Category: English

On the day of my birthday party, my grandfather, Harvey Macleod, asked me which guy from the Cameron family I was going to marry. I didn’t hesitate for a second and picked Arthur Cameron from the Cameron family. My family’s elders were all shocked as hell. After all, everyone in our circle knew that the heir of the Macleod Group was head over heels in love with Charles Cameron, the eldest son of the Cameron family, and would rather die than marry anyone else. In my previous life, I did get married to Charles. But just three months later, I caught Charles having an affair with my illegitimate cousin, Eliza Macleod. At that moment, his eyes were full of tears, and he begged me for forgiveness. “I’m begging you. It was just an accident.” I softened my heart, but Harvey still found out about it and had Eliza sent far away to a foreign country. Charles thought it was my doing and hated me with a passion. In the following few years, the elders in my family passed away one after another. Our company always got beaten to the punch in the market, and our top-secret documents were stolen. I was hit and killed by a car on the day I found out I was pregnant. Given a second chance at life, I decided to let them have their love. But I never expected that when the news of my engagement was announced, Charles burst into the engagement party and begged me to marry him.

As soon as I stepped out of the study, I saw Charles Cameron. He was sitting in the middle of the crowd, decked out in a designer suit, but his eyes kept drifting towards the door. When his friends saw me, one of them nudged him hard. “Here comes your groupie… Oops, I mean, your fan.” Charles gave me a dismissive glance. “What are you doing here?” he said, sounding disappointed. In my past life, I would’ve rushed over and tried to smooth things over with him. But the image of that truck slamming into me was still fresh in my mind, so I just replied coldly, “It’s my birthday party. Why wouldn’t I be here?” Charles instantly flew off the handle when he heard how icy I sounded. “Violet Macleod, what’s your deal? Looking for a fight? I took time out of my schedule to come to your party, and this is how you act? Just because you ran to your grandpa doesn’t mean we’re getting married.” One of his friends chimed in, “Violet, what’s your problem? Apologize to Charles! If you hadn’t shamelessly pestered Charles every day, he wouldn’t have bothered with you.” I was speechless. “If you’re not happy at my party, feel free to leave. And as for my wedding plans, they’ll be announced at my grandpa’s 80th birthday party next month. It’s none of your business, so don’t bother asking.” Although I intended to marry Arthur Cameron, I had not yet asked him. Though in my previous life… I couldn’t be so hasty as to announce it here now. “Wedding plans?” One guest perked up. “Sounds like their grandfathers are finally ready to step down. We’ll finally know who’s taking over the Cameron Group.” My grandfather, Harvey Macleod, and Frankie Cameron, Charles’ grandfather, had been best friends their whole lives and should have retired ages ago. Since I was the only daughter in the Macleod family, they’d made a deal that whoever I married would get a 20% share of the Cameron Group from Frankie. In my previous life, with the 15% Charles already owned, marrying me made him the boss of the Cameron Group. Things were about to change big time for the Cameron Group. His friends started cheering. “Charles, you’re gonna be the top dog!” Charles looked proud. “Violet, just because I’m marrying you doesn’t mean you’ve won. I can’t stand how smug you look. “I learned my lesson from last time. I’ll marry you, but there’s no way I’ll become a part of your family. Before we marry, you’d better give your poor sister a good job.” I was about to tell him it had nothing to do with him when I realized that he’d been reborn, too. In my previous life, it was a servant of the Cameron family who tipped me off about his affair with Eliza. And now, he was still up to the same tricks. I was about to kick him out when I heard a timid voice behind me. “Violet?” Eliza Macleod came over, looking weak, with bruises all over her face. Everyone started whispering. Charles rushed to her, looking heartbroken. “What happened? Who did this to you?” Before Eliza could answer, Charles turned around and glared at me. “Violet, how dare you play these dirty tricks again?” I tried to explain, but Eliza interrupted me, “It’s nothing serious. I just tripped on the way here. Today’s Violet’s birthday. Even though she’s never liked me, I still wanted to wish her well.” Charles shot me a look of disgust. “Violet, you could never be as kind as she is.” Eliza grabbed Charles’ arm. “Don’t be mad, Charles. I’m sure one day Violet will forgive me.” Charles wrapped his arm around her protectively. “Let’s go see a doctor right away. I don’t want you getting hurt worse.” As they walked away, he shot me a warning look. “Violet, keep your hands off Eliza. If you mess with her again, our engagement party will not happen on time.” With that, he dragged Eliza away.

That night, the birthday party was in full swing, but Eliza and Charles were nowhere to be found. They didn’t show up until the party was almost over and only my close friends of the same generation and a few close businessmen were left chatting. Eliza had changed her clothes. Her face was flushed, and her lips were swollen. Charles looked like he was on cloud nine, and there were faint red marks peeking out from his open shirt collar. Everyone knew what they had done and kept looking at me, while my friends just shook their heads, looking like they wanted to say something but held back. In my previous life, I would’ve stormed over and smacked Eliza. But this time, I just picked up a cup of coffee from the table and took a sip. Charles stood protectively in front of Eliza, waiting for me to blow up. When I ignored them, though, he started scowling, clearly annoyed. Eliza pulled Charles in and started kissing him right there as if no one else was around. Charles didn’t stop her and even let her sit on his lap. It was their business, and I couldn’t care less. But my best friend, Sienna Smith, couldn’t take it anymore and yanked them apart. “Eliza, Charles is practically Violet’s fiancé! You’re so shameless.” Before Eliza could respond, Charles exploded. “Sienna? Last I checked, the Smith family has a bunch of projects funded by the Cameron family. How dare you lecture me? Violet hasn’t said anything. Who are you to butt in?” “Charles, watch your mouth,” I shouted. Sienna was kind to me, and I wasn’t about to let him trash-talk her. “The leading man at the Cameron Group hasn’t stepped down yet. What makes you so sure that I’ll pick you and that you’ll get that 20% stake?” Charles stared at me, then burst out laughing. “Are you trying to play hard to get? Everyone knows you’re crazy about me. Who else is there? One of my sisters has married off overseas, and the other has locked in her room making art all day. And my little brother’s in jail doing time. You wanna join him?” Then, he thought of something and added, “Look, Violet, whatever beef our families had is old news. Your mom’s gone, and no amount of holding grudges will bring her back. Let it go, for everyone’s sake. Eliza’s innocent in all this.” Innocent? I almost laughed out loud. When my mom, Amelia Macleod, was pregnant, Eliza’s mom, Ivy Wilson, showed up at our door with Eliza. She claimed my dad, Blake Macleod, had knocked her up and ditched her, and she called Amelia a homewrecker. During the fight, Ivy pushed Amelia down the stairs, and Amelia and the baby died. But it turned out that Eliza wasn’t even Blake’s kid but was my deadbeat uncle’s, and Ivy was just a cocktail waitress. Amelia and the baby were the real victims. Lost in thought, I didn’t notice Charles grinning. He thought it was my acquiescence and happily said, “Oh yeah, happy birthday.” With that, he added, pulling off his tie and tossing it at me, “Here. It is for you.” Eliza said in a loud voice, “Charles, do you think she’ll like it? She might blame me for stealing her gift again.” As she spoke, she tugged at her collar to show off a necklace. Charles shrugged. “Don’t worry. She doesn’t like anything but what I’ve used. You didn’t steal anything. Once I give something to you, it’s yours.” They snickered as the tie smacked me in the face. It stung like a slap. In my previous life, I had indeed enjoyed collecting things that Charles had used, including the ring he wore when we met, the tie from our wedding, and the watch from his big promotion. I kept them in fancy boxes, thinking they were precious mementos. He laughed at me and said they were all rags that were worn once and thrown away, and that I was the only one who considered them a treasure. Mortal things were precious because they were endowed with feelings, and he didn’t love me, so he naturally wouldn’t understand. I sighed, picked up the tie, and chucked it in the trash can, saying, “Trash belongs in the trash.” Charles went crazy. “Fine, Violet! Our wedding’s getting put on ice!”

That night, Eliza and I got home together, and she had a smug look. “Violet, so what if you marry Charles? You can have his body, but you’ll never have his heart. Oh, maybe he won’t even let you touch his body either,” she said. Without Charles around, she finally dropped her innocent act. “I made your mom dead, and I can sure as hell steal Charles, the man you love the most. Just wait, Violet. Everything that’s yours will end up being mine eventually.” Eliza thought she could get on my nerves, but I just gave her a cold glance. “Then I wish you could move out of the maid’s room soon,” I said. After that, I ignored her and walked straight into the mansion. Harvey came to talk to me and said that Arthur needed some more time to think it over. Charles probably almost forgot that he had another younger brother. Frankie had a daughter who had given up her inheritance rights to become a cop because she had fallen in love with a policeman. Later, they both died in the line of duty, leaving behind only their son, Arthur. Frankie and his daughter had had a huge falling-out because of that marriage decision. After she died, Frankie felt remorseful. But Arthur didn’t go back to the Cameron family very often. With my reminder, Frankie felt that he owed Arthur. Even if Arthur didn’t marry me, Frankie would still leave him a portion of his property. Charles was dead set on getting the Cameron Group, but he had no idea that he could never get it all. I was looking forward to seeing how Charles would fare in this life. On the day of Harvey’s 80th birthday, all the big shots in our circle showed up. To make sure the party went smoothly, I checked Harvey’s health with the doctor one more time. When Eliza saw me there, she walked straight towards me. These past few days, Charles had taken Eliza to a bunch of luxury stores. I checked her social media account, and every single fancy Instagram post was screaming about how close they were. When she saw me, she came over and smiled, “Violet, Charles is such a great guy. He took me to buy so many luxury things. And not only that, he even measured me himself and said he was going to order a custom-made dress for me.” Seeing I ignored her, she continued, “Charles also said that even after you two get married, I shouldn’t be shy around him. We’ll be family, and he should do things for me.” Eliza kept interrupting my conversation with the doctor. I turned around and was about to tell her to buzz off. But when I saw the brooch on her chest, I froze. That brooch was the birthday gift my parents had given me when I was a kid. They loved each other deeply. Amelia had designed the brooch herself, and Blake had found the best craftsman in Winussland to make it. It was a symbol of their wish for me to have a happy and fulfilling life. Later, after that horrible thing happened, Amelia died, and Blake lost his will to live and never came out of his room. So, I never received a birthday gift from them again. There was only one such brooch in the world, and I didn’t even want to wear it myself. I grabbed Eliza’s collar, pushed her into the corner, and looked down at her. “Where did you get this brooch?” Suddenly, Eliza started choking up. “Violet, even though you’ve always hated me, I’ve always thought of you as my dear sister. Charles just bought me a few clothes because he felt sorry for me. You shouldn’t hit me just because you’re angry.” I wasn’t falling for her act. I didn’t ease up my grip and said viciously, “Tell me. Where did you get the brooch? Who gave it to you?” Eliza just stared at me with widened eyes. I was so disgusted that I tried to snatch the brooch, but another hand grabbed my wrist tightly. A cold voice came from behind me. “Violet, what are you doing? Do you want to hit her right in the open?” Charles stood protectively in front of Eliza and glared at me. “Is this how you, the Macleod family, treat your kin?”

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When I was young, I lost a leg saving Jasper. Later, because of that leg, I was bullied and lost my hearing. Jasper rushed back from thousands of miles away and promised with tears in his eyes to take care of me for life. But ten years later, the first words I heard after regaining my hearing were from Jasper’s friend asking him. “Hey, between Nora and Celeste, who do you prefer?” Jasper laughed softly, “Of course, it’s Celeste. Nora’s missing a leg, such a downer.” He seemed to forget that Celeste was the one who caused my hearing loss. “Nora’s missing a leg, such a downer.” When I heard this, I was holding carefully baked desserts, eager to share the good news with Jasper about my regained hearing. But in that moment, I froze, unable to believe what he said. “Nora?” Jasper turned and saw me, quickly taking the plate from my hands, communicating gently in sign language: “Why are you standing there? Come sit.” He always made sure I didn’t stand too long, worried that the prosthetic leg might cause me pain. But the next moment, with the same gentle look, he spoke to his friend in an irritated tone: “If she stands for too long, her leg hurts at night, and I have to massage it. Ugh, sometimes I still can’t get used to seeing her leg.” It was the first time I heard him speak with such disdain, and I almost couldn’t hold back my tears. “I have something to do, you guys chat.” Holding back tears, I returned to my room as calmly as usual. But as I entered the room, I heard Jasper say, “She can’t hear, what are you afraid of?” Tears suddenly flowed, and I wiped my face hard. My eyes fell on the photo on the bedside table. It was a picture of seventeen-year-old me and eighteen-year-old Jasper. Before the accident that year, we took this photo, full of unspoken feelings and hopes for a bright future together. But two months after the photo was taken, during a chain car accident on an overpass, I threw myself on Jasper to save him, losing my left leg, the one I danced with. Eighteen-year-old Jasper knelt by my hospital bed, choked with emotion, promising to take care of me for a lifetime. At twenty-eight, Jasper and I were seen by friends as the epitome of a loving couple. But it turned out, aside from me, everyone knew Jasper was disgusted by my leg and tired of it. He even cheated with the woman who bullied me. When I came out of the room, Jasper’s friend was gone, and I heard Jasper talking on the phone by the window. “Celeste, don’t be afraid, I’m coming home.” A charming female voice gently came through from the other end, and my body stiffened instantly. That voice haunted many of my nightmares. Jasper, with a warm expression, noticed me and calmly hung up the phone. “Nora, there’s something at the company, I need to go. Don’t wait for me for dinner.” I thought of the “home” he mentioned just now. After marrying Jasper, he bought this spacious penthouse, telling me it was our home. Now, which home was he going to? “Okay,” I said with difficulty, trying to remain calm, “You go ahead.” With my agreement, Jasper hugged me and then instructed Mrs. Jenkins, “Don’t forget to make pigeon soup for the lady.” Mrs. Jenkins acknowledged. After he left, Mrs. Jenkins typed on her phone to ask about my dinner preference. After answering, she glanced at the door, then at me, with a hint of sympathy in her eyes, muttering, “Poor lady…” Am I pitiful? I took the health tea she handed me and returned to the room. Sitting quietly by the window for over an hour, I impulsively opened my phone and logged into my long-unused Twitter. I found a few new bot followers. But when I clicked on one of their profiles, I saw a tweet posted just ten minutes ago. “A cockroach appeared at home, luckily my brother came in time, scared me to death — my brother also gave me a new ring, telling me that our love is as eternal and sincere as the ring’s meaning —” The photo showed a slender hand wearing a six-carat pink diamond ring, and when I saw the butterfly tattoo on the thumb, my eyes narrowed. It was Celeste… I’ll never forget the vivid black butterfly on her hand when she burned me with a curling iron.

Jasper didn’t come home all night. When he returned the next evening, he had changed clothes. He walked to me with a bouquet of jasmine, arranging them in a vase one by one. “Jasper,” I called his name, “Have you gathered all the evidence? About Celeste.” Hearing Celeste’s name, Jasper’s hand paused, a hint of guilt in his eyes, but he quickly said, “Not yet. Those people took hush money from the Liang family and are tight-lipped, afraid of retaliation.” At seventeen, Jasper went to study in the U.S., and I stayed home to accompany my grandmother. Because I helped a classmate, Celeste and her group targeted me. Dirty water poured over my head, centipedes in my water cup, dead mice in my pencil case… shards of glass in my knee, cigarette burns on my shoulder, and a curling iron burn on my arm. I sought help, but the Liang family had connections, and no one assisted me. Until one time, I stumbled upon Celeste dating some thugs, and she called me, “Hey, cripple.” She had the thugs drag me away, and I fought hard, biting a piece of flesh off her arm. She went mad, slapped me dozens of times, and slammed my head into the wall. When I woke up, I saw Jasper, who had rushed back to the country, holding my hand, his eyes red, repeating the same sentence. I could only understand through lip-reading, he was saying: “I’ll kill them.” To my horror, I realized I couldn’t hear. The thugs and those who bullied me ended up in jail thanks to the Shen family’s influence, except Celeste, who was sent out of the province the next day. Five years ago, the Liang family had a scandal involving a real and fake daughter, and Celeste, the fake, was kicked out. Two years ago, I saw her again, kneeling on glass, apologizing with tears: “I’m sorry.” But I wanted more than an apology; I wanted legal justice. “I want to see her tomorrow,” I told Jasper. Jasper agreed. Celeste seemed to have something on Jasper, and he made her apologize to me on her knees every month. She complied, month after month. He said it would continue until she atoned for her sins, and I forgave her. But as I returned to the room, he made a call, seemingly instructing someone, “Give those people more money, keep them quiet.” “Ugh, it’s because Nora somehow brought up Celeste again. It’s been so long, and she still can’t let it go, so troublesome.” The tone was clear annoyance, and I clutched the doorframe, heading back to my room. At that moment, my heart shattered into pieces. It wasn’t that Jasper hadn’t gathered evidence; he didn’t want to hurt Celeste, so he pretended he hadn’t. When did Jasper change? I leaned against the door, hearing him make another call, this time speaking softly and intimately to the other end: “Go back to where you were, Nora wants to see you. Don’t be scared, she won’t do anything to you.”

After being kicked out by the Liang family, Celeste lived in a rundown neighborhood. When I arrived, she came shortly after. She wore a cheap, worn-out coat, and her manicures in the photos were gone, even her complexion looked poor. But I didn’t miss her smooth, well-maintained hair, her well-cared-for skin, and the possessive hickeys on her neck. I clenched my fingers, looking at her meek demeanor but harsh words, and said, “Celeste, I’ve found a lawyer. You will go to jail.” Celeste looked up, a sneer flashing quickly in her eyes, then she lowered her head, kneeling before me. But her mouth was full of malice, “I won’t go to jail, you’ll never see that day.” She muttered softly, “Cripple.” Just then, Jasper arrived, passing Celeste like a stranger, sitting next to me, asking, “It’s getting cold, Mrs. Jenkins made you soup, go home and drink it?” He glanced at Celeste as he spoke. I bit my lip; it was only ten minutes, and Jasper couldn’t wait to rescue her. “She just said something to me, I recorded it.” I struggled to keep my emotions in check, took out a recorder from my bag, and handed it to Jasper. For a moment, Celeste’s face turned pale. Jasper frowned slightly, playing the recording, and when it reached the “cripple” part, his brows furrowed, glaring at Celeste. “What did she say?” I looked at him, eyes hopeful. Jasper put away the recorder, his Adam’s apple moved—a sign he was about to lie. Then he signed, “She said she knows her mistake, sorry.” I stood up, my gaze lingering on Celeste, then unexpectedly slapped her across the face! Celeste’s head was knocked to the side, I used so much force that my palm tingled. “What’s the use of knowing your mistake? Going to prison is how you atone.” I said coldly. Celeste’s tears fell instantly, she looked at Jasper with grievance, but Jasper ignored her. “What did she say?” I asked him eagerly, my eyes full of anticipation. Jasper put the recorder away, swallowing hard—a subtle sign that he might not be telling the truth. In sign language, he replied, “She said she realized her mistake and apologized.” I stood up, my gaze lingering on Celeste before I suddenly slapped her across the face. The force of the slap made her head snap to the side. My hand stung from the impact. “Realizing your mistake is pointless. You need to pay for it in prison,” I said icily. Celeste’s tears fell immediately. She glanced at Jasper, seeking some sympathy, but he ignored her. Instead, he took my hand, gently massaging it, and signed, “Don’t get your hands dirty.” Jasper led me out of Celeste’s place, put me in the car, and then seemed to remember something. “I have a meeting with a client around noon. Can you head back first?” The driver was already in the seat. I nodded, and Jasper kissed my cheek before seeing me off. Once home, I put on my headphones and opened the surveillance app on my phone. The sounds of intimacy filled my ears. “She started it. Besides, she can’t hear, so what’s wrong with me saying a few things about her…” Celeste sat stubbornly on the couch in a suggestive maid outfit, her eyes red and on the verge of tears. “I know you’re in love with her. So, don’t come to me anymore. I shouldn’t be alive; dying would be better!” “Why don’t you just send me to prison then?” Jasper had already taken off his shirt and kissed Celeste hard, trying to act tough. “Two years ago, your life was mine. I won’t let you die, so don’t even think about it.” Seeing Celeste about to cry, he quickly wiped her tears away and sighed, “Don’t cry, sweetheart. Why say such things? How could I bear to send you to prison?” Jasper always believed I would eventually forgive Celeste. But that’s impossible. After I finished speaking with the private investigator, Jasper came home. I noticed the Twitter account following me had posted something new. A maid hiding her face, with a Rococo wallpaper background, clearly not the decor of that inner-city neighborhood.

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My stepsister, Esme, has dissociative identity disorder and becomes violently aggressive whenever she sees me. She once attacked me with a knife, leaving me severely injured. Yet, my father and brother blamed me for provoking her. “You know Willa can’t handle stress. Why did you have to show up in front of her?” “Willa has nothing, unlike you. As her sister, you should let her have the family home.” These accusations took a toll on me, and I developed a severe mental disorder. Even my childhood fiancé fell for my stepsister, leaving me for her and holding a lavish wedding. Unable to cope with his betrayal, I lost my composure and caused a scene at their wedding. I was subsequently locked in a psychiatric hospital, where I died in misery. Meanwhile, my stepsister enjoyed the wealth I left behind, adored by my family and fiancé. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back at the moment when Esme was brandishing a knife, demanding I leave the house. This time, I vowed to see which was stronger: her disorder or my resolve! 1. “Get out!” “This is my home. I will not let an outsider like you set foot in here!” Esme’s demeanor changed drastically upon seeing me. She picked up a fruit knife from the table and lunged at me. I was ready, sidestepping her attack and then kicking her hard. She crashed to the ground, too pained even to groan. I bent down, picked up the dropped knife, and waved it in the air. “Where were you aiming just now? The arm, neck, or… the heart?” I said as I approached Esme with a cold smile. My actions terrified everyone else in the room. My stepmother rushed to shield her with her body, screaming. My father glared at me sternly and scolded me harshly. “Lydia, what madness is this? Willa has dissociative identity disorder; she’s ill. Why argue with her?” “Your mental state is even more unstable. You seem more like a mental patient than Willa!” My brother, Jasper, grabbed my hand holding the knife tightly, glaring at me with disdain. “Lunatic!” he spat. Instead of getting angry, I laughed hysterically, tears streaming down my face. Yes, I had lost my mind, driven there by them! In my previous life. When mom died in a car accident, dad managed Lydia Corp alone, working late into the night. I felt sorry for him and couldn’t stop him from remarrying. His new partner was his long-time secretary. To blend into the family more easily, my stepmother had her daughter change her name to match his surname. Esme was the opposite of my quiet nature, sweet and understanding, quickly winning Jasper’s approval. They were closer than I, his biological sister, could ever be. Despite feeling sorry for mom, I tried to accept the new family members. But no matter how friendly I was, Esme always showed hostility toward me. My stepmother explained that Esme had been triggered in childhood, developing dissociative identity disorder. Her second personality would emerge when sensing malice. This condition was like an excuse for everything. Esme shredded my clothes, and they sided with her. She destroyed all of mom’s relics, and they sided with her. She didn’t allow me into this house, stabbed me, and they still sided with her. In my past life, I nearly died at this moment. When I finally regained consciousness, I was met with harsh reproach. “You know Willa can’t handle stress. Why do you keep showing up in front of her? Are you trying to push her to her death?” “Willa has nothing, unlike you. Why can’t you give her the family home?” Esme felt so guilty for injuring me that she self-harmed. Dad and my brother blamed me for everything, hating me to the core, constantly abusing me verbally. Even when they learned I had a mental disorder, they didn’t stop mocking me. “We only said a few things, and you can’t handle it? Lydia, if you’re pretending to be sick, at least be convincing.” “Do you think you can take our love for Willa by being sick? Wishful thinking!” My childhood sweetheart, Declan, also thought I was being unreasonable and insisted on calling off our engagement, only to announce his upcoming wedding with Esme. On their wedding day, everyone was happy for the couple, except me. I couldn’t accept Declan’s betrayal and mentally collapsed, repeatedly asking, “Why do you love Esme and not me?” My crazed state terrified the guests. To maintain order, Declan and my family teamed up to have me institutionalized. There, I suffered inhumane treatment and soon died miserably. Perhaps my resentment was too strong because my soul lingered around Esme after death. I watched her enjoy the enormous wealth I left behind, adored by my family and fiancé. Her life was happy and satisfying, and her violent second personality never appeared again. My family also tacitly never mentioned it. Until I overheard her talking with my stepmother. “Mom, thanks to your brilliance in having me fake dissociative identity disorder, I could drive that wretch Lydia out and live such a good life!” My stepmother was quite pleased. “After enduring humiliation for so many years, we finally got what we wanted.” “It’s just a pity that old hag died too early to see her suffering and regret.” The mother and daughter laughed together. That’s when I realized Esme never had dissociative identity disorder. The pretense was revenge against mom, to take everything from her! Gideon knew all about this. He craved power, married into Lydia’s family, but couldn’t let go of his first love. They kept in touch secretly and had an illegitimate daughter. Just when he struggled to keep the secret, mom died unexpectedly. He was overjoyed and hurriedly arranged formal identities for the mother and daughter. To compensate for the grievances they suffered over the years, he chose to sacrifice me without hesitation. Luckily, I was given a chance to start over. This time, I won’t foolishly waste time and energy on unattainable love and family affection. I will expose Esme’s facade and guard mom’s wealth in Lydia Corp! With this in mind, I couldn’t bear to wait any longer. I raised my free hand and slapped Jasper hard. Since they called me crazy, I’ll show them just how crazy I can get! 2. Jasper was stunned by my slap. I took advantage of his daze to easily free myself from his grip. Realizing what happened, Jasper furiously wanted to retaliate. But I was quicker than him. With a sharp slap, the other side of Jasper’s face swelled up quickly, creating a kind of symmetry. I was quite satisfied with my handiwork, though the one being hit didn’t think the same. He was furious, determined to teach me a lesson. I wouldn’t give Jasper that chance. With a twist of my wrist, the sharp knife tip pressed against his vulnerable throat. Jasper’s face turned pale instantly, and his voice trembled. “Murder is illegal! Lydia, calm down!” I took the opportunity to remind him. “I forgot to mention, I do have a mental disorder. When I have an episode, I can’t control my actions. I’m the kind who won’t go to jail even if I kill someone.” “So, Jasper, stop provoking me. Got it?” With the blade so close, Jasper nodded repeatedly, unable to utter a word of defiance. Seeing he was sensible for once, I silently withdrew the knife. There were others I needed to deal with, so I decided to let him go for now. With the immediate threat resolved, my stepmother immediately spoke in her exaggerated, affected tone. “Though you’re reclusive and sullen, you’ve been pampered since childhood. How could you have such an illness? It must be quack doctors tricking you for money!” “Don’t worry, mom will find another doctor for you.” In the past, I would have been moved by her display of concern. But now, I immediately recognized her jealousy of my material conditions. I glanced at Gideon. As expected, I saw intense guilt and remorse in his eyes. It disgusted me so much that I immediately mocked him. “Don’t act all motherly.” “You, a low-class thing, aren’t worthy of associating with me!” My stepmother gritted her teeth in anger. But she had to maintain her dignified and virtuous image in front of Gideon. She could only forcefully suppress her temper, lower her head, and pretend to wipe away non-existent tears. Gideon was heartbroken. Pointing his finger at me, he started cursing. “Lydia, watch your mouth!” “Even if you don’t want to accept Esme, it doesn’t change the fact that she’s my lawfully wedded wife, your stepmother, and your elder!” “As a dignified lady, shouting like a shrew, what does it look like? You’ve disgraced me!” “Apologize now! Or I’ll pretend I never had a daughter like you. Get out of this house immediately!” I snorted disdainfully. “My mom went through all the trouble to give birth to me, not you, who only cares about having a good time!” “Do you think I care about being your daughter?” “And I should remind you, this is Lydia’s family estate. You’re a Gideon. If anyone should leave, it’s you, not me!” Gideon didn’t expect me to defy him too. Trembling, he kept cursing me as a brat. I was tired of listening and coldly interrupted. “If you want me to be filial, it’s not impossible.” “When you’re dead, I can, for the sake of being father and daughter, burn some money for you.” “For example, like this…” Saying that, I took out some leftover ceremonial paper money, lit it with a lighter, and tossed it over. My aim was excellent, hitting Gideon squarely. The flames spread along his clothes. Gideon started screaming and rolling on the ground, trying to put out the fire. Gideon never imagined I would stand up to him. His hands trembled as he called me a bastard over and over. I was tired of listening, so I cut him off coldly. “If you want me to show filial piety, it’s not impossible.” “Maybe when you die, I’ll burn some money for you out of our father-daughter connection.” “Like this…” With that, I pulled out some spirit money I had left over from a ritual and set it on fire with a lighter before tossing it at him. My aim was precise; it landed straight on Gideon. The flames quickly spread across his clothes. He screamed in agony, rolling on the ground trying to extinguish the fire. My stepmother and Jasper rushed over in a panic, creating a scene of chaos. That’s exactly what I was waiting for! As their attention was focused on Gideon, I turned back to Esme. “Finally, we can continue.” Her expression remained angry and fierce, but if you looked closely, you could see the fear in her eyes. She was scared. Afraid I might really kill her. I looked down at her, savoring the moment. Then I tightened my grip on the knife and lunged at her with force! In a life-and-death moment, Esme unleashed unexpected strength and narrowly avoided a fatal blow. The knife only grazed her arm. Fortunately, I had used considerable force, and her wound was deep. In the blink of an eye, blood poured out like a stream, pooling on the floor. She screamed in pain. The others heard the commotion and rushed over much faster than I had anticipated. I had to abandon the idea of finishing the job. Before I could escape, Jasper grabbed my hair. “Lydia, are you looking to die?” His eyes were red with anger. His hand tightened around my neck, and the suffocating sensation overwhelmed me. My hands fell weakly, and the knife dropped to the ground. At that moment, my own brother genuinely wanted to kill me! In my past life, when Esme hurt me, it was considered my fault. In this life, when I hurt her to protect myself, it was unforgivable. In my family’s eyes, Esme was always pure and good; no matter what, everything was my fault. How ridiculous is that? Luckily, I no longer yearn for their love. With effort, I opened my mouth: “If you kill me, they won’t make it either.” “Before I die, I can take two more down with me. It’s worth it.” Jasper followed my gaze. Esme lay in a pool of blood, barely breathing. Gideon was drenched, his chest blackened, his condition uncertain. My stepmother was a mess, crying in panic. Every extra minute we delayed added more danger. Jasper didn’t dare engage with me further. He tossed me aside like trash. I gasped for the precious fresh air, coldly watching Jasper scramble around. Before leaving with the medical staff, he threw one last sentence at me. “Lydia, just you wait, this isn’t over!” Threatening me? Someone who’s already faced death once doesn’t fear threats. My eyes were filled with murderous intent. This isn’t over by a long shot! As soon as Jasper and the others left, I had the locks changed. Once that was done, I discovered Esme’s name dominated dozens of trending topics. I almost forgot she was a beauty influencer with millions of followers. The most popular video showed Esme lying in a hospital bed, her delicate face devoid of color. Even so, she forced herself to endure discomfort and sincerely apologized. “I’ve suffered severe injuries. After careful consideration, I’ve decided to take a break and recuperate.” “Thank you to my fans for understanding. Also, please don’t blame my sister. She just couldn’t accept that the family’s love for her was divided by me, and she lost control, which led to hurting me.” “I believe Sister Lydia didn’t do it on purpose!” Her choked-up voice, along with tears in her eyes, made Esme seem extremely vulnerable and pitiable. Fans, seeing her being wronged, quickly used their skills to dig up all my dirt. My reputation was dragged through the mud: insulting the stepmother, setting fire to the father, injuring the stepsister with a knife… Each incident made onlookers question if a person could truly do such things. Righteous netizens flooded my comments section. “Willa and her mom just joined this family, not to ruin it. Is it necessary to be so hostile?” “Your own mom died, and you can’t stand others being happy. You’re sick, no wonder you’re always going crazy.” “My girl Willa is the most beloved in the world, your jealousy is useless!” “Spoiled, ruthless, inhumane… No combination of bad words can fully describe your malice!” The unpleasant comments were endless. I scanned through them with a blank expression, filled with overwhelming hatred. Again, it’s the same! Clearly, Esme was wrong first. But as soon as she put on another face, played innocent, and acted weak, everyone sided with her, sympathizing with her. Having just saved my life, she immediately provoked me. Does she think the lesson wasn’t enough? Then I’ll make sure Esme remembers it well! I drove to the hospital. Before I even entered, I could hear laughter and joy from inside. “Willa, you can’t move your hand yet. Don’t push yourself. Let Declan feed you.” Faced with Declan’s domineering yet gentle demand, Willa didn’t know how to refuse, and sweetly agreed. “Then I’ll trouble you, Declan ~” Her drawn-out tone was enough to make anyone’s heart melt. Where was the slightest hint of the grievance shown in the video? I raised an eyebrow, pushed the door open, and saw the two on the bed kissing passionately. You could even hear the sticky, intimate sounds echoing in the room. Mouth to mouth. So that’s how he was feeding her. I suppressed my disgust and snapped several photos. After the kiss ended, Declan finally noticed my presence. His previously smiling eyes turned icy the moment he saw me. His voice carried a bone-chilling coldness. “What are you doing here?” “You’re not welcome here, get out!” I laughed mockingly. “What, did I interrupt your little affair?” “Having an affair in broad daylight without shame, but embarrassed when caught? What’s the act for?” I spoke with no mercy. Declan, embarrassed and angry, shouted with a red face. “Lydia, what nonsense are you spouting?” “I’m only atoning for your crime! You’re the one who went crazy and hurt Willa!” “People with dirty minds see everything as dirty!” Esme, on the other hand. Her eyes burned with intense hatred as she threw a bowl of chicken soup at me. I sidestepped it. The porcelain bowl shattered, and the hot soup splashed everywhere. Declan was used to Willa attacking me on sight. After all, in the lies Willa spun about her dissociative identity disorder, one point was her intense possessiveness over Declan. She believed she was Declan’s fiancée, and I was the homewrecker trying to interfere. So whenever she saw me, it was either endless insults or violent attempts to drive me away. Only when I completely disappeared from her sight would she return to normal. Declan’s expression didn’t change. He just leaned over to check if her wound was bleeding. Playing the role of a thoughtful fiancé to perfection. Once he saw no major issue, he relaxed. He continued to condemn me with a tone full of disdain. “You know Willa gets emotionally agitated whenever she sees me talking to you. Yet you still provoke her. Are you trying to leave her with a permanent injury?” “Lydia, you’re too vicious!” Meanwhile, Esme, frustrated by a missed attack, grew even more agitated and rushed at me without care. “Interfering in my relationship, stealing my fiancé.” “Bitch! Homewrecker! Go die!” I knew I couldn’t count on Declan. Acting quickly, I bent down to pick up a shard of the broken porcelain bowl. Then I swiftly got up, seizing the moment, and grabbed the back of her neck. With a slight movement of my wrist holding the shard, a blood mark immediately appeared on Esme’s slender neck. Her sharp, ear-piercing scream abruptly stopped. What followed was Declan’s voice, altered by fear, calling my name repeatedly, urging me to calm down. I found it annoying. I tightened my grip on the shard, about to make a deeper cut. Suddenly, I spotted unexpected guests. Jasper and my stepmother were at the front, uniformed police officers right behind them, with Gideon following, panting heavily. My stepmother wailed, “Let Willa go!” Jasper threatened fiercely, “Lydia, don’t be arrogant! I’ve reported you for attempted murder. Your good days are over!” The police timely intervened, “Release the hostage! If you insist on harming others, I have the authority to shoot you dead!” It appears that there is no original text provided for translation. Please supply the content you wish to be translated, and I’ll be happy to assist. As he spoke, he reached towards his waist, clearly intending to deal with me if I didn’t cooperate. I felt sure I could move faster than the police, but I wasn’t willing to take the risk. Esme was still alive, and I wasn’t ready to give up just yet. After considering my options, I dropped the shards and pushed Esme away with disdain. “Tch, she’s so hard to kill.” She stumbled, nearly falling, but Declan caught her. Noticing her slight trembling, he comforted her with genuine concern. With others around, Esme was cautious not to reveal her fake dissociative identity disorder act, so she only sobbed softly. From a hidden angle, she shot me a taunting glance, as if to say: The one you love has betrayed you for someone else, you pathetic fool. Seeing that made my blood boil, and I wanted to lash out again. The police, sensing my intent, quickly handcuffed me. Declan finally relaxed, glaring at me with undisguised disgust and contempt. “How could you be so cruel to your own sister, Lydia? You’re heartless!” He didn’t bother explaining the situation, just criticized and belittled me. My family didn’t defend me either; they seemed to agree with him. My stepmother declared righteously, “Lydia almost killed Gideon before; she probably has an antisocial personality disorder. Officer, you must keep a strict watch on her, don’t let her harm others!” Jasper nodded repeatedly, “Having such a troublesome sister is my misfortune. Thankfully, Willa is sweet and sensible, nothing like Lydia.” Finally, Gideon sealed it. “Lydia’s actions are unforgivable. Let the law decide her fate!” I was taken away by the police for attempted assault. As soon as the news broke, netizens were elated. “Finally! The always-crazy Lydia is caught! Now my dear Willa can live happily ever after, and her fans are relieved.” “Serves her right! Anyone who harms our younger sister deserves to pay!” “Hope Lydia stays in jail forever!” Soon after, Declan made a public declaration of love. “For years, Lydia clung to me like a parasite, stopping me from being with the one I love.” “Now that Lydia is out of the way, I can finally give Willa the grandest wedding!” Nora wasn’t shy either, boldly responding. “The past hurts are hard to forget, but I’ll cherish every day with my love from now on.” “I hope everyone can, like me, leave the gloom behind and embrace happiness!” Their statements fueled a public backlash against me. “I can’t believe Lydia interfered in Willa’s relationship, how shameless!” “Lydia is so vicious, not only stealing from family but also lovers. Thankfully she’s caught and can’t harm Willa anymore.” “With such trouble around, I can’t imagine the hardship Willa endured at Lydia Corp all these years… My heart aches for our younger sister!” To comfort her distressed fans, Esme decided to livestream her wedding, letting everyone witness her happiness. This decision was widely applauded. Major media outlets eagerly covered this high-profile union of a wealthy young man and a wealthy heiress, gearing up for a big story. And so, Esme’s wedding day arrived amid great anticipation. Esme appeared in a stunning gown. Her white dress and exquisite makeup made her look like a fairy from another world. Declan was mesmerized, reverently kissing her hand. “Willa, my bride, you look beautiful today.” Cameras flashed, capturing the beautiful moment. The livestream chat was filled with praise. Esme, basking in the adoration, finally spoke. “Now, let’s all look back at the journey Declan and I have taken.” “I hope everyone, like me, never gives up no matter how hard it gets, and bravely pursues happiness!” After her words, a pre-recorded sweet video of the two was supposed to play on the big screen. She would then marry the rich and handsome Declan, becoming the envy of all girls. However, the screen showed Esme’s twisted face instead. She tore up my mom’s painting despite my pleas, tearing each piece while cursing. “What ugly paintings, such an eyesore!” But that wasn’t enough. She took scissors and cut my clothes into shreds. “Why should you have what I don’t? I won’t allow it!” She only stopped when my room was in shambles, satisfied, and threw herself pitifully into the late-arriving Jasper’s arms. “My sister was flaunting her stuff, I was so envious. Then, I don’t know how it ended up like this…” With tear-filled eyes, I tried recounting the events. But before I could speak, Jasper harshly reprimanded me. “Enough! I don’t want to hear your excuses for bullying Willa!” “If you hadn’t provoked Willa first, she wouldn’t have damaged your stuff!” The scene shifted to Gideon scolding. “It’s just childhood sweetheart feelings. Is it more important than your sister?” “Since Willa has chosen Declan as her childhood fiancé, you should give up the fiancé title.” “Instead of selfishly holding on and letting Willa be labeled a mistress!” Then, the video showed Esme trying to stab me with a knife. Of course, Declan’s cheating and blaming me for catching him didn’t go unrecorded. Every hurtful deed against me was captured in full. Inside and outside, people couldn’t help but criticize. “Oh my, you never know someone’s true face. Didn’t expect Esme to have two faces!” “Turns out, Esme is the troublemaker, the mistress… Lydia has been bullied and jailed all along, how pitiful…” “Throwing dirt online, bullying Lydia, stealing her lover and family, while pretending to be positive, making fools of us, Esme you’re such a phony!” Overwhelming scorn and disdainful looks deeply stung Esme. She tried to defend herself. “I’m sick, I have dissociative identity disorder.” “I just found out my other personality did so many horrible things to sister Lydia. After the wedding, I’ll definitely apologize to her in jail!” Esme’s tears flowed, making her seem like the victim. Her acting was impressive, and I clapped as I walked from the viewing room to the stage. “No need to wait, apologize and kneel now.” “I will definitely… not forgive you!” Seeing me, Esme looked like she saw a ghost. Her disbelief mixed with fear. Something was clearly wrong. A huge sense of panic overwhelmed her. “Lydia, how are you here! You should be in jail!” Her shrill voice was unpleasant to hear. People who were unsure before now had their minds made up. Yet, some still blindly accused me, despite everything. Jasper looked at me with hatred. “Lydia, how long will you target Willa?” Declan, full of disdain. “Even if you ruined my wedding with Willa using dirty tricks, I won’t marry you, you scheming woman. Give up and stop pestering me!” Gideon sternly ordered. “Lydia, I don’t care how you escaped, go back to serve your sentence! Lydia Corp can’t harbor lawbreakers!” I shrugged and chuckled. “I told you, I have a mental disorder. Why don’t you believe it?” Esme refused to accept reality, mumbling. “Impossible, this can’t be…” Guests in the front row sneered. “Why not? Only you can be sick, and others can’t? What a double standard, quite an eye-opener.” “If I were Lydia, under your daily oppression, I’d be even crazier!” “Lydia was driven mad by your family! You can’t take responsibility, shame!” Everyone chimed in, belittling Esme. Even those who defended her, like Declan, got scolded. “A cheating jerk is no good either!” “Brother’s slap, dad’s two slaps, Esme’s a total disaster.” “Can’t tell right from wrong, twisting the truth, the worst all together, no wonder you’re a family!” “Lydia was too normal for your family before, but now that she’s sick, the whole family can go crazy together.” Esme was humiliated, her face flushed red. Under everyone’s gaze, she only dared to glare at me covertly, not daring to act. After all, with so many people around, including professionals, if she couldn’t hold back and hit me, everyone would know she was faking. Trying to use dissociative identity disorder as an excuse to bully her non-blood-related sister. From now on, she’d be nailed to the pillar of shame, never to wash it off. Seeing her daughter hold back her dissatisfaction, the stepmother was distressed. She quickly pulled out a diagnosis from her bag. On it, in black and white, it stated Esme had dissociative identity disorder. “Willa is really sick, please be gentle with your words, don’t provoke her!” The bright red seal looked quite convincing. People quickly shifted from disgust to sympathy. They didn’t even consider the possibility of a fake diagnosis. I feigned regret. “So Esme really has a mental disorder.” Just wanted to use dissociative identity disorder as an excuse to bully her non-biological sister. From now on, she’ll be forever marked by shame, never able to live it down. Seeing her daughter suppressing her resentment, the stepmother felt a deep heartache. She quickly pulled out a diagnosis certificate from her bag. In clear, stark letters, it stated that Esme was diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder. “Willa is truly ill, please, everyone, be gentle with her and stop provoking her!” The bold red stamp looked rather intimidating. The crowd’s disdain swiftly turned to sympathy. No one considered that the medical record might be forged. I also put on a show of regret. “So Esme really has a mental disorder, huh.” “It’s a pity she can’t be held accountable or brought to justice.” The stepmother looked at me warily. “What do you mean?” My answer was a snap of my fingers. Simultaneously, a new video started playing on the big screen. A pedestrian was hit on a rainy night. Then, Gideon and Celeste got out of the vehicle. “Such luck, not dead. What now?” “How about hitting again?” “Wouldn’t that be too obvious?” While they were indecisive, a voice urged from inside the car. “Just run over directly.”

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My twin sister ran away just before her wedding. Our parents, desperate to maintain the alliance with the Taylor Family, insisted that I step in and marry Declan Taylor in her place. After the wedding, Declan never laid a finger on me. “Adeline, stop wearing those clothes to try and seduce me. You’re just standing in for Hazel, so keep your little fantasies to yourself.” “If it weren’t for the fact that you and Hazel have the same face, I wouldn’t even look at you.” Declan had no idea, but he was about to get his wish. Fiona had already enjoyed her life outside. Before Declan returned, I sent a message to my father. “I agree to the switch, but you need to set up a new identity for me.” “Alright, I’ll transfer a hundred million dollars to you. Never come back to the country.” Was such a deal even possible? I laughed aloud at the message. Declan put on his coat, returning to his usual composed demeanor, and frowned at my cheerful expression. “Adeline, what’s so funny? Are you thrilled because I touched you today?” I stopped smiling and looked up at him. “I was just thinking about Grandfather’s upcoming 80th birthday.” Declan nodded, a hint of mockery in his eyes. “Another chance for you to seek favor.” “But no matter how much the Old man likes you, he’ll always see you as Hazel.” My fingers dug into my palm. When I decided to take Fiona’s place at the wedding, I was secretly pleased. After all, I’d been in love with Declan for fifteen years. The Taylor Family has a rule: one can only marry once in a lifetime, and breaking it means expulsion from the family. I thought I was finally going to spend my life with the one I loved. On our wedding night, I couldn’t wait to confess my feelings. But he coldly pushed me away and left. The next day, he brought a series of outfits, all in Fiona’s style. “From today on, pretend to be your sister until she returns.” At that moment, I felt utterly ridiculous. The phone rang. “You’re back? Where are you now?” His voice was breathless with excitement. “Okay, wait for me.” He hurried out, and soon the sound of an engine starting downstairs could be heard. He sped off. A few hours later, I saw a picture posted by Fiona on Twitter. “After all the detours, you’re still the best.” The next day, he brought Fiona home and casually instructed me, “Pack your things and move to the secondary bedroom.” I didn’t respond and pushed the suitcase I packed last night towards the door. But he suddenly stopped me, frowning. “I meant for you to move to the secondary bedroom. Hazel just came back and isn’t familiar with the Taylor Family. You must help her adjust.” “You’ve occupied the position of Mrs. Taylor for three years. You owe Hazel this.” Fiona whispered in my ear, “Dad said if you don’t behave, he won’t give you any money.” Declan hesitated a bit, saying, “If you don’t want to leave the master bedroom…” I didn’t let him finish and spoke up. “No need, I’ll stay in the empty nanny room on the first floor.” Declan looked surprised, trying to find a hint of insincerity on my face. But all he saw was calmness. He got angry and said: “If you don’t want to live in the secondary bedroom, go to the basement.” “Then it’ll be inconvenient for my younger sister to live on the same floor as us.” Fiona said with a shy smile as she pulled Declan into the room. Soon, the sound of their kissing filled the air. I silently went down to the basement, feeling a bit desolate. Declan had always been restrained. In the early days, I deliberately tried to provoke him, but he was like a monk. I’ll never forget that night when he came home drunk and kissed me urgently. But in the end, he didn’t touch me. From then on, he moved into the master bedroom, venting every night. It’s laughable that I once thought him using me to solve his needs was a sign of things getting better. What a fool I was.

I never thought there would come a day when Declan, a workaholic, would take a ten-day vacation. Turns out, love and indifference are worlds apart. The upstairs door was shut tight. Breakfast and lunch were delivered to the door by Aunt. I sat on the sofa, scrolling through my phone, looking at Finland travel spots. “Adeline, give the longevity painting you made to Hazel. The birthday banquet is in two days, and she doesn’t have time to prepare a gift.” They appeared at the top of the stairs, looking down on me. Fiona’s eyes were red as she spoke softly, “You must have worked on it for a long time, right? You surely don’t want to part with it.” I hadn’t said anything when Declan casually said, “It’s just a worthless trinket.” Indeed, it wasn’t worth much. The fabric and thread together didn’t cost more than three hundred dollars, but it was a gift I had stitched by hand for a whole year. “It’s in the Carter Family Gallery. You can get it yourselves.” I couldn’t be bothered to argue with them. I only knew that in two days, the birthday banquet would be my day to leave. As long as the gift reached Grandfather’s hands, I’d be content. But my compliance seemed to annoy Declan. He quickly walked over, grabbing my wrist, a restlessness in his eyes. “You’re being so cooperative, what are you planning? What method are you going to use against Hazel?” “I haven’t forgotten all the things you’ve done before!” I looked down at the ground. Memories of why my reputation had been so bad over the years flashed through my mind. Before college, not many could tell Fiona and me apart. We often switched places. During a piano competition, I took her place. Just because a judge praised “Fiona” for her significant improvement, she pushed me down after the event, stomping on my fingers until they nearly broke. Declan happened to witness this. He carried me home on his back. Mom and Dad said it was “Adeline” who did it to “Fiona.” They always favored Fiona, and I was born later, during a difficult childbirth that almost cost my mother’s life. They labeled me a “disaster star.” Even if they could tell us apart, they’d tell others I was the one who caused trouble. Even when my fingers were broken and healing, they took Fiona on a world tour. Only Declan would visit me daily. From that point, I had no more expectations for my parents. I thought Declan would be different, but they all liked Fiona in the end. Since that’s the case, I decided I didn’t need any of them. “Because I signed the longevity painting under Fiona’s name. I can’t go, so if the gift reaches Grandfather, I’ll be very satisfied.” He sneered, “Grandfather isn’t here, who are you pretending to be filial for?” He threw my hand away forcefully, and I lost my balance, falling to the ground. He paused for a moment, then said condescendingly: “If you want to attend the birthday banquet, you can dress as a server and hide in a corner. But make sure you wear a mask, and don’t let anyone…” “Ah!” Fiona screamed, and Declan didn’t care about me anymore. He gently picked up her sprained foot and went upstairs. I got up from the ground by myself. I received the new identity information that had just been sent and bought a ticket for the day after tomorrow. I sent a screenshot to a longtime online friend in Finland: “I’ll arrive that day, remember to pick me up.” The reply came quickly: “Yay! I’ll jot it down!” I hung up and was about to put down my phone when Fiona sent a GIF of Declan kneeling on one knee, massaging her ankle, his eyes full of unspoken tenderness. “Declan is so considerate.” She sent a happy emoji, “He said that during the years I was gone, he only treated you as a ‘real’ doll, never touching you.” “Having the same face as mine was useless. Even men I don’t want, don’t want you.” “Just like the gifts from mom and dad when we were kids. If I didn’t want them, you wouldn’t get them either.” I didn’t reply, and a few minutes later, she came downstairs. The door was pushed open forcefully. She wore my custom dress, looking at me with disdain. “Aren’t you curious why I let you stay?” She suddenly took out a small knife. Looking at her malicious face, fear rose from the depths of my heart, and I instinctively took a step back. “What are you going to do!” “What am I going to do? Of course, I’m going to ruin your face.” She slashed my face hard with the knife. Pain surged through me as my skin was instantly cut open. Blood flowed down my cheek. Fiona’s delicate features twisted with delight. “Adeline, I’ve always hated your face. Before you leave, I must ruin it.” “Remember, you don’t deserve this face.” As I fainted, I heard Declan’s familiar voice. “Hazel, where are you? The driver is here.” Fiona responded sweetly, “Declan, my sister refused to go shopping with me. She’s upset that I’m back. It’s all my fault…” She tried to block Declan at the door but was a step too late. Seeing the knife wound on my face, Declan frowned. “What happened to your face?” Fiona sighed, “My sister wants me to leave. I refused, and she threatened to kill herself.” “It was the same three years ago, but this time, I won’t part with you again.” Declan, furious, kicked me and sneered coldly: “How could someone be as scheming as you!” “Stop dreaming, Adeline.”

“Even if you drive Hazel away again for three years, ten years, twenty years, it will only make me hate you more.” I looked at him in disbelief. Clearly, it was Fiona who disappeared the day before the wedding, leaving only a note. “Mom, Dad, I don’t want to get married now. I’m young and want to see the world.” But my parents didn’t want to offend the powerful Taylor Family or lose the opportunity. They forced me into the wedding dress. I tried to speak up, but anger overwhelmed me, and I collapsed backward. As I fell, I instinctively looked at Declan, not far away, at his hesitant feet. But Fiona held onto Declan’s arm, leading him outside, “She’s at it again, ignore her. Teach her a lesson. She’s always been like this, pretending to be sick to get her way.” Fiona Carter vanished the day before her wedding, leaving behind only a note. “Dear Parents, I don’t want to get married right now. I’m still young and want to explore the world.” However, my Parents were reluctant to offend the influential Taylor Family or let such a lucrative opportunity slip away. They pressured me into the wedding dress. I wanted to explain, but I was so overwhelmed that I fainted. As I lay there, I instinctively glanced at Declan Taylor standing nearby and noticed his hesitance. Fiona Carter, meanwhile, wrapped her arm around Declan Taylor’s and headed toward the door, saying, “She’s at it again. Just ignore her. Maybe this will teach her a lesson. She’s always been like this, pretending to be sick to get her way.” She playfully urged, “Let’s hurry, we have a lot of shopping to do today.” When I woke up, I had no idea how much time had passed. The room was dim. I checked my phone. The Fake Friends Group chat had blown up with over 99 messages. “Declan Taylor ordered a million-dollar custom dress for his wife.” “Declan Taylor bought a diamond ring worth tens of millions.” People in the group kept tagging me. “I heard the mall music couldn’t even keep up today. Mr. Taylor sure knows how to spoil his wife. How much did he spend this afternoon!!” “Fiona, I remember Mr. Taylor never went shopping with you before. What’s your secret? Share it with us.” I looked at the photos of him being kind and attentive. He was personally carrying a Victoria’s Secret bag. I chuckled bitterly, but it hurt my wounded face, making me wince in pain. Training? Who needs that? The problem was the wrong person. I had the Nanny bandage me up, took my belongings, and left the Villa. Back at my home, I overheard my father and mother talking. “Isn’t giving Adeline Carter a billion too much?” Father took a sip of his drink: “Hazel Carter is going to ruin Adeline’s face.” Mother exclaimed, “Ah… really?” Father sighed, “Consider this billion as compensation for Adeline Carter.” Mother said coldly, “Even so, it’s too much. What does she want in exchange for a new identity? Ungrateful child.” I forced a smile, but my body trembled uncontrollably. I couldn’t hold back and burst into the room, shouting: “Why are you doing this to me? Am I not your child?” Mother stood up with confidence: “Your body and skin come from your parents. I can take what I want.” “Your life was given by me, it’s just a face.” My mind buzzed with shock, and my hands clenched into fists. I stood there, feeling utterly helpless. “Enough, stop causing trouble,” Father ordered coldly, “I’ve already instructed the secretary to transfer a billion to your account. Leave. Declan Taylor was meant to marry your sister.” I looked up and laughed through my tears. These were my Parents. After checking into the Hotel, Declan Taylor unexpectedly sent a birthday banquet invitation. “You can come as the Carter Family Second Daughter, but behave yourself. Don’t cause trouble for Hazel Carter.” The invitation showed my seat was on the very edge of the room. There was even Security nearby. Was this constant vigilance? I laughed at myself, deleted the chat, and removed Declan Taylor. The next day, I booked an early flight. Before canceling my phone number, I sent Grandfather an early birthday wish. The next moment. Grandfather sent a long message: “When Declan visited today, I sensed something was wrong. Whatever decision you make, Grandfather wishes you all the best.” My eyes burned, and tears fell uncontrollably. I canceled my number and removed the SIM card. It seems you’ve provided a placeholder or an incomplete text following “———-此处为截断点———-“. Could you please share the actual text you would like translated?

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To marry the poor boy Felix Thompson, I nearly cut ties with my parents. For ten years together, I worked tirelessly, quitting my job to stay home and care for his bedridden mother. He was touched, whispering sweet nothings in my ear and promising he would never betray me. We became the couple everyone envied. But then his first love came back. He abandoned me time and again for her. When she complained of discomfort, He even dragged me, pregnant, out of the car on the highway. “Wait here by the road, I’ll be back for you soon,” he said. With that, he started the car to leave. But in that moment, a vehicle came speeding towards me from behind. By the time I realized what was happening, I was already lying in a pool of blood… When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day Felix confessed his love to me. “Say yes, say yes!” “Wow, you have to accept!” The cheering crowd around us made me feel disoriented. The pain of my bones shattering under the car’s impact was still vivid in my mind. Felix stood before me, still with a touch of youthful innocence. He held out roses, looking at me tenderly, his ears red as blood. “Be with me, Olivia.” He offered the roses to me. But I remained motionless, my body stiff as a board. Had I been reborn? Seeing no reaction from me, Felix smiled. He assumed I was just shy. He raised his voice and asked again solemnly, “Olivia Carter, will you be my girlfriend?” Just then, a cold breeze blew past. It cleared my muddled thoughts somewhat. I looked past the crowd to see Rachel Frost, smiling smugly in the background. Only now, in this second life, did I realize Rachel had been there the day Felix confessed to me. I remembered how many times later, when I met Rachel, She would look at me with a mixture of pity and superiority. She said, “The only reason Felix confessed to you was because of me.” Later I found out it was because Rachel liked Samuel Morrison, so she pushed Felix to be with me. The goal was to cut off any hopes Samuel had for me. It wasn’t until after my death, when my soul lingered in this world, that I learned Samuel had always harbored feelings for me. He took care of my funeral, looked after my parents, and even sought revenge against Felix and Rachel… I looked at Felix, his eyes full of tender affection. He really seemed to love me deeply. Only after dying once did I realize it was all an act. How could someone fake love so convincingly? To everyone’s shock, I forcefully knocked away Felix’s roses. I enunciated each word clearly: “I don’t accept. I don’t like you, Felix Thompson.” With those words, the entire crowd fell silent. The smile on Felix’s face became strained. “You’re… joking, right?” Rachel could no longer control herself and rushed out from the crowd, pointing at me, “Stop playing hard to get. Everyone knows you like Felix!” I looked at her coldly. In my past life, Rachel and I didn’t know each other at this point. I had only heard about this first love a few times from Felix. I replied sarcastically, “Do I know you?” Rachel was stunned. I shouldn’t have known her, yet she seemed to know all about my situation. Because of Samuel, she had been stalking me on various social media platforms. I didn’t notice Felix giving Rachel an odd look. Rachel jutted out her chin, “I’m Felix’s good friend. I’ve been helping him pursue you, so of course I know you.” “Is that so? But isn’t he in love with you?” With those words, the crowd fell silent again. Felix anxiously spoke up, “No, that’s not true. I don’t like her, I like you.” Rachel pretended to be hurt, rubbing her eyes. “How can you spread such rumors? Felix and I are just good friends, nothing more.” Her affected manner made me sick. I grabbed Rachel’s left hand without warning. There was a ring-shaped tattoo on her ring finger. “Just friends? Then why do you both have matching ring tattoos?” The onlookers instinctively looked at Felix’s hand. Sure enough, he had the same ring-shaped tattoo on his ring finger. In my past life, before Rachel returned to the country, Felix’s explanation was that he simply thought the tattoo looked cool. Later when I discovered Rachel had the same one, I had a huge fight with him.

To appease me, he went to have the tattoo removed. He hugged me and said Rachel was just a first love from when he was young and foolish. He insisted I was the only one in his heart now, and Rachel was in the past. I believed him then, which led to my tragic end later. In this new life, I wouldn’t be so foolish again. Felix could no longer maintain his calm facade. He hurriedly tried to cover the tattoo, explaining to me, “No, it’s not what you think. I was young and stupid then. If it bothers you, I can have it removed…” He rubbed at the tattoo with his other hand until the skin broke and bled. “It’ll be gone soon, I promise…” I found his act pathetic. Felix’s acting skills had really improved. If I hadn’t died once before, I truly would have believed he loved me. I didn’t bother arguing further and turned to leave. But as I turned, I saw Samuel Morrison standing in the distance. His hands were in his pockets, his expression cold. He still had that rebellious look, like he didn’t care about anything in the world. Yet it was this same man who, upon hearing of my death, aged overnight. My eyes instantly welled up with tears. I ran towards him. “Sam, I’ve missed you so much.” Samuel was a bit taken aback, but still opened his arms to catch me. I buried myself in his embrace, greedily listening to his increasingly rapid heartbeat. At that moment, the world seemed to stand still. There was only Samuel and me. I didn’t hear Felix’s anguished cries, or Rachel’s jealous and resentful wails. Samuel drove me home. My parents had already prepared dinner and were waiting for me. Seeing my parents, my eyes immediately turned red. If there was anyone I truly owed an apology to in my past life, it was my parents. Seeing me cry, my parents became anxious. Mom hugged me, asking worriedly, “What’s wrong, sweetie? Did someone bully you?” Dad sat nearby, drumming his fingers on the table. I couldn’t speak through my tears. Samuel explained for me. He recounted how Felix had confessed to me today. My dad slammed the table and stood up. “I knew that boy was no good. Too scheming, not a suitable match at all.” Mom gently stroked my head, comforting me softly: “Olivia dear, don’t be sad. He’s not worth your tears.” I nodded, hugging Mom tightly. At that moment, the reality of my rebirth hit me like a tidal wave. With my parents and Samuel comforting me, my emotions gradually calmed. We all sat down at the dinner table to eat. This warm family scene made me think of the times I had cut ties with my parents in my past life. Guilt washed over me again. “Dad, Mom, I’m sorry. I was so foolish… I won’t do it again…” My parents didn’t understand what had happened, but they just kept comforting me. Before bed, I received a message from Felix. “Olivia, I’ve had the tattoo removed. Are you still angry?” Looking at the message, I suddenly remembered that at this point in my past life, Felix and I were already together. Meanwhile, Samuel had gone abroad, and Rachel had followed him. But this time, I hadn’t gotten together with Felix, and neither Samuel nor Rachel had left the country. After calming down completely, I began to review everything that had happened today. Felix’s behavior was very strange. The way he looked at me held an inexplicable possessiveness, and a hint of hidden madness. In that instant, my heart skipped a beat. He had come back too. My hands shook as I blocked and deleted Felix’s contact information. The shadow of death loomed over me at that moment. In my panic, I received a call from Samuel. I answered it urgently, as if grasping at a lifeline. “Sam…” “What’s wrong? Did Felix scare you today?” “I… yes…” “Don’t be afraid. As long as I’m here, no one can hurt you.” Samuel’s voice seemed to have a magical effect, gradually calming my heart. I fell asleep to Samuel’s gentle words. After I blocked and deleted him, Felix quieted down for a while. I didn’t see him for several days. Just as I was breathing a sigh of relief, an unexpected incident occurred. That day, I went to the hospital to buy some cold medicine. By chance, I ran into Felix’s mother who was there for a follow-up appointment. She had always been in poor health. In my past life, even with my careful care, her condition worsened year by year until she was bedridden within a few years. At this point in time, Felix’s mother could still walk, albeit with difficulty. I instinctively took a step back, hiding around the corner. Felix had just arrived at his mother’s side with a stack of test reports. I heard his mother sigh. “Ah, if I have to be hospitalized, it’ll be troublesome for you to come take care of me. What about your work? I don’t want to affect your career.” “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll have Olivia quit her job to take care of you.” “Would she be willing? I heard her family is well-off. She’s delicate, how could she take care of someone?” “Of course she would. She’s very domestic and caring.” Felix’s voice was full of certainty. I felt as if I’d been plunged into an ice bath. No wonder he kept pursuing me even though he didn’t like me. He just wanted me to take care of his mother for him. His mother’s voice continued, “But… don’t you like that Rachel girl?” I froze in place. I suddenly remembered Felix’s mother tightly grasping my hand on her deathbed, saying “I’m sorry.” My eyes suddenly welled up with tears. So Felix’s mother had known all along that I wasn’t the one her son truly loved, yet she had accepted my care without qualms. I thought Felix would immediately agree with his mother’s words. To my surprise, he quickly retorted, “Mom, please don’t say things like that anymore. I don’t want Olivia to misunderstand.” “My wife can only be her, in this life and the next. She belongs only to me.” I leaned against the wall, my fists clenched tightly. His mother still seemed a bit worried. “But what if she finds out the truth…” “Even if she knows, she won’t leave me. She loves me more than life itself.” Saying this, Felix fell silent. His mind was in turmoil. After a long while, he spoke again, “Don’t worry, she’s just playing hard to get. I’ll coax her back soon.” I couldn’t listen anymore and walked out. Seeing me, they both looked surprised. Felix’s mother hurriedly lowered her head, not daring to look at me. After his initial shock, Felix’s face lit up with undisguised joy. “You came! I knew you couldn’t stay away from me.” “I’ll be magnanimous and overlook your mistake from the other day.” I didn’t speak, just stared at him steadily. Felix began to feel uneasy under my gaze. But he didn’t want to back down. He had been mocked quite a bit lately for being rejected by me. So out of stubbornness, he deliberately hadn’t come looking for me for several days. I suddenly laughed, “Mistake? What mistake did I make, Felix Thompson?” “You deliberately hugged Samuel that day to provoke me, and you… you even blocked me.” I tilted my head, stepped forward and slapped him hard across the face. Felix’s mother, who had been pretending to be oblivious, immediately jumped up and bared her teeth at me. “What are you doing!” I shrugged, “Can’t you see? I’m slapping him.” With that, I turned and walked away coolly. It wasn’t until I had completely disappeared that Felix realized he had been slapped. 4 As I reached the hospital entrance, I ran into Rachel. I wanted to just walk past her and leave, but she grabbed my wrist. She was the epitome of the “innocent vixen” – pure-looking face but voluptuous figure, the type of girl often described online as having both innocence and sex appeal. She looked me up and down, then sneered. “You really are shameless, aren’t you? You made a big show of rejecting Felix before, and now you’re here at the hospital to see that old lady?” “What I do is none of your business.” I forcefully shook off her hand and was about to leave. But she stumbled dramatically, hitting the handrail of the stairs. This scene was all too familiar. I had experienced it in my past life too. Back then, I had been at a loss for words, only knowing how to defend myself. Of course Felix didn’t believe me. He just looked at me coldly, then gave me the silent treatment for a week. By that time, I had almost given up on our relationship. But he took the initiative to apologize, saying he shouldn’t have doubted me, and begged for my forgiveness. It wasn’t until this moment, looking at the past from a god’s-eye view, That I realized Felix’s behavior towards me was nothing more than giving me a slap followed by a sweet treat. Sure enough, Felix appeared. His face still bore the clear imprint of my hand. Rachel lay on the ground, crying silently, the perfect picture of a pitiful victim. Just as I thought Felix was going to berate me, he walked straight to my side. “Are you okay? You’re not hurt, are you?” These words stunned even Rachel. For a moment, her coquettish, vulnerable facade twisted into an ugly grimace. She said in disbelief, “Felix, I’m the one who’s hurt. Can’t you see?” Felix seemed not to hear her, only looking at me with concern and a complex expression. I had no idea what game he was playing, so I just rolled my eyes and left. But Felix followed closely behind me. Rachel was still shouting in the background, but neither of us paid her any attention. At the intersection, Felix finally couldn’t hold back and grabbed my hand. His eyes were bloodshot as he looked at me cautiously, “You heard what I said to my mom earlier, didn’t you? Don’t misunderstand, it was all just talk.” I didn’t answer this question. Instead, I leaned close to his ear and whispered, “You came back too, didn’t you? Don’t play dumb.” I felt his grip on my hand suddenly tighten. The streetlight above cast a flickering shadow on his face, splitting it into light and dark halves. The left side showed his cold cruelty towards me after meeting his first love again, while the right side reflected his anguish after my death. In my past life, as a disembodied spirit, I had seen him suffer immense pain upon learning of my death. But was this pain due to losing a free caretaker, or because things had spiraled out of his control? “So you… came back too.” Felix’s voice trembled. His eyes were full of painful struggle. “I knew you had come back from the moment you rejected me.” “But I didn’t dare believe it, didn’t dare think about it. I was afraid you would hate me…” “Felix Thompson, let’s end it here.” I forcefully pried his hand off me, stepping back to create some distance. Then, I secretly took out the pepper spray Samuel had given me this morning. I sprayed it directly in Felix’s face. As he cried out in pain, I turned and ran. The next day, I posted a photo on social media of Samuel and me holding hands. With the caption: “Found my soulmate, wishing to grow old together with you.” 5 My social media exploded instantly. Friends flooded the comments section: “Wonderful, a perfect match made in heaven.” “I’ve been shipping you two for ages, finally you’re together!”

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When the true heiress returned, the whole family surrounded her, crying. Her body was covered in bruises, driven to bipolar disorder by my parents’ beatings. To take revenge, she deliberately smashed my gifts and tore my clothes. She even threw herself into the arms of thugs, falsely accusing me of drugging her. I hated her with every fiber of my being, until the day our house caught fire. She broke down the door and carried me out of the flames. But my brother, who had always favored me, reached out and pushed us both back into the inferno. Only then did I realize that he had been the one sowing discord between us all along. When I opened my eyes again, it was the first day of the true heiress’s homecoming. —- “Scarlett, I’m so sorry,” Chloe whispered as we lay trapped in the burning room, the flames closing in around us. As we faced our impending doom, pushed into the fire by my own brother, we finally set aside our differences and confessed the mistakes we had made. So many misunderstandings had led us to this tragic end. “If only we had tried to understand each other from the beginning,” Chloe said softly, “maybe we could have been real sisters.” The burning rafters collapsed, and a sharp piece of metal pierced my brain. In my final moments, I heard my mother’s voice, “Even if we bring Chloe back, we’ll still love you just as much, okay?” When I opened my eyes again, Mom was gently wiping away my tears, her eyes filled with guilt. Chloe? She wasn’t dead? I looked down at myself, realizing there were no flames. Somehow, I had traveled back in time to the day Chloe was brought back to our family. Seeing my troubled expression, Dad squeezed my hand reassuringly. “Come on, we’re going to pick up Chloe this afternoon. No more tantrums, alright?” In my previous life, I couldn’t accept that I wasn’t their biological daughter. I had thrown a huge fit with Mom and Dad. Blake, my brother, had taken advantage of the situation to drive a wedge between Chloe and me, deliberately provoking us both. Remembering all this, I wiped away my tears. “I want to go with you to pick up Chloe this afternoon!” Mom was surprised but smiled. “It’s a long way to that rural area. Why do you want to come?” “If the mix-up hadn’t happened, I would have been living her life. If you want me to accept Chloe, you should let me see how she’s been living with my own eyes.” Seeing my serious expression, Dad exchanged a glance with Mom. Then he laughed and patted my head. “That’s my girl. Alright, you can come with us.” Blake couldn’t make it back from his out-of-town job, so Mom and Dad took only me on the bumpy drive to the countryside. When we arrived at the village, there was only one narrow road for cars. Chloe stood at her front door, with Trisha and Derek – my biological parents – beside her. Trisha grinned widely when she saw our fancy car. “Sister, Chloe hasn’t suffered a bit with us. If you want to take her, you’ll need to compensate us properly.” Mom clearly didn’t want to linger. She took out an envelope of money and asked how much they wanted. “Not much, not much,” Derek said with a sleazy smile. “Just $80,000.” Mom’s hand paused. While that was a small sum for our family, it was an outrageous amount given the local living conditions. Even $20,000 would have been generous for raising a child here. But wanting to resolve things quickly, Mom just frowned slightly and continued reaching for the money. At that moment, I rushed forward and hugged Chloe tightly. She was covered in injuries and pushed me away in pain. Chloe pushed hard enough to make me fall onto the muddy ground with a thud. Everyone froze. The sleeve I had grabbed tore, revealing the skin underneath. Her body was covered in bruises, blue and purple, with fresh bloody wounds on her hands. Derek, realizing things were going south, angrily raised his hand to strike Chloe’s face. “You little brat! Can’t even do this one thing right. I’ve wasted all that food on you!” Chloe screamed and crouched down, covering her head. “Daddy, I’m sorry!” While everyone was still in shock, I rushed forward to shield Chloe with my body. Derek, in a rage, slapped me hard across the face. Just two blows were enough to make me cry from the pain. “Try touching my daughter again!” Dad roared, kicking Derek away just as he was about to land another blow. “It’s okay, sweetie. Mom will take you both to the hospital right away,” Mom said, pulling us close. I immediately buried my face in her embrace, crying and tattling. “Chloe’s hurt even worse! Her wounds are infected!” Mom cursed angrily, “And you dare ask for $80,000? Just wait, I’m calling the police right now!” “It’s a misunderstanding!” Trisha hurriedly tried to explain, but Mom shouted her down. “What misunderstanding? We saw it with our own eyes! You think you can take advantage of us?” After alerting the police, Mom immediately took Chloe and me to the hospital. The doctor said Chloe had severe bipolar disorder. In my previous life, Mom and Dad had brought Chloe straight home. I had run away in anger, meeting her later than Blake did. He had Chloe wear my new dress and deliberately invited my boyfriend over. When I came home to find them all getting along, I angrily flipped the table. Chloe, already on edge from coming home, had an episode due to my provocation. She tore the dress and smashed the tea set my boyfriend had brought for me. Mom, feeling guilty towards Chloe and not wanting to discipline her right away, had scolded me harshly and forced me to apologize to Chloe. That was when our enmity began. “Mom, we don’t have clothes for Chloe at home, right? I’ll go buy her some,” I said, deliberately choosing not to return home with Chloe, as Blake would have wanted. “Chloe, you can borrow my clothes when we get home. Everything except a few new pieces is fine to wear. If you’re not sure, just ask Blake.” Chloe, who had been wearing only a jacket since her clothes were torn, nodded gratefully at my thoughtfulness. Then I called Dominic. “Did Blake invite you over to our house?” “Yeah,” Dominic drawled. “He just hung up, and now you’re calling. What, eager to see me?” “Cut it out. Get over here quick, I’ll wait for you on the way.” In my past life, Dominic had warned me more than once to be wary of Blake, saying you can never truly know what’s in someone’s heart. But I thought we were family, and Blake had always looked out for me, so I hadn’t taken Dominic’s words seriously. Looking back now, I could see how calculated Blake’s every move had been. As soon as we opened the door at home, I saw Chloe arranging clothes as Blake had instructed, her bare back exposed by the dress facing the door. Leaving Dominic behind, I walked straight to Chloe and grabbed her wrist. “Who told you to wear this?” Seeing my anger, Blake’s lips curved into a smile. He thought I would argue with Chloe as he had planned, ultimately bringing Mom’s rebuke upon myself. But to his surprise, I took off my jacket and draped it over Chloe’s shoulders. Then I strode over to Blake. “Didn’t I tell you this was for my gala next week? With all those clothes, you just had to pick this one?” Blake’s smug expression froze. Before he could respond, Chloe played along, blinking innocently. “I said it looked expensive and refused several times, but Blake insisted. Scarlett, you should really scold him.” Taking the cue, I threw my bag onto the sofa in feigned anger. “What’s the meaning of this, Blake? You think I’m not good enough for this dress, so you have to make Chloe wear it?” Both girls stared at him with wide eyes. Realizing the situation was slipping out of his control, Blake quickly tried to explain. “Of course not,” he said seriously. “I just thought the dress was too revealing for the gala. I was planning to buy Scarlett a new one and let Chloe use this one for now.” I raised an eyebrow, studying him. “So where’s this new dress you bought?” Blake gritted his teeth and took out his phone, transferring me $1,000. As he looked up to speak again, I linked my arm with his. “Brother dear,” I said sweetly, “Chloe just came back and will be living and eating with me. Surely you don’t expect me to cover all the expenses?” Blake’s face darkened further. He had thought buying a dress would be enough, but now he was faced with another unexpected demand. “That’s right,” Dominic chimed in. “Didn’t you make a lot of money recently, Blake? Since Chloe just came back, you should give her at least $50,000 for living expenses. We wouldn’t want people thinking you look down on your sister from the countryside, would we?” The room fell silent. Blake turned his head to find my starry-eyed gaze on one side and Chloe’s pitiful, wronged expression on the other. In front of him, Dominic smiled provokingly. Forced into a corner, Blake could barely hold his phone steady. He let out a few dry laughs, but then he directly placed a bank card in my hand. “I see what’s going on. You’re all ganging up to test me,” he said, his brow furrowing for just a moment before he quickly hid his emotions. He pulled me into a hug. “Don’t worry, Scarlett and Chloe are both my precious sisters. If you need money, just say so. I’ve texted you the PIN. Take Chloe shopping for a phone and clothes, okay?” After hugging me, he gently patted Chloe’s head. These simple gestures were enough to dispel Chloe’s slight dissatisfaction, making her blush. “You’re not angry anymore, are you, Scarlett? I really didn’t mean any harm.” Seeing my frown, Blake apologized again with a face full of remorse. What an actor. I swallowed my disgust and gave him a sweet smile. The more someone acts like this, the more I want to see how ugly their death will be when they finally break. Because Chloe had grown up in the countryside, her education couldn’t compare to ours. Unfortunately, she couldn’t attend the same university as me. But she seemed to get along well at her school. She came home and told me about a boy in her class who was very nice to her. “His name is Adam. He saves seats for me and even stands up for me when others bully me.” I knew about this. He would go on to give her many luxury gifts and eventually confess his feelings. It was all arranged by Blake long ago. He knew Chloe came from the countryside with limited experience, and that a few small kindnesses could easily win her heart. He had specifically sent Adam to be by her side, slowly capturing her affections before tricking her into losing her virginity at a bar. Then he would blame it all on me. When it happened before, Mom had been furious, beating my legs with a stick. Dad was disappointed in me too, cutting off all my allowance and doting on Chloe even more. It was because of this incident that Chloe and I had completely fallen out in my past life. I was convinced she had orchestrated the whole sickening play to steal the love that should have been mine. But looking back now, it was clear that Blake had been the one to invite me to that bar. “You say Adam wants to invite you to a bar?” This time, I made sure to correct Chloe’s views on love early on, so she wasn’t head over heels for Adam. “Yeah, I’ve told him several times that I don’t really like those places, but he says there’s a gathering this time.” Chloe looked troubled. I chuckled softly and pulled her into my room. “Then go. I’ll come with you.” After helping her with her makeup, I instructed her, “I’ll be at the same bar. If anything happens, message me right away.” The place Adam invited Chloe to was a very seedy establishment, frequented by lowlifes. It was clearly the same group of people who had taken advantage of Chloe in my past life. Watching Chloe being plied with drink after drink, I messaged her to go to the bathroom. Then I switched clothes with her. Pretending to be drunk, I returned to the table. Because Chloe and I looked very similar and the bar was dimly lit, Adam didn’t notice anything amiss. “Chloe, stop drinking. Let me help you go rest,” Adam said, picking me up when I didn’t respond. The other thugs followed him upstairs. “This is the Task family’s little girl. I wonder how much her parents will pay to cover up this scandal.” “Bro! Stop talking and let’s get on with it. I can’t wait to taste her.” The moment I felt hands on my clothes, I grabbed Adam’s hand and broke his fingers. “You know I’m the Task family’s daughter and you still dare to try this?” Adam screamed in pain, finally realizing who I was. His face turned deathly pale. “Scarlett! Why are you here?!” Seeing my gleeful smile, he shouted even louder. “What are you waiting for? We’re in too deep now. Knock her out and let’s continue—” Before he could finish, I grabbed his head and smashed it against the wall. At that moment, the door creaked open. Dominic entered with the bar owner and ten bouncers, his face dark with anger. “Fuck! You guys—” Adam crawled up from the floor, his face covered in blood, and immediately noticed Dominic adjusting his ring. Dominic flexed his fingers. “You know there are no cameras here. Whatever happens, it’ll be your word against ours.” Compared to offending the Shao family, crossing the Task family suddenly seemed insignificant. Adam didn’t hesitate for a second. He wiped the blood from his nose and said ingratiatingly, “Mr. Shao, I was just drunk, you see.” “Oh?” Dominic’s voice grew heavier. Adam panicked and immediately sold out the mastermind. “It was all Blake’s idea! If it weren’t for him, I’d never dare mess with Miss Task!” Dominic smiled slightly and turned towards the door. “Well, Blake? What do you say?” While I was dealing with Adam, I had instructed Chloe to hide in a crowded corner. I told her to watch the entrance and start recording video as soon as Blake came in. Although she didn’t understand why I wanted her to do this, she obediently followed my instructions, honestly filming all of Blake’s actions as he entered the bar. This included footage of him slipping something into my bag. Blake gritted out a response. “Mr. Shao, you’ve misunderstood.” Adam hadn’t expected Blake to be there either. After a moment of shock, he shouted even louder. “It was you! You told me to get close to Chloe! You said if I could make her lose her virginity, you’d give me $100,000! Now you’re trying to pin all the blame on me?!” “I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Blake raised his voice, his expression already showing signs of panic. Then he tried to look hurt and angry. “I’m so sorry, Chloe, Scarlett, that you had to go through this. I’ll have these lunatics arrested right away!” Adam became even more frantic. As the bouncers dragged him away, he kept shouting, “It was you! Blake, you’re trying to hurt your own sister. You’ll get what’s coming to you!” But I pretended not to hear, instead taking Blake’s hand with feigned innocence. “How could I ever doubt you, brother? Even though you suddenly messaged me to come to this bar and put something in my bag, I’m sure you’d never hurt me.” Blake’s smile was on the verge of collapse, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down repeatedly. “So,” I smiled even more brightly, “what exactly did you put in my bag, brother?” ———-This is the breakpoint———- It was a hormone-laden contraceptive pill that would cause physical reactions if taken in large quantities.

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“What do I care if she’s dead?” Lucian Armstrong stood on the yacht, swirling a glass of champagne between his fingers. Twenty-seven years of friendship, seven years of love, and my death brought him nothing but a grand sense of liberation. He sneered at the media, “Someone like her deserves to be abandoned by everyone.” And now, I was really dead. The whole world seemed to be celebrating my death, as if I had never been worthy of love. Until one day, when my camera was sent to be played by a friend— Everyone started saying they loved me, but I could no longer hear them. 0 On the set of the TV show “CEO Talk”. The host tentatively asked, “Mr. Armstrong, we heard that your ex-wife, Miss Iris Chen, passed away recently due to illness.” “There are rumors online suggesting that you might have had something to do with it. Do you have any response to that?” The camera cut to Lucian’s cold profile. He scoffed, “She was just a despicable person. What is there for me to respond to?” The audience gasped. The host feigned surprise, “We’ve heard that you and Miss Chen were childhood friends. Was she always like this?” Lucian’s sneer froze on his face. He seemed to be pondering the question himself. Was I inherently like that? Or did I change for the worse later? “Before the show, we received an old camera from Miss Chen’s friend. It’s said to be one of Iris’s belongings.” Lucian raised an eyebrow, “What a waste of time.” He was about to leave. The host raised his voice, “Mr. Armstrong, you wouldn’t mind talking about your ex-wife on the show, would you? After all, she was quite popular when she was alive.” Hearing that I had been popular, Lucian sat back down, “Fine.” The staff brought the camera over. Lucian froze for a few seconds. Because this camera was given to me by his mother on my eighth birthday. When the camera was turned on, the memory was almost full. The host smiled, “It seems Miss Chen was quite fond of recording things.” The first video clip was labeled “Our Precious Childhood” and was projected onto the big screen. The old camera’s blurry quality unfolded, accompanied by the grainy sound typical of recordings from over a decade ago. “Lucian, slow down! My legs are so short~” An adult’s voice came from off-screen. “Sis, the camera you gave Iris is really her treasure~” “Hurry up, Iris, we’re going to buy ice cream.” The childhood Lucian suddenly turned around, “Haha, your legs are really short.” The image suddenly tilted, showing two little heads close together, sharing an ice cream cone. “Mom said I could marry you when I grow up if I want.” “My mom said the same thing, that I could marry you when we grow up.” “But I don’t have a white dress. How can we get married?” “It’s okay, my mom has one. You can wear hers~” Suddenly, an adult entered the frame, “You two rascals are sneaking ice cream again.” “Oh no! We’ve been caught~” followed by the giggling of two children. As the projection ended, the camera panned to Lucian. This genius known for his cold-bloodedness in the business world was rubbing his index finger— There was a deep bite mark there, which I had deliberately made when I was five. The host asked softly, “I heard your families have been friends for generations?” Lucian’s gaze was still glued to the big screen, “Yes.” The big screen suddenly switched to another video named “Confession”. The image was a bit shaky, but you could hear my nervous breathing. “Lucian, don’t… don’t come any closer.” In the frame, a 19-year-old Lucian, wearing his basketball team uniform and covered in sweat, was smiling brightly. “Iris.” He knelt on one knee, producing a bouquet of sunflowers from behind his back, his voice rising by an octave. “Be my girlfriend.” The surrounding classmates laughed and cheered. The camera shook a bit, showing Iris backing away. “Are you… are you crazy?” “Yes, I must be crazy.” He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a stack of photos. “Look, these are our photos from childhood to now. I’ve kept them all.” He then proudly held up his hand: “See! I even kept your little dog tooth mark. I like you, you know that~ For a long time now.” “And if I don’t confess now, I’m afraid someone else might snatch you away.” A soft voice came from the frame: “Hmph~ Then I guess I’ll reluctantly be your girlfriend.” The surrounding classmates’ cheers rose, and the image froze on the moment Lucian lunged forward to grab the camera. He suddenly came close to the lens and said seriously, “Iris, I really like you.” Followed by a quiet response: “Me too.” Murmurs came from the audience, “They were so happy and innocent back then!” “I wonder how Iris ended up doing such disgusting things later.” When the camera panned to Lucian, the man who had been sneering earlier was still unconsciously rubbing that tooth mark. 0

The big screen played the next video, titled “Lucian’s 21st Birthday” In the grainy footage, a 20-year-old Iris was setting up a candlelit dinner. The camera shook slightly, as if someone had carefully placed it on the table at the right angle. In the dim, warm yellow light, even though she was wearing a simple white t-shirt with her hair loosely tied back, you could tell she was happy at that time. The basic cake had unevenly spread frosting. On top, written in chocolate sauce with wobbly letters: “First year! Wishing my love Lucian eternal happiness!” “Twentieth,” she counted softly, her fingers still smeared with a bit of frosting. “Oh no!” She turned to the camera, pouting. “I’m short one candle. He’s turning twenty-one this year.” Just then, the sound of a door opening came from off-screen. The camera angle was quickly adjusted. Lucian from seven years ago burst into the frame. His face was youthful, with sweat on his forehead. “What’s this?” “Don’t look!” Iris blushed, trying to cover his eyes. But he picked her up and set her on the table. Lucian’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he looked at her adoringly. Suddenly, he laughed, “You’ve turned yourself into a cake too.” He then wiped a bit of frosting off her nose. The camera was knocked over, changing the angle to an upward view. It showed Lucian cupping her face, saying, “Thank you. This is the best birthday gift I’ve ever received.” The sound of a lighter being flicked came from off-screen. Iris said with a smile, “Quick, make a wish.” The final frame froze on Lucian’s profile as he closed his eyes to make a wish. In the corner of the frame, Iris gazed at him with eyes full of joy. The host asked softly, “Mr. Armstrong, did your wish from back then come true?” He stared intently at the frozen image on the screen, silent for a moment before answering. “It did… No, actually, it didn’t.” “What was the wish?” the host persisted. Lucian pressed his lips together without speaking. Host: “It’s clear you were very much in love at that time.” “Yes… At that time, I thought she was kind and gentle. Unfortunately, it took me many years to see her true colors.” The host smiled, “Let’s move on to the next clip.” 0

As the static cleared, a video titled “Wedding” began to play, accompanied by the lively sounds of the event. The camera shook slightly, as if someone was holding it. Glimpses of guests’ smiling faces occasionally flashed at the edges of the frame before the camera suddenly focused. I stood at the end of the red carpet in my wedding dress. The style was simple. But when the music started and I looked towards Lucian, my eyes lit up, making the dress seem to sparkle. The camera turned to Lucian, who was staring intently at me, tears glistening in his eyes. As I walked closer step by step in the frame, his fingers unconsciously curled and uncurled. The guests’ good-natured laughter rose, and both of us shyly lowered our heads. The priest began to recite the vows, but Lucian couldn’t wait for him to finish and eagerly said, “I do.” The last few seconds of the video showed me in Lucian’s arms, my right hand wiping away tears. Lucian held me tightly, as if he had won a great victory, his eyes full of joy. Lucian stared at the frozen embrace on the video, lost in thought for a long time. His hand unconsciously opened and closed, just as it had on our wedding day. Except for Lucian and me, no one knew. At the moment of that embrace, Lucian had whispered in my ear, “I will never let you go for the rest of my life.” The image froze on this blissful moment, leaving even the host momentarily speechless. Host: “You must have been very happy then?” Lucian: “Yes, but time revealed her true nature to me.” 0

The next video, titled “Growth,” began to play. The camera shook, showing the bathroom of an upscale restaurant. My face was pale, with only half my makeup done. By then, we had left school, and my once youthful face now wore mature makeup. Leaning on the sink, I coughed violently, even coughing up blood. “It’s fine, just recording this as a memento…” In the frame, I wiped the corner of my mouth and forced a smile at the camera. “If this deal goes through today, the company will survive~ Lucian won’t have to face those people’s contempt anymore.” My friend’s anxious voice came from off-screen: “You’re crazy. You shouldn’t drink like this.” I clenched my fist, biting my lip: “With Lucian’s temperament, he’d rather let the company go bankrupt than bow to these people.” My voice was soft but carried a fond exasperation. “This is the last thing Lucian’s parents left us. We must protect it.” The scene changed to a private room in the restaurant, where I was surrounded by men forcing me to drink. Although my face was already flushed red, I kept saying, “You must sign the contract~ You must sign it~” “Drink three more glasses, and I’ll sign it right away!” The man in the black suit with a protruding belly laughed as he poured more drinks. “Isn’t your Mr. Armstrong too proud? Now he sends his woman to beg me.” In the frame, I took the glass and drank it all at once, “He doesn’t know about this. I came on my own.” The video froze as I rushed back to the bathroom to vomit. With reddened eyes, I said, “Turn it off. I can’t even watch this myself.” Sighs echoed through the audience. The host’s voice trembled: “Mr. Armstrong, about these things…” Lucian’s face turned pale as he whispered, “I didn’t know…” “At that time, when the company was about to be liquidated, I thought she was out drinking all night because she despised me.” He must have remembered those days when the company was on the brink of bankruptcy, and I would come home late, reeking of alcohol. What did he say back then? “Not even pretending anymore? Can’t wait for bankruptcy before finding a sugar daddy? Aren’t you ashamed?” But the sacrifices I made that I never recorded were far more than what he saw. I didn’t need to emphasize or explain, not then, not now. Later, the company was revived because of that order, and he always thought it was due to his own abilities. The host then played the next video, titled “Someone Like Me”. The camera focused on Lucian’s office, where he could be seen talking quietly with a young woman. The girl’s high ponytail and side profile when she lowered her head bore an uncanny resemblance to my younger self. “Mr. Armstrong, thank you for teaching me so much~” The girl’s voice came through the door crack, with a hint of deliberate coyness, “You promised to teach me about wine tasting, don’t go back on your word~” The camera shook slightly, turning towards the scab left on my lip from biting it due to the pain of a gastric hemorrhage. The host silently continued playing the next clip. In the video titled “The Girl Named Candice”, the “victim” who first put me in the spotlight of social media controversy was seen tracing Lucian’s tie with her slender fingers. “Lucian~ I want to tie your tie for you too.” “Yesterday, Mrs. Chen said my work wasn’t up to par again. Could you talk to her about it this afternoon?” Lucian suddenly stood up: “What’s the point of Iris secretly filming all this?” “She’s just my subordinate. We were having a normal conversation~” He was angry that Candice’s inappropriate behavior towards him had been made public. But he didn’t know that Candice had sent me many more moments in private, far more disgusting than what was shown in the video. Breakfast Lucian personally prepared for her. Lucian sleeping on her shoulder. Check-in messages Lucian sent her during business dinners. Angry voices erupted from the audience: “If I’m not mistaken, isn’t this the secretary who cried on social media about being bullied by Iris in the workplace?” The host sighed and continued to play the next clip.

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On the third anniversary of our son’s death, Alexander Shaw didn’t come home. Instead, I saw his photo with that innocent-looking starlet, Rosalie Lee, on TV. This time, I truly didn’t want to fight anymore. The moment I returned from the cemetery, I sent him a message: “Alexander, let’s get a divorce!” I sent the message at 3 PM, and he came home at 9 PM. Alexander saw me sitting at our son’s old desk. His tone was cold, “Aria, what madness are you up to now?” Madness? Yes, I’ve been a wreck since our son died. At the funeral, I slapped him three times, demanding he bring back our child. He yelled at me with red eyes, “You lunatic! You’re the one who killed our son!” “Why didn’t you watch him properly?” At that moment, I remembered – it was me. I left Henry by the pool, and when I returned, only his lifeless body was floating on the surface. A video of me attacking Alexander at the funeral home went viral. From then on, the name “Mrs. Shaw” was followed by whispers of “that unstable woman.” Alexander found me embarrassing. He’s barely been home these past three years. If I wanted to see him, I could only catch glimpses in gossip columns. This situation was different, though. I stood up and handed him the divorce papers. “I’m not crazy. I’m just… done.” “Mom said if I can’t control you, I should let someone else do it. She’s ready to find a replacement for you.” Alexander scoffed, tearing up the divorce agreement in seconds. “Aria, forget it. Even if you die, you’ll die as part of the Shaw family.” I wasn’t surprised. I just reminded him, “Don’t be late for the visit to your parents’ house tomorrow.” Then I returned the chair to its original position and went to the bedroom. Since Henry passed, Alexander and I have slept in separate rooms. The bedsheets seemed to still hold our child’s scent. I inhaled deeply, sitting there motionless. Then I realized – the sheets had been changed. The baby powder smell was gone. When Alexander came in, he saw me like this and couldn’t help but mock me: “Remembering the past? What’s the point of fooling yourself?” “Today is our child’s death anniversary, Alexander. You commemorated it with tabloid gossip. How classy.” Hearing this, Alexander’s face immediately paled. We both knew how to hit each other’s weak spots. Clearly, this time, I had hurt him. He loosened his tie and surprisingly lay down beside me. I was about to push him away when Alexander muttered, “I didn’t forget. I just got held up.” “Rosalie’s son had a sudden heart attack. I had to go.” “That’s a life at stake too.” I didn’t respond. Rosalie Lee, the new innocent starlet launched by the entertainment company. She debuted with a pure image, but somehow ended up with a child. A single mother raising a kid, independent and strong – just the type to catch Alexander’s eye. Since then, whenever the child was sick, Alexander would contact specialists. If she had family issues, Alexander would smooth things over. When her career hit obstacles, of course, Alexander would be there to protect her. During these three years that I’ve been labeled “unstable,” Rosalie has apparently been poised to replace me as Mrs. Shaw. But now? Alexander doesn’t want a divorce. How ironic! I covered myself with the blanket without saying a word. Soon, Alexander’s phone rang. I could faintly hear Rosalie’s sobs. He immediately sprang up and stormed out, slamming the door. I heard the car start in the driveway. Not long after, I received a message from Rosalie: “Alexander won’t be coming back tonight, Mrs. Shaw. Please don’t call him. It’s too late and inconvenient.” The photo showed Alexander’s profile as he cradled a boy to sleep. His usually sharp features were softened by a rare tenderness, making my eyes sting. I took a deep breath and sent her the recording of him refusing the divorce. Rosalie quickly went silent. Why bother? I just want to leave. Alexander, you shouldn’t have stopped me. I really might go mad.

On the way to his parents’ house, I imagined a thousand ways his mother would scold and torment me. But I never expected Alexander to bring Rosalie along. As soon as the door opened, I saw Rosalie and her child gathered around Alexander’s mother. Alexander sat on the opposite sofa, a gentle smile in his eyes. They looked like a perfect family. My heart felt like it had been stabbed repeatedly. How could Alexander do this? “Mother-in-law,” I greeted. Hearing my voice, they all turned. Seeing me, his mother’s smile faded. “You’re here?” I nodded and sat down directly. “I didn’t know we had guests today.” Alexander and I weren’t divorced yet, so Rosalie was still an outsider. Hearing this, Rosalie smiled humbly: “I just got a ticket for a new play and wanted to invite you to see it together, Mother. It’s by Director Yin.” “And little Tommy missed his grandma, so we stopped by.” From Rosalie’s tone, it seemed this wasn’t her first visit. For her son to call Alexander’s mother “grandma,” it must have been with her approval. I just smiled faintly. “How thoughtful.” But Alexander’s mother looked at me. “She’s so busy with a child, yet still thinks of me. You, my daughter-in-law, can’t manage at home or outside. I really don’t know why Alexander married you. He should have replaced you long ago!” Hearing this, I caught a flash of joy in Rosalie’s eyes. I just called the maid to pour me a cup of tea, then said, “Wasn’t I chosen because I had no family and some money? Easy to control?” “Otherwise, given the Shaw family’s situation back then, you couldn’t have found another sucker, right?” His mother was suddenly speechless, never expecting me to be so bold as to speak to her like this. Alexander was displeased. “Aria!” I took a sip of hot tea to calm myself. “Am I wrong? Without my five million, could you have weathered that crisis?” “Now you want to kick away the ladder after you’ve climbed up?” “Alexander, I’ll tear down this bridge myself, but you need to return the wood I provided.” Bang! As soon as I finished speaking, his mother threw a teacup at me. I dodged, and the scalding tea splashed near my feet. But the shards cut Tommy’s foot. He burst into tears. “Tommy!” Rosalie quickly knelt to check on him. Alexander’s mother also looked extremely anxious. I hadn’t expected this and was about to go over when a great force knocked me down! Alexander pushed me aside to pick up Tommy, then turned to shout at me: “Aria, must you make such a scene? I’ll deal with you when we get home!” He carried the child out with Rosalie, while his mother stayed behind to throw one last barb: “Even so, you killed my grandson. The Shaw family doesn’t owe you anything. If you know what’s good for you, leave now!” Then she hurried after them. No one cared that I was hurt too. My hand stung fiercely. After rinsing it with cold water, I went to the hospital. Some wounds can’t be ignored. When I got home, Alexander was there, surprisingly. I ignored him. The doctor had prescribed me medication and advised me not to bottle things up. I considered today a fresh start, though it hadn’t gone well. “Aria, don’t you have anything to say to me?” Alexander’s eyes were dark and unreadable. I paused, looking at him on the sofa. Tilting my head, I asked, “About the divorce?” He laughed bitterly. “Fine! You want a divorce? Well, I won’t give you the satisfaction! You just want to take the money and start a new life. Dream on!” I frowned. Alexander strode over, gripping my neck as he tried to kiss me. Seeing his face so close, smelling the perfume on him, I instinctively slapped him!

A moment of silence, then Alexander forcefully kissed me, ignoring my resistance. Painful memories flooded back. I suddenly pushed him away, covering my stomach as I dry heaved. Three years ago, when Henry left us, Alexander tormented me relentlessly. It was during that time that I developed an intense aversion to him. Just touching him made me feel physically ill. Seeing me like this, his face darkened terribly. After a while, he laughed, “So looking at me makes you sick, huh?” He wiped his mouth. “Well, same here. So don’t think about leaving.” “We’ll just torture each other for the rest of our lives!” With that, he stormed out, leaving me alone in the vast mansion. I collapsed on the stairs, gasping for air. I stumbled to the bedroom, opened a drawer, and swallowed some pills. My hands were still shaking, my head spinning. That’s when he returned, saw the pills on my desk, and his pupils constricted. The next second, he slapped me hard! “You’re trying to kill yourself!” The blow left me dizzy. When I recovered, I stood up and slapped him back with all my might! “Alexander Shaw, I’m giving you three days. If you don’t sign, we’ll see each other in court!” “Then we’ll see if Rosalie and her son get dragged down too. After all, everyone says she’s the future Mrs. Shaw. I want to see if being a homewrecker really does bring bad karma!” Alexander was furious. “I have no relationship with her! Don’t project your dirty thoughts onto her!” “Even if you die, you’ll still be my wife!” Seeing his anger, I suddenly smiled. If he wanted mutual destruction and torture, then I’d cut off the source. Alexander took me to the hospital against my will, insisting I get my stomach pumped. When I showed the pill bottle to the doctor, he looked conflicted and told Alexander they were just stomach medication. No pumping needed. Alexander still didn’t believe it and made a scene. It only ended when I smashed a glass and held it to my wrist, threatening him. He slumped against the wall, taking a deep breath. “Aria, don’t think you can leave me and start over. Even if he comes back, it won’t happen!” This was the second time tonight he mentioned someone coming back. Confused, I asked, “Who?” “Who else? Kevin’s back. Isn’t that who you’ve been waiting for? I’m telling you, it’s not happening!” The familiar name flooded my memories. When I realized who he meant, I couldn’t help but laugh. Kevin Lin, my first love. Well, more like a one-sided crush. I chased him for a year, then he went abroad and we lost touch. Since then, I’d married, had a child, lost that child, and ended up here. Yet Alexander thought I wanted to leave for another man. Even if Kevin was back, we had no connection. But Alexander believed it and had been going crazy over it. I didn’t respond. If that’s what he thought, let him. He warned me, “Don’t think about trying to kill yourself again. Otherwise, I won’t return your family’s assets!” I found this funny. “Assets? Hasn’t the Shaw family already swallowed them all?” “Alexander, how does it feel to profit from someone’s death?” “Enough!” Exposed, he became angry and embarrassed. But I wouldn’t let up. “How is it enough? Why did Henry die? Was it really my fault?” “Alexander Shaw, that woman from Zhangcheng International – thanks to your support, she’s already out of poverty. Yet you’ve pushed me into hell. You’ve eaten the meal my family provided, and now you want to smash the pot too?” “We can stay married, fine. But let’s settle accounts. How much of my family’s assets did you swallow up using Henry’s death? You’re the one who climbed to the top on our son’s bones, you bastard!” Slap! An iron taste filled my mouth. My ear was ringing. I saw Alexander’s mouth moving, but before I could make out what he was saying, everything went black. This time, it can truly end.

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After my rebirth, I found myself pinned beneath Zack once again. In my previous life, Zack had drunkenly slept with me, leading to a forced marriage after the media exposed us. But after the wedding, he viciously berated me: “You schemed your way into marrying me and drove Susie away. Are you satisfied now?” Only then did I realize he had always loved Susie, the poor student he’d been sponsoring. To get revenge on me, he bankrupted my family and ruined us completely. This time, I firmly pushed him away and went to open the door. “I’m in the wrong room. My boyfriend is across the hall.” A moment later, the door opposite opened. Jason, Zack’s business rival, stood in the doorway. I threw myself into his arms. “Honey, I missed you so much!” Zack’s face darkened. At the same time, I slammed the door shut. Enveloped in the heavy scent of alcohol, I was pinned beneath Zack. Just like in my previous life, he was passionate, his ragged breathing hot against my temple as he murmured longingly: “Susie…” I jolted, suddenly snapping back to awareness. In my past life, I had secretly loved Zack. When he drunkenly pressed me down that night, my heart had been filled more with joy and anticipation than fear. Hearing him call out my name so tenderly, I thought Zack must have feelings for me too. But on our wedding night, after I had prepared so carefully, he kicked me out of the master bedroom. Only then did I realize the “Susie” he spoke of wasn’t me at all. The one he loved had always been Susie Zhao, the poor student he sponsored – not me, Sophia Su. How foolish I was to accept that sham of a marriage just because of one reckless night. I thought it was a romantic union, but I had no idea the hell that awaited me. Zack took brutal revenge on me, destroying my family and ruining us completely. The feeling of being pinned down by that despicable man was vivid in my mind. It was as if countless greasy hands were still roaming over my body. In my past life, I had been tortured to death by those men. Humiliation and shame enveloped me as I violently shoved the man on top of me away. Zack froze in shock. I didn’t even spare him a glance as I stumbled towards the door. As I grasped the handle, he called out my name from behind. “Sophia—” So he did know who I was after all. He knew, yet he still went along with the charade, blaming everything on me after we married. How absurd. I didn’t even turn around, coldly tossing out as I opened the door: “I’m in the wrong room. My boyfriend is across the hall.” A moment later, the opposite door opened. Jason, Zack’s business rival, stood in the doorway. Sensing footsteps behind me, I gritted my teeth and threw myself into his arms. Then I squeezed out the most affected voice I could muster: “Honey, I missed you so much!” “Sophia.” Zack’s voice came through gritted teeth. Still clinging to Jason, I sneaked a glance back. Zack’s face had darkened. At the same time, I slammed the door shut. As it closed, Zack’s furious voice squeezed through the gap. “You’ll regret this!” I certainly wouldn’t regret it. In my past life, I had done more than enough to regret. This time, I absolutely would not make the same mistakes.

Just as I closed the door, a commotion of footsteps sounded from around the corner of the hallway. I suddenly realized something and frowned, instinctively pushing Jason into his room. Sure enough, the footsteps soon stopped outside the door. “It’s this room, right?” “Yes, hurry and knock!” It was those reporters. In my previous life, photos of Zack and I sleeping together had been exposed by these unscrupulous media vultures. Under pressure from all sides, Zack had been forced to marry me. At the time, I had been overjoyed, completely oblivious to his reluctance. It wasn’t until after the wedding that he berated me to my face, torturing me with his cold demeanor. Not only that, but Zack had schemed to destroy my family’s company. After we went bankrupt, my father committed suicide by jumping off a building, unable to bear the pressure. My mother followed soon after by slitting her wrists. I became an orphan overnight, then was sold off to rich businessmen to pay off debts. Used by countless men. That time was like hell on earth. Even now, the memory made my whole body tremble uncontrollably. I was treated like a toy, an ornament, subjected to their endless abuse. I still remember when they first took me. I was still naive then, my voice shaking as I warned them: “My husband is Zack Williams. If he finds out how you’re treating me—” Before I could finish, the leering man opposite burst into laughter. Then he slapped my face again and again, telling me the cruel truth. “Zack Williams? Don’t be so naive. He’s the one who sold you to us.” I knew Zack had always loved Susie, but I never imagined he could be so heartless towards me. Thankfully now, I had a chance to redo everything. I had avoided the reporters and hadn’t slept with Zack. Clutching my chest in lingering fear, the joy of my rebirth made me momentarily forget where I was, until the man before me spoke teasingly. “Boyfriend?” I froze, then looked up. Jason was raising an eyebrow at me. This was the first time I’d observed him up close. His looks were completely different from Zack’s pretty-boy features – harder, colder, with thick brows and eyes so dark they gleamed. No wonder he made countless girls in the city swoon. But now wasn’t the time to be starstruck. Hearing the door across the hall open, I quickly lowered my voice and pleaded: “Can you help me? Just pretend to be my boyfriend in front of Zack for a few days. I’m leaving the country soon, you can say you dumped me after that.” Jason’s expression remained neutral the whole time. After I finished, he just glanced at the door with a half-smile. “What if I say no?” My heart leapt into my throat. I knew this was no joking matter. If Jason opened the door now and revealed what he’d seen, I would be doomed to repeat my past life’s tragedy. At that thought, I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, there was a hint of desperation in my gaze. “What will it take for you to agree? I’ll accept any condition.” Perhaps it was the gravity of my tone, but Jason paused for a moment. Then he strode further into the room. “I never thought I’d see the day the high and mighty Sophia Su would stoop to begging.” My heart loosened a bit, sensing there was hope. I hurriedly followed him. By now Jason had walked over to sit by the window, dramatically picking up a glass of red wine from the table. “I suppose I could help you, but you’ll have to do something for me in return.” I nodded without hesitation: “Of course, what is it?” He gripped the rim of the glass, tapping it lightly with his finger. “I haven’t decided yet. Let’s just say you’ll owe me one, to be determined later.” Jason proved true to his word. Those reporters didn’t manage to get any useful information from the room across the hall, but they stubbornly refused to leave the hotel lobby. Jason snuck me out through the service elevator and we slipped away unnoticed through the parking garage.

I hadn’t expected the news to still break. Someone had photographed Zack and I entering the hotel together from behind. Combined with Zack’s state when he opened the door, the reporters were convinced he must have been on a date. But the mystery woman had only been captured in a blurry shot from behind before vanishing. The love lives of the city’s most eligible bachelors were always hot gossip. In less than a day, news of Zack’s secret lover spread like wildfire. Meanwhile, he was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning. The next day at breakfast, my parents scrolled through their phones and asked me: “Is it true Zack’s dating someone?” I played dumb: “No idea, we haven’t been in touch lately.” I scrolled through my own phone for a while, only relaxing after confirming Zack hadn’t revealed my name to the cameras. Just then, a SnapChat notification from him popped up on my screen. “Come see me at the hospital.” His tone brooked no argument as usual. My instinct was to refuse, but after thinking it over, I decided against it. If I angered him, he might leak my name to the media and cause a whole new mess. That afternoon, I got ready and headed to the hospital. Pushing open the door, I found Zack recklessly working on his laptop in bed. Seeing me enter, he immediately closed the computer and pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up his nose. His face was pale as he coldly demanded: “When did you start liking Jason?” Not waiting for my answer, he launched into a barrage of questions: “Do you have any idea what kind of person Jason is? Everyone in our circles says he’s gay, always surrounded by male escorts. You—” “I’ve liked him since we were kids,” I said softly, cutting him off. I forced myself to ignore the look of shock on Zack’s face. Though they ran in the same social circles, Zack and Jason were well-known rivals. Zack was the typical golden boy – excelling at everything, always perfect. In contrast, Jason was a rebellious troublemaker. Yet from childhood through adulthood, Jason had always outperformed Zack academically. Even after starting their own businesses, the two remained competitors in the same industry. The one I had liked since childhood was actually Zack. When I was little, my parents were always busy with work. We had just moved to the city from out of state, and I wasn’t familiar with the area yet. One day I snuck out of our gated community to play, but accidentally got lost. I couldn’t find my way home even as it got dark, and ended up crying by the roadside. That day, Zack appeared before me like an angel, gently wiping away my tears with a tissue. “Don’t be scared, I’ll take you home.” He held my small hand in his, and truly did bring me back to my front door. From then on, I became Zack’s little shadow. My childhood crush gradually became a habit, and I secretly loved him all these years. Hearing my answer now, Zack’s expression grew increasingly ugly. “Sophia, this isn’t a joke. Of all people, why would you like that plague—” Just then, three polite knocks sounded at the door. It was Susie. Seeing me, her expression didn’t change at all as she set down the thermos she’d brought on a nearby table. “I saw the news that you were hospitalized and rushed over. This is soup I made myself, it’s very good for you. Drink it while it’s hot.” Susie spoke unhurriedly, her voice soft and pleasant, a smile ever-present on her face. This caring image was something any man would love. Seeing her, Zack’s expression softened. “You didn’t need to go to the trouble of making it yourself.” Susie sat down beside him, inadvertently squeezing me to the side. I took the hint and quietly left the hospital room. In this life, I hoped those two would end up locked together.

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At the family reunion dinner, my father pointed at his mistress decked out in designer brands and told me to call her “Mom.” My real mother rushed in, just like in my previous life, only able to wipe away her tears. She had put on her most presentable outfit, yet still looked poor, haggard, and timid. She didn’t even dare to speak up and say she was my birth mother. My heart ached, but I restrained myself from offering her a tissue. I couldn’t choose her again, or we would both die horribly. So when Mandy, the mistress who clearly wanted me gone, fake-affectionately hugged me and said, “Emily, we’ve kept your room just as it was,” I saw my chance. I made sure the cameras were on me as I threw myself into her arms. “Mom, I’ll move in tonight!” My father was stunned, a flicker of embarrassment in his eyes. I knew he wasn’t truly looking for me – he was just using the guise of a family reunion to craft a public image and make money. When I was three, he slapped me for playing with toys that disturbed his nap. My mom quickly took me out to play, afraid I’d keep crying and get hit again. In that brief moment while she bought me candy, I was kidnapped. My always fashionable mom became disheveled after that. She handed out flyers everywhere, kneeling before strangers to beg for help. Soon my father grew to resent her. “Searching for a child is a bottomless pit – even two companies and six houses can’t fund your wasteful spending!” “Besides, you lost the child – why should I suffer for it?” My father constantly blamed my mom. When she suggested selling a house to fund the search, he finally exploded: “Let’s divorce. You leave with nothing and go search on your own!” Out of guilt, my mom really did divorce him and leave empty-handed. Not only that, she naively believed my father’s words were just spoken in anger. She thought if she found me, we could be a family again. But my father didn’t wait for us at all. He immediately married his mistress. Unexpectedly, the mistress was even more extravagant. She wore designer clothes, bought limited edition bags, and only drank $200 imported French water. In just three years, she nearly bankrupted my father. It was then that a parent went viral online while searching for their child, accidentally becoming rich and famous. My father was tempted. He jumped on that trending topic, gaining both fame and fortune. Money was so easy to make this way, my father definitely wanted to keep searching for me. To keep searching, but never actually find me. Unfortunately, I was a DNA match in the database. He had no choice but to host this grand reunion dinner. To maintain his image, he came up with this farce of passing off the mistress as my birth mother. But the mistress had her own agenda. She felt my father was already worth over $100 million – why bother making more money from netizens? Besides, she had given my father a son. She didn’t want anyone else coming to split the inheritance. “That woman in the shabby dress is your real mother…” Mandy whispered in my ear, avoiding my father’s gaze. Of course I knew the haggard woman standing in the corner, crying and smiling as she looked at me, was my birth mother. I also knew that to raise money to find me, she delivered food and collected recyclables, suffering in a basement apartment. So what? I didn’t want to live a life of poverty. My eyes stung. I pretended not to hear, hugging Mandy tightly as I cried, “Mom, I’m willing. I’m willing to officially register as part of the family.”

“What nonsense are you saying! I didn’t even ask…” Mandy was startled, her nails digging into my flesh. My father looked confused, but forced a smile and nodded in agreement for the cameras. Seeing my father nod, Mandy grew anxious. While my father was chatting with other parents searching for lost children, she secretly encouraged my mom to claim me. “Sister, you’ve suffered so much looking for your child. You should let her know.” My mom was oblivious to the manipulation, thinking this was my father’s intention. Her eyes lit up. “Emily, I… I am…” Perhaps daughters are more easily moved by their mothers. In my past life, I chose her without hesitation. And in doing so, I hurt her again. The year of the reunion dinner, I was a high school junior. To pay for my education and move us out of the basement, she worked three jobs a day. In the end, she collapsed and died while delivering food. Her funeral was hastily arranged. No one sympathized with her. My father said, “Your mom just had to prove herself. First she insisted on finding you, then she insisted on fighting for you. Look at her – no skills at all, yet she dared to defy me.” Relatives said: “Your mom brought this on herself. She gave up a life of luxury to suffer like this.” The mistress also said… She covered her mouth and whispered in my ear: “We should thank you both. If you hadn’t stupidly gotten kidnapped, if your mom hadn’t stupidly insisted on finding you, I wouldn’t be living this life of luxury now. Haha, I’m so grateful to you two idiots.” Mandy, my father’s mistress, smugly jangled her diamond bracelet. I didn’t understand – why did a mother so devoted to finding her child not have a happy ending? And I didn’t have a happy ending either. Working part-time through college, I finally graduated and landed a job at a Fortune 500 company. But Mandy was afraid I’d come back for the inheritance since I studied law. She hired some thugs to gang rape me to death. Not only did she turn it around and say I was promiscuous, she spread photos everywhere. And so I died at my most humiliating moment – filthy, degraded, without even getting revenge for my mom. My heart clenched. I couldn’t repeat those mistakes. I couldn’t bear to look my mom in the eye. I tugged on my father’s sleeve. He hadn’t noticed Mandy’s scheming, and instead scolded my mom for being inconsiderate. “Stop crying. You’re just here to see her once, don’t push your luck.” Afraid of being exposed if we stayed too long, he quietly threatened my mom. “Leave quickly. You don’t want to affect her college entrance exams, do you?” My poor mom still harbored illusions about my father even now. She kept looking back as she left, hoping my father would call her back out of concern. But of course, my father couldn’t see how thin she had become. He rushed back to the table, focused only on serving food to Mandy. When the meal was almost over, someone asked if my father had prepared a gift for me. Only then did he pretend to be generous and ask what I wanted. I couldn’t ask for too much at first. I acted shy and mumbled, “I’d like a laptop for studying.” I knew my father couldn’t refuse me in public. But to my surprise, he only bought me a $400 off-brand laptop. Who would believe this was the tycoon who had offered a $3 million reward to find his daughter online? I realized this way of getting money was too slow. I took a photo of the laptop and posted it online with the caption: “My first ever laptop. Thanks, Dad.” My father knew how to play the internet game, but so did I. As expected, netizens didn’t disappoint me. Not only did they curse my father for being stingy and hypocritical, they also dug up Mandy’s identity as the mistress…

My father was furious, blaming me for posting the photo online. I cried silently, “The buyers weren’t nice to me. I just wanted to show off some fatherly love I never had before.” Blood is thicker than water after all. My father hesitated, then couldn’t bring himself to blame me further. He thought staying silent would cover up the truth, and ordered me to delete the photo. But as soon as I deleted it, netizens had more to say. “The old scammer won’t clarify anything, just forces his daughter to delete the photo! That woman at the reunion dinner was definitely the mistress!” My father not only lost a million followers, but his company’s stock price also fell. Because netizens not only found my mom, but also dug up her impoverished living conditions. Now the deceived netizens were truly angry! They rained fire on my father and Mandy. “You heartless bastard! How dare you make your daughter call the mistress ‘Mom’! Have you no conscience?” “Homewrecker! You stole someone’s husband 14 years ago, now you’re stealing their daughter! Have you no shame?” “Damn, they even have a son!” The all-knowing netizens uncovered 5-year-old Tyler. Unexpectedly, this gave Mandy an opportunity. She seized on it to try and take the money and run. “What should we do? They know about our son now. Will they harm Tyler?” “I don’t care, I want to emigrate. I want to live abroad.” When it came to his son, my father hesitated. But he was reluctant to let years of hard work go to waste. He decided to send me to find my mom and put out the fire. My mom was surprised to see me. Her eyes held a glimmer of hidden hope. She nervously wrung her hands, hesitantly asking, “Emily, why are you here? Did your father…” Even at a time like this, she was still fantasizing that my father would take her back and we’d be a family again. I had to be cruel and tell her the truth. “Mom, my father and Mandy have a son. They’re preparing to leave the country.” “Can you help me fight for some of the inheritance?” I knew it would be hard to change my mom’s mind quickly. So I had to use harsh medicine to make her give up hope. In my past life, she washed dishes during the day, delivered food at night, and collected recyclables in her spare time. No matter how difficult or tiring it was, she never asked my father for child support. Because she didn’t know he had a son. She firmly believed my father would feel sorry for her, feel sorry for his daughter. If she had asked for money before that, it would have cheapened her in his eyes. Only then did I learn that my father had lied to my mom. He had promised her he wouldn’t have more children, that all his assets would be left to me… My mom finally woke up. She took out a loan to hire a lawyer and file a lawsuit. That lawyer was incredibly skilled and knew how to use public opinion to our advantage. My father was clearly in the wrong. After consulting many lawyers, he had no choice but to curse and grumble as he gave my mom three houses and $750,000 in cash. To my father’s current net worth, this was a drop in the bucket. But it was enough for my mom to start over. After getting the money, my mom eagerly asked me, “Emily, now that Mom has money, are you willing to live with me?” Her eyes were full of longing. She wanted nothing more than to make up for all the years of lost motherly love. But Mom, you already repaid everything in your past life. This life you should live for yourself. Using the excuse of preparing for college entrance exams and it being more convenient to stay at my father’s, I gently refused her. “When I can earn money, I’ll live with you, Mom. But before then, you need to take good care of yourself. Stay healthy and beautiful.” My mom seemed to understand my meaning. She hugged me and cried for a while, then lightly nodded. At this critical moment, my father didn’t dare stop me from going back. But when I walked in, his expression wasn’t good. Seeing my father’s cold attitude towards me, Mandy couldn’t hide her glee as she taunted me. “Oh Emily, are you really on your father’s side?” “Your father trusted you to find your mom and film a video to clear things up. What did you do instead?” “You helped your mom take your father’s assets!” I definitely wasn’t on my father’s side, just like how his search for me across the country was really just traveling around with Mandy. He wasn’t on my side either. Recalling the details uncovered by netizens, I took out the video I recorded with my mom. “Dad, my mom only found a lawyer after seeing netizens’ comments. I really didn’t know…” My father was still riled up by Mandy’s words and ignored me. With no other choice, I had to take a step back. “Dad, people online are saying you didn’t really want to find me. Is that true?” Of course my father couldn’t admit his hypocrisy. He stubbornly replied, “That’s nonsense!” I seized the opportunity to advise him: “If you officially register me as part of the family, transfer me to a new school, and film a video of Mom agreeing to an amicable split, wouldn’t that disprove the rumors?” “Well…” My father felt my words made some sense. Seeing my father waver, Mandy finally dropped all pretense. She pointed at me and sneered. “It’s either her or me in this house!”

“What kind of talk is that!” Ever since returning from the reunion dinner, my father had been singing Mandy’s praises to me, saying how hard she worked to help search for me. Now that the lies were exposed, my father glanced at me awkwardly before hurriedly pulling Mandy into another room. I don’t know what they said, but when they came out, Mandy was like a different person. She enthusiastically hugged me, “Emily, welcome home.” Much later I finally learned that my father had promised her then, “All the assets will go to Tyler. We’ll just use Emily to make money.” But it didn’t matter anymore. I had finally moved into my father’s mansion and met my 5-year-old half-brother Tyler, who was cared for by two nannies. The household registration transfer smoothed over some of the online criticism. My father was pleased and bought Mandy a Hermès bag. Placated by the bag, Mandy became two-faced. She no longer gave me trouble in front of my father, but secretly schemed against me. She arranged for different thugs to wait outside my school and whistle at me. “Emily, be my girlfriend.” Memories of my horrific death in my past life surfaced. I covered my mouth and retched. I called my father: “I’m being harassed.” He just coldly replied: “A fly won’t bite a seamless egg.” That response was too ridiculous. I carefully selected a male model online and sent him photos of Mandy with her wall of luxury goods. “Want to make big money?” He instantly replied: “Thanks sis.” That weekend, Mandy dressed up beautifully to go out. The nanny happened to have a family emergency and needed time off. I thought Mandy would cancel her date, but she just dumped the kid on me. “Don’t just focus on studying. Take good care of your brother. If he gets even a tiny scratch, your father won’t let you off!” My brother was the apple of my father’s eye. I nodded obediently. In a rush to her date, Mandy warned me sternly before leaving satisfied. Although Tyler was only 5, his destructive power was shocking. He was hostile towards me, muttering “bad sister” while constantly throwing toys at me. I didn’t bother with him. I took out some homework and did my assignments while keeping an eye on him. Seeing me ignore him, he started crying and throwing blocks around with loud crashes. The noise finally woke my napping father. He came downstairs yelling: “Are you all deaf? Can’t you hear Tyler crying?” He was still as hot-tempered as ever. Remembering the slap I got at age 3, I carefully explained: “The nanny had to leave and Mandy went out.” Luckily my father saw I was studying and didn’t take his anger out on me. He tried to pick up Tyler but tripped over some toys after just three steps. This made my father even angrier. He blamed Mandy for going out. His angry appearance was too scary. Tyler cried even louder. “There, there, don’t cry…” My father clumsily comforted Tyler. Sprawled on the couch catching his breath, he finally asked me: “Emily, how… how has your mom been lately?”

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