His 99th Broken Glass When Julian smashed his ninety-ninth glass, I finally broke up with him. He exploded in rage. “Just because of a broken glass?” “Eleanor Vance, don’t forget you were the one who came begging!” I hadn’t forgotten. He was the one who broke the deal first, forgetting what he’d promised me. For the past two years, playing his trophy girlfriend, he thought I was obedient and docile. He had no idea. His ‘one who got away,’ his childhood sweetheart, his trophy girlfriend – none of them wanted to stay by his side. When Grandma Helen was hospitalized, Julian found me and offered a deal: be his girlfriend for three years, and he’d get Grandma Helen the best specialist. I couldn’t refuse. The doctors had said Grandma Helen’s illness was critical. I begged Julian to keep his word. Grandma Helen was the only family I had left. He agreed immediately, a smug, self-satisfied look on his face. “Right, what was your name again?” “My name is Eleanor Vance.” His expression shifted. A subtle, scrutinizing gaze, a condescending judgment washing over his face. He asked, “Is that… like *her* name?” I replied, “It’s from an old poem my grandma loved, about spring and renewal. Like ‘verdant green,’ but with a deeper meaning.” He scoffed. “Lost on me.” “Like ‘green,’ but not just the color.” He snorted. “Sounds awful.” He clearly had no taste. I loved the name Grandma Helen had given me. Julian took me to a bar, parading me in front of his friends like a new toy. “You’ve still got it, Julian!” someone flattered him. “You snap your fingers, and they come running!” He puffed out his chest, smug. “Women? Easy pickings.” The only one who actually greeted me was Brandon Miller. He smiled. “Good evening, future Mrs. Hayes.” Julian corrected him, sneering that I was just a mistress, not worthy of such a title. His attitude was so rude, I almost thought I’d misheard him earlier. But no, my hearing and memory were just fine. He’d simply decided he no longer wanted to acknowledge me as his girlfriend. I didn’t argue. I was terrified of angering him, of him backing out on our deal. “Hey, Julian, does she even drink?” Julian looked utterly confident, as if a simple drink was something everyone naturally knew how to handle. But I didn’t. Grandma Helen had always said drinking was bad for your health. “Julian, you’ve got yourself a real trophy girlfriend here!” Julian, for no apparent reason, exploded. He smashed the glass in his hand. “You can’t even drink! You’re an embarrassment!” I figured the only thing Julian was good at was drinking. Every time I went to a bar with him after that, he’d down more drinks than I could count. I’d occasionally worry he’d get alcohol poisoning, but he never did. When Julian got drunk, he’d suddenly start looking for me. “Sera… Sera—” Surprised, I hesitantly walked over, and he pulled me into a tight embrace. “Sera! Where did you go…” I was completely flustered when Brandon Miller walked over, coolly looking down at me. “Future Mrs. Hayes.” I looked up. Brandon sighed dramatically. “Julian’s not calling you. He’s calling his ‘one who got away’ ex-girlfriend—Seraphina Lockhart.” Seraphina Lockhart. The one he’d never truly gotten over. It clicked in an instant. I finally understood why Julian had asked about my name earlier – he was thinking of his ‘one who got away’ ex-girlfriend. “Three years ago, Seraphina went abroad for her studies, and they broke up. He’s never gotten over her.” Brandon said this, looking utterly moved. I didn’t quite get it. Julian didn’t strike me as the ‘deeply in love’ type. Anyway, if he wasn’t looking for me, but Seraphina, there was no point in me staying. “Brandon? I need to get back to the hospital to look after Grandma Helen. Could you keep an eye on him?” When I walked into her hospital room, Grandma Helen was knitting a scarf. It was the middle of summer, but I knew she was knitting it for me. She was afraid she wouldn’t live to see winter. She smiled when she saw me, immediately putting down her knitting to peel an apple for me. I didn’t want her to overexert herself. I gently moved both the apple and the scarf out of reach, then, under her slightly resigned gaze, I put a hat on her head. Grandma Helen’s hair had been shaved off, and I worried she’d be cold. “Grandma, don’t rush the scarf. Winter’s still a long way off.” “The doctors said a brilliant specialist is coming for your surgery. My Grandma Helen is going to live to be a hundred!” Julian was truly a high-handed jerk, always smashing glasses, but when it came to Grandma Helen’s illness, he was more attentive than I’d expected. He brought in the specialist, scheduled the surgery for three months later, and even hired two nurses to help me care for Grandma Helen. So, when he told me to move into the Hayes estate and learn household duties with Mrs. Gable, and how to cater to him, I acted perfectly obedient. He seemed satisfied. “A woman should know her place,” he said. I started learning how to be Julian’s trophy girlfriend – like always bringing him a glass of warm water after one of his hangovers. Under the nurses’ diligent care, Grandma Helen’s condition improved day by day, and I gradually caught up on my missed studies. At that point, I was truly grateful to Julian. I even thought I’d be a good trophy girlfriend and keep him satisfied.

Two months later, Julian’s ‘one who got away,’ Seraphina Lockhart, came back for a vacation. She’d heard Julian had a mistress, and she was curious. So Julian brought me out to show me off to her. “So, you’re Eleanor Vance?” Her hair was styled in soft curls. In the flashy, vibrant bar, she wore a simple white dress, looking every bit the pristine ‘one who got away.’ Brandon introduced her to me: “Future Mrs. Hayes, this is Seraphina.” Seraphina raised an eyebrow, surprised. “You call *her* Mrs. Hayes?” “Brandon,” Julian snapped, his face sour. “I told you, she’s not worthy of any title.” “Julian’s right. Not just anyone can be compared to Seraphina.” “What are you saying? Does Seraphina even *need* to be compared to anyone? She just has to stand there, and everyone will hand her whatever she desires.” “An international elite like her is just different. Some people will never leave their hometown. Guess that’s just fate.” It sounded like deriving superiority from me made them very happy. I looked at Julian. He was staring at Seraphina, as if he were deaf, or perhaps he just didn’t care. Seraphina, however, remained perfectly composed. “I hear you’re a student at a top university? You attend classes during the day and sleep at night. I’m just curious how you manage to care for Julian.” With just that one sentence from Seraphina, Julian’s face immediately darkened. I frowned, confused. “I don’t just sleep as soon as I get home from school…” Julian cut me off, his voice cold. “Enough! Seraphina has a point. You’re always going to school, running back and forth between here and there. It’s a waste of time!” “Tomorrow, you’re going to drop out!” I stared at Julian, utterly disbelieving. Just because of one illogical comment from Seraphina, he wanted me to drop out of a top university?! Brandon Miller actually started applauding, saying it was a great idea. I thought they were all insane. I looked at Julian defiantly. His brows furrowed in fury. “What kind of impression are you making, running around outside all day?!” “Besides, if you drop out, won’t you have more time to look after that old woman? I’m doing this for your own good!” His words did remind me. Grandma Helen hadn’t had her surgery yet. I heard my own voice, trembling. “…Fine.” I dropped out. Julian didn’t come back until the third morning. The moment he walked in, he started throwing my belongings out. “Didn’t I buy you clothes? Do you think your own rags are presentable?!” What counted as ‘presentable’ clothes? I didn’t get it. Julian, dressed in thousands of dollars worth of designer clothes, was throwing my things around, looking anything but dignified. He started tossing things off my desk. “Wait! Julian, that’s the necklace Grandma Helen gave me. Throw out whatever else you want, just not this!” I lunged forward, snatching the necklace from his hand. He looked absolutely enraged. I suspected he wanted to hit me, but he opted to just smash another glass instead. “Don’t play the victim. Do whatever you want, just don’t let me see you wearing it.” I clutched the necklace tightly, promising I wouldn’t wear it out. But Julian wasn’t done with me. “Who said you could even go out? As long as Seraphina is here, you’re not leaving this house!” I couldn’t help but argue. “What does Seraphina have to do with this? Besides, I need to go with Grandma Helen for her surgery in a few days!” “You’re not a doctor, what good would you be there? Just stay put! As long as Seraphina is here, you’re not going anywhere!” When it came to Grandma Helen, I wouldn’t make any concessions to Julian. He locked me in my room, but on the day of the surgery, I jumped out the window. Luckily, Grandma Helen’s surgery was a success. The bad news was, I’d sprained my ankle. While the doctor was wrapping my ankle, Julian stormed into the hospital, with Brandon Miller trailing behind, clearly enjoying the drama. “Eleanor Vance, are you insane?! Jumping from that high building, do you think that makes you look impressive?!” I was actually more afraid his shouting would wake Grandma Helen. Julian was about to continue his tantrum when he suddenly got a call. The fury on his face melted away like butter. “Sera? You’re leaving? Okay, I’ll drive you to the airport right now.” He turned and left. I breathed a huge sigh of relief. Brandon Miller, surprisingly, didn’t leave with him. He found a seat nearby. He smirked. “Your ankle looks lovely, future Mrs. Hayes. Julian clearly doesn’t appreciate it.” I didn’t want to engage. I put my shoes back on. Brandon immediately offered a feigned apology. “Sorry about that, future Mrs. Hayes. Oh, by the way, did you know Julian has a childhood sweetheart fiancée? Briar Rosewood.” “What’s that to me, Mr. Miller?” He clicked his tongue. “Looks like you don’t care for Julian at all, future Mrs. Hayes.” “What’s that to *you*, Brandon Miller?”

When I dropped out, my professors were truly disappointed. But I didn’t let it get me down. I used my free time to self-study and write business proposals. Julian was spending a lot of time at home then – well, it *was* his home. Anyway, he found my messy proposal drafts and dismissed them as childish nonsense. I tuned out his cutting remarks. As long as he didn’t interfere, I was fine. Two days later, he suddenly had his female secretary bring me a stack of case studies that weren’t available to the public, saying they were to broaden my horizons. His secretary, Ms. Reid, was very straightforward. “These proposals are excellent. Just ‘broadening your horizons’ would be a waste.” I actually smiled, genuinely. I really did like these, far more than the flashy, impractical clothes Julian bought me. Julian watched me, sipping his water, and somehow, his hand slipped, smashing another glass. He covered his awkwardness by bringing up a fireworks display that night, asking if I wanted to go with him. I was genuinely unaccustomed to him acting… normal. The short period between Seraphina leaving and Briar arriving was one of the few times I could call peaceful, almost lulling me into complacency. Julian still occasionally drank with his friends. When he got drunk, he’d barely recognize anyone, calling me “Sera,” and saying he wanted to be with “Sera.” I felt a flicker of something, and then confusion. I wasn’t sure which ‘Sera’ he was calling for. The drunk wouldn’t listen. He just kept repeating, “Sera, we’re going to be together forever.” I thought about it, then patted his hand, promising that as long as he didn’t do anything to betray me, I could try to be with him. Julian seemed to smile. But I didn’t notice, continuing, “Still, forever is too long. We only have three years.” The next morning, Julian left, looking absolutely furious. I thought he was feeling unwell, but he didn’t drink the honey water I’d left on the table for him. I tidied up the table, then went to accompany Grandma Helen for her follow-up. The doctor said her illness had a chance of recurrence and it would be best for her to stay for observation. As soon as I got back to the Hayes estate, I saw a strange woman, wearing a pink sundress, laughing playfully with Julian. Julian, currently, looked utterly delighted. That girl was Briar Rosewood, the childhood sweetheart Brandon Miller had mentioned, the one engaged to Julian. “Julian, darling, who is *she*? How can just anyone walk in here?!” Briar saw me before Julian did. She tightened her grip on his arm. Julian replied coldly, “She’s nothing.” I didn’t want to be ‘nothing,’ so I told Briar directly that I was Julian’s mistress. “What?! How could Julian, darling, be interested in *you*? Is your family incredibly rich?” “No, I’m from a very modest background.” “Then… are you a brilliant student?” Her words truly stung. I glanced at Julian; he was gazing at Briar with doting eyes. “…I didn’t finish college.” Briar refused to believe I was so utterly useless. She turned to Julian for confirmation. Julian said, “Alright, Briar, she really is just someone I keep around for fun.” Briar’s gaze turned hostile as she looked at me. “Oh, I see. My apologies for earlier, Eleanor dear.” Briar was clearly calling me that on purpose. Julian glared at me, displeased, then ruffled Briar’s hair. “Just call her by her name. Seraphina doesn’t like being mimicked.” “But that’s so rude, Julian, darling.” “Hmm… I’m a little hungry. Would Eleanor, um, be upset if I asked her to make me dinner, Julian, darling?” Julian gestured at me with a flick of his head. “What are you waiting for? Go!”

Briar was truly like a songbird. The moment she arrived, the entire Hayes estate filled with laughter. I silently listened as I chopped vegetables in the kitchen. Distracted, I sliced my index finger, staining the entire cutting board red with blood. I walked out of the kitchen and heard Julian inviting Briar to stay over. “Julian, darling, Eleanor, um, won’t be unhappy if I stay here, will she?” Briar, again, saw me first. She asked Julian the question, but her eyes were deliberately fixed on me. Julian replied, “Of course not. What’s wrong with a little sister staying at her big brother’s house for a night? Let her try to frown, I dare her!” Briar tilted her head, a smug smile on her face. “Oh, Eleanor dear, why are you out here?” I replied flatly, “Cut my hand.” Julian immediately jumped in to defend Briar. “I bet you just don’t want to cook for Briar! Such a tiny cut, and you’re already being dramatic!” I thought Julian must have bad eyesight. Briar had clearly seen my blood on the floor. “Alright, Julian, darling, let her deal with it. It doesn’t look good to have blood everywhere. I’d rather go out to eat with you~” Hearing Briar say that, I started walking upstairs. Julian roared, furious. “Eleanor Vance, stop right there! What’s with the attitude?! And don’t you dare give me that look!” Heaven knows, I wasn’t. “Julian, you two go out. I’m going to bed.” “Eleanor Vance! If you go back to your room, don’t you *ever* come out again!” Forever again. He always uttered ‘forever’ so casually. Anyone with a modicum of sense would know he couldn’t actually lock me up forever. If I wanted to leave, even if it meant jumping out a window, I would do it. Briar came to find me privately, telling me to leave Julian quickly so she wouldn’t have to deal with me. I was curious. Had she really loved Julian for twenty years just because of a verbal engagement? “What business is it of yours?!” Of course, it wasn’t my business. I told her I wouldn’t be leaving Julian for now. I’d promised to be Julian’s girlfriend for three years. I always kept my word. Integrity wasn’t a mistake. She scoffed. “I think *you’re* the one who’s been in love with him for twenty years.” She walked away, then suddenly turned back. “Oh, right, Julian, darling, asked me to call you downstairs.” I didn’t know what Julian’s latest fit was about. He pulled me into his car, said nothing, and floored the accelerator harder than he did when racing. “Where are you taking me?” He didn’t answer. The car screeched to a halt in front of a hotel. His face was grim. I had a creeping sense that something bad was about to happen. The next second, I heard him ask, “Eleanor Vance, do you like me?” I countered, “What about you, Julian? Do *you* like me?” “…How could I possibly like you?” “I like girls like Briar. As for you, no education, no background – don’t be delusional.”

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This year, the weather authorities had issued multiple extreme heat alerts. Our company’s new CEO Assistant suggested we all go to a forest in the wilderness to escape the heat. But I’d been reading the news. The place she suggested had recently seen a surge in Chikungunya fever cases. This disease is primarily spread by mosquitoes, and the area she picked was swarming with them. Going there now would be a death wish! I immediately rejected her proposal and shared the news report in the company chat. Everyone was furious, accusing the assistant of ill intent, saying she wanted to send them to their deaths. The assistant was shamed into not coming to work. Then, she live-streamed her suicide attempt, leaping from a high-rise. In the live stream, she cried desperately, explaining that she hadn’t seen the news, and her suggestion to go there was genuinely for everyone’s well-being. Her death shocked the entire company. Later, my CEO husband teamed up with all our colleagues, stripped me bare, tied me up, and left me in the wild forest. I was bitten by countless mosquitoes, suffered a severe infection, and died. When I woke up again. I was back to the day the assistant, Chloe Miller, suggested we go to the wild forest to escape the heat. This time, I smiled and agreed. “That’s a great idea.” … “I see everyone’s been looking so drained from the heat lately, and work efficiency is terrifyingly low. How about I talk to the CEO and ask him to take us on a trip to escape the heat?” “I’ve already picked out the perfect spot! I did so much research to find this untouched, pristine forest. I heard it’s really cool and comfortable there.” “Much better than just blasting the AC here, don’t you think, Alice?” Her words jolted me awake. It finally hit me—was I reborn? I was back on the day Chloe Miller suggested that summer retreat in the wild forest. The weather this year was abnormal. Temperatures soared past 104 degrees Fahrenheit, with constant heat advisories. Even with air conditioning at the office, my colleagues were still miserable from the heat, completely unmotivated to work. As the company’s Vice President, all I could do was try to shorten their work hours. Chloe Miller, the new assistant, wanting to win everyone over, suggested a company-funded summer outing to beat the heat. The proposal was met with unanimous support, but I flat-out rejected it. I had just seen the news: the place Chloe Miller suggested had a high incidence of Chikungunya fever outbreaks. And since this disease is mainly transmitted by mosquitoes, her idea of going to an undeveloped wild forest meant it had never been treated for insects. It would be swarming with mosquitoes. Going there now would be no different from signing our own death warrants. My rejection drew some不满 (displeasure) from my colleagues, but constrained by my Vice President title and the difficulty of finding jobs these past few years, they swallowed their resentment. Seeing their resentful expressions, I sighed and shared the official health report about the outbreak in our company WhatsApp group. Only then did my colleagues understand me. They immediately turned around and accused Chloe Miller of ill intent, saying she knew how dangerous it was but still wanted to lead them to their deaths. Chloe Miller was ostracized and live-streamed her suicide attempt from home. She lost her footing, slipped, and actually fell to her death. In the live stream, she cried, explaining that she hadn’t seen the news, didn’t know there was an outbreak there, and that her intentions were good. She even claimed I was intentionally targeting her because she was prettier, and I was afraid she’d steal my husband. Afterward, I tried my best to explain. But my CEO husband, David Cheney, stripped me bare, tied me up, and threw me into the wild forest teeming with mosquitoes. “You said mosquito bites would kill you? Then I’ll wait and see if you die. If you do, I’ll believe you’re innocent. But if you don’t, I’ll personally make sure you go down to apologize to Chloe.” Remembering the agony of the mosquito bites, the despair before my death, I decided this time, I wouldn’t save these cold-hearted bastards. I looked down, adjusted my clothes, and composed my expression. My smile had never looked so genuinely sincere. “I think Chloe’s idea is really good. I see everyone’s been working so hard. So, Chloe, why don’t you go talk to the CEO?” Chloe hadn’t expected me to agree so readily. She was ready to argue her case, to put on a grand show of fighting for everyone’s well-being. My easy agreement forced her prepared speech back down her throat, her face twisting into an unreadable, almost pained expression. But it lasted only a second. Then she was smiling like an innocent little sweetheart, practically skipping past me. “David, I was just about to look for you.” “Look how hot it is, and everyone’s still working so hard, lots of people are getting sick. So I suggested we take everyone to a wild forest to escape the heat. What do you say?” She clung to David’s arm, playfully shaking it, a sugary sweetness in her voice. Completely ignoring me, his actual wife, standing right there. A rare gentle smile appeared on David’s usually stern face, his voice helpless yet doting. “Our Chloe is just so kind, so thoughtful. Unlike some people who only care about money.” “Since you’ve said so, I have no reason to refuse. I’ll leave all the arrangements to you. We’ll follow your lead.” I scoffed internally. They completely disregarded the fact that I was David’s wife. And I knew David’s comment about “some people” was directed at me. After all, I was the one who worked day and night to build the company to its current scale. I only let him be CEO and took the VP role to make him look good, to save his pride. In reality, I handled all the work, and he just enjoyed the good life. And now he was blaming me for only caring about money? In my last life, I would have furiously argued with him. But now, I simply maintained a polite smile, tacitly accepting everything. Chloe saw I wasn’t jealous or angry, which seemed to annoy her even more. But just for a second. Then her eyes darted around, and she came over, linking her arm through mine, acting like we were the best of friends, all sweet and bubbly. “Alice, you’ll be coming too, right?” Before I could say anything, David frowned and cut in. “She’s not going.” “Seeing her just ruins the fun.” “You won’t have a good time if she’s there.” A flicker of triumph crossed Chloe’s eyes, and her smile became even more provocative. “David, everyone’s going. It’s not right to leave Alice behind. You two are married, after all.” I smirked. *Now* you remember we’re married? I didn’t want to go anyway, and was just about to refuse. David’s face hardened, and he impatiently ordered me. “Fine, then you come along. But let me make one thing clear: don’t cause Chloe any trouble, or don’t blame me for not giving you face.” On the day of the outing, the weather continued to heat up. My colleagues wore light clothing, a lot of skin exposed. Only Chloe and I were completely covered in long sleeves and pants. After a three-hour drive, we arrived at the spot Chloe had described. City-dwelling corporate drones rarely got a chance to experience nature. My colleagues were immediately captivated by the scenery. “Chloe found a truly beautiful spot.” “Yeah, and it’s so cool and comfortable here. The office AC can’t even compare.” “Look, there are so many small lakes over there! We can play in the water soon.” Everyone joyfully ran into the forest, heading towards the lakes. But I stayed in the car, not wanting to get out. Chloe saw I had no intention of leaving the car, and her face immediately fell, looking crestfallen. “Alice, are you unhappy with my arrangements?” “But you agreed back at the office.” “I spent days putting together this plan. It’s really a wonderful place. You should come down and join us.” I could tell she wouldn’t give up until she’d dragged me into this. And many colleagues were starting to look over, their faces showing a hint of displeasure. This was Chloe’s goal: to undermine my standing in the company. I sighed and gave her a big smile. “I didn’t say anything. I just wanted to rest a bit before joining you all.” I doused myself in mosquito repellent, pulled my collar high, and tightened my pant legs before finally getting out of the car and heading towards the main group. By the time I arrived, some people had already taken off their clothes and gotten into the water. I frowned, watching the mosquitoes dancing on the water’s surface. That’s when Chloe walked up to me, enthusiastically inviting me to join them in the water. “Alice, it’s so hot, you should take off your clothes and play with us too!” I shook my head, refusing. Chloe immediately looked crestfallen, her eyes welling up like she was about to burst into tears. Just then, David walked over. “Alice, didn’t I warn you not to bully Chloe?” “Get back to the car right now! You’re annoying me.” I let out a sigh of relief, about to turn back to the car. Chloe spoke up again. “David, don’t scold Alice like that. We’re all out here together. How can we just leave her alone in the car while we play?” The surrounding colleagues also gathered around, a cacophony of voices trying to mediate, though their main point was still that I was being a killjoy, practically wanting to rip my clothes off and drag me in themselves. But I wasn’t angry. Once they had said their piece, I pulled out a pregnancy test report from my pocket. “Sorry, I’m pregnant. I can’t join you in the water.” Chloe hadn’t expected this. She stared at me in disbelief, then turned to glare at David, her eyes full of accusation. Before they could react, I continued. “I came today because I didn’t want to spoil everyone’s fun. So, I’ll just go back to the car and wait for you all.” With that, I turned and headed for the car. My colleagues didn’t know what else to say. After all, she was pregnant; if anything happened, no one wanted to be responsible. Chloe’s face went absolutely ashen. She’d clearly planned to trap me, but I hadn’t fallen for it. And now, she’d heard the one thing she never wanted to hear: I was pregnant! David finally snapped out of it, rushing forward to pull Chloe into his arms. Then he whirled around and roared at me: “Why didn’t you say you were pregnant sooner?” “You had to wait until now to say it, making us look like heartless villains who forced you despite your condition! How could you be so cruel? Chloe’s plans were well-intentioned. Your stunt makes her look bad, like she intentionally tried to harm you, leaving her caught between a rock and a hard place.” Listening to his accusations, a bitter taste filled my mouth. He knew I was pregnant, but his first thought wasn’t concern for me or our child. Instead, he blamed me for the timing of my pregnancy, all for another woman. We were once the perfect couple, envied by everyone. When we were broke, we shared every meager meal. When our startup failed, we encouraged and supported each other. Even before Chloe came along, our relationship was still very strong. We never fought; he barely ever even raised his voice at me. When did he start to change? Perhaps the first time Chloe cried in front of him? Or when Chloe hugged him and called him ‘big brother’? Or maybe even earlier, the first time he saw Chloe. That explained why Chloe, someone who hadn’t even finished a decent college degree, had climbed to the position of CEO Assistant in just half a month. I’d tried to tell him many times that Chloe wasn’t suitable for her job; she did nothing but cry. David would just brush me off. Then he’d get a cold look on his face, furious, telling me to mind my own business. Later, he grew colder towards me, showering more attention on Chloe. That’s why he didn’t even know when I’d found out I was pregnant. I didn’t want to look at them anymore and just got into the car. The weather grew hotter. Soon, it would be prime time for the virus-carrying mosquitoes to be active. I watched my lightly dressed colleagues still playing joyfully by the water, while Chloe remained far away, bundled up. Their cheerful shouts occasionally drifted over. “Chloe’s choice of place is truly amazing! I feel alive again.” “Yeah, Chloe is really our lucky star!” “Chloe, anything you need in the future, just say the word. If you say east, I won’t go west.” Seeing the red bites all over their skin, I found it ironic. They were having fun now, and the water was cool, so they didn’t feel much. But staying in there would only increase their risk of infection. Plus, constant movement speeds up blood flow, allowing toxins to quickly spread throughout their bodies. Just as I thought this, as if to confirm my prediction, A frail colleague was the first to feel unwell. He suddenly vomited, then collapsed to the ground, crying out in pain… I rushed over to check on him. His entire body was covered in red rashes, and he was writhing on the ground, screaming in agony… Soon, one after another, colleagues began to collapse, vomiting non-stop, and screaming in pain… I stepped forward, calmly observed them, and said evenly, “They seem to have contracted a virus.” A few female colleagues who hadn’t gone into the water due to their positions stood there, their faces pale. “Sir… Mr. CEO… they really do seem to have contracted a virus!” David looked panicked, and Chloe’s face also went white. “How… how could they get infected so easily…” Unlike David, my expression remained calm.

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My fiancé, Julian, hired a new assistant while I was away on a business trip. She was his junior mentee from college, a classic sweet-faced nuisance. She swapped Julian’s black coffee for a sugary kiddie drink and decorated our professional conference room with giant cartoon pillows. I tried to tell her how unprofessional that was. But Julian frowned, his voice laced with an indulgence I’d never heard directed at me. “Skylar is still just a kid, with a pure heart. You’re older, Anya, be more understanding, don’t be so harsh.” My fingertips went instantly cold. Ten years of dating, seven years building this company side-by-side. I thought we were equals, soulmates, building an empire together. He saw me as a bitter old woman. Fine. A kid, is she? Then I’ll spoil her with you. I swallowed all my advice and just watched Skylar’s little performance unfold, a smile plastered on my face. Until that day, when I watched her personally escort a client, dressed in a bespoke suit, into a rustic farm retreat’s goose pen…

The second round of financing was finally done. I had just landed when my assistant, Chloe, called. “Ms. Stone, Mr. Hayes fired me. He said I was incompetent.” I was stunned. Chloe had been my assistant for three years, always my right hand. Julian, as the company’s co-founder and my fiancé, knew this better than anyone. Why would he suddenly make such a decision? “Chloe, don’t panic. Tell me clearly, what exactly happened?” On the other end, Chloe’s sobbing choked, and her voice became unusually hesitant. “Ms. Stone, you should see this first.” Before she finished speaking, a notification chimed: An unfamiliar social media account, with a small line of text: “Ms. Stone, you’ll understand once you see it.” The moment the avatar popped up, my heart pounded a few frantic beats. That avatar, adorned with a KITTY cat sticker, I had seen it before. Late one night, before my business trip, she had FaceTimed Julian. He hadn’t answered, merely saying dismissively, “I don’t really know this person, must be a wrong number.” As he spoke, he showed me his SnapChat history; it was completely clean, totally blank. I didn’t think much of it. Ten years of shared history, that much trust was a given. But how could this avatar be connected to Chloe getting fired? With a tremor I could barely detect, I tapped into the account. The first pinned post was like an icy needle, piercing directly into my eyes: **[Office Day 1 Check-in!]** **[Making coffee for the CEO, I secretly swapped it for a kiddie drink! (nervous.jpg)]** **[He didn’t even get mad! He even smiled and said I was like a child. He told me to buy two bottles every day from now on, so we can drink them together!]** **[Wuwuwu, another day pampered by the CEO, go go working girl!]** **[Image: A bottle of kiddie drink with a cute straw, sitting on Julian Hayes’ expensive mahogany desk.]** *Boom!* Something exploded in my mind. Kiddie drink? Julian? After ten years together, I knew better than anyone how much he avoided sugar. His family had a severe history of diabetes; his father had passed away early because of it. For years, I hadn’t even dared to buy high-sugar fruits, terrified he might accidentally eat them. He was disciplined to the point of being harsh; candy, cake, and all sugary drinks were strictly forbidden. He always said, “I need to live a long time, to be with you.” But now, he not only agreed to drink a sugary drink with someone else, He even… used that indulgent tone, calling her “a child”? My chest felt squeezed by an invisible hand. I picked up my phone and dialed Julian’s number directly. The long busy signal in the receiver felt like a dull knife sawing at my flesh. Just when I thought it would automatically hang up, it connected. “Hello?” A sickly sweet voice, so saccharine it could make you cringe, answered. “Who are you looking for?” My blood instantly rushed to my head. “Where’s Julian?” “Who are *you*? Didn’t your mother teach you not to call people by their full names? So rude!” *“Click!”* The phone was hung up directly. I gasped for air, my fingertips icy, my palms slick with sweat. Ten years. The awkward teenager who carried me across campus in the pouring rain, the confident man who crammed into a tiny rental with me, eating instant noodles while talking grand ambitions, the steadfast figure who stood in front of me when competitors maliciously attacked us… One image after another, all the trust and warmth I thought were unshakeable, were now thoroughly doused by that phone call and that ridiculous children’s drink. I took deep breaths, trying to convince myself there must be some misunderstanding. After a long while, my trembling body finally calmed, and I hailed a cab to the company. As I stepped out of the executive elevator, I heard a fierce argument.

“Assistant Skylar! This contract must be sent out before ten! Who will take responsibility for millions in losses if we miss the deadline?!” It was Mr. Davis, the Marketing Manager. Always composed, he was now frantic with rage. Immediately following was the voice I’d heard on the phone: “Mr. Davis, don’t shout, you’re scaring me…” Her cloying, sticky voice was like un-melted syrup. “The CEO just fell asleep! What’s more important than his rest? You go back first, and when he wakes up, I promise I’ll tell him right away…” “When he wakes up, things will be way past due! He can rest after signing the contract, the CEO wouldn’t be so irresponsible, now move.” “Oh, why are you like this? Hmph! I’m standing right here, let’s see who dares to go in!” I stood by the elevator door, watching Skylar, dressed in a cutesy, doll-like outfit, acting like a human roadblock, her entire body spread-eagled against the CEO’s office door. Mr. Davis’s forehead throbbed with bulging veins. He wanted to go forward but hesitated, given the gender difference. He could only raise his voice and shout into the office: “Mr. Hayes! Mr. Hayes! Sign this! It’s super urgent!” “It’s no use, Mr. Davis,” Skylar giggled, covering her mouth. “I guessed you guys would argue, so I put noise-canceling headphones on the CEO beforehand! Top-of-the-line too!” She blinked her big eyes, wearing a “Look how smart I am, praise me” expression, but then instantly switched to a pained, teary look of grievance: “Why doesn’t anyone care about the CEO? He works so hard… I’m the only one in the whole company who cares about him…” Rage instantly flooded my limbs. I took a deep breath and quickly stepped forward. “What is going on here?!” The two, who had just been at loggerheads, froze, turning to face me. In the open office area, other employees who had been watching the spectacle seemed to have been put on mute. The air was dead silent, all eyes fixed on me. I walked straight past them, staring coldly at Skylar. My voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an undeniable authority. “Move.” Her face, which had been plastered with “grievance,” changed dramatically the moment she saw me. A flicker of panic crossed her eyes. But the next second, she somehow managed to look self-righteous again. “Ms. Stone, I’m the CEO’s assistant, even if you…” My patience ran out. I raised my hand, and without the slightest hesitation, shoved her away from the door.

The CEO’s office was dimly lit, the heavy curtains drawn. Julian was sprawled in his executive chair, a pair of gigantic, Mickey Mouse-shaped noise-canceling headphones on his head, sleeping soundly. On his desk, a game controller and empty snack bags lay scattered. This sight was like a resounding slap across my face. For three entire months, I had been tirelessly seeking funding and sponsorships, sleeping less than four hours a day. And him? Was *this* what he was busy with? Anger surged. I walked to his side and unceremoniously yanked off his headphones. Julian startled awake, his eyes bleary, an annoyed grunt escaping him. “Who…” When he saw it was me, his annoyance instantly morphed into surprise. “Anya?!” He shot upright, his eyes even brightening. “When did you get back?! Why didn’t you tell me? I would have picked you up at the airport!” His voice was genuinely happy, even carrying a hint of reproach. In the past, I would have thought he loved me deeply. But now, I only found him utterly fake. “Pick me up?” I forced a smile, the curve of my lips icy. “I wouldn’t dare trouble Mr. Hayes.” Perhaps he caught the sarcasm in my words, as Julian’s smile stiffened. I didn’t give him a chance to explain. I picked up the delayed contract and slapped it down in front of him: “Sign it.” “Mr. Davis is at his wit’s end outside. Are millions worth of contracts less important than the CEO’s gaming and beauty sleep?” My words stung him, his face turning an ugly shade of red and white, but he signed it immediately. I handed the contract to Mr. Davis, who looked at me with gratitude. “Go quickly.” Mr. Davis rushed out as if he’d been granted a great pardon. The office door closed again, shutting out countless probing gazes. Inside, only Julian and I remained, and… the uninvited one.

Skylar had somehow slipped back in, limping, tears streaming down her face, looking as if she had suffered the greatest injustice. “CEO…” she whimpered timidly, successfully catching Julian’s attention. “Skylar? What happened to you?” Julian frowned, his voice full of concern. Here we go. I watched with a cold eye, knowing the show was about to begin. “I… I’m fine…” Skylar said so, but then, right in front of Julian and me, she did something astounding— She suddenly bent down, grabbed the hem of her skirt with both hands, and forcefully lifted it! Two smooth legs were exposed to the air. On her left knee, a large, fresh patch of red and swollen bruising was starkly visible. It looked shocking! “Ms. Stone… Ms. Stone pushed me just now… I hit the marble floor…” She lifted her tear-filled face, looking at me accusingly, then quickly lowered her head, her shoulders subtly shaking. I scoffed. How much force had I used when I pushed her? I knew perfectly well. She had stood steady as a rock. And now, she was injured like this? Her acting was so good, it was a waste for her not to be in Hollywood. “Skylar, you…” I began, ready to expose her pathetic act. “I’m sorry! Ms. Stone! It’s all my fault!” But Skylar suddenly bowed deeply, a full ninety degrees, cutting me off. Her voice was thick with sobs and boundless “sincerity.” “I shouldn’t have blocked the door… I just… I just wanted the CEO to rest well…” “If I made you misunderstand, Ms. Stone, and think I was deliberately stopping you… then it’s all my fault! I apologize to you! I’m sorry! Please forgive me!” She remained bent at the waist, her posture utterly humble. The angle was just right for Julian to see her swollen knee and tear-stained eyelashes. My eyes immediately went to Julian. Sure enough. Those eyes, which had once looked at me with complete devotion, were now filled with pity for another woman. And… a hint of dissatisfaction directed at me, almost imperceptible. That look, like a poisoned ice pick, precisely pierced my last shred of illusion. Ten years of unspoken understanding, gone, undone by the tears of a manipulative innocent and a fake bruise. “Enough! Skylar! Get up!” Julian’s face was stern, his voice deliberately raised, sounding stiff. He walked around the desk, quickly moving to Skylar’s side. He wanted to help her up, but hesitated halfway, his hand stopping, aware of my presence. He turned to me, his voice carrying a thinly veiled “explanation”: “Anya, I was the one who gave orders not to be disturbed! It’s not her fault! You… you went too far!” What a “just following orders”! What a “you went too far”! This seemingly “explanation” was, in reality, every word a jab at me! Accusing me of pushing the door, of “disturbing” his rest, and even of “harming” this “innocent” “little assistant” who only had his well-being in mind! A massive sense of absurdity and icy anger swept over me. I didn’t want to argue with him in front of this drama queen; it would only make me look like a hysterical shrew. “Get her out.” I stared at Julian, my voice chillingly calm. Julian seemed to choke on my resolute tone. He looked at Skylar, his voice a soothing coax to a child: “Skylar, go out for now. Didn’t you say you ordered fruit salad? Go hurry them up.” Skylar’s sobbing instantly quieted. She slowly straightened up, pouting, her watery eyes looking at Julian, with a hint of a plea: “CEO… Senior Brother…” “Go,” Julian waved his hand, his voice infinitely gentle. Only then did Skylar, glancing back every few steps, drag her “injured” leg, slowly and limping, out of the office. The door softly closed behind her.

Inside, the air was as frozen as a river of ice. Only Julian and I remained, in a silent standoff. The tenderness on his face from moments ago hadn’t fully faded. When he looked at me, though his face was full of affection, there was also a hint of guilt. I looked at him, his face, familiar from ten years of being together, now felt utterly strange. My nails dug deep into my palms, using the sharp pain to force myself to maintain my last shred of composure. “Why did you fire Chloe?” I asked, my voice steady from extreme effort. “She’s been with me for three years, never made a single mistake, and she wouldn’t be ‘incompetent’ for no reason.” Julian’s eyes flickered, then he adopted a formal, business-like expression. His brow furrowed. “Anya, I know Chloe is your person. But this time, she went too far!” He paused, seemingly weighing his words, or perhaps eager to clear his name. “Yesterday morning, Skylar… oh, Assistant Skylar, was only half an hour late.” “You know, young people, occasionally oversleep, it’s understandable.” “But Chloe? She actually yelled at Skylar in the office, in front of so many people, making her cry!” “Her words were extremely nasty, saying she was ‘ill-mannered’ and ‘holding us back,’ even… even hinting she got her position through improper means!” “This is blatant personal insult! The company is a place of rules; we can’t tolerate this kind of behavior!” “That’s why I fired her. It’s to maintain the company’s image and to give newcomers a fair environment!” “Chloe yelled at her? And insulted her personally?” I almost scoffed. I knew Chloe’s personality better than anyone. If something could be solved by docking pay, she wouldn’t waste an extra word. “Julian, Chloe isn’t that kind of person. She…” “Anya!” Julian abruptly cut me off, his voice suddenly rising, filled with the indignation of his authority being questioned. “What do you mean? Do you think I’m lying? Or do you think Skylar is lying?” He stared directly at me, his gaze sharp and cold. “Skylar is my junior mentee. She has a pure heart, none of your complicated schemes! She cried until her eyes were swollen, do you think she was faking that too?!” “Pure heart? *You guys*?” I repeated his words, each one like a poisoned needle, pricking my heart. That pathetic performance just moments ago was still vivid in my mind, and he believed she had a pure heart, meaning he believed *I* had pushed her. Chloe and I were “you guys,” so, the two of them were “us”? Realizing this made my chest ache, almost suffocating me. The atmosphere instantly dropped to freezing.

Perhaps realizing his tone had been too harsh, Julian’s indignation on his face softened slightly, replaced by an almost condescending “peace-making” gesture. He sighed, his voice softening. “Alright, Anya, I know you’re protective. If you’re really unhappy… I’ll have HR call Chloe back? Just to save face for you.” His tone made it sound as if bringing Chloe back was a huge favor. “Of course she’s coming back.” I stared at him, my voice firm. “Restore her to her original position, with full compensation. Not a cent less.” “But Julian, I can handle that myself. What I want to talk to you about isn’t that at all!” He paused, surprised. “Then what is it?” “It’s *you*!” I took a step forward, glaring at him. “It’s your series of unprofessional behaviors that have fallen below all standards, ever since this ‘pure-hearted’ Skylar came to the company!” “You let her swap black coffee for sugary kiddie drinks.” “Because she was late, you fired a loyal employee who had made significant contributions to the company!” “Tell me, is this still the Julian I’ve known for ten years? I barely recognize you anymore!” Julian was nailed to the spot by my barrage of questions, his face cycling through shades of red and white. He opened his mouth, his eyes shifting with complex emotions. Finally, a familiar, self-satisfied smirk crept onto his lips. He suddenly reached out, trying to pull me closer, but I sidestepped, avoiding his touch. “Anya…” His tone was a mix of helplessness and smugness. “Are you… jealous?” He leaned closer, lowering his voice, intimately. “There’s really nothing going on between us! Professor asked me to help her find a job.” “She’s clumsy and a little clever, which reminds me of our university days… I felt a bit nostalgic, so I indulged her a little.” “I promise! It absolutely won’t happen again! I’ll handle company matters by the book from now on, okay? Don’t be mad?” “Jealous?” Those two words felt like a red-hot iron branding my heart. I looked at his face, wearing that “I’m trying to make you happy” expression, and my stomach churned. Ten years of weathering storms together, and now, at a critical moment with the company on the verge of going public. I was utterly exhausted, trying to talk to him about boundaries, principles, and his appallingly hypocritical and unprofessional conduct. And he just lightly dismissed it as “jealousy”? And blamed it on “nostalgia for youth”? This was no longer simple favoritism; this was a double insult to my intelligence and my character! I was about to make myself clearer when a sudden commotion erupted outside, mixed with a deliberately raised, overly sweet shout: “Everyone’s worked so hard! The CEO is treating everyone to fruit salad! Come and get it!” It was Skylar. Julian and I exchanged a glance, and I saw a clear look of “saved by the bell” relief in his eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, he moved past me, pushed the door open, and walked out.

Skylar flitted around the open office area like a bright butterfly, dragging a massive foam box. Her face was beaming, not a trace of tears or grievance left. Even her “injured” leg seemed perfectly agile now. Seeing Julian and me emerge, her eyes lit up, and she grabbed two fruit salads, scurrying over. “Ms. Stone! CEO! Here, these are yours! They’re super delicious!” Julian took his naturally, even giving her an approving smile. I, however, didn’t move. My gaze fell on the plastic bowls in front of me—the cheap containers were almost transparent, and the bowl walls were stained with suspicious water marks. Cheap fruit, spotted with brown, was submerged in a grayish-white, sticky liquid. When I leaned closer, a strange odor, a mix of artificial flavoring and sourness, hit my nostrils. My brow instantly furrowed. “Assistant Skylar, where did you buy this fruit salad?” Skylar’s smile stiffened for a moment, then she plastered on an even sweeter one. “Just… just near the company, you know.” “Specifically which store?” I pressed, my gaze sharp as a knife. “Name? Address? Do you have a receipt?” Skylar’s face instantly paled. Her eyes began to dart around frantically, her lips trembling, and her voice immediately took on a whimper: “Ms… Ms. Stone… what… what do you mean by that?” “I… I just thought I’d get everyone something nice…” “My… my family isn’t well-off, I never had good things growing up… Maybe… maybe what I bought isn’t up to your standards…” “But you… you don’t have to… insult me like that, do you?” As she spoke, tears came on cue. Paired with that cautious, innocent expression, she looked exactly like a poor, helpless victim being bullied by a cruel villainess. “Insult you?” The anger I’d been holding back exploded! I raised my voice, making sure the entire office could hear clearly: “I’m asking you for the source! This yogurt smells spoiled! Food safety is a serious matter! Everyone, don’t eat these yet!” Silence instantly fell over the office area. The employees who had been given fruit salads froze, exchanging uneasy glances. “Anya Stone! That’s enough!” Julian’s enraged voice boomed. His face was ashen, his eyes like knives, cutting into me, filled with unbelievable fury and… deep concern for Skylar. As if to prove a point, or perhaps to spite me. He abruptly tore off the lid of his own bowl and, in front of everyone, aggressively scooped several large spoonfuls into his mouth, chewed them haphazardly, and swallowed! “I ate it! I think it’s fine!” He slammed the empty bowl onto a nearby desk with a dull *thump*. Then, his gaze, sharp as a blade, swept across every employee in the room, carrying blatant pressure and warning: “The CEO is treating, it’s a kind gesture! Everyone, don’t hold back!” The air solidified. Under immense pressure, some employees reluctantly began to eat. Skylar seized the opportunity, covered her face, and let out a loud wail, turning and running towards the fire escape. “Skylar!” Julian cried out anxiously, not even sparing me another glance, and rushed after her. As he brushed past me, a gust of wind, bitingly cold, swept by. I stood rooted to the spot. Watching the fire escape door swing back and forth, watching the employees in the office with their varied expressions, watching the cheap plastic bowl on the desk emitting that strange odor… My heart was filled with an unspeakable weariness. Ten years of a beautiful illusion, now, finally, thoroughly shattered.

“Janitorial staff, please clean this up. Everyone, back to work.” I calmly gave the instruction, then turned and went back to my office. A mountain of documents was piled on my desk. Thankfully, they kept me busy, leaving no room for sorrow. But the calm lasted only one morning before trouble struck again. After lunch, some employees turned green, clutching their stomachs, and started making endless trips to the restroom. Julian had run off, his phone unanswered, leaving me as the only one to clean up this mess. The fiasco triggered by the “CEO’s generous gesture” finally turned into a heavy burden crashing down on my shoulders. “HR! Compile a list of sick employees! Mild cases, rest. Severe cases, send to the hospital immediately!” “Legal! Report this mass food poisoning incident! Prepare all the necessary documents!” “All departments, review urgent tasks, ensure core operations continue without interruption! Minimize the impact!” My instructions were clear and cold, like a machine in motion. I forced myself to ignore the sharp pain of my nails digging into my palms, to ignore the frozen emptiness in my chest, and even more, to ignore the SnapChat notification of Skylar’s latest update: In front of a dimly lit claw machine, Julian was shown in profile, an expression of indulgence on his face that I had never seen before. Skylar’s hand was covering his larger one; they were “working together” to control the joystick. Caption: **[CEO is here playing claw machine with me instead of working]** **[Wuwuwu, it’s all my fault for being so clumsy, couldn’t win anything after dozens of tries, cried QAQ!]** **[The CEO couldn’t stand it anymore, personally stepping in to teach me! Feeling his hand over mine is just too swoon-worthy!]** **[Even though I still didn’t win the strawberry bear I wanted, the feeling of being pampered is already a perfect score!]** **[#CEOSoGentle #JuniorMentee’sExclusiveCoach]** The background sound seemed to still echo in my ears—”Skylar, don’t cry, which one do you want? I’ll help you win it.” And the background sound of reality now was the wailing sirens of ambulances approaching, the painful moans of employees, the incessant sharp ringing of phones. What an utterly absurd contrast. I twitched my lips, giving a self-deprecating laugh. In college, once, when we passed an arcade, I had impulsively asked him, “Julian, let’s try to win one too?” What did he say then? He frowned, his voice full of disdain: “Anya, how old are you, still playing this? So childish. You’d be better off reading another financial report.” It turns out, he didn’t dislike playing claw machines. He just disliked playing claw machines with *me*. Or rather, he preferred the “clumsy” girl who allowed him to play the role of “savior” and “gentle mentor.” Not me, the “older woman” who could fight alongside him, rational and calm. It wasn’t worth it anymore. Julian, and this crumbling ten-year relationship, weren’t worth another second of my effort. It was time to cut ties, decisively.

The next dozen hours felt like rolling through hell. The hospital emergency room was packed, filled with the sour stench of vomit, the sharp smell of disinfectant, and the painful groans of dozens of employees. Family members, hearing the news, arrived, their furious accusations almost raising the roof. I, along with the few remaining senior executives, moved through it like a fire brigade. Consoling families, liaising with doctors, cooperating with government investigations, handling urgent contracts… My brain was working at high speed, but my body felt like lead. My throat was already hoarse, my eyes bloodshot, my stomach empty yet without appetite, only cold coffee keeping me going. Julian’s phone? Still silent. His social media account, however, was updated—they had moved to a dimly lit dessert shop, sharing a hundred-times more exquisite-looking Tiramisu. It wasn’t until past midnight that the chaotic emergency room finally quieted down a bit. My taut nerves suddenly slackened, and an intense wave of dizziness washed over me. I leaned against the cold wall, clinging to my last shred of consciousness, and said to my equally exhausted subordinates, “You all take turns resting, I…” Before I finished speaking, my vision suddenly went black. Before losing consciousness, I seemed to hear a startled cry: “Anya!” When I woke again, the hospital room’s stark white ceiling was above me. A person sat by the bed: Julian. He looked rather disheveled.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “297419”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

I was the true heiress, my identity swapped. Five years after giving birth out of wedlock, my biological parents finally came to claim me. They told me I had to fulfill an engagement with the Maxwell family’s scion. I brought my daughter home, and the fake heiress, Charlotte, sneered, “Sister actually brought this burden back? How shameless!” Blake Maxwell, the family scion, publicly broke off our engagement, scoffing, “Make me raise someone else’s bastard? Do you even deserve that?” I didn’t say a word, just lowered my head and offered my daughter a comforting smile. My daughter wasn’t some bastard. She was the true heir of the Maxwell family. 0The atmosphere in the Hayes family banquet hall was dead silent. All the friends and relatives present stared at my daughter and me. This evening’s banquet was supposed to be a special event to welcome me home. But the moment I walked in with my daughter, before I could even speak, the fake heiress, Charlotte, derailed the whole topic with that single word: “bastard.” Blake Maxwell, the scion of the Maxwell family – the wealthiest family in the city – felt publicly humiliated. His face was thunderous as he broke off the engagement, then stormed out. He left behind a hall full of guests, buzzing with whispers. “What a low-class mess. I can’t believe the Hayes family would make such a spectacle of bringing her back. Don’t they have any shame?” Only Blake Maxwell’s aunt, Eleanor Maxwell, smiled and tried to smooth things over. “Blake had too much to drink; he didn’t mean any of that. How could a childhood betrothal between the Maxwell and Hayes families just be called off? I’ll make sure Blake comes to apologize tomorrow once he’s sober.” My father’s humiliated expression finally eased a bit. After the guests left, his face immediately darkened. He raised his hand and slapped me across the face. “What did I tell you yesterday?” “I told you not to bring that little brat home, or you wouldn’t be allowed through this door yourself. We’re lucky Mr. Maxwell was delayed tonight and didn’t make it to the banquet. Otherwise, with the spectacle you made, how would the Hayes family ever explain this to him?!” The Mr. Maxwell my father spoke of was Alexander Maxwell, the current head of the Maxwell family. Alex Maxwell was middle-aged and unmarried, with a naturally low sperm count. The chances of him having children in this lifetime were next to none. His nephew, Blake Maxwell, was expected to inherit the Maxwell family’s billions if nothing went wrong. So, when my mother found out that the daughter she’d raised for twenty-five years, Charlotte Hayes, was not her biological child, she desperately sought me out, her true daughter. And she forced my father to agree to my marriage into the Maxwell family. All to make up for the love I’d missed over the years. 0

Seeing my father’s rage, my mother immediately stepped in front of my daughter and me, vehemently arguing, “Aria is our biological daughter, and her daughter is your own flesh and blood! How can you call your own granddaughter a mongrel?” But my father refused to acknowledge my daughter. He eyed us with disgust. “You shameless wretch, having a child out of wedlock! You’ve completely disgraced the Hayes family. I think Charlotte should go through with this marriage instead of you.” With that, he turned and walked away. “Dad, don’t be angry; it’s bad for your health. Sister didn’t mean to—” Charlotte quickly followed him, cooing at my father while not forgetting to turn back and give me a smug smile. My mother watched her, spitting in disgust, and cursed under her breath, “That little bitch, Charlotte, she’s just like her birth mother—ungrateful vipers, both of them.” Charlotte’s birth mother was a college student my mother had once sponsored. After graduating, Charlotte’s mother not only showed no gratitude but took the opportunity to seduce my father, becoming his mistress he kept on the side. Later, she and my mother became pregnant at the same time and gave birth to daughters on the same day. While my mother was unconscious after childbirth, she bribed a nurse at the hospital and swapped me and Charlotte. Charlotte became the pampered heiress, having everything she ever wanted since childhood. As for me, Charlotte’s mother left me to be raised in a remote fishing village, hard to reach and cut off from the outside world. I didn’t even finish college. It wasn’t until a month ago that my mother learned the truth and found me. “But your father is right,” my mother’s tone softened slightly, her gaze lingering subtly on my daughter. She sighed wistfully, “You really shouldn’t have brought the child home. And it’s lucky Alex Maxwell didn’t come; otherwise, who knows how we would have salvaged tonight.” As the head of the Maxwell family, Alex Maxwell was known for being cold and ruthless. My act of bringing my daughter home tonight was undoubtedly a slap in the Maxwell family’s face. If Alex Maxwell had been present, he wouldn’t have let it slide so easily. But precisely because I knew he would be attending the banquet, I decided at the last minute to bring my daughter. I covered my left cheek, still stinging from my father’s slap, and looked at Luna’s eyes, identical to Alex Maxwell’s. I whispered, “Mom, if Alex Maxwell had been here tonight, I wouldn’t have gotten this slap. Maybe Dad would even be trying to butter us up, Luna and me.” 0

Six years ago, Alex Maxwell went deep-sea fishing, got caught in a storm, and his yacht capsized. He was swept into the waves, drifted to the fishing village, and was unconscious. I was the one who rescued him and brought him home. But when he woke up, he had lost his memory; he couldn’t remember who he was. I took him to the nearest town to report it to the police, get his fingerprints and DNA taken, and put up missing person posters, but there was no result. The countryside was cut off, and medical care wasn’t great. Alex Maxwell’s amnesia didn’t get better after several visits to the town hospital, and I didn’t have enough money to take him to a big city to see a brain specialist. He had no money and couldn’t find his family, so he stayed with me in the fishing village. Life in the fishing village was simple and fulfilling. Alex Maxwell was tall and handsome, and his temper was incredibly gentle. No matter what I asked him to do, he never complained. As time passed, the villagers would joke that I had picked up a capable and handsome husband. And as we spent every day together, we gradually fell in love. A year later, just as we promised ourselves to each other, he suddenly recovered a small segment of his memory. He remembered his name and his home address. He said he had to go back to find his family, then return with them for our wedding. Before he left, Alex Maxwell planted a peach tree outside my house. He said, “This peach tree… it’s a promise, Aria. A symbol of our future home, our family. Before it blooms, I’ll be back. Aria, wait for me.” But spring came and went, then came again. I stood under the peach tree, waiting for five years, but Alex Maxwell never returned. It wasn’t until a month ago that I found out the man I had been waiting for so long was Alexander Maxwell, the powerful head of the Maxwell family in the city. And I, once recognized by the Hayes family, was to marry Blake Maxwell, Alex’s nephew, as the Hayes family heiress. I didn’t want to marry Blake Maxwell. That’s why I brought my daughter back to the Hayes family, to make a public appearance. She was my and Alex Maxwell’s daughter, my only comfort during those five long, quiet years of waiting. I would never allow her to be a secret, a hidden existence. And I would certainly never let anyone call her a “bastard” or a “mongrel.” I knelt down, wrapped my arms around my daughter, and gently soothed her. “Don’t be scared, Luna. Mommy will take you to find Daddy. We’ll see Daddy very soon.” 0

The day after I returned to the Hayes family, news of my giving birth out of wedlock spread throughout the city, at Charlotte’s instigation. Not only did all our friends and relatives know, but there were countless gossip posts online too. My father, furious that I had disgraced the Hayes family, ordered me to move out of the Hayes mansion with my daughter. My mother tried to stop him. “Aria is your daughter too. She just came home; how can you bear to kick her out?” But Charlotte interjected, instigating, “Sister’s actions last night, bringing that bastard home, already angered the Maxwell family. This morning, Maxwell Group postponed their partnership with our family. If Dad keeps Sister at home, our family business will be ruined. Mom, you don’t want to see the Hayes family go bankrupt, do you?” The Hayes family’s finances were never as strong as the Maxwells’, and in recent years, their investments had consistently failed, losing billions. If not for the Maxwell family’s support, they would have declared bankruptcy long ago. Normally, my mother might have listened to Charlotte’s words and endured it for the sake of the Hayes family. But ever since she learned Charlotte wasn’t her biological daughter, she had come to resent my father and Charlotte, almost wishing the Hayes family would go bankrupt sooner. Just to make that father and daughter pair experience the same hardship I had endured. “Don’t call me Mom, I’m not your mom!” My mother shot Charlotte a disgusted glance, then stared directly at my father. “Are you really going to abandon your own flesh and blood, our biological daughter, and kick her out of the house?” My father’s face was indifferent. “I have no choice. It’s her fault for being disobedient and insisting on bringing that little mongrel home. If you keep nagging, then pack your bags and go with her, and that little mongrel too.” My mother froze, her eyes wide with disbelief, as if she had completely given up on my father. Finally, she calmly nodded. “Fine. Don’t regret this.” That very day, my mother took me and my daughter and moved out of the Hayes family home, into a hotel. Though my mother seemed decisively resolute, she couldn’t help but be heartbroken by my father’s cold indifference. That night, she developed a high fever. I cared for her at the hotel for two days, but seeing no signs of improvement, I took her to the hospital. Only when I was handling the admission procedures did I discover my father had frozen my mother’s bank card. Living in that small fishing village all these years, and raising my daughter alone, I had only saved a few thousand dollars. After barely covering the hospital deposit and the hotel fees, I had very little money left. I had no choice but to take my daughter and seek out the Maxwell family. Unexpectedly, I ran into Charlotte and Blake Maxwell right at the Maxwell family gates.

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Before my father-in-law passed away, he handed me a bank card with three million dollars. “Lily, as the eldest daughter-in-law, you should be the one to hold onto this three million.” In my previous life, I was so deeply touched by his gesture, I swore I’d protect this family with all my heart. But less than three days after his funeral, my brother-in-law, Kevin, and my mother-in-law, Brenda, cornered me, demanding I use the money to buy Kevin a house. When I swiped the card, there was only three hundred dollars inside. I tried desperately to explain, but they wouldn’t listen. Instead, they dragged relatives and friends to surround me, demanding I compensate them. Otherwise, they’d take the house my parents bought for me as a wedding gift. I refused. During the argument, Kevin brutally hit me over the head with a wooden stick, leaving me in a deep coma. My husband, Mark, signed a waiver and pulled my oxygen tube. My house was transferred to Kevin. Just before I faded away, I realized it was all their twisted plan. In this new life, I’ll make sure they get what they deserve.

Looking at the familiar scene before me, I knew I’d been reborn. “Lily, come here in a moment. Dad has something important to tell you.” Mark said that and went into my father-in-law’s room. Through the window, I saw Brenda and Kevin already inside. They scanned the room nervously, as if afraid someone might be eavesdropping. I hurried to the bathroom and made a quick call. “Lily, Lily, hurry! Dad’s almost gone! He has something to tell you!” Mark grabbed me and pulled me along. The other relatives and friends in the yard followed us in. My father-in-law lay quietly on the bed, his cheeks sunken, his face ashen. His cloudy eyes scanned the room, landing on me as I entered. He beckoned me closer. “Li… Lily, take this card. It has three million dollars in it. Take it!” Murmurs spread through the crowd. “Old Mr. Miller really favors his eldest daughter-in-law, giving her all this money!” I stood still. An auntie next to me nudged me. “Lily, go on, your father-in-law is calling you.” I looked uncomfortable. “How could I possibly take this? It should go to Mark or Brenda.” “Well, that’s true. You’re all family anyway, so it doesn’t matter who takes it.” My father-in-law waited, but I still didn’t move. He pointed at me anxiously, repeatedly calling out, “Li… Lily, take it!” Kevin, fuming, snatched the card and tried to shove it into my hand. I dodged him. “Lily Miller, what’s wrong with you? My dad’s on his deathbed, and you won’t even grant his last wish?” My father-in-law’s eyes welled up with tears. Brenda shot me a fierce glare. “Why are you dodging? Your dad trusts you, he sees you as one of his own, that’s why he’s giving it to you!”

Seeing this, the relatives and friends around us started to persuade me. “Lily, at a critical moment like this, you can’t be childish.” “Sister-in-law, why are you so stubborn? Just play along, even.” “Just take it, so the old man can rest in peace.” I said, expressionless, “I won’t take it. What if there isn’t really three million in it? Who’s responsible then?” At my words, panic flickered across Brenda’s and Kevin’s faces. Mark frowned, looking at me disapprovingly. “Lily, how could my dad lie to you? This might be his life’s savings.” Everyone paused, starting to sense something was off. No one spoke. Kevin pointed at me, enraged. “What nonsense are you spouting? You have to take this card!” Kevin’s overly defensive attitude just made everyone more suspicious. “I’ve heard of siblings fighting over inheritance, but I’ve never heard of them being so polite about it.” “Kevin is usually so money-hungry. Why is he acting so strange today?” I pressed my advantage. “I won’t take this card, but my devotion to Dad is genuine, Heaven as my witness.” My father-in-law, seeing his scheme fail, gasped, his breath caught, and then, just like that, he was gone. His eyes remained wide open, staring. Brenda shrieked and lunged at me. “You killed the old man with your stubbornness! Mark, your wife killed your dad! If you don’t teach her a lesson, how can you face your father’s spirit?” Everyone was in a flurry of activity, some trying to break up the fight, others arranging the funeral. At the wake, all the relatives and friends were present. Brenda sat on the floor, wailing to the heavens, pounding the ground with her hands. “Old man, our family is in such a mess! You toiled your whole life for this family.” “But your daughter-in-law wouldn’t even grant your last wish. You can’t even rest in peace!” Brenda’s cries were heart-wrenching. The two brothers glared at me, eyes practically spitting fire. The aunties helped Brenda up, advising me to show “respect for the deceased” and not cause a scene. Seeing Jake, my cousin, approaching from a distance, I nodded. “Alright. But first, I need to test the card in front of everyone to see if it really has three million dollars.” I asked Jake to bring a POS machine. Looking at Brenda, I said softly, “Mom, please give me the bank card. If I swipe it, we’ll know if there’s three million, won’t we?” “If there is, I’ll accept the card and kneel to beg your forgiveness. If there isn’t, then please stop trying to force this useless card on me.” At my words, Brenda clutched her pocket even tighter. She looked at Mark, who was burning paper offerings. Mark’s face darkened. “Don’t flaunt your wealth. Lily, what’s wrong with you today? Why are you always arguing with us? It’s just about holding a bank card. Just take it and keep it safe.” I scoffed in rebuttal. “Your dad himself said there’s three million on this card before he died. Everyone knows that. But whether there’s actually three million on this card, no one can guarantee.” “Besides,” I paused, looking pointedly, “someone who usually begs you for even a couple hundred bucks, isn’t tempted by this card’s money and is eager for me to keep it—I don’t believe there’s nothing shady going on!” Kevin stamped his foot, furious. “What are you rambling about? I’m showing you respect by letting you take it!” “Oh? You don’t even call me ‘Sister-in-law’ normally. Now you know how to show respect?” Jake held up the machine. “Arguing is useless. One swipe with this machine will tell us. This one’s from the bank, guaranteed real. Hand over the card.”

Brenda clutched her chest, pretending to collapse. Kevin lunged forward fiercely, trying to snatch the machine. But Jake, being much taller and stronger, easily pushed him back, making him stumble. Mark’s face was rigid, his brows furrowed as he accused me. “Lily, if you have issues with me, we can talk about them at home. My dad was just killed by your anger, and now you won’t even spare his funeral?” The people helping with the funeral also gathered around, pointing fingers at me. “Lily usually seems so sensible. Why is she so weird today?” “I think she’s heartless. Look, Old Mr. Miller passed away, and she hasn’t shed a single tear.” “Mark is so easygoing. If my wife killed my dad with her temper, I’d beat her half to death.” Brenda sat there whimpering, while Kevin kept egging Mark on. “Big Brother, look at this woman. She shows no remorse. You need to teach her a good lesson!” Mark, usually so timid, suddenly looked menacing. “Lily, you’ve disappointed me greatly.” He raised his hand to strike me. At that critical moment, Jake pulled me aside. “You’re going to hit my sister in front of me? You’ve got some nerve!” Jake’s timely intervention made Mark’s swing miss, only fueling his rage further. He pointed at me, yelling: “Lily Miller, if you don’t want us to get divorced, then get on your knees and apologize to my mom. Then we can go on living peacefully together.” “Otherwise, don’t blame me for turning my back on you.” Brenda, hearing this, suddenly stood up from the floor, dusting off her pants. She sneered at me. “Too late! An apology isn’t enough. Give your brother-in-law the house your family gave you as a wedding gift. Otherwise, don’t even think about stepping foot in our Miller family home again!” Mark and Brenda were convinced I’d apologize and give in. After all, I had loved Mark to death back then, willing to break ties with my own parents just to be with him. I remained cold and silent. Mark gave Kevin a look. Kevin immediately took a few of his friends and dragged Jake away, pushing him into a room. “What are you doing?” A bad premonition gripped me. “Mark Miller, you’re breaking the law!” Mark’s face was smug. “Lily, a funeral is a solemn occasion. Jake’s causing trouble at my dad’s memorial. Even if you call the cops, he’ll still be charged with disturbing the peace.” “If you want him to walk out of here unharmed, then just do as I say.” I felt incredibly stifled, but I had no choice but to back down. Kevin, quick-witted, pulled up a chair for Brenda. Brenda sat on it, looking down her nose at me. Under everyone’s gaze, I reluctantly walked up to her and bowed three times. “I’m sorry, it was my fault!” Brenda held her head high and said nothing. Mark cleared his throat.

Brenda reluctantly spoke: “Hmph, it’s good you know your place. Just like Mark said, after your dad’s funeral is over, transfer the house to Kevin!” I was expressionless. “Can Jake be released now?” Mark’s face was a little awkward. He took my hand, trying to calm me down. Brenda, seeing this, got angry again. She scoffed. “Let her go home. Just looking at her unlucky face makes me furious. Your dad probably doesn’t want to see her most of all right now. Let her leave, we don’t need her to wear mourning clothes!” No sooner had Brenda finished speaking than I ripped off my mourning clothes and shoved them into Mark’s arms. I grabbed Jake’s hand and hurried out. This time, not a single one of the Miller family’s relatives or friends tried to stop me. They all stood in small groups, whispering. On the way, Jake was indignant. “Cousin, why did you apologize like such a doormat? I don’t believe they would’ve actually laid a hand on me!” “I couldn’t risk you, Jake. Apologizing doesn’t mean I lose a limb. I can handle it.” “Cousin, do you still want to stay with Mark?” Jake asked cautiously. I scoffed. “Me? Stay with him? I’d have to be out of my mind! Don’t worry, every injustice we suffered today, Jake, I’ll make sure they pay for it!” I returned to the house Mark and I shared. I opened a drawer. My wedding jewelry was still there, untouched. Luckily, the house deed was also there. I packed up the house deed and other valuables. I glanced over and saw the watch I’d bought Mark. Without a second thought, I grabbed it too. After we got married, I’d completely let my guard down with Mark, keeping all our valuables in one place. In my previous life, Brenda and Kevin had shown up demanding money. I tried desperately to explain, but they wouldn’t listen. Brenda said arrogantly, “If you don’t give us three million today, then the house will be transferred to Kevin. Otherwise, you won’t like the consequences.” Of course, I refused. Kevin blocked me, and Brenda, knowing exactly where it was, easily found where I hid the house deed. She also took my gold and silver jewelry with it, then just ran off. Kevin shoved me hard and ran off too.

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At Damien Thorne’s funeral, I stood in a simple black dress, my face impossibly calm. The lawyer finished reading the will aloud. I took the microphone. “I’m donating all of Damien Thorne’s assets and estates,” I announced, my voice clear, “to his sworn enemy, Adrian Steele.” The room erupted. Guests gasped, whispers turned into shouts. My mother-in-law, Eleanor, collapsed on the spot. They pointed fingers, calling me crazy, a wicked woman who only craved the Thorne family’s wealth. “Damien’s body isn’t even cold yet! How *dare* you do this?!” I gazed at Damien’s black and white photo on the screen, a faint smile touching my lips. Just three days ago, I’d stumbled upon a video of him in Paris, wrapped around his first love, Serena Hayes, kissing her passionately. Now, he was “dead” in a foreign country, stripped of everything. **1.** “Stella! You psycho! You’ll rot in hell!” Chloe Thorne, Damien’s sister, lunged at me first, her hand raised to strike. I didn’t flinch. The slap stopped an inch from my face. Adrian Steele had blocked her. One of the key figures today, Damien’s arch-nemesis, and the recipient of my billion-dollar inheritance. He stood beside me, tall and commanding in a perfectly tailored black suit. “Ms. Thorne, control yourself.” His voice was low, laced with a cold warning. Chloe trembled with rage, pointing at both of us. “Oh, so it’s true! Adrian! My brother just died, and you two are already hooking up! You disgusting traitors!” The guests’ whispers turned into overt pointing and blatant gossip. “I heard Mrs. Thorne and Mr. Steele had something going on. I can’t believe it’s true!” “Poor Damien. His wife runs off with his sworn enemy and all his money before his grave is even dug.” Eleanor, my mother-in-law, stirred awake. Hearing their words, she gasped again, pointing a trembling finger at me. “This… this is a disgrace to our family name!” I shot her an annoyed glance. Stepping out from behind Adrian, I faced the crowd of “grieving” relatives and friends. “What I do is none of your business.” I paused, my gaze sweeping over the angry, greedy faces of the Thorne family. “As for the inheritance, it was Damien’s to leave to me. And I’ll give it to whoever I damn well please.” With that, I ignored their pathetic circus act. I turned to Adrian. “Mr. Steele, your legal team can handle the transfer from here.” Adrian’s eyes were probing, scrutinizing, devoid of the joy I’d expected. He simply nodded slightly. “My pleasure.” I walked away, my heels clicking, straight through the stunned crowd, escaping that revolting funeral home. As I slipped into the car, I finally let my guard down, my body trembling uncontrollably. I wasn’t crazy. I was simply burying my three-year dead marriage with my own hands. Three days ago, I was still planning Damien’s and my third wedding anniversary. He’d said he was going on a business trip to Europe and would return on our anniversary. I believed him. I even prepared a gift for him and booked his favorite restaurant, waiting eagerly. What I got instead was the devastating news of a car crash in the Alps—his vehicle plummeting off a cliff, his body unrecoverable. And a video sent by a foreign friend. The video’s backdrop was the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Damien, wearing the gray coat I’d bought him, was gently putting a necklace on a woman. That woman was his childhood sweetheart, Serena Hayes. That necklace was one I’d bought at an auction, intended as his anniversary gift. He’d taken it a few days prior, claiming he wanted to “check it out early.” In the video, Serena stood on tiptoes and kissed him, her smile bright and triumphant. Damien held her, his eyes overflowing with doting affection. The video’s caption read: “Thank you, my love, the best gift.” The posting time was the day *before* his supposed car accident. I watched the video again and again, from day to night, until my tears ran dry and my heart felt numb. So, his European business trip was a lie. His death in a car crash was a lie too. He simply wanted to use a carefully orchestrated “death” to get rid of me, his inconvenient wife. Then, with the massive fortune he’d inherited from me – my grandfather’s legacy – he planned to live happily ever after with his true love. Damien, how utterly ruthless you are. You probably thought I’d be heartbroken, spending the rest of my miserable life mourning your “remains.” You were wrong. I, Stella, never make a losing deal. You want to pull a disappearing act? I’ll strip you of everything. You want to live happily ever after with your first love? I’ll make you a pauper, and we’ll see if she still sticks by you then. As for your company, your life’s work… I’ll personally hand it over to the man you hate most, letting it become the sharpest knife to stab you in the heart. **2.** My first official meeting with Adrian Steele was at a private club. He was already there when I arrived. The man leaned back on the sofa, a cigarette between his fingers, smoke curling around him, obscuring his expression. Seeing me, he stubbed out the cigarette and gestured for me to sit. “Mrs. Thorne, quite the move.” He went straight to the point, a hint of mockery in his tone. I picked up the teacup in front of me and took a sip. “And Mr. Steele isn’t unhappy about it?” He let out a soft chuckle, then leaned forward, his sharp eyes locking onto mine. “I don’t understand. What’s your game?” “You.” I set down the teacup, meeting his gaze, enunciating each word. “To help you take down Thorne Enterprises.” The air instantly thickened with silence. Adrian’s eyes turned dangerous. He probably thought I was insane – a newly widowed woman, not focused on preserving her husband’s legacy, but instead conspiring with an outsider to ruin her in-laws’ business. “Reason.” He uttered a single word. “Damien Thorne isn’t dead.” This news clearly surprised him; his pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly regained his composure. “So, this is some kind of twisted marital game?” “No,” I shook my head, pulling my tablet from my bag and pushing it towards him. “This is a battle to the death.” On the tablet, the video of Damien and Serena kissing in Paris played on a loop. Adrian took one look and understood everything. “I see.” He leaned back against the sofa, a knowing look on his face. “So, you’re giving me Damien’s entire fortune just to get back at him for cheating?” “Isn’t that enough?” I countered. “Enough. But not enough to fully trust you.” Adrian tapped his fingers lightly on the table. “Ms. Thorne, business isn’t romance. Hatred alone won’t get things done.” “What about this then?” I pulled out a document and pushed it across to him again. “Thorne Enterprises’ project plans for the next six months, core technical data, and…” I looked at him, my voice dropping slightly, “all his shady off-the-books dealings.” I had painstakingly collected all of this information over the past three years, as Damien’s wife. I’d thought I’d never have a reason to use them. Adrian’s expression finally changed. He picked up the document, flipping through it page by page, his eyes widening with each shocking revelation. After reading the last page, he closed the file and looked back at me, his gaze complex. “Stella,” he used my first name for the first time, “what kind of woman are you, exactly?” I smiled, standing up. “One who can help you reach the top.” Our collaboration went exceptionally smoothly. With the internal data I provided, Adrian’s “Apex Innovations” was like a hungry wolf, precisely tearing at the throat of Thorne Enterprises. First, he snatched Thorne’s long-planned new energy project. Then, he poached their most crucial technical team. Thorne’s stock price plummeted, losing nearly ten billion in market value in just half a month. The Thorne family was like ants on a hot griddle. Eleanor and Chloe came to see me several times, their initial curses and threats gradually turning into desperate pleas. They begged me to return the assets to the Thorne family and save Thorne Enterprises. I refused to see them. Public opinion exploded. Everyone called me a “ruthless schemer” and a “vicious viper,” claiming I’d destroyed my husband’s century-old legacy all for a man. I couldn’t care less. **3.** I only wanted Damien to hurt. And he did, just as I wished. He called me countless times from an international number, but I didn’t answer a single one. My phone was flooded with texts. They started with shock and fury: “Stella, you’re insane! Do you know what you’re doing?! That’s *my* money!” “Stop your idiotic actions immediately! Give the money back!” Then came the questioning and confusion: “Why? Was our three years of marriage all a lie?” “What did I ever do to deserve this from you?” Finally, panic and pleading: “Stella, I was wrong. Please come back. Let’s start over.” “Stella, for the sake of what we once had, please just let me go.” I looked at those texts and found them utterly laughable. Until a text from an unfamiliar number caught my attention. “Ms. Thorne, this is Serena Hayes. I think it’s necessary we meet.” I arranged to meet Serena at a coffee shop. She arrived wearing a pristine white dress, her face bare of makeup, hair smoothly draped over her shoulders. She looked fragile and pitiful, like a pure, untouched white lotus. She was a stark contrast to the vibrant, arrogant woman in the video. “Ms. Thorne.” She sat opposite me, her voice soft, her eyes red-rimmed as if she’d been crying. I said nothing, merely stirring my coffee, waiting for her to speak. “I know you hate me.” She bit her lip, tears rolling down her cheeks. “What happened with Damien and me, I’m truly sorry. But I beg you, please let him go. He has nothing left.” “And isn’t his having nothing due to me?” I chuckled softly, finding it absurd. “Ms. Hayes, in what capacity are you begging me? As the victor?” My words visibly paled her face, and her tears flowed even faster. “No… I didn’t… I just loved him too much. Ms. Thorne, Damien… he loved you too. He just… made a mistake that any man could make.” “Oh?” I raised an eyebrow. “Like, planning a fake death to deceive me so he could live happily ever after with you?” Serena’s sobs hitched, and a flicker of panic crossed her face. “No… it’s not what you think. Damien faked his death because… because he was trying to evade a very dangerous business rival! He was afraid of implicating you, that’s why he resorted to such desperate measures!” She explained frantically, as if it were a perfectly reasonable excuse. I watched her pathetic performance, suddenly feeling a bit bored. “Ms. Hayes,” I set down my coffee cup, leaning forward and lowering my voice. “What do you think Damien’s reaction would be if he knew this conversation of ours was fully recorded by me and might ‘accidentally’ leak online?” Serena’s face instantly drained of all color. She stared at me in horror, as if seeing me for the first time. “You… you…” “Me what?” I stood up, looking down at her. “I should thank you, actually. You’ve just delivered a wonderful gift.” With that, I turned and left, leaving her sitting there, her face ashen. **4.** I thought this farce was over. But I was wrong. Damien Thorne came back. He broke into my villa one rainy night. Soaked to the bone, his hair disheveled, eyes bloodshot. The once dashing Thorne heir was now a pathetic stray dog. “Stella!” He grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like he might crush my bones. “You finally agreed to see me.” I yanked my hand free, stepping back. I looked at him coldly. “Who let you in? Get out.” “I won’t!” he roared, like a trapped beast cornered and desperate. “Tell me why! After all these years we’ve had together, how could you be so cruel?!” “Together?” I laughed, as if hearing the biggest joke. “Damien, you’re talking about us being ‘together’? Where was our ‘togetherness’ when you were holding Serena in Paris? Where was our ‘togetherness’ when you faked your death, trying to make a fool out of me?” My voice was low, but every word was a dagger to his heart. Damien’s face turned white, inch by agonizing inch. “You… you knew?” “Oh yes,” I said, crossing my arms, a sneer on my face. “Thanks to you, I saw everything. It was quite a show.” He staggered backward, his face a mask of disbelief. It took him a long moment to find his voice, a hint of desperate pleading in his tone. “Stella, it’s not what you think. Serena and I… that was fake! It was all part of a business deal, just for show!” “What about the fake death?” I pressed. “Was that for show too?” “Yes!” He frantically grabbed my shoulders. “I really did it to protect you! My rival is ruthless, and I was afraid he’d come after you! This was the only way to keep you safe temporarily!” He sounded sincere, his eyes filled with regret and pain, not like he was faking it. If I hadn’t personally seen him and Serena so intimate in that video, I might have actually believed him. “Damien,” I looked at him, my eyes devoid of warmth. “Save your excuses. They’re disgusting.” His hands froze in mid-air, the light in his eyes slowly dying. “You don’t believe me?” “Why would I believe a liar?” He suddenly laughed, a harsh, desperate sound. “Fine, fine, Stella.” He stared at me, his eyes turning venomous. “Do you really think you’ve won? Do you think Adrian Steele is a good guy? He’s only after you to use you! You gave him everything of mine, and sooner or later, he’ll kick you aside just like I did!” “That’s none of your concern.” “None of my concern?” He seemed provoked, lunging at me suddenly, grabbing my throat. “Stella, don’t push me! I can give you everything, and I can take everything away! Don’t forget how your grandfather built his empire! Your family, the Thornes, owe us!” The pressure on my throat tightened, and I could barely breathe. I looked at his face, twisted with fury, but my heart remained ice cold. My family, owing *his* family? What a ridiculous claim. Just as I was about to suffocate, the villa door burst open.

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In my past life, my late father raised two girls, Isabella and Chloe, with the explicit understanding that one of them would become my wife, the matriarch of our family. They were both breathtakingly beautiful and exceptionally bright. On my wedding night, I was expected to choose one of them. But I lost my engagement ring and rushed back to the venue in the pouring rain to find it. Meanwhile, behind my back, Isabella and Chloe were having an affair with a poor student named Rhys, letting him defile them both. When I returned at dawn, all three of them were sprawled on the same bed. Rhys had an arm around each of them, sleeping soundly, while a sickening, cloying scent hung heavy in the air. I was furious, but they quickly turned it around, branding me as jealous and irrational. Later, they teamed up, seizing control of my company. I died tragically in a suspicious car accident. As my soul lingered, only one person guarded my body, her face contorted with grief, her eyes blazing with intense hatred. She buried me herself, but when Isabella, Chloe, and Rhys found out, they sent bodyguards to brutally attack and kill her at my grave. My own remains were later desecrated and scattered to the wind. Then, my eyes snapped open. I was back, the day before my wedding. This time, the privileges they’d enjoyed? They were being revoked.

“Asher! How dare you lay a hand on Rhys?!” I froze, two lifetimes of memories crashing into each other, making my head throb. Isabella and Chloe each slapped me, and Chloe, always the fiery one, immediately kicked me hard in the stomach. Pain shot through my body, but the emotion in my eyes flared, twisting into a bitter, chilling smile. In my past life, at this very moment, Isabella and Chloe were parading Rhys around the company like he was already the CEO. They’d been blunt, explicitly stating that Rhys was about to take over as president. And I? I was expected to step back after the wedding, become a house husband with no say. After all, my reputation as a useless heir? I owed it all to them. I stared at the three of them, my face cold as ice, a terrifying hatred making my body tremble. Even the company employees showed me, their actual boss, no respect. Snickering and mockery rang out one after another. “Mr. Miller is a total good-for-nothing, a scaredy-cat and useless. If it weren’t for Ms. Isabella and Ms. Chloe supporting him all these years, the Miller family’s century-old business would have been ruined by that incompetent fool. Does he even have the nerve to cause a scene?” “You’re right! I’ve been waiting for a new president. I hear Rhys graduated with a finance degree from a top-tier university like Harvard. With him leading us, our salaries are sure to double!” At that, a smug look crossed Rhys’s bruised face. I remembered my past life. He had barged into my office, interfering with a real estate project we were about to develop, insisting on adding some remote town to our carefully planned urban area. I’d been furious, suppressing my rage only to punch him square in the face. Isabella and Chloe had walked in just then. They’d flown into a rage, dragging me out of the office by force. They had publicly reprimanded me, then taken turns physically attacking me, all to vent their anger on Rhys’s behalf. As the memories flooded back, I glared at their greedy, malicious faces. A mocking smirk tugged at my swollen lips. They’d enjoyed the pampered life in the Miller household for years, yet they’d forgotten their humble origins. It was time to make them face reality. Isabella heard the employees’ words, grinning from ear to ear. She cast a rewarding glance at the employee who’d spoken up. “Rhys is incredibly talented; only he deserves to be in charge of this company. Wouldn’t you agree, everyone?” Isabella’s deliberately leading words sparked cheers from the crowd. They seemed to forget that the true owner of this place was me. I slowly lifted my eyelids, watching the farce unfold with a blank expression, a dark glint in my eyes. I was already calculating my next moves. Reborn, I wouldn’t waste another second caring about them.

That same day, I was kicked out of the company, my position taken over by Rhys. Late that night, the three of them returned, reeking of alcohol. When Isabella saw me, disgust flashed in her eyes. She curled her lip and barked, “What are you staring at? Come serve Rhys and get him ready for his bath! You’re useless, that’s all you’re good for.” Meanwhile, a drunken Rhys was leering, lust-struck, at Chloe’s cleavage. An idea sparked in my mind. I feigned obedience and answered her. Inside the bathroom, I watched the drunken Rhys with a cold stare. I grabbed his collar and shoved him into the filled bathtub. His hazy eyes snapped clear. He struggled fiercely against my grip. “So, you were faking it? Interesting, very interesting.” Our eyes met, and I clearly saw the vicious glint in his. I scoffed, then delivered an uppercut to his gut. He doubled over, writhing in pain, his once handsome face instantly contorting, flushed red. “You damn bastard! How dare you hit me? You’re finished!” “The Miller Corporation and your women? They’re mine. You’re destined to lose everything, to be reduced to ashes and scattered!” Hearing Rhys’s confident, hateful words, my heart skipped a beat. I raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. He’d been reborn too. I pretended to be confused, giving him an innocent look, then continued to pummel him. Rhys let out a shriek like a slaughtered pig. The next second, Isabella and Chloe burst into the cramped bathroom, their faces anxious and filled with concern. The sight of Rhys getting beaten made their eyes contract violently. “Are you looking for a fight?! Still daring to touch Rhys? Today, you’re definitely getting a lesson you won’t forget!” Isabella’s chest heaved with rage, while Chloe carefully helped Rhys up. Rhys leaned weakly into her arms, blood from his nose dripping onto Chloe’s nightgown, staining it with crimson spots. He dramatically clutched his chest, coughing weakly, like a character from a tragic play. He furrowed his brow, saying, “It’s alright. I shouldn’t have come to your home. It’s normal for Asher to have grudges. I’ll leave now.” With that, he started coughing violently, as if trying to cough out his lungs. Isabella and Chloe watched him, their hearts aching. “This is your home! If anyone’s leaving, it’s the rotten excess baggage. It’s pouring outside, and you’re so frail. You’re staying right here!” Isabella finished, her gaze fixed on me, as if I were a heinous criminal. I clenched my jaw, my entire jawline tight. Such vile people. In my past life, I had trusted them implicitly, based on over a decade of shared history. Even when I was misunderstood as a good-for-nothing, I never bothered to explain myself. All because of my father’s will, which stipulated that I choose one of them to be my wife. They were the girls raised by my family since childhood, meant to be our future matriarchs. But human hearts are fickle. They were no longer the Isabella and Chloe who once prioritized me, who guarded me like the apple of their eye. They conspired with an outsider to kill me, to have my remains scattered to the wind. Such treacherous traitors! In this life, I would make them pay for their blood debt!

Seeing my nonchalant attitude, Chloe was enraged. She immediately ordered Alfred, the butler, to kick me out of the house and commanded me to kneel outside until Rhys forgave me. I was surprised that even Alfred, who had served the Miller family for years, obeyed them. The plan to usurp me had likely been laid out long ago. A fine layer of cold sweat prickled my spine. I felt a chill run through me. I left the old mansion without a backward glance. Make me kneel and beg Rhys for forgiveness? They must be dreaming. The moment my foot stepped out of the old mansion, I was struck unconscious from behind. Through a haze of fading awareness, I dimly heard voices. “Ms. Isabella, you can’t draw any more! If you do, Mr. Miller will die!” The doctor’s voice was anxious, pleading with Isabella. Her voice was cold, like a demon descending, utterly merciless. “Draw one more bag, just in case. He’s still too energetic, daring to hit Rhys again and again. If we don’t teach him a harsh lesson, he’ll never learn to behave.” A single tear of regret slipped from the corner of my eye. The Miller family had nurtured them for years, only to raise two ungrateful wolves. When light finally greeted my eyes again, I slowly opened my heavy, weary lids. Every inch of my body screamed in pain, and the dizziness from blood loss made my vision black out in waves. I painfully fumbled for the phone in my pocket and called the person I least wanted to humble myself to. With everything finalized, the wedding day drew closer and closer. The mansion was bustling with activity. The sounds of laughter and chatter relentlessly pounded against my eardrums. When I appeared before everyone, disheveled and pale, Countless disdainful gazes fell upon me. Rhys stood in the center of the crowd, surrounded by admirers, Isabella and Chloe flanking him on either side. My family’s ancestral home had been desecrated by these people; even the family motto, personally inscribed by my grandfather, was covered in dirty footprints, shoved under a table leg. Rage instantly surged through my limbs, making my body tremble. “You’re all asking for death!” I roared, the suppressed emotions finally exploding. But only more sneering laughter answered me. Chloe tossed her hair, her eyes filled with contempt as she looked at me. “It’s just something from a dead person anyway. Why bother?” “Tonight is Rhys’s celebration. Get lost, don’t be an eyesore here,” Isabella added impatiently. I almost laughed. Dogs daring to chase away their master?

“Everyone, get out of here! This house belongs to the Millers!” At my words, everyone looked at me with disdain, chiming in one after another: “He truly is an idiot. The heads of the Miller family are Ms. Isabella and Ms. Chloe. You, Asher Miller, are just a parasitic dog. You should learn to behave yourself and keep your tail tucked!” A dull ache pierced my chest. I swept my gaze across the crowd, my eyes blazing with murderous intent. Just as I was about to speak, I saw Rhys holding my grandfather’s handwritten family motto. A wicked smile played on his lips, calculation practically dripping from his eyes. He raised an eyebrow, his voice chillingly cold. “Since you want it so badly, I’ll give it back to you then.” He slowly walked towards me, and the moment I reached out to touch it, he ripped the motto into shreds, flinging the pieces into my face. Then, a chorus of ear-splitting laughter erupted, the sound like sharp needles piercing my heart. Blood rushed to my head instantly. My eyes turned red as I seized his collar. “You bastard! You’re dead, you hear me?! Aaaargh!” That motto was the only keepsake my grandfather had left me. It had hung in the old mansion for twenty years, inscribed with our family’s core principles, meant to remind future generations. How dare Rhys destroy it! Bodyguards rushed over, pinning me firmly to the ground, my cheek pressed against the cold floor, a chill seeping into my heart. I struggled desperately, but Rhys lifted his foot and ground it hard onto the back of my hand. Isabella and Chloe’s tightly furrowed brows relaxed at the sight. “Tomorrow, at the wedding, hand over the heirloom jade bangle that represents the Miller matriarch. Otherwise, don’t blame us for getting rough.” My eyes were bloodshot, and I scoffed, shaking my head. My expression was icy. “There will indeed be a new Mrs. Miller, but it certainly won’t be either of you.” At that, Isabella and Chloe burst out laughing. Isabella sneered, “Besides us, who else would want to be the foster ward of a useless man like you? The Miller family raised us for years; we’re part of this family. The Miller family’s assets naturally belong to us too.” Hearing Isabella’s utterly shameless words, the coldness in my heart deepened. They seemed to have forgotten the look on their faces when they knelt, pleading humbly for me to choose them. “You’ve enjoyed wealth and luxury for so long, have you forgotten where you came from? Don’t forget who gave you all of this.” My words pierced directly into the most vile depths of their hearts. Both their faces twisted. Their eyes darted nervously, then they glared at me with bitter resentment. They tied me to a chair, letting the so-called guests pour drinks all over me. This was their punishment for me.

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Under the unforgiving midday sun, I was on a delivery run, carrying a customized Western meal worth a whopping eighty-eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty-eight dollars. When I reached the mansion gates, I heard bursts of laughter from inside. “She actually believes you’re a failed entrepreneur, slaving away at odd jobs every day to support you?” “I heard she even sold her grandmother’s heirlooms for your eighth startup.” “If she knew you were the high-and-mighty scion of Ford Industries, deliberately faking poverty to make Briar happy, she’d probably pass out from rage.” Declan Ford’s voice dripped with mockery. “Well, she *did* target Briar back in college. This is just a little lesson for her.” I stood frozen at the entrance, tears streaming down my face, unstoppable. For the past two years, for him, I’d rebelled against my Grandpa Richard and ran away from home. I’d even refused my arranged engagement to the Thorne family, dedicating myself completely to him. And this was the result. Finally, with trembling hands, I dialed a number I hadn’t called in ages. “Grandpa, I was wrong. I’ll agree to the engagement.”

Inside the mansion, Briar Miller’s saccharine voice echoed. “Brother Declan, you’re the best to me! That Aubrey Hayes is nothing. She doesn’t deserve to be with you. It’s been far too easy for her these past two years.” I stood rigid outside the door, the takeout bag in my hands suddenly weighing a ton of bricks. Today was Declan’s and my two-year anniversary. I’d planned to finish this last delivery and head home to prepare a surprise. Declan’s voice, lighter and more frivolous than I’d ever heard it, responded, “Of course, she doesn’t deserve me. If it wasn’t to get revenge for her ‘bullying’ you back then, why would I stoop so low? Playing house with her for two years…” Briar giggled. “Brother Declan, look how ridiculous she is! She really thinks she’s some kind of savior, delivering food every day to support her ‘down-on-his-luck’ prince.” Through the cracked door, I saw Declan lounging lazily on the couch, not a hint of a “failed entrepreneur” about him. And on Briar Miller’s slender wrist, unmistakably, was my grandmother’s carved stone bracelet. Declan pinched Briar’s cheek. “Watching her grovel for delivery fees to customers was truly satisfying.” My vision blurred, my breathing grew shallow. For the past two years, I’d woken up at four in the morning to deliver food, not clocking out until eleven at night. I’d even sold all my valuables. Even the bracelet my grandmother left me, I’d pawned it off. That night, Declan held me close and said, “Aubrey, once I get back on my feet, I’ll make sure you live a good life.” But it turned out his so-called family bankruptcy, orphaned parents, and repeated startup failures… It was all a web of lies, spun to help another woman get revenge on me. I shoved the door open. The laughter inside abruptly ceased. Declan sprang up from the couch as if he’d been zapped, his face instantly paling. “Aubrey… Aubrey? What are you doing here? I’m discussing business with friends.” I didn’t even glance at him, my gaze locked on Briar Miller’s wrist. “Give me back my bracelet.” Briar arrogantly tilted her chin. “Why should I? Declan gave this to me as a gift.” My voice trembled uncontrollably. “That’s my grandmother’s heirloom! I only pawned it to lend Declan money for his ‘startup’!” The smile on Declan’s face froze. He instinctively grabbed my wrist, trying to coax me with his usual gentle tone. “Aubrey, let me explain…” I yanked my hand away. “Explain what? Explain how you lied to me for two years? Or explain how you casually gave away my grandmother’s heirloom?” Briar stood up, deliberately clutching the carved stone bracelet on her wrist. “You want it? Fine, a million dollars. Pay me now, and it’s yours.” A million dollars! Ever since I’d broken ties with my family, I’d been utterly penniless, all my money going into Declan’s supposed ventures. I couldn’t even scrape together a thousand dollars. Declan, standing nearby, averted my gaze, silently condoning Briar’s deliberate humiliation of me. My heart plummeted. I gritted my teeth and said, “Give me three days. I’ll buy it.” Briar laughed, a loud, exaggerated sound. “Three days? You couldn’t earn a million dollars in a lifetime of deliveries.” With that, she snatched the takeout bag from my hand and flung the eighty-eight thousand dollar customized Western meal all over me. Briar then crushed the expensive beef with her high heel. “See? People like you only deserve to smell it.” I was covered in grease, but I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. Briar sneered, then suddenly took off the bracelet and yanked open the window. “Look at your pathetic, poor self. Since you care so much…” Before I could even react, she tossed the bracelet out. I immediately rushed to the window, screaming, “No—!” The bracelet arced through the air and disappeared into the filthy storm drain below. My grandmother had personally put it on my wrist on her deathbed. It was my last tangible link to family.

I pushed away Declan, who was trying to grab me. “Get lost.” Under everyone’s stunned gazes, I jumped into the storm drain without hesitation. Instantly, the foul water rose to my waist, and the stench assaulted me. Around me, gasps and jeers erupted, but I blocked them out. Briar’s piercing laughter echoed from upstairs. “Hahaha, look at that crazy woman! Jumping into a cesspit for a broken bracelet! I’m dying!” Declan frowned and yelled at me, “For a broken bracelet, are you really doing this?” Broken bracelet? It was the only keepsake my grandmother left me! And his beloved Briar had tossed it away like garbage! I frantically fumbled in the murky water, enduring the blazing sun overhead. I searched in the sewage for almost half an hour. Finally, I felt the outline of the bracelet, but it had shattered into three pieces. Clutching the broken bracelet, I slowly climbed out of the storm drain. The crowd of onlookers quickly covered their noses and parted, clearing a path for me. Declan’s voice, sharp with disdain and fury, came from the mansion steps. That face, which once made my heart flutter, was now distorted and unfamiliar. “Aubrey Hayes! If you dare to leave now, we’re over.” I looked down at the shattered stone in my hand, my voice eerily calm. “We’re already over.” Briar walked over, her high heels clicking, and intimately linked her arm through Declan’s. She shook her wrist, showing off another gold bracelet. “Brother Declan, why waste words on this lowlife? She’s not even worth mentioning. Should I throw this one down too? Make her perform another jump into the cesspit?” Declan suddenly sneered. “Aubrey, watching you work like an idiot to support me for two years has been the greatest joy of my life. Don’t think for a second I’d ever like a cheap woman like you. You don’t even wear makeup; you’re an embarrassment to be seen with.” My entire body trembled, tears blurring my vision. My voice was icy cold. “We’re done!” But Declan’s face changed, his expression shifting from panic to grimness. “Aubrey, who do you think you are? You lived off me for two years! You’re nothing without me! Now you just want to walk away?” I let out a bitter laugh. “Lived off you? Declan Ford, can you honestly say who was supporting whom for the past two years? Who was working three jobs a day for your ‘startup’?” Briar kept her distance, covering her nose and frowning. “Oh, those gifts Brother Declan bought you, those fancy restaurants he took you to—that was all money! Now you just want to walk away without a care!” Those so-called “gifts” were all bought with my blood, sweat, and tears. Declan’s “fancy restaurants” were always paid for by me. I turned towards the gate, emphasizing again. “We’re finished!” Without another glance at them, I turned and walked away, resolute. How could I have been so blind, to fall in love with such a monster? Half an hour later, a black Maybach pulled up by the curb.

Three months ago, Declan had once again claimed a failed venture, needing to repay a large sum of debt. He’d introduced me to delivery work, claiming it was to “help me out.” Looking back, it was nothing but a carefully orchestrated scam. It was to make me suffer, to get revenge for his precious Briar. Forget it. It’s all in the past now. My life can finally get back on track. I quit my delivery job and went back to my apartment to pack all my luggage. The next day, I arrived at The Grand Metropolis Hotel. It was the city’s top hotel, and one of Grandpa Richard’s many properties. I dragged my bulky suitcases through the hotel lobby, my rough clothes and worn canvas shoes starkly out of place amidst the luxury. Suddenly, that irritating voice echoed from behind me. Briar Miller, wearing a designer dress and high heels, walked up. She strutted like a proud peacock. “Well, well, isn’t this Aubrey Hayes, the one who jumped into the cesspit the other day?” I kept walking, but she grabbed my luggage. “What’s wrong? Declan dumped you, and now you’re so desperate you’ve come to a place like this to hunt for a sugar daddy?” Her cronies burst into laughter. Someone even kicked my suitcase over, scattering my clothes across the floor. I looked at the mess on the ground and calmly said, “Pick them up.” Briar dramatically rubbed her ear, then stomped her foot down on my white shirt, leaving a clear high-heel mark. “What? You want me to pick them up? How about this! You kneel down and beg me, and maybe I’ll be in a good mood and pick them up for you.” More and more people gathered, some starting to chant, “Kneel! Kneel!” I remained standing still. Briar suddenly reached out to push me. “What are you pretending for? In college, I couldn’t stand that act of yours. It was so annoying.” But I was prepared. I turned sideways and dodged her. She, however, had put too much force into the push and stumbled into the designer bag display rack behind her. Various limited-edition designer bags tumbled down, some even getting scratched by the metal edges of the display. *Bang!* The lobby instantly fell silent. Briar’s face was ashen. She pointed at me and shrieked, “You… you deliberately pushed me!” “Oh my god! Those are limited editions!” “I saw it! She definitely pushed her.” “Hahaha, how many designer bags did that hillbilly ruin?” “One Chanel Classic, three Hermès Birkin bags, and several limited-edition collaborations…” Briar walked up to me, raising her voice. “Those are worth at least five million dollars. Enough to land you in jail for ten years!” I remained silent. Briar smugly stepped closer and continued, “I do have a good idea, though. You kneel down and bow to each of these bags. For every bow, I’ll count off one of the bags. How about that? A good deal, right?” A few people around Briar snickered and closed in. “Yeah, kneel down and bow! Let’s see how a low-wage earner bows! Hurry up and do it! Or we’ll call the police right now and have you arrested.” Just then, Declan stepped out of the elevator. He saw the scene and frowned. “What’s going on?” Briar’s expression immediately shifted. She tearfully threw herself into his arms. “Brother Declan, she tried to hurt me! She deliberately pushed me into the display!” Declan glanced at me, then quickly comforted Briar. To me, he said, “Aubrey, apologize to Briar. I can help you…” I let out a cold laugh. “We have no relationship anymore. I don’t need your help.”

Declan’s eyes turned dark and menacing. He took a step forward and grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like he might shatter my bones. “Aubrey, don’t push your luck. I hated that haughty attitude of yours in college. You were still played by me for two years. Fine, if you don’t want my help…” I trembled with rage, pulling my hand free. “Let go!” Briar triumphantly wiggled her high-heeled foot. “I have an idea. Lick my shoe clean first. Maybe I’ll be in a better mood and let you off.” A burst of laughter erupted from the crowd. Declan, in front of everyone, declared loudly, “Don’t be shy! Every single time you had to grovel and beg for money, I recorded it and sent those videos to Briar; she always found them hysterical.” My whole body trembled, and the world began to blur. All the humiliation, all the subservience of the past two years… It was all just their casual entertainment! Declan grew even more excited. “Oh, and especially that video of you kneeling on the ground, begging a customer. We even posted it in the alumni group chat, with the title ‘Former Campus Queen Kneels for Ten Bucks’.” *Slap!* I raised my hand and slapped Declan across the face. “Stop talking.” The loud slap cut him off. Declan’s face turned to one side, a bright red handprint instantly appearing on his cheek. He stared, disbelieving. “You… you dare to hit me?” Before he could react, I swung my hand back and delivered another slap, this time to Briar Miller’s face, as she tried to pull me away. My voice rang out, clear and resonant, “I *am* hitting you! You two worthless cheats!” Briar Miller’s carefully made-up face instantly swelled. Her nose, plumped up with fillers, was practically shattered. “Ah—my nose!” Declan immediately shielded Briar and yelled, “Guards! Grab this crazy woman!” Five or six cronies immediately rushed forward. Overwhelmed by sheer numbers, they pinned me to the ground. My cheek slammed hard against the marble floor, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. Briar shrieked hysterically, “Hold her head down! Make her kowtow to me!” Rough hands grabbed my hair, slamming my head against the floor, again and again. Declan sneered, pulling out his phone to record. “This time, I’m putting it online. Let’s see if you ever dare to bully Briar again.” My forehead quickly began to bleed, and I lay prostrate on the marble floor. Briar’s shrill voice was full of malice. “You were so strong in college, weren’t you? Now look at you, sprawled on the ground like a dog.” Unending humiliation and rage surged through me. I never wanted to stoop to their level and use my power, but now that they were doing it, I summoned all my strength, lifted my head, and shouted, “I am Aubrey Hayes! The sole heiress of Hayes Group! My grandfather is Richard Hayes!” A brief silence fell over the lobby. Then, even more furious laughter erupted! “She says she’s Aubrey Hayes? Then I’m the heir to the British crown!” “Is she insane? She’s started talking nonsense.” Briar laughed so hard she couldn’t stand straight, tears practically streaming down her face. “Aubrey Hayes? Aubrey Hayes is engaged to the young scion of Imperial Corp! I don’t expect you to call your grandpa out, but if you’ve got guts, call out your fiancé to back you up!” “What a joke, she’s talking big without a thought.” I felt utterly pathetic. My voice was hoarse. “Declan Ford, for the past two years, I was blind to your deception. But since you’re pushing me this hard, I won’t make it easy for you either.” Declan paused, then burst into a sharp, grating laugh. “Still acting out the whole drama, huh? Let me tell you, from college onwards, you always had that haughty attitude, rejecting my advances. If Briar hadn’t wanted to see you humbled, I wouldn’t have given you a second glance.” Briar walked over, looking down at me condescendingly, her sharp heel poised over my fingers. “Brother Declan’s right. Lowlifes like you are only good for our amusement. I heard you can play piano too, can’t you? Wonder if you can still play after I break your fingers—!” My hands were seized by several people, and the heel pressed into my flesh. A searing pain shot through me. Just then, a deep, cold male voice suddenly cut through the crowd from behind. It wasn’t loud, but it sliced through the clamor like a sharpened blade. “Stop.”

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On the day my husband Alex Jones got promoted, I, Lena Howell, was imprisoned for ten years on charges of trafficking prohibited substances after being reported. After my release, he and our son Jeff Jones personally came to pick me up from that home that had undergone tremendous changes. I was grateful they never abandoned me and worked desperately to support the family, only to stumble upon Alex and Jeff in a hotel, dressed in sharp suits and chatting cheerfully. Jeff said, “Dad, you insisted I plant Ms. Lewis’s drugs on Mom back then. If people knew Mom went to prison, they’d definitely laugh at me. Good thing we had the foresight to pretend we were poor and sent her to that old house.” Alex replied calmly, “Ms. Lewis has a weak constitution and couldn’t handle prison. Your mother is different.” I stood in the corner, my whole body turning cold. So all my suffering these ten years was inflicted by their own hands. I confronted them, but they called me crazy and threw me out of the hotel. In grief and rage, I lured them to the old house for negotiations, ignited the gas, and perished together with them. When I opened my eyes, I was reborn back to when I was twenty-three years old. Alex went straight to the courthouse to file for divorce and got together with his first love, Aria Lewis. Six-year-old Jeff hugged Aria’s legs, happily calling her “Mommy.” I smiled and simply ignored them, focusing wholeheartedly on preparing for my exams. Later, when I returned home to pay respects to my family and got caught in heavy rain, I accidentally wandered into a gathering of acquaintances with my daughter Ember Walker. Alex put his arm around Aria and sneered at me, “Lena, haven’t seen you in years. How did you end up so down and out?” Jeff beside him shouted in disgust, “I don’t have a beggar for a mother!” I remained calm and paid them no attention. Half an hour later, a jeep stopped in front of Peace Hotel. The driver walked straight to me without looking around, “Mrs. Walker, the car is here. Would you like to leave now?” Walking into the restaurant, mocking voices mentioning my name rose and fell. “Alex and Aria are such a perfect match!” “Lena insisted on marrying Alex back then, making him miss out on Aria.” “Lena wasn’t completely useless though. At least she gave birth to Jeff. Look how handsome this boy is.” As soon as those words were spoken, a boy playing with toys immediately looked up and retorted, “That woman is not my mother! My mommy is Aria!” I paused in my steps while holding Ember’s hand, recognizing that boy as Jeff. Sitting beside him were Alex and Aria. What a picture of a happy family of three. I had accompanied Alex in building his career from nothing, had risked my life to give birth to Jeff. Yet now, while I was being slandered, they never said a word in my defense. Just like in my previous life, they never truly considered me family. In my previous life, I was framed and imprisoned for ten years. I lost my youth, my reputation, and my parents. Only Alex and Jeff waited for me at the prison gates day after day for ten years. On the day of my release, Alex held my hand with tears in his eyes, “It’s good that you’re back. Having our family of three together is more important than anything.” Jeff knelt on the ground and kowtowed to me three times, “Mom, our family is finally reunited. I’ll definitely be a good son to you from now on.” They were the strength that supported me to stand up again. But I later discovered that all my suffering was caused by their own hands. Everything they did was just to help Aria escape legal punishment! I wanted to seek justice, but Alex and Jeff showed their shameless faces. Alex said, “Lena, what’s done is done. What’s the point of dwelling on this? With my power, making someone disappear isn’t difficult. For the sake of our marriage and the fact that you’re Jeff’s biological mother, I’ll give you a chance. As long as you voluntarily file for divorce, this house is yours.” Jeff chimed in from the side, “You’re a criminal who spent ten years in prison. You should be grateful to get a house for free!” In my fury, I lit a match in the old house filled with gas. When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn, back to the past. The first words I heard upon waking were Alex forcing me to divorce. The first scene I saw was Jeff acting spoiled in Aria’s arms. I realized they had been reborn too. I went along with their wishes, got divorced, and left home with just one suitcase. In this life, I never wanted to have anything to do with them again. The hypocritical flattery in the private room rang out once more. I had no interest in listening further and prepared to leave with Ember. Just as I turned around, a hand grabbed me tightly.

“Lena? Is that really you!” “We had a class reunion today, and no one could reach you. We thought you weren’t coming!” I shielded Ember as someone pulled me into the crowd. My former classmates all turned to look at me. “Lena, it’s been five years since we last saw each other. You look pretty rough,” Alex said, walking over with Aria in tow, maliciously looking me up and down. I glanced down at myself—my coat was soaked through, and my shoes were caked with mud. “What are you talking about? Even if Lena’s not doing well, you can’t say things like that!” Aria playfully pushed Alex, feigning reproach. Then she gave me a meaningful smile. “Don’t mind Alex. He’s had a few drinks and is talking nonsense. I’ll have someone add a seat for you. You and Jeff haven’t seen each other in years—you must really miss him, right?” I had no interest in either Alex or Jeff. I just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. Jeff stood up from his seat, covering his nose and hiding behind Aria. “She’s not my mom! I have nothing to say to her! She’s just a beggar!” “You’re lying! My mommy is not a beggar!” Ember, who had been quietly standing beside me, angrily shouted back. Like a proud little goose, she positioned herself in front of me. Someone asked curiously, “Lena, are you married?” I gently stroked Ember’s soft hair and smiled slightly. “Yes, this is my daughter.” Alex nearby let out a scoff. “Did you get married five years ago? So right after our divorce? “Lena, would you die without a man? Were you that desperate? “Or maybe you never got married at all? You knew about our reunion today and deliberately brought along some kid to put on an act, pretending you’ve been doing well these past few years?” I looked at Alex calmly, showing no emotional reaction to his words. I said, “Compared to you, I really can’t measure up. After all, you were already with Aria before we even got divorced.” Back then, we were both teaching in the village. Alex thought he’d never make it back to the city, so he proposed to me. At the time, I was fooled by his gentlemanly facade and agreed. But later I realized that Alex had already received Aria’s letter. Aria was getting married. And he scheduled our wedding for the same day as Aria’s wedding. That way, he could pretend he was marrying Aria instead. Now he had the nerve to paint me as some kind of gold digger. How ridiculous, and how shameless! Everyone’s probing gazes fell on Alex and Aria. Aria glared at me fiercely. “Lena, they brought a chair for you. Please sit down.” Someone brought over a restaurant chair and placed it next to Aria. I looked at the increasingly heavy rain outside and sat down with Ember in my arms. There were no extra tables in the restaurant, and with the rain pouring down outside, it wouldn’t be convenient to change venues on short notice. I sat down holding Ember, noticing her puffed-up cheeks as she glared angrily across from us. Following her gaze, I saw Jeff staring at me with extremely cold eyes. He was the child I nearly died giving birth to, but at this moment, I only felt he was truly Alex’s son—utterly disgusting. I looked away and pulled out a handkerchief from my pocket, gently wiping the raindrops from Ember’s clothes. Aria suddenly raised her voice: “Lena, how did your clothes get torn?” In an instant, everyone’s attention focused on the tear at the hem of my dress. I remembered then—after paying respects to my family, on my way down the mountain, thorny branches had torn my clothes. Aria covered her mouth and laughed. “Lena, it’s just a torn piece of clothing. Why do you look so worried? Wait—this isn’t your only coat, is it?”

Hearing this, everyone turned to look at me and began whispering among themselves. “The fabric of her dress looks decent enough, but with such a big tear, it’s probably beyond repair.” “You know, Lena was the top student in our class back in high school, a real talent. Who would’ve thought she’d end up like this?” “Yeah, she and Alex were such a perfect match back then. Now look—he’s become a promising military officer while she’s turned into a housewife in torn clothes. What a huge gap.” “If they hadn’t gotten divorced, she’d definitely be living better than this!” “What are you talking about? Alex is with Aria now.” I hadn’t said a word, yet they’d already passed judgment on me. Alex pulled Aria closer and declared his position affectionately: “The past is behind us. Aria is my only partner now.” Aria lifted her head from his embrace, her eyes shy yet triumphant as she looked straight at me: “Lena, I have plenty of clothes at home. Give me your address and I’ll send some to you. After all, you can’t go out wearing torn clothes.” I took a sip of water and said calmly, “No thanks. I don’t like wearing other people’s hand-me-downs.” Aria said, “Lena, you don’t mind, do you? I’ve only worn those clothes once or twice. Alex bought them all, and the fabric is really nice.” She looked at Alex: “I really just wanted to help Lena with some clothes. I didn’t expect her to be so sensitive about it.” Aria’s eyes reddened, and Alex immediately frowned with concern, glaring at me angrily: “Lena, that’s enough! Don’t be so ungrateful! You think I don’t know what kind of life you’re living? When Aria’s willing to give you clothes, you should gratefully accept them instead of making everyone uncomfortable at an occasion like this!” Others chimed in to persuade me: “Lena, you should apologize to Aria. She means well.” “Yeah, those clothes are so precious—we wouldn’t even dare dream of having them.” “They’re already being good to you, willing to help when they see you’re struggling.” Looking at these familiar yet strange faces that seemed particularly ugly at this moment, I smiled lightly: “Since you all think I should accept them, why don’t you give me your addresses? I’ll send the clothes to you instead—consider it Aria’s charity to you. How about that?” Everyone fell silent. I let out a cold laugh, picked up Ember, and turned to leave. Suddenly, a short male classmate, Mike Bryant, staggered toward me, drunkenly spreading his arms to block my path. He said, “Lena, since everyone’s here today, let me ask you something. Back in high school, when no one would talk to me, only you helped me. Did you like me then? I’ve got some savings now, and I don’t mind that you’ve been married. Marry me!” My eyes widened as I stepped back abruptly. I did remember helping him, but that was because he had heat stroke! As class president, how could I have left a sick student to work alone? I never imagined such a small act of kindness would lead to this misunderstanding! Just as I was about to explain, Aria excitedly exclaimed: “Wow, how romantic! Lena, say yes! Mike may be short, but his income is pretty good now!” My face darkened as I sternly snapped: “Aria, watch your mouth! I’m already married. Are you trying to help someone wreck my marriage?” Ember, lying on my shoulder, snorted heavily: “My mommy doesn’t like him at all! She loves me and Daddy the most!” Aria pursed her lips: “Where did you find this little girl? She’s a good actress, but no one’s buying it. Everyone knows you’re still in love with Alex.” Someone in the crowd joined in: “Yeah, Alex said you’re just pretending to be married to get his attention.” “Lena, enough already. You’ve been divorced once, and Mike’s never been married. Marrying him wouldn’t be a loss for you.” “Mike has liked you for so many years. He finally got his chance when you and Alex divorced—just make him happy.” All sorts of dubious comments filled my ears, making my stomach churn with disgust. Just then, Alex stepped forward and stood beside Mike: “If I’d known you were interested in her, I wouldn’t have competed with you back then. Women love to play hard to get—keep trying and she might actually fall for you.” Encouraged by these words, Mike actually took another step toward me: “Lena, I’m serious. Marry me—I’ll treat you well.” He spread his arms and lunged toward me. Startled, I quickly dodged while holding Ember and shouted sternly: “Stay away from me! Come any closer and I’ll call the police!” My outburst froze Mike in place—he didn’t dare approach further. Before I could catch my breath and leave with Ember, Aria suddenly screamed behind me: “My gold ring is missing! Stop her! Lena, you think you can just steal something and walk away?”   I hadn’t even stepped out of the private dining room when someone suddenly grabbed my arm with brutal force. Turning around, I was shocked to see it was Alex. His face twisted with rage as he gripped my arm, practically lifting me off the ground and dragging me back inside. Worried that Ember might fall, I struggled desperately, and she managed to slip from my arms during the commotion. Seeing my pained expression, Ember charged forward angrily, wrapping her arms around Alex’s leg and biting down hard. “You big meanie! Don’t hurt my mommy!” she cried. Moments later, Jeff rushed out from behind Aria. He grabbed Ember and flung her away with force. Ember’s head struck the wall, and she collapsed unconscious. Witnessing this scene, my eyes widened in disbelief. “Ember!” Jeff was already twelve years old, tall for his age, with strength that could match an adult woman’s. How could a five-year-old girl withstand such violence? Jeff sneered coldly with satisfaction. “Little brat, let’s see if you dare bite my dad again!” I called out to Ember repeatedly, but she didn’t respond. My heart felt hollow as I summoned all my strength to break free from Alex’s grip and delivered a sharp slap across Jeff’s face. I rushed to Ember’s side, cradling her tightly while glaring at Jeff, who stood there stunned, clutching his cheek. “If anything happens to my daughter, I swear I won’t let you get away with this!” Jeff stood frozen, looking bewildered. Aria ran over, stroking Jeff’s face with fake concern before turning to scold me harshly. “Lena, you’re supposed to be Alex’s mother, yet you’d hurt him like this over some child of unknown origin. You’re absolutely vicious!” Jeff snapped back to reality, his eyes blazing with hatred. “Ms. Lewis, you’re the only mother I recognize. She’s nothing but the woman who gave birth to me. You bitch, hand over Ms. Lewis’s ring!” My eyes burning with fury, I shot back through gritted teeth, “I’ve been sitting here for barely ten minutes. How could I possibly steal a ring with all these people watching? Since you don’t believe me, call the police and let them sort this out!” Alex’s face contorted with rage as he violently tore at my collar, exposing my shoulder. He roared, “Lena, you’re still as stubborn as ever. You won’t admit it? Fine, then I’ll search you myself!” The entire restaurant seemed to freeze in that moment. I clutched my clothes desperately, glaring at Alex with fierce eyes. “Alex, if you touch me again, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!” Alex let out a cold laugh. “I don’t believe you! Even if we end up at the police station, I’m in the right. You stole Aria’s ring! That’s our wedding ring, symbolizing our eternal love. How dare you?” He reached out again, trying to search me. Holding Ember with one arm and protecting my clothes with the other, I screamed, “Stop! Don’t you dare touch me with your filthy hands!” Just as I finished speaking, Alex suddenly let out an agonized cry. A familiar, ice-cold voice came from above my head. “My wife told you to stop. Are you deaf?”

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The cat left behind by my husband William Welch’s ex-girlfriend Bella Collins was actually nursing my daughter Ruth Welch with its chest, just like a human would. So I, Leila Fowler, turned on my camera and livestreamed this bizarre scene. The stream went viral instantly, and people came knocking at my door, willing to pay top dollar for this cat. I agreed to sell, but William suddenly went crazy, clutching the cat and screaming that we couldn’t sell it. Even Jenny Welch, William’s sister who had always doted on me, angrily accused me of losing my mind. Actually, in my previous life, I had accidentally discovered the cat nursing Ruth at home. Seeing Ruth’s satisfied expression, I was completely stunned. What horrified me even more was that the cat’s chest was completely hairless, smooth and delicate, just like a nursing woman’s. Moreover, this cat was always hostile toward me, either baring its teeth or scratching me, and it had to sleep in William’s arms every night. Thinking about all this made my blood run cold, and I immediately decided to throw it out. I never expected that the usually gentle William would become abnormally violent. He yelled at me: “I raised this cat with my own hands – it’s like a child to me! If you dare throw it away, we’re getting divorced!” Jenny also urged me to keep the cat, even saying I’d been under too much stress lately, and made me drink sleeping pills. That night, Ruth died in my arms, and I, overwhelmed by grief, also died suddenly in bed. Only after death did I realize that the cat was actually Bella, and Ruth was the medium she used to exchange lives. Their real purpose was to steal my body. When I opened my eyes again, I had returned to the day I was discharged from the hospital. ***** Urgent knocking at the door pulled me back from my memories to reality. The door cracked open, and Jenny poked her head in. She first glanced at the child in my arms, then called out softly: “Leila, dinner’s ready. Come out and eat.” She even waved at me excitedly: “Eat while it’s hot – it won’t taste good when it gets cold.” My mind went blank, and I instinctively got up, carrying the child as I walked out. In the living room, on the dining table, that Siamese cat belonging to William and Bella was standing in the head seat, licking a plate with relish. William was feeding it a piece of meat with a doting expression on his face. Seeing me come out, it even arrogantly lifted its head and glared at me with challenging eyes. This scene sent chills down my spine and completely snapped me back to reality. I had been reborn! On our wedding night in my previous life, William brought home a massive Siamese cat. He said helplessly: “Bella passed away in an accident, and her parents can’t take care of the cat, so I have to look after it.” I loved small animals and wanted to be more tolerant and trusting in my marriage, so I agreed and even specially cleared out a living space for the cat. But soon I noticed something was wrong – this cat didn’t like me. It was hostile toward me, and whenever I got close, it would bristle, bare its teeth, and even threaten me. What was worse, it had to sleep in William’s arms every night. Sometimes in the middle of the night, I could hear it making coquettish purring sounds in William’s embrace. After I got pregnant, I suggested not letting the cat on the bed. Hearing my words, it actually lunged at me, opening its mouth to bite. If William hadn’t stopped it in time, my face would have been disfigured. I was furious and thought about sending the cat away. But William humbly explained: “Cats are very smart animals – they can understand what you say. You just said you wanted to send it away, so it attacked you because it was hurt.” Jenny also tried to persuade me: “You’re not hurt, so it’s fine. This cat is intelligent – it’s a good cat. If you send it away now, it’ll become a stray, which would be too pitiful.” I softened, hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to keep the cat, but with one condition – it couldn’t enter my bedroom anymore. William agreed. But I never expected that for this cat’s sake, he would actually suggest we sleep in separate beds. Though I was angry, thinking of the child in my belly, I endured it. However, as the child was born, even more bizarre things happened. During breastfeeding, I didn’t have enough milk and could only buy formula to feed Ruth. But no matter how hard I tried, Ruth just wouldn’t drink the formula. At first I thought she didn’t like that brand of formula, so I switched several times, but she still refused to eat. Just as I was preparing to take Ruth to the hospital for a checkup, I accidentally discovered that Siamese cat nursing Ruth. It was pressing its chest to Ruth’s mouth, and Ruth was obediently suckling. She was drinking the cat’s milk in big gulps! What made my blood run cold was that the cat’s chest was completely hairless, white and smooth, just like a woman’s during breastfeeding. I nearly went insane, hysterically screaming that we had to get rid of the cat. But the usually gentle William actually started cursing: “How can you be so petty? The house is so big, and you can’t even tolerate one cat!” I incoherently described everything I had seen, but he mocked me for having mental problems. Jenny pulled me to the sofa and secretly made me take a sleeping pill. She said: “You’re under too much stress – you have postpartum depression. How could a cat possibly nurse a child like a human?” Under her comfort, my emotions gradually calmed down. But when I woke up that night, I found that Ruth had already stopped breathing, her body ice cold. I wanted to call for help, but discovered the house was completely empty. Soon, overwhelmed by extreme grief and breathing rapidly, I collapsed beside Ruth and died. Only after death did I understand that this was all a vicious conspiracy! William, Jenny, and that cat were all plotting to steal my body. Ruth and I were nothing more than sacrifices in their life-swapping process.

Thinking about all this, I couldn’t help but clench my fists. Looking at the two people and one cat at the dining table, overwhelming hatred surged through me, filling my mind with impulsive thoughts. But thinking of Ruth still in her swaddling clothes, I could only suppress this rage. In this lifetime, I swear I’ll make them pay a devastating price! Jenny said, “Leila, why are you still standing there? Come sit down!” As she spoke, she handed me a bowl of something dark and murky. She said, “Drink this quickly, it’s really good for your body. After drinking it, your milk supply will become much more abundant.” While speaking, she lifted the bowl in my hands slightly, her eyes full of expectation. If this were before, I would have drunk it without hesitation. But now, I simply placed the bowl gently back on the table: “It’s a bit hot, I’ll drink it later.” The contents of the bowl were weaning soup. I remembered clearly—it was after drinking this that I lost my milk supply, forcing Ruth to switch to formula, which gave that cat its opportunity. Hearing my words, the expectation in Jenny’s eyes dimmed instantly: “Alright then, just remember to drink it.” I didn’t respond and sat down next to William. Then I affectionately brought my face close to his cheek: “William, I want to eat food you’ve made with your own hands.” I could clearly feel his body stiffen instantly at my gesture. His first reaction wasn’t to answer me, but to look toward the eating cat with something like panic. The cat also noticed my movement, baring its teeth in a grin, its eyes becoming unusually fierce. I said, “William, will you promise me? I want you to make your specialty dish for me.” As I spoke, I gently rested my head on his shoulder, my hand unconsciously caressing his abs. Of course, my gaze never left that cat. It was angry now, making strange sounds from its mouth. The sound wasn’t like a cat’s meow, but more like a woman’s scream, only deeper. It was enraged by me, but this was far from enough. I stared at it intently, raising my eyebrows provocatively. The next second, it lunged at me as expected. Fortunately, I was prepared and quickly dodged behind William. The cat naturally didn’t dare harm William, so it stopped abruptly, but due to inertia still rushed forward a few steps. Perfectly positioned, it knocked over the bowl of weaning soup on the table. I seized the opportunity, grabbing the cat by the scruff of its neck, lifting it high, and slamming it hard onto the floor. I said, “You’re nothing but a stray cat I’m keeping—do you really think you can hurt me?” After speaking, I kicked it hard in the chest. The cat grimaced in pain, its previous arrogance instantly vanishing. William suddenly pushed me away: “Are you insane? What are you doing?” Jenny screamed and quickly knelt down to pick up the cat: “Leila, you’re absolutely crazy! Why are you bullying a cat? You could beat it to death like this!” William was emotionally agitated, his eyes even reddening with anger. I smirked, my gaze falling on that cat. It had its mouth open, drool running down from the corners, looking utterly pathetic. Jenny cried while gently stroking the cat in her arms: “Stop arguing, we need to get to the hospital quickly!”

After saying this, they both hurriedly put on their coats. Before leaving, William said through gritted teeth: “If anything happens to that cat, I’ll never forgive you!” Watching their hurried departure, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. Not daring to waste a moment, I immediately contacted renovation workers online. I said: “I need five hidden cameras, preferably the kind that can record audio. When’s the earliest you can install them? Can you make it even faster? I can pay extra!” Only after receiving a positive response did I completely relax. The next second, Ruth’s crying came from the bedroom. I immediately rushed in and picked her up, gently soothing her. I tentatively tried to feed her, and watching her drink obediently, I couldn’t help but shed tears. After Ruth calmed down, Jenny’s call came through. She asked: “Leila, did you drink that herbal tonic? There’s still some in the pot, you must remember to drink it.” I tried to make my voice sound normal: “I know, Jenny. I’ll drink it. By the way, is the cat okay?” I deliberately sniffled, pretending I had just been crying: “I’m sorry, I just gave birth and I’m under a lot of stress. I acted impulsively earlier. Is the cat alright?” There was silence on the other end, followed by a heavy sigh: “It’s fine, just a little startled.” Then she suddenly raised her voice: “You can’t do this again! Do you hear me?” I said: “Okay, when are you coming back?” She said: “Probably tonight. Remember to drink the tonic.” With that, Jenny hung up. Meanwhile, the workers installing the cameras arrived. After everything was arranged, it was nearly six in the evening. Before leaving, I specifically asked the workers to help dispose of that pot of herbal tonic. At eleven at night, they returned. Seeing me waiting at the door, William held the cat with a guarded expression. I immediately stepped forward to apologize, repeatedly saying I was wrong. William said: “So you know you were wrong? This is a life we’re talking about, what do you think this is? Thank God the cat is okay! If something had happened, I definitely wouldn’t have let you off!” In that moment, I even saw a hint of murderous intent in his eyes. The cat lay contentedly in his arms, blinked, and stuck its tongue out at me. Then it smugly placed its paw on his chest, as if declaring ownership. Jenny walked straight to the kitchen, and seeing the empty pot, came out with a smile: “Leila, you finished all the tonic?” I nodded. She exchanged a glance with William, then said: “Good, we’re going to rest now. It’s getting late, you should sleep early too.” William carried the cat into the bedroom. As he closed the door, I saw him lose control and kiss the cat’s face. At one in the morning, I was still wide awake. In another half hour it would be feeding time, and my anxiety was growing. Ten minutes later, my bedroom door was gently pushed open a crack. William came to my side and whispered: “Leila, are you asleep?” I kept my eyes tightly shut, not daring to respond. Thinking I was fast asleep, he tiptoed into the room. In the darkness, I squinted and watched him carefully place the cat beside Ruth. The cat first arched its back, then slowly bent down, finally pressing its chest against Ruth’s mouth. Through the curtains filtering in dim light, I could see by the moonlight that the cat’s smooth chest looked remarkably like a fully developed woman’s breast. Ruth opened her mouth in her sleep and instinctively began to suckle. The next second, the cat let out an extremely soft cry of pain. This sound immediately made William tense up. He asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” The cat shook its head in pain and whimpered again. Unable to get any milk, Ruth bit down harder. Only after fully realizing there was no milk did she start crying. I took the opportunity to open my eyes and saw William frantically picking up the cat. I asked, “What’s going on?” He said nervously, “Nothing, I just missed you and wanted to sleep with you tonight.” As he spoke, he kept looking down to check the cat’s reaction. “Since the baby’s awake, you should comfort her first,” he said softly. “I’ll go out for now.” With that, he hurried out with the cat, completely ignoring me. I held the baby tenderly and fed her while opening the surveillance feed of Jenny’s room. “No milk? That’s impossible!” Jenny’s voice was urgent. “Leila drank the medicine, Bella must have milk!” “There really isn’t any!” William said. “Ruth bit Bella’s chest until it was red, but still couldn’t get any milk!” Jenny looked shocked. “How could this happen? What about Leila? Does she have milk?” This question made William hesitate. “I think so, but I wasn’t paying attention.” “Alright, don’t panic,” Jenny said calmly. “Maybe I didn’t make enough weaning soup today. I’ll have her drink more tomorrow. I refuse to believe it won’t work.” Watching those two people and one cat on the monitor made me feel somewhat nauseous. I opened the livestream and found it was already packed with viewers. William never imagined that the scene of the cat nursing had just been broadcast live. Many people messaged me privately, asking if the cat was for sale, with some even offering high prices. I filtered through them and finally chose a man named Ryder Parker who lived in the same city as me. I messaged him: [If you’re serious about buying, I’m serious about selling. Give me a hundred dollars and you can take the cat.] Ryder was initially skeptical: [Such an intelligent cat, and you’re selling it to me this cheap?] [Yes, I don’t want to keep it anymore,] I replied briefly. Then I sent him my exact address: [This cat isn’t easy to catch. You’d better bring several people tomorrow, preferably men. Let’s meet at 7:30 tomorrow morning.] After sending that, I logged out of the app. Ruth had finished eating and was sleeping peacefully. But I couldn’t sleep at all, lying in bed, my heart full of anticipation for what would happen tomorrow. Sure enough, at 7:20 in the morning, Jenny pushed open my bedroom door, bringing fresh weaning soup for me to drink. After I refused, her expression immediately changed: “You have to drink it!” Just as she finished speaking, there was a knock at the door. I held Ruth and pushed past Jenny to open the door. Outside stood seven or eight burly men, with Ryder at the front asking ingratiatingly, “Last night, were you…?” I nodded and welcomed them in. Jenny sensed something was wrong and quickly woke William. “Who are you? What are you here for?” he asked as he came out. The cat followed him out. I spoke calmly: “They’re here to buy the cat.” Then I looked back at Ryder: “That’s the cat you saw last night. Go catch it. If you can catch it with your bare hands, I’ll give it to you for free.” The men immediately sprang into action. The cat reacted extremely quickly, jumping up and down, turning the entire house into chaos. Combined with William and Jenny’s interference, catching the cat became even more difficult. But ultimately, numbers prevailed. Ryder finally grabbed the cat’s tail and lifted it up by it. The cat struggled desperately, extending its claws to scratch, but Ryder slapped it on the head, causing it to cry out and pass out on the spot. Seeing this, William panicked and desperately rushed forward to try to snatch it back. But Ryder casually tossed the cat to his companion behind him and smiled as he nodded at me: “I caught it. Does that mean I don’t have to pay you?” I was about to speak when William suddenly grabbed my collar and yanked me toward him. He roared through gritted teeth: “It was you? Why would you do this? Give me back the cat right now!”

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