My Life, My Rules: No Second Chances for Toxic Exes Seven years after my supposed death, my ex-boyfriend showed up to pay his respects at my grave. He stared at the overgrown plot, his voice thick with a sniffle. “Aria, you’re really holding a grudge, aren’t you?” “It’s been so long since you died, and you still won’t visit me in my dreams.” “I was wrong about what happened back then, Aria. I truly apologize.” “For the sake of everything we once shared… please, just this once, forgive me.” Hidden in the dense bushes behind the grave, I rolled my eyes. Of course, I wouldn’t visit him in his dreams. Because I was never dead to begin with. That accident all those years ago had left me with a limp, but it also led me to the life I truly wanted. Now, I have a wonderful marriage and a happy family. Naturally, I wanted nothing to do with him ever again. The cemetery was desolate, choked with weeds. One look and you knew it hadn’t been cared for in years. Liam, however, seemed oblivious, utterly lost in his own manufactured grief. He placed a spread of offerings before the headstone – a pile of food I never even liked. He murmured, his voice cracking, “Aria, I really didn’t mean for things to turn out that way.” “Dad still feels awful about that slap he gave you.” “And I regret forcing you to donate blood for Chloe.” “You must have hated us so much all these years, that you never even came back to see me once.” He stroked the headstone, tears streaming down his face. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes again, my mind drifting back to the past. There wasn’t really a huge misunderstanding between Liam and me. Just a very clichéd story. The Petersons’ nanny lost their biological daughter, and in a desperate attempt to cover it up, she swapped me in. When their real daughter, Chloe, was finally found, everyone felt an overwhelming sense of guilt towards her, showering her with every luxury imaginable. I knew my position was awkward, so I never argued with her about anything. Chloe wanted my room; I gave it to her. Chloe wanted my shares; I gave them up. When Chloe set her sights on my husband, I gave him up too. But my endless compromises didn’t lead to a happy ending; they only emboldened her. Then she started wanting my organs. My life. Terrified, I fled in my car, only to suffer a terrible accident, plunging off a cliff. My adoptive family searched for me for a long time, eventually concluding I was gone. They say when a person dies, all grudges and past grievances fade away. Everyone suddenly started reminiscing about how good I was, constantly recalling memories of me. I’d often stumbled upon countless online tributes and obituaries dedicated to me. Every word, every line, poured out their deep remorse and aching longing for me. Those words were so touching, they actually made me a little curious. Curious if my biased family truly regretted their actions after my death. Curious if they actually held any genuine affection for me. So, I took advantage of Julian’s business trip to the city and secretly followed him. I never expected to run into Liam on my very first day here. Looking at how abandoned the grave plot was, I understood. Liam hadn’t really cared about me all these years either. He and Chloe quickly tied the knot. He’d occasionally remember me, shed a few tears, and parade his “deep affection.” I couldn’t help but curse under my breath, “Hypocrites.” As I turned to leave, I accidentally stepped on a dry twig. The sharp *snap* echoed clearly in the silent woods. I prayed Liam hadn’t heard. But as I turned my head, my eyes met his, trembling and wide with shock.
My heart dropped. Then I heard Liam’s voice, filled with a mix of disbelief and overwhelming joy. “Aria, is that really you?” “You’re not dead? Am I dreaming?” As he spoke, tears streamed down his face. “Aria, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you all these years.” “I kept everything that ever reminded me of you, just hoping you’d visit me in a dream.” “But how could you be so cruel? You left for years without a single word, didn’t even give us a chance to say goodbye.” I frowned. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to say goodbye back then; it was that they refused to listen to me. They stubbornly insisted I had bullied Chloe, and they were planning to harvest my kidney and then commit me to a mental institution. But so many years had passed, and I didn’t want to waste time arguing about it anymore. My husband gets jealous easily, and if I wasn’t back on time, he’d make a huge fuss. I feigned ignorance, offering a polite but distant smile. “I’m sorry, sir, you’ve mistaken me for someone else. I don’t know you at all.” Liam, however, grabbed my arm, yanking up my sleeve to expose the distinctive red birthmark. His voice was laced with excitement, revealing a hint of possessive pride. “How could I be mistaken?” “We were together for so many years; there’s no way I could mistake you!” “Aria, where have you been all these years? Why didn’t you ever contact me? Do you know how hard I looked for you…?” Liam, true to form, was about to launch into his usual accusations. But his words caught in his throat when he saw my prosthetic limb. His eyes slowly reddened, and he murmured, “Your leg… what happened to your leg?” “Aria, you must have suffered so much out there all these years, didn’t you?” “I’m so sorry, so sorry. It’s all my fault. I failed to protect you…” I brushed the dirt off my clothes, unsure how to explain. In truth, I’d been living wonderfully all these years. That accident, though it cost me a leg, inadvertently led me to find my biological parents. I wasn’t the Petersons’ real daughter, but I was the only daughter of the Sterling family, a top-tier dynasty. My birth mother and father were incredibly wealthy. My husband was the CEO of Newport City’s wealthiest enterprise. All I lost was a leg. What I gained was endless wealth and the complete affection of a loving family. My family provided me with the most elite medical team and the best of everything. This custom-made prosthetic limb alone was worth millions. It was just that the path up the mountain was slick from the rain and difficult to navigate, which made me look so disheveled. Thinking about it, it was Liam’s heartlessness to bury me on this desolate mountain just to save some money. My patience was wearing thin. “Liam, stop putting on an act for me.” “Seven years ago, I divorced you, and my parents said they’d disown me. I have absolutely nothing to do with any of you anymore, and I’m certainly not going back. So why are you still playing this charade?” My adoptive parents were incredibly controlling. From a young age, they forced me to dance and play piano. To control my weight, they starved me for years, and often resorted to corporal punishment. If I didn’t get perfect scores on tests, they’d hit my palms. If I didn’t win dance competitions, I was forced to kneel for hours. That’s why my first reaction to losing my leg wasn’t despair, but a profound, almost shameful, sense of relief. Relief that I finally wouldn’t have to practice dance anymore. When I grew up, they twisted my college application, forcing me to choose schools close to them. Even my marriage had to be arranged according to their wishes. And Liam, the brilliant, dependable man they deemed worthy of my hand? He quickly cheated on me shortly after we married, falling into Chloe’s arms. Back then, isolated and utterly devastated, I was truly heartbroken and lost. But now, I have a family who cherishes me completely. There’s no way I’m going back to endure that kind of humiliation again. Liam, however, thought I was just being stubborn. He grabbed my hand. “Stop being so childish, Aria.” “I promise I’ll treat you well, I’ll make up for all the suffering you’ve endured, and I’ll never let you be wronged again.” Liam’s tone became somewhat smug. “I got a new job at Sterling Enterprises as a manager, with a six-figure salary.” “We even moved into that villa you always liked. I can give you the best life!” Sterling Enterprises? Wasn’t that Julian’s company? Julian had indeed been planning to expand in the city recently, which was why he was recruiting so heavily. It was a cruel twist of fate that Liam had been hired there too. Seeing that I didn’t show any hint of admiration, but instead frowned, Liam grew annoyed. His voice unconsciously turned cold. “Aria, what’s wrong with you? Why are you still throwing tantrums?” “Haven’t you suffered enough out there all these years? Where could a cripple like you possibly go without me?” “Just be obedient and come back with me. I know you and Chloe had some misunderstandings, but that’s all in the past.” “She’s moved on, so why are you still hung up on those petty past grievances?” This was Liam, alright. He talked about guilt, but his heart had always belonged to her. Annoyed, I reiterated my desire to leave. But Liam’s face suddenly darkened. “Aria, don’t you understand? Now, only I can protect you.” “Otherwise, if word gets out about your attempted murder, you’ll be facing serious jail time, maybe worse!”
Attempted murder? When did I murder someone? I didn’t know anything about it. Meeting my bewildered gaze, Liam said grimly, “After Chloe was found, you resented her for taking the spotlight. You bullied her relentlessly, even tried to drown her in the pool.” “You were terrified of being exposed, that’s why you jumped from the car and ran away!” What in the world was he talking about? I listened, completely confused. Just as I was about to demand an explanation, I saw Chloe approaching, leaning on my adoptive parents. Seeing me, Chloe burst into tears instantly. “Sister… Sister, you’re not dead? Oh, that’s wonderful! Please come home, I’ve missed you so much!” “Even though you and Liam are divorced, you’re still Mom and Dad’s daughter.” “We all love you, Aria. If you’re willing to come back, I’ll even step aside and let you reclaim your place as our daughter, and I won’t ever mention the terrible things you did to me…” Chloe’s pitiful act completely shattered Liam’s heart. He quickly pulled her into his embrace, soothing her gently. “It’s not your fault. You’ve sacrificed enough for this family; I won’t let you be wronged again.” My adoptive parents also sighed. “Aria, stop making a scene. We know about all those things you did before.” “We spoiled you rotten back then, so we don’t blame you for those actions.” “You’ve suffered enough out there all these years, so you’ve learned your lesson.” “Since you’re willing to come back, we can still be a family.” The more I listened, the more something felt wrong. In the past, I might have been too lazy to argue with them. But now my identity was special; any small incident could impact Sterling Enterprises’ stock value. I absolutely couldn’t allow them to spread these outrageous lies and slander. I stared at them coldly. “Liam, you need to provide evidence for your accusations.” “When did I commit attempted murder? And when did I ever bully Chloe?” Seeing my defiant attitude, Liam grew annoyed. “Aria, I was trying to be discreet, to spare your reputation, but since you’re so utterly unrepentant, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” With that, he pulled out his phone and played a video. It was surveillance footage, a bit blurry. I could vaguely make out myself dragging Chloe into a swimming pool, holding her head firmly underwater. Chloe struggled painfully, and I ignored her, only letting go when someone passed by. As if afraid I’d deny it, Liam added, “I had the video professionally authenticated; there are no signs of editing, no fakery.” “Only you know the true extent of your depravity!” How could this be? I looked at Chloe in confusion. Just one look, and she shuddered from head to toe. That genuine, deep-seated fear didn’t seem faked. Reluctantly, I zoomed in on the surveillance footage. I repeatedly watched that familiar face, feeling a strange sense of dissociation myself. For a moment, I even wondered if I had forgotten past events after falling off the cliff. Just as I was puzzling over it, Chloe suddenly dropped a bombshell.
Chloe pitifully lifted her head, her eyes brimming with tears. “Liam, please stop. I’m so scared.” “What if Sister gets angry and sends a bunch of thugs to… to hurt me again?” Liam immediately looked at Chloe with a serious expression. “What did you say? Hurt you? What happened? Why didn’t you tell me about something so serious?” Chloe looked at me, then back at Liam. Finally, she stammered, “It’s my fault, Sister. It’s normal for her to send people to beat me up to vent her anger.” “I don’t blame her, I really don’t.” “Liam, let’s go home. I don’t want to recall those terrible things anymore.” The more Chloe said this, the more Liam pressed for details. Finally, Chloe was forced to tell everyone. She claimed that I had constantly bullied her at home, and Liam had been her only salvation. One time, after they’d both had too much to drink, they accidentally slept together. She had consequently become pregnant with Liam’s child. And when I found out, fueled by resentment, I allegedly hired a dozen thugs to assault Chloe. “I lost my baby, and I can’t have children anymore.” “I was afraid you’d despise me, so I kept this secret locked away.” “But I don’t regret it, Liam, I don’t regret it. As long as I can be with you, anything is worth it.” With that, Chloe suddenly knelt and kowtowed to me. “Sister, I know you hate me, but I beg you, please spare me. I really won’t contend with you for anything.” “I just want a home, a place where I can find shelter from the storm.” “Sister, please, please give me a chance to live!” Her tragic appearance broke everyone’s hearts. My adoptive mother hugged Chloe tightly, her eyes full of pity. My adoptive father, however, outright slapped me. “You animal! We raised you, fed you, housed you for so many years.” “And you repay our kindness with hatred, bullying my biological daughter like this!” “Now you still want to come back and live as the rich young lady? In your dreams!” “Liam is now a manager at Sterling Enterprises. We have connections to bring you to justice.” “I’ll send you to the police station right now and make sure you rot in jail!” The clamor around me brought back distant memories, and my lingering doubts vanished. Seven years ago, it was a similar scene. Chloe had stubbornly claimed I put nails in her dance shoes, causing her to lose a competition opportunity. Dad had slapped me, just like today. Mom, tears in her eyes, said she didn’t have a daughter like me. And Liam had stood behind Chloe, unhesitatingly defending his beloved. Now, history was repeating itself. Everything felt exactly as it had seven years ago. All those years after my supposed death, these people spoke of love and regret. But given a second chance, they still unhesitatingly chose Chloe. My pent-up frustration and resentment reached a boiling point. I violently shook off Liam’s hand, trying to call Julian. Liam, thinking I was going to hurt Chloe, kicked me. My prosthetic limb snapped, and my head slammed against a rock on the roadside, bleeding profusely. Liam, as if blind to my condition, dragged me towards the police station. “Aria, I gave you a chance, but you’re just too foolish.” “Today, I will make you pay for everything you’ve done!” If reporters caught sight of me like this, who knew what kind of scandal it would cause? On the verge of breaking down, I couldn’t think of anything else and shouted. “Let go of me! I didn’t do anything!” “I’m Julian Sterling’s wife! If he finds out you’re treating me like this, he won’t let you get away with it!” Liam froze for a moment, then let out a scoffing laugh. “Aria, your lying hasn’t changed a bit.” “You say you didn’t do anything, so what about that video? You claim to be Julian Sterling’s wife, but what proof do you have?” “I don’t believe Chloe would jeopardize her own reputation to frame you.” “And I certainly don’t believe Julian Sterling, the CEO of a major corporation, would ever look twice at a cripple like you!” As his words fell, a light bulb went off in my head. Suddenly, I understood the problem with that video.
Before I could even speak, my daughter, Lily, somehow caught up to us. She spread her arms, shielding me. Her big, round eyes glared furiously. “You bad people, let go of my mommy!” “Lily, be careful!” My heart clenched, terrified they might hurt my child. Seeing Lily, Liam suddenly froze. He stared intently at Lily, unconsciously releasing his grip on me. “Who is she? She just called you Mommy. Does that mean… is that my daughter?!” “Aria, why didn’t you tell me you were pregnant? How could you let my daughter live such a hard life with you?!” I seized the opportunity to break free, pulling Lily into my embrace and watching Liam warily. “Lily is Julian’s and my child. She has absolutely nothing to do with you.” Liam couldn’t have fathered such a beautiful child. Lily inherited her father’s striking features; she looked more mature and refined than children her age. But Liam refused to believe me. He even reached out to Lily, trying to pull her from my arms. Seeing Liam’s dazed expression, Chloe grew anxious. She tugged at Liam’s sleeve, tears instantly welling up. “What a smart, sweet child. Liam, if our baby had lived, they’d be this age now.” “My poor baby, they didn’t even get a chance to open their eyes and see this world.” “It’s all my fault for being a useless mother, I couldn’t even protect our child…” Sure enough, after hearing her words, Liam’s softened expression turned cold again. He looked at me with a grim face. “Aria, don’t think you can use a child to make me soft-hearted.” “My daughter deserves better than a despicable mother like you. Once I’ve put you in prison, I’ll take our daughter back and let her live with Chloe. It’ll be a small compensation for her.” With that, he turned to Lily, spreading his arms with an expectant look. “Come here, Lily, come to Daddy.” “Daddy has money! I can buy you a big house and the most beautiful clothes!” I was speechless. Knowing Julian’s temper, if he ever found out someone tried to make his daughter call another man ‘Daddy,’ all hell would break loose. But right now, I didn’t have time to dwell on that; I just wanted to get Lily and myself out of here quickly. I didn’t continue to argue with Liam about Lily. Pulling out my phone, I opened a social media app I’d used before. “You all said I almost drowned Chloe, right? I have proof.” “When I watched the video, something felt off, and I finally remembered why.” “The date on the video is October 30th, seven years ago. But at that time, Liam and I were on vacation in Bali. How could I have teleported back to the country to attack Chloe?” Liam paused, then hesitantly clicked on my social media. Back then, Liam and I were still in the throes of a passionate relationship, often taking photos together. That trip was a spontaneous decision, and I hadn’t told my adoptive parents, fearing their disapproval. When we returned, my parents were furious I hadn’t kept it a secret. To teach me a ‘lesson,’ they broke a cane over my back. Because of this, the memory was incredibly vivid for me. And only Liam and I knew about it; it was our little secret. It was just a shame he never really paid attention to my affairs, which was why he so easily fell for Chloe’s manipulations. Seeing Liam’s expression falter, Chloe started crying again. She looked at me anxiously. “Sister, don’t keep making excuses.” “You already caused me to lose my baby, and you made me infertile for life. Isn’t that enough?” “Why won’t you just leave me alone? Why do you have to keep slandering me?” “Do you… do you hate me so much that you want me dead?” “Fine, then I’ll die! I’ll give you what you want!” With that, Chloe recklessly lunged towards a rock by the roadside. Seeing this, my adoptive parents panicked and immediately sided with Chloe. “Liam, don’t listen to Aria’s nonsense.” “This girl has been a liar since childhood. Just send her straight to the police station.” “Once she’s in front of the police, I’d like to see what excuses she’ll come up with!” The stark difference between love and indifference was painfully clear. For their favored daughter, even with irrefutable evidence, they chose to ignore it. For me, their daughter who had long lost her usefulness, they wouldn’t even spare a glance. I suddenly regretted coming back, regretted still holding onto a foolish hope for these people. In that fleeting moment of thought, Liam suddenly rushed forward to snatch Lily from me. “Sweet daughter, come to Daddy. Your mommy is a lying cheat, we don’t need her.” Lily was terrified by Liam and burst into loud sobs. “No, she’s not! Mommy is the best mommy in the world!” “You’re the bad guys! Let go of my mommy!” Seeing Lily’s little face flushed with tears, my heart was about to break. I lunged towards them, desperate to get my daughter back. But my prosthetic limb had been discarded somewhere. I stumbled and fell again and again, covered in dirt and scrapes. Tears mixed with blood. Lily’s cries and the harsh accusations gradually pushed me to despair. Just then, a familiar figure blocked my path.
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