Category: English

On our fifth wedding anniversary, Vanessa’s junior colleague posted a photo of them scuba diving together on social media. The caption read: “Nothing sweeter than diving with my boss 💕” I commented, reminding them to be safe while diving, but my comment was instantly deleted. Vanessa immediately video called me, her face beautifully made up but full of impatience. “I’m on a company retreat with my employees. Why are you being so passive-aggressive in the comments?” “My employees can make money for me, can you? You’re just a sick man staying at home without earning a penny. How dare you criticize my staff!” In the background, I could see other employees comforting her junior colleague. Before I could explain, Vanessa hung up abruptly and blocked me. The next moment, her junior colleague flaunted a million-dollar watch on social media. I knew it was Vanessa’s way of compensating him. I tossed the anniversary gift I had prepared for Vanessa into the trash. Five years of marriage, it was time to end it. “I’m sorry, sir, but we only have one room left in the hotel today,” the receptionist at the Maldives resort apologized to me. Lucy, standing beside me, looked troubled. “Ryan and I were supposed to share a room, and you with Vanessa…” “Jack Sullivan, what are you doing here in the Maldives?” Vanessa, who had just berated me on video, stepped out of the hotel elevator. Behind her were several employees she had brought on this company retreat. Chris Zhang, Vanessa’s junior colleague and secretary, was carrying her bag and standing intimately close to her. Vanessa furrowed her brows and stormed over to me, her voice a mix of disbelief and anger. “Is this really necessary, Jack? Just because I’m a few days late coming home, you followed me all the way to another country?!” Two weeks ago, Vanessa had left for the Maldives on a company retreat, promising to return two days early to celebrate our anniversary together. But when the day came for her to return, she didn’t show up. I was worried sick at home, wondering if something had happened to them in the Maldives, so I anxiously called her several times. She impatiently accused me: “I’ve only been gone for a few days and you’re calling every day! How annoying! I’ve never seen such a nagging man. I’m not some little wife you can keep locked up!” My heart sank as I realized that my concern for her was nothing but a shackle in her eyes. It was she who had eagerly proposed to me several times, asking me to put a diamond ring on her finger, saying she belonged only to me and would be my wife alone. I coughed lightly, my expression cold as I looked down at her. “You can come to the Maldives for a vacation, why can’t I?” “What’s with that tone? You’re clearly stalking me!” Vanessa glared up at me, indignant. Lucy, standing next to me, quickly tried to smooth things over. Only then did Vanessa notice Lucy and me standing together. She looked at us suspiciously. Chris suddenly chimed in with a smile: “Jack, are you here on vacation with this beautiful lady? What a coincidence that you’re staying at the same hotel!” Vanessa’s face immediately changed, her eyes full of jealousy and envy. She stepped forward and pinched my arm hard, yelling: “How dare you betray me and have an affair with Lucy!?” I shook off her hand, coldly saying, “Are you crazy? Lucy is my buddy’s girlfriend. Don’t spread rumors!” My friend Ryan had just returned from the restroom. Seeing the situation, he quickly pulled his girlfriend into his arms to comfort her, glaring at Vanessa: “Vanessa, have you lost your mind? You know how much Jack loves you. How could you accuse him of being with my girlfriend!” Vanessa frowned, her tone full of arrogance. “Why didn’t you explain earlier!” I laughed bitterly to myself. As if she had given me a chance to explain. Lately, she had been increasingly impatient with me, just like earlier on the video call when she hung up without letting me explain. But I wouldn’t bother explaining to her anymore. There was no point. With only one room left in the hotel, I didn’t want to intrude on my friend and his girlfriend, so I had to share a room with Vanessa. I had been on a long flight, and I could feel my lungs were already overworked. Even breathing was becoming difficult. Back in the room, I sat on the couch, pale-faced, trying to rest. Vanessa urged me to go out for dinner with her employees. “I’m not feeling well, I’ll pass. You guys go ahead.” Vanessa rolled her eyes impatiently, her tone sarcastic: “You insist on coming here even though you’re sick, you deserve it! Fine, stay here then. I’ll bring you some leftovers when I’m done with dinner.” Vanessa left quickly in her high heels without giving me another glance. I opened my eyes wearily, took out my medication from my suitcase, and only felt my breathing ease after taking it. I opened my phone and sent an email to Dr. Zhang, a medical expert in treating lung conditions. Today was my fifth wedding anniversary with Vanessa. I had originally planned to come here to surprise her. But now it seems this wasn’t a surprise for her, just a shock and annoyance. Fortunately, my trip wasn’t wasted. Dr. Zhang replied that he had time to treat me over the next couple of days. I felt relieved and contacted a lawyer back home, asking him to draft a divorce agreement. When we return, I’ll officially divorce Vanessa. I fell asleep on the couch and when I woke up, Vanessa had just returned. But when I opened the takeout box, I saw cold, greasy leftovers that turned my stomach instantly. Vanessa flew into a rage: “Eat it or not, I don’t care if you starve!” She sat on the couch angrily playing with her phone, chatting with someone, a sweet shy smile gradually appearing on her face. Suddenly she said to me, “It’s too late now and the hotel’s not delivering food anymore. I’ll go out and buy you some supper.” But I had been hungry for too long and didn’t want to wait for her to go out and come back. I decided to go out with her. But Vanessa lost her temper again. “You want to follow me even to buy supper! Don’t you trust me? Do you think I’m going to meet someone? How can a man be so petty, always getting jealous! ” I hadn’t said anything, and she was already on the defensive. I said sarcastically: “You’re overthinking. I just want to eat out, otherwise how would I know what leftovers you’ll bring back this time.” Vanessa still looked unconvinced: “What leftovers? You’re just making excuses to argue with me! Now you’re finding reasons to follow me!” My stomach was cramping from hunger. I looked at her coldly, impatient. “Are you going or not? If not, give me the car keys. I’ll go eat by myself.” Vanessa rolled her eyes and reluctantly drove me to a nearby supper spot. On the way, she kept glancing at her phone while driving. The screen showed a group-buy deal for a famous restaurant nearby. When we arrived, Vanessa immediately shooed me out of the car, as if afraid I’d linger. “The staff called me over for supper. It’s not to your taste, so you eat here. I’ll come pick you up in two hours to go back to the hotel together.” With that, she drove off in a cloud of dust. I ordered a table full of delicious food and enjoyed it alone. It’s my own body, and I won’t ruin my health for her anymore. After eating, I waited outside for Vanessa, but the agreed time had long passed without a sign of her. A gust of cold wind blew, entering my lungs through my nose. I covered my mouth and coughed violently. Spots of blood seeped through my fingers, dripping onto the ground. My heart sank. It seemed my old lung problem had worsened again. Suddenly, it started pouring rain. By the time I hurriedly retreated back into the restaurant, I was already soaked. The cold moisture invaded my lungs again, and I couldn’t help but cough up another pool of blood. The restaurant owner was startled. I had to swallow my pride and ask him to drive me back to the hotel, otherwise if I kept waiting, I might cough up my entire lung. Back at the hotel, I showered, took my medicine, and quickly arranged to see Dr. Zhang tomorrow afternoon for treatment. By chance, I saw that Chris had posted on social media ten minutes ago. Among several food photos was a picture of intertwined hands. One of the hands wore a very familiar diamond ring. The location tag on this post showed it was the trendy restaurant I had seen on Vanessa’s phone earlier. When Vanessa returned, she started yelling at me as soon as she entered the door. “Didn’t I tell you to wait for me? You came back without telling me, making me look for you in the rain for hours!” I smirked, directly exposing her lie. “Half an hour ago I was still waiting for you outside the restaurant. Where exactly were you looking for me for hours?” A flash of guilt crossed Vanessa’s face. She bit her lip and glared at me. “Hmph, anyway, you should have called me if you weren’t going to wait!” I laughed inwardly. She had blocked me this morning, how could I call her? But I was too tired to explain. I took a set of spare bedding from the hotel and put it on the couch, lying down to rest. Vanessa sneered, “Don’t want to sleep in the same bed? As if I care!” “Cough cough!” The rain earlier had affected my lungs, which were now throbbing with pain. Vanessa slammed the bedroom door, leaving only a parting shot: “Sick dog, coughing all day! It’s so annoying to hear! When we get back home, let’s sleep in separate rooms!” I would certainly fulfill her wish. After the divorce when we return, I’ll have nothing more to do with her. My lungs hurt with every breath. I couldn’t sleep all night and even coughed up blood again. But my medicine was still in the bedroom and I hadn’t brought it out. I knocked on the door for a good ten minutes, coughing, before Vanessa finally opened it, her face full of anger. She didn’t even look at me, just turned and lay back on the bed with her back to me. I took my medicine and left. Hearing me close the door, Vanessa, lying on the bed, cursed me for being sick. But I really am sick. I tilted my head back and took a pill to treat the lung bleeding. Five years ago, if it weren’t for saving Vanessa, I wouldn’t have gotten this illness. Early the next morning, Vanessa had already changed and applied her makeup, looking ready to go out. Seeing me still lying on the couch, she frowned, looking displeased. “Why aren’t you up yet?” I ignored her, replying to a message from my friend. He said he and his girlfriend were going diving today and asked if I wanted to come see the ocean. Vanessa looked at my cold profile, feeling a bit panicked. She suddenly softened her tone. “Jack, we didn’t celebrate our anniversary yesterday. Let’s go diving together today, we can make up for it, okay?” So she did remember yesterday was our wedding anniversary. But my friend had just said he and his girlfriend were diving in the same area, so I nodded, planning to meet up with them. When Vanessa and I arrived, several employees from her company retreat were already on the yacht. Chris, wearing swim trunks and shirtless, asked Vanessa to help him apply sunscreen. He deliberately showed off his physique, raising an eyebrow at me, then said softly to Vanessa: “Vanessa, can you help me put on some sunscreen? I can’t reach my back!” A tour guide on the yacht joked, “Mrs. Wells, you and your young boyfriend get along so well.” At these words, the few employees present all looked at each other awkwardly. Chris pretended to be embarrassed, scratching his head: “Jack, don’t misunderstand, the guide is just joking. Maybe he thinks Vanessa and I look good together!” I glanced at him coldly, my tone contemptuous: “Indeed, you do look like a kept man.” Chris’s expression changed slightly, flashing embarrassment and anger. “Jack, what do you mean by that? Vanessa and I are purely professional. Are you deliberately mocking me?” Vanessa also frowned at me, her tone unpleasant. “Don’t be so rude. Weren’t you and Chris like brothers when he first joined the diving club? Why are you targeting him now!” Chris was our junior in college. When I first met him, I could tell he liked Vanessa. But this guy went abroad after graduation, so I didn’t pay much attention to him. Who knew that when he returned two years ago, he went straight into Vanessa’s company as her secretary. It seems that from then on, Vanessa became increasingly cold and impatient with me. Thinking back over the past two years, the many times Vanessa stood me up, stayed out all night, perhaps Chris had already replaced me in her heart. Seeing the atmosphere turn awkward, several employees came over to smooth things over. “Jack, I remember you’re good at diving too. Why don’t you come down and enjoy it for a while?” I shook my head, refusing. “No thanks, you guys go ahead.” The employees looked awkwardly at Vanessa. She felt embarrassed and bit her lip, cursing me in a low voice: “Jack Sullivan, how can a grown man be so petty! Can’t you read the room? You’re deliberately making everyone uncomfortable. What’s wrong with you!” Chris also said: “Jack, come down and play with us. Although Vanessa personally taught me yesterday, I still haven’t learned well. Why don’t you try teaching me?” As he spoke, Chris walked over and forcefully pushed me towards the diving suits. I was already annoyed that this pretty boy had cuckolded me, and now he dared to get in my face. Angry, I raised my hand and pushed him away. “Get lost!” “Ah! Vanessa, save me!” Unexpectedly, this pretty boy suddenly tilted towards the railing and fell straight into the sea. Vanessa rushed over, pushing me aside, and jumped into the sea without hesitation to bring Chris back up. Chris lay in Vanessa’s arms, looking panicked and scared. Vanessa anxiously asked if he had swallowed any seawater. Chris spoke weakly: “Vanessa, I’m okay… cough cough! Just swallowed a little water. Don’t blame Jack. Even though I know he dislikes me, he wouldn’t deliberately push me into the sea to hurt me…” Watching Chris’s poor acting, I laughed coldly. “Didn’t you just flip over yourself? If I wanted to hurt you, I would have held you underwater. Would I have let her fish you out?” Vanessa came over angrily, raising her hand high and slapping me hard across the face. “Jack Sullivan, have you gone crazy?! If anything had happened to Chris today, I wouldn’t have let you off!” I probed my cheek with my tongue, raising my hand to wipe the blood from the corner of my mouth, looking down at her coldly. IIn all our years together, no matter how fiercely we argued, she had never hit me. Now, for Chris’s sake, she didn’t hesitate to slap me.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295994”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring

I never expected that when my grandfather asked me to choose one of the Johnson brothers for marriage, I would pick Ethan, Caleb’s older brother. Everyone knew I had been Caleb’s shadow since childhood. I once made myself deathly ill, begging to marry him with my life. I smiled bitterly, remembering my past life. On our wedding day, Caleb ran away with Lily, the girl my family had been supporting, declaring he would marry no one but her. I stood there in the wedding dress I had dreamed of for so long, utterly humiliated. Only then did I realize he had agreed to marry me just to get revenge at the wedding. After being reborn, I started avoiding him at every turn. Later, when his brother Ethan held me in his arms and kissed me until my lips were swollen, Caleb, who had always looked down on me, suddenly lost control of his emotions. After setting the wedding date, I started preparing things we’d need for the ceremony. I didn’t expect to run into Caleb and his friends at the mall. “Coming out to play and still keeping such a close eye on her. Caleb, you’re watching your woman way too tightly,” his friend teased, causing Caleb to frown in annoyance. “She’s not my woman. Say that again and I’ll sew your mouth shut.” Caleb spotted me from afar and walked over, clearly displeased. “Aria, when will you give it a rest? Why do you have to follow me everywhere I go?” “You forced the elders to tie us together. Now everyone knows you’re marrying into the Johnson family. Are you satisfied now?” I stayed silent for a moment, my expression calm. “I’m not trying to tie myself to you. You’ve misunderstood.” His emotions suddenly flared up as he gripped my wrist tightly, causing pain. “Then why are you here? Aren’t you just stalking me?” I shook off his hand, instinctively rubbing my reddened wrist as I explained: “I’m here to prepare things for the wedding. I didn’t expect to run into you.” Seeing our unhappy expressions, his friends quickly gathered around. “Preparing for the wedding? Caleb, marrying her sure is convenient – you don’t have to prepare anything yourself.” Caleb glared at the speaker without responding. “Aria, don’t think that just because our families arranged this marriage, you can use these tactics to get me.” “Even if you get my body, you’ll never have my heart. I despise manipulative, vicious women like you the most.” His eyes were cold, his voice suppressing anger. But I felt nothing, only wanting to escape this troublesome situation. I looked up and met his gaze calmly: “Who wants your heart? Don’t flatter yourself. I won’t be marrying you either.” Hearing this, Caleb’s face immediately fell. “How can you still deny it at this point? You’ve always used every trick to force me to marry you. Now that you’ve finally succeeded, you’re saying you won’t marry me…” His friend bumped his shoulder: “Caleb, can’t you tell? The little lady is just mad at you. She’s saying that out of anger.” “She’s personally out choosing things for the wedding. How can she be happy when you’re being so cold and sarcastic to her?” Caleb’s expression finally softened a bit. He stared at me with a complex look, finally forcing out a sentence after a long pause. “I’ll show up for the wedding on time, but like I said, don’t expect me to ever like you.” Suddenly there was a sound of something dropping behind us. Caleb and I turned to see Lily standing there in shock, wearing a cute sundress. She was the foster child my family had been supporting. With poor health, she was a frequent hospital patient. My mother felt bad about her poor living conditions and took her in to live with us. She was now dressed up like a delicate doll, with fluttering eyelashes over watery eyes. Caleb immediately let go of me and rushed over to her. “Lily, let me explain. It’s not what you think.” Lily covered her face and ran off, not giving him a chance to explain. Everyone dispersed unhappily after Lily left. Before leaving, Caleb threatened me harshly. “If Lily gets upset over this, I won’t let you off easy.” I laughed mockingly, for a moment doubting if the childhood friend I grew up with had been possessed by someone else.

After that whole scene, I lost interest in continuing to shop and went home early. It wasn’t until evening that Caleb brought Lily back. He was carrying bags of things, with his driver following behind carrying several boxes. The boxes were filled with expensive fruits and imported snacks. It was clear Caleb had bought a lot to appease Lily. When they came in, I was curled up on the couch watching TV. I deliberately didn’t look Caleb’s way, but he came over on his own. At first he didn’t speak, just pursing his lips as if waiting for my reaction. But I kept my eyes fixed on the TV, not even glancing his way. “Aria, you clearly saw me bring in all these things. Why didn’t you come help?” I gave him an indifferent look: “Why should I help you? The stuff wasn’t bought for me. What does it have to do with me?” His expression darkened: “If you want something just say so. If word gets out that my fiancée is so desperate for a few trinkets, people will laugh at me.” Caleb completely ignored what I’d said at the mall. I couldn’t be bothered to keep emphasizing to him that I wouldn’t marry him. He’d understand completely on the wedding day. Caleb casually picked up a box of blueberries and tossed it next to me. Due to the force, the box bounced off the couch and fell to the floor. “A reward for you. Don’t say I mistreat you.” I looked down at the box of blueberries, but had no desire to pick it up. Because if I did, I’d be like a begging dog, eagerly accepting Caleb’s handouts. I don’t need that kind of charity. I curled my lips in a cold smile: “You’re quite at home in my house. Don’t you have any sense of being a guest? Don’t embarrass your family’s upbringing.” We’d grown up together and were certainly familiar with each other’s homes. I’d never said such insulting words before. Caleb’s face turned red with anger. He looked at me like he wanted to eat me alive. My parents weren’t home yet, and the staff were busy with their own tasks. Only Caleb, Lily and I were left in the living room. Caleb acted like I didn’t exist, pressing Lily against the wall and giving her a quick kiss. He murmured: “Lily, in the future if anything upsets you, just tell me directly. Don’t let it hurt your health.” Lily’s coquettish voice reached my ears. “I know. Caleb always treats me the best.” As Lily responded to him, the two started kissing passionately, their intimate sounds making one blush. I turned off the TV and walked around the couch, deliberately taking a path farther from them to reach the stairs, intending to return to my room. When I was halfway up the stairs, Caleb suddenly opened his eyes, remembering there was another person present. He instinctively pushed Lily away. Lily didn’t notice his change, just reluctantly ending the kiss. Finally Lily looked up at me, her eyes full of provocation and disdain, as if showing off her victory. Back in my room, I received a message from Lily. [Sister, even though Caleb promised you a wedding, the title of Mrs. Johnson will only ever be mine.] [Aria, whatever outcome you got in your past life, you’ll get the same this life. You can’t beat me.]

Seeing this message, my heart suddenly skipped a beat. So I wasn’t the only one who had been reborn. In my past life, after Caleb accepted the engagement, I thought he had been moved by my sincerity. After all, I had chased after him for over a decade. Even a rock should have been warmed up by now, right? I never expected that he only accepted the marriage to thoroughly humiliate me at the wedding. In front of all the guests, he tightly held Lily’s hand. He announced to everyone that he could never marry me, that Lily was the only one he loved and would marry in this life. I was utterly humiliated, standing alone in my wedding dress, trapped in awkward emotions. Everyone in our social circle knew how much I liked him. I had even made myself deathly ill, just to get my parents to agree to an engagement with the Johnson family. I had lowered myself so much, shaming myself and my parents, only to be repaid with Caleb’s revenge. He resented me for using my family’s status to force an engagement, making him and Lily separate. I also passed away from illness. I never want to experience that kind of suffering again. So after being reborn, I gave up on Caleb and chose his brother Ethan instead. But I never expected that this time, my marriage to Ethan would proceed so smoothly. There were no obstacles. I just had to wait patiently for the wedding next month to arrive on schedule. In my past life, Ethan had always worked abroad and never married. Everyone thought he had some unspeakable issue. Even my grandfather asked me to confirm again when he heard I decided to marry Ethan. Was I really sure I wanted to marry Ethan? I nodded. Even if he had some physical problem, so what? If I had to choose between them, a life of mutual respect was far better than one full of scars. The next day, I went to the jeweler to pick up the wedding rings for Ethan and me. But the staff informed me that the rings had already been taken by Mr. Caleb Johnson. This jewelry store was under the Johnson Group. If Caleb wanted to take them, the staff couldn’t stop him. Out of all the couples’ rings, he just had to take my wedding rings. Anger suddenly flared up inside me, because those rings were my own design. Since childhood, I’d had a dream of wearing rings I designed myself at my wedding to the man I loved. In the past, I thought the man wearing the matching ring would be Caleb. But now that the groom had changed, I’d torn up that old design and made a new one specially for Ethan. Yet Caleb had snatched them away. Just as I was about to call Caleb to demand an explanation, I suddenly saw Lily’s new post on social media. [A one-of-a-kind ring from my beloved.] The photo showed her and Caleb wearing the rings I had designed. People flooded the comments with congratulations. My eyes unconsciously welled up with tears. Even if the arranged marriage had once troubled Caleb, I had already backed out in time and given him his freedom. Why did he have to keep humiliating me, and even let Lily take my wedding rings? I couldn’t wait another second. I didn’t want to argue with Caleb over the phone. So I took a cab straight to Caleb’s office.

Caleb wasn’t in his office. But Lily was there. When she saw me, her eyes showed no surprise. As if she had expected I would come demand an explanation. Lily kept fiddling with the ring on her finger, occasionally pouting. “Sister, what do you think of the ring Caleb gave me?” She shook her head as she spoke. “I think it’s ugly as sin, but since Caleb gave it to me, I love it.” “I love anything he gives me.” Hearing her words, I couldn’t help but clench my fists. “Sister, do you think if I wear this ring to your wedding, I’ll steal your spotlight?” “After all, the diamond Caleb gave me is definitely bigger than whatever ring you’ll have.” Something snapped in my mind. I rushed forward to grab the ring from her hand. So Lily and I ended up in a tussle. The moment I got the ring off her finger, I felt a sharp blow to my waist. Someone kicked me hard, sending me sprawling on the ground in pain so intense I could barely breathe. Tears leaked from the corners of my eyes as I stubbornly turned my head, gritting my teeth as I glared at the petite woman now cradled in Caleb’s arms. “You crazy woman, how dare you lay hands on Lily? Don’t you know her health is fragile?” The pain spreading up from my waist was nothing compared to the ache in my heart. Caleb didn’t bother scolding me further, focused on comforting the distraught Lily. “Caleb, I can’t believe it. If you hadn’t arrived in time, would my sister have beaten me to death?” His gaze fell on Lily as he gently wiped away her tears, his movements tender and attentive. Caleb’s brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes rimmed with red. “Lily, don’t worry. I won’t let that crazy woman near you alone again.” “I won’t allow anyone to hurt you. Even if it’s the Wilson family’s daughter, I’ll turn against them if they so much as touch a hair on your head.” Caleb really went to extremes for Lily’s sake. Many people at Johnson Group knew me, including his secretary. The secretary helped me up, but Caleb angrily berated her. “Who said you could help her? Go to accounting and get your final paycheck. Don’t come in tomorrow.” The secretary stood there stunned before reluctantly leaving the office. I clutched my waist, my face flushed red. Just thinking about this humiliating situation made me want to cry. I laughed mockingly at myself. Each laugh blurred my vision a little more with unshed tears. He fired his secretary who helped me without a second thought. Did Caleb really hate me to this extent? “Crazy woman, you still have the nerve to laugh?” Caleb demanded: “I told you I would never like you. So why do you keep hurting the person I love?” I stubbornly refused to back down: “Are you blind? She’s the one who stole my things!” Caleb hesitated for a moment, but after glancing at Lily’s pitiful expression, he impatiently scolded me: “It’s just a ring. It was meant for me anyway. What’s wrong with her having it since it was meant for me!” I sneered: “You must not have a mirror, or even a puddle to look in. Check yourself – your ego is way too big!” I almost blurted out that the ring was meant for Ethan. But I suddenly remembered Ethan would be back tonight. I would thoroughly humiliate Caleb at the family dinner. I pressed a hand to my waist, each step difficult and painful. His voice came from behind me: “Come to the family dinner on your own tonight. I don’t have time to pick you up.” I left the office without looking back, a faint smile still on my lips. Laughing at his conceit, and even more at my own pathetic state. It’s fine. I don’t need him to pick me up. He’ll understand soon enough that my life will have nothing to do with him from now on. ———-This is the breakpoint———-

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296010”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic #后宫Harem

After being crushed to death, I transmigrated into a poor college student in a true-and-false heiress drama. The dirt-poor male lead hurled the villa keys, gifted by the fake heiress, onto the ground, his face twisted with defiance. “Keep your damn charity!” he snarled, his voice raw with pride. The heroine, ever the saintly meddler, chimed in, her tone dripping with righteous sympathy. “Don’t underestimate a young man’s potential just because he’s broke.” Before the keys could even settle in the dust, I dove forward in a dramatic slide, snatching them up with a flourish. Heart pounding, I clutched the cold metal to my chest and declared, “Well, I need it. Thank you very much!” The fake heiress, seizing the chance to save face, gave an approving nod, her lips curling into a smirk. Just like that, I became her loyal sidekick. Whenever the heroine tried her sickly-sweet manipulations disguised as kindness, I was there, ready to slap her down with a verbal beatdown. And the male lead? Oh, the second he sat down to eat, I flipped the table, sending plates crashing and his pride into orbit. From that moment on, I clawed my way to the top.

The day I arrived at university, the entrance was swarmed with people. Pushing my way through the crowd, I caught sight of what could only be described as a scene straight out of a drama. Our male lead, female lead, and the quintessential villainess, the fake heiress, gathered there. Right there in front of everyone, the fake heiress, Molly Joyce, shoved a set of villa keys into Aiden Gray’s hand. Without missing a beat, Aiden tossed them to the ground like they were nothing more than trash. His face hardened with irritation as he glared at her. “Molly,” he snapped, “I don’t need your charity.” Beside him stood the real heiress, Celine Morton. Celine wore simple clothes but carried herself with quiet dignity. Nodding firmly, she added, “Don’t think just because you’ve got some dirty money that you’re better than poor people. Take your little key and get lost.” Molly’s face turned an unflattering shade of red as whispers rippled through the onlookers. The hushed gossip left her stranded on a stage of humiliation, her pride teetering on the edge of collapse. My eyes zeroed in on those gleaming keys lying abandoned on the ground. I thought, “A villa! Can this day get any better?” Without hesitation, I dropped to the ground in one dramatic slide and snatched up the keys before I looked up at Molly with wide-eyed admiration. “I’ll gladly take your charity, Ms. Joyce!” I declared with all the enthusiasm of someone who’d just won the lottery. Her expression instantly brightened. Clearly relieved to have found a willing recipient for her generous gift, she waved dismissively. “It’s yours. Keep it.” Celine shot daggers at me while casting mournful glances toward the discarded keys. Normally, this was where the impoverished leads would refuse such lavish gifts repeatedly, proclaiming their pride and self-worth until Molly forced them to accept under duress. But this time, I intercepted the prize. Those two probably already hated my guts. But honestly, I didn’t care. Standing tall, I sidled up behind Molly, my grin widening. “Please, shower me with your riches, Ms. Joyce! You’re truly beautiful inside and out!” I exclaimed. Molly preened under my flattery, shooting a smug glance over her shoulder at the fuming leads. Then, quirking an eyebrow, she asked, “You really need the cash?” Tears welled in my eyes as I replied, “Yes, Ms. Joyce. With this villa, I won’t have to sleep under bridges anymore!” Seemingly moved, Molly pulled a sleek black card from her designer purse and handed it to me. “There’s half a million dollars in there. Treat yourself to something nice.” She gestured toward the Lamborghini parked dramatically by the gate. “Take my luggage to the dorms, and the car is yours.” If looks could kill, Celine’s glare would’ve reduced me to ashes right then and there. In the original script, Molly should’ve handed Celine that fat stack of cash after being provoked, driving a wedge between her and Aiden. That money was supposed to belong to her. But instead, here I was, cheerfully hoisting Molly’s possibly light suitcase onto my shoulder, trudging ahead to lead the way for her. “No problem, Ms. Joyce! Feel free to call me anytime you need errands run!” Was I shameless? No. I was just desperately broke. Life hadn’t exactly been kind to me since I landed in this world a year ago. Orphaned, penniless, and surviving on scraps, I spent nights curled up in drainage tunnels, wearing clothes so threadbare that they barely kept me warm. Protein came exclusively from cockroaches. If it weren’t for my stellar grades earning me a tuition waiver, free room and board, plus a modest scholarship, I’d have starved long ago. But now, things were about to change. Clutching the keys, credit card, and the car, I could practically taste freedom and luxury. Four years of college expenses were covered. Hunger pangs were gone. Bridge-dwelling lifestyle would never be my thing again. As luck would have it, Molly turned out to be my dormmate. According to the book, she was supposed to fawn over Celine in the dorms for Aiden’s sake, only to be met with icy disdain from Celine. Each interaction would end with snide remarks about looking down on others and reminders that fortunes could flip overnight. Eventually, Celine would win back her rightful inheritance using Molly’s money before forcing her to repay everything to the Joyce family. I clenched my teeth, determination burning in my chest. “Fine. Let the main couple stick to their noble ideals of love over wealth. They didn’t want material comfort? Great. That left plenty of headaches and perks for me to handle instead.” Thinking about the opulent future ahead, I threw my head back and laughed.

Molly stared at me, her perfectly arched brows knitting together in bewilderment. “What are you grinning like an idiot for?” She was unable to wrap her head around the sight of someone losing their mind with joy over a single house and a few hundred thousand dollars. To her, this was pocket change. She had tossed such luxuries at Aiden without so much as earning a flicker of a smile in return. “Oh, nothing,” I replied, clasping my hands together as if in prayer. “I’m just thrilled at the thought of sharing a dorm with someone as beautiful, kind, elegant, and generous as you!” Molly’s cheeks flushed a delicate pink. “Oh, stop it. I’m not that great. Just call me Molly, alright? But seriously, where’s all your stuff? You didn’t bring a single bag.” I scratched the back of my head, offering a sheepish grin. “Well, I’m an orphan. Broke as a joke, too. School’s the only reason I’m here, like government grants, charity programs, you name it. Sometimes my classmates are nice enough to share their leftovers, so I don’t go hungry.” Molly’s eyes widened as she gave me a slow, disbelieving once-over, her gaze lingering on my threadbare clothes, which were riddled with patches. At first, she had probably thought I was rocking some avant-garde “beggar chic” trend, but now the truth hit her. I was the real deal. A wave of sympathy softened her expression, and before I could blink, she grabbed my wrist and tugged me toward the dorm exit. “Come on,” she declared, her voice brimming with haughty determination. “We’re going shopping! No way am I letting my sidekick look this pathetic. It’s embarrassing.” Molly marched me straight to the city’s glitziest mall, her heels clicking with purpose. Inside the most extravagant boutique, she pointed imperiously at the racks of designer clothes. “Not this one. Not this one either. Just wrap up everything else for me.” My jaw dropped as I glimpsed the bill, a dizzying string of zeros that made my hands tremble. “Molly, honestly, I think the stuff from the street vendors outside is just fine.” She whirled on me, her eyes flashing with indignation. “You’re my sidekick, so you do as I say. This? This is pocket change. Stop humiliating me and let them pack it up!” It took all my pleading and the excuse that I physically couldn’t carry any more bags to talk her out of buying out the entire store. Even so, by the time we left, I was dripping in luxury: a sleek Louis Vuitton bag slung over my shoulder, a twinkling starlit watch on my wrist, gemstone jewelry glinting at my throat, and a wardrobe of high-end clothes that cost more than I had ever dreamed of. My arms were weighed down with bags of gourmet supplements, too. “Look at you, all skin and bones,” Molly huffed, eyeing me critically. “You’re an embarrassment to take out in public. When we get back, you’re eating every last bite of this. No scraps left. Got it? And don’t you dare wear the same outfit twice. I’ll wire you a million dollars a month, so don’t even think about shaming me with repeats.” Tears welled up in my eyes, hot and grateful, and I snapped to attention, giving her a salute. “Yes, ma’am! Mission accepted!” Inside, I whispered under my breath, “Please bless this woman. If being the lackey of the so-called “villainess” means living like this, then sign me up. If this is what “evil” looks like, then the world can use a few less goody-two-shoes saints.”

Back at the dorm, Celine had already charmed our two other roommates, the three of them giggling like old friends. But the second I walked in, arms overflowing with shopping bags, her face darkened. She shot to her feet, pointing an accusing finger at Molly. “Molly, this is too much! Nora Gomez isn’t your servant, so you can’t just boss her around like this. It’s degrading!” Before Molly could even respond, I charged forward, my voice ringing with indignation. “Celine, mind your own business!” Celine blinked, undeterred, her eyes wide with faux concern. “Nora, I’m trying to help you! I know exactly what kind of person Molly is. She thinks her dirty money gives her the right to bully everyone. This is textbook campus harassment. You don’t have to be afraid of her!” Molly’s lips pursed, her temper flaring as she snapped, “I’m not bossing her around, you drama queen! What are you even yapping about? I paid her, not enslaving her!” Our other two roommates, clearly siding with the more familiar Celine, frowned at Molly’s sharp tone. “Hey, we’re all roommates here. Do you have to talk like that?” Celine, ever the martyr, dabbed at her crocodile tears, clutching the others’ arms. “It’s fine, really. We’re just poor, so of course she looks down on us. Please, don’t ruin our dorm harmony over me.” My internal alarm blared like a siren. “Oh, enough, Celine! These are my things, and here you are, slandering Molly without a shred of proof. You cry ‘bullying,’ but if anyone’s playing the victim card, it’s you!” Celine gaped, pointing at the pile of Louis Vuitton bags at my feet. “You’re a scholarship girl. There’s no way you could afford stuff like that!” “Oh, so because I’m poor, I must be someone’s lapdog or sugar baby, is that it?” I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Sounds to me like you’re the one who looks down on poor people, Celine.” The other two roommates exchanged uneasy glances, their eyes flickering to Celine with newfound doubt. “And another thing,” I added, my voice rising with righteous fury. “I didn’t eat your food, and Molly didn’t spend your money. So why are you so hellbent on painting her as the bad guy? She even thought of all of us while she was out shopping!” To prove my point, I dug into the mountain of bags and pulled out three identical Louis Vuitton purses, thrusting one into each of their hands. The roommates’ eyes widened at the price tags, guilt washing over their faces as tears welled up. “Oh my gosh, we were so wrong,” Lexie Willis sobbed, clutching the bag like a lifeline. “Seriously, bring on more of this ‘campus bullying,’” Adley Elliott wailed, laughing through her tears. Celine’s eyes bulged, her face flushing a furious red. “Pathetic,” she thought. “They’re just swayed by Molly’s money, huh? But I wasn’t done.” “Sounds like you’re the one who hates the rich, Celine,” I said coolly. “Molly didn’t spend a dime of your cash, and now that you’ve got a bag in your hands, are you really going to keep badmouthing us without so much as an apology?” I bit my lip, the old saying echoing in my mind, “Take someone’s gifts, and you’re at their mercy; eat their food, and your words turn soft.” At my announcement, my roommates wouldn’t turn on Molly like they did in the story. Instead, they would probably think I was loyal, standing up for a friend with fierce righteousness. “Yeah, Molly’s just blunt. But she’s actually pretty great,” Adley said, bobbing her head like a dashboard toy. “Exactly,” Lexie agreed. “We’ve seen it with our own eyes. She even got us these amazing gifts. Celine, maybe you’re overreacting a bit?” Celine’s face twisted, her cheeks burning as she gripped her own bag, clearly humiliated. Then, in a dramatic flourish straight out of the male lead’s playbook, she raised her hand to fling the purse away. But I wasn’t about to let her grandstand. With a theatrical leap, I snatched the bag midair, cutting her performance short. “Oh, I get it! You’re too pure for ‘dirty money,’ right? Well, in that case, I’ll just take this back, so you don’t have to sully your precious principles or ruin our precious ‘dorm harmony.’” As we stepped outside, Molly’s eyes sparkled with delight, a grin spreading across her face. “That was incredible,” she yelled. For years, she had been the punching bag of Celine and Aiden, pouring out her fortune in pursuit of Aiden, only to watch everyone turn against her, baffled by their disdain. But today, my performance had cemented my place as her number-one ally. Basking in her praise, I felt the ruby necklace at my throat gleam even brighter, as if it, too, reveled in our triumph. “When Ms. Joyce is in despair, I drown in her sorrow! When she is in bliss, I soar with her joy! I’ll raise the grandest banner for her, waving it high with unwavering devotion!” I promised secretly.

Molly swept us, me and our two roommates, into the city’s swankiest influencer hotspot, a seafood restaurant so upscale that it felt like stepping into a fever dream of luxury. The waiters were all chiseled, six-foot-five male models who looked like they had just strutted off a runway. As they set down platters of glistening lobster and caviar-drizzled oysters, I swear I felt tears of joy leak from the corners of my mouth, while drool threatened to spill from my eyes. I dug in with reckless abandon, shoveling food into my mouth like a woman possessed, letting out little mewls of ecstasy as each bite purified my soul. But just as I was about to ascend to culinary nirvana, a deep, accusatory voice boomed from the entrance. “Molly, I knew it! Celine was right. You’re all here having a feast, and you didn’t even invite her? Don’t you think freezing out your own roommate is straight-up bullying?” I froze, a shrimp halfway to my mouth, as Aiden stormed in, dragging a tear-streaked Celine behind him. Her delicate frame trembled, a perfect portrait of wounded innocence, like a rain-soaked flower. Aiden, all righteous fury, jabbed a finger at Molly’s nose, his voice dropping into a commanding growl, “If you want to keep being my friend, you’ll apologize to Celine. Right now.” Aiden stood there, radiating smug confidence, clearly convinced he had Molly wrapped around his finger. After all, he knew she had been pining for him forever. In his mind, Molly was nothing but a shallow rich girl, frittering away her days on frivolous pleasures, always flaunting her “dirty money” to belittle him. Celine, on the other hand, was the only one who truly respected him. Today, he was determined to make Molly grovel. Molly shot to her feet, her chair scraping against the polished floor. “I’ll invite whoever I damn well please. If you’re going to beg, at least pick a place Celine can afford to step foot in. She’s like a bad penny, always turning up where she’s not wanted.” Celine, clinging to Aiden’s sleeve, blinked up at him with doe-like eyes, her voice quivering. “Molly, I know you’ve always had a thing for Aiden, but love, whether it’s romance or friendship, can’t be forced. No matter how much money you throw at our roommates, it won’t change the bond we all share.” At her words, I nearly choked on my lobster. “Bond? You’ve known them for, what, a day? I bet you don’t even remember their names,” I thought. Molly’s lips trembled, her anger warring with the humiliation of having Aiden witness this showdown. She was fuming, but the words seemed to stick in her throat, leaving her flushed and speechless. I sighed inwardly, “Oh, Molly, no wonder you’re the ‘villainess.’ You’re hopeless at clapping back when it counts, while Celine’s over here spinning tales by the bucketload.” I grabbed a silk napkin, dabbing my hands with deliberate calm, and cast a sidelong glance at Aiden. His pants were streaked with grime, his shirt rumpled, his whole vibe screaming “just rolled out of a construction site.” This was the guy Molly had fawned over for years, showering him with job offers and flooding his accounts with cash. With all that money, he could just let it sit in the bank, raking in interest. However, after all these years, he still clung to this same pitiful look. What a hypocrite, playing the martyr while reaping the rewards! “Hold up,” I said, my voice cutting through the tension. “Having dinner is ‘isolating’ someone now? You’re gonna need some proof to back up that accusation.” Aiden bristled, his eyes flashing like a cat with its tail stepped on. “Proof? I’m looking at it! You’re all here, wining and dining, while Celine, your roommate, is left out. On the first day of school, you’re already ganging up on her. Who knows how much worse it’ll get if this keeps up?” I held up a hand, stopping Molly mid-lunge as she looked ready to deck him. “Patience, girl. If you want to take someone down, you let them dig their own grave first,” I thought. “Alright,” I said, leaning back in my chair with a smirk. “If I can prove we didn’t ‘isolate’ Celine, what are you gonna do to make up for slandering us?” Aiden scoffed, folding his arms, “Go ahead. Try to spin your lies. If you can prove you didn’t ditch Celine, I’ll eat every damn dish on this table.” Adley and Lexie instinctively clutched their plates, shooting him wary looks. It seemed that Aiden was trying to freeload. I took my time, pulling out my phone with a flourish, and tapped play on a recording. Celine’s voice rang out, crystal clear, dripping with venom. “Who cares about eating with you losers? Fuck off!” The line went dead, the dial tone echoing in the stunned silence of the private dining room. Aiden’s face turned beet red, his glare shifting to Celine with a flicker of reproach in his eyes. Celine, meanwhile, looked like she had been slapped, her mouth opening and closing as she struggled to comprehend why any sane person would record a phone call. Before either of them could recover, Molly snapped her fingers, summoning the waiter. “Pack up everything on this table,” she ordered. Then, turning to Aiden with a saccharine smile, she added, “Oh, and this gentleman will be taking care of the bill.” As we gathered our things to leave, I couldn’t resist one last jab. I sauntered over to the shell-shocked duo, patting their trembling shoulders with mock sympathy. They should pay fifty thousand dollars for a single meal. “They’re about to go from riches to rags. Or, in their case, from broke to broker,” I murmured. Indeed, I had nearly fainted myself when I saw the radish salad, each plate tagged at a jaw-dropping eighty-eight hundred dollars.

Ever since Aiden and Celine’s wallets bled out at that seafood extravaganza, Molly had been on a mission, dragging me and our two roommates on a whirlwind of retail therapy. Under my relentless coaxing, Molly finally shed the demure aesthetic she adopted to win over Aiden, an ill-fated attempt to mimic Celine’s “innocent” charm. Truth be told, Molly was a bombshell, a vision of vibrant beauty. Her natural allure lay in fiery reds and dazzling golds, not the ghostly pale, ethereal whites and straight brown hair she had forced herself into. That washed-out look had only made her seem gaunt and shadowy, a mere backdrop to Celine’s spotlight. Losing herself was the first step to becoming a supporting character in her own life. But now, Molly was reborn in all her dazzling glory. At the freshman assembly, she strode onto the stage, a vision in a crimson dress that hugged her curves like a lover’s embrace. Her makeup was bold, making her presence electric. The crowd erupted in gasps and shrieks, jaws dropping as she claimed the spotlight. “Who is that goddess? Has she been at our school this whole time?” “I thought Celine had the campus queen title locked down, but wow. This girl’s a total dark horse!” “Sure, she’s gorgeous, but so what? Celine’s the outstanding freshman rep. What’s a pretty face compared to that?” Lexie, buzzing with excitement, leaned in to dish the dirt. “That’s Molly Joyce. You know the Joyce family, the real estate tycoons? She’s the heiress of Joyce Properties. She’s stunning and sweet. She’s opened so many doors for us, showing us fancy dinners and exclusive events. She even helped my family land jobs!” Molly had a habit of showering us with cash like a human slot machine, but her temper could flare up like a wildfire, though never without reason. And when the storm passed, she’d always make it up with extravagant gifts. After just a month of living with her, our roommates had fallen head over heels, utterly enchanted by her charm. We were deep in our gossip, buzzing like bees, when Celine glided onto the stage, a vision in a flowing white gown. “The most important day of my life is today, the day I finally found my real parents,” she declared. The crowd, half-asleep from the monotonous speeches, snapped awake at those words. The air crackled with the scent of scandal, gossip igniting like wildfire. And then, Molly’s scream cut through the murmurs like a blade. “No way! You’re lying! Those are my parents!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296026”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #惊悚Thriller

I was the fake young miss, and after the real young master was found and brought back… I couldn’t wait to show him the life of luxury. “Look! A huge mansion! All yours!” “Look! 108 supercars, all yours!” “Look! A fabulously wealthy older brother! He’s yours too!” … Meanwhile, I was getting ready to make a run for it. Ha! Who would want to be a young miss? Not even a dog would want that life! I was in the alley behind school, fighting over street food with Aaron, when the bodyguards mercilessly dragged me back home. I thought I was done for, but when I got back to the living room, I saw a gloomy crowd surrounding a fair-skinned young man. Mom and Dad said he was the real young master of the Johnson family, and I was just a fake. “Really? Are you sure I’m not your real daughter?” I asked shakily, feigning disbelief. “Of course not. I’m their real son, you need to step aside!” the real young master said disdainfully. “Alright, alright! Young Master Johnson, I’ll get out of your way right now!” While everyone looked on in confusion, I started the handover ceremony with the real young master. “Look! This is your room! A whole 1000 square feet!” “Look! There are 108 sports cars in the garage, take your pick!” “Look! Your fabulously wealthy older brother, all yours!” … Meanwhile, I hurriedly packed my bags and bolted out of the house. Thank heavens! I’ve finally waited for this day! From now on, I’ll never again be that young miss whose life was more miserable than a 996 worker! I’ll never again be enslaved by that freak Lucas Johnson! Hot pot! BBQ! Spicy noodles! Crawfish! … Here I come!

The first thing I did after escaping that hellhole was rush to Aaron’s place and order a huge feast. As soon as I took a bite, I couldn’t help but tear up. “What are you, a starving ghost?” Aaron looked at me with disdain. “You don’t understand! I’m finally free!” I chugged a big gulp of Coke. It felt so good! At the Johnson house, I had to get up at 5 AM every day to do all kinds of exercises with Lucas, followed by an unappetizing healthy breakfast. At 6 AM, I’d start two hours of foreign language study – English, French, Spanish… At 8 AM I’d go to school, and after classes I’d have to learn all the skills expected of a wealthy young lady – violin, painting, calligraphy… On weekends I had to learn horseback riding, golf, rock climbing, scuba diving… I also had to attend all sorts of fancy parties. Every day I was exhausted like a dog. As soon as I mastered one skill, the next one was already waiting for me. It was endless, learning non-stop until I turned 20. Even in college they wouldn’t leave me alone. In my free time I still had to complete all kinds of tasks Lucas assigned and work like a slave at the company. Is this the life of a wealthy young miss? It’s even more miserable than being a 996 worker! Every night before bed I would pray to the heavens, and I couldn’t believe how generous they were, directly giving me a new identity. “You’re celebrating too early! Do you really think Lucas will let you go that easily?” Aaron’s words extinguished my enthusiasm. “Hmph! You think I’m afraid of him?!” “Before I was the Johnson family’s young miss, his sister. Now I’m not anymore, he can’t control me!” That “wonderful” life of luxury has nothing to do with me anymore! “I hope you’ll still have that backbone when you see Lucas.” Aaron had a schadenfreude look on his face. Damn! If I didn’t know him for so many years, I’d really suspect he was Lucas’s spy. “He’s too busy to deal with me now, gone overseas for business. He won’t be back for a month.” By the time he gets back it’ll be too late! Just thinking about his freakish ways sends chills down my spine. 20 years of enslavement has seeped into my bones! I must have committed all kinds of heinous crimes in my past life to end up as his sister in this one! And I’m not even his real sister.

After a few blissful days at Aaron’s place, a call from my academic advisor shattered my dreams. No choice! I still had to go to school. It had taken everything I had just to get into college. But I didn’t expect to see the real young master in the alley behind the school. He was surrounded by a group of people, like a lamb waiting for slaughter, glaring at them tearfully without any intimidation. I pretended not to see and strode towards the school. Having finally left the Johnson family, I didn’t want to get involved with them again. But I couldn’t get that tearful face out of my mind. He looked so much like Lucas, truly brothers. “Fine, fine! He’s still a Johnson after all. I’ll help him this once, for old times’ sake.” I turned back and charged into the circle, pulling the real young master behind me. “What’s going on here? Bullying someone in broad daylight?” “Mind your own business, or we’ll beat you up too!” The thugs talked big while leering at us. “You’re not hooking up with this pretty boy, are you? Protecting him like that.” Damn! How dare they slander me! “Just go! They only want money, give them some and it’ll be fine,” the real young master tugged at my clothes. “Pretty thing, he’s such a wimp. You’re better off with me.” Seeing the thug’s grimy hand reaching for the young master’s face, I grabbed his wrist and flipped him! Finally all those skills I learned came in handy. Lucas never let me fight, but forced me to learn lots of self-defense. What’s the point of being a hero with no chance to use your skills?! But now I was saving his precious brother, so he couldn’t blame me. After a flurry of punches and kicks, the thugs fled in disarray, leaving the young master staring in shock. Seeing his dumbfounded look, I couldn’t resist reaching out my evil hand. So cute! I just had to pinch those cheeks! He looked so much like Lucas. I could never pinch Lucas, but I could pinch his little brother. “W-what are you doing?” The little bunny had a frightened expression. “Shouldn’t I get some reward for saving you?” I raised an eyebrow smugly and gave another pinch. Hahaha… That felt so good! It was like pinching Lucas himself. My life is complete! “Why are you here alone? Didn’t the driver drop you off?” “I’m not like you, needing to be chauffeured around at this age.” The little bunny tried to act tough. Looks like even such an obedient son couldn’t move that couple’s hearts. I thought they’d pay more attention to him. “Alright, alright! You’re a mature adult. But don’t walk alone in the future, or you’ll get bullied and cry again.” With that, I sprinted off to class. Behind me came the little bunny’s angry shout: “I wasn’t crying!”

After a morning of classes, it was finally time to eat. I eagerly dragged Aaron to get some spicy noodles. Seeing Aaron strolling leisurely, I couldn’t help but curse: “Walk faster! We won’t get any if we’re late.” “Your phone,” Aaron said expressionlessly. “Who is it? Why are they calling you? Don’t mess with my meal time.” I grumbled as Aaron silently mouthed a name. “Hang up quick!” I snatched the phone in panic, about to end the call when a magnetic male voice came through the speaker. “Lily.” The voice sounded gentle but was full of threat. “Big brother! What can I do for you?” My sycophantic voice came out automatically. Aaron gave me a side-eye. This was just conditioned reflex, okay! “Having fun these past couple days? Looks like you’re so happy you’ve forgotten all about me, not even answering my calls?” “How could that be, I just lost my phone.” “Is that so? Then I must have wrongly accused you?” “No no, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have lost my phone and made you worry.” Passive-aggressive bastard! “Tomorrow morning at 10, come to the airport to pick me up.” “I…” “You know the consequences of not showing up. Enjoy your remaining happy times, don’t say I don’t care about you.” “Thank you for your love, big brother.” I said through gritted teeth as he hung up. “Aaron, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?” “How could I not answer your brother’s call? He could bankrupt me in a second.” Aaron looked helpless. Damn it! I really know how to pick my friends! He’s definitely Lucas’s spy. “No way, I need to hide first.” “Weren’t you the one saying you weren’t afraid of him? I think he treats you pretty well, just behave yourself and stop causing trouble.” “He’s a total freak, okay?” I glared at him. No, I need to hide for a year or two before Lucas gets back, or I’m doomed if he catches me. Suddenly, a brilliant idea struck me. At 2 PM, I rushed into my academic advisor’s office. To my surprise, the little bunny was there too. The scene looked oddly familiar. How should I put it? Just like when he was surrounded by thugs earlier, except now he was encircled by a group of teachers, plus a balding principal. “It’s her! I saw her bullying Noah with my own eyes,” a girl angrily pointed at me. Me? Bullying the little bunny?

“No, Professor. Lily didn’t bully me,” the little bunny anxiously explained. “Noah, don’t be afraid. The teachers will stand up for you.” “The school absolutely does not tolerate any bullying.” Everyone looked at Noah with sympathy, then turned to glare angrily at me. What’s with this differential treatment? “Lily, did you or did you not bully Noah?” My advisor pulled me into the circle. “When did I ever…” “It was her, I have a photo on my phone.” Before I could explain, the girl suddenly pulled out her phone and showed a picture. In the photo, I was smugly pinching Noah’s face while he looked at me with red eyes, clearly unwilling. Uh… It did look a lot like a bullying scene, but I just pinched his cheeks! “Lily! How could you bully a classmate? I’m so disappointed in you!” The balding principal angrily berated me, completely different from his previous fawning attitude. After all, Lucas had donated several buildings to the school. He knew very well about my identity, naturally knowing who was the real young master and who was the fake young miss between me and Noah. “Expulsion! You must be expelled!” Talk about a quick change of face. They were eager to stand up for Noah without even investigating properly? “Principal, Lily really didn’t bully me. I was bullied by some thugs from outside school, and Lily helped chase them away,” Noah explained anxiously. The little bunny was running around in circles trying to explain, but no one was listening. They were convinced I had bullied him and started criticizing me one after another. So annoying! If this drags on any longer I won’t have time to run away. Might as well go with the flow. “It was me! I did bully Noah!” “If you don’t expel me, I’ll beat him up every time I see him!” I yelled arrogantly at everyone. “Lily, why are you talking nonsense? It’s clearly…” The little bunny was so kind. The more I looked at him the cuter he seemed. I couldn’t help but pinch his cheek again. But in everyone else’s eyes, this was blatant bullying. They quickly took Noah away in shock. I effortlessly got the expulsion notice, and couldn’t help but laugh. Everyone looked at me like I’d eaten shit. “What are you looking at? Never seen someone go crazy before?” Next step is to run away! I sprinted to Aaron’s place. That bastard had bought an apartment near campus just to pick up girls. After just a few days he complained I was in the way, saying I was interfering with his dating. Such a fragile friendship – in the future I wouldn’t stay even if he begged me!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296042”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

I encountered my neighbor’s older brother, who had gone missing a year ago, on my first visit to a nightclub after getting into college. He had his arms around two scantily-clad women, looking like a good-for-nothing. When he saw me, his gaze flashed across my chest before he clicked his tongue dismissively. Later, he pinned me against the wall in a corner, his finger pressed against my lips as he leaned in, demanding I call him by name. That’s when I realized. He wasn’t my Ethan Parker. I met Ethan Parker in the dim hallway of Nightshade. Nightshade was the biggest entertainment venue in the city, attracting all sorts of people. My roommate Lucy was celebrating her birthday and had reserved a private room at Nightshade. I arrived late and was about to call to ask for the room number when I heard the laughter of men and women echoing from the far end of the hallway. A group appeared at the end of the corridor. I was going to turn away to avoid them, but I froze when I recognized one of the men. That face I had dreamed of countless times, only to wake up startled. The one I had spent nearly every day with for over a decade. My childhood friend, Ethan Parker, who had been presumed dead in the river a year ago according to the police.

I blinked hard several times. I triple-checked to make sure I wasn’t mistaking someone who looked similar for him. But the more I blinked, the closer I came to tears. Because I knew without a doubt that I wasn’t mistaken. Ethan Parker had been part of 80% of my brief 18 years of life. He was the person I was closest to after my parents. He was also the person I had secretly loved for a very long time. He had disappeared without a trace a year ago. I never imagined I would encounter him again in a scene like this. Two scantily-clad women were nestled in his arms, one on each side. Perhaps I had been staring for too long, as a strange man beside him noticed me. He gestured to the others and teased: “Which of your old flames is this ” “Look, she’s about to cry just seeing you.” The man across from me turned his head, our eyes meeting for just an instant before his gaze fell to my chest. His eyes roamed shamelessly as he spoke dismissively: “A scrawny little girl like that As if I’d be interested.” Ethan Parker would never say such things. But this man was clearly him. I bit my lip and held out my phone to him: “Can I… add you on SnapChat ” He looked at me with a mocking smile. “No.” His gaze fell to my chest again, his tone tinged with regret: “Not worth my time.” The men around him burst into laughter.

The person before me and the Ethan Parker who had been by my side for over a decade were like polar opposites. Or rather, they were like two souls inhabiting the same body. Ethan Parker would never say such things. He was too good. Like a piece of pure, flawless jade. And I was too lucky. Using my status as his childhood friend to stay by his side. During that winter break in my sophomore year of high school. I asked Ethan Parker for a promise. I hoped he would come pick me up on the day of our final exams. My oversized scarf hid my slightly reddened ears, concealing my secret thoughts from him. At that time, Ethan Parker looked at me with a smile, his phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, but he didn’t answer. He just raised his hand and gently ruffled my hair. The New Year’s bells were about to ring. Fireworks filled the sky and firecrackers exploded all around. I thought the surrounding noise was too loud, so I had to stand on tiptoe and lean close to his ear. “Ethan.” “On the day of our final exam,” “Will you come pick me up ” The firecrackers were really so loud, so loud. So loud that I couldn’t even hear my own voice. But I still heard him lean in close to my ear and say solemnly yet intimately: “Okay.” But he broke his promise. That day when I stood in the surging crowd, looking around in confusion. When all the noise and clamor rushed at me from all sides. He didn’t come. All my expectations had come to nothing. When I numbly knocked on his door that day, what I saw were his parents who looked like they had aged ten years. And the devastating news they told me with reddened eyes.

But I never believed it. I thought he had just gone missing. Perhaps one day, I would run into him at some street corner, or in some convenience store. Or maybe one day he would suddenly show up, saying he had just been in hiding. Ethan’s group had left. In the end, I still hadn’t managed to add him on SnapChat. Lucy found me still standing dazed in the hallway. She grabbed my shoulders and shook me: “Olivia ” “Olivia Carter! ” “What’s wrong You didn’t answer my calls, the room is right there.” “Why are you crying ” Her tone was urgent, then suddenly turned apologetic: “The music was too loud in the room, I didn’t hear your message…” “It’s nothing,” I lowered my eyes, “I’m fine, let’s go in. Don’t let me ruin your party.” The atmosphere in the private room was lively. I sat down in a corner and saw Lucy’s reply with the room number on my phone, along with her two missed calls. As well as a new SnapChat message from Ethan’s mom. — Olivia dear, how are you adjusting to college life Ever since learning of Ethan’s disappearance, I had stayed in touch with his parents, almost like their half-daughter. My fingers hesitated as I typed. I thought of that man’s laughter as he turned away, casual and unrestrained. In the end, I still couldn’t bring myself to say it. — I’m doing well, Auntie. — Please take care of yourselves, you and Uncle.

The people in the private room were having a blast. I tried to join in their fun for a while, but my mind was elsewhere the whole time. I excused myself to use the restroom midway through. The hallway was very quiet. I followed the signs towards the direction of the restroom. Suddenly I heard the sound of fabric rustling. The scene before my eyes appeared abruptly. The woman pinned against the wall by a man suddenly pushed him away, her voice still coy: “Someone’s coming.” The man chuckled lowly and turned around: “Since when did you become so shy…” His words trailed off, traces of the woman’s crimson lipstick still on the corner of his mouth. It was undoubtedly the same face that had just rejected me. I stared at that smear of red on his lips, my face turning pale. The man before me met my eyes and suddenly grinned, grabbing the woman’s hand as he spoke suggestively: “Let’s continue in the room.” The woman in his arms wore a tight dress that accentuated her curves. Hearing his words, she just glanced at me briefly before immediately giggling in agreement: “Okay~” My whole body went cold. I could only watch their retreating figures, moving further and further away. My feet felt like they were filled with lead. Until they finally disappeared at the end of the hallway.

It shouldn’t be like this. My Ethan Parker was as pure as a clear breeze and bright moon. When he saw me he would smile gently and call my name softly: “Olivia.” When I was little I called him “big brother”. Every time after school, he would wait for me at the school gates with his backpack. I would always shout excitedly: “Big brother!” Then I would proudly tell my teacher: “My big brother is here to pick me up!” “Goodbye, teacher.” Later when I grew up and entered my rebellious phase, I liked to call him by his full name. “Ethan Parker! Don’t tell my mom.” “Ethan Parker, I was wrong.” “Ethan Parker, what should I do ” He was never annoyed, always responding patiently, patting my head and helping me clean up all my messes. “Ethan Parker.” “Will you always protect me ” “I will.” The young man wore a white shirt, his posture tall and straight. The hem of his shirt fluttered in the wind as I secretly grasped it, unable to see his expression from the front seat of the bicycle. His voice was clear and frank: “I’m Olivia’s big brother.” “Of course I’ll protect Olivia for life.” No way. I didn’t want to just be your little sister. I pouted, not daring to speak, only able to hug his waist in frustration: “Then ride steadily!” Actually the road was smooth with no obstacles. He paused for a moment, laughter bubbling up from his chest, but he didn’t argue, just obediently agreeing: “Okay.” Later when I started to have romantic feelings, I grew out my hair and wore pretty dresses, calling him “Brother Ethan”. By that time Ethan Parker had gone to college in another city, rarely coming back. His shoulders had broadened and his legs had grown longer, cutting an imposing figure. There was a hint of coolness between his brows, but it would all melt away into a smile when he saw me. My heart had been fluttering for so many years. During those days in my senior year of high school, every time I looked up at the moon late at night, I thought about just hanging on a little longer. If I could just get through this period. I wanted to get the best grades possible, then stand before him and confess all the girlish feelings and bittersweet emotions I had harbored for decades. Tell him that I liked him, had liked him for a very long time. That thought gave me the motivation to face all those dry and tedious exam questions again. But this person I encountered today. He didn’t resemble his former self at all.

By the time I came back to my senses and wanted to chase after them, they had already disappeared. I didn’t want to give up. I wanted to see him one more time. Whether he had amnesia or was just pretending. At least confirm it was him, let his parents know that Ethan Parker was still alive in this world. I hadn’t managed to get his contact information. The only connection I had with him was “Nightshade”. So I resorted to the most foolish method. I went to stake out “Nightshade”. I saw him again. This time he was smoking with a group of men, surrounded by three or four tough-looking guys. I suddenly felt intimidated, not daring to approach. But I was spotted by that same man from last time. He suddenly grinned, gesturing towards me to Ethan Parker. Ethan Parker turned his head, giving me a cold glance. Immediately after, that woman from before appeared again. His expression changed in an instant, a hint of a smile curling his lips as he reached out to pull the woman into his arms by her waist. The woman nestled obediently against him. I stood in the corner, watching as the whole group walked into a private room, laughing and chatting. In that split second, I caught the woman’s backward glance filled with threatening intent. Like a rose laced with poison. Cold sweat soaked through my clothes as I leaned against the wall, gasping for breath. 7 It wasn’t until I splashed some water on my face in the restroom That I seemed to find a bit of reality in the chaos. He wasn’t Ethan Parker. Yet he was Ethan Parker. Ethan Parker was like the sun in the sky, always gentle, always passionate. But the year and more he had been missing was like an insurmountable chasm, so divisive. The restroom door suddenly opened. In the mirror, a young and alluring face appeared behind me. Her wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her makeup was too heavy, like an elaborately painted mask. It was that woman from before. She raised an eyebrow. “It’s you ” A flash of surprise crossed her expression. I turned around, meeting her gaze directly. The woman walked towards me in her 5-inch heels, looking down at me condescendingly. “Stay away from him.” Her gaze fell to my chest, with the same disdain and contempt as Ethan Parker’s. “Did you really think someone like you would catch his eye ” She curled her lip in a scornful, haughty smile. As if mocking me for overestimating myself. But I only latched onto that name in her words, the illusory and the real seeming to intersect in that moment. I felt like I had found an outlet for my overwhelming emotions. “What did you call him ” My voice was a bit hoarse. She seemed not to have heard clearly. “What’s his name ” “You just called him Ethan—” I stared into her eyes, like a drowning person grasping at the last straw, my voice choked with tears as I demanded: “Tell me—” “Who is he ” Is he, is he Ethan Parker The familiar name got stuck in my throat. In the end I couldn’t say it out loud. The person before me was startled by my reaction. She reached out and shoved me hard. A dull, heavy thud echoed in the small space as I fell to the ground. The dirty water on the floor soaked through my once-clean clothes, but I paid it no mind. This woman called Sophia grabbed my collar, leaning in close. The sickening smell of her overly sweet perfume mixed with a nauseating odor. “You don’t even know who he is, little girl.” “Let me give you some advice – stay away from him.” “Otherwise—” “You might end up dead somewhere and no one would even know.” The last words floated lightly in the air, but felt like sharp ice piercing my heart. Before she finished speaking, the door was suddenly flung open. The subject of our conversation burst in, out of breath. When he saw me on the ground, I clearly saw his already irritated expression turn even colder. But it was only for an instant. He pulled Sophia by the waist, taking out a wad of cash and expertly tucking it into her bra with a suggestive smile: “I won’t be needing you tonight.” “I’m in the mood to try something new.” I saw Sophia’s face change instantly as she started to protest: “No…” But Ethan Parker cut her off with a fierce look: “Get lost.” Sophia was taken aback for a moment. She glanced back at me, but I couldn’t make out her expression against the light. She quickly turned back, taking off her high heels and hurrying out.

Only the two of us were left in the room. Ethan Parker bent down and roughly pulled me into his arms. I crashed against his chest, not having time to react before being pinned against the wall. The cold marble pressed against my back as his restless hands undid the buttons on my top. The dim bathroom lighting was hazy and suggestive. The chill crept in through my open collar, the cold wall steadily sapping the warmth from my back. The cold and fear gradually spread throughout my body. Tears of physiological response welled up in my eyes, driven by instinctual terror. That face so close to mine was both familiar and strange. Only a small scar below his eye was new. It was him. Yet not him. I was at a loss, only able to softly repeat that once most familiar name. “Brother Ethan…” The hands unbuttoning my clothes paused for a second. The man before me raised his hand to press against my lips, caressing them suggestively as his phoenix eyes looked up at me: “Such a sweet voice, but you’ve got the wrong person.” “Call me Ethan and let me hear it.” His words were like a knife cutting through illusion and reality. I suddenly snapped out of it, shoving him hard as I desperately fought back. But my hand accidentally tore open the buttons on his shirt. Large areas of scarring sprawled across his exposed skin, layers of overgrown scar tissue blooming like a flower below his heart. A flower that had blossomed by consuming life. I froze for a moment, my hand brushing against his arm, feeling tiny uneven needle marks under my fingertips. I jerked my hand back as if burned. It wasn’t him. “You’re not him.” “You’re not him.” “I don’t know you.” “Get away from me!” Tears suddenly fell. “Figured it out ” The man’s voice was lazy as he wiped away a tear from my face, the corner of his mouth curling in an amused smile. He leaned in, his hot breath fanning across my neck and shoulder as his hand slid under the hem of my shirt to my waist, sending chills through my body. “Too late.” The bathroom door was suddenly kicked open again. The man who burst in, face full of anger, pulled back his foot. That hand hovering at my waist froze. “Ethan, what the fuck are you doing in such a rush !” “Mr. Reed is looking for you guys, everyone’s been missing for ages.” “You’ll die if you don’t get your rocks off for a bit ” I heard the fury in the newcomer’s voice and instinctively shrank back. The man took a step closer, his expression changing to a teasing grin when he saw my face: “Not Sophia ” “I thought you said you weren’t interested in young girls ” Ethan let go of me without another glance, buttoning up his own shirt as he joked back with the newcomer: “Can’t let good meat go to waste when it’s delivered to your door.” The man cursed crudely and Ethan laughed as he picked up the thread of conversation. As the two were leaving, he suddenly turned back, pulling out a wad of cash and throwing it at me. The bright red bills scattered in the air, floating down all around. Like mockery. Like derision. The bathroom door slammed shut. I collapsed to the ground, the dirty water soaking through my once-clean clothes, but I paid it no mind. In that moment when hope was shattered, it felt like a tree being violently snapped in half, blood gushing from the broken stump. Brutal. And cruel. I knelt on the ground, pathetically gathering up the bills that had fallen into puddles with trembling hands. One by one. Mumbling to myself. He’s not Ethan Parker. He’s not Ethan Parker. As if trying to convince myself. In the end they all fell to the floor again. Scattered in a pile. I finally broke down. He wasn’t Ethan Parker. My Ethan Parker had gone missing a year ago. Maybe, He would never come back.

I didn’t go back to Nightshade. I returned to school and continued my freshman year. Occasionally I would stare blankly at the moon on the horizon. But I never expected to run into Sophia again. Lucy and a few other roommates were trying on clothes in a store at the mall. I was absentmindedly scrolling on my phone. The bubble tea I had ordered was ready. A notification popped up on the app, so I stepped out of the store first, intending to go pick up the drinks. The click of high heels on the mall floor wasn’t out of place, but I instinctively looked in the direction of the sound. I happened to see that familiar face, carrying several shopping bags, still haughty as ever. She met my eyes, curling her red lips in a provocative, challenging smile. “You don’t look so good, little girl.” “Finally learned your lesson, huh ” I didn’t answer. I just stared at her expressionlessly. She seemed annoyed that I hadn’t responded, her pride stung. Anger flashed in her eyes as she raised her hand to slap me. The wind from her hand brushed past my face. But it didn’t land. She seemed even more furious at missing. In her high heels, she suddenly grabbed my hair. My scalp stung sharply as tears welled up in my eyes from the pain. She leaned in close to my ear, snarling viciously: “Come with me.” I was forcefully dragged into the restroom. The curious gazes of passersby were cut off as the door closed. She yanked my hair hard, pulling my head back. My body stumbled, crashing into the wall. When I looked up, a slap was flying straight for my face. Getting hit. It’s going to hurt.

The phone on the counter kept ringing. Curious glances from strangers fell on me before quickly looking away. Sophia had already left. I looked at myself in the mirror, my whole body soaked as if I had been drenched in water. Wet strands of hair dripped down. My eyes were red to the point of bleeding. The phone rang again, finally breaking through my daze. Lucy’s anxious voice came through: “Olivia where are you We’ve been looking everywhere and can’t find you!” “I’m in…” My voice was hoarse to the point of being unrecognizable. “Second floor… bathroom.” Lucy and the others rushed over when they heard, all startled when they saw me. The three of them surrounded me, Lucy taking out tissues to wipe the water dripping down my face. “Olivia, what happened ” My roommate’s voice was gentle. I couldn’t say. Everything got stuck in my throat, tangling into a heavy ball of yarn, sealing my vocal cords and blocking my mouth. I could only bury myself in Lucy’s arms. The girl’s embrace was soft and warm. She hugged me back, gently patting my back. “It’s okay.” “Olivia.” “It’s okay.” When I was ten, I was stopped by some older kids and inexplicably pushed to the ground, taking a hard fall. The ringleader cursed at me with several vulgar words. When I saw Ethan Parker after school, the floodgates of my pent-up emotions burst open.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “296058”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #校园School #重生Reborn

Have you ever read those romantic fantasy novels about a CEO’s substitute wife? Well, that’s me. Actually, I can’t really call myself a wife. We weren’t married yet, so let’s just say I was the substitute girlfriend. Before I discovered this, I was the envy of everyone around me. I graduated from a prestigious university, landed a job at a well-known company, and of course, the main reason for everyone’s envy was my handsome and wealthy CEO boyfriend. Just like in those romantic fantasy novels, the CEO fell in love with me at first sight. He showed no hesitation in pursuing me, showering me with roses, expensive gifts, and heartfelt confessions. I fell for him quickly. After all, who wouldn’t like a handsome, rich boyfriend who was completely devoted to you? I certainly did. Many people warned me that he might just be playing around or had some ulterior motive. Some were jealous, while others genuinely cared about me. But he proved them all wrong with his actions. For three years, he showered me with care and affection, remembered every anniversary, always spoke to me kindly no matter what, and never neglected me because of work. Even our first time together only happened after he had asked for my consent. Everything seemed perfect and harmonious. Until I had the sudden urge to check his phone. I’ve always been a trusting girlfriend. Even though many people told me to keep an eye on my boyfriend, warning me that he was too good-looking and wealthy not to attract other women, I never took their words to heart. Because he really didn’t seem like the type to flirt around. He wouldn’t get close to any woman except me. Even his friends asked me what magic I had used to make him so devoted to me. I said, maybe it’s because he loves me enough. So when he told me he was going to attend a college reunion and might come home late, I didn’t think much of it. I even told him to have fun. Of course, I didn’t stop to wonder why someone who hated social gatherings and barely kept in touch with his college classmates would suddenly want to attend a meaningless reunion. That night, we broke many firsts. It was the first time he came home after midnight, the first time he got drunk, the first time I checked his phone, and the first time I couldn’t sleep. He had always been a good boyfriend. Even when he went out, he would never come home after midnight or get drunk. At most, he would be slightly tipsy. I used to suspect that maybe his alcohol tolerance was too high, so he never got drunk. Now I realize I was overthinking. No one can’t get drunk; it’s just that they haven’t drunk enough, or rather, there wasn’t anything that could make them drink that much. In the past, every time he came back from a social gathering, slightly tipsy, he liked to bury his face in my arms, reeking of alcohol, and whisper sweet nothings to me. I quite enjoyed it, and even wondered what he would be like if he really got drunk. Now I’ve seen it. He’s still charming, still good at sweet talk, but the name he’s calling isn’t mine. In our three years together, I had never heard this name, neither from his mouth nor from anyone else’s. He had protected this name so well that if it weren’t for his drunken state, he probably would never have let it slip. Sophia. It’s a beautiful name. That night, as I helped him, drunk and stumbling, into bed, I heard him say, “I love you.” I couldn’t help but smile. Even after three years, he was still so cheesy. Just as I was about to respond, he uttered that name. “Sophia.” “I love you, Sophia.” I’m certain it wasn’t just drunken mumbling because that night he called this name countless times. “Sophia, I miss you so much.” “Sophia, I really love you.” “Sophia… Sophia… Sophia…” Even if I were a fool, I could figure out what was going on. The reunion, the drinking, it was all for one person. And that person wasn’t me. As if possessed, I picked up his phone. You could say he was a good boyfriend in this aspect too. His phone never had a password, allowing me to check it anytime. Of course, I was also a good girlfriend. This was the first time in three years that I had opened his phone. That night, I read through thousands of chat messages. Of course, they were all one-sided. They were thousands of messages he had sent to Sophia, with no replies from the other side. Starting from five years ago. Every day, he would send Sophia a few messages, telling her about his day, about the weather, about how much he missed her. Never stopping. “Sophia, I met a girl today. She looks a lot like you.” The day I started my job. “Sophia, I’m going to pursue her.” The day he started chasing me. “Sophia, are you jealous?” The day we got together. “Sophia, I moved to a new place. It has a spacious, bright balcony, a huge smart TV, and a waterbed. All the things you like.” The day we moved in together. “Sophia, she looks so much like you in a red dress.” Six months into our relationship, he bought me a closet full of red dresses. “Sophia, we had a fight today. She looks just like you when she’s angry. You both like to say you don’t love me anymore.” Our first fight. We were both angry and ignoring each other until I said, “You don’t love me anymore.” Only then did he come to comfort me. “Sophia…” “Sophia…” “Sophia…” Just a light press on the letter ‘S’, and the keyboard would automatically suggest ‘Sophia’. Who knows how many times he had typed it? Only he knew. No wonder he always liked to back up his chat history over and over again. I thought it was because he had important documents he was afraid of losing. No wonder he liked me in red dresses, no wonder he always wanted me to wear makeup that didn’t suit me, no wonder he always wanted me to let my hair down, no wonder his eyes were always full of stars when he looked at me. All of these were Sophia’s. I was just a cuckoo in the nest. I didn’t cry. Not a single tear fell. I just threw away all the red dresses, cut my hair short, and removed everything that resembled Sophia from my surroundings. Except for my face. I found a photo of Sophia and him, carefully hidden at the bottom of his photo album. In the photo, Sophia was wearing a vibrant red dress, with cute makeup, her hair down, happily making a peace sign at the camera. And him, by her side, turning his head to look at her with eyes full of tenderness. That look I knew all too well. I have to say, he was really lucky. The Sophia in the photo really did look a lot like me. If I didn’t know for sure that my mom only had one daughter, I might have wondered if she was my twin sister. The next morning, I made hangover soup and waited for him to wake up. Everything seemed the same as before, yet everything felt different. I didn’t ask him why he got drunk last night, nor did I question him about who Sophia was. But he questioned me, asking why I had cut my hair. I touched my unevenly cut hair and said I wanted to try short hair. It was ugly, I knew. Because I had cut it myself in the bathroom last night with rusty scissors. My hair that I had been growing for seven years. He didn’t say anything more, but I could see he was angry. Angry as he was, he didn’t argue with me. He just silently suppressed that anger. But he couldn’t suppress it for long. Because he discovered that all the red dresses in the closet had disappeared. Just like in the morning, he asked me where the dresses went. “Thrown away.” He smashed many things in the house, even raised his hand, but the moment he saw my face, he put it down again. This face really was useful. Then he calmed himself down again, gently coaxing me, saying it didn’t matter if the dresses were gone, he could buy me more. It didn’t matter if my hair was cut, he could take me to get extensions, or I could grow it out again. I refused. I clearly told him that I wouldn’t. I wouldn’t grow my hair long again, nor would I wear red dresses again. He angrily shouted out the sentence he had been wanting to say. “Do you know! You look like this! You don’t look like…” He caught himself and didn’t continue, but even if he didn’t say it, I knew what the second half of the sentence was. I didn’t look like Sophia anymore. Later, he slammed the door and left, not returning home for a week. I went to work as usual, came home as usual, cooked as usual, slept as usual. It seemed that apart from having one less person by my side, there wasn’t much difference. A week later, he came back, apologized to me, not very sincerely. I could even see the suppressed anger in his eyes. I knew he would come back, because I had this face. I didn’t say anything, we continued to interact like before. Only now, I started to avoid everything that resembled Sophia. Sophia liked red dresses, so I insisted on wearing pants. Sophia had long hair, so I insisted on short hair. Sophia liked cute makeup, so I insisted on dramatic Western-style makeup. I didn’t confront him, not because I was weak, but because I wanted to give both of us a chance. If he could accept me like this, rather than as a copy of Sophia like before, I would pretend nothing had happened and continue to be with him. At first, he was indeed very angry and somewhat resistant to me. But as time went on, he seemed to slowly accept it. He started taking me to pants stores, accompanying me to regular haircuts, and the way he looked at me was no longer as deeply affectionate as before. But I was happy, because he finally wasn’t looking through me at someone else. Those deeply affectionate looks from before were never meant for me anyway. And most importantly. The frequency of his messages to Sophia started to decrease. I would still occasionally check his phone, still without a password. His messages to Sophia went from several times a day, to once a day, to once a week, to once a month, and now, he hadn’t sent a message to Sophia for three months. When I scrolled through the records, I had to scroll for a long time before I found that familiar chat box. Everything was slowly getting better. Sophia no longer appeared, and we were gradually falling in love. In the fifth year of our relationship, he proposed to me. Just like the day he confessed, the ground was covered with flowers, but instead of Sophia’s favorite roses, it was my favorite baby’s breath. Him on one knee, a dove egg-sized diamond ring, and the blessings of friends. I accepted. The diamond ring was beautiful, and I heard that men could only buy one ring from this brand in their lifetime. That night, I stared at that diamond ring and smiled foolishly for a long time. For me, this wasn’t just a diamond ring, it was my reassurance. I could almost be certain that I was no longer Sophia’s substitute. My boyfriend, no, now my fiancé, was with me because he liked me, and proposed to me because he liked me. There were ten days until the engagement party. He was tense every day, afraid of doing something wrong, pulling me to practice every procedure over and over again. I was both annoyed and amused. All my rest time was taken up by his rehearsals, but this also showed how much he valued our engagement party, so I was still happy. If it weren’t for that text message. That night, he was holding me as usual, letting me rest my head on his arm, playing with my hair. His phone rang with a message notification at an inopportune moment. He casually picked it up to look. Just for a second, just one second, I felt his body stiffen, somewhat unnaturally. I asked him curiously what was wrong. He vaguely said he wanted to go to the bathroom, slowly withdrew his arm, and took his phone to the bathroom. He wasn’t gone for long, just the normal time for a man to use the bathroom, but I didn’t hear the sound of flushing. When he came out of the bathroom, he was the same as usual, showing no change at all. Unfortunately, a woman’s sixth sense is terrifyingly accurate. That night, I struggled for a while before I managed to take his phone out from under his pillow. He had never put his phone under his pillow before. I opened his chat with Sophia, there were no new messages. As if possessed, I clicked on his text messages. At the top was a text from a girl saved as “Sophia”. Before this, I had never seen this phone number, nor had I seen this contact name. I guess they must have gotten back in touch. “Henry, I’m coming back to the country the day after tomorrow. Are you free? I’d like to talk to you.” “Is it you, Sophia?” “Yes.” “What time is your flight the day after tomorrow? I’ll come pick you up.” “No need to trouble yourself. I’ll send you the meeting address when I arrive. I’m a bit busy now, talk to you later.” He sent Sophia a few more texts, but there was no reply from the other side. I guess she must have gone to take care of something. Before this, I had always thought Sophia was someone who would never appear, either dead or unable to meet him for some special reason. That’s why I chose to stay, vainly attempting to pull him back to my side with my sincerity. After reading the texts, I closed the phone, stared at my soundly sleeping fiancé for a long time, before putting the phone back under his pillow and hugging him to continue sleeping. The night before Sophia was to return to the country, I got my period. I’ve always been physically weak, and every time it’s excruciatingly painful. I used to think that the monthly period was a torture for me, but this time was different. I dragged my pain-wracked body to take a cold shower. I decided to gamble with my own body. Sure enough, the next day I had a high fever. I wanted to see who he would choose between a fiancée with her period and a high fever, and a long-lost love about to get off a plane. In the end, he chose his long-lost love. I could endure the bone-chilling pain and the uncomfortable high fever, but his long-lost love couldn’t come out of the airport without someone to help her with her luggage. My five years of sincere love, at this moment, lost completely. Before he left, all he cared about was whether his hairstyle was messy, whether his clothes fit well, and whether his cologne smelled good. I had never seen him like this before. Cautious, yet extremely happy. So happy that he forgot there was a fiancée curled up in pain at home. I cancelled the engagement party, packed all my things with a high fever, and moved out of the house we had lived in for four years. I cleaned out everything about me in the house, as if I had never been there. What I couldn’t take with me, I threw away. I only left him a note and that ring. The ring he could only buy once in his lifetime wasn’t meant for me. Later, I went away for a month to clear my mind. After adjusting my emotions, I joined a new company. Actually, I should thank him. Being with a CEO did have its benefits. He taught me many things that ordinary employees couldn’t learn. With my qualifications and the experience he taught me, I advanced quickly. In fact, many companies had offered me positions years ago, with better treatment and salary than my original company, but I had refused them all. Because I wanted to be with him. But that doesn’t matter now. I’ve started a new life, and actually, long before I discovered Sophia’s existence, I had taken out a loan to buy a house for myself. So even after breaking up, I still had a house, savings, and a job. I was still the same enviable person I was before. “What happened next? Did he try to find you?” “He did, but how could I let him find me? Once I decided to leave, I left completely.” “What if he wanted to meet Sophia to clear things up and never contact her again? Isn’t that how it usually goes in novels?” “Novels are just novels, fairy tales are just fairy tales. From the moment he could leave me with a high fever and pain to find his long-lost love, we were destined never to meet again in this life.” “Ah~” The person in front of me sighed and pouted, “Aren’t you sad? After all, you were together for five years.” I touched my neat short hair and smiled, “I cut off seven years of long hair, what’s a five-year relationship compared to that?” The little girl in front of me still seemed unsatisfied. She opened her mouth, wanting to say something more, but I interrupted her, “Alright, stop being nosy. Have you finished today’s work? If you don’t finish, you can’t join us for dinner tonight.” “No, no, no, I’ll go do it right away. I promise to complete the task before clocking out!” Watching Emily leave, I let out a long sigh, finally relieved. Emily is a new intern. The company assigned her to me for mentoring. This little girl has just graduated, lively and cheerful, with an endearing naivety, very much like how I used to be. Maybe because of this reason, we quickly became close. During our free time, we like to gather and chat about gossip, and eventually, we started talking about ourselves. Although she’s a bit nosy, she wouldn’t spread other people’s private matters around. Unable to resist her constant questioning, I told her my story. Looking at her retreating figure, I felt a strange sense of comfort in my heart. It’s been over half a year since Henry and I broke up. At first, I really did go through a period of feeling depressed all day, occasionally drowning my sorrows in alcohol. But after so much time has passed, now when I think of him, I feel no ripples in my heart at all. Time really is the best medicine. In the evening, during the company’s monthly dinner, everyone was drinking happily when suddenly the restaurant lost power, plunging everything into darkness. I was about to call a waiter to ask what was going on when a beam of light slowly lit up in the center of the restaurant, shining on one person. I followed the light and saw it was Andrew. Seeing it was him, I frowned instinctively. Andrew is my senior from university and also my current boss. Half a year ago when I broke up with Henry, I went traveling abroad to adjust my mood. He somehow found out about it, flew abroad personally to find me, and invited me to help out at his company. Actually, I didn’t want to come at first. Firstly, because I didn’t want to work under someone I knew, and secondly, because he had pursued me before. When I was in school, Andrew’s name was well-known. Almost everyone in the school knew about him. Not because he was exceptionally outstanding, but because he was too much of a playboy. The speed at which he changed girlfriends truly lived up to the saying, “Women are like clothes.” For ordinary people, they would wear a piece of clothing for at least a year, or at least a few months even if they didn’t like it much. But Andrew was different. He was a genuine rich second generation. He would discard clothes after wearing them once, not even bothering to wash them. It was the same with girlfriends. But even so, countless girls still wanted to be his girlfriend. The reasons were simple: Andrew was smooth-talking, good-looking, and rich. In just a short year, Andrew had gone through most of the girls in his major. Although not many girls spoke ill of Andrew after breaking up with him, the speed at which he changed girlfriends still made everyone label him as a playboy. Later, Andrew met me. To be honest, even now I don’t know what Andrew liked about me. We had only met once at the freshman welcome party, and Andrew started his crazy pursuit. I had heard of his reputation as soon as I entered school, so of course I wouldn’t accept his pursuit. I thought that such a playboy would give up after being rejected a few times, but I didn’t expect him to become more persistent with each setback. He didn’t give up for three years in college, constantly pursuing me, and even declared in school that if anyone dared to pursue me besides him, he would make their life miserable. There were indeed a few who didn’t believe him and tried to pursue me, but they all gave up soon. Later, he graduated, and I thought I could finally get rid of him, but I didn’t expect him to still wait for me at my dormitory door every day, sending me flowers and saying some cheesy love words. “What you can’t have is always alluring.” I felt that Andrew’s pursuit only proved this saying. He had never failed in pursuing girls before, and I was the first one to give him a hard time. So I don’t believe he had much true feelings. This situation only improved when I got together with Henry. After I graduated, his waiting place moved from my dormitory door to my company door. That day, he was still waiting for me at the company door as usual, but I walked out holding Henry’s hand. He stared at us blankly for a while, but still handed me the flowers in his hand. I didn’t take them. I raised my hand that was holding Henry’s and told him, “I already have a boyfriend.” At that time, we had known each other for nearly five years, but it was the first time I saw such a hurt look in his eyes. In my impression, he was always a smiling playboy. I had rejected his pursuit countless times, thrown the flowers he sent into the trash countless times, but he had never shown me such a look. He was always smiling, if rejected he would try again, if the flowers were thrown away he would buy more. In those five years, I had said harsh words to him countless times, but none of them seemed to hurt him as much as “I already have a boyfriend.” His smile froze on his face, his eyes flickered, he didn’t say anything more, took back the flowers, and left. After that, I never saw him again, until I broke up with Henry. He traveled abroad alone to find me, asking me to come to his company. Thinking of this, when I looked up at Andrew again, he was already walking towards me with a bouquet of baby’s breath. I knew what he was going to do, and my frown deepened. I said in a voice only the two of us could hear, “You said we would only talk about work.” Andrew had indeed said this, he promised me this half a year ago abroad. At that time, when he invited me to his company, I flatly refused. But he seemed to know what I was worried about and said he was only inviting me to the company because he admired my abilities. We would only talk about work, and he would treat me the same as any other employee. If I didn’t believe him, I could try working for a while first. I couldn’t resist his persistence and sincerity, and after investigating, I found that his company indeed had great potential and room for growth, so I joined his company. After staying for a while, it was indeed as he said. He never gave me any special treatment, and I would be scolded and have my salary deducted if I made mistakes. So I became more at ease and stayed. But I didn’t expect that just a week after I signed a five-year labor contract, he would fall back into his old habits. This was all his calculation. He smiled and answered me, “As compensation for not keeping my word, I’ll give myself to you.” I couldn’t help but laugh, “Brother, is this compensation?” He flipped his hair, “Isn’t it? Where else can you find such a handsome boyfriend?” We whispered for a while longer, and finally, amidst the cheering of the company crowd, I smiled and accepted the flowers from Andrew’s hand. However, at the moment I took the flowers, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure flashing by outside the restaurant. When I turned to look, the person was gone. I didn’t think much of it and sat back down, holding Andrew’s hand. Not long after the dinner party, I felt that the atmosphere in the company seemed a bit strange. The colleagues around me weren’t as enthusiastic in greeting me as before, and the way they looked at me had an indescribable feeling. Some seemed to want to say something to me but then held back. After a few days of this awkwardness, Emily suddenly burst into my office, “Sis! Someone is slandering you online!” I was organizing files and felt a bit confused, “Huh?” Emily seemed to have run in a hurry, panting heavily as she spoke, “It’s… it’s your ex-boyfriend… he… he posted something online… saying you… saying you…” “Saying what about me? Don’t rush, take your time.” I patted Emily’s back, letting her sit down. “He said you’re fickle! That you abandoned him for your career and money, and that you seduced our boss!” Emily finally finished her sentence, followed by another bout of heavy breathing. I couldn’t help but frown, feeling a bit upset. We’ve been broken up for half a year, why isn’t he living well with his Sophia? Why jump out now to slander me? Emily found the original post and sent it to me. I looked at the time, it was already a week old. When it was first posted, it caused a small stir, but it didn’t become widely known. But for some reason, the views and shares of the post suddenly increased these past few days, as if someone had given it a push behind the scenes. I only read a few lines before I knew this post must have been written by someone Henry paid a high price to write. It was full of distortions and lies, and although the post seemed to be Henry’s diary, it was constantly vilifying me, both explicitly and implicitly. The post detailed our meeting, getting to know each other, falling in love, and even some private matters after we started dating. Even the gifts and red envelopes he sent me on holidays were written about in thousands of words. In short, after reading the entire post, the public would only get two pieces of information: One, Henry loved me very much. Two, I, a fresh graduate who knew nothing, used Henry to climb the social ladder and then abandoned him, seducing another man. In other words, he loved me, loved me very much, loved me so much that he would have cut out his heart for me. And we were about to get engaged, but I abandoned him because I found someone better than him, even canceling our planned engagement party. In short, I was a bad woman who loved money and fame, while Henry was a poor, devoted good man. The post also included some of our chat records and intimate photos. Some resourceful netizens used these photos to find me, Henry, and Andrew. Of course, they mainly found me, because in their eyes, I was now the bad woman, while Henry and Andrew were just victims I had deceived. After finding out my identity, the netizens became even more excited, holding up the banner of justice to condemn me. I glanced at it for a while and found that Andrew’s company’s stock was also plummeting. As I was getting annoyed reading this, my phone suddenly rang. I answered it without thinking, but as soon as I picked up, a stream of abuse came from the other end, using all kinds of nasty and vicious words. I got annoyed and hung up. But I didn’t expect this was just the beginning. After the first call, countless calls came in one after another, all abusing me when I picked up. It seems my personal information had been dug up by those people online. Or maybe, Henry had deliberately released it. Anyway, no matter what, my phone didn’t stop all morning. Calls, texts, WhatsApp messages, all non-stop. I didn’t dare to turn off my phone, afraid of missing important client calls. By the end of the day, I was exhausted both physically and mentally. I finally made it to the end of the workday, thinking I could finally go home and rest well, but I didn’t expect a large crowd to be waiting to ambush me at the company entrance. I didn’t notice at first, until I walked out the door and heard someone shout, “That bitch is out!” Only then did I realize a large group of people had gathered at the door, each holding a phone, frantically taking photos as soon as they saw me. I couldn’t help but think of those scenes in TV dramas where prisoners are paraded through the streets, with a crowd of people throwing rotten vegetables and rotten eggs at them. In the past, the public used violence to condemn those they thought were wrong. Now, the public uses words to condemn those they think are wrong. Thinking about it, I couldn’t figure out which was more hurtful. But no matter what, this was a form of harm. The company’s security guards hadn’t expected this situation and couldn’t hold back so many people. Some people had almost pushed their phones into my face. I couldn’t dodge in time, and I don’t know who pushed me, but I fell backwards. I instinctively closed my eyes, estimating that this fall would be quite bad. The expected pain didn’t come. I fell into a reassuring embrace. I opened my eyes to look at the person in front of me. It was Andrew. Before I could say anything, he helped me up, “I’m sorry, I’m late.” After saying this, he held my hand. I followed him all the way to the underground parking lot, shaking off those persistent people. Looking at his panting appearance, I thought of the company’s stock and the crowd at the door, and couldn’t help but sigh, “I’m sorry.” He caught his breath and asked me, “Why are you apologizing?” I blinked, “It’s all because of me that the company has so much trouble…” He smiled and came closer, ruffling my hair, “It’s not your fault.” I dodged his hand, “If it weren’t for me, the company’s stock wouldn’t…” “It has nothing to do with you.” He interrupted me before I could finish my sentence. He put his hands on my shoulders, “None of this has anything to do with you. It’s all him slandering you. I know that.” I looked up, meeting his eyes, “You believe me?” He nodded, “I do.” At that moment, I suddenly felt a warmth in my heart, an indescribable feeling. “Besides,” he muttered softly, but I heard it clearly, “you haven’t agreed to be my girlfriend yet, so what’s written up there isn’t true at all.” “From what you’re saying, you believe me just because this part he wrote isn’t true?” I raised an eyebrow. “No, no, no!” He hurriedly waved his hands, “I mean I know everything he wrote is false, it’s just… it’s just that I wish the part about you being with me was true…” I couldn’t help but laugh. That day I did accept Andrew’s flowers, but I didn’t agree to be with him. I took the flowers from his hand just because I didn’t want him to be embarrassed in front of so many people. Later when he sent me home, I told him very clearly. I said I had just ended a failed relationship not even half a year ago, and I wasn’t ready to enter a new relationship. He smiled and didn’t say anything, just sent me a WhatsApp message after sending me home. — It’s okay, we have a long time ahead of us. “What are you thinking about?” Andrew snapped his fingers in front of me, pulling me back from my memories. I smiled, “Nothing.” “Then get in the car.” Andrew opened the passenger door. “Where are we going?” I sat in the car. “My place.” Hearing Andrew say this, my hand that was about to fasten the seatbelt paused, “Your place?” “Don’t overthink it,” Andrew slid into the driver’s seat, “I’m worried that your home address might have been leaked too, it could be dangerous, so I’m taking you to my place to stay for a while.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295929”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #重生Reborn #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring #校园School #魔幻Magic #惊悚Thriller #擦边Steamy

My roommate Jack asked me to test his girlfriend’s loyalty. I thought it sounded interesting, so I agreed without hesitation. But his girlfriend couldn’t resist the temptation. After just a few messages, she was already trying to hook up with me. Jack felt humiliated and used this as an excuse to break up with her. I tried to explain everything to his girlfriend, but she refused to believe me. She showed up at our apartment building and stabbed me eighteen times. As I lay bleeding on the ground, I clearly heard Jack’s voice: “Great! I can finally get rid of that psycho for good!” When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day Jack first suggested I test his girlfriend. “Adam, can you help me test my girlfriend?” Jack asked, tilting his head in an attempt to look cool. I looked at his ridiculous pose and felt nothing but disgust. “Sorry, I’m not interested in ruining other people’s relationships,” I replied curtly. But Jack persisted: “It’s just a harmless test! How could it possibly ruin our relationship?” “Come on Adam, don’t tell me you think my girlfriend would fall for you after just one conversation?” I ignored him, so Jack turned to our other roommates with an exaggerated expression: “Guys, when did Adam become so full of himself?” “I just asked him to help test my girlfriend, and he said he doesn’t want to ruin our relationship.” “Is he really that confident my girlfriend would definitely fall for him?” I shot Jack a cold glare and snapped back: “What are you talking about? I meant I don’t want to cause any misunderstandings between you two. When did I ever say your girlfriend would like me?” “Besides, your girlfriend is 5’9″, covered in acne, and built like a linebacker. The thought of her makes me sick!” Jack stood there dumbfounded, a look of shame flashing across his face before he turned and ran out. In my past life, I had agreed to Jack’s request. I added his girlfriend and sent her some flirty messages. To my surprise, his girlfriend couldn’t resist the temptation. After just a bit of flirting, she was already eager to hook up with me. Jack felt humiliated and lost face. In the end, he made up an excuse, accusing me of having secretly seduced his girlfriend behind his back for a long time. Later, he used this as a reason to break up with his girlfriend Lucy. “My roommate Adam is rich and good-looking. Since he likes you, we should break up,” Jack told her. “His family is loaded. You’ll have a much better future with him.” “Adam’s just shy and got embarrassed when I caught him sending you love messages. That’s why he’ll probably make up all sorts of excuses to deny it.” “But don’t worry, as long as you keep pursuing him, he’ll definitely agree to be with you soon!” Lucy believed every word Jack said. She started stalking me outside our apartment building every day. I was at my wit’s end, trying to explain to her why I had sent those flirty messages in the first place. But Lucy refused to believe anything I said. One day, Lucy saw me walking with a female classmate and completely lost it. She stabbed me eighteen times, screaming as she did it: “You bastard! You seduced me and made me break up with my boyfriend, and now you’re trying to deny everything and hook up with other girls? How dare you play me like this! I’ll teach you a lesson!” “You say you don’t like me, but you kept all the gifts I sent you. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world!” I couldn’t dodge in time and collapsed in a pool of blood. After I fell, I saw Jack hiding in the crowd. Unlike everyone else’s horrified expressions, Jack’s face was filled with excitement. Amidst the screams, I clearly read Jack’s excited lip movements: “Perfect! Adam’s dead and Lucy’s going to jail. I’ve finally gotten rid of that psycho Lucy for good!” It was only then that I finally realized – from the very beginning of that so-called “test”, no, even earlier than that, Jack had already set a deadly trap for me. Thinking back on everything that had happened, I was filled with endless regret, but there was nothing I could do. I could only stare in Jack’s direction as I slowly lost consciousness. Another roommate’s words snapped me out of my memories: “Adam, you did the right thing. Jack’s girlfriend is always eyeing other guys. It’s best not to get involved in stuff like this.” “Getting mixed up with that Lucy chick would be a nightmare!” I nodded. It wouldn’t just be a nightmare – it would literally be the death of me! Lunchtime arrived. I was in a bad mood today and didn’t have any afternoon classes, so I decided to go to the mall to do some shopping and clear my head. As I was browsing clothes, I suddenly heard a familiar voice. “Baby, thank you for buying me so many things!” “I knew you loved me the most!” I frowned and was about to walk away when I realized the woman hanging on Jack’s arm wasn’t Lucy. I stopped in my tracks and quietly followed behind them.

Jack led the woman into a lingerie store. The two of them browsed and tried on various items, walking out with quite a haul. At one point, Jack even held up a strappy thong against himself and asked: “Honey, do you think I’d look hot in this?” As he posed, he even thrust his hips suggestively, completely shameless and oblivious to the stares from other shoppers. “I can’t decide which one looks best on me. What do you think, babe?” Jack continued to flirt shamelessly with the woman. The woman waved her hand dismissively: “It’s too much trouble to choose. Let’s just buy them all!” Jack grinned like a fox who’d gotten into the henhouse. I smirked as I looked at the video I’d captured on my phone. In my past life, I had consistently rejected Lucy’s advances. But Lucy stubbornly saw me as hers. Just walking with a female classmate was enough to make her explode with jealousy and stab me. This time, her official boyfriend was shopping for kinky lingerie with another woman. I wondered how she would react! I created a new SnapChat account and added Lucy based on my memories from my past life. Then I sent her the video before quickly blocking her. I pretended nothing had happened and continued shopping at the mall. When I got back to our apartment, Jack still wasn’t back. This time, I secretly reported to the dorm supervisor that he hadn’t returned for curfew. The next day, Jack returned to our room with a face full of bruises that shocked us all. My roommates and I rushed over to express our concern, but Jack seemed like a walking corpse. He grabbed my hand and pleaded: “Adam, my girlfriend beat me up. She beat me so badly I almost died. Can you help me report it to the police?” Seeing the situation, my other roommates quickly backed away, clearly not wanting to get involved. Jack was clinging to me and I couldn’t shake him off, but my guard was fully up. “Jack, I’m not involved in this. It’s not right for me to report it. You should just call the police yourself.” Jack blurted out: “I can’t report it myself. If Lucy finds out I called the police, she’ll definitely retaliate against me!” “You don’t know how vicious she can be when she hits people! She could literally beat someone to death!” I forcefully shook off his hand: “If that’s the case, why are you asking me to report it for you? Are you trying to throw me under the bus?” “Jack, what did I ever do to offend you? Why does it feel like you’re always trying to get me killed?” I stared at him intently, my eyes full of suspicion. He finally realized he had said the wrong thing and quickly tried to backtrack: “Adam, that’s not what I meant. Lucy doesn’t know who you are, so even if you report it for me, you won’t be in any danger.” “She checks my phone, so even if I delete the call history she can still find out.” “If you don’t want to report it for me, can you at least lend me your phone so I can make the call myself?” My roommate behind me was shaking his head vigorously. I coldly looked at Jack: “No way. Either you report it yourself, or you just deal with it!” Jack stared at me in disbelief: “Adam, I’ve been beaten so badly. How can you just stand by and do nothing?” I leaned in close and said slowly and clearly: “Even if you get beaten to death, what does that have to do with me?!” “Besides, you were just trying to set me up. How dare you come ask me for help now?” Jack could no longer maintain his pitiful act. His eyes were filled with malice. I didn’t care. No matter what I did, he was determined to see me dead anyway. He glared at me viciously, a cruel light flashing in his eyes: “That’s right. How could someone as privileged as you understand the struggles of us common folk?” It was only then that I realized why Jack had been so fixated on me. It was all jealousy. He was jealous that I came from a good family. But he never stopped to think – if I didn’t have a well-off family, how could I afford to constantly lend him money? I shot back: “You’re right, I don’t understand the struggles of ‘common folk’ like you. So why don’t you pay back that $500 you borrowed from me last month!” Jack started playing the victim again: “Adam, I’m in such a bad state, and you don’t feel any sympathy for me at all? You only care about getting your money back?” In the end, Jack still didn’t report it to the police. He nursed his injuries alone. Meanwhile, Lucy kept messaging my burner account asking who I was, but I never replied and eventually blocked her. Lucy was the type to become extremely vigilant at the slightest hint of something amiss. I didn’t need to remind her – she would keep a close eye on Jack on her own. That day, Jack suddenly called out to me from downstairs. “Adam! Let me introduce you – this is my girlfriend, Lucy.” “Lucy, this is my roommate Adam. He’s from a wealthy family!” “Lucy, Adam was just asking about you the other day!” Normally, this would just be an ordinary introduction. But with my memories from my past life, I immediately realized Jack was hinting to Lucy that I was interested in her. Lucy eyed me lustfully, pretending to be shy as she said: “Oh really? Adam is so curious about me? Why don’t we add each other on SnapChat? I’ll scan your code.” I shook my head and quickly backed away: “So you’re the girlfriend Jack said beat him up.” “I’m not curious about you at all. The other day I only brought you up because Jack wanted me to help him report you to the police, but I refused.” Lucy’s expression immediately turned ugly: “Report to the police? What report?” Jack anxiously tried to signal to me with his eyes: “There’s no police report! Lucy, don’t listen to Adam’s nonsense!” I pretended not to understand Jack’s meaning and looked at him in confusion: “Jack, didn’t you come back crying and sniveling the other day, saying your girlfriend had almost beaten you to death? You were too scared to report it yourself and begged me to do it for you, remember?” “Good thing I didn’t agree to help you. Just the other day you were dramatically threatening to break up, and now you two have made up.” “If I had actually reported it for you, wouldn’t that have really messed up your relationship!” My words easily provoked Lucy’s anger. She spun around and slapped Jack hard across the face: “I hit you because you were cheating, buying strappy thongs with other women! How dare you not mention that?” “If you hadn’t begged for forgiveness on your knees, would I still be with you?” “So this is how you talk about me behind my back? You really need to be taught a lesson!” With that, Lucy dragged Jack away. Jack was terrified but didn’t dare call for help due to Lucy’s intimidating presence. But the look he gave me was even more hostile. Not that I cared. To my surprise, Jack came back not long after. Apart from some slap marks on his face, there were no other obvious injuries. I was quite disappointed, but Jack came to confront me: “Adam, what’s your problem? Why did you bring up the police report in front of Lucy?” “You did that on purpose, didn’t you? You deliberately provoked Lucy to hit me?” “What did I ever do to offend you? Why are you trying to hurt me like this?” I pretended not to understand: “Jack, what are you talking about? I was just going along with what you said.” “You’re the one who told your girlfriend I had mentioned her in our room. The only time I brought her up was that one instance.” “I thought you were deliberately bringing it up to warn your girlfriend. Was that not your intention?” Jack was furious: “Of course that wasn’t my intention!” I replied nonchalantly: “Oh, then I misunderstood. But what exactly was your intention?” “Why did you say I’m always talking about your girlfriend? Were you trying to make your girlfriend think I’m interested in her?” Jack suddenly couldn’t act arrogant anymore: “I didn’t mean anything by it!” I smiled indifferently: “Oh, that’s good. Otherwise, I would have thought you were trying to set me up behind my back!” Jack’s scheme had been exposed, but he didn’t dare try to explain himself. He could only return to his bed resentfully. I pondered to myself – letting Jack off twice in two days, Lucy must have gotten something in exchange from him. But what could that bargaining chip be? I had no way of knowing, but it never hurts to stay cautious. After these two incidents, logically, my relationship with Jack should have gotten worse and worse. But that wasn’t the case. Jack’s attitude towards me actually got better and better. He seemed to have realized his mistakes and sincerely apologized to me. He often took the initiative to fetch water for me and do my chores. It was as if we were still good friends. But one can never be too careful. I never drank the water he brought and would throw away the water bottle directly. I also refused to let him do my chores. I’m not helpless. Jack seemed very hurt by my complete rejection of his efforts, but he didn’t push it. “I know I made mistakes before. It’s understandable that Adam is angry.” Then he changed his strategy. Not only did he pay back the $500 he owed me, he also started giving me gifts. But I suddenly remembered what Lucy had yelled as she stabbed me to death in my past life: “You say you don’t like me, but you kept all the gifts I sent! There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world!” I looked at the gift Jack was holding out to me, my heart aching.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295947”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #惊悚Thriller #校园School

I chased after Skyler for 5 years before he finally agreed to marry me. Two months before our wedding, I got into a car accident. I called him three times, but he hung up on me each time. His junior, Vivian, had suggested he give me the cold shoulder for a while to make me less clingy. When I crawled out of the ravine, I was covered in injuries. My right hand had suffered a comminuted fracture. At that moment, I finally understood that some things can’t be forced. But then he started showing up at my door every day, red-eyed, begging me to give him 5 years too. When I was brought to the hospital, my clothes were in tatters and I was covered in injuries. The doctor looked at me and sighed, saying if I had come a few hours earlier, they might have been able to save my right hand. A few hours earlier. I stared numbly at the hospital ceiling, listening to the doctor’s verdict. Comminuted fracture of the right hand, slim chances of recovery. I probably wouldn’t be able to paint again. Tears rolled down my cheeks as despair spread through my body. Why could I never learn to let go? What was he doing right now, I wondered? Maybe he had opened a bottle of wine last night, celebrating that I hadn’t bothered him. Or perhaps he was practicing piano with Vivian, the two of them enjoying an intimate moment together. I smiled bitterly to myself. At least I wouldn’t be an obstacle between them anymore. My phone rang. It was Skyler. I slowly closed my eyes. This time I had to learn my lesson. Skyler burst into my hospital room. Not a wrinkle on his clothes, he frowned at me coldly, like a lofty god looking down on a mortal. He berated me: “What kind of stunt are you pulling now? Why aren’t you answering your phone?” “Getting yourself into this state just because I didn’t answer your call yesterday? I told you I was busy. Can’t you understand that?” His words stabbed into my still-bleeding wounds. For a moment, my dead heart cried out in pain again. He had sentenced me without even asking what happened. Even seeing me lying here covered in injuries didn’t stir the slightest ripple in his heart. After all, he was the man I had loved for five years – a single word from him could provoke all my emotions. I looked at him sadly, unable to speak. My eyes filled with tears, as if begging, as if mourning. The white walls reflected his coldness. The smell of disinfectant in the air seemed to mock my foolishness. He must not have seen me like this before. He looked uncomfortable: “Take care and get well. Remember to participate in the national art design competition next week. I have to get back to practice now.” He added: “This piano competition is very important to me. Don’t disturb me during this time.” With that, he left without looking back, never once asking about my injuries. I watched his hastily retreating figure, my whole body cold. I couldn’t say a word. This was the boy I had chased for five years. Tears fell uncontrollably. I had naively thought it was my sincerity and passion that had moved him, that had made him turn and look at me. The piano competition was important to him. Vivian was important to him. His friends were important to him. So what was I? I used to think everything would pay off in the end, just like how I persevered with my painting. But reality had given me a harsh wake-up call. Not everything turns out beautifully just because you persist. My sincerity meant nothing to him. So why did he agree to marry me? Why did he give me hope? The sun set. I curled up in bed, shivering as if I was back in that dark night, trapped in the car, unconscious for who knows how long, despairing and thinking I was going to die. Before I passed out, I had made one phone call. I thought of him first, but I lay unconscious all night without rescue coming. Perhaps I was wrong from the start. I had forced things after all, just like with my art career. It wasn’t meant to be. After five days of treatment, my body started to recover. Except for my hand. The doctor suggested I go abroad for treatment. I smiled bitterly. How could I afford that? I left the hospital and returned to my rented apartment. The small room was filled with paintings. Five years ago, at the graduation party, I had fallen for him at first sight. Since then, all my paintings had been of him. The whole room was filled with paintings related to him. It seemed I had been living in his world all these years, losing myself.

The excessive emotional suppression made me feel suffocated. Looking at the room full of paintings of him, I screamed out loud. My emotions burst forth at that moment. I frantically tore down papers and stomped on them, violently ripping apart paintings I had painstakingly created. The floor was a mess as I vented my emotions. I sat on the floor and wept loudly. Ruined. Everything was ruined. There was still one painting left. My favorite one, framed on the wall, which I had overlooked. It was the first painting I made when I saw Skyler. My hands trembled as I reached out to touch it, but I felt as if I had been electrocuted. Tears streaming down my face, I froze in place. I wasn’t as strong as I thought I was. Three days later, Skyler found me at an art exhibition. He angrily questioned me, his eyes seeming to shoot fire: “Why didn’t you participate in the competition? Don’t you know you had the best chance of winning? Do you know how important this competition was? Even if you want to throw a tantrum, you should know when and where.” A series of accusations hit my already numb heart. At that moment, I had so many things I wanted to ask him, but all I could say was: “Oh, congratulations on winning.” Skyler’s expression softened a bit: “So you watched the competition. How come I didn’t see you there? You left so early without waiting for me.” I hadn’t gone. I had guessed. With his skills, winning would have been easy. I pointed at the paintings around the room and asked softly: “Do you think these paintings are beautiful?” My eyes were full of pity. This exhibition was probably the last time I would display my past works. I quietly watched the crowd coming and going, occasionally stopping in front of a painting to admire the artist’s skill. One of my paintings was here too. Skyler rubbed his temples and took my hand. “Summer, I was a bit busy the past couple days and neglected you. But you know how important this competition was to me. Get dressed up and accompany me to tonight’s party.” “I don’t have time,” I said. I looked at him calmly: “Skyler, let’s break up.” He laughed, as if he had heard a joke: “Break up?” Then he said gently: “Summer, be good. After tonight is over, I’ll spend time with you.” I tilted my head and thought for a moment: “No. We’ve broken up.” He stepped forward, wanting to hold me in his arms and comfort me like he had countless times before. But the moment he touched me, I pushed him away and let out a piercing scream. The whole venue was drawn to the sound of my voice. The fragile balance I had been maintaining was unexpectedly torn apart. I crouched down holding my head, violent emotions assaulting my brain again. Resentment, unwillingness, pain, disappointment, despair. All my efforts and pursuits of the first half of my life had turned to bubbles in one night. But I could have been saved, couldn’t I? If only it had been a few hours earlier. If only he had answered the phone. If only he had patiently listened to me finish one sentence. He froze, standing there dumbfounded, not daring to take another step forward. “Summer, it’s me. It’s me. What’s wrong?” He looked helpless like a child, cautiously unsure of what had happened. It took great effort to control my emotions. I slowly walked out of the hall. Skyler chased after me. I turned my back to him and said: “I need some time alone.” Back home, I sat alone in my studio, sometimes wanting to laugh, sometimes wanting to cry. I thought I was calm, but seeing Skyler brought on an intense feeling of grievance that swept through my whole body. The room was brightly lit. I had been sleeping with the lights on lately. As soon as it got dark, I couldn’t help but think of that pitch-black night. Intense pain swept through my body as I tried to grasp at a lifeline that had sent my art career to its grave.

I resented Skyler in my heart, but reason told me he had no obligation to save me. I shouldn’t blame him. But I couldn’t control it. He was my boyfriend. We had agreed to get married. If only he had given me a few more seconds to say something, instead of hanging up after saying he was busy. Or if he had called to check on me that night when I didn’t come home, noticing something was wrong. I had never stayed out all night before. He knew where I had gone too. I had told him. I really had told him. The papers scattered on the floor seemed to mock my stupidity. My persistence felt like a joke. When I was young and learning to paint, no one supported me. So I forged ahead alone, and had made a name for myself by now. But it was as if heaven was playing a cruel joke on me, blatantly telling me that all this success and happiness was just temporarily lent to me, and now it was time to take it back. I threw all my art supplies into the trash and stuffed my paintings into bags, planning to throw them out tomorrow. At midnight, I received a message from a friend. Skyler had announced our engagement at the banquet. He probably still didn’t know about my situation. How could a painter who couldn’t hold a brush anymore participate in competitions? He was celebrating his success at the banquet, and casually announced his engagement, without naming the bride. Everyone congratulated him, their gazes subtly gathering on Vivian White beside him. The golden boy and jade girl, what a perfect match. I lay in my small rented room, surrounded by wreckage, papers full of folly. The next day, their names and video appeared in the trending topics. Piano prodigy Skyler announces engagement to Vivian White, daughter of his teacher. A flood of congratulations filled the comments. In the afternoon, Skyler showed up at my door. This should be his first time coming here. I had just been planning to clear things up with him anyway. I opened the door for him. He looked at the empty room in surprise: “Where are your paintings?” “I can’t paint anymore.” “What nonsense is this? What happened? Why did you block me?” Skyler stared at me dissatisfied, as if scolding a disobedient child: “Summer, stop fooling around. Our wedding is in a month.” “I know I’ve neglected you lately, but you can’t always be so unreasonable. Pack your things and come home with me.” His nonchalance made it seem like this whole drama was just my one-sided tantrum. I laughed, then started crying: “Home? What home? Where is home? Your home with Vivian? It’s all over social media that you’re marrying her. What am I supposed to do there?” He frowned, his gaze distant: “I announced our engagement last night. I wanted to surprise you, but you weren’t in good shape and didn’t show up. The media misunderstood. I didn’t handle it well. I’ve already had people take down the trending topic. This has nothing to do with Vivian. She’s a victim too.” Every word he said was defending Vivian, blaming me for not being there. Victim? Innocent? Then what was I, a joke? Tears rolled down my cheeks. For once, he didn’t show disgust. “Why didn’t you answer my call that night?” I asked. “I did answer, didn’t I? I was practicing piano. You know how important that competition was to me.” He sat down on the sofa, displeased. “Why did you hang up after answering?” I demanded. “Can you stop making a fuss? I told you I was practicing. You called three times in a row.” His voice rose, then he caught himself: “Alright, Summer, it’s my fault.” I looked at him tearfully: “It was Vivian who told you not to answer my calls, wasn’t it?”

He frowned, reaching out to wipe my tears but I dodged: “This has nothing to do with Vivian. Can you stop making a scene?” “Would I call you three times in a row for no reason? You deliberately didn’t answer because you felt embarrassed in front of her, right?” He started to get agitated: “Summer, stop it.” “Skyler, I saw the surveillance footage from that day.” That day he was practicing piano when my call came in. Vivian suggested he hang up and keep practicing. His friends teased him for being henpecked. Though he answered my call, he hung up without letting me speak. That night, I didn’t say goodnight to him as usual, and I didn’t come home. He didn’t notice anything unusual. Or maybe he did notice, but didn’t care. If only he had paid a little attention to me, things might have been different. He was taken aback: “You went to check the surveillance over such a small thing?” “A small thing? Yes, it’s a small thing. I just got in a car accident on my way back that night. I called you three times, and you hung up on me three times. I missed the best treatment window, and now I’ll never be able to paint with my right hand again. Yes, it’s just a small matter, no big deal.” I laughed maniacally, trying to push all the blame onto him. Why didn’t he answer that call? Why did he give me hope and then despair? Marriage – I once thought he was someone I could entrust my whole life to. I never imagined he would hang up on me three times because of someone else’s words. I broke down crying. From beginning to end, I was the outsider. His voice trembled slightly: “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” I looked into his eyes: “Did you ever care? How many times did you come to the hospital? Once. What was the first thing you did when you saw me? When did you realize I had blocked you?” Panic flashed in his eyes. Things had spiraled out of his control. “This morning, right? You didn’t notice all week. You never asked about me once.” A painter who can’t hold a brush, a pianist who can’t play the piano – he knew how important our hands were to us. I had flown like a moth to his flame, not knowing it was an abyss that would destroy me. Silence spread between us. Bitter tears flowed into my heart. “I’ll take you to receive the best treatment. There must still be hope.” He paused, then grabbed my hand. “There’s no hope, Skyler. Let’s end this.” I couldn’t see any hope for the future. I didn’t know what life would be like from now on, but everything I had worked so hard for before was wasted. My dreams of painting, of Skyler – I had countless fantasies. In an instant, it all shattered. “End what?” he asked anxiously. “End everything.” I closed my eyes painfully. “No way. Our wedding is next month.” He flatly refused. “You can replace me with Vivian. We have similar builds. She’d be delighted.” I said self-mockingly. “It’s already trending online. Can’t disappoint the netizens.” His face turned ashen, as if I had committed some unforgivable crime. How laughable. Wasn’t he the one who shut me out from the beginning? “Skyler, I have one more question. Why did you agree to marry me? Don’t say it’s because you love me.” Bitterness filled my voice. He fell silent. I didn’t look up to see his expression.

I still went with him to his house. He said he could heal my hand. He took me to see many famous doctors, but they all just shook their heads. He started spending time with me frequently, talking about wedding details. Gradually, I stopped hoping. Vivian wore a custom wedding dress – the style Skyler had shown me a few days ago. Her exquisite makeup and red nails exuded vitality. She looked me up and down haughtily: “Summer, isn’t this wedding dress beautiful?” She confidently led me downstairs. She moved around the house as if she were the true mistress, while I was just a lowly outsider. The housekeeper poured us tea. “Miss White, you and our young master are finally getting married. This wedding dress is so beautiful. The young master personally chose it and put a lot of thought into it.” “Mrs. Zhang, you flatter me.” Vivian smiled and sent them away. “Miss Summer, I wanted to have a chat with you today.” She set down her cup and settled comfortably on the sofa. “Miss Summer, during that time when Skyler was busy with training, I was quietly by his side. He didn’t have time to look after you, and you were clinging to him so tightly. So I suggested he not answer your calls. After all, you didn’t have any urgent matters.” I smiled awkwardly, sitting stiffly on the sofa in my white clothes, like a guest. “You should know that my father is Skyler’s teacher. I can help boost Skyler’s career. But you’re just a burden to him now. Before, Skyler was a bit playful, and I didn’t say anything. But now that our families are going to be joined in marriage, it’s best if you leave. I don’t want to see you on that day.” She smiled, her manners elegant and speech refined. I turned pale, unable to refute her words. “Miss White needn’t worry. I will leave. Please take good care of Skyler and don’t let him keep chasing after me.” Vivian’s expression changed. She laughed lightly: “Leave this place and go live somewhere else. That car accident must have left a deep impression on you, Miss Summer. Skyler and I are childhood sweethearts. You shouldn’t have tried to steal him from me.” I looked at her in disbelief. “You did it?” She nodded slightly, looking at me with contempt: “What are you talking about, Miss Summer? I don’t understand.” I went crazy and pushed her to the ground, fighting her from inside the house to the doorway. She suddenly flung open the door. Outside, reporters captured my disheveled state on camera, while Vivian stood to the side in her wedding dress. Skyler’s friends berated me: “You shameless woman, how dare you still cling to Skyler.” At that moment, I broke down. I fled the scene like a madwoman. The trending topics had new entries: Third party interferes in Skyler and Vivian’s relationship. Third party jealously attacks Vivian at home. No one believed me. No one would defend me. Not even Skyler believed me. Everyone thought they were a match made in heaven.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295963”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #惊悚Thriller #校园School

I was working in the gynecology department when a young woman came in for hymen repair surgery. Her delicate face flushed with embarrassment as she timidly asked me, “Will anyone be able to tell?” I took a liking to her and advised her to be honest. “If two people can’t be together because of this, is there any point in continuing the relationship?” The young woman’s face turned an even deeper shade of red. “I had an accident while running. He says he likes me pure and innocent, and I want to do this for him.” Three months later, the young woman came back to see me. She was cradling her belly, saying she was already pregnant. Her eyes were brimming with happiness. Before I could offer my congratulations, her boyfriend called. “Honey, is the baby okay? Get ready, I’m taking you on a week-long trip abroad as a reward…” Long after the call ended, I couldn’t shake off my daze. The young woman waved her phone in front of my face. “Doctor, when there’s no love left between two people, that’s when there’s no point in continuing.” It was then that I realized. Her boyfriend was my husband. At a coffee shop, Tiffany ordered me a latte. “Iced, no sugar, right?” “Three years ago, you were the youngest surgical prodigy at First Hospital. You gave up your career to take care of your family and chose a less demanding department.” “But Emily, why do you have to do this? Parker doesn’t love you anymore. Why can’t you let go and find someone more suitable?” She held her head high, her pretty face showing not a hint of guilt or shame for being the other woman. Half defiant, half pitying. I took a sip of coffee, suppressing my anger. “You went to all this trouble to investigate me and approach me just to pressure me to leave?” Tiffany scoffed, “I just want you to face reality and stop clinging to Parker.” “He hasn’t touched you in a long time, has he? He’s already chosen a name for our baby.” In that moment, I had the urge to throw the scalding coffee in her face and scream at her! But what would be the point? It was a fact that she was carrying Parker’s child, and it was also a fact that my husband of eight years had been working late for six months straight, barely touching me. My tired face reflected in the glass window, time having taken away my youthfulness and left fine lines. I regretted my impulsive decision to accept her invitation to meet, hoping to learn more about this mistress. What did I have to compete with her for? If she wanted the cheating man, she could have him. “If you’re still not convinced, let’s make a bet!” Tiffany caught up with me as I was leaving, her confident face flushed with excitement. “The day after tomorrow is your 8th anniversary. Guess whether he’ll spend it with you or take me out?” As soon as she finished speaking, her phone chimed. Parker’s voice message was full of affection: “Honey, have you eaten? I know you love seafood, so I had some specially flown in for you…” I looked down at my phone. There was also a message from him. Just a few short words: “Working late, don’t wait up.” Only then did I realize that the happy marriage I thought I had was just an elaborate lie he had carefully maintained. At three in the morning, Parker came home, put down his briefcase, and tiptoed to the bathroom. “Why didn’t you turn on the lights?” My sudden voice startled Parker. Seeing me sitting on the couch, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes, but he quickly put on his usual gentle expression and came over to embrace me lightly. “Of course, I didn’t want to wake you, darling.” “You work during the day and do housework when you come home. I worry about you being so tired. If you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll get wrinkles and won’t be beautiful anymore…” So he knew about my efforts for this home. He was busy with work and had a mild case of OCD, so we couldn’t hire a housekeeper. I managed everything inside and out. For him, I gave up my career, transforming from a surgical prodigy to practically a housewife. Ironically, my womb showed no signs of life, while his mistress was already carrying his child. “If you prefer young and beautiful women, just say so.” He froze, his smile becoming slightly stiff and probing: “Why are you suddenly saying such things? Emily, I love you no matter what.” “You’re not sleeping now, is something bothering you? Do you want to talk about it?” Before I could respond, his phone on the coffee table suddenly lit up. A voice message came from a contact saved as ‘Sweetie’. Parker snatched the phone back almost instantly, making an excuse about “work stuff” and running to the bathroom. When he came out, he hurried towards the front door to change his shoes, barely concealing his eagerness: “Honey, there’s a problem with a big project. You go to sleep first.” “Once this busy period is over, I’ll spend more time with you…” Suddenly, I couldn’t remember the last time Parker had taken me out. The wedding photo on the wall emitted a soft glow. The house was still neat and orderly, and the study was almost overflowing with gifts Parker had given me, so I had put the more valuable ones in a bank safe deposit box. Everyone said our marriage was the model of a perfect couple. But now, all the warmth of the past was tainted with cold lies and betrayal, leaving me feeling chilled to the bone, almost unable to breathe! “Emily, looks like you’re going to lose~” “Parker has already booked flights for us to go abroad the day after tomorrow. He’s going to spend a whole week with me.” “Oh, and Parker won’t be coming home tonight. I told him my stomach hurt, and he rushed over here, worried about leaving me alone…” After reading the taunting messages from the mistress, I sat quietly until dawn. I remembered the first year of our marriage when I had an allergic reaction to peanuts and broke out in a rash. Parker rushed me to the hospital, not even frowning when he missed out on a $300 million project because of it. In our third year, when I passed out from exhaustion after surgery, he stormed into the hospital and berated the director until he was red in the face. But last year, when I had a fever of 102°F from the flu, he only sent a fruit basket and didn’t even visit me in the hospital. I thought time had made our love more subtle, less intense. Little did I know, he had simply transferred his love to someone else. “Darling, why are you up so early?” “I brought you breakfast, and look, I got you some new jewelry from the company. I had to really sweet-talk the board to get it for you~” Early in the morning, Parker returned with dark circles under his eyes and immediately presented a gift, his face showing the same adoration as always, without a hint of anything amiss. The more he acted like this, the colder I felt. I couldn’t tell how much of the past eight years was genuine affection and how much was pretense. “Why aren’t you saying anything? Emily, did you not sleep well? Do you want me to call the hospital and ask for a day off for you?” His face showed urgency as he gently felt my forehead. I resisted the strong urge to push him away and stared deeply into his eyes: “Parker, I’ve taken tomorrow off. Can you spend the day with me?” I wanted to know if our eight years of love could compare to his six months with Tiffany. I wanted to know if he could leave me with some dignity before the divorce. “Tomorrow… I really can’t reschedule tomorrow’s commitments.” Parker pretended to be troubled, holding me tighter: “How about the end of the month? I’ll take you wherever you want to go.” Seeing no response from me, he pouted innocently: “Darling, we have a long future ahead of us, why does it have to be tomorrow?” I froze, instinctively pushing him away and retreating two steps. Not only had he not chosen me. He had even forgotten! Forgotten our 8th wedding anniversary! My unusual behavior made Parker suspicious, but just as he was about to comfort me, he was called away by a phone call. Half an hour later, Tiffany sent me another picture of them together. I had loved Parker for eight years, giving him almost everything, only to be utterly defeated by the mistress! “Emily, I’ve dug up the background on that homewrecker you asked me to investigate…” My best friend sent me information about Tiffany. She was the illegitimate daughter of the Yang family, owners of a major corporation in the city. Although she had grown up separated from the Yang family, living with a housekeeper, she still had inheritance rights to 10% of the family’s assets.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295979”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #惊悚Thriller #校园School

“James, he says he wants freedom and doesn’t care about money. I feel like I can get the money without marrying him. I really don’t want to be intimate with him anymore,” Lily said. “No way, the wedding is in three days. Just marry James, tell him you’ll manage the family business, get the money, and then kick him out. It’s safer this way. No one knows I’m not really your cousin,” Chris replied. I quietly sat back down, not making a fuss. The wedding proceeded as scheduled. On our wedding night, Lily wrapped herself around me like a snake. I did as she wished and signed over all the factories to her. The very next day, she showed her true colors and kicked me out, bringing Chris in: “Get lost, I’ve had enough of you. But if you really can’t bear to leave me, I suppose I could let you stay as a watchdog in the yard.” I adjusted my glasses that had been knocked askew and replied good-naturedly: “Sure, that’s fine.” “James, we’ve tried on all the wedding dresses. After we’re married, you have to listen to me and give me the factories,” Lily said with a coy smile as she stood before me. I struggled to hold the pile of clothes she had bought while adjusting my glasses. “Of course. Weren’t you afraid of marriage before? Why did you suddenly agree? Don’t tell me it’s because you want the factories?” Lily’s eyes flickered at my probing question. She pouted and wrapped her arms around mine. “What are you talking about? I was just insecure before. We’ve grown up together – don’t you know what kind of person I am?” Chris chimed in cheerfully from the side: “That’s right, bro! How can you say that about my sister? She loves you so much she’s not even asking for a sewing machine. Go ask around – who gets married without asking for appliances these days?” Lily skipped ahead, with Chris quickly following. I silently trailed behind them. Lily and I had been childhood sweethearts. As the eldest in a family with many siblings, she was often mistreated. I would always appear when she needed help, paying her tuition when she had no money, giving her my food when she was hungry. All these years I had protected her like a knight, and she was always moved. But when faced with my love, she said she was afraid of marriage. If I hadn’t overheard her conversation with Chris, I would have truly believed it was my love that touched her and made her no longer fear marriage. “Oh, the Ye girl, are you getting married to Chris? Buying so many things – I’ll have to come drink at the wedding,” an older neighbor called out. No wonder people would think that. They were dressed similarly, holding hands as they walked together, looking like a perfect couple. I was more like their chauffeur. Before I could explain, the neighbor had already ridden off on her bike. Lily came running back to explain: “Don’t listen to her nonsense. Chris is my brother. Holding hands is just how we show affection as siblings.” Chris nodded in agreement and even tried to take the things from my hands: “Let me carry those, bro.” He eagerly grabbed the wedding dress and suit. But Lily didn’t take my hand, only linking her arm with mine: “You’re not jealous of Chris, are you? We’re about to get married after all.” I awkwardly patted her head and smiled gently: “Of course not. Your brother is my brother too. Let’s go buy whatever you like.” Seeing I had no reaction, Lily turned and winked at Chris. She thought I couldn’t see her secretly holding Chris’s hand behind my back, grinning like a cat that got the cream. I smiled too. Enjoy it while you can. You won’t have such good days ahead. Perhaps because she had been poor for so long, Lily treated me like a cash cow and went on a crazy shopping spree. She may not have asked for appliances, but what she wanted was far more expensive. “James, I want this golden phoenix crown.” “I want this emerald necklace too!” “Ahh it’s a huge diamond, James!” I signed for everything she wanted. She got carried away and even picked out a Rolex for Chris. She excitedly put it on Chris’s wrist, then put on a matching women’s watch herself. The two of them held hands and looked at me. I didn’t refuse, and signed for those as well. As long as Lily asked, I would buy it, no matter who it was for. I didn’t care that there wasn’t a single item for me in the bills I was paying. Lily even bought a piece of cloth for the dog at home, but didn’t get anything for me. She seemed to have completely forgotten I was her fiancé, until the Rolex saleswoman gave a free children’s watch as a gift. Lily’s eyes lit up as she put it on my wrist: “James, this is for you. It means only I can treat you like a child, and I’ll always dote on you and love you.” Chris showed off his shiny Rolex and exclaimed exaggeratedly: “Wow sis, you’re so mushy. I’m so jealous of this single guy!” I thanked her. By the time night fell, she was finally tired of shopping. Sitting in the restaurant, she complained: “These shoes don’t fit, my feet really hurt. James, if only you could give me the shoe factory at home too. Then I could just make shoes I like.” I smiled slightly: “Sure, I’ll give it to you after we’re married.” Chris chimed in: “Bro, you really spoil my sister. She’s so lucky to marry you. Not many men would give up everything when they get married. But I guess that shows how much you love her.” I agreed: “Yes, I love her. Giving up everything is nothing.” Her eyes suddenly lit up. I lowered my head to order food, pretending not to see their legs intertwined under the table. That meal was very pleasant. They thought they were about to become filthy rich. While I knew they were about to have a very bad time. Two days before the wedding, I brought Lily home. Chris followed us out. Seeing me look at him, Lily explained: “He’ll drive for us. Otherwise you’ll be too tired.” Seeing I had no objection, she sat in the passenger seat and turned back to talk to me: “I’ll give Chris directions.” The whole way, she and Chris chatted and laughed non-stop. I sat in the back smiling silently. Our two families lived very close, just a street apart. I got out to open the door for her. She wore a brand new outfit, taking off her sunglasses as she stood in front of my house. My parents were waiting eagerly, greeting us with warm smiles: “Lily, we’ve been waiting for you. Come in quickly.” Chris followed us in. Lily explained to my parents: “This is my cousin, my aunt’s son. He’s James’ driver now.” I invited them to sit down, not continuing that topic. My mom smiled imperceptibly and slipped the jade bracelet off her wrist to give to Lily. The smooth jade made Lily’s smile even wider. My dad remained silent on the side. It was the highest level of hospitality – a table full of Lily’s favorite dishes. My mom even brought out a family heirloom, a pair of mutton fat jade earrings. She opened the box to show Lily: “These have been passed down for generations. You’re about to get married, so I’m giving them to you. Once you marry into the family, there are many more treasures in my dowry that will all be yours.” Lily’s eyes crinkled into crescents as she smiled. The meal was very pleasant. They didn’t hold back at all despite being at my home. Lily’s left hand was under the table the whole time. I helped her get food while deflecting my parents’ questions. Chris ate like he’d never seen food before. Lily looked at him dotingly as she got food for him, prompting my mom to say: “You two siblings are so close.” Lily replied: “Yes, he’s like my real brother. When we become a family and have children, it will be so nice.” I nodded, adjusting my slipping glasses to hide my expression: “Yes, being a family is wonderful.” After leaving my house, we headed back to Lily’s place. Chris tentatively asked while driving: “Bro, are your parents very rich? They casually gave such expensive jade.” Lily turned back to look at me, her gaze eager: “James, I never knew your family was so wealthy. We’ve lived so close, but I only knew you had a few factories. How could you hide this even from me?” I smiled faintly: “I wasn’t hiding it. My parents are just low-key. They let me manage their five shoe factories and one cement factory. I only have two mines under my name. I’ll give it all to you after we’re married, Lily.” Lily said impatiently: “I really wish we could get married right now.” I laughed: “Don’t rush. The day after tomorrow when we get married, it will all be yours.” Perhaps because she was about to receive enormous wealth, Lily’s attitude towards me became extremely warm. Seeing me unconsciously biting my fingers while thinking, she pouted and put my fingers to her lips: “Don’t bite them, it makes me sad.” She took out corn-flavored candy from her pocket and put it in my mouth: “Here, you’ve always loved these since we were kids.” The sweet corn flavor spread in my mouth. I remembered when we were young, I would always bite my fingers until they bled. Back then Lily was often hungry, and candy was a rare treat. She would always give hers to me instead of eating it herself. In return, I would give her my food. The repressive atmosphere in my family made me withdrawn and old-fashioned, but she was different. She was like the sun, never afraid to fight for what she wanted. My heart stirred. I let the candy melt in my mouth and tentatively asked: “Lily, is there anything you’re hiding from me?” Lily looked up at me, a bit startled. But she quickly smiled, looking straight at me: “Of course not. We grew up together, what secrets could there be? Once we’re married we’ll be together forever, living a good life. I’ll give you sons!” She hugged me and giggled in my ear. But my heart grew cold. I had given her a chance. She chose not to take it. I gently hugged her back, not asking any more. The wedding day arrived. Early in the morning, my parents woke me up and urged me to go meet the bride’s family. Looking in the mirror at my face, devoid of any joy, I forced a smile. I arrived early at Lily’s house, but couldn’t get in no matter what. Even stuffing money in didn’t work. The situation became awkward. Lily pushed out a voluntary property separation agreement, saying loudly: “Sign this and I’ll come out.” Everyone looked at each other in confusion, whispering. “What is Lily doing, asking for this on her wedding day?” “She’s after our James’ money. That ungrateful woman – if it weren’t for James, her heartless parents would have sold her off at 18. She wouldn’t even have finished school. Now she pulls this stunt.” I quieted the chatter and took out a pen from my pocket, signing without hesitation and pushing it back. I only had the mines. The other factories still required completing the wedding to transfer. Lily understood this and said coyly: “Everyone step back. My brother will carry me out.” My groomsmen were all indignant, but I remained calm. “Alright, tell Chris to be careful not to drop you.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295995”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #励志Inspiring