The day my mother, Mia Hayes, was diagnosed with leukemia, my boyfriend Adam Maxwell’s childhood friend Alisha Jenner volunteered to donate bone marrow to her. But on the day of the surgery, I was hit by an out-of-control car at the hospital entrance and fell into a coma. When I woke up, the bone marrow transplant had failed, and my mother had died. Adam stayed by my side in devastation, pulling me back from despair. On the third anniversary of our marriage, which happened to be the anniversary of Mia’s death, I accidentally overheard him talking with his assistant, Eric Chapman. “Mr. Maxwell, we’ve taken care of the driver, doctor, and nurse from back then. No one will ever know about Ms. Jenner’s fake donation.” Adam sighed with relief, “Good. Charlotte’s mother’s death was ultimately Alisha’s fault, but I can’t let Charlotte destroy her.” At that moment, my world shattered. It turned out that the Jenner Group heiress’ charitable bone marrow donation, meant to boost the company’s corporate image, was a fraudulent scheme. My mother’s death was nothing but a stepping stone for Alisha’s rise. Alisha and Adam were both killers!
“Mr. Maxwell, do you intend to keep this matter hidden for the rest of your life?” Adam’s brow furrowed slightly as he replied, “This is the best solution I could think of. Now, Jenner Group has been revived from the dead. Alisha has entered the entertainment industry and become the star she always wanted to be. As for Charlotte, I’ll spend the rest of my life making amends to her.” Eric couldn’t stand his behavior and spoke urgently, “Back then, Ms. Jenner fled at the last minute because she was afraid to donate bone marrow. Mia literally died waiting on the operating table. How is that any different from deliberate murder? Mr. Maxwell, why are you doing this? After all, Ms. Hayes is your wife!” Adam closed his eyes, his brow creasing in pain. “Alisha was just too scared. She didn’t mean it. Besides, Mia’s leukemia meant she wouldn’t have lived much longer anyway. Charlotte only experienced an ordinary car accident. I’ve given her love and a family, all she wanted most!” Eric’s emotions suddenly flared up. “Mr. Maxwell, is this really what Ms. Hayes wanted? Is what she wanted, this deceptive love tainted with her mother’s blood, this marriage of atonement that feels like charity? You and I know that if Ms. Hayes discovers this, everything will be completely ruined!” Eric’s words pierced Adam’s heart. Adam choked harshly on his cigarette twice. He forcefully crushed the cigarette butt in the ashtray and impatiently warned, “Then I’ll never let her know! Keep your worthless conscience to yourself and shut your mouth! Otherwise, I’ll deal with you, too!” My whole body trembled so violently I could barely stand. Tears had smeared my face without me noticing, and the cold throughout my body was suffocating me. My mother’s death wasn’t an accident! Alisha hadn’t donated bone marrow to my mother as she had solemnly promised. And my mother, full of hope, lay on the cold operating table, never receiving the life-saving bone marrow. Instead, she received news of her daughter’s car accident and her own death. My mother and I parted hastily this way without seeing each other last time. It was a scheme personally arranged by my husband, whom I considered family. His tenderness and his devotion… It all was to save another woman in his heart. And the marriage I thought was happy was just his arrogant, condescending charity. It was absurd! That one word was enough to summarize my life these past three years. I collapsed onto the cold marble floor of the waiting room as if all my strength had been drained away. I waited until the footsteps faded into the distance before sitting quietly on the sofa. I sat there for exactly four hours. Adam finally appeared during lunch break. His expression was no different than usual as he reached for my hand. “Charlotte, you came without telling me? You should have let me know. I’m sorry you had to wait so long. Why are your hands so cold?” I looked down as he cupped my hands in his, warmth surrounding them from all sides. My heart felt like it was being twisted by a knife. “It’s just a lingering effect from the car accident years ago.” His movements paused as he pulled my hand to his cheek. “That’s my fault. I shouldn’t have sent you to get those documents alone.” I withdrew my hand and contained the hatred that nearly spilled out, saying softly, “It’s not your fault. It will get better with time. I didn’t want to disturb you since I knew you were busy. Your secretary mentioned you have another meeting soon. You should go. Oh, and please ask Eric to make me a coffee. He always makes it perfectly.” Adam had always been incredibly attentive to my needs. He gave Eric clear instructions when he left and sent me hand warmers. “Ms. Hayes, here’s your coffee and the hand warmers Mr. Maxwell requested.” I didn’t respond. I just silently got up and locked my office door. Then I turned around and gave Eric a complicated look. Eric felt uneasy under my stare and couldn’t help asking, “Ms. Hayes, is there something else you need…”
In the next instant, my sudden movement cut short his words. I slowly picked up the wedding photo of Adam and me from the desk. In the picture, we looked so happy, our smiles radiant. CRASH! Right in front of Eric, I violently smashed the frame to the ground, shattering it into pieces. “Tell me properly, Eric! How did Adam and Alisha cause my mother’s death three years ago?” The sun was setting when Adam finally finished his meetings and returned to the office. He found me napping on the couch and couldn’t resist quietly walking over to pull me into his arms. “Are you bored? My secretary told me you actually spent the whole afternoon talking with Eric. Our genius director, Charlotte, is going stir-crazy during this research trip to Northweston.” Over these past three years, I had established myself as a hot new female director in the film industry, winning numerous prestigious awards at home and abroad. I was famous for being extremely strict about scripts and actors. Even Alisha, with all her family wealth, couldn’t land a role in my films. Adam never interferes with my work and instead supports me completely. My success also adds considerable prestige to his career. Adam’s affectionate gaze swept across my face as he playfully pointed at the corner of my eye. “You haven’t been resting well, have you? Your eyes are all red from exhaustion.” I instinctively turned my head, avoiding Adam’s hand reaching toward me, forcing a slight smile. “I’ll be fine after some sleep. By the way, I have good news. You know how you’ve always wanted me to create a commercial film specifically for Alisha? I recently got an excellent script. I plan to try something different. To generate publicity, I will host a grand character reveal event before filming.” When news related to Alisha was mentioned, Adam’s superficial emotions instantly became animated. His face showed excitement, followed by confusion. “A character reveal event? Where did this idea come from? Director Hayes, you’re famous in the industry for keeping a low profile, and besides, don’t you usually think Alisha’s acting is…” I laughed mockingly to myself. Of course, I was doing this for them. Otherwise, given Alisha’s terrible acting skills—she just widened her eyes, frowned and screamed, I’d consider her out of place even as a background character. I displayed a sorrowful expression and slowly leaned into Adam’s embrace. “I’ve always owed Alisha a proper thank you. She volunteered to donate bone marrow to save my mom. Even though the outcome… well, she genuinely donated her marrow. I recently heard from a doctor friend that bone marrow transplant surgery causes significant harm to donors. I can’t be an ungrateful person.” Adam’s body tensed as he held me. My words left him speechless. As the main culprit, he was filled with nothing but guilt. He held me tighter, his warm lips lingering on my forehead. “Your mother may be gone, but you still have me. We will never be apart. I’ll treat you well for the rest of my life.” I silently hugged him back. Eric’s revelation from this afternoon flashed through my mind, and all warmth vanished from my eyes. A cold, mocking smile slowly formed on my lips as I thought, “Save these touching words for later. After you watch the role announcement event, you can tell me all about it.”
I had just arrived home when the doorbell rang urgently. The servant opened the door and saw it was Alisha. “I came specifically to thank Charlotte! Since Charlotte announced on Twitter that she’s not only choosing me for the lead role but also hosting a special launch event, I’ve been trending everywhere! All those brands and investors who looked down on me are now approaching me for collaborations.” Alisha was thanking me with her words, but her body was telling the truth as she brushed against Adam. “This is the diamond Addie gave me last month. I’m just passing along something beautiful. It’s for you, Charlotte!” I lowered my gaze to look at it. It was one of the two pieces Adam had purchased at an auction last month. In the light, the difference was noticeable. The one he had given me was more ordinary than what Alisha held. Adam’s expression beside me suddenly became tense as he carefully observed my reaction. My smile didn’t falter. I accepted the gift and played along with her act. “You’re too kind, Alisha. I always knew you were a born actress, just waiting to be discovered by someone with an eye for talent. When we get to the role announcement event, I guarantee the audience will see you in a new light.” My insincere praise made Alisha glow with delight. She completely missed the storm brewing beneath my words. However, Alisha’s arrival gave me the perfect excuse to get Adam out of the way. “I have some script issues to deal with upstairs. Adam, please entertain Alisha for me. Don’t neglect the future star of my billion-dollar movie!” Adam froze for a moment, then forced a laugh and quickly agreed. The words “billion-dollar movie” completely went to Alisha’s head. She just grabbed Adam’s arm and grinned. I turned and entered Adam’s study, hearing their laughter from downstairs. [Password incorrect. Please try again.] I stared at the message on the computer screen and shook my head mockingly. I changed my birthday to Alisha’s, and the computer unlocked instantly. It was filled with Alisha’s photos, portfolios, endorsement deals, and Maxwell Group’s sponsorship records. He even kept copies of her schedule. I’ve felt uncomfortable with Adam’s excessive attention toward Alisha these past three years. But whenever I tried to discuss it, Adam would put on a helpless act. “Alisha donated bone marrow to your mother. I’m just showing gratitude on your behalf. Charlotte, don’t overthink it.” With one mention of gratitude, all my feelings were completely shut down. He knew the whole truth, yet he deliberately put me on a moral high ground. As if the moment I criticized Alisha, I’d be disrespecting someone who saved my mother’s life, proving myself ungrateful. My memory abruptly cut off as my eyes scanned the jumbled information on the computer. “Found it!” The staff lists, event plans, chat logs, payment records, and detailed notes on where everyone involved ended up afterward are included. My three years of “ignorance” had finally caused Adam to let down all his defenses. The truth sat before me, plain as day, yet I had never questioned or touched it. I laughed bitterly as tears fell onto the desk. “Packaging a murderer as a lifesaver? Adam, you’re the real director here.”
After copying the evidence, I played it smart. I didn’t take the elevator but went down using the staircase in the corner of the villa. I found that Alisha was nestled in Adam’s arms, giggling flirtatiously. “You’re so clever, Addie. I’ve become the life-saving hero, which gives me the perfect opportunity to launch my career, and our family stocks have even risen. I don’t have to donate bone marrow to that old woman, and Charlotte will be forever grateful to me.” A devious glint flashed in Alisha’s eyes as she spoke with cold-blooded contempt. “After that old woman died, I not only had to pretend to be in pain and lie in bed for a month, but I also had to cry and kneel in front of Charlotte’s bed to apologize. No one has ever dared to treat me like this! I really gave those mother and daughter too much face! Fortunately, those paparazzi and marketing accounts were quite effective, achieving all the intended results. I guess I’ll reluctantly forgive that old woman for the suffering she caused me!” With each sentence, the guilt in Adam’s heart transformed into a sharp thorn, piercing him more painfully. As soon as the words fell, Adam abruptly pushed Alisha away from his embrace. Frowning, he lowered his voice and scolded her. “Alisha, watch your language and respect the deceased! Never bring this up again, or you won’t be welcome here anymore!” After saying this, he turned to leave. Alisha was stunned, completely surprised that Adam would reprimand her over Mia. She immediately rushed forward and hugged his waist, looking hurt. “Okay, okay, I won’t mention it again! I just missed you, that’s all. We haven’t seen each other for so long, and I have so much I want to tell you.” This time, Adam didn’t push her away. I watched them coldly, my palms already marked with blood from my own fingernails. “Mom, just hold on a little longer… Soon, I’ll tear off these two hypocritical masks at the event!” I turned around and headed down from the elevator. When I came down, Alisha was still on top of Adam, flirting and fooling around. This was definitely not the kind of distance friends should have. Seeing me arrive, Alisha put on an innocent smile instead. “Charlotte, are you done with your work?” Adam turned his head to look and immediately pushed Alisha away, explaining frantically. “Charlotte, let me explain. Alisha accidentally tripped on the corner of the table, and I was just…” I raised my hand to cut off Adam’s transparent explanation and smiled politely. “I understand. If there was really something between you two, why would I be the one marrying you? The maid says dinner is ready. Let’s eat first.” Despite my generosity, Adam’s expression remained uneasy. He kept sticking close to me during dinner, serving me food and wiping my mouth. Alisha forced a smile visible to everyone, and halfway through the meal, she found an excuse to leave. This time, Adam didn’t comfort her. I continued to play innocent, cooperating with his performance of deep affection. After all, without him, how could my grand scheme “take the world by storm” three days from now?
Three days later, Alisha’s character reveal event officially began. “Ms. Hayes, what’s the name of this new film?” “Ms. Hayes, why did you choose Alisha as the lead actress for this movie?” “Ms. Hayes, why are you making an exception for Alisha by promoting her so publicly and even livestreaming the entire event?” The currently most popular female director publicly supported an actress like this for the first time and had repeatedly stated during promotions that this would be her most proud work in her lifetime. The media and many fame-chasing social media influencers rushed to the event venue, hoping to capitalize on the massive buzz. Under the flashing lights, I smiled as I faced a barrage of questions from the crowd and calmly said, “For this film, Alisha was always the perfect lead in my mind. I can confidently say that her performance will completely change everyone’s perception of her. She’ll make her mark in film history.” My words caused a wave of murmurs and gasps from everyone present. Alisha’s arrogant expression intensified from beside me. Her recent surge in popularity had clearly gone to her head, making her think she was above everyone else. She was just waiting for the movie to be filmed and released so she could become the biggest movie star around. As soon as I finished speaking, a reporter asked, “But according to audience feedback and other directors’ opinions, Alisha might not be as talented as you claim. How would you respond to that, Ms. Hayes?” That question stirred up a storm, and countless inquiries flew at me. My expression remained unchanged as I calmly directed everyone’s attention to the big screen. “For this press conference, I specially prepared a teaser. After watching it, I believe all our media friends will have their answers.” Alisha beside me suddenly changed her expression and whispered in confusion, “Charlotte, what teaser? I’ve never heard about this!” Adam, in the audience, also gave me a puzzled look. I stepped back and tilted my head, speaking in a gentle tone. “Please enjoy, everyone. This is a movie teaser I’ve carefully prepared for a long time!” The big screen shows two people embracing tightly in a hospital room in the next second. It was Alisha and Adam! “Addie, I’m scared! Bone marrow transplants hurt so much. That old woman is going to die anyway. I don’t want to do the surgery. Can you help me? I just need to pretend I donated after the fact. We can fool everyone and boost my company’s image!”
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