When the car accident occurred, Jasper instinctively pulled me close, shielding me in his arms. Afterward, I was left without a scratch, but he ended up in the ICU, where he was treated for nearly five hours before being moved to a regular ward. Friends who came to visit couldn’t help but express their envy: “He’s truly devoted, willing to risk his life for you. You’re so fortunate to have him!” “Tell me where I can find someone as handsome, wealthy, and caring as he is.” I forced a smile and remained silent. They didn’t know that Jasper, their so-called devoted husband, had already found someone new. The night before the accident, he was in the underground garage, wrapped around a young, beautiful intern, lost in a passion I hadn’t seen in his eyes for a long time. I didn’t cause a scene; instead, I quietly planned an accident. Originally, I was supposed to “die” in that accident… “Luna!” A terrified voice suddenly broke the silence in the hospital room. I quickly put down my phone and got up from the sofa, only to be pulled into Jasper’s trembling embrace as I approached the bed. “What happened? Did you have a nightmare?” I gently stroked his back. His grip around my waist tightened, “Don’t leave me…” My hand paused. “I keep dreaming of you lying in a pool of blood these days…” Jasper looked up at me, his eyes bloodshot, “I can’t let you out of my sight again, not even for a moment.” I held him tighter, doing my best to comfort him. “I won’t.” After a while, he released my waist and patted the spot next to him. I stood still. “Please…” His eyes pleaded with me, his voice unusually tender. “Why have you been so distant with me lately…” “Did I do something wrong? Tell me, and I’ll change.” He rubbed his face against my palm, full of dependence, just like the Jasper from years ago. I looked at the scabbed wound on his prominent nose and sighed softly, lifting the covers to lie down. Immediately, he pulled me close again, his eyes content as though he’d regained something precious. “Luna.” “Yeah?” “I love you.” Jasper fought his fatigue, waiting for the words, “I love you too,” but instead, he drifted off to sleep, hearing only, “Sleep.” He instinctively held me tighter, finally giving in to his drowsiness. As his breathing steadied beside me, I opened my eyes and gently tried to push him away. But any slight movement made him hold me tighter, so I gave up, lying silently in his arms. I hadn’t slept well for a while, and wrapped in his familiar scent, I soon fell asleep in Jasper’s arms. But my sleep was light. So, in the middle of the night, when I heard a faint sound behind me, I woke almost instantly. “Don’t cry, Lily, I’m fine.” Jasper’s lowered voice came from the bathroom. “You don’t need to visit me. I’ll come to you once I’m better.” “I miss you too… Take care of yourself. I’ll make it up to you once I’m out of here.” I lay with my back to him, pretending to sleep. But my eyes stared unblinkingly at the pale moonlight outside the window until they ached and filled with tears. It turns out, even when you’ve decided not to love anymore, the heart still hurts. His arms gently encircled me from behind, and I closed my eyes in silence, a tear rolling down my cheek, disappearing into the pillow.

“I feel like having wontons.” Hearing this, I put down the chicken soup in my hand. “Then I’ll go buy some for you downstairs.” Jasper smiled softly, “I want the ones we used to have back in school.” I froze for a moment. That shop was on the east side of the city, an hour’s drive from here, and it was always busy with long lines. A round trip would take the entire afternoon. Whether he genuinely wanted wontons or just wanted to send me away, I no longer cared to find out. I nodded, said nothing, and walked out of the hospital room. Soon, a girl in a white dress hurriedly entered the room from the stairwell. She threw herself into Jasper’s arms. Perhaps she touched a wound, and Jasper instinctively frowned, but he gritted his teeth and said nothing. “I told you not to come, didn’t I?” He wrapped an arm around her waist, playfully pinching her cheek. “But I missed you.” The girl lifted her face, looking at him playfully: “I really want to kiss and hug you.” Jasper’s smile deepened, his tone teasing: “Is that all you want?” Hearing this, the girl, with glistening eyes, leaned against him, whispering: “I want you too.” Jasper’s eyes darkened, suddenly grasping her chin to kiss her. The quiet VIP hospital room was soon filled with the sound of intimate exchanges. Jasper’s fingers slipped under her skirt, and she couldn’t help but moan softly. Just as things were about to get out of hand, Jasper stopped himself in time, gently pushing her away, his voice hoarse: “You should go back.” The girl reluctantly withdrew, “Can I visit you again tomorrow?” Jasper kissed her cheek, soothing her softly: “Don’t come for a while. I don’t want you running back and forth; it’s too tiring.” “I’ll be with you once I’m out. Eat more,” he lazily leaned against the headboard, his palm holding her softness, teasing: “You’ve lost weight.” The girl playfully bit him, making Jasper lightly “tsk,” his voice full of indulgence: “Are you a puppy? You love biting so much.” The familiar tone made me pause. Because he had said the same to me. When Jasper graduated high school, I was in my third year of college. He refused to go abroad, insisting on attending the university in my city. For this, his mom approached me. But surprisingly, there was no dramatic request for a breakup or any difficulties. She was even willing to sponsor my studies abroad and thanked me for tutoring Jasper and supervising his studies. I politely declined, for the sake of my remaining dignity. But I agreed to persuade Jasper to study abroad. For the first time, Jasper got really mad at me, ignoring my resistance, kissing me forcefully and awkwardly. I couldn’t push him away, so I took the chance to bite his lip during a pause for breath, accidentally biting too hard and breaking the skin. He wasn’t angry at all, instead, he gently hummed against my nose, “Are you a puppy? You love biting so much.” As my thoughts returned, tears unexpectedly fell on my clenched fists. My palms throbbed with sharp pain, and I gritted my teeth, holding back the urge to burst in, turning away to leave the scene in haste. But the Jasper in front of me is no longer the boy he once was. I packed the wontons and sat in the hospital lobby for a while. Only after the playful figure disappeared at the hospital entrance did I return to the hospital room with the food. As soon as I placed the food down, Jasper came up from behind, his warm lips brushing my ear, “Thank you.” The chopsticks in my hand fell to the floor, and I stiffened, pushing him away. He froze: “What’s wrong?” “Nothing.” I grabbed a spare set of chopsticks and handed them to him, “Eat, or it’ll get soggy.” Jasper smiled: “Even if it’s soggy, I have to finish it since you went all the way to get it for me.” He took a bite, and I asked if it was good. He nodded, praising, “Still tastes like before.” I couldn’t help but smirk. But it was just something I bought downstairs. How could it taste like before?

On Jasper’s discharge day, many friends and long-time partners came, including Lily. But except for a glance at the beginning, Jasper didn’t spare her another look. Lily stood in the corner, looking disappointed. Until someone raised a glass to toast Jasper, she suddenly stood up, taking the glass from Jasper’s hand, saying, “Mr. Johnson, Jasper just got discharged, I’ll drink this for him.” With that, she drank it all in one go. Everyone fell silent, their expressions varied as they glanced at me, sitting by Jasper’s side. “Who is this?” Jasper smiled, his expression unchanged: “A new intern at the company. She’s new, so if she does anything wrong, Mr. Johnson, please be forgiving.” Everyone present was savvy enough to catch the underlying support in his words. Mr. Johnson obligingly drank his wine, and the atmosphere at the table warmed up again. Under the table, Jasper casually took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze, “I don’t know who hired such a clueless intern, eager to show off.” I smirked, “Oh? Maybe we should just fire her then.” The hand holding mine paused slightly. I discreetly pulled my hand back, chuckling softly, “Just joking. Newbies need time to grow.” He looked at me, his expression probing, just about to say something when I stood up. “I’m a bit tired. I’ll head back first.” Without waiting for him to speak, I smiled at everyone and left the room. When I got downstairs and reached for my phone, I realized I’d left my bag in the room, so I had to go back. Passing by the stairwell, I couldn’t help but overhear a familiar voice. I couldn’t resist looking over. “Didn’t I tell you not to show up in front of her? Why can’t you listen?” I discreetly pulled my hand back and gave a soft laugh, “Just kidding. Newcomers always need time to mature.” He looked at me with a questioning look, just about to speak as I stood up. “I’m a bit tired, so I’m heading back.” Without waiting for a response, I smiled and said goodbye to everyone before leaving the private room. As I reached downstairs and went to get my phone, I realized I had left my bag in the room. I had to return. Passing by the stairwell, I suddenly heard a familiar voice and couldn’t help but glance over. “Haven’t I told you to avoid appearing in front of her? Why don’t you listen?” “But I wanted to pick you up from the hospital.” Lily buried her head in Jasper’s chest, her petite frame shaking with sobs. “Jasper, I missed you.” “But why were you so cold to me today? It hurt.” Seeing this, Jasper’s expression softened. “Why are you crying?” He wiped away Lily’s tears, his voice carrying a subtle tenderness. “I told you, as long as you don’t cause a scene in front of her, I’ll do anything for you.” “Then I’ll behave. Will you spend time with me today?” She placed Jasper’s hand on her chest. “Don’t you want to check the results yourself?” “I’ve prepared a surprise for you tonight. Don’t you want to try it?” Jasper’s eyes darkened, and he suddenly grabbed her by the neck, kissing her lips. “Clean up and wait for me.” Lily wrapped her arms around his shoulders, clinging to him as she kissed back. Her eyes, shimmering with triumph and challenge, looked straight at me. I met her gaze calmly for a few seconds, then turned and walked downstairs, leaving my bag behind. As I walked home along the street, I saw a boy at Love Sea Plaza confessing to a girl with a bouquet of roses. Just like that awkward and sincere young boy from years ago. He said, “Age and distance are not problems. As long as you’re willing, I commit to you for life. Nothing can separate us.” But a lifetime is long, and true feelings often change. The next morning, as soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Jasper standing by my bed. He looked at me intently, holding my phone and bag. “Luna, your phone showed a message saying the agreement was signed successfully. What did you sign?” “And why did you delete my fingerprint?” Hearing this, my heart sank, and I suddenly snapped out of my haze. What agreement… Of course, it was my termination agreement. I took the phone from his hand calmly and slowly said, “I joined a tour group. Planning to go out for a while.” “The fingerprint and password issue is probably due to a system update.” Jasper breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He sat on the edge of the bed and leaned over to kiss me, the sweet scent of perfume overwhelming my senses. I instinctively turned my head, and the kiss landed on the side of my face. “Haven’t you always wanted to go to Lake Elara? When I get back from this business trip, I’ll take you. It won’t be long, just a week. When I get back, I’ll take you there.” I stayed silent. He’s probably forgotten how many times he’s said this, always breaking the promise for various reasons. And soon, I won’t need it anymore. Seeing me silent, Jasper was about to say something when the phone rang. He kissed my forehead, “Wait for me.” With that, he walked out, answering the call. As the door closed, a text from an unknown number popped up. I opened it, and there was nothing inside except a screenshot of an ID account. I opened the app and found Lily’s SweetPotato account. Her profile said, “Everyday life with Little Jasper.” The timeline traced back a year, and the account had accumulated over a million followers. She clearly never intended to hide this relationship. Hundreds of posts documented her moments with Jasper. “Picked up from the company by Little Jasper. Now I can see my husband whenever I look up.” “On the day of campus recruitment, there were so many people. Seeing my roommate sweating and squeezing through the crowd, I’m suddenly grateful to have a capable husband who spares me any hardship.” I scrolled through many posts. He took her to see the sea, chase the aurora, and tick off “a hundred little things lovers do.” He even overcame his fear of heights to bungee jump with her… So, it’s not that he didn’t have the time. He just devoted all his time and energy to someone else. I didn’t want to see any more and exited her profile. The page had been open too long, and as I exited, it automatically refreshed, pushing a new update. Posted half an hour ago. The main picture was a half-body shot in a black lace camisole, revealing a hand on her waist, veined and strong. “Who said men over 25 are on the decline? This morning, my legs were weak, and he was just fine.” In the comments, the top-liked pinned reply read: “Try calling me an old man again.” The original poster appeared, and fans went wild in the comments. Lily responded suggestively: “Men remain young until they die, but women approaching thirty become grass. Luckily, I’m still young, with plenty of youth and love to go wild.” A fan replied flirtatiously: “How wild? Tell us more.” Lily replied with a shy emoji. “To make me happy, someone promised to take me to Lake Elara for a honeymoon. Come find us, everyone.” Attached were two plane tickets with key info blurred, showing a man’s hand nearby. On his ring finger was a simple ring engraved with “J·Y.” Those are my initials. In the following days, aside from morning and evening greetings, Jasper didn’t send me any other messages. And I never asked. Perhaps too lost in his affections, he didn’t care if I responded, sticking to routine good mornings and good nights. Until the morning of his departure, maybe out of guilt, Jasper unexpectedly sent a long sentimental essay recalling our past. I wasn’t interested in reading it, ready to turn off the screen when another message from Jasper popped up. “Wife, I miss you.” “Even if I know you can’t see it now, I still want to say, I love you.” “Goodnight, sweet dreams.” I couldn’t help but laugh. Saying you love me while in another woman’s bed, Jasper, doesn’t it make you feel sick? This act of feigned affection, you can keep performing it by yourself from now on. In the morning, I carefully set up the birthday cake and placed the prepared birthday gift prominently on the living room coffee table. Taking one last look at this home, I left without any nostalgia. On the way to the airport, Jasper suddenly called. “Wife, did you forget what day it is today?” “No, I didn’t.” I watched the scenery quickly pass by the car window and softly said, “Happy birthday, Jasper.” He immediately brightened. “I knew you wouldn’t forget. You used to wait until the last minute to send me wishes. This time it’s so quiet…” “Are you secretly preparing a surprise for your husband?” I smiled, “Yes, a surprise you’ll never forget…” Hearing this, Jasper smiled. He glanced at the airport’s flight display. His flight back to Beijing was about to depart. Luna would never guess he planned to fly back a day early. Thinking of this, Jasper’s smile deepened. His birthday should be spent with his wife. After the birthday, he’d take her around. It’s been a while since he took her traveling. First stop, Lake Elara, where she’s wanted to go for so long… “Luna, wait for me—!” “Boom!!” Before he finished speaking, a loud crash sounded through the phone, followed by a phone clattering to the ground. “Luna? What happened?!” “Luna!! Answer me!!!” Jasper called Luna’s name repeatedly, but there was no response, just chaos in the background. Then came the sound of an ambulance siren. “Sir, are you the family of the person involved? Your partner was in a car accident…”

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During college, I spent four years washing Asher’s socks and underwear, and I even booked hotels for him and the cheerleader, helping him win her over. Now, I’m Mrs. Asher, and I’m pregnant with his child. In the Snapchat group, Asher is holding the cheerleader’s daughter in one arm and wrapping his other arm around the cheerleader’s waist. Their gaze in the photo is filled with such affection. On our seventh anniversary, he received a unique gift—the urn of his child. I just finished my prenatal checkup, and everything is normal. I let out a sigh of relief. At the registration desk downstairs, I saw someone familiar. Looking closely, it was my husband, Asher. A woman with long, wavy tea-brown hair, holding a child, reached him before I did. Asher looked down at the woman, pulled her into an embrace, and kissed her. The woman smiled brightly. The man turned around and picked up a little girl. She wrapped her arms around his neck, calling out, “Daddy, Daddy!” I stood there, frozen. Asher had said he would accompany me for the prenatal checkup, but this morning he suddenly claimed he had an urgent matter at the company and couldn’t get away. Turns out, he was accompanying his first love’s child to see a doctor. His first love is back. Freya, the woman everyone admired. Freya clung to his arm, occasionally snuggling her head into his chest like a beloved cat. Asher raised his eyes and met mine, quickly pulling his arm away. “Cora, why are you having your prenatal checkup at this hospital?” “The other hospital was fully booked, so I had to come here. Didn’t you say you had urgent matters at the company? Was it just to accompany them?” The baby in my belly suddenly kicked me hard, and a sharp pain hit. “Cora, listen to me. It’s not what you think. Freya just returned to the country yesterday, her child had a fever, she was too anxious and could only ask me for help. Please don’t make a fuss over a child, okay?” Asher explained with an innocent expression. Freya raised an eyebrow disdainfully, “Oh, the girl who used to wash Asher’s underwear has made it to wife status and even got pregnant. Don’t delude yourself into thinking this will earn his love. You’re just a substitute for me, always have been, always will be!” Asher stood there blankly, letting his beloved maliciously slander me. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms, leaving marks. Clutching my stomach, cold sweat poured down. “Cora, Cora…” At some point, I passed out. When I woke up again, Asher was gripping my hand tightly by the bed, tears in his eyes, “Thank God you’re awake. Don’t scare me like that, okay?” I avoided his gaze and said coldly, “Leave me alone. I don’t want to see you, just go away!” Asher was slightly taken aback, probably never expecting that someone who was always so compliant could lash out. Asher lowered his eyes, the gentleness in them vanished instantly. “Cora, don’t be ungrateful. I just accompanied an old friend to the hospital! I’m warning you not to act up! I chose to be with you because you were more obedient and sensible than others.” Asher slammed the door and left. How absurd. A man chooses to marry a woman not because he loves her or can’t be without her, but because she’s obedient and sensible. It’s utterly ridiculous. I’ve been in love with Asher for ten years, always trying to be the supportive partner. But in Asher’s heart, there’s always been a space reserved for Freya. Perhaps I should be grateful. I’ve become Mrs. Asher, the wife of a CEO of a public company. I shouldn’t ask for more. Yet I still yearn for his love, for his heart to be solely mine. During college, Freya and I shared a dorm room. Her name suited her well; she had a sweet demeanor, with charming eyes and dimples that would evoke a protective instinct in others. Asher was her instant crush, her dream man. Asher’s features were striking, like a Greek statue, seemingly favored by the divine. His deep-set eyes beneath thick lashes exuded an air of noble aloofness. He was the head of the sports department, and I’d been an athlete since childhood. When I applied for the sports department, he said my passionate speech moved him, and he chose me first. After joining, he would often have me help organize various sports activities. I found not only his appearance captivating but also admired his organizational skills. Under his leadership, many of our department’s large events received high praise from the dean. Asher became a campus sensation, with girls flocking to him like a popular star. He joked that none of those girls compared to being with me. He said being with me was comfortable and different from being with them. Though just a joke, it made me happy for days. Once, my mother was hospitalized and needed surgery that cost a significant amount. My living expenses suddenly dropped, and I was eating only one meal a day. Asher noticed and always invited me to meals, insisting on paying. When he learned about my family situation, he transferred me five thousand dollars without hesitation. That money was half his living expenses for months, yet he gave it to me easily. He survived on instant noodles for over a month. Another time, my roommate bullied me, accusing me of stealing and stuffing tissues into my kettle. That roommate even rallied others to corner me, forcing me to admit and apologize. Terrified, I hid in a corner, crying uncontrollably. When Asher found out, he confronted each of them, ensuring they wouldn’t bully me again. What Asher did made me grow attached to him. I asked why he was so good to me, and he said he couldn’t stand seeing others bully me and instinctively wanted to protect me. I didn’t know if it was affection, but his determined look etched into my heart, and his defense deeply moved me. I’d never felt so cared for, so cherished. Asher was like the warm sun in winter, melting the ice and snow. I even hoped our relationship could develop further. Every time we went out to eat or drink, he liked to bring me along. Asher couldn’t hold his liquor, so I often drank for him. He didn’t know that each time I’d run to the restroom to vomit. Freya and I were roommates, and Asher asked me to help him pursue her. Freya’s beauty was unmatched; I knew I couldn’t compete. Though unwilling, I couldn’t refuse any favor Asher asked. Later, with my help, Asher and Freya started dating. They were the perfect couple, becoming a campus legend. When they went out, they always invited me along. I was the obvious third wheel, carrying bags, saving seats, queuing, and even booking hotel rooms for them. I successfully helped him win the heart of the cheerleader. I even washed Asher’s underwear and socks until we graduated from college. His roommates called me a simp. They said I was a model simp for helping the man I loved chase his goddess. But whenever I was down, Asher would drop everything to comfort me. He’d pinch my cheeks, pat my head, and gaze at me with a smile, saying warm words to cheer me up. He’d order my favorite sweet and spicy dishes. I didn’t like scallions, and he’d pick them out for me. He’d accompany me to watch thriller movies I liked. Even if I was a simp, as long as I could stay by his side, I was willing. When they argued, Asher only confided in me. Asher joked, “Cora, you’re so understanding. Who’ll be lucky enough to marry you?” A warmth filled my heart, and I looked up, “Is it you?” Asher almost choked on his drink, and I quickly patted his back. “Cora, having Freya is enough. But if she had your personality, it would be perfect. You’ll find someone who truly loves you.” I feigned calmness, but my heart stung a little. In senior year, during a campus basketball game, Asher broke his leg. The doctor said he’d need a month in the hospital and couldn’t be left alone. Everyone was busy preparing for graduation. There was an internship opportunity at a big tech company, with only one spot. If you performed well, you’d be offered a full-time position. Everyone in our computer science department coveted this chance, trying every way to get it. But the advisor gave it to me because I consistently had the top grades. But what about Asher? Freya was busy with her thesis and couldn’t care for Asher. For Asher, I turned down the internship. I couldn’t abandon him when he needed me. I researched online about foods that promote bone healing, how to make soups, and how to cheer up patients. “Cora, what’s Freya busy with? Did she ask you to visit me daily? Why doesn’t she come?” “I came on my own. I just want you to recover quickly. Campus recruitment is nearing, and I don’t want you to miss it.” Asher’s expression was complicated, frowning, “But everyone’s busy now, and you’re here taking care of me. What about your own matters? If I caused you to miss an important chance, I’d feel guilty.”

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Upon hearing the news that his beloved Fiona had passed away, my husband, who was on a honeymoon with me, dramatically leapt off the cruise ship, ending his life. It was only then I realized he had never truly moved on from Fiona. Transported back to my teenage years, he decisively let go of my hand and walked towards his cherished Fiona. I watched them leave and turned away. From that moment on, our lives became parallel lines destined never to meet. A decade later, we crossed paths again at a high-profile event in Ocean City. He had become a rising star among the elite, with Fiona affectionately on his arm. When he saw me mistakenly enter the event, he couldn’t help but advise me. “Stop holding onto the past. Even if you wait for me for another ten years, I still won’t love you.” I ignored him and retrieved my cake-eating son from the corner. His eyes suddenly reddened, and he grabbed my hand tightly. “Are you trying to provoke me on purpose? Didn’t you once say you’d love me for a lifetime?”

I never imagined I would encounter Gideon again in this lifetime. At the elite gathering in Ocean City, he stood among the crowd with Fiona, exuding charm and sophistication, showing no trace of his former youthful awkwardness. People around him were all smiles, speaking in flattering tones. “Young Master Gideon is truly promising, securing a major project at such a young age!” “Is this your beloved? You both make such a striking couple.” Fiona gazed at Gideon with deep affection and said softly. “We’re planning to get married by the end of the year. If you have the time, we’d love for you to join us.” There was another round of congratulations, and someone asked. “I heard you’ve been together for ten years. Why wait until now to get married?” This was something I was curious about too. In the previous life, Gideon loved Fiona so much he was willing to die for her. After being given a second chance, he immediately broke up with me. I assumed they would marry right after graduation, but they haven’t even registered yet. Upon hearing this, Gideon’s face momentarily stiffened, but he quickly masked it with a smile. “You need a career before family. I want to give Fiona the best life possible.” He looked at Fiona, his eyes filled with tenderness nearly overflowing. In the past, when we were together, I asked him many times when we could get married. It wasn’t until his family pressured him that Gideon reluctantly agreed to be with me. It turns out, the difference between love and lack of it can be so obvious. I was about to turn and leave when I noticed a small figure and instinctively followed. “Oops!” Champagne spilled everywhere, and the waiter holding a tray looked at me with discontent. “Where did you come from? Are you blind?” His voice was loud, drawing attention from those around us. Seeing my face, Gideon was stunned. “Adeline, why are you here?” I lowered my head to apologize to the waiter and explained. “I’m here looking for someone.” Someone curiously asked Gideon. “Do you know her, Young Master Gideon?” Gideon tightened his grip on his wine glass, his gaze darkening. “Yeah, just an ex-girlfriend.” Someone nearby blurted out, “You’ve been together for ten years; I thought you were each other’s first love.” The smile on Fiona’s face faded slightly as she held Gideon’s hand and said nonchalantly. “We were young back then, separated for a bit during a fight. Who hasn’t taken a wrong turn in their youth?” Gideon said nothing, his gaze brushing past me to the waiter. “Charge the damage to my account and let her go.” He stood there, expression calm, not sparing me an extra glance aside from the initial encounter. It seemed he was eager to draw a clear line between us in front of Fiona. The waiter quickly ushered me out. “Young Master Gideon is being kind, cleaning up your mess, but there won’t be a next time.” He glanced disdainfully at my wrinkled pajamas. “This isn’t a place for you. Hurry up and leave.” I broke free from his grip and explained politely. “I’m here to find someone. Once I do, I’ll leave on my own.” The waiter sneered, rolling his eyes. “I’ve seen plenty like you trying to climb up. Do you even have the qualifications to be here? If you keep lingering, I’ll call security!” “Wait.” Gideon’s voice came from behind him. He sighed as he looked at me, helplessly. “She’s here to find me. Let me talk to her.” Fiona, standing beside him, asserted her dominance by wrapping her arms around his shoulder. “Adeline, Gideon and I are about to get married. Anyone with a bit of self-respect wouldn’t come looking for an ex at this point.” Gideon’s face darkened slightly, and he couldn’t help but advise me. “Stop holding onto the past. Even if you wait for me for another ten years, I won’t love you.” “When I was with you, it was a mistake. Now that I have the chance to correct it, I hope you can let go of the past soon.” Fiona looked me up and down, a mocking glint in her eyes. “I understand why you would seek out Gideon. After all, he’s a renowned entrepreneur now, and there’s no shortage of people trying to cozy up to him.” Perhaps my wrinkled pajamas gave her confidence, Fiona added arrogantly. “You’re a prestigious university graduate, yet you’ve ended up like this? If I were you, I wouldn’t even show my face!” Gideon frowned, pulling out his phone, his tone growing impatient. “If you feel like you were wronged by our breakup, I can compensate you now.” “Is five hundred thousand enough?” His fingers moved over the screen, then suddenly froze. “You deleted me from your contacts?”

I was puzzled, not understanding why he reacted so strongly. Isn’t it normal to delete an ex’s contact after a breakup? Besides, I have someone at home who’s particularly jealous. If he knew I still had my ex’s contact, he’d probably make a fuss. “Didn’t you say you hoped I wouldn’t come looking for you after our breakup?” Gideon’s face turned cold, as if he wanted to say something but held back. I spoke calmly, adding. “I don’t need the breakup compensation.” After facing setback after setback, Gideon’s face darkened further, and he spoke coldly. “What are you pretending for? If it weren’t for your current misfortune, I wouldn’t even bother talking to you.” Fiona quickly soothed him with a gentle voice. “Well, she is a prestigious university graduate. Given her current miserable state, let’s just consider helping her.” “Oh Fiona, you’re still so kind. Why bother with a woman like her? Look at her pathetic state, just get lost.” His tone was disdainful, as if forgetting that ten years ago, he was in a worse state than I was. In the previous life, Gideon’s family didn’t agree with their son being with Fiona because she was a dubious woman who liked shortcuts. The first time I saw Gideon in college, he had just picked Fiona up from a club, forced by his family to break up. During Gideon’s most depressed times, I stayed by his side, helping him through. He loved photography, so I used the money I planned to start a business to buy him expensive equipment. Through freezing winters and scorching summers, I, with my frail frame, carried dozens of pounds of gear following him, just hoping to see him smile sincerely. Who would’ve thought it was Gideon who confessed to me first? I knew about his past with Fiona and had seen him occasionally stare at their photos in a daze. So when Gideon confessed, I seriously asked him. Have you truly moved on from Fiona? At that time, he held me tightly, his tone firm. “Actually, I never loved her. I just saw her as a good friend. It’s you I love, Adeline; let’s be together.” We dated for seven years, even his friends were surprised. “He liked Fiona so much, I thought you two wouldn’t last.” But no one knew, Gideon repeatedly refused to answer my prompts about marriage. “Adeline, I’m against marriage. Can’t we just be like this forever?” Until later, when Gideon’s parents pressured him about marriage, he agreed to marry. During our honeymoon, after hearing about Fiona’s car accident, he jumped off the cruise ship, leaving only a note. The note was filled with love for Fiona, not a single word for me. At the end, he wrote in blood. “Fiona, you’re the only one I want to love in this life. Now, I’m coming for you.” My love for him turned to ashes at that moment. So, after being given a second chance, when Gideon wanted to break up, I didn’t stop him. Because I knew, I couldn’t stop it. Watching them get back together, I deleted all of Gideon’s contact information, thinking there’d be no chance to meet again in this life. But I didn’t expect to encounter them here. I wanted to leave, but Fiona wouldn’t let it go, insisting on humiliating me in front of everyone. “Do you even deserve to speak to me? Look at how you’re dressed, it’s embarrassing!” “Here’s the deal, I’ll introduce you to work as a waiter here. If you learn to serve people, you can earn a five-figure salary a month.” Someone trying to curry favor with her added with a grin. “This is a hotel in the prime location of Ocean City. Working here is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you. You should thank Miss Fiona.” Surrounded by people, I couldn’t leave, so I replied helplessly. “Thank you, but I already have a job.” “As a photographer.” I wanted to leave, but Fiona was relentless, determined to humiliate me in front of everyone. “Do you think you’re even worthy of talking to me? Look at what you’re wearing—it’s such an embarrassment!” “Here’s an idea: I can get you a job here as a waiter. If you learn to serve people, you could earn a five-figure salary.” Someone nearby, eager to curry favor with her, chimed in with a smile. “This hotel is in a prime Ocean City location. Working here is a rare opportunity for you. You should thank Miss Fiona.” Surrounded and unable to move, I reluctantly replied, “Thank you, but I already have a job.” “Photography.” As soon as I mentioned photography, Gideon glanced at me with a complex expression, his lips twitching slightly. He averted his gaze, his tone indifferent. “How much can you really earn from photography? Hobbies don’t pay the bills. Since we’re all acquaintances, I can set you up with a job.” I was taken aback, then realized he misunderstood me. My love for photography wasn’t because I still harbored feelings for Gideon. In fact, when I saw that suicide note in my previous life, I had already given up completely. When I returned to life, I found all my money had been spent on photography equipment. I couldn’t sell it second-hand, so I had no choice but to use it myself. Eventually, I genuinely fell in love with photography. This time around, it’s not about pleasing others; it’s for myself. I politely declined Gideon again, my tone courteous yet distant. “My hobby is enough to cover my expenses, but thanks for your concern.” Seeing my ingratitude, a flash of anger crossed Gideon’s face. “If you don’t seize the opportunity I’m offering, don’t come crying to me later!” I stayed silent, not telling him that now, my photography work is featured in several national publications and top international magazines. The various licensing fees add up to no less than Gideon’s income. But even if I said it, he’d probably dismiss it as boasting. After all, in my crumpled pajamas, I did look quite shabby. It’s my son’s fault; he insisted I play with him in the sandbox. When I turned around, he had slipped downstairs again. I hadn’t had time to change clothes before chasing after him. Just as I was thinking of an excuse to leave, the waiter seemed to have noticed something. He pointed at my clothes and said, “Balenciaga? Where did you find that outfit? Are you a cleaner here, stealing from guests’ rooms?” I couldn’t help but frown. “Why can’t these clothes be mine?” Fiona sneered, mocking, “Yours? Can you afford them? What wealthy person would run around dressed so casually like you?” She pretended to cover her nose. “So dirty, you probably wore it without washing.” Gideon looked at me, his eyebrows furrowed tightly. “Adeline, have you really fallen to this state and still refuse to admit it?” I didn’t want to engage with them, so I directly addressed the waiter. “If you really think I stole something, feel free to call the police now.” I knew he was trying to please Fiona by stepping on me. Sure enough, his bravado dwindled immediately as he mumbled, “If it weren’t for the big shots at the hotel today, I’d have called the police on you already.” Fiona’s eyes lit up, quickly picking up on it. “Is it Mr. Lowe? I heard he’s here in Ocean City with his family, staying at this hotel.” Gideon nodded, a look of anticipation in his eyes. “The project our company is working on would benefit greatly from the Lowe family’s support.” The mention of Mr. Lowe sparked a flurry of discussion, as if a match had been struck in dry tinder. “We’re at this banquet today hoping to meet Mr. Lowe, aren’t we? This entire building is owned by his family.” “I heard he got married and had a child in his early twenties, but who did he marry?” As the crowd was discussing, the lobby manager rushed in, sweating profusely, followed by a group of people. “Everyone, has anyone seen a seven-year-old boy around here, about this tall?” The manager, wiping his sweat, searched the hall anxiously. Someone quick on the uptake guessed immediately, seeing the big commotion. “Is it the Lowe family’s young master? I heard he’s seven this year.” The banquet guests got enthusiastic, searching everywhere. After all, finding him could be a chance to connect with the Lowe family. Gideon and Fiona joined the search, leaving me alone. I watched the chaotic hall and headed straight to the dessert area. Sure enough, I found my son there, his face covered in cream. With a stern face, I extended my hand. “Come here.” Startled, my son clung to the table leg. “No.” Just as I was about to pull him over, Fiona appeared out of nowhere, self-righteously blocking me. “Adeline, what are you doing!” “Even if you want to connect with the Lowe family, you shouldn’t lay hands on a child!” Gideon arrived upon hearing the commotion, his eyes full of disappointment as he looked at me. “Adeline, I can’t believe you’d do something like this for fame and fortune.” The waiter grabbed the manager to complain. “This woman barged into the banquet and stole another customer’s clothes!” The manager’s face turned cold immediately, calling for the security guard. “Arrest this thief and send her to the police! If she scares the young master, none of you will keep your jobs!” A satisfied gleam flashed in Fiona’s eyes as she bent down, putting on a kind face toward the Lowe family’s young master. “Come here, auntie will protect you.” My son ignored her, and to everyone’s shock, carefully reached out to hold my hand. “Mom, I know I was wrong.”

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The day I gave birth, I saw my best friend secretly swap our daughters in the hospital. I pretended not to notice. I took her daughter home and raised her with love and care. Twenty years later, the daughter I raised had become a renowned artist. But my biological daughter, raised under my best friend’s cruel hand, was left disabled from years of mistreatment. On the day of the art exhibition, my best friend arrived with my injured daughter and a paternity test in hand. “The hospital mixed up our babies all those years ago. It’s time to switch them back.” I smiled calmly and replied, “Alright.” “my mom brought some fresh fruit from home—I thought I’d bring some over for you and Emily to enjoy.”My best friend, Lila Cooper, knocked on my door just like she always did. Ever since I brought her daughter, Emily, home to raise, Lila had been finding excuses to visit constantly. Sometimes, she’d say she wanted to share parenting tips. Other times, she’d claim the two kids needed to spend more time together so they wouldn’t grow up lonely. Once, she showed up at dawn, saying she’d had a nightmare about Emily getting hurt. Her excuses were endless, so much so that my husband, Lucas Hayes, often complained. “She’s been here more times over the years than I’ve traveled for work!” he’d grumble. To make things easier, Lila even bought the house next door, claiming that best friends should live close so their bond wouldn’t fade. But I knew the truth—she just wanted to keep an eye on her daughter. I didn’t expose her. I simply opened the door as usual. There she stood, dressed in an elegant designer dress, holding a basket of fruit. Behind her was a frail, bruised girl with hollow cheeks. That was my biological daughter. Lila had named her Sophie. As soon as she walked in, Lila set the fruit basket down and made a beeline for Emily. “Emily, your art exhibition is next week! What do you want as a gift? I will get you anything you want!” She gently stroked Emily’s hair, her adoration impossible to hide. Emily smiled sweetly. “Anything you buys for me, I’ll love!” Hearing that, Lila’s grin grew even wider. “Our Emily is such a darling! Not like that useless girl of mine—she’s dumb and ugly!” She shot a sharp glare at Sophie, then stormed over, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her inside. “Get in here, you little brat! What are you standing at the door for, like some kind of statue?” “You’re such bad luck—just looking at you ruins my mood!” Without another word, she slapped Sophie across the face, hard. Sophie fell to the ground, her lip splitting open, blood dripping down her chin. Emily flinched, startled by the sudden violence. But Sophie didn’t cry or protest. She simply got up, wiped the blood from her mouth, and muttered, “I’m sorry, Mom. I was wrong.” Apologizing after being beaten was something Sophie had grown used to over the years. It wasn’t the first time it had happened in my house, either. I quickly grabbed the first aid kit and started treating Sophie’s wound. As I worked, I couldn’t hold back my frustration any longer. “Lila, how can you treat your own daughter like this?” I snapped. “No matter what she’s done, she’s still your child. Don’t you feel even the slightest bit of pity for her?” But Lila just waved me off, her expression indifferent. “Why should I? She’s nothing but bad luck!” “Just look at her—she’s pathetic! She’ll never measure up to Emily. If I haven’t beaten her to death yet, she should consider herself lucky!” With that, Lila turned her back on Sophie and walked over to Emily, her face lighting up with a smile again. “Emily, I ordered that princess dress you love. I’ll bring it to you on the day of your exhibition!” “Thank you,” Emily replied politely. She’d always been gracious about Lila’s favoritism, never letting it bother her. Watching this, Sophie hesitated for a moment before timidly speaking up. “Mom… next week is my birthday, too. Could you maybe… get me a paintbrush?” I glanced down and noticed the paintbrush in her hand—it was short, worn, and the bristles were nearly gone. It was one of Emily’s old brushes, thrown away two years ago. Lila had picked it up and declared that Sophie didn’t deserve anything better. And Sophie had been using it ever since, even now, with her fingers red and frozen from the cold. “You? A new brush?” Lila sneered. “You’re lucky you even have that one! A birthday? Do you think you deserve that?” She raised her hand again and started beating Sophie mercilessly, screaming insults with every strike. The room filled with the sound of her shouting, Sophie’s cries, and the dull thuds of her fists. I watched the scene unfold, silent and expressionless. Lucas tried to intervene, and even Emily joined in, pleading for Lila to stop.

It seemed Lila Cooper didn’t want to risk upsetting Emily’s mood for painting, so she dragged Sophie out of my house without hesitation. The next day was the big painting competition for Emily. Lila showed up at my door bright and early, carrying a brand-new set of paintbrushes and art supplies. Behind her, there was no sign of Sophie. Lucas frowned in confusion and asked, “Where’s Sophie? Today’s her birthday too. Why isn’t she here?” Lila waved it off like it was nothing. “Oh, her? I broke her hand last night when we got home. It’s probably still hurting too much for her to come.” She said it so casually, her tone light and even a little smug, as if breaking my daughter’s hand was something to be proud of. Without waiting for a response, she breezed past Lucas’ stunned expression and walked into the house. She placed the shiny new art supplies in front of Emily, her voice dripping with affection. “Emily, sweetheart, it’s your big day! I won’t let anything unlucky ruin it for you!” As Emily reached for the paintbrushes, the sleeve of her shirt slid back slightly, revealing a faint bruise on her arm. Lila’s face darkened the moment she saw it. She turned to me, furious, and snapped, “What’s wrong with you, Danielle? How could you let Emily get hurt like this?” I replied flatly, “Kids get bumps and bruises all the time. Isn’t your daughter always covered in them too?” Hearing this, Lila’s face turned red with anger, and she yelled, “How dare you compare that useless girl to Emily? Emily is—” She stopped herself abruptly, realizing she’d almost said too much. Forcing a smile, she composed herself and said, “What I mean is, Emily has been pampered her whole life. She’s far more delicate and precious than that worthless brat. You’d better take better care of her!” Lucas, who had been silent until now, furrowed his brow and said sharply, “You’ve got some nerve to talk. If you hadn’t beaten your own daughter to the point where there was blood all over our house yesterday, Emily wouldn’t have felt the need to help clean up and accidentally hurt her arm.” At this, Lila turned to Emily, her expression a mix of disbelief and concern. “Emily, is that true?” she asked. Emily nodded earnestly. “Yes, I just wanted to help Dad and Mom out a little.” Hearing this, Lila’s heart practically melted. She stroked Emily’s hair lovingly and said, “Sweetheart, you don’t always have to be so thoughtful. Leave the hard work to your dad, okay?” “Your only job in this family is to enjoy yourself, understand?” After fussing over Emily for a while longer, Lila began meticulously preparing everything for the painting competition. She personally sorted the paints, arranged the brushes, and double-checked every detail. When the competition ended, Lila was practically glowing with pride. She couldn’t wait to ask Emily, “Emily, tell me—what’s your biggest dream? Whatever it is, I will help make it come true!” Without hesitation, Emily smiled and said, “I want to become a renowned artist!” Lila’s eyes sparkled with joy as she patted Emily’s head. “I might not be able to help you with that, but with your talent, I know you’ll make it happen. And when you do, I will give you a one-of-a-kind reward!” Her eyes were brimming with love and pride as she looked at Emily. I stood to the side, my lips curving into the faintest of smiles. A one-of-a-kind reward, huh? Oh, Lila… Don’t worry. I’ve prepared one for you, too.

Every time Emily entered a competition, Lila Cooper was far more enthusiastic than Lucas Hayes or me. As for my own daughter, after that day when her hand was broken, she disappeared from my life entirely. Whenever Lucas asked about her, Lila would wave him off, her face full of irritation. “Don’t bring up that little jinx! Just thinking about her makes me furious!” Because of Lila’s deliberate avoidance, I didn’t see my daughter again until years later—on the day Emily finally achieved her dream of becoming a renowned artist. At the celebration party I threw for Emily’s success, Lila arrived, dragging her limping daughter into the grand hall. She pulled out a carefully prepared paternity test report and, in front of all the guests, handed it to me. “Danielle,” she began, her tone heavy with feigned sorrow, “Sophie has been having a lot of health issues lately. I took her to the hospital for some tests, and that’s when I found out… she’s not my daughter.” “Apparently, the hospital mixed up our babies all those years ago. Sophie is your biological daughter, and Emily is mine.” Lila took a dramatic pause, her voice trembling as she continued. “We’ve been separated from our own children for far too long. It’s time to make things right. We need to switch them back.” She even managed to squeeze out a few tears, looking at Emily with a mix of love and regret, as though she were the one who had endured years of hardship. She stared at Emily with such intensity, her eyes filled with a calculated blend of affection and guilt, as if she were the victim of some tragic mistake. The room erupted in murmurs: “After all these years, they’re just supposed to hand over the daughter they’ve raised so carefully? That’s absurd!” “Think about everything Danielle has done for Emily—her success as an artist is entirely because of Danielle’s dedication. You can’t just erase twenty years of love and effort!” “Exactly! Who could bear to give up a daughter like Emily, especially for a child they’ve barely known?” One was a brilliant, successful young artist raised with love and care. The other was a frail, disheveled girl who could barely walk without stumbling. Anyone could see which choice would be easier to make. But as the voices buzzed around me, I simply smiled and said calmly, “Alright.” “If it was a mistake, then yes, we should correct it.” My words stunned the entire room into silence. Even Lila’s eyes widened in shock, clearly not expecting me to agree so quickly. Lucas stared at me in disbelief. “Danielle, have you lost your mind? You’re just going to give Emily to her, based on her word and some report that might not even be real?” My mother-in-law chimed in, equally panicked. “She’s right, Danielle! This is a serious matter. You can’t just make a decision like this without investigating it properly!” Ignoring their protests, I spoke with unwavering certainty: “Emily is indeed her child.” “I saw it myself, twenty years ago, when the two babies were switched.”

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To run off into the sunset with his secretary, my husband teamed up with his subordinates to frame me for leaking corporate secrets. “I’m a businessman,” he said, his voice dripping with condescension. “I don’t need a workaholic who only knows how to bury herself in research. What I need is a woman who can navigate social circles with grace and support me like a real partner.” “Mom,” my son chimed in, his tone sharp and dismissive, “you’re always so busy with work. Miss Lee understands Dad’s needs so much better than you do.” After being blacklisted in the industry, I didn’t collapse under the weight of their betrayal. Instead, I joined a mysterious family as a mentor and, without intending to, became the guiding light for three lost children. I pulled them out of the darkness of self-doubt and watched them shine—one in business, one in art, and one in academia. Seeing them succeed filled my heart with pride. But just as I thought I’d left my old life behind, my son came knocking on my door. “Mom,” he began arrogantly, “with Miss Lee’s help, Dad has expanded into the international market. He’s even working with families as powerful as the Rothschilds.” “They’ve groomed me as the heir to the family business, and now I’m a rising star in the corporate world.” “And Miss Lee? She’s become a top-tier management consultant. Companies are lining up for her advice… But you, you’re still stuck in the past, doing nothing with your life.”

“Still,” he added with a smug smile, “you are my mom. Stick with me, and I’ll make sure you live comfortably.” Ethan—my son—looked me up and down, his gaze cold and appraising, as if I were some outdated piece of furniture instead of his mother. It was the same look he’d always given me. “I remember you used to have a few loyal admirers. They’re big shots now, aren’t they?” “Let’s toss out those old clothes of yours and get you dressed up properly. I’ll make sure you live the good life.” He kept talking, weaving a fantasy of wealth and status, but anyone with half a brain could see through his intentions. He wanted to use his own mother as bait—a trophy mistress to charm the powerful men he needed to further his ambitions. I stared at Ethan coldly, the last shred of maternal warmth I had for him dissolving completely. Back then, it was the same story. I had just developed a breakthrough in renewable energy technology—a key innovation that had the potential to change the industry. The announcement had garnered widespread attention, and I was on the verge of securing massive investments to begin production. But Ethan stepped forward and destroyed everything. “Mom said it’s easy to steal a flawed technology and con a bunch of idiots into investing,” he told everyone with feigned innocence. “Then she can just claim the technology has issues later and keep all the money for herself.” “I can’t let my mom keep doing bad things!” With just a few words, he ruined me. No one bothered to verify the truth of his claims. They ran with the story, praising Ethan for his “childlike honesty” while condemning me as a fraud. The internet exploded with outrage: “How greedy can someone be? Even her own kid couldn’t stand it!” “What a scammer. Why doesn’t she just die? I really thought we’d finally solved the renewable energy crisis!” “When will the government crack down on these con artists? Ordinary people like us can’t keep getting cheated like this!” I confronted Ethan, begging him to tell the truth. “The technology wasn’t stolen! You don’t understand—you’re jeopardizing my research! You’ll ruin opportunities for countless companies to grow and innovate!” But his father, Henry, stepped in, blocking my path. “This is exactly what I hate about you. You prioritize work over everything else. Can’t you be more like Miss Lee? Gentle, graceful, and supportive?” Ethan chimed in, his voice full of disdain. “Other people’s moms are elegant and charming—like goddesses. If you can’t be that for me, I’ll find someone who can.” “I think Miss Lee would make a great mom.” I never could have imagined that the two people I loved most would stab me in the back like this. One wanted a new wife. The other wanted a new mom. And to get what they wanted, they didn’t hesitate to drag me into the depths of ruin. I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to steady myself. “Let’s divorce,” I said finally, my voice calm but resolute. “I don’t want anything from you.”

As I got into Ethan’s car, my phone started buzzing nonstop. The three kids I’d mentored called me one after another, asking where I was, if I needed backup, or if I needed someone to “teach a lesson.” Their fierce protectiveness was almost endearing, but I stopped them immediately. I chuckled bitterly and said, “I’m just going to see what kind of ‘good life’ my own son has planned for me. What’s wrong with taking a day off for that?” Ethan glanced at me through the rearview mirror, his expression filled with disdain. To him, I was nothing more than a greedy, washed-up woman who was well past her prime. When we arrived at the Brown family’s estate, the driveway was packed with luxury cars. Ethan led me straight into the grand banquet hall. He pushed me toward a man and flashed an ingratiating smile. “Mr. Quinn, didn’t you mention you needed a date for tonight? What do you think of her?” “This deal is critical for us. You’re the key player here… Please, consider it.” The man was someone I knew—a former college classmate. He’d pursued me relentlessly for four years, only for me to reject him. I’d told him to focus on his studies and build a future for himself, but he’d taken it badly. “You’re just a shallow gold digger,” he’d spat at me back then. “You think I’m not good enough for you? Fine! Just wait—I’ll make sure you can’t even dream of being in my league.” And, well, he’d done it. He’d built an empire in finance and investments. “Brown’s choice of a date suits me perfectly,” he said with a smirk. “I’ll give the investment some serious thought.” I tried to pull away, but Mr. Quinn grabbed my hand and held on tightly. At the party, Henry—my ex-husband—and Miss Lee, his secretary-turned-new-wife, were glued to each other, acting like the perfect power couple. Miss Lee took center stage, presenting her latest corporate management proposal. It included a new incentive mechanism that she claimed would revolutionize efficiency. To impress the crowd, she even arranged a live demonstration, which left many of the attending businesspeople intrigued. But I saw through it immediately. That mechanism had a glaring flaw—it was overly aggressive, disrupting the balance of the workplace. It created exclusivity, sidelining regular employees and sowing chaos within organizations. The next part of the evening was the investment round. Interested investors would have their assistants coordinate and record offers for further negotiation. But the room was silent. No one wanted to take the first risk. Ethan was visibly anxious, glancing repeatedly at Mr. Quinn for a response. Just as Mr. Quinn was about to step forward, I yanked his hand back. I leaned in and whispered, “This project is a disaster waiting to happen. You’ll lose everything, and it’ll put the companies involved at risk of collapse.” I’d kept my voice low, but someone overheard me—a young man I’d once helped fund through school. “She’s just jealous,” he announced loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. “What gives you the right to criticize Miss Lee’s work? You’re just bitter because she’s more successful than you.” “And you’re a known fraud, aren’t you? Someone who steals other people’s work has no business judging anyone else.” All eyes turned to me, sharp and cutting. If looks could kill, I’d have been dead a thousand times over. Miss Lee noticed me too. Her smug expression quickly shifted to one of feigned vulnerability, her voice trembling as she said, “I only asked Ethan to bring you here out of kindness, and this is how you treat me?” “You can’t assume everyone is a liar just because you were accused of stealing in the past. Not everyone is like you…” Henry pulled her into his arms, his expression full of reproach as he looked at me. After all these years, his unwavering support for Miss Lee hadn’t changed. Ethan, of course, was on her side as well. “If you keep insulting my mom, then you need to leave.” The three of them stood united, painting me as the villain in their perfect little family. “Miss Lee’s proposals are always brilliant,” someone sneered. “This project has great potential. I’m ready to invest!” The voice belonged to Sarah Yates, a woman who looked at me like I was dirt under her shoe. Her words were laced with venom. “You really think you’re still the old Danielle Hayes? You’re nothing but a fallen phoenix, trampled by everyone. And now you think you can ruin Miss Lee’s event? Pathetic.” “You’re a disgrace. You should just stay in the dirt where you belong, like the insignificant bug you are.” I didn’t understand why Sarah hated me so much. Years ago, I’d met her in a poverty-stricken town while researching a charity project. She’d been cornered by a local thug, begging for help. I’d stepped in, paid off the thug, and taken her with me. I’d even found her a job, helping her get on her own two feet. But when I was falsely accused of stealing, Sarah had stood by and watched. Worse, she’d actively helped Miss Lee fan the flames, leaking my personal information to the public and fueling the online harassment that nearly destroyed me. Sarah’s voice dripped with contempt as she continued, “Just because you helped me once doesn’t make you my savior. If you’d treated me half as well as Miss Lee has, maybe I wouldn’t hate you so much.” “You think giving me a thousand dollars a month was enough? That doesn’t buy designer clothes, doesn’t get me a good apartment. It barely covers a few meals out.” She’d asked me to sign over my house to her, and when I refused, her resentment only grew. Miss Lee had taken full advantage of that, gifting her a few designer outfits and completely winning her over. To prove her loyalty, Sarah had even destroyed key documents I’d needed to clear my name. When I confronted her about it, she’d shrugged, utterly indifferent. “The unloved one is always the third wheel,” she said with a smirk. “Your husband and son don’t love you. Why won’t you just let go of your place? Have some dignity, for once in your life.” I’d seen enough. In the end, everything in this world revolved around self-interest.

With my reputation ruined, no company dared to hire me. My assets were frozen, and I had nowhere to turn. Just as I hit rock bottom, a butler approached me with an offer: they wanted me to become a live-in tutor for the infamous Morgan family. The Morgans were surrounded by sinister rumors—three sons, two dead, and one missing. The two remaining sons had left behind three children. But since no one was willing to take responsibility for them, the kids had grown into wild, uncontrollable troublemakers. No school would accept them. The butler had hired several tutors, but all of them had been scared off by the children’s antics. Their infamy had spread far and wide. The eldest, Mason Morgan, had nearly beaten someone to death in a fight. The second, Miles Morgan, was physically frail but strikingly handsome. He’d been bullied so badly that he almost lost his eyesight. The youngest, Maddie Morgan, was a quiet little girl who had trained in martial arts. She feared no one and could take down anyone who crossed her. On my first day, I wasn’t prepared for what awaited me. The three kids locked me in a dark storage room. But I wasn’t about to let them win. I smashed my way out, dragged each of them one by one, tied them up, and threw them into the same storage room. I left them there for three days without food. When I finally let them out, they were pale and subdued. I looked at their defeated faces and said calmly, “Today’s lesson is simple: respect others, and you respect yourself.” As time passed, I slowly pulled them back from the edge of destruction. Day by day, I began to uncover the truth behind their behavior. Mason had nearly beaten someone to death because that person had mocked the Morgans, saying their family was cursed. He’d laughed that Mason would die soon too, and once the Morgans were gone, their rivals would swallow up their legacy. He’d even joked that Mason’s siblings were so attractive they could be sold for a good price. Miles had almost lost his eyesight because someone told him to get rid of his younger sister—claiming it’d be better for the family fortune if there was one less heir to split the inheritance. Maddie had gone on a rampage because she overheard people plotting to harm her two brothers. They even talked about blinding them. Maddie had snapped and beaten those people so badly they couldn’t walk for weeks. The more time I spent with them, the more I grew to love these kids. Mason had a passion for business, so I taught him the strategies and skills he’d need to succeed. Miles adored art, so I opened his eyes to the beauty and power of creativity. Maddie loved to learn, so I encouraged her curiosity and guided her through every subject she wanted to explore. Our bond grew stronger with each passing day. Eventually, they stopped calling me “teacher” and started calling me “Mom.” A sudden vibration from my phone pulled me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Ethan. “Don’t mess with my mom’s plans. If you ruin things for her, your good days will be over.” “You’re not the Danielle Hayes you used to be. Stay in your lane.” How ironic. He didn’t even bother to call me “Mom” anymore. I stared at the message and let out a cold laugh. What a perfect son I’d raised. When Ethan was little, he’d suffered from a rare blood disorder that left him weak and on the brink of death. For three years, I dedicated myself to researching a cure, pouring everything I had into saving him. Once I’d found a way to treat him, I spent every waking moment nursing him back to health. His survival was my greatest achievement. I could still remember how he used to throw his little arms around me, tears streaming down his face. “Thank you, Mom. Thank you so much.” “Will I ever get strong enough so you don’t have to work so hard anymore?” But those days were long gone. Now, those memories were nothing but smoke, drifting away into the distance, leaving only cold indifference behind.

With Sarah Yates leading the charge to invest, others began to follow suit, one after another. Miss Lee’s assistant was running around frantically, grinning from ear to ear as she juggled all the offers. Henry stepped down from the side stage and walked over to me. His expression was complicated, something between guilt and hesitation. “Why don’t you stay this time?” he said. “You haven’t seen Ethan in years, have you? Maybe this is a chance to reconnect.” Before I could respond, Quinn stepped in front of me, his face darkening with irritation. “What’s this, Henry? Feeling nostalgic? Trying to have it both ways now?” Quinn sneered. “Too bad you’re late. Your son already handed his dear mother over to me.” Henry’s face turned black as thunder. He looked at me with a mix of disbelief and outrage. “I can’t believe you’ve fallen this low,” he spat. “Do you think you’re still some young girl? Selling yourself like this? At your age?” He didn’t bother to lower his voice. Everyone in the room heard him. Miss Lee gasped dramatically, covering her mouth in mock horror. “Danielle, how… how could you degrade yourself like this?” “You went to school for so many years, and this is what you’ve chosen to do? Be someone’s mistress? How could you face your parents?” My parents had been well-known entrepreneurs in the industry, respected for their work even during their years at multinational corporations. Now, the cameras meant for recording the investment pitches turned toward me. Some bold reporters pushed through the crowd, microphones in hand. “Are you Danielle Hayes, the disgraced entrepreneur who disappeared five years ago?” “What gives you the audacity to show your face here again?” “Do you have any conscience? If your project had gone through and you’d successfully scammed investors, do you know how many businesses would have gone under?” “Are you not afraid of karma coming for you?” I smiled and said simply, “No, I’m not.” To them, my calm demeanor was just proof that I was shameless, someone who’d given up all pretense of dignity. A few onlookers had already started live-streaming the scene with their phones. The comment sections were flooded with insults. Most people didn’t even know the full story from five years ago, but as soon as someone explained it, they joined in on the mob. [Livestream Comments:] “This is the most shameless person I’ve ever seen.” “How does she even dare say she’s not afraid of karma? Some people are truly invincible when it comes to being shameless.” “I’m so mad. My brother believed in her project back then. He was hoping it would succeed so he could transition his company… but then it was exposed as plagiarism. He was devastated, and when his company went bankrupt, he still regretted it wasn’t real.” The crowd was growing more agitated, their anger boiling over. Quinn gave my arm a gentle tug, his expression flickering with concern. “Maybe you should leave,” he murmured. “Just give me your contact info, and we can figure out the rest later.” I was surprised by his reaction. I’d expected him to humiliate me, to take advantage of the situation like everyone else. Instead, his face flushed red under my gaze, and he avoided looking directly at me. “I’m just worried some of these people might take things too far. As long as I can find you later, we’ll deal with the rest then…” Before he could finish, the sound of heavy, synchronized footsteps echoed from the entrance. A group of people in official-looking uniforms marched in, their presence commanding immediate attention. Someone in the crowd whispered nervously, “Wait a second, isn’t that the uniform for the financial crime investigation unit? Why are there so many of them here?” The sharpest minds in the room immediately ruled me out as the target of the officials’ visit. Instead, they turned their attention to the star of the evening, Miss Lee. After all, if the officials were here, it had to mean there was something significant enough to catch their attention. Some people even started congratulating her: “Mrs. Brown, your management proposal must have caught the eye of the authorities. This could be your big break!” But in the back of everyone’s mind, one phrase loomed large: corporate audit. People began to sweat, wondering if this would include investigations into previously overlooked violations—illegal loans, financial fraud, who knew what else? Miss Lee, clearly flattered by the attention, couldn’t stop herself from smiling. The idea of working hand-in-hand with the authorities made her momentarily forget her petty schemes against me. She hurried to greet the officials. “Hello, may I ask—” But the man leading the group cut her off.

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On my 18th birthday, I was tossed overboard 18 times like a worthless dog by a young master. And all of it—just to make his first love laugh. Outside the morgue. My mom clutched the $180,000 they handed her, smiling through her tears. In an instant, she transformed into their new “stepmother” and “mother-in-law.” Unbelievable. The woman I had endured endless humiliation to support—the fragile, helpless, eternally sick woman—turned out to be the long-lost first love of one of the wealthiest tycoons. But my mother’s hunt had only just begun. My mom is a lunatic. When I was little, she could still scrape together some money to raise me. But after I turned 15, her condition worsened, and she was sent to a psychiatric hospital. From then on, I dropped out of school and started working to support her. I never knew my father. When I asked, she’d either have a meltdown, destroy everything in sight, or hurt herself while screaming that he was dead. Eventually, I stopped asking. At the hospital, my mom spent her days playing the role of a rich heiress, claiming to be the unattainable first love of every high society bachelor. She even roped in other patients to act out ridiculous soap opera dramas with her. She had no idea. To keep her fed, clothed, and comfortable in that hospital, I had become nothing more than a plaything for the rich men.

My mom was beautiful and statuesque. Even the fragments of her beauty I inherited were enough to make those rich boys lose themselves. But between wealth and poverty lies a chasm called class. While my peers were busy enjoying their youth and burying themselves in books, I was on my knees, pouring drinks and laughing at jokes for some trust fund brat. I met Manhattan’s golden boy, Logan Carter, at one of those parties. One of the young heirs sneered, “If you can make Logan laugh, I’ll give you $10,000.” Ten grand—just loose change to them—was three days’ worth of my mom’s treatment. The doctor had said her condition was curable, but the cost of medication was astronomical. I had no choice. I wanted her healed. I wanted to go back to school. I wanted to sit in a bright, clean classroom like everyone else my age. But that dream could only come true if I kept her alive. I’d already heard stories about Logan Carter before I met him. Back in high school, he had fallen in love with a girl who rejected his passionate confession and moved abroad. Heartbroken, he hadn’t smiled since. How dramatic and precious, I thought. I’d never met his first love, Serena Brooks, but I imagined she was the kind of pure, perfect girl who lived in the daydreams of every teenage boy. So when I washed off my makeup, tied my hair into a ponytail, and put on a school uniform to stand before Logan, something unexpected happened. He cried. That was the night I made my name. I became Serena Brooks’ replacement—the little bird Logan Carter kept in a gilded cage. For three years, he made me dress like her, talk like her, laugh like her. He played games with me, confessed to me, and showered me with the kind of care I thought only existed in fairy tales. I thought Logan Carter was my salvation. But when Serena came back, everything I’d built crumbled to dust. On my 18th birthday, he cast me into the freezing depths of despair.

Logan Carter didn’t break his promise. He threw me a grand birthday celebration on his yacht—a party fit for royalty. “Baby, I’ll always protect you, no matter what…” he whispered as he knelt before me, holding a ring. Surrounded by the cheers of onlookers, he was just about to slip the ring onto my finger when a sob shattered the moment. Serena Brooks. Her sudden appearance caught me completely off guard. For three years, I thought I’d smoothed over Logan’s heartbreak and carved out a place for myself in his life. I even allowed myself to fantasize that their story had ended. But when Serena cried and threatened to jump overboard, Logan didn’t hesitate. He sprinted to her side, wrapping her in his arms as the crowd erupted into applause. I stood frozen, my entire body growing cold. All I could hear were the jeers around me: “She’s just a pathetic toy. What makes her think she could compare to Serena?” “A whore who’s happy with a few grand—let’s see how many splashes she can make!” Before I could identify the voices mocking me, someone shoved me into the ocean. Icy water flooded my nose and mouth as panic gripped me. They pulled me out, only to throw me back in again. Over and over, I was dragged to the brink of death. And Logan Carter? He didn’t stop them. Instead, when he saw Serena laugh at my humiliation, he joined in. He personally threw me overboard, like I was nothing more than a dead dog. On the 18th time he hurled me into the freezing waters, as Serena’s radiant smile lit up the night, I finally surrendered to the embrace of death.

The party on the yacht didn’t stop just because I sank to the bottom of the ocean. It wasn’t until dawn broke that they finally sailed away from international waters. I used to love the freedom and vastness of the sea. But now, floating on its endless expanse, I found myself longing for my mom. Days later, my broken body was discovered by a fishing boat and eventually sent back to the States. At the morgue. For the first time in three years, I saw my mom. She looked so much better now—her health had improved dramatically, her condition stable after years of care. The doctors had even said that she might soon be able to leave the psychiatric facility and try living like a normal person again. But now, as she stumbled out of the morgue, she was a hollow shell of the woman I’d nurtured back to health. Gone was the vibrant spark she wore while playing her dramatic heiress roles at the hospital. Her lifeless eyes and vacant expression made it seem like she was teetering on the edge of another breakdown. Calm on the surface, but I could feel the storm brewing inside her. Mom. My mom. Please, please don’t lose yourself now. If you fall apart, then everything I endured will have been for nothing. “Mrs. Parker, our deepest condolences. This $180,000 is a small token from us on behalf of Nia. Please, we hope you won’t refuse it.” Serena Brooks appeared, arm linked with Logan Carter, as if they hadn’t just orchestrated my death. Their audacity made my ghostly fury burn hot. How dare they? How dare they show up here with money to insult my mother like this? Serena held a paper bag filled with crisp, blood-red bills, shoving it toward my mom’s trembling hands. My mom blinked in confusion, raising her head slowly. “And… you are?” “We were Nia’s friends,” Serena said, dabbing at her dry eyes with a tissue, pretending to be overwhelmed by emotion. “We’re heartbroken over what happened. Please, Mrs. Parker, you have to stay strong for her sake.” She forced the bag of money into my mom’s hands again, her fake concern dripping with malice. I was seething, my ghostly rage flaring. Mom, don’t take it! That’s blood money! If she accepted it, the case would be buried for good.

But the next second, my mother took it. I watched in agony as her slender fingers closed around the bag. In the corner of the room, I noticed someone discreetly snapping photos of the scene. “Such kind children,” my mom mumbled. Her voice was flat, and her smile didn’t reach her vacant eyes. She gripped the bag tightly, muttering, “Thank you… thank you so much…” Serena’s lips curled into the faintest hint of a sneer, a flicker of disdain flashing in her eyes. My anger surged. She shivered as if feeling the cold touch of my wrath. Logan quickly made an excuse to leave. “Mrs. Parker, please take care of yourself. We’ll be going now.” My mom stood frozen, clutching the money as though it anchored her to this world. Her lips moved silently, whispering something I couldn’t make out. “Logan, I’m scared,” Serena said softly as they walked away, her voice trembling with mock vulnerability. “Do you think she’ll find out the truth?” “Don’t worry,” Logan replied, his tone dismissive. “Even if she does, it won’t matter. She’s crazy. No one would believe anything she says, and it’s not like she has any proof.” “You’re so good to me, Logan.” “You’re the treasure I thought I’d lost forever. If I’m not good to you, who else would I be good to?” “You’re terrible!” she laughed, lightly swatting his arm. “But I have to admit, I was surprised. Her mom’s so elegant—she reminds me of some old Hollywood star. Good thing Nia didn’t inherit too much of that. Otherwise, you’d have forgotten all about me ages ago.” “Impossible,” Logan said, leaning closer to her. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.” Their words sliced through me like knives as they walked straight through my ghostly form, oblivious to my presence. I was useless in life. Now, I was just as useless in death. I couldn’t protect myself. I couldn’t protect my mom. “Wait.” My mom’s voice broke through the silence. Logan froze, turning back to her. She stared at him intently, her gaze locking onto his face as though searching for something. “Logan Carter…” she said slowly, her voice trembling. “What’s your connection to Charles Carter?”

Logan Carter blinked in surprise. “Mrs. Parker, you know my father?” My mom snapped out of her trance-like focus and shook her head, mumbling under her breath, “No… no… I don’t know him. I don’t know anyone…” “She really is crazy,” Logan muttered, exchanging a smirk with Serena Brooks. Relieved, they turned and left. “$180,000?” “Hah!” “Charles Carter once begged me to have lunch with him for more than $180,000. Logan’s even more pathetic than his father.” Beneath the curtain of her long hair, the corners of my mom’s mouth curled into a slow, sinister smile. That predatory glint in her eyes—it was like watching a hunter preparing for the kill. I had no idea how my mom managed to get released from the psychiatric facility, but she did. I followed her back to the rundown apartment we used to call home. She spent hours methodically sorting through my belongings, rifling through my phone, and piecing together every humiliating detail of my life. She didn’t flinch, didn’t cry. Her expression was blank the entire time. When she stumbled across a few moments of happiness I’d recorded on my phone, she even chuckled softly to herself. “What an idiot,” she muttered. Excuse me? Mom, do you even hear yourself right now?! After sitting in eerie silence for an entire day and night, she suddenly got up, grabbed the $180,000 she’d accepted, emptied the last few thousand dollars I had in my savings, and stormed off to the designer boutiques downtown. By the time she was done, she’d blown all the money except for enough to buy a hamburger. This woman is insane! Even back when Logan Carter treated me like a princess, I never dared to spend money so recklessly. Two pieces of chiffon sewn into a cocktail dress—was that supposed to be more important than her medication or basic necessities? Did she think she’d die if she didn’t have the perfect hairstyle or high heels? She’s almost 40 years old, still clinging to some delusional dream of being a high-society debutante. I wanted to shove her right back into the psychiatric hospital so she could act out her soap opera fantasies there. “Silly girl,” she sighed later, as if lecturing me. “You know, men’s money is meant to be spent. If you don’t spend it, someone else will. And if you’re not careful, that money might just come back as the knife in your back…”

She’d been rambling nonstop these past few days, always throwing in little jabs at me. Her words hit so hard I almost wanted to come back to life just to argue with her. But every time I cooled off, I had to admit she wasn’t entirely wrong. Take now, for example. She strutted into the most exclusive club in the city, head held high, and booked the largest VIP diamond suite like she owned the place. Then, without batting an eye, she ordered eighty male models to fawn over her. She was sitting there like a queen, completely ignoring the fact that she had less than $10 left in her pocket. Because of her, I got to indulge in a bit of luxury myself, though I couldn’t help stressing over how she was planning to get out of this mess. Places like this didn’t operate without the backing of some serious power players. When she finally decided she’d had enough fun, she got up to leave, acting like nothing had happened. Predictably, a group of bouncers appeared to block her path. I floated above them, hopping mad. But my mom? She didn’t even blink. She sipped her wine gracefully, raised her chin, and said, “Go get your boss. Let’s see if he’s brave enough to take my money.” Mom, are you out of your mind?! This wasn’t the hospital—no one was going to humor her delusional high-society theatrics here. If she didn’t leave now, she was going to get herself killed. And sure enough, things escalated quickly. Word spread that someone was causing trouble in the club. Soon enough, Ryan Cole—one of the rich heirs who’d once paid me to amuse Logan Carter—showed up with a group of lackeys, making a big scene. “Do you even know where you are?” Ryan sneered. “Other than Logan, the last idiot to pull a stunt like this ended up six feet under, and that was 18 years ago!” “Logan hasn’t even been coming around since that whole Nia Parker mess,” one of his friends added with a groan. “This place has been so boring without him.” “Shut your mouth!” Ryan snapped. “Serena said no one’s allowed to mention that bad-luck ghost anymore. Keep your lips sealed about what happened in international waters, or you’re dead!” As they bickered, my mom sat in the middle of the room, perfectly composed, swirling her wine. At the mention of my name, her eyes narrowed dangerously. Before Ryan could say another word, she smirked and raised her glass toward him. “Kid,” she said coolly, “I’m not here for you. I want to see Liam Cole. Three minutes. That’s all I’ll wait.” Ryan’s face darkened with rage. But then, as he got a closer look at her, he froze. His anger evaporated, replaced by a flicker of fear. Without a word, he pulled out his phone and rushed to the corner of the room to make a call. I watched as he glanced nervously at my mom, his expression a mix of panic and disbelief. “Dad,” he hissed into the phone, “that lady from 18 years ago—the one who skipped out on her bill and started a fight—she’s back!” Excuse me?!

“Vivi… is it really you, Vivi?” Liam Cole, the elusive and powerful owner of the club, came stumbling out from the private floors below in less than two minutes. He practically fell to his knees in front of her, looking as awestruck as a loyal dog seeing its goddess. My mom, however, remained completely indifferent, her expression calm and unreadable. She leaned down, gently pinching his chin, and said three sentences: “Tell Charles Carter he has half a day to clean out the pests in his family.” “Your younger generation… they need better discipline.” “Oh, and remember what I told you years ago? Keep gambling, and you’ll end up at the bottom of the river.” Liam, visibly shaken, nodded frantically, agreeing to everything she said. He even begged her to stay in the presidential suite of the five-star hotel next door, all in the hopes of earning one approving word from her. As we left the club, my mom gave Ryan Cole, Liam’s son, a faint, enigmatic smile. I swear I saw the color drain from his face like the sky was falling. If that wasn’t bizarre enough, less than an hour later, Charles Carter himself—the legendary business mogul of the East Coast—showed up at the hotel. And then, to my utter disbelief, the man knelt before my mom with tears in his eyes, holding up an enormous diamond ring. “Vivi, will you finally marry me?” My mom accepted the ring, but her response was as cold as ever: “No marriage license. No public announcement. No shared bedroom.” “Anything you want!” Charles said desperately. “As long as you stay with me, I’ll agree to it all.” I stared, completely dumbfounded. So, it turns out all those over-the-top dramas my mom had acted out in the psychiatric hospital, with her “haughty heiress” persona? They weren’t just an act. And all those high-society characters she mentioned? They were real. Once the shock faded, an uncomfortable weight settled in my chest. If my mom was this capable, then why had she spent years holed up in a rundown apartment, raising a child alone and eventually losing her mind? If any of these powerful people had known about her struggles, would I have still suffered through all those humiliations? Would I have ended up dead at 18? The tangled relationships and the bitter irony of it all made me want to laugh. And yet, here she was, about to become Charles Carter’s kept woman. Just another gilded bird in the Carter family’s cage.

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My adopted brother, Ethan Clark, and I were trapped in the fire. My dad rushed into the burning house to save and comfort the frightened Ethan, regardless of his safety. The firefighters arrived and rescued them from the living room. A firefighter wanted to go further inside to look for survivors, but my dad stopped him. “Let’s go, sir. It’s too dangerous. There’s no one else here.” My dad had forgotten about me, who was preparing a birthday gift for him in the studio. Watching him walk away, I didn’t yearn for his love. I woke up in the hospital, with no one by my side. There was an interview with the renowned entrepreneur Garry Carlson on TV. “Thankfully, my son is safe. Thanks to the firefighters.” As Garry spoke, he looked at Ethan beside him lovingly. That caring look had never fallen on me. “Another survivor has been rescued from the fire. Is it true?” a reporter asked. Garry’s face darkened as he heard this. “Yes. It’s just a servant. I’m sorry to take up the public’s attention.” There were some images of the fire scene on the screen. The “servant” Garry mentioned was me, his own son. The next day, Garry and Ethan went to my ward. I rubbed my eyes, thinking I had an illusion. Ever since Garry adopted Ethan, he had always ignored me. I was puzzled as to why he would come to see me today. Garry hadn’t cared about me when I almost died from a high fever. But when Ethan felt a bit unwell, he would be overwhelmed with worry. “Dad, does Austin not want me here?” Ethan’s voice was laced with fear, and tears welled up in his eyes. Garry snorted, “You have forgiven him, yet he dares hate you? If it weren’t for him, this accident wouldn’t have happened. He fooled himself with fire and almost hurt you. He deserves it!” I painted in the studio, and there was no flame. Besides, the news had stated that the fire started in Ethan’s room, but Garry simply put the blame on me. As usual, no matter what happened, I was the culprit, while Ethan was the most well-behaved one in Garry’s view. Ethan gave me a smug look yet said pitifully, “It’s my fault. My ankle is sprained, or Dad would have saved you first. Just take out your anger on me. Please don’t blame Dad.” Ethan was lying, but Garry believed him. He hissed, and his face flushed with fury, “Don’t pull a long face. No one has wronged you, and you’re fine now.” I thought to myself, “If it weren’t for Garry telling the firefighters there was no one left in the house, I wouldn’t have struggled to scrawl through the flames and gotten hit by a falling easel, resulting in 30% burns. Looking at me, he still thought I was fine.” When Ethan cut his finger with a fruit knife, Garry treated it like an emergency. But I was wrapped up like a mummy; he thought I was “fine” and could even see the displeasure under my bandaged face. Garry warned me, “I’m here to inform you to keep quiet in front of the media. Remember, the fire started in your room.” My silence annoyed him. His eyes glinted with fierce. “If any rumors unfavorable to Ethan emerge, I won’t let you off, Austin Carlson.” After warning me, Garry left with Ethan. In his eyes, I wasn’t his son but a villain trying to harm Ethan. Ever since childhood, whenever Ethan stumbled, Garry accused me of being malicious. When Ethan handed his toys to me and then cried to Garry that I had stolen them, Garry compared me to my deceased mother and scolded me for always trying to take what wasn’t mine. Even when he witnessed Ethan bullying me, he would say I must have provoked Ethan first, forcing him to get even. In Garry’s view, I was nothing but a villain. His visit today was merely to warn me.

The day after Emma Wade, my mom’s best friend, visited me, Garry unexpectedly came to see me again. This time, he wasn’t his usual arrogant self. Instead, he looked a little cautious and even brought a gift. He showed me a handmade toy car, smiling. “Look, Austin, I brought you your favorite toy car. You used to beg me to make these cars with you when you were little.” When I was seven, right after my mom passed away, he brought Ethan home. I asked him to help me with my art project, a toy car, but he said he had no time and told me to do it myself. I cried, clinging to his leg, begging him to help me, but he kicked me away. Then, he helped Ethan make it. With that, Garry handed me the car keys. “I bought you your favorite car.” A new car? It was quite rare since I usually got things Ethan didn’t want. This was the first new thing Garry had given me since my mom died. Garry admitted that it was his fault for not noticing I was also in the house during the fire, causing me so much suffering. Then, he apologized that he had been wrong all these years for neglecting me and promised to treat Ethan and me equally from now on. Just as I was about to believe his sincerity, Garry hesitantly asked, “Austin, was it Emma who visited you yesterday?” As I expected, he wasn’t here out of concern but for his ulterior motives. Emma was my mom’s best friend. She came from the Wade family, the top family in Ladora. After my mom died, she cut off relations with my family. Knowing that Emma had come to visit me, Garry rekindled his ambitions. I coldly replied, “Yes.” “Your mom gave you a pendant before she died. It’s an engagement token with Lisa Wade. Austin, give it to Ethan,” Garry said. Seeing my disfigured face, he added, “Your face is scarred, and you’re not good enough for Lisa.” My appearance could be restored through skin grafts, but Garry refused to pay for the medical treatment, leaving me with only conservative care. He even accused me of not being worthy of this engagement. Garry continued, “Besides, giving Ethan the engagement is just as good. He is your brother. With your condition, you’ll need his help anyway.” I couldn’t help laughing bitterly at this. “I don’t have a brother. My mom only had me. Help me? Huh, he put sand in my milk, tore up my test papers, threw away my lunch box, and hid my exam permits… I don’t need his ‘help’?” The door swung open, and Ethan rushed to my bedside. “Austin, I know you don’t like me, but I didn’t do those things. Please don’t misunderstand me!” Looking at his pitiful face, Garry comforted him, “I believe you. Austin is jealous of you. He wants to drive a wedge between us. Don’t be sad, good boy.” Turning to me with anger, Garry said, “Austin, you’re too mean. You don’t deserve to be my son.” After they left, I looked at the car keys. Engraved on them was a small word—Ethan.

After the villa burned down, I had to move back into the small apartment my mom left me. As I approached the door, I heard loud music blaring from inside. Opening it, I saw a crowd of relatives and friends gathered in the living room. There was a large cake in the center with “Happy Birthday, Dad” written on it. Before the fire, I had been eagerly preparing a birthday gift for Garry, hoping that after receiving it, he would treat me like he did Ethan. Ever since Ethan came into my life, I had been trying every way to win Garry’s affection. But now, I had forgotten today was his birthday. Garry’s eyes flickered with guilt when he saw me. Ethan, momentarily stunned, greeted me calmly, “Austin, how could you be late on such an important day as Dad’s birthday?” No one had told me about this party. How could I be late? The relatives chimed in, “Ethan is so considerate, always handling everything perfectly. He’s better than a biological son.” “Tsk, the biological son doesn’t even remember his dad’s birthday.” Hearing their praises, Ethan looked smugly at me. “Austin is good, but he’s just busy with work. I have more free time, so it’s more suitable for me to handle these events.” Throughout his life, Ethan had always been polite and considerate in front of relatives, making them favor him over me. When it was time to give gifts, Ethan presented an emerald he had bought at an auction, which was of excellent quality. Garry’s face wreathed with smiles upon receiving it, and the relatives envied him for having such a thoughtful son. After showing off his gift, Ethan turned to look at me. “Austin, what gift did you prepare for Dad?” He knew full well that my gift had been destroyed in the fire. He continued, “I heard you prepared a special birthday gift for Dad. He has been looking forward to it. Show it to us!” Garry watched this scene, letting the relatives criticize me for being thoughtless. I stood there awkwardly, feeling humiliated. After the guests left, Ethan said, “Austin, if you didn’t prepare a gift, you shouldn’t have come and embarrassed Dad here.” Garry shot a frosty look. “I’m your father, but you didn’t even bring me a birthday gift.” I said, “Your birthday gift is that oil painting. It was burned in the villa.” A few months ago, Garry mentioned that his business rival had an oil painting that brought him prosperity, and he wanted one too. I spent all my free time working on that painting in the studio, only for it to be destroyed by the fire. Garry lowered his head, remaining silent for a long time. He and Ethan stayed seated in the living room, not intending to leave. I pointed towards the door. “I need to rest. Please leave.” Ethan yelled, “I didn’t ask you to leave, but now you’re kicking me out?” I lost my temper. “This is my house!” He looked smugly at me. “Dad gave me this apartment.” I stared at Garry in disbelief. A trace of guilt crossed his face before he regained his composure. “Here is closer to Ethan’s company. As his brother, you should make way for him.” I couldn’t contain my anger, yelling at Garry, “How can you be so biased? No matter what he wants from me, you always ask me to let him have it. Even when I do, I don’t get any appreciation. “My mom left me many things, but he has ruined it all, leaving me with just this small apartment. Now you still want to take even this away from me. I’m your real son. What did I do wrong? Why are you treating me like this?” By this point, I was unable to speak through my sobs.

Garry’s expression softened a bit, but he remained silent. He didn’t intend to return the apartment, so I knew I had to take it back on my own. After a moment of thought, I asked, “You want the pendant my mom left me, right?” Garry and Ethan both looked at me eagerly, waiting for me to continue. I stayed quiet for a while before saying, “Okay.” Their faces lit up with joy. “But you have to agree to three conditions,” I added. Ethan was excited, while Garry looked displeased. He believed everything I had should be his anyway, so he didn’t have to make any deals. I said, “The first condition: Move out of this apartment.” Garry had given Ethan many houses under various pretexts, each better than this one. He wanted this apartment just to spite me. Ethan readily agreed and waited for me to state the second condition. I continued, “The second condition: Ethan must kneel and clean up the mess you made today here.” Before Ethan could object, Garry interrupted, “Austin, he’s your brother. How can you treat him like this?” “Why are you getting so upset? I’m just giving him a taste of his own medicine. When I asked for my mom’s photo back, he did the same thing to me.” Garry was there watching when it happened. He said Ethan was young and innocent, and that as his brother, I had to be more tolerant and clean rooms on my knees if I wanted the photo back. Today, they needed something from me. Either they agreed to my condition, or they wouldn’t get what they wanted. Ethan reluctantly agreed, but Garry couldn’t bear to see him clean the apartment alone and helped him. Looking at Garry, who seemed tired from helping clean, I stated my third condition, “We’re even from now on.” Garry was stunned, asking, “What do you mean?” I clarified. “We’re done. You’re no longer my father, and we have nothing more to do with each other.” Garry became angry. “I raised you for over twenty years. How can you be so heartless to me?” I sneered, “It’s true, but you never treated me like a son. Apart from those who knew my birth, no one knows I’m your son. “When you went to parent-teacher conferences, you were Ethan’s father. At friends’ gatherings, you brought him with you. Even now, the son you present to the media is still him.” Anger came off Garry. “No matter what, you’re still my son. You can never walk away from me.” I shrugged. “Fine, but then the pendant stays with me.” Garry hesitated, while Ethan gave him pleading looks. Finally, Garry made up his mind. “Alright, I agree.” Ethan had a triumphant grin, erasing the humiliation of kneeling to clean. Tears blurred my eyes. Once again, Garry chose Ethan over me. I was heartbroken. However, they wouldn’t succeed in using that pendant to ingratiate themselves with the Wade family.

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I was reported by the parents for visiting the hospital a few times. “It’s such a crucial time in senior year. As the homeroom teacher, you should be on call 24/7. Is it really necessary to go to the hospital? Can’t you just tough it out?” “Even on weekends, what if something urgent comes up and we can’t reach you? If you don’t even have this basic awareness, how can you be a homeroom teacher?” “Bottom line, you’re just selfish. Someone like you doesn’t deserve to be a teacher!” I was both angry and shocked. For the past two years, I had poured my heart and soul into bringing this class from the bottom of the grade to the top. I had worked myself sick but never dared to take a day off, fearing it might affect the students. And now I’m being accused of selfishness? When my students learned about the complaint against me, they all looked indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with them. My heart turned cold. Let someone else be the homeroom teacher if they want it so badly. A few months later, these parents were standing at my doorstep: “Ms. Anderson, please come back. We’re begging you.”

I had been reported. All the parents in my class had jointly filed a complaint against me, accusing me of being irresponsible and demanding that the school immediately remove me from my position as homeroom teacher and math instructor. When the principal told me about this, I felt like I had been struck by lightning. Since taking over this class, I had put my heart and soul into it, working tirelessly and always putting the students first. I had given everything I had, short of cutting out my own heart. How could the parents accuse me of being irresponsible?! “The parents in your class are very adamant. They’ve even threatened to report this to the Department of Education if the school doesn’t meet their demands.” My face turned ashen. The principal said sternly, “Ms. Anderson, what you need to do now is to reflect on yourself. If you truly had done nothing wrong, how could all the parents collectively file a complaint against you?” This was utterly absurd! How had this become my fault? I was about to argue back when the principal waved his hand impatiently. “That’s enough. Go back and wait for the school’s decision.” As I left the principal’s office, I felt more and more upset. Finally, I couldn’t hold back and posted a message in the class group chat. “Dear parents, since I became the homeroom teacher, I have always prioritized my work for the class. I may not have given my last measure of devotion, but I have certainly been diligent and conscientious. If you feel there have been any shortcomings in my work, you could have communicated with me directly. Baseless misunderstandings and accusations truly dishearten educators.” A few minutes later, a message popped up. Jacob’s mom: “Misunderstanding? How could we possibly wrong you? As a homeroom teacher, you’re constantly running off to the hospital. Do you think that’s appropriate? Who gave you that right? Who gave you that freedom? How can you focus on the students like this? It’s such a critical time in the last semester of senior year. Would you die if you didn’t go to the hospital?” This series of unrelenting questions left me stunned.

Two years of intense work had led to serious problems with my spine and neck. The pain kept me awake every night. The doctor strongly advised me to take an extended leave to rest. But since it was already senior year, I was worried that changing homeroom teachers would disrupt the students. So I could only find time each week to go to the hospital for conservative treatment. As for resting, I’d have to wait until after the students graduated. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that parents would complain about me for this reason. I patiently replied, “Jacob’s mom, homeroom teachers are human too. Getting sick is inevitable, and I’ve only been going to the hospital on weekends during my personal time. It hasn’t affected my work for the class.” But her next words were even more exasperating. “Oh, please! Personal time? What personal time? You’re a teacher, a homeroom teacher. You should be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!” At this point, other parents started chiming in. Emily’s dad: “I agree with Jacob’s mom. If you’re going to be a homeroom teacher, you need to be prepared for this. If you can’t handle it, why be a homeroom teacher at all?” Sophia’s dad: “Last semester, you took three days off to get married. I thought that was inappropriate even then.” Lucas’s mom: “We agreed to let you be the homeroom teacher because of your experience and seniority. If we had known you’d have so many issues, we would have preferred a younger teacher from the start!” I couldn’t help but argue back. “Parents, I do have some health issues, but I’ve never let them interfere with my responsibilities to the class. For the past two years, no matter how exhausted or in pain I’ve been, I’ve persevered for the sake of the class. If I truly wanted an easier time, I could have easily resigned from my position as homeroom teacher.” But Jacob’s mom retorted, “Oh, give me a break! Stop with the noble act. You’re just in it for the money. Everyone knows homeroom teachers get paid more than regular teachers.”

My blood pressure instantly skyrocketed. At that moment, I wanted to curse. Yes, homeroom teachers do get paid a bit more than regular subject teachers. An extra hundred dollars per semester. Can you believe it? We wake up earlier than roosters and go to bed later than dogs. We spend seventeen to eighteen hours a day at school, attending endless homeroom teacher meetings, handling countless class affairs, writing endless evaluation assignments, responding to endless parent feedback, and working non-stop on weekends and holidays to provide summaries and reports. Our phones are on 24/7 to deal with all kinds of emergencies at any time. In summary, the workload of a homeroom teacher is at least ten times that of other subject teachers. And they think I’m killing myself for that extra hundred dollars? Am I really that desperate? The attacks on me continued in the class group chat. “Homeroom teachers not only get higher salaries, but they also get more opportunities for awards and honors!” “No wonder you won’t give up the position even when you’re sick… Hah, I can’t believe this.” “Damn it, if you want to make money, don’t do it at the expense of our children! Do we owe you something?” “Just get lost already!” I was too angry to speak. If I wanted to make money, I would have left long ago. The private high school next door once offered me double my current salary to poach me, but I politely declined. What was I doing this for? For the students! For their precious children! Mr. Robinson, the English teacher, couldn’t stand by any longer. “How can you say such hurtful things to Ms. Anderson when she’s been working through her illness for the students? Don’t the students’ grades speak for her dedication?” In the two years since I took over the class, we had gone from being at the bottom of the grade to the top. This was an undeniable fact. There was a brief silence in the group chat. Suddenly, one parent said, “That’s just because the kids worked hard on their own. It would have been the same with any teacher. It has nothing to do with you.” This was immediately followed by a chorus of agreement. “Exactly, my son studies until midnight every day. Of course his grades are good with that kind of effort!” “The pile of practice books my daughter has gone through is almost as tall as she is!” “You’re really trying to take credit for their hard work, aren’t you?”

My neck pain flared up from anger. Yes, the students worked hard, but it was because I pushed them to develop good study habits. To be blunt, the students in Class 6 had poor foundations and lacked initiative in their studies. If they had been assigned a teacher with even slightly less dedication or ability, they absolutely would not have made such progress. For the past two years, I had stayed up countless nights designing personalized teaching plans suited to our students. I gave up my daily break times to provide one-on-one tutoring, often having nothing but a sandwich and a bottle of water for dinner. I offered free tutoring at home on weekends and holidays. I spent my own money buying various study materials and rewards for the students. I dare say I put in more effort than any other teacher in the school. But now these parents were saying that the students’ achievements had nothing to do with me. Nothing to do with me! I angrily said, “If you all believe that the students’ success is entirely their own doing, then how could my personal activities outside of work hours have any impact on them?” The parents vehemently disagreed. “What, so grades are all that matter for students? Tell me, what if my child doesn’t eat enough at school? What if they forget to drink water? What if they catch a cold because they’re not dressed warmly enough? What if they’re not feeling well?” “The kids are already exhausted from studying. The homeroom teacher should be responsible for chores like cleaning the classroom.” “The evening self-study sessions end too late. If you ask me, the homeroom teacher should be responsible for escorting the students home.” Mr. Robinson sent me a private message. “These parents have lost their minds. Do they think a homeroom teacher is some kind of personal nanny?” As I watched the messages flooding the group chat, my temples throbbed. I took a deep breath. With my last ounce of patience, I sincerely said: “Parents, there’s less than half a year left until the college entrance exam. I implore you to trust me and give me one more chance. I promise I will do my absolute best to fulfill my duties as a homeroom teacher.” Jacob’s mom’s response instantly broke me. “You’re really shameless, aren’t you? Don’t tell me you’re planning to get revenge later by making things difficult for our children!” Jacob’s mom’s words instantly broke me. Fine, fine, fine. This homeroom teacher job? I quit!

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I, Nina Reed, was running around taking care of everything while my son, Lucas Reed, was seriously ill in the hospital. While I was waiting in line to pay the bill, a man suddenly bumped into me. The woman behind me helped me up. “Sorry! My son is sick, and my husband’s a bit anxious.” I looked at the figure, and surprisingly, it seemed a bit familiar. When I focused, I realized it was my husband, Zachary Reed, whom I hadn’t seen in years! But his return ticket was supposed to be for next week… “What are you doing here? Are you coming to see those people again? “I’ve told you so many times, stay away from the orphanage. Who knows what kind of viruses those people might have?” Before I could speak, I was hit with a barrage of scolding. I struggled to hold back my anger and hurt, trying to stay calm. But my voice trembled uncontrollably. My heart raced, and I felt a chill all over my body. “I haven’t even asked you yet. What are you doing here? “Weren’t you still in Rivendale? Didn’t your flight leave next week? “And who is this?” Zachary’s brows furrowed tighter. “This is Madeline Hayes. She’s…” As Zachary struggled to figure out how to introduce the child Madeline was holding, the child suddenly called out, “Daddy, when can I see the doctor? My tummy hurts so much.” Zachary’s whole face softened, a look I had never seen before, one that neither Lucas nor I had ever experienced. He gently soothed the child. “I’ll talk to the lady for a moment, and then we’ll go see the doctor, okay?” My mind went blank. After three years, my husband suddenly had such a big child. So, who was I? And who was Lucas, the one waiting for me in the ward? Madeline, the woman, gave me a provocative look, extended her hand to me, and flashed a beautiful smile. “I know you. You’re that orphan who has been in love with Zachary for years, right? I really sympathize with your situation, but love and sympathy aren’t the same thing.” I looked directly into Madeline’s eyes. I didn’t back down. “I’m an orphan, but I haven’t been in love with him for years. Let me introduce myself. I’m Zachary’s legal wife, Nina Reed.” I made sure to emphasize the word legal. She just smiled and covered her mouth. “Nina? I don’t believe that’s your name.” “Names are given by parents. Ms. Hayes, show some respect!” No sooner had I finished speaking than Zachary quickly stepped in, pulling Madeline behind him to shield her. “Why are you yelling? “Madeline grew up abroad. She has a more open mindset. She doesn’t care about these things, unlike you. “Forget it. There’s no point trying to explain to you right now. Just go back.” After saying that, he took the child in one arm and Madeline by the hand, and they turned and entered the doctor’s office. If this had happened before, I would have chased after them to demand answers. After all, this was the man I was supposed to spend my life with. But today, I only stood there for a moment, sneering ironically. Then I turned and went upstairs to Lucas’ ward.

“Lucas, your mom is really good to you. When you grow up, make sure you treat her well. “Your dad has been overseas for years. It’s all thanks to your mom that the family has been managing. You and your dad are really lucky.” The others in the hospital room were teasing Lucas. I gave an awkward smile. My mind wandered back to the argument Zachary and I had before he left for his trip. I had just given birth and was supposed to be resting after delivery. He mentioned there was a paid opportunity for further training at his company, something rare and valuable. I cried and complained. “I’m still recovering from giving birth, and you’re already leaving for overseas. “And you’ll be gone for years. How are we supposed to live without you?” At first, Zachary tried to patiently calm me down. But soon, his patience wore thin. He grabbed a pillow and threw it hard onto the floor. “You women never understand! I can’t stand being controlled! “I’ve already missed so many opportunities because of you. If you keep being so difficult, I might as well quit my job! “Damn it. How did I end up marrying a woman like you?” Lucas’ laughter snapped me back to the present. “Mom, when is Dad’s flight next week? After he comes back, I want him to take us on a trip! “Mom, you’ve been working hard. I’ll give you a kiss.” For the past few months, since Lucas fell ill, I’d been the only one taking care of him. During the day, I had to work, so I hired a nurse. I had once complained to Zachary, asking why his mother couldn’t come and help. He yelled at me for being unreasonable. “My mom’s an intellectual. How could she do something as dirty as taking care of a child? “Handling poop and pee, doesn’t that disgust her? “Figure something out yourself.” So, I had no choice but to hire help. But then Zachary was upset about that, too. “I only make so much money in a year, and you spend it all!” What he forgot to mention was that he stopped sending money home a long time ago. He said there were plenty of places to spend money overseas, and he needed to save it for emergencies. Even so, I still didn’t want to go against his wishes. So, I lied to Lucas, who wasn’t even three yet. “Mom and Dad both have to work, so there’s no one to take care of you during the day. “But Dad says he trusts you. You’re a man now. You can take care of yourself, right? “If you need help, you can always ask someone.” And that was how we made it through. Finally, we heard the news that Zachary was coming home. But I never imagined we’d be reunited under these circumstances. That evening, Zachary brought Madeline and her child back to our house. I was about to head to the hospital to stay with Lucas when I ran into all three of them. Even Zachary’s mom was shocked. Madeline gave Zachary’s mom a warm hug and then grabbed her son’s hand, asking him to call her grandma. Zachary stood there, smiling and watching. I didn’t have time to admire their harmonious scene. I pushed through the crowd. “Excuse me.” Zachary stopped me. “Where do you think you’re going? You’ve been avoiding us ever since we arrived. Who are you acting all cold to? “Go serve them some food. Madeline doesn’t eat basil, thyme, or anything spicy. See if we need to cook a few more dishes.” I awkwardly smiled and mocked him, “Should I make you a feast while I’m at it? “Why should I bother cooking for you?”

As soon as the words left her mouth, both of their faces turned ugly. Madeline opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but after glancing at Zachary’s mother and Zachary, she held it back. Zachary raised his hand as if to slap me, but maybe out of guilt, he finally lowered it with a frustrated sigh. “Don’t mind her. She just loves to get jealous. She thinks every woman I talk to is somehow involved with me. “Not like you, who knows how to be understanding.” I spent three years abroad, taking care of Zachary’s mother and son, working hard to support the family. And now he came back with another woman and a child. And he still said I was the one who didn’t understand. When I watched the way they were so loving with each other, my heart ached. Just when I reached the bus stop downstairs, Zachary chased after me. Before I could even react, he slapped me across the face. “There were others around earlier, so I spared you. “But remember this. Madeline is my benefactor. I will never allow anyone to target her.” I covered my face and stared at Zachary, unable to gather myself for a while. He turned and walked away, not saying another word. I touched my swollen face, then looked at his well-built figure as he walked away. I swiftly took off the cheap wedding ring from my fourth finger and tossed it into the trash can nearby. I spent a sleepless night at the hospital. The next morning, Lucas was scheduled for some tests, and the nurse came to take him. The nurse noticed my sunken eyes and dark circles and told me to go home and get some rest first. “Lucas will be fine with us. Don’t worry. You’ve been through so much alone. “I heard Lucas’ dad is coming back. You and your son will finally have a good time.” Tears filled my eyes, but I showed a bitter smile. I didn’t want to respond to the nurse. Back at home, I found Zachary still asleep. I changed clothes and lay on the far side of the bed, as far from him as possible. But somehow, he suddenly pulled me into his arms. His warm body pressed against mine, his breath brushing against my ear. “Baby, it’s been three years. Did you miss me?” If it were before, I would have gently turned to him, wrapped my arms around his neck, and told him how much I missed him, silently letting my tears speak for my longing. But now, all I felt was disgust. How could he call me his wife while having a child with someone else? I pulled away from him with all my strength, not saying a word. He let out a low laugh. “Still angry? It’s not what you think. The child is mine, but Madeline and I are just friends. “She helped me a lot while I was abroad, and I’m very grateful to her.” “So, to repay her, you gave her a child?” I said with disdain. “What century are we living in? You’re still making such a sacrifice?” “What are you talking about? We’re really innocent. The child was conceived through IVF. Nothing happened between Madeline and me,” his eyes turned red, and his voice was filled with grievance as he looked at me with sincerity. “Her parents are never around, and she’s been living alone. It’s lonely and hard, so I agreed to donate sperm. “Nina, I swear I never betrayed you.” The sincerity in his voice reminded me of when we first started dating. “Nina, I will love you and protect you forever.” But it had only been five years of marriage, and everything had already changed. What kind of woman would agree to have a child for a man? I didn’t believe that Zachary didn’t understand. Maybe he was just pretending not to understand. He and Madeline were testing my limits. I closed my eyes, and Lucas’ cute smile flashed in my mind. I sighed. “Zachary, let’s get a divorce.” Zachary’s face twisted with disbelief as he yelled angrily. He shook my shoulders roughly. “What right do you have to talk about divorce? Don’t forget. It was my parents who adopted you. If not for them, who knows where you’d be now! “You married me out of gratitude to my parents, so why can’t I give Madeline a child out of gratitude to her? “I’ve told you, it was IVF. There was nothing more to it. Can’t you stop being so petty? “People with a dark heart really see dirt in everything!” As I looked at the man in front of me, his face contorted with rage, I felt so unfamiliar with him. Zachary was practically ranting, his words coming in quick succession. But I felt nothing. After all, I had heard these words countless times before. What I couldn’t understand was why I ever agreed to marry him in the first place. And I couldn’t understand why his views were so completely unreasonable! He even thought it was my fault for not being able to accept this!

It wasn’t until he slowly calmed down that I spoke. “Zachary, I’m not joking. Let’s get a divorce. “I didn’t marry you out of gratitude for your parents. I married you because I loved you.” He seemed momentarily stunned. Then, his tone dropped without him realizing it. “Okay, don’t be mad. It’s just a kid. I won’t deal with them anymore. “I’m back now. I’ll treat you and Lucas well.” But when I heard his words, I only became more certain that divorce was the right choice. He could give Madeline a child out of gratitude yet casually say he wouldn’t deal with them in the future. He knew full well that Madeline had ulterior motives, but he still basked in her admiration, enjoying the ambiguous relationship and not wanting to leave it. A man like Zachary… in the end, he only loved himself. It was so pathetic. I got out of bed, pulling the blanket off. I wasn’t going to argue with him anymore. I simply repeated for the third time, “Zachary, let’s get a divorce.” Soon, Madeline arrived. She mocked me, “You always talk about being a good wife and mother, but now that your husband’s back, you’re not taking care of him. Instead, you’re causing all this trouble at home. “Really, I don’t know what Zachary sees in you. “You’re such a waste.” I didn’t respond. I took a few steps forward and slapped her across the face. I put all my strength into it, and her fair face quickly became marked with five clear red handprints. She covered her face and cried as she threw herself into Zachary’s arms. I coldly watched them, feeling a strange sense of satisfaction in my heart. Madeline sobbed, “How could you hit her? Don’t you know you should use words, not fists?” I replied with an emotionless expression, “Oh? What kind of words? Words in bed? “Madeline, don’t think just because you went abroad early, no one will find out about everything! Do you remember Lily Bennett?” The moment she heard that name, Madeline’s face turned pale.

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At the party, my boyfriend Jason Miller’s childhood best friend, Lily Carter, shoved me straight into the pool. She smirked. “Jason cares about me the most. He’ll save me first.” And just like that, he did. Again. When I came to, something felt… off. The mirror confirmed it—I wasn’t me anymore. I was Jason. Jason always told me Lily was sweet and innocent, and that I was overreacting. Bullshit. She’d been messing with me from day one, playing her little games, always making sure I was the one left looking petty. Well, now it was his turn to see her for who she really was. The first thing I saw when I came to was Lily Carter’s face hovering over me, panic written all over it. Her expression lit up as she threw herself into my arms, tears shimmering in her eyes. “Oh my god, you’re awake! You scared the hell out of me—you just went under all of a sudden! “What would I do if something happened to you?” My whole body tensed. What the hell was she up to this time? I shoved her away, frowning. Just moments ago, she had deliberately dragged me to the edge of the pool and pulled me in with her. She said she wanted to prove who Jason Miller cared about the most. No surprise—he chose her again. “What do you want now?” The second I spoke, I realized something was wrong. My voice—it wasn’t mine. And then, I noticed something even more terrifying. The body I was in… was Jason’s. Meanwhile, my own body lay motionless not far away. That’s when it hit me—when Jason had jumped in to save Lily, his leg had cramped up, and he’d blacked out too. “Cough, cough.” A familiar voice rasped from the other side. Jason—now trapped in my body—had finally come to. His eyes widened as the realization sank in. We had swapped bodies. He stared at me, completely stunned, lips parted as if trying to say something. Lily, assuming he was about to defend me, took the chance to play the victim first. “Jason, don’t be mad at Jo. I know she’s upset with me, and maybe she just lost her temper for a moment. “Please, don’t fight because of me. I don’t mind taking the blame.” Before her words even settled, a few of our so-called friends chimed in. “This can’t just slide. Jo has to apologize!” “Yeah, or we won’t let this go.” “If you’re really our brothers, make her apologize to Lily!” Jason shot me a look, sharp and full of disappointment, like I was some reckless troublemaker he had to clean up after. Before I could even get a word in, he had already decided I was in the wrong. With a guilty expression, he turned to Lily. “I’m sorry, Lily. This is my fault. It won’t happen again.” For a split second, something flickered in her eyes—surprise. Because normally, I would have stubbornly refused, insisting I had done nothing wrong. Then we’d have a blowout argument, the night would crash and burn, and she’d slink right in—playing the sweet, understanding friend, wrapping him around her little finger. She must have felt something was off, but it didn’t stop her from putting on her usual act. “Since it’s Jason asking, I’ll let it slide this time.” With that, she reached out, pretending to help me inside. I instinctively pushed her away—only to catch Jason’s sharp glare. That was a silent warning—didn’t pick a fight with Lily again. I let out a quiet sigh, allowing her to lean in close, pressing her whole body against mine like she always did. As we walked away, she glanced over her shoulder at Jason. He froze. I didn’t even need to look to know why. Because every time she successfully stirred the pot, she would flash me that smug, taunting smile—like a twisted trophy. Jason had never seen that side of her before. But now? He couldn’t unsee it.

On the drive back, Jason Miller was fuming, his voice cold and accusing. “Jo Summers, are you happy now? If you hadn’t pushed Lily, we wouldn’t be in this mess! “How many times do I have to tell you? Lily is my sister. When will you stop being so damn unreasonable?” It didn’t matter what had just happened. One look from Lily, and I was still the villain in his eyes. “She pushed me first,” I said, my voice quiet. It wasn’t the first time I’d tried to defend myself. And it wouldn’t be the last time no one believed me. Jason let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Enough. Haven’t you lied enough already? “You’ll say anything to make her look bad, won’t you? “Lily and I grew up together. She’s kind, innocent—there’s no way she’d ever do something like that.” Just like every other time before this, he chose to believe her without hesitation. And once again, I was the one being unreasonable. A dull ache settled in my chest. I didn’t even feel like arguing anymore. The first time I met Lily, I knew she wasn’t as harmless as she pretended to be. The day she returned from abroad, we went to pick her up at the airport. The second she saw Jason, she flung herself into his arms like a butterfly, spinning in circles. “Jason, I missed you so much! Did you miss me?” She practically purred the words before leaning in and planting a kiss on his cheek. Jason’s ears turned red, and his gaze softened, filled with indulgence. “Come on, let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend, Jo Summers.” That was when she finally seemed to notice me. The smile on her face faltered slightly as her gaze swept over me from head to toe. That look—cold, assessing—made my skin crawl. Like she was evaluating an object. A moment later, she smiled again, but something flickered in her eyes—something condescending. “Thank you, Jo, for taking care of Jason while I was gone.” I should’ve known. At the time, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off about the way she said it. That was the moment she decided she didn’t like me. Not long after we got home, Lily texted Jason again. Apparently, the pool party wasn’t wild enough for her, so now they were hitting up a bar. I told him to make up an excuse and turn it down. Given our current situation, it wasn’t exactly the best time to be hanging around them. But Jason, as always, folded—because when Lily Carter pouted and batted her lashes, saying no simply wasn’t an option. He texted back, agreeing to go. I sighed. Fine. I’d go, make an appearance, and leave as soon as I could. But Jason wasn’t having it. “You’re in my body right now. I can’t let you put Lily in an awkward spot or hurt her feelings.” I let out a dry laugh. This was actually happening. My boyfriend was more worried about another woman’s feelings than mine. At the bar, everyone seemed surprised to see Jason—well, me—show up. Lily wasted no time. She hooked her arm through mine, batting her lashes as she looked at Jason. “Jo, are you at a bar? Didn’t think this was your scene. Or are you just here to spy on Jason? “Come on, do you really think we’d do anything behind your back? We’re all Jason’s closest friends. Can’t you trust us?” Jason blinked, caught off guard by the accusation. For once, he had no idea what to say. He looked at me, confused. I stayed calm. “Jo just came by coincidence. That’s all.” Hearing me stand up for Jason, a flicker of displeasure flashed in Lily’s eyes. As soon as we sat down, a few drinks in, someone suggested a game. I was never good at these, and, unsurprisingly, I lost. My punishment was a dare. One of the guys smirked, “Kiss the girl to your left.” My left was Lily. She let out a soft gasp, tilting her head coyly. “Oh, come on. Jo’s watching. We don’t want a repeat of last time, do we?” Then she sighed dramatically, flashing an apologetic smile to the group. “I mean, I get it—some people just aren’t built for this kind of game.” A couple of them laughed. Jason said nothing. I froze. The first time I went to a bar with them. The first time I watched her pull this same damn move. She had lost a game back then too. Had to kiss someone. Plenty of single guys were there. But she hadn’t even looked at them. Instead, she turned straight to Jason—her so-called best friend. And the worst part? He hadn’t pushed her away. They had kissed. A full three minutes. Slow, deep, lingering. By the time they finally pulled apart, their breathing was heavy, lips swollen. And me? I was right there. Watching. When we got home, I snapped. Told him he had no sense of boundaries, and that this wasn’t okay. Jason had just scoffed, “Jo, seriously? It was just a game. Grow up. “Lily is like a sister to me. If I actually liked her, do you think you’d even be here?” I had trembled with anger, but the worst part was—I couldn’t find the words to fight back. After that night, I never stepped foot in a place like this again.

I wanted to refuse. But before I could speak, Jason cut in. “It’s just a game. Just say yes. I don’t mind.” The room fell silent for a second. People exchanged looks, visibly taken aback. Even Lily hesitated for a moment, suspicion flickering in her eyes. Then, someone broke the silence. “Whoa, Jo’s actually being chill about this? What are we waiting for? Kiss! Kiss!” The crowd quickly jumped in, clapping and chanting. Jason shot me a look, silently telling me to go through with it. I met Lily’s expectant gaze, and all I could think about was every little thing she had done to me over the years. And suddenly, I couldn’t do it. “I’m not feeling great. I’m heading out. You guys have fun—I’ll catch you later.” I didn’t bother waiting for a response. Just turned and walked out. Behind me, voices murmured in hushed tones. “He doesn’t look sick at all. If anything, he looked like he was disgusted by Lily.” “Shut up, Jason and Lily are close. He literally spoils her.” “Yeah, but he has a girlfriend. Maybe this time, they pushed it too far?” Lily’s expression darkened as she watched him walk away. For the first time, Jason hadn’t played along with her little game. The first time he had ever left her hanging. I waited in the car for a while before Jason finally came out. His expression was dark, brows furrowed in frustration. “Jo, what the hell did you do to Lily? Why would she say something like that to me?” I gripped the steering wheel, pulling out of the parking lot before responding. “What did she say?” He hesitated, like he was struggling to find the right words. “She was upset that you embarrassed her back there, so I tried to smooth things over.” “And?” I prompted. His fingers curled into fists. “She told me not to feel too good about myself tonight… that I’d regret it sooner or later.” I had a slow smirk. Exactly what I expected. “I’ve never seen her so…” He trailed off, looking uncomfortable before finally forcing out the word. “Harsh.” Then, just as quickly, he shook his head. “You must’ve done something to provoke her. “Jo, why do you always have to pick on her? She’s just a girl, for god’s sake.” His voice was full of exasperation, like he was sick of my so-called jealousy. Like I was some bitter villain making life hell for his poor, innocent childhood best friend. Meanwhile, the real villain? She was sitting back, waiting for him to come running. I had no interest in arguing. He wasn’t going to believe me anyway. “Think whatever you want.” Jason blinked, surprised by my indifference. After a beat, he exhaled sharply. “For now, just try to get along with Lily, okay? I’ll talk to her too.” I barely held back an eye-roll. Yeah. Sure. As if that had ever worked. Jason was the CEO of the company, and I was his secretary. Usually, we worked in the same office, so it wasn’t strange for him—well, me—to be sitting there. At least, until Lily strolled in. She barely spared me a glance before her gaze locked onto Jason, still in my body, sitting behind his desk. For a split second, something dark flickered in her expression. Then she tilted her head and smirked, “Jo, seriously? Sitting in the CEO’s chair? A mere secretary acting like she runs the place? “If word got out, wouldn’t that make Jason look bad?” Jason froze, clearly taken aback. After an awkward second, he got up from the seat. I leaned back, unfazed. “Relax, there’s no one else here. I told him to sit there.” Lily blinked, lips pressing together in displeasure. But she didn’t argue. Instead, her eyes gleamed with something else—something calculating. Then she turned to him, smiling sweetly. “Jo, could you get me a cup of coffee? Thanks.” She always did this. Every time she dropped by, she’d treat me like some personal errand-runner. If it wasn’t coffee, it was making me stand in line for two hours at some trendy bakery to get her stupid desserts. And every time I refused, she’d pout at Jason, and he’d immediately tell me to do it. “Jo, you’re my girlfriend, and Lily’s like my little sister. That means she’s your sister too—so what’s the big deal about helping her out?” That’s what he’d always say. But today? Today, Jo was Jason. So, of course, he got up and eagerly went to make her coffee. Lily reached out to take the cup, but just as her fingers brushed the mug, a flicker of mischief danced in her eyes. And I knew. She was about to pull some shit. Sure enough, the next second, the coffee spilled all over her pristine white dress. Lily let out a gasp. “Oh my god! It’s boiling hot!” Jason panicked, fumbling to help her. “Shit, sorry! Let me—” She slapped his hand away. “Jo, seriously? I only asked for coffee. Did you really have to dump it on me?” Jason froze. “I didn’t! You were taking it, and I—” Lily’s eyes turned red-rimmed, her voice thick with unshed tears. “Jason, I know Jo doesn’t like me, but this is just too much.” She turned to me, expecting me to do what I always did—snap at Jason, make a scene. And Jason just sat there, completely stunned—like his entire worldview had just taken a hit. Instead, I leaned back and asked him calmly, “Are you going to apologize?” Jason looked at me, utterly lost. “But… I didn’t even do it.” Lily sniffled, throwing herself into my arms—his arms—with a pout. “Jason, it’s okay. If Jo won’t admit it, I’ll just let it go. Please stop arguing because of me.” Jason hesitated, then sighed, “I’m sorry. It was my fault.” Lily’s brows furrowed slightly, eyes flicking toward him in suspicion. She had expected a fight. Instead, Jo had immediately taken the blame. I smoothly pulled away, keeping my tone casual. “Well, since he already apologized, let’s just drop it. “I have work to do, so you can head out now.” Lily bit her lip, clearly annoyed that her little plan hadn’t worked. Still, she had no choice but to leave. But before she walked out, she shot Jason a sharp glare, as if something wasn’t adding up. Jason slumped into the chair, rubbing his temples. His tone sounded a bit wronged. “I swear, I didn’t pour that coffee on her.” I smirked, “I know.” His expression flickered. “Has Lily… done this before?” I nodded. More than once. His jaw tightened. “Why didn’t you ever tell me?” I met his gaze, completely unfazed. “I did. You just didn’t believe me.” Every time Lily framed me, he would only stand by her side and believe her unconditionally. Jason stiffened. Guilt flickered in his eyes. “She’s just… she’s always been a little childish. She doesn’t mean any harm.” I said nothing. He would always have an excuse for her. Even now. But I didn’t care about it anymore. After a long pause, he muttered, “Once we switch back, this won’t happen again.” I just shrugged. What I didn’t tell him… was that after we switched back, there wouldn’t be an “us” anymore. On the day we swapped bodies, I had intended to break up with him.

Lily had been reaching out to Jason more and more lately. Luckily, we had been drowning in work for the company’s biggest project. Jason was too busy to leave the office, which meant he wasn’t forcing me to see her. Finally, after weeks of exhausting work, we wrapped up the final stages. It was past midnight when we got home. Both of us collapsed onto the couch, completely drained. Not long after, Jason clutched his stomach, groaning in pain. A sharp instinct flared inside me. I thought back to the past few weeks—he hadn’t been eating properly, running on caffeine and sheer willpower. Especially today. The only thing he’d consumed was coffee. I knew my body. An empty stomach and stress were the perfect triggers for gastritis. Jason broke into a sweat, his face pale as a sheet, his body curled up in agony. “What… what’s happening to me?” he rasped. “Gastritis.” I let out a quiet sigh, heading to the drawer for medicine. Empty. Right. I had finished the last dose. “We need to get you to a hospital. This prescription isn’t over-the-counter.” I helped him up, preparing to leave, when his phone rang. It was Lily. I pressed the speakerphone, and her panicked voice spilled through the line. “Jason! It’s Momo—she’s been so weak these past two days. I think she’s sick.” As she kept talking, her voice started to tremble, and soon, she was sniffing through the phone. “I’m really scared. Can you come home and take us to the vet?” I turned to Jason. I already knew what would happen next. Whenever Lily cried, no matter the situation, Jason would drop everything. Just like that time. That time when I was the one in pain. That time when I had begged him to take me to the hospital. Lily had called then, too. She was crying, saying her dog was about to give birth. Jason hadn’t hesitated. “Shh, don’t cry. You know I can’t stand it when you cry. I’ll be right there.” I had grabbed his sleeve, my body trembling from the pain, tears spilling down my face as I pleaded. “Please, just take me to the hospital first.” But he had yanked his arm away, his voice sharp with irritation. “Stop being so dramatic. It’ll pass. “Momo’s our dog. She’s giving birth for the first time. I’m her dad—I can’t miss this.” And then he had left without looking back. I had barely managed to call an ambulance myself, hands shaking. Hours later, while I was lying in a hospital bed with an IV drip in my arm, Jason had been celebrating. He had posted a picture online—he and Lily was cuddling the newborn puppies. The caption read: [Officially dog parents! So happy!] After five years with Jason Miller. That was the moment I had finally, completely, given up on him. Now, Lily’s sniffles echoed through the speaker. “Jason? Did you hear me? I need you. I’m scared.” Jason swayed, his body barely holding up. His lips trembled as he tried to form words. “Do you… do you think I should go?” I tilted my head, watching him. “You tell me.” He hesitated. For once, he hesitated. Then, gritting his teeth, he gasped, “Take me to the hospital. I… I can’t take this.” A slow smirk showed on my face. I turned to the phone. “Jo’s sick. I’m taking him to the hospital. “Take Momo to the vet yourself.” “But Jason, Momo—” I hung up before she could finish. Jason was already collapsing against me. I had planned to let him suffer a little. Just enough for him to understand what I had gone through. But this was still my body. I wasn’t about to mess around. I rushed him to the hospital, got his prescription, and brought him home. As he rested, I went to the kitchen to make something light. I was stirring a pot of porridge when the door swung open. It was Lily. She blinked in surprise. “Jason? You’re cooking?” She laughed. “You hate cooking.” I kept my voice calm. “Jo’s sick. She doesn’t have much of an appetite. Takeout isn’t great for digestion, so I’m making porridge.” It was an excuse, but she didn’t need to know that. Her gaze flickered toward the steaming bowl, something dark flashing in her eyes. Jealousy. But when she looked back at me, her expression softened into something fragile and sweet. She stepped closer, looping her arm around mine. “Jason, let’s go check on Momo together. She’s still not eating, and she needs her dad. She needs her family.” I swallowed down the nausea crawling up my throat and smoothly slipped my arm free. “She’s sick. Take her to a vet. I’m not a doctor.” I snapped the lid onto the container, my tone flat. “I need to bring Jo her food.” I didn’t turn back as I walked out. But I could feel the anger rolling off her in waves. At the hospital, Jason had recovered enough to sit up. He looked at me, confused. “Since when was your gastritis this bad?” I packed away the containers, my voice steady. “It’s always been this bad.” His brows furrowed. “Really?” Of course, he wouldn’t know. The condition had started when I used to accompany him to business events, drinking on an empty stomach, and pushing past my limits. The first time I had collapsed in pain, Jason had held me close, eyes red-rimmed as he swore, “Jo, I’ll never let you suffer like this again. I’ll take care of you.” So I had stopped complaining. I swallowed the pain and bore it alone. Until that time. Until he had left me for a dog. Until he had walked away like I was nothing. Jason’s face shifted, as if something had finally clicked. “So… when you said you were sick before… you weren’t faking it?” I shot him a dry look. His expression faltered, guilt creeping in. “I thought you were just jealous of Lily. That you were trying to stop me from going to her.” I didn’t respond. Didn’t even look at him. I simply stood, brushing invisible dust off my clothes. “Get some rest.” As I reached the door, his voice stopped me. “I’m sorry.” I didn’t turn around. And I didn’t answer.

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