Category: English

I Stole the Heiress’s Identity for Fifteen Years For fifteen years, I lived a lie. I was Charlotte Coleman, the beloved daughter of the wealthy Coleman family. But it was all a facade. I wasn’t their real daughter; I was a fraud, an imposter who had taken the place of their true heiress. When the truth finally came out, the Colemans cast me aside like yesterday’s trash. They shipped me off to my biological father without a second thought. No one cared about me anymore. The abuse started immediately. Insults, beatings, wounds both big and small. My body became a canvas of pain and suffering. Then one night, while working at a bar, I saw him. Tall, cold, and imposing. James Zhang. He pressed his cigarette into the back of my hand. The pain was excruciating, but I didn’t make a sound. The hole in my skin felt like it was burning straight through to my heart. Desperate, I fell to my knees and clutched at his sleeve. “James, please,” I begged. “Save me.” He laughed coldly, his eyes devoid of any warmth. “Charlotte Coleman,” he sneered. “Did you ever think this day would come when you caused Rose’s death?”

The pain from the cigarette burn on my hand was more intense than all the other injuries on my body combined. I knelt on the floor, my hair and clothes soaked with spilled drinks. My eyes were lifeless, filled with a deathly emptiness. I clung desperately to the sleeve of the handsome man before me, my face dry of tears but full of hollow determination. “James, please,” I pleaded, staring up at the man I once loved with every fiber of my being. “Save me.” “Boss, don’t fall for it,” someone nearby warned. “This woman’s an expert at playing the victim. Don’t let her fool you.” James frowned, looking down at me – once the proud, arrogant princess of the Coleman family, now groveling at his feet like a stray dog. Suddenly, he smiled. He removed the cigarette from my hand and roughly tilted my chin up, showing no hint of compassion. “Charlotte Coleman,” he said coldly. “Did you ever imagine you’d end up like this when you caused Rose’s death?” My eyes remained empty, the result of countless instances of abuse and humiliation. “I didn’t kill Rose,” I whispered. He kicked me to the ground without mercy, then brushed off his sleeve where I had grabbed it, as if disgusted. “Pathetic,” he spat.

As he turned to leave, I crawled forward and wrapped my arms around his legs. “I promise I won’t love you anymore,” I begged. “Please, just save me.” He frowned, clearly not expecting this. His face twisted with contempt, exuding the air of someone far above me. “Charlotte Coleman, I never thought I’d see you lose your dignity like this,” he sneered. “You should be grateful I haven’t killed you already.” “Ha! Save you? Do you realize you’re lower than a dog right now?” “James, Mr. Zhang, I swear I’ll never love you again,” I pleaded robotically. “Just take me with you.” I clung to his legs as if possessed, my heart numb with pain. But I was used to it by now. Compared to staying alive, what did dignity or pride matter anymore? But he forcefully shook me off, flicking his cigarette butt next to my shoe. “Charlotte Coleman, you need to understand,” he said coldly. “You mean less to me than this discarded cigarette.” Behind me, the people who once fawned over me as the Coleman heiress now looked on with mockery. Another drink was poured over my head, soaking my clothes with red wine. “Look how far the mighty have fallen,” someone sneered. “Wasn’t she so high and mighty before?” another chimed in. “Didn’t she threaten to destroy us if we ever crossed her?” A shoe pressed against my face, but I barely reacted as I slowly stood up. “I’ll clean this up, ladies and gentlemen,” I said tonelessly. “Oh, have you turned over a new leaf?” someone mocked. A female voice cut through the crowd – Megan. Back when I was still Charlotte Coleman, she had a crush on James. I had treated James like my personal property back then, warning off any girl who got too close. Karma really does come back around, I thought bitterly.

Megan smashed a bottle that had been sitting on the table, her lips curling into a cruel smile. “Bitch, come pick up these shards,” she ordered. “And use your hands only.” I walked forward without protest or resistance. Obediently, without a hint of the anger a normal person would feel, I bent down to pick up the broken glass. Her high heel came down on my hand, driving the glass shards into my palm. Blood dripped onto the floor. I didn’t cry out in pain. I just endured it silently. My hand was a mess – a cigarette burn on the back, cuts and blood on the palm, fingers permanently bent and ugly. Megan laughed derisively. “Oh Charlotte, Charlotte,” she taunted. “You couldn’t escape, and now your hand is ruined too.” Seeing that I remained silent, Megan slapped me hard across the face. I fell to the ground from the force of it, my right cheek stinging. But it was nothing compared to what I’d endured over the past few years. “You’ve got the face of a whore,” Megan snarled. “I’ll do you a favor and destroy it!” She suddenly flew into a rage, grabbing a piece of broken bottle and aiming for my face. For a moment, I felt a sense of relief. If my face was ruined, maybe my life would actually improve. But the glass never touched my skin. A voice spoke up from behind me. “Miss Coleman, the CEO sent me to fetch you.” I froze, my heart skipping a beat. It was James’s assistant. I turned around, but even this potential salvation couldn’t bring any life back to my empty eyes. I looked like a person on the brink of death. Because I knew James hated me. But still, a tiny spark of hope flickered in my chest. Nothing could be worse than the daily abuse and torture that made me wish for death. Even if James was leading me into the depths of hell, I would go willingly.

I laughed bitterly to myself. Even though James didn’t love me, he was still the only one in this world of wealth and status willing to save me. Mr. Lee escorted me to another presidential suite – the one Rose used to like. James was sitting on the couch, a smile playing on his lips as he patted the spot beside him. “Sit,” he commanded. I approached timidly but didn’t sit down. My hand was still bleeding, the cigarette burn on the back giving off a faint smell of charred flesh. My back was hunched, my body skeletal, with only my face retaining its outstanding beauty. This was why my biological father had left my face untouched. James suddenly grabbed my hand, and I instinctively tried to pull away. My back hit the couch, and I winced slightly – the wounds there hadn’t healed yet. “Is the princess still too delicate?” he asked maliciously. Then he threw some tissues across the room, as if playing with a dog. “Go fetch those and clean my shoes.” I started to get up, but he added, “On your hands and knees.” Like a puppet on strings, I dropped to my knees and crawled over to retrieve the tissues. Then I crawled back and began polishing his shoes, my face expressionless, as if I’d done this countless times before. Seeing me like this seemed to displease James for some reason. He kicked me over and stepped on my injured hand.

It hurt, but compared to the suffering I’d endured over the years, it was nothing. I looked up at him blankly, my eyes devoid of their former pride, arrogance, and passionate love. There was only emptiness now. Seeing that I didn’t resist, James seemed to lose interest. But for some reason, he suddenly became angry. “Charlotte Coleman, don’t think I’ll forgive you just because you’re playing the victim,” he growled. He grabbed me by the throat and lifted me up. My face turned red as I struggled to breathe. Only then did a hint of life seem to return to me. Seeing this, he abruptly let go, throwing me to the ground. “Let me tell you something,” he said. “You killed Rose. You should be grateful I haven’t killed you in return.” I sat on the floor, gasping for air, but I no longer wanted to defend myself. They would rather believe I killed Rose out of jealousy than listen to my explanation. It was true then, and it’s true now. At this point, I just wanted to survive. Only by living could I see any hope. Any thoughts of love had long since been ground away by daily abuse. A moment later, Mr. Lee knocked and entered. “Sir, Charles Coleman is here,” he announced. James gave me a meaningful look. “Let him in,” he said. A familiar face appeared, and my heart filled with fear. My brother, who had doted on me for over a decade before forcefully sending me back to my birth family. “Scared?” James asked with interest, noticing my reaction. I pressed my lips together tightly, saying nothing. Yes, I was afraid. In fact, Charles terrified me even more than James did – this brother who had once spoiled me rotten.

I knew James’s nature well. Even if he hated me, he wouldn’t do anything too extreme. He would never seriously harm a woman. But Charles was different. After Rose’s death, he had become a complete monster. Before I left the Coleman family, he had already broken my fingers. It was James who saw me and sent me to the hospital. The door opened, and I looked up from my kneeling position. A familiar face came into view, eyes filled with hatred as they fell on me. “James, since when did you start meddling in other people’s business?” Charles asked coldly. James sat on the couch, not turning to look at him. He flicked his cigarette ash onto me as I knelt on the floor. A smile played on his lips. “Since when do I need to report my actions to you, Mr. Coleman?” he replied smoothly. I felt a small sense of relief. I was grateful it had been James I encountered earlier. Suddenly, a large hand grabbed my hair, yanking my head back. A hard slap landed on my face. “Who told you to come back, you bitch?” Charles snarled. I remained silent, kneeling on the floor, looking at James as if waiting for his orders. If I was a dog now, I was a dog James had picked up. I belonged to him. James lit another cigarette, watching the scene unfold before him with a slight smirk. He made no move to intervene. My heart sank. I had foolishly thought he might have brought me back out of some lingering sympathy from when I used to like him. Now I realized he just wanted to ensure I suffered even more before I died. I looked up, touching my swollen cheek. “Brother, please stop,” I pleaded. “I didn’t kill Rose. It had nothing to do with me.” I used one hand to prop myself up, trying not to fall over. “Charlotte Coleman, how long are you going to keep up this act?” Charles growled. “Tell me! Is this how you tricked James?” He grabbed my throat. “I didn’t… I didn’t…” I choked out, shaking my head vigorously as tears welled up in my eyes. Seeing the person who was once closest to me now wanting to kill me, I felt a crushing sense of suffocation. My heart, numb for so long, was now filled with sharp, stinging pain.

[Just die. It would be better if I died.] The thought suddenly flashed through my mind, but I quickly pushed it away. I had to live. I still had a future ahead of me. If I died now, what would all my past suffering have been for? My strong will to survive made me struggle fiercely, even as Charles’s hand tightened around my throat. As I closed my eyes, a sense of release washed over me, but it was tinged with regret. No family, no love – in the end, I had nothing left. Even on this scorching summer day, my body felt cold. “Let her go.” That cool voice. I knew it all too well. It was James. “Rose is already dead. Do you want another death on your conscience?” he continued. I fell to the ground, my head spinning, voices echoing around me. Charles shouted like a madman. “She killed my sister! What does it matter if I kill her?” In the end, all my explanations were futile. The accusation of murder seemed to have become a permanent mark on me. I didn’t know who, if anyone, would ever believe me. “Calm down,” James said. “Hah! James, have you gone soft? Didn’t you tell me yourself that you wished she was dead?” Charles sneered. “I said what I wanted to do was my business,” James replied coldly. “If she’s going to die, it should be by my hand.” The sound of a fist slamming on the table accompanied Charles’s angry voice. “She killed Rose, James. You’d better not forget what you said before.”

The door slammed shut. Cold tea was poured on my face, making me open my eyes with a start. I met those icy eyes and shivered. My clothes were in disarray, and there wasn’t a single part of my body that didn’t hurt. My face was pale, and sweat beaded on my forehead. James smirked. I should be grateful to him, I thought, but I was too exhausted to speak. “Charlotte Coleman, don’t think you’re off the hook,” he said coldly. “As long as I’m around, you’ll never have an easy day.” Any ripple of emotion I had felt earlier settled back into stillness at his words. After a while, James stood up. “Mr. Lee, get her some clothes,” he ordered. Then he turned to me. “Go clean yourself up. Don’t dirty my room.” He frowned as he looked at my hollow eyes. In his memory, I was that arrogant, domineering heiress. In just a few years, I had become this weak creature who couldn’t even fight back. He used to despise me, but now, seeing me like this seemed to irritate him. He snorted, then, as if he couldn’t stand it anymore, he grabbed my messy hair and said angrily, “Look up.” I raised my head, but there was no trace of my former arrogance. Dissatisfied, he advanced, and I immediately retreated in fear. I had successfully provoked his anger, but he didn’t know that I was no longer the Charlotte Coleman of the past. Even if I tried, I couldn’t pretend to be that bold, willful person anymore. “Get out,” he suddenly said. I froze, and he immediately shouted, smashing a teacup on the table. “GET OUT!” Frightened, I was grabbed and thrown into the bathroom. Standing in the bathroom, I was still dazed. My brow furrowed, and my head throbbed with pain. But I still took off my clothes. In front of the bathroom mirror, I saw a woman with not a single unblemished spot on her body. Skeletal and ugly. But I still felt grateful for this chance to use the bathroom. For years, I hadn’t had the opportunity to take a proper shower. As the water touched my skin, I suddenly felt nauseous. It was sticky, foul-smelling – as if those people’s hands were still on me. Fighting the urge to vomit, I scrubbed my body viciously, as if trying to wash away all the filth from before. I ignored the wounds on my body – new ones, old ones, infected ones. I found it quite laughable. Those without fortune often cling stubbornly to life. Being surrounded by family love now seemed like something from a past century.

A knock on the bathroom door startled me, and I immediately hugged myself defensively. “Miss Coleman, I’ve left the clothes outside the door,” Mr. Lee’s voice came through. My heart, which had leapt into my throat, slowly settled back down. “Thank you,” I said timidly. Another set of footsteps approached outside, and suddenly a wave of fear washed over me. Living in constant fear had become a habit, and I couldn’t trust anyone anymore, not even James, whom I once liked and who had brought me back. My mind suddenly flashed back to a few years ago when this presidential suite was my favorite place to be. Because James was often here. Back then, everyone knew about my crush on James. Even though I knew James didn’t like me, I still arrogantly drove away all the girls who liked him. My feelings were written all over my face; no one could miss how much I liked him. Pain flared up all over my body. I looked at my fingers, permanently bent even after healing. Ugly and unbearable, a constant reminder etched into my bones and blood. The past days consumed me like a bloodthirsty beast, burying my body deep in an abyss. I could never go back to who I was before – not since I was sent back home, thrown into the bathroom by my birth father, my clothes violently torn off. What remained of Charlotte Coleman was just an empty shell, soulless but desperately clinging to life.

Looking at the reflection in the mirror – a delicate face on a skeletal body covered in scars – I suddenly laughed. In the past, I would have been upset by James’s coldness and disgust. But now, there was only a deathly silence in my heart. Was I sad? Yes, but more than that, I just wanted to live. I put on the clothes and frowned slightly. My figure wasn’t as full as it was years ago. James’s clothes hung loosely on me, the neckline plunging to my chest, adding an unintended touch of allure. After searching for a while and not finding any shoes, I walked out barefoot. As soon as I opened the door, my eyes widened. James’s gaze fell on my face, trailed down my neck, and finally settled on my neckline. My thin body couldn’t fill out the clothes properly, but my chest had developed well. His gaze suddenly became intense, making me uncomfortable. My whole body felt like it was burning under his stare. This feeling wasn’t unfamiliar to me. I had developed a conditioned response to men’s thick desire, able to sense it clearly even without words. My body started to tremble with deep-seated fear. I stumbled, trying to leave, but he stepped forward and gripped my arm tightly. His voice was filled with both desire and anger. “Charlotte Coleman, are you deliberately trying to seduce me?”

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My parents spent their entire lives blaming me for not answering my brother’s four emergency calls before he jumped off a building. Even my wife threw harsh words at me for a decade because of this. “Remember, you killed your brother. How can you live with yourself?” These accusations from those around me left me in a daze, and I ended up mixing reagents at work, causing an explosion. It was my wife who risked her own life to save me, but she suffered fatal injuries in the blast. Before she died, she tightly held my hand and said, “In my next life, I hope I never meet you again.” Only then did I realize that she had loved my brother for half her life. She had lied about being infertile to remain pure for him. Yet, those who didn’t know the truth accused me of being a “lonely star,” bringing misfortune to my wife and brother. In despair, I jumped to my death, only to wake up on the eve of my brother’s jump. This time, I just want to live for myself. “Please confirm your details, and if everything is correct, I’ll stamp it. Congratulations on becoming husband and wife.” The voice of the City Hall staff brought me back to reality. I turned and saw my wife, Nora Johnson, looking displeased beside me. I had been reborn on the day I registered my marriage with Nora, just one day before my brother’s death. Nora’s resentful words from my previous life still echoed in my mind. “If you hadn’t drugged me and ruined my purity, I would never have been forced to marry you. Someone like you should have died long ago!” The suffocating feeling of despair hit me again. I stood up abruptly and grabbed the household registration book from the staff. Ignoring his confused look, I turned to Nora. “There’s still time to change your mind. Isn’t Declan just outside waiting for you? Are you sure you want to marry me?” Nora was caught off guard by my actions, looking somewhat surprised at me. But she quickly regained her composure and laughed coldly, “What game are you playing now? Just get the paperwork done. I don’t have time for your childish games.” With that, Nora turned and headed towards the door. Watching her leave, I let out a faint bitter smile. In our past life, we had been childhood betrothed, and I always thought we were in love. It wasn’t until after our wedding, when she smashed our wedding photo and didn’t even glance at our marriage certificate, that I realized the ten years of sweetness I thought we had was a torturous ordeal for her. Seeing the tension between us, the staff hesitated and asked, “Sir, are you sure you want to proceed with this?” “No need.” I took the household registration book from him, intentionally lingering before walking out. Just as before, she didn’t even glance at the documents in my hand. When she reached out for her own household registration book, I grabbed her hand. The familiar warmth made my rebirth feel real. Pain and joy erupted in my mind. Nora looked at me strangely, “It’s just a marriage certificate. Is there a need to be so happy? You were just pretending to hesitate a moment ago.” I nodded, “I am very happy.” But not because we became husband and wife, but because I now had the right to choose again. Nora pulled her hand away coldly, preparing to get into the car when a staff member approached, holding a bundle of red strings, assuming we were newlyweds. “Congratulations on tying the knot. Here’s a red string for you. You can tie it on the Love Tree on the hill for good luck.” I suddenly recalled in my past life, I was eager to tie the red string with Nora, only to be met with her disdain. “Do you really believe in such nonsense? Don’t waste my time.” Back then, I thought she just didn’t want to climb, so I apologized sincerely. Now, I clutched the red string, intending to throw it away when Nora shut the car door and took a few steps towards the hill. Seeing I hadn’t followed, she frowned impatiently. “Aren’t you coming? What are you hesitating for?” I stood there, almost thinking I heard wrong. Nora returned to my side, directly taking the red string from my hand, “I’m telling you, this is the last time. I won’t play these childish games with you anymore.” I lowered my gaze, feeling a ripple in my long-stilled heart. Our ten-year marriage wasn’t entirely painful and dark. Before my brother’s incident, we were known as a harmonious couple by our colleagues. It was because of this that I continued to deceive myself, not noticing anything amiss. Nora would cook for me on my birthdays, even if her hands blistered from the heat, just to surprise me. And when I was sick, she would rush back from abroad, regardless of delaying million-dollar projects. Later, when the lab caught fire, trapping me inside, she risked her life to pull me out. In that explosion, I should have died. She shielded me, taking all the damage. Putting aside the harsh words, how could I let go of someone so good?

Seeing I hadn’t moved, Nora tugged on my arm. But before we could take two steps, Declan’s call came through. Seeing “Declan Darling” flashing on the screen, I squinted. Nora turned away, flustered, explaining casually, “It was a dare I lost, just a joke.” She then answered the call. Even though I couldn’t hear the other side, I could guess. Either his hand was hurt, or his car was hit. After all, that’s Declan’s usual trick. As expected, Nora ended the call, stuffing the red string back in my hand, “Declan was rear-ended on his way back. I’m going to check on him. You go home first.” I nodded, opening the car door for her, “Do you want me to take you there?” Seeing my unusual calm, she looked at me oddly. “Don’t you have anything else to say to me?” I shook my head, and she pursed her lips, letting out a cold laugh. “Right, Declan was going to help us celebrate, but because you delayed, he had to leave and got rear-ended. Nothing to complain about.” With that, she got in the car and drove off. Watching her car fade away, I tossed the red string, now soaked with sweat, into the trash. She always blamed me for blocking her path to happiness, not realizing Declan wasn’t her true love. Back then, Declan had amassed massive gambling debts, and I had emptied my savings to bail him out. To protect our parents from stress, we kept it a secret. Yet, Declan never cut ties with the casino dealer and even flirted with Nora during that time. Nora was a successful businesswoman with many assets. I knew Declan’s true intentions, so I often warned her against getting too close to him. But she misunderstood, thinking I was petty and didn’t even trust my own brother. So this time, I won’t meddle in their matters. Whether Nora pursues a passionate love or descends into darkness, it’s no longer my concern.

On my way home, I got a call from my parents. They sounded excited, saying they prepared a big meal and were waiting for me to bring Nora. My grip on the steering wheel tightened, and after a moment, I confessed that we didn’t register. My father’s voice turned somber, “What’s going on? You were so eager to get married, and now you don’t want to? Is it because Nora thinks the dowry isn’t enough?” My parents really liked Nora. When our family was struggling, the Johnson’s business was booming. Nora never forgot our childhood betrothal, which won my parents’ hearts. They swore they’d spare no expense for her as their daughter-in-law. I sighed, taking all the blame. “Dad, Mom, I just feel I’m not worthy of Nora right now. I want to wait a bit longer.” Hearing this, they didn’t press further, just sighed, “It’s our fault for mismanaging and going bankrupt. Son, we’re sorry.” After hanging up, I messaged my old college roommate. In my past life, I was focused on family, so when my roommate Ethan Johnson invited me to start a business, I refused. But what came of it? I lost my career, became a doormat, and lost Nora too. Ethan was thrilled with my affirmative response, eager to book me a flight to New York immediately. I had no objections, thinking that on my last day before leaving, I would settle everything with Nora. After the call, I noticed three missed calls from Declan on my phone. I ended the call and texted my old college roommate. In my past life, I was all about family, so when Ethan, my roommate, asked me to start a business with him, I flat out said no. And what was the outcome? I lost my career, got labeled as a freeloader, and completely lost Nora. After I gave Ethan the go-ahead, he was so thrilled he wanted to book my flight to New York right away. I had no objections, thinking I should resolve everything with Nora on my last day before leaving. After hanging up, I noticed three missed calls from Jasper on my phone. I frowned, my mind flashing back to the time before Jasper’s fall in my previous life. But I distinctly remember he called me four times then. A sense of dread crept over me, and just as I was about to return the call, Nora called. Her voice was angry on the line. “Jasper, what did you do? I knew you were up to no good. Now Jasper has been pushed to the edge because of you. Are you happy?” My mind went numb, and everything seemed to fade to black. It was the same in my previous life. Jasper fell from a building under mysterious circumstances, leaving only my name written in blood, with no other clues. I became the prime suspect. Even though the police questioned me for three days and nights, they found no evidence, yet everyone around insisted I was behind Jasper’s death. Cold sweat ran down my back, and I struggled to stay on my feet. Am I doomed to live under Jasper’s shadow again in this new life? I refuse! I immediately turned the car around and raced to the hospital. When I arrived outside the emergency room, the corridor was chaotic, with Nora surrounded by several intimidating men. The leader glared at her, “If you weren’t Jasper’s wife, why would you be so anxious the moment he got into trouble? Now that he’s in a bind, you must settle his debts with us, or I won’t let you go!” Nora frowned, clearly unaware of Jasper’s true nature and now utterly confused. “You’ve got the wrong person! If you don’t leave, I’ll call the police.” But these thugs never feared the police; her words only emboldened them, and they began to push her around. Seeing Nora about to fall, I hurried forward to support her, giving a cold stare to the rowdy men. “I’m Jasper’s brother. If there’s anything, talk to me.” “Perfect, your brother owes us a million in gambling debts, pay it all now!” Nora was shocked, eyes wide open, “Are you insane for money? Do you think you can extort just anyone? Jasper, ignore them. I’ll call the police right now.” “This is ridiculous. Jasper doesn’t even gamble. How could he owe a million in gambling debts?” I said nothing, just looked at my bank card balance. Seeing my silence and counting the balance, Nora tugged at my arm, “Jasper, have you lost your mind? Do you have so much money you don’t know how to spend it? Do you even know these people—” Her words stopped abruptly as she seemed to suddenly realize. So you were the one who owed the gambling debt, and you framed Jasper, right? No wonder you’re so willing to pay it back!”

Listening to her accusation, I could only manage a bitter smile. The leader lost all patience and raised his hand to hit Nora, “Shut up, you b*tch!” I immediately stepped in front of Nora. The full force of the blow landed on my face, and I collapsed to the ground, fighting the dizziness to transfer the money. Once they had the money, the thugs left satisfied. At the same time, the red light in the emergency room went out, and the doctor came out with a sigh of relief, “The patient is out of danger but needs to be transferred to intensive care for two days of observation.” Nora didn’t spare me a glance, following Jasper into the ward. I was left to be helped by a passing nurse to bandage my wounds. I sat in the hospital corridor until dawn, deciding not to tell my parents about any of this. I still couldn’t understand why Jasper fell again this time, but at least he didn’t die this time. When daylight broke, and my phone reminded me I had a flight in four hours, I forced my numb legs to stand. I looked up to see Nora approaching. She was carrying freshly made chicken soup, and when she saw me, she instinctively hid the lunch box behind her. I knew it wasn’t for me. She bit her lip before speaking, her tone softer than usual, probably out of guilt, “Why are you still here? Go home and rest, I’ll stay here.” “Also, thanks for chasing those people away yesterday, but this matter can’t just be left alone. Once Jasper wakes up, I’ll find out who really owes the million in gambling debts.” In essence, she still refused to believe her White Knight was anything but perfect. I nodded silently, but my legs were too weak to stand. Seeing this, she helped support me. “Let’s go, I’ll take you home.” Looking at her downcast eyes, a sour feeling rose in my heart, and I fought back the overwhelming emotions to speak, “Nora, if you could choose again, would you still marry me without hesitation?” She responded almost without thinking, “What’s gotten into you? What nonsense are you talking about? We’ve been engaged for twenty years; who else would I marry?” I forced a smile, discreetly wiping away a tear from my eye. Just as I was about to push her hand away, a nurse hurriedly ran over, “The patient who fell last night is awake, call a doctor quickly!” Her eyes lit up with joy, and she didn’t spare me another glance. “Jasper, you head back, I’ll talk to you later.” Watching her rush to the ward, my emotions gradually calmed. Once her figure disappeared down the hall, I whispered to the empty corridor. “Goodbye, Nora.” “This time, I’m the one letting you go.”

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I was doing laundry for my girlfriend when I noticed a small hole in her panties. It was a burn mark from a cigarette. But I had quit smoking over a year ago. There was a tiny hole on the lace trim of the panties, barely noticeable unless you looked closely. With my five years of smoking experience, I immediately recognized the yellowish circular burn mark that only a cigarette could make. My heart sank. I had quit smoking long ago, and my girlfriend never smoked. Who could explain this situation to me? I stood in the bathroom, holding the panties, unable to stop my mind from racing. The more I thought about it, the more unsettling it became. The more I thought, the more my face turned green with jealousy. Just then, my girlfriend sent me a message on SnapChat. “Babe, I have to work overtime again tonight. Don’t wait up for me~”

I had helped Chloe get a job through my connections at a private company as an HR assistant, hoping it would be an easy position for her. But lately, she had been working overtime frequently, coming home close to 10 PM every night. I hadn’t thought much of it before, assuming she was genuinely busy, but now… Something was definitely wrong. Absolutely fucking wrong. Suppressing my anger, I replied: “What time will you be done? I’ll come pick you up.” “Oh, don’t bother, honey. You know how it is, it’s the end of the year and we’re super busy. I’m not sure when I’ll finish here.” I immediately got dressed and drove to Chloe’s company. The lights were on in her office, and I could faintly hear people talking inside. Was she really working overtime? I didn’t rush in. Instead, I took out my phone and called Chloe. “I’m worried about you coming home alone. I’ll wait for you downstairs at your office.” “Didn’t I tell you not to come?” “It’s no trouble, baby. I’m already here at your office building.” Chloe’s voice on the other end clearly changed, becoming more flustered: “What? You really came? Why did you come here?” Why did I come? Of course, I came to see what you’re up to. I didn’t say much more to her and hung up the phone, then hid in the stairwell. A few minutes later, Chloe came out, followed by a man in a business suit. The two of them embraced as soon as they reached the elevator!

They kissed goodbye, reluctant to part. The man kept groping Chloe’s body while kissing her. It’s one thing to suspect, but it’s another to witness it with your own eyes. Rage consumed me, blood rushing to my head. I wanted to rush out and strangle these two cheaters right then and there. At that moment, I heard the man laughing: “Your boyfriend really cares about you, huh?” “Don’t mention him. He’s like a clingy leech, such a mood killer!” Chloe’s words were like a bucket of cold water poured over my head, temporarily suppressing my urge to confront them immediately. The man continued with his sleazy talk. “Why don’t you let him wait downstairs while we continue?” “What are you thinking? He could come up at any moment.” “We’ve done it before when he called you, remember? What are you afraid of?” “Oh, you’re so bad! I hate you~” Fuck, so I’ve been part of their little game all along? The desire to kill them grew even stronger… At that moment, I saw the man’s face clearly. It was him!

Chloe had posted photos of a company team-building event on her social media before, so I recognized him. This man was the company’s vice president, Greg Phillips. He looked decent enough, but knowing that his subordinate had a boyfriend and still doing such a shameless thing, he was nothing but a scumbag. Moreover, from the way he talked, he clearly enjoyed the thrill of fooling me, treating me like an idiot. Suddenly, I didn’t want to confront them face to face anymore. If I exposed everything now, we’d just have a big fight or maybe even a physical altercation, then Chloe and I would break up. That would be letting them off too easy. Before Chloe entered the elevator, I secretly took a photo of the two of them holding hands. I took the stairs down. Chloe was already waiting by the car. Pretending I knew nothing, I said: “I thought you’d be much longer, so I went to use the restroom on the first floor.” Maybe because I had ruined her plans, Chloe subtly rolled her eyes and said in an annoyed tone: “We finished early! Hurry up and open the door, I’m freezing!” On the way home, she pretended to be exhausted and closed her eyes to rest. That was fine by me. I didn’t want to talk to her either, afraid that if I opened my mouth, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from asking her why she would do this to me. That night, while she was sleeping, I checked her phone. The more I saw, the angrier I became. Chloe had been fooling around with Greg Phillips for months. She joined the company in June, and by August, she was already flirting with Greg. Recently, they had finally taken the last step, using overtime as an excuse to openly have an affair in the office. While these two cheaters were having their fun, I was at home like an idiot, cooking and doing laundry for Chloe, worrying that she was working too hard, fearing for her safety on her way home, and dreaming about our future marriage. This is what she said about me to Greg in their messages: “I’m pretty, so of course he worships me. Isn’t that how it should be?” “He’s so easy to manipulate. He never suspects me and is always willing to spend money on me.” “Marriage? That’s not certain yet. Besides, my parents always want me to find someone richer.” She also said: “What’s so great about your boring wife? She’s old and dull.” “Why don’t you divorce her? If you divorce, I’ll break up with Lucas.”

I couldn’t believe these words came from the person sleeping next to me. But the thousands of chat messages, each like a whip lashing at me, were undeniable evidence. Chloe was right. Before today, I never doubted her, never questioned her schedule, never looked at her phone. That’s probably why she felt safe enough not to delete their chat history. Looking at the person sleeping beside me, I suddenly felt she was so dirty, disgustingly so. The next morning, while Chloe was doing her makeup, her phone rang. She answered naturally, speaking in a formal tone: “Hello, Mr. Phillips. What can I do for you?” “Yes, I understand. I’ll try to arrive early today to review that with you.” I asked her: “Something up at work?” “Yeah, the boss is urging me to get in early. Can’t be helped, it’s year-end and there’s so much to do. I’ll probably have to work overtime again today.” Looking at her brightly painted lips and tight-fitting skirt, I pretended to care and said: “Why don’t I help you find another job? I can’t bear to see you so exhausted.” “No!” Chloe exclaimed loudly. Then, realizing her reaction was a bit excessive, she laughed awkwardly and said: “I mean, I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m still young, it’s good to work hard. Besides, you already used your connections to get me this job, I have to consider your feelings too, right?” As she was leaving, she tried to kiss me. Just thinking about how she had been passionately kissing that scumbag last night with those same lips made my stomach churn. I quickly pretended to look for something to avoid her. Chloe and Greg had an agreement. When calling in my presence, she would address him as “Mr. Phillips.” When I wasn’t around, she’d call him darling, baby, hubby, and all sorts of pet names. Chloe even called him “daddy” in their messages. You can imagine how wild they must be in private. Greg was clearly deliberately calling in the morning when I was around. Maybe they got a thrill out of flirting behind my back. Damn it, if they love to play games so much, I’ll play along to the bitter end.

I investigated Greg’s background. It turned out this bastard not only had a wife but also two kids. His wife had quit her job after having children to focus on being a full-time mom and homemaker. His parents, both retired university professors, lived in the same community to help take care of the grandchildren. I paid someone to follow Greg for a while and discovered another of his secrets. This scumbag was still secretly involved with his married ex-girlfriend! Every time they met, they went straight to a hotel. Well, well, well. I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. Keeping his family intact while fooling around outside, huh? To outsiders, Greg might seem like a life winner with a perfect family and successful career. But in reality? He was nothing but a shiny turd, a real piece of work. However, the more dirt Greg had on him, the better it was for me. I gathered all sorts of evidence and, with some effort, managed to get the contact information for him, his family members, his ex-girlfriend, and her husband. In this age of big data, no one truly has privacy. That day, Chloe lied to me again about working overtime. I coldly replied: “Alright, don’t forget to eat. I’d be heartbroken if you starved yourself.” “Mm-hmm, you too, babe. Be good and eat your dinner, okay?” In the evening, I drove to her company and used a new phone number I had prepared to send a text to Greg’s wife. “Does your husband always say he’s working overtime? You’d better be careful, don’t be fooled. Some people are all too happy to eat their own vomit.” She called back almost immediately. I didn’t answer. She had to resort to texting: “Who are you? What do you mean?” “He has an ex-girlfriend he dated for a long time, doesn’t he?” I said no more, ignoring all her subsequent messages. For a woman who has devoted all her energy to her family, planting even a small seed of doubt about her husband would be enough. I waited patiently in my car, and sure enough, Greg came rushing out of the building shortly after. He looked nervous, running towards the parking lot while frantically trying to explain something on the phone.

I laughed. The sight of this bastard fleeing in panic was truly amusing. Chloe followed behind with a constipated expression. When I saw her come out, I stepped on the gas and left. Although Greg’s wife was just a housewife, she was no pushover. Her parents owned a local business, and she had two older brothers. She had been pampered since childhood and was known for her fiery temper. Given that Greg was already in a murky situation with his ex-girlfriend, my anonymous tip-off would make it difficult for him if his wife decided to investigate. As a result, this scumbag had become notably more low-key recently. Not only did he return home on time every day after work, but he also stopped flirting with Chloe over SnapChat late at night. This infuriated Chloe. Like all mistresses aiming to replace the wife, Chloe looked down on Greg’s spouse. She sent Greg a message: “What’s so great about being controlled by that old tiger? She’s old and fierce. Am I not better than her?” Ha, how naive. For married men like Greg, especially those who are doing well in life, what they want is a stable family with a wife and kids at home, while having fun fooling around outside. Home is home, play is play, and they keep the two very separate. However, I needed to give Chloe a little push, or how else would the game continue? To provoke Chloe, I also did a complete 180 in my attitude towards her during this time. When we argued or had conflicts, I no longer gave in. I often made her so angry that her face turned red and her neck swelled. “Lucas, you’re yelling at me? You dare to yell at me?!” Yelling is the least of what I should do. Normally, I should slap you. “Was all your kindness in the past fake? Men are indeed bastards, once they get what they want, they stop cherishing it!” Me, not cherishing you? When you insult me, don’t you think about whether you deserve to be cherished? I let her rant, not even bothering to comfort her. I shrugged: “Think whatever you want.” Provoked by my attitude, Chloe’s desire for revenge grew stronger. She frantically messaged Greg late at night while I was asleep. She even threatened him, saying that if he dared to ignore her again, she would go directly to his wife. This scared Greg. Moreover, after being under his wife’s strict supervision for a while, Greg was indeed feeling frustrated. So the two of them came up with a plan: a business trip.

As soon as Chloe entered the door, she rushed straight to the bedroom to pack her clothes, unable to hide her excitement. “Honey, our company has arranged a sudden HR training. I have to go on a business trip tomorrow!” “Oh? For how many days?” “Just two days.” I pretended to ask her: “Baby, did you forget? Tomorrow is Saturday, and we had planned to have dinner with your parents.” Chloe was busy selecting clothes from a pile and didn’t even look up. “We can have dinner anytime, but I can’t miss this training opportunity!” I smirked inwardly, thinking this was the perfect chance I’d been waiting for. She and that adulterer were quite cunning, going to great lengths for their secret rendezvous. The adulterer, fearing his wife might inquire at the company, had actually arranged a real business trip for himself. But he would leave on Friday and return on Saturday. As for Chloe, she lied to me about a business trip, but actually planned to spend the entire weekend fooling around with her lover in a hotel. I found the hotel booking information in her phone’s text messages. With Greg’s every move now under his wife’s scrutiny, even booking a hotel room had to be done by Chloe herself. She had bought an extremely sexy lingerie set at some point and secretly stuffed it into her suitcase. She had never even worn this lingerie for me. The next day, Chloe refused to let me drive her to the train station, and I didn’t insist. While her words expressed reluctance to leave me, her heart had already run off, eager to meet her lover as soon as possible. After she left, I didn’t sit idle. I bought a few gifts and first went to visit Chloe’s parents.

Their home was less than a two hours’ drive from the city. Neither of her parents had proper jobs, and they had a son, Chloe’s brother, who was unemployed and spent all day playing video games. “Uncle, Auntie, Chloe doesn’t know I’m here today. Actually… I’m planning to propose to her.” Her mom and dad exchanged a glance, their smiles not particularly warm: “Lucas, you and Chloe have been dating for over a year, and it is indeed time to talk about marriage. But marriage is no small matter.” I quickly said: “I understand. Marriage needs to be discussed properly between both families. Don’t worry, Chloe is a wonderful girl, and my family will definitely show enough sincerity in marrying her.” Her father’s eyes scanned the gifts I had brought: “As parents, we don’t ask for much. We just hope our daughter can find an understanding family who values her and treats her well.” That sounds nice, but what do they mean by “understanding” and “valuing”? Isn’t it just about how much bride price the groom’s family can offer? Chloe’s parents had asked her more than once how much bride price my family could offer for the wedding. I had already inquired about this. In Chloe’s area, the usual bride price ranged from 66,000 to 88,000 yuan, which wasn’t considered excessive. But if it were just this amount, her parents wouldn’t be beating around the bush with me now. I smiled: “Uncle, you’re absolutely right. Please rest assured, the bride price from my family will definitely be more than others. I guarantee Chloe won’t lose out compared to anyone else.” Hearing my ambiguous response, her father cleared his throat. Her mother took the cue: “Lucas, my daughter has a bachelor’s degree and is beautiful. You probably don’t know, but even though I’ve told people Chloe has a boyfriend, matchmakers keep coming to our house one after another to introduce potential partners for her. Last month, our neighbor’s daughter got married, and her conditions were far inferior to Chloe’s, yet the groom’s family still gave a bride price of 200,000 yuan!” I slowly said: “Auntie, my family will offer a bride price of 500,000 yuan.” “H-how much?” “500,000 yuan.” “500,000 yuan!” Her mother was so shocked she almost jumped up. Her father, who was in the middle of drinking water, choked and started coughing repeatedly.

“Lucas, are you serious? Is this what your parents think too?” I suppressed the mockery in my eyes: “Yes, I’ve discussed it with my parents, and they agree.” I showed the elderly couple a fake chat log I had prepared. Her mother’s face instantly lit up with joy: “Oh my, look at me! Lucas has been here for so long, and I forgot to pour him some tea!” I stopped her. “Auntie, I’m not finished yet. The apartment I’m living in now was bought outright by my parents. I’ll add Chloe’s name to it later. Once Chloe marries me, I want to give her complete security.” Upon hearing this, both of them were so happy they didn’t know what to say. “What are you standing there for? Go get some fruit for Lucas!” I could hear the sound of video games coming from the bedroom, which I knew was Chloe’s good-for-nothing brother, Ryan. “Uncle, Auntie, I was thinking it’s not good for Ryan to stay at home all the time.” Her father shook his head: “This useless boy, he turns down every job we find for him. He says the easy ones don’t pay enough, and the well-paying ones are too tiring. He just stays at home all day, making us angry!” “A friend of mine has started a company and needs a driver. It’s just driving clients around, with a monthly salary of nearly 10,000 yuan. Should I ask about it for Ryan? The job is easy, pays well, and offers flexible hours. What do you think?” Hearing this, her parents excitedly gripped my hands and wouldn’t let go. “Really, Lucas? If you can make this happen, you’ll be solving a big problem for our family!” Her mother was even more excited, raising her voice by several octaves: “I’ve always told his father that Lucas wouldn’t let us down! Entrusting Chloe to him is absolutely the right choice! What a reliable, good boy!” Heh, that’s not what you said when you called Chloe to come back for arranged dates, is it? It doesn’t matter. Life is a stage, and it’s all about acting skills. Then Chloe’s parents strongly insisted that I stay for dinner, but I politely declined. Today’s schedule was very tight, and I still had important business to attend to.

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Everyone in Westbridge knew that the heir to the Pierce family, Steven Pierce, kept a girl by his side. Quiet, gentle, and obedient—but tragically, she was mute. On New Year’s Eve, one of Steven’s friends teased him: “I heard your dad’s been pressuring you to settle down. You’re not seriously thinking of bringing her home, are you?” Steven leaned back lazily, a smug, careless smile on his face. “Are you kidding? Would you marry a mute?” Hearing this, the wall I had desperately built around my heart finally collapsed. The bitter chill of winter had blanketed the streets with snow. Carrying a large bag of groceries, I hurried home. The housekeeper had left early to spend New Year’s with her family, and Steven hated restaurant food. So, naturally, I was the one left to prepare dinner. As I stepped into the house, the sound of raucous laughter hit me like a wave. There were people drinking, smoking, playing cards, and chatting loudly in the living room. Steven was in the middle of it all, surrounded by his friends. Someone said something that made him laugh as he playfully kicked one of the guys. I glanced down at the bag of groceries by my feet, then scribbled a note on a piece of paper and handed it to Steven. “Are they staying for dinner too?” That was when the group finally noticed my presence, though none of them acknowledged me. I couldn’t blame them. Steven Pierce was the golden boy of Westbridge—wealthy, connected, and practically untouchable. His friends were all the same: trust-fund kids with billions to their name. And me? I was just a poor, mute girl who had no business being in that world. Steven unfolded the note and frowned. “You don’t want to cook?” I shook my head quickly, pressing my lips together. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to cook—I just hadn’t expected so many people. I wasn’t sure if there’d be enough food. Steven crumpled the note and tossed it into the trash, his expression cold. “Then why ask?” The room, once filled with noise, suddenly fell silent, as if everyone was waiting to see how the mute girl would react. I bit my lip, unwilling to let strangers watch me squirm, and turned to retreat into the kitchen. As I tied my apron, the laughter resumed in the living room. Someone’s voice rang out, loud and mocking: “Man, she really is as obedient as they say.” Another voice chimed in, laughing: “Haha, look at Steven’s setup. If he kept me around, I’d behave better than a dog!” I recognized the voice—it belonged to Andrew Yates, Steven’s closest friend and one of the most notorious troublemakers in Westbridge. “What good would keeping you do? You can’t cook or clean, and God knows what other weird habits you have.” “Well, I can talk.” The room erupted in laughter. The mocking grew louder, each comment sharper than the last. I gripped the knife in my hand, my knuckles turning white as a dull ache spread through my chest. Steven’s voice eventually cut through the noise. “Alright, cut it out,” he said, laughing lightly. “Don’t get carried away.” But he didn’t defend me. He didn’t explain our relationship. His silence was an unspoken agreement. And yet, he knew. He knew I wasn’t with him for his money.

Two years ago, on this very day, the smell of roasted sweet potatoes filled the streets. I had been arguing with an old vendor who had overcharged me ten dollars. The man couldn’t read or understand sign language, and I was growing increasingly flustered. I had only brought twenty dollars with me, and it was already gone. That was when Steven happened to walk by. Perhaps I looked too pitiful, because he casually pulled a hundred-dollar bill from his pocket and handed it to the vendor. “I’ll pay for her. Keep the change.” I froze, turning to get a better look at the man beside me. He was tall, his features sharp and chiseled, with an air of quiet indifference. His long lashes cast faint shadows over his eyes, which were utterly devoid of emotion. Had he… forgotten me? As he turned to leave, I panicked and grabbed his wrist. When his watch slipped into view, my heart raced—I was certain it was him. Steven pulled his hand back with a look of annoyance, letting out a mocking laugh. “What? A hundred bucks isn’t enough?” I stood there, stunned, before finally managing to compose myself. I signed slowly: “No, it’s just… don’t you remember me? You saved me once.” A flicker of surprise crossed his face, but it was gone in an instant. After a pause, he said indifferently, “I’ve saved a lot of people. I don’t remember them all.” Relief washed over me. After five years, I had finally found him. To him, it might have been an insignificant moment, not even worth remembering. But to me, it had been a beacon of hope in the darkest time of my life. I still remembered the day he pulled me out of the river, the words he had said to me: “Sometimes, the most important things don’t come from your mouth, but from your eyes. Don’t lose hope. As long as you’re alive, things can change.” The sun had been shining so brightly that day, the water warm and gentle. It felt like the universe had aligned just for me. So when Steven asked me if I wanted to go with him, I didn’t hesitate. I said yes. Because I believed in him. I trusted him completely.

Three hours had passed before I realized it. I stretched my aching back and carried the prepared dishes to the dining table one by one. Steven Pierce glanced at me and said casually, “Annie, go buy a few cases of wine.” I looked out the window; it was already dark, and the snow was still falling heavily, blanketing the streets in thick, fluffy layers. Was he really asking me to go out in this weather to haul back several cases of wine by myself? I stood frozen in place, hesitant, while Steven sat down with his friends. He didn’t even bother saving me a seat. Noticing my hesitation, he shot me an impatient look. “What are you waiting for?” Around me, a few of the guys started laughing, their voices dripping with mockery. “She hasn’t said no, has she? Probably just trying to figure out how to sign it in that secret language of hers.” “Yeah, c’mon, Steven, translate for us. What’s she saying?” That familiar wave of humiliation began to creep up on me. I started signing, but before I could finish, Steven waved me off with a dismissive glance. “Annoying.” My hands froze mid-air. That word. That single word. It wasn’t the first time he’d said it to me. Steven Pierce. The man who had once pulled me out of the depths of despair when even I couldn’t stand myself. The same man who was now shoving me back down. I felt my eyes sting with tears, but I didn’t want to break down in front of his friends. Grabbing the keys, I turned and ran out the door. At the convenience store, I bought the last few cases of wine they had, hailed a cab, and rushed back. I carried the cases upstairs, one by one, terrified of doing anything to upset him. Inside, the party was still in full swing. No one noticed me as I lugged the last box into the hallway, gasping for air. Outside, fireworks exploded in the night sky, brilliant and dazzling. As the echoes faded, I overheard voices from upstairs. It was Steven and his closest friend, Andrew Yates. At first, I didn’t pay much attention and continued climbing the stairs. “Hey, I heard your dad’s been pushing you to settle down. You’re not actually thinking of bringing her home, are you?” Andrew didn’t name me, but I knew exactly who he was talking about. Everyone in Westbridge knew I was the mute girl Steven had been keeping around for two years. For some reason, on that last flight of stairs, I stopped. From the gap in the staircase, I could see Steven lean back, his expression calm and indifferent. “Are you kidding me?” he said, a lazy smile playing on his lips. “Would you marry a mute?” “When I find someone better, I’ll send her packing. Back to wherever the hell she came from.” Andrew laughed. “Makes sense. She’s basically just a hundred-dollar maid you’re keeping around for fun, right?” At that moment, the last wall I’d built around my heart crumbled. The bitterness, sadness, confusion, and self-doubt all came crashing down at once. I tried to hold back the tears, but they burned hot behind my eyes, threatening to spill over. And in that moment of silence, the laughter from the room above seemed to mock me. Look at you. No matter how good you are to him, what does it matter? You’re nothing but a mute girl for others to ridicule.

I dropped the wine where I stood and walked straight past the crowd into the bedroom. It wasn’t long before the door opened behind me. “You’re not eating dinner?” Steven’s voice was sharp, almost mocking. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. By the time I’d carried in the third case of wine, most of the dishes on the table had already been picked clean. What was I supposed to eat? The plates? I didn’t bother signing or writing anything down for him this time. I just continued packing my things, ignoring him completely. That was when he noticed the duffel bag I’d left on the floor. He kicked it hard, his tone turning harsh. “Annie, are you seriously throwing a tantrum right now?” A tantrum? Me? Maybe he’d gotten so used to me being quiet and obedient, always bending to his will, that even packing a bag felt like rebellion to him. I let out a bitter chuckle but didn’t respond. Let him think whatever he wanted. After all, what could a mute girl say to change his mind? When I didn’t answer, his expression darkened. He turned sharply and stormed back to the living room. I didn’t have much to pack. Most of the clothes and things in the apartment were things Steven had bought for me—expensive, designer items, many of them still with the tags on. If I was going to leave, I wanted to go back to being the person I was before I met him. I didn’t want to owe him anything. I shoved a few simple pieces of clothing and toiletries into a cheap woven bag and headed out. By the time I reached the living room, his friends had already left. Steven was sitting alone on the couch, leaning back lazily with a cigarette between his fingers. The sharp click of the lighter cut through the silence, and the smell of smoke mixed with the stale scent of beer. He exhaled a slow plume of smoke, his voice low. “Are you really leaving?” His words sent a sharp pang through my chest. He’d treated me like this—dismissed me, humiliated me—and yet he had the nerve to ask why I was leaving? My grip on the bag tightened as I mouthed the word silently, incapable of making a sound: “Yes.” “Is it because I asked you to cook and buy some wine?” How could he think that? I’d spent two years of my life caring for him, putting up with him. Did he really think this was about one bad night? I wanted so badly to ask him. What had happened to the Steven who had saved me? The one who had been kind and warm, like a ray of sunshine in my darkest moment? But people like him don’t change. They reveal who they really are when you let them. Steven waited for a moment, then gave a cold, careless laugh. “You know, Annie, once you walk out that door, I’m not coming after you.” Exactly. That’s why I had to leave. Because I knew he wouldn’t. If two hearts aren’t in the same place, dragging things out would only waste time—and make us a bigger joke in the end. I loosened my clenched fist and placed the keys gently on the entryway table. Then, I signed a single word: “Whatever.” As the clock neared midnight, I stepped outside, the icy wind cutting through the air like a blade. The streets were lined with red lanterns, glowing softly against the dark night. For a moment, I found myself lost in thought. I had spent the last few years imagining what it would be like to curl up on the couch with Steven Pierce, watching the New Year’s Eve special together. But fantasy has a way of being very different from reality. When I first moved in with Steven, he told me he liked his women quiet, obedient, and unassuming. So I tried my best to match his preferences, shaping my personality to fit his expectations. All I wanted was to stay by his side a little longer. That’s how I spent two years with him. Two years of being the perfect, compliant version of myself.

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Finn is a top-tier celebrity in the entertainment industry. He promised me that he would officially announce our relationship today at 5:20 PM. I checked Finn’s first trending topic right on time. It wasn’t the announcement I expected; instead, it was about him being caught on camera. The other person in the photo with him was a female artist named Daphne. Under the trending topics, she responded to netizens: “Thank you all for your blessings.” My hands trembled as I took a screenshot and sent it to Finn: “Is this what you meant by an official announcement?” I didn’t receive a reply until I had finished packing all my belongings. Finn finally responded: “Phoebe, please wait. I’ll explain everything.” 0 “Finn, let’s end things.” After sending the message, I tossed my phone aside and took one last look at the home Finn and I shared. We had been together for five years, but our relationship was always kept a secret. We were childhood friends, growing up together. After graduating from Media Arts College, we confirmed our relationship and embarked on our careers in the entertainment industry. At first, we were happy, taking on small roles. We didn’t earn much, but we were content. Then he participated in a variety show and skyrocketed to fame, becoming a top-tier celebrity. It’s easy to lose oneself in the allure of fame and fortune. He started having more and more women around him. Daphne wasn’t the first to be rumored with him. I gradually lost my sense of security. I begged him to make our relationship public on social media. I wanted to stand by his side openly. But his words made me feel unworthy of him, so I worked hard to prove myself. He said female artists need discipline to look good on camera. Even though I’m 170 cm, I maintained a weight of 90 pounds for years, afraid to eat more than one meal a day. Once he became famous, many paparazzi followed him. I lived cautiously with him. When visiting him on set, I had to wear a mask and cover myself completely. The snacks I made, he used to cheer Daphne up. It wasn’t until I saw the news of him and Daphne entering a residential building late at night that I realized how foolish I was. In his eyes, I was insignificant. I had questioned him about Daphne before. He said, “Daphne is on the rise in her career and has a bright future. Denying the rumors would greatly impact her.” “But you’re different. You’re just a non-notable performer who can’t make waves. Phoebe, don’t be so selfish.” I was wrong. I overestimated my place in his heart. I was preparing to leave when I heard the sound of the password being entered at the door. It opened. It was Finn. He looked at me with my luggage, frowning. Behind him were Daphne and their agents. 0

He actually brought Daphne back home. How ironic. When we bought this house, Finn said it would be our refuge, our little nest, with no outsiders allowed. On any other day, I would have been furious. But this time, I didn’t care. “Hello, I’m Daphne. And you must be Phoebe, right?” Daphne stepped forward, smiling at me. “Move,” I said, trying to maneuver my bags around them. “Don’t stand in the way.” “Where are you going?” Finn blocked my path, snatching my things and throwing them on the ground. “Phoebe, that night I was just reading the script with Daphne. Don’t overthink it.” He grabbed my hand. “I told you, I’ll explain everything.” I looked at him coldly. “Your explanation is bringing her home.” Daphne quickly approached, gently holding my hand. “Phoebe, don’t be mad. I’m not feeling well today, and Finn didn’t want me to catch a cold in the SUV, so he let me come up and rest.” “If it upsets you, I’ll leave right away.” She looked at Finn with teary eyes, appearing pitiful. I shook off her hand hard, and Daphne staggered backward, looking fragile. “Phoebe, what are you doing?” Finn glared at me, his tone harsh. He rushed over, catching Daphne from behind, helping her sit on the sofa, and poured her a cup of hot water. He used his own cup. “Don’t you have any sympathy? Being so rough? Daphne isn’t feeling well, I asked her to come.” Finn showed some impatience. Then he gently said to Daphne, “Daphne, just rest here. No one has the right to make you leave.” Watching them act like a couple made me agitated. I turned to leave. “Phoebe, stop right there!” 02 As Finn comforted Daphne, I was already at the door. “Finn, I told you, we’re done.” I said coldly. Finn seemed shocked by my indifference. “Don’t be like this. There are paparazzi outside. If you go out and get photographed, what will happen to Daphne?” Finn quickly caught up and pulled me back into the living room. Watching them, I suddenly felt exhausted. Daphne leaned on the sofa, holding Finn’s cup, smiling weakly at me. “Phoebe, I’m forced into this too.” Daphne’s soft voice chimed in again. “Replying to the netizens’ blessings was also Finn’s idea.” Her tone even had a hint of provocation. I took a deep breath, trying to hold back my emotions, but my eyes still reddened. “What about me? You clearly promised me we would go public today.” I said, my voice choking, looking at Finn. “It was an accident. It was the company’s decision. Can’t you let it go?” Finn’s impatience showed. “I came back to ask you to send some of the photos you took of me to Daphne as official announcement photos.” Hearing his words, my heart sank. I had a habit of documenting moments through photos. Finn would occasionally post my photos on social media. Fans called it a “girlfriend’s perspective.” Seeing my cold expression, he explained, “Our agents discussed it and found the online response pretty good. They want us to try being a promotional couple. It’s just promotional.” Hearing Finn say it’s just promotional, Daphne looked slightly displeased. “Phoebe, you should think about the bigger picture. Daphne and I are on the same level. You can’t ask Finn to give up his career for you, can you?” Her words were sincere, and to outsiders, it seemed like she was just promoting. “So, this is your decision too, right?” I stared at Finn, wanting to hear him say it himself. “Alright, it’s my fault this time.” He didn’t answer directly. “I’m about to join Director King’s film crew. I’ll make sure you get a small role.” Since Finn became famous, every time a tabloid rumor emerged, he would appease me by “getting” me an insignificant role in the crew, saying it was compensation. I was foolish before. I believed they were just acting. He would apologize, and I would easily forgive him. But not this time. “Finn, you’re heartless.” I broke free from Finn’s grip and left the house. 0

I wandered aimlessly on the street, eventually turning into a bar around the corner. I remember ordering almost every drink on the menu, sitting at the bar, drinking one glass after another. The next morning, I woke up in a hotel suite. I immediately checked myself. Thankfully, my clothes were intact. Then, a man walked in from outside the room. “Awake?” “Declan?” I looked at the attractive man in front of me, rubbing my eyes. “Miss Phoebe, we meet again.” Declan, who shot to fame just five years after debuting, is now a household name, an Oscar-winning actor, and Finn’s biggest rival. I met him by chance on a film set. He was the male lead, and I played a minor role. We were two people with no connection. Apparently, he graduated from the same college as me, but he majored in directing. Once, when some scandal about me broke online, I was stalked by an obsessive fan and had nowhere to go. He saved me, taking me on a high-speed drive to shake off the paparazzi. Afterward, I said I wanted to thank him. He joked, “Why not marry me?” I ignored him, and he slipped a note into my bag, asking me to consider being with him, promising a bright future. I didn’t respond, got out of the car, and told him I had a boyfriend who wasn’t much different from him. He didn’t contact me after that. After all, he’s Finn’s archenemy. As Finn’s girlfriend, how could I be friendly to Declan? Listening to Declan recount the previous night’s events, I blushed slightly. He said he found me on the street and brought me to the hotel to rest. And I jumped on the bed, ranting about how Finn was a jerk, even punching him a few times. “You had a breakup, Miss Phoebe.” Declan sat on the sofa, relaxing, looking at me with a slight smile. “So, how about it? Consider my offer? What I said before still stands.” My face turned red as a shrimp. I grabbed my things and fled the hotel. My phone was filled with missed calls from Finn, none of which I answered. I hurried home, planning to move my things to a new place. He told me he found me on the street and brought me to the hotel to rest. But I jumped onto the bed, cursing Finn as a jerk and even threw a few punches at him. “You’ve just gone through a breakup, Miss Phoebe,” Finn said, lounging back on the sofa with a lazy smile as he watched me. “So, what do you think? Are you considering my offer? What I mentioned last time still stands.” My face burned with embarrassment, and I grabbed my things and fled the hotel. My phone was filled with missed calls from Finn, none of which I answered. I rushed home, intending to pack my things and move to my new place. As soon as I opened the door, I saw Finn sitting on the sofa, his expression dark as he glared at me. “Phoebe, are you really breaking up with me over such a trivial matter?” Finn came over to block me. “I’ve explained it to you. What more do you want?” Seeing me not come home all night, a trace of panic finally appeared on his face. Trivial? Last night, after I left, I saw Finn escorting Daphne downstairs from my building, wrapped in my favorite plush blanket. He helped Daphne into the SUV, and Daphne even kissed him on the cheek. Then he got into the car as well, and the door closed, cutting off my view. Last night, I refused to give them the photos I took, but Daphne posted a picture of her and Finn on social media, captioned: “May we always be us.” Finn replied: “It’s great having you.” I stopped arguing, didn’t want to say another word, and with all my strength, moved out everything that was mine. When I left, Finn was still standing there, confused. He didn’t understand why this time, I meant it. Because my heart had died. 0

Maybe it was fate’s way of compensating me; while I was unlucky in love, I found success in my career. I actually landed the lead female role in Director King’s new drama. When my agent Vera brought me the good news, my first reaction was disbelief. Director King is known for being notoriously strict in the industry. It felt like my luck was turning… And since that day, Declan kept sticking around, claiming he saved me and wanted to take me on as his student. He said I was about to join Director King’s crew and needed to seriously hone my acting skills. I thought it made sense, plus Declan was handsome, wealthy, and fun to be around. The thing that troubled me the most was probably his frequent requests for me to be his girlfriend. But I knew deep down that to him, I was probably just a passing fancy. One day, while we were seriously rehearsing a scene, I said, let’s give it a try. I wanted to escape the shadow Finn cast over me. I once asked him why he liked me. He patted my head and wouldn’t tell me, saying he’d tell me the day I was willing to marry him. I didn’t believe he wanted to marry me. Soon, it was time to join the film crew. In two days, the filming ceremony was set to begin, and the actors had already checked into the hotel arranged by the crew. “Knock, knock, knock!” There was a knock at the door; it was Declan. As soon as I opened the door, Declan scooped me up and carried me straight into the room. He placed me on the bed, leaning in close, his lips inching toward mine. Just then, there was another untimely knock on the door. “Phoebe, open up!” I shivered at the sound; it was Finn. “You, hide quickly!” I shoved Declan off me, trying to get him to move. “Why should I?” Declan didn’t budge, “You two have broken up, and now I’m your boyfriend.” “No way, he can’t find out about us!” I was frantic. If Finn found out and spread the word about me and Declan as revenge, it would ruin me and affect Declan’s career. After all, he was a male star with zero tabloid rumors since his debut. “Then just make us public, okay?” Declan didn’t move a muscle, even leaning closer, leaving my mind blank. “No, no way.” With great effort, I pulled Declan off the bed and dragged him into the bathroom. I pretended not to see his angry and aggrieved look. “Be good. I’ll think about it.” Only then did he stop opposing me, closing the bathroom door. “Phoebe! Have you no shame? Hooking up with your lover in the film crew?” As soon as I opened the door, Finn stormed in angrily. “What are you doing here?” “Lover? Where?” I asked innocently, waving my hand. “I saw a guy walk into your room with my own eyes!” My heart skipped a beat. I hadn’t expected Finn to see Declan come into my room. Finn looked around my room but found no one. Finally, he walked to the bathroom door. My heart leapt into my throat. “You think I’m that easy to fool?” Finn sneered when I didn’t admit it, “Your lover must be hiding in the bathroom!”

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The day before I was due to give birth, my home was invaded. By the time the police got me to the hospital’s operating room, I was too weak to open my eyes. Amidst the fog of pain and confusion, I heard the voice of my husband, Asher White. “Do you have confidence?” “Yes, but are you absolutely sure about your decision? We can still save the baby if we operate quickly.” “No, remove the uterus too. That way, Freya’s son will be the only heir to the White Corporation. As for Adeline… being Mrs. White is enough to guarantee her a smooth and worry-free life.” It was then I realized that everything had been a meticulously crafted deceit. The man I loved was the one wielding the knife. If that’s the case, I don’t need him anymore. As the anesthesia wore off, I slowly regained consciousness. I tried to open my eyes but heard Asher White’s voice again. “Dr. Wesley, how did Adeline’s surgery go?” “Mrs. White’s uterus has been completely removed. She just needs to rest now.” Dr. Wesley paused before cautiously asking, “Mr. White, are you sure you won’t regret this?” “I saw the little girl. Her thick eyebrows and big eyes looked just like yours.” “It’s a shame she couldn’t see the world before she left.” “There’s nothing to regret,” Asher said calmly. “She was an obstacle for Little Finn, and I had to remove her myself.” “As for Adeline…” Asher paused. “In a while, I’ll arrange for someone to bring Little Finn back from the orphanage. Then Adeline can be a mother.” “But Little Finn looks so much like you. Won’t Ms. Adeline…?” Dr. Wesley hesitated. “Don’t worry, all babies look alike. Adeline won’t notice. Besides, she trusts me. She’ll never suspect anything.” With that, Asher sat by my bed, tightly holding my hand. His touch was warm, but I felt cold down to my core. This was the man I had loved for ten years. He was willing to sacrifice my child’s life for his and Freya’s illegitimate son. He even stripped me of my chance to be a mother. Worse, he expected me to raise the child who was the reason for my daughter’s death. I was overwhelmed with grief, my heart aching painfully. If only I had been more careful and avoided that robber. Just then, Asher’s phone rang. “Is everything taken care of?” “Transfer him to the furthest prison, and as for his family…” “Pay them to leave City A.” “Do it cleanly, don’t let Adeline find out.” Hearing this, a chill ran through me, freezing my blood. I had wondered how a robber could get past the tight security of our neighborhood in City A. It turns out my husband orchestrated the whole robbery. He went to such lengths for Freya and his illegitimate child. I felt a sense of hopelessness. I couldn’t have avoided the robber, no matter what. If that’s the case, I’ll let Asher have his way. I slowly opened my eyes and looked at the man in front of me. “Adeline, when did you wake up?” Asher looked uneasy. “Just now,” I said, trying to control my grief, but tears still fell. “Adeline, what’s wrong? Is your wound hurting?” Asher looked worried and anxious. “I’ll get the doctor.” “Don’t…” I gently pulled Asher back. “I’m not in pain. I’m just surprised I’m still alive.” “Adeline, don’t say that!” Asher’s face hardened. “As long as I’m here, no one will hurt you again.” Hearing this, my heart ached with bitterness. All the harm was brought by Asher. There’s no future for us. Asher didn’t notice my change. He picked up a damp cotton swab and gently wiped my dry lips. “Adeline, you can’t drink water yet after the surgery. Please bear with it.” I nodded, feeling even more sorrowful. Why? If he never loved me, why pretend to be so caring? Afterward, Asher tucked me in and said, “Adeline, there’s something I need to tell you.” “Our child is gone, and your injuries are too severe. You won’t be able to…” Asher hesitated. Seeing his troubled expression, my heart stung. Asher was truly an actor. Fine. Let me end this myself. Just as I was about to speak, Asher continued, “Adeline, the White Family needs an heir.” “Let’s adopt a child.”

Hearing this, I was stunned. I thought Asher would continue to lie to me, but he straightforwardly suggested adopting a child, using the excuse of needing an heir. Asher was truly impatient. Suppressing my sorrow, I nodded. “Okay.” Asher was overjoyed. “I’ll have someone look for a suitable child right away!” Then, realizing his behavior was inappropriate, Asher looked at me awkwardly. “Honey, don’t be mad.” “I was just… worried you’d be heartbroken over losing our child, so I wanted to find a child to ease your pain.” “Don’t worry, I’ll never have another woman in my life. Once we find a child, we’ll treat him like our own son.” Hearing this, my heart ached with bitterness again. My child was killed by the robber Asher sent. And my future hopes of having a child were destroyed. Asher still wanted me to raise his and Freya’s child. He was truly cruel. Overwhelmed with grief and anger, I clenched the bedsheets tightly, my fingertips turning white. “Honey, what’s wrong? Is your wound still hurting?” Asher looked concerned. I shook my head. Just then, a video call came through. Asher looked uneasy. “Honey, there’s something at work I need to handle. Rest well.” With that, Asher hurried out of the room. Watching his back, I was filled with immense hatred. I picked up the tablet he left behind, unlocked the screen, and opened SnapChat logged in on both his phone and tablet. Freya’s chat window appeared before me. [The current video is being answered on another device.] Seeing this short line, I gave a bitter smile. Sure enough, it was Freya calling him. With my bandaged hand, I scrolled through their chat history. “Honey, the baby kicked me today.” “Honey, the doctor said our son is healthy.” “Honey, the baby learned to smile today.” “Honey, how do you plan to bring the baby to the White Family?” … Most of the time, it was Freya talking to herself and sending pictures of the child. Asher rarely replied, but every night there was a video call lasting four to five hours. No wonder he was furious when I entered the study to bring him tea. “Why are you in here?” “This room is full of computers and other electronic devices. The radiation could harm our child!” “You’re a mom now. Can’t you think things through?” Now I realize Asher wasn’t worried about me and my child. He didn’t want me to interrupt his nightly sweet video calls with Freya. I felt guilty for a long time, thinking I was stupid. I coldly looked at the chat history on the screen, feeling like I had swallowed a bitter pill. Just then, Asher’s mother sent a message. “Asher, today Freya and I took Little Finn for a check-up. He’s very healthy.” “Did you tell that fool Adeline? When will Little Finn officially get a place in the White Family?” I was stunned, feeling as if all the blood in my body had frozen. Even my mother-in-law knew about this! My heart ached to the extreme. After getting married, I quit my beloved job to take care of this family because my mother-in-law said she didn’t like housekeepers. I treated her like my own mother, yet she helped Asher deceive me. I was suddenly filled with disappointment. Maybe this family never truly welcomed me. I decided to leave. I took out my phone and booked a flight to Maple Country for a week later.

On the day I was discharged, Asher said he was busy with work and told me to go straight to my mother-in-law’s house. However, when I got home, the living room was empty. I went up the stairs to the second floor. Passing the first room, I heard the faint cries of a baby. After hesitating for a few seconds, I pushed open the door. A very cute baby was lying in the crib. Seeing me, he stopped crying, his big eyes full of curiosity. “Ahh…” The little one babbled something I couldn’t understand. If my child had been born smoothly, they might have been like this too! 3 The day I was discharged from the hospital, Asher White told me he had some business at the company and asked me to go directly to my mother-in-law’s house. However, when I arrived, the living room was empty. I made my way up the stairs to the second floor. As I passed the first room, I heard the faint cries of a baby. After a moment of hesitation, I pushed the door open. Inside the crib was an incredibly cute baby. Seeing me, he stopped crying and looked at me with wide, curious eyes. “Goo goo ga ga…” The little one was babbling something. If my child had been born without complications, he would be like this now! But… his own father denied him the chance to see this world. The thought of it brought tears streaming down my face, and my heart ached unbearably. Just then, I heard soft moans coming from the next room. “Asher, you… you’re amazing!” “Asher, am I better than Adeline?” “Oh… Asher, you’re so naughty!” … I froze in place! So, Asher’s so-called business at the company was actually fooling around here with Freya! My face turned pale, and I felt as if the blood in my veins had frozen. It was as if countless arrows had pierced through me, and the pain was excruciating. What an irony! Just a few days ago, they killed my child with their own hands, took away my ability to have children, and now they brazenly brought the mistress into the house? I crouched down, buried my head in my arms, and cried in agony! At that moment, a shadow rushed into the room and hit me hard on the head with a broom! “You bring bad luck!” “What are you doing here alone?” “Are you trying to harm my grandson?” The figure shouted while beating me mercilessly. It wasn’t until she was exhausted that she stopped. I looked up and saw it was my mother-in-law. “Mom…” I tried to hold back the grief in my heart and the burning pain in my body, attempting to explain, but my mother-in-law cut me off! “Don’t call me Mom!” “You lost my eldest grandson! And you still have the nerve to come back!” Hearing this, a sharp pain pierced my heart! She knew the whole truth but blamed everything on me. For the first time, I felt my mother-in-law was so hypocritical, hypocritical to the point of being a stranger. They conspired to stage a play to kill my child! I lost my ability to bear children, and yet they still humiliate me like this! I couldn’t help but clench my fists, my fingertips turning white from the pressure. At this moment, Freya and Asher from the next room also heard the commotion. They came over. “Mom, what’s going on?” Asher looked at me, then at his mother, frowning. There were still traces of their recent intimacy on his neck. It was extremely galling to me. “Son, look at this wretched woman you married. She just tried to harm Little Finn when no one was around!” “I didn’t!” I quickly said. “Adeline, how could you be so cruel? Little Finn is just a baby!” Freya said as she rushed to the crib, picking up the child and checking him carefully! “Adeline, you can’t just kill Little Finn because your own child didn’t survive!” “Little Finn’s neck is all red from your grip!” “You’re lying, I didn’t touch him!” I rushed forward to see the child in Freya’s arms. However, Asher grabbed me! “Adeline, you actually laid hands on a baby. I really regret marrying you!” “You deserve to be without children for the rest of your life!” “Today, I’ll strangle you, you wicked woman!” Asher said, stepping forward to choke me, his eyes filled with malice! A wave of suffocation instantly overwhelmed me. I wanted to plead for mercy but couldn’t get a single word out! As I was about to lose consciousness, I used the last of my strength to grab a vase nearby and smashed it hard on Asher’s head!

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The day after our engagement, my future mother-in-law told me she was pregnant. When I considered calling off the engagement, she aborted the baby. Little did I know that after our marriage, she would bring it up during every argument: “I aborted my baby for you back then, what more do you want?” I kept giving in, but it only made them more aggressive. After one heated argument, my husband and mother-in-law pushed me down the stairs. My unborn child and I died together. When I opened my eyes again, my future mother-in-law was holding my hand, asking, “Should I keep it or not? I’ll do whatever you say.” Faced with this life-or-death question, I knew I had to let her keep the baby and then make my escape. “Lily, you might laugh, but… I’m pregnant again,” Mrs. Wilson said, her tone gentle but her expression troubled. I pinched my thigh hard. It hurt, but compared to the pain of being pushed down the stairs and dying with my unborn child, it was nothing. I realized I had been reborn. Remembering the hatred from my past life, my eyes blazed with fury. Mrs. Wilson, oblivious to my change, held my hand and asked, “Should I keep it or not? I’ll do whatever you say.” Just like in my past life, she was pushing the responsibility of the decision onto me. If she kept it, she was older now with high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol, not to mention the dangers of pregnancy. Their family wasn’t well-off, so the burden of raising the child would fall on the younger generation. If she didn’t keep it, I’d be blamed for the cruel act of ending a life. It was a clever trap, all calculated. In my past life, I hadn’t directly answered her question. After thinking it over, I felt they had deliberately deceived me. They could have told me earlier, but they waited until after the engagement. I started to consider breaking off the engagement and became distant with Jack. Soon after, I was told she had aborted the baby and was asked to visit her in the hospital. Looking weak and sad, she said, “I’ve aborted the baby as you wished. Please stop being angry with Jack.” Then she started crying, as if I was the villain who had robbed her of motherhood. Suddenly burdened with this huge guilt, I felt suffocated and didn’t dare mention breaking off the engagement again. This time, I would let her keep it. After all, raising the child would have nothing to do with me. I composed myself and turned to her with a smile, “You’re pregnant? That’s wonderful news. Congratulations, Mrs. Wilson. You’re going to be a mother again!” “You’re okay with me keeping it? You don’t mind?” she continued to probe my attitude. I feigned surprise and asked, “Mind what? Unless… you don’t want this baby? You should think carefully about this, Mrs. Wilson. It’s a life we’re talking about.” Seeing that I wasn’t upset, she relaxed and expressed her concerns, “I was worried you wouldn’t accept it. If you didn’t like the idea, I’d definitely not keep it for your and Jack’s sake.” “How could I not like it? I’m a teacher, I love children,” I said, clenching my fist as I thought of my unborn child from my past life, letting my nails dig into my palm. Hearing my words, Mrs. Wilson’s face lit up with joy. Mr. Wilson also looked delighted. It seemed the couple really wanted this child. Jack, however, remained silent, his expression not entirely pleased.

That evening when I got home, I immediately told my parents about the situation. They both looked serious. Mom asked, “What do you think about this?” In my past life, I hadn’t told them to avoid worrying them. They only found out after the abortion. At that time, my parents felt Jack’s family wasn’t a good match and suggested I reconsider. But Mrs. Wilson kept saying she had aborted the baby for my sake. My parents, both lifelong teachers, cared deeply about their reputation. How could I let them bear the stigma of breaking off an engagement? “I want to cancel the engagement with Jack,” I answered firmly, clearly having given it much thought. Hearing my response, my parents visibly relaxed. Mom said, “Making you decide about this is clearly a calculated move. We thought they were decent people, but they’re more cunning than we realized.” Dad added, “Indeed. If they’re like this now, it’ll only get worse after marriage. Whatever you decide, your mom and I will support you. People get married and divorced all the time. Breaking off an engagement because it’s not right is no big deal. Don’t feel pressured.” Hearing their reassuring words, my eyes welled up. They were more clear-headed than I had been. Looking back, my concerns in my past life seemed so foolish. “We should wait a bit before canceling the engagement though. She’s pregnant now and shouldn’t be stressed,” Mom cautioned. I nodded in agreement. In my past life, whenever we had conflicts after marriage, my mother-in-law would always shout, “I aborted my baby for you back then, what more do you want?” And my husband and father-in-law would join in, accusing me of being heartless and cruel, a murderer who had ended a life. This time, they wouldn’t get the chance to smear my name!

After a few days of not seeing each other, Jack asked me out for dinner. At the table, he was sighing heavily, clearly troubled. I kept my head down, focusing on my food. Even looking at him made me feel sick, let alone caring about what was bothering him. Seeing I wasn’t reacting, he finally spoke up: “Lily, honestly, what do you think about my mom’s pregnancy?” “What do you mean, what do I think?” I pretended not to understand. He asked, “Do you really think it’s a good thing for my mom to have this baby?” “Isn’t it?” I countered. “It’s not that it’s not good, but she’s so old now. I’ve heard it’s very dangerous for older pregnant women,” he said, putting on the act of a filial son. “That’s true. So what should we do?” I asked. “Why don’t you try to persuade my mom?” he suggested. He didn’t specify what to persuade her about, but it was clear he wanted to avoid the responsibility while getting rid of the potential problem. Looking at it now, in my past life, he must have misrepresented my words to his mother, making her think I had threatened and forced her to have an abortion. He had benefited from staying in the background, and even used it to criticize me and make me feel guilty, forcing me to give in on various issues. The last argument before my death was because I discovered he had cheated on me multiple times while I was pregnant. When I confronted him with evidence, he actually said, “I cheated because you’re too cruel. I feel cold sleeping next to you. You made me lose a family member, so you deserve this as karma for your actions.” My mother-in-law even cheered him on: “That’s right! You made me lose my baby. You think you can have a good life in our family? Dream on! So what if my son cheated? It’s because you, you little slut, can’t keep your man in check.” When I said I wanted a divorce and left the house, someone pushed me down the stairs from behind. As I lay in a pool of blood, they stood by coldly watching me beg for help. My mother-in-law snarled, “Want a divorce? We can’t let you take away the Zhang family’s bloodline. It’s better if the baby dies too. It can go keep my baby company.” I closed my eyes, life ebbing away in helplessness, despair, and hatred. “Lily, are you listening to me?” Jack called out, pulling me back from my thoughts. I curled my lips into a mocking smile: “Sure, I’ll go talk to your mom.” Since he didn’t want to state his purpose directly, I’d naturally go about it based on my own understanding.

The next day, I bought two large bags of nutritious food from the supermarket and went to visit my future mother-in-law. As soon as I entered the neighborhood, some ladies who knew Mrs. Wilson saw me and asked, “Lily, bringing so many things to your future in-laws? Tsk tsk, you’re so generous. The Wilsons are really lucky.” Their words were dripping with sarcasm, but I pretended not to notice and politely replied, “Yes, Mrs. Wilson needs to boost her nutrition recently, so I bought a bit extra.” Hearing this, they curiously asked, “What’s wrong with her? Is she sick? I saw her yesterday and she looked fine.” “It’s not an illness, it’s good news,” I said deliberately, leaving them hanging. “What good news?” “Well… I shouldn’t say. You’d better ask her yourself,” I said, walking away with the bags, leaving them to speculate. In my past life, whenever they talked about children, my mother-in-law would tear up and mention the baby she had aborted. Public opinion always favors the weak, so I was criticized for being a heartless teacher, often pointed at and gossiped about in the neighborhood. I wondered what they would say this time about someone her age trying for a second child. Mrs. Wilson did look better than before, radiating a maternal glow. Seeing me bring so many good things, she couldn’t stop smiling. She pulled me aside to tell me how well-behaved and easy this baby was, with no morning sickness at all. She also talked about how difficult her pregnancy with Jack had been. I happily played along, “This child must be here to repay you then. They say babies like this grow up to be smart and filial.” Hearing me say this, she was overjoyed and started sharing her parenting experiences. Seeing that we had been chatting for so long without getting to the point, Jack coughed lightly nearby. I looked at him as he was making meaningful faces at me. I asked with concern, “What’s wrong? Do you have a cold?” He awkwardly explained, “No… just a sore throat.” “If you’re not feeling well, you should stay away from your mom. Don’t want to risk infecting her,” I reminded him. “Didn’t you say you were going to talk to mom about something?” Jack finally brought it up. Mrs. Wilson, hearing about me talking to her, visibly tensed up. “Talk… talk about what?” she asked. “Oh my, how could I forget such an important thing?” I pretended to suddenly remember. “Jack told me he’s worried because you’re an older pregnant woman and there might be risks during childbirth. I thought about it and he’s right. So…” I deliberately paused, seeing her swallow hard several times. I was secretly delighted, imagining how anxious she must be, fearing I might suggest she abort the baby. “So I specifically looked it up online. In your situation, you absolutely must go for regular prenatal check-ups and follow the doctor’s advice. The most important things are to eat well, sleep well, and stay in a good mood. You can’t overexert yourself. “Leave the housework to Jack. If you want to eat something, have him buy it for you. Before the birth, you should just enjoy being treated like a queen at home.” Mrs. Wilson smiled, while Jack’s face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. Not only had I not persuaded her as he wanted, but I’d also assigned him chores. In my past life, he had acted like a perfect househusband before marriage, but in reality, he was extremely chauvinistic. He wouldn’t even pick up a fallen oil bottle at home, justifying it with, “A gentleman stays out of the kitchen,” as if it was beneath him to do any housework.

On the way back, Jack drove me home with a gloomy face, as if someone owed him money. “Lily, do you really not understand what I wanted you to persuade my mom about?” He finally broke the silence. “I don’t,” I replied. This time, he didn’t bother to pretend anymore and spoke his true thoughts: “I don’t agree with my mom’s pregnancy. They’re both getting on in years, living on just a few thousand dollars of retirement money each month, barely making ends meet. How can they afford another child? “They’re old and think raising a child now is the same as when they raised me, just needing to provide food. But we young people know how expensive kids are these days, from clothes to gadgets. Not to mention all the tutoring and extracurricular classes when they start school. Looking even further ahead, what about when the kid gets married? It’s all money. But my parents don’t have much savings, so it’ll all fall on us. I’ve checked, and in my parents’ situation, we’d have legal responsibility to support the child. “When we get married, we’ll have our own family to worry about. With mortgage and car payments, the pressure is already high enough without having to raise this child. Moreover…” Jack suddenly took my hand, looking at me with apparent deep affection: “We’ll have our own baby too, and we’ll want to give them the best we can afford. So I have to be ruthless about other children.” His analysis of pros and cons and apparent consideration for our future was quite deceptive. If I didn’t know his true nature, I would have surely been fooled by his manipulation. Suppressing the urge to pull my hand away in disgust, I sighed lightly: “Ah, what you say makes some sense, but what can we do about it?” “I’ve thought of a solution, but it might inconvenience you a bit,” Jack said, his eyes gleaming. “Oh?” I was curious to see what devious plan he had come up with this time. “My parents won’t want to get rid of the baby directly, so we need a reason that forces them to do it. We could say your parents think having another child would be too much of a burden in the future, and they’re forcing you to break off our engagement unless the baby is gone. What do you think? “My mom likes you so much, she definitely wouldn’t want us to break up.” Looking at Jack’s hypocritical, disgusting face, I really wanted to spit in it. Not content with using me as a pawn, he was now targeting my parents. I frowned, my tone unfriendly: “Jack, what are you implying? Making my parents the bad guys to take the blame? You’re quite the schemer, aren’t you!” “No, it’s not scheming. I’m just thinking about our future,” Jack hurried to explain. I snorted, “Hah! Our future? If we really used your method to force your mom to abort the baby, wouldn’t she hate me? The relationship between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is already difficult to maintain. If she resents me before I even join the family, how could I have a good life? “My parents have worked hard all their lives to build a good reputation. For your family’s mess, they’d have to bear the infamy of forcing someone to abort a child. You really know how to come up with ideas. “Jack, if you’re a real man, go talk to your mom yourself. Don’t act like you want to have your cake and eat it too. You say it’s for our future, but you’re only thinking about yourself. I can’t believe how two-faced you are. Disgusting!” With that, I got out of the car. I couldn’t risk upsetting the old woman with a baby in her belly. But there was no need to be polite with this scumbag of a man. He deserved to be scolded and confronted.

After that argument with Jack, he apologized profusely on social media every day. I set his messages to “Do Not Disturb.” Not having to face that scumbag made my world instantly more peaceful. However, I kept a close eye on what was happening with his family. Jack had taken his mom to the hospital once to inquire about abortion procedures. The “filial son” clearly hadn’t given up. If he thought he could frame my family again, he was dreaming. Using my connections, I found out the date of Mrs. Wilson’s scheduled abortion. My parents and I waited outside their building with generous gifts in hand. We ran into them just as they were coming out. In just a few days, Mrs. Wilson’s eyes had become red and swollen. She must have cried a lot, reluctant to give up the baby. Seeing me, she lacked her usual enthusiasm, a hint of resentment flashing in her eyes. Jack nervously and suspiciously asked, “Uncle, Auntie, why… why are you here?” Mom smiled and said, “Your uncle and I heard about your mom’s pregnancy, so we came to visit her.” “What visit? You’re here to gloat, aren’t you? I’ve already agreed to abort the baby like you wanted. What more do you want? Are you here to make sure I go through with it?” Mrs. Wilson, forgetting she was pregnant, angrily rushed up to my mom, looking ready to hit her. “Mom! Calm down!” Jack hurriedly tried to pull his mother back, afraid she might say too much.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295636”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

On the day Adeline gave birth to my husband’s child, my in-laws hired ten bodyguards to stand guard outside the delivery room to prevent any disruption from my side. But I never showed up, not even after the delivery was over. My mother-in-law held Adeline’s hand and reassured her, “Adeline, as long as we are here, Olivia won’t be able to harm you or the baby!” My husband was by Adeline’s side during the delivery, wiping her sweat tenderly. “Don’t worry. Dad has people at the hospital entrance. If Olivia tries anything, we’ll have her removed!” After not seeing me, he finally relaxed. He couldn’t understand why I would cause a fuss when he was just trying to fulfill Adeline’s last wish of becoming a mother. Watching the nurse cradle the newborn, he smiled contentedly, thinking that if I came to apologize the next day, he would forgive everything and even let me be the child’s mother. What he didn’t know was that I had just submitted a report to the United Nations. In a week, I would renounce my citizenship and become a doctor with Doctors Without Borders, never to see him again.

The day Liam helped Adeline out of the postpartum care center, I had just finished my shift at the hospital. As I approached the entrance, I heard laughter and joy from inside. “This baby is so beautiful, and his thick eyebrows look just like our Liam’s,” my mother-in-law cooed, playing with the baby in her arms. Meanwhile, Liam brought out a steaming bowl of pork rib soup from the kitchen. “Adeline, you’ve worked hard. I made this soup myself for you. You’re weak and need to regain your strength,” he said tenderly, sitting by the bed and feeding Adeline with a gentle smile, the picture of a happy family. My father-in-law shook a rattle to entertain the baby, grinning widely. “This kid is as charming as his mom. Thank goodness he doesn’t take after Olivia, who was always so serious. Having a doctor for a mom would have been worrisome.” My grip on the door handle tightened. I remembered when I first met my father-in-law, he proudly patted my shoulder, saying having a daughter-in-law who was a doctor made him proud. But now, he claims doctors don’t belong in a family. I had only been abroad for a year for further study, yet there was no longer a place for me in this home. I lowered my head, a bitter smile on my lips. I married Liam three years ago, and we once had a child. But due to an accident, I lost the child and suffered uterine damage, making me infertile for life. Upon hearing this news, I was devastated. Liam held me and comforted me, promising he would have children only with me for the rest of his life. For me, he even chose not to have children. Yet now, he has broken his promise to fulfill Adeline’s last wish, shattering his own principles. I still remember the day I went abroad for further study. He cried like a child, holding me tightly, unwilling to let go. For this whole year, we spoke on the phone daily, sharing our lives. Even my colleagues teased us for being like newlyweds despite three years of marriage. But just a month ago, I finally managed to get a vacation to come home. Even after a nine-hour flight, I didn’t complain about being tired. I rushed home, only to see Liam and Adeline holding hands, taking a walk in the neighborhood, and Adeline was obviously pregnant. My train of thought was interrupted by Adeline’s voice. “Olivia, when did you get back? Why are you standing at the door and not coming in?” Hearing her voice, everyone inside turned toward the entryway. When my mother-in-law saw the resignation letter in my hand, her brow furrowed deeply. “Why did I agree to let Liam marry such a jinx? Resigning from your job, are you planning to live off Liam?” My father-in-law chimed in, “You can’t even hold onto a secure job. What can you do? If I had known you were useless, I wouldn’t have let you in the door!” “Adeline is precious now. She and the baby need money everywhere. You’re not helping Liam but causing trouble. Is this how you act as a wife?” I found it laughable. “And what about Liam? He got someone else pregnant while I was furthering my studies. Is that how a husband should act?” “Enough, Olivia. I’m doing this for your own good,” Liam snapped, his eyes icy. “You can’t have children, so I let Adeline have a baby for you, letting you experience motherhood. Why can’t you understand my good intentions?” “Besides, it’s a win-win situation. It fulfills Adeline’s wish and lets you be a mother without the pain. I don’t get why you’re angry!” “Two years ago, if it weren’t for Adeline saving me from a car accident, I would have died. She’s an orphan now and has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In a while, no one will remember her.” “As a woman, shouldn’t you sympathize with her? Why are you always against her? Or do you think I’m just a despicable man?” Adeline gently tugged on Liam’s hand, looking at me with a face full of sympathy. “Olivia, please say less. I know it’s all my fault. I promise not to appear in your life from now on. But don’t let me affect your marriage, okay?” Looking at the four of them united against me, I found it hilarious. So, this is what a real family looks like. Suddenly, Liam spoke up, “Olivia, my patience has limits. If you target Adeline again, don’t blame me for not being polite!” “If you want to keep living with me, behave yourself. At next week’s full moon celebration, I can publicly acknowledge you as the child’s mother in front of family and friends.” Next week? I glanced at the sleeping baby in the stroller. Next week, I’m leaving for abroad. But before I go, I don’t mind giving them an unforgettable surprise.

I nodded calmly. “Alright.” With that, I ignored their reactions and went back to the bedroom to pack my things. Since I’ve decided to leave completely, I don’t want to leave any trace here. In the living room, the laughter seeped through the door. My hands paused slightly as I folded clothes. “Adeline, let’s name the baby Liam Adeline, so even if he calls someone else mom in the future, he won’t forget you as his biological mother.” Even without seeing it, I could imagine Liam saying this with a face full of affection. My heart was already riddled with wounds from him. I suddenly remembered last month when I rushed home, carrying souvenirs I had bought for Liam abroad. But at the doorstep, I saw Liam and Adeline returning from a walk, hand in hand. Unlike Liam’s look of horror, Adeline looked at me with confusion, asking if I had the wrong house. “Did you get the wrong door? This is my home.” I said nothing, staring at Adeline’s pregnant belly. Ten months away, and my husband moved his beloved into our home, and she’s pregnant. What happened is obvious. Liam hurriedly stood between us, introducing me to Adeline. “This is my wife, Olivia.” I thought Adeline would back down hearing this, but she acted the perfect hostess, even inviting me inside. As we passed each other, she whispered so only we could hear, “I heard you’ve been married to Liam for three years? A stand-in will always be a stand-in, unlike me, the real deal!” “Once I came back, didn’t you obediently give up your place?” Anger surged, and I couldn’t hold back. I swung my hand, slapping her face, all my longing for Liam over the ten months turning into fury. Until neighbors heard the commotion and called the police. We were both taken to the station, but since it involved family matters, they couldn’t intervene much and let us go home. Back home, my in-laws, who had rushed over, berated me relentlessly—accusing me of making such a scene upon my return and embarrassing us in front of the neighbors. They said I’d wasted all those years of education by hitting someone and if anything happened, they wouldn’t forgive me. They had always known about Liam and Adeline, even supporting them wholeheartedly. In just a year, Adeline had become their ideal daughter-in-law. I was the only one left in the dark. My mouth tasted bitter. Liam, with teary eyes, approached to grab my hand, trying to persuade me. “Olivia, I never meant to betray you. But Adeline’s health is poor. The doctors said she has at most six months to live, and her only wish is to be a mother, to have a child of her own.” “She’s my savior. I couldn’t bear to let her die with regrets…” “I wanted to discuss it with you, but you were abroad. I was afraid it would disrupt your studies. I thought I’d tell you once you returned.” “If you’re willing, we could raise this child together, okay?”

Such a big matter, yet he spoke about it so casually. I packed the last piece of clothing into my suitcase. Just then, my mother-in-law entered, seeing the suitcase by my feet with a look of ‘finally, you know your place.’ “After all, she saved my life. I can’t let her leave this world full of regrets…” “I wanted to discuss this with you earlier, but since you were overseas, I didn’t want to interrupt your studies. I thought it best to wait until you came back.” “If you’re open to it, how about we raise this child together?” Such a significant matter, yet he spoke of it so nonchalantly. I tucked the last piece of clothing into my suitcase just as my mother-in-law walked in. Her expression said, “Finally, you’ve come to your senses.” “Since you weren’t here, I let Adeline use your room. Now, the study has been converted into a nursery, so you’ll need to sleep in the living room tonight. If you don’t like that, feel free to check into a hotel.” I was genuinely exhausted and didn’t have the energy to find a hotel, so I nodded, ready to make do on the sofa for the night. But in the dead of night, the sound of a crying baby came from the bedroom. I turned over, about to put in earplugs, when I heard Adeline’s frustrated voice. “Liam, can you do something about the baby? He’s been crying non-stop.” Then I heard Liam chuckle softly. “Aren’t you my darling? Just take care of yourself. Let the kid cry a bit more; it’s good for his lungs.” I pulled the blanket over my head, trying hard to ignore their laughter. But when I closed my eyes, I still saw Liam’s face from when he first confessed his love to me. Back then, he was lively and full of energy, with his whole world revolving around me. But that version of him no longer belonged to me. I drifted into a restless sleep, and by dawn, I was out the door with my suitcase. At City Hall, I canceled my household registration and processed my papers to go abroad. With all the necessary documentation, everything was handled quickly, and the staff didn’t ask many questions. Just as I was leaving, one of the staff handed me a piece of fruit candy. “May all your wishes come true.” I gave her a grateful smile and found a nearby hotel. After setting down my luggage, I went out to find something to eat and unexpectedly ran into Liam and Adeline with their family. Adeline, wearing a Patek Philippe bracelet, looked smug, showing no sign of someone gravely ill. “Olivia, I thought I recognized you from afar. Liam insisted you couldn’t possibly be here.” Her gaze fell on the job flyer in my hand, and she smiled knowingly. “So you’re job hunting? But why would you settle for a waitress position?” “Even if you’re upset with Liam, there’s no need to make things hard on yourself.” I stayed silent. A young girl had handed me the flyer on the street, and I took it because I felt sorry for her working in the cold weather. Seeing my silence, Adeline’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction, and her smile widened. “If you’d told me you were looking for a job, maybe I could’ve helped.” “We’re family. If you’re doing well, Liam and the child will have support, and I can feel at ease.” At that moment, my silence was almost an admission. Liam’s previously confused expression turned harsh. He frowned deeply, his lips forming a hard line, and looked at me with disdain. “What’s there to recommend? She insisted on leaving such a good job as a doctor. Now, even if she starves on the street, she doesn’t deserve sympathy.” “Olivia, I can’t believe you’d go to such lengths to force me to give up the child. You’ve really disappointed me!” Staring at his familiar face, I felt like he was a stranger. I remembered when we were first married, how internal competition at the hospital made me want to resign and switch careers. Liam held me in his arms and gently comforted me: “We’re a team. No matter what you decide, I support you.” “Resigning is no big deal, honey. I’ll always be here for you.” But now, he allowed another woman to humiliate me. He forgot what he once told me and the deep feelings we shared. Even my in-laws shook their heads in disdain. “Olivia, you’re like a hen that can’t lay eggs and always out of the house. How can you compare to Adeline?” “It’s only natural for Liam to look for someone else. Blame yourself for not being attractive.” Their words grew more exaggerated, and passersby began to glance our way. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, nails digging into my skin. Just as I was about to speak, Adeline stepped forward. “We’re about to take a family photo, Olivia. Why don’t you join us? I’ll count on you to look after Liam and the baby in the future.” I glanced at her, saying nothing. Liam immediately objected, shielding Adeline in his arms and sneering at me. “Adeline, you’re too kind, but she might not appreciate it.” “Olivia, who are you giving that face to? Go or don’t go. Your presence would just lower our family’s standards.” With that, he took Adeline and headed toward the photo studio. “We’ll leave now. Don’t let us stop you from looking for a job, Olivia~” Before leaving, Adeline gave me a meaningful look. Watching them walk away, I felt no waves in my heart. To the outside world, they seemed like such a harmonious family. If that’s what Liam wants, then why not let them have it? 4. Three days before leaving, I received a message from the director. He said the expert I had asked him to contact was in the country for a forum and could help check on my mother-in-law’s asthma. She had been dealing with asthma for years. Although it was under control, it still sometimes flared up, and she’d been to the hospital in emergencies before. So, while studying abroad, I asked colleagues to collect related cases for me. No matter what, the years of relationship still meant something. Once I finished this, we’d be even. But when I told her I wanted to take her to the hospital, her face changed instantly. “Why go to the hospital for no reason? Are you cursing me just because I criticized you?” “Olivia, you’re so malicious. The last time I had a check-up, the doctor said I was healthy. What’s there to check?” “There’s a top expert on asthma in the country today. You could see him, just as a follow-up…” Before I could finish, she threw a water cup at me. “Sounds great, but could a jobless person like you really schedule with a top expert? All you do is brag! Remember when Adeline stayed up late to book my appointment? Where were you then?” She compared me to Adeline at every turn, her attitude clear. No matter what I did, it was wrong. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t compare to Adeline. With this thought in mind, I just smiled bitterly. “Fine, if you don’t want to go, we won’t.” Maybe I’m just meddling where I shouldn’t. Soon, it was time for the baby’s Full Moon Celebration. I arrived late, seeing the banquet hall packed with relatives whose names I didn’t know. For a moment, I felt dazed. The event was even grander than my wedding to Liam. And right by the entrance, there was a family photo of the five of them. As for me, from start to finish, I was just a joke. Relatives and friends whispered when they saw me, and I could guess the gist. Soon, Aunt Fiona grabbed my arm, making small talk. “Olivia, when did you return? Liam never mentioned it. And when did you have a baby?” “I heard you’re being promoted to Chief Medical Officer at the General Hospital after your studies abroad. Your future’s so bright!” I didn’t say anything, just nodded politely. But I could see the disdain in their eyes. After all, I wasn’t in the family photo. And it wasn’t me standing by Liam at the banquet. Someone pointed at the woman feeding Liam dessert and asked. “Olivia, who is that?” I smiled faintly. “Liam’s new wife.” The gossiping aunts nearby widened their eyes, then huddled together, whispering again. Since Liam’s family didn’t care, why should I cover for them? Just then, Liam took the stage and grabbed the microphone. “I’m so glad everyone could come to my son’s Full Moon Celebration.” “Before this, I never considered becoming a father or believed I could play the role well.” “But when I heard the baby’s cries, I realized the responsibility and duties of fatherhood.” The aunt next to me shouted, “Let the baby’s mother come up and say a few words! Where’s the mother?” The banquet hall’s atmosphere froze for a moment. Everyone’s eyes darted between Adeline and me. The answer was obvious, but the aunt’s question seemed to urge Liam to admit it himself. “I never really considered becoming a father before now and certainly didn’t think I could handle the responsibility.” “But when I heard the baby’s cries, the weight of fatherhood hit me.” Aunt Hazel loudly interjected, “Let the child’s mother come up and speak! Where is she?” The room fell silent. Eyes darted between me and Olivia. The truth was all but spoken, but Aunt Hazel seemed intent on hearing Liam Bennett admit it himself. Locking eyes with Liam, I slowly made my way to the stage. He was dumbfounded as I took the microphone from him. “What are you doing? Don’t you dare say anything reckless,” he hissed, panic flickering in his eyes as he grabbed my sleeve, but I brushed him off without looking back. A clear conscience fears no accusation. I began speaking calmly, “First, thank you all for traveling here for this celebration.” “Many of you witnessed Liam Bennett and me getting married, and have supported us with your blessings. You might have seen our family photo at the entrance earlier.” Liam’s face paled at this. He charged toward me, trying to snatch the microphone. I quickly sidestepped, holding the microphone firmly as I continued: “Honestly, I was shocked too, but more so when I returned from a year abroad to find Liam Bennett with another woman. They even had a child.” “They tried to convince me it was for my own good to accept the child as mine. But I refuse to bear that burden or swallow that lie.” “Liam Bennett, I want a divorce.”

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I never thought my wife Emily would drug me just to help her crush Jack secure a position in our company. Her actions made me miss an important meeting with a major client, losing us the contract and damaging my reputation in the industry. All my hard work ended up benefiting her precious Jack. “Since you’re so keen on helping this freeloader steal what’s rightfully mine, I wish you both a happy life together!” I spat out, handing in my resignation and throwing the divorce papers at her before walking away. Emily always thought she was capable enough to make it big without me. But she forgot that without my help, she wouldn’t have even gotten into this company in the first place. Not to mention that her dear Jack’s investment portfolio was full of holes. With their half-baked skills, they were bound to end up with nothing! I woke up groggy and disoriented, calling out, “Emily?” But there was no response. It felt like I had been sleeping for ages, and my head was pounding. I checked my phone and broke into a cold sweat – it was already 11 AM, and I had a meeting with our big client, Mr. Anderson, at 10 AM to discuss a deal. I quickly got ready and rushed to the meeting venue, trying to call both Emily and Mr. Anderson repeatedly, but neither answered. When I finally arrived, I found Emily chatting and laughing with Mr. Anderson. Seeing me, Emily smiled and said, “Mr. Anderson, I’m so sorry you had to witness this. My husband can’t even remember such an important appointment. He’s clearly not capable of handling such a big account.” Mr. Anderson looked me up and down, grunted, and said nothing more. I tried to explain, but Emily pulled me outside the room. She coldly asked, “What are you doing here?” Confused, I replied, “I’m here for the meeting, of course!” Emily sneered, “How come you’re awake now?” Suddenly, I remembered the glass of milk she had given me last night. It had tasted strange, but thinking it was a rare gesture of care from her, I had drunk half of it despite the odd flavor. Now I realized… that strange taste must have been sleeping pills! “You drugged me!” I exclaimed. Emily looked at me with disgust, “Not as stupid as I thought.” “Why would you do this? This deal is crucial for the company. How does this benefit anyone – the company, you, or me?” “Benefits?” Emily tilted her head and smiled maliciously. “Of course there are benefits.” I was about to press further when Jack’s voice came from behind, “Emily, I’ve printed out the contract. Should I give it to Mr. Anderson now?” Jack looked at Emily tenderly, then pretended to just notice me, feigning surprise, “Oh, Lucas is here too? I thought we wouldn’t see you today.” He turned to Emily with a pitiful look, “Emily, now that Lucas is here, are you going to let him steal my deal?” Anger surged through me. What did he mean by me stealing his deal? I had been working on this account all along. Now, because Emily had drugged me and made me late, it had suddenly become his? Before I could argue, Emily was already comforting Jack, stroking his head with a tenderness I hadn’t seen in years. “Don’t worry, Jack. What’s yours will always be yours.” Emily glanced at me, “Whoever closes this deal becomes the Director. Now, you should address Jack as Director, Deputy Director Lucas.” “Have you lost your mind? Is this the benefit you were talking about? Helping Jack secure his position in the company?” “What else?” Emily replied. She then turned away from me in disgust, went back into the room, and handed the contract to Mr. Anderson. “Mr. Anderson, please sign here. I’m confident your assets will double under Jack’s management!” I stared at her in shock, “Emily, are you crazy? It’s impossible for investments to double in just six months!” Jack scoffed, “Lucas, just because you can’t do it doesn’t mean others can’t.” I looked at Mr. Anderson earnestly, “Mr. Anderson, we’ve known each other for a long time. You know my capabilities. I admit the investment climate has been good lately, but doubling assets in such a short time is just a pipe dream!”

Seeing Mr. Anderson hesitate, Emily glared at me and said to him, “Mr. Anderson, I can’t bear to see you being deceived any longer!” “All the investment plans Lucas previously provided to you were plagiarized from Jack! As his wife, I’ve tried to talk him out of it countless times, but he never listened. I couldn’t stand by anymore, which is why I’m using my own reputation as a guarantee for you to sign with Jack today!” “Emily! Do you realize what you’re saying?” I was stunned. Jack stepped forward, tightly holding Emily’s hand. “Emily, thank you. Without you, I don’t know how much longer I would have been plagiarized!” I was so angry I couldn’t speak. Emily was willing to slander me like this for Jack’s sake. Didn’t she know this would ruin me? Was Jack really that important to her? Seeing Mr. Anderson still hesitating, Emily continued, “We can offer you a better deal. If you sign the contract now, we’ll reduce the service fee by 10% compared to before!” Mr. Anderson no longer hesitated and quickly signed the contract. He then looked at me apologetically, “Lucas, it’s not that I don’t trust you, but… even your wife is saying this.” Watching Mr. Anderson leave, I turned to Emily, “Why are you doing this?” Emily held Jack’s hand tightly, “For Jack, of course! And for the company!” “You’ve been in the Deputy Director position for so many years without advancing. Doesn’t that prove you’re not capable enough?” “Now that there’s an opportunity, you’re trying to snatch it based on seniority. But isn’t Jack more suitable? If you were capable, you would have been promoted long ago!” I stared at her intently, “Do you know what impact your words today will have on me?” “You won’t be able to work in this industry anymore? It’s not like you were doing that well anyway. What’s wrong with paving the way for Jack?” I watched her constantly mentioning Jack’s name, looking at him with adoration, and felt like I didn’t know her anymore. No, perhaps this was how she had always been. I first met her in college. On the basketball court, she was bringing water to Jack, but he mocked her for bringing the cheapest mineral water. As Jack left with water from a rich girl, Emily cried on the spot. I handed her a tissue then. Her eyes were watery and clear, seeming to look right into one’s soul. Later, when Jack tried to trick her into taking out a predatory student loan to buy him a phone, I stopped her and explained the rights and wrongs to her in detail. I believed she wasn’t inherently bad, just a naive girl. I couldn’t stand by and watch her future be ruined. After understanding, she thanked me gratefully, and we became closer, until Jack started dating a rich girl. That day, Emily drank a lot and even tried to cut her wrists. I saved her and comforted her constantly. She grabbed my hand and asked, “Lucas, do you think no one loves me?” Listening to her tragic childhood story – an abusive father, a weak mother, a poor family – and watching her cry with tears in her eyes, I felt pity in my heart. To give her hope to live on, I held her hand and made a lifelong promise. “I will love you.” But now it seems she only agreed to be with me because she couldn’t have Jack. Now, after I’ve helped her achieve success, Jack is back in her life, and she thinks all that happened before doesn’t matter anymore. I should have seen this clearly long ago. My heart ached as I watched Emily clutching the contract defensively. I said, “Don’t worry, I won’t try to take this contract.” I don’t know if it was the effect of the sleeping pills, but I felt so tired, wanting to lie down right there, almost overwhelmed by despair.

Back at the company, I silently deleted all the investment plans and formatted my computer. The market changes rapidly. Although the market situation has been improving recently, this is only temporary, mainly due to the country’s expansionary fiscal policy. Once the market cools down, the overall market growth will become steady, but some aggressive investors will suffer huge losses. Among these people, Jack would obviously be included. He barely got his college degree, and in the three years he’s worked at the company, he hasn’t successfully completed a single project. If it weren’t for Emily begging me to clean up his messes time and time again, he wouldn’t have lasted here. But he’s incredibly full of himself, thinking that every failure was due to me sabotaging him, believing his skills are superior. His investment strategies have always been aggressive, sometimes as reckless as a gambler. The investment portfolio in the contract isn’t the optimal market portfolio at all, but rather a few stocks he blindly chose because they were performing well. But industry insiders know that these stocks will soon fall. After returning to the company, Emily eagerly took Jack to the boss’s office, demanding a promotion for him. The boss looked at me awkwardly, “But… Lucas, haven’t you been following up on this account all along?” Before I could speak, Emily jumped in, “Boss, this kind of thing should go to the most capable person, and Jack is much more capable than Lucas!” Seeing the boss’s hesitation, Emily used her trick again: “Boss, all the investment plans Lucas previously provided to Mr. Anderson were plagiarized from Jack!” The boss looked at me in surprise, “How… how is that possible!” “Boss, I’m Lucas’s wife. How could I lie about him?” I laughed coldly, “I’ve been working at this company for five years and have been cooperating with Mr. Anderson for five years. Jack has only been here for three years.” “How could I have plagiarized Jack’s plans for the first two years?” Emily was suddenly at a loss for words, stammering and unable to explain. Seeing the boss wavering, Jack stepped forward and said: “Boss, Lucas really did plagiarize my plans. He’s been suppressing my performance all these years, which is why I haven’t been able to get promoted. But every time, he would clean up my messes because he was afraid the company would fire me and he’d have no one to provide him with plans.” The boss looked at me in shock, even more hesitant. Jack seized the opportunity and said, “Boss, if you give me the Director position, I won’t take any commission from Mr. Anderson’s account this time. It will all go to the company!” The boss was immediately convinced and decided, “Alright, then Jack is promoted to Director!” He then looked at me guiltily, wanting to say some words of comfort, but I took off my work badge and said calmly, “No need for comfort. I quit.” Emily exploded upon hearing this, “Quit? How can you quit! What about me and Jack if you quit!” So she did know about Jack’s amateur skills. But how could she think that Jack could take the money and the promotion, while I was left with nothing? What was I in her eyes? What about the seven years we’ve been together? Was I just a fool to her? I forced a smile, “Emily, I don’t care anymore. Let’s get divorced!”

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I landed a multi-billion-dollar deal for the company, but at the celebration party, the CEO’s wife gave all the credit to a new assistant who’d only been with the company for six months. I turned to my wife for some support, but she only looked at me with frustration. “Brandon is the heir to the Johnson family from the state capital. Building a good relationship with him will benefit the company’s future. You’ve been here a long time; can’t you step aside a little?” “Besides, if you were a rich heir from some big family, would I need to be so deferential to others?” Later, the assistant was promoted and received a huge bonus. My wife snuggled into his arms for a picture. They gazed into each other’s eyes sweetly, like a real couple, receiving everyone’s blessings. I sat quietly in the audience, watching it unfold. Everyone expected me to be insanely jealous. But I just smiled and called the family butler. “Mr. Fortune, let’s hold off on that multi-billion-dollar investment.” As soon as the meeting ended, the CEO’s assistant, Brandon Johnson, who’d been with the company for just under six months, became the center of attention. “Oh my goodness, Assistant Johnson is incredible, casually negotiating such a big contract.” “Yeah, no wonder he’s the heir to the Johnson family from the state capital. His demeanor is unmatched; even his elegance is different from ordinary people.” “Assistant Johnson’s clothing style is also impeccable. That must be a custom-made designer piece.” Brandon just smiled silently at the flattery, but his eyes showed his pride. My wife, Sophia, stepped in to defend him. “Come on, don’t bother Brandon anymore. He just landed such a big order for the company. He needs to rest.” I was about to stand up when her words stopped me cold. Because that order was something I begged my family to help with. When did it become Brandon’s achievement? Also, I’d never heard of a Brandon Johnson from the Johnson family in the state capital. In my confusion, Sophia pulled out a bank card and a Porsche key, handing them to Brandon. “Brandon, thank you for your contributions to the company.” “There’s a million on the card. Let me know if it’s not enough.” “And here’s this car. You always say your commute is too far. I’ll get you a house near the company soon…” I stared blankly at my wife. Her eyes were full of warmth I’d never seen before. Subtle laughter echoed around us, and some employees who knew about my marriage to Sophia looked at me mockingly, whispering to each other. In the past, I’d have been overwhelmed with jealousy, rushing to confront Sophia. But now, I just wanted the truth. I picked up my jacket and left, planning to call my family to get some answers. Someone suddenly noticed, “Hey, isn’t Vice President Ethan’s jacket the same as Brandon’s?” I paused and realized they were very similar. But my jacket was a custom birthday gift from an overseas designer who had since retired and vowed never to design clothing again. So my jacket was the only one of its kind in the world. As for where Brandon’s jacket came from, I had no idea. Brandon nonchalantly waved it off, “No worries, it’s just a jacket. I just bought it on a whim. If Vice President Ethan likes it, I won’t wear it tomorrow.” Everyone praised Brandon for his generosity. Brandon even had the nerve to lecture me, “Vice President Ethan, I’m glad you like my style, but I hope you find your own style instead of imitating others.” Laughter erupted. “People rely on clothes; horses rely on saddles. Even with the same clothes, it depends on who wears them. Vice President Ethan, have you heard the story of the ugly duckling?” “Wearing the same outfit isn’t scary; it’s embarrassing if you’re the ugly one!” The taunts were sharp, but I didn’t want to argue about clothes. I just wanted to sort out the investment issue. Just as I was about to leave, Sophia blocked my way, her expression cold. “Take off the jacket!” Her gaze was as sharp and cold as a knife, piercing through my shell and stabbing into my heart. I looked at her, unfamiliar. “You don’t even believe me?” Sophia was full of doubt. “The designer of this jacket is Roly from Australia, worth at least hundreds of thousands. Do you think I don’t know how much you’re worth?” “Where did you get the money to buy such an expensive jacket?” With Sophia saying this, others were even more convinced I was imitating Brandon. They urged me, “Vice President Ethan, just take it off. It’s embarrassing.” “Yeah, even if the crow is dyed white, it can’t become a swan.” Brandon kindly shook his head, “Vice President Ethan, if you really like it, I’ll give you mine.” “You keep wearing knock-offs. Even if you don’t feel embarrassed, we all feel embarrassed for Ms. Sophia!” Sophia’s expression darkened at this, and she ordered sternly, “Ethan, I command you to take off the jacket now!” I knew Sophia was genuinely angry now. In the past, I’d have taken it off immediately, begging for her forgiveness. But now, I just stubbornly looked at her, “What if I don’t?” Sophia was taken aback. I’d always been obedient to her, accepting even her most unreasonable demands without hesitation. But today, why was I defying her in public? She felt a bit embarrassed, biting her lip. Then, she pulled a box cutter from her pocket, threatening me fiercely, “If you don’t take it off, I’ll tear it apart!”

The room fell silent. Everyone stared, not daring to make a sound. I couldn’t believe Sophia was making such a fuss over a jacket. Brandon stepped forward with fake concern, breaking the silence. “We’re all family here. No need to make a scene. If Vice President Ethan likes this jacket, I’ll just give him mine.” He smiled as he took the box cutter from Sophia’s hand, then removed his jacket and handed it to me. I could tell at a glance that his jacket was a knock-off, so I pushed him away disdainfully. “Get lost!” Brandon’s eyes flashed with malice. Before I knew it, he lunged at me, the box cutter in hand. Not only did he tear my jacket, but he also slashed my arm, leaving it bloody. The pain made me gasp. But before I could speak, Brandon was on the ground, crying, “Vice President Ethan, I was just trying to help you, and I even offered my jacket. How could you push me?” His poor acting convinced some. Sophia rushed over, cradling Brandon, and shouted at me, “Ethan, are you crazy?” “Brandon even gave you his jacket, and you pushed him? Are you even human?” “Apologize to Brandon right now!” Her blatant favoritism was too obvious, stabbing at my eyes. I stood my ground, “I won’t apologize. He pushed me first. If you don’t believe me, check the surveillance.” The truth was just a glance away. But Sophia’s expression was cold, “So many people saw you push Brandon. How dare you argue?” “If that’s your attitude, I don’t think you need to be vice president anymore.” She held her head high, looking down on me. Whenever she made that face, it was a sign for me to admit my mistakes. But this time, I wasn’t wrong, and I wouldn’t admit it. I coldly laughed, tore off my ID badge, and threw it on the floor. “Fine, then I quit.” My attitude froze Sophia’s expression. “Ethan, what do you mean by this?” “Come back and explain!” “Ethan!” Sophia kept calling after me, but I ignored her and walked away. I thought I’d feel upset, but as I stepped out of the company, I felt like a bird freed from its cage. My heart was calm and light. Taking a deep breath, I called the family butler, Mr. Fortune. Within seconds, he answered, “Young Master.” “Mr. Fortune, have you ever heard of a Brandon Johnson from the Johnson family in the state capital?” Mr. Fortune paused, then replied calmly, “Never heard of him.” I smiled, “Good, then I know. Mr. Fortune, please investigate this Brandon Johnson’s identity.” After a pause, I added, “Oh, and hold off on that multi-billion-dollar order.” “Everything is as you command, Young Master.” The call ended, and I looked up at the darkening sky, my emotions mixed. Once, I was blinded by love, wanting to give Sophia the best of everything without reservation. But now, I’ve woken up, questioning if Sophia is worthy of handling a multi-billion-dollar order. I didn’t go home. Instead, I took a cab to a nearby bar. After three years of marriage, my world revolved around Sophia. Now, I wanted to give myself a break, to relax. I partied until late, stumbling home in a haze. But when I got there, the lights were on, and surprisingly, Sophia was waiting for me. The call ended, and I gazed up at the darkening sky, overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. There was a time when I was so smitten that I wanted to give Sophia everything without hesitation. But now, clarity has set in, and I find myself questioning whether Sophia is truly capable of handling the responsibility of a billion-dollar deal. Instead of heading home, I hopped into a cab and went to a nearby bar. Three years of marriage had me revolving around Sophia, but now I needed a break, some time to unwind. I stayed out until midnight, returning home in a daze, only to find the lights on and Sophia waiting, which was quite unexpected. She was sitting on the couch with her legs crossed, a chilly expression on her face. “Do you even know what time it is, coming home this late?” I didn’t answer her directly. Instead, I asked, surprised, “Isn’t tonight Brandon’s celebration party? Why are you back early?” Since Brandon showed up, Sophia seemed to cling to him every chance she got. On a night like this, I thought she’d stay out. Sophia looked disheartened. “Tonight wasn’t just Brandon’s celebration; it’s also our anniversary!” “I ended things early to bring you a gift and spend time with you, but you forgot such an important day. Do you even care about me as your wife?” In the past, I meticulously planned every anniversary, booking the best restaurants. But each time, she’d leave me alone at a table for two, watching the food go cold. This time, I didn’t plan anything and instead spent the night at a bar. Sophia pushed a gift toward me. “Try it on; I picked it out just for you.” I glanced at it. The so-called gift was just an oversized t-shirt from the supermarket, priced at $39.50, with the tag still attached. Sophia rarely gave me gifts. Once, I wanted a watch priced under $500, only to get a scolding from her. “Ethan, do you think money grows on trees?” “Since when did you become so materialistic?” “I provide for you; do I need to give up my life too to make you happy?” Yet, she didn’t hesitate to give Brandon a million-dollar bonus and a brand-new Porsche. My voice turned hoarse as I said, “Just get to the point.” Sophia’s face turned tense, and she awkwardly said, “I was wondering if you could transfer your shares to Brandon?” 3 Boom! It felt like a storm had erupted in my mind. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. These shares were something Sophia had begged me to accept. “Ethan, without you, the company wouldn’t be what it is today. These shares symbolize our love. If you don’t take them, you don’t love me.” I had no choice but to accept them, with the promise that I could return them whenever she needed. But I never imagined it would end like this. Seeing my dark expression, Sophia immediately complained, “What’s your problem?” “You know today was Brandon’s celebration, and you made a scene and left early, embarrassing him.” “I had to comfort him for ages and promised to transfer your shares to him so he’d forgive you. I did it all to cover for you…” Brandon again! Just hearing his name made my blood boil. I brushed past Sophia and headed straight for the bathroom. Sophia blocked my way, her face full of resentment. “Ethan, what’s wrong with you today? I just want you to apologize to Brandon. Is it that hard?” A lump formed in my throat. Sophia sniffed, noticing the smell of alcohol and smoke on me. Her face turned displeased, “You drank?” “You promised me that after marriage, you’d never go to such places.” “I ended the celebration early to spend our anniversary with you, but you were out partying?” “Is that fair to me?” Seeing her so aggrieved felt like a bitter irony. Back then, against my family’s wishes, I gave up everything to be with her. She wanted to start a company, and I used all my resources to help her secure funding. When she failed and lost millions, I begged my family for money to cover the loss. I gave everything silently. And she, in turn, gave my credit to Brandon. Even our wedding anniversary was just an excuse to negotiate terms to please another man! Now she had the audacity to accuse me of being irresponsible. Thinking about it, I couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly, “Yes, I do owe you. If someone else suits you better, go find them.” My words seemed to ignite a ticking time bomb. Sophia, tears in her eyes, shouted at me, “I get it. You’re just jealous of Brandon, mad that I’m too good to him, right?” “But who am I doing all this for?” “It’s for this family, for our future!” “Brandon is an heir from the Johnson family in the state capital. Being close to him helps the company’s future. You’re a veteran of the company and my husband. Instead of thinking for me, you just get jealous and argue with me all day!” “If you were an heir from a big family, would I have to lower myself like this?” Her words left me breathless. I finally understood why Sophia was drifting apart from me! Because I had no money, I wasn’t the heir of a big family! I clutched my phone tightly, my knuckles whitening. On it was the real information about Brandon, which I had planned to share with her. But now, I didn’t see the point. For a moment, I felt dazed, as if I was back three years ago. After arguing with my grandfather, I ended up on the streets, destitute, until Sophia appeared like an angel, giving me food and a temporary place to stay. Her clear eyes made me fall head over heels, willing to give up everything for her. But over time, harsh reality stained those beautiful eyes with a worldly stench. What was once pure had become murky and filled with self-interest. All I wanted was simple happiness, but Sophia drifted further away without realizing it. “Sophia, let’s get a divorce.” I croaked out the words, ignoring the stunned Sophia, dragging my exhausted body to the bedroom, and collapsing into sleep. In a half-awake state that night, Sophia climbed into bed, hugging me from behind, whispering softly in my ear, “Honey, let’s have a baby. Then you won’t always be overthinking.” The familiar tenderness made my heart skip, but the next second, I caught the unpleasant whiff of cheap men’s cologne I despised. The scent made me nauseous, and I pushed her away in disgust. Sophia was hurt, slamming the door as she left, “You’ll regret this!” 4 I thought she’d run to Brandon that night. But the next morning, as I woke, Sophia came out of the kitchen smiling. “You’re up, come have breakfast.” The table was filled with heavy, greasy foods like fried dough sticks and buns. I preferred a light breakfast, and the smell made me nauseous. I forced down the urge to gag, frowning, “I’m not hungry. You eat.” Just then, Brandon came out of the kitchen with a pot of soup, grinning, “Breakfast is served!” A wave of gamey steam wafted over, and I turned pale, covering my mouth, “What is that?” Sophia smiled slightly, “Weren’t you jealous? After finding out, Brandon offered to reconcile. He made you lamb offal soup this morning.” “Have a taste.” But she knew I never ate organ meats and that even looking at them made me sick. “Take it away!” I stifled my nausea, speaking lowly. All I wanted was to escape the house and breathe some fresh air. But Sophia, with a cold face, served me a big bowl of lamb offal soup, threateningly whispering, “Brandon gave you an out. Don’t be ungrateful.” “Drink this soup and apologize to Brandon…” Before she could finish, I couldn’t take it anymore and rushed to the bathroom to vomit. Instead of being concerned, Sophia stood outside, looking disgusted, scolding loudly, “It’s just a taste, and you’re acting like this?” “You’re wasting something so good. Do you appreciate Brandon’s effort?” After scolding me, she turned to apologize to Brandon, “I’m sorry, Brandon. How embarrassing. He’s like a boar that can’t handle fine feed.” “I’ll join you for breakfast.” She then happily linked arms with Brandon, sitting at the table, chatting and eating with him, blushing at every casual touch. Completely ignoring me as I continued to vomit. By the time I managed to stop and came out of the bathroom, Brandon had already left. Seeing me, Sophia’s face turned cold. “What a way to start the day. Someone treats you to a meal out of kindness, and you just keep throwing up. It’s revolting.” “Don’t you realize that if we could connect with the Johnson family from the state capital, our future would be secured? You almost ruined such a golden opportunity!” “Thankfully, Brandon is generous enough not to hold this little mishap against you. You should call and apologize to him later.” I stood there, staring at her. This version of Sophia felt completely unfamiliar to me. Seeing my lack of response, Sophia shouted, “I’m talking to you. Are you deaf?” I took a deep breath, calmly retrieved a divorce agreement from the drawer, and said, “I’ve already signed it. I’m leaving everything—company, house. I don’t want a cent from you.” Sophia froze, staring at me in shock. I gently pushed an open pen toward her. “Sign it.” I expected her to quickly sign and then rush off to Brandon. Unexpectedly, Sophia looked hurt, tears welling up in her eyes. “Is it just because I gave Brandon slightly more benefits than you that you want a divorce?” “I did it all for your future, the company’s future, for this home.” “Do you think you deserve all my years of devotion?” “You promised to love me forever. You’re a liar! A liar!” I couldn’t comprehend why she accused me. Seeing her unrepentant, I shook my head and silently picked up my packed luggage, leaving this home. Some people never change, and some words are better left unsaid. After leaving, I called Uncle Felix. “Cancel the billion-dollar order for Sophia’s company and open it up to all businesses in Johnson City. I’ll lead this investment conference.”

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