On the seventh day after my sudden death, I found myself in the underworld, playing poker with the Grim Reaper for seven straight days. After deliberately losing countless hands to him, he finally rewarded me with a bowl of strange green soup. This soup allowed me to be reincarnated into a wealthy family, and I even managed to keep the memories of my past life. But the moment I reached adulthood, I was confronted with a shocking revelation: 18 years later, a girl appeared at my door, crying and claiming that she was my parents’ real daughter. You’ve got to be kidding! Is the life of a young heiress that I worked so hard to secure through immense loss just going to vanish like this? No way! I’ve seen too many cases of mistaken identity! What’s mine is mine, and no one can take it away from me! At the threshold of the Underworld, I engaged in a marathon of 3,000 hands of Texas Hold’em Poker with Death himself. For an entire week, from dawn till dusk, I gambled away all the merits and possessions from my past life. Ultimately, Death, delighted with his winnings, discreetly rewarded me with a mystical bowl of Wealth Reincarnation broth. I was aware that achieving a prosperous new life required patience. Yet, with this newfound destiny, I was set to be born into wealth! As I triumphantly savored the last drop of Death’s concoction, a vision of the future unfolded: eighteen years later, a girl would arrive, sobbing, claiming to be the true daughter of my parents. A chill ran through me. How could this be possible? Could the prosperous fate bestowed by Death truly be overturned? But it was too late. With a wail, I opened my eyes to find not my beautiful, affluent parents but a cunning woman swapping me with the baby in the adjacent basket. What on earth was happening? Was I really being demoted from a Young Heiress to an ordinary child? After she left, a nurse came in for the usual checkup. I began to cry out with all my might. “Nurse, help! I don’t want my destiny to be exchanged!” The nurse quickly sensed something was amiss. She gently cradled me, soothingly cooing, “What’s wrong, little one? Are you sleepy?” No, it wasn’t sleepiness—my entire future was at stake! As she was about to return me to the cradle, my panic intensified. If I were placed back, everything would be lost! At that crucial moment, the Head Nurse entered. “What’s happening? I heard this baby’s cries all the way down the hallway.” Upon seeing me, the seasoned Head Nurse frowned slightly. “This isn’t right. This baby seems much lighter than recorded.” I immediately stopped crying and tried to nod vigorously, hoping she would understand. They swiftly reweighed me and the baby in the next cradle, confirming the switch. The nurse’s legs nearly gave out from shock. “Thank heavens you came in! If this had been overlooked, my career would have been over.” The Head Nurse sighed, still shaken. “You must be careful. This is the Johnson Corporation’s Young Heiress. If anything had happened, do you know how many would be affected? Even the director could lose their job.” As they conferred quietly, the weight on my heart lifted. In both this life and the last, I had never cried so intensely. My fortune is mine, and no one will take it from me.

Returning from the hospital, I looked at the spacious and elegant apartment located in the prime real estate of downtown and laughed heartily. Ah, the joys of wealth! My grandfather named me Nora. I have two brothers. My eldest brother, Asher, is an elite and handsome man, composed and stylish. He took over the family business at a young age and doubled the company’s market value, making him the undisputed CEO. Although he’s reserved with outsiders, he dotes on me, his sister. My second brother, Jasper, is cheerful and outgoing, exceptionally talented. He became a top idol, the kind whose smile makes female fans scream. Despite his carefree demeanor, he’s the one who would cry for his sister. Though their personalities are completely different, they both adore me immensely, eager to present the world’s best things to me. From the day I was born, they played by my crib every day, even saving up their pocket money to buy me snacks and toys. In middle school, when boys bullied me in class, my brothers found out in the morning, and by the afternoon, those boys had been dealt with. Once, even on the day before an exam, just because I threw up during a meal, Jasper sneaked out from a film crew to take me to the hospital and stayed by my side all night without sleep. He returned to filming the next day with dark circles under his eyes. I grew up surrounded by love, hoping this carefree life would last forever. But the nightmare of my eighteenth birthday still came. That day was a display of opulence. At the party, Grandpa handed me the keys to the newest model Rolls-Royce. Asher, in a grand gesture, bought me a villa in the city’s best location, saying it would be my confidence for life. Jasper gifted me a new Hermès bag, personally designed for me by a designer. Mom and Dad shook their heads with a sigh, saying, “You’re going to spoil her!” Asher affectionately patted my head, saying, “So what if she gets spoiled? We have the means to protect Nora for a lifetime.” The atmosphere reached its peak with that statement. I excitedly hugged Asher. Just as I was about to say something, the door was suddenly kicked open by a plainly dressed girl. The luxurious birthday party was filled with political and business elites she would never meet in her lifetime. Those important figures were all smiling, surrounding me at the center. The table in the middle was piled with expensive gifts, and even the necklace around my neck was valuable enough to buy a house in a second-tier city. Jealousy threatened to overwhelm her as she looked at the extravagant scene with resentment and shouted, “I’m the real young lady of the Taylor family! Nora is just a fake!” Adeline had come, after all, on my eighteenth birthday.

My grandfather, my mom, and my two brothers. Immediately, all eyes turned to my dad, and the room felt charged with tension. It was as if just a few glances could cut like knives. He quickly backed away, stammering in panic: “No way! You all know me better than that. Even my assistant is a guy! There’s no way I’m fooling around outside!” I knew exactly who the girl was. I’d seen this drama play out even before I was born. I smirked to myself, thinking, “This old trick? I saw through it in a past life.” I pinched my thigh hard, then burst into a theatrical cry. Tears flowed freely as I exclaimed: “Mom, Dad, are you going to abandon Nora… What did I do wrong to deserve this treatment…” My mom rushed over to console me, flustered: “Don’t cry, sweetheart! Mommy loves you the most. I will definitely find out who this woman is and won’t let you… ah!!” Suddenly, Adeline went berserk and splashed red wine all over my face from the table. I turned my head to avoid most of it, but some still dripped from my hair onto my dress. The once-pristine white hem was now stained red, souring my mood instantly. I gasped, having shifted from fake tears to genuine anger. Never in my life had I been so humiliated! My dad hurried over to check if I was hurt: “Nora, are you alright? Does it hurt?” I shook my head, remaining silent. My dad, filled with fury, glared at Adeline: “Who is this madwoman? I’ve never known you, nor could you be my daughter! How can you come in here, behaving so disgracefully and assaulting people? Is this how your family raised you?” Adeline, startled, approached, biting her lip and trying to cling to my dad’s arm: “No, back then, the nurse mixed up the babies at the hospital. I am your real daughter, Dad!” That one word, “Dad,” was so forceful it sent shivers down my dad’s spine. My mom rushed in, shielding me: “You say you are, but where’s your proof? Besides, with your rough manners, I couldn’t have raised a daughter like you!” My mom, brought up in comfort and luxury, was visibly flushed with anger but maintained her composure, avoiding any foul language. My older brother also stared coldly at her. As the family gathered protectively around me, I suddenly realized something was amiss. Where was my second brother?

Back in those days, I thought years of tranquility had ensured my safety. But now, it dawns on me that the chapter is far from closed. The door swung open again, revealing my second brother, Jasper: “Mom, Dad, you see it too. Adeline is truly my sister. We’ve wronged her enough and can’t continue living in this uncertainty!” I was so shocked I nearly choked on my drink. Jasper, of all people, was the first to turn on me?! Could he be connected to Adeline’s sudden appearance? With someone speaking up for her, Adeline burst into tears, no longer exhibiting her previous arrogance. To an outsider, it might seem I had wronged her: “I’m sorry, Mom and Dad. I got carried away earlier. After enduring such a tough life, finally finding a warm home made me lose my composure…” She spoke while observing my parents’ reactions closely. Mrs. Su frowned at Jasper: “Jasper, what’s going on? Did you know about this all along? Was today’s drama your doing?” Jasper hesitated: “The first time I met her, I noticed the peace talisman she wore. I wasn’t sure, so…” I recalled the time when our identities were switched; he had secretly visited both of us. He had placed a peace talisman around Adeline’s neck, which was now used as proof against me. I was speechless, but Adeline thought my silence was guilt: “See! She has nothing to say! She’s taken my place for so many years; it’s time to step aside!” My parents seemed at a loss, facing such a situation for the first time. Jasper continued to stir things up: “Adeline has suffered so much. I can’t bear to see her unable to even enter the house. Let’s bring her to live with us!” I could hardly believe what I was hearing. This is preposterous! Thankfully, my older brother retained some sense. He rubbed his temples in frustration: “Alright, until we figure everything out, having her move in will only invite ridicule. Isn’t there a villa in the suburbs? Let her stay there for now. Once we investigate, we’ll determine the next steps.” Yet, Jasper continued to defend her: “We’ve wronged Adeline in the past. If she’s seen living elsewhere, wouldn’t that look bad?” My mom softened, biting her lip: “Fine, fine. They’re all my children. Let her stay. But one thing, Nora can’t leave. She’s the daughter I’ve cherished for so many years, and I can’t bear to let her go!” This solution seemed fair enough, but Jasper still wasn’t satisfied: “That imposter has had a good life for years. She’s had it easy!” I looked at him in disbelief. The brother who had loved me for so many years now seemed like a stranger, his eyes filled with disdain and dissatisfaction towards me.

It’s really not my fault. As a child, I was much more mature than my peers because I carried memories from my past life. Whenever our parents scolded Jasper, I was the one who would jump in to defend him. I never thought it would all end up like this. Just as I was about to speak up, my older brother cut off the conversation with a firm, authoritative voice: “That’s enough! She can stay, but there’s no way Nora is moving out. What if something happens to her? She’s just a young girl!” Jasper has always been intimidated by our older brother, so he just cast him a reluctant glance and kept quiet. It would take a week to get the DNA test results. During that time, with Jasper’s assistance, Adeline not only moved into our house but also transferred to our school. On her very first day, news about my background spread throughout the school. Everyone concluded that I was an imposter, an unwelcome fake heiress who would eventually be thrown out. The girls who used to be close to me quietly sided with Adeline, and when they saw me, they’d make snide remarks: “Some people think they can just take someone else’s identity and become a real heiress. But now that it’s been exposed, they still won’t leave. I’ve never seen such thick skin!” The one who spoke had always tried to win my favor, but I had seen her true colors and treated her coldly. I never expected her to hold a grudge. I shot back, “Oh, even my parents can’t tell who’s real and who’s fake. How do you know?” She flushed red, “Your brother admitted it! You’re just being stubborn!” Adeline was smug, having someone to back her up, and looked at me with disdain. Just as I was about to retort, my best friend Lily appeared, took my hand, and gave me a reassuring look. She directly countered, “If you’re ignorant, you should read more. Have you never heard of DNA testing? Until the results are out, she’s still the Taylor family’s young lady. Who do you think you are to speak to her like that?” I looked at Lily, deeply moved. This whole incident revealed who my real friends were and who the fake ones were. I thought to myself, I’ll be friends with her for life. After we drove them away, I leaned on the railing and asked Lily, “Lily, if I really am fake, would you look down on me?” Lily suddenly laughed, “My dear, even if you’re fake, I can still support you! We’re friends for life.” Her words were comforting, but before I could respond, she sighed, “But that Adeline really has issues. She’s not just after your brother but your fiancé as well.” My smile froze instantly. My fiancé… In my rush when I was reincarnated, I forgot about the marriage aspect. Yes, Adeline is determined to make my life difficult, so why would she spare the people around me? But my fiancé and I barely know each other! We were only together because of a so-called family marriage agreement. The most important thing is, before reincarnation, the Grim Reaper showed me my life script. It only mentioned I would marry a gentle person. So when my mom suggested a few candidates for a family alliance, I chose James without hesitation. Although we’ve been apart more than together over these years and there’s no real affection, I’ve always thought our relationship was solid! Has he also betrayed me? Just as I was about to ask for clarification, I saw Adeline strutting over with James, hand in hand, “No need to look for me, here I am.” My eyes widened. The worst outcome had come true. “Why! Haven’t I been good to you?” I blurted out, shocked, looking at James. He showed no sign of guilt, just a cold sneer, “To be honest, I’ve had enough of you. We’re supposed to be engaged, right? But you don’t even let me kiss you. What’s the point of being with you? Adeline, at least, understands me, and with her…” “Stop it!” Adeline hurriedly covered his mouth, a suspicious blush on her face. I instantly understood everything. I never thought she would go so far to take my place! “Nora, do you see it now? Everyone around you prefers me. Why do you still need to stay here?”

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At the filming location of a children’s variety show, I told my husband, Hank Schrader, that I wanted a divorce. Aside from money and property, I didn’t want anything else. He sneered, “You’re not even going to fight for the child you worked so hard to raise?” I replied, “Get as far away as possible.” Because I already knew that my son had once begged the director, “Can we get a new mom? I want to be on the show with Ms. White. I don’t want that old hag as my mom!” I smirked coldly. I wouldn’t just divorce him. I’d step over him to climb even higher! “I don’t want that old hag as my mom! Dad, what do you even see in her? Ms. White is so much prettier than my mom!” I clutched my phone so tightly that my fingertips turned white, but I didn’t even notice. Beneath the video, there was a voice message from Suzanne White. She spoke with mockery and arrogance. “So what if you had kids with Hank? They still prefer being with me. “You want to be on the show with him? I’d advise you to stop being a clingy, disgusting pest. Hank will only despise you even more!” I stood frozen for a moment, then cruelly played the video again. In it, my son, Alex Schrader, spoke those words, and Hank merely chuckled softly. “Alright.” Then he looked up with eyes full of warmth and tenderness, gazing directly into the camera. “Then let’s have Suzanne be your mom.” I paused. It took me a moment to realize that he wasn’t looking at Alex but at Suzanne, who was filming the video. That tender gaze… I couldn’t even remember when he last looked at me like that. When he did look at me, it was always with disgust, cold indifference, and disdain. When they returned home, I was clearing away dishes and cake from the table. Today was Alex’s birthday. I had started early, spending my whole morning cooking and decorating. But it wasn’t until I saw Suzanne’s message that I realized they never intended to celebrate with me. Alex bounded up to me, his tone filled with entitlement. “What are you sitting here for? Can’t you see Dad’s drinking? Go make him some coffee!” The old me would have jumped up immediately, flustered and obediently attending to his every whim. But today, I laughed. A bitter, scornful laugh. “Go ask your mom to do it,” I said. Alex frowned in confusion. “What’s wrong with you? You are my mom!” “Can we get a new mom? I want Ms. White to be my mom,” I mimicked sarcastically. “Didn’t you say that yourself?” Seeing his stunned expression, I swallowed my bitterness and forced a wry smile. But Hank was angry. “Adrienne, Alex is just a kid. He doesn’t know any better. Why are you picking fights with him?” With a disapproving expression, he scolded me, “Can you stop making trouble? Your shouting is giving me a headache.” Before I could respond, he continued, “There’s a new kids’ reality show coming up. I don’t think you’re in the right state for it, so let’s leave you out.” Even though I had braced myself for these words, they still pierced me. I blinked, ready to respond, but he cut me off again. “Besides,” he said with certainty, “Alex wasn’t wrong. You can’t do anything right these days. You’re just an old hag. You’d only embarrass me if you went.”

I lifted my eyes to meet his. He wore a crisp white shirt that accentuated his tall, lean frame and sharp, chiseled features. His eyes radiated nothing but cold indifference. Even at thirty, he was still impossibly handsome. But was I really so much worse? We had once been a golden couple in the entertainment industry, the perfect match. Seven years ago, I became the youngest actress ever to win Best Actress, earning both fame and fortune. Then, I got pregnant. Hank had gently placed his hand on my belly, filled with concern. “Adrienne, now that you’re pregnant, you should stop filming. It’s too dangerous.” I nodded eagerly, brimming with joy and anticipation for our child. Then Alex was born prematurely. He weighed only 4.6 pounds, no bigger than the palm of my hand. A fragile, delicate bundle curled up in an incubator. Guilt and love overwhelmed me. I postponed my return to acting again, devoting myself entirely to caring for him. When he first learned to say “Mommy”, he cupped my face in his tiny hands and said, “Mommy, you’re so pretty. You’re the most beautiful mommy in the world.” When had he stopped calling me “Mommy”? When had I become nothing more than an “old hag” to him? I let out a bitter laugh and shattered their illusions. “The contract for the kids’ show is already signed. If you don’t want me there, pay the breach of contract fee.” Time passed quickly. I had just finished drafting the divorce papers when it was time for the show’s recording. Growing Together was a live-streamed variety show featuring six families. Besides my family, Suzanne appeared with her niece, Vicky. Singer, Aaron Banks, joined with his younger brother, Jesse Banks. Three other families were ordinary parents and children. “Hank, you’re finally here!” Suzanne’s tone was sweet and coy as she sauntered toward us, a taunting smile playing on her lips. She didn’t even need to make an effort. My husband and son would naturally gravitate toward her. Like a cannonball, Alex hurtled past me, full of joy as he dashed into her arms. I wasn’t prepared for the sudden shove. I stumbled forward, nearly falling. When I finally regained my balance and turned around, no one noticed my awkwardness. Alex clung to Suzanne, chattering happily as he snuggled against her. Hank stood protectively by their side. They looked more like a family. It wasn’t just my own perception, even the online viewers agreed.

[I think Hank and Suzanne are a better match. They look like a real family. So warm.] [Alex ran straight to Suzanne. It’s obvious he likes her more. Seems like his taste matches his dad’s.] [It may be wrong, but I can’t help shipping them, they’re so sweet together!] Though I had already decided on divorce, ten years of love had left a bitterness in my chest that swelled painfully. I pulled my gaze away in silence, feeling a pounding headache begin to bloom. Once all the families had arrived, the mayor of the small town where the show was being filmed finally made his entrance. He announced the first task, choosing houses. The production team had provided six houses, numbered from one to six. The lower the number, the better the living conditions. House No. 1 was a charming new two-story home surrounded by blooming flowers, while House No. 6 stood next to a pigsty, teeming with flies and reeking of an odd stench. I grimaced as I looked at the miserable state of House No. 6, feeling a surge of resistance. Silently, I swore to myself, “No way would I end up there!” The order for choosing houses would depend on the results of a cooking competition. The town mayor beamed and said, “Kids, be sure to help your moms and dads! You’ll be the judges this time.” The children’s excited cheers filled the air as the contest began. Right from the start, trouble arose on my end. Hank and Alex both ran to Suzanne’s side to help her, leaving me standing alone in isolation. Hank smiled warmly at Suzanne as he helped her rinse vegetables. Meanwhile, Alex, competing for attention, grumbled, “Dad, I want to help Ms. White too! Stop hogging the work!” Suzanne laughed, patting his head in amusement. “Don’t worry, Alex, I’ve got an important job just for you.” She smiled sweetly while casting a deliberately disdainful glance my way. I met her provocative stare in silence. But Suzanne pressed her advantage, feigning distress. “Adrienne, I have no idea why they keep hovering around me. If it bothers you, I can send them back.” Her posture radiated the air of a hostess, and it actually made me laugh. I smirked coldly. “No need! They’re just a couple of nuisances.” Meanwhile, the live comments lit up with outrage. [What’s up with Adrienne’s attitude? She’s just a washed-up star, what’s she got to be so arrogant about? How dare she talk to Suzanne like that?] [No wonder her husband and son both like Suzanne better, she’s got some serious issues.] Time had changed things; my fans had disappeared during my years of retirement. Suzanne, evidently aware of the comments, allowed a triumphant glint to show in her eyes. “Sorry, Adrienne, but it looks like Hank and Alex don’t want to leave.” Even as Suzanne and I argued, Hank never spared me a glance. He gently rested his hand on Suzanne’s back, leaning in to whisper something. He didn’t speak aloud, but I understood. He said, “Don’t bother with her. She’s just a shrew.”

I turned my gaze elsewhere, swallowing the churning emotions stirred by the word “shrew”. When Alex was a baby, born prematurely, he was often ill. I remembered the time he burned with fever, his tiny body aflame and trembling with convulsions. Panicked, I frantically called Hank, who was filming at the time. Overcome with emotion, my voice cracked and shrilled, “Hank, come to the hospital, something’s wrong with Alex!” I could hear his irritation over the phone. “I’m working. Handle it yourself. I’m not a doctor, what good would I do?” Clutching Alex, I froze in place, fury boiling over. “Is your movie more important than your son?!” He sighed, weary. “Why are you acting like a shrew?” He hung up, leaving me alone to dash around the hospital with our fevered child in my arms. Even as Alex’s fever worsened into pneumonia, Hank never showed up. Disillusionment doesn’t hit all at once, it builds, piece by piece. I wrenched myself out of the painful memory, focusing on preparing my dish. Since children were the judges, I felt confident in my chances. After all, even my picky, delicate Alex had grown up healthy on my cooking. Unlike Suzanne’s fancy seafood spread, I opted for simple but universally loved buffalo wings. It had been Alex’s favorite dish. He would devour every last bite, licking the plate clean as if he could swallow it whole. When the dishes were finished, each was divided into small portions for the children to taste. Surrounded by gourmet meals, the kids flocked to my buffalo wings. Every vote was mine, except for Alex’s. He stepped in front of the others, arms wide in protest. “Don’t eat the buffalo wings! They’re awful! “My mom’s buffalo wings are terrible. I’ve had them so many times and hated every bite. I’m her son, trust me!” Hesitation rippled through the children. Finally, Jesse, the younger brother of Aaron Banks, spoke up. “But… they smell really good.” I watched as Alex blocked votes against me, then eagerly promoted Suzanne’s dish. It was obvious he simply didn’t want me to win. But fate didn’t favor him this time. When the rankings were announced, I claimed first place and chose House No. 1 without hesitation. Suzanne’s seafood feast was difficult for the children to eat and earned only two votes from Alex and Vicky. She ended up stuck with House No. 6. The moment the rankings were revealed, Suzanne’s face turned pale, her eyes pleading as she glanced at Hank for help. I had no interest in their wordless exchanges and only wanted to rest. But just as I turned, someone grabbed my arm. Hank frowned slightly, speaking with unwarranted authority. “Adrienne, give House No. 1 to Suzanne. She’s not in good health and can’t stay in House No. 6.”

My actions froze instantly. I turned and stared at him, unwavering. It felt as if my heart had been gouged out, the continuous stabbing pain numbing me into weary acceptance. I laughed bitterly in my fury. “Why should I?” He frowned slightly, as though I were being unreasonable. “Adrienne, can you stop being so selfish? It’s just a room.” Alex rushed over, his face stern. “You’re so cruel! Dad already said Ms. White isn’t well. What if she gets sick in that awful place?” “And what about me?” With the last thread of hope, I ignored Alex’s fists pummeling my stomach, and locked eyes with Hank. He only remembered Suzanne’s frail health but had conveniently forgotten my severe allergy to mosquitoes. Once, during a film shoot deep in the mountains, a mosquito bite sent me into anaphylactic shock. I collapsed, my heart stopped, and I nearly died. The incident even made the headlines. Back then, Hank had clutched my hand tightly, his eyes full of regret and sorrow. He’d promised me, “Adrienne, I’ll never let you go through something like this again.” But now? When had he forgotten even that? My emotions toward Hank’s farewell were not something that arose in an instant. It was the sudden provocative video, Hank’s repeated distant and evasive gazes, and more importantly, the fact that he gradually started to forget the details of our relationship. A flicker of memory seemed to surface in Hank’s mind. He pressed his lips together and avoided my gaze. For a brief moment, his face turned pale. If I wasn’t mistaken, there was even a trace of guilt in his eyes. Then, Suzanne let out a delicate cough and spoke in her soft, considerate tone. “It’s fine, Hank. If Adrienne doesn’t want to, I can stay in House No. 6. It’s no trouble.” Her words only strengthened Hank’s resolve. His eyes hardened as he turned back to me. “Adrienne, stop being childish. Suzanne isn’t someone you can compare to.” After the numbness came calm acceptance and then surrender. I didn’t feel the sorrow I had anticipated. My voice was cold, my smile sharper. “No. Why should I hand over the room I earned?” But I had overlooked one crucial thing. The right to choose belonged to the children. Alex reminded me of the rules, a triumphant gleam in his eyes. “I pick House No. 1 for Ms. White.” Once again, and for the final time, I looked into Alex’s face as he eagerly sought Suzanne’s approval. Deep within my gaze, I buried my disappointment and farewell. Without warning, I spoke clearly and decisively. “Hank, I want a divorce.”

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Mom took out Dad’s will. It read: My entire estate is to be inherited by my eldest son, while my daughter is to handle the debts. I looked at the aged document in disbelief. My brother seemed unfazed, as if it were the most natural thing: “You’re Dad’s daughter, and there’s a saying that a daughter pays her father’s debts. You should accept your fate.” Mom nodded in agreement, “Yes, you can’t just ignore it, or we’ll take legal action against you.” I tossed the will aside. A will without proper witnesses or legal validation is nothing more than a piece of scrap paper. “Are you serious?” I not only threw the will but also stomped on it several times. Dad’s assets included an old house in the downtown area and a mere $30,000 in savings, all bequeathed to my brother. Yet they expected me to cover the $100,000 debt Dad left behind. In that moment, Mom and Brother felt like complete strangers. “How can you do this? Dad just passed away, and you want him to rest in peace with such regrets?” Brother pushed past me and carefully retrieved the will. Mom’s eyes were filled with reproach. “From childhood, haven’t I done so much for this family? How can you ignore that?” “Now you want to dump all the debt on me while you enjoy the benefits. Is that fair?” Brother scoffed, crossing his arms. “Fair? There’s no such thing as fairness in this world.” “Since Dad left a will, we have to follow it.” “Stop making a scene and figure out how to pay up, so you don’t drag us down.” Brother didn’t even finish middle school. He’s completely illiterate. To him, this will was absolute, and I had to obey it. Mom and Dad didn’t have much education either. They thought they could control me with a simple will. Mom added her voice to the conversation. “Cora, don’t be stubborn.” “We have no choice. Your brother is the breadwinner and needs to inherit the family business.” “You need to make some sacrifices to help the family through this tough time.” Mom’s words struck me hard, making me see reality clearly. To her, I was just a pawn to be sacrificed at will. I once thought Mom loved me dearly. Dad never liked me and was often harsh with me. Whenever I was upset, it was Mom who comforted me. She often said we were family, and families fight and make up. Dad often abused Mom, and I was the one who protected her. At that time, I believed Mom and I were both victims in the family. I thought we needed to support each other. So, I worked hard in school, hoping to succeed and take care of Mom. I took a deep breath, trying to hold back my tears. “This will is invalid. The court won’t recognize it, and neither will I.” “How dare you refuse?” Brother kicked the table angrily, his face contorted with rage. It seemed like he would hit me any second. Mom stopped him, turning to me with tears in her eyes. “Cora, why are you being so unreasonable?” “We’re family. If you make a scene, people will laugh at us.” Those tears would have broken my heart before. But now, I only felt deep sadness. “Mom, it’s not me being unreasonable. You’re being too much!” “You only think about Brother. Have you ever considered me?” “Do you know how much a $100,000 debt burdens me?” Brother glared at me, gritting his teeth: “Stop playing the victim. Just because you studied a few more years doesn’t make you special. Dad’s will is clear; you have to accept it!” He stepped forward, ready to charge. I fearlessly met his gaze, standing tall. “Don’t try anything! If you touch me again, I’ll call the police!” At the mention of “police,” Brother and Mom’s faces turned pale. They never expected me, always obedient, to resist so firmly. Mom’s tears flowed unchecked, trying to use family ties to sway me. “Cora, are you really going to be so heartless?” “We’re your family. How can you turn against us for money?” My voice was filled with sorrow: “If you insist on forcing me, then see you in court.”

With that, I turned and left, ignoring their shouts behind me. Back in my apartment. I collapsed onto the floor, tears finally flowing freely. After crying for a long time, I calmed down and started thinking of a plan. I contacted a professional lawyer and explained the situation in detail. The lawyer listened, frowning. He said the will had major issues with authenticity and legality. Especially putting all the debt on me, clearly against the law. The will was invalid. Hearing this, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. During this time, Mom and Brother bombarded me with messages. They accused me of being unfilial, saying I’d grown independent. My sister-in-law pretended to advise me not to make things ugly. I ignored them all. Until one day, I came home after work. I found the door wide open. I thought it was a break-in and was about to call the police. Then I heard a familiar voice. It was my nephew’s voice. “I like this cat, I want to take it home.” Hearing my nephew’s voice, I was startled. I rushed inside. The living room was a mess, clothes and books scattered everywhere. Mom, Brother, and Sister-in-law stood in the center. My nephew crouched in a corner, trying to grab my cat. The kitten struggled, crying out. “What are you doing?” I shouted angrily, my voice echoing in the empty room. Mom was startled by my shout, a flash of panic on her face. But she quickly returned to her self-righteous demeanor. “Cora, how can you talk like that?” “We’re your family, can’t we come to see you?” Mom spoke while picking up a piece of clothing from the floor, casually folding it and placing it on the sofa. “Do you need to turn my house upside down to visit?” “And who let you allow the kid to grab my cat?” I quickly went to my nephew, gently taking the cat from his arms. “Auntie’s stingy, I just wanted to play.” My nephew pouted, looking unhappy. “Alright, alright, he’s just a kid, why argue with him?” Sister-in-law pretended to smooth things over. “We came today to talk things out. We’re family, no need to make it like this.” “Talk about what? About me paying off the debt?” “Yes, it’s Dad’s wish. You can’t ignore it.” “Get out, I have nothing to say to you.” Brother, who had been silent, turned grim at my words. Suddenly, he stepped forward. “The will is from Dad. You think just saying it’s invalid will make it go away?” “You have to pay Dad’s debts, or you’ll be an ungrateful traitor!” I pointed to the door, yelling: “The debt allocation is unfair. I’m not stupid enough to inherit it. Get out!” “Cora, don’t talk to your brother like that.” Mom played the family card again. “We have no choice. Your brother’s business failed, and he owes a lot.” “Help us carry this debt, and we’ll treat you well in the future.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “The future? Do you think I still believe you?” Mom has said “in the future” too many times. “But when has it ever come true? Every time you coax and deceive me, making me pay for your greed!” Mom once asked me to give her my paycheck, promising to save it for me. But last year, when I got sick and asked for some money, she said it was gone, used for Brother’s business. She said Brother would pay me back… Things like this happened so often in recent years.

Mom opened her mouth to argue but was silenced by my sharp gaze. She looked down, hands nervously twisting her clothes. Brother’s face turned red, veins bulging on his forehead like an angry bull. “You heartless brat, if you don’t agree to pay today, you’ll regret it!” Sister-in-law, instead of stopping him, fanned the flames. “Exactly, you can’t be so selfish. Think about the family.” The kitten trembled in my arms, letting out frightened cries. I gently soothed it. “Try anything, and I’ll call the police. You’ll regret it!” “Your wings have hardened, huh, you little brat?” He gritted his teeth but didn’t dare to lay a hand on me. We stood in a standoff until he suddenly smashed a cup on the table to the ground. With a loud crash, glass shattered everywhere. My nephew jumped, hiding behind Sister-in-law. “You think calling the police will solve anything? You can’t escape this debt!” “Fine, let the police sort it out. Let’s see what they do about you trespassing, vandalizing, and threatening others!” I gently stroked it, feeling a pang of sympathy. “You dare lay a finger on me? I’ll call the police, and you’ll regret it!” “Think you’re all grown up now, you brat?” He was seething with anger but didn’t dare make a move. After a tense standoff, he suddenly smashed the cup from the coffee table onto the floor. With a loud crash, glass shards flew everywhere. My little nephew was startled and quickly hid behind my sister-in-law. “You think calling the police will sort this out? You’re not getting away from this debt!” “Fine, let the police come and see how they handle your trespassing, destruction, and threats!” When “call the police” was mentioned, my mom’s face turned ashen. She rushed over, grabbing my hand. “Sweetie, don’t call the police. It’s my fault, let’s talk this over.” Even my sister-in-law panicked, her fake smile fading into a worried expression. My little nephew, frightened by the scene, started crying loudly. I wasn’t swayed and clearly stated the address on the phone. They were too late to stop me and could only watch me with anger. Soon, the police arrived. I explained the situation in detail. The police inspected the damage to the house and checked the threatening messages on my phone. “Your actions are illegal.” The officer said sternly, “Breaking into someone’s home and making threats is a legal matter.” My mom and sister-in-law began pleading, while my brother stayed silent with his head down. “Because this is your first offense and the victim is considering not pressing charges, you must leave immediately and never harass her again.” Under police supervision, my mom and sister-in-law exchanged reluctant glances. My brother clenched his fists, seemingly wanting to lash out, but held back. “Fine, see if we care!” He gritted his teeth, spitting out his words, “Don’t expect us to be there for you anymore!” With that, he pulled my nephew and headed for the door. My mom and sister-in-law quickly followed. At the door, my mom glanced back at me. Her eyes seemed to carry a glimmer of hope, but I ignored her. With a heavy thud, the door slammed shut. I sat on the floor, hugging my cat, tears once again blurring my vision. I thought I had scared them off this time. But I didn’t expect them to escalate things. It was the weekend when I received a message from my mom. “I’ve been thinking these past few days. We’re family; you shouldn’t bear all the debt alone.” “We plan to sell the house to repay the debt.” I was skeptical. “Your aunt is also here. She rarely visits; you should come too.” I couldn’t refuse anymore. The family had pressured me to drop out of school early. My aunt covered my living expenses in high school. In college, I relied on student loans and part-time jobs. Without my aunt, I couldn’t have even finished high school. So my aunt is very important to me. “Okay.” To ensure everything was safe. I sent a message to my aunt, asking if she was really going back. She replied: Yes. Relieved, I packed my things to go back. I didn’t realize this decision would almost ruin me. When I returned to the old house that night. Everyone was there. The food was ready, neatly placed on the dining table. My aunt warmly greeted me as I came in. Even the others, usually so harsh, smiled and greeted me. Even my usually bossy brother was speaking kindly. No matter how I looked at it, it felt strange. I got goosebumps. I didn’t feel touched, just uneasy. But with my aunt there, I felt a bit calmer. She pulled me to the dining table. She sat next to me, occasionally glancing my way. “Our Sweetie has grown up beautifully.” For some reason, I felt like my aunt was looking at me like I was prey for sale. But I quickly told myself I was overthinking it.

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My mom, who prides herself on being a health guru, has long believed in using celery to manage my dad’s high blood pressure. Concerned about my dad’s health, I discreetly provided him with blood pressure medication, which eventually stabilized his condition. Later, when my dad discovered my mom’s infidelity, he was so upset that he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. I invested time and resources to help him recover. However, under my mom’s influence, he became convinced that the medication I provided was the cause of his illness. Together, they plotted to have me pushed in front of a luxury car, resulting in my death. When I opened my eyes again, it was the day we first discovered my dad’s hypertension. This time, I sarcastically praised my mom: “Mom, you’re truly a health expert. I completely trust you to take care of Dad’s health.” The doctor studied my dad’s medical report, his brow furrowed, and said, “Your blood pressure is dangerously high—280/180. You must take medication to control it, or the consequences could be severe.” My dad nodded in agreement, “Yes, yes.” But my mom dismissed the doctor’s advice, “Doctors these days always prescribe medication. Don’t they know that medicine has side effects?” “If he takes medication every day, his body will surely suffer.” “In this case, diet therapy is the safest and most effective way to lower blood pressure.” Hearing my mom’s familiar argument, it hit me—I had been reborn, back to the day my dad’s hypertension was discovered. In my previous life, I had taken my parents for a check-up, and we found out my dad’s blood pressure was alarmingly high. The doctor advised medication, but my mom ignored the advice, insisting on using celery to manage his blood pressure. When I realized this, I searched online for cases of strokes and cerebral hemorrhages caused by hypertension, hoping to warn my parents. But my mom slapped me and scoffed, “Those online stories are staged or exaggerated—they’re not reliable.” “If you encourage your dad to take random medicine again, I’ll marry you off to that guy from the village.” Afraid to confront my mom directly, I watched in silence as she continued with her celery regimen. My dad, being a submissive husband, followed her lead. His blood pressure kept climbing, and fearing complications, I secretly bought him medication. After much persuasion, he finally agreed to take it. Later, my dad stumbled upon my mom with another man in the park. His anger led to him collapsing on the spot. I rushed him to the hospital, where the doctor said he had suffered an acute cerebral hemorrhage due to high blood pressure, urging us to gather funds for immediate surgery. Upon hearing the surgery would cost over 200,000 Yuan, my mom exclaimed about having no money and suggested just letting him die. Unable to abandon him, I used my ID to take out a high-interest loan to pay for the surgery. After a long night of emergency care, my dad survived. Though he lived, he was left with severe aftereffects. I quit my job, learned rehabilitation techniques online, and helped him recover at home. Three years later, he was finally back to normal. But he believed my mom, thinking the medication I provided caused his illness and that my efforts were out of guilt. They lured me back home, drugged my drink, and took me to the roadside. When a Rolls Royce sped by, my dad pushed me under its wheels, killing me. They extorted 5 million Yuan from the car owner with my death and lived wealthy lives. My mom even had a son later, becoming a ‘winner in life.’ In this life, I’m curious to see if my mom’s celery can really cure my dad’s hypertension.

The doctor, hearing my mom’s words, looked at me earnestly, “Young lady, please persuade your parents. This is not a joke.” “Every year, over 6 million people in our country suffer from cerebral hemorrhages due to hypertension. Most don’t survive, and only a few are lucky enough to get a second chance.” “You must take this seriously; taking medication can control it.” “Don’t wait until complications arise, or it will be too late to regret.” I snapped back to reality and said cheerfully, “Doctor, don’t worry, my mom’s a health expert. She can definitely lower my dad’s blood pressure.” My mom gave me a rare approving look, then rolled her eyes at the doctor and called him a “quack” before strutting out with my dad. They didn’t hear the doctor’s last words. “Young lady, your mom’s blood pressure is high too. You must convince them both to take antihypertensive medication!” Back home, my mom bought a bunch of celery and prepared various dishes for my dad. After a month of this, my dad complained of dizziness, “Nora, my head’s spinning. It feels like the world is turning.” My mom, engrossed in her TV show, responded without looking up, “You’ve been eating too many vegetables, must be malnutrition. I’ll make some pork trotters to supplement you later.” I chimed in, “Dad, my high school classmate Li Jinjin’s dad didn’t take medication for his hypertension and suffered a brain hemorrhage. He didn’t survive.” “My classmate said her dad felt dizzy and the world spinning before it happened, just like you. Could it be your hypertension?” “Dad, why don’t I take you to the hospital for a check-up?” My dad, timid and hearing about someone dying from hypertension, was terrified. He grabbed my hand and insisted, “Dear, take me to check it out.” As we reached the door, my mom threw her slipper, hitting my dad’s head. We turned to see my mom, one hand on her hip and the other pointing at us, yelling: “Ethan, if you dare go to the hospital today, I’ll never let it go.” “I told you it’s malnutrition, and you’re listening to Lydia, doubting me?” “Unbelievable!” “Lydia, get out, you ungrateful brat.” My dad, seeing my mom angry, wilted and apologized, “Wife, don’t be mad. It’s Lydia’s fault. I believe you, I believe you, calm down.” Yes, I’m Lydia Greene, the unwanted child with no status in this family.

I was born during the strict family planning era. And because I was a girl, my mom wanted to drown me in the cesspool and try for a son. But my dad, soft-hearted, kept me. Whenever I misbehaved, my mom would say, “I should’ve drowned you in the cesspool to avoid the trouble.” My dad would say, “If not for me, you’d have been drowned by your mom. You should be grateful I gave you a second life.” So, I grew up grateful and obedient to them. But all it got me was being killed by them. In this new life, I want to live for myself. I smiled to myself. Dad, this time, I really won’t care about you. I wonder if you’ll regret it once you see mom’s true colors? But I guess dad won’t have the chance to regret. Because mom changed her dietary strategy. Monday to Friday, she used celery to lower dad’s blood pressure. On weekends, she made rich foods to supplement him. In half a year, dad gained weight, and his blood pressure kept rising. Mom watched dad grow fatter and his blood pressure higher, smiling in satisfaction. One day, after breakfast, mom dressed up and went square dancing. After she left, I coaxed dad to take a walk. As we passed the park grove, we heard moans. Dad, hearing the sounds, couldn’t help but curse, “Which stray dog is in heat here?” I listened and then said, “This sounds familiar, like mom’s voice!” Hearing me, dad got serious, “Don’t talk nonsense. You go ahead; I’ll see who’s shameless.” I nodded, “Okay, dad, I’ll take a stroll.” I hadn’t gone far when I heard a commotion behind me. There were panicked curses and dad’s angry shouts: “Nora Bennett, you… you cheated on me!” Ah, dad finally found out about mom’s affair. When I got there, dad was already foaming and collapsed. I took dad to the hospital. Outside the emergency room, the nurse asked mom to pay the surgery fee. Hearing it was 200,000 Yuan, mom widened her eyes, “200,000? Why don’t you go rob?” “Ugh, always asking for tens of thousands. You wouldn’t make 200,000 even if you sold yourself.” Mom’s venomous words made the young nurse tear up and leave. An older nurse approached us, speaking harshly, “You don’t look like you’re struggling financially. Isn’t your husband’s life worth 200,000?”

People around us began whispering and pointing at my mom. “How heartless, not even caring about her own husband.” “Exactly, what a misfortune for this family.” “Maybe she planned to harm her husband on purpose? You never know with people these days.” Hearing the murmurs, my mom finally couldn’t stay silent. She began to pressure me. “Lydia Greene, pay your dad’s surgery fees first.” “Our money is tied up in a fixed deposit. We can’t access it until it matures.” “I know you have 200,000 in savings. You cover it first, and I’ll pay you back later.” “Remember, without your dad, you wouldn’t be here.” I nodded and agreed. I turned around and used her and my dad’s IDs to take out a 500,000 loan from a loan shark. I paid 200,000 for my dad’s surgery. I kept the remaining 300,000 as startup capital. The next day, the doctor issued a critical condition notice. Seeing the notice and the expense list, my mom broke down. She started cursing, “That deadbeat, if you’re going to die, just die already. Stop wasting my money.” “I’m not signing anything. You better refund my money. I choose to abandon treatment. Just take him back and cremate him.” Facing the pointing and whispering, my mom snapped back at those who criticized her. “Are you going to pay for his treatment? If not, why are you meddling?” “Do you live by the sea? Why are you so nosy?” “If the emperor’s not worried, why are you, the eunuch, in such a hurry? Get lost, my family matters are none of your business.” With that, she pushed the doctor aside, trying to storm into the ICU to drag my dad out. I held onto my mom, trying to reason with her. “Mom, don’t give up on Dad. He can still be saved.” “How can you just watch him die?” “You’ve already hurt him once, do you want to hurt him again?” Ignoring me, my mom shoved me to the ground. “I’ve had enough of him. It’s better if he dies.” She pushed the doctor aside and was about to open the door when someone suddenly rushed over, grabbed my mom’s hair, and pulled her away, then slapped her hard. “Phoebe Bennett, how dare you.” Seeing the person who suddenly appeared, I felt a wave of relief. Aunt Fiona finally arrived. After sending Dad to the hospital, I called Aunt Fiona. Dad collapsed; I couldn’t let Mom have an easy time. So I thought of Aunt Fiona, who has always been at odds with Mom. I clung to Aunt Fiona’s leg, crying, “Aunt Fiona, you’re finally here. If you hadn’t come, my mom would have taken my dad straight to the crematorium.” “Aunt Fiona, please save my dad. The doctor said he can still be saved. Boohoo.”

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I’m the real biological daughter who was swapped at birth, while the imposter is acting all innocent. On the day we reunited, the imposter cried, “Does this mean mom won’t love me anymore…” I went over and hugged her, “No, not only does mom love you the most, but I do too!” Imposter: “?” I was given a task to help a restless spirit find peace, essentially kickstarting her path to rebirth. She was the true daughter, swapped maliciously by the family maid, and grew up in neglect. At five, she was finally reunited with her family, but they were all charmed by the imposter. Later, even her engagement to Daphne was snatched away by the imposter. She was falsely accused and, even after her death, was scorned by everyone. I scoffed, “You were too weak. With such a strong start, you really played your cards badly.” With her blood ties and the guilt her biological parents felt for losing her, she should have been a winner in life. Besides, I could handle a bunch of these fake innocent types with ease. The real daughter is named Phoebe. Phoebe sighed, “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come to you.” I patted my chest, “Don’t worry, leave it to me.”

When I opened my eyes, there was a man in a suit before me. He bowed respectfully, “Miss, please come back with us.” I nodded, got into the car, and glanced back at my adoptive mother, whom everyone called Auntie White. Her eyes were filled with hatred. Growing up under a mother’s hatred, anyone would lack a sense of security. I suddenly felt sorry for Phoebe. Arriving at the Brooks Family home, in the beautiful villa stood two expectant adults, an impatient little boy, and a girl with a shadowy expression. My biological mother, Amy Brooks, my biological father, Asher Brooks, the imposter, Harper Brooks, and my brother, Rowan Brooks. I suddenly felt lucky; Phoebe sounds better than Harper. Getting out of the car, Amy Brooks knelt down to look at me closely, sobbing softly, “Phoebe, baby, I’m sorry…” I remember the original character standing stiffly, cautiously looking at Amy Brooks, and then being led into the villa in a daze, like a puppet. Amy Brooks was soon distracted by Harper’s crying and had no time for the emotionless original character. Though such a situation would scare any child, especially someone like Phoebe who had never been loved, it would easily erase her presence in the home. Without expressing needs, she would soon be marginalized. When faced with guilt and love, one shouldn’t resist or push away but should accept and enjoy what is rightfully theirs. I teared up, crying softly, “Mom, I don’t blame you, I don’t blame you.” I looked at my cracked hands, dirty from long-term work, even after washing. I hesitated to hug Amy Brooks, fearing my dirtiness. Who would refuse their pitiful, innocent daughter willing to wrong herself to be understanding? Especially since it was Amy Brooks’s lack of supervision that led to my loss, she already felt guilty. Her eyes reddened, and she hugged me despite my dirty clothes. The mother-daughter reunion was touching, except for the imposter, Harper Brooks. “Mom, will you not love me anymore?” Harper suddenly asked, her voice timid, with eyes full of grievance, making her very endearing. Though Harper wasn’t their biological daughter, they lived together for over five years. People say distant relatives aren’t as good as close neighbors, not to mention they always treated Harper as their own. Amy Brooks, being soft-hearted, was quickly attracted to her. Before she could act, I asked, “Mom, is she your baby too?” Amy Brooks hesitated. Though Harper wasn’t her biological daughter, she was afraid of hurting her, so she nodded, “Yes, she’s… your sister.” Hearing this, my little face was full of earnestness, seriously saying, “Sister, not only does mom love you, but I will love you too.” A foster child afraid of losing the mother’s love to her biological daughter, while the biological daughter says, I’m not here to take your mom, I’m here to love you like mom does. How touching. As expected, Amy Brooks’s eyes filled with tears again, but I knew she wouldn’t treat Harper the same as before. After all, that comparison showed Harper’s narrow-mindedness. Even my usually stoic CEO father, Asher Brooks, was full of affection as he patted my head after hearing my words. Rowan Brooks’s gaze softened towards me, only Harper glared at me viciously. Phoebe was shocked, “Is this even possible?” I laughed inside, “Sometimes being a bit fake can better protect yourself.”

At dinner, I sat next to Amy Brooks, with Harper next to me. The seat I took was originally Harper’s. Harper’s eyes were full of malice, but while Phoebe was afraid, I wasn’t. I even savored her hatred towards me. The enemy’s hate is such a satisfying emotion, making one delight in the enemy’s incompetence and frustration. The more it is, the happier I am. The original Phoebe told me that Harper had long known she was Auntie White’s daughter, and her malice was carefully nurtured by Auntie White. I remember not long after dinner, Asher’s men found out Auntie White had maliciously swapped the kids. But at that time, Harper framed me for stealing her things, pretending not to be angry but patiently persuading me, which made Amy Brooks decide to keep her to subtly influence me, turning me into a good child. Good child… heh. Prepared, I sat properly, silent, waiting for the imposter to make the first move. “Mom, the longevity locket you gave me is missing, just when I was taking a bath,” Harper suddenly spoke, looking so pitiful she could act in a play. I squinted my eyes; no wonder Phoebe couldn’t beat her. This imposter’s tactics aren’t something a normal child can handle. I glanced at Auntie White behind her. Oh, I forgot her. An imposter plus a scheming adult isn’t something a child can handle. “Don’t worry, it must have fallen somewhere. Let’s have Auntie White look for it, okay?” Amy Brooks comforted her. Harper nodded, obediently saying, “It’s the one mom gave me, I don’t want to lose it.” If you don’t want to lose it, then don’t lose it… I secretly rolled my eyes. Amy Brooks’s eyes reddened and asked Auntie White to search. At this moment, Amy Brooks also wanted to cultivate some mother-daughter feelings before sending Harper back, not expecting this new idea to be exploited by Auntie White. Auntie White soon came over, her eyes complex, “Ma’am…” Amy Brooks sensed something wrong and asked, “What happened?” “The second miss’s longevity locket was… was… under the big miss’s pillow.” Auntie White extended her hand, and sure enough, Harper’s longevity locket was in her hand. “What now?” Phoebe asked anxiously. I smiled gently, “Isn’t this just what I wanted?” I was stunned, innocently observing everyone present, “What?” “Sister, I didn’t know you liked this longevity locket. If I knew, I would definitely give it to you! Even though… I, I like it very much… But sister, taking things without asking is really not good!” Harper appeared very friendly, but the pride in her eyes was already obvious, “Sister, I will really share everything with you!”

Perhaps in others’ eyes, this isn’t a big deal, but she was warning me that I only have the right to share her things, and I have no place here myself. I bit my lip, trembling, looking at Auntie White in disbelief. “Time to close the net?” Phoebe asked anxiously, “Don’t overplay it.” I told her in my heart, “Don’t rush, closing the net now would waste all our efforts.” Phoebe nodded, remaining silent, as I had control over this body. Harper looked at me sadly, “Baby, you can’t just take other people’s things…” Asher, who had been silent, suddenly received a call and stepped out. I looked fearfully at Auntie White, seemingly making a decision, my little face full of determination, “Mom, I really don’t like my previous mom because she would say I stole things when she went to the store. But mom, I don’t want to be a thief in your eyes because you’re so good to me, I really don’t want to disappoint you…” I ended up crying, my face covered in tears, sobbing away. Auntie White’s face was full of rage. I knew Auntie White hadn’t stolen anything, but so what? Who would believe a five-year-old child is lying? She just didn’t want her beloved mom to misunderstand her. Look, she even mustered all her courage. The tables have turned. Now it’s Auntie White who stole, subconsciously wanting to frame her former foster daughter— Perhaps she even wanted to frame the foster daughter to keep the biological daughter in the wealthy family, but who cares? Auntie White will be sent to the police station. I ended up crying inconsolably, tears streaming down my face. Auntie White was livid. I knew she hadn’t stolen anything, but it didn’t matter. Who would believe a five-year-old could lie? She just didn’t want her beloved mother to misunderstand her. Look at her, she gave it her all. Then things turned around. Now, Auntie White is accused of theft and is trying to pin it on her former adopted daughter. Perhaps she even wanted to frame her to ensure her biological daughter stayed in the wealthy family. But who cares? Auntie White is going to the police station. If the police dig into it, they might find out she secretly put the longevity locket under my pillow. No matter the outcome, I’m not at a loss. Daphne struggled to remain calm, though her voice betrayed her anger: “I refuse to let anyone frame my daughter! We’ll wait for the police.” Auntie White panicked, glancing at Harper Brooks. Like mother, like daughter—Harper promptly accused me: “You’re lying! I saw you rush out of my room with my longevity locket! I just wanted you to admit it, but you blamed someone else!” Another twist. Now, with Harper as a witness, it seemed like everything was my lie. It seemed I had become a girl who steals and lies, framing an innocent person. Daphne was stunned, looking at me with sadness. My eyes welled with tears, confused about how things had turned out this way. My mother’s doubt hit me hard, leaving me hopeless as I muttered, “Mom, believe me, please believe me…” Daphne wept, shaking her head. “When did you see Teanzi go to your room?” A composed voice asked. Asher Brooks returned from a call, his usual rational demeanor now tinged with disdain towards Auntie White. Then he turned his gaze to Harper, still with disdain. Five-year-old Harper began crying loudly: “In the afternoon… after I finished bathing and changing clothes, boohoo…” Daphne shot Asher a reproachful look, stood up, and comforted Harper: “Don’t cry, don’t cry, Daddy didn’t mean to be harsh.” Through my teary eyes, I watched Daphne hold Harper, full of envy, but I only dared to glance briefly before lowering my head, saying nothing, biting my lip hard. That furtive glance was caught by Asher and Rowan Brooks. Rowan couldn’t sit still and stood up, loudly declaring, “But sister was with Dad and me the whole time!” This was my plan; having a prepared strategy felt great. I mentally nudged Phoebe: “See, the brother who always opposed you is now on your side.” Phoebe was speechless. Actually, Rowan is just a simple kid. Initially, when he heard Harper say I was bad, he believed it. But he’s essentially a good kid. In the previous life, he was deceived by Harper too, dying without knowing the truth. It’s good for him to see through people’s facades early. No need to thank me~ Daphne was stunned once more. Another turn of events. Her biological daughter was being schemed against by her adopted daughter and the adopted daughter’s mother, yet she didn’t believe her own daughter, trusting the trap set by two outsiders. If her biological daughter had chosen a terrible path out of despair… How heartbreaking would that be! Looking at Harper in her arms, Daphne couldn’t help but feel disgusted and put her down, turning to me. I looked dazed, beyond hope for this family, showing a hurt expression. “Phoebe, Mom…” Daphne was at a loss. I lifted my head, eyes full of wariness, with a bitter smile: “Mom, a dog not loved is a stray, and I don’t have a home…” I curled up my thin body, eyes dull. Daphne couldn’t hold back anymore and cried out loud, disregarding her dignity: “I’m sorry, Mom’s sorry… Will you believe… believe in Mom one more time? Mom… promises, promises this will always be your home…” She hugged me, and I sobbed softly. But I gave Harper a triumphant look. Harper looked at me in horror. Asher glanced expressionlessly at her and Auntie White, then said, “I just took a call. Someone deliberately swapped the two children’s positions back then. The medical staff said they reminded the girl’s biological mother, and the girl’s biological mother said that both families knew each other and would return the child after playing for a while.” Daphne shivered. Back then, Auntie White used underhanded tactics to try to push Daphne away and wanted to get pregnant with Asher’s child, but Asher never fell for it. She had to use artificial means and frame Asher, almost causing Daphne to abort me. In the end, evidence was found to expose her. But Auntie White stayed in the Brooks Family as a nanny… Thanks to Daphne’s naive saint persona, such foolishness was evident from the beginning. “You can’t insult my mom,” Phoebe suddenly said after a long silence. I sneered but still replied dismissively: “Alright, alright.” Seems like Phoebe inherited a bit of Daphne’s nature. If it were me, it wouldn’t matter if they were biological or not. If they didn’t believe me and indirectly harmed me, I wouldn’t let them have a good ending. But I can only follow Phoebe’s mindset. After all, the customer is king.

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On the day my wife, Wendy Carr, gave birth to her ex-boyfriend’s child, who was serving time in prison, her family was on high alert, fearing I might show up to cause trouble. But even as the child was born after a difficult labor, I never appeared. When Wendy was wheeled out of the delivery room, lying on the hospital bed, her eyes instinctively searched the crowd for my face. “Wendy, don’t worry. We’ve taken care of everything. That man won’t be able to come here.” Her mother reassured her, patting her chest confidently. “That’s right. I was terrified he’d bring bad luck to my little nephew,” her brother chimed in. Wendy nodded, then turned to look at the baby beside her, a joyful smile lighting up her face. She never understood why I couldn’t see her perspective. She only wanted to ensure her first love had no regrets. She even thought to herself that if I treated the child well, she might agree to let me raise the child together with her. But this time, I had already accepted an assignment from the organization. Soon, I would depart for the capital of Drakonia, Virelia, to join an international criminal investigation task force. This journey held an uncertain future.

Wendy suffered severe blood loss during childbirth. Yet less than a week after being admitted to the hospital, Jerry Brudos’ mother was already urging her to go home. For the past month, I have been attending meetings at work to coordinate some major international cases. Today was my first chance to take a break. Dragging my exhausted body home, I felt something was off the moment I stepped through the door. In the living room, Wendy’s parents were gathered around her and the baby, their faces full of affection and love. Jerry’s mother, Daisy Brudos, was also there. The group looked so harmonious that I suddenly felt like an outsider in my own home. “Oh, my little darling, you’re so adorable! Come on, say hi! Good baby!” Wendy’s mother, Elodie Britton, gushed over the child, her entire face radiating fondness. When they noticed my return, the warmth on their faces instantly turned awkward. Wendy’s face was pale and bloodless. She cast me a faint glance before lowering her head to play with the baby. “What bad timing. Coming home now of all times!” Wendy’s father, Richard Britton, lit a cigarette, gave me a once-over from head to toe, and let out a cold snort. Looking at these people before me, I couldn’t believe it. Before our marriage, they were so pleased with me. Once, my relationship with Wendy was pure and beautiful. I had attended the police academy in college while she studied education at a neighboring school. That was when fate set its wheels in motion. We met, got to know each other, and fell in love, with no conflicts ever arising between us. I wasn’t much of a talker, while Wendy was vibrant and cheerful, like a little songbird. After the death of my parents, I rarely experienced strong emotional waves. Wendy was like a beam of light piercing into my dim world. We married without any obstacles. Her parents liked me too, often praising my stable and promising job. Our love remained strong, though Wendy was always hesitant when it came to intimacy. I respected all her wishes, so our marriage remained unconsummated. I never doubted her because our love felt so genuine. Perhaps it was also because I spent much time away from home, leaving our marriage as fresh as when it began. When I was assigned to a six-month closed training program for a cross-border crime task force, we had to part ways. As we said goodbye, her eyes shimmered with tears as she held my hand tightly. “Promise me you’ll come back safe. I’ll always be waiting for you,” she said. I gently wiped away her tears, pursing my lips, unsure of how to respond. Elodie, too, couldn’t stop crying. She clung to my sleeve, urging me to take care of myself. At that moment, I silently resolved to request a transfer after training, opting not to join the mission. I wanted to stay home and protect my family. To be honest, during that half-year of training, there wasn’t a moment when Wendy wasn’t on my mind. Sometimes, I was even a little distracted. On the last day of training, I drove home eagerly. But when I flung open the door, the scene before me left me stunned. In the living room, Wendy and an unfamiliar man were sitting at the dining table. The man had his arm wrapped intimately around her shoulder. Both froze when they saw me. Wendy quickly shrugged off the man’s arm, her expression flustered. “Who is he?” My voice was icy, and I didn’t even bother to set down my luggage as I stared at the man. Wendy’s eyes darted nervously as she stammered, “This… this is Jerry, my friend. He’s just staying here for a few days.” The smiles on Richard’s and Elodie’s faces vanished instantly. Richard frowned deeply, shooting me a disdainful glance. “Why are you back now of all times?” he muttered. Elodie’s expression soured, and she grumbled, “What a useless man. It might as well have died out there. Such a buzzkill.” Jerry stood up as well, smirking at me with a hint of arrogance. I didn’t press further, but as my gaze fell on Wendy, I noticed her subconsciously touching her belly. It was slightly swollen, already showing signs of pregnancy. My heart sank into a bottomless abyss, and an ominous feeling overtook me. That night, Wendy brought me a glass of milk, smiling as she said, “You must be exhausted after such long training. Here, drink some milk and get a good rest.” I took the glass but caught a fleeting glimpse of nervousness in her eyes. Pretending to drink a few sips, I casually set the glass aside. Sure enough, in the middle of the night, Wendy tiptoed out of bed and crept out the door. I followed her quietly, watching as she entered another room. Inside, Jerry’s hushed voice could be heard. “Baby, what took you so long?” Fury surged within me. I moved closer and overheard Wendy’s playful voice saying, “Be gentle. Don’t forget about the baby.” It felt like a hammer had struck my heart. Everything was now painfully clear. Before this, she had always rejected my advances. Yet in my absence, she had carried another man’s child.

I suppressed the surge of anger in my heart and decided to keep my composure and continue observing. In the days that followed, their brazenness grew worse, as if I were nothing more than a ghost in my own home. During the day, Jerry would boldly sit next to Wendy. Their hands often intertwined, their gazes filled with affection and flirtation. Once, while the whole family was gathered around the dining table, Jerry forked a piece of meat and fed it directly to Wendy. She ate it without the slightest embarrassment, even giggling as she wiped the corners of his mouth with a napkin. Richard, Elodie, and Jerry’s mother all acted as though nothing had happened. Whenever I questioned them, Richard and Elodie would dismiss me with the excuse that Jerry and Wendy were just friends. They would accuse me of neglecting the family, pointing out that Jerry had been the one helping with everything over the past six months, while I was off chasing my career. They called me ungrateful. Perhaps it was guilt over my frequent absence that kept me silent. But this time, I could no longer suppress my fury. I slammed my fork on the table with a resounding crack. “Wendy! What exactly do you think you’re doing? “Is this what friends do? Do they end up in bed together? “There’s already a child! How long have I endured this? And you’re still hiding it from me?” They knew I had discovered the truth. Richard shot up from his seat, jabbing his finger at my nose and shouting, “What are you yelling about? Look at yourself! Always busy with that worthless job of yours! How much do you even make? “What can you offer Wendy? Jerry can give her a comfortable life. Can you?” Elodie chimed in, “Exactly! You’re useless. After all these years, you haven’t given Wendy any sort of good life. “Jerry is a hundred times better than you. He knows how to take care of Wendy and make money.” My whole body trembled with rage. I glared at them and growled, “Are you seriously saying this with a straight face? “How much have I sacrificed for this family, and you refuse to see it? Now you’re siding with an outsider to attack me!” “Sacrifice? What sacrifice?” Richard sneered, “Jerry makes more on one business deal than you do in an entire year. “What do you have to compare with him? Wendy was unlucky in ending up with someone like you!” His words stabbed into my heart like a dagger. I laughed bitterly and turned to Elodie. “You’re really ready to accept that bastard’s child as one of your own? “Your daughter cheated on me, and you have the gall to defend her?” Elodie’s face darkened. “Don’t you dare talk about my grandchild like that! “That child is flesh and blood from Wendy! No matter what, it’s family, and there’s no way we’ll ever get rid of it.” Wendy stood up just then, about to say something, when a knock came at the door. A group of police officers stormed in, flashing their badges. They pinned Jerry to the floor and hauled him away. Jerry’s arrogant expression instantly dissolved into terror. He struggled and screamed, “What are you arresting me for? “It’s you! You set me up, you bastard!” Wendy panicked, shrieking at me, “Did you do this? “How could you be so heartless? If anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive you!” Richard and Elodie were even more furious. Richard rushed toward me, jabbing his finger so close to my eye I could barely see past it. “You cruel son of a bitch! How dare you get Jerry arrested? “If something happens to him, we’ll fight you to the death!” Elodie wailed, “You heartless man! How could you do something so wicked? Use your connections and get Jerry out of this mess, or Wendy and the baby will be ruined!” The lead officer spoke firmly, “He’s involved in fraud, and we have solid evidence. We’re arresting him according to the law.” Wendy froze, her face a mask of disbelief. Richard and Elodie refused to back down. Richard turned to the officer and shouted, “You’ve got the wrong man! Jerry is a good kid. There’s no way he did this. Someone’s framing him!” Elodie echoed, “Yes! Someone must be out to get him. You can’t punish an innocent man!” I pulled out my own badge. The lead officer glanced at the initials on my bag and saluted me. After getting a brief rundown on Jerry’s crimes, I learned he had been involved in fraud for quite some time, making off with millions of dollars. The evidence was indisputable. I tried to calm Wendy and her parents. But Wendy flung herself at me, clawing and hitting. “You’re lying! Jerry is a good man. You’re just jealous! You framed him! “If you don’t help him, I’ll hate you for the rest of my life!” Richard trembled with fury, pointing his finger in my face again. “Don’t pretend to be a good guy! You just can’t stand to see Wendy happy. “If you don’t get Jerry out of this, I’ll raise hell at your workplace and make sure you lose your job!” Elodie chimed in, “Exactly! You heartless man! Wendy must have been blind to marry you. If you don’t help, this isn’t over!” Just as I was about to respond, I received an urgent call summoning me to a meeting, bringing the confrontation to a temporary halt. Memories swirled in my mind as I gazed at Wendy, cradling the child in her arms. I stayed silent for a long moment.

She didn’t bother looking up, casting a disdainful glance my way. “In a few days, you’ll come with me to a class reunion. You’ll say you’re my bodyguard. “Look at how tanned you’ve gotten from all that training, like a lump of coal. How can I bring you along? You’ll embarrass me.” For someone like me, who trained outdoors every day, getting tanned was completely normal. I looked at Wendy, barely able to believe she could make such a ridiculous demand. Still, to let her face reality once and for all, and to put an end to this failed marriage, I silently nodded in agreement. On the day of the reunion, Wendy dressed to the nines in luxurious designer clothes. Holding our child in her arms, she glanced at me impatiently, her eyes filled with disdain. In a sharp tone, she said, “Keep up. Don’t dawdle and embarrass me. “Remember, you’re just a bodyguard. Keep your mouth shut. “You’re lucky I even let you come.” I remained silent, my expression calm, though inside, my emotions were surging like a storm. I followed her into the venue. As soon as we entered, the classmates’ eyes immediately turned to us. They first noticed the adorable, doll-like child in Wendy’s arms, then her glamorous appearance. Their gazes brimmed with curiosity and envy. A female classmate was the first to speak. “Wendy, it’s been years! You’ve really changed. Your child is so big now! Where’s the father?” Wendy lifted her chin with pride, her eyes glinting with vanity. She deliberately lowered her voice, though it was loud enough for everyone to hear. “The child’s father is a bit busy and couldn’t make it. “But you all probably know him, Jerry. He’s in business, and he’s pretty capable.” The room buzzed with exclamations as the classmates surrounded her with praise. “Wendy, you’ve really got it made! Married into a wealthy family, huh?” “Exactly! You’ve got to take care of us in the future!” Basking in their flattery, Wendy’s head tilted slightly upward, her expression filled with arrogance. She sneered and said sharply, “Oh, you all need to work harder. Not everyone’s as lucky as me, stumbling into a life like this. “Some people, no matter how much they struggle, will amount to nothing.” Just as she reveled in her smugness, the phones of her classmates began pinging with notifications one after another. They checked their phones in confusion, their expressions growing increasingly strange. Wendy noticed the shift and frowned. “What’s going on?” No one answered her. They only looked at her with an odd mix of shock and disdain. I knew exactly what was happening. The evidence of her infidelity, which I had anonymously sent to each classmate, was finally making an impact. The photos and chat records were being displayed on their screens, one by one. Finally, a classmate couldn’t hold back and asked, “Wendy, what’s this all about? Are these things true?” Wendy’s face turned ashen in an instant. Her lips trembled, and she looked around in panic. She screamed, “This is a setup! Someone’s framing me! It’s all fake, completely fake!” But the murmurs among the classmates grew louder. “I can’t believe she’s this kind of person.”

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At the wedding seven years ago, during the ring exchange, my bride slapped me in front of everyone. “Marriage? It’s just a game. You don’t actually think I’m serious, do you?” The next moment, a wealthy young man took the stage, wrapping his arms around her and looking at me with disdain. “How dare you touch my woman? Here’s the deal. Crawl through my legs and bark three times, and I’ll spare you. I’ll let you serve me like a dog.” I stood there in disbelief, tears welling up as I asked her why. But she swiftly kicked me off the stage. She told me to get lost. She said I wasn’t even worthy of being a dog. Seven years later, when I returned to the city where I was born, I was already a renowned tech tycoon. I never expected the next time I would see her to be on the golf course I owned. The sight of her pregnant belly made me pause in shock. I wasn’t familiar with the entertainment industry in Bumville. I only bought it for the convenience of holding business events for the company. Cutting costs was an instinct I had developed since my childhood. After all, I had once been poor, and the feeling of living in a basement stayed with me for a long time. That was why I cherished everything I had earned more than anyone else. WEI gradually became a notable presence in Bumville. It was said that if you wanted to mix in Bumville, you had to get through the door of WEI. In the past, I didn’t pay much attention to it. But this afternoon, I gave the order to stop accepting new guests. Because I was about to host a dinner for my future business partner at the golf course. Dylan Creeway, just over forty, was incredibly experienced. Every project he handled was profitable, and what I wanted was the most lucrative one in his hands. After a few rounds of golf, Dylan and I went to a private box. As drinks were being passed around, his secretary came to fetch him for another meeting. I was about to step out to get some fresh air when my assistant was waiting for me outside. He respectfully handed me a business card. “Mr. Ferguson, a young man downstairs insists on meeting you. Doesn’t even realize his own standing.” Normally, I wouldn’t see such people. They were just some hungry wolves who smelled an opportunity and wanted to grab a piece. But today, I had already cleared the place, yet this guy still managed to sneak in. His actions intrigued me. Honestly, it was rather impolite to make such a move. I gestured, grabbed a bottle of aged red wine, and followed my assistant downstairs. At the door, I asked my assistant to wait and pass on a message to Dylan, telling him to give me a few minutes. After handling these situations often, I naturally learned how to manage them. I knocked three times before a familiar voice sounded from inside. “Come in.” As I pushed the door open, the sight before me left me frozen in place. Sitting directly across from me was Edward Wilson, the same reckless young heir who had stolen my bride and publicly humiliated me. And sitting next to him was Georgia Marvis, equally shocked to see me. Her eyes, which had once been so filled with affection, were now wide with disbelief. Her hand involuntarily slid down to rest on her swollen belly. She was pregnant. I hadn’t noticed when I last saw Georgia. That encounter had been purely accidental. I was on a business trip, and I ran into her struggling with someone outside a high-end hotel. She had insisted she wasn’t selling herself, clinging to her dignity. I stepped in and drove the man away, looking down at her. Wasn’t she dying to climb the social ladder? How had her standards dropped so much in just a few years? That day, Georgia had looked at me with helpless eyes, begging me to take her home. I couldn’t quite explain how I felt at that time, maybe I wanted to ask her why she treated me like that back then, maybe I wanted her to regret it, or maybe I just wanted to humiliate her. I said, “Name your price. Have a drink with me.” She quickly climbed into my car and said, “I owe you. I won’t take your money.” I drank a lot that night, and I couldn’t remember what happened afterward. I only remembered that in my sleep, it felt like a fire was surging within me. The next morning, when I woke up, Georgia was gone. She had left without a trace as if she had never been there at all. Now, looking at her swollen belly and Edward’s large hand on her, I suddenly understood. She had eventually gotten what she wanted. Edward seemed to read the expression in my eyes and immediately turned to look at Georgia with concern. “Did the baby kick you again? Such a playful one, just like me.” The next moment, he raised an eyebrow at me. Then he clicked his tongue and said, “Martin, it’s been so long, and you’ve fallen so far. You’re actually working here?”

The large private room echoed with the sound of laughter. These people were all familiar to me. They were the guests at that humiliating wedding, Edward’s closest friends. “How could someone who went to college end up like this?” Edward sneered. “You’re better off being my dog.” Apparently, he thought I was one of the staff members here. The people around him burst into laughter, some even whispering to each other, speaking loud enough for me to hear. “Wasn’t it him? The one who lost the bride and the wedding.” “Poor enough to live in a basement, he deserved to have his woman stolen…” I placed the bottle of fine wine on the table as a sign of politeness. Since they were somehow my guests, I considered the wine a charitable gesture. These sycophants surrounding Edward looked at me with contempt. “Such a decent wine. Even your life isn’t worth that much.” Actually, he was wrong. I was now a rising star in the industry, with assets exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars. And my company’s market value was still on the rise. I smiled politely and turned to leave. Engaging with people like them was beneath me. As for Georgia… Our fates were probably sealed. She had a family now, about to become a mother, and we were destined to have no further connection. Just as I reached the door, a voice rang out behind me. “Wait a second. Are you leaving just like that? “Mr. Wilson didn’t say you’re free to go. How dare you!” I turned around and saw Edward’s top lackey, Adam, frowning at me. He stood up as if preparing to block my path. Edward snorted. He shot me a sideways glance. “You’ve spent all these years without improving, but your guts sure have grown.” I took a deep breath. Since I had already decided not to engage with him, the sooner I left, the better. “Everyone, I need to get back to work.” I cleared my throat. “Today’s work is very important to me.” I wasn’t lying. It wasn’t easy to get Dylan here. Had I known it was Edward, I wouldn’t have bothered to come. My words were met with merciless laughter. “Come on, you’re just a waiter. No more than a useless servant.” “That’s ridiculous. You truly are poor to the bone.” I didn’t get their sense of humor. Even though my business wasn’t the biggest, the employee benefits here were top-notch. All the out-of-town staff were provided with nearby housing, and their salaries were higher than those of white-collar workers. The people here probably didn’t earn more than my waitstaff. As if to provoke me further, some of them fiddled with the car keys and watches on the table. I glanced over. They were nothing more than basic models. I couldn’t understand what they were laughing about. Seeing that I didn’t react, Adam intentionally pulled back his sleeve and flashed his keys and watch. “See? You’ll never earn enough to buy these in your lifetime.” He sized me up, his gaze full of disdain. “You’ve probably never even touched a car.” He was right. I never drove. “Yes,” I responded calmly. “I walk to work every day.”

Laughter erupted again in the room. I was stunned once more. I was telling the truth. My estate was connected to the golf course, so I didn’t need to commute. What were they laughing at? Edward, sitting at the head of the table, cleared his throat, and the room fell silent. At that moment, I realized that everyone in this room, except for me, was Edward’s lackey. They were eagerly waiting for their master’s next command. Edward pulled Georgia closer, his chin rubbing against her head. “Georgia, if you hadn’t listened to me back then, you probably wouldn’t be sitting here,” he said. “Martin’s just a good-for-nothing.” The entire room burst into laughter. Only Georgia glanced at me cautiously before immediately looking down, seeming a bit flustered. In that instant, I became curious. Was she worried I would expose the fact that we’d drunk together? Was she worried that Edward would get angry? I wouldn’t stoop to such petty acts. Edward’s gaze swept over the room, and once again, the place went quiet. He looked at me from his high position with a condescending gaze. “If you kneel and beg me now, I’ll have Mr. Anderson help you out. Getting a raise will be no problem.” Mr. Anderson? I furrowed my brows in thought. Seeing my confusion, Adam laughed louder. “Stop thinking about it. Mr. Anderson is the trusted confidant of the owner of this golf course. A lowly employee like you will never get a chance to meet him.” He sneered. “Hurry up and kneel. This is your one and only chance to turn your life around. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Mr. Wilson is rarely kind.” A group of people telling me to kneel and beg for mercy. How was this supposed to be kind? Their morals were even lower than I’d imagined. Being Edward’s dog was certainly about personal gain. They were like flies hovering over the crack in an egg. There was no need to argue with them. And I definitely wouldn’t let them know my true capabilities. I smiled calmly. “Enjoy your meal and your laughter. I’ll take my leave now.” What I had to do was a thousand times more important than this. Just as I was about to leave, a force from behind nearly caused me to stumble. Adam glared at me, and his face was full of anger. Edward looked at me with a smirk, saying nothing. Then, Adam kicked me in the knee. Although the pain shot through me, I remained steady on my feet. “Didn’t I tell you to kneel?” he snapped. “You can’t wait to learn your lesson, huh?”

After Adam’s barrage of insults, the crowd around me looked on with eager anticipation, their faces lighting up as they waited for me to fall to my knees and beg for forgiveness. That would be an ending they expected to cap off the evening’s disappointment. Even Edward rose from his seat, crossing his arms over his chest. “I truly want to help you, you know. Why not show a little appreciation?” he said, his voice cool but tinged with a subtle mockery. “I’m about to make a big deal with the owner of this place tonight. A few good words from me, and you could be on your way to the stars.” Adam furrowed his brow, clearly displeased. “Mr. Wilson, that’s Dylan’s project. Why not let me have a piece of the pie?” The people around us immediately jumped in, eager to flatter. “Yeah, I heard Dylan’s been working with some big tech mogul, their company’s worth billions of dollars.” “Mr. Wilson and Dylan go way back. If he could lend us a hand, we could make a little extra before the New Year.” Lackeys buzzing around him, Edward seemed unbothered, his expression haughty as he glanced around. “Do you even know the scale of this project? Even if you risked every penny you have, you wouldn’t be able to get a piece.” A collective gasp swept through the crowd. Edward tilted his chin and met my eyes, his gaze sharpening with a new level of disdain. “Looks like you’ve gained some backbone over the years.” With a swift push, he shoved Georgia aside and perched himself casually on another chair, leaning with one leg draped over the edge. “So, Martin,” he drawled, his voice smooth. “Here’s another chance. You want to be a lapdog or not?” The room fell silent, their eyes fixed on me like vultures, waiting for my next move. I had endured so much, swallowing my pride at every turn, but nothing had worked. This time, I couldn’t keep quiet anymore. I straightened my back, feeling the weight of the moment. “The Dylan you’re talking about,” I said, my voice unwavering, “is someone I invited. “This place belongs to me, and I’m going after that project. It’s mine.” The room went deathly quiet for a few seconds before laughter erupted, even louder than before. Adam shoved me roughly, a sneer twisting his face. “You’re the boss? I could just as easily say I’m Elon Musk!” “Yeah, keep dreaming,” the others jeered, joining in the mockery. Edward, smirking, gave me a long look. “If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable. Say you know Mr. Anderson, or something.” I didn’t flinch. “I do know him.” How could I not know the assistant I’d personally brought back from a famous overseas university? The laughter roared again, drowning out my voice, but I stood my ground, smoothing the wrinkles in my jacket as I looked at them all, my tone steady. “I graduated from Quenca University, class of 2013. You can’t fake that.” Some in the crowd seemed to waver, their disbelief beginning to crack. “Quenca? Now that’s impressive.” But just as their uncertainty began to show, Adam’s voice cut through, cold and dismissive. “So, why don’t you show us your diploma then? Let’s see if it’s real.” Who would carry their diploma around with them? Adam’s taunt was deliberate, and the crowd laughed along with him, feeding off his cruelty. I took a deep breath, my patience beginning to fray. “Is that what it takes for you to believe me? A piece of paper?” No one answered. They just looked at me, smug and certain of their superiority. But then Georgia’s voice broke the silence, soft and almost tentative. She tugged gently at Edward’s sleeve, her touch light. “Could you… let him go? I think he’s starting to make me feel sick.” The room erupted in laughter again, but I felt a sharp pang in my chest. I knew she was trying to help me. But it wasn’t just relief I felt. It was confusion. Why was she helping me? She’d been so uneasy all night, so nervous around me, as though she was terrified of facing me. Just as I turned to leave in search of my diploma, a sudden force blocked my path. I stepped back, instinctively moving out of the way. The door opened, and Julius Anderson walked in, followed by a few others. Edward, his face paling, stumbled back, his voice trembling. “Mr. Creeway, Mr. Anderson!” He cast a fleeting glance at me, his expression twisting with sudden panic. “Martin, good dogs know their place. Get out of the way!” But before I could move, Dylan’s voice rang out, cutting through the tension like a blade. “Who are you telling to get out of the way?”

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The morning after our wedding, I woke up to the sight of my mother-in-law, Tiara, standing at the foot of our marital bed, looking down at me with unmistakable disdain. “Layla, this house was only loaned to you two for the wedding,” she said, stressing the word “loaned” as though it were some great favors. Groggy and disoriented, I blinked at her, wondering if I’d misheard. Didn’t this house belong to Zac and me? What did she mean by “loaned”? Pushing myself up from the bed, I grabbed my phone and called Zac, who had disappeared early in the morning without a word. At first, Zac hemmed and hawed, his tone evasive. But under my persistent questioning, he finally spilled the truth. “Layla, the house is in my mom’s name. It’s meant for my little brother in the future. I only managed to convince her to let us use it for the wedding by giving her a thousand dollars. “Now that the wedding’s done, it’s time for us to move back to the countryside and live a simple, happy life.” As soon as Zac heard I wanted a divorce, he rushed back to try and talk me out of it. “Don’t be impulsive, Layla. We just got married yesterday. How can you be talking about divorce today?” I was furious, glaring at him as I snapped, “You mean you already showed your true colors the day after the wedding? “Before the wedding, you lied and told me this was your house. Fine, I let that slide. But now you’re telling me it’s actually for Marcus, and you had to pay your mom a thousand dollars just to borrow it for a day?” It wasn’t like I was desperate for Zac to have a house. I had always been financially independent and had a decent job. But I wanted to build a stable family, and if my husband had better financial standing, it would make raising kids easier in the future. Now, however, it was clear that things were different. This house was in Tiara’s name, and technically, both Zac and Marcus should have equal inheritance rights. But Tiara blatantly favored Marcus, and Zac didn’t put up any fight. He was more than willing to hand over everything that should have been his. This wasn’t just about not owning property; Zac was clearly a textbook “submissive to his younger sibling” type. If today they charged a thousand dollars for a day’s use of the house, what’s next? Would Zac have to pay for Marcus’ wedding, car, and future kids? I got married to start a life, not to sell myself as a servant to their family! Zac tried to guilt-trip me, “Layla, you know how hard it was for Mom to raise both me and Marcus on her own. “Marcus didn’t get to enjoy much growing up. It’s just one house. Isn’t it fair to give it to him? “Please don’t make a fuss. The moment I met you, I knew you were a good person, not someone materialistic.” He dared to accuse me of being the one making a fuss? Of being materialistic? Was I supposed to swallow the lies and pretend nothing happened? Wanting fairness and what was rightfully mine made me greedy? I gave Zac one last chance. “Can’t Tiara at least split the house equally between you two?” Before Zac could answer, Tiara, who had been quietly enjoying the show, jumped up and spewed a stream of insults. “Split the house? Dream on! You want my house? Over my dead body!” She continued, “What kind of wife did you marry? I’m still alive, and she’s already eyeing your brother’s things! “If I die, who knows how she’ll bully Marcus! Why don’t you get control of this shameless woman already?” Zac turned purple with embarrassment. After stammering for a moment, he finally went to stand behind Tiara, patting her back to calm her down. “Mom, don’t worry. I’ll talk to Layla. She’ll understand!” Watching how they handled things, I knew it was pointless to keep talking. “No need to waste any more time. It’s still early. Let’s head to the city hall.” I was done with the drama. If we couldn’t reach an agreement, there was no point dragging it out. When Zac saw I was serious about the divorce, he dropped the act. “You think you can just leave like that? If you want a divorce, fine, but only if you pay back the wedding gift! Otherwise, I’ll sue you!” Tiara’s eyes lit up. “Exactly! Do you think you can just waltz in and out of our family? Pay back the money!” I couldn’t believe their audacity. “The fifty thousand dollars was all spent on the wedding, wasn’t it? Our messages clearly show that. If you want to sue, go ahead. I’m not afraid!” I wasn’t about to be intimidated. When I agreed to marry Zac after a whirlwind romance, it was only to shed the stigma of being a “leftover woman.” The fifty thousand dollars wasn’t why I said yes, so I hadn’t been paying close attention to the money. When Zac said he was short on cash for the wedding, I had generously transferred the money to him, not bothering to oversee the details. Who would’ve thought they’d have the nerve to turn around and accuse me?

When I brought up the bank transfer records, Zac fell silent instantly. Tiara, however, kept barking. “You greedy little gold digger! The moment you see my son doesn’t own a house, you’re ready to divorce him. Don’t you have any compassion for your husband?” I let out a cold laugh. “The house isn’t in my name, and the fifty-thousand-dollar wedding gift was entirely transferred to Zac. That’s me being greedy?” Tiara wasn’t one to admit defeat, even when she was wrong. She straightened her neck and shouted, “What have you even contributed? And you want the house in your name? Let’s face it. You’re only here because we have a house in the city!” I scoffed. Fine. If they wanted to accuse me of being calculating, I’d show them what it really looked like. “So, I was the bride, right? Where’s the guest ledger? Let’s take a look at the accounts.” The wedding was held in the countryside, with plenty of relatives and friends attending. While the monetary gifts weren’t substantial, they should have totaled at least thirty or forty thousand dollars. And Tiara had kept every penny of it firmly in her grasp. I worked myself to the bone all day during the wedding, only to be kicked out after one night in the city. I didn’t even get to see a dime, and now I’m the one being labeled as greedy? What kind of luck did I have to marry into this family? Zac glared at me with bulging eyes. “Layla! All you talk about is money or a house. Did you marry me just for that?” What else? Did I marry him for being almost forty, without a house or a car? Or was it to follow him back to the countryside and struggle? We couldn’t find common ground, so I immediately packed my bags and called a cab to go back to my parents’ house. But as soon as I got there, I was greeted with looks of disdain from my parents. “What are you doing back here? There’s no place for you in this house!” I expected this. At thirty-five years old, I had been the “problem” child in their eyes, the daughter who couldn’t get married. If not for their relentless pressure to find a husband, I wouldn’t have rushed into this ill-advised, hasty marriage. Suppressing my anger, I recounted everything Zac and his family had done. Instead of siding with me, my parents berated me for not being a good wife. “You’re already at this age. You should be grateful a man even wants you. You can’t be so demanding!” “It’s just a house, isn’t it? You’ve been working for ten years. You and your husband can pool your savings for a down payment and pay off the mortgage gradually,” my mom said, glaring at me in frustration, her finger tapping against my forehead. My dad extinguished his cigarette and chimed in, “I told you a long time ago that women shouldn’t work so hard. But you wouldn’t listen, always chasing your career. “Now you’re thirty-five. All the good men are taken. You’re lucky to find someone who’s never been married. “Listen to me, go back to Zac’s place this afternoon, apologize to Tiara, and stop making trouble.” A wave of despair swept over me. Neither my in-laws nor my own parents considered me family. Dragging my suitcase back to my old room, I discovered my bedding and pillows had already been packed away. I had only been gone for a day… Before I could even argue with my parents, there was a rapid knock on the door. “Oh, Zac, you’re here. Layla just got home too. Young couples have little tiffs all the time. Sit down, talk it out, and everything will be fine!” My mom practically tripped over herself welcoming him, guiding him to the couch, pouring him coffee, and putting on her best hospitable smile. But Zac wasn’t having it. His face was dark as he growled, “There’s nothing to talk about. Your daughter looks down on me. Fine, I can take it. “But that wedding gift? That was borrowed from relatives. If Layla wants a divorce, you must pay it back!” The moment my mom heard it, her demeanor changed. “That wedding gift didn’t come to us! It all went with Layla! How can you expect us to pay it back?” She stormed to my door, banging on it furiously. “Layla, you ungrateful burden! You’re the bane of my existence. Get out here and explain yourself right now!”

When I opened the door, Zac stood there with a smug expression plastered on his face. I knew he wasn’t serious about wanting me to return the wedding gift. He just wanted to use the debt as leverage, keeping me tied to him, obediently playing the role of a dutiful wife-slash-servant for his family. But I wasn’t some helpless lamb ready for slaughter. If he wanted to play dirty, I’d gladly up the ante. Taking my time, I said, “The wedding was held in your hometown, right? If I’m not mistaken, the catering was done by Fabian’s family at the edge of the village?” Zac, confused by my calm response, hesitated. He clearly expected yelling and accusations, not a casual reference to wedding logistics. “What does that have to do with anything?” he snapped, feigning confidence. “Either pay back the money or come home with me!” “You…” Before I could respond, my father chimed in, siding with Zac and scolding me. “Layla! I raised you better than to argue with your husband’s family!” I stared at my father, incredulous, as he turned to Zac and handed him a cigarette. “Zac, take Layla back with you. If she misbehaves, discipline her however you see fit. Hit her, scold her, whatever you need. We won’t interfere.” Buoyed by my father’s support, Zac accepted the cigarette, speaking to me with even more audacity. “You hear that? Even your own parents can’t stand you!” I closed my eyes briefly, then nodded. “Fine. I’ll go back with you.” If my own family wouldn’t back me up and would only hold me back, I’d rather fight this battle alone. As soon as we got out of the car, Zac reached over, trying to wrap his arm around my waist. Disgusted, I dodged. Zac chuckled, brushing off my reaction. “Still shy, huh? If it weren’t for being so tired yesterday, last night would’ve been our wedding night!” Clearly, Zac assumed that my agreeing to return meant I had resigned myself to this life. His tone made that abundantly clear. I glanced at him and asked, “Where’s the expense report for the wedding?” His expression darkened, and he barked, “Why keep bringing that up? It’s over and done with. We’ll pay back the money together and focus on building our future!” Rubbing my neck, I sighed, “Well, if you won’t tell me, I’ll just go to your hometown and investigate myself. “Fabian’s family handled the catering, didn’t they? It wouldn’t take much effort to ask them how much they charged.” The food at the wedding had been mediocre at best. The beef and lamb didn’t even seem fresh. It couldn’t have cost much. As for other wedding expenses, there hadn’t even been a proper emcee. I refused to believe Zac’s modest wedding had burned through the full fifty thousand dollars. Zac stormed off, too angry to keep arguing. Of course, I never expected him to hand over any records. My point wasn’t to make Zac confess; it was to establish a reason for staying in the city. Zac, pushing forty, was floundering at work and eager to retreat to the countryside for a quieter life. But I wasn’t about to throw away my career in the city for his sake. Whenever Zac suggested I move to the countryside with him, no matter how much he tried to romanticize rural life, I’d bring up the finances. That was all it took for Zac and Tiara to glare at me in silent frustration. Eventually, they stopped bringing it up altogether. But I stayed put, waiting for the perfect moment. Zac’s brother’s upcoming wedding. A month later, I made a call to Marcus. “Hey, Marcus, just thought I’d give you a heads-up. Mom might be planning to transfer the house to Zac. “I’m serious. Zac’s mentioned it a few times already. Originally, we were just supposed to borrow the house for the wedding and move back to the countryside. “But it’s been a month now, and Mom’s starting to think she’s been too hard on Zac over the years. She might be trying to make it up to him!”

I was deliberately misleading Marcus. Tiara treated him like the apple of her eye; there was no way she would ever hand over the house to Zac. “Once your wedding is over next month, they might officially transfer the house. You’d better keep an eye on it!” Marcus panicked immediately. He had grown accustomed to everything in this family being his. “I knew it! Zac may seem honest on the surface, but he’s definitely plotting something!” From his tone on the phone, it sounded like Marcus was about to stomp his feet in frustration. I smiled. Look at that. This brother, whom Zac cherished and defended so much, thought so poorly of him. Marcus had dropped out of vocational school and gone to work out of town. With his wedding scheduled for just before the New Year, he wouldn’t be back until then. He was ready to call Tiara and Zac right away to demand an explanation, but I couldn’t let him ruin the fun just yet. “The moment you ask,” I cautioned him, “your mom will just brush you off. If she truly wanted you to have the house, she would’ve transferred it to you as soon as you turned eighteen instead of dragging it out until both of you were married.” “But don’t worry,” I continued with feigned sincerity, “I would never try to take something that rightfully belongs to you. You’re still young, and I feel bad for you.” I quickly sent him a photo of a draft I’d prepared—a voluntary waiver of any claim to the house. “Here, look at this. It’s legally binding. I absolutely won’t try to take the house from you!” Marcus, spoiled and with little understanding of legalities, was quickly duped. “Layla, you’re amazing! My brother’s so lucky to have married such a kind and understanding woman!” Sure. A “good wife” who was willing to sacrifice herself for them? That was how they see me. If I so much as hinted at claiming a share of the house, they’d probably curse me to high heaven. I chuckled sweetly and said, “Oh, stop it. You’re about to get married. What matters most is living a happy life with your wife!” Hearing Marcus’ cheerful laugh on the other end of the line, I smoothly changed the subject. “By the way, have you decided who’ll host your wedding? These days, brides care so much about having a proper ceremony. Zac and I just had a small family gathering with no vows, no ring exchange, none of that special stuff.” I sighed dramatically, “Thinking back, it all feels like something was missing.” Marcus, still trying to process what I’d said, started to get anxious. “I’m not very educated, Layla, and I’m not familiar with all that. Do you think it’s too late to arrange something now? If you don’t mind, could you help me out?”

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It was supposed to be just another night shift in the ER on New Year’s Eve. But then, an emergency came through: an unexpected case of a ruptured corpus luteum. And to my shock, the patient was none other than my girlfriend, Emily Kent. We’d been together for three years. Because Emily couldn’t accept pre-marital intimacy, I hadn’t even kissed her yet. But as I looked at the three men who’d come with her, I was completely stunned. What in the world was going on? “Dr. Ford, we have a patient. Dr. Betsby wants you to take a look.” On New Year’s Eve, my night shift was at the ER. I glanced at the clock. It was nearly time to go, but the nurse rushed in, asking for my help. “What’s the situation?” I asked. The nurse hesitated, looking slightly uncomfortable. “It’s a ruptured corpus luteum.” I wasn’t fazed by the news. After years in the field, nothing really shocked me anymore, but I could tell from the nurse’s expression that this wasn’t just a run-of-the-mill case. Still, I didn’t give it much thought until I grabbed the patient file. Emily. The name hit me like a punch to the gut. I stared at it, then down at the date of birth. The age matched, too. I tried to shake it off. It had to be a coincidence, right? It was a common name, after all. I was too busy to ask more questions. The emergency room wasn’t the place for distractions. As we walked to the room, the nurse dropped another bombshell. “She came in with three men… It might be related to, well, what happened.” She wasn’t being direct, but I picked up on the implication. Ruptured corpus luteum? It wasn’t common unless something intense had happened. I wasn’t sure if the girl did this willingly, so I couldn’t call the police yet. Still, I asked, “It wasn’t forced, right?” The nurse immediately reassured me. “No, no. Absolutely not.” Then, with a flush creeping up her neck, she added, “You’ll see when you meet her.” When I walked into the room, everything hit me at once. I heard a familiar soft voice coming from the bed. “It’s not your fault. I just got too excited and didn’t know my own limits…” My heart froze. That voice was definitely my girlfriend’s. I had no words. I had planned to take her home to meet my parents on January 2nd. But now… I stepped forward, my hands trembling as I pushed the door open. And when I saw Emily lying there in that hospital bed, my stomach twisted into a knot. She glanced at me, and her smiling face turned stormy in an instant. “Claudio? What are you doing here?!” She snapped, her voice like a whip. Then, her eyes narrowed, and she screamed, “What are you standing there for? Can’t you see I’m in an emergency? You want me dead or what?” I swallowed my anger, pushing it down. “What’s going on, Emily? Care to explain?” My voice was strained. “Are you telling me you slept with these three men?” She didn’t answer with words. Instead, she slapped me hard across the face. “Are you insane?” Her eyes burned with fury. “Who told you a ruptured corpus luteum means someone’s been having sex? You’re a doctor! Can’t you even think straight?” She continued, “What? Are you implying that someone coming for a gynecological check-up automatically has a messed-up personal life? “These are my friends! If they hadn’t brought me to the hospital, I wouldn’t even know where I was! “You, as my boyfriend, should’ve been more responsible instead of jumping to conclusions and slandering me! “How shameless can you be?!” The three men who’d been standing silently by her side suddenly seemed to gain confidence, each of them growing bolder by the second. The one with yellowed teeth sneered at me. “We’re just friends, man. Just cut off your wild thoughts. You think you’re worthy of being a doctor?” His voice was mocking, dripping with disdain. “We saved your girlfriend and didn’t even ask for anything in return. You should be grateful.” I looked Emily dead in the eyes, my mind racing. “Friends? Funny, I never knew about these friends of yours.” Her teeth clenched, and I saw her face turn red. “Do you seriously think I’m supposed to tell you everything about my life? I’m allowed to have my own privacy, you know! “You say you respect me, but all you’re doing is trying to control me!” I could only laugh bitterly, but I didn’t respond. What could I even say at this point? Emily’s anger flared again. “You’re unbelievable!” Her voice cracked as she continued, “I’m about to die, and instead of being supportive, you’re accusing me!” “You’re a doctor, Claudio,” she hissed, “and yet you’re treating me like this? If you keep this up, I’ll report you!”

Emily’s shouting attracted a crowd of onlookers. Some people pulled out their phones and started recording, while the nurse tried to stop the spectators and warned Emily not to make false accusations. Emily cried out, “What? He can spread rumors about me, but I’m not allowed to defend myself? “What kind of hospital is this, letting doctors bully patients like that?” Some of the onlookers started shouting, “Why are you slandering this young lady?” “Exactly! This doctor looks all respectable, but he’s so dirty on the inside!” Seizing the moment, Emily yelled, “I don’t want Claudio to treat me! I’d rather die than let this unprofessional person touch me!” The nurse grew a little frantic. “Ma’am, Dr. Ford is the most authoritative doctor on duty tonight.” “A man is the expert in gynecology? Are you serious?” Emily pushed herself upright in the bed, her eyes flashing with anger. “You’re all in this together! Your hospital just wants me dead!” “No, Ma’am…” The nurse didn’t get to finish before the tallest man among the three shoved her aside and landed a punch straight to her face. “Are you deaf or what? You’re dragging this out, trying to kill her, aren’t you? “It’s New Year’s Eve! How could you even do this?” The young nurse held her face, tears flooding instantly. I quickly stepped in front of her, shouting, “What the hell you’re doing?!” Before the man could respond, Emily started crying, “Oh, I get it! No wonder you couldn’t care less about me and are trying to ruin me with lies! Turns out you’re having an affair with this nurse!” “An affair? Emily, you told me you were afraid of being woken up by fireworks, so you went to sleep early. And now you’re here with three men, almost hospitalized for a ruptured corpus luteum. Who’s really the one having an affair? “If you’re going to accuse me of slander, fine. I’ll call the cops right now. They’ll clear your name for you!” The crowd around us seemed to agree. But the three men began to panic. The yellow-toothed one looked at Emily. “Wait, that’s not supposed to happen!” Emily’s face turned pale. “You’re calling the cops now just to delay my treatment. You want me dead, don’t you? Why can’t you just wait until I’m better to explain? “We’ve been together for all these years, and you don’t trust me at all?” I gritted my teeth. Trust? Three years ago, under pressure from my family, I met Emily through an arranged date. Her parents had divorced, each moving on with their own lives, leaving her without anyone to depend on. Her life had been difficult, and her father would often demand money from her; when he didn’t get it, he would block her in and beat her. In our first month together, I felt sorry for her and gave her six thousand dollars out of my eight-thousand-dollar salary, never questioning where it went. She had nowhere to live, so I gave her the code to my apartment. She wanted to travel, and without a second thought, I paid for her trip. I gave her my trust completely. To everyone else, it seemed like we’d get married soon. Why else would I give her so much? But the truth was, I had never even kissed Emily. She cried to me once, telling me how she had caught her mother cheating, and their intimate acts made her uncomfortable. I respected her wishes and decided to wait until after marriage to deal with it. What did I get in return? I gave a bitter smile. “You said I was slandering you, didn’t you? Calling the police to clear your name is the least I can do.” “The police are having dinner with their families. Can’t you have some decency? Stop wasting their time!” The yellow-toothed man shouted at me. The crowd around us started to catch on. “If they have nothing to hide, then why not let the police come?” “I think this woman’s the one who’s cheating.”

The three men swung their arms and shouted at the crowd, “What’s wrong with you people? Why are you all here? Focus on your family instead of making a scene here, or you’ll be the ones in the hospital next!” Their words stirred up the crowd, and it looked like things were about to get chaotic. The director arrived quickly with a team of security guards to disperse the crowd and told me to go home and rest. She’d handle the rest. I gritted my teeth and looked at Emily. “We’re done,” I muttered before turning to leave. As soon as I stepped outside the hospital, I called home. “I’m not bringing Emily back.” My parents were surprised, but I didn’t have time to explain. I quickly texted my friend: [Send me the hotel booking from last night.] The whole New Year period passed by in a haze of gloom for me, and my parents didn’t dare ask any questions. It wasn’t until the third day of the New Year that our whole family went out to celebrate my grandmother’s birthday. But what I didn’t expect was that Emily and her mother showed up at the celebration. Seeing the determined look on Emily’s face, I felt a twinge of panic and had no choice but to step forward and warn her. “Emily, I’ve already made it clear. Stop making a scene here.” “What scene? I’m just here to celebrate your grandma’s birthday.” Emily smiled and tried to walk toward my grandmother. I grabbed her arm. “Emily, we’re done!” Emily stared at me in disbelief, then suddenly burst into tears. “Claudio, what are you talking about? How can we be done?! “You heartless bastard! You don’t want to be responsible for me, do you?” With a loud scream, she drew the attention of everyone in the room. She sobbed uncontrollably, pointing at my nose. “Oh, so you slept with me and now you don’t want me anymore?!” My family gathered around, and my parents rushed to ask, “Claudio, what’s going on?” “Didn’t you hear? Claudio slept with this girl, and now he doesn’t want her anymore! How could anyone be so irresponsible?” My aunt looked at Emily and said, “Hey, isn’t this the girl Claudio said he was going to marry? Guess that was just an excuse, huh?” My mom slapped me across the face. “Claudio, you’d better explain yourself now!” “Mom, it was Emily who cheated first! I found out, and that’s why I broke up with her! “And as for sleeping with her, I never even touched her!” “You’re lying!” Emily cried out, turning to my parents. “If I really cheated, why would I come to see Claudio? I’m from a decent family. Why would I embarrass myself like that? “Claudio, you’re insulting me, aren’t you? Just because you slept with me and now you don’t want to admit it?! “We’re all adults, and you might be a player. But why did you fool me around?” As soon as she finished, her mother collapsed onto the floor, crying. “God, what have we done to deserve this? My daughter’s been suicidal, and it’s all because of this scoundrel! If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive your family!” Since my uncle’s business was large, my grandmother’s birthday party had not just my aunts and uncles but also all my cousins who were involved in business. To avoid negative influence, they all started pointing at me, demanding an explanation. “Claudio, our family’s always been decent. When has something this disgusting ever happened? If you really did this, then take responsibility and marry her! Don’t ruin our family’s reputation. Do you want our companies to go bankrupt?” “Yeah, stop crying, girl. If Claudio’s really the bastard you say he is, we’ll support you.” Emily, thinking she had the upper hand, cried even harder and ran up to my grandmother. “Ma’am, Claudio did this horrible thing just to ruin your birthday!” My uncle immediately turned pale, quickly pulling Emily away from my grandmother, and then pointed at me, shouting, “Claudio, you bastard! Hurry up and get it over with!” “I always wondered why Claudio wasn’t in a rush to get married, and now I know. He’s just playing games! If he got married, he’d be tied down, right?” “Seriously, everyone thought he was a good kid, but now we see what he’s really like. His mom wanted to leave the company to him? Someone like this doesn’t deserve to inherit anything!” My aunt began boasting about her own son’s achievements. My parents, caught in the middle, were also getting anxious. My grandmother, seeing how upset everyone was, almost fainted from the stress. To avoid a heart attack, she was quickly escorted away by my aunt. My uncle came up and punched me. “Look at the mess you’ve made! You just can’t wait to see the worst, can you? “You either take responsibility now and marry the girl or get the hell out!” He then told my parents to go home and get my documents so we could get married immediately. When my parents didn’t move, he started yelling at them too. “You’ve spoiled this little brat! He acts all decent, but look at what he’s doing!” Emily wiped away her tears. “Sir, if Claudio is willing to marry me right now, I won’t hold anything against him.” My aunt grabbed Emily’s hand. “Good girl, I’m so sorry you’ve been treated this way,” she said, then scolded me, “Go marry her now!” I replied, “I will never marry this shameless woman! Why don’t you believe me?” With a loud crash, Emily’s mother flipped the table. “Look at this! He’s making excuses just because he doesn’t want to take responsibility, even insulting my daughter! “If you’re determined to make things ugly, you should be ready for the consequences!” I smirked and looked at Emily and her mother. “Really? You don’t care about your dignity? Well, that makes things easier.” The crowd hesitated, glancing at me. Emily suddenly grew frantic. “Claudio, what do you mean?”

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When I unexpectedly lost the baby, Bobby George was waiting in line to buy the first cup of cocoa of autumn for his first love, Zara Monroe. Seeing my pale face, he gently covered her eyes. “Bad luck, don’t look.” Then he coldly said to me, “Don’t think I don’t know you purposely made your face so pale. What are you pretending for?” Afterward, he took Zara’s hand and turned to leave. Late that night, I heard Bobby play sleep-inducing piano music for Zara, who couldn’t sleep. I calmly dialed a number. I said, “Dad, I’ve made up my mind. I want to go back and take over our family business.” Listening to the sleep-inducing piano music echoing in the house, I thought about the child I had just lost. I calmly made a call. “Dad, I’ve made up my mind. I want to go home and take over our family business.” I didn’t even know Bobby could play the piano after five years of being together. Maybe it wasn’t that he couldn’t play, but rather, I wasn’t worthy of having him play the piano for me. Just as I hung up the phone, Bobby came out of the piano room. He wore a white shirt, and his eyes still held some lingering tenderness. In the past, when he came home, he was always too tired to talk and would fall asleep immediately. He never had the leisure to play the piano for half a night. “Who were you on the phone with?” Bobby asked, his eyes still glued to his phone. He scrolled through his phone and smiled carelessly. I told him the truth. It was my dad. He hummed in response and didn’t ask further. I knew he didn’t care about my family either. After all, we had been in a relationship for five years, and he had never once mentioned meeting my parents. He had never been interested in my family. When Bobby picked up a cup of water, he noticed that it wasn’t the honey water he usually drank. For the first time, his gaze reluctantly shifted to me. “You said you were going to the hospital today. Did you go?” he asked. I looked down at my phone and typed. “I did.” “Did you have a sickness?” Bobby asked casually. I smiled bitterly and shrugged. “No sickness.” It wasn’t really a sickness. I was pregnant. I had planned to surprise him. But on the way, I had an accident and lost the baby. It was pointless to talk about it now. After all, he and Zara were both there when it happened. “I think you’re just overreacting,” he said. “By the way, don’t forget my honey water next time.” Bobby reminded me about his honey water and went into the study with a smile. He didn’t even notice my pale face. I checked out his Facebook page with my secondary account. Sure enough, there was a post visible to everyone except me. [Guarantee Letter. I guarantee to buy Zara the first cup of cocoa of autumn every year from now on. I’ll never forget, and I’ll keep my promise. As compensation for almost forgetting this year, I’ll deliver breakfast to her every day for the next week.] I sneered as I read the comments below that praised them as so sweet in love. The pair of cheaters were getting compliments. I immediately contacted my family’s legal team. Since I had decided to separate, everything that belonged to me should be returned.

The next morning, Bobby woke up early and went to a famous restaurant to buy food. I was about to open the heat-preserving bag when Bobby slapped my hand. “Don’t you like salad?” he asked. “This one is for you. Eat this.” I was stunned for a moment, then quickly remembered the content from his post yesterday. It seemed that the beautifully packaged food was for Zara. I stared at the salad being pushed toward me and coldly said, “Bobby, we’ve been in a relationship for five years. Don’t you know I don’t eat salad? Don’t you know the smell makes me sick?” Bobby froze, saying coldly, “It’s good enough that I bought it for you. Eat it if you want, stop being so picky.” I glared at Bobby, who didn’t care about my preferences. I turned and went back to the room, pulling out a bag. I said, “When you see Zara, give her this pair of underwear I found in the master bedroom.” Bobby looked surprised, then quickly tried to explain, “Zara always leaves things behind. I’ll remind her to be more careful next time.” “As your secretary, Zara left something in the master bedroom. She really needs to be more careful,” I scoffed. “Jasmine, watch your words. I won’t allow you to speak badly of Zara,” Bobby huffed, irritated. I couldn’t be bothered to say anything more, just coldly watching him. Bobby seemed to realize his reaction was too strong, so he offered to take me to work today. Just when he thought I would be grateful, I shook my head and refused. We had been together for five years, and I had been there for him during the difficult days of building the business. Even when I had stomach bleeding from drinking with clients, I never got the privilege of having Bobby pick me up and drop me off from work. Now, finally, he offered this, but it was to make up for another woman. It was laughable. This kind of compensation meant nothing to me. I turned and left the house. Once I arrived at the office, I began preparing my resignation letter. For some reason, most of my colleagues looked at me with sympathetic eyes. “Ms. Harper, you’re finally here,” my assistant, Lexie Dunn said hesitantly. I looked at her anxious expression, realizing she was genuinely worried about me. I gave her my only real smile in the past few days. “What’s the matter? Why are you so urgent?” I asked. “Ms. Harper, you should see this.” Lexie showed me a video. It was shot at the company entrance. Bobby was holding a cup of cocoa while gently helping Zara out of the car and taking her bag. They smiled at each other, as if they were a couple. The sight of Bobby’s careful actions and his tender gaze broke my heart. Zara was his first love. Compared to her, I was just an unimportant person who had been there since the beginning of his business. Looking at the cocoa in Bobby’s hand, I couldn’t help but recall the message he sent me a few days ago. [What kind of cocoa do girls usually like?] At that time, I happily named my favorite. I even read many articles about the first cocoa of the fall season. But then, I saw Zara’s post: [The first cocoa of the fall is here!] The picture was of the cocoa I liked. That was when I realized that Bobby had never planned to treat me well. I remembered how he found all kinds of reasons to hire an art student as a secretary. He must have had many intentions from the start. I was the only fool who believed that Bobby would never betray me. I looked at the broken mug in front of me. It had slipped from my hand and shattered. Bitter coffee spilled out, just like my mood. I was broken and bitter. I gritted my teeth and stepped on the pieces. I said, “It’s fine. I know everything. I’m resigning. None of this will matter to me anymore.” I gave Lexie a new phone number, then turned and entered the CEO’s office. I threw my resignation letter in front of Bobby. I said, “Bobby, I’m resigning. Please settle my salary. Oh, and my shares, I want them cashed out.”

Bobby lifted his head from the documents and frowned. He sulked, “What nonsense are you pulling? Just because I didn’t go to the hospital with you yesterday? We’re adults. Does it even matter if I accompany you? You’re grown. Are you afraid of getting lost? By the way, how’s the business in Flibus going?” I saw his impatience and repeated myself, “I want to resign. Convert all my shares. Please arrange it as soon as possible.” He stared at me and snorted, “Do you even know what you’re saying? I was planning to propose to you, and now you’re talking about settling accounts. Wasn’t marrying me your dream all along?” I stayed silent and just looked at him. There was a time I wished to spend my life with him. If it were the old me, I’d have been thrilled to hear these words. But now, using marriage to keep me tethered was impossible. Whether he agreed or not, I could still reclaim everything with the Harper family behind me. I couldn’t stay in this wretched company another day. My silence made Bobby nervous. He said, “Jasmine, I know I’ve been too kind to Zara lately. She’s my classmate and my secretary. She’s alone in this city, so it’s only right to help her. “I admit I’ve neglected you. I’ll make it up to you. “Tell me, is there something you’ve wanted recently?” “Bobby, this dress you bought is beautiful!” Zara’s cheerful voice interrupted his words. I turned to see Zara wearing the latest dress in the lounge. She looked at him sweetly. She said, “Sorry, Ms. Harper. I didn’t know you were here. I just wanted to thank Bobby for the dress. You don’t mind, do you?” She casually flipped her hair, revealing a bracelet on her wrist. It was a familiar bracelet. Bobby had been wearing the same one recently. I recalled how surprised I was when I first saw him wearing it. Bobby never wore accessories. When I asked why, he casually said it was for luck. But now, it was clear he wore it to please Zara. I didn’t care about it anymore. I wouldn’t care even if they wore wedding rings someday. I sneered, “Why would I mind? Once I resign, you two can change clothes here or even strip if you want. Do whatever you like.” Bobby snapped, “Enough, Jasmine! I’ve been speaking to you nicely. But your attitude toward Zara is unacceptable. Apologize to her now!”

Bobby snapped, “Get out of my office if you won’t apologize!” I countered, “If you don’t want to see me, then give me my money. I’ll leave immediately.” Bobby hesitated. I knew he didn’t want to spend a large amount of money. He also didn’t want to lose a loyal and useful “subordinate” like me. But that had nothing to do with me. Even though I came from a wealthy family and didn’t lack money, I would take back what was mine. I wondered how long these cheaters’ luck would last. “Mr. George, I’ll wait for your call. Don’t contact me about company matters anymore.” I turned and left without hesitation. Before I received a call from Bobby, I got one from his mother. Bethany George said warmly, “Jasmine, it’s my birthday the day after tomorrow. You must come to celebrate with me.” I was surprised. It was unusual for Bethany to call me. Everyone in the George family knew she didn’t like me. She had criticized me in front of their relatives many times. Now she was inviting me to her birthday party, likely setting a trap for me. I agreed with a cold smile, “Sure, I’ll come. Anything else?” Since I didn’t care anymore, I’d go and watch the show. “Can you bring the bracelet you wanted to buy me?” she asked. Greed was evident in her voice. I laughed silently. She didn’t like me but expected a gift. The George family members were greedy. I hung up the phone. Shortly after, I received a text from Bobby. [You don’t need to come to my mom’s birthday. Make sure to prepare a handmade cake.] Ever since Bobby and I were together, I had made cakes for his family every year. As a pampered lady, I had burned my hands countless times to make them happy. I received nothing in return. No one appreciated my efforts. And now, he had the nerve to tell me to do it again. I called the housekeeper. “Prepare a cake for me. Any flavor is fine, and it doesn’t need to be fancy. Write some words on it.”

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