A gold digger owes my family money, but she’s trying to seduce my brother to write off her debt. She even wants me to hand over my salary card for her to manage. “Sis, you’re such a big spender. Don’t you want to save up for your dowry? You can’t expect to use my future husband’s money to support yourself, can you?” she says with a sickly sweet smile. What an idiot. She has no idea that the money is mine, and so is the company. I’m actually her creditor, her sugar mama. Come on, let mama teach you how to be a decent human being! That afternoon in our family SnapChat group, my brother announced he was bringing his girlfriend home. Everyone was excited. My brother is short and has always been a bit of a dreamer, spending most of his time playing video games at home. He’s never had a girlfriend before. Now that he’s bringing someone home, and apparently a pretty girl at that, everyone in the group chat is over the moon. I’m happy for him too. Mom prepared a huge feast and told me to come home early. I rescheduled a few meetings, made arrangements at the company, and headed home with a hastily purchased gift for the girlfriend. As soon as I stepped through the door, I heard a sickeningly sweet voice. It was my future sister-in-law, Amber. “What’s the deal with your family? They knew we were coming, so why didn’t your sister come home early to help cook? Look how your mom is sweating from all the work.” My brother quickly tried to appease her, “My sister isn’t very good at cooking, and she’s usually busy with work.” Amber let out an exaggerated sigh, “Why would a woman be so busy? The bosses at her company are all men, how busy could she really be? If she can’t even cook, it’ll be hard for her to find a husband. No wonder your sister isn’t married yet.” My mom’s voice came through, flat and emotionless, “Amber, can you cook?” Amber immediately snuggled up to my brother, acting coy, “If Lucas wants me to, I’ll learn. Lucas, do you want me to?” My brother, clearly under her spell, replied, “I couldn’t bear to see you work so hard.” Amber tsked, “You know, whether a woman cooks or not depends on how much her man cherishes her. If she can get her man wrapped around her finger without cooking, why would she need to?” My mom’s expression darkened even more. At this point, my brother quickly tried to smooth things over, “Mom, Amber didn’t mean it like that. She’s still young, don’t take it to heart.” Amber, trying to change the subject, asked, “Why isn’t your sister back yet?” She shook her head, “You really spoil her. The whole family waiting for dinner just because of one daughter. This would never happen in our family.” Hearing this, I had a pretty good idea of what kind of person this girl was. I pushed open the door, glancing at my embarrassed brother. I unceremoniously tore off the packaging of the new handbag I’d bought as a gift and tossed it on the sofa. This gold digger didn’t deserve such a carefully chosen present.

To my surprise, Amber’s eyes lit up when she saw the handbag on the sofa. She then gave me a once-over, noting my casual, unbranded clothes with a hint of disdain in her eyes. I looked at her too. There was something familiar about this Amber. Before I could place where I’d seen her before, Amber started her act again. She deliberately placed her own handbag on her lap, pretending to reach for a tissue. That’s when I realized that her bag was the same model as the one I’d just bought. Wait a minute, mine was a limited edition that was hard to get. There was only one in our city. Looking closer, I noticed that the hardware on her bag looked dull. Suddenly, it all made sense. It was a knockoff, and not even a good one. She patted her bag, “You know, women should treat themselves well. When buying things, always go for the authentic items. It’s so embarrassing to be caught with a fake.” Then she turned to me, “Sis, where did you buy this bag? Let me check if it’s real. I have an app for that.” My mom, maintaining what little composure she had left, put down a bowl and called to my brother, “Lucas, serve the food.” Amber, hearing this, immediately jumped to “protect” her man, “Sis, you’re closer. Why don’t you do it? I’ll help you check if your bag is authentic.” She opened her phone, navigating through several pages before landing on a QR code scanner. “It’s not showing up. Sis, did you get scammed? Where did you buy this online? Mine is from a professional buyer. I can introduce you if you’d like. If you mention my name, you’ll get a discount.” I looked at my brother, who gave me a pleading look. Giving him a bit of face, I replied, “I bought it from the store.” Just then, the doorbell rang. It was my secretary, who had come specially. As soon as she saw me, she apologized, “Ms. Tang, you forgot to take the warranty card and the complimentary silk scarf when you left earlier.” Amber’s expression changed. She stared at the elegantly packaged items, then at her own bag, speechless. By this time, my dad had finished setting the table and sternly told my brother to invite the “guest” to eat. From the initial smiles to now referring to her as a “guest”, it was clear that my parents had already written Amber off.

Well, this would probably be the last meal we’d have with her anyway. I didn’t pay much attention to her, only feeling sorry for all the dishes my mom had prepared. Except for her annoying smacking while eating, everything else was tolerable. But apparently, even a table full of food couldn’t keep her mouth shut. “Sis, that bag must have been expensive, right?” “It was okay.” “Wow, you’re so generous. ‘Okay’ for such an expensive bag? I guess it’s easy to spend when it’s not your own money, huh?” Her tone was dripping with sarcasm. My dad immediately frowned. I casually picked up a couple of shrimp and put them on their plates. I wanted her to say more, to expose more of herself, so my brother could see clearly what kind of person she really was. My parents understood my hint and kept quiet. I raised an eyebrow at her and smiled, “I’m not sure I understand what you mean.” Amber pursed her lips in a smile, “Oh, sis, don’t play dumb. There’s only so much money in this family. If you spend a lot, naturally someone else has to spend less. And you’re a woman, you’ll be married off eventually. So, in the end, aren’t you just spending our money?” So, she was here to grab the family fortune. I looked at my brother. He just kept his head down, saying nothing. A chill ran through my heart. Our parents were always busy with work when we were young, so I was the one who took care of him. From childhood to adulthood, I always gave in to him, and because of his weak health, I almost never refused him anything. I never thought all of that would be worth less than a gold digger he’d only known for half a month. I said slowly, “How we spend our family’s money is our business. If I remember correctly, doesn’t the Ye family still owe our company a large sum of money?” Amber’s eyes immediately welled up with tears as she leaned towards my brother, “Lucas said it was fine. We’re all going to be family soon. Why should family talk about who owes what? The money was used by family, so it should be written off.” I couldn’t help but laugh. My brother immediately tried to comfort her, then turned to me for help, “Sis, can we not talk about this now? Let’s just eat.” Amber immediately put on a pitiful yet insistent face, “Lucas, you can’t spoil your sister like this. You’ll end up ruining her. We need to clear things up. I heard she makes tens of thousands a month at the company. Sis, you’ve got it all figured out, huh? You’ll eventually get married and leave, and all that money will go to your husband’s family. You’re just benefiting outsiders!” It was clear she had rehearsed these words, speaking with such conviction and fluency. My mom couldn’t hold back anymore, “Since when does an outsider get to worry about our family’s affairs?” Amber looked hurt, “Mom, Lucas and I are getting married next week. How am I an outsider?” My dad suddenly looked up at my brother. This time, my brother gritted his teeth and nodded silently, “Amber has given me everything. I… I can’t let her down.” Amber seized the opportunity, “Since we’re getting married anyway, I’ll be the woman of the house soon. I think not only should Lucas give me his card, but sis should hand over her salary card to me too. I’ll manage it to prevent her from overspending. Otherwise, she might end up with no dowry at all.” I looked at her greedy face and smiled slightly. “Just managing the house isn’t enough. How about we register a company and make you the legal representative?” Amber’s face lit up with joy, “That would be perfect!” Looks like she had no idea she was about to get into big trouble.

Amber left, but she kept sending messages on SnapChat, trying to control everything remotely. My mom had barely said two words before my brother jumped to Amber’s defense, saying she was the most pure-hearted and kind girl he’d ever met. “She’s not like other girls on the internet who just want my money. She said she fell in love with me at first sight and only wants to marry me and have my children.” I couldn’t help but laugh, “They say don’t judge a book by its cover. But you’ve seen her true colors, and you still think she’s innocent?” When you’re head over heels in love, you don’t listen to reason. The more you try to discourage it, the more they think it’s true love. My dad, furious, slapped him, “You brainless fool! What does this girl see in you? Your lack of a real job? The fact that you’re still living off us? She comes in demanding we write off over ten million in debt her family owes, and wants to control your sister’s salary. What kind of person does that?” My brother gritted his teeth, “Amber is just thinking about our future.” Just then, Amber’s voice came through my brother’s phone. “Your sister has too much control. She manages everything, so of course Lucas doesn’t get a chance. Does she not want to see us happy? Besides, Lucas is the son. You’ll eventually marry out of the family. Don’t tell me you want to take the Tang family’s assets to benefit outsiders? That would be so shameless…” He had been livestreaming our entire conversation to Amber. My mom clutched her chest, too angry to speak. I quickly poured her a glass of water and asked my dad to help her sit down and calm her. Alright, at this point, I knew that unless we gave him a harsh wake-up call, he wouldn’t realize how foolish he was being. Amber’s voice continued through the phone, sharp and aggressive, “Your sister said she wants to open a company for me? I hope she’s not just trying to fool me like she’s fooling Lucas. Lucas is too nice, always giving in to you, but I’m not a pushover.” I looked at my brother. His expression was indifferent, clearly agreeing with her. Looking at this brother I had cared for so many years, who now seemed like a stranger, I smiled, “As it happens, the company is planning to set up a new subsidiary to handle a batch of auction items. Amber seems to know a lot about luxury goods. Why doesn’t she become the legal representative and director?” Amber was overjoyed, “Now that’s more like it. This is just the beginning. Everything that belongs to us, I’ll take back one by one!” Yes, everything that belongs to you – the debt and the consequences of your greed and incompetence – will all come back to you, one by one.

Under their urging, the sole proprietorship company under Amber’s name was quickly set up. Amber wanted money. I had my boyfriend’s company transfer one million dollars to her company under the guise of purchasing a custom-made painting. Of course, no antique was actually given. But the money was indeed transferred to her account. Amber quieted down for a few days, even putting off the matter of marrying my brother. Soon after, I ran into Amber at a cocktail party. She was carrying a lambskin Hermès bag, not minding how odd it looked in the sweltering heat. The hundred-thousand-dollar price tag of the bag seemed to have given her a sense of belonging in this setting. When she saw me, she seemed a bit flustered. I immediately understood. This kind of event was a great opportunity to network and expand resources. Now that Amber had upgraded her status, wasn’t she eager to find an even better catch? Now that I was here, she must be feeling guilty and probably thinking of ways to make me leave quickly. Sure enough, as I was chatting with two business partners, she walked over with a glass of wine. “Sis,” she said with a sickeningly sweet smile, “You’re so dedicated. At your age, you’re still working on weekends instead of resting. If all employees were like you, the bosses would be able to buy new cars!” I smiled, “Nice bag.” Amber shifted her bag to a different angle. Her Twitter was already full of photos of this bag from every possible angle. She turned to look at my business partners, proudly handing out her business card with an oversized title: CEO. I couldn’t help but smirk. Amber grinned, “Sis, no need to be envious. If you work hard enough, you might have your own company someday.” I smiled, “Ms. Ye, there’s no need to call me ‘sis’. Come to think of it, I’m actually younger than you. By exactly one year.” Amber let out a surprised “Oh,” her face turning a bit awkward. My two business partners looked at me in surprise. Amber clearly misunderstood their surprise and became more animated, “Let me introduce you. This is the assistant general manager of Tang Corporation. Just an employee. If you want to talk business, you should find someone who can actually make decisions. I’d advise you two gentlemen not to back the wrong horse.” One of my partners coldly said, “We don’t care if Ms. Tang is a general manager or the boss. We trust Ms. Tang as a person. And who are you? You look familiar… Oh right, weren’t you the one handing out business cards and trying to add everyone on SnapChat earlier?” The other partner chimed in, “Amber Ye? Isn’t that the name of the local deadbeat distributor who owes Tang Corporation millions?” Everyone around turned to look at Amber. Whispers and murmurs filled the air. Amber’s face darkened, and she turned away in shame and anger. By the end of the party, Amber hadn’t left. She was huddled in a corner. When I wasn’t looking, she had collected countless business cards. I shook my head. There wasn’t a single man here as naive and foolish as my brother. But there might be quite a few con artists.

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I married the man who had assaulted me three years ago. He looked impeccable in his suit, with piercing eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses. Now, he lay behind me, his strong arms wrapped around my waist, trapping me in his embrace. He leaned close to my neck, his low, husky voice whispering in my ear, “Winter, you’ll always be mine.” In the darkness, the other side of the bed suddenly dipped. An icy chill crept up my back. I instantly snapped awake. A man’s hand slid under my nightgown, moving up from my stomach. His hand was dry and cold, and my body immediately tensed up, fear gripping my heart. It was that psychopath, Jasper Gray. After running for so long, he had finally found me. Despair washed over me. I sighed, “So you found me after all.” Jasper hugged me from behind and chuckled, “Winter, I told you, you’re mine. You’ll never escape me.” He propped himself up on one elbow and used his other hand to turn me over to face him. “Winter, it’s been three years. I’ve missed you.” Missed me? I couldn’t help but sneer. What did he miss? My body, or the chance to kill me? Forced to face Jasper, I saw him clearly for the first time in three years. He hadn’t changed much. His face was still handsome, looking every bit the gentleman, but his eyes were filled with the same evil as before. I studied him carefully, my gaze moving from top to bottom. He was shirtless, and there was a long scar over his heart. The scar was long and ugly, clearly from a knife. I placed my hand on the scar and laughed coldly, “What a pity I couldn’t stab you to death back then.” It was my fault. I had the chance right in front of me, but I couldn’t seize it. Jasper stared at me and smiled, “Winter, you really have a cruel heart.” Cruel? For a murderer and rapist like him, I wished I could cut him into a thousand pieces. This was just the first cut. Even after all these years, I could still vividly recall the scene of charging at him with a knife. I plunged the knife into his body, and the gushing blood stained my cheeks. At that moment, I was excited, elated. What a pity. Just a little more, just a little more, and I could have been rid of him for good. “Winter, I gave you a chance.” Jasper grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at him. Then, with a cruel smile, his lips fell on my hair, my face, my neck, and finally spread to various parts of my body. “Winter, be a good girl. If you behave, I might let you go.” Three years ago, he had let me have a chance to escape, playing with me like a cat with a mouse. Now, I knew he would never make such a mistake again.

The next day, I was tied up and taken back to New York. On the way, I sat in the back seat with Jasper, my hands and feet bound. The car sped along as I stared out the window, lost in thought. Jasper turned to look at me, a cold smile on his lips, “I never imagined that after searching high and low for you, you’d be right under my nose.” The city where I had been staying, Boston, was only a 30-minute drive from New York. To hide from him these past few years, I had moved through many cities. In the end, I decided to settle in Boston, thinking the most dangerous place might also be the safest. Jasper continued to watch me, still smiling, but his eyes were like a cold pond. “Winter, you’re very clever.” He raised an eyebrow, his face taking on that cat-and-mouse expression again. I hated that look of his. He thought he would always be the winner, but I knew the outcome was far from decided. I couldn’t provoke him, at least not now. I smiled self-mockingly, “But I still ended up in your hands.” Jasper seemed pleased with this response. He smiled faintly, “Winter, trying to like me isn’t such a bad idea.” Like? How dare he even mention that word? Those two words touched a nerve. My anger surged, and I spat at him. “Make me like a rapist? You’re dreaming. Besides, you killed my parents!” “Winter, I’ve told you it’s not what you think. I was just loving you,” Jasper said in a low voice, anger hidden beneath his words. Jasper didn’t like me calling him a rapist. After it happened, he told me he was just caught up in the moment, that it wasn’t intentional. Not intentional? But I clearly expressed my refusal, and he still continued to assault me, ignoring my cries and pleas for help. I laughed coldly. How many men have told girls, “I just loved you too much,” knowing full well they were breaking the law, still trying to deceive and test? It was disgusting, truly disgusting. I felt my stomach churning, and I glared fiercely at Jasper. Jasper curled his lip, gave me a cold look, and in the next second, he pinned me against the seat with one hand on my throat. “Winter, out of bed, you’re nothing. How dare you speak to me like that? You think too highly of yourself.” As he spoke, he increased the pressure on my throat. I found it increasingly difficult to breathe, my face turning red from lack of oxygen. At that moment, I thought I might die right there. But it didn’t matter. Aren’t men all the same? They call you baby in bed, then show their true colors once you’re out of it. Especially given the relationship between me and the man before me – it was either him or me. But at the last moment, Jasper released his grip. I gasped for air beside him. The struggle to breathe had forced tears from my eyes. Laughing through my tears, I said, “Jasper, you’ll regret keeping me by your side.” Jasper laughed too. He pushed his glasses up his nose and looked at me, “I look forward to it.” His appearance reminded me of a term young girls often use these days – the “cold and aloof type,” or perhaps “gentleman villain.” It was indeed quite alluring. If he wasn’t Jasper Gray, I might have been fascinated at that moment. But he was Jasper Gray. He was too good at pretending. Back then, it was this image that made me think he was a good person. It wasn’t until later that I realized even handsome, clean-cut men could be villains. Especially someone like Jasper – he was rotten to the core. I lay back in my seat, thinking to myself, Jasper, I’m looking forward to it too. After all, I’ve been preparing for so long. This time, I will definitely kill you.

Jasper locked me in the basement. The basement was surrounded by welded iron bars, looking a bit like a prison cell from TV. I sat down in a clean spot and looked at the wall not far away. The word “hate” was carved there. I had carved it. Three years ago, after Jasper assaulted me, he imprisoned me here, afraid I would run away. Click. Jasper unlocked the door and walked in from outside. He bent down slightly, examining me, “Winter, how does it feel to be back in this familiar old place?” “Just like you – nothing fresh about the experience,” I said carelessly, playing with my fingers. Jasper, I wasn’t afraid of you before, and I’m even less afraid now. Faced with my provocation, Jasper’s expression remained unchanged. He bent down to look at me, “Winter, don’t think about leaving me. You’re the woman I’ve slept with. No one else will want you except me.” I looked at Jasper for a long time, then sneered, “Jasper, I didn’t expect you to still be so old-fashioned at heart. Men, emotions, bodies – these things have never been shackles holding me back.” “Winter, you really are cheap,” he said through gritted teeth, as if I were the one who had done something wrong. I looked up, smiling as I met his gaze, “It was men who first treated women as playthings. Why is it that when women also become indifferent to love, they’re considered cheap?” “Men and women are different,” he said slowly, enunciating each word. I chuckled and asked, “What’s the difference? Aren’t men human? Men can sleep around and walk away, but the women left behind should be shamed and despised?” Jasper’s eyes darkened, but after a moment, his lips curled up slightly, “Winter, you always know how to anger me, but I like you this way. One day, I’ll make you submit.” “Going to sleep here again?” I looked up at him. Jasper stood up straight, folding his arms as he watched me. I smiled indifferently, “Don’t men always want to take revenge on women’s bodies?” Jasper smiled, “Winter, one day both your body and heart will be mine.” I curled my lips in a sneer, “Then I wish you success.” I even clapped for him, because I knew he would never succeed. As long as I lived, I would never submit to him.

For several days, Jasper didn’t come again. Occasionally, Mrs. Wilson would come to bring me food and change of clothes, giving me some rare peace. Mrs. Wilson was Jasper’s housekeeper, who had been taking care of him since he was ten years old. That was the first time I heard Jasper’s story. Mrs. Wilson took me out of the basement to a guest room upstairs. She had drugged my food, and as the effects slowly set in, I felt dizzy. She pulled me onto the bed and started wiping my body while explaining, “Miss Winter, I’m sorry. I can’t let you bathe alone. I can’t let anything happen to you. Please forgive me.” I thought to myself, it doesn’t matter. Being clean is better than being dirty in the basement. I lay on the bed like an immobile plant as Mrs. Wilson wiped my body and began to tell me about Jasper’s childhood. “I found him when he was ten. He was so small, curled up in the rain. He had just managed to find a piece of bread in a trash can, but before he could eat it, a homeless man came from behind and snatched it away. His eyes were lost and helpless in the rain.” I forced my eyes open, trying to stay as awake as possible because I wanted to learn as much as I could about Jasper. The more I knew, the better I could find ways to deal with him. Mrs. Wilson turned me over and continued her story. Later, she took Jasper home. The name “Jasper” was given by Mrs. Wilson because she felt the northwestern region had a harsh living environment, and she hoped Jasper could survive even in adverse conditions. At that time, Mrs. Wilson was in her forties with no children, working as a cleaner and living in the poorest alley. Her monthly salary of just over a thousand dollars wasn’t enough for two people to live on. Mrs. Wilson was getting older and occasionally needed medication. Because of the lack of money, and being bullied as a widow with an orphan, Jasper became a thug. He did all sorts of things, legal or not. Mrs. Wilson suddenly stopped and looked at me, “Miss Winter, a child from a happy family like you wouldn’t understand, but I understand Jasper. We were just trying to survive.” Later, when Jasper was sixteen, he was found by the Gray family and became their heir. At sixteen, the best age, he spent all his time working. For those years, he worked day and night, and in his spare time, he had to study to make up for the education he had missed. “Miss Winter, Jasper has had a hard life. He never got what he wanted. When he was little, all he wanted was a piece of bread, but he didn’t get it. After sixteen, what he wanted was freedom, but he never got that either. Later, he just wanted you, Miss Winter. Please have mercy on him, pity him a little.” I laughed coldly. Mrs. Wilson said Jasper was pitiful, but what about me? I had a happy family, had just graduated from college, and I was supposed to have a bright future. But just because of one glance from Jasper, I was abducted by him. This thug ruined my life. Moreover, there were lives between us. Jasper was in darkness, wanting to drag me into hell to save him. But he overestimated himself. No one could save someone like him. He needed a light, but he couldn’t force me to be that light. I closed my eyes, and a tear rolled down from the corner of my eye. Jasper might be pitiful, but pity was never an excuse for crime.

When Jasper returned, I had just woken up in the room. The drugs hadn’t worn off yet, and I was limp on the bed. He smelled of alcohol, which made me feel a bit nauseous. I turned my head slightly, trying to get away from him. Perhaps this movement made him uncomfortable, because he grabbed me and carried me towards the door. I knew he was taking me back to the basement. Mrs. Wilson heard the commotion and ran in from outside. Seeing it was Jasper, she was stunned for a moment, then started to persuade him, “Jasper, let Miss Winter sleep here. There are security guards inside and outside the villa. She can’t run away.” Jasper glanced at me, curling his lips slightly, “Mrs. Wilson, don’t interfere with this. She’s very cunning.” I raised my eyelids, looking at him. Cunning? Huh, Jasper, is it me being cunning or you being afraid? You’ll never admit that beneath your exquisitely beautiful exterior, your rotten core is filled with cowardice and fear. Jasper, you’re far from being as strong as me. Thinking of this, my mood improved a little. Jasper carried me back to the basement. This time, the ground had been covered with a thick layer of blankets, probably prepared by Mrs. Wilson. Jasper held me and sat down on the blankets with me. He looked very tired. He rested his head on my neck, his thick black hair tickling my skin. He didn’t care about my feelings at all. He just held me like this and slept for a while. When he woke up, the drug effects had just worn off, but half of my body was numb from his weight. I used my free hand to massage my body while trying to distance myself from Jasper. Jasper watched silently as I moved further and further away from him, as if enjoying the show. When I finally stopped moving, he got up, dusted himself off, and smiled, “Winter, next time don’t try to use Mrs. Wilson.” My heart skipped a beat. Did he know? But I kept my face calm, knowing that this was the moment I couldn’t lose my composure. Jasper looked me up and down and continued, “I received the text message.” He held up a phone with a blue case – it was Lily’s phone. I recognized it immediately because the blue case had Lily’s photo on it. Lily was my best friend. I couldn’t let anything happen to her. In an instant, I lunged at him, using all my strength to scratch and bite him. “Jasper, you psycho, what have you done to her?” I had indeed used Mrs. Wilson. I had stolen her phone when she wasn’t paying attention and sent a message to Lily. Jasper didn’t say anything. He threw me to the side, and the force made me lose my balance and fall to the ground. He slowly crouched down to my level, then forcefully grabbed the collar of my shirt, his eyes full of threat, “Winter, so you need to behave. If you don’t, I can’t guarantee Lily’s safety.” I felt my body go cold, my limbs numb, with an indescribable pain. Jasper left, locking the door behind him. Before he disappeared around the corner, he warned me, “Don’t think about escaping again. No one can save you.” Watching Jasper disappear, I curled my lips. I never thought about being saved by others. I’ve always known that the only one who could save me was myself.

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I was Lucas’s first love, standing by his side through those difficult years. He swore he’d love me forever, even if we were apart. He promised his love for me would never change. Later, when I finally returned, we got together as we had always planned. But something seemed different. “Lucas, help me, please… please help me…” A soft, sobbing voice came through the phone, sounding like a mewling kitten. Lucas’s hand tightened on his phone. He glanced at me instinctively. Our eyes met, and I saw a flash of panic in his. He took a deep breath and spoke coldly into the phone, “I’m busy right now.” Then he hung up. I watched him put down the phone and pick up his pen again, but his writing was rushed and messy. Just like his inner turmoil at that moment. I sighed, “What’s wrong?” “Nothing!” Our voices rang out simultaneously. Once again, I saw the panic in his eyes, followed by worry. I suddenly felt like laughing. But before I could, his phone buzzed again. It was a SnapChat message. As he picked it up to look, I caught a glimpse of the screen. I couldn’t see clearly, but it seemed to be an arm covered in bruises. Lucas couldn’t sit still any longer. He stood up abruptly. “Hazel, I… I have something urgent at work. Can I…” “If it’s urgent, go ahead.” I might have agreed too quickly. Lucas was visibly taken aback. He looked at me, hesitating. I smiled slightly, “What’s wrong? Don’t you have something urgent?” “Oh, right. I’ll… I’ll go then.” Lucas glanced at the wedding invitations spread out on the table, bit his lip, but still turned to leave. As the door closed, I let out a long sigh. I felt like all the bones had been sucked out of my body. I collapsed onto the sofa, feeling utterly drained. Everywhere I looked, there were unfinished wedding invitations. I picked up the one he had been working on and looked at it. Suddenly, I laughed out loud. “We joyfully invite you to celebrate our wedding…” At the bottom, the names — Groom: Lucas. Bride… Natalie.

I’m Hazel, Lucas’s first love, his ideal love, the person he cherished for many years. And Natalie? She’s his ex-girlfriend. Complicated, isn’t it? When I first found out, I was quite shocked too. Later, I learned that when I wasn’t around, Natalie had been there for him, accompanying him through those sad and difficult times. She shielded him from the wind and rain, cared for him, and never backed down even when faced with his cold sarcasm. She stubbornly stayed by his side. When I heard this, I was quite moved. I almost teared up. If only it wasn’t about my boyfriend. When I found out Lucas had a new girlfriend, I was genuinely stunned. How could the boy who had sworn and promised to wait for me when I left have someone else by his side? Later, Lucas explained to me that he had missed me so much that he drank to numb the pain, even drinking until he had a stomach ulcer. It was Natalie who took care of him tirelessly, working herself to exhaustion without complaint. Until she fainted in front of him, he finally felt sympathy. He agreed to her request. “Hazel, I didn’t change my heart. I just felt sorry for her, so… We agreed that when you came back, she would leave.” Lucas held my hand, his eyes red, begging desperately, “I didn’t betray you. It’s just that the days without you were really hard to bear.” “When I was sick in the hospital, I wished so much that it was you by my side.” Hearing these words, my heart was immediately filled with guilt. Seeing the caution in his eyes as he looked at me, I finally couldn’t bear it. This was the boy I had loved since I was young. During my six years abroad, I thought about him constantly. To be able to return and be with him sooner, I put in so much effort. This relationship had lasted for over a decade. Even if his heart had strayed momentarily, I should forgive him. Yes, I should forgive him. At least when I came back, he had ended things cleanly with Natalie. He only had me in his heart. That’s what I always believed. But reality seemed to always go against me, pouring cold water on me when I was full of joy.

I sighed and put away all the unfinished invitations. Originally, we had agreed to spend the weekend doing nothing but writing invitations. I didn’t expect an emergency to come up. He left, and I couldn’t continue writing either. As for whether we would write them in the future, I wasn’t sure. The invitation with “Natalie” written as the bride’s name, I packed separately. I don’t know why I did that. Such an eyesore should have been thrown away. After tidying up, I went back to my parents’ home. My mom was surprised to see me when she opened the door: “Why are you suddenly back?” Then she looked behind me expectantly. I knew who she was looking for and smiled, “Lucas is busy with work. I came back alone.” “About to get married and still so busy all the time.” Although she sounded disapproving, the smile on my mom’s face was undeniable. She was very satisfied with Lucas. Or rather, she was very satisfied now. Initially, she was the one most opposed to us being together. She said, “Children from unhappy families often have character flaws. And with his family being so chaotic, you’ll have a lot to deal with in the future.” But I didn’t care. I didn’t care that his parents had divorced early due to a bad relationship, nor did I care that his dad often caused trouble when drunk and had a bad reputation. In my eyes, Lucas would always be that young hero who would stand up for me when I was in danger. A hero who belonged only to me. During the years I was away, Lucas worked hard to improve himself. He got a good and respectable job, and even bought a house and a car with his own efforts. In my parents’ eyes, he became someone worthy of entrusting their daughter to. So my mom no longer opposed our relationship. She even urged us to get married soon. “You left for abroad right after college graduation. It’s been six years since you came back. You’re already thirty now. If you don’t get married soon, you’ll become an old maid.” I had just returned not long ago when I heard this. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I told Lucas about it as a joke. But he took it seriously. The next day, he went to buy a ring and proposed to me. In front of everyone, including Natalie. Lucas knelt on one knee: “Hazel, will you marry me?” I was in tears, nodding and saying “I do.” As he put the ring on my finger, I caught a glimpse of Natalie from the corner of my eye. She was in tears too. Seeming to notice my gaze, she paused for a moment, then turned and left. She left quite noisily, catching Lucas’s attention. He seemed to want to go after her. I instinctively held him back. Lucas suddenly came to his senses and quickly explained, “I must have seen wrong.” I nodded, not saying anything. But the panic I felt at that moment was real.

After the proposal, meeting the parents, getting engaged, planning the wedding… everything proceeded step by step, as usual. Lucas, as he said, cut off all contact with Natalie. Never contacted her again. At least that’s what I thought. If I hadn’t woken up in the middle of the night and heard him talking on the phone in the bathroom, I would have believed it. “Alright, alright, stop crying. Where are you? I’ll come find you now.” “It’s okay, I’m here. No one can bully you.” “Ten minutes, I’ll be right there!” Listening to that anxious voice from the bathroom, I could imagine his expression at that moment. His brows must have been furrowed, his face tense. One hand holding the phone, the other gesturing in the air as if comforting someone. He once said, “Even if I’m not by your side, at least I can comfort you this way.” I was lost in memories when I heard the door open. Instinctively, I grabbed the doorknob, pretending I was about to push the door open. I ran into Lucas unexpectedly. “Hazel, why are you…” The fleeting panic on Lucas’s face was clear as day to me. But I still pretended not to know, squinting my eyes, “I need to use the bathroom.” Then I yawned, as if just realizing, “Oh, why are you in here?” As soon as I finished speaking, I saw him let out a relieved sigh. His whole demeanor relaxed. “I just finished too. Go ahead.” He reached out to ruffle my hair. I avoided it by lowering my head and rubbing my eyes. Lucas didn’t seem to mind. Before I closed the door, he said, “Sam just called me. He has some urgent business. I’m going to check it out.” I kept my head down, my hand on the door tightening secretly. Taking a deep breath, I looked up at him: “It’s so late. Can you not go?” Lucas’s face showed a hint of difficulty: “From his tone, it seems he’s in trouble. He’s my buddy, I can’t ignore him.” “Don’t worry, I’ll be back as soon as I deal with it. Nothing will happen.” I took another deep breath: “Then let me go with you. Two people are safer than one.” Not surprisingly, Lucas refused. “It’s late at night. It’s not safe for a girl like you.” “Don’t worry, don’t you trust me to handle things?” With that, he turned and left. I heard the sound of the door closing and suddenly felt like my whole body had gone limp. I leaned against the door and slowly crouched down. Staring at the floor in front of me, everything looked blurry. He seemed to be by my side, but why did I always feel like I couldn’t hold onto him?

That night, Lucas didn’t come back. The next day, Sam called to apologize: “Hazel, I’m sorry. Lucas helped me deal with something last night. It was too late, so I didn’t let him go back. Don’t be angry. I’ll treat you to a meal another day to make up for it.” I smiled, “You better not go back on your word.” “Don’t worry, I definitely won’t.” After hanging up the phone, the smile on my face gradually disappeared. I wasn’t surprised that Sam would lie for him. They were best friends, close enough to share everything. The tacit understanding between them didn’t need excessive words. A single glance was enough to understand each other’s meaning. Helping a buddy deal with his girlfriend’s interrogation was second nature to him. Later, Lucas came back, specially bringing me a small cake. “I’m sorry. I said I’d be back early, but I didn’t expect things to be so complicated. By the time it was dealt with, it was already dawn. I couldn’t hold on, so I slept at Sam’s place.” Lucas explained with an apologetic smile. He presented the cake to me like a peace offering: “Don’t be angry. Eat something sweet, it’ll make you feel better.” I looked at the cake, then at him. Suddenly, I smiled. “It’s good that you’re okay.” Seeing me smile, Lucas also breathed a sigh of relief. “Shall I cut the cake for you?” I shook my head: “I’m on a diet. I can’t eat it.” “What diet? My wife is the most beautiful.” The usual sweet talk, but I felt a bit nauseated hearing it. I shook my head again: “No, I have to maintain my figure. Otherwise, I won’t fit into the wedding dress.” Hearing this, he had no choice but to give up and ate the small cake himself. Actually, I didn’t need to diet. I could have eaten it. But the store that sold that cake was unique in the city. It was right near Natalie’s house. Miles away from Sam’s place. Lucas thought I didn’t know, but I knew everything. But I didn’t say anything.

On the day of trying on wedding dresses, Lucas cleared his schedule in advance. He arranged all his work. He said, “Nothing and no one can disturb me when I witness my wife at her most beautiful moment.” Seeing his serious expression, I felt a surge of sweetness in my heart, diluting some of the previous bitterness. I thought, maybe it’s not so bad after all. Even if they were just ordinary friends, he couldn’t stand by and do nothing. He had always been a brave person. That’s why I fell for him in the first place. We were in the bridal shop, trying on dress after dress, selecting the most suitable one. Lucas gave his opinions seriously, showing no dissatisfaction despite the tedious process. Even the shop assistant praised him. My mood was getting better and better. I once again felt the joy of getting married. Until his phone rang. I watched him take out his phone and walk to the side to answer the call. He came back soon after, stuttering a bit: “A friend is nearby. She heard we’re choosing wedding dresses and wants to come take a look.” I lowered my head, fiddling with the tassels on the wedding dress. After a moment, I looked up at him and smiled: “Sure, the more opinions, the better.” Seeing that I wasn’t upset, Lucas secretly breathed a sigh of relief and turned to run out. As soon as he left, the smile on my face vanished. I turned to look at myself in the mirror. The smile frozen on my face looked like it had been drawn on. Like a clown.

Lucas came back quickly. Natalie was following behind him. As usual, she was shy and timid, hiding behind Lucas, peeking out timidly. She glanced at me quickly, then hurriedly lowered her head. When she greeted me, her voice was as quiet as a mosquito’s hum: “Sister Hazel, hello.” I looked at her and suddenly understood why Lucas would be moved. Such a delicate flower, fragile and pitiful, in need of love and care. And yet she could bear the pressure and stay by Lucas’s side without complaint. A weak girl gritting her teeth and putting on a brave face – how could a man not be moved? Lucas had always been somewhat macho. He liked submission, not assertiveness. I often had my own opinions, which he found somewhat objectionable. And I would never hide behind him like Natalie did. As if he was her safe harbor, her whole world. Seeing that I hadn’t spoken for a long time, just staring at her, she became a bit flustered. She tugged gently at Lucas’s clothes, swaying slightly, seeking help. Lucas turned his head and gave her a reassuring look. He then turned to me: “Hazel, Natalie is greeting you.” I watched their little interaction and suddenly felt like laughing. But I held it in. I nodded, considering it as having returned the greeting. I turned to face the mirror, admiring my wedding dress. Through the mirror, I saw a flash of anger cross Lucas’s face, gone in an instant. At that moment, my heart felt blocked, as if a stone was pressing on it, making it hard to breathe. I took a deep breath, trying hard not to show it. But I still failed. Because I heard Natalie say: “Sister Hazel looks so beautiful in the wedding dress. I want to try one too. I wonder if that’s okay.” And Lucas, my fiancé, said: “Of course.” “If you like it, try it on. It’s fine.” Then he took a wedding dress and handed it to Natalie. As luck would have it, it was one of the dresses we had decided to keep for final selection earlier. At that moment, the anger in my heart suddenly couldn’t be contained anymore—

“That’s my wedding dress. Put it down.” Natalie’s hand trembled, and the wedding dress fell to the ground. Lucas’s smile also froze instantly. He frowned at me, looking displeased. The accusation in his eyes almost made me lose my balance. I clenched my fists, the pain in my palms making me more clear-headed. “If you want to try on a wedding dress, there are plenty over there. This is one I’ve chosen, and I don’t want anyone else taking it.” I emphasized the words “taking it” heavily. Natalie’s little face instantly turned pale. Her body swayed, as if she was about to collapse. Seeing this, Lucas hurriedly supported her, letting her lean against his chest. “Natalie, are you okay?” Natalie shook her head, glanced at me, then quickly lowered her head again. Her weak and pitiful appearance really made people feel sorry for her. Lucas felt sorry for her. He held Natalie and shouted at me: “Hazel, it’s just a wedding dress, do you have to be so aggressive? Natalie is timid, why are you bullying her!” Bullying her? Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh. I felt particularly confused and didn’t understand. “How am I bullying her?” I walked forward and picked up the wedding dress from the ground. “This dress, you just said I looked good in it and that it could be the main dress for the wedding. Then you want to give the dress chosen for me to your ex-girlfriend to wear.” I looked at the two of them embracing, the smile on my face growing wider. “Lucas, how many years has it been since the Qing Dynasty fell? Are you still dreaming of having a harem?” “Hazel, I…” Lucas seemed to finally realize his behavior was inappropriate and instinctively pushed Natalie away. I watched her stumble, almost falling, yet staring at Lucas with big eyes full of hurt. It seemed Lucas’s letting go hurt her more. But Lucas only looked at me, wanting to explain something but at a loss for words. I didn’t want to listen. “Lucas, when she’s wronged, you comfort her. When I’m wronged, you yell at me.” “If you can’t tell who your girlfriend is, then there’s no need for this wedding.” With that, I turned and went into the changing room, taking off the wedding dress. When I came out, I found that Lucas and Natalie were gone. At that moment, it felt like I had been slapped out of nowhere. My face hurt, and so did my heart.

The shop assistant was a gentle girl. Seeing me looking lost, she came forward to explain: “Just after you went in, that girl fainted. Your… boyfriend carried her away. They probably went to the hospital.” Fainted? What a coincidence. I smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. “Then the wedding dress…” “Just that one.” I pointed to the one that had fallen on the ground earlier. “Please pack it up for me, thank you.” The shop assistant seemed to want to say something but ultimately said nothing and went to process the bill. As she saw me out, she suddenly comforted me: “Marriage isn’t the destination of love. If you feel confused, why not stop and think it over carefully?” I was stunned for a moment, then smiled and nodded. But in my heart, it felt like a wasteland, overgrown with weeds, lifeless. Something that outsiders could see through at a glance, I was still unwilling to let go. When I got home, I took out the wedding dress, hung it up, and carefully smoothed it out. As white as snow, adorned with exquisite rhinestones, sparkling under the light. It really was beautiful. No wonder Natalie liked it too. I heard the door open but ignored it, continuing to smooth out the small wrinkles in the skirt. Until someone came up behind me and hugged me tightly. “Hazel…” His voice was full of longing and dependence. As if I was his whole world. Every time he called me like this, my heart would tremble. “Hazel, I’m sorry. I didn’t think it through today.” “Natalie’s parents favor boys over girls and treat her badly. When I was there to protect her, things were a bit better. Now that we’ve separated, her parents have become even worse. They found her a man twenty years older than her, and disabled, just because he could give a $20,000 bride price. She was scared, that’s why she came to me for help.” “I won’t let her appear in front of you again, okay? Don’t be angry. Forgive me, please.” I listened to him explaining and apologizing humbly, but my heart felt nothing. Strangely, it was as if it had nothing to do with me.

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I’m the fake heiress, and Natalie Young is the real one. This is what my mom told me herself. But what she doesn’t know is that the DNA test Natalie showed her was actually forged by my dad. My name is Sophia Evans, and I was originally the sole heir to the Evans Group. But in the year I turned fifteen, my mom suddenly brought home a girl about my age. She said, “Sophia, this is Natalie. Do you know? She’s my biological daughter. I’ve been waiting for so long, and she’s finally come home!” My mom, with tears in her eyes, looked at Natalie with immense guilt. “Natalie, it’s all my fault. I let you suffer for fifteen years out there.” “Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you from now on.” Natalie was wearing high-end designer clothes, but her face was expressionless. She wasn’t even wearing lipstick. Her bare face made her small, delicate features look even more pitiful. I, on the other hand, was wearing an ordinary T-shirt and jeans, also without makeup. From a young age, my parents had always taught me to keep a low profile and not reveal our family’s circumstances to others. So, for fifteen years, even though I was the only daughter of the Evans Group, I lived no differently from ordinary people. None of my classmates knew about my background. Unlike Natalie, who had a father who spoiled her unconditionally. Whatever was fun, pretty, or useful, as long as she wanted it and he could afford it, she got it! I didn’t understand it before, but later I figured it out!

This wasn’t the first time I’d seen Natalie. Because, like me, she attended the same prestigious private school. I got in on my own merit. She got in on someone else’s. We were in the same class, but our relationship was like fire and water. Because the top student she had her eye on didn’t like her. And that top student had come to me several times for help with his studies. Seeing all this, Natalie couldn’t stand me even more. At school, rumors about me spread like wildfire. Ridiculous things like a high school girl picking up garbage and collecting recyclables! Or a high school girl trying to hook up with rich men but getting mocked instead! There was even a rumor about a high school girl from a family that favored boys over girls, getting beaten black and blue by her parents every day! In short, there wasn’t a single rumor that was even remotely credible. However, these fabricated rumors were deeply believed by most of the students. Natalie had always given off the impression of being a rich heiress. She came to school every day with exquisite makeup, wearing expensive jewelry on her wrists and fingers. Everyone thought, how could someone as rich as Natalie casually belittle a girl from an ordinary family? But I knew these rumors were all spread by Natalie. I also knew she had always disliked me. However, I never imagined she would have the audacity to brazenly walk into my home. Especially now, as she’s cuddling up to my mom and giving me a provocative smile. Very well! I smiled back at her, silently saying, “Since you want to play, let’s play this game to the end!” Then, I calmly got up and returned to my room.

Under the mattress in my room, there was a little secret that no one knew about. I locked the door and lifted the mattress directly. It was a photo from five years ago. In it were my dad, Natalie, and a woman I had never seen before. My dad and that woman stood on either side of Natalie. All three had the same smile, radiating happiness. It made people believe without a doubt that this was a real family. Among them, Natalie and my dad’s smiles were strikingly similar. Even the upward curve of their mouths was at the same angle. It made their blood relation undeniable. I thought, perhaps it was because Natalie looked so much like my dad that my mom believed her so easily! Bang bang bang! “Sophia, open the door!” my mom called from outside. I instinctively hid the photo back in its place, making sure there was no trace of disturbance before opening the door. “Mom, what’s wrong?” Outside, my mom was holding Natalie’s hand, looking at me with a troubled expression. Seeing my mom hesitate to speak, Natalie pretended to be hesitant and tugged at my mom’s sleeve, saying in a pitiful voice: “Mom, why don’t I just go back to my previous home? This way, big sister won’t be angry!” ??? I was full of question marks. What was Natalie up to now? “Go back where?” My mom patted Natalie’s hand, indicating that she should rest assured. “Natalie, your home is here. Don’t worry, as long as I’m around, no one will drive you away!” “As for Sophia, you’re the older sister. I haven’t mistreated you in these fifteen years. It’s just that now that Natalie is back, you should pack up your things and move to the guest room!” “This room will be kept for Natalie from now on!” After rattling off all this, my mom didn’t even look at me before turning and leaving with Natalie! Huh! So they’re already starting to squeeze me out? This is getting more and more interesting! Looking at their retreating figures, I started to feel strangely excited and expectant. I wonder what kind of reactions everyone will have when the truth comes out!

I didn’t want to announce everything to the world so quickly. After all, I hadn’t yet accumulated my own strength. So, before I had enough power, it wasn’t time to reveal all the cards. I took one last look at this room. From now on, it wouldn’t belong to me anymore! After packing my luggage, I carefully placed that photo at the very bottom of my suitcase. Dragging my suitcase to the living room, I saw Natalie still cuddling up to my mom. Mother and daughter both had red-rimmed eyes. I directly interrupted their heart-to-heart. “Mom, I’ve packed my things. Natalie can move in anytime.” Seeing me come out so readily with my suitcase, my mom looked a bit embarrassed, but still said: “Sophia, don’t blame mom. You were originally from an ordinary family. You’ve enjoyed the good life in our family for so long, and your dad and I have never treated you like an outsider.” “Now that Natalie is back, mom hopes you can give way to her more. After all, she just came back and hasn’t had an easy life like you have.” The way she said it, it was as if I had lived such a good life and Natalie had suffered so much! “Mom, don’t worry! I’ll definitely take good care of Natalie.” I agreed directly, and my lack of crying or fuss actually made my mom’s expression a bit stunned. “Sophia, mom knows you’re a good child. Don’t worry, in the future, mom will still treat you like her own child.” I nodded noncommittally, ignoring Natalie’s smug expression, and directly dragged my suitcase into the guest room. A child without a mother is like a blade of grass! In my previous life, I had seen this clearly early on. That’s right! I’ve been reborn! In my previous life, I lived to be twenty years old. I always thought I died accidentally, but during the years my soul was wandering, I discovered that my living self was just a joke. Because I wasn’t their biological daughter at all. My biological mother was the daughter of the richest man in City B. Under someone else’s instigation, she eloped with my biological father. Both my parents were very capable, building up a business empire in City C from scratch in just a year or two. Because of this, they incurred the jealousy of others. The year I was born, my parents were overjoyed. To ensure I would be provided for all my life, they planned all their assets early on and even made a will stating that I would inherit 80% of their property when I turned eighteen. But who would have thought that on my first birthday, they would all be killed, leaving only me to mistake the enemy for my father. Later, somehow, one day while wandering, I accidentally fell asleep, and when I opened my eyes again, I had returned to when I was ten years old. So, not long after I was reborn, I found ways to take that photo I now treasured. It’s just a pity that it’s not yet time for this photo to appear. I couldn’t help but smile ruefully.

Natalie and I were both in our first year of high school. In the school bathroom, Natalie cornered me with her two little followers. “Sophia Evans, I didn’t expect you to be so thick-skinned!” Natalie signaled her two followers to grab my arms, then strutted up to me arrogantly. She patted my cheeks. “I wonder if your skin is as thick as the city walls?” “Why don’t I cut it open and see?” Natalie mischievously scraped my skin with her long fingernails. I turned my head and looked at her contemptuously. “Natalie Young, do you have the guts?” Natalie’s hand paused, and her expression suddenly became interesting. “What wouldn’t I dare to do?” As if to prove it, Natalie immediately pulled out a small knife used for sharpening pencils from her pocket and waved it threateningly near my face. “Sophia Evans, tell me, if I cut up your pretty little face that seduces people, will Chris Thompson still favor you?” Chris Thompson was the top student in our class. I knew Natalie had always had a crush on him. However, Chris was only focused on his studies and didn’t pay any attention to Natalie, who had poor grades and didn’t like studying. The cold touch of the blade was pressed against my delicate facial skin, but I remained expressionless and stretched my neck to whisper in Natalie’s ear. “Natalie Young, if you don’t want me to expose your true identity right now, you’d better not provoke me!” “What exactly do you know?” After all, she was still young. Natalie’s face changed dramatically, and she unconsciously took two steps back. “Are you sure you want me to say it here?” I chuckled softly. Natalie hesitated, not daring to answer me. Her two followers looked at each other, unconsciously loosening their grip on me. I easily broke free. Walking to Natalie’s side, I whispered in her ear. “Isn’t your true identity that you’re the daughter of the mistress?” “What?” “Or did you think only your real family knew this secret?”

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As an innocent-looking girl (Note: In Chinese internet slang, this refers to a woman who appears pure and naive but is actually manipulative), I found Adrian Evans, the head of the Evans family, too tough to handle. So I decisively chose his playboy nephew instead. To marry into this wealthy family as soon as possible, I deliberately pretended to be drunk and flirted with the campus heartthrob, making Jason both jealous and guilty. Unexpectedly, it was that cold-hearted family head who came to pick me up when he received the call. “Miss Lily, shall I help you sober up?” Adrian asked. I had lived a life of luxury for seventeen years. But suddenly, I fell back into poverty. All of this happened because my dad, who worked in finance, was made the scapegoat by his company. He was an honest man who didn’t dare tell my sick mother the truth. Instead, he resorted to taking out online loans. I had a feeling something was wrong. People’s attitudes towards us changed drastically. On the day I received my college admission letter, my father invited close relatives and friends to celebrate. According to our hometown custom, guests were supposed to give red envelopes for a child’s college admission celebration dinner. The money he had given out on previous occasions should have been enough to cover my first year’s tuition and living expenses when returned. But to our surprise, no one showed up, and we were left with two tables of wasted food. By ten o’clock, with the oil congealing on the dishes, still not a single person had arrived. My dad started drinking alone, his eyes turning red. After settling the bill, he said he wanted to go for a walk. Worried he might do something rash, I followed him. He walked for a long time with a hunched back, reaching the city center where his new company was located. He stopped a car at the exit, saying nothing at first, and then just knelt down. Looking both pathetic and miserable, he explained that his violation of rules was arranged by Mr. Stern for the company’s benefit. He went on about how difficult his life had become, not even having money to buy a burial plot for his wife, and his child about to start college. He said he could barely survive… After he finished speaking, a cold voice came from inside the car. “Oh, aren’t you living quite well now?” The person in the car raised a hand, and a security guard came over, kicking my father’s things aside and roughly dragging him away. The food my dad had been carrying in takeout boxes spilled all over the ground. As he tried to pick it up, he started crying. On our way back, my dad “accidentally” fell into the river. After the accidental death insurance payout came through, we cleared all our debts, with only a small amount left as my living expenses. I was going to college on my father’s blood and sweat. He had done all he could for me, and now I had to do what I could for him. These people who drove him to his death – I wouldn’t let a single one of them off the hook.

During the summer break of my sophomore year, I found a part-time job at a coffee shop below that office building. Soon enough, I met Mr. Stern, my father’s former superior. He was in his forties, well-dressed, and smug with his newfound success. I caught his attention by upgrading his coffee to a large size. He had originally intended to take it to go but ended up staying to drink it in the cafe. Watching me busily working, he came over to place another order. I smiled and said, “Your stomach isn’t good, so it’s not advisable to drink too much iced coffee. How about switching to a hot drink?” He agreed readily and asked how I knew about his stomach issues. I explained that I had seen him holding his stomach when he came to buy coffee last week. I guessed that he probably didn’t have time for breakfast, rushing to work in the morning. Mr. Stern’s eyes lit up slightly. When he looked at me again, his gaze held a deeper meaning. As he took the milk tea, he casually touched the back of my hand. I didn’t shy away, only pretending to be embarrassed as I averted my eyes. Three days later, with Mr. Stern’s help, I entered Tiansheng Company, where my father used to work, as an intern. I heard that he personally delivered my documents to the general manager’s office to open the back door for me. Tiansheng Company’s successful acquisition couldn’t have happened without the “hard work and cooperation” of Tiansheng’s old finance team. But in the end, while others got promoted, only my honest father became the scapegoat, forced to resign and even had to pay compensation. Mr. Stern was now flying high, often talking about how “people should cherish their reputation and integrity.” Huh, just wait until I strip you of your feathers. As an intern in the general affairs department, I quickly memorized the HR system password. But when I logged in, I couldn’t find any of my father’s past records. I was told that due to a system upgrade, some data had been lost. Coincidentally, during the office move, two boxes of financial records were accidentally damaged. And of course, it was my dad’s portion. How incredibly convenient. Interns usually do odd jobs, and my “naive and cute” persona quickly won everyone’s favor. Especially Mr. Stern’s. He was clearly getting ahead of himself, thinking his “mature man” image had attracted an innocent young girl. Yet he was reluctant to invest too much, buying me a bunch of fake bags and clothes as gifts. On the day of the company’s summary meeting, I changed into the uniform cheongsam for receptionists and applied light makeup. Mr. Stern’s eyes lit up when he saw me. During the departmental reports, Mr. Stern came out for a drink of water. I deliberately waited for him on his way back. As he approached, I looked at him innocently. There was no one around, and behind me was the general manager’s office. Not a soul would come by. Sure enough, the moment I touched his palm with my finger, he couldn’t resist and pushed me into the general manager’s office. I only slightly hooked my arms around his neck, and his body immediately reacted. He pushed me to sit on the sofa, grinning as he placed his hand on my knee. I remained motionless, and his hand slowly moved. “You little minx,” he cursed, but with a smile on his face. His hand trembled as he reached for my zipper, which was already loose and suddenly broke completely. At that moment, I burst into tears. Mr. Stern was dumbfounded. I looked at him with a cold smile but cried even louder. Finally, male colleagues burst in, draping a jacket over me, while a female colleague slapped Mr. Stern across the face. Curses, angry shouts, and sounds of scuffling completely drowned out the stunned Mr. Stern’s attempts to explain. I just cried, not needing to say anything. Everyone was on my side. As Mr. Stern left in disgrace, I threw the fake bags and clothes with tags still on them that he had given me at him. Utterly humiliated, he reached out to hit me but was dragged away by security. I lowered my head and cried as the HR girl gently comforted me. “What a scumbag. Always talking about cherishing one’s reputation and integrity, and then he does something like this. Disgusting. He’ll definitely be disciplined for this.” Disciplined? That’s not enough. Just then, the assistant said the general manager wanted to see me. This general manager was Adrian Evans, the new boss from the acquiring company, the one my dad had begged that day. Heh, I’m coming right away.

Adrian Evans wasn’t old, but he had a cold heart. I heard he even snatched his brother’s position to dominate the family business. In the month since I’d been here, I’d seen him three times. Once for coffee, twice for documents. The day before the summary meeting, when I brought him coffee, he took a sip and said he didn’t want sugar. I took the cup back and drank a sip: “But it tastes really good.” Adrian looked up at me. “Really,” I said, looking at him innocently. He had thick eyelashes and deep-set eyes. I just held the cup and kissed him directly. Outside was the bustling corridor. When there was a knock on the door, I said I was momentarily overcome with emotion. He remained expressionless at the time and didn’t pursue the matter further. Then this incident happened the next day. I entered the general manager’s office. He sat in his chair, fingers interlaced, looking at me expectantly. I sat down in the chair in front of the desk, separated from him by the large office desk. On the desk was a photo of him with his family members. My gaze fell on the photo, and I immediately memorized it, a talent from my liberal arts studies. “I’ll help you settle your salary until the end of the month. Take a good rest at home tomorrow.” This was a veiled dismissal. In this matter, I was the perfect victim. All the events captured by the security cameras in the office corridor showed that I was innocent and coerced. How cold-blooded. I thought he would at least comfort me, his little employee, first. “I only want what I deserve,” I said, biting my lip. His gaze fell on my lips. The lipstick was applied just right, along with my shoulder-length short hair and slightly red eyes, presenting a pitiful image. Adrian looked at me for a while, then leaned back in his chair. “Don’t push your luck. Stern is lecherous and bold. But you’re not simple either — newly painted nails, right?” He smiled. “They left marks on the back of his neck. In that position, it’s hard to believe you were forced.” He truly was sharp-minded and ruthless. I had thought that kiss yesterday might have had some effect. I said, “I don’t understand what Mr. Evans is saying, but if this matter gets out on the internet, it will surely have a negative impact on the company…” Adrian thought for a second and chose to fire me. “Now that he’s been fired, at least no one in this industry will hire him. Half a lifetime of work has turned to nothing. Is that enough to satisfy your anger?” Not enough. On my way in, I had anonymously called his wife. She should be downstairs by now. I let go of the model I had been playing with in my hand, stood up supporting myself on the desk, my body seeming to go weak and swaying slightly. The jacket on my shoulders rolled off to one side, half draped over my arm. I stood up and walked straight towards the door. Suddenly, his voice came from behind. “This is an exception. Come back to work after resting for two days.” This was a concession. But I had a new plan now. I watched Mr. Stern’s pathetic beating from the corner window of the coffee shop downstairs. After his futile pleas at Adrian’s car window, he started cursing loudly, accusing Adrian of being ungrateful and abandoning him for a little slut. He asked how they could have easily covered up such a big hole without his suggestion. Security chased Mr. Stern away. Adrian’s car passed by the coffee shop, the window slowly lowered, and the person inside turned to look in my direction. I didn’t flinch, holding my coffee and taking another sip with a smile. Is that enough to satisfy my anger? Not at all. The real show is just beginning.

I returned to school and changed my phone number. After a long time, one day I suddenly received a call from the HR department of Tiansheng Company in my dorm room. They asked about my current situation and said there was a new internship vacancy, considering if I wanted to go back? It was the kind that could be converted to a full-time position after graduation by signing a tripartite agreement. I laughed and said they had the wrong number. The HR manager on the other end was stunned for a moment, saying it shouldn’t be wrong, that the name and photo matched. During the less than two months I worked at Tiansheng, all the addresses and contact information I provided were fake. To be able to call my dorm room, they must have put in quite some effort. But Adrian was too tough to handle, so I decided to choose his weak spot instead. As I was about to graduate from university, I met Jason’s parents once. Jason was known as the campus playboy and was the only son in his family. His mother was no match for him. After a bit of fuss from Jason, she softened and agreed to our relationship. She probably thought it was just dating anyway. Jason liked me for three reasons: first, my face; second, my grades; and third, my innocence. He said I was the only girl he had met who was this beautiful yet had such a clean record when it came to hotel stays. I was also the only beautiful girl he had seen doing such hard work as supermarket promotions. Of course, if I hadn’t known he would go to that supermarket to buy things, that his off-campus apartment was right next to that supermarket, why would I waste half a day doing promotions there with natural makeup? From before I met Jason, I knew exactly what I was doing. He loved to play around, a butterfly among flowers, hating constraints and calculations. He thought he had spent countless efforts to pursue me and cherished me immensely. Little did he know that those chance encounters and perfectly timed meetings, even the image of me that he liked, I had studied carefully beforehand. I planned to find a way to settle the marriage when he graduated, and then meet all of his family. But things happened a bit earlier than expected. One day, I was having dinner with Jason at a restaurant when his phone suddenly rang. He answered it, looking around, then waved to someone on the other side. Following his gaze, I saw his uncle, my former boss, Adrian Evans, who had his arm around Jason affectionately in that photo. Adrian was dressed formally tonight, with a well-dressed female companion. His gaze moved from his nephew Jason to me. Jason hurriedly introduced me. I looked at Adrian and smiled gently. He made a sound of acknowledgment: “Oh, so it’s Miss Lily?” His female companion asked him with a hint of jealousy: “You know each other?” Adrian said: “I happened to hear from my sister-in-law that Jason has a very beautiful girlfriend surnamed Jiang.” This was a cover-up. Jason’s mother hated me to death, and probably only cursed me as a vixen and schemer when she mentioned me. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Adrian and his companion prepared to leave. Jason said to me: “That’s the uncle I told you about, the one on the magazine cover last time.” I shook my head, pretending to be clueless: “Oh, I don’t remember.” Jason pinched my face and laughed: “Well, you’re face-blind. You probably don’t remember anyone except me.” Adrian’s footsteps slowed for a moment.

Leaving the restaurant, I decided to speed up the marriage process while Jason was still infatuated. According to the schedule, Adrian should be about to expose me, so I planned to settle things in two days, racing against time. Jason is usually most infatuated when he’s drunk, jealous, and feeling guilty. So I agreed to the class president’s invitation to a high school reunion this Friday. Conveniently, Jason had an unavoidable dinner engagement on Friday. His cousin, who he grew up with, had returned to A City from studying abroad, and it would surely be a night of wild partying. With many beautiful women present, Jason wouldn’t want me to go with him. On Friday afternoon, I dawdled in the dorm, carefully changed my clothes, didn’t wear any jewelry, just used a hairband to tie up my slightly curled hair. As I went downstairs, I ran into two junior students. I heard them discussing: “That’s Lily, isn’t she? She really is pretty.” Such comments had long become commonplace. The beauty of a young body always presents itself doubly, but it’s all just fleeting fireworks. I took a two-hour taxi ride to A City. More people came to the class reunion tonight than I had imagined. As soon as I appeared at the door of the private room, I heard the commotion inside. “I told you she would come, but they wouldn’t believe me,” the old class president came over first, looked at me with a smile, and pointed out the reserved seat for me. I recognized the boy sitting next to the seat, a cold academic achiever who I heard had already signed a very good job. His face was slightly flushed with alcohol. I went over and sat down without showing any emotion. As usual, there was old classmate sentiment, as usual, there was the clinking of glasses, as usual, there was subtle showing off and discreet probing. Everyone talked about youth, about the future, and it was quite harmonious. I sipped my drink slowly, controlling my alcohol intake. The academic achiever helped me fend off several rounds of drinks. “That’s right, if she drinks too much, Lily’s boyfriend will worry,” the class president said with a smile. The academic achiever immediately looked at me. I timed it just right, ignoring their probing, and just reached out to hold my forehead: “My head is a bit dizzy. I don’t want to drink anymore.” I needed this perfect slight tipsiness. Taking the opportunity to go to the restroom, I called Jason back. Sure enough, he asked why I didn’t answer the phone. It was noisy on his end, like he was still at a drinking party. So I said I was dizzy and whined for him to come pick me up later. He immediately got a bit angry: “You’ve been drinking?” In his mind, I had very low alcohol tolerance, he knew that. The background noise from the phone was chaotic, with young girls’ coquettish laughter. “Aren’t you drinking too?” I said and hung up the phone directly. I knew Jason would always come.

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On the day Olivia went to get her diagnosis, she learned she had cancer. The doctor said she had less than six months to live. Olivia calmly returned home and prepared divorce papers. In another two weeks, she would leave this home that didn’t belong to her for good. Olivia silently counted down the days, waiting for the day she could leave. This time, she would not forgive again. She no longer wanted Ethan or her family. “You have leukemia, which is blood cancer. Here is your diagnosis.” Looking at the glaring words on the paper, Olivia actually felt relieved. She calmly accepted the diagnosis. “How much time do I have left?” The doctor sighed. “Six months at most.” After a moment of shock, Olivia stood up to leave. The doctor quickly called out to stop her. “Miss Hayes, if we can find a matching bone marrow donor, there’s still hope.” Leukemia was a well-known cancer. Olivia knew a bone marrow transplant could save her life. But her family might not be willing to get tested as potential donors. Thinking of this, Olivia gave a self-deprecating smile. “That won’t be necessary. Thank you.” “But you’re so young, only 29 years old.” The doctor tried to persuade her a few more times out of sympathy. Seeing Olivia’s silent demeanor, he didn’t say anymore. Olivia put away the diagnosis and called a taxi. Outside the car window, heavy snow was falling, slowly blurring her vision. When she got home, the place was still cold and empty. Ethan was probably “working overtime” again. He used to at least send her a message to let her know. But ever since his old flame Sophia returned from abroad, He couldn’t even be bothered to send a single text. Olivia sat quietly on the sofa in the dark, gazing at the lights of the city outside. For the past 2000 days, she had always waited for Ethan to come home. Today was supposed to be her and Ethan’s wedding anniversary. Yet today she received notice that she had terminal cancer. Olivia didn’t know if it was herself or this empty marriage that was more pathetic. She had waited for Ethan for five years now, and didn’t want to wait anymore. Olivia pulled out the divorce agreement she had drafted two months ago and messaged her lawyer. “Mr. Davis, I’ve decided to go through with the divorce. Please help me draft another divorce agreement.” The reply came quickly. “Alright, same terms as before?” “Yes, but I want to finalize the divorce as soon as possible.” “The fastest we can do now is one month. Let me draft the agreement and we can set up a time to meet.” “Okay.” “By the way, are you sure about this decision?” Her finger hovered over the screen for a moment before Olivia typed a single word. “Yes.” In an instant, Olivia felt like she had lost all her strength. She put down her phone and stared blankly out the window. As long as Ethan agreed to the divorce, she could be free of this marriage in a month. One month… That would be enough time for her to get her affairs in order. Her marriage to Ethan had been an accident. Ethan was the one who proposed to her. At the time, Sophia had left him to go abroad. Olivia knew he had feelings for someone else, but she still agreed to marry him. After all, he was the only person who had been kind to her after her grandmother passed away. Even though he was as cold as ice after they got married and hard to get close to. But Olivia kept telling herself, Ethan was different. As long as she was good enough to him, even the hardest ice could be melted. All this time, her relationship with Ethan wasn’t exactly loving, but it was normal. But less than a year after Sophia returned, his icy exterior had melted into sharp blades. Cutting Olivia over and over until she was bloody and broken. She was truly exhausted. She didn’t want to be entangled with him anymore. As she was lost in thought, she heard the sound of the door opening. The lights were turned on. She shielded her eyes from the sudden brightness and heard the familiar sound of shoes being taken off. “Why are you sitting in the dark?” Hearing Ethan’s question devoid of any real concern, Olivia only replied with two words. “Didn’t feel like it.” Ethan paused briefly as he was taking off his coat. She seemed a bit strange today. But he only thought about it for a moment before continuing to change. Olivia looked at him and called his name seriously. “Ethan.” Ethan responded with a noncommittal “Mm” without even looking up. The response was more like that of strangers than familiar spouses. “Let’s get divorced.”

Ethan finally looked at her. “Don’t be ridiculous.” With those simple words, he dismissed her statement as a joke. “I’m serious.” “I had four surgeries today. I’m exhausted.” In the past, whenever he brought up work, it was a signal for Olivia to be quiet. Ethan unbuttoned his sleeves and walked into the living room nonchalantly. She caught a whiff of Sophia’s favorite plum blossom perfume. Olivia felt nauseous. She closed her eyes briefly and continued speaking. “I’ll draft a divorce agreement and let you look it over. If you don’t have any—” Olivia’s words were cut off by a ringtone. “Little White, answer the phone! Little White, answer the phone!” Sophia’s voice came from Ethan’s coat pocket. Little White was the nickname Sophia had given Ethan. A nickname she had used since middle school. An intimate nickname that only Sophia used for him. Ethan glanced at Olivia. “I didn’t know the ringtone changed.” His explanation sounded perfunctory. When he answered the phone, his voice became exceptionally gentle, a complete contrast to just moments ago. “Sophia, what’s wrong?” It was always like this. Sometimes Olivia couldn’t tell who was really Ethan’s wife. After hanging up, Ethan looked down at Olivia. “Sophia has a low fever today. She said she’s craving your pumpkin porridge.” Olivia gripped her pants leg tightly, looking at him in disbelief. “Ethan, do you know what time it is?” The clock on the wall showed it was past midnight. Ethan replied flatly, “You’re a freelancer, unlike us. It’s fine if you sleep in tomorrow.” Olivia gave a self-deprecating laugh. She was an illustrator, so her time was indeed quite flexible. But that wasn’t a reason for Ethan to order her around. Apparently her health meant nothing in his eyes. Olivia took a deep breath, staring at him intently. “Ethan, let’s set that aside for now. Can you please respect me? I’m trying to talk to you about divorce.” Ethan’s cold expression finally changed as he frowned. “Sophia is sick. Olivia, be sensible.” Ethan looked at her like she was being unreasonable. Olivia struggled to breathe. She used to love his eyes the most. She could still remember the first time she saw Ethan, sitting on her family’s garden wall holding a cat, glancing back at her. Those clear yet cold eyes. One look was enough to capture her heart. One look was enough to make her fall in love hopelessly for thirteen years. Only now did she realize she had fallen in love with an idealized version of Ethan that she had created in her mind. “You didn’t come home for five days, and now you want me to cook for Sophia as soon as you’re back. Ethan, am I really the one being unreasonable?” Faced with her questioning, Ethan replied nonchalantly. “It’s just one meal, you’re being petty. Olivia, Sophia is your stepsister.” How ridiculous. Every argument in the past Always ended with that line. She’s your stepsister. Those words were like a curse. Hanging over Olivia’s five-year marriage. Olivia laughed coldly, looking at Ethan with increasingly unfamiliar eyes. The difference she thought existed turned out to be no difference at all. Ethan was no different from her family. “Ethan, remember this – her last name is Lewis, my last name is Hayes. I don’t have any random stepsister, and I don’t need anyone to assign me a stepsister!” She spoke each word clearly and forcefully. Ethan’s eyes flashed with disbelief. “Olivia, why are you acting like a shrew?”

Five years. She had thought that even if five years of marriage couldn’t earn his love, it could at least earn his respect. But she had overestimated herself. Olivia wanted to ask him. Ask how he could say such cruel words. Ask what she had done wrong to deserve such torment from him. Olivia opened her mouth, but her throat felt stuck. She lowered her eyes, her voice hoarse. “I’ll have the divorce papers drawn up.” Ethan walked past her towards the kitchen. “I’m very tired today. I don’t want to argue with you.” Watching Ethan roll up his sleeves in the kitchen, Olivia turned and went back to the bedroom. Listening to the sounds from the kitchen, Olivia felt a pang in her heart. Ethan had germaphobia and never cooked. Only now did she realize that germaphobia could be selective too. Olivia wiped away the tears in the corner of her eyes. She didn’t have time to be sad now. Besides divorce, there were many other things she needed to do this month. Olivia took out paper and pen, thinking about what she needed to accomplish. After finishing these tasks… She wanted to see the ocean. The winter beaches of Florida must be very warm. Embracing the sunshine as she left this world would surely be painless. Thinking this, Olivia smiled for once. As Olivia closed her notebook, she heard Ethan’s voice. “I won’t be coming home tonight.” Only then did Olivia remember her test results were still outside. She hurriedly ran out, bumping right into Ethan. Ethan scrutinized her face. “What are you in such a rush for?” Olivia tried to appear calm as she grabbed her bag. “Nothing, just getting my bag.” Ethan pressed further: “Really nothing?” He felt Olivia was acting very strangely today. Olivia glanced at him: “Aren’t you going to deliver porridge to your mistress?” Taken aback, Ethan turned to grab his coat by the door. “I’ve told you, there’s nothing between Sophia and me.” After he left, Olivia finally let out a sigh of relief. Ethan cared a lot about his image. If he knew she was sick, he would definitely refuse to divorce her just to save face. She and Ethan lived next to the downtown hospital. But she hadn’t gone there for her checkup. Because Ethan was a surgeon at the downtown hospital. And Sophia had started working in pediatrics there this past year on his recommendation. Ethan didn’t like her going to the downtown hospital to find him. To avoid causing Ethan trouble, she had chosen to go to the district hospital 10 miles away. But thinking about it now, Even if she had gotten checked at the downtown hospital, Ethan probably wouldn’t have noticed. Few people at the hospital knew about their relationship. Olivia carefully hid away the test results. She couldn’t let anything get in the way of the divorce. It was very late now. Olivia curled up in bed, exhausted. Tomorrow she still had to go back to her family home. The Hayes mansion wasn’t far. Only an hour’s drive from where she lived with Ethan. After getting married, she rarely went home except for holidays. Olivia looked at the neatly trimmed garden in front of her and rang the doorbell. She had come today to retrieve her grandmother’s jade pendant.

A few minutes later, someone came out from inside. It was Olivia’s brother, Ryan. Seeing Olivia, his expression was surprised and strange. “Why are you here?” It didn’t sound like how one would greet a sister they hadn’t seen in a long time. More like seeing someone they disliked. Olivia was already used to it. “I need to see Mom about something.” Ryan hesitated before opening the door. “Come in, Mom’s in the living room.” After entering the yard, Olivia immediately noticed the newly planted flowers. Winter jasmine filled nearly half the garden. It was Sophia’s favorite flower. That area used to be where she had planted red camellias to please her father. Now there was no trace of them left. Noticing her gaze, Ryan said, “Sophia likes winter jasmine. Dad had them planted.” It sounded like an explanation, but was really just informing her. After all, none of her things mattered in the Hayes household. Olivia looked away. “Oh.” Ryan gave her an odd look. In the past, Olivia would have been hurt hearing things like this. Why was she so calm today? Ryan tried to detect some signs of distress on her face, but found none. Before she even stepped into the living room, laughter could be heard. Her mother Linda was holding up a finished cheongsam, comparing it to Sophia’s figure. “Frank, look, how’s the cheongsam I embroidered for Sophia?” Her father Frank nodded appreciatively. “Beautiful. The yellow winter jasmine embroidery is very elegant.” Sophia smiled and linked arms with Linda. “Mom’s handiwork is the most beautiful. I love everything she makes!” Linda looked at Sophia with loving eyes. “Such a sweet talker.” Sophia liked wearing handmade cheongsams. Linda felt the ones sold outside weren’t good enough, so she had been making them herself for Sophia for many years. Sophia was in her thirties but still acted like a child, pouting. She held up the dress and twirled around. “Ethan, will this dress look good on me for New Year’s?” Only then did Olivia notice Ethan sitting on the sofa, hidden by the wall. Ethan looked up at Sophia with a smile. The misty blue sweater made him look especially gentle. Where was any trace of how he acted in front of Olivia? “It looks good.” Hearing Ethan’s warm voice, Olivia felt a stabbing pain in her heart. He had never complimented her on looking good. Not even once. The scene before her eyes was warm and loving. Just like a real family. Ryan coughed. “Dad, Mom, Olivia’s back.” Everyone’s smiles froze. Linda turned and made eye contact with Olivia. Linda’s eyes darted away, then she spoke awkwardly. “Olivia’s back.” Her tone was distant and polite, completely lacking the affection she showed Sophia. Frank sat up straight, not even sparing Olivia a glance. “What are you here for?” That tone of voice made her sound like the outsider. Then again, other than sharing the Hayes name, she was nothing like the Hayes family. Sophia waved the cheongsam and smiled at her. “Sis, this is the one I asked Mom to make for me. Don’t think too much of it.” Hearing this, Frank snorted coldly. “Your mother can make dresses for whoever she wants. Does she need Olivia’s permission?” Sophia’s eyes flashed with smugness. It was always like this. A few words from Sophia and the family would despise her. In the past she would argue back, but now she had no energy for it. Ethan watched the silent Olivia, feeling confused. Olivia wouldn’t usually be this indifferent. What was wrong with her today? Olivia suppressed the pain in her heart and walked forward. “Dad, Mom, I didn’t mean to disturb you.” “Nonsense, how could Mom ever find you a bother.” Linda went to take Olivia’s hand but was avoided. Linda’s smile froze on her face as she awkwardly withdrew her hand. Olivia didn’t want to exchange pleasantries and stated her purpose directly. “I came today to take back the white jade pendant Grandma left for me.”

Sophia was Olivia’s stepsister. She was also the orphaned child of Frank’s deceased war buddy. When Sophia was three, Frank’s comrade stepped on a landmine while trying to save Frank and died. His wife committed suicide soon after. Frank felt extremely guilty and took the initiative to raise Sophia. He even brought Sophia to live with the Hayes family. The Hayes weren’t particularly wealthy, but could easily afford to raise another child. But Sophia had trouble getting along with Olivia. So they sent Olivia to live with her grandmother in the countryside. The white jade pendant Olivia’s grandmother left was specifically meant for Olivia. At the time, Linda was very distraught over her mother’s passing and cried while holding the pendant. Olivia felt bad for her mother and gave her the pendant. But Linda had also said that whenever Olivia wanted it, she could come take it back. Linda nervously smoothed her hair. “Olivia dear, why are you asking about the pendant as soon as you arrive? Why don’t you catch up with everyone first?” In the past, she always cared about them when she came back. But did they appreciate it? As soon as Sophia returned, they never spared her a single glance. It was they who trampled on her concern, not her who didn’t give it. Linda’s demeanor made Olivia suspicious. “Mom, where’s the pendant?” Linda couldn’t meet her eyes. Sophia’s clear voice rang out. “Sis, do you mean this pendant?” Sophia pulled out the pendant from her neckline. “I didn’t know it was from your grandmother. I thought Mom bought it for me.” Olivia’s body trembled as she looked at Linda. “Mom, that’s the pendant Grandma left for me!” Linda tried to explain. But before she could speak, Frank interrupted. “What’s yours or mine? Olivia, don’t you understand? If Sophia wants the pendant, are you really going to fight her for it?” Olivia felt it was getting hard to breathe. She could give up everything else. But this was Grandma’s pendant! She and her grandmother had relied on each other for over a decade. The pendant was the only thing her grandmother left behind! Frank continued to berate her. “You dare raise your voice at your parents over a mere pendant? Where are your manners?” “That’s right,” Ryan chimed in from the side, “It’s just a pendant, what’s the big deal? Olivia, you’re being too petty.” “Enough,” Linda pulled on Ryan’s arm and said to Olivia, “Your sister likes it, so just let her have it.” Olivia looked at the silent Ethan. Ethan felt uncomfortable under her gaze. His eyes moved to the pendant in Sophia’s hand. He had some impression of that pendant. The first time he met Olivia, she was holding that pendant. But Olivia owed Sophia too much. Ethan spoke flatly: “It’s just a pendant. If Sophia likes it, let her have it.” Olivia looked at the people before her, feeling they were complete strangers. “Just a pendant?” She suddenly laughed. Her grandmother had been her only family until she was sixteen. “That was left to me by my grandmother! What right does she have to take it?!” “She’s your sister!” Olivia shouted with all her strength: “She’s not!” Hearing Olivia say this, Frank’s eyes widened in anger. Olivia didn’t give him a chance to speak. “Dad, for Sophia’s sake, you sent me away and ruined my future. Now you want to give her my pendant too? You owed your war buddy! I don’t owe anyone anything!” Back then, Sophia wanted to study medicine abroad while Olivia was about to start college. There was enough money for both of them to study. But to give Sophia a better life, Frank gave her double the living expenses. At that time, Olivia had just passed the art exam. But Frank told her to stop studying art. To continue learning to paint, she begged many times. Frank remained unmoved. Having his sore spot poked, Frank stood up from the sofa and slapped Olivia hard across the face. “What are you doing!” Linda pulled Frank back and went to Olivia. “Olivia, your father didn’t mean it. Be the bigger person and apologize to your father. Let’s put this behind us.” Linda always tried to smooth things over like this. Her actions made Olivia feel utterly helpless every time. “You knew that was from Grandma, why did you give it to Sophia!” Olivia grabbed Linda’s hands, forcing her to look at her. “Mom, that was from Grandma! I’ve already given up everything else, why do you have to take away my last memento?” Linda was at a loss for words. Sophia spoke up from the side. “Sis, don’t blame Mom. It’s all my fault. I’ll give it back to you.”

“Nonsense!” Frank glared at Olivia. “If you dare take back the pendant today, I’ll disown you as my daughter!” “Olivia, you’re making it very difficult for Mom.” “Don’t be angry.” Sophia comforted Linda. “Sis, don’t make Mom and Dad argue. The family’s finally together, let’s keep the peace.” Sophia came to stand in front of her, blocking the view of the others in the room. She dangled the pendant, speaking softly so only Olivia could hear. “If I’d known this was your grandmother’s keepsake, I never would have wanted it.” “How unlucky.” With a flick of her fingers, Sophia dropped the pendant on the floor. The sound of the pendant shattering echoed in Olivia’s ears. She was speechless for a moment. Sophia feigned surprise and covered her mouth. “Oh no, Sis, I didn’t mean to. Why did you push me?” Olivia crouched down shakily to pick up the broken pieces. When she stood up, she saw everyone staring at her intently. Afraid she would do something. Ethan even stood up to shield Sophia. Olivia had originally wanted to make a scene. But now she was truly exhausted. She silently put away the pendant fragments and stared at Ethan, enunciating each word clearly. “Meet me at the civil affairs office on Monday. Let’s get divorced. I’ll set you free. And I wish you two all the best getting back together.” Ethan felt his heart skip a beat. Could it be… she found out? Before anyone could speak, Olivia turned and ran out into the rain. “Olivia, take an umbrella.” Linda stood in the living room holding an umbrella, but Frank snatched it away. “What umbrella? This little rain won’t kill her. Look at her, daring to fight with her sister over a broken pendant. Is this the good daughter you raised?” Linda stood by the door, sighing repeatedly. Ethan was in a daze for a moment before noticing the small bloodstains where the pendant had shattered. Just as he was about to go after her, Sophia suddenly grabbed his sleeve. “Ethan, did I do something wrong? Why does my sister hate me so much?” Ethan comforted her: “Sophia, it’s not your fault.” When Ethan looked back, Olivia was already gone. It was just a small injury, she should be fine. Thinking this, Ethan helped Sophia back to the living room. Olivia didn’t get a taxi until over 10 minutes after leaving. Once in the car, the driver handed her a dry towel. “Miss, dry yourself off so you don’t catch a cold.” Olivia took the towel. “Thank you.” The driver tried to console her as he drove. “These days, there’s nothing that can’t be overcome. Just hang in there and it’ll get better.” The driver’s words made her shed a few tears. She used to believe that too. But now she couldn’t hang on anymore. Just then, her phone vibrated. It was a message from Mr. Davis. “Ms. Hayes, I’ve drafted the agreement. Do you have time to meet tomorrow?” “Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Davis. Let’s meet tomorrow.” The phone showed the location – a cafe near her home. Mr. Davis’ law office wasn’t in that area. And tomorrow was Sunday. It seemed he had added an extra workday for her sake. She had first asked Mr. Davis to draft divorce papers six months after Sophia returned. She had gone back and forth, hesitating many times since then. Mr. Davis understood better than anyone how reluctant she was to let go. But he was also the one who most often advised her that she needed to let go. Ethan’s coldness towards her was obvious even to strangers. She had been too foolish and naive before. Always thinking that boy who had helped her in her times of need would eventually fall for her.

The next day, Olivia received the divorce papers. Looking at the large words on top, Olivia felt a bit dazed. “Ms. Hayes, as you know, there’s a 30-day cooling off period for divorce now. After that, as long as both parties agree, you can finalize the divorce.” Olivia nodded and placed the papers on the table. “Thank you for taking the time to help me on a weekend.” Mr. Davis sighed and gave a wry smile. “It’s nothing. If I can help you escape this misery, I’ll have done a good deed.” Just then, an accusatory voice suddenly sounded behind Olivia. “Olivia, what are you doing here?” Olivia turned around to see Ethan and Sophia. Sophia’s gaze swept over her and Mr. Davis. “Sis, are you on a date?” Those words seemed to strike a nerve with Ethan. He walked over and grabbed Olivia’s wrist. “So this is why you’re not home on weekends? To come see him?” No wonder Olivia had talked about divorcing him. Olivia wrenched her wrist free and turned to apologize to Mr. Davis. “I’m sorry, Mr. Davis. You can leave first, I need to deal with some family matters.” “You… Sigh.” Mr. Davis looked at Ethan. “Mr. Hayes, I’m just Ms. Hayes’ lawyer.” With that, Mr. Davis got up and left the cafe. People around kept glancing their way. Olivia spoke quietly to Ethan. “Let’s go home and talk. Don’t make a scene here.” Ethan was about to say something but Olivia cut him off. “Don’t you care about your reputation, Dr. Hayes?” They lived near the downtown hospital. This cafe was often frequented by hospital staff. Ethan cared a lot about his image. Hearing Olivia say that, he didn’t speak further. After returning home, Olivia took out the divorce papers. “Tomorrow, let’s go to the civil affairs office to get a number and apply for divorce. In a month, you’ll be free.” Her words didn’t make Ethan happy, but seemed to please Sophia. However, Ethan first asked Sophia to leave. “Sophia, go home first. This is between me and my wife.” Sophia’s expression stiffened momentarily before returning to her gentle demeanor. “Okay, talk it over with her properly. Don’t let her misunderstand us. Divorce is a big deal, tell her not to be impulsive.” Olivia laughed coldly. Even as she was leaving, she still had to verbally attack her. After Sophia left, Ethan sat down on the sofa and looked over the divorce papers. For a long while, he didn’t speak. His gaze moved from the papers to Olivia. “You really want to divorce me?” Ethan noticed the jade pendant on the table, glued back together over and over. “Just because of a pendant? Sophia didn’t mean it, I can buy you a new one to replace it.” Olivia looked at him calmly and asked: “In what capacity will you replace it? As my husband, or as Sophia’s ex-boyfriend?” “Sophia is right, you’re still being impulsive.” Ethan tossed aside the divorce papers. “Olivia, you were the one who drove Sophia away from us back then.” Olivia was stunned. When had she ever driven Sophia away? “You forced Sophia to leave, telling her to let me go to you. Sophia told me everything when she came back.” “Do you know how much Sophia suffered abroad all these years? You owe Sophia.” Ethan’s words were like knives, cutting into her already wounded heart once again. Olivia looked at Ethan with difficulty. In his heart, she was actually so despicable. “Sophia doesn’t blame you for her leaving, and I won’t blame you anymore either.” He spoke as if he was granting her great mercy. “I didn’t…” The words of explanation died in her throat. What was the point of explaining now? He firmly believed this “old story”. In his eyes, she was the sinner. A sinner’s words would not be believed. Olivia paused, then suddenly asked him. “Ethan, do you know what happened the day Sophia returned?” Ethan frowned in confusion: “What happened?” That day was their fourth wedding anniversary. Ethan had promised to come home after work to be with her. She had wanted to tell him they were going to have a baby. But Ethan stood her up. She waited for him in the heavy snow for four hours. She was holding the ultrasound results when she fell on her way to find him. The baby was gone. The baby she had waited four years for. Gone.

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When the real heiress returned, James and I had been married for three years. She looked at our clasped hands, her eyes reddening with grievance. “So all those childhood promises to marry me were lies.” As soon as she spoke, James, who was usually calm and composed, instantly lost his rationality. I watched their tightly embracing silhouettes and silently prepared the divorce papers. The real heiress had returned, so it was time for me, the fake one, to exit the stage. But James tore up the divorce agreement and forcefully kissed my lips: “Lily, don’t overthink it. I only see her as a sister.” That day, the stars in his eyes were especially dazzling. I thought, perhaps he really belonged to me. But it wasn’t until the very end that I understood – what didn’t belong to me never would. In the Bennett family’s private clinic, Claire was banging her head against the stark white wall like a madwoman, until it was dotted with blood stains. This act was solely to keep James from leaving. “Go ahead and leave! If you go, I’ll kill myself. Then there will finally be no one left to interfere with you and that fake’s lovey-dovey act.” Claire cried heartbrokenly, her swollen red eyes fixed on James as his hand touched the door handle. “Claire, I haven’t been home in three days already.” Though he said this, James’s hand had already fallen away from the door. “James, please, we’re begging you. Stay with Claire a bit longer, alright?” “This child has had such a hard life. She finally made it back home, only to suffer another shock. We’re really afraid something might happen to her.” Mr. and Mrs. Bennett earnestly tried to persuade him to stay with Claire longer. They had completely forgotten that I was James’s wife. I looked at James without a shred of hope. Because I knew he would choose to stay. As I expected, he sat back down by the hospital bed, allowing Claire to clutch his hand as she wept. Perhaps out of guilt, he personally tended to the wound on her forehead, as if they were the married couple.

Not long after, Claire fell asleep. James took the opportunity to extricate his hand and hurriedly left the hospital. I instinctively followed him, watching as he repeatedly dialed my number, but no one picked up. “Throwing another tantrum, are we?” James’s brows furrowed, his voice thick with displeasure. This was already a precursor to his rage. But before Claire returned, he had never once been angry with me. Seeing he couldn’t get through, James drove home. Pushing open the door, the inside was deathly quiet. “Lily Sinclair? Come out.” He called for me, searching everywhere for any sign of me, but found nothing. He dialed the phone again, but there wasn’t a sound in the house. He realized I wasn’t home at all. “Beep beep beep.” He made several more calls, but still no one answered. Finally, he lost his patience. [Lily Sinclair, have you had enough of this tantrum?] [You were clearly in the wrong this time. What are you sulking about now?] The voice messages were sent, but sank like a stone. I wanted to say I wasn’t throwing a tantrum, and I hadn’t done anything wrong. But I was dead, and James couldn’t hear me. “If you’ve got the guts, then don’t come back! Let’s see how long you can hold out!” He gripped his phone, grabbing whatever was nearby and hurling it. There was a crisp “crash”, and he turned to look, but his phone rang again. The screen lit up with “Wife”, and he answered the call, his tone cold: “Finally remembered to call back?” But it wasn’t my voice on the other end. That number belonged to Claire now. “James, come back quickly and check on Claire. She’s climbed up to the roof again.” The anxious voices of the Bennett couple rang out, interrupting James’s train of thought. Hearing that Claire was about to jump off the building, his expression turned panicked. He hurriedly grabbed his coat and rushed back to the hospital.

Watching James’s anxious retreating figure, my heart began to ache sharply. I wanted to stop following him, but I couldn’t control my soul from chasing after him. He walked very quickly, running almost every red light along the way. This was a side of him I had never seen before. James had always been steady, but I didn’t know – did he get this anxious every time he heard Claire was jumping off a building? How many times had Claire tried to jump now? I lowered my head in thought, realizing this was already the sixth time. Yet James had never grown impatient with her antics. But when I asked him to stay with me a while when I was sick, he exploded in anger. By the time I came back to my senses, I had already seen Claire. She stood on the roof of the hospital, her expression vacant, tears in the corners of her eyes, like an abandoned child. James ran up to the roof breathlessly, calling out to her cautiously: “Claire!” “Why did you come? Wouldn’t it be better to let me die?” “I have nothing left, everything’s been stolen by her.” “You promised you would marry me. Why did you lie?” Claire saw James and her tears fell more violently. Her eyes gradually reddened, as if she had suffered a great injustice. I clenched my fists, my heart unbearably sour. He didn’t just lie to you. The one who was deceived… was me too. I was the one who married James. She was the one who smiled and gave her blessing after being rejected. But later, she jumped off buildings again and again, went crazy again and again, and pulled James away from my side again and again. She always said I stole her things. But I didn’t gain anything either, except for James. And that was already in the past. The James of now no longer belonged to me. From beginning to end, the one who had nothing was me.

I originally had birth parents. But they called me Daisy, wouldn’t let me go to school, and always beat and scolded me. Later when they had a son, they sold me. That day, I was cleaned up and sent to the Bennett family. They said I was lucky to be chosen by a wealthy family, and told me to please them so they could benefit. But how could the Bennetts not see through their true nature? So they were driven out of the city. I looked timidly at the elegant lady before me, not daring to speak. “Child, let mommy hug you.” She embraced me, holding me tightly in her arms. It was the first time I felt such warmth. Just as I was about to respond, I heard her choke out “Claire”. But I wasn’t Claire, I was Daisy. At that moment, I lowered the hand that wanted to hug Mrs. Bennett back. Afterwards, they gave me a new name. Lily Sinclair. Pretty, isn’t it? But later I learned they only adopted me because my features resembled their kidnapped daughter. Lily, thinking of Claire. The name I had longed for was just their way of coping. I tried calling them “Mom and Dad”, but was scolded. They wouldn’t let me live in their house, instead setting up a small attic for me not far away. My purpose was just for them to look at when they missed their daughter. They would hold birthday parties for me every year, but carve Claire’s name on the cake, and not let me eat a bite. I didn’t have a birthday, because I didn’t know when it was, and no one cared. All these years, I never touched Claire’s room or any of her things. I didn’t steal anything from her, not a single bit. Only after meeting James did I develop selfish desires. But he was Claire’s childhood sweetheart. I couldn’t have him, and didn’t dare to.

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My husband secretly bought an apartment upstairs for his childhood female friend. He was cheating on me right under my nose. Later, a fire broke out in our building due to equipment failure. As we were escaping, I caught them in the act, and they pushed me into the flames. As my soul left my body, I watched from above as the true nature of these evil people was revealed. Perhaps due to my intense resentment, heaven gave me a second chance. When I opened my eyes again, it was my wedding day with my husband. The wedding venue was packed with guests. Zack, standing opposite me, said “I do” with deep emotion. I hesitated for a moment, and the bouquet slipped from my hands. Just a second ago, I had been floating above my own funeral, watching my husband and his mistress scheme over my family’s assets, discussing how to use a jade pendant to suppress my soul. Unable to contain my anger, I had rushed towards them seeking revenge, only to be sucked into the jade pendant. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself back at my wedding with Zack. The overwhelming sense of unreality made me uneasy. I needed to do something to prove this wasn’t a dream. In the next moment, a sharp sound rang out, and the entire venue fell silent. Against the backdrop of sweet background music, Zack’s face was turned to one side by a slap. Feeling the stinging sensation in my palm, I finally believed that heaven had truly given me a second chance. From great sorrow to great joy, I suddenly burst into laughter, like a madwoman. Zack, who had just been slapped, showed no signs of anger. With a slightly swollen face, he came over to check on me. “Mia, what’s wrong?” My parents also rushed up from below, examining me from head to toe. Seeing my parents again, I felt a pang in my heart. I hugged them with tears in my eyes and apologized. “Mom, Dad, I’m so sorry.” Not understanding the situation, my parents unconditionally embraced and comforted me. “Sweetie, are you unhappy? If you’re not happy, we don’t have to go through with this wedding.” I almost agreed, but then my eyes met Zack’s. His face was half white and half red as he stood there stiffly. Averting my gaze, I saw my mother-in-law sitting in the family section, looking equally nervous. In the fire, I had sworn that if given the chance, I would make them suffer a thousand times more than I did. Now, I needed to let the wedding continue. I explained to my parents, “It’s nothing. I just realized how immature I’ve been and how much trouble I’ve caused you.” My parents believed me and returned to their seats after I reassured them. I took the officiant’s microphone and, taking advantage of the tears still in my eyes, forced out a choked voice to explain to Zack. “I was just too emotional, too in love with you. I was afraid this wedding was a dream, that’s why I acted that way. I’m sorry, Zack.” My declaration made Zack’s tense body relax. He wiped away my tears and spoke gently and magnanimously. “Mia, this isn’t a dream. We’ll be happy together.” I nodded emotionally and said that crucial phrase: “I do.” Zack excitedly hugged me, as if embracing a precious treasure. But now, I was acutely aware that I wasn’t a treasure, but a stepping stone—a ladder for Zack to climb higher. I would make him trip over this stepping stone, let him climb the ladder, only to fall hard from the top!

After the wedding, the three of us returned to our marital home. Yes, three of us—me, Zack, and my mother-in-law. In my previous life, Zack and I had planned to buy a house for my mother-in-law in the countryside. But after seeing our marital home, she changed her mind and insisted on living with us. The apartment my parents gave me as a wedding gift was a large flat, more than enough for three people. Unable to withstand my mother-in-law’s fuss, I agreed to let her stay. But this decision nearly drove me to depression. She was extremely petty, making a big fuss over the slightest things and arguing with me in a loud voice. Whenever I talked back, she would throw tantrums and use every dirty trick in the book. She also spread rumors in the neighborhood that I was a bad daughter-in-law, making it impossible for me to hold my head high in the community group chat. Finally, unable to bear it any longer, I moved with Zack to the smaller apartment he had bought with his own money. Looking back now, I realize how stupid I was. This was clearly a scheme concocted by mother and son, forcing me to live in a small apartment where I would be cheated on, while my mother-in-law enjoyed the large flat. This time around, I planned to deal with my mother-in-law first. “Mother, I’ve been thinking, and you were absolutely right before. A housekeeper is an outsider, we shouldn’t let our resources benefit strangers.” “From now on, I’ll give you the money for hiring a housekeeper and other household expenses. You can manage the household.” My mother-in-law happily agreed, even praising me for being good with money. I laughed coldly inside, waiting for her to lose control of the situation. On my mother-in-law’s first day in charge: The three meals were far from what I had requested. Breakfast: soy milk and fried dough sticks. I said nothing. Lunch: noodles with sauce. I still said nothing. Dinner: pickled vegetables with rice porridge. I continued to say nothing. The next morning, the cycle repeated. Breakfast: again, soy milk and fried dough sticks, and even less than yesterday. I stood at the dining table, looking coldly at my mother-in-law: “Don’t you think you owe me an explanation?” Because Zack was present, my mother-in-law felt she had backup and didn’t even bother to pretend to be apologetic. She was extremely self-righteous. “Soy milk and fried dough sticks are fine for breakfast. All those complicated things you told me about, I can’t remember them.” “When Zack and I were poor, we ate even worse than this. People should learn to be content.” I ignored her and turned to Zack. “Zack, is your mother saying that I should suffer along with you? Is that it?” “I married you, and I can’t even have a meal I want to eat? Is that what you’re saying?” Zack looked uncomfortable and was about to explain when my mother-in-law interrupted him sharply. “You’re just being a spoiled princess. What’s wrong with soy milk and fried dough sticks? Didn’t you eat them yesterday? Did they poison you?” This time, I didn’t let Zack speak either. “Fine, I can eat it. But since we’re cutting back on expenses, give me back the extra grocery money.” At the mention of money, it was as if I had hit my mother-in-law’s sore spot. She jumped up, her eyes wide. “With transportation costs and labor fees, there’s no extra money!” I folded my arms and looked directly at her, speaking clearly. “Transportation doesn’t cost that much, and labor fees are wages, which aren’t included. If every meal is going to be at the standard of soy milk and fried dough sticks, you need to give me back at least five thousand dollars.” As my mother-in-law was about to argue, Zack suddenly interrupted loudly: “Mom! Listen to Mia.” Zack didn’t understand his mother as well as I did. To her, money was more important than her son’s words, and she couldn’t hear him at all. Sure enough, my mother-in-law burst into tears, pointing at us and scolding. “I’ve never seen someone so insistent on taking money from their elders. The daughter-in-law you brought home is too much, and even the son I raised with my own hands doesn’t side with his old mother anymore. What a misfortune for our family!” She waved her arms wildly, crying and complaining as if we had committed some terrible crime. As the drama unfolded, I went back to the bedroom to get my bag. Zack stopped me: “Mia, where are you going?” “Home.” “This is your home.” I laughed coldly, looking at him silently, then at the old woman who was still crying loudly. Zack couldn’t withstand my mocking gaze and helplessly let go of my hand. Before leaving, I discreetly glanced at my mother-in-law on the floor, catching a glimpse of her cunning, satisfied smile beneath her fake tears. Hah, laugh while you can. Your time for real tears will come.

I ate well, drank well, and slept well at my parents’ home. Life was extremely comfortable. The only discomfort came from Zack’s daily phone calls and messages. In the evening, I received another punctual call from Zack. But this time, when I answered, it wasn’t Zack’s voice, but my mother-in-law’s. I remained silent, waiting for the other end to speak first. After some faint urging in the background, my mother-in-law started speaking haltingly. “This time… it’s my fault. I’ll… give you back the money, and I’ll cook better meals from now on. Please come back.” Then Zack’s voice came on the line. “Mia, Mom knows she was wrong. Please come home. It’s not good for you to stay there for so long. Your parents already had issues with me, and if you keep doing this, they’ll look down on me even more.” In reality, whether I returned home or not wasn’t important. What mattered was that Zack was afraid my father would give him a hard time at work. Understanding his twisted motives, I remained silent. Zack softened his voice, using the approach that I used to fall for. “Mia, I’ve missed you so much these past few days.” Hearing this, I felt a wave of disgust, goosebumps breaking out all over my body. Afraid he might say something even more nauseating, I quickly agreed. “Alright, I’ll come back tomorrow afternoon.” The next day, I returned as promised. The table was full of home-cooked dishes. Although certainly not as good as our previous housekeeper’s cooking, they had at least made an effort to apologize. After the meal, my mother-in-law reluctantly returned the money to me. For the first few days after I returned, my mother-in-law did her job passably well. But by the fourth day, she gradually began to show her true colors. Lazy, sloppy, careless. One day, Zack came home with a face as black as thunder and went straight to the bathroom, spending a full hour there. At the dinner table, he asked his mother, “Mom, how did you wash these clothes?” My mother-in-law put on an innocent act: “I wash them every day, what’s wrong?” I saw Zack put down his chopsticks with considerable force, barely containing his anger. “I’ve had a cold recently, so my nose isn’t working well. Today, I wore the clothes you washed to work, and everyone I met avoided me. When I asked, they all said my clothes smelled bad. How could that be if you wash them every day?” I had smelled it in the morning, but I didn’t say anything. My mother-in-law probably smelled it too, but she didn’t dare say anything. Now that the truth was out, my mother-in-law still tried to defend herself. “There are so many clothes to wash every day, it’s normal to forget one.” Zack was gritting his teeth, struggling to control himself. “Mom, stop making excuses! Is it so hard to admit you made a mistake?” I was also struggling, trying not to laugh out loud. The show of dogs biting dogs was about to begin. My mother-in-law suddenly stood up: “Fine, now you’re starting to despise your old mother. When I raised you from a baby, changing your diapers and feeding you, why didn’t you complain about your old mother’s poor work then? Now that you’ve grown up, you’re nitpicking everything your mother does…” Zack’s face grew darker and darker as his mother ranted. My mother-in-law was spitting as she yelled, and suddenly turned her attack on me. “And you’re no better! Making your old mother-in-law work all day, my back and waist aching. Don’t think you’re really a princess. Take a good look at yourself before you judge others. Both of you are ungrateful!” I stepped back to avoid her spit, still trying to reason with her. “It’s just a job that you’re paid for, not exploitation. If you really can’t handle it, don’t force yourself. I have high standards for my life, and Zack can’t lose face when he goes out. By being so careless, you’re hurting both of us.” My mother-in-law’s face turned the color of pig liver. “I’m hurting you? Zack, search your conscience, has your mother ever hurt you?” With his mother being so unreasonable, Zack was about to lose his temper. “Mom, I couldn’t hold my head up in front of my colleagues today, all because of you. You’ve really gone too far this time!” This pushed my mother-in-law’s anger to the limit. Before either of us could react, she ran towards the front door. By the time we caught up with her, she was already downstairs in the community. My mother-in-law plopped down on the ground and started wailing loudly, her voice carrying far and wide. “Oh, how miserable I am! I worked myself to the bone to put my son through college, and now that he’s successful and married, he’s forgotten all the good his mother has done. He’s joining his wife in bullying me!” The commotion attracted a lot of attention from the neighbors. Some were watching from their windows, others came downstairs for a closer look. Remembering how the neighbors had criticized me in my previous life, I pushed Zack forward, sarcastically saying, “Your mother, you deal with her. I’m just a wicked daughter-in-law, I won’t get involved in your mother-son affairs.” With that, I melted into the crowd of onlookers, distancing myself from the situation.

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On the first day of college, I became the center of attention in the freshman group chat. Channel bags, Tom Ford makeup, Celine shirts, and Balenciaga shoes – I posted photos of them all in the group. I maxed out all my credit cards to carefully craft the image of a rich socialite, luring Lucy step by step into my trap. Three months later, she used the “life exchange system” to swap lives with me. I was reborn! During the summer after high school graduation, I worked three jobs a day. Livestreaming, tutoring, and doing online translations. After three busy months, I earned about $12,000. I didn’t waste a penny of it, spending it all on luxury goods. Channel bags, Tom Ford makeup, Celine shirts and Balenciaga shoes. On the first day of school, I used these items to successfully become the center of attention in the freshman group chat. [Is there parking near the dorm? I don’t want to leave my Lamborghini at home.] [Didn’t you all travel abroad this summer? I visited several countries. What’s the point of traveling if you don’t go overseas?] [Don’t call me Miss. My family does have some assets, but my parents always say to stay humble.] Every day I would post glamorous photos on Instagram, making sure to show high-end restaurant backgrounds or newly purchased expensive cosmetics. I successfully packaged myself as a show-off, low EQ rich socialite who came from money. Seeing Lucy’s envious compliments in the group chat, I knew the fish had taken the bait. I added her as a friend and sent an obnoxious voice message: “Lucy, right? From now on you can be my little follower! I’ll give you these things I don’t want anymore.” Attached was a photo of my newly bought Michael Kors signature tote bag, some outdated Chanel t-shirts, and a brand new bottle of Yankee Candle perfume. Lucy quickly replied with a voice message: “Thank you, Emma! Let me know if you need anything anytime.” She called me “Emma” very intimately, as if the role of follower brought her great satisfaction. But only I knew that she must be gritting her teeth and cursing me right now! Because in my past life, without me as the “rich socialite”, she had targeted an overseas Chinese girl in our class. Using the same flattery tactics, she became that girl’s follower. Three months into the semester, after fully understanding the overseas girl’s family background, she used the “life exchange system” on her. In my past life, after I accidentally witnessed her using the system to exchange lives, she imprisoned and tortured me. Before I died, she confessed everything to me. “This world was born for me. Whoever I set my sights on, I can exchange lives with them.” “Although I only have one chance.” When I discovered I had actually been reborn, I knew my one chance to change my life had come. I had to become Lucy’s target for the life exchange. I wanted her to know that even with the system, she would still lose miserably.

One month into the semester, the money I earned from my summer jobs was completely gone. I opened a credit card. Two months in, the credit card limit was maxed out. I started taking out online loans. Three months in, I woke up to find myself in Lucy’s dorm room. I knew I had succeeded. Using a fabricated wealthy family background and luxury goods bought with loans, I had gotten Lucy to use the system on me. From now on, I was Lucy. And she had become Emma. As class time approached, my roommate Lily was getting ready to leave. Seeing I was still in bed, she asked curiously: “Lucy, weren’t you supposed to save a seat for Emma today? Won’t she be angry if you’re late?” “Let her be angry, I’ve had enough.” Now that I had become Lucy, the first step was successful. No need to keep acting like a sycophant. I slept until noon, and by the time I returned to the classroom after lunch, the afternoon classes were about to start. “Emma” was standing at the classroom door, looking at me with hostility: “Lucy, you said you’d save me a seat. Where did you go? You made me late and the teacher scolded me.” I pretended to be angry and grabbed her collar. “What did you do to me? Why did I become you?” She leaned in close to my ear, deliberately lowering her voice. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. What do you mean, my little follower?” “Enjoy being a poor nobody, Lucy!” Emma laughed as she shook off my hand, shoved me hard, and swaggered into the classroom. Inside the classroom. The class monitor was spraying saliva at the podium: “New Year’s is coming up, and the school is holding a New Year’s party. Anyone who wants to sign up, come get a form from me.” Emma eagerly expressed her interest in participating. I guessed that with her vanity, she would definitely want to go on a shopping spree and then make a splash at the New Year’s party to get more attention and praise. Sure enough, as soon as class ended, Emma started discussing what gowns to wear on stage with some other rich girls. “I just picked out a haute couture evening gown. I’ll have my mom buy it for me and send you guys photos when it arrives.” “Emma, your family really spoils you, giving you whatever you want.” “Well, girls should be raised with wealth, right? Otherwise our horizons are too narrow and we’re easily deceived.” Everyone was fawning over her and flattering her. Hiding in the shadows, I was smiling too. I wonder if she’s checked her bank account balance yet? She can talk big all she wants. That night, Emma pounded on my dorm room door so hard it shook. “Lucy, come out here!” I opened the door to see her glaring at me furiously. “Aren’t you supposed to be from a rich family? Why is there so little money in the bank account, and I can’t get through when I call your mom?” I quietly made a “shh” gesture, leaned in close to Emma, and whispered: “Why are you shouting? Do you want all the other students to know you have no money?” Emma reluctantly shut her mouth and followed behind me with a sullen expression as we walked to a quiet spot. She looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then finally exploded. “Tell me, what’s going on?” I patted her shoulder and kindly advised: “Just a friendly reminder, besides checking the bank balance, you should also check the credit card and online loan platforms. The numbers there are much bigger than in the bank account.” “Also, those designer bags and clothes in your closet are all rented at high prices. If you don’t return them on time and accidentally get sued, it wouldn’t be worth it.” Emma was stunned for a moment, then her voice suddenly rose: “Are you crazy? Overdrawing so much money just to create a rich socialite persona? How vain are you?” The sight of Emma getting so upset in front of me made me extremely happy. “What does this have to do with me? You’re Miss Emma now, aren’t you?”

Emma took a while to understand my meaning. Her eyes widened in shock and her tone changed. “You planned this from the beginning? You pretended to be rich, deliberately got my attention, then actively exchanged lives with me, didn’t you?” I smiled brightly: “That’s right, I planned it all. You’re so easy to fool! I thought I’d have to pretend for much longer to trick you!” “How did you know I have the system?” Emma wasn’t stupid, and lowered her voice when mentioning the system. I also softened my voice: “Because I’m reborn, you know.” I was telling the truth, but Emma didn’t believe me. She was furious and raised her hand to slap me, but I grabbed it and pushed her away. “Before you hit me, you should worry about the balance in your hands! How will you perform at the New Year’s party without a gown, Miss Emma?” Emma laughed angrily: “Even if you’ve become me, what use is it? My orphan identity is completely useless!” I waved my hand dismissively: “Whether it’s useful or not, we’ll find out later. Don’t regret it then.” Emma’s face fell: “I won’t regret it! But don’t think you’ll get off easy, you bitch!” She stomped her foot and ran away in a huff. I smiled in satisfaction. This is just the beginning, don’t back down now! As it turned out, Emma didn’t back down. She quickly started to retaliate. When I returned from washing up, I found the door to my dorm room locked from the inside. I knocked twice, and my roommate Lily’s hesitant voice came from behind the door. “Lucy, did you offend Emma somehow? She said if we dare let you in, she’ll lead everyone to target us in the future. We’re scared…” I don’t know if my initial image as an arrogant rich socialite was too successful, but these roommates really did submit to Emma’s threats. I was about to go along with it when I ran into Emma. “Isn’t this karma, Lucy? Look, no one dares let you in.” I ignored her and walked past towards the stairwell. People were coming and going in the stairwell. I didn’t care about their gazes at all and wasn’t embarrassed as I curled up in a corner. Emma followed like a plague. “I told you I wouldn’t let you off easy. You dare trick me, you have to bear the consequences of tricking me.” “Just wait, let’s see how you endure the days ahead!” I didn’t answer, just silently shed tears. Two girls passing by seemed to want to help me up, but seeing Emma standing nearby, they ultimately left. After Emma had her fill of watching, she left too. Lily, hiding behind the stairs, secretly brought me a blanket. “Lily, help me take some photos. Don’t cover me with the blanket, make it look as pitiful as possible.” Lily was stunned for a moment, apparently not expecting the usually meek me to fight back. But she quickly reacted and took many photos as I requested. I chose a few that looked the most pitiful and anonymously posted them on the school forum. [First time seeing real bullying in college! Rich girls will be rich girls, we should all be careful, or we might be the ones sleeping in the stairwell next time.] As soon as it was posted, the comments exploded. Many people were curious. [Which rich girl? What major? What’s her name?] [How can they be so cruel without anyone stopping them? The school isn’t their home, who do they think they are?] [Suggest directly exposing this girl’s name, let this gentleman teach her a lesson.] My classmates could immediately tell this rich girl referred to Emma, and started explaining Emma’s show-off behavior in the comments, starting from the freshman group chat. Emma rarely checked the school forum and hadn’t discovered she’d been put on blast yet. Given her usual behavior, no one around her would voluntarily tell her about this either. So the next day, she still put on beautiful makeup and sat proudly in her classroom seat, completely unaware of the strange looks from those around her. This oblivious yet smug appearance made me laugh so hard!

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“Bullied and Betrayed: My Revenge Against a Toxic Family” Barbara “accidentally” sent her complaint about me to the family WhatsApp group: “My daughter-in-law is so lazy and greedy during her pregnancy. My son’s meager salary is all being eaten up by her!” I quickly @Brian: “See? Your mom thinks you’re incapable and don’t make enough money.” Then I @Barbara: “Feeling sorry that your son’s salary isn’t enough? Why don’t you go get a job too? That would solve the money problem!” Ever since I got pregnant, I’ve been extremely sleepy. One day, after waking up from a nap, I noticed Barbara wasn’t home. She probably went to the market to buy groceries. I quickly grabbed my phone, wanting to call and tell her not to buy anything yet. Today was Brian and my wedding anniversary, and we were going out for a candlelit dinner. As soon as I opened my phone, I saw over a dozen unread messages in the family group chat. I casually scrolled through and happened to see a voice message from Aunt Sophia: “Oh my, what’s going on? Airing grievances in the big group chat now? Aren’t you afraid of upsetting your precious daughter-in-law?” She followed it with a smirking emoji. I could imagine Aunt Sophia’s smug face even with my eyes closed. She was the typical troublemaker who loved to stir up drama. Her son’s marriage ended in divorce after just a year, largely due to her meddling. Yet she refused to acknowledge any fault, instead badmouthing the ex-daughter-in-law everywhere and causing tension between both families. Below that was a sarcastic voice message from Aunt Mary: “Young people these days are so delicate. Going to work seems to drain half their life force. Back in our day, we’d bike to work even while pregnant!” Aunt Mary was ostensibly supporting Barbara, but her words were clearly aimed at the daughters-in-law in the group. Her own daughter-in-law was busy with work and had no time for housework, so Aunt Mary went over to clean every day, harboring a lot of resentment. She had even complained to Barbara before: “This isn’t being a mother-in-law, it’s more like being a maid. At least maids get paid for their hard work!” She certainly had mastered the art of indirect criticism. But who exactly were Aunt Sophia and Aunt Mary talking about? I scrolled up further and finally saw Barbara’s voice message in the group, insinuating about me: “This daughter-in-law of mine, oh my! She’s so lazy and greedy during her pregnancy. My son’s small salary is all being eaten up by her!” So she was complaining that I was spending too much money during my pregnancy! I immediately sent two voice messages in the group, making sure to @Barbara: “Mom, why don’t you go get a job too? That way, with both you and Brian earning money, there’ll be enough to spend!” “The supermarket downstairs is hiring cashiers! 8 AM to 8 PM, lunch provided, $1500 a month. You love to gossip, right? Go there and talk all you want. With all the people coming and going, I’m sure you’ll get your fill of chatter.” As soon as I finished speaking, the group fell silent. No one dared to make any more sarcastic comments. That’s right, if you’re not willing to come help out, then go find a job! Stop giving me trouble!

Actually, I initially disagreed with having Barbara come take care of me during my pregnancy. But I was an older pregnant woman, and my health wasn’t great due to years of working hard in my career. So the doctor specifically advised that I needed to be extra careful in my daily activities. Brian also said that as my pregnancy progressed, it would be too dangerous for me to go out alone without someone to look after me. He worried about me when he was at work. The problem was, I had married far from home, and my dad had recently undergone surgery. My mom was already exhausted taking care of my dad and simply couldn’t be in two places at once for me. I had thought about hiring a nanny, but Brian said an outsider could never be as caring as family. That’s why I finally agreed to let him bring Barbara from their hometown to take care of me. But as soon as Barbara entered our home, she saw my dog Meatball. She frowned, clearly disgusted, and said sarcastically: “Lily, why haven’t you gotten rid of this dog yet?” “You’re pregnant now, you can’t keep a dog. Dogs carry parasites and bacteria, it’s bad for the baby in your belly.” I immediately felt a fire ignite inside me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself: “Mom, I’ve had Meatball for 7 years, since before I even met Brian. He’s not just a dog, he’s family to me.” “Besides, Meatball has had all his shots and medications. He won’t affect the baby at all.” Just then, Meatball happened to walk past Barbara. She kicked him disgustedly: “Oh my, how strange! You actually treat a dog like family? But a dog is just a dog, how can it be family?” “The most important thing for you right now is to take care of yourself and give me a healthy grandson. Why keep a dog? It’s full of germs!” The more Barbara spoke, the angrier I became. I felt all the blood rush to my head. My hands shook with rage as I raised my voice: “Mom, do you understand science at all? Doctors say keeping a dog has no effect on the fetus.” “Go look outside – forget about pregnant women, even families with newborns keep dogs! So many people have dogs, has any child had problems because of it?” Brian must have noticed I was truly angry, as he quickly ushered me into the bedroom with a mix of coaxing and deception. He casually closed the bedroom door and tried to placate me with a fawning expression: “Don’t be angry! Don’t be angry! My mom is just old and from a small town. She’s not really insisting we get rid of Meatball.” “Don’t take it personally. She just doesn’t understand the science of keeping dogs. You should explain it to her slowly, not argue with her. No matter what, she’s still my mom. We should talk things out nicely.” “Look at how you were acting earlier, like an angry rooster. It’s not worth it, it’s just a dog!” Brian’s attempt at mediation only made me angrier. He wasn’t being a peacemaker at all, he was clearly taking his mom’s side and implying I was the one with the problem. “What do you mean it’s not worth it? What do you mean it’s just a dog?” “Brian, when we got married I made it clear that I would never give up Meatball, even when pregnant or having kids. You agreed to that.” “What’s going on? Now that your mom’s here, you’re changing your tune?” Brian had been fawningly trying to appease me earlier, but now he suddenly changed his attitude. He yanked off his tie forcefully and threw it on the bed, his whole demeanor radiating impatience. It made me feel like I was looking at a stranger. “Look, Lily, you’re being a bit unreasonable here!” “My mom left my dad at home alone to come take care of you. Don’t you know how to be grateful?” “Besides, she didn’t really say much, just suggested getting rid of the dog. If we don’t, we don’t. Why are you being so stubborn about this?” I looked at the man before me, wondering if his soul had been possessed. How could he change so quickly? Just last night he had held me close and said: “Lily, when the baby is born, I’ll definitely be a good father. If it’s a girl, I’ll protect you both. If it’s a boy, we’ll protect you together!” In just one night, as soon as his mom arrived, he had changed completely? This argument ended with Brian storming out and slamming the door. Before leaving, he coldly tossed out one last comment: “Fine, you’re pregnant and your emotions are unstable. Think it over when you’ve calmed down. I’m going to see if my mom needs any help!” No comfort, no explanation. With one flippant sentence, he pushed all the blame onto my emotions. As if I was the villain who started the whole dispute. It made me doubt myself – was it really just pregnancy mood swings making me overly sensitive? Maybe Barbara didn’t really mean what she said about getting rid of Meatball? She’s older, after all. It’s normal for her to nag about everything she sees. Forget it, no matter what, she’s Brian’s mother and the grandmother of the child I’m carrying. For Brian’s sake, I’ll be more tolerant and not take offense at everything she says. After all, he’s caught between his wife and his mother. It must be difficult for him too.

I silently reassured myself for over 10 minutes, gradually calming down. I wanted to scroll through some short videos to distract myself. I had just picked up my phone when I saw Aunt Sophia had shared a video link in the family group chat: [Pregnant woman miscarries at 4 months, family pet to blame] [Should pregnant women really keep pets?] As soon as I saw this headline, I was furious. Did they install hidden cameras in my house? How do they know everything that happens here? So I @’ed Aunt Sophia in the group: “Aunt Sophia, what do you mean by sharing this link?” Aunt Sophia quickly replied: “Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it. I was just chatting with Barbara, and she mentioned you’re still keeping a dog while pregnant. She wanted to get rid of it, but you weren’t happy about that.” “I thought maybe you didn’t know the dangers of keeping a dog, so I specifically found this video.” “You should watch it quickly. Pregnant women really shouldn’t keep dogs. Get rid of it as soon as possible!” My anger, which had just subsided, instantly flared up again. Using the guise of concern to do things that upset me – isn’t this textbook emotional manipulation? Do they really think I’m made of dough to be kneaded at will? “Aunt Sophia, if you’re really that bored, why don’t you get a job? I think a matchmaking agency would be perfect. You could clean the office and find a wife for your son while you’re at it.” “Your son isn’t getting any younger. He’s 36 or 37 now, and hasn’t had a girlfriend since his divorce. If he waits much longer, I’m afraid he’ll be a bachelor for life.” Aunt Sophia immediately sent me a 60-second voice message. I didn’t need to listen to know what she was saying. “Lily, you’re being quite ungrateful! I’m just trying to look out for you!” “My son is single because his standards are high and he hasn’t found anyone he likes. What do you know? Besides, men are in their prime at 40!” You want to be passive-aggressive? I can play that game too! In the past, out of respect for Brian’s elders, I rarely spoke up in the group chat. But now that they’ve repeatedly pushed my boundaries, they can’t blame me for fighting back. “Oh, still saying men are in their prime at 40? With a mother-in-law like you at home, who would dare to pick that flower from your family?” Aunt Sophia, either rendered speechless by my retort or feeling she’d lost face being talked back to by a younger person, tersely replied: “I’m not getting involved in your family drama anymore.” After that, she didn’t say another word. Not getting involved? Good, that’s exactly what I want! Just as I was feeling extremely satisfied, Barbara suddenly pushed open the door. I was a bit annoyed. No matter what, there should be some basic respect between us, right? “Mom, don’t you know how to knock? You can’t just barge in without warning. This isn’t your house.” But Barbara didn’t seem to think there was anything wrong with her behavior. She haughtily said: “Why should I knock in my son’s house?” Judging by Barbara’s tone, she didn’t come with good intentions. Sure enough, before I could speak, Barbara started interrogating me: “Lily, let me ask you something. Did you talk back to your Aunt Sophia? How can you be so ungrateful?” Barbara stood in the doorway, sunlight shining on her. It highlighted the wrinkles on her face, making her angry expression look particularly twisted and distorted. My tone softened a bit: “Yes, I did talk back. She messed up her own son’s marriage, and now she’s trying to meddle in our family affairs.” “Mom, you need to understand – we’re family, Aunt Sophia is just your sister!” Maybe Barbara saw some logic in what I said, or maybe she had figured it out herself. Her aggressive demeanor diminished slightly, and she muttered quietly: “Well, you still shouldn’t talk to your Aunt Sophia like that. She is my older sister, after all.” My tone was gentle, but my attitude remained firm: “Mom, she may be your sister, but that doesn’t give her the right to interfere in Brian’s and my life.” Barbara was an uneducated woman. Hearing me address her respectfully as “Mom” and maintain a submissive attitude, she lost her anger. She meekly closed the door, saying: “Alright, alright. You just rest.”

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