He Chose the Princess. I Found My Empire. Liam Taylor and I traveled back in time. In my past life, I was the adopted sister he personally brought home from the orphanage. Later, I became his wife, and we stayed together until old age, our love deep and profound. This life, when Liam’s parents smiled and beckoned to me like before, wanting to take me home, young Liam, however, suddenly stepped forward, blocking their view: “Dad, Mom, don’t choose her. I want the girl next to her as my sister.” He grabbed Chloe, the girl standing next to me – the one who, in the previous life, died from illness before she turned ten. When he turned to look at me, his gaze was as cold as a winter blade: “You took Chloe’s place, causing her to die young. This life, it’s your turn to suffer what she went through.” I understood everything in an instant. So this time, he wanted to be the hero, protecting that fragile “princess.” “Will you come with me?” Mrs. Caldwell stood before me, her voice gentle. I looked ahead – the man who had walked hand-in-hand with me for decades, now leading another girl, walking away without a backward glance. I nodded softly. Fine by me. This life, I wanted to try a different path too.
As I stepped out of the orphanage gates, the Taylors were still there, hadn’t left. The moment he saw me, Liam’s face tightened instantly, and he awkwardly shoved Chloe into the backseat. Before the car door was even properly shut, he yelled at me: “Mila Caldwell, even if you begged me on your knees, I wouldn’t acknowledge you as my sister! There’s no place for you in the Taylor family!” “You, a thief, are meant to be with the Caldwells, the family that will torment you!” The words barely left his lips before he forcefully pushed me, and I almost fell. With a *bang*, the car door was slammed shut. My foot slipped, and I swayed twice, unable to steady myself. Several cars roared off into the distance. The exhaust fumes stirred up a swirl of dust, coating my face and eyes, making them sting so much I couldn’t open them. Just then, a sleek black Maybach slowly pulled up in front of me. The window silently lowered, revealing Mrs. Caldwell’s face, cold as ice: “Want to go to the Taylors’?” I shook my head, my voice quiet: “The Caldwells’ is fine.” She paused, then glanced at me sideways: “What’s your name?” I murmured: “Mila.” “From now on, no more ‘Mila Taylor.’” She uttered a few words calmly, “Call yourself Mila Caldwell.” Few words, but I understood her meaning. I swiftly pulled open the car door, climbed in, and politely said: “Okay, Mom.” Mrs. Caldwell’s eyebrow twitched slightly, but she said nothing, leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes. I didn’t say another word, sitting quietly. The car drove into a luxurious villa complex, stopping in front of the Caldwells’ mansion. I followed her inside, watching her set down her bag. She casually looked up, as if talking to herself, yet also introducing someone. “Asher, this is your new sister, Mila Caldwell.” I froze. Instinctively, I looked up. On the railing of the second-floor hallway stood a young man. He was even handsomer than Liam, his features so clean they seemed unreal, almost overly aloof. I didn’t know how long he’d been standing there, completely silent. My heart skipped a beat. This was Asher Caldwell? So different from how I remembered him… In my past life. Shortly after I was brought into the Taylors’ home, he was sent abroad. When we met again, it was many years later. By then he was in power, but his face was covered in scars, terrifyingly cold. Ruthless in his methods and intimidating in appearance, people in the circle secretly called him “Caldwell the Tyrant.” I smiled at him and softly called out: “Brother.” But he acted as if he hadn’t heard me, still leaning against the railing, his gaze as cold as stagnant water. “Don’t mind him,” Mrs. Caldwell said calmly, “He’s just not one to engage with people.” After she finished speaking, she called for a housekeeper, telling me to follow her to get acquainted with the house, then left herself. I was about to step over the threshold, head bowed. For some reason, as if by an impulse I couldn’t explain, I turned back for a glance. And met the young man’s gaze. His eyes were dark and deep, like a dry well, showing no emotion. My heart gave a sudden lurch. I was about to force a smile. But he shifted his gaze first, turned and went back into his room, closing the door silently.
I’d been with the Caldwells for over a month. Since that day I met Mrs. Caldwell at the orphanage, she hadn’t shown her face again. Asher, on the other hand, I’d occasionally run into him at dinner. Every time I saw him, I’d smile and sweetly call him, “Brother.” But him? He never acknowledged me, not even bothering to lift an eyelid. I wasn’t angry, nor did I feel embarrassed. Because I simply didn’t have time to dwell on such things. My days were packed lately, so much so that even taking a breather felt like a luxury. Mrs. Caldwell hadn’t appeared, but her orders certainly hadn’t stopped. From morning till night, it was either learning posture, practicing dance, or horseback riding; all sorts of elite classes were piled onto me. And it was still summer vacation, a time that should have been relaxing, but it was more exhausting than school. Even Maria, who cleaned the rooms, saw my bruised knees and her gaze softened. “Miss, won’t you tell Mrs. Caldwell to let you rest for a day?” I bent down to put on my shoes, shaking my head gently: “No need.” The day I arrived, Mrs. Caldwell had made it clear. “A Caldwell child has no right to be lazy. Even if you’re not blood-related, you can’t bring shame to this family.” “Unlike that girl next door from the Taylors’, who’s out having fun every day.” Maria sighed, handing me my backpack: “Exactly, they were making a racket early this morning. I heard the whole family booked tickets to go abroad for the summer.” She said that, really, to show she felt sorry for me. She felt that at my age, I shouldn’t be cooped up indoors every day, laboriously practicing these etiquette rules. I stood up, took the backpack, and smiled: “Maria, I’m not suffering. I want to learn this.” Outsiders might find the Caldwells’ rules terrifyingly strict, like a literal ice chamber. But I knew, this was an opportunity. The Caldwells are an old-money family, with deep roots and extensive connections. Any path they chose was something the Taylors, a new-money family, couldn’t achieve in decades. Here, I could learn, and I could rise higher. Even if everyone in the Caldwell household treated me coldly, Mrs. Caldwell was mercilessly strict, and Asher wouldn’t even give me a direct glance… I was lost in thought when suddenly something soft brushed against my leg—a ball of white fluff. Immediately after, an agitated and annoyed female voice rang out: “Oh, sweetie! Wrong person! Come back!” “Brother! Help me catch it!” “Silly thing.” I bent down, picked up the kitten, and stood up. And came face to face with a young man walking towards me. A smile played on his lips, his eyes filled with indulgence. I recognized him immediately— Liam Taylor.
The moment Liam saw me, his smile instantly vanished, replaced by pure disdain in his eyes. “How dare you show your face here again? You’re like a persistent shadow!” His tone was sharp, his words laced with venom: “Don’t think that blocking my path here will change my mind about you. Dream on!” “Mila?!” Chloe’s voice suddenly chimed in, filled with surprise and delight. She came trotting over, her fluffy skirt swaying, her eyes bright: “Wow, I really didn’t expect to run into you after leaving the orphanage! What a coincidence!” She took the kitten from my arms, then turned and saw the black sedan parked behind me, asking curiously: “That car… is it here to pick you up?” The moment her gaze swept over it, she froze, her expression changing completely. “Oh my God! You didn’t actually get adopted by the Caldwells next door, did you?” I was about to speak when my gaze inadvertently fell upon her neck – the key pendant hanging there, so familiar it made my heart tremble. Chloe noticed, instinctively raised her hand, and tightly clutched the pendant in her palm, completely hiding it. I pretended not to notice anything, just nodded calmly: “Yep, I’m living with the Caldwells now.” “So now you’re Mila Caldwell?” I calmly glanced at Liam, who stood there looking awkward, as if he’d just misunderstood something. “Something like that.” “The Caldwells are pretty intimidating, aren’t they?” She leaned closer, lowering her voice, “I heard their son has some kind of mental issue, that he can’t speak. Is it true?” She secretly pointed towards the Caldwell mansion, her face full of gossip, barraging me with questions. I had just started to frown, about to offer an explanation, but she continued to babble on. “Hey, these clothes you’re wearing… are they for horseback riding and archery? You’re actually learning that?” She tilted her head, scrutinizing me from head to toe. “I have things to do, I’m leaving.” I was about to pull away when Liam coldly cut in: “Chloe, why waste time with someone like her? Let’s go.” Chloe acknowledged him, then mischievously stuck out her tongue at me: “Don’t mind him, my brother is usually so gentle, he’s probably just in a bad mood today…” “Brother, wait for me!” She lifted her skirt and chased after him. I stood there, silent for a second, then also turned and left. The wind gently carried their words to me. “Brother, the Caldwells are really harsh, aren’t they? Mila is about my age, and she has classes every day. I saw her arms, black and blue; she must be training so hard.” “Hah, what’s the point of learning all that? A girl doing all these useless things will only suffer sooner or later.” “Our Chloe doesn’t have to suffer like that. She just needs to be pretty and act like a princess.” “Mhm! Dad, Mom, and Brother spoil me the most!” Suffering? So, in their eyes, this is considered suffering? I twitched my lips, not saying a word. In my past life. The Taylors truly poured their hearts into me, providing me with good food and drink. But whenever I wanted to learn real skills, I was always stopped. I wanted to practice horseback riding and archery. They would panic: “What if you ruin your face! How will you get married later!” I was being stalked and wanted to enroll in a self-defense class. They immediately objected: “A daughter of the Taylors learning how to fight? How disgraceful! Aren’t our bodyguards enough?” Later, I wanted to learn about business and bookkeeping. They still shook their heads: “Your brother is handling everything at home. Why bother yourself with it?” They’d say they loved you, but secretly they raised you like a flower that would wilt at the slightest breeze. But Mrs. Caldwell was different. She only said one thing, which I remember to this day: “In the Caldwell family, no one lives by relying on others. If you can learn, you must learn; if you can fight for something, you must fight for it.”
Summer break flew by in the blink of an eye. Before I knew it, it was time for school to start. My mom had already arranged for me to enroll in the same international school as Asher. The same place Liam and I had attended in my past life. On the first day of school, I got into the car early. When Asher opened the door, I cheerfully called out to him: “Morning, Brother! Mom said we’d be going to and from school together from now on.” Asher’s hand paused in mid-air. Then, without a word, he sat in the corner furthest from me. The next day, I did the same. The third day. The fourth day… This went on for nearly two months. But I noticed that even though Asher never spoke to me, and my words were always ignored like they were just thin air to him, sometimes, when I ate breakfast slowly and rushed out of the yard, I’d find him still leaning against the car, backpack on, waiting. I suppressed my surprise and said with a smile: “Brother, you’re really a good person.” As usual, he gave me a faint glance, then slipped into the car without a word. But— This time, when he got in the car, he stepped in with his right foot first! A smile tugged at the corners of my lips. Interesting, he really has changed. That day. After school, I waited at the entrance of the academic building for ages, but there was no sign of Asher, and I couldn’t reach him on his phone. As I was anxiously pacing around, something suddenly *clicked* in my mind. I remembered. Around this time in my past life, a sensational incident occurred at the school gate. Back then, I was desperately trying to catch up with the school’s pace, cramming for lessons. I only vaguely heard students discussing it, saying someone from the Caldwell family had caused trouble. They also seemed to mention that their child had gotten into trouble. Years later, I happened to hear someone mention it. Asher Caldwell, the patriarch of the Caldwell family, had his face deliberately scarred in high school. Could it be… today? Oh no! No time to think! I immediately messaged the driver: “If you don’t see me at the school gate, don’t wait. Come directly to the school’s back alley to find me.” Then I bolted, running towards the back alley. Asher, please don’t let anything happen to you!
When I arrived, the situation was already bad. Asher was surrounded by several thugs at the end of the alley, unable to move. “Well, well, Caldwell’s young master isn’t playing the big shot today, huh? Too much of a mute to even beg for mercy?” “Nonsense, being mute is easier, saves him from running back to complain and cause trouble.” “Damn, this kid still has a stubborn look in his eyes!” The guy who looked like the leader, a high schooler named Mike, sneered and spat on the ground. Then he pulled out a utility knife and directly gestured it towards Asher’s face! My heart plummeted. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a baseball bat lying nearby. I took a deep breath, gritted my teeth, and charged out, shouting as I ran: “The police will be here any second! I’ve already called them!” I swung the bat wildly, my movements pure instinct. Luckily, I hadn’t slacked off in physical education classes recently, so my stamina held up. They hadn’t expected me to suddenly appear, and hearing that I’d called the police, they immediately panicked, scattering and hiding. “Damn it! This kid has serious luck!” After a few curses, they turned and ran, their footsteps hurried and chaotic. Once they were gone, I immediately rushed to Asher’s side. He had a bloody cut on his face, not too deep. But his arms and legs were black and blue, clearly having taken a beating. “Brother, hang in there, I’ll take you home!” I helped him up, ready to leave. Suddenly, a powerful force hit me from behind – I was brutally kicked to the ground! “Hey, Mike, I told you this little punk was bluffing! Called the police? Don’t make me laugh!” “So young and already learned to lie, what a piece of trash!” “A mute loser and a lying cheat, perfect together! Haha!” Mike was furious, kicking my back repeatedly. I curled up, my head tucked in, but my gaze met Asher’s eyes, wide with horror. My lips trembled, but I still managed a weak smile and whispered: “Brother, don’t be scared.” Asher’s whole body jolted. He stared fixedly at me, and I stood in front of him, not retreating a single step. The punches and kicks from behind grew fiercer. Just then— Asher, who had been silent all this time, suddenly pounced like a madman. He bit down hard on the closest guy’s hand, his teeth sinking into the flesh, not letting go! That ferocity stunned the thugs, freezing them for a few seconds. But being outnumbered and weaker, he was quickly pinned to the ground. Punches rained down on his head and chest, and someone even pulled out an iron bar… Could it be… Could we truly not escape this calamity? In my blurring consciousness, I heard voices and footsteps from the alley entrance. Was it the driver…? I desperately forced my eyelids open, trying to look that way. In my field of vision, a pair of clean white sneakers slowly appeared…
Someone stood at the alley entrance, their shadow stretched long by the sun. Mike and his crew immediately glared, yelling fiercely at them. “Where did this newbie come from, staring here for what?!” Newbie? Not the driver? I desperately forced my eyelids open. I wanted to see the person’s face clearly, but blood was smeared all over mine, making it impossible to see anything. Just then, a clear voice echoed from afar. “Liam, why are you just standing there? The cake shop is this way!” The person paused. “Oh, coming.” I blinked, my throat dry, and mumbled a single word: “Brother…” His footsteps faltered slightly. But in the end, he didn’t turn around, slowly walking away with the little girl. The little girl couldn’t help but turn her head to glance into the alley, and the next second, she shrieked. “Brother! There’s someone lying there, bleeding so much! Did you see?!” The moment her words fell, her vision went black – her eyes were covered by a hand. “Don’t look, it’s not pleasant.” Liam’s voice was gentle, like he was coaxing a child. From very, very far away. I thought I heard him whisper: “My little Chloe, this time I found you early, and I won’t let you suffer any injustice again.” “The Caldwells won’t be able to hurt you again, and you won’t leave us early like in the last life.” In my daze, I remembered him mumbling when he was close to his last breath in my past life: “It’s all my fault… if only I had found you sooner…” Back then, I thought he regretted that I hadn’t been able to keep our child, and that I couldn’t have children anymore. I choked out, comforting him: “Old man, in the next life, we’ll still be together, and we’ll have children…” Who knew that what he couldn’t let go of, deep in his heart, wasn’t me at all. What lingered in his heart was that rainy day when he was with me, getting an IV drip, and didn’t rush back to save Chloe. So this life, he kept her tightly by his side, protecting her meticulously. He came here today, not to save me. But merely to see with his own eyes how I, the thief who stole his beloved’s place, was being tormented. But in my past life. I vaguely heard classmates discussing it. After the incident at the Caldwells’, Asher was sent away, abroad. Chloe, however, couldn’t go with him, staying home, her life getting worse by the day. A knowledgeable girl had quietly mentioned: “That day, when they were escaping for their lives, Chloe was the first to run.” “Asher shielded her from the attack, and she ran off without a backward glance…” But Liam insisted on believing that his sister was pure and flawless. Hah. Did he really believe. That girl he doted on so much was truly that kind? I bared my teeth in a grimace, wiping away the blood and tears from my face. Suddenly, I pushed myself up, clinging desperately to one of the thugs’ legs. Let them kick, let them curse, I wouldn’t let go for anything. “You… don’t hit my brother!” My last bit of strength drained away. Before my eyes. Everything went black.
When I opened my eyes, I saw a blurry face resting by my bedside. The air was thick with the pungent smell of disinfectant. My mind slowly came back to me. So I was in the hospital. It seemed the driver had called the police, and I’d been brought here in time. I tried to sit up, perhaps a bit too roughly, and the person next to me stirred, then lifted their head. It was Asher. His naturally alluring eyes stared intently at me for a long time. Then he slowly raised a hand and gently touched the bandage on my head: “Sister… does it hurt?” It had been too long since I’d heard his voice. His voice was a little hoarse, as if he hadn’t used it in a long time. But it wasn’t unpleasant; rather, it was a low, comforting sound. But I was completely stunned. Asher… just spoke to me? It wasn’t just me who was dumbfounded. Even Mrs. Caldwell, who had just walked in, suddenly froze, her eyes wide: “Was that… Asher speaking?” She was always composed, but now even her voice trembled: “Asher, say ‘Mom,’ okay?” Asher merely gave her a faint glance, then turned back, staring at my wound, not uttering another word. I felt a little helpless, wanting to smooth things over, but didn’t know what to say: “Mom, just now, Brother, he… actually…” Mrs. Caldwell waved her hand, her eyes instantly reddening: “It’s okay, no rush, Asher needs time…” She didn’t finish her sentence. Just then, Maria walked in, carrying a lunchbox. During dinner, as she served us soup, she mentioned that the alley incident from that day had been thoroughly investigated. It was just a few street punks who, hearing the Caldwell family had a decent background, got some crooked ideas. What was even more outrageous was that one of them was actually a student from our school! The adult culprits had all been arrested and wouldn’t escape jail time, and the student had been expelled from school, his punishment decided. I hummed in acknowledgment, but my gaze involuntarily drifted to Asher next to me. Who would have believed it? In my past life, just because of these few rotten people’s momentary evil thoughts, such a pure person was dragged into hell. Thankfully, this time. He was sitting perfectly fine in front of me. Asher saw me just staring blankly, my forks untouched, and frowned slightly: “Sister, eat.” I froze, quickly snapped back to attention, and casually picked up a piece of ribs to place in his bowl: “You eat more too, Brother.” Dinner was just finished. A nurse rushed in, bustling and laughing as she pointed at Asher: “Running around again! Do you know your own room is on the third floor?!” Only then did I understand. He had secretly snuck over. Before leaving, he stood by my bed, reached out, and ruffled my hair: “Sister, get well soon.” Just those few words. All the adults in the room had red-rimmed eyes. Maria turned her back, subtly wiping the corner of her eye. After he left, Mrs. Caldwell didn’t move. She stood rooted to the spot, watching his receding figure, for a long time. Today she wasn’t wearing makeup, and her hair was simply tied back. She looked less sharp, with a rare hint of softness. “Asher wasn’t like this before.” “He was obedient, polite, and unnaturally intelligent for a child. Back then, everyone said the Caldwell family had produced a prodigy, not… a silent, withdrawn boy.” She sat beside me, her voice as light as a breeze: “The change began with an accident four years ago.” My heart jolted, and I froze in place.
Mrs. Caldwell began to speak. Asher indeed had a sister before, named Hazel Caldwell. She was the daughter of his father’s younger brother. At that time, Asher’s father and his uncle and aunt passed away young in an accident, and the family suddenly lost half its foundation. The entire burden of the Caldwell family fell solely on Mrs. Caldwell’s shoulders. Hazel was left without care, so Mrs. Caldwell simply took her into their home, raising her like her own daughter. Those few years, the Caldwells had a tough time. With their pillar gone, the Caldwells were like an unlocked money bag; everyone wanted to grab a share. Mrs. Caldwell had to harden her heart, acting decisively when needed, becoming increasingly assertive, and thus offending many. Four years ago, their two children were kidnapped. The kidnappers laid hands on Asher, and six-year-old Hazel, seeing this, immediately pounced. She bit down hard on the person’s hand, refusing to let go. The kidnapper went mad with rage, swinging a stick, hitting her head repeatedly… Asher witnessed the entire scene. After they were rescued, he changed. He never smiled again, nor did he speak another word. Mrs. Caldwell tried every possible method, but nothing worked. Left with no other options, she took an old friend’s advice and brought another “sister” home. Hoping to see if she could thaw the ice in his heart a little. Mrs. Caldwell stood up and slowly walked to the window. She said I wasn’t actually the first girl brought into this family. “Asher has never been this close to anyone. He truly feels differently about you.”
A week later. I returned to the Caldwells’ from the hospital. The atmosphere was noticeably different. Before, everyone looked at me like I was a temporary foster child, an outsider. Someone who could be sent away at any moment, and even calling me “Miss” felt forced. Now, their gazes had changed; it was as if they truly considered me one of the Caldwell bloodline. But my classes didn’t decrease at all; in fact, there were even more. Mrs. Caldwell said directly: “You’ll be joining Caldwell Group later. If you don’t have any real skills, who will listen to you?” At her words, the expressions of several other Caldwell family members nearby changed. Their gazes fell on me, some wary, some scrutinizing, some clearly displeased. I didn’t have time to bother with them, instinctively turning to look for Asher. Afraid he might feel awkward. But I saw him tilting his head, hand propped under his chin, his eyes shining like stars. He stammered out a few words: “Sis… sister, don’t be scared, you’re the strongest.” My nose stung, my eyes felt warm, and I nodded heavily: “Mhm!” Mrs. Caldwell also smiled, her tone gentle: “Asher, you’ll have to work hard, or your sister will leave you far behind. Then you’ll have to rely on her to protect you.” “No, no way!” Asher shot up, his face flushed with urgency. “I… I’ll protect my sister!” With that, he actually assumed a stance and performed a set of punches and kicks. His movements were clumsy, but deliberate and incredibly serious. Ever since that incident at school, he had been at the martial arts gym every day, training harder than anyone. Mrs. Caldwell and I exchanged glances, unable to help but laugh. Watching his flushed face and enthusiastic movements, my lips slowly curved into a smile. Mrs. Caldwell once said: “Asher is lucky to have a sister like you.” But this time. My entry into the Caldwell family, wasn’t it also me finding my light?
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