Category: English

Frank despised Mia for being a stay-at-home mom who only knew how to ask him for money. To prevent me from becoming like her, he decided to train 6-year-old me to earn money and support the family. When the neighbor’s kid became a child model, I tried too. Despite being dressed up like a prince, I was politely told I wasn’t cute or clever enough. When a friend’s child won an essay contest, I entered too. After chewing through three pencils, all I got was a certificate saying “Keep trying!” Frank beat Mia viciously. “The child you gave birth to is just like you – ugly and stupid.” I stood in front of Mom, feeling guilty and heartbroken. It was all my fault for making her suffer. I dropped out of school early to become the cheapest labor. I handed over all my wages, but by age 25, I had secretly saved up $10,000. I could finally take Mom away. My hands trembled as I tried to give Mom the bank card, when Frank suddenly burst in, his face twisted with rage. I tried to pull Mom away to escape, but she shoved me down instead. She proudly presented my wages to Frank. “Honey, beat this ungrateful brat to death. He not only hid money but dared to persuade me to divorce you.” I was beaten to death. Frank got off with a light sentence for manslaughter plus a letter of forgiveness. He was out in less than a year. I found myself back in time to when I first dropped out of school. Frank was viciously beating Mia again, berating her for giving birth to an ugly, stupid child just like her. Frank was a fitness trainer and former boxer. Mia was very supportive of his work and often sparred with him. At that moment, Mia lay sprawled on the floor, her neck craned stubbornly. Frank’s fist connected with a sickening crunch. Her piercing screams filled the air. Jason lounged on the sofa, munching chips and watching with interest. He occasionally offered commentary. “Not hard enough.” “Not fast enough.” I staggered to my feet, having just been thrown across the room for trying to shield Mom. My head was still ringing. As the scene before me came into focus, I suddenly realized I had been reborn. Mom’s increasingly agonized screams snapped me out of my daze. Frank was 6 feet tall and 250 pounds of solid muscle. His hammer-like fists rained down on Mom with increasing speed and force. She was soon covered in blood. I couldn’t help but laugh coldly inside. It seemed Frank was getting carried away with his performance, hurling insults at Mom and me non-stop. In my past life, whenever Frank raised his hand to hit Mom, I would immediately give in to any demand. It worked better than if he beat me. But the one time it involved my education, I refused to back down. So Mom volunteered to take the beating for me. In the end, I still gave in. But in this life, apart from hatred, I no longer harbored any illusions about family. I just wanted to live for myself. I could never forget how in my past life, after the violence ended, Mom would always wipe away my tears with her bruised face. She would say tenderly: “Lucas, don’t worry. This is just how your father shows his love for me.” I always thought Mom was just trying to comfort me. It wasn’t until my final moments that I realized she truly meant it. Mom loved it. The more he beat her, the more she loved him. As a filial child, I naturally couldn’t interfere with their love. I remained motionless. Frank’s blows grew increasingly vicious as he incorporated his boxing techniques. Mom soon coughed up a mouthful of blood. Jason giggled with glee, calling it spectacular. “Lucas, save Mommy! I’m doing this all for you.” But even three of me combined weren’t as thick as Frank’s arm. I cowered in the corner, looking utterly terrified. Blood pooled on the floor but she still didn’t get what she wanted. Mom finally started begging for mercy, but Frank was too worked up to stop. He grew more and more excited. “Mom, should I call the police?” Frank suddenly snapped out of it. Mom no longer looked on the verge of death. She wiped the blood from her face with her sleeve. “Your father was just playing around with me.” Under three scrutinizing gazes, I walked straight to the bedroom. I paused at the door. There was one point in Frank’s frenzied rant that I disagreed with. “Dad, don’t you know – like father, like son?” All the insults he had hurled at me instantly reflected back onto Frank. The bedroom door slammed shut with a bang, leaving the three of them staring at each other in bewilderment. I lay down on the bed. Within seconds, I heard the doorknob being frantically twisted and curses flying. I rolled over, ignoring it. My lack of security had long ago made me develop the habit of locking the door. Everything finally quieted down, but I was far from calm. In a moment of impulse, I had provoked Frank. All that awaited me now were even more severe consequences. Suddenly, the sound of keys jingling came from outside the door. ***This is the breakpoint***

Frank still couldn’t open the door. There were too many keys, and he had never been a patient man. He preferred the simplest, most brutal methods. A thunderous pounding on the door began, accompanied by a stream of vile curses. “You little bastard, think you’re so smart after a few years of school? Mocking your old man for being uneducated? You wouldn’t even exist if I hadn’t given you life and provided for you…” Is that so? In my past life, after Grandma died and I was brought back home, I learned they had adopted an older brother two years my senior. Frank gave Mia $200 a week for living expenses. His only requirement was that each meal have a mix of meat and vegetables, with different types of meat each time. She could spend any leftover money as she pleased. But Mia often ran out of money before the week was up and had to ask Frank for more. This angered him greatly. To punish her, he would often withhold the allowance even after a week had passed, making her kneel at the front door before throwing money in her face. A month later at the dinner table, Frank finally noticed me – but only because I reached for the meat dish in front of Jason. “Eat, eat, eat. All you two do is ask for money as soon as you open your eyes. Like mother, like son.” Mia felt wronged and vented her anger by scolding me, echoing Frank’s words. She didn’t expect this would earn her Frank’s approval for the first time. I could sense Mom’s excitement even with my head bowed. Her voice trembled slightly with disbelief. Greatly encouraged, she berated me using words I had never heard before, completely disregarding my reddening eyes. It’s okay. There’s no rule that mothers have to love their children. It’s enough that I love her. My embarrassment delighted Jason. Jason laughed, and Frank laughed along with him. That was the first time Frank praised Mia, the first time he acknowledged her. Mia had finally found her place in this family. To prevent me from becoming as useless as Mia in the future, Frank decided to start training 6-year-old me to earn money and support the family. When the neighbor’s kid became a child model, I tried too. Despite being dressed up like a prince, I was politely told I wasn’t cute or clever enough. When a friend’s child won an essay contest, I entered too. After chewing through three pencils, all I got was a certificate saying “Keep trying!” Frank beat Mia viciously. “The child you gave birth to is just like you – ugly and stupid.” In the end, I could only collect bottles and trash, spending my days begging on the streets with homeless people. I would return home filthy, digging crumpled dollar bills out of my shoes to proudly place in the collection box. I had to pay for my meals – the family didn’t support freeloaders, except for Jason. Jason threw a tantrum at the dinner table. “It’s so embarrassing! My classmates all make fun of me.” Because I had run into him on the street and tried to give him his favorite candy… “Bring me the axe,” came Frank’s enraged voice from outside. He was going to chop down the door. And after the door, who would be next?

Frank raised the axe. I opened the door voluntarily, but he didn’t stop. “How dare you disrespect your father. You might as well die.” Frank wasn’t well-educated. He had boxed since childhood. In his world, fists were everything. Moreover, in this household he was the law, with absolute control. So this life he had given, he could take back whenever he pleased. The axe blade stopped just an inch from the top of my head. At the critical moment, Mia threw herself at me and we dodged. But because we were so close, it grazed her scalp. The axe was razor-sharp. Even that light touch left Mia with a bald patch and a trickle of blood. She held me, sobbing dramatically. Hit them and then offer a sweet. I knew this routine well. She feared that if I died, there would be no one to share her burden. She would once again become the sole target. Frank moved to strike me again. The normally stubborn Mia crumpled with a light shove. Her face contorted with anguish as she wept uncontrollably. “Lucas, Mommy is so sorry. I can’t protect you. Just endure it, don’t fight back. It’ll be over soon.” I watched the scene before me with cold eyes. I knew very well that if I didn’t give them what they wanted, I might not make it out of here alive today. I knelt down and hugged Frank’s leg, my voice choked with emotion. “Dad, I’m sorry. I just didn’t want to let go of such an amazing father. Everyone here knows you’re my dad. They’re all afraid of you, so no one dares bully me.” “That’s why I want to be as strong as you.” I had always been obedient. Frank was taken aback, but soon couldn’t hide his pleased smile. “So that’s how it is. Dad was wrong to doubt you.” Mia’s expression was strange. Everyone knew Frank loved being flattered, but this was the first time she had seen him admit he was wrong. I silently observed everything from the corner. Mia still didn’t understand. The more someone lacks something, the more they crave it. Frank claimed education was useless, yet he forced Jason to study. What he cared about most was people saying he was all brawn and no brains. He was terrified of misunderstanding others, often checking the dictionary multiple times for a single phrase. In my past life, as soon as Mia was beaten, I immediately dropped out of school. I didn’t even finish middle school. Now, taking advantage of Frank’s good mood, I asked to finish middle school. It was only a few months difference. Frank agreed without hesitation. Those few months passed quickly. After graduation, I chose to work out of state, saying there were more opportunities. Frank was very supportive. On my first day there, a message came in the family group chat. Frank: When do you get paid? Frank: Never mind, just hand it all over at the end of the year. Me: Okay. The conversation ended there. I sent Frank a photo of a factory, then turned and walked in the opposite direction. Outside First High School, the grade director and homeroom teacher of Class 1 were eagerly waiting, wringing their hands in anticipation of the arrival of Lucas Li, the top scorer in the high school entrance exam.

I officially began my high school life. Right after the qualifying exam, I had contacted First High School. It was far from home and one of the top schools in the country. They offered excellent conditions – not only was tuition and board free, there were additional scholarships and stipends. People say they’d rather be a corporate slave than a high school student. Everyone claims high school is miserable, but I found it to be the most relaxing time of my life. My classmates were kind, my teachers attentive. My life was happy and fulfilling. By saving every penny and working part-time jobs, I managed to save up a decent sum after six months. It would be enough to hand over. To avoid suspicion, I bought gifts and local specialties for everyone in the family when I returned for the New Year. I also finally owned my first well-fitting piece of clothing that I actually liked. To save money, I took a 48-hour hard seat train ride home. When I finally arrived, I was greeted with a slap. “You little bastard, how dare you waste money on yourself? Don’t you have work uniforms?” Mia was overjoyed to see me. After Frank finished slapping me, she pulled me into her arms. “Lucas, you’re finally back. Mommy missed you so much.” I saw the bruises covering her body. Frank must have shown her a lot of “love” while I was gone. Now that I was back, the family had a new target. No wonder she was so excited. Mia quickly frowned as she looked at my jacket, her tone lecturing: “But Mommy still has to criticize you. Isn’t this a bit wasteful?” But apart from the jacket I was wearing, my entire suitcase was full of things for them. Yet they couldn’t see that, fixating only on what I had on. How ridiculous. In my past life, when I didn’t buy anything or new clothes, what did they say? “You went away and didn’t even think to bring back some local specialties for the family? So selfish, just enjoying yourself out there while your parents have never even left the state.” “You’re working now but can’t even buy yourself decent clothes? Always looking so shabby, it’s embarrassing.” Their hostile gazes only softened when I handed over the money. The next year, I bought a plane ticket without hesitation, deliberately scheduling it for two days later. This time I still brought back lots of gifts, but nothing for myself. As soon as I got home, they started inspecting my luggage and scrutinizing me. “Did you take the train back?” I nodded, even producing last year’s train ticket. This time they were finally satisfied. Seeing how obedient I was, they made the unprecedented move of inviting me to join them for the New Year’s Eve dinner. At the table, they wore brand new clothes. Jason sat in the middle, the picture of a happy family. I sat across from them in my wrinkled clothes, picking at the few vegetables on my plate. Next door came the sounds of a heated argument and crying. Mrs. Lee was yelling at her son again. “Go to college my ass! Pack your bags and go find a job to make money.” Mia happily placed a plate of meat dishes in front of me. Mrs. Lee and Mom had always been rivals. Their confrontations usually ended with Mrs. Lee having the upper hand. But the situation had reversed since I started working last year. Especially after Mom went to borrow soy sauce from her wearing new clothes that afternoon. It sparked the most intense argument ever in their household. After eating, they lounged on the sofa watching the New Year’s Gala, laughing non-stop. They didn’t notice me clearing the table, my expression dark as I held the half-full bottle of soy sauce. At the family gathering during the Lunar New Year. Mom hadn’t attended in nearly a decade, not since being mocked for dressing worse than my grandmother. But this year she got up early, excitedly dolling herself up in the trendiest outfit I had brought b

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On the day I went into labor, my husband of ten years locked me in the attic. “If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have missed out on so many years with Hazel!” he shouted. I listened as he hosted a welcome party downstairs for his dream girl who had returned from abroad. The guests cheered loudly as the two kissed. Meanwhile, I died in agony upstairs, alone and in despair, along with our unborn child. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day Lucas first confessed his feelings for me. As I watched him approach with a bouquet of flowers, I turned and walked away. Later, when he offered his heart to me, helpless as a child, I remained unmoved: “Lucas, please don’t ask me not to leave you…” As my due date approached, I went to the hospital alone for a prenatal checkup, cradling my belly. The doctor seemed displeased to see me without anyone accompanying me, but I just shook my head with a forced smile: “My husband is busy with work. I don’t want to bother him.” Lucas and I were childhood sweethearts. We grew up in the same neighborhood, and everyone knew how much I liked him. Lucas came from a poor family originally. We both got into an Ivy League college, and after graduation we got married and started a successful tech company called “Joy Tech”. To others, we were the perfect power couple. I had given up my career early on to be his supportive wife and partner. Today was our wedding anniversary. The checkup results were good, so I was in a cheerful mood. I called Lucas to ask when he’d be home. He hung up before the call connected. A moment later, I received a text from him: “Busy. Will call you back later.” I put away my phone and looked up, catching a glimpse of a familiar face on the hospital TV screen. I froze in shock. In the news report, Lucas was wearing an expensive tailored suit, a tender smile on his normally stern face – an expression I had never seen before. Surrounded by a crowd of reporters, he made his way out, sheltering a tall, beautiful woman in his arms. She kept her head down, clinging to him like a delicate bird. The headlines flashed across the screen: “Tech Mogul Lucas Reunites with First Love, Reportedly Divorced from Wife” “Tech Tycoon and World-Class Violinist – A Perfect Match Made in Heaven!” “If you ask me, Lucas and Miss Hazel are much better suited. That shameless Lily woman just clings on desperately. Now that his dream girl is back, of course the wife has to go,” I overheard someone say. “Exactly! She made a fool of herself just to marry a man like Lucas. She has no self-respect. How could she compare to Miss Hazel?” another chimed in. I stared blankly at Lucas on the screen as he shielded Hazel’s face from the cameras. “Hazel is the love of my life. No one can ever take her place,” he declared. The prenatal report slipped from my hand and fell to the floor. Joy… Joy… I used to think he had named our company after me. But the “Joy” in Joy Tech was for Hazel all along. I don’t remember how I got home. When Hazel saw me, she warmly grasped my hands in greeting. “Lily, it’s been so long!” I coldly shook her off. “Hazel,” I said, “When did you two get together?” “Lily, how dare you speak to Hazel that way?” Lucas frowned. He had never spoken to me so harshly before. I trembled as I looked at him, pointing at Hazel. “Lucas, what is the meaning of this?” His irritated expression made it seem like I was the one being unreasonable. “Hazel just got back and hasn’t found a place to stay yet. What’s wrong with letting her stay here?” he said impatiently. Hazel’s face held a look of smug superiority as she gazed at me with unconcealed disdain. “But I’m your wife!” I cried, tears streaming down my face. My lips quivered as I spoke. “Doesn’t she have her own home? Why does it have to be you, Lucas, taking her in—” “Lily!” he suddenly roared. I flinched, frozen in place. Lucas’s eyes were cold and unfamiliar. He made no attempt to hide the disgust on his face as he glared at me like I was his mortal enemy. “Lily,” he said mockingly, “If I hadn’t needed your money and skills back then, do you think I would have chosen to marry you?” I was stunned. “What did you say?” “You made me miss out on ten years with Hazel. What right do you have to stand here and question me?” He sneered, as if I were some beggar who didn’t know my place. “Just look at yourself now. What use are you besides being an eyesore and dragging me down?” I broke down. All these years I had given up my career, working myself to the bone – and for what? In the end I was tossed aside like garbage, treated as if I were worthless. “Lucas, are you really going to kick me out for this homewrecker?” I asked, my voice shaking as I grabbed his sleeve. But Hazel shoved me away: “Lily, after all these years you’re still so petty.” “In relationships, the one who isn’t loved is the real homewrecker.” She blinked her big eyes innocently. Lucas said impatiently, “I’ll have my assistant send you the divorce papers. Pack your things and leave today.” He glanced at my belly, suddenly pausing. My heart filled with hope that he might soften for the sake of our child. Lucas turned away, his eyes full of disgust: “If you want to keep that bastard child, go ahead. If not, get rid of it. Just don’t show your face in front of me again.”

Something shattered inside me. I stumbled forward desperately: “Lucas, have you no humanity? This is your own flesh and blood!” Hazel cowered behind him like a frightened rabbit. Lucas’s expression darkened and he shoved me hard. “Ah!” I cried out as I fell heavily to the ground. He hadn’t held back at all. I felt a sharp contraction in my belly, followed by waves of pain spreading through my whole body. “Lily, don’t be so shameless,” Lucas said, brushing off his clothes as if he’d touched something dirty. “If it weren’t for you back then, how could I have missed my date with Hazel? You maliciously tore us apart, so now you have to pay the price!” I had no idea what he was talking about. The pain blurred my vision, but I caught a glimpse of Hazel’s mocking expression. I frantically crawled towards her. Hazel kicked me hard in the stomach. “You schemed and plotted, but for what? Lucas has always loved me and only me. You’re nothing but a dog being kicked to the curb.” I felt liquid seeping out beneath me as my vision went dark. “Lucas, the guests will be arriving soon. With her like this…” Hazel said. My hair was roughly grabbed as Lucas dragged me upstairs. I struggled desperately, but my strength was fading with the pain: “Lucas, you beast! I was blind to have ever married you!” With a loud bang, I was thrown into the attic. “Hazel is the light of my life, the woman I love most in this world,” he declared. “No one can ever take her place.” “Lily, you stopped me from meeting her back then and made me lose Hazel. No matter what you do now to keep us apart, I will never let go of her hand!” When did I ever stop him from meeting her? But I could no longer speak. Lucas slammed the door shut. “Stay here and reflect on your actions! Don’t come out until you’ve learned your lesson!” I lay crumpled on the floor like a broken rag doll, listening to the laughter and cheer from downstairs, hearing our friends toast to Lucas and Hazel’s relationship. Tears rolled silently down my face. I breathed my last, consumed by fury and regret. 4 When I opened my eyes again, I was back in my high school classroom. Harsh sunlight streamed in through the windows. I saw a crowd gathered on the sports field. This scene felt so familiar… Someone came running up to me. “Lily, come to the field with me! Lucas is waiting for you!” I turned to look, my eyes widening in shock when I saw who it was. Seeing no reaction from me, Hazel grabbed my arm: “Hurry up, everyone’s waiting!” I jerked my arm away violently. Hatred surged through me. Hazel looked taken aback, somewhat annoyed: “Fine, don’t come then. But don’t regret it later!” She ran off. I stared blankly at the dispersing crowd on the field, revealing Lucas standing there with a bouquet of flowers and Hazel hurrying back to comfort him. If I remembered correctly, this was the day Lucas had confessed to me. The beginning of all the tragedy in my past life. A chill ran down my spine. No, I couldn’t repeat the same mistakes. Heaven had given me a second chance, and I had to seize control of my own fate this time. As for those two… My palm stung. I looked down to see four crescent-shaped marks where my nails had dug into my skin. “Well well, moving on to greener pastures?” a lazy voice drawled from behind me. I turned to see Ethan. We hadn’t had much interaction in my past life, so I ignored him. Ethan didn’t push further. He just smirked and went back to napping on his desk. The bell rang and Lucas entered the classroom, giving me a complicated look. I ignored the whispers and stares around me, taking out my textbook to study instead. Although I had gotten into an Ivy League school in my past life, I had forgotten most of my high school knowledge. It would be challenging to catch up to my previous academic level. I needed to come up with a more reliable plan for myself this time. As I pondered, something tapped my back. I saw a crumpled note fall by my feet. The murmurs around me grew louder. I glanced back to see Lucas’s sullen face. He stared at me intently, as if certain I would accept this olive branch and go back to fawning over him. I lowered my gaze, not bothering to pick up the note. Instead, I raised my hand in front of everyone. “Teacher, someone is passing notes in class. It’s disrupting my studies.” A commotion broke out. “Pfft!” Amid the stunned silence, a snicker came from the figure slumped over his desk in the back row. Lucas’s face flushed red as the teacher made him leave the classroom under everyone’s scrutiny. I saw Hazel looking at him with concern. As Lucas passed by my desk, he paused: “Lily, what are you playing at?” I kept my head down, pretending not to hear him. What was I playing at? I simply refused to be a pawn in their little drama anymore. They could play out their angsty romance all they wanted. Just leave innocent bystanders out of it, using them as collateral damage to fulfill their grand love story.

After class, I went to get some water. Lucas cornered me in the hallway. “Lily, are you done with your tantrum?” he demanded. “What?” I asked, confused. “Just because I chose Hazel as my partner for the biology competition instead of you? Your grades are excellent – not having that extra credit won’t affect your college applications. But Hazel needs this. I have to help her!” Lucas lectured me with a frown, as if I was being utterly unreasonable. “Didn’t you promise not to compete with me for the spot? Hazel is your friend too. Can’t you be less petty and jealous? You’re jeopardizing someone else’s future!” I wanted to laugh at the absurdity. Sacrificing my opportunities for Hazel’s future, without a second thought. Then I remembered. The school had allocated five spots for the National Biology Olympiad to our class. By the time it got to us, only one spot remained. Lucas had approached me then, which was rare. He asked me to give up my spot for him. After all, I was his only real competition in our class. My biology scores were the best in our grade. The teachers called me a prodigy. Lucas went to great lengths for Hazel’s future, even feeling guilty years later that he couldn’t give her the best. He ended up taking over the company I had poured my heart and soul into building, all to impress Hazel. But he never once considered the price I paid in giving up everything. He felt entitled to my sacrifices, as if it were only natural. Seeing my silence, Lucas softened his tone, looking smug and self-assured. “You were always pestering me to tutor you in English before. If you back down now, I’ll agree to tutor you.” He looked at me as if bestowing some great favor, making me sick to my stomach. I couldn’t hide my disgust. “Lucas, who the hell do you think you are?” He was stunned, not expecting me to curse at him. “If you like Hazel, go after her yourself. Don’t blame others for your own cowardice. What kind of man are you?” “You’ve got some nerve. Why should I have to pay the price for your love life?” Lucas stood there dumbfounded as I walked away without a backward glance. Around the corner, Hazel was startled to see me. She looked at me awkwardly. But I didn’t spare her a single glance. I hadn’t expected Lucas to be so shameless. When he came to my desk with a practice exam, I shoved the form I was filling out into my desk. “Lily, there’s a problem Hazel can’t solve. Can you help her?” he asked. I looked at him like he was an idiot. “Teach her yourself.” Lucas’s expression turned awkward. “Lily, neither Lucas nor I can figure it out,” Hazel said with a sweet smile. To others she might have seemed kind, but I caught the flash of resentment and contempt in her eyes. “He said you once promised to help him unconditionally, so we came to you.” “You’re not refusing because you’re jealous that Lucas and I get to compete together, are you?” she continued. “This is a national competition. If we win, it’ll benefit our whole class and school. You should think of the bigger picture and not let your personal feelings get in the way.” Her words sparked a chorus of agreement from our classmates: “Yeah, talk about petty! No wonder Lucas doesn’t like her.” “They’re doing her a favor by asking. As if someone as smart as Lucas needs help from a selfish person like her!” “If Lucas loses because she’s jealous, she’ll be sorry!” Hearing everyone criticize me, Hazel smiled in satisfaction. Lucas’s eyes darkened: “Lily, that’s enough. Don’t be so ungrateful.” I laughed. “If you can’t handle it yourselves, why take on the challenge? Isn’t that ridiculous?” “Are you going to blame me if you fail the competition too? Expect me to take the test for you?” Lucas was at a loss for words. Hazel’s expression soured as well. I was a biology prodigy. Our company Joy Tech had succeeded largely due to my technical skills. In my past life, I had given up a guaranteed spot in a top university’s biology lab for Lucas’s sake. But on the day of the finals, he had run off to the airport to chase after Hazel, wasting an opportunity others would kill for. This time, I refused to hand over what was rightfully mine. Lucas frowned deeply: “Acting out like this won’t get my attention. It only makes me resent you.” I rolled my eyes: “As if I care.” The biology teacher walked in. I stood up and pulled the registration form from my desk. “Teacher, I want to sign up for the Olympiad!”

The biology teacher was thrilled. She had tried hard to persuade me to compete before, but I had always refused. She said she would fight to get me an extra spot no matter what. Lucas was stunned. He hadn’t expected me to suddenly change my mind and enter the competition. This meant he and Hazel now had a formidable rival. We had to compete internally before advancing to the state-level competition. Hazel looked at me with concern: “Lily, do you really want to compete? Or are you just doing this to spite Lucas? This isn’t something to take lightly.” Her friend chimed in: “Don’t be so selfish. Your extra spot means someone else loses theirs.” Hazel smiled: “The team has already been training for a month. Even if you join now, you won’t be able to catch up. You’ll just embarrass yourself and waste study time. Don’t jeopardize your future over petty relationship drama.” Her words seemed considerate on the surface, but they painted my decision to compete as nothing more than jealous pettiness, disregarding the bigger picture. I said coldly: “You know exactly how you got selected. If you can compete, why can’t I?” Hazel’s face paled. Seeing her discomfort, Lucas’s expression darkened. “Lily, don’t go too far!” “Hazel is looking out for you and this is how you repay her? Apologize right now!” “Don’t think this will make me like you. I could never love someone so narrow-minded and unjust!” I thought he must be mentally unwell. How else could he not see my utter disgust for him? “Lucas,” I said, “Was your spot obtained fairly then?” “If I hadn’t withdrawn, do you think you’d have had a chance?” With that, I ignored them and walked away. The biology teacher told me to choose a partner. I looked around, just wanting someone who wouldn’t get in my way and let me focus on the competition. Lucas seemed to say something, but I didn’t catch it. My gaze landed on the figure slumped over his desk in the back row. “I choose him!” Ethan slowly raised his head, looking at me with bleary confusion, not quite grasping what was happening. Sure enough, he never showed up for any of the study sessions or training after that. It was as if I was competing alone. Hazel watched me with schadenfreude while Lucas wore a knowing expression. As if my choice of Ethan was just to make him jealous, to get his attention, but I had only shot myself in the foot. He patiently tutored Hazel, his face radiating sincere contentment. I knew he was trying to make up for his regrets from the past life. But what about my regrets? Back then, heavily pregnant with our child, I had begged him to accompany me to prenatal checkups. He couldn’t even be bothered to go. It wasn’t that he lacked patience. He just never directed that patience towards me. Ethan turned out to be almost too low-maintenance. I never once saw him at our training sessions. Doing the work of two people while trying to catch up to everyone else’s progress, I didn’t get home until well after dark. I opened the door to find two unexpected guests sitting on the couch. “Lily’s home. Your Aunt Jenny and Lucas came over for dinner. I made some extra dishes,” my mom said. I looked at the people on the couch. Lucas turned away, his face cold and aloof. Dinner was like chewing sawdust. Lucas’s mom kept lamenting her tragic fate like a broken record. Widowed young, with no job, forced to work odd jobs to support herself and her son. Lucas looked uncomfortable. Of course – his pride couldn’t stand appearing weak in front of others, especially me. My mom kept sighing: “Lily, you must look after Lucas more at school!” I scarfed down a few bites and retreated to my room. Shortly after, my door opened. I said flatly: “Barging into a girl’s room – is this how your family raised you?” He flinched as if stung, his face turning icy. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” “Couldn’t win me over yourself, so you’re going after my mom?” He sneered: “Lily, when will you understand that your fake concern and pity only disgust me?” “You invited my mom over just to see me humiliated, to feed your superiority complex, didn’t you?” “Stop wasting your time. I hate your phony kindness. It makes me sick!” [Truncation point]

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I received the news that my ex-husband had been in a car accident. My son knelt before me, begging me to take care of his father. For my son’s sake, I reluctantly agreed. My ex-husband recovered and was discharged, but I suffered a debilitating illness that left me paralyzed. Afterwards, my ex-husband ignored me completely, and my son left me to fend for myself. I died alone, hungry and in pain. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day my son knelt before me. This time, I said: “Hell no!” Lying in the cramped storage room, I groaned in agony, my heart filled with regret and resentment. I regretted showing kindness to the ex-husband I had divorced twenty years ago. I resented my son for abandoning me. From outside, I heard my daughter-in-law’s voice, “Jason, I think it’s quiet now. Is she gone?” “It took longer than I expected,” my son Jason replied coldly. “Good riddance. The smell was unbearable – I couldn’t stand it anymore.” “If this went on any longer, the neighbors might have noticed,” Emily added. My five-year-old granddaughter Lily piped up innocently, “I want to play with grandma.” Emily brushed her off, “Oh honey, grandma is very dirty and sick right now. She can’t play with you.” She then instructed Jason, “Go check on her. I’ll take Lily to my mom’s place first.” The door clicked shut and silence fell. My fading consciousness was jolted back by another wave of pain. I couldn’t die yet. I needed to ask my son – had I not been a good mother to him? Why would he treat the woman who raised him this way? How could he be so cold and heartless? In the dark little room, the cold seeped into my bones as demons gnawed at my soul. What was that creaking sound? I forced my bloodshot eyes open, staring intently at the door. Whether from guilt or fear, my son hesitated for a long time before moving. Since becoming paralyzed, every day felt like an eternity. The only thing keeping me alive was my desperate need to confront my son. Suddenly, my body felt light as my consciousness plunged into endless darkness. I was not ready to go! When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to three years ago. My son was kneeling before me, pleading: “Mom, dad was in a car accident. His mistress not only abandoned him but also ran off with all his money.” “The doctors say he might not have much time left.” “Please have pity on him and go to the hospital to take care of him for a while.” I stood there stunned, then suddenly slapped him across the face. Jason held his stinging cheek in confusion. “Mom, why did you hit me?” I felt the slight numbness in my palm and flexed my limbs, delighted to find I could move everything freely! I scrutinized my son’s honest face, which seemed to have shed two or three years of age, no longer so smug and self-satisfied. A chill ran down my spine as I violently shook off his hands clinging to my legs and stumbled backwards. Jason looked at me in bewilderment. “Mom?” I snapped out of it and checked my phone. Unbelievably, it was now two years in the past. Looking again at my son kneeling on the ground, I realized this was exactly that moment. Jason kept trying to persuade me to take care of his father Robert. When I refused, he knelt and begged, playing on my sympathy while making grand promises. Robert and I had been divorced for 27 years. We split up because of his affair and emotional abuse – I simply couldn’t take it anymore. During the divorce, I worried he couldn’t properly care for our six-year-old son, so I fought hard for custody. For Jason’s sake, I didn’t tell him the real reason for the divorce. I just said his father and I weren’t getting along. After the divorce, I didn’t cut off Jason’s relationship with his father either. I have to say, while Robert wasn’t a good husband, he was a decent father. He paid child support on time and occasionally took Jason out, so they maintained a good relationship. In my past life, although very reluctant, I agreed to care for Robert when Jason knelt and begged me, given their close bond. Jason seemed unsettled by my strange gaze, but for his father’s sake in the hospital, he gathered his courage and pressed on: “Mom, dad only has us left now. We can’t abandon him!” I let out a cold laugh and slapped him hard again. “No way in hell!” Jason cupped his swollen face in shock. “Mom? Why are you hitting me again?” I grinned from ear to ear. “Because I’m happy!” Jason was even more bewildered. Without any explanation, I returned to my own room. This room became Jason’s study after I was paralyzed. How absurdly ironic! The house I bought for over $300,000 – when I became completely incapacitated, I was relegated to a storage room smaller than the kitchen. Looking back on my life, everything revolved around my son. When he was still in the womb, I quit my job to be a full-time mom. When he took his first steps, I was there to catch him. When he started school, I had to work hard to earn money while also helping with his studies. Finally, when he graduated college, I had a few years of respite before I started saving frantically for his wedding. After Jason got married, I thought I got along well with my daughter-in-law. Remembering how difficult my own pregnancy was, I took care of everything when Emily was expecting. I respected her wishes to keep working and personally delivered nutritious lunches to her office every day, attending to her every need. After Lily was born, Jason and Emily found her crying annoying. Emily didn’t want to breastfeed after her maternity leave. When my attempts to persuade them failed, knowing they both had to work every day, I simply took Lily into my room to care for her myself. Lily grew up healthy and beautiful. At three years old, she was an adorable little thing – everyone in the neighborhood would praise her when they saw her. I thought I had done more than enough as a mother, mother-in-law and grandmother. I had no regrets and owed them nothing. I let out a long sigh. In my past life, I was like a candle burning myself to light the way for my son’s family. Unexpectedly, I met such a tragic end. Now that I’ve been given a second chance at life, I believe it’s an opportunity from heaven. I’m no longer just a mother, mother-in-law, or grandmother. Although I’m 57 years old, I should still have my own life and be true to myself. As I pondered my next move in my room, Emily shuffled in. She smiled at me and sat down beside me. “Mom, Jason is being unreasonable. You and his dad have been divorced for almost 30 years. How can he expect you to take care of him now?” I kept a stern face and said nothing. Emily’s eyes darted around as she continued, “But dad is in really bad shape now. He’s 60 years old, bedridden and can’t move at all. His wounds look awful.” I didn’t respond, waiting to see how she would play this out. In my past life, Emily always had a sweet face but a bitter heart. She would coax people into doing things, taking credit while others did all the work. Seeing my silence, Emily played the sympathy card: “Dad only has Jason as his son. Now that he’s seriously injured and can’t move, Jason feels he must be by his bedside to fulfill his filial duty. Otherwise, people will talk and it won’t look good for us.” “But Jason has to work to support our whole family. He really can’t spare the time. Otherwise, I’d tell him to quit his job and take care of his dad himself.” Emily kept talking, hinting that I should volunteer to care for Robert. I rolled my eyes. “If Jason doesn’t have time, why don’t you go? You’re young and have more energy than this old lady. Besides, your salary is less than my retirement savings anyway, so it won’t make much difference if you’re not working.” Emily’s face tightened for a moment before relaxing again. “Mom, I’d love to take care of dad, but if I quit my job now, I’ll never find another one with weekends off and a $2000 monthly salary. Plus, Lily can’t be without me.” “I’ve always been the one taking care of Lily,” I said bluntly. “Enough said. I’m not going!” Emily’s lips curled up, but her eyes held no trace of a smile. “Mom, are you trying to make Jason lose his job?” I had painstakingly raised my son, helping him smoothly complete his PhD and pass the civil service exam. Now he was a mid-level manager, and according to him, he had a chance for a promotion to senior management this year. So he absolutely couldn’t have a black mark of being unfilial on his record. In my past life, I had considered his career prospects. Now I only cared about myself. Robert was his father, his responsibility. Why should I have to shoulder it? Oh right, my son’s filial piety was supposed to be demonstrated by me waiting on Robert hand and foot. But I still needed to play along for now. I couldn’t directly confront them yet. My retirement savings for this month had already gone towards household expenses. Thinking of this, I wanted to slap myself. How foolish I had been! Always assuming my son and daughter-in-law would take care of me in my old age, I had no real expenses myself, so I handed over my retirement savings as soon as it came in each month. Their salaries weren’t high – Jason made about $70,000 a year, while Emily made $2000 a month. Yet they insisted on buying a car beyond their means. Between the car payments and other expenses, the two of them were just breaking even before Lily was born. After Lily arrived, they started struggling financially. I couldn’t bear to see it, so I started contributing all of my retirement savings to help out. What a mess – not only had I used up all the money from selling my old house for Jason’s wedding expenses, I had also depleted all my savings. Now my monthly retirement income was gone too, leaving me completely broke. After a moment of silence, I suggested, “Why don’t you just hire a caregiver to look after Jason’s dad? Problem solved.” Emily didn’t even blink before replying, “That won’t work. A caregiver costs $80-100 per day. You have the most free time at home, so you can just go take care of him temporarily.” In my past life, I agreed too quickly. Look at how they’re treating me like free labor now. Emily must have realized her words sounded harsh, so she added, “Lily is about to start preschool, and we need money for everything. Dad’s savings were all taken by that shameless woman. The surgery and medical bills are a huge expense. We need to save wherever we can.” Emily tried to flatter me, “Every little bit helps, you know.” I pondered for a moment before relenting, “You have a point. I’ll go take a look.” Emily was overjoyed. She stood up and patted my shoulder, “You’re so kind and understanding, mom. You always see the big picture.” I silently scoffed to myself. She was good at sweet talk, but I hadn’t agreed to wait on my annoying ex-husband – I was just going to check on the situation. I held out my hand to Emily, who pretended not to understand my meaning and completely ignored me. I was truly fed up. “Emily dear, I’ll need some money to go to the hospital, won’t I?” Emily smiled brightly, “Mom, I’ll SnapChat you $100 later.” That’s right, my daughter-in-law controlled the finances for our family of four, being extremely generous only to herself. She bought new skincare products, makeup, clothes, shoes and bags every month. For the rest of us, especially me, she was incredibly stingy. In my past life, I was somewhat prepared for her refusal to pay for my medical treatment. What I never expected was that my son would also listen to her and not give me a single cent. I glared at her coldly, “$300. Send it now!” Emily tried to say some nice words to gloss it over. I stared her down, enunciating each word: “Send. It. Now.” Emily reluctantly took out her phone and sent me $300. After the transfer, she looked at me hopefully, “Mom, I’ll pack your things now.” I retorted, “Pack what? I’m going to ask the doctor what’s needed and how to provide care first.” Emily plastered on a smile, “Right, you’re always so thoughtful, mom.” I left the house with my phone and headed to the neighborhood activity center. A group of ladies I often babysat with surrounded me, eagerly fishing for gossip. “Lily’s grandma, we heard your ex-husband was in a car accident!” “Is it serious?” “What does your son plan to do?” “You should still go visit him, it’s the right thing to do.” These bored, retired ladies loved to spread rumors and had big mouths. In my past life, to build up my son’s image, I told them Jason wanted to quit his job to care for Robert, but I stopped him and volunteered to go myself. Thanks to their efficient gossip network, the news spread quickly, and my son was soon promoted to a senior management position. He even received an award from his department. Later, I worked with the doctors to help Robert recover enough to get up and speak. So I discussed with Jason about hiring a professional caregiver to look after Robert. First, I was exhausted from the constant night shifts. Second, a caregiver would be stronger and more skilled than me. Jason looked troubled and said his department promoted him specifically because I was personally caring for Robert. If I suddenly stopped, his superiors might think we were putting on an act and could revoke his position. He asked me to hang on a bit longer, until his position was secure, then he would immediately hire a caregiver. I was repeatedly manipulated by my son and daughter-in-law, along with the constant praise from these ladies. I was pushed onto a pedestal I couldn’t get down from. I gritted my teeth and cared for my ex-husband for two whole years until he recovered. Thinking of this, I casually dropped some information: “It’s pretty serious. He hasn’t woken up yet.” “My son and daughter-in-law want me to go take care of him.” “I’m almost 60 years old. Where would I get that kind of energy?” “I’m going to check on him now and plan to hire a caregiver. My son and daughter-in-law have never dealt with anything major before – they don’t think things through.” “A caregiver is both professional and strong. Is this really a place to try to save money?” One old lady chimed in, “I heard your daughter-in-law say you paid for all the surgery and medical expenses. There’s not much money left now. Where would you get the money for a caregiver?” I laid it all out, “Yes, my ex-husband’s mistress wasn’t legally married to him. When she saw how serious the accident was, she disappeared with all his savings.” The group was shocked by my sudden revelation, their eyes lighting up with excitement. I continued, “I paid for everything. I’ve spent all my retirement savings from the past few years on this.”

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I found out I was pregnant in the fifth year of my secret relationship with Adrian Foster. Overjoyed, I rushed to show him the positive pregnancy test. But when I arrived, I overheard him celebrating with his friends. “After five years, I’ve finally turned Olivia into my obedient little bird,” Adrian boasted. “In a couple days, I’m going to sell her to work at a nightclub. They’re short-staffed there anyway.” My vision blurred as I struggled to process his cruel words. Then one of his friends hesitantly asked, “Adrian, isn’t that going too far? She’s been with you for five years after all.” Another chimed in, “Yeah, how can you just toss her aside like that?” Adrian let out a cold laugh. “Olivia’s nothing but a dirty rag to me. I have no reason to keep her around.” “My fiancée Chloe is coming back soon. I need to clear the path for her return.” So that’s it. I was just an obstacle to be removed. Five years of devotion meant nothing to him. I clutched the pregnancy test tightly, my heart aching. When the door opened, I quickly hid the test behind my back. Adrian’s friends glanced at me before calling out sweetly, “Hey Olivia! Here to see Adrian?” Before I could respond, one of them yelled inside, “Adrian, Olivia’s here!” He was clearly trying to stir up drama. Adrian came over, looking down at me. “How long have you been here?” I knew he was trying to figure out if I’d overheard their conversation. I forced a smile and lied, “I just got here. Was wondering when you’d be home.” “Alright. Go settle the bill and I’ll get the car to wait for you,” Adrian said with a dismissive gesture. I nodded, “Okay.” After paying, I walked outside to find it pouring rain. I waited for a while, but Adrian’s car never showed up. I tried calling and texting him countless times, but got no response. Eventually his phone went straight to voicemail. One of Adrian’s friends came out and saw me huddled in the rain. He asked, “Olivia, didn’t Adrian already leave? Why are you still here?” I froze, unable to believe Adrian would abandon me like this. A girl with the friend held up her phone, her tone mocking: “Chloe came back early. Adrian just left to pick her up. Some people really have no shame!” “Don’t covet things that don’t belong to you. You’re nothing but a thief who stole five years of someone else’s time. You should be grateful for what you got.” With that parting shot, they drove off. By the time I made it home, shivering and soaked to the bone, I found Chloe blocking my way. She was wearing my new pajamas. She smirked, lifting her chin. “Olivia, now that I’m back, you need to know your place. You’re nothing but a dog Adrian kept around to play with.” That includes Adrian himself. My body felt ice cold as I tried to move past her to change clothes. Suddenly, Chloe let out an exaggerated cry of pain and collapsed to the floor. SLAP! Before I could even process what was happening, Adrian’s hand connected with my face. My rain-weakened body crumpled, hitting the corner of the shoe rack. Pain exploded in my forehead. Through blurred vision, I saw Adrian anxiously pick up Chloe. He glared at me coldly. “Olivia, you’d better remember your place. You’re nothing but a stand-in for Chloe. What right do you have to throw your weight around here!?” “I’ve spoiled you too much, making you forget who the real owner of this house is. You’re not allowed inside tonight. Get out!” His words felt like daggers of ice. I realized it was time for me to leave for good. I watched Adrian carry Chloe upstairs. In my dazed state, I thought I saw Chloe flash me a triumphant smile. My vision blurred red. I raised a hand to my face and felt something wet and sticky. Focusing my eyes, I realized it was blood. I struggled to stand, stumbling and falling again. My whole body felt like it was encased in ice. I curled up, trying to conserve warmth. My mind drifted to a time I’d had a high fever. Adrian had been beside himself with worry, rushing me to the hospital for a five day stay. During those five days, he’d taken care of my every need, refusing to let anyone else help. He’d cancelled all his work to be with me, giving me his full attention. When I told him he should focus on his career, he’d said sternly, “Anything related to you is the most important thing.” But then… then the dream shattered. I woke up. Adrian noticed immediately. “You’re awake?” For a moment, I thought he still cared. But then his face turned cold as he said, “Now that you’re up, go apologize to Chloe right away. You scared her half to death sleeping in the living room all night.” “If Chloe wasn’t so kind-hearted and generous in letting me bring you to the hospital, who knows where you would’ve woken up.” So he’d planned to abandon me in some desolate place. His phone rang. A minute later he hung up. “Olivia, hurry up and go apologize.” I paused. “What am I apologizing for?” For passing out in the living room due to a fever and head injury, which happened to scare her? Seeing my expression, Adrian assumed I was faking. “Olivia, can you stop pretending? Just looking at you makes me sick.” With that, he suddenly grabbed my arm roughly. My weakened body was helpless as he dragged me along. We passed several nurses who quickly avoided us. “Adrian, it hurts…” I whimpered. He didn’t loosen his grip. After opening a door, he literally threw me inside. I flew through the air like a kite with cut strings before crashing hard onto the floor. “Adrian, what’s going on?” Chloe asked in a sweet, innocent voice from her hospital bed. But when she looked down at me, I saw the triumph and joy in her eyes. My whole body ached. Chloe spoke again: “Adrian, did you and Olivia fight because of me!?” She ran over to Adrian barefoot. “If Olivia hates me so much, I’ll just leave. I only hope that after I’m gone, she’ll treat you well…” Adrian scooped Chloe up, his tone exasperated but doting: “Silly girl, why are you running around without shoes?” “Olivia’s not worthy of hating you. I brought her here to apologize to you.” He was explaining things to her. In the past, he’d never bothered to explain anything to me. I’d asked him about things before, but he told me he liked obedient women. So I stopped asking questions. Chloe’s bare feet dangled in front of my face as I knelt on the floor like an old dog. “Oh? Adrian, you’re making Olivia apologize to me? Won’t she resent me for that? What if she holds a grudge?” “She won’t,” Adrian said firmly. After a pause, he added: “She wouldn’t dare.” I felt my blood run cold, a chill spreading from my feet to the top of my head. “But I don’t think a verbal apology is enough,” Chloe mused. “How about we do something like Truth or Dare and choose a punishment?” She sat on Adrian’s lap, arms around his neck. “Whatever you want, sweetheart.” Adrian stroked her nose affectionately. The two laughed together like the perfect couple. Suddenly, a foot lifted my chin. I was forced to look up at Chloe’s mocking, triumphant smile. “Oh no, my feet got a bit dirty from running around barefoot earlier,” she pouted. “Adrian doesn’t like dirty things. Olivia, why don’t you wash my feet for me?” I stared at her in disbelief. How dare she! Seeing I wasn’t moving, Chloe snuggled against Adrian and whined, “Adrian, is Olivia upset with me?” Adrian frowned at me. “What are you waiting for? Get to it.” “I’ll go with Olivia to wash up,” Chloe chirped. “That way she won’t have to go back and forth.” With that, Chloe dragged me into the VIP room’s bathroom despite my resistance. It was a top-of-the-line setup with all the amenities. As soon as the door closed, Chloe’s innocent act vanished. Her face twisted into an ugly, vengeful snarl. She grabbed my hair and yanked my head back. “You disgusting whore. How dare you try to have Adrian’s baby?” “A piece of trash like you doesn’t deserve to bear his child. Have you forgotten your lowly origins? You’re nothing but filth.” She knew! My heart raced as I instinctively tried to protect my stomach. But Chloe wasn’t done. She kicked me hard in the abdomen. Pain radiated through my body. Knock knock Adrian’s concerned voice came from outside: “Chloe, is everything okay in there?” Chloe’s face hardened. She suddenly collapsed to the floor, crying out in pain. BANG! Adrian kicked the door open and rushed to Chloe’s side. I clutched my stomach, weakly trying to ask for help: “Adrian, please save…” Save the baby. Before I could finish, Chloe buried her face in Adrian’s chest, sobbing. “It’s my fault, I slipped and fell. Olivia didn’t push me. She didn’t push me down and then…” Adrian’s face darkened with rage. He kicked me hard. “If anything happens to Chloe, I’ll make you pay with your life.” He carried Chloe out, leaving me alone. I felt something warm trickling down my legs. Panicked, I crawled to the hallway, desperately calling for help. Thankfully, I was saved. But the baby wasn’t. I stared blankly at the tiny embryo the doctor had removed. The taste of blood filled my throat. After a long moment, I took out my phone and opened a secret app I hadn’t used in years. I sent a message: [I want to come home] The reply came instantly: [If you’re done playing, come back. I’ll pick you up.] I agonized over my response before sending: [Please erase all my information in the country. I’m leaving tomorrow.] When I went home to pack my things, I found all my belongings thrown outside. Among them was a jade bracelet, now shattered. With trembling hands, I picked up the pieces. A whirlwind of emotions swept through me. This bracelet was the only memento I had from my grandmother. Adrian opened the door and saw me. His eyes filled with contempt and disgust. “If you’re not dead, hurry up and take this trash away. Just looking at it makes me sick.” “Why is my bracelet broken?” I asked, holding up the two halves. Adrian glanced at it dismissively. “How should I know? You probably didn’t take good care of it yourself.” Seeing his uncaring attitude, my heart clenched painfully. “Adrian, I love the diamond ring you got me!” Chloe’s voice suddenly rang out. She appeared behind Adrian, holding up a massive 50-carat diamond. The sight made my eyes ache. Chloe pretended to just notice me. “Oh, Olivia! You’re back so soon?” “By the way, Adrian said he has a job to introduce you to tomorrow. I heard it pays really well. Soon you’ll be a successful career woman too, Olivia. I’m so envious!” A job? I suddenly remembered overhearing Adrian say he was going to sell me to work at a nightclub. My blood ran cold, my heart constricting painfully. My mind went blank. Chloe suddenly grabbed my hand, her long nails digging into my flesh. Blood welled up. “Olivia, Adrian likes girls with good careers,” she simpered. “You’re so lucky he’s helping you out.” “Shouldn’t you thank Adrian for introducing you to this job?” She leaned in close and hissed, “I guess trash raised without a mother doesn’t even know basic manners.” It hurt so much. I instinctively jerked my hand away. Chloe used the momentum to dramatically fall to the ground. She looked up with hurt, resentful eyes. “Olivia, did I do something to upset you? Please tell me so I won’t do it again. I’m begging you, please don’t hurt the little life inside me.” With that, she cradled her stomach protectively. Adrian immediately rushed to push me away. Chloe leaned into his arms. “Adrian, we’re having a baby. But… but Olivia doesn’t seem happy about it. I’m scared…” “I’m so afraid our baby won’t be able to come into this world safely…” Adrian held her tightly, murmuring soothingly, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. Nothing will happen to our baby.” Before leaving, Adrian fixed his gaze on me. “You’ve really disappointed me. From now on, I won’t provide you with any financial support. You can either fend for yourself or go work at the place I introduced you to.” “I won’t go. Why can’t I work somewhere else?” I steadied myself, the last shred of hope dying in my chest. Adrian lost all patience. “If you don’t go, then die on the streets.” My face was expressionless. “Then I’d rather die on the streets!” Adrian’s cold lips curved in a mocking smile. “Do you really think anywhere else would take you?” “Besides, you’ve been used up by me. What makes you think you’re qualified for any respectable job?” “Don’t come crawling back to me like a dog later!” In the end, we parted ways on bad terms that day. Half an hour before my flight, I got a call from Adrian. I was about to reject it, but instinctively answered instead. Adrian’s voice came through, full of disdain for my actions: “Hah, I thought you were so capable. But you still answered my call, didn’t you?” I was about to hang up when he continued: “Olivia, at 11 o’clock someone will come pick you up. Once you get there, you’d better behave. When you’ve learned your lesson, come back and apologize to Chloe.” I glanced at my watch. It was still 30 minutes until 1

Suddenly, I heard a woman’s coquettish voice on the other end. It was Chloe. “Adrian, how about we set our wedding for the 18th of this month? We should invite Olivia too. Even though she doesn’t like me, she did take care of you for five years…” My chest tightened painfully. I was about to hang up when Adrian spoke again, his tone dripping with contempt: “Did you hear that? Chloe is so kind-hearted. In 10 days, I’ll send someone to bring you back for our wedding.” The call ended. My eyes grew cold as I deleted everything related to Adrian, including throwing away the card he’d given me. Adrian was in the middle of flirting with Chloe when he suddenly got a phone call. After hanging up, his expression turned grave. Chloe tried to snuggle up to him but he gently pushed her away. “Olivia wasn’t picked up by those men. I need to go check what happened. You stay here for now.” With that, Adrian left, ignoring whatever expression Chloe wore. Behind him, a vicious glint flashed in Chloe’s eyes. When Adrian returned home, he felt like something was different about the house. But he couldn’t put his finger on what exactly had changed. Until— The doorbell rang. Adrian went to answer, automatically assuming it was me coming back to hide. “Olivia, you have the nerve to come crawling back? Who do you think…” He opened the door to find not me, but a delivery man in uniform. The man said professionally, “Mr. Foster, this is a package Ms. Sullivan mailed to you. Please sign for it.”

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My husband’s first love was too scared to perform, so I switched places with her and became an overnight sensation. But she deliberately sprained her ankle and falsely accused me of pushing her. To avenge Olivia Reed, my husband Jack Thompson cut off my left leg. When reattaching the leg, Jack specifically instructed the doctor to put my toes facing backward and my heel forward. The doctor was incredulous, “Mr. Thompson, your wife is a dancer you’ve supported for years. She’s finally famous after persevering for a decade. How can she dance in the future with such a deformed leg?” Jack said, “She hurt Olivia, so she must suffer a thousand times more. How can I not teach her a lesson?” “When Olivia becomes a big star and is no longer bullied, I’ll make it up to her.” Six months later, I received an invitation from the country’s largest talent agency. When the contract termination and divorce papers were placed in front of Jack, his eyes turned red. In my hazy consciousness, I saw the doctor approaching me nervously. When I opened my eyes again, my left foot was facing backward, and the deformed leg made it impossible for me to lie flat on the bed. I heard voices behind me as Olivia Reed and Jack Thompson walked up to me. She abruptly pulled off my blanket and covered her mouth in shock. Olivia shrank into Jack’s arms, wiping her tears. “Jack, I was just complaining a bit. I never meant for Aria to pay such a heavy price.” “After all, I’m just a small-time performer. A sprained ankle isn’t a big deal.” Jack stroked her head affectionately, “You’re just too kind-hearted. How can I not worry when you always put yourself last?” Watching Olivia’s act of playing the victim, I felt nauseated. A few days ago, the company sent Olivia and me to participate in a national live dance competition. Just before the competition started, Olivia suddenly claimed she couldn’t remember the dance moves and hesitated to go on stage. To prevent a broadcast mishap, the production team switched my performance order with Olivia’s. I danced with all my might, and all the judges lit up their approval lights for me. The audience gave me the highest score in history. Nationwide viewers voted for me, and I topped the rankings within minutes. Returning backstage with an excited heart, I saw Olivia crying and holding her swollen foot. “Aria, I know you were jealous that I dance better than you. I wasn’t going on stage anyway, so why did you have to push me down the stairs?” Everyone backstage looked at me with contempt. “What’s the use of dancing well if you have such a vicious heart? Using such despicable means!” Someone had already taken out their phone to film me. “You just wanted fame, right? Fine, I’ll make you famous right now!” I’m not a naturally gifted performer. I had practiced hard for ten years for this day. Only I knew how much hardship I had endured. I couldn’t let it all be ruined like this. “There are surveillance cameras backstage. You can check them!” Olivia cried even more pitifully, “Don’t I know who pushed me? Do we need to check the cameras? Aria, even at this point, are you still trying to smear me?” I was at a loss for words because no one would believe that a dance performer would roll down the stairs on her own before going on stage. I grabbed Jack’s hand, begging him to change my leg back. “Jack, I really didn’t push her. We’ve been together for ten years. Don’t you know what kind of person I am?” A hint of reluctance flashed in Jack’s eyes, but he eventually pulled his hand away from mine. “I know you. You’re kind-hearted. But in the face of fame and fortune, people change.” “Do you want me to believe that Olivia, such an innocent girl, would roll down the stairs herself just to frame you?” All the grievances exploded at that moment, and I became somewhat hysterical. “You can check the surveillance footage! Why are you accusing me without caring about the truth?” Olivia immediately shrank into Jack’s arms, trembling. “Jack, Aria looked just like this when she pushed me down the stairs that day. I’m so scared. Don’t hurt me, please don’t hurt me…” Jack pulled Olivia into his arms to comfort her. But when he looked at me, his eyes turned fierce. “Aria Collins, I know you don’t like Olivia, but I never thought you could be so vicious! Are you trying to destroy Olivia?” I bit my lip hard, not wanting to let the tears fall, but the next second, I broke down completely. “Jack, do you really want to treat me like this…” His eyes showed a hint of disgust. “It seems you still don’t know where you went wrong. Do I need to reverse your other leg too?!” At that moment, I suddenly realized that Jack’s heart had already drifted away. Now he would only believe Olivia’s tears. Olivia trembled in Jack’s arms, her eyes full of grievance, “Sister also said that she had practiced hard for ten years just waiting for this opportunity. If I didn’t give it to her, she would stop her grandfather’s medical treatment and beat him to death to feed the dogs.” Jack’s eyes turned blood-red. Without waiting for my explanation, he grabbed my shoulder and dragged me off the bed. “Now kneel down and apologize to Olivia!”

Olivia was an orphan, with only a seriously ill grandfather as her only relative. It was with this backstory that she had clung to Jack’s leg while begging on the street, asking him to take her in. But the last time I went to see her grandfather, I caught her frantically slapping the old man’s face, saying, “You old bastard, I’m about to become a star, and I still have to take care of a dog like you!” My right leg was forced to kneel, but my left knee couldn’t bend backward. As soon as force was applied, the already injured area broke again. The wound hadn’t healed and reopened. My left leg fell straight down. The doctor heard the commotion and rushed in, quickly going out to call for help. Soon, a group of nurses and doctors rushed into my hospital room. Jack was obviously panicked, “How did this happen…” Olivia instructed from the side: “Jack, this is just her trick. She’s just trying to make her leg fall off to gain sympathy and get her leg changed back!” Jack sneered, “Right, this is just another one of your tricks. Doctor, still follow my previous instructions. We’ll consider changing it back when she truly repents.” The doctors and nurses looked at each other, but this hospital was funded by Jack, and no one dared to disobey his wishes. Just as the doctor was about to give me anesthesia, Olivia said pitifully, “If only I had anesthesia when I fell down the stairs.” With one order from Jack, no one dared to use anesthesia on me anymore. After waves of excruciating pain, I passed out. When I opened my eyes again, my leg was completely numb. Olivia and Jack didn’t realize I had woken up and were embracing and kissing passionately next to my bed. I used to think Jack only sympathized with Olivia and doted on her like a sister. I never imagined they would do such things in front of my hospital bed. Jack’s hand had already slipped under Olivia’s shirt. Olivia fell softly into Jack’s arms. “Jack, whose body do you prefer, mine or Aria’s?” “Yours, of course. You’re like boneless, while Aria is always as stiff as a board.” As he spoke, Jack carefully caressed Olivia’s facial skin, his eyes full of tenderness. Olivia faced me, a smile curling at the corner of her mouth. This was all deliberately shown to me. She pushed Jack away, pretending to be flustered, “Aria, you’re awake…” Seeing my pale face, Jack finally felt a pang of conscience and asked Olivia to leave. He stroked my face and poured me a glass of water. “Aria, I just wanted you to apologize to Olivia. You have me and the company, but what does Olivia have? Nothing but a seriously ill grandfather.” “She’s like our little sister. You should be coddling her.” Little sister? Jack still thought I hadn’t seen their behavior just now, that I was still in the dark. He had my leg turned into this state just to please Olivia. Looking at the person I once wanted to spend my life with turning into this, I felt both pathetic and ridiculous. Jack continued to comfort me, “Once Olivia becomes famous, I’ll change your leg back. We’ll go abroad together, and no one will be able to bother us anymore.” The greatest sorrow is a dead heart. When you’re completely disappointed in someone, you don’t even want to argue anymore. I forced myself to sit up and calmly said, “Jack, let’s get a divorce.” Jack frowned, “What nonsense are you talking about?” I turned my head away, my mind made up. He picked up a cup and smashed it on the floor. Olivia rushed in at the sound. Jack pointed at me and roared, “Aria Collins, don’t forget who gave you everything you have today. Don’t say I’m only wasting one of your legs. Even if I wanted your life, you’d still be my ghost even if you died!” “I’ll cancel all your schedules. You just stay here and recover. When the time is right, I’ll come to get you.” With that, he put his arm around Olivia’s waist to leave. Olivia looked back at me and said, “It’s best to tie her up. If sister escapes, Jack will surely be heartbroken.” Jack ordered people to tie me to the bed. “Jack, let me go! This is imprisonment!” But he didn’t even look back. In the days that followed, I had to have someone bring a basin for me to use the toilet, like a person without dignity.

Half a year later, Jack appeared in the hospital room again. This time, he had prepared a dance dress that exposed the legs for me. “Aria, put this on today. You’ll perform on the same stage as Olivia.” During the half year I was tied to the bed, I wasn’t completely ignorant of what was happening outside. The nurses felt sorry for me and told me a lot. During the half year I was confined to bed, the two of them would go traveling and having fun every few days. Olivia was average-looking with mediocre dance skills and wasn’t hardworking. She couldn’t make any waves in the entertainment industry. Recently, someone had started a trend hoping for my return. Jack’s move was to let Olivia ride on my popularity. “Aria, I promise this is the last time. Once Olivia becomes famous today, I’ll take you abroad tomorrow.” Jack seemed to be discussing with me, but it was actually just coercion. I was stripped naked and changed into the dance dress. Then I was carried and put into the show’s business car. I was thrown onto the stage, limping. Under everyone’s astonished gaze, Olivia completed a dance. Everyone’s attention was drawn to me, and they didn’t pay much attention to Olivia. At the same time, a video of Olivia accusing me of pushing her backstage six months ago went viral. Suddenly, Olivia became an internet sensation. “I heard no one was willing to perform with Aria the cripple this time, only Olivia agreed. And that’s her former enemy who tried to harm her!” “Olivia is too kind-hearted. She deserves to be famous!” “I heard Olivia’s foot injury was quite serious back then. Her dancing skills have fallen drastically. The top spot six months ago should have been Olivia’s.” Backstage, Olivia stepped on my head in the toilet bowl, flushing repeatedly. “You’re not still expecting Jack to fulfill his promise to take you abroad, are you? I’m already pregnant with Jack’s child. After the baby is born, do you think he’ll want a popular starlet or a crippled wife like you?” When Olivia kicked me out the door, Jack, who was coming in, saw it. He pulled Olivia back. “Are you crazy? If someone sees you bullying her at this time, you’ll be ruined completely!” Olivia instantly became teary-eyed and pitiful. “So Jack is still worried about her. Then I’ll leave!” Jack hugged her again. “What am I going to do with you? I’m planning all this for you.” Olivia cried like a tear-soaked person in Jack’s arms, “Then after our child is born, will you marry me?” Jack paused, “Olivia, I’ve told you many times, I’ll give you everything I have, but I’ll only have one wife in this life, and that’s Aria.” Olivia’s expression froze for a moment as she slowly slid down from Jack’s body. She covered her belly, “Jack, my stomach was just hit by Aria. It hurts so much now.” Jack’s eyes were filled with killing intent as he looked at me, kicking me against the wall. “You really never learn! If anything happens to Olivia’s child today, I’ll break both your legs!” He carried Olivia away, disappearing at the end of the corridor. At this moment, a woman walked in from outside and handed me a business card. She was the agent from Starlight, the largest talent agency in the country. Most of the hottest stars in the country came from there. She helped me into a wheelchair, carefully tidied my hair strand by strand, then crouched beside me, giving me the utmost respect. “Miss Collins, we’ve always admired your talent. Our company has video footage of Olivia falling down the stairs herself, and we have the best medical conditions in the country to restore your leg.” “If you’re willing to work with us, we can solve all your current problems.” Looking at myself in the mirror, already tortured to barely resemble a human, I made up my mind to leave this place. “Prepare the contract termination and divorce agreement for me. I’ll sign with you.” One hour later, in Jack’s office, his assistant ran in from outside. Jack was comforting Olivia while asking, “Have you brought Aria back? Has she admitted her mistake?” The assistant didn’t dare to breathe loudly, stammering in response, “Mr. Thompson, when we arrived, your wife was already gone.” ———-This is the breakpoint———-

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Reborn for Revenge My best friend, Annabelle Shepard, was like a sister to me, closer than blood. In the will she left behind after passing away, aside from what her kids got, all the rest of the property was mine. Plus, she dropped a note that said: [I took the contract for that order. Now we’re even.] That was when it all clicked. She’d taken that contract, the one that could’ve saved my dad’s company and kept us from going under. Because of her, my parents lost everything and ended up taking their own lives. I just couldn’t stomach that blow. I dropped out of college on account of depression and bummed around, frittering away a whole bunch of my prime years. And it was all thanks to my so-called “best friend”. I was ready to blow the lid off everything at her funeral. I wanted to scream the truth to everyone there, but my husband, Charlie Gomez, stopped me cold. “Let it go,” He said, his voice low but firm, “The dead deserve respect. Can’t you just let her rest in peace? And honestly, the only reason I even pursued you was because you were Annie’s best friend. Now that she’s gone, don’t make me regret staying with you. Oh, and since we’re airing things out, I was the one who told Annie about that contract.” His words hit me like a ton of bricks. At that moment, I couldn’t see a way out. Overcome with despair, I turned and slammed my head into the marble pillar right there at the funeral. Everything went black. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on campus, like none of it had ever happened.

“Selena, why do you always camp out in the library? Annie’s been asking you out for ages,” When Charlie told me with a look of disgust, it jolted me awake big time. I finally grasped that I was truly back in the past. I was back to a time when my parents weren’t drowning in debt, when Annabelle hadn’t stolen the contract that could’ve saved us, and when my life hadn’t spiraled into chaos. Only Charlie kept yapping away, “Look at you! No makeup, messy hair, and that ratty T-shirt. Why can’t you be more like Annie? She’s got style. If you keep this up, I’m not even gonna tell people you’re my girlfriend.” I clenched my fists, biting back the urge to slap him. Instead, I kept my voice icy. “You know what? Let’s just break up.” Charlie’s jaw dropped. “What did you just say?” “You heard me. We’re done.” I stood up, glaring at him with all the disgust I could muster. “You’re always gushing about Annie. Don’t think I don’t see how you look at her. You’re just using me to get closer to her. You’re not only a jerk, but you’re too chicken to own up to it!” Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked away. My time was too precious to waste on someone like him. Back in the day, I’d been blind to his true colors. “Selena, what the hell are you talking about?” Charlie shouted, chasing after me. He grabbed my arm, his grip tight. “Why are you being so jealous? Annie’s your best friend! And your family’s about to go bankrupt. You’re not some rich girl anymore. Wake up, or you’ll be begging me to take you back!” Hearing that, my hand flew across his face before I could stop myself. The sound of the slap echoed in the hallway. “Charlie, listen up. I’d rather marry a rock than spend another second with you.” I didn’t stick around to hear his reply. I had bigger things to worry about. Ignoring whatever Charlie’s next comeback might be, I hotfooted it out of there. In my previous life, what with the lousy economy, my old man’s company was going downhill fast and was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy and collapse. Seeing my father slogging away day in and day out and my mother looking like a wet weekend all the time, I was worried sick. Desperate to help, I’d buried myself in the library, teaching myself languages and reaching out to clients overseas. Finally, all that hard work paid off. A client in Portugal was won over by my sincerity and decided to place an order for our stuff. But by the time my parents couldn’t take the strain of bankruptcy and offed themselves, I still hadn’t got that order contract. I fell apart after that. Then, I dropped out of school, battled depression, and eventually married Charlie. With my parents gone, I caught hell from his mother and the never-ending housework wore me down to a frazzle. I thought that’s how I’d spend the rest of my days, until Annabelle’s passing that I realized my life could’ve taken a different turn. Annabelle nicked the contract that should’ve saved my father’s company, which led to my parents’ untimely deaths and me not being able to graduate from college smoothly. I should’ve had a whole new lease on life. Did she think that leaving me a bit of property in her would make it okay to say we were even? And Charlie, as an accomplice, not only trashed my life but also played me for a fool, making me wait on his family like a maid. Just thinking about how those two screwed up my life made me want to carve them up and feed them to the vultures.

In my former life, since I wasn’t sure if the client in Portugal was on the level, I could only pray he’d keep his word. Then, I sat around like a chump waiting for the contract that might show up any minute. Now that I’d been reborn, no way would I be that passive again. As soon as I got off the phone with the client, confirming he’d sent the contract, I rushed to the school’s parcel locker. “Daniel,” I said, catching my breath, “In a few days, I’m expecting an important document from Portugal. When it gets here, I need you to hold onto it. No one else can touch it, okay?” I repeatedly reminded Daniel Riley, the staff member at the parcel locker. “Got it. It must be pretty important if your best friend already came by to ask about it.” My stomach dropped, thinking, “Has Annabelle already been here?” I clenched my fists, trying to keep my cool. Even though I knew what she’d done, hearing about it still made my blood boil. I pulled a hundred bucks out of my wallet and shoved it into Daniel’s hand. “Look, I need you to do me a solid. When that mail arrives, call me immediately.” Daniel tried to wave me off. “Hey, it’s just a mail. You don’t have to…” “Take it,” I insisted, “Daniel, I need to know I can count on you.” He hesitated, then finally took the money. With that settled, I felt a little better. Then, I immediately headed straight for my house without a second thought. When I walked in, my parents were in the kitchen, laughing as they prepped dinner. The sight of them hit me like a punch to the chest. “Mom! Dad!” I ran over and threw my arms around them. “Hey, kiddo,” my mom teased, “What’s with the bear hug? You look like you’re still in kindergarten.” My dad, though, noticed something was off. “Lena, what’s wrong? Did something happen at school?” I shook my head. “No, I… I just missed you. It feels like it’s been forty years.” My mom laughed. “Sweetheart, you’re being dramatic. You’re not even forty yet.” I didn’t argue. In my world, it had been decades since I’d seen them like this, so I wasn’t going to waste a second of it. At the same time, I swore to myself under my breath that I’d never let the same tragedy play out again. So, unlike last time, I wasn’t going to wait for the contract to arrive to give my father a pleasant surprise. “By the way, Dad, I want to give you some good…” However, when I was about to spill the beans to my father, someone butted in mid-sentence, “Maria, what’s for dinner? Smells amazing. Can I stay?” “Of course, dear,” My mom said, smiling,”You’re such a foodie! I bet you could smell it from a mile away. You must have planned to come back with Lena,” My mother said with a chuckle. “Oh, Annie’s here. How’s your father doing these days?” My father also greeted her cordially. I bit my tongue, forcing myself to stay calm. For a split second, I almost reached for the fruit knife on the table, but I managed to tamp down my rage. I turned around and glared at the woman who’d royally screwed up my destiny. “Lena,” Annabelle said, bouncing over to me, “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming home? We could’ve come together.” “I just decided at the last minute,” I said, keeping my voice steady. Even though I wanted to stab Annabelle with a knife, I didn’t want to burn my bridges with her until I got the order contract, just in case something went pear-shaped. Annabelle pouted, “Hey, you’re also a foodie. Maria’s spoiling you.” Annabelle muttered, poking me playfully as she spoke, just like she always did. To be honest, if she hadn’t come clean herself, I really wouldn’t have believed she’d do such a thing. Our families had been close for years, and with our fathers being business partners, it was only natural that we felt like one big family. Annabelle and I grew up side by side and were as close as two peas in a pod. She was the outgoing one, the life of the party, while I was the quiet, bookish type. When my family fell apart, hers thrived. She married into money, became a socialite, and left me in the dust. Now that I thought about it, the Shepard family’s rise to the top back then was clearly tied to Annabelle nabbing my contract. At that time, the Shepard family was also feeling the pinch of the economy, and their business wasn’t exactly booming. However, Annabelle, for the sake of her cushy life, brought my family to its knees. Meanwhile, I also had a question. In my previous life, what was Annabelle doing at my house? Thinking of this, I continued to tell my father, “Dad, I’ve got some good news. I’ve been in touch with a client in Portugal. He’s sending over a contract soon. It could be exactly what we need.” My dad’s face lit up. “Really? ” I handed him the documents I’d prepared. “Yeah. Here’s the info. You can reach out to him to confirm.” My dad was beaming. “Alright. That’s fantastic, Lena! You’ve really stepped up.” Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Annabelle secretly. When I noticed that instead of looking disappointed, she seemed downright thrilled, as if she was happy for us, and for some reason, I got a funny feeling in my gut.

For the next few days, every spare moment I had, I was at the school’s parcel locker. My classmates started joking that I should just set up a cot and live there. I didn’t try to hide it and was upfront with everyone about what was going on. Naturally, my advisor, John Roberts, caught wind of it pretty quickly. With my permission, he used my situation as a case study in class, calling me sharp and proactive for tackling a crisis head-on. He said I was someone worth emulating. Before I knew it, I was the talk of the school, exactly what I’d been aiming for. Quite simply, I mainly did it to prevent problems before they happened. I came from a family of merchants, and I knew darn well that a legal contract could be a big deal one minute and not so much the next. During that time, I bumped into Annabelle a couple of times. Even though she was acting like business as usual, something just didn’t sit right with me. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but it was like a nagging itch I couldn’t scratch. One day, I was walking to the parcel locker after class, same as always. Out of the blue, Annabelle came up to me. “Lena, you got a sec?” I had no clue what she wanted, but since she was here, I decided to table my worries about the contract for now. “What’s up? Need something?” I nodded. “Perfect!” Annabelle chirped, grabbing my hand. “We haven’t talk for so long. You’ve been so busy lately.” “Yeah, well, my family’s business isn’t exactly thriving, so I’ve had to step up,” I explained, forcing myself not to yank my hand away. Until I had that contract in hand, I wasn’t about to rock the boat. “Don’t sweat it. I’m sure Keith will figure it out,” Annabelle said, patting my hand like she was some kind of life coach, “Also, if things really go south, my parents and I won’t just sit on our hands.” Then, I sneered inside. In my previous life, after my family’s downfall, Annabelle and her family paid me a visit once, and that was it. After that, I never saw them again, not even after her parents passed. As for help? Forget it. Instead, Annabelle would casually drop by to chat, bragging about her latest ski trips, mountain climbs, and scuba diving adventures, pretending we were still friends. Looking back now, I realized she’d been dripping with malice, flaunting her stolen happiness right in my face. Even after she died, she still found ways to mess with me. I just wished I’d seen through her act sooner. “By the way, I heard you and Charlie called it quits,” Annabelle said, switching gears. “Weren’t you head over heels for him?” Hearing that, I felt a weird pang, like I’d forgotten something important. “We just fell out of love, so we ended it,” I said, brushing it off. “Or did you find out he’s got a thing for me now?” Annabelle giggled, her laughter growing louder. She looked downright nuts. Seeing this side of her, so different from her usual front, a knot of unease tightened in my stomach. “All right, I’ll lay off,” Annabelle finally stopped laughing. “Since you’re not into this topic, I’ll let you in on a little secret.” She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I know you’ve been reborn. But guess what? So have I.” Annabelle’s words hit me like a bucket of ice water, and I started shaking. Finally, it clicked why I’d been feeling like something was off these past few days. It turned out that she’d also been reborn.

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I found myself once again pinned beneath Zachary Young’s body. In my previous life, after Zachary drunkenly slept with me, we were forced to marry when the media exposed us. But after the wedding, he pointed at me accusingly and shouted, “You schemed your way into marrying me and drove Sarah away. Are you satisfied now?” Only then did I realize the one he truly loved was Sarah, the poor student he had been supporting. To get revenge on me, he bankrupted my family and destroyed us completely. This time, I firmly pushed him away and went to open the door. “I’m in the wrong room. My boyfriend is across the hall.” The door opposite opened at that moment. Jason Harper, Zachary’s rival, was standing there. I threw myself into his arms. “Honey, I missed you so much!” Zachary’s face darkened. At the same time, I closed the door behind me. Surrounded by the heavy scent of alcohol, I was pinned beneath Zachary Young. He was as passionate as he had been in my previous life. His heavy breathing fell on my temple as he called out emotionally, “Sarah…” My whole body tensed as I suddenly came to my senses. In my past life, I had a secret crush on Zachary. When he drunkenly pinned me to the bed, my excitement and anticipation outweighed my fear. Hearing him passionately call my name, I thought Zachary must have feelings for me too. But on our wedding night, when he kicked me out of the master bedroom despite all my careful preparations, I finally understood – the “Sarah” he called out wasn’t me at all. The one he loved had always been Sarah Zhang, the poor student he sponsored, not me, Sophia Thompson. How ridiculous that I had gone along with this marriage just because of that one night of passion. I thought it was a romance we both wanted, not knowing I was walking into hell on earth. Zachary took cruel revenge on me, destroying my family and ruining us completely. The feeling of being pinned down by that despicable man was vivid in my mind. It felt like countless greasy hands were roaming over my body. In my past life, I was tortured to death by those men. Surrounded by humiliation and shame, I forcefully pushed away the person on top of me. Zachary froze beside me, but I didn’t even look at him as I stumbled towards the door. As I grabbed the doorknob, he called out my name from behind. “Sophia—” So he knew who I was after all. He knew, yet he still went along with the mistake and blamed everything on me after we married. How laughable. I didn’t even turn back as I opened the door and said coldly, “I’m in the wrong room. My boyfriend is across the hall.” The door opposite opened at that moment. Jason Harper, Zachary’s rival, was standing there. Sensing footsteps behind me, I gritted my teeth and threw myself into his arms. Then I put on the most affected voice I could muster: “Honey, I missed you so much!” “Sophia.” Zachary’s voice came from behind, seething with anger. I clung to Jason without letting go, secretly glancing back from his embrace. Zachary’s face had darkened. At the same time, I closed the door behind me. As the door shut, Zachary’s furious voice squeezed through the crack. “Don’t you dare regret this!” Of course I wouldn’t regret it. In my past life, I had done plenty of things I regretted. This time, I absolutely would not repeat those mistakes.

Just as I closed the door, a commotion of footsteps sounded from around the corner of the hallway. I suddenly remembered something and frowned, instinctively pushing Jason into his room. Soon after we closed the door, the footsteps stopped outside. “Is this the room?” “Yes, hurry and knock!” It was those reporters. In my past life, photos of me sleeping with him were leaked by these unscrupulous media outlets. Under pressure from all sides, Zachary was forced to marry me. At the time, I was overjoyed and completely failed to notice his reluctance. It wasn’t until after the wedding, when he berated me to my face and treated me coldly, that I realized. Not only that, Zachary also schemed to destroy my family’s company. After we went bankrupt, my father committed suicide by jumping off a building, unable to bear the pressure. My mother followed soon after by slitting her wrists. I became an orphan overnight, and was then sold to rich businessmen to pay off debts. Used by countless men. Those days were like hell on earth. Even now, the memory makes my whole body tremble uncontrollably. I was like a toy, an ornament, enduring their endless torture. I still remember when they first captured me. I was still naive then, and warned them with a trembling voice: “My husband is Zachary Young. If he finds out how you’re treating me—” Before I could finish, the leering man opposite burst into laughter. Then he slapped my face over and over, telling me the cruel truth. “Zachary Young? Don’t be so naive. He’s the one who sold you to us.” I knew Zachary had always loved Sarah, but I never imagined he could be so heartless towards me. Fortunately now, I had a chance to start over. I avoided the reporters and didn’t sleep with Zachary. Clutching my chest in lingering fear, the joy of my rebirth made me forget where I was for a moment. Until the man in front of me spoke teasingly. “Boyfriend?” I was stunned, then looked up. Jason Harper was raising an eyebrow at me. This was the first time I had observed him up close. His looks were completely different from Zachary’s pretty-boy appearance – harder and colder, with thick eyebrows and bright black eyes. No wonder he made countless girls in the city swoon. But now wasn’t the time to be starstruck. Hearing the door open across the hall, I quickly lowered my voice and pleaded with him: “Can you help me? Just pretend to be my boyfriend in front of Zachary for a few days. I’m leaving the country soon, you can say you dumped me then.” Jason’s expression remained neutral the whole time. After hearing me out, he just glanced at the door with an ambiguous smile. “What if I say no?” My heart leapt into my throat. I knew this was no joking matter. If Jason opened the door now and revealed what he had seen, I would be falling back into the same trap as my previous life. Thinking of this, I closed my eyes. When I opened them again, there was a hint of resolve in my gaze. “What would it take for you to agree? I’ll accept any condition.” Perhaps it was the seriousness in my tone, but Jason was taken aback for a moment. Then he stepped further into the room. “I never thought I’d see the day the high and mighty Miss Thompson would lower herself to beg.” My heart loosened a bit, knowing there was hope. I quickly followed him. By now Jason had walked over to sit by the window, dramatically picking up a glass of red wine from the table. “I suppose I could help you, but you’ll have to do something for me in return.” I nodded without hesitation: “Of course, what is it?” He held the glass by the rim, tapping it lightly with his finger. “I haven’t decided yet. Let’s say you owe me one, to be determined later.” Jason was true to his word. Those reporters didn’t get any useful information from the room across the hall, but they still refused to leave the hotel lobby. Jason snuck me out through the service elevator and we escaped unnoticed through the parking garage.

I didn’t expect the news to still break. Someone had photographed Zachary and me entering the hotel together from behind. Combined with Zachary’s state when he opened the door, the reporters were convinced he must have been on a date. But the mystery woman had only been captured from behind before vanishing without a trace. The love lives of the city’s most eligible bachelors were always a hot topic. In less than a day, news of Zachary’s secret lover spread like wildfire. Meanwhile, he was hospitalized for alcohol poisoning. The next day at breakfast, my parents scrolled through their phones and asked me, “Is it true Zachary’s dating someone?” I played dumb: “I don’t know, we haven’t been in touch lately.” I scrolled through my own phone for a while, only relaxing after confirming Zachary hadn’t revealed my name to the cameras. Right after, a message from him popped up on my screen. “Come see me at the hospital.” His tone was as commanding as ever. I instinctively wanted to refuse, but thought better of it. If I angered him, he might leak my name to the media and cause a whole new mess. That afternoon, I got ready and went to the hospital. When I pushed open the door, I saw Zachary recklessly working on his laptop in the hospital bed. Seeing me enter, he immediately closed the laptop and pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up his nose. His face was pale as he coldly questioned me. “When did you start liking Jason Harper?” Without waiting for my answer, he continued firing accusations: “Do you know what kind of person Jason Harper is? Everyone in our circle says he’s gay, always surrounded by male escorts. You—” “I’ve liked him since I was little,” I said softly, cutting him off. I forced myself to ignore the shocked expression on Zachary’s face. Though they ran in the same circles, Zachary and Jason were well-known rivals. Zachary was the typical golden boy – excelling at everything, perfect in every way. In contrast, Jason was a troublemaker. Yet from childhood through adulthood, Jason’s grades had always surpassed Zachary’s. Even when they started their own businesses as adults, the two remained competitors in the same field. The one I had liked since childhood was actually Zachary. When I was young, my parents were always busy with work. We had just moved to the city from out of state, and I wasn’t familiar with the area yet. One day I snuck out of our mansion to play, but accidentally got lost. I couldn’t find my way home even as it got dark, and ended up crying by the roadside. That day, Zachary appeared before me like an angel, gently wiping away my tears with a tissue. “Don’t be afraid, I’ll take you home,” he said. He held my small hand and really did bring me back to my front door. From then on, I became Zachary’s little shadow. My childhood crush gradually became a habit, and I secretly loved him all this time. Hearing my response, Zachary’s expression grew increasingly ugly. “Sophia, this isn’t a joke. Of all people, why would you like that plague—” Just then, there was a polite knock at the door. It was Sarah Zhang. Seeing me, her expression didn’t change at all as she set down the thermos she had brought on a nearby table. “I saw the news that you were hospitalized and rushed over. This is soup I made myself, it’s very good for you. Drink it while it’s hot.” Sarah spoke unhurriedly in a soft, pleasant voice, a smile constantly on her face. Such a caring demeanor – what man wouldn’t like it? Seeing her, Zachary’s expression softened. “You didn’t have to go to the trouble of making it yourself.” Sarah sat down beside him, inadvertently squeezing me to the side. I took the hint and excused myself from the room. In this life, I hoped the two of them would end up together for good.

Zachary and I could be considered childhood sweethearts. After he rescued me that day, he introduced me to his other friends. Growing up, we attended the same elite schools and were seen as an ideal couple by others. When I first arrived, it was Zachary who repeatedly stood up for me, firmly telling others: “She’s with me, don’t you dare bully her.” In high school when classmates tried to give me love letters, Zachary would rush out to intercept them, warning: “She’s mine, back off.” We went to school together, came home together, and were part of almost every big and small moment in each other’s youth. I always believed Zachary had feelings for me too. Until Sarah Zhang appeared.

Sarah Zhang was a charity case sponsored by Zachary’s family. He paid for her college tuition at the same university as us. I’m not sure when it started, but Sarah gradually infiltrated our lives. Zachary began attending club activities with Sarah, taking her to off-campus English training camps, and even inexplicably getting called away to tutor her when he was supposed to be in class with me. I was slowly pushed to the outside, suddenly becoming a third wheel. In a panic, I couldn’t help wanting to confess my feelings to Zachary. But before I could get the words out, he cut me off coldly. He said: “Sophia, don’t. I’ve always seen you as a sister.” After that, he started appearing with Sarah even more frequently. They became the Cinderella and Prince Charming of campus, while I was cast as the evil stepsister in their story. For a group project in our major, Sarah was absent and didn’t submit her research. I truthfully reported this to the professor, but when I returned to the classroom, I found her in tears in front of everyone. “Sophia has always disliked me. I can accept being ostracized by her, I just want to graduate in peace.” That day, the way Zachary looked at me – I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life. That evening, I went to pick up my best friend Rachel from work. In the car, when Rachel heard I had given up on Zachary and was now with Jason, she nearly dropped her jaw in shock.

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For three years, Louis York kept me like a caged bird. Everyone envied him for having a wife who never argued. Even when I was pregnant, he sent me out late at night to buy condoms for them. I endured it without a word. Everything changed the night his beloved threatened to jump. He rushed to save her, and in the chaos, I lost our baby. When Louis arrived, he cradled his barely-scratched darling in his arms and carried her to the ambulance, leaving me bleeding on the rooftop. That night, for the first time in years, I picked up the phone and called my mother. “Mom, I want to come home.” Her familiar Mosani accent carried a hint of joy. “Great! Your grandmother and aunts have been waiting. Mosani women never marry outsiders. No one will protect you so far away.” I stared at my reflection in the hospital bathroom mirror. The once-rosy cheeks were now gaunt and pale, a jagged scar slashing across my left cheek. A bitter smile tugged at my lips. She was right. I was Mosani. In our matriarchal society, marriage was never binding. We lived with our mothers, our grandmothers, our aunts. Fathers were a distant concept. The truth was, I never needed Louis. Hanging up, I booked my ticket home. Clutching my abdomen, I shuffled out to discharge myself, only to run into Louis and his precious Lillie Cortez. Despite having nothing but a band-aid on her ankle, she exaggerated every step, milking the injury for all it was worth. Louis fussed over her like she was made of glass, his concern deepening with every dramatic wince. Then his gaze landed on me. He froze. A second later, his expression hardened. “What are you doing here?” As the hospital’s chief obstetrician, he should have noticed my pallor, the fresh scars from emergency surgery. But he didn’t. Lillie burst into tears. “Why did you even bother saving me? I have no family, no love. Death would be a mercy…” Louis panicked, pulling her close. “Who says you’re unloved? “I’m your family now. The world may abandon you, but I never will. “I’ll always be your rock, Lillie. “Wherever you go, just turn around. I’ll be there.” Their melodrama was nauseating. I turned to leave, but Louis stopped me. “We’re having friends over for dinner tonight to welcome Lillie. “Cook something local, but no spice, no garlic, no ginger. She’s allergic. No meat or grease either, because of her injury. And make her favorite mushroom soup…” He rattled off her preferences effortlessly, then tossed me a laundry bag. “Hand-wash her silks. Change the detergent. She hates the scent.” Pain flared in my abdomen, but his demands made my skin crawl. I finally snapped. “Do you even care how I’m doing?”

Louis blinked, his gaze searching my face. Lillie broke into fresh sobs. “I should just die! Then I wouldn’t be a burden to you!” That set Louis off. “Kailey Harris, enough!” he roared. “I’m an OB-GYN! If something were wrong, I’d know! You survived falling off a cliff and carried me ten miles. Quit the theatrics!” We had met in my hometown. Lost in a storm and bitten by a snake, he’d stumbled upon me while I was out gathering herbs. I sucked out the venom and dragged him to the hospital. That rescue had cost me a broken arm and a body covered in thorn scratches from tumbling down a cliff. And now, my resilience was his excuse for cruelty. Meeting my tear-filled eyes, Louis hesitated for a moment before snapping at someone else. “She’s depressed! She can’t control how she feels! “Why are you deliberately making it worse?” All this over a single question. His outburst left me speechless. The last time Lillie scarred my face, I merely glanced at the mirror and was immediately accused of guilt-tripping her. That night, I did nothing. Her laundry sat in a heap in the bathroom. When Louis came home, he was furious. Friends stepped in, placating him. “She’s pregnant. Don’t make her do chores. Let’s go out for dinner. Lillie’s favorite.” So, all along, it was Lillie who had been wanting me to cook the meals. As they headed out, Lillie turned back with a smirk. “Coming with us, Kailey?”

At dinner, Louis fawned over Lillie. When she wanted roasted chestnuts, he burned his fingers peeling them for her. The slightest complaint about spice had him rinsing every bite. Yet during my pregnancy, he wouldn’t even buy me oranges from the shop downstairs. When someone raised a toast to Lillie, Louis snatched the glass from her hand. “She’s injured. No alcohol.” Lillie pouted. “Just one sip!” Then, casting a pointed glance my way, she added sweetly, “But Kailey has wine.” I hadn’t touched mine since the miscarriage. Still, Louis snapped at me. “You’re pregnant! Do I really need to remind you?” Silence fell over the table. Awkward laughter quickly shifted the focus back to Louis and Lillie. “Louis has always been her knight,” someone chuckled. “When I crashed my bike with Lillie on the back, he nearly beat me up!” “That’s nothing. I got death threats just for watching porn with her!” another chimed in. Laughter died as their eyes flicked toward me, the current wife. A voice muttered, “Just reminiscing, no offense.” Louis’ blatant disrespect gave them permission to pile on. After my face was scarred, one of his friends sighed, “Regretting your choice now? “Should’ve waited for Lillie to come back. “You only picked her because she looked like her. “Now that her face is ruined, nothing’s stopping you from going back.” They envied Louis’ blindly devoted wife. Little did they know, Mosani women didn’t marry. We stayed with our partners by choice, leaving when love faded. Why bind two hearts with a piece of paper? Not even their gossip could shake me now. My indifference made Lillie’s eyes gleam with malice. Giggling behind manicured fingers, she asked, “Is it true Mosani women sleep around and raise fatherless children? “Are all your women so… available?” Then, with mock innocence, she added, “How many men climbed into your bed before Louis?” My face went cold in an instant. My hand tightened around my utensils, trembling with the effort to suppress my anger at her calculated provocation. Right on cue, Louis chimed in.

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My husband had a small family with a female celebrity outside our marriage. He took her to all the parties and introduced her to his friends. His friends even called her “sister-in-law.” The celebrity was spoiled by him. She hung on his neck and said, “I dropped my necklace in the water.” As soon as she said this, my husband looked at me. I immediately understood that he wanted me to go into the water to retrieve the necklace. My face turned pale. “No, I can’t. I’m pregnant, and it’s winter.” He looked at me coldly and said in a low voice, “So what if you’re pregnant? It’s worth it if it makes Emma smile.” “If you don’t find the necklace today, you’ll regret it.” I knew he was threatening me using my mother. I didn’t resist anymore and walked into the lake step by step. I don’t know how long I searched until my hands and feet were numb, until blood seeped out from under me… The staff pulled me ashore. As I was losing consciousness, I heard Emma’s affected voice. “Oh, she fainted.” “James, didn’t you say she was in good health? Is she faking it?” “How disgusting, she’s on her period and didn’t say anything. She smells of blood, so dirty.” Then came the sound of people inhaling sharply. I could feel everyone stepping back in disgust. I struggled to open my eyes and saw James frowning at me. “She likes to pretend, just leave her here. We don’t need to care about her.” Hearing this, the people around me scattered. As they left, they didn’t forget to criticize and mock me. I completely passed out. When I woke up again, James was sitting by the hospital bed looking at me with boredom. “Heh, finally decided to wake up? I thought you were going to die.” He yawned. I looked at James’s face, full of sarcasm and contempt, and felt only sadness. I struggled to speak: “The baby is gone, isn’t it?” James was still smiling, without a trace of pity in his eyes. “That’s right, you lost another child.” This was already the third time. My heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. The first time was because he encountered an enemy, and I took a knife for him. That knife didn’t take my life, but it took my child’s life. The second time was when I discovered he had a home outside with Emma. In that villa, the servants all called her “young madam.” Seeing me cry, James showed no sympathy. He even felt pleased. “Someone like you can cry?” “Are you crying purely for the death of that child, or because you can’t keep a child to secure your position as Mrs. Pei?” Look at this. Prejudice in the heart is like a mountain. He despised me. Even when I cried for losing a child, he thought it was because of my position as his wife. Emma walked in at this moment. She swayed her hips, full of charm, and walked gracefully to James’s side. She held his arm, with a coquettish and lovely smile on her face. But her eyes kept glancing at me, full of contempt and provocation. “James, why does she look so awful? It’s just losing a child.” “She looks like she’s dying. Is she deliberately seeking sympathy?” Emma’s voice was so sweet it could drip water. James seemed to enjoy it very much. As if deliberately putting on a show for me, he even affectionately tapped her nose. “Maybe my darling is right. Isn’t Olivia always a scheming person?” I didn’t feel as angry and intolerable as I had imagined. In the past, when he said such things about me, it was painful to breathe. Now I could even laugh out loud. People always change. Just as James, who once cared for me so much, had changed beyond recognition. I knew why he hated me. It wasn’t just him hating me; I hated myself too. Emma was still smiling sweetly. “James, let’s go. Weren’t you going to accompany me to the auction?” But unexpectedly, James didn’t move. Under Emma’s puzzled gaze, James kissed her forehead. “Be good, go by yourself. I need to stay with her.” “Why!” Emma was dissatisfied and glared at me. But I was already numb, lying on the hospital bed without any reaction. James quickly comforted her. “Because there are reporters outside. For the sake of the company, I have to put on a show.” Getting this answer, Emma broke into a smile. “Alright then.” They were still chatting and being affectionate, but I was lost in memories. Five years ago, I encountered a medical dispute at the hospital.

I was a doctor. Because I failed to save a child during surgery, as the chief surgeon, I was resented by the patient’s family. On my way home from work, the patient’s family went crazy and stabbed me with a knife. I was supposed to die. But James’s mother saved me. She took the knife for me. Before she died, she asked me to live a good life with James and to take care of him for her. After James’s mother died, James seemed to become a different person. He said he loved me in public and wanted to marry me, but on our wedding night, he almost strangled me to death. At that time, I realized that James hated me. He married me only to torture me. Before I was about to die, I seemed to see James’s mother. In a daze, I remembered her words before she died, asking me to take good care of James and never leave him. I agreed. I owed the Pei family. My life was exchanged for James’s mother’s life. So for these years, I allowed James to torture me. It was as if only in this way could I alleviate some of my guilt. Living with the burden of someone’s life was too painful. I struggled to sit up and looked at James. “Let’s talk.” James impatiently looked at me. Then he said to Emma, “Darling, go to the auction by yourself. If you see anything you like, just tell my assistant. I’ll chat with her for a bit.” James’s assistant had always looked down on me and was always imperious towards me. But he was very respectful to Emma. Emma reluctantly agreed. Before leaving, she didn’t forget to tell James not to stay with me for too long, saying she would be jealous. That look seemed to say that I was the mistress. After Emma left, only James and I were left in the hospital room. I was really tired. I felt that if I continued like this, I would die. Even if James wouldn’t let me go, I wouldn’t let myself go either. So I wanted to save myself. I understood. I couldn’t be tortured by James for a lifetime just because his mother lost her life for me. Moreover, three years ago, I also took a knife for James, and I lost a child because of it. At that time, I even thought, why not just let me die? That way I wouldn’t owe James anymore. These years, I’ve been tortured by James to the point of wishing for death. I’ve lost three children in a row. It’s enough. “James, let’s divorce. Let’s get a divorce.” James was stunned. Then he laughed out loud. He seemed to have heard the biggest joke in the world. “Divorce? You? You think you can leave me?” “You’ve already had your medical license revoked. If you leave the Pei family, you won’t even be able to support yourself.” I swallowed hard, trying hard to suppress the bitterness welling up inside. Back then, the patient’s family made a big fuss. The hospital fired me to settle the matter. In the end, I even lost my medical license. At that time, I thought the medical license issue was done by the patient’s family. Later I found out it was James. To better control me, he personally ruined my career. “I have hands and feet. I won’t starve to death,” I tried to squeeze out a smile. “Is that so? What about your mother’s medical expenses? Without the Pei family’s help, can you afford the medical expenses?” James stood by with his arms folded, sneering. My heart twisted in pain. Mother was indeed my biggest weakness. In the past, I really didn’t dare. But a few days ago, the hospital notified me that my mother’s condition had improved and she could be transferred to a regular ward. With my savings from these years, if I took on a few more jobs, I could still manage. But James didn’t know. After all, he never cared about anything related to me. Perhaps in his eyes, my mother was still critically ill.

Thinking of my mother, my tone carried a hint of lightness. “It’s okay, I’ll take on a few more jobs. I’ll manage somehow.” But James’s eyes grew colder. He wasn’t happy inside. Especially seeing that I could still smile. Was divorcing him making me so happy? Finally, he dropped a sentence, “Don’t dream. I haven’t tortured you enough yet. I won’t let you go.” Then he left. The door slammed shut with a thunderous bang. I stayed in the hospital for a few days. During these days, James didn’t come to see me again. As soon as I was discharged, James’s father sent a message. He asked me to return to the Pei family’s old house. I couldn’t refuse. I immediately hailed a car and went. Before I even walked through the gate of the Pei house, the servants who saw me all showed contemptuous looks. They gathered together and whispered. “Why is she so thick-skinned? After being treated like that by the Pei family, how can she still shamelessly come back?” “For what? Of course for money.” “If you ask me, Miss Emma is the most suitable to be Mrs. Pei. She’s beautiful and kind-hearted.” One of the newly arrived young maids was confused. “But no matter what, the madam is still the legal wife. Even if Miss Emma is true love, she’s still the third party.” The maids were still discussing, but I had no intention of listening. Butler Wang, who never changed his expression when facing things, led me to the back garden of the villa. This was my second time here. The first time was when James and I were getting married, he took me to the Pei family ancestral hall. And the Pei family ancestral hall was in the depths of the back garden. I was a bit surprised. Just as I was about to ask, I saw three people sitting in the pavilion. James’s father, James, and Emma. As soon as he saw me, James’s father put on a stern face. “Why aren’t you kneeling in the ancestral hall yet?” I clenched my hands. James’s father had always hated me. Because he deeply loved James’s mother. He hated me for causing James’s mother’s death. I understood him, so I never refused James’s father’s unreasonable demands. Even if he got angry and made me kneel down, or humiliated me in front of others… I endured it all. I nodded and turned around, walking towards the direction of the ancestral hall. Behind me, I faintly heard Emma’s coquettish laughter and James’s father’s harsh curses. James, on the other hand, hadn’t spoken from beginning to end. Walking into the ancestral hall, I knelt down. I looked at James’s mother’s memorial tablet, exhausted and helpless. James’s mother actually didn’t like me very much before. But she was also the kindest person to me besides James. She once said to me, “You and James are not the same kind of people. Your family backgrounds are too different. It’s not feudalism, but your worldviews and ways of dealing with the world are different. You’ll live a very tiring life together.” At that time, I was very stubborn and naive. I believed that love could overcome all difficulties. But she just shook her head, looking at me with pity and pain. I never imagined that James’s mother would take a knife for me. “Auntie Pei, I feel like I can’t go on anymore. I’m going to break my promise to you…” I choked out. At this time, footsteps came from behind. I didn’t need to turn around to know it was James. “What? Being such a drama queen, still pretending to be pitiful in front of my mom?” “Too bad, she can’t hear you.” His voice was cold and sarcastic. “James, let’s not torture each other anymore. Let’s get divorced.” “Olivia, you want to leave me, leave the Pei family? I’m telling you, what you owe my mom, you can never repay in this lifetime!” I laughed bitterly. “How can I repay it? Do I have to pay with my life?” “No, you’re wrong. Even if you die, I’ll still grind your bones to dust!” He said hatefully, gritting his teeth. My whole body froze, tears flowing uncontrollably. Is that how much he hates me? The string of rationality suddenly snapped. I suddenly stood up and shouted at him angrily through tears. “What do I have to do for you to let me go? Three years ago I took a knife for you and almost lost my life. These years I’ve been tortured by you to lose three children. Isn’t that enough?” I pushed him away and ran out of the ancestral hall. As I passed the pavilion, I didn’t notice Emma’s meaningful look. Until half an hour later, I received a call from the hospital. “I’m sorry, Mrs. Pei, your mother… she fell from the building.”

My mind went blank for a moment. Fell from the building… With a “bang”, my phone smashed to the ground. The screen instantly shattered into pieces. The two words “fell down” kept cycling in my brain. I don’t remember how I rushed to the hospital. I just felt everything became blurry. I couldn’t hear anything, just single-mindedly ran to the morgue. In the morgue, my mother’s broken body was covered with a white cloth. “Mom!” But no matter how heartbroken my cries were, I could no longer get any response from my mother. I passed out again. When I woke up again, Emma was standing at the head of the bed looking at me. “Why are you here!” My voice was so hoarse that the words were barely recognizable. But Emma heard clearly. She smiled with great pleasure. “I heard your mom died?” I suddenly opened my eyes wide. Then I heard her continue. “Your mom really couldn’t take it. I just had someone tell her some things, and she couldn’t bear it and committed suicide.” “Emma, it was you, you did it!” I screamed, wanting to rush towards her. But because my body was weak, I fell heavily back onto the bed, gasping for breath on the hospital bed. Emma wasn’t afraid of me at all. She approached me step by step, still wearing that hypocritical smile on her face. “Want to hit me? With your half-dead appearance, you still want to lay hands on me?” “Besides, she had poor psychological endurance herself, how can you blame me?” She said while pouting. Looking innocent yet cruel. Emma continued to speak casually. “Actually, I didn’t say much. I just told her everything about you and James over these years.” “Let her know how hard you’ve been these years to pay for her treatment. I’m doing this for your own good.” Emma said, even laughing. “Who knew she couldn’t take it as soon as she heard it? Not only did she curse James as a beast, she even jumped directly from the building.” “You’ll face retribution!” I cried, staring at her, wishing I could tear her to pieces. At this time, James walked in. Seeing my hysterical appearance, he frowned. “What are you making a fuss about again? Emma came to see you out of kindness, and you’re cursing her?” “Do you know what she did to my mom…” But before I could finish, Emma interrupted me. She played a recording. It was a recording of my mom cursing the Pei family before she died. “The Pei family are all beasts, a bunch of beasts who deserve to die. How dare James torture my daughter…” James’s face grew darker as he listened. He rushed up in a few steps and grabbed my neck. He said to me through gritted teeth, “Your mom gave birth to a bitch like you, sure enough she’s no good thing either. You’re all cheap goods!” My numb and empty eyes burst with boundless hatred at this moment. I struggled to sit up, picked up the fruit knife on the bedside table, and stabbed James. But because my body was too weak, this stab didn’t go very deep. James let go of my neck. He looked at the knife stuck in his shoulder in disbelief. “Bitch, you dare to hurt me?” I had no strength left and collapsed onto the bed. Emma screamed in fright. “James, she’s crazy, she’s a lunatic!” More and more people poured in. They pinned me down on the bed and injected me with sedatives. Before my consciousness completely dissipated, I could still see James staring at me with a gloomy expression. In the middle of the night, I slowly woke up. When the nurse was about to inject me with sedatives again, I quickly turned my hand and stabbed the sedative into the nurse’s vein. The young nurse’s eyes widened in disbelief as she passed out. I then ran out of the hospital carrying my mother’s ashes. Without realizing it, I ran to the seaside. The salty smell of the sea breeze was strong. The night waves mercilessly beat against the beach, as if wailing. Looking at the endless sea, my heart was rarely calm. “Mom, I’m sorry. I’m really so tired, so tired…” I hugged the urn and cried out loud. But my voice was all drowned out by the sound of the waves. Then I walked into the sea step by step. Until the cold seawater completely submerged me. The moment seawater flooded my nose, I only felt an unprecedented sense of liberation. It’s good to die too. These years, I’ve been too tired. As my consciousness faded away, I seemed to see my mother hugging me.

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After taking paternity leave when my wife gave birth, I returned to the company to find my desk occupied by my apprentice, Lily. My sales champion trophy had been destroyed, and my personal poster on the publicity board was torn down. She clung tightly to the resources and connections I had given her, and mocked me in front of the whole company: “Which would you choose – sales performance or family? Rather than being laid off, why don’t you just quit on your own?” She didn’t know that with just one word from me, even the CEO would give up his seat for me! “Employee information not detected. Please scan again.” Just as I was about to enter, my access card wouldn’t work no matter how I tried to swipe it. I had always kept this access card in good condition. How could it suddenly stop working for no reason? As I was puzzling over this, Jenny, my former work buddy, happened to pass by. Seeing me, her eyes lit up with surprise: “Jack! What brings you back to the office today? How’s your wife recovering after giving birth?” “Everything’s good. I just couldn’t stop worrying about work, so I thought I’d come back and check things out.” After exchanging a few pleasantries with her, I prepared to return to my familiar desk. But she stopped me, stammering: “Um, your desk… Lily’s taken it over.” Just then, a shout came from the nearby meeting room: “I’ve told you, do everything exactly as I say! Jack’s old methods are outdated!” Jenny was startled, her expression turning unnatural. She told me that since I went on leave, Lily had become the company’s second top salesperson. She had even taken over my former desk, saying I didn’t deserve the position. Vice President Harris saw her outstanding performance and had her mentor the new hires to help them quickly adapt to the work environment. Relying on her newly elevated status, she berated and even hit the new employees, calling it “pressure training” and “failure education”. How else would they learn to handle customers if they weren’t toughened up first? After hearing this, I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: “What a case of nurturing a tiger that will turn on you! She’s even trying to ride roughshod over me now!”

Lily was a new hire I had originally brought in. At the time, I saw she was struggling to make it on her own in the big city. My heart softened, and I decided to mentor her hands-on. When I was pursuing sales leads, she would observe and learn from the side. Afterwards, she would review with me the little tricks for winning over clients. She learned quickly and acted very obedient in front of others. She was the most promising new hire I had ever seen. Before I went on paternity leave, I wanted to try handing over my resources to her temporarily, giving her space to work independently. She could always return them to me later. But when I came back, she was no longer willing. She even tried to turn the tables on me. Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but clench my fists. Just then, the half-closed meeting room door suddenly opened. Lily walked out holding an iced Americano, followed by a group of ashen-faced new hires. I took a good look – she was completely unrecognizable from before. Where had that fresh-faced young girl gone? Now she wore bright red lipstick, earrings bigger than her cheeks, with an oily sheen on her face. It was more nauseating than eating greasy pork knuckles for days on end. Seeing me, her jaw nearly dropped to the floor: “Jack! When did you get here? I’ve missed you so much!” Before I could speak, she pounced on me in a bear hug, clinging so tightly I could barely breathe. I peeled her off and smiled back: “Well Lily, you’ve certainly grown into your role in just a few days!” “You’ve even taken over my desk now. Talk about making yourself at home.” Hearing my words, a flash of embarrassment crossed her face, quickly replaced by fawning: “Oh Jack, I just wanted to bask in your aura a bit. Besides, a desk is just a desk, right?” She led me to a rather secluded corner where there was a workstation. I reached out to wipe it, and my fingers were covered in a visible layer of dust. The desk was also cluttered with random junk, making my mood just as messy. “You mean for me to sit here?” I asked. She blinked her big innocent eyes at me and said: “Yes, Jack. Is there a problem? It’s nice and quiet here.” I laughed bitterly to myself. Not only was it isolated, the air conditioning didn’t even reach this spot. This was clearly an attempt to sideline me. Suppressing the anger about to erupt, I said to her sternly: “Lily dear, I only took a short leave. No need to be so… accommodating. Those big client accounts I handed over to you – I’ll be taking those back to follow up on myself.” But she suddenly shrieked: “What’s wrong with you? Are you insane?”

I was stunned by her words, momentarily at a loss. Seeing my reaction, her voice suddenly took on a tearful tone: “Jack, you never said that before! You want to have your cake and eat it too! What’s wrong with letting me take on all your resources to gain experience?” “Jack, I know you’re not what you used to be. Don’t worry, you don’t need to fear me taking your position.” I was dumbfounded by this blatant twisting of the facts. I hadn’t expected her to be capable of such shameless behavior. Before I could respond, she ran downstairs crying, losing a shoe in the process. The words died on my lips. I couldn’t find a way to voice them. I could only start tidying up the desk, taking out a cloth to wipe down the drawers inside and out. But when I opened the bottom drawer, my gaze froze. Inside lay my sales champion trophy. But now the trophy was just an empty base, The trophy shape on top no longer intact. My heart felt like it was blocked by a huge stone, the ripples of emotion dissipating as they hit it. Just then I heard snippets of gossip from somewhere nearby: “I can’t believe Jack is that kind of person. No wonder he’s always been the top salesman – turns out he’s been monopolizing all the resources!” “Coming back to the office so soon, and already fighting with his star pupil! He must be worried about losing his position since he can’t devote as much energy to work now!” I said nothing. People’s preconceptions are like a mountain – once they come crashing down on you, there’s no moving them. Afterwards, I went downstairs for a bit. When I came back, I was carrying several large bags of bubble tea. I had ordered them on my phone earlier, thinking of treating my former colleagues to a cool drink. I didn’t disturb anyone, just quietly delivered the drinks to each person’s desk with a nod and smile before leaving. When I got to the gossipers, they finally shut their big mouths when they saw me, pretending to work while sneaking glances. I paused for a moment, then placed a few bubble teas in front of them. At first they pretended not to notice, but when they couldn’t keep up the act any longer, they turned to me and said: “Oh Jack! Sorry, I was so focused on work! Thanks!” I smiled and gave them each a firm pat on the shoulder. They cried out in pain, drawing stares and a few snickers from everyone. I walked away without looking back, feeling quite pleased with myself. At some point, Lily had returned to her desk and was touching up her makeup in a small mirror. Seeing an opportunity, I quietly walked up beside her. When she finally noticed, she nearly jumped out of her chair. I waved a bubble tea in front of her face: “Lily dear, I was inconsiderate earlier. Let me make it up to you!” Her eyes lit up, clearly not expecting this gesture from me. I quickly pulled out the drink, twirled it around, and said in a puzzled tone: “Oh no, I accidentally ordered you a full sugar black sugar milk tea! I forgot you’re watching your figure. We salespeople need to maintain our image after all!” Seeing this, she quickly waved her hands for me to take it away. But I moved in closer, suddenly jamming the straw into her mouth: “Come on, it’s the thought that counts! Do me a favor!” This made her choke, her hands instinctively grasping the cup as her face turned red. But somehow, I “accidentally” let go, and the tea spilled all over her designer outfit. She immediately flew into a rage, screaming: “What the hell is wrong with you? What are you trying to do?” I firmly pushed her back down as she tried to stand, leaning in to whisper in her ear: “Sit tight! Don’t let a little bubble tea inflate you like a balloon. You might float away and fall to your death!” With that, I strode off, heading to the restroom to wash my hands. Her shouts of anger followed me. Hmm, with that high pitch she’d be wasted not trying out for a singing competition. But before long, Jenny informed me that Vice President Harris was calling a meeting in 5 minutes and told me to prepare. After gathering my materials, I entered the meeting room first. This home court advantage would be mine again sooner or later! But just then, the phone I’d left at my desk suddenly lit up with a message from a contact labeled: (Flashy Bro) CEO.

By the time the meeting room was almost full, Lily finally rushed in. She had clearly found another outfit to change into somewhere. But there were still traces of milk tea in her hair, making a few new hires snicker at the comical sight. She glared at them, and the room fell silent again. Vice President Harris glanced at her before clearing his throat and addressing us: “As you can see, after Lily, we’ve brought in another batch of new hires. Now that Jack is back, why don’t we have the two of them each lead a team, dividing up the work to tackle the tasks from above.” “If there are no objections, I’ll announce the team assignments…” Before he could finish, a new hire stood up and said quietly: “Mr. Harris, could I request to be on Jack’s team instead?” Harris looked displeased, just staring at her without speaking. But soon after, more people started requesting to join my team. Seeing this, Lily immediately blew up: “What’s the meaning of this? Is working under me a death sentence or something? The market changes in the blink of an eye – are you sure Jack understands the current situation better than me?” She turned to glare at me, her face twisted with anger. Perhaps intimidated by her intensity, a few of the women were struck speechless. Seeing they had something to say, I gestured for them to come whisper in my ear. From what they told me, I realized Lily was a complete fraud. She claimed to be mentoring her team, but in reality she just used them as errand runners – fetching tea, delivering packages, doing all sorts of menial tasks. When she finally deigned to share some so-called “experience”, it was all theoretical knowledge she had never actually put into practice. Whether any of it was actually useful, no one knew. The young women had no choice but to forge ahead with her methods. They managed to close a few small deals with great difficulty, only to have Lily snatch the credit for herself. In the end, all their efforts were for nothing. By this point, the women’s faces were filled with barely concealed resentment. Lily acted like she was drunk, pointing at them and yelling: “I’m going to steal all of you away to my team no matter what! How dare you rebel like this!” I turned to look at Harris. He just sat there with his legs crossed, watching the drama unfold with great interest. I said to him coldly: “Mr. Harris, Lily is my apprentice after all. Her poor people skills can’t be blamed on me! If you have any insights, I’m all ears.” Seeing this, Lily suddenly walked up to Harris. She clung to his arm, a hint of something unsavory flashing in her eyes: “Jack! Surely you don’t think Mr. Harris would just stand by and do nothing? Given my relationship with him, leaving you to struggle alone wouldn’t be a problem!” As she spoke, she clung even tighter. Her gaze flickered to me, clearly eager to see my reaction. Suddenly, Harris’ phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and immediately sat up straighter. After stepping out for a few minutes, he returned to the meeting room looking frazzled and rubbing his eyes: “Why did the CEO have to choose today of all days for a surprise inspection? Talk about bad timing.” Hearing his words, my eyebrows involuntarily raised. I had to admit, the timing was impeccable.

Once the room quieted down again, Harris opened his laptop to share his screen. A large face suddenly appeared before us. It was CEO Leo. At that moment, he was overseas developing new business. He was dressed in a loud, colorful outfit. Seeing us, he opened with: “What’s up, bros?” Us: “…” Seeing we didn’t react, he wisely shut his mouth and said sternly: “Ahem… I happened to have some free time today. I heard from Harris that you’re launching a new product and assigning tasks, so I thought I’d check in.” With that, he gestured for Harris to continue, though his gaze seemed to drift towards me. Harris’ face darkened, but he had no choice but to start his introduction from the beginning. However, when he got to the team assignments, he suddenly paused. He said to CEO Leo: “Sir, Jack is our company’s top salesman. So his team only needs one or two people. As for Lily’s team…” Leo listened silently for a moment after Harris finished. After confirming the situation with Harris, he ordered all the new hires to join Lily’s team, then picked out a few “star players” from the roster to assign to my team. Lily immediately objected: “CEO, isn’t this rather unfair? My team is all newbies while Jack’s team is full of experienced salespeople. No matter how you look at it…” The CEO spoke up: “Lily dear, wasn’t Jack so good to you before precisely to give you a chance to prove yourself? Now if you can outperform Jack while leading a team of newbies, wouldn’t that be the perfect demonstration of your abilities?” “But Jack, he…” The CEO’s patience was clearly wearing thin. He slammed his hand on the desk and barked: “Are you trying to tell me how to do my job? Follow orders! If you can handle it, great. If not, get out!” With that, he turned off his camera and left the online meeting, leaving a sweating Harris behind. Lily hurriedly chased after Harris as he rushed out the door, grabbing his arm to ask: “Mr. Harris, how can you bear to see me like this? You know that Jack is so…” But Harris shook her off violently, his eyes bulging as he yelled at her: “The CEO has spoken. What else can I do? Even if I had incredible powers, do you think I’d risk my neck for you?” The meeting room door slammed shut with a “bang”. Lily was left kneeling on the floor alone, rubbing her reddened foot from the fall as tears streamed down her face. The sight was truly pitiful. But I only wanted to rip off her mask and expose her true face for all to see. As I stepped out of the meeting room, she let out a shrill cry with reddened eyes: “Jack, you think you’re so clever? I’ll make you regret this!” I paused for a moment, then turned to say: “Okay, noted.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295951”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #重生Reborn #惊悚Thriller #校园School