I was Anya Callahan, heiress to the rich Callahan family, engaged to the man who was supposedly devoted to me, Jasper Hayes, and blessed with a sweet and innocent-looking stepsister, Willow. Then, overnight, I started hearing their thoughts. Jasper held me close, his voice soft and tender, “Anya, I only love you.” [This idiot. Just get her family’s heirloom into my hands, and I’ll dump her so fast.] The next day, I donated the heirloom to the National Heritage Museum. Then, I grabbed all the property deeds under my name and ran straight to the story’s biggest villain, Sterling Thorne. “Brother, I’m homeless. Can you take me in?” I froze in Jasper’s embrace. The crisp cedar scent on him mixed with the stench of his true thoughts, making my stomach churn. [Why isn’t she agreeing yet? Usually, a few sweet words are all it takes. What’s taking her so long today?] Jasper saw my lack of reaction, tightening his arms around me, his voice growing even more affectionate. “Anya, what’s wrong? Don’t you trust me?” His handsome face was etched with a perfect show of hurt, his eyes overflowing with what seemed like deep affection. If his thoughts weren’t scrolling like a news ticker in my head, I would honestly believe he loved me to his very core. Beside us, Willow chose that moment to tug at my hand, her tears streaming down her face like a heartbroken angel. “Sister, please don’t blame Jasper. It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t even exist; I’m the one who caused trouble between you two.” She cried so genuinely, as if I were some kind of wicked witch. [Hurry up and fight! The nastier the fight, the better! Once Anya gets kicked out, I’ll be the Callahan family’s only young miss! Jasper will be mine, and everything the Callahans have will be mine too!] So that was it. Turns out, I wasn’t living in some fairytale billionaire romance. I was living inside a massive scam. I was the villainess destined for ruin in this story, existing only to use my stupidity and arrogance to highlight the protagonist, Willow’s, kindness and resilience. In the end, they’d team up to destroy my family and leave me to a miserable death. But now, I’d transmigrated, and as a bonus, I’d gained a unique gift: the ability to hear people’s true thoughts. I stared at the disgusting, conniving duo performing in front of me, my stomach churning. I violently shoved Jasper away. In his stunned gaze, I raised my hand and slapped Willow hard across the face. *Smack!* The sound echoed, crisp and loud. The living room fell silent instantly. Willow clutched her cheek, staring at me in disbelief, tears spilling like broken beads. Jasper reacted first, pulling Willow behind him and glaring at me, enraged. “Anya! Have you lost your mind?! Why would you hit Willow?!” [Good hit! That’s exactly what we need! Richard will hate her even more now!] Jasper’s thoughts mirrored his furious expression, but the reasons for his anger were entirely different. I sneered, pointing at Willow. “She deserved it.” “You…” Jasper spluttered, choked with rage. Willow, however, peeked out from behind him, shaking her head as she sobbed. “Jasper, don’t blame Sister. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have made her angry…” [Yes, just like that. Keep scolding her. The harsher you scold, the more Dad will pity me.] I watched her sickeningly sweet, innocent act and could only find it hilarious. “Alright, enough with the act,” I said, glancing around. My gaze landed on the antique painting on the wall, which was supposedly a family heirloom. “Isn’t this what you wanted?” Jasper and Willow’s breaths hitched simultaneously. Jasper quickly suppressed the greed in his eyes, frowning. “Anya, what are you talking about? I just love you. This has nothing to do with your family’s things.” [How did she know? Did someone spill the beans? No, I have to keep her calm.] I couldn’t be bothered with their nonsense anymore. I walked directly towards the painting. “If you want it, you’ll have to earn it,” I turned back, flashing them a dazzling smile. “Otherwise, I’d rather burn it to ashes than let you get your grubby hands on it.” With that, I turned and headed upstairs, leaving two ashen-faced figures in the living room. Back in my room, I locked the door. All the strength seemed to drain from my body, and I slid down the door to the floor. My heart was still pounding. Not from fear, but from the immense relief of escaping and the boiling rage within me. What they truly wanted was the treasure map hidden behind that ancient painting.
In the original story, they sweet-talked me, and I傻乎乎地 (stupidly) handed the painting over to Jasper. He then used the treasure to rise as a rising star among the city’s elite. After that, he dumped me cold and rode off into the sunset together with Willow. As for me, after they’d drained me of everything, they conspired to have me committed to a psychiatric hospital. This time, I wouldn’t let them succeed. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Hello, is this the National Heritage Museum? I have a family heirloom that I would like to donate to the nation, free of charge.” There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a voice, surprised yet restrained. “Ma’am, are you sure you want to donate it without compensation?” “Absolutely,” I said calmly. “Tomorrow morning at nine, I’ll be waiting for you at home.” I hung up, deleted the call record, my mood strangely calm. Since you two want it so badly, I’ll send it somewhere you can never touch. The next morning, I specifically chose a vibrant red dress and applied exquisite makeup. Downstairs, Jasper and Willow had already arrived, sitting on the sofa with my parents, Richard and Eleanor. When I came down, Jasper immediately stood up, his face showing the perfect amount of concern. “Anya, I was too impulsive last night. Please don’t be angry anymore.” [This stupid woman. I have to get that painting today.] Willow, her eyes red-rimmed, spoke timidly, “Sister, I’m so sorry…” [Just hand over the painting already, I can’t keep this act up.] My father, Richard Callahan, glared, slamming his hand on the table. “Anya! Apologize to Willow and Jasper!” [This ill-mannered girl. If it weren’t for her grandfather’s shares, I would have kicked her out long ago.] My mother, Eleanor, wiped her tears. “Anya, how could you become like this? Willow is your sister!” [My sweet Willow is suffering. Anya is such an ungrateful viper.] This family was truly a picture of perfect harmony. I smoothed my dress and sat opposite them, as if I hadn’t heard my father’s outburst. “Dad, Mom,” I said, smiling. “I’ve invited some very important guests today. You should really watch your behavior, or you’ll embarrass the Callahan family.” Richard paused, bewildered. “What guests?” Jasper and Willow exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with wariness. Just as I finished speaking, the doorbell rang. I got up to open the door. Standing outside were several elegantly dressed middle-aged individuals in uniforms. The leader extended his hand to me, his voice filled with excited restraint. “You must be Ms. Callahan? I’m the director of the National Heritage Museum. Thank you so much for your support of our national cultural preservation efforts!” I smiled and shook his hand. “You’re too kind. It’s the least I could do.” The four people in the living room, upon seeing the IDs pinned to the visitors’ chests, instantly turned pale. Especially Jasper. He stared at me, his eyes practically spitting fire. [She actually donated the painting?! This lunatic! How could she?!] Willow was also dumbfounded, covering her mouth, trembling all over. [It’s over, it’s over, my billionaire dream… No, there’s still a chance. She must be lying!] My father, Richard, was the first to react. He shot up, pointing at me, his lips trembling with rage. “Anya! You… what have you done!” I turned back, my smile even brighter. “Dad, I donated the family heirloom to the nation. This is a truly honorable act, a boost for national pride. You should be proud of me.” The museum staff clearly hadn’t anticipated such a tense, hostile scene and looked a bit awkward. Ignoring my father’s murderous glare, I stepped aside. “Please come in, gentlemen. The painting is right there on the wall.” The director and the experts carefully took down the antique painting and began their on-site appraisal.
The atmosphere in the living room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Richard’s chest heaved with suppressed fury. Eleanor wept incessantly. Willow and Jasper looked as though their souls had been sucked out, their faces ashen. Soon, the experts delivered their verdict. “Ms. Callahan, this is indeed an authentic work by the former master, Master Xu, *Autumn Mountain Journey*. Its market value is estimated to be at least nine figures. And yes, there’s something hidden in the back lining of the painting… it appears to be a map?” The expert’s words were a heavy hammer, striking Jasper’s heart. [A map! It really was a map! That b*tch Anya! She ruined everything for me!] I watched his twisted face, a wave of satisfaction washing over me. The donation ceremony went smoothly. The director personally presented me with a certificate of honor and a banner. Reporters snapped countless photos of me. “Ms. Callahan, your spirit of selfless dedication is truly admirable and an example for us all!” “Indeed, to have such foresight at such a young age, Mr. Callahan has certainly raised his daughter well!” The reporters’ words made my father’s face change from white to green, then to purple, a truly spectacular display. He wanted to erupt but was constrained by the cameras, managing only a smile uglier than a cry. “It’s… it’s nothing…” After seeing off the museum staff and reporters, as soon as the living room door closed, Richard’s palm swung towards my face. “You ungrateful daughter!” I had anticipated it, dodging aside. His slap missed, making him tremble with even greater rage. Jasper also finally shed his pretense. He rushed forward, grabbing my shoulders and shaking me forcefully. “Anya! Why would you do this?! Do you have any idea how important that painting was to me?!” [I’ll kill her! I swear I’ll kill this woman who ruined my future!] I felt dizzy from his shaking but still met his gaze with a cold sneer. “How important? More important than your life?” Willow cried out, rushing to pull him away. “Jasper, don’t be like this. Sister surely didn’t mean to…” [What do I do? What do I do? Without the treasure, will Jasper still want me? No, I can’t lose him!] “Get off me!” I flung her hand away, my gaze as cold as ice. “Stop your sickeningly sweet act. It’s disgusting to watch.” Eleanor shrieked, rushing over to embrace Willow, who I’d pushed to the floor. “My Willow! Anya, you viper! She’s your sister!” I looked at this family, twisted and deceitful, and my heart finally turned to stone. “From today onwards, I am cutting all ties with the Callahans.” I pulled out the documents I’d prepared earlier from my bag and slapped them onto the table. “This villa was left to me by my grandfather. My name is on the deed. Now, all of you, get out of my house immediately.” Richard’s eyes turned red as he stared at the photocopy of the property deed on the table. “You… what did you say? This is the Callahan family’s house!” “It’s written in black and white,” I said, looking at him coldly. “If you can’t read, I can invite a lawyer to read it for you.” [This little b*tch! When did she get her hands on the property deed?! No, she can’t have this villa!] Eleanor was also dumbfounded, clinging to Willow and wailing, “Anya, how can you be so heartless? Where are we going to live?” [Without this huge villa, how will I face all those wealthy ladies?] It was laughable. They were never worried about me, only about their own lavish lives.
Jasper’s face was utterly grim. He had always believed that everything belonging to the Callahan family would eventually be his, but he never expected I had already pulled the rug out from under him. “Anya, were all those years of our relationship fake?” He tried one last desperate attempt to salvage the situation, his voice trembling slightly. [Keep her calm first. As long as she still loves me, there’s still a chance. Once I’m back on my feet, I’ll deal with her properly!] “Relationship?” I laughed as if I’d heard the biggest joke. “Jasper, are you even worthy of talking about relationships?” My gaze was so cold it made his heart tremble. “Anya, don’t you dare regret this!” Richard pointed at me, enraged, spitting out threats. “My biggest regret is ever meeting any of you,” I delivered my final ultimatum. “I’m giving you three hours. If you’re still here after three hours, I’m calling the police and reporting you for trespassing.” With that, I didn’t spare them another glance. I grabbed my car keys and walked out of that suffocating house. The sunlight outside was a bit harsh. I drove aimlessly through the streets. My phone vibrated furiously on the passenger seat. I didn’t even need to look to know it was calls from them. I simply turned it off. The world went silent. But what next? Where should I go? The original plot had been completely derailed by me. Jasper had lost his biggest advantage, and he wouldn’t just give up. Given Richard’s temper, he would definitely try every trick to reclaim the villa. While I had some ability to protect myself, facing their combined suppression, I was ultimately outmatched. I needed backup. A powerful enough backing that would make Jasper and the Callahans wary. A name flashed through my mind. Sterling Thorne. The biggest villain in this book. A ruthless, vengeful maniac. He was also Jasper’s mortal enemy. In the original story, Jasper had barely managed to gain an advantage over Sterling thanks to the treasure. Now, Jasper’s wings had been clipped by me. And I held secrets about all of them that they didn’t know. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. I turned my car around and headed towards the tallest, most prominent building in the city center. Thorne Enterprises Headquarters. Thorne Enterprises’ security was even tighter than I’d imagined. The young lady at the front desk, with a professional smile, politely stopped me. “Miss, do you have an appointment?” “I’m here to see Sterling Thorne.” “May I ask your name?” “Anya Callahan,” I stated my name, watching her dial an internal line. Sure enough, a few seconds later, she shook her head apologetically. “I’m sorry, Ms. Callahan, Mr. Thorne is not seeing visitors today.” An expected answer. Someone like Sterling Thorne wouldn’t be accessible to just anyone. I didn’t insist, merely looked at her calmly. “Please try again. Tell him I know where the ‘New Energy Project Proposal’ that Jasper has been searching for is.” The receptionist’s expression flickered with hesitation, but seeing my resolute gaze, she dialed again. This time, as she listened to the phone, her face changed slightly. After hanging up, she looked at me with a mix of curiosity and a hint of reverence. “Ms. Callahan, Mr. Thorne will see you. Top floor, CEO’s office.” Riding the private elevator straight to the top floor, the doors opened to reveal a man in a black suit, his expression cold and imposing. “Ms. Callahan, I’m Mr. Thorne’s assistant, Mr. Hayes.” “Hello.” Mr. Hayes led me down a long corridor and pushed open a heavy black wooden door. The office was astonishingly large, with a wall-to-wall window offering a panoramic view of the entire city. A man stood with his back to me, gazing out the window. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, his figure as tall and straight as a pine tree. Just his back exuded an aura of untouchable intimidation. He slowly turned around.
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