After we got married, James was recruited by an American university with a million-dollar annual salary. I gave up everything to move to America with him. But three years later, I still didn’t even have a green card. Meanwhile, that female assistant who came to America with us had already gotten her green card through James’s connections. I was so furious I wanted to fly back to Europe immediately. James, usually so calm and composed, turned red and begged me to stay: “You’re my wife. I’ll get your green card sorted out soon. Emma followed me all the way here from home to work in America. I’m her boss—I have a responsibility to take care of her.” My heart softened, and I put down my suitcase. Until one day, when I handed our marriage certificate to an official, they told me: “Ma’am, our system shows you are not Mr. Mitchell’s wife. Please go back and verify this.” I froze on the spot. Then, without a word, I booked the earliest flight back to Europe. …… Back at home, I tried three times, but the fingerprint lock kept giving me the “verification failed” tone. I called James. “What’s wrong?” He picked up quickly. “Why can’t I open the door?” He was silent for two seconds, then said: “Oh, I changed the lock. I only registered Emma’s fingerprint—haven’t gotten around to adding yours yet. Just find a hotel for tonight. I’m working late, won’t be coming home.” He was telling me to stay at a hotel? I wanted to argue, but in the end, I just said: “Okay.” What else was there to say? This was supposed to be our home, yet he’d registered the fingerprint of Emma—an outsider. I hung up. I checked into the budget hotel by our building’s entrance. $548 a night. When I swiped my card, the balance was almost nothing. When we first came to New York, James gave me a supplementary card with no spending limit. Later, Emma started buying most of his things. Clothes, watches, even that insulated mug on his office desk—she bought all of it. Gradually, the supplementary card was transferred to her. James started depositing $2,000 a month into my account for living expenses instead. He said she was better at shopping than me—better taste, knew how to coordinate things. She said she was just doing her job as his assistant. I couldn’t really say anything more. Until our third anniversary, when James and I were supposed to have a romantic evening alone. Just as the mood was building, the doorbell rang. James went to answer it. Emma stood outside, slightly breathless, holding out a box of ultra-thin condoms. “Professor Mitchell, it’s your special day! I picked these up just for you!” She glanced at me, smiling naturally. “You always say this brand feels the best. Aren’t I thoughtful? Don’t I deserve some praise?” James took the box, letting out an awkward “mm.” She waved and left. The door closed. He walked back to the dining table with the box and set it casually beside him. I stared at that box without saying a word. I never knew which brand he preferred… Because we’d been trying to have a baby, so we basically never used protection. That candlelit dinner felt like torture. Finally, he said something came up at the university, grabbed his coat, and left. The moment the door closed, it suddenly hit me— So an assistant’s job could be this thorough. That night, I dreamed of our first year in New York. I came out of the airport dragging two huge suitcases. James was waiting for me right at the exit. Back then, he was still the man who felt so guilty that his eyes reddened when I gave up everything to be with him. He was the man who would carry my luggage, who would let me lean on him when I was tired. But then Emma came along. James said she had left her hometown behind to follow him here—he had to help her out. So he helped her get settled with residency. Helped arrange her job. I never expected that in the end, he’d even help her change the lock on our home… Early the next morning, I went to buy a ticket back to Europe. Standing at the corner waiting for the light to turn green, my phone rang. It was a friend from back home. “Grace, that thing you asked me to look into…” She paused, her voice hesitant. “I pulled some strings, but I could only see registration records. Privacy laws are strict there—I couldn’t get the detailed files.” “It’s fine,” I said. “Whatever you found is enough.” The other end went quiet for two seconds. “James Mitchell’s registered wife in New York… her last name is Roberts.” I held my phone, silent. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine,” I said. “Thank you.” I hung up. The light turned green. The crowd surged past me, and another group stopped beside me. I stood there, staring at the glass curtain wall of the building across the street. The sunlight stung my eyes until they burned. So his real wife was her all along.

I stood on the sidewalk and suddenly laughed. These three years, I’d been so exhausted trying to prove my worth, so determined not to be just a housewife, that I’d overlooked so many details in our daily life. Like how every weekend he said there was something at the university, and he’d be gone the whole day. When I asked what it was about, he’d always brush me off: “You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.” Like that time he forgot some documents, and when I dropped them off at his faculty housing, I saw two toothbrushes on his bathroom counter—one blue, one pink. And I never thought deeper about it. …… I pulled myself out of my thoughts and kept walking. Across two streets, around three corners, until I stood at the ticket office entrance. I waited in line, remembering how long the customs line had been when I first landed in New York three years ago. Because I was about to see the man I loved, I was so foolishly happy that I didn’t feel tired at all. When James picked me up, he hugged me and spun me around. Until a girl waved at him: “Professor Mitchell! What a coincidence—Grace and I were on the same flight!” It was Emma. James smiled and took her suitcase, explaining to me: “Forgot to mention—Emma’s coming over to keep working as my assistant. It’s not easy for a young woman to immigrate on her own.” Emma smiled sweetly. “Grace, I hope we can look after each other from now on.” My smile stiffened slightly, but I nodded politely. On the drive, I quietly watched them chat. When she talked, James would tilt his head to listen carefully. When she pointed at clouds in the sky, he’d look where she was pointing. That attention that used to belong only to me was now quietly being shared with her. My heart felt a little sour. But I was also happy for him. After all, good assistants are hard to find. Having someone he knew and trusted come along would make his work at the university go more smoothly. In those first few months in New York, I tried to find a job. But my field was so niche that I couldn’t find anything in my specialty. Hundreds of resumes—either ignored completely or met with a “not considering at this time.” I’d always been a top student, everything going smoothly. I’d never tasted rejection before. Those nights I couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning, wondering—was I just not good enough? Finally, I had no choice but to ask James. After dinner one evening, I sat down next to him. Stammering, I said: “Um… could you maybe… ask around at the university?” “Isn’t there supposed to be a spouse quota? I was thinking, if there’s a way to arrange a position…” I couldn’t finish. My whole life, I’d never asked anyone to pull strings for me. Even though it was part of the talent recruitment policy—a benefit for spouses—saying it out loud made my face burn. Like I was doing something shameful. “Mm,” he said, head down, still flipping through his papers. “If you want to work, I’ll ask around.” I felt a little relieved. I waited three months. When I asked again, he said he’d been busy—we’d talk about it later. But as far as I knew, Emma had started working at the university ages ago. Administrative position, weekends off, great benefits. James said it was through normal hiring. I believed him. Looking back now, her qualifications and experience were worse than mine. She couldn’t even speak English properly. So why did my resume, submitted the same way, sink without a trace? The answer had been right in front of me all along. I just didn’t want to see it… The line moved forward a step. My turn. I handed over my passport. The clerk typed a few keystrokes, then frowned. “Ma’am, we can’t issue you a ticket with this document.” “Why not?” She turned the screen slightly toward me. “The system shows you’ve overstayed your permitted time in the US.” I froze. “Overstayed?” “Your most recent extension application wasn’t approved, right?” She glanced at me. “The system shows no valid stay permit for you.” I stood at the window, speechless.

Three years. I’d been in New York for three years, and I didn’t even have a valid stay permit? “So what do I do now?” “First, go to Immigration to process the paperwork. Pay the fine, get a departure permit, then you can buy a ticket.” She pushed my passport back. “Next.” I stepped aside to make room. The person behind me pushed forward, quickly blocking the window. I stood there, staring at the passport in my hand. So I wasn’t even legally allowed to be here. Then what were these three years? Outside the ticket office, I called the immigration consultant. “Mrs. Mitchell, I wanted to ask—in my situation, why does my extension keep getting rejected? Now I need to pay a huge fine.” Mrs. Miller’s voice was as warm as ever: “Mrs. Mitchell, that shouldn’t be happening. Your husband is a university professor. Dependent extensions should be easy to approve. Did he complete all the sponsorship paperwork?” “He did.” “Then it shouldn’t be a problem…” She paused. “Hold on, let me look into it.” The line went quiet for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice was lower: “Mrs. Mitchell, if you don’t mind me asking—when your husband sponsored you, did he use the spousal reunification channel?” I held the phone, silent. “The system shows…” She chose her words carefully. “The wife slot linked to your husband was approved for a Ms. Roberts.” “He also submitted sponsorship for you, but not under the spouse category—it went through a different channel.” “But that channel was suspended about a year ago, which is why your applications keep getting rejected.” I paused. “I see. Thank you, Mrs. Miller.” I hung up. Standing there, I remembered certain details. Three years ago, right after arriving in New York, James said he’d handle my paperwork and took all my documents. Later he said everything was done, so I never asked about it again. So what I thought was following love across the world had actually turned into illegal overstaying… I stood by the road for a long time. I went to every office I could. In the end, I found there was only one solution— My original sponsor, James, needed to submit a statement. Explaining that he failed to notify me in time about changes to the sponsorship channel, resulting in my unintentional overstay. Then I could pay the fine, reapply for a short-term visitor visa, and legally leave the country. Simple. He just needed to sign his name. But how could I ask him? Say “Since you gave the wife slot to someone else, now sign this so I can leave”? And if I did that, wouldn’t we have to settle all the accounts from these three years too? I went back to that so-called “home.” James still wasn’t back. The door was still locked tight. I didn’t wait. I called a locksmith directly. After getting everything sorted, I went to James’s university. When I arrived, I could hear voices coming from his office. “Professor Mitchell, are you really letting me go for the University Arts Foundation residency program?” It was Emma’s voice, with a hint of coyness. “But my qualifications aren’t enough, are they? This would be more suited for Grace—she actually studied this field.”

I stood at the door, motionless. An Arts Foundation residency program? James had never mentioned it to me. I studied art history. Back then, the program only admitted eight students nationwide, and I was one of them. In my home country, graduates were highly sought after. But after three years in New York, my resumes had vanished into the void. I hadn’t even been to a proper exhibition, let alone any residency program. James couldn’t arrange a job for me at the university through the spouse quota, but he’d never even thought to let me try for such a rare opportunity… “It’s fine, I’ve already put in a good word for you.” James’s voice was gentle. “As for Grace—I’m taking care of her. She doesn’t need these things.” “Besides, with your abilities, if you’d had the same opportunities she did back then, you wouldn’t be any worse than her.” I stood outside the door and suddenly wanted to laugh. So in his eyes, all my hard work was just “opportunities.” So the field I was so proud of—anyone could “be just as good.” The door opened. Emma walked out and saw me. She froze for a second. “Grace?” She quickly smiled. “Are you here to see Professor Mitchell? But this floor doesn’t allow unauthorized personnel. Maybe you should wait in the lobby downstairs?” Love can make a person beautiful. The woman before me was only a year younger than me, but she’d been so well-nourished by affection that her features were relaxed and confident. I took a step forward. “Move.” She blocked the doorway. “Grace, really, you can’t—Professor Mitchell is busy—” I reached out to push past her. She stepped back, and her whole body tumbled into the office. “Ah—” James stood up from his chair and strode over. He glanced at me. That glance was cold. Then he bent down to help her. “Are you hurt?” Emma let him help her up, biting her lip and shaking her head. “I’m fine, I’m fine. I just lost my balance. It’s not Grace’s fault…” James looked at me, his tone reproachful: “Emma was just doing her job. Why did you push her?” I looked at him, then at Emma in his arms, her eyes red. I didn’t say much. I got straight to the point: “The Immigration statement needs your signature.” His brow furrowed. “What statement?” I handed over the papers. He took them, scanned them briefly, and was already annoyed before finishing. “You came all the way here and pushed someone over this? Grace, when did you become so unreasonable?” “Either sign it,” I said, looking him in the eye, “or I go to the dean right now and ask how a talent recruitment spouse slot ended up going to an assistant.” His face changed. The next second, my wrist was gripped tight. He held me. “Grace, that’s enough!” He lowered his voice, turning cold. “Don’t forget who’s been supporting you. Without me, you couldn’t even stay in New York. You’d have nowhere to go.” “Don’t make a scene here. Go home first.” I looked at him for two seconds, then suddenly smiled. When he begged me to come to New York, he said, *I’ll take care of you.* Now he said, *I’m the one who’s been taking care of you.* “Sign now, and we can still end this with some dignity.” My voice was calm. His gaze darkened. He let go of my wrist. He called out, “Security.” Two uniformed men walked over. He glanced at me. “Please escort my wife out. She’s not feeling well.” Security approached—one grabbed my arm, the other blocked my path. I tried to speak, but a hand was already covering my mouth, quick and practiced. I was being marched out. As I passed him, he leaned close to my ear and whispered, “We’ll talk tonight, okay? Don’t be stubborn.” Ha… Talk tonight? There’s nothing left to talk about. …… By the time he finished up his work, it was already 9 PM. James drove home. Thinking about what happened during the day, he frowned slightly. Those papers—he hadn’t even read them properly. Some Immigration statement—Grace stayed home all day. What did she need that for? The lock had been changed, but the door was just pulled shut, not locked. He paused. Noticed the lights were on inside. Figuring Grace was home, he frowned immediately. “Why didn’t you lock the door?” He pushed the door open, hung up his coat, then walked to the bedroom door. “Alright, about the spouse quota—” His tone was like he was being forced to explain. “I already told you before. Emma needed it more than you.” “She came to America with me. I had to take responsibility. Stop making a fuss.” He finished speaking and put his hand on the door handle. Pushed it open. And when he saw what was inside, his eyes went wide.

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The Sullivan family was one of the elite dynasties, and I was the designated heir—Damien Sullivan. But my two sisters brought home a boy named Marcus from outside, saying we’d be brothers from now on, and they even let him impersonate my identity as heir. Before the family inheritance ceremony, my two sisters walked onto the spotlight stage arm-in-arm with him. Everyone’s attention was drawn to them, all believing he was the family’s designated heir. Marcus saw me step onto the stage as well and looked down at me arrogantly: “Damien Sullivan, is the heir’s stage somewhere you’re allowed to stand? Get the hell off and go stand aside as an observer.” “If it weren’t for my sisters being kind enough to take you in and make you an adopted son of the Sullivan family, someone like you wouldn’t be able to set foot through the Sullivan family’s doors in your entire lifetime.” I knew he was acting arrogant and domineering because he relied on my two sisters’ favor, and he wanted to steal my position as heir. But he didn’t know I had been reborn. In my previous life, I yielded at every turn, only to be thrown into the private underground fighting ring my father used to “handle problems,” where I eventually died from severe injuries. This time, I kicked him flying off the stage: “Who the hell do you think you are? How dare you act wild in front of me and try to take what’s mine—are you tired of living?”

I kicked Marcus flying off the stage with one foot, and everyone looked on in disbelief. “Damien Sullivan, how dare you be so reckless and do such a thing to Marcus!” My eldest sister Victoria Sullivan, still on stage, was furious, and my second sister Isabelle Sullivan rushed over and slapped me across the face. “An adopted son dares to bully Marcus like this—how audacious! I think you’re looking for punishment!” They were trembling with rage, never expecting that the usually timid me would actually strike back at this moment. In their impression, at most I would run to Dad’s grave to cry and complain, and then just accept my fate. “I’d like to ask you—when did this child you brought home from outside go through legal adoption procedures? How can he replace my identity?” Looking at Victoria and Isabelle twisting the truth, my eyes were full of coldness. I was truly stupid before, wanting to please them so badly that I yielded everywhere and let Marcus impersonate my identity. Hearing my cold words, Victoria’s face darkened as she scolded angrily: “Damien Sullivan, what are you talking about? We brought him home to care for him and let him stay with the Sullivan family, yet you publicly assault the Sullivan family’s only heir!” Isabelle could barely contain her anger: “It’s all my fault. I thought I’d let you see the world, but I didn’t expect your delusions to be this severe—imagining yourself as the Sullivan family heir and making a scene in public like this.” With Victoria’s support, Marcus had already returned to the stage. He looked at me with feigned grievance: “Damien, I never thought that my constant accommodation of you would make you mistakenly believe you were the Sullivan family heir.” “It’s all my fault—I’ve been too compliant with you in daily life. But Damien, you absolutely shouldn’t cause trouble on such an important occasion!” The three of them twisting the truth made all the guests at the banquet whisper among themselves: “A child brought home by the Sullivan family—instead of keeping a low profile and behaving well in the Sullivan house, he dares to hit the real heir. This is outrageous!” “Does he want to be sent to the dog kennels to feed the dogs?” Hearing the guests’ comments below, Victoria secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Then she waved her hand, commanding the security guards around: “Since he can’t recognize reality, I now announce that as long as we’re here, you’ll never be allowed to step through the Sullivan family’s doors again!” “Someone, throw him out!” The security guards all approached the stage menacingly. Looking at these approaching guards, my eyes became even colder: “Victoria, who gave you the courage to target the Sullivan family’s true heir in public?” “Don’t forget, before Father died, he made a will witnessed by lawyers—I am the sole heir to the entire family trust and estate.” Hearing my firm tone, Victoria and Isabelle’s eyes flashed with panic. But then Victoria frowned and quickly snorted coldly: “Damien Sullivan, what are you pretending? How could someone like you, who only joined the Sullivan family later, be the heir?” The security guards had already surrounded me menacingly. Isabelle also recovered, speaking with superiority: “Damien, you really have the nerve to speak! Don’t forget that everything you’re wearing right now was given by us!” “What are you standing around for? Hurry up and throw him out of here!” Seeing the security guards getting closer, I angrily grabbed a wine bottle from behind me and smashed it. “Listen carefully—I am the Sullivan family’s only heir. I’d like to see who dares to touch me!”

The sound of the bottle shattering combined with my roar made the entire banquet hall fall silent. All the security guards were intimidated by my presence. Then I looked at Victoria and Isabelle with cold eyes: “Victoria, Isabelle, you’re still twisting the truth here! This person you brought home relies on your backing and acts without restraint!” “Not only does he live in the Sullivan house now, but he even wants to impersonate my identity and inherit the Sullivan family! You really are lawless in the Sullivan house!” Victoria’s face grew darker, her voice ice-cold: “Damien Sullivan, I think you’re the lawless one—not only did you publicly hit Marcus, but you’ve also ruined the banquet we carefully prepared!” “Do you think you can muddy the waters and get the Sullivan family inheritance this way?” Many guests whispered among themselves: “Damien is so ungrateful! He’s already entered the Sullivan family, yet he still plays these tricks trying to steal the inheritance!” “But I keep feeling like this Damien has a noble air about him—he seems more like the Sullivan family heir. Who’s telling the truth and who’s lying?” Hearing the guests’ voices below, Isabelle’s eyes blazed with anger: “Damien, your delusions are getting worse and worse. There’s only one heir here, and that’s Marcus!” “What are you still standing around for? Throw him out now!” After a pause, Victoria spoke with an extremely grim expression: “Since he’s bullying Marcus like this, let’s just give him some severe punishment to teach him a lesson, so others don’t think the Sullivan family has no rules.” When they mentioned that “place for handling trouble,” the rage in my heart instantly filled my entire chest. In my previous life, they always sided with Marcus, whom they’d brought home. Whenever Marcus wasn’t satisfied, they would target me. To please them, I could only endure again and again, even giving up my position as heir. But in the end, Marcus said he wanted to watch a “thrilling performance.” They threw me directly into the underground fighting ring my father had used to deal with adversaries during his lifetime, where I died from severe injuries in the lawless combat. Before I died, I couldn’t understand—I was the one with blood ties to the Sullivan family, so why did they favor someone brought in from outside so much? In this life, after careful investigation, I finally understood the reason. Thinking of this, my gaze at them grew even colder: “You want to throw me into the fighting ring? What gives you the authority to treat me like this? Aren’t you afraid Grandmother will find out?” Isabelle’s face paled instantly. She leaned close to Victoria’s ear and whispered: “Victoria, if the Sullivan family grandmother finds out we wanted to throw Damien into that kind of place, it’ll be terrible. Let’s just throw him out instead.” Watching Isabelle’s frightened appearance, I couldn’t help but laugh mockingly. The entire Sullivan family was established single-handedly by Grandmother. She only had my father as a child. After my father died, Grandmother personally named me the heir to the entire Sullivan family estate according to my father’s will and official legal documents, while she retired to Europe. Victoria and Isabelle weren’t actually my real sisters—they were my mother’s brother’s daughters. It was only because their parents died young and my mother begged my father for half a month that he finally allowed them to enter our Sullivan household, and they took the Sullivan surname. Although Victoria trembled when she heard about the Sullivan family grandmother, she still spoke firmly: “What’s there to fear? Once Marcus inherits the Sullivan family, what can Grandmother say even if she’s unhappy?” I just laughed mockingly: “I’m standing here today—who can steal my identity as the Sullivan family heir?” Hearing my words, Victoria pointed at me with towering rage: “Someone like you still dares to speak such nonsense here? You really think you’re the Sullivan family heir!” “You’re all still hesitating? I’ll put it this way—ten thousand per punch to anyone who hits him. Cash paid immediately!” As soon as she finished speaking, one of the security guards rushed over and punched me hard. “Someone brought into the Sullivan family dares to cause such trouble here? Don’t you know your place!” Touching my aching nose, I was laughing from anger. A security guard I’d never even seen dared to rush over and punch me—it seemed Victoria and Isabelle really thought they could cover the sky with one hand in the Sullivan family. My expression grew colder as I kicked him hard in the left kneecap. In pain, the security guard immediately knelt before me. “Victoria, Isabelle, you two really have great power! Spending ten thousand just to have someone punch me! Who gave you the authority to dispose of the Sullivan family’s assets so freely?” Seeing me still resisting, Victoria spoke even more angrily: “What are you all still standing there for? Hurry up and drag him away and lock him up! Whoever locks him up gets a million-dollar reward!” Isabelle’s voice was equally ice-cold: “Anyone who doesn’t move, pack up and get out!” Under their threats and inducements, numerous security guards pressed toward me. At that moment, an angry shout came from outside the hall: “What’s going on here? The banquet started so long ago—why is it still so noisy!”

Everyone looked toward the door. The newcomer was my mother, Hannah Evans. After entering, she saw bloodstains on the front of Marcus’s shirt and rushed to his side, speaking with towering rage: “Marcus, what happened? How did you get injured? Tell me, who did this!” Marcus looked down at me, tears welling in his eyes. Victoria pointed at me furiously: “Who else could it be but Damien Sullivan?” Isabelle was trembling with anger. “Auntie, look how arrogant he is—he kicked Marcus off the stage right in front of us, and he’s still bleeding.” Hannah rushed over and slapped me hard across the face: “Damien Sullivan, who gave you the courage to bully Marcus? Have you eaten a bear’s heart and leopard’s gall?” “You’ve made today’s banquet a complete mess. Are you trying to lose all the Sullivan family’s face before you’re satisfied?” “I’ll teach you a lesson today. Hurry up and apologize to Marcus!” Watching my mother’s actions, the guests in the hall frowned and discussed among themselves: “That’s Hannah Evans from the Sullivan family, right? Looking at her behavior, Marcus is the child she cares about!” “This Damien has too much nerve—publicly claiming he’s the Sullivan family heir. I almost believed him.” Hearing the guests’ discussions below, my expression darkened as I pushed Hannah away forcefully. “Teach me a lesson? You lost the right to be my mother long ago!” In my previous life, not only did they unconditionally favor Marcus, but even Hannah doted on him extremely. Especially once, when I accidentally broke one of Marcus’s models, Hannah locked me outside for an entire night before forgiving me. From then on, I constantly followed Marcus around, humbly trying to please him, hoping to regain their affection and Hannah’s love. In this life, I finally figured it out. Marcus wasn’t a child brought home from outside at all—he was Hannah’s son with her own brother. To protect my inheritance rights, my father specifically made a will asking Grandmother to declare that I was the Sullivan family’s only heir. But my father never would have expected that Hannah not only wanted to take away my inheritance, but wanted to eliminate me completely. Victoria and Isabelle had known about this all along and tried every means to help their real brother. I was truly stupid before, not noticing these things at all. Hannah’s face was full of rage as she looked at me with fury: “You still dare to talk back? You’re getting more and more lawless!” I met Hannah’s furious gaze directly, speaking coldly: “Hannah Evans, don’t forget that I am the Sullivan family’s legal heir. It’s not your place to point fingers here.” “As long as I’m here, your son Marcus will never be able to take over the Sullivan family!” Hearing my words, Hannah was completely enraged. Marcus was the first to rush over, followed by Victoria and Isabelle pouncing on me viciously. Hannah grabbed my collar and angrily slapped me again. “Say that again? I’ve been managing the Sullivan family’s affairs all these years. Your grandmother hasn’t been involved for so many years—why shouldn’t I be able to make decisions?” I was held down tightly and couldn’t move. I licked the fresh blood flowing from the corner of my mouth, still staring fearlessly at Hannah before me. I had already notified Grandmother to come back earlier. Calculating the time, she should be arriving soon. Seeing my smile, Hannah became even more agitated. Marcus kicked me hard in the abdomen. “You still dare to hit and scold me—who gave you the courage? Remember, you’re the one who joined the Sullivan family later!” Victoria and Isabelle weren’t to be outdone either, each slapping my face again. “Damien Sullivan, who do you think you are? Stop daydreaming—the entire Sullivan family should belong to Marcus!” Just then, an aged but strong and authoritative voice rang out from the doorway. “Who gave you the courage to bully my grandson, the Sullivan family’s only heir, like this? Do you all have a death wish?”

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Mom gave us two choices. Go with her to the Sterling household. I could attend the same elite private high school as Miss Jade Sterling, but college funding would be limited. Stay home for school. After graduating high school, I could apply to overseas universities. My brother Mason jumped in first: “Mom, I want to go with you to the Sterlings’.” Mom smiled with relief and turned to look at me. “Older siblings should let the younger ones have their way. I’ll fund your overseas education later—that’s me doing my duty as a mother.” Looking at my brother clutching Mom’s arm with that expectant expression, I knew—he had been reborn too. Too bad Jade Sterling would never fall for him. “Cameron, the employer’s family is busy. Mason and I have to leave today. Take care of yourself at home.” After Mom finished packing, she left with Mason. Nothing like the previous life when she stayed a full ten days trying to persuade Mason to go with her to the Sterlings’. In my past life, after Mom presented those two choices, Mason had also jumped to choose first—except he’d chosen to study abroad. After my parents divorced, I was awarded to Dad. For ten whole years, Mom never came to see me once, yet I thought about her every single day. It wasn’t until Dad died and social services contacted her that I finally had a “mom” again. When Mason chose overseas study, I was thrilled. I could finally spend day and night with Mom. But Mom wanted to take Mason instead. She stayed home for ten days, constantly trying to persuade Mason to go with her. Mason stubbornly believed there were more opportunities abroad. Even when the employer’s family urged Mom to return, he never changed his mind. And so I went with Mom to the Sterling household, where I met Jade. She had an aloof temperament and exceptional intelligence. She was the object of admiration for many boys at school. I couldn’t help being drawn to her too. But I knew we were from two different worlds. I could only keep those feelings hidden. Until the night of the graduation dance, when Jade came back from the party slightly drunk and pulled me to a corner of the terrace. “Cameron, come with me to the East Coast for college, okay?” I forced myself to look away. “I can’t afford it.” Jade laughed, and the whole night seemed to brighten. “I can help you.” In that moment, I finally knew—the person I’d quietly loved for three years felt the same way about me. Overwhelming happiness crashed over me. I excitedly told Mom that Miss Sterling was willing to sponsor my education abroad. What I got in return was a hard slap across the face. “Absolutely not! When you chose to come with me to the Sterlings’, you already gave up that path. The money I’ve saved is for Mason.” I covered my face and tried to explain. “Miss Sterling said I don’t need to pay tuition. She’ll help me.” Mom let out a contemptuous laugh and looked me up and down with disdain. “You really don’t know your place, do you? Trying to latch onto someone for money and opportunity? Think about who you are and who she is. People like her—it’s just a passing fancy. When she gets bored, I’ll be the one cleaning up the mess. Don’t even think about going abroad. And if you dare disobey me, stop calling me Mom. Also, stay away from Miss Sterling. Don’t affect my job.” Maybe because I’d lacked maternal love since childhood, what I feared most was being abandoned by Mom again. I was devastated when I turned Jade down. But Jade solemnly told me: “Distance isn’t a problem. I’ll come back to see you often.” After she started college, we began a long-distance relationship. She flew back to see me several times every month. The sweetness of love filled me with hope for the future. When Mom found out we were actually together, she went behind my back and asked Jade to look after Mason while she was overseas, since he was there too. Jade didn’t understand my family’s complicated situation. Out of kindness, she agreed to be friends with him. Then in senior year, I received a message from Mason, along with a photo. In the photo, Mason was shirtless with his arm around an obviously drunk Jade. The background was a hotel room. [Bro, I’m the one Jade needs. Stop clinging to her.] After three years with Jade, I knew her character well. My first thought was that she might have been set up. Furious, I called Mason to demand an explanation. But I didn’t notice the delivery truck rushing at me from the side. After my soul left my body, I heard the conversation between Mom and Mason. “Your brother’s death came at just the right time. Seize the opportunity and win Jade’s heart. You won’t have to worry about anything after that.” Mason laughed smugly. “You had the foresight, Mom, getting Jade to agree to ‘look after’ me. That’s how I got the chance to take that photo when she got drunk at her celebration dinner. I only meant to make Cameron back off on his own. I didn’t expect him to actually have an accident—heaven really helped me out. After Jade’s emotions settle down in a while, I’ll comfort her more. There’ll be opportunities.” I’d always thought that even if Mom was biased, she at least had some maternal feelings for me. I never imagined she wouldn’t even grieve my death. My heart turned to ash as I drifted to find Jade. But I discovered that Jade had killed herself in her apartment, clutching my photo. Only then did I realize—Jade’s feelings for me ran deep enough to transcend life and death. Hatred consumed me. I used my last bit of strength to trip Mason as he went downstairs. Watching him tumble down the stairs to his death, my soul finally dispersed completely. I never expected to return to that day when we chose our fates. Except this time, Mason chose to go to the Sterlings’. He thought that by going to the Sterlings’, he’d have the advantage of proximity. Too bad he was wrong. Jade would never fall for him. And I would make them pay for what they did in my past life.

As soon as Mom and Mason left, my aunt hinted that I should move to campus early, using the excuse that they needed to renovate the room. Before, when Mom worked as a live-in housekeeper at the Sterlings’, she had us temporarily stay at my uncle’s house. She gave my aunt money for expenses every month. In my past life, after Mom and I went to the Sterlings’, she added more money and asked them to take good care of Mason. Mason lived at my uncle’s house like half an owner. Now it seemed Mom had stopped the payments to my aunt. I didn’t argue. I packed my few belongings and left. Before school started, I had one important thing to do. After leaving my uncle’s house, I went to the bank. Before Dad died, he’d set up a small trust fund for me every birthday. Only I knew about it. I withdrew the money and took an intercity bus to a quiet cemetery on the city outskirts. The wind and rain were fierce that day. I hid behind an old oak tree in my raincoat, waiting. Near dusk, sixteen-year-old Jade ran in through the rain. Several security guards with troubled expressions followed behind her. Jade was soaked through, her eyes stubborn. She walked straight to a gravestone and began pulling aside the grass next to it with her hands. “Miss, the rain’s too heavy. It might have washed away. Let’s come back when the weather’s better.” Jade acted as if she hadn’t heard. Not until she was exhausted, her eyes dimming, did I step out from behind the tree. “Excuse me, are you looking for this?” I pulled out a necklace from inside my coat. Jade’s eyes lit up. She quickly walked over. Seeing how soaked she was, I raised my umbrella higher to shield her from the rain too. Jade carefully took the necklace, her tense expression finally relaxing. “How did you get this?” In my past life, after Jade and I got together, she once said her biggest regret from her youth was losing this necklace she’d made with her mother the summer she turned sixteen. So I came here to help her make up for that regret and create an opportunity for us to meet. I shrank my shoulders and said softly: “The rain washed it to the roadside just now. I picked it up. I saw you’d been searching for a long time and guessed it might be something important to you.” “Thank you. It’s very important to me. What do you want as a reward?” Though Jade thanked me, her tone still carried distance. My voice trembled slightly: “Then… treat me to a bowl of hot soup, will you? I’m cold and hungry.” Jade paused, then couldn’t help but laugh softly. “Okay.” Half an hour later, at my insistence, Jade and I ate her first-ever cup of instant noodles together at a gas station convenience store. “I didn’t expect hot soup could taste this good.” When we were together before, she always said this kind of simple food was the most relaxing. After eating, Jade wanted to get my contact information to thank me properly. I smiled and shook my head. “If we’re meant to, we’ll meet again.” The moment I turned away, I bit my lip hard to keep the tears from falling. How I wanted to rush over and hug her tight, to tell her everything from our past life, to tell her how much I’d missed her. But doing that would probably just make her think I was crazy. I didn’t leave my contact information because I knew her trajectory for the next few years. We were destined to “run into each other.” Jade would think it was all fate’s arrangement, not my calculated plan.

Finally, school started. High school coursework was ridiculously easy for me. I began planning my second “chance encounter” with Jade. During the long weekend in October, I found temporary work doing facility maintenance at an ice hockey rink. On the third morning, Jade came to practice. I watched silently from the sidelines. When she finished a round of practice and was resting, I walked by with a mop and said casually, as if to myself: “If you could curl your wrist inward just a bit more when passing, the trajectory would be trickier.” Jade whipped around. Though I couldn’t see her eyes clearly behind her visor, I could feel her surprise. “It’s you? You know hockey?” I didn’t really know anything about it—she’d told me herself in our past life. I looked confused: “A little bit, I guess… Have we met before?” Jade took off her helmet, surprise lighting up her eyes. I showed appropriate realization: “Oh! You’re the person from the cemetery!” At noon, we ate together in the break area. “You look pretty young. Why are you working here?” “Shh, don’t let the manager hear. I put down an older age on my ID.” “Do you need money badly?” “After my dad died, Mom took the insurance payout and left with my brother. I have to earn my own living expenses.” Jade was silent for a moment. “This afternoon during practice, would you be willing to be my temporary training partner?” I looked hesitant: “But I still need to clean the locker rooms…” “I’ll pay you a thousand dollars an hour.” “No problem, boss!” Jade burst out laughing and nearly choked. After afternoon practice ended, Jade wanted to invite me to dinner. Just as I was about to accept, I glimpsed Mason peeking around outside the rink’s glass doors. “Next time! I need to get back to work.” When settling payment, we naturally exchanged contact information. Back at my temporary residence, a message from Jade popped up. [Did you get home safe?] I couldn’t help but smile, but only replied with one word: [Yeah.]

After the holiday ended, I began preparing to register for the interscholastic debate competition. In my past life, though Jade and I both lived at the Sterling household, we stayed on different floors. At school, she was in the gifted program while I was in regular classes. We were two parallel lines that should never have met. It was a debate competition that made Jade notice me. This time, I wanted to stand on that stage even earlier. However, when I had all my materials ready, I discovered that my small-town high school had no plans to register for the competition at all. I didn’t give up. I brought a sleeping bag and camped out in the hallway outside the principal’s office. Unable to withstand my persistence, the principal finally agreed to let the school enter a team, though we’d have to cover travel expenses ourselves. Fortunately, there were plenty of interested students at school. We formed a team, prepared, held practice debates—we were swamped. Jade occasionally sent me messages. I always stopped what I was doing and read them several times before finally restraining my emotions and replying briefly with just a few words. Before the end of first semester, I led our team into the finals. At the venue before the competition, Jade spotted me immediately. “Are you working part-time here again?” I tapped the school name badge on my chest. “I’m here to compete in the finals.” Jade glanced at the badge, her pupils contracting slightly. “You’re ‘that’ debater from Oak Ridge High?” “‘That’?” Jade’s expression turned serious, her gaze intent. “With your school’s resources and history, making the finals is nothing short of miraculous.” “Many spectators today came specifically to see your team’s legendary captain. Could you introduce me later?” Just then, my teammate ran over. “Captain, our seats are over there. We should go get ready!” Jade froze, and the way she looked at me clearly changed. I pumped my fist with a confident smile. “See you on the debate floor, Jade.” Four teams had made the finals. We faced off against another school first. Having lived through this once before, I not only remembered the debate topics but knew the opponents’ weaknesses. Without question, we won with a clear advantage. Throughout the entire process, I could feel that familiar gaze following me, growing more and more focused. When it was Jade’s team’s turn to compete, I sat in the audience directly across from them. Just like in my past life, she was calm and composed, methodically dismantling each of the opposing team’s attacks with clear logic. After her victory, I saw her gaze searching through the crowd, so I immediately pulled my teammates out through the side door. When it comes to feelings, the more elusive you are, the more unforgettable you become. When Jade sent me messages, I only replied with [Busy].

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I became Luke’s girlfriend when his company was on the brink of collapse. For five years, I secretly poured a lot of money into his business. On the eve of his company’s IPO, he finally proposed, promising to make me the happiest woman in the world. But then, I accidentally came across his messages with a friend on his computer. “I’m marrying Chloe just to piss Seraphina off.” “The company’s about to go public. I’ll be a billionaire soon. I’m sure Seraphina won’t just watch me marry that woman.” “As soon as Seraphina agrees to come back from abroad for me, I’ll break up with Chloe and marry her instead.” Turns out, Luke only proposed to me to make his first love jealous. I scoffed. Then I immediately called my dad to pull all the investments. “Dad, withdraw the shares from Luke’s company in a few days.” With the company’s IPO imminent, my dad pulling out would be catastrophic for Luke. “Did that kid hurt you? I’ll deal with him!” My dad has always doted on me. He didn’t even ask why, and was immediately ready to confront Luke. I managed a bitter smile. “Dad, this is something I want to handle myself.” My voice caught in my throat. To keep my dad from worrying, I quickly hung up. My eyes stayed fixed on the alarming chat logs on the computer screen in front of me. Luke and I attended the same university. During our freshman year, when some guys were harassing me, Luke stepped in without hesitation. He fought them off and ended up with a bloody head. But it was seeing him like that which made me fall deeply in love with him. Growing up, besides my dad, he was the first man who had ever thrown himself into danger for me like that. So in college, I pursued him for a long time. He never said yes. Looking back, I was really pathetic. His indifference only made me want him more, making me believe such a man was truly captivating. It wasn’t until after graduation, when his company went bankrupt and he was millions in debt, that he finally started to come around, with me by his side through his darkest days. That’s when he finally agreed to be my boyfriend. I then pleaded with my dad to use our family’s resources to secretly help him from behind the scenes, getting his company back on track. Five long years, and his company was finally on the verge of going public. He even proposed to me the day his IPO application was approved. I thought we were finally going to get our happy ending. Who knew it was all just a ploy to make his first love jealous? And I was nothing but a pawn in his game. On our wedding day, I would probably be the laughingstock of everyone. Luke was out entertaining clients today. He must have left in a hurry, forgetting to log out of SnapChat on his computer. Even though those chat logs made my heart ache so much I could barely breathe, I seized the chance to open his Ins feed. I’d never seen his Ins before. He seemed to never post, not even sweet photos of us when we traveled. But opening his Ins now, I discovered he did post. He had just always blocked me. Soon, I found a picture of a girl on his feed. Only her fair wrist was visible, but the stunning emerald bracelet on it was particularly dazzling. I’d seen it in his suit pocket not long ago. I thought he was finally getting romantic, planning to put it on my wrist at our wedding. Instead, it was a gift for another woman. Turns out, he wasn’t unromantic. He just wasn’t romantic with me. Just then, my phone rang. “Chloe, hurry over! Luke’s in a fight!” I could faintly hear Luke’s angry shouts over the phone. “You bastards, you need to apologize to my girlfriend!” My heart gave a violent lurch. I wasn’t even there; the girlfriend he was talking about definitely wasn’t me. I wanted to know what happened tonight, so I grabbed my jacket. As I went to the shoe rack, I saw the scarf I’d made him lying on the floor. Looking closely, there were clear footprints on it. I’d spent over ten days knitting it, pricking my fingers countless times, and then given it to him myself. But he didn’t value it at all. I bent down, picked up the scarf, and expressionlessly tossed it into the trash can. Then I hailed a cab and headed to the bar where Luke was fighting. I saw Luke with his arm around a woman, tears streaming down her face. On her fair wrist, she wore that same gorgeous green emerald bracelet.

“Those guys accidentally spilled a drink on Luke’s friend, so Luke started fighting them.” “Luke’s had a lot to drink tonight. I’m worried he’ll cause trouble.” Luke’s friend quickly explained, rushing over to me.. When I heard the reason, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. I remembered once accompanying him to a client dinner. When the business deal fell through, the client deliberately spilled wine on my face. He didn’t get angry then. Instead, he blamed me for being naive, saying I ruined the cooperation. Seeing Luke about to charge at the other group again, his friend quickly rushed over to stop them. “Luke! That’s enough! You’re getting married soon, don’t make a scene!” Unexpectedly, Luke roughly shook off his friend. “Who the hell is getting married?!” “This jerk spilled a drink on my girlfriend! You think this is just going to slide?!” “No apology? Nobody’s leaving, damn it!” Luke’s eyes were hazy with drink, and he swayed as he walked. His words caused an awkward silence among some of his friends who knew me. Their gazes turned to me. I gave a cold laugh, then stepped forward and slapped the man confronting Luke squarely across the face. My slap silenced the entire room. “You damn hag! How dare you hit me?!” After a moment of stunned silence, the man exploded in fury, lunging at me. I just wanted to see Luke’s reaction. Would he still protect me as he did back then, fighting for me without a second thought? However, Luke actually shoved me by the shoulder, roaring: “What are you doing here messing things up?! Haven’t I had enough trouble today?!” “You’re useless and only make things worse!” Luke’s words completely chilled my heart. He even looked at the other man indignantly and said, “We’re even now! Get lost!” The other man was somewhat rational and didn’t continue the confrontation, eventually cursing under his breath and leaving. After they left, Luke collapsed heavily onto the sofa. Luke’s friend awkwardly explained to me, “Chloe, don’t overthink it. Luke was just drunk and running his mouth. This is Seraphina, she was Luke’s high school classmate and just got back from abroad today.” I cast a cool glance at Seraphina. Tears still clung to her lashes. She looked as if she’d suffered some immense grievance. “Seraphina, this is Luke’s fiancée-” But before his friend could finish the introduction, Luke suddenly sat up from the sofa. “Colleague! What fiancée?!” This sudden stab made my whole body tremble. The atmosphere in the room instantly became incredibly awkward. After a long moment of silence, Luke’s friend quickly tried to smooth things over, offering me a glass of wine: “Today’s a day worth celebrating! Come on, let’s raise a toast!” Unexpectedly, Luke, who had just slumped back, sat up again, glaring furiously at his friend. “Don’t you know she’s allergic to alcohol?!” He was indeed aware of my alcohol intolerance. But what surprised me was Seraphina’s reaction next. “Luke, you’re drunk. Mike is toasting Chloe, not me.” Luke then looked relieved. “Oh, well, she can drink! She can drink a lot! Make her have a few more glasses.” Hearing that, I felt something in my chest shatter with a painful crack. I remember years ago at a dinner, I told him before we went that I was allergic to alcohol. But once we arrived, he immediately told me to toast each client one by one. That day, I ended up in the hospital, and he even blamed me for being dramatic, for collapsing after so little alcohol. Yet, despite such a harsh lesson, he still hadn’t remembered my alcohol allergy. It could only mean that he truly never cared about me. I came here tonight still holding onto a last shred of hope. But now, it was completely pulverized. At this point, Seraphina stood up and said to me: “Since you’re here, you should take Luke home. I just got back to the country, so I can’t take care of him tonight.” “Oh, and tomorrow when he wakes up, remember to make him a ginger-honey tea. He loves it. If he doesn’t have it, he’ll have a headache all day.” “Don’t forget to cover him with a blanket at night, either. He always kicks off the covers when he drinks too much.” Every word from Seraphina told me that she seemed to know Luke better than I did. Today, she was merely dumping this mess on me. I stared at Seraphina’s innocent eyes for a long time, truly wanting to slap her. But in the end, I held back. I wanted to see how long they would keep up this act.

On the way home, I couldn’t help but cry. Five years of dating, and if you count the four years I chased him. I had loved this man for a full nine years. But this was the result. It also brought back the chat logs I had seen earlier. As long as Seraphina was willing to come back from abroad for him, he would dump me and marry her. Today, his goal was achieved. No wonder he had rushed out in such a hurry this afternoon; he must have gone to the airport to pick her up. Just then, Luke’s phone vibrated. I opened it and saw a message from Seraphina. But my gaze immediately zeroed in on Seraphina’s profile picture. They had matching profile pictures! Probably changed during that gathering just now. I remembered last year, I found a famous cartoonist to draw a beautiful avatar for Luke and me. I excitedly asked Luke to change to the new avatar. But he just tore into me, calling me childish and telling me to focus on my work. Yet now, he had a much more childish one with Seraphina. Then, I felt a small box in Luke’s suit pocket. I carefully took it out. Inside was indeed a dazzling pink diamond ring. Engraved on the back was Seraphina’s name. I had asked him countless times for a pink diamond engagement ring. But he always said money needed to be spent on the company. However, he had just been waiting for Seraphina all along, to engrave her name on this most important ring. I tried to wipe away the tears that were spilling from my eyes again. Then, while Luke was sound asleep, I used his fingerprint to unlock his phone and opened Seraphina’s message. “My darling, don’t forget to help me choose a wedding dress tomorrow.” Boom! Seeing that message, my head buzzed. I’d brought up wedding dresses many times, and he always told me to pick one out myself, refusing to accompany me with the excuse that the IPO was imminent. The truth was, he didn’t care what I bought at all. Because, to him, I was never going to wear that wedding dress. At that moment, I truly wanted to cry my heart out. But seeing the driver still in front, I could only dig my nails into my thigh, trying desperately to hold back my tears. My nails were already deeply embedded in my flesh. I could only let the physical pain replace the pain in my heart. And desperately try to let go of this love I had clung to for nine years. The next morning, I still followed Seraphina’s instructions and made him ginger-honey tea. However, he took one sip and spat it out. “What the hell is this? Why did you add ginger?!” “Don’t you know I hate the smell of ginger the most?!” But I distinctly remembered Seraphina saying he loved the taste of ginger-honey tea the most. Soon, I understood. He didn’t like the taste of ginger-honey tea; he liked Seraphina’s taste. He liked his first love’s taste. I hadn’t slept a wink last night, but I’d come to understand a lot about this relationship. Seeing him like this now, for once, I wasn’t angry. I poured the entire bowl of ginger-honey tea into the trash. Luke put on his shoes and said coldly, “The company’s about to go public. I’m busy. Don’t cause any more trouble for me.” He turned and slammed the door behind him. I knew he was going to accompany Seraphina to pick out a wedding dress.

I quickly had someone find out which bridal shop Seraphina had chosen. Actually, I didn’t even need to investigate. Without any surprise, Luke had chosen the most expensive and exclusive bridal shop in the city. It was the same shop I had visited four or five times already. Three days ago, I had ordered the most expensive wedding dress in the country there. Today was supposed to be the day the dress arrived. However, when I arrived at the entrance of the bridal shop, I happened to see Seraphina wearing that very dress, twirling in front of Luke. Luke was discussing something with the store manager. “Luke, I really love this wedding dress; I want this one!” Seraphina sweetly clung to Luke’s arm, pouting playfully. Luke, meanwhile, was earnestly negotiating with the manager. “Call that lady and tell her I’m willing to pay an extra fifty thousand and compensate her with another fifty thousand, as long as she agrees to let me have this dress.” Hearing that, I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. Turns out, for his first love, he could be so generous. The manager was naturally swayed by Luke’s offer and turned to go into the back, saying she would call me. I slowly walked up behind Luke. Seraphina saw me first; her face immediately turned pale. She poked Luke’s arm and looked at him with a pitiable expression. Luke then turned around, saw me, and his brow furrowed instinctively. “With so much going on at the company, why aren’t you there? What are you doing here?!” However, he showed not a hint of embarrassment. Instead, he immediately launched into an indignant interrogation. I looked at him quietly, not wanting to argue. Last night, I had cried all my tears for him. It wasn’t worth being sad for him anymore. Seeing my silence, Luke pinched the bridge of his nose and finally spoke again. “Chloe, as you can see, the person I truly love is Seraphina.” “Don’t make a scene. I’ll give you some money, and I hope you can leave gracefully.” My gaze remained fixed on his eyes. I had come here today to ask him one last question. “Luke, I just want to know, all these years, did you ever truly love me?” Luke listened, and a hint of disdainful smile appeared on his lips. “Chloe, I know you love me to death.” “But today, in front of Seraphina, I have to tell you honestly, I have never loved you.” “I only agreed to be with you because I felt sorry for you, chasing me for so many years.” Although it was the answer I expected, Luke’s words were even more heartless than I had imagined. Well. Good. If he could be so ruthless. Why couldn’t I? Just then, the manager came out from the back. “Mr. Luke, I’m sorry…” Before she could finish, she saw me and looked startled. “Oh, Miss Dawson, you’re here. This gentleman, he…” Before she could finish, I cut her off. “It’s fine. Give the wedding dress to this lady.” “I hope they find happiness.” With that, I turned and left the bridal shop. I called my dad. “Dad. On Luke’s wedding day, tell him about withdrawing the investment.”

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When our son was critically ill, my husband, Liam, stole all my savings for his lover. “Sarah, you’re a doctor. You know this child won’t live past three. Why waste money on treatment? Better to invest in Jasmine.” Three years later, he and Jasmine showed up in front of me in a beat-up old car. When he saw our son not only alive but having won an international programming contest, Liam burst into arrogant laughter. “Sarah, I can’t believe the kid’s still alive! For his sake, I’ve decided to give you a complete family. You can be our housekeeper from now on, take care of the child and Jasmine.” I smiled. He didn’t know I had been reborn. This time, I wouldn’t let them bully me. I immediately called my current husband. “There’s a crazy man trying to take our son!” My husband’s voice was tense. “Send me your location. I want to see who’s audacious enough to try that.” “Sarah, don’t push your luck!” Liam’s face was a mask of oily impatience as he yanked open my car door, blocking me from closing it. Beside him stood Jasmine, wearing a faded knock-off Chanel suit, yet holding herself stiffly, gazing at me with an expression of feigned pity. “Sarah, Liam really had a hard time abroad these past three years. Don’t make a scene. We’re just trying to give Noah a complete family.” The company parking lot was busy. Many colleagues craned their necks, whispering and pointing at me. Reborn, facing this scene again, my heart still throbbed with a familiar ache. In my previous life, this was where they pushed me to my breaking point. I’d cried hysterically, clutching my son, becoming the laughingstock of the entire company. Liam had publicly slapped me, calling me an ungrateful wretch who only held him back. But this time, I wouldn’t. Noah, nestled in my arms, looked up. His tiny brows were furrowed tightly. He wasn’t like most three-year-olds. His eyes held a calm beyond his years. “Mommy, who are these people? They look so weird.” That innocent remark instantly drained the color from Liam and Jasmine’s faces. Liam glared at Noah, the greed in his eyes almost spilling over. “I’m your dad! Look at you, so sharp, just like I was when I was little!” He reached out to pinch Noah’s cheek, but I quickly pulled him away. I stared at him coldly, like a pathetic clown. “Liam, have you forgotten what kind of child you abandoned three years ago?” My voice wasn’t loud, but it cut clearly into his ears. “He was hooked up to tubes, doctors said he wouldn’t live past three months, he even needed a machine to breathe.” “Now look at my son-healthy, lively, intelligent. When you abandoned him, did you ever think you deserved to be his father?” Liam’s expression froze. He clearly hadn’t expected me to so calmly expose his past. The chatter among my colleagues grew louder. “Oh my god, Liam has a son? I thought he broke up with Sarah years ago to go abroad with Jasmine for further studies.” “That kid looks so smart, not at all like he was ever sick.” “Sarah is so strong, raising a child alone for three years. It must have been incredibly difficult.”

Jasmine’s face turned from pale to green. She dug her nails into her palm, forcing out a wronged smile. “Sarah, I know you resent us, but back then, I had no choice…” “If Liam hadn’t left, his future would have been ruined. I was just trying to help him.” As she spoke, her eyes welled up, and she gazed tearfully at Liam. Liam’s heart immediately went out to her. He pulled Jasmine into a hug, then turned, glaring at me fiercely. “Sarah, stop being so sarcastic! If it weren’t for me, you’d still be a faded, frumpy housewife with nothing!” “I’m willing to acknowledge Noah, that shows I’m being generous! Don’t be ungrateful!” He grew more agitated, spittle nearly flying into my face. “The car you’re driving? Did your poor husband buy it? Could he afford it? You’re still spending my money!” “I’m telling you, I’m taking this kid with me today! And you, you’re coming back with me too!” “My money?” I felt like I’d heard the funniest joke, and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Liam, three years ago, you took the two million dollars my parents gave me for a house, plus all my savings from five years of work. Shouldn’t we settle that score?” At the mention of money, Liam’s face instantly twisted into a foul expression. He squeezed my wrist with such force that I heard a crisp crack. “You dare bring up money? That was for my startup! For our future!” “What does a woman like you need so much money for? Isn’t it all just going into that car now, to make your toy boy look good?” I gasped in pain, cold sweat beading on my forehead. Seeing me bullied, Noah’s dark eyes instantly turned cold. He struggled free from my arms and, like an angry little beast, bit Liam’s hand. “Bad man! Don’t bully my mommy!” Liam yelped, violently shaking his hand. Noah stumbled from the force, almost falling. My heart clenched. I quickly caught my son, shielding him behind me. Liam stared at the deep teeth marks on the back of his hand, his eyes red with fury. He raised his hand, ready to strike Noah. “You little punk! Just like your mother, an ungrateful little monster!” His palm never landed. A sudden force grabbed his arm. Mr. Miller, the company’s security chief, arrived with two other guards, sternly holding Liam back. “Sir, please show some respect! This is company property, not a place for you to cause a scene!” Liam struggled, cursing loudly. “Who do you think you are?! Trying to interfere with my family matters? I’m her husband!” Jasmine shrieked, pointing her finger at my face. “Sarah, you vicious woman! You actually called security to hit the child’s biological father! Is your heart made of stone?!” She cried dramatically, like a damsel in distress, as if I were the villain. I couldn’t be bothered to waste any more breath on them. I pulled out my phone and aimed the camera at their ugly faces. “I’ve already called the police. Keep making a scene, and you’ll be arrested.” Seeing my phone camera, Liam and Jasmine’s arrogance instantly deflated. Liam shot me a hateful glare, lowering his voice in a threat. “Sarah, just you wait! I’m telling you, I’ve done my research. Your husband, Julian, is just a regular college professor!” “I’m putting it out there right now. Tomorrow, I’ll go to his university. Let’s see what a poor professor like him can do against me!”

“And my son can’t be living out there, calling some other man ‘Dad’!” He spat out his threats, then dragged a still-sobbing Jasmine and slunk away into their beat-up used car. Watching them disappear, the coldness in my eyes turned to ice. In my previous life, he did exactly this. He went to Julian’s university, caused a scene, spread rumors that Julian was a home-wrecker, which led to Julian being suspended for investigation. That period was the darkest time for Julian and me. This time, I would never let history repeat itself. I put away my phone and looked down at my son. “Noah, are you scared?” Noah shook his head, his small hand gripping my clothes tightly, his gaze firm. “I’m not scared. Dad will protect us.” I stroked his head, a warmth spreading through my heart. Yes, this time, I had Julian. Liam’s harassment came sooner than I expected. That afternoon, I received a call from Professor Davies at the university. His voice was filled with difficulty. “Sarah, your ex-husband, Liam, is here at the university. He’s specifically asking to see Professor Julian, saying he wants to… ‘settle things’.” “A lot of students are gathering around. It doesn’t look good, so…” My fingers tightened around the phone. Sure enough, he was following the exact same path as in my previous life. Self-righteous, and utterly foolish. “Professor, don’t mind him. He’s just a lunatic. I’ve already called the police.” After hanging up, I immediately sent Julian a text. “Ignore him. I’m on my way.” Julian quickly replied with a single word. “Okay.” I drove straight to Northwestern University. The car sped down the road, and the helplessness and regret from my past life resurfaced. Three years ago, I caught him cheating with Jasmine. In my despair, I had a drunken night with Julian, who was also going through a tough time. I had intended to cut off contact, but then I found out I was pregnant. When I told Liam, he thought the baby was his and was ecstatic. But Noah was born with a rare genetic disease. The enormous medical bills instantly made him change his tune. He colluded with Jasmine, stole all my money, and abandoned Noah and me like trash. When I had nowhere else to turn, I reconnected with Julian. He concealed his true identity from me, only saying he was a regular teacher, but he quietly created a safe haven for Noah. I would never forget that kindness. Liam’s current arrogance was built on his laughable ignorance. Halfway there, my phone suddenly vibrated wildly. Notifications from various social media apps chimed nonstop. I tapped it open. A post titled “Exposed: My Gold-Digger Ex-Wife Married a Poor Professor but Drives a Luxury Car” was trending across all major forums. The poster was Jasmine. In the post, she painted herself as a long-suffering good woman, and Liam as a self-sacrificing good man who went abroad to build a future. And I, on the other hand, was a materialistic, promiscuous villain, using her ex-husband’s money to support her toy boy, and refusing to let Noah’s real father see his child. Attached to the post were photos taken that morning in the parking lot, my luxury car, and a side profile shot of Julian lecturing, somehow acquired from somewhere. In the photo, Julian wore a simple white shirt and classic wire-rimmed glasses, looking gentle and scholarly. The comment section had exploded. “OMG, this woman is shameless! Drives a luxury car, but her husband is a university professor? Can that professor’s monthly salary even cover gas?”

“This professor looks all prim and proper. Is he just some rich woman’s boy toy?” “My heart goes out to the original poster and her boyfriend. They struggled for three years abroad, only to come back and find their home stolen, and the child brainwashed by a stepdad.” “Dox her! Women like this deserve to be cyberbullied to death!” Although my photo was pixelated, anyone who knew me would recognize me instantly. In my company’s chat group, people were already subtly discussing the matter. A tidal wave of malice surged towards me. In my previous life, I was driven to resign by this very public backlash, even falling into depression. But now, looking at the hateful words, my heart felt strangely calm. Because I knew these people would soon learn just how dangerous a person they had provoked. The car stopped at the gate of Northwestern University. I immediately spotted Liam, surrounded by a crowd. He was ranting, tears streaming, telling the surrounding students how he’d been cuckolded and his son taken from him. Jasmine stood by, crying dramatically, fueling the righteous indignation of many unsuspecting students. “Julian! You coward! Get out here!” Liam yelled at the top of his lungs. “Stealing my wife, taking my son, what kind of man are you?! If you have the guts, come out and face me!” Just then, the teaching building doors opened. Julian walked out slowly. He was still wearing that white shirt, his expression composed. Seeing him, Liam seemed pumped full of adrenaline, rushing forward instantly. “You’re Julian? You home-wrecker! Give me back my wife and child!” “Mr. Miller, please watch your language.” Julian adjusted his glasses, his voice quiet but carrying undeniable authority. “Sarah is currently my legal wife, and Noah is my son.” His calmness stood in stark contrast to Liam’s frenzy. Liam was momentarily speechless, then grew even more enraged. “Proof of identity means nothing! Blood ties can’t be changed! What right does a poor teacher like you have to raise my son?!” He pointed at my luxury car not far away, his face full of scorn. “Can you even afford that car? You’re just spending my woman’s money! Everything you eat, everything you wear, isn’t it all from me?” “I’m telling you, today you either give me back my child, or you pay me a million dollars in emotional damages! Otherwise, I’m not done with you!” The surrounding students burst into an uproar, pointing and whispering about Julian. Julian’s expression finally darkened. He looked at Liam as if he were already dead. “You want a million dollars?” “Yes! A million, not a penny less!” Liam, thinking Julian was scared, grew even more arrogant. “Alright.” Julian nodded, pulled out his phone, and made a call. “Come to Northwestern University. I need you to clean up some trash,” he said, his tone flat. Liam and Jasmine were stunned. The surrounding students exchanged confused glances, unsure what was happening. Less than ten minutes later, several black Audi A6s pulled up on campus. Several middle-aged men in suits got out. Leading them was none other than President Thompson of Northwestern University. Mr. Thompson hurried forward, followed by several department heads. They bypassed Liam and walked straight to Julian, their posture extremely deferential, almost subservient. “Mr. Cooper! You didn’t have to come all this way. You could have just sent word!” “Is this the ignorant person causing trouble on your campus?” The entire scene fell silent.

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Before the dance competition, I drank the water my adopted sister, Lily, handed me. During the performance, I fell in the center of the stage, my ankle permanently damaged, ending my dance career completely. My parents sighed, “Lily has more talent. We’ll focus on nurturing her from now on.” My fiancé turned and took her hand, “Lily has more vitality than you. You’re too fragile.” I became a choreography assistant, watching helplessly as she took everything from me. Until I discovered she was bound to a Life Replacement System, and using it, she had stolen my life. I ran to confront her, and in our argument, I fell from the top floor. When I opened my eyes again, I was back before the dance competition. My adopted sister was bringing over that cup of water. I took the cup, and as she activated the Life Replacement System, I whispered, “Actually, I inherited a family illness. I’m destined not to live past thirty.” Her face went pale, and she loudly told the system to stop the replacement. But the system’s voice had already sounded: [Program irreversible, executing now] I looked at her trembling form, a smile gracing my lips. “Congratulations, you’ve inherited the curse passed down through generations of our family.”

“Clara, it’s almost time for your performance. Have some water to soothe your throat.” Lily held out a cup of warm water, smiling innocently, her eyes dewy like a fawn’s, making anyone who saw them feel a pang of tenderness. I looked at her, and at the water in her hand. A familiar scene. In my previous life, it was this spiked water that caused muscle spasms during the final of the most important dance competition, making me fall from a high pointe, shattering my ankle and my entire ballet career. Then, my adopted sister, Lily, climbed over me, metaphorically speaking, to seize everything I held dear. Now, she was back. I took the cup, looking at the clear liquid inside. Under her expectant and nervous gaze, I drank it all. “Clara, you’re so good to me.” A flicker of wild joy passed through Lily’s eyes, fleeting but noticeable. She eagerly leaned in, her hands intimately wrapping around my arm, as if we were the best of sisters in the world. “Clara, I truly envy you. Your dance talent is a gift kissed by the gods.” Her warm breath brushed my ear, carrying a strange, cloying stickiness. I could feel something being peeled away from my body, a peculiar sensation, like a part of my soul being drawn out. And Lily’s body was visibly becoming lighter, more coordinated, even the rhythm of her breathing now carried a dancer’s grace. I heard a cold, mechanical voice from Lily. “Life Replacement System initiated.” “Target replacement: Clara.” “Replacing talent: Top-tier ballet talent.” The greed in Lily’s eyes was almost overflowing. She thought I didn’t know her secret. This parasite, living by plundering others’ talents, had set her sights on me. She was probably already envisioning how she would mesmerize everyone in the audience with my talent on stage, becoming the true proud daughter of the family. And I, once again, would be the crippled waste, abandoned by all. What a pity. I subtly tilted my head, my lips close to her ear, and slowly spoke in a voice only we two could hear. “You want my life?” I felt her body stiffen instantly. I smiled, my voice gentle. “I forgot to tell you, I inherited a family illness.” “I won’t live past thirty.” The smile on Lily’s face froze. The grip on my arm tightened sharply, her nails almost digging into my flesh. “Clara… what are you talking about?” Her voice trembled, and for the first time, those fawn-like eyes showed genuine terror. “Talking nonsense?” I turned my face to meet her gaze, speaking each word, clear as a bell. “It’s a hereditary disease from my mom’s side. My grandma, my great-aunts—none of them lived past thirty. If you don’t believe me, you can check the family tree.” “Why do you think Mom and Dad adopted you?” “Because they needed a healthy child to inherit the family’s legacy.” “Lily. My talent isn’t easy to take. You’ll have to bear the cost it brings.” Lily’s pupils constricted, and her body began to tremble uncontrollably. She tried to let go of me, tried to flee, but it was too late. [Talent replacement successful. Program irreversible.] The color drained from Lily’s face in an instant. She looked at me in horror, her lips quivering, unable to utter a single word. And I, facing her, offered the first genuine smile since my rebirth.

Lily snapped back to reality, shaking off my hand as if burned, stumbling back two steps. Her face was ashen, and the look in her eyes was no longer feigned affection, but fear, as if I were the grim reaper come for her soul. “Next up, contestant number 32, Lily. Please prepare to go on stage.” Lily’s body wouldn’t stop shaking. I watched her with composure, even helping to smooth a non-existent wrinkle on her dance dress. “Go on, Lily.” “Use my talent to win your championship.” I bit off those words lightly, yet they landed like heavy hammers on her heart. She stared with wide, terrified eyes, her lips moving, but not a sound came out. The staff urged her on. She was half-pushed, half-coaxed onto the stage. The moment the spotlight hit her, I sat in the shadows of the side curtain, clearly seeing the cold sweat on her face. The music began, “The Dying Swan.” In my previous life, I won the gold medal with this dance, rising to fame overnight. Lily’s body moved. My talent was showcased perfectly through her. Every pirouette, every leap, was textbook precise. The technique was impeccable. The judges and audience gasped in admiration. My parents, Robert and Eleanor, and Julian Smith sat in the front row, their faces alight with undisguised surprise and pride. But I saw it clearly. Her eyes were hollow, her movements stiff, filled with a terrifying lack of control over her own body. She wasn’t a white swan, but a puppet manipulated by invisible strings. With the final pirouette, she stopped steadily, her posture perfect. Applause thundered through the hall. But she looked utterly drained, almost collapsing to her knees. Soon, it was my turn. I switched to music for another dance, light-hearted and full of vitality. After I broke my leg in my previous life, I choreographed countless dances from my wheelchair. This was one of my proudest creations. I danced with abandon, pouring all my emotions into every step. Until the final, challenging series of turns. In my previous life, it was here that the drug took effect, and my life came crashing down. This time, I counted the beats. Three, two, one. I deliberately twisted my ankle, letting my body fall forward. But I used a clever move, rolling once on the floor to absorb most of the impact. A gasp. The music abruptly stopped. The entire hall fell silent. I pushed myself up, trying to stand, a sharp stab of pain in my ankle. Hmm, a sprain. Not serious, a month’s rest would fix it. My parents and Julian rushed over immediately, surrounding me. “Clara! What happened to you?!” My mom, Eleanor, cried, her voice tinged with sharp reprimand. “How could you be so careless!” My dad, Robert, frowned, telling the assistant directly, “Call an ambulance, get her to the hospital for a check-up.” Julian held my arm, his voice sounding very anxious. “Clara, are you okay? Don’t be afraid, I’m here.” Worry was etched on their faces. But when I looked up, I saw all three of their gazes involuntarily drift past my shoulder, to behind me. There, Lily stood in the center of the stage, clutching the newly awarded champion’s trophy. She was the only star tonight. Julian supported me, his grip steady, his voice as gentle as ever. “Don’t be sad, it’s just a competition.” He said, but his gaze was glued to Lily, the admiration in his eyes almost overflowing. Yet, I keenly caught a flash of appraisal deep within his look. That wasn’t the way a man looked at his beloved. It was the way a businessman sized up a commodity. A cold laugh echoed in my mind. See, Julian. He never loved Clara, nor Lily. He loved, always, the item that could stand in the spotlight, adding luster to him. As I was thinking, Julian suddenly leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Clara, Lily’s talent… it seems even better than yours.” His voice carried a hint of barely perceptible excitement. I lowered my eyes, concealing the mockery within them. “Yes.” “She’s dancing for her life, after all.”

At the celebration party, everyone wore polite smiles. Lily, in a white cocktail dress, was surrounded by the crowd, like a true princess. And I, with my ankle bandaged, sat in a corner sofa, like an outsider. The air was thick with expensive perfume and the aroma of food, which made me feel a little nauseous. My dad, Robert, walked over with a glass of wine, looking down at me. “Clara, what did the doctor say?” “Minor issue, rest for a month,” I replied indifferently. He nodded, his face expressionless, a true businessman. “That’s good then.” He paused, his tone brooking no argument. “From now on, you should stop dancing. Stay behind the scenes, help your sister.” Those words were exactly the same as in my previous life. Back then, I felt like I was plunged into an ice bath, almost collapsing. Now, I simply looked up calmly. “Dad, do you mean for me to be Lily’s backdrop?” Robert frowned, seemingly displeased by my directness. “What backdrop? Shouldn’t sisters help each other? You’ve seen Lily’s talent, she has a brighter future than you.” My mom, Eleanor, also walked over, linking her arm through his, her face full of self-righteousness. “Clara, your dad is right. I also retired due to injury when I was young; it’s fate. Now Lily can fulfill Mom’s dream, you should be happy for her.” “That’s right, Clara,” Julian interjected smoothly, crouching before me and taking my hand. “You’re not well right now, so don’t push yourself. I’ll take care of you, and you can just be my wife and support Lily’s career. Isn’t that better?” The three of them spoke in perfect, choreographed unison. Lightly arranging my life, clear as day. In my previous life, I cried, asking why they were doing this to me. Julian just coldly shook off my hand. “Clara, can’t you be more mature? What I need is a partner who can stand beside me in business, not a burden I need to take care of.” That sentence, like a knife, cut into my heart, aching day and night. This time, I looked into his seemingly earnest eyes and suddenly smiled. “Alright.” I answered too quickly, too readily. All three of them were stunned. I gently pulled my hand from Julian’s grasp and slowly picked up a glass of juice from the nearby table. “I agree.” “From now on, I’ll be my sister’s assistant, her practice partner, the stepping stone on her path to success.” My smile grew even brighter, my gaze sweeping past them to Lily, who was surrounded by the crowd. She seemed to sense my stare and looked over. Our eyes met, and a flicker of triumph and satisfaction crossed her eyes. I raised my glass to her, then tipped my head back, draining the juice in one gulp. My parents and Julian visibly relaxed, their faces showing satisfaction. In their eyes, my ‘sensible’ decision saved them a lot of trouble. I pushed myself up from the sofa, limping towards Lily. The crowd automatically parted to create a path for me. Everyone’s gaze was fixed on me, carrying sympathy, pity, and a hint of schadenfreude, as if watching a good show. Lily watched me approach, her smile stiffening, and she instinctively took half a step back. She was afraid of me. Good. I stopped in front of her. The surroundings instantly grew quiet. I reached out, intimately brushing a stray lock of hair from her temple, my actions as gentle as the most loving older sister. “Congratulations, Lily.” “How does it feel to take my talent?” Lily’s body instantly tensed, her pupils contracting sharply. I kept smiling, leaning in closer, and whispered in her ear, in a voice only we two could hear: “But, Lily, my things aren’t that easy to take.” “You’ll have to… really bear the consequences it brings.” I drew out the word “consequences” softly and slowly, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue. Lily’s face, in an instant, drained of all color. I straightened up, pleased with her reaction, then raised my voice so those around could hear. “Lily, from now on, I’ll support you wholeheartedly. You absolutely must not disappoint everyone.” With that, I patted her shoulder, turned, and walked step by step out of this opulent cage, under the complex gazes of the onlookers. Behind me, Lily stood frozen in place. In the reflection of the banquet hall’s glass, I clearly saw. The hand holding her champagne glass was trembling uncontrollably, golden liquid spilling out, dampening her pure white dress. I knew. The nightmare had only just begun.

Lily started having nightmares night after night. The lights in her room were always on until morning. When I occasionally got up in the night, I could hear her suppressed sobs and neurotic murmurs. “It’s fake… it’s all fake…” She started losing handfuls of hair, her eyes had heavy dark circles, and her once sparkling eyes were now bloodshot, looking at everyone with terror and suspicion. My mom took her to a psychologist, but it was no use. I knew what she was afraid of. The time was almost right. I used an unregistered burner phone to send Julian a text message. “Want to know why Lily’s been acting strange lately? 3 PM, City Central Hospital, Genetic Screening Department.” Then, I deleted the record and flushed the SIM card down the toilet. At 2:55 PM, I stood at the end of the hospital’s genetics department corridor, wearing a mask and a baseball cap. The smell of disinfectant was somewhat pungent. I leaned against the wall, watching Lily rush out of the doctor’s office, clutching a report. She was trembling all over, the report crumpled in her grasp. The doctor followed her out, his voice soothing. “Miss Lily, please don’t get agitated. This is just based on the sample you provided, showing a risk of a certain genetic defect. It doesn’t mean it will definitely manifest…” Lily spun around sharply, her voice shrill. “Risk? You don’t understand anything! This is a curse! I’m going to die! I won’t live past thirty!” The doctor was startled by her hysterical behavior and took a step back, frowning. Just then, a figure emerged from the shadows of the corridor. It was Julian. His face was ashen. He strode forward, staring intensely at Lily. “What are you talking about? What genetic disease?”

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The company party turned into a game of Truth or Dare. The loser had to reveal a secret. Sarah’s assistant, Brooks, lost. He raised his glass, a smirk on his face. “Sarah and I share a secret. After she had her baby, she came back to work, and she was really uncomfortable in the office. I was the one who helped her with it.” Soon, people started egging him on. “Sarah has such a great figure! You got lucky!” “Just helped her? Nothing else happen?” Brooks licked his lips, savoring the moment. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m her assistant, helping her is just part of my job!” Sarah laughed, covering Brooks’s mouth. “Say one more word, and I’m docking your bonus this month.” My fists clenched in anger. Soon, it was my turn to lose. Facing everyone’s stares, I calmly said, “I’ll share a secret too. I’m planning to divorce Sarah.” A ripple of shock went through the employees. “Will used to be so forgiving! He didn’t even say anything when he saw Sarah and Brooks holding hands at the mall. What changed?” “Will, Brooks was just helping Sarah out! Don’t get mad!” Sarah stared at me. “Will, it was just a joke. Are you really going to be this sensitive?” I held back my fury. “It has nothing to do with sensitivity. I genuinely want to divorce you.” Brooks’s eyes instantly reddened. “Will, I didn’t mean it. I was just making a joke to liven things up. I didn’t know you were so sensitive…” I looked at him mockingly. “Then let me make a joke too. If I’m not mistaken, your sister has a red mole on her left thigh, and she also has a good figure…” “You…” Brooks’s face flushed crimson. He looked tearfully at Sarah. Slap! Sarah raised her hand and slapped me across the face. “Will, are you going to keep this up?” I clutched my stinging face, staring at her in shock. She hit me, for an assistant? “Will, you actually spied on Brooks’s sister? Get down on your knees and apologize to him right now!” I laughed, tears streaming down my face. “He jokes about me, and you want me to be understanding. I joke about him, and you want me to kneel and apologize?” I turned to leave. Sarah yelled after me, “If you walk out that door, if you don’t kneel and apologize, I’ll fire you from everything!” “Fine, Sarah! I’ll wait for you to fire me! And the divorce papers will be on your desk.” I walked out. The door slammed shut behind me. “Sarah, Will is such a jerk, isn’t he? And he even insulted my sister!” Brooks whined, looking hurt. “By his logic, if he knew we kissed in the office before, or that I helped you change when you were too drunk to yourself… he’d probably drop dead from anger!” “But it’s my duty as your assistant! Will is so narrow-minded; he sees everything as dirty.” Sarah patted him, comforting him. “He’s just jealous. Don’t take it to heart.” To comfort Brooks, she actually kissed him in front of everyone. “I think Sarah and Brooks are actually a couple.” “Yeah, Brooks has brought in so many clients for the company!” “Will hasn’t signed any contracts lately. He’s just a dead weight, can’t do anything right.” A chorus of flattering voices filled the private room. Brooks took the opportunity to pat Sarah’s backside a few times! Watching that scene, I froze just outside the door, unwelcome tears blurring my vision. I went home to pack my things. Just as I finished, my phone rang. It was a SnapChat video from Brooks. Sarah lay on a big hotel bed, her eyes hazy, two buttons of her top undone. Then, Brooks’s voice came through. “Will, Sarah’s had too much to drink. I brought her to the hotel to rest. I’ll leave after I help her get cleaned up. Don’t be jealous, okay?”

My forehead throbbed, veins bulging! This was an open provocation! I didn’t answer. I just switched off my phone. When I went into the bathroom to shower, I suddenly spotted a pregnancy test in the trash can. Two red lines. I froze. I’d been away on a business trip for a month. Sarah and I hadn’t been intimate in three months. But she was pregnant. Whose child was it? I stared intensely at the pregnancy test. Then, I burst into laughter! Followed by a torrent of tears! She and I had no future left. It was my own fault for investing too deeply, for loving the wrong person. After my shower, I saw our wedding photo on the wall, us smiling so brightly and happily, arms around each other. But now, everything had changed. I tore my half of the photo down and tossed it into the trash. I called my lawyer friend, and soon a divorce agreement was delivered. I signed it and arranged for it to be sent to the company. Sarah would see it first thing in the morning. After doing all this, I felt an abnormal sense of relief. But what about our four-year-old son, Leo? That night, Sarah didn’t come home again. The next day, I went to my parents’ house, intending to take Leo to preschool. Unexpectedly, Sarah was already there. She’d shown the divorce papers to my parents, Robert and Susan. My dad, Robert, stood up and shouted at me, “Will, how long are you going to keep this up?” “Sarah is such a good woman; you want to divorce her?” My mom, Susan, tried to reason with me. “Will, Leo is already in preschool. Don’t be foolish now.” Sarah’s eyes teared up. “Will, I’m the CEO of the company. Sometimes I need to bond with my employees. Why are you so jealous? Do you really have to divorce me?” After a long moment, I stared into her eyes. “Sarah, the baby you’re carrying… it’s Brooks’s, isn’t it?” Silence instantly fell over the room. Sarah’s body trembled. “H-how did you know?” “You don’t need to know how I know.” “Let’s divorce.” Sarah cried heartbreakingly. “Will, I made a mistake. I don’t want a divorce.” “Divorce.” Slap! It wasn’t Sarah who hit me. It was my dad! “So what if the baby isn’t yours? You’re really going to divorce her over this?” My mom also said, “Sarah has helped our family so much. She paid for your dad’s hospital surgery, remember?” “And Dylan’s four years of college, and his house down payment… all came from her.” Sarah grabbed my arm. “Will, let’s not divorce, okay?” She pulled me aside, her voice apologetic. “About the baby… I was just so lonely that night… it was just one time. I didn’t expect to get pregnant…” But on her face, I saw a look of pure happiness. “If you have to blame anyone, blame me, okay? Don’t blame Brooks, he’s just a young man…” I laughed, tears welling up. “A twenty-six-year-old ‘young man’?” I turned to leave. But my brother, Dylan, blocked my way. “Sarah just made a mistake in a moment of weakness.” “You should forgive her.” “When the baby is born, we’ll just raise it like Leo’s little brother or sister.” At that moment, four-year-old Leo walked up and hugged my leg, crying, “Daddy, don’t leave Mommy! And don’t be mad at Uncle Brooks, he’s so nice to me…” This was my child! He was even siding with Brooks! I felt profoundly alone, my heart pierced as if by a knife. They were all using their own self-interest to force me to stay with Sarah!

Had they forgotten my contributions to this family? Sarah and I were college sweethearts. One afternoon, during a heavy downpour, I slipped on my way back to the dorm. My ankle swelled up horribly, and the pain was excruciating. Then, Sarah, a classmate, came over with an umbrella and helped me up. Only when we got to the hospital did I realize half her body was drenched. “Sarah, thank you so much.” “We’re classmates; we should help each other.” She smiled at me, that innocent, radiant smile forever etched in my mind. After that, I pursued her. Soon, we were together. As graduation approached, her family’s company ran into financial trouble. She cried, clinging to me, saying that to save her family, she had to obey her parents’ orders and marry a man decades older than her, likely to be one of his many wives, just to save her family’s business. She was utterly helpless, the light gone from her eyes. I felt a pang of pity and promised to help her however I could. So, I resolutely sold my shares in the startup I’d built with friends – a company that was finally taking off after just a year – and loaned her family millions to keep it afloat. She hugged me, moved to tears. “I will be so, so good to you for the rest of my life.” Money wasn’t enough, though. So, I joined her company. Through sheer grit, my professional expertise, and countless nights making crucial deals – often involving far too much socializing – I pulled her family’s company back from the brink, and it even started thriving. After that, we got married, and soon our son was born. I thought we would live happily ever after. But then, while she was pregnant with Leo, Brooks, fresh out of college, became her assistant. From that moment, I noticed she changed. The office door was often closed. Sometimes she didn’t come home all night. She constantly found excuses to go on business trips. When she was home, she’d hide in the bathroom, talking on the phone in hushed, laughing tones. One time, when I couldn’t open her office door, I used my key. I found her sitting on the sofa, holding her young assistant. She hastily explained, “Will, Brooks just lost his balance and fell on me. Don’t get the wrong idea.” And I actually believed her ridiculous story. Later, I even saw them holding hands while shopping at the mall. Sarah explained that she’d seen a stalker following her, so she and Brooks pretended to be a couple to scare the pervert away. I believed everything she said! Because I trusted her one hundred percent, it never crossed my mind that she would betray me. But the person I loved most hurt me the deepest. “If you want a divorce, I’ll fire you immediately, and the company won’t give you any dividends.” Sarah threatened, “Without me, you won’t be able to make it in this industry. You’ll be a complete failure, maybe even end up sweeping streets!” She forgot that I was the one who saved her family from the brink of bankruptcy. It was my help that kept her from marrying a man decades older. Hearing her words, my parents and Dylan looked terrified. Dylan said, “Don’t be foolish, Will… Sarah just made a small mistake; you should forgive her.” Leo, in his sweet child’s voice, said, “Daddy, I want you and Mommy to be together!” Under my family’s pressure. I paused, then looked at Sarah. “I won’t divorce you, but you have to agree to three things: Terminate this pregnancy.” “Fire Brooks and never see him again.” “And give me the 50% shares that are rightfully mine.” At the time, when I invested millions into her family’s company, she promised to convert it into half the company shares.

But because we were together and I was already getting dividends from the company, I never pressed her for them. “Will, are you really going to be this cruel to me?” “Everything you just asked for is incredibly cruel to me.” “Even if it’s Brooks’s child, you could still raise it as your own!” “And no, I can’t fire Brooks. He’s brought in so many contracts lately. You’re nowhere near as good as him!” I’m not as good as him? I laughed, tears streaming down my face. “Then what more is there to say?” I turned and walked away. Behind me, I heard my son’s cries and my family’s accusations of me being unfilial. I returned home, grabbed my luggage, and headed out. I went to a hotel to check in. After I registered, the receptionist said, “Sir, your card payment failed.” I tried other payment methods, but none worked. Then I received a message from Sarah. “Will, are you having trouble paying?” “As long as you don’t divorce me and don’t force me to fire Brooks, you can buy anything you want.” Before, she’d asked me to give her my salary card. Then she’d give me an allowance each month. At the time, I didn’t think much of it, believing it would strengthen our relationship. I never imagined it was a way to control me. Unable to pay, I had no choice but to leave the hotel. The streets were bustling with people, but I had nowhere to go. I took my luggage and went to a park. “Will, Sarah sent me to pick you up and bring you home.” I hadn’t been sitting long when Brooks, driving Sarah’s brand new Rolls-Royce convertible, pulled up to the park entrance and walked over to me. I gave him a cold glance but said nothing. Brooks, seeing no one else around, smirked triumphantly. “Know why she’s pregnant?” “That day, she and I were meeting a client. On the way, I tried to kiss her.” “She was actually going to let me.” “But then, your call came in at just the wrong time.” “She talked to you and pushed me away.” “I was annoyed, so that night, I deliberately invited colleagues to get her drunk. Then, as usual, I took her to a hotel.” “In bed, I held her, and she thought it was you. She kept calling your name.” “I answered, saying, ‘How about I take good care of you?’” “I took the chance to undo her clothes, and then we made love.” Brooks bent over laughing. “You probably don’t know this, but while she was enjoying herself, she kept calling your name.” “It’s pretty funny, having an affair with another man, but calling out her husband’s name inside.” “But for me, it was incredibly satisfying.” I lunged and punched him! Brooks’s lip was bleeding as he fell to the ground. “Will, he was trying to bring you home, and you hit him?” “Daddy, Brooks bought me a toy car, why did you hit him?” Sarah walked over with Leo. Leo, clutching his toy car, shielded Brooks, calling me a bad dad. I suddenly understood. Brooks had done this on purpose. What chilled me to the bone wasn’t Sarah, but my son’s attitude. Sarah looked at me. “After you left this morning, Leo cried and refused to go to school. So Brooks took him to the children’s park all morning and even bought him a toy car.” “Later, he was worried something might happen to you, so he said he’d come pick you up.” “He had good intentions, and you beat him up like this?” Hearing this, Brooks said weakly, “Sarah, my face really hurts.” Sarah tenderly stroked his face, then helped him up. “Apologize to him right now!”

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In my past life, I desperately tried to stop my boyfriend, Ryan, and his childhood friend, Chloe, from attempting a perilous extreme cave dive. But Chloe wouldn’t listen. She dove down, touched the bottom, and got stuck in the silt. To save her, Ryan pushed me into the mud with his own hands, so Chloe could use me as a stepping stone to escape. “Christiana, don’t be so selfish. Chloe is scared; save her first. You’re a professional diving instructor, I know you’ll be fine.” He took Chloe’s hand and swam to the surface without looking back. And I died in that murky silt. When I opened my eyes again, I had been reborn. As Chloe prepared to dive further, I didn’t stop them. Instead, I slowly gave them a thumbs-up. Chloe looked at me triumphantly. But they didn’t know that this signal meant “danger, abort dive.” “Christiana, are you chicken?” Chloe’s provocative voice reached my ears through the bone conduction headset. “I told Ryan that if we succeeded in this challenge, our live stream viewership would hit top 1. What’s your problem with that?” The cold water enveloped me, but it was nothing compared to the chill in my heart. Before me, Ryan impatiently fiddled with his full-face mask, his eyes full of disgust. “Christiana, don’t bring your professional paranoia here. Chloe wants to see the sights down there, so I’m taking her. If you’re scared, go back to the surface.” This scene was all too familiar. In my past life, it was at this very depth, at this deadly dive site called “Skull Cave.” I earnestly tried to dissuade them, explaining that the area ahead was an unexplored silt zone, highly prone to “silt out,” which would lead to dangerously low visibility. And what happened? Ryan forced the dive, and Chloe, due to her poor technique, touched the bottom and was sucked into the silt. In her struggle, she kicked up a massive cloud of mud, obscuring our vision. In a panic, she clung to my leg. And Ryan, my boyfriend of many years whom I deeply loved, brutally kicked my regulator to help Chloe push off and escape. He pressed my shoulders, forcing me beneath, letting Chloe step on me to get out of the mud. I sank deep into the silt, my lungs filling with mud, dying a suffocating, agonizing death. Until my very last breath, I saw them kissing through their masks. Ryan’s voice came through the bone conduction headset: “After that crisis, I realized Chloe is the most important person in my life.” “Thank you for your sacrifice to save Chloe. We’ll make sure to teach our child about you.” In this moment of rebirth, the phantom pain of suffocation still lingered in my lungs and throat. I was underwater, and I quickly regulated my breathing to avoid any signs of carbon dioxide poisoning. I watched Ryan give the dive signal again. It was Chloe’s invitation to challenge the hundred-meter abyss. This time, I didn’t act like a maniac, trying to yank open their tank valves. I adjusted my buoyancy in the water, steadying myself. Then, facing the live stream camera, I slowly raised my right hand. And gave them a clear thumbs-up. In diving, a thumbs-up means ‘end the dive, ascend.’

Unfortunately, they hadn’t been listening when I repeatedly emphasized dive signals before we went into the water. Chloe thought I was showing off, and she rolled her eyes at me. She impatiently cut me off: “Alright, alright, how many times have you said it? Do you really think we’ve never dived before? We know all about it, you don’t need to lecture us.” Ryan gently stroked Chloe’s head, completely ignoring my awkward situation. Now, seeing my signal, Ryan paused, then a flicker of triumph crossed his eyes. They thought I was agreeing, even praising them for being ‘awesome.’ He probably thought I had finally learned to be submissive. Chloe, even through her mask, rolled her eyes at me again, then linked arms with Ryan. Like two reckless lovers, they plunged headfirst into the darkness that had devoured my life in my past existence. I watched their figures gradually blur. Without hesitation, I turned, checked my pressure gauge, and initiated the standard ascent procedure. You can’t save people who are determined to self-destruct. Since you’re so adventurous. Then I wish you an eternal embrace in that silt. I surfaced alone, the sunlight so bright it made my eyes squint. The safety officer on the boat looked at me in shock: “Christiana, why are you alone? Where are Ryan and Chloe?” I removed my mask, slowly unhooking my BCD. A timely look of helplessness and bitterness crossed my face. “They said I was getting in the way, too controlling. They insisted on challenging the hundred-meter crevice.” “I couldn’t stop them, so I came up first to avoid any arguments escalating into an accident down there.” The crew members exchanged glances, and the live stream comments started scrolling furiously. 【This instructor is so irresponsible, just left them down there?】 【Shut up, Ryan brought this on himself. Christiana is an instructor, not a babysitter.】 【Exactly, they signed a waiver. Adults are responsible for their own actions.】 I ignored the commotion and found a corner to sit in. My GoPro was clutched tightly in my hand. It held the most dramatic scene of our farewell. Time ticked by, minute by minute. The surfacing time had already passed by ten minutes. The atmosphere on the boat began to grow heavy. The safety officer kept checking his watch, anxiously calling into the walkie-talkie, only to hear the dead static of silence. Another five minutes passed, and suddenly, many bubbles appeared on the calm sea surface. The water churned. Two figures burst out of the water, looking disheveled and frantic. They weren’t performing a normal ‘decompression ascent,’ but an uncontrolled emergency ascent – extremely dangerous. Ryan dragged a semi-conscious Chloe, his face contorted in agony, blood gushing from his nose and mouth. These were classic symptoms of lung overexpansion injury and decompression sickness. “Help! Quick, save her!” Ryan’s voice was hoarse, filled with extreme fear and trembling. The crew members scrambled to pull both of them onto the deck. Chloe’s face was ashen, and her legs were twisted in a grotesque way. As soon as Ryan was on board, he didn’t even bother to wipe the blood from his face. His bloodshot eyes fixated on me, like he wanted to devour me. The next second, he charged at me like a madman. “Christiana! You venomous witch!” “You turned off our spare air valves! You tried to kill Chloe!” His shout drew everyone’s attention to me. Divers from nearby boats also gathered around. The person filming, thinking they had stumbled upon great material, shoved the live stream camera right into my face. Ryan lunged at me, raising his hand to strike. I was prepared, sidestepping quickly. Due to severe decompression sickness, his balance was terrible, and he face-planted onto the deck, falling flat on his face. “Agh!!!” He screamed in pain but didn’t forget to point at me and roar. “Everyone saw it! It was her! She was jealous of Chloe and deliberately messed with our gear underwater!” “Christiana, I’ll make sure you go to jail! I’ll make you pay for this with your life!”

Only three of us were diving, and I was the first to surface. Ryan’s sudden accusation made it hard not to suspect if I had done something underwater. In this era where sympathy often sways towards the injured party, his blood-soaked body and the unconscious Chloe instantly tilted the scales of public opinion. The onlookers, unaware of the truth, started pointing fingers at me. “That’s so cruel, killing someone over jealousy?” “You never know what’s in a person’s heart. She looks professional, but she’s so wicked.” Faced with the accusations, I didn’t immediately retort hysterically. I looked at him calmly. “Ryan, you need proof for what you say.” “You claim I turned off your valves? How exactly did I do that?” I bent down, lifted my tank—which was still almost full—and showed it to everyone. “Less than five minutes after going down, I initiated the ascent procedure.” “My dive computer clearly shows that I maintained a distance of over ten meters from you two at all times.” “Do I have magic, then? Can I wirelessly shut off your oxygen valves?” Ryan was stunned. He hadn’t expected me to be so calm, nor for me to immediately present evidence. But he quickly recovered and changed his argument. “Then you stood by and watched us die! You’re a professional diving instructor, you had a duty to protect us!” “You knew it was dangerous down there, why didn’t you forcibly pull us back?” “You just wanted us to die!” This absurd reasoning almost made me laugh out loud. In my past life, I tried to pull you back, and you killed me. This life, I respect other people’s choices, and now I’m being accused of abandoning them. “Ryan, are you a child?” I looked down at him, sprawled on the deck. “Before we even got in the water, I warned you three times that this season wasn’t suitable for diving. But you still insisted on going down, even signing a liability waiver.” “Underwater, you gave me the finger and told me to get lost.” “Now that something’s happened, you’re blaming me for not stopping you from going to your deaths?” “I’m an instructor, not your mother!”

The roar of the emergency helicopter grew louder, coming from afar. Medical personnel rushed down with stretchers. As Chloe was being carried away, I clearly saw her eyelashes flutter. Was she awake? Still faking it? Yes, waking up now to face public scrutiny would be less advantageous than playing the role of a delicate victim. Before Ryan was loaded onto the stretcher, he clutched the doctor’s hand tightly, shouting at the camera: “I’m going to sue her! I will definitely sue her!” “Viewers, bear witness for me, Christiana is the one who harmed us!” The live stream comment section exploded instantly. The hashtag #Vicious Coach Murder my BF# rocketed to the top of trending topics at lightning speed. I watched the distant helicopter, a cold smirk playing on my lips. Make a scene. The bigger, the better. This current spotlight would be the fuel to burn them later. At the hospital, Ryan’s parents and Chloe’s parents appeared as if on cue, blocking the entrance to the emergency room. Seeing me, Chloe’s mother lunged forward, trying to grab my hair. “You murderer! Give me back my daughter!” The police, who had been standing by, promptly stopped her. “What are you doing! This is a hospital! State your business calmly!” I adjusted my collar, which had been ruffled, and calmly looked at the aggressively confronting me. “Officer, I’m here to cooperate with the investigation and submit evidence.” In the hospital room, Ryan was lying in bed, holding his phone, weeping live on stream. Chloe, though awake, was paralyzed from the waist down due to severe decompression sickness. She was now crying despairingly, clutching Ryan. Seeing me enter, Ryan’s eyes turned red. “Christiana! You have the nerve to show your face!” “I’ll make sure you rot in jail! I’ll make you lose everything you own!” Millions of viewers were watching online. The comments were all cursing me to hell. The officer frowned, signaling Ryan to put down his phone. “Ryan, Christiana says she has video evidence. We need to verify it.” Ryan sneered, his face full of disdain. “Video? What video? Perfect, let everyone see how you stood by and watched us die!” He thought the video I had only recorded the moment I left them underwater. He believed that by insisting I had “abandoned my students,” he could morally crush me and extort a huge sum in compensation. I said nothing, merely connecting my GoPro to the hospital room’s TV. The screen lit up. In clear 4K quality, the deep blue of the ocean was breathtaking. The video began with Ryan and Chloe giving me the middle finger, then decisively diving deeper. Next, it showed me giving a thumbs-up and turning to leave. Up to this point, Ryan was still shouting: “See! Everyone saw it! She just left! She abandoned us!” However, his words had barely faded. The next second, the entire room fell silent.

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Another winter descended, and I found myself back in New York, paying my respects to my late parents. As I was leaving the cemetery, I ran into Liam Thompson. He held a bouquet of pink roses, and a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes when he looked up. “When did you get back to New York?” “Yesterday.” I had no intention of catching up. I quickened my pace, ready to leave. But as I glanced back, I saw the tombstone in front of him. Lily. He was mourning our deceased child. The cemetery steps were covered in moss, making my steps falter. Liam always had that effect on me, effortlessly stirring ripples in my otherwise calm heart. Beneath it, inscribed: Father Liam Thompson, Mother Chloe Brown. I took a deep breath and placed a single flower before the tombstone. “There was really no need for a tombstone. She was only a five-month-old fetus when she died.” Liam didn’t respond. He cleared the weeds from the grave, then carefully placed the pink roses into a nearby vase. “You come back to visit every year?” “Yeah.” “Me too.” Five years, the same cemetery, yet we’d never crossed paths. Perhaps that was our destiny. A light drizzle began to fall from the grey sky, chilling my face. My hands trembled as I lit a cigarette. Through the haze of smoke, I saw Liam’s surprised eyes. “When did you start smoking?” I saw the disappointed look on his face, like I’d failed him, and let out a short, sarcastic laugh. “Oh, that’s a blast from the past. I’ll have to really dig deep for that one.” “Was it when you got engaged? Married? Or maybe the day you abandoned me on my birthday for your ex-wife?” Liam’s eyes flickered. He instinctively reached out to touch my head. I recoiled. “Chloe, what happened back then, I was wrong. Are you still angry at me because of our child?” The cigarette tip was damp from the rain, making it hard to draw. “Don’t flatter yourself. There’s nothing to be angry about. I insisted on having that child back then; it’s my own fault I couldn’t keep her.” My connection with Liam was also something I’d practically begged for. So when it finally broke, I swore I’d never look back once I left. Liam sighed. “Chloe, I was wrong about what happened then.” “But… I was doing it for your own good.” I smiled, looking at the dying cigarette in my hand. “Getting tangled up with her, abandoning me countless times for her – that was ‘for my own good’?” “Forcing me to abort our five-month-old baby, then pawning me off for an arranged marriage? That was ‘for my own good’?” “Liam, cut the crap. I stopped falling for that when I was eighteen.” Frustrated, I glanced around, then shoved the cigarette into his palm. I lowered my gaze, straightened my coat, and turned to walk down the path. The cemetery was secluded, and the rain was getting heavier. I couldn’t get an Uber. With a soft hum, Liam’s black Maybach pulled up smoothly in front of me. The dark window rolled down, revealing only a narrow slit. “Get in. I’ll give you a ride.” I checked my Uber app – still no driver. Eventually, I opened the car door. As soon as I opened it, Sophia waved at me. “Long time no see, Chloe. Liam said you were back, and at first, I thought he was joking, but you really are back in New York…” Sophia was Liam’s ex-wife, and now his secretary. Or maybe even his current wife.

Before, I might have thrown a fit, demanding Liam kick her out so I could sit in the passenger seat. Or I would’ve just walked away, muttering a string of curses. But this time, I just closed the door and slid into the car. “Chloe, you look so much more mature. You’re different.” I hummed in response, looking out at the traffic, trying to control the turmoil inside me with each breath. “How long are you staying this time? If you have a moment, come over to our house. My parents miss you.” Liam met my gaze in the rearview mirror, his eyes shrouded in a mist I couldn’t decipher. When I was ten, my parents died in an accident at the Thompson family’s construction site. The incident caused a huge scandal and severely damaged their reputation. The Thompson family took me in. Because of that, I was considered half a daughter to them. Sophia turned to me. “She’s right, come home with us. They were just talking about you yesterday…” Her words dripped with the air of a woman who owned the place. I frowned, cutting off her incessant chatter. “I don’t have a home.” Liam glanced at me, his eyes dimming. Sophia, sensing the mood, wisely shut her mouth. After giving the hotel address, I closed my eyes and didn’t speak again. When we arrived at the hotel, I got out without a word, slamming the door shut. Liam rolled down his window and called out to my retreating back, “Come back and visit sometime.” I sped up, not looking back. My colleague in the shared room was already asleep. I showered quietly and slipped into bed. “You’re back? The boss said tomorrow night we’re meeting a big client, and he told me to tell you to dress nicely.” My colleague mumbled a few words in her sleep-addled state before starting to snore again. But I never imagined the “big client” my boss mentioned would be Liam. “Oh my god, he’s so hot! I heard he’s the only heir to New York’s wealthiest family, and he expanded half of the Thompson family’s business empire. And the best part? He’s single.” Single… He and Sophia hadn’t remarried? The quiet squeals of my female colleagues filled the air. I remembered the first time I saw Liam when I was ten. My heart had let out the same kind of squeal. He was twenty-three then, just back from studying abroad. His white shirt only emphasized his sharp features and fair complexion. Unfortunately, he was arguing with his parents at the time, all because of his poor girlfriend. “I told you, I’ll only marry her in this life!” Liam grabbed a crystal glass and smashed it. Flying shards cut my calf. I bit my lip, holding back tears. The nanny beside me, horrified, quickly hugged me and took me to get bandaged, fearing New York media would capture it and accuse the Thompson family of abuse. Later, Liam came to apologize. “Hey, sorry I scared you earlier.” He pressed a chocolate into my hand. The chocolate was sweet, and it melted into my heart. From then on, I became Liam’s little shadow, following him wherever he went. Naturally, I became his convenient alibi whenever he went on dates with Sophia. Back then, I was happy to do it. Later, when I wasn’t, it nearly cost me half my life. “Chloe! Chloe!” “The boss is calling you!” A sharp jab to my elbow jolted me awake. I looked up and met Liam’s dark eyes.

“Chloe, quickly, come toast Mr. Thompson.” I hastily poured champagne into a small glass and walked around the table to stand before Liam. “Mr. Thompson, I toast you.” One glass down. Liam’s brow furrowed slightly. I poured another. As I raised the glass, Liam abruptly stood up. “Stop drinking.” I ignored him, quickly refilled, and drank two more glasses. “Mr. Thompson, please, drink at your own pace.” Under the curious gazes of everyone, I returned to my seat. As the toasts went around, Liam barely touched his drink. When my colleague Amy raised her glass, she stared at Liam’s face for a long, long time, then drunkenly spoke to me. “Chloe, why does Mr. Thompson look so much like your son?!” The words dropped like a bombshell, exploding in the private room. Liam’s head snapped up, his eyes like deep wells, dark and scrutinizing, probing for answers. Amy was about to pull out her phone to show everyone a picture when the door opened. “Sorry, I’m late.” A striking figure stood in the doorway. It was Sophia. I’d almost forgotten she was Liam’s secretary now; she wouldn’t miss an occasion like this. “You haven’t been drinking, have you?” “Your medical report said you have slightly high blood pressure; you should be careful with alcohol.” Liam shook his head. “No, I haven’t.” Seeing Sophia’s authoritative air, Amy sheepishly put her phone away and sat back next to me. “Who said he was single? That woman practically has ‘wife’ tattooed on her forehead.” Amy grumbled grudgingly, then raised her glass and downed the rest of her drink. Sophia took her seat, pausing when she saw me. In the end, the contract wasn’t finalized, but plenty of alcohol was consumed. Our boss, however, had only been introduced through a connection this time; his true aim wasn’t really the contract. “Mr. Thompson, next time you’re doing business, please consider Sterling Corp.!” Outside the hotel, the wind was biting. It stung my forehead, and my stomach churned with nausea. Liam’s gaze cut through the crowd, settling on me. A flicker of urgency crossed his usually indifferent expression. “What’s wrong? Stomach ache?” He bent down, and in front of everyone, picked me up and carried me to his car. “Mr. Smith, I’m taking your employee. As for the contract, we can discuss it.” With that, before anyone could react, he hit the gas and sped off. “Chloe… where does it hurt? Here? Or there?” His familiar voice buzzed in my ears, but I couldn’t open my eyelids. In the smooth ride of the back seat, I lay in Liam’s arms, burrowing deeper into his warm chest. I woke up to find myself in a hospital bed, an IV drip in my arm. Outside the door, voices clamored. “Liam, look closely at who’s lying in there!” “You’re thirty-six now, not twenty-six! You’re past the age of impulsive acts for love!” “If I hadn’t covered up that mess back then, do you think it would have passed so easily? The Thompson family would have been ruined!” Sophia’s hushed voice still reached my ears, every word clear. “Enough! I know!” “There are some things I just have to get clear!” I lay in bed, watching the IV drip. The coldness from the fluid gradually seeped into my heart and lungs. Liam was the most stubbornly devoted person I’d ever met in our social circle. He’d stop at nothing to marry Sophia. All his passionate youthful rebellions were for Sophia. When I was thirteen, he got his wish and married Sophia.

When I was eighteen, he and Sophia divorced, a messy affair that rocked the city. Five years of marriage, and it ended up costing Thompson Industries 5% of its original shares. Everyone said Sophia came from a humble background and only clung to Liam for those shares. Everyone said Liam was shrewd in business but foolish in love. One night, drunk, I found myself in his bed. All the childish adoration and longing I’d harbored found their release in that moment. Liam almost fled my room that morning, saying, “Chloe, let’s pretend nothing happened. It’s for your own good.” After that, Liam went through a string of lovers. Every one of them bore some resemblance to Sophia. He accepted anyone, but never me. I cried and pleaded, demanding he be with me. He couldn’t stand my tantrums, and he feared my madness, so he agreed. “Alright.” So we became a secret. By day, I was the charming Thompson family princess; by night, I was the woman in his bed. Even if it meant never having a title, I was willing. But Sophia came back. One message from her shattered the bond I’d painstakingly fought for. [Liam, I’m back in the city.] That day was my birthday. Liam didn’t even lift an eyelid. He grabbed his jacket and walked out. “Don’t wait up for me. You go to sleep.” That night, headlines of Liam picking up his ‘white moonlight’ sweetheart late at night filled a third of the newspaper. And I, staring at a table full of uneaten food, felt utterly desolate. That time, I didn’t leave. I waited at home for Liam to return and give me an explanation. But this time, I had to leave. I swung my legs out of bed, pulled out the IV needle, and slipped out through a side door. The next morning, my boss excitedly posted a notice in the whatsapp group. [There’s hope for the Thompson Group contract!] [Reschedule! We’re flying back in three days.] I rubbed my eyes, unable to believe that the Thompson Group would choose a small processing plant like ours. My gut told me something was off. I took leave from my boss, citing my child’s illness. I booked a flight home for that day. As I walked out of the hotel lobby, my phone rang. [Chloe, let’s meet.] [I want to know about the child.] My phone felt hot in my hand. My heart, calm for so many years, began to ripple. After Sophia returned, Liam’s affair with her reignited. One message, one phone call, and Liam would abandon me. I remember one time, we were in bed, the act unfinished, and he was already pulling on his pants, ready to leave. “What do I even mean to you?” Liam looked down, buckling his belt, not even glancing at me. “Chloe, if you can’t accept this, then let’s just end it.” He was always like that – no explanation, no reason. If I caused a scene, he’d immediately threaten to break up. My silent treatment, my tears, my outbursts – nothing worked. Later, I watched them, always together, standing side by side, becoming the couple everyone agreed was perfect. Even Liam’s parents, who had initially opposed Sophia, eventually fell silent. Liam started bringing Sophia home, once, twice, three times. Sophia would bring me many gifts, treating me like a sister. I usually gave her the cold shoulder and spoke harshly. Liam couldn’t deal with me, always asking what I wanted. “Are you going to abandon me and remarry her?!” Every time I made a scene, so much so that Liam couldn’t even speak.

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My once-wealthy parents, after their public fall from grace, feared facing their enraged creditors. So, overnight, they shipped me off to a remote African village, a place so obscure it wasn’t even on the map. Later, a rare malaria outbreak hit the village, causing widespread death and devastation. Terrified, I called my parents, begging them to bring me home, but only received a cold reply: “You’re not the pampered princess you once were. What, can’t you manage on your own?” “We spent so much money sending you away precisely because we didn’t want you harassed by those creditors. Why can’t you understand our good intentions?” “Anyway, we don’t have money for your plane ticket now. You’re on your own!” Clinging to a final shred of hope, I called my fiancé. What I got was a torrent of accusations from him: “Skylar, why are you still so delicate? Do you even know what Tiffany is going through here?” “You’re living it up overseas, while Tiffany can’t even leave the house because of those debt collectors.” “If you call me again, I’m canceling our engagement immediately!” He blocked my number, completely severing my hope of returning home. From that day on, I endured the torment of illness, fighting tooth and nail for a scrap of food, often ending up bruised and bloody. Just as I was despairing enough to contemplate suicide, the international rescue team finally arrived. They brought me clean water and food, and gave me antibiotics and vaccines. Finally back home, I saw my fiancé and my adoptive sister flaunting their lavish wedding on Ins. That’s when I found out the “bankruptcy” was a sham. My parents just wanted to get rid of me, to clear the way for my fiancé and my adoptive sister to be together.

After leaving the wedding venue, I went straight to the hospital. Malaria is somewhat contagious, and even though the virus was completely cleared, I still needed to check into the hospital daily for a while, reporting my physical condition. Dr. Liam Smith, my attending physician who returned with me, saw my constant silence and thought I was homesick. He comforted me, saying I could go home after my blood was drawn. But he couldn’t have known that from today, I no longer had a home. As I stepped out of the blood draw room, my phone started ringing furiously. It was my dad, whom I hadn’t heard from in ages. The moment I answered, his furious roar filled my ears: “Skylar, what exactly did you mean by that comment under the video? Were you doing it on purpose?!” “Do you know that because of your comment, Tiffany has been crying her eyes out? She’s your sister, why are you so intent on seeing her unhappy?” I looked at my emaciated reflection in the mirror, then recalled the dazzling Tiffany at the wedding, and let out a bitter laugh: “What’s wrong with the comment? Didn’t I already wish them well? What? Do you want me to send them a lavish wedding gift too?” “Dad, just tell me the truth. Is Tiffany your biological daughter, and I’m the one you adopted, right?” He seemed surprised by my words, and the breathing on the other end of the line hitched. Immediately after, the phone was snatched away, and my mom’s voice came through: “Skylar, you’re misunderstanding your sister. That wedding was just to make her happy, they didn’t even get a marriage license, so it doesn’t count.” “After all, your sister stayed behind to help you hold off the creditors, that’s why she couldn’t come with you. You should be thanking her!” At this very moment, my biological parents were still lying to themselves. Thinking of the truth I’d witnessed at the hotel entrance just moments ago, my heart felt like it was being squeezed, making it hard to breathe. After a long while, I spoke with self-mockery: “Thank her for stealing my family’s affection and my love?” Hearing my sarcasm, my dad’s angry growl erupted again: “You ungrateful wretch! Everything your mother and I do is for your own good, and you dare speak to us like that?!” “I’m telling you, if you don’t apologize to Tiffany, you can stay in Africa forever and never come back! I’ll pretend I never had a daughter like you!” With that, the phone was slammed down. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. Before, I always thought my parents didn’t know my true plight in Africa, which was why they were so cold and heartless. But when I got off the plane today, I learned that news of the malaria epidemic in Africa had long reached home. Even a five-year-old knows how terrifying malaria is. They simply didn’t care if I lived or died. As long as their favorite daughter was safe and sound, that was enough for them. Ever since Tiffany came into their lives, my dad’s company crisis not only resolved smoothly but also thrived. From then on, my dad became convinced she was the Stone family’s lucky charm, and his affection for her far surpassed what he showed me, his biological daughter. Anything Tiffany set her sights on, I had to give up unconditionally. When we were little, it was rooms, dolls, and princess dresses. When we grew up, it became my fiancé. They were willing to trick me with an absurd lie about bankruptcy and send me far away, all to prevent me from ruining Tiffany’s romance. Africa’s environment was harsh, with scarce food and drinking water. But even more terrifying was the omnipresent virus. It wasn’t until I contracted malaria and had several near-death experiences that I truly understood what fear was. Recalling the moments when I desperately fought for survival, only to be repeatedly rejected by my closest relatives, a surge of intense rage filled my heart. Even if it killed me, I would never apologize to Tiffany!

Because one of my blood indicators was high, I needed to be temporarily isolated and couldn’t leave the hospital. To put my mind at ease, Dr. Liam Smith offered to go home in my stead and reassure my parents. I wanted to tell him not to bother, that no one cared if I lived or died. But meeting his earnest gaze, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse. After all, if it weren’t for Dr. Smith, I probably would have died in a foreign land. Sighing lightly, I sent him the address. Because the call remained connected, I could clearly hear my parents’ voices. Upon hearing Dr. Smith’s purpose, my dad’s furious voice immediately flared: “What new stunt is Skylar pulling now?! She went to Africa and still can’t behave? No wonder even her own fiancé doesn’t like her!” “And she got malaria? Wouldn’t it be better if you just said she died?” “I don’t care how much money Skylar spent to hire you for this performance, please tell that ungrateful child that if she insists on not apologizing to Tiffany, she can forget about ever leaving Africa!” Listening to my dad’s angry roar, my heart ached, yet I couldn’t help but let out a bitter laugh. He probably forgot how long it had been since he last gave me any allowance. Hire an actor? If I truly had that kind of spare cash, I wouldn’t have had to fight someone over half a dry pancake, ending up with a clump of my hair pulled out. Dr. Smith was completely unprepared for such a response. He stood stunned for a long moment before speaking again: “I… I truly am a doctor from the Central Hospital, and a member of the medical team that aided Africa this time. Your daughter…” “That’s enough! Haven’t you performed enough?” “Forget about malaria, even if she truly died out there, her mother and I wouldn’t shed a single tear for her!” With that, without waiting for Dr. Smith to respond, the door was slammed shut. Dr. Smith instinctively covered the phone’s microphone. He then belatedly remembered his still-connected phone and quickly hung up. But everything that needed to be heard, and everything that shouldn’t have, I had heard crystal clear. Although I had told myself a thousand times to completely give up on this couple, at that moment, my eyes still burned with tears, and my hand beneath the covers gripped the bedsheet tightly. The parental love that was so easily accessible to others was an untouchable luxury for me. Perhaps, I should have given up on this false family affection long ago. [Skylar, are you… okay?] Even though it was just a text message, I could feel Dr. Smith’s concern and worry. See? A stranger I’d known for less than a month could care for me so much, yet my parents, whom I’d spent over twenty years with, treated me like dirt. Skylar, how ridiculous you are! My trembling hand typed out a line: [I’m fine. I already knew this would be the outcome, I’m used to it…]

There were three other people isolated with me. Each of them had family concern and companionship, while I was all alone. I often saw pity and sympathy in their eyes. But compared to that sympathy, what chilled me more was the balance in my bank account. My illness wasn’t difficult to treat, but it required an expensive imported medication. And the price of this imported medication was something I couldn’t afford. Because Tiffany once claimed, “Skylar might go astray if she has too much money,” my dad only gave me about $70 a month for living expenses. Tiffany, meanwhile, received a staggering $14,000 a month. So, while Tiffany was on a wild shopping spree, I could barely make ends meet by working part-time handing out flyers. Fresh out of college, I hadn’t even had a chance to submit my resume before my parents tricked me into going to Africa. Now, my bank account balance was only three digits. How could that amount possibly buy imported medicine? Dr. Smith noticed my predicament and proactively covered all my medical expenses. After being discharged, I still chose to go home. Because I really didn’t want to trouble Dr. Smith anymore; I already owed him too much. Upon arriving home, I was greeted not by my parents’ warm concern, but by my dad’s teacup. Since it happened so suddenly, I couldn’t dodge in time, and the scalding tea splashed onto my exposed arm, instantly turning my skin bright red. But my dad wasn’t satisfied; he pointed at my nose and yelled: “Who allowed you to come back to the country without permission? And who bought your plane ticket?” “Was it that actor you hired earlier? He even lied to me that you had malaria, but you look perfectly fine!” “You’re full of lies, Skylar. How could I have given birth to such a morally corrupt daughter!” “If only Tiffany were my biological daughter, how wonderful that would be!” That last sentence made me sharply lift my head and stare intently at my dad: “Dad, aren’t you the one full of lies? You used bankruptcy as an excuse to send me to Africa, leaving me to fend for myself.” “If I could, I’d rather not be your biological daughter…” Before I could finish, a clear slap mark appeared on my left cheek. My dad’s eyes were bloodshot, looking at me as if I were his enemy: “You wretch, you have no gratitude at all! Get out, just get out!” If it weren’t for needing to gather money to pay back Dr. Smith, I wouldn’t have wanted to step foot in this house. Just as the atmosphere grew tense, Tiffany hypocritically walked up to me, took my hand, and said: “Skylar, Dad lying about bankruptcy and sending you to Africa was also for your own good. He just wanted to train you to be a capable successor.” Her tone was sincere, but her fingernails dug deeply into my palm. Without thinking, I immediately shook her hand off. I hadn’t used much force, but Tiffany stumbled backward and fell. She sat on the floor, eyes wide, her face full of hurt: “Skylar, you misunderstood me! I really didn’t mean to steal Brandon from you.” “Even though you’ve always looked down on me and thought I wasn’t worthy of being your sister, in my heart, you’ll always be my big sister.” As she spoke, tears streamed down her face like broken pearls. My dad slapped me twice more. The sharp sound of the slaps echoed in the empty living room. I distinctly saw Tiffany’s triumphant smirk hidden beneath her tear-filled eyes. “You wretch! If I had known you were so malicious, I should have strangled you the moment you were born!”

The farce ended with my dad giving Tiffany an unlimited black card as compensation. I didn’t care; I just wanted to go back to my room as quickly as possible to see if I had any jewelry or valuables left to sell. But opening the door, the sight before me made my breathing stop. In my own bedroom, my personal belongings were piled in a corner like trash, and my favorite white dress had several distinct footprints on it. And on my bed, a litter of stray cats lounged, cat hair flying everywhere, coating every corner of the room. The largest stray cat saw me and immediately arched its back defensively. It seemed as if it would attack me if I took another step inside. The memory of being attacked by stray cats as a child resurfaced in my mind, and my whole body involuntarily trembled. “Skylar, I’m so sorry, you came back so suddenly, I didn’t even have time to clean your room.” “My black cat is pregnant, so I had to bring her home. Your room is big and airy, perfect for cats. Dad said you wouldn’t be back anytime soon, so I didn’t tell you about it.” “Skylar, you’re not going to be petty about this, are you?” Tiffany’s voice held a challenging tone, and the malice in her eyes was unconcealed. Seeing my pale face, she walked closer, in excellent spirits, and whispered to me: “Skylar, I heard you’re terrified of cats. Do you like this gift I gave you?” “If I were you, I’d just stay in Africa and not come back. Anyway, no one in this family loves you!” “I advise you to leave willingly, or don’t blame me for doing it myself!” When we were little, Tiffany secretly put several stray cats in my room to attack me while I slept. Now, she was using the same trick to try and drive me away. At this moment, I could no longer suppress the rage in my heart and grabbed her by the neck. Tiffany froze for a second, then immediately screamed: “Dad, Mom, come save me! Skylar suddenly went crazy, she’s trying to kill me!” “I’m sorry, I was wrong, I won’t dare do it again, Skylar, please let me go!” “Skylar, I really didn’t know you were afraid of cats, I won’t ever just use your room again!” Even with my hands around her neck, Tiffany didn’t forget to act. Just as I was about to slap her again, my hair was violently yanked. The sudden sharp pain made me instantly release Tiffany. My dad violently threw me to the ground. “You little wretch! You’ve been home for less than half an hour and you’ve already thrown the house into chaos.” “Get out! From now on, I’ll pretend I don’t have a daughter like you.” My mom, even, rushed over and shielded Tiffany with her own body. “Skylar! How did you become like this?! What did your sister ever do wrong that you have to bully her again and again?” “I gave her permission to use your room to keep cats. If you’re angry, take it out on me!” My biological parents fiercely protected their adopted daughter, yet looked at me, their own flesh and blood, with hatred. At that moment, the light in my eyes completely died. I had truly become an orphan. My hair was disheveled, and both sides of my face bore clear slap marks, but I didn’t hesitate, trembling as I leaned against the wall to stand up. Now, I just wanted to leave this place forever and never come back. I said nothing, slowly making my way down the stairs, leaning on the railing. “Wait!” My mom’s voice, filled with a hint of concern, spoke up: “Skylar, why are you so thin? And why do you have so many needle marks on your arm?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “364301”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #浪漫Romance #擦边Steamy