Category: English

On the third Christmas after being brought back home, I jumped off the building and killed myself. My soul floated in the air, wanting to see how my father Matthew Ruiz, mother Serenity Ruiz, and brother Jackson Ruiz—who had always despised me—would cry in anguish and regret their past coldness toward me. But Matthew just shook his head coldly, telling my corpse that I was childish. Serenity pressed her lips together, looking relieved as if a burden had been lifted from her shoulders. Jackson shielded Claire Ruiz in front of him, preventing her from seeing my gruesome death. Still, Claire was frightened to tears, and the whole family rushed over to hold and comfort her. I stood there stunned for a long time, then laughed at myself mockingly before finally finding peace. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day I was first brought back home.

On the day George Watson convinced me to run away from our wedding with him, I saw a flood of comments appearing before my eyes: [Don’t do it, Hallie Taylor! The moment you leave, your brother Benjamin Duncan will kill himself.] [George can go to hell! You clearly have someone you like, yet you’re still messing with Hallie. You’re so vicious!] [Listen to me, Hallie, even if you stepped on Benjamin’s back, he’d be happy about it.] [Do you know how much pain the restrained and controlled Benjamin endures to avoid sleeping with you? I’m dying to see you two together.] [Hallie, look back. Benjamin is falling apart.] [Go to the basement now! Benjamin is already cutting his wrists.] I quickly let go of George’s hand and ran back. Benjamin looked at me in shock. “Hallie, you…” I hugged him. “Benjamin, do you like me?” The comments before my eyes were filled with excitement. [Yes! It’s non-blood-related sibling romance! We’re saved!] “What did you say?” Benjamin looked at me with disbelief. The basement was full of my photos, along with various strange props.

I’m Kenny Daniels, the nation’s top hypnotist and Valerie Nichols’ boyfriend. For five years, I’ve used my professional skills to help her navigate crisis after crisis, propelling her to the pinnacle of her career. But she’s always avoided discussing marriage. She tells me “I love you forever” one moment, then mocks me in front of her best friend Dianna Griffin the next: “Kenny’s terrifying. Who would dare marry a man like that? I even wonder if my feelings for him are just the result of his manipulation.” Finally, I grew tired of it all. Breaking my vow, I used hypnosis on her for the first time. She was horrified, knowing that if I wanted, she could willingly do anything. But I simply said calmly: “Valerie, look into my eyes and forget me.” ***** Valerie loves me deeply. But she doesn’t trust those feelings. Because I’m the nation’s top hypnotist. If I hadn’t helped her eliminate one business rival after another, her company could never have grown to its current scale. So she depends on me while remaining wary of me. I know it all. She once caressed my face tenderly, her voice soft and lingering: “Kenny, promise me you’ll never use your abilities on me. You’re the person I trust most—never lie to me.” My body trembled at her touch, and in that passionate moment, I looked into her eyes and solemnly promised: “Alright, Valerie. Unless you ask me to, I’ll never use hypnosis on you.” My voice carries a natural allure—a habit developed over more than a decade as a hypnotist. She melted in my embrace, intoxicated by my charm, unable to resist. I love her too, so I kept my promise and never used hypnosis on her. I even went back to study psychology, just so I wouldn’t need to rely on my professional abilities to understand her feelings. I held nothing back from her, hoping she would trust me completely. Until that young man appeared. She was unusually protective of the young man named Noah Harvey, refusing to let me meet him or even show his face. Dianna told me: “He’s Valerie’s new assistant, twenty-five years old. He’s always hovering around Valerie. She seems to have feelings for him.” I had promised never to hypnotize Valerie. But I never said I wouldn’t hypnotize Dianna. With a simple snap of my fingers, I put her into a deep hypnotic state. To anyone watching, she was just sitting on the couch having a normal conversation, her eyes showing no signs of being unfocused. Only I knew she was completely under my control. I stared into her eyes, my voice gentle: “Tell me, yesterday in the private room, why did you and Valerie immediately stop talking when you saw me come in? What exactly were you discussing?” I held my breath as I listened, but her words made my expression darken. She said: “Valerie said Kenny’s terrifying. Who would dare marry a man like that? Who knows if my current feelings for him are just the result of his manipulation?” This wasn’t the answer I wanted to hear. Five years ago, I first met Valerie when she was my patient. She had been framed in a business war, struck hard on the head with a thick rod. Though she survived, blood clots in her brain compressed her nerves, causing temporary memory loss. So she came to me, hoping I could help her recover those lost memories. She said: “You’re the nation’s most skilled hypnotist, charging a million dollars per hour. I hope you’re worth that price.” She had a stunning figure, an aloof temperament, and exquisite features—unforgettable at first sight. Who wouldn’t take a second look at a beautiful woman? Especially such a thorny businesswoman. Hypnotists are human too, so I was no exception. I flipped through her medical records. Valerie Nichols, twenty-seven years old, suffered severe head trauma with nerve damage, losing a year’s worth of memories. I twirled the pen in my hand, the corner of my mouth lifting: “Please, have a seat.” A flash of wariness crossed her eyes—clearly she was on guard against hypnosis. But the moment she sat down, the hypnosis had already quietly begun. Half an hour later, the session ended. When she awoke, her eyes were clear and her brow furrowed—she had obviously remembered everything. I handed her a slip of paper with my bank account number: “Half an hour, five hundred thousand dollars. Just transfer it to this account.” But she didn’t take it. She lifted her clear eyes to look at me, emotions swirling in them, unable to hide her admiration. After a moment, she placed one hand on the desk, leaning forward slightly, her red lips curving upward: “What would you charge for a monthly retainer?”

With my assistance, Valerie’s company leaped from second-tier to top three nationwide within five years. Those five years also brought us closer, gradually nurturing romantic feelings between us. Two years ago, I began eagerly hinting to Valerie that I hoped she would marry me. But she always had reasons to deflect, from the initial “the company is still in its growth phase” to increasingly dismissive “let’s wait a bit longer.” I had always kept my promise, never attempting to use hypnosis to peek into her true thoughts. Even though I knew she remained wary of me, I never considered using this to lure her into dropping her guard. She loved me, but she was also guarded against me—these two things weren’t contradictory. Those in positions of power always eliminate all potential threats, even if that person is someone they plan to spend their life with. When I first fell in love with Valerie, I had anticipated such consequences, so everything was within my expectations. Valerie needed me greatly, and I once thought I had her in the palm of my hand. However, that boy who suddenly appeared by her side became the biggest variable. I had to know what kind of person he was, whether he would be easy to deal with. What surprised me was that Noah was neither a rich kid nor particularly exceptional in any way. He was just an ordinary boy. He was so ordinary that when I first laid eyes on him, I even fell into self-doubt. I actually lost to him? My prized hypnosis skills, the five years of fighting alongside Valerie—all of it couldn’t compete with an ordinary boy who had appeared less than two months ago? Noah and I stared at each other for a long time. That day I had made a sudden visit to the company, and he hadn’t had time to avoid me before I called out to him. The moment he saw me, he seemed flustered, but quickly composed himself, his eyes even showing a hint of defiance. He was also sizing me up—after all, everyone in the company knew I was Valerie’s future husband. After quite a while, Valerie finally appeared. Seeing me, she froze slightly, then calmly positioned herself in front of Noah, blocking our line of sight, looking at me with obvious wariness. “What brings you here?” she asked. Without waiting for my answer, she said quietly to Noah behind her, “You can go now.” Noah was very obedient, turning to leave almost immediately, like a dog following orders. Valerie’s and my gazes met in the air. She pressed her lips together, her expression far from pleasant. The atmosphere grew tense, neither of us speaking. After a moment, I suddenly smiled, raising the lunch box in my hand, my tone as casual as always: “I made lunch, including that fish you love. Thought I’d bring it over.” In that instant, she visibly relaxed, and despite her efforts to hide it, I caught it. “Thank you, Kenny.” She smiled and took my hand. “Come on, let’s eat together.” We walked into her office. After sitting down, I looked at her and thoughtfully brought up: “Who was that boy just now?” Valerie’s hand paused as she was opening the lunch box, then she smiled. “A new assistant.” She arranged the food and handed me a fork, her tone still gentle: “You made so much delicious food—aren’t you tired? You could just have Camila do this kind of thing.” I said, “Not tired. Now that the company’s stable, I don’t have much to do. I’m so idle every day that I can only spend my time making good food to keep you hooked.” I joked, “Otherwise, what if you decide I’m useless someday, fall for someone else, and break up with me?” Valerie’s expression stiffened slightly, then she reached across the desk to hold my hand. Her gaze was firm and serious as she looked at me: “Kenny, I will never leave you.” I looked back at her, smiling as I asked, “Then when will you marry me?” She slowly frowned: “Now isn’t the right time. I told you, I want to make Nichols Group the biggest, so they won’t dare look down on me. Kenny, you understand me, right? Even without marriage, we’re together every day now anyway. It’s no different from being married.” Her expression was earnest. If I hadn’t hypnotized Dianna and learned her true thoughts, I probably would have been fooled by these words. I calmly withdrew my hand, my smile polite and flawless: “Of course I understand you. It’s fine, I’ll wait for you.” Valerie finally relaxed and smiled too. She picked up a piece of fish, carefully removed the bones, and brought it to my lips. She said, “Kenny, this is why I like you—you always understand me.” Looking at her beautiful features, for that instant, I was indeed tempted to ask her what her true feelings for me were. But I held back. Now wasn’t the time. Her thoughts about me weren’t important—what mattered was her attitude toward Noah. I ate the fish she fed me, chewing slowly. I would wait, wait until the timing was right. Everything Valerie possessed, I had given her. If she dared betray me, then I would make her lose it all.

Because I visited Valerie’s company and met Noah, she finally became wary. So when she came home that evening, she was particularly clingy. Psychology tells us that people don’t do things without reason—there’s always a motive behind their actions. So when she initiated intimacy and wanted to go for a second round, I stopped her. I pressed against her approaching lips, looking into her flushed eyes. “Valerie, didn’t you say you’ve been exhausted lately?” She grabbed my hand, kissing me with urgent, forceful movements. “Kenny, when I’m with you, even when I’m tired, I still want this.” I smiled and rolled over, leaving Valerie kissing empty air. She tried to continue, but I turned my head away again. Because I kept dodging her advances, she finally began to frown. I stared at her, raising an eyebrow slightly. “This battle with Scott Group won’t be easy to win. Let’s sleep—you have meetings tomorrow.” The moment I mentioned work, Valerie finally stopped. She rubbed her temples, her voice weary. “Yeah, it’s been two years already. They have quite a few domestic enterprises—it’s hard to uproot them completely.” She took my hand. “Kenny, maybe now’s the time for you to step up.” I chuckled. “Who doesn’t know you have a hypnotist boyfriend? Scott Group won’t even meet with me. To get their secrets, I’d have to hypnotize their leader Joanna Scott, but we have no way of getting close to her.” Valerie’s frown deepened. After a moment of silence, she suddenly looked up and blurted out, “What if you tried approaching Joanna?” She shouldn’t have said that. Joanna, like her, was a powerful businesswoman. The intimate atmosphere vanished instantly. My expression darkened, and my voice unconsciously turned cold. “Valerie, are you asking me to seduce her?” “Just temporarily!” She grabbed my hand, explaining urgently. “As long as we can find a way to meet her outside the company and get her to lower her guard, with your abilities, you could hypnotize her. Sure, Joanna’s cunning and ruthless, but even if something goes wrong, I’ll save you when it matters!” My expression grew colder, and my heart sank bit by bit. Valerie’s words caught me completely off guard. In all these years, I’d dealt with so many people for her, yet she’d never said anything like this before. I said, “You could have Noah do it. As long as he can lure Joanna out, I can hypnotize her.” Valerie’s gaze suddenly flickered, her voice hesitant. “How could Noah be as experienced as you? He’s just a young man fresh out of college. This is dangerous—if Joanna discovers we’re behind it, Noah won’t be able to escape.” Watching her reaction, I finally became certain that her feelings for Noah had long since moved beyond mere attraction—she was probably already deeply involved. A woman liking two men at once—I’d seen it happen plenty of times. But I never thought it would happen to me. I let out a cold laugh, and with just one sentence, I made her face change color. “Valerie, even if you’re using me while guarding against me, you don’t have to make it so obvious.” I was never the type of weak man who depended on women. She knew this, of course. In these five years, though I loved her, I never lost myself. I’d do what I could, but things I couldn’t do—even if she got on her knees and begged—I wouldn’t agree to. I loved her, but I loved myself more. Therefore, she couldn’t completely control me, which naturally left her feeling insecure. She even worried constantly that I might hypnotize her. I refused Valerie’s request. I’d encountered Joanna long before I met Valerie. She’d built Scott Group into the nation’s second-largest company single-handedly. During the pandemic these past few years, even Valerie’s company saw declining productivity, but Scott Group remained standing strong. She wasn’t a simple character. She’d known for a long time that Valerie was targeting her, and might have already figured out how to deal with me. I couldn’t take that risk. Valerie was very displeased with my refusal. Perhaps because I’d been her equal all these years, unwilling to submit to her authority, she finally exploded.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398130”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #MaleLead #Cheating #Memoryloss #TragicLove

My name is Lydia, and on the day my sister Leila and I were waiting for adoption at the orphanage, two people arrived—a man and a woman. Leila had always been proud and arrogant, and she immediately set her sights on the well-dressed lady, Phoebe Schmidt, while I was taken away by a plainly dressed man named Jason Smith. Little did I know that Jason was actually a low-key wealthy man. After adopting me, he publicly announced my identity in front of everyone. In contrast, Leila was strictly disciplined by Phoebe, constantly facing beatings and punishments for the slightest mistakes, and eventually even being bullied at school. When she was drenched with dirty water and shivering, I was being escorted away surrounded by admirers. She hated me to the core and pushed me off a high building when I wasn’t paying attention. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day of adoption. Watching Leila unhesitatingly choose Jason, I knew she had been reborn too. On the day we parted, Leila smiled meaningfully. She said, “Lydia, from now on I’m going to live the high life. If you can’t find food to eat, I might even spare you a bite or two.” I appeared furious on the surface, but inside I was already bursting with joy. In this lifetime, let Leila thoroughly enjoy her wealthy lifestyle. ***** “Can I call you daddy? You look just like my father from my memories.” “I really miss my daddy so much.” When Leila tearfully grabbed Connor’s hand, I knew she had been reborn too. Her eyes were misty with tears, and though her face was still childish, it already showed the outline of a future beauty. Sure enough, Connor’s eyes lit up, and he quickly helped her up with concern. “Ms. Hanson, this little girl and I are meant to be. I’ll take her.” Director Caroline Hanson, witnessing this scene, couldn’t help but look at Leila a few more times, seemingly puzzled by her sudden change of mind in giving up such a good opportunity to someone else. Seeing this, Phoebe coldly pointed at me: “Then I’ll adopt her.” On the day we parted, Leila smiled meaningfully. She said, “Lydia, from now on I’m going to live the high life. If you can’t find food to eat, I might even spare you a bite or two.” I appeared furious on the surface, but inside I was already bursting with joy. In this lifetime, let Leila thoroughly enjoy her wealthy lifestyle. In my previous life, Leila had unhesitatingly chosen the well-dressed Phoebe. She had always been materialistic, learning to judge people by their appearance from a young age. So on adoption day, she had rushed to kneel before Phoebe just like today, leaving me to be adopted by Connor. But when she truly entered the Schmidt family villa, she discovered it wasn’t the paradise she had imagined. Leila had expected a princess life of being waited on hand and foot, but Phoebe educated her in the harshest way possible. Any slight mistake would result in scolding and physical punishment. And because of her arrogance, thinking that becoming the Schmidt family’s adopted daughter made her superior, she acted high-profile at school and offended many people. But Phoebe didn’t stand up for her; instead, she watched coldly from the sidelines. Combined with the fact that the other Schmidt family relatives were no pushovers either, Leila was bullied by classmates at school and had to endure cold mockery from relatives at home. Her days were unbearably miserable. Meanwhile, after being adopted by Connor, I was showered with love. My face, originally gaunt from malnutrition, gradually revealed stunning beauty under careful care. By my sophomore year in college, I transferred to Leila’s school. When she was drenched with dirty water and shivering, I was being escorted away surrounded by admirers. At the evening party, I performed a piano piece on stage, stealing all the spotlight. Students in the audience, looking at our similar faces, couldn’t help but whisper: “Leila really looks like Lydia, but their fates are worlds apart.” Leila clenched her fists so tightly that her nails nearly dug into her flesh. Later, Connor formally acknowledged my identity in front of all the wealthy families in the city, calling me his long-lost biological daughter. At that moment, Leila’s jealousy reached its peak. She found an opportunity to kill me, pushing me off a high building. That face full of hatred is something I’ll never forget. Only after my death did I finally understand how wrong I had been. I had once thought that my mother’s dying words were asking me to take care of Leila, so I protected her in every way, even though I was only one year older than her. Whatever good things there were at the orphanage, I gave to her. She grew plump while I remained thin. To take care of her, I even deliberately held back a grade just to be in the same class as her. But in Leila’s eyes, all of this was taken for granted—she never felt a trace of gratitude. And in this lifetime, she rushed to choose Connor, hoping to live a life of unlimited glory. But what she doesn’t know is that to possess anything, one must pay the corresponding price. What she sees as suffering might just be the opportunity for my rebirth.

Phoebe had never married and was the only daughter in her family. After her father died in a car accident, she single-handedly became the head of the Schmidt family. In just ten years, the Schmidt family’s assets multiplied several times under her leadership, transforming from an established capitalist family into a formidable force in the business world. No wonder Leila became so arrogant after becoming the Schmidt family’s adopted daughter. However, precisely because Phoebe was so decisive in her actions, she had offended quite a few relatives both openly and behind the scenes. Those people who only cared about money all coveted her wealth. After learning that Phoebe had no intention of marrying, they tried every means to push their children in front of her, hoping to win her favor. But Phoebe always kept these people at arm’s length, and eventually went straight to an orphanage to adopt a child. This was the reason Leila suffered so much bullying in her previous life. Even though I was mentally prepared, I only realized after actually entering the Schmidt mansion that life would be far more difficult than I had imagined. Phoebe enrolled me in a nearby school. I studied during the day and had to take additional tutoring for two hours every evening when I returned home. On weekends, I was arranged to learn various skills—horseback riding, archery, piano, and dancing. Whenever I had free time, Phoebe would personally supervise me. The moment she noticed me getting distracted or tired, she would immediately make me stand until I was alert again. By the time I returned to bed each night, the moon was already high in the sky. This lifestyle continued for two full years before Phoebe’s attitude toward me gradually became less distant. In our interactions, there were also moments of unintentional intimacy that would slip through. Although Phoebe was strict, under my efforts, my grades kept improving and my body became stronger due to the regular routine. I was grateful to her. However, Phoebe’s change in attitude toward me became a naked threat in the eyes of other Schmidt family members. Phoebe had many relatives, but after two years of living together, I clearly knew that these people only cared about profit. Initially, they thought Phoebe’s attention to me was just novelty, until they witnessed Phoebe showing me genuine tenderness—then they panicked. If I could really establish myself firmly, what would be left for them to share? So they began using any means necessary to drive me away. When Phoebe wasn’t around, they deliberately withheld my meals and soaked my bed sheets. At school, their children widely publicized my orphan status, stirring up public opinion and making people point fingers at me. I endured it all but never paid them any attention. I had suffered much more in my previous life—what did this little torment matter? Seeing that I showed no reaction, they chose to get physical. A group of girls led by Phoebe’s eldest niece, Amber Schmidt, surrounded me, their faces filled with anger and contempt. Amber said, “My diamond necklace is missing. Did you steal it! “It must be you! A child from an orphanage—what good things have you ever seen? Don’t think that just because Aunt Phoebe shows you a kind face, you’re really the Schmidt family heir! “Either hand over the necklace or get out of our house!” She shouted while trying to search me. I looked at this group of teenage girls with a light laugh. Well, to drive me away, they really would use any method. I shook my head, my tone calm: “I didn’t take your necklace. You’re just jealous because Ms. Schmidt treats me well. “You bully me at home and isolate me at school, but unfortunately, I don’t care. I’m not as low as you are.” The girls turned red in the face after I hit their sore spot, glaring at me furiously. Amber raged, “Don’t waste words with this b*tch—let’s do this! When Aunt Phoebe finds out, she’ll definitely kick her out!” Before she finished speaking, four girls pounced on me, forcefully tearing at my clothes, pulling my hair, forcing my head up as slap after slap landed heavily on my face, sending waves of dull pain through me. Amber said contemptuously, “Hmph, you still dare to glare at me? Beat her up!”

I glanced at their phones recording the whole thing—finally, I had solid evidence. I’d chosen to endure until now, waiting for the right moment to strike back. I didn’t want to cause trouble, but I sure wasn’t afraid of it either. The next second, I slammed my head into one girl’s stomach, then kicked her leg hard. When another girl tried to help, I grabbed her hair first and threw her against the desk. Then it was Amber’s turn. She’d hit me the hardest, so I tackled her and pounded my fists into her body, targeting spots that wouldn’t show. The last girl stood frozen in shock. When she finally snapped out of it, she kicked me in the back and punched me twice in the face, making my nose bleed. There were no winners in this fight. I got beaten up, but those four weren’t much better off. They were pampered rich girls who didn’t fight with the same desperation I did. All five of us ended up in the hospital. With the video as evidence, I was acting in self-defense, while they received official reprimands. Afterward, Phoebe came to see me. She asked, “Someone was bullying you? Why didn’t you tell me?” I said, “Telling you wouldn’t have helped. They just wanted to bully me and force me to leave.” I looked up, jumped down from the bed, and knelt in front of her, meeting her eyes directly. “Ms. Schmidt, I know why you adopted me. You hate the Schmidt family, hate those relatives who only care about profit, so you want someone to deal with them for you. I’ll be the sharpest blade in your hand.” Phoebe stared at me for a long time—so long my knees went numb—before she suddenly chuckled softly. “Get up. Don’t call me Ms. Schmidt anymore. Just call me Mom. Hope, don’t let me down…” I lowered my head, a slight smile crossing my face. I’d guessed right. As the head of the Schmidt family, how could Phoebe not know everything I’d been through? She was just testing me. She’d seen my patience, and she’d seen my ruthlessness when I fought back. I knew I’d passed this test. From that day on, I clearly noticed Phoebe’s attitude toward me change. She looked at me more often, and her smiles became more genuine. When I saw Leila again, it was on exactly the same day as in my previous life. She wore expensive haute couture and carried herself with commanding presence. Her skin was flawless as jade, and her shy, hesitant eyes made her look particularly endearing. At that moment, I was hunched over the client requirements Phoebe had given me two days earlier, scratching my head in frustration. If I couldn’t come up with a good proposal, Phoebe would definitely pile on more work tonight, and I didn’t want to pull an all-nighter. On the platform, Leila was introducing herself to the class: “Hello everyone, I’m Leila Smith. I’ve been studying abroad, and I hope we can all get along well for the next two years.” I looked up just as our eyes met. Hers were full of smugness and challenge. She even showed off in front of everyone, deliberately having the principal accompany her on a full tour of the campus. After school, I stood at the gate waiting for Phoebe to pick me up. A luxury sedan pulled up in front of me, the window slowly rolling down to reveal Leila’s face. She got out and stood before me. “Lydia, how have you been lately? Does that woman beat and scold you? How does it feel to be bullied?” I pulled out my phone and texted Phoebe without looking up. I said, “If I’m not doing well, are you doing any better? I heard the Smith family absolutely dotes on you.” Leila’s face instantly turned pale at my words. Connor had an only son named Jason Smith, who had a twisted personality. The reason he adopted a girl was to find Jason a companion. In my previous life, after I was adopted, Jason bullied me relentlessly. He wouldn’t let me go out or attend school. What I ate, what I wore—he decided everything. In my life, there wasn’t a shred of personal space. It was a life filled with humiliation that I couldn’t escape.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398131”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #Rebirth #Sister #DoubleLife #regret #SugarBaby

My mom asked me who I wanted to marry. This time, I didn’t choose Simon Hughes. Instead, I chose his younger uncle, Daniel Hughes. Her reaction was instant, her gaze sharp and full of disbelief, like I’d just slapped her across the face. After all, everyone in the city knew Simon and I were inseparable, practically joined at the hip since childhood. For ten years, I’d chased him and made it clear I wouldn’t marry anyone else. But that was the old me, the version of myself that no longer existed. A bitter smile tugged at my lips as memories of my past life—before I was reborn—flooded my mind. In that life, after Simon and I married, I came to a heartbreaking realization. He’d never once laid a finger on me. At first, I told myself it was personal—maybe it was just something he couldn’t help. I made excuses for him and tried to convince myself it didn’t matter. But then, on our golden wedding anniversary, I walked into a room I’d never seen before. It was locked away, hidden, and filled with photos of my cousin. That’s when it hit me. It wasn’t that Simon was asexual. He just didn’t love me. Now, in this second life, I was done wasting time on someone who would never love me in return. I decided to let them be together, once and for all. But as I walked down the aisle toward Daniel, Simon’s face turned pale, and he completely lost control. ***** Three days after my official engagement to Simon Hughes, I ran into him at a party. Naturally, His friends spotted me, and—of course—they couldn’t resist. They were already laughing, clearly having a field day at my expense. “Simon, look who it is—your little shadow is here again!” one of them called out with a grin. “Bianca, you’re already engaged to Simon, and yet you’re still hanging around him? Shouldn’t you be letting the poor guy enjoy his own party before you tie him down?” another one chimed in. When Simon saw me, his annoyance was pretty much written all over his face. “Bianca,” he spat, “are you really this desperate to get married to me? You didn’t even bother getting my approval before locking down this engagement. And now the whole damn city’s talking about it. You’ve got some nerve.” His disgust hit me like a punch in the gut. I had to take a deep breath and steady myself before I said anything back. “It didn’t need your approval. I’m not marrying you.” The room burst into laughter. Simon’s friends practically doubled over. They laughed so hard. Of course, they couldn’t resist piling on. “Simon,” one of them yelled, “better watch out! Your fiancée’s about to pull another stunt to get your attention!” Simon just shook his head, looking more and more annoyed. “Bianca, now you’re trying to play hard to get?” I couldn’t help but smirk. “With the Hughes family? If I’m not marrying you, who else will marry you?” He leaned in closer, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Let’s not forget, you’ve been saying since we were kids that you’d marry me. The whole city already thinks you’re mine.” Then, he whispered, “I’ll let this engagement slide, but don’t forget—yeah, I can give you a big wedding, but the marriage license? That’s only for the one I actually want to marry.” I froze. In my past life, Simon had followed through with his family’s plans at this exact moment, and we’d gotten our marriage registered. ‘Could it be that he had been reborn, too?’ Before I could even process what was happening, my cousin Audrey appeared at the party. The moment she spotted me standing next to Simon, her face twisted in distress, and tears began to spill from her eyes. “Bianca, Simon, I heard you’re getting married soon. I didn’t bring a gift, but I wish you both all the happiness in the world…” she stammered, her voice breaking every word. Before she could finish, Audrey turned and bolted, sobbing as she ran off. “Look at what you’ve done, Bianca,” Simon muttered under his breath, giving me a furious glare before rushing after her without another word. When they came back, their fingers were locked together, tight as ever. Audrey’s lips were swollen and red, and there was a hickey on Simon’s neck. The whole room was watching, waiting to see what I’d do. In my previous life, if I saw another woman getting too close to Simon, I’d make a scene to make sure everyone knew I was still his.   Simon stepped forward, positioning Audrey behind him like some kind of shield, his face wearing this weird, expectant expression. But I didn’t give him the reaction he was clearly hoping for. Minutes passed, and his smug little face started to falter. Then, he sneered, “Well, look at that. At least you’ve grown up a little. No screaming or throwing a fit like you used to.” I didn’t even dignify his jab with a response. As the party wound down and we all started heading toward the door, Simon stopped me in my tracks. “It’s late, and it’s not safe. I’ll give you a ride,” he said. Since the ride was free and I wasn’t about to walk home, I didn’t argue. I climbed into the backseat, but Simon was faster than me. He blocked the front passenger seat and said, “You’re sitting in the back.” With that, he gently helped Audrey into the front seat, like it was the most natural thing in the world. “I’m sorry. Bianca,” Audrey said with feigned concern. “Simon’s just being protective. He’s afraid I’ll get car sick…” I didn’t say anything. I just slid into the backseat, exactly where I’d planned to sit in the first place. The whole ride home was just Simon and Audrey talking and laughing like they were the only two people on the planet. At a red light, Audrey teased Simon, asking him to help her with some lip balm. They exchanged this look, and I swear, the tension in the air thickened. Suddenly, Simon whipped his head toward the rearview mirror like he’d just remembered I was in the car. When his eyes met mine, and I pointedly stared out the window, trying to ignore them, his expression faltered for a moment.

For a moment, I saw raw anger flash across his face. Then, before I could even process it, he slammed his foot down on the gas pedal. When we pulled up to my place, Simon did something I really wasn’t expecting. He grabbed my arm again. “Alright, enough with the act,” he said, his tone dismissive. “Don’t pretend like you don’t care. It’s beneath you.” With that, he shoved a bracelet into my hand. “This is your engagement gift from me,” he added, his voice dripping with condescension. “As long as you stay in line, I’ll throw you a wedding. At least, on paper, everyone will think you’re my wife.” I glanced up at him, locking eyes. “And who exactly are you planning to marry? Audrey?” Simon’s face twisted with rage, but there was something almost smug underneath it as if he was enjoying the chaos he was causing. “I knew it. You’ve been pretending the whole time,” he sneered. “Listen up—don’t you dare breathe a word of this to anyone in either of our families. My relationship with Audrey is none of your business. She’s kind and fragile—nothing like your petty little schemes.” His voice dropped low, almost a warning. “If you ever hurt her, don’t think for a second I’ll still go through with this wedding.” I couldn’t help but laugh. He was too much of a coward to be honest with the Hughes family, yet somehow, I was the one painted as the villain in all of this. I didn’t say another word. I just turned on my heel and walked into my apartment, the weight of it all pressing down on me. The moment I stepped through the door, my phone buzzed in my hand. It was a video from Audrey. I hesitated before opening it, but when I did, there they were—Simon, gently helping Audrey fasten a necklace around her neck. The brand was unmistakable. And then it hit me: the bracelet Simon had just given me was the freebie that came with that very necklace. They were so close, their necks almost touching. And then, as the camera zoomed in, they kissed. The sound of it pierced the silence of the car—sharp, intrusive, like a slap to my chest. [Bianca, Simon must have told you by now, right? After the wedding, he’s going to marry me legally.] [Just so you know, without a legal marriage, there’s no inheritance rights. Guess it’s my turn to become the richest woman in Evergreen City!] Audrey… she’d been reborn too. It all clicked. Even though Simon and Audrey had no connection in our past life, this time, just days into it, they were already acting like a couple. Doing all the things lovers do. It was as if they had an unspoken understanding as if they were trying to pick up exactly where they left off. I lowered my gaze, memories of my past life flooding back. I thought about when I first married into the Hughes family. Right after the wedding, it felt like everything changed. The company started receiving a flood of partnership offers, landing new contracts left and right. Hughes Enterprises’ assets skyrocketed, and before long, they had become the richest company in Los Angeles.   The patriarch of the Hughes family was convinced I was the one bringing good fortune to Simon. Strangely enough, the family seemed to like me more and more with each passing day. They treated me like I was one of their own like I truly belonged. Despite Simon’s cold indifference, I honestly thought I was happy. That was until I found the photos. One afternoon, my mom came into my room with some surprising news. “Daniel, Simon’s younger uncle, is coming back from Europe in five days,” she said. I froze, caught off guard. Daniel had never married in my past life, and I certainly didn’t expect our arranged marriage to progress so quickly. I vaguely remembered Daniel. One thing was clear, though. He was always a good guy, almost like an older brother to me. Marrying him now felt like it would bring me more peace than tying the knot with anyone else. I wasn’t sure why, but the thought of him felt… right. The next morning, I was up early, working away in my studio on the design for my wedding dress. I’ve been sketching out my dream wedding dress since college when I studied fashion design. But every design I came up with back then had to fit Simon’s tastes. He wouldn’t let me use any design elements I liked—everything had to be for him. But now? Now, I was free. Free to design the dress I loved, the one I’d actually want to wear—while marrying someone else. A few days later, I finished putting the final touches on my dress and decided to grab a coffee from the breakroom. That was when I saw Audrey’s post on social media. In the photo, she was wearing my wedding dress. But it wasn’t the gown I had envisioned. The gown was cut in half and turned into a super-short skirt. To make matters worse, she was grinding against Simon, their bodies pressed so close as they danced. [Simon knew I needed a dress, so he specially sent this one to me. Gosh, I feel so spoiled right now!] I could hardly believe my eyes. My heart pounded in my chest as anger shot through me. Without a second thought, I stormed toward the fifth-floor ballroom, furious and ready to blow up. There they were—Audrey and Simon—dancing like the world had disappeared around them. Their bodies were pressed tightly together, swaying with an intensity that made it feel like they were the only two people in the room. “This is my wedding dress!” I shouted, unable to keep my fury in check. “How dare you give it to her?! And ruin it like this?!” Audrey immediately launched into her act, playing the innocent, helpless girl. Her eyes filled with fake tears, her voice quivering. “Simon, did I do something wrong? Why is she so angry?” she whined, acting all soft and fragile. Simon, of course, stepped in front of her, blocking me from her view like I was some sort of threat. “Bianca, it’s just a dress!” he sneered. “Besides, you’re still going to wear it for me at the wedding. So what’s the big deal? If it’s that important to you, why not just make a new one?” My blood boiled. “Who says I’m wearing it for you?” I shot back, my voice colder than I meant it to be. “This is the dress I’m wearing for my wedding.” Simon scoffed and shook his head like I was some naive child. “Come on, Bianca, don’t act like you don’t know. Your wedding is our wedding. I already agreed to marry you. There’s no need to keep up this act.” That was it. I was done.

I glanced at the scissors lying on the nearby table, grabbed them, and walked straight toward Audrey’s dress. Without hesitation, I sliced the hem of the fabric, cutting it near her leg. “Simon,” I said, my voice cold and sharp, every word carrying weight, “since you’re so sure of yourself, watch closely. I won’t settle for anything dirty. And I won’t keep the dress stained.” Simon froze, his eyes wide with shock. In the past, no matter how I acted—whether playful or bratty—he’d never seen me like this. Never seen me so serious, so determined. His instincts kicked in, and he reached for me, but before he could make a move, Audrey’s high-pitched voice sliced through the tension. “Simon, my leg! I think I scraped it. It really hurts, but don’t worry about me. Go take care of her. This is all my fault…” Simon hesitated for a moment, torn between me and Audrey. He looked from my retreating form to her, and then back at me. After a long, suffocating pause, he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. “Don’t worry about her. An insecure woman like her needs to be taught a lesson. Maybe this will help her reflect.” I couldn’t respond. My body went numb, and my heart felt like it had dropped into a void. I just stood there, watching as my wedding dress—the one I’d poured my heart into—began to fall apart in my hands. The delicate fabric unraveled, just like everything else in my life. I wiped my eyes quietly, trying to hold my emotions together, but the weight of everything I’d lost hit me like a freight train. All that effort, all that hope…was ruined in an instant.   If a single wedding dress could teach me everything I needed to know about someone’s character, then maybe I should consider myself lucky. After all, I was finally seeing Simon for who he really was—no delusions left. Tonight was the family dinner where I’d officially meet Daniel. First impressions were everything, and I knew I had to look my best. I didn’t want to give anyone the chance to question me, especially not after everything that had gone down with Simon and Audrey. I took a quick moment to freshen up and gave myself a little pep talk. When I felt ready, I headed down to the underground parking garage. And that’s when I noticed it—Simon’s Maserati, gently rocking back and forth in the distance. Curiosity gnawed at me as I walked closer, but when I got close enough to see inside the half-open window, my stomach twisted. There they were—Simon and Audrey. She was sprawled across his lap, her eyes half-lidded as she moved up and down. Even though I already knew Simon didn’t love me, seeing it with my own eyes still hit like a punch to the chest. For a brief moment, our eyes met. There was a flash of panic in his gaze, but it was gone in a second, quickly replaced by that smirk of his. To taunt me even more, he gently swept Audrey’s hair aside and kissed her deeply, his movements slow and exaggerated. Audrey’s soft whimpers echoed in the garage, loud and calculated. I turned away, trying to keep my face neutral, and climbed into my own car. I had more important things to focus on tonight. As I made my way to the Hughes family estate, I stopped by a store to grab a gift—a high-end silk tie for Daniel. When I arrived, I was surprised to find Simon pulling up at the same time. He stepped out of his car, and from where I stood, I could clearly see used condoms scattered across the passenger seat. ‘Real classy.’ For a moment, his expression flickered with something like embarrassment when he saw me holding the gift bag. But that passed quickly, replaced by his usual smug look. “Bought me a gift?” he drawled, taking a step toward me. “Let me see it.” I jerked the bag behind my back, pulling it out of his reach. “It’s not for you,” I said flatly. Simon snorted, blowing out a cloud of smoke like I wasn’t even worth his time. “You saw what happened in the garage, right?” he said, his voice annoyingly casual. “I know you’re obsessed with me, but I’ve told you before—this wedding is yours, but the marriage certificate belongs to Audrey. She’s the one who’s being slighted here.” He leaned in a little closer, his arrogance growing. “It’s perfectly normal for us to do what we just did. She’s my legal wife-to-be, after all. Oh, and our marital home? She’ll probably stop by once in a while for a night or two. You’ll have to get used to it eventually. It’s for your own good.” I couldn’t believe the audacity of this man. Even though I’d already decided I wouldn’t marry him, I hadn’t expected him to be so shameless—so blatant in flaunting his infidelity right in front of me. I turned to walk away, but, of course, he grabbed my arm again. “Listen,” he said, his voice lowering, “My uncle will be at the dinner tonight. He’s important to the family, so this is a big deal. I’m giving you a lot of face by letting you come.” I barely suppressed the urge to roll my eyes. “One more thing—if my grandfather and dad ask about the marriage license, just tell them we’ve already registered, alright? And about Audrey’s little injury this afternoon—you’ll need to apologize to her after dinner. Don’t forget. Until the wedding is official, I can still change my mind.” With that, he strode into the Hughes family estate like he hadn’t just made a complete fool of himself. I let out a long breath, gripping the gift bag in my hand. ‘Fine,’ I told myself. ‘He’ll find out soon enough who I’m really marrying.’ Most of the Hughes family patriarchs were seated inside the dining hall. Daniel hadn’t arrived yet, so I quietly slipped into a seat far from Simon, deliberately leaving an open spot next to me for him. Simon noticed immediately and frowned, a look of irritation crossing his face. Annoyed, he got up and moved to sit right next to me. “You’re getting more dramatic these days,” he muttered, eyeing the empty seat beside me. “There’s already a seat saved for you over there. Why are you trying to make a scene?” I ignored him just as I was about to tell him that the seat wasn’t for him when a tall, commanding figure appeared at the entrance. Daniel entered the dining hall, his tailored designer suit fitting him perfectly. His strides were steady and confident, each movement radiating poise and dignity.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398132”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #Rebirth #ChildhoodCrush #regret #LoveAfterMarriage

True Love I had expressed my love to Ethan Grant, my brother, while I was slapped and left by him abroad. He left me to fend for myself. Eight years later, he drunkenly knocked on my door in the middle of the night. He hugged me and cried, “Jenny, don’t leave me behind.”

Prologue Bid Farewell to the Past I traveled through time and space and became the heroine of sad romance fiction. On the day I cut my wrist, the hero of the fiction brought his first love home from abroad. He sneered and said, “Didn’t you say that you could tolerate anything as long as you could marry me? It’s just an appetizer, but you can’t stand it.” His first love said, “It was me who he loved. If you hadn’t threatened him with his mother’s life, he wouldn’t have been with you. Now it’s time to return him to me.” My mother-in-law, who has been saved by me, said coldly, “I will return the money to you. Can you let go of my son? It’s good for everyone if you get divorced.” I was not going to divorce. Because he was about to die.

I’m the illegitimate daughter of a powerful figure in Washington, and my mother was his first love. To provide a kidney transplant for his other daughter, he brought me back from overseas. The first time I met her, she cried and threw herself at me, but whispered in my ear: “You bitch!” Then she pushed me away and deliberately fell down the stairs. My biological father slapped me hard across the face: “You’re as vicious as your mother.” He still doesn’t know that my mother is already dead.

On the day I, Zoey Snyder, left to study abroad, my boyfriend Joel Lakin personally drove me to the airport. On his way back, he hit someone. The victim was a terminal cancer patient who deliberately rushed in front of his car to scam him, but ended up losing her life. Joel, being kindhearted, not only took the initiative to compensate but also secretly brought the victim’s daughter, Isla Reid, home to care for her without telling me. Three years later, I returned after completing my studies. The first time Isla saw me, she frantically threw herself into his arms, as if she was terrified of me. When I questioned Joel, he said, “If I hadn’t driven you to the airport, I wouldn’t have killed her mother. We’re both responsible.” So I proposed breaking up and chose to marry my adoptive brother Kaleb Snyder, arranged by my grandfather Carlos Snyder. At the engagement ceremony, Joel acted like a madman trying to take me away, saying I was the only person he’d ever love in this lifetime. I sneered, “Joel, what makes you think I could possibly want you back?”

When my mom Sophia Barnes came to pick me up from school, that girl who’d been bullying me, Aurora Palmer, was standing on my head. “Could you tell me your name, young lady?” Sophia flashed her a composed smile. “Please don’t,” I desperately shook my head at Aurora. Unfortunately, she completely ignored my warning and smugly announced that her father was New York’s wealthiest man, Raymond Palmer. A week later, Sophia and Raymond’s wedding hit the trending topics.