becoming part of that elite world, choosing to go with Grandpa.
But Grandpa had other ideas. Instead of introducing Jon to the elite circles, he had him working on the farm, tending sheep, writing, carving, and studying hard with no chance to show his face in public circles. Meanwhile, I stayed with our stepfather, Dan, at the Rivers Family Estate and became his right-hand man, eventually making my way into high society.
By the time Jon returned home after graduating high school, he learned that Savannah “Sunny” Charleston and I were heading abroad to study together—and that we’d be engaged upon returning. Jon went into a rage and killed me, and in some twist of fate, we both found ourselves back at the moment when we had to choose: go with Grandpa or stay with Mom.
This time, Jon hid behind Mom, insisting, “I’m not going back with Grandpa; my dad is here.” I quickly gripped Grandpa Sam’s coat. I’d had enough of the life of servitude and catering to someone else’s every whim.
When Dad passed away, he left behind two sons: my brother, Jonathan “Jon” Rivers, and me, Lucas “Luke” Rivers. Mom quickly remarried, throwing her energy into her new husband, Dan Thompson, and the unborn child she was carrying.
That was when Grandpa Sam, whom we had never met, showed up and said he wanted to take both Jon and me. Mom’s face twisted with anger. “When I married your son, you didn’t contribute a penny. I’ve never even met you until now, and now you want to take both kids?”
“These are my son’s children too,” he replied. “I know you’ve remarried, but I can’t bear to see them left entirely to you. If you insist, maybe I could take one of them off your hands. Let them choose for themselves.”
Before he could finish, Jon had already taken Dan’s hand, eager to help him sit, calling him “Dad” with this sweet look in his eye and volunteering to make tea. With a voice as soft as silk, he promised Dan would be his only dad from now on.
Mom looked completely stunned. When she was first talking about remarrying, Jon had been firmly against it. She was overwhelmed, caught between the son of her late husband and her new love. Now Jon was going out of his way to be nice to Dan, even promising to change his last name to match Dan’s.
She’d always favored Jon, so his offer to stay was an easy choice. With Jon firmly holding Dan’s hand, he looked at me and said loudly, “Make sure you follow Grandpa closely, brother.”
When I finished packing, ready to leave with Grandpa, Jon mocked me openly. “This time, you can get down in the dirt and dig. Time for you to see what real hardship is like.”
I knew exactly why he was so smug. In the last life, he had found Dad’s medal—a heavy-duty Distinguished Service Medal—along with a letter from Dad in a box of his belongings. The letter explained that Dad’s family came from a distinguished military background.
Jon was determined to live a privileged life without feeling like a second-class member of Dan’s family. So when given a choice, he clung to Grandpa’s arm, demanding to go with him.
His vision of an elite lifestyle crumbled when he saw where Grandpa actually lived: a modest little town with a small, self-built house surrounded by woods. Grandpa’s income came from farming and collecting herbs, entirely dependent on what he could sell to buyers from town. When the season wasn’t good, money was tight.
Grandpa had Jon on a strict schedule, with no room for coddling. At the crack of dawn, Jon had to be up, eat, and walk or catch a bus to public school. After school, Grandpa would make him finish every bit of homework and then supervise his exercise. Weekends meant going up into the woods to forage for herbs—no leisure time, no entertainment.
Jon would go on to describe his life there as unbearable misery. He wanted a housekeeper, servants, a mansion with gilded walls, and a school with a private driver. He wanted to attend a prep school and make friends with the sons of CEOs.
Meanwhile, I had everything he wanted and then some. While he wore handmade, out-of-style clothes Grandpa had tailored at a local shop, I was out shopping with Dan’s black card, getting the latest designer suits and watches delivered straight to our door. When Jon was battling acne and drinking bitter herbal concoctions, Dan was arranging for my braces, a personal trainer, and a whole team to help me sculpt a perfect physique.
In his eyes, I became the “lost son” everyone saw as the next Rivers heir, while he faded into the background.
When I was barely sixteen, alliances with other wealthy families were already being considered. Standing by Dan’s side, I gained a polished reputation as his heir and his public face.
Jon was smitten with Sunny Charleston and pestered Mom relentlessly to arrange an introduction. But she refused, so he finally asked, “I’m a Rivers too—why can’t I?”
With an icy tone, Dan shot him down. “Look at you—following your grandpa around in the dirt. You don’t know the first thing about finance, fine wines, or golf. What makes you think you belong here?”
Grandpa hauled Jon back to Willow Creek and forbade him from returning until after college applications. When Jon asked about the medal he’d found, Grandpa just shrugged and said he picked it up from a junkyard, telling him to focus on his studies.
When Jon was taking his college entrance exams, I was performing solo piano for my debut. Dan, with his background in music, had trained me well; my hands moved with expert grace over the keys, and when I finished, the crowd applauded, and the crystal lights sparkled in my eyes.
Rumor spread: “The Rivers have Luke; the Old Guard has Sunny.”
But after Jon’s college results were in, he returned home proudly, only to hear about my engagement to Sunny Charleston, the girl he had liked. When Dan and Mr. Charleston discussed our study abroad plans, Jon introduced himself to Mr. Charleston, who smiled politely.
But as Jon walked away, Mr. Charleston sighed, “So, I’ve heard your ex-wife brought two sons here. Well, one of them’s wasted his life; the other—Luke—is refined and accomplished. I could smell the stench of poverty on that first one as he walked past.”
Jon lost it. He stormed into my room, choking me, shouting, “Die! Just die!” I swung an object at his head in self-defense. In the end, we both died that night—at just eighteen—only to return to the crossroads of fate once more.
This time, he chose Dan without hesitation, telling me, “This round, you’re the one who’s going to waste away with that old man. You’ll be nothing but a bumpkin now.”
Grandpa’s place was humble, to say the least. Mom didn’t even feel responsible for providing my child support payments to Grandpa. She only showed up during school breaks when she brought Jon home, going through the motions. She’d always thought Grandpa’s life would be wealthier and more prestigious than Dan’s, or at least rich enough to maintain the lifestyle we had at the Rivers Estate.
Grandpa set up a small room just for me, with only the essentials and a plain writing desk with a few pencils and paper. We walked around the land, the summer heat cracking the soil. Grandma watered the plants, saying, “You chose this path; you can’t turn back now.”
Grandpa didn’t think I’d last after the luxury of the Rivers Estate. In the last life, Jon had called Mom and asked to come home shortly after moving in, but she had refused. He quickly learned that in reality, Grandpa’s household was nothing like the high-society circles in Old Bridge.
I picked up a watering can and helped Grandpa. “I don’t regret it, Grandpa. I like this life. It feels real.”
Grandpa just looked at me, as if taken aback. Finally, he murmured, “You’re nothing like your dad.”
I asked, “What was my dad like when he was young?”
The only image I had of Dad was one of worry etched into his face. But Grandpa’s expression darkened, and he changed the subject. “If you’re going to live with me, you follow my rules. I’m strict, and I don’t like nonsense. Go rest now.”
That night, listening to the frogs and crickets outside my window, I drifted off to sleep.
The books piled on my desk were like a mountain. Even with two lives’ worth of experience, I hadn’t learned much about basic subjects. Studying at a public school, without the luxury of private tutors, was nothing like socializing at high-end gatherings.
I’d fall asleep at the desk, only to hear Grandpa cough, startling me awake. My hand shot up instinctively, “I’m sorry, Grandpa. I’ll get back to work.”
Grandpa looked at me in surprise. “You get hit a lot, huh?”
I answered honestly, “Yes.”
He sighed heavily. “Maybe tonight, get some rest.”
I shook my head, determined. “No, if I take breaks, I’ll never catch up with my studies. My handwriting won’t get any better. I know I can do this.”
Grandpa watched me for a long while. Then he said, “I’ll go shoo the cicadas away if they’re bothering you.”
I could feel Grandpa’s care for me. Though he rarely said much, he would stay up with me to correct my mistakes. And though my clothes weren’t designer, he’d have the neighbor lady, a retired seamstress, take my measurements.
Grandpa never said it, but I knew he felt for me, wishing Mom would come visit. But after two lifetimes, I didn’t have any expectations of motherly love, nor did I want her to show up. When she did visit, it was usually just to snap a few photos to add to her social image, acting like she cared. Every time, her gaze spoke volumes of judgment and discomfort.
One day, I heard the sound of a violin drifting through the door, and my hands automatically mimicked the rhythm. Grandpa moved in front of me protectively as I looked over his shoulder. Jon stood there, playing his violin with pride, every movement as poised as a showbird, his eyes full of smug satisfaction when he finished.
Not far off, Dan and Mom approached hand in hand. Mom’s belly was visibly large now, and her gaze was filled with love as she looked from her stomach to Jon. But when her eyes landed on me, her face turned cold and distant. As they drew closer, she feigned surprise. “Oh, Uncle Sam, I didn’t see you there.”
Dan took this moment to show off. “Jon, you played that part well, but it should go more like this. Let me demonstrate. Maybe Luke could listen in too,” he added nonchalantly.
Jon clung to Dan’s sleeve. “Dad, let’s go home. Mom says you were her first music mentor. Why don’t you teach me some more?”
It was almost comical. Music mentor? It was just two people drawn to each other out of vanity and money. Performing at home wasn’t enough; they needed an audience here.
With Mom in the middle, Jon and Dan on either side, she nodded my way. “Luke, stay close to Grandpa now; we’ll be off.”
Jon turned to me, grinning as he asked, “Could you walk me out, big brother? I want to spend a minute with you.”
I had a hunch about what he’d say.
“You saw that medal, didn’t you?” he asked with a sneer. “I’m just giving you a heads-up—it’s a fake. Grandpa’s just a country bumpkin.” He smirked as he delivered the words, delighted in the jab. “Oh, by the way, did you get an invite from the Johnsons?”
“Ah, I must’ve forgotten,” he continued, glancing down with a smirk as he fiddled with his expensive watch, just to make sure I’d noticed. “Out here in these sticks, you’re probably already blacklisted from the high society of Old Bridge. Beg me, and I might take you along—though you’ll only embarrass yourself.”
I knew he was watching for any sign of anger or regret, but I just looked at him and asked, “When’s the last time you actually enjoyed the taste of a real meal?”
That single question made his face harden. He glared. “I have no clue what you’re talking about, you hillbilly.” And with that, he turned and hurried back to the car, looking almost panicked as he left.
I walked home slowly. When I arrived, Grandpa was awkwardly holding out a small cake. “It’s your birthday,” he muttered. “I didn’t know how you celebrated it back at the Rivers house, but here’s a cake for you.”
It had been so long since I’d celebrated my birthday that the creamy sweetness hit me like a flood of memories. I savored every bite as it melted on my tongue.
Music was something you needed talent for, but to make it big, you also had to look the part. Dan believed that if you looked the right way, the world was yours. That was why, from my early teens, I struggled with an image I’d never really wanted. Even the slightest bloating was grounds for punishment. I’d wake up starving in the middle of the night, only to be forced to purge if I was caught rummaging in the fridge. Eventually, my stomach learned the response on its own, and anything I ate past a certain amount would make me sick.
For performances, Dan would buy me custom designer suits, and I’d chug protein shakes to bulk up. My body was already running on fumes, and yet he never let up.
I once tried telling Mom how bad things had gotten, and her only response was, “Dan does it for your own good.” He was as meticulous in my upbringing as a dollmaker, turning me into a flawless but soulless puppet.
When my half-brother was born, Dan dropped all pretense, constantly reminding me, “For Ben’s sake, you need to keep excelling. Otherwise, there’ll be no place for you in this family when Ben’s older.”
Mom fully agreed, telling me, “Ben is our future, and you need to marry well so you can be there to support him.”
But Dan’s heart was never content. He had plenty of flings on the side, and even with Ben around, he never reined himself in. Mom thought she could use me to bring his focus back to her.
🌟 Continue the story here
👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app
🔍 search for “294874”, and watch the full series ✨!
#NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #浪漫Romance #擦边Steamy #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic
For the past two nights, I’ve dreamed of a strange old man crawling onto my bed.
Turns out, it wasn’t a dream. It was real.
Even more shocking, it was all orchestrated by my husband of three years—the same man I thought adored me.
All so he could satisfy his sick urges, even if it meant sending me into another man’s bed.
0In the dead of night, I felt a stranger climb into my bed. He stared hard at my face, his head getting closer and closer. I tried to turn my eyes away, but my eyelids felt as heavy as lead.
He pinned my hands above my head, then buried his face against my neck, biting down. I struggled with all my strength, screaming, but found myself utterly helpless.
Paralyzed, I was at his mercy, as he slipped my lace nightgown off my shoulders.
“Rise and shine, sleepyhead!”
“It’s time for breakfast.”
Someone was gently pinching my nose. I snapped my eyes open, gasping for air.
Law Callahan’s face hovered over me, full of warmth. I took in his familiar features, feeling dazed. Was it all just a dream? I sat up, my head spinning and body sore, completely exhausted like I hadn’t slept at all.
“What’s wrong?” Law’s brows knit in concern, and he started massaging my temples.
Looking into his worried eyes, I thought back to last night. A shiver ran down my spine. I shook my head to clear the disturbing thoughts.
“Maybe I just didn’t sleep well, that’s all.” I rubbed his cheeks, playfully squishing his eyes into slits.
“C’mon, aren’t we supposed to go to your mom’s for lunch?”
We’d been married for three years, and Law had always treated me like we were newlyweds. With his good looks and those captivating eyes, I was drawn in, unable to resist.
After breakfast, we set out, only arriving around one due to weekend traffic.
“Son, what took you so long? You must be starving. I bet someone took forever getting ready,” Maxine Callahan, my mother-in-law, shot me a sharp look.
She never approved of me since I was alone, without family to back me up.
“Our Law was the only one from our whole community to make it to college, and a top university at that! So many folks would’ve loved to see him married to their daughter, but he picked you.”
The first time I met her, she’d looked me over with a scrutinizing eye. From that moment, I knew I’d always feel unsteady without parents to support me—even with a college degree.
“Mom, it’s my fault. I just wanted to sleep in a little,” Law said with a wink, easing the tension. I felt the cloud lift as I managed a small smile.
Thank goodness I have Law; he’s always on my side. I see classmates on social media complaining about marriage problems, and it makes me value this quiet happiness even more.
“Mom, I’m so hungry—let’s eat already.” Law, seeing her ready to say more, quickly guided her to the table.
“Come on, son, have some soup. That hen stopped laying eggs, so I went ahead and cooked it up. If it can’t give eggs, what good is it?”
Maxine ladled some soup for Law, casting a pointed glance at my stomach. Even Walter, my father-in-law, put his fork down in disappointment.
“Mom, Ivy’s health isn’t the best. Once she’s better, we’ll have kids.”
I stared at Law, unable to believe he’d take the blame for me.
This wasn’t the first time Maxine had brought it up, but Law always turned the focus back on me. Last time, he’d said I wanted a few more years to enjoy life, and afterward, Maxine whispered that I was selfish.
But the truth was, Law hadn’t touched me in almost three years. I couldn’t exactly have a baby on my own!
0
It was the first real argument of our marriage. He’d knelt on the ground, begging me not to tell his family about his problem.
He didn’t want to lose face. I suggested seeing a doctor, but he said that if his colleagues or students found out, it would be worse than death for him.
“Ivy, other than this, I’ll do anything you want. I promise I’ll treat you better than anyone else could.” He kept his promise in every way.
After graduation, I stayed home, and each month, he handed over his paycheck, never letting me lift a finger around the house. He even took me on regular trips.
“Ivy, we can’t let the family name end here; you know he’s our only son,” Walter finally spoke up, urging us to have a child. Under the table, Law grasped my hand, silently pleading.
Swallowing my frustration, I forced a smile. “Mom, Dad, Law and I are actually planning to have a baby next year. We want a child born in the Year of the Dragon.”
Seeing their blank looks, I continued my ruse.
“Dragon children are supposed to be ambitious and destined for great things. They bring luck and success to the family. Just look at Uncle Earl’s son, Forrest! He’s moved to Washington, D.C., and it’s all because he’s a Dragon.”
Knowing how superstitious they were, I hoped it would appease them. They often consulted “experts” for auspicious dates, especially when we got our marriage license.
Sure enough, they were satisfied, nodding in approval. They even complimented me for thinking it through so well.
As we left, Law hurried ahead to put his arm around my waist, but I sidestepped without making it too obvious.
“What’s wrong? Are you still upset?” he asked.
“Law, what’s our plan for having kids? Are you just going to keep hiding it? I’m not getting any younger—I want a baby.” Tears welled up, and I bit my lip to hold back a sob.
Seeing my tears, his eyes flashed briefly with something I couldn’t place before he pulled me close, full of sympathy.
“Ivy, I promise, we’ll have a child next year. We’ll…try IVF if we have to.” His tone was gentle, his eyes full of love, but the words felt ice-cold.
I was devastated. I’d thought he’d finally swallow his pride and see a doctor. But instead, he’d rather put me through the grueling process of IVF than touch me.
In three years, he’d only been intimate with me during the first few months of marriage, then he’d avoided it altogether. I’d tried everything, from seductive clothes to working out and dressing up, but he was unmoved.
I’d grown up with my grandparents, left to fend for myself after they died, so Law had filled a void in my heart. As long as he treated me well, I’d decided I could overlook these things.
0
By the time we got back, it was dark. As I stepped off the elevator, I noticed a pile of boxes in the hallway.
“Looks like we’ve got new neighbors?” Law said, following behind me.
Just then, the door across from ours opened. A tall, thin man stepped out, his pale face partly hidden behind a fringe of hair. He didn’t look easy to get along with.
“Hey there, I’m Jett Ryder, your new neighbor. Movers will grab these later.” He flashed a wide smile, dimples digging into his cheeks. He seemed friendlier than I’d first thought, and I mentally chided myself for judging him too soon.
“Hello, we’re right across the hall. Let us know if you need anything,” I replied politely.
With one hand, Law threw an arm around my shoulder and used the other to unlock our door.
“Pretty-boy,” he muttered under his breath after we got inside. I shot him a glare.
That night, he brought me a cup of warm milk. “There, my love. Don’t be mad anymore; drink this.”
I took a sip, and he leaned in to lick the milk from my lips, but I turned away, wiping it with a napkin.
“Still mad, huh?” he grumbled.
“Let’s just go to bed; I have an interview tomorrow.” I pretended not to hear him, and he reluctantly turned off the lights, snuggling up beside me.
But that night, I had the same nightmare. This time, I managed to open my eyes halfway, just enough to catch a glimpse of his face—a balding head, with greedy, murky eyes that leered at me, making me want to scream awake.
“Stay still, sweetheart.” A stench like rotten eggs washed over me, and then everything went black.
The next morning, Law had already left for work, and I was bewildered. How could I keep having such nightmares? Was it the lack of intimacy? But why would I dream about an old man? Shaking off the thought, I focused on my interview.
“Hey, Sloane, what kind of questions does your HR usually ask? I’m feeling so nervous.”
“Just be confident, Ivy. Talk about your design ideas; they love that stuff.”
“Alright, thanks. Elevator’s here, talk to you later.”
I’d majored in design in college, but right after graduation, I married Law. His parents wanted us to have kids before I went to work, but since I wasn’t getting pregnant, I’d spent three years as a housewife, letting Law take care of me. Meanwhile, my classmates were all making thousands, while I felt like I was just living off my husband.
Recently, though, I’d decided to find my own path and make something of myself. I’d reached out to my best friend, Sloane Wilder, who had a top job at her company, Wilder & Kane Design Co. She’d helped get me this interview.
I pressed the elevator button.
“Hold on!” A pale hand shot between the doors. I looked up and felt my blood run cold.
She waved her hand in front of my face. “Hey, you okay?”
I pushed her hand away, staring past her down the hall. But there was nothing—no sign of him. Was I losing my mind?
I could have sworn I’d just seen the man from my nightmare. Even though he wore glasses, I remembered those disgusting, squinty eyes.
A surge of nausea hit me, and I turned away.
What was going on? My brain was reeling. Could it just be a strange coincidence? Or was I really dealing with something paranormal? I staggered down the street, lost in thought as my phone buzzed incessantly, snapping me back.
“Hello?”
“Ivy, where are you? HR said you didn’t show up for your interview. What happened?”
“I…something came up. By the way, does your company have a bald guy in his fifties, with glasses?”
“Oh, that could be any number of people here. You know designers and bald heads! Anyway, gotta go—got called into a meeting.”
I hung up, utterly bewildered. My mind was racing as I searched online, reading about dreams of strange men. Most sources said it meant “bad luck in love,” but none explained why the man in my dream looked exactly like someone I’d just seen in real life. Could he be someone from a past life? The thought chilled me as I pictured his gleaming, bald head.
Maybe I should talk to a psychologist about this.
Just then, I heard a voice. “Hey, what a coincidence!”
Jett Ryder was there, holding a garbage bag and flashing me a friendly smile.
“Hi, settling in okay?” I asked politely, keeping my distance.
“Yeah, all good. You look a bit out of it. Did a late night party wear you out?”
“Party?” I replied, confused. I’d gone to bed early.
🌟 Continue the story here
👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app
🔍 search for “294890”, and watch the full series ✨!
#NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #浪漫Romance #擦边Steamy #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic #玄幻Fantsy
After hearing that I had bought a house, my uncle’s family came to visit, and my cousin’s girlfriend immediately demanded a $30,000 wedding gift. She also insisted I give them my house as a wedding present.
I refused, but then my uncle pulled out a DNA test, claiming I was actually his biological daughter, so the house must go to my cousin and not be given to an outsider.
Ha! Let’s not even discuss whether or not I’m really his biological daughter. Since they’re so eager for a free house, I’ll give them one—a lifetime stay in a fully accommodated place… in prison.
Right after the New Year, my uncle Jimmy Lawson and his family came to visit, but this time they brought someone new—a girl.
Jimmy introduced her, saying, “This is Tyler’s girlfriend, Kaylee Darnell.”
Since my aunt Patricia passed away during childbirth, it’s usually just Jimmy and Tyler. They showed up unannounced, catching my parents off guard, but my dad, Roger, and mom, Nancy, still welcomed them warmly into our home.
As soon as we sat down at the dinner table, Kaylee suddenly stood up.
“Uncle Roger, Aunt Nancy, and Alexa, Happy New Year! I’m Tyler’s girlfriend,” she announced.
It wasn’t New Year’s anymore, but my parents, being polite, smiled and said, “Oh, thank you, thank you.”
But Kaylee remained standing, not moving an inch.
Tyler grinned, “My girlfriend came all the way here to wish you a Happy New Year, and you don’t have anything to show for it? Or do you just not like her?”
My mom, Nancy, snapped out of her confusion and hurriedly stood up, “Oh, my goodness, I completely forgot! Let me grab a red envelope for Kaylee.”
She rushed to the bedroom and came back with an envelope, handing it over to Kaylee.
Kaylee smiled as she accepted it, but then she opened it right in front of us and started counting the cash inside—$500 in total.
Kaylee’s face immediately dropped. “Aunt Nancy, where we come from, it’s customary to give at least $5,000 when the girl comes to visit. But since I didn’t let you know in advance today, it’s understandable. I’ll just expect it next time I come by.”
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud in disbelief.
Setting aside the fact that they came unannounced, who in the world asks for money the second they walk through the door, and then has the nerve to complain that it’s not enough? How could she even say that with a straight face?
I dropped my smile and was just about to speak when Kaylee beat me to it.
“I heard you work for a big company in Washington D.C., Alexa, with a salary in the millions. You’ve even just bought a house. So, my red envelope should at least be $30,000, right? Otherwise, it’ll look like you’re being stingy or that you don’t like me.”
I let out a cold laugh. “Didn’t my mom already give you a red envelope? If not giving you $30,000 means I don’t like you, then, yeah, I don’t like you.”
It’s amazing how some people have no shame. Just because I have money doesn’t mean I’m handing it out to everyone.
I stood up. “Mom, I have work to get back to. I’ll be in my room.”
I didn’t bother looking at their reactions, and I left for my room.
But barely half an hour later, Kaylee barged in without knocking.
I already didn’t like her—she was a gold-digger through and through. And I can’t stand it when people walk into my room without permission.
Suppressing my anger, I frowned and said, “Can you leave, please?”
She ignored me, casually picking up my handbag and trying on my jewelry.
“Wow, Alexa, this jade bracelet is beautiful! Consider it my gift from you. I’ll forget about the whole red envelope situation since you weren’t prepared.”
I nearly exploded.
That jade bracelet was a gift from my late boyfriend, the one thing I treasured most. It was his final gift to me before he passed away, something I kept hidden deep in my drawer.
I immediately rushed over, “Give it back.”
Kaylee smirked. “How petty, it’s just a bracelet. Consider it my compensation for your lack of hospitality today.”
She started slipping it on her wrist.
I grabbed for it, and in the scuffle, Kaylee deliberately smashed the bracelet onto the table.
In an instant, the bracelet shattered into pieces.
I stared at the fragments, tears welling up uncontrollably.
Kaylee grinned smugly. “Alexa, this is your fault. If you hadn’t tried to grab it, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Her fault? She did it on purpose!
My hands trembled with rage as I slammed them down on the table. “You touched my belongings without permission, and the damage you’ve done is extensive. I’ll make sure you spend the rest of your life in prison for this.”
For a moment, Kaylee looked panicked but quickly regained her composure. “It’s just a bracelet. How valuable could it be? Do you think I’m some kind of idiot?”
I glared at her. “That bracelet was worth over $50,000. It’s more than enough to send you to jail.”
Kaylee stared at me, wide-eyed, before suddenly clutching her stomach and crying out, “Oh no, my stomach!”
I was confused. I hadn’t even touched her—how could her stomach hurt?
Hearing the commotion, Jimmy, Tyler, and my parents rushed into the room.
Jimmy took one look at Kaylee, clutching her stomach, and without hesitation, slapped me across the face.
“You little brat! What did you do? Don’t you know Kaylee’s pregnant with our family’s son? If anything happens to my grandson, I’ll make sure your entire family pays!”
The slap stung, but I was too focused on the shattered bracelet. Kneeling, I gently picked up the broken pieces. My mom rushed over and hugged me, trying to comfort me.
Looking at her, tears streamed down my face. “The one thing he left me… it’s gone.”
My mom held me tighter and turned to my uncle, furious. “How could you break Alexa’s bracelet? Don’t you know how much it means to her?”
Jimmy didn’t even flinch. “It’s just a stupid bracelet. If she had given it to Kaylee in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Kaylee chimed in, feigning innocence, “It’s not my fault. Alexa scared me when she tried to grab it. I got flustered and it slipped. If anyone’s to blame, it’s her.”
I raised my head, glaring at Kaylee with so much hatred I wished I could tear her apart.
“There’s a camera in my room. The footage will make it clear whether it was intentional or not. You’d better think about how to reduce your sentence because I’m not letting this go.”
I walked over to the vanity, where a hidden camera had been recording the whole time.
Kaylee’s face turned white as a sheet, clearly shocked that I had cameras installed in my room.
Then, as if on cue, she started clutching her stomach again, moaning, “My stomach! Alexa, when you slammed your hand on the table, it startled me, and now the baby’s in danger. I feel terrible!”
With that, Kaylee collapsed, completely unresponsive.
My parents, sensing something was wrong, immediately called for an ambulance, and we all rushed to Georgetown University Hospital.
In the hospital, the doctor was furious. “If you had gotten here any later, we wouldn’t have been able to save the baby. Make sure she stays calm for the next few days—no emotional stress, or both mother and child could be at risk!”
Hearing that, I was shocked.
I had only slammed my hand on the table—how could it possibly have endangered the baby? Had I really been that upset and forceful?
Jimmy’s eyes were full of rage as he turned to me. “I swear, if anything happens to my grandson, I’ll make you pay, Alexa!”
Tyler sneered from the side. “Sis, I know you don’t like Kaylee, but to take it out on an innocent baby? You should give her $30,000 as compensation.”
My anger flared up again. Glaring at Tyler, I spat, “You still think you can get $30,000 out of me? After what happened with the bracelet, now you want more? Absolutely not.”
Tyler replied smugly, “If you don’t, I’ll have my parents come to your house every day. Let’s see if Aunt Nancy and Uncle Roger can handle that.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Try me.”
Seeing the reckless, shameless look on his face, I knew he would. Tyler had always been a troublemaker, and harassing my parents would be nothing new to him.
I didn’t want my parents to suffer because of me, and besides, Kaylee had almost lost the baby…
Sighing, I pulled out a bank card. “There’s $5,000 on this card.”
Kaylee turned her head away. “Sis, I nearly lost my baby, and you think $5,000 is enough to make up for that?”
Clenching my fists, I asked, “Then what do you want?”
Kaylee lay back on the bed, staring at me with disdain. “I heard you recently bought a new house. You’re single, so you don’t really need it. Eventually, it’ll just go to someone else, so why not give it to me? Then I’ll consider forgiving you for today.”
Her demand made me laugh in disbelief.
She really thought she could just take my million-dollar house?
“You want my house? Do you even deserve to look at the key? The $5,000 is for the baby’s sake. If you don’t want it, that’s fine by me.”
Kaylee immediately cried out, “Oh, my stomach hurts!”
Jimmy glared at me. “It’s just a house. Hand it over to your brother. All your stuff belongs to him anyway!”
“This house is something I worked hard for! If Tyler wants a house, he can buy his own. Why should I give mine?”
That’s when Jimmy pulled out a document.
“Because you’re my biological daughter, and Tyler’s your brother. Everything you have belongs to him.”
I was stunned.
My parents had just finished paying the medical bills and rushed into the room, visibly angry. My dad yelled, “Jimmy Lawson! Who told you to say that to her?”
Could it really be true?
The man who had never liked me, who had always called me worthless, was actually my real father? I couldn’t believe it.
I turned to my mom, Nancy. “Is this true?”
Tears welled up in her eyes, and she couldn’t speak.
Dad looked at her, then she sighed and said, “Alexa, when your Aunt Patricia was pregnant with you, a tarot reader said it would be a boy. But when you were born, they didn’t want to keep you because you were a girl. Your mom and I couldn’t bear to see you abandoned, so we took you in and raised you as our own daughter.”
Dad’s voice broke as he grabbed my hand, “Alexa, we’ve always loved you like our own. We always will.”
Seeing the fear and worry in their eyes, I felt a deep ache in my heart. I held both of their hands tightly and said, “Mom, Dad, no matter what, you’ll always be my parents.”
Jimmy, clearly annoyed by our emotional display, cut in, “Now that Alexa knows the truth, she should come back to our family. She and her brother can support each other. Let’s go ahead and change her family records now.”
Seeing how anxious my parents looked, I was furious.
When I needed help for school or struggled with money, where were they then? They didn’t say a word about taking me back then.
They didn’t want me because I was a girl, but now that I’m successful, they want me to help their son? No way.
“My parents are right here. They’re the only family I have,” I said, glaring at Jimmy.
Jimmy’s face turned red with anger. “You ungrateful child! I’m your father, and you won’t even acknowledge me?”
Turning to my parents, he sneered, “Did you two put her up to this? I’m her real dad. She’s supposed to take care of me when I’m old. Her money, her house—they belong to us. You can forget about keeping her! You’re just jealous because you can’t have your own kids and now you want to steal mine!”
Standing in front of my parents, I said coldly, “You didn’t want me back then, and you didn’t raise me. You have no claim on me now or in the future.”
“You ungrateful brat!”
Jimmy raised his hand to strike me, but my dad grabbed him.
“Touch my daughter and see what happens.”
My dad, who had always kept in great shape, towered over Jimmy, making him look small and weak in comparison. Jimmy hesitated for a moment, then backed down.
With a huff, Dad grabbed my mom and me, and we left the hospital.
Back home, the three of us sat on the couch, leaning against each other.
“Alexa, you’re all that matters to us,” my dad whispered.
Mom nodded, hugging me tight. “I’m just worried Jimmy won’t give up so easily. Your grandma called earlier and said Kaylee’s threatening to get rid of the baby unless we give them your house. I refused, but I’m worried Jimmy will cause trouble.”
I felt uneasy too. I knew Jimmy’s family—there was no way they’d give up after failing to get the house.
But I didn’t want my parents to worry, so I reassured them.
I thought they’d wait a while before making their next move, but the very next morning, while I was still half asleep, my bedroom door was kicked open.
Pain shot through my head as I was dragged out of bed by my hair.
“You ungrateful little brat! Not only do you refuse to acknowledge your real father, but you’re giving away your house to someone else? You worthless good-for-nothing, I’m going to kill you!”
I opened my eyes to find my grandmother, Evelyn Mitchell, slapping my face, while Tyler yanked my hair from behind.
My parents had just returned from grocery shopping. When they saw what was happening, my dad’s face turned red with rage. He grabbed a water pitcher from the table and smashed it over Tyler’s head.
Tyler crumpled to the floor, and my grandmother froze in shock.
Dad rushed over to hold me. “Alexa, are you okay?”
I shook my head, too stunned to speak.
How could they value a house more than family?
My grandmother called Jimmy, and within minutes, Jimmy, Kaylee, the paramedics, and the police all arrived.
Jimmy glared at us. “If anything happens to my son, I’ll make sure you all end up in jail!”
My dad was taken into custody, while my mom begged Jimmy at the hospital.
“Jimmy, please, let my husband go. He’s been good to you all these years.”
Jimmy sneered. “If you want me to drop the charges, give me Alexa’s house. Then I’ll write a letter of forgiveness.”
My mom refused, “That’s Alexa’s house. We’re not giving it to you.”
Jimmy’s expression darkened. “No house, no deal.”
I stepped forward and said, “I’ll give you $50,000.”
Though my dad was acting in self-defense, there was a chance the court would rule it excessive, which could leave a stain on his record. I wasn’t worried about spending the money, but my dad was a teacher—he couldn’t afford a criminal record.
Jimmy turned away. “I told you, no house, no deal.”
I laughed bitterly. “Fine, take it to court. I have money to hire the best lawyer. You broke into our home, Tyler attacked me first, and Kaylee smashed my bracelet. Let’s see who comes out on top.”
With that, I took my mom home.
But later that day, I made an excuse to return to the hospital alone.
Standing outside the hospital room, I overheard Jimmy talking to Kaylee’s doctor.
“Jimmy, forging medical records is illegal. I already took a big risk faking that miscarriage, and now you want me to fake your son’s injury? If we get caught, we’re both going to jail.”
Fake medical records? They were planning even more devious schemes against us.
🌟 Continue the story here
👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app
🔍 search for “294906”, and watch the full series ✨!
#NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #擦边Steamy
I woke up in the middle of the night, parched. As I stumbled to the kitchen for water, I heard muffled sounds coming from the guest room.
Thinking it was our nanny Rachel feeling unwell, I was about to knock when I heard my husband Jack’s voice mingling with Rachel’s sultry moans.
As an adult, I knew exactly what was happening behind that door. The realization sent chills down my spine.
My mind went blank. I couldn’t tell if I was more angry or shocked. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to the floor, too weak to even stand.
Rachel was the nanny my mother-in-law had brought in. I had just given birth to our son and was resting. Initially, I wanted to hire a nutritionist, but when my mother-in-law saw the cost, she insisted on finding a reliable nanny herself.
I had wanted to refuse, but seeing her enthusiastic face, I swallowed my objections.
The day after I was discharged from the hospital, my mother-in-law brought Rachel. When she first entered our home, Rachel wore dark linen pants and a faded short-sleeved shirt. Her complexion was sallow, and her hair was tied back in a ponytail.
When she saw me, she gave an awkward smile, nervously smoothing her pants. She hid behind my mother-in-law, her eyes darting around curiously.
She was so young. Could someone like her really be a nanny? I felt doubtful.
I pulled my mother-in-law aside and whispered, “Isn’t this nanny too young?”
My mother-in-law laughed and patted my hand. “Emma, dear, don’t let Rachel’s youth fool you. She’s excellent with children.”
She glanced at Rachel, who immediately nodded and approached me.
“Ma’am, I come from a big family. I have two younger brothers and a sister, and I raised them all,” Rachel said with a nervous laugh, puffing out her chest. “I’m strong and capable. You can trust me with your child.”
I looked at her face, searching for any sign of deceit, but found only sincerity.
I hesitated, but my mother-in-law made the decision for me. “It’s settled, Emma. Rachel will stay for now. If you’re not satisfied, we can always let her go. Okay?”
Hearing this, I couldn’t bring myself to send her away.
And so, Rachel stayed.
I have to admit, Rachel did well in her first week. She took care of all the household chores, big and small, with impressive efficiency.
At first, I wasn’t satisfied with her cooking, finding it too oily and greasy. But when she noticed I wasn’t eating much, she quickly learned to make a few vegetarian dishes.
Even with the baby, she was extremely careful and attentive.
Whenever I saw her cradling my baby, soothing him, I felt quite pleased.
I even suggested to Jack that we should give Rachel a raise.
Jack just smiled and said it wasn’t necessary yet.
Little did I know that my kindness would be repaid with Rachel’s ambition.
I was truly blind, nurturing a wolf by my side.
In the guest room, Rachel’s cries grew louder.
Startled, I pushed myself up from the floor.
Leaning against the guest room door, I heard Jack let out a final satisfied groan.
The two of them panted heavily inside.
Through the crack in the door, I saw Jack holding Rachel in his arms, both of them naked on the bed.
Rachel’s fingers were tracing circles on Jack’s chest.
“Honey, when are you going to divorce Emma? I can’t wait much longer,” Rachel whined.
Jack grasped Rachel’s hand, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss before replying, “Baby, don’t rush. Our good times are just beginning. Once I’ve swindled all that yellow-faced bitch’s money, I’ll marry you. How’s that sound?”
I froze, my scalp tingling with shock.
Rachel continued to pester him, seemingly impatient.
It turned out that Rachel and Jack had been engaged back in their hometown. Everyone in the village knew about their relationship.
Only I had been foolishly kept in the dark.
I remembered the first time I went back to Jack’s hometown to meet his parents.
The entire village had gathered at the entrance to welcome us.
When they saw me, their faces twisted into strange smiles that made my skin crawl.
I clutched Jack’s hand nervously and asked, “Why is everyone looking at me like that?”
I recall Jack casually replying, “They’re just jealous of me for finding a city girl as a wife.”
He walked past the villagers, chest puffed out proudly.
I overheard people whispering behind me, “That bastard Jack really pulled it off, huh? He actually managed to snag a city girl.”
“Hah, it’s all thanks to that pretty face of his. What else does he have going for him?”
“What about his girl back home?”
I was walking too quickly then and only caught snippets of their conversation. I didn’t understand what they were talking about.
Later, Jack and I got married.
Although my parents weren’t thrilled about Jack, they agreed to the marriage for my sake.
After the wedding, my parents bought us a spacious apartment and provided capital for us to start a business.
With my help, we opened a small company.
We caught a lucky break, and over the next few years, the company grew increasingly successful. Jack became a self-made millionaire.
I never imagined that my wholehearted devotion would be repaid with his betrayal.
I trembled with rage, wanting nothing more than to burst into the room and tear those two apart.
However, reason prevailed, and I quickly calmed myself. Now was not the time for confrontation.
Rachel spoke again, “Honey, you’re not having second thoughts about divorcing her because she gave you a son, are you?”
My heart skipped a beat. My son was my bottom line.
Jack chuckled, the sound jarring in the quiet space.
“That’s my son, isn’t he your son too?”
Rachel’s voice piped up, “That’s right. The boy is still young. When the time comes, I’ll raise him as my own.”
They both laughed.
I was stunned.
Hah, these two had it all planned out. They not only wanted my assets but my son as well.
Just wait and see. In the end, I’ll make sure they end up with nothing.
I heard Rachel start to whine to Jack again, “Honey, I want you again.”
“You little minx, are you trying to drain your man dry?” Jack laughed.
In no time, their lewd noises started up again, even louder than before, completely disregarding my existence.
I clenched my fists so tightly that my nails dug into my palms, but I felt no pain.
After a while, I stumbled back to my bedroom.
Lying on the big bed, I couldn’t sleep. I stared at the ceiling, tears flowing uncontrollably.
I thought back to when Jack and I first started our business.
Back then, it was just the two of us. I handled everything, both at home and at work.
At the company, I was responsible for all administrative tasks, financial reports, and client relations.
At home, I cleaned, did laundry, and cooked.
I was spinning like a top every day.
With my help, the company finally got on track after three years.
Jack had officially left his village life behind.
Now, whenever he went back to the village, he was the picture of success.
My mother-in-law walked with her head held high in the village, looking down on everyone.
I remember one time when my mother-in-law came to our house. In the kitchen, she whispered to Jack, “Son, now that you’re a big boss, isn’t it time to give me a grandson to inherit everything?”
I saw Jack nod in agreement. “Mm-hmm.”
My mother-in-law clapped her hands excitedly and said in a low voice, “Well, you’d better get a move on. Try to let me hold my grandson by the end of next year.”
Jack proudly patted his chest. “Of course. Your son is in excellent shape, you know.”
After hearing their conversation, I quietly retreated to my room.
Actually, after being married to Jack for so long, I too wanted a baby of my own. But the company needed me, so I had always put the idea of having a baby on the back burner.
Now that Jack was on board with the idea, I was secretly thrilled.
Not long after, I did indeed get pregnant.
After I became pregnant, Jack insisted I stay home to take care of myself. His reasoning was that the company was now on track, and I should enjoy some peace at home.
Seeing my hesitation, Jack put his arm around my shoulders and coaxed, “Honey, stay home and take good care of yourself. Grow our son big and strong.”
I playfully punched him, laughing, “How do you know it’s a boy? What if it’s a girl?”
Jack’s face darkened, his brows furrowing in displeasure. “My mother wants a grandson. We must have a boy.”
Later, seeing my dissatisfaction, he changed his tune, saying, “Boy or girl, it doesn’t matter. As long as you’re the one giving birth.”
After I got pregnant, Jack became even busier, often not coming home for entire nights.
Whenever I texted him, he was either in a meeting or entertaining clients.
I was so stupid then, thinking he was working hard for our little family.
Now, the thought of him fooling around with Rachel makes me sick to my stomach.
I can’t swallow this anger.
To gather evidence, I bought wireless cameras online. While Rachel was out grocery shopping, I installed them in the guest room, living room, and kitchen.
Sure enough, that very night, Jack and Rachel were at it again.
🌟 Continue the story here
👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app
🔍 search for “294922”, and watch the full series ✨!
#NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #魔幻Magic #擦边Steamy #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School
My elder sister married the man she longed for, Lord Charles. But on the night of the wedding, it was I who was sent into the bridal chamber. My sister wasn’t worried that I might reveal the truth because I was mute. What she didn’t know was that I was only pretending.
“Do as I say, or your mother’s life won’t be spared.”
Marianne tore off my outer robe and pushed me behind the screen. Today was her grand day, joining Lord Charles’s manor. I entered the manor with her as her dowry maid. Marianne, still in her bridal crown and gown, looked fierce, but it did not diminish her striking beauty.
She drew out a razor-sharp dagger, its blade gleaming ominously as she pressed it against my cheek. I feigned terror, my mouth opening in a silent scream, my eyes wide with false fear. Marianne’s smile twisted into something dark and wicked, a glint of malevolence dancing in her eyes.
“Tonight is your wedding night. Serve Lord Charles well. If you please me, your future will be filled with riches.”
Marianne had long admired Lord Charles but sent me to his bed because she was no longer chaste. She had an affair with a guard in our manor. When the secret was exposed, her mother had the guard poisoned to cover up the scandal.
But the damage was done; Marianne was no longer a virgin. To avoid Lord Charles’s rejection, she chose me as her dowry maid. I was her half-sister, and our figures were similar enough that she believed she could deceive him.
Marianne’s threats were not just empty words. “If you slip up, I’ll break your legs and sell you off! And don’t think your mad mother will survive, either!”
I bit my lip, nodded with a frightened expression, and Marianne withdrew the dagger, leaving me to wait behind the screen.
Soon after, the door to the chamber was flung open with a violent crash. Lord Charles, tall and imposing in his crimson wedding attire, stormed in. I stayed hidden, not daring to make a sound.
Marianne obediently sat on the bed, but Lord Charles only glanced at her briefly before turning away to pour himself a cup of tea. Marianne quickly took the cup, secretly adding a pinch of powder she had hidden in her nails. It was an aphrodisiac she had acquired.
Lord Charles drank the tea, and soon his face flushed, and his breathing became labored. He glared at Marianne with anger.
“What did you give me?”
Marianne feigned innocence. “Oh, this… it’s just something an old nanny from home gave me. She said it would enhance the wedding night… I didn’t know what it was…”
Lord Charles angrily smashed the cup, causing Marianne to jump in fright.
“You dare give me such a vile substance? I’m strong enough without needing such poison! Are you afraid I won’t tire you out?”
After his outburst, his condition worsened. His eyes became bloodshot, and his breathing turned more ragged. Marianne was overjoyed, pretending to apologize as she guided him to the bed and blew out the candles, plunging the room into darkness. All that could be heard was Lord Charles’s heavy breathing.
Marianne yanked me from behind the screen, her grip merciless as she hurled me onto the bed with a force that knocked the air from my lungs. Lord Charles moved swiftly, wrapping his strong arms around my waist with a desperate, almost frantic urgency. I found myself sprawled atop him, his powerful, masculine scent enveloping me in an intoxicating haze.
Without a word, he seized the back of my head, pulling me close as his hot lips crashed against mine. The intensity of his kiss was both consuming and overwhelming. I gasped in shock as the fabric of my clothes was torn apart, the sound of ripping fabric mingling with the pounding of my heart.
As dawn’s first light seeped through the curtains, I trembled uncontrollably as I struggled to climb out of bed. Lord Charles lay beside me, still fast asleep, his breaths deep and steady. My eyes fell to my legs, where dried blood marred my skin—a dark, cruel stain that seemed to slice into my heart with every glance.
The memories of the previous night haunted me. Marianne’s scheme had left Lord Charles furious, and he vented all his anger on me, mistaking me for Marianne. He showed no mercy, and despite gritting my teeth, I couldn’t suppress my cries of pain. Marianne was the one who caused all this, yet I had to bear it all.
I clenched my fists. These wounds were nothing compared to my mother’s life. I blinked hard, forcing back my tears. Gathering my scattered clothes, I struggled to dress myself.
I shakily left the room. In the hall, Marianne stirred from her nap on a chaise lounge. Her eyes narrowed at me with a venomous glare, and she spat out a single word:
“Get out!”
Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to walk out the door. Returning to the servants’ quarters, I heated water to wash my body.
As I undressed, I noticed a jade bracelet with gold inlay on my left arm. I vaguely remembered Lord Charles placing it on me after taking my virginity, saying something about it being a token.
If Marianne saw this, it would spell trouble. I tried to remove it, but it was stuck. Frustrated, I decided to leave it on and hide it under my clothes until I could quietly return it to Marianne later.
Marianne got what she wanted. Lord Charles didn’t realize that it was someone else who had shared the bridal bed with him. I thought she would live happily with him from then on.
But the day after the wedding, Lord Charles was sent to the Southern Territories to quell a rebellion. Marianne and the Dowager Duchess led the family to see him off.
Standing at the back of the crowd, I watched indifferently as Lord Charles, clad in armor, was surrounded by well-wishers. The Dowager Duchess was giving him some final advice, and Marianne whispered a few words of concern.
Lord Charles’s lieutenant brought his horse, and a tall, imposing woman accompanied him. The woman greeted the Dowager Duchess cheerfully.
“Aunt!”
The Dowager Duchess nodded. I had heard of this woman before. Her name was Sarah Lane, Lord Charles’s sworn sister and the orphaned daughter of a comrade of the old Duke. She was accompanying Lord Charles on this campaign.
I noticed Marianne’s face change instantly when she saw Sarah. Marianne was jealous by nature, and now with Lord Charles away at war, she must have been filled with anxiety over this beautiful woman by his side.
Lord Charles was away for over a month when Marianne, under the pretext of visiting her mother, returned to the Moore family estate.
When I got home, I found out that my mother had been sent to a remote estate in the countryside. There, she suffered from hunger and cold. I was distraught but had no way to help.
One day, while I was making up Marianne’s bed, I overheard her and Lady Lydia talking outside. They were speaking in hushed tones, but I have good hearing.
Marianne said, “Lord Charles will be in the Southern Territories for at least a year. If Sarah Lane takes this chance to seduce him, where will I stand when they return?”
Lady Lydia replied, “You can’t just sit idly by. You need to secure your position before Lord Charles comes back!”
Marianne, panicked, asked, “What can I do? With Lord Charles away, even the Dowager Duchess treats me coldly. She is not Lord Charles’s real mother. Her own son just came of age, and she filled his house with concubines. I bet that old woman is hoping for Lord Charles to die in battle so that her son can inherit the title!”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Lord Charles will come back safe and sound!” Lady Lydia then suggested, “But there are things we must be cautious of. Since you’ve consummated the marriage, why not play the trick of ‘flowers blooming on the tree’…”
Marianne asked, “Flowers blooming on the tree? What do you mean?”
Lady Lydia whispered a few words, her lips moving with calculated precision. I could make out her message: “You can pretend to be pregnant. If Lord Charles returns early, you can say you had a miscarriage. If he takes longer to come back, we’ll bribe a midwife to find a chubby boy and claim him as your own. And if… Lord Charles never returns, having a son by your side will protect you from that old woman.”
Marianne’s eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically. “Mother, you always have the best ideas!”
I held my breath and slowly backed away from the door. My hand instinctively drifted to my lower abdomen.My period had been late, and I had already suspected what it meant. Lord Charles’s bloodline had taken root within me.
I knew that if this child was born, it would not belong to me. I couldn’t just sit and wait for my fate to be sealed. I knew what Marianne feared most. In that instant, I had a plan.
Back at Lord Charles’s manor, I deliberately changed into a brightly colored dress and stood in the garden, tending to flowers. Voices and footsteps approached from the corridor behind me, but I pretended not to hear.
A clear male voice called out, “Sister-in-law?”
Startled, I turned to see Henry, Lord Charles’s younger brother, accompanied by two beautiful maidservants. When Henry saw my face, his eyes widened with surprise.
I knew this was the path he always took to return to his quarters. I made sure to act frightened, bowing to him gracefully.
Henry hesitated, asking, “You’re not my sister-in-law? Why do you look so much like her from behind?”
One of the maids answered, “This is the Lady Marianne’s dowry maid, Clara.”
Henry pondered for a moment, “Clara?”
The other maid added, “Clara is mute, young master. Please don’t take offense.”
Henry’s expression softened with pity. He gently said, “Clara, the wind is strong here. If you want to pick flowers, you can come to my garden.”
I shook my head and quickly bowed, then turned and ran away.
—
That night, I brought hot water into the room to help Marianne wash her face and hands. She glared at me and suddenly knocked the copper basin out of my hands. Hot water splashed all over me, and I yelped in pain, immediately kneeling before her.
Marianne grabbed my chin with her sharp nails, forcing me to look up at her. She smiled coldly, devoid of any warmth.
“Clara, you’re quite cunning. Young Master Henry only looked at you once today and went to beg his mother to have you sent to his quarters.”
I made desperate hand gestures, trying to show her that I had done nothing wrong.
Marianne slapped me hard, sending me sprawling to the floor. She was furious, cursing like a shrew, “You little wench! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to! You think you can latch onto young Master Henry and rise above me? As long as I’m here, you’ll never outshine me!”
Her reaction was exactly as I had predicted. I noticed the pen and ink on the desk. I quickly crawled over, grabbed the pen, and wrote a line on the paper: “I beg you, Sister, please send me away so I can reunite with my mother.”
Marianne eyed me suspiciously. “You really want to leave?”
I nodded fervently, then wrote five more words: “Please, Sister, grant my wish.”
I knew Marianne had always been wary of me, and now that I was of no more use to her, she wouldn’t keep me around to steal her spotlight. After a moment’s thought, she agreed on the spot.
“Fine, since you’re so filial, I’ll grant your wish.”
I pretended not to notice the malice in her eyes and knelt to thank her.
—
The next day, I packed a few belongings and boarded the carriage Marianne had arranged for me. The driver was a thin, wiry man who had eyed me lewdly before I got in.
After half a day’s journey, he pulled the carriage into a forest, saying the horse needed a rest. I sat under a tree, clutching my bundle. The man approached me with a bowl of water, pretending to be kind.
“Miss, you must be tired. Have some water.”
I waved him off and stood to walk away. He followed, grabbing my arm. I pushed him away, spilling the water.
His demeanor changed instantly, and he growled, “You’ll regret refusing my kindness!”
He threw the bowl aside and lunged at me. I dodged.
The man rubbed his chin with a lecherous grin and said, “Little beauty, Lady Marianne ordered me to kill you. It would be a shame for a pretty face like yours to just die like that. Why not have a little fun with me before you go?”
He pursued me like a cat playing with a mouse.
“Be a good girl, and maybe I’ll be gentle. But if you make me angry, you’ll suffer even more!”
I quickly reached into my clothes and pulled out a packet of powder. When he got close enough, I threw the powder into his face.
It was red pepper powder, and it blinded him instantly.
“Aaahhh—! Cough, cough…”
He clutched his face, coughing violently, rolling on the ground in pain. I may have pretended to be stupid, but I wasn’t. I knew Marianne had no intention of letting me go. She wanted me dead. Thankfully, I was prepared.
While he was still writhing in pain, I rushed to the carriage, climbed up, and drove the horse out of the forest.
When I reached the estate where my mother was, it was still midday. I didn’t wait for Marianne to get word; I found my mother and took her away immediately. The servants were confused and tried to stop us, but my mother had a fit, scratching and biting them. The overseer cursed us, “Get lost! If you want to go, then go!”
I dragged my mother onto the carriage and headed north. Only when we were on the rough mountain roads did I finally relax.
We had escaped Marianne’s control! I had saved my mother!
Looking back at her in the carriage, I cried tears of joy. I sobbed, “Mother, we’re free from the Moore family. I don’t have to pretend to be mute anymore, and you don’t have to pretend to be insane!”
My mother, with her disheveled hair, hugged me tightly, and we wept together.
My mother was a healer. She was taken as a concubine by my father after he spotted her during one of her medical visits. My father’s first wife, Lady Lydia, had a face like a saint but a heart like a viper. She treated my mother kindly on the surface but tormented her in secret. She even had my mother’s first two sons killed. I survived only because I was a girl.
At first, my father protected my mother, but after his affections waned, he abandoned her. Lady Lydia continued to torment her, so my mother feigned madness to protect herself.
When I was ten, I was in the courtyard, learning to sing from the maids. My father and Marianne passed by, and he praised my voice, saying it was as sweet as a nightingale’s song. That night, Lady Lydia had her servants hold me down and forced me to drink a potion that took away my voice. Marianne watched, laughing, saying that the nightingale had had its beak cut off.
After they left, my mother secretly found an antidote, saving my voice, though it was never as sweet as before. My mother warned me to hide my talents if I wanted to survive. From then on, I pretended to be mute, never speaking a word to anyone but her.
Now, my mother and I had finally escaped the den of vipers. I wiped away her tears and vowed, “Mother, we can never go back to the Moore family!”
My mother nodded tearfully. “We should go to your aunt. Five years ago, she sent word that she had married and was living in a place called ‘Clearbrook Town.’”
After much inquiry, we finally arrived at Clearbrook Town two weeks later. We found my aunt’s home, only to be told she had become a nun.
It turned out that my aunt’s husband had died of a plague three years ago. She had no children and was not welcomed by her in-laws. With no one to rely on, she had cut her hair and become a nun.
We found her at St. Margaret’s Abbey. My aunt had taken the name Sister Clarice, and because of her knowledge and manners, she was appointed as the abbey’s treasurer.
My aunt and my mother hadn’t seen each other in over ten years, and they couldn’t stop crying when they reunited. After they had poured their hearts out, my mother explained why we had come. When my aunt learned that I was pregnant, she begged the abbess to let us stay in a small cottage near the abbey. The cottage was old but clean and tidy.
My aunt told us, “The abbess said that over forty years ago, a young noblewoman who had fallen on hard times lived here. She met a gentleman in the mountains, and they fell in love at first sight. The lady left with him but continued to send donations to the abbey every few years.”
I worriedly asked, “If the lady finds out we’re staying in her cottage, will she be angry?”
My aunt smiled. “Don’t worry. That lady is over sixty now, and she’s a kind-hearted woman who’s devoted to the church. She’d be happy to know that her old home is sheltering those in need.”
With my aunt’s reassurance, my mother and I settled in. We planted vegetables and herbs in the garden, occasionally selling some herbs in the nearby village for a bit of money. Life was hard, but we were content and free—
—
Four years later
Autumn had just begun, with the sun’s warmth giving way to a cool breeze. My mother had gone to the village, and I was in the garden with my daughter, Rose, drying herbs. Rose pointed to the herbs in the basket, naming them one by one.
“Forsythia, Salvia, Angelica, Astragalus…”
I patted her head, praising her. “Rose, you’re so clever. You remembered all of them.”
My son, James, was playing nearby, chasing a rabbit with a stick. I warned him while tending to the herbs, “James, don’t run around too much. Be careful not to trample on Grandma’s perilla.”
James ignored my warning and carried the rabbit outside the gate, still playing with it. I glanced up to see he hadn’t gone far, so I didn’t call him back. James’s laughter echoed as I divided my attention between the children and the herbs.
Suddenly, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps and the clinking of jewelry. I put down the herbs and went to the gate to see what was happening. A group of finely dressed travelers was approaching, led by my aunt, Sister Clarice, and the abbess, Sister Helena.
They were accompanying an elderly woman with silver hair and a rosy complexion. The old lady looked kind and noble. Following behind her was a large group of people, some of whom I recognized, and it nearly made me lose my balance.
It was the Dowager Duchess, Marianne, and Lord Charles!
The elderly woman at the front was none other than Duchess Victoria, Lord Charles’s grandmother!
What were they doing here? Marianne and Lord Charles were the last people I wanted to see!
I was paralyzed with fear when Duchess Victoria’s eyes lit up as she spotted James.
“Oh, what a charming little boy!” she exclaimed.
James set the rabbit down and folded his hands, greeting Sister Clarice and Sister Helena in a sweet voice, “Bless you.”
The Duchess was delighted. She crouched down to play with James, exclaiming, “What a bright young boy! Who taught you this…”
She trailed off, studying James’s face in surprise. “Oh my… this child… he looks just like Charles did when he was little!”
After the Duchess finished speaking, her lady-in-waiting, the Dowager Duchess, Marianne, and Lord Charles all gathered around. I held my breath, feeling a chill run down my spine.
Everyone started talking at once.
The lady-in-waiting said, “Those eyes and that face shape—he really looks just like Lord Charles when he was a child.”
The Dowager Duchess agreed, “Her Grace has a sharp eye. He does look remarkably similar…”
Marianne forced a laugh. “What a coincidence…”
The Duchess, delighted, took James’s hand. “What a sweet child. Where are your parents?”
Snapping out of my fear, I realized I couldn’t hide any longer. I forced myself to calm down. Lord Charles and the Dowager Duchess were such high-ranking nobles that they wouldn’t remember someone as insignificant as me. As for Marianne, as long as I denied everything, what could she do in front of all these people?
I stepped forward and called out, “James, have you had enough fun? Come back inside and rest.”
I watched everyone’s reactions closely. Lord Charles remained calm, but the Duchess and Dowager Duchess looked confused. Marianne, on the other hand, was so shocked that she couldn’t close her mouth. Hearing me speak must have stunned her.
James ran into my arms, calling me “Mother.” My aunt then explained to the Duchess, “Your Grace, this is Miss Marianne, who has been staying in your cottage.”
It turned out that the noblewoman who had lived here forty years ago was the Duchess herself. The man she had met in the mountains was the late Emperor!
I curtsied deeply to the Duchess. “It’s an honor to meet you, Your Grace.”
The Duchess smiled warmly. “Master Hyman mentioned that someone had been staying in my old cottage. I never expected it to be such a well-mannered young lady.”
I offered a few polite words. “Your Grace’s compassion knows no bounds, blessing all who cross your path. It has been a great fortune for my family to have your protection.”
The Duchess beamed and suggested going inside to take a look. A large crowd of people filled the already cramped courtyard. The ladies went inside while Lord Charles and a group of servants and guards stayed outside.
Seeing Rose inside the house, the Duchess was even more pleased. She praised, “You’re very fortunate, Miss Marianne, to have such adorable children.”
The Duchess immediately had her lady-in-waiting bring out gold coins as gifts for the children. I tried to refuse several times, but my aunt eventually persuaded me to accept. I then had the children bow and thank the Duchess.
Marianne, standing nearby, made a snide remark, “Miss Marianne, your surname is Wyth? What a coincidence—there was a runaway servant in my family who also had that surname.”
Wyth was my mother’s surname. I knew Marianne was suspicious, so I calmly replied, “Yes, quite the coincidence.”
Marianne was about to say more, but the Dowager Duchess shot her a warning glare, and she reluctantly stepped back.
The Duchess seemed to take a liking to me and took my hand, asking with concern, “Miss Marianne, why are you living in seclusion here with your children? Where is your husband?”
I lowered my gaze and replied with a mix of truth and lies, “My husband joined the army years ago, and we’ve had no news from him since. My children and I had nowhere to go, but thanks to your generosity and Master Hyman’s kindness, we’ve been able to stay here.”
As I spoke, Marianne’s expression darkened further.
The Duchess, moved by my story, said, “Poor child, you’ve suffered so much. It must be fate that brought you and your children to my old home. Is there anything I can do to help you?”
Overwhelmed by her kindness, I responded, “Thank you, Your Grace. Your compassion is truly boundless. Thanks to Master Hyman and the others, we’ve been well taken care of and have no troubles.”
The Duchess continued to ask about our well-being, and Marianne couldn’t help but interject, “Your Grace, it’s getting late. Perhaps we should go and have our meal?”
As soon as she spoke, the Dowager Duchess scolded her, “The Duchess will decide what we do. You should know your place. As a younger member, how dare you interrupt? Do you not understand the meaning of decorum?”
🌟 Continue the story here
👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app
🔍 search for “294584”, and watch the full series ✨!
#NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #玄幻Fantsy #狼人werewolf #擦边Steamy #励志Inspiring #现实主义Realistic #校园School #后宫Harem #重生Reborn
After I lost my memory, I became my husband’s dream girl.
On graduation day, I mustered up the courage to confess my feelings to my crush, but I accidentally got hit by a car.
When I woke up, my crush was standing in front of me, looking at me coldly.
“You’re awake? Good, let’s discuss our divorce agreement.”
Me: ???
I hadn’t even confessed yet, how did we end up talking about divorce?
On graduation day, I finally gathered the courage to confess to James, my long-time crush.
On the other side of the street, James was taking photos in his handsome graduation gown. I excitedly ran over, not noticing that the pedestrian crossing light had turned red.
With a loud “bang”, I was hit by a car and lost consciousness.
When I opened my eyes again, I saw a white ceiling.
To my surprise, I found James sitting beside my hospital bed.
He was as handsome as ever. This must be the first time we’ve been this close.
James stood by my bed, his gaze slowly moving from the IV drip to my face.
My eyes inadvertently caught sight of a ring on the ring finger of his left hand.
I had liked him for so long, but it turns out he was already taken.
Suppressing the heartache, I forced a smile and greeted him, “James, why are you here?”
As I tried to sit up, I noticed my arm was wrapped in thick bandages.
The next second, James sat down on the chair beside my bed, his voice cold and distant.
“You’re really good at using tactics. To get a divorce, you’re even willing to risk your life.”
I stared at James’s face, completely confused by his words. What did he mean?
Divorce?
I hadn’t even graduated yet, let alone gotten married. Where did this talk of divorce come from?
At that moment, a nurse entered the room, carrying a tray with wound dressing supplies.
“Dr. Evans, you’re still here? Miss, you don’t know how lucky you are. When you had the accident, Dr. Evans happened to be passing by and gave you emergency treatment immediately. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have gotten away with just a broken arm.”
The nurse spoke while carefully disinfecting my wound. As she gently placed my hand down, I noticed that I was also wearing a ring on my right ring finger!
And this ring was clearly a matching couple’s ring with James’s!
Panic and disbelief gradually filled my eyes. After the nurse left the room, I immediately grabbed James’s sleeve.
“James, your name is James Evans, right? You graduated from Oxford University in 2018, correct?”
James frowned, looking extremely annoyed. He shook off my hand on his sleeve and looked at me coldly.
“Since you’re awake, let’s discuss the divorce agreement.”
This was completely absurd!
I clearly remember being on my way to the graduation ceremony when I accidentally got hit by a car.
How did I wake up to find myself “threatening suicide” to divorce James?
I was absolutely certain that either I had gone crazy, or James had.
“James, wait a minute!”
Before I could finish speaking, a little boy suddenly appeared in the hospital room, running affectionately into James’s arms.
Me: ???
Wow, what an adorable child! I reached out with my uninjured hand, wanting to pinch his chubby cheeks, but he suddenly seemed scared and hid in James’s arms.
“Sweetie, I’m sorry. Auntie just thought you were too cute and couldn’t help herself.”
James looked at me with some dissatisfaction. It was then that I remembered I had called him to wait but hadn’t said anything important yet.
“James, although this might sound unbelievable, I have no memory of anything you’re talking about. I only remember being on my way to the graduation ceremony…”
Before I could finish, James impatiently interrupted me.
“So, are you trying to say that you’ve lost your memory now?”
Memory loss?
Yes, that’s right. Memory loss is the only explanation for why I have no recollection of any of this.
I nodded vigorously and sincerely.
James’s ice-cold face looked at me as he took out a document from his bag and threw it in front of me.
“This is the divorce agreement. All the terms are written according to your requests. If you have no objections, just sign it quickly.”
I opened my mouth but couldn’t say anything.
The little boy in James’s arms heard him mention divorce and pouted, looking upset.
“James, talking about this topic in front of someone else’s child might not be good for their mental health.”
“Why don’t we put this matter aside for now and discuss it later?”
James snorted coldly.
“Someone else’s child? Chloe, you’re really playing this amnesia act well. This is our child.”
…
“And when you were having dinner with another man, did you think about whether it was good for the child’s mental health?”
I hadn’t even processed what James said in the first sentence when the second sentence left me completely blank. I looked at the little boy in disbelief.
So not only am I married, but I also have a child?
Unfortunately, the little boy didn’t pay any attention to me, burying his head in James’s neck without even giving me a glance.
Too much information, not enough processing power. My brain successfully crashed.
It took me a whole day to sort out the situation in my head.
It seems I really have lost my memory.
I’m still me, and James is still James.
The only difference is that we’re married now, and we have a baby.
But the divorce agreement on the hospital bed silently conveyed another piece of information: our marriage was clearly in trouble.
The problem is, did I have an affair?
No, but is that even possible? Would I cheat on someone like James, who has both looks and brains, with another man?
Did I lose my mind?
So, where exactly did the problem occur? How can I get my memory back?
I scratched my head in frustration, my mind completely blank, feeling extremely anxious and uneasy.
“Mommy.”
There was a knock on the door. I looked up and saw the door open slightly, revealing the cute face of the little boy peeking in shyly.
“Daddy said to remember to disinfect your hand. Here’s the disinfectant for you to use.”
His small hands were tightly gripping a bottle of iodine.
I reached out to him, gesturing for him to come in.
“Mommy’s hand hurts a little. Can you bring it over for me?”
The boy looked at me, his expression hesitant and uncertain, but he finally nodded and ran to my side, placing the iodine on my bedside table.
I picked him up with my other hand and sat him on my lap. I carefully examined his features. His eyes were like mine, round and big and bright. His nose was like James’s, very high and straight. His face was like James’s, a perfect oval shape, very handsome.
This is my son with James.
I couldn’t help myself and hugged him tightly, then planted a big kiss on his cheek. The boy smelled like milk, and I simply couldn’t let go.
When I looked up, I saw the boy’s face had turned bright red.
He stiffened in my arms for two seconds, then wrapped his little arms around my neck and hugged me back tightly.
He rested on my shoulder and whispered in my ear, “Mommy, you smell nice.”
This is simply the cutest thing in the world!
I was basking in the joy of being complimented by my baby when the door opened.
James’s familiar figure appeared at the doorway, walking towards us.
“Daddy!”
The boy in my arms immediately ran to James, stretching out his arms waiting for James to pick him up.
James had clearly just taken a shower, wearing casual home clothes that made him look sexy and relaxed.
His hair fell naturally on his forehead, with some water droplets sliding down his neck into his collar.
I swallowed hard. Male beauty is truly tempting.
As he got closer to me, my heart started beating more intensely.
However, when James spoke, he instantly extinguished my excitement.
“Miss Chloe, don’t you think it’s a bit late to start being nice to Coco now?”
“I didn’t, I…”
I wanted to explain, but as soon as I saw James’s cold expression, I knew he wouldn’t believe anything I said.
In the end, I chose to remain silent.
“Forget it, you carry on. I’m leaving.”
I walked out of the study. Coco peeked out from James’s neck and glanced at me. Seeing how close he was with James, my heart filled with a sour feeling.
What’s the point of having a husband and child if my husband doesn’t love me and wants a divorce, and even the child is closer to his father?
I started to overthink. If that’s the case, why did we choose to get married in the first place, and why did we have a child?
Outside on the balcony, a full moon hung high in the sky. The night breeze blew in, completely messing up my emotions.
Nothing has changed.
It seems only I have changed.
There was only one large bed in the master bedroom.
The entire room was decorated in the most monotonous black, white, and gray color scheme.
Apart from that, the room was kept very clean, with a faint scent of gardenia constantly wafting into my nose.
I remembered, this was the scent I liked.
I walked to the closet, wanting to find one of my pajamas, but all I saw was a sea of black.
And they were all men’s clothes.
…
With no other choice, I had to knock on the study door.
“James… honey, I’m sorry to bother you.”
I spoke with utmost respect.
James, who was working at his computer, looked up when he heard the sound.
The gold-rimmed glasses on his nose bridge made him look so alluring yet unapproachable.
“Do you… know where my pajamas are? I just looked in the master bedroom closet but couldn’t find them.”
James stared at me for a few seconds without speaking.
Just as I thought he wasn’t going to answer and was about to leave, he suddenly stood up from his chair and walked towards me.
He stood straight in front of me. At 6’1″, he towered over my 5’5″ frame, making me look small and delicate.
James smirked, hands in his pockets.
“What, planning to play the amnesia card till the end?”
I swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. The problem is, you wouldn’t believe me even if I told the truth.
Fortunately, he didn’t give me a hard time this time. He stepped past me and walked towards the other side.
I stood there, not knowing what to do.
He turned his head and glanced at me.
“Aren’t you coming?”
I immediately ran after him like an obedient puppy, keeping a respectful distance.
“Thank you.”
Two minutes later, when I happily opened the closet door to get my pajamas, I slammed it shut the next second.
My face turned bright red.
It was simply too embarrassing to look at!!
“Is this…” I didn’t finish my sentence, sure that James understood.
Because he was now leaning against the door frame, arms crossed, silently watching me.
His eyes were silently telling me, “Keep acting, I’ll just watch without saying anything.”
…
I took a deep breath and slowly opened the closet door again. The style of clothes inside was so revealing that I could hardly believe it.
They were all the kind of skimpy outfits that nightclub girls would wear, barely covering anything.
After graduation… no, after marriage, did my dressing style become this flamboyant and sexy?
The annoying thing was, James just stood there, showing no intention of leaving.
I could only try my best to ignore his gaze. With my back to him, I rummaged through the clothes from top to bottom, but couldn’t find a single “normal” piece of clothing.
…
I sighed inwardly, turned around, and not knowing what I was thinking at that moment, I asked James:
“Honey, which… which one do you like to see me wear?”
Then, I clearly saw James’s eyes gradually darken.
He snorted coldly and turned to leave.
He slammed the door shut so hard it startled me.
Why did he get angry?
Sigh, they say a woman’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea, but a man’s heart is even harder to fathom.
Taking the pajamas to the bathroom, a thought suddenly crossed my mind. Could the reason for our divorce be that our sex life wasn’t satisfying?
After showering, I put on a robe and went to Coco’s nursery.
The nursery was decorated very warmly. It was evident that James cared a lot about the child and put a lot of effort into it.
I tiptoed over. He was already in a sweet dream, hugging a stuffed toy.
I gently covered him with the little blanket he had kicked off and carefully removed his thumb from his mouth, wiping it with a napkin.
It wasn’t until this moment that I truly felt the closeness of being a mother.
But I only knew his name was Coco, I didn’t even know how old he was.
I looked at James’s and my marriage certificate. The date was four years ago.
So Coco should be around three years old.
I stroked his head, then got up to leave his room. Just as I closed the door and turned around, I saw the man standing in front of me.
Our distance was so close that if I raised my head, I could touch his chin.
My back was pressed tightly against the door, but James seemed unaware, showing no intention of stepping back to maintain some distance.
My heart was beating fast, so dramatically that I felt it might jump to my throat the next second.
“Are you done?”
“Mm-hmm.”
The atmosphere was a bit awkward. I didn’t know what to say for a moment.
“So… ready for bed?”
James didn’t respond, nor did he make any movement.
I pulled my robe tighter, trying not to let him see the overly revealing pajamas I was wearing underneath.
“I’ll go to bed first then.”
With that, I sidled away and fled to the master bedroom like lightning.
Then without a word, I lifted the covers and lay down, positioning myself properly.
Not long after, the master bedroom door opened, and James walked in.
Seeing me lying in bed, he paused for a moment, his footsteps stopping in place, just looking at me.
I felt my scalp tingle under his gaze.
“Honey, which side do you usually sleep on?”
He didn’t answer me.
How come I feel that after a few years, James’s personality has become quite strange?
He always likes to stare at you coldly without saying a word. I pulled a face and got out of bed, standing by the side.
“You choose first.”
Petty James!
I cursed him in my heart, knowing he couldn’t hear me.
But this time he moved.
He walked to the other side, lay down on the bed, and ignored me, turning off the bedside lamp with a click.
Me: …
It was pitch black. Fortunately, I don’t have night blindness, otherwise I really would have hit someone!
I felt my way back into bed in the dark. The person beside me was breathing evenly.
Everything around was quiet, but I couldn’t sleep at all.
Even my brain felt like a jumbled mess, unable to think about anything.
I was already feeling frustrated, and now my robe was digging into my sore arm, making it even more uncomfortable.
I moved slightly, and the person next to me didn’t react. So I sat up a little, intending to take off my robe.
Successfully removing the robe, I rubbed my sore arm, completely unaware that James, who had his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. In one swift motion, he flipped over and pinned me under his body.
He leaned down to look at me. My breathing became erratic due to nervousness. In the darkness, I couldn’t see him clearly.
But I could feel that he was very close to me, so close that our breaths intertwined silently.
“James, aren’t you asleep yet?”
“What exactly are you trying to do?”
“What?”
“You were the one who wanted to get married, and you were the one who went to great lengths to get a divorce. Now you’re sleeping with me, trying to seduce me. Chloe, I don’t have time to play games with you. If you want something, just say it directly.”
“Seduce?”
I stared at him with wide eyes, suddenly feeling a chill in my chest.
I looked down and realized how revealing the pajamas I was wearing were.
No wonder James thought my current behavior was an attempt to seduce him.
“I… I didn’t mean that. I’m sorry.”
As I spoke, I reached out to pick up the robe I had thrown on the floor.
But James clearly didn’t want to continue sleeping in the same bed with me anymore.
He got off me, then got up and left the bedroom, leaving me with these words:
“Chloe, I don’t care what you’re thinking right now. I have no feelings for you anymore. I hope you understand this point. Whether you’re pretending to have amnesia or trying to seduce me, it all means nothing to me now.”
“I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight. Do as you please.”
James left.
In the huge space, only I remained, left with nothing but sadness.
I couldn’t sleep. I just lay there, staring blankly until dawn.
Around seven, I heard James talking outside, along with a woman constantly saying “okay, okay, okay.”
I guessed it must be the housekeeper.
After a while, the front door closed, and the sound of a car engine started. James had left for work.
I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling with my mind in chaos, starting to ponder.
I’ve never been an outgoing person. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have secretly had a crush on James for so many years.
But now, not only had my secret crush succeeded, but I had also become his wife. Although I was shocked, I felt more of an indescribable joy.
I thought this was a chance given to me by heaven, but I didn’t expect to have played such a bad hand in this marriage.
Low emotional intelligence really is a fatal flaw.
Lost in these thoughts, the bedroom door suddenly opened.
A woman wearing a housekeeper’s uniform walked in. When she saw me, she quickly apologized.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t know there was someone inside.”
“It’s okay, I was just about to get up.”
I smiled at her, and she finally relaxed and slowly walked in.
“The master has gone to work. I thought this room was empty. Didn’t you used to sleep in your own room?”
My own room?
I suddenly remembered that yesterday when I went to get clothes, there seemed to be a bed in that room.
So, I had been sleeping in another room all along.
In other words, were we living separately?
Thinking about it this way, James’s series of unusual behaviors yesterday all made sense.
Too embarrassing to face anyone.
I buried my face in my hands, already regretting my actions many times over.
Coco probably heard our conversation and came running to the bedroom door barefoot, looking at me eagerly but not daring to come in.
“Coco, come here to Mommy.”
I called to him gently, reaching out my arms.
Hearing me say this, the little one excitedly rushed over to me.
Then he suddenly pounced on me, knocking me back onto the bed, showing his little tiger teeth and grinning happily.
“Mommy.”
He said, not forgetting to nuzzle his head against my chest.
It melted my heart.
He really is my adorable baby boy.
No matter how much James hates me right now, this son is my own flesh and blood. I must treat Coco well.
I greeted the housekeeper and took Coco out, spending some quality time just the two of us.
I took Coco shopping, bought him lots of nice clothes, and also got some normal clothes for myself.
After all, my post-marriage dressing style was really hard to accept.
I held Coco as he happily ate ice cream in my arms. The little guy was so happy, his mouth full of cream.
I gently wiped his face.
“Coco, what was Mommy like before?”
Coco looked at me, pouted, and then spoke in a somewhat aggrieved tone.
“Didn’t like Coco.”
Then he added.
“Mean.”
Children don’t lie, but his words made my heart ache.
So, I had changed so much before that even I couldn’t recognize myself.
Then, why did James choose to marry me?
Was it because he liked me?
If so, he really had peculiar taste.
“Mommy, I want to eat that!”
Coco, sitting in my arms, suddenly stretched out his chubby little hand, pointing at the family bucket newly launched on the McDonald’s poster.
Indeed, children can’t resist the “real fragrance” theory.
Me: “Let’s buy it!”
An hour later, Coco and I sat with our heads down on the sofa in James’s office, looking just like two little kids who had done something wrong.
The cause was the family bucket emitting a delicious aroma now sitting on the coffee table in front of us.
It all started because Coco thought his dad must be working hard alone in the office while we were out having fun, so he wanted to share his “delicious food” with his dad.
James’s workplace happened to be near the mall, and I couldn’t bear to refuse the little guy’s request, so we cheerfully went to James’s office.
But in James’s eyes, Coco’s “delicious food” was nothing but “junk food”.
So, what followed was this interrogation.
“Why did you buy this junk food for Coco to eat?”
🌟 Continue the story here
👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app
🔍 search for “294600”, and watch the full series ✨!
#NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #玄幻Fantsy #狼人werewolf #擦边Steamy #励志Inspiring #现实主义Realistic #校园School #后宫Harem #重生Reborn
Olivia and her cousin were kidnapped.
The kidnappers said they could only save one.
I laughed on the spot.
In my previous life, my brother and I were kidnapped, and Olivia chose to save my brother.
History was repeating itself in this life.
As for who I would choose, wasn’t it obvious?
In the European-style banquet hall.
Glasses clinked and perfume wafted through the air.
My father and I stood on the stage, smiling as we greeted the guests.
The butler quietly informed me: “Young Master, all the guests have arrived. Please start the opening dance.”
Today was my 18th birthday.
My father had thrown a grand birthday party for me, with all the prominent figures in our social circle gathered.
I looked out at the crowd, but my designated “dance partner” was nowhere to be seen.
My father leaned in and asked:
“Where’s Olivia? Wasn’t she supposed to dance the opening number with you?”
Olivia Gu, the eldest daughter of the Gu family, was my childhood friend.
She was also supposed to be my “dance partner” tonight.
I looked up.
As expected, my half-brother Ethan was also absent.
If my memory served me right, today was the first time they met in my previous life.
Olivia had gone to the garden for some fresh air and encountered Ethan, who wasn’t used to high society parties.
The two hit it off immediately, marking the beginning of their romantic entanglement.
In my previous life, upon discovering Olivia had left, I immediately rushed out to look for her.
I ended up seeing her chatting happily with Ethan. Consumed by jealousy, I punched Ethan.
The consequences were that Olivia despised me, my father reprimanded me, and the guests looked down on me.
Living this life again, I wouldn’t make the same mistake.
Was a dance partner really that important? Could my birthday party not go on without Olivia?
My gaze swept coldly over the crowd.
A young woman in an unfashionable dress caught my eye.
She was standing forlornly by a pillar, lost in thought.
The girl had delicate features, a petite figure, skin as white as snow, and an elegant demeanor.
She stood out like a sore thumb in this lavish and extravagant banquet hall.
I walked towards her, much to everyone’s surprise.
When the girl saw me approach, her rosy lips parted slightly, her face full of bewilderment.
“Sophia, would you like to dance with me?” I extended my hand to her.
Sophia Gu’s eyes flickered, pointing at herself in disbelief:
“…You’re asking me?”
“Who else would I be asking?” I smiled and asked:
“Do you know how to waltz?”
“Yes…” Sophia nodded, looking honored yet nervous.
She shyly placed her hand in mine, allowing me to lead her to the center of the dance floor.
The guests automatically made way for us.
The band began playing the lively “Tales from the Vienna Woods.”
Sophia carefully placed her hands on my shoulders as we began to dance.
As we glided across the floor, I admired her bashful expression.
A blush crept up her fair cheeks, like a ripe peach.
“Relax, I’m not going to eat you,” I teased.
Sophia’s palms were sweaty, and her steps were a bit unsteady.
“S-sorry…” she apologized, flustered.
In my previous life, I had only cared about Olivia, following her lead in everything.
Influenced by Olivia, I had a very poor impression of Sophia.
But I would never forget that in my previous life, when I fell from a tall building and was broken and battered, it was Sophia who knelt in the blood, desperately performing CPR on me as I was dying.
Only after dying once did I see clearly who was human and who was a demon.
I pulled my wandering thoughts back and continued to tease Sophia:
“Is this your first time dancing with a boy?”
“Yes…”
“Well, I feel quite honored then.”
As I was bantering, my eyes met a pair of shocked ones over Sophia’s shoulder—
Olivia stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of the banquet hall, glaring at me.
Ethan stood behind her, also looking surprised.
It seemed they had just returned.
I guess Olivia hadn’t expected that I wouldn’t wait for her and would directly ask Sophia, whom she looked down on the most, to dance the opening number.
I had been reborn just yesterday. The moment I regained my new life, I vowed that in this life, I must live for myself.
I was no longer anyone’s second choice, nor would I be anyone’s accessory.
Ignoring Olivia’s murderous gaze, I continued to “gaze lovingly” at Sophia.
“Sophia, if you ever need help in the future, you can come to me. I’ve got your back,” I said sincerely.
Sophia was not favored in the family due to her mother’s humble background.
Just for what she did for me as I was dying in my previous life, I would repay her well in this life.
“Thank you, Lucas…” Sophia’s eyes misted over, her voice seemingly tinged with bitterness.
As the song ended, Sophia retreated to a corner.
The guests paired up and gradually moved onto the dance floor.
While I politely exchanged pleasantries with the guests, I walked towards the buffet table and got myself a glass of juice.
“What do you mean by this?”
An angry voice laced with hidden fury sounded from behind me.
I turned around to face the frost-faced Olivia.
I took a sip of the sweet and sour orange juice, and asked in return:
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you ask me to be your dance partner?” Olivia accused, playing the victim:
“Are you toying with me?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. How novel. In my previous life, Olivia would never take the initiative to talk to me.
Let alone use this complaining tone to question me.
I said:
“If I remember correctly, I only asked you one-sidedly if you wanted to be my dance partner. Miss Gu didn’t agree, and when it came time for the opening dance, Miss Gu was nowhere to be seen. Did I have to send someone to find you before I could continue with the party?”
She stared at me as if she didn’t recognize me.
I had never spoken to her in this tone before, and I had always called her “Olivia” since we were young.
This “Miss Gu” sounded distant and cold, as if we were just casual acquaintances.
Taking advantage of her stunned silence, I added:
“How old are you? Don’t you understand basic etiquette? Today is my birthday, don’t ruin my mood.”
I left her with these words, walking away without looking back.
The moment I turned around, a playful system notification sounded in my mind:
“Congratulations, host! You have successfully slapped the female lead’s face. The system rewards you with 100 humiliation points. Accumulate 100,000 points to obtain a resurrection armor.”
Right, not only had I been reborn, but I was also bound to a face-slapping system.
The system said I had already passed away, but due to my strong obsession, it gave me a chance to be revived.
But this didn’t mean I was truly alive.
I needed to slap the faces of those who had hurt me in my previous life, gain 100,000 humiliation points to truly come back to life.
And the time given to me wasn’t much. I needed to complete the task before the time of my death in my previous life.
In my previous life, I was killed by kidnappers at the age of 24.
I had 7 years. I must change my fate!
After my rebirth, my goals were clear. Besides ensuring my own survival,
I also had to take over the family business, absolutely not letting my mother and father’s business fall into others’ hands.
My father and mother’s marriage was a business alliance, joining forces to multiply the scale of the Lu family’s business several times over.
Unfortunately, my father was a fickle man.
Shortly after my mother became pregnant with me, he rekindled his relationship with his first love, even having a child with her.
This first love was Ethan’s mother.
A year ago, my mother passed away due to illness, and she brought Ethan in, becoming the new mistress of the Lu family overnight.
My father, considering my mother’s family background, didn’t dare mistreat me, but his heart had long since been biased.
After returning to school, I began to study hard.
To improve my grades quickly, I hired a top university graduate as a private tutor at a high price.
Every day, apart from eating and sleeping, all I did was study.
During lunch break, I was in the classroom eating the lunch prepared at home while silently reciting chemical formulas.
Two boys who were usually quite friendly with me came over.
One of them, named Henry, showed me his phone.
I glanced at it disinterestedly.
The video was shot on the rooftop of the teaching building.
From the angle, it seemed to be secretly filmed.
A boy and a girl were sitting in the shaded area of the rooftop, eating burgers together—
Who else could it be but Olivia and Ethan?
Ethan shared his burger with her, and Olivia, who claimed to have germaphobia, accepted it without hesitation.
I looked away indifferently. Henry, sharing my indignation, said:
“This Ethan is so shameless. He knows Olivia is your childhood sweetheart, yet he’s still trying to curry favor with her.”
Another classmate named Samuel also gritted his teeth and said:
“Like mother, like son. No wonder he’s the son of a homewrecker.”
Henry immediately suggested: “Lucas, let’s teach him a lesson. Let’s lock him up and beat him!”
The whole school knew that Ethan’s mother was a homewrecker.
In my previous life, although I hated him, at first I only took measures to isolate him, without causing any actual harm.
Until I discovered he was getting closer to Olivia.
I became consumed with jealousy, and with the instigation of some people with ulterior motives, I joined several classmates in bullying Ethan.
Come to think of it, my untimely death in my previous life was also due to my own actions.
I finished my lunch, closed the lunch box lid, and said leisurely: “Let them be. The final exams are coming up soon, there’s no need to waste energy on irrelevant people.”
My response took them by surprise.
Especially Henry, who pressed on: “Lucas, are you really going to let him off like this? Isn’t that too easy on him?”
Samuel chimed in:
“Yeah, Ethan is so audacious, daring to steal your girlfriend. You can’t just let him get away with it.”
I sighed, emphasizing again: “Olivia and I are just neighbors, we were never a couple. She can be with whoever she wants, it has nothing to do with me. I just want to focus on studying now, I don’t have time for anything else.”
Henry and Samuel looked at each other, unable to accept my change in attitude for a moment.
I advised them: “Put more effort into studying. Nothing is more important than improving yourself.”
Henry said unhappily: “We’re just looking out for you. Not only are you ungrateful, but you’re also lecturing us.”
I couldn’t be bothered to argue with him. I put away my lunch box and took out my chemistry notes to review.
Seeing my cold attitude, Henry angrily pulled Samuel away.
I glanced at him thoughtfully, recalling some things…
The first class in the afternoon was a chemistry test. After the chemistry teacher came in, he looked around the classroom and asked: “Where’s Ethan?”
Only then did I realize Ethan hadn’t come back.
The classmates all said they didn’t know.
The chemistry teacher turned his gaze to me. “Lucas, do you know where he went?”
I stated frankly: “Teacher, I didn’t leave the classroom after class. I don’t know.”
After hearing my explanation, the chemistry teacher didn’t pursue the matter further and hurried to hand out the test papers.
Chemistry was my strong suit, and with my recent tutoring showing results, I finished all the questions in just half an hour.
I double-checked my answers twice to make sure there were no mistakes.
I looked up towards Ethan’s seat, but he still hadn’t returned.
Could something have happened? I frowned.
The chemistry teacher was also very worried, pacing back and forth on the podium, occasionally looking towards the door.
I decided to be a good person for once. I raised my hand and said: “Teacher, I’ve finished my test. Shall I go look for Ethan?”
The chemistry teacher was more than happy to agree.
After leaving the classroom, I didn’t go directly to look for Ethan, but turned to the classroom next door—
“Excuse me, teacher, I need to find Olivia,” I said to the history teacher on the podium, standing at the door.
The history teacher was slightly taken aback, and the students in the classroom immediately started buzzing.
Olivia looked at me with a long face, and various teasing sounds arose.
The history teacher called for them to quiet down, then asked me: “What do you need her for?”
I said: “Ethan from our class hasn’t returned to class. Someone saw him eating lunch with Olivia during the break, so I came to ask.”
As soon as I finished speaking, the classroom erupted again.
Olivia’s expression became even more colorful, full of anger and humiliation.
She stood up abruptly without waiting for the teacher’s signal.
“I don’t know where Ethan went!” she said loudly.
I raised my chin and said: “Anyway, he’s missing. Why don’t you come with me to look for him?”
The other students joined in the commotion.
The history teacher couldn’t take it anymore and impatiently shooed us away: “Olivia, go look with him! Come back to class when you find him!”
I turned and left without waiting for Olivia.
She complained behind me: “Lucas, what’s wrong with you? Can you stop causing trouble for me every day?”
I ignored her.
Actually, I knew where Ethan was.
In my previous life, after I found out he was eating lunch with Olivia, I had ganged up with Henry and others to teach him a lesson.
I awakened in this life, and I let him off, but that doesn’t mean others would.
I headed straight for a certain men’s bathroom on the top floor.
This floor was high up, and hardly anyone ever came here.
Just as I reached the door, I heard repeated banging sounds from inside.
I rushed in first, and sure enough, the door handle of the cubicle near the back was tied shut with a rope.
The rope was tied in a dead knot, and I had no tools to untie it.
Olivia peered in from outside the bathroom: “Is he in there?”
Before I could answer, Ethan, who was locked inside, called out: “Olivia! Is that you? I’m here!”
As Olivia hesitated, I folded my arms and said: “What are you standing there for? Go find some scissors!”
Olivia stamped her foot and ran off to find a pair of scissors.
I cut the rope, and Ethan was finally able to get out.
He was in such a hurry that he was sweating profusely, repeatedly thanking us.
“Who locked you in here?” Olivia asked while glaring at me suspiciously.
Ethan stammered: “I… I don’t know… There was a boy I didn’t recognize who said he left something here and asked me to help look… As soon as I went in, the door was locked…”
Olivia turned on me fiercely: “Lucas, you did this, didn’t you?”
I gave her a cold look: “Evidence.”
“What?”
I pointed at the security camera outside the hallway: “You say I did it, do you have any evidence? Why don’t we check the security footage?”
In my previous life, Ethan was locked up until almost the end of school before Olivia rescued him.
Olivia used her status as the daughter of a school board member to demand that the school check the security footage.
In the end, it was proven that I was behind it, and from then on, Olivia despised me even more.
Now, Olivia was left speechless by my question.
I sneered: “Don’t accuse me without evidence.”
“If you didn’t do it, how did you know he was here?”
Olivia’s suspicion wasn’t unfounded.
I remained composed and said coolly: “In the entire school building, this is the most suitable place to lock someone up. Next time someone locks you up here, I guarantee you’ll be calling for help with no response.”
Not waiting for Olivia to react, I turned to tell Ethan: “There’s still 40 minutes left for the chemistry test. If you don’t want to turn in a blank paper, you’d better hurry back.”
Ethan followed me back to the classroom with a dejected look.
I led him back to the classroom.
The chemistry teacher was relieved, asked him a few questions, and then let him return to his seat to take the test.
As I walked past Henry, I clearly saw his eyes flicker, his face full of dissatisfaction.
Olivia did end up checking the security footage later and found out who was behind it.
It was Henry.
He had always had a crush on Olivia but didn’t dare pursue her because of my presence.
That day, after learning that Olivia and I had “broken up,” he thought of eliminating Ethan as an obstacle.
Little did he expect to fail so miserably.
After the incident came to light, Henry became a pariah that everyone avoided.
And Olivia was once again slapped in the face by me, this time even more severely than at my birthday party.
The system rewarded me with 200 humiliation points, bringing my current total to 300 points.
In this life, I focused all my energy on studying and no longer targeted Ethan.
Olivia and I also gradually grew apart, with classmates all rumoring that we had broken up—though in reality, we had never dated.
Without me interfering, and with his closeness to Olivia, Ethan gained quite a few friends.
Time flew by, and another half semester passed.
On this day, there was a cultural activity, with a dance competition for the whole grade.
When Olivia took the stage, the entire audience erupted in applause.
Ethan and his friends sat below the stage, cheering for her.
Their disloyal behavior displeased the girls in our class.
I sat in a corner, silently memorizing knowledge points from flashcards.
Cheers constantly erupted from the stage, with Olivia’s graceful dance moves eliciting numerous screams.
I dug at my ears, annoyed by the noise. Just as I picked up a flashcard to check, I suddenly saw a familiar figure.
I squinted at the doorway.
It was Sophia, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.
She was two grades below me, not on the same floor, so I rarely encountered her.
She walked towards the small woods by the sports field, where there was an old sports equipment room.
I watched curiously for a few more moments and saw several girls standing in front of the equipment room door.
One of them roughly grabbed Sophia’s collar, and the others immediately surrounded her.
Sensing trouble, I put the flashcards back in my pocket and quickly ran over.
I had only taken a few steps when I heard exclamations from behind.
“Olivia!”
Olivia’s classmates were calling for her.
I ignored them and continued running towards Sophia.
Before I could reach her, she was already knocked to the ground by those girls.
I shouted while running: “Teacher! Over here! There’s a fight here!”
Hearing this, the girls scattered in fright.
I helped up the dust-covered Sophia. Her face was bruised, and her blue sportswear was stained with footprints.
“Lucas…” she called out awkwardly.
“Are you okay? Who were those people?” I asked with a frown.
Sophia shook her head and explained:
“A boy in class gave me a love letter a few days ago. His admirers were unhappy and came to cause trouble for me.”
I thought to myself, can’t these young people care more about their future? All they do is fight over love.
“We should report this to the teacher.”
Sophia shook her head again.
“It’s fine… It’s not a big deal, it’s happened before.”
Despite both being from the Gu family, Olivia was the school belle and a celebrity, while Sophia was treated completely differently.
Whether at home or at school, she was targeted maliciously because of her background.
I encouraged her: “Study hard, and when you grow up and become successful, you can slap their faces hard!”
“Mm, thank you Lucas…”
“If they go too far, you still need to tell the teacher, or you can tell me too.”
“Okay…”
Sophia agreed verbally, but with her personality of being used to bullying, she had long lost the courage to resist.
“I’ll take you to the infirmary,” I said, supporting Sophia as we walked towards the teaching building.
Sophia hurriedly declined politely: “You don’t have to trouble yourself, Lucas. Aren’t you still in the middle of an event…”
I said frankly: “Watching girls dance is extremely boring. I was just idle anyway.”
Only then did Sophia obediently follow me to the infirmary.
As I was supporting her in, I unexpectedly saw Olivia sitting inside.
She was accompanied by two girls, and the school nurse was crouched beside her, spraying her knee with an analgesic spray.
Her knee was scraped and slightly swollen.
When I left earlier, I heard her classmates calling her. I guess that’s when she fell.
Seeing Sophia and me, Olivia’s expression changed drastically.
Ignoring her, I said to the school nurse: “This junior was beaten up by some classmates. Could you please check her over?”
The nurse said: “Wait a moment, I haven’t finished here yet…”
Olivia glared at us viciously. Sophia sensed the other party’s hostile gaze.
She looked pitiful, her eyes reddening as she said: “Lucas, I can manage on my own… Why don’t you go back first…”
“No need, I’m not in a hurry. I’ll see this through,” I insisted.
My conversation with Sophia finally provoked Olivia’s displeasure. She said sarcastically:
“You really are compassionate, willing to skip class to help others.”
I thought to myself, I didn’t provoke you, why are you being so passive-aggressive?
I retorted: “Aren’t you supposed to be a dance prodigy? How did you get injured in a small cultural activity? Have you been lacking exercise lately?”
Olivia’s face immediately darkened. Her friend came to her defense: “Lucas, how can you talk like that? Olivia was distracted when she saw you leave and that’s why she fell.”
Olivia said angrily: “Shut up!”
I snorted coldly, not taking it seriously: “She carelessly fell on her own, why blame others?”
“You…” Olivia’s friend wanted to say more.
Sophia beside me suddenly inhaled sharply.
“Ouch…”
6.
My attention returned to her, and I quickly asked: “What’s wrong?”
She covered her cheek and said: “It’s nothing…”
“Does it hurt a lot?”
I moved her hand away. Half of her face was swollen.
With the nurse’s permission, I got an ice pack to apply to Sophia’s face.
Olivia’s friend couldn’t help but interject again: “Why don’t you show some concern for Olivia? Aren’t you childhood sweethearts?”
Olivia remained silent, seemingly agreeing with her friend’s words.
I said nothing, casting a cold glance at them, continuing to apply the ice pack.
Sophia whispered: “Lucas… you don’t have to take care of me, I’ve dealt with injuries on my own before… Go check on Olivia… She needs you more…”
This sounded a bit manipulative.
But I wasn’t falling for it.
No wonder men like green tea bitches, who could resist this?
I patted Sophia and said: “Silly girl, you’re clearly the one who’s been wronged but you’re keeping it to yourself. She has so many people around her, does she really need me too?”
Ignoring Olivia and her friends’ angry faces, I said solemnly:
“Olivia, you always claim to be the embodiment of justice, so why do you turn a blind eye when your own cousin is bullied at school? If either of these two friends of yours were beaten up, you wouldn’t stand idly by, right? How come when it’s your own flesh and blood cousin, you have this indifferent attitude?”
This was exactly how Olivia had berated me in my previous life when Ethan was bullied and I didn’t help him.
Aside from that one time I locked Ethan in the bathroom, I never bothered him again.
It was always those who admired Olivia who did things in my name.
In my previous life, I knew Olivia didn’t like cruel men, so I had already restrained myself from targeting Ethan.
But whenever anything happened to Ethan, Olivia would blame it all on me.
“When your own flesh and blood brother is bullied, you have this indifferent attitude?”
These were her exact words to me back then. Now I was throwing them right back at her, tit for tat.
Olivia was so angry and flustered by my scolding that she couldn’t utter a word in response.
Her two sidekicks were also left speechless.
The school nurse felt awkward and said to them: “Alright, this student’s injury isn’t serious. Go back and rest well, don’t do any strenuous exercise, it’ll be fine in a couple of days.”
Olivia was supported away by her friends on either side.
As soon as they left, the system came online: “Congratulations, host! You have successfully slapped the female lead’s face. The system rewards you with 200 humiliation points! Current score: 500 points.”
The school nurse came over to treat Sophia’s wounds.
Sophia continued to play coy, saying: “Lucas, is Olivia angry? Why don’t… you go comfort her? I’m fine now…”
I scoffed, “Comfort her for what? She’s clearly making a fuss over nothing. Why should I indulge her?”
I realized that with Sophia around, slapping Olivia’s face was a piece of cake.
Sophia said guiltily, “I don’t want to affect your relationship because of me…”
“I don’t have any relationship with her. We’re just childhood neighbors and classmates, and our families are close. That’s all,” I lied blatantly.
Time flew by, and it was time to apply for universities.
During this period, I was busy applying to schools and didn’t have time to slap Olivia’s face.
My score remained at 500 points, but I wasn’t in a hurry.
I still had seven years to slowly slap her face.
My hard work during this time paid off, and I finally got accepted into my dream school, Oxford University.
Olivia also got accepted to this school, but her GPA was much lower than mine.
As a result, she suffered a harsh slap to the face.
System: “Congratulations, host! You have successfully slapped the female lead’s face. The system rewards you with 500 humiliation points! Current score: 1000 points.”
My score suddenly jumped to 1000 points, and I felt triumphant.
In my previous life, I had spent a fortune to squeeze into Oxford University just to be with Olivia at all times.
Back then, she had mocked me: “With your level, even if you barely get in, you’re just wasting a spot.”
Now, I had finally vindicated myself.
After receiving the acceptance emails, the Gu and Lu families gathered for a celebratory dinner.
During the meal, Olivia’s mother brought up: “The kids are all preparing for university now. Why don’t we hold an engagement ceremony for Lucas and Olivia before the start of the semester?”
7.
Engagement…
This brought back unpleasant memories.
In my previous life, it was also at this time that I had pestered and pleaded to get engaged to Olivia.
At that time, my father wanted to curry favor with the Gu family, and the Gu family was also eyeing the wealth of the Lu family and my mother’s family.
So the two families quickly agreed.
At the engagement party, Olivia had given me the cold shoulder the entire time.
When it came time for the group photo, she even pulled a disappearing act.
I later found out that she had snuck out to meet secretly with Ethan.
By the way, Ethan had been accepted into an art school in France.
He had a talent for design and went to study in France for four years.
During those four years, I thought I could win Olivia’s heart.
However, as soon as Ethan returned, he effortlessly stole Olivia away.
Now history was repeating itself, but this time it was the Gu family who first brought up the engagement.
I saw Olivia frowning, neither agreeing nor refusing.
It seemed I would have to play the villain again.
I spoke leisurely: “You must be joking. Once we’re in university, Olivia and I will meet many new friends. We might even meet our future partners. Getting engaged now would limit both our futures. I don’t think it’s appropriate.”
The expressions of those at the table varied. After hearing this, Olivia glared at me angrily for some reason.
I took the opportunity to drag her into it: “Don’t you agree, Olivia? Besides, we’re just friends after all.”
But Olivia didn’t play along. She said sarcastically: “Just friends? Do you even believe that yourself?”
I chuckled and asked: “Olivia, did I say something wrong? Don’t you want to be friends with me? I’ve always treated you like a little sister.”
“You…” Olivia’s chest heaved violently, as if suppressing her anger.
My father couldn’t help but interject: “Enough! If you’re not getting engaged, then you’re not. Stop talking nonsense.”
Olivia’s aunt, who had suggested the engagement, looked embarrassed and tried to smooth things over: “Right, right… I was just joking. The kids are grown up now, they have their own thoughts. As parents, we should respect their decisions.”
Olivia’s uncle also chimed in: “We’re all family here, no need for such formalities.”
Olivia turned her face away from me in anger.
I glanced at Ethan, who was quietly eating. Intentionally not letting him off the hook, I said: “But now that the college entrance exams are over, we should celebrate properly. Ethan is preparing to study abroad in France. Why don’t we throw him a farewell party?”
Ethan’s mother, Jane, was a bit simple-minded. Hearing my suggestion, she immediately beamed with joy.
“That’s right, Ethan is leaving for abroad soon. We should invite relatives and friends to celebrate for him…”
My father interrupted her sternly: “What do you know? If we’re having a party, it should be for all the graduating kids together! Hosting one just for Ethan, what kind of rule is that?”
Jane suddenly realized she had misspoken and repeatedly apologized.
Thus, the engagement party from my previous life was forcibly turned into a graduation party.
I achieved my goal of slapping faces.
System: “Congratulations, host! You have successfully slapped the female lead’s face and your stepmother’s face. The system rewards you with 300 humiliation points! Current score: 1300 points.”
The graduation party was held in the banquet hall of my house.
On this day, I encountered Sophia, whom I hadn’t seen in a long time.
In just half a year, she had grown into an even more graceful young woman.
Sophia took the initiative to raise a glass of champagne to congratulate me: “Congratulations, Lucas, on getting into your dream university.”
I took a glass of juice from nearby and replaced her champagne.
“You’re underage, don’t drink alcohol,” I said, caring like an older brother:
“How have you been lately? Is anyone still bullying you?”
She shook her head and said: “Almost never now. Even if there is, it’s just verbal taunts. I just ignore them.”
“Good, focus on your studies. Use your good grades to hit back at those who look down on you.”
“Thank you, Lucas. I’ll work hard,” her eyes seemed to sparkle.
I smiled brightly and said: “If you ever need anything, just let me know. I’ll help if I can.”
“Okay…”
As we were chatting pleasantly, an unwelcome voice came from the side:
“Lucas, I didn’t know you liked playing the big brother so much.”
8
This voice, I knew without looking that it was Olivia, who had been giving me trouble lately.
I changed my warm attitude towards Sophia to a cold glance at Olivia.
“Miss Gu, don’t you have anything better to do? Don’t you need to entertain guests?”
I was implicitly criticizing her for meddling.
Olivia’s tone sank: “Uncle Lu asked me to call you. He wants you to greet the professor from the Business School.”
Only then did I put down my champagne and walk towards my father.
Olivia left with me.
As she was leaving, she shot a warning and hateful glance at Sophia, which happened to catch my eye.
I stood beside my father, graciously exchanging pleasantries with the professor.
The professor praised me for my promising future, saying I would be a big shot in the business world one day.
My father was proud yet humble, saying: “Oh no, you’re too kind. You’re overpraising this boy.”
I walked around with my father for a while, but didn’t see Olivia again.
I assumed she had gone off to meet secretly with Ethan — however, I spotted Ethan sitting on a sofa in the rest area.
Why was he still here? I wondered.
Although there were three main characters at the party, Ethan was clearly being neglected.
He sat quietly with Jane in a corner, eating a piece of cake.
Ethan was timid and didn’t actively greet people, and other guests treated him as if he didn’t exist.
High society was just that realistic. The illegitimate son of a mistress who had climbed the social ladder, without much ability himself — no wonder others in the circle treated him with disdain.
As I was thinking this, the butler came running towards me in a panic.
He didn’t dare to speak loudly, and whispered to me: “Young Master, Miss Gu… she’s arguing with her cousin!”
Olivia was arguing with Sophia?
I quickly asked: “Where are they?”
“By the swimming pool…”
I immediately ran off.
Just as I reached the pool, I saw Olivia and Sophia grappling with each other.
“Stop!” I shouted.
Their movements paused for a moment.
However, in the next instant,
Sophia was “pushed” by Olivia, and she slipped.
Splash!!
Sophia fell into the cold pool water.
I hurriedly called for help: “Someone come quickly—!”
Several male servants rushed over and helped me pull Sophia out of the water.
Several elders also arrived, having heard the commotion.
Until Sophia was rescued, Olivia stood rooted to the spot like a clay statue.
Sophia was like a drowned rat, lying on the ground coughing.
Her face was pale, covered in water, looking pitiful.
Uncle Gu asked: “What happened here?”
Nobody at the scene dared to speak.
I glared fiercely at Olivia, who was pretending to be deaf and dumb.
I asked coldly: “Olivia! You pushed her in yourself, and now you don’t dare admit it?”
🌟 Continue the story here
👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app
🔍 search for “294616”, and watch the full series ✨!
#NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn
My adopted daughter knelt before me, refusing to get up after causing a hit-and-run accident.
“Mom, I just got accepted into MIT. I have a bright future ahead of me. If I go to prison, my life will be over. Please, I’m begging you, save me…”
I agreed.
During my two years in prison, neither father nor daughter visited me once.
After my release, I discovered it had all been a scheme by my husband and daughter. They had already transferred all my assets to themselves.
The daughter who had once cried and begged me to take the blame now cursed me as a criminal, an ugly old fool, and kicked me in the chest.
I died from cardiac arrest.
When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day we received the MIT offer.
“Mom, Dad, I got accepted into MIT!” Keira Thompson exclaimed excitedly.
“That’s my girl! MIT is one of the top universities in the country. Well done, sweetheart,” Jack Thompson beamed. “Honey, didn’t you just get a $500,000 year-end bonus last month? Let’s use all of it to buy our daughter a BMW. She deserves it.”
This conversation felt eerily familiar. I suddenly realized I had been given a second chance at life.
“Dad, I’m still young. Buying a car would be too flashy. Besides, Mom worked hard for that money. I can’t bear to spend it,” Keira said sweetly.
In my previous life, I always thought she was a considerate, filial, and kind girl. It wasn’t until I went to prison that I discovered how evil she truly was.
“But sweetie, I promised you a BMW if you got into MIT, remember?” Jack said, glancing at me expectantly.
He was a stay-at-home husband, and all our household expenses came from my income.
In my previous life, I felt guilty for not giving him a child. How foolish I was.
“Why are you looking at me? You made that promise, not me,” I said coldly.
Father and daughter exchanged shocked glances, their eyes wide with surprise.
In my previous life, they always acted in concert – one playing the innocent flower, the other the doting father – constantly squeezing money out of me.
And in my previous life, I always thought my adopted daughter was considerate and my husband was open-minded, treating her like his own flesh and blood.
Watching them act now made me feel sick to my stomach.
“Have you lost your mind? Our daughter got into MIT, and you won’t even buy her a car? What kind of mother are you? Or do you not see Keira as your real daughter?” Jack shouted at me.
“Dad, don’t say that. $500,000 isn’t a small amount, and Mom’s company needs cash flow. It’s okay if we don’t buy the car,” Keira said, still playing the “understanding” card.
“Fine, how about a $300,000 car then? Surely that’s not too much to ask?” Jack yelled at me.
“Have you lost touch with reality? Since when is a $300,000 car considered cheap? If you’re so capable, why don’t you buy it for Keira yourself?” I scoffed.
Jack was dumbfounded that I would say such a thing.
Keira also wore an expression of disbelief.
In my previous life, this tactic worked on me every time. I always fell for it, thinking they were good people.
“Mom, Dad, I don’t want a car anymore. Please stop fighting. It’s all my fault,” Keira said pitifully, tears welling up in her eyes on cue.
In my previous life, I would have hugged her and fulfilled all her demands.
But this time, I knew she was a vicious demon.
Watching her cry made my blood boil.
SLAP!
I struck her hard across the face.
Father and daughter stood frozen in shock.
Keira stared at me, terrified and confused.
“Oh, there was a mosquito on your face. I was too hasty and hit too hard,” I said, feigning concern as I reached out to caress her reddening cheek.
The next day at the office, I immediately changed all my bank card PINs, mobile payment passwords, and began planning to transfer my assets. This time, I couldn’t let Jack get his hands on my money.
Later, I requested Keira’s GPA from the school. I was shocked – with such low scores, there was no way she could have been accepted to MIT.
In my previous life, Keira had shown me her GPA and offer letter several times. I believed her completely then, but now I realized both must have been forged.
That afternoon, I went to a private detective agency and asked them to thoroughly investigate Jack and Keira.
I suspected they might actually be father and daughter.
Twelve years ago, Jack took me to an orphanage. Among dozens of children, he chose Keira. When Keira first met Jack, she displayed a natural affinity for him. At the time, I thought they just clicked, that it was fate. I liked her too.
But now, thinking about how they could team up against me, I realized their relationship could only be that of father and daughter.
If that was true, it was truly chilling to think about. They had been playing this long game for twelve years, slowly emptying my bank accounts.
A week later, I received a credit card alert at the office. My supplementary card had been used to spend $300,000.
I had forgotten to cancel that card.
I had given Jack a supplementary card for groceries and household expenses.
I didn’t need to guess to know that $300,000 was for buying a car.
I quickly called the bank to cancel the supplementary card.
That evening, as I approached our building, I saw a new BMW X2 without license plates parked outside.
As soon as I entered the house, Keira sweetly brought me my slippers. “Welcome home, Mom. You must be tired from work.”
Seeing her fake smile, I wanted to slap her again, but I couldn’t reveal my hand before the investigation was complete.
“Hmm, your dad bought you a car?” I asked casually.
“Mom, I kept refusing, but Dad wouldn’t listen. I couldn’t do anything about it,” she said, feigning innocence and helplessness.
“I’ve cancelled your supplementary card. From now on, I’ll give you $10,000 a month for household expenses. If you need to buy anything big, let me know and I’ll handle it.”
“What do you mean? Shouldn’t we reward our daughter for getting into MIT?” Jack angrily demanded.
I almost exposed them.
With a 1.2 GPA, that trash wouldn’t get into MIT in her next life.
Fortunately, I held my tongue.
“I’m thinking of our daughter’s best interests. She’s still young and just got her driver’s license. What if she gets into an accident and meets her maker?” I said seriously, cursing her.
Jack jumped up, slamming the table. “How dare you curse my daughter?”
At that moment, I was certain Keira was Jack’s biological daughter.
“I’m just worried about her safety. I care about her,” I said.
“Hmph, you’re just stingy,” Jack shouted.
“Mom, are you upset that Dad spent your money to buy me a car?” Keira asked, tears in her eyes.
I stroked her head and said gently, “How could Mom ever be reluctant to spend money on you? I’m just worried about your driving skills. If something happened to you, how could Mom go on living?”
You want to act? I can act too!
“Mom, I got into MIT! One of the top universities in the country. If it were someone else’s mother, they’d throw a celebration dinner and buy expensive gifts. But you haven’t done anything. Don’t you love me anymore?” she said, tears flowing.
Her acting was truly impressive!
I continued stroking her head and said, “The government is promoting frugality now. Throwing a dinner party would be too wasteful. Besides, we should be low-key. Being too showy will make people jealous. As for gifts, isn’t that BMW a gift?”
“Mom, you don’t love me anymore. You know what? I didn’t want the car to show off or for my own convenience. I had a dream. Mom, you’ve sacrificed so much for me over the years. I wanted to drive you on a road trip across the country.”
“I’m touched that you have such intentions, but don’t you think something’s odd?” I asked.
“What’s odd?” she asked, confused.
“You should earn money yourself to buy a car, then take me on a road trip. It’s like saying you’ll treat me to dinner, but I end up paying. Isn’t that strange?” I said seriously.
She was stunned, wanting to argue but unable to.
“Chloe Johnson, are you even a mother? How can you crush our daughter’s good intentions like that?” Jack said, winking at Keira.
“Mom, you’re too much. You don’t love me anymore…” she cried as she ran out.
“Keira…” Jack chased after her.
I suddenly remembered the notice at the entrance of our complex: Last night, the security cameras were damaged. The property management has contacted repair technicians. Residents, please secure your belongings and lock your doors and windows.
Were they setting a trap for me?
I was alone now, and with the cameras down, there would be no witnesses if they framed me.
Realizing this, I immediately called my assistant, Chen. She lived only a mile from my house.
Then I called five other employees, saying there was an urgent meeting at my home. I told them to come as quickly as possible and that I would reimburse their travel expenses.
At 9 PM, I heard the front door open. I walked out of the study.
“Have you been home the whole time?” Jack asked.
“Yes.”
“I don’t believe you. Didn’t you go look for Keira?”
“She’s not a child anymore. She can take care of herself.”
“Are you even Keira’s mother? How can you say such heartless things?”
“We can’t protect her forever. She has to walk her own path in life,” I said calmly.
After arguing with him for about fifteen minutes, Keira returned, panic-stricken.
As soon as she entered, she knelt before me: “Mom, I hit someone and ran away. Can you take the blame for me? Please save me. I don’t want to go to jail. I just got my acceptance letter from MIT. My life is just beginning…”
Hearing these familiar words, my anger flared. I wanted to strangle her right there.
In my previous life, I was so foolish to take the blame for her.
“Keira, don’t be afraid,” I said, hugging her and pretending to comfort her.
“Mom, will you help me?” she asked pitifully.
“Of course I’ll help you. You’re my precious daughter.”
“Mom, I knew you wouldn’t abandon me. You still love me. I swear, when you get out of prison, I’ll repay you double.”
“What do you mean, ‘get out of prison’?” I pushed her away, feigning surprise.
“Mom, didn’t you say you’d help me? Aren’t you going to take the blame for me?” she asked, confused.
“When I said I’d help you, I meant I’d hire a good lawyer for you to seek leniency,” I said.
Keira was dumbfounded.
“Chloe, if you hadn’t upset our daughter, she wouldn’t have run out, and this wouldn’t have happened. You should take responsibility and take the blame for her,” Jack argued forcefully.
“Why don’t you take the blame for her? Keira, listen to Mom. Your dad is just a stay-at-home dad, a few years in prison won’t matter much. But Mom is different. I run a company, I earn the money. If I go to prison, who will pay for your college?” I said.
Jack was speechless, his face turning red with anger.
“Mom, Dad can’t take the blame for me. After I hit that woman, I got out to check on her. She suddenly grabbed my ankle. I screamed, and the woman didn’t see me, but she must have heard my voice,” Keira said.
I sighed and put my hands on Keira’s shoulders. “Keira, don’t try to run away from your problems. You need to be brave and take responsibility. Turn yourself in. You’re young, a few years in prison won’t matter much. Besides, you’ll still have Mom. When you get out, you can come work at my company.”
Keira’s mouth formed an O shape, unable to believe that her once doting adoptive mother had changed so much.
🌟 Continue the story here
👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app
🔍 search for “294633”, and watch the full series ✨!
#NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic
After Grandma Betty secretly sold me to Ray, the trafficker, Mom lost her mind. Dad, until the day he died, never forgave my brother Michael for not taking better care of me.
Michael spent ten years searching for me, traveling across the country. When he finally lost hope, he slit his wrists and ended his life…
Meanwhile, Grandma Betty and Uncle Matt took over our home and all our family’s possessions.
I once thought about setting the house on fire and burning them alive, but then, something unexpected happened—I was reborn.
I vividly remember that after she pocketed the money, Grandma told Ray, “Take the girl, but leave my grandson out of it.”
…
If I hadn’t been kidnapped, I would have been the beloved princess of the family. Dad, Mom, and Michael would have doted on me like I was the center of their world.
But instead, I was sold off to the Appalachian Mountains, where I became dull and mentally impaired after suffering from a high fever for too long.
The family that bought me realized I was no longer of any use to them, just an extra mouth to feed. So, they sold me off again. I was passed from one family to another until no one wanted to buy me anymore. In the end, they said I might be brainless, but my kidneys were still good, and so was my heart.
So, I was trafficked for my organs and died.
Only in death was I able to return home.
That’s when I learned that Dad and Mom couldn’t bear the grief of losing me. They both passed away, leaving Michael all alone.
But Michael never gave up on me. For years, he carried my photo from place to place, asking everyone he met if they had seen the girl in the picture. “She’s my little sister,” he would say, “She’s beautiful and sweet.”
He wore his shoes down to the soles and wouldn’t even spend money on instant noodles, surviving on just a cup of water and a bread roll every day. At night, he clutched my picture and cried.
When he finally heard the news of my death, his emaciated body could take no more.
“Dad! Mom! Sis, wait for me—I’m coming to find you!!”
As the blade sliced across his wrist…
“Michael!”
I tried to reach out and save him, but my hand passed through his body.
My heart filled with agony. What was I supposed to do? Was I really going to have to watch my family die one by one because of me?
Just then, a bright light flooded through the window.
When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in the back of a smelly truck, the stench of cigarettes burning my nose.
I locked my gaze on the man in the black leather jacket.
It was him! That damned trafficker—Ray.
He pulled a few crumpled bills from his pocket, handing them to the woman across from him.
“Here you go, count it, 500 bucks. Heard you’ve got two boys too. How about I pay you triple for them?”
So it was for a mere $500 that my family was destroyed.
Through the cigarette smoke, I saw Grandma Betty’s familiar, kind face. She smiled as she stuffed the money into her pocket. “Don’t even think about it. I’m not selling my grandson.”
A chill ran through me. Tears welled up in my eyes.
Why? Why would Grandma do this? Why would she sell me?
Ray voiced the question gnawing at my heart. “Aren’t you afraid your son’s going to find out you sold his daughter?”
“Who’s going to tell him? You? Me? No one will ever know,” Grandma muttered in her thick country accent. “And what’s wrong with selling a granddaughter? Girls are raised for someone else anyway. If I don’t sell her now, I’ll have to eventually.”
She continued, “Michael’s already in jail, and I asked him for $1,000 for bail. He refused. If he won’t help his own brother, why should I coddle some useless little girl? Selling her was his fault for being so stubborn.”
Ray laughed heartily. “Well, next time you’ve got more, you know where to find me.”
Grandma added, “With this money, I can finally get my oldest son out of jail!”
Then, as if it wasn’t enough, she urged, “Make sure you sell my granddaughter far away, somewhere she can’t run back. Fewer mouths to feed, and maybe my youngest son will send me more support money.”
Because of that one sentence, in my previous life, I was sold off to the deep, hidden corners of the Midwest, never to see the light of day again—until I died.
But this time, I’m going to make them all pay.
The sedatives hadn’t completely worn off, but I mentally marked every stop along the way, waiting for the perfect moment to escape.
Besides me, there was another boy in the truck, a delicate little kid who was sound asleep—another one of Ray’s victims, no doubt.
The truck stopped on a small road near Central Train Station.
A woman in a hat leaned against the window and whispered, “Vince, did you bring any boys this time?”
Vince looked around cautiously before nodding. “Yeah, one boy. $1,200.”
“Deal.” The woman handed him the cash, excitement in her eyes as she turned and revealed a basket on her back. “Put the boy in here.”
“Mama, don’t leave me behind! Take me and my brother with you!” I cried, grabbing the woman’s sleeve. I knew this was my chance.
“What do I need a girl for?” She turned her head, but I caught a flicker of sympathy in her eyes.
The boy woke up just then and, without missing a beat, joined in, crying out for his sister.
Vince took the opportunity to pitch me to the woman. “Buy her too! She’ll be company for the boy. Girls are cheap, and she can do housework. I’m giving you a deal here, Martha—$700, take her.”
The woman hesitated, but in the end, I was sold again, this time for a $200 difference.
Martha covered the basket with a cloth, leaving us unseen and unwatched. She was too distracted and left us on the roadside while she went to the restroom.
“You stay here and don’t move. There are traffickers everywhere around here,” she warned.
Once her footsteps faded, I gently woke the boy.
“Do you want to go home?” I whispered.
The little guy nodded, wide-eyed but silent.
“Then follow me, and don’t cry. I’ll get us out of here. But if you make a sound, I’ll leave you behind.”
I put on my toughest face, and we crawled out of the basket, sprinting into the crowd.
I didn’t go to the police. I couldn’t trust anyone in this town—they could be working with the traffickers. I couldn’t take that risk.
At the bus station, I scraped together the last dollar in my pocket and bought two tickets.
Back then, you didn’t need an ID to ride a bus. The ticket clerk looked at us suspiciously, wondering why we didn’t have any adults with us. I squeezed Tommy’s hand tight and gave her my sweetest smile.
“Ma’am, we’re going to the county to meet our mom. She’s waiting for us at the station.”
Once we got to town, we didn’t have enough money to buy train tickets to the city. But we had to get to the city.
So, I smudged dirt on my face and started begging.
Tommy’s stomach growled loudly. He was hungry, but he never asked for food, just stared longingly. I was starving too, but I forced myself to endure it. “We’re almost home.”
When we couldn’t take it anymore, we dug through trash cans for scraps.
After gathering enough for the tickets, I slipped behind a woman and pretended to be her child to get on the train.
But just as we stepped onto the platform, the train doors still open, I heard a commotion behind us.
Martha, that vile woman, pointed right at us, screaming, “That’s my boy! He’s gone! My boy’s missing!”
She rushed toward us, trying to drag us off the train.
Others jumped in, trying to push us toward her. “Kids shouldn’t be wandering around. Go home with your mom.”
My heart pounded. Were we really not going to make it?
Images of Michael slashing his wrists with our family portrait in his arms flashed through my mind.
I fought back with everything I had, biting the woman’s hand and clinging to the seat. “You’re lying! You’re not my mom! Help! She’s a trafficker!”
Martha let out a scream and slapped me hard across the face, the sound echoing through the train car.
Her accomplice kicked me in the side. “How dare you bite your own mother?”
I curled up in pain, but no one around us seemed to care. They just watched indifferently.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a girl stand up to help, but her mother yanked her back, whispering, “Stay out of it. It’s their family business.”
My head spun, and Martha yanked my hair. “What do we do with her?” her accomplice asked.
Suddenly, a small body threw itself over me.
Tommy, barely able to speak, cried out, “No! You can’t take my sister!”
Martha’s face softened instantly as she scooped him up. “Come on, my precious boy. Let’s go home.”
The taste of blood filled my mouth, jolting my senses awake. I gathered all my strength and shouted, “You don’t even know our names! My mom loves me—she’d never hit me like that! You’re lying!”
All eyes turned toward us.
A few passengers stood up and blocked the exit.
“Could she really be a trafficker?” one of them muttered.
Martha’s eyes darted around nervously, and she backed up a few steps, stammering, “The girl’s from my husband’s first marriage. She’s always been slow in the head and runs away a lot.”
In those days, it wasn’t uncommon for stepmothers to mistreat their stepchildren. Her explanation seemed to satisfy most of the onlookers.
Just when I thought no one else would help, a voice rang out.
“Ma’am, if that’s your son, why didn’t you notice he’s having an asthma attack?”
“I’m a doctor.” A man in a suit stepped forward, his voice steady and firm. “You’re suffocating him. I doubt you’re really their mother.”
Sure enough, when Tommy was pulled out of the woman’s arms, his face was flushed red, his chest heaving, and his mouth slightly open, clearly struggling to breathe.
Martha and her accomplice tried to make a scene, but the conductor quickly had them thrown off the train.
We were saved.
Once the train finally started moving again, I let out a shaky breath.
“Don’t worry,” the man said as he opened his medical kit and began treating Tommy. “He’ll be fine.”
A kind conductor moved me to an empty seat and asked if I was hurt. I shook my head.
The bruises and bite marks on me weren’t just from defending myself—they were a symbol of my fight for survival, my fight to take control of my fate.
“Do you know where your home is, sweetheart?” he asked gently.
“I do,” I nodded.
How could I not know? It’s the place I thought about every single day.
Even in my last life, when my mind was no longer clear, even in death, I remembered home.
But back then, it was too late. By the time I returned, Mom and Dad were gone, and I had to watch Michael die, powerless to stop it.
Thank God, this time, I could finally return home.
I turned my head to gaze out the window, and the tears I had held back finally fell.
Mom, Dad… please, please be there when I get back.
The man, Dr. Andrew, was a medical student who had just returned from studying abroad. He had stumbled into this crazy situation on his way home.
When I asked why he had believed me, he simply smiled.
“If I was wrong, I would’ve apologized.”
“But if I was right,” he continued, “I would have saved not just you, but your whole future and your family’s as well. I became a doctor to help people, and this is just another way to do that.”
“Thank you…” I murmured.
When the train pulled into the station, Dr. Andrew stepped off with us.
He was surprised to learn that we were both from Atlanta.
I shook my head. “My home isn’t here, and I don’t know where this little boy’s home is either.”
“Well, where are you headed? I can take you,” he offered.
I hesitated, my feet slowing. I knew better than to trust anyone at this point.
But Dr. Andrew seemed to sense my reluctance. He gently patted my head and pulled out his student ID from his bag.
“Look, don’t worry. I’m just trying to help. I’d hate to see you two get lost again, because next time, I might not be around to help.”
Dr. Andrew was in a rush, but he made sure we got to our destination safely. Before he left, he handed me a few chocolate bars with a warm smile.
“Take care, little one. Stay safe.”
As I looked up at his kind face, a mix of emotions swirled inside me.
The world was broken in so many ways, but there were still people like him, stitching it back together.
We made it to the police station in one piece.
Since I could clearly provide my family’s address, they were able to register me right away.
But Tommy was different.
It seemed like he hadn’t even learned to speak properly yet. The only word he had managed to say was “sister.” Other than that, he was silent, his little head bowed as he gnawed on his fingers.
Officer Kate, the kind policewoman handling our case, sighed deeply. “We’ve already figured out the details on the older one, but this little guy… what are we supposed to do with him?”
Tommy’s big, watery eyes looked up at me as his small hand gripped the hem of my shirt tightly. “Sister?”
Logic told me that I should focus on getting home, but the sight of Tommy’s worried little face tugged at my heart.
I sighed and turned to Officer Kate. “Ma’am, could you please just take both of us home? If anyone finds out who he is, they can come to my house.”
What was a little more time, anyway? We had come this far together.
To help prevent more children from suffering at the hands of traffickers, I gave Officer Kate a detailed description of Ray and Martha.
She looked at me in amazement. “You remember all of that so clearly?”
“Because if I hadn’t,” I said quietly, clenching my fists, “I might never have seen my parents again.”
Tommy and I headed back to my house together.
Standing in front of the front door, still decorated with the worn-out family blessing sign, I suddenly felt a wave of hesitation.
If I counted my past life, it had been twenty years since I had seen Mom and Dad.
Summoning all my courage, I reached for the doorknob, but it didn’t budge. The door was locked, dust gathered on the frame. A neighbor soon explained that Mom, Dad, and Michael were likely out searching for me.
According to Michael, Mom would stand on the street, holding my photo, asking every passerby she saw. Even when she lost her mind, she would still grab strangers and plead, “Have you seen my daughter? She has a round face, big eyes, she’s about this tall, and she’s really cute.”
Dad had neglected his business, which had finally started to do well. His hair was turning white, falling out in clumps. He slept at the train station, terrified that I might come back one day and he wouldn’t be there.
In the fourth year after I went missing, Mom couldn’t bear the pain any longer and passed away. By the following March, Dad lay on his deathbed, turning away from Michael, unable to look at him. His final words were, “You have to find your sister. Bring her home…”
The night had fallen, but I couldn’t wait until morning. I didn’t stop for a second, making my way back to our old home in Greenridge Village.
Years later, I often thanked my lucky stars that I made it back in time.
The village roads were muddy, and by three or four in the morning, all the lights were out—except for one house.
As I stepped off the bus, I heard the voice that still filled me with rage.
“Matt, your brother says he found a lead that can bring Kaley home. It’ll cost $20,000, but in three days, we can have her back!”
Dad sounded desperate. “Mom, I swear I’m not lying. If I had $20,000, I’d give it to you right now!”
In those days, having that kind of money was a rarity. Where could he possibly get it?
“Just sell the factory if you have to. Ask the neighbors for loans. You can gather the money somehow, can’t you?” Uncle Matt chimed in, pretending to be worried.
“The longer Kaley stays missing, the more I worry. I’ve heard that some traffickers even break children’s legs…”
🌟 Continue the story here
👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app
🔍 search for “294649”, and watch the full series ✨!
#NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic
I worked my butt off for this project proposal, and my boyfriend just handed it over to the new girl.
Oppressed, suppressed—and I’ve become nothing but the stepping stone for their romance.
If a tiger doesn’t roar, you really think I’m some cuddly little kitten?
Anger level: 1000%.
Fury level: 10,000%.
Crazy level: Off the charts.
Time to bring the pain. If we’re playing this game, I’m blowing everyone up.
After a full month of overtime, my dark circles were worse than a raccoon’s, but I finally finished the project.
I was ready to get promoted and maybe even a nice bonus.
Ryan Mitchell, my boss-slash-boyfriend, called me into his office. “Claire, you’ve been doing great. Keep up the good work.”
I nodded eagerly, waiting for the good part.
…Nothing.
I waited a little longer. Still nothing.
“Is that it?”
He blinked, as if remembering something. “Oh, right! I almost forgot the main thing.”
I knew it. Verbal praise alone wasn’t enough.
“These are the new project files. I want you to take charge and try to wrap it up in a month.”
I looked at the stack of papers—at least six inches high—and felt sick to my stomach.
“Weren’t you going to promote me after this project?”
Ryan walked over, patted my shoulder, and gave me that condescending smile. “Claire, you’re still young, there will be lots of opportunities. This is just a small supervisor role. Knock out a few more projects, and I’ll personally push for your promotion to manager.”
I wasn’t buying it. “So… who’s getting the promotion this time?”
“Emma Johnson.”
Emma? The new girl who’d only been here for six months?
“Ryan, are you serious? You’re promoting her over me? Have you lost your mind?”
He knew better than anyone how hard I’d worked for this promotion. Forget weekends—I practically split my day into eight parts to get everything done.
“Ryan, you’d better give me an explanation, or this won’t end well for anyone.”
Ryan’s face darkened. “Claire, this is work. I’m your boss. Just do as I say.”
Then he softened his tone, trying to pacify me. “Claire, I’m your boyfriend. Would I ever harm you? I fought hard to get this project for you, and there’s plenty of credit to go around. Trust me, it’ll pay off. Be good.”
I’d heard this spiel too many times. “Stop feeding me lies. I’m cutting carbs.”
When I returned to my desk with the files, Emma was already soaking up the congratulations from the team.
The moment she saw me, she rushed over to give me a hug. “Oh, Claire, I’m so sorry! I don’t know why the boss chose me. We all thought it would be you. You’re not mad, right?”
“I’ll ask Ryan. Maybe there’s been a mistake.”
I pushed her off with a fake smile. “Oh, please, don’t wait. Go ask him now.”
Emma’s face changed, and she lowered her head, saying nothing. Not long after, she posted in our Slack channel, inviting everyone to dinner.
And, just like that, the group chat lit up with congratulations.
It was sickening.
“Claire, you’re coming, right? Your support would mean the world to me. After all, if it weren’t for your help, I wouldn’t have gotten this opportunity.”
“They say you’re clueless, can’t get anything right. But clearly, you’ve gotten pretty smart. At least you know you don’t deserve it.”
“Emma, weren’t you going to ask the boss? What’s the hold-up? Turns out thanking me was just lip service.” I added a fake pout to my voice for good measure.
Emma stood there, speechless, her face stiff with embarrassment.
She’s been playing the sweet girl act for so long, she probably thought it worked on everyone.
Predictable.
That night, Emma took the whole department out to dinner at The Capital Grille, where it’s $500 per head.
She really went all out.
Everyone was happy with the free food—except me, of course.
“Claire, it’s over. Stop acting like the world owes you something.”
I shot Ryan a glare. “There’s something wrong with my paycheck. I didn’t get my project bonus.”
Ryan avoided eye contact, which sent a wave of unease through me.
I grabbed his arm. “Where’s my $30k project bonus?”
Ryan finally muttered, “The project’s Emma’s now, so the bonus goes to her.”
No wonder she was feeling generous tonight.
Fine, I could live without the promotion.
No bonus? Okay, I’d even swallow that.
But no promotion and no bonus? Hell no!
Ryan, sensing my growing fury, leaned down and whispered in my ear, “Keep your cool. We’ll talk about this later.”
I picked up my glass of red wine and tossed it in his face. “Keep your cool? Screw that. And screw you.”
The room fell dead silent. All eyes were on us.
Ryan gritted his teeth but forced a laugh. “Haha, no big deal, everyone. Claire just slipped. Enjoy your dinner.”
Emma was quick to grab some napkins, rushing to dab the wine off Ryan’s face. “Claire, come on! You’re a grown woman. How are you still this clumsy?”
I used to feel sorry for her—fresh out of school, baby-faced, always speaking so softly. I’d go out of my way to look after her.
Turns out, I looked after her too well. She even took my boyfriend.
With how cozy they were, no one would believe there wasn’t something going on between them.
After Emma finished cleaning up Ryan, she turned to say something to me, but I beat her to it. “Don’t yell at me. I’ve been scared of dogs since I was little.”
Ryan slammed his hand on the table and stood up, pointing at me. “Claire, enough! We’re here to celebrate Emma’s promotion. Don’t ruin this for everyone because of your attitude.”
Amazing. Helping the other woman yell at his girlfriend. What a guy.
They took my promotion, my bonus, and I was expected to sit there, swallowing my pride and toasting the people who robbed me.
I’ve got feelings, too.
And tonight, no one’s getting off easy. Especially Ryan and Emma.
I swatted Ryan’s hand away. “Your happiness is none of my business.” Then I turned to Emma. “Don’t act like you earned this with skill. Whatever shady tricks you used to get it, just stay quiet and keep your head down. It’s disgusting.”
Emma’s face turned red as she stammered. “Claire, I understand you’re upset about not getting the promotion, but you’ve misunderstood. I don’t blame you.”
Then, as expected, the tears started falling. The classic “poor me” look.
The men at the table immediately started defending her. “Claire, you’re out of line. Emma’s been nothing but great. The company must have had a good reason for promoting her.”
Emma knew exactly how to play them. The guys ate up her “sweet girl” act, calling her “little sis” and everything.
“Oh yeah, you’re so generous. Maybe next time you’ll give her credit for the projects you complete. Last month, you got a $20k bonus, right? Transfer it. Let me learn a thing or two about generosity.”
I stood up on my chair, towering over him, holding his phone out.
He stood there, frozen, not saying a word.
“What did you drink tonight? Windshield fluid? Stop with the cold takes. Use your brain before opening your mouth.”
I turned to another male coworker who had been running his mouth. “I get that you’re straightforward, but that doesn’t mean you should talk out of your ass.”
Ryan tried to step in, using his “boss” voice. “Claire, I’m ordering you to apologize to Emma. Now.”
I’d been too busy with deadlines to put Ryan in his place lately.
“I’m not a customer service rep, Ryan. I don’t apologize for things that aren’t my fault.”
At that, Emma’s tears came down harder. She sobbed out, “I’m sorry, Claire… I didn’t mean to upset anyone… It’s all my fault.”
I couldn’t help but poke at her more. “Exactly. It’s all your fault.”
“If you don’t want to eat, Claire, you can leave,” Ryan said.
Who said I wasn’t eating? The food’s free, so why not? I called over the waiter and ordered more dishes. The way he glanced at us told me he knew something was up.
After all, at this table, we had people with clenched jaws, others hiding tears, and me with a grin I couldn’t suppress.
I’d pissed off so many people at this dinner. Sorry, not sorry. I’ll do it again next time.
You know, I might not make everyone happy, but I can definitely make sure everyone is equally pissed off.
After blowing up at the dinner, I felt amazing. That night, I slept like a baby.
The next morning, I even took the time to put on some makeup before heading into work.
I’d barely sat down when Ryan called me into his office.
“Why didn’t you pick up my calls last night?”
I flopped onto his couch lazily. “I don’t like hearing dogs bark.”
“Claire, you’re really going to make such a big deal out of this?”
A big deal?! This man was still calling it a “small thing”?
And to think, this guy was my boyfriend. My mistake, clearly.
I stood up, walked right up to Ryan, and slapped him across the face. His shock barely registered before I yanked his hair down, forcing him to bend over in pain. I took the opportunity to kick him in the stomach.
“A small thing? I’ve been busting my ass working overtime every day, not for money, but what, to earn some good karma? You handed my bonus to some other woman, and you have the nerve to call it a small thing?”
I let go of him, but not before giving him one last kick to the gut.
Ryan winced, fury in his eyes. “Claire, we’re done.”
“Oh, don’t get it twisted,” I sneered. “I’m dumping you. You and Emma have been screwing each other behind my back, haven’t you? You two deserve each other—garbage belongs with garbage. Moonlighting as a cupid now, huh?”
Ryan straightened himself, dusting off his shirt, trying to keep his cool. “I’ve been done with you for a long time. You’re all work, no femininity. All you care about is the job.”
“Please, Ryan. You’re a bottom-feeder who thinks he’s a king just because he’s splashing around in some shallow water. Do you think you’re worthy of calling me out?”
I rolled up my sleeves. Today, I wasn’t just talking. “Ryan, you’ve always been a punching bag. I’m just here to finish the job.”
We started brawling right there in the office. Sure, he had the upper hand physically, but I had claws—long nails and a sharp bite—and I wasn’t afraid to use them. I clawed at his face, pulled his hair, even bit him when I had the chance.
It was a full-on spectacle, and soon enough, the noise had attracted our coworkers.
Emma was the first to burst in. She gasped when she saw the scratches and blood on Ryan’s face and neck. She rushed to stand between us, arms spread wide like a human shield. “Claire, if you’re angry, take it out on me. Don’t hurt Ryan, he’s just following the rules!”
She was so noble, wasn’t she?
Well, if she wanted the heat, fine. I was ready to take it out on her.
But before I could lay into Emma, a close coworker of mine pulled me aside. “Claire, you’ve already hit him and said what you needed to say. If you keep going, you’re the one who’s going to get hurt in the end. You can see Ryan’s just setting everything up for his new girl.”
I glared at her, confused. I had thought Ryan and I had kept our relationship on the down-low. How could she know about this?
“Oh, everyone knows,” she said with a knowing sigh. “But the way he’s setting things up for Emma? It’s so obvious he’s paving the way for her.”
“When did you find out about the two of them?” I asked, my confusion turning to curiosity.
She looked at me like I was an idiot. “They’ve been flaunting it all over Instagram Stories for the past month! Don’t tell me you didn’t know.”
Well. That was nice to hear.
I, the official girlfriend, had found out just yesterday.
Right now, I felt like I could morph into King Kong and slap the hell out of both of them.
A coworker and I opened Instagram on our phones, pulling up Emma’s profile.
On my screen, I only saw two posts. One from last month with a caption about working late, and one from yesterday—an announcement of her promotion, with a thank you to the company and her colleagues.
But on my coworker’s screen, there were at least a dozen posts.
Caption: Someone told me we should eat somewhere romantic.
Photo: A dimly lit French restaurant, looking all too fancy.
The date? I had been stuck in the office finishing a proposal that night.
I’d even suggested that place to Ryan once, but he said it was overpriced and not worth it. Instead, we’d ended up eating cheap hotpot from a place down the street.
Caption: Collecting every little spark of happiness.
Photo: Emma and Ryan at an art gallery, doing a heart gesture with their hands.
It was just his hand in the photo, but that watch on his wrist? I’d bought it for him.
And the date? I’d been at the office revising that very same proposal, the one Ryan said wasn’t good enough yet.
Caption: I saw it and he bought it for me immediately.
Photo: The newest iPhone, iPhone 14 Pro Max, 1TB, in Sierra Blue.
And the date? The day after I’d given that exact phone to Ryan.
He had hinted that his old phone was broken but said he couldn’t afford a new one. Being the good girlfriend I was, I used my hard-earned paycheck to buy him the best.
I’d noticed later that he wasn’t using it. When I asked, he said it had been stolen, and he felt terrible about it. I’d even planned to buy him a replacement with my next bonus.
Twenty-five years of life, and only now am I realizing how low my IQ must be.
Ladies, listen up: spending money on a man is a surefire way to curse yourself for eight generations.
As I scrolled through the posts, my fists clenched so hard I thought they might break.
At that moment, I wished I could sprout eight arms like an octopus and slap both Ryan and Emma in one go.
Just as I was imagining it, Emma returned to her desk. Our eyes met, and she gave me a look as if she were the one wronged.
I used to think she was cute, but now, she looked like a rotten grape—full of toxic juice.
And that shiny iPhone sitting on her desk? The one I bought with my own money?
My. Damn. Money.
That’s it.
I’m done.
🌟 Continue the story here
👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app
🔍 search for “294665”, and watch the full series ✨!
#NovelMaster #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance
