Category: English

When I turned eighteen, my family suddenly struck it rich. My father, Samuel Cooper, made a fortune in business. We moved into a big mansion with a full staff of maids and drivers. My younger brother, Dylan Cooper, was sent to Leranda to study and soon after graduated, marrying a beautiful and wealthy woman. Together, they helped our family business thrive. The only problem was that I had caught a cold and missed the SATs, so my parents married me off to a poor, rural bachelor. I was locked in the basement, tortured day after day. I finally managed to escape and return home, but my parents’ attitude was disgustingly cold. “Such a burden. Why didn’t you just die in the mountains?” Dylan took me out to cheer me up, then pushed me under a moving truck. I ended up with broken bones and was sent to the ICU. As I lay on the brink of death, Dylan, dressed in an expensive suit, whispered in my ear, “I’ll let you die knowing the truth. Our family didn’t get rich from business. It was all because of the 100 million dollar lottery ticket you won. “We secretly claimed the prize, and kept it from you all this time.” With regret, I breathed my last. After I died, my body was “married off” for a dowry of 120 thousand dollars. Then, I opened my eyes again, back to the day I bought the lottery ticket. “This is your ticket. Keep it safe. You might just win big.” I stared at the ticket in my hand, dazed. I had been reborn. Back in the day, I bought that lottery ticket! In my past life, I’d bought the same ticket, but Dylan had barged into my room and stolen it. I had always considered myself unlucky and didn’t believe I’d win, so I didn’t give the ticket much thought. Soon after, our family’s business started booming. We quickly moved into a mansion and became one of the city’s wealthiest families. Dylan was sent off to study abroad in Leranda. I had even suggested studying abroad myself, but my mother, Madison Cooper, shot it down immediately. “You’re a girl. You’ll get married and settle down. What’s the point of studying abroad? It’s just a waste.” I had been the top student in my entire grade. But ever since I bought that lottery ticket, my bad luck never stopped. Even on SAT day, I fell ill, collapsed from diarrhea, and missed the exam. My parents married me off to a poor rural bachelor, and I was locked in a basement, abused daily. I eventually managed to escape and return home. Covered in bruises and injuries, I stood at the door, but my parents only scolded me. “Look at you, like a beggar. You’re embarrassing our family! How could you not die in that village?!” Dylan’s wife, dripping in expensive jewelry, wrinkled her nose at me and sneered, saying to Dylan, “Is this really your sister? She’s even worse than a beggar!” Only Dylan held me close and whispered, “Zoey, I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through.” He took me out to cheer me up. Then, when the security cameras couldn’t see us, he pushed me under a speeding truck! I ended up with multiple fractures and was rushed to the ICU. In my final moments, Dylan, dressed in his luxurious suit, bent over and whispered in my ear, “I want you to die knowing the truth. Our family didn’t get rich from business. It was all because of the 100 million dollars you won from that lottery. That’s how the company started. That’s how I got the chance to study abroad. I really should be thanking you.” He paused, then coldly added, “But as long as you’re alive, there’s a risk you’ll find out the truth. What if one day you start making trouble? That’s why our parents sent you off to the village, and told the villagers to torture you. We never expected you to escape… but this time, you’re going to die. Just die peacefully. Our family will be grateful.” With regret, I took my last breath. After I died, my body was married off for a dowry. Thinking back on my past life, I clenched the lottery ticket in my hand and silently vowed. This time, I will never let them take the 100 million dollars from me again! “Zoey, I knew you’d be here!” I turned around in shock, only to see Dylan standing in front of me, though I didn’t know when he had appeared. He saw the ticket clenched tightly in my hand. His eyes lit up, and he reached out to grab it.

“Zoey, what’s that in your hand? Is it a lottery ticket? Let me see.” Dylan grabbed my hand forcefully, his eyes gleaming with greed. When he saw that I couldn’t open my fist, he kicked me in the leg. I winced in pain and accidentally loosened my grip. “Heh, I knew you were hiding a lottery ticket!” He looked down, his expression a bit confused. My hand was empty. Nothing was there. “Where’s the ticket? Where did you hide it?” Dylan stared at me, unable to believe it, scanning me up and down. I rubbed my sore leg, feeling a bit wrong. “What lottery ticket? I just passed by a lottery shop. I didn’t even buy one.” Dylan clearly didn’t trust me. He searched every inch of my body, panicking when he found nothing. He didn’t bother with me anymore, rushing into the lottery shop and grabbing the shopkeeper by the collar. “Who bought a ticket just now?” The shopkeeper, used to eccentric customers, shrugged Dylan off without a second thought. “Lots of people come and go all day, how would I remember?” Dylan was trying to recall the lottery ticket worth 100 million dollars. But after so long, his memory was fuzzy, and all he could remember were the first few digits. He took a deep breath. Then his eyes glinted as he thought of something. He pulled me over and glared at me. “You go buy it. “You better pick the right one, or I won’t let you off!” Hearing this, I felt a chill in my heart. Now, I finally understood what Dylan’s behavior was about! It turned out he had also been reborn! To make sure he wouldn’t miss out on the lottery win this time, he followed me all the way to the lottery shop and made me buy the ticket for him. I chose a ticket based on the first few digits he had given me. Still holding the ticket, Dylan looked at me with doubt, scanning me up and down. Clearly, he was still suspicious that I had hidden the ticket somewhere. At dinner, Dylan was irritated, tapping his fork on the table. Madison quickly picked up some food for him. “What’s wrong? Did someone at school upset you? Let me handle it.” Samuel also put down his fork and looked at him seriously. “Yeah, did some classmate look down on you again?” Dylan waited until he thought they were concerned enough, then finally looked up, sneering, and pointed at me. “She bought the lottery ticket and didn’t show it to me.” My parents exchanged glances. Samuel frowned first and scolded me. “What’s the matter with you? I’ve told you before, as the older sister, you should be considerate of your younger brother! What did you do to upset Dylan? Apologize to him now!” Madison sighed, gently brushing her rough hand over mine and saying softly, “Zoey, I’m not criticizing you, but your brother is our only son. As his older sister, you need to learn to take care of Dylan.” I felt the touch on my hand, and a shiver ran down my spine.

The outcome of my past life seemed to be clear as day. “My sister bought a lottery ticket but kept it from me, even lying and saying she didn’t get one. Mom, what should we do?” Dylan looked at me provocatively. My dad slammed his fork down. “Hurry up and hand over the ticket! You’re not going to win anyway. What’s the harm in letting Dylan play with it?” Dylan chuckled. “What if my sister wins the grand prize and decides she’s too good for our family?” My mom stood up immediately and shoved me into my room. She searched every corner of the place, even checking the lining of my underwear. “Zoey, where is it? Hand it over now!” my mom yelled angrily, pointing at me. I felt my eyes water as I looked at them, feeling wronged. “I told you, I didn’t buy a lottery ticket. But none of you believe me! “I only bought that one ticket. The only one Dylan took.” Dylan frowned and looked at me, suspicious. After all, he had just rushed over after his rebirth and hadn’t seen whether I went into the lottery shop or not. Once the door to my room was closed, I quickly pulled the ticket from my hair. Thankfully, I had hidden the ticket there in time, or else this family would’ve found it. But now, my room didn’t feel safe. I quickly took advantage of the time when I went to the bathroom to seal the ticket in a plastic bag and hid it in the toilet tank. Dylan took a few days off from school but still wasn’t giving up. He kept coming to my room, snooping around. I remained calm, watching him rummage through my things without a hint of panic. My mom also made up an excuse to take me shopping for clothes. While I was in the dressing room changing, she went through my bag. Of course, they found nothing. Because I had hidden the ticket in a place they never would’ve thought to look. Soon, the day of the lottery draw arrived. Just like in my past life, the ticket I bought won 100 million dollars! Soon, I would be able to claim the prize and make up for the regrets of my last life! But when I got home from school, I suddenly sensed something was off. As soon as I walked in the door, my mom slapped me across the face. My cheek burned with the sting. “If it wasn’t for the toilet being clogged, I never would’ve found out you hid the lottery ticket in the tank,” my mom sneered, shaking the ticket in her hand. My brother grinned at me. “See, I told you she hid a ticket! You didn’t believe me!” I rushed to the toilet tank, only to find it empty. My dad kicked me, his fist clenched in anger. “You’re getting bold now! You actually dared to hide it. You think you’re some kind of lucky one?” With a look of disdain, my dad held up the ticket and coldly laughed. “Today, I’ll let you watch your little fantasy come crashing down!” Saying that, he gripped the ticket and was about to rip it up. “Dad! No!” Dylan screamed, rushing forward to grab onto my dad’s leg, shouting, “Don’t tear it! This ticket could win 100 million!”   “One hundred million dollars? Are you kidding? Even if someone really won 100 million, it couldn’t possibly be your sister!” Dylan was still in shock and shouted, “The drawing has already happened! This ticket won 100 million! We can finally buy a big mansion. This crappy house is falling apart. My body can’t take it anymore! “I’ll marry a rich, beautiful woman and carry on the family line.” My parents couldn’t believe it. They stared at the numbers on the TV screen, completely ecstatic. “We’re rich! Our family is rich!!!” I crawled up from the floor, tears streaming uncontrollably, my whole body shaking as I screamed. “This is my ticket! Why are you stealing it from me?” My mom shouted back, “You used the money I gave you to buy that ticket! What are you shouting for? Even if we win 100 million dollars, you won’t get a single cent!” They had never given me living expenses, and all the money I made came from tutoring! Without saying anything else, they began to tidy up and prepare to leave to claim the prize. Before they left, they locked me in my room, ignoring my cries and struggles. “Zoey, you really are the chosen one. You casually bought a ticket worth 100 million. “But this time, just watch as we take home the 100 million! You’ll regret it. You’ll suffer!” I watched as my family left, the pain on my face fading away. Instead, a smile began to form because the real show was about to start… I quickly packed my bags and documents, then rented a place outside to focus on studying. On the way, Dylan called me on a video call. When the call connected, Dylan’s arrogant face appeared on the screen. He lowered his voice and said, “Zoey, you’ve been reborn too, right? How does it feel? Too bad, even if you have another life, you still can’t beat me. You’ll still have to watch me take home that 100 million. “Don’t even think about calling the cops. It won’t help. We’re family, and your money is ours. The police won’t be able to do anything. “Feeling hopeless? If you really are, just jump out of the window. Maybe you’ll get to the ticket before we do.” My family strutted off to the lottery center, proud as peacocks. My dad went straight to the counter, announcing loudly, “We’re here to claim our prize! We won 100 million!” “What? One hundred million?” The lottery store was packed with people on the weekend, and when the crowd heard this, they stopped and stared in shock. “One hundred million! Could it be that the winner is from their family?” “Someone actually won 100 million!” “Oh my God, why wasn’t it me?” More and more people gathered around, stopping whatever they were doing to crowd around my family. “Yes, it’s us! We won 100 million!” Dylan casually looked around, then held up the ticket high. “You should call the reporters now. Your store will make the front page of the news today, all thanks to us!” “By the way, there’s one more thing.” My dad suddenly paused and turned to the reporters gathering around. “Everyone, be a witness!” With the crowd surrounding us, my dad smiled confidently at the cameras flashing all around us. “This 100 million ticket only belongs to the three of us. It’s not for my daughter Zoey! “And from now on, our family is cutting ties with Zoey. After her SATs, we’ll wash our hands of her and let her fend for herself!” He ignored the murmurs of the crowd and turned to the store owner with a smug smile. “Now, give us the prize!” The store owner’s face turned red with excitement, sweat trickling down his forehead. He took the ticket with both hands, inspecting it closely. Then, he froze. The crowd held their breath, waiting to witness the miracle of 100 million. After a long pause, the store owner slowly looked up. “What? What’s wrong?” the crowd murmured. “Didn’t win?” “They did.” The store owner said, “But… it’s only ten dollars!”

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My father, who had bravely stood up for justice, was on the verge of being sentenced to life imprisonment. Yet, I sat there calmly, observing my manicured nails. The jury members glared at me indignantly, their eyes as if they could flay me alive. Even the judge proposed a temporary recess, suggesting I sort out my thoughts and evidence. After all, at that moment, I was not only my father’s daughter but also his defense lawyer. I slumped casually in the chair and spoke calmly, “Although you rescued the girl from the clutches of the perpetrator, you continued to stab him after he lost the ability to resist. Legally, this constitutes intentional homicide.” My mother dropped to her knees before me, pleading with tears streaming down her face. “Sienna, please plead for your father. He’s your father!” I evaded her outstretched hand and brandished my lawyer’s license. “I’m sorry. I stand for what’s right, not for my relatives merely because of blood ties.” My mother crumpled to the ground, her forehead beaded with sweat, her voice quivering. “But people say the thug was about to attack your father, and your father was just acting in excessive self-defense. “Sienna, you still haven’t forgiven your father, so you’re deliberately making up an excuse to send him to prison, aren’t you?” Her eyes were filled with suspicion. That thought was justified, though. After all, we had a huge fight before my father’s heroic act. I glanced at my mother and let out a cold snort. “I’m your daughter. You should know me well. Who do you believe, netizens or your own daughter?” My mother was momentarily stunned. Soon, she clutched her chest and began to cry her heart out. “So what are we supposed to do now? Just watch your father be sentenced to life imprisonment?” In the end, she even started retching, clearly on the brink of a complete breakdown. “That’s your biological father who has raised you for twenty-six years. Do you really want to send him to prison with your own hands?” The deep affection between my parents made me, their daughter, seem shockingly cold and detached. But I just smiled indifferently. “Isn’t this a good thing? The prison provides food and shelter. I’ll see that he has a place to spend his remaining years. You don’t need to worry about his basic needs. “Frankly, before my dad acted bravely, he probably didn’t consider how we’d manage if he died. Why worry so much about him now? You might as well find a new partner for yourself.” With that, I poured myself a glass of water, turned on the latest variety show, and burst into laughter watching it, waiting for the court session to resume. When my mother saw my nonchalant demeanor, her eyes turned red. But she was just a housewife, lacking the means to solve this problem on her own. She was at her wits’ end, and this desperate act was the only way she could think of to save her husband. She smashed the cup in my hand and pressed a shard to her neck. “Sienna Walker, I don’t care if you hate your father or if, as you claim, he committed murder on purpose. You must save your father! “So many people online say your father was acting in excessive self-defense. There must be room for negotiation. If you don’t find a way out, I’ll die right in front of you.” The other relatives in the recess room regarded me with disapproval. “Sienna, we may not understand legal matters, but there are people on the internet who do. Now everyone is speaking up for your father. If you have any difficulties, just tell us. You can’t send your father to jail just based on what you’ve said.” My mother suddenly seemed to have an epiphany. She tightly grasped my arm, her eyes pleading. “You want to buy a house, right? Weren’t you arguing with your father because he refused to give you the down payment? “Help your father. Then, I’ll use all our family savings to buy you a house, okay?” The relatives in the recess room seemed to have grasped what they thought was my true motive and looked at me with contempt. Before I could respond, the door was flung open. A relative, who had been sent to gather information, rushed in, his face etched with worry. “I heard that the lawyer hired by the other side is the best in the country and has never lost a case. If the case proceeds like this, Steve may never get out.” He gave me a rather furtive glance. The eyes of an elder in my family flashed with anxiety, and then he fixed me with a stern look. “Sienna, I’m asking you one last time. Are you really going to insist that your father committed murder on purpose and let him spend his entire life in prison?”

Under their expectant yet intense gazes, I nodded slowly but resolutely. At the sight of this, the elder angrily crushed the paper cup in his hand, his face contorted with anger while glaring at me. “I can’t believe our Walker family has such an unfilial daughter as you! “I won’t talk about how your father rushed you to the hospital when you were sick as a child. Do you remember the year before last when you had uremia? It was your father who donated his kidney to you! “If it weren’t for him, would you have a healthy body now? “Not to mention, all the living expenses for your family of three were earned by your father, who worked day and night. Without your father’s hard-earned money to support your studies, could you have become a renowned lawyer today? “Sienna, you can’t be so ungrateful. Your father needs your help right now. If you act so heartlessly, you may get your retribution later!” The elder’s heartfelt questioning was sincere, and by the end, he even choked up. The other relatives also chimed in, pointing their fingers at me. “He’s right. You’re the only daughter in the family, and Steve dotes on you the most. If he doesn’t buy a house for you, who else would he buy it for? He must be considering the current declining housing prices and wants to wait and see. You can’t send your own father to jail just because of this.” “Look, you don’t even have a partner yet. If a man finds out that your father is in prison, who would be willing to marry you? Even for your own future, you have to get your father out.” “That’s right. There’s no such thing as an eternal feud between a father and his daughter. Sienna, we all know you’re a smart girl. You can’t be so foolish now.” The relatives’ chatter grew louder and more insistent. I sat on the sofa, legs crossed, looking composed and unfazed. I seemed impervious to everything around me. Seeing my indifference, my mother crumpled in despair, screaming in pain. She knelt before me once again, pleading desperately, “Sienna, I’m your biological mother who gave birth to you and raised you. I’m begging you, please save your father. “As long as you’re willing to save your father, I’ll transfer all the family’s money to you. Whether you want to buy a house or do something else with it, we won’t interfere. What do you say? “If you think that’s not enough, I’ll sell our house and give you the money, okay?” Upon hearing this, I finally uncrossed my legs and sat up straight. When my mother saw my changed posture, a glimmer of hope flashed across her face, and she hastily swore to me, “Sienna, as long as you promise to help your father, I’ll give you everything we have!” The older relatives present, seeing my mother’s abject state, turned away in anger. I took out my phone and started calculating. The combined assets under my parents’ names were sufficient for me to afford a car and a house easily. This sum of money was enough to fund my father’s defense in the upcoming trial. This seemed like a worthwhile deal.

I looked back at my mother and nodded silently in assent. An impatient look flickered across my mother’s face. “Check if the evidence is complete. Is there anything else you need to prepare? You can’t make any mistakes in the upcoming trial.” My hand reached for the materials on the table, but suddenly I clasped my hands together. “I can help my dad, but what if you go back on your word after the trial? “There should be at least one million dollars in cash at home. Transfer it to me first, and then we’ll sign a property transfer contract. I promise to get my dad acquitted later. How about that?” When my mother heard my words, her face was filled with disbelief. She felt as if she was being toyed with, and her face contorted into a hideous expression. “Most of that money is in paper passbooks, and we have to go to the bank to deal with it. How can I transfer it to you right now? “The court will resume soon. We don’t have the time now. Sienna, please don’t do this! I’m begging you. If you’re really worried, give me a contract, and I’ll sign it now. I will never renege on my promise.” I shrugged. “That won’t do. Even if you sign the contract, if you’re set on being a deadbeat, there’s not much I can do, right? “Either transfer the money now, or my dad goes to jail. The choice is yours.” The other relatives in the recess room could no longer tolerate my actions. The eldest among them even threw the wooden bracelet in his hand at me. “Your father must have done something heinous to have a child as disrespectful and unfilial as you. “Your mother shouldn’t have given birth to you. She should have strangled you at birth!” My eyes sharpened as I stared back at the elder. “This counts as intentional injury, and the minimum sentence is three years. What? Do you want to go to jail and keep my dad company?” The elder’s daughter, my cousin with whom I was quite close, looked at me with disappointment in her eyes. “Sienna! When did you become like this? Did you take money from the other side and do this on purpose? “Is money really more important than your family?” Her eyes were bloodshot, brimming with pain and questions. She hugged my mother tightly and consoled her. “Connie, just leave her alone. No matter how much we plead with a heartless person like her, she won’t help us. “If things turn out to be bad today, we can still appeal for a retrial. Then we can hire a better lawyer, and surely there will be people on the Internet who will come to our aid.” Seeing the devastated look on the face of the only person in my family I was close to, I couldn’t help but feel a momentary pain in my heart. My parents had been too busy to take care of me since I was a child, so I was practically raised by my cousin. When I failed the bar exam the year I graduated from college, it was she who firmly pressured me to quit my job that paid a meager 3,000 dollars a month. She supported me financially each month so that I could focus on preparing for the bar exam. At that time, I vowed to be good to my cousin and her family for the rest of my life. But now, the disappointed looks from my cousin and her father were almost unbearable. I turned my head away silently, not daring to look any longer. Suddenly, the door of the recess room opened. “The court session is about to resume. Please get ready.” It was the court’s messenger. My cousin squeezed my mother’s hand firmly and said, “Connie, don’t worry. Even if the worst-case scenario occurs, we still have hope.”   I donned an indifferent facade and sneered. “We’ll see about that.” My mother glared at me with hatred and walked out first. When I was the only one left in the room, I took several deep breaths, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. Once I had composed myself, I took my place in the dock and argued that my father had committed intentional homicide. There was an immediate outcry from the jury, but an even louder commotion came from outside the door. The police on the scene were unable to hold anyone back. A large group of people suddenly burst into the room, each holding a cell phone. “Sienna Walker! How could there be a lawyer and a daughter as morally blind and deranged as you?” “We’ll expose your true colors to the world, even if it means breaking the law and going to jail, to seek justice for Mr. Walker.” I turned to look at the jury, knowing very well that they must have contacted these live-streamers during the recess, attempting to use public opinion to reverse the situation. Sure enough, a glimmer of hope shone brightly on my mother’s face. I stared at the live-streamers being restrained by the police and spoke without the slightest hint of shame, “Do you know that trespassing is illegal? “And Mr. Walker, the ‘hero’ you all claim him to be, actually did kill a young man. How could you want a murderer to be free?” In response, a torrent of curses rained down on me. “That’s bullshit! That guy was molesting a teenage girl. Such scum deserved to die!” “The surveillance footage clearly shows that Mr. Walker was acting in self-defense. At most, it was excessive self-defense. You’re his lawyer and his daughter. How can you not stand up for your own father?” “Someone saw you in contact with the other party’s family before the trial. Did you take bribes? You’re such a heartless monster who cares about nothing but money!” “Aren’t you afraid that there won’t be any more heroes in this country because of you?” “Aren’t you afraid that you’ll encounter the same situation one day, but no one will help you because of your disheartening actions?” I lifted my head, stared straight into their cameras, and smiled. “You’ve wrongly labeled a reckless person as a hero. What we advocate nowadays is to act with wisdom, not just recklessly. “Although his intention was good, he broke the law and must pay the price. If you have the power, you should work on amending the law instead of yelling here.” My taunts sparked a huge uproar, and the viewership of their live-stream rooms skyrocketed. The comments scrolled so fast that they almost looked like a blur, filled with insults aimed at me. But my eyes were fixed on a corner of the jury that no one else was paying attention to. The girl, wearing a mask and a hat, had tears in her eyes, yet she gave me a firm gesture and nodded. My handcuffed father suddenly dropped to his knees, just like my mother had, and looked at the live-streamers. “Please turn off the live stream. Since my daughter says I’m guilty, then I’m guilty. I admit it! “Please don’t cyberbully my daughter. I won’t be able to rest easy in prison if you do!” Then, my father looked up at the judge. “Sir, I plead guilty! Please sentence me to life imprisonment!” He then turned and looked at me. “Sienna, are you satisfied now?” I glanced at the number of viewers in the live-stream room and smiled with satisfaction. “Not yet. I want you sentenced to death!”

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My best friend, Hazel Prescott, whom I had cared for over the years, gave me a bottle of perfume. Without hesitation, I turned and poured it all into the toilet. In my past life, the moment I wore that perfume, my body began to sprout fur and emit a terrible stench. Colleagues avoided me like the plague. My boss and boyfriend, Wyatt Dawson, dumped me without a second thought and got together with Hazel. Desperate for a cure, I searched everywhere, only to die in agony and despair. It was only after my death that I learned the truth. Hazel had tampered with the perfume. Now, as I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day she gave it to me. “Charlotte, I saved up half a month’s salary to buy this perfume for you. It’s just a small gift. “Don’t look down on it. I promise I’ll get you something even better once I have more money.” Hazel crinkled into a smile as she handed me the beautifully wrapped gift. I staggered back in shock, glancing around at my familiar office surroundings, realizing. I had been reborn. Ignoring the puzzled stares from my coworkers, I rushed to the bathroom and stripped off my clothes. Staring at my reflection, I let out a shaky breath of relief. My skin was smooth and flawless. In my past life, the moment I sprayed that perfume, my entire body became covered in thick fur, carrying a faint, nauseating stench that drove everyone away. Hazel came from a poor background. When she first joined the company, she nearly got fired due to her lack of experience. Out of kindness, I helped her. After that, I continued to treat her sincerely, sharing fun moments and bringing her food whenever I got something nice. She seemed grateful, so when she gifted me the perfume, I simply thought it was a token of appreciation. A colleague jokingly wondered if it was some kind of unregulated product since she couldn’t even name the brand. I didn’t take it seriously and just thought they were messing around. But not long after, something started changing in my body. At first, it was just redness and itchiness. Then, patches of fur started growing all over me. I tried hair removal creams, but the next day, the fur grew back even thicker. I went to top hospitals. I tried every remedy, both medical and folk. Nothing worked. After that, I took leave and hid in the employee dorm, too afraid to step out. Hazel, pretending to check on me, brought the entire department along. The moment they saw me looking like a caveman, they gasped as if they’d seen a ghost. A gossip-loving coworker uploaded a video of me online, calling me the Hairy Beauty. The internet went wild. Influencers camped outside my apartment, demanding I go live. Meanwhile, Wyatt seized the opportunity to break up with me. Hazel, on the other hand, became even more stunning. On one of her so-called visits, her breathtaking looks caught the attention of bloggers. Seizing the moment, she engaged with netizens, quickly skyrocketing to fame. Within half a month, she had amassed over a million followers. And me? Unable to accept my ruined face and body, I slit my wrists in the bathroom. Only after death did I finally learn the truth. Hazel had envied my success and beauty. The perfume she gifted me wasn’t just a present. It was a cursed object meant to steal my fate.

After my death, she got what she wanted. Wyatt became her boyfriend. Seeking excitement, they even indulged in their passion right in my old room beneath my memorial photo. The tragic memories of my past life flashed before my eyes. My jaw clenched, every cell in my body boiling with rage. I dug my fingertips deep into my palm, the sharp pain pulling me back to reality. “Darling, what’s wrong? Come try this perfume.” Hazel blinked her big, innocent eyes, looking as harmless as ever. But beneath that facade lay a heart as venomous as a snake’s. When I didn’t reach out to take it, she carefully extended the porcelain bottle toward me. I immediately sprang from my seat, pointing to the slightly cluttered desk with caution. “Just put it there.” A flicker of frustration flashed across Hazel’s face before she quickly masked it, pressing me again. “This was made by the florist back home. You won’t find it anywhere, no matter how much you’re willing to pay! I spent half my month’s salary just to get this for you. “Come on, it’s just perfume, not some venomous snake. What’s there to be afraid of?” I glanced at the gloves she was wearing. If my guess was right, the perfume wasn’t just toxic in scent. Touching the bottle itself might be dangerous. Seeing my reluctance, Hazel suddenly bit her lip hard, her eyes welling up with tears that streamed down her face. “Charlotte, I know I come from a poor family, and this isn’t some fancy brand. It’s normal if you don’t like it… but I just wanted to show my appreciation…” I once saw her as a friend, yet she wanted me dead! Now she was trying to guilt-trip me, thinking she could manipulate me so easily? What a joke! Suppressing my anger, I let out a cold laugh. “Hazel, that’s really hurtful. “I stayed late to finish your unfinished work, unpaid. I helped you, yet instead of appreciating it, you think I’m looking down on you? That’s truly disappointing. “If I really looked down on you, why would I go out of my way to help? “Just because I didn’t take the perfume, you assume I think less of you? That’s completely unreasonable!” My voice trembled slightly as I spoke, drawing the attention of our colleagues. Everyone here knew how much I had helped Hazel in the past. Hearing this, they immediately chimed in. “Hazel, hasn’t Charlotte done enough for you? And now you’re saying she treats you badly?” “I remember plenty of times when you just walked out while Charlotte stayed behind, working late into the night. What have you ever done for her?” “Didn’t Charlotte cover your meals when payroll was delayed last month? I don’t recall you ever treating her back. And now you’re playing the victim?” “By the way, what brand is this perfume? Why is it in a porcelain bottle? And why are you wearing disposable gloves? Don’t tell me it’s poisonous.” Most of our coworkers didn’t have a good impression of Hazel. While speaking up for me, they were also venting their long-held frustration. Hazel had always loved playing the pity card. Whenever someone refused her request, she would turn around and cry to the others, acting like she was being bullied just because she was poor, implying that people should naturally cater to her. But after a while, everyone saw through her act and stopped entertaining her. Her expression darkened as she stared at the perfume bottle on my desk. Then, showing a stiff smile, she gave a slight bow. “Sorry, Charlotte, I spoke without thinking. I’ll just leave it here. Once you try it, you’ll realize how great it is. “We’re coworkers, after all. Why would I ever want to hurt you?”

I couldn’t stand her fake, pretentious face. I wanted to smash the porcelain bottle right into her smug expression, but I held back. I needed her to expose her true colors so I could get my revenge. Showing a casual smile, I pressed my lips together lightly. “Hmm, I’ll give it a try another day. I’ll just leave it here for now.” Hazel’s face lit up with joy. She eagerly took my arm and chirped about how the perfume should be used within a week, or else the scent would fade. I nodded absentmindedly, pretending to listen while my mind was racing. The moment Hazel stepped away to use the restroom, I sprang into action. Mask on, gloves on, I carefully opened the porcelain bottle. I snapped a picture of the perfume bottle and sent it to a friend who specialized in perfume packaging, offering a high price for an identical one to be delivered to my office ASAP. By the end of the workday, the replica had arrived. I discreetly dumped Hazel’s so-called gift down the toilet and tossed the original bottle into the trash. Over the next few days, Hazel kept sneaking glances at my desk, checking to see if the perfume bottle was still there. Every time she confirmed its presence, she nodded in satisfaction. To be extra sure, she even found excuses to go to the restroom with me, probably hoping to see if her little trick was taking effect. I decided to have some fun. I sprayed myself with a mix of water and garlic extract, a smell so foul it could make someone gag. Hazel had an excited twitch over her lips, convinced that her perfume was working its magic. Little did she know, she was stepping right into the trap I had laid out for her. Wyatt, my boyfriend, had been calling me into his office more often, looking for excuses to get close. Each time, I found a way to avoid him. Sensing my growing distance, he decided to make a grand gesture. That evening, he showed up at the employee dormitory with a bouquet of fresh flowers. “Baby, there’s a new restaurant in the old town. Let’s go check it out together.” I barely glanced at him, my tone indifferent. “I don’t feel well. I have no appetite.” “Then let’s pick another day.” I switched off the lights without another word. Wyatt knocked for a while before finally leaving in disappointment. Hazel, who had been eavesdropping nearby, saw me staying put. Wasting no time, she threw on a full face of makeup, slipped into her high heels, and hurriedly followed after him. Not long after, she updated her social media. The location was that brand-new restaurant in the old town. “Could she be any more desperate? Let’s see what tricks these two lovebirds are up to.” Wrapping myself up in a hoodie and mask, I hopped on the subway and made my way to the restaurant. Through the window, I spotted them at a corner table. Wyatt was holding Hazel’s hand, his gaze burning with desire. His fingers had already slipped under her collar. Hazel, playing her part well, perched herself onto his lap. Her long, manicured fingers trailed downward, making Wyatt’s face flush with excitement. “Wyatt, I should go. If Charlotte finds out, it won’t end well.” Wyatt yanked her back into his arms, pulling her in for a deep, sloppy kiss. “So what? I’ll just break up with her. That woman is nothing compared to you. “She’s as dull as a dead fish in bed. Nothing like you, baby. And besides, we’ve been doing this for over a year. Has she even noticed anything?” Hazel draped her arms around his neck, her eyes gleaming with wicked delight. “You’re right. If she weren’t so stupid, she wouldn’t believe everything I say. “You’re such a bad boy.” Wyatt chuckled, tapping her nose affectionately as his hands roamed freely. “Bad boys are what girls love, aren’t they? You like it when I’m bad, don’t you?” “Ugh, Wyatt! You’re so annoying!” My hands clenched into fists as I listened, seething with rage. So this was how they saw me? A fool to be toyed with? A stepping stone for their selfish desires? Then Wyatt asked, “Any progress with the perfume? She doesn’t seem all that different.” Hazel frowned. “Yeah, weird, right? Maybe the perfume isn’t close enough to her. I’ll slip it into her bag next time. That should work. “But don’t worry. She already reeks. Soon, I’ll take her place, become rich, beautiful, and unstoppable.” A crazed, triumphant glint flickered in Hazel’s eyes. The two of them raised their glasses in a twisted toast. Just as I suspected, even being near the perfume had an effect. An idea sparked in my mind. Wasting no time, I hailed a cab straight to the office. Digging through the trash, I retrieved the discarded porcelain bottle. That night, while Wyatt and Hazel were busy getting a hotel room, I poured the last few drops of liquid from the bottle, blending it into her perfume. Then, I submitted a vacation request to headquarters, claiming I needed a break. I invited a few colleagues on a getaway and disappeared for half a month. During that time, Hazel blew up my phone with calls. I ignored every single one. Two weeks later, I returned to the dorm with my coworkers, laughing and chatting. The moment I opened the door, an overwhelming stench filled the air. And what I saw next left everyone utterly speechless.

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At the entrepreneurial team competition, Rachel Foster, Howard Jackson’s childhood sweetheart, volunteered to be the team leader in hopes of securing a recommendation for graduate school. I prioritized the overall situation and firmly rejected her proposal. So she withdrew from the competition and, following her parents, returned to her distressed hometown to get married. The team I led won the championship, emerged as a rising star in the business world, and all members secured recommendations for graduate school. Later, I married Howard. When we were celebrating the company’s IPO on a yacht, he pushed me—six months pregnant—off the yacht while I was off my guard. Before I drowned, I struggled while asking him why he did this to me. Howard’s face turned cold as he replied, “If you hadn’t selfishly taken the position of team leader, Rachel wouldn’t have left the competition, gotten married, and ended up dying from domestic violence.” When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day when Rachel, a poor student, had volunteered to be the team leader. ***** “Lola, I’m just a few credits short of securing a recommendation for graduate school. The team leader in the entrepreneurship competition will get extra credits. Can you let me take the role of team leader?” When I heard those familiar words, I was shocked. I glanced at the clock on the wall and immediately realized I had been sent back to the day when Rachel first proposed to be the team leader of the entrepreneurship competition. In my previous life, Rachel didn’t major in finance, and my parents had promised to invest in my team and connect us with business elites for guidance. Given these factors, I could only reject her sternly on the grounds that she wasn’t suitable for the position. I also explained to her that if we excelled in the competition, all of us could potentially secure recommendations for graduate school, so she didn’t need to be the team leader. However, she felt that I was deliberately humiliating her and, as a result, dropped out of school, followed her parents back to her distressed hometown, and got married. Later, I leveraged my parents’ connections to attract resources for my team. In the end, we won the championship, all members secured recommendations for graduate school, and we emerged as rising stars in the business world. Three years later, I married Howard. While I was pregnant, he inherited my family’s company. The company founded by my team also went public successfully. Howard became a prominent figure and enjoyed immense success. In the name of celebration, Howard invited me onto a yacht. When I was off my guard, he kicked me, who was six months pregnant, into the sea. The water around me turned red with my baby’s blood. I pleaded with him to save our baby, but he threw a stone at me and sneered, “If you hadn’t been so selfish and driven Rachel away, she wouldn’t have gotten married and died of domestic violence while pregnant. You owe her.” It was at that moment that I realized Howard had harbored hatred toward me for so many years because of what had happened to Rachel. Seeing that I remained silent, Howard frowned and dragged me along with evident displeasure. “Lola, did you hear us? Rachel needs the position of team leader more than you do. You should let her take this role.” Hearing Howard’s impatient voice, I snapped back to reality. I looked at the pitiful Rachel beside me and sneered, “Didn’t you say that the team leader would be whoever could attract investment and make the greatest contribution? Now that I’ve delivered on that, you want me to step down?” When Rachel heard what I said, tears streamed down her face. “Lola, that’s not what I meant. I just want to pursue a master’s degree. I’m from a really tough background. If I can’t secure a recommendation for graduate school, I’ll have no choice but to go home and get married. Please, have mercy on me.” Having said that, Rachel immediately bowed to me. Her action instantly drew the attention of the entire class, and everyone gathered around. Rachel’s voice trembled with even more sorrow. “Lola, I really don’t want to go back to my hometown and marry some old bachelor. Please don’t make me drop out of school, okay?”

The crowd watching immediately grew indignant upon hearing this. “Lola, what are you doing? Who are you to make Rachel drop out of school? Why are you so vicious?” “Rachel comes from a poor family, but it doesn’t mean you can bully her like this.” “Lola, how could you use your family’s wealth to bully Rachel like this? That’s absolutely despicable.” Howard grabbed my arm and said earnestly, “Lola, I know you’ve always been spoiled and willful, but this time it’s about Rachel’s future. You can’t ruin her life over something as trivial as a team leader position. It’s really no big deal to let her have it.” I was infuriated by his words. They had once urged me to take on the responsibility of being the team leader. Why didn’t they suggest Rachel be the team leader when I had to stay up all night writing proposals? Where was Rachel when I went to countless companies to humbly seek investment for my team? Now, with the competition about to end, she wanted to replace me, and Howard described the team leader position as trivial. I said coldly, “I didn’t make her drop out of school. I’m the one who secured the investment for this competition. What qualifications does Rachel have to replace me?” Howard laughed dismissively. “Lola, stop bragging about your fundraising. You only managed to do that because our team is excellent. Even if we let Rachel seek investment, she could do it—and might even do a better job.” Rachel said shyly, “Lola, you can’t dismiss our team’s excellence just to highlight your own capabilities. Howard is a well-known financial genius. I guess it’s him who actually attracted the investment.” Howard was clearly pleased with Rachel’s compliment, and his expression grew even more arrogant. “Rachel is right. Lola, I might not have cared about this before, but if you’re going to be so selfish as to ruin Rachel’s future, I’ll never agree.” I raised my eyes and chuckled, “In that case, I’ll let her take the role.” Howard’s face lit up with satisfaction at my words. “Lola, that’s the spirit. I admire how sensibly you’re handling this. You’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future, but Rachel can’t afford to lose this one.” I nodded readily. “Then I wish you great success in the competition.” Rachel seemed a bit displeased, thinking that I was trying to shirk responsibility. “Lola, even though you’re no longer the team leader, you’re still a member of this team. You should still be responsible for the part you worked on before.” I sneered and said sarcastically, “Rachel, I was the team leader and handled 70% of the team’s workload. Now you want to replace me and still expect me to do most of the work? How shameless.” Rachel’s face turned pale. “That’s not what I meant. The competition is about to end, and it’s not a good idea to change the team leader now.” I nodded. “You knew the competition was about to end, so you chose to take the credit at this time.” As soon as I said this, the onlookers understood what was going on and began to accuse Rachel of being scheming and hypocritical—trying to take the credit without doing any work. Rachel hurriedly tried to explain, but no one believed her. After all, many classmates had seen me working tirelessly during this period—leaving school early and coming back late to run our business. Seeing that Rachel was on the verge of tears again, Howard stepped in front of her protectively and scolded me angrily. “Lola, Rachel is doing this for the good of our team. Don’t slander her. She is the team leader now and has the right to tell you what to do. You’d better be obedient. If you don’t follow her instructions, we can only kick you out of the team.”

I stared at Howard with wide eyes and clapped my hands excitedly. “Okay, I’m quitting right now.” Howard’s expression turned cold and stern, clearly taken aback by my sudden declaration. “Lola, don’t be impulsive. Rachel is a reasonable person and won’t make things difficult for you just because you targeted her before. If you quit now, you’ll definitely regret it.” I smiled dismissively, “Regret? Sorry, but I won’t. I’m quitting right now, and I won’t have anything to do with your team anymore.” With that, I turned around and walked away, not sparing a glance at Howard’s and Rachel’s sullen faces. Start a business? Forget about it. Wasn’t it better to inherit my family fortune worth billions of dollars? Howard was indeed exceptional. I invested in his development, propelling him to the top of the financial world where he became a leading figure and could attract investments. But at present, Howard hadn’t yet reached the level where his fame could attract vast investments. My uncles invested in our team simply to make me happy. That evening, I posted a message on social media, announcing my departure from the startup team. As soon as I posted it, my uncles all commented. [Dear Lola, you’re quitting the startup? Just go for it. Your father and uncles can provide you with substantial investment. Even if you fail, it’s okay.] [Lola, if you quit, I will withdraw my investment.] My cousins at school heard about how I was forced to quit and posted about it in the comment section. The comment section flooded with messages all at once. That very night, my uncles decided to withdraw their investment and announced they would blacklist the team in the industry. I didn’t stop them. The next day, I went to school as usual. After leaving the entrepreneurship competition, I had some free time and focused on studying and applying for graduate school. After class, I received a call from my dad asking me to draft a planning proposal for him. It was a small project, and my dad often gave me tasks like this to gain some experience. In the afternoon, I brought the proposal I had prepared to my dad’s company. He took the contract, glanced through it, and expressed his satisfaction. When I was walking out of the company, someone suddenly bumped into me. I glanced over and saw Howard. After spotting the documents on the ground, he suddenly laughed. “Lola, I knew you didn’t really want to leave our team. Did you know we were coming to Clarke Group, so you prepared a proposal and waited for us here?” Howard reached out to take the proposal from my arms, but I stepped aside to dodge him. “You’re overthinking it. I didn’t prepare it for you.” Howard frowned. “Lola, stop messing around. If you didn’t prepare it for us, are you planning to start your own business?” I was stunned, and suddenly it hit me—I had done most of the tasks in the team by myself. So why couldn’t I start my own business? Thinking of this, I suddenly smiled, “You’re right. I want to start my own business.” With that, I walked away, ignoring Howard’s cursing and shouting behind me. Three days later, I submitted my business plan and secured all the previous investments. When I was leaving school in the afternoon, Howard and Rachel suddenly stopped me. Howard said, “Lola, I didn’t expect you to go to such shameless lengths just to steal our investment. You’ve slept with so many men. You’re not worthy of being my girlfriend.” His slander instantly drew the attention of many curious onlookers. I said, “Howard, watch your language.” Rachel took Howard’s arm and said, “Lola, how could you cheat on Howard?” I frowned. “What nonsense are you talking about?” Howard pulled out a stack of distasteful photos and threw them in my face. “No wonder you were able to attract so much investment. The way you sought it is despicable.” Seeing everyone pointing fingers at me and gossiping loudly about me, I took out my cell phone and called the man in the photo. “Uncle Cam, please come to my school with our family photo.”

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My mom had never celebrated my birthday because it happened to be the same day my sister died. On my sister’s birthday, she made me wear her clothes and eat the seafood my sister liked. Once, I ended up in the hospital with a severe allergic reaction, but my mom just told the doctor, “She ate seafood because she craved it.” When I got accepted to a college, she flipped out and insisted I change my name to my sister’s, claiming, “Your sister never got to go to college, so why should you?” I ran out crying and bumped into Jonas, who was smoking outside. He offered me his hand and said, “Wanna go watch the sunset together?” I made the most rebellious choice ever and hopped on his motorcycle. After I disappeared, Mom called me, saying, “Hilary, come back. I’ll celebrate your birthday this time.”

My boyfriend, Bert Evans, had promised to propose to me on our fifth anniversary. However, on that day, he reserved the mall and threw a grand birthday party for his close female friend, Della Flynn. Looking at the diamond ring about the size of a pigeon’s egg on Della’s finger, I had naively thought it was meant for me. “Della, I want to give you a birthday party that you will never forget,” Bert said loudly as if announcing something important. Then, he took the tab from an empty soda can and handed it to me. “Those tacky things are not worthy of you. You deserve something more special.” He took my hand and put the soda can tab onto my finger, treating it as a proposal. He gave Della a grand birthday party but left me with nothing but heartbreak. Later, when he found out I was going to marry someone else, he came to me with a ring, got down on one knee, and begged me to marry him instead. ***** After the birthday party, Bert supported Della, who was dressed in an evening gown, out of the mall. The night wind was chilly. He took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders. As they got into the car, Bert finally noticed me standing there, looking dazed and heartbroken. He rolled down the window and looked at me. “Are you lame? Hurry up. What are you upset about? It’s just a birthday party for Della, not a proposal.” My gaze fixed on Della sitting in the passenger seat, admiring the diamond ring on her finger. I snorted coldly, “Weren’t you supposed to propose to me today? You tricked me here just to watch you two be all lovey-dovey, huh?” Bert shrugged, resting his hand on the edge of the window, saying with a mocking smile, “Lucy Perry, haven’t I proposed to you? Are you getting in or not? If not, I’m leaving.” I glanced at the soda can tab in my hand. Its sharp edges had already cut a deep gash into my skin. “So, I’m worthless to you, huh?” With that, I threw the soda can tab onto the ground where Bert’s car was parked. Della frowned, looking in my direction. “Lucy, you… Are you angry? Bert only bought me a 50-thousand-dollar diamond ring. Is that really worth getting this upset over? Besides, it’s my birthday. Why do you have to compete for his attention today?” Bert turned to buckle Della’s seatbelt, then turned back to reassure her. “Don’t be upset, Della. That’s just how Lucy is. She has always been jealous. Forget it. She’s just wasting my time. Let’s go.” Della had a triumphant look as she rolled up the car window. I took a deep breath, standing frozen in place, watching Bert drive away. A huge disappointment overwhelmed me. I couldn’t snap out of it for a while. I had thought the elaborate scene Bert had carefully set up was for the proposal. Unexpectedly, the huge backdrop displayed Della’s name. He hadn’t taken anything I said to heart, but he perfectly remembered every detail about Della. I arrived at the mall, meticulously dressed, and I should have been the star of the grand scene. Instead, I wasn’t even a supporting character. The gown that had hung at home for half a month, and the ring kept in a box, were both on Della today. I had imagined myself in that gown, with Bert proposing to me with that ring. That feeling would certainly be extremely happy. But the reality struck hard and fast. He handed me a soda can tab from a drink he had finished and put it on my finger. In the end, our relationship over the years meant nothing to him.

As night fell, there was a light snow. I pulled my coat tighter around me and took out my phone to call my mom, Ebony Perry. “Mom, I’ll listen to you about my marriage.” Ebony paused for a moment before responding, “Alright, I’ll send you Henry’s contact information. Baby, I’m glad you’ve come to your senses.” She didn’t say too much, just a few words of advice before hanging up. I seemed to have lost all interest in my future life because of Bert. My parents had always mentioned Henry Ross, a potential match for me, but I had resisted and refused them. Now, I thought even if Henry wasn’t perfect, he couldn’t be worse than Bert. It was a short distance from the mall to my house, but it took me two hours. When I finally arrived, Bert hadn’t returned yet. The house was messy, with his clothes scattered on the floor. If it were before, I would have immediately cleaned them, but now, I didn’t want to do it at all. I threw all the clothes on the floor into the trash can. The carefully prepared candlelit dinner on the table was tossed into the garbage. I had imagined that after the proposal, we would return home to a blissful night. But now, it was just my wishful thinking. Before going to bed, I picked up my phone and scrolled through my social media feed. Della had posted several updates: [Mr. Evans, thank you for giving me a memorable birthday.] [The gown was beautiful, and I loved it. I hope next year’s birthday will be just as special, with you by my side and full of surprises.] I scrolled past these posts and saw Bert’s comment below. Bert, who had always been aloof, would publicly post about Della. Despite my requests, he had never made our relationship public. [Della, you’re the beautiful princess tonight.] Those few words stabbed at my heart. What I had desperately sought, Della had obtained easily. I pondered, but I couldn’t figure out what I lacked compared to Della. Shedding tears over Bert wasn’t worth it, but recalling our five-year relationship, I couldn’t hold back any longer. Tears soaked my pillow. Nearly at dawn, Bert finally came home. Perhaps because of the snow, he exuded a strong chill. Instinctively, I moved to the side. He pulled me back into his embrace, whispering into my ear, his warm breath caressing every inch of my skin, “Lucy, are you still upset about tonight?” Seeing that I didn’t respond, he teasingly nibbled my earlobe. “Why aren’t you talking?” Disgusted, I pushed Bert’s hand away and wriggled out of his grasp. The unique scent of Della’s perfume permeated his body. It almost made me vomit. “Bert, let’s break up.” I lay flat, blankly staring at the ceiling, my eyes showing an unprecedented calmness. Bert abruptly sat up, turning on the light and staring at me. “Are you crazy, Lucy? You want to break up over something so trivial? You’re overly petty. I can propose again on another day.” His gaze turned fierce, and the earlier tenderness had gone. He still didn’t realize that his feelings for Della had long surpassed those of ordinary friends, and he refused to admit it, always insisting that Della was just his friend. I didn’t bother arguing with him. “Yes, I’m too petty, so you’d better find someone as considerate as Della.”

Bert sighed, pulled out a cigarette from the cigarette box on the nightstand, and started smoking, seemingly lost in thought. I wanted to stop him but held back. I had told him to put dirty clothes in the washing machine, take out the trash when he went out, and not to smoke in the bedroom countless times, but he never remembered any of them. Maybe because I had always indulged him, he never took my words seriously. I was tired. Since I couldn’t change him, maybe it was time to part ways. Bert said with a straight face, flicking ash onto the floor, “Work on your temper, Lucy. Besides me, no one else could tolerate you. Can you stop being so hostile towards Della? She’s my friend, and you’re my girlfriend. You’re both important to me. I won’t break up with you.” He thought I was just throwing a jealous tantrum, unaware that I was serious this time. ***** The next morning, Bert had already left when I woke up. I picked up my phone and saw a new friend request on WhatsApp. Last night, I had forgotten to contact Henry, so early in the morning, he had taken the initiative to send a friend request. I accepted the request, and Henry immediately messaged me: [The wedding is in ten days. If it’s too soon, we can postpone it.] Because of what happened with Bert, I dared not have expectations for any man and show my whole feelings, fearing it would end up hurting me once more. I replied: [Alright, let’s do it your way.] After that, I went to the office to finish up my resignation procedure before heading home. Since Bert and I had lived together, I had been paying the rent of the apartment. I posted the sublet information on a website after sorting out the company affairs. Just as I stepped out of the company building, I received a call from Bert. “Lucy, come to Stary Bar. I have something urgent to tell you. Hurry up.” He sounded anxious, and through the phone, I could hear Della and his friends’ voices. Because of these friends, Bert hadn’t been to the office in a long time. It wouldn’t be surprising if the company soon went bust. “Okay, I have something to tell you too.” I got into a ride-hailing car and headed straight to Stary Bar. Pushing open the private room door, I entered, and a cacophony of noise greeted me. Bert, who had been holding Della around the waist, reluctantly moved his arm when he saw me. Bert’s friends laughed, “She really came at the drop of a hat. Bert does have a loyal pet.” “You know, the proposal ring Bert gave her was just a soda can tab!” Those people around Bert recounted the embarrassing moment I had been in that day. I glanced at them indifferently and walked over to Bert’s side. The alcohol had tinted his usually pale face with a rosy hue. He pointed to a glass of alcohol on the table. “Lucy, you love me the most, right?” I snorted coldly, “Cut the crap. Just say what you want.” Bert’s soft gaze turned colder as he pushed the glass of alcohol toward me. “Della lost a round of Truth or Dare. You know she’s allergic to alcohol, so drink this for her. Anyway, you’ve covered for me plenty of times.” Bert still remembered those times I had drunk for him. In the early days of the company, there were many business dinners, and every time, I would go along, worried about his health. Seeing him vomit blood from drinking too much, I felt heartbroken. From then on, I drank every glass of alcohol for him. All his projects were achieved by my cups of alcohol. But now, he was asking me to drink for Della.   “I came to tell you something, not to drink for you,” I sneered. Della gave a half-smile and stood up straight, staring at me. “Do you want to know what Bert said after he lost a round of Truth or Dare? He said you’re not fit to lick my boots. That’s why he gave you that proposal ring. Isn’t that funny?” She leaned closer to me, the strong, cheap perfume on her body hitting my nose. I instinctively stepped back, putting some distance between us. “I’m talking to Bert. You don’t have to show off. I’m not interested in what he said.” Della’s smile faded as she huffed and sat down on the sofa. Bert, annoyed by my attitude, rubbed his temples and looked up at me. “What do you want to say? You want a breakup? Or are you still upset about what happened last night? Be mature, okay? You’re not a kid.” “I’m serious, Bert. Let’s break up.” My words were resolute. Bert seemed unconvinced. He sneered, picked up the glass of alcohol in front of him, and poured it over my head. “You know what you are saying? Get a grip, Lucy. Is that enough? If not, I have more.” He refilled the glass and continued to pour alcohol over me. Tears mixed with the alcohol, wetting my face. Once again, he humiliated me in public, just like yesterday. Della crossed her arms, watching this scene with amusement, while the others on the couches egged Bert on. “See? I knew it! Even if Bert treats Lucy like this, she won’t leave him. She’s really devoted.” “Yeah, but only Della deserves to be with Bert.” “I bet Lucy will get angry but won’t leave, just like yesterday. Anyone want to bet?” The others nodded in agreement, while Bert stood there, remaining indifferent to their mocking words towards me. I coldly scanned the room, finally fixing my gaze on Bert. My lips trembled, but no words came out. Turning away, I ran out of the private room. This time, I wouldn’t give him the chance to hurt me anymore. As I walked out of the bar, I realized Bert had followed me. He stood at the door, calling out to me. I thought he had changed his mind, but it was only to scold me for Della’s sake. Bert warned me, looking fierce, “You didn’t drink for Della, and she ended up drinking herself and now has an allergic reaction. Lucy, if anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive you.” Before I could respond, he rushed back inside. Soon, he came out with the feeble Della in his arms. Those people hurriedly took Della to the hospital, while I, drenched and shivering from the cold wind outside, stumbled a few steps before being knocked down by a passing motorbike. I fell hard onto the ground. The rider didn’t show any remorse, scowling and scolding, “Watch where you’re going, idiot!” He then sped off. I stared at the bloody wounds on my palms and knees, the sharp pain making it difficult for me to stand up. After a while, I managed to get up, leaning heavily on my legs. By the time I got home, it was dark outside. Shaking, I went to take a shower and finally had time to treat my injuries. I knew Bert had called me there to appease Della, but I had gone anyway to tell him face-to-face that we were done. I had said that, but I had endured humiliation from Bert and his friends. After today, I never wanted to have anything to do with them again. It wasn’t completely dark yet. I packed my clothes into a suitcase. Everything else from living with Bert, I threw them into a box and intended to throw it out downstairs. After finishing all this, I picked up my phone and saw Bert’s message: [I’ll be home in half an hour. Make dinner to apologize to Della.] It was sent an hour ago. Seeing the cold, commanding words, I replied: [I’m getting married on the 28th. If you are free, bring Della to the wedding feast.] Just as I sent the message, there was a knock on the door.

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I signed up for a membership at a nail salon during the holiday season. Little did I expect that the manicurist would develop feelings for my boyfriend. Not only did she spread malicious rumors about me, but she also deliberately cut my fingers while removing my nail polish, intending to infect me with HIV. In my previous life, the nail salon in my neighborhood had a year-end promotion. For every 500-dollar recharge, customers would receive an additional 1,000-dollar worth of credit. When I went for a manicure, the manicurist couldn’t take her eyes off my boyfriend. “Ms. Lewis, why is there such a stark contrast between the color of your face and your hands? Did you apply too much foundation? “You’re squandering your boyfriend’s money. You should be more frugal.” After saying that, she reached out and rubbed my face. I forcefully pushed her hand away and, with a cold expression, demanded a refund of the balance on my membership card. My fiancé, who accompanied me for the manicure, frowned and chastised me, ordering me to apologize. “She’s right. The cosmetics you bought were expensive. Why are you insisting on a refund now? You’re just being petty.” Grimacing with frustration, I gritted my teeth and compromised. However, the manicurist deliberately cut my fingers while removing the nail polish, which ultimately resulted in my being infected. I took the hospital’s examination report to seek an explanation from her. She made a video and spread the false claim that I had contracted that dreadful disease due to my dissolute private life. In the end, overwhelmed by cyberbullying, I committed suicide out of sheer hatred and despair. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the very day I went to the nail salon to apply for the membership card. “Ms. Lewis. You’ve got such a generous and considerate boyfriend. “He not only paid for your membership card but also accompanied you here for the manicure. I wish my boyfriend could be like that.” The manicurist, Rachel Wilmer, said these words while pinching my fingers jealously. Suddenly, the sharp pain jolted me awake, and I realized that I had been reborn. I was reborn back to the day when I first went to the nail salon to apply for that fateful membership card. In my previous life, taking advantage of the holiday, I visited the nail salon in my neighborhood. As soon as I sat down, Rachel kept chatting with me, and she brought up my boyfriend, Harry Zander, almost in every other sentence. She stared at my face and said, “Ms. Lewis, why is there such a stark contrast between the color of your face and your hands? Did you apply too much foundation? “Your skin is rather rough. You must wear makeup too frequently. I think you should be like me and go for a natural look without makeup. “Not only would it save your boyfriend money on buying you cosmetics, but it would also make you look clean and decent, just like a girl from a well-bred family.” Before I could react, she suddenly reached out and started rubbing the makeup off my face. My face hurt from the rough rubbing. I slapped her hand away and frowned. “What’s your problem? What business is it of yours whether I wear makeup or not? And who said my cosmetics were bought by my boyfriend?” Because of her actions, my impression of this nail salon plummeted to rock bottom. I no longer even wanted to have my nails done and coldly asked her to return the balance on my membership card. Unexpectedly, Rachel’s eyes welled up with tears, and she kept apologizing to me with a tear-stained face. She even knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly, saying that she was just an employee and pleading with me not to hold it against her. The other customers and staff in the salon accused me of making a mountain out of a molehill. “It was just a joke. Why are you taking it so seriously?” Even Harry shoved me away roughly. Then, he gently helped Rachel up and blamed me with a disgruntled look. “She’s right. The cosmetics you bought were expensive. Why are you insisting on a refund now? You’re just being petty.” For a moment, I became the villainous woman who was exploiting the situation to bully others, and I was severely rebuked by Harry. Thinking that it was better to avoid trouble, I swallowed my anger, bowed my head in submission, and apologized to Rachel. Rachel smiled and said it was okay, but she deliberately cut my fingers while doing my manicure. At that time, I thought she was just being careless. However, a few days later, adverse reactions appeared at the wound site. I rushed to the hospital for a check-up and was horrified to discover that I had been infected with AIDS. I took the examination report to the nail salon and demanded an explanation from Rachel. She just rolled her eyes and pointed the camera at me. “It’s obvious that you contracted this loathsome disease because of your promiscuous private life, and you still have the nerve to shift the blame onto me? “If I were you, I would have found a place to commit suicide a long time ago. It’s so disgusting!”

The video taken by Rachel quickly went viral on the internet. Countless people flooded the comment section with harsh words, scolding me for lacking self-respect. My personal information and address were also exposed. As a result, all my relatives and friends learned about my illness and began to look at me with strange and judgmental eyes. Even my parents were criticized and slandered behind their backs. Eventually, they suffered a heart attack and passed away. Unable to endure the brutal cyber violence any longer, I finally made the tragic decision to end my life by jumping off a building. And Harry, who didn’t waste any time breaking up with me, frowned and showed his disgust, thinking I was too “dirty.” However, shortly after my death, he got together with Rachel. They callously trampled over the “corpses” of my entire family and joyfully walked into the marriage hall. Just the thought of all this made me clench my hands tightly, my nails digging into my palms. Just like in my previous life, as soon as Rachel opened her mouth, she started commenting on my cosmetics and then tried to touch my face. Without hesitation, I slapped her hand in mid-air away forcefully, coldly observing as the back of her hand quickly turned red. The sharp sound of the slap immediately caught the attention of everyone else in the salon. Even Harry, who had been engrossed in his phone, walked over with a frown. Seeing Rachel’s red hand and her aggrieved expression, he didn’t even bother to ask what had happened before he started blaming me. “Jenna Lewis, why are you throwing another tantrum? And hitting someone? Apologize right now!” Looking at the man who was so fervently protecting Rachel, I couldn’t help but let out a scornful laugh. “Apologize? For what exactly?” “Because you hit someone first, and that’s clearly wrong!” Hearing his irritated and self-righteous tone only made me laugh even more. What was even more infuriating to me was that as he was scolding me loudly, he turned his head to gently comfort Rachel. “Don’t be scared. I won’t let anyone bully you. She must admit her mistake and apologize to you today.” Rachel looked even more pitiful, but the way she looked at Harry revealed a blatant sense of dependence. I was almost amused by the overly affectionate look they exchanged. “I bullied her? How dare you say that? Are you out of your mind?” Before Harry could open his mouth to retort, I took out my cellphone. Ever since I confirmed that I had been reborn, I immediately activated the recording software. After a moment of commotion in the nail salon, Rachel’s sarcastic words, recorded by my cellphone, reached everyone’s ears. Her expression changed instantly, and she looked rather embarrassed. “It was just a joke. I thought you wouldn’t mind a bit of joking, Ms. Lewis.” I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes in disdain. “Are we friends? Why are you making jokes at my expense? Or do you think that verbal abuse doesn’t count as bullying?” As more and more people gathered around, even the other manicurists who had been busy with their work couldn’t resist looking over. Rachel bit her lips, and her eyes welled up with tears. To my surprise, she actually bent her knees and was about to kneel. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Lewis. Please don’t hold it against me. “I’m just an employee. If you’re unhappy about something, feel free to take it out on me. Just don’t call our boss. I’ll even kneel for you, okay?”

However, her attempt to kneel was halted by Harry. He fixed me with a menacing glare. “What Rachel said isn’t wrong. Your cosmetics are expensive, costing over a thousand dollars each. “Even for a simple manicure, you chose to apply for a membership card worth thousands of dollars. Isn’t that just a waste of money?” His indignant demeanor might make anyone who didn’t know the truth think that all the money I spent was his. But in reality, those were my own hard-earned wages! The people gathered around to watch the commotion were misled by his words. They began to murmur among themselves in hushed tones. “How shameless of her to spend a man’s money so brazenly.” “I wonder how her parents raised her. Not only does she waste her boyfriend’s money, but she also forces others to kneel and apologize. If I were her parents, I would have slapped her long ago.” Their words kept coming, portraying Rachel as the real victim in their eyes. A palpable sense of pride and mockery appeared in Rachel’s eyes. She even pretended to mediate while still throwing veiled accusations. “Ms. Lewis surely didn’t mean it. She just took it the wrong way. Please don’t be too hard on her.” Hearing Rachel’s arrogant tone, I felt my forehead twitching with anger. Unable to hold back any longer, I raised my hand and delivered a stinging slap across her face. But in an instant, amidst Rachel’s shrill scream, I was violently pushed to the ground. My shoulder crashed onto the floor, scraping against the floor, and my wrist was soon smeared with blood. Grimacing in pain, I raised my head and was shocked to find that the person standing before me was none other than Harry. “Why can’t you just talk things over? How can you bully the employees like this?” With his face flushed with anger, he quickly turned around to examine the red and swollen slap mark on Rachel’s face. The gossiping onlookers, who were only there to stir up trouble, immediately joined in to blame me. “Everyone saw it. You were the one who started the fight.” “Luckily, this man is reasonable. Otherwise, the manicurist would have been seriously bullied.” They had all heard the recording of Rachel provoking me, yet they chose to act as if they were deaf, laying all the blame squarely on my shoulders. Rachel could no longer maintain her pretense of being a pitiful, innocent victim. Her eyes blazed with fury as she picked up the coat and bag that I had taken off when I entered the store and hurled them at me. “People who bully our employees are not welcome here. We don’t want your business!” My chest heaved with rage as I struggled for breath. With great difficulty, I managed to get up and pick up my belongings from the floor. “Fine by me. I didn’t want to spend any more money in this salon anyway. “I still have a significant amount of money left on the membership card I bought before. Give me a refund now!” This nail salon was located in my neighborhood and offered attractive discounts when it first opened. At that time, thinking it was convenient since it was close to my home, I recharged a few thousand dollars on the card. I had visited the salon several times since then, and even though the nail designs I chose were quite elaborate, there should still be some balance left on the card. A look of disdain crossed Rachel’s face. “How absurd. How can you be so unreasonable when you’re spending a man’s money?” She mumbled under her breath, then turned on the computer, and pressed a few keys. I waited hopefully for her to process the refund. Unexpectedly, Rachel glanced at me, and her eyes were immediately filled with disdain. “After I’ve checked, there’s no money left on the card. I can’t give you a refund.” I was stunned, and instinctively, I retorted, “That’s impossible!”   “I’ve only been to your salon two or three times. There were several thousand dollars on this card. How could it possibly be all spent?” I took a few quick steps forward. Just as I was about to peer at the computer screen, Rachel shoved me away with great force. “Our computer contains all commercial secrets. What are you looking at?” I was bewildered. I couldn’t fathom what kind of top-secret commercial information a small nail salon like this could possibly possess. But I was too fed up to engage in a prolonged argument with Rachel. “Fine, I won’t look. Print out the bill and let me see where all my money has gone.” Rachel feigned innocence and flatly refused. “Well, our store’s system crashed before, and all the bills were lost. “But I have an excellent memory. I clearly remember that there is no money left on your card.” As she spoke, Rachel’s eyes landed on my left hand. Before our argument broke out, I had been sitting, getting my nail polish removed. After the quarrel, only the nails on my left hand had been attended to, while those on my right hand remained untouched. Rachel sneered and said to me, “Not only do you have no money left, but you also have to pay extra for the nail polish removal today. “Considering the price hikes during the holiday season, along with rent, utilities, and labor costs, you need to pay me 500 dollars.” I had never encountered such a brazen store and such shameless people before. I was so infuriated that I almost laughed out of sheer disbelief. “You have no right to unilaterally decide the fees. Just wait for the Commerce Department to come knocking at your door!” I quickly put on my coat and turned to leave. However, someone blocked the door, barring my way. “You can’t leave!” Harry furrowed his brows tightly and scolded me in a condescending, almost paternal tone. “It’s only right to pay for what you owe. You can’t just walk away without paying, can you?” He was tall and burly, effectively blocking every possible exit. Rachel, standing beside him, also let out a sarcastic chuckle. She deliberately flaunted the red marks on the back of her hand and her cheek. “You also hit me, so you have to cover my medical expenses. Five thousand dollars, not a penny more, not a penny less.” I frowned and looked at Harry coldly. Although I had long known that he was not a decent person, his actions still made me feel a wave of nausea. Many of the shop assistants and customers who were watching the spectacle held up their cell phones, aiming the cameras straight at me. “She’s not going to flee without paying, is she? That’s just shameless of her.” “Why would they risk ruining their reputation and lie about something like that?” I remained unmoved, my expression icy cold. I certainly had no intention of taking out my phone to pay. Harry, with an impatient look on his face, snatched the phone from my bag. “Fine, if you’re not going to pay, I’ll do it for you.” Ignoring my attempts to stop him and my struggles, he forcefully held my phone’s camera in front of my face, trying to use facial recognition to unlock it. I made a series of bizarre and contorted expressions to foil his attempt. I watched as the warning popped up several times, indicating that the unlocking had failed, and it even prompted that we would have to wait five minutes before attempting facial recognition again. Harry finally lost his patience and wore a disgusted expression. Like a deranged, overly aggressive man, he smashed my phone against the ground, shattering it into pieces. “Jenna, just stop this nonsense and pay the bill! You’re embarrassing me here!” Rachel also took out her cell phone and made a show of threatening me. “If you refuse to pay, Ms. Lewis, then I have no choice but to call the police and let them handle it.” To everyone’s surprise, as soon as her voice trailed off, a sharp police siren sounded from downstairs. Rachel was stunned. “Why are the police here? I haven’t even called them yet.” I raised my head and gave her a mocking, disdainful sneer. “Of course, you didn’t call the police, because I’m the one who did!”

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At the year-end review, Andrew Bennett’s childhood sweetheart, Kate Ross, requested to take over as the project leader, hoping it would help her secure a promotion to vice president. I had to put the company’s interests first and turned her down. In a fit of anger, she quit and went home to get married. Under my leadership, the project generated billions of dollars, and the company went public. Later, I married Andrew, but during our honeymoon, I was kidnapped and taken to an underground facility in Brackenfield. Just as I was about to call for help, I heard Andrew coldly say, “Do whatever you want with this heartless woman.” I couldn’t understand. “Why?” I cried out. Without answering, Andrew kicked me in the stomach. “If you hadn’t taken the project leader position for yourself, Kate wouldn’t have been forced into an abusive marriage and died. This is all on you.” When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back on the day Kate had asked to be the project leader. ***** Kate said, “Olivia, is it possible for me to lead the project with the Knight Group? I just need this achievement to get promoted to vice president.” I froze. Hearing those words again, I looked at the clock on the wall and realized—I had been given a second chance. Andrew, standing nearby, tugged at my sleeve. “Did you hear what Kate said? Let her have the project leader position. She needs this more than you do.” In my previous life, when I heard Kate and Andrew’s request, I immediately refused. This project was huge—worth billions of dollars in investment—and securing it would likely lead to the company’s IPO. Kate wasn’t qualified, and to be safe, I didn’t want her in charge. I told her that once the project was completed, everyone would get a chance at promotion and bonuses. Kate, however, felt insulted, quit, and married without any further contact. The project was completed successfully, the company went public, and I married Andrew. But during our honeymoon, I was kidnapped. When I woke up, Andrew was standing next to my kidnappers, saying coldly, “Do whatever you want with this heartless woman.” Amid all the humiliation, I couldn’t understand why Andrew was treating me this way. He kicked me in the stomach again. “If you hadn’t taken the project leader position for yourself, Kate wouldn’t have been forced into an abusive marriage and died. This is all on you.” The memory of that suffering made me seethe with anger, my fingers trembling as I clenched my fists. Andrew yanked me roughly. “Are you even listening? Give Kate the project leader role.” I looked at his annoyed face and sneered, “I worked day and night on this project and lost my hair from stress. When I asked Kate to help, you both said I should do more because I was the leader. I drank so much to keep the partners happy that I nearly bled internally. And now you say it’s my responsibility?” I turned to Kate, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Why didn’t you step up to lead back then? Now that the proposal’s finished, the deal’s locked in, and all that’s left is to sign the contract, you show up asking to take the lead? How can you even ask?” Kate’s eyes filled with tears. “It’s just that my family is struggling. I wanted the promotion to help them. My mom said if I couldn’t make enough money, she’d sell me to an old man in the mountains as a bride for my brother’s wedding gifts.” With that, she dropped to her knees and bowed her head.

Kate said, “Olivia, please. I don’t want to go home and marry that man. He’s killed two wives already, and if I marry him, it’s a death sentence. Please, don’t make me go back.” Andrew shoved me roughly, his eyes filled with anger. “Olivia, how cruel can you be? Is it not enough for you to destroy Kate? Do you want to push her to death?” The people in the office looked on, gossiping. “Olivia, what are you doing? You’ve pushed her to the point of kneeling.” “Olivia, even if your family is wealthier than ours, that doesn’t give you the right to make Kate kneel to you. It’s too heartless.” As Andrew pushed me, I hit the corner of the desk. The pain made me gasp, but I kept my composure, rubbing my sore back. I walked up to Andrew and slapped him across the face. “Andrew, what gives you the right to lay a hand on me?” Without hesitation, I kicked Kate to the ground. “If you want to kneel, go to your mother’s grave. Don’t kneel in front of me. I don’t need that bad luck.” The crowd was stunned by my actions and became even more vocal in their criticism. “Olivia, you’re actually hitting people. This is too much!” I gave a cold laugh. “Too much? How about all those sleepless nights I spent working for the company, running around for contracts, and ending up in the hospital after drinking so much just to please the partners? How about that? “When you’re all cashing in the bonuses from the projects I sealed, why didn’t you call that too much? You’re no better than the ones who turn on people once they’ve gotten what they wanted.” Seeing the silence from the crowd, I scoffed, my words sharp, “If anyone here is really pitiful, it’s me. If you think I should just give away what I’ve earned, then why not donate your corneas to someone in need? After all, what’s the point of keeping them if you’re blind to right and wrong?” The crowd began to realize their mistake and started apologizing. Then, they turned their attention to Kate. “Kate, do you know how much effort Olivia has put into this project? She’s a qualified project leader.” “Yeah, Kate, even if you’re in a tough spot, that doesn’t give you the right to morally blackmail Olivia. She doesn’t owe you anything.” Seeing that the crowd was no longer on her side, Kate panicked and cried even harder, “Olivia, I didn’t mean it like that. If you’re going to force me to die, then fine, I’ll just end it all.” My heart ached with frustration. I was simply stating the facts, but now I was somehow the one responsible for driving her to death. I was at a loss. Anyone with eyes could see what was going on. But of course, Andrew couldn’t see it. He pulled Kate into his arms, full of pity, and then turned to me with an order. “Olivia, from now on, Kate is the project leader. You’ll be a team member. Just do your job.” I gritted my teeth in fury. “Why should I let her take the lead? I worked hard for this project. I won’t allow it.” Andrew shot back coldly, “What do you mean ‘you worked on it’? The Knight Group is working with us because our company has the strength, not because of you. Don’t take all the credit for yourself. Even without you, Kate could have closed the deal, and probably better than you.” Kate eagerly chimed in, agreeing with him, “The Knight Group trusts our company because of Andrew’s reputation, not just because of this little project.” I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. I looked at Andrew’s smug expression and spoke, “Fine. If you think Kate can do it, then I’ll step down.” Andrew, thinking I was backing down, smiled in satisfaction, “Olivia, you still have plenty of opportunities ahead. There’s no need to fight Kate for this one.” Kate walked up with a smug expression, clearly baiting me. “Olivia, you can keep handling the parts of the project you’re responsible for. Once the final plan is in place, I’ll go sign the contract with the Knight Group.” I couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. I was the project leader before, so I had four times the work to handle. Now they expected me to do all the grunt work? I sneered, “Sorry, but I’m not doing it.” Kate furrowed her brows in frustration. “Olivia, this project is crucial to the company. Stop being difficult.” Andrew, thinking I was just throwing a tantrum, added, “Olivia, if you keep acting out, I’ll have no choice but to ask you to leave the company.”

I grabbed my bag and stood up after hearing that. “Alright, I’m leaving now. By the way, since you’re the one who fired me, don’t forget to send my compensation to my account.” With that, I walked out of the office without looking back. Once outside, I called my brother, Martin Knight, “The deal’s off. Andrew fired me.” Martin sounded shocked. “Andrew? Your boyfriend? You’ve been with him since college, and now he’s firing you?” I told him everything that had happened, and Martin slammed his hand on the table in frustration. “End things with him now. That guy’s a jerk. I’ll find you a new guy—tall, built, loyal, and perfect for you. “I’ll cancel the deal, too. Without you, his company wouldn’t even be in the running for this.” That night, I got home feeling a bit bitter. All the effort I put in, and it ended like this. Martin noticed my mood and immediately understood. “Olivia, come work with us. You know the company, you have shares in it. You can choose anyone you want to collaborate with.” I thought it over for a moment and immediately agreed. ***** The day of the Knight Group collaboration bidding came quickly. As soon as I walked in, I saw Andrew with his arm around Kate’s waist. When he saw me, he looked visibly annoyed. “Olivia, you’re not the project lead anymore. What are you doing here?” Kate mocked me further, “Olivia, didn’t you say you were leaving the company? What are you still doing here?” I gave them a cold stare. “This isn’t your company. Why shouldn’t I be here?” Andrew sneered, “Olivia, if it weren’t for our company’s name, you wouldn’t even have made it into the Knight Group’s door. You’d better leave now, or I’ll have the security throw you out.” I rolled my eyes and started to walk away, but Andrew grabbed me and threw me to the ground. “Where’s the security? How can anyone just walk in like this?” He called for security, “This woman is pretending to be part of our company and causing trouble. Throw her out.” I quickly explained, “You’re mistaken. I’m in charge of the Knight Group collaboration.” Andrew laughed, “Are you still lying? You just left our company, and now you’re claiming to be in charge of the Knight Group project? Do you really think they’d work with you?” I was surrounded by people, their whispers and stares following me as I was pushed out of the building. With a smirk, I sat down outside, right by the entrance. I wasn’t going anywhere—I was curious to see how this meeting would play out. Inside the Knight Group’s meeting room, ten minutes passed. Andrew was growing impatient, asking the senior executive, Freddy Mills, when the meeting would begin. Freddy exchanged looks with others, clearly confused. “Our project leader still hasn’t arrived.” Another half hour went by, and Freddy finally spoke up. “Didn’t Ms. Russell say she was already here? Why hasn’t she come in?” Someone suggested calling to check. I picked up my phone, taking a sip of my coffee at the café downstairs. When I heard Freddy’s question, I answered with a calm voice, “Oh, I was kicked out. I’m at the café downstairs.” Just a few minutes later, Andrew and others rushed over, drenched in sweat.

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At the wedding of Lucas Blunt and me, Natalie Hanks, he was suddenly dressed like a best man, holding his first love, Jessica Hawkins, and heading to the altar after showing up fashionably late. Meanwhile, his sharp groom’s tux was casually tossed onto the sofa. “Lucas, isn’t today our big day…” I quizzed him. “Natalie!” Lucas cut me off sharply, his eyes flashing a warning. “Watch your mouth now. Don’t be so narrow-minded. I don’t want to end up hating you.” After hearing that, I let out a self-mocking chuckle. Just because Lucas’ first love lost her memory, everyone had to put on a show to help jog her memory. So we all had to coax her, making sure she would not be stressed out. To comfort me, Lucas stepped forward and wrapped his arms around me. He whispered in my ear, “Natalie, I know you understand how important this is, right?” I nodded to show my understanding, then turned around. However, I took the hand of one of the real best men and walked to the altar with him. Later, while I was shopping in the mall with my baby in my arms, he approached me, tears streaming down his face, and said, “Natalie, weren’t we just putting on a show? How did you end up pregnant with someone else’s child?” ***** On my wedding day to Lucas, he didn’t even show up in the wedding hall. When I thought he might be in trouble, there he was, dressed in a best man’s suit with a blue boutonniere, holding Jessica’s hand as she walked slowly into the hall in a white puff-sleeved dress. It looked like they were the real bride and groom. Lucas’ best men quickly stepped in and whisked him away. “Are you out of your mind? Not only are you late for your own wedding, but you bring her here?” his friends exclaimed. Lucas furrowed his brow and said helplessly, “Jessica’s memory has gone back to the day we kissed in high school. She thinks we’ve been together since graduation. I can’t just abandon her, can I?” Jessica stood off to the side, looking innocent and awkward, twisting her fingers nervously. She acted like a lost high school student. My face went pale as I realized she was clutching my wedding ring in her hand. Then, Lucas approached me, dragging Jessica along, and wrapped his arm around her while congratulating me, “Natalie, congratulations on your wedding.” It was dead silent all around. I stared at him, my voice tinged with uncontrollable resentment. I said, “What on earth are you talking about? Today’s our day…” “Natalie!” Lucas quickly cut me off, his eyes betraying a hint of panic. He glanced nervously at the person by his side. Seeing that Jessica hadn’t caught on to what I hadn’t finished saying yet, he turned back to me with a look of displeasure, his eyes filled with malice. I was taken aback as he had never been so harsh with me before. In the past, when I was terrified by news of domestic violence and a husband murdering his wife, and couldn’t sleep, Lucas held me in his arms and reassured me that he would never hurt me, not even with a word, and if he did, he would go to hell. The old love words he once whispered still echoed in my ears, but now he loathed me for not being broad-minded enough. “Show some understanding to me, okay?” he asked. After coming back from the past memories to reality, I heard his words again. Looking at him, I stared for a long time before finally nodding my head. A look of relief spread across his face. But I brushed him aside and walked over to Jessica, extending my hand to her and saying, “Ms. Hawkins, I’m sorry. The ring on your hand is my wedding ring. Please give it back to me.” Jessica froze, then burst into tears. With tears streaming down her face, she looked at Lucas. “Lucas, isn’t this the gift you gave me to commemorate our time together? How could it be hers? Did you lie to me?” Lucas quickly wiped away her tears and said, “Don’t cry, Jessica. You’re breaking my heart.” I stood there, watching my fiancé comfort another woman wholeheartedly. Even the people around me were grumbling that I had made their good friend cry. One of Lucas’ dudes stepped forward to mediate. “It’s my fault. I made a mistake with the ring. Today it’s my responsibility to keep the wedding ring, and I accidentally mixed up the wedding ring with the gift Lucas was going to give you, Jessica.” Jessica had been pampered like a little princess since childhood. So, she pouted and tossed the ring onto the ground. “I don’t want to wear someone else’s wedding ring!” The ring rolled to someone else’s feet. I bent down and reached out to pick it up. Just as my fingers brushed against the ring, the heel of a high-heeled shoe crushed down on my hand.

I raised my head and gazed at Jessica’s arrogant face. Meanwhile, a sharp pain pierced through the back of my hand as her foot continued to apply pressure. Gasps echoed around us. “No one can take something even I abandoned,” Jessica declared. I tightened my fist, ready to speak, but someone cut in firmly, saying, “Alright.” Surprised, I turned to see who had spoken. Lucas was standing beside her, his head bowed, a hint of guilt flickering in his eyes. Without a second thought, he kicked the ring towards the nearby artificial lake. Like a meteor, the ring streaked across the sky and disappeared in the blink of an eye. I stared at the spot where the ring vanished, stunned for an eternity. In the past, Lucas treasured that ring so much, never letting anyone lay a finger on it. He secretly carried it with him, traversing seven countries, only to propose to me under the aurora. Now, he discarded it like it was nothing. His action pleased Jessica. She hugged Lucas’ neck and said joyfully, “Lucas, don’t blame me. You know me. I hate it when my things have other people’s scent on them.” Lucas nodded indulgently. Jessica turned around and seemed to notice that I was still on the ground. She exclaimed in surprise, “Ms. Hanks! Why are you still sitting there? You’re the bride today. I’m sorry about your ring. How about…” She turned and spotted something amusing, picking up a nearby can. “You can use this pull ring as a ring! Wow, this is like a TV drama. It’s so romantic!” I stood up, took the drink from her hand with a pale face, popped it open, and stared at her nonchalant smile. My anger surged. Just as I was about to throw the can at her, Lucas stepped in front of Jessica. My arm was forcibly restrained by the best men. Lucas’ roar mingled with others’ voices trying to calm me down. “Natalie! You’re losing it!” Lucas shouted. “Natalie, don’t argue with the girl. She’s special. She doesn’t mean any harm. She’s just a bit sensitive right now,” someone said. “Yeah, yeah. You’re the star of the day. Don’t let this ruin your special moment,” another added. My struggle ceased instantly, and a deep sadness enveloped my heart. Lucas hollered at me and rushed over, yanking the can from my grasp and tossing it aside. “Can’t you just simmer down? If you’re not into this wedding, then quit! Is it your pride to bully someone with amnesia? I had no idea you were this harsh. How could you be so heartless? Apologize to Jessica right now!” I clutched my wrist, standing there helpless, the ache in my hand paling in comparison to the pain in my heart. A quick glance at everyone doting on Jessica was all it took before I couldn’t take it anymore and bolted. Once I calmed down and headed back to the dressing room, I found Lucas holding Jessica on the sofa. The hickey on Lucas’ lips told tales of their recent antics. I overheard Jessica asking curiously, “Lucas, why didn’t I see Ms. Hanks’ groom? Was she dumped?” My steps halted, my grip on the door handle tightening, my eyes locked on him. This is your last shot, Lucas. Don’t let me down. Just admit you’re the groom of this wedding, and I’ll forgive you while still loving you with all my heart. Lucas noticed my intense stare and abruptly looked up. When Jessica, impatient at his silence, nibbled on his lip, demanding, “Answer me, Lucas.” I shook my head vigorously, pleading silently. Don’t say anything. Just don’t… Lucas’ lips quivered a bit before he finally averted his gaze from mine, gazing at the girl in his arms with affection, saying, “Jessica, you know who the groom is.” “Someone I know? Who?” she queried. “Benjamin Russell,” Lucas replied.

As Lucas wrapped up his speech, I dropped my head and chuckled, shaking my own head in self-deprecation. Benjamin had once called me out in front of everyone, accusing me of being two-faced and gold-digging. Seemingly, even though Lucas lied, he didn’t want to make up something that could at least save my face today. When Jessica heard the name, she was momentarily taken aback before diving into her phone. She had already dialed the number before Lucas could even blink. “Benjamin, it’s your wedding day. Where are you? We’re all gathered at Elysian Garden,” she announced. Jessica got caught up in the excitement and started rounding up the guests to head to the auditorium. Meanwhile, my hands and feet went ice-cold, and my heart felt like it was about to skip a beat. The phone rang endlessly before I finally, numbly, picked up. “Natalie?” The voice on the other end was like a devil’s whisper, making me instinctively want to chuck the phone aside. “Don’t you dare hang up on me,” Benjamin said. I responded in a hushed, defeated tone, “Can you please just ignore it?” The person on the other end chuckled mockingly, “I thought by declining to be Lucas’ best man, I’d avoid seeing you. But I heard that I became your groom. How could you forget to invite me to your big day?” I fingered the stains on my wedding dress and replied with difficulty, “Please, just let it go.” There was a long, uneasy silence on the other end. After what felt like an eternity, his cold laughter cut through like a chilling wind. After a lengthy stay in the restroom, I stood up, my legs stiff, using my hands for support. I felt my frozen body slowly start to thaw. As I opened the door, a shadow loomed before me—it was my groom. Lucas had a thunderous look on his face, staring me down. “Who were you talking to just now?” I brushed past him without acknowledging his question. Suddenly, his hand grasped mine, accidentally pressing down on my injury, sending a sharp pain shooting through my wound. “Answer me!” he roared, his voice echoing. I looked up, defiant. “My groom is Mr. Russell. Remember what you said yourself? Don’t tell me you’ve developed a case of ‘short-term memory loss’ in such a blink of an eye.” His face sulked. In our eye contact, his gaze slowly shifted away. “Natalie, that was just something I said in the heat of the moment,” he muttered. There was a hint of compromise in his smooth voice. “Will Benjamin really come here?” I inquired, my voice tinged with depression. The bitterness that had settled in my chest continued to rise, choking me. I locked eyes with him, tears pooling in my sockets. My voice, raw and strained, escaped my lips. “Lucas, you were just dying to hear how Mr. Russell put me through the wringer, weren’t you? “You told Jessica about Mr. Russell being my new groom-to-be because you knew he would never show up! After all, I betrayed him for you. He’s made it clear that I’m a lowlife, someone he despises with every fiber of his being! “You didn’t want to hurt Jessica, so you chose to hurt me! All I wanted was for this wedding to end without a groom, but you wouldn’t budge. You’d prefer to see me being laughed at in front of everyone! “Well? Are you content now?” I spat out, my frustration boiling over. Upon hearing this, Lucas’ face lit up like a Christmas tree. Ignoring my hysterical rant, he enveloped me in a hug, gently dabbing at my reddened eyelids with his hand, displaying a level of tenderness that was almost unnerving. “Did Benjamin say something harsh to you? Only I can put up with your wild antics.” He then attempted to stroke my forehead, but I subtly turned my head to dodge his touch. “It’s all on me. I’ll make it up to you in the future. Natalie, be a good girl. After today, I’ll come home to you. This whole mess will be over soon. Trust me, alright?” Lucas persisted. I blinked rapidly, swallowing back my tears, recalling the pathetic way I had begged him before. I summoned all my composure and said, “Lucas, there’s no future for us. We are done.” He furrowed his brow, his eyes flashing with dissatisfaction and disdain as if I were the one being unreasonable. “Come on, Natalie. What can you do after we break up? Have you forgotten the days when you vowed to have two kids with me and be the perfect wife and mother? If we break up, your life will be in a mess.” His words left me momentarily speechless. For him, I had left the Russell Group at a crucial juncture, sacrificing everything, all because he said the Blunt family only needed a competent homemaker as their wife. And this was his rationale for manipulating me. Before Lucas could take his leave, I clutched his sleeve tightly and stressed, “Lucas, I’m being serious.” Lucas’ face darkened, his patience worn thin. He methodically pried my fingers off one by one. “Natalie, you’re too naughty. Jessica needs another year to regain her memory. After today, I won’t see you for a year. Otherwise, she can’t handle the shock. In a year’s time, I’ll reassess whether you make a suitable wife. Don’t let me down.” Over at the auditorium, Jessica, with her encouraging words, rallied everyone together. Catching sight of me approaching, her eyes gleamed with malice. “Ms. Hanks, you finally decided to show up! Where’s your groom? Why hasn’t he arrived yet? Oh no! Did he dump you?” The murmurs among the guests intensified after they heard her words. “Isn’t Ms. Hanks’ groom Mr. Blunt? Isn’t the one on stage supposed to be the groom?” said a guest. Another guest chimed in, “Could her groom be one of Sir Blunt’s illegitimate siblings?” “The groom’s been late for so long. Did he really call off the wedding?” said someone else. Jessica clung to Lucas’ arm, gazing at me with a triumphant smile. I was on the verge of announcing the cancellation of the wedding when, suddenly, a strong arm wrapped around my shoulders. An exclamation erupted from the crowd.

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My mother, Grace Moore, was gravely ill, and her last wish was to meet my boyfriend, Joshua Davies—the man I’d been with for seven years. I begged him for a long time before he finally agreed. But on Christmas night, his childhood sweetheart, Lily Hall, called him, sobbing hysterically, saying she had been assaulted. Without a second thought, he left me on the highway and sped off to be with her. By the time I finished handling my mother’s funeral and returned home, I walked in to find the two of them standing close together, making bread. Lily’s tone was playful, yet a bit sharp. “I had to sacrifice my reputation to bring you back. Do you really think that if you’d gone to her house, her mother wouldn’t have used her illness to force you into marriage?” With a smirk, she added, “Now you owe me.” And Joshua? He affectionately tapped her nose, smiling, “Alright, my little troublemaker. Thank you for saving me.” That was the moment I realized just how ridiculous the past seven years had been. So, I turned around and walked away with the childhood friend who had been by my side, tirelessly helping with my mother’s funeral. Joshua went crazy, begging me to reconsider, to take him back. ***** I sighed, “She lives just a block away, and the police station’s nearby. Besides, it was an attempted assault, you know? She probably doesn’t want you, as a man, involved in this.” Christmas night, I made the mistake of saying one wrong thing. Joshua snapped at me, yelling that I lacked empathy and didn’t deserve to be a woman. He stared at me with anger in his eyes. “If it were you being assaulted, would you not need your friends around to comfort you? Aimee, where’s your compassion?” I stayed silent. I probably wouldn’t ever face that situation. After all, Lily had always kept a string attached to her ex. Things like assault, domestic abuse, or mistreatment weren’t unusual in her stories. She had mentioned them more than thirty times. I suggested she hold the man accountable, but she’d roll her eyes and accuse me of meddling. Lily didn’t seem to mind these things. She enjoyed the drama of it all. But Joshua? He was always overly concerned about her, more so than even about my own problems. Then, out of nowhere, Joshua swerved the car and turned around. “We need to take care of Lily. We’ll visit your mom some other time.” “No way! My house is only an hour and a half away. Come with me to meet my mom first. You only need to stay for an hour, just an hour—remember you promised me,” I pleaded, but Joshua remained unmoved. His coldness pierced my heart, and I felt the pain of it deep within. I shakily undid my seatbelt, desperately asking him to stop. “Joshua, please! My mom is about to give up. You promised me.” My pleading didn’t soften him even a little. And then, Lily, who had never hung up the phone, started crying even louder. “Joshua, come back! I’m alone here. I’m so scared!” Joshua was immediately drawn to her panic, his tone full of worry. “Stay at home. Don’t let anyone in. I’m coming back now.” Then, he gave me a cold, indifferent look. “You have two choices—walk back alone, or come with me to take care of Lily. In a few days, I’ll take you to see Grace.” “But you promised me…” I stammered. Joshua’s expression shifted to impatience. “Aimee, can’t you see the priorities here? Lily was almost assaulted, while Grace’s been sick for months. You can wait a few more days, can’t you?” I stared at him, stunned, my eyes wide. I grabbed his hand, unwilling to let go. Joshua, annoyed, pulled the car over, opened the door, and shoved me out. The cold winter rain hit my face. Joshua looked down at me from the car, indifferent. “Go walk back by yourself.” I couldn’t tell if it was rain or tears streaming down my face, but I acted quickly, grabbing onto the car door, pleading, “Joshua, you promised me you’d come back with me! You can’t just break your word.” Without hesitation, he slammed the door shut. My fingers were caught in the door, and I screamed in pain. Joshua’s face shifted with a flicker of concern, but before I could hope for him to make things right, I was suddenly kicked away from the car. “Want to die? Find somewhere else to do it!” he snapped coldly. The car sped away, leaving me alone, lying in the rain on the road. The cold, sharp rain made my pain unbearable. Suddenly, my phone rang with an urgent tone. My father, David Moore’s voice was furious, almost deafening. “Your mom’s gone! Why aren’t you back yet?”

By the time I got home, it was already late at night. My father dragged me to my mother’s bedside. “She waited up for you, holding on and refusing to close her eyes. Look what you’ve done.” I knelt on the floor, my tears long gone. After graduation, I joined Joshua’s company. I spent seven years as his secret girlfriend. Every time I begged him to come meet my parents, he always had an excuse to refuse. But this time, my mother was gravely ill, and her only wish was to see Joshua. I begged him over and over, and he finally agreed. Yet, in the end, he stood me up. I regretted it. I couldn’t believe I’d wasted seven years on someone like him. ***** Three days after my mother passed away, Joshua called, his tone casual, “Aimee, where did you put the hairdryer?” My voice was hoarse. “I don’t know.” Joshua’s voice rose sharply, clearly annoyed. “You don’t know?” I heard him rummaging through drawers. He snapped, “Aren’t you the one who takes care of everything around here? You’re telling me you don’t know? Aimee, what’s with the attitude? Didn’t I tell you I’d come see you in a few days? If you keep acting like this, we’re done.” I stared at the candle in front of me and blinked away the dryness in my eyes. “Whatever.” There was suddenly silence on the other end, and then he hung up. I knew he was angry again. In situations like this, I was always the one who backed down first. Because Joshua had once told me that he wouldn’t be the one to give in. If I wanted to be with him, I had to get used to being the one who always took a step down. But this time, I didn’t care. Let him be angry. I was tired. ***** Seven days later, I brought my mother’s ashes to Virelia. I’d always promised myself that when she got better, we would travel around the country together. But I never kept that promise, not even once. I arrived home in the evening. The door was ajar, and the smell of food wafted out. Joshua and Lily were busy making bread together. Lily lifted her chin, her voice teasing. “Joshua, I didn’t even care about my reputation to help you out this time. Do you believe me? If you go back with Aimee now, her mom will definitely use her illness as an excuse to force you into marriage. “People like them, once they get an opportunity to climb up, they won’t let go. I’ve seen it a million times. You’d better make it up to me later.” Joshua reached out and affectionately tapped Lily on the nose. “Don’t worry. The gift is already prepared. No one’s getting left out, especially you.” I stood at the door with my suitcase, gripping the handle tightly. So, this was the ridiculous reason Joshua had left in the first place. So, my mother hadn’t been able to leave in peace because of Lily’s jealousy. How absurd. In my agitation, the suitcase bumped against the doorframe. Joshua and Lily, standing by the island, suddenly turned around. Lily gasped, then grabbed Joshua’s arm with both hands, covered in flour. “Aimee, why are you back?” I sneered, “This is my place too. If you can come, why can’t I come back?” Lily’s eyes immediately welled up, and Joshua frowned, stepping in front of her protectively. “Lily’s been through a lot. I couldn’t let her stay home alone, so I had her stay here for a while. Be polite and don’t cause her any more harm. Don’t blame me for her issues. I’m not her ex.” I pushed the suitcase into the master bedroom. My eyes landed on a sexy silk nightgown on the bed. I never wore that kind. It was obvious whose it was. Joshua followed me, looking uncomfortable. “Lily’s a guest, and the guest room wasn’t cleaned, so I let her stay in the master bedroom.” I didn’t respond; I just started unpacking. Joshua grabbed my hand with a frown. “What are you doing?!” I raised an eyebrow at him. “She’s staying in the master bedroom, so I’ll move to the side bedroom. What’s wrong with that?” Joshua’s face darkened, and then he sneered, “Aimee, why are you being so sarcastic? I told you I’d come to see Grace after I settled Lily. Now it seems that’s not necessary. This is your punishment for not listening.”

A sharp pain stabbed through my chest as I yanked my hand away from Joshua. “You have no right to bring up my mother!” Joshua froze, about to say something, when Lily suddenly pulled off her apron, tears streaming down her face. “Aimee, please, stop fighting! I’ll just leave!” Joshua stopped her before she could go. “Lily, you’re not the one who needs to leave. This is my house—someone else should be packing their bags.” I looked at him, then at Lily, who was now standing behind him, under his protection. We had been together for six months when Joshua suggested we move in together. I insisted on paying rent. The first time I pulled out my wallet, his face darkened. “Aimee, are you insane? You think I need your money? Put that away—if anyone finds out, they’ll laugh their heads off.” Now I knew better. A man’s words were worth less than hot air—just as foul, and just as meaningless. I didn’t say another word. I packed my things, called a delivery service, and had my luggage sent to a hotel. When I picked up the last suitcase, Joshua’s expression was as dark as a storm. “Aimee, if you walk out that door, don’t bother coming back.” I didn’t even glance at him. I kept walking. The next morning, I handed in my resignation. Half a year ago, Lily had swooped in from overseas and taken my director position. Now, I was just another employee, free to leave as soon as my resignation was approved. But after waiting half the day, all I got was a message from the department manager: [Mr. Davies rejected your resignation. He wants to see you in his office.] When I walked in, Lily was sitting in Joshua’s chair, eating takeout pizza. A flood of memories hit me all at once. We have been seven years together. No one at the company ever knew. Back when we were madly in love, I once made the mistake of sitting in his chair. He ignored me for three days. But now, I finally understood. Someone else could sit in that chair. That someone just wasn’t me. Joshua pushed an unopened box of pizza toward me, his voice neutral. “Lily was kind enough to order this for you. No hard feelings.” I didn’t take it. I simply said, “Let’s not drag this out. Just approve my resignation.” His brows furrowed slightly. “You’re really quitting over this? Just because I let Lily stay at the house, you’re throwing a tantrum and resigning to prove a point? You even faked your mother’s death as an excuse?” Lily chimed in with a pitiful voice, “Yeah, Aimee, how could you say something like that? Are you seriously still mad that Joshua didn’t go with you to visit her? If it’s my fault, I’ll go with you—we can apologize to her together.” I stared at her for a moment, then suddenly laughed, “Sure. My mom’s waiting for you down there. Let’s see who dares to back out.” The color drained from both their faces. Joshua’s voice rose in anger. “Aimee, have you lost your mind?” I couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Yeah, I’m crazy. So hurry up and approve my resignation before I really make you regret it. If I tell the entire company about us, what do you think they’ll say about their oh-so-respectable general manager?” Joshua hadn’t even spoken yet when Lily shrieked in panic, “No!” “Why not?” I smirked at her and, without hesitation, shoved the office door wide open.   The commotion in the office had drawn everyone’s attention. Curious gazes landed on me from all directions. I clapped my hands together, making sure I had their full attention. “If you’re here for the drama, check the group chat! “I’ve been with Joshua for seven years. Maybe not a founding member of this company, but definitely a veteran employee. Then his childhood sweetheart waltzed in from overseas and took my position, demoting me from director to a mere employee—without so much as an explanation. “And now? I want to leave, and he won’t let me. If any of you are hoping for a stable, long-term career here, you might want to take a good look at how our boss handles things. Otherwise, you could end up just like me.” As soon as I finished speaking, the office erupted into murmurs. “Wait, wasn’t Lily supposed to be with Mr. Davies?” “She’s been hinting at it nonstop, showing off every chance she gets. It was getting unbearable.” “Aimee just dropped a kissing photo in the group chat—pretty solid proof. So Lily really was the other woman?” Joshua and Lily arrived just in time to see the aftermath, their faces instantly darkening. I suddenly understood. “Lily, so you’ve been running around telling people you’re Joshua’s girlfriend? How desperate for validation are you?” Lily’s face went completely pale. “Aimee, have you lost your mind? Joshua and I grew up together. Who the hell do you think you are? “You think you can just Photoshop a few pictures and fool everyone? Joshua, are you really going to let her slander me like this?” Joshua looked at me for a long moment—then chose Lily’s side. “Aimee, that’s enough.” And just like that, the whispers shifted again. “So it was fake?” “Knew it. No way Mr. Davies would have such bad taste.” The last shred of hope I had burned to ashes. I sneered, “Joshua, do you really think I spent seven years with you without preparing for this moment? You claim the photos are fake? Fine. But videos don’t lie. Neither do recordings. And chat logs? Those can be notarized. Let’s see who’s bluffing. “If you want to protect her, go ahead. I just want my severance and to walk away quietly. Otherwise, we can see this through the hard way.” With that, I turned and picked up my suitcase—the one holding my mother’s ashes. I had a flight this afternoon, and I wasn’t going to miss it. But before I even reached the door, Lily snapped. She lunged at me, clawing at my arm. “Aimee, you bitch!” I shielded the urn with everything I had. Then I saw it—that malicious glint in her eyes. Before I could react, she wrenched it from my grasp with all her strength. “You’re holding onto this like it’s some priceless treasure. What, did you steal it?” I yelled, “Lily, give it back!” Seizing the opportunity, she drove her foot hard into my stomach. I collapsed onto the floor, helplessly watching as she raised the urn high—then smashed it down without hesitation. The shattering sound echoed through the office. Lily’s smug expression hadn’t even faded yet. I snapped. I lunged at her, grabbing a fistful of her hair and slapping her across the face. “I’ll kill you! How dare you?” Lily’s screams and my fury left the entire office frozen in shock. Joshua rushed forward to pull me off her. Even as he pried me away, I yanked out a chunk of her hair with sheer force. Lily burst into tears, throwing herself into Joshua’s arms. “Joshua, did you see that? She’s trying to kill me!” Joshua’s grip tightened painfully around my wrist, his eyes cold as ice. “Aimee, have you lost it? You beat Lily up over a broken jar? A pile of worthless ashes?” I looked up at him, my vision red with rage. “She deserved it.” Somewhere in the crowd, a quiet voice murmured, “Wait… is that an urn?” Joshua’s hand trembled. His expression shifted from anger to confusion, then to something almost fearful. “What? What urn?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “397680”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G