My grandfather is the wealthiest man in Country A, and as his only granddaughter, I’m on the brink of inheriting a massive conglomerate. However, my two uncles are letting their mistress take over my identity. In front of the national media, Nora Johnson snatched the share transfer document and looked at me with arrogance. “Someone like you, from the lower rungs of society, wouldn’t even dream of stepping into the conglomerate if it weren’t for me!” “I suggest you behave, or you might find yourself with no place to rest!” In my previous life, I was deceived and intimidated by my uncles, constantly backing down to Nora, allowing her to trample over me to rise higher. But this time, I’ve been given another chance. Seeing Nora’s smug face in front of me, I raised my hand and slapped her to the ground. “A woman kept as a mistress dares to act insolent in front of me!” My unexpected action stunned everyone there, and the room fell silent. My two uncles rushed forward to protect Nora, glaring at me. They couldn’t hide the pity in their eyes for their mistress who was slapped without warning. Third Uncle was furious, stepping forward and shoving me hard. “Lydia Johnson, who gave you the audacity to touch our niece!” Looking at their faces full of disdain, I couldn’t help but mock my past self for foolishly expecting any family affection from them. I sneered, lifting my eyes to look at Nora contemptuously, taunting, “A mere mistress, and I, the rightful heir of Country A’s Leading Conglomerate, the granddaughter of the richest man, don’t have the right to discipline her?!” Upon hearing this, my uncle flushed with anger and rushed over, pretending to choke me. “Lydia, what nonsense are you spouting?! Nora kindly sponsored your education, and you repay kindness with betrayal!” “Everyone listen up, Nora is my father’s real granddaughter, the heiress of Country A’s conglomerate!” I was shocked at his audacity and angrily retorted. “Second Uncle, she’s just a woman you picked up from a nightclub. How dare you say she’s a Johnson Family heiress and the conglomerate’s successor?” “Even when lying, you should know when to stop!” Third Uncle interrupted me, trying to cut me off. “Lydia, did you forget the doctor’s advice to take your medication?” Seeing this, Nora quickly chimed in, looking pitiful. “It’s all my fault. I knew Lydia had delusions and accidentally told her about inheriting the conglomerate.” The three of them twisted the truth, putting all the blame on me. For a moment, the media turned their focus on me. “Lydia is indeed just a nobody sponsored by the Johnson Family heiress. No wonder she looks so shabby.” “Miss Johnson is so kind-hearted, not caring even when slandered by such a lunatic.” Then Second Uncle waved over Assistant Manager Luke from the conglomerate. “Someone! Get Lydia out of here within a minute. Without my permission, she’s not allowed to step into the company again!” I glared icily at Assistant Manager Luke, who was leading the bodyguards towards me. “Assistant Manager Luke, my mother assigned you to help me manage the conglomerate. Don’t you recognize who the real heiress is?” Luke paused, guilt flashing in his eyes: “This… I…” Third Uncle, looking impatient, spoke sharply. “Assistant Manager Luke, my brother is the future heir of the conglomerate. Do you dare defy him? Are you risking everything?” Luke’s expression shifted instantly. He spoke to me, pained: “Miss, I’m just an employee. My whole family relies on me. I can’t lose this job. Please, stop causing trouble.” Saying this, he gestured to the bodyguards to take me away. Seeing a group of strong bodyguards surround me, I picked up a teapot from the table and smashed it on the ground. “I’m not only the heiress of the Johnson Family, the granddaughter of the richest man, but also the sole successor of the conglomerate. I dare anyone to touch a single hair on me!” Chapter Two The teapot shattered, the loud crash and my furious yell echoing through the hall. The crowd burst into scornful laughter at my words. “Reckless! First, she claims to be the granddaughter of the richest man, now the conglomerate’s heir. Fool!” “Even if she is the Johnson Family heiress, the richest man has two sons! How could it ever be her turn?” Looking at my two uncles’ smug faces, I asked coldly. “Second Uncle, are you sure you and Third Uncle have the right to inherit the conglomerate?” Third Uncle pursed his lips, briefly unnerved, then turned to Second Uncle, acting nonchalant. “Brother, today’s a big day. All the important figures are coming soon. Don’t let outsiders see a joke.” Hearing Third Uncle, I guessed he remembered his status and got scared. After all, Grandpa is the richest man in Country A, the actual power behind the conglomerate. My dad is his only son, and naturally, I am his only granddaughter. As for my two uncles, they are just sons of Grandpa’s elder brother. After Grandpa’s brother died, Grandpa took pity on them and took them in at the Johnson Family. So they have no direct blood relation to Grandpa, and naturally, it won’t be their turn to inherit the conglomerate. They were just given a chance to work in the conglomerate. But Second Uncle was too foolish to understand the implication in my words, frowning and looking displeased at Third Uncle. “She’s so unruly today, even hitting Nora. She can’t be let off easily.” “Lydia, I think your delusions have worsened. Don’t force me to send you back to the mental institution!” The mention of the mental institution reignited my fury. It reminded me of the inhumane torture I suffered before dying in my past life. Last time, they manipulated me with so-called familial affection and morality, forcing me to retreat step by step, leaving me in a sorry state. In the end, to satisfy Nora’s curiosity about how much blood a living person could lose before dying, they tricked me into the mental institution and watched coldly as I was tortured to death. Even though we were family, and after they came to the Johnson Family, I treated them sincerely for decades. But they indulged her in impersonating me to please a mistress, disregarding even a shred of familial bond. Now I understand. In my two uncles’ eyes, I, a living person, was less than their noble love. I could be discarded at will. But I’m curious, if given a choice between Nora and power, which would they choose? Returning to the present, I curled my lips into a cold smile. “Do you dare say again in public who really is the Johnson Family heiress and the conglomerate’s successor?” Before my uncles could answer, a woman came running out of the crowd, claws bared. She raised her hand and slapped me, her sharp nails scratching my cheek. “Wretch, this is the territory of Country A’s Leading Conglomerate. What right do you have to shout here?!” Caught off guard, I was furious and saw clearly the woman in front of me. She’s not a big deal, just an illegitimate daughter of a small manager under the group. Since meeting my two uncles, she’s been fantasizing about marrying one of them. Later, she heard that Nora was the Johnson Family heiress. To appear more in front of my uncles, she followed Nora around like a shadow. It’s a pity… She’s a fool, completely wrong. Nora isn’t the real heiress but the mistress kept by her lover! I narrowed my eyes and then returned the slap to the illegitimate daughter. Taking advantage of her unpreparedness, I kicked her hard, sending her tumbling to the ground. “Who are you, a stray cat or dog, to act up in front of me?! Believe it or not, a word from me could have your whole family begging on their knees!” She rolled on the ground, clutching her stomach, screaming in disbelief. “Lydia dared to hit me?! No one has ever dared to hit me before! “Just you wait, I won’t let you off!” Nora stepped up to help her, “Yara, don’t be angry. Lydia has some mental issues. I’ll apologize on her behalf, okay?” I rolled my eyes in disdain, coldly mocking, “Nora, you’re really shameless! Why not just enjoy being a well-kept mistress? Do you have no self-awareness pretending to be the Johnson Family heiress in such a setting?” Saying this, I sighed and turned to the two uncles beside me. “You have one minute to take your mistresses and leave, or don’t blame me for being rude!” The teapot shattered, the loud crash and my furious yell echoed through the hall. The crowd burst into cruel laughter at my words. “Reckless! First, she claims to be the granddaughter of the richest man, now the conglomerate’s heir. Fool!” “Even if she is the Johnson Family heiress, the richest man has two sons! How could it ever be her turn?” Looking at my two uncles’ smug faces, I asked coldly. “Second Uncle, are you sure you and Third Uncle have the right to inherit the conglomerate?” Third Uncle pursed his lips, briefly unnerved, then turned to Second Uncle, acting nonchalant. “Brother, today’s a big day. All the important figures are coming soon. Don’t let outsiders see a joke.” Hearing Third Uncle, I guessed he remembered his status and got scared. After all, Grandpa is the richest man in Country A, the actual power behind the conglomerate. Seeing the smug faces of my two uncles, I retorted sharply. “Second Uncle, do you really think you and Third Uncle have the right to inherit the conglomerate?” Third Uncle pursed his lips, guilt flashing briefly across his face before he quickly looked away towards Second Uncle. “Brother, today is a big day. Important people will be here. Let’s not make a scene.” His words suggested that he was reminded of his own status and felt intimidated. After all, my Grandpa is the richest man in Country A and the true power behind the conglomerate. My father is his only son, which makes me his only direct granddaughter. As for my two uncles, they’re merely the sons of Grandpa’s late older brother. After their father passed away, Grandpa took them in out of pity, allowing them into the Johnson Family. They aren’t directly related by blood to Grandpa, so they have no claim to the conglomerate’s inheritance. They were only given jobs there. Yet, Second Uncle, oblivious to the undertones of my words, frowned at Third Uncle with displeasure. “She’s been too unruly today and even hit Nora. We can’t let this slide.” “Lydia, it seems your delusions are worsening. Don’t force me to have you sent back to the institution!” The mention of the “institution” triggered my anger again, recalling the torment I endured before my death in my previous life. They had used fake family love and morals to manipulate me into conceding, all for Nora Johnson. They pushed me to retreat, step by step, leaving me in a miserable state. In the end, they even conspired to trick me into an institution to satisfy Nora’s morbid curiosity about how much blood a person could lose before dying. I was their real family, having genuinely cared for them since they joined the Johnson Family, sharing decades together. Yet, they preferred to indulge Nora, letting her assume my identity, disregarding familial bonds, just to please their mistress. Now, I understood. In my uncles’ eyes, a living person like me was insignificant compared to their so-called noble love. I could be discarded at will. But I’m curious, if they had to choose between Nora and power, which would they choose? Returning to the moment, I smirked coldly. “Do you dare to publicly declare again who the true Johnson Family Heiress and the conglomerate’s heir is?” Before my uncles could respond, a woman stormed out of the crowd, looking aggressive. She slapped me, her sharp nails scratching my cheek. “You have no right to make a scene here in Country A’s Leading Conglomerate’s territory!” Caught off guard, I took the hit, but even in my anger, I recognized the woman. She wasn’t anyone significant, just the illegitimate daughter of a small manager under the conglomerate. After meeting my uncles, she fantasized about marrying one of them. Later, she heard Nora was the Johnson Family Heiress, and to increase her chances of meeting my uncles, she followed Nora around like a loyal puppy. Too bad for her… she doesn’t realize how wrong she is. Nora isn’t any legitimate heiress; she’s just the cherished mistress! I narrowed my eyes, then slapped the illegitimate daughter back. While she was unprepared, I kicked her to the ground. “Who do you think you are, to act so insolently in front of me? Believe it or not, with just one word, I can have your whole family begging on their knees!” She rolled on the ground, clutching her stomach in disbelief, and screamed. “Lydia dared to hit me?! No one has ever dared to hit me since I was a child! “Just wait, I won’t let you off!” At this moment, Nora came forward to support her. “Yara, don’t be mad. Lydia has some mental issues. Let me apologize on her behalf, okay?” I rolled my eyes and mocked coldly: “Nora, you really have no shame! Why can’t you be content as a well-kept mistress? Do you have no self-awareness to impersonate the Johnson Family Heiress in such settings?” Sighing, I turned to the two uncles standing nearby. “You have one minute. Take your little lovers and leave, or don’t blame me for being rude!” Chapter Three My uncles stood still, their faces grim. “Lydia, I’m warning you, we have real power in the company now, and you’re just a poor student who hasn’t even entered the company. If anyone’s leaving, it’s you!” “Hey?—” A sudden middle-aged woman’s voice interrupted. “What are you all doing here? The shareholder meeting is about to start, hurry up and get inside!” The newcomer had an elegant aura, exuding a mature woman’s charm. It was my mother, Adeline. But she didn’t even glance at me, walking straight to Nora’s side. While wiping Nora’s tears with concern, she anxiously asked. “What happened, Nora? Who bullied you…?” “Let me deal with that blind fool!” Upon hearing this, Second Uncle immediately pointed at me, accusingly. “Sister-in-law, you arrived just in time! This poor student dares to impersonate the Johnson Family Heiress and spread lies here!” “As the main lady of the Johnson Family, you must teach her a lesson!” My mom was instantly furious, raising her hand to slap me. “Lydia, just because I haven’t been strict with you for a while, you think you can act so recklessly?” “Kneel and apologize to Nora now, or leave the Johnson Family and never come back!” Listening to my own mother’s malicious scolding, ignoring the facts, disappointment flooded my heart. Just like in my previous life, she stood with my uncles on Nora’s side. Pain throbbed in my chest. I never understood, I’m her daughter, while Nora is just a mistress of my uncles. But after knowing about Nora’s existence, my mother was overjoyed and went out of her way to be good to her. Later, when she found out my uncles were both keeping Nora, she was furious and threw a huge fit. That day, seeing my mom scold my uncles, I even spoke up for them. But my mom took her anger out on me, whipping me several times, leaving ugly scars on my back. Yet in the end, my mom allowed my uncles to continue keeping Nora and even arranged for Nora to be packaged as a wealthy, foreign-educated girl. She also told my uncles they must treat Nora well. They had to compete fairly, letting Nora decide who to be with. And whoever she chose would inherit all of my mom’s estate. Comparatively, Nora seemed more like her biological daughter. I only realized the truth after I died in my past life. Nora was actually the child my mom had with a lover before marrying my dad. Back then, to marry into a wealthy family, she hid the fact that she was pregnant and abandoned Nora, who was just a baby. Now, years later, finding Nora again, she naturally tried every way to make up for it. Poor Dad, who died young, never knew the woman he loved for years had a child behind his back. Thinking of this, a wave of nausea washed over me. “I’m not wrong! Why should I apologize?” “It’s my uncles who falsely claimed Nora is the Johnson Family Heiress and the heir to the conglomerate, Mom, don’t you have anything to say?” Upon hearing my words, Nora, with a pale face, shrank into my mother’s arms, tears streaming down her face. As expected, my mother couldn’t bear to see Nora suffer and became angry, slapping me twice again. “Lydia, stop being unreasonable! Nora is my daughter, the Johnson Family Heiress!” At that moment, all my grievances erupted, and I shouted at her. “Adeline, she’s your daughter, but what about me? How can you do this and face my dad?!” Adeline ignored my cries, coldly turning to instruct my uncles. “What are you waiting for, get this girl who bullied Nora out of here!” I felt a deep sadness. Is this the mother I’ve respected for eighteen years? The wife my dad loved for over twenty years? Dad probably never imagined that the two brothers he cared for would hurt his own daughter for a mistress. And his wife would nurture an illegitimate child while letting me be humiliated. At this moment, I truly felt it was all in vain, for me and my dad all these years. As the guards were about to grab me, I straightened my back, defiant. “Stop! This is the Johnson Family’s territory, who are you outsiders to give orders here!” I emphasized “Johnson Family” heavily. My words seemed to provoke Adeline, who lunged and grabbed my hair. She instructed my uncles to hold me down firmly, keeping me immobile. Swearing all the while. “The Johnson Family?! Over the years, I’ve managed everything inside and out, which matter in the conglomerate wasn’t handled by me, why should you inherit it?” Mom crazily slammed my head onto the floor, leaving my face bloodied. “Let me tell you! The conglomerate is mine, and I’ll decide who gets it!” My scalp felt like it was being torn apart, sweat pouring from my pain, yet my voice was firm. “The conglomerate is Dad’s. I’m his only daughter, I’m the heir!” Adeline’s anger intensified, kicking me repeatedly. “Lydia, stop dreaming about things that aren’t yours! I’ve decided to give the conglomerate to Nora as a dowry, you won’t get a single cent!” Mom, in a fit of rage, slammed my head against the floor, leaving my face covered in blood. “Listen here! The Conglomerate is mine, and I’ll decide who gets it!” The skin on my head felt like it was tearing apart, and cold sweat poured down from the pain, but my voice remained firm. “The Conglomerate belongs to Dad. I’m his only daughter, so I’m the rightful heir!” Adeline’s anger flared even more as she kicked me repeatedly. “Lydia Johnson, stop coveting what isn’t yours! I’ve already decided to give the Conglomerate to Nora as her dowry. You won’t get a single cent!” With these words, the crowd erupted in shock, their gazes toward Nora Johnson becoming more intense. At the same time, a deep, commanding male voice sounded from behind. “Adeline, who gave you the audacity to offer my Conglomerate to your illegitimate daughter as a dowry?” Chapter Four Upon hearing Grandpa’s authoritative voice, Mom and the two uncles quickly stopped what they were doing. As I saw the familiar old man before me, tears welled up in my eyes.

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I got pregnant with my boyfriend who has a low sperm count. His mother offered me a huge sum to leave him. I thought it was a joke and wanted to share the joy of my pregnancy with my boyfriend, but then I heard a woman talking about taking wedding photos with him. To get rid of me, he and his fiancée conspired to paint me as the other woman. I ended up tearing apart our “home,” erasing all traces of myself, and boarded a plane abroad. Two years later, Gideon found me in a frenzy. He stared intensely at the little child beside me, who bore a striking resemblance to him, and his eyes instantly welled up with tears. “Is this…mine??” — After hanging up the phone, I didn’t believe it. I thought it was just a prank because ever since I got with Gideon, the women around him always tried to separate us. I’d received over 1,300 calls claiming to be from Gideon’s mother. Until evening, when Gideon came back. “Ah Han, I have good news for you, I’m preg—” I leaped into his arms, wrapping mine around his neck, meeting his eyes. Gideon had a low sperm count, with an incredibly slim chance of fathering a child. His greatest dream was to have his own child. For this dream, Gideon’s family went to great lengths; his mother even became a vegetarian, hoping to bring good fortune. And now, I was pregnant with Gideon’s child, and the pregnancy test result was in my pocket as a surprise. I looked at Gideon full of anticipation, imagining how happy he would be when he found out. But unfortunately, before I finished speaking, his phone rang. Seeing the caller ID, he hesitated, then looked at me. In just a moment, he smiled, raised a finger to his lips, signaling me to be quiet. I nodded obediently, feeling something had changed. He had never taken calls like this before. Once connected, I clearly heard a woman’s voice. “Gideon, don’t forget to take our wedding photos later.” Instantly, a chill ran from my spine to the top of my head, freezing my entire soul. Remembering the call earlier, I felt tears stinging my eyes, and my hands holding his face dropped weakly. “I’ll be right there.” He noticed my oddness but still smiled with such ease, even kissed me reluctantly. “Be good, wait at home, I’ll take care of you when I get back.” Gideon dressed up, adjusted in front of the mirror for a long time, and only after confirming there was no unusual scent did he turn to leave. I was in shock for a long time, and by the time I reacted, he was already out of the room. I hurriedly took out my phone to call him, but there was no answer. So, it’s true? Gideon is getting married to another woman. With trembling hands, I took out the pregnancy test result from my pocket. Suddenly, a wave of weakness hit me, making me collapse to the ground, tears flowing like a fountain. If he’s marrying another woman, then what am I? What about the child inside me? Seven years of love, through thick and thin. All the vows Gideon made to me flooded my mind, overwhelming my body and soul. Finally, my body couldn’t bear the shock any longer and collapsed. Before my consciousness faded, I was still wondering. What did my seven years with him mean? Gideon returned at night, half an hour after I regained consciousness. I sat alone on the sofa, tightly clutching that pregnancy test result. He looked exhausted, smelling strongly of women’s perfume, with a glaring lipstick mark on his collar. Yet, even so, he still raised his eyebrows at me and said, “Yo, Adeline, what are you dazing about?” I looked up at him, that red on his collar becoming more glaring. Going to meet his fiancée, he had to clean off the scent of other women. But with me, he was completely indifferent. Thinking about this, I couldn’t help but tighten my grip on the pregnancy test result. Gideon saw I wasn’t speaking and casually smiled, then came over, hugged me like usual, and was about to kiss me. But in the next second, I slapped him across the face. The slap was loud, especially distinct in the quiet space. “Get out!” My tone was icy, hating his careless attitude toward our relationship. “Aren’t you going to explain the wedding photos?” I looked at him, a chill filling my heart. He was stunned for a moment, then put down his hand that was covering his face, not angry, just glanced at me, and finally said blandly, “Marriage for me is just a show, it won’t affect our relationship.” “Since you already know, I won’t hide it anymore. Tell me, what do you want? I’ll buy it for you.” I was heartbroken to the extreme but still held on strong. “Gideon, you know what I want.” His face darkened, losing that playboy demeanor, leaving only impatience and fatigue. “I can give you everything except a title.” He made himself sound so noble. I clutched the pregnancy test result, my lips trembling, asking for myself and the child one last time. “So, you want me to be your mistress?” — Gideon looked at me, his eyes rarely serious. We locked eyes, mine resolute. As long as he said no, the pregnancy test result in my hand would still appear in front of him. He touched his nose, lowered his head, seemingly thinking about something. My heart raced, staring at him intently, hope rising in my heart. But in the end, he disappointed me. He nodded and said, “Yes.” I let out a bitter laugh. What a clear answer from Gideon, just like that, denying our years of relationship, placing me in the position of a mistress. It was like seeing clearly for the first time the man I had invested years in. Seeing I didn’t react, he pulled me into his arms, helplessly persuading me as if he had no choice. “I’m just helping out at school here, my focus is still on the business world, and Lydia is my best match, equal in status. But marrying her won’t affect our relationship, I promise I’ll ensure you graduate from your master’s smoothly.” So, he thought I was with him just for my master’s degree? In his eyes, our relationship was just a transaction. I pushed him away, tears welling in my eyes, biting my lip to hold them back. “Since you only see benefits, then spend your life with your benefits. A person like you doesn’t deserve a family, much less a child!” I put the pregnancy test result behind me. I already had the answer in my heart—this child, he doesn’t deserve to know about. After hearing me out, he first looked at my hand behind me in confusion, then sneered, staring at me as if seeing through me. “Adeline, you’re right.” “Yeah, I don’t deserve a child, just like you don’t deserve to marry into a wealthy family, otherwise in three years…” Gideon’s eyes glanced at my belly, full of ridicule. “Why hasn’t there been any movement from your belly? Otherwise, even if your belly was a little competitive, the position of Gideon’s daughter-in-law wouldn’t go to someone else, and I wouldn’t have to marry a woman I don’t love…” While saying this, Gideon shrugged, the face I once liked for its carefree nature now full of helplessness. I instinctively retorted, “Who said my belly isn’t…” I stopped myself in time, biting my lip. I can’t let my child be seen as a bargaining chip. He stared at me, suddenly reaching out, grabbing behind me. “Been watching you hold something since you came in, let me see?” My heart jumped, I immediately stepped back two steps, not wanting Gideon to find the pregnancy test result. “Come on! Let me see!” But the more I avoided, the more curious Gideon became, directly following up, holding me with one hand, reaching for the pregnancy test result in my hand with the other. In the next second, the pregnancy test result was already in his hand. “Give it back, you don’t deserve…” I hurriedly reached out to snatch it back, my mind full of thoughts about how Gideon doesn’t deserve to be this child’s father, and I don’t want my child’s father to be him either. But how could I win against him? Just as Gideon raised his hand to avoid my grab, about to open that pregnancy test result, seeing the child he’d been longing for about to appear before him, Gideon’s phone vibrated first. He just glanced at the phone, then tossed the unopened pregnancy test result back to me. “Mysterious, don’t look if you don’t want to.” Seeing the pregnancy test result tossed to the ground, the words “pregnancy test” glaringly obvious, I quickly ran over to pick it up. But in the next second, Gideon’s foot was already on top of it. He handed me his phone. “Help me pick a nice wedding photo, it’ll be made into a poster for the wedding day.” “Take your time choosing, I trust your taste.” I squatted on the ground, looking up at him, tears inevitably falling. “So, you have to get married, right?” Even knowing the answer, I couldn’t help but ask. I bit my lip, staring at Gideon, hoping for a different answer from him. Gideon moved his foot, walked to the front door, and opened it. Outside, at some point, it had started raining heavily. He glanced back at me, his eyes unreadable. “Why ask the same question again?” The rain poured down harder, splashing on the ground. I then heard Gideon say, “My wedding is the day after tomorrow. The marriage alliance with the Su family is my best choice, also the best choice for Gideon’s family.” “Don’t worry, if you stay with me, I won’t treat you badly!” — “My wedding is the day after tomorrow!” “Stay with me, I won’t treat you badly!” Gideon stepped aside and walked to the front door, opening it swiftly. Outside, it had begun to rain heavily at some point. He glanced back at me, his eyes dark and inscrutable: “Why ask the same question again?” The rain came down harder, splashing onto the ground. Then I heard Gideon say, “My wedding is the day after tomorrow. This marriage alliance with Lydia’s family is the best choice for both me and Gideon’s family.” “Don’t worry, if you stay with me, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of!” Chapter 3 “My wedding is the day after tomorrow!” “If you stay with me, I’ll make sure you’re taken care of!” Gideon’s words echoed in my ears, leaving me in shock. After he finished speaking, Gideon left with large strides. I picked up the pregnancy test report, holding it tightly to my chest, unable to contain my emotions. Maybe I should have realized earlier that in the eyes of a true wealthy family’s heir, only interest matters. And I was merely a tool to satisfy his needs. I should have known. At that moment, I suddenly remembered when I first got together with Gideon, people envied me, saying I had caught the eye of Gideon’s family’s heir. Even if we couldn’t stay together, there’d be plenty of money. Back then, I said, “I like him for who he is, for his genuine feelings towards me, not for the money.” But now… I was wrong; there were no genuine feelings. Only blatant arrogance. Listening to the roar of his sports car as he left, I realized he wasn’t afraid of losing me. The next day, dragging my suitcase that I’d packed overnight, I was about to go to the hospital for an abortion when a strikingly beautiful woman knocked on my door. When the woman saw me, she smiled gracefully, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, “Hello, I’m Gideon’s fiancée—Adeline, the eldest daughter of the Su family.” I caught my breath. Adeline walked directly up to me, looking me over with a flash of jealousy and disdain in her eyes. “So, you’re Cora, Gideon’s companion for three years, aren’t you? You’re certainly very beautiful.” Companion… A wave of shame washed over me. But Adeline’s next words took my breath away. “I heard you ended up in bed with him within a month of meeting?” “As a fellow woman, let me give you some advice: the easier something is to get, the less a man cherishes it. Gideon and I are childhood sweethearts; he’s never crossed the line. He said he wants to save my first time for marriage…” Hearing this, I clenched my hand, my fingertips digging into my palm. I pretended to be calm: “Miss Su, thank you for your concern. However, you might be mistaken. Gideon and I are boyfriend and girlfriend. It’s mutual consent, so it’s normal for us to have a relationship.” Adeline was taken aback, clearly not expecting a poor student like me to be so composed in front of a rich young lady like her. I looked at her, with her eyebrows similar to mine, and continued: “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going. I have other things to attend to.” “Wait!” Adeline called after me, pulling out a bank card and a property deed from her bag and handing them to me. “Gideon is eager for a child after learning about his family’s genetic disorder. I didn’t want to rush into it, so he chose this path.” “I don’t blame him. As a woman, I understand you too. It’s rare to find a wealthy bachelor, so I discussed it with Gideon’s mother.” “This is the compensation given to me as Gideon’s family’s young mistress, so please accept it.” My heart ached terribly. Did everyone think from the beginning that Gideon approached me just to use me as a surrogate? I was about to argue with her when a wave of nausea hit me, and I covered my mouth, retching, my body convulsing in discomfort. Adeline looked surprised and asked, “Is she pregnant?” But then she sneered. With a naïve and disdainful tone, she looked at me with a superior attitude. “How could that be? If you really were pregnant, someone like you, trying to climb up, wouldn’t stay silent. After all, that’s your ticket into a wealthy family.” “Even if you can’t marry into one, the scraps from a wealthy family are enough for ordinary people like you to live on for a lifetime.” Adeline’s voice was soft and sweet, like countless soft needles piercing into my heart. It stirred up wave after wave of empathy. My eyelashes trembled. I reached into my pocket and touched the pregnancy test report. I really wanted to throw it in her smug face. But then I thought, what’s the point? If word got out about a love triangle, it would seem like I still cared about Gideon. I calmed myself and gently brushed away Adeline’s hand, “No need. Even if I’m poor, I know money should be earned with a clear conscience.” Ignoring Adeline’s furrowed brows and displeasure. I turned and closed the door, placing the villa key in her hand. “Also, here’s the key. Please return it to Gideon for me.” With that, I stepped directly into the downpour without hesitation. The rain drenched me instantly. Behind me, Adeline’s hysterical shouts rang out: “Stop pretending. Weren’t you with Gideon for money? Why play hard to get with me?” “You poor people are just parasites, the scum of society. You just want to be bloodsuckers, feeding off wealthy families.” “Cora, you can’t leave! Did I say you could go?” “Come back! I order you to come back!” I heard her words, but I didn’t argue or debate. Instead, I walked forward in the rain with determination. I thought this would end with a peaceful breakup with Gideon, but they weren’t planning to let me go. “Ivy League Tech University female graduate student climbs into her thesis advisor’s bed to marry into a wealthy family for a smooth graduation” became a trending topic. Photos of me and Gideon entwined in the lab were posted online. His face was completely obscured, while I was fully exposed. The dean called me into his office. “I know you’re dating Gideon, but this has caused too much of a stir. The university has decided to expel you.” Chapter Four After leaving the university, my mind was numb as I somehow made it onto a bus, returning to the home I hadn’t seen in a long time. When I arrived home, the door was splashed with paint, with the words “Mistress, go die” written in large letters. I took out my key to open the door, only to be grabbed by my perpetually drunk dad. “Where’s the money? The breakup money? Give it to me!” He started to feel around my body, ignoring gender boundaries, and I shoved him away. “No! There’s no money!” “Gideon and I were in love and broke up peacefully. I didn’t ask him for money!” “Nonsense!” Another slap landed on my face. My dad pointed at my nose, yelling, “Bullshit! What kind of bullshit love? The internet says you got millions in breakup money. You’re trying to fool me!” “If not for money, why climb into his bed?” He stormed into the bedroom and grabbed a whip. I instinctively trembled, memories of being abused as a child flashing before my eyes. The whoosh of the whip, the unending pleas of pain, the agony of lacerations from the whip, and the ultimate torment of him rubbing salt into the wounds, making me feel like I couldn’t live or die. “Dad, don’t…” Watching him approach with the whip, I frantically pulled out the pregnancy test report and knelt down. “Dad, you can’t hit me. I’m pregnant with Gideon’s child…” He finally halted, paused, then snatched the pregnancy test report, and after reading it, kicked me in the shoulder. “Shameless, just like your mother who ran away!” “I heard Gideon has a low sperm count. How could the child be his? Tell me, which other man have you been fooling around with?” The more he spoke, the more agitated he became, and the whip was about to come down. “Today, I’m going to beat this disgraceful brat to death!” I pushed him away and got up, grabbing a fruit knife from the coffee table and pressing it to my neck. The blade cut into my neck, drawing blood. Grievance and anger filled me, and my hand shook uncontrollably, making it hard to control the pressure. “Fine! You want money, right? If I die now, you won’t get a cent!” Finally, my dad calmed down. He squinted and asked, “Is it really Gideon’s?” At this point, I could only nod. Instantly, my dad’s mood shifted, and he was all smiles, wanting to drag me to find Gideon, saying I was now Gideon’s family’s young mistress. “Stop!” “What do you want to do now?” I pressed the knife harder, causing more blood to seep out. I bitterly curled my lips, “I’ll go alone. If you come with me, it’ll just be a scene. Only if I go and play the victim will I get more money.” Hearing that I could get more money, he let me go. But I had no intention of finding Gideon. I took out my phone, checked the tickets, and planned to head to a new place to start over. To completely leave this oppressive environment. But as I was looking at the tickets, I felt eyes on me like needles. When I looked up, I noticed people passing by were giving me strange looks. At that moment, my phone rang. I opened Gideon’s social media account and saw he had posted an electronic invitation to his wedding with Adeline. He had publicly acknowledged our past and casually said, “Please don’t cyberbully Cora. She just likes me too much.” A wave of nausea surged from my stomach. I covered my mouth, overwhelmed by sadness and anger. Gideon did this, pretending to stand up for me. But! As I stared at the ticket, it felt as though curious glances were pricking at me. When I looked up, I realized that passersby were giving me odd looks. Just then, my phone rang. I opened Gideon’s social media account and saw he had posted the digital invitation for his wedding with Lydia. He casually acknowledged our past, saying, “Please don’t target Miss Cora online, she’s just overly fond of me.” A wave of nausea surged up from my stomach. I covered my mouth, feeling both grief and anger. Gideon’s words seemed like he was defending me. But! Wasn’t he just confirming that I was the other woman? I wiped at my throat, feeling the sting of pain, unsure if it was from my heart or an actual wound. With a trembling hand, I uploaded years of chat logs, photos of us together, and the gifts he gave me onto social media. “I’m Cora from the mistress scandal, but I’m not the mistress. Gideon and Lydia know very well who the real one is.” “When I found out Gideon was getting married, I was devastated. I thought our seven-year relationship was finally going somewhere. But Gideon told me he couldn’t give me a title and wouldn’t break off his engagement with Lydia.” “He wanted me to pretend nothing happened, to remain his compliant lover, while he and Lydia conquered the business world together.” “I refused and broke up with him. But to get rid of me, they painted me as a scheming graduate student willing to do anything to graduate. And what about Gideon? Isn’t he responsible for deceiving his student?” As my emotions ran high, blood trickled from my neck. I posted everything about my years with Gideon and what Lydia said to me online. I want everyone to see his true character. Chapter 5 After everything was said and done, my phone screen was stained with blood, but I felt a sense of relief. Finally, it was all out in the open. As soon as the statement was released, it went viral, and the internet was flooded with news about James and Emily’s families.

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I am an heiress from a once-prominent family that has now fallen on hard times. The marriage contracts with my two childhood friends are my family’s last hope. Even when they told me bluntly that their true love is Cora, the impoverished student my family once supported, and that they’d rather become monks than be without her, I kept myself in denial. I was willing to do anything to help my family. Then I attended a masked auction they never allowed me to go to. The final item was my private video. Trembling, I raised my hand and offered the only million I had, begging the wealthy attendees not to publicly humiliate me. But they just laughed. “This video was from a live stream. It cost just a penny to watch back then and ran for three days and nights. Didn’t you see enough, or did you miss it?” “Hey, if you like Fiona so much, make sure to come next week. Declan and Gideon said they’ll auction off Fiona’s wedding night. Even if you don’t win, you can still enjoy the live stream!” Holding back tears, I texted my father, heartbroken. “Dad, I’m not marrying into Declan’s or Gideon’s families. I want to marry Asher.” He replied almost instantly. “Asher’s family’s young master has been in a coma for three years and hasn’t woken up. Even if it’s an arranged marriage, I want you to have someone who will love you for the rest of your life. Are you sure you want to choose him?” … Before I could reply to my dad, the auctioneer tapped the microphone. “It seems we have a new friend here who doesn’t know how our auction works. The final item is actually just a game prepared by Declan and Gideon. Starting price is one cent, with each bid also one cent, capping at ten dollars.” “Old rules, inspect before delivery.” With a mocking look, he inserted a USB drive into the computer, and the big screen showed my flushed face and the devastated flower bud. Various toys had ravaged it beyond recognition. The men in attendance whistled and laughed lewdly. I could only bite my lip hard, letting the enormous shame crush me. The familiar hand in the video… The auctioneer looked pleased with everyone’s reactions and announced loudly: “This was personally orchestrated by Gideon, with Declan live streaming it as a gift to everyone. Although Miss Fiona is no longer a virgin, she’s definitely the cleanest. The highlight of the next auction will be Miss Fiona’s wedding night. We hope everyone will show their support!” It wasn’t until the USB drive was handed to me that I came to my senses. My face behind the mask was already wet. I had been kidnapped for three days back then. When Theo and Jasper found me, they were rarely gentle, saying one of them would take responsibility no matter what happened. It was a promise to me and Fiona’s family. Back then, despite the pain of losing my virginity, I still had a glimmer of hope to reach their true hearts. But in the end, it was all a show they directed themselves. The auction ended, and everyone stood up, chatting and laughing as they walked out. “Fiona’s family may be down, but a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Besides, Fiona is a stunner. Those two big shots are willing, huh?” “Come on, Declan and Gideon’s families marrying anyone is charity! I heard they favor a commoner girl and pamper her to the heavens. Otherwise, how could we get such a deal?” “I really like Fiona’s beautiful legs. Let me have a chance at the next auction, brothers!” “I’ve prepared a billion for this. This time, I’m determined to win!” I covered my mask and practically ran out. I fled into an empty alley, collapsing as I smashed the USB drive to pieces with my high heel. My father, seeing I hadn’t replied for a long time, called. “You’re getting married next week. Are you sure about not considering Declan’s or Gideon’s families?” “After all, you grew up with them, and I feel more at ease. Asher is, after all, a coma patient…” I opened my mouth but my throat felt blocked, unable to utter a word. After a while, I chuckled self-deprecatingly. I held back my emotions. A coma patient is better; Asher will never know about my shameful past. “Dad, since it’s all arranged marriages, Asher’s family will be the greatest help to us. I’ve made up my mind, you don’t need to persuade me anymore.” Since it’s all about bargaining with the devil, might as well negotiate with the strongest one! Seeing my determination, my father could only agree, saying he would arrange a meeting with Asher’s family. I wiped away my tears, resolutely tossing the mask into the trash. I stood up to choose a greeting gift for my visit to Asher’s family. After much thought, I decided to go to the temple Asher’s family often visits, intending to pray for three days and get a consecrated sandalwood bracelet for Asher. While I was focused on copying scriptures in the meditation room, a water bottle suddenly flew and hit my head.

It knocked the bracelet off the table. I held back my anger and turned around. There stood Theo, glaring coldly at me. “I’ve told you a thousand times, Cora might have been sponsored by your family for a few years, but she’s not your servant!” I immediately retorted with a cold face. “What did I do?” I hurriedly squatted to pick up the bracelet, but Jasper stepped on it along with my hand. “You made her work-study, taking up her valuable time, first ordering her to clean all your hundred pairs of shoes, and then making her help you copy scriptures. How dare you ask?” I cried out in pain, “I haven’t even seen her in the past two days. What nonsense are you talking about?” I tried to pull my hand away, but Jasper pressed down harder. His face was cold, and his eyes were filled with disappointment. “Theo, did you hear that? I told you, a vicious woman like Fiona would never admit it! You didn’t believe me.” Theo snorted coldly and brought Adeline out from the adjoining meditation room. Adeline’s face was still streaked with tears, and upon seeing me, her tears started falling again. She hesitantly tried to hide her hands in her sleeves. “Theo, Jasper, don’t blame the young lady. Cleaning her shoes and copying scriptures is my duty! Without the young lady’s generosity, I might never have touched a piano in my life. These are my debts to Fiona’s family!” Theo gently held her hands, soaked and bloodied from soap water, in his palms with pity. Then he shot a sharp glance at me. “For the little money your family sponsored, you expect Cora to be your slave for life?” “If I marry you to revive Fiona’s family, does that mean your family should be my slaves for generations?” I was numb to the injustice by now, a self-deprecating smile tugging at my lips. Over the years, Adeline had placed countless blames on me. She said I forced her to date a thug, threatened her with living expenses to serve me on her knees, and accused her of seducing the teacher out of jealousy for her piano talent… Such lowly tactics, yet they always worked. Adeline pretended to be strong as she wiped her tears and lightly tugged at Theo and Jasper’s sleeves, speaking on my behalf. “Don’t be angry, I’m already content with how things are now!” “It’s just that I really don’t have time to work outside, so I can’t buy good birthday gifts for the two of you. This is an extra scripture I copied in exchange for these at the temple.” She pulled out two wooden bracelets from her pocket and bravely placed them in Theo and Jasper’s hands. “They’re not as valuable as the young lady’s gift, but they’re a token of my appreciation for the care you’ve given me.” After saying that, she seemed to remember something, trembling and shrinking into Jasper’s embrace. “This is just something cheap, I absolutely don’t mean to compete with the young lady for Theo and Jasper’s affection! Please don’t misunderstand!” Jasper held her gently, comforting her, and carefully put on the bracelet as if it were a treasure. Theo caught a glimpse and teased, “Speaking of gifts, our birthdays are on the same day. We’re both about to marry Fiona, and she only prepared one bracelet. Looks like whoever she gives it to is who she’ll marry.” “Didn’t you say you’d become a monk if you married her? The temple gift won’t actually be for you, right?” The two tossed the marriage contract between them like a ball. I picked up my things with a cold face and walked away. Seeing I didn’t react with the expected blush or argue, they were both a bit surprised. Theo, unwilling to let it go, followed and grabbed the bracelet, looking as if he was making a noble sacrifice. “Fiona, stop tormenting Cora. I’ll accept it and marry you next week.” “But let me be clear, even if I marry you, Cora will still be the one I love most. Don’t ever think you deserve any different!” With that, he was about to put it on his wrist. I reached out desperately to grab it back, and my nails left a long red scratch on Theo’s arm. “This isn’t for you! Give it back!”

Theo scowled and shoved me hard. “You’ve really crossed the line this time. Don’t act like you’re something special!” “If it weren’t for that unfortunate arranged marriage from our childhood, we wouldn’t even give you a second glance!” Jasper’s expression was one of utter disgust, as if he had tasted something revolting. “The Declan’s family is willing to accept you, and that’s already generous. Don’t make me sick.” I fell to the ground, humiliated. Having my childhood friends treat me this way brought tears to my eyes. But this time, I refused to endure it any longer. I finally voiced my first words of defiance in years. “If not to you, then does it have to be him?” “I’m Fiona, not some trash waiting for you two to pick up!” Cora’s shoulders trembled as she tried to appear righteous. “Miss, who else do you want to give yourself to? Have you found someone new outside? Can you really do this to Theo and Jasper? Even I can see how good they are to you, you’re just going too far!” “If I were loved by two such outstanding men, I’d cherish it and not look at a third person—” I stood up, filled with anger, and interrupted her. “When did it become your place to lecture me?” I pulled open her loose collar, revealing the scattered red marks underneath. “You must be dreaming of marrying them, thinking that by getting into their bed, they’ll actually marry you? Living in my house for a few years and you’ve forgotten where you came from? Wake up, marrying into a wealthy family requires background too!” Adeline screamed, covering her clothes as tears immediately poured out. The two who had been watching the drama instantly changed their expressions. Jasper shielded her behind him, and Theo stepped forward, delivering a heavy slap to my face. I was knocked to the ground. He looked down at me, then patted my reddened cheek. “Where do you get the confidence to look down on Cora? Have you forgotten that not only did your family fall into decline, making you a second-generation failure, but you were also kidnapped for three days and lost your dignity?” “We didn’t hold it against you, that’s already saving you face. What right do you have to speak against Cora?” “Apologize!” With red eyes, I stubbornly lifted my head. “Why? Do you think I don’t know what happened during those three days?” But before I could finish, Jasper grabbed my hair and slammed my head against the ground repeatedly. He spoke each word forcefully: “We’re all girls here. What’s your intention in humiliating her like this?” I felt a warm flow on my forehead, and my vision turned crimson. Frightened, Adeline cried and hugged his arm. “Don’t do this for me, let’s go. If the Miss complains to Grandpa Gideon, you’ll get scolded again.” He clicked his tongue and finally let go. “Don’t think this is over!” After they left, I sat on the ground, dazed. It took a while to regain my senses and crawl back to the table to continue copying scriptures. I needed to copy without interruption for seventy-two hours to be sincere. I quietly copied for another day, and the whispers outside grew louder. “Hey, look, isn’t this her on the internet?” “Shameless! Looks decent ordinarily, but who knew she’d be into such wild stuff.” “Rich people have all sorts of quirks, maybe she’s addicted to that stuff, probably a public transport!” I forced myself to calm down, finishing the last copy of the Heart Sutra before checking my phone. Only then did I realize the video from the auction had been turned into photos and was all over the internet. Shortly after, Adeline sent several messages. [Don’t think marrying into the Declan’s family means you can overlook me, it’s just a useless red book. Even ancient emperors’ concubines spent their lives in cold palaces, let alone someone like you who’s only wanted because of a contract!] [Theo and Jasper love me, I won’t let you have either of them!] [Just a few tears from me and Theo and Jasper will teach you a lesson. Do you still think you’re some high and mighty Miss?] I stared at the latest trending topic, completely disheartened. [In a week, an explosive full video of a fallen two-word heiress from the capital circle will be released for free!]

Everyone around held their phones, pointing at me. Ridiculing eyes smothered me, I kept my head down, forcing myself to walk out. Just outside the temple, my father’s call came through. Hearing Dad’s voice, I couldn’t hold back my tears. “Dad, I didn’t… it was Theo and Jasper, what… what should I do!” Dad sighed deeply. “Have you finished copying the scriptures? Dad’s waiting at the foot of the mountain, don’t worry.” I ran down the mountain crying, opened the car door, and escaped inside. Only then did I see a dignified woman sitting in the back seat. “Fiona, I’m Asher’s mom, you can call me Auntie Asher.” Meeting Asher’s family for the first time, and my scandal was everywhere, tears froze on my face. She noticed my concern and comforted me. “I’ve already sent people to handle it, you’re the victim here. We’ve checked everything, don’t worry.” “Good child, let me take you to meet my son.” After staying with Asher’s family for a few days, the online trending topics were completely removed. I sat on the bed, phone buzzing incessantly. Theo’s voice was as piercing as the ringtone. “You’re quite capable, getting the Declan’s family’s trending topics removed. Few in the capital circle can do that. Did you stoop so low to seduce an old man?” “No wonder you’re into those Buddhist bead bracelets, only old men like that stuff. Fiona, calling you a bitch is actually treating you with respect now?” I didn’t respond, which made him think I knew something, and he stammered through explanations. Realizing I was still silent, Theo resignedly softened his tone. “Alright, I did release the photos, but you humiliated Cora before. I had to vent her anger.” “Jasper, don’t you agree?” A grunt came through on the line. “Yeah, Theo and I forgive you.” Theo took over the phone. “We both made mistakes in this. Can we each take a step back? The wedding on Sunday is all set. I’ll pick you up in the afternoon for the auction and get you some jewelry as a wedding gift.” “I’ll try to live well with you from now on, as long as you’re more accommodating to Cora, I’ll be good to you.” … In the evening, as they wished, I wore a gown to the auction. Everyone wore masks, making it hard to recognize each other. Only a woman in a butterfly mask was looking around. Clearly, it was Adeline. I snickered and turned away. The auction proceeded in an orderly fashion, the atmosphere growing more heated. Until the auctioneer called for the last time, bringing the scene to a boil. “Public humiliation!” “Add ten million, snatch the public humiliation!” “I’ll add too!” The wealthy raised their paddles as if they cost nothing. I watched their bidding with cold eyes. Finally, a pot-bellied middle-aged man won my wedding night for a billion. Theo and Jasper personally handed over a black and gold invitation. Theo’s hand gripped the invitation tightly, scanning the auction seats for a few seconds before reluctantly letting go. “After tomorrow’s wedding, with this invitation, someone will guide you to the room.” “Fiona’s wedding night is yours.” Suddenly, a solitary applause echoed. A gentle yet slightly cold voice resonated in the venue. “As expected of the famous Declan and Gideon families of the capital circle, jointly hosting a private auction. The auction items are indeed weighty.” The voice came from right beside me. The man slowly stood up, removed his mask, revealing an overly pale and sharply defined face. “I’m Asher, and Fiona’s wedding night being contracted out is news to me.” 5 The room fell silent immediately. I removed my mask and stood next to Asher. Theo’s face darkened as he ignored me and sneered. “Fiona, you’re lying without any preparation. Of all the people to impersonate, you chose a coma patient who’s been bedridden for three years?”

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That summer when I was 18, I found Tyler barely alive in a dirty alley. Twenty years later, in another summer, he wanted a divorce, abandoning me and our 12-year-old daughter. His idealized first love, Rachel, clung to his arm with a triumphant smile: “See? After all these years, he still chooses me without hesitation.” Heartbroken and disillusioned, I finally agreed to the divorce. I burned my wedding dress and threw away the ring he had chosen for me. I wished him and Rachel eternal happiness and true love. But later, he pinned me against the wall, our breaths intermingling, his eyes filled with regret as he said he had made a mistake. Many people said I, Lily, was lucky and blessed. I was an orphan who ended up with a good life and a great husband. My husband, Tyler, was considered by everyone to be an excellent man. As for me, I was just a barbecue stand owner, always smelling of smoke and grease. I was truly punching above my weight. I used to think I had hit the jackpot too. I remember that year when I was 18. My grandfather and I were closing up shop and heading home when we found a half-dead man in a filthy alley while taking out the trash. Grandpa, being kind-hearted, helped me bring him back home. The man had a gentle demeanor, his every gesture showing he wasn’t from our working-class background. But he had nowhere else to go. Later I found out he was actually the young master of the Tang family. His family had gone bankrupt, and he was being hunted by rivals. He had barely escaped to our neighborhood, where I happened to find him. Love often starts unexpectedly and grows deep. We let him stay, and mutual feelings developed between us. We got married and had a daughter, as if it was meant to be. I’m 38 now, no longer with the graceful figure and pretty face of my youth. He, on the other hand, has become more mature and charming. What comforts me is that I wasn’t wrong about him – he’s still as good to me as ever. Everyone says I have good judgment and luck, but only I know he has an idealized first love he could never have. One night, I heard him moaning in his sleep, his brows furrowed, his expression panicked. “Rachel, don’t leave me. I promise I’ll marry you…” My hand froze as I was about to cover him with a blanket. I immediately went online to search for that name. Rachel, the youngest daughter of the Ruan family, now a big celebrity. Beautiful and passionate, she was Tyler’s childhood sweetheart before the Tang family went bankrupt. When I came back to my senses, tears were already falling down my face. That year, our daughter was 3 years old. Daily chores had already left fine lines on my face. I gritted my teeth, struggling internally, but life had to go on. Perhaps their feelings had faded with time, just a lingering obsession from their youth. I tried to comfort myself. If only I hadn’t seen his unsent letters.

Grandpa was getting old, so I took over his barbecue business. In recent years, it’s been growing steadily, as if blessed by good fortune. With Tyler’s help, I used my savings to buy a storefront. Tyler would come help out when he had time. He started a small company, getting back into his old line of work, showing signs of making a comeback. One day I finished work early and returned home, unexpectedly seeing an unsealed envelope on his desk. The words inside were full of love for Rachel, the humble tone making my heart ache. “My beloved Rachel: How are you? I have so much I want to tell you, only words can express my love. Lately, I often fantasize about chasing the sunrise with you. I dreamed of that summer years ago…” “Just thinking of your name makes my heart surge like a tidal wave. My body may have been defiled, but my heart has always remained pure for you…” “I will definitely succeed, Rachel. Wait for me.” My heart felt like it was being squeezed, so sour I could barely breathe. Sorrow welled up, tears hanging at the corners of my eyes. I remembered when Luna had just started elementary school. She came home saying her language teacher had written many poems and love letters for her husband, and they were very loving. I looked at Tyler expectantly, but he just held me in his arms, saying our love didn’t need flowery words to decorate it. As long as I could see his true heart, that was enough. But now, the hundreds of envelopes in this study felt like slaps to my face. So it turns out Rachel was worth it, and I wasn’t. My legs went weak, and I slid down against the desk. Luna heard the noise and came to find me in the study, throwing herself into my arms: “Mom, what’s wrong?” “Mom, don’t cry. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have played on my phone in secret.” Luna had grown taller, her eyes looking just like her father’s. Luna wasn’t wrong. I was the one who was wrong. I was wrong to hold onto false hope, thinking I could keep him. I was wrong to overestimate myself. It turns out all these years of love were fake. So what were Luna and I to him?

I was silent for a long time. Tyler acted the same as before, coming to help at the store when I was busy. People who saw him would envy me, saying how lucky I was. In the past, I would have been overjoyed, happy for a long time. But now when I heard those words, they just sounded grating. One day he sent me a message saying a friend wanted to discuss using my store as a filming location. Unlike his usual one-word replies, his message seemed very excited. Before I could refuse, I saw a woman enter the store at night, surrounded by an entourage. She was dressed low-key but couldn’t hide her air of nobility. Afraid of being recognized, she wore a mask and hat, and brought several assistants and bodyguards. She covered her nose in disgust, looked around, and zeroed in on me. Then she carefully walked over. “It’s so dirty. My shoes have wool soles. One pair could buy your whole store.” I looked down at the floor. I had just finished cleaning, but they had tracked dirt in again. “So you’re Lily.” She looked me up and down, the contempt and disdain clear in her eyes. She only needed to give a look, and her assistant understood, handing me a contract and explaining their purpose. “I don’t agree.” “Didn’t Tyler tell you? Don’t be ungrateful!” She seemed surprised I would refuse her, giving me a disdainful look. My refusal didn’t matter anyway. Tyler had put up more than half the money for this barbecue restaurant. I knew I couldn’t refuse, but my heart was heavy, a bitter taste in my mouth. When we got married, Tyler promised me that I was his lifesaver, that he would never let me down or force me to do anything, that he would always stand by my side, and even… love me forever. Now I no longer dared hope for his love, but I still remembered his promises. Now he had agreed on my behalf, sending me a message telling me to be good and listen. He said this was a chance to make big money. How could I not know that? I tried to act like the lady of the house, but now it just seemed ridiculous. I was supposed to be Tyler’s wife. The assistant was already pressuring me to sign. I could only give in. The group came in a grand procession and left the same way. As they were leaving, I heard someone say: “What a dump. Poor Rachel having to film here.” It was actually very clean. I looked at the new footprints they had left, raising my hand to wipe away the tears on my face.

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On our tenth wedding anniversary, my husband, who has hearing difficulties, disappeared for the entire morning. I thought he was planning a surprise, so I cheerfully headed to the hotel where we were supposed to meet. But instead of a surprise, I was met with his guilty admission: “I’m sorry, I cheated.” My mind went blank, and the crimson stain on the sheets seemed to burn into my eyes. Gideon, looking devastated, held his head in his hands, “Adeline, it was an accident. We were both drunk.” His friend, Nora, was clutching the blanket, sobbing, “I’m not a virgin anymore. How will I ever get married now…” Gideon was silent for a moment, then said, “I’m sorry, I’ll take responsibility.” I held back my tears, “And what about me?” Gideon couldn’t find the words. I let out a bitter laugh, tears flowing, “Let’s get a divorce.” “No, I won’t divorce you, not even if I die.” Gideon’s eyes turned red as he removed his hearing aid, refusing to talk to me. I watched him in despair. My phone buzzed with a message from my ex-boyfriend: [Adeline, please don’t be mad at me anymore, okay?] …… “Ms. Harper, I won’t destroy someone else’s marriage.” Nora said stubbornly, tears threatening to fall from her eyes. “Don’t worry, I won’t ask Gideon to take responsibility.” She sniffled, “I won’t be a homewrecker either!” Nora stumbled as she got up. Gideon tried to help her, but she dodged him. She got dressed, wiped her tears, and with red-rimmed eyes, glanced at Gideon before grabbing her bag and rushing out. My nails dug into my palms. Gideon hurriedly dressed, put on his hearing aid, and brushed past me as he chased after her. I collapsed onto the bed. A moment later, Gideon returned, looking devastated. Seeing me, he frowned disapprovingly, “How could you do this to Nora? She’s innocent.” I widened my eyes in disbelief. Gideon frowned, “Isn’t she?” I clutched my phone, turning my tearful face away, my voice choked, “And I’m not innocent?” Gideon was silent. He scratched his head in frustration, “We were just having drinks with a client, I didn’t expect things to turn out this way…” “Nora is a virgin… I have to take responsibility for her.” Gideon’s head hung lower and lower. I wore a sarcastic smile. “Then should I find my ex to take responsibility for me?” Gideon was at a loss for words, “That’s not what I meant.” I laughed, tears blurring my vision, “You still care that I’m not a virgin.” Gideon panicked, “No, I don’t! You know how much I love you.” “But you slept with someone else and want to take responsibility for her.” Gideon’s voice trembled, “But I don’t love her!” “It was a mistake after drinking. Can’t you forgive me just this once for the sake of our thirteen years together?” Gideon knelt in front of me, trembling as he held my hand. I lowered my head, hiding the tears about to fall. “I promise I won’t sleep with other women again, and I won’t drink, but…” He lowered his head, “This is my fault, I have to take responsibility for Nora.” I pulled my hand away from Gideon and looked into his eyes. “How do you plan to take responsibility? Be with her?” Gideon didn’t respond. I took it as his consent. “Let’s get a divorce.” Gideon bit his lip, avoiding my gaze. “Nora’s not in a good state, I need to find her.” “Wait for me… I’ll handle this, but I won’t divorce you.” “I only love you.” Gideon stood up and hurried out. I held my head in despair, tears streaming down uncontrollably. A new message popped up on my phone. [I won’t talk bad about Gideon anymore. I can apologize to him in person for what happened before.] [Don’t ignore me, I’ve been sidelined for thirteen years. I’m begging you…] I replied with trembling hands. [I want to go home.] He replied instantly: [I’m coming to get you now, wait for me.]

Back at the home I shared with Gideon, I looked around the small, damp room. For the first time, I realized how much hardship I endured for a man, having grown up with wealth and privilege. To be with him, I left home and moved thousands of miles away to Seattle. Here, I had no friends or family, only Gideon. But he… Wiping the tears from the corners of my eyes, I went to the bedroom to pack my bags. My elbow accidentally bumped Gideon’s mouse. The computer screen lit up, revealing his SnapChat chat box. It was his chat with Nora. I squinted, mechanically scrolling through the messages. The more I read, the colder my heart grew. [Brother Gideon, want to go out for drinks tonight?] [Is Adeline upset again? Women are like that, they like to throw little tantrums. Just coax her.] [My stockings tore, can you buy me a pair downstairs? Don’t overthink it, I see you as a brother.] [The coffee you had was nice, save the rest for me. I got you a milk tea and left it on your desk.] … After reading the chat, I was filled with anger, my body swaying. I barely steadied myself by holding onto the desk, my nails digging into the wood. Tears splashed onto the desk, creating little water droplets. Memories of Gideon’s proposal replayed in my mind. He’d knelt before me with a huge bouquet of red roses, solemnly swearing, “From now on, I only love Adeline Harper.” “I won’t let Adeline Harper suffer any grievance or shed a single tear.” “Heaven and earth as witness, I have no divided loyalties.” He broke his promise. I bit my lower lip hard, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth. The wedding photo on the wall suddenly fell with a loud crash. I walked over and picked it up, my fingers tracing the photo. When we first got married, we were tight on money, only getting the marriage certificate without a wedding. Later, when things got a bit better, Gideon spent a month’s salary to take wedding photos with me. In the photo, Gideon was holding me with eyes full of love, his lips pressed against my forehead. It was all so ironic. Numbly, I picked up scissors and cut the photo into pieces, tossing them into the trash. I heard a sound from the entrance; Gideon had returned. Seeing me at home, Gideon pressed his lips into a thin line. “Nora is missing.” “Mm,” I responded. He frowned, “Why are you acting like this?” My eyelashes trembled, “How should I act, then?” Gideon closed his eyes, took a deep breath. When he opened them, they were filled with disappointment. “Adeline Harper, you feel like a stranger to me.” “The old you was kind and forgiving, always helping those in need. But now, what have you become…” I interrupted, clenching my fingers, “As you said, that was before.” “I’ve changed, okay?” The living room fell into silence. I threw our marriage certificate in front of him, calmly meeting his eyes, “Let’s go get a divorce now.” Gideon seemed exasperated, “How many times do I have to say it? I’m not divorcing you.” “How can you give up on our thirteen years together so easily!” I slapped him, my eyes red and voice choked, “You were the one who gave up first.” His hearing aid fell to the floor. Gideon stood there, dumbfounded, covering his face, speechless for a long time. He silently bent down, picked up the hearing aid, and put it back on. Ignoring my resistance, he pulled me into his arms, “I’m really in a tough spot. Please, understand me, honey.” Pain spread in my chest, and I wanted to push him away, but my body felt too heavy to lift my hand. “Nora is young and fragile. It’s easy for her to spiral in this situation…” “I’ll stay with her for now, until she’s in a better place.” “Could you keep your distance from her in the future?” I was so shocked that I couldn’t speak. An abrupt phone ringing interrupted us. Gideon looked puzzled as he took out his phone and answered it. The next second, his pupils shrank, “What did you say?!”

Nora was in a car accident. Gideon hurried me to the hospital. Just before entering the room, he gave me a serious look and said, “You should apologize to Nora later. ” I furrowed my brows, “I haven’t done anything wrong, why should I apologize?” Gideon, looking worn out, replied, “If you hadn’t upset Nora, she wouldn’t have gotten into an accident.” I let out a bitter laugh. Inside the room, Nora whimpered in pain and weakly called out to us, “Gideon, Adeline, please don’t argue because of me.” “It doesn’t matter what happens to me, as long as it doesn’t affect your relationship.” Gideon forcefully pulled me in, “Apologize to Nora now.” A sharp pain hit my arm as I shook off Gideon’s grip. “It was you two who slept together. What did I do wrong? Why should I apologize?” Nora’s face turned ghostly pale, and she began to shake as she cried. “I’ve lost my honor…” “My parents will be furious, and I’ll never find someone to marry…” Gideon glared at me, “Adeline!” “Without my honor, I might as well be dead.” Nora’s eyes were vacant as she tried to get out of bed. Gideon quickly held her close, stopping her from moving. Nora buried her face in Gideon’s chest, clutching his shirt, sobbing uncontrollably. “Leave me alone. I don’t need your help.” “Just let me die. What’s the point of living?” Gideon gently patted her head, “I’ll take responsibility, trust me.” My vision blurred, and a deep pain filled my abdomen. “Gideon!” His back stiffened, and he removed his hearing aid. Nora, breathless from crying, wrapped her arms around his waist. I couldn’t bear to watch any longer. Clutching my aching heart, I left with heavy steps. By the time I arrived home, it was dark. I sat on the couch, my head throbbing. My tears had dried, and my throat was too hoarse to speak. Gideon called me. After picking up, there was a long silence on the line. Finally, he spoke with a raspy voice, “I’m sorry for losing my temper earlier.” “I’ll be home soon. I got you a gift; let’s discuss things then.” “Please don’t treat Nora like that again. She’s the victim here.” “Apologize to her properly tomorrow and try not to see her anymore.” I clutched the phone tightly and struggled to ask, “Do you remember what today is?” Silence fell on the other end again. “We’ll talk when I get home.” The call ended. I slid to the floor, feeling utterly defeated. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed something under the couch. Instinctively, I reached for it. It was a file folder with the Gideon Corporation logo on it. Gideon Corporation had made waves in recent years, and rumor had it their boss, like Gideon, was hearing impaired. I turned the folder over, and Gideon’s name was written on the back. I frowned and opened it, revealing a thick stack of bidding documents. Flipping through them, my face turned ashen. Desperate for confirmation, I took out my phone and searched for the CEO of Gideon Corporation. The webpage revealed nothing. Suddenly, an idea struck me, and I opened Nora’s SnapChat moments. [March 25] [A cure-all, thanks to a certain anonymous good brother.] The picture showed her with the latest luxury bag. I zoomed in, recognizing a familiar hand in the bottom right corner, missing its wedding ring. My fingers trembled as I continued scrolling. [March 1] [The necklace matches my outfit today, thanks to Mr. Gideon’s care for his little assistant.] The picture showed her in a white dress, wearing a pink diamond necklace. Mr. Gideon, little assistant. The realization hit me hard. I had once told Gideon how much I liked that necklace’s design, but its 5.2 million price tag was astronomical to me. Gideon had joked about buying it for me when he could afford it. But now, it was around Nora’s neck.

In my memory, Gideon was an orphan, so poor that he relied on student loans and part-time jobs to get through college. When he started college, he only had an old phone, and his meals were just plain buns. He couldn’t afford a hearing aid, struggled to communicate, and was often alone. As class president, I felt sorry for him and bought him his first hearing aid. After graduation, even with a job, Gideon was still broke. He was so poor that my parents didn’t want me to marry him. But I went ahead and got the marriage certificate without asking my family for a cent. The new hearing aid he wears now was also bought by me. Yet, according to the timeline of Gideon Corporation’s founding, Gideon had money a year after graduation. But he still pretended to be poor, unwilling to spend on our wedding. The house we lived in was rented. Thinking back, Gideon always had excuses to ask for money, and my salary went towards our household and him. I never saw his earnings. My heart twisted painfully as I clutched my shirt, cold sweat trickling down my forehead, feeling suffocated. I grabbed a plastic bag and breathed deeply into it to avoid passing out. Gideon called me just then. “Adeline, I can’t come back right now. Nora is threatening suicide, I have to stay with her.” Ignoring what he said, my survival instinct kicked in, “Gideon, I’m struggling. Please come back.” Gideon sounded exhausted, “Adeline, stop pretending.” “Nora’s situation is truly dangerous. If I don’t go, she might harm herself.” “Stop causing trouble, okay? I’ll come to you after I deal with this.” He hung up before I could respond. I looked at my phone screen in despair. A message from my ex-boyfriend popped up: [Adeline, I’m almost there.] Regaining some composure, I forced myself to stand. I found Gideon’s bank card from a cabinet and opened the balance inquiry on the computer. With trembling fingers, I entered the password. Due to my nerves, I made several mistakes. When I finally unlocked it, I was stunned. The long string of zeros in the bank account made my ten-year marriage seem like a joke. My legs gave way, and I collapsed on the floor. Tears blurred my vision. Thirteen years together… Gideon had been lying to me all along. I bit my lip hard and climbed up from the floor. I operated the computer and transferred half of Gideon’s money. A new message popped up on my phone: [Adeline, I’m here.] Stumbling, I staggered to the balcony. There stood Asher, my childhood friend, in a black suit under the streetlight, his car parked nearby. Thirteen years apart, he had matured a lot, with a touch of melancholy in his eyes, no longer the sunny boy he once was. Perhaps sensing my gaze, he suddenly looked up, and our eyes met. Driving all the way here, Asher’s eyes were bloodshot. In an instant, my nose tingled, and tears started falling again. Asher, a bit flustered, quickly came upstairs. I opened the door and fell into a warm embrace. Asher held me tightly. The accumulated grievances finally couldn’t be held back anymore. Asher gently patted my back, his voice hoarse as he comforted me, “I’m here, don’t cry.” “No matter what happens, I’m here for you.” 5 Watching Asher running around, helping me with my luggage, I nervously gripped my clothes. “Thank you, Asher.” Asher paused for a moment. “It’s nothing.” Once inside the car, Asher buckled my seatbelt and handed me a small cake. “Here, have this to tide you over.”

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It’s common knowledge that Theo, the powerful figure in East City, has been deeply in love with me for eight years and proposed 99 times. Touched by his devotion, I was willing to give up my adventurous career and return from Iceland to the cozy and peaceful East City. But in the third year of our marriage, Theo brought home a pregnant woman. That’s when I discovered that while he was planning to propose, he had also found someone to fill my place in his absence. “Fiona, I know you still dream of exploring and don’t want children. I’ll give you your freedom.” “Keep the child, and once they’re born, you’ll be their mom.” I looked at him quietly, my eyes betraying a smile through tears. “Are you really giving me freedom, or is it that Theo’s family can’t be without an heir?” “Or is it you, Theo, who, despite claiming to love me the most, have been unfaithful time and again?” I glanced at the face next to him, all too familiar, feeling a churn in my stomach. “Theo, is this what you call love?” The man kneeling on the ground froze. Theo lifted his head, his eyes full of agonized affection. “Fiona, it’s my fault. Those times you kept rejecting me, I felt frustrated and lost, and that’s why I acted so foolishly…” “After marriage, we had agreed on our relationship! This accident happened because I was drunk and ran into Lydia. She looks so much like you…” I forced a smile on my stiff face. “So you just went along with it, waiting eight months until her belly was too big for an abortion before telling me, leaving me no choice but to accept it?” Theo was at a loss for words, but Lydia started crying first. “Sister Fiona, don’t blame Theo. I kept it a secret; he didn’t know.” “If you want to punish someone, I’ll take it. I’ll make it up to you!” She was about to kneel but was stopped. Theo, with a stern face, scolded her: “With such a big belly, be more careful. Do you want to intentionally harm the child and let people think Fiona’s being hard on you, being cold-hearted?” “Stand aside!” He turned to me gently: “Fiona, I know you’re kind and wouldn’t want to make things hard for a pregnant woman, so I’ll handle her for you.” I just found it incredibly laughable. Did he really think I couldn’t see this was to protect Lydia? I watched as his eyes revealed tension and worry, something even Theo himself hadn’t noticed—replacing the pure love that once was. My heart felt like it was pressed hard into spicy liquor, suffocating and choking. I closed my eyes, trying to steady the tremor in my voice. “What if I say, I don’t accept this child?” Theo’s brow furrowed, his usually gentle and composed face full of conflict and pain. “Fiona, you know how much I love you. No matter what happens, your place in my heart won’t change.” “I can promise, once the child is born, Lydia will be sent abroad, and you’ll never see her again, and the child will only acknowledge you…” Theo said a lot, but never mentioned getting rid of the child or sending them away. Yes, I know Theo loves me. But if I forgive this time, this child will become a thorn in my heart. Constantly reminding me of betrayal. I steadied my gaze. Just as I was about to speak, Lydia suddenly cried out: “Ah, my stomach hurts!” “Theo, what should I do? Am I going into labor?” Theo’s face changed, and without hesitation, stood up, holding Lydia. “Fiona, I need to take her to the hospital. I’ll explain when I get back!” But I clearly saw the mockery on Lydia’s face, not a hint of pain. I bit my lip. “Theo, don’t go.” He paused. “If you leave now, don’t ever…” “Sorry Fiona! I’ll send her to the hospital and be right back… in ten minutes…” The door slammed shut with a loud thud as the man rushed out, leaving the room empty. I slowly slid to the ground. Suddenly, I received a text. It was a photo of two hands placed over a pregnant belly, with the message: “A family together, who really is the outsider?”

I gasped for breath. The tears I held back finally burst forth uncontrollably. I clutched my phone tightly. Before I could gather my thoughts, another call came through. It was Theo’s mother. “Fiona, I heard about the child.” “You’re upset, but think about it. You’ve been married to Theo for three years without a child. If you can’t have one, you can’t stop others, right?” “Don’t get mad at my harsh words—having this child benefits you, doesn’t it? You get a child without giving birth, isn’t that great…” Theo’s mother always had a lot to say about me and didn’t miss the chance to lecture. I suddenly felt calm. “You think it’s a good thing?” “If you’re so open-minded, was Theo also brought back by Father-in-law?” As expected, the other end erupted in curses. “…When my son was smitten by you, I knew you were the biggest trouble of his life!” I hung up. Theo’s mother’s last words lingered in my ears. I’m Theo’s trouble? But isn’t he also mine? Theo fell in love with me at first sight in college and pursued me relentlessly. Even after being rejected repeatedly, he never gave up. After college, I joined the World Expedition Team and flew to the North Pole, but he followed closely, persistently declaring his love. His 99 meticulously planned proposal videos are still widely circulated online. My heart wasn’t made of stone, and his persistence eventually moved me. I gave up my dreams for true love. But having been used to the freedom of wandering, trying to adapt to a stable life was difficult. I always suppressed the restlessness of being confined. Now, the pure love that initially moved me is gone. Everything around me was silent. A thought grew clearer in my mind. … I never waited for Theo to come home, only a call of complaint. “Fiona, Mom said you scolded her… Please understand, she just wants a grandchild.” Suddenly, I heard a woman’s playful voice on the other end. Theo’s voice abruptly stopped. Listening to the sounds of him covering the phone, I sighed and softly said: “Theo, let’s divorce.” As expected, he disagreed and started sweet-talking. But I’d heard enough meaningless apologies. I hung up decisively and quickly packed my things. Besides the essentials, I could leave everything else and buy them again. Perhaps my past exploration experiences influenced my mindset—being decisive is crucial. And a failed relationship is the same. I knew Theo was still at the hospital. The nearest hospital was at least half an hour away. He couldn’t make it in time. —But I underestimated Theo’s madness. When I saw the steady Cayenne behind me speeding up, almost blowing the tires, my heart skipped a beat. Theo’s car looked like it had been in a collision, but he still recklessly accelerated. Fearing an accident, I reluctantly stopped the car. “Theo, what do you want?” Looking at the man with a restrained and fierce gaze, my suppressed emotions exploded like a tsunami. “You say you love me but found a stand-in for sex. You cheated after marriage, both physically and mentally filthy.” “Theo, I’ve let you and your family be together. Why won’t you let me go?” The love I thought was worth giving up my freedom for was a bubble from the start. The sad thing is, I’ve silently endured for three years. Every word was like blood. Theo’s eyes reddened, and he knelt with a thud. “Fiona, I didn’t betray you. The child was an accident. Later, I couldn’t bear to see you hurt from childbirth…” I shook off his hand clutching my clothes, coldly curling my lips. “Stop with the sweet talk, Theo. I can’t accept unfaithful love. Besides… we’re not right for each other.” “Perfect timing, the child will be born, and you can be a family. We’re done.” With that, I turned to my car. But suddenly, pain shot through the back of my neck. The last thing I saw before darkness was Theo’s frenzied expression.

When I woke up, I found myself back in the bedroom. “Fiona, don’t think about leaving me.” Looking at Theo, who seemed utterly exhausted, the word “confinement” crossed my mind. I turned my head away, unwilling to look at him any longer. Theo didn’t seem to care. “Fiona, the PR department has announced that you’re pregnant. Now everyone in East City knows you’re about to…” I let out a bitter laugh, full of anger. “How could I not know I’m pregnant?” Theo took a deep breath, sounding worn out: “Don’t be difficult, Fiona. Of course, this child can only be yours.” “Lydia will be giving birth soon. Just keep calm for now. Once the baby is born and I take care of Lydia, we will…” I cut him off coldly. “Get out.” Theo wanted to say more, but a phone call interrupted him. “Theo, I’m feeling terrible. The doctor said the mother needs the father’s support, or it will affect my mood and delivery…” Lydia’s frail, pleading voice came through the phone. Concern flickered in Theo’s eyes as he looked at me hesitantly. When I stayed silent, he got angry. “Fiona, you don’t want to see me, but someone else is desperate for my company.” “If you keep quiet, I’ll really leave.” Theo threw down a “Fine, don’t regret it” and left in a huff. Even though I was thoroughly disappointed, watching Theo leave still made my heart ache. I collapsed onto the bed to calm my emotions. After a long while, I dialed a number. “My dear, what a surprise to hear from you today.” “I even heard in Iceland that Mrs. Theo is pregnant. Your husband used to be so attached to you; now that you’re about to give birth, he must be with you every day…” I interrupted her softly. “That child isn’t mine.” The conversation came to a halt, and I could almost picture the shock on the other end of the line. I chuckled self-deprecatingly and continued: “I’ll send you my details later. Please book me a flight for the afternoon two days from now…” Before I could finish speaking, the door was pushed open. I quickly hung up the phone. Looking up, I met Lydia’s face. “Fiona, you don’t look well.” “What? Upset because I could get Theo to leave with just one phone call?” “I thought you knew Theo chose my child and would step back on your own. I didn’t expect you’d shamelessly hold onto your position.” Lydia’s face was full of arrogance, unlike the timid and obedient manner when we first met. I retorted without hesitation. “You’re about to give birth and still running around. Aren’t you afraid that the only leverage you have might be lost?” I looked at her steadily. “Having a child and thinking it will help you climb up?” Lydia was furious but didn’t act, only whispering harshly: “Having a child might not work, but what if it drives you two apart?” The next moment, she clutched her belly and fell backward. She didn’t fall because a pair of strong arms appeared behind her. Theo protected Lydia, his eyes filled with anger, shouting at me for the first time: “What are you doing! No matter what’s between us, Lydia is pregnant and innocent. How can you lay hands on her!” Lydia looked at Theo with gratitude, half aggrieved, half coquettish: “Theo, I feel awful, but I don’t want you to argue with Fiona because of me. It’s all my fault…” Watching Theo comfort her softly, bitterness spread in my mouth. I tugged at the corner of my mouth, got out of bed, and slowly walked forward. “I laid hands?”

“Watch closely, this is me really laying hands!” Before they could react, I slapped Lydia across the face. Her head turned, her cheek instantly swollen with a clear handprint. Theo’s eyes widened in shock, and he shoved me hard. “Have you lost your mind, Fiona! She’s pregnant!” My thigh hit the glass edge of the coffee table, leaving a long gash, blood gushing out, and the sudden pain made my face pale. I clearly saw the disappointment in Theo’s eyes. “When did you become so vicious and unforgiving?” I bit my lip, sneering. “Have I changed, or have you? Oh wait, if I had known you were cozying up to me while sleeping with someone else, I would never have accepted your proposal.” I glared at him, word by word: “Theo, you disgust me.” Theo’s breath caught, and he suddenly slapped me. Caught off guard, I almost fell over. A buzzing sound filled my ears. In the swirling dizziness, the face of the man I once loved was so clear. Facing my bitter smile, Theo realized what he had done. His arms around Lydia relaxed, his lips quivering as if to speak, but was interrupted. “Theo, I’m feeling so awful…” Theo hesitated for a moment, complex emotions flashing in his eyes, but finally, they settled into indifference. “Fiona, think about what you’ve done. I’ll take Lydia back to the hospital first.” A part of my heart collapsed. I lowered my head, eyes blank. In the following days, Theo was nowhere to be seen, but a renovation team arrived. They said Theo wanted to change the house layout to set up a nursery. I found it all incredibly ridiculous, but outwardly, I acted obedient and compliant. Seeing this, Theo agreed to let me go to the hospital to wait for Lydia to give birth. As Lydia was wheeled into the delivery room, she was still restless, mouthing provocations at me. I tugged at the corner of my mouth, took a few steps forward, but Theo grabbed my wrist, clutching it tightly to the cold iron chair. I hated pain and restraints, and Theo knew that. Once upon a time, he treated me like a treasure, afraid I’d get hurt. But now, my wrist was bruised, and he didn’t notice the scars on my thigh from the other day. Theo didn’t notice my thoughts, frowning: “Fiona, I only let you come if you promised not to cause trouble.” “Just wait for Lydia to give birth, then you can be the first to hold the baby, get close.” I looked deeply at the man in front of me, smiling lightly, with a hint of relief and ease. “Okay.” Theo was taken aback. He looked at my calm, seemingly desireless expression, suddenly feeling a sense of panic. But Theo’s mother was urging him, and he had to suppress his chaotic emotions. … Lydia gave birth to a son. Theo’s family PR department immediately announced the joyous news of Mrs. Theo’s smooth delivery, and the internet was filled with congratulations. The hospital room was also filled with joy, Theo’s mother couldn’t stop smiling. Theo looked at the exhausted new mother with gentle eyes, completely forgetting he promised to let me hold the baby first. Amidst the cheerful atmosphere, I quietly left the room. But just as I stepped into the Jeep waiting at the hospital entrance, Theo’s trembling voice called from behind. “Fiona, where are you going?” I turned to face Theo’s panicked face. In his eyes was a humble plea as he quickly ran toward me. “Don’t…” The car started, and I gave Theo a bittersweet smile. “Theo, this is goodbye for good.” That day, Theo was supposed to attend a press conference, but he was a no-show.

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I had been loved and hated by my husband for five years. After our seventh breakup, he flaunted his new girlfriend at various high-profile events. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I just calmly observed the girl’s face, which was 90% similar to mine before the accident. The first breakup happened because that girl’s eyes resembled mine. The second breakup was due to her mouth being similar to mine. The third was because of her figure. I understood him. Gabriel was a perfectionist. He spent five whole years trying to recreate the pre-accident version of me. And this was the seventh time. He had managed to piece together my pre-accident appearance, but he could never piece together my shattered heart. I didn’t wait for Gabriel’s seventh attempt at reconciliation. I quietly disappeared from his world. But later, he knelt in a crowded square, begging me to give him one more chance. The light from Gabriel’s phone screen scattered in the bedroom as he watched a woman giving an acceptance speech. His gaze held an adoration he hadn’t even noticed himself. I turned over, catching a glimpse of the familiar necklace around her neck on the screen. It was the diamond necklace passed down through generations in my family, the proof of love I had once given to Gabriel with my own hands. Now, it was once again adorning another woman’s neck. Gabriel turned off the screen, his voice low and gentle: “Did I wake you?” I shook my head, pulling the covers down to bury my face further. Gabriel gently patted my back, a tender smile on his lips: “Go back to sleep, I’m here with you.” I knew his momentary tenderness wasn’t for me, just a lingering effect from earlier. He hated me. He hated that I had saved him, leaving behind a scarred, overmedicated version of myself with a changed figure. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, he couldn’t mask the disgust in his eyes when he looked at me. My hand touched the scars on my cheek. Burned by the fierce fire, uneven scars were etched into my skin. A bitter smile flickered across my numb heart. This was the seventh time. I was all too familiar with this routine. The unfamiliar perfume, the sudden departures in the middle of the night… In my hazy state, he removed his hand from my back and quietly left the bedroom. Standing on the balcony, he made a call. A clear, lively voice came through the phone, piercing my ears: “Gabriel, did you see my award ceremony?” He chuckled softly, his voice full of affection: “I did. That necklace suits you well.” His gentle laughter was like a thorny rose vine, strangling my heart while its thorns pierced deep. Soft laughter echoed from the other end of the line as well. It turns out that this kind of pain, even after experiencing it so many times, doesn’t completely numb you. It still stings. By the time the pillow had lost its warmth, he finally bid Tessa goodnight, reluctantly. His hand, chilled by the night breeze, brushed my hair aside. He lay back down, holding me a bit tighter than before. I heard him murmuring: “Aria, I love you so much, so so much…” The love he professed over and over didn’t seem directed at me. It was as if he was weaving a cage to trap my heart, stripping away my last shred of dignity and self-respect. I slowly opened my eyes: “I love you too, very very much.” But I want to give up now. Gabriel smiled and lowered his head slightly, holding me tighter. I heard my own voice, tired and hoarse: “Gabriel, can I have a goodnight kiss?” Even though I knew it was too much to ask, I still couldn’t help but clutch his collar in the darkness. If only Gabriel would give me just one kiss, I’d be willing to wait for him one more time. Even if I knew it was fake, even if, even if a kiss didn’t mean anything. But please, Gabriel. Don’t let my heart die so quickly. Gabriel just smiled and let go of me, ruffling my hair: “I have to go to the office for some overtime work. Wait for me to come back, okay?” My fingers, which had been gripping his collar, loosened helplessly. In the darkness, he couldn’t see my tears. I listened to the door close and the car start up and drive away downstairs. Gabriel, I think I can’t find a reason to keep loving you anymore. I’m too tired.

When I woke up again, the pillow was still damp. The trending topics on my phone were all about Tessa Taylor winning the Best Actress award. The title of “Little Aria Moore” was no longer mentioned by anyone. Similarly, no one would mention the name Aria Moore anymore. Gabriel, who had gone to work overtime last night, unsurprisingly appeared at the wrap party for the little girl’s new drama. Photos of them with their faces close together, making heart shapes with their hands, or kissing with just a piece of paper between them – these ambiguous poses were nothing new. Gabriel would always do this, openly displaying his love. As for me, his secret wife who had been divorced seven times, no one cared anymore. I caressed the screen, looking at Tessa’s face that was 90% similar to my past self, and couldn’t help but sigh. If my face hadn’t been burned, perhaps I could have had a shot at that Best Actress crown too. But now, I’ll never have that chance again. Do I regret it? Not really. No matter how many times I could go back, I would still rush into that fire without hesitation to drag Gabriel out, shielding him with my body during the explosion. But if you ask me if I have absolutely no regrets, that would be a lie. At least everything will be over soon. At the hospital, I still asked the same old question: “Is there really no chance for my face to recover?” “I’ve already had skin grafts, but there are still scars…” The doctor’s brow furrowed as he listened to me ramble on about the current defects on my face. Skin, eye size, symmetry of the left and right sides of the face, eyebrows… Finally, after a long silence, the doctor adjusted his glasses: “Miss Moore, I understand how you feel, but the chances of recovery are very slim now…” “You might need to visit the psychology department to help alleviate some of your psychological stress.” I was stunned. I hadn’t expected the doctor to say something like that. The doctor turned the mirror towards me, and I instinctively averted my gaze, not daring to look at the scars on my body. I fled from the office like I was escaping. As I was going downstairs, I bumped into Gabriel with his arm around Tessa’s waist on the second floor of the obstetrics and gynecology department. I touched my abdomen and met Gabriel’s gaze. Once upon a time, Gabriel and I had a child too. The fire that took away my beauty also robbed me of my right to be a mother. Gabriel calmly shifted his gaze, as if he had seen a stranger of no importance. Tears welled up in my eyes. I could only silently pull my hat down further, blocking my view. Tessa, supported by Gabriel, walked into the elevator and stood next to me. I tried my best to lean into the corner, listening to the two of them flirting back and forth. The sweetness in Tessa’s voice was almost overflowing: “The doctor said our baby is very healthy. What should we name it when it’s born?” Gabriel replied without hesitation: “Let’s call it Miles. When he grows up, he’ll go far. Miles Harrison.” I widened my eyes in shock and looked over at him. This name was clearly the one I had chosen for our unborn child back then. Now, it was to be given to another child. I bit my lip, trying hard to hold back my tears. Tessa’s gaze flickered between me and him, a smile playing on her lips: “Are you here for a prenatal check-up too, sister?” She turned towards me, taking my hand and placing it on her still-flat abdomen. It was warm, with no movement yet, but enough to make me envious. Suddenly, Tessa let out a sharp scream, yanking my hand away and shrinking into Gabriel’s arms: “How could you be so cruel as to press on my belly!” “Just because you’re jealous that I’m having a baby doesn’t mean you can hurt me like this. This is the most precious child of me and my husband.” I was startled for a moment, staring blankly at Gabriel: “No… I didn’t…” He frowned, his expression barely concealing his anger as he held Tessa protectively in his arms. Tessa burst into tears almost instantly, burying her face in Gabriel’s chest. Gabriel forcefully pressed the button for the nearest floor, glaring at me ominously. His voice turned cold and distant: “A vicious woman like you doesn’t deserve to have her own child.” Something in my heart seemed to collapse with a crash. I didn’t even notice when Gabriel left, shielding the young woman. It wasn’t until I got home that I received a text from Gabriel: [Sorry, I was a bit out of line earlier.] [Things aren’t what you think. I’ll explain when I get back.] My fingers were still trembling, my heart felt squeezed and breathless, the jumping text before my eyes appeared blurred, soaked by tears. In the end, I didn’t reply to the message. What does it matter if Gabriel dates his current girlfriend or goes for prenatal check-ups? What does it have to do with me, his ex-wife? The house was eerily quiet, endless loneliness engulfing me. It wasn’t until late at night that Gabriel returned, startled when he turned on the lights and saw me. He handed me a sickeningly sweet cream cake, his voice gentle and concerned: “I bought you a little treat.” I stared at the cake in my hand, stunned for a moment. He had forgotten that ever since my figure changed, cake was the thing I hated most. It was also something he had never cared about. “Why aren’t you asleep yet? Still angry?” Gabriel picked me up and carried me to the bed, his voice low and gentle, once again becoming my attentive husband. I no longer had the energy to answer him, pulling the covers over myself and mumbling a perfunctory ‘no’. He lowered his head and kissed the tip of my ear in the darkness: “Goodnight.”

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When I opened my eyes, I found myself kneeling in Ethan’s study. Memories from my past life came flooding back like a tidal wave. The bullet I took for him, his cold smirk as he held his mistress and said “Finally, some peace and quiet” as I lay dying, and the urn of ashes that no one claimed at my cremation. “Sign the divorce papers,” Ethan demanded, tossing the documents in my face. It was the exact same scene from my previous life, but he looked a decade younger now. I lowered my head and chuckled softly, the pen making a decisive arc across the paper. This time, I wouldn’t wait for his driver to run me over before I found my freedom. “Mr. Greene,” I said, pushing the agreement back towards him. I stood up, meeting his shocked gaze. “This time, I’ll be the one to leave you first.” As I turned to go, he suddenly grabbed my wrist with surprising force. “Olivia, what are you—” I pried his fingers off one by one. The touch I had begged for on my knees in my past life now only made me sick. Thunder crashed outside, illuminating the unfamiliar panic in his eyes. How ironic. The glance I would have died for in my previous life came so easily now that I’d been given a second chance.

I strode out of the conference room on the top floor of Greene Enterprises. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a view of the entire city’s twinkling lights. The pen I’d used to sign the divorce papers was still warm in my hand, the ink barely dry. Ethan sat at the far end of the long table, his long fingers drumming restlessly on the surface as he frowned. “Are you sure about this?” he asked in a low voice, with a hint of hesitation I’d never heard before. I calmly closed the folder, my fingertips trailing over the embossed cover. In my past life, I had knelt right here, begging him for another chance. All I got in return was his look of disgust and the cold words, “Stop embarrassing yourself.” “Absolutely certain,” I said, rising to my feet with a smile. My heels clicked sharply against the marble floor. “Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted, Mr. Greene? For me to disappear?” His pupils constricted as he gripped the armrests of his chair. I turned towards the door, but just as I grasped the handle, I heard a chair topple over behind me. “Wait!” Ethan rushed over, his breathing ragged. He reached out as if to grab my wrist, but froze mid-motion. This man, who in my past life wouldn’t even let me touch his sleeve without recoiling, now had a hint of panic in his eyes. “Where…” he swallowed hard. “Where are you going?” I tilted my head, studying him. Suddenly, I found it amusing. In my previous life, he never spared a glance for the dinners I carefully prepared each night. Now he cared about my whereabouts? “To register my own company,” I replied cheerfully. “I’m going to be Greene Enterprises’ newest competitor.” The color drained from his face. I took the opportunity to pull open the conference room door. The secretaries outside immediately lowered their heads, pretending to be busy. Only my assistant Emma hurried over, handing me a file folder. “Ms. Carter, Mr. Zhang from Prosperity Investments has scheduled a meeting with you tomorrow at 10 AM,” she announced loudly. “He says he’s very interested in our new renewable energy project.” I caught Ethan’s head snapping around in my peripheral vision. Feeling pleased, I patted Emma’s shoulder. “Well done.” As the elevator doors closed, I glimpsed Ethan rushing out. His tie was askew and his hair disheveled, a far cry from his usual polished executive look. In my past life, I had loved him so much I was willing to die for him. Now I only felt a bitter irony. In the basement parking garage, my new car was already waiting. A flashy red sports car, completely different from the old sedan he had complained was “too ostentatious” in my previous life. “Take me to Blue Water Bay,” I instructed the driver. It was a villa I had purchased just last week, in a location Ethan knew nothing about. As we pulled out of the underground garage, my phone started buzzing incessantly. Ethan’s name flashed on the screen over and over. I simply turned the device off. Under the night sky, the city’s neon lights streamed past the car windows like flowing water. I opened the window, letting the night breeze blow away the stuffiness in my chest. The scene from my deathbed in my previous life flashed before my eyes again. The harsh white hospital lights, the shrill beeping of the monitors. And Ethan’s smile as he held Sophia, saying “Finally free” with a smirk. My phone suddenly lit up again with a text from an unknown number: “Since when did you start drinking black coffee?” I stared at the seemingly random message, a chill running down my spine. In my past life, I had always pretended to like lattes just like Ethan did, to please him. In this life, I had been drinking only black coffee since the day I was reborn. And the only person who knew about this habit was… Another text popped up: “Last night I dreamed you died.” My fingers trembled uncontrollably. In the distance, the lights on the top floor of Greene Tower were still blazing, like a watchful eye.

I clutched my phone tightly, my knuckles turning white. “Turn around,” I ordered the driver, my voice unnaturally calm. “Back to Harmony Gardens.” That was Ethan’s private villa, a place I never had the privilege of entering in my past life. But this time, I needed to confirm something in person. Had he been reborn too? As the car entered the gated community, rain began pelting the windshield. I had the driver stop by the curb and walked alone towards the familiar building, umbrella in hand. The roses in the garden were in full bloom – the ones I had secretly planted in my past life but never dared to claim credit for. After the third ring of the doorbell, Ethan answered the door himself. His shirt collar was wide open, his hair a mess and dripping wet. He clutched a half-empty bottle of whiskey. The moment he saw me, the bottle crashed to the floor with a loud “thud”, amber liquid seeping into the carpet. “You really came,” he said hoarsely, his eyes swirling with emotions I had never seen before. “Just like in the dream…” Rainwater slid down the umbrella ribs, forming a transparent curtain between us. I met his gaze steadily. “You dreamed I died?” He suddenly gripped my shoulders, his fingers digging in painfully: “It wasn’t just a dream! I remember every second – you jumping in front of the bullet, your blood splattering on my face…” His voice began to shake. “I remember holding Sophia and saying… saying…” “That you were finally free,” I finished calmly, watching the color drain from his face. “So you’ve been reborn too.” Those words seemed to flip a switch. Ethan suddenly collapsed to his knees on the wet ground. The rain soaked through his shirt, outlining his gaunt frame. The ever-lofty Mr. Greene from my past life now looked as wretched as a beggar. “Olivia, I—” “Shut up.” I took a step back, the umbrella rim blocking his pleading gaze. “Ethan Greene, did you think being reborn was your chance for redemption?” Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating his ashen face. I leaned down close to his ear and whispered: “No. This is my chance for revenge.” As I turned to leave, he lunged forward and clung to my legs: “At least tell me, that bullet…” “Didn’t hit any vital organs,” I said, shaking off his hands. “But you had the hospital withdraw my life support.” His wails were drowned out by a clap of thunder. I walked towards the waiting car in the rain, never looking back. My phone lit up then with a message from my assistant: “Ms. Carter, we’ve confirmed that Sophia started transferring Greene Corp funds to offshore accounts last month.” I smirked. Look, Ethan. The woman you protected with your life in the past is already preparing to betray you. And this time, I’ll personally send you both to hell.

I sat in the car, raindrops blurring the windows. Ethan’s figure grew smaller in the rain, eventually disappearing from view. The driver glanced at me cautiously in the rearview mirror. “Where to now, Ms. Carter?” “The office,” I said, scrolling through the files my assistant had sent. A cold smile played on my lips. “And set up a meeting with Sophia for me.” At 2 AM, the lights in my office were still on. On the computer screen: Sophia’s bank statements for the past three months, photos of her secret meetings, even email exchanges with Greene Corp’s competitors – everything was laid out clearly before me. This woman who had caused my miserable death in my past life was now walking step by step into the trap I had set. “Ms. Carter, Miss Evans has arrived,” my assistant knocked and announced. I closed my laptop and looked up towards the door. Sophia wore a white sundress, her makeup impeccable, her eyes carrying that same air of innocence and vulnerability as always. She bit her lower lip, timidly speaking up: “Olivia, you wanted to see me?” In my past life, it was this exact damsel-in-distress act that had Ethan wrapped around her finger. I smiled faintly, gesturing for her to sit. “I hear you and Ethan have been getting quite close lately?” A flash of pride crossed her eyes before she quickly concealed it. “Ethan just… looks out for me, that’s all.” “Is that so?” I slid a folder across the desk to her. “Then do you know he’s been investigating your transfer of company funds?” The color drained from Sophia’s face in an instant. She abruptly stood up, her chair scraping harshly against the floor. “What are you talking about?!” I calmly flipped open the folder, my finger tapping on the numbers: “Thirty million, transferred to offshore accounts. What do you think Ethan’s reaction would be if he found out?” Her fingers clutched her skirt tightly, knuckles turning white. “What… what do you want?” I stood up, looking down at her: “It’s simple,” I said softly. “I want you to continue.” Three days later, Greene Enterprises’ stock price plummeted. Following my plan, Sophia frantically cashed out Greene Corp assets, even going so far as to forge Ethan’s signature. Meanwhile, Ethan, the man who had been so cold and heartless in my past life, was now frantically searching for me like a madman. My phone was flooded with his calls, his car perpetually parked outside my office building. He even started sending flowers to my office every day, with cards that simply read “I’m sorry.” Too little, too late. “Ms. Carter, Greene Corp has applied for emergency loans from the banks,” my assistant reported. “But regarding Sophia…” “Keep going,” I said, not looking up as I signed documents. “Have her transfer that final sum as well.” My assistant hesitated for a moment: “But… if Greene Corp really goes bankrupt, the shares you still hold…” I chuckled softly: “Who cares about that bit of money?” What I wanted was for Ethan to lose everything. Just like I had in my past life. A month later, Greene Enterprises officially announced the breakdown of its capital chain. I stood in a coffee shop across from Greene Tower, watching as Ethan was surrounded by reporters. He had lost a lot of weight, his suit hanging loosely on his frame, dark circles prominent under his eyes. A reporter asked sharply: “Mr. Greene, we’ve heard this crisis is related to your fiancée, Sophia Evans?” Ethan’s head snapped up, his gaze fierce: “She is not my fiancée.” “Then was your divorce from Olivia Carter also for Miss Evans’ sake?” His expression crumbled instantly. I set down my coffee cup and turned to leave. Suddenly, a commotion broke out behind me, followed by Ethan’s heart-wrenching cry: “Olivia!” I didn’t look back. It started to rain. I opened my umbrella and walked into the crowd. In this life, I had finally learned to leave without a backward glance.

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Aria’s life takes an unexpected turn when her twin sister Luna marries into wealth and they both become pregnant at the same time. But when Luna gives birth to a daughter with a congenital heart defect, she secretly switches the babies. Years later, Luna’s daughter grows up to be spoiled and unsuccessful, while the child Aria raised excels in both academics and career. As Aria travels the world and enjoys a fulfilling life, Luna’s jealousy reaches a boiling point. It’s only then that Aria discovers the truth about the baby switch. Before Aria can explain, Luna, driven mad with envy, stabs her through the heart. When Aria opens her eyes again, they’ve both returned to the day the children were born. This time, Luna fiercely guards her own daughter, refusing to let anyone near her. Aria can only smile coldly. Little does Luna know that in the previous life, her daughter had died of heart failure at just ten years old… Luna had trouble producing enough breast milk. Our mom, always favoring her, eagerly brought me over to nurse the baby as soon as she was out of the incubator. But Luna screamed hysterically: “Aria, get out of here!” She hurled various items at me, including a bottle that broke against my head. Blood trickled down my temple. I retreated behind the door, wincing in pain, my expression darkening. Mom rushed forward and grabbed Luna’s arm. “What’s going on? Did Aria do something wrong?” Luna glared at me with bloodshot eyes, as if I were her mortal enemy. She snarled through gritted teeth: “She’s trying to steal my baby!” “Daisy is my daughter! No one can take her away! She’s a kidnapper, I’m calling the police!” Her eyes were filled with hatred. For a moment, her face overlapped with the twisted, terrifying expression of the Luna who had killed me in my previous life. A chill ran down my spine as I suddenly realized – I wasn’t the only one who had been reborn. So had she. But in the previous life, she was the one who switched the babies, not me! How dare she call me a kidnapper? Ridiculous! Luna and I are twins, but our mom has always favored her. For the first thirty years of her life, everything went smoothly for Luna. After graduating from a mediocre college, she married into an elite family and gave birth to an adorable daughter, living a happy and prosperous life. Meanwhile, I had a child with a congenital heart defect and spent all my savings seeking medical treatment. Who would have thought that later on, the elite family Luna married into would go bankrupt? Without a substantial family fortune to rely on, her child grew up to be spoiled and incompetent. Soon, mother and daughter ended up homeless, forced to scavenge for food. My child, on the other hand, was raised well by me. She graduated from a top university, excelled in her career, and with the wealth I had diligently saved, we quickly acquired several villas and even opened our own studio. While Luna was picking through garbage, I was traveling the world. On my 40th birthday, Luna suddenly burst in, wielding a weapon and lunging at me with eyes full of hatred. She stabbed me viciously several times, then turned to my daughter with a pained expression: “Sweetheart, I’m your real mother! I’m your real mother! How could you not recognize me?” It was only then that I learned the truth – years ago, Luna had switched our babies out of fear of being cast aside by her wealthy in-laws! The spoiled child she raised was actually mine, while the one with the heart condition was her own daughter! Luna plunged the knife into my heart, her eyes wild with madness: “Aria, you stole my life! All of this should have been mine!” Her twisted expression merged with the Luna before me now. I laughed coldly inside, but kept my face expressionless. “Forget it, Mom,” I said. “If Luna doesn’t want me to nurse the baby, there’s no point in pushing it. I’ll leave.” As I turned to go, I heard Luna let out a sigh of relief. She probably thought her happiness was within reach now. After all, in the previous life, her daughter had grown up to be obedient, talented, and filial. All Luna had to do was enjoy the fruits of my labor. But little did she know… That true heiress had died of heart failure at just ten years old. The girl who came after was a child I had adopted from an orphanage after the real Daisy passed away.

Holding my biological child, my heart melted completely. In my previous life, Luna had turned her into a complete hellion – not only was she unfilial to her parents, but she even did all sorts of terrible things to make money, with no regard for her own dignity. She ended up in prison. By then I was already dead, floating in the air, watching her fate unfold with unbearable heartache. Given a second chance at life, I was determined to give her all the love and valuable education she deserved. She suckled contentedly, looking adorable and innocent. It was hard to imagine how Luna had managed to raise such a sweet girl into the mess she became later on. As I was lulling her to sleep, a commotion suddenly erupted outside. Luna was staying in a private room not far from mine. It should have been quiet, but now it was in an uproar. I went to take a look and saw that it was Luna’s wealthy in-laws, the Ling family. Mrs. Ling was looking at the quiet baby girl on the bed with obvious disgust. “Luna dear, does your family have a history of genetic disorders?” she asked. “Otherwise how could the baby be born with a congenital heart defect?” Mr. Ling didn’t even bother to show his face. Jack, Luna’s husband, had a conflicted expression. After some hesitation, he spoke up: “Luna, even if we can keep the child alive for now, we can’t protect her forever. I think it would be better if we had another baby…” Luna’s face turned ashen as she glared furiously at Jack. “What are you saying? Are you suggesting we give up on this child? You want to kill your own daughter!” Jack’s expression also darkened. “Can’t you be more sensible? It’s bad enough she’s a girl, but she also has a terminal illness!” Mrs. Ling chimed in with a nasty tone: “Neither our Ling family nor your Shao family has any history of genetic disorders. Who knows why this child was born with this condition!” Luna trembled with rage as she grasped the cruel implication behind those words. Standing at the doorway, I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. Luna only saw the comfortable life I enjoyed later on. How could she know the efforts I had made to raise that child to ten years old? To treat the child’s illness, I not only spent all my savings but also suffered my husband’s betrayal. In the end, I could only take her north and south by myself, spending day and night waiting outside hospitals, eating steamed buns and drinking cold water, enduring all kinds of hardships with the sky as my blanket and the earth as my bed. But Luna couldn’t see any of that! She only wanted to reap the rewards – how ridiculous! In the end, Luna’s insistence was met with a slap across the face from Jack. Jack exploded in anger: “Our Ling family can’t afford to lose face like this. If you insist on keeping this child, then let’s get a divorce!” To my surprise, Luna actually stood her ground, tilting her chin defiantly: “Fine, let’s get divorced!” Her eyes glinted calculatingly: “Your Ling family won’t last much longer anyway. I’d rather not be associated with you anymore!” I laughed to myself. So Luna’s rare moment of backbone was just a ploy to abandon a sinking ship.

On the day of discharge, my soon-to-be ex-husband Jack came to pick us up. To my disbelief, before my personal belongings were even loaded, my mom had already put Luna’s things in the trunk. Even Jack was being overly attentive: “Luna, you get in first. The wind is strong, don’t catch a chill.” Looking at this man before me, I felt nothing but disgust. I couldn’t help but laugh coldly: “What’s the meaning of this?” My mom, noticing my expression, hurriedly came over to take my suitcase. “Oh, look at my memory! I forgot to tell you!” she said. “You see, your sister has decided to divorce the Ling family for some reason. You know she got married right after graduation and doesn’t have a job or anywhere to go. So I thought, why not let Luna stay at your place for now!” Luna sat in the car, smiling at me: “Aria, I’m still recovering from childbirth. You wouldn’t refuse me, would you?” The two of them were trying to emotionally blackmail me. However, my heart had been hardened by the despair of my previous life. I immediately shook my head firmly: “No, I don’t agree.” My mom’s face fell, but before she could say anything, Jack spoke up: “Aria, how can you be like this?” “Postpartum recovery is so important for women. I know you’ve never liked your sister, but you can’t joke around with her health!” Jack said with a disappointed look. “I always thought you were a kind girl. Who would have thought you couldn’t even accommodate your own twin sister…” Looking at his disgusting face, I couldn’t help but recall my previous life. When I was taking our child around seeking medical treatment, he was fooling around with his assistant. After divorcing me, he married that assistant just two months later. In the years that followed, although he and his mistress didn’t become extremely wealthy, they lived a comfortable middle-class life without facing any real consequences. Given a second chance at life, I was determined not to let him off so easily. An idea struck me. Instead of refusing outright, I said: “If you want to stay at my place, that’s fine. But the rent is $2000 a month, not a penny less.” Luna’s face changed: “You’re taking advantage of the situation!” My mom pulled her aside: “It’s fine, she’s just being stubborn. She won’t really make you pay. Let’s move in first and figure it out later. Don’t argue with her.” Luna gave me a dirty look before sitting down to comfort her fussy daughter. I named my biological daughter Sunny, completely different from her name in the previous life. When Luna heard the baby was called Sunny, she was taken aback: “How come? Shouldn’t your child be called…” She caught herself mid-sentence and coughed, swallowing the rest of her words. But the suspicious look she gave me spoke volumes. I accepted her scrutiny openly. Even if she knew I had been reborn, so what? This time, I hadn’t interfered with her choices at all! Her child was still called Daisy, though the surname had changed from Zhou to Shao. And I remembered that Daisy’s first health crisis in my previous life was about to happen right on schedule. Although, the circumstances were subtly different from what had happened before.

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When I accompanied Lucas to a party, my entire body suddenly broke out in an allergic reaction. As the itching intensified, red rashes appeared on my exposed skin, spreading to my cheeks. “Sis-in-law, did you use some cheap makeup? Your face is swelling up like a balloon,” someone sneered. “How did Lucas end up with a girlfriend like this? So embarrassing.” “That dress you’re wearing costs a fortune. Can you afford to ruin it by scratching?” Amidst the mocking voices, I panicked, not knowing what to do. Lucas smiled and quieted everyone down. He took out a pill and said to me: “It’s an April Fool’s Day party. You won’t get mad at a little joke, right?” Later, I realized the truth. For three years of our relationship, I was nothing but a toy for Lucas and his friends to fool around with. But Lucas, I only fooled you once. Why are you crying your eyes out now? 0 “Here’s some allergy medicine. Take it quickly.” But even after taking the pill, my symptoms didn’t improve at all. I had no choice but to go to a nearby clinic alone. When I came back to return the dress, I heard an explosion of laughter from inside. “I’m dying of laughter! Her face was so swollen but she just kept enduring it.” On the big screen inside, they were playing a video of my swollen face after the allergic reaction. Lucas was at the center of the crowd, holding a wine glass with a smile on his lips. Someone beside him was laughing and counting on their fingers: “How many times have we successfully pranked her now?” “The first time, we tricked her into waiting for Lucas on the mountaintop. She stood in the cold wind all night, and we nearly scared her to death with our fake wolf howls. She ended up with a 104-degree fever the next day.” “The second time, we lied that Lucas needed a blood transfusion for a stomach hemorrhage. She stupidly donated 800cc of blood, which I resold on the black market.” “The third time, we framed her for stealing Bella’s necklace. Not only did she lose her scholarship, but it was hilarious watching her desperately search for evidence to prove her innocence.” “Including this time, it’s been 97 times, right?” “Just three more times and we can wrap this up perfectly. It’s been fun playing with her for three years. I’ll almost miss it. Poor Lucas though, having to be her boyfriend for three years.” “Well, who told her to mess with Bella? If it weren’t for her last-minute submission, Bella would have been accepted as Master Johnson’s final student. Lucas has doted on Bella since childhood. How could he watch her suffer such an injustice? It just happened to be April Fool’s Day, so we planned 100 pranks. Too bad it’s ending after only three years.” I staggered away from the banquet hall. Those words were like chains, tightly constricting my heart, making it hard to breathe. Five years ago, it was love at first sight for me. After two years of secretly liking him, I had barely managed to become a familiar face to him. But three years ago, at the apprenticeship ceremony, Lucas suddenly confessed to me. With my heart pounding like a drum, I couldn’t refuse his kiss. But it turns out there was never any mutual attraction. This was all his long-planned revenge. For the sake of another girl – the one he truly loved. My body was still itchy. The doctor had warned me earlier that there might be a problem with the fabric of the dress. But I still thought I was just being too delicate, not worthy of wearing such a nice outfit. When I got home to shower, I found that I had scratched my entire body raw. As the water hit me, it stung and itched. Tears welled up in my eyes, and I bit my lip, telling myself: “Don’t cry, don’t cry.” After the shower, I saw that Lucas had just called: “Are you home? I’m not coming back tonight. Had too much to drink.” I made a sound of acknowledgment, and then I heard someone on the other end of the line calling him: “Lucas, Bella’s looking for you. Hurry up.” The call was abruptly disconnected. I laughed bitterly at myself. He didn’t even bother to ask how I was doing. I opened my contacts and called Master Johnson: “Master, I’ve made a decision about studying abroad.” “I want to go.” Not long ago, my mentor had specially reserved a spot for me to study abroad, but I had been reluctant to leave Lucas and kept putting it off. I had even considered giving up this opportunity. But now, I was grateful for this “joke”. It allowed me to see everything clearly. “Sophia, are you sure? This study abroad program will take you away for three years. If you perform exceptionally well, it might even be extended.” “Master, I’ve made up my mind,” I said firmly, wiping away my tears. “I won’t regret it.” 0

“Alright, alright.” Master Johnson sounded very pleased on the other end. “Then you should let your boyfriend know. You love him so much.” Boyfriend? Did Lucas ever truly consider himself my boyfriend? “Master, I don’t love him anymore.” In my mind’s eye, I could still see Lucas sitting in the middle of that group, watching my embarrassing moment on the big screen with a carefree smile. Those mockeries and pranks were like sharp knives stabbing into my heart. Forced to play the fool for three years, now that I’ve woken up from this dream, I sobbed and said: “I will never love him again.” It wasn’t until I started packing that I realized just how many memories could accumulate in three years. The most prominent Polaroid on the fridge was from the day we got together. Lucas chose to confess his love on the eve of April Fool’s Day. He said he was afraid that if he waited any longer, I might take his sincerity as a joke. When I nodded and he embraced me, it had just turned midnight. So, were all those vows of love and eternity planned lies from the very beginning? My phone buzzed. Someone in the group chat asked: “Are we letting her off so easily today? There are only a few hours left until midnight. Shouldn’t we play one more prank?” “We’d have to lure her out first. We’ve already used the ‘Lucas has a stomach hemorrhage’ trick before.” “You’ve all seen that bracelet Lucas wears, right? The one Sophia gave him. Apparently, it was her mother’s keepsake.” My hand holding the phone started to shake. “Shit, you sent that to the wrong group!” “Crap, Sophia’s in this chat too.” After a series of message retractions, the group fell silent. Ten minutes later, my phone rang. Jack frantically said: “Sophia, come quickly! Lucas is in the swimming pool and won’t come out because of some bracelet.” “None of us can persuade him. You’re our only hope.” That bracelet had been passed down for generations in my family. My mother had put it on my wrist on her deathbed. “Sophia, don’t cry. This will keep you company in my place from now on.” I never intended to give the bracelet to Lucas. It was Jack who said in front of everyone: “Lucas has given you so many luxury gifts, but you’ve never given him anything decent in return.” “Sophia, are you just playing with Lucas?” I tried to explain, but I couldn’t be heard over their jeering voices. The truth was, I had given him quite a few gifts within my means. But in Lucas’s circle, even a keychain could cost thousands of dollars. At that time, Lucas kept a stern face. It was Bella who spoke up, pointing at my wrist and saying the bracelet meant a lot to me. “Why don’t you give it to Lucas?” “For a gift, the thought matters more than the price.” I stammered, “This is from my mom…” Lucas’s eyes, which had briefly lit up, suddenly darkened. He threw his wine glass to the ground. Someone pushed me from behind. I suddenly found myself kneeling in front of Lucas, allowing him to take the bracelet from my wrist. … When I got out of the car and returned to the banquet hall, I felt like my entire body had turned cold. I hated myself so much. Hated how weak and stupid I had been back then. I regretted it so much. Regretted being blinded by love and constantly lowering my standards. Even though I knew this was another trap. I had no choice but to come. 0

“Sis-in-law, you’re finally here!” “Lucas passed out, but we still can’t find the bracelet. What should we do…” I showed no emotion as I reached out to touch the pool. The members-only high-end club had a temperature-controlled pool 365 days a year, but now the water felt as cold as ice. Jack explained that the club’s temperature control system had coincidentally malfunctioned. I could see the malice hidden in his eyes. I nodded slightly, having noticed the phone he kept clutching in his hand. Before coming, I had already put on a swimsuit underneath. After a few laps in the pool, I indeed found the bracelet near the drain. But just as I retrieved the bracelet and was about to climb out, someone stepped on my hand. I jerked my hand away in pain, and a figure screamed as they fell into the water. Caught off guard, I was suddenly pushed underwater. Water rushed into my nose and mouth, nearly suffocating me. Before I lost consciousness, I vaguely saw someone jump into the water, swimming in the opposite direction from me. Perhaps it was my strong survival instinct, but at the last moment, I managed to grab onto the pool’s edge. As I surfaced, someone grabbed my arm and pulled me onto the deck. Lucas was holding Bella in his arms. He slapped me across the face: “Sophia, do you realize you almost killed Bella!” “It’s my fault the bracelet was lost, but why did you try to hurt Bella!” I lay on the ground, coughing and retching. My ears were ringing so loudly that his angry words seemed distant. Lucas handed Bella to Jack. With red eyes, he grabbed my neck: “Stop pretending. If anything happens to Bella today, I’ll make you pay with your life!” Seeing that I was still clutching the bracelet tightly, he snatched it away. I hugged his legs, sobbing and pleading through my coughs: “Please, don’t!” His expression was ice-cold: “This is your punishment.” With a forceful tug, he broke the bracelet into two pieces. “Lucas, don’t blame Sophia. She was just embarrassed about what happened at the party and wanted to get back at me a little.” “We’re both women, I can understand.” Lucas angrily threw the broken bracelet to the ground. He carefully picked up Bella: “Don’t defend her. You’re just too kind-hearted.” The group hurriedly left. Jack took the opportunity to snap several photos of me. He made a “98” gesture to someone nearby, and they both laughed so hard they could barely stand up straight. I held the broken bracelet tightly to my chest, tears falling in large drops onto the floor. All the hurt I had been holding back now burst forth like a flood breaking through a dam. Let it hurt more, until all the love turns into hate. Lucas, I will forget everything from the past. Never, ever will I love you again!

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