Everyone in NYC knew Jaxson Reed, the Reed family heir, was head-over-heels for me. He’d shamelessly flaunt our relationship, talking about starting a huge family with me, and every time he did, I’d blush fiercely. To make his dreams come true, after every intimate moment, I’d secretly spend half an hour trying every old wives’ tale in the book. That was until a few days ago. Jaxson had too much to drink at a party. When I went to pick him up, one of his buddies, clearly wasted, pointed at me and slurred, “You, and Jaxson’s ex, and his ex before that—you’re all just stand-ins for his first love.” It turns out Jaxson and Seraphina Thorne were high school sweethearts. The year he loved her most, Seraphina broke up with him and moved abroad without a second thought. He got lost in the past, becoming a playboy, dating one girlfriend after another. And every single one of them, including me, carried Seraphina’s shadow. Even his refusal to inherit the family business after graduation, opting to be a race car driver instead, was because of something Seraphina had said years ago: “Race car drivers are so hot! My future husband *has* to be a race car driver.” Six years of my youth, six years of my genuine heart, all just a cruel illusion. In that moment, I made the decision to return home and accept a family arrangement. I was done with Jaxson. I wouldn’t, *couldn’t*, love him anymore. My soft voice cut through the silent night, clearer than I expected. “Liam, I’ve agreed to the family arrangement.” My brother, Liam Parker, on the other end of the line, finally breathed a sigh of relief. “So you’re finally ready to break up with that boyfriend of yours? After all these years, he wouldn’t even come home to meet Mom and Dad. I always knew you two wouldn’t last.” Hearing his confident tone, I lowered my eyes and mumbled a quiet agreement. “I was wrong before. I’ll wrap things up here as soon as possible. You can handle the wedding arrangements; just give me half a month.” “Don’t worry about the wedding, we’ll take care of everything. You just need to be back in time. This time, Mom, Dad, and I carefully selected your partner. He comes from a good family, has a great personality, and he’s handsome. He’ll definitely impress you.” “Oh, and when you come back for the wedding, remember to invite someone for me. My best buddy, Jaxson Reed. You lived with him for a while when you went to college in NYC, didn’t you? He took good care of you back then, so make sure to invite him to the wedding.” I didn’t know how to respond to that. After a long silence, I finally whispered, “He can’t make it.” Before I finished speaking, the door swung open. With a quick flick of my wrist, I hung up the phone and looked up at Jaxson, who had just returned. He raised an eyebrow, a cocky, arrogant grin spreading across his face. “I can’t make it? Can’t make it where?” *My wedding.* I answered him in my head. But on the surface, I remained calm, seemingly unaffected by anything. My voice was flat. “Nothing.” Jaxson didn’t seem to notice anything amiss, casually unbuttoning his black shirt. “Just talking to your brother?” I hummed in response, getting up to go to the bedroom, but he pulled my hand, circling me into his embrace. His hot breath brushed against my ear, and an electric tension sparked between us. “So, did you tell him what we are?” I managed a small laugh, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “Didn’t you want to keep it a secret?” “Not that I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t. Knowing your brother, if he found out his best friend was dating his precious sister, he’d probably fly to NYC tonight and beat me to a pulp.” Listening to his joking tone, my eyelashes trembled slightly, but my voice remained calm. “So, in your heart, am I your girlfriend?” Jaxson raised an eyebrow, surprised by my sudden question. “Not my girlfriend? We’ve lived together for six years! Not my girlfriend? I come home and immediately hug you? Not my girlfriend, and I do *this* to you?” As he spoke, his warm lips brushed against my neck. My body tensed instantly, and I quickly turned my head, dodging his kiss. “I… I don’t feel well today.” Jaxson mistook my discomfort for shyness and chuckled. “My little girlfriend, we’ve been together so long, why are you still so shy?” He ruffled my hair, then turned and headed to the bathroom. Listening to his receding footsteps, I finally repeated the question to myself. *Girlfriend?* *Shouldn’t it be… stand-in?* I first met Jaxson eight years ago. He and Liam were college roommates, and because they were close, Liam would occasionally bring him home to play video games. It was puppy love at first sight; I instantly fell for the cool, lazy, devastatingly handsome older brother. Later, I graduated high school, and Jaxson also graduated and returned to his hometown in NYC. Longing to be near him, I defied my family’s objections and secretly applied to a university in his city. Because I was pretty and had been harassed by bad boys in high school, Liam didn’t feel safe leaving me alone in a new city. He entrusted me to Jaxson, his best friend, and arranged for me to stay in his apartment. At first, we didn’t have much interaction. I was busy with school, and Jaxson was busy with racing, and busy with dating—he changed girlfriends almost every three days. That was until my sophomore year, when Jaxson came home completely drunk. I stumbled around, trying my best to take care of him. Late that night, looking at him seemingly asleep on the couch, I was overcome by an impulse. I reached out, wanting to smooth away the frown lines on his face. The moment my skin touched his, his tightly closed eyes suddenly opened. Jaxson lazily lifted his eyelids, his voice low and magnetic. “You like me?” Caught off guard, my face flushed, and I sprang to my feet. “N-no…” He smiled languidly. “Don’t like me? Then why does your face get so red every time you see me, little sister?” I hadn’t realized he knew about my stolen glances. Before I could figure out what to do, he chuckled, cupped the back of my head, and pressed a light kiss on my lips. I melted into that tender, lingering kiss, utterly lost. After that passionate night, my once-peaceful life changed dramatically. Jaxson, who had been a wandering spirit, seemed to settle down, focusing solely on our relationship. I repeatedly refused my parents’ and Liam’s demands for me to return home for an arranged marriage, stubbornly staying in NYC, by his side. Every time, Liam would ask me, “Who’s in NYC that makes you stay there for six years and never come back?” Each time, I wanted to reveal my relationship with Jaxson, to tell everyone that I was dating my brother’s best friend. But Jaxson always stopped me. I never understood why, until now. It was because I was merely a stand-in for his first love. He didn’t love me at all. The next day, my biological clock woke me up at seven sharp. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Jaxson tidying his shirt in front of the mirror. His routine was usually reversed; seeing him up this early was a first in my memory. Hearing my footsteps, he turned to me and asked, “How do I look, little sis? Handsome today?” He was a natural model; even a simple black shirt usually looked great on him. Today, he’d made a special effort, and he was undeniably handsome, capable of charming any girl with just a lazy glance. I didn’t know why he was suddenly so concerned about his appearance. Normally, my heart would pound, but now I just calmly nodded. “Yeah, very handsome.” Jaxson didn’t notice my odd behavior. He curved his lips. “I have a party today. Be a good girl and stay home. I’ll bring you dessert when I get back.” With that, he turned and left. After his retreating figure disappeared, I went to pour myself a glass of water, noticing his phone left on the table. As I picked it up, I accidentally hit the power button. The screen lit up, revealing a new message. From someone saved as “Sera.” “Jax, it’s been eight years. I’m really looking forward to the party today. Are you?” My steps faltered at the sight of the message. So, his first love was back in town today. No wonder he was up so early, dressed so meticulously, with a noticeable glow about him. The next second, the front door swung open. Jaxson, who had turned back midway, suddenly returned to grab his phone. Before leaving, he glanced at the screen’s content, his steps pausing slightly, and he couldn’t help but look at me, who was eating breakfast. “Did you just look at my phone?” I looked up, my gaze calm. “No, why?” He finally smiled, as if relieved, said “Nothing,” and left again. This was the first time I felt I couldn’t read him. His heart was clearly with his first love; all his girlfriends were stand-ins for Seraphina. Logically, he shouldn’t care if I discovered the truth. So why did he care if I found out? Was he afraid of losing me? I didn’t want to delude myself into thinking he still harbored any love for me. Besides, I knew the loss was already a done deal. After breakfast, I sat down at my computer and opened my drawing software. I’m a graphic novelist, and with the wedding coming up, I probably wouldn’t be able to work for a long time. While I still had free time, I planned to finish all my remaining drafts. After a morning of work, I packed up half a day’s worth of progress and sent it to my editor, then had lunch. In the afternoon, taking advantage of the nice weather, I started decluttering. Couple’s mugs, keychains, scarves, jackets… I’d bought them little by little over the years, filling a large box. Every time I saw these items, I remembered the helpless look on Jaxson’s face when I’d gotten something new and insisted he wear or use it. “These are all just little girl’s trinkets. Do you really want your Jax to wear these out and be laughed at by his buddies?” Remembering those words, I dragged the box downstairs and tossed everything, box and all, into the trash bin. *Now it’s better. No one will laugh anymore.* Done with the swift disposal, I was about to go back inside when I turned around and bumped into a cool, firm embrace. Jaxson, who had returned without my knowing, put one arm around my shoulder and used the other to brush away my sweat-soaked bangs. “What did you throw away? Why are you all sweaty?” “Just useless trash.” I gave a casual excuse, and Jaxson didn’t suspect a thing. He pulled me upstairs. The moment the elevator doors opened, the sanitation truck rumbled by. Watching the box of items being taken away, I finally averted my gaze. *Trash. What kind of trash was that? Anyone who looked closely would have noticed, but he didn’t ask anything. It was only because he didn’t care.* A flicker of self-mockery crossed my eyes. My peripheral vision caught the unwavering smile on his face, and I paused. Jaxson had a pair of incredibly captivating eyes, and when he smiled, it was impossible to look away. Perhaps knowing this, he usually had a smile on his face. Others might think he was good-natured, but only I knew that his smile was superficial; it never reached his eyes. But today, all day long, when he smiled, his eyes held genuine happiness. Seeing Seraphina must have made him truly happy. As soon as we walked in, Jaxson noticed how empty the apartment felt. He looked around, a surprised expression on his face. “Did we get robbed? Why does it feel like so many things are missing? Where are the mugs? The throw pillows are gone too?” I was about to answer, but Jaxson’s phone buzzed several times. He glanced at the messages, quickly forgot about it, and walked into the study. Before closing the door, he instructed, “Hazel, I have something to do. You go to bed first, don’t wait up for me.” I didn’t ask anything and went to my bedroom alone. The clock on the wall struck midnight. My phone, tucked under my pillow, vibrated wildly. “Happy Birthday, Hazel!” “Happy 23rd Birthday, baby Hazel! Remember to eat cake!” Scrolling down, it was a stream of birthday wishes. My dad, mom, Liam, friends, classmates—everyone, even those thousands of miles away, had sent their blessings. Everyone except my boyfriend, who was just a few feet away, and seemed to have completely forgotten. *Because he had more important things to do.* I closed the half-watched movie on my laptop and clicked the constantly popping-up SnapChat icon in the bottom right corner. It was Jaxson chatting with Seraphina. He didn’t know his SnapChat was logged in on the laptop, and I could see all their conversations. I watched as they talked, from the past to the present, and then about the future. In the long, dense stream of messages, Jaxson never once mentioned me. *Of course. After all, I was just a stand-in, a mere comfort. Why would he mention me?* I watched the constantly refreshing dialogue and pressed the power-off button. I had no dreams that night. The next morning, I was woken by the doorbell. I rubbed my eyes as I walked into the living room and saw Jaxson, who had woken up at some point, holding a bouquet of flowers and a birthday cake. “Hazel, did you order a cake? Why the sudden craving?” A few seconds of silence filled the room before I spoke softly. “It’s my birthday. My friends probably had it delivered.” Jaxson froze. He instinctively looked at the wall calendar and realized it was July 12th. A flicker of guilt crossed his eyes. He quickly put down the items and gently guided me back to the bedroom. “It’s your birthday today. Let’s go out on a date. What do you want to eat?” “No need. Let’s just celebrate at home.” I declined his suggestion. But Jaxson insisted we go out to celebrate, even pulling a dress from the closet and handing it to me. I couldn’t argue with him, so I washed up and went out with him. We went to our favorite restaurant for brunch, then watched the latest movie, and browsed around the mall. In the middle of it, I went to the restroom. When I came back, I saw him on the phone, asking someone at home to order a very expensive necklace. It was the same necklace I’d seen in a magazine half a month ago and instantly fallen in love with. Watching his eager expression, a storm of emotions brewed inside me. I didn’t quite understand what was going on in his head. He remembered a necklace I’d only glanced at, yet he completely forgot my most important birthday. Couldn’t he tell what truly mattered? On second thought, he probably could. Before Seraphina returned, he used me, his stand-in, as a substitute for his affection, paying attention to me in every way. But after Seraphina’s return, all his attention shifted to her. So, anything related to me was simply forgotten. I couldn’t muster any enthusiasm for the rest of the morning, finding little interest in anything. Jaxson noticed my distraction and ruffled my hair. “Little birthday girl, why do you seem unhappy? Aren’t you satisfied with my plans today?” Now that I thought about it, he always loved to ruffle my hair. Subconsciously, he probably always treated me more like a sister than a lover. I shook my head, about to say I was tired and wanted to go home, but Jaxson hailed a car and gave the driver the address of a mountain retreat. Seeing my surprised look, he raised an eyebrow. “Haven’t you always said you wanted to meet my friends? Everyone’s free today. I’ll take you to meet them. Will that make you happier?” This unexpected change of plans left me slightly stunned. In the past, Jaxson was unwilling to meet my family or friends, so I thought I’d try to meet his. But each time, he’d come up with various excuses to refuse. Over time, I stopped bringing it up. Now that I was about to leave NYC, he wanted to take me, probably out of a flicker of guilt. *The irony of it all, really.* I quietly watched the scenery flashing by outside the window, ultimately saying nothing. The taxi stopped halfway up the mountain. Jaxson took my hand and led me into the retreat, pushing open the heavy doors. *Bang, bang!* Confetti and streamers rained down from above. A crowd of people rushed out, shouting “Happy Birthday!” with huge grins. Seeing the commotion, Jaxson immediately pulled me into his arms, brushing the streamers from my hair while shooing away a few of his eager buddies. “Watch it, don’t scare my girl. She’s a bit…” His words trailed off abruptly. He stared at a familiar face in the crowd, his expression suddenly changing. Seraphina, however, looked completely at ease, smiling as she approached. “Jax, it’s been so many years since I moved abroad. I haven’t been to a group event in ages! This morning, I heard you were celebrating your girlfriend’s birthday, so I thought I’d join in. You don’t mind, do you?” Jaxson’s eyes scanned the room, cold and sharp. Everyone present lost the courage to meet his gaze, quickly looking away, pretending it had nothing to do with them. Just as the atmosphere threatened to turn frosty, I politely extended my hand and introduced myself. “Welcome. Nice to meet you. I’m Hazel Parker.” Seraphina stared at me for a long moment, then, as if realizing something, she smiled faintly and shook my hand. “Hello, I’m Seraphina Thorne, Jax’s… friend.” “Hazel, has anyone ever told you we look a little alike?”

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After five years in prison, the first thing I did was book a natural burial. “Ms. Vance, this is your reserved natural burial service. After you pass, your body will be taken to the Alps for a green burial. You’ll need to pay a deposit now, with the remaining balance due within two weeks.” I nodded, fumbling a worn plastic bag out of my faded jeans. I counted the bills and coins I’d saved for so long behind bars, over and over, before finally managing to hand over the full deposit. I’d been diagnosed with late-stage cancer in prison. They estimated I only had a month left to live. I remembered years ago, Julian Thorne and I had promised each other that we’d get married in the Alps, letting the eternal spirit of those majestic mountains witness our unwavering love. Now, the wedding was impossible. Let me rest forever in that pure land; it would be some small comfort. The natural burial wasn’t cheap. After leaving the agency, to settle the remaining balance, I went to apply for a waitress job at the ‘Night Feast’ club. My criminal record meant I couldn’t find any legitimate work, and this was a notorious high-end establishment in the city’s red-light district, where the wages were surprisingly good. After running through a few instructions, they handed me a uniform and told me to start that very night. After a quick training session, I carried a tray of drinks into a VIP room. The lights were dim, and many wealthy elites and socialites were playing games. I lowered my head, half-crouching by the coffee table, carefully setting down the bottles. Just as I was about to turn and leave, that familiar, cold voice suddenly drifted over from nearby. My body stiffened, and I froze instantly! Sure enough, on the high-backed sofa, Julian was seated, the undeniable center of attention. His starkly handsome features, usually so unyielding, seemed even more regal and aloof under the shifting lights. Five years later, his face hadn’t changed at all, but there was an added icy aura that warned others to keep their distance. I couldn’t help but glance at him again, and that’s when I noticed the woman he had his arm around. It was Charlotte Sterling, my best friend. They seemed to be talking about their wedding. “The wedding will be exactly how you like it, by the beach, with pink roses covering everything.” “If you didn’t like the last dress the designer made, I’ll have someone redo it. Everything will be to your taste.” Listening to that familiar voice, my thoughts drifted back, pulling me into the past. Five years ago, I was so close to becoming Julian’s bride. We had grown up together. When my parents died in an accident, Julian was there, helping me through those unbearable years. He cycled me to school, fought my bullies, and even, flushing bright red, bought me pads during my first period. Then, naturally, we fell in love, taking step after step towards the altar. Until, on the eve of our wedding, I accidentally hit Julian’s mother with my car, killing her! I’ll never forget that night. Julian’s eyes were bloodshot, crimson with fury. He cornered me against the wall, demanding to know why, if there was some hidden reason. I had never felt such despair. I looked up and laughed, “There was no reason. She caught me in bed with another man, and she swore she’d tell you everything. I just snapped, got into the car, and… that was it.” I’ll never forget the look Julian gave me then. Fury, hatred, and betrayal intertwined, a suffocating web that trapped me completely, making me feel as if I couldn’t breathe. The story ended with Julian himself sending me to prison. During my five years in prison, I replayed it endlessly: if I had told him the truth, would Julian and I have ended up like this? But my rational mind reminded me: I couldn’t. Because his mother, Victoria, had suffered from severe depression. On the eve of their wedding, she’d had a mental episode, mistaking his bodyguard for his father, and they’d ended up in bed together. I had gone there to discuss wedding plans with Julian and had accidentally witnessed the scene. Victoria, once lucid, was filled with regret. She tearfully begged me never to tell anyone. Though I was conflicted, I ultimately promised to keep her secret. But I never expected that as I got into my car to leave, Victoria, overwhelmed by despair, would throw herself in front of it. Julian had been a prodigy from a prominent family since childhood. If this scandal ever got out, it would bring ruinous damage to him and the Thorne Corporation. People in their circle would look at him differently, might even question his legitimacy within high society. So, for Julian’s sake, I could only swallow the bitter pill alone, taking responsibility for everything. Now, with my terminal illness, there was even less need to reveal the truth. If he hated me, let him continue to hate me. That way, when I left, I could do so cleanly, without any lingering ties. My body trembling, I was about to slip away when a voice from behind suddenly called my name. “Eleanor Vance? You’re out of prison!” I flinched, not daring to meet the sharp gaze from the high-backed sofa. Just as I tried to leave, someone deliberately stuck out a leg and tripped me. Unprepared, I slammed into the coffee table, falling hard to the floor. Several bottles of liquor crashed and shattered with me. My hand was cut in several places, blood welling out profusely. Laughter instantly erupted in the room. Everyone stood, scrutinizing my pathetic, disheveled state. “Eleanor Vance, it really is you! Just out of prison and already working? You’re certainly dedicated!” I kept my head down, silent, only pressing my hand against my bleeding wounds. The person spoke again. “What are you waiting for? You spilled liquor everywhere, now clean it up.” “And remember, you’ll clean it on your knees.” Another wave of laughter washed over me. I could only pull a rag from my apron and kneel, wiping the spilled liquor again and again. I didn’t look up, but I could feel Julian’s hateful gaze fixed coldly on me. It was like a sharp blade hanging over my head, ready to strike a fatal blow. He hated me so much; he must be happier than anyone to see me tormented. After quickly wiping up the liquor, I tried to stand, but the person in front of me wasn’t ready to let me off so easily. “Trying to leave already? Those bottles you broke are priceless. How do you plan to pay for them?” I wrung my hands, at a loss, not even daring to look up. “I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to.” “You think an ‘I’m sorry’ is enough? I doubt you can afford it. Tell you what, I won’t say I didn’t give you a chance. Just crawl between my legs, and we’ll call it even.” The person finished, smirking as he propped one leg on a stool, his gaze mocking me. A fresh wave of laughter spread through the room, followed by a chorus of shouts. “Crawl! Crawl!” I bit my lip, my cheeks burning. Their mocking stares felt like daggers piercing my back; there was no escape. I had no money to pay, and the person in front of me was clearly just doing Julian’s bidding. If I didn’t kneel, they’d find another way to torment me. In those five years in prison, dignity had long become meaningless to me. My vision blurred. I bit my lip until I almost tasted blood. Finally, before everyone’s eyes, with a sickening thud, I sank to my knees before the man. Just as I bent down, preparing to crawl between his legs, the coffee table was violently kicked over, and an icy voice sliced through the air. “Enough!” Then, a sharp pain shot through my arm. Before I could react, I was pulled out of the room. In the dim hallway, Julian slammed me against the wall, his eyes burning with hatred and coldness. “Eleanor Vance, is this how you degrade yourself?” My back hit the cold marble, and I shivered involuntarily. It took me a moment to turn my head. “You shouldn’t defend me. If you do, how could your mother ever rest in peace?” My words evidently infuriated him. He shoved me away. “Defend you? You’re thinking too much. I pulled you out to make a deal!” “You’re short on money, aren’t you? Spend the night guarding my room door tonight, and I’ll give you money. For the coming days, you’ll stay by my side. I promise, I’ll pay you more than you’d earn serving drinks.” He finished, and without waiting for my refusal, he took a wad of cash and savagely threw it at my face. The impact made my head snap to the side, and blood immediately seeped from my cheek. I knew his demand was nothing more than a way to get revenge. And he certainly succeeded. That night, as I stood outside his door, I heard him and Charlotte making love. The man’s muffled groans and the woman’s moans continued for a long time, never stopping. Yet, I stood there like a soulless husk, not even feeling the tears that streamed down my face. The moans lasted all night. It wasn’t until dawn that Julian finally opened his door, looking at me coldly. “Clean up the room.” I looked at the “battlefield” of condoms strewn across the floor, my heart clenching, but I said nothing, only nodding silently. Charlotte emerged from the bathroom, covered in hickeys. She paused, seeing the scene, then linked her arm through his, coaxing, “Julian, it’s all in the past. Just let Eleanor go.” Julian’s lips curled into a smirk, but no warmth reached his eyes. “She wants money, I give her money to do things for me. A fair trade. Why should I ‘let her go’?” He then turned, embracing her, and his tone softened. “Don’t worry. Before the wedding, I’ll make sure she’s out of our lives for good.” For the next few days, wherever Julian and Charlotte went, he’d drag me along. When someone offered a toast, he’d make me take the drink, letting me get completely wasted until I was throwing up endlessly in the restroom, but he wouldn’t let up. During meals, he made me serve Charlotte like a personal maid: peel her shrimp, debone her fish, wipe her hands. He even made me accompany her to the restroom. All the while, he showered Charlotte with affection, right in front of everyone. After every social engagement, he’d impassively pull a stack of cash from his car and throw it hard at me. “Your payment for today.” I never reacted to his humiliation. I’d just silently bend down, pick up the crumpled bills, and carefully tuck them into my bag. Yes, I needed the money. Once I had enough, I could disappear from his world entirely. A natural burial, leaving not a single bone, not a shred of flesh. As if I had never existed in this world at all. On Charlotte’s birthday, Julian threw her an extravagant party. His devotion to Charlotte was evident to everyone. The entire venue was decorated exactly to Charlotte’s liking; I heard they’d used a million roses for the setting alone. Charlotte’s dress that day was the very one Julian’s mother had designed for her future daughter-in-law years ago. They made their entrance, arm in arm, instantly becoming the focus of everyone’s attention. Julian was as handsome and distinguished as ever, but the woman by his side was no longer me. My mind involuntarily replayed our own engagement. That occasion, too, had been grand and elaborate. All their friends and family had witnessed his deep affection for me, as we walked hand in hand, about to enter the gates of happiness. He had presented the family heirloom ring, placing it on my finger, saying that with his ring, I was his, and we would never be apart. The murmurs around me broke my reverie. “What was Eleanor Vance thinking, anyway? She grew up with Julian; he practically spoiled her rotten, doted on her every whim. And she goes and runs over his mother.” “Exactly. Everyone in the city knew how much Julian loved her back then. I really don’t know why she did it.” “If that hadn’t happened, they’d probably have kids in elementary school by now.” “Don’t even think about it. Can you understand the mind of such a viper-hearted woman? She deserves everything she’s getting now.” “Yeah, women like her should just die!” I listened to their curses, my face devoid of emotion. As they wished, I would be dead soon enough. After the party, Julian was still bidding farewell to guests. Charlotte and I waited for him by the lakeside near the entrance. This was our first time alone since my release. Charlotte was silent for a long time before she finally spoke. “Eleanor, do you know? I’ve always been deeply in love with Julian. I fell for him even before you two got together.” “Back then, you both loved each other, and I had given up on him, preparing to bless your union. But why did you betray Julian?” “Do you know how much Julian has suffered all these years? I finally managed to comfort him, so why did you have to reappear now and stir up his feelings again?” I looked at the woman before me, never having imagined that my best friend, who had been by my side all these years, had secretly loved my man. But even now that I had reappeared, I never intended to disrupt their lives. Someone who “killed” his mother, someone on the verge of death, was destined to contend for nothing. “Lottie, I’ll be leaving soon.” Charlotte looked at me coldly, a flicker in her eyes, clearly not believing my words. Suddenly, she took off her engagement ring and forcefully threw it into the lake. “Eleanor, you threw my ring in the water, so you should help me get it back, shouldn’t you?” As her words fell, Julian’s figure appeared, swift as a shadow. He angrily grabbed my hand, his eyes burning with fury. “Eleanor Vance, can’t you go one minute without causing trouble? What does the ring I gave Charlotte have to do with you? Why would you suddenly throw it away?!” I met his gaze. His furious eyes held a flicker of something else—was it… expectation? Was he hoping I’d thrown Charlotte’s ring out of jealousy? A bitter taste filled my mouth, but I forced a smile onto my face. “Why would I throw away an insignificant ring? To me, it’s worth less than the stack of cash you toss my way.” Julian’s eyes instantly turned to ice. He shoved me hard, sending me tumbling into the freezing lake with a splash. My gasp was swallowed by the water, but he’d already turned his back, not even sparing me a glance. “I don’t care how you do it; you will get that ring back for me.” With that, he pulled Charlotte away, hurrying off without hesitation. It was the dead of winter; fresh snow had just fallen, and the air was brutally cold. Shards of ice floated on the lake’s surface, chilling me just to look at them. Submerged in that icy water, my entire entire body stiffened, and the muddy lakebed was filled with sharp debris, drawing blood from my feet. I bit my lip, diving down again and again, then surfacing again and again. I continued this mechanical search in the lake all night, until blood stained a large portion of the water. Finally, I found the ring at the bottom of the lake. When I appeared before Julian, battered and bruised, utterly pathetic, his brow furrowed briefly. Then, with a cold face, he pulled a stack of cash from his pocket and once again ruthlessly threw it at me. As always, I took the money and left in silence. For the next few days, Julian uncharacteristically didn’t bother me. Until one day, returning from an outing, I saw Julian’s entire villa engulfed in thick, rolling smoke as I stepped out of the car. A sudden premonition of dread surged through me. Julian was in danger! The thought flashed through my mind, and I instinctively rushed toward the fire. Julian always preferred quiet, so the household staff only came to clean when he wasn’t home. He’d been staying in for days, so there would be no one else in the entire house but him! Being intimately familiar with the house, I quickly found a semi-conscious Julian in the bedroom. The fire had spread incredibly fast. He must have taken a sleeping pill and been resting, which is why he was trapped so easily, suffocated by the smoke before he even knew what was happening. I strained, pulling him onto my shoulders, and slowly, laboriously, moved toward the door. The fire grew larger and larger, almost completely cutting off our escape route. As I hesitated, a burning beam suddenly crashed down. Without a thought, I threw myself over Julian, shielding him. The searing hot wood slammed into my back, and the pain nearly knocked me out. But looking at Julian, slumped against my shoulder, brows furrowed in his deep unconsciousness, I felt a determination I’d never known. I had to get Julian out, even if it cost me my life. And so, with a desperate resolve, utterly disregarding my own life, I somehow managed to drag a man over six feet tall out of the raging inferno. We collapsed onto the lawn, and I struggled to breathe the fresh air, my entire body covered in wounds. Seeing Charlotte rushing frantically toward us, I mustered my last ounce of strength and pushed Julian into her arms. “When he wakes up, tell him you were the one who saved him.” Charlotte looked at me, perplexed by my request. She called out to me as I stood to leave, asking again, “Tell me, Ellie, did you really kill Julian’s mother on purpose?” I swayed as I stood, my body stiffening at her question. After a long pause, I finally spoke. “Yes.” With that, I hurried away, never looking back. In the days that followed, Charlotte diligently cared for Julian. And when he learned that Charlotte had risked her life to save him, his devotion to her became enviable, almost doting. Their intimate encounters grew more frequent. Standing guard outside their room, I clearly heard their passionate nights and the sweet nothings he whispered to her. I thought, perhaps now, Julian truly loved Charlotte. And that was good. He deserved to find his true happiness. And I, like a rat in the sewer, could only darkly glimpse at others’ joy. The wounds on my back still throbbed. I could only secretly apply ointment when no one was around. One day, as usual, I was hiding in my small room, taking off my jacket to apply medication, when the door suddenly pushed open. It was Julian. His gaze landed on the grotesque scars on my back, and his eyes instantly reddened. Then, he walked toward me, step by trembling step, and spoke. “What are these burns from?” “Were you the one who saved me that day?”

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I really did brave the storm with him. For eight years we were together, only for me to discover he was already married to someone else. It was his first love, the same woman who abandoned him after he lost his sight. For eight years, I was by his side, tending to him, I even knelt outside a renowned doctor’s office for days, begging him to help. But my eight years of devotion meant less than a single word from her. I chuckled, a bitter, self-deprecating sound. I dialed a number. “I accept your terms.” ### Chapter One Inside the Maybach, Julian Hayes was kissing me, stealing my breath and my senses. My clothes were gone, scattered somewhere, but Julian remained impeccably dressed. The stark contrast between us made my cheeks flush crimson. Julian reached out, encircling my waist, and murmured, his voice a low chuckle, “The soundproofing is up. The driver can’t hear anything, and he wouldn’t dare to. What are you blushing about, hmm?” I watched as the usually aloof man’s movements grew more fervent. I embraced him, my eyes filled with love. Just as the wave of pleasure surged, climbing rapidly towards its peak, it was abruptly cut short by a sudden phone ring. Julian frowned, annoyed by the interruption during such an intimate moment, but he picked up when he saw the caller ID. I gasped, catching a glimpse of the contact name. It was Leo, his best friend from his inner circle. “Julian, you’re out of your mind—” Julian’s brow furrowed slightly as he cut him off in flawless Italian. “Not convenient. Speak in Italian.” There was a deep sigh on the other end. After a long pause, Leo’s voice came through in Italian. “You actually registered your marriage with Seraphina? What in God’s name are you thinking? You lost your sight saving her all those years ago! She abandoned you at your lowest point, ran off with another man, and almost ruined you! And now you’re back with her?” Those foreign words automatically converted into English in my mind. When I finally processed what he was saying, a cold dread spread through me, like plunging into an ice bath. Julian, however, didn’t notice my abnormal reaction. “If I don’t marry her, her family will force her to marry an old man. I can’t bear to see her suffer that kind of humiliation.” “What about Chloe? She was the only one with you when you lost your sight! She’s been by your side for so many years, loving you so much she almost gave you her heart! We all saw it!” Leo’s voice was filled with barely contained fury. Julian remained detached. “I’ll find a way to keep it a secret. She’ll never know.” “How long can you hide it? A lifetime? Doesn’t Chloe want to marry you?” The more Julian listened, the more irritated he became, his tone growing urgent. “You need to suppress the news of Seraphina and me registering our marriage. Don’t tell anyone. In a while, I’ll prepare a fake marriage certificate for Chloe.” With that, he hung up, unwilling to hear any more of Leo’s nonsense. When he looked down again, Julian dropped his phone and resumed his assault on me. My entire body trembled uncontrollably. As we both reached climax and began to straighten our clothes, my lips parted. I was about to speak when his phone buzzed again. It was a SnapChat notification, a special alert. Julian picked it up, glanced at the screen, and then instructed the driver to stop. “Chloe, something urgent came up at the office. Could you get off here and take a cab home?” I said nothing, just nodded silently, and opened the car door. The black Maybach sped away like a flash of lightning. I stood on the roadside, staring blankly at the bustling street, no longer able to hold back the tears that streamed down my face. No one knew that to bridge the distance between Julian and me, I had long since learned Italian. So, every word he and Leo exchanged, I understood. Each phrase echoed in my ears, like countless sharp blades piercing deep into my heart. And with the disillusionment of my love, those dusty memories all flooded back into my mind. Julian Hayes was a high-born young master, and I was the daughter of their housekeeper. That year, my mother and I stepped into the opulent Hayes family mansion. There, I saw Julian, elegantly playing the piano bathed in sunlight. I had never heard such beautiful music, nor had I ever seen such a handsome boy. With just one glance, the name Julian Hayes was etched deep into my heart. I never told anyone about the person hidden in my heart. This wasn’t just because of the huge disparity in our social classes, but also because I knew Julian’s heart already belonged to someone else. That girl was Seraphina. They had grown up together, childhood sweethearts. He never hid his affection for her, cherishing her like a precious gem, guarding her in the palm of his hand. At seventeen, Julian even lost his sight in a car accident while saving Seraphina. But from that day on, Seraphina vanished completely, never reappearing at the Hayes mansion. She even started dating someone new. The Hayes family had other grandchildren, but Julian’s parents were constantly busy with their careers, with no time to care for their son who could no longer see. Julian was sent to a remote family estate in the countryside, left alone and isolated. It was I who volunteered to be transferred to the old estate, looking after him personally for seven years. When I was twenty-three, I pleaded relentlessly for days outside a renowned doctor’s office, refusing to leave until he agreed to perform the surgery that finally restored Julian’s eyesight. He broke free from long-term stagnation, like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon, achieving astonishing success that made the world take notice. In just one year, Julian returned to the top, becoming the heir to Hayes Industries. I was the one who accompanied him through winter and summer, I was the one who accompanied him from deep night to dawn, I was the one who helped him endure those difficult seven years. Kissing him, embracing him, sleeping with him… it was all me. But I never imagined that the first thing he would do after regaining power was to marry Seraphina, the very woman who had abandoned him! Over the years, I pushed myself relentlessly to keep up with him. But no matter what I became, Julian’s parents always felt I wasn’t good enough for their son, trying multiple times to pay me off and make me leave. Julian always argued with his family for me, and I never wanted to disappoint him, so I never thought of leaving. Until today. I didn’t want to stay by his side anymore. So I wiped away my tears, pulled out my phone, and dialed a number. “Mrs. Hayes, I accept your offer of fifty million. I’ll leave Julian Hayes forever!” ### Chapter Two On the other end of the line, Mrs. Hayes instantly became ecstatic. “You’ve finally come to your senses? That’s wonderful. You’re just a housekeeper’s daughter; how could you possibly be worthy of my son, the heir of Hayes Industries? Where are you now? Come over quickly, we’ll sign the agreement.” I chuckled derisively as I looked at the address she impatiently sent me. I hailed a cab. Upon arriving at the café, Mrs. Hayes asked me many questions. After I answered each one, she showed a satisfied expression, then took out an agreement and pushed it towards me. “Black and white, no regrets once you sign. I’ll transfer half the money to your account immediately, and the other half will be transferred the day you leave. You must promise that once you receive the money, you’ll never appear before Julian Hayes again, understood?” My eyelashes trembled as I looked at the astronomical compensation written in the agreement. I certainly wouldn’t reappear. Not in this life, nor the next. I never wanted to see Julian Hayes again. So, without hesitation, I picked up the pen and decisively signed my name. Mrs. Hayes finally relaxed. She put away the agreement, stood up, and gave a final instruction. “I’m giving you two weeks. You can change your name or move abroad, whatever you choose. You must find a way for Julian to never see you again.” “I understand, Mrs. Hayes. You can rest assured.” After watching Mrs. Hayes leave, I returned home. Making sure Julian Hayes would never see me again was simple. The Hayes family had deep roots in the country, a powerful legacy spanning generations. It was an unspoken rule, almost a family tradition, that key members couldn’t establish permanent residence abroad. It was about preserving their power and influence, their name, their empire. If I immigrated, Julian would never be able to see me again. After spending most of the night researching overseas information, I finally decided to immigrate to Australia. Once decided, I picked up my phone to check the time, only to see a new SnapChat story notification. I opened it, and it was Seraphina’s post with nine photos. The top three were selfies of her holding roses, the middle three were marriage certificates, and the bottom three showed intertwined hands. I knew that since Julian wanted to keep the marriage a secret, he would never let Seraphina post about it. Yet she still did, and she posted it with settings to ensure only I could see it, a blatant taunt. I played along and liked the post. As soon as I exited SnapChat, I received a message from Julian. “Chloe, I’m going on a business trip. I won’t be back for a few days.” I replied with “Okay,” put down my phone, and went to wash up. The next day, I woke up early to handle my immigration paperwork. Since I was in a hurry, I specifically applied for expedited processing. The staff promised it would be done within half a month, and I finally breathed a sigh of relief. After getting in the car, I scrolled through Seraphina’s SnapChat again. This time, half of Julian’s body was visible. They were holding hands, looking at new houses, and finally settled on a villa in the exclusive Silverwood Estates. Just like yesterday, I clicked “like.” On the third day, I went to my company and resigned. After carrying my belongings home, I saw Seraphina’s SnapChat story. She was already wearing a wedding dress, a dazzling diamond ring sparkling on her ring finger. As always, I tapped the heart icon, then buried myself under my duvet. On the fourth day, I woke up to a new SnapChat update, fresh content again. This time, the camera was focused on wedding photos hanging in their new home. I stared at them for a long while before snapping back to reality. I liked the post as usual, then put on makeup and went out to have a farewell dinner with a few good friends. In the evening, I returned with several boxes and threw away everything related to Julian. All the gifts he had given me over the years, our matching toothbrushes and cups, the photos we had taken together… Nothing was left. It all went into the trash bin. By the time I finished, it was late at night. I was about to turn off the lights and rest when Julian suddenly returned. He froze as soon as he saw the empty room, his brows furrowed. “Why are so many things missing from the house?” “I didn’t like them anymore, so I threw them out. I’ll buy new ones later.” Julian nodded, took off his clothes, and tossed them onto the sofa, but his gaze was drawn to the boxes beside it. “You quit your job?” He paused, then saw the documents on the coffee table. “Why are your identification documents out all of a sudden?” “I was too tired and wanted to rest for a while, so I resigned. The identification documents are because I have some paperwork to take care of.” I explained each point, putting the documents into my bag. Seeing how calm I was, Julian didn’t think much of it. He pulled me into his embrace, his voice tender. “I’ve been busy these past few days and haven’t had time to be with you. Your birthday is in a couple of days. Shall I take you to the auction house tomorrow to pick out some gifts?” I didn’t refuse. The next day, as soon as we settled into our seats in the main hall, I saw Seraphina. She sashayed over to us and sat in the empty seat next to Julian. All evening, Julian kept his head turned towards me, talking, not sparing a glance for the woman beside him. After the auction ended, he didn’t linger, pulling me downstairs with him. Before heading home, I went to the restroom. As I came out, I saw Seraphina cornered in the stairwell by a group of arrogant trust fund kids, who were openly mocking her. “Well, well, if it isn’t Miss Seraphina. You ungratefully abandoned Julian Hayes back then, and now you’ve fallen to this. Wouldn’t you say this is karma?” “I heard your father is forcing you to marry an old man with one foot in the grave. You’re still quite beautiful. Why don’t you come with us? We’d certainly appreciate you more…” The rest of his sentence was cut short. Julian descended from upstairs, his face thunderous, and kicked the young men. ### Chapter Three Then, he pinned the leader to the ground, punching him repeatedly, relentlessly, leaving them all bloody and pleading for mercy. “We’re sorry, Mr. Hayes! We were wrong! Please, be merciful and spare us!” “Get out! If you ever dare to show your faces in front of her again, you’ll face the consequences!” His furious roar sent them scrambling away, practically tripping over themselves in fear. Many onlookers had gathered in the stairwell. Julian ignored their prying glances, helped Seraphina to her feet. “Are you hurt?” Seraphina collapsed into his arms, sobbing dramatically, tears streaming down her face. “I twisted my ankle, it hurts so much.” Julian’s eyes darkened. He scooped her up, pushed through the crowd, and quickly left. To protect the woman in his arms, he held out an arm, accidentally pushing me to the ground in the process. My head hit the hard steps, opening a gash that bled profusely, startling the onlookers. “You’re bleeding from your head! Quick, call an ambulance!” My face contorted in pain, cold sweat breaking out all over my body. Warm blood seeped from my fingers, dripping onto my eyelashes, each drop feeling impossibly heavy. I watched Julian’s retreating figure, not bothering to look back, and a bitter taste filled my mouth. Before, if I’d accidentally cut my finger while preparing soup for him, he would worry for ages, insisting on calling a doctor, terrified I’d be left with a scar. I’d find him overreacting, but he would lower his head, kiss my hand, and tenderly whisper, “Chloe, you are the person I hold most dear. If you get hurt, I hurt more than you. Now that our lives are getting better, you don’t need to do these things anymore. Your hand will soon wear the ring I give you, and a scar wouldn’t look pretty.” Now, I was hurt, and he ignored me. And the ring he promised to me was now on someone else’s hand. The ambulance took me to the hospital. I registered, saw the doctor, and picked up my medication all by myself, not getting home until late at night. That night, the pain kept me from closing my eyes, tossing and turning restlessly. Julian Hayes didn’t come home. The next morning, I dragged my exhausted body up to change my dressing and saw Seraphina’s SnapChat story. It was a video of Julian half-kneeling, rubbing and applying medicine to her foot. I watched it several times, my eyes welling up, and unknowingly fell asleep. When I woke up again, it was dark outside. My phone on the pillow vibrated incessantly. I answered the call, and Julian’s voice listed an address. “Riverside Manor, private room 703. Come over now.” I hesitated for a moment before getting out of bed. I washed up quickly and headed over. As I pushed open the private room door, the first person I saw was Seraphina. Her eyes were red, looking like a wronged little bunny, utterly pitiful. Julian gazed at her steadily, saying nothing, his face etched with a pensive, solemn expression. The room was silent for a long time. Finally, I couldn’t help but speak. “Why did you call me here?” Julian straightened up, clasping his hands together, assuming the posture of a man in charge. “Chloe, were those punks yesterday, the ones bothering Seraphina, sent by you deliberately?” I froze. I instinctively glanced at Seraphina and caught a fleeting look of triumph in her eyes. In that instant, I understood that this was all probably Seraphina’s self-directed drama. I chuckled, a self-deprecating sound. “It wasn’t me. I don’t know them, and I have no interest in doing such a thing.” Julian’s expression didn’t soften with my explanation. He lowered his gaze, his voice calm. “Chloe, the moment Seraphina decided to leave me all those years ago, I completely let her go. You’ve been with me for seven years; you should know who is in my heart now. Seraphina’s family is struggling, and anyone can take advantage of her vulnerability, but it shouldn’t be you. You don’t need to make things difficult for her for my sake.” At this, my heart lurched. I couldn’t help but recall his agonizing cries in the middle of the night, the times I ran around with him, seeking doctors and cures, his silent despair when he was misdiagnosed and told he would never see again… The favored son of fate, who lost his sight completely for a girl. But those desperate days and nights, seven whole years, were now brushed aside so lightly, as if they had never happened. Finally, I thought of the marriage certificate, sealed with an official stamp, between him and Seraphina. Tears welled up in my eyes. “Yes, seven years together. How is it that only now do I know who is truly in your heart?” Julian’s eyes narrowed at my words. “What do you mean?” I shook my head, a self-mocking smile twisting my lips. “It means, I’m just a housekeeper’s daughter. What power or connections do I have to round up a group of men to bully a young lady?” Even though I laid everything out clearly, Julian still didn’t believe me. I was tired. I took a deep breath and gave up on explaining. “Since you don’t believe me, then just tell me directly. What do you want me to do?” Julian pressed his temples. “Apologize, Chloe. When you’ve done something wrong, you should say you’re sorry.” At that moment, Seraphina, who had been looking pitiful for a long time, suddenly spoke. “No need for an apology. If you’re truly sorry, just drink all this wine.” ### Chapter Four On the table, bottles of amber whiskey were arranged. My gaze drifted up to Julian, silently asking for a definite answer. But the dim lighting obscured his expression. In the overwhelming silence, I felt a sudden lack of oxygen. I gasped for air, and many past memories flashed through my mind. When Julian first moved into the old estate, because he couldn’t see, he numbed himself with alcohol every day. Worried about his health, I constantly tried to stop him, but he never listened. Until one time, when he was drunk, he sneered, pushing several bottles of wine towards me. “Now even a housekeeper’s daughter dares to lecture me? Am I truly a fallen phoenix, worse than a chicken? Fine, you drink all this, and I’ll listen to you.” I wanted to tell him I didn’t mean it that way, I wasn’t lecturing him. I was… worried about him. So, even though I was allergic to alcohol, for his sake, I didn’t hesitate for a second. I picked up a bottle and downed it. Within minutes, I was rushed to the hospital. When I woke up, I saw him sitting by my bedside, his face dark as he said, “I was the one who was drunk, not you! You knew you were allergic to alcohol, why would you gamble with your life?” I only answered one sentence. “Because I was worried about you, Master Julian. Your eyes will see again someday. Even if they don’t, I’ll stay with you for life. So, please don’t give up, okay?” From that day on, Julian gave up drinking. For years afterward, not a single alcohol bottle could be found in the house. Thinking about it, I started to smile, but my eyes shimmered with tears. I didn’t explain further. I leaned down, picked up a packet of mustard powder nearby, and poured it into the wine glass, my voice resolute. “Just these drinks? How can that show sincerity? I’ll add a penalty to myself, is that enough?” With that, I raised the glass and tilted my head back, pouring it into my mouth, one glass after another. The pungent and bitter taste spread from my lips down, filling my stomach, reaching but never quite touching my heart. It wasn wasn’t until the seventh glass that Julian, unable to bear it any longer, finally called out. “Enough!” Looking at the dozen or so unfinished glasses, I smiled. “This is enough? So, I’ve apologized? Is that enough to please your beloved?” Hearing this, Julian abruptly stood up and grabbed my hand. His usually expressionless face was now so dark it looked like it could drip water. “You know I didn’t mean it that way! Chloe, I told you, Seraphina and I have nothing to do with each other anymore. The Hayes family won’t approve of me marrying you. If you do something so outrageous, people will seize on it, and I just don’t want you to be troubled or criticized!” Julian spoke with righteous indignation, his words sounding perfectly reasonable. But I laughed out loud. The Hayes family disapproves of me, a low-born housekeeper’s daughter. Would they approve of Seraphina, who repaid kindness with malice, marrying into the family? Yet, despite a thousand difficulties ahead, he still married her just because she said the word, didn’t he? Everything was just an excuse for not loving enough! I didn’t want to say any more pointless words. I shook off his hand and turned to leave. Just as I reached the door, my body swayed, and I passed out. “Chloe!” Julian’s heart gave a violent lurch. He rushed forward without hesitation, scooped me up, and was about to leave. Seraphina quickly grabbed his sleeve, calling out to him with a choked cry, “Julian, I feel a little dizzy.” Julian stopped. But only for a few seconds. He then strode away, leaving only a sentence behind. “I need to take Chloe to the hospital. Call an assistant to look after you.” When I woke up again, I found myself in the hospital. Julian, who hadn’t slept all night, finally relaxed when he saw my eyes open. We looked at each other for a long time, neither of us speaking. Julian poured a glass of warm water and handed it to me, tucked in my blankets, then got up to call the doctor for a recheck, patiently noting down all the precautions. He postponed several urgent meetings. Seeing his secretary waiting anxiously at the door, I finally spoke. “You should go. I can take care of myself. These things shouldn’t be your responsibility anyway.” Julian paused, his hand holding a knife, his voice slow. “Everything I do is my responsibility, Chloe. Have you forgotten? All those years ago, you took care of me just like this.” A flicker of confusion crossed my eyes. Back then, because he was blind, he was abandoned by his wealthy family like a discarded pawn. Only I would teach him Braille, which I taught myself every day, accompany him to classes, take him out to sunbathe, prepare all sorts of delicious food for him… It was as if I’d secretly claimed the moon for myself, and my once dull life became as bright as day. And those seven years that passed were the most precious, joyful times of my life. Unfortunately, the moon didn’t belong to me, and I couldn’t go back to the past. In the afternoon, the doctor took me into the examination room. Half an hour later, the nurse helped me back to my room. As I pushed open the door, Julian was holding my phone, his brows furrowed, speaking to Mrs. Hayes in an icy tone. “I told you, Chloe and I genuinely love each other. We are mutually devoted. I don’t care about her family background, and you don’t need to waste any more effort. I will marry her, and she will not leave me.” Hearing the movement, he looked up at me. The next second, he heard Mrs. Hayes’s puzzled voice from the other end. “What do you mean she won’t leave? Don’t you know? Chloe already agreed to go abroad a few days ago…”

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Everyone knew I was the one who relentlessly pursued Julian. To help him secure a deal, I drank until my stomach bled. One word from him, and I’d drop everything to bring him his jacket. Even when he continuously maintained ties with his ex, I didn’t care. No one knew that what I truly cared about was the beating heart in his chest – the heart of the man I truly loved. But I never imagined I’d gotten it all wrong. **Chapter 1** “Ms. Avery, we made a mistake. The recipient of your boyfriend’s heart wasn’t Sterling Corp’s CEO, Mr. Julian. It was someone else entirely. That person is currently in Silverport.” The voice on the other end of the line was filled with apologies. I stayed silent for a long time before finally speaking, hearing the nervous thumping of their heart through the phone. “I understand.” As I pressed the hang-up button, my room door burst open. Julian stormed in, his face etched with anxiety. He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the exit. “You’re coming with me!” Without a single explanation, Julian forcefully dragged me into the car. He sped through countless red lights, the only sounds were the roaring wind and the engine’s deafening drone. His fingers drummed incessantly on the steering wheel, a soft, repetitive tap that betrayed his undeniable agitation. I felt a slight daze, my mind replaying every moment from our first meeting until now. I’d put all my effort into chasing Julian, relentlessly pursuing him until he finally agreed to marry me. But whether it was taking our wedding photos, exchanging rings, or even our first night together, he had always been distant, as if nothing truly mattered to him. He had never displayed such uncontrolled emotion before. The only person who could evoke such raw emotion from him must be *her*. Minutes later, the car finally screeched to a halt. I stepped out, realizing Julian had brought me to a hospital. Upon asking, I learned that Seraphina, his childhood sweetheart and the woman he’d always secretly loved and idealized, had been in a car accident and desperately needed blood. And my blood type happened to match hers. Seeing that I had arrived, the nurse, equally anxious, grabbed my arm and began to pull me towards the blood donation room. But I suddenly stopped, turning to face Julian. “Julian, I can donate this blood, but you have to answer one question for me.” Julian, torn between urgency and impatience, instinctively assumed I was going to ask about Seraphina. “I’ll tell you about my relationship with Seraphina later.” To his surprise, I shook my head. “That’s not what I want to ask.” I didn’t care about his relationship with Seraphina. After all, he was never the one I truly loved. In my entire life, I had only loved one man. But that man had died in a multi-car pile-up, saving me. After his death, his heart was donated according to his wishes. To continue feeling my love’s heartbeat, I searched relentlessly, eventually finding my way to the recipient—Sterling Corp’s CEO, Julian. From that moment on, I pursued him with a fiery passion. Everyone knew I was head over heels for him, and I earned the reputation of being a devoted and infatuated follower in our circle. Yet, he remained utterly unmoved. Later, through my own investigation, I discovered he had a childhood sweetheart, a woman he had grown up with. She was the golden girl, blessed with talent and charm, and everyone expected them to end up together. Julian loved her, but when he tried to confess, Seraphina shut him down with a simple, “Let’s always be good friends.” Then, she moved abroad and had many boyfriends, but he never gave up hope of her returning to him. He rejected everyone for her, including me, who was madly chasing him. It wasn’t until he saw a picture of her kissing her boyfriend on Ins that he, out of spite, finally accepted my confession and married me. “I only have one question: Four years ago, you had a heart transplant. What was the donor’s name?” Julian frowned, unsure of my intention, but perhaps worried about Seraphina’s condition, he chose to answer. “I only know his last name was Kane.” Kane. That was a completely different name from Liam. It seemed I truly had made a mistake. “Understood. Thank you.” I nodded, not asking anything further, and turned to follow the nurse into the blood donation room. But for some reason, Julian, watching my retreating back, felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of panic. Just as I fully stepped into the room, he couldn’t help but call out, “Why are you asking that?” My expression remained neutral, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world. “Just confirming.” Confirming that I no longer wanted him. The needle pierced my vein, and blood flowed through the tube into the blood bag. As I donated blood, I used my free hand to pull out my phone and send a message to my lawyer. **[Please draft a divorce agreement for me. I want a divorce!]** **Chapter 2** After donating blood, I felt lightheaded and dizzy. Leaning against the wall, I walked out to find Julian standing by the gurney where Seraphina had just been wheeled out of the operating room. He held her hand tightly, whispering something to her, his expression tender, his eyes filled with adoration. He never once thought to ask about his own wife, about how I was feeling or if I was okay. Naturally, he didn’t notice that I had already returned home by myself. Back at the villa, I went straight to the kitchen. Already anemic, and having given so much blood today, my face was still pale. I wanted to make a warm drink to ease my discomfort, but just as I finished pouring it into a bowl, my strength gave out. With a crash, the bowl shattered into a million pieces. In that instant, I, who had remained expressionless through countless insults and humiliations over the years, suddenly felt my eyes well up. “Liam,” I whispered, “without you, I really can’t do anything right.” The spilled tea flowed to my feet. I looked up at the dark liquid, and suddenly, memories of the past flooded my mind. Back then, I had the best love of my life. Back then, my love wasn’t dead. I was always cold, and my periods brought unbearable cramps. Liam would always be so thoughtful, brewing me a warm ginger tea, blowing on it until it was the perfect temperature before gently feeding it to me. Sometimes, I’d be stubborn and pout, and he’d pull me into his arms, using his warm hands to soothe my stomach, telling me it would make the pain go away. When I was irritable and everything annoyed me, he’d quietly sit by my side, letting me hit him, letting me scold him. Afterward, he’d still tenderly rub my hands, asking if I’d hurt myself. I crouched down, picking up the broken shards one by one. Suddenly, a sharp sting shot through my fingertip. I looked up and saw a cut, a trail of blood appearing. Whether it was the pain, or something else entirely, tears streamed down my face, splashing onto the floor. “How could I not have noticed something was wrong? You loved me so much, but Julian was always distant, that heart never beat passionately for me.” I gathered all the fragments and threw them into the trash bin, then smiled. “But it doesn’t matter. We’ll be together again soon.” Julian still didn’t come home the next day. After freshening up, I left to meet my lawyer. Sitting across the table, a drafted divorce agreement lay before me. “Ms. Avery, once both spouses sign this divorce agreement and a one-month waiting period passes, the divorce will be final.” Hearing the lawyer’s words, I thought of Julian, who hadn’t even returned home today, and asked, “Can I sign on his behalf?” “Ms. Avery, that’s absolutely not allowed!” The lawyer immediately shook his head. Seeing his firm refusal, I quickly said, “My husband wants a divorce too, he just doesn’t have time to come. I’m just signing on his behalf. If you don’t believe me, I’ll call him.” With that, I pulled out my phone, found Julian’s number, and dialed. After a long series of beeps, he finally answered. I spoke without even a greeting. “I need to discuss something with you…” My words were cut off by his cool, emotionless voice on the other end. “I’m busy. Just do whatever you need to. No discussion necessary.” Then, I heard another female voice. Without a moment’s hesitation, I recognized Seraphina’s sweet, slightly whiny tone. “Julian, the medicine is so bitter… Do I have to drink it?” As the call disconnected, I faintly heard Julian’s response, a tenderness in his voice he had never once shown me. “No, you have to drink it if you want to get better quickly.” I looked at the lawyer. Hearing Julian’s indifferent attitude, the lawyer finally conceded, nodding his agreement to allow me to sign on Julian’s behalf. With permission granted, I let out a silent sigh of relief and then signed Julian’s name on the divorce agreement. Leaving the law firm, I tapped my phone, booking a flight to Silverport for one month from now. Julian didn’t return home until a week later. It was late at night when he finally came back to the room, covered in dust and a chill. I was half-asleep and didn’t react much to his return. It wasn’t until the bed beside me dipped slightly, and he naturally pulled me into his arms, that I fully woke up. I pushed him away and shifted to the other side of the bed. Julian, rejected for the first time, looked momentarily stunned. The next second, he frowned. “Don’t you usually need to hear my heartbeat to fall asleep?” In our three years of marriage, I rarely made demands of Julian, but even so, the only thing he ever agreed to was this. We had just gotten married then; besides a marriage certificate, he had given me nothing. But I didn’t care. Afterward, I would simply lean into his arms, pressing my ear close to his heart. He asked me why I liked to lean on him like that. I looked up, my eyes shining with affection and love in the moonlight. “Because I love hearing your heartbeat. Can I always fall asleep listening to your heart from now on?” Perhaps the intensity of love in my eyes when I made that request made it impossible for him to refuse. For some reason, he actually agreed. And that habit had continued until now. Whenever he was present, I would instinctively snuggle into his arms, resting my head near his heart. But now, after a moment of stunned silence, I shook my head and said, “No, it’s fine.” **Chapter 3** I rolled over, facing away from him. Julian looked at my curled-up silhouette in the moonlight, a strange feeling stirring within him. This was the first time I hadn’t depended on him so completely. He didn’t like me, so he should have been happy that I was no longer clinging to him. Yet, he felt no joy at all, only an inexplicable emptiness deep inside. *He’s just used to me leaning into his arms, completely dependent on him,* he told himself, trying to rationalize the feeling. The next day, I woke up quite late. When I went downstairs after freshening up, I was surprised to find Julian hadn’t left yet. I blurted out, “Aren’t you going to the hospital to be with Ms. Seraphina today?” Normally, he might have been impatient at such a question, but at that moment, he secretly felt a sigh of relief. *Her behavior yesterday was clearly jealousy over Seraphina.* “Seraphina is just a friend. She had an accident right after coming back to the country, so I just took extra care of her. She’s been discharged now.” He explained patiently, a rare occurrence. He paused, then added, “Didn’t you want me to take you to see the sunset? I haven’t been able to spend time with you these past few days, so as compensation, I’ll take you today.” “No, it’s fine.” Having realized my mistake and now on the verge of divorce, I naturally had no intention of continuing to do these meaningless things with him. I instinctively refused, but he, believing his plan was perfectly reasonable, simply had the car brought around. Dragged along and settled into the car, I stopped arguing and just sat there quietly. The car drove towards the outskirts, quickly reaching its destination. But just as we arrived at the mountaintop, Julian’s phone rang. He picked it up, and the screen flashed, clearly displaying “Seraphina.” After a brief conversation, he hesitated for a moment after hanging up, then got back into the car. He left me with only a short sentence, “I’ll be back to pick you up later.” Despite his words, I waited for a long time. The sun began to set, the twilight faded, and he still didn’t return. There were no taxis on the mountain, and I didn’t bother calling Julian to ask if he was still coming. I simply started walking down the mountain alone. The mountain was high, and the path was steep. Even though it wasn’t a muddy trail, by the time I reached the bottom, my feet were covered in blisters. I pulled out my phone to call for a taxi back to the villa, but then I received a message from one of Julian’s friends from his social circle. **[Urgent. Come to The Obsidian Club.]** Most of Julian’s friends looked down on me, “Mrs. Avery,” who had supposedly chased him for two years before finally marrying him. They rarely contacted me directly, so when I saw the message, I didn’t hesitate. I hailed a taxi and headed straight for The Obsidian Club. It wasn’t that I was particularly worried about Julian; I just feared that if anything happened to him during this time, it might complicate the divorce. But when I found the private room based on the address they sent, I pushed the door open to step inside, and suddenly, a rope appeared beneath my feet. Caught off guard, I tripped and fell, my head hitting the nearby stool with a heavy thud. The pain made me instantly dizzy. My hand flew to my head, and I felt something sticky and warm. The group in the room watched my embarrassment unfold, yet they showed no signs of letting up. The next second, the door slammed shut, and a bucket of water tipped over. *Splash!* A cascade of cold water poured over my head, soaking me completely. “Hahahaha, look at her, all drenched! Doesn’t she look like a dog?” “Hey, don’t say that, Jax, your description is actually pretty spot on!” The room erupted in laughter, their words filled with derision and mockery. The air conditioning in the room was blasting. My damp clothes clung to my skin, and a cold gust of wind made me shiver. Water droplets dripping from my hair blurred my vision. Finally realizing it was nothing more than a cruel prank, my expression didn’t change. I simply wiped my face casually amidst their jeers. Seeing my lack of reaction, some found it boring, while others decided it wasn’t provocative enough. They pulled out a phone and played a surveillance video for me. “Hey, pathetic stalker, we called you here to tell you that Julian’s white moonlight is back.” I looked up. The content on the phone screen was playing right then. It appeared to be in another room. Julian was half-kneeling, massaging Seraphina’s ankle, his face filled with tender affection. “See that? Julian ditched you today to throw a welcome party for Seraphina. She just twisted her ankle a little, and he immediately scooped her up, so worried! Have you ever gotten that kind of treatment in all these years? Don’t hog the space here. Be sensible and give up your spot, or else being kicked out won’t look good.” The friends kept on with their relentless taunts. I struggled to my feet, doing my best to ignore the pain in my foot. My eyes were deep as I looked at them, my voice calm and steady. “Don’t worry, I’ll give up my spot. Because I don’t like him either.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299068”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn

**Chapter 1** Everyone told me I was lucky to marry someone like Julian Hayes. He’d settled down for me, covered grand plazas in flowers to confess his love. I used to believe I was truly lucky, and I accepted his devotion without a second thought. But less than a year into our marriage, he found new bedmates. I was forced into arguments with him, and our relationship grew colder, more distant. It wasn’t until the ninety-ninth time he abandoned me for his latest fling that I finally decided to let go. I handed him the divorce papers while Julian was busy sweet-talking his fifty-second mistress on the phone. “Julian, let’s get a divorce.” “Sign these. In a month, once the waiting period is over, we’ll be strangers.” He grunted, took the papers, and without even glancing at them, flipped to the last page. Casually, he scrawled his name. Done, he stood up, grabbed his jacket, still murmuring sweet nothings to the woman on the other end of the line. “Alright, alright, I’m coming to you now, okay?” He was already at the door when he suddenly remembered something. He turned back to me. “Oh, Delilah, what was it you just had me sign?” You signed it first, and *then* you ask? My lips twisted into a cynical smile. “Divor…” Before I could finish, Julian waved a dismissive hand. “You know what, if you want to buy a house, just buy it. No need to bring me separate agreements to sign. I’m busy trying to make someone happy. I’ve been home with you for days, and my little girl is throwing a fit, you know?” That’s when it hit me. He hadn’t heard a single word I’d said. He thought it was a property purchase agreement. Of course. In our worst fights, my favorite thing to do was buy entire blocks of mansions with Julian’s money. The real estate market was on its last legs, but I poured billions into it anyway, just to lash out at him and my own raw pain. Back then, I still held onto hope for him. That lingering bit of love made me unable to accept the fact that his heart had strayed, pushing me to despair. Yeah, how *did* his heart stray? I still remembered our first meeting, at a bar. I was there to pick up a friend and happened to catch Julian, who was stumbling drunk and about to fall. I kindly helped him steady himself. He just looked at me once, and that was it. He was smitten. Julian Hayes’s name echoed through our social circles. Heir to one of the most powerful families on the East Coast, with a devilishly handsome, carefree face, he changed girlfriends faster than he changed clothes, leaving a trail of broken hearts across the city. I didn’t want to be another one of them, nor did I want to get involved with such a playboy. So, I flat-out rejected him. Who would have thought he wouldn’t give up? Instead, he fixed his sights on me, relentlessly pursuing me, as if he couldn’t see anyone else. Romantic flower displays covering entire squares on Valentine’s Day, all-night fireworks over the ocean just to make me smile, his constant presence when I felt lost… My heart, which had never truly fluttered before, surrendered to his relentless, overwhelming pursuit. After we became official, he stopped juggling different women, focusing solely on me, always letting me know his whereabouts no matter where he went. Everyone said Julian had changed completely for me. I believed it too. So when he knelt, tears in his eyes, and proposed, I joyfully said yes. But less than a year into our marriage, Julian started getting entangled with other women again. We fought countless times. Countless times I stood in our shattered living room, screaming hysterically, like a lunatic, while he massaged his temples, utterly exhausted. Finally, he suggested we “do our own thing, and come back to the family when we’d had enough.” “Delilah, I love you very much, but being with just one person for a lifetime, it gets boring.” “Let’s just do our own thing. Neither of us is allowed to fall in love with anyone outside, and when we’ve had enough fun, we’ll come back home and be a family again, okay?” I refused to agree, but he ignored me, sticking to his plan. Slowly, I broke down too. I also started seeing a handsome college student, Liam Maxwell. At first, I just wanted to spite Julian. But Liam would gently call me “sis” and pamper me. He’d be there at my beck and call whenever I felt utterly alone, and he’d stay by my side, eyes red-rimmed, when I was critically injured in a car accident, accompanying me to follow-up check-ups. The young man was pure and genuine. Over time, my heart, once riddled with wounds, slowly began to heal thanks to him. I thought about offering him a house or a check, but he wanted none of it. He only wanted to marry me. “Sis, divorce him. Try being with me.” Love filled the young man’s eyes, so clear and bright, reflecting a complete version of me. A version of me that had been tormented and bruised by that marriage. Yet, in his eyes, at that moment, I seemed to glow. In that instant, I was suddenly inspired. Life should be lived to the fullest. Even kids know to replace a broken toy. But all these years, these years of mad entanglement with Julian, what had I been doing? So, I said yes. I agreed to be with Liam. And to finally end this shattered, unbearable marriage. **Chapter 2** Not long after Julian left, I received a FaceTime call from Liam. He was in the kitchen, wearing a white shirt, cooking. His bangs gently covered his forehead, and his eyelashes curled slightly, making him look fragile and soft. “Sis, are you divorced yet?” Even though I was several years older and had experienced a lot more, every time I saw that young face, I couldn’t help but blush and feel my heart race. With a face like that, it was no wonder the girls at his school still chased him even after being rejected. I cleared my throat. “I’ve signed the divorce papers. We just have to wait a month, and then we’ll have nothing to do with each other.” Hearing that, Liam’s handsome lips curved into a slight smile. He murmured, “Since you’ll have nothing to do with him, then during this time, Sis, you mustn’t let him touch you. I’ll be checking.” I hadn’t expected him to say something like that. My face flushed slightly, and I sternly replied, “Don’t be silly, you’re just a kid.” Liam looked at me, undisguised possessiveness in his eyes, but it vanished in an instant, replaced by a wronged expression. “Sis, I’m only young in age. In other areas… I’m not small.” Afraid the conversation would stray too far, I quickly cut him off, said a few soothing words, and finally persuaded Liam to quietly hang up the phone. The boy was perfect in every way, except… He was so clingy. After hanging up, I went out and bought a calendar. For an entire month, I practically counted the days. Every day that passed, I’d tear off a page. From October 1st to the 10th, Julian never once came home. But I knew where he’d been, who he’d seen, and what he’d been doing. His new girlfriend, Chloe Miller, an intern at his company, would subtly flaunt their whereabouts daily on her Ins stories. One day they’d be having afternoon tea at a fancy restaurant, the next they’d be playing golf. If they weren’t admiring city lights from a mountaintop villa, they were sharing a hot tub. It was strange, though. Given Julian’s promiscuous nature, he would never waste so much time on one woman. His previous conquests, all sorts of different women, had lasted a month at most before he grew bored. But this Chloe Miller, I didn’t know what her secret was, but three months later, he still wasn’t tired of her. Perhaps this extended shelf life gave her confidence. Unlike other women, she wasn’t content to stay in her place. Instead, she actively added me on SnapChat, subtly provoking me in this way. I didn’t really care for her little games. I was getting a divorce; why would I bother with any of that? These past few days, with nothing else to do, I’d cleaned out everything in the house. The carefully chosen razor, the suits ironed and arranged daily, the limited edition Patek Philippe watch I’d stayed up all night to snag… No matter the value or size, anything he owned that I had given him, I packed up and threw away. Along with them, I discarded all the grievances I’d suffered in this marriage and the genuine feelings I once had for Julian. I had decided to say goodbye to the past and start a new life. Two more days passed, and Julian finally came home. He looked at the noticeably emptier villa and frowned. “Delilah, you threw away my stuff?” I was flipping through a magazine. I hummed in affirmation. “Yeah, I did.” “I bought them. I can throw them away if I want to. Is there a problem? Besides, you never come home, so you wouldn’t even use them.” Julian thought I was still angry about the last incident and deliberately speaking sarcastically. He walked over and sat beside me, coaxing me nonchalantly. “Didn’t we agree, before, that we’d do our own thing outside, and never truly fall for anyone else? Why are you suddenly bothered by it again?” It was the same old casual line. No matter what he did, he always found all sorts of excuses to explain himself. And I, his wife, could only passively accept all the pain he brought, unable to even voice a single complaint. But now, I no longer wanted to argue with him over these trivial matters. I snapped the magazine shut, stood up, and walked upstairs, my voice utterly cold. “You’re overthinking. I couldn’t care less.” Julian immediately assumed I was pretending indifference. He stood up and grabbed my hand. Then, under my impatient gaze, he pulled an invitation from his pocket and placed it in my palm. “Don’t be angry. I’ll take you to an auction tomorrow. Bid on whatever you like, just to cheer you up, okay?” I instinctively wanted to decline. But my eyes caught sight of the Sotheby’s logo on the invitation, and I changed my mind. I agreed. I was getting a divorce anyway. Spending his money to have some fun wouldn’t be so bad. **Chapter 3** At 5 PM, Julian’s car arrived promptly at the villa entrance. I grabbed my bag and headed downstairs. Just as I was about to open the car door, I saw a familiar face. It was Chloe Miller. She was sitting in the passenger seat, hugging a large bag of snacks and drinks, greeting me with a feigned innocent expression. “Mrs. Hayes, I get car sick. Would you mind sitting in the back today?” Seeing the fleeting triumph in her eyes, I lowered my gaze, my peripheral vision catching a dashboard ornament. It was a custom Hello Kitty, with a line of text printed on the butterfly on its head: “Chloe’s Princess Ride!” Seeing I remained silent and didn’t move, Julian knew I was upset again. He murmured coaxingly, “Chloe hasn’t been to an auction before. I’m just taking her to see what it’s like. She’s delicate, Delilah, just humor her.” Humor her? Of course, I could. I didn’t even want him anymore. It was just a seat; I could let that go. I chuckled softly and got into the back seat. Throughout the drive, Chloe munched on various cakes and snacks. Then, she used her own spoon to feed Julian, flaunting their affection as if no one else was there. They chatted endlessly about everything under the sun, her amusing comments and occasional pouts keeping a constant smile on his lips. From beginning to end, I didn’t even spare them a glance, instead rolling down the window to enjoy the autumn scenery outside. When we arrived at our destination, after only a few steps, Chloe whined that her high heels were pinching her feet. Julian chuckled, calling her delicate, but without a word, he took her to the nearest department store, personally selecting flats and helping her try on pair after pair. Watching him half-kneeling, tenderly checking the softness of the shoes, I couldn’t help but recall how, just half a month ago, when I had a high fever and felt like I was burning up, he refused to even get me a glass of water, maintaining his aloof demeanor. She truly was his little princess, pampered in a completely different way. But I used to be the one he held dear and cherished. Back then, I was reluctant to accept his pursuit, so I deliberately challenged him, saying I’d consider it if he could get me that special artisanal cake from the farthest part of the city. That part of the city was almost a whole city away from my place, and it was snowing heavily that day. Any sensible person would know I was intentionally making it difficult for him. But he got into his car without hesitation, spent five entire hours, and presented the still-warm cake to me, carefully held in his arms. Later, I often wondered why, if his love wasn’t fake then, he could change so quickly. Now, looking back, he didn’t change. I just hadn’t seen clearly back then. I hadn’t seen his playboy nature, his true self. No one can make a playboy settle down. I gave a self-deprecating chuckle and entered the venue with my invitation. The first item was already on the block by the time Julian finally came in with Chloe. The auction and dinner were held simultaneously. The tables were laden with exquisite delicacies and fresh, seasonal crabs. As soon as she sat down, Chloe’s eyes landed on the crabs, and she pestered Julian, saying she wanted to eat them right away. Julian smiled wryly, smoothed out her skirt, then politely declined the waiter’s offer of help. He condescended to pick up the tools, meticulously prepared her meal, and placed it before her. Watching his refined and attentive manner, Chloe’s eyes sparkled with endless admiration. I, however, just watched silently. Then I saw Chloe casually point to an emerald jewelry set on the stage after finishing her crab, and Julian raised his paddle. “Bidder number 17 bids three hundred million!” The price sent a ripple of astonishment through the room. No one dared to challenge it, and gasps echoed from every corner. Soon, the dinner reached its intermission. Many guests, holding their champagne flutes, drifted towards table 17, seemingly eager to curry favor. They saw Julian’s doting affection for Chloe and surrounded her with flattery, constantly addressing her with respectful titles like “Mrs. Hayes.” Julian looked up at me and casually reminded them, “You’ve got it wrong. *She* is my wife.” Instantly, the mistaken guests looked embarrassed and quickly corrected themselves. I remained silent, paying no mind to their surprised or pitying glances. They hadn’t actually been wrong. Soon, I wouldn’t be Mrs. Hayes anymore. And given Julian’s doting affection for Chloe, he might even marry her as soon as the divorce papers were finalized. After a brief break, the second half of the auction featured antiques. I wasn’t interested in those, so after bidding on a few of the most expensive pieces, I left early. I had just reached the elevator when I heard Chloe’s syrupy voice behind me. “Mrs. Hayes, can we talk?” I paused. “There’s nothing for you and I to…” Before I could finish, I saw Chloe’s hand fly up. *Smack!* The next second, a harsh slap landed squarely on my face. **Chapter 4** The slap was delivered with full force, and my face immediately flushed crimson. I instinctively clutched my cheek, my head ringing, a blank void in my mind. “Chloe Miller! What do you think you’re doing?!” Once I regained my senses, fury flared in my chest. I raised my hand, intending to slap her back. But my slap never reached Chloe’s face. Julian intervened, catching my wrist. Julian clutched my wrist, his voice laced with suppressed anger. “Delilah, Chloe didn’t provoke you, why would you hit her?” I sharply pulled back my tingling hand, my voice trembling. “*I* hit *her*? Julian, ask any of these bystanders who hit who first!” At that, Chloe immediately adopted a pitiful expression, tears welling in her eyes. “Julian, you said I was timid and needed to find opportunities to build my courage. I just wanted to try slapping the CEO’s wife in public to get over my fear, otherwise, I couldn’t find a suitable chance. But Mrs. Hayes was so fierce just now, I was so scared, boohoohoohoo.” Understanding the convoluted reasoning, Julian frowned. “I told you to build your courage, but why would you hit someone?” “And of all people, Delilah?!” Chloe sniffled, tears streaming down her face like a broken string of pearls. “I’m so sorry, I’m just so silly. You said Mrs. Hayes had a good temper, and I thought she wouldn’t get angry if I hit her, but I didn’t expect…” Seeing her cry, Julian’s heart melted. He forgot all about being angry, wiping her tears away and comforting her. “It’s okay, no one’s blaming you. Don’t cry, sweetie.” Watching the scene unfold before me, I felt a mix of anger and pain, finally unable to hold back my sharp reprimand. “Julian Hayes, *I’m* the one who was hit! How dare you forgive her on my behalf? And Chloe Miller, why are you playing the innocent victim? Who would ever think of hitting someone to ‘build courage’?” Chloe shivered, frightened by my outburst, and began to wail even more heartbreakingly, struggling for breath, on the verge of fainting. Julian’s heart ached for her. He said nonchalantly, “She’s just a little girl, how hard could she possibly hit you? Do you really have to be so petty? She’s practically crying herself unconscious now, Delilah, that’s enough.” With that, he picked up Chloe and left. I never imagined he would say such a thing. I was utterly incredulous, as if plunged into an icy abyss. In the end, I don’t know how I got home. I kept telling myself not to cry, so I held back my tears the entire way, my eyes eventually bloodshot. Upon returning home, the housekeeper gasped at the red mark on my face, immediately asking what had happened, if I had been bullied, and wanted to call Julian to make him come back and demand justice for me. “No need,” I softly stopped her. All her pain, he had personally given her. I sat by the window, applying an ice pack for an hour. Just as the swelling on my face began to subside, I received a SnapChat message from Chloe. “Mrs. Hayes, are you home yet? I’m at the hospital too. Julian was so worried about me. I just fainted, and he booked the entire VIP floor, calling over a dozen doctors to examine me.” “Oh, how’s your injury? It’s all my fault for hitting you too hard. It must hurt, right? Why don’t you come to the hospital now? I’ll be generous and let you have one of my doctors to check if you’ll be disfigured.” I just glanced at it and immediately forwarded it to Julian. It wasn’t until past midnight that he replied with a few words. “Chloe meant well.” I laughed, tears streaming down my face. The next second, I sent him a voice message. “Protecting her so fiercely? Why not marry her right now? I’ll step aside, and even wish you both a long and happy life together.” This time, Julian replied instantly. “Delilah, why are you saying angry things again? I’ve told you countless times, my wife will only ever be you. These other people are just fun. Don’t overthink it, okay? Get some rest. I’ll be back to be with you tomorrow.” Reading that message, I felt all the strength drain from my body, a deep sense of powerlessness washing over me. I gave a self-deprecating laugh, unwilling to waste any more time on his meaningless excuses, and turned off my phone.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299067”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn

男友是个渣男？我转身嫁给亿万富翁！ My Boyfriend’s a Jerk? I’m Marrying a Billionaire! **Chapter 1** After seven years of secretly dating my best friend’s brother, news of his engagement to a powerful heiress spread like wildfire. But the bride wasn’t me. I rushed to Julian Collins’s private room, my hand reaching for the door, when his friend’s voice spilled out. “Jules, you finally got what you wanted. Your first love is back, and your families even sealed the deal with a business alliance marriage. This must be the happiest day of your life, right? That stand-in girlfriend of yours should be ditched. You’re ruthless, using even your own sister’s best friend as a replacement.” My body froze, as if doused in ice water, head to toe. Through the door, I couldn’t see his face, but I could hear the casual indifference in his voice. “Just wait. The girl is too in love with me; she can’t leave. If I tell her the truth now, she’ll probably cry herself to death. I’ll break it to her later.” We’d been together secretly for seven years. He spoiled me rotten, but he always refused to make our relationship public. At first, he’d smiled and said, “Rory, just wait. If Mia knew I ‘stole’ her best friend, she’d kill me.” Later, after I graduated college and became his assistant, he said, “Rory, just wait. Office romances always end messy, and I didn’t want you to deal with all the gossip.” I believed every excuse he gave, playing the role of his secret girlfriend for years, unseen, unheard. But now, I’d heard it with my own ears. The real reason he didn’t want to go public had nothing to do with any of that. It was simply because he’d never loved me. It was because, from the very beginning, he’d only seen me as a stand-in! Seeing the people inside about to come out, I stumbled back, desperately scrambling to get away. I ran all the way back to the villa, straight to Julian Collins’s private study. It was a room he’d never allowed me near, no matter how much I pleaded or how curious I was. Now, I flung the door open. On the desk lay dozens of photo albums. I walked over, picked one up, and flipped through it. They were all photos of the same woman. She looked about 70-80% like me, but it wasn’t me. I figured she was his long-lost love, the Alice Corporation heiress he was about to marry. In the drawer, there was a thick stack of flight tickets—thousands of them. Flipping through the dates, I realized that in the seven years Julian and I had been together, he’d flown abroad almost every week. It didn’t take a genius to figure out who he was going to see. The room he forbade me from entering was filled with his love for another woman. My eyes burned, brimming with tears. After a long moment, I let out a self-deprecating laugh. Laughing at how foolish I was, how stupid, and how utterly ridiculous! All seven years of love had been nothing but a cruel deception. Just then, my phone suddenly rang. It was my dad. “Aurora, how are you coming along with that arranged marriage? You’ve been away since college, never coming back. Your dad knows you have a boyfriend over there, but after all these years, has he ever come back with you to meet me? The man I picked for you is one in a million…” He rambled on, trying to convince me as usual. But this time, before he could even finish, I choked back my tears and cut him off. “Dad, I’m sorry. I’m willing to go through with the marriage.” My sudden agreement stunned him. Mr. Evans was silent for a long moment before realizing I’d finally given in. “Are you… are you serious?” “Yes, I am. And this time, I’m staying back East for good. I won’t leave again.” My dad exclaimed “Good!” several times, delighted, then gave a few more instructions before hanging up. I carefully put everything I’d disturbed back in place and quietly left the room. As I reached the living room, the front door suddenly opened, revealing the face I’d loved for seven years. Julian saw my swollen eyes. He quickly offered me a jewelry box, his voice soft and soothing. “I knew you’d cry. You saw the engagement news, didn’t you?” “The engagement is fake, just for a business deal. We’re putting on an act for a while. I’m not really marrying Seraphina.” His gentle eyes met mine, but I didn’t hear a single word he said. I already knew the truth. So, of course, I knew he was lying. I casually placed the gift on a nearby table and calmly nodded. “Okay.” Whether his engagement was fake, I didn’t know. But my upcoming marriage? That was very, very real. **Chapter 2** Julian had prepared himself for a long session of coaxing, but he never expected me to be so calm. A flicker of unease crossed his face. “Rory, you’re not mad?” “You said it’s fake, so why would I be mad?” Hearing me say that, the heavy weight in his chest lifted. He instinctively pulled me into his arms, his hand sliding possessively to my waist. But as his fingers traced upward under my shirt, I grabbed his hand. He froze, his question unasked, as I pulled free from his embrace. “I’m not feeling great tonight. Let’s just skip it.” “Period cramps?” Julian didn’t push it. He just rubbed my lower back and held me all night. The next morning, I woke up to an empty bed. I didn’t dwell on it. After showering, I took a taxi to the office, heading straight to HR. I picked up a resignation letter, then slipped it into a pile of documents that needed signing before heading upstairs to the CEO’s office. But the scene before me made me freeze. Julian, the man who always seemed so untouchable, was kneeling on the floor, gently massaging the woman’s feet. He’d taken off her heels and placed them aside, then softly picked up a pair of flats and helped her put them on. “You must be tired from those heels. You don’t need to be perfect around me; I just want you to be comfortable.” Hearing my entrance, both of them turned to look. They saw me, frozen in the doorway. Julian’s face instantly changed, but he quickly regained his composure. He hadn’t even spoken yet when Seraphina, beside him, frowned and said, “Jules, your assistant is so rude. She just walks in without knocking?” My mouth opened, words of explanation ready, but nothing came out. How could I explain? How could I say that was once a privilege Julian had given me? But now that he had a fiancée, how could I even mention such a thing? I turned to Julian. His eyes darted away. He cleared his throat, his tone suddenly all business. “What are you doing here?” “Mr. Collins, there are a few documents that need your signature.” After a moment of silence, I handed him all the documents. I watched as he took them, skimming each page, signing his name with swift, practiced strokes. As he reached the last page, I couldn’t help but press my lips together. It was my resignation. “Ah!” Just as I worried whether he would agree to sign, a sudden gasp erupted. I looked towards the sound to see Seraphina’s teacup overturned, scalding hot water spilling onto my hand. It stung so badly my eyes welled up with tears; I must have looked so pathetic. Julian panicked instantly. He didn’t even glance at the documents, just scribbled his signature on the last page. Then he scooped Seraphina into his arms and practically ran out of the office. Watching their figures disappear behind the door, my heart felt incredibly complex. I didn’t know whether to be sad that he cared so much about Seraphina that a small injury made him lose all reason, signing documents without even looking. Or if I should be grateful that Seraphina got hurt at just the right moment, prompting Julian to sign my resignation so decisively. I gathered the signed documents, then, holding my resignation form, I went back to HR. “Since Mr. Collins has approved it, you can leave after the one-month process is complete.” I nodded. As I returned to the assistant’s office, my phone buzzed repeatedly with new messages. It was from the colleagues who had gone to the hospital with Julian, chatting in the SnapChat group. “Mr. Collins is so good to Miss Seraphina! Just a scalded hand, and he booked her a whole private floor at the hospital!” “Right? Right? Miss Seraphina said she wanted something to eat, and no matter how far, he immediately sent someone to get it!” “Did you see the way Mr. Collins looked at Miss Seraphina? I’ve never seen him look at anyone with such tenderness! It looks like the Collins Group is about to get a new First Lady!” … Reading the messages, I let out a self-deprecating chuckle. Julian truly loved Seraphina. He loved her so much that when Seraphina went abroad to pursue her dreams, he flew out to see her every month, and it still wasn’t enough. He even found me to be her stand-in, to ease his longing. Now that Seraphina was back, he immediately got engaged to her, giving her the public acknowledgment I’d waited seven years for. A bitter ache spread through my chest. I shut off my phone, not wanting to see anymore. **Chapter 3** After working for a while at my desk, it was lunchtime. Just as I was about to head downstairs, my dad called again. “Aurora, since you’ve agreed to the marriage, when are you coming home? I need to arrange the wedding.” “In a month. My resignation process takes a month.” Thinking of the resignation I’d just handed in, I answered honestly. I heard my dad say “Good” before hanging up. Seeing this, my other colleagues in the office crowded around, a flurry of questions and comments. Their voices were filled with unconcealed surprise. “Aurora, you’re leaving? Why?” I paused, then didn’t hide anything. “I’m going home to get married.” “So sudden?” “To whom? I never heard you had a boyfriend.” “Your hometown is back East, right? Once you leave, who knows when we’ll see each other again. Let’s have dinner after work, a farewell party for you!” I smiled at their chatter and didn’t refuse. After dinner with my colleagues that evening, I was about to hail a taxi when a Maybach suddenly pulled up beside me. The window slowly rolled down, revealing Julian’s face. “Get in.” He was blunt, but I didn’t obediently get into the car as he expected. Instead, I started walking down the street, as if I hadn’t seen him, trying to hail another cab. Julian’s expression tightened. He quickly started the car and followed me, which caused most taxis to deliberately ignore me. After the third taxi was squeezed out, I finally stopped, exasperated. I opened his car door and got in, met with his somewhat helpless face. “Rory, I already explained, didn’t I? Seraphina and I are just putting on an act. Why are you mad again?” “I’m not mad.” I stared straight ahead, my voice completely calm. But he refused to believe me. “If you’re not mad, why didn’t you get in the car earlier?” I paused, then a faint, mocking smile touched my lips. “Didn’t you say yourself that our relationship had to be a secret? My colleagues are around. If they saw us, how would it stay a secret?” Julian didn’t get angry at the biting sarcasm in my voice. Instead, a faint smile played on his lips. He pinched my cheek. “Still saying you’re not mad? You clearly care. Seraphina and I truly have nothing going on; it’s all just an act. I’m not actually marrying her. Don’t keep giving me the cold shoulder. Once all this is over, I’ll declare that you’re the one I truly love, in front of everyone, okay?” He expected my emotional tears, but instead, I just stared at him directly. After a long moment, I finally spoke. “Really?” My stare made him flinch. He unconsciously shifted his gaze and didn’t answer. I just thought, *Figures.* Even if he had answered, we both knew those words would be nothing but a lie to string me along. Julian not marrying Seraphina was a lie. Julian going public with me was also a lie. But it was fine. I had already decided to leave, so at this moment, I wasn’t so heartbroken. The next day, as I arrived at work, I suddenly received a SnapChat message from Julian, telling me to go to a bridal boutique. Julian was my boss, so I couldn’t refuse. I called a taxi and headed over. As I reached the entrance, I immediately spotted Julian’s unmistakable Maybach. I walked straight towards it without stopping. The car window was down, revealing two people passionately kissing inside. Hearing my approach, Seraphina, blushing fiercely, pushed him away. “Stop it, someone’s coming…” The moment he looked up and saw me, Julian’s expression froze. Seraphina had specifically used his phone to call an assistant to help her try on wedding dresses today. She just hadn’t expected the assistant she called to be me. He leaned in, whispering to soothe Seraphina. “Let’s get someone else. She’s young and clumsy; she won’t take good care of you.” Seraphina’s smirk played on her lips as she looked at me. “No, I think she’s perfectly fine. You let me use your phone to call an assistant. I thought anyone could be called. What, is she an exception?” Julian still couldn’t refuse Seraphina. Or rather, he never outright refused her demands. Even when she deliberately humiliated and tormented me throughout the wedding dress fitting, he just sat there watching, never saying a word to stop her. For example, Seraphina forced me to kneel for half an hour, helping her try on wedding shoes. For example, Seraphina made me run errands for food again and again, from one end of the city to the other. And for example, Seraphina made me hold up every wedding dress she tried on, until my arms trembled, without letting me put them down. Julian looked at my flustered and humiliated state. A flicker of something—discomfort? guilt?—crossed his face. Seraphina, noticing his expression, pouted playfully and looked at him. “Jules, do you think I’m being too hard on her?” He finally hardened his expression. When he looked at Seraphina, his eyes were full of tenderness. “No, darling. Isn’t that what assistants are for?” **Chapter 4** After coaxing Seraphina for a while longer, Julian’s phone suddenly rang. He stood up, pointed at his phone, indicating he needed to take a call, then turned and left. As soon as he was out of earshot, Seraphina’s gaze shifted to me in the full-length mirror, still holding up a wedding dress behind her. A mocking smile played on her lips. “Yesterday, when I saw you, I was curious why you looked so much like me. Now I know. You’re my stand-in, aren’t you? But I’d advise you to drop any foolish notions. After all, Jules and I are getting married.” My voice was calm; I didn’t even lift my head. “Don’t worry. I won’t fight you for him.” Seraphina let out a dismissive snort, clearly not believing me. She was about to speak when a sales associate approached. “Miss Seraphina, the wedding dress and shoes have been selected. Only the matching jewelry is left. Would you like to choose it now?” She nodded, but after a cursory glance at the jewelry laid out by the associate, Seraphina remained unsatisfied and asked for new options. She looked through everything, but still nothing caught her eye. Just as the staff looked flustered, her gaze shifted and landed on the necklace around my neck. Her eyes lit up. Her voice turned imperious, brooking no argument. “I like yours. How much? Sell it to me.” I froze, my hand instinctively went to the silver, diamond-studded planet necklace around my neck. My face instantly hardened. “I won’t sell it.” “I said I like it, so it has to be mine.” As if my refusal was unexpected, Seraphina’s face stiffened for a moment. She reached out and tried to yank it off me. I was completely caught off guard. Seraphina yanked the necklace from my neck. I ignored the sharp sting from my neck. As I reached out to try and snatch the necklace back, it, unable to withstand the tug-of-war, snapped. The planet pendant clattered to the floor, shattering into a million pieces. My mind went completely blank. My hand shot out, connecting with her face in a resounding slap. A bright red handprint instantly appeared on Seraphina’s face. She touched her cheek, her eyes wide with disbelief. “You dare hit me?!” Julian walked in on this exact scene. His expression changed instantly. He quickly strode forward and shoved me away. “Aurora, what the hell?!” I couldn’t react fast enough. He shoved me, and I fell, my forehead cracking against the corner of a table. A sharp crack. Excruciating pain exploded in my head. I touched my forehead, and my fingers came away sticky, crimson red. I looked up at Julian, my breath ragged. But the man who’d just made me bleed was now anxiously cradling another woman, listening intently to her tearful accusations. “I just thought Miss Assistant’s necklace was pretty and wanted to buy it, but I accidentally broke it, and then she hit me…” Following Seraphina’s pointing finger, Julian also saw the shattered necklace. His expression froze for a moment, but then he looked at me, his eyes carrying a hint of impatience. “It’s just a trinket, what’s the big deal? Did you really have to hit her?” His accusation was the final blow that shattered me, making my eyes well up instantly. I didn’t answer. I just quietly moved to where the necklace lay shattered and began picking up the pieces, one by one. *A trinket?* He knew. He knew it was my mother’s last gift! I remembered the winter we first started dating. I’d accidentally lost the necklace in the snow. He’d trudged through the snow, flashlight beam cutting through the darkness, searching for it all night. The next day, he was burning up with a fever, all because of the cold. My heart ached as I hugged him, crying for a long time. Yet, he, the one who was sick, was the one comforting me. “I can’t stand to see you cry. Never mind one day, I’d search for three days, ten days, just to find it for you. Don’t cry. Just wear it carefully from now on and don’t lose it again.” But now, my necklace was broken, and he said it was just a trinket. Julian, if you never loved me, why did you ever bother with me? Julian left, carrying Seraphina. I was left alone, crouching on the floor, my eyes red, picking up every single fragment before stumbling out. The next few days, I took some time off and got a few stitches at the hospital. Julian didn’t come home during those days. The day my wound healed, my best friend, Mia, called me. “Rory, I saw a pair of earrings in Paris that I thought would be perfect for you. I’m back in town today. Why don’t you come over to my place for dinner, and I’ll give you your gift!” I was already going home and needed to say goodbye to Mia anyway. So, I didn’t refuse. I quickly got ready, using a thick layer of foundation to cover the wound on my forehead, making sure no abnormalities were visible before heading out. When we met, Mia was exceptionally excited. She linked her arm through mine and pulled me inside, chatting enthusiastically about her travels. I listened quietly. After she’d given me the gift and we’d finished dinner, I finally told her I was going home to get married. Mia was thunderstruck by the sudden news. “No way, Rory! Why so sudden? What about that boyfriend of yours?” I shook my head. “I dumped him.” Seeing my crestfallen look, Mia didn’t know the whole story, but she guessed I’d been mistreated. She was both angry and heartbroken. She quickly hugged me. “Good riddance! You should’ve dumped him! What kind of boyfriend doesn’t go public after dating for so many years?” “It’s all his fault for breaking your heart, making you run home for an arranged marriage. Rory, you’re my best friend! It’s so far back East. Once you go back, when will we ever see each other again?” Thinking of the impending separation, both our spirits sank. Finally, Mia became overwhelmed with emotion and hugged me, burying her face in my shoulder. Julian walked in just as we were like this. He looked exasperated. “You’re grown women. Still hugging and crying?” Mia straightened up, her eyes red. “Rory’s going back home to get married! What’s wrong with crying?”

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**Chapter 1** After I swallowed the milk Seraphina herself handed me, my eyelids grew heavier and heavier. My consciousness began to slip away, detaching from my body. I don’t know how much time passed, but I felt myself arrive in an unfamiliar place. All I could hear was a faint, familiar voice near my ear. “Seraphina, are you insane? Are you really going to secretly remove Asher’s kidney and give it to Caleb?” It was Valerie, Seraphina’s best friend. “He’s the only match,” Seraphina’s voice was terrifyingly calm. “Caleb’s condition is life-threatening; there’s no time to wait.” “As for Asher… I’ll compensate him. Didn’t he want me to marry him? After the surgery, I’ll propose. I’ll never divorce him, not in this lifetime.” A glass vial smashed against the floor. Valerie practically screamed, “What good is any compensation when he’s missing a kidney?! I swear, has Caleb hypnotized you? Years ago, during that terrible accident, you crippled your legs saving him, lost your inheritance, and he just turned around and ran off with another woman! During that time, Asher was the one by your side, taking care of you. To give you your treatments, he used himself as a guinea pig, leaving his legs black and blue with bruises! To find a cure, he knelt outside a renowned doctor’s door for a whole month!” “Now Caleb is back. As soon as he saw you healthy and in charge of the company again, he started fawning all over you. Then, when he found out you were pregnant with Asher’s child, he threw a tantrum. The moment he cried, you immediately took abortion pills and terminated your first child! Asher still believes he accidentally failed to protect your baby and was depressed for three whole months!” “And now, you’re actually going to remove his kidney and give it to Caleb?!” “That’s enough!” Seraphina’s voice suddenly rose. “I know Asher loves me, loves me enough to give everything. And Caleb? He’s selfish, greedy, and vain. But I love Caleb. I love him like a madwoman!” “Then what about Asher? What is he?!” “He’s nothing! My mind is made up. No one can talk me out of this today. I *will* take his kidney!” The moment those words fell, I felt the surgical blade slice into my skin. The anesthesiologist clearly underestimated my drug tolerance. Every single inch of pain was starkly clear, terrifyingly real. But compared to the physical pain, what hurt more was the heart in my chest, being slowly torn to pieces. I had loved Seraphina for ten years. From sixteen to twenty-six, my youth, my affection, my everything, I gave to her. I watched her love Caleb, watched her become obsessed with Caleb, watched her fall apart after Caleb abandoned her. I stayed by her side through the darkest days of her disability, enduring her outbursts and her gloom, even being pushed to the ground and bruising my knees when she lost control. Yet I never once complained. I just silently picked myself up and continued to care for her. I thought, one day, she would finally turn and see me. But it turned out… in her eyes, I was utterly worthless. Ten years, a whole decade. Even after everything we’d been through, she still only loved Caleb. Because of a single word from Caleb, she was ruthless enough to abort our child! And because Caleb needed a kidney, she hid it from me, and had mine taken for him! I don’t know how much time passed, but I felt something being violently torn from my body— It was my kidney, and it was all ten years of my love! When I woke again, the strong scent of disinfectant in the room stung my eyes. “You’re awake?” A deep, alluring female voice came from the doorway. My body stiffened, and I slowly raised my gaze. Seraphina stood in the doorway, backlit, her tall figure cast in a cool, stark silhouette. She walked closer, her slender, long legs beneath her white dress, each step feeling like a stomp on my heart. She sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to stroke my face. Her thumb brushed away a tear from the corner of my eye, and she frowned slightly. “Does it hurt a lot?” I looked at her, my heart feeling as if an invisible hand was squeezing it tight, the pain almost suffocating me. How could she… ask me if it hurt, so gently? How could she, after personally carving out my kidney and terminating our child, sit before me so nonchalantly, looking at me with such a concerned expression? “What… happened to me?” I asked, my voice impossibly hoarse. Seraphina’s expression remained unchanged, her tone soft. “You had a sudden appendicitis attack. The surgery is over.” Appendicitis? I laughed, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. She couldn’t even bother to come up with a convincing lie. Seeing my tears fall so fiercely, endlessly, she didn’t notice anything amiss. She simply thought I was in great pain and quickly said she would go find a doctor for me, then hurried away. But once she left, she never came back. Three hours later, a nurse pushed the door open to change my IV, whispering as she did: “Ms. Seraphina is so devoted to Mr. Caleb! She stayed up all night with him, and then, just now, she heard Mr. Caleb woke up and wanted porridge from that old-school diner across town. She rushed out to get it herself, even in this downpour…” Hearing that, I couldn’t hold back; tears welled up and spilled over again. So that was why she didn’t return. She was so certain I loved her, so sure I wouldn’t be mad, that she couldn’t even bother to send a text message as a token explanation. Seraphina, do you think I’m some kind of pathetic doormat? What makes you think I’d love you without any shred of self-respect? I stared out the window, my tears finally dried up. I don’t know how much time passed, but after the nurse left, I pulled out my phone. My fingertip hovered on the screen for a second, then dialed a number. The call connected. A low, languid female voice answered, “Mr. Asher?” I took a deep breath, my voice soft, but clear. “Scarlett, are you… interested in marrying me?” There was a moment of silence on the other end. “Did you dial the wrong number? I’m not Seraphina.” “I know.” I clutched my phone, my knuckles white. “I’m asking you.” “I don’t want to marry Seraphina anymore.” Scarlett seemed intrigued, her tone slow and deliberate. “Oh? And what makes you think… I’d marry you?” I closed my eyes, my voice calm. “Because you’ve always despised Seraphina.” “And because—” I paused, enunciating each word, “—the side-profile photo on your desk… that’s me.” **Chapter 2** A deathly silence. After an eternity, I heard the faint click of a lighter opening and closing on the other end. Scarlett’s soft voice, laced with the scent of tobacco, asked, “How did you know?” I gazed at the sterile white ceiling of the hospital room, the fluid in the IV bag dripping steadily, like a countdown to my vanishing devotion. “You just need to answer: Are you willing or not?” Silence hung on the line for two seconds. Then, the woman finally spoke. Her tone carried an indefinable emotion, and I could hear her breathing quicken slightly. “Come to me within seven days, and we’ll register our marriage.” “And—” she paused, “—after you marry me, you can never have any involvement with Seraphina again.” I closed my eyes, my voice soft yet resolute. “I won’t.” “In seven days, I’ll never see her again.” After hanging up, I immediately booked a flight to Seaside City for seven days later. That was Scarlett’s territory. … The rest of the day, Seraphina never reappeared. Only a caregiver pushed the door open, respectfully saying, “Mr. Asher, Ms. Seraphina’s company has been extremely busy lately, so she asked us to look after you.” I gave a faint “hm,” not bothering to call her bluff. I knew Seraphina wasn’t busy. She was by Caleb’s bedside, never leaving him. It wasn’t until the day I was discharged that Seraphina finally showed up. She wore a form-fitting long dress, her eyes showing a hint of fatigue, yet she was still breathtakingly beautiful. Seeing me packed and standing at the hospital room door, she quickly walked over, reaching out to take my bag, her voice apologetic. “I’m so sorry, Asher. Company matters have been overwhelming lately, and besides… I was preparing a surprise, which is why I couldn’t be here with you.” I dodged her hand, clutching my own bag as I walked forward. “What surprise?” Seraphina’s lips curved upward slightly, a rare softness in her eyes. “I’m taking you somewhere.” Half an hour later, the car stopped in front of a luxurious hotel. I followed Seraphina inside. The moment she pushed open the banquet hall doors, my eyes were met with a sea of roses and candlelight— It was a proposal! Guests turned, their gazes focusing on me. Seraphina took my hand and led me to the center, then took a diamond ring from her pocket. “Asher.” She looked up at him, her voice deep and serious. “Will you marry me?” I stared at her, my heart feeling as if an invisible hand was squeezing it tight. How desperately I’d once longed for this moment. But now, looking at the exquisite, glittering diamond ring, all I felt was an overwhelming sense of irony. This proposal, which I’d waited for so long, had been bought with my own kidney! I was about to refuse when the banquet hall doors suddenly burst open— “Excuse me, I’m late.” A weak, breathy voice spoke. I turned and saw Caleb standing at the doorway, pale, dressed in a white shirt, tears glistening in his eyes. “Seraphina, Asher.” Caleb walked over, his voice choked with emotion. “What happened back then, it was my fault. I shouldn’t have been pestering Seraphina lately. I interrupted you both… So this time, when I heard about your proposal, I made sure to come and offer my blessings.” As he spoke, he pulled out two elegant gift boxes from his bag and handed them to Seraphina and me. “I wish you both… happiness.” With that, he turned to leave, but after only two steps, his body swayed suddenly, and he dramatically “collapsed” to the floor. “Caleb!” Seraphina’s face instantly changed. She abruptly stood up and rushed over without hesitation, helping Caleb up. She even forgot she was in the middle of proposing to me. Forgot that the un-given diamond ring was still clutched in her hand. The guests instantly erupted in a flurry of whispers— “Tsk, tsk, there she goes again… The moment Ms. Seraphina sees Caleb, everyone else just disappears from her eyes.” “Asher’s been by her side for so many years, and he still can’t compare to a single glance from Caleb.” “The only one she’s ever truly loved is Caleb.” I stood rooted to the spot, my fingertips digging deep into my palms. I watched Seraphina carry Caleb away in a rush, watched Caleb, nestled in Seraphina’s arms, subtly mouth a message to me— “You’ll never be better than me.” Amateurish acting. But Seraphina didn’t even hesitate to believe it, without a single doubt.

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I am the real daughter of this family. My daily pursuit is to lie on the sofa and do nothing, watch TV shows and eat takeout. When my foster sister heard I was back, To prove she was better than me, she and I took over two of our family’s failing subsidiaries at the same time. The words barely left her mouth when an emergency news bulletin flashed across the screen. My old factory, which I barely remembered owning, had just been rezoned as a core development area due to new urban planning. The compensation? A staggering two hundred million dollars. “Hazel, just look at you!” My mom, Vivian Hart, jabbed a finger at my nose, trembling with rage. “Why can’t you be more like Camilla? More ambitious?” “If you had even half of Camilla’s drive, would the Hart family still be scrambling to impress the Lees?” Beside her stood my adoptive sister, Camilla Hart, who had received an elite education since childhood. Camilla was dressed in a designer suit, her makeup flawless, exuding an aura of polished professionalism. She was a top university graduate, fluent in four languages, the golden girl everyone admired. Meanwhile, I was in an oversized T-shirt and shorts, about to order a huge plate of spicy shrimp takeout. To smooth Camilla’s path, Mom had signed me up for a business gala, practically dragging me out of bed. She frowned, eyeing my T-shirt. “You’re wearing *that*? You’ll be a complete embarrassment to the Hart name!” Camilla, ever so graceful, glided over. Her voice was soft, but in her hand, she held a Dior dress she’d clearly outgrown. “Mom, don’t be upset. Hazel, I’ve only worn this Dior once. You can wear it, try not to shame the family.” Her tone was pure condescension, a charity handout. I couldn’t be bothered to argue, but Mom shoved me into the room anyway, forcing me into the ill-fitting dress. At the gala, Camilla was the center of attention, effortlessly navigating the crowd. She could chat in fluent French with guests and engage in deep discussions with top business magnates, glass of champagne in hand. Me? I just wanted to find an unnoticed corner to hide. A sleazy man with a drink in hand sidled up to me, a lecherous grin on his face. “So this must be the Hart family’s second daughter? Heard so much about you. Care to join me for a drink?” I looked at him, dead serious. “Will drinking with you get me a free spicy shrimp platter?” The entire room fell silent. The man’s face flushed crimson. Camilla elegantly came to my rescue, yet her words made me feel utterly worthless. “My apologies, Mr. Thompson. My sister is a bit… unrefined. She grew up in the countryside, isn’t used to society. Please don’t mind her.” My dad, Richard Hart, looked absolutely furious. He dragged me home, cleared his throat, then slammed two documents onto the coffee table. “These are two of the group’s near-bankrupt subsidiaries. You two girls each get one. One month. Whoever can turn their company around will have a better claim to…” He didn’t finish, but his meaning was crystal clear. He looked at Camilla, his eyes full of expectation, then glanced at me, adding coldly, “I know Camilla’s capabilities. What about you? What can you bring to the Hart family?” Camilla picked up one of the files, a triumphant smirk playing on her lips. “Dad, Mom, don’t worry. I won’t disappoint you.” She finished, then shot a challenging look my way. I nonchalantly picked up the other file, not even bothering to read the company name, and simply stuffed it into my pocket. “Sure, got it.” My attitude completely enraged them. “Hazel Hart! What kind of attitude is that?! Do you have any idea how much Camilla sacrifices for this family? She raises investments, runs deals, she’s running herself ragged! And you? All you do is lie here and order takeout!” Mom’s voice was shrill and piercing. Too lazy to argue, I turned and went back to my room.

The next day, I went to the so-called company. A dilapidated office, a few scattered desks, and a dozen employees looking utterly miserable. There was fifty grand left in the bank. I called the accountant over. “Distribute this fifty grand to the employees based on their tenure and position. Consider it severance and compensation.” The accountant was stunned. “Ms. Hart, this… this is all the company’s remaining liquid capital! If we pay it all out, the company will truly go bankrupt!” “Then let it.” My reply was concise. That afternoon, the company was dissolved on the spot. I dusted my hands and headed home, continuing my grand project of lying flat. That evening, Camilla returned, looking utterly worn out. Her heels clicked aggressively on the floorboards. She kicked open my door, a report slammed onto my face. “Hazel Hart! You useless idiot! I closed a hundred-thousand-dollar deal today! And you? You actually dissolved the company! You’re just a good-for-nothing, can’t be helped!” I slowly tore open a bag of chips, crunching loudly. “Oh, congrats.” “You…” She gasped, her chest heaving, her pointing finger trembling. “The Hart family has no room for a self-sabotaging waste like you! Just you wait!” I watched her retreating back, fuming with frustration, and popped another chip into my mouth. Why bother fighting? Lying down is so much more comfortable. The next day, I was woken from my sleep by a commotion. My mom, Vivian Hart, pushed open my door directly, followed by several household staff. “Throw out all her junk food! And all these messy clothes, every last one!” I frowned, sitting up. “Mom, what are you doing?” “What am I doing? I’m teaching you how to be a person!” She stood with her hands on her hips, looking at me with exasperated disappointment. “Your sister was up until three in the morning working for the company, and you? You slept until now! From today onwards, all your bank cards are suspended. You’ll only get a thousand dollars a month for living expenses. I want to see how you’re going to ‘lie flat’ then!” I watched the staff toss my beloved snacks, bag by bag, into the trash. It annoyed me a little. But arguing was too tiring, so I chose to stay silent. After they finished their rampage, I slowly got up and freshened up. Then I received an unfamiliar call. It was Dave, a former employee from that company yesterday. “Ms. Hart, thank you so much! My wife’s sick and desperately needed money. The money you gave me really saved my life!” On the other end, Dave’s voice was tearful, overflowing with gratitude. He said the employees had pooled money and wanted to treat me to dinner. I refused. Doing good deeds without seeking recognition – mainly, going out to dinner was too much effort. But somehow, the news reached Camilla. That evening at dinner, she started speaking in a snarky tone: “Well, well, our great philanthropist is back? I heard you used all the company’s money to buy goodwill? Hazel, you really are something. You’d rather give money to outsiders than help your own family.” My dad also snorted, “You’re a hopeless case, can’t even stand on your own, and now you’re trying to look like some kind of saint. That fifty grand, if it went to your sister, it could’ve revived a project. In your hands, it’s just money down the drain.” I took a sip of soup and said nothing. Seeing I wouldn’t engage, Camilla pressed on. She pulled a cheap cloth bag from her purse and tossed it in front of me. “Seeing as your cards are suspended, you probably can’t afford a decent bag. I happened to pass a street vendor today and picked this up for you. Twenty bucks, no need to thank me.” Her dismissive gaze was like looking at a beggar on the street. I looked at the flimsy Peppa Pig tote bag and suddenly found it a little funny. “Thanks, sis.” I accepted it calmly. It would be perfect for grocery shopping tomorrow. She turned livid with anger, left her dinner unfinished, and stormed upstairs. Mom sighed dramatically, heartbroken. “What a tragedy. Camilla is such a good child, how did she end up with a sister like you?” I quietly finished my meal. Alright, the word “sister” still sounded quite natural. They seemed to have forgotten that Camilla and I weren’t actually blood relatives.

In the days that followed, Camilla was like a woman possessed, leaving early and coming home late, constantly attending business dinners. Her company was reportedly thriving, quickly securing its second and third rounds of investment. Meanwhile, I went to the local produce market punctually every day, carrying my Peppa Pig tote bag. Because my living expenses were cut, I learned to haggle fiercely with the elderly vendors over every single cent. One day, as I was battling it out with a vendor over the price of a potato, a man in a sharp suit approached me. It was Dave. He looked much more energetic than last time, with a middle-aged man beside him. “Ms. Hart, let me introduce you. This is my cousin, Mr. Harrison. He’s in the construction materials business.” Mr. Harrison handed me a business card, his manner very polite. “Ms. Hart, I’ve heard so much about you. Dave told me everything. You’re a truly generous person. I’m looking to expand a warehouse recently, and I heard you own a disused old factory. Would you be interested in selling it?” I paused, surprised. An old factory? I remembered now. It was a birthday gift from my grandpa when I turned eighteen. He’d held my hand and said, “Hazel, you have a kind heart, unlike the others. This land will bring you blessings someday.” But that place was practically in the middle of nowhere, a forgotten wasteland for years. I’d almost completely forgotten about it. “That place… it can actually be sold for money?” “Of course!” Mr. Harrison’s eyes lit up. “Even though the location is remote, the area is huge, which perfectly suits my needs. I’m willing to offer you four hundred thousand dollars. How does that sound?” Four hundred thousand dollars. To me, that was an astronomical figure. Dave was an honest man, and his cousin looked trustworthy. I barely hesitated before agreeing. On the day of the contract signing, I deliberately brought the Peppa Pig tote bag my sister had given me, with my ID and household register inside. After getting the money, the first thing I did was go to the mall and buy a ton of snacks, then took a taxi home. When I appeared in the living room, lugging multiple shopping bags, the three Hart family members stared at me, their expressions strange. “Hazel Hart! Where on earth did you get the money for all this junk?” My mom was the first to attack. “Oh, I sold that old factory Grandpa gave me,” I replied casually. “Sold it?!” Camilla shrieked. “You actually sold it? For how much?” “Four hundred thousand dollars.” “Four hundred thousand dollars?” Camilla burst out laughing as if she’d heard the funniest joke. “Hazel Hart, are you stupid? Even though that factory is remote, the land alone is worth at least half a million! You actually sold it for four hundred thousand? You’re such a spendthrift!” She acted utterly distraught, as if the factory belonged to her. My dad’s face was grim. “Nonsense! Why didn’t you discuss family matters with us first? Four hundred thousand, you’ve been ripped off!” I looked at their outraged faces and suddenly felt completely bored. “It’s sold, what’s the point of talking about it now?” I didn’t want to waste any more words on them. I took my snacks and went upstairs. Behind me, Camilla’s scornful sneer followed. “Trash will always be trash. Even if a gold mine falls into her lap, she wouldn’t know how to keep it.”

A month later, it was the Hart family’s private dinner. Ostensibly a family gathering, it was actually a celebration for Camilla, hosted by Mom and Dad. Apparently, her subsidiary’s market value had tripled in a month, becoming a small miracle in the industry. At the dinner, Camilla wore a dazzling red gown, her chin slightly raised, basking in the praise of all the relatives. “Camilla is truly amazing, a credit to the Hart family!” “Indeed, unlike some people who occupy a position but do nothing but squander resources.” Everyone’s gaze subtly shot glances my way. I was wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans, sitting in a corner, intently gnawing on a king crab leg. It tasted good, just a little salty. Camilla, holding a champagne flute, gracefully approached me, looking down on me with a condescending air. “Hazel, I hear you’ve been living quite comfortably lately, thanks to the money from selling the factory?” I nodded. “It’s alright. I have unlimited snacks now.” She scoffed, her voice low but loud enough for everyone to hear. “Some people are just born trash, a lost cause. Give them all the wealth in the world, and they’ll still blow it. Give them an opportunity, and they’ll ruin it with their own hands.” She paused, her eyes openly contemptuous. “A month ago, we were given identical companies. I grew mine to be worth millions, while you personally dissolved yours. Now, for a mere four hundred thousand dollars, you sold the most precious sentimental keepsake Grandpa left you. Hazel, tell me, what good are you?” The entire room fell silent. Everyone stared at me, waiting to see my humiliation. My mom, Vivian Hart,’s face was a mix of embarrassment and shame, looking at me as if I were her enemy. My dad, Richard Hart, also had a face so grim he looked absolutely furious. I slowly wiped my hands, looked up, and was about to say something. Just then, on the large screen in the center of the banquet hall, where financial news was playing, an emergency bulletin suddenly interrupted. “Breaking news from the city: To support urban development, the municipal government has decided to officially designate the South City suburb as a core development area, to build a brand new tech city…” The anchor’s voice clearly resonated throughout the hall. On the screen, a huge development plan was displayed. A bright red circle was heavily marked in the center of the blueprint. That location… I squinted. Why did it look so familiar? The mocking expression on Camilla’s face hadn’t yet faded. She followed my gaze and scoffed, “What are you staring at? What does national news like this have to do with useless trash like you?” The words had barely left her mouth. In the news, the anchor continued, her voice excited: “It is reported that the demolition compensation standards for this project will reach an unprecedented high. Among them, the former Starlight Machinery Plant, located in the core center, is estimated to receive demolition compensation of… a staggering two hundred million dollars!” The Starlight Machinery Plant. Wasn’t that the factory I had just sold? The entire banquet hall instantly fell into a deathly silence. Everyone’s eyes immediately fixed on me. Camilla’s smile completely froze.

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The five years of my marriage turned into a complete joke in that one moment. “For tomorrow’s monthly report meeting, I want Chloe to present your brand strategy proposal.” My husband, Marcus, said without even looking up from his desk. I put down the files I was tidying, thinking I’d misheard him. “What did you say?” “Chloe just joined the company. She needs an opportunity to prove herself, and your proposal is perfect for that.” He finally looked up, his eyes leaving no room for discussion. “That’s my submission for the competition.” “You win awards every year anyway. What’s the big deal about letting her have one?” His tone was dismissive, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Besides, the company needs to nurture new talent.” I looked at the man who had shared my bed for five years, and suddenly, his face seemed to blur. “Do you know how many all-nighters I pulled for this proposal? You’re giving it to an intern who just started?” “Cassidy, don’t be so petty. It’s just a proposal, isn’t it?” His expression hardened. “My mind is made up.” My fists clenched, blood boiling in my veins.

I never imagined that my husband of five years would hand over the creative proposal I’d worked on all night, exactly as it was, to an intern who’d only been with us for two weeks. When I saw Chloe, standing confidently at the company’s monthly report meeting, presenting my brand strategy proposal – the one I’d crafted over three sleepless nights – the feeling of betrayal washed over me like ice water from head to toe. My colleagues in the audience shot admiring glances at Chloe, and the department manager nodded repeatedly. Some even whispered about the newcomer’s exceptional creative talent. I sat in the last row of the conference room, watching the girl seven years my junior in her perfectly tailored business suit. She elegantly gestured at my brainchild on the projection screen, introducing “her” creative concepts to everyone. Marcus sat at the head table, his eyes brimming with pride and satisfaction, as if he’d discovered some incredible talent. He even publicly praised Chloe, calling her a rare creative star the company had seen in years, worthy of everyone’s emulation. My fists were clenched so tight under the table, my nails practically digging into the flesh of my palms. After the meeting, I cornered Marcus right outside his office. He still had that excited look on his face when he saw me, his eyes sparkling, completely oblivious to the gravity of the situation. “Cassidy, you saw it, didn’t you? Chloe really is talented. That proposal was absolutely brilliant.” I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice calm. “Marcus, that was my proposal.” He paused, then waved a hand dismissively, his tone light. “Oh, you mean that. “I thought Chloe just joined the company, and she needed an opportunity to prove herself, so I let her practice with your proposal.” Practice. My three days and nights of hard work had, in his words, become a tool for an intern to “practice” with. “Do you know what that proposal meant to me? It’s my submission for this year’s Asian Creative Awards.” Marcus’s expression finally flickered with a hint of discomfort, but it quickly reverted to that familiar, entitled look. “You win awards every year anyway. What’s the big deal about letting her have one?” “Besides, this was just an internal report, not the actual competition.” A fire raged in my chest, blood churning through my veins. “Marcus, what am I to you?” He seemed startled by my sudden serious tone, a flash of unease in his eyes. “Don’t be like this, Cassidy. Chloe’s just a young girl, fresh out of college. I was just trying to help her grow quickly.” I turned and walked away, not wanting to hear any more of his excuses. I heard him call my name behind me, but I didn’t have the strength to turn back.

The next morning, I deliberately avoided leaving the house with Marcus. After arriving at work, I went straight to my personal studio. This was a private space Marcus had specially carved out for me at the company, filled with all my creative works and award certificates from over the years. But the moment I pushed open the door, I froze. All the trophies and certificates that used to be displayed in the cabinet were gone. The posters I had personally designed, hanging on the wall, had been taken down, replaced by some decorative paintings I’d never seen before. What infuriated me even more was finding Chloe sitting in my chair. A pile of design drafts lay before her, a cup of coffee beside them, making her look like she owned the place. She looked flustered when she saw me enter, but quickly reverted to that innocent expression. “Ms. Cassidy, you’re here. Marcus said I could work here temporarily because it’s too noisy outside, and it affects my concentration.” Marcus. That name grated on my ears. “Where are my things?” Chloe pretended not to understand, her gaze darting away. “What things?” “My trophies, my certificates, my work.” “Oh, those? Marcus said to put them away for now. He said displaying them would put pressure on me.” I gave her a long, hard look, then turned to find Marcus. He was in a meeting with several clients. His brows furrowed when he saw me push the door open. “Marcus, I need to talk to you.” “Wait until I’m done with the meeting.” “Now.” My tone left no room for refusal. The clients sensed the tension and politely suggested rescheduling. Once only the two of us remained in the conference room, Marcus spoke, clearly annoyed. “What is it now? Didn’t I explain everything yesterday?” “Why are all my things gone from my studio?” His expression showed a hint of guilt, but his voice was still firm. “Chloe needs a quiet environment to create. Those trophies and things really do put pressure on people.” “That’s my studio.” “Everywhere in this company is mine. I can arrange things however I want!” His words hit me like a slap across the face. Yes, this was his company, Sterling Creative, which he had built from the ground up. And I was merely its nominal creative director, but in reality, more like a free creative provider. When we married, I invested my expertise in his company, but my shares were minimal, and most of the decision-making power remained with him. I had always believed that our relationship had moved beyond a purely transactional one, that we had found real love and trust. But now, it seemed, in his heart, I was still just an employee he could manipulate at will. “Marcus, you’ve changed.” Something flickered in his eyes, but it was quickly masked by stubbornness. “I haven’t changed. You’re just too sensitive. It’s just borrowing a space, what’s the big deal?” I turned and left the conference room, a decision forming in my mind. If he didn’t care about my feelings, then I had no reason to keep compromising.

Over the next few days, I consciously distanced myself from Marcus. I left for work before him in the morning and returned home after he’d gone to sleep, minimizing our time alone. But what I didn’t expect was for Chloe to seek me out. She knocked on the door of my temporary office, a seemingly sincere smile on her face. “Ms. Cassidy, I know you have a misunderstanding about me, but I really just want to learn.” I kept my eyes on my computer screen, not looking up. “Learning doesn’t require taking over someone else’s studio.” She sat in the chair opposite me, her voice carrying an uncomfortable familiarity. “Actually, I’ve always admired your work. It’s truly an honor to work in the same company as you.” “If you truly admired it, you wouldn’t use my proposal and pass it off as your own.” Chloe’s face shifted, but she quickly regained that innocent expression. “Ms. Cassidy, you’re mistaken.” “Marcus said that proposal was a collective company effort, and he asked me to present it just to train my presentation skills.” I finally looked up at her, carefully observing her expression. The girl was indeed attractive, with fair skin and delicate features. When she spoke, her eyes would curve into crescents, making it easy for people to warm to her. But in the depths of her eyes, I saw a trace of subtle triumph and calculation. “Chloe, how old are you?” “Twenty-three.” “Then you should know what honesty means.” Her smile faltered. “Ms. Cassidy, I don’t understand what you mean.” “My meaning is very clear. That proposal was completed by me, from start to finish.” “You knew that, yet you still brazenly presented it as your own. That’s what I call shameless.” Chloe’s face flushed instantly, but she quickly composed herself. “Ms. Cassidy, you’re being hurtful. I was truly just following Marcus’s instructions.”

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My son, Leo, started kindergarten today. But the teacher kicked us out, saying: “Ms. Adams’ son has been here for a year already. Where did *another* one come from?” I was baffled. My wife, Chloe, and I, our son just reached school age. How could he have been here for a whole year? A quick check revealed the truth: The company’s new assistant had enrolled his own child in kindergarten a year ago, claiming to be Chloe Adams’ husband. I tracked him down, but he just smirked and flashed a marriage certificate at me. “I know who you are. You’ve been harassing my wife for years, haven’t you?” The official government seal and the photo on the certificate were undeniably clear. The date stamped on it was five years ago. But Chloe and I had only been married for three! “Dad, am I really a bastard?” On the drive home, Leo looked at me, fighting back tears. I gripped the steering wheel tight. “Of course not, Leo is Mom and Dad’s only treasure.” The tears welling in his eyes suddenly spilled over. His voice, thick with sobs, was full of injustice. “Then why did Uncle Dominic’s son say he’s Mommy’s treasure? “All the kids at kindergarten said it too, and they hit me. They called me a bastard…” Seeing the slight swelling on one side of Leo’s face, my heart ached even more. It was his first day of kindergarten, and this was what happened. But the real shock hit me when I contacted Dominic Hayes. He immediately snapped a picture of a marriage certificate and sent it over. The woman standing next to him in the photo was the very person I’d embraced countless times. The government-issued seal was clearly visible, and the date? Five years ago! But Chloe Adams and I had only been married for three! Come to think of it, this assistant’s appearance had been sudden. He joined the company and immediately became Chloe Adams’ assistant. Could it be… I couldn’t bring myself to think any further. I pulled out my phone and dialed Chloe Adams’ number. Her female assistant, Bella, answered. “Ms. Adams is in a very important business meeting right now. No electronic devices are allowed inside. Is there anything I can pass on for you, sir?” “Was Chloe Adams married before me?” Bella paused, then, hearing the context, quickly assured me: “The marriage certificate might be Photoshopped! Sir, please don’t worry, the CEO wouldn’t do something like that!” After hanging up, I felt a little calmer. Chloe Adams wasn’t that kind of person. But I still needed to ask her directly. For now, all I could do was go home and wait for her to finish. For Leo’s school convenience, Chloe Adams and I had bought an estate in a prime school district nearby. Today was supposed to be our move-in day. But when my car pulled up to the estate gates, I found the house, which I was supposed to personally unlock and inspect, bustling with people coming and going, carrying furniture and belongings that weren’t mine. A large banner hung over the main gate: 【Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Hayes on their New Home!】 Countless reporters swarmed the entrance, their cameras pointed at a dashing man. The moment I recognized him, my pupils contracted sharply— Dominic Hayes? What the hell was he doing here?!

The reporters excitedly aimed their cameras at Dominic Hayes: “Mr. Hayes, Mr. Hayes, is the marriage certificate you posted on social media real? Was leaving the entertainment industry back then because you found true love?” I quickly opened my phone. The trending topics were exploding— Dominic Hayes Chloe Adams Dominic Hayes Shares Their Marriage Certificate Chloe Adams: My love, hidden for five years, can finally be revealed to the world today. I clicked on it, and the very first post was the same marriage certificate Dominic had sent me. The caption read: 【Yes, we’ve been married for five years.】 The comment section went wild: 【AHHHH I knew my idol didn’t leave the industry just to avoid that bastard Logan Reed’s shadow!】 【Seriously, that’s *the* Dominic Hayes, the superstar! Logan Reed’s still a nobody, three years later he’s still a joke.】 【I’m a kindergarten teacher. Today Logan Reed even brought a kid claiming he was CEO Adams’ son. LOL, I almost died laughing!】 【Oh my god, what a delusional stalker!】 【Back when the superstar hadn’t retired, that bastard Logan was already involved in something shady with CEO Adams. Didn’t expect CEO Adams was already married to the superstar! So satisfying! Hahahaha!!】 【Wuwuwu, so he didn’t make a comeback for five years because he was secretly enjoying his happiness, my idol!】 “What’s all this trash? Get rid of it. Chloe will be upset if she sees it when she gets back.” Dominic Hayes wrinkled his nose at a pile of brand-new collectibles. The workers immediately started throwing my things into a dumpster. There, many antiques and art pieces I had collected from all over the world lay amidst the dirty garbage. “Stop!” I grabbed a worker’s hand and glared at Dominic Hayes. “Who are you? What are you doing in my house?” “Oh my god, that bastard Logan Reed actually showed up?” “Hey, hey, can’t you read the banner? ‘Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Hayes!’ Who the hell do you think you are? Are you CEO Adams’ husband? Laughable!” “Has this delusional stalker gone so far as to claim houses now? He’s truly lost it.” “This estate must be worth nine figures. He’s probably desperate for clout. Bastards are like that.” “Slap!” I slapped the gossiping reporter across the face. “Who the hell are you to barge in here without my permission?” I knocked the camera out of his hand and grabbed his shirt, pushing him out. “Get out!” “Stop it!” A hand blocked my way. Dominic Hayes frowned. “Mr. Reed, while I’m usually easygoing, that’s no excuse for you to cause a scene on my property!”

“He’s crazy, crazy! Logan Reed, that delusional stalker, actually dares to make trouble on the superstar’s property! Does he really think this is his own house?” “Ha, he probably thinks he’s CEO Adams’ husband, too. What a joke.” I gave Dominic Hayes an exasperated glare. “Move. My house doesn’t welcome outsiders, and that includes you.” Dominic Hayes stood in front of the reporter, his brows furrowed even tighter. “Mr. Reed, I know you’ve always had a problem with me because of Chloe, and I don’t really care. “Today is my move-in day. If you’re willing to offer congratulations, you’re still my guest. “But if you continue to be so stubborn, make a fuss, and hit people on *my* property, then don’t blame me if I have you thrown out!” He stood there in a custom suit, yet he had this easy, almost lazy charm about him. His voice, clear and magnetic, immediately captivated every woman in the room. Cameras flashed madly at us. “Ahhh, is this our superstar? I’m dying, his charm is intoxicating!” “Wuwuwu, where can you find such a polite and principled superstar? I want to be his dog for life,嘤嘤嘤~” “If I were the superstar, seeing that bastard impersonating me and trying to scam his way into my new home, I’d have my bodyguards beat his face in and throw him out already!” Dominic Hayes showed no obvious reaction, but a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. When he looked at me again, he raised his chin slightly. “Out of respect for our previous working relationship, Mr. Reed, I suggest you don’t cause any more trouble.” “Slap!” I slapped him straight across the face, leaving a red mark. I then slapped the property deed onto his chest, grabbing his shirt. “Take a good look! This is *my* property, not yours! I haven’t even dealt with you stealing Leo’s school spot yet, and now you’re trying to scam your way into my estate? “You’re just my wife’s assistant. Who gave you permission to act crazy in the owner’s house?!” “Ah!” He covered his face, bending at the waist, his voice trembling. “That hurts so much!” “Do you have no shame?!” Someone suddenly reached out and shoved me hard, almost tearing off my fingernail. “Throwing a tantrum in someone else’s house—is this your way of getting attention? I’ve tolerated you long enough! If I didn’t want to ruin the superstar’s housewarming, I would’ve hit you already! “Calling the superstar your wife’s assistant? Do you really think we wouldn’t dare lay a hand on you?!” I steadied myself, gripping my phone tightly, and sneered. “Fine. I’ve already called the police. Anyone who dares to touch me, go ahead!” Hearing that, Dominic Hayes’ expression subtly shifted. But he was quickly interrupted by the reporters. “Ha! You’re just a scammer! The police will be here to deal with *you*, not us! Get out now! The superstar’s property doesn’t need your kind of filth!” With that, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me violently outwards. I lost my footing, stumbled a few steps, and was about to fall hard to the ground. “What’s going on here?” A clear voice rang out. Hearing it, I sharply looked up.

“Oh my! It’s the estate’s new housekeeper!” “I remember, I remember! This is the female executive our newspaper extensively reported on, the one who came from the mountains!” Seeing Hailey Brooks approach, a sliver of hope finally sparked in me. “Hailey! Quick! Tell them the truth!” Hailey Brooks was a college student I had been sponsoring for years. Due to her exceptional abilities, I hired her at a high salary as the housekeeper for my new estate right after she graduated. If it was her, she could surely clear things up for me. “Hailey…” Dominic Hayes’ expression changed. I shot him a cold look and pulled Hailey closer. “Hailey, tell them whose house this really is.” “Sir…” The hand I held struggled a few times, then pulled free. She gave me a forced smile. “I’m sorry, but I don’t recall inviting you here.” “Hailey?” I froze. Hailey Brooks, however, had already gone to Dominic Hayes’ side, asking with concern, “Are you alright, sir?” “Sir…” I thought I had misheard. I grabbed Hailey Brooks’ arm, forcing her to turn and face me. “You don’t recognize me? I’m Logan Reed, the one who sponsored you!” Hailey Brooks looked genuinely startled, her smile twisting into a pained expression. “I-I’m sorry, but it was always CEO Adams’ husband who sponsored me…” Anger flared within me. “*I* am CEO Adams’ husband! I even attended your graduation last month! You recognized me then!” “I… I didn’t… What are you talking about…” Tears immediately welled up in Hailey Brooks’ eyes, her voice breaking. “Enough!” Dominic Hayes slapped my hand away hard, pulling Hailey behind him. He glared at me with a frown. “I know you hate me for taking Chloe away. This is between the two of us. Whatever issues you have, take them out on me. Why are you bothering a kid?!”

“Oh my god, *this* is what a sponsor should be like!” “Exactly! A truly caring sponsor treats the person they’re helping like their own child! How could anyone grab them and question them like that?” “I’m literally crying. The superstar is not only generous but kind! He and CEO Adams deserve to grow old together!” “What’s wrong with that creep Logan? Stealing the superstar’s woman isn’t enough, now he’s even trying to claim the superstar’s charity work? How can someone be so despicable?!” Cameras flashed wildly at us. I stared, disbelieving, at Hailey Brooks, who was hiding behind Dominic Hayes. I couldn’t believe it. “Hailey…” Hailey Brooks’ eyes darted away, avoiding my gaze. She blinked, and tears welled up, clinging to her lashes. “Sir, I really don’t know you. Please, don’t do this to me…” “Logan Reed!” Dominic Hayes pulled Hailey even closer, watching me warily. “I won’t let you hurt her!” A strand of his hair fell across his brow, but his gaze was surprisingly resolute, a blend of casual elegance and stern authority. “Wuwuwu, the superstar is so amazing, it’s all that bastard’s fault!” “I can’t take it anymore! I’m going to teach that bastard a lesson!” “Hey everyone, don’t just focus on this bastard. I think I’ve seen his car in the superstar’s posts. He’s probably trying to scam the superstar about that too!” “Go! Smash his crappy car!” “No!” My heart clenched. But someone had already turned and run towards my car, grabbing a stick and smashing it against the windshield. Inside, Leo let out a heartbreaking scream. “Damn it! The bastard’s son is a little bastard too! What are you crying about?! Cry again and I’ll drag you out and beat you!” “Leo!” I yelled, trying to go to him, but a foot in a leather shoe tripped me, sending me sprawling to the ground. Dominic Hayes stood with his arms crossed, looking down at me with a cold smirk. Immediately, someone rushed forward, dragged me up, and punched me in the face. “The superstar gave you a chance to leave, but you wouldn’t, you just had to get a beating, didn’t you?” “You dead bastard, I’m gonna kill you today!” My mouth filled with the taste of blood. I bit down hard on someone’s hand, making him scream in pain and yank his hand away. I gritted my teeth, pulling the wedding ring off my finger and throwing it at the man’s face. “I am Chloe Adams’ husband! You’ll pay for this!” Someone caught the ring. The moment they saw it, their expression changed. “The ‘Starry Oath’? The insanely expensive, one-of-a-kind ring CEO Adams bought at auction years ago? How is *he* wearing it?” “Wait a minute… didn’t CEO Adams say she was going to use it as *her* wedding ring?” I spat out a mouthful of blood and looked at them coldly. “Let me go, and I won’t press charges.” “Ha! This shoddy knock-off? He actually expects us to believe that?” An almost identical ‘Starry Oath’ was thrown at me. Dominic Hayes pulled a ring from his bag and looked at me with disdain. “Mr. Reed, I didn’t realize you would imitate me to this extent. Even a fake ‘Starry Oath’ is worth a fortune.” My breath hitched. “Impossible… She gave that to me herself after buying it. Where did you get that imitation?” “Bang!” A punch landed on my face, and Dominic Hayes frowned tightly. “I can’t stand you anymore! I’ve given you chances again and again, and you’re still trying to worm your way into my life and with my wife!” One of his guys pulled out a stack of documents and tossed them straight at my head. “Take a good look! See who the real home-wrecker is!” The marriage certificate lay open before my eyes. What I had thought was a Photoshopped image was now undeniably real. The woman in the photo smiled so happily, nestled tightly against Dominic Hayes. Chloe Adams… My fingers trembled as I picked up the scattered photos one by one. Photos charting their entire lives: from childhood to college, from awkward teens to confident adults… They ran hand-in-hand to school, Dominic taking a huge bite out of Chloe’s ice cream, then cuddling close at an evening carnival, their faces lit up with pure joy… They… had known each other for a long time… They had married… five years ago… My three years of marriage, instantly turned into a cruel joke. He tossed my car keys onto my face. Dominic Hayes’ voice was flat. “I think it’s time for you to leave. Go figure things out on your own.” “Leo?” A familiar voice rang out. “What are you doing? Everyone, stop!” It was Chloe Adams’ voice.

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