Category: English

My husband is a lawyer, renowned for his dedication to justice and his kind demeanor. Yet, in an attempt to clear the name of his first love, he personally disposed of a disfigured female body by throwing it off a cliff. Unbeknownst to him, that body belonged to his wife, who was five months pregnant. What he also didn’t know is that I’m a System Strategy Woman, and I have an uncanny ability to survive. The night was engulfed in a torrential downpour, washing over the ground. My body lay on the asphalt road, my face unrecognizable, blood mingling with the mud, forming a stream, though the source of the bleeding was not apparent. The man hesitated, conflicted. But soon, he donned gloves, lifted my head, and began dragging me to the roadside. This road ran along a mountain, with a sheer cliff at its edge. This man was my husband, Finn. Two hours earlier, his childhood sweetheart had called him. Nora’s voice was frantic, as she cried for his help: “Finn, I hit someone. What should I do? I’m terrified.” He rushed over. Upon arrival, he immediately embraced the trembling Nora in the car, comforting her: “Nora, don’t worry, I’m here, I’m here.” Nora sobbed uncontrollably, eventually calming down: “Finn, I went up the mountain to pray for your mother today. I didn’t expect to hit someone at this turn, and there was so much blood, sob sob…” Finn gently patted her back, soothing her softly: “It’s alright, it’s alright, I’m here.” The rain had soaked the body, making it much heavier. Finn dragged me until he stumbled over a stone and fell heavily onto me. Seeing my blood-streaked face, he was so frightened that he staggered back several steps, his throat clenching. Finn crouched on the ground, dry heaving. After a while, he dragged the body to the edge of the cliff. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and hurled the body off the cliff. Finn leaned over to peer into the dark abyss below, clutching his chest as he exhaled deeply. That night, he took Nora back to the mountain temple to stay for the night. They felt the relief of surviving the ordeal. Nora smiled sweetly, giving him a gentle kiss on the cheek: “Finn, I knew you always cared for me the most.” Finn’s expression was a bit stiff, but his gaze at Nora was as gentle as a calm sea.

A week later, my body drifted ashore on the riverbank. By the time an old fisherman discovered it, the body was severely decomposed and bloated. “A body was found at Clear River!” The news spread online. Finn was aware of the news early on. But he was more preoccupied with having someone destroy the car from that night. His assistant knocked and entered, hesitating before handing him a vehicle registration. “Attorney Finn, while handling the cars, I found that one of the license plates belongs to your wife.” Finn’s eyes flashed with panic for a moment, then he decisively said: “It must be Eloise! She hired someone to frame Nora for murder.” He quickly took out his phone to call me. He dialed several times, but no one answered. The silence around him was thick, Finn’s expression stiffened, his hand clenched tightly. With a “crack!” the phone shattered on the ground. “She made such a big mistake herself and still dares not to answer the phone!” My soul heard those words and chuckled coldly. What a pity, he almost realized I was dead. The System couldn’t help but mock: This jerk must be insane, they’re a perfect match like a toilet and its lid! The front desk called, saying Nora had arrived. Nora sat comfortably on the sofa, smiling at Finn: “Finn, I made your favorite Sweet and Sour Ribs today.” Finn’s expression was unnatural, somewhat distracted. I had also made him Sweet and Sour Ribs before. Back then, to learn how to make it well, I begged the chef from his favorite restaurant for a long time. As a cooking novice, I didn’t know how many blisters I got on my hands. It took a whole year to finally make something he could eat. Nora affectionately pulled his arm, leaning her entire body against him. Finn hated it when I clung to him like this, he said it made it impossible for him to work or eat. “Not bad, Nora could be a chef.” The woman acted coy, murmuring: “No way, I only want to cook for you.” What a sickeningly sweet pair of a scumbag and a wench. The System was annoyed: So irritating, so irritating, what did you see in him back then? I pressed my lips together, forcing a smile: “Probably blind.”

I was indeed blind. I’m a System Career Strategy Woman, and my task here was to help Finn successfully take control of the Finn Family. Finn is an illegitimate child that Asher Finn secretly raised without his wife’s knowledge. The Finn Family has always been strict, and all children are from the legitimate wife. However, Dahlia’s womb was uncooperative, only giving birth to a daughter. Before Asher Finn passed away, he confessed the truth about the illegitimate child. Old Mr. Finn, considering the father-son relationship and feeling for the Finn Family’s bloodline being left outside. Finn was brought back to the Finn Family. But due to his awkward status, he was always excluded from the Finn Family. The first time I met Finn was in the hospital. He had just survived a car accident. His biological mother’s ashes were secretly hidden by Mrs. Finn. He developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, becoming irritable and restless. Like a frightened fawn. I felt sorry for him, so I deliberately got close, accompanying him to recover. From being an unnoticed, easily oppressed illegitimate child to now the Finn Family’s leader. Finn realized his dream, establishing a law firm. His reputation spread, known as a champion of justice. I forcefully intervened in his life, becoming his dependence. I stayed with him for seven years. In those seven years, not only did he become accustomed to me, but I also genuinely fell for him. So when the System reminded me that my strategy task was complete, I stayed. Because that pure-hearted boy told me I was his only love, his true love for life. When he clumsily and awkwardly recited his marriage vows, saying he wanted to have a family with me, I didn’t hesitate for a moment. I knew his biggest heartache was his biological mother’s ashes. I used every connection to help him find them, negotiating with Mrs. Finn. I still remember risking my life to find his mother’s ashes. Finn was as fragile as a child, holding the ashes and crying for a long time. At that time, the way he looked at me was as gentle as the sea, sickeningly sweet. I thought his love would never disappear.

On the eighth day of my disappearance, the hospital couldn’t find me, so they called my emergency contact. When Finn received the call, he was momentarily stunned, but quickly returned to his normal demeanor. “Lydia has been sick these days, resting at home. Please handle the paperwork on this end.” The face of the Finn Family’s leader was effective. The person on the other end repeatedly agreed and even specifically advised me to rest well before returning to work, no rush. Finn stared at the phone for a long time, somewhat distracted, then murmured to himself: “It’s been so long, there’s a limit to sulking, not even a single call, truly heartless.” He opened my profile, scrolling through the chat history. Looking at recent messages, mostly me expressing concern for him, only to receive an “OK” gesture emoji or read without response. Opening the contacts, the call log still showed the several missed calls I made to him over a week ago. Finn had changed, becoming increasingly impatient. Even communicating with him had become very difficult. I ironed his suit the night before, but the next day he left wearing another one. Before he went out, I reminded him: “It’s raining today, remember to take an umbrella.” He frowned, impatiently saying: “Oh.” But left the umbrella at the entrance. The photo in the living room was the first picture we took after dating. He was looking at me, I was looking at the camera, smiling brightly. But after being torn and glued back, the people in the photo looked a bit eerie. He looked at it for a long time, then took out the original from his phone, instructing his assistant to print a new one. A broken mirror can’t be made whole again, so why pretend to be deeply in love with me? Without my interference, he should be happier.

At a gathering, someone invited a group of beauties to liven things up. Only Finn sat in the corner, his finger fixed on our chat window, scrolling through the messages. Wesley leaned over, and Finn instinctively turned off the phone screen. “Hey Finn, what’s up? Fighting with your wife?” “How about I call her, women just need a little coaxing.” Finn picked up a glass of wine, his expression indifferent: “Drink.” Finn ended up drinking too much, mumbling incessantly. Wesley called me many times, but no one answered. He asked Finn: “What do we do if your wife doesn’t answer?” Finn lay back on the sofa, eyes closed, finally whispering: “Nora, Nora…” I sat there expressionlessly, coldly watching him. A sharp pain pricked the deepest part of my heart. Nora arrived quickly, originally intending to take Finn to a hotel room. But drunk Finn insisted on going home. Back home, Nora helped Finn to the bed, affectionately feeding him water. She quickly stripped off her clothes, snuggling up to him. Finn held her tightly, murmuring softly: “Why did it take so long to come back.” Just when I thought there’d be a scene I didn’t want to see, Finn suddenly pushed Nora away. His eyes were clearer: “Nora?” Nora’s expression was suggestive, continuing to cling to him: “It’s me, Finn.” “They say the heavens can’t beat a Childhood Sweetheart, we’re the original pair.” Nora continued to provoke: “Why can’t you just face your feelings?” When I got home, Nora helped Finn to the bed and gently gave him a glass of water. Then she quickly stripped her clothes and nestled close to him. Finn held her tightly, murmuring softly, “Why did you take so long to come back?” Just when I thought things might get more intense, Finn suddenly pushed Nora away. His eyes cleared a bit as he asked, “Nora?” With a suggestive look, Nora stayed close to him, saying, “It’s me, Brother Finn.” “People say that destiny can’t surpass a childhood bond; we’re meant to be together.” Nora continued to provoke him, “Why can’t you acknowledge your true feelings?” Hearing this made my stomach churn with disgust. A destiny that can’t surpass a childhood bond—what about the destiny that’s lost? Before pursuing Finn, I was well aware of his social circle. Nora was the daughter of his family’s housekeeper. She grew up with him, and because of Finn’s protection, she was able to attend the prestigious school she dreamed of. She enjoyed privileges like a young lady, all because when she first arrived at the Finn Family’s home, she was the only one who approached him. Before agreeing to be with Finn, I cautiously asked him, “Have you ever liked anyone else?” He answered directly, “No.” He even voluntarily explained his female friends, mentioning Nora himself. “She’s my housekeeper’s daughter. We were close as kids, but she went abroad, and we lost touch. If anything, we’re just friends.” He earnestly told me, “Lydia, I know the difference between love and friendship.” But after Nora returned to the country, he spent my birthday shopping with her. He let her post ambiguous messages on Twitter. The comments were filled with shippers. “My dear Nora deserves it! Finn is the one who’s lucky.” “Aw, secretly showing PDA again. I love childhood sweetheart stories.” “I knew Nora came from an extraordinary family and knew the heir of the Finn Family since childhood.” “Mom and Dad, I’m born!” Holding my phone, I confronted him. Finn nonchalantly explained, “Nora is an influencer; she needs me for marketing, to increase followers and hype.” With tears in my eyes, I questioned him in shock, “Do you know how much trouble your marketing has caused me?” Finn and I had been in love for seven years, and our friends and family knew it. We had plenty of photos together. Because of this hype, people dug up our photos and doxxed my personal information. They even came to my hospital to cause a scene, disrupting public order. I was forced to become the “homewrecker” in the eyes of others. In the end, Finn reluctantly compromised and dealt with some of the troublemakers at the hospital. That night, Nora posted content saying, “Just joking~” But those words only seemed like a couple’s playful banter. In many choices between me and Nora, Finn chose Nora. I’ve seen how he loved me, so how could I not see when he didn’t? The day Finn successfully took over the Finn Family, we planned to celebrate at a bar. At first, he kept fiddling with his phone, and I worried that he had something urgent. He said he was just replying to work messages. I was reassured. After a few drinks, Finn looked at me with deep affection: “Lydia, I’m so lucky to have met you. I’ll love you well in this life, the next, and the one after that…” I was moved to tears and joked, “If one day you don’t love me anymore, just tell me. We can part on good terms without any entanglement.” But later, I found out that the messages that day were sent to Nora. He feared she might lack food or clothing and sent her fifty thousand without a second thought. People who betray genuine feelings deserve to face harsh consequences. But I clearly said that if you stop loving me, just let me know. If you don’t love, why hurt? My thoughts drifted back as Finn listened to Nora’s sweet words, dazed for a moment but still avoided her tender gaze, replying hoarsely, “Nora, you should go back.” The next day, Finn’s hand instinctively reached out beside him, waking up in shock. He carefully looked around the slightly empty house, his gaze landing on a sticky note on the fridge. Both Finn and I have busy work schedules and often don’t check our phones. Whenever I head out, I always write down my whereabouts on a sticky note. The newest sticky note read: “I’m going to the mountain to pray for mom. I’ll be back tonight.” He quickly shifted his gaze, lips pursed, “She knows to leave a note but doesn’t know to come back quickly!” He had been on a business trip for many days, so he hadn’t seen these sticky notes. Just a few steps away, a glance at the sticky note, and he would have known the truth. After a night of a hangover, Finn’s stomach problem subtly flared up. He opened the drawer and found the medicine I had prepared for him. Inside was an agreement that caught his attention. It was a divorce agreement with the woman’s signature, which I had planned to discuss with him after returning from the mountain. I thought this was what he wanted too. Finn, in a rage, tore up the agreement, his breathing becoming heavier, and made numerous calls to me that went unanswered. He clenched his fists and slammed the coffee table hard. It shattered, a piece of glass piercing his hand, blood pooling on the floor. With eyes wide open, he shouted into the air, “Joan, dare to play hard to get with me? If you have the guts, don’t ever come back!” With his stomach acting up, he stayed home to rest for two days. Nora called him, but he didn’t answer. Nora came to see him, but he wouldn’t meet her. Unshaven and locked in his room, he kept calling me. Inside, I felt nothing, just fed up. I asked the system: When can I leave? “Host, the time tunnel entrance is being repaired, specific time unknown.” I watched as Finn opened our chat box again, thought for a long time, and sent me a Snapchat. “Lydia, come back when you’re done being mad. Let’s start over.” “I don’t hate you anymore.” Oh, right, he hated me. I had painstakingly retrieved his birth mother’s ashes from Mrs. Finn, which had mysteriously disappeared. In the end, it was Nora who risked her life to recover them. Nora knew I was a strategy woman, and my appearance beside Finn was too coincidental. She used this to convince Finn that I was someone Mrs. Finn had placed by his side. He believed her. No matter how I explained, He gripped my neck tightly, eyes filled with cold sarcasm. “I never thought you’d hide so deeply, Joan!” “Joan, how dare you? It’s as easy for me to deal with you as crushing an ant.” …… Now, Finn’s hypocritical act is truly nauseating. I really wonder if the beautiful, weak, and tragic boy from back then was truly him? Finn was still immersed in his deep role when he suddenly received a call from Nora. Nora trembled as she spoke, “Brother Finn, the police summoned me because of that night. What…do I do? I’m so scared.” “As long as I’m here, you’ll be fine.” Finn went to the police station. As a lawyer who upholds justice, he helped Nora fabricate evidence. He claimed that he was with Nora that night. He spent a lot of money to find a scapegoat, successfully clearing Nora’s name. After all the fuss, Finn returned home in the early hours. Lying on the couch, half asleep, he was awakened by a phone call in the middle of the night. “Hello, is this Mr. Finn? We are from the City Police Station. After DNA testing, a female corpse has been identified as your wife, Joan. We need you to come over for more details.” He was silent for a moment, then laughed mockingly, “What kind of joke is this? My wife went on a trip out of anger.” “I’m a lawyer, if you continue to curse or slander my wife, I have the right to sue you.” Finn eventually went to the police station. When he arrived at the morgue, I was completely naked, covered by a white cloth. He trembled as he slowly lifted the cloth, little by little. My originally bloodied and blurry face was pale, unrecognizable. My body was covered in scars, my abdomen unnaturally swollen. The coroner explained beside him, “The body was in a car accident before death, with multiple knife wounds on the face. The fatal wound was in the abdomen, causing death from blood loss.” The coroner hesitated before continuing, “There was a stillborn in the abdomen, estimated to be over five months.” The police officer comforted, “The suspect has been identified and confessed to the car accident. We believe the case will be resolved soon.” “Impossible.”

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When I was seven, I accidentally wandered into the basement and saw a woman in a red dress chained to the corner like an animal. That’s when I learned the ugly truth: my dad wasn’t just a monster—he was a maniac. The woman chained in the shadows wasn’t a stranger. She was my mother. For ten years, they’d been married. For ten years, he’d subjected her to unspeakable horrors. He forced her to eat rotting meat crawling with maggots, raped her whenever the mood struck, tore into her flesh with his teeth, and drank her blood. Sometimes, he’d make her dance barefoot on shards of broken glass, laughing as she bled. After that day, I started secretly helping her, slipping her food and water when I could. The summer I graduated high school, I saw my chance. My dad had left town on one of his business trips, and I finally worked up the courage to get her out. I thought I’d done it. I thought I’d saved her. But as we reached the front door, he appeared. It was like he’d known all along. What happened next still haunts me. The mother who had just moments ago been crying tears of gratitude, clinging to me as if I were her last hope, suddenly turned on me. Her face twisted with venom as she pointed at me and screamed, “Honey, I told you! She’s been trying to get rid of me so she can have you all to herself!” I froze, unable to process her words. “She’s jealous!” she shrieked. “She’s always hated me! I only set a tiny trap, and she couldn’t wait to send me away. You see, darling? You see how cruel she is?” Then she turned to me, her eyes blazing with hatred. “How could I have raised such a disgusting little wretch like you?” she spat. My world fell apart in that moment. I was dragged to the basement, where I became my mom’s replacement. For months, they tortured me. My dad’s cruelty was expected, but my mom? She stood by his side, watching with a smug smile as he tore me apart, her hand resting lovingly on his arm. They whispered sweet nothings to each other, their romance blossoming as I screamed for mercy. In the end, I couldn’t take it anymore. I threw myself against the concrete wall until everything went black. When I opened my eyes, I was back in my room. I recognized the date instantly. It was the day my mom first begged me to save her.

“Eat it.” My dad kicked a plate of maggot-infested meat toward my mom. He stood there, pristine in his tailored suit and polished leather shoes, his hair neatly combed. Everything about him screamed elegance—everything except the blood-stained, damp basement that reeked of iron and rot. In stark contrast, my mom sat huddled in the corner, chained like a dog. She wore a tattered red dress, her thin, gaunt face lifted toward him, eyes wide with fear. “Luke, I… I’m not hungry,” she stammered, her voice trembling. Luke narrowed his eyes, his tone chilling. “Are you defying me, Anna?” Anna bit her lip, her gaze darting to me as I stood silently in the doorway. The same pleading look I’d seen a hundred times before—the one that always tore me apart. “Lila…” she whispered, her voice breaking. In my last life, I’d fallen for that look. Every single time. She never begged outright. She never asked me to intervene. Instead, she’d put on a mask of despair, murmuring things like, “Lila, don’t worry about me. As long as you’re safe, I can endure anything. It’s just a few bugs—it’s nothing I can’t handle.” Then, she’d reach for the plate, her hand trembling as if summoning every ounce of willpower to make the sacrifice. But before she could touch it, she’d start retching, tears streaming down her face as she gagged and sobbed. And every time, I’d break. My heart would twist with guilt, as though her suffering was my fault. And like the fool I was, I’d always fight for her. In my last life, on this very night, I’d snatched that plate of rancid meat from her and made her a bowl of noodles instead. Luke hadn’t said a word. He’d simply turned and walked away, his cold indifference like a knife to my chest. The next day, Anna was allowed out of the basement. She wore an apron and greeted me with a radiant smile as she served me a plate of braised ribs. “Lila, I made this just for you. Try it!” I’d eaten every bite, beaming at her, grateful for even the smallest sign of normalcy. For a moment, sitting at the dining table with both my parents, I’d allowed myself to hope—maybe, just maybe, we could be a real family. But then, Anna covered her mouth, giggling as she leaned into Luke’s chest. Her smile was wide and triumphant, her voice dripping with amusement. “Of course it’s delicious,” she said, grinning from ear to ear. “You’ve been taking care of that dog for a whole year. Its meat is so tender!” Her laughter was like the chime of a bell, each note slicing into me like a blade. I stared at her, frozen in disbelief. She swayed her hips as she left the dining room, returning moments later with a blood-stained pelt—a dog’s pelt. It was perfectly skinned, the features intact, almost lifelike. “Luke’s knife skills are impeccable,” she said, holding up the pelt for him to admire. “Look at this! It’s almost like it’s still alive!” The hollow eyes of my dog, the same one that had been wagging its tail at my feet just the day before, stared back at me. I clutched my stomach and ran to the sink, vomiting until there was nothing left. Luke finally glanced at me, his expression cold and mocking. “Lila,” he said flatly, “kindness without strength always comes with a cost.” Anna, emboldened by his words, chimed in. “She’s right, Luke. She ate so much of it—clearly, she enjoyed it. Why pretend to be disgusted now? Such a hypocrite.” The feel of soft fur against my leg jolted me from the memory. I looked down to see my dog, Scout, wagging his tail and nuzzling against me. I scooped him up, holding him close as I looked at Anna. She was already putting on her usual act, her eyes brimming with tears. “Mom,” I said, my voice cold as ice, “Dad works so hard every day. The least you could do is eat what he gives you without being so dramatic.” Luke’s expression shifted slightly, his eyes narrowing in approval. But Anna froze, her face twisting in shock. She hadn’t expected this. Not this time. Her lips quivered as she forced herself to look pitiful, her voice trembling. “Lila, you’re my only daughter. I’d do anything for you! If you want me to eat it, I’ll eat it.” She picked up a piece of the rotting meat, bringing it to her nose. The stench made her gag, and she hesitated, her fingers trembling. She wasn’t eating. She was waiting—waiting for me to crack, for me to snatch the plate away and protect her like I always did. But this wasn’t my first life. I’d seen this too many times before. Her fake tears, her empty promises of love. I’d tasted the maggot-infested meat myself, forcing it down my throat while she stood by, pretending to care. This time, I simply stroked Scout’s fur and looked away. Luke’s patience finally snapped. He grabbed Anna by the hair and shoved the meat into her mouth, piece by piece. She choked and gagged, tears streaming down her face as bits of meat and maggots spilled onto her clothes and crawled over her skin. Her face twisted in agony, but Luke’s expression was one of satisfaction, almost ecstasy. He gently brushed the crumbs from her shoulders, his voice soft and loving. “Anna, I love you. I’d never treat anyone else like this. This… this is how you know you’re special to me.” Anna’s tear-filled eyes glowed with a disturbing intensity, her lips curving into a trembling smile. It hit me then. She liked it. She wanted it. They deserved each other.

I never met my mother. Not really. Growing up, whenever I dared to ask about her, the housekeepers would shuffle nervously, muttering vague excuses before quickly changing the subject. It wasn’t until I was seven years old that I learned the truth. I wandered into the basement by accident one day and saw her. She was chained to the wall, a rusted dog collar wrapped around her neck like a noose. Her red dress was torn and filthy, clinging to her skeletal frame. Her skin was ghostly pale, the kind of sickly white that comes from years without sunlight. The air reeked of mildew, blood, and something worse—something rotting. She sat slumped against the wall, combing her brittle, thinning hair with a broken comb. Her bony fingers moved mechanically, and every now and then, she’d hum a tune or let out a soft, eerie laugh. Her hollow cheeks and sunken eyes made her look like a corpse, but even then, I could see it—the faint resemblance between us. That’s when she noticed me. A little girl clutching a doll, chubby and wide-eyed. “Are you… Lila?” she croaked, her voice raspy and strained. Before I could answer, she lunged at me. Her bony hands grabbed my arm, her grip so tight it left five bloody scratches. “You’ve grown so much,” she whispered, her face inches from mine. “I’m your mother, Lila. I’m your mother!” I froze, too scared to move, but then her eyes dropped to my bare feet. Her expression twisted into something monstrous. “You walk around like that in front of your father?” she screamed, her voice shrill and hysterical. “You little whore! You think you can seduce him, don’t you?” Before I could react, her hand shot out and struck me across the face. I was sick with a fever for a month after that. The next time I saw her, Luke—my father—had brought her to my bedside. She stood by my bed, her posture stiff and submissive. Her trembling fingers brushed my hair as she leaned down to whisper, “Lila, I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have hit you. Can you forgive me?” Her apology felt hollow, her voice shaking with every word. She kept glancing at Luke like a frightened animal, her whole body trembling whenever his shadow crossed hers. I forgave her, of course. I was desperate for a mother. I’d longed for her my entire life. From then on, I shielded her from everything. When Luke whipped her, I threw myself over her body, letting the lashes tear into my back instead. When he drained her blood, I held the knife myself, matching each cut on her skin with one on my own. When he forced her to eat rotting meat, I swallowed bite after bite until I was retching and sobbing, just to spare her the pain. Eventually, Luke’s affection for me faded completely. “You’re just like her,” he said one day, his cold, sharp eyes boring into mine. “Stupid and weak. It’s in your blood, Lila. You inherited her pitiful, filthy nature.” From that moment on, he stopped trying to mold me into his perfect heir. No more lessons in etiquette or business. No more late nights learning foreign languages or memorizing the weaknesses of his corporate rivals. When Anna heard, she was overjoyed. “Finally, he’s letting you off the hook!” she said, her laughter bubbling like champagne. “Girls don’t need to learn all that nonsense. What, does he think you’re going to inherit the company? How ridiculous. “Your job is to grow up pretty and happy. Find a good man to marry. That’s all that matters. Come, let me teach you how to make men adore you…” I sat there, confused, her words gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. She’s my mom, I told myself. She wouldn’t hurt me. Would she? When I turned eighteen, I was accepted into a university overseas. That summer, Luke left town for a business meeting. The moment he drove off, I ran to the basement, my heart pounding so hard I thought it might burst. “Mom,” I whispered, fumbling with the lock on her chain. “We’re leaving. I’m getting you out of here.” The collar fell away, clattering to the floor. For the first time in eighteen years, she was free. “Dad’s gone,” I told her, my voice shaking with excitement. “I already bought tickets. We’re flying to a new city. I’ll go to school, and I’ll take care of you. I’ll fix this, Mom. I’ll fix everything.” Anna blinked at me, her eyes flicking to the chain on the floor. Slowly, a smile spread across her face. “Okay, Lila,” she said, her voice bright and cheerful. “Let’s go.” The plane was in the air when I finally allowed myself to breathe. It was over. We were free. I turned to share my relief with her, but she was staring at me, her expression unreadable. And then she smiled. It wasn’t a kind smile. The intercom crackled. “Attention passengers, this flight will be making an emergency return to the airport. We apologize for the inconvenience.” My stomach dropped. Ten minutes later, the plane landed. The other passengers were ushered off, leaving just me and Anna. Luke was waiting for us at the gate. Anna ran to him, throwing her arms around his waist. Tears streamed down her face as she sobbed, “Luke! You stopped a plane for me! You love me that much…” She looked like she might faint from the joy of it all. For her, it was a grand romantic gesture, proof that no one could ever come between them. She turned to me, her expression hardening. “She forced me,” Anna said, her voice trembling. “She wanted to send me away so she could have you all to herself. She’s jealous, Luke. She’s always been jealous of us.” I was dragged back to the basement, my neck chained to the wall where hers had been. Luke tilted my chin up with his foot, sneering. “You’re useless,” he said. “Just like her. But at least she’s entertaining. You? You’re nothing.” He turned to Anna, his voice softening. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ve adopted a son. He’ll take over the company someday. You don’t have to think about her anymore.” From that day on, I became Anna. She thrived. The life of a wealthy socialite brought color back to her cheeks. She draped herself in diamonds and pearls, smiling down at me like a queen visiting her subjects. “Lila,” she said one day, letting a box of pastries fall to the floor. “Luke only does this because he loves you. You should be grateful. No man will ever love you as much as he does.” When Luke demanded my blood, she wielded the knife. When he forced me to eat rotting meat, she shoved it down my throat. When he set his wolfdog on me, she handed me a knife and told me to fight. She laughed as I bled, her voice as bright and clear as a bell. “She’s more dog than the dog itself!” she said, grinning at Luke. The night I killed myself, she cried. “Lila,” she sobbed, clutching my lifeless body. “Don’t leave me. Don’t leave me alone with him. I need you…” But I was already gone.

It took a death for me to see things clearly. In my past life, I thought saving Anna—dragging her onto that plane bound for a new city—was the right thing to do. I was so wrong. How could I have been so delusional? How could I have believed she wanted saving? Anna and my father were a match made in hell. Luke was right about one thing: kindness without strength always comes at a cost. Looking into Anna’s hollow eyes, watching her revel in the torment she claimed to hate, I felt nothing. No pity. No anger. Just a cold, detached clarity. Without a word, I turned and walked away. When I was reborn, I knew exactly what I needed to do. This time, I wouldn’t waste my energy trying to fix what couldn’t be fixed. I resigned as student council president, stepped down as class leader, quit all my extracurriculars, and declined every invitation to events or parties. I poured every ounce of my time and focus into my studies. Because I knew what was coming. Soon, my father’s company would welcome a new rising star—a man as sharp, ruthless, and cunning as a younger version of Luke himself. His name was Jason King. In my past life, by the time I died, Jason had already climbed the ranks to the boardroom. He wasn’t just a rising star—he was a force, someone my father trusted to make major decisions for the company. I remembered the night Jason was promoted. Luke brought him home to celebrate. They stood at the top of the basement stairs, dressed impeccably in tailored suits, red wine swirling in their glasses. From where I was chained below, I could see the faint smirk on Jason’s face, the glint of amusement in Luke’s eyes as they both glanced at me. “Mr. White, such… refined tastes,” Jason had said, his tone polite but laced with mockery. Luke chuckled, pleased by the compliment, but Jason’s gaze never left me. After Luke left the room, Jason came down the stairs. He handed me a sandwich, his expression soft with pity. “Poor girl,” he murmured, his voice almost kind. Starved and desperate, I devoured the sandwich without hesitation. And then I felt it—the sharp, cold edge of a razor blade slicing through my throat. I choked, blood gushing from my mouth as I clawed at my neck. Jason crouched down, dipping his fingers into the pool of blood spilling onto the floor. He brought them to his lips, licking the crimson from his fingertips, his eyes shining with a sick, twisted excitement. He was just like Luke. In this life, I knew what I had to do. The day before my final exams, I returned home. I made a calculated choice to gain Luke’s favor. I prepared a dish—one I remembered from my past life—a delicacy meant for Anna. When I brought the dish to him, Luke looked at me with something I hadn’t seen in years: approval. For the first time in what felt like forever, he smiled. “Lila,” he said, his voice warm. “You’re finally starting to remind me of myself.” I lowered my eyes, smiling sweetly. “Of course, Father. I am your daughter, after all.” The dish was called “Three Squeaks.” When I opened the container, the tiny pink baby mice inside squirmed and squeaked loudly, their little bodies writhing as they tried to escape. Anna gasped, her face pale with horror. I turned to her, my smile bright and cheerful as I gently patted her cheek. “Mom,” I said, my voice soft and sweet. “I made this just for you.”

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After the breakup, I immediately quit my job. Just as I was preparing to leave the country to start a new chapter, my ex-girlfriend Miranda Barrett, who also happened to be my former boss, suddenly appeared at the airport, trying to win me back. She told me that she had fired her assistant, Flint Ricardo, and from now on, she was offering me the position of her second-in-command at the company. However, just as I was about to abandon my plans to go abroad and return with her, she yanked her hand out of mine and, with a coquettish tone, called Flint. “Flint, you won the bet. This idiot really thought I was trying to keep him.” With a mocking laugh, she turned to me and added coldly, “It was just a joke, didn’t you get it? If you’re leaving, just go. No one’s stopping you this time.” The colleagues around us sneered, mocking me for being a lovesick fool, obediently turning around just because she waved her hand. But they didn’t know that the only reason I’d given up on going abroad was because my new company had just completed an acquisition, and I was about to become the new CEO there.

When Miranda smugly told me that her attempt to keep me was just a joke, I wasn’t angry. I simply took out my phone, ready to order a ride back to my place. The colleagues around us looked at me with mocking eyes, one of them sneering, “Anthony, Ms. Barrett already said she doesn’t want you to stay. What are you still waiting for? Go ahead and book your flight!” “You said you had an overseas offer, didn’t you? What now? Did they change their mind and reject you?” Miranda stood there, indulging their sarcastic remarks, not even trying to stop them. This kind of humiliating workplace bullying had been a constant presence in my life for years. In the past, I would have rebutted them, feeling wronged. After all, my girlfriend was the CEO, and yet she never stood up for me. But now, I felt nothing. To me, they were nothing but a bunch of clowns. “Don’t you think my affairs are none of your business?” I said, my tone flat. Miranda snorted dismissively and looked me up and down, her eyes full of disdain. “Still being stubborn? “With your abilities, if I hadn’t supported you all these years, you probably wouldn’t even have a job. “Want to go abroad? What a joke.” I was a graduate of a prestigious school. I’d given up a high-paying job that many would dream of and built the company from the ground up with Miranda. But in Miranda’s eyes, I was worthless, and it was only thanks to her help that I had come this far. I felt it was ridiculous. There was a time when I loved Miranda to the point of obsession. Even when I was stuck in a managerial position after working for decades, I never complained. But when she began giving my projects to her new assistant, Flint, and even dumped his messes on me to make me take the fall, cutting my pay and suspending me while promoting Flint, I finally realized that I had to end the love I was keeping alive single-handedly. So, I resigned on the spot, broke up with her, and decided to pursue my career abroad. I never expected that after all this, she would come to me with this “joke” when I was about to board the plane. At that moment, I wasn’t even sad, just perplexed. I couldn’t help but wonder, “How stupid have I been to fall for such a woman?” I shook my head, too tired to argue with her. “You’re right, I’ll leave now,” I said. I tried to walk away, but Miranda suddenly grabbed my arm and stared at me, a look of disgust on her face. “You’re quite a drama king! You’ve been caught in your own lie, and you’re still pretending? “I’ll give you a way out, just for the sake of our past. “I can accept you, and I’ll make you Flint’s assistant.” Seeing her so “generously” extend this offer, I finally understood Miranda’s true motive behind this “joke”. On the surface, it was about a bet with Flint, seeing if I would take the bait and step down. But in reality, she just wanted me to stay in the company and keep serving her and Flint like a lackey. I had to admit that Miranda was quite thorough in planning Flint’s career. She was setting him up for promotions and raises, even planning to send talented people to assist him. I helped her realize her dream of becoming a boss. And yet, she took everything from me without hesitation, solely to pave the way for Flint. I sneered, “Flint isn’t qualified for me to help him.” Miranda’s expression immediately darkened. “Anthony, it looks like I’ve spoiled you too much over the years for you to think so highly of yourself…” Before she could finish, a figure appeared in the distance. “Miranda!” Miranda’s expression immediately softened, and she walked to meet the person. “Flint!” Flint was the only person in the company who didn’t call Miranda “Ms. Barrett” but instead addressed her by her first name. Even though I was officially Miranda’s boyfriend, I didn’t have that privilege. Flint glanced at me, then smiled at Miranda. “See? I knew Anthony’s excuse for going abroad was just a cover. He won’t leave.” Miranda shot me a disdainful glance and said, “Some people think too highly of themselves as if the company couldn’t function without them! “He’s nothing like you, Flint. You’re both capable and humble. Anthony, since you didn’t seize the opportunity, forget it. “Let’s go.” Flint, however, grabbed Miranda’s hand, looking pitiful. “Miranda, we can’t leave yet. Since Anthony resigned, my watch has gone missing. “It was a family heirloom from my grandmother.” Then, he looked at me with pleading eyes. “Anthony, please just return it to me.” Before I could understand what was happening, Miranda glared at me angrily. “Anthony, you stole from him?!” I was about to deny it when Miranda cut me off coldly. “Don’t try to deny it. Do you think Flint would falsely accuse you? “You don’t even have a job now. Who knows if you will steal something to make money?” She then ordered a couple of others, “Open his suitcase and check it!” I stared at Miranda in disbelief. We had spent ten years together. I thought she knew me better than anyone. But just because of an unfounded accusation from Flint, she was about to open my luggage in public. Earlier, I had let her make cruel jokes without arguing with him. But now, this nearly bullying behavior was the last straw, igniting a blaze of fury within me. I felt no more disappointment or heartbreak. I felt just anger and disgust. “Stop!” I shouted, my voice trembling with fury. Flint feigned surprise. “Why are you so upset, Anthony? Could it be that you really took it?” Miranda gave me an even more disgusted look and gestured to two others to restrain me, her voice cold. “Don’t mind him. Keep searching.” As my suitcase was overturned and my personal items scattered across the floor, I reached my breaking point and shouted for airport security. Only then did they stop. “We didn’t find anything.” Flint said with a disappointed sigh, “Forget it. Let’s not make things harder on Anthony. He’s had a tough time, too.” But Miranda shot me one last hateful look. “I bet he sold it after stealing it.” Then, turning back to Flint, she softened her tone. “It’s okay, Flint. I’ll go with you to buy a new one.” As they walked away, Miranda gave me one final, icy glare. “Anthony, when you’re out on the streets someday, don’t come crawling to me.” With that, she then walked off with the group, and Flint shot one last provocative glance at me. I didn’t say a word. I just chuckled coldly to myself. What they didn’t know was that the company’s project had collapsed and was about to be acquired. And my decision to stay wasn’t because of her. It was because my new company had just appointed me as their new CEO.

My new company was headquartered overseas. It was a well-known multinational corporation. When I was about to graduate, I received an invitation from them, thanks to my outstanding grades. But Miranda persuaded me to stay and help her build her business, so I turned down the offer. After I broke up with Miranda and quit my job, the company called me right away, inviting me to join them. However, just before I was about to board the plane, I got a call. Their subsidiary had decided to acquire the company here and integrate resources. Miranda’s company was also on their acquisition list. They offered me the position of the new CEO. After dropping off my luggage at home, I arranged to meet Wilfred Frazier, the domestic head of my new company. I arrived early at the restaurant to wait for him, but to my surprise, I saw Miranda and Flint there, chatting and laughing. When Miranda saw me, she froze for a moment. She walked over with an impatient look on her face and said, “Anthony, why are you following me like a shadow? “You were so tough earlier. What, have you changed your mind?” Before I could respond, Flint, standing nearby, smiled and said, “Miranda, there were so many people earlier. Anthony must have refused because he didn’t want to lose face. “How about this? Anthony, if you apologize to Miranda properly, I’m sure she’d still be willing to give you a chance. “Right, Miranda?” Miranda looked me up and down with disdain, then pretended to hesitate. “Well, since Flint spoke up for you, I suppose it’s not impossible. If you drink this bottle of wine, I might consider letting you be an assistant.” She pointed to a bottle of wine on the table. I felt it was ridiculous. Miranda knew very well that I had stomach issues and couldn’t drink, yet she still set this condition. She was clearly trying to put me in my place, waiting for me to grovel. But she clearly hadn’t realized the situation yet. “You’re overthinking it. I’m waiting for someone,” I said. “Waiting for someone? Ha, you just couldn’t admit your loss, right?” Miranda scoffed. “I’ve known you for so many years. Don’t think I don’t know what’s going on in your head. “You just think being Flint’s assistant is beneath you, right? “But in your situation, you’d better just abandon your pride.” As she was speaking, Wilfred, the person I had arranged to meet, walked in. He extended his hand to shake mine. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Schultz.” I simply ignored Miranda and smiled as I shook Wilfred’s hand. “Wilfred, let’s go inside and talk. It’s too noisy out here.” “Of course, let’s go.” Miranda stood there, staring at me in disbelief. As I was about to walk into the private room with Wilfred, I overheard Flint say to Miranda in a voice loud enough for me to hear, “Looks like Anthony has a headhunter lined up to help him find a job.” The next moment, Miranda suddenly walked over and blocked my path. She sneered, “Anthony, you really think you’ve got what it takes now, don’t you? You’d rather find a job yourself than beg me for one? “But I want to remind you. Based on your past performance at work, I have already informed everyone in our industry within Nexalis State. No one is willing to hire you. “Are you regretting it now?” She gave me a half-smile, waiting for me to go back to my old job. However, I would make her down. After all, Miranda wasn’t even close to being capable enough to pose a threat to me. What she didn’t realize was that, after I resigned and Frank took charge of all the major projects, the company had been facing substantial risks, to the point of being on the brink of bankruptcy. I responded coolly, “Miranda, being confident is a good thing. I just hope you’ll still feel this confident when your company is acquired during the bankruptcy process.” “Anthony, you…” Miranda was so furious that she almost shouted at me, but she held it back and turned to look at Wilfred. She pulled out a business card and handed it to Wilfred with an air of arrogance. “I’m Miranda Barrett, the CEO of the Barrett Group. Anthony was one of my employees, but his conduct was subpar, and he’s just been fired. “I suggest your company think carefully before hiring him.” After saying that, she shot me a glance, then linked arms with Flint and walked off, her attitude as haughty as ever. Wilfred frowned, holding the business card and looking at me. “This…” “Just a clown,” I said with a slight smile. Wilfred casually tossed the card into the trash. Once we were seated in the private room, we discussed the acquisition of Miranda’s company. We decide to take advantage of the fallout from the Barrett Group’s failing projects and buy them out at a low price. Wilfred then pulled out a list of employees from the original company and asked me to help optimize it. I knew everyone on the list, how each person performed, and their behavior inside the company. I agreed to provide a solution as soon as possible. After the meeting, I went home. But as soon as I entered, I found Miranda sitting on my couch. She was sitting with her legs crossed, staring at me coldly. I frowned and asked, “What are you doing here?”

I glanced at the door and suddenly remembered that after the breakup, I had forgotten to delete her fingerprint access. Miranda didn’t answer immediately. She coldly asked, “Who told you about my company’s bankruptcy and acquisition?” I was busy taking off my coat and didn’t bother to respond. Miranda’s face darkened even further. “As you wished, the company did indeed go bankrupt.” I raised an eyebrow, surprised by how quickly Wilfred had acted. We had just discussed this over lunch, and by the afternoon, it was already done. Miranda continued, “Anthony, I don’t know how you found out about this so early, but don’t get too excited. “The company that acquired us is a big corporation. They will help me sort out the issues with the previous projects. “I’m still the head of the company.” I made myself a cup of coffee, not surprised by this news. I knew it well. This was because my optimization list hadn’t been finalized yet, so they had temporarily kept the original team in place. “So what?” I asked calmly. Miranda stared at me intently. “I want you to hand over your previous client resources to Flint, and I’ll arrange a manager position for you at the new company. “You should know, with the backing of the parent company, the Barrett Group will only get stronger from here. “I’m offering you your old manager role. This is a pretty generous offer.” I suddenly smiled. She was acting so self-assured as if she were offering me a huge favor. But I knew full well that after the acquisition, Wilfred would release the development documents, and one of the terms stated that after I took the new role, positions would be assigned based on merit. Miranda’s request was nothing more than to use my client resources to help Flint prove his capabilities, solidifying his position as vice president. I could tell that she was deeply in love with Flint. But sadly, she had bet on the wrong person. “Miranda, you’re quite naïve,” I said. At my words, Miranda’s face darkened instantly. She stood up abruptly and walked toward me, her eyes narrowing as she sized me up. “Anthony, I know you’re jealous of Flint,” she said, her voice colder than before. “You feel wronged, thinking I’ve changed while I’m treating him so much better than you. “But you need to understand, our roles have changed. I’m the boss now. I’m the capitalist. “And you? You’re just an employee. A man like you was never a match for me. “But Flint… Flint brings me excitement and the joy of being a woman. You can never compare to him.” Miranda looked deeply into my eyes, her voice soft and almost too kind. “I’ll give you one night. Think it over.” With that, she turned and walked away. I shook my head in helplessness. I quickly deleted her fingerprint from the system and opened my laptop, sending out the layoff list for the next day. The next morning, I officially started my new job at the company. When I walked into the office, my colleagues were gossiping about the company’s acquisition. Miranda was, as usual, trying to paint a rosy picture for everyone. She assured them that she was still part of the management and that if everyone worked hard, things would remain the same as before. When she saw me, her eyes briefly lit up. She walked up to me with a smug tone, as if she had expected me to come. “Have you thought it over? Are you willing to hand over the client list to Flint?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, shaking my head. Miranda’s expression darkened, and just as she was about to speak, Flint interjected with a smile, “Anthony, why are you doing this to yourself? “If you weren’t planning on handing over the client information, then what are you even here for? “You’re not going to tell me you came to work, are you?” His words made the others burst into laughter. I raised an eyebrow and nodded. “I did come to work.” At that, the colleagues watching couldn’t hold back their laughter. “Work? He’s probably here looking for a job, thinking that just because the company was acquired, he can sneak in.” “Isn’t that a pipe dream?” “Anthony, weren’t you supposed to go abroad? Why are you back here applying for a job?” Before I could respond, Miranda’s face grew even darker, and she snapped at me, “Anthony, are you done yet? “I’ve already given you a chance by asking you to hand over the client information. Are you really this stubborn? “Didn’t you hear me yesterday? Are you happy being unemployed?” I shook my head helplessly. “Miranda, the one who’s about to be unemployed is you. Maybe you should start planning ahead.” Miranda stared at me, then suddenly scoffed, “Look at this. Are you out of your mind? How dare you say that? “What? I am the boss of this company. Do you think you can fire me? “Anthony, do you believe that as long as I’m here, you couldn’t even land a job as a janitor…?” Just as her words hung in the air, two figures appeared at the entrance of the company. They were the people Wilfred had sent to help me restructure the company. Miranda recognized them, and her face changed instantly. She hurried to greet them with a smile. “Mr. Fowler, you’re here! I wasn’t aware our new CEO had arrived. Let me go greet him.” Hurst Fowler glanced at her briefly but said nothing. He walked straight up to me and nodded respectfully. He then addressed the group, “This is our new CEO, Mr. Schultz!” In an instant, Miranda’s smile froze on her face, and she asked, trying to cover her surprise, “Mr. Fowler, you’re not joking, are you? Anthony is a good-for-nothing. How could you…” Before she could finish, Hurst pulled out the layoff list I had prepared yesterday and threw it in her face. Pointing at her and Flint, he said coldly, “You two are fired. Pack up and leave, now!”

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Today was the first day after my courthouse wedding with Celeste Harper, and she hadn’t come home all night. Yet, there she was, clear as day, on her childhood friend Liam Everett’s social media. A post appeared around midnight—a photo of them leaning close together. The caption read: “I knew that no matter what, one call and you’d be right by my side.” Content Celeste finally came back around noon after staying out all night. When she saw me sitting on the couch, she didn’t say a word. The silence grew so tense that I finally had to speak up. “Where were you last night?” With an annoyed expression, she replied, “I’m exhausted. Can we talk tomorrow?” I looked around at all the red-and-white wedding decorations and couldn’t help but feel a bit of self-mockery. Celeste—beautiful, smart, practically perfect. She’s a senior executive at a major corporation, with looks, status, and charm to spare. Everyone says I was lucky to get her, that I’m the one who “married up.” I’d always held onto the memories of us, all the good she’d done for me. I’d tried so hard to be the best boyfriend, the best husband I could be. But now that we’re officially married, I just want out. I didn’t reply to her. Instead, I sent a message to everyone who’d known we were getting married. They scolded me, and my family tried to talk sense into me. But I couldn’t bring myself to tell anyone the real reason. Only my closest family knew, and after their initial anger faded into silence, they eventually nodded in support. That night, I went through more than I could process. I didn’t look at Celeste, and she didn’t care to ask, heading off to her room. I packed my suit for the next day neatly, took down all the decorations, and threw them in the trash. If I was leaving, I didn’t need the “newlywed home.” As I was about to leave, I glanced at her room. Since we’d just moved in, we hadn’t been sleeping in the same room yet. I paused a long moment, then left. On the way out, I texted her: “Let’s get a divorce. I’m leaving.” I put my stuff down where I was going, turned off my phone, and went to sleep. What might come next wasn’t even on my mind.

I slept until evening. When I turned on my phone, I saw over twenty missed calls from Celeste and a stream of messages on WhatsApp. The first few were sharp and questioning, but later, her tone grew softer. “What are you doing? We just got married!” “Say something! Don’t just ignore me. Where are you?” … “Where are you, babe?” “Can we please meet and talk this over?” I blocked all her contacts and slept alone till the next day. When I woke, a loud knock came at my door. I deliberately took my time to open it. Celeste stood there, looking exhausted, but the second she saw me, it was as if a light had turned back on in her eyes. “Gabe, can we please stop this?” Hearing her words felt like a cruel joke. What right did she have to ask me to stop this? She saw me staring in silence, and finally sighed, reaching for my hand. “Let’s go home, alright? Don’t do this. I’m really tired.” Her eyes were soft, pleading, but I pulled my hand free. “Miss Harper, are you here to finalize the divorce?” “And I’m not playing around. Please take this divorce seriously.” Right in front of her, I grabbed a disinfectant wipe and scrubbed where she’d touched me. She looked deeply hurt, mouth open as if to speak, but she stayed silent.

“Celeste, I suggest you stop making things so messy. After all, our families have always been close.” Her expression was one of pained innocence. “You canceled the wedding ceremony without telling me. I had to ask everyone why it hadn’t started.” “A crowd gathered, pointing and whispering, and now I have to chase you to come back with me. I’m exhausted. I found out about everything only after seeing your message, and you couldn’t even be bothered to tell me directly?” “Is it my fault you didn’t check your phone? You’re that busy?” “Funny how you’re not busy enough to run off with someone else—and take pictures!” She looked at me, hurt but determined. “Guess they were right,” she said. “A dirty mind only sees filth.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, I’m the one with a dirty mind. So when my own wife’s in bed with someone else, should I assume they’re just playing a game?” Celeste’s mouth opened to say something, but she stayed silent. Yesterday, seeing her like this would’ve made me want to hold her tight, tell her it was all okay. “Let’s put off the divorce discussion until later. My parents are waiting for us for lunch,” she added. “Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Sam are there too.” Hearing that, I froze. Her parents had always been good to me. Realizing how harsh I’d been, I reluctantly nodded and followed her back to her parents’ house. The moment we walked in, her dad greeted me warmly. I’d expected anger or blame, but there was nothing of the sort.

I felt out of place sitting in their living room. When I offered to help Aunt Rebecca in the kitchen like always, she waved me off. “Just relax, Gabe. Lunch is almost ready.” Uncle Sam and Aunt Rebecca acted like nothing had happened. Celeste even brought me a plate of my favorite fruit, her eyes twinkling with a smile. A strange guilt tugged at me, but it didn’t change my decision to end things. “What’s with the cold shoulder?” she asked, watching me closely. “I’m here to end this, Celeste. This is the last time I’ll be in your parents’ house.” She turned pale, biting her lip, trembling slightly. Silence filled the room until lunch was ready, and Aunt Rebecca urged me to eat. Celeste kept her head down while Uncle Sam sensed the tension and tried to lighten the mood. “Look at you, Gabe. You’re looking sharper than ever!” he said, chuckling. “Celeste, you’re a lucky woman!” I opened my mouth to correct him, but Celeste pinched my sleeve under the table, giving me an embarrassed look. It was clear she hadn’t told her parents about us. I felt a sudden, overwhelming sadness. Her parents had always treated me with kindness, so I’d tried to do the same for Celeste, supporting her through every little thing, even waiting with hot food if she worked late. But it was never me on her mind.

As I thought about it, my grip on my bowl tightened, my knuckles whitening. Aunt Rebecca noticed and nudged Celeste to serve me a dish. Celeste gave her mother an annoyed look and reluctantly plopped a shrimp onto my plate. I’m allergic to seafood. After all this time, she didn’t even know. From that moment on, I barely tasted a thing. That shrimp stayed untouched on my plate, like a neon sign. After we finished, I thanked Aunt Rebecca and Uncle Sam. “Thanks for the lovely meal,” I said, trying to keep steady, “but I need to make something clear. Celeste and I are separated. I’m sorry to disappoint you.” They looked stunned, and Celeste gripped her fists tightly. Before they could speak, the doorbell rang, and Celeste glanced at me, her eyes dark, before heading to answer. I had a sinking feeling about who it might be.

Sure enough, the voice that greeted Celeste from the doorway was all too familiar—Liam Everett, her childhood friend. She called out cheerfully. “Hey, Liam! What’s for lunch? Smells amazing in here!” Liam froze a second when he saw me but quickly gave a polite nod. “Ah, Gabe’s here, too. That explains it.” He slipped off his shoes and set a gift on the table, making himself at home, even pulling out a chair to sit between us. Like he belonged there more than I did. I glanced down and saw them both wearing matching slippers—the same pair I’d noticed her wearing recently. I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony. Liam broke the silence, glancing between us. “What’s with the mood in here?” Celeste shot me a warning look. Uncle Sam and Aunt Rebecca kept their heads down, focused on their food. I looked straight at Liam and spoke, my voice calm and clear. “Celeste and I are done. The divorce papers aren’t signed yet, but hey, feel free to go after her.” Celeste threw her chopsticks on the table. “Gabe, enough! I told you, he’s like a brother to me. You’re the one making it something else!” And just like that, I knew what I had to do.

I stood up and brushed off the imaginary dust from my shoulders, barely giving Liam a glance. “Aunt Rebecca, Uncle Sam,” I said with a slight smile, “thank you for the lovely meal. You’re kind to have me, but I don’t think I belong here anymore. Please, enjoy the rest of your lunch.” They walked me to the door, with Aunt Rebecca’s voice thick with unspoken words. I waved goodbye to them, knowing the only two people in that house who genuinely cared for me were them. Once outside, I sped off to my friend’s place. This friend had helped with every part of the wedding preparations, going above and beyond. Now, he deserved to hear the truth. By the time I reached his place, he was waiting for me with a look of sympathy. I sat across from him, explaining the situation carefully. Though I tried to leave out the ugliest parts, he caught on quickly. With a heavy sigh, he clapped a hand on my shoulder. “Man, I knew that woman wasn’t good news. But hey, this is your fresh start. I got some friends to introduce you to.” We shared a laugh, a few drinks, and finally, I was able to breathe. The next day, when I got to work, a couple of colleagues came over, asking if I had wedding treats. After all, I’d taken leave to get married. It felt strange to say anything, so I just laughed it off, dodging their questions as best as I could. For the next few days, I went out of my way to avoid Celeste. I didn’t think it would be that easy, but it was. Eventually, I sent the divorce papers to her email, though she didn’t respond. It didn’t matter. I was moving forward—she’d find her own way. After work, I grabbed my takeout and headed downstairs, only to spot a woman in a red dress waiting outside, holding a bouquet of red roses that matched her perfectly. People passing by were glancing her way. The sight brought back a flood of memories—she was just like that the first time I saw her. It had been junior year, at a party organized by some friends. The moment Celeste Harper walked in, she became the center of my universe. I stood there, spellbound, unable to think straight. Lost in thought, I didn’t realize she was walking toward me, roses in hand, eyes soft and intent. She was impossible to ignore when she looked like that, all glowing.

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After five years of marriage, my wife Vera returned from a six-month trip abroad, bringing her first love Nolan back home with her. Vera was already three months pregnant, and Nolan, with a thick skin, said he was worried I couldn’t take good care of Vera and wanted to temporarily stay at our house. I refused, and Vera cursed me for being ungrateful. She glared at me with disgust, seemingly forgetting that I was the one who let her live in the lap of luxury, spending money like water. Did this shameless family think they could ride on my neck and become the masters? This time, I’ll let them feel what it’s like to fall from cloud nine! I smiled and called my secretary, “Draft a divorce agreement immediately. I want to make the pretty boy and the gold digger leave empty-handed.” My wife, who had been traveling for half a year, told me last night that she was coming back. I was so excited that I couldn’t sleep all night. Early in the morning, I asked Mrs. Lee to prepare a table full of Vera’s favorite dishes. The front door was pulled open from the inside, and Vera was carefully held by the man beside her as they swaggered in front of me. I looked at the two overly intimate people in shock, my gaze falling on Vera’s slightly protruding belly. “Honey, you’ve become more handsome in the half year we haven’t seen each other.” I stared at her with a dark face, anger rising. Vera seemed to sense my angry emotions and immediately let go of the man’s hand. She hurriedly came to my side and acted coquettishly, “Honey, you know you can’t perform in that area, right?” “Nolan is a top graduate with a good background. Most importantly, we know each other well, so the child born will be reassuring, right?” “You wouldn’t want me to suffer through IVF treatment, would you?” Vera’s words made me choke with anger. She actually made cheating on me sound so fresh and innocent. I clenched my fists tightly, wanting to punch Vera in the face. Nolan, who had been standing behind her, rushed forward with concern, pulling Vera behind him. He smiled sycophantically at me, “Mr. An, I’ve heard about your situation from Vera. It’s not shameful.” “Vera and I have known each other since childhood. Even if the three of us live together in the future, I can accept it.” I was burning with anger, but Vera looked at Nolan with tender affection, “Nolan is always so considerate.” Hearing Vera’s tender voice, I stood there stunned. In our five years of marriage, when had she ever been like this to me? Vera nestled into Nolan’s arms like a little bird, pointing at the room upstairs, “We’ll live there from now on.” Watching the two of them go upstairs, I clenched my fists tightly. Soon, the driver came in carrying three large suitcases. Close behind them were Vera’s parents. They walked past me with cold faces, as if they hadn’t seen me, and quickly went upstairs. Since it was so lively upstairs, I decided to go take a look too. I saw Vera caressing her belly and acting coquettishly with her parents, “I could have kept it from you, but you’re not supposed to tell anyone during the first three months of pregnancy. Nolan was also concerned about my safety.” Seeing Vera’s behavior, my heart ached terribly. In our five years of marriage, whenever I had disagreements with her parents, she always stood on their side, complaining that her parents were old and couldn’t get angry, asking me to be more tolerant. I always thought that was just her nature. Women are delicate, it’s nothing. Until this moment, seeing her protecting Nolan, I realized I had always been a clown. Nolan naturally took Vera’s mother’s hand, “Auntie, you know I’ve liked Vera since we were kids.” “My feelings for Vera are genuine. I hope Uncle and Auntie can understand.” Vera’s mother’s face relaxed a bit, then she turned to look at me with a frown. I knew she was hesitating, weighing me against Nolan. In the five years of my marriage to Vera, I had replaced her family’s old house with a villa, and I transferred money to her parents’ card every month for their living expenses. Seeing Vera’s mother’s hesitant look, my heart instantly sank to the bottom. Vera, as my wife, not only got pregnant with someone else’s child without telling me in advance, but she also brazenly brought the man back to humiliate me. Did she really think that because I loved her, I could unconditionally tolerate everything she did, including her cheating on me? Seeing the tense atmosphere, Vera suddenly burst into tears, “The child in my belly is innocent. No matter how much you scold me, I will give birth to it.” Vera cried pitifully, and Nolan, seeing this, suddenly knelt down in front of us, “Auntie, the child in Vera’s belly is your own grandchild.” “If it weren’t for Vera not being able to conceive for five years and fearing blame from the An family, she wouldn’t have done this…” Vera’s parents had been urging Vera to have a child to secure her position since the day we got married. But after five years of marriage, Vera’s belly had never shown any movement. After a check-up, we found out it was my problem. I had consulted doctors. Although I couldn’t conceive naturally, IVF treatment was not a problem. Because of this, Vera’s parents had never had a good attitude towards me, blaming me for making Vera suffer criticism. I knew all this and had always been compensating Vera. But how could she do such a thing? “Since you’re pregnant, give birth to it. No matter whose child it is, you’re still its mother.” After Vera’s father finished speaking, he turned to look at me again, “This matter is settled.” I couldn’t help but laugh coldly, “Settled?” “What right do you have to settle it?” Vera frowned at me, “Everything has been said. What are you dissatisfied with?” I laughed in extreme anger. I spent hundreds of thousands of dollars for her to go out and have fun, and she not only brought back a child but also a man. What right did she have to be imperious towards me? Nolan looked at me with difficulty and said hypocritically, “I know it’s because of me. I can leave, but you must take good care of Vera.” As soon as Vera’s mother heard this, she immediately became displeased, “How can you leave? Vera is in a good mood when she sees you, and moreover, with the child’s father around, the child will grow better.” Vera glared at me fiercely, “If you insist on making Nolan leave, then I’ll leave too.” Vera’s mother carefully protected Vera, “That won’t do. You both stay. In this house, I, as the mother-in-law, have the final say.” Nolan looked at Vera’s mother pleadingly, smiling smugly. Seeing their harmonious appearance, I could no longer stay and turned to leave. I stayed in the study for the whole afternoon. Occasional laughter could be heard from the living room. After dinner, Mrs. Lee came to see me, “Nolan originally wanted to occupy your study, but he was stopped by Madam’s mother.” “She said that after all, you are the CEO of the An Group, and all the expenses of the family, big and small, depend on you. They can’t completely break ties with you, so he should behave himself.” Mrs. Lee has been taking care of me since I was a child, and she knows my temper. She looked up at me, and seeing no reaction from me, she continued, “They said all the expenses after Madam’s pregnancy should still be borne by you. Since you can’t have children anyway, letting you experience the joy of being a father is not bad.” At this point, I could no longer maintain a good face and clenched my fists, asking, “Anything else?” Mrs. Lee continued, “They said since you have no children to inherit the An family, this child will be adopted under your name in the future, and the An family’s property will…” I laughed coldly. Vera’s family really knew how to calculate. Since they were so shameless, I would play along with them. In the evening, hearing the sound of cars starting outside, memories from five years ago kept forcing their way into my head. Back then, I insisted on marrying Vera, no matter how my parents tried to persuade me. At that time, my parents had already expressed their intention of an alliance marriage to the Shen family, and the Shen family was very agreeable. After all, both the An and Shen families were at the top of the pyramid in Ning City. Who wouldn’t agree to such a strong alliance? But I had no interest in the Shen family’s daughter and only saw her as a sister. Since I met Vera, my whole heart was set on her, and I had even less interest in Miss Shen. I always told my parents that Vera was different from ordinary girls, hoping they would give her a chance to meet her. They would surely like her. But my parents said that I had given Miss Shen hope, which was why she kept coming to our house to “accidentally” meet me. At that time, I didn’t care what Miss Shen thought. I just wanted to marry Vera quickly. The day I met Vera, it was raining heavily. She was wearing a white dress, standing under a tree to shelter from the rain. Her hair was wet from the rain and stuck to her face. Her big eyes were as pitiful as a little deer’s. Ignoring my roommate’s mockery, I ran over with an umbrella, wanting to “be helpful,” and very gentlemanly sent her back to her dormitory. She said she wanted to thank me, but I shamelessly asked for her SnapChat. That night, I added her on SnapChat. After I introduced myself, she immediately sent me a voice message. Her voice was as crisp as a silver bell, “Mr. An, I’ve heard about you before.” From that day on, I deliberately “accidentally” met Vera under her dormitory building. I even forced myself to attend 8 am classes, which I never liked, just to have more contact with her. Love at first sight. That’s how I willingly became Vera’s devoted knight. After marriage, Vera said she didn’t want to be just an idle wife and wanted to enter the company to help me, even if it was just as a small employee. How could I let her be a small employee? I directly made her my secretary. Vera was very smart and quickly learned and mastered everything. Soon, with my help, she achieved some success in investment. She said she wanted to do bigger things and walk side by side with me. I felt I should help her, but my parents and brothers thought I should think it through. Before the wedding, my parents had repeatedly reminded me that Vera wasn’t good enough for me. But I didn’t care. I only wanted her to love me. After marrying me, Vera’s parents lived an enviable and comfortable life. They quit their jobs that didn’t make much money and lived off the living expenses I gave them every month, enjoying an early retirement life. They often boasted that Vera was the vice president of the An Group and would soon become the CEO. Relatives of Vera’s family who hadn’t been in contact for generations came to ask for Vera’s help. Vera was thin-skinned and couldn’t refuse, so I did my best to help her handle everything. Even for weddings and funerals, people came to find Vera. Facing these poor relatives of Vera’s family, I didn’t feel there was anything wrong. After all, with the strength of my An family, this little help was nothing. But Vera didn’t know that a few days before our wedding, Miss Shen came to see me. She wanted to transfer her 10% of shares to me and said that if I ever regretted it, she would wait for me no matter when I turned back. I laughed at her for thinking too much. I’ve always had good taste since I was young and had never misjudged. I believed I wouldn’t misjudge Vera either. I didn’t expect to be slapped in the face so quickly. Everyone could see Vera’s true face clearly, except for my blind self. After marriage, even when I tried to go along with her, she would find all kinds of faults. She said I didn’t know how to do housework, she hated me drinking and smoking, complained that I always worked overtime, and that I wasn’t as considerate and gentle as other husbands in her social media circle. At that time, I was completely devoted to Vera. If she told me to die, I wouldn’t hesitate. So, I quit smoking and drinking, and immediately went home after work without accepting any social engagements. To please her, I even hired chefs from various countries to cook for her in different ways. My good friend Ryan always teased me, saying I had been trained by Vera into a 24-hour loyal dog. Vera’s parents had nothing but praise for me, telling everyone they met that Vera was lucky to have married me. But even though I was so good, Vera could still find faults with me. I always thought I wasn’t doing well enough, but now I realize she was just using me as a stepping stone on her path to success. She didn’t love me. No matter what I did, she would never be satisfied. They didn’t care about my opinion at all and let Nolan move into my house. In the evening, Nolan personally knocked on my door to ask me to come down for dinner. After I refused several times, he started that worthless green tea act again. He blamed himself loudly, “Mr. An, are you still blaming me?” “We’re all doing this for Vera’s sake. If you really hate me, I won’t appear in front of you in the future, okay?” I frowned and opened the door unhappily. Nolan had a bitter face as if he had been wronged. Vera came up holding the handrail, looking at Nolan with concern and comforting him, “It’s not your fault. You don’t need to act like you owe him anything.” “You go down and eat first.” Nolan refused to leave and took out a watch from his pocket, “This is a watch I modified myself. I know Mr. An has seen a lot and won’t think much of this watch.” “But I don’t have anything presentable to give. This is just a gift for you. Can we get along peacefully for Vera’s sake in the future?” I snorted coldly, “If you can’t give something presentable, then don’t give anything. How shabby.” Vera angrily slapped me in the face. “Andrew, Nolan has already lowered himself so much, yet you still humiliate him.” “I’m telling you, I’m pregnant and can’t get emotional. If you keep giving Nolan a hard time, it’s like you want to anger me to death!” Vera looked as if I was a heinous criminal. This slap broke all my lingering affection for her. I stared at the dog couple in front of me and raised my hand to slap Nolan twice in the face. I used all my strength, and soon blood flowed from the corner of Nolan’s mouth. Vera looked at me in disbelief and screamed, “You actually dared to hit Nolan!” I snorted coldly, “If it weren’t for the fact that you’re pregnant, this slap would have landed on your face.” “I, the CEO of the An Group, am not someone you can cuckold as you please.” Vera’s mother heard the commotion and immediately ran up to mediate, “Andrew, Vera is pregnant and got a bit emotional. Don’t take it to heart.” Seeing that I didn’t say anything, Vera’s mother immediately pulled Vera’s sleeve, “Vera, apologize to Andrew. What you just said was too harsh.” Vera pouted and stared at me. It had always been me apologizing to her. How could it be her turn to apologize to me? She turned her face away, unwilling to give in. “Vera!” Vera’s mother lightly slapped her, knowing that if they continued like this, they definitely wouldn’t get any benefits. “Apologize!” Vera unwillingly stared at me, “It was my bad mood. I shouldn’t have hit you, but you shouldn’t have hit Nolan either.” This wasn’t an apology at all. She was just accusing me. My heart was completely cold. I couldn’t eat dinner either. I stayed in the study all night, unwilling to go out. In the end, it was Mrs. Lee who felt sorry for me and brought me dinner. The next day, I slept until noon before waking up. Seeing them preparing lunch, I turned and left without looking back. The company secretary told me that somehow everyone knew that Vera had gone out to play for half a year and came back pregnant. There was a lot of unpleasant gossip about me in the company. Soon after I left, Vera sent me a message asking me to come back and bring her some supplements. She also wanted me to buy her the new bag that came out the day before yesterday to make her happy. Through the text on the screen, I seemed to see Vera’s high and mighty, imperious appearance. In the past, I would have granted her every request. But now, who was she to me? I quickly replied, “Let the child’s father buy it for you. That would be more reassuring.” As soon as the message was sent, Mrs. Lee told me that Nolan had snatched away all the supplements my mother had just sent over, saying it was good for the child in Vera’s belly. “What else did they say?” I asked. Mrs. Lee snorted angrily, “Vera’s parents didn’t blame Nolan at all. They were even pleased, saying that as long as it was something Vera could eat, they shouldn’t be polite and should just take it.” Because of my poor health, my mother would send some nourishing supplements every now and then. I never expected that my mother’s love for me would be taken advantage of by these bastards. Even Vera’s mother, who usually knew her manners, acquiesced to this. Since they were so shameless, I had no need to give them face anymore. I went directly to the company, called a high-level meeting, rearranged the work, deployed staff positions, and directly removed Vera from the position of vice president. “From today on, Manager Vera will no longer hold any position in the company. She is not allowed to set foot in the company.”

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“Do you know, there was never a Esme Winters, much less an Freya Winters. There’s only Zoe Winters, who’s determined to make you maggots pay for what you’ve done.” On the day of the arrest, the man who had forcibly kept me by his side knelt before me, his eyes red as he begged me not to abort the innocent child. I looked at him with the same contemptuous gaze he once used on me: “The child may be innocent, but what makes you think a maggot like you deserves to have a cFreyahild?” “Boss, this batch of goods is from Colombia, top quality.” When the hood was removed from my head, I found myself in an opulent room. A man sitting on a cream-colored sofa, cigar in hand, was being fawned over by another man who had been beating us for days due to our disobedience. He was eagerly trying to sell his ‘merchandise’ – us, the trafficked people. “These two are virgins, and not bad looking either. Want to take a closer look, Boss?” The trafficker pulled me and another girl out of the line, forcing us to kneel in front of the man called ‘Boss’. The Boss’s calm eyes lit up for a moment when he saw me. Though the spark vanished instantly, I caught it precisely. “Keep her. Do what you want with the rest,” the Boss said, indicating me. The girl brought out with me spoke up, somewhat disgruntled, “Why her? What’s wrong with me?” I remembered this girl. She had sat next to me in the trafficker’s van. According to her, she had sought out these traffickers herself, even paying them some money, all for the chance to be brought before this so-called Boss and potentially become his ‘wife’. Because of this, unlike us, she didn’t have to wear a hood except during mealtimes. The Boss glanced at her, and the girl’s face lit up with a bright smile. But his next words sent her plummeting into an icy hell: “Cut out her tongue and feed her to the dogs.” After the trafficker left with over a dozen young men and women, the Boss gestured for all the bodyguards to leave. In an instant, only the two of us remained in the vast room. He tilted up my chin, his narrow phoenix eyes full of curiosity. “What’s your name?” “Esme Winters.” “‘Esme’ – a flower of purity and rebirth. It seems your parents put some thought into naming you. However, from today on, your name will be Freya Winters.” I nodded in compliance. But he wasn’t satisfied. He raised an eyebrow and asked, “Why do I get the feeling you’re not really this obedient?” As he spoke, he pointedly looked at the bruises on my arm left by the trafficker. I laughed coldly, “My life is in your hands now. What choice do I have but to obey?” He sneered, “At least you’re sensible.” Then he released my chin and patted it lightly. A man dressed in a butler’s uniform I had only seen in TV dramas before walked in at his signal, head bowed, awaiting orders. “Prepare a room for Miss Winters.” The butler nodded in acknowledgment and led me away. I was bathed and attended to by three maids. Although I tried to engage them in conversation in both English and Spanish, they acted as if they hadn’t heard me, not even sparing me a glance. Ryan didn’t touch me that night, just held me as he slept, reeking of alcohol. This was the first time in a week I had slept in a bed, so I slept particularly soundly. When I woke up the next morning, he was already gone, leaving only a note telling me I could move freely within the villa. Freedom, but not much of it. There were many servants here, but no matter how much I talked, none except the butler would say even a word to me. The butler, however, promptly handed me a glass of water the first time I swallowed. I figured I probably wasn’t the first woman brought into this villa, and certainly wouldn’t be the last. I had to escape. I didn’t believe that a man who had risen to such prominence in this obviously unsavory place would fall in love with me at first sight. I was also well past the age where I might be enticed by the romanticization of bad guys in novels or other literature, like that girl who was killed on his word. The southern border of this state leads to Mexico. This is a hotbed of crime, a paradise for drug dealers and arms traffickers. As a proper, ordinary girl who had been kidnapped by traffickers, I should try to escape. My first chance to escape came soon enough. I don’t know who they had offended, but on the evening of the thirteenth day of my forced stay in this villa, Ryan’s estate suddenly came under heavy attack. Since Ryan wasn’t staying here tonight, the security wasn’t as strict as usual. The attackers came in force, and even the maid assigned to watch me constantly had fled. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I slipped out of the villa and jumped into the river that ran through the estate. I had been swimming since I was young, earning national athlete certification at sixteen. Although an accident later cost me the chance to become a professional athlete, I had never let this skill lapse. I had noticed this river on my first day of being held here. Over the past few days, I had feigned exceptional obedience, and occasionally the butler would allow me to get some fresh air in the garden under the watchful eyes of the servants. Today, I had just ‘strolled’ to the northernmost part of the estate and discovered that this river connected to the outside. However, the estate’s fence didn’t seem to stop at the water’s surface but extended straight into the riverbed. Sure enough, there was a fence underwater just like above. But fortunately, I was slender enough that, although it took some effort, I managed to squeeze through. Once out of the estate, I didn’t dare relax. I held my breath and swam hard, only daring to surface and rest when the sound of gunfire and explosions was no longer intense. Ryan had lived up to his criminal status; even after swimming for so long after leaving his estate, I was still in the midst of a dense forest. Thanks to the relatively low pollution here, I could see the stars in the sky. If I followed the North Star, I would eventually make it home, or at worst, back to the States. In my haste to leave, I had brought nothing but the clothes on my back. Although I was hungry and tired, I didn’t dare slack off. After all, the firefight on the other side might stop at any moment. If the troublemakers won, that would be fine. But if the butler won, he would surely come looking for me first thing when he discovered I was missing. I don’t know how long I walked, but as dawn was breaking, a hand suddenly grabbed my ankle, and then someone struggled to crawl out from under the fallen leaves on the ground. I struggled, kicking hard at the person’s body with my free foot. “Stop kicking, stop kicking, it’s me,” the person finally poked their head out, speaking in a somewhat familiar voice. I calmed myself and managed to make out the person’s identity from that dirt-covered face – it was the girl who Ryan had ordered to be fed to the dogs that day. “What are you doing here?” I asked. She rolled her eyes at me, “Escaped, of course. Who knew Ryan Carter could be so ruthless, actually having someone take me to feed the dogs. Luckily, that trafficker thought I still had some value and could be sold again, so he secretly saved me.” “Ryan Carter?” I frowned. She rolled her eyes at me again, her tone sour: “You’ve been by his side for so long and don’t even know his real name? Looks like he doesn’t like you as much as it seemed.” I remained silent. Seeing my lack of response, she waved her hand and spoke again, “Well, I won’t say more about what’s between you two. But for you to escape from Ryan’s heavily guarded villa, seems you’re not as weak as you look.” I spoke flatly, “Just lucky, that’s all.” She pulled out a bag from a nearby pile of leaves, taking out an unopened package of compressed biscuits and offering it to me. Seeing that I didn’t take it, she opened it, broke off a piece, and put it in her mouth. “It’s not poisoned. I stole these from the trafficker’s car.” I hadn’t seen a grain of rice since yesterday afternoon, and after walking all night, I was starving. Once I was sure the biscuit was edible, I promptly took it and wolfed it down. Honestly, I had never found compressed biscuits so delicious before. A rustling sound of leaves being stepped on came from the distance. The girl and I exchanged a glance, quickly pocketed the biscuits, and climbed a tree. The trees here were lush and leafy; as long as we controlled ourselves and didn’t make a sound, the people below wouldn’t discover us. Soon, several men in camouflage carrying guns stood in the spot where we had briefly rested. “How did that damn woman run so fast? Just wait till I catch her, I’ll teach her a lesson,” a bald man said through gritted teeth. “She’s the boss’s woman. If you rough her up, won’t we be the ones in trouble?” another man cautioned. The bald man snorted coldly, “She’s just a plaything. You think she means more to the boss than us brothers who’ve been through thick and thin with him?” The man who had cautioned him patted his shoulder, “You’d better give up on that idea. I was in the room that day when Aiden brought them in. Her face, it’s almost identical to Miss Freya Winters’.” The bald man’s attitude changed instantly upon hearing the name Freya Winters. “Really?” The man nodded, “Why else do you think the boss would send us out to look for a woman? Come on, it’s dawn already. That woman’s probably exhausted after running for so long. If we keep going, we’ll likely find her soon.” The bald man stopped complaining and led the small team forward with the other man. Once we could no longer hear their footsteps, the girl and I carefully climbed down from the tree. She scanned me up and down with a strange look. Feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, I took the initiative to ask where she planned to go next. She sighed, “Try to get back to the States, I guess. What else can I do, stay here and run phone scams? What about you?” “I’m going home.” Our goals were the same, but we disagreed on which direction to take. Although any direction would eventually lead to a road if we walked long enough, given her knowledge of Ryan and her idiotic decision to voluntarily get trafficked, I didn’t trust her to lead us out. So we walked in the direction I had originally planned. We encountered that group of men once more, again using the tree-climbing method to avoid them. After walking for two days, we finally heard the sound of car horns. We had finally made it out. But as soon as we emerged from the forest, I saw that familiar face. Surrounded by a group of bodyguards, the scene was identical to when we first met, except for the setting and the characters’ actions. Including his visibly aristocratic demeanor and my disheveled state. He looked at us with a half-smile, merely beckoning with his hand. The girl who had walked with me for two days immediately ran to his side. “Boss, I brought her out safely as you ordered. How are you going to reward me?” Her face no longer bore the bitter resentment she had shown while recounting her escape from the traffickers. Instead, it was full of ingratiating obedience. Ryan nodded to her, “Well done. Go see Butler Brown for your reward.” She pouted, somewhat dissatisfied, but said nothing more. I felt my whole body turn cold, as if all my blood had reversed its flow. Running away now would only anger him and serve no other purpose. I could only stand there, watching as he approached me step by step. He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear, his eyes nearly drowning me in their displeasure. “Didn’t I tell you that you could only move around within the villa? Why are you being so disobedient?” As he spoke, the hand that had tucked my hair suddenly gripped my neck. An intense feeling of suffocation enveloped me. But I didn’t try to beg for mercy. I just quietly closed my eyes – dying like this would be fine, at least better than living without freedom. But he wasn’t willing to let me go so easily. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, he released his hand. Taking a handkerchief from Butler Brown, he meticulously wiped the entire hand that had touched me, then carelessly tossed the handkerchief to the ground. “Bring Miss Winters back intact. I’ll deal with her personally when I return.” He particularly emphasized the word ‘intact’. The men who had been chasing us for two days immediately understood his meaning. They beat me at the roadside until I was nearly unconscious before tying me up and stuffing me into the car. Back at the villa, the butler dragged me to a room they had previously forbidden me to enter. Opening the door, I realized it wasn’t a room at all, but a dungeon. There was only a small window opposite the door, letting in a sliver of sunlight so those inside could distinguish day from night. There were four cages in the dungeon. Butler Brown locked me in the one nearest to the door. Fortunately, he didn’t turn off the small lamp that barely provided illumination when he left. I could clearly see the scene in the dungeon. All four cells were covered in mottled bloodstains. Mine was the cleanest, but even here, the remaining bloodstains showed that the previous occupants had suffered no small amount of torture. Various instruments of torture, some familiar and some not, hung on the wall opposite the door. In contrast to the dirty and messy environment here, these torture devices looked spotlessly clean. “Where did you come from?” A woman’s startled cry brought me back to reality. I looked up and saw a person suddenly appear in the diagonal cell. I forced a smile and greeted her. But when she saw my face, she unexpectedly fell to her knees, tears instantly flowing down her face, repeating: “Miss Winters, I was wrong. I’ll never dare to frame you again. Miss Winters, I was wrong…” She seemed to have completely lost the normal demeanor she had when asking where I came from. Unable to get any useful information from her, I walked to the corner straw pile and closed my eyes to rest. After running for so long, I was truly exhausted. I was awakened by cold water. Opening my eyes, I saw Ryan standing in front of me with a cold expression, a wooden bucket that had held water at his feet. He yanked me up from the straw pile, gripping my chin and crouching in front of me, his eyes nearly drowning me in impatience. “I told you that you could only move around within the villa. Didn’t you understand?” I suppressed the unease in my heart and answered word by word: “Those people came so fiercely, how was I to know your men would definitely win? Besides, didn’t you already arrange people to intercept me on the road? Whether I ran or not, what difference did it make to you?” He flung my face to the side and stood up, no longer looking at me. “Since you don’t realize you’ve done wrong, then just stay here until you’re willing to admit your mistake.” With that, he left without looking back. Perhaps fearing I would starve to death, Butler Brown came to bring me food at regular intervals. On his tenth visit with a tray, I asked him to let Ryan come see me. When Ryan came, he seemed to be in a good mood. He looked down at me and asked if I realized what I had done wrong. I said my mistake was going to Mexico for vacation and not immediately jumping out of the car when I realized I had been kidnapped. He left in a rage, turning off the small lamp that had been on day and night, and taking away the crazy woman who had been staying with me. The sky outside brightened and darkened seven more times. My psychological defenses had truly reached their limit. When Butler Brown came to deliver lunch, I begged him again. His response was, “The last time you angered the master, I also suffered and had a month’s salary deducted. This time, I dare not so easily pass on your message.” Without a word, I knelt down on the spot, earnestly promising him that I would never think of escaping again and would stay here to serve Ryan well. Only then did he agree to plead my case when Ryan returned that night. Ryan came back in the evening. As soon as he turned on the light, the tears I had been preparing all afternoon gushed out. My hands frantically reached for his body. He frowned slightly in disgust and turned to instruct Butler Brown to take me out of the dungeon. That night, he no longer just held me and muttered those words of love he hadn’t had a chance to say to the real Freya. Instead, he tore off my dress and vented his desires on my body. Before leaving, he put on his clothes and instructed me without turning back: “Have Butler Brown take you to remove that mole on your left cheek later.” Without that mole, I would truly be identical to the former Freya Winters. Knowing I couldn’t successfully escape on my own, I became increasingly obedient. After being a caged bird in the villa for two years, he finally decided to take me out to meet people. I deliberately acted according to what the servants who finally agreed to talk to me described as Freya’s behavior. The wariness in his eyes towards me decreased day by day, replaced by surging love. When he proposed having a child, I also made the most ‘outrageous’ request in two years. “I want to see the company.” He hesitated for a moment before agreeing. The next afternoon, I went to the company with him. His company was located in the courtyard behind a bank. To get there, one had to pass through the bank’s VIP room. Who would have thought that the headquarters of Mexico’s largest drug trafficking organization would be right behind Mexico’s largest bank? Some people in the company recognized my face. They looked at me with eyes full of pity, yet had to respectfully call me ‘Mrs. Carter’. Although I was just a substitute, Ryan’s willingness to bring me to the company already proved that this substitute held no small place in his heart. Ryan held my shoulders and introduced me to their company’s R&D base. With some pride in his voice, he told me that in recent years, many new drugs had been born in this R&D base. He even said that after I gave birth to our baby, he would name a new drug after the baby. I wore a harmless smile on my face, but inside I couldn’t help feeling sick. Naming a drug after my child? What a vicious idea. Yet he could say it so seriously, as if he thought it was some great honor. The moral compass of these drug dealers truly made me, a normal person, unable to comprehend. As he was talking enthusiastically, a middle-aged man ran over breathlessly. He looked at Ryan, then at me, with a troubled expression. I spoke up tactfully: “You two talk. I should head back anyway.” Ryan handed me over to Butler Brown, who had been accompanying us on the side, instructing him to take me back safely. When we reached the bank’s entrance, I suddenly heard someone call out that name I had almost forgotten myself. “Esme Winters?” I froze for two seconds before turning around. The person who called me ran to my side excitedly. It was Ethan White, my nominal brother. “Esme, it really is you. I just called out on a hunch because your back looked familiar.” He scanned me up and down, and seeing I wasn’t missing any limbs, he tentatively asked: “Why haven’t you called home for so long? Uncle Mark and Mom have been looking everywhere for you.” I glanced at Butler Brown, and seeing he was keeping his head down without any intention of intervening, I replied, “I’ve been out of the country and it wasn’t convenient. Now that we’ve run into each other, help me tell them I’m doing well here and they don’t need to worry. I’ll visit when I have the chance.”

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After my parents passed away, I was taken in by Colonel Gerald Sutton, my grandfather’s old comrade. Amara Sutton, twelve years older than me, told me she would take care of me from then on. And she did. She showered me with blatant, unapologetic favoritism. But on the day I finished my college entrance exams, I couldn’t hold back anymore—I confessed to her. Amara pushed me away, disappointment etched on her face. “Get a grip, Cole! I’m twelve years older than you—I’m your guardian!” Later, she brought home Damon Lockhart, the man I had never gotten along with since childhood. And for him, she pushed me off the edge of Ravencliff Canyon. When I woke up in the ambulance, I dialed a number I had been holding onto for a long time. Content The day Amara invited me hiking, rescue workers found me unconscious at the bottom of Ravencliff Canyon. They performed CPR and bandaged my wounds. I finally regained some semblance of consciousness, clawing my way back from the brink. The suffocating sensation of near-death still lingered in my nerves. Thankfully, the canyon wasn’t too deep; I only ended up with minor fractures. But Amara had already left with Damon Lockhart. She didn’t care if I lived or died. All it took was one word from Damon: “Let him see what it feels like to take a fall.” So, she pushed me off. But I had never been alone with Damon. I had no idea how he ended up bruised and battered, rolling down the hill. Damon lay curled up, clutching his leg, trying to appear in agony while stealing glances at me. “Amara, it’s my own clumsiness. Don’t blame anyone else.” Amara immediately decided I was the culprit. “Cole Whitmore, all these years I raised you were a waste. How dare you do something so ungrateful!” Damon was the man she loved most in her life. For him, she would turn on me without hesitation. No matter how hard I tried, I was just the foster son. Her disdain for me must have started on the day of my graduation party. That day, I had too much fun with my classmates, getting drunk for the first time in a karaoke lounge. Amara drove to pick me up, helping me into the passenger seat and leaning over to buckle my seatbelt. Under the influence of alcohol, my mind was filled with thoughts of Amara’s kindness. I couldn’t help but wrap my arms around her neck and whisper my confession into her ear. The object of my twelve-year-long crush was none other than Amara Sutton. Her expression changed instantly. She shoved me away, disappointment clouding her features. “Cole Whitmore! I told you to call me Aunt Amara, not by my name!” “I won’t! Amara is just Amara—not my aunt. We’re not even related by blood. At most, I can call you my sister!” Amara flew into a rage. In her eyes, my defiance was nothing more than teenage rebellion. Our relationship grew more strained by the day. With her looks and charm, plenty of men were eager to court her. Yet she waited until she was 34 to announce her engagement. People whispered that I was the reason she delayed marriage, saying she spent all her time raising a foster son with no room to find love. Things only worsened after Damon Lockhart showed up. Amara’s patience with me wore thinner with every passing day. I knew it was time for me to leave. Resolving myself, I called Mrs. Fiona Ellis, my late mother’s friend. “Mrs. Ellis, I’ve made up my mind. I’m moving to San Francisco and will accept the Prescott family’s proposal.” Her tone was heavy with concern. “Cole, are you okay? This is a lifelong decision. Don’t make it impulsively.” When my parents died, Mrs. Ellis had intended to adopt me. But Colonel Sutton, pitying his comrade’s orphaned grandson, had taken me in first. Before he passed away, he left a will asking Amara to look after me for life. “I’m fine. I’ve thought it through. Once I settle things here, I’ll book a flight for next month.” She was quiet for a moment before replying. “Alright, I’ll support your choice. If you need advice, don’t hesitate to reach out.” “Thank you. Amara is getting married soon. I want to say goodbye properly.” Mrs. Ellis agreed. “She raised you for over a decade. Make sure to thank her—and don’t forget a wedding gift.” Rain fell cold and steady over New York City’s gray skies. I had already decided what wedding gift to give. Back at the Sutton Estate, I found Damon lounging on the sofa with one leg crossed over the other. Amara was kneeling at his feet, gently massaging his ankle. The sight was like a dagger to my heart. When Damon saw me, he greeted me with exaggerated concern. “Cole’s back! You’re not hurt, are you? Amara can be so harsh sometimes…” Amara cut him off with a cold glare. “He brought it on himself.” Her five words shattered what little remained of my resolve. Indeed, it was my fault. I should never have fallen for Amara. I climbed the stairs in silence, pretending not to see their affection. The housekeeper emerged from my art studio, carrying an armful of things, leaving the room nearly empty. She looked uncomfortable as she explained, “Sir, this room has the best lighting. Miss Sutton wants to turn it into a nursery.” I stared at the paintings tossed aside like garbage. Once, Amara had told me I was a genius, a future great artist. She had emptied the best-lit room for me to use as a studio, promising to give me the best the world could offer. Now, the shards of my heart couldn’t even muster pain anymore. I forced a faint smile. “It’s fine. I’ll take care of it. Thank you.” The housekeeper hesitated before finally leaving. Among the remnants were old sketches and carefully framed portraits I had drawn of Amara for her birthdays. Packing them into a large box, I stood to find her suddenly at the door.

“Are you running a fever?” Amara Sutton frowned as she walked toward me. The glass window reflected my face, pale and sickly. I had been dizzy all afternoon, my forehead burning. I shook my head. “No, I’m fine.” Better than giving her a reason to call me spoiled. Damon Lockhart was temporarily resting in her bedroom. Out of the corner of my eye, I thought I saw Amara’s hand rise slightly before dropping back down. Her face remained cold as she reprimanded me. “Learn your lesson this time. Don’t do anything so stupid again.” “You’re an adult. Acting jealous is just childish.” Amara knew I had feelings for her. She had no trouble dismissing my sincerity as meaningless. I pressed my lips together, refusing to admit any fault. Her patience grew thinner. “Damon and I are getting married next month. Don’t create any trouble for me.” “If something like today happens again, you can pack your things and leave.” She left me with that cruel warning and walked away, her figure disappearing down the hallway. The Amara I once knew—gentle, patient, protective—was long gone. There was a time when Amara would have charged into my school to defend me. When classmates bullied me, she showed up in the principal’s office, raising hell. She even sent one of their parents to the hospital. She didn’t care about paying for medical expenses—she just wanted justice for me. When I was sick and needed surgery, she stayed by my bedside for days without sleeping. She even gave up a multimillion-dollar contract to make sure I was safe. Back then, she would light candles in church, praying for my health and well-being. Now, I carried the box of what little remained of my belongings down the stairs. I tossed it into the trash, staring at the pieces of my past. What was the point of keeping photos and gifts? Amara no longer belonged to me. That day, they were going to pick up a car—a wedding gift from Amara to Damon. Damon, always eager to show his dominance, called out to me deliberately in front of her. “Hey, Cole, why don’t you join us?” “I could use your opinion. I might not have the best eye for these things.” He wanted me there, not for advice, but to rub salt in my wounds. I kept my composure and smiled. “I think I’ll pass. I wouldn’t want to intrude on your time together.” Besides, I was busy erasing every trace of my existence from the Sutton Estate. I needed to save up enough to repay the years of kindness I owed Amara and finally leave for good. Amara looked at me with a sharp, lingering gaze, as if daring me to hold onto some shred of hope. “Get in the back seat,” she ordered firmly, leaving no room for argument. “Be good, Cole. Don’t make this harder than it has to be.” Reluctantly, I followed them to the dealership. Damon drove, chatting and laughing with Amara the entire way. At a red light, she peeled an orange for him, feeding him a piece. I remember how much she hated the smell of oranges. But now, she didn’t even flinch, methodically peeling one after another for him. Turning away, I stared out the window, catching a glimpse of Damon’s smug grin reflected in the glass. “Hey, Cole, what do you think? The first one, or this one here?” This dealership was one of the most exclusive in New York City. The price tags on their cars started at seven figures. It was clear how much Amara cared for him. “They’re both fine,” I replied, unwilling to commit. My hesitation seemed to satisfy Damon. “What about you, babe? What do you think?” Amara, distracted by her phone, took a few moments before answering. “The first one,” she said simply. Damon beamed. “Alright, let’s take another look at your pick.” “Why don’t you sit in the passenger seat with me, Amara? I’m worried I might scratch it.” Despite my reluctance, Amara’s stern gaze forced me to join them for the test drive. The car started moving slowly. I barely had time to help Damon adjust his mirrors before we heard a loud crash. The car had backed into a pillar. “Dammit!” Damon shrieked, his voice trembling. Amara rushed over, her expression darkening as she looked at the damaged car, then back at us. “What happened?”

Damon Lockhart’s voice trembled. “Amara, if you don’t want me to take the car, I won’t. But why would you—” A dealership employee rushed over, gasping at the crumpled rear end. “Miss Sutton, look at this!” The air grew heavy with silence. Then came the slap, loud and stinging. My cheek burned hot, and I stared at Amara, stunned. “It wasn’t me…” I muttered. Her fury was unrelenting. “Enough! There were only two of you in the car. How much longer are you going to deny it?” “To stoop to such petty tricks… you’ve really let me down, Cole. Apologize to Damon right now!” She was convinced my jealousy had driven me to destroy the luxury car she had chosen for Damon. “This has nothing to do with me, and I won’t apologize.” I held my head high, refusing to let my tears fall as I faced her wrath. Her hand rose again, but Damon stepped in with faux concern. “That’s enough, babe. Just make him pay for the damages. No need to mess up his face any further.” Reluctantly, Amara let the matter drop, leaving me behind. “If you’re bold enough to cause trouble, you can handle the consequences.” She drove away with Damon, her sports car roaring as they sped off. The bill came next—a staggering $888,000. The guards by the door made it clear: if I didn’t pay in full, I wasn’t leaving. Clenching my jaw, I handed over my card, watching as my savings evaporated. I had been carefully setting aside money to repay Amara the $5 million I owed for my upbringing. This incident set me back even further, forcing me to work even harder to make up for the loss. After graduation, I co-founded a company with friends. Amara had tried to pull me into Sutton Enterprises, but I declined. Had I joined, severing ties with her would’ve been impossible. The company became my escape. I poured myself into it—late nights, endless meetings, constant hustling to land deals and build partnerships. For months, I avoided speaking to Amara entirely. Then one night, I saw her through the glass window of a karaoke lounge. She sat at the center of a crowd, surrounded by laughter and admiration. Damon sat beside her, their chairs too close for comfort. The group egged them on, demanding they toast together. Damon turned to her expectantly, his eyes gleaming. Amara hesitated, her gaze drifting toward the door. I ducked behind the wall, holding my breath. Moments later, her voice floated out—soft, yet firm. “Alright.” The crowd erupted into cheers, celebrating their “perfect love story.” By the time I returned to my seat, my phone was lighting up with social media notifications. Photos of them drinking together, Damon’s hand on her wrist, even a candid of him leaning in to kiss her. I hit “like” on the post, my expression unreadable. Turning back to my clients, I smiled, pouring drinks and singing to close the deal. When I finally walked out with the signed contract, I felt a strange sense of relief. The money was enough to settle my debt with Amara. I stumbled into the Sutton Estate, drunk and exhausted. The house was dark, but her silhouette was unmistakable, her piercing eyes cutting through the gloom. “What kind of business requires you to be in a place like that?” Her tone was cold, accusatory. “And what kind of place would that be?” I asked, smirking. Her expression hardened. She thought I had been following her. “Why can you go there, but I can’t?” The alcohol loosened my tongue, making my voice sharper than intended. She blinked, taken aback. “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from shady crowds like that?” “I must’ve forgotten,” I replied, brushing past her. “Cole Whitmore!” The sound of shattering glass echoed behind me. Shards of the tea cup skittered across the floor, cutting into my leg and drawing blood. “Stop trying to get my attention,” she snapped. “It’s useless. All you’re doing is humiliating yourself.” She stormed off, slamming her door behind her. I sighed, cleaning and bandaging the cut before collapsing onto my bed. Maybe it was the fall at Ravencliff Canyon, or the alcohol, but my body burned with fever that night. In my haze, I thought I saw her sitting by my bedside.

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I caught my husband swapping my eggs with his ideal woman’s before our IVF procedure. I didn’t say a word, but switched the eggs back. And while I was at it, I replaced my husband’s sperm with my ex-boyfriend’s. Twenty-five years later, the other woman showed up at our door, crying hysterically to my daughter: “Sweetie, I’m your real mother!” My daughter Xixi and I had just returned home from an overseas medical cooperation project when we were greeted by an unexpected scene. Our house was filled with distant relatives we rarely saw. It looked like a Johnson family reunion. The most eye-catching figure was Brianna White, sobbing dramatically in the center of the sofa. Gregory Johnson, my perpetually absent “good husband,” was comforting her with tender words and gestures. I raised an eyebrow, set my suitcase aside, and turned to Gregory. “What’s the special occasion? Why such a crowd?” Xixi followed behind me, arms crossed and a look of disgust on her face as she stared at Brianna. She had already guessed this woman’s identity. My mother-in-law sat in the main seat, her expression troubled and hesitant. Before Gregory could speak, Brianna lunged towards Xixi, crying, “My darling daughter, I’m your real mother!” Xixi nimbly dodged her, her face contorted with revulsion as if Brianna were something filthy. She stepped back and said coldly, “My mom’s name is Kaia Hansen.” That’s my girl, always my little sweetheart. I took Xixi’s hand, giving her a reassuring look, then raised my other hand and slapped Brianna across the face. The sharp sound echoed through the living room. “Don’t go claiming false relationships,” I said, my voice icy and my gaze sharp as a knife. Gregory jumped up, tenderly helping Brianna to her feet. He pointed at me and shouted, “Kaia, have you lost your mind? How dare you hit Brianna!” He raised his hand, about to strike me. Quick as lightning, Xixi stepped forward and slapped Gregory. “You dare hit my mom?” Xixi’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. Gregory froze, both angry and shocked. He raised his hand again, this time to hit Xixi. But Brianna grabbed him, fake-crying, “Gregory, don’t! She’s our daughter!” Her act of a caring mother made me want to vomit. Gregory lowered his hand, glaring fiercely at Xixi. “If it weren’t for your real mother’s sake, I’d teach you a lesson right now!” Xixi let out a cold laugh. “Huh, I’d like to see you try.” Her piercing gaze was just like mine when I was young. I felt a surge of pride – this was indeed the daughter I had carefully raised!

An elder cleared his throat, attempting to calm the chaotic scene. “Everyone, quiet down!” His deep voice carried an undeniable authority. As the room gradually fell silent, all eyes turned to the elder. He looked at Gregory. “Gregory, why did you call everyone here? What’s going on?” Gregory took a deep breath, as if gathering courage. He put his arm around Brianna’s shoulders, looking deeply in love. “Actually, I have an important announcement to make today.” He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room before finally landing on Xixi and me. I watched him silently, wondering what kind of show he was going to put on. “Xixi… she’s not Kaia’s biological daughter,” Gregory said, his voice low but the impact as explosive as a bomb in the living room. Xixi whipped her head around to look at me, her eyes full of shock. I gestured for her to stay calm. The relatives around us began to whisper, like a group of sharks that had caught the scent of blood, stirring excitedly. “Back when we did the IVF…” Gregory paused, as if it was difficult to continue, “The doctor said Kaia’s eggs weren’t good enough… To spare her feelings about being a mother, I switched them with Brianna’s…” This idiot was actually trying to pin the blame on me for his sneaky behavior! Gregory’s malicious gaze fell on me, seemingly waiting for me to lose control in anger. But I remained calm and composed, forcing him to continue his performance. “I called everyone here today to witness…” he looked at Brianna with apparent deep affection, “Xixi recognizing her birth mother.” The relatives immediately erupted into discussion. “If Xixi isn’t Kaia’s daughter, of course she should recognize her birth mother!” “That’s right, Kaia has occupied the position of Johnson family’s daughter-in-law for so many years, it’s time for her to step down!” “Kaia has been controlling Johnson Group’s assets all these years. Now that the truth is out, it’s time for her to leave the company!” Listening to these comments, I couldn’t help but laugh coldly to myself. These relatives with ulterior motives had long been suppressed and removed from the company’s management by me. They could only profit from year-end dividends and were very dissatisfied with me. Now they were eager to watch the drama unfold, hoping to see Gregory and me fall out so they could return to the company and get a piece of the pie. Xixi, seeing the undisguised greed in the relatives’ eyes, gripped my hand tighter. I spoke up: “Xixi is my child. She will only ever be my child.” My voice wasn’t loud, but it was firm and resolute. Brianna put on a helpless expression and choked out, “Sister, how long are you going to deceive yourself?”

I wasn’t deceiving myself. Xixi really was my child. Did Gregory and Brianna really think they could fool me? Back then, Gregory had weak sperm, so we decided to try IVF. Before the embryo was formed, I accidentally caught Gregory secretly messing with my egg storage cabinet along with a nurse. I overheard him happily calling Brianna, saying he had successfully switched in her eggs. At the time, I didn’t make a scene. I silently turned around and gave the doctor a hundred thousand dollars to switch back to my spare eggs that I had harvested earlier. I also “kindly” asked the doctor to replace Gregory’s sperm with my ex-boyfriend’s. On the day of the embryo formation, Gregory and I witnessed the birth of a “miracle” together. He was abnormally happy, probably thinking it was his and Brianna’s child. Watching his stupid expression, I was laughing inside. All these years, I watched him dote on Xixi like a fool, thinking she was his child with Brianna. I can’t tell you how satisfying it was. He tried to trick me, but ended up being the fool for over twenty years. Gregory interrupted my reminiscing, mocking me, “Still in denial? Xixi may have come from your body, but the egg wasn’t yours! Her birth mother is Brianna.” I replied calmly, but with a hint of challenge: “Are you daydreaming?” “If you don’t believe it, we can do a DNA test!” Gregory said firmly. “I also want a divorce! You forced me to marry you, treating me like a lapdog. I’ve been with you for twenty-five years, I’ve done more than enough for you!” When he mentioned divorce, a hint of joy flashed across his face. Looks like he’s been wanting this for a long time. Huh? He dares to say he’s done enough for me? Married to him for twenty-five years, I might as well have been a widow for twenty-five years. When I was raising our child alone, he was off gallivanting with Brianna. When I was fighting in the business world to uphold the Johnson family name, he was living it up in entertainment venues. But he’s wrong about one thing – I didn’t marry him because I loved him like a fool. Marrying him was just to get the status of Johnson family’s daughter-in-law and control Johnson Group. Now, Johnson Group is completely under my control. So, Gregory is of no use to me anymore! “Divorce is fine,” I shrugged indifferently, “But there’s no need for a DNA test. I’m certain Xixi is my child.” Xixi looked at me, her eyes determined. “Mom, I believe you.” Gregory and Brianna immediately became anxious. “Xixi, don’t you trust your father?” Xixi ignored him, just sticking close to me. Just then, a young man who looked like a college student burst in. He walked straight to Xixi, excitedly calling out, “Sister!” Everyone in the room was stunned. As if one extra mother wasn’t enough, now a brother had appeared out of nowhere?

Looking at the boy whose features resembled Brianna’s, I had a vague guess. This must be Gregory and Brianna’s love child. They had kept it well hidden for over twenty years, never letting me find out. It seems this drama is even more interesting than I imagined. My mother-in-law sat at the head of the room, looking at the boy with a stern expression. “Gregory, what’s going on?” The atmosphere in the living room froze once again. The boy looked like he was about to cry, his eyes red-rimmed. “Sister, my name is George. I… I’ve always known about you.” He spoke with a slight stutter, his voice low but trembling. He glanced at me furtively, then quickly lowered his head, as if afraid I would scold him. “My… my mom, she often told me about you, said you were very talented and beautiful…” Brianna began to sob on cue, covering her mouth with a handkerchief, her shoulders shaking. “Xixi, my precious daughter, mommy has missed you so much all these years…” She looked up, her eyes brimming with tears, as if she had suffered a great injustice. “George… he’s always wanted to meet you too. We often secretly went to see you…” George nodded eagerly, hastily adding, “It’s true! Sister, I even enrolled in your school, just to… to be closer to you…” He pulled out a stack of photos from his pocket and carefully handed them to Xixi. “These are pictures of you. I… I took them secretly…” Xixi took the stack of photos and flipped through them briefly. There were photos of her in her graduation gown, smiling brightly; exhausted after dance practice; engaged in a debate with classmates, looking vibrant and energetic… Xixi felt goosebumps rising all over her body. For years, there had been a creepy stalker hiding near her, watching and secretly photographing her! Gregory wasn’t idle either. He walked up to his mother, pointing at George, his tone grave. “Mom, this is the Johnson family’s grandson! All the elders are here to witness, please… please accept him!” Gregory was quite clever. He knew that after his father’s passing, his mother was actually the one who had the final say in the Johnson family. He invited all the relatives to pressure his mother into accepting this child. He was certain that if his mother accepted George, I would have nothing to say about it. After all, in these twenty-five years, he had observed my obedience and filial piety towards his mother. George was quick-witted. He immediately turned to my mother-in-law, respectfully calling out, “Grandma!” My mother-in-law looked at George, then at me, her eyes complex. She didn’t immediately respond to George’s call. I knew she cared for me. Not wanting to put her in a difficult position, I spoke up to break the awkward silence, “Gregory, your real purpose in having this illegitimate child recognized is to inherit the Johnson family business, isn’t it? Why drag Xixi into this?”

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I had been married to Lydia Hale for five years, and she had never respected me. Worse, she and her golden boy, Caleb Monroe, framed me, leading to a brutal beating that landed me in the hospital. She even walked into the operating room in front of me to terminate our child—just because she couldn’t stand the idea of having a baby with my genes. My sister, Victoria Sterling, also believed Caleb’s lies and grew to despise me. The worst part? They conspired to send me to prison in Caleb’s place. I endured hell in Blackstone Correctional Facility, and when I finally decided to give up on all of them, they started to regret it. Content When Lydia came to pick me up, I was still in Warden Gregory Maddox’s office, enduring one of his punishments. He had me on my knees as he lashed my back with a whip. “Warden, Prisoner #8074’s family is here,” Officer Adam Carter announced from the doorway. Maddox paused, setting the whip aside. He glared down at me. “#8074, you know what to say and what not to say once you’re out, don’t you?” Trembling, I nodded. “I… I understand.” Satisfied with my submission, he nodded and grabbed the paperwork Adam handed him. “Sign this,” he barked. I took the pen with shaky hands and scrawled my name—Ryan Sterling. It had been so long since anyone had called me by my name that I hesitated before writing it. Maddox walked me to the prison gates himself, a clear threat lingering in the gesture. Outside, the blinding sunlight burned my eyes. As I adjusted, I saw her standing next to a luxury car, stunning as ever—my wife, Lydia Hale. The same woman who had orchestrated my imprisonment. And not just her. My sister, Victoria Sterling—the sibling I had vowed to protect—had been complicit. The two women I loved most had worked together to send me to hell. “Ryan Sterling, what are you dawdling for?” Lydia snapped, her tone dripping with impatience. Reluctantly, I picked up my meager belongings and approached her. But the closer I got, the more revolted I felt. A wave of nausea hit me, and I doubled over, retching dryly. I hadn’t eaten in a day; there was nothing to vomit. Lydia didn’t even feign concern. Instead, she sneered, “What, playing the sympathy card again? You’re disgusting. Is that all you know how to do?” Straightening up, I caught her gaze—cold, disdainful, as though I were nothing more than dirt beneath her designer heels. Before I went to prison, Lydia had been pregnant with my child. She took me to Memorial General Hospital and, without a shred of hesitation, entered the operating room. When she emerged, the baby was gone. I’ll never forget the first thing she said to me after. “Ryan Sterling, you’re so vile that just carrying your child made me sick. Now that it’s gone, I feel lighter.” With one callous remark, she killed our child. “What are you staring at now?” Lydia’s voice jolted me back to reality. “Hurry up and get in the car. We don’t want Caleb waiting too long,” she added. The mention of Caleb Monroe sent a sharp pang through my chest. If not for him, I wouldn’t have ended up like this. Lydia tried to grab my bag, but I yanked it away instinctively. “No… I can handle it myself.” She raised an eyebrow. “Prison taught you some independence, I see. Good. At least it cured you of your spoiled brat tendencies.” Her words were absurdly amusing. Prison had taught me independence? It was Caleb’s drunk driving that had caused a fatal accident. Lydia and Victoria couldn’t bear the thought of him in prison, so they framed me instead. In Blackstone Correctional Facility, I experienced horrors beyond comprehension. When I first arrived, Maddox had me placed in solitary confinement. For a moment, I thought Lydia had bribed him to give me better accommodations. But I soon realized his “special attention” was anything but kind. On my first day, I noticed a group of inmates ganging up on others. Naively, I reported it to Maddox. That night, I was dragged into a secret room filled with torture devices. They stripped me to the waist, tied me to a beam, and lashed my back until it was raw and bleeding. I passed out from the pain, but they revived me with a bucket of saltwater poured over my wounds. The agony was indescribable. When they’d had their fill, they tossed me into the same cell as the bullies I’d reported. Those men tortured me all night. Later, I learned they had bribed Maddox for protection, and I had crossed the wrong people.

After that, Warden Gregory Maddox seemed to take pleasure in finding new ways to torment me. In the dead of winter, during one of Blackstone’s infamous blizzards, he dragged me out of the prison unnoticed. He stripped me down to nothing, threw me into the snow, and ordered me to crawl forward on my knees, shouting, “I’m nothing but scum! I don’t deserve Lydia Hale!” Another time, he used a medieval-style hand press on me, forcing my fingers apart until the bones cracked. My hands became limp, useless appendages that could no longer hold anything, let alone a melody on the piano. Every time he tortured me, my screams were so guttural they shredded my vocal cords. My voice, once clear and resonant, was now a hoarse rasp. They even jammed a sharp object into my right ear, rupturing my eardrum. All I could hear on that side was a faint, distorted hum. But I was a pianist. My hands and my ears were my life. And in Blackstone, both were destroyed. “#8074,” Maddox would sneer as he delivered another blow. “You’re nothing but trash. You tricked Lydia into marrying you, sabotaged Caleb Monroe, and almost drove him to suicide. Everything happening to you now is what you deserve.” “You should be grateful. Suffering here is your penance.” He repeated these words every day like a mantra, as if trying to make me believe them. Lydia drove silently, glancing at me with irritation when I didn’t respond. “What’s wrong with you now, Ryan? Gone mute?” I turned my head slightly, my right ear catching only fragments of her voice. I chuckled bitterly. Once, I would have talked endlessly around Lydia, eager for any acknowledgment, even if it was just a dismissive word. Now, my silence seemed to bother her more than my presence. “I didn’t want to irritate you,” I rasped, my voice barely audible and nothing like the way it used to sound. She seemed momentarily taken aback by my tone but quickly brushed it off, glaring at me. “Ryan Sterling, I’ve told you before—your pathetic tricks won’t work on me.” She thought I was playing the victim, trying to gain her sympathy. In the past, I might have tried to explain myself, but now, I didn’t see the point. The car pulled up to Sterling Manor in Manhattan’s gated community. Lydia parked and stepped out, motioning for me to follow. Before entering, she turned and said, “Caleb doesn’t know you went to prison for him. Don’t let anything slip. Understand?” I lifted my head to look at the house. This used to be my home, my sanctuary, the place where Lydia and I were supposed to build a life together. Now, it was someone else’s domain. And I was no longer welcome—not as a husband, not even as a human being. Caleb Monroe came out of the house, his face lighting up with a smile. “Ryan!” he called, hurrying toward me. “You’re finally back! All these years studying abroad, and you didn’t visit us once. We’ve missed you!” I stared at his face, familiar and repulsive. Did he really believe I didn’t know the truth? That I had spent three years in Blackstone for him? Impossible. I could still hear Maddox’s words, the ones I overheard during a rare moment of solitude: “Mr. Monroe says this one’s trash. Do whatever you want with him, but make it hurt. Your reward is guaranteed.” The bribes Caleb had paid ensured my suffering. During those three years, Lydia only visited me once. I’ll never forget that day. Desperation clung to me like a second skin as I picked up the phone in the visitation room. “Lydia,” I begged, my voice cracking, “Caleb bribed Maddox to hurt me. I’ve already taken the blame for him—why is he still doing this?” “Please,” I pleaded, my throat tightening. “I can’t take this anymore. Get me out of here.” She laughed—a cold, empty sound. “What blame? You caused the accident, Ryan.” Her next words plunged me into despair: “You’re still trying to frame Caleb? You’ll never change. Stay here and learn your lesson. I’ll have Maddox work on fixing your attitude.” I screamed after her, ripping at my vocal cords until the sound became a garbled mess. “Lydia, I’ll die in here!” She hung up, walking away without a backward glance. Maddox heard about my plea and made me pay. He tied me to a wooden pole in the isolation chamber, stripping my shirt off and whipping me with a spiked lash. The barbs cut deep into my skin, leaving long, jagged scars that bled profusely. I blacked out from the pain, but they brought me back with electric shocks. When I was conscious again, they made me repeat degrading phrases, calling myself a worthless wretch unworthy of Lydia. If I hesitated, they pressed a knife to my fingers. The first time, I resisted. But when they pressed harder, threatening to sever the tendons in my hands, I broke. “I’m nothing! I’m unworthy of Lydia Hale!” I screamed until my voice was raw. But they didn’t stop there. The knife came down anyway, slicing clean through my ring finger. I didn’t even have the strength to cry out. My pain was their entertainment. Before I passed out again, I heard their laughter and jeers. “This is what happens when you cross Mr. Monroe. You’re nothing but a pathetic excuse for a human being.”

I deserve to be punished. But never for offending Caleb. Rather, it was for loving Lydia. Seeing me dazed, Lydia slapped my arm in an unkind manner, trying to rouse my thoughts. But when I saw her raise her hand, I hurriedly squatted down and covered my head, “Don’t hit me… It’s me who did wrong… Please… Don’t hit me anymore…” Seeing me like this, Lydia was stumped in place. She seemed to notice something was wrong and hurriedly asked, “Ryan, what’s wrong with you.” Caleb changed his face and blocked in front of Lydia so that she couldn’t see me before pretending to be concerned about me, “Ryan, are you not feeling well somewhere, let me help you to rest inside.” When I heard Caleb’s fake concern, my stomach instantly retched and I reflexively pushed Caleb away. However, I hadn’t used much force, but Caleb cried out and then fell to the ground, looking at me with a soft look. Lydia instantly got angry and pushed me away, rushing to Caleb’s side, “Caleb, are you alright, are you hurt?” Caleb gripped Lydia’s hand tightly and put on a look that I was the one who was aggrieved and said, “It’s me who didn’t stand still, it’s none of Ryan’s business.” Lydia heard Caleb’s words, even more angry tilted his head to look at me: “Ryan, you have not yet entered the house you are so bullying Caleb, went to prison for so long actually have not learned a good lesson.” I didn’t dare to refute Lydia. But I was already well-behaved enough. Those inmates knew that the warden was targeting me, and made things even more difficult for me. They would beat me up in groups while I was working, throw all my food on the floor during meals, step on my back to make me lie down on the floor, and lick up the food like a dog. When I didn’t finish licking, they would step on my head and force me to finish licking. Then laugh as if I was their next meal. The warden and the other guards knew about it, but no one came out to refute it. Oh, there was that too. There was a new guard who couldn’t stand to look at me and help me, but he ended up being taken by the warden to the small dark room and beaten half to death that day, and the next day he went to serve elsewhere. So no one dares to help me in this prison. They all bullied me. Some of them even got a reward from the prison warden for bullying me, which is why they are even more unrestrained. Lydia helped Caleb into the house. I hesitated outside the door for half a day, but still entered the house. It was winter now, and I was wearing thin clothes that didn’t fit the season, and it was really cold outside. Just as I entered the house, I could smell the smell of seafood emanating from the dining table. I resisted the urge to vomit and followed Lydia’s lead to the dining table. “Ryan, I remember you used to love seafood the most, I don’t know if you’ve changed in the few years you’ve been abroad.” Caleb said and put the seafood on the plate in my bowl. The fishy odor of the seafood rushed directly into my nose, causing my breath to stutter. Then it was those things in my stomach that were churning. I slammed my head down and grabbed the corner of the table to vomit. But it was still the same, there was nothing in my stomach in the first place, and now even if I wanted to vomit, I couldn’t get anything out. Caleb immediately said as if he felt sorry for me, ”Ryan, what’s wrong with you? Is it because the food I made is not to your liking? Or did you go abroad for so long and change your tastes, tell me and I’ll go and redo it for you.” Lydia pulled Caleb away and glared viciously at me, “Ryan, what tricks are you playing again? Caleb knew that you were coming back today and made your favorite meal early, how hard is it to make Caleb’s heart feel like this now.” I raised my eyes, and with tear-stained eyes, I saw Lydia’s undisguised hatred for me. But I didn’t ah. My stomach had already gone bad a long time ago. After I asked Lydia for help that time, the prison warden had locked me in a small dark room where I couldn’t reach my fingers after torturing me in order to punish me. For three whole days I didn’t eat a single meal or drink a single mouthful of water, just lying on the ground like that. It was as if I was waiting for my death. Until I was about to starve to death, the door of the small dark room was opened. The warden walked in with a bowl of stinking rice, and when he threw the bowl in front of me, the smell made my stomach instantly sick. He pressed my head and placed my mouth on that rancid rice and said mockingly, “You cheap bastard, you can only eat these dog’s rice know?” I tasted the rotten meat that no dog would eat, and it was so hard that I wanted to vomit. But I had to eat in order to stay alive. So I picked up the bowl and wolfed down all that rotten rice, as if I couldn’t taste them as long as I ate fast. But it was no use, the flavor spread from my five senses to my lungs, making my whole body want to vomit. “Look at 1931, you guys are like an animal, what a lowly person, just like that you still want to compete with Mr. Monroe for Miss Hale? What a fool’s dream.” “You natural born bitch, calling you a dog insults the dog, you don’t deserve Miss Hale at all.” “1931, you should be tortured in prison for robbing Mr. Monroe.” In the midst of their mockery, I spit out another stream of those things I had just eaten. After that, my stomach was bad. Never again could I smell these smelly things. Even just eating something good was unbearable.

Lydia grew angrier as she watched me, grabbing more seafood with her chopsticks and slamming it into my bowl. “Eat! Eat it all! Caleb worked hard to prepare this. You’re not allowed to waste a single bite.” Her tone left no room for argument. I grabbed the bowl with trembling hands, shoveling the food into my mouth as if by instinct. Years in Blackstone Correctional had trained me to obey commands without hesitation—disobedience only invited more pain. I ate mechanically, forcing the food down like a lifeless automaton. But my stomach couldn’t handle the rich, fishy flavor anymore. As soon as I swallowed, waves of nausea gripped me, and I began to gag uncontrollably, trying to keep the food down. It didn’t take long to finish what was on my plate, but the effort left me doubled over, pounding my chest in a futile attempt to ease the burning discomfort. Then, without warning, my body betrayed me. I retched violently, expelling everything I’d just eaten onto the floor. Lydia leapt back with a look of pure disgust, clutching her nose. “Ryan Sterling, what the hell are you doing?” Her disgust was palpable. I remembered she had a severe aversion to anything unclean. In a panic, I grabbed a rag and began scrubbing the floor with shaking hands, muttering under my breath. “I’m sorry… I did something wrong… Please don’t hit me… Please don’t hit me…” I repeated the words like a broken record, lost in the cycle of apology. Lydia noticed something was wrong, her brows knitting together as she hesitantly stepped closer. “Ryan? What’s wrong with you?” I recoiled from her approach, crouching defensively and clutching my head. “Stay away! I didn’t do anything wrong! Don’t hit me…” Her confusion deepened. “Who’s hitting you?” Caleb interjected, his voice slick with false concern. “Lydia, he’s clearly unwell and rambling nonsense. He’s been abroad, remember? No one’s hitting him.” Her initial suspicions faltered at his reassurance. Caleb was careful to keep her ignorant about what had really happened to me in Blackstone. She shook her head, brushing it off. “Caleb, call a doctor to take a look at him. I don’t want him dropping dead in my house—it’d be bad luck.” Caleb nodded quickly, dragging me upstairs to a bedroom. He locked the door behind him, leaving me alone. Lying on the bed, I took deep, gasping breaths of fresh air. The quiet and solitude were almost unbearable after so long. After calming down, I made my way to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face. As I pulled off my gloves, I caught sight of my left hand—the missing tip of my ring finger a cruel reminder of the hell I’d endured. Even with prosthetics, my hands were ruined for music. My hearing was too damaged to feel the nuances of sound. The piano, my first love, was lost to me forever. I rinsed my face and returned to the room, staring at the closet. I began packing what little belonged to me, determined to leave this place—a house that had once been my home, but now felt like a stranger’s domain. Just as I zipped my bag shut, I heard a voice echo from downstairs. “Ryan Sterling, that little bastard, is back? Where is he?” The sound froze me in my tracks, my stomach tightening with dread. I recognized the voice.

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I was reborn on the very day my parents divorced. My younger brother insisted on staying with Dad and told me to go live with Mom. I knew what he was up to. He had also been reborn, and was jealous of the life I’d had in my previous life as the president of the Hughes Group. He wanted to take my place. He was smug about it, but I nearly laughed out loud. Did he really think he could just leave the Hughes family so easily? Was it really that simple? In my past life, after Dad retired and stepped down from all his positions, I officially took over the family business, becoming the sole leader of the Hughes Group. I became a rising star in the business world, living a life full of success and admiration. Meanwhile, my brother Johnny Hughes flunked his SATs, refused to find a job, and fell into a cycle of drinking and gambling. He drained Mom’s savings with every scheme he could think of, only to lose it all at the casino. When Mom could no longer give him a single cent, he started using the money I sent for her support to fuel his alcoholism. In his drunk rages, he even hit her. Under this constant strain, Mom, who was younger than Dad, looked like she had aged 20 years. When I found out what had been going on, I brought Mom to live with me. Johnny, pretending he was just visiting Mom, showed up at my place, shamelessly asking for money. “Theresa, congratulations on becoming the CEO,” he said with a smile. “I’m a little short on cash right now. You’re doing so well. Surely you can lend me a few million dollars?” I sneered, “I bet you want that money to gamble again, don’t you?” Over the years, I’d sent so much money to support Mom, only for it to be squandered by him in casinos. Just then, Dad, who was visiting my company, coughed a couple of times. “Theresa, Johnny is your brother. Don’t be so harsh just for a little money.” Johnny’s face lit up when he heard Dad speak up for him. But I kept my face cold, showing no sympathy. “Last time, Dad, you said the same thing. I paid off all his gambling debts and then gave him even more money. And now you’re asking me for the same thing again as if I’m an ATM? If I had a choice, I’d rather not have a brother like him.” Johnny was caught off guard by my sudden decision to draw a line with him. His face turned as red as a beet. Dad, unable to stand my defiance, went pale with anger. “So, you won’t even acknowledge Shirley’s son, huh? Johnny is your real brother! How can you treat him like this? I see. You’ve gotten too big for your britches and want to push us all away, don’t you?” I stared at him in disappointment. “Dad, I’ve called you Dad out of respect for how you raised me, but your actions are truly disappointing! To you, I’m not even your daughter in the Hughes family. I’m just here to manage the money for you and your two sons, right?” Dad’s face turned red with anger as I hit a nerve. “You think you can just hold onto the Hughes family fortune forever, but one day, you’ll get married! When that happens, you’ll belong to someone else’s family. Your brother will be the only one left to rely on. What’s the harm in patching things up with him now?” I was so frustrated by Dad’s shameless reasoning I nearly laughed. He was trying to trick me into believing he was looking out for my future. He honestly thought that? With his spoiled eldest son, Johnny, and his second son, who was on his way to being just as useless, what were they ever going to do for me or the company? Johnny, listening to this, suddenly seemed to have an epiphany. “Ah, so this is why Dad doesn’t care about me anymore. It’s you. You vicious woman, who stole all the Hughes family wealth! You don’t care about your own brother, and you treat Dad this way… The Hughes family is doomed with a woman like you. We’ve hit rock bottom!” Listening to his self-righteous speech, it almost sounded like I was some kind of scheming woman trying to steal the Hughes family’s fortune, instead of the hardworking person who had spent years building a small company into a large corporation. I didn’t want to argue anymore. I simply decided to show them the actions of who was really in charge of this company. I had the security escort Johnny out. Johnny struggled violently, his eyes bloodshot with rage, staring at me with a look full of hatred and resentment. “Theresa Hughes! A cold-blooded, heartless, and vicious woman like you doesn’t deserve to be my sister! If I could live my life over, I’d make sure you’d never ruin the Hughes family again!” I smiled and waved my hand at him. “Sorry, but I only believe in the present! The present is the only thing I can control. Anything like rebirth is just wishful thinking.” But what I never expected was that Johnny really seemed to believe I was the one who ruined his life, blaming all his failures on me. He even went so far as to get drunk, grab a kitchen knife, and sneak into the company’s underground parking lot to take my life. I was caught off guard while getting into my car, and before I could react, he stabbed me seven times from behind. I collapsed onto the ground. I lost so much blood that my body began to feel cold, and my vision blurred into darkness. But I could still hear Johnny’s crazed laughter echoing in my ears. “I’ll make sure you pay for trying to steal the family fortune! Do you think you can look down on me as a CEO? Everything in the Hughes Group is mine! I’m going to kill you, you bitch who’s stealing my inheritance!” As I was on the verge of dying, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated. I thought he was insane. If I had known, I would have sent him to a mental hospital long ago. My dad’s little company grew to this scale because of me! I thought, “The inheritance he was supposed to get was all gambled away long ago. What does that have to do with me? At least when I’m dead, the property will go to the lawyer. Most of it will be donated, and the rest will be given to my parents monthly. He won’t get a penny!” With that thought, I sank into complete darkness. I didn’t know how long it was before I regained consciousness. When I opened my eyes, I found myself back in the old house where we used to live as a family of four. My mom was holding a suitcase, looking helpless as Johnny, now throwing a tantrum, refused to go with her. He was crying so hard he could barely catch his breath, desperately grabbing onto my dad’s suit. “Dad, I don’t want to live with Mom! She doesn’t have a job. She’s just a housewife! Can you really let me suffer like this?” My mom stared at him, shocked and unable to believe her once-beloved son was now speaking so cruelly to her. I watched coldly from the side, feeling a bit amused. It was sickening to see such a young boy with that much malice and calculation in his eyes. It was like forcing a filthy adult into the body of a young person.

If I still couldn’t tell that Johnny had also been reborn, I would really be blind. I could see my dad’s hesitation too. The truth was, he obviously wanted his son to stay with him, to carry on the family line. But he had always played the role of the stern father, and Johnny, who had always been closer to his mother, insisted on staying with her. At first, after the divorce, they lived relatively well with the alimony and property split. But when Johnny failed his SATs and couldn’t find a job, he turned to drinking and gambling. All the money they had couldn’t fix the mess he’d made. It wasn’t until he saw me on the news that he realized our small family business had turned into a huge corporation. Regret hit him hard. That was when he started showing up at my door, shamelessly claiming that the Hughes family’s wealth should be shared with him, too. Although my father realized that this son had been spoiled beyond help, he couldn’t bear to see him suffer. So, at my father’s request, I gave Johnny the inheritance that was rightfully his, ahead of time. But a gambler was already in a bottomless pit, and money never stayed with him for long. Soon, he demanded more money from me, but how could I keep footing the bill for his gambling habits? It was probably from that moment on that he began to resent me, and he was willing to go to extreme lengths, even to become a murderer, just to make me pay. Now, as I stand at the crossroads of fate in Johnny’s eyes, I finally understand his logic. His thinking was simple. If he had stayed by Dad’s side, he would have inherited the entire massive Hughes Group, and I would have had no connection to the family fortune. I would have had to live off the Hughes family’s generosity. But I had underestimated the cruelty of human nature. When Dad finally relented and told Mom that both children would stay with him, Johnny threw another tantrum. “I don’t want to live with my sister!” He pointed at me, his eyes red and swollen, as if looking at an enemy with a blood feud rather than his own sister. “My sister has never liked me. If she stays here, there won’t be any place for me in this family. She’ll bully me!” Dad kept reassuring him that he would always be his most beloved son and that nothing like that would happen. But Johnny didn’t believe him. The moment he saw me, he started crying and throwing a fit again. Under Johnny’s relentless tantrums, Dad hesitated, clearly torn. It was obvious to anyone who mattered who held more importance in his heart. I sighed deeply, my face gloomy, but inside, I wasn’t bothered. In a way, Johnny was right. I really never liked him. After he was born, my parents seemed to forget about me. No matter what happened, they always sided with Johnny. Even when Johnny did something wrong, it was always me, the older sister, who got blamed for not keeping him in check. In that environment of blatant favoritism, how could I possibly feel any affection for him? As for the small company of the Hughes family, I didn’t care about it. In my past life, I had already endured enough unfairness within the Hughes family. It wasn’t until I stood at the top that no one dared to look down on me. If I could cut ties with the Hughes family from the start of this life, I’d actually be grateful to Johnny. Out of this sense of gratitude, I kindly reminded him, “When Dad marries someone new, don’t be as spoiled as you used to be. Or else, you’ll regret it. Johnny sneered, “I know. It’s just Shirley, right?” Mom looked up in shock. “You know?” Shirley Parker was Dad’s secretary. Dad, tired of Mom being a housewife with no common ground with him, had been having an affair for two or three years. After Mom caught him, he simply filed for divorce. Johnny didn’t care about Mom’s feelings. He loudly declared, “Dad works so hard every day to earn money and support the family. Mom, you’re no help at all. All you do is complain. You’re so unreasonable. It’s no wonder you couldn’t hold on to a man like Dad, someone destined to be successful!” Mom shook with anger, and Dad’s face looked considerably better. After all, he had the worst qualities of a man. He didn’t want his women to do well after leaving him. Johnny’s words were exactly what he wanted to hear. I couldn’t stand watching this drama any longer, so I took the initiative to grab my mom’s sleeve. “Mom, it’s clear that my brother and I aren’t getting along. Take me with you.” My mom was hurt by Johnny’s words earlier, and she quickly took me away. Dad agreed without hesitation, much more willingly than when Johnny was about to be taken away. Before we left, I took one last look at Johnny. He was clinging to Dad, acting all sweet. When he saw me looking, he thought I was staring at Dad, unwilling to part with the future wealth of the Hughes family. He shot me a sharp glare and mouthed, “The Hughes family’s money is mine!” I simply smiled. My family valued sons over daughters, still holding onto those old traditions of passing down the family name. Johnny staying with Dad would likely mean he’d inherit most of the family fortune one day. But I knew better than anyone how things worked. Dad might be able to hold onto what he already had, but growing the business to the scale it reached in the past without outside help, was nearly impossible. In my past life, I was the one who truly expanded the Hughes Group. I thought, “This time around, could spoiled and lazy Johnny manage that?” I could already see the final outcome clearly, and the smile on my face grew even brighter.

We owned several properties, and one of them was given to Mom as a new home for the two of us. It seemed like Johnny had really gotten under her skin. On our way there, Mom kept complaining about how no man was all the same. I heard her, but I didn’t really pay attention. After all, no matter how terrible men were, Mom still loved her son dearly. All these complaints were just words. If she could truly be that heartless, she wouldn’t have let Johnny keep draining her money in the past. I spent the next few days organizing the most valuable asset from my past life, the memory of future market trends, and putting together a business plan. I went to talk to Mom, hoping to convince her to start an online store. The internet was steadily maturing, but e-commerce was still a vast untapped market. In my past life, I had sensed that physical stores were on the decline, which quickly led the Hughes Group into e-commerce. Although we were successful, we weren’t the first to seize the opportunity. I knew Mom had over a million dollars in cash from joint marital assets, aside from the house. She was cautious by nature, not one to take investment risks, but she was good at saving money. If it hadn’t been for Johnny stealing from her and using the money for gambling, we wouldn’t have ended up in such a mess. As expected, Mom didn’t believe in my plan. She just told me to focus on my studies and not worry about these things. I didn’t try to argue. Instead, I shared a few stocks from my past life that had risen sharply during this time, telling her to wait a few months and see if I was right. With her skeptical look lingering, I went back to my room and checked my phone. Johnny had sent me a message. [Theresa, this is the last time I’ll call you sis. Last life, when I was at my lowest, you didn’t help me. You ate your fill while I got nothing. Now that I’m rich, I won’t do anything to you out of blood ties, but don’t come near me!] Seeing this ungrateful brat ignore the countless times I’d sent money to the family, just to criticize me, I wasn’t upset. I had seen through his true nature long ago. [Fine. From now on, we’re completely cut off. No more ties between us.] I would never go back to the Hughes family again. I just hoped Johnny would really keep his word and stay away from me from now on. One month later, for the first time in her life, my mom paid attention to the stock market. When she saw the stocks I had mentioned soaring, her look at me immediately changed. Following my suggestion, she cautiously bought a few shares. By the time I started college, she had already made a significant profit. The day before school started, Mom looked at her earnings and suddenly kissed me on the cheek. “Theresa, you’re amazing! I was right to give you this name after all!” I just smiled faintly. My name is Theresa Hughes, but I now go by Theresa Walsh, taking my mom’s last name. When my parents named me, they must have had high hopes and expectations for me. I thought, “Love doesn’t disappear. It just shifts.” So, after some time, that attention shifted entirely to my younger brother. I didn’t tell her about my past life. Before marrying Dad, Mom had been an intellectual. It would be easier to convince her that I was a business genius than to make her believe in reincarnation. “Mom, now do you believe in me? I can still analyze which stocks will rise. But, you know, opportunity doesn’t wait. Relying on stocks and other people’s decisions is not a long-term plan. It’s better to seize business opportunities and earn money on your own. If you’re worried, you can start with a small investment, and we can begin with a little online store.” In reality, even if we invested all our money, we wouldn’t be able to run anything big at the moment. My initial plan was to start small with an online shop, slowly getting into the e-commerce scene. Once I built up some experience, I would use the knowledge from my past life. By then, my new company would grow rapidly! Mom was still hesitating. I thought she was worried about losing money, but instead, she said, “Theresa, even though you’re studying locally, are you sure you can handle it all? I don’t know anything about this. I’ll probably rely on you for everything. Money is one thing, but what if it affects your studies?” At that moment, seeing the concern in her eyes, I suddenly felt my own eyes well up with tears. Whether in this life or the last, I had always held some resentment toward my mom. Before the divorce, she favored my brother. After the divorce, she took him with her but abandoned me. I felt sorry for her, being treated that way by Johnny. But in the quiet of the night, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Your son, the one you loved most, treated you like that. In the end, it’s your neglected daughter who saved you. Do you regret it?” But now, I had finally let go of those feelings. Maybe my mom was biased toward my brother for reasons of her own, but her love for me hadn’t vanished. It might have lessened, but it was still there. For the first time, I took the initiative to hold my mom’s hand. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll balance my time. If my grades drop or the online store doesn’t do well, you can stop me anytime!” And so, I began my busy life of juggling both school and work at a young age. I had forgotten most of what I learned before, but thankfully, I still had the foundation. With relentless effort, I found my classes weren’t too hard to manage. At the same time, even though I was just starting a small online shop, I approached it with full determination. I was committed to making it perfect so that within two years, my mom would see the impressive results of e-commerce and trust me even more. I was busy every day. Mom saw it and, feeling sorry for me, started learning about e-commerce and the internet to help share the load. “I’m at this age, and there aren’t many good jobs available. It might be better to try working with you on e-commerce.” Looking at her smile, I couldn’t help but smile. Just as my studies, career, and relationship with my mom were starting to settle into place, Johnny broke his promise and came knocking on our door in a desperate state. “Mom, you can’t just ignore me!”

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