When our son was critically ill, my husband, Liam, stole all my savings for his lover. “Sarah, you’re a doctor. You know this child won’t live past three. Why waste money on treatment? Better to invest in Jasmine.” Three years later, he and Jasmine showed up in front of me in a beat-up old car. When he saw our son not only alive but having won an international programming contest, Liam burst into arrogant laughter. “Sarah, I can’t believe the kid’s still alive! For his sake, I’ve decided to give you a complete family. You can be our housekeeper from now on, take care of the child and Jasmine.” I smiled. He didn’t know I had been reborn. This time, I wouldn’t let them bully me. I immediately called my current husband. “There’s a crazy man trying to take our son!” My husband’s voice was tense. “Send me your location. I want to see who’s audacious enough to try that.” “Sarah, don’t push your luck!” Liam’s face was a mask of oily impatience as he yanked open my car door, blocking me from closing it. Beside him stood Jasmine, wearing a faded knock-off Chanel suit, yet holding herself stiffly, gazing at me with an expression of feigned pity. “Sarah, Liam really had a hard time abroad these past three years. Don’t make a scene. We’re just trying to give Noah a complete family.” The company parking lot was busy. Many colleagues craned their necks, whispering and pointing at me. Reborn, facing this scene again, my heart still throbbed with a familiar ache. In my previous life, this was where they pushed me to my breaking point. I’d cried hysterically, clutching my son, becoming the laughingstock of the entire company. Liam had publicly slapped me, calling me an ungrateful wretch who only held him back. But this time, I wouldn’t. Noah, nestled in my arms, looked up. His tiny brows were furrowed tightly. He wasn’t like most three-year-olds. His eyes held a calm beyond his years. “Mommy, who are these people? They look so weird.” That innocent remark instantly drained the color from Liam and Jasmine’s faces. Liam glared at Noah, the greed in his eyes almost spilling over. “I’m your dad! Look at you, so sharp, just like I was when I was little!” He reached out to pinch Noah’s cheek, but I quickly pulled him away. I stared at him coldly, like a pathetic clown. “Liam, have you forgotten what kind of child you abandoned three years ago?” My voice wasn’t loud, but it cut clearly into his ears. “He was hooked up to tubes, doctors said he wouldn’t live past three months, he even needed a machine to breathe.” “Now look at my son-healthy, lively, intelligent. When you abandoned him, did you ever think you deserved to be his father?” Liam’s expression froze. He clearly hadn’t expected me to so calmly expose his past. The chatter among my colleagues grew louder. “Oh my god, Liam has a son? I thought he broke up with Sarah years ago to go abroad with Jasmine for further studies.” “That kid looks so smart, not at all like he was ever sick.” “Sarah is so strong, raising a child alone for three years. It must have been incredibly difficult.”
Jasmine’s face turned from pale to green. She dug her nails into her palm, forcing out a wronged smile. “Sarah, I know you resent us, but back then, I had no choice…” “If Liam hadn’t left, his future would have been ruined. I was just trying to help him.” As she spoke, her eyes welled up, and she gazed tearfully at Liam. Liam’s heart immediately went out to her. He pulled Jasmine into a hug, then turned, glaring at me fiercely. “Sarah, stop being so sarcastic! If it weren’t for me, you’d still be a faded, frumpy housewife with nothing!” “I’m willing to acknowledge Noah, that shows I’m being generous! Don’t be ungrateful!” He grew more agitated, spittle nearly flying into my face. “The car you’re driving? Did your poor husband buy it? Could he afford it? You’re still spending my money!” “I’m telling you, I’m taking this kid with me today! And you, you’re coming back with me too!” “My money?” I felt like I’d heard the funniest joke, and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Liam, three years ago, you took the two million dollars my parents gave me for a house, plus all my savings from five years of work. Shouldn’t we settle that score?” At the mention of money, Liam’s face instantly twisted into a foul expression. He squeezed my wrist with such force that I heard a crisp crack. “You dare bring up money? That was for my startup! For our future!” “What does a woman like you need so much money for? Isn’t it all just going into that car now, to make your toy boy look good?” I gasped in pain, cold sweat beading on my forehead. Seeing me bullied, Noah’s dark eyes instantly turned cold. He struggled free from my arms and, like an angry little beast, bit Liam’s hand. “Bad man! Don’t bully my mommy!” Liam yelped, violently shaking his hand. Noah stumbled from the force, almost falling. My heart clenched. I quickly caught my son, shielding him behind me. Liam stared at the deep teeth marks on the back of his hand, his eyes red with fury. He raised his hand, ready to strike Noah. “You little punk! Just like your mother, an ungrateful little monster!” His palm never landed. A sudden force grabbed his arm. Mr. Miller, the company’s security chief, arrived with two other guards, sternly holding Liam back. “Sir, please show some respect! This is company property, not a place for you to cause a scene!” Liam struggled, cursing loudly. “Who do you think you are?! Trying to interfere with my family matters? I’m her husband!” Jasmine shrieked, pointing her finger at my face. “Sarah, you vicious woman! You actually called security to hit the child’s biological father! Is your heart made of stone?!” She cried dramatically, like a damsel in distress, as if I were the villain. I couldn’t be bothered to waste any more breath on them. I pulled out my phone and aimed the camera at their ugly faces. “I’ve already called the police. Keep making a scene, and you’ll be arrested.” Seeing my phone camera, Liam and Jasmine’s arrogance instantly deflated. Liam shot me a hateful glare, lowering his voice in a threat. “Sarah, just you wait! I’m telling you, I’ve done my research. Your husband, Julian, is just a regular college professor!” “I’m putting it out there right now. Tomorrow, I’ll go to his university. Let’s see what a poor professor like him can do against me!”
“And my son can’t be living out there, calling some other man ‘Dad’!” He spat out his threats, then dragged a still-sobbing Jasmine and slunk away into their beat-up used car. Watching them disappear, the coldness in my eyes turned to ice. In my previous life, he did exactly this. He went to Julian’s university, caused a scene, spread rumors that Julian was a home-wrecker, which led to Julian being suspended for investigation. That period was the darkest time for Julian and me. This time, I would never let history repeat itself. I put away my phone and looked down at my son. “Noah, are you scared?” Noah shook his head, his small hand gripping my clothes tightly, his gaze firm. “I’m not scared. Dad will protect us.” I stroked his head, a warmth spreading through my heart. Yes, this time, I had Julian. Liam’s harassment came sooner than I expected. That afternoon, I received a call from Professor Davies at the university. His voice was filled with difficulty. “Sarah, your ex-husband, Liam, is here at the university. He’s specifically asking to see Professor Julian, saying he wants to… ‘settle things’.” “A lot of students are gathering around. It doesn’t look good, so…” My fingers tightened around the phone. Sure enough, he was following the exact same path as in my previous life. Self-righteous, and utterly foolish. “Professor, don’t mind him. He’s just a lunatic. I’ve already called the police.” After hanging up, I immediately sent Julian a text. “Ignore him. I’m on my way.” Julian quickly replied with a single word. “Okay.” I drove straight to Northwestern University. The car sped down the road, and the helplessness and regret from my past life resurfaced. Three years ago, I caught him cheating with Jasmine. In my despair, I had a drunken night with Julian, who was also going through a tough time. I had intended to cut off contact, but then I found out I was pregnant. When I told Liam, he thought the baby was his and was ecstatic. But Noah was born with a rare genetic disease. The enormous medical bills instantly made him change his tune. He colluded with Jasmine, stole all my money, and abandoned Noah and me like trash. When I had nowhere else to turn, I reconnected with Julian. He concealed his true identity from me, only saying he was a regular teacher, but he quietly created a safe haven for Noah. I would never forget that kindness. Liam’s current arrogance was built on his laughable ignorance. Halfway there, my phone suddenly vibrated wildly. Notifications from various social media apps chimed nonstop. I tapped it open. A post titled “Exposed: My Gold-Digger Ex-Wife Married a Poor Professor but Drives a Luxury Car” was trending across all major forums. The poster was Jasmine. In the post, she painted herself as a long-suffering good woman, and Liam as a self-sacrificing good man who went abroad to build a future. And I, on the other hand, was a materialistic, promiscuous villain, using her ex-husband’s money to support her toy boy, and refusing to let Noah’s real father see his child. Attached to the post were photos taken that morning in the parking lot, my luxury car, and a side profile shot of Julian lecturing, somehow acquired from somewhere. In the photo, Julian wore a simple white shirt and classic wire-rimmed glasses, looking gentle and scholarly. The comment section had exploded. “OMG, this woman is shameless! Drives a luxury car, but her husband is a university professor? Can that professor’s monthly salary even cover gas?”
“This professor looks all prim and proper. Is he just some rich woman’s boy toy?” “My heart goes out to the original poster and her boyfriend. They struggled for three years abroad, only to come back and find their home stolen, and the child brainwashed by a stepdad.” “Dox her! Women like this deserve to be cyberbullied to death!” Although my photo was pixelated, anyone who knew me would recognize me instantly. In my company’s chat group, people were already subtly discussing the matter. A tidal wave of malice surged towards me. In my previous life, I was driven to resign by this very public backlash, even falling into depression. But now, looking at the hateful words, my heart felt strangely calm. Because I knew these people would soon learn just how dangerous a person they had provoked. The car stopped at the gate of Northwestern University. I immediately spotted Liam, surrounded by a crowd. He was ranting, tears streaming, telling the surrounding students how he’d been cuckolded and his son taken from him. Jasmine stood by, crying dramatically, fueling the righteous indignation of many unsuspecting students. “Julian! You coward! Get out here!” Liam yelled at the top of his lungs. “Stealing my wife, taking my son, what kind of man are you?! If you have the guts, come out and face me!” Just then, the teaching building doors opened. Julian walked out slowly. He was still wearing that white shirt, his expression composed. Seeing him, Liam seemed pumped full of adrenaline, rushing forward instantly. “You’re Julian? You home-wrecker! Give me back my wife and child!” “Mr. Miller, please watch your language.” Julian adjusted his glasses, his voice quiet but carrying undeniable authority. “Sarah is currently my legal wife, and Noah is my son.” His calmness stood in stark contrast to Liam’s frenzy. Liam was momentarily speechless, then grew even more enraged. “Proof of identity means nothing! Blood ties can’t be changed! What right does a poor teacher like you have to raise my son?!” He pointed at my luxury car not far away, his face full of scorn. “Can you even afford that car? You’re just spending my woman’s money! Everything you eat, everything you wear, isn’t it all from me?” “I’m telling you, today you either give me back my child, or you pay me a million dollars in emotional damages! Otherwise, I’m not done with you!” The surrounding students burst into an uproar, pointing and whispering about Julian. Julian’s expression finally darkened. He looked at Liam as if he were already dead. “You want a million dollars?” “Yes! A million, not a penny less!” Liam, thinking Julian was scared, grew even more arrogant. “Alright.” Julian nodded, pulled out his phone, and made a call. “Come to Northwestern University. I need you to clean up some trash,” he said, his tone flat. Liam and Jasmine were stunned. The surrounding students exchanged confused glances, unsure what was happening. Less than ten minutes later, several black Audi A6s pulled up on campus. Several middle-aged men in suits got out. Leading them was none other than President Thompson of Northwestern University. Mr. Thompson hurried forward, followed by several department heads. They bypassed Liam and walked straight to Julian, their posture extremely deferential, almost subservient. “Mr. Cooper! You didn’t have to come all this way. You could have just sent word!” “Is this the ignorant person causing trouble on your campus?” The entire scene fell silent.
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