After Sophie became a top celebrity, she started acting like a diva, clashing with fans, and getting cozy with her male co-star. I was supposed to be her secret lover and manager, yet I heard her tell others: “Charlie should thank himself for discovering me.” “Without me, he’d still be working on some assembly line, seemingly innocent but actually shrewd.” She forgot how I drank until I had a stomach ulcer to get her roles, forgot her vow to love me for a lifetime. It’s fine. If an artist doesn’t behave, I’ll just find a new one. While I was discussing Sophie’s new drama with Director Thomas, my assistant Sarah called me. “Charlie, there’s a problem with Sophie. It’s already trending.” I quickly checked my phone during the break. Seeing the trending news, my mind went blank. Sophie had gone and lashed out at fans again. The reason was that fans felt her new drama’s styling was too sloppy, different from the grand publicity. They said they would collectively demand an explanation from the production team. Sophie exploded at these comments. “You all mind your own business. I chose the styling team myself, and I think it’s beautiful!” Not satisfied with just that, she added another comment. “Stop guessing, I posted this myself. Go to sleep!” These two sentences solidly angered the fans. One fan club leader posted a long article saying they would unstan, and disbanded several fan groups. I sighed and called Sarah back. “Contact them, first take down the trending topic, then have the PR team come up with a plan.” Sarah said they were already implementing the contingency PR plan, but Sophie found out about it and wouldn’t let PR compromise. No amount of coaxing worked, so now things were at a standstill. I looked up and sighed, “I’ll head over once I’m done here.” Sophie had become a hot actress due to two dramas, and after winning Best Actress at the TV Golden Awards, she became an A-list star at just 25. As her star shone brighter, she grew more distant from me. Her temper got worse, she often wouldn’t answer my calls, and she started taking on jobs and commercial deals on her own, going through her own studio’s accounts. We were supposed to be secret lovers, but she deliberately avoided me. I’m not stupid, how could I not sense her distancing herself from me? Despite this, as soon as I finished the meeting, I drove straight to the set to find Sophie. Sarah saw me arrive and looked relieved, immediately leading me towards Sophie’s trailer. “It’s good you’re here, Charlie. Sophie listens to you the most.” I gave a bitter smile. Just as we were about to reach the trailer, Sarah got a phone call and walked to the side to answer it. I was about to open the door when I heard voices talking inside. “I heard your manager has only managed you as an artist.” “He doesn’t have much experience, huh.” It was a man’s voice. Then came Sophie’s pleasant voice. “Charlie just got lucky in discovering me.” “Without me, he’d just be a factory worker.” The man laughed. “He really is lucky, managing just one artist and she becomes a top star.” I felt a chill down my spine. In the industry, I had the title of golden manager, but I had also heard many people sourly say I was just lucky, managing only one artist who became a top female star. When others said this, I didn’t mind, because only Sophie and I knew the hardships we went through together. Back then, I had just started trying to make it in the entertainment industry, and Sophie had only played two small supporting roles in her two years in the business. To save money, we lived in a basement. I drank until I had a stomach ulcer to get her roles. She was suspended by wires for hours to perform well. I really never imagined that Sophie would talk about me like this behind my back. I yanked open the door.

The two people inside looked at the door in horror. The man was Jason, the male lead of this drama. A newly popular male star who had just become famous from one drama. Sophie looked displeased, frowning as she shouted at me, “What are you doing? Don’t you know how to knock?” Jason, on the other hand, looked a bit uneasy and quickly stood up. “Mr. Zhou, you two talk. I’ll go first.” He opened the door and hurriedly left. Sophie scrolled through her phone, not looking at me at all. “Sarah told me about the incident caused by you clashing with fans. First, follow the PR plan, take down the trending topic, don’t let it continue to have an impact.” She leaned back in her chair carelessly: “How is it me clashing with fans? Am I wrong? They’re always criticizing me, and now they’re collectively demanding an explanation from the production team. They think too highly of themselves.” “I, Sophie, have achieved my current success on my own, not because of these fans.” I suppressed my emotions, “You need to cherish your reputation. This incident does you no good.” “We should consider the fans’ suggestions when appropriate. To be honest, the styling for this drama really isn’t that good…” Sophie’s expression changed. She gave a cold laugh. “It’s just because I took on this drama myself that you’re unhappy, right? Now you’re even picking on the styling!” “Besides, I’ve reached this status now. Why should I still be constrained by fans?” “So what if it’s trending? It just adds some buzz for my new drama.” This drama was indeed taken on by Sophie. At the time, I didn’t agree to it because the production team was rather rough. But Sophie wanted to do it, especially after hearing the male lead was Jason. She directly signed the contract through her personal studio. Thinking of this, I also felt angry, “The fans are constraining you? When fans asked the company to set up a studio for you, how come you listened so obediently then, saying we should follow the fans’ suggestions? Now when fans give you styling suggestions, it becomes them constraining you?” That time when fans collectively demanded Sophie set up a personal studio, faced with Sophie’s pitiful little face, I agreed. Do you know what that means? It means Sophie can do whatever she wants. Because of our relationship, my company doesn’t even have a contract with her. “Shouldn’t I have set up a studio? Am I supposed to be your cash cow forever?” “Charlie, don’t imagine you can control me forever. You wouldn’t be where you are today without me.” These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over me, chilling me to the bone. What I thought was our struggle together, the efforts I made for her, in her eyes were just me using her as a cash cow, just me getting lucky. At this moment, Sophie’s phone rang. From the corner of my eye, I saw the contact name was William. A well-reputed manager in the industry. Sophie saw my expression but still answered the call. “Brother William…” After a brief conversation, Sophie hung up. “William wants me to join his Golden Harmony Media as a partner.” Sophie said, looking quite proud. Seeing that I didn’t speak, Sophie said arrogantly: “I haven’t agreed yet.” I looked at her, speechless for a moment. Yeah, from the moment she wanted to open a personal studio, she was probably preparing to leave me. What does she mean by not agreeing yet? Is it that they haven’t finalized the deal, or is she trying to get me to give her more benefits? “Well, think it over carefully then.” I turned and walked out. I ran into Sarah who was about to come in. Seeing her questioning expression, I said flatly, “Let her be.” “Don’t take down the trending topic either. She thinks it’s good publicity for this drama, so let it be.”

I immediately contacted Golden Harmony Media. William and I had some history. Because I had given him some resources before, he was still quite polite to me. “Mr. Zhou, please don’t blame me for poaching your talent.” “Sophie said she was planning to end her cooperation with you, said her current contract is with her studio, and told me not to contact you.” “Sophie actually reached out to me first. She’s so popular that I was really excited, so I offered to let her join Golden Harmony as a partner, negotiating to give her some luxury brand resources.” So Sophie had contacted Golden Harmony herself. I laughed. She wanted to set up a studio, I gave in. She wanted to take on roles herself, I gave in. Now she’s changing managers without a word to me. What does she take me for? I naively thought Sophie’s personal studio was just a name, but now it seems she had long planned to get rid of me. Like tossing away a used rag. Sophie hadn’t contacted me for several days, and I hadn’t contacted her either. I should be thinking about my next steps. One day, just as I arrived at the gym, I received a call from Sophie. “Charlie, I’ve been hit. Come quickly!” She said with a crying voice. My heart raced. Without thinking much, I rushed out wearing just my gym tank top. On the way, I called assistant Sarah, but couldn’t get through. I became even more anxious. When I reached the place she told me, I kicked open the room door and rushed in, “Sophie, where are you?” As a result, I was sprayed in the face with snow spray and confetti. A group of crew members from the drama swarmed over, letting out cheers. “Sophie won!” I saw Sophie standing in the middle, smiling. “What’s going on?” I stared at her and asked. “It’s like this, Mr. Zhou. Today is Sophie’s birthday celebration from the crew. We played a dare game, and Sophie and I competed. Sophie won this time.” Jason walked over with a big smile and said, “Mr. Zhou, you’re so good to Sophie, coming so quickly. But you probably don’t know, I taught Sophie some powerful self-defense moves, hands-on. No one would dare hit her.” I didn’t say anything, just looked at Sophie who was acting like nothing had happened. Under my burning gaze, she reluctantly said, “You won’t be angry, right?” Then she looked me up and down, her expression displeased, “What are you wearing? It’s embarrassing.” When she called, I was changing clothes at the gym, so I was wearing a sports tank top and shorts, with only one slipper on – the other had fallen off while running. And my face and body were covered in confetti and snow spray, looking both disheveled and ridiculous. It was already autumn outside, and I only realized how cold it was in these clothes. Faced with Sophie’s disdainful look, I felt even colder inside. I turned and left, ignoring the others’ calls to stay. Sarah chased after me, “Charlie, I’m sorry. Sophie wouldn’t let me answer your calls…” I waved my hand, “Go back.” I just wanted to get back to my car quickly. I hadn’t noticed earlier how far the entrance was. I walked quickly with my head down, enduring people’s strange looks. Just as I was about to reach the entrance, someone called out to me. “Mr. Zhou, wait a moment.” I turned back to look. It was a female actress with a cameo role in this drama. Her name was Anna, a little-known actress. With a manager’s keen eye, I had noticed her the first time I saw her. Her looks were quite distinctive, with beautiful eyes, but unfortunately she was signed to a small company and couldn’t get any decent roles. “Anna.” Her eyes lit up, “Mr. Zhou, you actually know me!” I didn’t say anything. She handed me a few bags, “These are clothes and shoes I bought for my brother, planning to mail to him today. Don’t mind, just put them on. It’s quite cold outside.” Seeing my slight hesitation, she smiled brightly: “My brother is about your height, you should be able to wear them. They’re not brand name clothes, don’t mind.” I took them and said thanks, then opened my phone, “Thank you, add me, I’ll transfer you the money when I get back.” Anna wasn’t a coy girl. She immediately took out her phone and added me. As I drove back, Sophie called. “Can’t you take a joke? You left right away, where does that leave my face?”

I took a deep breath, “Sophie, what do you think our relationship is now?” She hesitantly replied, “Just this kind of relationship, why are you asking?” “Are we manager and artist, or boyfriend and girlfriend? Whichever it is, your attitude towards me is very poor. Why?” Sophie was silent for a moment, then said, “Let’s just be friends for now.” “I only want to focus on my career right now, I don’t want love to take up too much time.” I laughed. She once vowed to love me for a lifetime. We had gone through thick and thin together, and even dreamed of retiring from the entertainment circle before we turned 35. Now our relationship could just be friends. “I understand what you mean. Then let’s end it here.” “I’ll have the lawyer quickly sort out our business entanglements.” I sensed Sophie was a bit surprised by my calmness. “Don’t regret it!” “I couldn’t be happier!” She hung up the phone. I felt a sense of lightness, but also felt a bit cold. As expected, I had caught a cold from the chill. People are more vulnerable when sick. I couldn’t help but think of my past with Sophie. Her round face, big eyes, a look that made people happy at first sight. I remember the first time I met her. I was knocking on the doors of various film and TV companies with the copyrights of a few unpopular novels I had bought, and happened to meet Sophie who was working as an extra. I told her, “Your eyes are big, and your smile is especially sweet. You’re particularly suited to act in sweet dramas.” She said she had no manager, no company, and could only work as an extra playing maids. I said I could be her manager. The two of us worked our way up together. Later, I used the copyright of a novel to exchange for a pretty good supporting role for her. Sophie thought it was all due to her own efforts, that I was riding on her coattails. In reality, I have a keen eye for scripts. The reason Sophie could become famous was because of the dramas I chose for her. She became famous because of me. Since that’s the case, why shouldn’t I go make someone else famous? Besides, I already have some resources now, it would be much easier than before.

I had the company post a recruitment notice for new artists. Quite a few people came for interviews. There were plenty of people who wanted to act and become famous. After all, I was also a well-known manager. I personally interviewed everyone who came. I was quite picky when it came to selecting people. Better to have no one than the wrong one. After interviewing an artist, I saw over a dozen missed calls on my phone. They were all from Sophie. Her voice was mixed with anger, “You’re recruiting new people?” I found it a bit funny. Isn’t that a silly question? How else would I continue working if I didn’t find new artists? These past few days, I had the lawyer divide up the interests with Sophie. The lawyer said every time he went to have Sophie sign, she was fuming, as if she had suffered a great loss. She didn’t lose out. If she had, she definitely wouldn’t have signed. So I didn’t understand. I hadn’t shortchanged her, she clearly wanted to separate from me too. Where was all this anger coming from?

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The night my son’s high fever wouldn’t break, I overheard Jack flirting with his secretary Lily in Spanish on the phone. Jack’s lips curved into a smirk. “Emma’s had a child. She’s not as tight as you are. Don’t worry, she’s busy taking care of Tommy’s fever and won’t pay attention to me.” Lily’s seductive voice came through the speakerphone. “Where would you like me to wait for you, Mr. Zhou?” Jack glanced at me. “The usual hotel. I’ll make sure to satisfy you tonight.” I held our son close, my fingertips trembling with heartache. Jack didn’t know that I had minored in Spanish in college. I understood every word he said to his secretary tonight. Jack put on his coat, turning to leave. I touched Tommy’s feverish little face, looking at Jack anxiously. “Jack, could you please take Tommy and me to the hospital first?” Jack frowned. “There’s an urgent matter at the company. I can’t delay.” Urgent matter? Urgent to get in bed with Lily? I tried to hold back. “Tommy’s fever is so high, he could have a seizure at any moment. What urgent matter could be more important than our son’s life?” Before I could finish, he had already slammed the door shut. Looking at my son who had passed out from the fever, I hesitated but finally called Jack’s brother. “Michael, Tommy has a high fever that won’t break. Jack said he has urgent business at the company tonight. Could you take us to the hospital?” A steady male voice came from the other end of the line. “Of course, I’ll be right there.” I hung up, tears welling in my eyes. I was once the daughter of a wealthy family, growing up alongside the two brothers of the city’s wealthiest family. Both of them had deep feelings for me. Jack was lively and outgoing, while Michael was calm and reserved. In my youth, I was captivated by Jack’s sweet words and went on an island vacation alone with him. I often wonder now, if I hadn’t drunk that spiked wine he gave me, would my life be completely different from what it is now? In less than twenty minutes, Michael arrived. The headlights of his Bentley cut through the thick darkness. He drove steadily, and I could smell the familiar scent of his cologne, a fragrance both silent and domineering. When Tommy’s fever finally broke after receiving IV fluids in a private hospital room, I finally felt relieved. I went to the hallway and gratefully looked at Michael. “Thank you so much. I’m so glad you were here tonight.” He said quietly, “It’s my duty to take care of my nephew. I’ve sent a message to my brother. He’ll be here soon to take you both home.” In the dim light, his cold, handsome features softened slightly. Suddenly, my eyes welled up with tears. “Why are you crying?” Michael raised his hand to wipe away the tears on my face, but then, as if realizing something, he quickly withdrew his hand. I shook my head, covering my face. Suddenly, a cold laugh came from behind us. Jack strode towards us. “Emma, Tommy’s fever has broken. Instead of taking our son home to rest, you’re here getting cozy with my brother in the hallway. Hm? What’s this about? Tired of the younger brother and want to play with the older one now?” My face turned pale. Michael frowned deeply. “Jack, what nonsense are you spouting? Tommy’s fever was so high he passed out. Instead of taking your son to the hospital first, you rushed off to the company. What could possibly be more important than your child?” Lily followed behind Jack, her face still flushed with passion. “Mr. Zhou had a big deal with Spanish clients a few days ago. He’s been busy with the contract signing these days. Mr. Zhou works hard to provide a better life for Tommy and his wife, doesn’t he?” No one responded to her. Jack pulled me into his arms, looking at Michael provocatively. “Brother, thank you for tonight. I’m taking my wife and son home now. In the future, unless it’s absolutely necessary, you shouldn’t meet with Emma alone. You should understand the meaning of ‘avoiding suspicion’, right?” I struggled out of his embrace, my eyes red. “Jack, the doctor said if we had brought Tommy in any later, the fever could have damaged his brain. Can you stop throwing dirt on your brother and me?” Lily blinked and giggled. Jack suddenly glared at her. “What are you laughing at? Go home now. Don’t be late for work tomorrow morning, or I’ll dock your attendance bonus.” Lily smiled seductively. “Yes, yes, yes. I’ll see you tomorrow morning, Mr. Zhou.” As she brushed past me, I caught a whiff of her strong rose perfume. My face immediately changed.

When I was two months pregnant, I had smelled this same scent on Jack’s shirt. Perhaps it was a woman’s keen sixth sense, but even then, I felt that Jack might have another woman outside. But Jack was extremely attentive to me at that time. He always informed me about his business dinners, never stayed out all night, and frequently gave me expensive gifts. During holidays, he would turn off his phone to spend time with me wholeheartedly. He even hired specialists to give prenatal education classes for the baby in my belly. So apart from that perfume, I couldn’t find any evidence of Jack’s infidelity. Looking back now, Jack had perfected the art of “counter-surveillance”. He had kept everything hidden perfectly. If it weren’t for overhearing him flirting with Lily in Spanish tonight, I might have continued to be deceived, constantly reflecting on what I had done wrong, whether my postpartum recovery wasn’t good enough, unable to give him extreme pleasure at night, causing his mood swings! After returning home, I looked at Tommy’s adorable sleeping face, tears streaming down uncontrollably. Tommy is only three years old this year. I don’t want him to live in a broken home at such a young age, nor do I want his childhood to lack a father’s companionship. I’m really afraid that when he grows up, he might say something like “I don’t need a lot of money, I just want a lot of love.” In wealthy families, pearls and gold may be as common as dirt, but love and companionship are especially precious. So even though I knew Jack had betrayed me and was having an affair with his young and beautiful secretary Lily, I didn’t bring up divorce. But I never expected that my endurance wouldn’t awaken Jack’s conscience. Instead, it invited Lily’s provocation. On Sunday night, Jack actually moved Lily into our villa. This was our marital home. He once stood at the front door of this villa, smiling and swearing to me that he would love only me for the rest of his life. But now, for another woman, he had forgotten all his vows. As he helped Lily bring her suitcase into the guest room, he said to the housekeeper, “Mrs. Johnson, please make some Sichuan dishes tonight. My secretary loves spicy food.” I stood on the second floor, coldly watching them. “Tommy has just recovered from his illness. He can’t eat spicy food.” Jack’s eyes flashed with guilt. “Oh right, my son had a fever recently. Mrs. Johnson, please make some seafood porridge as well.” Perhaps he also knew this was inappropriate. That night, he came to my bedroom to explain, “Emma, listen to me. The reason I let Lily stay at our home is because this Spanish business is urgent. It’s not unprecedented for a personal secretary to temporarily stay at the CEO’s home. Try to understand, this is all for work.” I smiled faintly. “Mm, I understand. Work is important.” Seeing that I wasn’t arguing or making a fuss, Jack kissed my forehead with satisfaction. “Emma is so good. Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll take you and Tommy to the lake resort for a few days.” I watched his back as he left, then took out a tissue to wipe the spot he had kissed. The kiss of an unfaithful person is truly dirty.

Early the next morning, Lily was busy in the kitchen wearing a tight-fitting nightgown that accentuated her slim waist and shapely bottom. A moment later, she brought milk and sandwiches to the dining table. Jack’s eyes kept lingering on Lily. He took a bite of the sandwich. “This is really good. The cheese is melted just right.” I looked at the sandwich, feeling no appetite at all. “Tommy, try Aunt Lily’s cooking. Is it good?” Lily smiled, pointing at the sandwich in front of Tommy. Before I could stop him, Tommy had already grabbed the sandwich and taken a big bite. Suddenly, he started coughing violently, his cheeks turning bright red. “Baby, what’s wrong!” I panicked and picked Tommy up, patting his back to help him breathe. He coughed even harder. I grabbed the sandwich he had eaten and looked at it, only to find it was spread with a large amount of peanut butter! I couldn’t help but scream, “Call 911 quick! Tommy is allergic to peanuts! He can’t eat anything with peanuts in it! He’ll swell up if he eats it!” Standing in front of the emergency room, Jack’s face was grim. Lily’s face turned pale, her eyes reddening. She said softly, “Emma, I… I really didn’t know Tommy was allergic to peanuts.” I sighed. “From now on, let’s leave the cooking to Mrs. Johnson.” Lily’s tears fell. “It’s all my fault. Emma must be angry with me. Jack, I should move back to my apartment.” Jack frowned. “Move? Why? This wasn’t intentional. You didn’t mean to harm Tommy. Just stay.” I stared at him in disbelief. Two weeks after the sandwich incident, Jack suddenly called me into his study. Lily was wiping her tears pitifully. Jack looked at me unhappily. “Emma, can you stop giving Lily a hard time?” I laughed bitterly. “When did I ever give her a hard time?” Jack tapped the desk. “You and Mrs. Smith cleaned the guest room where Lily is staying, right?” I nodded. His eyes were full of anger. “The window in Lily’s room won’t close properly, and the draft is giving her headaches. She likes spicy food, but when I’m not home, you always have Mrs. Johnson cook such bland food. She’s not used to it and has lost weight. Also, can you stop letting Tommy disturb her all the time? We don’t want another incident like last time where he ate the wrong thing and ended up in the ER!” It was Lily who specifically requested a well-ventilated guest room. I had Mrs. Johnson prepare two different flavors for each meal. It was Lily who often wanted to play with Tommy, and I was afraid she might unintentionally harm him, so I kept Tommy away from her. Now she had turned everything around and was blaming me! I silently looked at Jack, not saying a word to defend myself. After all, no matter what “grievances” Lily suffered, Jack was willing to stand up for her. No matter what mistakes she made, Jack was happy to find excuses and cover for her. My expression darkened. Lily suddenly looked at me timidly. “Emma, I’d like to talk to you alone.” The study door was closed. Lily sat on the desk, her eyes seductive. “Emma, let’s be frank. I’m pregnant with Jack’s child.” My expression remained calm. “What do you want?” Lily smiled charmingly. “I want the position of the mistress of the house. I hope my child will be an only child, with no one to compete for the family fortune. I hope Jack won’t hide me under the guise of a secretary anymore. Emma, are you willing to give him to me?” So it was her pulling the strings behind the scenes all along. For this wealth and status, she had repeatedly twisted facts, played mind games, and pretended to be pitiful. She even tried to use peanut butter to threaten my son’s life. Looking at her confident smile, I felt both irony and pity. Men love the feeling of “stealing”. Having an affair with a mistress under the pressure of the original wife is an intense stimulation for men. If the original wife lets go, the man will quickly lose interest. By then, even a passionate rose-like mistress will become a boring mosquito bite. That night, I prepared two copies of divorce papers and slipped one into the documents Jack needed to sign the next day. Early the next morning, I took Tommy on a flight back to my parents’ home in the city. As I left, I smiled at Jack and Lily. By the time he discovers the signed divorce papers, I should have already arrived at the city airport.

“Emma? Why didn’t you tell me you and Tommy were coming back? I could have had Mrs. Wilson prepare a table of your favorite dishes,” my mother said with surprise as she looked at Tommy and me. Mrs. Wilson took Tommy back to the bedroom. I sat down next to my mother, tears suddenly streaming down my face. “Mom, I’ve divorced Jack.” My mother’s expression changed slightly. “He wronged you, didn’t he? Your father and I never approved of Jack. When you insisted on going to that island vacation with him alone, I tried to persuade you for so long, but you wouldn’t listen. You even stole your documents and ran away. Sigh, we originally wanted you to marry his brother Michael, but then Tommy came along…” I sniffled and interrupted her. “If it weren’t for Tommy, I would have cut ties with him long ago.” My mother sighed, lovingly stroking my head. “He and his secretary…” I choked up, unable to continue. “Emma, men who chase novelty never end up well,” my mother said with a cold laugh. At 10 PM, I lay in my childhood bedroom, lost in thought. In our youth, Jack was always quick-witted and knew how to make people laugh, while Michael was like a gentle and silent shadow. I was too young then, always distracted by Jack’s grand promises and sweet words, forgetting to pay attention to the one who always did practical things. I remember one snowy night in the city when I was playing chess with the two brothers at their home until late. Jack looked at the dancing snowflakes outside the window and yawned. “It’s snowing heavily today, it’s so cold outside — Emma, since our two families’ villas are close by, why don’t you just wrap your scarf tightly and go home by yourself?” Before I could say anything, Michael silently stood up, put on his coat, ready to brave the snow to send me home. Under the dim streetlight shrouded by wind and snow, Michael stood there looking at me, his eyes full of endless cherishment and tenderness. My heart skipped a beat, and I instinctively avoided Michael’s gaze, rushing towards the gate of my family’s house in a few quick steps. I also recalled what happened during the island vacation with Jack. Without my knowledge, I drank the glass of spiked wine Jack handed me, falling drunk into his arms for a night of passion. Afterwards, he apologized pitifully: “Emma, I love you so much that I resorted to this. I did it to get ahead because I know my brother has feelings for you too. I was so afraid he would steal you away.” When the doctor diagnosed me as one month pregnant, Jack touched my belly with a joyful face. “That night’s efforts weren’t in vain after all. Now that you’re carrying my child, I can rightfully marry you.” I lowered my gaze, hesitating for a long time before deciding not to tell him about my application to study oil painting abroad. The next day, I quietly canceled that application. After all, the aunts and sisters around me at that time were all women who sacrificed themselves for love and family. I thought my sacrifice was also necessary. Later, when I married Jack while carrying our one-month-old child, everyone was smiling and applauding in congratulations. Only Michael stood in the crowd, his expression solemn as he gazed at me from afar. After that, Michael never got involved with other women. He immersed himself in his archaeological career, using his skilled hands to restore many precious and rare cultural relics. I took a deep breath and covered my face with my hands. Perhaps I had loved the wrong person from the very beginning? When I woke up again, I found that Jack had called me twenty-six times. What was he in such a hurry for? I rubbed my temples and called him back. “Hmm?” Jack quickly answered the phone, his voice hoarse: “Emma, you want to divorce me?!”

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I Got Transported into a Novel Good news: I became the female lead. Bad news: It’s not a proper novel! It’s the kind of book you read under the covers late at night, feeling all hot and bothered. When I was reading it before, I thought, “Huh, is that all you’ve got?” Now, I just want to call the police. Looking at the pure yet seductive face in the mirror, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Even though I was smiling bitterly, the tear mole at the corner of my eye was dazzling, and my misty eyes gave off a flirtatious feeling. This was my face, but not entirely. Because my face could never be this hot. I got transported into a novel. Into an novel in Nifty where the female lead shares my name. I remember my best friend sending me a link, telling me to read and memorize the whole thing. I hid under the covers, reading it with a flushed face, unable to stop. In just thirty chapters, it combined elements of love triangles, forceful seduction, captivity, and more. It was a five-star masterpiece in terms of excitement. Watching a character with the same name as me being tossed around by three men like a pancake… Besides feeling deeply ashamed, I also felt a pain in my waist and weakness in my legs. The original female lead cried until her voice was hoarse, but still couldn’t escape her fate. If I had known that sharing a name meant getting transported, I would have memorized the whole thing no matter what. I had only read half of it when things started getting intense. As excited as I was when reading it then, I regret it just as much now. I like reading novel in Niftys, but I don’t want to actually experience them! Although my eyes might look mischievous, my heart is pure. I consider myself to have very proper values. Trembling, I posted online for help: [What do you do when you get transported into an novel in Nifty as the female lead? Urgent, please respond.] [Let go of those male leads, I’ll take care of them!] [Just lie back and enjoy it!] +99 This comment quickly received countless likes. Damn it! Do they even know that the male leads the author wrote are all exceptionally gifted in certain areas, and they’re all above the law? She really dared to write it that way. If it were really happening to me, I would refuse. At this moment, a voice suddenly rang in my head: [Detecting rebellious consciousness. Mission issued: Avoid any negative contact with any male lead for 99 days to choose to leave this world on your own.] Great! As long as I guard my own garden and survive for 99 days, I can return to reality. So easy! While I was lost in thought, a voice came: “Sophia, come down for dinner.” “Oh, coming,” I responded, then quickly covered my mouth, unable to believe that a human could make such an abstract sound. Coquettish and soft, it sounded indecent as soon as it came out. Even I couldn’t help but have naughty thoughts when I heard it. No wonder the book described that as soon as the female lead’s voice came out, it made people want to pin her down and do unspeakable things. Holy cow! Isn’t this killing power a bit too much? Soon, I went downstairs. The food on the dining table was more sumptuous than a holiday feast. A haggard but still beautiful woman frantically winked at me, “Sophia, your big brother is back, hurry and greet him.” I looked across the three-meter-long dining table, and my heart skipped a beat. Help! The first big gun was already in position!

A black suit wrapped around the man’s lean body. He had excellent bone structure, young and handsome. It’s just that his face always carried impatience and ferocity, making people afraid to approach him easily. That face, that waist, just sitting there, his sex appeal was already maxed out. My eyes sparkled. With that high, straight nose, I could tell he was very skilled at certain activities. Thinking of this, I suddenly broke out in a cold sweat on my back, almost bewitched by the male lead’s beauty. I secretly warned myself: Stupid, keep your legs together and guard your own garden! This was the female lead’s first man, the domineering CEO, Liam. In the book, the female lead’s mother Yvonne married into a wealthy family with her daughter from her previous marriage, Sophia. Liam was her stepbrother, the actual power holder of the family. Liam hated the mother and daughter, and with just one word, he made their life in the wealthy family worse than that of the housemaids. Yvonne was afraid of him. The female lead was also afraid. I was even more afraid. I had read the original novel and knew that this man was cold-blooded and cruel, and loved to torture people. And he had many little hobbies, dragging the female lead to various places to do all sorts of things. I immediately felt my legs go weak. I opened my mouth, but remembering my coquettish voice, I quickly closed it. Then, taking a deep breath, I called out clearly: “Big brother.” Liam frowned, looking at me with surprise. The bitch’s daughter, quite brave today. Her previous weakness and pitiful act was obviously all fake. Liam’s lips curled into a mocking smile, and he responded coldly: “Mm.” Yvonne saw that I had received a response from Liam and became excited, urging me again: “Sophia, didn’t you have something to say to your big brother?” I looked confused. Except for the juicy parts that I read word by word, I skimmed through all the other plots. How would I know what she’s talking about? I didn’t make a sound. The air suddenly became quiet. It was Liam who broke the silence, “What is it?” Yvonne looked at me with disappointment, “It’s about Sophia’s birthday. We want to hold a party at home and invite some celebrity friends to attend. It would also let everyone know that Sophia is your sister.” “Bang.” Liam put down his chopsticks heavily on the table, his gaze fierce. After so many years, this bitch still hasn’t given up. Back then, when his mother’s body was barely cold, his father had eagerly brought this pair of mother and daughter back. If it weren’t for his swift seizure of power, who knows how happy the three of them would be now. Now, even his arrogant father didn’t dare to speak loudly to him, yet this bitch and little bitch still wanted to use him to increase their status. Dream on. Low pressure permeated the air, and no one dared to speak, silent as cicadas in winter. Only I, with my suspended heart finally settling down. I remembered this plot. It was at the birthday party that the female lead was taken advantage of by her scheming stepbrother. And from then on, things became not suitable for children. I clenched my fists, refusing to engage in any naughty business, starting with me!

Liam didn’t even eat anymore, he just stood up directly. He happened to see my curled lips, my tender face blushing and shy, as beautiful as a peach blossom. His breath hitched. Why did the little bitch look so different today? So tempting. Liam: “Sophia, come upstairs with me.” “Huh? Oh.” Yvonne came over and gave me a push. I stood up reluctantly. Following Liam into a room, it wasn’t until the door was closed that I belatedly realized this was his bedroom. “Kneel down.” Me: “???” What kind of breed of psycho are you? My shocked expression made his brow furrow even deeper. “I don’t want to say it twice.” His low voice gave me an extremely strong sense of oppression. I started to shake, it was this body’s instinctive reaction. I frowned, why am I so scared? My knees already wanted to kneel, but there was still a bit of backbone supporting me to stand in place. I sincerely asked: “Why?” “A few days of not seeing me, and you dare to defy me?” Liam said while starting to unbuckle his belt. Wait, why are you unbuckling your belt?! I was so scared that I collapsed on the ground, immediately kneeling straight. “No, brother, what are you doing? I’m kneeling, I’m kneeling for you, isn’t that enough?” Liam smiled sarcastically, his eyes full of deep malice. “Go to the bed and bend over, stick your butt up high.” I looked at him vigilantly, putting on a brave face but inwardly terrified: “What do you want to do? I’m not even 18 yet, you know about the ten-year prison sentence, right?” Is he trying to do me early? Liam had already taken off his belt. Hearing this, he was stunned. “What are you thinking? You think I want to do you? You’re not worthy.” “Then why are you taking off your pants?” “Shut up.” Are you blind? He only unbuckled his belt, he didn’t take off his pants. “Hurry up, don’t force me to kill you.” “Then you swear first, absolutely not to do anything naughty to me.” Liam’s face turned black as the bottom of a pot. Suddenly, he smiled wickedly, snapping the belt in his hand through the air, making a whooshing sound. “You’re really asking for death.” I let out a scream, almost forgetting that the male leads were all above the law. He really dared to kill me. My body moved uncontrollably, crawling to the bedside in a few moves, trembling as I bent over. “Is… is this okay?” I was so embarrassed that my face turned red enough to drip blood. It’s just that my voice was soft and tender, sounding extremely pitiful. Liam subconsciously wanted to hold me in his arms and comfort me gently. Liam’s hand holding the belt paused. He suppressed the unusual feeling in his heart, but the belt still swung out, though the force was unintentionally much lighter. With a “smack”, a huge tearing sensation came from my buttocks. I cried out in pain, tears bursting from my eyes. He… he actually spanked my butt with a belt? This scene wasn’t in the original novel, was it?

This body was delicate, soft, and sensitive. I collapsed on the ground in pain. I bit my lip and whimpered, my eyes full of tears, like a begonia flower ravaged by a violent storm, shattered on the ground. Wuwuwu, my precious butt was about to split open. I raised my head angrily, just in time to see the middle of Liam’s suit pants, where the sensation was quite obvious. My whimpering became a bit quieter, afraid of angering him again. Being spanked with a belt was better than being threatened with a gun. Liam’s hand trembled. What the hell? The young girl’s fair skin had a faint pink color, her amorous peach blossom eyes, the tears about to fall accusing him of his cruelty, her delicate nose, her pink lips, making her look alluring and ready to be plucked. It was as if she was inviting him to taste her, to enjoy her… In the past, he had punished the little bit… Sophia like this too. He hated them for intruding into his home, treating her as a toy to vent his anger on, even beating her until she was covered in wounds, never feeling an ounce of pity for her. Why were such criminal thoughts popping up in his head today? No wonder her behavior and manners were all so strange today, acting as if he wanted to force himself on her. Playing hard to get? Hmph, as expected of the bitch’s daughter. Just like her shameless mother, at such a young age she already knows how to seduce men. Acting like a prostitute. “Get out!” I heard it like heavenly music, scrambling to get up and leave. “Stop!” I had just touched the doorknob when my hand froze. What now, you lunatic? I quickly covered my butt that had been shattered into four pieces, shrinking myself into a small ball, my expression evasive. Another hit would really shatter me. This posture, in Liam’s eyes, suddenly made him feel as if something had hit his heart, as if he had done something unforgivable to her. “Whose idea was the birthday party?” “I’m sorry, don’t hit me, I don’t know, it wasn’t me.” Liam: “…” This scared? He couldn’t help but soften his tone, “You want to have a birthday party?” I shook my head like a rattle drum, “No, I don’t want to.” The novel in Nifty plot started from the birthday party. I absolutely don’t want any birthday party. I want to survive. I rushed over and knelt on the ground, tightly hugging Liam’s legs, “Brother, please believe me, I really don’t want a birthday party. I’m just a stupid fool who can’t be presented in public. Please don’t throw one for me.” Liam only felt a tickle at the root of his leg, and his heart trembled a bit, “What did you call me?” I looked up, saying with utmost sincerity: “Brother, I’ve always thought of you as my real brother. Please, you must believe me.” If he’s my real brother, he can’t have designs on me. I hope this law-abiding citizen’s morals haven’t completely degraded. The girl’s hands were soft, such a small bundle. Liam’s heart softened. “Alright, no party.”

I returned to my room, and Yvonne came. “Darling, did he agree?” I shook my head. She was obviously a bit disappointed, but didn’t say anything. “Sigh, it’s mom’s fault for being useless. Liam won’t give us any benefits, but luckily there are many top-tier rich young masters at your school.” “My baby is so beautiful, you’ll definitely find someone stronger than the Liam family. Oh right, you’ve been chasing the Young Master Sean for quite some time now, haven’t you succeeded yet?” I perfunctorily said: “Almost.” Then I tried hard to recall the plot. The female lead was currently attending a certain noble school. That was where Yvonne had knelt for a day and night before Liam finally relented and let her in. That school was full of rich kids and socialites. In Yvonne’s words, if you just marry any man from there, you can lie flat for the rest of your life. But— At school, there were two more big guns. Is this school really necessary to attend? After Yvonne left, I looked in the mirror. A crimson mark spanned across my entire butt. My precious butt was burning with pain. When I was reading it before, it was just text. When I saw the female lead crying and saying it hurt when the male leads did this or that to her, I thought she was crying because of some kind of kink. I didn’t expect it to really hurt! Too delicate. Just one hit with a belt and it hurts like this. If I were to be… wouldn’t I lose my life? I became even more determined to survive, wishing I could forge a stainless steel chastity belt and weld it onto myself. There was a knock at the door. “Who is it?” After about a minute, the person simply answered with one word, “Me.” I immediately went on high alert. “I’m already asleep, come back tomorrow.” The doorknob turned, and Liam’s gloomy face appeared at the door. I quickly covered myself with the blanket. The movement was too big, causing the fabric of my pants to rub against the wound. I unconsciously let out a moan. How to put it? That sound was very soul-stirring. I wished I could rip out my throat. I closed my eyes directly and played dead. After all, no man likes a woman who lies in bed like a dead fish. The voice sounded by my ear: “Does it still hurt a lot?” I didn’t dare to open my eyes, only begging him to leave quickly. “Let me check it for you.” Please, that’s my butt, what are you checking?! I opened my eyes, just in time to meet Liam’s gaze. “Why aren’t you pretending anymore?” I said softly: “You’re going to look at my butt.” “What did you say?” Liam’s face flashed with unnaturalness.

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I Made a Bet to Win Over the Cold CEO “You’re too rich. Being with you makes me feel insecure.” Later, I heard that Alexander Stone locked himself at home for a week, drinking himself into oblivion. After he sobered up, he forbade everyone in the company from mentioning my name. My friends warned me to be careful, saying Alexander must hate me now. Until we met again at a party, he coldly pinned me against the wall: “I didn’t know the daughter of the richest man in the city could feel insecure about money. Was I really that easy to fool?” When my best friend Emma Sullivan came to pick me up, she was fully disguised. Mask on, hat pulled low. As if she was terrified someone might recognize her. I found it ridiculous. As soon as I got in the car, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I slapped her on the back. “What’s wrong with you? Are you a celebrity or am I? Who are you hiding from?” Emma yanked off her mask and slapped me back. “Idiot, Alexander Stone hates your guts now. I have to be careful not to get caught in the crossfire,” she muttered. “I don’t want to get into trouble because of you.” Me: … I leaned back in my seat, trying to look cool. But inside, I was nervous. “It can’t be that bad, right?” “He must have forgotten about me by now.” Emma’s eyes widened. “What are you thinking?” “The day you broke up with Alexander, he got drunk out of his mind. Then he locked himself at home for a week. No one could get him to come out.” “Think about it – a workaholic like him, staying home for a whole week? He must have been truly heartbroken.” I shifted uncomfortably. “What happened after that?” “After he finally came out, he forbade anyone from mentioning your name. No one dares to bring you up now.” Emma tried to reason with me. “I know your parents’ company is expanding to New York and you’ll have to live in the same city as him, but I advise you not to come.” “I’m worried you’ll get into trouble.” I fell silent. Alexander Stone. Does he really hate me that much? Surely not. I said weakly, “It’s been three months. He’s probably forgotten about me by now.” Emma laughed. “Even if you turned to ashes, he wouldn’t forget you.”

Of course Alexander wouldn’t forget me. Because I got together with him for a bet. At the time, I was in New York for a magazine photo shoot and met up with my best friend Emma for dinner. That night, she took me to a party. There, I ran into an old friend I hadn’t seen in ages – Jack Harrison. He teased me for being single. I joked that he was an empty nester. Jack stomped his foot in annoyance and pointed to a man at the center of the party, surrounded by layers of people. “I’m not an empty nester, he is!” Then he grinned mischievously. “If you can win him over, I’ll give you $100 million, straight up.” My eyes lit up. Money handed to me on a silver platter? I’d be a fool not to take it. “Deal.” I happened to need some funds to open my own studio. And here was an easy target. It took me three weeks. Relentless pursuit. I finally got him. Once the money was in place, I made up some excuse and broke up with him. Alexander was in the kitchen warming up milk for me. I stood at the door with my suitcase and left him with these words: “You’re too rich.” “Being with you makes me feel insecure.” Before Alexander could turn around, I was already at the front door, closing it behind me. By the time he realized what was happening and came after me, I was already in the car, ready to fly to Europe for a film shoot. That shoot lasted three months. Three months. I was sure he would have forgotten about me by then.

I always felt that Alexander didn’t love me that much. He was always so indifferent. Everything he did was with a sense of detachment. It seemed like nothing was a big deal to him. Even when I asked if we could kiss, He just gave me a faint “Mm.” Mm? That’s it? Our first kiss was initiated by me too. The key is, I was a complete novice. I had no experience at all. I just rubbed against his lips for a while, not knowing how to proceed. When I was about to give up and pull away, Alexander finally grabbed the back of my head. “Kiss like this.” Even when kissing, he showed no emotional fluctuations. He was always so indifferent. Even in bed. It was always the same boring position. Like an old prude. Not only was there no passion, He was also incredibly old-fashioned. He would lecture me for half an hour if I wore something too revealing for a photo shoot. In the end, he made me put on a shawl. Sitting in the passenger seat, I told Emma about all my experiences over the years. After hearing it all, she was so surprised her mouth hung open. “What? He doesn’t move in bed?” “Then why don’t you move?” Me: … She sure has a way of understanding things. Emma was like an innocent, curious child. “I’m just saying, maybe you should teach him some stuff in that department. After all, you’ve watched tons of movies.” Me: … Where did that rumor come from?

The second night after I returned from Europe, I finally got over my jet lag. Not long after I woke up, I was dragged to attend a party. They said I was there to make up the numbers. But as soon as I stepped in with my left foot, someone pulled me backstage. I couldn’t even see the person’s face clearly before being dragged to a corner backstage. “Mr. Security Guard, I just happened to step in with my left foot. You don’t have to lock me up just because of that, right?” “Mr. Security Guard…” I had barely finished speaking when I saw the person’s face clearly. Alexander Stone pointed at his own face and laughed sarcastically. “Me, a security guard?” I immediately laughed it off. “Oh no, handsome stranger, who are you?” Alexander smirked. The next second, his face turned cold as he pinned me against the wall. “I really had no idea that the daughter of the richest man in Los Angeles would feel insecure about money.” “Lily James, was I really that easy to fool?” I had imagined hundreds of possible scenarios for our reunion. But I never imagined it would be like this. I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “Handsome stranger, who are you?”

Alexander laughed angrily. He was truly laughing out of anger. I could even hear the sound of his teeth grinding. “Lily, do you really think I’m that easy to fool?” My back went cold, but I stubbornly kept up the act. “Handsome stranger, if you want an autograph, I can go outside and sign one for you?” “How about a personalized one?” Alexander wasn’t buying it and didn’t play along. He stepped closer to me, backing me into a corner. My dress for tonight had a large open back, and I didn’t want to touch the cold wall, so I stopped moving. At the same time, Alexander’s large hand landed on my waist. He gently caressed it, and I suddenly realized. This was the move he most often did when we were flirting. My waist is a very sensitive spot. I wanted to dodge, but his other hand trapped me. “Lily, still saying you don’t know me?” I stubbornly insisted. It was the kind of stubborn that would make even a rock give up. My ears were burning red, and my legs felt weak. “I really don’t know you.” “Handsome stranger, you’re crossing a line here.” Alexander lightly pinched the soft flesh at my waist. “Want to see how red your face is, hmm?” Alexander clearly had no intention of letting me go. The scorching heat on my waist was impossible to ignore. “This is a public place, what are you trying to do?!” He lowered his head, his thin lips approaching. “What do you think?”

I felt that the Alexander in front of me wasn’t like the Alexander I knew. He was too smooth. So smooth that I could barely handle it. Back when I was relentlessly pursuing him and finally got him, Any physical contact only happened if I initiated it first. Kisses, hugs, and such – if I didn’t make the first move, he wouldn’t budge. At first, I wanted to say he was too conservative when I broke up with him. But thinking it might hurt his self-esteem, I made up that random excuse about feeling insecure instead. I never thought he’d remember it until now! And even corner me at a party hall three months later. … I pointed behind Alexander and said, “Oh, Mrs. Stone, what are you doing here?” Seizing the opportunity, I pushed Alexander away and prepared to escape. But to my surprise, Alexander didn’t even turn around. He caught me and pulled me back. “Hasn’t anyone told you that trick is outdated?” “Did you go to Europe and fall behind the times?” Alexander teased me mercilessly. I lowered my head in defeat. The next second, I was lifted off the ground, my feet dangling in the air. Me: … How could anyone attack with their armpit?! I never imagined Alexander would suddenly tuck me under his arm and walk out of the party. How could someone in a suit just carry a beautiful girl out like this, tucked under his arm?! I covered my face with both hands. Trying not to let people recognize me. But I still heard some comments. “Wow, carrying a woman under his arm, that’s a first for me.” “I have to say, it looks pretty cool.” I went from covering my face with my hands to covering it with my arms. Wishing I could shrink myself. Not letting anyone see me. In my heart, I cursed Alexander to high heaven. Alexander carried me quickly all the way. He rushed straight to the entrance. The moment he put me down, I finally took a deep breath. I had never felt any path was so long before. As soon as my feet touched the ground, my mouth started running. “Alexander Stone, are you crazy? Would it kill you to carry me like a princess? You’ve done it plenty of times before, why did you have to use that method today of all days?!” “Alexander Stone, I’ve lost all face!” I was so angry I was jumping up and down. Alexander just smiled without saying a word. After I finished ranting, he slowly said, “What’s our relationship? I never carry strange women.” I was at a loss for words. Damn it. In a moment of excitement, I forgot I was still acting. My toes curled. Suddenly, things got awkward. The next second, it got even more awkward. “Yo! Lily, I’ve been looking for you everywhere, and here you are flirting with a handsome guy…” Emma came running towards me, but as soon as she saw Alexander’s face clearly, she did a 180-degree turn on the spot. “Sorry, I mistook you for someone else. Who are you guys?” Her retreating back was full of cold indifference. The corner of my mouth twitched. What’s the meaning of this? Afraid Alexander would give me trouble, and not wanting to get involved! Alexander laughed coldly, “You’ve done a good job keeping it secret, haven’t you? Handsome guy?” “I heard there was a bet involved, is that right?” He approached step by step, and I retreated step by step. I waved my hands in denial, “Not much, really not much.” Alexander knew exactly what was going on. “$100 million? Opened a studio? You calculated it all so well. After being together for two months, you broke up without any consideration for my feelings.” My eyes darted around, not daring to look at him. Alexander was still approaching me. “The money they gave you, I’ll double it…” Before he could finish, my eyes lit up. “Okay!”

Alexander left, furious with me. Just because I interrupted him And said “okay” without even thinking. He said I was something else. I thought so too. No one can resist money. Even the daughter of the richest man. Two hundred million dollars. That would make my dad overjoyed. But tonight’s Alexander was a bit unforgettable. Three months later, he’s still so handsome. Tonight, his aggressive approach really made my heart race. I almost couldn’t keep it together. Is this relationship really so hard for him to forget? I covered my unusually fast-beating heart, forcing myself to sleep.

My agent got me an endorsement deal for a luxury jewelry brand. She kept going on about how lucky I was on the way there. “Two hundred million dollars! This endorsement fee is like a gift from heaven!” “You haven’t had any endorsements for so long, and now you get a big one. Your beauty will be on the big screens now!” “When the investor arrives later, you need to smile more. Cheer up for me!” I was still drowsy, not fully awake yet. I had no idea what she was talking about. Endorsement? Just do it, I thought. But soon, I didn’t think that way anymore. When Alexander Stone stood in front of me, I was completely dumbfounded. He walked towards me step by step. “Two hundred million, is that enough?” I couldn’t smile. No wonder my agent was so excited this morning. Turns out someone had sent her money. Two hundred million. This guy just handed it over like that? My agent’s eyes kept darting between Alexander and me. “Do you two… know each other?” Neither Alexander nor I answered. After we started shooting, I thought everything would be fine once we entered the studio. But then I saw Alexander holding a camera. I really wanted to jump up and down in frustration. Alexander just familiarized himself with the camera, then looked at me with a slight raise of his eyebrow. “I’ll photograph you. The photography fee is separate.” “It’s a good deal for you.” Me: … This is all your territory, how can I refuse? Now I understood what it meant to be on a sinking ship. Alexander asked all the staff in the studio to leave. Leaving only him and me. All the hair on my body stood on end, and I entered a state of alert. He tucked my stray hair behind my ear. “Cooperate a bit.” “Lily.”

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I was once the girlfriend of Alexander Thompson, a billionaire tycoon. However, my scheming cousin Chloe Sanders interfered, constantly fabricating lies about me. Alexander believed her, grew to despise me, and ended up marrying my cousin instead. Later, Chloe even had me kidnapped and taken to the Caribbean. I suffered terrible torture and died without closure. When I opened my eyes again, I had been given a second chance at life. I returned to the day Chloe had a miscarriage due to her affair. Alexander once asked me why I was so cruel to my own cousin. He said that to prevent Chloe from contacting him, I went as far as luring her to a hotel and hiring someone to rape her. He claimed that to seize Chloe’s villa, I forged her signature to sell the house and maxed out his credit card. I explained myself time and time again, but Alexander wouldn’t believe me. He didn’t believe me because Chloe repeatedly used my name to create these misunderstandings. Alexander said he was too disappointed in me. And I, too, was utterly disappointed in Alexander. I swore I would have my revenge. The phone rang. I looked at the familiar name on the caller ID and a cold smile curved my lips. “Emma Sullivan, you bitch! What the hell have you done?” Alexander’s voice was hysterical, as if he wanted to tear me to pieces. “Alexander, what do you mean?” I pretended to be clueless. “Your cousin is missing! She hasn’t been home for two days! You must have taken her!” Alexander roared, “Where is she now?” I laughed. “Alexander, you’re wrongly accusing me.” I deliberately added a hint of grievance to my voice, “How could I do such a thing? I’m so kind-hearted, and my cousin loves me so much. She would definitely understand me.” Alexander fell silent. “Alexander, I want to talk to you,” I continued, “There’s a misunderstanding between us, and I hope we can clear it up.” “Misunderstanding? How long are you going to keep leeching off your cousin?” Alexander’s anger intensified. “I’m not,” I replied calmly, “Alexander, come and see me. Let’s talk face to face.” “You…” Alexander wanted to say more, but I had already hung up. I looked at myself in the mirror, the familiar face filled with determination. “Chloe Sanders, your good days are coming to an end.”

After I hung up on him, Alexander’s anger escalated. He decided to storm into my house with his bodyguards. “Where the hell is Chloe?” He glared at me fiercely, “Hand her over!” I looked at him as if he were a ridiculous clown throwing a tantrum. “Alexander, what’s wrong with you?” I replied coldly, “This is my house. Please leave.” Of course, Alexander refused to leave. Not only did he stay, but he also commanded his bodyguards to turn the house upside down. “Emma, I know you hate me, and I hate you too, but Chloe is innocent. You can’t do this to her!” Alexander said through gritted teeth, “Give me Chloe, and you can do whatever you want with me.” “Alexander, are you done with this nonsense?” I couldn’t bear it anymore, “I don’t know where Chloe is, and I haven’t done anything to her!” “You dare to deny it!” Alexander waved his hand, and several bodyguards rushed towards me, ready to use force. “What are you doing?” I shouted angrily, “Alexander, you’re trespassing and attempting assault. Aren’t you afraid I’ll call the police?” “Call the police?” Alexander sneered, “What am I afraid of? You kidnapped Chloe, and I’m trying to find her. Who do you think the police will side with, you or me?” “You…” I was shaking with anger. “Wreck it!” Alexander ordered, “Until Chloe appears!” The bodyguards swarmed in and started smashing everything in sight. Furniture, electronics, decorations – everything was shattered to pieces. I looked at the devastated home, feeling a mix of emotions. Oh, Alexander, how could I have ever loved such a scumbag? “Emma Sullivan, I’m asking you one last time.” Alexander looked down at me condescendingly, “Where have you hidden Chloe?” “And I’m answering you for the last time.” I raised my head, looking straight into Alexander’s eyes, “I don’t know where Chloe is, and I don’t know what she’s done.” “Fine, fine.” Alexander repeated the word twice, “Emma Sullivan, you’ll regret this.” With that, he left with his bodyguards.

I looked at the mess around me and sighed deeply. When Michael Foster came back and saw this scene, he was stunned. “Emma, what… what happened here?” “Alexander was here,” I answered bitterly, “He couldn’t find Chloe, so he trashed the place.” “What?” Michael was furious, “What right does he have to do this?” I smiled wryly, “Michael, I’m sorry. I’ve dragged you into this mess again.” “This isn’t your fault,” Michael shook his head, “Alexander is the one who’s gone too far.” “But this is still related to me,” I said softly, “Michael, you said you’d help me, right?” “Yes,” Michael answered firmly, “I’ll help you until we expose Chloe’s true colors.” “Thank you, Michael.” I was deeply moved. “But we need to be prepared,” Michael continued, “I know Alexander well. He’s never one to give up easily. He didn’t find Chloe this time, but he’ll be back.” “I know,” I nodded, “I’ll be ready.” However, I still underestimated Alexander. Not only did he not let me off, but he also escalated his actions. First, he called Michael, badmouthing me and trying to drive a wedge between us. “Michael Foster, your wife is quite a piece of work,” Alexander sneered, “She’s not only scheming but also extremely vicious. You’d better watch out.” “Alexander, stop talking nonsense,” Michael rebuked, “Emma is my wife. I know her better than you do.” “Haha, you know her?” Alexander laughed, “Then do you know that she forged Chloe’s signature to sell her villa just to seize it for herself?” “What did you say?” Michael was stunned. “Michael Foster, you don’t know Emma Sullivan at all,” Alexander continued to add fuel to the fire, “She’s a viper, willing to do anything to achieve her goals, even if it means hurting others. You’d better divorce her as soon as possible.” With that, Alexander hung up the phone. Michael immediately told me about this conversation. “Emma, is what Alexander said true?” “No,” I shook my head, “I did sell the house, but I didn’t forge Chloe’s signature.” “Then you…” Michael looked at me hesitantly. “Chloe suggested it herself,” I explained, “She knew she had done something wrong and wanted to make amends, so she was willing to transfer the house to my name.” “Oh, I see,” Michael breathed a sigh of relief, “Then I’m relieved.” However, Alexander’s offensive had only just begun.

He not only slandered me in front of Michael but also defamed me in public. He called in several social media influencers to live stream my “crimes.” “Everyone, look closely. This is the woman who not only kidnapped her own cousin but also sold her cousin’s house!” “Oh my God, how can there be such a vicious woman!” “This is absolutely despicable!” The comments were filled with abuse and curses directed at me. “Today, we’re going to expose this woman’s true face and make her face the consequences she deserves!” Alexander stood in front of the camera, looking righteous. “First, we need to find this woman, and then we’ll take her to the police station!” Under his instigation, the audience’s emotions were stirred up. They clamored to find me immediately and send me to prison. Alexander, along with his bodyguards and the influencers, marched towards my house in a grand procession. “This time, I’m going to expose your true colors in front of everyone!”

Michael saw those live streams. In the streams, I appeared expressionless and silent, seemingly indifferent to everything. “Emma, why aren’t you defending yourself?” Michael looked at me, his eyes full of disappointment, “Did you really do those things?” “Michael, believe me,” I said softly, “I didn’t kidnap Chloe, nor did I forge her signature. I…” “Then why aren’t you saying anything?” Michael suddenly raised his voice, “Why are you letting them slander you?” “I…” I hesitated, not knowing how to explain. “Do you know how much pressure I’m under right now?” Michael growled, “Everyone is cursing at me, saying I’m blind, that I’ve let a wolf into our home, that I shouldn’t have married a woman like you!” “Michael, I’m sorry,” I lowered my head, filled with guilt. “Do you know what people are saying about me?” Michael’s expression became more and more pained, “They’re saying I deserve to be a cuckold!” “No, it’s not like that!” I shook my head frantically, “Michael, you have to believe me. I really didn’t do those things…” “Believe you?” Michael laughed coldly, “Emma Sullivan, how can I believe you?” “I…” I hesitated, not knowing how to explain. “Do you know that I’m now doubting myself, wondering if I was blind to marry a woman like you?” Michael’s voice was full of anger and disappointment. “Michael, I…” I tried to explain but didn’t know what to say. “Emma Sullivan, I’m very disappointed in you,” Michael closed his eyes, “Really disappointed.” “Michael, I…” I looked at him, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. “Don’t say my name,” Michael suddenly opened his eyes and slapped me across the face, “It disgusts me.” I held my cheek, staring at him in shock. “Emma Sullivan, let’s get a divorce,” Michael said coldly, “You can spend the rest of your life clinging to your secrets and fighting with Alexander.” As he spoke, he took off his wedding ring and threw it at me. The ring hit my chest. It hurt. My heart hurt even more. I watched helplessly as Michael turned and walked out the door. “Michael, don’t go!” I cried out, chasing after him. But I only chased thin air. Michael was gone. “Michael…” I fell to my knees, tears flowing endlessly.

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I found myself trapped in a flood with Sophia Hart, my husband’s first love. My husband, Lucas Reed, a usually calm and steady firefighter, was unusually anxious at this moment. He told me, “There’s not enough room on the boat. You can swim, Ava, but Sophia can’t. I have to save her first.” In a moment of desperation, he forcibly broke my fingers and pushed me into the raging floodwaters. After years of marriage, he didn’t even know I couldn’t swim. The flash flood swept through like a fierce beast. Sophia and I struggled with all our might and finally managed to climb onto a precarious boulder. I turned to Sophia, trying to comfort her, “Don’t be afraid, Sophia. Lucas will definitely come to rescue us.” Sophia just glanced at me contemptuously, a cold smile curling her lips. “Of course he’ll come to save me. As for you… well, that’s another story.” My heart sank, but I still tried to maintain my composure, unwilling to show weakness in front of her. “We’re married. Of course he’ll save me.” Soon, we heard rescue calls in the distance. It was Lucas! He was maneuvering a rescue boat, struggling to get closer to us. A glimmer of hope rose in my heart, until he spoke, “Ava, Sophia can’t swim. There’s not enough room on the rescue boat. You’ll have to find your own way.” “What? I…” Before I could finish, he cut me off. “Jump down and swim to that big rock. Wait for the next wave of rescuers.” Lucas’s tone was uncompromising, as if I were just an insignificant burden. “But I’m pregnant, Lucas. I can’t…” I pleaded, my hands gripping the edge of the rescue boat tightly. “That’s exactly why the boat is unstable!” He yanked hard, almost pulling me into the water. “Didn’t you swim back to shore alone last time? It’s the same this time.” “That was in shallow water, and…” Before I could finish, a sharp pain shot through my fingers. He had forcibly broken my fingers and pushed me into the cold flood waters. “Lucas!” I struggled in the water, shouting his name, but all I got in response was his resolute back and Sophia’s smug smile. “Ava Wilson, you’re always so redundant,” his voice drifted with the wind. I swam desperately towards the big rock, but my body felt heavier and heavier, and my consciousness began to blur. I recalled the moments I shared with Lucas, all those sweet memories and promises, now shattered like bubbles. “Why… why are you doing this to me?” Finally, I gave up struggling and let myself sink into the water. In the last moment before losing consciousness, I took one last look in the direction Lucas had gone, my heart filled with bitterness and resentment.

My soul seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, floating in this cold world. Suddenly, an anxious voice came through the walkie-talkie, “Captain Reed, we still haven’t found Ms. Wilson. Should we continue searching?” Lucas’s cold voice clearly reached my ears through the device: “No need. She might have been taken away by another rescue team. We’re short-handed and can’t waste time.” I was stunned, a chill running through my heart. This was the man I loved deeply, showing no concern for my life or death. The subordinate seemed to want to say something more, but was cut off by Lucas, “Execute the order. Don’t mention this again!” I silently followed him to the hospital. Through the window of the ward, I saw Lucas. He was tenderly watching over Sophia’s bedside, his eyes filled with a gentleness I had never seen before. Sophia sobbed, her voice weak and fearful, “Lucas, I was so scared. I thought I’d never see you again.” Lucas gently patted the back of her hand, his voice dripping with tenderness, “Don’t be afraid, Sophia. I’ll always be by your side, protecting you.” I stood by, watching this scene, my heart breaking. So, his love for me was nothing but an elaborately woven lie. My tears fell silently, unnoticed by anyone. I could only watch helplessly, listening to their conversation, feeling that tenderness that didn’t belong to me. “Lucas, I know I’m willful, but I was really terrified this time,” Sophia’s voice had a hint of coquettishness. Lucas chuckled, his eyes full of doting affection, “Whether you’re willful or coquettish, I love it all. As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.” Listening to these words, my heart was filled with bitterness and despair. I closed my eyes, letting the memories of Lucas and me flood my mind. We once had an engagement. I thought it was the beginning of happiness, but I didn’t realize it was the prologue to his coldness. “Lucas, do you remember the day we got engaged?” I asked softly, as if he could hear me, “You said you’d love me forever, but now?” I recalled the complex look he gave me after his brother, Leo, became a vegetative patient. “Lucas, why didn’t you believe me?” These words I could never say out loud, as they had long been drowned in his cold silence. That night, his tenderness when he was drunk made me mistakenly believe it was a true revelation of his inner feelings. “Ava, I’m sorry…” His slurred words, thinking back now, were nothing but an illusion caused by alcohol. A month ago, I went for a prenatal check-up full of anticipation. The sound of the baby’s heartbeat excited me beyond words. I wanted to share this good news with him immediately, but accidentally saw his intimate photo with Sophia on Instagram, with a short but piercing caption – “Finally found you”. At that moment, my heart shattered. “Lucas Reed, how could you do this to me?” I sat alone on the sofa, from dusk to midnight, and then to dawn. Finally, he came back, reeking of alcohol, stumbling. “Lucas, you know I’m pregnant! You and Sophia…” I tried to grasp the last thread of hope, but was ruthlessly pushed away. “Enough, Ava Wilson.” His voice was cold and resolute, “You don’t need to know about me and Sophia.” I was stunned. “Lucas Reed, I understand now. I’ve always been just a substitute for Sophia.” That night, I was completely awakened. I realized that no matter how hard I tried, I could never enter his heart. All his tenderness and care were reserved only for Sophia. “I give up, Lucas Reed,” I said silently in my heart, “I’ll leave and no longer interfere with your pursuit of your true love.” Now, my soul floats in the air, watching him take meticulous care of Sophia. My heart has frozen to the extreme. 4 That cruise party was the biggest turning point in my life. That night, Leo and I accidentally fell into the water. I desperately grabbed onto a piece of driftwood, while Leo… he struggled in the water, gradually drifting away. When I was finally rescued and learned that Leo had become a vegetative patient, my heart shattered. What was even harder to accept was that Lucas actually believed I intentionally didn’t save Leo, just because I “could swim”. The way he looked at me was full of coldness and misunderstanding. “Ava Wilson, why didn’t you save him?” His accusation was like a knife, stabbing deep into my heart. I tried to explain, but each time I opened my mouth, I was cut off by his coldness. Days passed, and I thought time would wash away everything, until that night when he suddenly proposed to me, reeking of alcohol. At that moment, I almost thought we could go back to how we were before. “Ava, marry me,” his voice echoed in my ears, with a hint of tenderness that was hard to detect. But after marriage, his attitude took a sharp turn, becoming as cold as a stranger. After I became pregnant, I was full of anticipation to share this joy with him. However, when I asked him to accompany me for a prenatal check-up, he refused without hesitation. “I don’t have time. Go by yourself,” his tone showed no hesitation or concern. On the day of the check-up, I sat alone on a bench in the hospital, my heart a mix of emotions. When the doctor told me the baby was healthy, I almost laughed through my tears. I couldn’t wait to share this good news with him, but then I saw his intimate photo with Sophia on his Instagram. At that moment, my heart completely froze. “So, I’m not even qualified to be a substitute,” I murmured, tears falling silently. Back home, I waited for him, wanting to get to the bottom of this. When he finally appeared before me, I gathered my courage to confront him, “Lucas, why are you treating me like this when I’m pregnant?” He glanced at me, his eyes showing no guilt or tenderness, only coldness and annoyance. “Ava Wilson, that’s enough. Stop making a fuss,” he pushed me away forcefully, turned around and went back to the room, leaving me alone in the empty living room. I recalled how tenderly he cared for Sophia, in stark contrast to his coldness towards me. “Lucas Reed,” I said softly to myself, “Perhaps if I die, I won’t be an obstacle between you two anymore.”

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On Christmas Eve, my parents once again left me alone at home for triple overtime pay. Thinking of the past twenty years when they always did this, I no longer wanted to spend the holiday alone and cold. So I packed some dumplings and went to find them. Unexpectedly, my parents, who always talked about earning more money, stepped out of a luxury car, arm in arm with a boy about my age, laughing as they entered a five-star restaurant. “Mom, Dad, is it okay to leave Sarah alone at home?” I heard someone ask. My mother casually replied, “It’s fine, she’s used to it.” My father dismissively added, “She can’t compare to you. You’re our precious child!” I turned and left. They had deceived me by pretending to be poor. This time, I didn’t care for their company either! Back home, I dumped all the food on the table. In the past, I would never have wasted food. From as early as I can remember, I knew our family wasn’t well off. All my food and clothes came from my parents’ frugal savings. Even my clothes were rarely new. Every season, my mother would bring home a bag of second-hand clothes, saying, “These are from your mother’s colleague’s older sister. They’ve been washed clean, so we don’t need to buy new ones.” I don’t know where she got these old clothes from, but throughout my childhood, I hardly ever wore new clothes. I always wore ill-fitting clothes, and my classmates would make fun of me, saying I was a ragpicker. I could only study hard, thinking that one day I would be able to buy new clothes with my own efforts. During holidays, I would hand over all the money relatives gave me to my parents, just to ease their burden. But who knew they had no burden at all? I checked, and that luxury car belonged to the wealthy Johnson family in town. The Johnson’s son had once driven that car, showing off with a celebrity girlfriend. I had seen that gossip news too, and the face of that rich young man was the same as the boy I saw tonight. So, it turns out I’m actually from a wealthy family! I found it amusing, sniffed, and went back to search my parents’ room. Perhaps they were too careless to keep the contract at home. When I saw my father’s name signed on a contract worth hundreds of millions, with a Mont Blanc pen tucked in the documents, my suspended heart finally died. I put everything back as it was and quietly returned to my room, covering myself with the blanket to sleep. I only hoped that when I woke up, everything would be a dream. Early the next morning, my parents were already busy in the kitchen. Looking at the breakfast on the table, I suddenly realized, who eats seafood porridge early in the morning? The taste of this porridge was exactly the same as the seafood feast the professor treated us to last time. I glanced at the garbage bag by the door, and sure enough. “Mom, Dad, has our family suddenly become rich?” I asked, sitting at the table watching them. My mother looked surprised, “Sarah, what are you talking about?” “Then how can we afford such expensive seafood porridge?” I pointed at the garbage bag by the door, and my mother’s face immediately changed. My father chuckled lightly, “That’s from when I worked overtime with the boss last night. He packed it for me, but I couldn’t bear to eat it, so I brought it back.” “With our meager salaries, how could we afford seafood porridge?” So that’s it. I nodded, drinking the porridge, inwardly laughing coldly. Seafood porridge, $80 a serving. Last night’s dinner probably cost thousands! If they were truly poor, I would have found this porridge delicious. Now, it just tasted like chewing wax. I only took two bites before getting up. “I’m full.” “Sarah, why are you eating so little? Are you not feeling well?” My mother looked worried, her gaze not seeming fake. I shook my head and smiled, “No, aren’t we going to Grandpa’s house today? I’m saving room to eat something good at lunch!” Hearing this, my mother sighed in relief. My father looked guilty and was about to say something when his phone rang. I glanced at the screen, the contact was saved as “Precious son Jack.” Jack Johnson was his precious son, so what was I? My father hurried to the balcony, and my mother followed. I vaguely heard him saying things like “be sensible” and “don’t let Sarah find out.” My heart turned completely cold. So, they had known all along, just conspiring to keep it from me. I even wondered if the world I lived in was like The Truman Show. But they seemed so real.

After hanging up the phone, my father came to me and took out a red envelope, “Sarah, something urgent came up at Dad’s company, I have to go!” Mom comforted me: “It’s okay, Mom will go with you.” I nodded, took the red envelope, and put it in my pocket. I got ready with Mom to go to Grandpa’s house. When we arrived, Grandpa saw me and pulled me in, “Sarah’s here, come in quickly, it’s cold outside!” His palm was smooth and delicate, not at all like an old worker’s hands. This apartment building belonged to the steel mill. Supposedly, Grandpa was a retired old worker from the factory. Looking at his pampered appearance, he didn’t seem like it at all. Grandma saw me and quickly gave me a red envelope. I took it and said, “Thank you, Grandma.” Then I directly put it in my pocket. Mom looked a bit stunned beside me because according to the usual routine, I would give her the money right after receiving it. At those times, Mom would always say, “Sarah is so sensible.” But today was different, even Grandma was a bit surprised, then smiled and said, “Our Sarah now knows how to save her Christmas money!” I raised an eyebrow and smiled, “I’m not hiding it. Mom said the Christmas should have new changes, so I want to keep some pocket money for myself.” “That’s right, Sarah is so sensible now. She earns her own tuition and living expenses!” Mom chimed in. Without being told, I knew Grandma had given me at most $50. Compared to tuition fees, this $50 was nothing! They’re so rich now, yet still squeezing me at every turn. I don’t understand. This harsh education, aimed only at me, what exactly do they mean? Grandma didn’t say anything, but went into the kitchen and started bustling about. The food she brought out, I lost my appetite after just two bites. This food was exactly the same as what I saw at the five-star restaurant last night. Now I can finally be sure, the whole family is wealthy, and my parents are just pretending to be poor. Even Grandpa and Grandma are playing along with the act. After the meal, Mom received a phone call and hurriedly left, citing work. Grandpa and Grandma yawned, looking sleepy, so I couldn’t stay any longer and had to leave. But I didn’t go far, instead hiding around the corner to watch quietly. Sure enough, not 20 minutes after I left, a stretched Lincoln car drove up, and Grandma and Grandpa got in, surrounded by a group of people, leaving without looking back. I took a deep breath, put on my mask, and walked up. I saw several cleaning ladies tidying up. One of them sighed, “I don’t know what this family is thinking, coming to live here for just one day a year, cooking one meal, and then leaving!” “At least they pay well for the cleaning!” “You don’t know, this family does this every year, it’s been going on for over 20 years. They have a villa in the south of the city, this is just rich people experiencing life!” Hearing them say this, my heart turned completely cold. The Johnson family, the richest in the south of the city, had their villa in Hillside Garden. I cycled over to find it. Seeing that magnificent villa perched on the hillside, with bodyguards outside, I couldn’t even imagine living in such a place. When they saw me approach, a bodyguard immediately barked, “Who are you? Get lost!” I took a deep breath, and just as I was about to turn and leave, a motorcycle roared past from outside. I had seen it online, this motorcycle cost about $300,000. The rider was none other than Jack.

He saw me too, clearly surprised. He stopped and looked me up and down, a sneer on his face, “Not so stupid after all, you knew to come here!” I was stunned. So, he knew about my existence too! “Why? Why is it like this!” “Jack, am I their adopted daughter? Or are you doing some project, and I’m just a subject in your observation experiment?” Jack seemed to see through my confusion. He raised an eyebrow and shook a finger, “No, you’re a Johnson too. A biological daughter.” “As for why you were raised poor, there’s only one reason. Because I am the sole heir to the Johnson family!” “Sarah, you were born just one minute before me. What right do you have to compete with me?” “This is not a place for you to come. Get lost!” “Poor thing, don’t look at me like that. Mom and Dad put a lot of effort into raising you!” “Oh, and don’t go visit Grandpa and Grandma for Christmas’s anymore. They’re old and don’t have the energy to act for you!” Jack accelerated into the estate. I stood outside for a long time, understanding. My birth with Jack seemed to be related to the inheritance of the family fortune. But what did I do wrong? I just wanted to receive the most sincere love from my parents. They lied to me for so many years, but their kindness to me was also real. But now, looking at the villa and that motorcycle, I began to doubt how much of their kindness to me was genuine. I turned to leave. Before leaving, I called my father: “Dad, are you coming home for dinner tonight?” “Not coming back, Sarah. Working overtime tonight, triple pay for these three days of the Christmas!” “Oh, and your mom’s the same!” But I clearly heard the roar of a motorcycle from his phone. I softly responded “Mm,” having made a decision deep in my heart. Back home, I started packing my things while signing up for a special research project announced by the university. This project was in the western region, lasting three years, isolated from the world, with no one to disturb me. After packing, I developed the photo I had taken of Jack’s back and placed it on the bedside table at home. That day, they didn’t come back. I was alone at home. I called my father again, but no one answered. Meanwhile, the Johnson family’s Jade Corporation started distributing red envelopes. An employee thanked the boss on social media. She was just an ordinary employee, but her red envelope contained $300! Many employees showed off the company benefits. My parents were clearly on stage, one in a suit and the other holding a glass of wine. My mom was wearing exquisite makeup, looking every bit the wealthy lady. Below the stage, Jack was surrounded by people like a star, and there was even a family photo. My parents seemed certain that I was only focused on making money and had no time to pay attention to online gossip. They forgot that I’m just an ordinary girl, raised poor by them. How could I not pay attention? A reporter interviewed them, asking about their Christmas plans. My father faced the camera, “This year my son Jack is twenty-two. We arrange a trip every year, and we’re leaving today!” My heart suddenly sank. I’m twenty-two too. If the farthest place I’ve been is the local zoo for a school spring tour in elementary school. I sneered, picked up my household registration book, and rubbed it. It’s laughable. After I went to college, my parents transferred my household registration to the school. They said I was an adult now and should be responsible for myself. Now is the perfect time to leave. I picked up my luggage and left without hesitation. Dad, Mom, goodbye forever!

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On the day of our divorce, my wife and I were in the same car when we met with an accident. In her final moments, she didn’t whisper my name. Instead, she expressed regret. “If I could do it all over again, I’d choose Ryan Curtis. With him, I felt truly alive…” When we opened our eyes again, we had both been reborn. We found ourselves back on the day I had proposed to her. She glanced at me, quickly pulled her hand away, and ran towards Ryan Curtis. I silently let her go, wanting her to be happy. But later, she came back, begging me for another chance. The moment I was reborn, I found myself back on that Valentine’s Day when I had planned to propose to Emma White. The campus lawn was a sea of flowers, the lights were dazzling, everything was set up like a dream. I looked around, searching for that familiar figure—Emma White. I watched as her eyes gradually changed from confusion to clarity, and then to realization. I knew then that she had been reborn too, with memories of our past life. Including the car accident that took our lives, and her last words to me, “If I could do it all over again…” She glanced at me, her eyes cold as they swept over my face. With a fake smile, she said, “Jack, thank you for everything you’ve prepared, but…” Her gaze fixed on someone in the crowd. I followed her line of sight. There stood Ryan Curtis, dressed in a crisp black suit, his tie perfectly knotted, holding a bouquet of vibrant roses that seemed even more dazzling under the lights. He stood there, as if waiting for an important moment. Although I had a premonition, facing it in reality still felt like a stab to the heart. “Emma…” I called out softly. Just then, Emma did something I never expected. She pulled her hand away from mine and walked towards Ryan without hesitation. At that moment, I felt as if I could hear my own heart breaking, but I also clearly saw the urgency on her face. “Jack, I’m sorry,” Emma’s voice came, cold and determined. “I… I’ve realized that Ryan is the one I truly love. I hope you can understand and let me go.” She held Ryan’s hand tightly. Ryan was stunned at first, then his face lit up with joy. He hugged Emma tightly, “Emma, you’ve finally faced your true feelings. I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

At that moment, I stood in the center of the proposal scene, surrounded by whispers. Emma’s voice was clear and firm. The look in her eyes as she gazed at Ryan was full of tenderness and expectation, a light that once belonged to me. I took a deep breath, “Emma, I respect your decision. From now on, let’s go our separate ways and wish each other well.” As I said these words, I felt an unprecedented sense of relief, as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Ryan smiled smugly, putting his arm around Emma’s shoulders as if declaring his victory to the world. “Emma, I’ll make you happy. In the future, I want to see you cheering for me at every concert; and all those romantic trips, I want to experience them with you.” Emma smiled like a little girl, her eyes sparkling with happiness, “Ryan, as long as I’m with you, I’m willing to do anything.” I turned and left without looking back. The lights in the bar were dim and warm. I had invited my roommates to join me there. “Jack, are you okay?” My roommate Andy patted me on the shoulder, asking with concern. I raised my glass, drained it in one go, and laughed, “I’m fine, really. Don’t look at me like that, I’m actually happy. I finally don’t have to comfort Emma every day.” My roommates exchanged glances, seemingly not quite believing my words. But I knew it was true. Leaving Emma was a relief for me. Thinking back to our past life, Emma and I had been inseparable since childhood. Our parents always joked that we were a match made in heaven, and they had even planned our future for us. We did dream about it too, dating after graduation and then walking down the aisle. “Jack, what do you think our future home will be like?” Back then, her eyes were full of hope for the future. “No matter what it’s like, as long as you’re there, it’s home,” I answered with a smile, fully believing that would be our forever. But what about after marriage? Days passed like flowing water, so bland it was unsettling. She started complaining, saying life lacked color. And I, busy with my career, ignored her changes. Until Ryan Curtis became famous, he shone brightly on stage, easily stealing her heart. She started coming home late, sometimes not coming home at all. When I questioned her, she casually said, “Jack, let’s just do our own thing, that way everyone’s happy.” My heart felt like it was being pricked by needles. “Emma, we have a home,” I tried to salvage things, but she wasn’t listening anymore. “No, we’re just doing our own thing, you don’t need to interfere with my freedom,” she coldly replied. Finally, I proposed divorce, the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life. She was surprised at first, then angry, but finally she laughed, a laugh so sarcastic. “Jack Miller, do you know? Every day with Ryan is happier than all the happiness in the first half of my life combined.” At that moment, I completely gave up. It turned out that our marriage, to her, was nothing but a constraint. And I finally understood that letting go was the greatest salvation for myself.

The bar lights were hazy and dim, alcohol slowly flowing through my veins, bringing waves of dizziness. I stood up, intending to go to the bathroom to sober up, but my feet unconsciously drifted towards the deep end of the corridor. Just then, from the crack of a not-quite-closed private room door, came a familiar yet strange voice. “That Jack Miller guy is so boring, all he knows is work, he has no zest for life at all.” It was Emma’s voice, filled with disdain and disgust. “You understand me, Emma. Compared to him, I’m the one who can truly make you happy.” Ryan’s voice was full of pride. My heart suddenly tightened, and my footsteps involuntarily stopped. How could they be here? And how could they talk about me so recklessly? Out of curiosity, I gently pushed open the half-open door, only to see the room filled with smoke, a group of people sitting around the table, with Emma and Ryan at the center, both wearing ambiguous smiles. Seeing me, the atmosphere in the room instantly froze, all eyes focused on me. Emma’s face turned ugly, she stood up and questioned, “Jack Miller, what are you doing here? Didn’t we break up already? Why are you still here to disturb us?” Seeing this, Ryan’s lips curled into a provocative smile, he stood up, trying to assert his dominance with a kiss. I took a deep breath, trying to keep calm, “I was just passing by, I didn’t mean to disturb you. Besides, I’ve already said, from now on, we go our separate ways.” With that, I turned to leave without lingering. Just then, a figure suddenly crashed into my arms. It was Lily Greene, the daughter of the Greene family from the north side of town, someone I never thought I’d meet here. She was wearing a red spaghetti strap dress, her skin looking even fairer under the bar lights, her eyes hazy with a hint of drunkenness. She looked up at me, a half-smile playing on her lips, “Jack Miller? Did you really break up with Emma White?” I nodded, not saying much. Lily didn’t seem to mind my coldness. She leaned in closer to me and said in a low voice, “Actually, I’ve always liked you. It’s just that you were with Emma before, so I didn’t dare say anything.” I was shocked, but quickly regained my composure. Now, I no longer had the mood to consider these emotional entanglements. I gently pushed her away, saying coolly, “Lily, thank you for your kindness, but right now I just want to be alone.” However, just as I turned to leave, Lily suddenly lost her balance and fell forward. I quickly reached out to steady her, but it was too late. She collapsed onto me, followed by the sound of urgent vomiting. I sighed helplessly, having to temporarily abandon my thoughts of leaving. After thinking for a moment, I realized it wouldn’t be right to leave a girl alone in the bar. I called a driver to take us to a hotel, got a room for Lily, and was about to leave. “Jack, don’t go,” her voice was unclear, but I could hear she was calling me. I looked at her small face, flushed from alcohol, and suddenly felt a strange emotion welling up inside me. I knew her confession now was just an impulse under the influence of alcohol. I should stay calm and not let myself get caught up in it. But when I saw those hazy eyes, that look of closeness and dependence, my heart involuntarily softened. As she tugged at me, I sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at her, my heart full of conflicting emotions. “Jack, I like you,” she mumbled again, then grabbed my hand and placed it on her face. “Don’t go, stay with me, please?” At that moment, I really couldn’t resist her innocent yet slightly coquettish tone.

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In my previous life, my dad disappeared mysteriously after going mountain climbing, but we found a suicide note he’d left in a drawer beforehand. He claimed he was bankrupt, depressed, and had let Mom and me down, so he ended his life on the mountain. The police found Dad’s clothes and bloodstains at the foot of a cliff. Mom blamed herself, thinking she’d driven Dad to his death, and fell into a deep depression. It wasn’t until I had to take a part-time job as a food delivery driver to pay off Dad’s debts that I discovered the owner of a luxurious mansion had the same ordering habits as my deceased father. I started investigating and found that the mansion was occupied by my supposedly dead father and his soulmate. My father noticed my investigation, and to keep the truth hidden, he brutally murdered Mom and me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Dad said he was going mountain climbing. I smirked. Since you’re so eager to die, I’ll help you on your way. In the darkness, the sound of running water in the bathroom was unusually clear. The man in the shower was humming a tune, his mood far too cheerful for someone about to end his life. I tiptoed over to his freshly packed bag and immediately spotted the plastic bag containing the bloodstained clothes. This was it. Today was the day. In my previous life, my father, Richard Grant, had deliberately sent Mom and me away, left a suicide note, and faked his death by jumping off a cliff. After he went missing, the police found the bloodstained clothes at the foot of the mountain and concluded he “couldn’t have survived.” When Grandma heard this “terrible news,” she slapped Mom ten times with her wrinkled hands. “You two women drove my son to his death!” she screeched. “If it weren’t for you, you vain woman, my son wouldn’t have needed to start a company. He went bankrupt and couldn’t even tell you, so he had to go and die in secret…” The suicide note was full of Dad’s heartache and love for us, with only a brief mention of the astronomical debts he owed at the end. When Mom learned the truth, she was devastated. For the rest of her life, she lived in a cycle of debt repayment and self-blame. As for my grandmother, who was supposed to be “outliving her own child,” she had already secretly claimed a huge insurance payout and was traveling the world. A few years later, I accidentally discovered the truth about Dad’s fake death. It turned out that the luxurious mansion I often delivered food to was home to my father, who should have been long dead! He and his soulmate, Rose Simmons, already had a child together and were living an idyllic life in their 10,000-square-foot home. After staking out the place a few times, I even saw my grandmother, who would often come to our house crying poverty and begging for money! Unfortunately, they discovered me during my quest for the truth. At Rose’s urging, my biological father, Richard Grant, stabbed me twenty-one times. “I brought you into this world, so it’s only fitting that I send you out,” he said. As I lay bleeding and in agony, I was reborn, back to the day before my dad’s departure.

Quickly piecing together my memories from my past life, I was determined not to let my dad succeed this time. After his shower, thinking no one was home, Dad made a phone call without any attempt to hide his words. “Don’t worry, Rose. By dawn, we’ll be together forever.” “The money’s being processed. We just need to wait three more days for it all to be laundered and transferred to our account.” “I know Wendy’s personality best. Even her daughter knows she’s a love-struck fool. Once I get my mom to put on a crying act, she’ll definitely shoulder all the debts herself…” As a husband intent on squeezing every last penny from his wife, Richard Grant knew my mom inside out. For over a decade, he’d been the pinnacle of a loving husband and father on social media! Initially, everyone who doubted him for marrying above his social status gradually changed their minds. In my previous life, after the suicide note was discovered, many people even consoled Mom. They said Dad wasn’t a bad person at heart, just unlucky. Who could have imagined he would fake his own death to commit insurance fraud with a fortune in tow? As dawn broke, I heard Dad’s footsteps in the living room. It seemed he was eager to leave. After the door slammed shut, I emerged from my hiding place in the storage room and headed straight for the study. In the open drawer lay the freshly written suicide note, the ink still glistening. The contents were etched in my memory. “My beloved Wendy, this is the last love letter I’ll ever write to you. It’s my fault that I couldn’t give you the life you deserved, even after trying my hardest. Meeting you used up all my luck in this world.” “The company’s situation is dire, and I can no longer sustain it. I’m sorry I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. The only way out now is death.” “Please don’t grieve after I’m gone. All I ask is that you take care of my mother. We’ve been alone for so long, and it hasn’t been easy. Even as a spirit in another world, I’ll watch over you and our daughter. Your departed husband, Richard.” The back of the note was covered in bills. Just a few of those numbers added up would be enough to crush our mother-daughter duo for the rest of our lives. In my previous life, this suicide note was “accidentally” discovered by my grandmother. At the time, despite being barely literate, she immediately recognized what was inside and read it aloud in front of everyone. Every word dripped with false sentiment, but the countless unpaid bills were a harsh reality. Mom was already dazed from Grandma’s beating at that point. Looking back now, it was full of holes. With a loud rip, I tore the absurd paper to shreds. I opened the laptop in the study and found Dad’s company email. I easily logged in using a combination of Rose’s birthday. If it’s a suicide note he wants, I can write one too. In the email, I composed a new suicide note in Dad’s voice, pouring out his heart. I detailed how he had driven the company to bankruptcy and his plans to fake his death and run away. I confessed all the methods of his scheme in crystal clear detail. At the end, I made sure to express his earth-shattering love for Rose Simmons, his secretary and lover. “My darling Rose, don’t worry. The secret overseas account will contact you soon. Even if the whole company has to go down with me, I won’t let you suffer a single day of hardship.” The true recipient of this suicide note shouldn’t be my mom. Feeling satisfied with my handiwork, I hit the send button to all 305 contacts. The outbox instantly filled with countless records. Outside, the sky had fully brightened, and I received a message from the hiker I’d asked to keep watch. The short video showed Dad taking out the bloodstained clothes from the plastic bag, meticulously staging his own death scene. Through the screen, I watched everything with a cold smirk. “Oh, Dad, why rush to die when your grand love affair hasn’t even been witnessed by the world yet?”

When the police came to the door, I deliberately sent Mom away and answered it myself. “Hello, are you Richard Grant’s family?” one officer asked. “We received a report that he’s been missing for over twenty-four hours. We’re here to gather some information.” “That’s impossible, officer. My dad is on a business trip in New York. How could he be missing?” I replied calmly. “Are you sure he went on a business trip?” the officer pressed. Facing the police inquiry, I explained with composure. “Of course. My dad told us himself the night before last. Let me call my mom; she should still have the voice message Dad sent on her phone.” “By the way, officer, who reported this?” The two policemen glanced at their body cameras and exchanged looks. “Um, the reporter’s name is Rose Simmons. She said she’s the company secretary.” Things were starting to get interesting. Just then, the elevator doors behind us opened. “Wendy Curtis, you poisonous woman! Give me back my son’s life!” my grandmother shouted before she even saw our faces. Behind her were a bunch of relatives, all trying to squeeze in with an intimidating air. Her small, frail body swung a cane, aiming for my head. “Ava, who are you talking to at the door? Why haven’t you come in yet?” Mom called out, finally drawn by the commotion. Sharp-eyed, I quickly pulled Mom down to duck, and the tall police officer swiftly caught the cane. “Hey, why are you swinging that as soon as you arrive? Who are you people?” the officer demanded. “I’m her mother-in-law. She killed my son, so I have every right to hit her!” Grandma retorted self-righteously. The police were clearly displeased with Grandma’s words. “Ma’am, we live in a society governed by law. Even if you’re her mother-in-law, you can’t just hit people.” “Besides, the report we received only mentioned a missing person. How are you so certain your son is dead?” The atmosphere in the hallway suddenly shifted. Mom, still unaware of the truth, looked completely bewildered. I briefly explained to her about Dad being reported missing, and Mom immediately lost her composure. She took out her phone, about to try calling Dad, when Grandma snatched it away. “Stop pretending! My son must have been driven to his death by you,” Grandma accused. “Mom, what are you talking about? Richard told us himself he was going on a business trip to New York. Why do you insist he’s dead?” Mom snapped back, grabbing her phone. She found Dad’s voice message and played it for everyone to hear. The brief message clearly stated his destination and purpose. “Wendy, I’m heading to New York for a business trip. You and Ava should stay at your dad’s place for a couple of days!” The relatives who had been quick to jump to conclusions now looked at Grandma suspiciously. After all, they knew what kind of person she was. “That’s definitely Richard’s voice. That boy has always spoken softly, raised by his mother to be as delicate as a little girl,” one aunt commented. “Wait, how did Third Aunt know her son was gone?” another relative asked. “Yeah, we came in such a rush. On the way here, Third Sister kept repeating only one thing—that her son was driven to death by his daughter-in-law. When we asked for more details, she would just cry.” “Could there be some misunderstanding? We shouldn’t stick our necks out just for a free meal.” So all this commotion was just for a free meal? Grandma sure was stingy. Just like in my previous life. After receiving the huge insurance payout, Grandma had kept a large portion for herself. She traveled, wined, and dined, showing off her luxurious life in the family group chat, making everyone envious. Later, if it weren’t for her refusing to lend money to her own nephew for medical treatment, I wouldn’t have learned from my cousin about Grandma’s lavish lifestyle while she cried poverty. Too bad, I thought. She probably won’t even get to treat them to that meal now.

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I thought my fiancé and I, childhood sweethearts, had a true connection unlike other business marriages. Who knew that on the day we announced our engagement, the real heiress would be found. My fiancé, who once treasured me, now demanded I bow down to the real heiress at every turn. “You need to understand your place. If you hadn’t been occupying Emily’s position all this time, she would surely be more accomplished than you.” My excellence became their excuse to suppress me. They put the real heiress’s name on my work. Even my parents’ keepsakes were destroyed in the real heiress’s fit of anger. Since this family doesn’t like me, I’ll leave. But why is my fiancé, who always urged me to submit, now the first to bow his head? “This jewelry is my latest design. I hope everyone will like it,” Emily Anderson said on stage, elegantly bowing to thank the audience after explaining her design concept. The applause was thunderous, but I stared blankly at the piece on stage. This work was clearly something I had spent three months designing. I had even watched my fiancé accompany me to submit this piece. But why was it now Emily’s competition entry and concept? The murmurs around me felt like needles, each one piercing my heart. “So this is the Anderson heiress? She’s beautiful and talented. Looks like the Anderson family has a successor.” “Wasn’t the Anderson heiress different before?” “You’re behind on the news. The original Sophie Evans was switched at birth. This is the real heiress.” At this, several gazes fell on me, making me uncomfortable. “Come to think of it, Emily’s story is tragic. She was switched away for no reason. What Sophie’s parents did was criminal. It’s thanks to Emily’s kindness that this imposter is still allowed to stay in the family.” “This imposter has the nerve to keep staring at someone else’s work. Who knows what she’s thinking!” The voices were so loud that they caught the judges’ attention. “What’s all this commotion about?” I bit my lip and pointed at the work on stage: “That piece is mine.” Emily’s face changed slightly, and she immediately stepped forward to mediate. “Sister, this is my first public appearance. Do you have any issues with me?” She lowered her voice, her eyes reddening: “Sister, I know you resent me for coming back and taking your identity, but I am the Anderson daughter. I won’t yield to you in this matter.” “I spent months creating this piece. You can’t just claim it as your own for public recognition!” Emily cried, her tears barely held back, arousing sympathy from many. The most sympathetic was my fiancé, William Parker, who had just arrived. Seeing this scene, he blurted out: “Sophie, I’ve told you many times, Emily is the real Anderson heiress.” “Why can’t you just give in to Emily a bit and save me some worry?” I stared at my fiancé in disbelief. What did he mean by saying I couldn’t give in to Emily a bit? The piece on stage was something he had helped me create step by step. He knew best that I was innocent. Why did he accuse me without asking a single question? The disdainful gazes of the crowd around me felt like a tidal wave, drowning me. Bearing the pressure from everyone, I looked at William and said word by word: “This piece is mine.”

William’s face showed panic, and he instinctively glanced at the piece a few times. Emily said tearfully: “Sister, that’s clearly my work. You can’t steal my work just to become famous!” “I know you resent me for coming back to this family and taking what was yours, but have you ever thought that those things originally belonged to me?” Emily was beautiful, showing no signs of mistreatment. In fact, perhaps due to genetics, she looked more like an heiress than I did. She stood there, looking pitiful and delicate. Everyone present couldn’t help but side with her. The one who sided with her the most was my fiancé, William. His face looked troubled, and his eyes held a hint of suppressed pain when he looked at me. Even his voice trembled slightly: “Sophie, look at the mess you’ve caused.” He couldn’t help but pull me aside and said: “I know you want to be famous, but don’t you want to be with me?” “If you just let Emily have this championship, she’ll surely support our relationship in the future.” I was stunned, staring blankly at the man before me. So it was he who had given my work to Emily. No wonder my competition entry had ended up in Emily’s hands. After all, I had trusted him too much. After finishing the design, I was tired and asked him to submit the work for me. “Why? Why must I give the championship to Emily? You know this piece is my heart and soul.” “You stayed up late with me, watching this piece come to life under my hands. To me, it’s like my child. Now you’re asking me to give it to Emily. On what grounds?” As I spoke, I became agitated and even angry. But William’s reaction was even stronger. “Your parents deliberately switched Emily away, making her suffer for so many years.” “You lived in the Anderson mansion, enjoyed the best resources, lived a privileged life. Shouldn’t you feel guilty?” William looked at me with disappointment, as if I had committed some unforgivable sin. My hands trembled slightly. Why was he so sure my parents had switched Emily? When Emily found her way back to the Anderson family, my parents had already passed away. She looked so much like Mrs. Anderson that she didn’t even need a DNA test to confirm her identity. In her account, she had suffered greatly. My parents didn’t let her go to school, were cold to her, and made her do all kinds of chores. Whenever my parents were slightly displeased, they would beat her severely, and even thought about selling her for a bride price. After my parents died in a car accident, she accidentally found a letter explaining that she was a switched child. She used that letter to find her way to the Anderson family. Overnight, I went from being an heiress to the daughter of criminals. The Andersons felt sorry for this newly found daughter but were unwilling to let me leave. For a time, my situation in this family became awkward. When Emily was found, William was the only one who stood by my side. He knew I loved designing jewelry, so he stayed by my side as I created pieces. I knew the Anderson and Parker families were destined for an arranged marriage. I had occupied Emily’s position, and William’s marriage partner should have been her. So I never thought about competing with her. I just wanted to keep the man I loved by my side in my own way. I had even agreed with my adoptive parents that if I could win this competition’s championship, As long as I stayed with the Anderson family as a designer, they wouldn’t force Emily and William together. But now, my boyfriend was asking me to give the championship to Emily.

I grabbed William’s sleeve and said softly: “William, you know how much effort I put into this piece. My parents…” Before I could finish, William shook off my hand. His expression showed a hint of annoyance as he angrily said: “Enough, Sophie Evans! Do you know how much I’ve sacrificed to be with you?” “Now you just need to give in to Emily a bit, and we can be together soon. But you’re obsessing over your work. Do you really love me?” “What’s more important to you, your so-called work or me?” I stepped back, almost falling to the ground. William left me and returned to the front, apologizing to everyone. “I’m sorry, my girlfriend is still having trouble accepting a new sister. Today’s incident is all a misunderstanding.” Emily, like a sweet and understanding flower, leaned gently against William. They looked very compatible. The audience below whispered among themselves. Their voices were soft, yet seemed loud, each word piercing my heart, extremely harsh. “She occupied Emily’s identity for over a decade. Now that the real heiress is back, she’s unhappy about it.” “Everyone knows her birth parents deliberately switched the children just to give her a better life. She’s no good either. Children take after their parents, don’t they?” “The Parker heir is a good man. Even in this situation, he still wants to be with this imposter.” Every word seemed to prove my unworthiness. This was the second time I had experienced such treatment. The first time was when Emily had just returned, and my adoptive parents heard about their birth daughter’s suffering. They were very dissatisfied with me. That time, William stood behind me. But this time, I was alone and helpless. Even William, who had always helped me, was now standing on stage, looking down at me from above. I took a deep breath and loudly interrupted: “I’m not crazy. I’m just stating the facts.” “Since it’s your work, you must know it very well, right?” Emily confidently said: “Of course!” She then went on to explain in detail what I had originally told William. “Every detail on this piece was designed by my own hand. How could I not know the details of this work?” “This piece is called ‘True Love,’ hoping that all girls can find their true love.” “Even the cutting method and design concept of this jewelry are my original creations, which will be used in Anderson Jewelry in the future.” These were the words I had originally told William. He didn’t know much about jewelry, but to make me happy, he had always stayed by my side. Afraid he would be bored, I told him about my design concepts. “William, the cutting method and design concept of this jewelry are my original creations. When they’re used in Anderson Jewelry in the future, my parents will surely be very happy.” At that moment, my heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. So the words I had shared with William, he had already told Emily. What did our vows and the words he said to me mean then? Thinking of this, my voice was filled with a sense of lifelessness. “It’s not called ‘True Love,’ it’s called ‘Queen.’ The creative concept isn’t about every girl finding true love, but telling everyone that girls can be their own queens.” “In the designs I create, I usually leave my own mark. For example, this piece has a ‘Y’ engraved on the innermost part.”

Emily was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting this turn of events. She quickly composed herself and said: “The last letter of your name is ‘Y,’ and so is mine. You happened to know this and are deliberately trying to frame me!” “Judges, I request that this woman be expelled. She’s intentionally disrupting the competition.” No wonder she could pass off my work as her own. She could come up with such a rebuttal in such a short time, and it even sounded reasonable. “Every piece I’ve created before has this ‘Y’ in it. You can check them all.” “You can say I’m slandering Emily with this piece, but when I created those previous works, Emily hadn’t returned to the Anderson family yet. Surely I couldn’t have known her back then?” I had been in the jewelry industry for two or three years. Thanks to the Anderson family, I had many resources invested in me. I had created several pieces before, all well-received. Many people knew about my previous works, and some had even bought them at auctions as collectibles. But as soon as I finished speaking, William let out a cold laugh. Emily said gently: “Sophie, all your works have been collected by William. He knows there’s no such symbol in those pieces.” “I’ll overlook this incident for our parents’ sake. Please don’t make any more trouble in the future.” I was stunned for a moment and looked at William. In front of everyone, William shook his head. “There’s no such symbol on Sophie’s works.” My heart sank completely, and even my blood seemed to freeze. Security guards dragged me out of the competition. I had been driven here by the Anderson family’s chauffeur, but now he was gone. My phone had fallen in the venue during the scuffle, so I could only walk back. By the time I returned to the Anderson house, William and Emily had already arrived. They sat on the sofa, with Mr. and Mrs. Anderson warmly congratulating Emily on winning the championship. William gently stroked Emily’s hair. “Actually, it was Brother William who gave me a lot of inspiration!” Emily said happily, showing off her trophy to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. “William has always been a good boy. As for your marriage…” Seeing me return, the air suddenly became silent. William’s gentle smile faded as he stood up and walked towards me. “Sophie, you’re back. I have good news to tell you.” “Your parents have agreed to our relationship. We can get married soon.” William’s voice carried a hint of joy. How ridiculous. This man had stolen my work and given it to another woman, even standing against me. Despite all this, he still firmly believed I would be with him. In that moment, I didn’t want to pursue anything anymore. Losing one piece of work to recognize this scumbag was actually a good thing. I spoke calmly: “No need. Let’s cancel our marriage plans.” I raised my head and looked at William, my eyes showing a hint of reluctance that quickly faded. “Our engagement was originally between the Parker and Anderson families. Now that Emily is back, she’s your real fiancée. As for me, I should return to my original status.”

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