On our tenth wedding anniversary, I flew back from abroad, planning a surprise for my husband, Ryan Sterling. As I used my black card to retrieve a piece of jewelry, the sales associate, who had been overly enthusiastic moments before, suddenly stiffened. “Is this *your* black card?” I frowned, confused and irritated by her sudden change in attitude. What concern was that of a sales associate like her, whether it was my black card or not? Even though the primary card was with my husband, using a supplementary card shouldn’t warrant such blatant contempt from a clerk. “Of course, it’s mine. What’s there to doubt?” I snapped impatiently, urging her to continue. Tiffany gave me a swift once-over, then retrieved the jewelry. “You’re Mr. Sterling’s mistress, aren’t you? I’m warning you, get lost! How dare someone like you even associate with Mr. Sterling?” “I don’t even get a chance to be near him, so who do you think you are?!” When she handed it to me, she deliberately let go just as I reached for it, sending the exquisite piece crashing to the floor. I stood there, stunned, unable to react. But Tiffany had already pulled the mall’s alarm. “This woman deliberately damaged a million-dollar piece of jewelry! Arrest her!”

Hearing the mention of a million dollars, the security guards immediately sprang to action. I stared at Tiffany’s baseless accusation, utterly appalled. “Trying to skip out after destroying jewelry? Grab her!” Tiffany sneered at me, her face contorted with arrogant disdain. Faced with the sudden, wild accusation, my mind went blank. Skip out? Destroyed jewelry? She was the one who couldn’t hold on to it! “Who the hell do you think you are?” I growled, my brows furrowed, my eyes icy. “You’re the one who lost your grip!” But the security guards ignored my protests. At Tiffany’s subtle nod, they moved in. They roughly pinned me to the floor with their batons, and my fingers twisted at an unnatural angle as I fell. The searing pain in my fingers shot through me. The excruciating agony instantly drained all color from my face. “Let go of me!” I struggled desperately on the ground. “This is slander!” More and more onlookers gathered. All I wanted was to end this absurd disaster as quickly as possible. “Let me go now! I’m calling the police! Otherwise, prepare for a court summons!” “You dare call the police? A summons?” Tiffany glared at me, a mocking smirk on her face. “So self-assured despite trying to skip out on a million-dollar bill!” The surrounding crowd started whispering. “Her clothes don’t look like she’d skip out on a bill, do they?” “What do you know? That designer jacket she’s wearing? There’s only one in the world, and it was bought by a foreign collector.” “Then she’s wearing a knock-off?!” “How tacky!” “And she dared to skip out on a bill? Such a huge amount, she should be locked up for ten years!” Their mocking gazes rained down on me. The taunting words in my ears were like poisoned darts, piercing me deeply. “I didn’t break it! Just check the cameras!” My eyes grew colder with anger, every ache in my hands and body tearing at my nerves. “Cameras?” Tiffany sneered. “How conveniently, the cameras broke yesterday!” My eyes widened, beginning to bloodshot. Tiffany continued her righteous accusations. “I know! You’re the one who sabotaged the cameras, aren’t you?!” Her gaze, like a venomous snake, wrapped around me inch by inch. “Your goal wasn’t to destroy the jewelry, it was to steal it!” My heart hammered in my chest. How could it be such a coincidence? My face turned ashen, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead. “I have proof!” I suddenly remembered that I was recording a video for my best friend when I entered the store, and my phone was still recording! “Let go of me! Who the hell do you think you are?” My gaze, cold and certain, pierced the two security guards. They exchanged a look, hesitated for a moment, then lowered their batons. Ignoring the throbbing pain in my twisted fingers, I pulled out my phone. “See for yourselves! This video proves I didn’t break the jewelry!” I played the video, holding it up for everyone to see, my voice laced with ice. “For everything that’s happened today, I’m suing all of you for assault and battery!” Everyone crowded closer, their suspicious glances turning into looks of disbelief, as if I were insane. Tiffany was the first to let out a derisive laugh. “This video is all shaky and blurry, completely unclear! You just filmed some random shaky footage beforehand, then blurred it on purpose, hoping to escape your guilt today, didn’t you?!” The crowd chimed in. “Exactly! Only the beginning is clear, nothing after that. Do you think we’re idiots?” “Why waste time? Just send her to the police station!” Watching the grim-faced security guards slowly advancing, I quickly clicked on the video. The video was perfectly clear. Why were they all pretending not to see it? The two guards exchanged a look, then picked up their batons again, pointing them directly at me. Seeing the sharp ends of their batons, my face went white, and my whole body trembled uncontrollably. “Wait!” I pulled out my supplementary card, wanting only to escape quickly. I had no desire to deal with these barbarians any longer. After all, a hundred million was negligible to me, but being gawked at like a circus monkey made me intensely uncomfortable! “Just swipe a hundred million. Get it done.” Tiffany saw me pull out the supplementary card. Her smug expression twisted into something uglier. Tiffany scoffed, looking me up and down, then leaned in close, whispering conspiratorially. “You’re Mr. Sterling’s mistress, aren’t you? I’m warning you, get lost! How dare someone like you even associate with Mr. Sterling?” “I don’t even get a chance to be near him, so who do you think you are?!” My heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition instantly flooding my mind. I didn’t understand what she meant! Mistress? “Is this *your* card?” she sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. My face showed impatience, my eyes shooting daggers at her. “Of course, it’s mine!” Tiffany stepped forward and, to my utter shock, slapped me across the face. She yanked my hair, her eyes filled with disgust. “This is Mr. Sterling’s supplementary card. Who are you to him?” My ears rang, my breathing grew heavy. “Ryan Sterling?” My gaze fixed on her. “I’m his wife! What’s the problem?” Tiffany ignored my cold stare and burst out laughing. “Wife?” Her eyes were filled with utter disdain. She then pulled out her phone. “*She’s* Mr. Sterling’s wife! You’re just a pickpocket who stole the card, aren’t you?” My brow twitched, and I instinctively looked at the phone. When I saw the young woman nestled against Ryan Sterling, my breath caught in my throat. I felt as if I’d been struck by lightning. The woman intimately embracing my own husband wasn’t me!

My face went ashen. I snatched the phone and examined it carefully, zooming in. I finally confirmed that the man was indeed Ryan Sterling. Seeing this, the security guards became completely unrestrained. They used their batons to violently, humiliatingly, pin my body to the floor. I couldn’t fight off two grown men and could only retreat, struggling against them. “Still trying to lie?! Don’t think you can fool *me*!” Saying this, as if to vent his frustration, one of them kicked me hard in the side. The stabbing pain in my side sent my mind reeling, a blank fog descending. I gritted my teeth against the agony, my bloodshot eyes fixed on Tiffany. “You’ll regret this!” I roared, my voice hoarse. “Go get Ryan Sterling here!” Tiffany walked over, looked down at me, then squatted down and brutally pinched my cheek. She forced me into a deeply humiliating position, exposed to the gawking crowd. “You presumptuous little mistress, still daring to ask for Mr. Sterling?” She spat at me, figuratively. “You got all that plastic surgery to hook him! Shameless!” “And you dare impersonate his real wife?” She curled her lips, her eyes filled with disgust. “Mr. Sterling has plenty of admirers, and *I* haven’t even made my move yet. You’re certainly not going to!” I instantly looked at her, my mind feeling as if it had been struck by a heavy hammer, churning in chaos. Did she mean… Ryan Sterling had more than one mistress?! I closed my eyes, suppressing the tremor in my heart. “Ryan Sterling ordered this set of jewelry, but *I’m* the one who signed the receipt! You can check!” Tiffany’s smile vanished, replaced by a sneer. “Hardheaded. I said you broke it, so you broke it! What’s there to argue about?” The security guards hauled me up from the ground, my hands pinned behind my back. “Enough!” My breathing was heavy, a cold warning in my voice. “Let’s see who dares touch me!” “I dare!” A striking figure emerged from the crowd. My eyes widened as I watched her approach, but seeing the young woman’s face, I felt as if I’d been struck by lightning again. She was the woman by Ryan Sterling’s side! More importantly, she bore a striking resemblance to me from ten years ago. No wonder Tiffany inexplicably accused me of plastic surgery! Her face was cold. She walked up to me, looked me up and down, then a sharp slap landed across my face. The stinging pain on my cheek and the metallic taste of blood in my mouth instantly cleared my head. “Who are you?” My throat was so dry it hurt. It took me a moment to speak. “Who am I?” She folded her arms, radiating arrogance. “You have the nerve to ask? How dare you impersonate me? Do you have a death wish?!” She scrutinized my face, then scoffed. “Sweetie, you think you can climb your way up to Ryan by getting plastic surgery to look like me? You’re just a pathetic copycat.” My breath hitched. My voice was raspy. “So, you’re Ryan Sterling’s wife?” She nodded confidently. “Of course. Who else would it be? You?” Tiffany stood by, a flicker of jealousy in her eyes as she looked at Chloe, but she still stepped forward and bowed her head. “Mrs. Sterling, you’re finally here! This woman doesn’t know her place, trying to hook up with Mr. Sterling!” Tiffany’s eyes darted, and she smirked. “She even has Mr. Sterling’s supplementary card. I wonder when she stole it!” Tiffany was fanning the flames, thinking that if I were out of the picture, she would surely succeed in becoming Mr. Sterling’s mistress. Even being his kept woman would be worth it! A look of infatuation flashed in Tiffany’s eyes as she thought of that distinguished man. Chloe’s gaze, sharp as ice, immediately pierced me. “Are you completely shameless? Flaunting your affair with a married man so openly?” She held out her hand. “Give me back the supplementary card! You shameless thing, trying to use my husband’s money to pay for your jewelry! Ugh!” The crowd watched the spectacle with relish, adding fuel to the fire. “OMG, mistresses these days are getting bolder and bolder! Caught by the wife using her husband’s supplementary card, how embarrassing!” “Exactly! In the old days, she’d be publicly shamed for life!” “So shameless!” I turned, my eyes cold, staring at the gossiping crowd. The sheer coldness and immense pressure radiating from me instantly silenced everyone. Chloe, hearing this, puffed out her chest with absolute arrogance. “I see you won’t give up until you’re utterly defeated!” She then dialed a number. “Honey,” Chloe said, her voice a soft, injured whimper, radiating vulnerability. “I’m at Sterling Mall, and there’s a crazy woman causing trouble. She insists she’s your wife! You need to come and expose her and teach her a lesson!” 七獎灐嘥幱禽旛鯆躏塠哦墎碤鄕镅灵 The man on the other end of the line paused, sounding confused. “My wife? What does she look like?” he asked tentatively. Chloe didn’t notice his hesitation. She sneered, looking me up and down. “She’s hideous. An old woman.” A faint sigh of relief came from Ryan’s end. At that moment, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Ryan Sterling. “Wife, where are you? Miss you.” A soul-devouring storm raged in my eyes. I gripped my phone tightly to prevent myself from losing control. “Still in Europe. I’ll be back in a week to see you,” I deliberately replied. Sure enough, Chloe excitedly hung up the phone. “Old woman, I’m telling you, my husband is coming right now! You just wait!”

“Oh really?” I looked at her, a strong mocking glint in my eyes. I wanted to see just how many unspeakable things Ryan Sterling had done over the years, operating behind my back and using my power. Chloe paused, surprised that I wasn’t afraid. Then she scoffed, “Heh, scared stiff, are we? You should thank me, otherwise, someone like you would never get to meet a top-tier man like my husband!” A cold light flashed in my eyes. “You’re right, I *should* thank you. You’ve helped me see exactly what kind of man he truly is!” I frowned. I was truly alone here. “You woman, of all the things to do, why impersonate me?” Chloe smugly touched her smooth, porcelain-like face, a sneer on her lips. “Look at you, so old. Trying to look like me is just a pathetic copycat.” My gaze swept over her face, and I let out a cold, dismissive laugh. But my hands, hanging at my sides, clenched tightly, a barely perceptible tremor running through them. Suddenly, Tiffany, who was standing beside me, shrieked. “The store’s centerpiece jewel is gone!” She was frantic, cold sweat streaming down her face. The previously bored onlookers, who had been losing interest, instantly perked up, their eyes wide with excitement. They straightened up, staring at us. Chloe frowned. “What centerpiece jewel?” Tiffany was panicked and distraught, her voice cracking with tears. “It’s a top-grade emerald piece, worth billions!” “How could it just disappear?” Chloe said dismissively. “Just a few billion. Why are you so worked up? No ambition.” Tiffany’s face froze, a flicker of intense jealousy in her eyes. But she took a deep breath, then her sharp gaze fixed on me. “Did *you* steal it?!” She suddenly lunged forward, her eyes red, trying to pin the blame on me. “Please, just hand it over! If the centerpiece jewel is lost, we’ll all be ruined trying to pay for it. Please, have pity on us!” Tiffany cried and pleaded, a sight that would inspire pity in anyone. I was caught off guard by this sudden, brazen accusation. “What are you doing?” I rasped. “Framing me once wasn’t enough, so you’re trying again? You’re truly incredibly stupid.” Chloe, seeing this, sneered. “Not only a mistress, but a thief too!” The surrounding crowd started pointing fingers and condemning me. “Oh my god, she broke a million-dollar piece earlier, and now she dares to steal something worth a billion! She’ll get life imprisonment!” “I say, just call the police!” Tiffany’s eyes darted. She seized the opportunity. “Your bag!” She stepped forward, reaching to snatch my bag. “It must be in your bag!” I frowned, angrily rebuking her. “How dare you!” “You’re guilty, aren’t you?!” Tiffany declared, instructing the security guards to restrain me. The guards, realizing the seriousness of the situation, moved quickly. This time, they didn’t even give me a chance to resist or struggle. One of them immediately kicked me in the abdomen. Then, they firmly pinned me to the floor with their batons. “Let go of me!” I struggled desperately, roaring a warning. Tiffany seized the opportunity, snatched my bag, and rummaged through it. “The centerpiece jewel is here!” Tiffany’s face was flushed, her expression excited as she pulled a box from my bag and opened it. “This is what we lost!” Seeing this, my mind went blank with shock. But then, I instantly understood. I narrowed my eyes, looking at Tiffany with a cold smirk. “You set this up, didn’t you?” No wonder she had been standing so close to me! She must have been looking for an opportunity to plant the jewelry in my bag! I struggled with all my might. “Let go of me! I’ll arrange to pay whatever you want!” Seeing my offer, the security guards finally loosened their grip. The chill in my eyes intensified. I pulled out my phone and made a call. At that moment, Chloe glanced at her phone. With the undeniable air of the rightful wife, she looked down at me, chin raised.

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On my birthday, my boyfriend publicly announced his engagement to someone else in front of the entire company. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I simply went to him, seeking an explanation. But then, I overheard his conversation with a friend: “Aren’t you afraid Celeste Miller will be mad if you do this?” “I can’t help it. If I don’t marry Vanessa, her family will marry her off to some stranger. I can’t just stand by and watch her suffer.” “Besides, Celeste has been with me for eight years. Everyone knows she’s mine; she has no choice but to wait for me.” Later, my family arranged a more suitable strategic alliance for me. To my surprise, my wedding day coincided with his. As the groom, Jason was restless, plagued by a bad feeling. He told his groomsmen to keep a close eye on the ceremony and make sure I didn’t show up to cause a scene. At that moment, one of the groomsmen awkwardly said, “Didn’t you know? Celeste Miller is getting married today too…” “Mom, is Julian Reed’s marriage proposal still on the table?” At my words, my mother’s hand, holding her teacup, trembled slightly. She looked at me, utterly shocked. “Celeste, why are you asking about that?” Her eyes held undisguised worry. Just moments ago, the video of Jason Hayes proposing to Vanessa Scott last night had gone viral online. Everyone knew a wedding was just around the corner for the Hayes family, but the bride wasn’t me, the woman he’d been dating for eight years. Seeing my silence, my mother anxiously said, “Celeste, marriage is a big decision. Please don’t act rashly.” I swallowed the bitterness in my heart and shook my head. “Mom, I’ve just come to my senses. The fact that you didn’t immediately reject the Reed family’s offer of marriage means you believed he was more reliable than Jason, right? I trust your judgment.” At this, my mother sighed deeply. “Julian Reed, the youngest son of the Reed family, is indeed quite impressive. But perhaps you two should meet first, and then make a decision?” “No, you can just arrange it. I’m fine with whatever.” After discussing this, I had dinner at home and then returned to my own small apartment. What I didn’t expect was for Jason Hayes to be there. Hearing the door open, he slowly put down what he was doing and looked over. “Was work busy today? You’re home quite late.” I changed my shoes and asked him, “Why are you here?” “I happened to pass by on my way back from a business dinner, so I thought I’d drop in and see you.” Jason approached as he always did, intending to hug me. As he got closer, I caught a familiar scent of women’s perfume. It was the perfume Vanessa often wore. A wave of resistance rose within me. I instinctively stepped back, avoiding his embrace. My nose unexpectedly stung with a sudden ache. “You’ve seen me. You can go now.” Jason’s outstretched hand froze in mid-air. Hearing my words, a faint smile appeared on his face. “Don’t be silly, Celeste. Weren’t you just asking me to spend more time with you a few days ago? I specifically cleared my schedule to be with you today.” Yesterday was my birthday. I waited from morning until night, but he didn’t call. It wasn’t until evening, when I couldn’t bear it anymore and decided to go look for him, that I received a video from an unknown number. It was a video of Jason proposing to Vanessa in the company, in front of all the employees. In the video, many people cheered happily. I couldn’t believe it. I rushed to his company, wanting to hear his explanation directly. But instead, I accidentally overheard his conversation with his friend. That’s when I realized that in this game of love, I had become the ultimate fool. Remembering the things he said last night, my heart felt like it had been brutally stabbed, aching to the point of suffocation. I looked up at the man before me, his eyes gentle. My eyes welled up, tears blurring my vision. I didn’t know why, but I felt so awful, like I couldn’t breathe. Jason saw my tears falling and panicked. He awkwardly wiped the tears from my eyes. “Why are you crying? Who upset you? Tell me, I’ll go take care of them!”

Growing up, Jason Hayes was the neighborhood troublemaker, unruly and incredibly mischievous, often getting chased by his mom with a broom. I, on the other hand, was a premature baby, and my health wasn’t great when I was little. My parents kept a very strict eye on me. They rarely let me go out and play with other kids, so I’d just sit by the window, enviously watching them run around freely outside. Whenever Jason saw me sitting by the window, lost in thought, he’d always sneak over to bring me little snacks, then pinch my chubby cheeks and whisper, “Little sis, when can you come out and play with me?” In junior high, my health gradually improved, and my parents finally felt comfortable letting me go out. Back then, he’d always carefully look after me, telling me, “Celeste, if anyone ever bullies you when you’re out, just tell them my name, and they won’t dare bother you.” From then on, I was never alone when I went out. He’d always accompany me wherever I wanted to go. If anyone bullied me, he’d be there in an instant, becoming my strong and powerful protector. When we got to college, we naturally fell into a relationship. He became even more gentle with me, showering me with all his special affection. It wasn’t until our junior year that Vanessa Scott’s appearance shattered all the beauty between us. She was smart, beautiful, efficient, and effortlessly graceful. She was also Jason’s classmate. They had a way of communicating that I couldn’t understand. At first, Jason would help translate for me. But later, he grew tired of it, saying, “You don’t understand what we’re talking about anyway, so why don’t you go do your own thing?” They talked about everything, from real life to online, from morning until night. Meanwhile, my conversations with Jason gradually dwindled to mere snippets. Friends warned me to pay more attention to their closeness. I brushed it off, because I believed that even couples deserved their privacy. I also trusted him; he wouldn’t fall for someone else. But reality hit me hard. That night, Jason didn’t leave. He said he was worried about me. I silently watched him for a long time. “Suit yourself.” Then, I went back to my room, locking the door just as he tried to follow. Jason stood outside the door, his eyes filled with a complicated mix of emotions. He paused, then said, “Celeste, I’ll be right outside. Come find me when you’ve calmed down, okay?” I ignored him, scalding tears falling onto my cold hand, spreading a burning sensation. Jason, I don’t want to love you anymore. I woke up the next morning, rubbing my throbbing temples, and stepped out of my room. I saw Jason frantically pulling on his jacket to leave. “Celeste, I have an urgent matter to deal with right now, so I’m heading out. I’ll pick you up tonight, and we can go out for dinner.” Without waiting for my response, he rushed out. He was so fast that before I could even react, he was gone. I pressed my lips together and looked at the sofa where he had slept, noticing that in his haste, he had left his phone. I walked over and picked it up. I was about to send it to him later. Just then, a message popped up. Jason hadn’t set a password, so any incoming message was visible. The message was from someone named “My Sweetie.” In the photo, Vanessa was sitting disheveled in the emergency room, smiling and flashing a peace sign at the camera. The message read: “Don’t rush on your way here, drive safely. I’ll wait for you here.”

At that moment, I finally understood why he had been in such a hurry to leave. I gave a bitter laugh, then called a local courier service to send his phone to his office. Afterward, I headed to work. I had joined my family’s company right after graduation. My father, wanting to train me, had me start as a junior staff member. By now, I had worked my way up to department manager through my own abilities. As soon as I arrived at the office, my assistant brought over a project proposal. “Ms. Miller, there’s a document here you need to handle. All the procedures are complete; it just needs your signature.” I took it and read it carefully. It was a project collaborating with the Hayes Group, but I had no recollection of this project whatsoever. “Did Mr. Miller approve this?” “No.” My assistant paused, then quickly replied, “Didn’t you say before that for any non-critical collaborations, the Hayes Group was always our first choice?” That’s when I remembered. I had indeed said something like that, thinking at the time that our two families would eventually become one, and it didn’t matter who earned more or less, so I hadn’t overly scrutinized the project’s profitability. “Let’s skip this one. Next time, for such matters, prioritize the best option. Company interests come first.” After working hard all day, I packed up my things after work, planning to check out a newly opened high-end restaurant. But when I arrived, I found the restaurant was already packed with customers. Just as I was about to leave, I heard a familiar voice. “Ms. Miller, are you having dinner here too?” I turned around to see Vanessa Scott and Jason Hayes sitting at a table, smiling sweetly. Jason saw me, his expression momentarily freezing, then he quickly said, “I was just about to call you to come have dinner. I can’t believe you’re already here! Come, join us for dinner.” He waved to a waiter and asked for an extra setting. I hadn’t eaten much for lunch, and by now I was starving. So, I decided to stay and sat down. “Ms. Miller, I remember you like spicy food. Should we order a few more dishes for you?” I glanced at the table; it was filled entirely with bland, mild dishes. Jason and I both couldn’t live without spicy food. He used to say that without chili, a dish was soulless; eating it felt like torture. Yet now, facing a table full of bland food, he showed no reaction. Jason gave Vanessa an annoyed look and playfully scolded, “I think *you’re* the one who wants spicy food. Don’t forget what the doctor told you today; you can only eat bland things right now.” Vanessa, scolded, let out a mischievous huff. “Alright, Bossy Pants, I’ll listen to you, okay?” Watching their interaction, my heart, which had been torn to shreds, felt strangely calm. He shook his head helplessly. “You two start eating. I’m going to make a call.” As Jason left, the smile on Vanessa’s face slowly faded, and she shot me a challenging glare. “Celeste Miller, you actually impress me. You know Jason proposed to me, yet you’re still chasing him? You’ve got some nerve.” Hearing the disdain in her voice, I looked up at her. “Is stealing someone’s boyfriend something to be proud of? Something worth flaunting in public?” “You…” Before she could finish, thick smoke suddenly billowed from the restaurant kitchen. Someone saw it first and screamed in terror, “Fire!” At those words, the bustling restaurant instantly descended into chaos, everyone scrambling in panic. I quickly reacted and stood up. Just as I was about to leave, a figure suddenly crashed into me. Before I could steady myself, I heard a familiar, anxious voice: “Vanessa, don’t be scared! I’ll get you out of here!” Jason didn’t stop, quickly pulling Vanessa out. His heart pounded with a sense of relief, a joyous feeling of having escaped disaster. He abruptly hugged her. “Thank goodness, thank goodness you’re okay…” As he said this, something suddenly occurred to him. He sharply turned around and saw me standing not far away, watching them with cold eyes. His voice caught in his throat, and he stammered, “Celeste, I… I was just so rushed, I didn’t mean to leave you…” “I know.” I interrupted him coldly. In that moment he embraced her and left, I clearly realized that the Jason Hayes who once promised to protect me for life had long since changed. Seeing that I wasn’t angry, he visibly relaxed and offered to drive me home. “No need. Ms. Scott seems quite shaken. You should take her home first.”

In the days that followed, I stopped contacting Jason. Instead, I focused on preparing for my wedding. At that time, I received a message from the designer, so I used my lunch break to pick up my custom-made wedding gown from the store. It was originally meant for *my* proposal to Jason, but I would never have that day. As luck would have it, just as I stepped into the store, Vanessa followed right in after me. She saw the gift box in my hands and looked at the designer arrogantly. “I want to try on that wedding dress.” “I’m sorry, ma’am, this is a custom order for Ms. Miller. Ownership belongs to Ms. Miller.” Vanessa scoffed disdainfully. “Oh, a custom wedding dress? Acting like you’re getting married soon…” As she said this, she seemed to realize something and suddenly bristled. “Are you planning to wear this wedding dress to ruin my wedding?!” Seeing her frantic demeanor, I couldn’t be bothered with her. “If you’re sick, go get treated. Don’t come here to make a scene.”

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**Chapter 1** “Congratulations, Host. You’ve completed 99 tasks for Aurora Vance. Just one more, and you’ll successfully return to your original world and revive your beloved, Elara Stone.” Hearing the system’s announcement, my heart clenched, and tears welled up in my eyes. Five years. I’d waited for this moment for five long years. I don’t belong in this world. In my own world, I was supposed to marry my girlfriend, Elara, who I’d grown up with. But just before the wedding, we were in a car accident. Elara shielded me instantly, leaving me unharmed, but she died on the spot. I was utterly devastated, almost to the point of death, until I inexplicably bound myself to a system. It brought me to this world and gave me the chance to bring Elara back. The system’s task was simple: complete a hundred tasks for Aurora Vance, an heiress from one of the most powerful families on the East Coast. Once done, I could revive my love and return to my original world. From then on, I approached Aurora with a clear purpose. Because of my unconditional devotion, I became known in our circle as her infamous admirer. Everyone just scoffed whenever my name came up. “Him? Oh, he’s just a simp sticking to Aurora like glue, can’t shake him off.” “If I were him, after being rejected so many times, I’d be too ashamed to show my face.” “Seriously, everyone knows Aurora only has eyes for Julian Hayes. He’s just delusional.” The ringing of my phone abruptly pulled me from my thoughts. “Hey, you doormat, hurry up and get over here! Aurora… she killed someone!” It was Chloe Davis, one of Aurora’s close friends. She hastily told me Aurora had killed someone and ordered me to rush over before hanging up. It was a winter night, just past midnight, and heavy snow was falling. I didn’t even bother with an umbrella; I just dashed out into the blizzard. When I arrived at the venue, a group of people was gathered inside the private room. A woman lay on the floor, her face ashen, utterly drained of color. Seeing me, everyone’s gaze shifted to me. “You’re here. Quick, think of something! Aurora drank too much, didn’t watch her strength, and… she killed this person.” “The Vance family might be influential, but they’re not above the law. Murder means jail time, you know.” “Noah Reed, you love Aurora so much, why don’t you go to jail for her?” I glanced around at the people gathered, and without a moment’s hesitation, I nodded and agreed, “Okay, I’ll do it for her!” Everyone froze, seemingly shocked by my swift decision. A moment later, the entire room erupted in scornful laughter. Amidst their cheers, Aurora Vance slowly emerged from behind a decorative screen. And the ‘dead’ woman who had been lying on the floor also stood up. “Hahahahaha, Aurora, see? We told you! Noah Reed is utterly obsessed with you. He’s even willing to go to jail for you!” “He really is the circle’s famous simp. I say, just give him that donation form already. With his love-struck brain, he’s bound to agree to anything.” Looking at the cool, alluring woman before me, I realized I’d been played again. Aurora’s face was impassive as she walked slowly toward me, handing me a document. “Since you’re willing to go to jail, then surely you’re willing to do this too?” Flipping to the first page, I immediately saw the bold title: **[VOLUNTARY HEART DONATION AGREEMENT]**! I looked up, meeting Aurora’s cold eyes. “Julian has a heart condition, and your heart is the only match in the entire city. Don’t worry, you won’t die after donating it. I’ve already arranged for a custom-made artificial heart for you abroad. It will be perfectly fine for basic living.” “Noah Reed, if you agree to donate your heart to Julian, I’ll marry you.” I always knew Aurora was deeply in love with Julian Hayes, but I never expected her love to run *that* deep. For him, she was willing to marry someone she didn’t love at all. As the successor to the Vance Group, Aurora had been raised with incredibly strict discipline since childhood. Because of this, she harbored a deep, enduring affection for Julian Hayes, who had shown her kindness in her youth. However, Julian had always only seen her as a sister. When she was about to confess her feelings, he decisively left the country with another woman. Since then, Aurora had quietly protected him, waiting for seven long years. She loved him profoundly. Upon learning that Julian had developed acute heart disease and been abandoned by his girlfriend, she immediately flew abroad to bring him back and nursed him meticulously. She even nearly turned the city upside down to find a compatible heart for him. But I never imagined she’d come to me for it. Seeing my prolonged silence, Aurora was about to speak again when she saw me suddenly lift my gaze, my eyes filled with a strange smile. “Okay, I’ll donate.” My voice was light and utterly decisive, as if I were simply answering a casual question about whether I’d eaten. Aurora’s pupils slightly trembled. “You… you’re really willing?” She seemed surprised that I would agree so readily to such a major surgery, donating a heart. I continued to smile, answering gently, “Whatever you ask, I’m willing to do.” Donating my heart to her ultimate crush—this would be the hundredth task I completed for her. Once it was done, I could revive my love and leave this place for good. Looking at my expectant expression, even the typically cold Aurora felt a tightness in her throat. Before she could speak, I signed the document without hesitation. She still seemed a bit stunned, then, perhaps to reassure me or herself, she added, “The surgery is scheduled for half a month from now. I’ll arrange everything to make it as comfortable as possible for you.” I smiled and nodded, my heart filled with a sense of liberation. Good. In half a month, I could finally leave. **Chapter 2** After all the discussions, knowing Aurora didn’t want to see me anymore, I turned to leave. But after only a few steps, my vision suddenly went black, and my body uncontrollably fell backward. Aurora, quick as lightning, caught me. Only then did I notice that my clothes were soaked through with snow, my fingers were like ice, and I was wearing nothing but slippers. I must have been in such a hurry to leave that I didn’t even change my shoes. The onlookers snickered at my attire. “How pathetic. He must have been so desperate when he got the call, rushing out in slippers in this freezing weather. Doesn’t he care if his feet get frostbite?” “That’s just how desperate admirers are, isn’t it? If he doesn’t put in extra effort, how will Aurora ever like him?” “Anyway, he’s already agreed to donate his heart. Aurora, don’t bother with him. Just leave him to the staff to handle!” Aurora looked at me, leaning against her, my small face pale from the cold. A heavy stone seemed to weigh down her chest, making it hard to breathe. Driven by some strange impulse, she found herself walking out the door with me, her arm linked in mine. She glanced at the astonished faces of the crowd, then said coldly, “For the sake of his heart, his body must remain in perfect condition for these last two weeks.” With that, she quickly led me away. I don’t know how long I slept, but I slowly regained some sensation. Drowsily, I felt someone holding me, gently feeding me water. Their touch was so tender, so warm, that it reminded me of Elara. Only she would treat me with such gentleness. Five years. I missed her almost to the point of madness, dreaming every night that she had returned to my side. This time, I thought I was dreaming again, so I joyfully grasped the person’s hand, my voice trembling slightly. “Elara!” The next second, a sharp pain in my wrist jolted me awake. Opening my eyes, I found Aurora sitting before me, her gaze dark and filled with a hint of anger. Her brows were tightly furrowed. “Who were you calling just now?” I bit my lip, feeling awkward, and glanced around the room before hastily changing the subject. “How did I end up at your place?” Her displeased expression remained. “We’re getting married after your heart donation surgery, so of course you’d be living at my place.” “Who were you calling just now?” She wasn’t usually one to pry or show much interest in my affairs, but for some reason, today she insisted on knowing. I felt guilty and avoided her gaze. “I love you so much, of course I was calling your name.” Aurora didn’t press further, evidently believing my excuse. Of course. After all, everyone in the East Coast elite knew how much I supposedly loved her. Who else would I call but her? She stood up, picked up a set of clothes from nearby, and tossed them carelessly in front of me. “Get dressed when you’re ready. We’re going to the hospital.” It was only at the hospital that I realized Aurora had already arranged a series of medical tests for me. All to ensure that my heart could be safely and successfully transplanted into Julian Hayes. As the needle went into my arm, I remembered how much I used to fear injections. Whenever it happened, Elara would gently laugh and hold me, covering my eyes with her hand. “Don’t be scared, honey. I’m here.” But now, she lay in that cold coffin, never again to softly call me ‘honey.’ The doctor beside me began explaining the post-operative precautions. “Mr. Reed, while an artificial heart can sustain your life, it can’t compare to a natural organ. So, from now on, you won’t be able to run, eat spicy food, stay up late, or experience strong emotions. Even speaking loudly will be restricted.” “To put it simply, you’ll basically be like a living ghost, with very little difference.” What did it matter if I was a living ghost? Without Elara by my side, what difference was there between living and dying? Besides, I didn’t belong here. Once this last task was complete, the system would declare my mission successful. My physical body would die, and my soul would return to my original world. So whether I got the artificial heart or not, I would still die here. Noticing my absentmindedness, Aurora’s eyes instantly hardened. “Are you regretting it?” I snapped back to reality, gently shook my head, and then replied solemnly. “No. I will keep every promise I make to you.” Our gazes met. Aurora looked into my seemingly devoted eyes again, and for the first time, that loving gaze made her feel a strange flicker of panic. She quickly averted her eyes, making an excuse about needing to make a call, and left the room. I sat there, still distracted, listening to all of the doctor’s instructions. Half an hour later, Aurora still hadn’t returned. I said goodbye to the doctor and left on my own. But as soon as I stepped out, I ran into Julian Hayes, who had just finished his examination, in the hallway. It was our first encounter, and we both instinctively stopped. I had seen countless photos of Julian Hayes before. His pictures filled Aurora’s home – from childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. She hadn’t missed a single moment of his life, and I had witnessed his journey and growth through her obsession. Just like in the photos, he was handsome, though his face was a bit pale, like a delicate porcelain doll in a display case. This was the devastating power of that unattainable ideal, the ‘white moonlight.’ Even someone as unapproachable as Aurora, an ice queen, couldn’t escape its grasp and remained hopelessly infatuated with him. I didn’t intend to interact with him much, and as I was about to leave, Julian suddenly called out to me from behind. “Mr. Reed, I’m sorry. If it weren’t for me, Aurora wouldn’t be forcing you to donate your heart to me.” “I know you’ll suffer greatly after this surgery.” I turned back, my tone calm. “I volunteered.” Everything was my choice. Only this way could I bring Elara back. Seeing my composure, Julian seemed somewhat taken aback. He smirked coldly, a hint of cruel triumph on his pale face. “I know. You only agreed because Aurora promised to marry you.” “Too bad you’ve miscalculated. I won’t let you get what you want.” **Chapter 3** As I tried to figure out what he meant, Julian suddenly lunged at me. I had no time to react and watched helplessly as Julian grabbed my hand and slapped himself hard across the face several times. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Reed. It’s all my fault. It’s because of my illness that you have to donate your heart. If hitting me makes you feel better, then go ahead and hit me.” No sooner had he finished speaking than a gust of wind flashed past me. Before I could even clearly see who it was, a powerful force shoved me violently away. I stumbled, hitting my head hard against the wall, creating a gash. My vision was instantly blurred with red, but Aurora didn’t even spare me a glance. She just frantically shielded Julian. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt anywhere?” Julian collapsed into her arms, tears streaming down his face like broken pearls. “Don’t blame Mr. Reed. He’s being forced to give me his heart, so it’s only right for him to take his anger out on me.” Seeing his pitiful, vulnerable act, Aurora was both heartbroken and furious. And the one who bore the brunt of her anger, naturally, was me. She glared at me, her eyes like sharp blades. “What do you think you’re doing?! You agreed to donate, and now you’re causing trouble? This was *my* decision. Why are you taking it out on Julian?!” She didn’t even give me a chance to explain, turning directly to Julian instead. “How many times did he slap you?” Julian meekly looked up, biting his lip cautiously. “Three…” “Aurora, it’s fine.” Aurora gently comforted him, then turned and ordered the bodyguards beside her, “Did you hear that? I want him to pay back ten times over.” Suddenly, a dark shadow loomed over me. Through the gaps, I watched Aurora lead Julian away, treating him like a fragile porcelain doll. What awaited me was a series of heavy slaps. It hurt, it really hurt. I felt like I could barely keep my eyes open. If Elara were here, she would protect me, wouldn’t she? But she wasn’t. There was no one to protect me anymore… Much later, the bodyguards dragged me back to the Vance family mansion. For the next few days, I was confined to my room, and Aurora didn’t return. The next time I heard about her was on the news. The prime-time broadcast spent a full ten minutes reporting on how the heiress of Fairview City’s most prominent family had been trying to win over her beloved. For example, she lavished fortunes, buying an entire cruise ship just to make him smile. Or how he liked expensive watches, so she personally traveled abroad to a prestigious auction house, bidding on the world’s most exclusive timepiece to deliver it to him. And when he couldn’t eat, she hired countless Michelin chefs to cook gourmet meals, eventually even cooking herself, just to get him to take one more bite. Such unparalleled devotion made the entire East Coast elite green with envy. Only I watched these news reports indifferently, as if they had nothing to do with me. Three days later was Julian Hayes’s birthday. Aurora’s assistant came to pick me up with a tuxedo, instructing me to attend the birthday party and publicly apologize to Julian. I didn’t want to go, but the assistant made it clear. “Ms. Vance said, whether you like it or not, you have to be there.” “Otherwise, I’ll have you tied up and brought to the party.” For Julian, she naturally wouldn’t care about my feelings. Looking at my still-swollen, slightly reddened cheeks in the mirror, I teared up, taking out ointment and dabbing it on my face repeatedly, trying to conceal the obvious bruises. Soon. I kept telling myself. Soon, the task would be over, and I could finally leave, having achieved my goal. The party was held on the luxurious cruise ship Aurora had bought for Julian. I heard all the decorations were personally designed by Aurora. Overwhelming displays of red roses, custom-made chocolates engraved with Julian’s name, and fireworks bright enough to illuminate the entire city—everything showcased her meticulous effort. Amidst the throng of admiring guests, Aurora, to cheers and applause, presented him with a treasured bracelet from the last century, worth hundreds of millions, named “Heart of True Love,” and personally fastened it onto his wrist. The entire crowd gasped in awe. “Isn’t that the bracelet Princess Diana once wore? I heard Sotheby’s just auctioned it off recently, bought by some magnate who said they wanted to give it to their true love. I never thought that magnate would be Ms. Vance.” “Ms. Vance’s love for Mr. Hayes has been truly evident all these years. She’s rich, powerful, beautiful, and she’s protected him silently for so long. She almost turned the whole city upside down to find him a heart donor. I bet if she were a match, she’d even give her own heart. Why does Mr. Hayes still not accept such a devoted woman?” In a dimly lit corner, I quietly observed everything. Hearing all this, I felt no sadness or distress. Only one thought consumed my mind: I only had a few days left to complete the task and leave. I couldn’t afford any more complications. I needed to avoid Julian Hayes as much as possible. Just as I thought the day would pass peacefully, Julian suddenly walked past the crowd and approached me. A wave of unease inexplicably washed over me, and I instinctively wanted to turn and leave. But Julian was faster; he grabbed my arm from behind. In the dim light, Julian turned his back to the others and said in a voice only we could hear, “Noah Reed, haven’t you learned your lesson yet? You still dare to come around? Today, I’ll make sure you understand what a huge mistake it is to keep bothering Aurora.” With that, he directly pulled the bracelet off his wrist and casually tossed it into the sea. Then, feigning surprise, he pushed me away. “Mr. Reed! Are you crazy? Even if you’re jealous that Aurora is so good to me, you shouldn’t throw the bracelet into the sea!” The crowd was quickly drawn to his voice, and Aurora, her face filled with worry, immediately shielded Julian. “What’s wrong? Did he bother you again?” “Again.” That word struck me as comical, yet I knew that no matter how clumsy Julian’s lie, I was destined to take the blame. Sure enough, Julian had already put on a different face, grabbing Aurora’s arm and sobbing. “Aurora, Mr. Reed threw the bracelet you gave me into the sea!” Aurora’s face turned frighteningly cold, her eyes like sharp daggers piercing me. “Are you taking everything I say as meaningless chatter?” She then hugged Julian, comforting him incessantly. “It’s alright, it’s just a bracelet. If you like it, I’ll buy you another one.” Julian continued to cry, then pushed her away and made to climb over the railing, intending to jump into the sea. “No, this bracelet means something special to me! I want *this one*!” Aurora’s brows were tightly furrowed, but her grip on him tightened. She confirmed, “You absolutely have to find it today, don’t you?” Julian nodded forcefully. “Yes!” Upon receiving his affirmative answer, Aurora turned to me, her voice devoid of any emotion. “In that case, whoever lost it will go down and find it.” The next second, she pushed me into the water without hesitation. **Chapter 4** “Help… help me!” The icy water instantly swallowed me whole, leaving only a sliver of light above. But gradually, even that last bit of light vanished. I closed my eyes, feeling my body grow heavier and heavier. I was so tired, so sleepy, I just wanted to drift into oblivion. No, I couldn’t sleep yet. I had one last task to complete. If I failed, I would never see Elara again. The thought ignited a surge of strength within me, and I instantly opened my eyes. Then, I used all my might, desperately swimming towards the surface. By the time I clawed my way to the shore, I was utterly exhausted. My chest burned from the water I’d inhaled, my lungs felt like they would explode, and I could only cough frantically to relieve the pain. I clung to the rocks, feeling like a pathetic, disgusting ghost. Before I could recover, a dull ache shot through my shoulder. Then, I was brutally kicked back into the water. On the shore, a line of bodyguards in suits watched me, their faces expressionless, their voices cold. “Ms. Vance said you’re not allowed to come ashore until you retrieve the bracelet.” I choked on several more mouthfuls of water before I could stabilize myself slightly. It seemed that if I didn’t find the bracelet today, this ordeal wouldn’t end easily. Helpless, I could only dive to the bottom again and again. After three agonizing hours, countless dives and resurfacings, I finally found the bracelet Julian Hayes had tossed away. When I finally made it back to shore, I was completely numb from the cold, and my fingers were ghost-white from being submerged. A bodyguard threw a set of clothes at me, telling me to change before coming out. I shivered, clutching the clothes, and walked into the restroom alone. Just then, I heard someone else come in. The voices were familiar; listening closely, it was indeed Julian Hayes and his friends. “Julian, Ms. Vance really loves you. Such an expensive bracelet, she just gave it away. When you cried, she was so heartbroken, she’d practically give her life for you.” “Before, you said you only saw her as a sister and left the country with your ex-girlfriend. But that ex-girlfriend ran off as soon as she heard about your heart condition. Only Aurora stayed loyal to you. After all she’s done, even a stone heart would melt. You surely don’t still see her as a sister, do you?” Julian chuckled, a hint of triumph in his voice. “How could you fall for it too? Calling her a sister was just an excuse.” “People always want what they can’t have. If I didn’t act this way, how could I be her unattainable ‘white moonlight’?” “As long as I keep her hanging, she’ll always love me. That’s much better than actually being with her.” His friends were stunned. “No way? So you going abroad with your ex-girlfriend was all fake?” “That’s a massive gamble you’re playing!” Julian laughed. “Of course. Is there any woman in this world who can compare to Aurora?” “That other woman was just a pawn I found to make Aurora jealous.” “See? Aurora has been utterly lost in despair and obsessing over me all these years, hasn’t she?” His friend clapped. “Brilliant! That’s a masterstroke!” “But Julian, don’t overdo it. I heard Aurora is going to marry Noah Reed, that simp, for your heart. If they get married, all your plans will be for nothing!” Julian spoke confidently. “I have it under control.” “Besides, Aurora doesn’t care about that guy at all. A few days ago, I deliberately slapped myself three times, and she had him slapped thirty times in return. Today, I threw the bracelet into the sea, and she didn’t even think twice before kicking him in. He’s probably still down there.” “I have plenty of ways to torment him. Don’t worry, I won’t let them get married.” Their voices faded, and the restroom fell completely silent. I slowly emerged, my phone still recording in my hand. So, the so-called ‘white moonlight’ was nothing more than this. I pressed the stop button on the recording, looking at the complete audio that had captured everything, and let out a self-deprecating laugh. This, I thought, would be my final gift to Aurora Vance before I left.

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I was known as the notorious wild child in our circles, a siren with a tempting smirk and eyes that promised trouble. Julian Sterling was the most distinguished heir to a vast family fortune, cool, aloof, and remarkably composed, his emotions kept under tight wraps. No one knew that two such different people would get entangled in the backseat of his Maybach late at night, wildly tangled in a charity gala’s restroom, or against the panoramic windows of his private vineyard, his grip on my waist making my legs weak. After another night of unrestrained passion, I heard the faint sound of water running in the bathroom. I leaned against the headboard and called my father. “I can marry that terminally ill heir to a powerful South City dynasty, using the wedding as a public offering for his recovery… But I have one condition…” My father’s voice on the other end was barely able to contain his delight. “Name it! As long as you agree to marry, your father will grant any wish!” “I’ll tell you the details when I get home.” My voice was soft, but my eyes held a chilling indifference. I hung up, about to get dressed, when my gaze flickered to Julian Sterling’s laptop resting nearby. His SnapChat was open, the latest message from a girl saved as “Seraphina.” 【Julian, it’s thundering. I’m so scared…】 My fingers trembled. The bathroom door suddenly opened, and Julian emerged. Water droplets glistened on his collarbone, his shirt unbuttoned carelessly at the top two buttons, giving him a languid air beneath his usual reserved demeanor. “Something came up at the office. I’m leaving.” He picked up his jacket, his voice still cool and clear. My red lips curved into a smirk. “Is it ‘something at the office,’ or are you off to see your pristine angel?” Julian didn’t hear me clearly. “What?” “Nothing.” I got out of bed barefoot, my bare feet sinking into the soft carpet. His eyes darkened slightly. His thumb brushed my swollen lips. “Stay in line, don’t cause trouble.” The moment the door closed, the smile vanished from my face. I ordered an Uber and followed him. Half an hour later, his car pulled up in front of a hotel. Through the curtain of rain, I saw Seraphina Hayes, in a flowing white dress, running out of the hotel entrance. Julian Sterling quickly went to her, taking off his suit jacket and placing it over her shoulders, then effortlessly sweeping her into his arms. “It’s cold out. Why did you come out without a coat, hmm?” His movements were so practiced, so ingrained, as if he’d done it a thousand times before. I clutched the car door handle, my nails digging deep into my palms. Watching Julian carefully carry Seraphina into the hotel, for some reason, I suddenly recalled the first time I ever saw him. Back then, my father and I were constantly at odds. After one particularly explosive fight that left him with a bleeding head, he’d sent me to stay with the son of an old business partner, hoping to ‘discipline’ my wild, spoiled nature. When I first met him, Julian Sterling was in his top-floor office at Sterling Corp., his gaze, cool and sharp behind gold-rimmed glasses, was like ice. Of course, I didn’t want to be there. So I found every way to cause trouble. On my first day, I spilled coffee all over his million-dollar bespoke suit. Julian merely gave me a brief glance. “Italian cashmere. Charge it to the Vance family account.” On the second day, I deliberately shredded important meeting documents. Julian didn’t bat an eye, reciting the entire content from memory on the spot, stunning every executive in the room speechless. On the third day, I drugged his coffee, setting up a camera to capture his humiliation and blackmail him. Instead, I ended up becoming his ‘cure’. Waking up the next day, my body ached all over. I was furious, ready to kill, but Julian pinned me against the panoramic windows and took me again. “Scarlett,” he murmured, his voice husky as he nipped my earlobe, “Be good.” That single whisper of ‘Scarlett’ shattered my defenses. No one had called me by that name with such tenderness since my mother passed. From then on, our relationship fundamentally changed. Every time I caused trouble, he’d simply throw me over his shoulder and carry me into his office. Outsiders thought he was disciplining me, but in reality, he was pinning me to his desk until my legs turned to jelly. Gradually, I found myself craving it, addicted to the taste of him. Was it because he was so good in bed? Or was it because I was so lonely? I didn’t know. I only knew one thing: I was completely, utterly hooked. So, for his birthday, I spent an entire day decorating his villa. Roses, candlelight, music—I even had the engagement ring ready. But I waited all night, until the candles burned out and the roses wilted, but he never showed. It wasn’t until three in the morning that a news alert popped up on my phone— #Billionaire CEO’s Late-Night Airport Reunion with His Pristine Angel# In the photo, Julian Sterling was carefully escorting a girl in a white dress into a car, his eyes filled with a blinding tenderness. The comments section exploded: “OMG, what a powerful CEO and his delicate innocent! I’m obsessed with them.” “Holy sh*t! Isn’t that Mr. Sterling and Seraphina, the campus sweetheart? Back in our school days, they were the golden couple!” “I went to the same school, and I can confirm! Mr. Sterling was always cold to everyone, but he’d only smile at Seraphina! If she hadn’t gotten sick and gone abroad to recover, they’d have married ages ago, right?” My phone *clattered* to the floor. I couldn’t believe my eyes. If Julian’s heart already belonged to someone else, what did that make me? A convenient bed warmer? I trembling dialed Julian’s number, desperate for an explanation, but my calls went straight to voicemail. After the last attempt failed, I put down my phone and walked into Julian’s study, a room he never allowed me to enter. The moment I pushed the door open, I felt as if I’d been struck by lightning— His study was filled with Seraphina’s photos. Graduation pictures, travel snapshots, even candid shots of her sleeping. Julian Sterling, the epitome of cool self-possession, was capable of something like this. Whether I got an answer or not suddenly seemed irrelevant. I started to laugh, the sound echoing harshly in the empty room. I laughed until scorching tears streamed down my face, tracing the curve of my jawline before splashing onto the polished floor. Red-eyed, I trashed the entire villa. When Julian returned the next day, he simply called for cleanup, calmly surveying the wreckage. He didn’t even spare me a glance, as if my destructive outburst was just another one of my ‘normal’ antics. I watched, helpless, as the house staff swept away the engagement ring I had so carefully prepared, treating it like trash. He didn’t know what was in that box. He didn’t know I had wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. And he certainly didn’t know that the moment that ring was swept into the trash, I decided I would no longer love him. “Miss Vance, where are you headed?” The driver’s voice pulled me back to reality. “Home.” I opened my eyes, my voice cold. “To the Vance Estate.” Back at the Vance family villa, my father immediately rushed to greet me. “Scarlett, are you really willing to marry into that South City family?” On the stairs, my stepmother also looked at me expectantly. “Yes, really,” I said, my eyes cold. “But didn’t I say I had a condition?” “What condition? Tell me!” “I want to—” I said, enunciating each word, “—sever all ties as father and daughter.” The air instantly froze. My father’s face changed dramatically. “You’re being outrageous! Do you know what you’re saying?” “I couldn’t be clearer,” I replied, my voice like ice. “You cheated on my mother, then relentlessly tormented her, pushing her to the brink until she took her own life, all to make way for that woman. From that day on, I vowed never to acknowledge you as my father.” I stared at my father’s ashen face. “Now that family of the dying heir in South City has put up a $50 billion bounty for a bride, and you’ve been begging me for three months. If I didn’t agree, were you planning to tie me up and drag me there?” “Given that, what difference does it make if we sever ties now?” I sneered, a mocking curve to my lips. “Go ahead, bring your mistress’s daughter back and crown her the heiress of the Vance Estate.” My father trembled with rage. “Fine! Sever ties then! But that heir in South City is supposedly not going to live past the end of the month, so you *must* marry him before then!” He sneered. “As for your Mrs. Hayes’s daughter, she returned from abroad a few days ago and has been staying at a hotel. Since you’re willing to step aside, she’ll be moving in tomorrow!” I laughed, my heart aching and trembling. “You’re truly one of a kind, so eager to pamper another man’s child while neglecting your own flesh and blood.” I turned to leave, but my stepmother, Eleanor, feigned concern and blocked my path. “Scarlett, how can you speak to your father like that?” I stopped abruptly. I slowly turned, my eyes burning with years of suppressed hatred. “What? Do you think once I’m married and out of this house, you can finally start acting like the real lady of the house?” I advanced, step by step. “Listen to me, Eleanor! My mother may be gone, but that doesn’t change the fact that you’re a universally despised homewrecker! And your precious daughter, even if she becomes the heiress of the Vance Estate, will never erase the stain of having a homewrecker for a mother!” Eleanor’s face instantly went pale, and she stumbled back two steps. I turned and walked away, each step feeling like I was treading on knife edges. It wasn’t until I reached my room and closed the door that I slid to the floor, all my strength drained, burying my face deep in my knees. The next morning, I heard a clamor of moving and laughter downstairs. “What’s going on?” I threw open my door. “Is anyone trying to sleep around here?” The butler stammered, “Miss Vance… Miss Seraphina has moved in…” Before he could finish, a familiar figure appeared at the top of the stairs— Seraphina, in a delicate white sundress, stood there, looking utterly fragile. My blood instantly froze! I never imagined that my stepmother’s daughter, who had supposedly been “recovering” abroad for years, was Julian Sterling’s pristine angel. What a cruel twist of fate. The next second, Seraphina walked toward me, offering a sweet smile. “Scarlett, I’m so sorry, did I wake you…?” Before she could finish, I slammed the door shut with a *bang*. “Scarlett Vance! Do you have no manners?!” my father roared from outside. “Clear out your room! Seraphina likes it, so from now on, that will be *her* room!” I sneered and immediately opened my closet to start packing. Fragmented conversations drifted from outside the door— “Mr. Vance, is Scarlett upset?” Seraphina’s voice dripped with saccharine sweetness. “Don’t mind her. She’s been spoiled rotten since childhood.” “But…” “Don’t worry, she’ll be married off to South City soon. Then this house will belong to you and your mother.” My hands paused for a moment, then my sneer deepened. I efficiently booked a flight to South City for the end of the month and continued packing. Half an hour later, I dragged my suitcase out of the room. In the living room, my father, Eleanor, and Seraphina were sitting on the sofa watching TV, with fruits and snacks on the coffee table, looking every bit like a happy family. I walked past them without sparing a glance. “Stop!” my father barked, his voice sharp. “What are you doing now? Don’t forget your promise!” “Don’t worry, I’ll keep my word,” I said, without looking back. “It’s just that I don’t want to stay here for the next two weeks and feel disgusted.” I went straight to the most expensive hotel in the city and booked the presidential suite. In the days that followed, I went on a shopping spree— I bought the most extravagant wedding dress, then splurged on antique jewelry at auctions for my dowry. Even if the wedding was just a ceremony to ‘pray’ for a dying man’s health, I would still marry in grand style. My phone vibrated endlessly in my bag. I didn’t check it until I’d bought the last diamond necklace. Thirty-eight missed calls, all from my father. The moment I answered, my father’s roar came through. “Are you out of your mind?! You spent three billion today! Are you trying to bankrupt me?!” “What’s the rush?” I sneered. “Once I marry, you’ll have $50 billion flowing into your account.” “But that money hasn’t arrived yet! If you keep spending like this, the company will declare bankruptcy tomorrow!” I sneered. I wanted him to go bankrupt. I’d already planned for the Caldwell family to transfer that $50 billion directly into my personal account after the wedding. Then I’d see if Seraphina and her homewrecker mother would still loyally stick with a penniless old man.

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When I married Julian, I was 22, he was 32. He was ten years my senior, and let’s just say his ‘generosity’ extended beyond his age, into aspects that left me breathless. For three years, he showered me with endless affection, almost always giving me what I wanted, as if he’d pluck the stars and moon for me, cherishing me like a precious gem. Yet, when night fell, his demands were relentless. Even when I whispered my pleas, he’d just smile and refuse to stop. I knew he had a lot of money and a lot of love, all for me. Until the day my father passed away. I called him ninety-nine times; he hung up every single one. The next second, I received photos from my best friend: “Chloe, is this your old man? I saw him hugging a woman on a street in Paris.” Opening the photos, seeing that man and woman, my heart felt like it had been thrown into ice. The man was him. And the woman was my Aunt Camila. Julian only came home on the third day after my father’s death. As he opened the door, he saw me on the couch, my eyes red and swollen, my figure frail and thin. His guilt peaked. He rushed over and pulled me into his arms, “Chloe, I had an emergency flight to Paris for a meeting. Because of the time difference, I missed your calls, so I couldn’t be with you for the funeral.” “It’s my fault. What can I do to make it up to you? Anything, just name it.” I listened to his explanation in silence, my face expressionless, like a still, dark pool. I didn’t say anything. I just took two documents from my bag, opened them to the last page, and handed them to him. “Julian, I want these two things. Please sign them.” Julian breathed a sigh of relief, quickly taking the pen and signing his name. Seeing his unhesitating actions, my eyes welled up with red. “You didn’t even look? Aren’t you afraid what I asked for is expensive?” Julian reached out and held me close. “Chloe, we’re husband and wife. Everything I have is yours already. Once the baby is born, it’ll belong to you and the baby. You can have anything you want, okay?” As he spoke, he leaned down to listen to the baby in my belly. “Are we going for a check-up today? Is the baby kicking? Can I come with you?” I stayed silent, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Julian took it as a ‘yes’ and helped me into the car. The atmosphere in the car was heavy and silent. Julian tried to find a topic, but his phone suddenly rang. “Julian, I’m back in the country. I want to see you.” Being so close, I could clearly hear Camila’s voice on the other end. My hand involuntarily tightened. The next second, Julian hung up the phone. “Chloe, I have some work to take care of. Can you go to your prenatal check-up by yourself?” I didn’t expose his lie. I just opened the car door. In the cold, desolate wind, I hailed a taxi. Memories flooded my mind, rushing past like the fleeting street scenes outside the window. Years ago, I was in a car accident. The driver fled, and passersby, afraid of getting involved, didn’t dare to help me. I lay in a pool of blood, on the verge of death, when Julian, like a godsend, picked me up. That day, I fell in love at first sight with this man who was ten years my senior. Luckily, the mature and steady Julian seemed to like me too. We dated for a year before getting married. Perhaps because of his age, he seemed to have endless patience. After we married, we never had a single fight. Gifts for me, anniversaries – he never missed a beat. In life, he always considered my feelings, except in bed. I couldn’t understand why, even in his thirties, he had such boundless energy. So many nights, he would make me whimper and cry out, begging him to stop, but he would only kiss me again and again, smiling. “My little silly goose, I love you, that’s why I’m like this.” “The more we try, my darling, the sooner you’ll give me a baby.” So, every night, my belly swelled and swelled again with hope, and finally, in our third year, I became pregnant. Three days ago, my father had a sudden stroke. I rushed to him, only to hear him constantly muttering Julian’s name, asking when he would come, wanting to see his son-in-law one last time. Everyone knew he wanted to entrust his daughter to Julian at the end of his life, and they all tried to contact him. But no matter what anyone did, I’d called him so many times, my phone almost died, yet I couldn’t get through. My father passed away with regret and resentment. I thought he was just busy. Until I finished arranging my father’s funeral, and then immediately received that photo from my best friend. I couldn’t understand why my husband would be hugging my aunt. My mind was a complete mess. Finally, I mustered the courage to enter Julian’s study, a place he never allowed me to go. As soon as the door opened, I felt as if I’d plunged into an icy abyss. Because inside, everything was related to my Aunt Camila. Walls covered in her photos, meticulously preserved love letters, countless unopened gifts, and a thick love diary that was still being written in. Through this diary, I learned everything. He had only been in love twice in his life. One was me. The other was my Aunt Camila. They were college sweethearts, and their relationship had lasted a passionate ten years. In their happiest times, he had accompanied her across the Atlantic, trekked through the Amazon jungle with her, and intimately embraced her under snow-capped mountains bathed in golden sunlight. In their angriest moments, he had shattered millions worth of jewelry for her. After their breakup, he had swallowed his pride and flown overseas to win her back, even drinking himself sick until his stomach bled when he learned she had started a new relationship. All his joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness in the first half of his life seemed to revolve around Camila. And the reason he was with me was merely because, after breaking up with her, he wanted to find a substitute who resembled Camila. So, he set his sights on her niece. After all, my face looked so much like my aunt’s! So, he orchestrated a hit-and-run accident, making me fall in love with him at first sight. So, he made love to me day and night, only to get me pregnant. But not because he wanted a child that looked like *me*, but a child that looked like *Camila*. The moment I learned the truth, I was utterly thunderstruck, completely shattered. It turned out the tenderness was fake, the love was fake, and even his sincerity was all fake. He had thoroughly deceived me! Though young, I knew I needed a clean slate, a clean heart, before anyone new could truly enter. What’s more, I was never anyone’s substitute. I was Chloe Davis, unique Chloe Davis. But from the very beginning, he had been lying to me. So, I would lie to him just this once. That felt fair. Just now, I deliberately didn’t tell him what he had signed. One was a divorce agreement. The other was an abortion report. I was no one’s substitute. A man whose heart isn’t mine, I simply won’t have him… I walked into the hospital and handed the abortion consent form directly to the attending doctor. “Hello, I want to terminate this pregnancy.”

Three hours later, I returned home, clutching my lower abdomen. After a day of rest, I looked at my pale face in the mirror and picked up lipstick with trembling hands. After a quick touch-up, my complexion returned to normal, but cold sweat still seeped from my body due to the pain. Wrapped in a blanket, I lay on the couch and called the housekeeper. “Please gather all the jewelry and handbags from the display cases. Send them to an auction house to be sold, and donate the proceeds to charity.” Julian, who had just pushed open the door, froze at my words. “Chloe, why are you suddenly selling these things?” I lowered my eyes, avoiding his gaze. “I don’t like them, so I’m donating them. It’s just doing good deeds for the baby.” Thankfully, Julian didn’t think much of it. He walked over, hugged me, and cooed, “Alright. In a couple of days, I’ll take you to an auction. You can pick out some new pieces, and we’ll slowly fill up the empty display cases again, okay?” Listening to his babying tone, I didn’t answer. Instead, I changed the subject. “Are you done with work?” “Yes, I’m done. I know you’ve been through a lot lately. I’ll stay home with you and the baby for the next week, alright?” As he spoke, he reached out to touch my belly, but I pressed his hand down in time. He lowered his head, seeming to notice my belly was a bit flatter, and slightly frowned. Just as he was about to ask, my phone suddenly rang. Seeing my uncle’s name on the screen, I answered the call. “Chloe, your Aunt Camila came back yesterday. Everyone’s planning a family dinner at the old family home. Will you be coming?” “I’m not feeling too well, so I won’t be able to…” Before I could finish, Julian took my phone. “I’ll bring Chloe, and we’ll be there on time.” Seeing how eager he was to agree to the dinner, a sharp pain pierced my chest. I couldn’t help but remember the ninety-nine calls I couldn’t get through on the day my father died. It turned out that when faced with someone he truly loved, he would seize every opportunity to see them. He wouldn’t care about my wishes, nor would he care about the pain of me having just lost my father. He would simply follow his heart, rushing to be with her. After hanging up, Julian saw the expression on my face and realized he had lost his composure. He held my icy hand and offered a few explanations. “Chloe, I know you’re not in a good mood, but you’re still pregnant. You shouldn’t dwell in sorrow. I’ll go back to the family home with you to see the relatives and get some fresh air.” I forced a smile, but said nothing. At seven o’clock, the couple arrived at the family home on time. Before entering, Julian handed me a gift. “I heard from your uncle that you haven’t seen your Aunt Camila in years. It’s proper etiquette to bring a gift.” In the past, I would have thought him thoughtful and considerate. But now, I knew he just wanted to use my hand to give a gift to the woman he loved. I didn’t expose his intentions and stepped into the lively living room. Hearing the sound, Camila, who was chatting with someone, turned her head and saw me, and Julian holding my hand beside me. She paused for a moment, then hesitated, “Chloe, who is this?” I didn’t answer, unsure how to. Julian also remained silent, but the relatives nearby enthusiastically introduced him. “Camila, you’ve been abroad for three years and didn’t come back for the wedding, so it’s normal you don’t know him. This is Chloe’s husband, Julian Davis, CEO of Davis Group…” Camila swayed slightly, a hint of shock flashing in her eyes. But having seen plenty of grand occasions, she quickly regained her composure and stepped forward to shake his hand. They exchanged polite pleasantries, like strangers meeting for the first time. Only I could see the subtle, invisible tension flowing between them. I handed the gift to Camila and simply said, “Aunt Camila, welcome back.” “No, I’m just back in the country for a month, then I’ll return to Paris.” Julian’s face visibly darkened. Camila pretended not to notice, smiling as she opened the gift. Seeing the brilliant gemstone necklace, her eyes showed appreciation. “Chloe, you have excellent taste. I’ve been eyeing this necklace for ages.” I took in every detail of their expressions and said flatly, “Julian picked it out. His taste has always been impeccable.” During the meal, Julian barely ate anything. Aside from drinking, he was busy dishing out food for me. Relatives and friends smiled, teasing us. “Chloe is so lucky to marry such a wonderful husband. Look how in love they are!” I forced a smile, looking at the beef and lamb in my bowl, and didn’t touch my fork. After getting pregnant, I had severe morning sickness and couldn’t eat any meat. Julian knew this and had eaten vegetarian with me for a month. But today, he hadn’t remembered at all. Because he was busy swapping plates to move all the fish and shrimp on the table in front of Camila. My aunt, since she was little, loved seafood the most.

After dinner, Julian was stone-drunk. Relatives and friends, uneasy about them driving home like that, asked them to stay the night. I called a maid to help him back to the room. After washing up, I turned off the bedroom light, leaving only the bedside lamp on. A little while later, Julian groggily opened his eyes and reached out to pull me into his arms. “Camila, you came back for me, didn’t you?” I froze, not telling him he had mistaken me for someone else. It took me a long time to compose myself before I asked, “And you? Who did you get drunk for tonight?” “It’s you, Camila, it will only ever be you. Don’t you understand?” Though I had long anticipated the outcome, hearing it directly, my heart still throbbed with pain. Only then did I understand why the man who would drink to drown his sorrows for love had always appeared sober in front of me. Was he afraid that if he got drunk, he would reveal his true feelings like this, afraid I would find out? I clenched my hands tightly, struggling to breathe, and could only break free from his embrace. I sat in the bathroom for two hours before I calmed down. When I came out again, Julian was no longer in bed. I pulled open the bedroom door and saw the motion-sensor light on the balcony had gone out. I tiptoed over and, through the window, saw Julian and Camila standing outside. The night concealed the expression on his face, but I could clearly hear his suppressed voice. “Didn’t you tell me yesterday you weren’t going back to Europe? Why did you change your mind today?” “And you? Why did you marry Chloe without telling me?” Hearing Camila’s calm tone, Julian felt the fire in his heart burn even fiercer. His remaining rationality instantly collapsed. He forcefully gripped Camila’s hand: “Why I married her, shouldn’t you know best? She looks so much like you, and she’s your blood relative! Only by being with her can I openly see you! And not have to fly to Paris and wait downstairs for dozens of hours, just to sneak a glimpse of you, like a few days ago!” So, he went to Paris for Camila. That’s why he didn’t answer a single call. My heart jolted violently, my fingers digging deep into my palms. Camila hadn’t expected him to really be thinking that way. She murmured, “You’re crazy!” “I *am* crazy! I’ve been crazy ever since the day you insisted on breaking up with me, don’t you know that?! I want you by my side, even if it’s just a substitute who resembles you. That’s enough for me to cherish for the rest of my life!” His tone, filled with unvented pain, left Camila stunned. After a long silence, she squeezed out a single sentence, equally pained, “Julian, what do you take Chloe for by doing this? You’ve been married for three years, and she’s even carrying your child. Don’t you feel anything for her at all?” Julian laughed. “Camila, she’s just a substitute. How do you expect me to feel anything? Even if I did, I’d just be looking at her face, which reminds me of yours, and all I’d be thinking about is you!” “Chloe and I will have our baby soon. I’ve even thought of a name: Julianna, combining your name and mine. We’ll be together forever!” Hearing all of this, a chill ran down my spine, and I could no longer hold back my tears. Julianna. What a “Julianna.” I closed my eyes, recalling his insatiable desire in bed after we married, and his nervous attitude after I became pregnant. I bit my lip hard, suppressing the desperate cries of pain. My last ounce of strength drained away. Leaning on the wall, I dragged my shaky steps and turned to leave. The sounds of their argument gradually faded. Just before the bedroom door closed, I heard Camila say, “Aren’t you afraid Chloe will find out the truth?” Julian said, “She’ll never know. Even if she did, she loves me so much, she would never leave!” Never? I touched my flat abdomen, a bitter smile touching my lips. I would. I would smash the cage he built with my own hands and fly to the open skies of freedom. Never looking back. Julian didn’t return that night. At dawn, I got up. I didn’t disturb anyone. I went home alone, took my documents, and processed my immigration papers. As soon as I finished, I received a call from Camila. “Chloe, can you come with me to the cemetery today? I want to pay my respects to your father and also visit your mother’s grave.” My mother had passed away very early, so I had less contact with my maternal grandmother’s side of the family. Although Camila and I were only five years apart, we weren’t really close. But since Camila was going to pay respects to my parents, I could only agree. I bought a bouquet of flowers and, as I reached the cemetery gate, saw a sports car parked not far away. It was Julian. He saw me too and immediately got out of the car, walking over to my side. “Why didn’t you let me come with you to the cemetery?”

I stared at him. “Didn’t you leave in the middle of the night? Julian, I didn’t say I was coming to the cemetery. How did you know I’d be here?” Julian actively took my hand. “My stomach wasn’t feeling well yesterday. I saw you were in the bathroom, so I went to the hospital myself. This morning, I came back and heard Aunt Camila say she wanted to come with you to pay respects, so I tagged along.” It was an almost perfect lie. I mumbled an ‘hm’ and said nothing more. When we arrived at the cemetery, seeing the two gravestones side by side, a wave of sadness washed over me. The two people who loved me most in this world were also gone. Seeing the tears in my eyes, Camila walked over and gently patted my shoulder. “Chloe, even though your parents are gone, you still have Julian. He’ll take care of you for the rest of your life, and your baby is about to be born. You’ll have a new family.” She spoke with such conviction, as if she had already affirmed for Julian the eternal truth of our marriage. And after she finished speaking, Julian quickly chimed in. “Yes, I’ll take good care of you and the baby. Don’t be sad.” Hearing his words, I only felt irony. He promised to take care of me for life, not out of love, nor responsibility. But for another woman, and his unspeakable selfish desires. I swallowed those emotions, looking up at the photos of my parents. “Yes, I will definitely have a new home.” But it would have nothing to do with Julian anymore. After paying our respects, a light rain began to fall. Camila and I sat in the back seat, with Julian driving. Finding the atmosphere in the car heavy, Camila initiated a topic. “I heard a new Italian restaurant opened on the south side of town. How about we try it for lunch?” Julian immediately turned the car in that direction. “They say the owner is Italian, and the Western food they make is very authentic.” “Is that so? The pizza I had in Paris…” The two of them started chatting, moving from Western food to Nordic scenery, then to their experiences over the past few days. No matter what one said, the other could quickly pick up the conversation, never letting the atmosphere grow awkward. They were as in sync as a couple who had been together for many years, sharing everything. The thought flashed through my mind, and I scoffed at myself. They had indeed been together for many years. The places they’d been, the things they’d done for each other, their familiarity with one another. It was far beyond what I, a mere substitute, could ever compare to. Upon arriving at the restaurant, Julian habitually handed the menu to Camila. She took it, about to open it, then remembered something and handed it to me instead. “Pregnant women must have many dietary restrictions, Chloe. You order.” I ordered a few things casually. When the dishes arrived, Julian frowned. “You can’t eat any of these dishes. Did you forget the doctor’s instructions?” Camila also turned to look at my belly, a hint of surprise in her eyes. “Chloe, aren’t you four months pregnant? Why does your belly not look like it’s that far along?” Julian instantly stood up, intending to come over and check, but accidentally bumped into a server who was distributing food. The serving cart overturned, and all the dishes spilled out. He instinctively shielded Camila, blocking the hot soup and cold dishes from hitting her. I wasn’t so lucky. All the freshly cooked hot soup splashed onto my legs, immediately forming a patch of blisters. My face crumpled in pain, cold sweat dripping from my forehead. The rising heat enveloped me. I clutched the tablecloth tightly, watching Julian pick up Camila and rush away. In that instant, my heart plummeted to rock bottom. The scene was chaotic. The server quickly helped me to a safe area. Just outside, I saw Camila and Julian arguing. “I told you I’m fine! You should go back and take care of Chloe now!” “Your hand is all red and scalded! Why are you trying to be so tough? I’ll take you to the hospital first, then come back for her, Camila. Why do you have to be so stubborn? You were so worried about me just now, afraid I’d get scalded. Don’t you actually still have feelings for me?” “So what if I do, so what if I don’t?! Julian, we broke up! You married Chloe, and she’s carrying your child!” Hearing Camila’s painful shout, Julian’s eyes immediately reddened. “You clearly know that in my heart, she’ll never be as important as you!” Camila froze for a few seconds. Just as she was about to speak, she looked up and saw me standing at the doorway. Her pupils contracted sharply, and her voice was filled with unprecedented panic. “Chloe, why are you out here?!

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My CEO fiancée claimed company performance was down and cut my salary in half. But then I saw her assistant, Jax, showing off on his social media. “My boss not only gave me a raise, but also bought me a luxury car because she worried I’d be tired commuting. So thoughtful!” In the photo, he and my fiancée stood in front of a brand new, million-dollar luxury car, looking blissfully happy. I paused for two seconds, then hit ‘like’. That evening, my fiancée called an emergency meeting. Using the excuse that I was “disrupting company morale,” she docked my entire month’s salary, giving it to Jax as “compensation for emotional distress.” Everyone stared at me with sympathy, expecting me to throw a massive fit. But I calmly packed my belongings from my desk and handed her my resignation. “Just docking salary for bullying a colleague? That’s not enough. I’m taking my leave.” **Chapter 1** The words were barely out of my mouth when Jax spoke up, eager to interject. “Caleb, how can you resign over such a small thing?” “You’ve been with the company so long, and Amelia has always been so good to you. If you quit now, at such a crucial moment, what will everyone think of her?” “Amelia, please, try to talk Caleb out of it.” Amelia might have been thinking of persuading me. But after hearing Jax’s spiel, her temper flared. “Persuade him for what? If he wants to leave, let him. I’ve always conducted myself with integrity and had nothing to hide, so I don’t care what anyone says.” She snatched my resignation, signed it, and then threw it in my face. The surrounding colleagues watched, waiting for the drama to unfold. But I didn’t argue like I used to. My expression remained calm as I picked up the resignation letter from the floor. “I’ll hand over my work and then I’m gone.” “No need for a handover. If you want to leave, get out now.” Amelia pointed at the door, then seemed to remember something and added coldly, “Resigning yourself means no severance.” Seeing this, colleagues who were close to me urged me to apologize and not act impulsively. They all knew I had built this company from the ground up with Amelia. Back when the company was short on funds, I drank myself sick, almost collapsing, just to secure investment. When we couldn’t meet deadlines, I led the team, pulling all-nighters for three days straight. I poured countless hours and emotions into every aspect of this business. Leaving now meant giving up everything. But my mind was made up. I thanked them, gathered my things, and walked out. Before I left, I clearly saw a flicker of complexity in Amelia’s eyes. I knew she didn’t think I’d actually go. We’d had many arguments because of Jax before. The most serious time, Amelia publicly yelled at me and gave my entire year’s bonus to him. I was furious and threatened to quit, but when it came down to it, I always held back. I’d go back to her, act like nothing happened, pleaded with her, and then worked as usual, pretending it was all forgotten. She thought I’d rationalize it to myself again this time. But she didn’t know my patience with her had run out. Just as I stepped out of the company, a text message came through. I opened it. It was a transfer from a friend. That morning, when Amelia said company performance was bad and cut my salary, my first thought was that she was under too much stress. I immediately contacted Marcus, arranging for a loan of half a million dollars. I’d intended to give it to her, but then I unintentionally saw Jax’s social media post. That’s when I suddenly understood Amelia’s true intentions. Yet, at that moment, my heart was strangely calm. I wasn’t sad, nor was I blinded by jealousy. Perhaps it was because it had happened too many times. For Jax, Amelia had done so many absurd things to me that I was beginning to lose track of who her boyfriend actually was: me or Jax. I returned the money to Marcus, thanked him, and headed to the parking lot. I found my old beat-up car, the one I’d driven for ten years, the paint peeling off in several places. Next to it was a brand new Porsche, the very one Amelia had just given Jax today. There were plenty of empty spots in the garage, yet he chose to park right there. Clearly, it was a deliberate provocation. I’d been with Amelia for ten years, yet I was worth less than Jax, who’d only been with the company for ten months. I let out a self-deprecating laugh. Without further hesitation, I pressed the accelerator and left the company where I’d worked for years. But just as I exited the company gates, I was rear-ended. I got out of my car, only to see Amelia and Jax emerge from the car behind me. “Caleb, why did you stop so suddenly? I didn’t even have time to react.” Jax said, walking up to his car and looking at the dented hood with feigned distress. “What a shame. Amelia picked this out so carefully.” Amelia’s face grew even darker. “Caleb, I saw you staring at Jax’s car in the garage. Be honest, was this intentional? Did you know Jax was behind you and deliberately brake hard to get revenge?” I almost laughed at her. It was always like this. Blaming me without even bothering to hear my side. Jax sighed dramatically. “It’s okay, Amelia. Let’s not blame Caleb.” “He lost his job because of me, so it’s normal for him to be angry.” “Ultimately, it’s my fault. If only I had been more careful.” He said, clenching his fist and feigning hitting his forehead in exasperation. But he deliberately eased his force just before contact. Amelia, however, didn’t notice. She tenderly rubbed his forehead and cooed, “It has nothing to do with you. Don’t take all the blame yourself.” Then she sharply poked my forehead. “Can’t you be more responsible, like Jax?” “He’s so humble, and you, after all these years, are still so childish and arrogant?” I stumbled back from her push, then found myself almost laughing. For the past year, Jax had been constantly stealing my credit, playing dirty tricks to pin the blame on me, and now he was the humble and responsible one, and I was the childish and arrogant one. Knowing it would be a waste of my breath to talk further, I didn’t say anything and turned to leave. But Amelia stopped me again. I thought she would launch into another tirade defending Jax, but to my surprise, she pulled me aside. She said earnestly. “Caleb, I have high expectations for you, that’s why I’m so strict.” “Why can’t you understand my good intentions?” Listening to her soft words, I was momentarily confused. But soon, I understood her true intent. Amelia patted my shoulder. “I’ll withdraw your resignation. Think about apologizing to Jax.” “Also, you’re fully at fault for this rear-end collision. Transfer whatever he needs for the repairs.” I finally understood. I looked up at Jax. He likely already knew what Amelia was saying, and his face was full of smug satisfaction. He rolled his eyes at me mockingly. I scoffed. “I won’t pay. Check whose fault the rear-end was yourself. If not, call the police.” “I have other things to do. I’m leaving.” I turned to walk away. Amelia stomped her feet in anger behind me. “I’ve given you a chance, don’t you dare regret this!” Regret? Never. I got back in my car and sent a message to Marcus. “I quit. I can start at your company tomorrow.” **Chapter 2** Marcus called me back in less than half a second, his voice filled with surprise. “Are you serious?” He sounded a little unsure. “What about Amelia?” Marcus and Amelia had started their companies around the same time. Compared to Amelia, who started from scratch, Marcus had more abundant resources and more attractive benefits. He was desperately in need of talented engineers, so he offered me higher shares and profits if I came to help his company. He even made an exception, offering me a part-time position after he learned about my relationship with Amelia. But for Amelia’s sake, I had always refused without hesitation. Back when I was at my lowest, lying in the snow and almost freezing to death, it was Amelia who dragged me into the police station and saved my life. I was incredibly grateful to her, so I gave up everything and dedicated myself entirely to the business, finding every possible way to help Amelia’s company grow step by step. But now, it seemed she didn’t care. Besides, after all these years, I had repaid her kindness more than enough. I didn’t need to sacrifice myself anymore. “No, I can make my own decisions.” After chatting with Marcus for a bit longer and confirming the contract signing time, I drove home to pack my things. Even though I had bought this house outright, it was filled with memories of Amelia and me, and I had no intention of living there anymore. I started by cleaning under the bed and found many scattered paintings. The girls in the paintings were smiling, melancholic, some peeling an apple, others applying makeup. They were all Amelia, every expression vivid and lively. I had painted them for her. She used to love my sketches, treasuring them, framed and kept safe. But ever since Jax appeared, she grew impatient, saying painting was old-fashioned, a waste of time, better to just take photos. She stopped liking me painting for her. Even these paintings were carelessly thrown under the bed, the pages yellowed and faded, the portraits themselves discolored. I gave a bitter laugh. I tossed them into the basin in the bathroom and lit a corner. The flames consumed the paintings completely, leaving only a handful of ashes. Just like our love, which had been unknowingly burned to ashes. After that, I cleared out everything I could throw away. I didn’t have many belongings, yet the room felt much emptier and colder. I threw myself onto the sofa, grabbed my phone, and started looking for rental apartments near Marcus’s company. But just as I opened my phone, I saw that Jax had sent a picture to the company’s SnapChat group. It was a photo of him and Amelia, with an arcade as their background. Amelia was holding many plush dolls, smiling genuinely into the camera, her radiant smile shining brightly. I rarely saw her smile like that anymore. I had taken her to an arcade once, but after we’d just walked in and exchanged our tokens, she turned around and left, complaining I was childish and that she was too busy to waste time on such boring things. She had no time for me. But she had time for Jax. I scoffed. She wasn’t complaining about it being childish; she just found *me* tiresome. Many colleagues in the group were flattering her, complimenting Amelia on her beauty, calling her stunningly beautiful. Some even praised the photographer’s skill, and a few joked, asking if they were expecting good news (like an engagement or marriage announcement) soon. They all knew I was Amelia’s boyfriend. But they dared to make such jokes only because Amelia made no secret of her flirtation with Jax at the company. Normally, I would have gotten angry and called Amelia to tell her to be more discreet. But now, I felt completely calm. I pretended not to see it and continued with my task. Two minutes later, I checked again and saw that several messages had been unsent, even the photo Jax had originally posted. I thought Amelia wouldn’t be back until late. But soon, she walked into the living room, talking on FaceTime with Jax, a joyful expression on her face. When she saw me, her face flickered with a fleeting moment of guilt, then darkened. She deliberately rolled her eyes at me and stormed into the bedroom. I knew she was waiting for me to sweet-talk her. Every time we had an argument at the office, I would try every possible way to apologize to her, begging for her forgiveness. Even when she was the one at fault, I had to admit fault against my conscience. Before, I thought it was my duty, whether to repay her kindness or to maintain our relationship, I should always pacify her. But now, I just found it pointless. I lowered my head and continued what I was doing. Soon after, she emerged from the room, her face dark. “Did you see the messages in the group?” “What messages?” I asked, feigning ignorance. I didn’t look up, but I sensed her relief. “Nothing, just work messages. Sent it to the wrong SnapChat group.” I found it amusing but couldn’t be bothered to call her out. I just wondered how much she was hiding about her and Jax that I didn’t know. “Jax’s car is fixed. Did you get yours repaired?” Seeing my silence, Amelia spoke again. I knew this was a signal to ease the tension between us. In the past, I would have thought she had forgiven me and eagerly tried to appease her. But now, I didn’t even lift my head, replying indifferently, “It’s just an old beat-up car. Nothing worth fixing.” Amelia frowned. “What do you mean by that?” I looked up at her, confused, not understanding what she was unhappy about. This car had been scratched many times before, and when I suggested fixing it, she had said the exact same thing. I expected her to lose her temper, but to my surprise, she exhaled. “I know you’re still angry about the company, but Jax has been doing really well at work lately. I gave him the car to keep him as valuable talent.” Hearing her say that, I almost laughed out loud. Jax was hired by Amelia under exceptional circumstances, and his work ability was abysmal. The mistakes he made were countless. From small things like serving clients plain water while ordering himself a fancy drink during meetings, to major errors like sending the confidential pricing list instead of the quote to a partner, causing the company hundreds of thousands in losses. Keeping him was less useful than keeping a stray. If I wasn’t clear about the company’s situation, I might have actually believed Amelia. I didn’t say anything. Amelia continued, “You’re my boyfriend, and when we get married, the company will be yours anyway. Why do you care so much about salary or argue with him?” “Caleb, everything I do is for the company. I don’t want other colleagues to think I’m playing favorites with you.” I knew in my heart that these were just excuses. At the company, colleagues all knew how Amelia treated Jax and me. Projects I worked on for three days were, on a whim, handed over to Jax, who then just made a PowerPoint presentation, and it became his achievement. Clients I’d spent days cultivating, just about to sign contracts, would be taken out to dinner by Amelia, who used my name but brought Jax along, and suddenly the contract was “negotiated” by Jax. Such incidents were countless. Over time, other colleagues simply thought Amelia preferred Jax. They even thought Amelia didn’t like me, which led to me facing a lot of disdain and bullying at work. She saw it, but always pretended not to. I didn’t want to explain; she would just say I was making excuses anyway. “Oh,” I replied flatly. “You don’t need to tell me all this. I have nothing to do with the company anymore. Do whatever you think is best.” Amelia didn’t speak. Finally, she sighed. She walked over to me, stood on tiptoes, wrapped her arms around my neck, her warm breath gently caressing my cheek. “Actually, I have a selfish reason. I wanted you to take some time off and think about our wedding.” “When are you going to propose to me?” She asked with a playful smile. But I had proposed many times before, and each time, she had refused. Every time we argued, she would use marriage to placate me. Sometimes, I felt less like her boyfriend and more like a dog on a leash, being played with. I didn’t say anything. Amelia, as if teasing a dog, playfully scratched my chin. “Don’t be angry, can you smile for me?” Then, as if deliberately trying to please me, she leaned in to kiss me. I smelled Jax’s cologne on her again. A wave of nausea hit my stomach. I pushed her away abruptly, frowned in disgust, and pulled out a wet wipe to clean my fingers. **Chapter 3** Amelia froze, as if struck by lightning. “You’re disgusted by me?” “I have to go out later. I’m going to change.” I said calmly, then turned to head back to my room. Amelia tried to follow, but I didn’t hesitate to close the door and lock it. “Fine! Caleb, don’t you dare regret this!” Amelia seemed truly angry. After her harsh words, she kicked the door hard and stormed away. When I came out of the room, the living room was empty. In the company SnapChat group, Amelia had sent a message, saying she was treating everyone to dinner and asking who wanted to join. The whole group was silent. Only Jax sent three “happy” emojis in a row. I knew Amelia was deliberately trying to provoke me. This had happened many times before. It was always the same: other colleagues weren’t interested, only Jax was enthusiastic. In the past, I would have gotten jealous and followed them, only to be mocked. Now, I couldn’t be bothered. I changed my clothes, went to see the rental apartment, and after confirming it was fine, I paid the rent directly. Then I contacted an agent to list my current house for sale. Although I had bought this house outright and personally handled all the renovations, I had put the deed in Amelia’s name. Back then, Amelia and I had barely any money between us. To give Amelia a sense of security, I used all my savings to buy this house. Now that the company had grown to its current size, I doubted this house would even register with Amelia. The agent told me that for the house to be sold, Amelia needed to be present, or she needed to sign a power of attorney if she was unavailable. I had no choice but to message her again. But after I sent it, a red exclamation mark appeared next to the message. She had blocked me. It used to be like this. When things got almost irreconcilable, Amelia would furiously block me and storm out of the house. Worried about her safety, I would sometimes borrow a friend’s phone, humbly begging her to unblock me. And she would condescendingly ask if I’d learned my lesson on the other end of the line. Thinking back now, I realized how many things I’d said against my conscience just to placate her. After a moment of thought, I still called her. “Come home tonight. I need to discuss something with you.” “What is it? I’m busy.” Amelia’s voice was cold. I pursed my lips. “We can talk when you get back.” Amelia scoffed. “You push me away when you want to, and now you expect me to come back just because you say so? Caleb, do I owe you something? Is this how you apologize?” “Have I been too good to you lately, causing you to forget how to apologize?” Listening to her mocking tone, I still lowered my voice as I always did. “I’m sorry. I was wrong.” I’d already apologized against my conscience so many times, one more wouldn’t hurt. Besides, this apology was for a house. Even though the house was mine, if Amelia really wanted to cause trouble and refused to sign, I couldn’t sell it. Even with proof of my financial contribution, I would have to go to court. Amelia could afford the drama; I couldn’t. Sure enough, after my apology, Amelia’s tone softened a bit. “Just wait.” She then hung up the phone. My heart remained calm. I listed the house online, and to sell it quickly, I significantly lowered the price. After doing all that, I contacted Marcus and signed the contract. Marcus was extremely excited, repeatedly asking if he was dreaming. He even threw a celebratory dinner just for me. I had planned to go home early, but then I thought Amelia wouldn’t be back for a while, and there was nothing much to do at home anyway, so I agreed. A few drinks in, when I went to the restroom, I heard familiar voices coming from the next private room. I instinctively paused. Through the slightly ajar door, I saw Amelia nestled in Jax’s arms. I don’t know what they were talking about, but Amelia was laughing so hard she was shaking. Taking the opportunity, Jax quickly leaned down and kissed her lips. **Chapter 4** Amelia froze for a moment but didn’t push him away. “Amelia, when are you going to break up with Caleb?” “I can’t wait to be with you. Do you know how upset I get seeing you with him every day?” “Do you still prefer Caleb?” Jax whined, sounding wronged. Amelia parted her lips, as if to say something. Finally, she hugged Jax back, patting his back gently as if comforting a child. “How could he compare to you in my heart?” “It’s just that now the company is bigger. If I break up with him and get with you, I’m afraid people will gossip, and it might negatively impact your reputation.” “Just wait a little longer.” “It won’t be long.” “Oh, so that’s it. I knew Amelia loved me the most.” “…” They were intimately embraced, looking exactly like a couple. I scoffed, not bothering to watch any longer. I went back to the private room, had a few more drinks, and we reminisced about old times. It wasn’t until past midnight that we finally dispersed. As we headed into the underground parking garage, Marcus suddenly pulled me to a top-of-the-line Porsche and asked if I liked it. I nodded, confused. I thought it was his new car and was about to compliment him when Marcus suddenly slipped a car key into my hand. “It’s for you.” He winked at me. “Your old car is a wreck. I’ve been meaning to get you a new one for ages.” I was about to refuse, but he seemed to know what I was going to say and went straight on. “I heard Amelia got a car for that new guy at your company. If someone with his terrible skills can drive a luxury car, you certainly can’t be worse off.” “Speaking of which, I’ve seen the stuff that new guy at your company produced. The style is different every time, clearly copied. I have no idea how he’s still at the company…” Perhaps it was the alcohol, but Marcus spoke without any filter, complaining endlessly about Jax. I remained silent. He was right. Those projects were all done by me and the other colleagues on our team. Almost every time, just as they were about to be completed, Amelia would demand they be handed over to Jax. That’s why Jax’s style was always inconsistent. Marcus, who wasn’t even at the company, could see through it. But Amelia, ironically, couldn’t. I still wanted to decline the car, but Marcus feigned anger. “This isn’t a gift, it’s coming out of your future salary. You can’t waste my good intentions.” I couldn’t help but laugh. The price of this car… if it really came out of my salary, it would take years to pay off. Knowing it was just an excuse from Marcus, I no longer refused and thanked him. After a few more casual words, we both called designated drivers and went our separate ways. I thought Amelia wouldn’t be back by this time. But when I opened the door, I saw her already sitting on the living room sofa. “Where were you? Didn’t we agree to meet? Do you know how long I’ve been waiting?” As soon as I walked in, Amelia asked me furiously. I was a little surprised. Normally, when she went out with Jax, she wouldn’t be back until three or four in the morning. Her early return was truly unusual. But thinking about it, the image of her and Jax embracing in the private room flashed before my eyes again. A wave of nausea washed over me. “I went out for dinner with Marcus,” I said flatly, walking into the living room and pulling out the power of attorney from my bag. I had only taken two steps when Amelia suddenly stopped me, frowning. “You’ve been drinking?” “Didn’t I tell you not to drink when I’m not around?” I couldn’t help but scoff. Her words implied I was only allowed to drink when I was entertaining clients for her. I didn’t say anything. Amelia, however, seemed to realize something and suddenly smiled, a hint of smugness on her face. “You’re still angry about me going out with Jax, aren’t you? If you didn’t want me to have dinner with him alone, you could’ve just said so. Did you have to drink this much?” “You’re overthinking it. My drinking has nothing to do with you two.” I leaned on a chair and sat down, handing her the power of attorney for the house sale. “Take a look at this.” **Chapter 5** Seeing the document I handed her, Amelia raised an eyebrow, her voice a little smug. “What’s this? A guarantee letter?” “Let me tell you upfront, it’s too late to apologize now. I’m very angry about what happened this afternoon.” “Don’t think a little trick like this will make me forgive you.” Watching her smug expression, I found it amusing. It was true. Before, when I frequently angered her and she refused to forgive me, I had handwritten a guarantee letter to win her favor. Looking back, she certainly had her faults, but back then, I had willingly handed over my self-respect for her to trample on. Thankfully, it wouldn’t happen again. “It’s not a guarantee letter. It’s a surprise.” I said flatly. Amelia raised an eyebrow, curious, and was about to open it when her phone rang. Her eyes lit up when she saw the caller ID. “Wait a second, I need to take this.” Amelia said, picking up the call. “Amelia, I accidentally hit someone while driving. What do I do? I’m so scared right now.” Jax’s distressed voice came through the phone. Amelia’s face grew anxious. “Send me your location, I’m coming over now.” She said, getting up to leave, no longer paying attention to me. I quickly blocked her path, holding the power of attorney directly in front of her. I spoke succinctly. “Let’s deal with my business first. I brought it up first, and this document needs to be signed. It’s urgent.” Amelia froze for a moment, looked up at me, and sighed. “Caleb, can’t you have some empathy? His situation is more urgent than yours.” “Your jealousy right now is really unbecoming.” I found it somewhat amusing. I was “unbecoming,” but what about Jax, drunk driving? But I couldn’t be bothered to argue with her, I just kept the power of attorney in front of her, not pulling it back. Amelia said nothing more, flipping through the document. But before she could read it, Jax’s scream came through the phone again. “Ah! How can you hit me? Amelia—” “Don’t worry, I’ll be right there.” She told Jax not to worry, but Amelia was visibly more anxious than him. She didn’t even look at the content, hastily flipping to the end, scribbling her signature, and then quickly clacked out the door in her high heels.

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**Chapter 1** “Mr. Blake, the contract is signed. As agreed, we will arrange a simulated death service for you in seventeen days.” In the reception room, the staff handed me the freshly drafted paper contract. I took it, flipped through it casually, and confirmed with them again, “Will the body for the fake death resemble me?” The staff member offered a confident smile and solemnly assured me, “Don’t worry, sir. The body is custom-made to your exact measurements. No one will ever suspect a thing.” Reassured, I finally relaxed. I pulled my card from my wallet, paid with a grand sweep of my hand, and then turned to leave. Stepping out, the first thing I saw was a luxurious, elongated limousine. The chauffeur, who had been waiting, hurried to open the door respectfully. “Young Master Julian.” I nodded in acknowledgment and directly settled into the backseat of the luxury car. The chauffeur closed the door for me, then returned to the driver’s seat and restarted the engine. The car moved smoothly, finally pulling up outside the Blake family mansion. This was the house I’d specifically bought to live with Aria Vance. Not long after I returned, the villa’s front door opened again. A slender woman walked in, dressed in a form-fitting white dress. Her cool silhouette was as straight as a pine, her features exquisite, yet her demeanor was distant and aloof, keeping everyone at arm’s length. She unhurriedly adjusted her skirt, walked directly toward me, grabbed my arm, and started pulling me towards the bedroom. “Aria Vance, wait!” To my surprise, the next second, I struggled fiercely, pulling my hand from her grasp. Aria’s eyes, deep and cool as moonlight, fixed on me. She seemed not to understand what I wanted now. “You don’t want to? Making me sleep with you every day—wasn’t that your condition when you ‘bought’ me?” “Recently… no, not for now. I’m a bit tired lately.” I lowered my head, lying, my words mumbled. Fortunately, she didn’t seem to care, simply saying, “Then I’ll go back to work.” Aria had indeed been very busy recently. She was preparing for a startup project, now in its most critical phase. I didn’t try to stop her, just nodded and let her leave. I thought she’d be busy all night, but not long after, she received a call and hurried out of her study. Seeing me still in the living room, her steps abruptly halted. “Since you don’t want me tonight, I’m going out. I have something important to take care of.” Watching the rare flicker of urgency on her usually indifferent face, I already knew the answer in my heart. “Something important”? It was only ever for Leo Sterling. But I said nothing, just nodded. Given my permission, Aria didn’t linger. She brushed past me as she left in a rush. She reached the door, about to push it open, when I suddenly called out to her, “Aria Vance, actually, you don’t have to be like this anymore…” Hearing my voice, Aria instinctively paused, frowning as she stood there, waiting for me to finish. But my voice choked when I met her slightly impatient gaze. “Just go.” In the end, I still didn’t say the rest of the sentence. I just told her to leave first. It wasn’t until her figure completely disappeared into the darkness that I spoke again, softly, “Actually, you don’t have to be like this anymore, because… I’ll be leaving very soon.” As the scion of a powerful East Coast dynasty, I had money, looks, and physique. I’d done many foolish things, But the most foolish was buying myself a girlfriend in my freshman year. She was the undisputed queen of Northwood University, pursued by countless guys from our campus and beyond. But her personality was indifferent and aloof. She rejected everyone equally, busy only with classes and part-time jobs. I fell for Aria at first sight, desperate to possess this woman as untouchable as a rare, exquisite bloom. Learning that her parents had died young, and she was raised by her grandmother, who was now gravely ill for years, Aria was juggling multiple jobs to cover exorbitant medical bills. I found her and proposed a deal. I’d cover her grandmother’s medical expenses. In return, she would be my girlfriend, come home every night, and… satisfy my desires for as long as I wished. At that time, her grandmother’s condition was critical, and Aria desperately needed a large sum of money to save her only living relative. So, she agreed. Five years had passed. Aria and I had both graduated from college and started working, but our relationship hadn’t changed. Grandma Rose’s illness wasn’t cured yet, and I hadn’t grown bored. Aria still lived in my mansion. Her attitude towards me remained cold, but I hadn’t lost hope, believing that with persistence, I could one day melt the ice in her heart. It wasn’t until I accidentally fell down the stairs and hit my head a few days ago that I awakened, realizing I was living inside a novel. Aria Vance was the main female lead, and Leo Sterling, her childhood sweetheart, was the main male lead. And I? I was just the villainous second male lead! According to the novel’s plot, Aria’s startup project, which she was currently preparing, would achieve massive success in seventeen days. She would skyrocket to the top as a new commercial titan, later becoming a business mogul! And the first thing she would do after her success was to give me a large sum of money and break up with me. But I wouldn’t agree. I’d cling to her, and later, seeing her and Leo grow increasingly intimate, I’d grow jealous, constantly sabotaging and tormenting Leo, until Aria utterly despised me and I met a gruesome end on the streets. I didn’t want to believe such an absurd thing, nor did I believe I’d do something so foolish. But recently, almost every event had unfolded exactly as the novel’s plot described. And Aria repeatedly abandoning me to be with Leo made me realize that the main male and female leads were destined to fall in love. After a grueling week of torment, I finally saw reason. I couldn’t gamble with my life. To completely escape the plot, and to change my ultimate fate, I finally made my decision: I couldn’t love her anymore. I would fake my death and leave this place, leave Aria Vance! **Chapter 2** Recalling the future events, I tossed and turned all night. Aria didn’t return that night, and I didn’t call her to check in. The next day, I woke up early. After washing up, I went downstairs and ate breakfast alone. The mansion was eerily quiet, save for the faint sounds of me chewing my food. It wasn’t until I finished breakfast that the butler approached me, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. “All the staff have been dismissed as you instructed. I’m also returning to the old estate today. Young Master, are you truly sure you don’t need any household help?” “No, I don’t,” I shook my head. Because soon, I wouldn’t be here anymore. Seeing the butler’s worried gaze, I didn’t explain further. I just went upstairs, retrieved a letter, and handed it to him, asking him to deliver it to my parents without fail. I was afraid my parents would be too heartbroken after my fake death, so I explained my plan to them in the letter. The letter clearly stated that I would be leaving for another country in seventeen days to live under a new identity, assuring my parents not to worry. When the time was right, I would secretly return to visit them. I hadn’t considered taking my parents with me, but they were older, and their life’s work was all here. Moreover, my “awakening” was too outlandish to explain in a few words; they’d just think I’d lost my mind. And if my parents also disappeared, I was afraid Aria might grow suspicious. So, after weighing all options, I decided to let my parents stay here, and I would leave alone. After arranging everything on my end, I began to make arrangements for Aria. Once all the staff were dismissed, I took some fruit and went to visit Grandma Rose. I never put on airs. Over the years, whenever I had free time, I would visit Grandma Rose, always bringing her gifts, chatting with her to ease her boredom, and even teaching her how to use a SnapChat so she could see the outside world without leaving her home. So, compared to Aria’s coldness, Grandma Rose was very fond of me. “Julian, when are you and Aria going to tie the knot?” When Grandma Rose brought up the question again, the usual embarrassment on my face was replaced by a bitter smile. Marriage? Not in this lifetime. Not only would I be gone in seventeen days, but even if I stayed, I’d likely face the same ending as in the original book. Aria’s heart belonged to Leo Sterling; how could she possibly marry me? Seeing my silence, Grandma Rose couldn’t help but sigh, yet she still offered words of comfort. “I know my granddaughter. Aria isn’t completely without feelings for you, but the beginning of your relationship wasn’t pure. There must be a barrier in her heart. Once that barrier is broken down, you two will surely be happy together.” I forced a smile, listening to Grandma Rose’s comforting words. I knew the original plot, and I knew that Aria’s love had always been for Leo Sterling alone. The female lead only loves the male lead; how could she ever fall for the villainous second male lead? In the end, I said nothing, nor did I refute Grandma Rose’s words. I simply pulled out a card. “Grandma, please give this card to Aria whenever you get a chance.” This card was originally a startup fund I had prepared for Aria a long time ago. I had hesitated about how to give it to her, worried it might bruise her pride. Now that I had awakened and decided to leave, I would just have Grandma Rose pass it on. I hoped that this way, Aria might remember some kindness from me, and after my “fake death,” she wouldn’t… disrespect my remains. Grandma Rose noticed something was off with me, and asked with concern, “Did you and Aria argue again?” I shook my head. “No argument. It’s just that in a while, I’m going to a very distant place…” My words were cut short by a cool voice. “What distant place are you going to?” **Chapter 3** I turned my head sharply, just in time to see Aria Vance behind me, a stormy look on her face. And beside her stood Leo Sterling. I shifted my gaze, casually finding an excuse to brush her off: “I’m going on a trip soon.” In Aria’s eyes, the two things I loved most were being with her, and traveling the world. So, hearing my answer, she composed herself, didn’t press for details, and smoothly took Leo to sit by Grandma Rose’s bedside, subtly squeezing me to the farthest corner. “Grandma, you wouldn’t believe it, but Aria is so stingy! On the way here, I just wanted an ice cream, and she wouldn’t even buy it for me. You really need to talk to her!” Leo started complaining as soon as he sat down, pouting and recounting his grievances. Aria shot him a helpless glance, her words a rebuttal, yet filled with concern for him. “Still talking? Have you forgotten your stomach issues again? And you still dared to eat cold things! I wonder who was in agony with a stomachache last time, swearing they’d never touch anything cold again and begging me to keep an eye on you—remember that?” Leo chuckled, winking, and her eyes filled with nothing but doting affection for him. Though there were four people present, once Aria and Leo arrived, her gaze was entirely fixed on him. Squeezed to the very end, I watched their easy, natural interaction, and couldn’t help but let out a self-deprecating laugh. It was always like this. Between them, I was forever the outsider. But I wouldn’t feel sad like before anymore. This time, I had let go of everything, let go of Aria, and let go of all my love for her, giving her back completely to the main male lead. Grandma Rose noticed the fleeting hint of loneliness in my eyes, then glanced at Aria, who was deliberately ignoring me. She sighed inwardly. “Aria, Julian, I’d like some grapes. Could you two wash some for me, please?” With Grandma Rose’s request, neither Aria nor I would refuse. She picked up the fruit basket from the bedside table, and we walked out of the room one after the other. But as soon as I stepped out, her hand shot out, clamping around my wrist. I was surprised that she initiated physical contact today. The next second, I heard her icy words: “You should visit Grandma less often. I may have sold myself to you, but my grandma hasn’t.” That single sentence instantly made my hopeful thoughts crumble into a bitter joke. A dull ache settled in my chest. If it were before, I would have rushed to explain that Grandma Rose was elderly and often lonely, and with Aria being so busy, I had no ulterior motives, just wanted to keep her company. But now, I just lowered my head, my voice calm. “Alright.” After saying that, I didn’t wait for her and headed straight for the pantry, unlike before when I would insist on walking with her. Watching my retreating figure, a strange feeling arose in Aria Vance’s heart: Since yesterday, his actions seemed to have… changed. **Chapter 4** After washing the fruit, Aria and I returned to the hospital room. We chatted for a while, and then everyone prepared to leave. As we stepped out of the hospital, Leo Sterling spoke first, “Aria, Mr. Blake, it’s almost dinnertime. Why don’t we all go eat together?” Aria naturally wouldn’t refuse Leo’s suggestion. As for me, perhaps not wanting me to act like a spoiled heir and make things difficult for Leo, she accepted on my behalf before I could even open my mouth. At the restaurant, we followed the waiter to a private room. Aria effortlessly took the menu and began ordering. It wasn’t until all the dishes were served that I realized she had ordered only Leo’s favorites. Perhaps this was the difference between love and indifference. Even though I once demanded she memorize all my preferences, one was forced, the other was from the heart—a world of difference. Fortunately, I had anticipated this outcome and wasn’t too disappointed. I just ate in silence, saying nothing. Halfway through the meal, a sharp phone ring echoed in the private room. Aria took her phone and walked outside. I, however, froze for a moment when I saw the pinky ring on Leo’s hand as he served himself soup. “Where did you get that pinky ring?” Leo glanced at the ring on his little finger, seemingly oblivious to its significance, and answered with a smile, “This? Oh, Aria gave it to me. I said it looked good, and she just handed it over.” At his words, my face instantly darkened. This pinky ring was a gift I had painstakingly carved, my hands scraped raw in the process, and personally given to Aria on our anniversary. Inside the ring, a small inscription read: “Julian Blake will always love Aria Vance.” I had bared my soul, pouring out my raw, unadulterated love for her, yet she had casually dismissed it, gifting it to Leo Sterling! A raw, untamed fury surged through me. But the next moment, the novel’s plotline flashed through my mind. Aria’s heart belonged to Leo Sterling; naturally, she wouldn’t cherish something I gave her. If I were to fret over every little thing now, wouldn’t that just make Aria despise me even more? It was like a bucket of ice water had been dumped over my head. I instantly calmed down, reined in my expression, and offered a faint smile. “It looks great. It suits you.” Leo had clearly been expecting me to lose it, so a flash of surprise flickered in his eyes. He gritted his teeth, then suddenly stood up, eagerly ladling out a bowl of soup and offering it to me. “Mr. Blake, don’t just bury your head in your rice. This seafood soup is excellent; you should try some.” I’m allergic to seafood. Just as I was about to refuse, I saw Leo’s wrist twist, and the soup bowl crashed to the floor with a loud *smash*. His eyes welled up, red-rimmed and brimming with a wronged, tearful expression. Before I could even process what Leo was trying to pull, Aria swept past me like a gust of wind, shielding Leo behind her. Then, her gaze, cold as ice, pierced right through me. “Julian Blake, what are you doing!” Leo, standing behind her with red eyes, seized the moment to fan the flames. “Aria, it’s all my fault. I upset Julian, so he got angry and threw the soup at me. I’m just a little scalded; it’s fine. Don’t blame him…” “I didn’t!” Hearing him twisting the truth, I instantly widened my eyes, wanting to explain. But she utterly ignored me. She shot me a glacial look, spat out, “Julian, you are utterly impossible,” and then, without another word, she pulled Leo by the arm and stormed out. Watching her cold retreating back and Leo’s triumphant, taunting glint in his eye, I stood frozen, my heart plummeting to rock bottom. What surprised me even more was that over the next few days, Leo seemed to discover this tactic worked well and got hooked on framing me. He’d either claim I got him fired from his job, or that I ordered an industry-wide blacklisting against him. He even claimed I hired someone to vandalize his home with paint, making his life a living hell. Aria kept biting her tongue, until finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. When she got home, she grabbed me by the arm. “Julian Blake, if you have an issue, deal with me directly. Why target Leo?” For five years, Aria’s attitude towards me had been consistently cold. This was the first time I’d seen her emotions so openly displayed, but it was all for Leo Sterling. “I didn’t target him. I didn’t do those things.” I tried desperately to explain, but she still looked completely unconvinced. “If not you, then who?! You’re capable of buying a girlfriend; what *aren’t* you capable of?” “Don’t let there be a next time. I’ve given you everything; why can’t you just leave the people I care about alone?!” After spitting those words out, Aria, her eyes full of disappointment, refused to say another word to me and walked directly to the guest bedroom. I watched her retreating back, fighting to suppress the knot of sadness tightening in my chest. In her heart, I was always the one she didn’t trust. But besides the sadness, I felt something more: dread. I only had a few days left before I was gone. But if this continued, I was terrified Aria would actually end me before I could even orchestrate my fake death. I tossed and turned for half the night. After much deliberation, I finally came up with a plan. That evening, I drove to Leo Sterling’s apartment. My first words were: “Leo Sterling, let’s call a truce. From now on, I’ll help you and Aria get together!”

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### Chapter One I was reborn! Gazing at the young, smooth face in the mirror, unmarked by time, and my slender, pale hands, a momentary haze quickly gave way to clarity. I fumbled for my phone and lit up the screen to confirm the date. June 26, 2024. This was the time right after I’d submitted my university applications and was waiting for the results. It was also the exact moment in my previous life when my two childhood best friends—Liam Kingston and Jake Miller—began their fervent pursuit of me! A flash of surprise sparked in my eyes. Without a moment to spare, I grabbed my phone and fired off an email to my admission counselor: “Mr. Davies, please update my application preferences. I’m changing my top choice from USC to Harvard!” Mr. Davies replied almost immediately, his tone conveying satisfaction: “You finally made this decision! You’re one of the most outstanding graduates in our state this year. While USC is excellent, Harvard is, after all, a top academic institution. It would be a waste to miss out.” I gave a bitter smile. “I was too headstrong before, I apologize, Mr. Davies. Now, I want to change it back.” Modifying the application didn’t take long. Soon, my university application was revised. But when I returned home, there were already some uninvited guests. It was Liam Kingston, Jake Miller, and my so-called best friend, Chloe Hayes. “What are you guys doing?” Seeing me, Liam, usually so reserved, looked at me with tender eyes. He smiled, “Did you forget? We agreed to have dinner at your place today to celebrate all four of us applying to the same university, didn’t we?” Jake, with his wild, carefree spirit, took a few steps closer and gently tapped my head. “You little scatterbrain. We knew you’ve been busy preparing your valedictorian speech these past few days, so we’ve been setting everything up. You just have to show up and eat.” I was about to speak when my phone suddenly rang. It was Mr. Davies. “Aria, you left in a hurry just now, and I forgot to tell you something. Originally, you were scheduled to give the outstanding graduate speech in three days. But just now, two influential board members suddenly spoke up and changed it to Chloe Hayes…” Mr. Davies’s voice held regret. Clearly, from every angle, I was the more accomplished graduate and better suited for the speech. He wondered what kind of connection Chloe had with those board members to make them personally intervene and change the speaker. But unlike Mr. Davies’s confusion, I glanced at Liam and Jake right in front of me and understood perfectly. Weren’t my two childhood friends’ fathers on the school board? “I understand, thank you, Mr. Davies.” I nodded calmly, accepting the news. Mr. Davies didn’t expect me to be so calm. He sounded a bit surprised. “Your grades are better, so you speaking would be more fitting. It’s an honor. Are you really going to give it to Chloe Hayes?” I remained calm, even managed a smile. “Yes, I’ll give it to her.” Not just this time. I was even giving Liam and Jake to Chloe. After all, I never wanted to experience the pain of my past life again. In my previous life, Liam and Jake had pursued me just like this, eager to offer me their hearts. The first time, I married Liam. But in the third year of our marriage, Liam died in a car accident while protecting Chloe. It was then that I discovered he had never loved me; the person he truly loved, from beginning to end, was Chloe! I was struck by a double blow and fell into a deep slump. It was then that Jake reappeared in my life. He helped me through my grief, encouraged me to embrace a new life, and told me I still had him. So, the second time, I married Jake. After we married, he was as gentle as ever, but there was always a distance between us, like we were polite strangers. At first, I thought love had simply evolved into familial affection. It wasn’t until an already elderly Chloe was diagnosed with heart disease that I found out the truth. He, without hesitation, donated his heart for her, despite my pleas. It was then I knew: Jake’s beloved was Chloe too! I didn’t understand why. If both my husbands loved Chloe, why did they marry me? It wasn’t until the funeral that Chloe, with a condescending pity, revealed everything. “Why did they marry you? Because I orchestrated it all. I told them that if they didn’t do as I said and pursue you, I would vanish from their lives forever. They were terrified, which is why they scrambled to chase after you.” “Oh, and by the way, do you know why you never had any children? Because they’d all gotten vasectomies for me. They told me that even though they married you, their hearts would always belong to me, and they would never have children with you! Hahahaha!” I was struck dumb, hysterically demanding to know why Chloe would do such a thing. Her reason was just as ridiculous: “Why? Because I was jealous of you, of course! You were born an heiress, always wanting for nothing. Everything I fought tooth and nail for, you got effortlessly. Of course, I wouldn’t accept it. I just wanted to see you suffer, to show you that the happiness you cherished was nothing but a facade I graciously bestowed upon you!” Chloe finished her tirade and walked away, a smirk of triumph on her face. Consumed by rage and grief, I coughed up a mouthful of blood and finally died, my heart full of bitterness. Now, fate, it seemed, had taken pity on me and granted me another chance. This time, I would have nothing to do with any of them! ### Chapter Two “What is it?” After I hung up the phone, Chloe curiously leaned closer. My expression remained calm, as if discussing something that had nothing to do with me. “They changed the graduation speech to you in three days.” “Me? My grades aren’t as good as yours, and I’m not as outstanding. Why would they suddenly change it to me? Well, I can’t eat now, I need to go back and prepare!” Her eyes were wide with surprise, and she rushed out as soon as she finished speaking. Liam and Jake didn’t try to stop her. Their gazes lingered on her retreating figure, their adoration so obvious it hurt. They looked like they wanted to run after her, right then and there. I took in their expressions and said flatly, “If you want to go after her, go ahead.” “What are you talking about? You’re still here, why would we go after her?” Liam snapped back to reality at my words. He looked back at me, letting out a soft chuckle. He paused, then feigned comfort, “It’s just one speech. Don’t be upset.” “Exactly. Our Aria is so excellent, the school has no taste, that’s why they replaced you,” Jake chimed in, echoing Liam. I gave a slight smirk, saying nothing. In my previous life, they had comforted me in the same way. But in truth, they were the ones who had secretly arranged the switch. I was about to say something, but before the words could leave my mouth, Liam and Jake cut me off again. “Aria, we’re taking you somewhere.” They pulled me out mysteriously. It wasn’t until we arrived at our destination—a field filled with flowers and colorful balloons—that I realized it was a proposal setup! Liam, who knows where he got it, presented a bouquet of white roses, looking utterly lovesick. “Aria, you must know how I feel about you by now. And now, I want an answer.” Seeing this, Jake wasn’t to be outdone. He quickly pulled a bouquet of red roses from behind his back and presented them to me, his voice full of tenderness. “Aria, I liked you first. I’ve been planning this confession for three months, you have to choose me! If you agree to be with me, I’d go through hell and high water for you!” Looking at these two kneeling before me, I felt a momentary sense of unreality. If I hadn’t known the truth, watching their heartfelt expressions, I might have truly believed they loved me. They used to be the closest of childhood friends. How had I never known before that they had such a talent for acting? Just as I was about to speak, all our phones vibrated simultaneously. It was Chloe, who had left earlier, posting in our shared SnapChat group. **[Chloe Hayes]: My lightbulb broke at home, and I don’t know how to change it. What should I do? :'(** A pitiful emoji followed the message. In an instant, Liam and Jake’s faces changed. Liam, forgetting all about his grand gesture, was the first to stand. “Chloe’s home alone, and the lightbulb’s broken. She must be scared. Maybe I should go help her with the lightbulb first!” “I’ll go with you!” Jake quickly followed suit, standing up. After he spoke, he seemed to remember I was still there, his face flushing with embarrassment. “Aria, it’s getting dark soon, and Chloe needs help right away. As for who you’ll choose in the end… maybe you can tell us tomorrow.” With that, neither of them spared another glance at my reaction, rushing away. Watching their retreating backs, I couldn’t help but feel a little amused. They claimed they’d been preparing for this proposal for three months, yet Chloe only had to say she couldn’t change a lightbulb, and they so easily abandoned it? The evidence that Liam and Jake didn’t love me was everywhere, yet in my past life, I had been completely blind, never seeing it. I lowered my gaze to the two bouquets of flowers and gift boxes they’d left behind. A smile touched my lips, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I picked up the flowers and gifts, and without a second thought, tossed them all into the trash. Liam Kingston, Jake Miller, this life, I won’t choose either of you! With two months until university started, to minimize contact with the three of them, I simply blocked Liam, Jake, and Chloe’s numbers and traveled alone for a month. When I returned home, satisfied with my trip, I found two figures crouching by the door. It was Liam and Jake. The sound of my suitcase caught their attention. When they saw it was me, they immediately rushed over like madmen and hugged me tightly. “Where have you been this past month? You didn’t answer your calls or messages. Do you know we’ve been frantic looking for you?!” The worry in their eyes didn’t seem feigned. It was hard to tell how long they hadn’t rested or taken care of themselves; their chins were covered in short, dark stubble, and their eyes were bloodshot. They looked disheveled—hardly the two biggest heartthrobs from our high school. I looked at them, and my mind drifted back to when I was thirteen. My parents, unable to bear their constant arguments, chose to divorce. But when it came to my custody, they started pushing me back and forth, neither wanting to take on the burden. In the end, they left me a house and a credit card to support me until I was an adult, then both disappeared. The night my parents left, I didn’t cry or make a fuss. But that night, I quietly sneaked out alone. Liam and Jake had searched frantically for me all night then, finally finding me by the lake. They had held me just as anxiously in their arms, saying, “Even if your aunt and uncle leave, you still have us. If they don’t want you, we do. We’ll always be with you. Never leave alone again, we’d truly go crazy…” ### Chapter Three A flicker of melancholy crossed my eyes. We used to be so close, yet in my past life, they were the ones who hurt me the most. To this day, I still don’t understand how they fell for Chloe, but it had already happened. There was no going back, and dwelling on the reasons was pointless. I pulled out of their embrace, my voice calm and even. “I went on a graduation trip.” “Why did you go alone?” Hearing my answer, Liam’s brows furrowed. Jake also looked at her disapprovingly. “Aren’t you afraid of getting lost? We said we’d all four go together, didn’t we?” Watching them naturally include Chloe in their plans, I kept my face impassive and reminded them, “We said *three* of us would go.” Liam suddenly paused, as if just realizing. “You don’t like Chloe? Then we’ll limit our contact with her from now on, okay? I just thought that since we’d all be at the same university, I should look out for her a bit more. But if you don’t like it, we’ll reduce contact. You’re always the most important person in my heart!” If I hadn’t been reborn with my memories, I might have been genuinely touched by their declarations. But now, I simply walked past them without a change in expression, heading towards my room. “I’m going to put away my luggage.” Seeing me leave, Liam and Jake quickly followed. “The class is having a get-together today, a beach BBQ. Let’s go together.” Yale was far away, nearly two thousand miles from here. I probably wouldn’t have any contact with my friends after this, so I thought it would be a good chance to say goodbye. I agreed. Many people came to the party, almost all our classmates, including Chloe Hayes. Perhaps my sudden solo trip had scared them, because Liam and Jake indeed kept their distance from Chloe. They didn’t even greet Chloe, instead circling around me the entire time, getting me food, shielding me from the sun, which made everyone present tease us, saying how sweet and spoiled I was. It wasn’t until I went to a nearby restroom midway through that, on my way out, I saw Liam, the golden boy everyone admired, and Jake, the defiant one who seemed to bow to no one, both with their heads down, holding Chloe’s hands. They were rubbing against her like obedient puppies, begging her not to leave them. “Please don’t make us chase Aria anymore! We can’t pretend anymore. Every minute with Aria is torture. We like *you*, so why can’t we just be with you?” Chloe, surrounded by them, had a barely discernible smugness and satisfaction in her eyes. After hearing their words, she didn’t relent as they hoped. “No. I said, if you don’t chase Aria, I’ll disappear from your lives forever!” At that, Liam and Jake panicked, quickly changing their tune. “We’ll chase her! We’ll chase her no matter what! How did we do today? If we did well, can we get a reward?” Chloe smiled and slightly extended her hand. The two immediately hugged her tightly, as if she were the most precious treasure in the world. I couldn’t watch anymore. I turned and returned to the party from another direction. Soon, Liam and Jake also came back, one after the other. They walked straight to me, offering me drinks when I was thirsty, food when I was hungry, and a jacket when I was cold, practically showering me with affection. Some classmates watched them, gossiping curiously, “One the heartthrob, the other the bad boy. Our high school’s two most popular guys are both pursuing you, Aria. Who are you going to choose?” Hearing this, both men crowded around, a hint of expectation in their eyes. “You didn’t give us an answer that day. Do you have one now?” Chloe, who had returned a step behind them, happened to hear this and gave me a knowing, teasing look. The scene I had just witnessed flashed in my mind. My eyes flickered, and I didn’t answer their question directly. “I’ll tell you my answer on the first day of classes.” “Then we’ll look forward to that day!” Chloe’s voice, full of hidden meaning, suddenly came from behind me. Then, she excitedly pulled me. “Aria, the seashells here are beautiful, let’s go collect some together!” I frowned, about to refuse, but she had already pulled me up. And then, she led me further and further away. Seeing that we were a considerable distance from the party, I yanked my hand out of hers, frowning. “Weren’t we going to collect seashells? Why are we walking so far?” “There are more seashells here,” Chloe said with an innocent smile, then, feigning curiosity, she subtly leaned closer and asked, “Aria, you said you’d choose after classes start. Why wait until then? I’m so curious, can’t you tell me now?” “I can’t.” My expression was cold, my refusal blunt. But she seemed oblivious, continuing to chat. “Can’t you decide yet? Want me to help you figure out who loves you more?” A sudden, ominous feeling rose in my heart. I was about to frown and say no, when a sharp pain shot through my head. I instinctively looked back, only to see Chloe holding a palm-sized rock, a triumphant smile on her face. The next second, my vision went black, and I lost consciousness completely.

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I was just about to offer financial aid to Liam, the impoverished university guy sitting across from me, when suddenly, pop-up messages started flashing before my eyes. [Side character, stop! This scumbag isn’t worth your money!] [He’ll take your cash, call you trash behind your back, and then go sleep with his secret fling!] [For the love of all that’s holy, just look at the ‘villain’ next to you! He’s seriously pitiful!] Strongly urged by the flurry of comments, I reluctantly shifted my gaze to Caleb, the guy tucked away in the furthest corner. At that moment, the pop-up messages went absolutely wild again. [Hey, side character! Choose *him*! He’s going to be a business mogul later, a walking goldmine!] [Seriously! He might look like an innocent lamb, but secretly, in *one particular area*… he’s legendary. We’re talking ‘seven times a night’ legendary. Trust me.] My eyes widened, round as saucers, as I fully processed the last message. Well, money’s not *really* the point, you know? I’m just a very, *very* charitable person.

Ever since my bestie, Chloe, found herself a young guy to ‘support,’ she’s been so busy she barely has time for me. These past two days, her complexion has been positively glowing, and her every move has become even more captivating. Clearly, she’s been getting *everything* she needs and more. That sneaky girl is living the life. It made me wonder: does a young college guy really have *that* much magic in him? Can they actually make you feel and look brand new?! That thought only made me more eager to find someone to ‘sponsor’ myself. When the manager figured out what I was looking for, he smartly led in a college student whose shirt looked like it had been through too many washes. His background story was the classic ‘gambling dad, sick mom, younger sister in school, and his own broken dreams’ – straight out of those tragic romance novels. Perfect, absolutely perfect. He fit the underdog hero trope from those billionaire romance novels to a T. I was just reaching into my bag for my black card when, the next second, a stream of pop-up messages flashed before my eyes. 【Oh, our poor side character, stop right there!】 【This scumbag in front of you is a total jerk.】 【He’ll spend your money, insult you behind your back, and sleep with his mistress.】 【Not only that, but the female lead is about to burst in, accusing you of moral manipulation. It’s all a pre-planned scheme between them. Sweetie, don’t fall for it!】 Time seemed to freeze for a moment as I quickly processed the situation in my mind. With the constant refreshing of the bullet comments, I finally understood the whole mess. They said I would sponsor this supposedly poor college guy, but he’d always resent me for ‘insulting his dignity’ with money. Then, he’d use my money to put on a pitiful act every single day. Not only would he cheat on me multiple times with his mistress after we got married, but eventually, the two of them would conspire to take over my family’s company, leading to my entire family’s tragic demise. What?! Excuse me, but what the hell? So, I’m just cannon fodder, the pathetic side character, right? Is my only purpose to hand over my family’s wealth to the main characters and pave the way for the male lead’s future business success? The plot must have been so outrageously ridiculous that the netizens were frantically sending comments, urging me to stop. Maybe their collective resentment was just too strong, because I actually saw those messages. So, I quickly stopped myself from pulling out the card. The next moment, a fiery girl burst in from outside. She lunged straight at Julian: “Blair, do you think just because you have a little dirty money, you can insult people however you want? Let me tell you, *we* don’t care about it!” 【LOL! Oh, ‘we~ don’t~ care~’】 【Did you guys see that? Her eyes were practically glued to Blair’s Hermès bag, and she’s still going on about ‘we don’t care’ ~】 【When did the person above us start a secret voice chat?】 【Girls, look! The male lead is totally faking it now!】 Watching the incessantly chattering girl, I rubbed my ear and comfortably settled back into the main seat, pouring myself a glass of wine. My gaze flickered quickly, catching the flicker of greed in the female lead’s eyes before she could hide it. I also didn’t miss the flicker of resentment and humiliation in Julian’s eyes. The manager immediately stepped forward, sharply scolding the two, clearly terrified they might offend me. Julian’s gaze towards me grew even more disgusted. He stepped in front of the girl, shielding her, and spoke with intense resentment and humiliation: “Whatever you want, direct it at me. Just let her go first, and I… I agree to be your… lover.” “But you have to agree to three conditions first.” 【Here it comes, here it comes! The male lead’s classic shameless three conditions are about to drop!】 【Honestly, this male lead is disgusting. Not only does he seize the opportunity to make the side character pay for his mother’s medical treatment, but he also forbids her from touching him.】 【Even more sickening, he demands that the side character unconditionally fund his little mistress, otherwise he’ll end the ‘arrangement.’】 【Seriously, he has no self-awareness of being ‘kept’ at all.】 【Exactly! People would think she’s sponsoring a boyfriend, but really, she’s taking care of a demanding ancestor!】 I waved my hand, cutting him off with a scoff: “Alright, shut up. Who said I wanted to ‘keep’ you?” “You should take a look in the mirror and see if you even qualify.” “You’re not exactly a sight for sore eyes, and you’ve got enough baggage to fill a private jet.” Julian’s face turned ashen, apparently shocked that I would so bluntly reject and insult him. Even Piper, who had been secretly smug beside him, had a flash of astonishment in her eyes, momentarily forgetting to manage her expression. After all, she had specifically researched my ‘type’ and painstakingly ‘dressed up’ her man. But now I was saying I didn’t like him? How could that be? She was convinced this was just my tactic to ‘conquer’ men. Especially since she had sacrificed her beloved man for this. I didn’t care what they were thinking. I pointed to the server in the far corner and said: “I want to ‘sponsor’him. 2 I put the black card into Pei Zhao’s hand without saying anything. While he was still in a trance, he quickly found the manager to settle his salary and turned him back home. I looked at the boy who was sitting obediently on the sofa with an obedient face. At this moment, I was a little suspicious of the authenticity of the bullet comments. No, you mean a good boy like that, Will he become the ruthless villain in the bullet screen in the future? Why am I so skeptical? However, speaking of which, after bringing him back, what should he do next? This question is clearly beyond my scope! My best friend didn’t say what she would do next? I have no experience in secretly sent a message to my best friend. Me: [Baby, what else did you do after you brought home the last time you had a mistress?] My wife: [I didn’t do anything. Just conquer him directly.] Me: Ah! Is that what I think it means? Isn’t this too fast? My wife: [What’s the big deal? Isn’t the purpose of keeping me happy?] Although… but said very reasonable is what is going on! At this moment, the bullet comments started flashing crazily again. [Oh my God, Sister Bao really brought the little villain home.] [Wuwuwu ~ This time, the villain is finally no longer a pitiful little girl that no one wants!] [Hurry up, let’s write a book of ten thousand people’s blood together. I beg the supporting actress to save the villain.] [After the poor villain was imprisoned by the male lead, his legs were even broken. In the end, he committed suicide after being humiliated in prison.] – What’s that? My hand paused for a moment. Obedience will lead to suicide, no, absolutely not. I finally met a completely long in my heart on the good baby, must protect him. After making up my mind, I rummaged through the cabinets to find a slightly larger men’s T-shirt and asked him to come out of the shower and change into it. Pei Zhao obediently entered the bathroom with his clothes. Ten minutes later, he came slowly to me wrapped in my towel. His hair was slightly messy after taking a shower, and a few strands of hair were stuck to his forehead, making him look innocent and fragile. Those poor puppy eyes were filled with tears. “I’m sorry, sister. I accidentally wet my brother’s clothes.” The soft and cute voice hit my heart directly. I didn’t have time to think about the brother he was talking about! I quickly comforted her softly, “It’s okay, don’t cry!” The next moment, bullet comments flew up. [Ahhhh! Big Silly Spring, quickly let go of my wife.] [Can’t the supporting actress tell that this kid is faking it? This villain is obviously acting and deliberately testing you.] [That’s right. Every action of the villain is carefully planned. It’s all male. Don’t think you don’t know his little thoughts.] [Can you guys upstairs not be so sensitive?] [Get lost. Can’t you see that the villains are crying? Besides, don’t I know whether he is acting or not?] [No, the villain didn’t seduce me, didn’t hint me, and didn’t compare me. Why did he act? Can you guys not be so paranoid?] For a moment, the bullet comments were extremely noisy. However, I didn’t have the heart to take care of this. My eyes fell on Pei Zhao’s slightly wet hair. If your hair isn’t blow-dried, you’ll have a headache the next day. I pulled Pei Zhao to sit obediently, and I picked up a dry towel and a hairdryer to dry his hair. He looked at his eyes. I play big heart, fingertips gently across the above, only feel juvenile innocence is not decent. Sister, don’t… The youth lifted his wet eyes, as if he had suffered a great injustice. Who could endure this! His gaze fell on Pei Zhao’s pink lips, which opened and closed one after another. He did not dare to think about kissing her… Then, I kissed the boy’s lips as if bewitched. It was as soft as he imagined, with the pine fragrance unique to teenagers. The youth’s beautiful amber eyes widened slightly in shock. He hurriedly pushed me away, ears as red as blood. Then, as if he had thought of something, he said in disappointment, “Sister kissed me like this. If Brother knew, he would be unhappy.” The bullet comments went crazy! [Ahh, isn’t this acting? Brother Huan, didn’t he just want to ask where the female partner’s clothes came from? And have you kept other men?] [Get lost upstairs! Where is he drinking tea? Stop framing us, obedient villains.] I reacted to the brother the youth was talking about and rubbed his soft hair. “There’s no one else, only you.” After some thought, he added, “It’s the last time I’ve seen you.” “Good girl, I’ll be responsible for you.” 3. The next day, it was a complete surprise to find out Liam and I were in the same class when I dropped him off at school. If I’d known there was such a sweetheart in my class, I wouldn’t have skipped so often. So, when I walked into the classroom hand-in-hand with Liam, The whole class instantly erupted into a buzz. Then, I declared it to everyone right there: “Liam’s mine now.” I was sure the whole school would know by morning. Our school was a prestigious private academy. Students here were either from incredibly wealthy or influential families, or they got in through special admission programs or top-tier academic achievements. They were incredibly generous to students from less privileged backgrounds too; you’d get a $10,000 scholarship just for enrolling. That’s why this was a place commoners would break their backs to get into. If there was one downside, it was probably that students here had their established social circles from childhood. Fitting in completely depended on your own savvy. But a select few students were particularly exclusive towards commoners, especially looking down on anyone without status or connections. You could say it was like a miniature society. Those who played their cards right could build powerful connections that would pave their future careers; those who didn’t often found themselves resented. So, for ordinary students, this elite academy was both a huge opportunity and full of potential pitfalls. Sure enough, the moment my words dropped, a wave of whispers swept through the classroom. Everyone was shocked, but no one dared to openly discuss it. After all, my status was right there for everyone to see! The live chat comments flashed across the screen: **[Look at the villain acting all cheap.]** **[Oh wow, this is a direct declaration! Does this mean they’re dating?]** **[No way, why is the female lead walking over? Is she gonna cause trouble?]** I paused, toying with Liam’s hand, then glanced coolly at that last comment. *Could it be that girl from yesterday again?* The next second, a girl with pigtails stopped right in front of our desks. She looked at Liam, heartbroken and disgusted: “Liam, I honestly thought you were someone with principles, but I never imagined you’d stoop so low.” “But, if you’re being forced, you *have* to speak up!” **[Ugh, this female lead is so annoying. She just can’t stand that her scheme failed, now she’s trying to guilt-trip the villain.]** **[LOL, you didn’t see how badly the male lead cussed her out yesterday. He even blamed her for being disobedient and barging in.]** **[Seriously, the female lead’s face yesterday looked like she’d just eaten rotten food.]** I looked up, giving Chloe a cold stare. “Care to explain, *what* exactly you mean by ‘stoop so low,’ classmate?” Chloe glared back, furious. “He’s being kept by you, isn’t that stooping low? You’re just flaunting your dirty money, and let me tell you, you’re the kind of person I despise the most!” At that, the wealthy students present all bristled. After all, having a ‘kept person’ or ‘sugar baby’ was pretty common in our circles. A hot-headed heiress immediately spoke up: “If you really despise it so much, then hand back the scholarship the school gave you.” “I hate hypocrites like you the most—you take our money then trash us. It’s absolutely disgusting.” “Seriously, I even kindly let you help me run errands, and your ‘labor fee’ was more than your scholarship!” “Such an ungrateful parasite, it’s like we wasted our generosity on you.” Listening to the rapid-fire accusations, Chloe suddenly realized she’d put her foot in her mouth. Her face pale, she tried to explain, “I didn’t mean to…” But everyone present was sharp, and they immediately distanced themselves from her. Finally, a grim-faced Jackson stepped in to mediate. 4. I was curious about Noah’s thoughts too. Guys usually have *some* hang-ups about being a kept man. I subtly poked Noah’s waist. “Do you hate me keeping you?” “No way! I’m totally willing.” He squeezed my mischievous hand, his answer firm. I raised an eyebrow, teasing him. “Noah, aren’t you worried people will say you’re living off me?” Noah lifted his head, a proud smirk on his face. “Nope! They’re just jealous I get to be pampered by you.” “Besides, it takes skill to catch *your* eye, Jade.” “You know, Jade, I’ve always had a sensitive stomach since I was a kid. My doctor said I’m destined to only enjoy what *my* woman makes, especially when it’s what *you* feed me.” The comments section exploded: “OMG, so sweet! My heart!” “Antagonist? More like ‘Prince Charming’! My girl’s beaming, can’t hide that smile.” “I’m calling the wedding planners! Marry already!” “Forever together goals!” After school, Noah and I had just stepped out of class when Liam blocked our way. He apologized, polite but with a subtle edge. “Jade, I wanted to apologize on Brooke’s behalf. She’s just been spoiled rotten by her family since she was little. She really didn’t mean any harm.” Before I could even respond, Noah let out a cold scoff. “You’re apologizing for her? Who even are you to apologize for her? What is she to you? You two aren’t, like, a thing, are you?” The barrage of questions completely threw Liam off. A flicker of guilt crossed Liam’s eyes, but he quickly composed himself. “You’re mistaken. I’ve always just seen her as a little sister.” “Oh, look! She~ just~ my~ little~ sister~” “More like your ‘special sister,’ dude. If we hadn’t seen the male lead’s perspective earlier, we’d totally fall for this guy’s lies.” “They were making out on the stairs to ‘comfort’ the female lead, and now she’s just a ‘sister’?” “What kind of ‘good guy’ sleeps with his ‘little sister’?” Noah smirked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “So, definitely not your ‘special sister’?” “Noah, I know you’re jealous of me because of the competition, but you can’t accuse me of things in front of Jade!” “Ha! Jealous of *you*? You seriously forgot how you actually got that competition medal? You think I don’t know about all your dirty tricks?” “The only reason I didn’t say anything back then was because your mom helped me out. But that doesn’t mean I’ll keep letting you get away with it.” Liam looked flustered, clearly caught off guard. I paused, deep in thought. A competition? Sounds like I need to get someone to look into this. Just then, the comments section lit up with answers. “OMG, I know! During the last Physics competition, *Liam* secretly slipped sleeping pills into *Noah’s* drink, making him miss the exam!” “Gross! What dirty tricks!” After Liam left, Noah was strutting around like a rooster who’d just won a fight. Then, as if he suddenly remembered something, he immediately buried his face in my neck. “Jade, I’m not usually like this.” I chuckled, looking at the boy hiding his flushed face. “I believe you. But right now, the most important thing is getting you some food.” He hugged me tighter, mumbling softly. “Jade, you’re so good to me. You have to keep being this good to me, okay?” No choice. The man I keep? I gotta spoil him myself. So what if he’s a bit of an actor? So what if he’s a little cunning? Better him being that way than getting bullied by others! 5. The moment I got home that evening, the call from the mansion came in right after. “You little brat, you and that boy better get your butts home, *now*!”

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That year, when loneliness gnawed at me the most, I became the benefactor of a college student who soon became my boyfriend. Later, I went overseas to recover from an illness. He cried all night by my bedside, begging to come with me, but I refused. “Your career here is paramount. When I return, I hope to see you crowned as an A-list star.” Three years later, he was indeed crowned. But I didn’t get the reunion I was promised. Instead, I found his little mistress, Chloe Miller, wearing my clothes, lording over my estate. Chloe Miller twirled my diamond ring on her finger. “I pity you. I’m letting you glimpse the kind of luxury your pathetic life could never afford. “But just look, don’t touch anything. Otherwise, you’ll be paying for it the rest of your life.” I snatched my ring off her finger and slapped her across the face. “I touched it. What now?” Chloe Miller froze. This was a reality show filming celebrity homes. On camera, I just slapped a guest. The live comments section absolutely exploded in fury: 【Who is this lowlife! How dare she slap Chloe in her own home!】 【Where’s the on-site fan club? Are you all dead?! Go up there and get that hussy!】 【Don’t worry! We’re already arguing with security. We’ll avenge Chloe once we break through the cordon!】 “You… you dared to hit me!” Chloe Miller seemed utterly spoiled, her eyes wide with disbelief, her voice trembling on the verge of tears. “Do you know who I am?!” “What’s going on?” A tall, familiar figure walked in through the doorway. Chloe Miller spun around and threw herself into his arms. “Liam!” Liam Blackwood frowned, gently touching the slap mark on her face. He turned, and his breath caught the moment he saw me. “You… you’re back?” I stared at him coldly, waiting for an explanation. A crew member anxiously asked Liam Blackwood, “Mr. Blackwood, do you know this lady?” “Yes.” Liam Blackwood admitted. Chloe Miller looked up at him through tear-filled eyes. Chloe Miller’s fan club members also stared, dumbfounded. “Just some obsessive fan of mine. She used to be a supporter, but after I turned her down, she kept following me.” Liam Blackwood’s words hit me like a physical blow. I thought I’d misheard him. But everyone else visibly relaxed. “Damn! I thought there was actually some history! You scared me; I thought that hussy was trying to steal Chloe’s man!” “I’m dying of laughter. Liam Blackwood’s fan? She actually followed him all the way here.” “Our Liam Blackwood fought his way to the top and found Chloe, who has been fighting alongside him. Does she think stalking him will get her anywhere?” I looked at Liam Blackwood, a cold smile playing on my lips. “Fought his way to the top himself?” He knew that if I hadn’t spotted his potential back in film school that year, he wouldn’t have even gotten a foot in the door of the entertainment industry. During his darkest hour, he knelt before me, clutching his mother’s urgent medical papers. “Please, help me…” That support continued until I went overseas to recover. Even though I hadn’t been by his side for three years, every single opportunity that came his way was by my explicit instruction. Including this high-profile reality show. But Liam Blackwood only froze for a split second before pulling Chloe Miller closer into his embrace. “I owe my success today to myself alone. Do you even understand actors?” Fury twisted into a bitter laugh. I don’t understand actors? How else would I know exactly which resources were best suited for him? “Liam Blackwood.” My gaze was a warning. “Get Chloe Miller and all these irrelevant people out of my house. This is your last chance.” Three years had passed, but my influence still held. He still seemed to get inexplicably nervous when I looked at him with a cold expression. But it was only for a moment. “I think you’re the one who needs to leave.” He narrowed his eyes. “This house belongs to Chloe, not you.”

The comments section exploded with laughter. 【Are people really this crazy? This show is about celebrity mansions, and even the production team confirmed this estate belongs to our Chloe. Does she really think being Liam Blackwood’s woman makes this estate hers by association?】 【She’s beyond saving, even an exorcist couldn’t fix her.】 【Look at how self-righteous she sounds claiming this is her house. Can this kind of delusion even be treated?】 【I’m a psychiatrist. Untreatable. She’s doomed.】 Seeing Liam Blackwood’s determined expression, I nodded. “Someone, strip Chloe Miller of those clothes and throw her out.” “What? How dare you!” My bodyguards didn’t hesitate. They stepped forward and dragged Chloe Miller to the ground. The zipper of my velvet gown, the one she was wearing, was roughly pulled open. Liam Blackwood frowned and stepped forward. “Stop! This is an illegal search!” “Is it?” I smiled. “I’d also like to inquire how my custom-made gown ended up on someone I don’t know. Only you would know where the dress came from, Mr. Blackwood. Have you thought about what you’ll tell the police?” “I didn’t give it to her!” Liam Blackwood gritted his teeth. “Liam! Make them stop! No! Don’t! Ahh!” Chloe Miller cried, reaching out to Liam Blackwood. He ignored my presence, raising his hand to pull her into his arms. “Hold him down!” At my command, the other bodyguards forcibly pressed Liam Blackwood’s head to the ground. Veins pulsed on his forehead. “Aria Hayes! Don’t you dare touch her!” “Continue.” I said coldly. “No!” Liam Blackwood watched furiously as Chloe Miller’s gown was forcibly torn off. “What’s all this commotion?!” An displeased voice echoed. My eyes lit up, and I whipped my head around. “Brother!” Daniel King froze. “Brother!” I rushed forward eagerly, just as I had countless times in the past, ready for a big embrace after a long separation. But this time, I was met not with my brother’s warm hug. But with a slap out of nowhere. *Smack!* I clutched my burning cheek, the pain so intense I couldn’t react for a moment. Until my brother’s cold voice cut through the air. “What have you done to my sister?” I stared at him in disbelief. “Sis… sister?”

“Brother!” Chloe Miller cried, throwing herself into Daniel King’s arms. Seeing her tattered dress, Daniel King’s heartache almost spilled from his eyes. I still couldn’t believe it. “Brother…” *Smack!* Another slap landed on my face, my head whipping to the side. My brother’s reprimand sent a chill down my spine. “It’s just an old dress! How can you be so vicious, doing something like this to a girl over a piece of fabric!” I finally knew for sure: my brother was no longer my brother. “A piece of fabric?” My lips trembled slightly. In that moment, Liam Blackwood’s words — “I didn’t give it to her!” — flashed in my mind. Perhaps he hadn’t lied. Besides Liam Blackwood, who knew the lock code to my walk-in closet? My brother knew it too… “You call this a piece of fabric?” My voice shook. “Mom designed this pattern herself before she died! Have you forgotten?!” The mention of Mom made Daniel King’s expression stiffen. But only for a moment. He quickly regained his cold composure. “No matter how significant it is, it’s just an inanimate object. How can it compare to a living person! “If Mom saw you hurting an innocent girl over a piece of fabric, she wouldn’t side with you either!” My heart tightened, and I clutched the fabric over my chest. “Get out! Get all these people out of my house!” My bodyguards immediately stepped forward. “I’d like to see who dares!” Daniel King glared fiercely at the bodyguards. “Think carefully about who the real future owner of the Hayes Corporation is.” The bodyguards halted. I stared at him in astonishment. Some of the fan club members started laughing. “I’m dying of laughter. I didn’t expect this crazy woman to actually be part of the Hayes family!” “I heard the Hayes family did adopt a child. Looks like this lady lucked out, getting adopted by the billionaire Hayes family.” “Who doesn’t know our handsome Mr. King? He must be the true bloodline of the Hayes family. What is this crazy woman barking about? She thinks she can order the masters around just because she brought a few bodyguards? Hilarious.” Perhaps there was a lingering trace of familial affection, as he had his men disperse the gawking fan club members elsewhere. I gritted my teeth. “Daniel King, you’re just an adopted son of the Hayes family! My adopted brother!” Daniel King’s brows furrowed. The bodyguards looked hesitant for a moment. “Think about it. Why did Mrs. Hayes adopt me? Wasn’t it because she needed me to inherit the family business?” At his words, the bodyguards fell into contemplation. “If you don’t want your careers ruined, release Ms. Miller now.” The bodyguard holding Chloe Miller thought for a moment, then actually let her go. A dozen or so men then stood behind Daniel King. I grabbed a vase and smashed it to the floor, making Chloe Miller flinch and shrink into Liam Blackwood’s arms. “Daniel King, I misjudged you. “Our relationship is as shattered as this vase!” Daniel King paused, startled. I stared at him intensely. “But this is Mom’s house. You have no right to wreak havoc here. “Either you leave now, or I call the police and charge you with trespassing. “But before that, Chloe Miller, leave the dress!” The words had barely left my mouth when I grabbed Chloe Miller’s shoulder and, with a loud *RIIIP*, tore the dress off her. She gasped and clutched her arms. But everyone’s attention wasn’t on the dress. Even I gasped, staring at her waist. In the middle of her lower back, near the curve of her spine… the word “SLAVE” was clearly tattooed.

Liam Blackwood and Daniel King’s eyes widened. They hadn’t imagined that a girl who seemed so pure and innocent would get such a disturbing word tattooed. Chloe Miller quickly snatched an jacket to cover herself. Her eyes were red, and she pursed her lips. A tear *plinked* down. “I… I don’t know why Aria would get someone to tattoo me like that on my lower back…” “What?” Liam Blackwood grabbed her by both shoulders. “Are you saying Aria Hayes tattooed you?” Chloe Miller just bit her lower lip, her red eyes silent. *Smack!* A slap landed unexpectedly on my face, Daniel King’s hands trembling with rage. “I remember now… You and Chloe went to the same university! She was your junior!” “I don’t even know her!” I roared. Liam Blackwood, however, seemed to recall something, his expression grave. “Chloe, you mentioned before that you were bullied in college. Was it Aria Hayes?” Chloe Miller said nothing. She just cried harder. “You hussy!” Daniel King grabbed my collar and delivered another slap to my face. My forehead hit the wall, instantly leaving a bloody print. Before I could even speak, his leather shoe kicked my abdomen. I collapsed to the floor, curling up, coughing up a mouthful of blood that splattered on his shoe. With each subsequent kick, it clung to my dress. “I swore I’d make anyone who hurt Chloe pay! “I can’t believe the culprit was you! “Do you respect Mom’s teachings?! Do you respect her memory?! Are you fit to take over her legacy?!” My breathing was ragged, and I lay weakly on the floor, panting and gritting my teeth. “I… I didn’t!” But Daniel King’s eyes were bloodshot. He turned to the bodyguards, roaring. “What are you waiting for?! She’s your chance to prove yourselves!” The bodyguards, seasoned pros in the elite circles, knew that having just broken away from me, they needed to earn the new master’s trust. So they swarmed forward, kicking my stomach and body with all their might. The dress in my hands was torn. I could only curl up, clutching the dress tightly. But I couldn’t prevent the other half from being ripped, and I let out a desperate cry. “Stop! Don’t… don’t touch the dress Mom gave me!” Tears mixed with blood, forming a puddle. The dress was torn, and I looked at Daniel King for help. He frowned. “Now you feel pain? “But this is just returning what you did to Chloe. “And even this isn’t a fraction of the harm you caused her.” My teeth were almost shattered from clenching them, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. “I didn’t!” Liam Blackwood gave me a triumphant look, then raised a hand to stop the lead bodyguard. “Mr. King, that’s enough.” Daniel King glanced at him. “Is it? Do you want to watch her keep crying?” Liam Blackwood froze. He turned, and Chloe Miller’s tearful eyes unexpectedly met his gaze. Seeing Chloe Miller’s half-exposed shoulder and tear-streaked face, Liam Blackwood’s heart clenched. He ultimately let go of the bodyguard. Chloe Miller’s tears immediately streamed down. “Aria was always so mean. Back then, I wasn’t just beaten up, I was stripped naked and thrown onto the street…” “You’re lying… Ah!” Daniel King brutally kicked my chest. He eyed the bodyguards coldly. “Drag her to the car, and take her away!” “What are you doing?! Stop!” I struggled frantically, but those bodyguards, eager to prove their loyalty, forcibly threw me into the car. It was already dark. Liam Blackwood parked the car on a deserted street. “Consider yourself lucky,” Daniel King sneered. “There aren’t many people on this street. Let’s give her a little punishment to start with.” “No! I don’t want this!” My clothes were mercilessly ripped. I grabbed Liam Blackwood’s arm. “Liam Blackwood! If you still care about all the help I gave you, just help me this one time!” Liam Blackwood frowned. In those countless lonely nights, we had sworn eternal devotion. But Chloe Miller’s tears fell again. He looked back at her, and despite my tearful headshake, he pried my fingers off one by one. “But this is what you owe her.” *Thud!* I was pushed naked out of the car. Before I could even get up, the car sped away. Rumbling noises came from a nearby trash can. A few homeless men’s eyes lit up. “Free? And what a body.” “No!” I slapped away a homeless man’s rough, dirty hand, only to have a slap land on my own face. “Damn it! Dressed like this, and you’re still playing hard to get with me!” I tumbled onto a pile of foul-smelling trash. My hand brushed against a slippery brick. The homeless man’s pants were already unzipped.

*Thud!* A brick smashed against his head. I haphazardly wrapped myself in a discarded dress and stumbled, hailing a passing taxi. “Driver! Please unlock the door!” I kept pulling the car door handle, but it wouldn’t open. “Sorry, miss. The King family paid all the drivers in this area ten thousand dollars, warning us not to pick up anyone tonight. You understand.” “What? Wait! No!” I still wanted to say something, but the driver already stomped on the gas pedal. I fell to the ground, awkwardly wiping the blood from my knees. “You little hussy!” A wine bottle crashed against the back of my head. I dropped to my knees with a *thump*. The homeless man, blood streaming from his head, choked my neck and pinned me to the ground, beginning to tear at my dress. “Coming out naked is just for kicks, isn’t it? I know exactly what you hussies are like! “Damn it, you dared to hit me? I’ll make sure you rot in the street tonight!” My dress was ripped to shreds. But I didn’t panic. Looking at the homeless man’s twisted face. I grabbed that brick again. A handful of sand flew into his eyes. The brick *thudded* against the bleeding spot on his head. I rolled over, straddling him, hitting him again and again and again, blood splattering. Until he lay motionless, without a breath, only his eyes wide with shock staring at me. Only then did I drop the brick, turn, and stumble away, heading towards the edge of the street. Rounding the corner, I finally emerged. A flash of light hit my eyes. I raised my hand to block it. But it wasn’t just one. A second, a third… Flashlights and long lenses pointed at me. They jostled for position, afraid to miss a single frame of my humiliation. Seeing the entertainment news reporters frequently hired by the Hayes Corporation, I smiled. So, Daniel and Liam Blackwood were still waiting for me here. Some “slight punishment.” They had planned this all along, waiting for me to be violated, for these reporters to document my utter humiliation. A screen on a distant high-rise building suddenly cut to a live feed. Chloe Miller, like a little princess, was flanked by Daniel King and Liam Blackwood. “Happy Birthday, Chloe Miller! An Unparalleled Honor Worth Hundreds of Millions from Mr. King and Superstar Mr. Blackwood!” On screen, Chloe Miller was in a lavish venue, charged by the minute. She was receiving compliments and countless priceless gifts from top figures in the business and entertainment worlds. Outside the screen, I stood in tattered clothes, blood streaming from my forehead, isolated under the spotlight. I had every reason to believe this was deliberately orchestrated by those two men. I walked forward, pushing past cameras and reporters. They instinctively parted, making way for me. I stood beneath the towering building where Chloe Miller’s birthday celebration was being held. The spotlights turned to me again. But this time, they weren’t the reporters’ cameras. They were helicopters. One, two, three… They were arrayed neatly, hovering directly above me. The reporters even forgot to press their shutters. They watched, eyes wide, as a group of blonde, blue-eyed bodyguards, all over six feet tall, rappelled down from the helicopters. “Madam!” The leader draped a jacket over me, but I pushed it away. The cameras followed me into the venue. The chattering instantly ceased. In my tattered clothes, I walked up to Daniel King. *Smack!* I slapped him across the face.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “299042”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #玄幻Fantasy #重生Reborn