Category: English

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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I just got married to Anderson Jacob. As soon as we were done, he said, “Let’s file for divorce right away to avoid any false hopes. Remember, we can only ever be like siblings.” He only married me to comfort his dying adoptive mother. I’ve been devoted to him since he took me in when I was five, loving him for twenty years. But now, seeing the disdain in his eyes, I’ve finally lost all hope. “Sure, going straight into the divorce waiting period sounds good.” I didn’t tell him that my biological parents have found me and want to reconnect. I sent a message saying, “Mom, Dad, I’ll come home with you after I’ve fulfilled my responsibilities to my adoptive mother…” As we left the civil affairs office, Anderson still seemed uneasy about me. “During this time, keep your little schemes to yourself. Mom’s health is fragile, don’t upset her anymore.” “Okay,” I replied obediently. I glanced at the front passenger seat with a sticker that read “Ella’s Special.” For the first time, I willingly sat in the back, as far away from him as possible. But then he suddenly spoke up, “Sit in the front.” I was confused. He despises anything he considers crossing the line. He once said only girlfriends sit in the front seat. Every time I shamelessly sat there, he would darken his expression and make me get out. That sticker was something I had managed with the help of his adoptive mother. So why is he asking me to sit there now? “Don’t overthink it. There’s no hidden meaning. We got the certificate, so let’s act the part. We can’t let anyone notice and worry Mom.” I nodded and sat in the front seat. The sticker seemed irritating, so I started picking at it with my fingers. He frowned again and scolded me, “Ella, did Mom say you could remove it now? Are you ignoring everything I say? When will you stop causing trouble?” He hadn’t spoken to me this much in a long time. When we were kids, he was nice to me. When he brought me home, relatives joked, “Anderson sure is something, finding a wife at ten.” He proudly hugged and kissed me, saying, “Yes! I’ll marry Ella when I grow up and make her my bride.” I believed him and chased after him every day. Later, when he started middle school, I called myself his wife, and classmates reported it as early dating. Even after the school investigated and cleared it up, he was still mocked for having me as his “childhood bride.” That’s when he started distancing himself. But I didn’t realize it then and was proud to be his bride. After high school, I confessed to him, but he said we could only be like siblings. In my sophomore year, I secretly crawled into his bed. Since then, he avoided me even more, barely speaking to me alone. I was hurt. His adoptive mother comforted me, “He cares about you; I can see it. But boys mature late and don’t understand their feelings. Waiting for a man to grow up is hard. I advise you to find someone who reciprocates.” But I stubbornly chose to pursue and wait. I was twenty then. My adoptive parents couldn’t persuade me. They ended the adoption, allowing me and Anderson to be together legitimately. They even held an engagement party for us. Anderson was forced into becoming my fiancé, angry that his adoptive parents didn’t understand him and hated me for pushing them to match us. He had many flings, but they could never be with me. Yet, I found out he secretly resolved my problems behind my back. I chased away every girlfriend he had, and he never got mad. I thought he had feelings for me. Until today, I realized he truly hated me. My eyes burned with tears, and I looked down, not wanting him to see. I noticed a black stocking in the car door storage. Is this why he called my tricks clumsy? Is he playing around like this now? “Anderson, I won’t cause trouble anymore,” I said, my voice choked with emotion. “Hmm,” he replied, satisfied, without looking at me. “I hope so.” I rarely cried. As a child, he and my adoptive parents treated me well, giving me few reasons to cry. Growing up, even though he avoided me, whenever I cried, he’d get angry and walk away but would still compromise in actions. Now, he didn’t even notice my tears. I was sure he didn’t care about me anymore.

When his adoptive mother saw our marriage certificate, her tired face lit up slightly. Wearing a breathing mask, she couldn’t speak but kept nodding and blinking at me. Anderson got a call and left. His adoptive mother gestured to me for a while. I finally understood her meaning. “Wedding photos? I’ll find Anderson later for a rush, so you can see them soon. We’re also choosing the wedding venue. You need to get well to help me with my hair and veil.” She nodded and smiled faintly. But we both knew she might not make it to that day. The pain in my heart was like being gnawed by a thousand ants, but she kept urging me to go. I had no choice but to find Anderson. His company was the life’s work of my adoptive parents, and he took over after his adoptive father passed away. I was familiar with it. I walked straight to Anderson’s office. As I raised my hand to knock, I heard a sweet female voice inside, “Mr. Anderson, did you get a marriage certificate this morning? Should I contact a hotel to arrange the wedding?” “No need, and it’s unnecessary,” Anderson refused bluntly. “If you want to be my woman, stop bringing up things that annoy me.” The woman giggled, calling him “Mr. Anderson,” her voice teasing. I bit my lip, staying silent. Then I pushed open the slightly ajar door. Anderson sat behind his desk, with the woman on his lap. She stood up when she saw me, tugging down her short skirt, “Sorry, who are you?” Anderson pulled her back onto his lap, making her squeal, her face blushing as she playfully scolded, “Mr. Anderson, not with someone here.” I noticed the stockings on her legs matched the ones in Anderson’s car, and I kept silent. Anderson kept his arm around her waist, twirling her hair with his fingers near his nose, giving me a sidelong glance, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t cause trouble anymore? If you’ve seen enough, leave.” He often brought different women to events. I used to find ways to drive them away, but today his intimate actions were a hundred times worse. I couldn’t interfere anymore. I had decided to leave. Whoever he’s with, whatever he does, it’s no longer my concern. I took a deep breath, swallowing the bitterness. “I need to talk to you.” He let go of the woman’s waist. She stood up, adjusted her skirt, and he gave her a playful pat on the rear. She glanced at him coyly before leaving. He sat upright, flipping through documents, “Speak. I’m busy and can only spare you two minutes.” I took a couple of steps towards him. The woman’s perfume lingered, making me pause. “Mom wants to see our wedding photos and attend the wedding. Are you free during lunch break? If you can make time, let’s take the photos first. I’ll handle the wedding venue. It won’t take much of your time.” He slammed the document on the desk and stood up, his gaze sharp, “Didn’t I tell you this morning that Mom’s not well, so stop causing her stress? Do you really think she can attend a wedding in her current state?” He walked towards me, gripping my shoulders, and shouted, “Ella, you’re twenty-five, not five! Mom raised you for twenty years, and now, in her final moments, you still use her to manipulate me? Do you have a conscience? The shares are being transferred. You have enough say in the company to control me. With the marriage certificate, what more do you want?”

I’d never seen Anderson so furious. His eyes red, words stinging. He pushed me away, kicking over the chair beside me. I fell, hitting my waist on the chair’s back. The sudden pain left me momentarily stunned. So, he thinks I’ve been using his adoptive mother to manipulate him. That the shares she left me were my schemes to control him. Is this why he went from disliking to hating me? I got up, clutching the chair, instinctively trying to explain, “I didn’t use Mom. I love her! I want her to be happy! Before she went on the respirator, she said she’s concerned about not seeing us settled. You were there when she said it…” He turned away, cutting me off, “Enough! Without your constant pushing, would we be here today? I should have never brought you home in the first place!” I looked into his cold eyes, my mind buzzing. Regret… for taking me home? If I had a choice… I wish I’d never met him! I didn’t want to argue anymore. “Anderson, I don’t want the company shares. I have two requests: take the wedding photos and hold the wedding as I said. You usually rest at 12:40 PM for an hour. I’ll wait at the café downstairs until 1 PM.” He cut me off abruptly, his voice sharp: “Enough! Would we be in this situation if not for your constant interference? “I should never have brought you into my life!” His eyes were cold, and my mind reeled with his words. Regret… for bringing me here? If I had a choice… I would have preferred never meeting him! I didn’t want to argue anymore. “Anderson, I don’t want the company shares! I have just two requests: let’s take wedding photos and plan the wedding my way. “You usually nap at 12:40 for an hour. I’ll wait for you in the café downstairs until 1:00.” With that, I left his office, each step I took sending a sharp pain through my waist. I waited at the café until 1:00. Anderson appeared with the woman who had been in his office earlier. He didn’t say a word. The woman, however, leaned against him and smiled at me: “Hello, Ella! I didn’t realize you were Mr. Anderson’s sister this morning, sorry for being rude. “I’m Emily, Mr. Anderson’s new assistant. “He asked me to join you for the photoshoot and handle the wedding arrangements. You don’t mind, right?” I nodded and stood up: “Let’s go.” The pain in my waist almost made me sit back down. I held my side as I walked past them and headed outside. Without warning, Anderson grabbed my wrist: “Trying to gain sympathy and complain to Mom again? I won’t give you the chance. We’re going to the hospital first.” He pulled me along, and I stumbled, twisting my waist further and intensifying the pain. I tried to pry his fingers off: “Relax! I won’t say anything to Mom. If you don’t trust me, have someone keep an eye on me. Can we go take the photos now?” “You better mean it.” He released my hand. He put his arm around Emily again and led the way. In the car, I watched the scenery pass by from the back seat, Emily’s constant chatter filling the air. At the bridal shop, their closeness made the staff assume they were the couple. Remembering how my foster mother loved looking at photo albums, I didn’t focus on choosing a wedding dress. I approached the staff: “It’s me and this gentleman taking photos. Please help me choose a rental wedding dress. “How soon can we get the album? Price isn’t a concern.” Emily shook Anderson’s arm: “Jacob, these dresses are gorgeous. Can I try one?” He playfully tapped her nose: “Go ahead, try them. If you like one, buy it.” She looked blissful, like a bride-to-be, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him. Standing next to them, I felt like an outsider. But now, it didn’t matter to me anymore. Nothing hurt more than hearing, “I should never have brought you into my life.” The staff glanced between them and me with a strange look, but then professionally guided me to change and do my makeup. Just as my makeup was finished, my phone rang. It was a video call from my biological parents. They were squeezed together on the small screen. Seeing me in a wedding dress, they looked surprised and couldn’t hide their disappointment. “Sweetheart, are you… getting married?” Dad and Mom cautiously explained they wouldn’t interfere with my decisions. They called just to express gratitude to my foster mother and ask my opinion. I had confirmed my parent-child relationship with them. I knew they hadn’t stopped looking for me in the last twenty years. They stayed in the same village from twenty years ago, despite their wealth, waiting for me to come home. They opened several restaurants, but the old, small fast-food place on the corner remained, with all the staff familiar with my missing person notice. They never had more children, fearing they’d forget me with a new child. Fate played its tricks on us. I got lost at the train station back then, and with limited information, we missed each other repeatedly during the search. Their deep love made me want to pour out my heart, but I held back my emotions, trying to speak objectively. “Dad, Mom, my foster mother’s health is very poor, and she can’t handle emotional stress now. It’s not the right time to tell her. “I’ll fulfill my duties by her side, then go home with you and never come back. “Don’t worry about me. I’ll call you often during this time.” I smiled as tears blurred my makeup. When they heard I’d be staying with them long-term, they seemed unable to believe their ears and confirmed again. I seriously told them: “Yes! I’ll go with you and never come back here.” “Ella,” Anderson’s voice suddenly cut in. I turned to find him standing at the makeup room door. Hurriedly ending the video call, he stood before me, his face dark. He grabbed my wrist tightly, pulling me up from the chair, staring into my eyes: “Who were those people? Where are you going?” It was good that Anderson heard, so I didn’t have to find another opportunity to say it. I met his gaze: “They’re my biological parents. I plan to stay with Mom to fulfill my duties, then go home with them. “You don’t need to worry about me clinging to you anymore.” He sneered: “You truly have no conscience. After all these years of Mom treating you with all her heart, you’re just waiting for her to… “Have you clarified your relationship with those two people? You’re in such a rush to leave with them.” Waiting for foster mother to pass away? He saw me as being so malicious. I struggled free from his grasp: “We’re no longer siblings. We’ve received the divorce registration receipt. “So, whoever they are or wherever I go is none of your business. “All you need to know is that once the cooling-off period is over, I’ll get the divorce certificate and won’t trouble you anymore.” He laughed aloud. “Ella, you seem a bit smarter this time, even involving outsiders. “But using the retreat-to-advance tactic, you’ve tried it many times. Do you think I’ll fall for it?” He was right. I used to be foolish and troublesome. But when pretending to retreat to advance, I desperately wanted it to be real, watching his reactions and attitude; once I made up my mind to leave, it no longer mattered. “Let’s take the photos.” I walked out of the makeup room. Emily, dressed in a gorgeous wedding dress, passed by me, greeting Anderson: “Jacob, do I look good in this? The staff even gave me a bride’s crown.” I heard Anderson praise her indulgently, then call for the staff to swipe the card for payment. I felt suffocated, unable to sort out my emotions. I had always dreamed of wearing a wedding dress for him, becoming his wife. Now, wearing the dress, with the marriage certificate in hand, it was worlds apart from my dreams. It was truly ironic. Anderson cooperated during the photoshoot, leaving quickly afterward. We didn’t exchange any more words. By the time I got the album and rushed back to the hospital, it was completely dark. Foster mother’s hospital room was empty, and my heart sank, my legs going weak. I grabbed a nurse to ask and found out foster mother had been taken to the emergency room again. I hurriedly went there with the album, asking Anderson and the caregiver standing outside the operating room: “How is Mom?” The caregiver gently shook her head at me. Facing the operating room door, Anderson suddenly turned, angrily questioning me: “You still care? Knowing Mom’s condition is unstable, why didn’t you come back to the hospital to accompany her earlier?” I replied calmly: “I just got the album.” “Ella, are those things so important to you?” he yelled angrily, “More important than Mom’s life?” With that, he tried to snatch the album, furious like a raging lion. He seemed so unfamiliar to me. The Anderson I loved was always excellent, polite, and composed. But today’s Anderson seemed like a different person, whether with Emily or with me. I held tightly onto the album I wanted to show foster mother: “Anderson, are you crazy?” But the difference in strength between us was too great. He easily pushed me down and grabbed the album. “The crazy one is you, Ella! “Before Mom entered the operating room due to her deteriorating condition, she held on to ask why you didn’t come with me. “She was worried she wouldn’t see you one last time, yet you spent your time waiting for wedding photos?” My waist hit the metal armrest of a chair, immediately going numb. Then a sharp pain shot through as if it had snapped. But seeing him about to tear the album, I couldn’t care about the pain. “This is what Mom wanted to see…” At that moment, the operating room door opened behind him. The doctor came out, saying they had done their best, and foster mother’s direct relatives could go in for end-of-life care after changing clothes and disinfecting. Foster mother nodded slightly when she saw the album, her eyes lingering on me and Anderson. “Good children… don’t cry, I’m going to be with your Dad…” I don’t know how I bid farewell to foster mother. It felt like my soul was pulled out, leaving me unable to think. Anderson managed everything calmly, like a machine without emotions. Only on the day of foster mother’s burial did I realize she was really gone. I knelt before the grave, weeping uncontrollably, tears blurring my vision, seeing her gentle smile. “Mom…” I reached out, only to touch the cold, hard tombstone. The tension I had been holding snapped. The repeated injuries to my waist made it impossible for me to stand. Anderson carried me horizontally, pushing me into the car: “To the hospital.” He seemed very anxious, holding me until he got me admitted and found a caregiver. But after he left that day, I lay in the hospital for over half a month, and he never came to see me again. I didn’t tell my biological parents to avoid worrying them. Finally, when the doctor said I could recover at home, I called them via video call. “Dad, Mom, I booked a plane ticket for tomorrow…” “Mom…” I reached out, but my hand only met the cold, hard surface of a tombstone. Something inside me broke. With my injured back, I couldn’t stand on my own. Anderson took care of me, gently placing me in the car. “Let’s get you to the hospital.” He was visibly worried, staying by my side until everything was settled and even arranging for someone to look after me. But after that day, I spent more than two weeks in the hospital without a single visit from him. I didn’t inform my biological parents, not wanting to worry them. When the doctor finally said I could go home to recover, I called my parents via video chat. “Dad, Mom, I’ve booked a flight for tomorrow… “No need to pick me up, I’ll send you the arrival details.” Returning home, I packed my things, ready to leave this city that no longer held any meaning for me. On my desk was an unsigned contract for transferring company shares. I decided to take a few gifts from my foster parents and some photo albums with me. Lastly, I gathered everything connected to my feelings for Anderson. Love letters tucked away in books, practice sheets filled with his name, diaries documenting memories, sketches hidden in the closet… I packed until midnight. The items formed a small pile in the yard, and I set them on fire, watching my past love turn to ash. Suddenly, the yard door burst open. Anderson rushed in, pulling me away from the fire. “Ella, what are you doing?” The strong smell of alcohol hit me.

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I found myself inside a story, tasked with saving my mother from domestic abuse, only to face her relentless disdain because I resembled my father. When I shielded her from my father’s blows, she pushed me away. “You’re disgusting with your fake concern,” she’d hiss. I worked tirelessly to ensure she could live comfortably, yet she lounged through book clubs without care. “If it weren’t for having you, I wouldn’t have ended up like this. Your hard work is what you owe me.” One day, the system informed me I could go home. I stopped sacrificing for her and nagging her to take care of herself. That’s when she began to panic. Content “They’re saying Felicity Archer is repeating her senior year for the third time! What’s the point? That girl’s a lost cause!” “And her mom? I can’t figure her out either. She’s got such a brilliant, hardworking younger daughter but insists on pampering the older one. How many years has she wasted babysitting her through school?” News of my sister Felicity repeating her senior year spread like wildfire through Oakwood Subdivision, where gossip was practically the local pastime. Everyone knew Felicity was good at drinking, fighting, and making trouble—anything but schoolwork. But my mom was stubborn. No matter how many years it took, Felicity had to get into an Ivy League school. Why? Because I, Savannah Harper, already had. Felicity was my mom’s daughter from her first marriage. Her father, George Archer, had passed away from an illness, and my mom remarried my dad, Thomas Harper. Then I came along. The difference between Felicity and me couldn’t be more obvious. Felicity was the diamond, and I was the grass beneath her feet. But my dad didn’t treat her well. He was an abusive, alcoholic wreck. No matter how much I tried to protect Felicity, standing between her and the violence, she still hated me. In her eyes, my blood—his blood—made me just like him. I couldn’t measure up to even a fraction of her in my mom’s eyes. When I got home from my job at Uncle Jerry’s Smokehouse, the smell of BBQ clung to me like a second skin. When I walked through the door, my mom sprayed air freshener at me, scrunching her nose. “Why do you always have to make things worse? Out of all the places to work, you pick the smokiest one. Can’t you learn from Felicity and take care of your appearance?” I raised my arms without a word, letting her do her thing. She seemed to have forgotten everything I’d done since she divorced my dad—her depression, Felicity’s constant brawls. I’d lost countless part-time jobs running around trying to fix their lives. Only Uncle Jerry was kind enough to keep me on. Not only was I paying for our living expenses, but I was also covering for Felicity’s constant messes. This time, I was scrambling because rent was due soon. I scrubbed my skin raw in the shower, hoping to wash away the smoky smell. When we first moved here, neighbors praised my mom for raising two kids so well. They called her strong and independent. But behind her back, they whispered about me, the skinny one. “She should give that one away, sell her even. Wouldn’t drag the family down.” But the one earning money? That was me. The one keeping the family afloat? Also me. The one who took the hits when my dad returned, fists flying? Still me. When I first arrived in this world, my mom was kind. She’d sing me lullabies and sneak me food. But as I grew older and my features took after my father’s, her gaze twisted into something unrecognizable. Her hatred for him? It found its outlet in me. Just last night, the system informed me my dad had drunk himself to death. The threat was finally gone. I was free to leave. As water streamed down my face, I closed my eyes. Soon, this nightmare would be over. A knock interrupted my thoughts. “I heard someone saw Felicity at The Silver Oak Bar tonight. Just… cover for me, will you? I need to go get her.” “And about your birthday… well, you understand, right? That kind of place isn’t safe…” I dried my face, catching my calm reflection in the mirror. “Take care of yourself,” I replied evenly. The silhouette outside the door froze.

“You’ve grown up, Savannah.” Yeah, I used to argue with her. Plead with her to stop sacrificing herself for Felicity. But now? I felt nothing. I slowly dressed, stepped out, and walked past my mom into the kitchen. It’s time to make some pancakes for myself. It was funny. My birthday was the same as my real-life one. We could celebrate. My mom followed me, hesitated, then spoke. “Careful not to burn yourself.” I nodded indifferently. I was here because of a car accident. The Taskkeeper Program told me if I completed my mission, I could wake up again. I couldn’t bear losing my real family, so I agreed. When I arrived, Savannah Harper was seven years old. Even then, she knew how to cook and clean like it was muscle memory—skills that passed on to me. I went from the pampered Gabrielle Hackett to Savannah, who could chop vegetables blindfolded and endure beatings without crying. But that simple “be careful”… That was the first time I’d heard those words from her in over a decade. My mom left in a hurry, forgetting her purse. When she came back and saw me eating, she froze. Ignoring her, I continued. She finally spoke through gritted teeth. “I spoke to your teacher. For Felicity, a tutoring program might help. About your paycheck…” I looked up. I’d lost count of how many times this had happened. At first, she’d made excuses, promising to save the money for me. But it always turned into new dresses for Felicity. Later, she stopped pretending, demanding I hand it over outright. And so I did—rent, groceries, even trash bags. I came home from a late shift, splashed cold water on my face more nights than I could count, and headed straight to school. Half the time, I’d fall asleep in class, earning detention notices my mom ignored. The day she told my teacher, “I don’t care about that kid. Do whatever you want with her,” I copied lines until 4 a.m. That shift cost me my third job. Returning home, the fridge was empty as always. Not even leftovers. Every dollar I handed over ended up on Felicity—her new shoes, her shiny hair clips. At first, I protested. Now, I was numb. “Because you have his blood!” she’d scream. “Everything you do, you owe me!” I stood, staring into her tired, lined face. Before she could speak, I pulled out a small bundle from my pocket—all the money I had left. It didn’t matter. I couldn’t take it back to the real world anyway. I washed my dishes and left her stunned in the kitchen, unsure what to do.

After washing the dishes, I turned to find my mom still staring at me. Confused, I asked, “If you don’t leave now, Felicity will sneak off again.” She blinked as if snapping out of a daze, her brow furrowing. “Savannah Harper, are you doing this to spite me?” There was a time when I might have been. I used to argue with her, pleading for her to wake up. I’d tell her Felicity was an adult who needed to take responsibility for herself. “It’s not a parent’s job to shield their child from every mistake,” I’d say. “You’re only pushing her further away. Some lessons, she’ll have to learn the hard way.” But she’d fly into a rage, grabbing whatever was nearby to hit me with. “Savannah, you’re just jealous of your sister!” she’d scream. “You’re so twisted with envy I don’t even know how you turned out like this!” Over time, the whispers from neighbors and relatives grew louder. “She’s just a jealous, bitter child,” they’d say. During holidays, they’d quietly tell my mom, “Stop being so nice. You should send her away. It’s better for everyone.” But I was the family’s breadwinner. She’d never send me away, no matter how much she wanted to. And now, when I finally kept quiet, I was still in the wrong. I shook my head, denying her accusation. Her frustration boiled over. She slammed her hand on the table. “If you hadn’t gotten sick during Felicity’s SATs, she wouldn’t have been so worried she missed the test!” “You owe her so much. What’s wrong with making it up to her?” I couldn’t help but laugh. This argument had become a broken record, played too many times for me to muster anger. Felicity missing her SATs was my fault. Felicity dating troublemakers? My fault for being a bad influence. Felicity sneaking off to bars? My fault for being too annoying at home. Everything was my fault. The truth? She overslept the morning of her SATs. I had been delirious with a fever so high I couldn’t move, begging her to bring me a glass of water. The test had already started when she finally came to check on me. And her dating history? Her so-called boyfriend was a notorious delinquent at school. I overheard her bragging to friends about how being with him made every girl step aside for her. As for the bars, I was too busy juggling work and school to be in her way. But no matter how often I explained, my mom refused to listen, drowning me with blame. Honestly, I could understand. After two failed marriages, she needed someone to focus her anger on. But I was tired. I’m too tired to defend myself anymore. I met her gaze evenly. “Felicity missed the SATs because she overslept. She barely even attended class. Do you think she’d have done well even if she showed up?” Years ago, Felicity’s teachers constantly called my mom in for meetings. Afterward, she sat on the couch, staring into space. I’d try to comfort her, holding her hand. She’d sigh, “Savannah, just try to make things easier for me, okay?” So, I worked even harder—studying as fiercely as I worked to earn money. I soaked up knowledge like a sponge, determined to grow beyond my circumstances. When I handed her my college acceptance letter, I expected pride. Instead, she looked at me with resentment I didn’t understand. “Felicity doesn’t have a future like this. Why should you?” She only stopped short of tearing it up because I was sobbing and begging her not to. Even then, she made it clear she wouldn’t support me going. All I had wanted was a simple “well done.” Her scales had tipped so far in Felicity’s favor that not even a grain of recognition was left for me. She blinked, startled by my directness. Before she could speak again, I walked into my room, grabbed a stack of tutoring program pamphlets, and handed them to her. “These look good. You should check them out.” Then I ushered her toward the door. She clung to the frame, her fingers turning white. “I’ll make you a roast chicken for dinner when I return, okay? For your birthday.”

I’d heard promises like that more times than I could count. “Score in the top ten, and I’ll get you that doll.” “When Felicity’s tired of her dresses, you can have them.” “After we return from the store, I’ll bring you some candy.” At first, I believed her. Then, I learned the truth. Empty words to soothe a child. But it didn’t matter. I was going home soon. With thoughts of my real family, my eyes stung with tears as I fell asleep. The following day, I went to take out the trash. Voices drifted from the street. “My son didn’t come home again last night,” one neighbor said. “I called him, and he said that troublemaker from the Harper house got into another fight at the bar. A bunch of them caused a stir at the police station!” “Had him working overtime cleaning up the mess,” she continued. “If I were Savannah’s mom, I’d have kicked her out ages ago. But Marilyn spoils her rotten.” “Marilyn even apologized for her last night! She was on her knees, begging the other party for forgiveness. And that girl just ran off again!” “Can you imagine? What a shame.” Ms. Clara nudged Ms. Nora’s arm when she noticed me. “You shouldn’t be saying this in front of her.” But Ms. Nora waved her off. “What does it matter? Everyone knows the Harper kids. One’s a troublemaker, and the other’s a quiet little doormat.” They weren’t entirely wrong. I wasn’t always this quiet. When I laughed, Mom called me annoying and threw things at me to shut me up. When I cried, she said I was bringing bad vibes into the house. Over time, I learned to be silent—a wooden doll that didn’t cry or laugh. Standing by the trash cans, I scuffed circles into the dirt with my toe, thinking. Then, without a word, I turned and walked away. Behind me, someone muttered, “There goes that little fool, off to bail her mom out again.” “She’s a good kid, though. Maybe life would be easier for her on her own.” But I wasn’t going to the police station. I went home. I gathered my uniform from Uncle Jerry’s Smokehouse off the line, neatly folded and clean with the scent of sunlight. I packed it carefully into a bag with a handwritten thank-you note and some candies—the best gift I could manage. Walking to the smokehouse, I found Mr. Jerry soaking in the sun by the door. With my first genuine smile in years, I handed him the bag. “Mr. Jerry, thank you for everything.” He ruffled my hair. “You’re a good kid, Savannah. I’m sure the road ahead will be smooth for you.” I nodded firmly. Behind me, I heard someone call softly, “Savannah?”

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Mom gave us two choices. Go with her to the Brown family, where we could attend the best high school with the young master, but only go to domestic universities. Or stay in our hometown for school, with the option to study abroad after high school graduation. Chloe quickly spoke up. “Mom, I want to go with you to the Brown family.” Mom smiled with satisfaction and turned to look at me. “Your sister should let you go abroad. That way, I’ll have fulfilled my duty as a mother.” Seeing Chloe clinging to Mom with an expectant look, I knew. She had also been reborn. Unfortunately, Vaughn would never fall for her. “Adeline, the employer’s house is busy. Your sister and I are leaving today. Take care of yourself at home, okay?” Mom finished packing and left with Chloe. It wasn’t like last time when she stayed an extra ten days trying to convince Chloe to go with her to the Brown family. In my previous life, after Mom presented the two choices, Chloe had also rushed to choose, but she chose to study abroad. After my parents divorced, I was given to Dad. For ten whole years, Mom never came to see me, but I thought about her every day. It wasn’t until Dad passed away and the police brought me to Mom’s place that I was reunited with her. I was so happy when Chloe chose to study abroad. I could finally be with Mom day and night. But Mom wanted to take Chloe more. She stayed at home for ten days, constantly trying to persuade Chloe to go with her. Chloe firmly believed abroad was better, and even when the employer urged Mom to return, she never changed her mind. So, I went with Mom to the Brown family and met Vaughn. He was handsome, cold, and noble, and excelled in his studies. He was the prince charming in every girl’s heart at school. I couldn’t help but fall for him too. I understood we were worlds apart, so I could only bury that love in my heart. Until after the SAT exam, when Vaughn, drunk after a party, pinned me against the wall. “Adeline, will you study abroad with me?” I turned my face away, trying to control myself. “I don’t have money.” Vaughn smiled, and the whole basement seemed to light up. “I’ll pay for you.” At that moment, I realized. The boy I had secretly loved for three years liked me too. Overwhelmed with happiness, I excitedly told Mom that the young master wanted to take me abroad to study. But what I got was a heavy slap from Mom. “You’re not allowed to go. When you chose to come to the Brown family with me, you gave up the option to study abroad. I’ve been saving that money for Chloe to go abroad.” I held my face and tried to explain. “The young master said I don’t need to pay. He’ll cover my tuition.” Mom sneered, looking at me with disdain. “You’re so shameless, climbing into bed for money. Have you considered your position? Who are you, and who is he? “If someone like the young master is interested in you, once he gets bored of you, I’ll still have to pay. “Don’t even think about going abroad. If you dare disobey, don’t ever call me Mom again. “Also, you’d better stay far away from the young master. Don’t affect my work.” Perhaps because I lacked maternal love since childhood, my greatest fear was losing Mom. I dejectedly rejected Vaughn. But Vaughn solemnly told me. “Distance isn’t a problem. I have money to buy plane tickets.” After starting college, we began a long-distance relationship. He flew back every month to see me. The sweetness of love filled me with hope for the future. When Mom found out we were really dating, she secretly asked Vaughn to take care of Chloe, who was also abroad. Vaughn, unaware of our family situation, naively took care of Chloe as a brother-in-law would. Unexpectedly, one day in my senior year, I received a message from Chloe, along with a photo. In the picture, Chloe was topless, hugging Vaughn’s neck, lying on a hotel bed. [Sis, Vaughn and I are together now. Stop clinging to him.] Having dated Vaughn for three years, I knew he would never betray me. My first thought was that Vaughn had been set up. I angrily called Chloe. But I didn’t notice the truck rushing towards me. After my soul left my body, I heard Mom and Chloe’s conversation. “It’s good that your sister died. Hurry and capture the young master’s heart. You’ll be the future mistress of the Brown family.” Chloe laughed smugly. “Mom, you’re so farsighted. Letting Vaughn take care of me abroad gave me the chance to take that photo when he was drunk. “I originally wanted Adeline to give up voluntarily, but she ended up dying directly. Heaven really is on our side. “After Vaughn gets over his grief, I’ll go and offer myself to him.” I had always thought that even if Mom was biased, she would still see me as her daughter. I never expected that she wouldn’t even be sad about my death. Heartbroken, I floated to find Vaughn. Only to discover that Vaughn had taken his own life in the bathtub, holding my photo. It was then that I realized. Vaughn’s love for me was beyond life itself. I went mad, using all my strength to trip Chloe as she was going downstairs. I watched as Chloe fell to her death on the stairs. Only then did my soul dissipate. Unexpectedly, I returned to the day we chose our destinies. Only this time, Chloe chose to go to the Brown family. She thought that as long as she went to the Brown family, Vaughn would fall for her. Unfortunately, she was wrong. Vaughn would never like her. And I would make them pay for what they did in the previous life.

As soon as Mom and Chloe left, my aunt, using the excuse of renovating the room, asked me to move into the school dorms early. Before, when Mom worked as a housekeeper for the Brown family, she let us stay at my uncle’s house. She would give my aunt a monthly allowance. In my previous life, after Mom and I went to the Brown family, Mom increased the allowance and asked them to take good care of Chloe. Chloe lived well at my uncle’s house. Now it seems Mom had stopped giving my aunt the allowance. I didn’t argue, packed my things, and left. Before school started, I had another place to go. After leaving my aunt’s house, I went to the bank. Every year on my birthday, Dad would save some money for me. Only I knew about that money. I withdrew it and took a long-distance bus. I arrived at a remote cemetery. It was a stormy day. I wrapped myself in a raincoat and hid behind a tree, waiting. As it was getting dark, 16-year-old Vaughn rushed in, braving the rain. Several bodyguards followed behind him. Vaughn was soaked, his narrow eyes cold, but his steps were particularly determined. He walked to a grave and frantically started digging through the grass beside it. “Young master, in this heavy rain, it must have been washed away. Let’s come back when the rain stops.” Vaughn seemed not to hear, continuing until he was exhausted and in despair. I walked out from behind the tree. “Excuse me, are you looking for this?” I pulled out a necklace from my pocket. Vaughn’s eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over. Seeing him soaked, I raised my umbrella higher to shield him from the rain. Vaughn took the necklace with trembling hands, his expression relaxing. “How did you get this?” In my previous life, after Vaughn and I got together, he once said that his greatest regret in life was losing the necklace he made with his mother in the summer when he was sixteen. So, I came to the cemetery. To help him make up for that regret, and to meet him. I shrugged and smiled. “The rain washed it down just now. I picked it up and saw you searching for a while, so I thought it might be yours.” “Thank you. This necklace is very important to me. What reward would you like?” Vaughn said thanks, but still maintained a distant attitude. I shivered and said, “How about you treat me to some instant noodles? I’m cold and hungry.” Vaughn was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Okay!” Half an hour later, at my insistence, Vaughn and I ate his first cup of instant noodles together. “I never knew instant noodles could be so delicious.” When we were together before, his favorite food was instant noodles. After eating, Vaughn wanted to keep my contact information to thank me. I smiled and refused. “If fate allows, we’ll meet again.” As I turned away, I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore. I wanted so badly to run over and hug him, to tell him everything about the previous life. To tell him how much I missed him, to the point of madness. But that would surely make me seem crazy. I didn’t leave my contact information because I knew all his movements after high school. We would meet again. Vaughn would think it was all fate. Not premeditation.

Finally, school started. The high school curriculum was really simple. I started planning my second meeting with Vaughn. During the National Day holiday, I found a part-time job cleaning at an ice hockey rink. On the third morning, Vaughn came to practice. I secretly watched him from behind. When he was almost done practicing, I spoke softly. “You should twist your wrist a bit when passing the puck.” Vaughn suddenly turned around. I couldn’t see his eyes under his hat. But I could feel his shock. “It’s you! You can see my weakness?” How could I? He told me himself. I played dumb. “I can see a little bit. Do we know each other?” Vaughn took off his hat, his eyes sparkling with joy. I exaggeratedly opened my mouth wide. “Oh, it’s you!” We had lunch together at noon. “You’re underage, how come you’re working here?” “Shh! Don’t let the boss find out. I’m pretending to be an adult.” “Do you really need money that badly?” “My dad died in a car accident. Mom took all the money and left with my sister. How else can I survive if I don’t work?” Vaughn was silent for a moment. “Why don’t you practice ice hockey with me later?” I hesitated. “But I still need to clean…” “Five thousand per hour.” “Alright, sugar daddy!” Vaughn laughed again, almost spitting out his food. After playing hockey in the afternoon, Vaughn invited me to dinner again. I was about to agree when I saw Chloe looking around outside the rink. “Let’s make it next time! I have to go now.” When paying me, we exchanged contact information. After returning to the hotel, Vaughn sent me a message. [Did you get home safely?] I couldn’t help but smile. But I only replied with a simple “yes”.

After the holiday, I started preparing to sign up for the debate competition. In my previous life, although Vaughn and I knew each other, at school, he was in the top class while I was in the lowest. At home, he lived on the top floor, and I lived in the basement. We were two people who would never have crossed paths. It was because of a debate competition that Vaughn noticed me. This time, I wanted to shine even brighter in the debate competition. But when I prepared all the materials, I found out that my hometown high school had no plans to participate. Frustrated, I directly rolled up my bedding and slept in the hallway outside the principal’s house. The principal couldn’t resist my persistence and finally agreed to help me form a team and register, but we had to cover the costs ourselves. Fortunately, there were many students in the school who wanted to participate. We prepared and competed together, busy but happy. Vaughn would sometimes send me messages. Every time, I would stop what I was doing and read each word several times. In the end, I would patiently reply with just a few words. Before the winter break of our first year, I led the debate team into the finals. Vaughn spotted me immediately. “You found another part-time job here?” I flashed my school badge. “I’m here for the finals.” Vaughn glanced at the badge, his eyes widening. “You’re the legendary debater from Maple Leaf High School.” “Legendary?” Vaughn’s expression changed, his gaze intense. “With your school’s level, making it to the finals is like divine intervention. “Half of today’s audience is here for your team captain. Introduce me to your captain later.” At this moment, my teammate ran over. “Captain, our seats are over there. Let’s go!” Vaughn was stunned, his gaze towards me seemed to be changing.

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I took in a man. At first, I thought he was just a poor, unwanted soul with nowhere to go. He wanted to marry me, to offer himself in return for my kindness, but I told him, “I can’t look at a man who doesn’t own a house.” The house not only had to be paid in full, but the deed could only have my name on it. Even if it was a tiny, run-down place, it would still cost a couple hundred grand, at least. I thought he’d back off at that point. But he looked at me and said, “Alright, anything you want. I’ll make sure to put it right in front of you.” To buy me that house, he took on five different jobs. He worked nearly 20 hours a day out of the 24. Every month, he’d hand me his paycheck, and I’d count it—$8,527. He’d flash me that big, happy smile of his, showing off his two little dimples. “Cate, I’ve already found the perfect spot. You love lively places, so you’ll definitely like this one.” “I’ll save up faster, I promise. You’ll have your own home in no time!” But later… I saw him at a private auction, spending millions just to see some woman smile. He gifted her a diamond-embellished lingerie set worth over a million dollars.

Because of the tough economy, I lost my job. I didn’t want to worry him, so I kept it to myself and started applying for jobs in secret. Today, a friend helped me get a gig at a private auction. “One million, going once!” “One million, going twice!” “One million, sold!” “Congratulations to bidder 1306 for purchasing the diamond-embellished lingerie!” “Please wait a moment, our staff will bring the item to your VIP lounge!” This was a private auction, divided into a main hall and separate VIP lounges. I carried the tray with both hands and stepped into the VIP lounge. The moment I saw the man sitting in the center, my mind went completely blank. That morning, when I pretended to head out for work, he was still holding me close, whining that he didn’t want to go to work. He even said I wasn’t allowed to go either; he just wanted us to spend every moment together. He begged me to make him soup after I got home. Yet not even a day had passed, and there he was with another woman in his arms. “Blake, you really outdid yourself this time! Spending a million just to make a lady smile—shouldn’t that at least earn you a kiss?” “Yeah! Kiss her!” The others around them started to cheer. Blake Montgomery’s smile was soft, the kind of smile I’d seen before. He lifted the woman’s chin and kissed her. The way he moved, so practiced and casual, like this was routine. In front of me, he had always been cautious, careful, acting like a man terrified of losing me. Now, he was the complete opposite. I felt a chill wash over me, like the air conditioner in the VIP lounge was broken, making the room feel like a freezer. I couldn’t move. My body was numb, and I didn’t know how to take another step forward. They were living in some blissful paradise, a place I clearly didn’t belong. The group egging him on—I knew them. They were the street gang that had once beat him up over unpaid debts. I’d met Blake on a rainy day. I had just finished feeding some stray cats when I saw him getting beaten by that gang. I was an orphan. I didn’t have anyone to back me up, and I wasn’t about to get myself involved in trouble. So, I hid in a corner and waited it out. Once they left, I grabbed my umbrella and started heading home. Suddenly, I felt a tug at my pant leg. I looked down and saw his eyes, drenched and desperate. He reminded me of a stray puppy I’d once brought home. He had that same helpless, clingy look that made my heart ache. That dog had gotten sick and died, though, and I hadn’t had the heart to adopt another since. But I took Blake in anyway. He was broke and an orphan, like me. Ever since I was a kid, I dreamed of owning my own home. I worked for years, saving every penny, until I had a decent amount saved up. But when Blake needed medical care, most of it went to his hospital bills. I cared for him for half a year until his injuries healed. I made him write me a loan agreement, promising to repay me in monthly installments. He agreed without hesitation, then blushed and asked if I’d marry him. He promised every dollar he earned from then on would be mine to manage. I never planned on being with anyone, so I told him he’d have to buy me a house first if he wanted to marry me. He smiled, looking overjoyed. I was confused, wondering if I should take him to get his head checked. But then he said, “Alright, you didn’t reject me, and that’s all I care about.” “Cate, anything you want, I’ll make sure you have it.” To save up for the house, he worked himself to the bone, taking on five jobs. He barely got five hours of sleep a day. I thought he’d give up soon, but he kept going for two months straight. One night, I got a call from the hospital. When I arrived, the doctor told me Blake was severely sleep-deprived and malnourished. If he kept this up, he’d work himself to death. I sat by his hospital bed until he woke up in the middle of the night. The first thing he asked was what time it was—he had to go deliver milk. I told him to stop. No more delivering milk. He still hadn’t realized he was in a hospital. He looked confused and asked, “But if I stop working, it’ll take longer to buy the house and marry you.” He started calculating how much time it would add if he gave up the milk route. “Cate, why are you crying? You’re scaring me. What happened?” It was only then that I realized my cheeks were wet. I wiped my face and said, “Just promise me you won’t deliver milk anymore, and I’ll stop crying.” He hurried to wipe my tears, panicking, “Okay, okay, I’ll stop. As long as you don’t cry, I’ll do anything.” Even then, he was still mumbling about money. “Cate, I know you want a home soon. Don’t worry, I’ll just pick up more clients.” “But you have to promise me one thing—don’t leave me. If someone else offers you a house, you can’t run off with them.” He rambled on, looking terrified that I’d abandon him. My heart softened, and I smiled, “Okay.” There were so many memories like that, moments where he broke down the walls around my heart. But now, those memories felt like a cruel joke. Reality mocked me, revealing that all of this was just a game for some rich kid. They say the best hunters disguise themselves as prey. Now, I truly understood the power of that statement. Blake Montgomery was never the helpless puppy I thought he was. He was a tiger, hiding his claws until he no longer needed to. And I was just the mouse he toyed with, cheering for his every move, completely lost in the performance. I fought the urge to confront him. Who was I to him? Who was he to me? Our worlds were galaxies apart, and any words I said would only make me look like a fool. To him, I was just one of many women. Maybe the beginning was different—after all, he had tailored everything just for me. But the end was always the same. I was nothing more than a temporary fling, someone to be thrown away once he grew tired of me. At this point, I just wanted to leave with some dignity and protect the little self-respect I had left. Luckily, all the staff here wore masks and heavy makeup, with standardized uniforms, so no one would recognize me. The woman in the red dress clung to Blake, breathless from their kiss, while he left marks on her neck before finally letting go. She slithered back into his arms like a boneless snake. “Blake, I want to wear that lingerie tonight. Why don’t you help me see if it fits?” She was giddy with excitement, but Blake’s eyes had already turned cold, though he still agreed to her request. I laughed at myself for ever believing he wanted to spend every moment with me, for believing the way he cared when he ended up in the hospital trying to save for our house. The woman in red smiled brightly, “Blake, why don’t you stay with me tonight? You always leave by 11, and I still have so many ways to spoil you that I haven’t had the chance to try yet.” His eyes narrowed. “You think you can manage my time?” Blake hated being controlled, hated being told what to do. The woman turned pale, apologizing, trying her best to make amends. Blake shook her off, his disdain for her evident. “You know the rules—I decide what I do, and no one gets to question that.”

“Blake, you’re practically turning into that girl’s perfect boyfriend these days.” “Yeah, no matter how late it gets, you always head back to her.” “Blake, don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for her—like, seriously thinking about marriage?” Blake shot a glare at the few friends teasing him, pulled out his phone, and started dialing. “Shut up.” Seeing this, the group fell silent, knowing better than to push it further. That’s when my phone started vibrating. The sound, faint as it was, echoed in the stillness of the VIP lounge, catching everyone’s attention. All eyes were on me. My hands trembled, a light sheen of sweat forming on my forehead. I flinched, and the tray tilted. The diamond-embellished lingerie tumbled to the floor. A million dollars! I panicked, dropping to my knees to pick it up. Thankfully, the thick carpet cushioned the fall, and the item wasn’t damaged—though it was definitely covered in dust. The woman in the red dress had only insisted on wearing the lingerie tonight to get Blake to stay with her. Seeing the dirt on it, she slapped me across the face. “You useless idiot! You couldn’t even handle something as simple as this! A million-dollar lingerie set! You’d have to sell yourself a hundred times over just to afford it!” Her fury only grew, and she raised her hand again, ready to strike. The first time, I hadn’t expected it and took the hit. But this time, I wasn’t going to let her get away with it. I grabbed her wrist and looked her dead in the eye, refusing to back down. The woman raised her other hand to strike me once more. “Stop!” Blake’s voice cut through the tension, startling us both. The woman froze, confusion flashing in her eyes as she turned to look at him. I could feel his gaze fixed on me. My body stiffened, afraid to look up and meet his eyes, terrified that he’d recognize me and tear away the last shred of dignity I was clinging to. “Your eyes,” he said, his voice lighter, almost playful. “They remind me of hers—the way you don’t back down. But she doesn’t wear makeup. That’s where you two are different.” I could hear the amusement in his tone. “It’s just a piece of clothing. Wash it and move on.” The woman in red recognized the command in his voice. Though she was reluctant, she couldn’t do anything about it. She shot me a venomous glare before backing off. I discreetly silenced my phone, trying to stay out of sight. The others, however, were quietly alarmed. They knew Blake Montgomery too well—he was ruthless and vindictive. Normally, a server like me would’ve been tossed out and punished for such a mistake. His leniency was unsettling. I watched as he dialed my number repeatedly, his expression growing darker with each unanswered call. Just when I thought he might go home to check on me, he pressed a few keys on his phone, tossed it aside, and took a sip of his wine. “I’m not coming with you to the next stop,” he told his friends. “I’ll hang out for a little longer, then I’m leaving.” The woman in red immediately panicked. “But Blake, you said you’d come to my place tonight!” Blake turned to her, his face set in a cold, hard stare. She was desperate. She knew that as long as Cate was involved, she’d always be cast aside. But thinking about the million-dollar lingerie set Blake had bought for her tonight, and the way he’d appreciated her efforts in bed, she felt a renewed sense of confidence. Pouting, she rubbed her arm against his, her voice dripping with seduction. “Blake, I’ve prepared all your favorite things at my place. She could never understand you like I do.” Blake’s expression shifted into a sneer. “You think you matter? You’re just a whore money can buy. Don’t you dare compare yourself to her.” Her face turned ghostly white at the blunt, humiliating insult. His friends were stunned into silence. One of them finally spoke up, shocked, “Blake… are you serious this time?” Blake said nothing. Just as I thought he wouldn’t respond, a smile curled across his lips, and he laughed. “What are you thinking?” “There isn’t a woman alive who could make me stay.” His careless tone made it hard for me to breathe. “Haha, still the same Blake. Even if you’ve been with a thousand women, you never let one get to you.” “A woman’s just for fun. No matter how pretty or interesting, once you’ve slept with her, she’s all the same.” One of the men grinned, then asked in a low voice, “But Blake, I’ve gotta know—this girl you’ve been with for over a month, what’s she like in bed? She must be something special to last this long…” He didn’t get to finish his sentence. Blake’s fist collided with his face in a heartbeat. For the first time, I saw the violence Blake was capable of as he pummeled the man to the ground. The others hesitated to intervene at first, but when they realized their friend was barely breathing, one of them, probably the closest to Blake, stepped forward to pull him back. Finally, Blake stopped, straightened up, and cast a threatening glance around the room. “She’s not someone you’re allowed to talk about. If I ever hear any of you mention her again, I’ll make sure you end up worse than him.” At that moment, Blake resembled some dark god of vengeance, radiating an aura of danger that made everyone in the room swear they’d never speak ill of me again. Seeing my chance, I turned to slip away, but Blake’s voice called after me. “What’s your name?” I froze. If I spoke in my normal voice, he’d know who I was immediately. Luckily, I’d taken two months of voice acting lessons before. I wasn’t great, but now was the time to make it work. “Sir, my name’s Liz,” I said, my voice rasping slightly. He frowned, “Why does your voice sound so weird?” I coughed lightly. “I used to scream a lot when I was younger. My voice just turned out like this. Sorry if it bothers you.” He stared at me, then leaned in to study my eyes. “So similar,” he muttered. Suddenly, his hand reached out and touched the spot where the woman in red had slapped me. I almost gasped in shock, barely holding back my natural reaction. “You’re lucky you’ve got eyes like hers. Be more careful next time.” Then, he pulled out a thick wad of cash from his wallet and handed it to me. “Use it to get something for your face.” The cash had to be at least a couple thousand. His wallet—it was one I had made and given to him. But this was the first time I’d ever seen him carry so much money in it. He could drop over a million on lingerie, then casually throw a few thousand at a stranger. Money meant nothing to him. And I—meant even less. I didn’t take the money. He threw it onto my tray. He looked at me one more time, commenting that a face like mine didn’t deserve to be bruised. Then he shook his head and chuckled, “You really look too much like her. For a second, I thought it was her who got hit.” “But this place is somewhere she would never set foot in. Right now, she’s probably at home making me soup.” His lips curled into a tender smile. At that moment, Blake seemed like a sweet, devoted boyfriend. But the reality was, a woman stood beside him, waiting to serve him in bed. Any trace of affection I once had for him instantly vanished.

I had only worked a few hours, but I felt completely drained. Curling up in the corner of the couch, I hugged my knees to my chest, searching for some sense of comfort. I didn’t know how long I stayed like that before I drifted off to sleep, but when I woke up, I realized Blake had carried me to bed. The moment I opened my eyes, he kissed me. The images from earlier that night—him with another woman—flashed through my mind, and I felt sick. As I tried to push him away, he held me tighter, kissing me more insistently. I gave up struggling, staring blankly at the ceiling. Kisses, embraces—these had once been moments I cherished, when I believed they represented our connection, our trust, our bond. But now, they were hollow gestures. My stomach churned violently. I shoved him off and rolled to the edge of the bed, dry heaving. “Cate, what’s wrong?” Blake asked, his voice panicked. “Are you sick?” I didn’t respond, lying there motionless. He grew more frantic. “Cate, do we need to go to the hospital?” Blake pulled me upright and pressed the back of his hand to my forehead to check for a fever. I stared at him, feeling utterly exhausted by the charade he was playing in front of me. “Cate, say something. Did someone hurt you? Tell me who, and I’ll make them pay!” His concern seemed genuine, and it startled him when I didn’t react. He hugged me so tightly I could feel my bones ache. “I’m fine,” I finally muttered. Relief washed over his face. “You scared me. You’ve been acting strange all day. How about some good news to cheer you up?” Blake’s eyes lit up as if he were about to reveal something exciting. “I found another job today—factory work. I’ll be working four hours a night after my regular shift.” He smiled proudly, like he was doing this huge thing for us, already counting how much sooner we’d have enough money for the house. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small hair clip. “Surprise!” he said, eager for my reaction. “Tonight’s pay was just enough to get this. I remember you wanted it when we were out last week. Other girls have nice things, and so should you.” My eyes burned with unshed tears. If only all of this were real. But it wasn’t. I forced a smile and took the hair clip from him. It was something I had admired when we went shopping, but I’d moved on, thinking it was too expensive. I had no idea how many women he had practiced this act on. Every day after work, Blake brought me things I liked—my favorite desserts, cute accessories, things I’d casually mentioned. He never missed a detail. Looking into his expectant eyes, I coldly pointed out, “You’ve got lipstick on your collar.” His pupils shrank, and instinctively, his hand reached for his shirt. He was about to touch the collar but changed direction at the last second, scratching his head in confusion. “Cate, I work with all guys. Where would a lipstick stain come from?” He seemed genuinely puzzled, oblivious to what I was implying. Of course, he had changed into the cheap T-shirt I had bought for him. Someone like Blake wouldn’t make such a sloppy mistake. Watching him try to act innocent, I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Blake Montgomery, do you love me?” Without hesitation, he grabbed my shoulders. “I love you, Cate! I swear it—if I’m lying, may I never marry, never have children!” His hand shot up in a mock vow, his expression sincere. I broke down in tears. If I hadn’t seen everything with my own eyes tonight, I would’ve believed him. No one could have convinced me otherwise. Right then, I wanted to scream, cry, demand to know how much of his love was real and how much of it was a lie. If he loved me enough to swear never to marry or have kids, how could he still kiss and sleep with other women? But what would be the point? Once the truth was out, I’d be the one left humiliated, realizing I had been played all along. For him, this had been a game—like a cat toying with a mouse, just waiting for the moment I called him out so he could laugh at me before ending it. There were plenty of women eager to take my place. What was I to him? I opened my mouth, my throat dry and rough as sandpaper, struggling to form the words. “We’re breaking up.”

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