Lucas Miller’s first love had returned to town. He carefully bent down to help her put on her high heels. I wasn’t idle either – I called over her uncle and had him kneel down to put shoes on my feet. “The doctor said I can only wear flats,” I said. The day before our engagement, Lucas broke up with me. The reason? His dream girl from 8 years ago had finally returned, and he had once promised to marry her. Lucas and I had dated since college. I never knew he had a first love all this time. Over the past few years with Lucas, I had given him my heart and soul. I first noticed him during Freshman Orientation Week – it was love at first sight. After that, I started pursuing him like crazy. I’d bring him lunch and accompany him to class. The whole campus knew about my pursuit. Eventually, he seemed touched by my efforts and finally accepted my confession. We became a couple and had a sweet honeymoon period. Later, when we grew closer, he hesitantly told me that his family was actually very poor. His parents had scraped together everything they had just to send him to college, hoping he would make something of himself and leave their small town behind. Hearing this made my heart ache for him. From then on, I started voluntarily covering all our expenses when we were together. I figured he may not come from money, but I did. My parents had plenty to spare for their only daughter. I started transferring money to him regularly, and he gradually got used to spending my money. Eventually, I even set up a joint account. All his living expenses came out of my pocket. After graduation, we started looking for jobs. Lucas told me he wanted to start his own business. He said he knew that being an employee for life wouldn’t change his fate. He was ambitious. After experiencing life in the big city, he naturally didn’t want to return to that small town. Looking at him then, I saw the fire in his eyes. I was drawn to his determination. I was so captivated that I actively asked my dad for help, pulling strings to ensure Lucas’s business succeeded. But once his company got on track, everything changed. He was no longer as gentle and patient with me as before. At first, I thought he was just too busy with work to have energy for me. After all, he had still proposed marriage to me. But I never imagined… his coldness and impatience weren’t because work had gone to his head. It was because of that damn first love.
After leaving Lucas and returning home, I immediately had someone investigate his first love’s background. Lucas’s dream girl was named Sophia Newman, the daughter of a branch of the Newman family. Oh, and she was an illegitimate child who had just been officially recognized by the family. That’s why she was able to return from abroad. I looked at the photos attached to the email. The girl in the picture wore a white dress, her brown hair in a messy bun, smiling brightly and innocently. She was indeed quite pretty. But what really caught my attention wasn’t her beauty, but the tear mole under her eye – identical to mine. So this was why Lucas had accepted me… As I flipped through Sophia’s photos one by one, I found it increasingly laughable. I laughed at my years of sincere devotion. I laughed at how my wholehearted dedication had only earned me a relationship built on deception from the very beginning. I propped up my forehead, laughing so hard my hands shook. Suddenly, I noticed a familiar figure in one of the photos. Frowning slightly, I zoomed in and realized the man looked very much like someone I had casually helped years ago. I stared at the man in the photo for a long time, suddenly feeling unsure. The man in the photo wore an elegant suit. His hair was styled neatly, and he held a glass of red wine, his expression neutral but dignified as he chatted with others. He seemed very different from the man I’d met years ago. After looking a while longer, I was still curious. I asked someone who the man in the photo was, and learned he was actually Sophia’s uncle. In other words, Samuel Henderson, the current head of the Newman family. I stared at Samuel’s photo for a long time before making a decision. Sophia, Lucas. No matter who, I wouldn’t let them take what was mine for nothing.
The gossip spread faster than I could act. Social media was flooded with candid photos of Lucas and Sophia. As a rising tech star, Lucas had gained some fame in recent years. Among the many photos, one of Lucas bending down to tie Sophia’s shoelaces was particularly eye-catching. The media speculated that Lucas would become the Newman family’s son-in-law. “What a perfect match!” they said. I tossed my phone aside, grinding my teeth in anger. This couple that seemed so well-matched in the public eye was actually quite unremarkable when you dug deeper. Lucas’s “wealth” was all thanks to my love-blind support. As for Sophia. I had carefully studied her background too. There were many suspicious points. The scumbag and his dream girl had finally reunited, while I became the object of pity and mockery. The reports only mentioned that I was Lucas’s college classmate, somehow lucky enough to be with such a “business genius” like Lucas. They said I had been “freeloading” at home after graduation, and it was only thanks to Lucas’s lack of disdain that we hadn’t broken up earlier. To be fair, the media can’t be fully blamed for getting it so wrong. When I was young, my cousin from my uncle’s family had shown off his wealth and nearly got kidnapped. It left a deep impression on my parents. So my family always told me to keep a low profile and not rush to reveal my identity unless necessary. Except for my longtime best friend, few people, including Lucas, knew that I, Lily Thompson, was actually the daughter of Thompson Real Estate. I had given Lucas all the opportunities to be in the spotlight, since he craved recognition from others more than I did. Who would have thought… I had wasted my time and money on an ungrateful dog. My parents saw the news too and rushed back in a panic. My mom wanted to find media bigwigs to ruin Lucas’s reputation. My dad was ready to blacklist him immediately. Seeing my usually calm parents so worked up, I actually felt more at peace. “Dad, I own shares in that company too. It’s not worth ruining it now.” “Honey, you’re not planning to stay involved with him, are you?” My parents crowded around me, faces full of worry. Ugh… I guess I really had been too blinded by love before. I sat my parents down and solemnly promised: “I won’t keep the company or the man, but I won’t let them shortchange me a single penny I’m owed.” “Ruining the company now would affect my shares… but after I get my money, do whatever you want.” Haha. Seeing that I was thinking clearly, my parents’ expressions improved slightly. “But sweetie, won’t you feel wronged? You were about to get married after all…” My mom had looked at a lot of wedding-related things with me. She understood how much I had been looking forward to my own wedding. “Oh, I’m still getting married. Just not to that Lucas guy anymore.” My parents looked confused. I mysteriously pulled out Samuel’s photo. “I’m going to marry this man, and make Lucas respectfully call me ‘Auntie’.” My parents exchanged bewildered looks. My dad even felt my forehead and muttered under his breath. “Oh no, our girl’s really been traumatized. She’s even starting to crush on some guy way out of her league!” My mom’s eyes immediately welled up with tears as she pulled out her phone, wanting to contact the most authoritative psychologist. I snatched my mom’s phone away and solemnly declared once again: “I’m not crazy. I will definitely make Samuel marry me. Just you wait and see!”
Actions speak louder than words. This principle works even with your own parents. After extensive inquiries, I learned that Samuel would be returning to the country soon. Unfortunately, the paparazzi weren’t professional enough. They only knew the approximate time, not which specific flight. With no other choice, I had to camp out in the airport lobby every day to catch my “future husband”. After three days of staking out, the head of ground staff personally came to shoo me away. I tried explaining repeatedly that I wasn’t some obsessed fangirl, but he just wouldn’t believe me. Since I couldn’t get past the first line of defense, I decided to wait at the company instead. My family wasn’t exactly small potatoes, but compared to a multinational corporation like the Newmans that had long gone global, we were basically just a “high-end family workshop”. Even an illegitimate daughter could afford to study at the most prestigious private university in Canada – that showed the Newman family’s power. After battling wits with the parking lot security guard for the Nth time, I finally managed to intercept Samuel. His driver looked like he’d seen a ghost, stopping the car about 15 feet away from me. Ignoring the driver’s shocked state, I went straight for the back door and yanked it open. “You’re a tough one to catch!” I panted. Samuel remained very calm. “Would you like some water?” A freshly opened bottle of water was offered from the luxury car. The man’s lips curved in a smile. Just as I reached out to take the water, several long camera lenses popped out, snapping photos of Samuel and me. The LED screen across from the parking lot was playing the news, talking about Samuel’s upcoming new round of acquisitions. Damn, talk about bad timing! The reporters were originally there for financial news, but upon seeing me, they immediately switched to entertainment mode. “Who’s this girl? Is she from some wealthy family?” “Rich girls don’t ambush people in parking lots. Maybe she’s an employee from a company being acquired?” “Oh my god, I feel like something big is about to happen!” Samuel got out of the car too and apologized to the reporters. “I’m sorry everyone, but this young lady’s matter seems more urgent. Let’s reschedule the interview for another day.” The image of Lucas tying Sophia’s shoelaces suddenly flashed through my mind, and my mouth seemed possessed. In front of all those reporters, I blurted out the plan I had been harboring: “Samuel, want to get married?” After a brief pause, all the camera flashes went off. The man before me froze for a moment, then reached out his long arm to shield me from the commotion. His smile held a hint of “uninvited guest” conspiracy, perfectly complementing his refined bad boy aura. In that instant, he had me hooked. “Get in the car. We’ll discuss the details.”
Samuel’s bodyguards and assistant arrived just in time. I smoothly left the scene in his car. I had barely taken two sips of water when Samuel rattled off my entire family history. Most importantly, he even knew all about my relationship with Lucas! “Going from a breakup to wanting to be your ex’s elder… Miss Thompson, you play quite dangerously.” Samuel turned to look at me, a hint of admiration in his smile. Ugh! I had really been too arrogant. Samuel must have looked into Lucas because of Sophia’s return, and then stumbled upon me in the process. Wait, wasn’t I stopping his car to ask for repayment of a favor? How did I end up on the defensive? “Six years ago, at Holy Water Beach. Do you remember me?” I asked. “I’ve never forgotten,” his deep voice replied. I had felt like I was being led by the nose ever since I stopped his car. Samuel was truly unfathomable. I decided to put aside my petty schemes and be straightforward about being a “benefactor seeking repayment”. “A life-saving debt should be repaid in kind… I’m in trouble now and need you to act out a play with me.” I had told my parents it was “real marriage”, but I never actually thought that myself. I knew my own worth all too well. Samuel could have anything he wanted. He definitely didn’t need an “ill-matched” little girl like me as a wife. As for saving him back then, it was just a coincidence. That year, I had just graduated high school and went on a spontaneous trip with friends. While learning to surf at the beach, I happened to save Samuel from drowning. After pulling him ashore, I lectured him a bit and kept him company for most of the day until someone came to pick him up. Only then did I leave. I soon learned of his identity afterwards. Keeping a low profile, I had never actively mentioned it to anyone all these years. If it weren’t for that white-eyed wolf Lucas forcing my hand, I wouldn’t have thought of this “trump card”. “Marriage can’t be an act,” Samuel flatly refused. As expected, big shots aren’t easily fooled. Just as I was feeling disheartened, Samuel spoke up: “If you’re sure about this, come register our marriage tomorrow at 9:30 AM.” I was still dumbfounded when I got out of the car. After tossing and turning all night, I still decided to keep the appointment the next morning. And just like that, I got married. The giant diamond ring fit my finger perfectly. The man beside me held me with gentle strength. “Hello, Mrs. Henderson.”
Clutching the little red book, I rushed home to beg forgiveness. My parents flipped through it front to back and made several phone calls before finally confirming my marriage certificate was real. “How could you not discuss such a big decision with us?!” My parents crowded around me, one on each side, and began interrogating me furiously. “When Lucas had nothing, you didn’t mind his poverty either,” I retorted righteously. I knew my parents too well. They were total pushovers for their daughter. As long as it was my decision, they would support me fully. “It’s not that we won’t let you get married, it’s just this son-in-law…” He was quite the big shot, to be fair. I gave them an “I understand” look and hugged my parents. Faced with their concerns, I recounted the Holy Water Beach incident for the first time. “Six years ago… Samuel tried to drown himself?” My parents were skeptical and started furiously googling. Sure enough, after my dad scrolled through countless forums, we learned something. Samuel had indeed been through some incident six years ago, but the forums only mentioned it vaguely. We couldn’t figure out the details. What was verifiable was that Samuel’s older brother and sister-in-law had died in an accident that year. Their only child was left in Samuel’s care. Strangely though, that child was never seen again afterwards. Thinking back to how Samuel had walked straight into the ocean that day, I seemed to guess what had happened. Sigh, life in wealthy families isn’t easy either. But remembering that I had saved him still filled me with an indescribable sense of pride. Life is precious. The world could use one more handsome man to feast our eyes on. The information we found matched what I had told them, so my parents tentatively believed the Samuel story. Looking at the marriage certificate, my dad was still worried. “Honey, the Newmans are an enormous family, and Samuel’s even become the head. Your path won’t be easy in the future.” A parent’s love for their child makes them plan far ahead. Since I was little, my parents rarely restricted me in anything except my character. They hoped I would be safe and happy, and were willing to give me everything they had. I had never actively mentioned the incident with Samuel all these years, naturally because I had no intention of asking him to repay the favor. Now that I had suddenly eloped with him, my parents surely understood it was because of Lucas. My mom looked at me with heartache, her expression fierce. “Sweetie, if you regret this, we can go apologize to the Newmans right now and get a divorce. It’s your life – you can’t ruin it because of that bastard Lucas!” Oh, my dear mother! I wanted to tell her she was overthinking it. My grand plan to step on Lucas’s moment of glory wasn’t complete yet. How could I possibly get divorced? “Mom, I’m the one who lucked out in this marriage!” “Let’s be honest, you must think Samuel is way out of Lucas’s league too, right?” I nudged my dad’s shoulder. He smiled sheepishly. “Since Lucas was blind enough to let me go, he can be with whoever he wants. I really don’t care.” Through my “inside information” from Samuel, I learned something. The relationship between Sophia and Lucas wasn’t something they could decide for themselves. Although Sophia was of Newman blood, her current DNA wasn’t enough to legitimately enter the Newman family business. A powerful in-law family would be her best support. Lucas seemed decent enough, but that was only because the Newmans hadn’t forced Sophia to make a choice yet. As long as Samuel didn’t approve, Sophia wouldn’t even get a chance to “try”. Thinking about how I had married a man who held the “power of life and death” over that scumbag and green tea bitch, I felt a thrill from my head to my toes. I understood my parents’ worries, but I wasn’t afraid. I would erase their concerns one by one with my happiness in this marriage.
The Newman family’s luxury car stopped at the entrance. The driver who had been startled by me yesterday stood by the door, playfully giving me a thumbs up. I guess it was his first time seeing a bride who ambushed cars too! Most importantly, I had succeeded. Waving goodbye to my parents, I got in the car. Half an hour ago, Samuel had sent a message saying I didn’t need to bring anything, just myself. I knew he lacked for nothing, but proper etiquette was still necessary. Before I left, my parents asked me to inquire about any requirements for the dowry. They said they would do their best to fulfill whatever the Newmans wanted. I thought the Newman mansion would be far away, but the driver only took me to the most expensive area in the city center. “Ma’am, the boss is waiting for you upstairs.” The driver smiled warmly. I thanked him and got out. I was very familiar with this magnificent building. I often came here for afternoon tea. Was Samuel inviting me for afternoon tea? Just as I was puzzled, someone walked up to me. “Mrs. Henderson, I’m your personal assistant Mandy. Mr. Henderson has already given me your contact info. Please add me on SnapChat later.” The uniformed woman led me into a hidden elevator. How fancy! I had never thought of myself as poor before, which is why I was so generous in supporting Lucas financially. The closer I got to Samuel, the more I realized how arrogant I had been. The assistant began introducing our “property” to me. Only then did I learn that people actually lived on the upper floors of this building. They were the wealthiest families in the city, and also major shareholders of this building. This prime real estate office building was just a “small house” for some people’s convenience. Thinking back to how I used to envision the future with Lucas, I felt more and more like a nouveau riche. The elevator reached the top floor, and as the doors opened, I saw Samuel. The assistant’s eyes were full of envy, her expression screaming “I’m eating dog food but I accept it”. “I’ll leave Mr. and Mrs. Henderson alone then…” The assistant was about to leave when Samuel called her back. “Mandy, my wife’s full name is Lily Thompson… Lily as in the flower, Thompson as in Thomas’s son.” Oh my god, I’m going to faint. The assistant solemnly noted down my name before leaving. I had never been introduced so formally before. My vanity was greatly satisfied. When I was with Lucas, I was always the one eagerly trying to introduce him to others. I wanted to tell everyone how talented the man I loved was, and ask them to believe in and support him. Replaying that scene in my mind, I was most touched by the hidden meaning. Samuel was so far above me. Just being “Mrs. Henderson” was a blessing many could only dream of. But he specifically had someone remember my name. He was telling others that I was my own person, worthy of respect. The way big shots flirt is all in the details. Samuel gave me a “simple” tour. “There aren’t many areas I use. Some spaces are probably still empty. You can decorate however you like later.” Listen to how casually he said that! “What’s wrong? Don’t you like it here?” Samuel asked when I didn’t respond. I immediately shook my head like a rattle drum. “I love it here, but don’t we need to live with your parents?” My dad had said the Newmans were quite traditional and might have expectations about this. Samuel smiled faintly and affectionately rubbed my head. “Don’t forget, you’re an elder in the Newman family now.” How domineering! “There are too many rules at their place. You’d find it annoying.” “This location is convenient. I have an office in the inner area. You can see me anytime, and we can have lunch together.” Wow… how thoughtful. “Wait, you’re not going back to Newman headquarters?” From what Samuel was saying, it seemed he planned to live here with me. Not just “live”, but even “work” here. I couldn’t be a Daji who led the king astray. I couldn’t bear that blame. But his answer made me blush. “The woman who stopped my car and forced me to marry her – one of you is enough for this lifetime.” Great, he’s going to tease me about this for the rest of our lives. While Samuel was working, I took a good look around. The busiest street was right below, with all kinds of luxury brands and time-honored shops. The glass and curtains were all custom-made. Despite being in the heart of the city, there was no noise or light pollution. “The most dazzling night view, the gentlest sunset.” And the gentlest person. That evening, we had dinner at a restaurant downstairs. Samuel asked about some of my needs and shared some of his ideas with me. Apparently he had already arranged all the procedures, making sure not to neglect a single detail. “If you have any requests or new ideas, make sure to tell me in advance.” “This is our wedding. My only plan is to make you happy.” Oh my god! What kind of jackpot did I hit? They say saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. Why do I feel like I’ve gained a 700-story treasure tower? Stay calm, stay cool.
When I returned to Lucas’s company, everyone craned their necks to look. Glancing around, I realized I didn’t recognize many people anymore. Some were comparing me to photos on their phones, whispering and gossiping. Back when the company was just starting, I had brought in plenty of clients. 80% of Lucas’s initial capital came from the Thompson name. I was so love-blind back then. To help the company grow, I even poached my dad’s business partners. Faced with his “unfilial daughter”, my dad could only pretend to be angry. At the start of the next quarter, he introduced even better clients to me. Everyone was supporting my “love”. Too bad I still chose the wrong person. Faced with everyone’s eagerness to watch the drama unfold, I walked straight into Lucas’s office without looking back. Sitting at the desk I had chosen, Lucas couldn’t take his eyes off Sophia across from him. “Lily, why are you here?” “Why can’t I be here?” Joke’s on him – I’m the company’s biggest shareholder. It would be weird if I didn’t come. Lucas was clearly shocked by my appearance. He even withdrew the hand holding Sophia’s. Sophia’s expression changed too, looking pitifully wronged. “Lucas, since Miss Thompson is here to see you, why don’t you two talk first…” Tsk tsk, what great acting. Seeing Sophia stand up, Lucas suddenly found his courage and started declaring his devotion. “Sophia, there’s nothing between me and her anymore. I swear you’re the only one in my heart now. Even if she wants something from me, I’ll definitely refuse!” Oh my god, do they really need so much drama? Before coming, my assistant had already scheduled an in-home spa for me. I just wanted to wrap this up quickly. “Save it, Lucas. Who wants to get back together with you? In the future, you’d better not even tell people you know me, got it?” Even through the glass door, I could see the onlookers’ eager eyes. Rather than be seen as the dumped woman, I’d rather show everyone my “past foolishness” all at once. I took out the notarized documents, equity distribution agreement, and previously signed contracts one by one. “Every document here is legally binding. I’m here today to settle accounts with you once and for all.” Lucas frowned. He probably never imagined I had an ace up my sleeve. Heaven knows, I never intended these for a “divorce” back then. My dad always said people’s hearts are hard to read. Lucas had no family background, and if the company got too big, it could all fall apart in an instant. I thought I should keep a closer eye on things for him, which is why I had these documents. Lucas put on airs and called the company’s legal counsel to examine them one by one. Crossing my legs, I sneered. The reports all said I was the one who benefited from him. Little did they know there would be no Lucas Miller today without me. “These documents are all valid,” the lawyer reported reluctantly. Faced with the facts, he didn’t dare say otherwise. Lucas nodded and had finance approve my payout. “Wait.” I raised my hand to stop Lucas from dialing. “Lily, there’s no chance for us anymore. I can give you the money, but my heart…” Lucas gazed at Sophia longingly. The look in their eyes was sickeningly sweet. “Your heart can stay right where it is in your body!” “What you owe me isn’t just the company accounts. There’s also every penny you spent while we were dating. I want it all back today.” I pulled out another thicker stack of bills listing various expenses I had paid through different apps. “Look carefully. Not a single transfer says ‘voluntary gift’.” “You always gave me the impression we would get married. This money was paid as a premarital investment fund.” “Since we’re no longer together, you need to return all the money that exceeded normal dating expenses.” Lucas’s face cycled between pale and flushed. The elite image he had painstakingly crafted would become that of a gold-digging freeloader from today on. Sophia stood by his side and gently held his hand. “She did accompany you for so many years. Now that she’s met such an outstanding man as you, her future love life will surely be difficult.” My temples throbbed. I swear, these two dramatic idiots deserved to be locked up together. Sensing Sophia’s “kindness”, Lucas became generous too. After calculating what I was owed, he even wanted to add a compensation bonus for me. “Lily, take this money and treat yourself. I believe you’ll find your own happiness.” Before he could sign the new check, I left with everything that belonged to me, not looking back. Taking the money that was rightfully mine, I quickly established a new company. Well, it wasn’t really new – I was just helping out with the family business. My dad insisted on having my back. With a wave of his hand, he invested $10 million in me. Feeling fully appreciated, I was bursting with motivation. “Dad, don’t worry. This time I’m definitely going to poach all our competitors’ talent back to our side.” With money, determination and strength on my side. Following the principle of “better the devil you know”, I rehired many of the original employees from the startup days. Talking to them made me realize what a petty person Lucas was. Just because they knew the true “financial relationship” between him and me, he found all sorts of excuses to squeeze them out after I stopped managing the business. He even misused my name, offending quite a few people. Fortunately, everyone was reasonable. They just took the money and left without causing trouble for me. “If even one of you had come to tell me, I wouldn’t have taken so long to wake up.” “Boss, back then you only had eyes for Lucas. Would you have listened to our truth?” Amidst the banter, my company officially opened for business. The path of entrepreneurship isn’t easy. But that’s for other people. As “Mrs. Henderson”, I was already soaring in the clouds. Every project Lucas had his eye on, without exception. Before he could even finish revising his proposal, we were already wrapping up our celebration dinner. After a few rounds, Lucas got so upset he ended up hospitalized with a bleeding ulcer. Some of Lucas’s old buddies came to play peacemaker, wanting me to give him a break. “You two were truly in love once. There’s no need to go this far…” “Whoa, stop right there.” “My relationship with him is long over. Now it’s just business. If he can’t hack it, that’s his own lack of ability. Don’t try to guilt trip me.” After hanging up, I blocked every single one of them. Back then, these guys clearly all knew about Sophia’s existence. But until Lucas came clean with me, not one of them spoke up to say anything fair. Now they have the nerve to accuse me of being ungrateful? The old Lucas got ahead of them all because of my support. After all, they were longtime friends. Lucas would throw them plenty of lucrative business. I knew exactly what they were thinking now – with Lucas, their big tree, about to fall, all the parasites living off him would go down too. “Ugh, that gold-digging bastard can go to hell!” “What’s wrong? Who upset my wife?” A large hand caressed my face from top to bottom, stopping at my chin to make a playful radish-pulling motion. Sometimes I felt Samuel treated me like a child. Teasing me, coaxing me, taking care of my every need. And secretly helping me too. I knew exactly how those contracts, those business connections, had been obtained. Without Samuel as my stepping stone, I wouldn’t have broken through so quickly on my own strength. “Thank you. I know you’ve been helping me behind the scenes.” I took his hand, sincerely expressing my gratitude. “So have you calmed down a bit now?” He tapped my nose. The cool tip of my nose touched the man’s warm finger, and I found myself craving his warmth. I nodded, my face inexplicably turning a little red. The handsome man smiled faintly and slowly crouched down in front of me. The ringtone of an incoming call broke the wonderful atmosphere. Thinking it was those self-important “parasites” again, I answered irritably. “Hello, who is this?” “It’s me, Sophia… I’d like to talk to you.”
An inverted V Hermès bag, a Cartier diamond bracelet, a custom Royal Oak watch from Vacheron Constantin. After breaking up with Lucas, I could finally be myself again. “Looks like you’ve made quite a bit of money lately.” Sophia smiled lightly, her light makeup and every gesture carefully cultivating that socialite lady image. Sophia had always seen me as just a girl with some money, not at all on the same level as an illegitimate daughter of a wealthy family like herself. If only she knew, we weren’t just on different levels – we were generations apart. This feeling of knowing something she didn’t felt so good. “If you have something to say, say it quick. I need to get back to ‘making money’!” “I’m sure you know I’m from the Newman family…” I nodded. That much was true. I did know, and I even knew she was my grand-niece. “A woman consumed by hatred after a failed relationship is truly pathetic. If you’re not good enough, there’s no need to cling to Lucas like a leech.” “As a fellow woman, I pity you.” Sophia took on a lecturing tone, completely different from the little white lotus act in the office that day. What range as an actress. “Whether I’m consumed by hatred or not is none of your business. But I know very well that you’re a gold digger who likes to eat leftovers.” Since she had dropped the act, there was no need for me, her elder, to hold back either. With Samuel’s help, I had become an all-seeing player. Sophia and Lucas’s little drama was too boring, not even enough to keep me entertained while snacking on sunflower seeds. It boiled down to this: Lucas was poor but handsome and smart. Sophia deliberately got close to him to improve herself. Later, Samuel’s parents found out Sophia kept carelessly revealing her identity. That’s when they funded her studies in Canada, keeping her under strict supervision. Driven by vanity, Sophia exaggerated, hinting to Lucas that she needed to return to the Newman family and that he wasn’t good enough for her. Then it was my turn to enter the stage as the unlucky one. Exposed by me, Sophia didn’t even bother maintaining her image anymore. She left without even paying for her $68 rose tea. Sigh, kids these days are so inconsiderate~ She didn’t even call me Auntie, and still mooched off me for an expensive tea. “I should tell her uncle about this. It’s time for her to go back to Canada for some more education!”
Educating the younger generation could wait, but introducing the elders needed to be put on the agenda. “Do we really have to go?” “Of course. You’re my lawfully wedded wife. You must attend these occasions.” Coaxed into the dressing room, I saw a gown so beautiful it left me gaping. “Do you like it?” The man’s murmur sounded in my ear. Lacking in sophistication, I nodded vigorously like a woodpecker. “It’s so beautiful! Let’s have another event after this one. I absolutely can’t wear such a gorgeous dress just once!” With Samuel, I could always be myself. He was so confident and strong that he didn’t need me to tiptoe around him. Once again, I silently marveled that saving him was the best thing I’d ever done in my life! At the Newman family’s anniversary celebration, all the guests were dignitaries and elites. Sophia, as a “Newman”, attended with Lucas, who was “striving to become a Newman”. “Sophia, will you let me go on stage with you later?” Lucas asked expectantly, his face full of eagerness to please. “I’m not sure how my uncle will arrange things. But it’s probably best not to for now.” Sophia rejected Lucas, leaving him looking dejected. “You know the Newman family’s rules. I’ll have many responsibilities to shoulder in the future.” “Lucas, just focus on your work. Our future is long.” Sophia’s promises were crisp and round. The Lucas across from her nodded repeatedly in agreement. I took off my earpiece, too lazy to listen to this useless drivel. That’s right, I had heard it all through a hidden microphone. Sophia didn’t know the jewelry she wore actually contained the latest miniature listening device. Samuel had told me the Newmans never intended to take Sophia back. He was the one who had insisted. “I suspect she’s connected to my brother and sister-in-law’s deaths. I’ve been monitoring her since she returned.” To destroy someone, first let them become arrogant. My husband Samuel was never someone to be easily manipulated. He had his own persistence when it came to the truth. “Haven’t you heard enough?” Samuel asked. Dressed in formal attire, Samuel looked even more handsome. My heart skipped a beat again. “Hehe, I’ve heard plenty.” It was just the same few empty promises over and over. I was already sick of it. Holding up my multi-million dollar custom gown, I bounded over to Samuel like an eager bunny. As the biggest VIPs, Samuel and I had our own private lounge. Standing at the inner door leading to the banquet hall, I took a deep breath. “Ready, my one and only Mrs. Henderson?” Geez, how could he still be flirting at a time like this! I hooked my left arm through Samuel’s right, my expression changing. The host took the stage as the music shifted dramatically. The moment the doors opened, Samuel and I captured everyone’s attention. “Let’s welcome our youngest CEO, Mr. Samuel Henderson, and his wife, Mrs. Lily Henderson, with the warmest applause.” Was it my imagination, or did they pronounce “Lily” even louder than “Samuel”? Under the spotlight, my mermaid gown covered in hand-sewn sequins perfectly enhanced my beauty. My sharp eyes immediately spotted the shocked Sophia. And Lucas, who was so frightened he collapsed right into his chair.
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