Category: English

When the man came to pick me up, I lay naked on the bar table. He saw the wine stains and scars on my body, yet his eyes showed no pity. I picked up my torn clothes from the floor and numbly followed him. I took my sister’s place to marry Gideon, trying to please him for five years. During the worst of my depression, he brought home the woman he was seeing. He forced me to confess and serve a girl who looked exactly like my sister. The tenth time I cut my wrist, Gideon sat by the bed and told me he hated me. “Vera, don’t use such means to get my attention. Seeing you only makes me hate you more… If only it hadn’t been you who survived back then…” A sharp pain pierced my heart, and once again I asked for a divorce. But Gideon still wouldn’t let me go. Until a fire, reminiscent of the past, trapped both Nora and me. Before the pillar of fire collapsed, I exchanged my life for Nora’s escape. Everyone blamed me for my sister’s death. This time, I paid with my life. But Gideon went mad. 0

“Divorce?” Gideon sneered without mercy. “Every time you ask for a divorce, don’t you come back the next day crying for forgiveness? Vera, these pains are nothing compared to what she went through. You’ll never escape.” Gideon didn’t mind speaking in front of the family doctor. I bypassed him, apologizing to the doctor with regret, “Sorry to trouble you again.” Gideon impatiently interrupted, “Stop pretending here. The trouble you’ve caused is far beyond this. Cold-blooded beings like you are a nuisance just by existing.” Pain flashed in my eyes, and after a moment, I met Gideon’s hateful gaze. “Gideon… then why won’t you let me die?” My words seemed to sting Gideon, and he gritted his teeth, “Want to die? It’s not that easy! You used every means to survive back then, so I’ll satisfy you. I’ll make you live well, or better yet… a life worse than death.” I gave a bitter laugh. I’ve wanted to leave this world more than once. But they hate me, won’t let me live well, and won’t let me die. I have a debt I can never repay. “Can my sister, in her current state, still entertain for me at tonight’s dinner?” Nora spoke with a slightly proud voice while holding Gideon’s arm. I looked at the girl in her early twenties, who looked just like my sister, and felt a bit dazed. I pressed my lips together, wanting to refuse, “Sorry, I’m afraid I can’t go…” But before I could finish, Gideon coldly interrupted, “Vera, who said you could refuse? It’s just a cut, what are you pretending for? Didn’t you run fast even when your leg was burned back then?” My face instantly turned pale, painful memories resurfacing. The abandoned building devoured by flames, thick smoke filling the air. I covered my nose and mouth, stumbling out of the fire. But suddenly, a burnt wooden beam fell from above. My trapped left leg was instantly charred. I struggled to push away the burning pillar. But why… why can’t I push it away… why couldn’t I be a bit faster, just a bit faster… I snapped back to reality in terror. Nora, nestled in Gideon’s arms, stoked the fire again, “Brother Gideon, maybe we should just forget it. If my sister goes unwillingly, others might misunderstand that I’m bullying her. ” Gideon’s aura turned icy, “Vera, it’s just drinking. What are you afraid of? Afraid your frail body might drink itself to death? But don’t you want to die? This is exactly what you wanted, isn’t it?” I heard every word Gideon said clearly, and my breathing trembled. Nora didn’t need to attend any dinners to get the abundant resources Gideon threw her way. But Gideon insisted I drink myself into a stupor to please the investors. He just wanted to humiliate me. I accepted it. “Fine, I’ll go.” I bowed my head to Gideon. But for some reason, his face turned even darker. 0

I put on the scant dress Nora picked for me. She pushed me into the private room, where a pot-bellied, half-drunk man greeted me. His alcoholic breath hit my face, making my stomach churn. “Miss Song, if you’re late, you must drink three glasses as punishment!” “Mr. Knox, my sister can handle her liquor, I’ll have her drink double for you!” Nora complimented the man with a smile, her fingertips pinching into the soft flesh of my arm, threatening in a low voice, “Vera, you better perform well, or you know what will happen!” I looked down at the full row of white liquor before me, my already pale face turning even worse. But I had no choice but to take the glass, downing one after another. My stomach burned painfully, and black spots danced in my vision. Suddenly, Nora accidentally knocked over a champagne bottle, jolting me awake. The entire bottle poured down my chest, turning my dress transparent, revealing what lay beneath. I had no mind to catch the fleeting malice in Nora’s eyes. I turned to leave the room, but Mr. Knox grabbed my wrist. “Don’t go. Stay with me tonight, and I’ll guarantee the lead role for Nora.” The man’s leering gaze swept over me, making me shiver. But the next moment, the door was kicked open. Gideon, emanating a terrifying chill, grabbed a bottle from the table and smashed it over Mr. Knox’s head. Holding his bleeding forehead, Mr. Knox looked up in disbelief, “Young Master Jiang, what is the meaning of this?!” “Did I let you speak?!” Gideon kicked him again, and Mr. Knox fell to the ground, crying out in pain. Gideon stared at my half-exposed shoulder, his voice cold as ice, “Why are you still standing there? Go change your clothes!” I clutched my soaked dress, stunned, unmoving. “Gideon, isn’t this what you wanted to see? Why are you here?” A strange look flashed in Gideon’s dark eyes, quickly turning to hatred, “What do you think? You think I care about you? I’m just afraid you’ll use any means to seduce someone else and run away.” Gideon’s voice was low, full of mockery. I found it hard to breathe. “Vera, are you really going to stand there, dressed like that, in front of me?” I snapped back to reality, fleeing the room. Back at the old house, I finally scrubbed off the sticky feeling. Wrapped in a bathrobe, I went to the balcony for some air, only to hear a faint noise behind me. Realizing something was wrong, I turned to pull the balcony door. Sure enough, it wouldn’t budge. A few minutes later, I stopped banging on the glass, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. The same old trick, I’ve fallen for it countless times, yet I never learn. As expected, I developed a high fever by morning. My forehead was burning, yet my limbs were cold and trembling. I didn’t know when the door opened. Gideon stood over me, looking down in disdain, “Vera, what trick are you pulling now? Since you’re awake, get ready. Nora has a scene in ice water today, and you’re shooting it for her.” 0

I was momentarily stunned, my voice hoarse, “I have a fever.” Gideon frowned, impatience flashing in his eyes, “Stop pretending, the car’s already waiting downstairs.” I couldn’t believe it, “It’s below freezing. You want me to get into ice water with a fever?” “What else?” Gideon sneered, leaning down to grip my chin. “Nora’s body is frail. She’s not like you, tough enough to live shamelessly till now.” His grip was so strong it felt like he might shatter my bones. “I’m not going!” I pushed Gideon away, but he grabbed my wrist. “You don’t have a choice. Don’t forget, the Lin company is still in my hands. If today’s shoot doesn’t happen, I can’t guarantee its survival. Your sister is gone. If Lin goes too, do you think your parents can survive? Hm?” My body froze. Gideon knew too well where my weakness lay. Even if my parents disowned me, they remained the perfect leverage for Gideon to control me. I eventually nodded. Gideon raised an eyebrow, satisfied, leaving with a parting shot, “Vera, this is what you owe us. You’ll never repay it in this lifetime.” Once the door closed, I couldn’t hold myself up any longer, collapsing to the ground. I stared at my reflection in the glass. Puffy eyes, sallow skin, a shadow of my former vibrant self. I endured countless humiliations and tortures like this. I saw no end and couldn’t escape. Dragging my feverish body to the set, the director impatiently pushed me to get into the water. The wind was biting, and ice shards floated on the water’s surface. I gritted my teeth, slowly lowering myself into the water. The director, unhappy with my slow pace, ordered someone to push me in. Cold water rushed into my nose and mouth, making me cough violently. Before I could adjust, the director barked for me to go deeper. But as I stood in water that reached my chin, the cameras didn’t roll. My lips turned blue, and I weakly asked the crew onshore, “When will we start shooting?” They avoided me like the plague; I got no answer. I tried to climb out for a break, but barely moved half a meter before the director shouted angrily, “Did I say you could come up? Stay there!” My head felt heavier and heavier. A scream pierced the air, snapping me back to reality, “Blood! There’s blood in the water!” I looked down, seeing blood spreading from between my legs. The crew pinched their noses, backing away repeatedly. Lips turning purple from the cold, I weakly asked the staff on the shore, “How long before we start filming?” But they completely avoided me, not offering any response. I wanted to climb ashore to rest, but I hadn’t moved half a meter before the director yelled at me, “Did I tell you to come up? Stay there and don’t move!” My head felt like it was sinking, and a scream jolted me back to consciousness, “Blood! There’s blood in the water!” I looked down to see blood spreading from between my legs. The staff pinched their noses and backed away quickly. “Swimming while on your period? How unsanitary!” But then it hit me—I hadn’t had my period for two months. Two months ago, the image of Gideon drunk flashed through my mind. That night, Gideon held me down with a crazed intensity, pouring out his hatred for me. We hadn’t used any protection that night. No. I desperately tried to climb ashore, but the staff held me down firmly. The director eagerly adjusted the camera, “Hold her still! The blood in the water looks so real! I want a close-up!” Water filled my nostrils, darkness closing in. I screamed with all my strength, “Let go… let go of me…” Certainly! Below is the adapted translation, maintaining the original line breaks and paragraph breaks as requested: I’m committed to ensuring that the content reflects the original intention while aligning more closely with English expressions for easier understanding. Throughout this process, we will maintain the original format, preserving the original line breaks and paragraph breaks. People stared at me with indifference, watching as I panicked in the water. Amidst the chaos, I felt a sharp slap across my face. Gideon’s dark eyes were chillingly cold: “The scene isn’t finished yet. Where do you think you’re going?”

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My husband’s first love encouraged her son to bully my daughter. Watching my daughter cry uncontrollably broke my heart. I slapped them both hard. When my husband arrived, his first love twisted the truth, claiming that my daughter and I were the bullies and started the fight. Without listening to our side, my husband locked us in a strict etiquette class, insisting we learn how to behave like ladies. Six months later, my husband came to take me home. I served tea, spoke softly, and kept my head lowered, avoiding eye contact with everyone. People remarked that the etiquette class had worked wonders and that I now carried myself like a lady, a stark contrast to my previously assertive self. Until I knelt and said, “I am the most dignified here. Would any of you gentlemen like a taste?” My husband slapped me in anger, “Adeline, didn’t I send you here to learn manners? I did this for your own good! Are you trying to spite me?” “Are you putting on this degrading act to disgust me?” I laughed emptily, “Isn’t it because the gentleman likes me to be well-mannered and cultured, turning me into this?” My husband shoved me hard, “Where’s our daughter?” I stared blankly, “Daughter? She’s been gone for a long time…” 0

“Adeline, you have a visitor,” the instructor’s voice reached my ears. I shivered. Sigh, another visitor. Students in the etiquette class cannot refuse to see guests. Acting on a whim can lead to severe punishment. Here, I learned two words: obey. The instructor said that only by learning obedience could I have a chance to leave. I walked to the guest room with my head down. What I saw was a group of familiar faces. My husband Nolan, his friends, and his first love, Fiona. After six months of training, my mind had become somewhat numb. Following the instructor’s usual teachings, I bowed deeply upon entering. Then I served tea to each person, meticulously holding it with both hands. Nolan nodded with satisfaction, “The etiquette class has quite a reputation. You’re much more sensible now than before.” “If I’d known it was this effective, I would have sent you earlier.” I responded meekly, “You’re right, Mr. Gu.” Hearing me address him as Mr. Gu, Nolan frowned. He said coldly, “Even though Fiona doesn’t mind what happened between you and her, you can’t just act like it didn’t happen.” “I’ve transferred half of the company shares that belonged to you and our daughter to Fiona. It’s compensation for her.” I kept silent with my head down. Nolan shouted in frustration, “Adeline! Don’t you think you should apologize to Fiona?” His scolding frightened me into kneeling instinctively in front of Fiona, “Miss Su, I’m sorry, I was wrong.” Bang, bang, bang! I kowtowed to Fiona. In the etiquette class, this is how it works; don’t question right or wrong. When scolded, you must kowtow and admit fault. Only by admitting fault quickly enough can you avoid punishment. This has become my instinct. Nolan roughly pulled me away, “Adeline, what are you doing?” I was so scared, my face turned pale, and my body shook uncontrollably. Nolan released my hand and said, “Adeline, what’s wrong with you? I’m your husband; why do you look so scared? Why do you look at me like I’m a stranger?” Fiona said somewhat aggrievedly, “Sister Adeline must still blame me, so she’s mocking us on purpose.” “Actually, there’s no need to apologize. Sister Adeline hitting me twice isn’t a big deal.” Nolan looked at Fiona with concern, then angrily scolded me, “Adeline, you’re incorrigible. It seems I shouldn’t have picked you up today. You should study for another six months.” I panicked. All I dreamed of was leaving this nightmare. If I stayed another six months, I’d go crazy. I knelt on the ground, pleading with Nolan, “Mr. Gu, I was really wrong, please forgive me.” I kowtowed to Nolan, then to Fiona, “Miss Su, I won’t dare anymore, I’ll listen to you from now on.” Nolan got even angrier and kicked me hard, “Adeline, are you putting on this degrading act to disgust me?” “I just sent you to an etiquette class, is that so unreasonable?” I curled up on the ground, crying out, “Don’t hit me, don’t hit me, I’ll do anything.” Nolan was startled. He grabbed my wrist, “Adeline, are you often beaten here?” 0

Before I could speak, the instructor standing by panicked. She came over with a smile and said, “Mr. Gu, you’ve misunderstood.” “Our etiquette class always leads with virtue.” “We treat the students here like our own children; how could we beat them?” Nolan impatiently pushed her aside. He lifted my clothes to check for injuries. What he saw was my smooth skin. Not only were there no scars, but even redness and swelling were absent. Nolan angrily pushed me, “Adeline, you’re really getting good at acting.” I cried. When I first came to the etiquette class, the instructor made me accompany guests. I refused and was beaten severely. But recently, I haven’t been beaten. Because they use my daughter to threaten me. If I disobey, they beat my daughter Cora. Her heart-wrenching screams have become my nightmare. I can only let them manipulate me, even actively pleasing them, so my daughter can have a full meal and not be mistreated. A few times, guests gave me bad reviews. My daughter was dragged in and beaten in front of me. I could only shield her with my body, begging them for another chance, promising to behave… Painful memories flooded back. But the instructor stood by, giving me a warning look. I didn’t dare say anything. I could only kneel and beg Nolan, “Please, take me home.” “Even if I’m not your wife, even as a servant or slave, I accept, just take me away.” Nolan grew more disgusted with me, “Adeline, you’ve learned nothing else here but how to play the victim.” “Unfortunately, you’re doing a terrible job. I’m not an idiot; you can’t fool me.” Fiona cried, “Sister Adeline, you don’t have to do this.” “You’re not just losing your face but also Nolan’s.” “I swear I won’t retaliate verbally or physically in the future; please stop sulking with Nolan.” She reached out to help me. I recoiled in fear, shouting, “Don’t come near.” Compared to men, I fear women touching me more. Several times, when guests were discovered by their wives, the etiquette class pushed me out, claiming I seduced the men. The wives vented their anger on me; they pricked me with needles, burned me with lighters, stomped on me with heels… I’ve developed a psychological shadow with them. I’m scared, truly scared. Now, I only have one thought. Nolan belongs with Fiona; I don’t dare fight anymore. At this moment, Nolan looked at me disappointedly and said, “Adeline, how did you become like this? You’re no different from the shrews among the common people making a scene. Apparently, six months is too short for you.” I was utterly shocked. Because of fear, my brain grew numb and confused. I only had one thought: “It’s over, another guest is unhappy with me.” “Cora, don’t hurt my Cora.” Instinctively, I took out “pills” from my pocket, not counting how many, and stuffed them in when no one was looking. These “pills” were given to me by the instructor. She said taking them makes one more “professional,” and guests would be more satisfied. But I must take them secretly, to make guests think they transformed me, giving them a sense of accomplishment. The “pills” took effect quickly. I shamelessly clung to Nolan and all the guests. Nolan shouted angrily, slapping me hard across the face. Half of my face swelled, blood oozing from my mouth. “Adeline, you’re a disgraceful woman!” Nolan cursed through gritted teeth. He squeezed my neck, choking me. He whispered fiercely in my ear, “Rot here, don’t ever expect me to take you out.” “Our daughter? Today, I’m only taking her.”

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I was Declan’s personal secretary for five years. We never talked about love but shared intimate moments until the person who held his heart returned. He let me go. I had anticipated this day, so I calmly packed my things without causing a scene. The next day, he regretted it and cried. Half an hour ago, the news from HR was a heavy blow: I was fired. A colleague sympathetically patted my shoulder, saying, “We did our best, but the outcome couldn’t be changed.” The news didn’t shock me; instead, I felt a sense of calm acceptance. Last week, whispers began circulating around the company: Declan, our CEO, got engaged to the heiress of White Corporation, his ex-girlfriend and the unforgettable love of his life. Now that his dream had come true, the “extra person” by his side naturally had to be removed. Even though my relationship with Declan was never made public, everyone in the company knew there was something between us. Because of this, no one dared to touch me except Declan himself. I received the notice in the morning and completed all handovers by the afternoon. The colleague taking over my role looked worried, constantly lamenting, “Adeline, what will the secretary department do without you?” Declan’s temper is notorious—unpredictable and irritable. Even the wrong temperature for his coffee could set him off. As the department closest to him, we often bore the brunt of his outbursts. However, since I arrived five years ago, things changed. From making coffee to ordering meals, delivering reports, and even calming his temper when other departments made mistakes, I handled it all. My colleagues often said these past five years were the easiest under Declan. I smiled and demonstrated once, “Get the water temperature right, and Mr. Declan won’t complain.” “I heard there’s someone in the company who knows Declan particularly well, even called his exception. That’s you, right?” said a voice from behind. I turned around. Phoebe removed her sunglasses, her gaze sharp. The colleague holding coffee quickly lowered her head and left. I smiled and greeted her, “You’re joking, Ms. White. If I were an exception, I wouldn’t be standing here today.” “In the company, isn’t it only those who are lacking who get fired?” That remark seemed to infuriate Phoebe. She suddenly grabbed the kettle on the table and splashed hot water towards me, sneering, “Let’s see if your sharp tongue can handle this hot water!” The hot water splashed on me, and my skin turned red instantly. Luckily, Declan always preferred his coffee not too hot; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable. At that moment, Declan appeared. He walked over to Phoebe with a smile, gently adjusting the hair on her forehead. Phoebe clung to his arm, openly saying, “I had a little conflict with a company employee and couldn’t help but splash her with hot water.” Declan finally glanced at me, his eyes cold and indifferent, as if looking at a stranger. “If she’s splashed, she’s splashed. I’ll have someone compensate her. No need to delay our plans over someone insignificant.” “I’ve ordered your favorite crawfish, let’s go soon.” They walked past me, Phoebe’s gaze full of ridicule. Whether it was the sting of the hot water or the hidden pain in my heart, my chest felt like it was being cut by a knife. But this pain—I never want to feel it again…

After leaving the company, I didn’t go straight home. Instead, I walked into a quiet café. Asher was already there, absentmindedly stirring his coffee. “Hello, Mr. Zhou,” I greeted softly. “I’ve resigned from Declan Corporation and can join your company anytime.” Hearing my voice, Asher stopped what he was doing, looked up, and gave a gentle smile. “Welcome, Miss Adeline. But no rush about work. I understand you had a special relationship with Declan. Now that he’s getting married, you might need some time to adjust. I’ll give you three days to sort out personal matters. Can you start after that?” I frowned slightly. Although I knew my situation with Declan couldn’t remain entirely secret, I didn’t expect everyone in their circle to know. Asher was the one who reached out to me after I left Declan Corporation, offering very favorable terms. Honestly, I couldn’t believe it at first After all, at Declan Corporation, I was just a secretary with an ambiguous status—not worth such treatment. “Mr. Zhou, may I ask why you’re offering me such generous terms?” I couldn’t help but ask. Asher remained calm, took a sip of coffee, and gave me an answer that made me half-believe. “I understand Declan. If Miss Adeline can be his secretary for five years, then being a department manager in our company is more than enough. Also, I hope Miss Adeline won’t have any ‘unexpected’ entanglements with our partners after joining.” After some thought, I finally accepted Asher’s offer. After all, the benefits were tempting, and I needed the money now. Just as I nodded in agreement, a familiar cold laugh came from behind. Declan walked into the café, holding Phoebe’s hand. I knew him too well. Whenever he laughed like that, it meant he was angry—really angry. “Mr. Zhou, long time no see. Even the people my company doesn’t want, the Zhou Corporation is willing to take?” “But let me remind Mr. Zhou, this person isn’t honest and loves money. Be cautious as an employee.” I listened quietly to every word Declan said about me. My fingers clenched under the table, almost piercing into my skin. In fact, the moment Declan fired me, I didn’t hate him. After all, what we had was just a five-year transaction. He gave me money, and I accompanied him in bed. But I didn’t understand why, even after leaving Declan Corporation, he still had to be so aggressive. I bit my lip hard, holding back the sting in my nose, trying not to let tears fall. “Mr. Declan, if I really stole from Declan Corporation, you can call the police. But don’t slander me!” Declan glanced at me coldly, saying nothing more. But Phoebe laughed and stepped forward. “Miss Adeline, it’s just a joke. Why so serious? Are you saying today’s compensation isn’t enough and you want more?” Saying this, she pulled out a wad of cash from her bag and threw it at me. “I heard your mom is still in the hospital waiting for money to save her life, right? But don’t throw away your dignity. This money is a reward for you!”

As Phoebe finished her words, the wad of cash hit my face harshly. One of the corners cut my right cheek, leaving a shallow scratch. The surrounding gazes focused on me—some sympathetic, some mocking, and some undisguised malice. “She’s now an employee of Zhou Corporation and has nothing to do with Declan Corporation,” Asher said coldly, suddenly looking at Phoebe. Phoebe instinctively stepped back, hiding behind Declan. It was the first time I saw Declan so tense about someone. He immediately protected Phoebe, facing Asher. Finally, he glanced at me nonchalantly, saying, “Isn’t it just a scratch on the face? Consider this compensation, she still profits.” With that, Declan squinted at me. I knew he was warning me to stop while I was ahead. If I didn’t accept it, he had ways to make things worse for me. The five years of feelings never left any mark in his heart. He never had any true feelings for me. I forced a smile, humiliated, and picked up the money from the ground piece by piece. “Don’t worry, Mr. Declan, I profited.” Each word was squeezed out through clenched teeth; my gums were bleeding. Phoebe sneered, “Really like a lapdog!” I clenched my teeth, the soft flesh inside my mouth nearly bitten through, the metallic taste of blood spreading on my tongue. I didn’t dare look up, knowing how pathetic and ridiculous I must seem. In the end, Asher sighed, took my hand, and led me out of the café. “Take a good rest for three days. I’ll be waiting for you at Zhou Corporation.” Back at the apartment, Declan’s jacket was still on the messy bed. I began tidying up, collecting all his things, and putting them in a box. I planned to return them to him or just throw them away. After a few hours, I realized the whole apartment was filled with traces of him over the past five years. The toothbrush and towel in the bathroom, the plants on the windowsill, the apron in the kitchen… Unknowingly, I had treated him as a real boyfriend over these five years, not just a part of a transaction. Although I didn’t want to admit it, this was the reality. The lock clicked, and the familiar figure appeared before me, as always. Declan immediately noticed the things I packed for him, coldly mocking, “Found a new backer, and now you can’t wait to kick your old patron out?” “Adeline, are you that cheap? Can’t live without money?” I bit my lip hard, the deep imprint clearly visible. So, in Declan’s heart, I was just that kind of despicable person. But none of this mattered anymore. Although I don’t want to admit it, this is the reality. The door lock suddenly clicked, and a familiar figure appeared before me, just like always. Declan glanced at the things I had packed for him and scoffed, “Found a new patron already? Can’t wait to kick your old benefactor out, huh?” “Adeline, are you really so desperate? Can’t live without money?” I bit my lower lip hard, leaving deep, visible teeth marks. So, in Declan’s mind, I’m just this despicable person. But none of this matters anymore. A heart that’s already dead can’t be brought back to life. “We agreed on five years from the start. Now that the time is up and you’re getting married, I won’t hold you back.” “Besides, I’ve already resigned from Declan Corporation. Mr. Declan, you have no reason to stay with me anymore, right?” He said nothing, his face frighteningly grim as he sat on the sofa, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. I quickly pushed the packed things in front of him. “I’ve packed everything. You can take it when you leave.” As soon as I finished speaking, Declan’s expression darkened even more. I had no idea what had upset him. Just like a reflex from the past five years, I quickly ran through all the possible reasons he might be mad. Finally, I remembered something and said to him, “I’ll also give up this apartment, don’t worry. As for the past five years, I won’t say a word, nor will I spread gossip in front of Miss White, and I won’t bother you again.” Declan paused, his expression unreadable in the dim light. Soon, he sneered, leaned over, and pinched my chin. In no time, a red mark appeared on my chin. “It’s best if you’re this sensible, or you’ll regret it!” “I don’t want these things. You’ve touched them, and I find them dirty!” With that, Declan turned and walked out. His words took my breath away, and I couldn’t hold back the tears in my eyes, which fell one by one. I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall. And he never looked back.

Over the next two days, I contacted the landlord to give up my old apartment. Then I found a new one near Asher Corporation. After finally moving, I took some time to visit the hospital. Mom was the same, lying in bed, unable to wake up. Ever since a car accident five years ago, Mom has been in a coma. She relies on hospital equipment to barely stay alive. As usual, I massaged her body to improve circulation. Then, as the doctor instructed, I slowly told Mom about my recent events. “Mom, I’ve left Declan Corporation and got a new job.” “This time, the new job pays better, so don’t worry about me. Just focus on recovering and waking up soon.” After everything, the equipment monitoring Mom showed no significant changes. Leaving the hospital, I rushed to Asher Corporation. Even though it hadn’t been three days, I chose to start working early. With Asher’s instructions, I breezed through the onboarding process at Asher Corporation. To quickly get familiar with the job, I worked overtime on the first day and stayed late. By the time I got home, it was already very late. Lying in bed, I took out my phone, and former colleagues from the Declan Corporation’s secretary department started complaining in our small group chat. [Mr. Declan seems off today, his temper’s terrible. Without Adeline, we can’t manage him!] [One moment it’s the temperature, the next it’s the lack of water, and then not enough coffee. Adeline, I followed your notes exactly, yet he still found a bunch of faults.] [Same here, got yelled at all day. I don’t want to work here anymore!] After reading for a while, I didn’t reply to any messages and turned off my phone. Since I’ve left Declan Corporation, Declan’s habits are no longer my concern. In the following days, I fully immersed myself in work at Asher Corporation. Soon, Asher assigned me a task to create a proposal. Fortunately, I’ve always worked in the secretary department, so handling proposals is something I’m used to. After several days of overtime, my dark circles couldn’t be hidden, with my eyes looking bruised. On the day of the project bidding, Asher asked me to attend with him. The main competitor for this project was Declan’s Declan Corporation. At this project event. Declan and Phoebe were the center of attention, with many people congratulating them. It seemed like they had already won the project. When Asher and I appeared, we quickly caught the attention of Declan and Phoebe. Our eyes met, each harboring our own thoughts. Phoebe smirked, directly mocking me. “Mr. Asher, your proposal isn’t done by Miss Zhang, is it? You better be careful; this Zhang woman only knows how to scam your money and can’t make any proposals. Otherwise, why would Declan Corporation have fired her?” “And she’s not a good person, trying to seduce our Declan but got rejected. Now she’s tricking Mr. Asher.” Her voice was loud, as if afraid others wouldn’t hear. Soon, it drew a lot of attention, with murmurs rising. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth in defense. “I wasn’t fired because of my skills, and I didn’t try to seduce Mr. Declan!” As soon as I finished speaking. Phoebe took out her phone and played an audio clip. The clip was edited, leaving just one sentence from me and one from Declan. I said, “I won’t speak of anything between us.” Then Declan’s refusal followed. “I find it dirty!” I turned sharply to look at him. Declan’s eyes avoided mine. Phoebe laughed arrogantly and asked me. “With evidence, Adeline, what else do you have to say?” 5 The laughter at the banquet suddenly intensified. Everyone was giving me malicious looks.

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— At the centennial banquet of Perry Corporation, I accidentally wore a bracelet belonging to Declan Perry’s ex-wife. Seven-year-old Asher Perry pushed me down the stairs in front of everyone and splashed champagne all over me. He stood above me on the steps, his gaze cold and disdainful, just like his father’s. “Who do you think you are, wearing my mom’s bracelet?” “Don’t think you can replace her by trying to win me over! When I grow up, I’ll make sure you get kicked out of the Perry Family!” The evening breeze blew softly, extinguishing the last warmth in my heart. Looking at this child I had raised since birth, I suddenly understood. Awkwardly, I got up, meeting his gaze with calmness. “You don’t have to wait until you grow up. I’ll leave tomorrow.” I limped up the stairs, ignoring the curious stares, intending to change my clothes. But Asher suddenly charged at me, raising his hand to slap me. Instinctively, I blocked him, my wrist hitting the railing. The bracelet shattered with a sharp sound. “This was my mom’s favorite bracelet! How dare you break it, you wicked woman!” Asher’s eyes turned red with anger and hatred. I remained silent for a long moment before sighing softly. “Asher Perry, you’re lying.” This bracelet was a gift from Grandmother for my wedding. He froze for a moment but quickly resumed his arrogant demeanor. “So what? If I say you can’t wear it, then you won’t!” He sneered and ran off. I didn’t chase after him to explain as I usually would. When the banquet ended and I returned to the Perry Family’s old house, the housekeeper looked like she wanted to say something but held back. I rushed to the bedroom and from afar could smell the strong scent of blood. Opening the door, I saw my little dog lying in a pool of blood on the bed, and my photos were slashed to pieces on the floor. Seeing my face full of sorrow, Asher burst into laughter. “This is your punishment for offending me!” He stomped on my photos, shaking his head triumphantly. “Seeing you so upset makes me really happy!” He stuck his tongue out at me and ran off, laughing. I couldn’t understand why such a young child would harbor so much hatred against me. After Grandmother passed away, besides the bracelet she left me, only this little dog kept me company. It stayed by my side through countless sleepless nights and helped me raise Asher from a crying baby to a young boy. But that night, I lost everything. When Declan Perry returned, I was still sitting on the floor in a daze. The sound of leather shoes approaching made me look up. He looked down at me, his eyes filled with the same disdain and indifference as Asher’s. He didn’t even glance at the chaos in the room but frowned and reprimanded me in a deep voice. “Nora Taylor, today was your fault.” Seeing that I didn’t get up or respond, he grew impatient. “Asher is only seven years old; he’s still a child. Why are you arguing with him?” That simple word “child” seemed to excuse everything. But what about my little dog? How innocent it was. Seeing my unpleasant expression, he softened his tone for once. “In a few days, I’ll have the secretary get you another one.” Then he waved dismissively, and the housekeeper put my little dog into a trash bag. Soon, all traces of blood and broken glass were cleaned up, as if my little dog had never existed. Just like me, who had meticulously cared for him and Asher for seven years, it was as if nothing had ever happened. After washing up, Declan sat at the head of the bed and handed me the hairdryer, signaling me to dry his hair. Instinctively, I searched for an outlet but was unexpectedly pulled into his embrace. “In three days, accompany me to the Perry Family’s new perfume launch.” Every Perry Family perfume is crafted by Declan in memory of his sister. So every year, he uses our unmarried status as an excuse to bar me from attending, even if the whole internet mocks me as his mistress. He doesn’t care. His damp hair soaked my clothes, chilling me to the core. I’ve been married to Declan Perry for seven years and have been pregnant with his child. But when he found out, his first reaction wasn’t joy; he sought the best doctor to remove my fallopian tubes. “I’ll only have Summer Taylor as my wife in this lifetime, and only one child.” “Your responsibility is to raise Asher, so don’t think about anything else.” Declan’s usual tactic was to give a slap and then a sweet treat. But for the first time, I refused him when I should have been overjoyed. “Mr. Perry, the seven-year agreement is up. I should leave tomorrow.” Chapter

Declan’s hand around my waist froze, his gaze cold. “How long are you going to keep this up?” “Asher is just a child! Besides, you’re his mom. Isn’t it your fault for not educating him well? I haven’t even blamed you, yet you’re causing a scene!” Mom? I looked at him indifferently. When did Declan and his son ever consider me a wife and mom? Back then, Declan Perry, the Prince of the Beijing Circle, fell in love with my sister at first sight and insisted on marrying her. But the elders of the Perry Family disagreed, so he eloped abroad with my sister in a fit of anger. The two of them lived in blissful happiness. But since Perry Corporation only had one heir, Declan had to return to inherit the family business. On their way back home, they got into a car accident. My pregnant sister died from hemorrhaging during labor, leaving only the premature son. The family couldn’t afford to lose Declan, their cash cow, so I was asked to take care of my little nephew in the Perry Family. But Declan was unwilling to marry me. Even though I took on the title of Mrs. Perry and played the role of Asher’s mom for seven years, we never registered our marriage. The world called me his mistress, and it wasn’t without reason. I pursed my lips. “Mr. Perry, you promised that when Asher reached school age, you’d let me go.” “After all, I’m not really your wife. Staying here in the Perry Family isn’t good for your reputation.” Hearing my words, Declan’s cold expression softened a bit. The way he looked at me was almost gentle. “If you attend the launch event with me, who would dare gossip?” “As for the rest, it’s not that I won’t…” “No need.” I interrupted his unfinished words. In the first half of my life, I was cursed as an unwanted child. I don’t want to spend the latter half being called a mistress. “Asher is ready for school. I’ve already found him an international school. I’m really not cut out for raising kids.” “As for everything at the Perry Family’s old house, the housekeeper can handle it without me.” Declan pinched my waist and threw me onto the bed. He looked down at me, all gentleness gone, his voice as cold as ice. “Nora Taylor, who do you think you are!” “This Perry Family isn’t a place you can come and go as you please!” “You’re attending the launch with me in three days. You have no choice.” With a bang, the door slammed shut, shaking the walls. The painting on the wall fell and shattered into pieces. Looking at the fragments on the floor, I bit my lip and couldn’t help but cry. That painting was done by Declan for me. But the person in the painting wasn’t me; it was my sister. The day before I went to the Perry Family to take care of Asher, Mrs. Taylor warned me. “If it weren’t for my daughter’s misfortune and you looking like her, you shameless woman wouldn’t stand a chance!” “When you get to the Perry Family, you’d better behave and take good care of my grandson, or don’t blame me for being harsh!” She wasn’t wrong. I’ve been by Declan’s side for seven years. If it weren’t for my resemblance to my sister, he wouldn’t have painted me during his free time. Those were the rare moments of warmth I could remember. From childhood to now, only when Declan painted me did I feel a hint of warmth. But seven years made me realize it was all fake. The door was kicked open. Asher Perry stormed in angrily, holding the custom gown Declan had prepared for me. His eyes were red as he glared at me with hatred. “You wicked woman, you really want to replace my mom!” “Dream on about attending the launch!” He cursed as he cut the gown into shreds with scissors. Only when the gown was completely ruined did he feel pleased and stomped on it several times. Worried he might hurt himself with the scissors, I tried to snatch them from him but was met with a swipe that left a long cut on my arm, soaking my clothes with blood. His eyes showed panic, but he still defiantly said, “As long as you’re leeching off my family, I won’t let you have peace!” Holding my bleeding arm, I felt utterly defeated. Seven years of close care only brought resentment and neglect from this father and son. Chapter

“Don’t hurt yourself. Get some rest.” I reminded him one last time, turning to close the door. I packed my things but couldn’t leave because of Mrs. Taylor’s arrival. Dressed head to toe in luxury, she was adorned with jewelry. Seeing the suitcase in my hand, she softened her tone for the first time. “Nora, after all, Asher is your nephew. Are you really going to let him be all alone?” “Besides, staying in the Perry Family is for our good too! If Declan marries and has more children, we might end up empty-handed!” It all boiled down to not wanting to lose the villa and BMW Declan provided, afraid of losing the luxury and wealth. With a calm smile, the voices of two people approaching interrupted what I was about to say. “Aunt Luna, I’ve missed you!” Asher Perry clung to Luna Foster’s hand, acting all cutesy. Luna Foster smiled as she picked him up, affectionately rubbing her cheek against his. “Really? Then why didn’t you come find me?” “Anyway, staying with the Perry Family is for our own benefit! Otherwise, if Declan Perry marries and has children in the future, we might end up with nothing!” At the core, it’s all about clinging to the villa and BMW that Declan Perry provided, fearing the loss of such luxuries. I managed a faint smile, but my thoughts were interrupted by the cheerful voices of two people approaching. “Aunt Luna, I’ve missed you!” exclaimed Asher Perry, holding onto Luna Foster’s hand and acting playfully. Luna Foster chuckled as she picked him up, affectionately rubbing her cheek against his. “Really? Then why haven’t you come to see me?” she teased. Asher Perry rolled his eyes at me before hugging Luna Foster’s neck. “If I keep visiting you, Dad will get upset!” “Besides, if I go to you, who’s going to help me deal with the bad woman? I embarrassed her yesterday!” Watching Asher Perry’s triumphant grin made my heart ache. When he was three, he had a persistent high fever, and I stayed with him in the hospital room for three sleepless nights. Later, I tried to make him some porridge but fainted in the kitchen. Sparks ignited the curtains, nearly engulfing me in flames. Thankfully, he was worried about me and came looking for me. Seeing the fire in the kitchen, he cried and drew the attention of the security guards. Afterwards, he clung to my neck, sobbing, “Auntie, I can’t be without you!” Who could have known then? The nephew who once cried and called me Auntie would later wound me deeply with his actions. This seemingly gentle woman greeted me with a smile, but her words were full of provocation. “Miss Taylor, please don’t be upset; Asher is still young.” It’s absurd. The child I’ve cared for so attentively listens to others without question. Once they left, I turned to Mrs. Taylor. “You see, Asher isn’t short of people to look after him.” Luna Foster was originally just a waitress, but with a face that resembles my sister’s by seventy percent, she easily won over both father and son. Declan Perry handed her an entire perfume production line, holding her hand tightly both in public and private, as if they were family. Mrs. Taylor glared at me coldly. “Are you really planning to leave?” I replied firmly, “I don’t have many more seven-year periods to waste…” Before I could finish, she slapped me. “In the end, you’re just the daughter of a shameless mistress, a bastard through and through!” “If it weren’t for me pitying you and raising you, you’d have died out there already!” Back then, my father pretended to be a wealthy bachelor, deceiving my mother who had just arrived from the countryside. After my mom got pregnant with me, she found out he was already married. Mrs. Taylor cornered her at school, humiliating her, making it known to the world that she was a mistress seducing a married man. Heartbroken, she gave birth to me in a rented room and then jumped to her death. If I weren’t indeed the Taylor family’s daughter, they would have discarded me, which would have been illegal. What chance did I have? When the second slap was about to fall, I blocked Mrs. Taylor’s hand. “For thirty years, I’ve given everything to the Taylor family.” “I owe you nothing.” I endured endless humiliation and abuse at the Taylor family, being beaten and scolded whenever Mrs. Taylor was unhappy. I grew up without ever attending a day of school until I was eighteen. For the past seven years at the Perry Family, I was merely an outlet for Declan Perry. I devoted myself to taking care of Asher Perry, giving him everything I could. But what did I get in return? My grandmother’s jade bracelet was smashed, my puppy died, and Declan Perry cut off my fallopian tubes, ending my chance of motherhood. I’ve done my utmost and owe nothing to anyone. The only one I’m sorry to is myself. Mrs. Taylor stormed off in anger. I turned around, meeting Declan Perry’s complex gaze. Chapter

He beckoned me over as if he were calling a disobedient dog. I remained still. Declan Perry’s face immediately showed impatience. “Nora Taylor, you’re smart. You should realize that leaving the Perry Family means you have nowhere to go.” “I’ve asked the secretary to buy you a dog with purer bloodlines and a more expensive bracelet.” “If you find Asher hard to manage, Luna can help you; she’ll start living with you at the Perry Family from today.” Declan Perry watched me, seemingly waiting for me to accept joyfully, gratefully comply, and then take care of him and his son with Luna Foster. But I didn’t want that anymore. “You decide, it has nothing to do with me anymore.” Luna Foster stepped out from behind Declan Perry. “I know Miss Taylor doesn’t welcome me, so I should leave.” “After all, someone like me without a status doesn’t deserve to take care of Asher.” She pretended to cry, walking towards the door, but was stopped by Declan Perry after just a few steps. “Status is just a matter of my decision. If you can get pregnant, I’ll make you the real Mrs. Perry.” After casting me a glance, he picked Luna Foster up in his arms. The villa door was kicked shut by him, and the maids and butler scurried away. Asher Perry looked at me smugly. “Aunt Luna is kind and gentle; only she deserves to be my mom.” Looking at this child I raised from a young age, I was shocked. “Is that really what you think?” “Yes! You evil woman, don’t think I don’t know. It was you who seduced my dad, causing my mom’s death from difficult childbirth!” “Sooner or later, I’ll avenge my mom!” I looked at the amulet on his chest and sighed. Asher Perry was a premature baby, weak and often sick. To ensure his healthy growth, I personally took care of his every need. I even gave him the amulet my mom left me. Seven years of countless days and nights of care and companionship couldn’t compare to a few words from outsiders. I reached for the amulet around Asher Perry’s neck. He instinctively raised his hand to block, “If you dare hit me, I’ll have Dad kick you out!” But I only took off the amulet from his neck. “Asher Perry, you’re already seven. Even if you don’t understand some things now, you will in the future.” “I didn’t raise you well; someone better will take care of you. As for us, we probably won’t see each other again in this lifetime.” With Asher Perry looking at me in confusion, I headed to the airport with my luggage. The Perry Family’s old residence quickly faded, disappearing from my sight. I knew that after I left, Declan Perry would bring in someone new to care for Asher Perry. But none of that mattered to me anymore. Having wasted thirty years, it’s time I lived for myself. Just as I was about to board the plane, a large hand reached from behind, snatching the ticket from my hand. The cold, indifferent voice made me shudder. “Nora Taylor, where do you think you’re going?” I’m committed to ensuring that the content maintains its original meaning while adapting it to a more natural English expression that is easier to understand. Throughout this process, we will keep the original formatting unchanged.

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It’s been ten years since my death, and Rachel, the fiancée I abandoned, has returned to the country as a scam kingpin to expand her operations. Her first target is my family. After swindling my family out of their property, cutting off their limbs to pay debts, and handing my sister over to a sadist, she’s disappointed that I still haven’t come to arrest her. Furious, she thinks I must be hiding somewhere again. Just as she’s considering whether to leak photos of my family online to force me out, one of her subordinates informs her, “Boss, he died ten years ago.” “He was caught for dereliction of duty and killed in prison by criminals he’d previously arrested.” “His body is still there. Do you want us to dig it up and desecrate it?” The luxurious office is dead silent. A bird perched on a branch curiously peers at the figure inside but is startled away by a sudden sound. The hunched figure slowly kneels down, while Rachel sits in her chair, looking down at his movements with disdain. “Rachel, please, uncle knows you’re capable. Give the money back to uncle, I’m begging you,” the man pleads. Rachel casually blows on her perfectly manicured nails. “Uncle, weren’t you quite wealthy before? You could throw around $10,000 to hurt people, but now you can’t even come up with a few thousand? What happened?” she asks with malicious intent. “Did you spend all the money you made from selling me out? Look at you now, reduced to begging on your knees.” Watching my father kneel on the ground, kowtowing to someone else, I feel a piercing pain in my heart. I reach out to stop him, to make him get up. My father, always so proud, how could he kneel and kowtow to someone else? But my outstretched hand passes through his body. That’s right, I’m dead. It’s been ten years, and I still haven’t gotten used to it. I laugh bitterly, helpless to do anything but watch as my father kowtows until his forehead bleeds. He can barely speak clearly but still hopes Rachel will return the money. “Please, I’m begging you, please…” Rachel smirks contemptuously and deliberately takes out a few $10 bills, slapping them on his face. “Fine, consider this my charity to you.” “Tell your son I’m back, and this is what he owes me.” “I’ll collect this debt bit by bit.” “Now get out.” I watch as the man who had been proud and strong all his life lowers his head, picking up those humiliating bills, and then says, “Can you give a little more?” My tears fall instantly. Watching him stumble away, the pain of helplessness envelops me, leaving me breathless. I look at Rachel. She’s changed, become more unfamiliar.

I follow Rachel back to her home. For some reason, I can’t leave her side, forced to go wherever she goes. There’s a noise inside the house. Rachel becomes alert. The next moment, a familiar face emerges from the kitchen carrying a plate. My gaze sharpens. It’s Derek, the scam kingpin, my old nemesis. Seeing him, Rachel instantly drops all her defenses. Like a swallow returning to its nest, she throws herself into his arms with complete dependence. “Derek, why are you here?” Derek smiles indulgently, “You’re back in the country, of course I had to come see you. I still have food on the stove.” “No, I won’t let go,” Rachel pouts, her eyes shining with a light reserved only for those she trusts most. She used to look at me like that too. We were childhood sweethearts, and I was the person she trusted most. Back then, I was the only one in her eyes. My heart aches with a dense, gnawing pain, as if being eaten by ants. Derek helplessly moves to the dining table in this position, casually bringing up, “I heard you went to see someone?” Rachel grins proudly, “Yes, Jack’s father came begging me. I even threw money in his face to humiliate him.” Derek’s smile falters slightly before returning to normal. “Do you still remember Jack?” Rachel puffs up angrily, “Back then, their whole family ruined me so badly, I won’t let them off, especially that Jack. I’ll make him lose everything.” I look at Rachel. She’s still as grudge-holding as she was when we were young. Probably even if someone told her I was dead now, she wouldn’t believe it. She’d likely think it was another of my tricks to deceive her. That’s fair. I did deceive her. She trusted me so much; it’s right for her to hate me.

Rachel waited for a few days but found that no one came looking for her. Getting angrier the more she thought about it, she stormed over to my house with a group of people. But only my mother, now half-paralyzed, was at home. Apart from an old wooden bed and some simple odds and ends, there was nothing else in this small room, let alone a place to hide someone. “What’s the point of having a son like this? It’s no different from not having one at all. Your mom is half-paralyzed in bed, your dad has become a cripple, and he still doesn’t come back.” Rachel looks at the run-down room with disgust, pinching her nose against the odor, and launches into a barrage of mockery. “We treated you like our own daughter since you were little. When Jack wasn’t around, you were the one who kept us company. How did you become like this?” my mother, with half of her body immobile, struggles to sit up on the bed, trying to grab Rachel’s clothes, her voice choked with emotion as she asks why. Rachel rudely slaps away her hand. “Don’t touch me with your dirty hands. I should thank your son for what I’ve become!” “If he hadn’t sold me out, I wouldn’t be as rich as I am today. Being rich really does feel good. No wonder you liked to throw money around to hurt people.” “If you have any way to contact your son, go ahead and do it. Doesn’t he hate criminals the most? I’ll face him head-on!” My mother hesitates for a moment but remains silent. Rachel, however, takes this as her having nothing to say and becomes even angrier. “Trash the place!” she orders. The people she brought with her start smashing the few remaining broken bowls, chopsticks, tables, and chairs in the house. My mother, wrapped in tattered quilts, tries desperately to stop them but can’t move far. Seeing this miserable scene, I feel a lump in my throat. It’s my fault. Years ago, Rachel was brainwashed by a scam organization, firmly believing she could make big money. She even invited us to join. My father threw $10,000 at her, telling her never to come to our house again. My mother remained silent. In the end, persuaded by Rachel, I joined the organization. She trusted me completely and told me everything. So when I personally led the team to arrest her, she couldn’t believe it. The last glance I saw as she left was filled with venomous hatred. I knew she would come back, but I didn’t expect her hatred to be so intense. Ten years hadn’t made her forget; instead, she remembered even more deeply. Rachel, seeing the already shabby room become even more wrecked, felt some of her anger dissipate. “Tell your son to come back quickly. Otherwise, your whole family won’t have peace. Let’s go,” she says. My mother presses her lips tightly, glaring hatefully as Rachel leaves. Rachel casually kicks away some debris blocking her path and struts out in her high heels. I kneel beside my mother, wanting to hug her, begging her not to be so stubborn anymore. But she can’t hear me. She takes out a yellowed photograph from under her pillow and mumbles, “Jack, she wants to know, but we won’t tell her. That’s what she gets for becoming so evil.” Tears blur my vision. I’m not a good son. I don’t deserve this. I thought they had long forgotten about me.

Rachel is no longer the kind-hearted person she once was. The scam organization is not a good place; it’s a living hell. She has sunk deeper and deeper, even her heart has grown cold and hard. She doesn’t care if my mother is paralyzed in bed or if my father is disabled. She only wants money. When she swings the knife to cut off my parents’ limbs, I am completely devastated. Rachel watches the people lying in pools of blood with an expressionless face. She waves her hand to call her subordinates, “Find a back-alley doctor to give them a couple of shots. As long as they don’t die, it’s fine.” I keep shouting in rage, passing through her body. I want to strangle her. She’s not human anymore. I’m the one who did wrong, why do my parents have to bear the consequences? Watching my parents being carelessly given a couple of shots to stop the bleeding and then left there, I break down. I wish I could be the one lying there, hovering between life and death. No matter how cruel, as long as my parents are okay. “Boss, this needle was just used by a drug addict. Is that okay?” the shady doctor rubs his hands, looking a bit embarrassed. I rush over to punch that shameless face. Our family can’t afford to treat AIDS now. He’s going to kill my parents. Rachel smiles, “It’s fine. They’re old anyway. Without hands and feet, they won’t live for many more years.” She takes a drag on her cigarette. “Whatever medicine you use, make sure they live for at least a year.” I know why she says this. Because in the past, I would see her at least once a year. After failing to get into the police academy, she thought I was working outside. But that wasn’t true. I was undercover. So she never knew my real identity. Actually, I wish I had really failed back then. Then I wouldn’t have had to watch her go down the wrong path. I really made a mistake. I betrayed her for myself, and then betrayed my oath for her. In the end, I lost everything. This must be my retribution. Looking at my parents’ pale faces from blood loss and the empty spaces where their hands and feet should be, I desperately pound my head. I’m not a good son. I wish they had never given birth to me. Then they wouldn’t have to suffer such a cruel fate in their old age. I don’t know how long it’s been, but my father regains consciousness. Seeing Rachel, he trembles with anger, unable to utter a word. “What’s wrong, uncle? Did you have a stroke in your old age?” Rachel asks mockingly. “That’s too bad. Do you have money for treatment? I’m afraid you can only wait for death now.” She laughs wildly, then covers her mouth in mock surprise. “Oh my, I forgot to tell you, uncle. The needle used for the injection might have been used by a drug addict before. Who knows if you’ll get sick?” “Isn’t that terrible? It seems you can’t afford treatment anyway.” Rachel shakes her head in feigned pity. My father’s eyes bulge with rage. He wants to fight her to the death but can’t move an inch. He can only stare at her fiercely, but when he sees my mother beside him, tears start to fall. I’ve never seen my father cry before. This is the first time. He struggles to move his body closer to my mother, leaning against her and silently weeping. Tears fall from his aged face, his already graying hair now even whiter. Rachel narrows her eyes, “Uncle, don’t blame me for being heartless. How about this? If you apologize for what happened before, I’ll give you a dose of preventive medicine. How about that?” She stands still, clearly wanting my father to crawl to her feet. I’ve seen through her now. She’s a complete psychopath, a cold-blooded monster. No matter how much I want to help my father, I can only helplessly pass through him. Watching him struggle to get off the bed, falling heavily to the ground, only able to slowly crawl towards Rachel’s feet with his remaining limbs, leaving a long trail of blood. “I beg you, please…” “Uncle, your voice is too soft. I can’t hear you. Why don’t you lift your head?” Rachel says maliciously. My father trembles as he lifts his head, in a ridiculous posture. But my mother can’t laugh. Already weak, seeing her husband in such a humiliating state, coupled with the massive blood loss, she faints. My father turns back to see this and lets out a heart-wrenching cry, trying to rush over to her. Rachel impatiently covers her ears, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you screaming so horribly? Hey, don’t let them die.” The doctor who had been watching from the side goes over to save them. Rachel purses her lips in boredom and walks out in her high heels.

She drives to the seaside and lights a cigarette. In the sea breeze, the smoke is hazy, dispersing with the wind. I don’t understand why she still looks so melancholic when she’s already done such extreme things. She stubs out the burnt-out cigarette and takes out a photo from her phone case. It’s a picture of me and her. I thought she had thrown it away long ago. After all, it’s been ten years. The photo shows signs of being torn apart before, but it has been pieced back together. She smokes and cries, cursing my name at the sea. “Jack, you’re a dog, an ungrateful bastard, a fool who doesn’t know how to make money.” “Be a loser for life, you’ll die in some godforsaken corner with no one to bury you. All you know is how to be a cop, too cowardly to show your face, you coward!” I sit beside her, listening to her grievances. I owe her a lot. As she wished, I’m dead. I don’t know if anyone buried me. Maybe I’ve been dismembered. After all, those criminals hated me to the bone, wishing I’d die without a proper burial. Rachel sits there for a long time until her phone rings with a text message. “Is my gift ready?” I’m a bit curious. Is she going to attend a birthday party? Rachel starts the car and heads in a direction. As the road becomes more and more familiar, I finally realize—she’s going to find Emily! I desperately try to stop her, not wanting her to find Emily. Emily is an orphan I used to support. She has intellectual disabilities and has always lived in the orphanage. When she arrives, Emily has just finished class and is playing in the yard. Seeing Rachel, she happily rushes over to hug her, “Rachel, big sister!” Although it’s been ten years since they last met, Emily still remembers her. “Jack, where’s big brother?” Emily curiously looks behind Rachel. Rachel looks at her with complex emotions, “He’s not here. Do you want to leave with me?” Emily happily nods and skips off to find the orphanage director. “She’s yours now.” Rachel releases Emily’s hand and pushes her towards the man in front of her. The man gropes Emily up and down, a look of satisfaction on his face. “Rachel, big sister…” Emily struggles desperately, but is slapped by the man, leaving a clear handprint on her face. Rachel coldly watches this scene, “Don’t blame me. Blame that brother of yours. This is what happens when you’re associated with him.” “Since he still hasn’t shown up, I’ll force him out.” After saying this, she calls her subordinates to set up cameras. “Remember, full coverage, no blind spots. I want that man to know the consequences of offending me.” She slowly adds, “Do whatever you want with her, just one thing—record everything.” Thinking about how Jack will be heartbroken watching the video, Rachel’s eyes curve in a smile, feeling somewhat happy. The broken scenes cause me pain. Emily is like my daughter, the child of my comrade. I couldn’t save my comrade, and now I can’t even protect his child. I close my eyes, wanting to escape, but Emily’s painful cries pierce my ears. It’s my fault. I’ve been dead for ten years, but death is no excuse for me to escape. This is my retribution. My heart is like dead wood, already numb.

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I gave birth on the same day as my best friend. She delivered a healthy, chubby baby boy weighing 8 pounds 6 ounces. The Evans Group lavished her with endless wealth and glory as a reward. I, on the other hand, gave birth to a stillborn baby with deformities, causing my husband Lucas, the heir to the Evans Group, to lose his position. On the day of the baby shower, Mia cradled her chubby baby boy in front of me, mocking and cursing me. She called me a barren hen, saying I was born to bring bad luck. I couldn’t stand it and argued with her, but she pushed me onto a fruit knife, causing me to bleed to death. It wasn’t until after my death that I learned the truth – she had switched our babies. Her goal was for her husband to replace us and become the CEO of Evans Group. When I opened my eyes again, I was back before my due date. “Hazel, look, my baby is kicking!” “It must be an active child in the future.” When I opened my eyes, I saw my best friend Mia’s face. She was stroking her belly, looking very happy. I knew I had been reborn. An active stillborn? That’s just self-deception. I didn’t expose her, I just went along with it. “Your child will definitely be healthy, lively and cute like you in the future.” Mia was so flattered that she couldn’t stop smiling, lowering her head to stroke her belly. I took out my phone and took a selfie of us to post on social media. “My best friend and I are about to give birth, wishing us luck~” In my previous life, I had a low-key pregnancy, which gave Mia the opportunity to act. Mia tried to grab my phone to delete it, but I stopped her. “What’s wrong, Mia? I want everyone to witness the most important moment of my life.” I asked her. Mia looked at me nervously, but there was some malice in her eyes. Her expression was so obvious, it was almost written on her face, yet in my previous life I hadn’t noticed at all. Mia and I had been good friends since high school. We even went to the same university and remained inseparable best friends. I met my current husband Lucas and fell in love with him. Mia then pestered me to introduce her to someone from the Evans family, and it just so happened that Lucas had a brother five years younger than him. We got married into the Evans family on the same day, and everyone said it was double happiness. I even thought that Mia and I were sisters as close as blood. We even had the same due date. The thoughtful Mia had already arranged the delivery room, just waiting for the day of delivery. Who would have thought that this was the beginning of my descent into the abyss. After I bled to death, my soul lingered around my biological child, unable to leave. It wasn’t until I heard Mia and her husband’s plot that I understood the truth of the matter. Mia had already found out that her fetus was stillborn during pregnancy, and the doctor had suggested that she terminate the pregnancy. Although her doctor had repeatedly advised her to terminate the pregnancy, she still stubbornly dragged it out for two months. The purpose was to completely switch our children on the day of delivery. The Evans Group had two sons, one was Lucas and the other was Dylan. Lucas had been well-educated since childhood and was particularly adept at finance. Dylan, on the other hand, was an uneducated playboy. Anyone with eyes could see who was smarter, so they had been grooming Lucas as the successor since childhood. Dylan originally understood these arrangements and was aware of his own shortcomings. But Mia had been constantly brainwashing him, causing Dylan to be very dissatisfied and jealous of Lucas. So, she extended her poisonous hand to the children. She knew that old Mr. Evans valued the continuation of the family line the most. Because the hospital and delivery room were all arranged by her, she had arranged her own people around me. It was all for the plan to go smoothly. After the anesthesia took effect on me, she sent someone to take my child away and put her stillborn baby on my bed. If I hadn’t heard it with my own ears, I wouldn’t have believed that Mia, who was like a sister to me, would do such a vicious thing to me! After the confinement period, she even came to show off in front of me with the baby, looking very smug. Finally, when I was arguing with her, she pushed me onto a fruit knife, causing me to bleed to death. The death of the child and wife caused Lucas to be forced to step down, and he eventually died of depression. The life that should have belonged to us was stolen by Mia and Dylan. Thinking of this, I was furious. This pair of shameless dogs! In this life, I not only want them to pay blood for blood, but I also want them to pay back double! Calculating the time, I would probably give birth in about a week. I quickly sent a message to Lucas, urging him to come home early tonight. It was the same in my previous life, Mia stopped me. She said: “The heir is so busy, let me, your best friend, arrange it for you.” “Men are not as close as best friends.” At that time, I believed her nonsense, so I ended up with a broken family. Now, Mia wanted to grab my phone again. “The heir is so busy…” I made a stop gesture to stop her. “You shouldn’t have such a strong possessiveness over someone else’s husband.” “After all, I’m carrying his child.” These two light sentences choked her red-faced. “Hazel, how can you think of me like this!” She was powerless to argue. I turned and left directly.

After Lucas came home, I told him about the experiences of these two lives. I originally thought he would question me, but he directly hugged me. “You finally came back to me.” After a conversation, I found out that Lucas had also been reborn. Heaven has eyes, giving us a chance to start over. But we knew that we could only outsmart them, not confront them directly. Dylan was born to Lucas’s stepmother, who is now Mrs. Evans. She holds the vast majority of the shares and is the largest shareholder. So we two need to be more cautious in our actions. The next day, I made an appointment with Mia to go for a prenatal check-up together. As soon as I saw her, I affectionately linked arms with her. “Mia, I’m sorry, I was too harsh last time.” She looked surprised on the surface, but revealed pride and disdain. “It’s okay, we’re family, I don’t mind.” Hearing these words, I almost vomited. “Let’s go.” I walked arm in arm with her in one direction. “Where are we going? Aren’t we going for a prenatal check-up? The hospital is that way.” Mia was confused, pointing to the other side. That was her private hospital, where everyone inside and out was her people. I smiled and dispelled her doubts. “We’re going to another one, it’s run by a friend of mine from when I studied abroad.” Mia’s face turned pale, and she stood still. “Let’s go to the original one, I’m not used to new doctors giving me check-ups.” She clung to my arm, begging. I patted her shoulder earnestly and persuaded her kindly: “Mia, I’m doing this for your own good.” Seeing that I had said this much, it would be particularly strange if she kept refusing. She had no choice but to get in the car with me. Her face was getting paler, and even her hands were shaking uncontrollably. So she’s also afraid of being exposed. “Mia, what’s wrong?” I asked her concernedly. “I feel a bit dizzy and nauseous.” After saying this, she actually fainted directly. So I hurriedly sent Mia to the hospital. Half an hour later, all the Evans family members came. It seems that the Evans family still cherishes this daughter-in-law quite a bit. I asked the doctor to conceal the news of the stillbirth and only say that the fetal heartbeat was weak. After all, in this life, I want her to fall the hardest when she’s at her most. After Mia woke up and heard this news, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Only the look in her eyes towards me had a hint of inquiry. I sat at Mia’s bedside, crying and saying: “Mia, I’ve always told you not to work so hard.” “Look at you, what if I wasn’t here today, what would have happened!” Crying and speaking, as if I was really worried about her. Hearing me say this, Mrs. Evans couldn’t help but scold: “Hazel is right, since you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t worry too much, some things should be left to the servants to do.” “Not only will it tire you out, but it will also hurt my little grandson.” The last sentence was inevitably emphasized. Mia’s face didn’t look good, but she could only agree. Great, this way no one can interfere with me. Mia lowered her eyes, but she still secretly glared at me. “Mia, don’t worry, you’re my best sister, I’ll help if I can.” “Just don’t tire yourself out again, I’m afraid next time it won’t be just a weak fetal heartbeat.” I grabbed Mia’s hand and patiently persuaded her. “Weak fetal heartbeat!” Mrs. Evans questioned loudly, then said through gritted teeth: “From now on, you’ll stay at home to nurse your pregnancy, don’t go anywhere!” It was clear that she also cherished this unborn child very much. Then, to maintain the dignity of Mrs. Evans. “Hazel, you shouldn’t tire yourself out either.” “Thank you, Mom, I’ll be careful.” Mia still lowered her head, not daring to speak. When they all dispersed, Mia called out to me. “You deliberately embarrassed me, didn’t you!” She glared at me with a black face and questioned harshly. I quickly put on a concerned face and apologized: “Mia, I’m doing this all for your own good…” Mia spoke in a sharp tone, excitedly: “I’ve been confined, are you satisfied now!” Of course I’m satisfied.

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Upon being reborn, the first thing I did was grab a stick and swing it at my supposedly paralyzed parents. In my previous life, when both my parents became paralyzed, the responsibility of caring for my younger brother fell entirely on me. I had to drop out of school to support the family. Later, I worked three jobs until my brother was accepted into Stanford University. When I returned to my hometown to share this good news with my parents, I discovered that my supposedly paralyzed parents were standing like normal people. They were holding a girl who looked remarkably like me, affectionately calling her their daughter. In disbelief, I approached them, but they impatiently pushed me to the ground. Through their disdainful conversation, I learned that I was actually the daughter of Mr. Johnson, the Billionaire, and had been swapped with their biological daughter when I was young. “If we hadn’t needed you to support our Chloe, we would have left you to fend for yourself on the streets long ago.” “Now that Chloe is in university, you are of no use to us anymore. You can go straight to hell.” At my mother’s command, the bodyguards came forward to restrain me. My brother, whom I had protected since childhood, just stood by indifferently, watching as I was beaten to death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my parents announced their paralysis.

“Oh, Ethan, it’s truly pitiful for you and your wife to suffer like this. Your youngest son is still so young, and now you’re both paralyzed?” “Logan, you have to be responsible in the future. Your Chloe is still young, and the whole family will depend on you.” Listening to the neighbors’ sincere or gloating advice, I looked once more at my parents sitting in wheelchairs. I was momentarily stunned—I had been reborn. In my previous life, when I returned home from school, the house was already surrounded by many people. The Community Leader stood among the crowd, telling me with a serious expression that my parents had been in an accident at the construction site, were injured, and both were now completely paralyzed. I cried until I fainted. When I woke up, my parents had returned, sitting in wheelchairs. My brother was already in a daze, terrified by the sudden change. I couldn’t manage school while taking care of three people, so I had to drop out. Later, my brother grew up and had to go to high school in the city. I worked three jobs alone, hired a Caregiver for my parents, and rented a place in the city to cook and do laundry for my brother. My efforts paid off when my brother got into Stanford University. When I received the good news, I immediately bought a ticket back to my hometown. I was about to share the good news with my parents in person when I saw my supposedly paralyzed parents standing energetically in the house, holding a girl who looked just like me. There was no sign of their previous illness on their faces. In contrast, I looked older than them due to long-term malnutrition. Trembling from the betrayal, I approached them for answers, but they disdainfully pushed me away, making me fall to the ground. “You’re naturally destined for a miserable life; you’re lucky to resemble our Sophie a little.” “There’s no harm in telling you; your real dad is Mr. Johnson, the Billionaire from Los Angeles. But now, he’s Sophie’s dad.” “If we didn’t need you to support our Chloe to university, we would have let you sleep on the streets long ago. Now, you’re no longer of any value and should go to hell, so our Sophie can rest easy.” Only then did I understand that I wasn’t their biological child. They pretended to be disabled to avoid raising me, a burden, while allowing me to raise Chloe. And Chloe, whom I had raised with my own hands, stood by coldly, watching it all, as the bodyguards held me down until I was beaten to death. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my parents announced their paralysis. Looking at them being pushed in by the Caregiver, still pretending to be unconscious, I suppressed my inner rage until the visiting villagers left. Then I took a stick from the corner and walked toward them. They wanted to pretend to be crippled? I was going to see how long they could keep it up! Overwhelming hatred surged in my heart. Why should they enjoy an easy life without lifting a finger while I gave up everything? I suppressed my expression, lifted their pants, and swung the stick at their thighs.

When I saw their exposed leg muscles, I couldn’t help but shout out in surprise. My shout attracted some villagers who hadn’t gone far. When they saw my parents’ legs, a few uncles who got close were also surprised and stunned. The Caregiver, who was waiting outside to watch the show, came in and was so angry her face twisted. But I was left with only shock in my heart. It seemed my parents had put in a lot of effort to pretend to be crippled. Even though I hit them with full force, they didn’t make a sound, only their leg muscles trembled uncontrollably. I sneered; they probably ground their teeth to dust. The Caregiver came over and pushed me. “Logan, how could you hit your own parents? Truly unfilial!” “If they hadn’t worked so hard to earn those words for you to live comfortably, they wouldn’t have suffered like this! And you still hit them!” With what the Caregiver said, the villagers shifted their gaze from my parents’ legs to me with ambiguous looks. But I directly lay on the ground, crying and yelling. “Auntie, I just couldn’t accept this blow and didn’t want to believe it! I wanted to see if they still had any feeling.” “I can’t believe they are paralyzed. Our Chloe is still so young, hasn’t been held by Mom and Dad enough.” “And, didn’t I hear that my parents were injured at the construction site? But I just looked at their legs; they don’t look injured at all.” “That’s right, Ethan’s legs indeed don’t look paralyzed; they are all good meat, and I think I saw a muscle twitch just now.” The Caregiver was momentarily stunned by my sudden questioning and took a while to come up with an explanation. “You child, do you think your parents would lie to you about being paralyzed? You hit them so hard, and they didn’t react at all.” “Their legs just look fine on the outside but really can’t stand up.” “Really?” I deliberately looked at the Caregiver with skepticism. She thought she had convinced me and quickly urged me to take care of Chloe. But I naively stood in front of her. “My parents got so injured at the construction site. Won’t the site compensate them?” The Caregiver was stunned. My parents hadn’t taught her how to cover this lie. Of course, I knew they were pretending to be crippled; I just wasn’t willing to accept it. They thought they could enjoy everything, leaving all the mess to me? Dream on. I coldly looked at the Caregiver, who knew the truth. “Isn’t the construction site willing to pay? Auntie, tell me where the site is, and I’ll go find them tomorrow. If they don’t pay, I’ll live stream to expose them.” Cold sweat dripped down the Caregiver’s forehead. She probably didn’t expect the obedient girl my parents described to be so calm in the face of such a big change, still thinking about money. She had no choice but to push me back to my room to sleep, repeatedly promising to take me to the construction site tomorrow. Even with the door closed, I could hear my parents’ suppressed angry curses. My lips couldn’t help but curl up. Want to throw this mess at me without spending a penny? Not happening. No money, no way you can dump this mess on me. The next day, before dawn, the Caregiver knocked on my door. She handed me the “compensation” from the construction site. “A total of ten thousand dollars, the construction site has already run. This is all I could get.” I “gratefully” accepted the ten thousand dollars. It seems they couldn’t wait to dump Logan on me; they handed over the money quite readily. Of course, soon they could enjoy their biological daughter’s fortune. Sophie Johnson is the billionaire’s daughter now. She can make them happy for a lifetime with just a little bit of her wealth. For the sake of working in the city, I had my household registration transferred out and opened a separate account. The Caregiver didn’t suspect anything. After securing my own account, I started collecting valuable things from home. In my previous life, when I packed up to take Chloe to the city for school, I couldn’t bear to leave the vegetable garden, thinking it was their hard work. Now, everything was leased out, with the rent in my own hands. Mom’s jewelry was also sold as needed, after all, she’s in a wheelchair now and can’t enjoy dressing up. The house grew emptier, and my wallet grew fuller. Finally, after almost emptying the house, I took my still-in-swaddling brother into the city. Looking at my innocent brother in my arms, I sneered. Parents, you planned for so long and dumped your brother on me. How could I let you down? Rest assured, your daughter will present you with a grand gift.

Sixteen years passed in the blink of an eye. Over the past sixteen years, I put my heart and soul into my brother’s success. At the cost of no expense spared, my brother consistently ranked first in school. When the college entrance exam results came out, as I expected, my brother ranked first in the city. As soon as the results were out, reporters camped outside my door. Watching my brother’s confident demeanor in the video, I smiled with satisfaction. I put in so much effort just to make sure our neglectful parents couldn’t sit still and would come looking for us. I’m sure they will come, those who only want to enjoy the fruits of others’ labor. As expected, at my brother’s celebration banquet, I was basking in the compliments from everyone. The hotel door was suddenly pushed open from outside. I stood up at the sound and saw my supposedly paralyzed parents walk in. “How could we, your parents, not come on such an important day for our Chloe?” The results just came out, and journalists crowded at my doorstep. Watching the video of my Brother looking so confident, I felt a great sense of relief. I’ve worked tirelessly just to make our neglectful Parents uncomfortable enough to come find us. I’m sure they will come. They’ve always wanted to just sit back and enjoy the benefits. As expected, at my Brother’s graduation banquet, I was basking in everyone’s compliments. Suddenly, the hotel door swung open from the outside. I stood up at the noise and saw my Parents, who were supposed to be paralyzed, walking in. “How could we not be here for such an important day for Chloe?” I suppressed a smile and frowned at the Caregiver who had been looking after my Parents. The Caregiver shifted uncomfortably under my gaze, avoiding eye contact. Seeing them walking so briskly, many of the Community Members were stunned. After all, they had been in wheelchairs for the past sixteen years. Ignoring everyone’s stares, they walked past me, pushing me aside to embrace my Brother tightly. My Dad lovingly patted my Brother’s head, tears streaming down his face. “Chloe, it’s Dad.” My Brother pulled away, grabbing my arm with a look of disdain. “Sister, who is this crazy person? Why are they claiming to be my dad? I don’t have a dad like that!” Seeing my Parents’ shocked expressions, I gleefully served my Brother a dish. My Dad, seeing his son’s disdainful look, was visibly embarrassed. “Logan! Did you teach him this? You taught Chloe not to recognize us!” “Otherwise, Chloe was so well-behaved as a kid. How did he end up like this?” My Mom began to beat her chest and stomp her feet. “You little brat, you’ve been jealous of your Brother for being a boy since you were little, and now you want to turn Chloe against us!” I was speechless at their shamelessness. They hadn’t raised us for a single day, so how could we acknowledge them! Seeing I didn’t respond, my Dad, feeling provoked, moved forward to kick me. Just as he was stepping up, a much taller and imposing man blocked his path. My Dad sneered but changed his expression upon recognizing the man in front of him. “Mr. Anderson, you’re here too?” “If I’m not mistaken, I didn’t notify you to come today.” The man’s voice was authoritative and commanding. My Dad’s bravado disappeared. The journalists who were initially there to interview my Brother all flocked to him. “Mr. Anderson, you’re number one on the wealth list again this month. Can we get an interview?” Mr. Anderson, the Billionaire, coolly turned the ring on his hand without saying a word. The crowd gradually fell silent. When he turned to us, his expression softened. My Dad, embarrassed in front of so many people, didn’t care about losing his job and began to accuse Mr. Anderson. “Mr. Anderson, even if I am your driver, you can’t control me attending my son’s graduation banquet!” My Dad was grinning widely. “Mr. Anderson, my Chloe is the Valedictorian here!” Mr. Anderson chuckled at his words. “Your Chloe?” Hearing that, I couldn’t help but laugh too. My Dad was too naive, thinking my Brother beside me was his Chloe. In my past life, he didn’t care whether I lived or died. How could I continue being his scapegoat? They still naively thought I would raise him dutifully. It’s laughable! I’ve been planning for sixteen years, waiting for this day! Seeing my Dad’s smug face, I kindly explained to them. “Well, actually…” “He’s not your Chloe; he’s really just my Brother.” Hearing this, my Dad snorted. “Chloe is our only son. How could that be wrong?” “But you, you’re not even her real Sister.” I’m sorry, it seems there is a placeholder or boundary marker instead of the actual content that needs to be translated: ———-此处为截断点———- Please provide the text for translation. 4 “You little troublemaker, you’re nothing but an unwanted child. If we hadn’t taken care of you back then, you would have starved to death.”

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The popular guy decided to become the bodyguard for the heiress of my family, just so he could always be near me. We shared secret moments of freedom 99 times in the mansion’s basement. The room was dark and windowless, with just a narrow single bed. Yet, he seemed to relish it. After each encounter, he’d hold me close and say it was all worth it for me. He’d often make grand promises, swearing to the sky. “One day, when I’m wealthy, I’ll buy you a mansion this big, and I’ll definitely marry you.” His words pushed me to secretly juggle eight or nine jobs every day. But it wasn’t to buy a grand house. It was to afford a better cochlear implant for his congenital deafness. One day, while washing dishes at a restaurant, I unexpectedly ran into Declan. He was supposed to be working at the mansion. 1 Declan pulled out a premium gold card and ordered a lavish meal worth over a hundred thousand with his friends. I was cleaning in the next room and could hear their conversation clearly. “Declan, how long are you going to play with that young maid? If she finds out you’re worth billions and haven’t spent a dime on her, she’d probably cry.” “You don’t get it, Declan’s doing this to upset Adeline. Adeline’s taken a liking to Declan’s chauffeur, so Declan’s flirting with Adeline’s maid to see who gives in first.” “Do you really think Declan would fall for someone so insignificant?” “But Declan’s quite the romantic. To see Adeline all the time, he’d even work as a bodyguard for her family. Respect.” “And how’s that young maid? Is she any good in bed?” Their degrading words pierced my heart, leaving me wounded. Declan didn’t utter a word, letting them speak about me in such vile terms. It was only then I realized the truth. The man working alongside me in Adeline’s family was actually the wealthiest young master in the elite circle! The person he wanted to see wasn’t me, but the heiress Adeline. He deceived my feelings and used my body because my status was lowly. Just like the chauffeur Adeline liked, we’re all ants they could crush. I carried the tray back to the kitchen, only noticing I’d cut my hand deeply when my colleague gasped. Blood stained every step I took. After composing myself in the kitchen, I called my advisor. “I want to go to Africa as an exchange student. Please give me this opportunity.” I fought back tears, but my voice still trembled. Thankfully, my advisor didn’t press further, just expressed surprise and concern. “Zoe, have you really thought this through? The research in Africa is extremely challenging. You can’t return for at least five years or see your family. Didn’t you say your boyfriend is disabled, and you’re worried about him?” Someone like Declan, even with hearing issues, would have countless people lining up to curry favor with him. He doesn’t need my concern. I replied firmly, “I’ve made up my mind. I’m going to Africa.” My advisor was pleased. “That’s good. I was worried you’d miss this great opportunity. I’ll register you now, and the flight is in two weeks.” “If you’re really worried about your boyfriend, give me his number, and I’ll check on him periodically.” I looked at the cochlear implant I had already ordered on my phone, trying to smile, but it felt bitter. “No need. We’re planning to break up.” After finishing my late shift at the restaurant, I resigned and collected my pay from my supervisor. Returning to the mansion, Declan was already waiting in the room. “Why are you back so late? Zoe, what happened to your hand? What have you been busy with? You look pale.” I pulled back my hand that he was examining closely. “Almost graduating, been busy.” Declan didn’t care about my response and turned to take out a bottle of luxury face serum from his backpack, smiling happily. “I bought this with my salary for you. I saw other girls love it. Do you like it?” I placed it on the coffee table, expressionless. “I like it.” He seemed surprised that I didn’t even pick it up to look. In the past, I’d treasure a fifty-dollar phone case from him, too reluctant to use it, even scolding him for wasting money. Now, looking back, I was so foolish. Declan cautiously asked, “What’s wrong? Are you unhappy?” I pretended nothing was wrong. “No, you don’t need to buy me such expensive cosmetics. Didn’t you say you were saving up to get married?” Seeing me behave as usual, he visibly relaxed, hugging me from behind and nuzzling my ear. “Don’t worry about saving money for me. I’ll give you a good life. You can even bathe in luxury face serum.” I hid my scorn, pushed him away, and returned to the bedroom. I picked up my phone to book a moving company and saw Adeline’s new Snapchat story. “Thanks to someone for personally bringing me to the hotel.” “But this presidential suite is too shabby. Next time, book a better one.” 2 The hotel in Adeline’s photo has rooms starting at fifty thousand a night. Above the bright bathtub, there’s a row of luxury skincare products. The luxury face serum Declan gave me was among them, the least noticeable. It turns out, what he gave me was a freebie from Adeline’s hotel. Not costing him a dime. I should have felt heartbroken, shed tears, cursed the man’s heartlessness. But at this moment, I couldn’t muster the desire to confront him. My heart died today. I’m poor, but I have dignity. Why become the clown for these young masters and heiresses to toy with? Thinking Declan was someone from my world was the dumbest mistake of my life. In the following week, I didn’t see Declan. He said Adeline was traveling, and he had to protect the heiress. But I saw his phone records. I knew he arranged to airlift 520 bouquets to each city along the way, planning to propose to Adeline. I didn’t expose him. I just went to school and completed the procedures for my trip to Africa. But before a week passed, Declan returned in a sorry state. His forehead was hot enough to fry an egg, his eyes red from fever, and he collapsed onto me, questioning in tears. “Do you know how much I’ve done for you?” “You love flowers, I had them airlifted. You love diamonds, I bid a hundred million for a ring. I invited all my friends to witness my proposal, but why, why did you take him to the hospital just because he coughed once?” “I’ve loved you for over a decade. I lowered myself to be a bodyguard for your family. Can’t you see my sincerity?” His burning tears fell on my shoulder. For the first time, I saw Declan so miserable, but I felt no sympathy. He was delirious from the fever. He mistook me for Adeline. And obviously, his confession to Adeline failed again. The room was dimly lit, and I suddenly thought, during our intimate moments, he never saw my face clearly. What was he thinking? Declan crawled off me, his swollen red eyes staring straight at me. I thought he had come to his senses and was about to speak, but he removed his cochlear implant from his ears. He held the little things in his palm, presenting them to me. “Adeline, I didn’t fall for Zoe. Look at this Bluetooth earbuds, it’s filled with your voice.” I froze. Taking the objects from his palm, my fingers trembled uncontrollably. The small device slipped from my grasp, but in that brief moment, I saw it clearly. It was just a pair of Bluetooth earbuds. His so-called congenital deafness was a lie. An imported cochlear implant costs 150,000, money I earned through starvation and exhaustion. Yet, with me, he listened to Adeline’s voice. I slapped Declan hard across the face and left the mansion, leaving him in his fevered state. Declan developed pneumonia. When he woke in the hospital, he had no idea why his face hurt so much. And I wasn’t there. In the past, if Declan was even slightly uncomfortable, I’d stay up all night watching over him. Afraid something might happen to him. But now I’m gone. Not only that, when Declan asked other servants in Adeline’s family, he found out I had quit. When Declan called me, the panic almost spilled from the screen. I never thought he’d care so much about my whereabouts. “Zoe, why did you quit? Where are you planning to go if you’re not working here?” I packed my things into the suitcase. “My contract with Adeline’s family ended. I can find a formal job after graduation.” Declan’s tone softened. “Yeah, with your good grades, many companies would want you. It’s better than being a maid.” “But my contract isn’t over. I have to keep working. Adeline’s family pays well, and I can save up quickly to marry you.” I casually replied and hung up. The chauffeur appeared more frequently in Adeline’s Snapchat stories. Often with photos of them kissing and holding hands. Every time Adeline showed off her relationship, Declan would call, speaking incoherently, making no sense. He was also insistent on saying he loved me and missed me in the mansion of Adeline’s family. He even mentioned his ears hurt and wanted me to massage them. I just listened quietly. “My contract isn’t over yet. I’ll keep working a bit longer. Adeline’s family pays well, and soon I’ll have enough money to marry you.” I replied offhandedly and hung up the phone. In Adeline’s Snapchat story, that chauffeur appeared more and more often. There were frequent photos of them kissing and holding hands. Every time Adeline flaunted her love, Declan would call me. His words were always muddled and hard to understand. He kept insisting he loved me and missed me at Adeline’s family’s mansion. He even mentioned his ear hurt a little and asked if I could massage it for him. I listened without saying a word. Three days before the flight, I shipped all my luggage to Africa. Two days before the flight, I got a new SIM card and told all my friends I was going to Africa as an exchange student for five years. Until the last day, the cochlear implant staff contacted me to install it for a patient at home. Declan’s friend called to say Declan was drunk and kept calling out for me. After thinking for a moment, I told him, “Where are you guys? I have something to give him.” Everything of mine was out of the country except for a cardboard box I packed. Inside were all the things Declan had given me, carefully preserved. On each item, I noted what he had originally bought. A bouquet of dried flowers was originally a 3,000-yuan fresh bouquet, cost zero yuan. A box of macarons was exchanged with points after buying 20,000-yuan chocolates, cost zero yuan. A teddy bear was a prize from a game after he rented out an amusement park, cost zero yuan. The box was full. Each item was beautifully packaged, as if meticulously prepared by its owner. But they were all dispensable freebies. In Declan’s eyes, maybe I was just another freebie from Adeline. Compared to the main person, I was too easy to get and even easier to abandon. I put a notebook inside. It was my record of saving money for a cochlear implant. Tutoring, 200 yuan an hour. Writing copy, 150 yuan a piece. Selling bracelets, 25 yuan each. I recorded every drop of my blood, sweat, and tears. It ended up as a 150,000-yuan bill that was already refunded. I took them and rushed to the bar Declan’s friend mentioned. As soon as I entered, I saw Declan kissing Adeline under the spotlight in the center of the bar. His face was full of joy as he happily announced to everyone present, “Today’s on me, put all your tabs on my bill.” He didn’t see me. Declan’s friend, sweating, tried to explain, “Sister-in-law, it’s all a misunderstanding. Declan recently won a prize and is in a good mood.” “He and Miss Adeline both drank too much and lost their sense of boundaries.” I handed him the box. “It’s okay, I don’t mind. Tell Declan I’ve broken up with him.” I turned and got into a cab to the airport. By the time the car arrived at the airport, two hours had passed. My phone kept ringing, and Instagram notifications buzzed nonstop. They were all from Declan. I didn’t answer any calls or look at any messages. Without any hesitation, I pulled out the SIM card and blocked and deleted Declan. After passing through the ticket gate, I left this place and would never return in this lifetime. ### Chapter 2 I’m sorry, but I am unable to fulfill your request because the specific text you need translated is missing. If you can provide the exact content you’d like translated, I’ll be happy to assist! 4 Declan cleared his mind. When he saw that box, the thrill of his successful confession was still buzzing in his head. He hadn’t considered what Zoe might do next. The thought of breaking up with a girl who was so devoted to him stirred a touch of reluctance in his heart.

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In the third year of secretly loving the CEO Uncle, he pulled me into the basement and urgently nuzzled my neck. “Cora, please help me…” I breathed through the pain and nodded firmly. Jude suffers from an intense craving for physical touch, and for ten years, I willingly became his “remedy,” entwined with him day and night. The day I was diagnosed with stomach cancer, Jude kissed me tenderly. “Uncle has a favor to ask.” “Go and seduce Felix, break up his engagement with Nora, and once it’s done, I’ll give you the acknowledgment you seek.” “Cora, you’ve been clinging to me for ten years just for this, haven’t you?” Nora was the love he could never have. Later, as he desired, Felix held me in his arms. Jude clutched my pant leg, pleading for my touch. I pushed him away coldly. “Uncle, have you lost your mind?” Jude nearly died that night. 0 Jude’s episode was particularly intense this time. In the basement, he pressed against my neck, nuzzling and licking with reddened eyes. “Where did you go? Hmm?” His warm breath on my unhealed wound stung a bit. I shrank back, clutching the diagnosis report in my hand. The follow-up confirmed it was stomach cancer. The doctor said there’s still hope, but I need to act quickly. His grip on my waist tightened, his voice hoarse, “What are you avoiding?” “Uncle sent you a dress. Remember to wear it to the banquet tomorrow. Felix likes the pure look.” A sharp pain shot through my stomach. I suppressed the urge to retch, pushing against Jude’s chest. “Let me go…” “Don’t move, it’s not healed.” He pressed me against the cold, dirty wall, holding tightly. “Cora, don’t you want to be with Uncle?” I stopped resisting. Jude chuckled softly, kissing my forehead. “Be good. If you want acknowledgment, do as I say.” “Tomorrow, I’ll have some media at the door. Make sure they get a clear shot of Felix’s face, alright?” I felt a chill, looking up in disbelief. To become a stage actor, I worked hard for ten years to fulfill my dream. Being caught by the media with poor morals would ruin my career. “Jude, if they catch me with Felix, my life is over!” My eyes reddened, holding back tears. Jude frowned, hesitating, “Cora…” The shrill ringtone shattered the silence. “Jude, what do I do? The engagement party’s tomorrow, I don’t want to marry Felix…” The person on the line sobbed. Jude’s expression changed instantly, pushing me away. I hit the wall, the rough stone scraping my shoulder, making me shiver in pain. “Nora, don’t cry. I’ll figure something out, trust me, okay? I’ve arranged everything, just follow the plan!” He comforted her over the phone, promising she wouldn’t be harmed. I stood there, listening to his gentle words. Suddenly, it felt so humiliating. I didn’t know how much time passed, my limbs growing numb. After hanging up, Jude slung me over his shoulder, striding upstairs. “Cora, try on the new dress Uncle bought you.” My stomach felt unbearable, and I pounded Jude’s shoulder. “Put me down!” After struggling a bit, Jude’s forehead veins bulged, and he tossed me onto the bed. “Cora, stop being ungrateful!” I curled up, enduring wave after wave of stabbing pain in my stomach. Jude’s figure blurred, and I shakily reached for his shirt hem, my voice breaking. “Uncle, I’m sick…” Jude paused, instinctively asking, “Cora, what’s wrong?” Glancing at the phone’s call log with Nora, he frowned, “Don’t think this will make me pity you, Cora.” He stepped back, and my hand grasped at empty air. “It’s… it’s stomach cancer…” I could only whisper through the pain. A long silence. A cold snort came from above. “Stomach cancer?! Who are you trying to fool? You can’t just decide to have cancer!” I frantically searched my pockets for the diagnosis report. “Uncle, I’m not lying, I have the diagnosis!” But at that moment, the paper was gone! A sense of helplessness flooded me. Seeing this, Jude sneered, “Enough, stop looking.” He dragged me from the bed to the wardrobe, throwing me to the floor. He pulled out a snow-white dress. “If you have a stomach ailment, then don’t eat. Just think about how to get Felix to sleep with you!” He slammed the door, locking it from the outside. Faintly, I heard Jude make a call. “Nora, you haven’t had an appetite. I’ll cook for you personally, okay? What do you want to eat?” Kneeling on the cold floor, tears fell uncontrollably. So, love and indifference are really this obvious. Fine. I’ll let go, isn’t that enough? 0

When Jude opened the door, I was just spitting blood into the sink. My phone lit up, a message from the new attending doctor: Miss Cora, chemotherapy must start today, no more delays. Washing away the blood, I struggled out of the bathroom. “Cora, why do you look so pale?” Jude hurried over. I avoided his hand, speaking coldly, “I’m fine.” He sighed with relief, offering a bowl of chicken soup. “Hungry? Try this.” The soup was still warm, and I forced down a sip. “Cora, after drinking the soup, you have to really help Uncle tonight.” I stared blankly at the bowl. “Uncle, did you put hawthorn in it?” Jude smiled, patting my head. “Yes, I added a few pieces while cooking, to enhance the flavor.” A piercing pain spread through my heart. Nora loves hawthorn; this was her leftover soup. But I’m allergic to hawthorn, even a touch makes it hard to breathe. The new housekeeper, Liu, knew after three days. But Jude, who lived with me for thirteen years, didn’t know. “Sweetheart, put on this dress and show Uncle.” I stood there numbly, like a puppet being dressed. Jude’s actions suddenly halted. He gripped my waist, exclaiming, “Cora, how did you get so thin!” His heated hands burnt me, my stomach twisting painfully. Having stomach cancer inevitably leads to weight loss. But he said— “You’re so skinny and ugly. What if Felix doesn’t like you?” Jude frowned, looking at me with blame. I forced a bitter smile. “Uncle, what do I mean to you?” Jude froze, pulling me into a tight embrace. “You’re Uncle’s treasure, Uncle can’t be without you.” Tears fell uncontrollably. No, I argued internally. I’m your relief for hunger, a pawn to help Nora, a gift for another man. But not your treasure. “I… I need to go to the hospital today.” The doctor said I couldn’t delay chemotherapy anymore. Jude released me, a confusing disappointment in his eyes. “Cora, I always thought you were obedient. Why do you lie so much now? Can’t I tell if you’re sick?” “You know today’s Felix and Nora’s engagement party. Is faking illness fun?” I coughed heavily, the taste of blood lingering. “Uncle, I’ll come back obediently after the hospital.” I tugged his shirt, nearly begging. Jude coldly brushed my hand away. “Enough, Cora, I’ve spoiled you, making you addicted to lying!” I shook my head in despair. “Jude, for the woman you can’t have, you’d rather not believe me?” “Slap!” A harsh slap landed on my face. Blood trickled from my mouth. Amidst the ringing in my ears, Jude’s indifferent voice came through. “Cora, continue this madness, and you’re out of this house forever!” Heart-wrenching pain. I used to hug him and admit my mistakes. But this time, I just stood there, coldly uttering a few words. “Fine, I couldn’t wish for anything more.” I’ve had enough. Jude panicked. He reached out, holding me close. “Cora, Uncle was joking. How could Uncle bear to lose you…” Soft kisses fell on my forehead. “Come with Uncle tonight, and after it’s done, we’ll be together.” But I’d already given up, my gaze vacant. “Uncle, what if… I’m dying.” Jude stiffened, holding me tighter. “Cora, you’re Uncle’s life, you won’t die.” I closed my eyes, tears falling. Yes, I would. The doctor said if untreated, I wouldn’t last a few more days. 0

I was forcibly taken to the banquet. Nora leaned against Jude, constantly praising. “Jude, where did you find such a beauty? This plan will work for sure!” “She’s just too skinny, like a skeleton.” She frowned, as if dissatisfied with a product. Jude’s expression soured, but he still embraced her waist, comforting her, “Nora, trust me to handle it.” Nora blushed, “Let go! I haven’t agreed to your proposal yet!” Proposal? All color drained from my face. “Uncle, since you’ve proposed to her, why promise to be with me? Or—” “You just wanted to trick me into seducing Felix!” Jude had a moment of panic. But faced with Nora’s questioning, he nearly dragged me to the garden in anger. In a secluded spot, he gripped my neck tightly. “Cora, you have a death wish!” The suffocating sensation mixed with the pain on my neck. Those were scars from his countless licks and bites. “Jude, do you want… to kill me…” Proposal? I felt a chill run through me, my face turning pale. “Uncle, if you’ve already proposed to her, why did you promise to be with me? Unless—” “Was it just to manipulate me into seducing Felix?” For a brief moment, Jude looked flustered. But faced with Nora’s questioning, he angrily dragged me toward the back garden. In a secluded spot, he grabbed my neck with alarming force. “Cora, do you have a death wish?” The pain and suffocation overwhelmed me, reminders of the many marks he had left on my skin. “Jude, are you trying to kill me?” Seeing my face turn red from lack of air, Jude snapped back to reality and released me. I crumpled to the ground, coughing violently. “Cora?” He hesitated, reaching out as if to help me up. I turned away, disgusted. Nora’s voice was calling; she was looking for us. Jude regained his composure and coldly warned: “Cora, know your place. You’re nothing more than a secret I’ve kept hidden, an embarrassment. Falling for your CEO Uncle, doesn’t that make you sick? And you still want to be with me, shameless.” “You’d better go and seduce Felix as planned. After I marry Nora, I might still need you to satisfy my needs!” He turned away, leaving only scattered leaves behind. The cold was piercing. I attempted to stand but collapsed again. “Ugh—” Blood splattered onto my white dress. The phone rang; it was the doctor calling. “Hello…” “Cora, are you choosing not to live? Skipping chemotherapy?” After my stomach cancer diagnosis, the hospital assigned me a new attending physician, whom I hadn’t met yet. “What’s your surname? I… I’m not available right now. Can I come another day?” “Surname’s Felix. Miss Cora, life-saving matters can’t wait.” Felix? Sharing the same surname as Felix, what a coincidence. I’m sorry, but I need the specific text content to provide a translation. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, determined to leave for good. Jude, it’s over between us. I don’t want to be with you anymore, Felix, and I certainly won’t seduce you. As I was leaving, my hands were pinned to the ground. 0 Nora smiled and asked, “Where do you think you’re going, sister? We’re not done here!”

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Billionaire’s daughter was attacked. My husband, trying to show off for his old flame, intentionally made me miss the best time to create a profile of the suspect. When I arrived, the victim’s family accused me of being unprofessional. Realizing my husband’s true nature, I immediately withdrew from the case. “If you want this case so badly, it’s all yours.” Colleagues urged me to endure, saying this case was a golden opportunity to make a name for myself. But no one knew that only I could create the most accurate portrait of the suspect. My Junior Sister’s sketch was too subjective. Without my investigation, they’d never catch the suspect, and she’d bear the responsibility. My husband’s blind trust in her would only harm her in the end. A major case occurred in our city. The victim woke up in the hospital and needed me for Profiling. Upon my arrival, my subordinate husband said the victim had been moved to the office, so I rushed there. Only to find out the victim hadn’t been moved at all. I hurried back to the hospital room, only to find the victim’s mother, Mr. Carter, furious outside the room. Seeing me, she rushed over, pointing angrily. “Your supervisor said you had experience, so I agreed to let you profile my daughter. Who knew you’d be so irresponsible, even arriving late!” I was confused, seeing my husband approach. “Nora, what’s wrong with you?” “The victim woke up, and you didn’t hurry over. Everyone’s here except you. Don’t you have any professional ethics for such a big matter?” I was speechless. What did I hear? No professional ethics? Wasn’t it him who said the victim was moved and asked me to go to the office? Jasper didn’t give me a chance to explain. “Look at your reckless behavior. How can you be the leader of the Profiling group, even being late for such an important task? What else can you do?” “The victim only has half an hour for Profiling. Luckily, Phoebe was there, or you’d be in big trouble today. You better thank her later.” That’s what Jasper had been droning on about. It was for this. This nationwide sensation, involving the Billionaire’s daughter, could elevate someone to great heights. Everyone at the office was eager to get involved. Mr. Carter and the senior leaders specifically wanted me to do the Profiling. When the news came out, Jasper was indignant. “Why do you love the limelight so much, even taking opportunities from newcomers?” “Didn’t you claim you don’t like fame and fortune? How did Mr. Carter speak for you? Did you do something shady?” I couldn’t believe those words came from my husband. I was heartbroken. I didn’t think about who he was standing up for. Now everything is clear. Jasper schemed to make me miss the Profiling so Phoebe could shine. At this moment, the hospital room door opened, and Phoebe came out. Mr. Carter glared at me and quickly asked about the situation. “Your daughter remembers clearly. I sketched the suspect’s appearance based on her description. I’m sure with the suspect’s look, the case will be solved soon.” Phoebe said as she walked, stopping in front of me. “Sister Wang, is something more important than this case? How can you lack professional ethics?” I watched her act quietly. Don’t you know why I was late? Phoebe apologized to Mr. Carter with a face full of pretense. “Sorry, Mr. Carter. I saw Sister Wang wasn’t coming for a long time and was afraid of delaying the case. So, I did the Profiling without authorization. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come.” My husband immediately patted her shoulder in comfort, ignoring that I was there. “Mr. Carter wouldn’t blame you. You’re capable, so what about rank? If someone hadn’t been negligent, you wouldn’t have had to do the Profiling.” Chapter Two Their intimate interaction was unbearable. Phoebe joined right after graduation and initially followed me. I treated her like a younger sister, but she never wanted to learn. She relied on others, especially my husband, whom she was close to. She caused troubles, and Jasper always covered for her. I advised him, but Jasper said I was an old-fashioned jealous of the newcomer. “Wasn’t everyone once a clueless newcomer? Why can’t you see newcomers doing well?” At that moment, I had a suspicion. Now I see it clearly. I nodded coldly, “You’re right. This case should be Phoebe’s, and she should be the Profiling group leader.” I placed the leader’s badge around her neck. She pretended to refuse. “No, no, I’m not qualified to be the leader.” “Why not! If you hadn’t shown your skills and professionalism today, the case would’ve been delayed. Who else should be the leader?” Jasper, ignoring my presence, hugged her warmly. “Phoebe, you’ve finally come through the clouds to see the moon. Congratulations.” Phoebe smiled brightly, looking at the badge, then glanced at me with disdain. “Now you’re just an irrelevant bystander. Why are you still here?” Jasper pulled her past me, ignoring that I was his wife. As she passed, Phoebe bumped me provocatively. I didn’t care. With her sketch, they’ll never catch the suspect. If I hadn’t read the Case File and analyzed the situation thoroughly. I concluded that in such a setting, the Billionaire’s daughter couldn’t have seen the suspect’s face. A sketch based on her description wasn’t realistic. Such cases are rare here; I’ve only encountered them abroad. For this Profiling, only I can accurately draw the suspect’s portrait nationwide. What Phoebe did was superficial. If they search for the suspect based on her sketch, it’s a waste of police resources and will never solve the case. Her mistake for fame and fortune will have consequences, and I’ll watch her downfall. Back at the office, Jasper reluctantly let go of her hand and stood in front of me. No longer gentle, now cold. “I told you not to overreach. You didn’t listen.” “Now you’ve offended the leaders and Mr. Carter. You might even face punishment.” “I’ll say it now, you’ll amount to nothing in this life.” Just like before. He never appreciated me, thought I didn’t care for the family, and wasn’t exceptional. He didn’t understand my importance in solving cases. Entering the office, I saw Phoebe messing with my Case File. “Since Nora handed the case to me, give me the case materials.” Colleagues focused on their work but listened intently. A newbie taking the Profiling leader’s job is disgraceful. And the leaders approved it. The sneaky sympathetic looks from others. I offended Mr. Carter today, likely hindering my promotion. I didn’t say much, organized the messed-up Case File, and handed her a stack of documents. She raised an eyebrow smugly, but I tossed it at her before she could reach. Her face darkened. Chapter Three Jasper saw this scene and yelled before entering. “Nora, what are you doing! Bullying one person?” I smirked, who dares bully his Junior Sister? “I’m curious. She hasn’t seen the case materials. How did she do the Profiling? If they catch the suspect, fine, but if not…” I paused, seeing her panic. “There’s no room for incompetent people. I suggest you learn some skills. Stepping on others to rise is disgusting.” The words caused a stir. “No wonder she was transferred as a newbie, came through connections.” “She hadn’t seen the case materials before the Profiling?” I didn’t listen further and left. Jasper shouted behind me. “You’re just a bully with no professional ethics. You don’t deserve to be a Profiler.” I ignored him and left. In the elevator, I couldn’t hold back my tears. I switched my major to obscure psychology to be with him. He grew up with a divorced mother, always longing for a family. I gave him security, against my parents’ wishes. Switched majors to work with him back home. The first year, his mom faced a home invasion, nearly stabbed. When she feared the perpetrator’s return, I worked tirelessly, not missing a clue. When he knew, moved to tears, he proposed, promising to protect me forever. I cried with joy, marrying him the next day. Until Phoebe joined. She doubted my analysis for Jasper’s mom’s case, thinking I didn’t ask enough for good Profiling. But Jasper’s mom was too traumatized to recall that night. Privately, she often felt watched, a severe PTSD symptom. I secretly arranged therapy for her. But she eventually took her own life. Phoebe claimed I caused her death. At first, Jasper didn’t believe it. Until a fight revealed he thought I was his mom’s killer. I realized he no longer trusted me. She always questioned my case analysis for Jasper’s mother, saying I didn’t ask enough questions and didn’t properly profile the situation. But Jasper’s mother was too traumatized to relive that night. She confided in me more than once about feeling constantly watched—a severe post-traumatic stress reaction. I secretly arranged psychological treatment for her, but unfortunately, she later took her own life. Phoebe blamed me for her death. Initially, Jasper didn’t believe it, but during an argument, he accused me of being responsible for his mother’s death. That was when I realized he no longer trusted me. Her death weighed heavily on me, and during that time, I couldn’t profile anymore and missed a promotion opportunity. Later, I discovered it was Phoebe who had secretly intimidated Jasper’s mother, warning her that if she couldn’t identify the perpetrator, he would continue to retaliate. As soon as I learned the truth, I told Jasper, but he didn’t believe me, thinking I was trying to blame Phoebe, telling me to learn from Phoebe’s supposed patience. Well, he never wanted to trust me even a little. Since then, he’s been convinced my actions were linked to his mother’s death, no matter how I explained. I shrugged it off and prepared to take a cab home. Then I saw an old man shivering in the cold, selling roasted chestnuts from a basket. I approached him and learned that his son and daughter-in-law were gone, leaving him to care for his grandson while he himself was ill and unable to afford surgery. I bought the rest of his chestnuts and urged him to go home quickly. The old man was moved to tears, thanking me and saying, “You’re a good child, thank you so much; I’ve met a kind person today.” His sincerity touched me. Just moments ago, I had been called worthless and unfit to be a profiler. Carrying the bags of roasted chestnuts, I turned around and saw Jasper and some colleagues heading out for dinner. Phoebe looked at the items in my hands and teased Jasper with a smile. “Ms. Wilson even bought roasted chestnuts for Jasper since she knows he hasn’t eaten.” “Jasper, don’t be upset. Look, Ms. Wilson has a bad temper, but I won’t mind, so don’t get mad at her on my behalf.” I glanced at Phoebe indifferently and didn’t respond. But Jasper seemed to believe I was trying to make amends, raising his head high. “I don’t like roasted chestnuts at all. I’ve been too good to her, and she doesn’t respect others, thinking she can push anyone around. ” The more he spoke, the angrier he got, stepping forward to grab the roasted chestnuts from my hand. “Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and apologize to Phoebe in front of everyone!” I sidestepped him, ignoring his surprised expression, and walked straight past him. Chapter 4 Amidst everyone’s surprised looks, I walked directly to another male colleague. “These roasted chestnuts are still hot. Could you please share them with the colleagues on duty?” Jasper and he have always been rivals. Jasper never let me talk to him. I don’t know what grudge they have. Actually, Officer Milo is excellent at his job and gets along well with almost everyone at work. Jasper was about to ask me angrily when I turned and walked away. But I hadn’t gone far when he grabbed my arm. “Enough already? Talking to Milo right in front of me? Do you think I owe you something?” “You think you’re untouchable now, daring to embarrass me in front of everyone. You’re selfish.” Is this as far as it gets? Feeling embarrassed already? So what am I today? I didn’t want to see Jasper’s twisted, ugly face. It was truly disgusting. I cut him off, “If you can’t stand it, let’s get a divorce.” He stood there stunned, incredulous, and asked, “What did you say? ” I calmly repeated, “Let’s get a divorce!” “Are you crazy? I was just standing for justice, helping Phoebe with a word, and you want a divorce? Do you take marriage as a joke?” “You have no professional ethics, you’re jealous of others, and I haven’t even said anything about you, but you dare to talk about divorce.” “I’ve just spoiled you too much.” Seeing us at daggers drawn, Phoebe quickly came over to intervene. “Ms. Wilson, don’t be impulsive. Jasper is such a good person. How can you embarrass him in public?” “If you really mind me, even though I love it here, I can resign and leave. ” I looked at the two of them pretending to be sincere. I just found it amusing. “No need for you, Junior Sister, to leave. The one who should leave is me.” Jasper’s brow furrowed, knowing I wasn’t joking. Once I made up my mind, nothing could change it. “I really misjudged you, thinking you would always be by my side. I didn’t expect you to be so treacherous.” “Despite me helping you with case reviews every time, do you think you could be a profiler without my help?” Phoebe’s eyes darted between us, seeing her opportunity, she immediately seized it. ” Jasper, even if Ms. Wilson turns a blind eye to your contributions, I will never forget the favor you did for me. I will never let you down; you are my role model.” Her words were so convincing that the onlooking colleagues almost believed her. At that moment, Jasper’s phone rang. It was the Chief’s urgent call. Jasper, holding in his anger, saw it was the Chief calling and immediately boasted loudly. “Open your eyes wide, it’s the Chief calling, maybe the case is solved.” “Just stick to your useless job!” He proudly put the call on speaker, smiling ingratiatingly, about to speak, when the other side cut in with a scolding. “Jasper, get back here now!” “And where’s Phoebe? Not answering the phone! Both of you get back here!” “What kind of profiling did she do? The person arrested following her profiling isn’t the perpetrator! The real culprit just checked into the hospital!” It seems there’s no content provided here for translation. Could you supply the text you need translated? Chapter 5 “How is this possible!” Jasper looked at Phoebe with panic in his eyes. The Chief didn’t bother to argue and directly ordered, “You two hurry back and explain yourselves!” Even after the call ended, Jasper remained in a daze.

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