Category: English

In my past life, the fake heiress was doted upon, held in the palms of my family’s hands like a precious treasure. Meanwhile, I, the true daughter, was abandoned by my own family, reviled by the world, and died a miserable death on the streets. In this life, I looked at my younger sister’s feigned innocent smile and gave a small smile of my own. She didn’t know that everyone could hear her inner thoughts, except for herself. 00 “Where is Chloe?” I looked up at the person who had just walked in. She was wearing a chic tweed skirt suit, her hair styled in perfect waves, paired with lambskin shoes. Her makeup was flawless. She radiated an air of wealth, looking around with blatant disgust. Her entire aura was completely out of place in these surroundings. “I’m here,” I answered. Chloe looked me up and down, a barely suppressed sneer in her eyes. It was only when her gaze swept across my face that she let out an angry huff. “Let me warn you. Just because Mom and Dad are bringing you home doesn’t mean anything. I’ve lived with the Bennett family for eighteen years. I am the true daughter of the Bennett family. You’d better behave yourself, or I’ll show you exactly what I’m capable of!” Her voice was shrill and piercing, making me frown. She had lived with the Bennetts for so long, yet she hadn’t learned a shred of manners. I was the true daughter of the Bennett family. I had been abducted and sold when I was little, eventually ending up in an orphanage. Chloe had taken my identity and lived as the Bennett family’s beloved daughter for eighteen years. By the time I, the real daughter, was found and brought back, she had already deeply ingrained herself in the hearts of my parents and brother. Unfortunately, her sweet, lovable exterior hid the heart of a viper. To my face, Chloe would affectionately call me “sister,” but behind closed doors, she would stab my skin with pens and threaten me. At school, she would brazenly shove my head into the toilet. She framed me for cheating, destroying my reputation until I was barely surviving at school. Just when I got accepted into a top university and things were finally starting to look up, she pushed me off the eighteenth floor. Because of her, the Bennett family was ruined. My father was sent to prison, my brother disappeared, and my mother, consumed by anger and grief, died of illness. I looked down at my hands. Though they were rough with calluses, they didn’t have the scars from my past life. This meant I had been reborn. I looked at the arrogant Chloe and gave a small smile. She didn’t know that this time around, as long as she was near me, everyone could hear her inner thoughts. In my past life, I was always too afraid to look her in the eye. Looking closely now, her surgically altered face was actually kind of funny. She didn’t look like me. The older she got, the less she looked like me. She had been relying on secret cosmetic tweaks to maintain the resemblance. But because she was terrified the Bennetts would find out, she could only go to shady, underground clinics. Even though her face was completely different now, everyone just assumed she was “growing into her features.” “Is that so? Who the real daughter is—do you think Mom and Dad really don’t know? Why do you think they’re bringing me back? If you aren’t feeling guilty, why did you go to a back-alley clinic to get plastic surgery? Aren’t you afraid your face is going to rot off?” Hit where it hurt, Chloe immediately lunged at me, raising her hand to slap me. But I grabbed her wrist first, my gaze turning ice-cold. “Chloe, don’t forget that everything you have today is because you stole my identity. Do you want to play games? I’ll play with you. But your nose still doesn’t look enough like mine. Since we’ll be living under the same roof, take a good look at my face. Try to find a better doctor next time so you can really copy it.” Being exposed made Chloe panic for a second, but she quickly collected herself, glaring at me venomously. “Who are you trying to scare! Just wait. Once you get to the Bennett house, I’ll show you what I can do. Do you really think a piece of paper is enough to get you through the door? You’re too naive.” “Oh, really? Then why did you sneak over here to try and intimidate me? Don’t lie to yourself, Chloe. If you aren’t scared, why did you get surgery to look like me? Or is it because you know you’re hideous, and seeing me makes you feel insecure?” “Chloe!” Unable to break free from my grip, Chloe screamed and lunged forward, trying to bite me, completely losing her haughty demeanor. I shoved her away, looking in disgust at her crumpled on the floor. “A friendly reminder: Mom and Dad are going to be here any minute. If you don’t leave now, your vicious little act is going to be exposed.” Chloe glared at me fiercely, her eyes practically dripping with poison, but she quickly scrambled up and gathered her things. I let out a cold laugh. This was just the beginning. Not long after Chloe left, the Bennetts arrived to pick me up. I followed them back to the estate. Sitting in the car, I was suddenly incredibly excited to see Chloe. I wondered what would happen when other people heard her inner voice. 01 “Chloe, from now on, Harper is your older sister. You two need to get along.” As soon as we walked through the door, Mom held my hand and led me to Chloe. Although the DNA test proved I was the true daughter, they had raised Chloe for years. Since she had always acted so sweet and obedient, they had no intention of sending her back. A flash of disgust crossed Chloe’s eyes, but she still walked over and affectionately took my hand. “Okay, Mom! I will definitely get along with Harper!” Mom was just about to smile in relief when her expression suddenly froze. She heard Chloe’s inner voice: [I can’t believe this old hag actually brought Harper back. Is she trying to kick me out? This disgusting old bat, acting all high and mighty. I wonder if they know I purposely stole Harper’s identity. They probably think the orphanage just made a mistake.] Mom’s face instantly darkened. She stared in disbelief at Chloe’s sweet, innocent face. The eight years of meticulous upbringing weren’t fake. Before they knew she was fake, the Bennetts felt they owed her, indulging her every whim. Even after finding out she wasn’t their biological daughter, they assumed the orphanage made a mistake. They never blamed her and continued to treat her like their own. “What did you just say, Chloe?” Chloe was startled. She looked up at Mom, a flicker of doubt in her eyes. “I didn’t say anything. What’s wrong, Mom?” “Nothing. I must have imagined it.” Mom looked at her hesitantly. She hadn’t seen Chloe’s lips move, and the whole thing was too bizarre. Chloe had shown up at their door when she was only ten. If what she just heard was true, then a child that young having such a calculated, malicious mind was terrifying. But the next second, Chloe’s voice rang in her ears again. [That old hag scared me to death. For a second, I thought she actually knew what I was thinking. Why won’t they just go away? I have to stand here holding Harper’s hand, it’s so annoying! Harper, this little bitch. Why did she have to come back?] Chloe was so caught up in her thoughts that she unconsciously pinched me hard. I cried out in pain. Mom immediately pulled me toward her. A red welt had already formed on my hand. Thinking about Chloe’s inner thoughts, Mom still couldn’t believe the daughter she had raised for so many years could be so vicious. But it didn’t matter. Once the seed of doubt is planted, it will grow. “What do you think you’re doing, Chloe?” I looked at Chloe’s ugly expression and smiled inwardly, but on the outside, I timidly tugged at Mom’s sleeve. “I’m fine, Mom. Don’t blame her. Maybe she was just… playing a joke on me…” I hid the red welt and secretly pinched myself hard again in the exact same spot. The next second, Chloe’s inner voice sounded again. [What is wrong with this old hag? I just accidentally pinched Harper, and she’s acting like the sky is falling. Her real daughter comes back and she instantly changes her tune. So fake!] Hearing her thoughts, Mom was furious. She grabbed the hand I was hiding behind my back and inspected it. The skin was now covered in an angry, glaring red mark. “Chloe! Even though Harper is back, you are still our daughter! But the way you are acting right now is incredibly disappointing!” Only then did Chloe start to panic. She tried to lunge forward and hug Mom, but Mom dodged her. She stood there, tears welling up in her eyes, looking absolutely pitiful. “No, Mom… it’s not like that…” Seeing her look so wronged, Mom’s heart softened. Just as she was about to give in, Chloe’s inner voice rang out again. [Who does this old witch think she is? She relies on Dad for everything anyway, why is she acting so tough in front of me? And Harper—playing the victim, huh? Just wait, I’ll show you what I can do!] I shrank back behind Mom, looking at Chloe in fear. Mom could no longer hold back. She glared at Chloe. “Enough! Chloe, if you think I don’t deserve to be your mother, you don’t need to put on this fake act in front of me!” 02 I looked at Chloe’s face, twisted in angry confusion, and smirked into Mom’s shoulder. Just wait, Chloe. This is only the beginning of what you’re going to lose. Everything that belongs to me, I will take back, one by one. Mom was still furious, but she didn’t neglect me. Chloe didn’t know this, but Mom used to be a ruthless businesswoman. She only chose to step back and focus on the family after I went missing. Dad respected Mom so much not just out of love, but out of immense gratitude for her sacrifices. Now that Chloe had accidentally revealed she had deliberately stolen my identity, Mom was definitely going to investigate. The truth coming to light was only a matter of time. “Harper, you’ve suffered so much out there. I originally wanted you and Chloe to share a room, but now that I think about it, that’s not a good idea. You can stay in the room next to your brother’s.” I looked at Mom’s red-rimmed eyes. I knew today’s events were a huge blow to her, but what Chloe had done went far beyond this. In the afternoon, when Dad and my brother came home from work, they instantly sensed the strange atmosphere in the house. Dad asked Chloe first. “What’s going on here?” Chloe immediately threw herself into Dad’s arms, rubbing her chest against his arm like a victim. She had always been pampered by the Bennetts, so she had grown into her curves nicely, something she was always proud of. “Dad… I accidentally made Mom mad today, and she still hasn’t forgiven me!” Her voice was melodic, like a songbird. Dad was just about to speak when Chloe’s inner voice dropped a bombshell. [This old hag. Once I butter up Dad, what are you going to do about it? Ugh, Dad’s body is so nice. Not like Ethan. Ethan is just a stray dog Dad picked up. Does he really think he deserves to be my brother?] Dad and my brother’s faces instantly turned a sickly shade of pale. My brother was indeed adopted. Because I had gone missing early on, the family needed an heir, so Mom and Dad adopted him. But they had always treated him as their own flesh and blood. And Chloe had arrived after my brother had already been adopted. Mom had already experienced this all afternoon, so she wasn’t surprised. Or perhaps, she already had her suspicions. She crossed her arms and looked coldly at Dad. Dad awkwardly pulled his arm out of Chloe’s grasp. “Chloe, if Mom is mad, you must have done something wrong. Apologize to her properly. Your mother is a reasonable woman.” Unable to figure out where the voice came from, Dad instinctively decided to try and mediate. My brother, however, stood to the side, staring intently at Chloe—the little sister he had always doted on. “But…” [What is wrong with Dad? That old witch, reasonable? I just accidentally pinched Harper, and she’s acting like the world is ending.] Hearing Chloe’s inner voice again, Dad and my brother stared at her in utter disbelief. But Chloe remained oblivious. She tried to throw herself back into Dad’s arms, but he pushed her away. “Chloe, you’re grown up now. You can’t keep clinging to people like this. I’ve told you this many times.” Seeing her actions, my brother finally couldn’t hold back and spoke up. Chloe’s expression turned ugly, a mix of humiliation and anger at being rejected, but she maintained her pitiful facade. “I know…” [Ethan, you are so annoying! Who do you think you are, trying to lecture me?] My brother’s face darkened further. He clamped his mouth shut and stepped aside. I stood by and watched the circus unfold. The show is just starting, my dear sister. “Alright, Harper said she wanted to wait for you two to get home to eat. She must be starving after waiting so long. Let’s eat first.” Mom spoke up to take control of the situation. Dad and my brother turned to look at me. Seeing my thin, frail frame, Dad nodded quickly. “Yes, yes, yes, let’s eat. Harper is so thin, she needs to eat more.” Chloe’s inner voice continued to echo around us. It was so bitter and venomous that, aside from her, the food tasted like ash in everyone’s mouths. [Why does Harper get to sit at the table? I’ve been with the Bennett family for so long. I am the true daughter here! Who does she think she is? Just because she was found doesn’t mean she can replace me!] [Harper is so skinny, she looks like she’s never had a real meal in her life. She looks like a twig. Such an eyesore!] My brother looked up at her, then took the piece of ribs she was about to grab and placed it in my bowl, his voice gentle. “You’re too thin, Harper. Eat more. If you can’t reach something, just tell me and I’ll get it for you.” Mom looked at me and nodded, her heart aching. She took another piece of ribs that Chloe was aiming for and put it in my bowl as well. At the same time, she instructed Maria, our housekeeper, who was standing to the side, completely petrified after hearing Chloe’s inner thoughts. “Harper just got back. Her health is poor and she needs nutrients. Pay extra attention to her. Make more nutritious meals for her. Let me know if we need to order special ingredients.” Mom turned back to look at me, her eyes full of love and sympathy. “Harper, if there’s anything you like to eat, just tell Maria and she’ll make it for you. Don’t be shy.” I nodded silently. These were things I had never experienced in my past life. After all, I didn’t have Chloe’s audacity to shamelessly demand whatever I wanted. 03 Seeing that my brother and Mom had already shown their support, Dad racked his brain until he finally came up with a new angle: “Right, we haven’t sorted out Harper’s school yet. Why not have her go to Sterling Academy? It’s owned by the family, so we won’t have to worry.” Sterling Academy was a top-tier private school owned by the Bennett family. It was named after my brother, Ethan Sterling Bennett, to show how much they valued him. Before I could even respond, Chloe shrieked: “Dad!” Her voice was so piercing that Dad frowned at her. “Chloe, why are you screaming at the dinner table?” Realizing what she had done, Chloe quickly lowered her head and put on a pitiful, concerned expression. She looked as wronged as could be. “I’m just worried that if Harper goes to Sterling, she won’t be able to keep up… After all, considering the school she went to before, her grades probably aren’t very good…” Her words reeked of passive-aggressiveness. On the surface, she was showing concern for me, but she was really reminding everyone that it was an elite school, hinting to Mom and Dad that I was too low-class to attend. “She’ll go to Sterling. You don’t need to worry about Harper’s grades. You should focus on yourself and learn from her. If you bring home another failing grade, I’m cutting off your allowance.” Mom wiped her mouth, finalizing the decision and completely ignoring Chloe’s ugly expression. Chloe had a boyfriend at school named Chase. He was essentially a local thug. Ever since she started dating him, her grades had plummeted. Just because Mom hadn’t said anything before didn’t mean she didn’t know. Bringing it up now was just her way of hoping Chloe would get her act together. But Chloe just glared resentfully at Mom’s back. I watched her turn away and sneak into a corner to make a phone call. As a figure slowly approached the corner where we were standing, I suddenly spoke up: “Chloe…” 04 “What do you want, you jinx!” Chloe frantically hung up the phone. Seeing it was me, she flew into a rage and tried to lunge forward to slap me. I didn’t dodge. I let her slap me, then deliberately threw myself to the floor. “Chloe, what do you think you’re doing?! You’re getting completely out of hand!” Dad rushed over and helped me up. Seeing the red mark on my cheek, his heart broke, and he asked with deep concern, “Are you okay, Harper? Are you dizzy?” I had braced myself when I fell, so Chloe’s slap didn’t land flush on my face. I shook my head pitifully, clutching my cheek and pulling on Dad’s sleeve. “I’m fine, Dad. Chloe might just be… afraid that my coming back will take away the love you have for her. Please don’t be mad at her.” Hearing this, Chloe’s face turned red, then white. I found it hilarious. You think you’re the only one who knows how to play the victim? I can do it too. “Harper, you are our biological daughter. It’s only right that we treat you well.” [Who does this bitch think she is? Biological daughter? Then what about all my hard work over the years? Why does Harper get to steal everything from me with just a few words? This bitch is obviously faking it!] Hearing this thought, I raised an eyebrow at Chloe. You really convinced yourself that the things you stole belong to you. You took over my life and lived off it for so long without an ounce of guilt. Perhaps remembering the joy Chloe used to bring to the family, Dad intended to comfort her. Seeing this, I lowered my head and let two tears fall. “Dad, I haven’t been here to fulfill my duties as a daughter all these years. Chloe has always been the one taking care of you at home. It’s only right that you treat her better. Chloe, if it really bothers you that much, I can move out.” Before Dad could speak, Chloe’s venomous inner voice rang out again. [Yes! Get the hell out! Give everything back to me! I am the true daughter of the Bennett family! What kind of stray mutt are you? Get out! Go die!] While thinking this, Chloe forced a smile onto her face. “Don’t think like that, sister. Why would I want you to leave? We’re family!” [What family? You bitch, get the hell out of the Bennett house! I am the true daughter!] Dad stared at Chloe in shock. The youngest daughter he had pampered for years was so two-faced. Sweet words on her lips, but a heart full of absolute poison. Dad looked at her intently, then sighed in deep disappointment. “Chloe, I hope you mean what you just said. But the mark on Harper’s face is still there. You need to remember this: we only treated you so well because you took Harper’s place. Even though we thought the orphanage made a mistake, everything you have was originally meant for Harper. We still acknowledged you as our daughter and treated you incredibly well. But now that Harper is back, she is our true biological daughter. She is the heiress of the Bennett family.” Dad delivered this speech in one breath, ignoring Chloe’s suddenly pale face. Looking exhausted, he pulled me away, saying he was going to find some ice for my cheek. He left Chloe standing behind us, screaming curses in her mind. [Bitch! Bitch! Bitch! Why? Why did everything change overnight? Why did Dad never care when I acted like this before?] [I am the heiress! I am! Who does this bitch think she is? I should have strangled her to death when they found her! Now she’s back here trying to steal my things! Bitch!] Dad’s footsteps faltered for a second, then he continued pulling me forward. 05 Whether Chloe liked it or not, I enrolled at Sterling Academy. We weren’t in the same class, but my mere presence was proof that Chloe was a fake heiress who had stolen my identity. Even before school officially started, rumors were flying everywhere. Chloe, who was used to being the center of attention, couldn’t handle the blow. To prove her status, she started finding every possible way to cause trouble for me. I coldly watched Chloe block my path on the first day of school, flanked by her thug boyfriend. “Chloe said you’ve been bullying her at home. You really think just because you’re back, you’re the boss now? Apologize to Chloe!” Chase swung a baseball bat around, acting tough, his lackeys echoing his demands from behind. I looked at Chase and sighed. “You’re standing up for Chloe, but do you know she’s sleeping with your lackey behind your back? You’ve got a whole forest of green horns growing on your head, and you’re still acting like the big man on campus.” I pointed at a lackey standing behind Chase, right next to Chloe. Chase’s face turned green. Chloe immediately started shrieking. “Harper, what the hell are you talking about?! Baby, don’t listen to her!” Chloe leaned weakly against Chase’s chest, looking like she was on the verge of tears. The lackey beside her quickly chimed in, “Yeah, boss! How could Chloe ever do something like that to you? You have to believe her! This bitch is obviously just making things up.” Chase glared fiercely and was about to speak when Chloe’s inner voice dropped like a bomb, stunning everyone around her: [What’s going on? How did Harper know about this? Did I not hide it well enough? Did Mike tell her?] Mike was the name of the lackey I had just pointed at. Chase wasn’t stupid; he immediately understood what was going on. He looked down at Chloe, who was still buried in his chest, oblivious to the fact that her inner thoughts were broadcasting loud and clear. [But you can’t really blame me, right? It’s not my fault Chase is terrible in bed. Not like Mike. He can go for over half an hour, and he’s way bigger and harder than Chase. Sigh, maybe I should hook up with him again this weekend?] Chase’s face grew darker and darker. Some of the lackeys couldn’t help but snicker. “Ch… Chloe, what did you just say?” Chase’s voice, grinding out every syllable, finally made Chloe realize he was interrogating her. The surrounding lackeys kept stealing glances at Chase’s crotch. Her face went pale as she tried to explain, but Chase violently shoved her away. Mike turned pale, glaring at Chloe for being an idiot. He was just about to run when Chase walked over to him. “Giving me a green hat, huh? Beat him!” “Wait… wait a minute! Boss, Chloe seduced me first! You can look at our texts! Chloe sent me those pictures first!” Mike trembling handed his phone to Chase. Chase snatched it, scrolled through it for a moment, then smashed the phone on the ground and walked menacingly toward Chloe. “Chloe, you’ve got some nerve, haven’t you? Did you really think I wouldn’t touch you?” Seeing him approach, Chloe scrambled backward into a corner, screaming at the top of her lungs: “You can’t touch me! I am the Bennett family heiress! The Bennetts won’t let you get away with this!” Chase laughed at this. “The Bennett heiress? You’re just a fake, and I’ve already fucked you. At most, I’ll force the Bennetts to marry you off to me. If I teach my cheating wife a lesson, do you think the Bennetts will say a damn thing?” Chloe obviously couldn’t outrun Chase. Just as his second punch was about to land, a voice rang out from behind us. 06 “You students over there! What do you think you’re doing?!” The Dean of Students rushed over furiously, leading a group of security guards. Chase glanced back, shoved Chloe—whose face was already swelling up like a balloon—aside, and fled with his lackeys. I hid my phone in my pocket, my mission accomplished. Since this was a huge incident, the parents obviously had to be called in. After all, Chloe was still nominally the Bennett heiress, and Chase’s family had some money, so the school couldn’t just sweep it under the rug. They called Mom. I don’t know exactly how it was handled, but that night when we got home, Mom was sitting on the living room sofa. Seeing me and Chloe walk in, her voice was ice-cold: “Chloe, get on your knees!” Chloe, sporting a face swollen like a pig, was completely confused. She was the one who got beaten up, and Mom was telling her to kneel? In Chloe’s mind, she was the Bennett heiress. Everyone was supposed to revolve around her. Her every frown or smile should tug at the Bennett family’s heartstrings. “Mom…” “I said, get on your knees!” Not daring to resist further, Chloe obediently knelt down. Mom stared at her coldly. It wasn’t until Chloe was sweating bullets that Mom finally spoke slowly. “Chloe, over the years, I’ve constantly asked myself if I’ve ever mistreated you or failed in my duties as a mother. Not just me—your father, your brother, every single one of us has held you in the palm of our hands. But what have you done? Even when Harper came back, we didn’t ask you to leave. Maybe we were wrong from the very beginning. A person who can seamlessly steal another person’s life without a shred of guilt will always be an ungrateful wretch.” Chloe didn’t understand why Mom was suddenly speaking so harshly. Seeing her confused look, Mom scoffed. She grabbed a stack of printed papers from the sofa next to her and threw them right in Chloe’s face. The papers flew everywhere, many landing on Chloe’s face. She reached out and caught one. They were all various chat logs from her phone, explicit photos, and messages cursing and insulting Mom. But that wasn’t the worst part. The worst part was that they detailed exactly how she had stolen my identity, how she had been secretly going to clinics over the years to look more like me, and how she had used the Bennett name to act like a tyrant outside, planting huge time bombs for our family.

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I was photographed going into a mansion with my younger brother, sparking a massive scandal that blew up the trending topics. My ex-boyfriend went absolutely insane. For every photo the internet sleuths dug up of me and my brother, my ex would stubbornly throw out another photo of us to compete. I’ve seen people clarify scandals, but I’ve never seen someone drop hammers on themselves. Netizens were screaming: What day is it? Is the A-list movie star having a lovesick meltdown on the main timeline? My ex tweeted one after another until the crowd finally had to beg him to stop—the tea was too hot, and they couldn’t drink it all. 1 My mom doesn’t have many hobbies, but she loves designing clothes. It just so happened that I had an empty schedule and my brother, Jace, had no gigs, so she called us both home for dinner. Because the security in our gated Beverly Hills community has always been incredibly strict, we didn’t think twice and just went home together. “Come here, come here! Look at these matching family outfits I made! One for each of us.” I looked at the clothes in front of me with a bit of disdain. A perfectly good Hermès shirt had been altered to look like a cheap knockoff. I patiently tried to reason with her. “Mom, embroidering a letter on an Hermès shirt doesn’t make it your design.” My dad immediately jumped to her defense. “What are you talking about? This letter is the pièce de résistance! One look and you know it’s something special.” I muttered under my breath, “You don’t put the cherry on top before you bake the cake.” My dad, the ultimate simp for my mom, glared at me. “If your mother tells you to wear it, you wear it. She spent days embroidering these. I’ll put mine on first.” He pulled the black shirt over his head. I have to admit, for a guy in his fifties who works out every day to stay in shape, he looked good in anything. My mom looked at him with starry eyes. “Honey, you look so handsome. I’m going to make you a few more.” Alright, two hopeless romantics unconditionally supporting each other. I held the shirt in my hands. “I’ll wear it tomorrow.” Seeing me refuse, Jace folded his up too. “I’ll wear mine tomorrow, too.” Early the next morning, I tried to sneak out, but both my parents were waiting in the living room. “Dad, aren’t you going to the office today?” “I’m packing some organic fruits and vegetables for you two to take back.” He had actually dug up a massive plot of land behind the mansion just to grow fruits and vegetables for us. He insisted fresh was best. I curled my lip. “It’s so heavy. Let Jace carry it.” As the housekeeper packed the bags, my dad nagged, “Take it all. Stop ordering takeout and make sure you eat properly. Look how skinny you two are.” My mom frowned. “Why haven’t you changed your clothes?” In the end, Jace carried two massive bags of produce, and the two of us headed back to the city wearing our matching “family” outfits. 2 Before we even reached the agency, Twitter was already blowing up. Paparazzi had camped outside our house all night and caught photos of Jace and me leaving together. [Daily Entertainment V: Top idol and rising actress spotted leaving a luxury mansion together! After a passionate night, the two emerged wearing matching couple’s outfits, carrying groceries and household items, looking very much like they’ve been living together for a while. Stay tuned for more details!] #JaceAndQuinnRomance was the number one trending topic. By the time I got to the agency, Jace’s sports car was already parked in the underground garage. Jace came over and opened my car door. “Quinn, the security guard who took a bribe to let them in has already been fired. How should we draft the joint statement? I’ll follow your lead.” I put on my sunglasses as my assistant pressed the elevator button. “The PR and legal teams are waiting upstairs. Let’s go up together.” As the story developed, the arguments online were getting fiercer. For an idol like Jace, the negative impact of a dating scandal was massive. His obsessive fans and “wife” fans were practically drowning me in spit. The narrative on Twitter was overwhelmingly against me, though he was definitely taking some heat too. They called me a seductress. Shameless. They called him blind and said he was throwing his career away. Yeah, it felt like they were mostly just attacking me. I’ve been in the industry for a long time, and Jace and I have always kept our true family background a secret. I even used our mother’s maiden name as my stage name. Honestly, the best way to resolve this was to reveal our true identities: we are full-blooded siblings. But if we did that, all our efforts to keep it a secret would be wasted. I looked over the PR team’s proposed strategies. Collaborating on a project, writing a song together, hanging out with mutual friends… I got a headache just looking at these overused excuses. I’ve been in the industry for so long without a single scandal. My team had never dealt with anything like this before. It looked like I needed a new PR team. Forget it. It was better to just tell the truth. “Quinn, it’s drafted. Waiting on you,” Jace said, his finger hovering over the ‘Tweet’ button, but he didn’t press it. “Quinn, Rowan Pierce is trending,” my assistant said, looking shocked as she handed me her phone. I looked at the screen. Rowan Pierce V: [She’s a tease, but she refuses to commit. Kid, you’re still young. Don’t let her fool you. Let me handle this one. @Jace] It was over. Complete chaos. We had just spent a fortune to suppress the trending topic about Jace and me, and the moment Rowan chimed in, Jace’s and my names shot right back to the top. I scrolled through the timeline. My image as a homewrecking siren was now firmly cemented in everyone’s minds, and the hate was getting worse. I grabbed Jace’s hand, stopping him from posting the clarification. “Wait a minute before you post.” When Rowan didn’t get a response from me, he actually posted several more tweets in rapid succession. Rowan Pierce V: [I didn’t mean it like that, please don’t misunderstand her. It’s because I was too busy and neglected her that she dumped me. It’s not her fault, it’s mine.] Rowan Pierce V: [I haven’t even been to your house, what right does he have?] Rowan Pierce V: [You like this type? Is it too late for me to sign up to be an idol?] Rowan Pierce V: [Which agency is looking for idols? The kind that can debut immediately. Please contact my assistant’s email: xxxxxx.] Twitter exploded. What was happening? The notoriously rational, A-list actor was losing his mind over love online? To his fans, Rowan Pierce had always been the epitome of a clear-headed professional. He hadn’t had a single scandal in his five years in the industry. The name Rowan Pierce represented rationality, low-key professionalism, and dedication. This was the first time anyone had associated Rowan Pierce with being “lovesick.” Many actresses had tried to ride his coattails, but he and his team were like internet watchdogs. The moment a rumor surfaced, they would clarify it within an hour. Fans joked that he was the only active celebrity in Hollywood who acted like a ghost—never appearing unless there was a rumor, and then instantly popping up to debunk it, as if he were allergic to women. 3 I was getting confused too. Rowan and I had fallen in love on set. It was the very first movie I filmed after entering the industry, called Autumn Whispers. We filmed for six months, completely entangled in a beautifully tragic romance. After we wrapped, he confessed his feelings to me. Coincidentally, my heart skipped a beat every time I saw him too. But after that movie, he transitioned to big-budget blockbusters. We were both busy with our careers. He was shooting movies; I was shooting TV shows. Often, he would send a message, and I wouldn’t reply until I finished work half a day later. Then he would reply half a day after that. We couldn’t even manage a five-sentence conversation in three days. As time passed, we rarely saw each other, and communication dwindled. He started acting like the aloof, unapproachable leading man he played in movies. My enthusiasm faded, and I broke up with him. I was definitely sad about the relationship ending, but not to the point of begging him to stay. Rowan’s career skyrocketed, he became more and more famous, and any actress associated with him would inevitably get attacked by fans. The only exception was Sloane Pierce, who was the only actress he hadn’t publicly distanced himself from after they were photographed having dinner together. To save myself some trouble, I wanted to stay as far away from him as possible. I was genuinely curious—what was the reason behind this crazy outburst? While I was watching Rowan lose his mind. Reliable internet sleuths had already pieced together Jace’s true identity from various clues. After all, he shared the same last name as my father, and once someone made the connection, the proof followed. Jace’s true identity hit the trending list again—Jace, son of real estate tycoon Marcus Thorne. A bonafide top-tier billionaire heir. Rowan Pierce V: [Is that it? Ever heard of the Pierce family? Apex Global’s Chairman, Arthur Pierce, is my father. If it’s money you’re looking for, I have more than that kid. Look at me.] In a single day, the entertainment industry had exposed two wealthy heirs. [I thought Jace’s identity was shocking enough, the son of the biggest real estate developer! Now Rowan actually steps forward and admits he’s the son of the Chairman of the multinational Apex Global? What right does Quinn have?! Is it just because of her face?] [Is this some kind of Cinderella story? Quinn is so damn lucky!] [Rowan Pierce has been in the industry for five years, his background a mystery, never appearing at public events outside of filming, and now he voluntarily exposes his identity! His dedication to pursuing her is real. I’m crying!] [Retweet this Quinn, and you too can be pursued by two billionaires.] A portion of the general public on the timeline had gone from hating me to envying me. Both Rowan and I were incredibly career-driven; at least, that’s what I believed until today. Besides acting, we were like ghosts in the entertainment industry. We didn’t do reality shows or attend galas. So, apart from our closest friends, almost no one in the industry knew we had dated. The netizens relentlessly continued digging. They actually dug up photos of Jace picking me up from school when we were kids. In the photo, Jace was waiting for me outside the school gates. As soon as I walked out, I tossed my backpack and uniform jacket to him, and Jace actually flashed a huge grin, trailing behind me and catching them. The Twitter timeline was bombarded non-stop for a whole day. The gossip consumers were practically stuffed. [To treat the young master of the Thorne family like that, how does Quinn have the nerve?] [Why does it feel like she has this sense of disdain toward the young master? Like she looks down on him.] Rowan Pierce V: [Isn’t that just a photo from childhood? I have one too.] Wow, truly a man who lives on the internet. Rowan posted a photo of me when I was about seven or eight at an amusement park. In the photo, I was handing a balloon to a little boy. Thinking back carefully, I remembered hearing a kid crying nearby. I was tired of playing with the balloon in my hand, and finding the crying boy annoying, I just shoved it at him. That crybaby was actually Rowan Pierce? 4 Fans also dug up that I was present at Jace’s 18th birthday party, standing right next to him in the group photo. Rowan Pierce V: [You met the parents at 18? So I was just the rebound?] The most explosive part came when Jace’s fans dug up a photo of the two of us walking down the street holding hands. In the photo, Jace was looking at me with absolute adoration, and from the camera’s angle, my body was practically leaning into his embrace. I looked at my pained expression in the photo and the bicycle nearby, trying to recall the memory. Wasn’t that when I rode my bike into a ditch and he came to pick me up? These gossip-hungry netizens! Was that adoration? He was laughing at me! I had sprained my ankle and could barely stand. He was supporting me to the car to take me to the hospital. If you’re asking why I was riding a bike… well, my persona in the entertainment industry was “the broke girl.” Of course, this wasn’t my idea; it was arranged by my agency. However, I gradually realized that with the “broke girl” persona, I didn’t have to rack my brains trying to outshine other actresses. I wouldn’t be the first choice for high-fashion galas or new product launches, which gave me a lot more free time. I was quite happy to play along. Rowan Pierce V: [You forced me to do this!] Rowan posted another photo, but the traffic was so intense that it broke as soon as it was posted. The image was unviewable the moment it went live. [Bro, stop posting. I’m afraid Twitter is going to crash.] [Stop it, bro. I don’t know if Twitter will crash, but I know your persona is shattered into a million pieces.] [Can someone tell me why this guy suddenly lost his mind today?] [Which adult hasn’t lost their mind? We’re all just barely holding it together.] [Am I the only one who wants to know if they really dated?] The fan comments were getting more and more ridiculous. I couldn’t let this escalate any further. I dialed that familiar number on my phone, having just pulled it out of my blocklist. I said softly: “Hello.” “Finally decided to call me?” I don’t know why, but I could hear the smile in his voice over the phone. Ever since I realized Rowan Pierce and the crybaby at the amusement park were the same person, his image in my heart was completely ruined. “Was your Twitter hacked?” “No, I posted them all. If you didn’t call me, I was going to post something even worse.” He sounded incredibly smug. I gritted my teeth: “Rowan, what do you want?” “Break up with him.” I was baffled: “We have nothing to do with each other anymore. What right do you have to order me around?” “I’m not ordering you around, I…” His tone softened: “Unblock me on iMessage, and we can talk this over slowly.” I pulled his contact out of my blocklist. Me: “Spit it out. How much money do you want to delete the tweets?” Rowan: “Do you think I need money?” Me: “Then what do you want?” Rowan: “Go on a reality show with me.” After all this fuss, just to get me to go on a reality show? I seriously wondered if he had been kicked in the head by a donkey. He sent me a poster on iMessage. It was a travel reality show. The first two seasons had already aired, but because the drama in the second season was too intense, the third season had been delayed for a long time. A five-day, slow-paced travel show. It could be seen as a way to relax, which was acceptable. Me: “I’ll go. Will you stop causing a scene?” Rowan: “Once you sign the contract, I’ll delete the tweets immediately.” Fine, I’ll go. 5 After arguing with Rowan for a while, Jace had fallen asleep next to me. My manager gently shook him awake: “Young Master Jace, wake up. The PR team has left.” He opened his eyes groggily and asked me: “Quinn, what about me? Are we still clarifying?” “Send out a legal notice first, stating the rumors are false. I’ll think about the rest later.” “Okay.” He nodded and saved his drafted tweet to his drafts. Suddenly, he called out: “Quinn, look at this. A reality show reached out to me.” Jace pushed his phone toward me. Wanderlust Vibes? Wasn’t this the show Rowan wanted me to do? Alright, this is how we’re playing? “Go. Everyone’s going.” I looked at Jace with amusement: “Don’t tell outsiders you’re my brother just yet.” I admit I had a little selfish motive. I wanted to see what Rowan was really up to. To be honest, I still liked him. After all, as someone who appreciates good looks, he was genuinely handsome. 6’2″, broad shoulders, narrow waist—he gave off a strong sense of security. He dressed with great taste, and although he seemed cold to others, he was a true gentleman. He was infinitely better than the sleazy male stars I’d seen in the industry over the years, and the guys who used their status to sleep around. If he truly wanted to get back together, I thought I would be happy. Regardless of the outcome of this trip, I would clarify my relationship with Jace when it ended. Being an idol was his dream, and I couldn’t be so selfish as to jeopardize his future. Just as I was feeling happy, I was tagged in a tweet. Wanderlust Vibes V: [A new season of travel is about to begin! Let’s all look forward to the sparks our new cast members will create! Rowan Pierce, Quinn Thorne, Sloane Pierce, Jace Thorne, Leo Brooks.] Why was Sloane Pierce there too! Back then, for my first TV drama with Rowan, the rumor was that Sloane was supposed to be the female lead. In the end, for some unknown reason, she was replaced by me right before shooting began. And then Sloane’s fans held a grudge against me, constantly claiming I stole their idol’s role. At the time, it was my first acting gig. I had zero fans and could only silently endure the hate. Later, I just stopped looking at the comments and focused on acting. After it aired, the show was a massive hit, and both Rowan and I blew up. I looked pretty good, my acting was natural, and it was watchable, so my status in the industry rose. When the show got popular, Sloane’s fans were even angrier, saying all of this should have been Sloane’s, and that everything I got was stolen from her. The entertainment industry treated Sloane and me as rivals, and our fanbases tore into each other constantly. But the truth was, we had never even met. Sure enough, the production team knew how to generate buzz. Sloane Pierce’s name also hit the trending list. For an entire morning, the trending list had been dominated by the four of us taking turns. 6 During this sensitive time, Jace and I didn’t dare go back to the mansion, so we just packed a few clothes at my small apartment. By the time we arrived at the hotel prepared by the production team, the journey had already begun. The production team had installed cameras and required us to do a live stream sharing our luggage before departure. To maintain my “broke girl” persona, I brought very few things, but they were all highly practical. I showed them off one by one: “This hanger is foldable. When you pull it open, you can hang clothes, towels, and even shoes.” “This collapsible kettle is very convenient for boiling water when you’re out, and it doesn’t take up much space in your suitcase.” “This is hot pot base, and some instant food. If we run out of money and can’t afford to eat, at least we won’t starve to death.” I thought it was going to be a normal pre-interview like previous seasons, since I had binge-watched the first two seasons before coming. Suddenly, the production team handed me a mission card. The producer explained: “This is a secret guardian mission. You need to complete your guardian mission on the first day without being discovered by the others. If you succeed, we’ll increase your travel budget.” The production team arranged a draw. Four envelopes were placed in front of me. I silently prayed in my heart: Please don’t let me draw Rowan. And please don’t let me draw Sloane. I didn’t know Leo well either, so that would be awkward. Please, please let me draw Jace! Just to be safe, I asked before opening it: “What if I draw someone who’s already been drawn?” “You protect whoever you draw. If all four people draw the same person, then you all protect that one person.” I opened the envelope in my hand. As soon as I pulled the card halfway out, I quickly shoved it back in. The producer reminded me: “You need to show it to the camera.” I asked desperately: “Can I see the other three?” “You may.” I flipped them over one by one: Jace, Sloane, Leo. I really was that unlucky. I revealed the card in my hand—Rowan Pierce. I watched helplessly as the comments flew by faster and faster on the live stream. [Good stuff. Love to see it. Chaos lovers are satisfied.] [This is so dramatic. I’m already looking forward to this trip.] [Am I also a part of their game?] [Just go on the trip. I won’t say a word.] To prevent the live stream from leaking secrets, everyone drew their cards privately. My mission was to make him drink three glasses of water in one day. I was doomed. When Rowan was filming before, he hated drinking water. He could go a whole day without a single sip. 7 The next day, the five of us gathered at the airport and flew abroad together. We met for the first time in the VIP lounge. When I arrived, Jace and Rowan were already sitting in the lounge, but they were seated very far apart. Seeing me walk in, Jace came over to take my suitcase: “Hi, Quinn.” I nodded politely: “Hello.” Rowan cleared his throat: “Long time no see.” “Yeah, long time no see.” Rowan took my suitcase from Jace’s hand and placed it next to his own. As if to cover up something, he also moved Jace’s two suitcases over. Leo walked in pushing his suitcase. A boy wearing a white button-down shirt. He wasn’t composed like Rowan, nor did he have Jace’s bad-boy charm. He had a fresh, sunny vibe. As soon as he walked in, he pulled out business cards from his pocket: “Hi Quinn, hi Jace, hi Rowan. I’m Leo Brooks, an actor and singer. I just graduated this year, so I’m Quinn’s junior. I’m an extrovert. If anyone needs help or heavy lifting, just call me.” Since yesterday’s trending topic, Jace had a new nickname—Young Master Jace. Leo watched as we put all our suitcases to the side, so he pushed his all the way to the back. After putting away his luggage, he sat down next to me: “Quinn, I’m such a huge fan of yours. Can we take a picture?” “It was because you applied to the Drama Academy that I wanted to be your junior. I’ve always looked up to you…” Saying that, he turned to look at Rowan and continued: “And Rowan is my role model. Autumn Whispers left such a deep impression on me.” “I actually have a still from back then here. Could you two sign it for me?” I could tell he was an extrovert! Because he was invading my introvert personal space, and he seemed to be enjoying it! I looked at the photo. It was supposed to be a backstage group photo, but it was cut by the director because our smiles were too sweet. In the photo, the two of us were leaning our heads together, making peace signs. At the time, we filmed from summer to winter. I was still a nobody actress. Before that movie, I had only shot a few commercials and had no real acting experience. But Rowan was already an established actor and had a lot of say on set. We were the male and female leads, but he had a huge dressing room with air conditioning, and when filming got tiring, he had an RV parked right outside the set. I could only sit on a small stool on set in the summer, using a handheld fan to cool down, and relying on heat packs to stay warm in the winter. At the time, acting was my dream. I stubbornly refused help from my family, insisting I wanted to build my career from scratch, just like my parents did. I was too competitive. I really didn’t want a single dime from my family. So when I shot my first movie, I was genuinely broke. That was the toughest period of my life. Fortunately, Rowan was there during that time. Once we got to know each other, Rowan wasn’t as aloof as he initially seemed. He would invite me to his dressing room for the AC, let me nap in his RV, stand on the shore with a towel and jacket waiting for me when I had to film scenes in the water, halt production when I accidentally got hurt to take me to a hospital miles away, and guide my emotions during our scenes together. The sound of rolling luggage interrupted my memories. “Ms. Pierce, I’m Leo. I’ll be working with you on my next project. Please take care of me.” I watched Sloane Pierce walk in. She was wearing a white suit and black sunglasses. She had short hair and looked chic, capable, and had a very strong aura. “Oh no.” But as soon as she made a sound, that aura shattered, and a look of panic crossed her face. The four suitcases she was pushing were veering off course, and she was clearly losing control of them. Seeing this, Jace and Leo rushed over to take them from her. Empty-handed, she walked towards me step by step in her high heels, took off her sunglasses, and extended her hand: “Hello, I’m Sloane Pierce. I’ve heard your name for a long time, and I’ve been wanting to meet you.” “Hello, Ms. Pierce. I’m Quinn Thorne.” “Yeah, I know who you are.” Saying that, she glanced in Rowan’s direction. I originally thought meeting Sloane would be tense and awkward. After all, before yesterday, she was the only woman whose name appeared in trending topics alongside Rowan without being immediately debunked. But her initiative surprised me. However, looking at the dozen or so cameras in front of us, I figured I understood. “You go first.” “You go first.” “You go first.” Jace said straightforwardly: “I’ll go first.” He pulled out a card and opened the envelope: “No need to be polite, everyone. I’m the tour guide for the first stop.” 8 Jace took the mission card and read it aloud: “The hotel and dinner for the first stop have been provided by the production team. The initial budget is $500. The tour group can earn more travel funds by completing missions during the trip. If a mission fails, the initial budget remains. There is one mission per day.” He flipped the mission card in his hand: “Alright, brothers and sisters, you can now board the plane and begin your journey. Have a great trip.” Jace looked at the envelope in his hand: “$500? For two days? For five people? And we have to book hotels and restaurants? How is this going to be a ‘great trip’?” Since Jace’s identity as a wealthy heir had been exposed, everyone understood his reaction. I patted his shoulder: “Then we’ll just have to earn more money. Anyway, the hotel and restaurant for today are already sorted by the production team, so at least we won’t starve tonight. We’ll figure it out as we go.” Since we were already here, we had to just go with the flow. When the plane landed, our destination was a tropical coastal city. It was 11:00 PM when we arrived at the airport. Knowing it would be hot, I had already changed into a tube top and a short skirt in the lounge, but a wave of heat still hit me the moment we stepped outside. As we exited the airport, Rowan draped a jacket over my shoulders. I looked back at him. He acted like nothing had happened. I remembered the guardian mission. Could he have drawn me? I politely said thank you. For the sake of the travel budget, I’d endure it. By the time we got to the hotel, I was sweating profusely. Because it was a budget travel theme, there were only two rooms. Sloane hooked her arm through mine: “Then it’s boys in one room, girls in the other. Quinn and I will take the smaller one, and you three can take the bigger one.” Luckily, it was a room with two twin beds, so it wasn’t a big deal. Sloane smiled at me: “Is that okay, Quinn?” “Yeah, no problem.” “It’s just… them?” I turned to look at the three men. Rowan and Jace’s faces were darker than the other’s. Leo smiled as he pushed his suitcase: “Rowan, Jace, I’ll do missions to earn money tomorrow.” I checked my watch, then looked at the water glasses in the kitchen. We had ten minutes until midnight, and I still hadn’t completed my guardian mission. Looking at the situation! I gritted my teeth. I poured the bottled water provided by the hotel into glasses: “Let’s celebrate arriving safely!” I placed five glasses in front of us, and everyone raised them to toast. As soon as we finished, I refilled them: “Here’s to a smooth trip!” The five of us toasted again and downed the water. Running out of things to toast to, I braced myself and filled them one last time: “Let’s have one more!” Sloane didn’t raise her glass. She waved her hand: “I can’t. If I drink anymore, I’ll be bloated tomorrow.” Jace whispered: “I really need to use the bathroom. Honestly, I’ve been holding it in for a while.” “Quinn, if I drink this glass, I won’t be able to sleep tonight. I’ll drink it when I wake up tomorrow. Thanks, Quinn.” Leo quickly went out the door to help move our luggage. Only Rowan and I were left in the living room. I checked my watch. Two minutes left. I had no other choice. I forced myself to ask: “Are you going to drink it?” Rowan smirked: “Will you keep me company?” I looked at that huge glass of water: “Deal!” We clinked glasses and stared at each other. I checked my watch. 20 seconds left, and he still had half a glass. I chugged mine and turned the glass upside down. Refusing to lose, he downed his in one breath as well. Thank goodness, mission accomplished. We should have a bit more money tomorrow.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “421046”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

On my best friend’s 22nd birthday, she was harassed by a drunkard. As a Taekwondo black belt, I stepped in to protect her and accidentally killed the man. But in court, she refused to testify on my behalf. I was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to three years in prison. When I was finally released, I discovered that my best friend had married my boyfriend—and they already had a two-year-old daughter. They even conspired to marry me off to her abusive, divorced older brother. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the exact day of my best friend’s 22nd birthday. 1 One second I was getting into a fatal car crash due to my deteriorating mental state, and the next, I opened my eyes to find myself sitting in my own bedroom. Looking at the date on my phone, I confirmed that I had indeed traveled back three years in time. I was back on the day of Mia’s 22nd birthday. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. To attend the birthday dinner of the girl who had been my best friend since middle school, I had spent hours meticulously dressing up. There were two unread messages on my phone. One was from Mia. She sent a location pin, followed by a voice memo. I tapped it, and her sickeningly sweet voice played. “Hey bestie, I booked this restaurant. Don’t go to the wrong place!” The other message was from my boyfriend, Caleb. [Harper, are you ready? I’m almost at your place.] I rolled my eyes internally. In my past life, I thought they just didn’t interact much. Hearing people joke that a girl’s best friend is like a second mother-in-law, I had even pitched in my own money to buy Mia an expensive designer necklace under Caleb’s name, hoping they would get along well. Who knew that by the time I got out of my three-year prison sentence, their child would already be two years old? Doing the math, she was already pregnant with his baby right now. Fighting the urge to curse them both out, I texted Mia back. [Bestie, I accidentally sprained my ankle and need to go to the urgent care. I’m so sorry I have to miss your birthday. I’ll make it up to you later!] My family was much wealthier than Mia’s, and she had milked me for countless perks over the years, which was why she always acted so obedient and sweet to my face. She quickly sent back a barrage of concerned voice memos. I didn’t click on them. I was afraid hearing her sugary voice would literally make me throw up. I then texted Caleb: [I’m not feeling well. Just go without me.] Before he could reply, I put his notifications on Do Not Disturb. I looked back at the gifts on my bed. The necklace was supposed to be from Caleb, and the designer bag was my gift to her. Neither of them were styles I actually liked. So, I grabbed both bags and went straight to the boutiques to return them. 2 After returning the luxury goods, I casually opened Instagram. I immediately saw Mia’s new post. She was wearing a white princess dress, holding a massive bouquet, and surrounded by gifts, looking like absolute royalty. And my boyfriend, Caleb, was standing right next to her. He was leaning in toward her slightly. To anyone else, at first glance, they looked exactly like a couple. “Absolute trash!” I met Mia back in middle school. She came from an ordinary background. While the rest of us were still in our awkward, unpolished phases, she was delicate, fair, and soft-spoken. She captured the hearts of countless teenage boys. But with admiration comes envy. One day after school, she was cornered in an alley by a group of mean girls because the guy their leader liked had a crush on Mia. I was sickly as a kid, so my parents enrolled me in martial arts to build my strength. I only meant to get some exercise, but it turned out I was a natural. Even at a young age, I rarely lost a spar. Seeing Mia getting bullied, I jumped in and chased the mean girls off with a few quick moves. Before running away, they yelled at me, “Harper Hayes, you’ll pay for this!” I put my hands on my hips and yelled back, “Bring it on! My brother is Asher Sterling from the high school section!” I turned around and pulled a tearful, trembling Mia up from the ground. After that, despite our completely opposite personalities, we became best friends. Later, she asked me why my brother and I had different last names. I chewed on my yogurt straw, looking up at Asher’s photo at the top of the school’s honor roll, unsure how to explain that Asher lived with us because his parents had passed away. Seeing my hesitation, Mia gave me a playful smile. “I won’t pry into rich family secrets. But,” she paused, pointing at Asher’s photo, “you wouldn’t mind if I tried to date your brother, right?” 3 I didn’t understand it back then. Only after being reborn did I realize that from that very moment, Mia had been consciously trying to steal what was mine. If I bought new clothes, she’d borrow them. If I had a new book, she’d take it to read. She’d go out of her way to network with my friends. She even tried to pursue my brother… I was too young and naive to tell a real friend from a snake. Knowing Mia wanted to date Asher, I specifically ran to tell him. Asher listened, then glanced up at me. “Harper, where’s your ID?” I was confused but pulled it out of my bag. “Right here.” He scoffed lightly. “Do me a favor and look at your age. For the next three years, even looking at a boy counts as underage dating.” Asher was three years older than me. I was a freshman, he was a senior. He had lived with us since he was ten. At first, I loved hanging out with him. Having a ridiculously handsome older brother was a huge flex for a middle school girl. But as we grew older, I started to feel like he was made of stone. He was calm, rational, and as cold as a frozen lake. Even as a teenager, he was incredibly mature and rarely showed emotion. My dad always praised him, saying he was destined for greatness. Yet, this always-calm Asher was the one who, in my past life, cried with red-rimmed eyes countless times after I was sent to prison. 4 Maybe I was just an idiot in my past life, always letting Mia have her way. Now that her personal ATM hadn’t shown up to her birthday, the gifts she posted online looked significantly less impressive than the ones from previous years. Not long after her post went up, she tried to FaceTime me. I ignored it. I checked the time. By now, they should be done with dinner and moving on to the second part of the night at the downtown VIP lounge. In my past life, I was the one who footed that massive lounge bill. By the time we left the club, it was very late. The other friends left in their Ubers, and Mia was standing on the curb waiting for her ride when a drunk man lunged at her, hugging her and groping her inappropriately. Caleb and I had just pulled our car around. We saw Mia being dragged around, her clothes getting torn. It was a secluded spot, out of sight of the bouncers. The drunk man had a few buddies with him, all laughing lewdly. Seeing my friend being assaulted, I jumped out of the car and sprinted over. I pulled Mia behind me, and the drunk tried to swing at me. I used my martial arts training to throw him over my shoulder. Seeing this, his drunk friends swarmed me. Fighting off three or four grown men was a struggle, but Caleb acted like he was completely blind, hiding in the car and refusing to come out. In the chaos, desperate to break free, I couldn’t control my strength and kicked one of the men. He fell backward, his head slamming into the concrete, and passed out. A passerby called 911, and we were all taken to the police station. We later learned that the man died from severe cranial trauma. My family hired the best defense lawyers in the city, but there were no security cameras in that alley. The only witnesses were us and the drunkards. It was clear-cut self-defense. But in court, the girl I had treated with my whole heart, Mia, stood on the stand and said: “The man had already stopped harassing me. Harper misread the situation and thought I was still being attacked…” Even though my family spent a fortune, I was still sentenced to three years in prison. My parents aged decades overnight. Asher, usually so composed, looked at me with bloodshot eyes. “Harper, don’t be afraid. I’ll be right here with you.” 5 Later, when I was locked behind bars, Mia came to visit me. She cried beautifully, looking so pitiful, as if she were the one who had suffered a massive injustice. “I’m so sorry, Harper. I was just too scared…” Just like she had done countless times before when she made a mistake, she put on her helpless, innocent act. “You’ll forgive me, right?” Forgive? I wanted to tear her to pieces. I spent three years in that cell. It took three whole years for my hatred to simmer down to a dull ache. But the moment I was released, I was hit with the news: my best friend Mia had married my boyfriend, Caleb, and they had a two-year-old child. Did I hate them? Yes! Did I resent them? Yes! So, being reborn, I was going to stand safely on the sidelines and watch them get ripped apart by fate. I sat quietly at home, waiting for that moment to arrive. At 1:30 AM, my phone rang. It was Caleb. I knew exactly what this was about. I answered the call. Caleb was panting heavily, the background noise loud and chaotic. He sounded frantic: “Harper… you need to come to the police station right now. Mia is in trouble.” The show was about to begin. 6 When I arrived, the police station was pure chaos. Crying, cursing, officers yelling, and the wail of sirens outside all blended together. Normally, I would find this kind of noise grating. But right now, it sounded like an absolute symphony. This background noise was the final proof that I had entirely rewritten my life. I had completely escaped the tragedy of my past life and started a brand new chapter. Wearing cute leather boots and holding my designer purse, I bypassed the crowd and walked right up to Caleb. He looked like a mess. His lip was busted, and his shirt was torn. He was sitting with his head down. Hearing my footsteps, he looked up. The very first thing out of his mouth was: “Why didn’t you come to Mia’s birthday party tonight?!” I paused. Since when did Caleb have the guts to interrogate me like this? I tilted my head and looked at him. “Would my being there have changed anything?” In my past life, seeing Mia assaulted, my first instinct was to risk my life to save her. Meanwhile, Caleb—my boyfriend and the guy who was secretly sleeping with her—hid in the car and refused to come out. His excuse later was that he was busy calling 911 from the car. But the truth was, a random bystander had called the police. Perhaps provoked by my calm tone, he stood up abruptly, glaring at me fiercely. “You’re a black belt! When we went out before and ran into creeps, you fought them off! If you were there this time…” “So if I was there this time, I would be the one getting harassed, assaulted, and potentially catching a manslaughter charge, and you wouldn’t have to be sad right now? Is that it?” Caleb froze, his arrogant anger deflating instantly. He looked at me in utter disbelief. “You… you know about us, don’t you?” 7 I offered a sweet smile. “What do you think?” I didn’t want to waste another breath on him. I turned and followed a female officer to see Mia. She looked infinitely worse than Caleb. Her clothes were shredded, and the officer had to give her a jacket to cover herself. She sat on a cot, curled into a ball. Her expensive salon curls were a tangled mess. Her eyes were red. Because she was so pale, any bruises or scratches on her skin looked horrifyingly vivid. She sat there crying, looking like the epitome of a fragile victim. The female officer explained the situation to me. After Mia and her friends left the club, they were cornered by drunk men who dragged Mia into an alley. Caleb only rushed over to help after he had called the police and found security. Caleb had picked up a brick and smashed it into a guy’s head. The drunk man was currently lying in the ICU, fighting for his life. When the officer finished, Mia looked up at me, her voice incredibly weak. “Harper…” Instead of rushing forward to hug her like I would have in the past, I stayed rooted to my spot. She looked confused. The female officer, sensing the tension and assuming we needed to talk, quietly stepped out of the room. “Why are you standing so far away?” Mia asked. My expression remained neutral. “I just came to check on you. There’s nothing I can actually do to help. Now that I know you’re alive, I’m going home. It’s late.” I was being polite. The truth was, I just came to enjoy the show. Mia’s face changed. Her disbelief was laced with a hint of accusation. “Harper, what is that supposed to mean? Aren’t we friends? I’m sitting here traumatized, and you’re acting this cold? I never thought you were this kind of person.” “And I never thought you were your kind of person either,” I cut her off directly. “I treated you like a real friend. But you? Have you ever, even for a second, treated me like one?” Mia froze. “What… what do you mean?” “Exactly what it sounds like.” 8 I had no desire to argue with them. I said it already: I was just here to watch them burn. In my past life, this night was the beginning of my nightmare. After I accidentally pushed that man, my parents rushed to the station. My mother, who had lived her entire life with grace and elegance, collapsed on the floor sobbing at the news that I might go to prison. Both my parents aged overnight. While I was in custody and my parents were crying outside, Mia—the girl I had saved—stood quietly in a corner and didn’t offer my parents a single word of comfort. Caleb stayed by Mia’s side, gave my parents a half-hearted generic apology, and then left the station with Mia. Looking back, they probably didn’t even go back to their dorms that night. They probably went to a hotel. And I became the ultimate sacrificial lamb. But tonight, in this reborn life, I looked at my phone. In the family group chat with my mom, dad, and Asher, my parents had posted photos of their romantic dinner date before going to sleep. Their faces were radiant with happiness. In this life, I was going to hold onto my happiness with an iron grip. As I turned to walk out of the police station, Mia and Caleb’s parents were just rushing in. We brushed past each other. They looked back at me, probably wanting to ask me something, but the police ushered them inside. I stood outside the station and looked back at the chaotic building. Every ounce of pain I suffered in my past life, I was going to make them repay it a thousand times over in this one. 9 The news that Mia was dragged into an alley by drunkards spread through the entire college campus by the next evening. When I went to class the next day, a group of girls nearby were whispering frantically. I turned around curiously. “What are you guys looking at?” The girls exchanged nervous glances, hesitant to speak. I thought for a second. “Is it about Mia?” Their faces shifted, and they nodded. One girl who I was decently close with brought her phone over and sat next to me. “Harper, we know you’re close with Mia. We were afraid this video would upset you, so we didn’t want to show you.” “What video?” She held her phone out. It was a video shot secretly from a window above the alley next to the club. It showed Mia being dragged into the dark by a group of men, her white princess dress torn and tossed into the street. The video was blurry, so you couldn’t see exactly what was happening. But the girl’s screams and the men’s lewd laughter were enough to imply exactly what was going on. I frowned after watching it. Yes, I wanted revenge on Mia and Caleb, but I was deeply disgusted by anyone who would leak a video of a woman being assaulted. Seeing my displeased expression, the girl quickly paused the video. “We don’t know who posted it. It started spreading everywhere last night. Yesterday was Mia’s birthday, you were there, right?” Everyone knew Mia and I were best friends. Mia was the gorgeous star of the art department. With her perfect looks, she was famous across campus. A lot of rich kids pursued her, and she cycled through boyfriends constantly. Because of her arrogant attitude, she had offended a lot of people. Now that this video was out, all the people who secretly hated her were kicking her while she was down. I lowered my eyes. “I wasn’t there. I don’t know the exact details of what happened.” Even though I despised the person who leaked the video, I would never forget what Mia’s actions cost me in my past life. I would never forgive her. After a pause, I told the girls, “Going forward, if you have gossip about Mia, you don’t need to censor yourselves around me. We are no longer associated with each other.” Former best friends suddenly severing ties—the drama of it would give them something to gossip about for a long time. 10 Neither Caleb nor Mia showed up to classes that day. After sending Caleb a breakup text, I immediately blocked both of their numbers and social media accounts. Knowing them, they would definitely try to harass me later. I guess I had been way too naive and generous to them over the years. After my afternoon classes, I went straight home. In my past life, while I was in prison, my parents cried every day. Our family business plummeted, and everything was held together solely by Asher. Even though I texted them saying I was coming home for dinner, my heart still pounded as I stood at the front door. After giving myself a pep talk, I rang the doorbell. Our penthouse had a gorgeous view of the river. The door opened. Our housekeeper was setting the table, my dad was watching the news on the sofa, and my mom opened the door. Her eyes curved into a brilliant smile when she saw me. “There’s our Harper!” I thought I had mentally prepared myself not to show too much emotion. But seeing this warm, domestic scene, and looking at my gentle, radiant mother standing right in front of me, I couldn’t hold it back. Huge tears rolled down my cheeks. My mom panicked immediately when she saw me cry. “Oh honey, what’s wrong? Did someone bully you at school?” To them, I had just been away at college for a few days. But to me, it had been three agonizing years since I last felt the warmth of my family. 11 At the dinner table, my parents kept piling food onto my plate. As we chatted, they suddenly brought up Asher. “By the way, your brother should be coming back soon.” My chopsticks paused. After high school, Asher chose to study abroad at Stanford. He co-founded a tech startup with some classmates, and according to my dad, it was incredibly successful. In my past life, he was originally scheduled to come back around this time too. But because I got arrested, he dropped everything and rushed back, only making it in time to see me sentenced in court. This time, I didn’t get arrested. According to his original plan, he should be back within a week or two. Honestly, in my past life, my relationship with Asher had gotten a little strained. During my sophomore year of college, Caleb started pursuing me, and we started dating. We were holding hands at the mall one day when Asher bumped into us. He pulled me aside with a dark expression and told me I wasn’t allowed to date. I thought he was just trying to pull a strict-parent routine on me, and I got annoyed. “You said dating before eighteen was off-limits! I’m almost twenty now, why do you care?!” “I’m your older brother!” “You’re not even my real brother!” Because of that argument, I started avoiding him. By then, he had already gotten his acceptance letter to Stanford. He was busy leaving early and coming home late. Even if we crossed paths, I would puff out my cheeks and walk the other way. Right up until the day he flew out, I was still giving him the cold shoulder over the Caleb incident. The next time we saw each other, I was on my way to prison. Thinking back to my past life, he ran himself ragged trying to help my case. The usually impeccably clean and polished Asher had grown a messy stubble, and his beautiful eyes were completely bloodshot. Not blood-related, but better than blood. After dinner, I went to my room and pulled out my phone. My chat history with him stopped over two years ago, right around the time he left the country. I stared at the screen, trying to figure out how to apologize and break the ice. But my finger slipped and accidentally tapped the voice call button. I panicked and dropped the phone. I scrambled to pick it up, only to realize he had already answered. A crisp, cool male voice came through the speaker: “Hello?” I froze, completely terrified to speak. Asher called out again: “Harper Hayes.” Hearing that familiar voice, my nose stung, and when I finally spoke, my voice cracked. “I’m here.” He seemed to catch the tears in my voice. His tone lost its icy edge, rippling like a calm lake disturbed by a stone. “What’s wrong? What happened?” I sniffled. I looked at my desk, where a framed photo of us from childhood sat. I was looking at the camera, and the young teenage boy was looking at me. So, I opened my mouth, and across the Pacific Ocean, crossing multiple time zones, I delivered the truest words in my heart: “Asher, I miss you.” 12 As soon as I said it, I was so embarrassed I practically threw my phone across the room. Asher’s parents and my parents were close family friends. When my parents’ business went under years ago and all our relatives shut their doors on us, Asher’s parents were the only ones who helped. When Asher was ten, his parents’ business ran into trouble, and they died in a tragic car accident. My parents rushed to the Sterling estate and took Asher away from the aggressive debt collectors. When he first moved into our house, Asher refused to speak and refused to eat. My parents were at their wits’ end. I was the one who followed him around constantly, coaxing him and bothering him until he finally opened his mouth. And the very first thing he ever said to me was: “Can you be quiet for five minutes?” When I was little, I called him brother. As I grew up and realized we didn’t share the same parents, I called him “brother” when I was happy, and his full name when I was mad. During puberty, when all the other girls were swooning over boys at school, I shamefully realized I was blushing over Asher. But once I realized it, I mentally slapped myself. Harper Hayes, have some shame! He was forced to live under your roof due to a tragedy, and you’re having dirty thoughts about him?! Later, as I learned more about biology, I realized it was completely normal to develop crushes on the opposite sex during puberty. I slowly got over it, though sometimes I would still stare at him and randomly blurt out, “Wow, you’re really good-looking.” Anyway, if it wasn’t for Caleb, Asher and I would have always had a great relationship. 13 For several days, Mia and Caleb didn’t show up to classes. But their scandal had already become campus legend. Mia used to be so flashy and arrogant. Now that she had fallen, everyone she ever bullied was having a field day. When I walked into the lecture hall, people were whispering. When they saw me, they exchanged looks and quieted down. I sat down. A guy sitting in front of me, who I usually got along with, turned around. “Harper, I heard you and Mia had a falling out?” I hummed in confirmation. He asked, “What happened?” I couldn’t exactly tell him that Mia ruined my life and sent me to prison in a past life. While I hesitated, a girl next to me chimed in: “What else? She finally saw Mia’s true colors.” That one sentence opened the floodgates. Everyone started chiming in with their own grievances about Mia. “I lived in the same dorm as Harper, so I know best. Every time Mia had a date, she would come take Harper’s clothes and bags. I never saw her return them properly. If she did, they smelled like hotpot or had stains on them.” “Not just clothes and bags, but expensive skincare too! Harper is too nice, she’d buy two of everything and just give Mia one. Mia took it like she was entitled to it, but I never once saw her buy Harper anything.” “I could tell Mia was manipulative from day one. Smiling to your face, playing the gentle angel with everyone, but who knows what she’s doing behind your back.” “Also, I don’t know if you guys noticed, but Mia loved stealing people’s things…” … Everyone eagerly listed out all the little toxic things Mia had done over the years. Human nature is like that. The tiny, annoying details you previously brushed off suddenly compound into an avalanche at a specific tipping point. Since I met Mia in middle school, I had always viewed her as an underdog who needed help. I accommodated her. Her family wasn’t wealthy, but she was vain, so whenever I bought luxury skincare, I bought her a set too. When we went shopping, I always paid. I had gotten so used to it over the years, but hearing everyone say it out loud made me realize how grotesquely unequal our relationship was. In my friendship with Mia, I was always giving, and she was always taking. Give an inch and they take a mile. At some point, Mia must have developed a twisted resentment toward me and decided she wanted to steal my life. At first, she said she wanted to date Asher. When that failed, she pivoted and said she “wished she had an older brother like him.” So, on weekends, I would invite her over to play. Asher would be reading in his study, and she would constantly go in to bother him. She would call him “Asher-gege” in this breathy, sweet voice. At the time, Asher had just finished his high school exams and was studying college-level material. Hearing Mia call him that, he coldly looked up from his book. “I only have one sister.” Then, ignoring the incredibly awkward Mia standing there, he grabbed his backpack and left the house. I actually yelled at Asher for being rude and cold back then. Looking back now, Asher was a master at detecting toxic girls from a very young age. 14 On the fifth day after the incident, I ran into Caleb outside my dorm building. He was wearing a baseball cap and a mask, clearly aware that he was at the center of a massive scandal. I didn’t notice him at first until I walked right past him. He grabbed my arm out of nowhere, scaring the life out of me. He put a finger to his lips. “It’s me.” My lip twitched. “I yelled because it’s you.” A passerby glanced over at us. Caleb quickly lowered his head, terrified of being recognized. “Can we go somewhere private to talk?” Having learned my lesson in my past life, I was genuinely afraid he was going to drag me to a secluded spot and hit me over the head with a pipe. I laughed dryly and pushed his hand off. “No need.” Before blocking him, I had sent a clear breakup text to ensure he got the message. I figured he’d be smart enough to understand, but I underestimated how shameless he was to actually show up at my dorm. Seeing me try to leave, he grabbed me again. “Harper, you can’t just dump me like this! I know what happened with Mia looks bad to you, but you can’t put all the blame on me. Back then, when we had a fight, Mia texted me every single day to comfort me. That’s why it happened. Now that I’m in serious trouble, you can’t just abandon me…” Classic cheater logic. His first instinct wasn’t to admit he was wrong, but to blame everyone else. I laughed out of pure anger, turning to look at him with absolute disgust. “Caleb, I never realized how utterly pathetic you are until today!” I struggled to pull away, but Caleb, realizing he had nothing left to lose, physically tried to drag me away. People were staring, but no one stepped in to help. Just as I was about to unleash my martial arts, a tall, lean silhouette stepped in. He grabbed my hand, then locked his fingers around Caleb’s wrist. With a slight squeeze, Caleb grimaced in pain and let go of me. He pulled me behind him. I looked up and saw his profile. It was Asher! He glared fiercely at Caleb. “I warned you to stay away from her over two years ago, didn’t I?” Asher’s aura was entirely too intimidating, and with the crowd forming around us, Caleb tucked his tail between his legs and ran away like a coward. Asher turned around and met my awestruck gaze. It was getting chilly. He was wearing a long black trench coat, looking devastatingly handsome. I was still completely mesmerized by how good he looked when, the next second, he flicked my forehead hard with his knuckles. “Is dating fun?” I covered my forehead, glaring at him. This guy held grudges for way too long.

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The boyfriend I had been dating for a year turned out to be a married father! When his actual wife came crashing into my life, the realization hit me like a slap to the face, leaving me completely stunned. If you deceive me, you have to pay the ultimate price. 01 I had been dating Carter for a year. He traveled out of town for work frequently, but when he was around, he treated me like gold. Even my parents said he was a reliable man I could trust my future with. But lately, I noticed something was off. His “business trips” were getting longer and more frequent. He’d only come to see me every two or three days, and whenever we did meet, all he wanted to do was sleep. At first, I didn’t think much of it. I just assumed work was stressful and wanted to be an understanding girlfriend. But tonight, I accidentally spotted a scratch on his arm. A woman’s intuition told me it wasn’t just a normal scratch. Carter didn’t notice my suspicion. The moment he walked through the door, he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Mia, I missed you so much these past few days.” I played the part of the sweet girlfriend, massaging his shoulders while casually asking, “How did your arm get scratched?” He clearly hadn’t expected the question. His eyes darted away for a second before he quickly pulled me toward the bedroom. “Oh, it’s nothing. Accidentally scraped it on a pen at the office. Let’s go to bed.” He practically lunged at me. I put a hand to his chest to stop him. “It’s my time of the month. I’m not feeling well.” I thought he would be concerned, but instead, a flash of annoyance crossed his face. “Then when can we? Mia, we’ve been dating for over a year.” “When we get married, of course,” I answered with a playful smile. It was true. Despite dating for a year, I was very traditional. Carter and I hadn’t actually crossed that final physical line yet. But Carter always seemed incredibly impatient about it. Today, it looked like he had reached his limit. A dark cloud of anger settled over his features. “Mia, I respect you, but you need to be a little considerate of me too, right?” I was appalled. He had been disappearing on “business trips” constantly, yet no matter how late he came back, I would force myself to stay awake and cook for him. Whatever he needed, I provided. Wasn’t that considerate enough? Seeing he was genuinely upset, I tried to lighten the mood. “Then how about you take me to meet your parents in a few days? Let’s make things official.” Carter’s expression instantly shifted. His anger vanished, and he just put his arm around me and lay down to sleep. But my gut was screaming that something was terribly wrong. 02 Carter and I met through work. His office was close to mine. One night, after a brutal shift of overtime and a harsh scolding from my boss, I walked out of my building feeling miserable, only to be met with a torrential downpour. That was when Carter appeared with an umbrella, a warm smile on his face. “Careful, miss. You don’t want to catch a cold.” Later, as we walked toward the subway, I twisted my ankle in my heels. He actually offered to carry me all the way home. I was fresh out of college, struggling alone in a big city. Working late every night was draining, and Carter was one of the few people who genuinely seemed to care about me. Maybe that was the moment my heart fluttered. Later, he got my number, asked me out, and we naturally fell into a relationship. His monthly income was pretty low, so I basically paid for all of our living expenses. But throughout the year, he took such meticulous care of me that he even won my parents’ approval. I still remembered what Carter said to me early on, looking a bit embarrassed. “Mia, don’t worry. I promise I’ll give you a great life in the future.” He told me his job was demanding and that we might not have much time together. I told him I understood. But lately, that time was shrinking to almost nothing. And every time we met, all he wanted was to get into my pants. Ding. My phone lit up with a message from my best friend, Chloe. It was a photo. In the picture, Carter was holding hands with a strange woman at a shopping mall. They were laughing and chatting intimately. Chloe: “Mia, I just took this at the mall. I think Carter is seeing someone else. You’re being played!” Fighting the sickening feeling in my chest, I texted her back, trying to comfort myself. “Carter told me he has an older sister. Maybe it’s just her.” 03 The next day, Chloe dragged me out for tacos and margaritas. The restaurant was right near that same shopping mall. As soon as we ordered, Chloe activated her inner detective. “Seriously, Mia, aren’t you worried he’s scamming you? That woman looked absolutely nothing like him.” Meaning, it definitely wasn’t his sister. I took a bite of my taco, the spicy salsa hitting my tongue as I mumbled, “Don’t worry. Carter treats me so well. He doesn’t seem like the type to cheat.” Chloe sighed heavily. “Tsk. Women in love are blind.” But I was slapped with reality very quickly. Maybe the salsa was too spicy, because my stomach suddenly cramped. “Chloe, my stomach is killing me. I’m gonna run to the restroom.” I grabbed my phone and hurried out. About fifteen minutes later, I washed my hands and walked out of the restroom. Suddenly, I felt a slight bump against my leg. I looked down. A toddler, maybe two or three years old, had fallen onto his bottom and was staring up at me with tearful, pouty eyes. He was wearing an adorable cartoon onesie, looking like a little dumpling. I squatted down to help him up. “Auntie, I can’t find my daddy,” he sniffled, getting ready to burst into tears. I quickly patted his back. “Don’t cry, sweetie. I’ll help you find your daddy.” The little boy stopped crying and looked up at me blankly. In that split second, I froze. There was something incredibly familiar about this kid’s face, but I couldn’t put my finger on who he looked like. I mentally scrolled through everyone I knew, but drew a blank. Just as I took two steps with him, a woman blocked my path. “Excuse me, miss. This is my son.” Even though the woman was wearing heavy makeup, it couldn’t hide the exhaustion and the toll life had taken on her face. But I recognized her instantly. She was the exact same woman from the photo Chloe sent me yesterday. “Miss?” The woman waved a hand in front of my face. I swallowed the strange, sinking feeling in my chest and forced a smile. “Your son wandered off. We were just talking about going to find his dad.” Hearing that, the little boy threw himself into the woman’s arms and started whining again. “Mommy, why isn’t Daddy here yet?” The woman hastily thanked me and hurried away with her son in her arms. Driven by a gut instinct I couldn’t explain, I followed them. I watched the woman strap the child into a family SUV, but I couldn’t catch any other clues. Two days later, Carter returned from his “business trip.” 04 He had clearly been drinking. The stench of alcohol hit me the moment he opened the door. I walked over to help him onto the couch. He immediately started complaining, “Mia, you’re the best. You never lose your temper with me.” It was true. Carter and I rarely fought because I always tried to be understanding about his work stress. I paid for our rent and daily expenses, and I even gave him cash gifts on holidays. But as I leaned in to adjust his collar, I noticed something damning. There was a very faint trace of perfume on his collar. It was the exact same scent the mother at the mall had been wearing yesterday. Faint, but undeniable. Chloe’s warning echoed in my mind, and my heart sank to the floor. Even with all my patience, I couldn’t ignore this. I linked my arm through his and asked as casually as I could, “Carter, do you have any sisters or anything?” He frowned and answered without hesitation. “No. I’m an only child. You know that.” My suspicions locked into place. Thanks to the alcohol, Carter quickly passed out on the couch. Suddenly, his phone screen lit up with a notification. Curiosity drove me to grab his phone. Client A: “Hubby, why aren’t you home yet?” My heart slammed against my ribs. Hubby? Wasn’t Carter my boyfriend? My hand froze around the phone. Carter was sleeping heavily. My first instinct was to unlock the phone and dig deeper, but I didn’t know his passcode. Throughout our relationship, Carter rarely got this drunk, and because he had always been so attentive, I never had a reason to suspect him of cheating. Could it just be a crazy client harassing him? Another message popped up from Client A: “Leo says he misses you.” It was followed by a photo. The truth was screaming at me. Trembling, I quietly crept closer to Carter, took his thumb, and pressed it against the phone’s sensor. It unlocked instantly. The chat with Client A opened right up. I stared at the photo. It was the exact same little boy I had helped at the mall yesterday. In that instant, my blood turned to ice. With shaking fingers, I clicked on Client A’s social media profile. Her last post was from yesterday. Client A: “Out shopping with hubby and the baby today~” My brain exploded. The white noise was so loud I couldn’t hear anything else in the room. The man in the photo was my boyfriend, Carter. The location was the same mall I was at yesterday. The comment section was filled with friends congratulating their happy family. So yesterday, while I was eating tacos with Chloe, Carter was out playing house with his wife and child. I felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice water over my head. I was paralyzed. So Carter was really married? With a kid? Then why the hell was he with me? Staring at that picture-perfect family portrait, a dull, agonizing ache spread through my chest. Suddenly, the phone buzzed again. It was a text from Derek, a buddy from his office. Derek: “How’s it going, man? Your wife came to me asking questions again today. Did she find out you’re sneaking around with your mistress?” I started shaking uncontrollably. I couldn’t breathe. If I was looking for excuses for him a minute ago, now I had absolute, irrefutable proof. I was the other woman! What was the last year of my life even for? I had spent all my savings on Carter, covering all his living expenses. And now I find out he’s a married man, and I’m the home-wrecking mistress! Everything Chloe said was true. Carter had been playing me from day one. My fists clenched involuntarily. Anger washed over me like a tidal wave. I was going to make him pay. Maybe sensing the cold phone, Carter shifted on the couch. His eyes fluttered open groggily. I quickly backed out to the home screen and turned the display off. “Mia, what are you doing?” My heart was pure ice, but I forced a sweet smile onto my face. “I was just about to help you into bed.” Carter nodded and sluggishly pushed himself up. In the bedroom, he habitually wrapped his arm around me and fell fast asleep. I wanted to vomit. Every fiber of my being was repulsed by his touch. All I could see was that photo. Even in his drunken sleep, Carter was mumbling, “Mia, working is so hard… I had to take clients out to dinner, and now I’m broke for the rest of the month…” Normally, I would have made him a hangover remedy and handed over my paycheck with an aching heart. But right now, the man lying next to me was the most repulsive thing on earth. My skin crawled. From the day we met to now, Carter claimed he was constantly traveling to build a better future for us. Looking back, there was no future. He was just a married cheat living a double life. It was incomprehensible to me. My loving, attentive boyfriend of one year was legally bound to another woman, with a kid old enough to run around. The thought made me physically sick. But I wasn’t going to just roll over and take it. A flawless revenge plan was already taking shape in my mind. 05 The next day, I spilled everything to Chloe. She was absolutely furious. “That is so disgusting! Wait right there, I’m grabbing my bat and we’re going to break his legs!” I quickly stopped her. “No. I have a better way to teach him a lesson. Can you get me his wife’s phone number?” “You’re asking the right person. I know everyone in this city.” Thanks to Chloe’s wealthy background and massive network, getting the number was a breeze. Contacting Sarah, the wife, was a bit rockier. I called three times. The first two were rejected. On the third try, it took her a few minutes to answer. She sounded exhausted and annoyed. “Who is this?” Before I could speak, I heard screaming in the background. My gut told me it was Carter. “Do you have any proof?! Why do you always accuse me of cheating? Can you stop being so damn paranoid?!” A child’s crying mixed into the background noise. It was definitely the kid from the mall. Carter’s voice was getting closer to the phone. A flash of panic hit me. Thankfully, I had used a burner app to make the call. But to be safe, I hung up. I waited three hours before calling Sarah again. This time, she answered quickly. “Who is this?” I kept my voice as calm as possible. “Sarah, your husband is definitely cheating on you. And I have the proof.” I could hear Sarah’s breath hitch. Her voice trembled with suppressed emotion. “Don’t lie to me. How do you…” “Sarah, it’s hard to explain over the phone. We need to talk in person. I’ll be at the Starbucks on 5th Avenue tomorrow at 3:00 PM.” I hung up without giving her a chance to argue. I knew with absolute certainty she would show up. The next afternoon, I arrived at the cafe right on time. From a distance, I spotted Sarah sitting in a corner booth, staring anxiously at her phone. She was desperate for the truth. I walked over. “Hi, Sarah.” She looked up sharply. Recognition flashed across her face. “Aren’t you the woman from the mall the other day?” I nodded and got straight to the point. “The other day, you left your perfume on Carter’s clothes. The next day, I sprayed a different perfume on him. And the night after that, a new lipstick mysteriously appeared in his laundry.” “Obviously, you were trying to mark your territory.” Smack! Sarah finally processed what I was saying. A dark cloud of fury overtook her, and she slammed her coffee cup onto the table. “So you’re the tramp who’s been seducing my husband?!” I grabbed a napkin to wipe the splashed coffee off my shirt. “Sarah, I only just found out Carter has a wife and kid. When he pursued me, he swore he was single.” Sarah wasn’t buying it. Her anger escalated. “Is that your excuse for being a homewrecker?! Do you have any idea how miserable my kid and I have been? It’s all because of you!” The word “homewrecker” stung, but I looked at the hysterical woman in front of me. Knowing her husband was cheating had taken a massive toll. She didn’t have the polished makeup from the mall; she just looked deeply, painfully exhausted. This broken marriage was driving her insane. I waited for her to finish venting before sliding a glass of warm water toward her. “Sarah, I genuinely didn’t know he was married. He told me he was single and had never even been in a serious relationship before.” Sarah stared at me blankly. Suddenly, she let out a bitter laugh. “Right. You’re young and gorgeous. You wouldn’t knowingly throw yourself at a married man with no money. I was the blind idiot who married him.” “How long have you been together?” she asked. “A year,” I replied. Sarah laughed again, a harsh, self-deprecating sound, but the fire in her eyes burned brighter. “When we got together, he was dead broke. I gave him a child, and he’s out there telling people he’s single!” I offered a sad smile. “For the past year, I’ve paid his rent and his living expenses. He always claimed he was working hard and traveling to build a better future for us. Now I know he was just juggling multiple women.” The revelation pushed Sarah past her breaking point. “I’m going to go home and kill him right now!” I quickly grabbed her arm. “Sarah, I hate Carter just as much as you do. That’s why we need to make him pay. Just exposing him isn’t enough.” My words seemed to ground her. She took a deep breath. “Tell me, Mia. What’s your plan?” I hesitated for a second. “Are you planning on staying married to him?” She had a child with him, after all. I couldn’t blindly push her into a trap. But Sarah answered without skipping a beat. “I kept telling myself he wasn’t cheating, living in denial until you told me the truth today. I’d rather have a clean divorce than live every day fighting with a man who doesn’t love me, terrifying our child in the process.” She sighed. “My family actually has a lot of money. But I stubbornly insisted on marrying Carter. My parents were so furious they didn’t even come to the wedding. After we got married, his attitude toward me completely changed. It’s been four years, and I regret it every single day.” I stayed quiet. Carter really was a parasitic gold-digger, preying on women for their money. Thank God I saw his true colors early. “Sarah, is it possible Carter is hiding other secrets?” She frowned. “What secrets?” “We just have to push him a little to find out,” I said slowly. “You’re an only child, right? You haven’t seen your parents in years. They must miss you terribly.” Sarah looked confused, so I explained. “You can’t just divorce him now. We have to make sure he leaves with absolutely nothing. Especially since you want full custody.” “How do we do that?” “Make him sign a postnuptial agreement. Doesn’t he constantly deny cheating? Now that we have proof, you just need him to sign a legally binding document stating that if he’s ever caught cheating, you get full custody and all the assets, and he leaves penniless.” Sarah frowned. “But you know how he is. We’re fighting constantly. Getting him to sign something like that will be almost impossible.” “That’s why we have to offer him a little bait first,” I smirked. 06 Three days later, Sarah texted me: “It’s done.” She attached a photo of the signed and thumb-printed postnuptial agreement. The terms were clear: if he was caught committing infidelity, he would leave the marriage with nothing, and all assets and custody would go to the wife. Soon after, my phone rang. It was Sarah. She called while Carter was out. “Mia, I did exactly what you said. I reconnected with my parents and borrowed $80,000 from them. I told Carter my parents gave it to us to help out. You should have seen him—his attitude did a complete 180! He immediately started sweet-talking me into transferring the money to his account. “I used the opportunity to say I was feeling insecure lately and wanted him to sign an agreement for my peace of mind. He agreed instantly!” I laughed. He took the bait hook, line, and sinker. Sarah snorted coldly. “Men like him are absolute garbage.” I gave her some reassurance. “Don’t worry, he won’t get to keep a dime of that money. He’s going to pay for what he’s done very soon.” Sure enough, probably high on his newly signed contract and Sarah’s lingering suspicions, Carter ghosted me for three straight days. I played dumb and texted him: “Carter, where are you?” It took him half a day to reply. “Baby, I had to fly out for another work trip. I’m so exhausted.” I sneered at my screen. Exhausted my ass. You’re just terrified of getting caught cheating, and you’re probably rolling around in that $80,000 right now. Fighting back my nausea, I replied: “Make sure you get lots of rest. Come back to me soon.” He didn’t text back. Meanwhile, Sarah pressed Derek about Carter’s whereabouts. At first, Derek tried to cover for him. But when I told Sarah about Derek sexually harassing female colleagues at work, Sarah used it to blackmail him. Derek folded instantly. My guess was right. Carter did have another secret. On top of a long-suffering wife and a one-year girlfriend, Carter was tangled up with Lexi, a girl who worked at a sketchy massage parlor. According to Derek, Carter had been visiting that spa for the last six months, hooking up with Lexi. After he got his hands on that $80,000, he started acting like a high-roller, visiting the spa every day to get pampered. Lexi threw herself at him, and Carter happily soaked it all up. A trash bag will always be a trash bag. Give him ten thousand choices, and he’ll still choose the garbage. But this actually made Sarah and my plan much easier to execute. A week later, Carter showed up at my apartment. As soon as he walked in, he looked exhausted and reeked of alcohol. I put on my best act and went to support him. “What’s wrong? Why was the trip so long this time?” Carter immediately started spinning lies. “Mia, I’m just so tired. But it’s all for our future, right? Oh, by the way, how much was your paycheck this month? Did you get your commission bonus?” I sneered internally. This leech always came to me for money. I used to be so blinded by love that I handed it over, thinking we were saving for a house. In reality, he was using my money to play around behind my back. “Don’t even mention it. Not only did I not get a bonus, but my base pay got docked,” I lied smoothly. “Since your trip was so long, your boss must have given you a raise, right? Hand over your debit card, let me check.” Hearing the words “debit card,” Carter’s drunken haze vanished, replaced by instant panic. “No way. You know how my boss is. I’m totally broke right now…” Heh. The second I mention money, he dodges like I’m the plague. And to think I was the one paying for his dinners out! I nodded understandingly. “Okay, sit down and relax. I’ll go heat up some hangover soup for you.” After he slumped onto the couch, I went into the kitchen, heated the soup, and played the perfect, dutiful girlfriend as I handed it to him. Under the dim living room lights, Carter took the bowl, looking incredibly satisfied. “Mia, you really are the best to me.” “Drink up before it gets cold,” I reminded him with a smile. Did he think he was an emperor choosing concubines? ‘You’re the best to me’? Oh, buddy, the best is yet to come. He must have been incredibly thirsty because he gulped down every last drop. I smiled to myself. Soon enough, the drugs took effect. Carter passed out cold. Yes, I had crushed up sleeping pills and mixed them into the soup. Given how “exhausted” he had been lately, the pills knocked him out effortlessly. As his loud snores filled the living room, I frowned in disgust, pulled his phone out of his pocket, and expertly pressed his thumb against the sensor. I opened his texts. Sure enough, there was a new contact: Client C. The messages were incredibly explicit. This had to be Lexi. And my contact name? Client B. He really was running a whole harem out here. I scoffed, using a tool I prepared earlier to pry open his phone case. I slipped a microscopic GPS tracker and listening device inside, snapped the case back on, and slid the phone back into his pocket. Everything was in place. Now, all we needed was a little spark. 07 The next evening, Sarah and I met at a cafe. I pulled out the receiver and handed Sarah an earbud. According to Derek, Carter was hyper-excited lately because of his frequent dates with Lexi. But to play it safe, they always chose different locations to hook up. I planted the bug specifically for this moment. Soon, we heard Carter and Lexi talking on the phone. “Daddy, I miss you so much. When can we see each other again?” A sickly sweet, high-pitched voice pierced our eardrums. Carter sighed, sounding burdened. “Ugh, I miss you too, baby. But you know the old hag at home has been keeping a tight leash on me lately. Otherwise, do you really think I wouldn’t come see you?” Lexi whined in response. “Boo hoo, you don’t love me anymore! How am I worse than your wife? Waahhh…” Sarah and I exchanged looks of pure disgust. Carter, however, seemed to be loving it. “Pfft, what are you talking about? After that hag had a kid, I don’t even want to touch her. She’s nothing compared to how sweet and gentle you are.” Lexi sniffled. “Really? Then when are you going to divorce her? You promised you’d marry me…” “Okay, okay! She’s still got some money left, right? Give me two months. I’ll drain her accounts, divorce her, and marry you!” Lexi stopped crying instantly, her voice bubbling with excitement. “Really?! Then where should I meet you tonight?” “It’s a promise. Alright, meet me tonight at 9 PM at The Grand Monarch Hotel. Couples Suite 1039. Make sure no one sees you.” Carter’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper. I chuckled darkly. Carter sure knew how to live it up. The Grand Monarch was the most expensive luxury hotel in the city. A little bit of cash and he was living like a king. He chose that hotel because it was luxurious, but also because they had ironclad privacy policies. But what he didn’t know was that my best friend’s family owned it. Lexi got the hint, letting out a shy “Mhm.” “Make sure you get there early and wait for me.” The call ended, and Sarah and I pulled out our earbuds. Sarah looked at me, worried. “Mia, what do we do now?” “We go catch them in the act, obviously,” I replied like it was the most natural thing in the world. “But The Grand Monarch won’t just let us waltz into a guest’s room.” I smiled confidently. “I have my ways. You go home and watch the kid. Wait for the good news.” Sarah’s imagination ran wild. “Mia, you aren’t going to do anything crazy, are you? I know you hate him as much as I do, but you can’t murder him! Murder is illegal…” I almost died laughing. I patted her shoulder. “Relax. I’m not throwing my life away for a piece of trash.” After finally convincing Sarah to go home, I immediately called Chloe. Hearing that it was time to destroy the scumbag, Chloe was vibrating with excitement, swearing she was going to chop him into a million pieces. We met up at The Grand Monarch. Chloe marched right up to the manager, claiming she needed to perform a surprise VIP inspection on behalf of her father. The manager happily escorted us straight to Room 1039. Chloe waved a hand dismissively. “You can wait out here. We’ll go inside and check the standards.” The manager happily obliged. After all, Chloe was the sole heiress to the hotel empire. Once inside, Chloe and I locked the door. The hotel security was top-notch, and the privacy was absolute. Aside from the hallways and elevators, there were no cameras. So whatever we did in this room, Carter would never know. I walked swiftly toward the bedside table. It was a Couples Suite. Translation: a romantic fantasy room. It was stocked with all the “essentials.” And that was exactly what I was counting on. Chloe watched in absolute shock as I picked up the bottle of premium personal lubricant. “Holy sh*t! Mia, you’re not going to tamper with that, are you?” I nodded. Under Chloe’s horrified gaze, I unscrewed the cap and dumped my special-grade, time-delayed industrial superglue inside. I had visited multiple specialty hardware stores to find this exact glue. When freshly unsealed, it looked and felt exactly like water. The adhesive properties only activated after an hour of exposure to air and friction. Once it set, ten bulls couldn’t pull it apart. It was currently 8:05 PM. Carter told Lexi to meet him at 9 PM. To be absolutely foolproof, I also swapped out the bedside condoms. I replaced them with a batch I had specially prepped at home—laced with the same industrial glue. They looked identical to the hotel’s standard issue. The whole process took barely three minutes. Chloe and I walked out of the room with pleasant smiles. The manager was waiting outside. Chloe played her part perfectly. “Alright, we’ve finished inspecting this room. Hygiene standards are perfect.” The manager breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Miss Chloe.” Step one complete. Chloe and I went to a restaurant across the street, put our earbuds in, and started monitoring Carter’s movements. It was 8:17 PM. Lexi was probably on her way. About forty minutes later, the bug picked up a woman’s flirty voice. “Daddy, what took you so long? I’ve been waiting for you forever.” A loud thud followed. Carter had probably thrown Lexi onto the bed. “Little vixen, I’m here now, aren’t I? Let me teach you a lesson! Tsk, this hotel has great service. They’ve got everything we need right here.” Hearing that, I leaned forward in anticipation. Sure enough, Carter’s frustrated voice muttered, “Hold on, let me put some of this on. Why is this cap so hard to unscrew?” A brief wave of panic hit me. Did the glue set too early? Thankfully, Lexi urged him on. “Hurry up, Daddy.” Caught up in the heat of the moment, neither of them stopped to question if there was something wrong with the “lubricant.” Carter quickly poured the liquid out. “Ah! It hurts!” Lexi suddenly shrieked. Carter was still excited at first. “Don’t be scared!” The next second, his entire body must have frozen. “What the f*ck?! What’s happening?!” “AH! HOLY SH*T! MY JUNK!” Carter suddenly started screaming in pure agony. “Stop moving, Carter! It hurts so much!” Lexi started sobbing. “What did you do?!” Panic erupted. The earbuds were instantly filled with chaotic crying and screaming. “You bitch! What did you do to this?! What the hell is going on?!” Carter started screaming profanities. Lexi was furious. “What do you mean what did I do?! You’re the one who put it on! What the hell did you use?! You psycho! What do we do now?!” “How the fck should I know?! Fck my life!” “Call 911! I’m dying!” Lexi sobbed. Her delicate, flirty persona was completely gone. Carter snapped back, “We can’t call! If the old hag at home finds out, I’m dead!” “Waahhh, then what do we do?!” “I don’t f*cking know! It hurts like hell!” Lexi cried even harder. “No, I can’t take it anymore!” The next second, a loud, shrill alarm started blaring. Ding-dong! Ding-dong! It was a special feature of The Grand Monarch. Every bed had an emergency panic button installed on the headboard in case guests experienced medical emergencies. “Don’t press it!” Carter tried to stop her, but it was too late. He could only curse under his breath. Seconds later, the door to Room 1039 was violently kicked open, followed by a chorus of shocked screams from the hotel staff. Because Carter and Lexi had been so focused on arguing about how to hide the situation, they completely forgot they were still stark naked. I took out my earbuds and dialed a number. “You guys can head to the lobby of The Grand Monarch now. There’s about to be some massive breaking news.” I had arranged for a swarm of paparazzi to wait near the hotel specifically for this moment. I hung up. Chloe looked at me, bewildered. “What are you doing?” I smiled. “Sending them to the front page.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “421032”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

With exactly thirty minutes left until the wedding ceremony, I found Tristan fooling around with his little side piece in the dressing room. Amidst the raucous, enabling laughter of his groomsmen, he exchanged a deep, passionate kiss with the girl, his expression utterly indifferent. “It’ll be quick. The wedding goes on as planned. Don’t make a scene.” I didn’t make a scene. I quietly ran away from my own wedding. Three years later, we crossed paths again. I was just walking out of a cathedral after lighting a candle to fulfill a promise, when Tristan grabbed my arm. “What did you pray for? A good marriage?” he sneered through gritted teeth. His brows were drawn tight, his gaze fierce. The window of the Maybach parked outside the cathedral rolled down. The man inside had a cold, aristocratic profile. Just as he was about to speak, a little kid popped her head out from the backseat first. “Nope, Mister,” the kid answered earnestly. “Mommy prayed for me.” 01 With thirty minutes left before the wedding march, I finally found Tristan in the VIP dressing room. Separated only by a slightly ajar door, I could hear the filthy, roaring laughter inside. “The bride’s side is almost ready to start, why is Tristan still in here messing around with his little sweetheart?” His frat-boy groomsmen chimed in one after another: “You think Tristan cares about that? Our guy gets a new bride every day and acts the groom every night!” “True, but Tristan still has that ironclad engagement with the Bennett girl—” “Come on, you think anyone is actually afraid of Chloe Bennett? Her family went bankrupt ages ago. A fallen socialite is worse than a street rat.” Tristan seemed to chuckle. “Alright, enough,” he said. “If my family wasn’t pushing so hard, I wouldn’t bother. But Chloe is obedient enough.” “Get out, all of you. I have some business to finish with your little sister-in-law here.” The guys laughed rowdily as they pushed the door open to leave. And bumped right into me. “Hiss—Ch-Chloe.” In the dead silence, someone sucked in a sharp breath. I stared silently at the chaotic mess of the dressing room. And at the girl sitting on Tristan’s lap, her face buried in his chest. “You heard all of that?” Tristan looked completely unbothered. “Don’t make a scene. The wedding goes on as planned. I’ll be out in a minute.” My fingers dug so hard into the white tulle of my dress it nearly ripped. I tried desperately to suppress the tremor in my voice. “You—” Just one word, and I choked on the rest. “Chloe, be good.” He coaxed me absentmindedly, his fingers still twirling the other girl’s long hair. Seeing that I hadn’t moved, he finally frowned in genuine confusion. “Come on, Chloe.” He noticed the tear stains on my cheeks, suddenly realized something, and bent over laughing. “No way. Did you actually think I was marrying you because I loved you?” Tristan looked as if he found this to be the funniest joke in the world, repeating it with a twisted sense of amusement. “Chloe, did you seriously take it to heart?” 02 Was I not supposed to? I stared blankly at Tristan, who was practically laughing to tears. Tristan and I were childhood sweethearts. We grew up together on the same wealthy estate. Later, my family went bankrupt, and we moved away. When we met again, over a decade had passed. The little boy who used to swear he’d marry me had grown up. He lit up the entire city skyline with fireworks to propose to me. Beneath that brilliant, exploding night sky, his eyes were deep and full of affection. “When you were little, you said you’d marry me, Chloe.” “Does that still count?” My nails dug sharply into my palms, the sharp pain pulling me back to reality. Thank god I found out in time, I thought. It can still not count. The gazes of Tristan’s groomsmen were all locked onto me. Mocking. Amused. I took a deep breath and walked right up to Tristan. Under his astonished gaze, I reached out and pulled the custom engagement ring—the one I had personally designed—off his left ring finger. “Chloe, what are you do—” His words cut off abruptly. I cleanly slid the matching ring off my own finger, and tossed them both straight out the open window, down into the estate’s sprawling swimming pool. “It’s fine. You can keep going.” I explained earnestly, “I just didn’t want the sight of those rings to ruin your mood.” 03 I ran. I started off walking out of the dressing room at a normal pace. Then I ripped the restrictive mermaid hem of my wedding dress, and my steps grew faster and faster. The wedding venue was simply too massive. I had barely sprinted past the grand banquet hall and turned down an unfamiliar corridor when a “wanted” announcement echoed over the PA system. “Chloe is throwing a little tantrum with me, and I don’t know where she’s hiding.” Tristan’s low, raspy voice echoed through the speakers. “If any of our guests see her, please do me a favor and bring her back to the dressing room area. The Vance family will reward you handsomely.” He was determined to drag me back to finish acting out his little play. A female guest passing by nearby sighed in admiration, “I’m so jealous of the bride. Mr. Vance spoils her so much!” “I know, right! You’d have to save a country in your past life to get that kind of luck!” If you love this luck so much, why don’t you take it? From far away, I could feel people closing in on this direction. They had probably spotted me on the security cameras. In a panic, I ducked down the corridor of the VIP guest suites. The Vance family had prepared luxury suites for all the prominent guests attending the wedding. But this hallway was too long; I couldn’t even see the end of it. Behind me, the sporadic, heavy footsteps of bodyguards were approaching. Fighting the sharp pain in my twisted ankle, I ducked into the closest unlocked room. Separated by a single heavy door, I could clearly hear the bodyguards muttering. “Weird, where did she go…” I covered my mouth, desperately stifling the heavy pants escaping my throat. A long time passed. The footsteps outside finally faded into silence. I let out a heavy sigh of relief, but when I looked up, I realized there was someone else in the room. It was a man in an immaculate, tailored suit. His long legs were crossed, his posture lazy and relaxed. Right now, he was resting his chin on his hand, watching me with quiet amusement. Seeing me look up, he let out a very soft chuckle. “Ah. Look what I found.” “A runaway bride?” 04 It was the look of a predator locking onto its prey. I instinctively stepped back. My stiletto heel gave way, and I forgot about my twisted ankle. “Ah!” With a gasp, I crashed straight into a chest that smelled faintly of cedarwood. It was an elegant, crisp scent. Inexplicably familiar. I looked up in a daze, tears involuntarily spilling from the corners of my eyes. “Have I—” Have I met you somewhere before? Before I could finish my sentence, the man effortlessly scooped me up and placed me on the edge of the king-sized bed. “Are you that scared of me?” He frowned slightly, his long fingers gently probing my badly swollen ankle. Being stared at so intensely made my face burn. I was thoroughly embarrassed, trying to scrape together some shred of dignity. “I’m not.” I defended myself quietly. “I just ran for too long, that’s why I twisted it.” The man kept his face neutral and didn’t reply. I couldn’t tell if he believed me or not. “Hey,” I tugged gently at his suit sleeve. “Could you… please not hand me over to them?” He lowered his eyes to look at me. “The Vance and Bennett families have an ironclad contract. I can’t help you.” I let go of his sleeve, closing my eyes in near despair. “However, I am a Vance, too.” The man let out a very light chuckle. “Miss Bennett, would you consider swapping your fiancé?” Over the PA system, Tristan’s “wanted” broadcast played on an endless loop. I figured this man, much like Tristan, needed a marriage of convenience to get the family elders off his back. Even so. I gathered my courage and asked softly, “Are you going to have a bunch of other women tangled up with you, too?” “Don’t worry, I’m not like those impulsive boys,” the man shook his head. A faint, almost imperceptible smile danced in his eyes. “Older men are much better at keeping their vows.” 05 The start of the wedding was delayed over and over. Tristan locked down the entire estate, searching for me with massive fanfare. It carried a terrifying vibe of I won’t stop until I find you. As if he was dead set on marrying me today, no matter what. Unknowingly, night fell. “Tristan is going to lose his mind,” Sebastian Vance remarked, glancing at me curled up on the bed nursing my injury. He sighed. “Looks like we’re not getting out of here today.” I swung my uninjured leg, messing around on my phone half-heartedly. Why do I feel like it’s getting hotter in here? “Mr. Vance,” I poked my head out of the duvet. “Can you turn the AC down? It’s hot.” The moment the words left my mouth, they sounded soft and completely breathless. Like a whimper. Sebastian frowned, walking over to feel my forehead. “What’s going on with you?” My brain felt like a puddle of melted wax. I mumbled incoherently, “…Hot.” Did I eat something bad and get a fever? I tried desperately to think back, and suddenly remembered— Right before I walked into the dressing room this afternoon, Tristan had handed me a glass of milk. It tasted a little strange. But he just smiled and said that’s how imported fresh milk tastes. “Chloe will love it.” That’s what Tristan had said. The hand pressing against my forehead was long, elegant, and cool as jade. The unnatural fire burning in my chest eradicated whatever reason I had left. I leaned into it, burying my flushed face into Sebastian’s palm, letting out a soft sigh of relief. So cool. In my mind, a voice kept screaming— Not enough. It’s still not enough. By the time my sanity returned to me slightly… My wedding dress and Sebastian’s suit jacket were scattered in a chaotic mess across the floor. Sebastian watched me lazily, his posture completely indulgent. From beginning to end, he hadn’t struggled at all. He acted like a tolerant elder indulging an unruly junior. But when I saw the messy array of kiss marks across his chest, I couldn’t help but flinch. “Mr. Vance… I-I’m so sorry…” What the hell did I just do! I scrambled in a panic, trying to hide back under the duvet. But Sebastian caught me easily with one hand. “You light the fire and try to run?” He laughed, a dark, amused sound. “No, I—Mmph!” Giving me no chance to explain, Sebastian forcefully parted my lips. …It was too deep. When the kiss finally broke, I covered my mouth, coughing until my face turned completely crimson. “I’m quite annoyed by your ‘tease and run’ tactic.” Sebastian’s voice was low and laced with a smile. His thumb gently, deliberately traced my wet, swollen lower lip. “I’ll teach you how to take responsibility, my little runaway bride.” 06 I was woken up by frantic knocking on the door. My head pounded. Everything hurt. I felt like I had been hit by a truck. Older men keeping their vows, my ass. I thought groggily, but when I clearly heard the voice outside the door, I completely froze. It was Tristan’s voice. “!” I looked around frantically for Sebastian. He had just stepped out of the shower. He was shirtless, droplets of water tracing the lines of his abs and disappearing into the towel wrapped low around his waist. I silently swallowed hard. My right ankle was swollen like a balloon. I lifted my left foot and kicked him resentfully. Sebastian caught my foot and laughed. “You’re awake?” He casually tossed the unlit cigarette in his mouth into the trash can. I pointed frantically at the door. —Tristan is outside. What do we do?! Sebastian just strolled unhurriedly over to the door. “Tristan, what is it?” The violent knocking outside came to a sudden halt. “Uncle Sebastian,” Tristan mumbled reluctantly. “You’re here too.” Sebastian hummed with a smile. “Still haven’t found your little bride?” At the mention of it, Tristan grew even more agitated. “No. We’re searching the rooms. The last security footage shows she might have run toward the VIP guest wing.” As he spoke, he caught sight of the red marks on Sebastian’s shoulder and asked suspiciously, “Uncle Sebastian, is there a woman in your room?” Listening from the bed, I went rigid, silently pulling the duvet all the way over my head. “It’s your new aunt. I’ll formally introduce you next time.” Sebastian smiled casually. “Not right now, though. She was exhausted from last night and she’s still sleeping.” 07 I followed Sebastian back to his private penthouse. His reasoning was simple: Tristan had definitely stationed people around my apartment. If I went back, I’d walk right into a trap. I thoroughly agreed. Sebastian was incredibly busy. The very next day, he had to fly overseas for a business trip. Before he left, he kissed my forehead. A brief, fleeting touch. Very restrained. Very gentlemanly. “Wait for me to come back. I’ll bring you a gift.” He added a warning: “Try not to go out too much. Tristan is still looking for you.” I nodded. Tristan’s frantic city-wide search for his missing wife was the top headline in New York. The clueless public was buzzing about how “the billionaire heir was going crazy for love.” Lately, though, the news had gradually died down. One afternoon, I was painting in the private studio Sebastian had renovated for me. Just as I set my brush down, I received a call from Tristan’s mother. I stared at the caller ID, hesitating for a few seconds. My mother and Mrs. Vance had been best friends; that was the entire foundation of my childhood engagement to Tristan. On the day I ran away, my phone had been turned off. When I turned it back on, I was flooded with missed calls—many of them from her. Not giving her an explanation didn’t sit right with me. I pressed answer. “Chloe.” The older woman’s exhausted voice came through the receiver. “Come back to the main estate for a bit. Tristan is refusing to take his medicine. He’s throwing a fit and demanding to see you.” She said that when Tristan couldn’t find me, he had literally jumped into the estate’s pool in the middle of the night to search for the engagement rings I threw away. He searched all night. He didn’t find them, but he caught severe pneumonia and fell into a feverish coma. “…” I was trying to formulate a polite way to decline. Noticing my silence, Mrs. Vance sighed. “I still have a few of your late mother’s belongings here.” “I was planning to give them to you on your wedding day. Come over this time and take them with you.” 08 Taking two of the bodyguards Sebastian left for me, I headed to the Vance family’s main estate. Tristan was indeed terribly sick. In just a few days, he had lost so much weight he looked gaunt. “Chloe is here.” Mrs. Vance shoved the bowl of liquid medicine into my hands and walked out of the room. The two bodyguards had been stopped at the door by the Vance family’s security, leaving only me and a delirious Tristan in the bedroom. For a moment, the air was deathly quiet. I stirred the dark medicine in the bowl. The porcelain spoon clinked against the bowl, a crisp, sharp sound. Tristan weakly opened his eyes. Seeing it was me, he suddenly grabbed my wrist. “…Chloe.” His voice was hoarse. “Don’t go.” I looked at him calmly, pressing the porcelain spoon against his lips. “Drink.” Tristan stared at me for a long time before obediently opening his mouth. It wasn’t until the bowl was empty that I set it down and turned to leave. “Wait!” I don’t know where the sick man found the strength, but he gripped my arm like a vice. His trembling hand fumbled under his pillow and pulled something out, holding it up to me. It was the engagement ring. “I found it.” Tristan spoke softly. “Forgive me, okay, Chloe?” “It’s true that Vanessa crossed the line, acting up in front of you—” I didn’t even look at the ring. I forcefully yanked my sleeve out of his grip. “Wow, you really are a fragile little victim, aren’t you? Being forced by Vanessa to hook up in the dressing room.” I mocked him lightly. “I get it. What are you, the delicate damsel in distress in some twisted romance novel?” Tristan’s face instantly darkened. “Chloe Bennett! Watch your mouth!” He tried to say more, but I cut him off smoothly. “I don’t care what you have to say. I came here today to officially break off the engagement.” Before I walked out, I heard Tristan’s cold sneer. “Chloe, walk out that door, and sooner or later, you’ll come crawling back begging me.” 09 A Vance family maid led me through the front reception hall, winding through several corridors into the inner courtyard. I frowned. “Where are we going?” The older maid smiled warmly. “Madam is in the back courtyard paying respects at the shrine. Please, Miss Bennett, just a few more steps.” She then blocked my bodyguards. “My apologies. This is the inner residence. Uninvited guests are not permitted.” We were at a standoff. I hesitated, but remembering my mother’s belongings, I decided to compromise. “If I’m not out in two hours, contact Mr. Vance immediately,” I whispered to the bodyguards before stepping into the Vance family’s backyard. Ten minutes later, I stopped in front of an ornate, antique-style building. The Vance family chapel. My stomach sank. Then, I heard Mrs. Vance’s voice. “Come in. I’ve been waiting for you.” The maid next to me was staring daggers at me, looking ready to physically drag me inside if I didn’t move. I crossed the threshold in silence. Mrs. Vance was sitting in a high-backed mahogany chair, staring at me coldly. “Kneel.” “Excuse me?” I looked at her in total confusion, wondering if I was hallucinating. Before I could react, the maid who had led the way forced me onto my knees on the hard floor. Furious, I snapped, “Mrs. Vance, what is the meaning of this?!” “Where are my mother’s things?” Mrs. Vance sneered. “Maria, slap her.” In the next second, the maid raised her hand, and my cheek exploded in stinging, burning pain. Seeing me shocked into silence, Mrs. Vance took a slow, elegant sip of her tea. “Before our ancestors, today I will discipline my son’s bride in his place.” “You clearly had a contract with Tristan, yet you ran away in front of everyone, bringing total humiliation to the Vance family!” “The Vance family has helped the Bennetts so much over the years, both openly and in secret—and this is how you repay us?” My heart turned to ice. Mrs. Vance never had my mother’s belongings. She had deliberately set a trap to lure me out here. The maid was still pressing heavily against my back. I could only stay silent. Mrs. Vance grew more agitated as she spoke. “Evelyn died early. I’m doing her a favor by disciplining her wild daughter.” “If she knew her daughter grew up to be such an ungrateful, backstabbing wretch, Evelyn wouldn’t be able to rest in peace!” How she spoke to me. How dare she… how dare she bring up my mother?! I could no longer suppress my rage. Like a madwoman, I lunged at Mrs. Vance. She jumped back in fright, dropping her teacup, which shattered into pieces on the floor. I grabbed a fistful of her hair, just about to unleash a threat, when the bodyguards stationed outside the chapel rushed in and pinned me down. Mrs. Vance was hyperventilating, her finger trembling as she pointed at me. “Treason… this is absolute treason!” “You lunatic!” She gritted her teeth, looking ready to order a public flogging. “Mrs. Vance,” I said coldly. “Get this through your head. I am not married to Tristan. We didn’t even sign a marriage license.” “What you’re doing right now constitutes kidnapping and false imprisonment.” I pointed to my swollen cheek. “Add assault and battery to the list.” Mrs. Vance’s face turned pale with rage. Her lips trembled, and finally, she spat, “Then you can kneel right here!” “You don’t come out until you’ve thought long and hard about your mistakes!” 10 The heavy wooden doors slammed shut, plunging the chapel back into darkness. I found a comfortable corner to lie down in, waiting for Sebastian to come save me. He… he would definitely come save me, right? I was starved for an entire day. That night, a knock came from outside the chapel. I rushed to the window, but the face on the other side belonged to Tristan. “I didn’t know my mom locked you in here.” He looked slightly angry. “Chloe, just apologize to her.” “If you just surrender and apologize, you’ll still be the daughter-in-law my family values—” I couldn’t help but interrupt him. “Am I the only woman left on Earth? If your mom is so unhappy with me, just switch to someone else!” Tristan’s eyes darted away. “I can’t.” His next words were barely a whisper. “My mom had a psychic read our astrology charts. We’re a perfect match. You’re my good luck charm.” Utterly disgusted, I shrank back into my corner, curling into a tight ball. Outside the window, Tristan’s furious voice echoed. “Chloe Bennett, stop acting so high and mighty!” “You think you can play the saint after acting like a whore? It’s pathetic!” It’ll be fine once the sun comes up. I covered my ears, thinking quietly. When the bodyguards realized I hadn’t come out, they would report back. Sebastian should know by now that I was locked up in the Vance estate. Thinking about that, my mind started to wander again. Did Sebastian only marry me because of my astrology chart, too? I was jolted awake by the deafening sound of something smashing against the door. Outside the chapel, it was pure chaos. “Sir—you, you can’t do this!” Sebastian’s cold, detached voice cut through the noise: “I said, open it. If you don’t, I’ll smash it to pieces.” When the chapel doors were finally broken open, the sudden flood of daylight blinded me, making my eyes water uncontrollably. A tall, elegant silhouette walked in against the light. I felt myself being lifted effortlessly into his arms. He gently touched my cheek. I gasped in pain and instinctively flinched away. As if terrified of frightening me, Sebastian softened his tone as much as humanly possible. “She hit you?” I nodded pitifully, dramatically recounting yesterday’s events with a bit of extra flair. “…And that’s what happened.” I carefully tugged at his sleeve. “You’ll back me up, right—” “Uncle Sebastian?” Sebastian’s footsteps paused. He reached up and stroked my hair. “I will. I’ll make them pay for every single thing they did to you.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “421048”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Silas Vance was the son of my father’s bodyguard. I spent ten years of my life hopelessly in love with him. When high school ended, I went to him, my heart overflowing with joy, and confessed: “Silas, marry me. I’ll give you the family you’ve never had.” He narrowed his eyes in pure disgust. “Get lost. Stay the hell away from me.” Later, my world crumbled. I, the princess of a golden empire, was dragged into the mud. I did exactly what he wanted. I got lost. I vanished without a sound. But now, he’s the one panicking. He looks at me with desperation in his eyes. “I’ll give you my body, my soul, my everything. Just stay.” I look back at him, my voice colder than ice. “Don’t you think you’re being a bit pathetic?” 01 Ten years. That’s how long it’s been since I’ve set foot in this city. The moment I stepped off the plane, my phone was bombarded with messages from Chloe. She was insisting that I attend the high school reunion organized by our old class president tonight. Ten years ago, my father’s company collapsed overnight. Scams, scandals, and debt collectors were all anyone could talk about. My father loved me. In the final, desperate moments, he managed to ship me off to London. I stayed there for a decade. Walking out of the airport, I pulled my sunglasses down. The crowd moved around me like a tide. On a massive billboard nearby, a man stood tall. His features were sharp, his gaze lethal. He was Silas Vance—now a world-renowned billionaire. Ten years. Everything has changed. I felt a bitter smile touch my lips. The proud red rose of the past had withered in the dirt, while the silent, lone wolf had fought his way to the highest peak. At 8:00 PM, I changed into a simple, modest outfit and headed to the reunion. I hadn’t wanted to go, but Chloe wouldn’t take no for an answer. In high school, I was the “it-girl.” I was the crown jewel of the Thorne family. I had been wealthy, well-educated, and genuinely kind to my classmates. Because of that, even when I showed up in my plain clothes, no one sneered at me. They were as warm as ever. “Oh my god, Elena! You’re finally back! We missed you so much!” “Exactly! As soon as Chloe said you were back, I must have called her twenty times to make sure she brought you!…” I was ushered to a seat in the center of the group. I took a sip of red wine and just smiled. I scanned the large private room several times, but I didn’t see him. Just then, someone in the crowd blurted out, “Hey, is Silas Vance skipping again this year?” The table went dead silent. A few people glanced at me, then quickly shifted the conversation back to other topics, pretending they hadn’t heard a thing. The question was drowned out like a pebble thrown into the ocean. 02 Twenty years ago, my father hired a new bodyguard. That bodyguard brought along a young boy with a fierce, handsome face that mirrored his father’s intensity. They moved into our guest house. That boy, Silas, went to the same private school as I did. I was only eight then. Spoiled by my father’s affection, I was bossy and arrogant. I demanded that Silas be my personal bodyguard at school. It was a status symbol. I walked through those hallways feeling like royalty because I had Silas trailing behind me. I don’t know exactly when my feelings for him shifted into something more. Maybe it was middle school. By then, Silas had grown into a strikingly handsome, rugged young man. He was already much taller than me. I was 5’6″, barely reaching his shoulder. Walking home together after school, I would watch our shadows in the sunset—sometimes close, sometimes drifting apart. I always found myself subconsciously leaning closer to him. … “Elena.” Chloe tapped my shoulder. I snapped out of it. “What?” “Silas hasn’t attended a single reunion since our high school graduation party,” Chloe whispered in my ear. I gave a soft “mhm” and stood up. “I’m going to the restroom.” I knew Silas hated me. He probably hated everything about high school. After all, I had used my family’s wealth and his tragic background to treat him like a servant for a decade. From age eight to eighteen, Silas never once refused me. Except for that one time. And if I hadn’t heard him say, “Get lost. Stay the hell away from me,” I might have forgotten that Silas had pride, too. The guilt weighed heavy on me as I walked toward the door. Just as I reached for the handle, it was pushed open with force. I gasped, my eyes widening as I looked straight into a pair of cold, dark eyes. Ten years. It really was long enough to change a person. The fierce boy had become a mature, imposing man. He was taller now. He wore a black suit that emphasized his broad shoulders and lean waist. His long legs stood firm, and his deep gaze was locked onto me. 03 “Elena Thorne? It really is you!” Another man at the door shouted in surprise. “Yeah.” I nodded and offered a small smile. “Liam, it’s been a long time.” I didn’t acknowledge the heavy, dark stare Silas was leveling at me. I stepped aside to let them pass. As I walked out, I heard Liam’s boisterous voice behind me. “Silas, Elena is back. Why are you acting like you’ve seen a ghost?” I gripped my napkin tightly, my lips curving into a hollow smile. What reaction was he supposed to have? I was just a reminder of a humiliating past when he was “lesser.” Seeing me probably only deepened his resentment. Silas’s arrival turned the lively reunion into a stiff, quiet affair. He sat directly across from me. People at the table kept sneaking glances at him, then at me, before returning to their food in silence. The power dynamic had completely flipped, and no one knew how to handle it. After all, I used to be the one on the pedestal. Liam, being the social butterfly he is, noticed the tension and smirked. “Hey, let’s play Truth or Dare.” The idea was met with immediate approval from everyone desperate to break the awkwardness. Even away from the table, Silas sat directly across from me. His long legs were stretched out lazily. He leaned back against the sofa, his eyes half-closed, his gaze flickering over me as if I weren’t even there. But every time I looked up, he was looking elsewhere. It made me feel like I was hallucinating. After a few rounds, the atmosphere finally lightened. Until… The beer bottle on the table spun and pointed its neck at me and its base at Silas. I looked up. Our eyes met. 04 “I’m first! I’m first!” Liam rubbed his hands together, grinning like a shark. “How many relationships have you both had?” The rules were that both people the bottle pointed to had to answer or take a penalty. The room went quiet again. The vibe turned weirdly electric. Chloe sat beside me, her grip on my arm tightening. I patted her hand and said softly, “It’s fine. Go grab me a glass of wine.” “Come on, what’s with the hesitation?” Liam prodded. “You either have or you haven’t. It’s not that deep.” He looked at me and added pointedly, “Unless the answer is ‘none’.” I tilted my head, feeling a sudden urge to laugh. I glanced at Silas. He had always been a masterpiece, but ten years had refined him into something dangerous. Under the dim lights, his jawline was a sharp blade, his features flawlessly carved. Once Chloe returned with my wine, Liam realized he couldn’t bully Silas into answering, so he turned his focus to me. “Are we continuing the game or what? You’re stalling the whole party!” “Three,” I said flatly. The man on the sofa snapped his eyes to mine. His gaze was heavy. I took a sip of wine and smiled at him. “One in high school, two abroad.” The room went silent. Liam looked like a stunned bird. I kept the smile on my face even though my palms were sweating. Silas’s eyes were a storm of emotions before they turned into a black abyss. He stared at me with a terrifying intensity. After a long pause, he rasped, “None.” Heh. I sneered inwardly. Keeping yourself pure for your secret lover? 05 Ten years ago, right after graduation, our class had a party. I was wearing an expensive gown my father had bought me for my 18th birthday. I was holding 99 deep red roses, and I ran to Silas with a heart full of hope. My smile was brighter than the flowers I was holding. “Silas, marry me. I’ll give you a real home.” A cool breeze swept through the evening air. Everyone was cheering and watching, even our teachers. The world had given me all the status I needed. And Silas gave me exactly what I deserved. He narrowed his eyes in disgust, his voice cold and hard. “Get lost. Stay the hell away from me.” The wind messed up my hair. It blew the petals off the roses. That night was the first time I didn’t go home with Silas. I stayed out late, wandering the streets in a daze. In the early hours of the morning, under the pale moonlight, I kicked off my heels and quietly pushed open the front door. A familiar voice drifted from a dark corner of the foyer. “Don’t worry. I’ll take you to New York with me later.” A girl’s voice chirped in surprise. “Really?!” The man’s voice was still cold, but softer. “Mhm.” I stood barefoot on the cold tile, feeling completely lost. My heart felt like it was drowning in a vast, dark sea. I couldn’t catch my breath. No wonder he told me to get lost. He already had Maya. I laughed a bitter, internal laugh. … The reunion ended as a heavy rain started to fall. People were calling Ubers or hopping into cars. Chloe pulled at me. “Elena, do you want a ride? My boyfriend can drop you off.” “No thanks,” I said with a smile. Silas walked out behind me, stopping about six feet away. Chloe asked, “Did you drive here?” I shook my head and waved my phone. “No, someone is picking me up.” “Oh…” Just then, a black Maybach pulled up through the rain. 06 A tall, elegant man carrying a black umbrella stepped out of the car. He walked over to me and complained in slightly broken English, “This weather is absolutely insane!” Something about his tone made me giggle. I naturally looped my arm through his. “You’ll get used to it.” A gaze as sharp as a cold blade swept over us from six feet away. I looked over, confused. Silas’s lips were pressed into a hard, thin line. Chloe gasped. “Elena, is this your billionaire boyfriend from abroad?” Silas’s eyes darkened, his jaw tightening visibly. I looked at Joe and smiled, ignoring the question. “We’re heading out. Bye, everyone.” The walk from the door to the car was short, but I felt like a cold sword was pressing against my back, ready to run me through. “You’re using me as a shield again,” Joe grumbled once we were inside the car. I pressed my palms together. “Big thanks. Just one last time.” “Sure, sure,” Joe rolled his eyes and shrugged. I laughed. Joe was my business partner from London. The reason we were back was that the headquarters wanted us to scout some talent for the company’s upcoming global campaign. Maya was on that list. The rain got heavier. Exhausted from the flight and the reunion, I leaned against the window and slowly fell asleep. 07 Maya and I were nothing alike. Chloe once said I looked like a silver fox in a snowstorm—cold and beautiful. Maya was the opposite. She was pure, cute, and full of energy. She was the daughter of our old housekeeper, Mrs. Miller. Mrs. Miller had worked for my family since I was five. After her husband died in a drunk driving accident, my father brought her and her two-year-old daughter into our home and gave her a job. My mother passed away early, so Mrs. Miller practically raised me. We were very close, and I always treated Maya like a sister. Two years later, my father played matchmaker for Silas’s father and Mrs. Miller. They got married. Maya became Silas’s stepsister. When Silas and I were in middle school, Maya was in elementary. When we were in high school, Maya was just starting middle school. Back then, I blamed my own denseness. I never realized when something started happening between Silas and Maya… I remembered that suffocating morning again. The morning the Reaper arrived. Five hours after I got home, my father’s company was hit by a massive financial crisis. Three days later, they filed for bankruptcy. A week later, the scandals broke. I was on a plane leaving the country that raised me. My father was driven to his death. I saw the photos of his final jump on the news. “Elena!!” I woke up sobbing, seeing Joe’s worried face. I wiped my eyes with a tissue, my voice raspy. “I’m okay.” Joe handed me a bottle of water. I took a sip. “Joe, you should go to Skyline Entertainment alone tomorrow.” Skyline was the biggest agency in the country. Silas Vance had acquired it five years ago. Joe was confused. “Why?” I smiled faintly as I pushed the car door open. The rain muffled my voice. “Because I have a reputation to maintain.” 08 It turns out, even the proudest person has to bow for a paycheck. I was at the hotel researching talent when I found a promising young actor, and Joe called me. “Elena, you have to come down here.” I was a mess, huddled in my computer chair. “What happened?” “The people at Skyline said that if you aren’t here, our company isn’t showing enough ‘sincerity’.” Sincerity my foot! I rushed to the bathroom to get ready. “Give me thirty minutes.” Thirty minutes later, Joe and I were waiting in the CEO’s office at Skyline. The mission was simple: sign Maya. Ten minutes later, the CEO walked in. He was tall, confident, and moved with a purpose. I stood up and walked over, extending my hand with a professional smile. “Hello, Mr. Vance.” “Mhm.” The man’s dark eyes swept over me. “Sit.” “Mr. Vance, our company has already sent an invitation to your agency. We’re looking to—” Before Joe could finish, the man on the sofa crossed his legs and glanced at the files. He looked up at us and interrupted, “Business partners?” “Uh, yes…” Joe was completely baffled by the question. I frowned slightly. “Mr. Vance, we’re here because we want to collaborate with Ms. Maya on our upcoming campaign. If it’s convenient…” “It’s not.” His voice was cold and hard. “If your company wants to shoot a campaign, my agency has plenty of other talented stars. But Maya is off-limits.” “Then forget it.” I cut him off, my voice turning icy. I stood up to leave. “We look forward to a potential future collaboration with Ms. Maya.” I said it through gritted teeth as I dragged Joe out of the office. Anyone but Maya. Silas, you really are a devoted lover, aren’t you? I was so angry I could barely breathe. 09 A week later. I was wearing an expensive evening gown, attending a star-studded gala. Skyline wasn’t the only agency in town. I took a glass of champagne and walked toward a promising young actor I’d scouted—the one I’d found while researching at the hotel. Hollywood can be a shark tank. Before I could reach him, a greasy, balding man in a cheap suit blocked my path. His fleshy hand landed on my waist, his smile making my skin crawl. “Hey gorgeous, I haven’t seen you around before.” My expression went cold. “Let go.” “Oh, don’t be like that. Every girl here is looking for a sugar daddy, right?” “Didn’t you hear her? She said let go!” A perfectly tailored leg swung out with lethal precision. The greasy man slammed onto the floor on his ass. Silas stood there, his presence overwhelming, his eyes full of murderous intent. He walked forward slowly and stepped his polished dress shoe onto the man’s right hand. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” “Mr. Vance, please! Have mercy! I didn’t know!” The man was pinned to the floor, his face contorted in agony, begging for his life. Silas looked down at him with an icy stare. “Which hand touched her? This one? Or both?” He pressed down with his heel. A sickening crack echoed through the room. The man’s bones shattered. “AHHHH!!!” The man’s scream was blood-curdling. Silas looked exactly like the fierce, unyielding boy from ten years ago. I stared at him, dazed. A wave of conflicting emotions hit me. I felt bad for him, and I felt bad for myself. If it weren’t for me, he might have had a better life. And I… I was the one who had made his life a living hell. … While I was lost in thought, security dragged the man away. Silas turned to look at me. I snapped back to reality. I offered a polite, professional “Thank you.” Then I turned and started walking toward the young actor. “Elena Thorne.” A large hand suddenly clamped around my arm. 10 “You want him?” I turned back to find Silas’s gaze heavy and deep. I looked at his hand on my arm and smiled sarcastically. “Why? Mr. Vance, surely he isn’t one of your actors?” After a long silence, Silas’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His voice was hoarse. “Anyone at Skyline. If you want them, they’re yours. Except Maya.” “Let go!” I wrenched my arm away, my face flushed with anger. Maya, Maya. If I heard that name one more time, I was going to lose it! Silas’s eyes were a swirling vortex of emotion. He narrowed them, then finally compromised and let go. “Fine.” I gave him a dismissive look and walked away. The next second, the world spun. I was thrown over Silas’s broad shoulder. “Silas! What the hell are you doing?!” I was screaming and hitting his back, but it was like hitting a brick wall. Silas didn’t miss a beat. He carried me out, threw me into his car, and drove me to his house. As expected of the richest man in the city, his mansion was even more luxurious than the one I grew up in. “What do you want?” I was furious at being forced. I turned to confront him. But the moment I looked at him, I saw his face was deathly pale. I panicked. “Hey, what’s wrong?” He looked at me, cold sweat beading on his forehead. He didn’t say a word. The next second, his massive frame collapsed. I lunged forward and caught him just before he hit the floor. By the time I managed to drag him onto the sofa, I was panting for breath. Silas was slumped against the cushions, his brow furrowed in pain. Seeing him like this for the first time, a pang of worry hit me. My voice softened. “Silas, what is it?” He was in too much pain to speak. Just then, his phone started ringing. It rang for ten seconds, but he didn’t move. I didn’t care about his privacy anymore. I reached into his pocket and pulled it out. I swiped to answer. “Hello?” 11 “Holy shit!” That familiar, annoying voice. “Elena?” I felt a headache coming on. “Yeah.” “How do you have Silas’s phone? Are you guys together? Wait, since when are you two a thing? Also…” I cut him off. “Stop. I have one question: does Silas have a medical condition? He’s… not doing well right now.” I looked down at the man on the sofa. He was pale and shivering. It looked bad. “Oh crap, did he drink again?” Liam yelled. “That idiot has a severe stomach ulcer!” “Is it serious?” “Yeah! At the reunion last week, I looked away for one second and he drank until he had a stomach bleed. He had to be rushed to the ER.” I hung up. Liam’s words were echoing in my head. Joe’s FaceTime call came through while I was in the kitchen making honey water. Silas’s fridge wasn’t empty, which was a good sign. “Elena, where are you?” I walked out of the kitchen with the glass. “What’s up?” “Come to the club! I found a great guy for you!” Joe’s end of the call was a mess of flashing lights and loud music. He was clearly at a bar. I put the phone on speaker and set it on the coffee table. I sat down and helped the “fragile” man sit up. “Go have fun. I’m busy.” “Why?” Joe looked horrified. “Don’t tell me you’re using me as a shield again? My girlfriend is going to kill me!” I was confused. “Since when do you have a girlfriend?” After a few minutes of rest, Silas seemed to be feeling a bit better. He lazily opened his eyes, staring at me, then at the honey water in my hand. He didn’t say anything. “I just met her! She’s so cute, so beautiful…” Joe was rambling when his face suddenly changed. “Elena, don’t interrupt. Seriously, this guy I found for you… he’s very handsome!” I handed the honey water to the man on the sofa and reached for my phone. “Fine, just send me his contact info. I don’t have time today—” Crash! A sudden sound of breaking glass. I turned around, stunned. 12 In an instant, the man with the bloodshot eyes knocked the honey water out of my hand. He grabbed my wrists, flipped us over, and pinned me beneath him. He leaned down and bit my lip hard. It happened so fast I couldn’t move. I turned my face away and yelled, “Silas, you’re crazy!” “Yes, I’m crazy.” He grabbed my face and forced me to look at him. His voice was raw. “I’m crazy for you. I’m driving myself insane with jealousy over those men.” I froze. He took the opportunity to kiss me desperately. A few seconds later, my eyes were burning. I used every ounce of strength to push him away. “Silas, what are you doing? What about Maya?! Aren’t you afraid she’ll see this?!” “What does this have to do with Maya?” The man stopped. He stayed pinned above me, his brow furrowed as he stared into my eyes. “You’re literally with her…” I turned my head away, trying to hide the tears in my eyes. Silas didn’t let me. He forced my head back, his voice demanding. “Elena Thorne, look at me.” My voice was trembling. “What? You dog! You want your cake and you want to eat it too!” Silas let out a frustrated laugh. “Which idiot told you I was with Maya?” “…” I stayed silent. He pinched my chin and kissed me again, hard. “Who I love… you still haven’t figured it out?” I felt a mix of awkwardness and a strange, sour sweetness. I pushed him away in a panic and ran for the door. He caught my wrist, sat up, and pulled me back into his lap. “Where do you think you’re going?” I felt a bit ridiculous. Maya was the one he’d been hiding and protecting. And he was the one who told me to stay away from him. Even if he wasn’t with Maya, the damage was already done. I looked at him, my eyes clearing. “But Silas, I don’t love you anymore.” The man’s grip on my wrist tightened. I tried to pull away. Surprisingly, he let go easily this time. He sat there for a long time, his broad shoulders slumped, looking defeated. Finally, his voice came out raspy. “It’s late. You can stay in the guest room. I’ll take you back tomorrow.” 13 The next day was another rainy day. Silas drove me back to the hotel in total silence. When I tried to open the car door, it was locked. I looked at him, confused. The man’s sharp features were hidden in the shadows. His eyes were like a dark vortex, ready to swallow me whole. “Elena Thorne.” His voice was terrifyingly raspy. “Are you leaving again?” My heart skipped a beat. After a long silence, I listened to the rain and whispered, “Yeah.” “Two weeks,” Silas said suddenly. I looked up. “What?” “In two weeks, I’ll take you to see Maya. Just stay away from that prick Lucas until then.” Off-limits Maya. He really was keeping her hidden. I wiped my mouth aggressively, feeling a wave of disgust. Lucas was the young actor I’d scouted. Noticing my confusion and annoyance, Silas pressed the door unlock button. “He’s dirty,” he explained. I suppressed the discomfort in my chest, nodded, and opened the door. “Elena.” Silas frowned and called out to me again. “Did you hear me? Stay away from him.” I stepped into the rain with my umbrella. “I heard you.” Silas was a mature, stable man. If he said Lucas was dirty, I believed him. Joe had been sent by the company to find another star who was filming in another state. He left, and I was alone at the hotel. Since that day, Joe’s old room had been taken over by Silas. He was right across from me. Knowing that, I rarely went out. I didn’t want to run into him. One rainy day, I had a sudden craving for a bowl of spicy noodles. Even though I had no family here, I still missed home. I missed everything about this place. It was only 5:00 PM. Silas should still be at the office. I grabbed my umbrella and cautiously left my room. 14 As soon as I stepped into the elevator, a pair of long, elegant legs followed me in. I instinctively gripped the handle of my umbrella tighter… Silas followed me for a long time. To get my noodles, I had to cross a wide road. At the pedestrian crossing, the light turned green. Ignoring the person behind me, I started walking across. The rain got heavier, pounding against my umbrella. The road was flooding, and my sandals were soaked. Suddenly, a massive truck barreled toward me. It kicked up a huge spray of water in the torrential rain. I stood frozen under my umbrella. In the next second, a powerful force swept me up. A broad, warm body slammed into me, and we tumbled toward the curb. The rain soaked through our intertwined bodies. Rainwater mixed with bright red blood. I lay on the ground, my head ringing. I pushed myself up, feeling weak. Silas was lying in the street, blood pouring from his body. I frantically pushed my wet hair out of my face, my body shaking with cold. I fumbled for my phone in the water and dialed 911. “Elena, why are you crying?” the man on the ground opened one eye and offered a weak smile. “I’m not dead yet.” Rain mixed with my tears as I pulled him into my lap. “I’m not crying!” Silas smiled and tried to close his eyes. I was terrified he would drift off. I kept talking to him. “Silas, why did you run out there?” He let out a soft laugh, blood bubbling from his mouth. “Because… I’m your bodyguard.” I tasted the rain. It was salty.

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My sister was adopted by a wealthy family, leaving me behind to rot in the orphanage. Years later, her adoptive family went bankrupt. Stripped of her pampered lifestyle, she was forced to marry a crippled man just to survive. Meanwhile, after graduating from a top university, I returned to my roots, built a startup from the ground up, and became a highly successful, renowned entrepreneur. When I opened my eyes again, I had traveled back in time to the very day the adoption took place. Before I could utter a single word, my sister, standing right beside me, pointed a trembling finger at me and cried out to the wealthy couple, “Take my little sister instead! Please, take her!” 1 I was adopted. While the paperwork was being processed, my sister, Stella, held my hand tightly, her voice thick with earnest instructions. “Hazel, you’re going to have a new mom and dad now. Be a good girl, and please, whatever you do, don’t forget your big sister.” As she spoke, she wiped tears from her eyes with her free hand, looking entirely heartbroken to see me go. Her acting was impeccable. If I hadn’t lived through this once before, I almost would have believed her. 2 In my previous life, the Foster family had chosen my sister. And I was the one left behind at the group home. A few years after my sister left, the land the orphanage sat on was auctioned off to developers, and the rest of us were shipped to a facility in a neighboring city. The director of that new home was a hypocritical monster. Back then, oversight for private charities wasn’t very strict. This director used the orphanage as a front, colluding with wealthy, depraved businessmen in a sickening underground trade. I only escaped that nightmare because I was chronically malnourished—sallow-skinned, scrawny, and small for my age. But my sister… She had fair, soft skin and chubby cheeks, looking like a porcelain doll. She was exactly the type those old men preyed upon. I wondered if she would be as “lucky” as I was this time around. 3 Stepping out of the orphanage, my adoptive mother, Evelyn, held my hand. “Don’t be scared, Hazel. From now on, you’re our real daughter. We’re going to give you a wonderful life.” My adoptive father, Richard, who was driving, turned around and gave me a warm, goofy smile. “Finally, we have a daughter in the house!” I had never known the warmth of a family. Their words made my eyes sting with unshed tears. I had seen them in my previous life. By then, their business had collapsed, and I had become a successful entrepreneur. The two elderly people, dressed in threadbare clothes, had knelt before me, begging me to save my sister. That was when I learned that after they went bankrupt, my sister despised my adoptive father for his failure and took out a high-interest loan from some shady lenders. The loan sharks took explicit photos of her to use for blackmail. I agreed to pay off her debt, but my condition was that we had to go to the police. “If you go to the police, my whole life will be ruined!” My sister glared at me as if I had murdered our parents. “You’re just holding a grudge because they adopted me back then instead of you.” “You should be thanking me! If it weren’t for me leaving you at the orphanage, do you think you’d have achieved all this today?” “And look at my luck! Stuck with a useless father and a pathetic mother, suffering for years for no reason while you get to be rich!” Her words filled the two elderly people with overwhelming shame. They apologized to me and left. Not long after, I heard the news of my adoptive father’s death. They had begged everyone they knew to scrape together enough money to pay off my sister’s debt, but she continued to run with a bad crowd. Terrified she would fall back into the same trap, Richard suffered a fatal heart attack while out searching for her at a local dive bar. From that point on, Evelyn fell into a deep depression and passed away shortly after. At their funerals, my sister didn’t even bother to show up. Now, her parents had become mine. I squeezed Evelyn’s hand back. “Yeah, I have a family now too.” 4 On the first day of the new semester, my adoptive parents drove me to high school themselves. Mom helped adjust the hem of my skirt. “Hazel is a high schooler now. Make sure you get along with your classmates, and if anyone bullies you, you must tell Mom and Dad.” It had been six years since I came to live with them. As I had expected, they were wonderful people. Over these past few years, they had treated me as if I were their own flesh and blood. But the better they treated me, the less I could accept the tragic end they suffered in my past life. I swore I would protect them this time around. Lost in thought, someone suddenly slammed into my shoulder. “Sorry about that, freshman. I didn’t hurt you, did I?” The person speaking was an upperclassman. His jacket was worn loose and sloppy, and a smirk played on his lips as he looked at me. He looked a bit familiar. I stared at his features for a moment before realizing who he was. Lucas Hayes. My future brother-in-law—the one with the limp! What was he doing here? I glanced at his legs. He wasn’t limping yet. He stood before me exuding a rebellious, arrogant aura. He was like a completely different person from the gloomy, crippled man I had met in my past life. I didn’t want any involvement with my sister’s “ex-husband.” I was about to walk away when he grabbed my hand. “Don’t just walk away, leave me your number. I’m a responsible guy; if I actually hurt you, I’ll need a way to compensate you.” I didn’t stop walking, simply brushing past him. “We’re even now.” With that, I hurried back to my classroom. Behind me, Lucas let out a scoffing laugh. “Interesting.” After that day, Lucas had his eye on me. Whenever it was break time, Lucas and a few other upperclassmen would stand outside our classroom door. At night, I always felt like someone was secretly following me. If I asked, his excuse was always “I’m just going the same way.” He never explicitly said he was trying to pursue me, so I couldn’t exactly confront him about it. I just treated him like he was invisible. After all, compared to getting tangled up with this teenage boy right now, there were far more important things to worry about. The land the orphanage sat on was about to be auctioned off. 5 “Hazel, what was that investment project you mentioned to me the other day?” When I got home, Dad walked in wearing his reading glasses and asked. Mom looked at him with sheer exasperation. “You’re the businessman, make your own decisions. Why are you bothering our daughter every day? She’s been at school all day, let her have some peace and quiet when she gets home.” “You don’t understand, Hazel is our family’s little lucky charm.” Dad patted his belly. “Every project Hazel casually pointed out over the last few years has made money. My girl was born with a talent for the market.” In my past life, my career was in venture capital. Compared to others, I had a much deeper understanding of industrial development in the region. This time around, my only goal was to use the information gap between my two lives to help my dad make money and alter the fate of their company going bankrupt. Of course, beyond that, I had another, deeper objective. “Dad, are you interested in buying land?” “Buying land?” “I accidentally overheard today that the land where the old orphanage is located is going to be auctioned off.” I blinked innocently. “Then won’t the kids there have no home? Dad, can we participate in the auction and buy the land? That way, we can save their home.” I tried my best to communicate with my father using language appropriate for my age. Hearing this, however, my father shook his head. “That’s…” Different industries are like different worlds. A land auction is no small matter, and my father had no prior experience in that field. I could tell he was hesitant. My mother, however, was a bit surprised. “The orphanage is being sold? How come we haven’t heard anything about this?” She patted my father. “Why don’t you find someone to ask about the situation first? Isn’t Hazel’s sister still at that orphanage?” My father hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I don’t know much about this industry. I’ll go ask a friend in real estate about the situation first.” I knew he would support it. “Thanks, Dad.” “Don’t thank me so early. I won’t do a deal that loses money. I’m not a foolish king throwing away a fortune just to make his daughter smile.” I laughed. “Don’t worry, this land will definitely make money in the future!” Although the orphanage’s land was currently in the suburbs, in a few years, that area would develop into a new commercial district, and the price would skyrocket. Since my father said he would look into it, I was confident he would participate in the bidding. While my father was investigating the orphanage and hadn’t gotten concrete news yet, Lucas sought me out in my classroom and told me something. “A new transfer student just joined our class. She looks a lot like you. Her name is pretty similar too. You’re Hazel Foster, she’s Stella Bennett. It’s quite a coincidence!” I stood up abruptly. “What did you say her name was?” “Stella Bennett. What, do you actually know her?” My mind went blank for a second. When I was at the orphanage, my name was Hazel Bennett. It was only after I was adopted that I took my adoptive father’s surname, Foster. Stella Bennett. That sister of mine… What was she doing here?! 6 A few days later, sure enough, I heard people talking about this transfer student in the sophomore class again. Beautiful, approachable, she had become the new goddess of her grade in just a few days. I didn’t actually see her until a week later. After morning gym class, we ran into each other in the stairwell. She was surrounded by a circle of people. This couldn’t help but remind me of our time at the orphanage. Back then, she was clever and charismatic, and everyone liked her. In contrast, I was the quiet, unlikable one. So when I mustered the courage to tell the staff that my sister had poured water on my bed or stolen my lunch, no one believed me. “Lying at such a young age. If you spilled it yourself, admit it. Why try to blame your sister?” They would always add a sigh, “You’re sisters, how can your personalities be so different?” Stella saw me and proactively came over to say hi, “Hazel, do you still remember your big sister?” Hearing her, some students asked in surprise, “Stella, is she your sister?” Stella nodded frankly, “Yes, but later my sister was adopted, and I grew up at the orphanage.” With that one sentence, the way everyone looked at me gained a few layers of intriguing scrutiny, while their looks toward Stella gained a bit of sympathy. “Why are you looking at me like that? Actually, I was the one who voluntarily gave up the opportunity.” Stella smiled and waved her hand, “You guys don’t know, Hazel was so thin and small when she was little. I was worried that if I was adopted, my sister would be bullied at the orphanage, so I gave the opportunity to my sister.” In just a few words, she established her image as the perfect older sister. Seeing I didn’t speak, Stella covered her mouth as if she had misspoken, “Hazel, they… did they not know you were adopted? I’m sorry, I didn’t know…” She had managed to say everything, good and bad, all by herself. I smiled. “How could that be? Being in an orphanage isn’t something to be ashamed of. Besides, I’m very happy to see you, sister.” “That’s good.” Stella seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, then said properly, “If you ever have any problems, come find me. We’re at the same school now, so we can look out for each other. No matter where you go, you’re always my sister.” I lowered my eyes to hide my overwhelming hatred, smiled, and replied, “Okay.” No matter where I go, I’m her sister. I chewed on that sentence, finding it laughable. In my past life, I had begged Stella. I knelt on the ground and begged my sister to save the children at the orphanage. But what did she say? “Hazel, people have to accept their fate. You were born with this kind of cheap life. If you want to blame someone, blame your bad luck.” “Your last name is Foster, my last name is Bennett. We’re not family anymore. Don’t come looking for me in the future, and I won’t acknowledge you as my sister.” A cheap life from birth. But I refused to believe in fate. Within a day, the whole school knew I was Stella’s sister, and they also knew I was adopted. People whispered behind my back. “She’s Stella’s sister? They don’t look alike at all. She’s way uglier than Stella.” “I heard the family originally wanted to adopt Stella, but Hazel threw a fit, so Stella gave up the chance to leave the orphanage for her.” “Stella is so genuine. Even though she came from an orphanage, she never tries to hide it. Unlike Hazel. I asked her classmates, and none of them even knew she was adopted.” “Just insecure and vain. What’s the point of having good grades if you have a terrible personality?” And so, overnight, I became the foil to Stella’s strong, kind persona. But to my surprise, just when the whole school was looking down on me, Lucas started coming to our floor even more frequently. Like a dedicated security guard, he stood in the hallway looking at the view every time there was a break. When he heard people whispering about me, the senior would walk over, “What are you little gossips talking about today? Tell me, let me hear it too.” Lucas was a tough guy you didn’t want to mess with, and he was an upperclassman. No one wanted to ask for trouble. Slowly, people became quite hesitant to discuss me. At least around our classroom, I never heard anyone talking about me again. “Don’t take those words to heart.” Lucas shoved a box of something into my arms. I looked down; it was a bag of Skittles. Was he comforting me? I closed my palm, “Thank you.” 7 Honestly, I didn’t care about the public opinion at all, just continuing to do my own thing. Studying hard, plus helping my dad evaluate some investment projects. One day after school, I came out and noticed a luxury car parked at the school gate. I hadn’t paid it any mind, but after taking two steps, a man got out of the car and blocked my path. “Excuse me, miss, do you know where the sophomore classrooms are?” The familiar face and voice sent a shudder through my entire body. The dark room, the heavy shackles, and the terrifying heavy breathing all felt like invisible hands gripping my throat. In that instant, I couldn’t even make a sound. Seeing me not speak, the man spoke again, “I’m looking for Stella Bennett from your school. Do you know her?” “I don’t know her.” I lowered my head and tried to walk forward, but my right hand was grabbed. Every hair on my body stood on end. I swung my arm, broke free from him, and desperately backed away. The man took a half step forward, “Sorry, I was too abrupt. I just thought you looked a bit like Stella…” “She said she doesn’t know her, are you deaf?” Lucas rushed over, pulled me behind him, his eyes fierce. “Sorry, I mistook her for someone else.” Vincent Caldwell glared at him and got back into his car. Lucas pulled me away. That night, I had a nightmare. I dreamed again of the days in my past life when the kids from the orphanage and I were locked in the basement. Vincent Caldwell was a VIP. He came several times a week. I was small and weak, failing to catch this VIP’s eye, so I became a prop locked in the corner to watch them perform, meant to add to the entertainment. If Vincent was in a bad mood, then I was the tool used to vent his frustration. There, we kids with no one to rely on were pets, toys—anything but human. I thought that in this life, as long as I could buy the orphanage’s land, I could save it and change the fate of those children. But Vincent had appeared early, and he had even gotten involved with Stella. What exactly happened during this time? The next morning, I arrived at class and saw Stella waiting outside for me. “What did you say to him yesterday?” I was baffled, “Who?” “Vincent Caldwell, the one who came looking for me.” The corners of my mouth turned down, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” “Stop pretending. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, would he send me to bring you something for no reason?” Saying that, Stella slammed something in her hand onto my desk. The Chanel logo was right on top. One look and you knew it was expensive. “He asked me to apologize to you on his behalf.” Stella’s eyes were red, and she raised her voice, “I know the Foster family’s business hasn’t been doing well the past few years, and your financial situation has gotten worse. You want money, but you shouldn’t, you shouldn’t think of these shady methods.” It was right during the morning rush. People coming and going in the hallway all stopped when they heard Stella’s words. Stella looked heartbroken, “You’re my sister. I don’t want you to go down the wrong path.” The people around started whispering. And the Chanel on my desk seemed to become ironclad proof. I looked at Stella’s one-woman show and let out a cold laugh, “You better watch yourself.” Daring to get involved with Vincent Caldwell. It seems she still doesn’t know what kind of person she’s messed with. This incident blew up so big that even the teachers were alarmed and called me into the office to understand the situation. “Hazel, your grades have always been good. Why did you suddenly change like this? Tell the teacher the truth, did you really get involved with an older man from outside for money?” “Haven’t you already made up your mind? Why are you asking me now?” “What kind of attitude is this! At such a young age, doing this kind of thing for money, and now the necklace has been delivered, and you still want to argue!” Stella stood by, playing the good guy, “Teacher, please don’t be angry. Hazel is still young and doesn’t know any better. It’s probably because she’s so scared of being poor that she saw someone driving a luxury car and went to talk to him.” Stella now seemed convinced my father had gone bankrupt. She kept bringing up money. Just as she finished speaking, a rough voice shouted from the doorway, “Who is ruining my daughter’s reputation?” It was my dad. The moment he arrived, all the accumulated grievances spilled over. The teacher explained the situation to my dad. “What did you say? Over a thirty-thousand-dollar trinket, he has the nerve to give it away? I’d be worried my daughter would get an allergic reaction wearing it!” He looked at the teacher, “You’re questioning my daughter’s involvement with older men outside, saying it has a bad influence on other students. I’d like to ask you, a luxury car parked at the school gate, with a middle-aged, greasy man harassing high school girls—why didn’t anyone stop him? What are the school security guards doing? If my only daughter gets hurt, can you take responsibility for that!” Then he looked at Stella, “You must be my daughter’s sister. You’re quite an interesting little girl. I heard that man was looking for you? The one involved with men outside is clearly you, so why are you blaming our Hazel?” “Taking a step back, even if our Hazel had an interaction with him, it was because of you.” My father unleashed a barrage of rapid-fire retorts, and everyone present panicked. Especially my so-called sister, who seemed surprised by my father’s change in demeanor. She looked at me, then at my dad, and couldn’t manage to say a word. In the end, this incident concluded with a personal apology from the school administration. My dad was still cursing as he took me home, “What a garbage school. I’m transferring you tomorrow!” I curled my lips into a smile. In this life, having my dad protect me… feels really good. 8 After that day, my classmates’ attitudes toward me changed. They came to ask me, “Hazel, is your adoptive father really Richard Foster?” “Yes.” “The one who does venture capital? He’s super famous domestically, known as the undefeated god of investing!” I hadn’t expected high schoolers to actually pay attention to business news. That person defended me, “I knew you weren’t that kind of person. Why would Richard Foster’s daughter try to suck up to an old man for a little bit of money? There’s absolutely no need.” Of course, there were also people making snide remarks behind my back, “Actually, Stella should have been Richard Foster’s daughter. What is she so smug about now?” When comments like that reached Stella’s ears, she felt even worse. A few days later, Stella proactively apologized to me, “It was my fault before. I was just too worried about you.” Then she tentatively asked me, “Is the Foster family really as powerful as they say? But I heard…” “My dad’s company did go bankrupt.” I smiled, “So he switched industries. Now he earns even more. Don’t worry, sister, I’m not short on money. I don’t need your financial help.” After I finished speaking, I turned and left. Leaving Stella standing there in a daze. After that, I saw Vincent a few more times, always driving different cars to pick up Stella. If Stella wanted to court death herself, I wasn’t going to stop her. I only cared about the well-being of the other children at the orphanage now. A while later, there was finally news about the orphanage’s land. My father had someone do a background check, “That land definitely has potential for appreciation in the future. I’m discussing with a friend to partner up and buy the land. As you requested, we’ll keep the orphanage project running for the next few years, and when the land value goes up, we’ll figure out a way to relocate the kids.” “Thank you, Dad!” My mother teased him, “Who was it that said he wouldn’t be a ‘foolish king’ for his daughter?” My dad glared, “This isn’t just for my daughter. I can make money and do charity at the same time. I’m spreading love to the world!” I watched my parents’ usual bickering, feeling an unprecedented sense of fulfillment. I originally came from the orphanage, and my father never shied away from that fact. He constantly taught me to be grateful. When handing over the land paperwork with the orphanage, my father brought me along. However, when I arrived at the orphanage and went looking for Lily to play, the director told me, “Lily is no longer at the orphanage.” “What do you mean she’s no longer at the orphanage? Was she adopted?” I immediately dismissed that answer myself. When I visited last year, Lily was still there. Kids our age are long past the conditions for adoption. “She left with your sister,” the director told me with a smile. “An entrepreneur started a sponsorship program. Stella and Lily were taken away to study outside.” “That entrepreneur… is his name Vincent Caldwell?” “How did you know?” My heart sank completely.

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Rumor has it that Carter Sterling, the notoriously aloof billionaire heir, never lets women get close to him. Yet, on the very first day of my return to the States, a distinct lipstick mark was plastered across his tailored suit. That same day, #SuitKissMark skyrocketed to the number one trending spot online. His face was thunderous. “Stella Vance! Look at what you’ve done!” I replied, the picture of innocence, “I was only trying to help you. Otherwise, your sexual orientation was going to be questioned by the press.” “Get out!” 1 I took off my sunglasses and dialed the pinned number in my contacts. It was picked up on the second ring. “What do you want?” His deep, familiar, and magnetic voice came through the line. I glanced at the busy traffic outside LAX and said, “I’m at the airport. I’m giving you a chance to show your devotion. Come pick me up.” “I don’t have time.” “Fine. Then I’ll call Mason and ask him to come.” I hung up before he could respond. Of course, that was a bluff. I didn’t want to bring unnecessary trouble upon myself. Walking out of the terminal, I hailed a cab and hopped in. But we hadn’t driven far before a sleek Rolls-Royce abruptly cut us off, forcing the cab to a halt. A figure I hadn’t seen in a long time stepped out of the luxury car. He tapped on my window. “Get out.” I rolled the window down, looking at him with a smirk. “Well, well, Mr. Sterling. Didn’t you say you didn’t have time?” He stared at me blankly. “My old man told me to come.” The underlying message: I didn’t want to come; I was forced. But from the moment my plane landed, I hadn’t contacted anyone but him. Aside from him, no one else in the world knew I was back. I raised an eyebrow. “Is that so? Should I call your dad to verify?” I picked up my phone. He snatched it right out of my hand. “Get in or don’t. Your choice.” With that, he turned and walked away, taking my phone with him. I opened the door, dragged my suitcase out of the trunk, and shouted at his back, “Mr. Sterling, the least you could do is pay my cab fare!” His hand paused on the door handle. In three quick strides, he marched over, didn’t even glance at the meter, and shoved a fifty-dollar bill at the driver. I smiled. “Thanks, Mr. Sterling.” He shot me a glare. “Get in the car.” 2 I was two years older than Carter Sterling, and we had known each other for twelve years. From the time I was just a struggling college student to my debut in Hollywood, all the way to my crowning as a Best Actress winner, he was there through it all. To say I didn’t have feelings for him would be a lie. I freely admitted it: I loved him. Three years ago, we were actually together. But on the day I went to the Sterling estate as his girlfriend, I overheard his father talking in the study. “The daughter-in-law of our family will absolutely not be one of those messy girls from the entertainment industry.” Hiding in the corner like a rat in the sewers, I felt utterly exposed and ashamed. That single sentence shattered me. I booked a flight out of the country that very night and hastily announced my retirement from acting. Since my parents passed away, the Sterling family had helped me out a lot, mostly on Carter’s account. I was incredibly grateful. But because they had always been my benefactors, I constantly felt that Carter and I were from two different worlds. I thought that as long as I made my own money, everything would be fine. So I threw myself into Hollywood, clawing my way to the top. But in the eyes of the Sterling family, my achievements meant nothing. With their wealth, they could effortlessly manufacture a dozen actresses just like me. The pride I had built up over a decade didn’t allow me to lower my head, ask why, or cling to a doomed relationship. After I went abroad, Carter called me endlessly. I didn’t answer a single one. Finally, he sent a text: Why did you leave without saying a word? You couldn’t even tell me? I replied: I’m just tired. At that moment, gripping my phone, I was sobbing uncontrollably. Ultimately, I wasn’t worthy of him. That was the last message between us. And just like that, we cut ties for three whole years. 3 In the car, I propped my chin on my hand, watching the scenery blur past the window. Carter suddenly asked, “Why did you come back now?” I snapped out of my daze. “I just wanted to.” He let out a scoff. “Couldn’t make it out there in Europe?” I turned my head and saw the faint, mocking smirk on his lips. I nodded enthusiastically. “Yep. How did you know? You’re so smart, Mr. Sterling. So amazing. I just love it.” His face instantly darkened. “Stop making me sick.” I looked at him with feigned disappointment. “Oh, fine. I guess my love is unrequited. “But that makes sense. You must be hiding a beautiful mistress somewhere. Keeping yourself free of scandals for years, letting the press think you’re gay—she must really be something…” “Shut up! One more word and you’re walking.” He sat on the other side of the spacious backseat, shutting me down without mercy. I wasn’t mad. I just nodded. “Okay. Shutting up now.” A moment later, he asked again, “Tell me the truth. Did you really come back because you couldn’t survive over there?” “No,” I replied. “Then why did you come back?” he asked, his brow furrowing. I met his gaze, smiled, and said, “Secret.” Why did I come back? Honestly, I didn’t know. Maybe it was because, even after three years, he still haunted my dreams every night. I was tired of waking up crying, full of regret. Since I couldn’t let it go, I had to face it eventually. Carter Sterling, long time no see. 4 Carter drove me to his mansion in Beverly Hills. I looked at the massive estate and teased him. “Bringing me here, aren’t you afraid your little girlfriend will find out and get mad? “This must be your cozy little love nest.” He was busy pulling my luggage out of the trunk. Without missing a beat, he said, “You’re sleeping on the street tonight.” I shook my head, laughing. “It’s rare for you to bring me here. I can’t just leave after being your hidden treasure for the night. Just thinking about it gives me a thrill.” He shot me a vicious glare. “If you don’t want to stay, go sleep on the porch.” I chuckled, trailing behind him. Right as we stepped inside, my sharp eyes caught sight of a pair of women’s slippers in the shoe cabinet. I smiled. “Mr. Sterling, these women’s slippers just exposed you. “Your little wife hasn’t even been gone a few days, and you’re already moving another woman in? Isn’t that a bit inappropriate?” He let out a cold humpf, pulled the slippers out, and threw them at my feet. “Why don’t you look at the shoe size first?” “Maybe we wear the same size,” I countered. “Heh. You’ve sure got a wild imagination. Why don’t you take a sniff and see if they smell like some other woman, or if they just reek of your own foot odor?” He said this while unlocking the inner door. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. He turned back. “What are you laughing at?” “Not telling.” He ignored me and pushed the door open, walking straight in. After touring the house, I realized Carter had prepared everything in advance. He had bought everything in pairs. Two toothbrushes, two mugs, and the bed in the guest room was already perfectly made. “Thanks,” I said genuinely. He gave a curt nod. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught him drinking water from one of the mugs. In an instant, I noticed something. “Mr. Sterling, that mug… it looks an awful lot like a matching couple’s set with mine.” I leaned against the doorframe, giving him a knowing look. His hand paused, but his face remained perfectly neutral. “It was buy-one-get-one-free. I bought mine, they threw yours in.” I nodded slowly. “Got it. Mr. Sterling is learning to be frugal. A mug is what, ten bucks? And you still went out of your way to find a BOGO deal. Impressive.” I smiled at him. Hearing this, he practically sprinted toward his bedroom, not hesitating for a second before slamming the door shut with a loud BANG. Before the door clicked, he threw out one last sentence: “You talk too much nonsense.” 5 Once I was settled in, my agent, Tara, called me. “Stella,” she said. “The Foster family is hosting a gala tonight. They sent an invite. Do you want to go?” Lying on the bed, my first instinct was to text back: Not going. Just landed. Exhausted. But then I remembered Liam Foster was hosting it. He had helped me out immensely back in the day. I owed him. “I’ll go,” I told her. “RSVP for me.” She said okay and hung up. After the call, I got up and knocked on Carter’s bedroom door. “What?” came the muffled reply. “I have a gala to attend tonight. Just letting you know I’ll be heading out.” A moment later, he offered a brief “Hmm,” acknowledging me. With his response, I went back to my room to start my makeup and get ready. To my surprise, halfway through my makeup routine, there was a knock on my door. I opened it to find Carter already dressed in a sharp tuxedo. “Aren’t you going to change?” he asked. “Were you planning on walking there yourself later?” I paused, then smiled. “Seeing as Mr. Sterling is feeling so helpful, I suppose I can lower myself to ride with you.” An hour and a half later, I changed into my evening gown. When I opened the door, Carter was sitting in the living room, watching TV with immense boredom, waiting for me. The moment I stepped out, his eyes locked onto me. I saw a brief, undeniable spark light up his eyes, but he quickly looked away. “You’re slow, and you look ugly,” he muttered. Yet, the tips of his ears were burning red. I tucked a stray lock of hair behind my ear, walked up, and smiled. “Really? If this dress is so ugly, why did you keep it? Didn’t I tell you to throw it away?” He didn’t look back at me. “I packed it in a box and forgot to throw it out.” “Ah, I see. And here I thought you kept it just for me. Silly me, being so presumptuous.” Honestly, I could tell at a glance that he had never intended to throw it away. The gown had been hung perfectly in the closet, without a single wrinkle, and it even smelled faintly of expensive cedar and vanilla. Clearly, someone had taken meticulous care of it. But the man was just as stubborn as he was three years ago. 6 Actually, the Carter Sterling of today was vastly different from the Carter of three years ago. Back then, he used to follow me around like a lost, over-eager golden retriever, arrogant to the world but sweet to me. This cold, aloof, sharp-tongued persona was reserved only for strangers back then. But the blatant favoritism he used to show me had dissipated over time, leaving no trace behind. I climbed into Carter’s Rolls-Royce in my gown. As I ducked to get in, he stood behind me and muttered, “Next time you get in and out of a car, remember to cover your chest.” I slid into the seat, instantly knowing what he meant. Having been a star for years, I knew all the tricks to avoid wardrobe malfunctions. I was just so used to being comfortable around him that I hadn’t bothered. But I replied anyway, “Got it. I’ll be careful next time. Thanks for the tip, Mr. Sterling.” He didn’t answer. He just opened the door and slid into the seat on the opposite side of the spacious back row. Once he was in, the driver pulled away, heading for our destination. Familiar Los Angeles scenery flashed by the window, scene by scene. It was hard to believe that after three years, I was actually back here. I had fled in a panic back then, but now, I felt entirely fearless. I had nothing left to lose. If things went terribly wrong, I’d just leave the country again. I turned my head to look at Carter. He was leaning against the leather seat, his eyes closed, resting. After a long while, his lips twitched. “How much longer are you going to stare at me?” Hearing that, my eyes drifted to his ears. They were bright red. I leaned in close and whispered, “I didn’t want to stare. It’s just… this is the first time I’ve ever seen Mr. Sterling with his ears this red.” The moment the words left my mouth, I saw his body visibly stiffen. A second later, he hit the button to raise the privacy partition between us and the driver. He shifted as far away from me as possible and muttered, “It’s a natural physiological response.” And then, his ears turned even redder. In fact, a flush started creeping up his neck and cheeks. Realizing he was completely compromised, he turned his head entirely toward the window, hiding his face from me. I smiled softly and turned back to look out my own window. 7 Half an hour later, Carter’s car pulled into the Foster estate’s private driveway. Looking out, the red carpet entrance was already swarming with paparazzi and journalists. After Carter stepped out, he looked back at me, still dawdling in the backseat. “Are you coming or not?” “You go ahead,” I replied. “It wouldn’t be good if the press caught us together right now.” His expression instantly darkened. “Suit yourself.” He turned and walked away with long, angry strides. Watching his retreating back, I let out a helpless sigh. I wanted to stand beside him under the flashing lights too. I wanted to be his plus-one. But this was my very first day back. If I was photographed with Carter Sterling right now, God knows what kind of rumors would explode. If his family found out and grew disgusted with me again, it would be a disaster. I couldn’t rush this. I had to take it one step at a time. I waited a few minutes after Carter entered before smoothing my hair, lifting the hem of my gown, and stepping out into the spotlight. The moment I appeared, the relentless clicking of cameras abruptly stopped. In the dead silence, I heard someone ask weakly, “Is… is that the Best Actress winner, Stella Vance?” I lifted my chin, smiled flawlessly at the crowd, and said, “Yes. It’s Stella Vance.” The next second, the camera shutters went absolutely crazy, deafeningly loud. My sudden retirement three years ago had sparked endless debates, and then I had simply vanished from the face of the earth. Now that I was suddenly back, to them, I was the biggest headline of the night. Having survived in Hollywood for years, I knew exactly what the media wanted. “Miss Vance, why did you really retire three years ago?” “Why are you making an appearance now?” “Miss Vance, does this mean you’re planning a massive Hollywood comeback?” The questions fired at me like machine guns. I lowered my head, offering a polite, practiced smile. “I’m sorry, it’s not convenient to answer these questions at the moment.” Because honestly, I didn’t have the answers myself. Ignoring the clamoring voices behind me, I lifted my dress and elegantly glided into the gala venue. 8 As soon as I walked through the doors, I spotted Carter talking to Liam Foster. Carter turned his head toward me, and Liam’s gaze followed his. In an instant, Liam’s eyes lit up. “Well, well! Stella, you finally made it!” I smiled and stepped forward to give him a hug. “Liam, it’s been way too long.” He patted my back affectionately. “Way too long.” Ten years ago, it was Liam who gave me my first big break in the industry. The only reason I survived the shark-infested waters of Hollywood for so long was because of his protection. I owed him a lot. I pulled back, looked at him, and joked, “Liam, I came to your gala on my very first day back in the country. Doesn’t that show how much I respect you?” He nodded. “Absolutely. You’re much better to me than this guy. I asked Carter to come show his face, and he flat-out told me he wasn’t coming.” “Really?” I paused, slightly surprised. “Yeah,” Liam continued. “At first he said no. But then, out of nowhere, he texted me saying he was coming. “Tsk, tsk. You kids these days. I’m getting too old to understand you. “Especially you two. Showing up separately? I really don’t get the games you little couples play.” Liam’s teasing had me laughing uncontrollably. I quickly clarified, “Liam, you better be careful with those words. In the eyes of the public, Carter and I are completely unrelated. “If the media heard you say that, we’d be doomed. “Besides, we aren’t even together right now. Calling us a ‘couple’ is a bit premature. But I’ll take it as a blessing.” Right as I finished speaking, Carter, who had walked off to grab a glass of wine, returned. “What are you laughing about?” I smiled. “A secret between Liam and me.” He let out a cold scoff. “Whatever. Like I care.” He took a sip of his wine, turned on his heel, and walked off to mingle with the other guests. 9 Because my return was so sudden, many of my old industry friends were shocked and came over to chat. There were also a few bitter rivals who came over to throw some thinly veiled insults my way. It was all harmless, petty noise. I was thinking about this while taking a sip of my wine. When I looked up, I saw a familiar figure approaching. He clinked his glass gently against mine and offered a charismatic smile. “Stella Vance. Long time no see. You’ve been quite popular tonight.” I curled my lips into a polite smile. “Mason Wright. You haven’t been doing too badly yourself.” “Compared to you, I’m falling behind. I’ve been watching you all night, trying to find a window to come say hi. I had to sneak over just to get a word in.” “You’re joking, Mason. I saw you chatting up all those gorgeous young starlets all evening. You didn’t have time for me. “I’m practically ancient in Hollywood years. I can’t compete with these fresh, dewy new actresses. They’re so delicate and stunning; even I can’t take my eyes off them.” I laid the compliments on thick, but he just laughed dismissively. “What’s the point of a pretty face? They’re like empty vases. Ask them to do a crying scene, and they can’t even squeeze out a single tear. It’s a waste of my time.” I put a finger to my lips in a “shush” motion. “Mason, there are ears everywhere. Loose lips sink ships.” He understood my warning, smiled, nodded, and clinked my glass again. Right as our glasses touched, a third glass aggressively inserted itself between ours. I looked up. Carter had materialized out of nowhere. He was smirking, but his eyes were incredibly cold. “Mason. Stella. What are we chatting about? Mind if I join in?” I looked at Mason. “Mason, what were we just talking about?” Following my lead, he looked at Carter with feigned innocence. “Nothing really. We were just about to start catching up when you walked over.” Hearing this, Carter’s face darkened visibly. “If you haven’t started, then don’t.” He sounded like he was grinding his teeth. Then, he turned his piercing gaze on me. “Wait for me later. We’re going home together.” I shook my head. “No thanks. There are too many people watching. I already had Tara send a van for me. I’ll take my own ride back.” He gave a stiff nod, turned, and walked away. His expression was downright murderous. 10 After Carter left, Mason looked at me in shock. “Are you two living together?” I offered a dazzling smile. “Just like you heard.” “So… are you guys back together?” he asked again. This time, I shook my head. “Not exactly. He’s my sponsor. I’m his hidden little trophy.” After delivering that line with a laugh, I put my glass down and walked away, leaving Mason standing there, utterly bewildered. Hey, he paid my fifty-dollar cab fare. Doesn’t that count as being a sugar daddy? Let him interpret it however he wants. But before I headed home, I had one last piece of business to take care of. I pulled out my phone and sent Carter a text. Moments later, he appeared in front of me. “What?” he asked, his face still looking like a storm cloud. I grabbed his arm, pulled him into a quiet, secluded corner, and smiled. “Mr. Sterling, your suit is dirty.” He frowned, looking down at his chest. “No it’s not.” He turned to leave, but I quickly grabbed his arm and pointed to his back, where he couldn’t see. “It’s on your back. Let me brush it off for you. “You’re too handsome to walk out of here with a dirty suit. The paparazzi are going to take pictures, and we can’t have your flawless outfit ruined.” Seeing my entirely serious expression, he didn’t doubt me. He turned around, offering me his back. I pretended to dust off his jacket, giving it a few firm pats. Then, seizing the moment, I leaned in and pressed my lips firmly against the dark fabric of his shoulder blade. Stepping back, I said, “All clean. But your tie is a little crooked. Let me fix that for you too.” He turned back around to face me, his gaze dropping to my chest for a split second before darting away. I was wearing a strapless gown today. I adjusted his tie, smiled, and said, “Perfect.” Without a word, he turned and practically fled down the hallway. I called out to his retreating back, “Mr. Sterling, you’re going the wrong way. The exit is in the other direction.” His footsteps halted abruptly. He kept his head down and quickly pivoted, marching hastily toward the correct exit. Watching him, I couldn’t hold back a genuine laugh. 11 By the time I left the gala and made it to the underground parking garage, Tara was already waiting for me. I had specifically asked her to swap out the van I used three years ago for a new one the media wouldn’t recognize. I didn’t want my entire life completely dug up on my very first day back. The van drove out of the garage. As we passed the main entrance, I saw a massive mob of paparazzi still waiting. They had absolutely no idea I was sitting in the unremarkable black van that drove right past them. I made it back to Carter’s mansion without a hitch. But the moment I unlocked the door, I was met with Carter standing in the foyer, his face black with rage. He was holding his suit jacket, pointing a trembling finger at the lipstick mark on the back. “Stella Vance! Look at what you’ve done! You better give me a damn good explanation for what this is!” “Just what it looks like, Mr. Sterling. A lipstick mark.” “I’m asking you why you put it there!” “Do you have any idea that the number one trending topic online right now is this exact lipstick mark?!” Carter glared at me, absolutely furious. I calmly pulled out my phone, checked Twitter, looked up at him, and smiled. “Mr. Sterling, the number one trending topic just changed.” However… #CarterSterlingSuitKiss The popularity of that hashtag was neck-and-neck with #StellaVanceReturns. If you refreshed the page, they kept swapping between the number one and number two spots. Clearly, Carter wasn’t satisfied with my nonchalant response. He continued: “The point isn’t whether it’s number one or number two! I’m asking you why you did it!” I looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. “I was only trying to help you. Otherwise, your sexual orientation was going to be questioned. “Before I came back, I read the gossip blogs. The media was already starting to think you were into men. If I didn’t help you out, you were going to be permanently labeled as gay.” “Get out!” “OK.” I smiled, nodded politely, and walked straight to my guest room. 12 The truth was, that lipstick mark wasn’t just to tease Carter or generate cheap hype. My real goal was… I needed to know who had gotten close to him over the past three years, and who dared to manufacture scandals with him. I had been gone long enough for another woman to claim a place in his life. When you’re starting at a disadvantage, you have to play a little dirty. … I sat back and watched the trending topics explode, watching as the media dug up Carter’s past “scandals.” Soon, several new hashtags related to him shot up the trending list. #LipstickShade #LipPrintMatch Seeing those two hashtags made my heart skip a beat. Never underestimate the terrifying investigative power of the internet. Because Carter hadn’t had a lipstick mark when he entered the venue, it meant the kiss had to happen during the gala. Internet sleuths compiled a list of every woman at the event, analyzing their lipstick shades to cross-reference with the mark on the black suit. However, distinguishing red shades on black fabric is notoriously difficult. Several women’s lipstick shades were deemed “possible matches”—including mine. When they couldn’t definitively prove the shade, they started analyzing the lip print itself. Thank God I had the foresight to press my lips down twice, overlapping the prints, making it completely impossible to extract a clear lip pattern. I let out a breath of relief and kept scrolling. Then I saw… #CarterSterlingChloeDavis #BillionaireHeirSecretGirlfriend #MatchingCouplesOutfits The words “Matching Couples Outfits” caught my attention instantly. I clicked on the hashtag. Fans had pointed out that the sleek, modern cheongsam dress Chloe Davis wore to the gala shared an incredibly high design overlap with Carter’s suit. Not only were the color palettes identical, but the intricate embroidery patterns were shockingly similar. Furthermore, the lipstick Chloe wore tonight was a near-perfect match for the smudge on the suit. Piece by piece, the internet was building a bulletproof case: they were a secret couple, and they had worn matching outfits. But I absolutely refused to accept that. Because I designed the suit Carter wore tonight. It was my 18th birthday present to him. To me, it held immense sentimental value. Furious, I took a screenshot of the trending page and texted it to Carter. [Kiddo, I custom-designed that suit for you, and you turned around and gave the design to your little girlfriend to make a matching dress? Do you have any respect for me?] He replied instantly: [Stella, what kind of psychotic break are you having tonight? I don’t have a girlfriend! [And I had no idea about her dress. I’m taking care of it now.] [Okay then.] 13 After that, I sent him a barrage of voice memos. “I’m so sorry, sweetie. I had no idea doing that would cause you so much trouble. It’s all my fault. Please don’t be mad. “Going to bed angry is bad for your health. “Goodnight. Sweet dreams.” I made my voice as soft and gentle as humanly possible, sounding as innocent as a lamb. After all, when you make a mistake, you have to own up to it. Even men need a little coaxing sometimes. Not long after, Carter sent me a screenshot. It was a text conversation. Carter had directly confronted Chloe Davis, demanding an explanation. He bluntly stated that if she didn’t issue a public apology immediately, he would ensure she was entirely blacklisted from the industry. Chloe instantly folded and begged for mercy. I opened the trending page again. #ChloeDavisApologizes It was hanging brightly at the very top of the list. Chloe’s official statement: “Thank you all for the love and attention regarding my dress tonight. However, I must sincerely apologize to Mr. Carter Sterling. My dress and Mr. Sterling’s suit were NOT matching couples’ outfits. I saw how stunning Mr. Sterling’s suit was in the past and commissioned a replica design for myself. I never expected it to cause such a massive misunderstanding and controversy. I am incredibly sorry. I promise not to make this kind of mistake again, and I hope you will all give me a chance to learn from this. Thank you.” I clicked on the comments. “Ahhh! They were so gorgeous together! I was shipping them so hard, and the ship sank in less than an hour! Sobbing!” “God! I really thought they were dating!” “This debunking happened way too fast. Did the real ‘Mrs. Sterling’ get mad?” Replies flooded in beneath that comment. “I think so too! The real girlfriend definitely laid down the law. Otherwise, Carter wouldn’t have been so ruthless.” “Do you guys think it could be Stella Vance? She comes back, and the exact same night Carter gets a kiss mark on his suit? That’s too much of a coincidence. He’s never had a scandal like this before.” “Are you insane? Anyone saying they’re together knows nothing about them. People investigated this years ago. The only connection they have is going to the same high school and the same university.” “I also feel like it’s Stella. Just a gut feeling.” The internet was in chaos, throwing around endless theories, but no one could prove a thing. Then, a new hashtag appeared. #HowTheInvisibleMrsSterlingControlsHollywood Seeing that, I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. The internet’s imagination truly was boundless.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “421034”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My younger sister and I were back at the orphanage, right at the moment we were about to be adopted. She chose the elite, billionaire family from Manhattan. But instead of living like a princess, she was used as a pawn for a corporate merger, married off to a ruthless older man, and ultimately tortured to death. Meanwhile, I chose the ordinary, working-class family. I eventually got into a top-tier university and became a highly respected high school teacher. Reborn into a new life, we were once again faced with the choice that would dictate our destinies. This time, my sister practically lunged toward the couple from the ordinary family. “Eleanor, I’ve always let you have your way,” she said, her eyes gleaming with barely concealed greed. “This time, I’ll let you have the rich family!” I looked at my sister’s poorly hidden smirk and offered a faint smile. You actually think I had a good life just because I was lucky? A father who died early, a mother with a severe gambling addiction, and an entitled mama’s boy of a brother. Well then, good luck to you. 1 My sister had dragged us back to the exact moment in the orphanage director’s office when our adoptive families were being chosen. Sitting across from us was an elegant, gentle-looking middle-aged man. He smiled warmly at us sisters. “Girls, which one of you would like to come home with me?” “I don’t have a daughter. If you come home with me, I will treat you exactly like my own flesh and blood.” When he finished speaking, I quietly lifted my head and peeked at him with curiosity. The middle-aged man gave me a kind smile. But standing next to me, my sister shuddered violently and shrank back. In our previous life, the scene had played out exactly the same way. My sister chose the seemingly glorious and wealthy Vance family. But she never expected that this elegant, gentle man would raise her in the lap of luxury until she was eighteen, only to package her up and sell her off in a business marriage. She ended up being tormented to death by an abusive older man. After she left for the billionaire’s mansion, I was adopted by the ordinary family. I became their daughter. Eventually, I worked my way into a great college and became a proud, honorable teacher. So in this life, there was absolutely no way she was stepping foot in the Vance household. Watching her tremble, I smiled faintly and stepped forward of my own accord. I looked the man directly in the eyes. “Sir, I’d like to go with you.” The moment the words left my mouth, my sister nodded frantically and even gave me a slight push forward. The man took a closer look at my face. I had an oval face and bright, almond-shaped eyes. Even though I hadn’t fully grown into my features yet, anyone could tell I was going to be beautiful. The man gave the orphanage director a look. Understanding immediately, the director ushered my sister out of the office. The man asked me a few more questions. I answered them one by one. My logic was clear, and I possessed an intelligence that seemed far beyond my years. Richard Vance nodded in satisfaction. He took my hand gently. “Then starting today, you are my daughter.” “You won’t be needing your orphanage name anymore. From now on, your name is Eleanor Vance.” With that, he gestured to the teenage boy standing behind him to take my hand. He led us out of the office. A sleek Maybach was parked downstairs. Richard initially wanted us to leave immediately. But I told him I wanted to pack my belongings and say goodbye to my friends at the orphanage. A flash of admiration crossed Richard’s eyes, and he chuckled. “You have a good heart. You’re a good kid.” I bowed respectfully to him, then turned and ran back to my dorm room. I said that out loud, but honestly, after spending over a decade in this orphanage, I didn’t have anything of value. The house my parents owned before they died was stolen by greedy relatives, and my only valuable piece of jewelry had been swiped by my sister. The real reason I came back to the dorm was to see my sister one last time. After all, the next time we’d meet would probably be at her funeral. I pretended to pack my things on my small cot, reaching under my pillow to pull out a single piece of jewelry I had hidden. It was a tarnished, handmade silver charm bracelet. I had secretly worked odd jobs when I was fifteen just to save up enough to buy it. Suddenly, my sister appeared behind me and shoved me hard onto the bed. I turned around to see her face twisted into a malicious grin. “You don’t actually think you’re going to turn into a princess just because you’re entering a rich household, do you?” “Let me tell you, Eleanor. You’re dead meat.” I looked at her face—so similar to mine—and smiled coldly. “Isabella, since you don’t believe I can live a good life, let’s see who has what it takes.” With that, I shoved her out of my way, grabbed my duffel bag of old clothes, and walked out the door. My sister screamed after me. “Just wait until you’re sold to some old creep and worked to death! You bitch!” I slammed the door behind me, my face entirely devoid of emotion, and walked away with my bag. The Maybach was waiting downstairs. The driver opened the door for me, gesturing for me to get in. I looked up. The kids from the orphanage were leaning against the balcony railing, staring at me with overwhelming envy. The chances of being adopted into the top 1% were like winning the lottery. Even normal people dream of getting rich overnight, let alone kids growing up in the crushing poverty of an orphanage. Yet my expression remained completely unfazed as I slid into the backseat. Sitting next to me was the teenage boy. He looked a few years older than me. He was exceptionally handsome, radiating a casual, elegant aura with every movement. Seeing me get in, he casually pressed a button on the door panel. The soundproof glass partition of the Maybach slowly glided up. The driver kept his eyes glued to the road as he started the engine. The boy looked me up and down and suddenly smirked. “You clean up nicely. You’re actually pretty cute.” I looked up, meeting his amused gaze. His smile deepened. “Since you’re easy on the eyes, I’ll give you a way out.” “If you come back to the Vance estate with me now, it’s a dead end.” “Just say the word, and I’ll have the driver turn the car around, drop you back off, and let you live your life.” He stopped talking and just stared at me quietly. I shook my head slightly. “Nothing could be worse than going back to the orphanage. Take me to the Vance estate.” I heard the boy let out a cold laugh. He turned his head and completely ignored me for the rest of the ride. 2 The reason I said that was because my past life was an absolute nightmare. In my previous life, I was adopted by that ordinary working-class family. They looked like kind, wholesome people who simply couldn’t have children of their own. They even swore to the orphanage director that as long as I took care of them in their old age, they would treat me like royalty and spend every dime to put me through the best schools. The director was totally charmed and handed me over without a second thought. But it wasn’t until I got to their house that I realized they had a biological son whose legal residence was registered under a different relative’s name. And their reason for adopting me was incredibly simple. They were drowning in debt and couldn’t afford a house for their biological son. They needed to adopt a girl just so they could eventually sell her off to an older man for a massive cash payout. Since they planned on selling me anyway, they figured there was no need for me to get an education. Knowing how to read a few words was enough. If I hadn’t stubbornly fought tooth and nail to keep going to school… I really would have been sold to an old creep by my adoptive mother the second I turned eighteen. Thank god I was given a chance to study. No matter what happened, I studied like my life depended on it. I didn’t dare stop for a single second. And so, after over two decades of fighting, a girl from nowhere finally took control of her own destiny. As for that family? Things didn’t end well for them. After I escaped, they had no one to sell for a payout, so they had to work themselves to the bone. While their precious mama’s boy of a son was sleeping comfortably at home, my adoptive parents were driving long-haul trucks to make ends meet. Fatigued behind the wheel, they crashed and died on the highway. As for that brother, he fell for an overseas scam and ended up trafficked to a criminal syndicate in Southeast Asia. I was given a literal hell-mode start, but I was the woman who had the last laugh. But in this life, would my lazy, entitled sister really be able to laugh until the end like I did? I looked around at the low-key luxury of the car’s interior and lowered my eyes. At the very least, living in high society was infinitely better than being drained dry by those bloodsuckers. The luxury car slowly pulled into the city’s most exclusive gated community. I looked up at the sprawling mansion bearing the Vance family crest and stepped out of the car without a word. The boy looked at me, seemingly surprised by my absolute lack of reaction to the obscene wealth. But he didn’t say anything. Mr. Vance’s wife had passed away years ago, and he had never remarried, meaning there was no matriarch in the household. There was only a butler who had been with them for decades. He smiled and took my duffel bag. He didn’t look down on me for my shabby clothes. Instead, he gave me a detailed tour of the estate’s layout. I memorized every detail, then followed him to the dressing room to change. A teenage girl looks good in practically anything if she tries. Not to mention, I wasn’t bad-looking to begin with. A simple, tailored plaid cotton dress made me look as fresh and delicate as a blooming peach blossom. The boy appeared out of nowhere, his eyes full of probing curiosity. “You look totally different. What was your name again? Isabella?” I shook my head. “Isabella is my sister. My name was Eleanor.” “Eleanor…” he muttered softly, a look of sudden realization washing over his face. Then he looked up. “I’m your brother from now on. Call me Sebastian Vance.” I nodded. The butler called out from the hallway, telling us to come down for dinner. Mr. Vance was an incredibly easygoing man. At the dinner table, he asked about my grades. When he heard that I was always at the top of my class and had countless academic awards, he nodded in deep satisfaction. “I’ve already arranged your transfer. You’ll be attending the same prep school as your brother.” “The curriculum at St. Jude’s is rigorous. If you feel too pressured, make sure you tell me.” I smiled and nodded, then continued eating. That night, Sebastian came to my room to brief me on the ins and outs of the prep school, helping me transition into my new life. Ever since he asked my name in the dressing room, his attitude toward me had completely softened. He was a grade above me at school. Worried he wouldn’t be able to look out for me all the time, he even gave me his old study notes. When he noticed the cheap, bulky silver bracelet on my wrist, he hesitated for a second. Then, he slipped a sleek, black onyx beaded bracelet off his own wrist and handed it to me. I held the bracelet, which was still warm from his body temperature, feeling a bit hesitant. The tips of Sebastian’s ears turned slightly red. “I wear this all the time. If you wear it, people will recognize that you’re under the Vance family’s protection. No one will dare mess with you.” “I… I still have homework to finish. I’m leaving!” With that, he panicked, stood up so fast his chair scraped loudly against the floor, and fled the room. I shook my head in amusement and slid the bracelet onto my wrist. The Vance family wasn’t the absolute wealthiest family in New York, but they were definitely top-tier players. Still, I was just an adopted kid. At best, I was an imposter. So when I got to school, I didn’t announce my identity. Everyone assumed I was just the daughter of some average businessman. They figured I was a transfer student whose parents spent a fortune to buy a spot at St. Jude’s. The wealthy kids here valued status above all else. Seeing that my background was nothing special, they felt no need to network with me and treated me with cold indifference. I hid the onyx bracelet Sebastian gave me under my uniform sleeve and quietly kept my head down, doing my work. St. Jude’s was full of prodigies, and the academic gap was massive. Even though I was the valedictorian at my old public high school, I was practically at the bottom of the barrel here. While everyone else was prepping for their SATs and AP Calculus, I was still memorizing basic vocabulary words. Between my unremarkable “background” and my currently poor grades, I became an outcast in the classroom. 3 I originally thought that if I studied hard and improved my class ranking, I’d eventually fit into the prep school ecosystem. Who knew that when I came to class on Monday, I would find my desk shoved next to the trash cans, all my books dumped in the corner. When the homeroom teacher saw me walk in, she immediately frowned and scolded me. “Eleanor, hurry up and clean your mess! The student council is coming for room inspection any minute!” “Because of you, our class average dropped a full point. Now you’re going to drag down our cleanliness score too?!” She glared at me, then crossed her arms and watched me pick up my things. As I bent down to pick up my books, I heard a few girls giggling behind their hands. The girl sitting in the center of the group had her uniform blazer draped over her shoulders and flawless, intricate makeup on her face. Her brown contacts made her eyes look huge, and her light chestnut hair was perfectly curled. She wore a smirk that was far too mature for her age. I narrowed my eyes, instantly identifying the culprit behind my dumped books. In my past life, my job as a teacher exposed me to several severe bullying cases. Some of them had occurred at elite schools just like St. Jude’s. The students here were wealthy and powerful. Even though the teachers were Ivy League graduates, they didn’t dare cross the ultra-rich parents. The classroom had a strict caste system. To maintain a twisted sense of “class unity,” every class would single out an “untouchable”—a designated target for everyone to bully. “Untouchables” were usually kids with poor grades or mediocre family backgrounds. Looking at the situation, the class’s “Queen Bee” had officially designated me as the new untouchable. But I wasn’t just some sixteen-year-old girl. I had already lived a whole lifetime and spent years battling in the trenches as a frontline high school teacher. My mental fortitude was unbreakable. After picking up my books, I calmly dragged my desk right next to the Queen Bee in front of the entire class. The other students exchanged stunned looks. My expression remained totally neutral. “The teacher didn’t assign me a seat, and this is the only empty spot left.” With that, I sat down, completely ignoring her face, which was rapidly turning red with fury. I knew she wouldn’t do anything right now, because the student council was about to walk in for inspection. Sure enough, right after I spoke, the student council pushed open the door. Leading the group was none other than Sebastian. He was wearing his St. Jude’s uniform, the zipper pulled down just past his collarbone, the sleeves rolled up to reveal his lean, defined forearms. Paired with his striking face, he looked exactly like the male lead in a teen drama. The homeroom teacher’s demeanor shifted instantly. She smiled brightly and pulled him aside to chat. He responded politely, but his eyes drifted toward my side of the room. Seeing me sitting calmly in my seat, he seemed to let out a breath of relief before returning his attention to the teacher. A girl in the front row turned around excitedly and whispered to the Queen Bee sitting next to me. “Regina, was Sebastian totally looking at you just now?!” Regina Thorne scoffed, but her face flushed with the undeniable bashfulness of a teenage crush. “Who knows.” I looked at Regina with mild surprise, thinking to myself that Sebastian really did have some serious charm if he had the lower-classmen Queen Bees swooning over him. But what did that have to do with me? I lowered my head and went back to my physics worksheet. After school, a kind-hearted girl secretly texted me, warning me to watch out for Regina. She told me Regina was a notorious bully at St. Jude’s. The last girl she targeted had already dropped out due to severe depression. Rumor had it that Regina even visited the girl a few weeks ago. She pretended to be a concerned classmate, but she was really just there to gloat. The day after Regina’s “visit,” the poor girl jumped off a building and killed herself. Staring at the message on my screen, I fell into a rare moment of deep thought. After a long pause, I thanked the classmate, and firmly resolved to keep my seat right next to Regina Thorne. For the next few weeks, Regina went out of her way to make my life miserable. She was absolutely certain that I was too intimidated by her family’s wealth to fight back, so she tormented me endlessly. I remained entirely unfazed. I was waiting. Waiting for the moment my grades surpassed hers, so I could clean house once and for all. 4 Back at the Vance estate. Mr. Vance truly treated me like his own daughter. He constantly reminded Sebastian to help me adjust to my new academic life. Sebastian followed his father’s orders to the letter, coming to my room every night to tutor me. He was the golden boy of the junior class. At only seventeen, he had already secured early admission to Columbia University. If he wanted to, he could pack his bags tomorrow and cruise straight into an Ivy League. But his new little sister was apparently a total idiot. Staring at the sea of red X’s on my paper, Sebastian took a deep breath and sighed helplessly. “It’s fine. Let’s go over it one more time.” Logically speaking, I had a great memory. In my past life, even though I missed my peak teenage learning years, I still managed to get into a top university using sheer brainpower. But there is always a bigger fish. Even a lazy mean girl like Regina had grades that were miles ahead of mine. To bridge the gap, I pulled all-nighters for an entire semester. Finally, during the midterms of the second semester, my rank surpassed my desk-mate, Regina. That wiped the smirk right off her face. After all, when I first transferred in, she mocked me for being a delusional loser who didn’t know her place. Now, my grades had eclipsed hers. It was a brutal slap to the face. After the class awards assembly ended, she looked at me directly for the first time. “Eleanor Vance, right? Wow, aren’t you just amazing.” With that, she grabbed her water bottle and aggressively splashed it all over my open textbook! My pen stopped moving. This was a custom math worksheet Sebastian had made for me. It was incredibly difficult, and I had just barely finished it. She opened her mouth to say something else, but in the next second, I had my fist wrapped tight in her light chestnut hair. I dragged her out of her chair by the hair and marched to the back of the classroom. Regina screamed in pain, but forced to follow my momentum so her scalp wouldn’t rip off. The trash cans in the back hadn’t been emptied yet. They were full of banana peels, half-eaten cafeteria lunches, and snotty tissues from a sick classmate. With one swift motion, I shoved Regina’s head straight into the trash can. She shrieked, but I pushed her down even harder. The entire class was stunned into silence, but no one dared run to get a teacher. I watched her thrash wildly with cold detachment. I waited until she ran out of energy before yanking her up and tossing her onto the floor like a dirty rag. I looked down at her from above. “I’ve tolerated you for an entire semester just for this day.” “Don’t think I didn’t know about all your pathetic little stunts.” “Putting a dead rat in my backpack, stealing my assignments, throwing my gym clothes in the toilet.” I stared at the pathetic, filthy mess she had become on the floor. “I’ve been genuinely curious how an illegitimate love child could be this arrogant.” The moment the words left my mouth, the room went dead silent. Everyone knew Regina was an illegitimate child, but no one ever dared to say it to her face. After all, the Thorne family wasn’t something you messed with. Yet I stood there, under the collective gaze of the entire class, smiling as I delivered my next line. “But then I remembered your mother was a cheap escort who threw herself at any man with a wallet, and it all made perfect sense.” Looking at the girl who had relentlessly bullied me, my words were laced with absolute venom. “Am I wrong? Did I frame you?” “Your mother was a college student who chose to work at high-end clubs for the cash. She intentionally trapped your father to give birth to a little mistake like you.” “Look at you now. Are you planning to follow in Mommy’s footsteps? Graduate college and go become some rich guy’s side piece?” The class audibly gasped. They stared at me in shock, looking at me like they were seeing me for the very first time. Regina swept her garbage-stained hair out of her face and glared at me with pure hatred. “Eleanor, you are dead.” I looked down at her and smirked. “We’ll see about that when you can actually win a fight against me.” I dusted off my hands, walked back to my seat, and calmly used a tissue to wipe the water off my ruined worksheet. Regina couldn’t beat me in a fight, and sitting next to me made her physically sick. She grabbed her designer bag, slammed her chair in a rage, and ran out of the room. I took it all in stride and went back to writing down the answer to the next equation. 5 The Vance family protected me flawlessly. Knowing I didn’t want to broadcast my status as their adopted daughter, Mr. Vance considerately kept the news out of the social circles. He only brought Sebastian to public events. He wanted to create a quiet, normal environment for me to study. Because of this, despite all the strings she pulled, Regina couldn’t dig up a single thing about who my backers were. And that realization finally made her terrified. If she couldn’t uncover my background, it meant my family was vastly more powerful than she could ever imagine. For the next two months, she acted like a turtle hiding in its shell, nervously observing me from afar. Meanwhile, I went to class, went home, and ate the late-night study snacks Sebastian cooked for me like nothing ever happened. Hard work pays off. After half a year of grinding, my grades shot up like a rocket. By the end of my sophomore year, I went from the bottom of the barrel to the top 20 in the entire grade. St. Jude’s hosted a massive awards gala. The top 20 students of each grade were invited to the stage to receive an award—a custom lapel pin carved in the shape of a fleur-de-lis. When I handed the invitation to Mr. Vance, he beamed with joy. Especially when he saw my certificate that read “Rank 19”. He was smiling so hard his eyes practically disappeared. He patted my shoulder and laughed loudly. “My Eleanor is making us so proud! As your father, I absolutely have to be there!” “I’ll have my secretary clear my schedule for that day. I’m going to my daughter’s award ceremony!” “To reward you for making the top 20, dad’s treating you to dinner! Pick anywhere you want!” Sebastian chimed in from the side, sounding a little salty. “When I was ranked number one in the whole school, you were never this excited.” “You never offered to treat me either!” Dad waved him off, completely unbothered. “Are you really comparing yourself to Eleanor?” “You’re a teenage boy, you’d survive eating garbage out of a dumpster. Stop causing trouble!” “If you’re going to be jealous, you can stay home and guard the house while Eleanor and I go out!” Sebastian gave a helpless shrug. He and I shared a look and laughed at his expense. The day of the awards ceremony arrived. Dad sat in the front row as a school board director, looking up at me with overwhelming pride. Dressed in my crisp uniform, I smiled as I took the bouquet from the principal. It was a tradition at St. Jude’s for outstanding upperclassmen to present the awards to the younger students. Sebastian picked up the tiny silver fleur-de-lis pin from a velvet tray held by an etiquette volunteer. With long, elegant fingers, he expertly undid the clasp and leaned in to pin it to my lapel. We were so close I could hear his breathing. Suddenly, Sebastian chuckled softly. I gave him a confused look, and he whispered his explanation. “Are you really this nervous for your first award? You’re literally trembling.” I lightly punched his arm, and he instantly grabbed his chest, acting like a drama queen in agonizing pain. Suddenly, I felt a hostile glare burning into the side of my face. I looked up and saw it was Regina. Because of her abysmal grades, she obviously had no right to stand on stage to receive an award. So she was up here serving as the etiquette volunteer. She had been standing next to Sebastian holding the tray for an excruciatingly long time, wearing beautiful, delicate makeup. But Sebastian’s eyes were locked entirely on me, completely oblivious to her existence. A flash of mockery crossed my eyes before I turned back to quietly chat with Sebastian. Sebastian looked at the little silver iris on my chest. “I didn’t realize the iris suited you so perfectly.” “Yesterday, Sotheby’s sent over their upcoming auction catalog.” “There’s an antique high-jewelry set themed around the iris. It’s stunning. Do you want it?” Standing next to us, Regina’s eyes practically bulged out of her head. Just yesterday, her mother had been begging her father for that exact jewelry set, only to be ruthlessly shut down. Her father had even mocked her mother for being a gold digger who only cared about money. It caused a massive screaming match between them. Now, Sebastian was offering it to me like it was pocket change. How could she not be consumed by jealousy! Faced with his question, I rolled my eyes slightly. “Senior, don’t you know that you’re never supposed to ask if a girl wants something? You just buy it.” “I’m a modest lady, so naturally, I want the entire set.” Sebastian burst out laughing. He was about to reply, but the other upperclassmen had already finished pinning the awards and were lining up for photos. The principal stood next to Sebastian and gave him a smiling thumbs-up. After the ceremony, the sophomores were herded back to class to review an exam. Dad, accompanied by the principal and Sebastian, went on a nostalgic tour of the campus where he had spent six years of his own youth.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “421050”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I frequently dreamed of a strange man. We would lose ourselves in passion, doing things too explicit to describe. But every time I woke up, I couldn’t remember his name. Six months later, I finally found him. Good news: He’s just as handsome as he was in my dreams. Bad news: He’s my fake boyfriend’s older brother. 01 Cole Harrington was taking me back to his hometown to meet his parents. When he told me, it was a command, not a discussion. “Dress up. Make it sexy.” I said, “It’s winter. Sexy means freezing.” “You got a problem with that? Then let’s break up.” He was careless and arrogant. He knew I wouldn’t agree to break up. I fell silent for a moment. “I don’t have money for new clothes.” “Knew it.” He wired me five thousand dollars, then waved me off impatiently. “Take the cash. I’m gaming. Don’t bother me.” I lowered my eyes and walked away, acting like a pushover. The young master hopped on a Discord call with his frat-bro friends. “Yeah, I’m bringing her back. I refuse to believe Lexi won’t get jealous this time.” “I only got with this girl to piss Lexi off. You think I’d actually fall for her?” “Taking her home? Gotta make the act convincing. Lexi and I dated for four years and never met the parents. I’m taking this one home after a month. That’ll sting enough, right? Don’t worry, my older brother calls the shots in my house. And her—” Cole played with his phone, letting out a dismissive scoff. “She’s exactly the kind of woman my brother hates the most.” 02 A month ago, Cole suddenly set his sights on me and asked me out. The whole campus knew the wealthy heir had just broken up with his first love. Asking me out now meant I was a rebound. A toy. There was absolutely no genuine affection. But I still said yes. I desperately needed money. To save up for my mom’s surgery, I had been working multiple jobs. But recently, her condition had worsened. She couldn’t wait any longer. Right at that moment, Cole tossed me an olive branch. The Harrington family owned a massive, publicly-traded conglomerate, currently run by his older brother. Hanging around a trust-fund kid like Cole who loved racing supercars—even just picking up the crumbs—would be enough to cover the medical bills. But Cole didn’t know that. He thought I was hopelessly, madly in love with him. 03 Cole booked first-class tickets. As soon as we boarded the flight, he put on his heavy noise-canceling headphones, forbidding me from disturbing him. I was happy for the peace and quiet and quickly fell asleep. Suddenly, a strange sensation washed over me. I was nestled in a man’s embrace, my skin burning hot. Again? How many times this month? Doesn’t he ever get enough? He gently stroked my swollen, kissed lips and asked, “You look beautiful today. Where are you going?” “To my boyfriend’s house.” “You have a boyfriend?” I said stubbornly, “Yeah.” He went silent for a long time. I lifted my gaze and met the dark storm brewing in his eyes. He was an incredibly striking man. His features were a bit cold, but his body was practically perfect—lean muscle, broad shoulders, narrow waist. If he wasn’t, I wouldn’t have kept sinking into these dreams. “Break up with him, okay?” His voice was clean and deep, carrying a hint of coaxing. “No.” “Why? What am I not doing right?” You’re doing great, a little too great actually. But— “Who spends their life devoted to a man in a dream? When I wake up, I have nothing.” I didn’t know if that sentence stung him, but he didn’t say anything else. … The turbulence of the plane’s descent jolted me awake, pulling me from the dream. Cole was looking at me, frowning. “Sydney, are you hot?” I wiped a thin layer of sweat from my forehead. “I’m okay.” I had that dream again. About six months ago, this man appeared out of nowhere and invaded my dreams. At first, the dreams were pretty normal. Until one time, I realized he not only perfectly matched my type, but his body was flawless. So, I started getting handsy. From then on, the dreams went wildly out of control… I didn’t know who he was. Every time I asked his name, I would forget it completely the moment I woke up. Only the sensations from the dream remained, as clear as if they had actually happened. I secretly saw a doctor. The doctor said it was just a dream. I was young, hormones were high, it was normal. Makes sense. After all, I had never even held a man’s hand in real life. Cole found me boring, and I was just using him. So we tacitly maintained a delicate distance. “Your face is red,” Cole noted. It was just me blushing, but he hadn’t seen it before. I calmly touched my cheek. “It’s a little warm.” “First time on a plane, huh?” “Yeah. First time. Thanks.” I was so honest that it choked back whatever mocking words Cole was about to say. A moment later. He inexplicably reached up and adjusted the overhead AC vent for me. Even he froze for a few seconds after doing it. “Thanks.” I didn’t pay it much mind, just looked out the window. 04 After landing and grabbing our luggage, Cole walked off to the side to make a call. “Did you guys invite Lexi? Cool. See you in a few days. The girlfriend? I’ll dump her after I see Lexi.” Seeing me approach, Cole quickly hung up. “Sydney, I need to warn you about something.” “Hm?” “At my house, my parents are easygoing. But watch out for my older brother.” “Why? Does he eat people?” Cole gave me another weird look. Before, when I talked to him, I just said “mhm” and “oh,” playing the obedient girlfriend. Now that I almost had enough money, my desire to act was plummeting. “…My brother has a bad temper. He’s very dominant. What he says goes, both at home and at the company. Even my parents are a little scared of him now. Just keep your head down when you see him.” As unruly as Cole was, the mere mention of his older brother brought a look of fear and reverence to his face. “Got it.” I really couldn’t care less about his family dynamics. But Cole looked even more confused. “Aren’t you happy to be coming home with me?” “I’m ecstatic,” I said with a deadpan face. Cole: “…” A chauffeur picked us up and drove us to the Harrington estate. Just as Cole said, his parents were quite friendly and asked me all sorts of caring questions. Until right before dinner. Nathaniel Harrington came home. Cole’s arrogance vanished completely. He stood up straight like a schoolboy and greeted him obediently, “Nathaniel.” “Mhm. Rough flight?” It was a lukewarm, apathetic voice. It had the smooth, cold texture of jade. It was so familiar my scalp tingled. I turned my head and my eyes widened in shock. It was him. The man from my dreams. 05 “Nathaniel, this is my girlfriend, Sydney Kensington.” Nathaniel’s gaze swept across my face. “Welcome.” He looked exactly like he did in my dreams. The sharp jawline, the slightly hooded eyes that made him look cold and ruthless. He first loosened his tie and took a sip of water. A drop of water rolled down his Adam’s apple and slipped under his collar, dampening the fabric to reveal the faint outline of his chest. Only then did he sit down at the dining table. Everyone’s voices instinctively lowered. Cole was acting so well-behaved he seemed like a different person. During the meal, the conversation occasionally turned to me. “Sydney, Cole mentioned you’ve never dated anyone before?” “Yes, Mrs. Harrington. Cole… is my first boyfriend.” “Oh my. For a girl as pretty as you not to have dated, that’s quite rare.” I nervously swallowed hard, my peripheral vision darting toward Nathaniel. He was cutting his steak, acting as if he hadn’t heard a thing. Right. He probably didn’t know me. It was just my own one-sided dream. As for why I dreamed of him? Probably my subconscious. Maybe I had caught a fleeting glimpse of Nathaniel’s photo in some financial magazine, and it manifested in my dreams. I adjusted my mindset and responded positively. “Mrs. Harrington, this is my first relationship. I’m incredibly lucky to have met Cole. He’s a star on campus, and I’ve looked up to him since freshman year.” “Our Cole can be a bit rebellious, but he’s good at heart. Sydney, I hear you’re an honors student. Please take good care of him.” “I will. I really care about Cole.” No, what I care about is the fat red envelope of cash you’re about to give me. Suddenly, I felt a gaze land on me. I instinctively looked back. Nathaniel was replying to a work message on his phone. He wasn’t looking at me at all. Just now… was that my imagination? 06 After staying at the Harrington estate for a few days, I got used to it. Nathaniel was rarely home. When we occasionally bumped into each other, he just gave me a polite, distant nod. I grew more and more certain that the dreams were mine alone. The day to meet Lexi was approaching. Cole wasn’t satisfied with the clothes I brought, so he had someone buy me a new outfit. A slip dress. Something you’d only wear in the summer. He made me put it on to take a few photos with him. The fabric was paper-thin. Even with the estate’s central heating, I was shivering. But Cole didn’t notice. He was determined to take the perfect photo to make his first love jealous. The next day, I caught a cold and spiked a fever. Did Cole care? Of course not. He was busy going out drinking with his buddies. As he was leaving, I heard him complaining on the phone: “Of course she gets sick right now. If she embarrasses me in front of Lexi in a few days, I swear… Do you guys have any other girls around? I need a backup…” I was burning up, feverish and groggy, blurring the line between dreams and reality. My throat was agonizingly sore. I got out of bed to get a glass of water. The study door across the hall was wide open. When I looked up, I actually saw Nathaniel. 07 At this hour, Cole was out partying, and his parents were out running errands. Nathaniel should have been at the office. Why was he home? There was only one possibility—I was dreaming again. If it’s a dream, that makes things easy. I stumbled in and threw myself aggrievedly into his arms. “I feel awful.” He stiffened for a moment, then asked, “Did you take medicine?” “Yeah.” “Go back and rest.” But I clung to him, refusing to let go. “I met someone who looks exactly like you.” “…Did you?” “But I know he isn’t you.” “How do you know?” “Because you’re a dream. The moment I see the mole on your collarbone, I know I’m dreaming.” With practiced ease, I unbuttoned his dress shirt. I was far too familiar with this mole. In my dreams, I had bitten it countless times. I sat on his lap, tracing the mole with my finger. “Nathaniel” suddenly stopped me. “Didn’t you say you really liked him?” “What?” “You said you really liked Cole.” “How do you know about Co—” My brain exploded. All the romantic tension cooled in an instant. I pinched my own thigh hard. It hurt. This wasn’t a dream. This was reality. The man I was currently pinning down was the real Nathaniel Harrington. “Sydney.” He called my name in a low voice, the end of the word sending a shiver down my spine. “I asked you in dreams for six months, and I finally remembered your name.” That sentence froze me in place again. What did he mean? He was dreaming too…? My CPU was short-circuiting. I was still straddling him, wearing only my pajamas. His shirt was disheveled, and his eyes were dark and bottomless. Right at that moment. A knock came at the door. “Nathaniel, have you seen my girlfriend?” Cole? Why was he back? “Nathaniel, are you in there? I swear I just heard Sydney’s voice.” Dead silence. “No one? I’m coming in.” Cole turned the handle… 08 Cole stepped into the room. “Nathaniel, you’re here.” Nathaniel asked, “Why are you back?” “I just felt bad leaving her alone when she’s sick. Anyway, Nathaniel, I just checked the bedroom and didn’t see Sydney. Have you seen her?” “No,” Nathaniel lowered his eyes. At this very moment. I was crouched under the massive mahogany desk, pressed right against Nathaniel’s suit pants, not daring to make a single sound. “Maybe she went to the bathroom. I’ll wait here for a bit.” Cole plopped down on the sofa and pulled out his phone to play a game. Before the match even loaded, he suddenly frowned. “Nathaniel, why does it smell so good in your study?” “I lit an incense candle.” “Aren’t you the one who hates that stuff the most? Did the sun rise in the west today?” Cole still didn’t suspect anything. But he stood up and started looking for the incense. He was about to walk behind the desk. Nathaniel reached out and stopped him. “Get out.” “Huh?” “I’ll wire you ten grand. Take Niki to the groomers. The dog smells.” “That’s the housekeeper’s job!” “Are you going or not?” Nathaniel raised a pair of eyes that brooked no argument. “You can keep the change.” “On it! I’ll make sure she’s squeaky clean!” Cole headed downstairs to find the dog. Once the house was quiet again, I crawled out from under the desk. Holding my dizzy head, I cut straight to the chase: “Have you been having the exact same dreams as me?” “It appears so.” “How is that possible… Do the timelines match up?” Nathaniel adjusted his rimless glasses. “The first time, on August 10th, you treated me like an emotional dumping ground and ranted about a lot of nonsense.” “The second time…” “The sixth time, you said: ‘You up? Let me see those abs.’” Me: … “The seventh time, in September, the relationship took a turning point, and we—” “Okay! You don’t need to say anymore!” It was definitely shared dreaming. The information overload, combined with my fever, made my vision swim. I almost fainted. Nathaniel caught me. “Don’t think about it right now. Get some rest.” He picked me up to carry me back to the bedroom. But halfway there, we ran into the housekeeper. The housekeeper slowly widened her eyes, forgetting to even say hello. “Sir, is that… Ms. Kensington in your arms?” 09 I tried desperately to cover my face. Nathaniel said calmly, “You know what to do.” His tone was polite and even, but it carried the murderous aura of silencing a witness. The housekeeper quickly scurried away. “Oh my, I’m getting old. My eyesight is terrible. I can’t see a thing…” Nathaniel placed me on the bed and pulled up the covers. “Martha is trustworthy. She won’t gossip. Just focus on getting better.” I was truly exhausted and had no energy to argue with him. That evening, Cole returned from washing the dog. He tossed a box of medicine onto my nightstand. “We’re going to that party the day after tomorrow. Don’t embarrass me.” I thought he was going to leave after that. But he suddenly sniffed the air twice. “Wait a minute. That smell is so familiar…” Crap. Am I busted? 10 I gripped my water glass tightly, my mind going blank. Cole, being as oblivious as he was, didn’t connect the dots. “My brother’s study had the exact same scent. It actually smells pretty good.” I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Then, I heard him mutter, “My brother went on a business trip. I’m finally free for a few days.” “A business trip?” “Yeah. Left right after lunch.” He was probably hiding from me. Nathaniel didn’t come home until the day of the party. When he saw me, he still just gave a faint nod. As if nothing had happened. The day of the party arrived. I had recovered from my cold and went with Cole to his high school reunion. With Cole’s personality, he was the center of attention wherever he went. By extension, I was also in the spotlight. Cole’s buddy slung an arm around his neck and whispered, “This is the girl you brought to make Lexi mad? Bro, are you blind? This girl is way hotter than Lexi!” “You’re the blind one. She doesn’t even compare to Lexi.” “Did you warn her? Lexi’s going to target her tonight.” “No need to tell her,” Cole said lazily. “The more Lexi targets her, the more it proves Lexi isn’t over me.” I sat nearby and heard every word clearly. Cole turned to clink glasses with someone. “We’re drinking until we drop tonight!” Someone joked, “Young master, you sure you wanna drink? Aren’t you afraid your brother will beat you up?” “My brother can’t babysit me today. He went on a blind date.” My mind, which had been wandering, suddenly snapped into focus. Who was Nathaniel Harrington? The current head of the Harrington Group. Powerful and handsome. Everyone was incredibly curious about his gossip. Cole was happy to share: “He’s a chronic bachelor. I don’t know how they convinced him to go on a blind date this year. Probably because she’s pretty, and I heard she comes from a prestigious family.” “Tsk. Looks like I’m getting a sister-in-law soon.” The loud music suddenly made me feel incredibly irritable. Just then, the VIP room door opened. “Lexi’s here!” “Welcome, Prom Queen!” 11 Cole’s first love was very pretty. But she was highly hostile toward me. Surrounded by her clique, she made passive-aggressive comments meant to put me down. The atmosphere was tense, so I volunteered to wash the fruit knives to get away. At the same time, I was calculating something else. Cole spent money like water. I never explicitly asked him for money. Just by collecting the scraps he threw my way, I had finally saved enough for the surgery. It was time to break up. How should I bring it up? As I was pondering, Lexi and her squad surrounded me from behind. She dropped her goddess persona, acting like a total mean girl. “Did you roll your eyes at me just now?” “No.” “Liar! We all saw it!” “You’re overthinking it,” I said lazily, wiping down a fruit knife. “I can’t even be bothered to look at you. Why would I roll my eyes at you?” Lexi grew even more furious. Several girls lunged forward to tear at my dress. “Look at this dress, Cole definitely bought it! His taste is terrible!” “Today, we’re going to teach you who you messed with!” I was incredibly annoyed. Before they could ruin my dress, I reached out and grabbed Lexi by the hair. With a swift spin, I shoved her head right under the faucet. Let her wash her hair and cool down. The clique didn’t expect me to be so strong and all took a step back. I said coldly, “Just looking at you proves Cole’s taste is indeed terrible.” “You—glug glug—” Lexi was cursing quite colorfully, but I didn’t care. I was helping her rinse her mouth. “If you’re pissed off, go yell at Cole. Taking it out on me proves nothing. Only brainless, insecure girls like you would treat a trash man like a prize.” Lexi stopped cursing and started wailing. The bathroom was close to our VIP room. Cole and the guys rushed over upon hearing the noise. Lexi finally broke free from me. Looking like a drowned rat, she ran crying into Cole’s arms. “Your girlfriend bullied me!” “No way, Sydney isn’t like that…” Cole said instinctively. Lexi cried even louder. “Cole! Harrington! Didn’t you just see it? she shoved my head into the sink!” The clique finally snapped out of their shock: “Yeah, we all saw it.” “She bullied your ex-girlfriend and you’re not doing anything? Are you even a man!” Unable to withstand the provocation, Cole immediately looked at me sternly. “Sydney, apologize to her.” 12 Apologize? That’s hilarious. Spinning the fruit knife in my hand, I walked steadily toward Cole. No one dared to make a sound. Under my intimidating glare, Cole kept backing up. Until he tripped over the sofa and fell into it. I planted one foot right between his legs on the sofa cushion. A fraction of an inch more, and my black velvet stiletto would have crushed his most prized possession. “Time to settle the score, fuckboy.” The flat edge of the fruit knife brushed against Cole’s face. He flinched, seemingly startled by the cold metal. “You used me to make your ex jealous. I’ll let that slide. Luckily, all I wanted was your money, so you couldn’t break my heart. We’re even.” “But as of right now, we are broken up. Please don’t ever show your face in front of me again.” Cole froze, then suddenly reached out and grabbed my ankle. “What do you mean, all you wanted was money?” “It means exactly what it sounds like. Did you skip English class?” “Sydney Kensington, you don’t like me?” “I don’t. In fact, I find you incredibly annoying.” Under the dim lighting, Cole actually looked lost. “Impossible. How could you not like me? You’re always so obedient—” I stabbed the fruit knife down. Cole was petrified. A long moment later, he realized the knife was just stabbed into the sofa cushion next to him. “Even coming home with you this time was just for your family’s money. Stop flattering yourself—” Just as I finished speaking, I suddenly felt the atmosphere shift behind me. I turned around. Nathaniel stood in the doorway. He heard everything.

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