On Christmas Eve, my parents once again left me alone at home for triple overtime pay. Thinking of the past twenty years when they always did this, I no longer wanted to spend the holiday alone and cold. So I packed some dumplings and went to find them. Unexpectedly, my parents, who always talked about earning more money, stepped out of a luxury car, arm in arm with a boy about my age, laughing as they entered a five-star restaurant. “Mom, Dad, is it okay to leave Sarah alone at home?” I heard someone ask. My mother casually replied, “It’s fine, she’s used to it.” My father dismissively added, “She can’t compare to you. You’re our precious child!” I turned and left. They had deceived me by pretending to be poor. This time, I didn’t care for their company either! Back home, I dumped all the food on the table. In the past, I would never have wasted food. From as early as I can remember, I knew our family wasn’t well off. All my food and clothes came from my parents’ frugal savings. Even my clothes were rarely new. Every season, my mother would bring home a bag of second-hand clothes, saying, “These are from your mother’s colleague’s older sister. They’ve been washed clean, so we don’t need to buy new ones.” I don’t know where she got these old clothes from, but throughout my childhood, I hardly ever wore new clothes. I always wore ill-fitting clothes, and my classmates would make fun of me, saying I was a ragpicker. I could only study hard, thinking that one day I would be able to buy new clothes with my own efforts. During holidays, I would hand over all the money relatives gave me to my parents, just to ease their burden. But who knew they had no burden at all? I checked, and that luxury car belonged to the wealthy Johnson family in town. The Johnson’s son had once driven that car, showing off with a celebrity girlfriend. I had seen that gossip news too, and the face of that rich young man was the same as the boy I saw tonight. So, it turns out I’m actually from a wealthy family! I found it amusing, sniffed, and went back to search my parents’ room. Perhaps they were too careless to keep the contract at home. When I saw my father’s name signed on a contract worth hundreds of millions, with a Mont Blanc pen tucked in the documents, my suspended heart finally died. I put everything back as it was and quietly returned to my room, covering myself with the blanket to sleep. I only hoped that when I woke up, everything would be a dream. Early the next morning, my parents were already busy in the kitchen. Looking at the breakfast on the table, I suddenly realized, who eats seafood porridge early in the morning? The taste of this porridge was exactly the same as the seafood feast the professor treated us to last time. I glanced at the garbage bag by the door, and sure enough. “Mom, Dad, has our family suddenly become rich?” I asked, sitting at the table watching them. My mother looked surprised, “Sarah, what are you talking about?” “Then how can we afford such expensive seafood porridge?” I pointed at the garbage bag by the door, and my mother’s face immediately changed. My father chuckled lightly, “That’s from when I worked overtime with the boss last night. He packed it for me, but I couldn’t bear to eat it, so I brought it back.” “With our meager salaries, how could we afford seafood porridge?” So that’s it. I nodded, drinking the porridge, inwardly laughing coldly. Seafood porridge, $80 a serving. Last night’s dinner probably cost thousands! If they were truly poor, I would have found this porridge delicious. Now, it just tasted like chewing wax. I only took two bites before getting up. “I’m full.” “Sarah, why are you eating so little? Are you not feeling well?” My mother looked worried, her gaze not seeming fake. I shook my head and smiled, “No, aren’t we going to Grandpa’s house today? I’m saving room to eat something good at lunch!” Hearing this, my mother sighed in relief. My father looked guilty and was about to say something when his phone rang. I glanced at the screen, the contact was saved as “Precious son Jack.” Jack Johnson was his precious son, so what was I? My father hurried to the balcony, and my mother followed. I vaguely heard him saying things like “be sensible” and “don’t let Sarah find out.” My heart turned completely cold. So, they had known all along, just conspiring to keep it from me. I even wondered if the world I lived in was like The Truman Show. But they seemed so real.

After hanging up the phone, my father came to me and took out a red envelope, “Sarah, something urgent came up at Dad’s company, I have to go!” Mom comforted me: “It’s okay, Mom will go with you.” I nodded, took the red envelope, and put it in my pocket. I got ready with Mom to go to Grandpa’s house. When we arrived, Grandpa saw me and pulled me in, “Sarah’s here, come in quickly, it’s cold outside!” His palm was smooth and delicate, not at all like an old worker’s hands. This apartment building belonged to the steel mill. Supposedly, Grandpa was a retired old worker from the factory. Looking at his pampered appearance, he didn’t seem like it at all. Grandma saw me and quickly gave me a red envelope. I took it and said, “Thank you, Grandma.” Then I directly put it in my pocket. Mom looked a bit stunned beside me because according to the usual routine, I would give her the money right after receiving it. At those times, Mom would always say, “Sarah is so sensible.” But today was different, even Grandma was a bit surprised, then smiled and said, “Our Sarah now knows how to save her Christmas money!” I raised an eyebrow and smiled, “I’m not hiding it. Mom said the Christmas should have new changes, so I want to keep some pocket money for myself.” “That’s right, Sarah is so sensible now. She earns her own tuition and living expenses!” Mom chimed in. Without being told, I knew Grandma had given me at most $50. Compared to tuition fees, this $50 was nothing! They’re so rich now, yet still squeezing me at every turn. I don’t understand. This harsh education, aimed only at me, what exactly do they mean? Grandma didn’t say anything, but went into the kitchen and started bustling about. The food she brought out, I lost my appetite after just two bites. This food was exactly the same as what I saw at the five-star restaurant last night. Now I can finally be sure, the whole family is wealthy, and my parents are just pretending to be poor. Even Grandpa and Grandma are playing along with the act. After the meal, Mom received a phone call and hurriedly left, citing work. Grandpa and Grandma yawned, looking sleepy, so I couldn’t stay any longer and had to leave. But I didn’t go far, instead hiding around the corner to watch quietly. Sure enough, not 20 minutes after I left, a stretched Lincoln car drove up, and Grandma and Grandpa got in, surrounded by a group of people, leaving without looking back. I took a deep breath, put on my mask, and walked up. I saw several cleaning ladies tidying up. One of them sighed, “I don’t know what this family is thinking, coming to live here for just one day a year, cooking one meal, and then leaving!” “At least they pay well for the cleaning!” “You don’t know, this family does this every year, it’s been going on for over 20 years. They have a villa in the south of the city, this is just rich people experiencing life!” Hearing them say this, my heart turned completely cold. The Johnson family, the richest in the south of the city, had their villa in Hillside Garden. I cycled over to find it. Seeing that magnificent villa perched on the hillside, with bodyguards outside, I couldn’t even imagine living in such a place. When they saw me approach, a bodyguard immediately barked, “Who are you? Get lost!” I took a deep breath, and just as I was about to turn and leave, a motorcycle roared past from outside. I had seen it online, this motorcycle cost about $300,000. The rider was none other than Jack.

He saw me too, clearly surprised. He stopped and looked me up and down, a sneer on his face, “Not so stupid after all, you knew to come here!” I was stunned. So, he knew about my existence too! “Why? Why is it like this!” “Jack, am I their adopted daughter? Or are you doing some project, and I’m just a subject in your observation experiment?” Jack seemed to see through my confusion. He raised an eyebrow and shook a finger, “No, you’re a Johnson too. A biological daughter.” “As for why you were raised poor, there’s only one reason. Because I am the sole heir to the Johnson family!” “Sarah, you were born just one minute before me. What right do you have to compete with me?” “This is not a place for you to come. Get lost!” “Poor thing, don’t look at me like that. Mom and Dad put a lot of effort into raising you!” “Oh, and don’t go visit Grandpa and Grandma for Christmas’s anymore. They’re old and don’t have the energy to act for you!” Jack accelerated into the estate. I stood outside for a long time, understanding. My birth with Jack seemed to be related to the inheritance of the family fortune. But what did I do wrong? I just wanted to receive the most sincere love from my parents. They lied to me for so many years, but their kindness to me was also real. But now, looking at the villa and that motorcycle, I began to doubt how much of their kindness to me was genuine. I turned to leave. Before leaving, I called my father: “Dad, are you coming home for dinner tonight?” “Not coming back, Sarah. Working overtime tonight, triple pay for these three days of the Christmas!” “Oh, and your mom’s the same!” But I clearly heard the roar of a motorcycle from his phone. I softly responded “Mm,” having made a decision deep in my heart. Back home, I started packing my things while signing up for a special research project announced by the university. This project was in the western region, lasting three years, isolated from the world, with no one to disturb me. After packing, I developed the photo I had taken of Jack’s back and placed it on the bedside table at home. That day, they didn’t come back. I was alone at home. I called my father again, but no one answered. Meanwhile, the Johnson family’s Jade Corporation started distributing red envelopes. An employee thanked the boss on social media. She was just an ordinary employee, but her red envelope contained $300! Many employees showed off the company benefits. My parents were clearly on stage, one in a suit and the other holding a glass of wine. My mom was wearing exquisite makeup, looking every bit the wealthy lady. Below the stage, Jack was surrounded by people like a star, and there was even a family photo. My parents seemed certain that I was only focused on making money and had no time to pay attention to online gossip. They forgot that I’m just an ordinary girl, raised poor by them. How could I not pay attention? A reporter interviewed them, asking about their Christmas plans. My father faced the camera, “This year my son Jack is twenty-two. We arrange a trip every year, and we’re leaving today!” My heart suddenly sank. I’m twenty-two too. If the farthest place I’ve been is the local zoo for a school spring tour in elementary school. I sneered, picked up my household registration book, and rubbed it. It’s laughable. After I went to college, my parents transferred my household registration to the school. They said I was an adult now and should be responsible for myself. Now is the perfect time to leave. I picked up my luggage and left without hesitation. Dad, Mom, goodbye forever!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295504”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

On the day of our divorce, my wife and I were in the same car when we met with an accident. In her final moments, she didn’t whisper my name. Instead, she expressed regret. “If I could do it all over again, I’d choose Ryan Curtis. With him, I felt truly alive…” When we opened our eyes again, we had both been reborn. We found ourselves back on the day I had proposed to her. She glanced at me, quickly pulled her hand away, and ran towards Ryan Curtis. I silently let her go, wanting her to be happy. But later, she came back, begging me for another chance. The moment I was reborn, I found myself back on that Valentine’s Day when I had planned to propose to Emma White. The campus lawn was a sea of flowers, the lights were dazzling, everything was set up like a dream. I looked around, searching for that familiar figure—Emma White. I watched as her eyes gradually changed from confusion to clarity, and then to realization. I knew then that she had been reborn too, with memories of our past life. Including the car accident that took our lives, and her last words to me, “If I could do it all over again…” She glanced at me, her eyes cold as they swept over my face. With a fake smile, she said, “Jack, thank you for everything you’ve prepared, but…” Her gaze fixed on someone in the crowd. I followed her line of sight. There stood Ryan Curtis, dressed in a crisp black suit, his tie perfectly knotted, holding a bouquet of vibrant roses that seemed even more dazzling under the lights. He stood there, as if waiting for an important moment. Although I had a premonition, facing it in reality still felt like a stab to the heart. “Emma…” I called out softly. Just then, Emma did something I never expected. She pulled her hand away from mine and walked towards Ryan without hesitation. At that moment, I felt as if I could hear my own heart breaking, but I also clearly saw the urgency on her face. “Jack, I’m sorry,” Emma’s voice came, cold and determined. “I… I’ve realized that Ryan is the one I truly love. I hope you can understand and let me go.” She held Ryan’s hand tightly. Ryan was stunned at first, then his face lit up with joy. He hugged Emma tightly, “Emma, you’ve finally faced your true feelings. I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”

At that moment, I stood in the center of the proposal scene, surrounded by whispers. Emma’s voice was clear and firm. The look in her eyes as she gazed at Ryan was full of tenderness and expectation, a light that once belonged to me. I took a deep breath, “Emma, I respect your decision. From now on, let’s go our separate ways and wish each other well.” As I said these words, I felt an unprecedented sense of relief, as if a thousand-pound weight had been lifted off my shoulders. Ryan smiled smugly, putting his arm around Emma’s shoulders as if declaring his victory to the world. “Emma, I’ll make you happy. In the future, I want to see you cheering for me at every concert; and all those romantic trips, I want to experience them with you.” Emma smiled like a little girl, her eyes sparkling with happiness, “Ryan, as long as I’m with you, I’m willing to do anything.” I turned and left without looking back. The lights in the bar were dim and warm. I had invited my roommates to join me there. “Jack, are you okay?” My roommate Andy patted me on the shoulder, asking with concern. I raised my glass, drained it in one go, and laughed, “I’m fine, really. Don’t look at me like that, I’m actually happy. I finally don’t have to comfort Emma every day.” My roommates exchanged glances, seemingly not quite believing my words. But I knew it was true. Leaving Emma was a relief for me. Thinking back to our past life, Emma and I had been inseparable since childhood. Our parents always joked that we were a match made in heaven, and they had even planned our future for us. We did dream about it too, dating after graduation and then walking down the aisle. “Jack, what do you think our future home will be like?” Back then, her eyes were full of hope for the future. “No matter what it’s like, as long as you’re there, it’s home,” I answered with a smile, fully believing that would be our forever. But what about after marriage? Days passed like flowing water, so bland it was unsettling. She started complaining, saying life lacked color. And I, busy with my career, ignored her changes. Until Ryan Curtis became famous, he shone brightly on stage, easily stealing her heart. She started coming home late, sometimes not coming home at all. When I questioned her, she casually said, “Jack, let’s just do our own thing, that way everyone’s happy.” My heart felt like it was being pricked by needles. “Emma, we have a home,” I tried to salvage things, but she wasn’t listening anymore. “No, we’re just doing our own thing, you don’t need to interfere with my freedom,” she coldly replied. Finally, I proposed divorce, the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life. She was surprised at first, then angry, but finally she laughed, a laugh so sarcastic. “Jack Miller, do you know? Every day with Ryan is happier than all the happiness in the first half of my life combined.” At that moment, I completely gave up. It turned out that our marriage, to her, was nothing but a constraint. And I finally understood that letting go was the greatest salvation for myself.

The bar lights were hazy and dim, alcohol slowly flowing through my veins, bringing waves of dizziness. I stood up, intending to go to the bathroom to sober up, but my feet unconsciously drifted towards the deep end of the corridor. Just then, from the crack of a not-quite-closed private room door, came a familiar yet strange voice. “That Jack Miller guy is so boring, all he knows is work, he has no zest for life at all.” It was Emma’s voice, filled with disdain and disgust. “You understand me, Emma. Compared to him, I’m the one who can truly make you happy.” Ryan’s voice was full of pride. My heart suddenly tightened, and my footsteps involuntarily stopped. How could they be here? And how could they talk about me so recklessly? Out of curiosity, I gently pushed open the half-open door, only to see the room filled with smoke, a group of people sitting around the table, with Emma and Ryan at the center, both wearing ambiguous smiles. Seeing me, the atmosphere in the room instantly froze, all eyes focused on me. Emma’s face turned ugly, she stood up and questioned, “Jack Miller, what are you doing here? Didn’t we break up already? Why are you still here to disturb us?” Seeing this, Ryan’s lips curled into a provocative smile, he stood up, trying to assert his dominance with a kiss. I took a deep breath, trying to keep calm, “I was just passing by, I didn’t mean to disturb you. Besides, I’ve already said, from now on, we go our separate ways.” With that, I turned to leave without lingering. Just then, a figure suddenly crashed into my arms. It was Lily Greene, the daughter of the Greene family from the north side of town, someone I never thought I’d meet here. She was wearing a red spaghetti strap dress, her skin looking even fairer under the bar lights, her eyes hazy with a hint of drunkenness. She looked up at me, a half-smile playing on her lips, “Jack Miller? Did you really break up with Emma White?” I nodded, not saying much. Lily didn’t seem to mind my coldness. She leaned in closer to me and said in a low voice, “Actually, I’ve always liked you. It’s just that you were with Emma before, so I didn’t dare say anything.” I was shocked, but quickly regained my composure. Now, I no longer had the mood to consider these emotional entanglements. I gently pushed her away, saying coolly, “Lily, thank you for your kindness, but right now I just want to be alone.” However, just as I turned to leave, Lily suddenly lost her balance and fell forward. I quickly reached out to steady her, but it was too late. She collapsed onto me, followed by the sound of urgent vomiting. I sighed helplessly, having to temporarily abandon my thoughts of leaving. After thinking for a moment, I realized it wouldn’t be right to leave a girl alone in the bar. I called a driver to take us to a hotel, got a room for Lily, and was about to leave. “Jack, don’t go,” her voice was unclear, but I could hear she was calling me. I looked at her small face, flushed from alcohol, and suddenly felt a strange emotion welling up inside me. I knew her confession now was just an impulse under the influence of alcohol. I should stay calm and not let myself get caught up in it. But when I saw those hazy eyes, that look of closeness and dependence, my heart involuntarily softened. As she tugged at me, I sat down on the edge of the bed, looking at her, my heart full of conflicting emotions. “Jack, I like you,” she mumbled again, then grabbed my hand and placed it on her face. “Don’t go, stay with me, please?” At that moment, I really couldn’t resist her innocent yet slightly coquettish tone.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295503”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

In my previous life, my dad disappeared mysteriously after going mountain climbing, but we found a suicide note he’d left in a drawer beforehand. He claimed he was bankrupt, depressed, and had let Mom and me down, so he ended his life on the mountain. The police found Dad’s clothes and bloodstains at the foot of a cliff. Mom blamed herself, thinking she’d driven Dad to his death, and fell into a deep depression. It wasn’t until I had to take a part-time job as a food delivery driver to pay off Dad’s debts that I discovered the owner of a luxurious mansion had the same ordering habits as my deceased father. I started investigating and found that the mansion was occupied by my supposedly dead father and his soulmate. My father noticed my investigation, and to keep the truth hidden, he brutally murdered Mom and me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Dad said he was going mountain climbing. I smirked. Since you’re so eager to die, I’ll help you on your way. In the darkness, the sound of running water in the bathroom was unusually clear. The man in the shower was humming a tune, his mood far too cheerful for someone about to end his life. I tiptoed over to his freshly packed bag and immediately spotted the plastic bag containing the bloodstained clothes. This was it. Today was the day. In my previous life, my father, Richard Grant, had deliberately sent Mom and me away, left a suicide note, and faked his death by jumping off a cliff. After he went missing, the police found the bloodstained clothes at the foot of the mountain and concluded he “couldn’t have survived.” When Grandma heard this “terrible news,” she slapped Mom ten times with her wrinkled hands. “You two women drove my son to his death!” she screeched. “If it weren’t for you, you vain woman, my son wouldn’t have needed to start a company. He went bankrupt and couldn’t even tell you, so he had to go and die in secret…” The suicide note was full of Dad’s heartache and love for us, with only a brief mention of the astronomical debts he owed at the end. When Mom learned the truth, she was devastated. For the rest of her life, she lived in a cycle of debt repayment and self-blame. As for my grandmother, who was supposed to be “outliving her own child,” she had already secretly claimed a huge insurance payout and was traveling the world. A few years later, I accidentally discovered the truth about Dad’s fake death. It turned out that the luxurious mansion I often delivered food to was home to my father, who should have been long dead! He and his soulmate, Rose Simmons, already had a child together and were living an idyllic life in their 10,000-square-foot home. After staking out the place a few times, I even saw my grandmother, who would often come to our house crying poverty and begging for money! Unfortunately, they discovered me during my quest for the truth. At Rose’s urging, my biological father, Richard Grant, stabbed me twenty-one times. “I brought you into this world, so it’s only fitting that I send you out,” he said. As I lay bleeding and in agony, I was reborn, back to the day before my dad’s departure.

Quickly piecing together my memories from my past life, I was determined not to let my dad succeed this time. After his shower, thinking no one was home, Dad made a phone call without any attempt to hide his words. “Don’t worry, Rose. By dawn, we’ll be together forever.” “The money’s being processed. We just need to wait three more days for it all to be laundered and transferred to our account.” “I know Wendy’s personality best. Even her daughter knows she’s a love-struck fool. Once I get my mom to put on a crying act, she’ll definitely shoulder all the debts herself…” As a husband intent on squeezing every last penny from his wife, Richard Grant knew my mom inside out. For over a decade, he’d been the pinnacle of a loving husband and father on social media! Initially, everyone who doubted him for marrying above his social status gradually changed their minds. In my previous life, after the suicide note was discovered, many people even consoled Mom. They said Dad wasn’t a bad person at heart, just unlucky. Who could have imagined he would fake his own death to commit insurance fraud with a fortune in tow? As dawn broke, I heard Dad’s footsteps in the living room. It seemed he was eager to leave. After the door slammed shut, I emerged from my hiding place in the storage room and headed straight for the study. In the open drawer lay the freshly written suicide note, the ink still glistening. The contents were etched in my memory. “My beloved Wendy, this is the last love letter I’ll ever write to you. It’s my fault that I couldn’t give you the life you deserved, even after trying my hardest. Meeting you used up all my luck in this world.” “The company’s situation is dire, and I can no longer sustain it. I’m sorry I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. The only way out now is death.” “Please don’t grieve after I’m gone. All I ask is that you take care of my mother. We’ve been alone for so long, and it hasn’t been easy. Even as a spirit in another world, I’ll watch over you and our daughter. Your departed husband, Richard.” The back of the note was covered in bills. Just a few of those numbers added up would be enough to crush our mother-daughter duo for the rest of our lives. In my previous life, this suicide note was “accidentally” discovered by my grandmother. At the time, despite being barely literate, she immediately recognized what was inside and read it aloud in front of everyone. Every word dripped with false sentiment, but the countless unpaid bills were a harsh reality. Mom was already dazed from Grandma’s beating at that point. Looking back now, it was full of holes. With a loud rip, I tore the absurd paper to shreds. I opened the laptop in the study and found Dad’s company email. I easily logged in using a combination of Rose’s birthday. If it’s a suicide note he wants, I can write one too. In the email, I composed a new suicide note in Dad’s voice, pouring out his heart. I detailed how he had driven the company to bankruptcy and his plans to fake his death and run away. I confessed all the methods of his scheme in crystal clear detail. At the end, I made sure to express his earth-shattering love for Rose Simmons, his secretary and lover. “My darling Rose, don’t worry. The secret overseas account will contact you soon. Even if the whole company has to go down with me, I won’t let you suffer a single day of hardship.” The true recipient of this suicide note shouldn’t be my mom. Feeling satisfied with my handiwork, I hit the send button to all 305 contacts. The outbox instantly filled with countless records. Outside, the sky had fully brightened, and I received a message from the hiker I’d asked to keep watch. The short video showed Dad taking out the bloodstained clothes from the plastic bag, meticulously staging his own death scene. Through the screen, I watched everything with a cold smirk. “Oh, Dad, why rush to die when your grand love affair hasn’t even been witnessed by the world yet?”

When the police came to the door, I deliberately sent Mom away and answered it myself. “Hello, are you Richard Grant’s family?” one officer asked. “We received a report that he’s been missing for over twenty-four hours. We’re here to gather some information.” “That’s impossible, officer. My dad is on a business trip in New York. How could he be missing?” I replied calmly. “Are you sure he went on a business trip?” the officer pressed. Facing the police inquiry, I explained with composure. “Of course. My dad told us himself the night before last. Let me call my mom; she should still have the voice message Dad sent on her phone.” “By the way, officer, who reported this?” The two policemen glanced at their body cameras and exchanged looks. “Um, the reporter’s name is Rose Simmons. She said she’s the company secretary.” Things were starting to get interesting. Just then, the elevator doors behind us opened. “Wendy Curtis, you poisonous woman! Give me back my son’s life!” my grandmother shouted before she even saw our faces. Behind her were a bunch of relatives, all trying to squeeze in with an intimidating air. Her small, frail body swung a cane, aiming for my head. “Ava, who are you talking to at the door? Why haven’t you come in yet?” Mom called out, finally drawn by the commotion. Sharp-eyed, I quickly pulled Mom down to duck, and the tall police officer swiftly caught the cane. “Hey, why are you swinging that as soon as you arrive? Who are you people?” the officer demanded. “I’m her mother-in-law. She killed my son, so I have every right to hit her!” Grandma retorted self-righteously. The police were clearly displeased with Grandma’s words. “Ma’am, we live in a society governed by law. Even if you’re her mother-in-law, you can’t just hit people.” “Besides, the report we received only mentioned a missing person. How are you so certain your son is dead?” The atmosphere in the hallway suddenly shifted. Mom, still unaware of the truth, looked completely bewildered. I briefly explained to her about Dad being reported missing, and Mom immediately lost her composure. She took out her phone, about to try calling Dad, when Grandma snatched it away. “Stop pretending! My son must have been driven to his death by you,” Grandma accused. “Mom, what are you talking about? Richard told us himself he was going on a business trip to New York. Why do you insist he’s dead?” Mom snapped back, grabbing her phone. She found Dad’s voice message and played it for everyone to hear. The brief message clearly stated his destination and purpose. “Wendy, I’m heading to New York for a business trip. You and Ava should stay at your dad’s place for a couple of days!” The relatives who had been quick to jump to conclusions now looked at Grandma suspiciously. After all, they knew what kind of person she was. “That’s definitely Richard’s voice. That boy has always spoken softly, raised by his mother to be as delicate as a little girl,” one aunt commented. “Wait, how did Third Aunt know her son was gone?” another relative asked. “Yeah, we came in such a rush. On the way here, Third Sister kept repeating only one thing—that her son was driven to death by his daughter-in-law. When we asked for more details, she would just cry.” “Could there be some misunderstanding? We shouldn’t stick our necks out just for a free meal.” So all this commotion was just for a free meal? Grandma sure was stingy. Just like in my previous life. After receiving the huge insurance payout, Grandma had kept a large portion for herself. She traveled, wined, and dined, showing off her luxurious life in the family group chat, making everyone envious. Later, if it weren’t for her refusing to lend money to her own nephew for medical treatment, I wouldn’t have learned from my cousin about Grandma’s lavish lifestyle while she cried poverty. Too bad, I thought. She probably won’t even get to treat them to that meal now.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295502”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn

I thought my fiancé and I, childhood sweethearts, had a true connection unlike other business marriages. Who knew that on the day we announced our engagement, the real heiress would be found. My fiancé, who once treasured me, now demanded I bow down to the real heiress at every turn. “You need to understand your place. If you hadn’t been occupying Emily’s position all this time, she would surely be more accomplished than you.” My excellence became their excuse to suppress me. They put the real heiress’s name on my work. Even my parents’ keepsakes were destroyed in the real heiress’s fit of anger. Since this family doesn’t like me, I’ll leave. But why is my fiancé, who always urged me to submit, now the first to bow his head? “This jewelry is my latest design. I hope everyone will like it,” Emily Anderson said on stage, elegantly bowing to thank the audience after explaining her design concept. The applause was thunderous, but I stared blankly at the piece on stage. This work was clearly something I had spent three months designing. I had even watched my fiancé accompany me to submit this piece. But why was it now Emily’s competition entry and concept? The murmurs around me felt like needles, each one piercing my heart. “So this is the Anderson heiress? She’s beautiful and talented. Looks like the Anderson family has a successor.” “Wasn’t the Anderson heiress different before?” “You’re behind on the news. The original Sophie Evans was switched at birth. This is the real heiress.” At this, several gazes fell on me, making me uncomfortable. “Come to think of it, Emily’s story is tragic. She was switched away for no reason. What Sophie’s parents did was criminal. It’s thanks to Emily’s kindness that this imposter is still allowed to stay in the family.” “This imposter has the nerve to keep staring at someone else’s work. Who knows what she’s thinking!” The voices were so loud that they caught the judges’ attention. “What’s all this commotion about?” I bit my lip and pointed at the work on stage: “That piece is mine.” Emily’s face changed slightly, and she immediately stepped forward to mediate. “Sister, this is my first public appearance. Do you have any issues with me?” She lowered her voice, her eyes reddening: “Sister, I know you resent me for coming back and taking your identity, but I am the Anderson daughter. I won’t yield to you in this matter.” “I spent months creating this piece. You can’t just claim it as your own for public recognition!” Emily cried, her tears barely held back, arousing sympathy from many. The most sympathetic was my fiancé, William Parker, who had just arrived. Seeing this scene, he blurted out: “Sophie, I’ve told you many times, Emily is the real Anderson heiress.” “Why can’t you just give in to Emily a bit and save me some worry?” I stared at my fiancé in disbelief. What did he mean by saying I couldn’t give in to Emily a bit? The piece on stage was something he had helped me create step by step. He knew best that I was innocent. Why did he accuse me without asking a single question? The disdainful gazes of the crowd around me felt like a tidal wave, drowning me. Bearing the pressure from everyone, I looked at William and said word by word: “This piece is mine.”

William’s face showed panic, and he instinctively glanced at the piece a few times. Emily said tearfully: “Sister, that’s clearly my work. You can’t steal my work just to become famous!” “I know you resent me for coming back to this family and taking what was yours, but have you ever thought that those things originally belonged to me?” Emily was beautiful, showing no signs of mistreatment. In fact, perhaps due to genetics, she looked more like an heiress than I did. She stood there, looking pitiful and delicate. Everyone present couldn’t help but side with her. The one who sided with her the most was my fiancé, William. His face looked troubled, and his eyes held a hint of suppressed pain when he looked at me. Even his voice trembled slightly: “Sophie, look at the mess you’ve caused.” He couldn’t help but pull me aside and said: “I know you want to be famous, but don’t you want to be with me?” “If you just let Emily have this championship, she’ll surely support our relationship in the future.” I was stunned, staring blankly at the man before me. So it was he who had given my work to Emily. No wonder my competition entry had ended up in Emily’s hands. After all, I had trusted him too much. After finishing the design, I was tired and asked him to submit the work for me. “Why? Why must I give the championship to Emily? You know this piece is my heart and soul.” “You stayed up late with me, watching this piece come to life under my hands. To me, it’s like my child. Now you’re asking me to give it to Emily. On what grounds?” As I spoke, I became agitated and even angry. But William’s reaction was even stronger. “Your parents deliberately switched Emily away, making her suffer for so many years.” “You lived in the Anderson mansion, enjoyed the best resources, lived a privileged life. Shouldn’t you feel guilty?” William looked at me with disappointment, as if I had committed some unforgivable sin. My hands trembled slightly. Why was he so sure my parents had switched Emily? When Emily found her way back to the Anderson family, my parents had already passed away. She looked so much like Mrs. Anderson that she didn’t even need a DNA test to confirm her identity. In her account, she had suffered greatly. My parents didn’t let her go to school, were cold to her, and made her do all kinds of chores. Whenever my parents were slightly displeased, they would beat her severely, and even thought about selling her for a bride price. After my parents died in a car accident, she accidentally found a letter explaining that she was a switched child. She used that letter to find her way to the Anderson family. Overnight, I went from being an heiress to the daughter of criminals. The Andersons felt sorry for this newly found daughter but were unwilling to let me leave. For a time, my situation in this family became awkward. When Emily was found, William was the only one who stood by my side. He knew I loved designing jewelry, so he stayed by my side as I created pieces. I knew the Anderson and Parker families were destined for an arranged marriage. I had occupied Emily’s position, and William’s marriage partner should have been her. So I never thought about competing with her. I just wanted to keep the man I loved by my side in my own way. I had even agreed with my adoptive parents that if I could win this competition’s championship, As long as I stayed with the Anderson family as a designer, they wouldn’t force Emily and William together. But now, my boyfriend was asking me to give the championship to Emily.

I grabbed William’s sleeve and said softly: “William, you know how much effort I put into this piece. My parents…” Before I could finish, William shook off my hand. His expression showed a hint of annoyance as he angrily said: “Enough, Sophie Evans! Do you know how much I’ve sacrificed to be with you?” “Now you just need to give in to Emily a bit, and we can be together soon. But you’re obsessing over your work. Do you really love me?” “What’s more important to you, your so-called work or me?” I stepped back, almost falling to the ground. William left me and returned to the front, apologizing to everyone. “I’m sorry, my girlfriend is still having trouble accepting a new sister. Today’s incident is all a misunderstanding.” Emily, like a sweet and understanding flower, leaned gently against William. They looked very compatible. The audience below whispered among themselves. Their voices were soft, yet seemed loud, each word piercing my heart, extremely harsh. “She occupied Emily’s identity for over a decade. Now that the real heiress is back, she’s unhappy about it.” “Everyone knows her birth parents deliberately switched the children just to give her a better life. She’s no good either. Children take after their parents, don’t they?” “The Parker heir is a good man. Even in this situation, he still wants to be with this imposter.” Every word seemed to prove my unworthiness. This was the second time I had experienced such treatment. The first time was when Emily had just returned, and my adoptive parents heard about their birth daughter’s suffering. They were very dissatisfied with me. That time, William stood behind me. But this time, I was alone and helpless. Even William, who had always helped me, was now standing on stage, looking down at me from above. I took a deep breath and loudly interrupted: “I’m not crazy. I’m just stating the facts.” “Since it’s your work, you must know it very well, right?” Emily confidently said: “Of course!” She then went on to explain in detail what I had originally told William. “Every detail on this piece was designed by my own hand. How could I not know the details of this work?” “This piece is called ‘True Love,’ hoping that all girls can find their true love.” “Even the cutting method and design concept of this jewelry are my original creations, which will be used in Anderson Jewelry in the future.” These were the words I had originally told William. He didn’t know much about jewelry, but to make me happy, he had always stayed by my side. Afraid he would be bored, I told him about my design concepts. “William, the cutting method and design concept of this jewelry are my original creations. When they’re used in Anderson Jewelry in the future, my parents will surely be very happy.” At that moment, my heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. So the words I had shared with William, he had already told Emily. What did our vows and the words he said to me mean then? Thinking of this, my voice was filled with a sense of lifelessness. “It’s not called ‘True Love,’ it’s called ‘Queen.’ The creative concept isn’t about every girl finding true love, but telling everyone that girls can be their own queens.” “In the designs I create, I usually leave my own mark. For example, this piece has a ‘Y’ engraved on the innermost part.”

Emily was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting this turn of events. She quickly composed herself and said: “The last letter of your name is ‘Y,’ and so is mine. You happened to know this and are deliberately trying to frame me!” “Judges, I request that this woman be expelled. She’s intentionally disrupting the competition.” No wonder she could pass off my work as her own. She could come up with such a rebuttal in such a short time, and it even sounded reasonable. “Every piece I’ve created before has this ‘Y’ in it. You can check them all.” “You can say I’m slandering Emily with this piece, but when I created those previous works, Emily hadn’t returned to the Anderson family yet. Surely I couldn’t have known her back then?” I had been in the jewelry industry for two or three years. Thanks to the Anderson family, I had many resources invested in me. I had created several pieces before, all well-received. Many people knew about my previous works, and some had even bought them at auctions as collectibles. But as soon as I finished speaking, William let out a cold laugh. Emily said gently: “Sophie, all your works have been collected by William. He knows there’s no such symbol in those pieces.” “I’ll overlook this incident for our parents’ sake. Please don’t make any more trouble in the future.” I was stunned for a moment and looked at William. In front of everyone, William shook his head. “There’s no such symbol on Sophie’s works.” My heart sank completely, and even my blood seemed to freeze. Security guards dragged me out of the competition. I had been driven here by the Anderson family’s chauffeur, but now he was gone. My phone had fallen in the venue during the scuffle, so I could only walk back. By the time I returned to the Anderson house, William and Emily had already arrived. They sat on the sofa, with Mr. and Mrs. Anderson warmly congratulating Emily on winning the championship. William gently stroked Emily’s hair. “Actually, it was Brother William who gave me a lot of inspiration!” Emily said happily, showing off her trophy to Mr. and Mrs. Anderson. “William has always been a good boy. As for your marriage…” Seeing me return, the air suddenly became silent. William’s gentle smile faded as he stood up and walked towards me. “Sophie, you’re back. I have good news to tell you.” “Your parents have agreed to our relationship. We can get married soon.” William’s voice carried a hint of joy. How ridiculous. This man had stolen my work and given it to another woman, even standing against me. Despite all this, he still firmly believed I would be with him. In that moment, I didn’t want to pursue anything anymore. Losing one piece of work to recognize this scumbag was actually a good thing. I spoke calmly: “No need. Let’s cancel our marriage plans.” I raised my head and looked at William, my eyes showing a hint of reluctance that quickly faded. “Our engagement was originally between the Parker and Anderson families. Now that Emily is back, she’s your real fiancée. As for me, I should return to my original status.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295501”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic

Smoke billowed everywhere as flames engulfed the cockpit. I struggled desperately to escape, but the thick smoke stung my eyes, making it impossible to see. The feeling of suffocation grew stronger until my consciousness began to fade. In my final moments, I saw my fiancé, Jack Thompson, fleeing through the emergency exit with Mia Collins in his arms. I was trapped in the inferno, separated from them by just a wall. I reached out, trying to grab them, but my hand fell limply to my side. “Olivia, I’m sorry. I had no choice,” Jack’s voice was cold and hurried as his silhouette faded into the distance, leaving me to die in the sea of flames. I hated them! I hated Jack for his cruelty and Mia for her deceit! But most of all, I hated myself for my blind trust! If only I could turn back time, I would stay far away from that despicable couple! When I opened my eyes again, the plane hadn’t even taken off. I had been given a second chance. “Ahhh!!!” A scream pierced through the cockpit. The plane was taxiing down the runway, less than a kilometer away from takeoff. Mia, who had just been pushed aside, stared in horror at the flames in the cockpit and screamed uncontrollably. “Fire! Help!” Her cry sent the passengers, who had been quietly seated with their seatbelts fastened, into a panic. Everyone stood up, trying to see what was happening at the front of the plane. “Look! The cockpit’s on fire! We’re all going to die!” “I don’t want to die! Let me off!” Chaos ensued, and even the flight attendants were frozen in fear. Seeing that everyone was about to rush towards the cockpit, I quickly sprang into action. I shoved the troublesome Mia aside and dashed to the control panel at the front of the plane. “Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm! The fire has been extinguished, and we will be taking off shortly. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts!” After calming the passengers through the intercom, I turned to Mia and scolded her harshly, “What are you waiting for? Go check the passengers’ seatbelts! Why are you just standing there?” Mia flinched at my outburst and immediately scurried off towards the cabin, bowing her head submissively. “And tell the other flight attendants to return to their positions. No one is allowed near the cockpit!” The situation had been critical earlier, with passengers standing up to check what was happening. If someone had taken advantage of the chaos, it could have easily led to a stampede. Fortunately, everything turned out alright, and the plane took off smoothly.

“Mia, do you realize that your panic attack nearly cost everyone on this plane their lives?!” I reprimanded Mia sternly after the plane had reached cruising altitude. “Olivia, I-I’m so sorry. I was just so scared. I didn’t mean to…” Mia hung her head and sobbed quietly, looking utterly pitiful. If I hadn’t been given this second chance and known what happened in my previous life, I might have fallen for her act again. “Fear is no excuse! Our top priority should always be passenger safety. What you did was a serious violation of aviation safety laws. Do you understand that?!” “Olivia, I know I was wrong. Please give me another chance…” Mia looked at me with tear-filled eyes, appearing genuinely remorseful. “Go back to the rest area and stay there!” I couldn’t bear to look at her like this anymore, so I waved her away. Sending her back to the rest area served two purposes: first, to make her reflect on her actions, and second, to ensure the emergency exit remained unobstructed. After all, in my previous life, Mia had locked me in the cockpit to save herself! Mia obediently left, but instead of reflecting on her actions in the rest area, she felt somewhat resentful, thinking I was making a big deal out of nothing. She believed the plane wouldn’t have crashed and it was just a false alarm. So, when I wasn’t paying attention, she sneaked off to complain to my fiancé, Jack Thompson, with whom she had been having a secret affair. “Jack, I was so scared today. The plane almost crashed, and Olivia was so mean to me…” Mia’s sweet voice made Jack’s heart ache. He quickly comforted her. “It’s okay now, it’s okay. Don’t be afraid, Mia. Olivia was just worried about everyone’s safety, so she might have been a bit harsh. Don’t take it to heart.” “But Olivia has always been biased against me. I feel like she doesn’t like me…” Mia lowered her head, looking utterly wronged. Hearing this, Jack felt annoyed. He thought Olivia was being ungrateful, daring to be so harsh to his precious Mia. “Hmph, just wait until we land. I’ll teach her a lesson!” Jack snorted coldly. Seeing that he was genuinely angry, Mia felt secretly delighted and quickly added fuel to the fire. “Jack, please don’t blame Olivia. She was just worried about everyone. Don’t argue with her because of me…” “Mia, you’re just too kind-hearted. That’s why people bully you!” Jack held Mia’s hand tenderly. Ryan Walker, the co-pilot, witnessed this scene and couldn’t help but shake his head. How could Olivia have chosen a guy like Jack? She would have been better off with him. Twenty minutes later, the plane successfully made an emergency landing. I organized the passengers’ evacuation in an orderly manner, staying behind until the last moment. During the evacuation process, Ryan consistently helped me maintain order and protect the passengers’ safety. “Olivia, you go first. I’ll cover for you!” Ryan insisted that I leave first. I looked at his determined expression and nodded. As I reached the cabin door, I suddenly heard a cry of alarm from behind. “Watch out!” I instinctively ducked, and a piece of the wing flew over my head, crashing onto the runway. Ryan rushed over and shielded me with his body. After making sure I wasn’t hurt, he quickly pulled me away from the plane. After reaching a safe distance, I checked on all the passengers. Only when I confirmed that everyone had escaped safely did I finally feel relieved. Ryan, seeing my expression of relief, smiled slightly. “See? I told you, as long as you’re here, everyone would be safe.” I looked at Ryan’s trusting eyes, feeling a warmth spread through my heart.

After the plane successfully made an emergency landing, Jack rushed over to question me about why I had sent Mia away. “Olivia, what’s the meaning of this? Why did you send Mia to the rest area to reflect?” “You have the nerve to ask me that? You saw what happened in the cockpit. Mia lost her composure! If I hadn’t stepped in to fix the situation, everyone on this plane would have died today!” I was furious, wondering how I could have ever fallen for such an idiot in my previous life. “Olivia, stop making a mountain out of a molehill. Mia didn’t mean any harm. Besides, the plane is fine, isn’t it? Why are you being so aggressive?” Jack completely failed to grasp the severity of the situation and continued to defend Mia. “Yes, Olivia, I really didn’t mean to. Please forgive me just this once!” Mia stood nearby, crying her eyes out, acting every bit the innocent victim. “Olivia, look how understanding Mia is! Let’s just drop this matter. No one is to bring it up again!” Jack looked at Mia with eyes full of sympathy, but when he turned to me, his gaze was filled with hostility. Other crew members who didn’t know the full story also began to side with Jack and criticize me. “Olivia, you really went too far this time. Sure, Mia made a mistake, but it wasn’t that serious. You’re blowing this out of proportion.” “Yeah, we’re all colleagues here. There’s no need to make such a big deal out of it. Why don’t you just apologize to Mia and be done with it?” My colleagues chattered away, and suddenly I found myself the target of everyone’s criticism. “What do you all know?! Didn’t you see how dangerous the situation was earlier?!” “Mia’s mistake could have caused the plane to crash. What’s wrong with me asking her to reflect on her actions?!” I looked at everyone, feeling wronged and resentful. “Olivia, we know you meant well, but Mia is still new. She needs some time to adjust.” “That’s right, Olivia. Don’t hold it against her. Let’s just forget about this incident.” Although my colleagues seemed to understand my feelings, they still weren’t willing to stand up for me. “What are you all trying to say? That I shouldn’t punish her?” “What if she makes the same mistake next time? Who’s going to take responsibility then?” At this moment, Ryan, who had been silent all this time, stepped forward. “I agree with Olivia. The situation earlier was indeed very dangerous. Thanks to Olivia’s quick action, we avoided a potential disaster that could have cost us our lives.” Ryan’s words silenced everyone. I looked at him gratefully, finally understanding what it meant to have someone on your side when you needed it most.

It wasn’t long before the crew supervisor arrived at the scene. As soon as he arrived, he feigned concern about the incident. “Oh my, what on earth happened here? How did this situation suddenly occur?” “Sir, it was Mia in the cockpit…” I was about to reveal the truth when I saw the supervisor’s expression change. “That’s enough, I don’t need to hear anymore. I already know what happened. Mia is just a young girl, it’s natural for her to be scared in dangerous situations. Don’t make such a big deal out of it.” Making a big deal? I widened my eyes, unable to believe these words came from our supervisor’s mouth. “Sir, are you suggesting that Mia nearly killed everyone on this plane, and it’s somehow my fault?” “I didn’t say that, but as the head flight attendant, failing to respond promptly to an emergency situation is your negligence!” The supervisor was clearly favoring Mia, pushing the responsibility onto me. “Olivia, you’ve gone too far! Mia is still new, asking her to help in the cockpit is just setting her up for failure, isn’t it?” The supervisor started attacking me as soon as he arrived, his words clearly biased towards Mia. “How did I set her up? As a flight attendant, she lost her composure and screamed in front of the passengers, nearly causing the death of everyone on the plane. What’s wrong with me asking her to reflect on her actions in the rest area?” I defiantly argued back at the supervisor. I had saved everyone, so why should I take this kind of treatment? “Olivia, you dare to talk back! Mia has already admitted her mistake to me. Just apologize, and we’ll let this matter drop.” Seeing that I wasn’t backing down, the supervisor’s face darkened even more. “Apologize? What did I do wrong? Mia nearly killed everyone, so why should I apologize to her?” “Sir, you’re clearly favoring Mia. Is there some special relationship between you two?” I couldn’t hold back anymore and directly questioned the supervisor about his relationship with Mia. The supervisor’s face changed when I exposed him, and he became even more severe in his accusations. “Olivia, how dare you twist the facts?! Mia has already told me everything. She said you forced her to help in the cockpit, and when she didn’t want to go, you sent her away!” The supervisor glared at me, his tone full of disbelief.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295500”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #惊悚Thriller #励志Inspiring #校园School #重生Reborn

On our seventh wedding anniversary, Ethan publicly slapped me in front of everyone. “It’s Olivia’s birthday, how dare you come here and ruin it?” he sneered. Looking at the mockery in his eyes, I knew he had intentionally invited me here to humiliate me. In the lively karaoke room, I was treated like a servant, ordered to select songs and open bottles of wine, watching my husband passionately kiss Olivia right in front of me. After the party, a drunk Ethan waited for me downstairs. “Who told you to disappear for 7 days without my permission? This is your punishment. If it happens again, get out of the Evans family!” “Be careful, or you’ll end up serving me for 7 years without getting a penny!” The farewell words suddenly caught in my throat. I clutched the critical condition notice in my hand, thought for a moment, and ultimately decided not to show it to him. “Realizing you’re old and unattractive, couldn’t find a rich husband, so you came crawling back?” Ethan mocked from the passenger seat as we drove home. “Rachel Wilson! You abandoned me for money back then, and came back when I became successful. This day was bound to come!” I gripped the steering wheel tightly, laughing bitterly. “Yes, I deserve this.” In the seven years of marriage to Ethan Evans, he constantly brought various girls home, being intimate with them right in front of me, taking pleasure in tormenting me. But I didn’t understand. Besides being his bedmate, I also had to be his housekeeper, assistant, and driver. He never gave me a penny, and that once young and beautiful girl was worn down to nothing for him. Why wouldn’t he believe that I was never with him for his money? I tilted my head back slightly, holding back the tears in my eyes. Ethan’s lazy voice sounded again: “Tell me, where did you go for those 7 days that I couldn’t contact you?” “The hospital.” “Hospital? Huh, which doctor have you set your sights on? You think these highly educated people can be easily manipulated like I was back then?” He lifted my chin, his eyes full of playfulness and mockery: “You old woman, don’t think you can seduce anyone anymore!” I bit my lip hard, but tears still fell uncontrollably. My heart, already riddled with holes, was torn apart once again, the pain unbearable. Ethan finally showed a satisfied smile, casually tossing a necklace at me. “Here, your anniversary gift.” I, who had endured all kinds of insults without complaint, suddenly started trembling uncontrollably at the sight of this first gift he had given me in 7 years. “What does this mean? Are you afraid I’ll give up on you and leave, so you’re deliberately giving me a bit of hope so you can continue to torment me?” “Ethan Evans, it’s been 7 years, haven’t you had enough revenge?” I don’t know if it was because I was too emotional, but I thought I saw a flash of pain in his eyes. But it quickly disappeared, replaced by a cold smile. “You’re overthinking it.” “For someone like you who’s here for money and won’t leave no matter how badly I treat you, why would I need to give you any sweetness?” I couldn’t say another word. Ever since Ethan first brought a girl home and took her to the bedroom in front of me, all explanations became meaningless. I just wanted to endure it, repay my debt, and then be free. Back home, Ethan roughly pushed me onto the bed. “Ethan Evans, this is the last time,” I silently thought to myself as I closed my eyes. I let him press me down without any emotion, as if venting. Whispering Olivia’s name.

Olivia Davis was the most popular starlet under Ethan’s management. In the past 7 years, countless girls had come and gone from his side, but Olivia was the only one who had stayed for 3 months. He bought her a house, gave her the best resources, perhaps developing feelings for her in the process of taking revenge on me. Everyone thought Olivia was his official girlfriend. No one knew that I was Ethan Evans’ wife. “That driver, Mr. Evans wants you to go over,” someone suddenly called out to me as I was waiting in the car for Ethan. He had come to the set to accompany Olivia, and when I arrived, they were filming a scene where the female lead falls into water. The autumn water was bone-chillingly cold. Olivia nestled in Ethan’s arms, her tearful eyes full of pampered happiness: “Ethan, I’m not strong…” Ethan immediately grasped her hand: “Don’t worry, that’s why I found a stand-in for you, right?” His gaze fell on me, and the staff all turned to look at me as well. They all smirked silently. Only the director dared to speak up: “Mr. Evans, I know you care about Olivia, but this scene is very important and can’t be done carelessly. How can we use some random servant as a stand-in?” “We might as well use one of the middle-aged extras.” I looked down at my shabby clothes, feeling embarrassed. But Ethan was confident: “Just put some makeup on her.” When I came out of the makeup room, everyone was shocked. “How can they look so alike?” “Looks like Mr. Evans really likes Olivia, even choosing a driver who looks like her…” With the makeup covering my sickly complexion and wrinkles, I finally showed a bit of my youthful appearance. They all thought I looked like Olivia, but no one knew that I had known Ethan for much longer than Olivia had. “What are you standing there for? Jump in quickly, don’t keep Olivia waiting!” Ethan ordered impatiently, his arm around Olivia. I walked to the edge of the pool and saw how deep it was, giving off wisps of cold air. My body, already terminally ill and near death, instinctively rejected it. “I’m not feeling well, Mr. Evans. You should find a professional actor.” “What nonsense? Finding someone else would take at least half an hour, and Olivia is waiting to finish shooting so we can go eat.” His gaze shifted to me, the warmth he showed Olivia instantly turning cold: “Are you going to jump? Or do I need to have someone push you in?” I shuddered deeply. Just his words made me feel like I was in an ice cellar, unable to breathe. I had endured this kind of treatment for 7 years, what’s one last time? Clenching my fists, I looked up at Ethan: “With this jump, we’ll be even.” He frowned: “What do you mean?” “Remember when I married you, I borrowed $130,000 from you?” “For these 7 years, I’ve been your assistant, your housekeeper, your driver, barely resting a day. Three salaries combined, you should have paid me at least $1,000 a month.” “And every time you slept with me, it was your initiative! Even if you think I’m cheap, it shouldn’t be less than $500 each time.” I took out the small notebook I always carried, everything recorded clearly! “This jump is risking my life, charging you $3,000 isn’t too much. After this, the $130,000 is fully repaid. Ethan Evans, I don’t owe you anything anymore!” Without waiting for Ethan’s response, I dove deep into the pool. The icy water instantly engulfed me, eroding my consciousness and my already fading life. But I didn’t struggle, feeling only the relief of liberation, letting my body sink gradually. Just as I was about to drown, a familiar figure hugged me and brought me to the shore. “Rachel Wilson, are you crazy?” “Do you know you could have really died if the rescue wasn’t in time?!” Looking at Ethan’s panicked and angry face, I smiled. “You hate me so much, wouldn’t my death be exactly what you want?”

They didn’t understand why Ethan cared so much about me, a mere driver, giving me CPR and carrying me to the car. Olivia even seemed a bit jealous. She followed Ethan with red eyes: “Can’t you let someone else take her to the hospital? Ethan, you promised to have dinner with me.” Ethan, who usually gave in to her every demand, hesitated for a moment: “She’s my employee after all, I can’t let anything happen to her.” He held me tightly and quickened his pace. The warm, familiar chest suddenly took me back to 10 years ago. We had just graduated from college then, living in a damp basement apartment in the suburbs. The cold, damp environment made me sick all winter. Once I had a severe fever, becoming delirious. The snow on the road was knee-deep, and we couldn’t get a taxi. Ethan carried me like this, running from the suburbs to the hospital 7 kilometers away, without stopping once. He was exhausted to the point of collapse, his clothes soaked through with snow and sweat, but he still managed to buy me a baked sweet potato, watching over me with tearful eyes. “Don’t be afraid, Rachel, don’t be afraid, I’m here.” “Can you say something?” “Rachel, please don’t scare me…” He cried out in fear, looking like he couldn’t live without me. But later, I still left him. When he finally found me, regardless of the consequences, he discovered I was already with a rich young man. So is it because he loved too deeply that he now hates so fiercely? Hating to the point of tormenting me for 7 years and still not being satisfied. “You’re so afraid of me dying, do you want to torment me for a lifetime?” I laughed, with both relief and bitterness: “But you can’t have your way anymore. Ethan Evans, I have a terminal illness, with only 3 months left to live.” As I finished speaking, Ethan’s footsteps suddenly stopped. “Terminal illness?” He murmured hoarsely, then suddenly let go, letting me fall hard to the ground. The concern and pain in his eyes disappeared, leaving only pure coldness. He laughed sarcastically, as if he had seen through me: “How could you suddenly get a terminal illness? Is this the new trick you’ve come up with after 7 years of endurance?” “Finding that pretending to be obedient and caring about me didn’t work, so now you’re settling accounts with me, trying to make me feel sorry for you before bringing up the terminal illness, to trick me into giving you money?” “What a pity, Rachel Wilson! I was actually starting to soften towards you. If you had endured a bit longer, you might have succeeded. But you were too impatient!” He laughed louder and more wildly. He stared down at me, wanting to see defeat and regret on my face. But he saw nothing, only indifference and calmness after a heart has died. “Hmph, let’s see how long you can keep up this act!” He strode past me, putting on a smile to hold Olivia’s hand. The girl was confused by Ethan’s previous words, already suspecting the nature of our relationship. But before she could figure it out, Ethan had deeply kissed her lips. “Didn’t you say we were going to eat? What are you standing there for, get in the car.” Olivia’s eyes brightened again, and she obediently got in the car. I didn’t even have the energy to feel heartbroken anymore. My whole body felt like it had been shattered, and I could barely crawl to the back seat of the car, gritting my teeth. As I opened the car door to get in, Ethan roughly pushed me away. “What are you getting in for? Didn’t you hear I’m taking Olivia out?” “Take a taxi to the hospital yourself!” I stood there stunned, watching Ethan gently help another woman into the car in endless pain and despair, leaving me behind. An autumn wind blew by. The bone-chilling cold triggered my illness, every inch of flesh feeling like it was being torn apart. The pain made me cry. I waved at the disappearing car. “Goodbye, Ethan Evans.” “Never see you again.”

I didn’t go to the hospital. After taking some painkillers, I went home to pack my luggage. In the huge mansion, my belongings only filled one small suitcase. All the clothes inside were bought when I first came, not a single new piece added in 7 years, all faded and as pale as my sickly complexion. Ironically, there were 10 housekeepers in the mansion. Only I, the legal wife, had to work without a moment’s rest every day, worn to skin and bones. Just because Ethan didn’t want me to have any free time, didn’t want to see even a hint of happiness or relaxation on my face. “Phew~” I let out a long sigh, quickening my pace to leave with the broken suitcase. I was finally going to be free. “Where are you going?” “Found that playing pitiful didn’t work, so now you’re pulling the running away trick?” I slowed down, blocked by Ethan in the courtyard. The suffocating feeling came back, and I couldn’t be bothered to say another word, trying to walk around him. But he grabbed my arm. “Don’t touch me!” I violently shook off his hand, turning to glare at him: “I told you, I’ve paid back what I owed you. From now on, you’re not allowed to touch me again!” “Heh.” Ethan chuckled: “Rachel Wilson, I’ve seen this retreat to advance trick played out in the business world. You think I’m still that naive boy from back then? So easy to fool?” I had heard similar words countless times over these 7 years. But I still couldn’t become immune to them. My heart felt bitter, unable to say a word. “Alright, stop pretending. Considering you disappeared for 7 days and came back looking all sickly, and even deliberately jumped in the water trying to drown yourself, putting in so much effort, I’ll let you have your way just this once.” He took out a stack of bills from his bag, throwing them at my feet with a playful look, as if giving alms. “Pick it up and say ‘thank you, husband’, and I’ll give you a few more thousand.” Looking at the man I had shared a bed with for 7 years, his eyes not hiding their mockery at all, I thought I would feel pain, but I didn’t. At that moment, I truly understood what it meant for a heart to die. I met his gaze directly, finally able to calmly ask the question that had puzzled me for 7 years: “Ethan Evans, if money was all I cared about, if I married you just for your family fortune, why did I endure for 7 years without hope and not leave? Why didn’t I find other rich men while I was still young, instead of wasting away here with you?” “Whether you believe it or not, Ethan Evans, my feelings for you were always genuine.” But that was in the past. After saying this, the knot in my heart slowly dissipated. Not waiting for his response, I continued to leave with my suitcase. “Rachel Wilson! If it wasn’t for my money, what was it for?” “You left me when I was poorest, then came back when my company went public. How can you say your feelings were genuine?” Ethan’s angry shouts came from behind. I couldn’t be bothered to say more, quickening my pace. He suddenly chased after me, grabbing my hair and pulling me to the ground. “I’m asking you a question, why are you running? Answer me!” His eyes were red with anger, out of control. But I no longer had the energy to guess why he was angry. My already unstable condition was triggered again, and I curled up on the ground, shaking with pain, unable to control it even while gritting my teeth. “Get up, stop pretending!” “How could a fall hurt you this badly?” Seeing my face growing paler, my forehead covered in cold sweat, not seeming to be an act, Ethan finally panicked, crouching down to try and pick me up. “Get away!” I pushed him away with all my strength, crawling towards my suitcase with difficulty. Like a clumsy but determined snail, desperately trying to escape this place. “Alright, alright, I give up. Rachel, we can talk about anything you want, but let’s go to the hospital first, okay?” Ethan’s voice trembled slightly, his movements much gentler as he carefully tried to help me up. I would rather die than let him touch me again! In the struggle, the old suitcase accidentally tipped over, its fragile plastic shell shattering and revealing the medical diagnosis on top. Ethan saw it and immediately grabbed it. The world was silent for two seconds. Then his hoarse, trembling voice, full of fear, sounded again. “Rachel… you really have cancer?” “If it’s true, why didn’t you show me earlier?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295499”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #惊悚Thriller #励志Inspiring #校园School #重生Reborn

I accidentally saw a “mistress registry” in the company group email. Next to my husband Ethan Parker’s name was his childhood sweetheart, the same age as him. In the evidence column, there was a screenshot of a chat. The childhood sweetheart asked him: “How long has it been since you touched that old lady?” He replied: “Don’t mention it. Now when I look at the company’s interns, I find them so youthful and vibrant.” “But when I go home and face her wrinkled face, I always feel there’s an elderly odor.” I’m already thirty-six, eight years older than him. But I don’t think I’m old yet. After coming to my senses, I decisively handed him divorce papers. Without me, his older sister figure, charging ahead, Ethan Parker lost his job and dignity, and reluctantly tried to keep me. I pinched my nose and said mockingly: “Why is there a smell of poverty here?” When I saw that “mistress registry”, Ethan Parker was playing games in the study. I placed the warmed milk beside him, reminding him to drink it soon. He impatiently said: “I know, you go rest first.” I casually scrolled on my phone, the page stopping right on his name. Olivia Quinn’s name was prefixed to his. And for several rows after, there was all kinds of substantial evidence of her being his mistress. My gaze focused on the words “elderly odor” for a long time, until my hand was almost numb. My heart ached, and my mind went blank. Until a game ended, Ethan Parker cursed softly and reached for the milk. But he accidentally spilled it. The milk spilled all over me. Ethan Parker finally had time to look up at me: “You haven’t left yet?” He frowned, his eyes showing a hint of disgust: “Tsk, what a strong smell. Go take a shower quickly.” The three words from the chat screenshot instantly became sharp arrows in reality. They pierced through the void, stabbing fiercely into my chest. In a daze, I suddenly realized a problem. Ethan Parker hadn’t touched me for a very long time.

When I closed the study door. The girl he was playing with maliciously asked: “She’s been waiting for you, does she want to… with you?” Ethan Parker instinctively looked back. Probably afraid I would hear. The door was left with a small gap, I stood where he couldn’t see me, and heard him say: “Can you stop disgusting me on purpose? Just thinking about that smell on her body makes me lose my appetite.” The girl’s mocking laughter was like sharp knives, cutting me to pieces. She continued to ask: “You’re not even thirty yet, why suffer with her? Just get a divorce.” “Forget it,” Ethan Parker hesitated. I thought he still couldn’t bear to part with me. Who knew he would say pityingly: “She’s almost forty, an old woman. Who would want her besides me?” My breathing became irregular, and my hands started trembling uncontrollably. I ran to the bathroom in a panic, looked up, and found my face had already turned pale. Ethan Parker didn’t notice anything unusual. But in the past, if I just sneezed once, he would make a fuss, take my temperature, and make chicken soup for me. Afraid I would be even slightly uncomfortable. When did he change? It was after I turned thirty-five. In this year and more, we rarely communicated. I always thought I was too busy with work and neglected him. I never imagined that his disgust had shown signs long ago. No longer turning on a lamp late at night, waiting for me to come home. No longer holding my waist intimately, calling me “babe” when things got passionate. No longer taking every little thing about me to heart, fearing to be negligent. It’s hard to imagine that this man, who now thinks I smell like an old person and is disgusted with me in every way, Once fought with his whole family, was kicked out of the house, to be with me, a woman eight years older than him, still firmly holding my hand, never giving up. At that time he said: “I don’t care what others think, you’re the best in my heart.” “Whether you’re twenty, thirty, or forty, fifty, in my heart, you’ll always be an eighteen-year-old girl.” “Even if the whole world disapproves of us, I still want to be with you.” “Let me take care of you for life, okay?” I raised my hand to smell myself. Because I was taking medicine to regulate my body, I could only smell a very faint scent of Chinese herbs. Like a string suddenly snapped, I took all the perfumes from the cabinet and sprayed them on myself. The perfume bottles fell to the ground, the broken pieces flew up, leaving a bright red wound on my leg. Blood flowed profusely. The entire bathroom was filled with a suffocating strong fragrance. Ethan Parker pushed open the door: “Rachel, what did you break?” He didn’t even notice that my leg was bleeding profusely, but just complained: “It’s so stuffy, clean it up quickly! It smells terrible!” But that was perfume. It doesn’t stink. At that moment, I suddenly realized. Ethan Parker just didn’t love me anymore. Why should I punish myself for his lack of love?

In the six years of marriage with Ethan Parker, I had always been known as a strong career woman to outsiders. And he rightfully enjoyed the “material” benefits that I, as the older one, contributed more to this relationship. I didn’t intend to let Ethan Parker take away a penny of the “marital property” I had worked hard to earn. Getting actual evidence of his affair became particularly important. To my surprise, Ethan Parker’s social circle was shockingly clean. The only one he was entangled with was his childhood friend he had known for many years. Olivia Quinn.

In the past, we had arguments because of Olivia Quinn. Although I was older than him and more mature, when it came to matters of the heart, I also had a jealous side. Olivia Quinn was young and beautiful, and had known Ethan Parker for many years. Their relationship was very deep. Sometimes, there would be actions that crossed the line. One particularly intense argument with Ethan Parker was because during a trip together, Olivia Quinn accidentally sprained her ankle. Ethan Parker carried her on his back without a second thought, leaving me, his girlfriend, far behind. Afterwards, Ethan Parker found it very hard to understand. He said: “Olivia is just like a sister to me.” “I carried my own sister when she was hurt, there was absolutely no other meaning to it.” Even Olivia came to apologize to me: “Rachel, don’t misunderstand. Ethan and I are just buddies. If we could be together, we would have been long ago, why wait until now?” In the end, it turned out that I was making a fuss over nothing. I stopped paying attention, and that argument became the longest cold war between Ethan Parker and me. In the end, he waited for me outside my company building for a day and a night. I worked overtime all night, and early the next morning, I met him at the entrance with his eyes red from staying up all night. He came up to me, gently tugging at the hem of my clothes, and pleaded in a low voice: “Don’t be angry anymore, babe.” “I promise, I’ll keep my distance from Olivia in the future.” “Okay?” After that, I rarely saw Olivia appear in front of me again. Little did I know, they had been keeping in touch privately all along. In fact, the girl he was playing games with last night. Was Olivia Quinn.

After staking out for half a month, I finally saw the latest chat records between Ethan Parker and Olivia Quinn on the iPad. They had arranged to meet at a hotel in the neighboring city. That day was Olivia Quinn’s birthday. I sat in a rented Volkswagen, watching Olivia Quinn link arms with Ethan Parker not far away. They were eating the same ice cream cone. Olivia Quinn’s face was full of arrogance: “Would the old lady eat the same ice cream cone with you?” Ethan Parker looked embarrassed: “Walking on the street, people think she’s my mom.” “Who eats the same ice cream cone with their mom at this age!” They entered the hotel together. The room number was 606. I travel frequently for work and have a gold membership on the hotel APP, with VIP discounts for accommodation. But my assistant always helped me book rooms, I rarely logged in myself. So Ethan Parker felt safe enough to use my account to book hotel rooms. It was only after calling customer service and asking them to restore the deleted booking records that I discovered Ethan Parker had booked rooms more than ten times in the past year and a half. Each time in his words was a so-called business trip. I sat in the Volkswagen for about twenty minutes, smoking two cigarettes. Estimating that enough time had passed, I finally dialed the police. Imitating the online procedures for catching cheaters, I calmly informed the person on the other end of the phone. “Hello, I want to report anonymously.” “There’s group prostitution happening in room 606 of XX Hotel.”

When I entered the room, Ethan Parker was shirtless, trying to explain. “I’m just playing games with my friend, what’s the problem?” The police officer sneered: “You play games without clothes on?” “Well, the informant is here. Please come with us to the police station to make a statement.” Ethan Parker hadn’t seen me yet, and was already furious: “Which psycho—” As I walked around the police officers. He met my eyes. At that moment, he completely panicked, his eyes full of disbelief: “You- why are you here?” I lit another cigarette, scanning him from head to toe. Fortunately, Ethan Parker was wearing shorts. But they must have been hastily put on when he was caught. After all, they were on backwards. The pockets were in the front. I couldn’t help but sneer. Ethan Parker fiddled with his drawstring, and after the initial panic, he quickly regained his composure. He quickly explained: “Rachel, today is Olivia’s birthday.” “We had arranged to meet some friends at the hotel to celebrate her birthday.” “We just arrived early, don’t misunderstand.” As he spoke, he deliberately took out his phone to show me the group he had created with his buddies. The group name was “Princess Olivia’s Birthday Party”. Six or seven men, but only Olivia was a woman. “I know you’ve never liked Olivia much, so I didn’t dare tell you. We even arranged it in the neighboring city.” I calmly finished my last drag of the cigarette, extinguished it, and said flatly: “Ethan Parker, do you remember what day it was yesterday?” His eyes first flashed with confusion. Then, he suddenly panicked. Of course he should panic. Because yesterday was my birthday.

It was when I got on the high-speed train to the neighboring city that I suddenly saw the date on the calendar and remembered. Yesterday was my birthday. It had already passed. I hadn’t remembered, and neither had Ethan Parker. Before I turned thirty-five, for every one of my birthdays, Ethan Parker would thoughtfully prepare gifts for me. From small things like a pen or a bouquet of flowers, to big things like a diamond ring or a wedding dress. At thirty-six, everything was gone. All that was left was the “elderly odor” that people found disgusting all over me. I smiled self-mockingly, suddenly realizing that when I thought of those three words again, I no longer felt so breathless with pain. This is probably the advantage of dating an older woman. All emotions are processed internally. But, you won’t get away with taking advantage of me. Love is just a game, I can play it, and I can lose it. “I’ve been so busy lately, I really forgot…” When Ethan Parker stepped forward urgently, trying to explain, I gently waved away his hand. I said in a contemptuous tone: “Ethan Parker, you’ve saved quite a bit of money using my VIP membership to book hotels over a dozen times, haven’t you?” “After the divorce, remember to transfer that money back to my card.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295498”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #惊悚Thriller #励志Inspiring #校园School #重生Reborn

I developed mutism due to childhood trauma. My parents, ashamed of my condition, forced me to marry my sister Olivia’s comatose fiancé, Ethan, in her place. After three years of my devoted care, Ethan miraculously woke up. But the first thing he did upon waking was to demand a divorce. He mistook Olivia for the one who had cared for him these three years, declaring he would marry no one but her. Later, I overheard his best friend explaining to him that it was actually I who had cared for him all this time. He just smiled nonchalantly and said, “I already knew that, but my wife can’t be a mute.” Completely heartbroken, I sought hypnotherapy to suppress my memories and cure my mutism. When I woke up, I looked at the man by my hospital bed in confusion and asked, “Who are you?” The man before me suddenly panicked… Ethan had been in a coma for three years. When he woke up, the first person he saw was me, but his eyes were filled with disappointment. I didn’t notice the disappointment in his eyes. Overjoyed, I helped him sit up and shared the good news in our friends’ group chat. Soon, the hospital room was crowded with people. And I, the wife who had cared for Ethan for three years, was pushed to the corner, completely ignored. Olivia arrived late, wearing a beautiful blue evening gown, looking like she had just come from a party. Ethan grabbed Olivia’s hand, his eyes red-rimmed, “Honey, you’ve suffered so much these three years.” At these words, everyone in the room was stunned, as if the air had frozen. I stood to the side, fidgeting with my clothes, unable to speak up for myself. All because of my mutism. His friend awkwardly explained, “Ethan, Rachel is your wife.” Ethan’s brow instantly furrowed, his eyes turning cold as he looked at me, as if I had come between him and Olivia. I had always known he liked my cousin Olivia. They were supposed to get married, but a car accident left him in a vegetative state. My cousin didn’t want to marry a vegetable and cried to my parents. When I heard it was Ethan, I agreed to their request to marry him in my sister’s place. Little did I know that after three years of my devoted care, this would be the result. I immediately took out my phone and started typing, wanting to explain, but Olivia pressed down my phone. She looked at me with a fake smile, “Sister, Ethan just woke up. He probably can’t handle too much information right now. Why don’t you step out for a bit?” Sensing the awkward atmosphere, the others in the room made excuses to leave. As the door closed, Olivia burst into tears and threw herself into Ethan’s arms, as if she had suffered some great injustice. “Ethan, you’re finally awake. I’ve waited for you for three years…” My heart suddenly tightened, my hand trembling as I gripped the doorknob. After what seemed like an eternity, Olivia opened the door, her cheeks still wet with tears. I walked into the room suspiciously, only to have a glass shatter at my feet. “Rachel, you really went to great lengths to marry me!” “Using such underhanded tactics, aren’t you ashamed?” Flying glass shards cut my leg, but the pain was nothing compared to what I felt in my heart. Ethan was my childhood friend, the only one who didn’t look down on my mutism and encouraged me to seek treatment. But after meeting Olivia, he was unconsciously drawn to her. The boy who once said he would marry me gradually turned his heart towards her. Now he even saw me as the villain who came between their love. I frantically tried to use sign language, then remembered he couldn’t understand it. I shakily took out my phone to type an explanation. Olivia looked at me challengingly, knocking the phone out of my hand. It fell to the floor, the screen instantly going black. “Sister, please, let us be together!” I stood there, stunned. Apart from sign language, my phone was my only means of communication with others. And now I couldn’t even defend myself. I shook my head desperately, but the world can be cruel, especially for someone who can’t speak.

My parents somehow got wind of the news and rushed to the hospital. I intercepted them, using sign language to ask them to explain for me. They could understand a bit of simple sign language. Mom nodded slightly, while Dad just pushed me aside and pulled Mom into the room. After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Mom hesitantly spoke up, “Rachel, she…” Olivia, sensing what Mom was about to say, interrupted, “Mom, my sister just likes Ethan too much. Don’t blame her.” I widened my eyes in disbelief, grabbing Olivia and frantically signing, [You’re lying! You’re lying!] She rubbed her wrist, nestling into Ethan’s arms, looking pitiful, “I’m sorry, sister. Don’t be angry, I won’t say anymore.” I desperately signed to Mom, my vision blurring with tears, [Tell him it’s not like that!] Mom avoided my gaze. A sense of helplessness spread through my body. In the three years I had cared for Ethan alone, not a single day had been more desperate than today. Dad’s face darkened, “Weren’t you the one who forced your sister to give up her place? You even said Ethan wouldn’t know anyway.” If I hadn’t heard it with my own ears, I never would have imagined my own father could twist the truth so much. These words felt like needles stabbing my heart. Originally, it was my sister who despised Ethan for becoming a vegetable and didn’t want to marry him. That’s why my parents had me marry him instead. Ethan let out a cold laugh, “Rachel, it’s a good thing I woke up. Otherwise, I would have died with my eyes closed.” I bit my lip hard, the taste of blood spreading in my mouth. So this was how he saw me. Mom pulled me out of the room, her face full of guilt, “Don’t blame your father. We owe Olivia this much.” Olivia’s parents had died saving my parents. My parents took Olivia in and treated her like their own. My parents felt indebted to her, so I always had to give in to her in everything. Whenever I refused, Olivia would cry and say, “If only my parents were still here.” When I developed mutism, just when I needed companionship the most, Olivia convinced my parents to take her traveling abroad. Three years ago, Olivia’s mocking words still rang in my ears, “A mute and a vegetable are a perfect match!” Mom continued, “Now that Ethan is awake, he’ll divorce you sooner or later.” “Leaving a good impression now will only elevate your sister’s status, won’t it?” Tears fell to the ground as I pounded my chest hard, the only way to alleviate the pain in my heart. But it was my parents who owed my uncle and aunt, why did I have to pay the debt? Ethan moved quickly. He decided on divorce in the morning and had the divorce agreement drawn up by the afternoon. Afraid I might cause trouble, he had several bodyguards watch me as I signed my name. I smiled bitterly and slowly wrote my name. Ethan had saved my life, and I had watched over him for three years. From now on, we owed each other nothing.

The autumn evening breeze carried a hint of chill. As soon as my phone was fixed, I sent a message to Dr. Song, [I’d like to try the hypnotherapy you mentioned before.] Dr. Song quickly replied, [After hypnosis, you will lose some memories.] [Also, a family member needs to sign a consent form to ensure someone will take care of you during your recovery period.] My gaze fell on the words “family member”, and I couldn’t help but smile bitterly, unable to think of anyone who could sign the consent form for me. I kept scrolling through my contacts, my finger hovering over one profile picture, hesitating to click on it. Unexpectedly, the profile picture suddenly shook, and a message popped up, [I’m back in the country today. Would you like to have dinner?] I quickly replied, agreeing on a place to meet. Looking out at the scenery, my thoughts drifted far away. Jason was the son of my sign language teacher. Because I often went to his house for lessons, we became quite familiar with each other. Three years ago, when he learned I was going to marry a man in a vegetative state, he angrily smashed the birthday gift he was going to give me, saying his mother teaching me sign language was a waste. I fought back using sign language, saying all sorts of nasty things. Later, he went abroad to study, and I thought we would never see each other again. I didn’t expect him to return to the country. After not seeing each other for several years, he had matured a lot, giving off an unapproachable aura when not smiling. I went straight to the point, using sign language to ask him, [Can you… pretend to be my family member and sign for me?] His expression froze. After learning the whole story, his hands clenched tightly, as if trying hard to suppress something. “Are you sure about this?” I nodded lightly. What use were these memories to me anyway? Besides, after the memories were suppressed, I would be able to speak again. “Alright.” When I returned to the Jiang family mansion, it was already evening. My things had been carelessly thrown in the hallway of the villa. Ethan glanced at me coldly, “Rachel, don’t say I’m not giving you face. From now on, you’ll live in the guest room.” I nodded lightly. He hadn’t expected me to be so calm and looked me up and down. I would forget about him soon anyway, so what did it matter where I lived? Suddenly, a small dog ran out of the house. I froze, instinctively grabbing Ethan’s arm. He frowned in displeasure and shook off my hand roughly. “Rachel, know your place.” His force was so strong that I hadn’t reacted in time and fell to the ground, pain shooting through my wrist. I had been afraid of dogs since childhood, and the boy who once said he would protect me for life had now let go of my hand. A flash of regret crossed his eyes, and he reached out to help me up. I pretended not to see it and struggled to my feet, ignoring the pain. Olivia came out of the room, clinging to Ethan’s arm and pouting. “Little Darling doesn’t like being confined. Can we give it a bigger room?” Ethan fondly ruffled her hair, “Alright, let’s give the newly cleaned guest room to Little Darling.” “Rachel, you’ll move to the basement.” How laughable. In his eyes, I was worth less than a stray dog they had adopted. While packing my things, I suddenly smelled something strange. Following the scent, I saw a large yellow stain on a red coat. This coat was a birthday gift from Ethan. Because my birthday was on the same day as my uncle and aunt’s death anniversary, my parents didn’t allow me to celebrate. Ethan had secretly given me the coat, earnestly telling me, “Rachel, I’ll be with you for every birthday from now on.” Apparently, promises only count when there’s love. I had cherished this coat so much that I never dared to wear it. It seems I’ll never get to wear it now.

When Ethan saw the coat, he felt a twinge of emotion and told the housekeeper to take it for dry cleaning. But I threw the coat directly into the trash bin, along with all the photos of Ethan and me from over the years. I didn’t want to have any connection with him in the future. Ethan stared at me and slowly said, “Olivia has a kind heart and adopted Little Darling. If you dare to make her unhappy, I definitely won’t let you off.” People really do laugh when they’re at their wit’s end. It seems Ethan had completely forgotten that I’m afraid of dogs. Probably on Ethan’s orders, not a single servant helped me. Ignoring the pain in my wrist, I packed until evening, finally clearing out everything related to Ethan. This was the first time I had stayed at home in three years. After Ethan became a vegetable, I had practically lived in the hospital. At first, there were visitors, but later everyone in the Jiang family gave up on him. Most of the time, it was just him and me in the hospital room. Just as I was falling into a light sleep at dawn, I was awakened by a bucket of cold water. Ethan looked down at me condescendingly, “Rachel, you’ve really become lazy.” “You’re no longer the mistress of the Jiang family. How dare you sleep in?” My head was a bit fuzzy, and I nodded lightly to show I understood. I wiped the water off my face and got up to change my clothes. The servants in the villa were bustling about. The housekeeper glanced at me and told me to go polish the piano. Only then did I realize today was Olivia’s birthday. My fingers glided over the piano keys, and beautiful music flowed from my fingertips. Ethan once said my hands were born to play the piano, but now these hands were used to polish the piano. I couldn’t help but smile bitterly at the irony. Sweet words are only sincere in the moment they’re spoken. Halfway through polishing, I received a message from Dr. Song, [Tomorrow morning at 10 AM.] I quickly replied “okay” and forwarded the message to Jason. Thinking about being able to speak again, my mood improved considerably. I thought this party had nothing to do with me, but unexpectedly, Ethan pulled me to the dressing room. I was flattered to receive a dress. But he was full of impatience, “Hurry up and put it on. How will people talk about Olivia if you don’t attend?” So it was only to avoid gossip about Olivia. I felt the large stains on the dress, my heart already numb. I remembered Olivia’s social media post an hour ago: [It doesn’t matter if I stained the dress, Ethan will prepare two for me.] Olivia stood by the cake like an elegant princess, while I was like a clown for people’s amusement. I tried to minimize my presence, sitting in a corner. But the gossip still reached my ears. “What’s that on her dress? It’s disgusting!” “She’s so shameless, stealing her sister’s fiancé.” “I heard she’s a mute.” The mocking voices were incessant. I clenched my dress tightly. Olivia sat down at the piano, the spotlight focused on her, attracting everyone’s attention. The music suddenly stopped, and she cried out, “Ouch! How are there razor blades in the piano!” The housekeeper pointed at me in the corner, “Only Miss Rachel touched the piano!” Ethan glared at me angrily, roughly pulling me to the piano and pressing my hands onto the keys. The pain in my fingers was so intense I could barely breathe. “Rachel, this is the price you pay for doing wrong.” After saying this, he carried Olivia out, ignoring my bloodied hands. I clearly saw Olivia flash a smug smile at me. Later, an ambulance took me to the hospital, but all the doctors in the hospital had been called to examine Olivia. Before I fainted from blood loss, I heard a nurse shout angrily, “If her hands don’t get immediate treatment, she’ll be permanently disabled!” Tears slid from the corners of my eyes. I really wished I had never met Ethan. Meanwhile, the doctor looking at Ethan seemed familiar and greeted him. “How’s your wife? She took care of you for three years. It’s finally her time to be happy.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295497”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #惊悚Thriller #励志Inspiring #校园School #重生Reborn

Both Ethan Lewis and I were given a second chance at life. We were reincarnated on the day he was supposed to propose to me. This time, he let go of my hand and turned to embrace Olivia Taylor tightly. I suddenly remembered that in our previous life, on our way to file for divorce, we had a car accident. As he lay dying, the name he murmured wasn’t mine, but a regret. “If I could start over, I would definitely choose Olivia Taylor. Only with her do I feel truly alive…” If that’s the case, then I’ll fulfill his wish. But later, he knelt before me, begging for us to start over. February 14th, Valentine’s Day. Ethan Lewis had invited all our mutual friends and classmates. On the school’s field at night, he had arranged countless flowers and balloons to form a huge setting. Tonight, Ethan was going to propose to me. Ethan and I had been dating for four years, agreeing from the start to get married after graduating from college. So today, Valentine’s Day, was the day Ethan would propose to me. Of course, besides this reason, there was another person’s existence that prompted me to choose this day. Olivia Taylor. She was two years our senior, the lead singer of a band, and quite a popular figure on campus. She had fallen in love with Ethan at first sight during a school anniversary celebration and had been pursuing him passionately ever since. Countless gestures of goodwill, bringing him breakfast, writing love letters, making appearances on Valentine’s Day, Christmas, and even his birthday. Ethan would always coldly send her away. But this woman was relentless. Her unwavering devotion annoyed Ethan to no end. Finally, unable to bear her persistence any longer, Ethan hinted to me that he wanted to propose, hoping to completely dash Olivia’s hopes. In my previous life, when Ethan proposed to me, Olivia was standing in the crowd. She wore a white mini dress, a crown on her head, her gaze intense and sincere. “Ethan Lewis, I like you! If you don’t have a girlfriend, can you give me a chance?” “I promise I won’t be inferior to her!” How did Ethan respond back then? He smiled gently yet firmly, gazing deeply at me, one arm tightly around my waist. “I’m sorry, but I won’t let anyone else be my girlfriend.” “Rachel is my only girlfriend.” “Please don’t bother me anymore in the future.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear enough for the three of us to hear. Olivia was stunned, while I was deeply moved. But this time, the situation was completely reversed. Ethan held Olivia tightly, not even sparing me a glance, his tone calm and resolute. “I’m sorry, Rachel. I think our relationship was just a mistake.” “In the future, please don’t bother me anymore.” Almost the exact same words, just directed at a different person. My heart suddenly twisted in pain, but my face remained calm. I looked at Ethan, his cheeks slightly flushed with excitement, his eyes carrying a hint of guilt that was hard to notice. But he didn’t let go of Olivia’s waist. I nodded, turning to face the crowd. “Everyone, thank you for coming today.” “But I’m afraid the proposal has to be canceled.” “Ethan has just broken up with me. Although I don’t know when he changed his mind, since he’s said it, we should respect his wishes.” After saying this, I looked back at Ethan, my gaze lingering on Olivia for a moment before moving away. “Ethan, I respect your choice.” “From today, no, from this moment on, we are officially broken up, and we won’t have any relationship in the future.” “I wish you happiness.”

Ethan gave me a deep look, then turned and left with Olivia. They walked side by side, Olivia’s head slightly tilted, resting on Ethan’s shoulder, one hand tightly clasped with his, the other pointing in some direction. “Olivia, don’t you have a concert next month?” “Yes, you must be in the audience to hear me sing.” “Okay.” “And next March, let’s go to Provence together to see the lavender fields.” “Okay.” “In the future, wherever I want to go, you’ll accompany me, right?” “Yes.” Ethan smiled, looking at Olivia adoringly, as if she was a treasure he had lost and found again. Watching them walk away, I let out a soft sigh and turned to walk in the opposite direction. I called my roommates, asking them to meet me at our usual bar. “Don’t ask what happened, don’t try to comfort me, and don’t feel sad for me.” “I’m treating you to drinks. Tonight, we’re not leaving until we’re drunk.” After downing glass after glass, my roommates patted my shoulder, wanting to say something but holding back, finally just letting out a sigh. “Rachel, try to cheer up. Ethan isn’t worth this.” I shook my head and drained another glass. “You’re wrong. I’m actually very happy.” “I’m finally free of him.” Ethan and I were childhood sweethearts, from families of similar status. Our parents always thought we were a perfect match and that we would definitely marry in the future. We didn’t disappoint our parents’ expectations. Elementary school, middle school, high school, we were always in the same class until college when we finally separated. He was a year younger than me. As a child, he was quite proud but also very kind. In elementary school, when older students tried to steal my money, he rushed up to fight them, ending up pushed to the ground with a scraped arm. Back then, our agreement was to start dating after college graduation and get married after that. But after we actually got married, everything seemed to change. Every day was filled with mundane chores, struggling to make a living. Life gradually became dull, and Ethan started to feel that this kind of life was meaningless. Later, Olivia became a pop singer, performing at various small venues. She didn’t earn much, but it was enough to get by. Her vibrant and passionate image deeply attracted Ethan, and he began to actively approach Olivia. At first, Olivia maintained boundaries, but faced with the active pursuit of the boy she had liked for so many years, how could she refuse? So everything naturally fell into place. Once, I went on a business trip for a month. When I came back, I found out they had been intimate more than once. I was thunderstruck, but Ethan was nonchalant. “I married you because you wanted to get married. What more do you want?” “I’ve never been to a bar, never been to a concert, never watched a movie or had a candlelit dinner in my entire life.” “You never do these things with me, and now you won’t let others do them with me?” “From now on, let’s each do our own thing. Don’t interfere with me, and I won’t bother with you. But if you dare to hurt my Olivia, I won’t let you off easily!” I was already too tired to argue with him. After a while, I proposed divorce. Of course, Ethan didn’t agree. I insisted, and finally, he compromised. He sarcastically said, “The two and a half months I’ve been with Olivia have been happier than all the happiness in my previous half-life combined.” “Rachel White, you said you’d give me happiness, but you can’t.”

After drinking I don’t know how many glasses of wine, I felt a bit dizzy. I stood up unsteadily, intending to go to the bathroom. On the way, I passed by a private room with the door not fully closed. The voices coming from inside made me stop in my tracks. “…That Rachel White, I’m really sick of her. She’s as stiff and boring as a piece of wood.” “Olivia, you’re so much better. You’re beautiful, interesting, and know how to talk. You can give me the life I want.” “I only like you, Olivia.” “Ethan, I like you too.” I pushed open the half-open door. The people in the room instantly fell silent, all turning to look at me. Ethan saw me and froze for a moment, then frowned and said, “Rachel White, didn’t we already break up? Why are you still haunting me?” Olivia sat beside him, looking at me with a half-smile, then raised her head and kissed Ethan. “Did you see that?” “He’s my boyfriend now.” “If you dare to keep bothering Ethan, don’t blame me for being unkind.” I looked at the two of them expressionlessly. “Don’t worry, I won’t pick up trash again.” “Ethan Lewis, I hope you can always maintain today’s choice.” After saying this, I turned and walked out of the private room. I had only taken a few steps when I accidentally bumped into someone while turning around. “Ouch—” The man was wearing a burgundy open-collar shirt. His skin was fair, and under the colorful lights of the bar, he looked exceptionally handsome. He clutched his chest where I had bumped him, opening his phoenix eyes wide to look at me, seeming a bit surprised. “Rachel White?” “Did you really break up with Ethan Lewis?” Jason Chen, the young master of the Chen family from the north of the city, whom I had met once before. I nodded, “Yes, I’m single now.” Jason blinked, his expression seeming to become more lively. “Then… are you interested in dating now?” I stared at his handsome face for a moment, not answering his question, but instead turned to walk towards the bathroom. But before I had taken two steps, I heard a “thump” sound behind me. I turned to look and saw Jason almost fall to the ground. I quickly walked over and reached out to steady him. Jason waved his hand, “I’m fine…” Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly vomited. The strong smell of alcohol spread through the air. I sighed, resigned to supporting his arm and walking towards the bathroom. The warmth from Jason’s body transmitted through the thin layer of fabric to my skin. His skin was very fair, almost transparent under the lights. Up close, I could see faint freckles on his face, which added a touch of wild beauty. Perhaps it was the effect of the alcohol, but I suddenly felt my body grow hot. Jason leaned softly against me, lifting his head, his phoenix eyes hazy and confused. “Rachel White, you still haven’t answered my question.” “Do you want to date me?” “I like you, I want to be your boyfriend.” My gaze slid upwards, landing on his slightly parted lips. The next second, I raised my head and kissed him.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295496”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #惊悚Thriller #励志Inspiring #校园School #重生Reborn

When the apocalypse struck, the world changed drastically. My best friend Lily and I became rare female survivors among humans. After being captured, I was chosen by the Fire Zombie King, who had awakened fire abilities. Within a year, I gave birth to a gifted little Zombie Prince. As time passed, our territory expanded, and the Fire Zombie King became a powerful ruler. I became the most revered woman in the post-apocalyptic world. Lily, on the other hand, ended up with the Water Zombie King, who had awakened water abilities. It wasn’t long before other Zombie Kings killed him and seized his territory. She became a captive again, suffering greatly as she was passed between several zombie groups. In the end, I rescued her. But instead of being grateful, she became insanely jealous and pushed me off a high-rise building. I pulled her down with me as we fell to our deaths. When I was reborn, I found myself back on the day when the survivors were being divided as spoils of war. Lily eagerly threw herself at the Fire Zombie King, whose face was covered in flame-like tattoos. Seeing her malicious smile, I couldn’t help but grin as well. Finally, I could escape that hellhole, and there was even a fool jumping right into it! …

The sound of zombies growling filled my ears as I suddenly woke up, realizing I had been reborn to the day we were captured by the zombie horde. At that moment, Lily ran past me quickly, heading towards the tall Zombie King covered in flame-like tattoos from head to toe. “Choose me, Fire Zombie King! I can bear your children!” she exclaimed. I was stunned. She really dared to say that despite their height difference being nearly double! In my previous life, she was terrified of the Zombie King who was twice her height. When the Fire Zombie King looked our way, she didn’t hesitate to push me forward. This time, she wasn’t afraid of getting in bed with him? She even dared to throw herself at him! Meeting her malicious gaze, I suddenly realized that she must have been reborn too, just like me. Back then, after Lily went with the Water Zombie King, it wasn’t long before his group was devoured by other Zombie Kings. She was passed between several zombie groups, treated as a plaything by the Zombie Kings, and tortured until she was barely recognizable. In the end, I saved her. I never expected that she would become insanely jealous behind my back and push me off a high-rise building when I wasn’t paying attention. After being reborn, she wanted to seize the initiative, thinking that if she snagged the Fire Zombie King, she could become the most revered woman in the post-apocalyptic world. I laughed inwardly. Did she really think being a Zombie Queen was that easy? The Fire Zombie King seemed interested in her forwardness. He picked her up with one hand and placed her on his shoulder. “I’ll take this one,” he said. Lily used to be a dancer, so her figure and face were indeed attractive. I just wondered if her body could handle what was coming. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and she looked at me with a smug expression. She mouthed, “This good life was meant to be mine all along. Now it’s time for me to take it back.” Leaving aside her confidence, I really had no intention of competing with her. She only saw the glamorous side of my life, not knowing how difficult it was behind the scenes. I smiled at her slightly. If she wanted to jump into the fire pit, I’d let her have this “good life”! We used to be best friends, and after the apocalypse hit, this airhead relied on me to survive until now. I never said anything, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t know about her little tricks behind my back. She would secretly skimp on my food and push me to the front when zombies attacked. Her excuse was that I knew martial arts and could protect myself better. In the post-apocalyptic world, we had lost all our relatives and only had each other, which is why I always tolerated her behavior. Under my protection, she enjoyed the benefits while secretly envying and scheming against me. Now she even wanted to steal my chance at survival and let me die in her place. She even gestured towards the Water Zombie King, saying, “I have a friend, Chloe. She’s healthy and can bear children. Water Zombie King, choose her!” Her eyes were filled with urgency, as if she couldn’t wait for me to experience all the suffering she had endured.

The moment she pushed me off that building in my previous life, any friendship between us ceased to exist. I rolled my eyes and, before the Water Zombie King could speak, I chose his second-in-command. “Can I go with your deputy?” I asked. The Water Zombie King was simple-minded and physically strong, not particularly attractive – more like a chunk of iron. But he valued brotherhood and wouldn’t compete with his subordinates for women. He just asked me innocently, “Oh? Why choose him over me?” Pretending to be scared, I carefully replied, “Because… your deputy’s size matches mine better.” Hearing this, the Water Zombie King burst into laughter. “Too big for you to handle, huh? Haha, alright then, you can go with my second-in-command!” Well, of course! Mismatched sizes would be torture – I knew that from experience! The deputy in the Water Zombie King’s group was a newly recruited wandering powerhouse who had made great contributions in the recent raid on another zombie group. His physique hadn’t expanded too much due to the zombie transformation. He was only slightly taller than a normal human, not quite two meters tall. His appearance was also close to human, except for the purple-gold patterns covering his face, which weren’t too frightening. The more human-like appearance a zombie had after transformation, the more humanity they retained, and the higher their intelligence. I had studied these elite zombies in the groups before. His abilities were no less than those of other Zombie Kings. If he hadn’t been schemed against and injured, pursued to death by other zombie groups, he would have had the chance to become a ruler in his own right. I’d had enough of the life of being a plaything and barely surviving. Men couldn’t be relied upon, and zombie men even less so. This time, I wanted to forge a new path for myself. Those zombies who retained part of their humanity understood and all chuckled softly. The deputy’s face darkened. After all, no man would feel proud about being chosen because he was smaller. He was rough with me, throwing me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. His sharp claws even tore the skin on my thigh. After smelling the blood, he perversely stuck out his tongue and licked it, the sensation ice-cold. I suppressed my nausea and tried to calm myself down. I had endured worse things before; this was nothing. Lily looked at me with contempt and mockery in her eyes, as if she was looking at a dead person. Well, from her perspective, the deputy I chose now wasn’t even as good as the Water Zombie King she had initially ended up with. She probably thought I couldn’t escape the fate of becoming a captive again and suffering the same tragic end as she had. Too bad, I wouldn’t be as stupid as her. With her walnut-sized brain, what could she think of besides relying on others to survive? This city originally had four Zombie Kings, but after today, only three remained. Now it was divided into three parts, occupied by three Zombie Kings. The remaining survivors were also divided into three groups, with men and women separated. The men became blood bags and food, while the women became playthings and tools for reproduction. After turning into zombies, their fertility rate greatly decreased, making surviving human women highly prized. It had been over a year since the apocalypse began, and there were very few women left among the survivors. The deputy was very displeased with me because of that twisted comment about his size. I didn’t know how he would deal with me. Their base was a former five-star hotel, now occupied by the Water Zombie King as his stronghold. I was thrown onto a soft bed. It had been so long since I’d slept on such a comfortable bed that I almost dozed off. The man – no, the male zombie – with purple tattoos on his face pressed down on me aggressively. “You said our sizes match, right? Let’s test that out and see just how well we match!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295495”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #惊悚Thriller #励志Inspiring #校园School #重生Reborn