Category: English

My fiancé claimed he had forgotten me. He said he had fallen in love with another woman. He refused to try and remember our past. Like a madman, he fought to break our engagement so he could marry his new love. He even wanted to elope with her, abandoning his parents and the family business. Fighting back tears, I asked him, “This engagement happened after you got down on one knee. You spent three years planning your proposal to me. Later, when you remember, will you regret this?” The response I got was his cold, disgusted: “Never.” In that moment, I swallowed my tears and gave him his freedom. 1 Everyone in our circle said Arthur Sterling was truly in love with that woman. He brought her into his social circle, bought her cars and a house, treating her with extreme favoritism and romance. That woman even added me on Instagram, flaunting every moment of their lives together on her story every day. Occasionally, in the dead of night, she would send me long, dramatic texts. “Sloane, Arthur and I are truly in love. I beg you, give him back to me.” “He doesn’t even love you. Why must you keep harassing him?!” “Seeing him in so much pain every day because of you… it really breaks my heart! If you truly loved him, you should let him go, not stubbornly hold onto a wedding contract!” “He’s at the bar drinking again. His parents still won’t allow you two to break the engagement. Sloane, can a marriage bound by a family alliance really bring happiness?” A marriage bound by a family alliance? She probably didn’t know that my engagement with Arthur Sterling was something he had plotted for a very long time. Our families were close friends. We were childhood sweethearts who secretly harbored feelings for each other. It was beautiful, wasn’t it? I used to think Arthur and I would walk down the path of a happy, perfect life together. Just like his vows—loving each other until our hair turned white. Perhaps this life was too happy, so God decided to play a huge joke on us. Three months ago, on his way to pick up my dress for a gala, Arthur got into a car accident. He hit his head and lost his memory. He forgot everything, including the fact that he loved me. 2 At 11:00 PM, Arthur still wasn’t home. I picked up my phone and dialed his number. I had to call three times before he impatiently picked up on the other end. “Sloane Vance, aren’t you annoying?” The deafening music in the background wasn’t as piercing as his cold reprimand. I gripped the phone tighter, only softly reminding him: “It’s almost midnight. Don’t forget our agreement.” Yes, Arthur and I were living together. Actually, we had been living together ever since we got engaged. But later, he forgot me and fell in love with someone else, refusing to move back in here no matter what. Eventually, I signed an agreement with him. I said, give me three months. For these three months, we live together just like before. After three months, if he still hadn’t remembered the past, or hadn’t fallen back in love with me, then I was willing to break the engagement. Breaking the engagement was highly tempting to Arthur. So, suppressing his disgust, he reluctantly agreed. Our agreement had two rules. He couldn’t break them; if he did, the agreement was void, and the engagement would proceed as planned. First: He must be home by midnight every night. Second: During this period, he was not allowed to have any intimate physical contact with the opposite sex. “Sloane, you’re not my wife, and I don’t acknowledge you as my fiancée. What right do you have to control me?” Arthur sneered on the other end. “Besides, isn’t there still an hour until midnight?” “I don’t want to go home that early, facing your bland, boring face makes me sick.” Vile words poured from his mouth relentlessly. I tried hard to keep my facial muscles rigid so I wouldn’t lose my composure. I heard a woman’s playful voice on the other end, acting coy. “Arthur, if you get distracted by her call again, I’m going to be mad. If you don’t finish these three shots, I won’t forgive you!” It was Mia Hayes, the woman he was keeping. Immediately after, Arthur’s doting laughter came through the receiver: “You little troublemaker.” Saying that, he was about to hang up the phone directly. I spoke up again: “Arthur Sterling, I’ll give you two choices. Either come home right now, or give me the address and I’ll come pick you up.” “Otherwise, the engagement stands.” After a long pause, Arthur cursed: “Sloane Vance, are you asking for it?” 3 Half an hour later, I arrived at a nightclub called ‘Eclipse’ and found Arthur. Young trust-fund kids were gathered together, all well-known playboys. Previously, Arthur never associated with this crowd. After losing his memory, he actually hung out with them more. “Well, well, if it isn’t Young Master Sterling’s fiancée?” Someone sharp-eyed spotted me and joked, “What, Miss Vance, are you afraid Arthur won’t come home tonight, so you specifically came to pick him up?” A group of people burst into unrestrained laughter. Only Mia Hayes, beside Arthur, wasn’t laughing. Naturally, given my relationship with her, neither of us could laugh. The way she looked at me was always filled with contempt and guardedness. Arthur sat in the dim light, set down the drink in his hand, tugged at his lower lip, and spat out one word. “Buzzkill.” I tried hard to ignore the disgust in his eyes and said softly: “Arthur, let’s go home.” “Arthur…” Mia immediately pouted her red lips and acted cute, unwilling to let him leave. She was a pretty, young woman, full of youthful vibrancy, her bright eyes filled with reluctance and attachment. Arthur’s heart ached for her, and he coaxed her gently. The two of them tangled together, reluctant to part. And I was the villain trying to break them apart. The trust-fund kids around them couldn’t bear to watch anymore. Someone spoke up: “Miss Vance, I put this group together tonight. If you want to take Arthur away, fine. Drink this bottle of liquor, and I’ll let you take him.” He was holding a bottle of high-proof vodka. I frowned, then looked at Arthur. However, Arthur only raised an eyebrow, looking amused: “My family does business with his family. I’m here tonight to negotiate a partnership. If he won’t let me go, I really can’t go.” He shrugged, maliciously tossing the problem to me. My relationship with him was at a stalemate now, but Arthur’s parents treated me extremely well. Naturally, I couldn’t do anything detrimental to their company. Moreover, the situation was clear now. That person wanted me to drink this bottle of vodka before he would continue doing business with the Sterling family. Deliberate sabotage. I almost subconsciously raised my hand to press against my stomach. I had a bad stomach. I had ended up in the hospital several times because of the pain. Back then, Arthur was heartbroken. Not only did he personally cook nutritious meals for me every day, but he also insisted on watching me finish eating before he was satisfied. Once, he even solemnly promised me, saying that since he was taking such delicate care of me, if I ever let my stomach act up and feel bad again, I should punish him by not letting him eat for three days. I laughed at him back then, saying who makes promises like that. He, however, looked incredibly serious and distressed, saying if it were possible, he wished he could suffer in my place. With so many memories flooding back, for a moment, I couldn’t distinguish whether the Arthur in front of me was the person in my memory or the cold, ruthless man he was now. I smiled bitterly. Under the mocking gazes of the crowd, I spoke up: “Fine, I’ll drink.” 4 Downing a whole bottle of vodka was no joke. I had only drunk half the bottle when I broke out in a cold sweat, my face as pale as paper. Seeing this, the group was afraid of causing real trouble and waved their hands, telling me to stop drinking. Arthur stood up, looking bored: “In that case, I’ll be leaving first today. Chad, we’ll discuss the partnership tomorrow.” Mia was still pulling at him, refusing to let him go, almost crying. Fighting through the dizziness, I walked over, grabbed Arthur’s sleeve, and dragged him out of the club. As soon as I hit the cold air outside, I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I ran to a trash can and started vomiting profusely. My stomach was burning with pain. The fiery alcohol was tearing through my body, making my internal organs ache terribly. Unable to bear it, I slumped onto the ground, looking utterly pathetic. Arthur just stood aside, watching coldly, like a stranger. I didn’t know if it was because of the alcohol or if the night was just too cold. Meeting his icy gaze, I suddenly felt wronged and tears fell. I said, “Arthur, my stomach hurts…” But by my side, there was no longer anyone to gently and nervously hold me. … 5 Perhaps I had the friendship between the Sterling and Vance families to thank for Arthur not just abandoning me at the club and leaving. I barely managed to get home, grabbed my medication, and swallowed it. I also handed Arthur two hangover pills. He always got headaches the day after drinking. Every time he came home from a dinner party, I would prepare them for him in advance. Tonight, he seemed to have drunk quite a bit. The designated driver had asked him the route several times before he rubbed his temples and gave a brief response. Seeing me hand him the pills, Arthur instinctively reached out to take them, but then frowned fiercely, standing frozen in disbelief. It was as if he was shocked by his own subconscious action. “What is this?” He asked me, a silent frustration surging in his eyes. Fighting the churning in my stomach, I forced myself to explain to him: “Hangover pills. If you don’t take them, your head will hurt tomorrow.” He pursed his lower lip upon hearing this, unwilling to accept my medication. Finally, I just placed the pills on the table and went back to my room first. I couldn’t hold on much longer. My stomach ache hadn’t flared up like this in years. Stimulated by the vodka, the pain made me break out in cold sweats. I originally thought that having just taken my medicine, I would feel better after resting for a bit, but I still underestimated the pain. I curled up on the bed, trembling all over from the pain. I didn’t have the energy to go to the hospital, and my phone was dead, so I couldn’t contact anyone. In the huge penthouse apartment, there was only Arthur next door. I figured I could only bother him to call a car for me, and I would go to the hospital myself. But before I could even get up, the bedroom door was kicked open from the outside. “Sloane, what the hell kind of medicine was that!” Outside the door stood Arthur, his breathing erratic, his eyes bloodshot with anger. 6 Arthur seemed to have ingested something he shouldn’t have. He couldn’t control himself, pinning me viciously to the bed. Tearing at my clothes. He said there was a problem with the hangover pills I just gave him. He called me a slut for using such dirty, underhanded tactics. Through my tears, I said I didn’t, but he wouldn’t listen. His movements were rough and ruthless. “Sloane, since you dared to do something like this, then bear the consequences!” Ignoring my pale face, he bit down hard on my shoulder. The intense pain sent shivers through my body. Arthur didn’t hold back. I could even feel the moment my skin was pierced. It hurt. There was blood everywhere. That night, I cried for a long time. I pushed him like a madwoman. I said I didn’t do it. I said it hurt, it really hurt. I cried until my voice went hoarse, heart-wrenching, but it didn’t awaken any pity in the man. The moonlight outside the window was shattered. For the first time, I felt that the person in front of me was a complete stranger. “Don’t…” “It hurts… Arthur, it really hurts…” “Arthur… when are you finally coming back…” Arthur, I really… can’t hold on much longer… 7 I had a dream about the past. A few years ago, right after Arthur and I officially started dating, I loved watching those cheesy soap operas. Whenever there was a plot about a mistress or amnesia, I would always complain about it to him. And after complaining, I’d worry unnecessarily, afraid those dramatic tropes would happen to us. At those times, the way Arthur looked at me was both exasperated and tender. He said, “Sloane, I promise, in this life, I won’t fall in love with anyone else.” “So there will never be a mistress.” Hearing this made me feel sweet, but I was still relentless: “Then, what if we both lose our memories? What if one side forgets the other?” Maybe I asked too earnestly, because he actually thought about it seriously for a moment. Then he said, “If you lose your memory, I will do everything in my power to win you back.” “What if you’re the one who loses your memory…?” “Sloane, don’t give up on me. Give me three months to find the version of myself who loves you the most.” 8 When I woke up the next day, Arthur was already gone. I endured the pain that felt like I had been crushed all over to sit up. Looking at the bruises and marks covering my body, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. His attitude last night was truly like he was treating an enemy. He choked me, over and over, calling me a slut, calling me dirty. Memories flooded my mind, bringing a sense of suffocation. I closed my eyes, unwilling to think about it anymore. While washing my body, I thought over and over again, My Arthur, when are you finally coming back? Mia Hayes ran downstairs to my company that afternoon. I had just gotten ready to go across the street to buy coffee when she rushed out. Staring at the marks on my neck, her jealousy was intense: “You two did it last night, didn’t you?” “So, Arthur acted like that last night because of something you did?” I answered with a question, waiting for her reply. But Mia was very smart. She didn’t answer directly. Instead, she stared at me with dissatisfaction and resentment. Then she sneered: “Miss Vance, I know the Vance family has been going downhill lately. So you’re clinging to Mr. Sterling, trying to grasp this lifeline to turn your family’s fortunes around. But it’s a pity, he only loves me now. He completely despises you, do you understand?” Ah, so Mia came to show off today. What happened between Arthur and me last night made her feel uncomfortable, like a fishbone stuck in her throat. So, she came to make me uncomfortable. I didn’t want to listen to this nonsense anymore. I lifted my foot to leave, but she suddenly acted out of character, tears falling abruptly. Her former arrogance and jealousy turned into a pitiful stubbornness. “Sloane, I know you don’t like me. But there was no need to invite me here just to show off your… marks…” She said, tears rolling down, looking heartbroken. Then, as if compromising, she took a step back: “Fine. Since you two are together, and you can’t stand seeing me, I’ll just leave…” My heart skipped a beat, and I turned to look. Sure enough, Arthur was standing behind us at some point. And Mia’s words just now were deliberately said for him to hear. At this moment, Mia looked as if she had just noticed him. Her face froze, and she softly called out, “Arthur.” Then, she turned and ran away in absolute agony. Arthur immediately chased after her with a dark expression: “Sloane Vance, you really are something. Were you that desperate to drive Mia away?” He misunderstood. He thought I deliberately showed off last night’s marks to Mia to break her down and drive a wedge between them. My relationship with Arthur was already deteriorating. I didn’t want to create these misunderstandings out of nowhere for him to misjudge me. So I quickly followed: “Arthur, that’s not what happened. She came to find me…” I grabbed his sleeve, wanting to explain to him as quickly as possible. But as the three of us tangled together, Mia feigned grievance and suddenly pushed me and Arthur away while crying. Arthur was a large, muscular man. Mia couldn’t move him at all. But wearing high heels, I was caught off guard and lost control, falling backward toward the street. Almost immediately, the ear-piercing sound of screeching brakes accompanied Mia’s scream simultaneously. In the next instant, I suddenly lurched forward, and everything in my vision flipped, becoming blurry. The only thing clearly visible was Arthur’s suddenly pale face… 9 I got into a car accident. But luckily, the car behind me braked in time, so it didn’t cause me any massive physical harm. The only harm… Was that the three-month-old baby in my womb miscarried. When I heard this news, I felt completely numb and empty. Staring at the snow-white ceiling, tears rolled down, and I didn’t say a word. Outside the hospital room, there were the sounds of my parents scolding Arthur. Arthur’s parents had also arrived, looking angry and helpless. After my mom finished scolding him, she wiped her tears and came in. Seeing me awake, she hurriedly came over, holding my hand and asking if I felt unwell anywhere. The people outside also heard the commotion, and one by one, they all rushed in. “My sweet girl, do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Dad will call the doctor for you!” “Sloane, it’s our Sterling family that has let you down!” “Don’t worry, I promise you, that brat Arthur Sterling will absolutely not let you down! Even if he doesn’t remember you, I’ll make him marry you and make you the young madam of the Sterling family!” Everyone was talking over each other. Only Arthur’s voice apologizing sounded at the very end, so soft it was almost inaudible. With my mom’s help, I slowly sat up. My gaze passed over the crowd and looked directly into Arthur’s obscure eyes. After a long moment, I spoke: “I want to talk to him alone.” The parents looked at each other. My parents had always respected my opinions. Even if they were worried, they could only leave for the time being. Before Arthur’s parents left, they kicked him hard, warning him that if he dared to bully me again, they would make him pay. Arthur took the hit without dodging. Soon, the room fell silent, leaving only him and me. The quiet air, the atmosphere of unbridled silence, was suffocating. He looked up at me, his expression dim and apologetic: “I’m sorry, Mia didn’t mean to…” His very first sentence was actually defending Mia. I suddenly felt like laughing, and I did laugh out loud. I said: “What if I said, she did it on purpose?” Arthur immediately furrowed his brow. Clearly, he actually thought I was framing Mia. Regarding this point, I didn’t want to argue with him. The police would naturally pull the surveillance footage to verify the truth. I stared at him closely and suddenly changed the subject. “Arthur, the baby was conceived three months ago. I knew early on. Unfortunately, before I had time to share this good news with you, you got into a car accident.” He lowered his head, half of his face hidden in the darkness, making it impossible to read his expression. “I’ve been waiting for you. Waiting for you to recover your memory, become the real you again, and then tell you about the baby. I thought, the you at that time would have been very happy.” “Sloane Vance…” Arthur suddenly interrupted me. I said: “Go ahead.” “This baby… it’s good that it’s gone.” Perhaps out of guilt, he didn’t dare look me in the eye. His jaw was clenched tight. My hand gripping the quilt tightened until my knuckles turned white. Suddenly, I closed my eyes, and tears slid down. “Arthur, leave.” 10 That day, Arthur left without hesitation. Only before leaving, he cast a complicated look at me and said “Sorry” once more. Then, he left without hesitation. His Mia was living in fear. She needed him, so he had to rush back to her side immediately. But… My Arthur, when will you finally return to my side? 11 Mia was detained. Intentional assault. I pressed charges. The police pulled the surveillance footage. Although it was from a distance, it was clear that she pushed me into the street. This alone was enough to get her a few years in prison. When I saw Arthur again, he was furious, practically kicking the door of my hospital room open. “Sloane Vance, what exactly are you trying to do!” He brought a chilling aura with him. Regardless of the fact that I was still receiving an IV drip, he yanked me up from the hospital bed. The IV needle on the back of my hand shifted from the force, causing blood to flow backward. I frowned in pain. “Miss Vance!” The nurse standing by gasped in shock and wanted to rush forward to help me, but she was intimidated by Arthur’s demeanor, hesitating anxiously. I furrowed my brow, pulled the needle out myself, and signaled the nurse to relax and wait outside the door for a bit. The smell of disinfectant in the room was strong, but it still couldn’t mask the sweet perfume on Arthur. He must have been by Mia’s side when the police took her away. “Drop the case!” Arthur commanded coldly. I paused, arguing fiercely with him: “Arthur, if the driver hadn’t hit the brakes in time that day, what you’d be looking at today might have been a gravestone.” Mia’s actions definitely constituted attempted murder. As for whether she did it intentionally or unintentionally, probably only she knew in her heart. But it didn’t matter. The power to decide how this incident developed lay with me. Arthur frowned in disgust: “Sloane, I didn’t think you were so vicious! I told you, Mia’s action was an unintentional mistake! If you’re still angry, just tell me what you want, and I’ll compensate you!” “Compensate?” Hearing this word, I was stunned for a long time. I clearly didn’t want to, but tears still welled up in my eyes. When I found out Arthur lost his memory, I didn’t break down. When I found out he fell in love with another woman, I could still endure it. But in this moment, these two words were like a sharp knife, piercing through all my forbearance and effort. I suddenly raised my hand and slapped him hard across the face. “Sloane…” Arthur looked incredibly shocked, looking as if he was going to explode in anger the next second. But upon meeting my eyes, he suddenly stopped. I thought, in that moment, I must have looked like a madwoman. Hysterical. “Then how will you compensate me for the child I had with him?!” “Arthur, you lost your memory. You’re not him. You’re not sad. But do you think everyone is indifferent to the loss of this child?!” “You say ‘compensate’ so casually. Can you give him back to me? Can you give our child back to me?!” Like a madwoman, I grabbed whatever I could reach and threw it all at him. Arthur had never seen me like this. His cold face revealed a hint of confusion and helplessness. He frowned, opened his mouth as if to say something, but was left speechless. After a long while, he turned to leave: “Calm down first. I’ll come back tomorrow to negotiate with you.” But I suddenly spoke up, calling him back. “Arthur.” “The case against Mia is impossible to drop. Even if you have sky-high capabilities, the witnesses and physical evidence are all there. You can’t change it.” Hearing the hidden meaning in my words, he pursed his lower lip, his eyes extremely cold. “What do you want?” I wiped a tear, forced a very ugly smile, and said: “Early next month, let’s get married.” I admit, I was being despicable. 12 The day Arthur left, his expression was extremely cold and ugly. He repeatedly called me a slut, his eyes tinged with a bloody red. If possible, he seemed to want to rush over and strangle me. But the nurse had promptly notified my parents to rush over, so Arthur didn’t get the chance. My dad almost got into a physical fight with him. My mom cried and wiped the tear tracks from my face, asking me why I bothered. I understood what my parents meant. Arthur was no longer the Arthur of the past. He disliked me, even hated me. My parents didn’t understand why I was still holding on. But Mom… We used to be so in love. I didn’t want my Arthur to come back only to find out we had drifted apart…

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “418550”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The campus “It-Girl” was caught cheating on her finals. On the verge of a mental breakdown, she came to me for a private counseling session. I spent an entire day talking her down from the ledge. She begged me to keep her suicidal thoughts a secret. I agreed. The next morning, she was standing on the roof of the library, preparing to jump in front of a crowd of hundreds. After she was “saved,” the university launched an investigation to find a scapegoat. They set their sights on me—the campus psychologist. “You knew a student had suicidal ideations. Why didn’t you report it to the administration immediately?” I asked the girl to explain our confidentiality agreement. Instead, she looked at the board with a face full of shattered innocence: “When did I ever ask Dr. Sterling to keep that a secret?” “If the doctor had just told my advisor or my parents about my state of mind, maybe I wouldn’t have felt so hopeless.” In an instant, the world branded me a negligent hack who nearly killed a star student. Even my fiancé called me cold-blooded and heartless. My reputation was destroyed. In a fit of despair, I jumped from that same building. Only after I died did I learn the truth: She never wanted to die. She used the “suicide attempt” as a PR stunt to wash away the stain of her cheating scandal. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day she came to my office. She was pleading: “Doctor, about my plan to jump… can you keep it a secret for me?” 01 “Doctor, I was caught cheating on my finals. One of the girls in the hall saw me,” Madison Vance said, sitting across from me with a face of deep repentance. “Now my grade is voided. I’ve lost my graduate fellowship, and everyone is gossiping behind my back.” “What am I supposed to do? I don’t want to live anymore. The library building has twenty floors, right? If I jump, do you think the pain will finally end?” A normal psychologist hearing a student say this would immediately sound the alarm, using every gentle word in the book to talk them back to safety. But I, a board-certified Senior Clinical Psychologist, simply sat there and looked at her with cold eyes. I didn’t offer a single word of comfort. Madison squeezed out a few tears. Seeing my silence, she looked confused. “Doctor? Why aren’t you saying anything?” “The other students said you’re the best counselor at Oakridge University. That’s why I came to you to open up.” “You just said you wanted to jump?” I asked. My office window looked directly at the twenty-story library she had mentioned. “Do you know what a body looks like after falling from that height?” I asked flatly. “You’d look like a crushed meatloaf.” I slammed my palms together with a sharp thwack. “Bones shattered, organs collapsed, your face flattened and distorted beyond recognition by the sheer force of the impact.” I leaned forward, bringing my face inches from Madison’s, staring at her with a chilling intensity. “Blood would fill your nose and mouth. Your eyes would pop from their sockets, mixing with grey matter on the concrete.” “Ah!” Madison shrieked. “Doctor, what is wrong with you? How could you know what a jumper looks like?” “Because…” In my past life, that’s exactly how I died. 02 My name is Claire Sterling. I was indeed considered the best psychologist at Oakridge. In my private practice, I charge five hundred dollars an hour. But for the students at Oakridge, I provided my services for free. Because of that, many students saw me as their closest confidante. I never maintained any guard against these kids who usually looked so “bright and innocent.” In my previous life, Madison Vance came to me just like this. She was the “Campus Queen” of the Drama Department. She had been caught with a cheat sheet during her theater theory final. The girl in the desk next to her reported her on the spot. The proctor confiscated the exam. Her grade was an automatic F. What made it fatal was that Madison was already a rising star, a minor celebrity with a decent following on social media. The news of her cheating spread like wildfire. Threads on Reddit and the university’s Discord were already blowing up. Faced with a career-ending scandal, Madison “collapsed” and found her way to my office. That day, I listened to her for hours. I spent the entire day de-escalating her. Only when she seemed stable and optimistic did I finally breathe a sigh of relief. Before leaving, she turned to me. “Dr. Sterling, I’ve moved past it. But about the things I said… about wanting to jump… please, keep that between us.” The first duty of a therapist is to respect patient privacy. However, university counseling centers have an unwritten “Safety Protocol”: If a student shows signs of severe depression or suicidal intent, the school and parents must be notified. The rule is essentially a liability waiver for the university: We did our part; if the kid dies, it’s not on us. But from a clinical perspective, this rule is often counter-productive to building trust. While I was hesitating, Madison begged me. “If people find out I was here, the cheating scandal will get even bigger. I’ll be ‘canceled’ before I even graduate!” “Dr. Sterling, please. Don’t tell my advisor. Don’t tell my parents. I’m begging you!” She acted so humble and broken that I truly believed she was remorseful. I promised her. “I’ll keep your secret. I just hope you move forward. We all make mistakes. It’s just one final exam; it doesn’t define your entire life.” Madison thanked me repeatedly. She said she was ready to face the music and would retake the class next semester. I thought the matter was settled. I didn’t expect to be woken up at 5:00 AM the next morning by a frantic call from the Dean. “A student is on the roof of the library! Get down here right now!” 03 Madison had been standing on the edge of the twentieth floor all night. She was finally spotted by a janitor at dawn. Hundreds of students gathered below. Deans, board members, and campus police were all on-site. The fire department arrived with mats and ladders. Madison screamed two things from the roof: “I didn’t cheat! The girl in the hall framed me!” “What do I have to do to make you believe me?!” She made a move as if to jump, but her hands were white-knuckled, gripping the safety railing with everything she had. The firefighters rushed her and brought her down safely. Almost instantly, the news of Madison Vance’s “suicide attempt” hit the trending page of TikTok and X. #JusticeForMadisonVance #MadisonCheatingScandalFramed #OakridgeRoofIncident These tags completely drowned out the original cheating discussion. Overnight, fans were heartbroken and the public was shocked. People lamented that Madison was a “tragic white lily,” nearly killed by a classmate’s malicious lie. The university’s official social media pages were swarmed by her fans. They demanded the expulsion of the whistleblower. They demanded the university issue a formal, stamped document clearing Madison of all cheating allegations. Under immense pressure, the university started looking for someone to blame. They found me. “Madison visited your office the day she went to the roof. Why didn’t you report her mental state? Why weren’t her parents notified immediately?” I was speechless. I went to Madison, asking her to tell them that she had requested confidentiality. In front of the university board, Madison looked at me with a face of shattered innocence. “When did I ever ask Dr. Sterling to keep that a secret?” 04 “I did visit Dr. Sterling, but her advice was very unprofessional. She actually encouraged me to ‘confess’ to the cheating I didn’t do!” Madison looked me in the eye. “Doctor, why would you lie about that?” “Dr. Sterling isn’t fit to be a psychologist. If she had just told my advisor or my parents about my state of mind, maybe I wouldn’t have felt so alone.” “The wind on that roof was so cold. If you weren’t truly hopeless, who would want to stand there all night?” Madison wrapped her arms around herself, looking helpless. She truly lived up to her reputation as a “fragile” actress. With that one move, every man in the room—including the board members—felt their hearts break for her. My fiancé, Marcus Thorne, who had accompanied me to the hearing, looked at me with a look of pure disgust. He actually took off his coat and draped it over Madison’s shoulders. That day, I was found guilty of professional negligence. I was fired and my license was suspended. Madison’s parents sued me for “intentional infliction of emotional distress,” demanding half a million dollars. Her fans doxxed my personal information. They sent dead animals to my doorstep. They left voicemails telling me to go kill myself. My parents were harassed into a state of physical collapse. In my most desperate hour, Marcus called me a cold-blooded monster. He turned around and texted Madison, telling her how much he “ached” for her. One month later, I stood on that same library roof. Madison was a liar. When a person is truly, fundamentally broken and ready to die, they don’t feel the cold wind. The cold inside is far worse than anything the sky can offer. I was a psychologist, but I couldn’t heal myself. I jumped from the twentieth floor. There was no crowd of students, no deans, and no firefighters. I hit the concrete. My body shattered. It was ugly. It was final. My spirit didn’t move on immediately. I watched the university hush the whole thing up after my death. A few students I had helped in the past tried to leave flowers where I fell. The security guards rudely tossed them into the trash. Madison came by with flowers too. She made sure the local news cameras were there. “Even though Dr. Sterling wasn’t a good teacher or a good person, I have forgiven her for her mistakes,” she told the reporter. The tabloids ate it up, praising Madison for her “unparalleled kindness” in forgiving the “unethical doctor.” After the cameras left, I heard Madison’s agent laughing with her. “Using a suicide stunt to cover the cheating was genius. The focus shifted to ‘celebrity bullied by university,’ and then we shifted the blame to the counselor. At this point, who cares if you cheated or not?” “The PR pressure will force the school to wipe your record clean. It’s the perfect white-wash.” “I just wanted to use her to clear my name,” Madison sneered dismissively. “I didn’t think she was so fragile. One little scandal and she jumps? And she calls herself a counselor?” Madison threw her flowers onto the ground like trash. There was no plot twist. I never got my justice. In the end, Madison graduated with honors. Her “brand” was the smartest, most virtuous “It-Girl” in Hollywood. 05 I opened my eyes. I was back on the day Madison came for her consultation. She was looking at me uneasily. “Because… what, Dr. Sterling?” I suddenly broke into a grin. It must have looked terrifying, because Madison visibly flinched. “Nothing. Just a joke. I just want you to know that if you decide to jump, you won’t look very pretty when you’re dead.” “You’re the campus queen. You’re a rising star. You have so much to live for. Don’t do anything rash.” My voice grew gentler and warmer. Madison quickly dropped her guard. Everything she told me was exactly the same as in my past life. As the session ended, she made her move. “Dr. Sterling, I don’t want to die anymore. But about today… can you keep it between us?” “I understand,” I said with a smile. “I won’t report this to the administration, and I won’t tell your parents. After all, we wouldn’t want the cheating scandal to get any bigger, would we?” Madison nodded, looking at me with “gratitude.” She was the top student in her acting class. Her “sincere” acting was top-tier. In my past life, I was completely fooled by this performance. Madison only left after I gave my “word.” I checked the time. It was 8:00 PM. In the previous timeline, the bitch would appear on the roof in half an hour. She was playing the time gap so she could blame me later for not reporting it. The second Madison walked out the door, I pulled out my phone. I called her advisor, Mr. Higgins. “Your student just confessed to cheating and said she wants to kill herself. Get down here!” Mr. Higgins let out a sharp, panicked yell. I could hear him literally falling out of bed on the other end of the line. Then, I got her parents’ numbers from the student directory. “Your daughter was caught cheating and says she has no face to live. She’s talking about jumping off a building right now!” Finally, I called my fiancé, Marcus Thorne. “Your ‘favorite student’ was caught cheating and is currently planning a suicide attempt. Better get to campus if you want to play the hero!” I made over a dozen calls. From the University President down to her class president. I notified every single person in her circle. At 9:00 PM sharp, a scream erupted outside. “Oh my god! Someone is on the roof!” 06 Thanks to my “helpful” notifications, the stairs to the roof were already packed with curious students. They were all in their pajamas, craning their necks toward the ledge. The Advisor and the University President were already there. The firefighters were on their way. Madison was indeed standing on the roof of the twenty-story building, but she was standing inside the safety railing. Her hands were behind her back, gripping the bars for dear life, terrified she might actually slip. She had been there for less than ten minutes before she was surrounded by faculty. This was not the script she had written. In the previous life, she stood there silently and alone all night. She had “happened” to be filmed by a “stray drone” as a “broken beauty” weeping under the moonlight. Even though the firefighters “saved” her, that drone footage and her line about “the wind being so cold” made millions of fans ache for her. This time, the President and the Deans had rushed in with such fanfare that Madison didn’t have a single chance to play the “fragile victim.” The students at the stairwell were whispering loudly: “Why is she jumping? Oh, right, she got caught cheating. Guess she couldn’t face the shame!” Those words drifted into Madison’s ears, making her look incredibly embarrassed. “Madison! Please, let’s talk! You’re young, you have a whole life ahead of you! Don’t do this!” The President pleaded. Madison was trapped. She had to keep the act going. She squeezed out some tears. “President, I didn’t cheat! If you don’t believe me, bring the proctor and that girl who reported me here! Let us face each other in front of everyone! Clear my name!” The President, having been briefed by the advisor, agreed instantly. “Of course! Professor Reed and Riley Higgins are on their way! We’ll clear up the misunderstanding! Just don’t jump!” Professor Lucas Reed from the Math Department was the proctor. Riley Higgins was Madison’s classmate, the whistleblower. They arrived on the roof moments later. “You two! Think carefully about the day of the exam. Did Madison Vance do anything against the rules?” “Details! We need details! Was it a real case of cheating or a misunderstanding? We need to settle this now!” The President’s eyes were darting around. He leaned in close to Lucas and Riley, whispering urgently, “Don’t trigger her!” It was a blatant hint. I saw a tiny, triumphant smirk cross Madison’s face. In this situation, Lucas and Riley—even if they knew for a fact she cheated—couldn’t possibly tell the truth. If a single word from them sent Madison over the edge, they would be branded as murderers for the rest of their lives. It looked like Madison was the one in danger, but the “knife” was actually held over the heads of the witnesses. Madison was gambling on their fear. “The day of the exam…” Riley Higgins stepped forward, stuttering and hesitant. “You might have seen it wrong, right? It was just a big misunderstanding, wasn’t it?” The President prompted her, his guidance obvious. The crowd at the stairs went quiet. Someone whispered, “Maybe we really did frame her?” Madison wiped a tear from her eye, straightening her posture, ready to accept Riley’s “clarification” and “apology.” “The day of the exam…” the “hesitant” Riley suddenly looked up, her eyes burning as she stared Madison down. “I saw Madison Vance cheating with my own two eyes! She had a cheat sheet tucked into the side of her desk!” 07 “What are you saying?!” Madison was aghast. She never expected the usually quiet Riley to dare to accuse her so loudly again! “I’m not lying!” Riley’s voice was full of conviction, drowning out Madison’s weak protests. “Madison, you didn’t just cheat on the theater theory final. You cheated on the English final that afternoon, too!” “I wasn’t in the same room for the afternoon test, but my friend told me. I don’t have the physical evidence for that one, but if I had been there, I would have reported you again!” “Riley, you—!” Madison tried to speak, but Riley cut her off. “You’re a serial cheater! You’re already a famous star! You have everything! And yet you still use these dirty tactics to compete with us!” “Madison, I’ve had enough of you!” “I don’t care if the Board of Education is here or if the police are here! I’ll say it loud: Madison, do you really think jumping off a building will erase the fact that you’re a cheater?” The crowd gasped in unison. Madison’s face turned from red to white. She looked like she wanted to tear Riley apart. The President turned pale. He didn’t dare threaten Riley openly, so he turned to Lucas Reed. As the proctor, Lucas was the only one who could officially debunk Riley’s claim. Madison was now weeping, looking like she was about to collapse. The President warned him in a low voice: “Professor Reed! Student safety is the priority! Use your head!” “Don’t forget, your tenure review is coming up! If a student dies on your watch, it’s over for you!” “I understand, President.” Lucas Reed looked down, answering the President submissively. “President! I didn’t cheat! It’s Riley! She’s framing me! She’s just jealous!” Madison wailed, gripping the bars. The President, seeing her so worked up, tried to control the scene. “Riley’s word isn’t final! Professor Reed was the proctor. I trust his judgment!” Lucas Reed was pushed to the front. “Madison, calm down.” Lucas had a very soothing, calm voice. Madison looked at him with teary eyes, as if he were a prince coming to save her. “Professor, you believe me, right?” “I believe you,” Lucas said. Just as Madison let out a breath of relief, he pivoted. “I believe you can learn from this mistake. In future exams, I trust you won’t use cheat sheets like you did during this one, right?” 08 The crowd erupted again. “So she did cheat! She tried to use a suicide stunt to bully the proctor and the whistleblower into clearing her name!” “Professor Reed has always been upright! I believe him!” “Riley is a top-three student in the department. Why would she need to frame Madison?” Now, nothing the President or the Advisor said mattered. Having been publicly humiliated and exposed, Madison broke down into real, hysterical tears. This time, the sobbing wasn’t an act. Lucas and Riley didn’t move. They turned simultaneously and shared a subtle smile with me. Two hours earlier— While everyone else was rushing to the library to watch the drama, I had intercepted Lucas and Riley on a side path. They were the key figures in the cheating incident. They had received the news that Madison was going to jump. In the previous life, Madison used that jump to make herself the “perfect victim.” Oakridge University, fearing the PR nightmare, denied the cheating, fired Professor Reed, and put a permanent black mark on Riley’s academic record for “slander.” Riley was later harassed by Madison’s fans and eventually had acid thrown on her by a crazed stalker who claimed she “hurt his goddess.” The cheater won everything, while the truth-tellers were destroyed. As someone who came back from the dead, how could I let that happen again? Lucas and Riley were clearly terrified by the news of the jump. In their current state, once they got to that roof, they would have said whatever Madison wanted them to say. “Madison isn’t going to kill herself.” I stated this as a cold, hard fact. They looked at me in shock—as the campus counselor, my cold reaction was definitely not what they expected. “She’s using this jump to force the school to wipe her record. If you back down on that roof and say the cheating was a ‘misunderstanding,’ Madison will use that admission to sue you both for defamation and harassment.” I patted Lucas on the shoulder. “Professor, you just started your tenure track. Don’t let a moment of “soft-heartedness” ruin your entire career.” “Riley, reporting a cheater is about justice and fairness. You cannot back down. If you do, you become the liar, and the university will crush you to protect its own image.” “Once you have a disciplinary record, you can forget about those scholarships.” I knew Riley was a brilliant student from a low-income family. She relied on those scholarships for every cent of her tuition. To other students, Madison’s cheating was just gossip. But to Riley, every point Madison stole with a cheat sheet was a point that could cost Riley her future. So, she would report her. She was protecting fairness, but she was also protecting her life. The panic in Riley’s eyes faded. She had been woken up. 09 “Is she really just acting? She won’t actually jump?” Lucas asked me for confirmation one last time. I nodded and showed them Madison’s public schedule for next month. Not only was she starting a new film, but she had a major brand deal shoot with a top-tier celebrity. “A girl who is about to make millions and become a superstar doesn’t kill herself over a failed theory exam.” “And even if she’s expelled, a girl with her background can just go study in London or Paris. It’s a vacation for her.” Madison’s family wasn’t “Old Money,” but her parents were obsessed with her success. They had spent their entire savings to fund her Hollywood dreams. She wasn’t a “scholarship kid” like Riley. She had too many safety nets. “She just wants to use this drama to force the school’s hand.” “If you back down now, you’ll be the ones branded as villains. All the mud will be thrown on you.” Just then, Lucas’s phone rang. It was the President calling to pressure him. “You and Riley are the ones who reported her. Madison is about to jump! Get up here and fix this!” The President’s hint was clear: Go up there and tell whatever lie you need to tell to get her down. But his call came just a little too late. 10 “She’s been crying for ages, but she hasn’t even let go of the bar once.” The crowd below, now knowing the truth, started looking at Madison like she was a clown. Madison’s mind was truly breaking now. The testimony from Lucas and Riley had stripped her of every bit of dignity she had at Oakridge. But no matter how much she wailed, her hands remained clamped on that railing. People this selfish are the ones who value their own lives the most. I checked the traffic on Google Maps. It was Saturday, 9:00 PM—prime gridlock time. Madison’s parents, who lived nearby, arrived before the fire department. They had come to “protect” their daughter, but as soon as they arrived, they heard the students’ mocking comments. Madison’s father, a proud man, snapped. He pointed at Madison and yelled, “The school counselor called me and said you cheated! I didn’t believe it, but it’s true!” “Madison! I am a university professor! And you? You’re out here cheating at a state school?! Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is for me?” As a psychologist, I should have stopped him. There are too many tragic cases where the parents’ ego is the final straw that breaks a child. Years ago, there was a girl who was about to be talked down by the police, but her parents rushed in, slapped her, and called her “dramatic.” They told her if she wanted to die, she should go drink bleach and stop making a scene. In that split second, the girl sprinted to the edge and dove off without a single hesitation. I had been prepared back then. I had grabbed her hand at the last second, and with the help of a firefighter, we saved her. I tore a ligament in my right hand that day. It still aches every winter. That girl eventually got away from her parents, moved to a big city, and built a life for herself. She once wrote me a letter saying I was her savior. Every time my hand hurts, it’s a reminder that I saved a life. A physical saving, and a mental one. For a therapist, saving a soul is the ultimate mission. In my previous life, I viewed Madison Vance as someone who needed saving. But what did she give me in return? Madison Vance didn’t deserve to be saved.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “418551”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My daughter, who married and moved across the country, has been acting a little strange lately. She happily announced she was pregnant, and then happily told me she lost the baby, saying it gave them more time to enjoy being a couple. She happily said she was coming home for Thanksgiving, and then happily canceled, saying she couldn’t bear to be separated from her husband. She always smiled so blissfully. But I noticed something. In the video calls, she sat completely rigid. She never moved from that chair. 1 When my daughter told me she wasn’t coming home for Thanksgiving, she had a look of pure bliss on her face. She said Derek had to work overtime during the holidays and couldn’t get away, and he was being super clingy. She couldn’t bear to leave him alone, so she wouldn’t be coming back to her hometown this year. My son-in-law, Derek Thorne, appeared on the video call, looking like the most honest, dependable guy in the world, and apologized to me. I smiled. “You young people have your careers. Mom understands.” I smiled as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Derek instantly let out a long sigh of relief. What he didn’t know was that my palms were completely slick with sweat. In the video, my daughter looked radiant. Beautiful clothes, flawless makeup—everything screamed that she had a loving husband backing her up. But I saw it. My energetic, lively daughter didn’t move a single muscle in her legs for the entire duration of the call. 2 When I said I was going to fly out to Seattle, my son Nate laughed. “Mom, are you worried Derek isn’t treating my sister right?” “Every man in the world could be a bad guy, but not Derek.” I couldn’t blame Nate for thinking that. Derek’s appearance was incredibly deceiving. He looked like the salt of the earth. Back then, when my daughter graduated from college and said she wanted to marry him and move all the way to Seattle, I was strictly against it. But Derek cried, tears streaming down his face, and dropped to his knees in front of me twice, begging for my blessing. That actually made me even more terrified to let her marry him. A man who will drop to his knees that easily to get what he wants? If he ever turns cruel, he’ll be more ruthless than a normal person. My daughter was the soft, precious little treasure I had held in the palm of my hand her entire life. If she suffered miles away where I couldn’t see her, what could I do? But my daughter was completely blinded by his dramatic display. She swore she wouldn’t marry anyone else. She said, “Mom, I promise I’ll be happy. All I need is your blessing.” She had been married and living over there for almost a year now. She constantly told me how happy she was. 3 Nate was still laughing at me for worrying too much. I said, “I just miss your sister. She lost the baby, and she wouldn’t even let me fly out to see her.” Nate scratched his head. “That’s true. We haven’t seen her in a long time. No one’s been around for me to bicker with. Let’s go together.” Nate was an abandoned baby my daughter had found and brought home, so his bond with his older sister was exceptionally strong. We didn’t tell my daughter we were coming to Seattle. Nate and I booked a hotel right next to her luxury condo building. Early the next morning, I bundled up in a heavy coat and sat on a bench outside her building. During the morning commute rush, my daughter didn’t appear. Derek left alone. During the evening rush hour, my daughter still didn’t appear. Derek returned alone. I texted her: What are you up to? She replied saying work was exhausting today, so Derek was treating her to a steak dinner at home. She said she couldn’t chat long. I just sat on that bench. I had imagined a million horrifying scenarios, but nothing could compare to the bone-chilling reality of the next moment. A sudden, explosive roar echoed from the balcony above: “You worthless bitch! Which guy are you thinking about today?!” Two neighbors walking past looked up, stopped in their tracks, and started whispering. From the looks of it, they were used to this. They probably heard it all the time. “The guy on the second floor is screaming at his wife again?” “Tsk, tsk. It’s so pathetic. Such a sweet, pretty girl, and she gets psychologically tortured every single day.” “I heard they locked her in that room for weeks. I wonder if they finally let her out.” I tried desperately to control my trembling lips as I approached them. “Locked her up? That severe? Why hasn’t anyone called the cops?” “Who would dare? That guy said if she ever tried to call for help, he’d destroy her whole family. His dad is some big-shot politician or businessman with serious connections. No one wants to cross them.” “Does the girl not fight back?” “She tried, but it only made it worse. She tried to run away once, and they stressed her out so badly she ended up miscarrying the baby.” “The poor thing doesn’t have any family nearby. Her husband’s whole family is absolute garbage. The old and the young, they all gang up on her.” “Why do they bully her?” I asked, my voice shaking. “Ugh, I heard the father-in-law made inappropriate advances on her, and she refused him.” “When the mother-in-law and the husband found out, the father-in-law spun the story and claimed she was the one trying to seduce him.” “Now the whole family locks her up and treats her like a prisoner.” The neighbor spoke without hesitation, carrying a tone of righteous anger. I tasted the metallic tang of blood in my mouth. Listening to the vile, unspeakable curses raining down from the floor above, I dialed my daughter’s number. My precious girl. Mommy is here to save you. Every ounce of torment you’ve endured, I will repay them a hundredfold! 4 Upstairs, the man’s roaring continued. Then, my daughter, who hadn’t made a sound, suddenly burst into tears. “It’s my mom calling! Let me answer it before you keep yelling!” “Don’t make her suspicious.” “What does it matter if she’s suspicious? She’s a weak old woman, what the hell is she going to do?” “You filthy bitch. I bet you and your mother both worked the streets, didn’t you?” Every single word. I heard it loud and clear. Every single word came from the mouth of the man who looked so honest and dependable. The moment the call connected, I desperately wanted to ask my sweet girl if she was hurting. But through the receiver, my daughter forced a laugh. “Mom! Why are you calling?” “If you need something, say it quick. Derek is cutting my steak for me.” I gritted my teeth. “Good! Enjoy your meal, sweetie.” Derek’s voice suddenly chimed in. “Mom? Your voice sounds a little weird. Are you okay?” I said, “I just miss my Sophie.” Derek replied smoothly, “Mom, I’m so sorry. As soon as this big project is over, Sophie and I will fly back to see you.” He was trying to pacify me. Which meant he still knew fear. His family had money and status. Even though they looked down on my lack of wealth and power deep down, I hadn’t done anything to lose my dignity as a mother-in-law, so he didn’t dare drop the facade completely. I pretended I didn’t know a thing. I sighed and said, “As long as you’re good to Sophie, I can rest easy.” “Unlike Sophie’s father.” “Domestic violence, cheating, always mocking me for being a weak woman who couldn’t do anything about it.” “I didn’t want Sophie to grow up without a dad, so I kept enduring it. I endured it for years.” “But in the end, I just couldn’t hold back anymore.” Derek stuttered, “C-couldn’t… couldn’t hold back?” “W-what… what do you mean?” “Did you kill Sophie’s dad?” I let out a low, eerie chuckle. “When you’re pushed past your breaking point, you snap.” “I was so angry I grabbed a kitchen knife. I cut off his lower half first, then his dominant hand.” “He always acted so tough and terrifying, but in the end, he was lying at my feet like a headless, dead dog.” “T-then… how come… you… you aren’t in prison?” Derek was trembling so badly he could barely string a sentence together. Coward! Are you scared already? I said casually, “Oh, I was diagnosed with temporary insanity. Intermittent explosive disorder.” “Triggered by his abuse. I didn’t have to face any criminal liability.” “But don’t worry, Mom is completely cured now.” “G-good… that’s good. Cured is good. Uh, Mom, I have to hang up now. Sophie is eager to eat her steak.” I smiled. “Okay! Her dad used to love cutting steak for me too. But his knife skills… they were never as good as mine.” Upstairs, the apartment finally went dead silent. 5 It started snowing. My sweet girl, at least on this snowy night, you won’t have to endure their screaming, right? I sat on that bench until the early hours of the morning. My heart ached more than it ever had in my life, and I hated myself more than I ever had. When my daughter left, I was so angry I had said harsh words: “If you end up miserable, don’t come crying to me.” Oh, my sweet girl… did you really think you couldn’t come to Mommy? Didn’t you know that in this world, your life is more important to me than my own? Back then, when I found out I could never have children, I lost all hope. I thought I would just sleepwalk through the rest of my life. Until I met you. You were so tiny, wrapped in a thin blanket, braving the freezing wind in that dark Chicago alleyway, and you smiled at me. You were the brightest ray of sunshine in my life. And someone dared to humiliate and break you? Then they truly deserved to die. Nate found me. He asked why I wouldn’t let him contact his sister and brother-in-law, and why I didn’t go back to the hotel. I looked at him and said, “Nate, if anything ever happens to Mom, you remember to protect your sister, okay?” “Do you remember when your sister grabbed a baseball bat and fought off a group of guys just to protect you?” “It wasn’t because she wasn’t scared. It was because she loved you more.” “Mom, you know how fierce my sister is. Who would dare bully her? She’s the one protecting me.” I sighed. “She married far away from home. She lost her foundation.” “And you and I are her weaknesses.” “When people hold your weaknesses hostage, you lose your courage.” Nate looked at me, questioning. I said, “Let’s head back.” Back at the hotel, I took a long, hot shower. I knew that this would be the last moment in my life where my hands were completely clean. 6 Early the next morning, I went back to my daughter’s building. The freezing wind howled. Heavy snow fell. The world was a blinding expanse of white. I remembered the first time my daughter saw snow. She was so excited she jumped and laughed. She rolled around in the snow and said she wanted to move to a place where it snowed all the time when she grew up. She got her wish. But I regretted so deeply that I never warned her: the thicker and more beautiful the snow, the more it hides the filthy, rotting garbage underneath. The more pristine the snow falls, the more disgusting the grime beneath it becomes. She was too kind. I couldn’t bear to tell her about the absolute evil in this world. The sun hadn’t fully risen yet. It was the coldest part of the winter morning. My daughter’s parents-in-law arrived. They hurried upstairs. Beneath their well-groomed, wealthy exteriors lay an unmistakable, sinister malice. Moments later, furious screaming erupted from the floor above. “You cheap bitch! You little slut!” “You’re the daughter of a murderer, and you’re trying to act pure and innocent?!” That was Mr. Thorne’s voice. “How dare you lie to me! You daughter of a psycho! You mental case!” That was Derek’s voice. “I knew she was no good from the start! You two were just blinded by a pretty face!” That was Mrs. Thorne’s voice. But these were the exact same people who, a year ago, traveled thousands of miles to my home to ask for my daughter’s hand in marriage. They were so polite, so refined, exuding nothing but excellent upbringing. His mother had held my hand gently and said, “Sophie’s Mom, I don’t have a daughter. I’ve always wanted a sweet girl of my own.” “I will treat Sophie exactly like she’s my own flesh and blood.” “If Derek ever dares to bully her, I’ll be the first one to teach him a lesson.” I had replied coldly, “What kind of lesson?” Their entire family froze. They clearly hadn’t expected me to ask that, nor had they ever thought about actually punishing their precious son. But I just waited quietly for their answer. After a long pause, his mother said that if her son did wrong, I could hit him or curse him however I pleased. I smiled and said, “I’d strip him of everything and make sure his bloodline ends with him.” In their minds, it was just a tough-sounding joke. But in my heart, it was a solemn vow. So, my sweet girl, my little Sophie, remember to lean on Mommy. Mommy will always, always protect you. 7 The upstairs apartment was a cacophony of noise. Two neighbors walking out to buy coffee looked up, shook their heads, and kept walking. It was clear they were entirely used to this. My sweet girl, my little Sophie, how much torture have you endured? So much that the neighbors treat your suffering as background noise? How did you manage to still smile for me on camera? When you tried to escape from the second floor, were you trying to die, or just trying to run? When you lost the baby, how much did it hurt? Thinking back to the joy on your face when you told me you were pregnant… did you think the baby would be your ticket out of the abuse? Yesterday, a neighbor told me that when the poor girl on the second floor first got pregnant, her husband treated her a little better. But after her father-in-law came over to deliver some groceries, her husband started screaming at her again. And he got even more vicious. Escalating the psychological torment. This was a high-end luxury condo. The residents all looked civilized. But almost the entire building had heard him roaring: “You filthy bitch! Whose bastard is in your stomach? Is it my son, or my fucking brother?!” A neighbor who couldn’t stand it anymore had called in an anonymous tip to the police. But when the cops arrived, the poor young wife was too terrified to say a single word. It was obvious the poor girl had been completely brainwashed and manipulated by her husband’s family. Upstairs, the sound of cursing mixed with the sharp, piercing crash of breaking glass. My heart hurt! It hurt so much I couldn’t breathe. I stared blankly at that window, thinking: Good. Good! What a wonderful family! “I’ll do a good deed and ensure your whole family is neatly and permanently packed together before the New Year.” 8 From beginning to end, my sweet girl didn’t make a single sound. I desperately wanted to hold her right now and ask if she was scared. But it was a little too early. The flight to Chicago still had some time before boarding. Don’t be afraid, my sweet daughter. Just endure it a little longer. Mommy’s New Year’s gift to them is about to arrive. I saw the delivery guy heading upstairs. … They must have received it, because the cursing abruptly stopped. Then, screams of absolute terror erupted from upstairs. The sound was music to my ears. Scream all you want. Because you won’t have many more chances to scream in the future. 9 I took out my phone and dialed my daughter’s number. I asked casually, “Sophie, Mom sent you a taxidermy dog head.” “Look closely at that dog head. Look familiar?” “It’s the vicious dog that bit you when you were in high school.” “Letting it live this long was a mistake on my part.” “It’s the holidays. A vicious dog like that doesn’t deserve to see the New Year, so I butchered it.” “Dog meat is actually considered a delicacy in some places.” “Good things shouldn’t be kept just for your husband.” “Make sure to show your respect and serve it to your father-in-law and mother-in-law.” I knew their whole family would definitely have the phone on speaker, so my voice was completely flat and calm. For the first time, I heard my sweet girl’s voice: “Mom, thank you! Also… don’t worry about me. I’m fine. Do not come here!” I said a simple, “Okay!” and calmly hung up the phone. My daughter knew I was coming. Her kind heart was still worried about me, subtly warning me to stay away. She probably guessed I was coming the moment I brought up her “father.” She was an abandoned child I adopted. There was never a father in her life. Our family of three had fought with everything we had for so many years just to live a decent life. And now, the Thorne family had ruined it all in less than a year. The snow fell gracefully. I sat on the bench, quietly extending my hand. A snowflake melted silently in my palm, as if it had never existed. There are some people in this world who simply do not deserve to exist. 10 A short while later, the Thorne family of three hurried out of the building, clutching their briefcases, clearly rushing to work. Their faces were pale, their expressions a mix of terror and grim tension. I glanced at my watch. The flight to Chicago was in two hours. I waited for another full hour before heading upstairs. I rang the doorbell, but no one answered. I knew my daughter was inside. I called her phone again. Surprisingly, Derek answered. He feigned surprise: “Mom, I accidentally brought Sophie’s phone with me to work.” I said, “That’s fine, it’s nothing urgent. I just forgot to tell her you shouldn’t drink tea if you eat dog meat.” Derek said, “Got it, Mom. I’ll let her know later.” I hung up the phone, my heart burning with anxiety. They were going to extreme lengths to prevent my daughter from contacting me alone. Her situation must be even worse than I imagined. I had Nate pay top dollar for a professional locksmith. The kind who could crack a lock in under a minute. Because from a distance, I had spotted a security camera installed outside my daughter’s door. It would take the Thorne family at least thirty minutes to rush back from their offices. Which meant I had a maximum of thirty minutes to get my daughter out.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “418552”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

After Elliot betrayed me, our marriage dragged on for another six years. During that time, we even had a son. Just when everyone thought we were heading toward a happy, stable life, I filed for divorce. He looked at me in utter disbelief. “We’ve been doing so well! What are you throwing a tantrum for?!” I raised an eyebrow. “Doing well? Where did you get that illusion?” Then, I pulled out our asset portfolio. “In these six years, I’ve doubled our net worth to 6 billion dollars. After the divorce, whether we keep it as a partnership in shares or cash out is entirely up to you.” 01 Over these six years, I’m not saying I never tried to genuinely move on. Especially after Liam was born. It’s a pity that the battle six years ago was just too unforgettable. Elliot slept with a business partner’s secretary after a drunken night. The girl showed up pregnant, demanding my place. The company’s stock plunged, evaporating 200 million dollars overnight. In just three days, I accompanied Elliot to public events as if nothing had happened, throwing my full support behind him and weathering the storm hand-in-hand. The public praised my magnanimity, rationality, and foresight, though some mocked the bitter reality of being a billionaire’s wife. I just smiled and never responded. But no matter how perfectly Elliot played the devoted family man afterward, I could easily see through his warmth and lies. I could never drown in them again. A year ago, his college goddess, Audrey, went through a messy divorce and quietly returned to New York with her six-year-old daughter. He then started living a double life. Liam was lucky to see his dad once a week. The truth is, Elliot had plenty of time. He was a man with an extreme gift for investment, once dubbed the “Man Who Could Predict the Market.” Before he hit thirty, he had amassed enough wealth to retire. At his peak, he gracefully stepped down from his last board position, becoming a highly independent angel investor. I could only tell Liam that Daddy was very busy, and Liam would nod innocently. Elliot was indeed very busy. Busy touring penthouses with Audrey, buying her a house, backing her up, and finding a prep school for her six-year-old. Worried the little girl might feel slighted, he donated millions to build a new library for the school. His private legal team was deployed the second Audrey’s plane landed, helping her fight her ex-husband for her assets. Audrey, who should have been keeping a low profile after a downfall, was thrust into the spotlight as Manhattan’s most talked-about woman, all because Elliot stood up for her. Times had changed. Elliot, now semi-retired, no longer had to worry that his scandals would tank the stock market. He was enjoying the most reckless, self-indulgent phase of his life. Honestly, for a couple worth billions like us, the word “divorce” isn’t thrown around lightly. So, Elliot froze for a second. “Are you jealous of Audrey?” That tone of disbelief, as if I were being completely unreasonable. “She’s in trouble, and I have the power to help. You know how rare college bonds are; we aren’t hurting for this little bit of money. You’ve been with me for so many years, don’t you have a bigger picture than this?” “That love letter in the safe,” I interrupted. Over the years, we were spouses, but also mentor and mentee. Elliot always liked to critique me from a pedestal. If I didn’t puncture his ego right away, he would undoubtedly use the excuse of “helping an old classmate” to take the moral high ground and tear me down. “You opened the safe?” I reminded him calmly, “On the day of Liam’s one-month milestone, you were feeling appreciative of my hard work and told me to open the safe to get the company seal for you.” That was also the time Elliot took 5 million from his pre-marital assets and merged it into our joint accounts, which became my first bucket of gold to enter the venture capital circle. He seemed to just remember, looking a bit flustered. “That was just something from when we were young! If there was really something going on with her, why would I make such a public spectacle of it!” Toward the end, his confidence returned. “We weren’t even together back then, and now that we both have kids, it’s even more impossible. Stop looking for trouble where there is none.” I was sick to death of his condescension and disregard. “Elliot, you don’t need to explain anything to me. Think about how you’re going to explain this to Liam.” “What did you tell him?” he asked warily. I laughed. “Do I need to say anything? In the past year, Liam was hospitalized once for pneumonia, had the flu three times, got hurt at school once, and was bullied for six months. As his father, have you shown up even once?” A flash of guilt crossed Elliot’s eyes. It took a long time before he said, “You’ve always handled Liam’s affairs. If something was difficult, you should have proactively told me.” “Yes, that is how it’s been all these years.” I looked at him. “Liam and I have never complained. But did you know Liam transferred to St. Jude’s half a year ago?” Elliot didn’t speak for a long time. I let out a scoff: “Liam always believed you were just very busy. But you let him see with his own eyes how you ran around for a little girl named Mia. “He heard Mia telling the teachers and classmates that her dad is Elliot Vance, a billionaire who could buy half of Manhattan, and that her family donated the library. “Liam refused to accept that and argued with Mia, but no one believed he was Elliot Vance’s son because Elliot Vance never picked him up or dropped him off at school. In the end, Liam was psychologically bullied and isolated. “In a child’s world, a father is enough to make or break them.” Elliot was furious. “Don’t you have a mouth? Why didn’t you tell them!” “You built your wealth from scratch; I believed Liam was just as strong. In the school registry, you explicitly instructed not to use your name to keep Liam from becoming spoiled.” He was speechless, frustratedly running his hands through his hair and pacing around with his hands on his hips. “Then you should have told me directly! Why didn’t you tell me Liam transferred schools!” “Did I not? I told you Liam was about to move up to St. Jude’s Lower School, and I wanted to transfer him to the advanced class half a year early to adapt to the environment. You just replied ‘okay’ and hung up.” I paused. “Later, I only found out from the news that when Mia was picked up by a stranger that day, you backed Audrey up and aggressively went to the Carter family to demand answers.” Elliot glared at me indignantly, then slumped down in defeat. After a long time, he said exhaustedly, “Sloane, you clearly had a way to handle this, but you let me lose face in front of Liam.” I closed my eyes, turned around. “Yes, I should have taken our marriage certificate and Liam’s birth certificate to the principal right then, and demanded a school-wide assembly to prove that Liam is your son.” 02 My negotiation with Elliot that day, although ending on a sour note, successfully made him feel guilty. The divorce was now officially on the agenda. Affection cannot withstand the grind of time, nor is it suited for repeated exploitation; a man’s guilt must be used strategically. So, I left Liam behind, moved out on my own, and stopped questioning or bothering him. Elliot didn’t try to stop me; he thought I was just throwing a tantrum. According to the nanny, he dropped all his external affairs to stay with Liam full-time, swearing to make up for years of absence all at once. Before going to bed, Liam secretly called me: “Mom, that arrogant Mia cried and apologized to me today. I accepted it.” I nodded and listened; the little guy was very eager to talk. “Mia’s mom is very pretty and gentle. She told me to call her Auntie Audrey.” “Do you like her?” Liam thought for a moment. “She smiles a lot like you, Mom. But I still don’t really like her.” “Then you don’t have to like her. You never have to force yourself.” He would eventually know he had the right to do so. With the documents prepared, I invited Tori out for drinks. “Wow, did you finally make a move? Audrey hasn’t been causing trouble for me lately; I see she’s busy sucking up to your Elliot.” Tori was Elliot’s private attorney, especially skilled in divorce law. For the past year, she had been at Audrey’s beck and call. Tori and I had been best friends since college, though few people knew that. Hearing I wanted a divorce, she jumped up in shock: “Are you crazy? You didn’t divorce him six years ago when you had no ties and no kids, but now that your position as Mrs. Vance is secure, you want out?!” I lit a cigarette, looked down, and smiled wryly. “What would I have gotten if I divorced him back then?” Tori had witnessed my struggles during that time. When the mistress called to force my hand, I was driving. I had just found out I was three months pregnant, and a moment of distraction nearly cost me two lives. In the three days after the D&C procedure, everyone urged me to divorce him. I was still young, beautiful, and known as a top-tier scholar in New York. Among my suitors, Elliot was never the most outstanding. Without him, I had a bright future. Back then, Elliot had just made a name for himself in the investment world. Coming from a poor background, he stood out like an uncultured nouveau riche among the upper-class elites. My mom always used to say: “Besides giving you a title, he’s inferior to others in every way.” I was so angry I kicked her out. “If you don’t have self-respect, I do!” Elliot was the man I chose, and I didn’t regret it. I trusted my judgment. I wouldn’t let myself bow out so pathetically. From the moment I helped him stabilize the stock market and forgave his infidelity, he was no longer my husband, but my business partner. “A settlement of five million? Ten million? It all depended on his conscience.” Elliot’s prenuptial agreement was airtight. Tori clicked her tongue. “Wouldn’t that have been enough?” I replied, “Of course not. With Elliot’s capabilities, what is that little amount?” Tori sighed. “True, Elliot’s vision has been terrifyingly sharp these past few years. His assets are beyond your imagination.” She shrugged helplessly. “Sorry, I can’t tell you the exact numbers.” “Anyway, I advise you, don’t get this divorce. Keep the wealth in the family. You endured it six years ago, there’s no need to throw a fit now.” I smiled noncommittally and shook my head. Selling low and starting over from scratch—that’s throwing a fit. Cashing out at the peak and walking away loaded—calling that a fit is just being greedy. Finally, Tori looked at my investment reports and asset portfolio from recent years and gasped: “6 billion. My god, what a rush! But what about Liam? If you planned this so early, you shouldn’t have had him.” I lowered my eyes, my thumb gently tracing the edge of the table. “My life has had no accidents, and neither is Liam. Otherwise, how could Elliot trust me so much?” With Elliot’s shrewdness, if it weren’t for Liam, he might have appreciated my magnanimity, but he wouldn’t have treated me as one of his own. I needed more than just his money; I needed his mentorship. And what relationship in this world is closer than blood? Tori was speechless. “Isn’t that too unfair to Liam?” “How could it be? He’s my only child, and Elliot’s too. He will receive all of our love.” Tori pulled her hair. “Elliot too? What do you mean?” “When Liam was three, he got a vasectomy. Irreversible,” I stated. There was no denying that Elliot and I had shared some sweet times, especially before his affair. There were times I looked at Liam’s face and constantly asked myself if I should just let it go and live a normal life. But I could never truly let go of my resentment. I asked Tori, “When he chose to roll in bed with his secretary, with his shrewdness and logic, do you think he didn’t weigh the choice between sleeping with her and losing me?” She looked at me with a complex expression, her lips parting, but she ultimately said nothing. He definitely weighed the options. And that calculation was something I would never forgive for the rest of my life. Tori finally took my divorce case. With two paths branching out, having endured for so long, it was time I finally met Audrey. Late at night, I made a phone call. It rang until the very last second before she picked up. “Sister, want to meet up?” I said. 03 “Sloane, I’m so sorry about what happened with Liam. I never expected Mia to form a clique at school using the library donation.” The mockery in my calling her “Sister” was palpable, but she pretended not to notice, trying to pull off a familiar, friendly tone. It seemed the Jenkins family had truly hit rock bottom; no wonder she was thick-skinned enough to have Liam call her ‘Auntie.’ “Please call me Mrs. Vance. Also, no need to apologize. A million dollars lets you throw your weight around, but Liam and I won’t take it to heart,” I said lightly. “Sloane, do you have to speak to me with such superiority? I am your sister, after all.” She sounded wronged, her voice choking up. “Whether you believe it or not, Elliot and I are completely innocent.” I responded with a cold sneer. “I know you’re bothered that I went on a blind date with Arthur Carter six years ago, but that was an arrangement by the family, and I ultimately didn’t marry him, did I?” She suddenly changed the subject. I sneered. “So six years later, you want to steal my man again, is that it? I’m very grateful for your validation of my taste.” “Sloane, don’t be like this. I know your status as an illegitimate daughter cost you Arthur, but I’ve already convinced Mom and Dad. As long as you’re willing, you can come back and be officially recognized by the family at any time.” “Recognized? The Jenkins family is dreaming! Besides, Miss Jenkins has truly inherited her parents’ traits—feigning innocence while loving to play the other woman. It really is disgusting!” My words grew heated. No one in New York knew that before Robert Adams married my mother, he was involved with Brenda Jenkins. To shave ten years off his struggle, he broke off his engagement to become the live-in son-in-law for the Jenkins family. After securing his position in the Jenkins family, he coaxed my mother into having me. My mother was blinded by love; she stayed unmarried her whole life, willingly acting as his underground lover. Yet she would wake up in the middle of the night full of resentment, feeling the whole world owed her, living her entire life in a state of madness. That was my unbearable background, which I had never mentioned. In fact, I had long forgotten about it, but I didn’t expect Audrey to use it to agitate me! Audrey sobbed through the phone. I found it annoying and was about to hang up when a familiar voice suddenly came through: “Sloane, you’re crossing the line.” “Elliot?!” I parted my lips in surprise. Past midnight, and he was actually by Audrey’s side? Then where was Liam?! “I have no intention of interfering in your family affairs, but you shouldn’t misunderstand Audrey and your father like this. You’re a mother now too; does the goodwill of parents just disgust you?” Elliot sounded displeased. “It’s because of this attitude that you throw the word ‘divorce’ around so casually. I think you need to take a serious lesson in family responsibility.” My voice started trembling. “What gives you the right to interrogate me?” “As a father, and even more so as a husband!” I snapped back, “As a husband, you eavesdrop on your wife’s phone call with your little lover, and then you stand up to speak for her?” “Sloane!” “As a father, you think there are no bad parents in the world, that all parents are kind and merciful?” “Enough!” “As a wife, as a mother, I might not be perfect, but I’m at least a hundred times better than that bastard Robert Adams! As a product of that toxic affair, don’t I even have the right to feel resentful? What gives you the right to demand I forgive them! What gives you the right to play peacemaker!” Knowing this was all intentionally steered by Audrey, I still ended up in a loud argument with Elliot over the phone. We argued about the Jenkins family, the Carter family, and then my ex-boyfriend, Arthur Carter. Elliot stubbornly believed that my demand for a divorce was due to my resentment over my original family’s flaws, and my lingering feelings for Arthur. He wanted me to reconcile with the Jenkins family for my own good. “Elliot, I never knew you had become so self-righteous!” I roared, my voice humiliating and choked with tears, even a bit frantic. I hadn’t lost my composure this much even when his mistress cornered me all those years ago. Elliot finally realized something was wrong, his voice panicking as he hurriedly said, “Wait for me to come back.” My response was to hurl the phone fiercely into the night sky, smashing it with all my might, leaving a trail of debris. Standing numbly in the night wind for a while, my whole body was still trembling from the eye of the storm, yet at the same time, I felt the extreme, cold rationality that follows a frantic outburst. In that moment, a thought surfaced: Fine. Elliot won’t divorce me quietly; this is the perfect breach. Afterward, I quickly drove back. I needed to find Liam. After staying with Liam until he fell asleep, perhaps influenced by Audrey’s words, I actually dreamed of events from six years ago. Back then, I had just graduated from Columbia. With my pure, striking looks and dazzling academic record, many corporations extended offers to me. Just as I was about to accept an offer from the Carter Group, my mother stormed into my apartment, furious: “Isn’t Arthur Carter your boyfriend? Why did your dad say Audrey is dating him! Listen to me, you absolutely cannot let that bitch’s daughter win!” At that time, Arthur and I had been dating under the radar for two years, just one step away from our parents meeting. “Anyone else is fine, but why the Jenkins family? Why do those two women insist on making my life difficult?” My mother wiped away angry tears, then recklessly ranted about old grievances, hating the unfairness of fate, cursing Robert Adams as a scumbag who ruined her life. Her contorted, haggard, and frantic appearance made me frown. But I was also thankful to her. Because a few days later, while I was on a date with Arthur, we ran into Mrs. Carter. The elegant woman was accompanied by two friends. After eyeing me up and down, she said with a half-smile: “I’ve heard of Miss Adams. Arthur mentioned you too. You’re very hardworking and independent. It’s just a pity about your father—” “Enough!” Arthur shielded me behind him, cutting off his mother’s words. When it was just the two of us, he looked slightly exhausted and told me to wait, saying he would handle it. I looked at him steadily for a while, then shook my head. Two years. I had come to understand Arthur somewhat. He was the kind of man whose gentlemanly respect and aloofness were carved into his bones. Despite his prestigious background, he wasn’t arrogant or condescending. Therefore, he never lacked female attention. Anyone who knew him would praise his sincerity and grace. But I knew that after his sincere conversations, he would turn away and forget, leaving no trace behind. His sincerity was like some people’s smiles—just an expression, completely detached from emotion. Two years, the best two years of a woman’s life, ending like this. Naturally, I was unwilling. The beast in my chest was baring its fangs, restless. But then I suddenly thought of my mother, Robert Adams, and Brenda. With Arthur, I was destined to be the casualty of a marriage of convenience. I wasn’t going to bet on it. I closed my eyes again, letting my mother’s self-pitying, frantic, and resentful image play out in my mind for a moment, and my heart suddenly grew calm. Watching others lose their minds is always better than experiencing it yourself. My gaze turned resolute. I, Sloane Adams, would never allow myself to become a weak person who only complains and bares her pain for others to mock, just like her! So, I stepped back, crossed my hands over my stomach, and bowed my head slightly: “Thank you very much for your companionship and help over the past two years. I’ve learned enough from you.” He swayed slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of obscurity: “Sloane, you don’t believe me?” I slowly smiled at him: “Mr. Carter, let’s part on good terms.” Then I nodded lightly, turned, and walked away, drawing the most perfect and dignified period to our relationship. After learning of the breakup, my mother stormed into my apartment again, smashing everything to pieces, cursing my incompetence: “I was hoping to rely on you to turn things around, but you’re nothing! Wasting a perfectly good face! What does it matter how good your grades are? Without a family background, who will look up to you!” After venting, she grabbed me, a strange light in her eyes: “Sloane, even if you can’t be Arthur’s wife, there’s no need to break up. A man like him can’t possibly have only one family—” “Enough, get out!” I finally erupted, pointing at the door and screaming for her to leave. How could there be a mother like this in the world! After that day, I completely cut ties with her until a year later, when Elliot and I got married. She brazenly showed up at the door, forcing a thaw in our relationship. “Aside from the title, how does he compare to Arthur Carter?” she grumbled at me in dissatisfaction. I looked at her coldly: “Do you want to be thrown out by me again?” 04 In the morning, I found Elliot sitting in the living room. He had clearly been up all night; the ashtray was full of cigarette butts. He had come back after dropping Liam off at school. This time, I directly pulled out the divorce papers: “Let’s divorce.” He jerked his head up, his eyes bloodshot. “Sloane, stop being stubborn. Saying ‘divorce’ once is enough.” His voice softened. “We were doing so well. Can we stop this nonsense?” I looked at him coldly. “Doing well? I apologize for giving you that illusion.” “What do you mean? I explained the secretary thing to you long ago; I was set up.” His face instantly paled. “If it’s because of Audrey, there’s even less need. You saw it last night; I only helped her because I know your relationship with the Jenkins family. She is your sister, after all.” I slammed the divorce papers fiercely onto his smug face. “If you really knew, you wouldn’t be spouting such bullshit!” “Elliot, what exactly are you trying to do? Dig up my dark past to whitewash yourself and Audrey?” Because I threw them so hard, the sharp edges of the paper cut several bloody scratches on his face, but he looked at me as if he didn’t feel the pain. After a long while, he finally spoke. “Sloane, the older generation’s affairs have nothing to do with you. Reconciling with the Jenkins family would benefit you. I know you still care about your background and Arthur.” My years of composure completely crumbled at this moment. It took immense effort to control my emotions. “So, is that what Audrey told you? Or is that what you think? Elliot, you’re truly despicable. My background, and Arthur—what does any of that have to do with my divorcing you!” My tears rolled down like a relentless flood. “You promised me. You said you would never let women on the outside hurt me again. But now, not only are you hurting me, you’re hurting Liam! And you not only refuse to admit your mistake, you pretend to be my savior!” Did he really not know? I had spent my entire life trying to distance myself from the Jenkins family. When my mother went crazy and caused a scene, I wished their whole family would just die! What gave him the right to casually step up and say he was helping me get recognized by the family, fulfilling my wish? Elliot’s eyes showed confusion and a hint of panic. “Sloane, if you don’t want to, I can—” I silently picked up the papers scattered on the floor one by one. By the time I gathered them all, I had regained my calm. “There’s no need. Sign it. Do you still remember what you promised me six years ago when I was on the brink of death?” I threw out my final trump card, staring into his eyes, forcing him to recall that day. “I said, Elliot, if one day I find I still can’t let it go, please don’t stop me. Set me free.” Back then, he knelt by my hospital bed, holding my hand, sobbing with regret and self-blame, his tears pooling in my palm. “Sloane, I won’t. I won’t make another mistake. I will definitely treat you well.” He promised me over and over again. The doctor standing by urged us, saying I needed a D&C immediately; blood had already soaked the bed. With a pale face, I stubbornly looked at Elliot, insisting on an answer. “Okay, I promise you. If you ever want to be free.” As soon as he finished speaking, I passed out from the pain. Elliot seemed to suddenly wake up. He hugged me, his voice pleading: “Sloane, don’t do this. I’ll change. I’ll change everything, okay?” I silently refused. After a long time, he finally let me go slowly. Then he stood up, placed his hands on my shoulders, and asked in a deep voice: “Sloane, do we really have to go this far?” I knew Elliot could bow his head to me, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to keep begging relentlessly. “Yes,” I said. His eyes suddenly turned fierce. “Even if I won’t make it easy for you to leave? Even if I might leave you with nothing?” I looked at him calmly, showing no weakness. “Yes.” Elliot tilted his head back, closed his eyes, then roughly threw my hand off and turned his back to me. “I will have the divorce papers redrafted. I want Liam. As for the rest, don’t worry, the result will satisfy you.” “Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Vance.” I walked out the door; he didn’t even look back. Tori hurried over to meet me. Seeing my state, she asked in alarm, “What happened? Did you argue? Did you fight? What’s the result?” I pulled out a tissue, wiped away the damp tear tracks, and gently tossed it into a nearby trash can. “It’s done. Let’s go.” I calmly slid into the car. Tori didn’t understand. Negotiating a divorce with a shrewd investor like Elliot, getting emotional was foolish. Rational calculation held no chance of winning either. I was very satisfied with my performance today. “I guess I won’t have to be running errands for Audrey anymore,” Tori said, rubbing her chin. I smiled, looking down. “No need. From here on out, she won’t have time to worry about anything else.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “418553”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

When my parents announced they were officially adopting Mia Campbell, I packed my bags and moved out at the speed of light. “I’ve cleared out my space. From now on, she can be your biological daughter. See you around, or maybe never.” As the cannon fodder supporting character in this “pampered heroine” novel, I decided to officially quit playing the game in this lifetime. Mia wants my parents? She can have them. She wants my brother? Take him. She wants my childhood sweetheart? Free delivery. Oh wow. Now they’re the ones left dumbfounded. 1 On the day Mia Campbell and my childhood sweetheart got married, I died. My soul floated in the air, drifting right into their lavish wedding venue. The reception was held at a five-star luxury hotel. The decor was extravagant, dreamy, and sickeningly perfect. I had to admit, my parents really didn’t hold back when it came to spending money on her. Amidst the joyful and relaxed atmosphere, I watched my biological parents and my older brother take the stage one by one, delivering warm, tear-jerking speeches to the newlyweds. They laughed together, took photos, raised their glasses… Until my brother, Liam Sinclair, received a call from the police department. Two minutes later, he said a completely expressionless “Understood” and hung up the phone. “Liam, who was that?” Mia, wearing a dreamy, pure-white designer wedding gown, asked with a hint of a pout. “No one important.” Liam shook his head slightly, looking at her with absolute adoration. To avoid ruining Mia’s perfect mood, he actually hid the news of my death from her. In reality, that was completely unnecessary. Because right before I died, I was on the phone with Mia. She was the one who instructed her psychotic stalker to end my life. How could that bitch not know I was dead? Mia looked up, flashing Liam a bright, joyful smile: “Thank you, Liam. Thank you, and thank Mom and Dad for everything you’ve done for me. I love you guys so, so much.” Fuck! Even as a ghost, I couldn’t stop myself from cursing. Mia was an expert at spouting these nauseating, useless pleasantries. It didn’t cost her a dime, yet it kept these idiots utterly devoted to her. Why wouldn’t she? Liam was visibly moved. He pulled Mia into a tight hug and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead: “You don’t need to thank us, Mia. You deserve all of this and more.” The two shared a knowing, sickening smile. I was so disgusted I couldn’t watch anymore. Just as I charged forward, wanting to deliver a ghost-kick to Liam’s face, the scene before me suddenly warped, flashing rapidly like a movie reel. After a severe bout of dizziness, I opened my eyes. I had been reborn. 2 I was reborn at the age of sixteen, on the exact day our family moved into our new Riverside Estate mansion. Mia Campbell was the daughter of my dad’s late best friend. Her biological parents had died in a car crash. With no relatives willing to take her in, she lived in a local orphanage for a few years before my dad finally tracked her down. At this point in the timeline, she had been living with us for three months. Her backstory was pitiful, yet she was “resilient and unyielding.” She was an orphan, yet she was “kind and adorable.” Everyone loved her. In the short three months she had been with us, my parents couldn’t bear to let her sleep in the attic room anymore. For her sake, they upgraded our entire living situation and bought this massive riverside mansion. And I woke up right in this exact moment. My dad’s excited voice rang in my ears: “Alright, kids! Go pick your own rooms! Everything is fair game except for the master suite!” I remembered now. On move-in day, my parents let us choose our rooms. Both Mia and I had our eyes on the south-facing suite on the second floor. Not only did it have a luxurious soaking tub, but it also featured massive floor-to-ceiling windows with a breathtaking view of the sparkling river. Thinking of this, I immediately marched up to the second floor. “I want this one.” Just as I said that to my dad, Mia walked in. Her face instantly lit up. “Wow! This room is so beautiful! “Mom, can I stay in here?” My dad froze for a second. I had fully anticipated Mia’s reaction, so I said coolly: “Are you deaf? I just said I’m taking this room.” Hearing my blunt refusal, Mia immediately put on a panicked, fragile expression: “I’m so sorry, Hazel. I really didn’t hear you. “If you like this room, you should have it! Honestly, I can sleep anywhere. Compared to my old room at the orphanage, anywhere here is like heaven. “Mom and Dad are so incredibly good to me. I’m just so scared I’ll never be able to repay you all.” Here we go again. The classic manipulation script. It sounded so painfully fake, yet it moved some people to tears. “Hazel, why don’t you… let Mia have this room? You can take one downstairs,” my dad hesitated before asking me. My mom chimed in from the side: “He’s right, Hazel. Honestly, the rooms upstairs and downstairs aren’t that different. Mia has had such a hard life.” The exact same scenario. The exact same words. But unlike the shock and heartbreak I felt in my past life, this time, my heart was as calm as stagnant water. “Mom, Dad, let’s get one thing straight. I am your biological daughter.” They exchanged a look. My dad then continued: “Hazel, your mother and I have decided to officially adopt Mia. From today onward, both of you are our precious daughters.” Mia covered her mouth in disbelief, tears shimmering in her eyes: “Really? Mom, Dad… are you really willing to adopt me?” Liam also looked surprised, but thrilled: “You’re adopting Mia?!” My mom’s eyes were full of maternal love as she nodded firmly: “Yes, Mia. Now I really get to be your mother.” Mia threw herself into my mom’s arms, massive teardrops rolling down her cheeks. “Sob… Mom, thank you! Thank you, Dad! I love you guys so, so much.” “Gag…” I couldn’t control my gag reflex and dry-heaved loudly. Because the sound was so loud, everyone turned to stare at me. Liam frowned deeply, looking highly displeased: “Hazel Sinclair, what the hell are you doing?” “My bad,” I waved my hand apologetically. “I think I might be pregnant.” The moment the words left my mouth, everyone’s eyes bulged out of their heads. Then I suddenly remembered I was only sixteen right now. I smacked my forehead in annoyance: “Oops, misspoke. I meant I think I ate something bad and have a stomachache.” My parents’ expressions were incredibly hard to read. Mia was halfway through her tears, but her emotional performance was completely derailed by my interruption. She looked completely lost. “Well, since you’re adopting Mia Campbell, I’ll just move out. I don’t want this room anymore either. “I’ve cleared out my space. From now on, she can be your biological daughter. See you around.” With that, I grabbed my suitcase and turned to leave. “Hazel Sinclair.” My dad stopped me angrily. “Stop being such a spoiled brat.” Spoiled brat? I just didn’t want to be the cannon fodder side character anymore. I refused to end up betrayed by everyone and dying alone on the streets in this lifetime. “Dad, I’m serious. It’s either Mia or me. If she stays, I leave. You and Mom can decide.” “Hazel, what did Mia ever do to you? Why have you become so selfish?” my mom scolded, her face darkening. With my “help,” Mia’s emotional act came right back. Her eyes reddened, and tears fell like rain: “Mom, Dad, please don’t fight with Hazel because of me. I’m not worth it.” “Enough, Hazel!” Liam pulled Mia into his arms and roared at me, “Apologize to Mia right now!” Apologize to my ass. I rolled my eyes. Truly the pampered heroine of the novel. With one effortless sentence, my brother turned into her loyal attack dog. No wonder I couldn’t beat her in my past life. But in this life, I’m done playing. So what if I’m the cannon fodder? Can’t I just quit? Can’t I stay far away from this family? Can’t I go find my own happiness? If this place won’t have me, somewhere else will. “Bye-bye, big bro. If you want an apology, you can say it to the mirror. I’m out of here.” Perhaps realizing I was serious, my dad furrowed his brows: “Hazel, you are a minor. We have legal guardianship over you.” True. I wasn’t eighteen yet. If I were, the first thing I would do is emancipate myself and cut off all legal ties. I wouldn’t waste time arguing with them. “If you want me to stay, fine. First, I do not consent to you adopting her. She can stay here temporarily as a guest. “Second, this room is mine. Non-negotiable.” My dad didn’t speak. He just stared at me quietly. After a long while, he finally said in a heavy tone: “Your mother and I have already made up our minds about adopting Mia. That will not change. “As for the room… Hazel, you already have so much. Why must you fight Mia for this?” 3 Even though I fully expected this outcome, my heart still gave an uncontrollable, painful twinge. What exactly did I have? I used to have biological parents and a brother who loved me. But not anymore. They had been stolen by Mia. If I didn’t leave now, I would end up with the exact same tragic fate as my past life. I would watch helplessly as Mia systematically conquered my parents, my brother, and my childhood sweetheart. The day the pampered heroine got her “Happy Ending” was the exact day I was left to rot on the streets. I sighed: “Then there’s nothing to discuss. I’m sorry, Dad. You’re the ones who didn’t want me first. From now on, my life has nothing to do with you.” My dad finally snapped, his voice sharp and furious: “Hazel Sinclair, are you completely deaf to reason?! If you walk out that door today, don’t ever come back!” “Hazel, apologize to your father right now, or I won’t be able to help you either!” my mom glared at me, her face thunderous. Mia, who had been leaning weakly against Liam’s chest, opened her big, innocent eyes and looked over. A blatant, triumphant smirk flashed across her eyes. She didn’t even try to hide it. In my past life, I saw that exact smile on her face constantly. Whenever I fought, argued, and threw tantrums, only to lose the room to her anyway, she would smile at me just like that. I still vividly remember her joy and excitement when she moved into this room. “Sister, thank you so much for being so good to me! Sob… I really love it here so much!” Even though her mouth was saying thank you, I could clearly see the triumph in her eyes. It was the joy and arrogance of winning a war. When my parents took her and Liam on a vacation but left me behind. When they returned, Mia smiled at me with pure passive-aggression: “Sister, Mom and Dad were just worried about distracting you from your AP English exam next week, which is why they didn’t bring you. You’re not mad, right?” I wasn’t the only one taking exams. Liam was taking them too. Just because they could only book four first-class tickets, my biological parents chose to take their adopted daughter and leave me behind. Afterward, I tearfully asked my mom why they did that. “Hazel, you’ve already been to Hawaii, haven’t you? Mia has never been on a vacation before. Don’t you think she’s pitiful?” That word again. What does her being pitiful have to do with me? I wasn’t the one who made her an orphan. “What about Liam? He’s been there too.” My mom was speechless for a moment before compromising: “How about this… Next time Mom and Dad go on a trip, we’ll make it up to you.” And naive, stupid me actually believed her. Where in the world are there parents who love their adopted daughter more than their own flesh and blood? Well, reality proved it. They exist. And I was unlucky enough to be born to them. My parents started “forgetting” me on a regular basis. They would take Liam and Mia to the movies, and I would only find out when they got home that night. The family of four would drive out for a weekend camping trip, and I would only hear about it weeks later. Mia realized that acting cute and throwing tantrums worked wonders on my parents. If she said she wanted an iPad today, my dad would have it for her tomorrow. If she mentioned liking a designer bag in the morning, my mom would gift it to her that night. Her status in my parents’ hearts far surpassed mine, and her allowance was significantly higher. Liam was even worse. He turned into an obsessed, overprotective brother. Of course, the sister he protected wasn’t me. He introduced Mia to all his friends and classmates. Every time he came back from basketball practice, he’d bring her favorite boba tea. He threw thousands of dollars to get her VIP tickets to her favorite singer’s concert. And because Mia didn’t like cats, he threw away the kitten I had been raising for years without even telling me. I cried until I couldn’t breathe, but my “good brother” just said dismissively: “It’s just an animal, what’s the big deal? It almost scratched Mia’s hand last time. It needed to go.” The truth was, my cat was incredibly sweet. If you didn’t provoke it, it would never attack anyone. The more I hated Mia, the more the rest of the family loved her. In my past life, I never understood why it had to be this way. It wasn’t until right before I died that I finally understood. It turned out Mia was the main character of a “pampered heroine” novel, and I was just the cannon fodder side character. My fifteen years of a smooth, happy life were just setting the stage for her triumphant arrival. In this life, I absolutely refuse to endure it. Even if it means death, I want to see if this pampered heroine can still get her “Happy Ending” if I refuse to play my part in her plot. “Apologizing is impossible. I will never apologize in this lifetime. Mom, Dad, take care.” 4 Half a month later, I moved into Beverly Hills’ most prestigious neighborhood—The Pinnacle Estate. In a place where the average property price hovered around $4,000 per square foot, I truly learned what “prime real estate” meant. A woman in an elegant white sundress walked toward me, a warm smile on her face. “Hazel.” “Godmother.” I broke into a massive, radiant smile. “Did you bring all your luggage? Is this really it?” “I brought it all! I didn’t have much stuff to begin with.” “Alright, I’ll have Spencer show you to your room on the third floor.” “Thank you, Godmother.” Spencer Davenport was the same age as me, currently a freshman in high school, but he was much taller, at least 6’0″. He was strikingly handsome, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes—the epitome of elegance. He was the standard “wealthy young master.” The aura he exuded could be summed up in two words: Noble and aloof. His older brother, Ethan Davenport, had a slightly warmer, more refined intellectual vibe. Both brothers were ridiculously good-looking. The kind of handsome that could make people swoon. No wonder rich men loved marrying supermodels and actresses; it guaranteed the next generation’s genetics. And Mrs. Davenport? She won a national beauty pageant back in the day with her earth-shattering looks. The elevator reached the third floor. I opened the bedroom door. Even though I was mentally prepared, I was still stunned by the sight. You could literally jog laps inside this bedroom. There was a luxurious crystal chandelier and an elegant, vintage king-sized bed. Through the glass doors, you could take in the entire glittering night view of the city. It truly lived up to being a hundred-million-dollar mansion. I gave a polite smile: “Thank you, Spencer.” He gave a slight nod. Perhaps feeling he was being too cold, he added in a flat tone: “You’re welcome.” After Spencer left, I walked up to the floor-to-ceiling windows. It was perfectly quiet. In the distance, neon lights flashed, and the city lights looked breathtakingly beautiful. I never imagined Los Angeles had such a serene, peaceful enclave. The view here was a million times better than our old riverside mansion. I had to admit, the life of the ultra-rich was beautifully unpretentious. 5 The past two days were final exams. Previously, I had faked a broken leg and took a week off from my homeroom teacher. Finishing the exams meant my middle school life was officially over. As soon as I walked out of the school gates, I saw my dad’s car. He was here to pick up Mia after her exams. She was in the same grade as me, having transferred to this school six months ago. What a great father. “Sister! What a coincidence!” Seeing me, Mia cheerfully waved her small hand. My dad’s gaze landed on me. His previously gentle, loving expression instantly turned frigid. I knew he was waiting for me to obediently bow my head, apologize, and deeply repent for my actions from half a month ago. He probably expected me to beg for his forgiveness with tears streaming down my face. As my footsteps drew closer. “Hello, Mr. Sinclair.” As soon as the words left my mouth, the man’s face turned ashen. His eyes flared with anger: “Hazel Sinclair, what kind of attitude is that?” I shrugged: “Looks like I shouldn’t have said hi. Next time I see you, I’ll just treat you like a stranger.” My dad glared at me intensely, looking utterly disappointed: “Hazel Sinclair, if you don’t move back home within three days, don’t bother coming back ever.” “Understood, Mr. Sinclair.” With that, I walked away without looking back. 6 After lunch, I returned to the classroom. Mia was currently inviting the entire class to her birthday party. As her classmates took the invitations, they showed looks of intense envy. “Wow, Mia, you actually live in the Riverside Estate? Aren’t the houses there super expensive?” “More than just expensive. My dad says it’s a premier gated community. The cheapest house there is at least three million dollars.” “Mia, do you live in an actual mansion?” … Mia covered her mouth, giving a sweet, elegant smile: “My house is two stories, yes, and it faces the river.” “Wow, I want to go! I’ve never seen what a mansion on the river looks like!” “Me too, me too!” In an instant, the classroom was buzzing with excitement. After a while, Mia walked up to me holding an invitation, looking incredibly smug: “Sister, are you coming to my birthday party?” Meeting her triumphant gaze, I took the envelope without hesitation: “Sure.” Her smile completely jammed. Her fingers gripped the invitation tightly, refusing to let go. I knew it. Mia just wanted to use this to show off and rub it in my face. She absolutely didn’t want me at her birthday party. If I went and casually greeted our parents, her facade as the “adopted orphan” would be exposed. She wasn’t going to let that happen. I mocked her: “Didn’t you invite me to your party? Let go of the envelope, then.” Mia smiled, looking very strained: “Sister, if you’re too busy, you really don’t have to come.” “Who said I’m busy? I have all the free time in the world.” Her hand still didn’t let go as she put on a troubled expression: “I’m just worried that if you suddenly show up at the house, it will make Mom and Dad angry again. They’ve finally been in a better mood these past two days.” I gave her a cold smile: “Aren’t you overstepping a bit? They are my biological parents.” Mia stared at me deeply, the fake warmth in her eyes vanishing completely. She didn’t bother pretending anymore. “You don’t know yet, do you? Mom and Dad have decided to send me to Edenbridge Academy for high school. Since you willingly gave up this family, you should just stay far away. Why come back and humiliate yourself?” Her words didn’t surprise me at all. In my past life, Mia also attended Edenbridge Academy. It was an elite prep school known nationwide for its astronomical tuition and world-class faculty. Tuition was $30,000 per semester, $60,000 a year. Liam was a year older than us and also went to Edenbridge. Between the two of them, their tuition cost $120,000 a year. Why do I specify “the two of them”? Because I didn’t go there. I attended a very ordinary public high school because I had good grades, while Mia had terrible ones. “Hazel, your grades are excellent, so it doesn’t matter where you go. Mia is different. If she doesn’t push hard these next three years, she won’t be able to get into a good college. “I heard Edenbridge has Ivy League-level instructors. Mom and Dad have decided to transfer Mia there.” Those were the words my own biological mother told me in my past life. And that was exactly what my biological parents did to me. I cried, rebelled, and even went on a hunger strike, but they didn’t budge. They firmly enrolled Mia at Edenbridge. No one would believe it if I told them. They paid $60,000 a year for an adopted daughter’s elite private school, while sending their biological daughter to a public school for free. The worst part was that no one in the family thought there was anything wrong with this. Sitting at the dinner table every night, listening to Liam and Mia discuss the interesting things happening at their elite prep school, was worse than torture. Eventually, I just moved into a dorm at my public school and stopped going home altogether. 7 End of flashback. I was just about to throw a sarcastic comeback at Mia when a familiar voice suddenly called out. “Mia.” A flicker of emotion crossed Mia’s eyes, and a bizarre look flashed across her face as she looked at me. The next second, she threw herself backward onto the floor. Noah Brooks’s panicked voice rang out: “Hazel Sinclair, what did you do?!” I had to admit, Mia—this little bitch—really had some tricks up her sleeve. She set me up again. After being helped up by Noah, Mia’s eyes reddened. Wiping away tears, she sobbed pitifully: “Noah, I… I just wanted to invite my sister to my birthday party. I thought I could find a chance for her to clear up the misunderstanding with Mom and Dad so she could move back home. But my sister just shoved me to the ground without a word.” Noah glared at me fiercely, his tone full of absolute disgust: “Hazel, are you out of your mind?!” Looking at this childhood sweetheart who, not too long ago, was inseparable from me and shared everything with me… he now looked at me with such intense revulsion that he didn’t even want to spare me a glance. I buried my emotions and looked back with cold eyes: “Yeah, I am. Do you have the cure?” He choked on his words for a second, then fired back defensively: “I’m warning you, don’t mess with Mia at school. She’s not a pushover…” “Which eye of yours saw me mess with her?” “I saw it with both my eyes!” “Noah, it’s okay.” Mia grabbed onto his arm, looking agitated. Biting her lip, she looked up pitifully: “Sister is probably still angry about the time I gave you her love letter. I’m sorry, sister, I really didn’t do it on purpose. I just wanted to help you. I thought since you liked Noah, he should know.” Hearing this, a look of realization dawned on Noah’s face, making his expression even more condescending: “Hazel, it’s never going to happen between us. I like Mia. Please stop flattering yourself.” Whispers broke out all around us. Some people looked at me with pure schadenfreude. “What happened? Hazel confessed to Noah?” “Looks like she got rejected, too. What kind of drama is this? Childhood friend losing to the new girl?” “Tsk, tsk. I get to witness a massive love triangle today.” I looked at Mia. Her face looked as innocent and harmless as a baby deer, but her eyes were brimming with smugness and provocation. In her second month at our house, she had taken a love letter from my room and handed it to Noah. It was a letter I had written a year prior, planning to confess my feelings to Noah, but for various reasons, I never gave it to him. Mia had handed it over without my permission, and afterward, she hid behind the stupid excuse of: “If you love someone, you should shout it to the world!” I genuinely felt she was treating me like a complete idiot. She’s the pampered heroine, right? Fine. Let’s see who wins this game. 8 The two-month summer vacation flew by, and the first day of school arrived. Luxury cars lined the entrance of Edenbridge Academy, all dropping off students for the new semester. “Miss Hazel, let me.” Before Uncle Ben could open the door for me, I stopped him from the back seat. “It’s okay, Ben. I’ve got it.” I smiled at him and stepped out of the Bentley. I walked over to Spencer Davenport and intentionally linked my arm through his. Catching his slightly surprised gaze, I raised an eyebrow: “What is it, Spencer? Why are you looking at me like that?” For just two seconds, his handsome face returned to its usual cool composure. He let me hold his arm. “Nothing.” Many freshmen around us turned to look at us, whispering to each other: “Oh my god, who is that guy? He is exactly my type.” “Quick, quick! Give me three minutes, I need all his details.” “Who’s the girl next to him? Is that his girlfriend? Ugh, I think I just went through a breakup.” “It’s probably his sister, right? Didn’t she just call him her brother?” … Spencer’s status was too high-profile. On the very first day, all his information was dug up by the students. By association, I became the queen of gossip. Right after the first period, my desk mate, Zoe Parker, couldn’t suppress her burning gossip soul and eagerly asked for confirmation: “Hazel, are you and Spencer actual biological siblings?” “Nope,” I shook my head, answering honestly. “I’m adopted.” She instantly got excited: “Wow! What kind of cosmic lottery did you win to get adopted by the school board director’s family?! Do they need more kids? I want to be adopted too!” I found her hilarious: “Sure, I’ll ask my mom when I get home tonight.” “If the board director’s family doesn’t need more kids, ask your brother if he needs a girlfriend. I can pull off any vibe—boss babe, cute, girl-next-door. You name it, I can do it.” Stars were practically popping out of Zoe’s eyes. “No problem.” “Also, also! If your second brother doesn’t like my vibe, can you ask your oldest brother for me? Seriously, I’ve had a crush on him forever. Like, since my past life. Please, give me a chance to be your sister-in-law!” … Girl, don’t you think you’re being a little too greedy? 9 Before I knew it, it was afternoon. Almost all the girls in the class had familiarized themselves with me. Several people had already asked if they could eat lunch with me. I hadn’t realized making friends could be this easy. Even though I hadn’t done anything, they treated me like the center of attention. At lunch, the seats on my left, right, and across from me were all taken. It was obvious that these girls came from incredibly wealthy families. A random watch on any of their wrists probably cost as much as a semester’s tuition at Edenbridge. Even Zoe, who kept loudly wishing to be adopted by Mrs. Davenport, was actually the only daughter of the CEO of Oceanic Group, a company worth billions. Right now, Miss Zoe was trying every trick in the book to ask me about Ethan Davenport. “Hazel Sinclair.” An abrupt and unexpected voice sounded near my ear. I looked up and met Mia’s incredibly confused face. She was walking side-by-side with a girl with short hair, holding a lunch tray. They were probably looking for seats. “Hi, what a coincidence.” I gave a half-hearted greeting and immediately turned back to Zoe to continue our conversation. Mia didn’t leave. She stared at me with a bizarre expression. She seemed unable to process the situation, her brows furrowing slightly: “What are you doing here?” That was a hilarious question. I had to look up again to answer her: “Eating lunch, obviously. What does it look like?” Mia scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain: “Don’t tell me you actually go to school here.” The mockery in her voice was so obvious that people started looking at her weirdly. “Who are you?” Zoe asked, looking displeased. Mia stood up straighter: “Who are you?” “Why do you care who I am? Do you have any manners? Can’t you see we’re talking?” “You…” Mia was about to fire back, but the short-haired girl next to her pulled her back and subtly shook her head. “I’m sorry, Miss Parker. We didn’t mean to interrupt.” The short-haired girl was clearly intimidated by Zoe. She apologized sincerely and quickly dragged Mia away. The two of them sat down very far away. Mia’s eyes were dark, and her gaze kept flicking back to me. 10 After school, I was waiting for Spencer in the second-floor hallway. Mia, acting like she had been lying in wait, grabbed me and pulled me into the stairwell. “Hazel, what the hell is going on?” I turned off my phone screen, my tone lazy: “What?” She looked at me with an expression of pure absurdity and disbelief: “Since when did you become the school board director’s daughter?!” “Does that have a single cent to do with you?” I didn’t want to deal with her. I turned to leave, but she yanked me back. A cold smirk appeared on Mia’s lips: “Don’t you want to see what kind of expression Mom and Dad would have if they found out you became the school board director’s daughter?” “Who cares about their expressions? I cut ties with your family a long time ago.” I shrugged casually, adding, “I learned that trick from you, actually. Other people’s parents just smell sweeter.” Mia choked on my comeback. A sharp, fierce emotion flashed in her pupils. I didn’t linger. I waved at her and walked away effortlessly. 11 When Spencer and I walked out of the school gates, Uncle Ben’s car was already parked by the curb. “Miss Hazel, your boba tea.” Before opening the door, Uncle Ben handed me a still-warm cup of boba from the cup holder. I had only casually mentioned that morning that the new boba place at the corner was really good. I didn’t expect him to take it to heart. “Thank you, Ben,” I smiled sweetly. “You’re welcome.” Remembering something, I turned and asked: “Spencer, do you want to try some? It’s really good.” Spencer, who was suddenly cued for no reason, looked at the boba in my hand with absolute resistance: “No.” “Just a sip?” He shook his head firmly. Fine, whatever. As the car passed the next intersection, I felt a bit stuffy and rolled down the window. When I turned my head, I saw Mia and Liam standing at a bus stop. The two of them were waiting for the bus. My dad… well, Robert Sinclair hadn’t been making a small amount of money these past couple of years, but the family had just bought a massive new mansion, and the tuition for Mia and Liam was astronomical. Between the mortgage and the tuition, his financial burden wasn’t small. I guess they definitely didn’t have the spare cash to hire a driver, so his precious son and daughter had to suffer the indignity of taking the public bus. Mia saw me in the car. Her expression shifted, her eyes glaring intensely, her hands balling into fists. Liam looked utterly shocked, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes, and yelled my name: “Hazel Sinclair!” Talk about bad luck. I rolled my eyes at them and rolled up the window without hesitation. The light turned green, and the car sped away.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “418554”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

After three years of marriage, Caleb Sterling’s newest little mistress finally had the nerve to show up at my door. She screamed at me, calling me a “washed-up housewife.” She demanded to know what right I had to stay by Caleb’s side. I looked at her with dull, tired eyes. “The right comes from the years he spent in the gutters of Brooklyn, eating scraps to survive. I was the one who held him through it.” The girl tilted her chin up, her gaze full of contempt. “So you met him a few years earlier. You really think that’s a legacy worth bragging about?” 1 Caleb appeared just in time to witness the standoff. He walked toward me with measured steps. His hand reached out, tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear with a tenderness that felt like a lie. “Sloane, why are you at the office?” I held up my phone. “Didn’t you text me to come?” Caleb’s brow furrowed slightly. Behind him, the young girl panicked, grabbing his arm. “Caleb, I’m sorry… I took your phone. I couldn’t keep living like a secret anymore.” She turned her venomous glare back to me. “If this woman would just give up her seat as Mrs. Sterling, we could finally—” “Get out.” Before she could finish, Caleb cut her off. “What?” The girl froze, her eyes welling with tears. “Misty, I said get out.” Caleb’s voice was flat, his eyes as cold as a winter morning in Manhattan. “But why…” The girl bit her lip, her face turning ashen. She probably couldn’t wrap her head around how the man who was so gentle in bed yesterday could become a monster today. “Compared to my wife, you’re nothing.” Caleb let out a short, mocking laugh. I knew then that Caleb would never see this girl again. She was too naive. She mistook a billionaire’s game for true love and was stupid enough to try and flex on me. 2 I met Caleb when he was eight. Back then, he wasn’t the long-lost heir to the Sterling dynasty. We were both victims of a child trafficking ring. We spent years being shifted from one abusive “foster home” to another until the FBI finally raided the place and put us in an orphanage. The orphanage was better, but it was still a war zone of bullying and hunger. Because we were older, no one wanted to adopt us. So Caleb and I fought our way through it together. We entered the world with nothing but each other. We knew the bitterness of being scammed out of our last dollar. We knew the embarrassment of splitting a single bowl of ramen while people stared at us in disgust. During the coldest winter in Chicago, when the heat was shut off in our tiny apartment, I leaned on his shoulder and looked out at the frost on the glass. I asked him, “Caleb, what’s your dream?” He gripped my hand, his voice deep and gravelly. “To make enough money to marry Sloane Vance in the most expensive cathedral in the world.” Caleb actually did it. He gave me a one-of-a-kind Harry Winston ring and a wedding dress encrusted with real diamonds. When he married me, the Manhattan skyline was lit up with five hundred drones spelling out my name. The tabloids called it the “Billion Dollar Union.” Everyone envied me. They couldn’t believe the Sterlings—an old-money dynasty—would allow Caleb to marry a girl with no name and no background. But I knew the price he paid. To this day, his back is still covered in scars from the physical “discipline” his father enforced to keep him in line. The Sterling cousins were like sharks. To keep his position as CEO, Caleb worked until he coughed up blood. He flew between New York and London like a ghost. I watched him wither, heart aching, but I was powerless. I could only shrink my own personality, trying my best to play the role of the perfect Mrs. Sterling. 3 At a gala filled with the city’s elite, the wives gathered in a circle, sipping champagne while casually discussing their husbands’ affairs. To them, love was a punchline. Seeing my silence, a woman named Mrs. Harrington reached out and squeezed my hand. “Sloane, dear, you’ll have to get used to it. As Caleb grows the Sterling empire, he’ll need a few ‘distractions’ to blow off steam. It’s inevitable.” I froze, then firmly shook my head. “Caleb isn’t like that.” Mrs. Harrington gave me a small, pitying smile. She didn’t agree, but she didn’t argue. “When a man stands at the peak of power,” she said, “the temptations are infinite.” The way she looked at me was like she was looking at a ghost. 4 I never believed Caleb would betray me. Until the day I looked through a cracked door at a private club and saw Caleb letting a woman kiss his neck while another unbuttoned his shirt. He sat there, draped in a silk robe, lazily exhaling a cloud of cigar smoke that blurred his features. The coldness seeped from my limbs into my heart, paralyzing me. It wasn’t until a guest noticed me and gasped, “Mrs. Sterling!” that I finally snapped back to reality and ran. I don’t remember the expression on Caleb’s face then. I only remember him shoving the women aside and chasing me down, pinning me into a hug in the hallway. He whispered over and over in my ear, “Sloane, don’t cry. I love you. Only you.” He promised it would never happen again. I didn’t know if he was trying to comfort me or lie to himself. They say when faced with agonizing pain, the human brain chooses to flee. But can you really run away from a reality that’s already happened? That night, as I watched Caleb sleep, I felt like my heart was being carved out with a dull knife. Once the seed of doubt is planted, it grows into a forest. I became a neurotic mess. Every business trip, every gala, every vibration of his phone, every late-night call became a trigger for my anxiety. Finally, one night when he came home late, the war exploded. I smelled gardenias on his coat. I screamed. I threw the expensive porcelain. I smashed our wedding photo in the hallway. “Sloane, in this world, no one stays clean,” Caleb said, rubbing his temples in exhaustion. “I’m sorry, but you’re the only one I actually love.” He left that night, telling me I needed to “cool off.” I knelt in the glass shards, sobbing until my hands bled. I wasn’t just losing my husband; I was losing my mind. The suffocating pain eventually spiraled into clinical depression. I trapped myself in the past, in the promises he once made. Mrs. Harrington was the first to notice my illness. She sighed and held my hand. “Sloane, you’re walking down my old path.” I looked down, my heart a hollow shell. I wondered if Caleb felt any guilt—his wife was trying to slit her wrists in a dark room while he was drowning in the pleasure of a warm, new body. 5 Misty Hayes wasn’t the last “canary” Caleb kept. A few days later, I heard at a lunch that he had picked up a pair of sisters—models from LA. No wonder when he came home, he looked so satisfied. Caleb came home early tonight. He had clearly showered; he smelled like fresh soap and expensive cologne. “The maid said you’ve been painting for three hours. Aren’t you tired?” He hugged me from behind, burying his face in my neck. I put down my brush and pulled away, methodically cleaning my palette. “No.” During my darkest days, I took up painting. It was the only time I could forget the things that were killing me. “Sloane, this painting is beautiful.” I heard his gentle voice, but my lips only curled into a bitter smirk. It had to be beautiful. It was a gift for someone else. “By the way, Mom called,” Caleb said, using a wet wipe to clean the paint off my hands as if I were a fragile piece of art. “She said you aren’t answering your phone. Are we going to see her for the holidays?” “No.” I pulled my hand back. The “Mom” he was talking about was my biological mother, Lydia Vance. Caleb had spent years using his resources to find my family. Two years ago, he succeeded. My biological father was dead. My mother had remarried and had a daughter who was now a senior in college. Lydia only wanted me back so I could get Caleb to secure a high-paying executive job for her “real” daughter. She told me she felt guilty about losing me, yet she gave all the love she “owed” me to my sister. I told her I was allergic to shellfish. She still put shrimp in my pasta. In her eyes, I saw only a business opportunity, not a daughter. “What’s wrong? Still fighting with her?” Caleb asked with a chuckle. “I’m done maintaining a fake relationship, Caleb. It’s exhausting. As of today, I don’t have a mother.” I looked into his eyes, my voice flat. Maybe I was too blunt. Caleb froze. A strange look passed over his face, and he gripped my chin. “Sloane, you’ve changed so much. You used to ask when I’d be home for dinner. You used to pick out my ties every morning…” Oh, Caleb. People don’t change overnight. When I asked when you’d be home, you were in another woman’s bed. The ties I picked for you were being loosened by other fingers. Every moment of my life was a reminder of your betrayal. It made me sick. 6 On New Year’s Eve morning, I was at my studio door, and Caleb called. He said he’d be home early to ring in the New Year with me. I said, “Fine.” Then I hung up. I was trying to hang a banner over the door, but I couldn’t reach the top. I needed a stool. Suddenly, a pale, slender hand reached out and held the corner of the banner for me. I turned around and looked at the young man standing there. He was wearing a white hoodie, his eyes full of a playful light. “Hey, Sloane. Doing the heavy lifting without me? Not cool.” I met Hunter Thorne at a gallery last year. It was the only time Caleb had stood me up for a show. I was standing in front of a painting of sunflowers, and the brushstrokes felt familiar. It reminded me of a piece I had bought at a charity auction a year ago. The other socialites thought I was crazy for spending millions on an unknown artist. But I bought it because I saw myself in that painting—the hesitation, the pain, the struggle. Hunter appeared right then. I met his burning gaze. “You like it? If you do, it’s yours.” I thought he was joking until the organizers delivered the painting to my house the next day. 7 Since that day, Hunter had been an uninvited guest in my life. Even I wasn’t dense enough to miss his intentions. I told him a thousand times that I was married. He didn’t care. He treated my warnings like background noise. Finally, during an outdoor sketching trip, I snapped at him. “Do you have any shame? I hate home-wreckers. Get out of my sight. You disgust me.” Hunter went still for a long time. He looked utterly crushed as he walked away. It worked… for about two days. Hunter was the polar opposite of me. He was vibrant and loud. But he was also stubborn. Once he set his mind on something, he wouldn’t let go. Sometimes his persistence gave me a headache, but there were moments when I was grateful he was the one person who refused to leave my side. 8 When I left the carnival with Hunter, it was late. My phone was buzzing in my pocket—Caleb again. I just shut the phone off. “Is it okay not to answer?” Hunter asked, his voice low. I smiled. “Where to next?” He excitedly put a pink helmet on my head and tapped the visor, glancing at the shadows behind me. “Somewhere he’ll never find us.” The motorcycle roared to life. I instinctively gripped Hunter’s waist as he sped through the empty streets and hidden alleys. The wind howled in my ears, and the city lights became a blur. Suddenly, fireworks exploded over the horizon. Hunter shouted into the night: “Happy New Year! Sloane Vance, keep moving forward! Don’t you dare look back!” I curled my lips into a smile and shouted with him. 9 It was nearly midnight when I got back to the estate. The lights were off, and the room reeked of smoke. Caleb was sitting on the sofa, looking drained. When he saw me, he stood up, forcing a smile. “Sloane. I couldn’t reach you. I thought you went to Lydia’s.” I just hummed, taking the exit he offered me. As I turned to go upstairs, Caleb’s raspy voice stopped me. “Sloane, I had a nightmare last night. I dreamt you fell in love with someone else and left me.” He paused for a few seconds. “You’ll always love me, right?” He looked at me desperately, searching my eyes for an answer. I suddenly found it hilarious. Fate is a circle. In the past, I had asked myself that same question a thousand times: Does Caleb still love me? Back then, I thought he did. He planted my favorite roses in the garden. He bought me an estate for my birthday. He even walked for miles in a blizzard to find me specific medicine when I was sick. But his love was divisible. He could love me while being intimately entangled with half a dozen other women. I knew how he played. In that circle, threesomes and flings were just part of the lifestyle. The other wives told me not to take love so seriously. But I couldn’t do it. I spent my days looking for proof that he loved me just a little more than the others. Until Hunter told me that real love doesn’t need to be proven.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “418555”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

When the billionaire couple came to adopt us, my sister immediately clung to them, leaving me alone to live with our grandmother. She thought she was securing a future of immense wealth and luxury. What she didn’t know was that her new “brother” was a violent psychopath who tormented her every single day. Her adoptive parents were completely biased, only scolding and beating her. In the end, she lost her mind, stabbed her entire adoptive family, and was thrown in prison. I, on the other hand, became the youngest head researcher at the State Agricultural Research Institute. I developed a revolutionary strain of high-yield wheat, was nominated for a prestigious national science award, and had a limitless future. My sister escaped from prison, crashed my award ceremony, and murdered me in a fit of jealous rage. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the billionaires came to adopt us. This time, my sister lunged to grab our grandmother’s arm first, shooting me a venomous glare: “Sister, it’s your turn to go to hell.” But she didn’t realize that no matter which path you choose, if you don’t use your brain, it always leads to a dead end. As for me, my dream has always been the same— To develop agriculture and change the world. 1 “Have you two decided? Who wants to come with us?” Inside our rundown, drafty house stood a couple dressed in impeccably tailored, expensive clothes. The woman looked at us gently, asking in a soft voice. They were the Vanderbilts, one of the most prominent, old-money families in Seattle. They had come to our small town to adopt a child, choosing between me and my older sister. My sister, Harper, froze for a second, her eyes exploding with wild joy. Then, she forcefully shoved me aside, turned, and threw her arms around our grandmother. Pouting, she cried out, “I want to stay here with Grandma!” The wealthy woman turned her gaze to me, her eyes curving into a warm smile. “So it looks like you’ll be coming with us, is that right?” Harper chimed in quickly, “Yes, yes! Let my little sister go home with you.” Grandma was rarely treated with such affection by Harper. She looked stunned, awkwardly reaching out to pat the top of Harper’s head. Before today, Harper had always despised Grandma for being poor. She bossed her around constantly and called her an “old hag.” There were even times when Harper had a midnight craving and, despite a torrential downpour outside, would shake our elderly grandmother awake, demanding she walk to the store to buy snacks. Grandma was understandably confused. She knew Harper hated being poor and despised our cramped house. So why, when a billionaire family came to adopt one of us, was Harper acting so out of character? Why would she refuse to leave with them and choose to stay? Grandma couldn’t understand why Harper would break character to stay in our impoverished home. But I knew exactly why. Because both Harper and I had been reborn. I knelt on the floor and bowed my head deeply to my grandmother. “Grandma, thank you for taking care of me all these years. As long as I have the chance, I will definitely repay you.” After paying my respects, I stood up. I walked calmly toward Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt. “I will go with you.” 2 In our past life, my sister had lunged forward, practically throwing herself into the Vanderbilts’ arms, decisively choosing to leave with them. She thought that by entering the opulent Vanderbilt household, she was guaranteed a happy, fairytale life as a pampered princess. She had no idea that the Vanderbilts had ulterior motives for adopting a daughter. The Vanderbilts had a biological son named Cole. He was well-mannered and incredibly handsome. Unfortunately, he was also an absolute psychopath with severe bipolar disorder. When Harper entered the Vanderbilt mansion, what awaited her wasn’t the meticulous love of wealthy parents or the doting affection of a billionaire brother. It was the torment of a madman. When Cole’s condition seemed somewhat stable, his parents decided to send him to a regular high school. But they were worried he wouldn’t adapt well on his own, which was why they decided to adopt a child. On her first day at the Vanderbilt estate, Harper was thrilled, eager to build a good relationship with Cole. But Cole despised strangers suddenly appearing in his home. Instead of welcoming her with a smile, he walked straight up to Harper and slapped her across the face. Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt acted as if this was perfectly normal. Ignoring the angry red welt on Harper’s face, they coldly ordered her to keep an eye on her new brother. At school, the other students looked down on Harper for being an adopted “charity case.” The local golden boy, Julian Montgomery, even led the charge in bullying her. Her life at school became a living hell. And when she came home, if Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt discovered Cole had an episode at school and gotten hurt, they would beat Harper with a belt or force her to kneel in the hallway all night. Harper lived a miserable life. In contrast, my life had been very peaceful. After Harper left, Grandma gave me all her undivided love and attention. I studied fiercely at school every day. After school, I helped Grandma run her small vegetable stand at the farmer’s market. Even though life was hard work, I felt incredibly happy. Later, a leading researcher from the State Agricultural Research Institute visited our high school and recognized my potential immediately. I didn’t let him down. I earned a full scholarship to a top agricultural university, joined the Research Institute, worked under him in the labs, and successfully developed a revolutionary high-yield strain of wheat. Because of this breakthrough, I was nominated for the highest national science and technology award, becoming the youngest nominee in history. My future was bright and limitless. Meanwhile, driven insane by years of abuse, Harper snapped. She stabbed her entire adoptive family and was thrown into federal prison. It’s a shame I never made it to the podium to accept my award. On the day of the ceremony, Harper escaped from prison. Seeing me standing in the center of the stage, surrounded by applause, she was consumed by a blinding, jealous rage. Like a maniac, she lunged at me and stabbed me over a dozen times. So, reborn into this new life, she didn’t hesitate to choose to stay with Grandma, determined to push me into the abyss of the Vanderbilt family. As I walked out the door, I looked back one last time. Grandma was looking at me with deep reluctance and sadness. But Harper, leaning against Grandma’s chest, glared at me with eyes full of pure venom. She sneered coldly. “Sister, this time, it’s your turn to go to hell.” She was absolutely certain that by entering the Vanderbilt home, I would suffer the exact same torment she endured in our past life. But hasn’t Harper, who already died once, realized the truth yet? No matter which path you choose, if you navigate life as brainlessly as she did, it will always lead to a dead end. 3 Harper was right about one thing: on my very first day in the Vanderbilt house, I learned that Cole was a complete and utter psychopath. My new parents brought me home and pulled me in front of a handsome young man with dark, intense eyes. They looked at Cole and said softly, “Cole, from now on, she’s your little sister. When you go to school, she’ll take good care of you.” With that, Mrs. Vanderbilt pushed me forward, presenting me to Cole like a brand-new toy. “From now on, your job is to take good care of your brother. You are not to let him get hurt in any way, do you understand?” I looked at the young man standing in front of me. “Understood.” Once Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt left the room. Cole lazily strolled over to me, looking me up and down with an air of absolute superiority. After a long moment, he let out a scoff. “What the hell is this? You think you’re worthy of being my sister?” The next second, he reached out, grabbed the back of my head, and violently slammed my face into the mahogany table. A loud CRACK echoed through the room. His eyes were filled with violence. He looked at me with pure disdain, like he was looking at an insignificant ant. “Stupid bitch.” At that exact moment, Mrs. Vanderbilt, who had forgotten something, turned back into the room. She saw me pinned to the table, looking miserable, with Cole’s hand gripping the back of my neck. She didn’t look surprised at all. She simply picked up what she needed. As she walked past Cole, she shot me a quick glance and said coldly, “Autumn Vanderbilt, keep a close eye on him. Don’t let your brother get hurt.” With my neck pinned, I could only shift my eyes to look at Cole and answer softly, “Understood. I’ll take good care of him.” Seeing how Mr. and Mrs. Vanderbilt pretended to care about Cole but were actually so profoundly indifferent, I realized something. I felt sorry for Cole. Truly sorry for him. The Vanderbilts were busy executives, and they quickly left for a business trip. Once I confirmed they were actually gone. I reached up, grabbed a fistful of Cole’s hair, and yanked downward with all my strength. My voice was dead calm. “Let go of me, you brainless psycho.” The pain made Cole flinch. He involuntarily let go, glaring at me furiously. “You dare curse at me? I’ll tell Mom and Dad and have you thrown out!” I stepped around Cole, my eyes curving into a slight smile. “Mom just saw you pinning me down by the neck. I didn’t even dare to fight back.” “So how could I possibly dare to curse at you, big brother?” As I walked upstairs, I warned Cole: “Until Mom and Dad get back, you’d better behave. Don’t pull any crazy stunts.” With that, I completely ignored Cole’s expression of utter disbelief and walked away. I let Cole pound furiously on my bedroom door until the walls shook. I didn’t even flinch. 4 Harper wasn’t satisfied with merely pushing me into the abyss. She started a live stream. Putting on a fragile facade, she filmed herself with tear-filled eyes. Harper had a naturally innocent face. With her dark hair cascading down her shoulders, she looked even more helpless. She spoke pitifully: “My little sister and I were raised by our grandmother since we were babies. I have a very deep bond with her.” “When forced to choose between the luxurious life of a wealthy family and the quiet companionship of my only real family…” “Because my grandmother’s health is failing, I decided to stay by her side. I just want to spend as much time with her as I can.” Harper paused, letting out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh: “But my sister didn’t even look back. She chose the billionaires. She didn’t care at all about how Grandma would survive after she left. I honestly feel like she’s a cold, heartless person.” More and more viewers poured into her live stream. Hearing Harper’s words, the internet mob quickly turned on me, ruthlessly bashing me as an ungrateful, gold-digging traitor. Harper quickly added, “I’m not saying what my sister did was completely wrong. I know that when given the choice, picking wealth is just human nature.” “I can understand why she did it.” “Of course,” Harper tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her voice soft and gentle, “I will always stay by Grandma’s side.” Harper stared at her phone screen, flashing a pure, innocent smile, like a solitary white flower blooming in a barren desert. She clenched her fist, as if cheering herself on: “I’ll take good care of Grandma! We’ll live a good life together!” Seeing Harper’s pure, harmless act, many viewers felt their hearts break for her. Her live stream was clipped and spread like wildfire across social media platforms like TikTok and Twitter. Overnight, everyone was praising her as an untainted angel blooming in the mud. And I was branded the greedy, social-climbing villain. 5 Unsurprisingly, almost everyone at my new high school had seen that viral video. Julian Montgomery was the “Prince” of the school, born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He had never seen a girl as stubborn and principled as the one in the video—someone who, when faced with the choice between unimaginable wealth and family, chose family without hesitation. Not only that, she was strong and pure. In contrast, as the gold-digging, materialistic sister, I appeared even more toxic and deceitful. Julian always despised social climbers like me. So, he led his crew of lackeys to corner me aggressively outside the girls’ restroom. Julian was smoking a cigarette. He leaned against the wall, looking down at me with absolute arrogance. He blew a puff of smoke directly into my face. “Look at you… A filthy little cockroach like you doesn’t even deserve to breathe the air at this school!” Julian flicked his cigarette ash. The next second, he pressed the burning cherry of the cigarette directly into my forearm. I was being held back by his lackeys and couldn’t move an inch. I could only watch as Julian’s cigarette burned into my skin. With a sickening sizzle, an angry, red blister instantly formed. Seeing this, the boys around him erupted into a chorus of mocking, sinister laughter. Harper had been tipped off and brought over, arriving just in time to witness the scene. Immediately, she widened her eyes, covered her mouth, and gasped in shock, “How could you guys do this?!” Julian looked up, lazily pushed himself off the wall, walked over to Harper, and chuckled softly. “Hey there, little thing.” “I’m getting revenge for you. Don’t you like that?” Harper stole a quick glance at me, hiding the triumph in her eyes. Then, she stomped her foot, looking angrily at Julian. “I don’t like this! This is going way too far!” Seeing Harper scrunch her nose in anger, Julian scoffed. He grabbed her arm, threw his arm around her shoulder, and steered her away. “Don’t like it? Fine, I’ll use a different method next time.” Harper’s voice was sweet and coquettish: “Julian, how can you treat a classmate like that? You shouldn’t!” As they rounded the corner, Harper subtly looked back, sweeping a contemptuous glare over me. She was naturally triumphant. In her past life, the person who bullied her the most at school was Julian. In this life, with our positions swapped, Julian had actually taken a liking to her and was helping her bully me. But, dear sister, we’ve been reborn. Relying on a man—is that really your only strategy? 6 During his first few days at school, Cole was actually quite calm. He kept to himself and didn’t cause any trouble. But when I returned to the classroom after handing in a test, I found the room in absolute chaos. Cole’s desk had been flipped over, his books scattered all over the floor. Cole was nowhere to be seen. The other students still had fear in their eyes. They told me what happened. Cole had been sitting perfectly still when he suddenly snapped. Out of nowhere, he went into a frenzy, violently smashing everything within his reach. I found Cole in an empty classroom down the hall. Teachers were standing hesitantly at the door, but no one dared to go inside. He was sitting silently on a single chair in the middle of the room, a bottomless, violent rage hiding beneath his eyes. Seeing this scene, a look of venomous glee flashed across Harper’s face. The memories of being abused by Cole when he lost his mind in our past life were still fresh. She screamed in mock terror: “Cole is a psycho! He’s sick in the head!” Having taken care of Cole for so long in the past life, didn’t she know that people having a bipolar manic episode shouldn’t be provoked? I marched forward, raised my hand, and slapped Harper hard across the face. I commanded her: “Shut up! Don’t say another word!” She stumbled back, hitting the wall. Harper’s eyes widened, and she opened her mouth to scream. But in the next second, she caught sight of Julian and his crew walking down the hallway. Harper’s eyes darted quickly, and she immediately started sobbing, fat tears rolling down her cheeks. She cried out, “Why are you bullying me?!” Seeing this, Julian’s jaw tightened. He marched over furiously. “Hey! Autumn Vanderbilt, do you have a death wish?!” I completely ignored Julian. I turned, stepped into the classroom no one else dared to enter, and slammed the door shut behind me. I faced Cole’s terrifying, sudden glare. My gaze was steady as I held out a bottle of pills. “Take your medication.” Cole’s voice was icy. He said bluntly, “Get out!” Seeing me step closer, Cole’s fingers curled into fists. The next second, he stood up, grabbed me by the throat, and shoved me toward the floor. Cole’s eyes were bloodshot. A low growl tore from his throat. “I said, GET OUT!” I wasn’t surprised by this at all. But this was a school, not the Vanderbilt mansion. This wasn’t a place where Cole could throw a tantrum without consequences. Growing up with Grandma, I had done years of manual farm labor. If there was one thing I had, it was physical strength. Without making a sound, I pried Cole’s hands off my neck, grabbed him by the collar, and flipped him, pinning him to the floor. Pressing him down, I enunciated every word: “I said, take your meds!” Cole was in the middle of a manic episode and couldn’t process a word I was saying. He struggled, trying to get up: “You dare treat me like this?! I’ll tell Mom and Dad and have you thrown out!” My voice was freezing cold: “Be my guest.” If it weren’t for the fact that the Vanderbilts had helped my Grandma financially in the past, and I felt I owed them a debt of gratitude… I never would have obediently agreed to leave with them. Unable to overpower me, a vicious light gleamed in Cole’s eyes. He opened his mouth and bit down hard on my forearm. He didn’t hold back. In an instant, blood was pouring down my arm. But I wasn’t going to coddle him. I punched him hard in the face, my arm bleeding, as we wrestled on the floor. Cole had already exhausted most of his energy during his earlier outburst. By the end of it, I had his arms pinned behind his back, forcing him to swallow his pills. Cole glared at me with pure hatred. “Autumn Vanderbilt! You’re insane!” I slapped him without hesitation. “You’re the one who’s insane.” “Brainless idiot.” 7 Because of this incident, Cole had his episode right in the middle of the school. Almost everyone now knew that Cole Vanderbilt had severe bipolar disorder. Harper went out of her way to spread rumors around the school, telling everyone Cole was a violent psychopath and warning people to stay away from him. When Julian asked her about it. Tears immediately welled up in Harper’s eyes. She looked up at him pitifully: “Cole is a very scary person. I’ve… I’ve seen him hurt people before. I just want the other students to stay away from him so they’ll be safe.” Hearing this… The slight discomfort Julian had felt vanished instantly, and he found Harper even more pure-hearted and kind. He pulled Harper into a protective embrace, waved his hand, and declared grandly: “Don’t be scared. Stick with me, and I’ll never let anyone bully you.” Hearing this, Harper put on a shy expression. She blushed, lightly swatting Julian’s arm, and whined softly: “What are you talking about…” Precisely because of the rumors Harper was spreading… Cole, who was already isolated, now had no one who dared to come near him. Except for me. At school, I kept an eye on Cole, making sure he took his medication on time. Cole was incredibly impatient with me. More than once, he yelled at me to get lost. I would just watch him swallow his pills, cap the bottle, and walk away: “I don’t actually want to be near you either.” Because during Cole’s last episode, I had impatiently slapped Harper. Julian had seen it. He believed I was bullying Harper, which made him despise me even more. At school, I often found my desk and chair covered in permanent marker, spelling out “Bitch” and “Slut.” When I went to the cafeteria to eat, people would intentionally bump into me, spilling food all over my clothes. Sometimes, I’d go to the bathroom and come back to find snakes, dead rats, or cockroaches stuffed in my backpack. Sometimes they were dead, sometimes they were alive. Seeing me freeze. Julian would lean against the windowsill with his lackeys, laughing so hard they were doubled over. I didn’t even change my expression. I simply walked over, reached into his uniform collar, and stuffed the creatures right back in. Julian shrieked in terror, jumping around trying to shake the dead rat out of his shirt. He screamed at me: “Are you insane?!” I didn’t say a word, just turned and walked back to my seat. Julian’s gaze turned dark and sinister. He glared at me: “I’m going to kill you.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “418556”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I was the top scholar, a straight-A student with a bright future. Because of my innocent, girl-next-door looks, I was dubbed the “Beauty and Brains Valedictorian.” At the start of my senior year, my homeroom teacher assigned me to peer-tutor the school’s notorious bad boy. I tutored him with everything I had, but he went around bragging that I was obsessed with him. Later, he faked an apology, lured me to a cheap motel, filmed an intimate video of us, and posted it online. “Her? She looks pure on the outside, but behind closed doors… damn.” Worse, I got pregnant. My father sought justice for me, only to be thrown off a construction site to his death. With nowhere left to turn and no one willing to help, my mother took me in her arms and we jumped into the freezing ocean. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day my teacher assigned me to tutor the bad boy. 1 “327 days until College Admissions.” Staring at the countdown written on the whiteboard, I realized with a violent jolt that I had been reborn. Sitting in my familiar high school classroom, my body couldn’t stop trembling. “Chloe, what’s wrong?” My desk mate, Sierra Sterling, gently patted my thigh, her voice low and full of concern. Sierra was gorgeous. She was the undisputed queen bee of the school. With her glossy, waist-length black hair, she effortlessly captured the hearts of half the boys in our grade. Right now, her brows were slightly furrowed, her pale fingers resting on my leg. She looked like the picture of a caring best friend. But I felt like I was being strangled by seaweed—dark, damp, suffocating, and freezing cold. “I’m fine.” I casually shifted my body, dodging her touch. Through the reflection in the classroom window, I caught a fleeting, imperceptible gleam of calculation in Sierra’s eyes. In my past life, I treated Sierra as my absolute best friend. Yet, she was the one who spiked my water bottle and allowed Ryder Kingston to drag me into that cheap motel. If Ryder was the weapon that destroyed my life, Sierra and her father—our homeroom teacher, Mr. Sterling—were the masterminds pulling the strings. Just to steal my full-ride Ivy League recommendation, they used Ryder to ruin me! At the podium, Mr. Sterling’s mouth was moving. I didn’t hear a single word of his bullshit. Because before the bell rang, he was going to announce the new “Peer Tutoring Program.” Ring— The bell rang right on time, and the students began to stir. Mr. Sterling, his large, greasy belly protruding, scanned the room with a stern face and slammed a plastic folder onto the podium. “Listen up, I have an announcement! To improve our class’s overall GPA, I’ve decided to establish a peer-tutoring system. The pairing list is right here. Check it and change your seats accordingly.” Without another word, he turned and left. The classroom exploded. Everyone rushed to the front to check the list. I calmly pulled out a prep book and started reviewing SAT practice questions. Unable to contain her fake excitement, Sierra asked me, “Chloe, aren’t you going to see who your partner is?” I didn’t even lift my eyes. “It’s the same either way.” Knowing full well I was paired with Ryder, she squeezed into the crowd anyway, then gasped with exaggerated shock: “Oh my god, Chloe! You’re paired with Ryder!” 2 Who was Ryder Kingston? He was dead last in every subject. Skipping class, smoking, fighting… if it was something a delinquent would do, he did it. But he happened to have a handsome, sharp face. He was tall and lean. Plus, he was more willing to throw cash around than the other guys his age. With his messy, textured fringe, he was insanely popular in school. At an age where everyone was expected to listen to their parents and teachers and be perfect students, Ryder’s existence was like a rebellious shooting star. Dazzling, intoxicating, and tempting people to fall. We were seniors. Pairing the number one student with the absolute worst student for “tutoring” was obviously messed up. Any idiot could see something was wrong. But because Mr. Sterling was the homeroom teacher, everyone was too afraid to speak up. This was when Sierra stepped up to speak for me, making the situation incredibly subtle. She was always used to this tactic—maintaining her flawless, angelic image in the eyes of our classmates. Last year, there was a nomination for the State’s National Merit Scholar. By all metrics, it should have been mine. But Mr. Sterling submitted her name instead. She was the first one to feign outrage on my behalf. She stormed into the faculty office, had a huge “fight” with her dad, and came back crying. I even spent the entire afternoon comforting her. Looking back, she must have been calling me a naive idiot in her head the whole time. In the eyes of our classmates, her relationship with her dad was terrible; he was a greedy, corrupt teacher, and she was a lotus flower blooming unstained from the mud. She just had “limited power” and couldn’t fight the system. But if you really want to understand someone, you should never listen to what they say. You must look at what they eventually get. The father and daughter played good cop, bad cop perfectly. In the end, Sierra got both the pristine reputation and the tangible benefits. “College admissions are right around the corner! How can he do this?” Sierra rushed down from the podium and grabbed my arm. “Come on, let’s go talk to my dad!” I finished the last calculation on my scratch paper and flipped to the answer key. It matched. I let out a breath and put down my pen. I looked up straight into Sierra’s eyes: “Sierra, are you discriminating against Ryder? Or are you just looking down on all struggling students who don’t get good grades?” 3 Sierra’s grades were very stable. She was the eternal third place. In the classroom, almost everyone had worse grades than her. The moment I asked that question, the gazes of all the surrounding students turned slightly hostile toward her. Even Ryder, who was sleeping with his head on his desk, twitched his ears. Sierra’s pupils shrank. Her hand slid limply off my arm. “I… I didn’t mean it like that.” I smiled. In my past life, I foolishly trusted her and went to confront the teacher. Her dad had thrown those exact words in my face in front of the whole class. Because of that, my popularity plummeted, and the girls who had a crush on Ryder even cornered me in the bathroom and beat me up. Now, I was simply returning his words, verbatim, to his precious daughter. “Excuse me, honor student.” The class representative walked by, intentionally and harshly bumping into Sierra’s shoulder. Sierra stumbled, her face pale, completely at a loss. “Oh? If you didn’t mean it like that, then why don’t you tutor Ryder?” “How can I do that?!” Sierra’s voice pitched high, shrill and panicked. Only after she rebutted did she realize how bad it sounded. Her lips trembled, but she didn’t know what to say to fix it. I stood up and patted her shoulder. “I know you have the kindest heart. You definitely didn’t mean to sound like that just now.” Sierra looked at me with immense gratitude. But I had already swiftly packed her backpack and handed it to her. “Since you’re so willing to help Ryder, let’s hurry up and give him this seat so he can move over.” Not expecting me to say that, Sierra’s eyes went wide. She stood frozen in place. Her hands were still gripping the backpack I had shoved into them. Our current seats were in the middle of the third row—the absolute best seats in the classroom. To show off his rebellious, main-character aura, Ryder sat in the second-to-last row by the window. Sierra’s nails dug into her palms. Her eyes slowly turned red. She looked like she was about to cry. I cut her off before she could cast her spell: “Sierra, why are you crying? I’m just asking you to give up your seat for a struggling student like Ryder. Does that really make you feel that wronged?” 4 Hearing my words, the piercing gazes of our classmates stabbed into Sierra once again. Having lost her composure consecutively, Sierra knew she was in the wrong. She lowered her head and wiped away her tears. “How could that be? Of course not.” Sierra took the initiative to swap seats with Ryder, and Ryder obediently agreed. In my past life, Ryder refused to move. I was forced to move next to him. Not only was his seat in the far back, but it was also in a blind spot for the classroom’s security camera. During study halls, he constantly messed with me, interrupting my studying. I reported it to the teachers, but without video evidence, nothing happened. This time, Ryder’s new seat was right under the camera. He just slept during class, not daring to pull any stunts. Mr. Sterling didn’t notice his daughter was sitting in the back corner until the next day. But since he had created this mess himself, he couldn’t say anything. I also didn’t painstakingly tutor Ryder like I did in my past life. I will never forget the smug look on his face when he took the study guides and notes I stayed up late making for him, and told everyone I was secretly in love with him and desperate to date him. His mocking, sleazy laughter. It turned me into the absolute laughingstock of the school. Now, Ryder and I were like strangers. He slept, and I studied. When the monthly exam results came out, the name “Chloe Adams” sat firmly at the number one spot. “Chloe, you’re amazing! You’ve been number one ever since freshman year!” “Yeah, at this rate, you’re definitely going to be the valedictorian for the state!” I smiled and accepted my classmates’ praises. It was a stark contrast to my past life. During the first month of being Ryder’s desk mate, my rank dropped to sixth. Because during the listening comprehension section of our exams, he would play music right in my ear, making it impossible to hear the broadcast. Now that I was back at number one, Sierra was the one who couldn’t sit still. After school, I followed Sierra to the back of the gym building. “Ryder, think of something! If this keeps up, I definitely won’t get the Ivy League recommendation…” Saying that, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed Ryder on the forehead. And I, perfectly positioned, snapped a photo of that exact moment. 5 The next day, Ryder launched a furious, aggressive pursuit of me. In the morning, he brought me milk and pastries. During breaks, he skipped gym to buy me iced lattes. He even pulled out a massive bouquet of roses in front of everyone, getting down on one knee: “Chloe, I fell in love with you at first sight! Be my girlfriend!” I feigned shock, covered my mouth, and pointed silently at the security camera. Due to his terrible behavior, the Dean of Students caught him and forced him to read a public apology at the podium during morning announcements. “Test, test!” Ryder grabbed the microphone, and with a booming voice, yelled: “Chloe! I just fucking love you! You can punish me, but I still love you!” “Quick! Cut the mic! Cut the power!” The Dean tackled Ryder, his face purple with rage. The eyes of the entire school turned to me. “Oooooh~” The crowd cheered and jeered with malicious excitement. I lowered my head, sneering internally. In my past life, Ryder went around telling everyone I was his desperate simp. This time, I’d let him play the simp until he choked on it. After class, Sierra came over to comfort me. “Chloe, don’t be too upset.” On the surface, she was comforting me, but in reality, every word she said was designed to push me toward Ryder. “I think Ryder really likes you. Plus, he’s ranked number one in the school’s hottest guys poll!” As she spoke, Sierra blinked at me coyly: “Chloe, your youth is so exciting.” Exciting? All I wanted was to quietly take my SATs, get into a top university, find a good job, and give my parents a happy life. Ryder was suspended for a week to reflect on his actions. When he came back, he continued relentlessly harassing me. During a basketball game against another class, whenever he scored a three-pointer, he would yell at me: “Chloe, am I handsome or what?!” If I hadn’t lived through the tragic experiences of my past life, I might have actually fallen into their trap. But now, I didn’t even lift my head, sharply filling in bubble ‘A’ on my English practice test. The whole school knew Ryder was my ultimate simp. When the results for the second month’s exams came out, my scores didn’t drop; they soared. I beat the second place by a massive 30-point margin. Sierra, on the other hand, was too busy worrying about me and Ryder. She dropped to fourth place. Realizing the soft approach wasn’t working, Ryder and his crew switched tactics. That night after school, I was cornered by a group of mean girls. “What kind of plastic bag are you, acting so fake?” “Our boy Ryder taking a liking to you is a blessing. Why are you acting so high and mighty?” Just as a girl raised her hand to slap me. Ryder strolled over, hands in his pockets, looking effortlessly cool. “Chloe, my patience is limited. I’ll ask you one more time: are you going to be my girl or not?” “Sure, but I have one condition.” The eyes under Ryder’s messy fringe lit up. “What is it?” 6 I shoved the mean girl who had been barking at me a second ago. I ran past them, turning back to flash a radiant smile. “Ryder! Win first place in the 1000-meter race at the track meet next week, and I’ll think about it!” During the scuffle with the mean girl, my thick, black-rimmed glasses had been knocked off. As I ran down the stairs and disappeared from Ryder’s line of sight, I pulled the hair tie from my head. My long hair cascaded in the wind as I ran toward the school gates without looking back. Before I could get far, I heard Ryder standing by the window, shouting to me: “Chloe! “I’ll win that first place for you, I swear!” The setting sun cast a warm golden glow. A gentle breeze swept by, and I turned my head, smiling and waving at him. Ryder was visibly stunned. I turned back around and instantly dropped the smile. During an interview for the college entrance exams in my past life, because of my pure, innocent looks, I was dubbed the “Beauty and Brains Valedictorian.” Beauty combined with any other strong trait is a royal flush, but beauty on its own is a pure disaster. Although my grades were excellent, my impoverished background attracted a lot of unwanted flies. In order to focus entirely on my studies, I deliberately kept thick, heavy bangs and wore massive, ugly black-rimmed glasses. Even though I had perfect 20/20 vision. Just like how there were two Ivy League recommendation spots. Sierra and her dad would never target the second-place student, Ethan Pierce. Because Ethan’s father was a renowned research institute director. I was the only one with no money and no power. I tried so hard to hide my light, yet before I even had the chance to bloom, I was trampled into the mud. This time, I didn’t mind using my advantages a little early. If I had to coat myself in poison, I might as well be breathtakingly toxic. When I got home and washed my hands, I looked up in the mirror and smiled again. The smile was brimming with the unique innocence and brightness of a young girl. Every frame that Ryder saw was something I had meticulously practiced hundreds of times, prepared specifically for him. Sierra, are you really that confident about your place in Ryder’s heart? Let’s test it out and see if human hearts are as fickle as they say. That day, a classmate captured my smiling glance backward and posted it on the campus forum, mentioning the bet Ryder made to run the 1000-meter race for me. A gorgeous female top scholar and a handsome bad boy—the gossip potential was off the charts. It added a blazing fire to the dull, stressful life of high school seniors. The post’s popularity skyrocketed, and someone even added my photo to the school’s Beauty Poll. Soon, I had more votes than the reigning school queen, Sierra. “Holy crap, when did Chloe get so pretty?” “Chloe has always been pretty! Didn’t you guys see her without those ugly glasses?” “No wonder Ryder is chasing her. I want to write love letters to her too!” … Amidst the overwhelming praise, one malicious comment stood out glaringly. “You call this pretty? You guys need to raise your standards.” The hate comment was quickly bumped to the top by replies. “Life is so boring without you internet trolls.” “Post a selfie so we can see whose breath is so big.” When I refreshed the page, the hate comment was deleted. I tapped my screen lightly, knowing exactly who the author was. Because only Sierra had the habit of using spaces instead of punctuation, but always ending with a period. The glow of the phone screen reflected on my face. I tapped on Sierra’s contact photo. Heh. It’s only just begun, and you already can’t sit still? 7 Sierra was left in the dust in both grades and the beauty poll. No matter how good she was at hiding it, she couldn’t keep up the act these past few days and stopped hovering around me. Ryder, on the other hand, was practicing running on the track every single day. Outside the window, dark clouds gathered, but there wasn’t a breath of wind. A storm was coming. Bang! The referee fired the starting gun, and the boys’ 1000-meter race officially began. The 1000-meter isn’t as fierce as sprints; the results become obvious quickly. By the final lap, only Ryder and a track-and-field student were leading the pack. Ryder was trailing by one body length. Sierra’s eyes darted around, and she approached me with malicious intent. “Chloe, aren’t you going to the finish line to cheer for Ryder?” The other girls heard and excitedly joined in: “Yeah, yeah! With your encouragement, Ryder might actually take first place!” “He could win another gold medal for our class!” I blushed, lowered my head, and grabbed Sierra’s sleeve. “Will you go with me? I’m too embarrassed to go alone…” I acted incredibly shy. The corners of Sierra’s mouth curled into a mocking sneer. “Sure, I’ll go with you.” With 200 meters left, I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled: “Ryder! You got this!” I don’t know if my cheering actually worked. Hearing my voice, Ryder smiled wildly and sprinted with everything he had, actually passing the track athlete. The boy had a tall, athletic build, his lean muscles visible under his thin sportswear. He crossed the finish line amidst the cheers of the crowd, but he didn’t stop. Instead, he ran straight toward me and crashed heavily into my embrace. Time stood still. The cheering and shouting of the surrounding students seemed so far away. The only thing ringing in my ears was Ryder’s wildly beating heart. Thump-thump, thump-thump! Deafening. People are masochists. Things obtained too easily are never cherished. In my past life, out of the goodness of my heart, I tutored Ryder for free. Not only was he ungrateful, but he ruined my family and my life. Now, I just set up a tiny, insignificant hurdle, and his attitude toward me took a 180-degree turn. Listening to his racing heartbeat. I wondered, Ryder, did your heart ever beat this wildly for Sierra? But right now, this palpitation was entirely because of me. Ryder’s voice carried the heavy panting of post-exercise exhaustion: “Chloe… I fucking did it!” He declared it to me with a massive grin, the joy in his eyes shining like stars. I rested my chin on his shoulder. “Yeah. Congratulations.” The students around us were cheering and gossiping. Sierra stood off to the side, looking utterly lonely, unable to force even a fake smile. Watching her nails dig deeply into her palms, I smiled even brighter. That night, Ryder walked Sierra home. On the way back, they walked one in front of the other, seemingly in a cold war. Suddenly, Sierra turned around and hugged Ryder tightly. They embraced for a very long time. She probably wanted to overwrite the traces of my existence. Truly laughable. 8 The next day after class, Ryder cornered me in the equipment room. He had a natural, bad-boy charm to him. Leaning casually against the wall with one arm, his silhouette alone was enough to make the school girls scream. “I guess I can be your boyfriend now, right?” He was in a great mood, using his index finger to lightly tilt my chin up. His handsome features leaned in close. His gaze landed aggressively on my lips. His outer shell was undeniably seductive. At the critical moment, I blinked, raising my hand to place it between us. His warm breath hit my fingertips, the tension rising. Confusion flashed through Ryder’s eyes as he forcefully wrapped an arm around my waist. “I know the person you actually like isn’t me.” Ryder’s pupils quaked, and the hand gripping my waist froze. I slowly broke free from his hold. “What are you talking about? I don’t get it,” Ryder deflected, looking down. I opened my phone and pulled up the photo I took of him and Sierra being intimate. Leaning close to his ear, I whispered seductively: “You like Sierra. I can help you.” Seeing the photo, Ryder gave up fighting. He let out a self-deprecating laugh: “How are you going to help me?” I raised my hand, dodging his attempt to snatch my phone. “I can fake date you and teach you how to win Sierra’s heart.” Ryder leaned against the wall, half of his face hidden in shadows. After a long time, the left corner of his mouth twitched upward. “Why should I trust you?” I sneered: “Because on your own, you’ll never get Sierra in this lifetime.” “Anyway, you have nothing to lose. I suggest you think about it.” I turned to leave. Before I could walk out the door, Ryder grabbed my wrist. “What do I have to do?” “Did you bring the medal?” Ryder nodded, pulling the boys’ 1000m gold medal from his bag. “Put it on me,” I commanded. Ryder froze for a second, then obediently complied. Click. I found the perfect angle and took a picture of him placing the medal around my neck. I took his phone, transferred the photo, and posted it on his social media. Ryder angrily snatched his phone back, his tone hostile: “What the hell are you doing?” “The first step to being with a girl: formally and openly bringing her into your life.” Ryder stopped his thumb from hitting the delete button. I patted his shoulder: “You see, the reason you haven’t been able to take things to the next level with Sierra is because you’re always so hesitant and cowardly.” “I know you’re already used to your dynamic with Sierra, and you can’t change it overnight. So I’ll practice with you, how about that?” Time slipped by, second by second. After a long silence, Ryder finally muttered heavily, “Fine.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “418557”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

At a friends’ gathering, my bestie forwarded me a post: [How do you get a girlfriend of ten years to initiate a breakup?] I cursed the scumbag in my head and clicked on it. The author of the post was my boyfriend. 1 Staring at the title, the author’s username, and the profile picture, my mind went completely blank. My first reaction: my best friend sent this to the wrong person. With trembling hands, I scrolled to the very top and started reading word by word. But the more I read, the more my heart sank. The post was incredibly detailed. So detailed that every little thing was described perfectly. Making it impossible for me not to believe it. The post started by talking about how hard he pursued me, the excitement and beauty of finally winning me over. Then it talked about when I bombed my SATs and didn’t get into my dream school. He stayed with me, secretly applying to a college near mine. When he was doing his senior thesis and working across two different cities, we accumulated over four hundred round-trip Greyhound and Amtrak ticket stubs. Back then, maybe because of love, he just wanted to hold me in his hands. He never felt it was a burden. Even my occasional bad moods were easily noticed by him. He’d lose his appetite and sleep, buy an overnight ticket, and ride 12 hours just to see me. It was like he had endless energy and love. But I don’t know when it started, he got bored. Yet, because I almost died saving him from a car accident, leaving one of my arms half-ruined and unable to lift heavy things… He was afraid of being called a monster. He didn’t want to be the one to bring up the breakup. But he truly couldn’t stand being with me anymore. He grew more and more repulsed by my touch, annoyed by anything related to me. Sometimes, just hearing my voice… …made him inexplicably irritated and angry. At his worst, he even wanted to scream at me, “Why don’t you just go die?” 2 I don’t know how I finished reading that post. Or how I scrolled down to the comments. Many commenters said that in these situations, the guy usually has someone else in his heart. So the current girlfriend becomes a stumbling block to his new romance, making everything she does annoying. He didn’t reply to them. But he “liked” one specific comment: [Bro, I feel you. I wanted to break up with my GF of three years, but she was a total idiot. Not only did she miss all my hints, she loved me so much she lost all her self-respect. It made me more and more disgusted. I couldn’t even stop myself from wanting to cheat.] I don’t know if he liked it to agree that I was an idiot making him disgusted, or to agree that he wanted to cheat. “Babe, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?” Someone across from me asked. Caleb, who had been looking at his phone, looked up when he heard that. He frowned first, then pulled a tissue to wipe my tears, but his voice was impatient: “We’re just out for drinks, why are you crying?” A female friend at the table started teasing: “After all these years, Caleb and Maya’s relationship is still so solid. Honestly, every time I run into a jerk, just thinking about you two gives me the courage to believe in love again.” In the past, hearing this would make my heart feel as sweet as honey. But right now, I felt so suffocated I could barely breathe. My mind was filled with the contents of that post. I turned my head and looked at Caleb. He was always like this before. Around outsiders, he always spoke to me with a hint of impatience. But his actions never slacked off. So I never thought anything of it. Because compared to guys online who are all talk and no action… I thought Caleb was so much better. I even thought of it as a playful little dynamic between us. But I never expected that his impatience was real. It was so real he wanted me dead. Or, did he really fall for someone else and cheat? 3 On the drive back, I was unusually quiet. Normally, when we were together, I couldn’t help but share every little detail of my life, while he usually just grunted in response. Sometimes, if I talked too much, he’d pinch my lips shut: “Are you annoying or what? Yapping away. Can you shut up?” But I’d just bite his finger: “No.” Then I’d look at him with a bright smile. Even if his attitude was cold, because we had sacrificed so much for each other, I never overthought it. I don’t know where the problem started. Was he just purely bored of me? Or was there really a third person between us? Even after we got home, I remained exceptionally silent. If it were before, he would have definitely noticed something was wrong and asked me why. But today, he just looked relieved. He tossed out a casual, “I’m gonna play some games. Go to sleep first.” It was as if he didn’t want to spend another second with me. Staring at his closed study door, when I went to take a shower, I finally broke down and cried on the floor. Ten years of history. In those ten years, I imagined countless scenarios where he might break up with me. When I bombed my exams and he did amazingly, getting into a top-tier university. When we graduated and did long-distance, separated by over a thousand miles. But the only scenario I never imagined was this: when I loved him so much that I thought our relationship was unbreakable, that we could spend the rest of our lives together… he got bored. I don’t know if he was moving too fast, or if my footsteps were too slow to keep up with his rhythm. We had obviously made it through the hardest times. Just when I thought we were till death do us part, he was sick of me. 4 I don’t know how long I cried in the bathroom. When I came out, his study door wasn’t shut tight, and I heard his faint laughter. It sounded like he was coaxing someone. I pushed the door open, and he didn’t even notice. It made me think of the comment he liked. I stood at the door for a moment, then went out and sat on the couch, waiting for him. During that time, I thought a lot. I wondered if I had done anything wrong recently. I wondered when he started getting sick of me. I thought about his recent unusual behavior. But after thinking and thinking, I only had one question: If he really fell in love with someone else, what should I do? He gamed until midnight before coming out. When he walked out, he still had a smile on his face that he couldn’t hide. But when he saw me sitting on the couch, the smile vanished instantly. He frowned, almost out of habit: “Why aren’t you asleep yet?” I looked at him. “Caleb, let’s talk.” “It’s so late. What is there to talk about? Haven’t you talked enough from morning till night? Can’t you let me sleep early?” After he said that, he headed for the bedroom. My eyes turned red. I didn’t even know how I convinced myself before that he just had a mean mouth, that we had been together so long we didn’t need a filter. And that deep down, he truly loved me. Just as he was about to step into the room, I couldn’t hold back the question I’d been dying to ask since reading that post. “Caleb, do you like someone else?” Caleb’s face changed immediately: “I didn’t spend time with you while I was gaming, so you suspect I like someone else? Does this mean next time I go on a business trip, in your eyes, I’m going to a hotel with another woman? Maya, do I not even deserve an ounce of personal space now? Do I have to guard you 24/7?” It was as if every extra word I said was me being unreasonable and trying to strip away his personal space. He aggressively blocked everything I was about to say next. Caleb went into the room, grabbed his pillow, and walked back out. “I’m sleeping in the study tonight.” He really didn’t care about my feelings at all anymore. Just two years ago, he was so distressed because we were doing long-distance. The night my health failed and I passed out, almost not making it to the ER in time, he cried his eyes out. When I woke up, he held me so tight, wishing he could merge me into his own body. He said, trembling, “Do you know you scared me to death just now?” Then he made a firm decision to give up his career promotion just to be with me. A Caleb who loved me that much. How could he suddenly stop loving me right when I finally dropped everything to run to him? I sat on the couch. I couldn’t help but open his post again, reading the contents over and over, along with the reply he liked. My eyes burned unbearably. Tears fell drop by drop, soaking the screen. I wanted to get up, go to the study, lay everything out, and ask him clearly if he liked someone else. But I was too afraid to hear his harsh words again. So I sat on the couch the entire night. 5 Early the next morning, afraid that my bloodshot eyes would make him even more impatient, I washed my face before he woke up. When Caleb woke up, my face was covered in water droplets. I looked visibly terrible. But he didn’t see it. After getting ready, he just left the house. Only then did I realize that we hadn’t eaten breakfast together in almost a month. When I went to work, a coworker noticed I looked terrible right away: “What’s wrong? Have you been crying? Why are your eyes so puffy?” Even a coworker would care enough to ask, but Caleb remained completely indifferent. I forced a smile, my voice hoarse: “I’m fine.” At noon, my manager told me I had to go on a business trip. I opened iMessage. Looking at Caleb’s profile picture, my heart felt like it was being brutally squeezed. It hurt. It took me a long time, deleting and retyping, to send him a text saying I was going out of town. He replied very late with just one word: [Oh.] Looking at that word, my feelings were incredibly complicated. I couldn’t help but scroll through our chat history from the past few weeks. That’s when I realized. Most of the time, I was the one sending him messages, and he would take forever to send a dismissive reply. But because over the years, he had always put me first at every major crossroads in life… I naturally assumed my place in his heart was unshakeable, subconsciously finding excuses for him. But during the times he wasn’t replying to me, wasn’t chatting with me… was he chatting with someone else? Was it the little girl he was coaxing last night? 6 During my three-day trip, I didn’t contact Caleb, and as expected, he didn’t contact me either. Even though I anticipated it, the cycle of expectation and disappointment washed over me like a tidal wave every single day. Late at night, unable to sleep, I scrolled through his social media over and over, looking for clues. Then, my gaze locked onto a photo and stopped abruptly. It was a photo from their company’s holiday party last year. In the photo, he was sitting very close to a girl. The way he looked at her… it carried an indescribable gentleness. The reason this photo caught my attention was because I knew the girl too. From the few times we met, I could tell she treated Caleb differently. Did Caleb fall for her? Or was I just overthinking? I was afraid of being crushed by this feeling. I didn’t want to live in endless speculation. Eventually, I caught an early flight and returned home ahead of schedule. I had been with Caleb for ten years. In those ten years, our emotions were tangled too deeply. It wasn’t just love anymore; it was compromises and sacrifices. Even if we truly couldn’t go on, as long as there wasn’t a third person involved… I hoped we could part ways decently, without regrets, after giving it our best try. But I never expected that the moment I pushed the door open, I would find a pair of women’s heels in the entryway. When I saw those heels, my heart hit rock bottom. The blood in my veins ran cold. The very first thought that popped into my head was: [Caleb really cheated.] These past few days, the problem I dreaded thinking about the most, the one I feared the most, smashed into me so abruptly. For a moment, I felt like the whole world went silent. I stared blankly at the shoes for a long time before my weak legs carried me inside. Before I even saw anyone, I heard a soft, feminine voice: “Caleb, which towel should I use?” “The light-colored one.” As soon as the words fell, I saw Caleb sitting on the couch. He had obviously just showered, his mind miles away as he stared at his phone. What exactly had just happened between them? Just the thought alone was enough to break me. Soon after, the girl walked out of the bathroom wearing my pajamas. She was about to run to Caleb but froze when she made eye contact with me. “Maya?” I recognized her. It was the girl from Caleb’s photo, Lily. Only then did Caleb notice me. He froze too, but his first instinct wasn’t to explain. It was to interrogate me. “When did you get back? Why didn’t you tell me?” In that moment, I could no longer lie to myself. He truly didn’t love me anymore. 7 I didn’t say a word. I went to the bedroom to pack my bags. It wasn’t until I reached the bedroom that I realized my entire body was shaking. I opened the closet and started pulling out my clothes. But my vision was so blurry I couldn’t see a thing. I tugged at the clothes several times without getting them off the hangers. When I finally pulled one out, I realized it was Caleb’s. I don’t know why, but even the clothes were working against me. Caleb followed me into the room. Seeing my actions, his annoyance seemed to peak: “What are you doing?” My tears fell immediately. But I didn’t want him to see me looking so pathetic, nor did I want to embarrass myself further. I controlled my emotions, turned to look at him, and even gave him a slight smile: “What does it look like? Should I stay here and watch you guys hook up?” “Maya, what the hell are you doing? Suspecting me of cheating? If you don’t want to be with me anymore, just say it! You don’t have to constantly accuse me of cheating, and you definitely don’t have to ruin an innocent girl’s reputation!” It was as if, from the very beginning, I was the one who wanted to break up. The funny thing was, at a time like this, he was interrogating me, blaming me for everything, yet he still remembered to defend Lily’s reputation. Lily, standing to the side, looked terrified. She glanced at Caleb. Caleb looked furious. Lily looked timid, the perfect picture to trigger a man’s protective instincts: “Maya, my clothes just got soaked with coffee, and since I was in the area, Caleb brought me up to take a quick shower. We didn’t do anything.” I ignored her. My heart was broken beyond repair. I just packed my things mechanically. I don’t know when Lily left. When I finished packing, I looked at Caleb: “Let’s break up.” If I had any thoughts of salvaging this before, in this moment, they were completely gone. Caleb stared at me coldly: “Maya, you’ve been putting on this whole act just for this moment, haven’t you? If you have someone else, just say it. Why go through all this trouble? Let me make this clear: if you walk out that door today, we are truly over.” It was hilarious. He was clearly the one who wanted to break up, but he twisted it to make it look like I was the one cheating. He knew exactly how much I loved him. I don’t know what our ten years meant to him. And I don’t know why someone who used to love me so much could suddenly stop. 8 I couldn’t say a word. There was no way Caleb couldn’t tell Lily liked him. He brought Lily home while I wasn’t around. Whether anything happened between them or not didn’t matter anymore. In the end, I didn’t finish packing all my things. It had only been two years since we moved in together, treating this place as our home, and I had bought too much stuff. Packing for half an hour barely scratched the surface. But every minute I stayed in this place made my emotions crumble. I grabbed a few random things, wiped my tears, and walked right out the door. But the moment I stepped out, Caleb sent me a text: [Maya, since you’re so determined to break up, I’ll have someone pack your things and mail them to you. Also, once we break up, don’t even think about getting back together.] Looking at the text, my tears smashed against my phone screen. I reached out my finger, typing and deleting a few times, before finally typing out everything I wanted to say: [No need. Just burn them.]

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “418542”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Author’s Note: As far back as I can remember, my mother spoiled me rotten while being incredibly strict with my sister. She bought me the prettiest dresses and enrolled my sister in the most expensive SAT prep classes. She told me I was going to be a star and didn’t need to waste time on useless things like studying. But behind my back, she told my sister: “You need to study hard so you can make something of yourself. Your sister is just a pretty idiot. She’ll spend her whole life in the palm of my hand, making money for me.” When I was little, the media called me a prodigy child star. Surely, I couldn’t be that much of an idiot, right? 01 My entire childhood was spent bouncing between movie sets and commercial shoots. Later on, the acting gigs gradually dried up. In high school, I finally returned to a normal campus. The moment I walked into the classroom, a lot of people recognized me. “Isn’t that Chloe Sterling? She was in all those shows.” “She’s even prettier in person than on TV.” After briefly introducing myself to my new classmates, I walked over to the empty seat next to Maya Sterling and sat down. I whispered to her, “I’m really behind on the basics. Please help me out.” A girl sitting nearby chimed in, “You guys know each other?” I smiled, my eyes crinkling. “Maya and I are twin sisters.” “But you guys don’t look alike at all! You’re so gorgeous, and Maya is…” Maya’s face instantly darkened. I quickly cut the girl off. “Maya gets amazing grades.” Growing up, whenever our relatives praised my looks, Mom would casually mention how Maya had just passed another advanced piano exam or scored top marks in English. She’d talk about her ranking in the latest mock exams. Maya worked so hard to be excellent. But in our relatives’ eyes, I was just a beautiful, useless vase. No one really liked me. Some relatives even felt bad for Maya. At family dinners, they would pull Mom aside and whisper, “You should stop playing favorites and treat Maya better. If you ask me, when you get old, she’s the only one you’ll be able to rely on.” Whenever that happened, Mom would smooth things over with a smile. “I can rely on both of my daughters.” 02 Maya could never hold her head high around me. That is, until I scored dead last on a pop quiz. The smugness in her eyes was impossible to hide. When we got home from school, she practically shoved her report card into Mom’s hands. “Mom, I made it into the top five of the class this time! I moved up again.” Mom took the report card, a proud smile spreading across her face. “Not bad at all. Keep working hard, aim for first place.” Maya shot me a sideways glance. “Didn’t my sister get first place this time?” Mom looked up at me in surprise. Maya smirked. “First place from the bottom, that is.” Mom’s expression instantly relaxed. “It doesn’t matter if her grades are bad. Your sister isn’t going to take the academic route anyway.” The smile froze on Maya’s face, and tears welled up in her eyes. “If I had scored dead last, you would have chased me around the house with a belt! Why do you play favorites with her?!” Mom quickly snapped, “Shut up! Are you and your sister the same?” Unable to hold them back, the tears spilled down Maya’s cheeks. She grabbed her backpack, stormed into her room, and slammed the door shut with a loud bang. Mom sighed. “Ignore her. Go wash your hands for dinner.” At the dinner table, Mom kept putting my favorite foods onto my plate. “Chloe, sweetie, you’re going to be a star. It doesn’t matter if your grades aren’t great. “If you ever feel unhappy at school, Mom will write you an excuse note and you can take a trip somewhere to relax.” The way Mom treated me versus Maya was completely different. But for some reason, it always left a lingering unease in the bottom of my heart. 03 That night, I stepped out of my room to get a glass of water and saw Mom carrying a bowl of soup into Maya’s room. The door was left slightly ajar, and their voices drifted out into the hallway. “Mom, you’re too biased! Why do you treat Chloe so well? You never yell at her. “She’s just a little prettier and makes a little money, so what? “She’s just built on makeup and styling. If you had sent me to auditions when we were little…” “Do you think being paraded around on camera since childhood is a good thing?” Mom interrupted her, poking Maya’s forehead with her index finger. “Do you have a conscience? I took every cent she made from acting to pay for your elite tutoring.” Maya sniffled. “But you buy her such expensive dresses, and I get nothing.” “What do those things mean in the long run? They just turn girls into empty vases,” Mom sneered. “A dress costs a few hundred bucks. The tutoring I’ve paid for over the years has cost hundreds of thousands.” Maya went silent. Mom took a tissue and gently wiped the tear tracks from Maya’s face. “Maya, remember this. You are the only treasure I am truly cultivating. “You need to study hard so you can make something of yourself. “A pretty idiot like your sister will spend her whole life in the palm of my hand, working just to make me money…” Hearing Mom call me an idiot, Maya finally smiled. She picked up the soup from her nightstand and took a sip. “Don’t worry, Mom. I promise I’ll study hard. One day, I’ll step right over Chloe.” Mom nodded, smiling as she stroked Maya’s hair. Standing frozen in the hallway, a dense, prickling pain stung my chest. Everyone thought Mom favored me. When we were little, she bought me beautiful clothes and expensive toys. Maya had to earn her rewards through grueling studying. I always got things effortlessly. But deep down, I always knew she favored Maya. When I was on set, it was always just my agent keeping me company. Meanwhile, Mom was busy shuttling Maya back and forth between elite tutoring centers. Unlike how she treated Maya, she never scolded me. She never disciplined me. She seemed to spoil me to the core. It turned out, she was trying to raise me to be useless. She wanted to raise an empty-headed, beautiful idiot. A girl who would willingly stay by her side forever, acting as her personal golden goose. She remembered every single academic achievement Maya ever earned. But she forgot that the media once called me a prodigy child star. I was never an idiot. 04 The next day, we had an AP US History pop quiz. When the tests were handed back, I got a 50. An F. Maya looked at my paper and frowned. “How did you suddenly score this high? Did you cheat off me during the test?” She didn’t lower her voice, and our classmates turned to look at us. “No way. Did Chloe really cheat?” “She used to get like 20s on every subject. Today’s test was super hard, and she got a 50? Definitely cheated.” “Chloe just has a pretty face. Maya is way better than her.” The teacher, who was handing out the rest of the papers, heard the whispers and looked over. “Who cheated?” I didn’t say a word. He walked over to my desk and scrutinized my paper. “There is an issue with your test, Chloe. You either left the short-answer questions entirely blank, or what you wrote matches the textbook word-for-word. Did you copy from the book?” “I didn’t,” I said, pursing my lips. “I memorized a few chapters of the textbook last night.” “Then recite it for me right now. Let’s hear it.” I closed my eyes and began reciting from Chapter One, word for word, without missing a single syllable. The classroom fell dead silent. After a good while, the teacher interrupted me. “You memorized the first five chapters of the textbook in a single night?” I nodded. “I have a good memory. I used to memorize an entire script in one night.” The teacher patted my shoulder. “Learning isn’t just about memory; it’s about mastering study methods. Keep working hard, and aim for a passing grade next time.” As the teacher turned away, the students around me started whispering. “Chloe is actually kind of amazing.” “Anyone can memorize a book.” “Oh yeah? You try reciting five chapters of a history textbook word-for-word in one night.” Maya narrowed her eyes, studying me suspiciously. “Why the sudden interest in studying?” I offered a small smile. “I just read it casually. Studying doesn’t seem that hard.” Maya scoffed coldly. “Studying isn’t just about memorizing.” 05 The moment we got home, Maya told Mom about the history test. “Why the sudden interest in books?” Mom asked. “I couldn’t sleep last night, so I just memorized a few chapters.” Mom seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and gently coaxed me. “Acting is already so exhausting for you. Why waste your time studying those things?” “But getting into a good film school still requires a decent GPA.” The smile on Mom’s lips stiffened. I forced a wry smile. “Forget it. My foundation is so bad, I probably couldn’t get into a film school anyway.” Mom quickly comforted me. “Chloe, you have so much acting experience! Even if you don’t go to film school, you’ll still get plenty of roles.” I began to understand. In Mom’s eyes, I was supposed to be a compliant idiot. If I showed even the slightest hint of an independent thought that she couldn’t control… She would snuff it out immediately. If I wanted to genuinely study, she definitely wouldn’t allow it. That night, I lay in bed scrolling through Reddit. I stumbled upon a thread titled: [How do I secretly study without the toxic people in my life finding out?] The comments offered tons of methods. Importing study materials into a fiction reading app. Listening to Spanish vocabulary audio disguised as a Spotify playlist. Finding a straight-A student to tutor you, and if you get caught, just say you’re secretly dating… I had to admire the creativity of the internet. I opened my iMessage contacts. I scrolled down to the only genius I knew: Liam Harrison. He was a year older than me, and both his parents were university professors. He was brilliant—already accepted into MIT on a full-ride during his junior year. We had co-starred in a few shows when we were kids, so we knew each other well. I asked him to tutor me, and he agreed. More accurately, he agreed after I sent him a childhood photo of him peeing his pants out of fear of a horse on set. 06 That weekend, I met him at a cafe. I arrived early and ordered coffee and pastries. When Liam walked in, he looked incredibly impatient. He wore cargo pants and a plain white tee, with black headphones resting around his neck. It made his pale skin stand out even more. The boy had grown up quite a bit. His features were sharper, his gaze aloof. He looked like the kind of guy who wasn’t easy to get along with. He sat down across from me, raising an eyebrow. “Chloe, are you okay? Since when do you want to study?” I lowered my eyes. “Because I don’t want to be controlled by someone else for the rest of my life… I want to break free, and my brain can’t be completely empty.” He stared at me for a moment, then didn’t ask any more questions. He dropped the mocking smirk. And started helping me rebuild my academic foundation from scratch. My foundation was truly terrible. Liam tutored me while constantly having to take deep breaths to keep his patience. We had to review math concepts all the way back to elementary school. When the session was over, I asked him, “Is there any way to keep people from noticing that my grades are improving?” He scoffed. “You have so much room for improvement, it’d be hard not to notice.” “But at my level, I can’t exactly control my score perfectly.” Liam thought for a moment. “How about you try getting a flat zero?” “A zero?” “When I was a kid, I was super rebellious. My parents realized forcing me to study wasn’t working, so they challenged me to get a zero. They said if I could score a perfect zero, they’d leave me alone.” “What’s so hard about getting a zero?” “You can’t leave any questions blank, and you have to get a zero in every subject.” Liam lifted his eyes to look at me. “I found out that no matter how randomly I guessed, I could never hit absolute zero. I realized that the only way to score exactly zero is if you know the correct answer to every single question, so you can perfectly avoid them all. “After I finally scored that zero, my parents backed off and congratulated me on mastering self-directed learning. “Crafty old foxes.” Listening to Liam complain about his parents… I suddenly felt very envious of him. 07 I took Liam’s advice and started working toward scoring a zero. The lower my score, the greater my actual progress. At first, Maya and Mom were wary of my newfound “studying” habit. But when they saw that no matter how hard I tried, my scores remained at the absolute bottom of the class, they gradually let their guard down. Eventually, I didn’t even have to hide my books from them anymore. In their eyes, I was a confirmed idiot. No matter how many books I read, the knowledge just wouldn’t enter my brain. I paid close attention in class, filled out every single answer on the tests… And yet, my scores kept dropping lower and lower. In their eyes, I was no longer a threat. Maya even started giving me unsolicited advice. “Sister, just give it up. Studying requires natural talent.” A disdainful smirk played on her lips. Her sense of superiority was impossible to hide. I sighed deeply. “You’re right. Studying is just too hard.” I rubbed my temples. Who knew? Trying to score a perfect zero is incredibly exhausting! 08 That evening, I was studying in my bedroom. Mom walked in holding a bowl of bird’s nest soup. “Chloe, why waste so much time reading?” “The harder it is, the more I want to try.” I looked up at her. “Did you need me for something, Mom?” “I really think you’re better suited for acting. There’s a movie that wants you for the second female lead, and the paycheck is huge.” I was currently a senior in high school, and my study load was massive. I didn’t want to take any acting roles, but I knew I couldn’t refuse outright. I replied mildly, “I’ll look at the script when I have time.” Mom smiled. “I’ll have them email it to you in a bit.” Not long after, the script arrived in my inbox. The moment I saw the director’s name, I had a bad feeling. Director Vance had a notoriously sleazy reputation in the industry. He was known for tricking young actresses into filming R-rated, highly explicit scenes. He would verbally promise to edit them out in post-production, only to leave them completely intact in the final cut. When the deceived actresses complained after the premiere, they would just get cyberbullied and called hypocrites. The script Vance’s team sent me was written very vaguely. You couldn’t tell there was anything wrong with the scenes at all. However, the proposed salary at the bottom of the email was several times higher than what I usually made. Did Mom seriously not suspect anything was wrong? I closed the email, moved my mouse, and clicked on an email Liam had sent me. It contained the AP review notes compiled by his straight-A roommate. Final exams were coming up soon. Anyone who made the top five in the school was practically guaranteed a spot at an Ivy League university. During the holidays, the top students would even get a sponsored trip to visit Harvard and MIT. Mom cared deeply about this opportunity. She desperately wanted Maya to place in the top five. Maya spent every single second of her free time in tutoring. Every day, she had to take a handful of brain-boosting supplements and stimulants. She often studied until two or three in the morning. Ever since Maya started high school, Mom’s need for control had grown increasingly suffocating. If Maya slacked off even a little, she would be severely reprimanded. Maya never got a moment to breathe at home. Because of this, she frequently fell asleep during classes at school. Whenever her grades slipped even a fraction… Mom blamed it on her not working hard enough, and became even stricter. As an actress, observing subtle emotional shifts is basic training. Mom didn’t notice it. But resentment was already brewing in Maya’s eyes. After one class, the teacher left an entire whiteboard full of key concepts. Once the teacher left, many students simply took out their phones and snapped pictures of the board. I also took out my phone to take a picture. “Chloe, is that the newest iPhone?” “That model is super expensive, it’s like over a thousand bucks.” “Can I see it?” I finished taking the picture and handed my phone to them. When it came to material things, Mom never skimped on me. I used to think it was because she knew acting was hard work and wanted to compensate me. Now I realized, she was trying to raise me into someone who only cared about material desires—a superficial shell with no independent thoughts. Just then, someone chimed in. “Are you two really sisters? Chloe has the newest iPhone, and Maya is still using an ancient flip phone.” Maya, sitting next to me, instantly froze while taking notes. Her pen halted, leaving a dark ink blot on the paper. She muttered, “What’s the big deal about a phone? It just distracts you from studying.” I remembered how embarrassed Maya was about using a flip phone. She had begged for a smartphone for ages. She repeatedly promised it wouldn’t affect her studies. But no matter how much she pleaded, Mom absolutely refused. 09 Not long after, the results of our final mock exam before finals were posted. I stared at the bulletin board. My fingertips trembled with excitement. My score was— Dead last in the school. A perfect zero. I had finally done it. After more than two years of grueling effort, I had actually done it. But the only person I could share this joy with was Liam. I took a picture of the bulletin board and sent it to him. Liam replied instantly: [Congratulations.] I smiled and texted back: [I finally did it.] He asked: [What’s your actual level at right now?] [I took two past AP exams for practice. I can definitely hit the cutoff for top-tier universities.] Liam sent a sticker of someone patting a dog’s head: [Keep it up. Try to become my underclassman at MIT.] I sent back a laughing sticker: [Liam, I still prefer being your older sister.] When we were little, I was taller than him, and he followed me around calling me “big sister” for a long time. But once he found out I was a year younger than him, he never said it again. He sent back two exclamation marks. [Chloe, I am a year older than you! And I’m taller! By a lot!!!!] Suddenly, my homeroom teacher’s voice sounded behind me. “Chloe, come to my office.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “418558”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel