Chapter 1 My girlfriend is getting married. The groom is my wife’s lover. I didn’t dare make a sound when I cried, terrified someone would find out I was heartbroken. My girlfriend invited me to the reception. My wife insisted I accompany her to congratulate the happy couple. Terrified of being exposed, I had no choice. I decided to fake my death and run. Before I skipped town, I made sure a friend called them both with the bad news: “I am so sorry to inform you that Mr. Julian Vance was involved in a severe car accident on his way to the event. Despite emergency efforts, he didn’t make it.” When I got the call from Chloe, I completely lost it. She was getting married. And the guy was my wife’s “white knight,” her childhood crush. This world is disgusting. Why can’t I ever be the protagonist in one of those “begging for forgiveness” romance novels? I was so angry I felt like I was mutating. “We’ve been together for two years, Chloe! Haven’t I treated you well? Didn’t I promise you the world? Is my wife’s money not green enough for you?” The other end of the line went silent. I almost forgot. She’s never actually spent a dime of my wife’s money. For the two years I’ve been with Chloe, I’ve been feeding her nothing but false hope and empty promises. My marriage to Victoria Sterling was something I shamelessly hustled for. I thought marrying into old money meant I’d be living the good life. But reality hit me hard: The rich didn’t get rich by being stupid. Victoria only opened her wallet when the utility bills came due, and even then, she made me split it 50/50. Not a penny more. She guarded her money like a dragon. She practically sewed her wallet into her dress lining. I sat in front of the floor-to-ceiling window of her downtown penthouse, wearing $10 polyester pajamas, eating a $5 cup of instant noodles I bought with a coupon. Before Victoria left, she told me to open the window after eating. Otherwise, she’d charge me a fifty-dollar “Air Quality Violation” fee. The only thing that changed after I climbed the social ladder was that I moved from a doghouse to a gilded cage. I wasn’t resigned to this fate. Since I was living in a golden cage, I decided to monetize it. Behind Victoria’s back, I started booking the penthouse for influencers who wanted “luxury lifestyle” photoshoots. I made a little cash on the side. But before the money even warmed my pocket, Victoria stormed back home. She rummaged around and claimed she lost a watch. She blamed me for being a terrible house sitter and demanded I pay for it. I was furious, but thinking about the unauthorized photoshoots, I felt guilty. Terrified she’d dig deeper and find out about my side hustle, I reluctantly agreed to pay up. “How much? I’ll pay you.” Victoria didn’t even blink. “$3,792.16.” Down to the cent. I went silent. I didn’t know if the watch was actually worth that much. But I knew that the money I made from the influencers was exactly $3,792.16. I handed over my blood money with a grimace. I hid under the covers that night, cursing Victoria for hours. I didn’t dare try any more shady hustles. Instead, I bought a secondhand cart and started selling gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches near the university campus. Five bucks a pop. Cheap, filling, greasy goodness. That’s how I met Chloe. She stood in front of my cart, shuffling her feet for ages before asking: “Excuse me, are you hiring?” Hiring? It was a one-man grilled cheese operation. But when I looked up and saw her face, I swallowed my rejection. “Yeah, I’m hiring. Free meals, no housing. I provide the cheese, you flip the bread.” Leaning against my cart, I became a “boss.” Chloe said her schedule was too erratic for a corporate job, so she needed gig work. She worked. I counted cash. She was pretty. People lined up just to see her flipping sandwiches. Her spatula hand was a blur. At night, when we closed up, my family’s driver would pick me up in the Maybach. Wearing my floral apron, holding a crate of leftover cheddar, I’d turn to Chloe, who was staring at the luxury car with stars in her eyes. “Selling grilled cheese,” I’d say elegantly, “is just one of my family’s many small ventures.” Ideally, naive girls are easy to fool. I told her my wife was an eighty-year-old woman, bedridden, childless, and hovering at death’s door. I told her once the old lady kicked the bucket, I’d inherit millions and marry Chloe. I used the “last breath” of a fictional eighty-year-old woman to string Chloe along for two years. Life was exhilaratingly risky. When I was happy, I held Chloe’s hand. When I was mad, I’d call Victoria to “check in” just so I could pick a fight and vent. I thought this paradise would last until Chloe finally got wise. I didn’t expect to hear she was getting married so soon. Chloe’s voice on the phone was filled with a strange pride. “Julian, I don’t want to struggle anymore.” You think you’re struggling now?! I screamed internally. Chloe explained, “Don’t worry, it’s a fake marriage. I only love you.” “His first love is Victoria Sterling. She’s obsessed with him. She spends money on him constantly. But Victoria is a married woman. He’s afraid of gossip, so he’s hiring me to be his beard.” “We made a deal. We can spend Victoria’s money together.” Chloe paused for dramatic effect, then whispered affectionately: “Julian, I’m going to embezzle Victoria’s money to support us.” Me: “…” The money I couldn’t get from my wife… was coming to me through my girlfriend? My emotions were complicated. Before hanging up, Chloe added: “You have to come to the wedding. I reserved a VIP table just for you. Right in the front. I ordered double portions of the braised pork shank you love.” Just then, my phone pinged. Victoria texted me. 【 Nate Blackwood is getting married. You will attend with me. 】 I stared at the message for a long time. I couldn’t imagine this wedding. I didn’t know how to explain to Chloe why the “eighty-year-old woman” had suddenly de-aged into a supermodel CEO. And I couldn’t explain to Victoria why the groom’s wife had set up a shrine of pork shanks for me. I replied to Victoria with grave seriousness. 【 Victoria, let’s get a divorce. 】 Victoria didn’t reply. That was her style. Every time I had a manic episode or demanded to know where she was, she’d just listen and hang up. I assumed this time would be the same. But that night, Victoria came home. She leaned against the doorframe, looking at me with a half-smile. “What are we throwing a tantrum about this time? Is it because I hired a top designer for Nate’s suit?” The smell of tobacco and expensive perfume clung to her, chilled by the night air. I only smelled it when I got close. She’d clearly rushed back from some gala. I have a nose like a bloodhound. Usually, I’d use the scent to accuse her of being loose, shameless, or forgetting she was a married woman. But today, my head was full of the wedding. I didn’t have the energy to fight. I whispered, “I haven’t been feeling well lately. I don’t want to go to Nate’s wedding.” Victoria laughed, a cold sound. “You don’t want to go? Or are you too guilty to go? You know you owe him.” Victoria was forced to marry me. If not for me—the accident of fate—her husband should have been Nate Blackwood. They grew up together. Old money. Childhood sweethearts. Their families had planned the union for decades. Victoria played the field, sure, but no one dared dream of being her husband. Everyone knew that spot belonged to Nate. Except me. I was the clueless idiot. These damn rich people always play games with honest men like me. Victoria lost a game of Truth or Dare. Her friends dared her to confess her love to me. The heiress lowering herself to hit on the broke guy. Hilarious, right? But they underestimated me. I was so out of the loop I didn’t know who Victoria Sterling was. I just saw a gorgeous woman saying she liked me. When she smiled, she looked like a fox spirit. I was bewitched. My heart pounded. I nodded like a bobblehead. “You’re safe with me, girl. I’ll make you happy.” Victoria’s smile vanished instantly. I went home and told everyone—my mom, my aunts, the mailman—that I had found a stunning girlfriend. Victoria thought I was insane and ignored me for months. But I kept treating her as my girlfriend. Six months later, she couldn’t take it anymore and told me the truth. I was furious. “What do you mean? You were playing with an honest man’s heart?” Instead of apologizing, she mocked me. “Count yourself lucky. Me confessing to you is a story you can brag about for years.” I couldn’t sleep for days. Fine. You want me to brag? I’ll brag. I created twenty social media accounts. I wrote insane, cringy captions every day. 【 The day Victoria confessed, she said my charisma was blinding. She said my posture was regal. She said one look at me was forever. 】 【 My darling Victoria gets so shy. When her friends pushed her to talk to me, she just stared with wet, puppy-dog eyes. She was so nervous she hiccuped. Then she cried because she was embarrassed. So cute. 】 【 Victoria is versatile. A gentle wife at home, a wild queen in public. But once a queen is protected by a real man, she’ll never look at stray cats again. 】 I wrote the captions. Victoria took the humiliation. After spamming dozens of these posts daily, people couldn’t tell if it was satire or real. People started giving her nicknames. “The Hiccuping Wife.” “The Shy Queen.” She showed up to class with dark circles under her eyes. People even started nicknaming Nate Blackwood: “The Man Who Missed Out on the Queen.” Nate started avoiding her. He stayed twenty feet away at all times. Victoria’s friends vanished. They were afraid of being “part of the Queen’s layout.” She went from socialite queen to social pariah in a month. Her fiancé ran. Her friends bailed. Victoria snapped. She got drunk, stormed over to my place, and screamed: “Nate is gone! My friends are gone! You got what you wanted! You wanted to be with me? Fine! I’ll satisfy you! But don’t expect a single happy day!” She dragged me to the courthouse in a drunken rage. I thought I was walking into luxury. Worst case scenario? At least I wouldn’t be poor. Turns out, post-marriage life was still poor. The marriage license was basically a roommate agreement. Goddammit. She scammed me! Since then, we’ve tortured each other. But we never mentioned divorce. Until today. Victoria frowned, silence stretching between us. “I don’t want to hear the word ‘divorce’ again. You used dirty tricks to get this marriage. You think you can just leave when you want?”

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I was recently reading a high school romance novel, and the heroine was basically my dream girl—exactly my type. Just as I was screaming “Wifey!” at the pages in the middle of the night, I transmigrated. But I didn’t wake up as the male lead. I woke up as the invisible side character the male lead doesn’t even glance at. I grieved. I stomped my feet. I cried. I gave up. If I couldn’t win the heroine’s heart, I would win at the GPA game. So, I studied like my life depended on it. I read while eating. I read while walking between classes. I even studied on the toilet. By some twist of fate, my grades got me moved into the same Honors homeroom as the heroine. Just when I thought I could stay invisible and ride out the plot, the male lead cornered me. He accused me of stealing his woman. Chapter 1 The first day I woke up in this book, I fell for the heroine, Elena Vance. It wasn’t love at first sight; I had been coveting her for a long time. Back when I was reading the book, I’d bury my face in my pillow and squeal. The cold, aloof, academic goddess—she checked every single one of my boxes. Seeing her in person? I could barely control myself. But the situation had changed. In this world, she couldn’t be my fictional “waifu.” She was a real person, destined to be a stranger to me. I could only watch from a distance as her sweet romance with the male lead, Julian Sterling, unfolded. A sense of loss sat heavy on my chest, suffocating me. At that point in the timeline, she and Julian weren’t together yet. Plenty of brave guys confessed to Elena. Without exception, she rejected them all with an icy stare. I figured my crush would have to be buried six feet under. I was just a background character with zero presence. Broken family, average looks, zero confidence. I didn’t even get the standard “Transmigrator System” or a cheat code. I couldn’t just snap my fingers and get what I wanted. So, I turned my grief into motivation. I threw myself into my studies. Partly because it’s what a teenager is supposed to do. Partly out of selfishness. I wanted to be closer to Elena. I didn’t ask for much. Just being in the same room as her would be enough. From then on, I became that kid—the first one at school, the one reading textbooks during lunch. After the placement exams, I jumped two hundred spots in the rankings and got placed into the Honors Block—the same homeroom as the main characters. On my first day in the new class, Julian ran up to me immediately. “Liam? Who are you looking for?” In the original text, “Liam” (me) was a total slacker. I was Julian’s “plastic bro”—fair-weather friends. By day, I’d gossip with him; by night, I’d bite my blanket in jealousy of his golden-boy aura. I used to be too busy being a bitter, shady loser to study. That’s why he assumed I was lost. “I tested into this class,” I explained. “Huh?” He froze, then ran to the bulletin board to check the roster. He came back, looking me up and down. “Hell of an improvement, man.” I gave an awkward smile and kept my head down as I took my seat. Elena was sitting on the other side of the room. I pretended to look out the window, but I was watching her from the corner of my eye. Julian seemed to be telling her about me testing in. She didn’t look interested, but she did glance in my direction. I held my breath and smoothly shifted my gaze to my notebook. Close call. Almost made eye contact. Chapter 2 The atmosphere in the Honors Block was definitely different. Intense. At least here, I wasn’t a freak. Everyone else was also solving equations during breaks and forming study groups in the hallways. I stabilized my rank near the top of the grade, attending the same elite prep school as Elena and Julian. Based on entrance scores, I barely scraped into their class. Elena was #1. I was third from the last. Julian, however, dropped to a regular class. Elena’s character setting was the “Genius Ice Queen.” Julian’s setting was the “Charming Natural Talent”—the guy who never does homework but somehow pulls a B+ or A-. The author separated them to let the heroine meet the “Second Male Lead” in her class. The Second Lead falls for her, creating the necessary angst and drama. But none of that concerned me. I was just grinding XP in real life. For the first two years, aside from being classmates, Elena and I had zero interaction. Occasionally, Julian would come to find me, and I’d inevitably be in the same frame as them. It was a relationship where we’d pass each other outside school and not even wave. She truly didn’t care. I, on the other hand, was faking it. My heart would pound every time I saw her, but I kept my face as stiff as a board. Flawless poker face. Good job, me. Because I was addicted to studying, my fake friendship with Julian faded to almost nothing. By the time we hit junior year, he had almost forgotten I existed. But once high school started, he suddenly got enthusiastic again. He said I was studying myself to death and needed to relax. One time, he invited Elena and dragged me along to hang out. If you asked if I wanted to go, the answer was hell no. I could have finished three practice exams in that time. But he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I figured I’d just watch them play while mentally reviewing my error log. When we got to the location, my brain short-circuited. It was the amusement park. Six Flags. According to the plot, this is where they share their first kiss. This is where they break the tension and officially start dating. My mind was a mess. I don’t remember what I ate or what rides we went on. Night fell, and the park lit up with neon lights. Julian pulled Elena away to watch the fireworks. I trailed fifty feet behind them, getting jostled by the crowd. Under the exploding fireworks, they confessed their feelings. Julian lowered his head and shyly kissed Elena. The scene was too beautiful. I couldn’t watch. I lowered my head in panic. Tears fell, one by one, soaking the pages of the notebook I was clutching. I fled. I texted Julian, lying that I had a strict curfew and had to bounce. Naturally, no reply. They had already forgotten me. While they held hands, young and certain, I—the third wheel—ran home wiping my eyes. Then, in my empty house, I broke down and sobbed. I’m sorry. I really couldn’t pretend anymore. But even as I cried until I couldn’t breathe, I gritted my teeth, pulled out a workbook, and forced myself to solve problems. Unrequited love is torture, especially when you have nothing else. My only “cheat code” was that I had been an adult once. I knew the importance of education. I knew not to destroy myself over a love that had no future. Chapter 3 Elena and Julian were officially a couple. They were about to start their decade-long romantic marathon. Sure, they would fight, they would break up. But the text said: Elena never stopped loving Julian, and Julian’s heart always belonged to Elena. Such a beautiful sentence. Such a cruel sentence for me. I wasn’t the only one suffering. There was Chloe. Chloe (the female antagonist/villainess) was a rich girl who loved Julian. In the book, she’d do crazy things out of jealousy. Originally, I was supposed to be her henchman, fanning the flames. But honestly, I was more worried about my AP Calculus midterm. When the teacher beamed and told me I ranked second in the class, I finally felt a little better. I entered as the bottom of the class. By midterms, I was flying. I didn’t let my efforts down. In this class, seats were assigned by GPA. Elena was the immovable #1. I was assigned the desk right next to her. Desk mates! According to romance tropes, this is where the sparks fly, right? Nope. We sat inches apart, but we didn’t speak for days. She was naturally cold. I was guilty of loving her. I didn’t dare speak. The only thing she said to me was a reminder. “Caleb, your water bottle is leaking.” I wiped up the spill and couldn’t help but correct her. “My name is Liam…” Haha. She didn’t even know my name. We existed in this indifferent bubble for a while. Then, suddenly, Julian stormed in and started an argument with Elena right in front of me. He demanded to know why she hadn’t told him she was sitting next to me. Elena frowned, genuinely confused. “Does it matter?” Since the semester started, we’d been through diagnostic tests, monthly exams, and midterms. She had cycled through several desk mates. But Julian only seemed to care about me. He looked at me, then at her, and finally stormed off without saying another word. I figured it was because I was technically someone Julian “knew.” Put yourself in his shoes: his girlfriend is sitting next to his (former) friend and didn’t mention it. He probably felt ignored. After lunch, I wanted to apologize to Julian. “Julian…” I called his name, but he acted like I was invisible, laughing and joking with his crew. “Bro, that movie you mentioned yesterday? I watched it, almost died laughing…” I stood there awkwardly for two seconds and decided not to press my luck. I barely talked to Julian anymore anyway. Bringing up a seating chart change would just make it weird. As for Elena, we really weren’t close. She’d explain it to him eventually. Thinking about this burned too many brain cells, so I dropped it. But two days later, someone ambushed me on my walk home. “Liam, right?” It was Chloe. The villainess. I had my AirPods in, listening to a Spanish listening practice, so I didn’t hear her call me. I just walked past her. Furious, she hopped in front of me and yanked an AirPod out of my ear. “…” I frowned. “Can I help you?” I’m sure I looked annoyed. Chloe looked guilty for a split second before recovering her “mean girl” face. “Listen to me!” She said viciously, “I may not like Elena, that ice block, but I will not allow you to hurt Julian or ruin their relationship.” What a niche accusation. I processed this for a moment. “How am I ruining their relationship?” “Stop pretending. You’re shameless,” Chloe crossed her arms. “You’re the one seducing Elena, aren’t you? Hmph. You have some nerve. I thought you’d be some hot guy, but you don’t even compare to a single hair on Julian’s head.” Me? Seducing Elena? How did I miss such a major life event? “Do you have evidence?” I asked. “Of course!” She said self-righteous. “The evidence is that you’re sitting next to her!” “…You do realize seats are assigned by GPA?” I thought about it. “Oh, you mean I should have tanked my exam on purpose to avoid sitting there?” “That would have been best.” Chloe smiled, satisfied. She didn’t hear the sarcasm. Usually, I ignore people like this. But she was rude, speaking nonsense, and stepping on my last nerve. “Unfortunately.” I sneered, “I’m not like you. I didn’t get in here on a donor’s check. I can’t afford to treat my grades like a joke.” Chloe was a rich kid, forced into this school by her parents. Her parents were self-made; they preferred the elite public magnet school environment over a soft private school. But the concept that “money rules everything” was deeply ingrained in her. She had the capital to treat life like a game. I didn’t. Sitting next to Elena was great. But even if she wasn’t there, I deserved that seat. I deserved her seat. Chloe was enraged and threatened to make me pay. In the book, this was her character. Impulsive, but not inherently evil. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be threatening me to protect the male lead while simultaneously crying about him dating the heroine. I didn’t take her words to heart. Until the next monthly exam. I was caught cheating. Chapter 4 Halfway through the exam, I was dragged out. The proctor said a student reported me for bringing notes into the testing hall. Then, like a magician, he pulled a semi-transparent slip of paper from my hoodie pocket. It was covered in microscopic text—all the key formulas for this test. “Liam! Liam, I always thought you were an honest, hardworking kid. How could you do this?!” “You’re not just disrespecting yourself! You’re shaming your family and this class!” “You came in with average grades and improved so fast… was it all just tricks like this?” I stood in the administrative office. Teachers took turns scolding me, heartbroken. They denied my character. They questioned my past achievements. I said the cheat sheet wasn’t mine. That just earned me another round of yelling for “lying.” I thought back. Before the test, I left my hoodie on my chair to go to the bathroom. That must be when someone slipped the note in and reported me. Obviously, it was Chloe, or someone she hired. It was a low-blow tactic, but impossible to defend against. I mean, who frames someone like this in high school? I had no proof of innocence. I told them it was likely related to the person who reported me. They said they had to protect the whistleblower’s identity. So, I took the fall. Public humiliation. The Dean of Students was strict. He didn’t keep it anonymous. He wanted to make an example of me. [Liam (ID #xxxx) caught cheating during monthly exams. Grade invalidated.] The text scrolled across the digital announcement boards in the hallway. Everyone who walked in saw it. Naturally, I was ostracized. No one wanted to be in my group for projects. No one picked me for PE. During cleanup duty, I was assigned to sweep the outside perimeter alone. “Don’t let the cheater touch it,” they’d whisper, making exaggerated disgusted faces. Luckily. I wasn’t actually sixteen mentally. This frame-up couldn’t break me. When the results came out, my score was voided, and I was moved to the “shame corner” at the back of the room. A new guy took the seat next to Elena. He was a top student, openly crushing on her. He’d bring her water during volleyball, fake being tired during study hall just to lean on her shoulder. Julian didn’t care. Sometimes he’d even link arms with Elena just to make the new guy’s eyes turn red with jealousy. Chloe didn’t bother the new guy either. She just leaned against the back door, watching me with glee. She mouthed a word at me. Deserved. Reading the book, I hadn’t realized Chloe was this childish. I was isolated, and she got a kick out of it. But did it actually affect me? I studied. I ate. During PE, when no one would partner with me, I snuck back to the empty classroom to solve calculus problems. I finished the last question and realized someone was standing next to me. It was Elena. I didn’t know how long she had been watching. Not watching me. Watching my exam paper. She was holding a volleyball loosely; she must have come back to grab it. She stood close. For me, it was close enough. I could smell the clean scent of her laundry detergent. For some reason, neither of us spoke. The classroom was silent. I could hear my own heartbeat. A wave of indescribable melancholy washed over me. I didn’t want to speak. I didn’t want to move. I wished time would stop right here. But I didn’t dare be greedy. I was afraid that if I let it go on for a few more seconds, the atmosphere would become ambiguous. Eventually, I broke the silence. “What’s up?” “Mmm…” She hummed, thinking. “You missed a step in the calculation.” —Which step? Can you teach me? That’s what I should have said. There was an empty seat right next to me—the seat no one wanted. If I asked, maybe she would sit down and explain the complex derivation. Instead, I calmly picked up my phone and opened a scanning app. “Oh. I’ll just look it up on Chegg.” “Okay.” Elena turned and walked away. I uploaded the photo, crying internally. Stupid mouth. Hopeless.

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I got doxxed and cyberbullied because I paid out of pocket to open a subsidized food counter in the school cafeteria for low-income students. They called me a fake humanitarian and said I was insulting people with “pig slop.” But the meal plan I set was: an entrée, two sides, and a soup for just $1. When I rushed into the cafeteria, scholarship student Lily was smashing her tray onto the counter. Braised pork and gravy splattered everywhere. Mrs. Higgins, the lunch lady, stood there frozen, her face pale. Those hands, which always gave an extra scoop for the students on financial aid, were now trembling uncontrollably. I walked past Lily, went straight to Mrs. Higgins, picked up a napkin, and gently wiped the gravy from her face. It turns out, kindness is the cheapest thing in the world. If that’s the case, this counter is closed. Permanently. Chapter 1 “Isn’t a dollar still money?” Lily’s voice was piercing. “Why do they get to eat seared tuna while we’re stuck eating this greasy braised pork?” She emphasized the word “greasy,” her phone camera pointed straight at Mrs. Higgins’ face. The comments on her livestream were scrolling like crazy: “We support you, Lily!” “Aren’t poor students human too?” Mrs. Higgins was so flustered she could barely speak: “This… this pork was bought fresh this morning. I picked the best cuts myself and slow-cooked it for two whole hours…” “Who cares about slow-cooking!” Lily shoved the tray violently, sending chunks of greasy meat rolling onto the floor. “Look at this fat! The grease is practically oozing out! Feeding us this pig slop… do you have no conscience?” The words “pig slop” stabbed right into my heart. Mrs. Higgins’ eyes instantly turned red. “Lily!” I pushed through the crowd of onlookers, my voice shaking. She immediately turned the camera on me, her voice filled with excitement: “Look everyone! Our rich princess, Quinn, finally decided to show her face!” “Come on, tell everyone right here. Did you serve us this low-quality trash on purpose just to humiliate us?” I forced down the anger rising in my chest: “Mrs. Higgins went to the market before dawn to hand-pick every single ingredient…” “Spare me the fake speech!” She cut me off with a shriek, spittle practically flying into my face. “If you really cared about us, why isn’t the food the same at every station? We want tuna too! Why the discrimination?” I was shaking with rage, my nails digging deep into my palms. The same? Is she insane? She wants seared tuna for a dollar? Why doesn’t she just go rob a bank? The viewer count on the livestream was skyrocketing, and the comments were filled with vile insults. Just then, I saw the most blinding comment of all—it was from Brandon. “Team Lily! Smash the privilege!” Brandon. The guy whose tuition I had covered for three full years. I remember when he first enrolled, he didn’t even have a decent coat. I paid his tuition. I gave him a living stipend. Last year, when his mother needed surgery, I even covered the medical bills. But now, here he was, leading the charge against me online. Suddenly, my phone started vibrating like crazy. Insulting texts from unknown numbers flooded in, one after another. Chapter 2 “Go to hell!” “Think you’re special just because you have money?” “People like you deserve to rot!” On the campus forum, my photo was photoshopped into a black-and-white funeral portrait with the words “Got What She Deserved” plastered over it. My name was trending on Twitter, followed by the hashtag #FakePhilanthropist. What chilled me even more was seeing avatars I recognized in the comments section. The sophomore whose financial aid application I stayed up all night helping revise. The senior I used my connections to get an internship for. Now, they were all kicking me while I was down, attacking me with the most vicious words imaginable. I watched Lily fake-wiping tears for the camera. I looked at the mob reveling in the chat, and at Brandon’s ungrateful comment. In that moment, my heart turned to ice. I turned to leave. The jeers of the wealthy students surrounded me: “I told you not to meddle.” “See? This is what happens to do-gooders.” “Thought she was a savior, but nobody even cares.” I finally understood. Feeding kindness to dogs is the stupidest thing you can do in this world. You think this meal is disgusting? Fine. Then from now on, nobody eats. Back in my dorm, my phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. Toxic DMs kept popping up on the screen: “You think money lets you do whatever you want?” “Why haven’t you offed yourself yet?” … I turned my phone off. The world finally went quiet. But the insults kept echoing in my brain. Then, a knock on the door. “Quinn, it’s Mr. Davis from the Dean’s Office.” “The administration requires you to come to the admin building immediately to explain today’s situation. You’ve brought negative publicity to the university!” I stayed silent. Getting no response, Mr. Davis’s tone hardened: “Quinn Sterling, if you continue to hide, the school will take necessary measures.” I laughed out loud, coldly. They aren’t going after the rioters, but they’re coming for me? Do they really think I’m a pushover? After his footsteps faded, I turned my phone back on and made a call. “It’s me.” My voice was ice. “Investigate a few people. Lily, Brandon, and the ones leading the charge in the livestream. I want to know everything about them.” The voice on the other end responded quickly: “Understood. How deep?” “As deep as it goes.” I said. “Especially Brandon.” I hung up and opened my laptop. Threads attacking me had already sprung up on the forum, the titles getting nastier by the minute: Exposing the Sterling Family’s Dark Secrets The Dirty Deals Behind the Charity Counter The True Face of a Hypocrite The funniest part was that beneath these posts, many students I had previously helped were jumping on the bandwagon to spread rumors. The guy whose medical bills I paid was now swearing I harassed him. The girl I helped find a job was claiming I stole her wages. Human hearts, it turns out, can be this poisonous. Early the next morning. I was woken up by violent banging on my door. “Quinn Sterling, get out here! We want justice for all low-income students!” Through the peephole, I saw Lily leading a group of twenty people, all of them livestreaming. “See everyone? She’s hiding in there like a turtle!” Chapter 3 Lily cried into the camera. “This is the true face of the rich! She did something guilty and doesn’t even have the courage to face us!” I took a deep breath and threw the door open. “Finally brave enough to come out?” Lily shoved her phone right in my face. “Please explain to everyone right now, why did you poison low-income students with substandard ingredients?” I looked at her coldly. “Are you done?” She clearly didn’t expect that reaction. Her face froze. “Since you’re done, now it’s my turn.” I took a step forward, looking directly into her camera lens. “Lily, do you dare tell everyone how much that ‘simple’ dress you’re wearing costs?” The crowd stirred. I turned to face all the cameras, speaking word for word: “In three days, I will hold a press conference in the cafeteria. At that time, the whole truth will come out.” With that, I slammed the door shut. The show was just beginning. The public outcry grew worse. Even the stock price of my dad’s company took a hit. The night before the press conference, as I was double-checking documents, my dorm door was knocked on again. It was Lily again. She couldn’t hide the smugness on her face. I opened the door and didn’t give her a chance to speak. “Oh, Miss Lily. Visiting so late? Are you here to give me a final ultimatum?” I deliberately hunched my shoulders. “Seeing those comments online, and my family’s stock price! I’m so scared.” Lily clearly didn’t expect this reaction. She paused, then contempt flashed in her eyes. “Now you know fear? Where was this before? Let me tell you, Quinn, at the press conference tomorrow, you better do exactly as we say.” “Publicly apologize, and upgrade our meal standard to match the wealthy students! Or else…” She sneered, the threat heavy in the air. I continued to play the terrified victim, looking at her with anxious eyes: “Or else… or else what? Can you really make my family…?” “Hmph, what do you think?” Seeing me cower, Lily grew even more arrogant. “You can’t even imagine the power of public opinion! A wise person knows when to yield. Bow your head, admit your mistake, and it’ll be better for everyone, right?” She even took a step forward, offering fake comfort: “Quinn, your family has money anyway! What’s the difference between 5 million and 50 million to you? If you let us eat well, we’ll even thank you!” I suppressed a sneer, forcing a look of gratitude and fear onto my face: “R-Really? Thank you for reminding me, Lily… I-I will consider it carefully…” “That’s more like it.” Lily nodded with satisfaction, then turned and walked away with her head held high. Closing the door, the mask dropped instantly. She actually believed I would cave? Tomorrow, when the truth comes out, I wonder how wonderful that smug look on her face will be. I’m actually looking forward to it. On the day of the press conference, the cafeteria was packed. Even the aisles were full. Reporters were ready and waiting. Before I could even get on stage, Lily rushed to the microphone first. Chapter 4 She spoke, voice choking back sobs: “Fellow students, members of the media, standing here today, my heart is heavy.” “We low-income students never wanted to take advantage of anyone. We just wanted fairness!” Tears streamed down her face. “Why can some people eat tuna while we only get pork? Is being poor a sin?” Applause erupted from the crowd. Many scholarship students wiped their eyes. Seeing this, Lily performed even harder: “Today, we only hope Quinn Sterling can give us an answer. We don’t ask for much, just that the food at all stations be standardized…” I watched her performance quietly. Only when she finished did I calmly walk up to the podium. Lily glanced at me triumphantly, as if victory was already in the bag. “Miss Sterling, what is your response?” “Do you admit to discriminating against low-income students?” “How do you intend to compensate the students for the harm caused?” Reporters fired questions like a machine gun. I adjusted the microphone gently. The room went silent. “First, I want to thank Lily for her speech.” I said calmly. “She made me realize my mistake more clearly.” A victorious smile appeared on Lily’s face. She even flashed a peace sign at the livestream camera. “My biggest mistake was treating low-income students differently from wealthy students.” I continued. “I shouldn’t have assumed that scholarship students needed special care. I shouldn’t have assumed they would cherish that kindness.” Lily’s smile began to stiffen. She seemed to sense something was wrong. “So, I have decided to correct this mistake.” I looked around the room, enunciating every word. “Starting today, the subsidized counter is permanently closed. All students will be treated equally and pay market price for meals.” “Since you think a one-dollar braised pork meal is an insult, then go eat the fifty-dollar tuna.”

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Chapter 1 During a reality show shoot, my sister and I both fell into the water. My husband, Julian, didn’t even hesitate. He dove in and saved my sister. He held her, looking distressed and frantic, and walked away without once looking back. He left me sinking toward the bottom of the lake. I was barely conscious when the crew finally pulled me out. The next day, when I handed Julian the divorce papers, his face darkened. “Lily can’t swim, so I saved her first. Are you seriously jealous over that?” I looked him calmly in the eye. “Yeah. Just sign it.” Julian and I finalized the divorce quietly. Julian kept frowning, his brow furrowed in that way I used to find so attractive. But now? It didn’t stir a single emotion in me. He shoved the decree into his pocket. “I’ll drive you.” I shook my head. “No need.” Julian seemed annoyed by my attitude. “Jessie, you don’t have to be like this. We were married for three years. Divorce doesn’t mean we have to be enemies.” I was genuinely shocked for a second. I couldn’t believe those words were coming out of his mouth. Now that Lily was back, he should be thrilled I was stepping aside so easily. “Julian, to me, divorced means divorced. We aren’t family, and we certainly can’t be friends.” “You…” “Besides, we don’t have kids. There’s really no reason to stay in touch.” Julian, clearly irritated by my indifference, turned and stormed off. I watched his retreating back and let out a sigh. But then I thought about my bank account balance, and the heaviness vanished. Although I was technically the second daughter of the Sterling family, I hadn’t seen a dime of their money. This divorce, however, had made me a very wealthy woman. I knew I wouldn’t get half of the Thorne empire, so when I had my lawyer draft the agreement, I asked for twenty million dollars. Julian agreed. He also threw in a penthouse in New York, a villa in Los Angeles, and several commercial properties in prime locations. It was enough to ensure I’d never have to worry about money again. Looking at the numbers on my screen, I laughed out loud. Finally. I could start living for myself. Within twenty-four hours, I moved into a sleek apartment in Manhattan. Seeing my name on the deed gave me a sense of security I’d never felt before. I thought leaving Julian would shatter me. For three years, I had truly loved him. But surprisingly, that night, I slept better than I had in years. A wave of relief washed over me, and I didn’t wake up until noon the next day. Chapter 2 Julian and I were a business arrangement. A merger between the Thorne and Sterling families. Grandfather Thorne and my grandfather had served in the military together. That bond sealed the marriage pact years ago. But the engagement was originally meant for Lily. She was the Sterlings’ golden child, raised like a princess for eighteen years. I was the biological daughter who had been switched at birth. Julian Thorne was New York royalty. A guy like him and a girl like me were never supposed to meet, let alone fall in love. Until I was eighteen. The Sterlings found me, crying about how a nurse’s mistake had separated us. They said I was their flesh and blood. Back then, I was living in a foster home. When I saw my biological parents in their luxury sedan, I thought my life was about to get easier. I thought I wouldn’t have to collect cans to pay for school fees anymore. But I didn’t get love or compensation. I got indifference. They told me the “fake” daughter’s parents had passed away, so they couldn’t just send her away. But the way they treated us? Night and day. I didn’t feel like the second daughter. I felt like the help. I didn’t mind. I just wanted to finish college. Then came the marriage pact. I found out that Julian, the handsome boy Lily had been following around like a puppy, had been in a severe car accident. Doctors said his leg would never fully heal. He would walk with a limp forever. Lily screamed and cried, refusing to marry a “cripple.” So, the duty fell to me. I could have said no. But I remembered seeing Julian once, years ago, before I knew who he was. He was brilliant, kind, and handsome. I was twenty, a sophomore at Columbia. My parents made me take a leave of absence to get married. When I first met Julian after the accident, he was furious. He smashed a vase near my feet, screaming for Lily. But Lily? She had already taken her parents’ black card and fled to Paris for “art school.” The Sterling family business relied on the Thornes. Lily wouldn’t marry him, but they needed a body to secure the alliance. That body was me. That was the first time my mother, Mrs. Sterling, showed me any kindness. She wept about how hard it was for the family, how pitiful Lily was, how my father’s hair was turning gray from stress. I didn’t care about their tears. I wanted to marry him. Not for them, but for him. When I was a freshman, Julian was a senior. He was the campus legend—brilliant, wealthy, unattainable. And back then, Lily was always by his side. Everyone admired his looks, but I admired his mind. He published papers on advanced mathematics that blew me away. I read every single one. They helped me solve problems I was stuck on. I fell in love with his brain first. On our wedding day, Julian didn’t smile once. I was so nervous my hands were sweating. When he took my hand, I almost tripped. The guests chuckled. I felt like an embarrassment. I heard people whispering about Lily, and Julian’s face went black. He loved Lily. I knew that. That’s why he resented me. For a moment, I regretted everything. The marriage. The secret crush. That night, Julian was rough, venting his anger. But his leg was hurting him. I saw him wince. So I pushed him back gently, straddled him, and took control. Soon, the anger faded into something else. His face flushed, and we both got lost in the rhythm. Chapter 3 Life at the Thorne estate was quiet. I actually liked it better than the Sterling house. I loved to read and study. Even though I had dropped out, I never stopped learning. Julian changed, too. He went from staying out late to coming home on time every day. Even when work was crazy, he’d text me to let me know where he was. I started learning massage therapy from an old specialist. I thought maybe I could help his leg. When I first suggested it, I was shy. But six months later, I knew every pressure point on his body. Julian went from resisting it to waiting for it every night. My hands grew stronger, more confident. Life was peaceful, if a bit boring. One day, while dropping off documents for Julian at Thorne Enterprises, a producer spotted me. He asked if I wanted to audition for a small role in a web series. The character was a quiet genius. I said yes on a whim. Julian didn’t object. Unexpectedly, the show blew up. I gained a small, loyal fanbase. It was fun. I never thought I’d be part of the entertainment industry. The Thorne family owned a massive media conglomerate, Rainmaker Entertainment. Julian told me I could do whatever I wanted, as long as I didn’t use the Thorne name to get ahead. So, I got an agent, Sarah, and started booking small roles. I became a C-list actress, and honestly? I loved it. Sometimes, I’d lie in bed and read fan comments to Julian while massaging his leg. One night, my hand slipped higher than intended. Julian groaned. I tried to pull away, but he pinned me to the bed. The kiss was natural. The intimacy that followed was explosive. From that moment on, everything changed. He bought me my favorite pastries. He bought me jewelry. We went to movies and walked by the lake. We were like a normal, happy couple. And thanks to my massages, his leg improved miraculously. Unless he walked very fast, you couldn’t even tell he had been injured. Three years into our marriage, Lily came back. That day, for the first time in a long time, Julian didn’t cling to me in the morning. My parents called—the first time in three years—demanding we come for dinner. Lily hadn’t returned once in three years. My parents always made excuses for her. Julian’s face was cold. I didn’t know what he was thinking. When we arrived at the Sterling estate, a vision in white threw herself into Julian’s arms. I stood there, watching. He didn’t push her away. She was crying, ruining his custom suit with tears, calling him “Julian, Julian.” My heart felt like it was being stabbed with a thousand needles. Seeing me, Lily straightened up. “I’m so sorry, Jessie. I was just so happy. Julian… oh wait, should I call you brother-in-law now?” Julian’s jaw tightened. He took my hand and led me to the table. Lily stared at our joined hands in shock. Dinner was torture. My parents ignored me completely, spending the entire meal trying to get Julian to talk to Lily. It felt like they were trying to sell her to him. From that day on, Lily was everywhere. Julian went from annoyed to accepting in less than a month. Lily wanted to act. Julian assigned Rainmaker’s top agent to her. She strutted around Thorne Tower like she owned the place. Everyone assumed she was Mrs. Thorne because I had kept my identity a secret. Lily would call Julian on speakerphone, whining and flirting, then bring lunch to his office. I had visited his office once. He scolded me for interrupting. I never went back. People just thought I was some starlet trying to sleep her way to the top. With Julian’s backing, Lily became an overnight sensation. My agent, Sarah, asked if I knew her. I said no. Sarah vented about what a diva Lily was, stealing endorsements left and right. When I lost three contracts in a row to her, I realized she was targeting me. And Julian? He gave me nothing. If we passed in the hallway, he looked right through me. I hadn’t thought about divorce yet. I still loved him. Chapter 4 Until the accident. The moment I realized we were over. It happened on a reality survival show. Both Lily and I were cast. Lily played the delicate flower. I was the capable quiet one. Julian came to visit the set. We were filming near a lake. The old wooden dock Lily and I were standing on suddenly collapsed. We both plunged into the water. Chaos erupted. Crew members shouted. But before anyone could react, Julian—billionaire CEO Julian Thorne—dove into the water. I can’t swim. When I saw him diving, I thought he was coming for me. I was his wife. But when I saw him grab Lily and swim toward the shore, something in me broke. I realized then: He doesn’t love me. It was like he didn’t even see me. He carried Lily to his car, frantic, treating her like fine china. As I sank into the darkness, the last thing I saw was his car driving away. By the time the crew fished me out, I was unconscious. Because Julian had caused such a scene saving Lily, everyone assumed I was safe. It took the assistant director screaming to make them realize I was still under. I woke up in the hospital. Only Sarah was there. She was crying. “Sarah, I’m not dead,” I croaked. “Oh my god, Jessie! You scared me to death! You have the worst luck. Julian made such a scene saving that green tea b*tch that everyone forgot about you!” “It’s okay.” My heart was calm. Dead calm. I thought we were one. Reality slapped me awake. That afternoon, I was discharged. I saw them in the lobby. Julian was supporting Lily. My parents were trailing behind them, fussing over her, putting a coat over her shoulders. They looked like a happy family. They had completely forgotten I existed. I watched them walk away. Then I pulled out my phone and called the lawyer Sarah had recommended. “Draw up the papers,” I said.

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After our family business went bankrupt, my brother was diagnosed with ALS. I dropped out of college, shouldered an astronomical debt, and took on the responsibility of caring for my terminally ill brother for the rest of his life. For five years, When debt collectors beat me until I coughed up blood, I wouldn’t spend a dime on painkillers. When I fainted from exhaustion working five jobs a day, I wouldn’t take a single day off. Every penny went to keeping my brother alive. Until one night, while delivering drinks at an exclusive club, I saw my brother—who should have been in a wheelchair, waiting for me to come home— Dressed in a bespoke suit, looking relaxed, laughing and chatting with friends. “Julian, you’ve been faking ALS for five years now. Aurora has practically worked herself to death trying to cure you. Isn’t that punishment enough?” My brother scoffed lightly. “It’s about enough. If Aurora hadn’t been so selfish and made Chloe upset by yelling at her, I wouldn’t have had to fake bankruptcy and ALS for so long just to punish her.” “Chloe has been traveling abroad for five years and is finally in a better mood. She’s agreed to forgive Aurora. Once the time is right, I’ll have the doctor stage a ‘miraculous recovery.’ Then Aurora can go back to being the Sterling family princess. Consider it her atonement for being so willful.” His friend hesitated. “ALS is terminal. How could you possibly recover? Will Aurora even believe that?” My brother smiled with absolute confidence. “That silly girl believes every word I say. When haven’t she?” “After this lesson, I’m sure she’s realized her mistake. Chloe is adopted and naturally insecure; as the older sister, Aurora should have yielded to her. I did this for her own good. I’ll make it up to her later.” I lowered my head, tears falling silently. But Julian, there is no “later” for us. Your terminal illness is fake. But mine is real. Chapter 1 The draft in the hallway cut through me like a knife. It was freezing. I stood there like a numb puppet, rooted to the spot. Enduring the slow, agonizing execution of my faith crumbling after five years. Every slice took away a piece of my soul. Julian’s friend, Tom, sighed. “You really are ruthless. That’s your biological sister. The genius scholar of Columbia University. She dropped out just like that for you. She’s only in her early twenties, but she’s worn herself out like an old woman. Just a few days ago, she was short three hundred bucks for your medicine and begged me to lend it to her.” My brother’s face instantly darkened. “Did you lend it to her?” Tom shook his head helplessly. “You gave a strict order. Would I dare?” “That girl knelt outside my door all afternoon. Even when she fainted from low blood sugar, I didn’t dare call an ambulance. She eventually woke up and crawled away on her own.” What Tom didn’t say was, That day, I had begged shamelessly. I had even started unbuttoning my shirt, willing to let him touch me if he wanted. Julian had been off his imported medication for a week. If he didn’t take it, he would get worse. But I had nowhere else to borrow money. Tom, however, had looked at me like he’d seen a ghost, And hurriedly kicked me out. It turned out, It wasn’t that he didn’t want to lend me the money. It was that he couldn’t. My brother scoffed. “Listen closely, everyone. Until I bring Chloe back, no one is allowed to help Aurora. Whether she kneels, begs, or even dies in front of you, ignore her. Chloe is sensitive and has depression. I barely managed to keep her stable by letting her travel for five years. If I cut Aurora’s punishment short by even one day, Chloe might get upset and have an episode. If anyone makes my precious little sister unhappy, I’ll make their whole family unhappy.” Everyone looked at each other, Probably finding it absurd and ridiculous. Someone awkwardly reminded him, “Julian, aren’t you afraid Aurora will find out the truth and leave you?” As soon as the words were spoken, my brother burst out laughing. “Are you kidding? We’re biological siblings. No conflict is big enough to separate us. Aurora treats me like her life. Even if someone held a knife to her throat, she wouldn’t leave me. Besides, it’s just a little lesson. Chloe is different; she’s already suffered because she’s not blood-related. Being good to her is only right.” “But remember this, if what was said in this room today reaches Aurora’s ears, don’t expect us to remain friends.” I leaned against the wall. My hands and feet were numb. It turned out that the five years I risked my life for were just a worthless joke. My life, my freedom, Even my health, Only needed one word of grievance from Chloe. To become a trivial matter in my brother’s mouth. I wanted to laugh, but tears fell like broken beads, uncontrollable. A phone rang inside the room, and footsteps approached the door simultaneously. I didn’t have time to leave. I turned hurriedly and bumped into the manager rushing from behind. The bottle of wine in my hand, worth thousands, shattered on the floor. The manager’s face turned black as coal instantly. He slapped me to the ground. My brother, coming out of the room, brushed past us and hugged Chloe, who threw herself at him like a butterfly. “Why did you come back on your own? Didn’t we agree I’d pick you up? Are you tired? I arranged a professional spa team for you; you can get a full body treatment when we get home.” Chloe giggled, “I missed you, Julian! I wanted to surprise you!” I was wearing a mask, kneeling less than a yard away from them, daring not to move or speak. My red eyes stung from the diamonds covering Chloe’s high heels. One of them could pay for a year of Julian’s imported medicine. The manager whispered apologetically, “Mr. Sterling, I am so sorry. Your wine was broken by this clumsy idiot.” Chapter 2 Black leather shoes stopped in front of me. The manager knew his status, terrified he would get angry. “Mr. Sterling, so sorry to interrupt your reunion with Miss Chloe. It’s all because of this blind fool who can’t even hold a few bottles. I’ll have someone bring better ones immediately.” He grabbed my arm and pinched it hard several times. This pain was nothing compared to when debt collectors broke my ribs. But I shrank back, Feeling like my internal organs were twisting into a knot. My brother frowned impatiently. “Enough.” He pointed at me. “Since you broke it, pick up every shard on this carpet with your hands. If my sister steps on even one piece, I’ll make you swallow it.” The hallway was covered in thick, soundproof carpet. The glass shards were embedded deep, hard to find. I could only kneel, using my palms to rub and feel for them bit by bit. Chloe narrowed her eyes at my back, then suddenly linked arms with my brother and pouted. “Julian, I’m tired.” “Princess, I’ll carry you out. It’s too dangerous here.” Black leather shoes stepped on the back of my hand, twisted, And then walked away without noticing. I knelt there, looking at the glass embedded in my palm. I cried until I laughed. The manager was terrified by my appearance. “What’s wrong with you? Why is your nose bleeding?” I staggered to my feet and wiped it messily with my sleeve. “Probably because I’m dying.” Without looking at his shocked face, I let the blood drip all the way as I stumbled out. I pushed open the door to my home. From the kitchen came the sound of something breaking. My brother was struggling to push himself up from his tipped-over wheelchair. Seeing me at the door, He looked like a child who had done something wrong, his eyes red with embarrassment. “Aurora, I just wanted to make you something to eat…” “I’m so useless. I’m just a burden!” His speech was slurred, his words jumbled. Tears mixed with saliva ran down his face. Just like a helpless, broken patient who had been paralyzed for years. I vaguely remembered, Before being diagnosed with ‘ALS,’ my brother had severe OCD. A man who washed his hands twenty times a day and wouldn’t tolerate a spec of dust on his clothes, Could endure this filthy, messy life for five years just for Chloe. For five whole years, I was trapped in his hypocritical, masterful performance, Living like a complete clown. In this moment, I wanted so badly to cut open his chest and look. To see if what was inside was flesh and blood, or cold, hard stone. Seeing I didn’t speak, my brother hung his head. “Aurora, are you disgusted by me?” “You should be. A burden like me shouldn’t drag you down anymore. Just go, leave me alone. Let me rot.” He sat amidst the mess, gripping the wheelchair armrest stubbornly. Veins popped on his arms, but he couldn’t get up. I walked over silently, righted the wheelchair, and helped him into it. I turned, wrung out a towel, and wiped his face and hands. I had done this routine for five years; it was engraved in my bones. He grabbed my wrist, noticing the wound on my palm. “How did this happen? Who bullied you?” I stared at the genuine concern in his eyes. The bitterness in my heart almost overflowed. “Yeah, bullied by someone who looks just like you.” I paused, looking straight into his eyes, and added, “At the Starlight Club.” Chapter 3 Watching my brother’s jaw tighten instantly, I smiled again. “But I know that wasn’t you, Julian. My brother would never lie to me, right?” My gaze made him guilty. He looked away and spoke unnaturally. “Of course. You’re my only family, Aurora. I would never lie to you.” I forced down the surging pain in my eyes and pushed him out of the kitchen before the tears could fall. When I finished cooking and came out, the living room was empty. I walked to his bedroom door and heard him whispering on the phone. “Be a good girl. I’ve prepared the biggest birthday party for you. I’ll celebrate with you personally tomorrow.” On the other end, Chloe feigned concern. “But tomorrow is Aurora’s birthday too. Won’t she be mad if you don’t spend it with her?” “Silly girl, you are my only precious sister. Your happiness is what matters most. Aurora hasn’t celebrated her birthday in five years; she’s used to it. One more year won’t matter.” Chloe cheered happily. “I knew you were the best, Julian!” I stood in silence for a long time, then took off my apron and turned away. When my brother came out, I was gone. On the table sat a bowl of noodles boiled soft for easy swallowing and one imported pill. He knew I had a night shift at this time. Thinking of the wound on my palm, My unnaturally pale face, And my back, thin as a rail while I was cooking, He suddenly felt a panic. He realized he couldn’t remember what I looked like when I was bright and happy. It felt like something sharp stabbed his heart. An indescribable unease and guilt crept up silently. He picked up his phone and quickly made a call. The next day, I took my brother for a checkup. His doctor looked excited. “Miss Sterling, we just got news. A private research institute in Switzerland has developed a specific drug for ALS. Clinical trials are very mature, but they’re only recruiting two subjects. I’ve secured a spot for your brother.” Compared to his enthusiasm, I just nodded calmly. “What are the chances of recovery?” “Eighty percent.” My brother played along, crying tears of joy. “Aurora, I can get better. I can be with you forever.” I forced a smile. “If only one of us can live, I hope it’s always you, Julian.” He froze. As if frightened by my seriousness, he forgot to slur his words. He frowned and scolded, “Don’t talk nonsense. We will both live well. When I recover, I will rebuild the Sterling Group, and you will be the princess of the family again.” But this princess title, I don’t want it anymore. And you, Julian, I give you both to Chloe. The doctor sent me out of the office, claiming the examination would take a long time. Before, I believed it was true, leaving my brother at the hospital while I raced against time to work part-time jobs. Now I knew these were just excuses to get rid of me. I stood at the empty corridor corner, watching my brother change clothes and eagerly enter the elevator. Downstairs, a luxury car had been waiting for a long time. I withdrew my gaze blankly and walked into another doctor’s office. “Miss Sterling, your brain tumor is too large for surgery. If it had been half a month ago, there might have been hope.” He sighed. “It’s just a matter of days now. Say goodbye to your family.” I was silent for a long time before nodding gently. “After I die, please cremate me directly. Send the ashes to the Sterling Villa, to CEO Julian Sterling.” Leaving my remaining money, I walked out of the hospital. A message popped up on my phone. “Come to the villa and take a look.” It was Chloe. I took a taxi to the most luxurious villa district in the city center. Five years had passed. The home I thought had been auctioned off long ago was now decorated festively. Guests gathered, luxury dazzled the eyes. It was a different world from me, standing alone outside the carved iron gates. Chloe wore a glittering tiara and a custom haute couture gown. Holding my brother’s arm, She stood blissfully in front of a six-tier cake, surrounded by people. Behind her was a wall of gifts. She clasped her hands and made a wish. “I wish to be Julian’s only sister for life, his little princess forever.” My brother took a velvet box from his pocket. The moment the box opened, my blood ran cold. Chapter 4 It was a jade amulet. When Julian and I were born, our parents had high monks bless two jade amulets for a whole year, carving our names on them. We wore them since birth. It was our parents’ blessing and hope, the continuation of the Sterling family, and my only memento after they passed away. Even in my hardest times, I couldn’t bear to sell it. Now, my brother had changed the carving to Chloe’s name. In front of everyone, he solemnly placed it around her neck. “My little princess, congratulations on your wish coming true.” I don’t know how I left. My phone kept vibrating. “Actually, I recognized you at the Starlight Club that day.” “See clearly now?” “The jade is mine, and Julian is mine. You look like an unwanted stray dog.” “Your life is such a failure, why don’t you just go die, big sister? Hee hee.” Seeing no response, Chloe sent one last message. “Sister, I asked Julian to bring you a birthday gift. Enjoy it.” I wandered like a ghost all day. When I stumbled back to the rental apartment in a daze, I found out what Chloe’s birthday gift was. The door was wide open. The room was a mess. My brother was pinned to the ground. Like a dying dog struggling for breath. This scene was so familiar I trembled all over. My ribs, once broken, seemed to ache in phantom pain. “Little girl, long time no see. When are you paying back this month’s money?” I was pale. “Didn’t I pay off all the debt? What do I still owe?” The leader picked his teeth and spat on the floor. “If I say you owe, you owe. Don’t want to pay? I wonder how many hits your brother’s rotten bones can take.” He gestured with the iron rod over my brother’s back. “Aurora, I’m a burden to you. Leave me, just go. I’m a cripple anyway. If they kill me, they kill me. I don’t want to drag you down.” The exact same words. I’ve heard them countless times over five years. I looked wearily at the room full of debt collectors, then at my brother on the ground—looking pathetic, yet his eyes were clear. Everything was painfully obvious. It was laughable that I only realized now. They threatened debt collection countless times, but never actually touched a hair on his head. And I, to protect my lying brother, Had broken ribs, limped on a bad leg, and suffered countless injuries. Swallowing the dryness in my throat, I asked hoarsely, “What do you want?” The man looked me up and down and laughed. “Little girl, I don’t like your stubbornness. How about this? Crawl between the legs of all ten of my brothers here and bark like a dog three times. Then we’ll call it even for today.” My brother roared, “No! Aurora, don’t do it!” I smiled numbly. The last bit of warmth in my heart went completely cold. “Since this is what you want, let’s call it even.” Although I was speaking to the man, Julian suddenly panicked. He wanted to say something, but then remembered this was the last punishment he promised Chloe. As long as I learned this final lesson, he would restore my identity as the Sterling heiress. He would never let me suffer again. He confidently thought there was a long future to make it up to me. As if convincing himself, he looked away, secretly took a photo of my humiliation, and sent it to Chloe. The crowd dispersed. I lay on the floor for a long time before having the strength to stand. My brother crawled over with red eyes, intending to play the victim. But seeing my dead eyes, the words stuck in his throat. The next day, the doctor came to take him to Switzerland for treatment. Before leaving, he looked back three times. “Aurora, wait for me to come back. I will make you the most dazzling princess of the Sterling family again. No one will ever bully you again.” I smiled and said nothing. After watching them leave, I covered my mouth and couldn’t hold back a mouthful of blood. The doctor said when the tumor ruptures, it’s the end. Strange. The moment I fell, I felt no fear. My mind was filled with how good Julian was to me when we were little. Braiding my hair. Feeding me candy. Staying by my side when I had a high fever. He said, “When I grow up, I’ll make lots of money, build the biggest castle for Aurora, and spoil her into the happiest princess in the world.” I swallowed my tears, and with bloody hands, tremblingly tapped on my phone. I sent the last message to my brother. “Julian, I’m not waiting for you. I give my life to pay you and Chloe back. Bury me next to Mom and Dad.” After sending it, I closed my eyes weakly. At that moment, the phone on the floor vibrated like crazy.

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One hour before my abortion appointment, I was doom-scrolling when I hit a thread on a popular forum. [What does a “Main Character” life actually look like?] The top comment had thousands of upvotes. Anonymous User: Oh, I win this one. I’m the “fake heiress” everyone loves. Not only did I enjoy eighteen years of luxury meant for that idiot “real daughter,” but I also took her husband. He was practically begging for me, even though she picked up my leftovers. When she finally came back to the family, I faked a depression spiral. My parents didn’t want to “trigger” me, so she’s not even in the family trust. To the public, she’s just a goddaughter. She worked her ass off to become VP, but I just whined “I want that,” and her husband—who was the biggest client—made her life hell until she quit. Mom and Dad handed the job to me the next day. The best part? The night before their wedding, I texted him saying I was “lonely.” We christened her new marital bed before she ever did. Every word dripped with arrogance. The comments were tearing her apart, but she just doubled down, posting a photo of plane tickets with the names blurred out. Anonymous User: Just because I said I didn’t want her ruining her body with a kid, her husband forced her to get an abortion. The funniest part? She’s sitting outside the OR all alone right now. Her parents and her husband are on a flight to Miami with me to help me “decompress.” I was born lucky. She can’t compete. I stared at the photo on my screen. It was identical to the one Bella Sterling had just posted on her Instagram story. I looked around the empty hospital corridor. Just me. Turns out, the idiot in the story is me. Chapter 1 Facing the internet’s rage, Bella didn’t feel shame. She felt empowered. Anonymous User: Hate all you want. The madder you get, the more it proves how much they love me. I’m Daddy’s little girl, and I’m her husband’s soulmate. She attached another photo. A slender hand, the ring finger adorned with a diamond ring. I knew that design. It was the exact match to the one my husband, Gavin, used to wear every day. Her reply popped up, soaking in the attention: Anonymous User: See this? I told him, “Touching me while wearing another woman’s ring is gross.” He threw their cheap wedding bands in the trash. This one? We picked it out together. Custom engraved. In this world, the one who isn’t loved is the mistress. I’m the real wife. A chill spread from my chest to my fingertips as I stared at that ring. A memory from three years ago stabbed me. I had noticed Gavin’s wedding band was missing. He frantically turned his pockets inside out, looking devastated. He hugged me, burying his face in my neck. “Elara, I think I lost it on the business trip. I’m such an idiot. Punish me, seriously. I deserve it.” I trusted him. God, I trusted him so much. A week later, he was wearing a new, unfamiliar ring. “Where did that come from?” I had asked. He looked at me with puppy-dog eyes. “I tried on a sample at the office and it got stuck. If you hate it, honey, I’ll chop my finger off to remove it. Okay?” My heart softened. “Don’t say that… keep it. It actually looks good on you.” It wasn’t a sample. It was their “couple’s ring.” My discarded wedding band, and the unformed life in my womb, were just speed bumps on their road to “true love.” The comment section was on fire. User123: Someone find the real sister! Run, girl, run! PizzaRat: This is vile. Sending hugs to the real daughter, wherever she is. Tears slid down my face as I signed the consent forms. Gavin didn’t deserve a child with me. Walking out of the operating room, the hollow ache in my body was so heavy I had to lean against the wall to walk. My phone buzzed. It was Gavin. “Babe, did you do it?” “We only need Leo. Having another one would just make him jealous. You have to do this for our son.” Chapter 2 “Babe? Can you hear me?” Gavin’s voice came through the receiver, hushed and urgent. “I can hear you,” I whispered. A sharp cramp twisted in my lower abdomen. I bent over, pressing my arm against my stomach. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the shredding of my heart. “So… is it done?” he asked, the urgency naked in his voice. I bit my lip to stop a sob, tasting iron. “It’s done.” I heard his sigh of relief loud and clear. He even let out a small chuckle. “Good girl,” he said, his voice dropping back into that practiced, coaxing tone he used to manipulate me. “When I get back from the trip, I’ll bring you a present.” I forced a silent, mocking smile. Misinterpreting my silence as anger over him missing the appointment, he rushed on. “Aww, babe, you worked so hard. I’ll make it up to you, I promise. Massage, dinner, whatever you want.” His patience lasted less than two seconds. “Look, I gotta hop into a meeting. You’re the best. Bye.” Click. After that call, Gavin vanished. For three whole days, radio silence. In the past, I would have made excuses for him. He’s so busy. He’s building our future. I would have sent text messages reminding him to eat, playing the role of the devoted wife. Now, it felt like a joke. He wasn’t busy. He had just successfully disposed of a “problem” and was busy celebrating with the love of his life. Three days later, I was in the living room helping our son, Leo, build a Lego castle. Gavin breezed through the door, dragging a suitcase. He hugged Leo, handing him a limited-edition set the kid had been begging for. “Leo, buddy, go play in your room. Daddy needs to talk to Mommy.” He turned to me, his eyes dark with implied intimacy. Normally, that look would make my heart flutter. Now, I just wanted to vomit. Gavin wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, nuzzling my neck. “Babe, still mad? I know I’m a jerk. I wasn’t there when you needed me. I promise, never again.” I pulled away, turning to face him. “Gavin, count how many times you’ve promised that this month.” His smile faltered. “The 8th. Our anniversary. You said we’d do dinner. One phone call and you vanished for two days.” “Last week. I was sick. You said you’d drive me to urgent care. You dumped me on the curb halfway there.” “And now the abortion…” Listing them out, I realized how pathetic his lies were. He wasn’t a good liar; I had just been blind. A flash of annoyance crossed his face, quickly replaced by a helpless grin. “Babe, don’t keep score. I’m working for this family.” He pulled a velvet box from his pocket. “Look. An apology gift. Let me put it on you…” I sidestepped him. His hand froze in mid-air. “I just had surgery,” I said coldly. “I need to rest. Sleep in the guest room.” I walked upstairs, leaving him standing there, stunned. In the bedroom, my phone buzzed. A notification from the forum. Bella had posted a new photo. When I saw what it was, rage made my hands shake so hard I nearly dropped the phone. Chapter 3 The update was a picture of a dog. A Golden Retriever wearing a diamond necklace. Below it was Bella’s caption: Anonymous User: The idiot is throwing a tantrum. Ugh. I generously gave my dog, Buster’s, old collar to her husband to use as a peace offering. I wonder if she cried tears of joy when she got her ‘gift’? I stared at the screen. The necklace around the dog’s neck was identical to the one Gavin had just tried to put on me. Eight years of marriage. In his eyes, I was worth less than her dog. The crushing disappointment gave way to a cold, clarifying anger. I closed my eyes, inhaled deeply, and let the ice settle in my veins. The door creaked open. “Babe, come on, don’t be like that. I really know I messed up.” Gavin walked in, grinning like a boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. He held out a pink index card. “Look! A ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card. Good for one forgiveness. Please?” I took the card. The edges were yellowed. The date written on it was from ten years ago. We didn’t even know each other ten years ago. The little heart drawn at the bottom had Bella’s signature swirl. The last ember of love in my chest turned to ash. “Get out,” I said, my voice raspy. “I don’t want to see you.” He frowned, his patience snapping. “Elara, enough is enough. You keep dragging this out, it’s going to get annoying.” He slammed the door and left. I held the card between my fingers. It was cold. My phone rang. It was my mother. “Elara! Grow up,” she snapped the moment I picked up. “Gavin marrying you was already a charity case. Why are you acting out? He works so hard, can’t you be considerate for once?” “Mom,” I interrupted, my voice flat. “I had an abortion.” Silence on the other end. Then, a sigh. “It’s not the end of the world. Gavin is doing what’s best for Leo.” “I called you ten times,” I said. “Gavin was on a ‘business trip.’ What about you? What were you doing that was so important?” I didn’t wait for an answer. I hung up. Texts from mutual friends started flooding in. “Couples fight, it’s normal.” “Gavin loves you so much.” “Look at his Facebook, he’s so sweet.” I opened Gavin’s Facebook. Status update, ten minutes ago: Gavin: Kicked out of the bedroom by the wifey. Guess the gift is keeping me company tonight. Attached was a photo of the necklace. Comments were praising him as a “Wife Guy.” He replied to one: Gavin: Anything for her. Tomorrow is the auction. I’m going to bid on that vintage sapphire choker she wants. Maybe that will get me back in the master bedroom… Lies. I hate sapphires. Bella is the one obsessed with vintage jewelry. I took a screenshot of his post. Then I took a screenshot of the dog collar post. I stitched them together side-by-side. Bella’s thread updated again: Anonymous User: The idiot seems actually mad this time. Whatever. I told Mom to organize a family dinner to put her in her place. She’s forgetting who the favorite is. Someone commented: If you hate her so much and your family is rich, why not just kick her out? Bella replied instantly: Anonymous User: Oh, she’ll get kicked out eventually. But not yet. She’s still useful. I haven’t even used my trump card. Thinking about the look on her face when she finds out the truth… god, it makes me shiver with excitement. “Trump card”? I stared at those words. A strange, intuitive dread crawled up my spine. My phone buzzed again. A text from Mom. Family dinner tonight. Be there. I stared at the screen. “Okay.” I was actually very interested in knowing what Bella’s “trump card” was. Chapter 4 I picked up Leo from school and drove straight to the Sterling Estate. Pulling into the driveway, I saw a small figure huddled on the front steps. It was Bella’s son, Caleb. He was wearing clothes that were too small and washed out. He was just sitting there, staring at the gravel. Based on the timeline… But Bella was clearly unfit to be a mother. Whatever beef I had with her, the kid was innocent. I walked over, holding Leo’s hand. “Why aren’t you inside, Caleb? It’s cold. Auntie brought some cookies, do you want one?” Caleb looked up. His eyes, shaped exactly like Gavin’s, were full of a sadness no seven-year-old should have. He whispered, “Mom said I can’t go in… She’ll be mad.” I offered him a cookie. Just as he reached for it, Bella burst out the front door and slapped his hand. The cookie crumbled into the dirt. “Did I say you could eat? You begging little rat! Do you need another timeout?” Her voice was a shrill weapon. Caleb flinched, curling into a ball like he expected a blow. “Mommy, I’m scared…” Leo grabbed my leg. Bella’s face flipped instantly. She beamed, crouching down to hug Leo. “Oh, Leo, sweetie! Auntie isn’t yelling at you. Auntie bought you the new PS5 game! Come on, let’s go play.” She scooped Leo up and marched inside, shooting me a smug, victorious look over her shoulder. A thought flashed through my brain. A suspicion. Before I could grasp it, Gavin’s voice boomed behind me. “Babe! I knew you’d come.” He sounded cheerful, completely ignoring the tension. He walked up, holding a velvet box. “Look. The sapphire choker. I won the bid! Do you love it?” I looked at him dead in the eyes. “No. I’ve never liked sapphires.” I ignored his shock and gently took Caleb’s freezing hand. “Come inside with Auntie.” Inside the living room, Bella called out to Gavin. “Gavin! Come help! Leo is too strong for me!” She was hiding behind Gavin, giggling, while Leo chased them with a foam dart gun. Gavin was laughing, protecting her, his expensive shirt getting wrinkled. They looked like a perfect, happy family. I sat on the sofa, watching Caleb. He was picking at his cuticles, stealing glances at the happy trio with eyes full of hunger and envy. The suspicion that had flashed earlier returned, this time as a screaming siren in my head. Panic seized my chest for a second. I pulled out my phone and switched to the burner account I had created. I opened a DM with Bella’s anonymous account. Burner: Hey girl. Saw your post. We are living the same life. But I was smarter than you. I switched the babies at birth. Burner: Let her be the “real heiress.” Who cares? In the end, the inheritance, the husband… it all goes to my biological son, who she’s raising. Burner: Just a tip: You gotta give the husband some sugar occasionally. My “simp” was getting restless. Also… make sure the kid knows who his real mom is. Send. Across the room, Bella’s phone lit up on the coffee table. She glanced at it. Her smug smile faltered, then her lips pressed into a thin white line. A moment later, my burner account got a reply. I read it, and my vision went black for a second. The rage was almost blinding.

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On my eighteenth birthday, I wasn’t blowing out candles. I was being arrested for aggravated assault. No matter how hard I tried to prove my innocence, it was useless. The star witness against me was my own brother. “Ava, you have a severe sleepwalking condition. You just didn’t know about it!” “But this time you hurt Chloe. I can’t cover for you anymore!” Just like that, I was thrown into prison with a five-year sentence. Fast forward to one week before my release. I was getting beaten into the concrete floor by the cell block boss again. During the beating, my nose started bleeding uncontrollably, and I passed out. I was rushed to the infirmary. In a haze, I heard the correctional officers talking outside. “Man, that rich kid Ethan is cold-blooded. Framing his own sister just to help his adopted one get ahead.” “Keep it down! Take that to the grave. We don’t know anything.” I opened my eyes, clutching the diagnosis paper for acute leukemia in my hand, and suddenly laughed. I laughed until tears streamed down my face. Ethan, I’m finally doing what you wanted. I’m really going to die. The prison doctor looked at me, terrified as I laughed and cried at the same time. He sighed, trying to comfort me. “Don’t be too pessimistic. If we can find a matching bone marrow donor, the five-year survival rate is still decent.” He walked around to my side, and I felt a sharp sting in my hand. “This IV might burn a little. Just bear with it.” I looked down blankly. Pain? I didn’t feel it. Compared to five years of unanswered prayers and hopeless torment, what was a little needle prick? The doctor asked me again. “Do you have family? You can ask them to come in for testing. Siblings usually have the best…” “No.” I cut him off, my voice flat, though my heart throbbed with a dull ache. “I don’t have family.” I paused, my throat dry and scratchy. “I’m an orphan.” I finally realized it. From the beginning to the end, I had always been like an orphan. No one loved me. The doctor froze. Another heavy sigh. He opened the door, and two guards walked in. They exchanged a look with the doctor, hesitating. They pitied me. But they had no choice. Ethan, the heir to the Pierce family fortune, had given instructions. They had to follow them. “Finish the IV and head back. You have one month left on your sentence.” It was evening when I returned to the cell. The other inmates were already asleep. I dragged my exhausted body inside and accidentally bumped into the boss’s bunk. Screeech. A loud, jarring noise. “You looking to die?! Watch where you’re walking!” She flipped out of bed and kicked me square in the lower back, eyes full of malice. “Five years, Ava. You really have nine lives, don’t you?” Big Red was serving a life sentence. Seeing someone like me, who was about to taste freedom in a month, only made her hate me more. Fists rained down on me like hail. I curled up on the floor, covering my head with my hands, silently taking it. “Hey! Knock it off!” A guard banged his baton on the bars. “Quiet down! Or you’re all going to solitary!” Big Red stopped and spat on me. “Pfft! I got a whole month left to mess you up!” I lay on the cold floor. The chemotherapy drugs made me weak, draining every ounce of strength from my body. I could only curl up like a turtle, using my shell for protection. Pathetic. Absurd. I stumbled back to my bunk and pulled the thin blanket over my head. After a long while, a small sob escaped my lips. The physical pain was nothing compared to the agony in my heart. Thinking about what the guards said, I felt a wave of desolation. The prison sentence, the suffering, the torture. It was all because of one thing Ethan had said: Chloe just got here. Ava, you’re the big sister now. You need to be more understanding. Six years ago, when Ethan first adopted Chloe, an orphan girl, I truly treated her like a sister. But over the next year, I realized my brother had changed. At the dinner table, my favorite dishes disappeared. They were replaced by the seafood feasts Chloe loved. He forgot I was severely allergic to seafood. So allergic that when I was a kid, a single bite of abalone almost killed me. I still remember that day. Ethan was so frantic he wanted to beat himself up. “I’m sorry, Ava. I didn’t know. I’ll remember from now on. I promise.” But after Chloe arrived, all he said was: “If you don’t want to eat, leave the table. Stop being dramatic!” From then on, I sat alone on the edge of the sofa while they cuddled together, a happy family of two. At school, Ethan stopped coming to my parent-teacher conferences. Instead, he canceled important meetings to attend Chloe’s. Gradually, I lost my brother. I lost the brother who once said he would spend his whole life protecting me… Chapter 1 After crying myself into a fitful sleep, I was woken by a guard banging on the bars. He looked at me. “Inmate 1745. Your parole paperwork went through. You’re released today.” I froze. It felt like a joke. Walking out of those iron gates, looking up at a sky that wasn’t cut into squares by bars, felt like stepping into another life. “Ava.” A familiar figure walked toward me. I looked up, my gaze hardening. It was my brother. He walked over, looking as dashing and pristine as ever. Standing next to me, in my ragged state, the contrast was jarring. “You’re out. I came to pick you up.” I stared at him for two seconds. He felt like a stranger. He looked away, guilt flashing in his eyes before he could hide it. I saw it clearly. “Ethan, I don’t have a sleepwalking disorder, right? And I never hurt Chloe.” His face stiffened. I kept going. “Everything was just a way for you to protect Chloe. But I don’t understand. I never hurt her.” “What could possibly make you do something so cruel to me?” He stopped walking, lips pressed into a thin line, afraid to meet my eyes. I forced a smile and continued. “Also, I’m sick.” He took a deep breath and turned around, his eyes full of impatience. “Ava, you just got out and you’re already starting drama?” “First you question the sleepwalking, now you’re sick? What’s next? You’re going to say you were framed and now you’re dying?” I opened my mouth to say yes. But his sharp, disgusted glare shoved the words back down my throat. He suppressed his temper. He led me toward the car. “Wait.” I reached for the front passenger door, but he stopped me. He pursed his lips. “The front seat is Chloe’s spot. You sit in the back.” My throat clicked as I swallowed. I laughed at myself. “So now, in your heart, is Chloe your only sister?” He frowned, correcting me. “It’s Chloe Pierce now. I’ve added her to our family registry. She’s your sister too.” He didn’t deny it… On the way home, I felt a warm liquid rush from my nose. I quickly tilted my head back. But the blood still dripped out. “What’s wrong?” Ethan frowned, watching me in the rearview mirror as he handed back a tissue. I endured the bone-deep ache radiating through my body. “Just stress. It’s nothing.” He nodded and didn’t ask again. Returning to the home I hadn’t seen in five years felt surreal. “Ava!” A girl fluttered toward me like a social butterfly. “You’re finally back! I missed you so much.” I looked at her, and a wave of inferiority washed over me. In five years, I had gone from confident to cowardly, while she showed no trace of the timid girl she used to be. I brushed her hand away. “We aren’t that close. Cut the act.” Chloe froze, looking wronged. Ethan’s face darkened instantly. He stepped forward to scold me. “It seems five years in prison didn’t teach you how to behave. Ava, apologize!” My body went stiff. But I still bowed slightly to her. “I’m sorry, Chloe.” Back inside the villa, I went upstairs to my room. Ethan followed me. “By the way, I forgot to tell you. Your room is Chloe’s now. You’ll stay in the guest room for the time being.” My fingers curled into a fist, slowly tightening. “…Okay.” Dinner was the same nightmare. A seafood feast that could kill me. Later, I sat on the edge of the sofa, out of place as always. When I went back to the guest room, Chloe followed me in. This time, the fake sweetness was gone. Her expression was vicious, hateful. “Looks like you’re hard to kill. I can’t believe you didn’t die in there.” I looked up, realizing everything in an instant. “So Big Red… you arranged that?” Chloe smiled and shook her head. “You’re wrong. It wasn’t me. It was Ethan.” “Ethan knew that without you around, I wouldn’t have to suffer anyone’s cold looks.” “I could finally be the true princess of the Pierce family.” It hit me like a truck. So the five years of prison… It was just because Ethan wanted the world to accept Chloe without question. A scheme to ensure she never felt “less than”… It was insane. I lowered my head and laughed out loud. Chloe frowned at me. “Are you crazy?” Slap! Chloe turned her head, clutching her stinging cheek, eyes wide with shock. “You’re crazy! You dared to hit me!” I stepped forward, grabbing her neck with one hand. “I’m going to die anyway, Chloe. Why don’t you come to hell with me!” “Cough… Cough! Let go of me!” Her face started turning blue, her eyes rolling back. Bang! The door was kicked open. I was kicked away, slamming into the foot of the bed. “Ava!” Ethan looked at the finger marks on Chloe’s neck, grinding his teeth in rage. “Have you lost your mind?!” I lay on the floor, spitting out a mouthful of blood. It soaked into the black carpet, invisible. Ethan wasn’t done. He scolded me coldly. “If you dare hurt Chloe again, I’ll throw you right back in prison!” The door slammed shut. Bang. It felt like a hammer to my heart. I lowered my eyes. My nose was bleeding again. It hurt so much… I bit my hand hard, but a painful whimper still escaped. I dragged my suitcase downstairs. This wasn’t my home. Ethan saw me in the living room with my bag and frowned. “What? You hit someone and now you’re running away?” I didn’t speak. He sneered. “Then get lost! Go far away!” I looked at him, and suddenly my brain spun. My eyes rolled back, and I collapsed to the floor. “Ava!” Chapter 2 When I woke up, I was in the hospital. Ethan stood there with a dark expression. Next to him were a doctor with his head lowered and Chloe, whose eyes were dancing with amusement. Seeing me open my eyes, Ethan stepped forward. He ripped the IV tube out of my hand, scolding me in a low voice. “So your goal was to make me think you have leukemia, right? To make me feel guilty? Or are you trying to push Chloe out of the house step by step?” “Ava Pierce!” He roared, making my scalp tingle. “You are absolutely despicable!” I opened my mouth to explain, to tell him I really was sick. But I was interrupted by the very doctor who had diagnosed me with leukemia in prison. “I’m sorry, Miss Pierce. I’ve already returned the money to your account.” “As a doctor with ethics, I cannot help you lie to your family.” My eyes widened. My ears started ringing. “What did you say?” Realizing something, I instinctively looked at Chloe. The smugness, the schadenfreude, the hate—I saw it all. “It’s you again…” I spoke, my voice hoarse, sounding like I was weeping blood. My eyes were terrifyingly red. Ethan frowned, instantly shielding Chloe behind him, his face dark. “You never learn!” “Didn’t you want to run away from home? I’ll grant your wish. Get out of the Pierce family. Now!” With that, he took Chloe’s hand and stormed out. The woman turned around. She smiled at me and mouthed, “You lose again.” The room fell silent. The doctor looked down. His eyes were full of struggle. “I’m sorry…” “My child needs money to study abroad. Ava, I really am sorry…” I twitched the corner of my mouth. Whatever. Every man for himself. But tears still fell from the corners of my eyes, drop by drop, onto the hospital bed. I was kicked out. I rented a run-down apartment in the slums. That night, just as I took my medicine and was about to sleep, I heard the lock being picked. I sat up instantly, grabbing a bat I kept by the bed. Someone outside was cursing. “Damn, what kind of dump is this little b*tch living in? Can’t even pick the lock!” The moment I heard her voice, I froze. It was her! Big Red from prison… But she was serving a life sentence. How was she out? Before I could process it, the person outside kicked the door open. The impact sent me crashing to the floor. Big Red sneered. She squatted down, snatched the bat from my hand, and tapped it rhythmically against the floorboards. The sound drained the color from my face. I looked at her and suddenly laughed. “It was Chloe, right? Since prison, was it Chloe ordering you to torture me?” She paused, her eyes flickering. “Who’s Chloe? I don’t know her. I just don’t like your face. You got a problem with that?” I stood up shakily. Without money for treatment, my body was screaming in pain again. “In prison, you used the excuse that my sentence was short and you were jealous.” “But I just got out, and you’re out right after me? Do you think I’d believe such a ridiculous lie?” Big Red’s eyes turned dark and sinister. I scoffed. “Seems like Chloe paid you well if you were willing to sit in prison for five years just to hurt me!” Bang! “Shut up, b*tch!” My back slammed into the coffee table. Shattered glass sliced into my flesh. Pain. Excruciating pain! Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and a deep voice demanded, “What are you doing?!” Chapter 3 Ethan walked in with Chloe, his face grim. Big Red caught Chloe’s eye and immediately put on a guilty expression. “We… we weren’t acting. No, wait…” She hurriedly covered her mouth and glanced at me. Ethan closed his eyes. His voice dropped. “Speak!” Big Red trembled in fear. “I’m sorry, Mr. Pierce. It was Miss Ava. She hired me. She told me to beat her up.” “So she could frame the young lady next to you.” Chloe’s eyes widened, looking like she had suffered a massive injustice. “Ava?” “How could you…” I stood up. My back was a bloody mess. My nose started bleeding again. Drip, drip. Blood hit the floorboards. “Chloe, I already left the family. Why won’t you let me go?” Ethan sneered. He protected Chloe behind him while mocking me. “She won’t let you go?” “Ava, you’re still acting!” Ethan shook his head, the disappointment in his eyes stinging my heart. “How did you become like this?” His gaze froze on my bleeding nose, and suddenly his heart gave a strange lurch. He frowned hard. But he quickly shook it off. For some reason, he just got angrier! “You really prepared thoroughly to frame Chloe. Ava, your heart is venomous!” “I can’t believe I even came to check on you. What a waste of my feelings!” He took Chloe and turned to leave. The room went quiet. Big Red suddenly scoffed. “Looks like being a rich missy isn’t that great after all.” She reached out and pinched my face, viciously. “Don’t worry. Your ‘good days’ are just beginning!” I slumped to the floor. My eyes lost focus as I stared at the closed door. My heart felt numb. It didn’t feel that sad anymore. A week later, I fainted again. Perhaps out of guilt, that doctor paid for a round of painkillers out of his own pocket. “If you don’t find a bone marrow donor… you don’t have much time left.” I clenched my fingers. I just nodded silently and left the hospital. In the time that followed, Ethan never came to see me again. Chloe, however, came by often to torture and mock me. I lay sick in bed. Like a fish on a chopping block, I didn’t even have the strength to struggle. I just let them cut. “Ava, don’t blame me.” “You had everything. I had nothing. I had no choice but to take it. Ethan… he can only have one sister.” That night, Ethan unexpectedly called me. “Do you know you were wrong?” I fell silent. I didn’t speak. I asked myself: Was I wrong? Where did I go wrong? “Ethan, the day after tomorrow is my birthday. Will you celebrate with me? Like on my eighteenth birthday?” The line went quiet, save for Ethan’s heavy breathing. “I’m in Iceland with Chloe watching the aurora. I might not make it back. But…” “If you admit your mistake, I’ll bring you a gift.” I looked down. The pain in my body made my hand shake as I held the phone. “Is that so? But Ethan…” I paused, holding back the overwhelming bitterness and grief. “I don’t even know what I did wrong.” Ethan’s voice turned sharp again. “Ava, I really shouldn’t have had any expectations for you.” Beep. Beep. Beep. The call ended abruptly. My hand lost strength, and the phone crashed to the floor. Tears shimmered in the corners of my eyes. They sparkled in the moonlight. The wind blew. It was so, so cold. For the next two days, I didn’t even have the strength to get my medicine. I lay on the bed. Watching the clock tick away, second by second. In the final moment, I finally accepted the fact that my brother wasn’t coming back. I’m so tired. My breathing grew faint. “Ava, happy birthday.” I whispered to myself, breathed my last breath, and closed my eyes forever. The very next second. A loud banging came from the door, followed by Ethan’s muffled voice. “Ava, open the door!” Chapter 4 Ethan banged on the door, a wave of inexplicable irritability rising in his chest. That feeling. It was exactly like when Ava was a child and had that allergic reaction to seafood, her life hanging by a thread. Ethan’s hand froze mid-knock. “Seafood allergy…” He murmured the words, his heart tingling with unease. Right. He remembered that because Chloe liked it, the table had been full of seafood for days. He had completely forgotten about Ava’s allergy. Seeing no movement inside for a long time, he lost his patience. “Still not opening up? I bought you a cake, Ava. My patience is limited!” He pursed his lips, listening intently for any sound inside. But in the silent night, it was dead quiet. Ethan frowned and picked up his phone, tapping on ‘Ava’. One second, two seconds. He pressed his ear to the door, listening for a ringtone. Looking at the unanswered call, he felt annoyed. He thought Ava was throwing a tantrum. “Fine. Won’t open the door? Ava, I literally flew back overnight to celebrate your birthday!” “Suit yourself!” He slammed the cake box down in front of the door and turned to leave. Inside the room, the girl lay quietly in the moonlight. Her body grew colder and stiffer. Her breathing had stopped long ago. Back at the villa, he ripped off his tie and threw it aside, feeling suffocated. He thought of Ava’s words on the phone: But Ethan, I don’t even know what I did wrong. Ethan felt restless. It was true. Sending her to prison was his idea, just a way to stop people from criticizing Chloe’s background. Come to think of it, she hadn’t actually done anything wrong… The more he thought about it, the more gloom settled in his chest, giving him a bad premonition. Just then, Chloe walked downstairs. She sat next to Ethan, a shadow crossing her eyes. “Ethan, what’s wrong?” He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling exhausted. “I can’t reach Ava. She’s probably sulking. It’s fine.” Chloe’s eyes flickered. He didn’t know what happened to that b*tch Ava, but she knew very well. She was probably cold by now! Heh. Chloe felt a surge of triumph. As long as Ava was dead, she would be the true Pierce heiress from now on! Ethan would belong only to her! Two people sat in the living room, their thoughts miles apart. One anxious, one gloating. For the next two days, Ethan went to knock on Ava’s door during his breaks from work. No matter how hard he knocked, there was no response. He looked down at the moldy cake at the door. He finally realized something was wrong. “Ethan?” “Chloe?” Ethan stopped trying to ram the door, frowning. “What are you doing here?” She opened her mouth. She couldn’t say she came specifically to see Ava’s miserable state. She made something up. “I came to see Ava. I wanted to apologize. I shouldn’t have dragged you to see the aurora on her birthday.” Ethan paused, not contradicting her. Chloe clenched her fists, malice flashing in her eyes. What did he mean by that silence! At this point, Ethan started slamming his shoulder into the door. Crash! The door burst open. A thick, putrid stench hit them in the face. They stumbled back two steps. Chloe covered her nose, her face full of disgust. “Ethan, did something rot in Ava’s house? What is that smell?” Ethan pressed his lips together. He didn’t know. But the anxiety haunting him reached its peak. “Ava?” He walked around but saw no one. Finally, they stopped in front of the bedroom door. The source of the stench! Bang bang bang! Ethan knocked louder and louder, his expression starting to crack. “Ava! Open the door! I’m counting to three. Don’t make me angry!” “Three, two, one!” Silence. In the corner, my spirit floated, watching them, scoffing. Open it? I’m already dead. Ethan closed his eyes, took a step back, and kicked hard. Crash! The door splintered. The overwhelming stench rushed out. “Ugh!” Chloe almost vomited, looking repulsed. But Ethan rushed in regardless. When he saw the person on the bed, already decomposing and crawling with maggots… His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.

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After our parents died, I kicked my terminally ill sister out of the house. She was homeless, starving, and freezing, but I turned a blind eye. Relatives called me a monster. I pretended I was deaf. I forced her to sign a waiver giving up her inheritance. My sister knelt on the floor, begging, sobbing until she could barely breathe. “Mom and Dad are barely cold in their graves, Harper. How can you be so cruel?” I scoffed. “Dead people can’t tell me what to do.” When my sister collapsed on the street, I cheered. I popped champagne. The next day, #EvilSisterStealsInheritance and #DyingSisterKickedOut were trending on X (Twitter). I sat back on my leather sofa, scrolling through the death threats and curses, and took a slow sip of red wine. “Cry all you want. Scream all you want. The house, the money—it’s all mine.” Chapter 1 At the funeral reception, I forced my sister, Chloe, to sign the inheritance waiver. The moment the ink was dry, I started tossing her luggage onto the front lawn. A suitcase hit the pavement and cracked open. Clothes scattered everywhere. Chloe’s lips trembled, her eyes wide with shock and helplessness. “What?” I crossed my arms, leaning against the doorframe. “Did you think a sick leech like you could stay here forever?” She bit her lip so hard it turned white. She was shaking. “Harper, how can you do this to me?” “How else should I treat you?” She tried to speak, but I cut her off, impatience dripping from my voice. “Mom and Dad are dead. I’m not carrying your dead weight anymore.” Chloe’s tears stopped instantly. Her face went ghost-white. I stepped closer, looking down at her coldly. “Why are you still here? Get lost.” Her eyes filled with despair. She couldn’t process it. “Harper, why? We’re sisters…” “Get. Out.” I pointed to the driveway. “I won’t repeat myself. Don’t drag me down with you.” “Harper, you are crossing a line!” My sudden outburst stunned everyone at the wake. After a moment of shock, the relatives finally reacted. Aunt Linda, red-faced with anger, stepped forward. “Your sister is sick! She’s pitiful! How can you be so heartless?” “You feel bad for her?” I raised an eyebrow. “Great. You take her home. You pay for her meds.” Aunt Linda’s mouth opened, then closed. She didn’t dare say another word. “What? Scared?” I looked around the circle of family members, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “She is a burden. A money pit. Any of you want her? Take her!” The relatives’ faces shifted, but the silence was deafening. No one made a sound. I sneered. “Since none of you want to take care of her, what right do you have to lecture me?” Chloe’s crying got louder. She clutched the waiver to her chest, tears hitting the paper, and collapsed onto the grass. I didn’t have the patience for the theatrics. I walked over, hauled her up by her arm, and shoved her past the property line. “Don’t make me call the cops for trespassing.” The relatives left, cursing under their breath. I slammed the heavy oak door shut, drowning out Chloe’s wails. Whether she lived or died had nothing to do with me. I lay alone in the spacious, quiet house and slept like a baby. Chapter 2 When I woke up, my phone was vibrating so hard it nearly fell off the nightstand. #EvilSister #HeartlessHarper #JusticeForChloe Some relative had filmed me kicking Chloe out and uploaded it to TikTok. It had gone viral. Millions of views. I tapped on the comments. It was a bloodbath. “Is this woman Satan? Kicking out her own sick sister? Is she human?” “Rich people are disgusting. Look at that poor girl crying. How does she sleep at night?” “Internet, do your thing. Dox her. Ruin her.” The comment section was a war zone. Someone had already posted my personal info. My full name, phone number, home address. Even my office location. The phone started ringing. Unknown number. I picked up. “Harper, you’re going to rot in hell!” “I hope you die alone, you piece of trash!” “Watch your back…” Click. I hung up and blocked the number. My screen kept lighting up. The relatives were lining up to get on local news, crying crocodile tears, acting like they’d seen a ghost. Uncle Bob beat his chest on camera as if I’d committed murder. “I just don’t understand! She used to be such a sweet girl. How did she turn into this monster?” Aunt Linda wiped her dry eyes with a tissue, dramatically tossing it aside. “That poor child. Kicked out like a dog. How will she survive?” The camera panned. Chloe appeared. She looked frail. Head down, tears falling like pearls. Her voice was choked with emotion. “Does… does Harper really not care about me anymore?” The reporter, voice soft and sympathetic: “Is there anything you want to say to your sister?” Chloe sobbed. “Harper, I really need you… please, don’t be so cruel.” On camera, she was a broken angel. Weak, helpless, beautiful in her suffering. The internet exploded. “I’m literally crying right now.” “Sisters are supposed to protect each other. This is heartbreaking.” “Why hasn’t karma hit that witch yet?” I sat on my sofa, holding a latte, scrolling through the hate with a bored expression. Chloe was useless. Why should I pity her? Bang! Bang! Bang! Someone was pounding on my front door. I peeked through the curtains. A crowd had gathered outside. They were holding signs. DO YOU HAVE A CONSCIENCE? GIVE UP THE INHERITANCE! JUSTICE FOR CHLOE! A few angry men rushed up the driveway, kicking my door. Someone threw eggs at my window. The yellow yolk slid down the glass like slime. My phone buzzed again. A text from my boss. Harper, the company is getting too many complaints. Don’t come in. Lie low for a while. Ha. Cowards. Another call came through. A journalist this time, her voice shaking with self-righteous anger. “Do you know your sister slept on a park bench last night? She hasn’t eaten in 24 hours!” “You cold-blooded monster, does your heart not hurt?” I looked out the window at the growing mob. I yawned, stretching my legs out on the ottoman. “It would be easier for everyone if she just died.” Silence on the other end. Then, hysterical screaming. Chapter 3 After two days of relaxing at home, I decided to go to the office. When I pushed open the glass doors, the office went silent. Colleagues buried their heads in their work, eyes darting nervously. The office gossip, usually loud and obnoxious, didn’t dare look at me. I smirked and walked to my cubicle. The moment I turned on my computer, my manager called out. “Harper. HR wants to see you.” Inside the office, the HR director looked grave. “The whole company knows.” I smiled. “Okay.” “This is bad PR, Harper. Partners are questioning our corporate culture because of you.” “And?” I stirred my coffee slowly. “You need to fix this. Don’t drag the company down.” “You mean, you want me to resign?” He didn’t answer, which was answer enough. I nodded, set my cup down, and walked out. I packed my box. As I left the building, the security guard stared at me with complex eyes. I pulled out my phone. [Evil Sister Saga Continues: Victim Suffering Mental Breakdown on Streets!] The comments were unhinged. “Animal. Scum. She doesn’t deserve to breathe.” “Capitalist trash. Glad she got fired!” “Why hasn’t someone beaten her up yet?” These people. So eager to play hero. I shook my head and chuckled. As I approached my apartment building, I smelled paint thinner. My front door was covered in red paint. DEMON. DIE. The words dripped down the wood like blood. Someone had scattered fake funeral money in the hallway. Tacky. I stepped over it. Just as I unlocked the door, a commotion erupted behind me. The cavalry had arrived. Aunt Linda led the charge, followed by a pack of cousins. They looked ready for a lynching. “Harper! You cold-blooded snake! If you don’t take your sister back today, we aren’t leaving!” Uncle Bob slammed his cane on the floor. “Animals treat their kin better than you! Your sister is freezing and starving. Where is your heart?!” My cousins rolled up their sleeves, looking tough. “Maybe we should throw her on the street. See how she likes it.” “Are you done performing?” I yawned, leaning against the doorframe. “You guys are all about justice, right? She’s so pitiful, right? Great. Which one of you is taking her home?” Silence. “What? No volunteers?” I sneered. “Easy to be generous with my money. Why don’t you step up?” Aunt Linda turned purple. “You will rot in hell!” “Maybe.” I dialed 911 on speaker. “Yes, I have intruders threatening my safety. Address is…” The police arrived in ten minutes. The relatives scattered like roaches, cursing me as they ran. But the reporters were harder to shake. They swarmed the lobby. “Harper, how do you feel about the allegations?” “Your sister is penniless. Do you feel no guilt?” “Why did you force the inheritance waiver?” The camera flashes were blinding. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and smiled lazily into the lens. “You guys love pitying her so much?” I looked directly into the camera. “Then you raise her.” The reporter froze. The audience watching the livestream lost their minds. “She’s insane.” “She actually has no soul.” “I want to punch the screen.” The internet hate mob mobilized. They started digging into my past. “I heard she cheated in elementary school. Teachers always knew she was bad news.” “My cousin’s friend’s roommate knew her in college. Said she was manipulative.” “Why hasn’t her boyfriend dumped her?” Within hours, my social circle imploded. Ex-colleagues: Are you crazy? Old classmates: Do you have no conscience? Ex-boyfriend: Delete my number. They thought “morality” would crush me. Naive. That night, I posted a photo on Instagram. A Michelin-star dinner. Wagyu steak, truffle pasta, a $500 bottle of wine. Caption: Delicious. Chapter 4 After a few days of silence, the wind shifted. It wasn’t just hate anymore. It was overwhelming sympathy for Chloe. Because Chloe posted a long essay on Facebook. Title: I Don’t Want the Money, I Just Want a Home. The photo was a blurry selfie. She was wrapped in a dirty blanket under a bridge, dirt on her face, eyes hollow. “I never wanted to fight for the inheritance. After Mom and Dad died, I thought Harper was my rock. I didn’t know she hated me this much.” “I have no money. I eat out of dumpsters. Last night, a homeless man stole my coat… sometimes, I don’t think I can keep going…” It went viral instantly. 100k shares. “I’m sobbing.” “How can a sister be this evil? Letting her sleep under a bridge?!” “Someone help her!” People flooded the comments offering to send money. Someone started a GoFundMe. But here’s the funny part: these “saints” were donating $5, maybe $10. No one offered her a guest room. The relatives cornered me again. This time at a coffee shop near my complex. “Harper!” Uncle Bob banged the table. “Your sister is living like a stray dog. Give her a way out!” “Define ‘way out’,” I said, stirring my tea. “The house. The savings,” Aunt Linda snapped. “Split the inheritance. Half goes to her.” I laughed. I pulled a notarized document from my bag and slammed it on the table. “Legally, she gets nothing.” The air left the room. “You…” Uncle Bob’s hand shook. “She is your blood! If your parents knew, they’d be rolling in their graves!” “Don’t talk to me about dead people,” I said calmly. “They’re ash in a jar. They can’t stop me.” I looked them in the eye. “I’m the legal owner. I do what I want.” “So,” I spread my hands. “You guys love her the most. Who is taking her in?” Silence. “What? All talk, no action?” I mocked them. “You won’t spend a dime on her, but you expect me to give up half my assets?” Aunt Linda smashed her cup. “Karma is coming for you, Harper!” I clapped slowly. “I’m waiting.”

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My sister, Chloe, always claimed she hated money. She’d say the biggest burden in her life was inheriting our parents’ multi-million dollar company. Later, she sold off a subsidiary just to buy her boyfriend a yacht, causing a huge rift with our brother, Ethan. Between the two of them, I chose Chloe, believing in her free spirit unchained by material wealth. The result? I was scolded for eating leftovers, beaten for wearing clean clothes, and when I tried to reclaim the bed they stole from me, I was kicked out of the house. “You’re just like your money-grubbing brother,” she screamed. “All you care about is spending money on pleasure. I despise people like you!” When her boyfriend racked up a massive debt with loan sharks, he wanted to sell me off to pay it back. I cried and begged Chloe to save me. She just frowned. “He’s your future brother-in-law. What’s wrong with earning some money to help him out? Don’t be selfish like your brother. Family should help each other.” In the end, I died from a disease I caught, my body dumped in an alleyway where rats gnawed me down to the bone. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Chloe sold the subsidiary. Ethan and Chloe were asking me who I wanted to go with. Chapter 1 “My boyfriend wants a yacht. As his girlfriend, what’s wrong with spending a little money on him?” “You can’t buy happiness, you know! All you talk about is money, money, money. Just as tacky as Mom and Dad were!” “I’m selling this subsidiary today. If you try to stop me, I’m cutting ties with you!” Hearing this, Ethan finally snapped. He slammed his hand on the desk. “Fine! Cut them!” “I turned a blind eye to how you spent money on that boyfriend of yours before. Even when you drained the company’s cash flow, I didn’t say a word. But now you want to sell the subsidiary Mom and Dad left for Mia? Dream on!” Chloe looked at us with pity, as if we were poisoned by greed beyond saving. She shook her head at me. “Mia, it’s because of your company that your brother and I are splitting up. But you’re young, so I won’t hold it against you. If you can let go of your obsession with money and material things, I’m willing to be your guardian.” She twisted everything to make it my fault. But Ethan pulled me behind him, shielding me. “You’re the one blindly throwing money at a man! Don’t pin this on Mia!” My heart raced as I watched the scene unfold, exactly like in my past life. Chloe stood by the door, arms crossed, looking cool and detached, like some pure, untouched flower. Ethan was red in the face, his tie loosened, furiously flipping through the documents in his hand. In my last life, I thought Chloe’s disdain for money was cool. Compared to Ethan, she seemed gentle and stable. I thought she’d be a great guardian and role model. So, without hesitation, I chose her. But after living with her for two years, I realized Ethan’s temper was entirely her fault. Remembering my miserable death in the streets, I didn’t hesitate this time. “Ethan, I don’t want to go with Chloe. I want you to be my guardian.” Ethan froze mid-page flip. He looked at me in surprise, his angry flush fading slightly. Chloe glanced at me, then shook her head with a sigh. “Like brother, like sister. Your behavior is exactly the same.” “Whatever. You materialistic people will never understand true, pure love. It’s something money can’t buy!” Ethan frowned, tired of her preaching. “Since Mia chose me, don’t even think about touching her subsidiary.” “And since you’ve always complained that the company restricts your freedom, I’m setting you free. I’ll find someone to replace you. Don’t bother coming in tomorrow.” I stepped out from behind Ethan and added, “Chloe, I remember you still hold quite a few shares in the main company. For someone as transcendent as you, that must be a heavy shackle, right? Why don’t you…” Chloe’s chest heaved, but she quickly composed herself. She forced a smile, trying to maintain her ‘money is dirt’ persona. “Hah, you’re right. Money is a heavy chain. I don’t want any of it! The company, the shares—keep them!” “You’ll never reach a level of spiritual freedom like mine!” She turned to leave but paused at the door, giving me a meaningful look. “I hope you don’t regret this.” I scoffed internally. Living a life of luxury with Ethan? What’s there to regret? The real question is, when she runs out of money, will she regret today? Chapter 2 In my past life, I chose Chloe. She immediately cashed out my subsidiary to buy her boyfriend, Jason, a luxury yacht. They ignored me completely, disappearing to sea for two months until they ran out of money to pay the crew. Jason was a thug with no real job. He moved his mom and sister into the small apartment Chloe rented. Once they moved in, they acted like they owned the place. They demanded five-star meals, a live-in maid, and bought luxury goods daily. Chloe smiled and said they had “taste” and “pursued a quality life,” unlike Ethan who just hoarded money. She spent on Jason’s family without blinking. But this high life only lasted two weeks before Chloe’s cards were maxed out. Desperate, Jason’s mom told Chloe to do housework. But Chloe had never wrung out a rag in her life. So, they forced me to do it. It was during my crucial final year of high school. I complained to Chloe, but she said, “Just do it. It won’t kill you. Don’t be selfish like your brother. Family should help each other.” Seeing she wouldn’t stand up for me, I cried in secret. If my own sister wouldn’t defend me, who would? I became the lowest rung in that house. To save money, Jason’s mom made me hand-wash clothes in freezing water. My hands were covered in chilblains, swollen and purple, itching and hurting so much I couldn’t hold a pen. Later, after cooking for everyone, they wouldn’t let me eat at the table. I had to eat leftovers in the kitchen. When it got cold, Jason’s sister, Jessica, threw an old coat at me. But as soon as I put it on, she screamed that I stole it. Jason’s mom beat me with a hanger, calling me a motherless beggar. Chloe watched and said nothing. Afterwards, she even comforted Jason’s mom: “Don’t let her upset you. She’s been obsessed with money since she was a kid. Bad habits.” Emboldened by Chloe’s indifference, Jason’s family took over my only sanctuary—the storage room. It was small and dark, fitting only a tiny twin bed. I curled up there after exhausting days. But they started piling junk on it. Jessica even put a stray dog she found on my bed, turning my only clean space into a filthy mess. I tried to shoo the dog away, but Chloe screamed: “You really are as disgusting as your brother! Selfish! You won’t even let a puppy sleep on your bed? You’re heartless!” Listening to her hysterical scolding, I finally understood how Ethan felt. I just wanted food and a place to sleep. Yet, that was “greedy.” Meanwhile, Jason’s family spent all our money. When it ran out, Jason borrowed from loan sharks. When the debt collectors came knocking, Jason couldn’t pay. So he offered me up. He said a virgin high schooler would fetch a good price. Terrified, I begged Chloe to save me. She just frowned. “He’s your future brother-in-law. What’s wrong with helping him out? Don’t be selfish like your brother. Family helps family.” I died of a disease, my body dumped in an alley for the rats. I will never go through that again. Regret leaving her? Impossible. Chapter 3 After our parents passed, Ethan and Chloe were supposed to manage the company together. In reality, Ethan did all the work. Chloe just used her position to funnel money to Jason. Even with all the benefits, she constantly whined about money restricting her freedom. But for someone who hated money, she sure couldn’t live without it. Her closet was full of designer labels. Her bag collection was worth millions. Not a single accessory she owned cost less than a thousand dollars. She had stylists come to the house for her hair and nails. Someone carried her bags when she shopped. Could she have any of that without money? It was ironic. She wanted the reputation of being above material things while living in absolute luxury. And she had the nerve to call me greedy and Ethan selfish? Hypocrite. Without Ethan and the family fortune, I couldn’t wait to see how “transcendent” Chloe would really be. Just then, a commotion erupted downstairs. It was my sister’s shameless boyfriend and his sister. They were lounging on our sofa, legs crossed, acting like they owned the place. “My girlfriend said she’s giving me that subsidiary, so it’s mine! I’ve already picked out a yacht. I’m waiting for the cash. Don’t think you can back out!” “Mia is just a kid. She doesn’t deserve a big company. Cashing it out for us to spend makes way more sense!” Jessica chimed in. Their shamelessness was exactly like before. But this time, Ethan was there to protect me. Chapter 4 Ethan, tall and imposing, pulled me behind him and pointed a finger at Jason. “Watch your mouth!” “It doesn’t matter what she promised you verbally. It has no legal standing. Besides, that subsidiary belongs to Mia. Chloe’s promise is worthless.” “Also, Chloe has cut ties with us. She’s no longer my sister, so her problems aren’t my problem!” Hearing “cut ties,” Jason and Jessica’s eyes bugged out. Jessica tugged on Jason’s arm. “What’s going on with Chloe? How could she cut ties without asking us? And… you can’t just cut ties! She’s still a Miller! She should get something, right?” Jessica winked frantically at Jason, hinting they needed to grab something before leaving. Jason caught on immediately. “Right! Even if Chloe cut ties, she still has Miller blood. You, as her brother, should compensate her! I think giving her Mia’s subsidiary is fair.” They really took us for fools. Ethan, used to dealing with business elites, was stunned by their sheer audacity. He stood there, face cold, searching for words. Watching them, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “What’s so funny?” Jessica rolled her eyes at me. I wiped a tear from my eye. “I’m laughing because you can’t understand human speech. The subsidiary belongs to me. Only I decide what happens to it. Do I need to repeat myself?” “You!” Jason raised a fist but backed down under Ethan’s glare. I continued, “Also, did you not ask? Chloe didn’t just cut ties. She gave up all the companies and shares. Simply put, she’s broke now.” “She said being penniless matches her high moral standards.” Jason and Jessica stood there, dumbfounded. “What? High moral standards? Is she insane?!” Ethan had enough. He called security. Soon, Jason and Jessica were escorted out. But Ethan, being soft-hearted, couldn’t completely let go of his sister. He didn’t want to see her suffer. “If she wants money, tell Chloe to come talk to me herself.” Remembering Chloe’s arrogant exit, I wasn’t thrilled. But I also wanted to see if she could stick to her “money is dirt” philosophy.

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The SAT results were in. My son had scored a perfect 1600. Just as I was drowning in the joy of his success, he stormed into my office, dragging his girlfriend behind him. “Mom, the new ‘Joint Merit’ policy just dropped. The top ten scorers in the country can pay a $500,000 donor fee to select one other student to be admitted with them!” The girl smirked, triumph written all over her face. “Mrs. Sterling, Oliver and I have already linked our applications. You can’t stop us from being together now. Hurry up and write the check!” At that exact moment, a stream of floating text—like a livestream chat—scrolled across my vision: 【Here it comes! The male lead is finally escaping his controlling mother! He’s going to Harvard with his baby girl!】 【That old witch better not stop our power couple! Or else, when the male lead inherits the empire, she’s the first one he’ll destroy!】 The corner of my lips curled up. The idiot wants to inherit the empire? He clearly didn’t read the fine print. The “Joint Merit” policy requires the two students to average their scores for final placement. And his girlfriend? She scored a 400. That’s the score you get just for signing your name. Chapter 1 In his senior year, Oliver was called to the principal’s office for the first time. The reason? A toxic relationship was tanking his grades. For any parent of a senior, this is a nightmare. I tried to reason with him. This wasn’t the time for romance. Especially not with Bella. “Her mother is the mistress your father left me for,” I told him, trying to keep my voice steady. “Your father walked away with nothing, and that woman has held a grudge ever since. Now her daughter is latching onto you. You think that’s a coincidence?” Oliver defended her with the passion of a fool. “Mom, Bella is innocent! Why should she pay for her mother’s mistakes?” Getting into Harvard had been his lifelong dream. I couldn’t watch him throw it away at the finish line. When he refused to listen, I took drastic measures. I had my security team tail him. I banned him from seeing Bella until after the SATs. I hired the best tutors in the country and a Michelin-star chef to manage his diet. I ensured he was in peak condition for the exam. When he scored that 1600, I felt a weight lift off my chest. But before I could even pop the champagne, he pulled this stunt. According to the floating text—the “Chat,” as I called it—I was living in a romance novel. Oliver was the male lead, Bella was the heroine. They were the star-crossed lovers fighting against the world. And I? I was “The World.” I was the villain destined to be locked in a psychiatric ward by my own son. I watched the text scroll by as Oliver stared at me, impatient. “Mom, five hundred grand is pocket change to you. You wouldn’t block my happiness over money, would you?” He had the CEO posture down, I’ll give him that. “Oliver,” I said, looking at the boy I raised. “Setting aside who she is… do you really plan to go to college with someone who refuses to study?” Oliver hesitated. Bella saw it. Tears instantly welled up in her eyes. “Mrs. Sterling, I know you hate me. But who says low scores mean I can’t go to Harvard? Everyone is created equal! This is discrimination!” The Chat exploded with cheers. 【Yasss Queen! Why should a test define our worth?】 【Choice > Effort! As long as she has the male lead, she deserves to win!】 【Speak truth to power, Bella!】 I almost laughed out loud. “Right,” I said dryly. “Why should grades matter for Harvard? Maybe they should test for audacity instead. You’d be Valedictorian.” Bella turned red, then buried her face in Oliver’s chest. “Sob… I told you she hates me… Oliver, I guess I can’t go with you.” Oliver, heartbroken, glared at me. “Mom! You just hate her because you’re jealous that Dad loves her mom! I’m your son. Can’t you compromise for me just once?” The Chat spammed: 【Protective boyfriend mode: ON!】 My heart skipped a beat, then hardened into ice. “What did you call her? Her mom?” Chapter 2 Oliver was busy comforting the crying beauty in his arms. When he looked back at me, his eyes held no love. Only resentment. “That’s right! I visited Dad after the exams. Fiona isn’t the monster you painted her to be. She’s gentle and kind. She takes care of Dad and Bella. Unlike you—always in meetings, always traveling. Aside from making money, what have you ever done for this family?” I trembled. When Oliver was seven, my ex-husband cheated. Fiona, the mistress, showed up at our house constantly, spreading rumors and making our lives hell. My husband and I fought a bitter divorce war over assets. I fought tooth and nail to stop him from hiding money. I won. He left with nothing. I never sugarcoated his father’s actions to Oliver. He was old enough to remember Fiona screaming slurs at us on our front porch. The Chat scrolled by, giving me an idea. “I see,” I said slowly. “You’re saying that even though I gave you millions, what you really wanted was… love?” “Exactly!” Oliver shouted. “I got the score you wanted. Now stop standing in the way of my happiness!” I wanted to laugh. Getting into Harvard was his dream. Since when did it become my demand? I poured endless resources into making him elite. I gave him a status most would kill for. But if his dream was to ruin his life with a dropout, who was I to stop him? “Fine,” I said. “I agree. You can go to college together.” If he wanted to destroy his future, I’d hand him the matches. Oliver’s face lit up. “Mom, I knew you’d understand! When Bella and I graduate from Harvard, we’ll come back and take over Sterling Corp. You can finally retire.” In your dreams, kid. Chapter 3 Oliver was beaming, but Bella nudged him. “The money,” she whispered. He held out his hand. “Right. The $500,000 fee. Transfer it.” I raised an eyebrow. “Five hundred thousand? I read the policy. The application fee is $50. Can you two really not afford fifty bucks?” Oliver blinked, flushing crimson. “Is… is that right? Maybe I misread it.” Bella looked furious, but Oliver dragged her away before she could speak. The Chat faded as they left: 【OMG, the old witch is so cheap! He wanted that money to take Bella to Europe!】 【How are they supposed to see the Northern Lights now?】 【Whatever, at least she didn’t stop them. The good life is coming!】 【Wait… the policy literally just came out. How did the mom know they were trying to scam her?】 How? Because you idiots told me. I sat in the garden, pruning my roses, when Oliver’s guidance counselor called, sounding like he was having a stroke. “Mrs. Sterling! Oliver linked his profile with the lowest-ranked student in the district! Did you know about this?” “I know,” I said calmly. “He’s an adult. Let him be.” “But Mrs. Sterling! The policy averages the scores! That girl got a 400! A 400 on the SAT!” I knew. The Chat had been spamming it. Everyone assumed I would use my wealth to bribe Bella into Harvard to save Oliver. But why would I save the knife that stabbed me in the back? “Averaged out, that’s a 1000,” I said. “Not bad. Good enough for community college.” The counselor tried to argue, but I hung up. “Mrs. Sterling,” my assistant asked, confused. “Are you really letting him throw it all away?” “He’s not my son anymore,” I said coldly. “He’s chosen his side.” “Should we cancel the celebratory gala?” I paused. “No. Didn’t we sponsor a brilliant scholarship student who also got into the Ivy League? Throw the gala for her.” Chapter 4 I went to visit Maya, the scholarship student. She lived in a run-down apartment complex. As I approached, the Chat appeared again, thick and chaotic. I signaled my bodyguards to hold back. The door was ajar. Inside, Bella and her posse of mean girls had pushed a thin girl to the ground. “Stop acting like a victim!” Bella sneered. “I warned you to stay away from Oliver.” “I didn’t do anything…” Maya’s voice shook. Bella grabbed Maya’s chin. “Listen to me. Oliver linked his profile with mine. His mom is going to pay whatever it takes to get us both into Harvard. You? You’re going to change your application to a community college. If I see you at Harvard, I will make your life a living hell.” The Chat cheered: 【Yasss! Bella establishing dominance!】 【Bunny turned into a wolf! Love it!】 I kicked the door open. Bella spun around, raising a bat, but froze when she saw me. I helped Maya up. “Are you okay?” “Thank you, Mrs. Sterling,” Maya whispered. Bella rolled her eyes. “Oh great, the witch is here.” I shot her a look that could freeze water. “Assistant, call the police.” We spent hours at the precinct. Bella had to call her mom, Fiona, to bail her out. Fiona looked at me with pure venom. “You think money makes you better than us? You couldn’t keep your husband, and now you can’t keep your son.” I ignored her and focused on Maya. “If they bother you again, call me immediately.” Maya teared up. “Thank you. I promise I’ll pay you back one day.” According to the Chat, in the original timeline where I was locked in the psych ward, Maya was the only one who fought for me. She battled Oliver and Bella until they destroyed her, too. Even a stranger knew gratitude. My own son did not. Bella, seeing me ignore her, sneered. “By the way, Mrs. Sterling, Oliver is staying at our house now. He loves my mom’s cooking. He says it tastes like a real home.” I looked at Fiona. “Seeing you reminded me of something.” I smiled dangerously. “It’s time to settle some debts.”

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