“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight’s main event is about to begin!” “Any gentleman here who can guess Miss Chloe’s measurements can take her home for the night! There’s no limit to how many can guess correctly!” Serena turned to look at me, a smirk playing on her lips. Before the words even faded, men, like hungry wolves, roared and lunged at me. Dozens of hands clawed and groped at my body, mercilessly tearing at my dress. I frantically clutched at my chest, trying to shield myself. “Damian, please, don’t let them do this!” I cried out, looking at Damian, but he stood by Serena’s side, completely unconcerned, not even flinching. Damian was the heir to a powerful fortune, and my husband of three years. Three days after our wedding, he took me to a plastic surgery clinic. He held up a photo, pointing at it as he spoke to the doctor. “I want her to look exactly like the woman in this picture. Understand?” Then he turned to me, his face devoid of emotion. “Chloe Evans, a slight resemblance isn’t enough for me.” The woman in the photo was Serena Lewis, the unobtainable love of Damian’s life. Years ago, she’d left him at their wedding, chasing her so-called ‘true love’ to the other side of the globe. And I, simply because I bore a faint resemblance to Serena, was forced to become a stand-in bride. He promised to cover my mom’s astronomical medical bills. For that, I had to break up with Liam Foster, my childhood sweetheart. Three years into this marriage, I was no longer Chloe Evans. I was like a puppet on strings, forbidden from having thoughts of my own. I was expected to imitate everything about Serena: her every gesture, her every smile, her fashion style, her daily habits. Even the most intimate moments between a husband and wife had to be just like hers. If I copied her well, Damian would accuse me of dreaming of replacing Serena. If I didn’t do it well enough, he’d find new ways to punish me. On the first day of our marriage, Damian told me, “From now on, you will learn her tone of voice, her laugh, her preferences—everything. You will learn it all. Do you understand?” “Why…?” I asked, my voice filled with resentment. He grabbed my wrist, his eyes icy. “Because you are Serena’s substitute. Turning yourself into her is the only reason you exist!” In the days that followed, Damian used every method he could to try and transform me into Serena. “Serena calls me with such tenderness, why do you have no emotion at all?” Damian pinched my chin, his fingers almost digging into my cheek. “Did I marry a robot? Are you even a woman?” I opened my mouth, but only a dry, raspy sound came out. He made me practice countless times, but I could never satisfy him. In the steamy bathroom, he picked up his phone. The screen showed a video of Serena dancing. “Put this on.” He tossed a lace slip dress onto me. “Dance exactly like that.” “But… I can’t…” I whispered, trying to object. “Then learn! If you don’t dance well, don’t even think about sleeping tonight!” He cut me off impatiently, his voice leaving no room for negotiation. I changed into the dress and stood amidst the swirling steam, clumsily imitating the movements from the video. Raising my hand, kicking my leg – every action felt stiff and awkward. Damian leaned back on the sofa, watching me with an amused, mocking look. “Chloe Evans, you’re truly… ugh, a pathetic attempt to mimic her, and frankly, it’s disgusting.” Humiliation made my eyes burn, but I didn’t dare retort. My mom still needed her medical treatment. One day, Damian suddenly tossed a shoe box at me. “Put these on and come with me to the party. Hurry up, don’t keep me waiting.” He actually bought me shoes and wanted to take me to a party? After being married for so long, he had never acknowledged me in public, nor had he ever taken me to any social events. For a moment, I was overwhelmed, cautiously opening the box. Inside was a pair of diamond-encrusted high heels. “They’re beautiful. Are they… for me?” I looked at him, disbelief in my voice. “Stop asking stupid questions. Just put them on.” But when I saw the nearly four-inch stiletto heels, my jaw dropped. I never wore high heels, let alone ones this tall. I looked at Damian, troubled. “Damian, these heels are too high. I really… I can’t wear them.” “Chloe Evans, look at yourself. Do you have an ounce of elegance befitting a woman from a wealthy family? Does your image even deserve to stand next to me, Damian Hayes? You’re not even fit to tie Serena’s shoes.” “You’re wearing these shoes today,” Damian commanded. So, I hobbled along with him to the party in those four-inch heels. During the event, someone called me Mrs. Hayes. To my shock, Damian’s face turned cold. “Remember, call her Miss Evans.” I forced an awkward smile, wanting the ground to swallow me whole. Damian wouldn’t even give me a proper title. By the time the party was over, my ankles were ridiculously swollen, and my toes and heels were raw and bleeding. The pain was excruciating. But Damian wasn’t satisfied with my performance. As soon as we got home, he dragged me into the bathroom, turning the shower on full blast, drenching me in cold water. “Your behavior today was incredibly disappointing. Don’t you dare forget your place just because someone calls you Mrs. Hayes. Don’t even dream of replacing Serena. You are nothing to me.” His voice was low and dangerous, his hand clutching my throat. “Do you know how to make up for it?” “Strip,” he commanded. I looked at him in horror. “Damian, no, please…” If the verbal humiliation and physical punishments had already made me numb, what came next was truly degrading. “Heh, Chloe Evans, why are you pretending to be so innocent in front of me? You’re just an object I own.” Damian forcefully ripped off all my clothes. I stood there, naked and humiliated, before him. I turned my head, trying desperately not to let the tears fall, but Damian wouldn’t even grant me that small dignity. He grabbed my hands, which were covering my chest, and pinned them above my head, pressing me tightly against the wall. “Call me Daddy!” he whispered in my ear, his breathing growing heavier, his other hand roaming relentlessly over my body. The shower continued to pour, drenching both of us, but Damian seemed oblivious to the cold. He was treating me like Serena again. I closed my eyes, pressing my lips together. When I didn’t respond for a long time, Damian suddenly kissed me, tearing at my lips with force. Just as I thought I couldn’t breathe, he released me. “Right. A woman like you, how could you ever make a sound like Serena?” He continued to roughly rub my body, mocking me all the while. “Ah, Damian, you’re hurting me…” I finally couldn’t help but let out a whimper. “Who gave you permission to call my name? I said Daddy, Dad-dy, understand?” His grip tightened, and I couldn’t bear it any longer. I had no choice but to give in. “Daddy…!” But Damian didn’t stop. Instead, he became even more aggressive, deliberately targeting my sensitive spots. He didn’t forget to taunt me with a disgusted tone. “Your voice is truly awful. Not even a fraction as good as Serena’s.” He tormented me again and again, ignoring my pleas, until I couldn’t get out of bed the next day. He said it was my punishment. Afterward, he would gently caress my face. “Serena, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” He always tormented me in bed, all the while calling out Serena’s name. And I? I was nothing more than an outlet for his unrequited desire.

Not only did I have to endure Damian’s humiliation, but I was also constantly harassed by his crony, Chad Miller. One day, not long after Damian left, the doorbell rang. Chad stood outside, a lecherous grin plastered on his face. “Well, Mrs. Hayes, all alone at home, are we?” He tilted his head, his eyes scanning me from head to toe. “Damian’s not here. Do you need something?” I asked coldly, my hand still on the doorframe, ready to shut it. “Can’t a guy just drop by to see you?” He took a step forward, forcefully pushing his way inside. “Get out.” I pointed to the door. “Don’t be so cold.” He chuckled, moving closer and reaching out to touch my face. “Mr. Miller, have some respect!” I quickly backed away, my voice icy. “If you don’t stop, I’ll call for help.” “Call for help? Who are you going to call?” He scoffed. “This house belongs to Damian, you know. The staff? I already sent them away. Tsk, tsk. I heard Damian say you’re always failing to satisfy him. So I came specifically to help him ‘train’ you.” With that, he suddenly lunged, grabbing my wrist. “Where should I start?” His eyes roamed over my body, restless and invasive. One hand was already reaching for my clothes. “Let go of me!” I struggled fiercely, but his grip was too strong; I couldn’t break free. “Why are you acting so high and mighty?” He leaned down, his breath hot against my face, his lips almost touching mine. “Damian is willing to share everything with his buddies, including women.” His laughter sickened me. Even though I knew Damian didn’t love me, I was still his wife. I couldn’t believe he would allow this to happen. Chad’s hand slid inside my dress. Just as he was about to exert more force, I bit down hard on his arm. “Ah!” He cried out in pain, releasing me and glaring at me. “You little bitch, you’ve got some fight in you!” Before he could react, I grabbed the vase from the table and hurled it at him. *CRASH!* The vase shattered on the floor, fragments scattering everywhere. “You crazy psycho!” He dodged awkwardly, pointing at me furiously. “You just wait, I’ll get you back for this!” With that, he turned and slammed the door as he left. When Damian returned, I told him what had happened. He frowned, but his tone held a hint of impatience. “Why are you always provoking him?” “Provoking him?” I was stunned. “He broke in!” “If you hadn’t flirted with him, would he have acted that way? Go and reflect on yourself. You’re not eating dinner tonight. And besides, he’s my brother. We’ve always shared everything, including women.” Damian sneered, his eyes filled with suspicion and disgust. Their words were identical. So, he really had given his silent consent. From that moment on, the last shred of hope I held for him vanished completely.

I never thought Serena would return one day, or that Damian would push me into an abyss for her. “Damian, darling, I heard you found a stand-in. I’m so sorry, you must have had it tough these past three years. I’ll make it up to you.” Serena’s voice was cloyingly sweet. Damian, however, seemed to relish it. “Serena, it’s enough that you’re back.” With that, they embraced and kissed as if I wasn’t even there. After a while, Serena suddenly feigned surprise. “Oh, Damian, darling, we completely forgot Miss Evans is still here!” “She’s not important. Just pretend she’s air,” Damian said, glancing at me with a look of disdain. “I heard Damian has been training you every day? He wants you to become me? Hmph, you’re clearly out of your depth. Damian, darling, this cheap imitation is terrible, she doesn’t look anything like me!” Serena batted her eyelashes at me, playfully tugging on Damian’s arm. “Don’t be angry, Serena. It’s only because you left, and I missed you so terribly, that I reluctantly found a stand-in. How could a woman like her ever compare to you?” Yes, a woman like me was just a clown, meant for their amusement. Seeing me stand there in silence, Serena immediately put on a wronged expression. “Damian, darling, look at her sour face. Doesn’t she welcome me back? Maybe I should just leave.” Damian immediately slapped me, warning me, “Chloe Evans, Serena is the true mistress of this house. You’d better be polite to her, or I have countless ways to deal with you. Go, get Serena a glass of water, then pack her luggage.” “Oh, Damian, darling, don’t hit her for my sake. Besides, Miss Evans isn’t my maid. Look, she’s so pitiful.” “It’s her blessing to be your maid.” Serena intimately linked her arm through Damian’s, resting her head on his shoulder, proudly asserting her dominance over me. Damian, since your beloved Serena is back, then let me go! Watching them walk away, I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. Ever since Serena returned, Damian didn’t even bother with pretenses. They were openly intimate in front of me, even leaving the doors open, deliberately making me listen to them. Serena’s cries made my face burn, and Damian’s heavy breathing made me want to flee. Afterward, Serena would look at me with a smug, triumphant expression, then feign regret. “Oh, I’m so sorry, Miss Evans! I forgot you were still at home! Damian, darling, aren’t we being too naughty? Miss Evans will be sad!” “She’s not important, Serena. As long as you’re happy!” Damian wrapped his arm around Serena, not even sparing me a glance. “Damian, since Miss Lewis is back, let’s get a divorce. I wish you and Miss Lewis happiness.” Three years. I couldn’t bear to stay in this place for another day. I couldn’t endure this humiliating life for another moment. Just as I expected Damian to agree without hesitation, he shockingly smashed a glass. “Chloe Evans, you want to leave? Don’t you dare dream of it. You’ll die in my house, even if it’s over my dead body.” I didn’t understand. If he didn’t love me and despised me so much, why wouldn’t he let me go? Was it just to continue humiliating me? Serena clearly hadn’t expected Damian’s reaction. She glared at me fiercely, then turned and walked away, linking her arm with Damian.

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A car crash left my mom a widow, and me an orphan. Later, my mom chose to remarry into a powerful family, and her stepson naturally became my husband. But on our wedding night, Julian just bolted, refusing to even touch me. Julian and his dad, Richard, were always so busy with their work, they barely paid attention to Mom or me. Not until I saw Julian meeting up with his mistress, and then found his STD diagnosis, did I finally break. I ran to my mom, tears streaming down my face. “Julian’s out partying non-stop, living a wild, debauched life! I just can’t do this anymore.” To my surprise, Mom started crying even harder than I was. “Richard… he’s never gotten over his ex-wife, and he’s cheating with the housekeeper! I can’t reach him, not really. This life is even worse.” We looked at each other, and a sudden, shared smile blossomed on our faces. Soon after, news quickly spread online that the wife of the Richardson Group’s CEO and the wife of its President had both tragically died in a cliff accident.

Just a few days ago, I caught Julian secretly meeting up with some other woman behind my back. I was furious, but I didn’t have the guts to confront him. After all this time married to him, I was still a virgin. I figured there was no point torturing myself. His heart wasn’t with me anyway, so let him do whatever he wanted. I could just coast through life. After all, both Mom and I had married into the Richardson family. It wouldn’t look good if I caused a fuss on my own. Then, this morning, I found an STD diagnosis report in Julian’s study. That was it. I couldn’t sit still anymore. I was going to find Mom and discuss getting a divorce. But then, I ran right into Julian at the villa’s entrance. He’d suddenly come home. “Where are you rushing off to?” I was surprised he was suddenly showing concern, but the thought of his infected body made my stomach churn. I deliberately kept my distance, my voice sharp and cold. “Can’t I go home to my mom’s place?” “You never treated me like family anyway. Why bother with the fake concern?” Julian, usually so stoic, actually smirked. Hands in his pockets, he took a few thoughtful steps towards me. “Perfect timing. I’m going back to my dad’s place too. It’s on the way. Let’s go together.” As if! Who’d want to go with him? Who knew what kind of nasty stuff he might have picked up? Besides, I was going back to talk about divorce. He absolutely couldn’t know. I held up both hands. “I’m going to my mom’s to have a heart-to-heart. What business is it of yours?” “Don’t you have work to do? Or did your mistress finally ditch you?” I spun around and walked quickly towards the car. To my surprise, Julian didn’t get angry. He just followed me right into the car. I’d never seen him so thick-skinned before. The car was eerily quiet. Julian kept glancing at me, making my skin crawl. When we got married, I genuinely hoped we’d grow old together. I never imagined he’d be so reckless. At first, I thought maybe I just wasn’t attractive enough for him. So Mom gave me tons of advice, telling me to dress a little more feminine. I secretly bought a bunch of lingerie and “romantic” items on Amazon and tried to parade them in front of Julian when he came home from work. Not only did he not react at all, but he almost kicked me out of the house! After that, all the staff in the villa seemed to think I was the unloved President’s wife. Even the cook started treating me like dirt, saying nasty things. I was so sick of it. Julian didn’t stop the servants from mocking me; he just let them do it. I figured he just didn’t like me and was trying to force me out. Fine, if that’s what he wanted, I’d give it to him. Finally, we arrived at Richard’s old mansion. I practically jumped out of the car, gasping for fresh air, even fanning my nose in disgust. Julian looked utterly speechless, scratching the back of his head. “Scarlett, you seem really upset with me today. Did I do something wrong?” Upset with him *today*? My hatred for him had been simmering since our wedding night. When I didn’t answer, Julian didn’t say anything else. He just quietly followed behind me. My reason for visiting Mom today wasn’t simple, and I absolutely couldn’t let Julian, that eavesdropper, hear a word. So the moment we walked in, I dodged his gaze and dashed straight to Mom’s bedroom.

When I entered, Mom was doing her makeup. I rushed in and locked the door behind me. She stared at me, looking completely bewildered. “Scarlett, what are you doing here? You didn’t even call ahead!” “Do you have some good news for me?” Then she gave me a mischievous grin, her eyes darting to my stomach. I shook my head repeatedly, pulling up my shirt for her to see. “Mom, what are you talking about? You know Julian and I have been married all this time, and we’ve never even shared a bed. I don’t even know what color his boxers are.” Mom gasped in disbelief. “How can that be? Didn’t I tell you to buy some lingerie and things to spice things up? Julian didn’t fall for it?” At this, I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore. I burst out crying. “Julian’s cheating! He’s a total scumbag. I don’t want to be with him anymore.” I’m still so young, I can’t just throw my life away on him, right? If Julian won’t touch me, I refuse to believe no other man will want me. Before Mom could ask anything else, I pressed on. “Not only that, but he’s got an STD. If I stay with him, I might not see next year’s sun.” Seeing how heartbroken I was, Mom suddenly lowered her head too. “Scarlett, I’m actually in a similar boat.” I quickly asked, “You mean Richard… he has an STD too?” Mom waved her hand dismissively. “No, not that. It’s just… I often see him and the housekeeper whispering secretly in his room. Their relationship is definitely more than just professional.” “And he’s always staring at pictures of his ex-wife, lost in thought. He probably still can’t forget her.” “Even though I’m older, I still have needs, you know? But Richard… he’s like he’s impotent. No wonder he and Julian are father and son!” So Mom wasn’t doing much better than me. Typical. Turns out, not a single man in that Richardson family was any good. Mom then asked me, “Are you really sure you want out?” I nodded emphatically, wishing I could rip my heart out and show it to her. But we both knew: marrying into the Richardson family was easy; leaving it? Not so much. Our families had been close for generations, and after my dad’s accident, the Richardsons, fearing we’d be left helpless, came up with the idea of us marrying in. It was meant as a way to “take care” of us, honoring my dad’s memory. The wedding was a huge public affair, but a divorce? The media would tear us apart forever. “Then let’s run away.” I never thought Mom would have the same idea! But how exactly would we escape? We needed a solid plan. Then it hit me. There was probably only one way to truly fool both Julian and his dad. “What about faking our deaths to escape? The kind where they can’t even find a body.” Mom loved the idea. If we weren’t happy in the Richardson family, why shouldn’t we find another way out? Though, this escape route was a bit extreme.

Just thinking about leaving the Richardsons made me unconsciously burst out laughing when I saw Julian. After coming out of Mom’s bedroom, I kept giggling for no particular reason. Julian, who was sitting on the couch, finally couldn’t take it anymore. “What’s so funny? Care to share?” I scoffed, turning my head away, still daydreaming about my life after leaving. My blatant disregard actually seemed to annoy Julian, who was usually so composed. “Scarlett, it’s time to go home. You’ve visited your mom, you can’t possibly stay the night.” *I* wasn’t angry, but *he* was certainly acting like it. Who said I couldn’t stay the night at my mom’s? He was being ridiculous. “Julian, aren’t you being a bit too controlling? What’s the big deal if I sleep here at my mom’s? It’s not like I’m going back to anything but an empty bed anyway.” “Tell me, in all the time I’ve been married to you, have you ever once slept in the same bed as me?” “This marriage is nothing but a sham. What’s so special about it?” The more I spoke, the more emotional I became, completely forgetting that Richard was also sitting in the living room. Richard’s face turned an uncomfortable shade of red. He cleared his throat loudly, then awkwardly grabbed his newspaper and headed outside. Julian clenched his fists, leaning on the sofa armrest. He knew I was impulsive, but he clearly never expected me to air our private matters in front of an elder. Suddenly, he let out a cold chuckle, as if testing me. “Are you mad because I haven’t slept with you? Is that all?” My lips twisted. “What, did you think I married you just to be a glorified widow?” Julian almost choked on his own spit. Seeing his guilt, I pressed on. “I know why you never accepted me. You have someone else, but honestly, I don’t care. Who would want someone with an STD anyway?” I’d made it crystal clear. I expected Julian to explode in anger or rush to explain himself, but he just quietly lowered his gaze. “Guilty, as expected. That’s a silent confession.” Just then, Mom stormed out of her bedroom, absolutely furious, holding a tiny, thong-like piece of lingerie. She marched straight down to the living room. “Richard! Tell me, whose underwear is this?!” Julian couldn’t watch. He pretended to be engrossed in his phone. Richard rushed back inside at Mom’s shriek. When he saw what she was holding, his ears turned beet red. “Victoria, it’s not what you think!” Mom was surprisingly agile. With a flick of her wrist, she tossed the thong right onto Richard’s head. “Then what is it? Don’t think I haven’t noticed you and the housekeeper exchanging glances all the time!” “And the smell on this? It’s clearly the housekeeper’s!” Richard was speechless. He awkwardly pulled the underwear off his head and tossed it into the trash can. “Fine, if you want to believe that, I can’t stop you. Assume it’s the housekeeper’s, then.” Mom was even more enraged. He wasn’t just refusing to explain; he was practically admitting it! Good thing we’d already planned our escape, otherwise these heartless father and son duo would literally drive us to our graves. Mom just collapsed onto the floor, sobbing. “Richard! You’re heartless! Who nursed you all night when you had a cold? Who waited up for you all night when you were out entertaining clients?” “Even though we’re a second marriage, you can’t treat me like this!” As Mom got more worked up, Richard had no choice but to humble himself and try to help her up. But Mom suddenly went wild, grabbing him and laying into him with a barrage of blows. I wanted to tell her, “We’re about to ‘die,’ Mom, there’s no need to waste our breath on them.” But Mom seemed to have lost it, so I had to rush over and pull them apart. In the chaos, Mom suddenly grabbed a nearby vase and hurled it at Richard. And of course, I happened to be right there. The vase missed Richard and landed squarely on my head. I felt something warm trickling down my forehead, and around me, I heard shouts and screams. Before I blacked out, I saw Julian rushing towards me, his eyes wide with what looked like worry, like genuine heartache. I must have been concussed. Julian didn’t even like me. Why would he be worried?

It was late night when we got back from the hospital. On the way back, Julian unconsciously took my hand in his. “If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, tell me right away. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life with an idiot.” See? That’s the real Julian. I knew that moment this afternoon had to be my imagination. “Don’t worry,” I retorted, pulling my hand away mercilessly. “I don’t want to live with someone who has an STD either.” Julian seemed to zone out for a second, as if desperate to explain something, but in the end, he said nothing. After a whole night of commotion, I was exhausted. But the thought of escaping this dreadful place tomorrow brought a sliver of comfort. Back at the villa, I naturally headed to my bedroom, ready to close the door. But Julian suddenly appeared, blocking my bedroom door with his hand. “Wait!” I slapped his hand off the door. “Wait for what? Can’t you see my eyelids are practically glued shut?” Julian was persistent, telling me not to close the door. I wanted to see what he was up to now. A moment later, he reappeared in front of me, carrying a duvet from the neighboring bedroom. *My* head was the one that got hit. Why was *he* acting crazy? “It’s so hot, I don’t need such a thick blanket. Besides, who knows if there are any germs on that?” Julian stood there, looking utterly forlorn, like a lost child. He dropped his usual cutting remarks, speaking to me with a rare, gentle tone. “Your head injury isn’t healed yet. If we sleep together, I can look after you.” “Didn’t you complain I never slept with you? Well, I’m making it up to you now.” Oh no. His mistress must have dumped him, and now he was trying to come back to me. But I was leaving soon. I didn’t need his charity. “I just have a minor cut. I’m not paralyzed, and I don’t need someone to babysit me.” Ignoring his pitiful expression, I slammed the bedroom door shut. After a long while, hearing no movement outside, I quietly got up and opened the door again. I thought Julian would be asleep, but there he was, sitting alone in the living room, drowning his sorrows. I stood on the second floor, looking down at him, watching him pour drink after drink down his throat. He seemed completely out of it. In all our time married, I’d never seen him so wasted. His mistress must have really hurt him, that’s why he was drinking his sorrows away. Just as I was about to leave, a voice suddenly came from downstairs. “Don’t go, Scarlett.” My heart lurched. I turned back and met Julian’s bloodshot eyes, brimming with tears, as if they’d overflow any second. But I couldn’t stay. There was no point in us continuing this anymore.

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After the Thorne family went bankrupt, my stepsister, Vanessa, and I were thrown into a strange selection process for a substitute bride. Whoever was picked would be married off to the comatose eldest son of the wealthiest family. Vanessa was destined to be chosen. While I, bound by a family agreement, was set to marry Alex Sterling, my childhood friend who’d been in love with Vanessa for a decade. In my last life, he begged me to undergo nine IVF procedures, and I finally conceived a boy and a girl. When I was confined to the attic during my late pregnancy, forced to rest, he and my recently widowed stepsister were having a passionate affair in the master bedroom downstairs, night after night. A week before I gave birth, he deliberately swerved, crashing the car into a guardrail, letting sharp metal pierce my abdomen. The second before my consciousness faded, I heard his unrestrained joy: “Vanessa, Iris is finally dead. We can get married tomorrow!” I opened my eyes again and found myself back on the night of the drawing. Looking at my stepsister, who was crying into her hands, I leaned in close to her ear, smiling: “How about it, sis? I’ll marry him instead of you?” That unfaithful bastard? Not even if he begged!

A round of applause erupted from the crowd. Vanessa’s face was ashen, her fingers digging into my clothes, clinging desperately. “The second Miss Thorne is truly blessed with good fortune.” “From an illegitimate daughter of a bankrupt family to the future mistress of the wealthiest household – who wouldn’t be envious?” A few people deliberately spoke loudly, then covered their mouths, giggling. Vanessa gritted her teeth, her tear-filled eyes glaring at Mrs. Thorne. “I don’t want to marry him! I want to marry Alex! Alex promised he’d only marry me! And I’ll only marry him!” Mrs. Thorne quickly clamped a hand over her mouth. I stood there, stunned, staring at the empty lot slip in my hand. The excruciating pain of the guardrail piercing my abdomen still hadn’t faded. I instinctively looked towards Alex Sterling. The man stood there, fists clenched and trembling, his eyes bloodshot with rage. It was a stark contrast to his usual gentle demeanor. The next second, he strode forward and bowed deeply to the Hayes family representatives. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he cleared his throat, “the second Miss Thorne is still young and doesn’t know how to care for others. I believe it would be better to have the eldest Miss Thorne marry instead.” The entire room fell into a sudden, dead silence. No one had ever dared to offer an opinion to the Hayes family. In my last life, Alex had merely watched helplessly as the woman he loved married another. Right up until her wedding ended, he’d locked himself in his room, numbing himself by systematically collapsing his business rivals’ stock. Could it be that… A thought flashed through my mind, and my hair instantly stood on end. Had he been reborn too? The Hayes family’s old butler slowly rose, leaning on his cane, his sharp gaze sweeping over me and Vanessa, who was trembling uncontrollably behind me. “Mr. Sterling is truly considerate.” “It appears the second Miss Thorne’s identity truly doesn’t suit our Hayes family. In that case, let the eldest Miss marry our eldest young master.” With that, the old man led the others away. Vanessa’s breath hitched, her long, sharp nails digging tighter and tighter into my arm. Her eyes were sinister, but her voice was pitifully aggrieved: “Iris, that Hayes family’s eldest young master is just a useless invalid clinging to life. If you marry him and he drops dead on the spot, the Hayes family won’t come back to haunt us, will they?” A flicker of hesitation crossed Alex Sterling’s eyes. He pulled Vanessa into a comforting embrace and murmured, “Vanessa, we’ll fulfill our engagement tomorrow, okay?” “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to throw you a wedding that will shake the entire city.” As he spoke, he glanced at me a few times, observing my reaction. In his eyes, my expression was surely one of utter devastation. But I simply offered a polite smile and bowed deeply to him. “Mr. Sterling, thank you for your help to the Thorne family. I’m truly grateful.” As the man stood there, momentarily stunned, I handed him a string of simple jade beads. We had picked them out together from a street vendor when we were little. He’d told me to keep them, and then never mentioned them again. “Just a small token of my appreciation.” When my fingertips brushed his cool palm, my body involuntarily shivered. Alex Sterling’s gaze was dark and unreadable. He released Vanessa’s hand and meticulously examined the gift. After a heavy sigh, the red string snapped, and the beads scattered across the floor. His gaze, when it met mine, was utterly indifferent. “The eldest Miss Thorne sends me this trash?” He scoffed, casually nudging the nearest bead with the tip of his leather shoe. “This kind of ‘token,’ you might as well not send it at all.”

My chest felt heavy, as if a stone had been lodged there. I took a deep breath, forcing down the stinging tears in my eyes. “Alright, tomorrow I’ll bring you the antique watch from home…” “No need.” Alex Sterling took Vanessa’s hand, lacing his fingers with hers. The plain band on his middle finger was unassuming, yet he’d worn it for ten years. Only because it was the first gift Vanessa had ever given him. “If the person giving the gift is wrong, then nothing is right.” “Mrs. Thorne, Vanessa and I have a date. We’ll be leaving now.” With that, he walked away, his arm around Vanessa, not sparing me another glance. It seemed I had been delusional. “Slap!” Before I could even process my emotions, a loud slap landed on my cheek. A ringing sound echoed in my eardrums. My face went numb, then a burning sting spread across it. “You little bitch! Still coveting the family’s assets? I’m telling you, the Thorne family won’t give you a single penny as dowry! Dreaming of that antique watch? In your dreams!” “But that was my mother’s…” Before I could finish, another slap landed. My eyes red, I met her distorted, furious face. “Your mother’s been dead for ten years! She didn’t leave you a separate will before she jumped into the river.” “If I hadn’t brought my lucky star daughter into this family, the Thornes would have been cursed into extinction by you long ago.” I staggered backward, fumbling, and knocked over a cup of scalding hot green tea. The tea splattered on the back of my hand, but it was nothing compared to the chill in my heart. My father was superstitious. She had specifically sought out a psychic to analyze my and Vanessa’s birth charts. That’s why, before my mother’s memorial rites were even over, she was able to bring her illegitimate daughter, claiming her to be a lucky charm, and they officially moved into our family home. My father loved to boast about his second daughter’s special ‘blessed’ constitution, and the rumors had long since reached the Hayes family. Mr. Hayes, desperate to save his son, didn’t hesitate to stoop low, manipulating the Thorne corporation to drain its assets, and then proposed a substitute marriage. And there was another, bigger secret, one I had kept buried deep until the day I died. Seeing that I wasn’t arguing or crying, Mrs. Thorne snorted. “Just like your pathetic mother, a complete pushover.” “After you’re married, remember to rake in plenty of money and bring it back to the Thorne family.” I swallowed the metallic taste in my mouth, letting her yank my hair as she dragged me outside. “The Hayes family has more than one son. If you play your cards right, you might even snag that playboy second son.” *In her dreams.* I silently replied. In the last life, after Vanessa married Marcus, the second son, Julian Hayes, immediately branched off from the family, cutting ties with the greedy Thorne family at lightning speed. When Mrs. Thorne dumped me at the door, the servants nearby were still gossiping: “That lady just ran off, leaving her daughter to be bullied by her stepmother.” “I say, what man doesn’t change his mind? Just turn a blind eye, and it’s over.” “They’re too used to good lives, can’t handle a little setback. All these rich ladies are like that…” I couldn’t take it anymore and roared, “Shut up!” The few women immediately fell silent, startled. When they realized it was me, they all relaxed. “What’s all this noise about?” Vanessa, holding Alex Sterling’s hand, came closer. “Sister, how can you be so mean to the servants?” Her soft, delicate voice immediately garnered a chorus of agreement. Alex Sterling frowned at me. “Although your mother’s death left you with psychological trauma, what they’re saying isn’t wrong.” “Can’t you be a little more lenient?” The elderly woman leading the group jutted out her neck in agreement. “Mr. Sterling is right, we didn’t mean to.” I laughed, exasperated, and lunged forward to hit her. Vanessa spread her arms wide, desperately blocking me. “Martha has taken care of me since I was little. If you’re angry, take it out on me, ah!”

Vanessa screamed and fell backward, pulling me down with her into the pond. “Splash!” The cold water choked my lungs the moment I hit it. I fought through the pain, trying to swim to the surface. But the more Vanessa struggled, the more I was dragged deeper into the water. “Splash!” Another splash, and the water’s surface suddenly exploded with light. Vanessa immediately released the leg she had wrapped around my waist and vanished from my sight. I desperately groped around, but there was nothing left. In a daze, the scene of my death from the previous life replayed before my eyes. I can’t die! Digging my fingernails into the muddy pond wall, I struggled to climb up. My broken fingernails peeled back, but the pain was nothing compared to my tattered heart. Finally, someone pulled me up. I pushed aside my soaking wet hair and coughed,趴吐ed at the edge of the pond, while Vanessa shivered, burrowing into Alex Sterling’s embrace. “Alex… my sister pushed me… I’m scared!” Alex Sterling took off his soaked suit jacket, grabbed a dry towel, and wrapped it tightly around her. The worry in his eyes was the genuine concern I had always longed for. And when he faced Vanessa, he was never insincere or dismissive. Warm tears flowed down my face. I bit down hard on my lip, all my accusations choked in my throat. Alex Sterling belatedly looked at me. He subconsciously released Vanessa, his eyes darting away as he helped me up from the ground. “Iris, you…” “Do you still remember this place?” I cut him off, forcing a bitter smile. My mother had just passed away then; her body hadn’t even been fully recovered from the river. My father, meanwhile, accompanied that mother and daughter on a trip. In the vast Thorne mansion, only Alex Sterling had climbed over the wall and sat with me in the courtyard all night long. “You said you’d protect me forever, that even if I fell into this pond, you’d jump in without hesitation to save me.” They say children’s words mean nothing, but I had remembered them for eighteen years. “Alex Sterling, when did you change?” His fingers, which were helping me, trembled violently. His eyes were full of heartache. Just as he was about to speak, Vanessa suddenly coughed violently. “Be careful not to catch a cold.” He instinctively warned Vanessa, yet his gaze remained fixed on my face. “Iris, get inside first, it’s cold out here.” Before I could even nod, my father roared, charging towards us. “You disgraceful child!” The brass buckle of his belt struck my kneecap directly. Alex Sterling let go, and I tumbled onto the pile of碎石. Mrs. Thorne frantically brought a fur coat and draped it over Vanessa. That was clearly my mother’s heirloom! I took a deep breath, and with all my might, I screamed, “Don’t you dare touch my mother’s things!” My father’s furious voice was my only answer: “You deliberately pushed Vanessa into the pond! How could you be as malicious as that short-lived mother of yours!” “These are all Thorne family belongings! What right do you, a daughter who’s marrying out in a few days, have to tell us what to do?” Alex Sterling remained silent. Mrs. Thorne shrieked and cried, “My Vanessa, wake up, don’t scare your mommy!” She turned, her face contorted, glaring at me, her tear-filled eyes bloodshot: “If anything happens to Vanessa, I’ll have your birth mother’s ashes dug out of the family grave!” I laughed, exasperated, and coldly watched the performance of this theatrical family. Vanessa, who had been lying there with her eyes closed, suddenly began to twitch. “Alex, I’m so cold, save me.” The sob in her voice completely unnerved Alex Sterling. The guilt on his face was replaced by urgency. He quickly scooped the heavily wrapped woman into the living room. The boy who had once saved me in my memories had now personally abandoned me. He truly died the day Vanessa and her mother moved in. “You’re to spend the entire night kneeling, and tomorrow you’ll be writing lines in the family study!” My father finished, then slammed the front door shut. The courtyard instantly fell silent. All my strength was gone. My heart was like a stagnant pool, completely still. This home had no room for me anymore. I picked at the broken stones under my knees and suddenly smiled with a sense of release. It felt so good to have no lingering attachment. They didn’t know. As long as I held out until noon tomorrow, this little sympathy play would be over.

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My five-year marriage, in that single moment, became a bitter mockery. “For tomorrow’s monthly report meeting, I want Caleb to present your brand proposal.” My wife, Sarah, said without even looking up. I put down the files I was sorting, thinking I’d misheard. “What did you say?” “Caleb just joined the company. He needs a chance to prove himself, and your proposal is perfect.” She finally looked up, her eyes showing no room for negotiation. “That’s my submission for the competition.” “You win awards every year anyway. What’s the big deal if you let him have it just this once?” Her tone was casual, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “Besides, the company needs to nurture new talent.” I stared at the woman I’d shared a bed with for five years, and suddenly, her face blurred. “Do you know how many all-nighters I pulled for this proposal? You’re giving it to an intern who just started?” “Alex, don’t be so petty. It’s just a proposal, isn’t it?” Her face hardened. “I’ve already decided.” My fists clenched, rage surged through my veins.

I never imagined my wife of five years would give away the creative proposal I’d worked on through the night. Hand it over, completely untouched, to an intern who’d only been with the company for half a month. When I saw Caleb, standing on the stage at the company’s monthly report meeting, confidently presenting the brand proposal I’d spent three sleepless nights on, I felt utterly sick. The icy chill of betrayal drenched me from head to toe. Colleagues in the audience cast admiring glances at Caleb. The department manager nodded repeatedly. Some even whispered about how remarkably talented this newcomer was. I sat in the last row of the conference room, watching the young man, seven years my junior, in a perfectly tailored suit. He gracefully pointed at the projector screen, showcasing my hard work, introducing “his” creative concepts to everyone. Sarah sat at the head table, her eyes filled with pride and satisfaction, as if she’d discovered some extraordinary talent. She even praised Caleb publicly, calling him a rare creative star the company had seen in years, worthy of everyone’s admiration. My fists clenched into tight knots under the table, my nails digging hard into my palms, almost breaking the skin. After the meeting, I blocked Sarah’s office door. When she saw me, her face still glowed with excitement from before, her eyes bright and sparkling. She had absolutely no idea how serious the problem was. “Alex, you saw it, didn’t you? Caleb really is talented. That proposal is just amazing.” I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice calm. “Sarah, that was *my* proposal.” She paused, then waved a dismissive hand, her tone light. “Oh, you mean that. I thought Caleb just joined the company and needed a chance to prove himself, so I let him use your proposal just to cut his teeth on.” Cut his teeth on. My three days and nights of hard work, in her mouth, became a mere tool for an intern to practice with. “Do you know what that proposal means to me? It’s my submission for this year’s International Creative Awards.” A hint of awkwardness finally crossed Sarah’s face, but she quickly reverted to her usual self-righteous demeanor. “You win awards every year anyway. What’s the big deal if you let him have it just this once? Besides, this was just an internal report, not an actual competition entry.” A burning inferno raged in my chest, and my blood boiled with pure fury. “Sarah, what do you take me for?” She seemed startled by my sudden serious tone, a flash of panic in her eyes. “Don’t be like that. Caleb is just a kid, fresh out of college. I was just trying to help him grow quickly.” I turned and walked away, not wanting to hear any more of her explanations. Her voice calling my name echoed behind me, but I didn’t have the strength to turn back.

The next morning, I deliberately avoided leaving at the same time as Sarah. After arriving at work, I went straight to my personal studio. This was a private space Sarah had specially partitioned for me in the company. It housed all my creative works and award certificates from over the years. But the moment I pushed open the door, I froze. All the trophies and certificates that usually sat in the display cabinet were gone. The posters I had personally designed, hanging on the walls, had been taken down, replaced by decorative paintings I’d never seen before. What made me even angrier was finding Caleb sitting in my chair. Design drafts were spread out in front of him, and a cup of coffee sat nearby, making him look like the owner of the place. He saw me enter, a flicker of panic in his eyes, but it quickly morphed into that innocent expression. “Mr. Hayes, you’re here. Ms. Sterling said I could work here temporarily because it’s too noisy outside, and it affects my thinking.” Ms. Sterling. That title grated on my ears. “Where are my things?” Caleb pretended not to understand, his gaze darting away. “What things?” “My trophies, my certificates, my work.” “Oh, those. Ms. Sterling said she put them away for now. She said displaying them might put pressure on me.” I stared at him for a long moment, then turned to find Sarah. She was in a meeting with a few clients. Her brow furrowed when she saw me push the door open. “Sarah, I need to talk to you.” “Wait until I finish my meeting.” “Now.” My tone left no room for refusal. The clients sensed the tension in the air and voluntarily suggested rescheduling. Once only the two of us were left in the conference room, Sarah impatiently spoke. “What’s wrong now? Didn’t I explain everything yesterday?” “Why are all my things gone from my studio?” Her expression flickered with a hint of guilt, but her words remained unyielding, defiant. “Caleb needs a quiet environment to create. And those trophies, they really do put pressure on people when they’re displayed there.” “That’s *my* studio.” “Every space in this company is mine. I can arrange it however I want!” That sentence slapped me hard across the face. Yes, this was her company. Phoenix Creative, which she had built from the ground up. And I, I was merely her nominal Creative Director, in reality, more like a free idea provider. When we first partnered, I contributed my expertise as an investment, but my stake was small. Most of the decision-making power was in her hands. I always thought we had moved beyond that initial purely transactional relationship. I thought we had real love and trust between us. But now, it seemed, in her mind, I was still just a subordinate she could freely command. “Sarah, you’ve changed.” A flicker of something crossed her eyes, but it was quickly masked by stubbornness. “I haven’t changed. You’re just too sensitive. It’s just borrowing a space, why are you making such a fuss?” I turned and left the conference room, a decision hardening in my heart. Since she didn’t care about my feelings, there was no need for me to continue to compromise.

Over the next few days, I consciously distanced myself from Sarah. In the mornings, I left earlier than her. At night, I waited until she was asleep before coming home, minimizing our time alone. But what I didn’t expect was for Caleb to actively seek me out. When he knocked on the door of my temporary office, he wore that seemingly sincere smile. “Mr. Hayes, I know you misunderstand me, but I truly just want to learn.” I kept my eyes on the computer screen, not looking up. “Learning doesn’t require taking over someone else’s studio.” He sat in the chair opposite me, his tone carrying an uncomfortable intimacy. “Actually, I’ve always admired your work. It’s truly an honor to work in the same company as you.” “If you truly admired it, you wouldn’t have used my proposal and passed it off as your own.” Caleb’s face shifted, but he quickly regained that innocent expression. “Mr. Hayes, you’ve misunderstood.” “Ms. Sterling said that proposal was a collective company effort, and she just asked me to present it to train my presentation skills.” I finally looked up at him, studying his expression carefully. The young man was indeed good-looking, with fair skin and delicate features. When he spoke, his eyes would curve into crescent moons, making it easy for people to like him. But in the depths of his eyes, I caught a subtle, almost imperceptible glint of triumph and calculation. “Caleb, how old are you this year?” “Twenty-three.” “Then you should know what honesty means.” His smile stiffened. “Mr. Hayes, I don’t understand what you mean.” “My meaning is very clear. That proposal, from beginning to end, was completed entirely by me.” “You knew that, yet you still had the audacity to present it. That’s called shamelessness.” Caleb’s face instantly flushed red, but he quickly composed himself. “Mr. Hayes, what you’re saying is very hurtful. I truly was just doing what Ms. Sterling asked.” With that, he hurriedly left my office. But I knew, this wouldn’t be the end of it. Sure enough, that same afternoon, Sarah stormed into my office. “Alex, what do you mean by that?! Why did you talk to Caleb like that?!” I put down my pen and calmly looked at her. “What did I say?” “You called him shameless, said he stole your proposal. He’s just a kid who just graduated, what you said will hurt him!” I couldn’t help but laugh, but there was no warmth in that laugh. “He’s hurt? What about me? Who cares about my feelings?” Sarah froze for a moment, apparently not expecting me to retort like that. “You’re an adult. You should be more understanding. Besides, Caleb didn’t mean any harm.” “No harm? Then why did he claim it was his own creative concept during the report?” “He just has poor communication skills, maybe his phrasing was problematic.” I realized that no matter what I said, she would find an excuse for Caleb. This blatant favoritism sent an unprecedented chill through me. “Sarah, do you… do you like him?” The words blurted out before I could stop myself. Her face instantly turned ashen, a flash of panic in her eyes. “What are you talking about? He’s just my subordinate!” “A subordinate needs this much protection from you?” “Can a subordinate casually use my studio? Can a subordinate take credit for my creative ideas?” Sarah bit her lip, silent for a long time. Finally, she just said coldly, “Alex, you’re being too extreme!” Then she left my office.

The next day, I found that several important creative files on my computer had been deleted, and even the recycle bin had been emptied. These files were proposals I had recently prepared for several major clients, each one costing me a great deal of effort. Even worse, one of them was my entry for the Global Advertising Festival, an award that held significant meaning for me. I immediately contacted the IT department and asked them to help me recover the data. The technicians checked and told me that these files were deliberately deleted, and the deletion time was around eleven last night. At eleven last night, I was already home. Only the security guards and employees working overtime were at the company. I reviewed the surveillance footage and found that Caleb had indeed stayed at the company very late last night, and he had also entered my office. When I told Sarah about this discovery, her reaction utterly disappointed me. “Maybe he wanted to learn your creative process and accidentally deleted them. Don’t maliciously speculate about a kid.” “Accidentally deleted? Sarah, even the recycle bin was emptied. Is that an accidental deletion?” “Maybe he was trying to help you clear junk files.” I looked at her defending Caleb, and suddenly, this woman in front of me felt so foreign. “Fine, even if it was an accidental deletion, why didn’t he tell me? Why did he hide it?” “He was probably afraid you’d blame him.” I took a deep breath, trying to control my emotions. “Sarah, I’ll ask you one last time. If it has to be one of us, me or Caleb, who would you choose?” She froze, clearly not expecting such a question. After a long pause, she finally spoke, her voice trembling slightly. “Why are you forcing me to choose? You’re both important to me.” “Answer me!” A flicker of something crossed her eyes, but she finally gritted her teeth and said it. “I won’t fire Caleb. He’s a young man with potential. His future shouldn’t be ruined because of some misunderstanding.” Those words were like a dagger plunged into my heart. I understood then. In her heart, I held less importance than an intern she’d known for less than a month. “Alright, I understand.” I turned and left her office, having made up my mind. That same evening, I contacted my lawyer friend, Marcus. “Marcus, help me draft a divorce agreement.” There was a few seconds of silence on the other end of the line. “Alex, are you serious? You and Sarah were always so good together.” “Just prepare it. I want to see the agreement within three days.” “Okay, but you need to think carefully. There’s the issue of company shares between you two.” “I know. I’ll give up all my shares in her company, but I have one condition.” “What condition?” “I want to reclaim the copyrights for all my original works, as well as the copyrights for all the creative proposals I’ve designed for the company over the past five years.” Marcus gasped. “Alex, those are the core assets of her company!” “They were always my work. I’m just taking back what belongs to me.”

Over the next few days, I quietly began gathering evidence to prove that those creative proposals were indeed my original work. I dug out all the creative drafts, organized the evolution of the design concepts. I even found testimony from some clients, proving that they initially chose to work with Phoenix Creative because of my ideas. At the same time, I was secretly contacting some excellent creative talents, preparing to establish my own studio. During this period, Caleb seemed to sense something and started badmouthing me frequently to Sarah. He told Sarah that my work attitude had been very negative recently, and that I had been hostile towards him, affecting his work enthusiasm. Sarah actually believed him and even specifically called me in to talk, saying my recent performance had disappointed her. “Alex, Caleb said you’ve been quite unfriendly to him lately. That’s really bad for the company’s team atmosphere.” I sat opposite her, calmly looking at her. “What else did he say?” “He said you deliberately assigned him unreasonable tasks and even disparaged his abilities in front of other colleagues.” I couldn’t help but laugh. This Caleb really knew how to twist facts. “And you believe him?” Sarah avoided my gaze, a hint of guilt in her eyes. “I just hope you two can get along. After all, you’re colleagues in the same company.” “Alright, I understand.” I stood up to leave, but Sarah called out to me. “Alex, are you upset with me recently?” I turned back to look at her, a bitter pang in my heart. “No, I’m fine.” “That’s good. I thought you were mad at me.” I didn’t say anything more and left her office directly. That same afternoon, I received the first draft of the divorce agreement from Marcus. I read it carefully, confirmed there were no issues, and decided to confront her that night. When I got home, Sarah was busy in the kitchen, seemingly in a good mood. “Why are you home so early today?” “There’s something I want to talk to you about.” She walked out of the kitchen, carrying the freshly cooked dishes, a smile still on her face. “What’s so mysterious?” I took the divorce agreement from my briefcase and placed it on the dining table. Sarah’s plate almost slipped from her hands when she saw the cover of the agreement. “What does this mean?” Her voice trembled, her face instantly turning pale. “I don’t think there’s any need for us to continue.” “Let’s get a divorce.” “Because of Caleb, you want to divorce me?” I shook my head. “It’s not because of Caleb. It’s because of your distrust and disrespect towards me.” “Where did I disrespect you?”

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Everyone knew I was the one Grandpa Hayes had personally chosen for a marriage alliance. Whoever married me was destined to inherit the Hayes family empire. At the engagement party, I stood in my custom-tailored suit, ready to announce the merger of the Hayes and Davies families. But my fiancée, Chloe Hayes, was holding hands with my adopted brother, Blake Miller. She pulled him to the center of the crowd, standing shoulder to shoulder with him. “Blake and I are madly in love. He’s the only man I’ll ever marry.” “Asher Thorne is far too reckless. He’s not fit to lead the Hayes company.” The engagement changed hands; my adopted brother was now the one betrothed to Chloe. Everyone in the room looked at me with pity or scorn. But what they didn’t know was that Grandpa Hayes had picked me to marry Chloe because my mother was the heir to the powerful, discreet Thorne family. One day, I would return to the Thorne family and inherit their legacy. Since Chloe had made her choice, it was time for the Hayes family heir to change as well.

Chloe gripped Blake Miller’s hand tightly, pulling him to a halt in front of everyone. Blake gasped, trying to pull his hand back. “Chloe, sweetie, this isn’t right. Your engagement to my brother was personally set by Grandpa Hayes.” “I’m in love with you, Blake. I won’t agree to marry anyone else.” She held Blake’s hand firmly, her eyes fixed on Grandpa Hayes, who sat in the place of honor. “Grandpa, my heart has always belonged to Blake. I will only marry Blake and have him as my husband.” The guests exchanged glances, filled with sympathy and thinly veiled mockery. Everyone knew that Chloe and I had grown up together, practically childhood sweethearts, and that Grandpa Hayes had internally designated me as his grandson-in-law. But now, Chloe had publicly humiliated me in front of everyone in our social circle. Chloe’s tone was absolute. “Even though Asher and I grew up together, I’ve always seen him as nothing more than a brother. I never had any romantic feelings for him.” “Blake and I are deeply in love; we confirmed our relationship ages ago. In my heart, Blake is the only man I can ever marry. No one else.” Mr. and Mrs. Hayes’s faces paled, and they anxiously glanced at Grandpa Hayes’s expression at the head table. Chloe linked her arm through Blake’s and looked over at me, a hint of sarcasm in her eyes. “Asher, you must know I don’t feel anything for you. You wouldn’t want to force a woman who doesn’t love you into a marriage, wasting your life away, would you?” “Besides, Blake and I are already together. You can’t possibly use Grandpa’s favoritism to butt in and break us apart, can you?” I glanced at them both, then bowed respectfully to Grandpa Hayes. “Grandpa Hayes, since they are clearly in love, how could I possibly stand in the way of their happiness? Let’s grant them their wish.” “I wish Miss Hayes and my brother a lifetime of happiness together.” Chloe’s face flashed with a flicker of displeasure when she heard me say that, but Blake cautiously linked his arm through hers. “Chloe, your marriage to my brother was set by Grandpa. Won’t he be upset about this?” Chloe soothingly patted the back of Blake’s hand, murmuring softly. “Of course not. Grandpa adores me. He wouldn’t get angry with me over *him*.” “Besides, you’re the true son of the Davies family, the heir. This alliance was always meant to be between our two families. Why would we care about an outsider like him?” An outsider? Only my father and Grandpa Hayes knew my true identity. My mother was the heir to the powerful, discreet Thorne family. My father and mother had initially only had a cooperative marriage, and I would inherit the Thorne family in the future, which is why I took my mother’s surname. Moreover, she thought Blake was my father’s biological son? Grandpa Hayes frowned at Chloe’s words. “Chloe, don’t be foolish. Are you certain you want to marry Mr. Miller?” Chloe firmly slipped the ring onto Blake’s finger, then had Blake seal it with a reverent kiss on her forehead. “Grandpa, I’ve thought it through. I will marry no one but Blake Miller in this life.” Grandpa Hayes looked at Chloe with disappointment. If it were simply a matter of switching engagement partners, he wouldn’t have thought much of her. But her deliberate choice to humiliate me in front of so many people today proved that she was utterly unreliable. “Fine, have it your way then.”

Once Grandpa Hayes gave his word, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. This family alliance had invited many prominent business figures to witness the event, and everyone was eager to see how it would unfold. Amidst the whispers, Chloe took Blake’s hand and faced the assembled guests to make her announcement. “Thank you all for coming today to attend my engagement ceremony with Mr. Blake Miller.” The guests’ expressions varied; no one had expected the Hayes and Miller families to make such a public switch. My father, Mr. Davies, hadn’t anticipated this either. His face instantly darkened, and mine wasn’t much better. Yet, I forced myself to stand tall, back straight, and amidst the murmurs, I raised my glass and presented a lavish gift. “Miss Hayes just switched fiancés on the spot. She didn’t give Asher Thorne any face at all.” “Didn’t Grandpa Hayes insist on Asher Thorne being his grandson-in-law? Why did he agree to the change?” “Changing partners on the day of the engagement — that’s truly embarrassing. I wonder what he did to make Miss Hayes take such an drastic step.” The guests’ discussions weren’t quiet. My father glared at Blake, and he didn’t hold back with Chloe either. “By doing this, how much gossip will you subject your brother to?” “And you, Blake, you’re not a child anymore. Acting without considering the consequences, are you trying to slap me in the face?” Blake, chastised by my father, timidly tried to take the ring off to give it back to me. Grandpa Hayes waved him off. He guiltily patted my head and said in a low voice, “Ash, don’t worry. Grandpa Hayes will handle this for you. If you’re willing, the Hayes family has several other excellent young women.” Mr. and Mrs. Hayes overheard Grandpa’s words and simply assumed he was comforting me, so they didn’t pay much attention. What they didn’t expect was for me to point to Harper Hayes, the Hayes family’s illegitimate daughter, who was watching the spectacle from a corner. “Actually, I’ve always liked Harper. I hope Grandpa can approve of our union.” Their gazes fell on Harper, their eyes darting between her and me. Harper was Mr. Hayes’s elder brother’s illegitimate daughter. After her uncle passed away, she wasn’t well-regarded at home and lived a rather difficult life. Since she was still a Hayes by blood, Grandpa Hayes didn’t want others to say the family mistreated her, so he brought her to live with him and raised her personally. My father looked at me in shock, then whispered in my ear, “Ash, Dad knows you’re upset, but she’s an illegitimate daughter. The Hayes family doesn’t value her at all.” I nonchalantly swirled my drink, raising my glass in Harper’s direction. “She didn’t choose to be an illegitimate daughter. I think she’s perfectly fine, and I’m willing to give things a try with her.” Harper’s eyes met mine, her demeanor relaxed. “Since Mr. Thorne likes me, then let’s give it a shot.” Everyone’s gazes on me grew even more meaningful. News of the Hayes family changing partners on the spot spread rapidly through the social circle. The moment the banquet ended, I received a text from my mother. In the private room, my mother, Eleanor Thorne, hugged me tightly, her eyes glinting with displeasure as she looked at my father, Mr. Davies. “Mr. Davies, how dare you let my son suffer such a humiliation?! Do you want to lose your job?” I squeezed my mother’s hand, redirecting the conversation to the important matter. “Grandpa Hayes has found me a new fiancée. Her name is Harper Hayes, and I actually quite like her.” My father wiped the sweat from his brow and sighed again. “She’s just an illegitimate daughter, a peripheral figure in the Hayes family. Why would you choose her?” I looked at my parents’ bewildered expressions and slowly began to explain. “Grandpa Hayes and Grandpa Thorne established this marriage alliance, and I am definitely going to marry a Hayes daughter.” “Although Harper is an illegitimate daughter, she’s the most capable among the younger generation of the Hayes family, and also the smartest and most composed. From a business perspective, she is the most suitable partner for cooperation.”

“Besides, since she’s an illegitimate daughter, if I marry her, the Thorne family will be her sole foundation within the Hayes family. She certainly won’t betray me.” Currently, Blake Miller was being flattered and courted by everyone in our circle. Countless people rushed to meet and connect with him. After all, a strong alliance between the Hayes and Miller families would undoubtedly elevate their respective industries to the next level. I had no time for these matters. I was focused on completing the task my mother had assigned me abroad. One day, on Grandpa Hayes’s birthday, Blake actually sent me an invitation and called me several times, leaving me no choice but to go. The moment I stepped through the Hayes family’s front door, all eyes fell on me. I showed no hint of awkwardness, smiling as I handed the gift to the Hayes family butler. “Why is Asher Thorne here? Didn’t the engagement change?” “You don’t know? At the time, Miss Hayes insisted on switching, and he, in a fit of pique, chose to get engaged to that illegitimate daughter of the Hayes family.” “Even marrying an illegitimate daughter just to get into the Hayes family—Mr. Thorne certainly isn’t afraid to go to extremes.” Just as everyone was buzzing, Chloe Hayes appeared, grandly linked arm-in-arm with Blake Miller. Unlike her usual understated and gentle attire, she was wearing a haute couture gown today, adorned with several sets of elaborate, luxurious jewelry, making her look ostentatious but also a bit tacky. And Blake? His suit alone was worth a fortune, and the watch on his wrist was comparable to the price of a luxury mansion. He spotted me there and came over, trying to sling an arm around my shoulder in a familiar gesture. “Little brother, it’s wonderful that both of us brothers can be sons-in-law of the Hayes family! For brotherly affection, I’ll definitely ask Chloe to help out your wife.” I almost laughed at Blake. Even now, he still thought I cared about marrying just *any* Hayes daughter. Chloe seemed to think the same thing. In her eyes, I’d gone to extreme lengths to try and marry her, and she looked at me as if I were something dirty. I couldn’t be bothered with these two and turned to leave, but then I noticed a jade pendant of excellent quality around Blake’s neck. This was the Hayes family’s ancestral jade pendant, always kept by Grandpa Hayes. I never expected it to be on Blake. The Hayes family heir hadn’t even been confirmed yet, so how could this jade pendant be on Blake? I pointed to the jade pendant on Blake’s neck, a hint of scrutiny in my eyes. “Where did that pendant come from?” Chloe showed a fleeting moment of guilt, while Blake caressed the jade pendant on his neck, looking slightly wronged. “Little brother, this was originally meant for you, but now that I’m the one marrying Chloe, this jade pendant naturally goes to me.” Chloe also nodded self-righteously. After all, in her mind, she was the definite heir, so letting her beloved wear the jade pendant a little early was perfectly acceptable. “This is my Hayes family’s ancestral jade pendant. I can let anyone wear it I choose. What does it have to do with you?” After saying that, she looked me up and down with disdain and stepped back. “Don’t you dare try to use this to cling to me. I will never like you. My heart belongs only to Blake.” Chloe’s voice wasn’t quiet, and several gazes around us fell on me. “Asher Thorne usually seems so refined, but I never thought he’d be so desperate to latch onto the Hayes family that he’d even try to steal his brother’s fiancée.” “They’re clearly in love. Why is he still trying to cling on?” Blake’s face flushed red, and he gently tugged at Chloe’s arm. “Don’t be so harsh on Asher, sweetie. Once he marries Harper, we’ll still be family. You’ll have to help them out then.” Chloe glanced at me, then affectionately tilted her head and pinched Blake’s cheek. “Fine, for Blake’s sake, I won’t hold it against you. But if you have any inappropriate thoughts about me, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” As the two of them were still basking in their loving display, a voice suddenly echoed from behind them. “Why would my husband have inappropriate thoughts about you, Chloe? You’re being very rude to your future brother-in-law.” Harper Hayes entered, supporting Grandpa Hayes. A faint smile played on her lips, and her eyes held a hint of challenge as she looked at Chloe. Grandpa Hayes’s gaze fell on the jade pendant around Blake’s neck, and his expression darkened.

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Everyone knew I was the woman Mr. Sterling, the family patriarch, had personally chosen for an arranged marriage. He’d decreed that whoever I married would be the one to inherit the vast Hayes fortune. At the engagement party, I wore my custom-made gown, ready to step onto the stage and announce the union between the Hayes and Peterson families. But my fiancé, Derek Hayes, had Tiffany Peterson, my adopted sister, clasped firmly by the hand. He pulled her into the center of the crowd, standing shoulder to shoulder with her. “Tiffany and I are deeply in love; she’s the only woman I’ll ever marry.” “Scarlett is too headstrong, too unruly—she’s simply not fit to be a Hayes.” My engagement was suddenly switched to my adopted sister, and everyone’s eyes on me were a mix of pity and mockery. What they didn’t know was that Mr. Sterling had chosen me because my mother was the heiress to the formidable Vance family, a discreet yet incredibly powerful lineage. Someday, I would return to the Vance family and inherit its empire. Since Derek had made his choice, the Hayes heir would naturally have to be someone else.

Derek tightly clutched Tiffany Peterson’s hand, pulling her to stand before the gathered crowd. Tiffany gasped, trying to pull her hand back. “Bro-Derek, you can’t do this! Grandpa Sterling himself arranged your marriage to Scarlett.” “You’re the one I love, Tiffany. I won’t marry anyone else.” He held her hand firmly, his fingers intertwined with hers, as he looked up at Mr. Sterling, who sat on a raised platform. “Grandpa, I’ve always loved Tiffany. I will only marry her.” The guests looked on with a mix of sympathy and ridicule. Everyone knew that Derek and I had grown up together, childhood friends, and that I was Mr. Sterling’s chosen future granddaughter-in-law. Yet here, in front of everyone in our social circle, Derek had just publicly humiliated me. Derek’s voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. “While Scarlett and I grew up together, I’ve always seen her as a sister, nothing more.” “Tiffany and I are deeply in love; we’ve been together for a while now. In my heart, she’s the only woman I’ll ever marry. No other woman compares.” Mr. and Mrs. Hayes’s faces fell as they nervously glanced at the patriarch’s expression. Derek put an arm around Tiffany’s waist and looked at me, a hint of sarcasm in his eyes. “Scarlett, you know I don’t have romantic feelings for you. You wouldn’t want to waste your life marrying a man who doesn’t love you, would you?” “Besides, Tiffany and I are already together. You can’t just rely on Grandpa Sterling’s favor and try to muscle in and break us up, can you?” I glanced at the two of them, then bowed to Mr. Sterling. “Grandpa Sterling, since they’re so clearly in love, how could I possibly come between them? Let’s just let them be together.” “Wishing my sister and Mr. Hayes Jr. a lifetime of happiness and everlasting love.” Derek’s face flashed with annoyance at my words, but Tiffany cautiously slipped her arm through his. “Bro-Derek, Grandpa Sterling arranged your marriage to Scarlett. Won’t he be upset about this?” Derek gently patted Tiffany’s hand, soothing her softly. “No, he won’t. Grandpa spoils me rotten. Why would he get mad at me over *her*?” “Besides, you’re the Peterson family’s true daughter, their heiress. This was always meant to be an alliance between our two families. Why would he care about an outsider?” An outsider? Only my father, Mr. Peterson, and Mr. Sterling knew my true identity. My mother is the heiress to the formidable Vance family. My father and mother’s marriage was merely a strategic alliance disguised as a union, and I would inherit the Vance family fortune, so I took my mother’s surname. Moreover, he thought Tiffany was my father’s biological daughter? Mr. Sterling frowned at Derek’s words. “Derek, don’t be foolish. Are you certain you want to marry Miss Peterson?” Derek firmly slipped the ring onto Tiffany’s finger, then kissed it with devotion. “Grandpa, I’ve thought it through. I will only marry Tiffany.” Mr. Sterling looked at Derek with disappointment. If it was just a change of fiancée, he wouldn’t have had much of an opinion. But Derek had deliberately chosen today to humiliate me in front of so many people, proving he was unreliable. “Fine, have it your way.”

Once Mr. Sterling spoke, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. This alliance had invited many business magnates to witness the event, and everyone was eager to see how it would unfold. Amidst the whispers of the crowd, Derek, holding Tiffany’s hand, faced the guests who had come to celebrate and announced, “Thank you all for attending my and Miss Peterson’s engagement ceremony today.” The guests’ faces were a mix of expressions. No one had expected the Hayes and Peterson families to actually swap fiancées on the spot. My father was equally stunned, his face instantly darkening. My own expression wasn’t much better, but I forced myself to stand tall, holding my head high amidst the murmurs, and raised my glass to offer a generous gift. “Mr. Hayes Jr. actually swapped fiancées on the spot? He gave Scarlett no face at all!” “Didn’t Mr. Sterling insist on Scarlett becoming his granddaughter-in-law? How did he agree to the change?” “Changing fiancées on the day of the engagement party—that’s truly embarrassing. Who knows what she did to make Mr. Hayes Jr. do something like that?” The guests’ whispers weren’t quiet. My father glared at Tiffany, showing Derek no deference either. “How much gossip will you cause your sister by doing this?” “And you, you’re not a child anymore. Acting without thinking of the consequences—are you trying to make a fool of me?” Tiffany, scolded by my father, timidly tried to take off the ring to give it to me. Mr. Sterling waved his hand, stopping her. He touched my head apologetically, his voice deep. “Scarlett, don’t worry. Grandpa Sterling will see to it. If you’re willing, the Hayes family has several other excellent young men.” Mr. and Mrs. Hayes heard Mr. Sterling’s words and simply assumed he was comforting me, so they didn’t pay much attention. To their shock, I pointed to Julian Hayes, Mr. Hayes’s illegitimate son, who was watching the drama unfold from a corner. “Actually, I’ve always liked Julian. I hope Grandpa can grant us his blessing.” Everyone’s gazes fell on Julian, flickering between him and me. Julian was Mr. Hayes Sr.’s illegitimate son. After Mr. Hayes Sr.’s passing, Julian wasn’t well-regarded in the family and had a difficult life. But since he was still a Hayes, Mr. Sterling didn’t want others saying the Hayes family mistreated its own blood. So he had taken Julian in and raised him personally. My father stared at me in shock, then whispered, trying to persuade me. “Scarlett, Dad knows you’re upset, but he’s an illegitimate son. The Hayes family doesn’t value him.” I casually swirled my glass, raising it to Julian in a silent toast. “He didn’t choose to be an illegitimate son. I think he’s quite good. I’m willing to give it a try with him.” Julian’s eyes met mine, his demeanor relaxed. “Since Miss Vance likes me, then let’s give it a try.” The guests’ gazes on me became even more meaningful. News of the Hayes family changing fiancées on the spot spread like wildfire in our social circle. As soon as the party ended, I received a message from my mother. In a private room, my mother held me close, her eyes glaring at my father. “Mr. Peterson, how dare you let my daughter suffer such humiliation? Are you trying to get yourself disowned?” I squeezed my mother’s hand, redirecting the conversation to the main issue. “Grandpa Sterling found me a new fiancé. His name is Julian Hayes, and I actually quite like him.” My father wiped the sweat from his forehead and sighed again. “He’s just an illegitimate son, a nobody in the Hayes family. Why would you choose him?” I looked at my parents’ confused expressions and slowly began to explain. “Grandpa Sterling and my grandfather made this arrangement, so I definitely have to marry into the Hayes family.” “Even though Julian is an illegitimate son, he’s the most capable among the younger Hayes generation. From a business perspective, he’s the most suitable partner.”

“Besides, as an illegitimate son, if I marry him, the Vance family will be his foundation for establishing himself in the Hayes family. He’ll certainly treat me well.” Now, Tiffany was the talk of the town, everyone flattering and trying to curry favor with her. Countless people rushed to meet and connect with her. After all, the Hayes and Peterson families were a powerful union. If anyone could get a chance to collaborate, they would surely rise to the next level in their respective industries. I didn’t have time to bother with such things. I was focused on completing the task my mother had given me abroad. One day, Mr. Sterling was celebrating his birthday. Tiffany specifically sent me an invitation and called me several times, so I had no choice but to go. The moment I stepped through the Hayes family’s front door, all eyes fell on me. I showed no embarrassment, smiling as I handed my gift to the Hayes butler. “Why is Scarlett here? Didn’t the engagement switch?” “You don’t know? Mr. Hayes Jr. insisted on switching fiancées, so she, in a fit of pique, chose the Hayes family’s illegitimate son to marry.” “To marry an illegitimate son just to get into the Hayes family… Miss Vance really is something else.” Just as everyone was chattering, Tiffany appeared, ostentatiously holding Derek’s arm. Unlike her usual low-key, gentle attire, she was wearing a haute couture gown today, adorned with several sets of intricate and luxurious jewelry, making her look gaudy and somewhat tacky. Seeing me there, she came over intimately, wanting to link arms with me. “Sister, it’s wonderful that both of us sisters can marry into the Hayes family! As a sisterly favor, I’ll make sure Bro-Derek promotes your husband more.” I almost laughed at Tiffany. Even now, she still believed all I cared about was marrying into the Hayes family. Derek thought so too. In his eyes, I was desperate to marry into the Hayes family, using any means necessary. He looked at me as if I were something dirty. Too lazy to bother with the two of them, I turned to leave, but then I noticed the pair of exquisitely crafted heirloom bracelets on Tiffany’s wrist. These were the Hayes family’s heirloom bracelets, always kept by Mr. Sterling. I hadn’t expected them to be on Tiffany’s wrist, and with at least three or four other bracelets on her arm, I hadn’t recognized them at first glance. The Hayes family heir hadn’t even been confirmed yet. How did those bracelets end up on Tiffany? I pointed at the bracelets on Tiffany’s wrist, my gaze filled with a hint of inquiry. “Where did those bracelets come from?” Derek looked momentarily guilty, while Tiffany caressed the bracelets on her wrist, a hint of grievance on her face. “Sister, these bracelets were meant for you before, but now I’m the one marrying Bro-Derek, so of course, they belong to me.” Derek nodded, his expression righteous. In his mind, he was the undisputed heir, so there was no harm in letting his beloved wear the bracelets beforehand. “These are my Hayes family’s heirloom bracelets. I can let anyone I want wear them. What does it have to do with you?” He then scanned me up and down, taking a step back with a disgusted look. “Don’t you dare try to use this method to cling to me. I won’t ever like you. My heart only belongs to Tiffany.” Derek’s voice wasn’t quiet, and several gazes around us landed on me. “Scarlett usually seems so proud. I can’t believe she’s trying to steal her own sister’s fiancé just to marry into the Hayes family.” “They’re clearly in love. Why is she still trying to cling on?” Tiffany blushed, her face coyly hitting Derek on the arm. “Don’t be so mean to Sister. We’ll be family when she marries in. You’ll have to help them out then.” Derek glanced at me, then dotingly pinched Tiffany’s cheek. “Fine, for Tiffany’s sake, I won’t dwell on it. But if you have any improper thoughts about me, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” The two of them were still lost in their tender moment when a voice suddenly chimed in from behind them. “Why would my wife have improper thoughts about you? “Derek, that’s incredibly rude, talking about your future sister-in-law like that.”

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I secretly sent Stella’s first love, the one she’d harbored for ten years, overseas. That very night, Stella kidnapped our daughter, who had just graduated high school, and hid her at a remote reservoir. A ticking time bomb was strapped to her body. Her eyes were eerily calm, as if she was just negotiating a deal. “David, you’d better tell me where Noah is. Otherwise, our daughter will be blown to bits because of you.” I screamed, losing it, “That’s your daughter too!” Stella didn’t flinch. She just glanced at the time. “You have ten minutes.” Agony ripped through me as I revealed Noah’s whereabouts, in exchange for the reservoir’s address. I ran, desperate, to the location. I saw my daughter tied up, and the rapidly shrinking countdown on the bomb— 00:00:59 00:00:58 00:00:57 My hands trembled as I frantically fumbled with the ropes. But the bomb on Chloe, it just wouldn’t come off. The sound of the countdown shrinking pounded in my ears, like a death knell. Tears streamed down my face. I wished it was me tied up there. “Don’t be scared, sweetie. Daddy will save you. Daddy won’t let anything happen to you…” Chloe’s face was deathly pale. She was crying, saying goodbye to me. “Daddy, you have to go. Don’t try to untie it. I’m so happy to have been your daughter in this life. And Mom, you can have another sibling in the future. Don’t be sad for me…” Even then, Chloe didn’t know the person who kidnapped her was the very ‘Mom’ she spoke of. Tears wouldn’t stop falling. My emotions were spiraling out of control. I called Stella, begging for help. “Tell me! Which wire do I cut to disarm the bomb?!” Stella scoffed, her voice laced with suppressed fury. “Red. Cut the red one.” The next second, the call was abruptly cut. I stared at the countdown, found the red wire, and pulled it with all my might. The red wire snapped. Then, with a deafening *BOOM*, the explosion rocked the ground. I was thrown ten feet back by the impact. Ignoring the searing pain, I opened my eyes to find Chloe, but all I saw was a bloody mess. “Chloe—!” I couldn’t understand how this happened. I cut the red wire, exactly as Stella told me. I crawled over, cradling Chloe’s mangled body, sobbing so hard I couldn’t breathe. In the last moment, Chloe had pushed me away. But now, I could only watch her lie there. I mustered every ounce of strength to carry Chloe on my back, called for an ambulance, and stumbled onto the road. I was covered in blood – some mine, most hers. The doctors and nurses arrived quickly. They gasped in horror at Chloe’s condition. “Quick, rush her to emergency!” I waited outside the operating room. The nurses tried to treat my wounds, but I refused. I prayed again and again, offering my own life in exchange for Chloe’s. But what awaited me was a critical condition notice. I fell to my knees, grabbing the doctor’s scrubs, begging him, my forehead scraping the ground. “Please, save my daughter. She just graduated high school. Her life was just beginning…” The doctor looked pained. After a moment, he said, “I’m truly helpless. In this situation, only top specialists might be able to save her.” I rushed to beg the specialists as the doctor suggested, only to find out they had all been pulled away. And the one who pulled them away was my wife, Stella. I didn’t know whether to cry or laugh. My hands shaking, I called Stella again. “Stella, Chloe is dying, she needs emergency help! You have to let the specialists—” Before I could finish, Stella cut me off, her voice icy. “David, there’s a limit to your lies. Don’t think you can use Chloe to trick me into coming home.” I pleaded, broken, “I’m telling the truth! Chloe was injured by the bomb!” Stella’s voice grew even colder. “Enough! Those bombs were fake! How could they hurt Chloe?! You’re truly a ruthless man, fabricating such lies!” The next second, the call was slammed shut. When I tried to call back, her phone was off. I collapsed to the ground, utterly shattered.

I pleaded for hours, my face smeared with blood from kowtowing, but I couldn’t get any specialists to save my daughter. Back in the ward, I looked at Chloe, her body a raw mess on the bed, and wept uncontrollably. “Chloe, I’m so sorry. Daddy is useless…” Daddy can’t save you. Chloe’s eyes slowly turned to me, her lips trembling. I leaned closer to hear her voice. “Daddy…don’t be sad…I…it doesn’t hurt…” “Mom…where is she…I want to talk to her…” “If I don’t say it…now…it might be too late…” Tears streamed down my face. I couldn’t bring myself to tell Chloe the truth. How cruel would it be for her to know that her own mother, for another man, had bombed her? She was the daughter Stella had longed for, cherished for so many years. We were once such a happy family of three. I didn’t know why things had turned out this way. I pulled out my phone to call Stella again, but it was still off. I called her assistant instead. He finally answered. I heard a voice on the other end: “Ms. Jiang, it’s Mr. David. He says Miss Chloe has something she wants to tell you.” Stella sounded annoyed, “It’s just another one of his excuses. From now on, hang up whenever he calls.” I wanted to scream that it wasn’t an excuse, that Chloe was really dying. But before I could say a word, the call was disconnected. When I turned and met Chloe’s sorrowful gaze, my heart felt like it was being ripped apart by a giant hand. “Mom…doesn’t want to talk?…Is it because…I didn’t do well on my last test…” “Daddy, please…tell Mom I’m sorry…” “Daddy, will Mom…be sad for me…after I die?” Hearing Chloe’s words, my heart ached so much I could barely breathe. Chloe had always craved her mother’s approval, studying exceptionally hard. But Stella’s heart had long since drifted away from her. I clutched Chloe’s hand, shaking my head violently. “No, darling, Mom…Mom is just busy. She doesn’t know.” “Chloe, don’t fall asleep. Look at Daddy…Just hold on a little longer. You’ll see Mom soon…” I kept calling, but the calls were hung up again and again. Broken and desperate, I could only hold Chloe’s hand, begging her to wait. But I watched as Chloe slowly closed her eyes, her hand slipping from my grasp. In an instant, the world spun around me. My vision went black, and I collapsed, losing consciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I stared at the white ceiling, momentarily disoriented. I felt like I’d had a terrible nightmare. Then I heard a nurse’s voice nearby: “Ms. Jiang pulled all our hospital’s specialists to standby, just for her beloved’s check-up. So enviable.” “But that father and daughter yesterday, they were so pitiful. I heard the girl who died had just finished high school. Oh, I guess some people are just born with different fates.” They didn’t know that the girl who died yesterday was Ms. Jiang’s own daughter. Tears slid from the corners of my eyes. I didn’t want to open them. I hated so much. Stella, you killed our daughter. I pulled out the IV needle from my hand and got out of bed. As I stepped out, I unexpectedly saw Stella, carefully supporting Noah, treating him like a rare treasure. “Stella, I told you I’m fine. You just had to make me get checked.” Stella’s voice was gentle, devoid of the cold ruthlessness she showed me. “No, it’s not enough. I’ll only be at ease after your check-up.” I watched the scene, my eyes burning. When we first got together, Stella was just as meticulous with me. If I even scraped my skin, she wouldn’t rest until the family doctor had checked me over. After Chloe was born, if she had a fever, Stella would worry and care for her all night. If Chloe coughed a few times, Stella would personally炖 (stew) her some rock sugar pear soup. She said Chloe was the crystallization of our love. I once believed we would live happily ever after. But a few years later, other men started appearing in her life. She started coming home late, and spent less time with Chloe. And now, to find out Noah’s whereabouts, she kidnapped and bombed our daughter. To give Noah a full body check, she left Chloe with no medical care, just waiting to die. Poor Chloe, even in her last moments, she was still thinking of her mother… More tears fell. The pain in my chest had begun to turn numb.

I didn’t even have the strength to confront her. I turned, wanting to leave. But Noah pointed in my direction, a timid expression on his face. “It’s… Mr. David… Why is he here? Is he trying to send me away again?” He nervously clutched Stella’s clothes, as if he was terrified of me. Stella’s brows furrowed. Her cold, piercing gaze instantly swept over me. “David, you really don’t give up, do you? You actually followed me to the hospital!” She ordered her bodyguards to restrain me. I struggled, and blood started to seep from the back of my hand. Stella saw it and sneered, “Using a pity play now?” “Yesterday you lied about Chloe being injured by a bomb, today you’re faking your own bleeding. Tell me, what’s next? Are you going to buy an urn next and set up a whole funeral service?” I sharply raised my head, my eyes burning with intense hatred. “Stella, do you have any heart?! Chloe is dead! You killed her with that bomb!” Stella froze, startled by my frantic state. A flicker of hesitation crossed her face. Noah stepped forward, frowning slightly, and spoke disapprovingly. “Stella arranged for fake bombs. How could they possibly kill little Chloe? Mr. David, if you’re going to make up a story, at least make it believable.” “I know you don’t want me near Stella, but you can’t joke about Chloe’s life.” Stella’s face instantly turned cold. “David, having a father like you is Chloe’s biggest disgrace!” I stared at Stella in disbelief. Chloe was dead, and she still thought I was lying. I wanted to laugh, but tears hit the floor first. It didn’t matter anymore. Chloe was gone. Nothing else mattered. I got up from the ground, wanting only to find Chloe. But Stella had her bodyguards firmly pin me to the ground, her words chillingly cruel. “You will kneel here and reflect. When you realize your mistake, then you can get up.” She walked away with Noah, leaving me kneeling there, surrounded by the passing crowds. I tried to stand, but every time I moved, a bodyguard would kick me in the back of the knee. I crashed onto the floor, blood already seeping from my knees. I turned, glaring at them. “Don’t you dare forget who I am. How dare you stop me?!” The bodyguards were expressionless. “We only follow Ms. Jiang’s orders.” I was forced to kneel for ten hours. The blood beneath me had already stained the floor crimson, but I stubbornly tried to get up. When they kicked me again, my body went limp, and I passed out. The two bodyguards exchanged glances, then called Stella. “He fainted after only a few hours of kneeling? He must be faking it again. He’s at the hospital, he won’t die. Don’t bother with him.” When I woke up, I was still lying on the cold floor. The bodyguards were gone. Ignoring the pain in my knees, I staggered, leaning against the wall, to the morgue. But when I saw Chloe, there was a gaping hole in her chest. Her heart had been taken!

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During the earthquake, my husband and his secretary were kissing under the debris. My hands were raw, bleeding from digging to save him. Their kiss, however, was splashed across the media, hailed as a testament to enduring love in the face of disaster. “Anya, Willow and I are trending as the ‘rubble romance’ couple. For the company’s sake, let’s get a fake divorce at the courthouse. Once this blows over, we’ll remarry.” Damon and I had kept our marriage a secret for seven years. He always said a single image was better for the company. “Clear your stuff out of the master bedroom. Willow’s moving in.” “Don’t worry, though, you can stay in the maid’s room.” I calmly packed my bags. He didn’t know this time, I was actually going to divorce him for real. At their wedding, I stepped into another man’s Maybach. “The reporters will be here any minute.” Damon frowned slightly. “Willow’s not familiar with the house, so you’ll act as a maid and look after her.” Willow gave me a playful smirk. “Oh, you’re too kind, Damon’s wife. But you’re dressed so nicely to serve me, you don’t really look like a maid, do you?” Hearing that, Damon’s eyes lingered on me. “Change your clothes.” “Take off that bracelet and give it to Willow.” The jade bracelet on my wrist was a gift from Mrs. Harrington the day Damon and I got married. She said it was a Harrington family heirloom, passed down to the daughter-in-law. I’d been abandoned at an orphanage as a child, and Mrs. Harrington took me home when I was nine. She cherished me like her own daughter, showering me with love, making up for the mom I never had. “Anya, don’t make me say it twice,” Damon said, his voice flat. I’d heard that tone before, at his birthday party. That day, Willow complimented my dress, and Damon ordered me to change. When I refused, he had someone forcibly remove my dress right there. The burn scars on my back, from saving him years ago, were exposed for everyone to see. He just covered Willow’s eyes and said blandly, “Don’t look, it’s disgusting.” I took off the bracelet and handed it to Willow. “This is a Harrington family jade heirloom, meant for the daughter-in-law. It’s only right for you to have it.” Damon seemed pleased with my obedience. His tone softened. “Anya, I’ll give it back to you after the interview.” The moment the bracelet touched Willow’s hand, she reacted as if stung, crying out that her wrist was hurting and itching. Damon immediately threw the bracelet to the ground, glaring at me furiously. “Anya, did you tamper with the bracelet on purpose?” I stared at the bracelet, now shattered into several pieces, and many memories in my heart began to crack as well. I mumbled, unable to utter a single word. Damon’s face darkened further. “I knew you wouldn’t say anything. Anya, no one needs to constantly babysit your emotions.” I used to love talking to him. But ever since Willow came into his life, I slowly stopped speaking. If he didn’t come home late at night and I asked about it, he’d complain I talked too much, that I was annoying, unlike Willow who could actually help him. When he drank too much and hurt his stomach, if I showed concern, he’d still complain I only gave hindsight warnings, unlike Willow who was more thoughtful. Even during intimacy in bed, he’d suddenly get a cold look, get up, and head straight for a cold shower, not forgetting to lecture me in between. Chapter 2 “You should watch some movies, learn a thing or two. Your moans are a total turn-off.” “Willow’s so much better at it than you.” I sat on the bed, shame creeping all over my body. “Alright, clean up the floor. The interviewers are arriving.” I picked up the shattered jade pieces and stood beside Willow. Willow and Damon sat together, a picture-perfect couple. After some routine questions, the reporter suddenly asked, “Miss Willow, when did you first fall for Mr. Harrington?” “Oh, I’m a bit embarrassed to say, with so many people watching,” Willow said, lowering her head shyly. Damon affectionately ruffled her hair. “Willow, I’m curious about that answer too.” Willow tilted her head, pondering. “Let me think… I guess it was New Year’s Day. I was working late at the office, and the power suddenly went out. I sent him a text saying I was scared, and ten minutes later, he appeared right in front of me!” Her eyes sparkled like stars. “Seeing him covered in snow, looking so worried, I knew right then and there he must love me.” The interviewing reporters couldn’t help but sigh about true love. Damon chimed in with some of their “love story memories.” I watched it all calmly, but my hands, hidden beneath my sleeves, were clenched into fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. On New Year’s Day, I had accompanied Damon back to his family estate for dinner. On the way home, after he took a call, he just left me by the roadside. No money, no phone. I walked for three hours in high heels and a thin evening gown. When I finally got home in the early hours, Damon whispered, “Willow was working late at the office today, and our house is too far away, so I let her stay overnight.” “Be quiet, she’s a light sleeper, and she just finally fell asleep.” I took off my heels, my frostbitten purple feet hitting the ground, each step feeling like walking on knives. The pain in my feet couldn’t mask the ache in my heart. While showering, I couldn’t help but let out muffled sobs, hidden by the running water. The interview ended. The director of the shoot suggested taking a few simple candid shots of Willow. Damon spoke up. “Anya, come here and assist my wife.” The director, standing nearby, then looked at me. “I never would have guessed Mr. Harrington’s maid could be so breathtakingly beautiful. I wonder if I could invite you to dinner after the shoot?” The director’s scrutinizing gaze lingered on me. I instinctively recoiled, trying to hide behind Damon. Willow smiled and answered for me. “Of course, no problem. Damon, the director worked so hard for our shoot today, why don’t we let Anya accompany them to dinner tonight? It’ll be our way of saying thanks.” Damon ignored my pleading gaze. After a moment’s thought, he nodded. My voice choked. “Damon, I don’t want to go.” His brows furrowed with irritation. “Anya, it’s just dinner.” “Can’t you see how that director was looking at me?” “Anya, if you carry yourself with dignity, no one can touch you.” Damon dropped a chilling statement. “Willow has already agreed. If you make her lose face, you know the consequences.” Damon and I used to visit the orphanage kids regularly every month. One time, Willow insisted on coming along. Chapter 3 The kids at the orphanage drew a picture for Damon and me, but left Willow out. Willow cried, saying the children didn’t like her and that she felt humiliated. That same day, Damon had the orphanage emptied, cutting off all food and water supplies, until I knelt and begged Willow, only then did he spare the children. My voice was hoarse. “Damon, let’s go get divorced right now.” He scoffed. “Anya, don’t pull that stunt with me.” Damon’s bodyguards tied me up and shoved me into the director’s car. In the private room, I was forced to drink glass after glass of alcohol until I completely blacked out. When I woke up, my stomach was churning with pain. I struggled to sit up, and Damon walked in, radiating anger. When he saw me, he paused slightly. “Why do you look so pale?” I gave a bitter smile. “Isn’t this all thanks to you?” Damon’s flicker of concern vanished, his eyes gradually hardening into a layer of ice. “Hah, I must have been overthinking it. After all, you had quite a fun time last night.” I shot back, “What are you talking about?” He threw a stack of photos in front of me. “Anya, does any man make you just throw yourself at him?” I flipped through the photos, one by one. They were all of me in different men’s arms. Memories flashed back with the pictures, and I couldn’t help but dry heave. Remembering Willow’s and the director’s glances from yesterday, I suddenly understood everything. “You should ask Willow where these photos came from.” Damon pinched my chin. “Anya, when did you become so cunning?” I struggled free from his grip. “Damon, you know perfectly well I can’t drink a single drop of alcohol.” “If you know you can’t drink, then why did you drink?” I gave a bitter laugh, tears streaming down my face. “Then why did you force me to go?” Damon’s hand, which he had extended towards me, retreated behind his back. “If you had begged me a few more times, maybe I wouldn’t have let you go.” I curled up inside the covers, muffling a quiet plea. “Just go, I’m tired.” Damon’s voice came through the blanket. “Anya, tomorrow we’ll go to the courthouse to sign the divorce papers. Willow’s worked hard cooperating with me lately. I asked her what she wanted as a reward, and that silly girl only wants a wedding.” “It’s her only wish, I can’t refuse.” Under the covers, I bit my lip tightly. The wedding I had pleaded for, time and time again, he now casually gave to someone else. After hearing Damon’s footsteps fade away, I dialled a number with trembling hands. “I want to leave.”

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I hated my mother most that year. To earn my forgiveness, she personally sent her best friend to my bed. After one night, I was hooked. Three months later, my wife got pregnant, and I forgave my mother. Four months after that, I used my business acumen to multiply their assets tenfold. From then on, I became Veridia City’s most talked-about financial wizard. Every time I made an investment, my mother, the city’s richest person, and my wife, the second richest, would personally oversee it, ensuring my success. Everyone envied me, saying I had it all. But on the day of the high-stakes deal, I leveraged 100x, and both my mother and wife were absent. My wife placed a kiss on my lips, “We’ll celebrate properly tonight…” I smiled, watching them leave. During the meeting, my opponent, seeing my mother and wife weren’t there, made malicious bids. I called their cell phones, but no one picked up. Five years of planning, all for nothing. Just as I worried something had happened to them, an anonymous video popped up on my phone— My mother was wearing a wedding dress, standing beside Arthur, the man who had driven my father to his death years ago. Their illegitimate son wore a groom’s suit, carefully embracing my four-month pregnant, delicate wife. “Double the celebrations!” someone in the video cheered, raising a glass. “Congratulations to Mrs. Sterling for welcoming her true love, and congratulations to Ms. Blackwell for marrying her fated love!” At the end of the video, my mother’s voice drifted softly: “You and Julian got a fake marriage certificate. Today, you actually legally married Leo. Who exactly is the father of the child in your belly?” Scarlett smiled faintly, responding: “Leo has been an illegitimate child his entire life. I couldn’t bear for his child to call someone else ‘Dad’.” Turns out, the child I had eagerly awaited wasn’t mine after all. I clenched my jaw, leaving the meeting. My phone kept buzzing with new messages— It was an appointment for a tubal ligation, and a line of text: “If you’re willing, your child with Scarlett will be my only descendant in this life.”

After leaving the hospital, I wandered aimlessly through the streets. The giant screen in the mall was playing a family exclusive interview from three months ago, right after my wife had gotten pregnant. My mother held up the auctioned diamond, explaining to the camera, “This ‘Heart of the Ocean’ is a gift for my future grandchild. The value isn’t important; what matters is the legacy.” Scarlett gently squeezed my hand, her eyes glistening. “Julian never truly experienced the warmth of a complete family growing up. Now, I can finally give him a real home.” The screen froze on the moment we smiled at each other. Below, the subtitle “Veridia City’s Happiest Family” scrolled by. I gritted my teeth, forcing back the burning sensation in my eyes. Just then, my phone rang. It was Scarlett. Before, whenever I heard her dedicated ringtone, I’d answer without a moment’s hesitation. But now, I hesitated for a long time. Finally, I picked up just before the call disconnected. I heard Chloe, Scarlett’s best friend, teasing her on the other end: “Scarlett finally got what she wanted! When Leo went abroad, she turned the entire Veridia City upside down looking for him. Now, to help Leo reclaim the Sterling Group, she even humbled herself to play along with that bigshot for two years.” “Ha, Scarlett still has her charm! Last time, Julian’s legs went weak from her kisses; he was practically leaning against the wall. No wonder he didn’t even need a marriage license, and willingly raised someone else’s child!” “Tsk, tsk, he’s the one who despised illegitimate children the most. Who would’ve thought he, who detested illegitimacy, ended up raising one as his own son!” “If you ask me, the real kicker is today’s scene! Leo said, ‘If my dad doesn’t get married, neither will I,’ and Scarlett convinced Eleanor to marry Arthur. Father and son both marrying into high society! Veridia City hasn’t seen drama like this in ages!” Chapter

I clenched my phone tightly, a ragged gasp escaping my throat. Then, Scarlett’s icy voice suddenly came through the phone. “Who touched my phone?” The clamor ceased instantly. “Honey? Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you not feeling well?” Scarlett’s voice was flawlessly gentle. It was as if those vicious words from earlier had been my hallucination. I opened my mouth, wanting to talk about divorce. But I suddenly realized our marriage certificate was fake; I didn’t even have the right to suggest divorce. Just then, a gentle male voice came from the other end of the line. “Baby, you’re pregnant; you shouldn’t stand for too long, your back will ache…” Scarlett clearly panicked for a moment. “Honey, I have an urgent matter here. I’ll come back to you later.” Without waiting for my response, the call was abruptly hung up. I don’t know how long I sat in the living room before I heard the villa’s front door open. My mom and Scarlett pushed the door open, their faces still beaming with fading joy. “Julian, Mom specially bought these for you from Switzerland; they’re all-natural brain-boosting supplements.” Scarlett came to me and leaned down, massaging the dark circles under my eyes. “Why didn’t we have a celebration party? Are you upset we weren’t there? I’ll ask Ms. Miller to reschedule for tomorrow, okay?” The two of them spoke enthusiastically, then froze when they saw I remained silent. Scarlett gave a barely perceptible shake of her head, signaling that the wedding news hadn’t leaked. I handed Scarlett a document. “Sign this.” My mother deliberately said with a touch of sarcasm, “My son now prioritizes his wife when signing contracts.” Scarlett didn’t even glance at it, signing her name with a flourish. “We’re one. What’s mine is yours. No need to be so distant in the future.” She smiled, returning the document to me. As she spoke, both their phones rang simultaneously. My mother patted my shoulder. “There’s an urgent company matter; we’ll go handle it in B Block.” Scarlett blew me a kiss. “B Block was expanded for you, so Mom and I can work without being too far from you.” With that, they hurried away. The two bride’s badges that fell from my pocket reminded me that tonight was their wedding night. I looked down at the document that read “Julian and Scarlett Sever All Financial Ties,” and laughed until tears streamed down my face. With this, all my investment gains were no longer connected to Scarlett. I, Julian, could love, and I could let go. After finishing the last cigarette, I dialed Mr. Davies’ number. “Mr. Davies, I need to end the share custody agreement early, and also—terminate all preferential treatment for Blackwell Corp.” 2 “Mr. Sterling, after initiating the inheritance process, 72% of Sterling Group shares will be transferred to your name within 10 days.” Mr. Davies paused, then added, “When your father passed away… he had thorough asset protection in place. Mr. Sterling marrying your mother won’t allow him to take a single cent from Sterling Group.” I grunted, then hung up. The year my father died, my mother knelt in front of the mourning hall, sobbing uncontrollably. She slapped herself repeatedly, saying her indiscretion while drunk was unforgivable to my father and me. I stayed hidden in my room all day, refusing to eat. It was Scarlett who brought me porridge, patiently spoon-feeding me until I swallowed. “Your father, up in heaven, would want you to be happy.” Those words helped me get through it. And they made me give her my whole heart. Only now did I understand the calculated manipulation hidden behind that gentleness. My phone vibrated endlessly. Photo after photo flooded in. A young Scarlett embracing Leo on a cruise ship, kissing him, fingers intertwined in the snow. Each photo was captioned “My Dearest Leo.” Turns out, my honeymoon itinerary was just a re-visitation of their old haunts. Chapter

“Bro, that hotel suite where you stayed for your honeymoon, the bedsheets still had traces of our passion on them.” “Scarlett said she felt safest sleeping by your side every night, right? Do you believe I could call her away right now?” Leo’s voice message turned my stomach. “Ugh—” Just as I finished throwing up, the door was suddenly pushed open by Scarlett. “Julian? Drunk again? I’ll make you something light right away!” She moved quickly, and soon brought in a steaming bowl of bird’s nest porridge. It was a stomach-soothing dish she’d specially learned from a Michelin chef. To learn it, her delicate fingers got three big blisters. My wife’s eyes held expectation, as if waiting for me to hug her tightly, moved, like before. Seeing my lack of reaction, she froze for a moment. Then, she skillfully massaged my temples. “Scarlett,” I suddenly spoke. “Have you lied to me about anything? If you tell me now…” Scarlett, just considering how you held onto me when I tried to jump out that window, not letting go even if I pulled you down with me… I’ll give you one last chance. “What are you talking about? You and our child are my true loves.” I watched her flawless act. It was utterly ridiculous. Scarlett carefully studied my expression, then chuckled softly. “I knew it. You always say things like this when you want me to coax you.” With that, she leaned in to kiss me. Outside the window, a sudden clap of thunder exploded. I instinctively ducked under the bedframe. It sounds ridiculous, a grown man, yet terrified of thunder. It was because my father had caught my mother cheating and fell from the building during a thunderstorm. But I hadn’t been afraid of thunder in so many years. After meeting Scarlett, I thought I’d found the security of a home. But now, tears and snot streamed uncontrollably. Scarlett held me tightly. “Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Her embrace was still so warm, yet I shivered uncontrollably. Just then, a servant rushed in and whispered something in Scarlett’s ear. Her face immediately changed, but she forced herself to remain calm. “Can’t you see Mr. Sterling is right here!” She patted my back dismissively, her eyes constantly darting towards the door. “Sleep, I’ll stay here with you.” But after confirming I was “asleep,” she ran out without a backward glance. My phone screen flickered on and off in the darkness. The photos Leo sent were more and more explicit. Disheveled sheets, Scarlett’s alluring back, and a bunny tail accessory, wet with fluid. The last voice message was accompanied by triumphant gasps. [Bro, your wife hasn’t let you touch her since she got pregnant, has she? But she can’t resist me. We just did it three times again…] [Heard Scarlett hasn’t told you the baby’s name yet? Our baby’s name is Nia.] As he spoke, Leo revealed a tattoo on his chest, identical in location to Scarlett’s. “Boom!” My ears rang. So, on our wedding night, when I touched the “my only love” tattoo on her chest and cried, moved… the complex emotion that flashed in her eyes wasn’t gratitude, but guilt. Every time she passionately whispered “my only love,” her mind was always on someone else. For three years, I had been living a monumental lie. I sat numbly through the night until dawn. Finally, I replied to the number that had been waiting: [That child isn’t mine. You don’t need to get a tubal ligation. Let’s work together.] 3 The next morning, I was awakened by a commotion. The grand hall was filled with Veridia City’s elite, all gathered to celebrate my birthday. I froze. Chapter

I hadn’t celebrated my birthday in ten years, not since my father passed away. I looked around; all the portraits of my father, the head of the Sterling family, on the walls had been replaced with portraits of Arthur. Mr. Jenkins, the butler, said obsequiously, “The madam specifically ordered it, saying it would make young master Leo happy.” Guests buzzed with whispers. “Did you hear? All those prime commercial properties Mr. Sterling Sr. left behind have been transferred to Mr. Arthur’s name.” “Tsk, tsk, the original wife worked hard her whole life, only for it to benefit her step-son.” “Shhh! Keep your voice down. He’s the rightful man of the house now.” Arthur stood beside my mother, his tone gentle but every word a stab. “I know young master Julian dislikes me, but today is a joyous occasion. I just wish for one small thing: to serve your mother for the rest of her life, and to care for this home in place of your deceased father.” He made no mention that today was also my father’s death anniversary. Seeing my eyes bloodshot, my mother lightly smoothed things over. “Arthur is your elder now. It’s kind of him to organize your birthday. Be more generous.” Before her words even faded, Leo appeared, holding Scarlett’s hand. “Happy birthday, my prince.” Scarlett spoke tenderly, handing me a black and gold gift box. “My God! That’s the exclusive packaging for the ‘True Love’s Heart’ brooch from Castlerock Auction House!” a guest exclaimed. “A mysterious buyer bought it for an exorbitant price last month. I can’t believe it’s Ms. Blackwell!” “What sentimental princess act! Julian’s life is too good!” But I didn’t care. Highlight auction piece, sentimental princess act—I didn’t care about any of it. I only cared about the mechanical watch on Leo’s wrist. That watch had been passed down from my grandfather and had accompanied my father his entire life. The strap had been replaced seven times, the face broken three times, and he always said the repair costs were enough to buy a new one. Yet, he personally took it for maintenance every year. On his deathbed, my father passed the watch to me, saying this old object would keep me company on my future path. “Take it off.” My voice trembled as I stared fixedly at him. Leo shivered slightly, his eyes watering, and he glanced inadvertently at Scarlett. The guests were shocked by my bluntness toward Scarlett, all gasping. Scarlett’s tone was gentle, yet authoritative. “Julian, stop it. If you like this style, I’ll invite the designer to the house tomorrow and have a new one custom-made for you, okay?” But I heard nothing, only focused on charging at Leo. Scarlett seemed frightened by me. “Julian! Calm down! The doctor said your blood pressure is high and you shouldn’t get agitated!” “Ah!” Leo suddenly fell to his knees, yanking the watch off without loosening the strap, smashing it on the ground. His wrist was covered in bloody scratches, the watch face shattered. “I know you look down on my father and me! You always bullied me!” In school, he used to self-harm like this, then cry and claim I hit him. Since then, everyone thought Julian Sterling, the eldest son, was arrogant and tyrannical, always picking on others. Guests whispered amongst themselves, their eyes filled with disdain. “Julian Sterling is indeed arrogant…” “An illegitimate child is still Sterling blood; why be so cruel?” Scarlett rushed to get gauze to wrap Leo’s bleeding wrist, giving me a cold look for the first time. “Julian, apologize.” 4 But I remained unresponsive. Watching my father’s heirloom shattered on the floor, my vision blurred. Scarlett looked at me in shock, reaching out to help me. “Julian…” Just then, Leo pretended to help me up, but as he got close, he suddenly shoved me. My lower back hit a metal railing hard, and excruciating pain instantly spread through my body. Leo, however, fell into the cake, his face smeared with cream, looking utterly disheveled. “Bro, I just wanted to apologize! Why did you push me?” “Leo!”

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“Mom—” Those two, mother and daughter, had actually killed my only blood-related mother, all because Elara’s new fling was upset! She was already on borrowed time, yet she had to endure such a brutal blow. I stumbled, hoisting my blood-soaked mother onto my back, and rushed to the hospital without a moment’s delay. Only an intern doctor looked at me with a pained expression. “I’m so sorry, but a very important person’s husband got hurt – just a cut on his finger, really – and she called all the specialists over…” I gently placed my mother on a hospital bed, then, without a second’s hesitation, I bolted towards that important person’s private room. *Thud—* I dropped to my knees, utterly stripped of all dignity, my voice so hoarse it was unrecognizable. “Please, I beg you, save my mother.” I looked up, only to see Elara and Daisy standing guard on either side of Julian. They looked like the perfect, happy family. It turned out the “important person” the intern doctor mentioned was Elara. Julian leaned against Elara’s shoulder, feigning timidity. “Ryder, wasn’t stealing my mother’s keepsake enough? Now you’re even lying that your mother died? Are you intentionally trying to snatch Elara away from me?” As his words fell, Elara’s face instantly changed, her eyes blazing with fury. “Try lying to me about your mother again, and see if I don’t cancel that surgery for good!” My heart twisted with agony, I choked out my pleas, tears streaming down my face. “I’m not lying, I swear! My mother is in room 303 right now…” “Stop causing trouble!” Daisy’s cold voice cut me off. Her eyes darted around, calculating. “You’ve upset Uncle Julian so much he can’t even sleep peacefully. How about this: you lick his shoes for a minute as an apology to him, and I’ll help you beg Mom to save Grandma.” I stared, utterly incredulous. The cold indifference in Daisy’s eyes was almost identical to Elara’s. I couldn’t understand when these two had become so heartless. It was Elara who had proposed to me a hundred times before I finally believed she wasn’t just playing games. After we married, she remained devoted, showering all her tenderness on me alone. We had a beautiful daughter, Daisy, who adored me from a young age, always saying I was the best dad in the world. But then Julian appeared, and everything changed. I looked at Elara, my face ashen. She, who’d never lifted a finger in her life, was now spoon-feeding chicken soup to Julian. She didn’t even spare me a glance. I remembered my mother’s pale face. I bit down hard on my lower lip, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. For Mom, I would endure. I no longer hesitated, half-prostrated on the ground, I humiliatingly stuck out my tongue. Again and again, I licked Julian’s leather shoes sparkling clean. Julian lifted his head in disgust. “Don’t think for a second that this means I’ll forgive you for the pain you caused me. That was the only thing my mother left me!” Chapter 2 A flicker of smug satisfaction quickly crossed his eyes. He had a mother; didn’t mine deserve to live? The agonizing minute finally ended. Like a drowning man grabbing a lifeline, I clutched Elara’s sleeve. “Now, can we save my mother?” She yanked her hand away with a look of utter revulsion. “I’m not the one who promised you.” I turned my pleading gaze to Daisy. She looked down at me from above, letting out a sneer. “As long as Uncle Julian doesn’t forgive you, neither will we!” My mind went utterly blank, a deafening buzz filling my ears. I finally understood: these two were just trying to get even for Julian. They were making me beg forgiveness from the very person who had orchestrated my mother’s death. But I had no other choice. Like a broken automaton, I slammed my forehead to the ground, again and again. With each dull thud, I felt a warm stream run down my forehead. “Julian, I’m so sorry. Please, I beg you, save my mother…” Julian’s face twisted with a feigned reluctance. He magnanimously helped me up. But the words he whispered in my ear were pure poison. “Why would I save your mother? I want you to see with your own eyes how your wife and daughter abandon you and choose me. I deliberately swapped that dummy for your mother!”

My blood ran cold. My heart was pierced by a thousand invisible daggers. My eyes widened. I lunged at him, heedless of the consequences. Punch after punch, his face was quickly covered in blood. Elara and Daisy finally reacted, rushing to pull me away. Elara roared, “Ryder! Who gave you the audacity to hit my man?!” For the first time, I shrugged off both of them and bolted towards room 303, as if my life depended on it. Through the wide-open door of the hospital room, my mother lay, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, her eyes filled with unspeakable sorrow. “My son, if Mom isn’t here anymore, you must take good care of yourself…” My eyes welled up with tears. I was about to rush in and take her to another hospital, but I was stopped just a few steps from the room. A group of bodyguards, without a word, dragged me away like a piece of trash. “Let me go! Let me go!” Despite my desperate shouts, the bodyguards sped up. I watched helplessly as my mother’s face grew paler and paler. Just as my vision blurred and disappeared, I saw her hand fall lifelessly onto the hospital bed. In the operating room. The moment Elara saw me, she didn’t say a word, just raised her hand and slapped me. *SLAP!*

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