After My Mom and I Met Our Deaths, They Were Driven Mad With Regret When my mom failed to win over my dad, she left me with a billion dollars. But after my boyfriend, Ronnie Douglas, repeatedly abandoned me for his true love, my heart finally broke. I turned my back on everything and bought a deserted island. “Ms. Gardner, you’ve successfully secured permanent private residency on this uninhabited island, along with a custom-designed partner service. He will love you unconditionally and remain forever loyal, the agent informed me.” On the day Ronnie went skydiving with his so-called true love, I vanished from the shore. From that moment on, I ceased to exist in this world. “Donald, have you forgotten? I told you that if you ever betrayed me, I would disappear from this world forever,” Brynlee Herring, my mom, cried, her voice breaking. My dad, Donald Gardner, however, looked utterly bored. “Enough! Systems, strategies, how many times have you spun the same lie over the years? Aren’t you tired of it? Irene is pure and innocent,” he replied. “She doesn’t care about my money, only about love. You still own half of Gardner Group, so what’s your problem?” My mom froze for a moment and then staggered back a few steps. “Her promises to you, you remember them clearly. But what about the ones you made to me?” “In this circle, who doesn’t keep a young, pretty one? The truth is, I’ve been too indulgent with you all these years!” With that, my dad stormed out, slamming the door behind him. I had always known that my mom was part of a system, a strategist. She had successfully completed her mission to win over my dad, choosing to stay in this world permanently. But the cost was clear. If he ever betrayed her, the system would erase her. And now, my dad was tired of my mom aging and losing her beauty. He was openly involved with Irene Costa, his secretary, who was two years younger than me. I couldn’t understand. They had spent decades together. How could everything change so suddenly? I held my mom as she collapsed in my arms, her strength gone. My eyes reddened with unshed tears. She suddenly smiled weakly, “Andrea, your dad will never understand. What kept me here was never the money.” That night, I returned to the villa with a heavy heart. Ronnie, drunk, greeted me by pulling me into a tight embrace. “Baby, you’ve been gone at your mom’s place for so long,” he murmured. “I missed you so much.” Feeling his arms around me, I touched the wedding ring on his hand, finding a sliver of comfort. Ronnie and I had been together since our school days, from uniforms to wedding gowns. We’d been married for three years. Everyone said he, as a cold and aloof heir in Joria, was utterly devoted to his wife. He handled everything personally, never once complaining. At auctions, he spent millions of dollars on jewelry as if it were nothing, just to light up my world. Morning and goodnight kisses were a constant ritual. When I was gravely ill and hospitalized, the man who never believed in God went to every church, praying to give up half his life for my recovery. He even cried when he saw me in my wedding dress. “Andrea, I finally get to marry you,” he whispered that day. He loved me deeply. The wedding ring I designed for him never left his finger, and he never allowed another woman near him. Before I could finish my shower that night, Ronnie burst in, wrapping his arms around me impatiently. His cool lips brushed my ear. “Andrea, help me,” he whispered. After an intense and passionate night, we fell asleep in each other’s arms. Ronnie, who usually stayed awake until I slept, dozed off quickly that night. But I couldn’t sleep, restless over everything that had happened earlier. “Judith… Judith…” Half-awake, I heard him murmur a name. My heart clenched instantly. That name had nothing to do with me.

At that moment, I looked at Ronnie’s phone lying next to his pillow and couldn’t resist picking it up. In all our years of marriage, I had never checked his phone. Quietly, I unlocked it with his fingerprint and was shocked to see the pinned chat at the top. It was with a girl. She looked a lot like me. Her Instagram location showed she had recently been in Andor. That was during the days I was visiting my parents, and Judith had just returned to the country. Suddenly, I recalled how Ronnie, always so composed, had inexplicably gotten drunk that night. When he murmured, “I miss you so much,” who was he really looking at through me? Tears fell unconsciously. He had fooled me and everyone else. Then, I found a folder in his phone containing a journal, all written about one person. Judith Mosley, his high school crush, the heiress to a wealthy conglomerate, his unreachable dream. Back then, Ronnie hadn’t yet inherited his family business, and when he confessed, Judith rejected him. Now, she was back and had reached out to him. She loved shopping at high-end stores. I created a fake account as a beauty store manager and added her. Judith didn’t suspect a thing. The next day, Ronnie still drove me to the design conference himself. In the audience, he sat in the front row as usual, watching me with admiration as I presented my work. The presentation ended with thunderous applause. Then, suddenly, something caught his attention. He stood abruptly, apologizing to me in haste. “Andrea, something urgent just came up. I’ll join you later.” Before I could clearly see the anxiety on his face, he had already left me behind. Looking down, I instinctively checked Judith’s Instagram. Five minutes ago, she had posted a tearful selfie with the caption that read, “It’s such a sunny day. I even made breakfast, but I dropped a plate and cut my hand. I feel so strangely calm. I just want to die.” Her makeup was flawless, her red-rimmed eyes against her pale face evoking pity. Thinking of Ronnie’s anxious expression just now, I tightened my grip on my phone. Still, I kept my composure and finished the day’s activities. Afterward, I didn’t return to the home I shared with Ronnie. I went back to my parents’ house instead. The moment I saw my mom, I couldn’t hold back anymore. Choking on tears, I said, “Mom, Ronnie… he has someone else.” It wasn’t even someone new, it was the love he never let go of. I was just a laughable substitute. Mom once told me that when she was young, she gambled everything on love, her life, and her belief in a man’s devotion. It was absurd. Back then, I didn’t understand her words, but now, I felt them in my bones. They were fighting over the phone again. Mom spoke calmly, “If you’ve fallen for someone else, let’s divorce.” But Dad only thought she was threatening him. “Brynlee, you just want to take half of my wealth and leave. Listen, unless you walk away with nothing, it’ll never happen!” The line went dead abruptly, leaving Mom with a bitter smile. “See? Men are all the same. Andrea, maybe neither of us needs to stay with them anymore.” I felt my heart shatter into pieces. “Mom, is there really no way to save the price we’ve paid?” She chuckled softly and shook her head. “In three days, I’ll leave this place.” Mom told me she had accumulated millions of points over the years from her missions, converting them into real-world money, a billion dollars. She had already transferred it all into my private account. “The freedom I couldn’t have in my lifetime, I hope my baby can have instead,” she said. I held her tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.

The system gave Mom one month. If she could make Dad change his mind within that month, she could avoid the fate of being erased. But Mom firmly refused. Her feelings for Dad had completely died. She didn’t want to cater to him, not even a little. Dad took his young secretary to Mangria for business, but I saw on Irene’s social media that their location was tagged on Santo Island. They were clearly out there enjoying themselves, hiking and sightseeing, with no word from them. On the day Dad left, he never came home. I stayed by Mom’s side until dawn, watching as her breathing slowed and stopped. Her warmth faded bit by bit in my hands. Tears blurred my vision. That night, after Mom passed, I called Ronnie, my voice choked with emotion. “Hello?” There was no immediate reply, just the sound of his labored breathing. I knew that sound all too well. Ronnie only breathed like that when he was making love. After a long pause, he finally sighed and said, “Babe, I know you’re hurting, but I really can’t leave right now. Tomorrow, first thing in the morning, I’ll be there to help you make all the arrangements for your mom.” Then, the call ended abruptly. When I tried calling Dad, it was the same busy signal. Holding back my grief, I made all the arrangements with the hospital and the funeral home on my own. Later, I saw Ronnie’s chat logs with Judith. She told him she had severe depression and thought about ending her life every day. This trip back home was, she said, to spend time with him and check off 100 things she wanted to experience before she died. She had sent him a long, detailed list, including talking with someone all night, drinking until blackout drunk, watching the sunset on an island, making love seven times in one night with someone she loved, going skydiving… Ronnie had promised her with utmost sincerity. [Judith, I’ll help you fulfill every item on your list. I just hope, after completing these 100 things, you’ll find the courage to keep living.] Her 100th wish was to wear a wedding dress and hold a wedding with her one true love. Tonight, they were probably working on the third item. I spent that night alone at the funeral home, keeping vigil over Mom. I watched as she was reduced to ashes. But my mind was startlingly clear. By the time I left, the sky had fully brightened. I received a call from the contact I had reached out to a while ago. “Ms. Gardner, congratulations. You’ve secured permanent private residency on this uninhabited island, along with a custom-designed partner service. It will be activated once you arrive.” Using the money Mom left me, I spent 100 million dollars creating a private island for myself. On this deserted island, no one would ever find me again. If no one in this world loved me, then I would love myself. “Alright, I’ll head over as soon as I’m done here.” Outside the funeral home, I finally saw Ronnie rushing toward me. He noticed my red, swollen eyes and pulled me into his arms with a pained expression. “Andrea, I’m so sorry. I came back too late. How could Brynlee pass away so suddenly?” In his hurry, Ronnie hadn’t noticed that he still smelled faintly of another woman’s perfume, a detail someone as careful as him would never usually overlook. I stood there, cold and unmoved. These hypocritical people and their lies disgusted me. What Ronnie didn’t know was that soon, Andrea Gardner would no longer exist in this world.

After I finished my mother’s funeral, it happened to be our third wedding anniversary. Ronnie said he wanted to take me on a vacation to help me relax, back to the beach where we had our honeymoon. These past few days, he stayed by my side day and night, just like when we first fell in love. Ronnie held my hand gently, looking down to kiss my fingers. “I’ve chartered a plane, Andrea. I hope you can move on. I hate seeing you this upset.” His words sounded full of affection, but I could only laugh bitterly inside. Why pretend to care when he had already fallen for someone else? Before boarding the plane, I thought this would be our last trip together. When we landed, Ronnie walked with me along the beach, smiling, “Andrea, remember? This is where I proposed to you.” I nodded, my tone flat. “I remember. It’s just not the same as it used to be.” His face stiffened, and his expression turned uneasy. “Different? What do you mean by that?” A sharp pain stabbed at my heart. I wanted to ask him, when he knelt to propose, pretending to love me, had he ever meant it, even for a moment? Before I could speak, someone in a uniform called out to him. “Mr. Douglas, your assistant said there’s an urgent email that needs your response.” My gaze shifted to the woman wearing a baseball cap. Her strikingly beautiful face held an unmistakable hint of smugness. I recognized her immediately. It was Judith. Ronnie pinned the chat with her at the top. Ronnie frowned. “Can’t you see I’m with my wife? What could possibly be so urgent?” Judith feigned nervousness, her voice trembling. “It’s critical. If it’s delayed any longer, it’ll be too late.” He turned to me, squeezing my hand nervously. “Andrea, why don’t you wander around? I’ll handle this quickly.” I responded lightly, “Alright. I’ll head back on my own later.” As Ronnie walked away, I quietly followed him. Under a banana tree, he caught up with Judith and pulled her into his arms. “Judith, why did you have to be here? I’m only keeping my distance because I have no choice.” Judith leaned into him her tone playful. “Ronnie, didn’t you promise to help me complete the fourth task? Don’t go back on your word!” “Don’t show up in front of my wife again. I’ve arranged everything. Tomorrow, we’ll go skydiving.” “I’ll do whatever you say. But right now, there’s something more urgent…” He playfully tapped her nose, and they laughed as they headed into a secluded pavilion. I stood outside, listening to their laughter and whispers of lovemaking. Though I had already decided to leave, my heart still ached bitterly. I looked up, wiped away my tears, and told myself this would be the last time I cried for him. When I was back at the hotel, his assistant avoided my gaze. “Mrs. Douglas, Mr. Douglas has been busy… Would you like to rest in your room?” So, they all knew. Everyone but me. I nodded indifferently. Whether Ronnie was truly busy or spending time with Judith didn’t matter anymore. The next morning, Ronnie looked rushed and apologized. “Andrea, there’s another emergency at work. I need to attend a video call.” “Go ahead,” I said, interrupted with a smile before he could finish. Ronnie hesitated his smile awkward. “Why don’t you go snorkeling with the instructor? I’ll join you tonight.” I looked at him quietly and let out a soft laugh. I thought, “No more waiting. Never again.” Ronnie seemed inexplicably uneasy. Even he didn’t notice it, but the feeling quickly vanished as he stood up and hurried out of the hotel. While he and Judith went skydiving, I stood alone at the edge of the tallest cliff by the sea. The wind carried the wild grass, leaving no trace behind. The place was remote, but the security cameras would capture everything. Staring at the abyss with the deep ocean below, I closed my eyes and leaped into it.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295394”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #校园School #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

When I returned from my business trip, I found my five-year-old daughter, Selina Whitaker, sitting alone at home, nibbling on some cookies. Feeling a pang of guilt, I embraced her tightly and asked, “Selina, where’s your mom?” Selina pouted, her face full of grievance, and burst into tears. “Mommy is at the hotel downstairs marrying Mr. Blackwell. She told me to stay home by myself… Daddy, I’m so hungry…” After settling Selina down, I rushed to the hotel. And sure enough, it was true. There was Ophelia Whitaker, dressed in a wedding gown. When she saw me, her face turned pale with shock, and she quickly pulled me aside. “Dorian, don’t misunderstand! This is just me helping Nathan act out a scene. His mom kept pressuring him to get married, and this was the only way…” Furious, I let out a cold laugh. “Congratulations. May your life together be filled with love and laughter, and may your arguments always be short!” Later, at my wedding to her younger sister, she begged me to take her back. But instead, I made her listen to the sounds of us making love all night. Chapter 

“Congratulations. May your life together be filled with love and laughter, and may your arguments always be short!!” Everyone present thought I was an invited guest, and they applauded my blessings to the groom and bride. Only the bride, Ophelia, looked at me in disbelief, thinking I must be joking. When she realized I wasn’t kidding and saw the seriousness on my face, she reluctantly let go of Nathan Blackwell’s arm and dragged me into a corner, visibly annoyed. “Dorian, what’s the meaning of this?” I couldn’t believe she had the audacity to ask such a question. Last week, during my business trip to Frandel, I had taken a shortcut, desperate to get back early out of concern for her and our daughter’s safety. That choice had nearly cost me my life in a foreign land. But when I finally returned home, the first thing I saw was my five-year-old daughter sitting alone, nibbling on some cookies, while my beloved wife was downstairs marrying her first love. When I walked into the hotel earlier, I saw her and Nathan locked in a sweet embrace, making their vows with sincere devotion. “In wealth or poverty, in sickness or health, through good times and bad, I vow to stand by Nathan for the rest of my life…” She looked utterly devout, her eyes even sparkling with tiny stars of emotion. Yet when we got married, she had asked the officiant to skip the vows altogether, saying it was “too much trouble.” It turned out it wasn’t about the vows being troublesome, and it was about the person she was vowing to. With Nathan’s parents, she was warm and natural, the perfect picture of charm. But in our six years of marriage, she had never once treated my parents with such enthusiasm. If this wedding with Nathan was just an act, then what had our years together been? My heart felt like it had turned to ash. In a flat voice, I said, “I mean what I said. You two belong together, and I’ll bow out.” Ophelia’s brows furrowed, and she let out a derisive snort. “Dorian, stop being unreasonable, will you? My patience has its limits. “I’ve already explained everything to you. Nathan and I are just staging a fake wedding to put his parents at ease. And here you are, making a scene. Can you not let it go?” I let out a cold chuckle and replied indifferently, “Don’t overthink it. I’m genuinely stepping aside. Rest assured, I’m not the clingy type. I’ll file for divorce as soon as possible and won’t drag you down.” Ophelia looked at me in stunned disbelief, as if she couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth. “You…” Before she could finish, I turned and started to leave the hotel. But Nathan stopped me, his face full of guilt as he repeatedly apologized. “I’m so sorry, Dorian. Let me explain. “My parents have been pressuring me about marriage, and I didn’t want them to worry, so Ophelia and I staged this. We should have told you beforehand. I truly apologize.” Before Nathan could finish, Ophelia grabbed his arm, her voice icy. “Why are you apologizing to him? He’s just being petty. If he wants to sulk, let him! We don’t need to bother with him.” When I married Ophelia, I had known she still harbored feelings for her first love, Nathan. I had naively thought that with time and my love, I could win her over. But she treated my sincerity as nothing more than the behavior of a pathetic fool. I no longer wanted to play this one-sided game of giving without receiving. If someone else wanted to take my place, they were welcome to it. I felt nothing toward her shameless, outrageous behavior—not anger, not indignation. All I wanted was to sever ties with this woman completely. Chapter 

Seeing my silence, Nathan put on an aggrieved expression. “Dorian, how about this? I’ll explain everything to the guests and publicly apologize to you in front of them. “It doesn’t matter much to me. The worst that can happen is that I’ll lose face in front of my relatives and friends, and my elderly parents will worry about me. As long as it doesn’t hurt the relationship between you two, I’m willing to bear these sacrifices.” He sounded so self-righteous, but I could hear the insincerity dripping from every word. Yet Ophelia seemed completely moved by his performance. She glared at me and was about to scold me when Nathan’s father walked over. Nathan’s father asked, “Ophelia, what are you doing? This is your wedding. Why are you here arguing with another man?” The moment Ophelia saw Nathan’s parents, her demeanor shifted instantly into one of meek compliance. “This is just my neighbor. He happened to be passing by and stopped in to congratulate me.” To protect an outsider, she could so casually refer to me, her husband of six years, as merely her “neighbor.” That was probably all I was to her—a man who shared a roof but held no place in her heart. When I met her gaze, I saw a flicker of panic in her eyes. “Fine. Let’s grant her wish,” I thought. Faced with the curious stares of Nathan’s family and friends, I decided to help them keep up appearances. “Yes, I’m just her neighbor. I came by to wish them well. I’ll leave now. Enjoy the party.” Perhaps my resoluteness caught Ophelia off guard. For a moment, it looked like she might come after me. But Nathan grabbed her hand. “Ophelia, don’t go. My aunt and uncle are waiting for us to toast them. “After everything’s settled, I’ll go with you to find Dorian and clear things up. Once he’s calmed down, it’ll all be fine.” At Nathan’s words, Ophelia stopped in her tracks. However, I walked out of the hotel without looking back. When I got home, Selina threw herself into my arms. “Daddy! You’re finally back. I don’t have to sleep alone tonight! “Daddy, the wind outside was so scary last night. I was hiding under the blanket all by myself, and I was so scared.” When I looked at her sweet, innocent face, my heart ached. I deeply regretted leaving her with her unreliable mother while I went on that trip. Seeing the empty croissant box on the table, I praised her, “Wow, my little princess is amazing! You finished all four croissants I bought for you.” Selina pouted and mumbled, “Daddy, I’m still hungry. Mommy hasn’t cooked for me in three days. She said she’s been busy with Mr. Blackwell…” A lump formed in my throat, and guilt washed over me. Gently stroking her head, I pressed my cheek against hers to comfort her. “Daddy’s here now. I’ll make you something delicious to eat right away.” Selina cheered and jumped up. “Yay! Daddy’s back, and I can have real food again!” Her words brought tears to my eyes as I headed to the kitchen to prepare a meal for her. But when I opened the fridge, I found only some pasta and nothing else. Clearly, no one had cooked at home for days. In the end, I made a simple creamy pasta soup for Selina. Even so, it lit up her face with joy. “Daddy, this is so good! You’re the best!” Hearing her childlike praise filled me with mixed emotions. Just then, the door clicked open. Ophelia walked in, her face sullen, holding a takeout box in her hand. She tossed the box onto the table and glared at me. “What’s wrong with you? All you made for Selina is some lousy pasta? Is this how you take care of your daughter?” Chapter 

In front of Selina, I didn’t want to argue with Ophelia, so I gave her a warning glance, silently telling her not to go too far. Seeing my expression, Ophelia seemed to remember our agreement not to argue in front of our daughter. She refrained from saying anything more but still shot me a defiant look. Nathan, who had come in right after her, immediately tried to diffuse the tension. Squeezing between us with a cheerful smile, he opened the takeout box. “Dorian, we had the hotel pack this for you. Knowing you and Selina might not have eaten, we thought to bring it over.” I glanced at the contents: the remains of a fish with nothing but bones left. It was clearly leftovers. Selina is allergic to fish, and I didn’t want her to be affected even by proximity, so I pushed the box aside. Upon seeing this, Ophelia’s expression darkened. She seemed to think I was insulting Nathan and immediately snapped. “Nathan, don’t bother with them. If they want to eat, fine. If not, who cares?” I hadn’t intended to argue, but I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Ophelia, have you forgotten that Selina is allergic to seafood and fish?” Ophelia’s brow furrowed as if she had just remembered. My family has a history of allergic reactions to fish, and Selina was no exception. I had repeatedly reminded Ophelia not to expose Selina to fish, but she never seemed to take it seriously. However, Nathan loved fish and chips. Whenever they ate out together, he would order it and sometimes even take Selina along. Every time they came back, Selina’s face would be covered in rashes. I had to carefully apply ointment to soothe her skin while reproaching Ophelia for bringing Selina near fish. Yet she remained indifferent. “Oh, it’s just a little rash. Girls her age get these things. It’s no big deal,” she would say. It wasn’t until one incident when Selina’s allergic reaction became severe, causing her throat to swell and her breathing to become labored, that she finally seemed to take it seriously. Thankfully, we got her to the hospital in time to save her. After that, Ophelia seemed to learn her lesson and stopped bringing Selina along to her outings with Nathan. But it didn’t last long. To continue dining out with Nathan, she began leaving Selina home alone, distracting her with snacks and toys. Once, Selina nearly choked on a snack while she was home alone. Luckily, I arrived just in time to save her. She had brought fish back for Selina to eat. It seemed that, just like me, Selina didn’t matter to her as much as Nathan, the one who had once abandoned her. Seeing Ophelia’s embarrassment, Nathan quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Oh, my apologies. I packed this, and I completely forgot about Selina’s allergy to fish…” Ophelia looked at Nathan gratefully, her tone softening. “Nathan was just being thoughtful. Dorian, can you stop nitpicking? “It was inconsiderate of me today. I’ll cook a big meal at home tomorrow to make it up to you and Selina. Will that do?” Before I could respond, a commotion erupted outside the door, followed by the sound of someone unlocking it. I was puzzled, wondering who else besides Ophelia and I could have a key to our house. The voices of Nathan’s parents bragging to their guests provided the answer. “This is my son’s marital home. It’s enormous! “Ophelia is amazing, and she paid for it in full. Nathan didn’t have to spend a penny!” Chapter 

Nathan’s parents entered, cheerfully leading their friends and relatives into the house, only to freeze when they saw my furious face. I was about to explode when Ophelia grabbed me, her eyes pleading. Nathan’s parents’ smiles faltered, and they looked awkwardly at their guests. As everyone exchanged puzzled glances, Nathan’s mother, Hailey Blackwell, avoided confronting me. Instead, she stormed over to Selina, who was eating her pasta and slapped her hard across the face. “Whose child is this, so ill-mannered? Sneaking into someone else’s home and eating their food!” Seeing Selina struck, I lunged forward, ready to kick that vile old woman, but Nathan held me back with all his strength. “Dorian, please, I’m begging you…” “Mommy, she hit me! My face hurts!” Selina, now wailing in pain, tried to run to Ophelia for comfort, only to be pushed away. “Selina, I’m not your mommy. You’re just the neighbor’s kid here for a visit. Don’t call me that… “Sorry, everyone. She’s the neighbor’s child who comes over to play sometimes. I jokingly told her to call me Mommy. Don’t misunderstand.” Ophelia’s face was full of embarrassment as she explained herself to Nathan’s family, desperate not to tarnish his image. “Mommy… Mommy…” Selina, now utterly helpless, tried to inch closer to Ophelia again, only to be stopped by her icy glare. I wanted to comfort Selina, but Nathan still held me back tightly. Nathan’s father, witnessing this, was livid. He picked up a bowl of creamy pasta soup from the table and poured it over Selina’s head, shouting obscenities. “Where did this little bastard come from, calling Ophelia ‘Mommy’ in my son’s new home? How disgusting!” The scalding soup spilled onto Selina’s head, making her scream in pain. I kicked Nathan aside, rushed to hold Selina, and tried to take her to the bathroom to rinse off the burns. But Hailey blocked my way with a group of their guests. “This is my son’s new home. What do you think you’re doing, barging around like this? “Get out of here! You’re bringing bad luck!” I couldn’t hold back anymore. “To hell with you! This is my goddamn…” Before I could finish, Nathan and his people dragged me toward the door. He shouted loudly at Ophelia, “Ophelia, talk to your neighbor! Tell him to leave and not ruin our big day!” Selina and I were thrown out, and Ophelia stood at the door, tears streaming down her face, begging me. “Please, just let this go. I’ll get them to leave tonight. Don’t embarrass Nathan in front of his family…” Looking at the blister forming on Selina’s face and hearing Ophelia’s outrageous words, I couldn’t hold back my rage. “You shameless woman, Ophelia! I want a divorce! “And unless you drag those bastards out of my house this instant, I’ll make sure all of you spend your honeymoon in a jail cell!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295393”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #校园School #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

During an Antarctic expedition, an avalanche struck. I desperately saved my wife, but ended up trapped forever in that frozen land. Afterwards, not seeing me, my wife mistakenly thought I had abandoned her and escaped alone. She fell into another man’s arms, saying, “Timothy, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have survived. I want to divorce him and be with you!” Later, our expedition was certified by Guinness World Records. My wife signed a contract with the Antarctic research team to be their guide for future Antarctic expeditions. However, during the Antarctic journey, another avalanche struck. My body was washed out by the snow, and the truth was suddenly exposed. My wife knelt in front of my corpse, wailing inconsolably, wishing she were dead! At the Guinness World Records award ceremony. I watched Lily Graham accept the award, smiling bitterly. Our team of five, led by me, formed an expedition group. During the Antarctic extreme night, we trekked on foot and recorded the entire phenomenon. This feat filled a gap in human historical records, thus being certified by Guinness World Records. Thinking back on this journey, dangers were everywhere. But thanks to the route I planned, we were almost at the end point. However, before I could rejoice, a massive avalanche suddenly erupted. I desperately saved Lily, but ended up permanently buried in the snow mountain myself. Now, what’s present here is my soul. A reporter at the scene asked: “Miss Graham, you’ve now become a world-renowned female explorer, and many young women look up to you as their idol. Do you have anything you’d like to say to them?” Lily looked at the camera, her eyes twinkling. “When choosing a partner, everyone must keep their eyes wide open. It’s during hardships that you see someone’s true colors.” “This trip to Antarctica also made me realize my ex-husband’s true nature. I must also thank Timothy for saving me.” Seeing this, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. When Lily was rescued after the avalanche. She couldn’t find any trace of me and searched everywhere. Timothy, seeing this, added fuel to the fire, saying I had abandoned her, and even produced a video. The video showed me running away, and he also took credit for saving Lily. Lily was furious because of this and filed for divorce upon returning home. Now, a year has passed, and she has successfully regained her single status. The reporter, seeing this, asked a provocative question: “Miss Graham, as we know, you’ve just successfully divorced. Do you really have no lingering feelings for your ex-husband at all?” Hearing this, Lily’s face immediately darkened. “None! In fact, I’d like to use your cameras right now to tell him!” “Zack Quinn, when the avalanche hit, you abandoned me and ran away alone, and you’ve been hiding from me for a whole year out of guilt! Now that the divorce proceedings are over, I have nothing to do with you anymore!” Hearing this, netizens in the live stream began to condemn me. “Taking his girlfriend to Antarctica and then running away alone, how disgusting!” “Birds of a feather flock together, but each flies alone in adversity. Our ancestors weren’t wrong!” Seeing the live stream’s popularity soaring, the reporter asked another question. “After the avalanche, Mr. Quinn never appeared again. Miss Graham, is there any possibility that Mr. Quinn died in Antarctica?” Hearing this, Lily shook her head. “First of all, I have video evidence proving he ran away at that time.” “He also had a life information monitoring device on him, and I can see that he’s healthy now.” Hearing this, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly. If Lily had paid a little more attention to me, she would have discovered that I truly disappeared forever in that beautiful snowy night. At this moment, in the spotlight, Timothy came on stage and knelt on one knee in front of everyone. “Lily, from now on, let me be your husband, to protect you in times of difficulty, and to walk hand in hand with you in happiness. Will you marry me?” The whole venue erupted in cheers. Seeing this, Lily nodded vigorously, tears in her eyes. “From the moment you saved me from the avalanche, I knew you were the one destined for me!” Then, she and Timothy embraced tightly, kissing passionately. Watching this scene, my face turned pale, my heart feeling as if it had been sprinkled with broken glass.

After the proposal, the venue moved on to the next agenda. This wasn’t just a Guinness award ceremony. It was also the signing ceremony for Lily with the Antarctic research team. Afterwards, she would lead the research team members across Antarctica, exploring the extreme night phenomenon and filming a documentary about it. The signing was completed smoothly. A month later, Lily and Timothy came to meet with the research team. But when she saw one of the team members, she frowned. “Ethan Dawson, why are you here?” Ethan sneered, “I’m also a member of the research team, why shouldn’t I be here? I’m going to Antarctica to investigate the truth!” “Lily Graham, for the past year, you’ve been saying Zack abandoned you when danger struck, you said he’s still alive, but I’ve waited for him for a whole year, and he never showed up!” “You said he abandoned you so he’s hiding from you, but why would he hide from me?” Watching this scene, I sighed. Ethan was my friend, the youngest research member of the Antarctic expedition team. When I went to Antarctica, he had asked me to help collect some research samples. I never thought that while I got the samples, I would end up permanently buried in that frozen land. After my death, he was the one who cared about me the most. He had come to ask Lily about my whereabouts more than once. But he was always driven away by Lily, who even reported him for sexual harassment. He almost lost his position as a research team member because of this. Seeing this, Timothy spoke calmly: “Ethan Dawson, the route Lily and I took before was too dangerous, even we almost died in the avalanche in Antarctica.” “So this time, I’ve redesigned the route, and we won’t be following the previous one.” Hearing this, Ethan became angry, “You’re just trying to cover up the truth, Zack must have been killed by you!” Lily spoke coldly, “You may be professional in research, but when it comes to outdoor exploration, we are the professionals!” “If Zack had listened to Timothy last time, we wouldn’t have encountered the avalanche at all.” “If even he couldn’t manage, how could you?” Hearing this, I immediately felt indignant. Timothy was actually like my apprentice, having only been involved in outdoor activities for a year. If it weren’t for Lily’s strong insistence on bringing him to Antarctica, I would never have taken him. The route he designed seemed shorter and safer, but was actually full of dangers. That route not only had to pass through mountains infested with snow wolves but also cross dangerous rivers. Any accident at any point could have led to casualties in the team. The route I had planned, on the other hand, was very safe. If it weren’t for the unexpected avalanche, we wouldn’t have had any problems at all. Lily didn’t trust me, a person with ten years of outdoor experience, but instead trusted Timothy, who had only been doing outdoor activities for a year. It was really laughable. Hearing this, Professor White immediately pulled Ethan back. “Don’t worry, leave professional matters to professionals.” “We will strictly follow your route.”

Soon, under the escort of helicopters, they landed on the Antarctic ice. Lily immediately spoke: “From now on, everyone must strictly follow what Timothy and I say, to avoid accidents, understand?” The research team members all nodded. Even Ethan did the same. On the first day, they were safe on the outskirts of Antarctica. The second day was the same. However, on just the third day, problems arose. They entered the hunting grounds of a wolf pack. The male students of the research team, holding hunting rifles, were carefully guarding against the wolves. In the middle of the group, Ethan, with an unpleasant face, questioned Lily: “It’s only the third day, and we’re already being targeted by a wolf pack. According to their habits, they’ll definitely keep following us, we can’t conduct any research at all!” “How did you plan this route?” Lily also had an unpleasant expression, “This might be an accident, we didn’t know the wolf pack had migrated here.” Timothy, shrinking behind Lily, spoke timidly. “It’s okay, maybe these wolves just happened to come here by accident, we’ll keep walking for a few more days and they might leave.” Professor White spoke up, and Ethan finally gave in. On the fifth day, one of the male students fell ill and couldn’t go on. Immediately, a snow wolf charged up. Bang——! Timothy shot and killed a wolf. Just as he was about to be praised by Lily, he was scolded by the people around him. “Don’t you know you can’t fire guns randomly in Antarctica? What if it causes an avalanche?” “Moreover, gunshots won’t drive away the wolf pack, it will only provoke their ferocity, you’re worse than a novice!” Lily anxiously protected Timothy behind her, “Timothy just wanted to save someone urgently, he didn’t think that far.” I watched this scene, couldn’t help but mock myself. If it were my route that had such problems. She would probably have cursed me out loud by now. She wouldn’t have explained for me at all. But for Timothy, she was so tolerant. Seeing this, Ethan’s face darkened. “Professor White, I think we should cancel this scientific expedition.” “If we continue, we might lose lives. We can sacrifice our lives for scientific research, but not for something like this!” Hearing this, Professor White hesitated. “This time, the investment in the research team from above is huge.” “It would be too much of a waste to give up halfway.” Ethan became anxious, “But if we don’t retreat now, and encounter more dangerous situations later, it will be too late!” Seeing this, Lily spoke coldly: “Ethan Dawson, you’re just being alarmist!” “Antarctic research is inherently dangerous and difficult, if we retreat at every little setback, I don’t think you should have come!” I knew that Lily was worried that if they returned now, it would affect her reputation. Ethan looked at her with an iron-gray face, “You call this a little setback? Do we have to wait until someone is bitten to death by wolves before we leave?” Hearing this, Professor White’s face seemed to soften. Lily saw this and gritted her teeth: “You just want to force me to take the route my ex took, don’t you?” “Fine, let’s do it! Professor White, we’ll take the route we took before, now you should feel at ease, right?” Hearing this, the professor nodded, “A route we’ve taken before should be much safer, so let’s continue.” Ethan didn’t object either. I knew he didn’t trust Lily and Timothy, but he trusted me. After all, when the whole internet was cursing me for abandoning my wife and running away, he still insisted that I wasn’t that kind of person. When they started following my route, it became much safer. The wolf pack retreated on the fifth day. The research team began to set up camp and conduct research. A month later, the research indicators were completed, and they continued to traverse. I followed beside Lily, looking at the snow-capped mountains in the distance. My body was buried in that place. Only, my body was covered with thick frost, there was no day it would see the light again. “Is this the place where you encountered the avalanche back then?” Ethan walked over and suddenly asked. Lily sneered, “Yes, this is where Zack Quinn abandoned me. Didn’t you want to know if he died here?” “Go find him now, I also want to see if that man who abandoned me can be found here.” Hearing this, Ethan’s face darkened. At this time, a research team member came over from afar. “Professor White, we found a seal nearby that seems a bit unusual, it’s too quiet around here, in case…” Hearing this, Professor White frowned and immediately ordered: “Everyone gather together, hold your guns tight, let’s go take a look together.” The atmosphere immediately became tense, the team members with guns surrounded the outside, carefully observing the surroundings. Soon, they saw that unusual seal. “Why does that seal seem to have something on it? Could there be people nearby?” Ethan was a bit confused. “Catch it and take a look, be careful not to fire your guns,” Lily frowned. As they spoke, everyone worked together to catch the seal, finding that it actually had a sensor attached to it. Ethan’s pupils suddenly contracted, “Wait! Isn’t this the one Zack Quinn wore a year ago?”

“I’ve seen this style before, it’s definitely his! Zack Quinn must be dead for this device to be stuck on this seal!” Saying this, Ethan grabbed the sensor and suddenly raised his head to glare at Lily angrily. “Lily Graham! How do you explain this!” At this time, Timothy stepped forward, frowning: “Impossible, I saw him run away with my own eyes, you must have mistaken it, many explorers have this kind of device.” Hearing this, Lily also sneered: “That’s right, it can’t be his. The direction of the avalanche was to the north, we’re in the south now, this must be lost by someone else.” Hearing this, Ethan suddenly laughed, with two clear tears flowing out. “There’s a name abbreviation engraved on this device, and it happens to be ZQ!” “Lily Graham, what else can you say! Zack Quinn is dead, he was killed by you!” Lily looked at the ZQ abbreviation on the device, completely stunned. “Impossible! This is a coincidence!” Ethan gritted his teeth, full of resentment, “The evidence is right here, what are you still pretending for!” At this time, someone else discovered a corpse, but the appearance of the corpse was unrecognizable. Ethan’s gaze immediately locked onto the action camera on the corpse. “When the camera video comes out, I’d like to see how you explain!” As soon as he finished speaking, the monitoring device video lit up under the manipulation of the research team members. But the screen was full of green light and mosaics, and the sound was very sharp and piercing. The research team member scratched his head, “It seems to be broken?” Seeing this, Lily snorted coldly, “I would recognize Zack Quinn even if he turned to ashes, this corpse is definitely not him!” Timothy also echoed beside her, “That’s right, Zack Quinn abandoned us and ran away at that time, he ran in the northern direction. Even if he really died, his body shouldn’t be here, right?” Ethan tightly clenched his fists, his eyes full of bloodshot. Seeing this, Lily sneered, “That bastard Zack Quinn, he used to say how much he loved me, but when the avalanche came, I fainted alone on the spot!” “He thought I was a burden and abandoned me directly! If it weren’t for Timothy saving me, I might have died! This kind of selfish bastard couldn’t have just died like this!” “The corpse on the ground can’t be him!” Hearing this, many research team members were infected by her words and indignantly condemned me. At this time, the research team member who had just been working on the device suddenly looked happy, “It’s fixed! Everyone come and see!” Everyone gathered around. Lily looked at the figure appearing in the screen and sighed, explaining: “These are the other two teammates who were exploring with us. When the avalanche hit, they happened to be outside getting fresh water, so we lost contact with them.” “I had always prayed that they had just gotten separated from us, I didn’t expect their bodies to be here so close.” “And it looks like they survived the avalanche, but died due to losing their equipment and freezing after getting separated from us. Ethan Dawson, they are not the Zack Quinn you’re looking for.” Seeing this, I also sighed. At that time, after the avalanche, I was worried about the safety of these two teammates, and because the campsite I had set up had a snow barrier, I immediately went out to look for them. That’s where the video in Timothy’s hands came from. “But, what’s the situation with this sensor?” “Could it have fallen onto the seal when he was running away?” Lily looked at the little device in her hand, frowning deeply. Hearing this, Ethan laughed angrily, “Lily Graham! Can the monitoring information of humans and animals be the same?! You can’t even figure this out! Did you ever really care about Zack Quinn?” Hearing this, I also smiled bitterly and asked Lily: “Yeah, did you ever really care about me?” After saying this, I shook my head. She couldn’t hear me anyway. But, the next moment, Lily said coldly, “Of course I cared.” Hearing this, I was stunned. “I once saw him as my only one, I loved him more than anyone else in this world, I was willing to die for him.” “But what about him? When difficulty came, he abandoned me and ran away alone! Ethan Dawson, tell me, is such a person worth loving, worth caring about?” As she spoke, Lily’s eyes reddened. I knelt in the snow, grabbing my hair and shouting loudly: “Lily Graham! I didn’t abandon you! I really didn’t abandon you!!” But only the desolate cold wind responded to me. I turned my hopeful gaze to Ethan, hoping my friend could explain for me. Because he knew what my real purpose was for going to Antarctica. Ethan sighed, “Lily Graham, if I tell you that Zack Quinn took you across the extreme night because he wanted to declare his love for you to the whole world when the extreme night ended.” “Would you still think he would abandon you in public?” Hearing this, Lily was stunned, she opened her mouth but couldn’t make a sound. At this time, a team member excitedly shouted, “Wait, there’s more video!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295392”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #校园School #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

I was drowning in the icy river, struggling desperately for my last breath. No one came to save me. As I felt my soul leaving my body, a surge of hatred consumed me. Jack Wilson, the man I had loved so deeply, had been cheating on me for years. The daughter I had cherished as my own was actually the love child of Jack and his dream girl, Chloe Parker. Chloe’s mocking laughter echoed in my ears as I died. My vision turned blood-red, reminiscent of the pool of blood left by my real daughter when she passed away. If I could start over, I would have my revenge – for myself and for my daughter! Suddenly, I heard the faint cry of a baby… I forced my heavy eyelids open. A white ceiling and the smell of disinfectant greeted me. Was I in a hospital? Hadn’t I just drowned in the river? I slowly looked around, taking in the somewhat dated decor that seemed oddly familiar. A sharp pain in my abdomen made me cry out involuntarily. “Sweetheart, you’re finally awake! You scared Mommy to death!” Mommy? I focused my gaze and saw my mother, but a much younger version of her. So… had I been reborn? Ignoring the pain, I sat up abruptly. “Mom, where’s my daughter?” In my previous life, Jack had taken advantage of my postpartum weakness to switch my baby. I wouldn’t let their evil plan succeed this time. My mom gently wiped the sweat from my forehead. I gripped her arm tightly. “Mom, please tell me, where did the baby go?” Unaware of my unusual behavior, my mom tried to reassure me, “Don’t worry, darling. The nurse took the baby for a routine check-up. They’ll bring her back soon.” “Just lie down now. You shouldn’t move around too much after giving birth.” I stared into my mom’s eyes. “Where’s Jack?” Mom smiled, “Oh, he’s such a doting father already. The nurse was just taking the baby for a routine check-up, but he insisted on going along.” What? My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a giant hand. I couldn’t breathe! No! Absolutely not! I won’t let Jack succeed this time. Despite my discomfort, I jumped out of bed and ran towards the door barefoot. My mom tried to stop me, but I dodged her and rushed to the door, only to collide with someone entering. It was Jack! He was tightly cradling the baby, glaring at me disapprovingly. Seeing how protective he was of this little bastard, I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Reborn into a new life, and he had still succeeded. A wave of fury surged through me. If my anger could materialize, Jack would have been incinerated on the spot! “Honey, the floor is cold. Get back to bed quickly!” Jack switched to a facade of concern for me. He thought he was hiding it well, but I could still see the malice and impatience hidden in his eyes. My mom caught up and pulled me back to bed. As soon as I was back in bed, Jack placed the little bastard next to my hand. “Honey, the baby is hungry,” he said. Right on cue, the little bastard started crying. I stared coldly at her. This was the child of that despicable woman, who had stolen my real daughter’s life. She had taken all my love and resources, and in the end, even pushed me into the river. All the scum in the world combined couldn’t match this little bastard. I slowly placed my hand on the little bastard’s neck. I wanted nothing more than to strangle her right then and there. Jack stood there smiling, lost in his own thoughts, not noticing my actions. But it scared my mom, who was watching me closely. “Sweetheart, that’s not how you hold a baby. You need to support the neck from behind.” “Honey, she’s crying because she’s hungry,” Jack said with a smile, picking up the little bastard and trying to place her in my arms. I turned away, lying on my side. “If she’s hungry, she can have formula. I’m tired and need to rest.” I closed my eyes, but all I could see was the blood that had stained the ground when my daughter died. I wouldn’t let any of these bastards off the hook. I had to plan this carefully. Jack had married into my family and was currently working a menial job in my father’s company. Perhaps due to my financial influence, he had perfected the image of an ideal husband in everyone’s eyes. In my previous life, everyone, including myself, thought I had found the best husband in the world. It wasn’t until just before I died that I realized the truth. He called it “enduring humiliation to achieve his goal.” He had been acting all along for a beautiful future with his dream girl. His dream girl, Chloe, had deliberately chosen to get pregnant at the same time as me and had a C-section early to switch our babies. Because she was born prematurely, this little bastard was small and weak. In my previous life, I had gone to great lengths to nurse her back to health. She certainly grew strong enough to push me into the cold river with one hand. Jack was the husband my father had carefully chosen for me. He said he didn’t want me to work too hard and needed someone to help carry the banner of our family business. He had picked Jack from among the scholarship students he sponsored. Dad said Jack was handsome, well-behaved, hardworking, and had great potential. Mom, however, insisted that for a high-status family like ours, I should marry someone of equal standing. But I was attracted by Jack’s facade and agreed, even persuading my mom. That’s how the marriage went ahead smoothly. Now I realize how blind and foolish I was. I hadn’t seen the ugly face behind Jack’s human mask. It’s impossible to know exactly when Jack and Chloe started their affair. But since Chloe’s due date was later than mine, he must have been cheating at least since I was pregnant. Due to my physical condition, I had focused all my attention on the baby since becoming pregnant. I had gradually handed over the family business responsibilities I used to handle to Jack. This time, Jack won’t get his hands on a single penny of my family’s wealth. After my condition stabilized, I moved into the pre-booked luxury postpartum care center. When we got married, the background check on Jack had failed miserably. We hadn’t discovered that he had a dream girl he couldn’t forget. I contacted Uncle Mike, the head of security at our company, and asked him to conduct a detailed investigation into Jack’s background. The fact that Jack had managed to deceive professional investigators before meant he must have planned this for a long time. He had claimed his background was simple – his parents were dead, and he wasn’t in touch with any relatives or friends. My parents and I had felt sorry for his circumstances and tried our best to be good to him, wanting him to feel the warmth of family. Even I had tried to curb my spoiled rich girl attitude, afraid of hurting his fragile glass heart. Looking back now, I was truly a complete fool. This beast who could throw his own daughter into a beggar’s den deserved to have his family ruined and be left all alone. The company was very busy, and most of the time it was just me and the little bastard alone together. Looking at this inherently evil, ungrateful little wolf cub, I had to grip my right hand tightly with my left to resist the urge to strangle her. My precious baby was suffering somewhere unknown, while this little monster was lying in the most luxurious postpartum care center. Perhaps my gaze was too cold, because the little bastard started crying. With two soft sounds, the little brat had soiled herself. In my previous life, I had forced myself to overcome my germaphobia and changed her diapers countless times, wiping her bottom. This time, dream on. Even if her diaper rash spread to her face, what did it have to do with me? I had already refused to breastfeed. Despite Jack’s efforts to control himself, I could still see the ferocity in his eyes. Heh, he must be thinking about how to settle accounts with me in the future. Unfortunately for him, this time, I’ll be the one settling accounts. As a man who married into my family without a penny to his name, he’d be lucky to eat warm shit without me. Even if he’s not happy about it, he can only swallow his pride. My parents thoughtfully sent over imported high-end formula, but I rejected it outright. Chinese people have Chinese stomachs; a hundred-dollar can would do just fine. Even the staff at the postpartum care center seemed to disapprove of me. They said that despite my vast wealth, I was being so harsh on a small infant. They even speculated whether I had an extreme preference for boys over girls.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295391”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #校园School #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

The fortune teller said I was destined to have siblings. My foster parents found me in a dumpster and took me home. They had no children of their own and treated me like a precious gem. When my foster mother became pregnant, she patted my head and said, “Daisy, you must bring us a boy.” The following spring, they had a son. Suddenly, I became the family’s scapegoat. One day, while washing my little brother’s diapers, I added some hot water to the basin. My foster father kicked me to the ground. “You’re so delicate. Making such a fuss over washing diapers.” I looked helplessly at Grandma. When my brother was born, she had called me the family’s lucky star. But now, she just rolled her eyes at me. “We can’t afford to raise a princess,” she scoffed. I didn’t dare speak and was sent to the pigsty. With no food again today, I had to rummage through the garbage. A neighbor took pity on me and gave me some rice porridge. My foster mother stood at the door, cradling my brother and taunting me. “Hey, you old hag, if you really feel sorry for her, why don’t you take her in?” She had given birth to a son and now felt superior in the Lee household. Even the fierce Grandma had to give way to her. The neighbor awkwardly returned to her house and locked the door. I curled up, trying to avoid my foster mother’s disapproving gaze. I thought about going fishing early the next morning. My foster mother’s body hadn’t fully recovered, and fish soup would be nourishing. If she drank the soup, she might be happy for a few days, and I wouldn’t get beaten. But while fishing, I accidentally fell into the pond. The villagers called for the local doctor, who couldn’t help and suggested taking me to the hospital in town. My foster mother wailed and threw herself on top of me, squeezing my neck. “You ungrateful wretch! We’ve raised you all these years for nothing. Even a pig would fetch some money!” I couldn’t breathe and passed out. My foster father gritted his teeth and carried me on his back. As I bounced on his back, I managed to call out, “Dad, please save me.” Bang. I was tied to a rock and thrown into a pit. The sky opened up, and rain poured down. Rats crawled over my face, but I had no strength to fight them off. I thought, no one will save me now. When I was wrapped in a coat, I was completely dazed. There was a fire burning nearby, and Mrs. Johnson held me tightly, trying to warm my body. Seeing that I was awake, she finally sighed in relief. There was egg custard heating by the stove, and she tried to feed me with a spoon. Mr. Johnson peeked through the curtain and brought me a basin of hot water to wash my face. After I had eaten my fill, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson carried me back home. They went door to door asking about me, but the villagers just looked at each other in confusion. “Isn’t she from another village? I heard that child died on the way.” I clung tightly to Mr. Johnson’s neck, while Mrs. Johnson spat several times in disgust. The wind howled, and Mrs. Johnson took off her coat to cover my head. Before we even reached the door, we heard Grandma say, “You should have thrown her farther away. What if she comes limping back?” My foster father coughed, “That pit was for catching tigers. She’ll definitely die out there.” My foster mother was putting my brother to sleep and chimed in, “Whose pit is it? If she really dies, we could make some money off it.” Tears streamed down my face. Grandma came out to dump leftover food and looked at me with disgust. My foster father grabbed my ear and yanked me off Mr. Johnson’s back. “Such an unlucky thing, can’t even die properly.” My foster mother rolled her eyes at the Johnsons. “We don’t want this dead girl anymore. Don’t think you can extort us.” They pushed me into a pig cage, planning to drown me at night. I clung to Mrs. Johnson’s leg and wouldn’t let go. My foster father raised a stick to hit me, and I closed my eyes. “What do you think you’re doing?” The stick didn’t fall. My foster father was furious. Mrs. Johnson held me in her arms. “Let’s pretend we were never here. From now on, she’s our daughter.” My new parents promised to give my former foster parents, the Browns, a load of grain. Once the grain was delivered, Mrs. Brown threw me out. They had a student write a severance letter. “Everyone, bear witness. This money-losing trash belongs to the Johnsons now. Whatever happens from now on has nothing to do with us.” “We picked her up from a dumpster anyway. She’s wasted so much of our food.” Mom took me home. The heavy snow blocked the roads, so she altered her own clothes to make new ones for me. I didn’t have to do chores anymore, and they even killed several chickens to help me regain my strength. At night, when the bitter wind howled, she and Dad sandwiched me between them, like two big furnaces. Dad even made me little toys – a rocking horse, a pinwheel, and other things. These days of being well-fed and warmly dressed felt surreal. I often thought it was just a hallucination before death. As the snow gradually melted, Dad prepared to go out and find work. The village women’s director came to our house and pushed me out to play. I clung tightly to the doorframe, listening to her say, “Little brother, adopted children can never truly be your own. Listen to your big sister, take your wife to the hospital for another check-up.” “Hurry up and send the child away.” Dad shook his head, and Mom got anxious. “Sis, once we’ve taken in a child, we’ll raise her for life. She’s mine and Johnson’s daughter.” “Ai, you two stubborn fools. What if this child turns out to be ungrateful? You’ll have plenty to cry about then.” “Sis, don’t worry about these things. She’s old enough for school now.” Dad kept using sign language, seemingly urging her on. Big Sis sighed and agreed. The next day, she came to get me. Mom wanted to come along, but she was refused. She carried me, walking quickly forward. I didn’t dare ask, afraid she’d find me annoying and tell my parents bad things about me. She put me in a car and told the woman inside. “Hey, didn’t you want a daughter? I’m handing her over to you.” I knew she was selling me, but I didn’t dare move. This was the second time I’d been sold. The first time was after my birth parents were imprisoned. My father couldn’t bear the hardships of prison life and sold twelve-year-old me to a leering police officer. I became his tool for release, but I couldn’t endure it. When I woke up again, I was a baby abandoned in a dumpster. A passing fortune teller said I was destined to have siblings, and my foster father saved me. I brought them a brother, but I was still abandoned. The woman in the car frowned at me. “Is she an idiot? She’s not crying or making a fuss.” Big Sis pinched my flesh hard. “She’s not stupid. She was playing happily yesterday.” I forced a smile. “I’m not stupid.” The woman gave Big Sis $30. They were even now. The car rocked back and forth as it drove. After a while, I heard Mom calling out. The woman wouldn’t stop the car, so I jumped out. My hand hurt, but I scrambled up and ran towards my parents. My parents were covered in sweat. Mom hugged me and cried, gasping for air. The woman was furious. “Let go of her. She’s my child now. I even paid thirty bucks for her.” Dad took out thirty dollars and gave it to her, but she wouldn’t take it. Mom wiped her tears. “This is kidnapping. Let’s go to the police station and let them settle this.” She immediately snatched the money from Dad and drove away. I nestled in Mom’s arms. When we got home, Big Sis was waiting awkwardly. “You brought her back?” Mom ignored her and changed my clothes. My arm was dislocated and I couldn’t lift it at all. She panicked and wanted to take me to the hospital in town. “I don’t want to go.” Seeing a doctor would cost a lot of money, and I was afraid my parents would regret bringing me back. Dad didn’t listen to me and borrowed a bicycle from a neighbor again. Luckily, the doctor didn’t charge us, and my arm was quickly fixed. Mom thought I was traumatized and wanted to buy me some snacks. Dad went back first; he had to feed the pigs and chickens at home. Christmas was almost over, and someone had ordered fresh chicken and pork to take back to the city. The street was bustling with people. Mom bought me some roasted chestnuts to fill my stomach. I stuck close to her, never having been so happy before. As we passed the stone bridge, I saw someone sprawled on the steps, soaking wet. She was struggling to get into the river. I tugged on Mom’s arm. “Mrs. Johnson, is that person trying to catch river snails?” Mom took one look and exclaimed, rushing down the steps with me. Mom was too frail to pull the person up by herself. The person kept struggling, and I was afraid Mom would be pulled in, so I quickly called for help. Many people gathered around, and everyone worked together to save the person. The old lady wasn’t grateful and cried, beating her legs. “Why did you save this old woman? Just let me die!” “Ma’am, it’s better to live than to die. You’re already so old, what could be troubling you?” I took off my coat and wrapped it around her, just like Mom had saved me. “Grandma, I have chestnuts here. Don’t cry, I’ll peel them for you to eat.” Her crying stopped abruptly, and she let us take her to the police station. Just as we reached the entrance, someone came with news. “Mrs. Johnson, your husband has been in a car accident. He’s already been taken to the hospital.” Mom panicked. Dad was the pillar of our family. Mom occasionally made handkerchiefs and pillowcases to supplement our income. If anything happened to Dad, our family would fall apart. I choked up. Mom hugged me, reported the incident at the police station, and asked the old lady to go home with me while she went to see Dad at the hospital. “Mrs. Brown, please take care of my Pearl. She’s too young, and she’ll be scared with no adults at home.” Mrs. Brown nodded and took us home. The old lady’s hand was cold as she silently held mine. I kept my chestnuts close to my chest, intending to bring them for Dad to eat. Mrs. Brown made noodles for us, but I had no appetite. The old lady forced me to eat. “If you don’t eat and get sick, your mom will have to rush back to take care of you.” At night, I squeezed into bed with the old lady. She told me stories to help me sleep. Mom didn’t return until noon the next day. She packed up everything in the house and took out a gold bracelet from under the drawer. We went door to door borrowing money. The person who hit Dad had run away. The doctor said Dad needed immediate surgery, or his life would be in danger. We ran everywhere and only managed to borrow $2,000. Mom took me to the pawnshop. Seeing our urgency, the pawnbroker kept lowering the price. Mom gritted her teeth and pawned the bracelet anyway. On our way to the hospital, someone ran out from an alley. He tried to snatch Mom’s bag, but I bit his hand hard. Dad’s life-saving money was safe, but it was still far from enough. I tugged at Mom’s sleeve. “Mom, sell me! We can get some money to save Dad.” Mom choked up, “You’re our daughter. We’d sell ourselves before we’d ever sell you.” She sent me home and told me to wait with the old lady for her return. The old lady saw the pigs were hungry and took a sickle to cut grass for them. I went to help. At the village entrance, we met people from the neighboring village. Mrs. Brown was holding my brother and chatting with them in the sun. “Well, well, whose family have you latched onto now? You’re just a jinx. You made Little Bao sick at home. Johnson took you away and got into a car accident.” “Why don’t you go drown yourself? The sooner you die, the sooner you can be reborn.” The old lady shielded me behind her and brandished her sickle. “Why don’t you go die yourself?” The people around tried to mediate: “Mei, the child is suffering enough. You raised her for a few years, why do you need to hurt her like this?” Mrs. Brown backed away cautiously. “Hmph, I don’t want to hurt her. We’ve already severed ties. Don’t even think about coming back.” “I’m telling you, if Johnson dies, you come back and I’ll sell you to the widower in the west village.” That day, Mom sent word through someone but didn’t come home. The old lady helped me wash my face and go to bed. I had nightmares. I dreamed of the police officer lying on top of me, and then of my foster parents kicking me to death. I woke up startled, secretly prepared the next day’s pig feed, and slipped out. I had heard that if you fill your pockets with stones, your body won’t float up after you die. I wanted to ease the family’s burden so that they could raise money for Dad’s treatment sooner. The river water engulfed my head, but I wasn’t afraid at all. My ears were buzzing, and the old lady was wailing. The villagers all rushed over. Big Sis, soaking wet, stroked my head. “What a tragedy. You foolish child. If I hadn’t seen you, you would have been gone.” I couldn’t help but cry loudly. “Big Sis, I don’t want anything to happen to Dad. I want to trade my life for his.” Many people around were wiping their tears. “Everyone, let’s chip in a bit more. For the child’s sake, let’s help the Johnson family through this difficult time.” The old lady picked me up. “Pearl, don’t be afraid.” “Grandma will help your dad.” Early the next morning, the old lady took me to the city. The houses in the city were big and beautiful. I sat on a soft sofa, staring in wonder at the television. The old lady took out a bankbook and went to the bank. A whole suitcase full of red bills. The bank manager drove us himself. “Ma’am, is there an emergency? If you need any help, just say the word.” At the hospital, Dad was struggling to leave. The surgery cost too much, and he was afraid of burdening the family. Without a word, the old lady found the doctor, paid the fee, and demanded they arrange the surgery as soon as possible. The manager made some calls and arranged a small suite for my dad. He even went to the police station personally. “The police already have some leads and will make arrests soon. Don’t worry about the surgery costs. I’ll help as much as I can.” My family and I were stunned. Everything seemed to be resolved suddenly. Mom couldn’t stop crying and knelt down to kowtow to the old lady. The old lady helped her up. “Good deeds are rewarded. You saved me, so it’s only right that I repay you.” “I didn’t know it was this serious, or your husband could have suffered less.” I finally understood. The old lady was from a wealthy family. After her husband died last year, her children pressured her to divide the inheritance early. She distributed it according to her husband’s will, but her children felt it was unfair. They were cold and harsh to her, even wanting to send her to a nursing home. The old lady ran back to the county, but her old house was gone. In her despair, she tried to drown herself. If it weren’t for me and Mom, she might have really gone to join her husband. After returning home, she found a letter her husband had left for her. Her husband had arranged everything for her later life. If the children were filial, everyone would be happy. If not, she would still be well taken care of. The bank manager, Mr. Zhang, listened and was furious. He had once received help from the old lady’s husband. To thank us, Mr. Zhang specially ordered food from a big restaurant. I had never eaten so many delicious things before. After dinner, he wanted to take the old lady to his home. The old lady wanted to take me along. “Pearl, Grandma will be very, very good to you.” “Don’t you like Grandma’s big house? It will be yours in the future.” Mom let go of my hand. I felt full of grievance. Were they giving me up after just a few days? Mom kissed my forehead, “Our family’s conditions aren’t good. It would be hard on you. Go with Grandma, you’ll have a better life.” I hugged her tightly: “Mom, I don’t feel it’s hard. Please don’t give me up.” The old lady couldn’t bear to separate us mother and daughter, so she gave our family a large sum of money. Mom refused to accept it, but the old lady was fierce. “If you don’t take it, I’ll take Pearl away.” Mr. Zhang persuaded Mom not to be polite, saying the old lady was elderly and could easily fall ill if upset. Before leaving, the old lady made me promise not to forget her. “Once I’ve settled everything, I’ll come back for you.” I nodded vigorously. After they left, Mom put the money in her chest, telling me she’d deposit it in the bank for me in a few days. Dad gradually got better. He had a good constitution and could return home to recuperate in less than a month. When we returned to the village, Big Sis brought a lot of eggs. “Your Pearl is a good child. From now on, she’s my own niece.” When Dad learned about my idea of trading my life, he slapped himself hard twice. Mom was also heartbroken. “Pearl, if you were gone, Dad and Mom would go with you.” “Honey, let’s make some meat for Pearl to eat today.” Big Sis spread the word in the village, earning me a Good Samaritan award. I got two hundred dollars, bought Dad a pair of shoes, and Mom a pair of gloves. My parents couldn’t stop showing off, praising me for being filial and kind-hearted. Mrs. Brown secretly found me and told me to give her the remaining money. “You dead girl, if it weren’t for me, you’d be long gone. How dare you glare at me?” She raised her hand to hit me, and I screamed shrilly. Big Sis came running, cursing, and my foster mother fled in panic. I stood with my hands on my hips. I had people to protect me too. A month later, Mr. Zhang brought the old lady to our home. They brought many things – candies, chocolates, milk, and more. The old lady told me to share them with the village children, and I instantly became the most popular kid. After dinner, the old lady proposed that we move. “You should all come with me to the city. Johnson can be a chef at the City Wild Restaurant, earning $800 a month.” “Lisa, you’ll learn handicrafts with me. I’ve seen your pillows, they’re quite good. You’ll be my apprentice from now on.” The old lady had already found a school for me. She wanted me to go to a bilingual school first, then start elementary school at seven. Mom didn’t want to take advantage but also wanted me to have a good environment. Mr. Zhang actively tried to change their minds, worried about the old lady’s loneliness in the city and the poor quality of village education that might hold me back. Big Sis strongly supported the idea, excitedly telling the whole village. Naturally, my former foster parents also found out. The Brown family brought their relatives and friends to make trouble. Mrs. Brown rushed in and twisted my ear. “I raised her to this age, a bit of grain isn’t enough.” Mr. Brown chimed in: “Why should you get all the benefits after raising her for just two days? Daisy is mine, I picked her up. I’m not selling her anymore!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295390”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #校园School #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

Edward Wellington’s mom, Chloe Wellington, didn’t think I was worthy of being with Edward and offered me 50 million dollars to leave him. My good friend, Ashley Morgan, disagreed and said, “True love is the best of all worlds. Your pure love can’t be tainted with money. If you take the money and leave now, you’ll live with the guilt of Mr. Wellington for the rest of your life.” I believed her and didn’t ask for the money, only hoping that Edward would be nice to me. But later, I found out that Edward had been dating Ashley for a long time. In the end, I had nothing left and got breast cancer out of anger, while Ashley took the 100 million dollars from Chloe and broke up with Edward. I found her in her luxury villa and begged her to lend me the money for the surgery. But I got red wine thrown in my face. She said, “You’re such a dumbass. I stole your boyfriend and took the breakup fee that should have belonged to you. I’m afraid you’ll hold a grudge against me. How could I possibly save you?” In the end, I died of breast cancer. Opening my eyes again, I traveled back to when Chloe offered me 50 million dollars to demand that I leave Edward. I took off my Bluetooth headset and turned my cell phone off, then shook my head at Chloe and said, “Mrs. Chloe Wellington, I’m pregnant with Edward’s baby.”

Edward Wellington’s mom, Chloe Wellington, said, “My son is the president of the Wellington Group and is voted best bachelor, but you’re a factory girl. You are not suitable. Even if you’re together, you’ll end up apart. You’d better listen to me. Take the money and leave Edward. It’s better for both of you.” The check was placed in my palm as if it had hit me on the head. I sat up straight and held the check in both hands, carefully examining the numbers on it. My good friend, Ashley Morgan, said, “You can’t take this money. If you take it, it’s a crack in your relationship with Mr. Wellington. You’ll never be together anymore. True love is the best of all worlds. Your pure love can’t be tainted with money.” Ashley’s voice kept coming over the headphones, pissing me off so much that my breasts hurt vaguely. I thought, “You are the crack and the stinking piece of shit in my relationship with Edward.” I simply removed my Bluetooth headset and turned it off. I sighed and pushed the check to Chloe, shaking my head, “I can’t do this, Mrs. Chloe Wellington.” Chloe got a little angry and took the check back. “You’ll regret it later.” I pressed the corner of the check and said meaningfully, “I’m pregnant with Edward’s baby.” Chloe’s face went gloomy, and she gasped, thinking I wanted to marry Edward because of it. I said, “Mrs. Chloe Wellington, an abortion is quite an expense and physically damaging, even to my spirit…” “I’ll give you 100 million dollars,” interrupted Chloe, sensing what I was thinking. “Deal,” I agreed and took the check back from Chloe. Now, that was right. She had to treat everyone the same. Why did she give Ashley 100 million dollars and only give me 50 million dollars? I went straight from the restaurant to the bank to transfer the money. When I had time, I was going to learn about money management and then deal with them.

All afternoon, I was so excited I wanted to scream. I admitted that I was a woman who loved money. The heat was cool on the cab ride back, and the driver was friendly enough to keep me entertained. In my last life, I told Ashley that Chloe wanted to see me and asked her to advise me. She told me to put on my Bluetooth headset and do everything she told me. When she heard that Chloe wanted to offer me 50 million dollars in exchange for leaving Edward, Ashley was instantly angry and anxious. She said, “True love is what persists under worldly pressures and through all the trials and tribulations. Megan, these are the tests of your love. “You can’t take this money. If you take it, it’s a crack in your relationship with Mr. Wellington. You’ll never be together anymore. True love is the best of all worlds. Your pure love can’t be tainted with money. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be looked down upon.” So, I believed her. I didn’t ask for money and just wanted Edward to be true to me. It wasn’t until Edward proposed a breakup that I realized I was just a stand-in for his dead first love. Coincidentally, Ashley also looked like me, so the two of them had been together behind my back for a long time. Edward said, “You’re conservative and boring. In bed, you’re simply not as interesting as Ashley. “I’m the president of the Wellington Group, but I waste a lot of my time kissing you every day by coaxing and tricking you. “I’ve had enough. I don’t want to keep coaxing you, and I don’t want to keep hiding with Ashley. I’m going to give her an identity.” In the end, I had nothing left and got breast cancer from anger. Ashley had persuaded me to be pure in the first place, but she took 100 million dollars from Chloe and world-traveled while in a relationship. I waited until she returned home and met her in her luxury house, but she threw red wine in my face. She tapped my forehead with her fingertips and looked at me like I was a clown. Ashley said, “You’re such a dumbass. I stole your boyfriend and took the breakup fee that should have belonged to you. I’m afraid you’ll hold a grudge against me. How could I possibly save you? Go to hell.” Of course, I knew she had tricked me. But I had no other choice but to beg them. I had no father or mother and only knew them. In the end, I died of breast cancer in the basement. Perhaps God took pity on my ridiculous and pathetic life. Starting over again, I swore I’d never make the same mistake. The money would be mine, and I didn’t care about Edward anymore.

I joyfully got out of the car and saw Ashley, who was in a hurry at the entrance of the community, at once. Seeing me, Ashley quickly ran over to me, her eyes fixed on the distant cab. “How did you afford to take a cab? It costs two hundred dollars to get here from the center of the city. Did you take her money?” She took a deep breath, looking disappointed. I tried to put my smile away and said, “No, I just got startled and wanted to get home to you quickly.” Ashley’s expression got a little better, and she affectionately took my arm. She said, “Don’t mind if I nag you. Fifty million dollars is nothing. As long as you can stay with Mr. Wellington, you’ll have all the wealth of the Wellington family later. “You have to tell Edward and the Wellington family that you don’t want their wealth and that you really like Edward so that they won’t look down on you. “Otherwise, when you marry Edward, your life will not be easy, and they will bully you. So you have to refuse all those bags and jewelry that Mr. Wellington sends you. Understand?” Along the way, Ashley kept talking. I stopped abruptly and yanked her hand away. “Ashley, stop saying that.” She was stunned and looked at me helplessly. She had her mouth open but didn’t make any sound. I said, “My feelings for Edward and I are pure and sacred. I forbid you to talk about us like that.” Hearing that, she smiled, “That’s what I mean. It’s good that you understand.” “Ashley.” I said, staring into her eyes, “How come you never came back from the party yesterday when you said you were going to the bathroom? I’m surprised you didn’t come home at night either.” Ashley’s face instantly turned pale, and her expression stiffened. “I was drunk, so I slept at the hotel.” I continued, “Did you run into Edward? You guys almost left together. He said something came up at the company. But it was late by then.” Ashley licked her lip and rubbed her nose. “Probably a foreign client. You know how big his business is.” I chuckled, “That’s true.” Ashley took out her keys and ran away, saying she’d open the door. However, I saw her pat her chest and sigh in relief as she ran. It turned out they were already together at this time. I was such a dumbass in my previous life that I hadn’t suspected them at all. I was a bit angry. To prevent getting breast cancer, I took out my cell phone and tapped into the dialog box with Edward. I received his transfer of 100 thousand dollars from yesterday and messaged him: [I have picked out my birthday present. You can buy me the world’s limited edition pink Maserati.] Edward quickly replied: [Do you have a driving license?] In my opinion, it didn’t matter whether I had a driving license or not, as long as the car was expensive enough to keep me from getting angry. I replied: [Edward, how could you say that? You’re not acting like a president at all. Since I said I wanted it, you should just buy it for me. Why are you asking so many questions? Are you having another woman?] Edward replied to me after a long time: [I’m sorry. I was wrong. But I swear that you are my only woman.] I didn’t buy his words. He definitely went behind my back and got together with a lot of women who looked like his first love. However, in this life, I only needed money, and the rest was nothing.

On my birthday, Edward booked the fanciest hotel in Mountna and invited a bunch of his friends. Ashley arrived late, wearing a tight dress that showed off her figure and a fantastic emerald necklace. The necklace, which I had seen an actress wearing, was said to be worth more than 300 million dollars. The same night the actress wore it, it had been bought by a mysterious man. It turned out that the mysterious man was Edward. I held my forehead and smiled bitterly. In my previous life, they were so high-profile, but I hadn’t even suspected them. I was so stupid. Ashley stood fearfully in the doorway, looking over at me, waiting for me to beg her to take the empty seat next to Edward. My smiling face suddenly went cold, and I threw the Maserati keys away. “Edward, you disappoint me so much.” Seeing Edward’s dumbfounded face, I continued, “Ashley is a factory girl who earns two hundred dollars a month, but she wears a global limited edition dress and an emerald necklace worth 300 million dollars. “Look at me. I don’t have a single thing of value. Is this decent? Also, I can’t believe you only gave me a Maserati worth tens of millions of dollars for my birthday present. Are you abusing me?” Everyone around covered their mouths for fear of laughing out loud. Edward turned pale with embarrassment and said, “I thought you said you wouldn’t let me give you expensive gifts and that you wanted to have an equal relationship with me.” I said, “It was Ashley who told me I wasn’t allowed to spend a man’s money to save myself from being looked down upon and to be a person with a backbone.” I frowned and got up, walking towards Ashley, who was overwhelmed, “So where did you get all this? Did you win the lottery?” Ashley looked pale and glanced past me to Edward behind me, so anxious she was about to burst into tears. Edward pulled me back and whispered in my ear, “Those things could be fake. Don’t push her. She’s about to cry. Aren’t you guys good friends?” “Fake?” I raised my voice on purpose. “Don’t diss her. We have been friends for a long time. She certainly wouldn’t be vain enough to buy a fake. Am I right, Ashley?” Ashley met my gaze, tears instantly streaming down her face, her delicate makeup disappearing. Gazed upon by the teasing eyes around her, she was in a state of wretchedness at the moment. Ashley said, “They’re fake. I admit they’re fake. I just don’t want to be looked down upon by you guys. What’s wrong with me? You guys were born into rich families, so I can understand you not understanding me.” With that, she looked at me with teary eyes. “What about you? We’re the same kind of people. Do you not understand me? Or are you making a fool out of me on purpose?” I shook my glass. “Who’s the same kind of person as you? Can you find a handsome and rich boyfriend like Edward? I don’t think anyone would want you if you’re so ugly, right?” I coldly splashed the entire glass of red wine on her white dress. I said, “Yes, I did it on purpose. I can’t stand to see you being so hypocritical. Since you said the necklace is fake, I’ll transfer you 10 thousand dollars, and you give me the necklace. Otherwise, it’s real. I’ll find out exactly who sent it to you.” Ashley clenched her fists tightly and angrily removed the necklace before turning to leave. I continued, “Wait. You have to give me the ring and the earrings as well. They are a set.” Ashley cried as she took them off, and it hurt me to watch, let alone Edward. When he sat down again, he asked me in a low voice, “You’ve always had a good temper, but why are you so mad at her today?” I said, “I think she’s being a mistress. I can’t let her make more mistakes. Do you understand?” Seeing my good intentions, Edward patted my shoulder. “That’s very kind of you. I’ll go to the restroom first.” Watching his back as he left, I smiled because the fish finally took the bait.

After staying for a while, I made my excuses to leave as well. Hiding in the stairwell, I turned on my cell phone. On the phone, Edward had Ashley against the toilet wall, one hand controlling her hands, one hand stroking towards her body, and he was kissing Ashley’s tears over and over. “He’s a busy man,” I whispered mockingly. Ashley pressed Edward’s hand and questioned, “Who’s prettier, me or her? Do you like her or me better?” “You’re pretty. I only like you, baby.” Edward said calmly, “How can she be more interesting than you when she won’t let me have sex with her? Don’t worry. As soon as we have sex, I’m sure I’ll be responsible for you. I’m waiting for a chance to break up with her and give you an identity.” Ashley laughed out loud at his coaxing. I hissed, “That’s just men saying different things to different people.” An ambiguous moan came from my phone just as I finished speaking. My cheeks flushed at the sound, and I stood up abruptly. But my hands shook, and the phone smashed on the floor. I bent down to pick it up, but a big hand picked up the phone faster than me. The man’s eyes fell on the screen, and he smiled meaningfully. I recognized him. Just now, in the private room, his burning eyes made a deep impression on me. It was too normal for a rich man like Edward to have a few evil-minded friends, so I didn’t think much of it. However, I didn’t expect him to follow me. I stood on my tiptoes to grab the phone out of his hand, but I was pinned against the armrest. Surrounded by the unfamiliar smell of his body and listening to the ambiguous moans in the air, I blushed instantly. Suddenly, my cell phone rang. The man glanced at the phone, then connected it and handed it to my mouth. Edward said, “There’s something urgent at my company. You guys play first. I’ll have the driver take you back when you guys are done.” “Okay. Ah!” I then covered my mouth in panic and looked viciously at the man doing bad things in front of me. He actually took advantage of my distraction and lifted the shirt around my waist, followed by placing his palm on my waist.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295389”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #校园School #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn

At my company’s annual party, I was lucky enough to win an iPad. Overjoyed, I rushed home to tell my mom. The next morning, my sister-in-law, Dora, knocked on my door. “Hey, could you give that iPad to your nephew, Mark? He’s been needing one for his studies, online classes, and assignments. You know how it is. You don’t have kids, anyway, so it’s not like you’ll need it. Just hand it over, okay?” I refused. What I didn’t expect was the entire family turning against me over a single iPad. “You’re living off this family after your divorce, and you can’t even spare a free iPad for your nephew?” “Ungrateful brat! Good-for-nothing freeloader!” “I’m not your brother anymore. Get out of this house!” Later, I did move out, but they begged me pitifully, asking me to come back. “Emily, you know how hard your brother works. Mark just started high school this year, and the academic pressure is immense. We don’t have extra money for tutoring classes. That iPad would be perfect for him; it’s great for online courses and practice exercises,” Dora said, gripping my hand with a face full of earnestness. I hesitated. “But I need it, too…” “What could you possibly need it for?” she interrupted, patting the back of my hand dismissively. “Watching videos? Scrolling through apps? You can do all that on your phone, can’t you? Mark is at a critical stage in his education. Shouldn’t his aunt give him a little support?” The iPad I won at the company’s annual party was the latest model, one I’d been wanting for a long time but couldn’t afford. I wasn’t about to hand it over without good reason. “Dora, why don’t you check second-hand platforms? You can find good tablets for a fraction of the price,” I suggested. “What?” Her eyes widened, appalled. “His classmates all have the newest models. How do you expect him to hold his head high with some second-hand junk? He’s a boy; his pride would be crushed!” She shot me a withering glare. “Are you trying to embarrass your nephew on purpose?” Dora felt distressed that my brother worked too hard, yet when I recommended a cheaper one, she doubted my intentions. My patience snapped. “Then, buy him a new one yourself!” Her tone changed immediately. “Why should we spend money when there’s a perfectly good one sitting right here? It’d be such a waste! And anyway, you got it for free. Giving it to Mark wouldn’t cost you a dime. Don’t be so stingy. We’re family! “And look at you now—divorced, no husband, no kids. When you’re old, you’ll have to rely on Mark, anyway!” I laughed coldly, “I’ll pass.” Then, I slammed my bedroom door in her face and left for work.

After my divorce, I moved back to my parents’ house, thinking it would give me some support while juggling work and the legal battle. Dora, however, was less than thrilled. My old room had been turned into a storage space, and she was livid when I started clearing it out. “You don’t need all that space to sleep,” she snapped. “Why can’t the stuff stay where it is?” My room was the smallest in the house, and with all the clutter, there wasn’t even space to turn around. She was basically asking for trouble. But I had just moved back and didn’t want to argue, so I quietly cleaned up. Knowing my presence was an inconvenience, I offered to contribute some money every month as a sort of “board”. Dora feigned modesty. “Oh, don’t be silly, you’re family. What’s money between us?” When I insisted, her attitude flipped. “Well, if it puts your mind at ease, I’ll take it. You just focus on being happy here. I’ll make sure to cook all your favorite dishes!” Two months later, she was complaining at the dinner table about rising grocery prices and her chronic back pain from “doing everything in this house”. One night, while everyone else was watching TV in the living room, she decided to pick a fight. “Mark’s interest classes cost money, you know,” she grumbled. When my brother didn’t cough up the cash, she turned on him. “This house has so many mouths to feed, and you barely bring anything in! I can’t even buy myself a new dress! How did I end up marrying such a useless man? “You’re all nothing but parasites! I must’ve been cursed in my last life to be your servant!” Before she could continue, my brother slapped her across the face. Dora froze, then burst into wails loud enough to shake the walls. “Enough!” My dad slammed his cup down, shattering it. Dora stopped crying, startled. “If you don’t like it here, then leave!” he barked. Dora was about to cry again, but before she could speak, I stepped in. “Dora, I know it’s hard on you. You’ve done so much for this family. I’ll chip in an extra five hundred dollars a month. It’s not much, but it’s something.” That finally calmed her down. My dad shot me a look of disdain. “Ever since you came back, this house has been nothing but trouble. You ruined your husband’s life, and now, you’re ruining ours. Jinx.” He’d never liked me. He thought daughters were liabilities to be married off. My divorce only confirmed his belief, and he never missed an opportunity to remind me of it. Feeling guilty for causing “trouble”, I went out the next day and bought groceries, seafood, and gifts for everyone to smooth things over. But their attitudes didn’t change. Other than my mom occasionally speaking to me, the rest of the family treated me like an unwelcome guest, except when they needed me to pay for something. The summer camp my nephew attended came out of my pocket. I spent a lot of my savings on hiring a lawyer. By the time I realized living there cost more than renting my own place, it was too late. Every penny I spent seemed to benefit them, while I was left with nothing but resentment. Looking back, Dora’s tantrum over my brother’s income was just a ploy. The only one who ended up losing in that situation was me.

After work, I didn’t head straight home. The morning’s confrontation with Dora had left me unwilling to see her for a while. Instead, I called my mom to let her know I’d be late and not to wait for me for dinner. Growing up, my dad ruled the household with an iron fist. When my brother got older, he naturally took on the role of second-in-command. I always thought my mom and I were on the same team. She was soft-spoken, meek, and never had much say in anything. When my brother dropped out of middle school, I’d often come home from school to find him and my dad sprawled on the couch, watching TV or playing video games. Cigarette butts, snacks, and fruit peels littered the floor. Meanwhile, my mom bustled around the house cleaning up after them. She’d sweep the floor, ask them to toss their trash into the bin, and then head to the kitchen to cook. By the time she came back, the place would already be a mess again. I felt sorry for her. Whenever I had time, I’d help with the chores. When my dad hit her, I’d step in between them, trying to shield her, hoping she could have a better life. When I won the iPad, I shared my excitement only with her, making her promise not to tell anyone else. Yet, the next morning, Dora knew. That evening, my mom called to check if I’d be working late. Frustrated, I asked, “Mom, didn’t I tell you not to mention the iPad? How does Dora already know?” She hesitated for a moment before replying meekly, “Oh, last night when you told me, she might’ve overheard a bit. And then she asked me about it this morning…” I snapped, “You could’ve made something up! Now she’s hounding me for it. What am I supposed to do?” “I’m sorry, Emily,” she murmured. “I didn’t think it through. She said Mark needed it for his studies, so I told her…” Despite my repeated warnings, she’d sold me out. I was so angry I could feel it in my chest. For a moment, I said nothing. After a brief silence, she tentatively added, “Emily, if you’re not using it, maybe you could give it to your nephew. Dora can be hard to deal with, but Mark’s studies shouldn’t suffer…” Mark, whose school performance was consistently at the bottom of his class, who was frequently called out for parent-teacher meetings. Suddenly his academic future depended on my iPad as if it were his golden ticket to Harvard or Yale. I hung up, unwilling to argue further. When I finally got home, the house was unusually quiet. This was around the time my nephew was supposed to be in bed, though he often stayed up late, glued to the TV or his phone. Most nights, his resistance would spark loud arguments with his mother in the living room. But tonight, only my parents were there. My brother and his family were nowhere in sight. I retreated to my room, determined to list my iPad for sale online. My finances were tight, and although I’d been wavering between keeping it for myself or selling it for extra cash, Dora’s antics had helped me make up my mind. I opened the drawer of my desk, only to find the iPad missing. It was gone.

My desk drawer had a lock, but it had been so long since I used it that the key was nowhere to be found. I figured it was safe enough at home, so I left for work without a second thought. Yet now, the iPad was gone. My first thought was Dora. Ever since moving back, I’d noticed things mysteriously disappearing, such as half-used skincare products, makeup, clothes I didn’t wear often, face masks, and snacks. These weren’t expensive items, so I decided to let it slide to avoid unnecessary drama. But now, she had the audacity to take something as valuable as my iPad? Fury coursed through me as I stormed out of my room to confront her. My brother was out drinking with friends, leaving Dora and my nephew lounging on their bed. When I barged in, her first instinct was to push the iPad down behind her and her son, but we were too close, and I’d already seen it clearly. “You don’t even knock before coming in?” Dora fired the first shot. I shot back. “And when have you ever knocked before entering my room?” “What kind of attitude is that? Don’t forget who’s house you’re living in!” she snapped. “You eat our food, use our things, and I practically slave away for you every day. No woman would put up with this from her husband’s sister. “And you still live with your parents? If I were you, I’d rather be crashed by a car!” I couldn’t believe the audacity. These tiny houses in the area rented for maybe a thousand dollars tops, yet I was paying her two thousand dollars a month just for the “privilege” of being treated like dirt. “This is my home,” I shouted back. “And I have every right to stay here, even if I don’t pay a single cent!” “Your home?” Dora sneered. “Who do you think you are? No wonder your husband left you. Married for three years and couldn’t even pop out a kid! Women like you deserve to be barren!” What kind of backward, archaic mindset was this? She sounded like having a son was the pinnacle of human achievement, a prize to flaunt. I forced a cold laugh, trying to rein in my temper as I remembered the reason I came here. “I’m not here to argue. Just give me back the iPad.” Her guilty glance at the iPad confirmed my suspicion, but she retorted, “How do you know it’s yours? I bought this today! You see a tablet and go crazy? You’re delusional!” Her shamelessness was mind-boggling. I let out a slow, deliberate laugh before calmly pulling out my phone and called the police. “Every iPad has a unique serial number,” I said coolly. “I took a photo of it and posted it on my social media when I got it. You’d better stick to your story when the police arrive.” Her face twisted in panic as I was about to press the call button. She lunged at me, knocking the phone from my hand. It hit the ground with a sickening crack, the screen shattering on impact. She didn’t stop there. Grabbing a fistful of my hair, she screamed, “You dare call the cops? I’ll kill you!” Anger surged through me, and adrenaline gave me unexpected strength. I shoved her hard, sending her sprawling onto the edge of the bed. Seeing his mother fall, my nephew, who had been lounging like a lazy lion cub, suddenly sprang into action. Towering over me, he pointed a finger at my nose and yelled, “How dare you push my mom!” This boy, tall and burly for his age, had been sweet-talking me for money ever since I moved in. His “Auntie, you’re the best!” routine had always netted him fifty dollars here, fifty dollars there. I thought our relationship was decent, not close, but far from hostile. Yet here he was, fists clenched, ready to charge at me like a rabid dog. As he swung, my parents finally appeared in the doorway, drawn by the commotion. “Are you all out of your minds? I’m not dead yet!” my father roared, his voice cutting through the chaos like a whip. Dora, now fully recovered, darted to my parents, dramatically clutching her arm. “Look at what your precious daughter has done to me!” she wailed. “She pushed me, threatened to call the police, and claimed I stole her iPad! Call them! Let’s see who they take away, her for hitting me or me for doing absolutely nothing wrong!” Before I could open my mouth to defend myself, my father’s hand lashed out, a slap that landed squarely on my cheek. The force left me stunned, clutching my stinging face as my surroundings blurred. The room fell deathly silent. Even Dora, mid-sob, shut her mouth. My mother’s lips quivered as tears welled in her eyes, but I couldn’t hear her over the ringing in my ears. My father’s face was a mask of rage as he spat, “All you do is embarrassing me! If you cause one more problem, don’t bother coming back to this house!”

I had feared my father since childhood; his authority was absolute in our household. When he was younger, his temper was even more volatile, often waking me in the middle of the night with his yelling. He’d come home drunk, and if my mother so much as uttered a word of advice or took too long to answer the door, he’d grab her hair and shove her onto the couch to beat her. I never knew if other fathers were like this. Growing up, the way he looked at me was filled with hatred, but he lavished my brother with affection. When introducing my brother, he’d beam with pride, calling him “my son” even though my brother was a troublemaker with no redeeming qualities. As for me? Even though I consistently excelled in school, at home, I was treated like a servant to be ordered around. I rarely spoke to my father or looked him in the eye. I never resisted him, except for one instance when he hit my mother. I couldn’t stand it and threw myself over her. Now, hearing his angry command to stop, my instinct was to back down, just as I always had. But as I looked around at Dora’s smug face, my hateful nephew, my father’s heaving chest, and my mother’s tear-streaked, helpless expression, I felt an overwhelming wave of disgust. Closing my eyes, I pushed down all my resentment and pain, speaking as calmly as I could. “It was Dora who took my iPad first.” Dora immediately shrieked, “There she goes again! Still lying through your teeth at a time like this! Does it have your name on it? How dare you. You’re trying to scam me because you’re desperate!” I let out a sneer. “You know exactly who’s scamming who. Are you absolutely sure you bought this iPad today?” “Of course!” She shot back. “Good. Then, I can rest easy,” I replied, my tone laced with sarcasm. “If I prove it’s mine, what are you prepared to do?” Dora faltered, glancing at the upturned iPad, then straightened her posture with feigned confidence. “What do you want?” “You’ll bow and apologize, then compensate me for a new iPad and phone at full price.” “Why should I?” Dora roared, her face red with anger. My father, feeling his authority undermined, barked, “I told you to stop this nonsense!” His barely contained fury made me flinch instinctively, but today, I wasn’t going to back down. “You said you bought it this morning. So, why are you afraid? Guilty conscience?” “Afraid? Of what?” Dora spat, her voice dripping with defiance. She turned to my dad and added, “Look at her! She wants me to kneel! Who does she think she is? No manners at all!” The last four words hit my father like a slap in the face. His expression turned a mix of green and white as he glanced at Dora, his gaze tinged with displeasure. Dora, oblivious to his reaction, continued her relentless verbal assault on me. Annoyed, I interrupted her tirade, “Wanna bet? If I can’t prove it’s mine, I’ll pay you ten times the price.” To ensure she understood, I added, “This model costs nearly five thousand dollars on the official website. Ten times means fifty thousand dollars. Are you in or not?” Dora hesitated for a moment, but the mention of fifty thousand dollars made her eyes gleam with greed.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295388”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #校园School #魔幻Magic

The day my wife gave birth to a child for her terminally ill first love, my in-laws stationed ten bodyguards outside the delivery room. Yet, even after the delivery was over, I didn’t show up to cause any trouble. My mother-in-law held my wife’s hand, sighing with relief. “Don’t worry, Ottilie. We’re here to make sure he doesn’t come anywhere near you.” “Your father even has people guarding the hospital entrance. If he dares to come and try to stop you from having this baby, we’ll call the police!” Ottilie nodded weakly, but she still instinctively glanced towards the elevator. Seeing it empty, she finally relaxed. She couldn’t understand why I couldn’t just be supportive of her helping her first love leave behind a legacy. Looking at the wailing newborn in the nurse’s arms, she smiled contentedly. She thought that if I came to visit her tomorrow, she would forgive all our previous arguments. She’d even be willing to let me be the child’s father. But what she didn’t know was that I had just submitted my application to join Doctors Without Borders. In seven days, I would give up my citizenship and become a stateless doctor, never to return.

The day Ottilie was discharged from the nursing home, I had just finished handing over my work at the hospital. As I reached the doorway, I heard laughter coming from inside. “This child is beautiful, with big eyes just like his father’s.” My mother-in-law was happily playing with the baby in her arms, while Kieran was bringing out a steaming bowl of chicken soup from the kitchen. “I made this soup myself. Your body is still weak, you need to eat well to recover,” he said, sitting by the bedside and tenderly feeding Ottilie. The atmosphere was that of a happy family. My father-in-law was holding a rattle, grinning from ear to ear. “This child is so adorable, just like his father. It’s a good thing he’s not Jude’s child. Having a doctor for a father would be such a burden.” My hand tightened on the doorknob. I remembered the first time I met my father-in-law. He had patted my shoulder, saying being a doctor was good, that saving lives brought honor to the whole family. He had told me he was once a doctor too, and if it weren’t for an injury caused by a violent patient, he wouldn’t have retired early. But now, he was saying doctors weren’t fit to have families. I had only been away for a year of advanced studies, and this family had already completely shut me out. I lowered my head, a bitter smile tugging at my lips. Ottilie and I had been married for three years. She had said she didn’t want children, and understanding the risks of childbirth, I didn’t pressure her. I still remember the day I left for my studies abroad. She had cried, saying she would miss me terribly. For the past year, we had called each other every day, sharing our lives. Even my colleagues would tease us, saying we still acted like newlyweds after three years of marriage. But just a month ago, when I finally managed to get some time off to come home, despite being exhausted from an eight-hour flight, I rushed back without complaint. Only to find Ottilie heavily pregnant, standing next to her first love. My thoughts were interrupted by Kieran’s words. “Jude, when did you get back? Why are you standing in the doorway?” Hearing him, the others in the room looked towards the entrance. When my father-in-law saw the resignation letter in my hand, his brow furrowed deeply. “How could I have entrusted my daughter to someone like you? What bad luck. Now you’re quitting your job, expecting us to support you?” “Is this how you act as a husband?” my mother-in-law chimed in accusingly. “You can’t even handle such a good job. What else can you do?” “Ottilie’s body is delicate now. She and the baby need money for everything. If you don’t work, are you expecting a family of three to live on air?” Hearing this, I could only laugh bitterly. “Whoever’s wife and child they are, it’s their responsibility to provide for them.” “Jude Wilson, what are you saying? How can you be so irresponsible?” Ottilie finally couldn’t hold back, shouting at me with reddened eyes. Seemingly overcome with emotion, she clutched her chest and began coughing violently. “If Kieran hadn’t saved me from that car accident three years ago, I might have died already. His parents are both gone, and now he’s been diagnosed with terminal cancer. In a short while, there might be no one left in the world to remember him.” “Why do you always have to be against him? Do you really think I’m that kind of dirty, immoral woman?” Kieran stroked her back soothingly, while turning to me with a pained expression. “Jude, please don’t say anymore. I know this is all my fault. I promise I won’t appear in your lives again after this. Please don’t let me affect your marriage.” I looked at the four people before me, who had clearly already formed a united front against me, and found it increasingly laughable. So this was what a real family looked like. Just then, Ottilie suddenly spoke up: “Jude Wilson, my patience has limits too. If you dare to target Kieran again without reason, don’t bother coming back to this house!” “If you still want to continue our life together, just keep quiet. At next week’s full-month celebration for the baby, I can announce in front of all our relatives and friends that you’re the child’s father.” Next week? I glanced at the baby, now asleep in the carrier. Next week, I would be embarking on my journey abroad. But before I left, I didn’t mind giving them an unforgettable surprise. I nodded, my expression unchanged. “Fine.”

After saying that, I turned and went back to the bedroom to pack my things, ignoring their reactions. Since I had decided to leave for good, I didn’t want to leave any trace of myself here. The sounds of laughter from the living room filtered through the door. I paused briefly as I was folding clothes. “Kieran, I want to give this child your surname. That way, even if he calls someone else ‘Dad’ in the future, he’ll always remember that you’re his true father.” Even without seeing it, I could imagine the loving expression on Ottilie’s face as she said this. And my heart, already riddled with wounds from her, ached once more. I suddenly thought back to last month when I had rushed home, carrying souvenirs I had specially bought for Ottilie from abroad. But at our doorstep, I saw Ottilie and Kieran returning from a walk, hand in hand. Unlike the look of horror on Ottilie’s face, Kieran had eyed me with confusion, asking if I had the wrong apartment. I said nothing, my gaze fixed on Ottilie’s swollen belly. After eleven months away, my wife was pregnant. There was no way I could deceive myself into thinking this child was mine. Until Ottilie hurriedly stepped in front of Kieran to introduce me. “This is my husband, Jude Wilson.” I had thought that hearing this, Kieran would show some restraint. But instead, he invited me into my own home like he was the man of the house. As we passed each other, he said in a voice only I could hear: “I heard you’re quite a bit older than me? I guess I should call you ‘brother’ then, considering your wife is carrying my child.” Hot blood rushed to my head, and I could no longer contain myself. I swung my fist, landing a solid punch on his face. I had completely lost control, the eleven months of longing for Ottilie during our separation transformed into pure rage. If I had had a knife in my hand at that moment, I might have killed them both. It wasn’t until the neighbors heard the commotion and called the police that we were all taken to the station. But because it was a domestic matter, the police couldn’t intervene much and just sent us home. As soon as we got back, my in-laws, who had rushed over after hearing the news, started berating me without even asking what had happened. They scolded me for causing such a scene as soon as I returned, making us the laughingstock of the neighborhood. They even berated me for wasting all those years of education, resorting to violence, and threatened that if anything serious had happened, they wouldn’t let me off easy. It turned out they had known all along about Ottilie and Kieran being together, and were even strongly supportive of it. In just a year’s time, Kieran had become their perfect son-in-law. Only I had been kept in the dark. There was a bitter taste in my mouth, and I felt utterly miserable. Ottilie tremblingly walked to my side, trying to take my hand and reason with me. “I never meant to betray you. Kieran is very ill, the doctors say he has at most six months to live. I couldn’t bear to see him leave without an heir.” “I had thought about discussing it with you before, but you were so far away, and I didn’t want to worry you and disrupt your studies. That’s why I planned to wait until you returned to tell you.” “If you’re willing, can we raise this child together?” Such a major life decision as having children, yet she spoke of it so casually. I put the last piece of clothing into my suitcase just as my mother-in-law pushed open the door and walked in. Seeing the suitcase at my feet, she wore an expression that seemed to say ‘at least you know your place’. “You haven’t been back for so long, so I let Kieran sleep in your room. Now the study has been turned into a nursery too. You’ll have to make do with the living room couch tonight, or maybe you should just go stay at a hotel?” I was truly exhausted and didn’t have the energy to go find a hotel. I nodded, prepared to make do on the sofa. But deep into the night, the baby’s cries kept coming from the bedroom. I turned over, about to put in earplugs, when I heard Ottilie’s complaining voice. “Can’t you do something about the baby? He just keeps crying.” “Aren’t you my baby? I just need to take care of you. A little crying is good for the baby’s lungs.” Ottilie giggled and said, “You’re terrible.” Followed by the sound of the bed creaking. I pulled the blanket over my head, trying hard to ignore those unbearable sounds. But when I closed my eyes, I seemed to see Ottilie as she was when she first confessed her love to me. Back then, she was pure and beautiful, her eyes full of nothing but me. But that Ottilie no longer belonged to me.

I dozed fitfully through the night and left at dawn with my suitcase. I went to the administration office to cancel my household registration and process the relevant paperwork for going abroad. Because I had government-approved documents, all the procedures were completed quickly, and the staff didn’t ask many questions. Just as I was leaving, the staff member suddenly called out to me and handed me a handful of fruit candies. “I hope all your wishes come true.” I smiled gratefully at her and then found a hotel nearby. After putting down my luggage, I was about to go out to find something to eat when I ran into Ottilie and Kieran with my in-laws. Kieran was wearing an expensive custom-made Armani suit, looking the picture of health, nothing like a dying man. “Jude, I thought I saw you from a distance, but Ottilie insisted you couldn’t possibly be in this area,” he said. His gaze fell on the recruitment flyer in my hand, and he smiled knowingly. “Oh, so you’re out looking for work? But with your frail build, isn’t working at a construction site just torturing yourself?” I said nothing. The flyer had been handed to me by a young girl on the street. Seeing her handing out flyers in the cold winter, I had just taken one to be polite. Seeing that I remained silent, only gripping the flyer tightly, Kieran smiled arrogantly. “You should have said earlier that you were job hunting. Maybe I could have helped. We’re all family now. If you’re doing well, Ottilie will have someone to rely on in her later years, and I can rest easy.” My silence at this point was as good as confirmation. Ottilie, who had been looking confused, now had a complete change of expression. She frowned deeply, her eyes full of contempt as she looked at me. “What’s there to recommend? He insisted on quitting his good job as a doctor. Now even if he starves on the street, he doesn’t deserve anyone’s sympathy.” “Jude Wilson, you really have no sense of responsibility. Do you think this will force me to give up the child?” I looked at her familiar face, but now it felt utterly foreign. I remembered when we first got married, there was a time when I considered quitting due to internal competition at the hospital and changing careers. Ottilie had just hugged me then, gently patting my back and whispering in my ear: “We’re in this together. Whatever decision you make, I’ll support you.” “Quitting isn’t a big deal. I believe a true gem will always shine. I’ll always be by your side, honey.” But the person who said she would always be by my side was now letting another man humiliate me. She had forgotten the words she once said to me, and it seemed she had also forgotten the deep love she once had for me. Even my in-laws were shaking their heads in disappointment. “I was truly blind before, actually thinking of entrusting my daughter’s future happiness to your hands!” “It’s a good thing we’re still around. Who knows how you’d mistreat our daughter if we weren’t here.” The more they spoke, the more exaggerated it became. Passersby were starting to cast curious glances our way. I slowly clenched my fists at my sides. Just as I was about to speak, Kieran suddenly stepped forward. “We were just about to go take a family portrait. Why don’t you join us, Jude? After all, I’ll be counting on you to take care of Ottilie and the child for the rest of their lives.” Ottilie immediately cut him off, scoffing coldly. “Look at how shabby he looks. He’d only lower the quality of our family photo.” With that, she turned and headed towards the photo studio, not forgetting to urge Kieran to hurry up and follow. “Well then, we’ll be going. Don’t let us keep you from your job hunting,” Kieran said, patting my shoulder meaningfully. Watching him walk away, I felt no ripples in my heart. To outsiders, what a harmonious family they must seem. If this was what Ottilie wanted, why should I not let go and give her my blessings?

Three days before my departure, I received a message from the hospital director. He said the specialist I had asked him to contact was coincidentally attending a forum in the country and could take a look at my father-in-law’s coronary heart disease. My father-in-law’s heart had never been very good, and he had been rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment years ago. So during my studies abroad, I had also asked colleagues to help me collect relevant case studies. No matter what, years of family ties still existed. After doing this, I would have no more debts to them. But when my father-in-law heard I wanted to take him to the hospital, his face immediately darkened. “Why go to the hospital when I’m perfectly fine? Are you trying to curse me? My previous heart bypass surgery was successful, what’s there to check?” “A top specialist in cardiology happens to be in the country today. You could go for a check-up, maybe for some preventive measures for the future…” Before I could finish, my father-in-law smashed his water glass at me. “You and your pretty words. Do you think a top specialist is someone an unemployed bum like you can just make an appointment with? All you do is brag! Look at Kieran, he stayed up all night to get me an appointment with a specialist. Where were you then?” He kept comparing me unfavorably to Kieran, his attitude making everything clear. So no matter what I did, it was wrong. No matter how I did it, I couldn’t compare to Kieran.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295387”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #校园School #魔幻Magic

My mother is the chairwoman of Grayson Financial Group, a financial powerhouse. My uncle is a renowned financial tycoon both domestically and internationally. My grandfather was among the first generation of entrepreneurs in the country. However, my father lavishes all his affection on the family’s adopted son. He allows Alaric Greyson to usurp my identity, steal my fiancée, and goes out of his way to suppress me. On the day of Alaric’s 18th birthday celebration, he intercepted me and sneered: “How dare a lowly adopted son like you show up at my coming-of-age party?” “You’re an embarrassment. I think I need to teach you some manners!” He colluded with the servants to break my legs, blind my eyes, and throw me into the freezing pool behind the mansion. In my previous life, to gain my father’s love, I never exposed Alaric’s true identity. I allowed them to bully me, which eventually led to my tragic death. Now, I’ve been reborn. Looking at the smug Alaric, I kicked him to the ground and coldly looked down at him: “Who do you think you are, you piece of trash, to dare speak to me like that?” … The air in the banquet hall seemed to freeze. No one could believe I would do such a thing. With a cold expression, I ordered Sophie Harris, the nanny wearing an apron, to restore the banquet venue to its original state. Unexpectedly, Sophie disregarded my order. Instead, she helped Alaric up with a look of concern and scolded me harshly: “Young Master, today is the Young Master’s 18th birthday celebration. You’re causing too much trouble.” “I’ll report this to the Master later and let him deal with you.” Hearing this, I pulled over a chair and sat down in the center of the hall, smirking coldly: “Young Master? Aren’t I supposed to be the eldest young master of the Grayson family? When did I become the younger one?” Hearing my words, Sophie’s eyes unconsciously darted away, but her tone remained contemptuous: “You’re the Grayson family’s adopted son. What else would you be if not the younger master?” In my previous life, Sophie, as the Grayson family’s nanny, always helped Alaric bully me behind the scenes. She deceived my mother, making her increasingly disappointed in me. In the end, she even helped my father and Alaric set the fire that burned me alive, and she was the one who laughed the most gleefully. Hearing her words, I let out a cold laugh. “Adopted son? Me?” “Who else if not you?” Sophie said hatefully. “You’re just an adopted son jealous of Young Master Alaric’s status. You’re always targeting him. He’s generous enough not to hold it against you. Don’t tell me you’ve really forgotten your place?” I stared at her coldly. Everyone in the Grayson family knew who the real young master was and who was the fake one! Thinking this, I shot Sophie an icy glare. “You’re just a nanny working for the Grayson family. How dare you be so presumptuous in front of me?” “You’re fired!” Hearing this, Sophie remained unfazed and sneered: “Fire me? An adopted son like you doesn’t have that authority.” “Have you asked the Young Master? Have you asked the Master?” At this moment, Alaric, who had been helped up from the ground, angrily shouted: “James Grayson, how dare you cause trouble at my birthday party! I’ll tell father about this and make you pay!” “Are the rest of you all dead? Why are you just watching him act crazy? Quickly, take him away!” I looked at Alaric’s furious expression and smiled lightly. My father had married into the Grayson family, so I took my mother’s surname. I was the Grayson family’s eldest son and my mother’s only child. When I was sixteen, my father brought home a child, saying he was the orphaned son of his late elder brother and wanted to adopt him. But my mother said whether to adopt him or not depended on my opinion. At that time, after hearing my father’s words, I felt sorry for the boy and called him “brother.” So Alaric Sullivan changed his name to Alaric Greyson and became the Grayson family’s adopted son. From then on, my father showered Alaric with affection, giving him all his love. He even helped Alaric suppress me, causing Alaric to become increasingly arrogant in front of me. Now that I’ve been reborn, I finally understand. I am the true heir of the Grayson family. Why should I be bullied by Alaric, the real adopted son? At this moment, the other servants also reacted, intending to take me away. I looked at the mockery in Alaric’s eyes and the contemptuous expression on Sophie’s face beside him. I smirked coldly and swept my gaze across the room: “I am the eldest young master of the Grayson family. Who dares to touch me? Aren’t you afraid my mother will hold you accountable later?” The servants who were about to lay hands on me immediately stopped, looking at Alaric with difficulty. Hearing this, Alaric’s face turned pale and then flushed with anger. He threatened: “James Grayson, have you lost your mind? Everyone here knows you’re the adopted son of our Grayson family.” “And you dare to bring up mother? She’s out of state now negotiating a very important project. If you delay her because of this, you’ll be the Grayson family’s sinner!” Sophie’s face turned vicious as she pretended to be grieved: “Young Master, please stop making trouble. You’re clearly the Grayson family’s adopted son.” “Besides, the one in charge of the family now is the Master. If you keep causing trouble, when the Master gets angry, the situation might become uncontrollable.” The other guests at the party began to chime in: “That’s right, Alaric is clearly the noble eldest young master of the Grayson family!” “I can’t believe the Grayson family’s adopted son would dare to disrupt the eldest young master’s coming-of-age ceremony. This is outrageous!” Hearing this, I clenched my fists tightly, but my expression remained calm as I instructed an attendant at the party: “Since they mention father, why don’t you go ask him?” “Alaric is telling everyone that I’m the adopted son. Ask him if that’s true or not.” The attendant hesitated, and I understood what he wanted to say. Everyone in the Grayson household knew that my father doted on Alaric. In contrast, he was very cold towards me. If he found out I was causing trouble at Alaric’s birthday party, He would definitely fly into a rage and might even punish me in front of everyone. Seeing the attendant’s hesitant expression, I smiled calmly, “Go on, don’t think too much about it.” Only then did the attendant reluctantly go upstairs. Alaric smirked triumphantly, “James Grayson, once father arrives, this farce will be over.” Sophie also sneered from the side: “Young Master, you clearly know how much the Master dotes on the eldest young master. Why are you insisting on bringing trouble upon yourself?” To this, I remained coldly silent. In my previous life, the father who had raised me since childhood allowed Alaric to take everything from me. In the end, he even coldly helped Alaric set the fire that burned me alive. They scattered my ashes into the sea. Yet they told my mother I had committed suicide, causing her to weep bitterly and fall ill. Now that I’ve been reborn from the flames, I’ll make them taste the pain of scorching skin and the hatred of burning bones! 2 After a series of reprimands, the attendant came out of my father’s room with spittle on his face. He looked at me apologetically and said: “The Master said he’s changing clothes and will come down soon for the Young Master’s birthday party. He also said… he also said the younger master shouldn’t cause trouble.” I wasn’t surprised by this result. And the attendant’s words were certainly sugarcoated for my father’s sake. His original words were probably telling me to get lost. After all, in my father’s eyes, I could never compare to Alaric. He would always side with Alaric. Hearing this, Sophie immediately said in a sarcastic tone: “Young Master, I advised you earlier but you wouldn’t listen. Now that the Master has spoken, it’s too late for the Young Master to regret it.” Alaric’s face lit up with joy as he said smugly: “James Grayson, look at what you’ve done. You just had to bring this on yourself. Now the show’s over. Someone come and take him away!” I frowned and smirked, about to say something when I saw a woman in a grand white gown walk in. My gaze froze. This was Megan Williams, the daughter of the Williams family, whom my mother had arranged for me to marry as part of a powerful alliance. The people around exclaimed: “It’s the Young Master’s fiancée!” “The Young Master’s fiancée is so beautiful, and her family background is impressive too. They’re truly a perfect match!” After Megan entered the banquet hall, she went straight to Alaric’s side and took his arm, her eyes full of tenderness. When she looked at me, however, her expression was full of disgust: “James Grayson, why are you at Alaric’s birthday party? You’re just an adopted son of the Grayson family. You even lied to me before, saying you were the eldest young master!” “If Alaric hadn’t told me the truth, I might have been fooled by you. That would have made the marriage alliance between our families a joke!” At this, I shook my head and chuckled lightly. When the two families first arranged the marriage, it was the Williams family who eagerly sought an alliance with us Graysons. I had reluctantly agreed. I never expected that after meeting Alaric, Megan would be deceived by his sweet talk, believing he was the true Grayson heir, and treat me with such disdain. However, those who still had doubts about my identity seemed to fully believe it after seeing her actions. After all, what fiancée would mistake her own betrothed? Seeing this, Alaric’s eyes grew even more smug. He provocatively placed his hand on Megan’s waist and looked at me mockingly. “James Grayson, what do you have to say now?” Megan looked at me with disgust: “I came here today for two reasons. First, to attend Alaric’s birthday party, and second, to tell you, the adopted son of the Grayson family.” “The person I love will always be your big brother! Stop harassing me in the future, understand? When we meet, you should address me as sister-in-law!” She wants me to call her sister-in-law? I haven’t forgotten the scene from my previous life when she found out Alaric was the real adopted son. She knelt before my mother, crying desperately that she loved me. Hearing this, I chuckled lightly, “Alright, sister-in-law. Your big brother wishes you both the best. I hope you two will be inseparable.” Megan’s eyes narrowed as she said coldly: “Sister-in-law? You keep saying Alaric is the adopted son and that you’re the real young master. Do you have any proof?” I spread my hands, displaying my whole body, then pointed at Alaric and smiled, “Isn’t it obvious?” I stood there simply, and even though I was being denounced by everyone, I still had an air of natural nobility, clearly a son of privilege. In contrast, Alaric, despite having the upper hand, still had a shifty gaze and hunched posture. Even wearing an expensive tailored suit, he gave off the impression of a nouveau riche. “Besides, you want proof, don’t you? I wonder if this jade pendant is enough evidence?” With this comparison, people immediately exclaimed: “It’s true! James Grayson’s bearing is clearly that of someone extraordinary.” “Could that jade pendant be the one-of-a-kind natural imperial green jade that Mrs. Grayson gave to her child? Could Alaric really be the adopted son?” Hearing this, Alaric’s face stiffened. He trembled and said, “If I were the Grayson family’s adopted son, why would father tell you to get lost? That jade pendant of yours is clearly a fake, a forgery!” Sophie also said with a dark expression: “That’s right! The real jade pendant is with Young Master Alaric. I just saw it. Yours is a forgery! Besides, the Master has already spoken. I don’t know how you still have the face to stay here.” “James Grayson, no matter how well you act, you’re still a fake,” Megan paused, her voice full of contempt. “A mere jade pendant proves nothing. Even if it’s real, you might have stolen it.” Hearing this, Alaric immediately brightened up. “That’s right! This pendant is either fake or you stole it from me!” The three of them spoke one after another, making those who still had doubts believe Alaric even more, and they all began to agree. Sophie smiled and quickly added: “You say you’re the Grayson family’s eldest young master? Look around, which servant here would call you Young Master?” Hearing this, I swept my gaze around the room. Wherever my eyes landed, the servants lowered their heads and remained silent. I knew they were afraid of being beaten or scolded if they said the wrong thing. Seeing this, Sophie immediately said harshly: “Today is the Young Master’s birthday party. Not only did you impersonate the Young Master’s identity, but you also caused trouble and disrupted everything, bringing shame to the Grayson family!” “If we don’t teach you a lesson, how can we face others? Someone come and seize him to be dealt with by the Master!” Hearing this, the servants moved to grab me, but I had been trained in martial arts since childhood. Even though they outnumbered me, they were no match for me and fell to the ground one after another. As for me, only the hem of my clothes was slightly dirty. “Is that all you’ve got? This jade pendant…” Before I could finish speaking, Alaric took advantage of my distraction and smashed a bottle of red wine on my head. Glass shards scattered everywhere, and the crimson wine slowly flowed down from the top of my head, soaking my clothes. I felt dizzy and collapsed to the ground. “You…” Alaric placed his foot, stained with red wine, on my face, gradually increasing the pressure. A contemptuous smile spread across his face: “You’re good at fighting? But what use is that?” “In terms of power and background, you’re nothing but an adopted son of the Grayson family. And you dare to steal my jade pendant? Hand it over!” Alaric directly snatched the jade pendant from my hand and fastened it to his own waist, looking at me smugly. Megan came over and spat on me. “Why did you have to do this? Coveting Alaric’s identity, now you’ve completely lost face.” Sophie also grinned maliciously as she picked up a glass of red wine and slowly poured it on my face. “Since you like talking nonsense so much, why don’t you drink some more wine?” I endured the pain and humiliation, clenching my fists and gritting my teeth. “When my mother returns, I’ll make you all pay!” My mother was originally out of town on business, but I had called her before the party. Now, she was on her way back home on a private jet and would arrive soon! Hearing this, Alaric ground his foot into my face even harder, then leaned close to my ear and mocked: “Who are you trying to scare? Your mother is out of town on business and knows nothing about this. Father is in charge of the house now.” “With how much father dotes on me, even if I killed you right now, he wouldn’t say anything. He’d even help me cover it up from your mother.” Hearing this, I could no longer suppress the anger in my heart and clenched my fists tightly! Because the words from Alaric’s mouth were exactly my fate in my previous life! Now, it was time for fate to be reversed! 3 Taking advantage of Alaric’s distraction, I flipped him onto the ground, reclaimed the jade pendant, and straddled him, raining down punches like a machine gun. My fists were filled with the resentment and hatred of being burned alive in my previous life! Sophie screamed and tried to help Alaric, but I threw her aside with one hand. Megan, trying to imitate Alaric, attempted to knock me out with a wine bottle, but ended up hitting Alaric in the face instead. The scene descended into chaos, with many people trying to restrain me. At this moment, my father’s angry roar came from behind me, “You beast, stop it!” Hearing this, I turned to look at him, rage surging within me. My knuckles turned white from how tightly I was clenching them. “Beast? Father, are you calling me that, or Alaric?” He walked over and slapped me hard across the face. “Of course I’m talking about you! You beast! How dare you hit Alaric? Do you have a death wish?” While I was stunned from the slap, he helped Alaric up with a concerned look. “Alaric, are you alright?” I suppressed the anger in my chest and got up, laughing sarcastically, “If I’m a beast, then what are you? An old beast?” Even though I knew he favored Alaric, I still wanted to ask him if he ever considered me his son at all! “Father, you have to stand up for me. James has gone crazy,” Alaric said tearfully, throwing himself into my father’s arms. My father looked at me with fury in his eyes. “You beast! Beating people in public, and your own family at that. You’ve completely disgraced the Grayson name!” I frowned coldly and said word by word: “What’s wrong with hitting him? This family’s name is Grayson, not Sullivan!” Hearing this, my father’s pupils constricted, and he slapped me again, shouting in rage: “How dare you! You’ve really gone too far!” “What? My surname is Sullivan. Are you trying to drive me out?” I smiled coldly without saying a word. At this moment, Sophie came over with a pitiful look: “Master, you must stand up for the Young Master. James not only disrupted Alaric’s birthday party but also got violent.” Megan also stepped forward to accuse me of lying: “That’s right, Uncle! He even tried to take advantage of me earlier, attempting to assault me!” “If it weren’t for Alaric, I might have been…” The other people around also chimed in: “That’s right! Master and Madam have been too kind to him! That’s why an adopted son like him has become so arrogant!” “Yes! We can’t stand by and watch anymore! Master, you must discipline him!” In an instant, I was accused by everyone, and even what was clearly white was painted black by them. Rumors and slander, like a giant spider web, engulfed me. My father looked at Alaric with concern, then glared at me angrily: “Did you hear that? Are you saying everyone is wrongly accusing you?” “Apologize to Alaric and the other guests right now!” I met my father’s furious gaze, feeling as if I was facing that raging fire again! Filled with anger, I pointed at Alaric and said, “He doesn’t deserve it!” “Doesn’t deserve it? Then do I deserve it?” My father laughed coldly. “I’m your father, and I’m ordering you to apologize to everyone! You must kneel and kowtow, especially to Alaric!” Upon hearing this, Alaric immediately pretended to be troubled: “Father, no matter what, he’s still my brother. Making him kneel and apologize in front of everyone would hurt his self-esteem too much.” I coldly watched his smug and mocking expression. The party guests seemed to ignore the contempt on his face and began praising Alaric, saying the young master of the Grayson family was truly benevolent, comparable to a great historical figure. Sophie laughed coldly, “Young Master, you’re too kind to this lowly adopted son. That’s why he dared to cause trouble and hurt people at your birthday party. Kneeling and apologizing is already a light punishment.” “That’s right!” My father’s voice grew colder. “If it weren’t for the fact that he still bears the Grayson name, I would have sent him to jail for this alone!” Beside him, Megan said coquettishly: “Alaric, you’re going to lead the Grayson family in the future. Remember, ‘the benevolent cannot command an army, the righteous cannot manage wealth.’” Only then did Alaric sigh: “James Grayson, you’ve really gone too far today. Big brother has no choice.” “But you don’t need to kneel to me. After all, even though you’re the family’s adopted son, we’re still family.” My father stared at me coldly, his gaze not like looking at a son, but at an enemy. “Did you hear that? When will you learn to be as sensible as Alaric?” “Kneel down and apologize now!” Hearing this, I frowned and laughed coldly, “What if I don’t kneel?” My father took a deep breath, “Since you don’t want to save face, then father will help you save face! Someone come! Force this beast to kowtow to everyone!” Some servants were shocked, “Master, this might kill him!” “Then let him die!” My father looked at me mercilessly. “What are you all standing around for? Do I have to do it myself?!” The servants looked at me maliciously. “Young Master, we have to obey the Master’s orders. Please forgive us!” They came over to force me to kneel before Alaric. I resisted with all my strength! My father picked up a stick and hit me hard on the back of my knees, making my body bend down! I looked up, seeing the mocking expressions of everyone watching the show, gritting my teeth, unwilling to lower my head! If I kowtowed to Alaric, I’d rather die! My father pressed down on my head, personally trying to force me to kowtow heavily to the ground! A furious shout rang out, “Who dares to touch my son!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295386”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #校园School #魔幻Magic

After five years of marriage, I finally got pregnant with our child. Excited, I rushed to share the joyful news with my husband. But his cold response shattered my heart: “I already have Ethan. One child is enough for me.” It wasn’t until I discovered that my husband had been sending flowers to his ex-wife every Valentine’s Day that I realized the truth – he had never forgotten her. He only wanted to have a child with the woman he truly loved. Without hesitation, I made an appointment at the hospital to terminate the pregnancy and handed him the printed divorce papers. “I’m bowing out of this relationship,” I said firmly. When I brought home the pregnancy test results, my husband Jack was helping his son Ethan bake a cake. “Amelia, come look at the fruit Ethan cut himself. Isn’t it great?” Jack said, his eyes full of tenderness as he looked at his son. He really was a good father. For five years, I had countless fantasies about whether Jack would treat our child the same way he treated Ethan if I got pregnant. “Honey, I have great news to tell you!” I exclaimed. Jack smiled and asked, “You look so happy. What is it?” I strode over to Jack’s side and held up the pregnancy test results in front of him. “Jack, I’m pregnant! When the baby is born, Ethan won’t have to play with his toys alone anymore.” Jack’s face suddenly darkened. He coldly replied, “I already have Ethan. One child is enough for me.” Ethan threw a tantrum, smashing the finished cake onto the floor. Cream splattered everywhere in an instant. “Dad! If Amelia gets pregnant, I’ll leave! I’ll go live with Mom! Mom said that if Amelia gets pregnant, you won’t love me anymore!” Ethan cried loudly. Jack quickly hugged Ethan to comfort him. “Dad promised Mom that he only needs you as his child, okay?” Only then did Ethan stop crying. He turned and glared at me hatefully several times. I couldn’t pretend it didn’t hurt. After five years of marriage, hadn’t Jack ever thought about having a child that belonged to us? Perhaps noticing my disappointment, Jack sighed, “Amelia, I’m not ready for another child yet. Can you give me some time?” I silently returned to our bedroom to adjust my emotions. On the nightstand was the model airplane Jack had made for Ethan, along with the scarf he had knitted for him by hand. I didn’t know how to describe the feeling in my heart. I collapsed onto the bed, gently rubbing my belly. He only wanted Ethan. What about our child? Feeling upset and restless, I fell asleep for the entire afternoon for the first time. When I woke up, Jack was sitting by the bed holding a jewelry box. “Amelia, I’m very sorry about what happened today. I bought a necklace while you were sleeping. Let me put it on you,” Jack said as he opened the jewelry box. Inside was a shiny gold necklace. He brushed my hair to the side and fastened the necklace around my neck. “Amelia, your health has always been delicate. Childbirth carries higher risks for you, so I’m more worried about you. I don’t take what my ex-wife says seriously. That’s just Ethan, right? I’m afraid he’ll overthink things,” Jack explained. Seeing that I was still upset, he continued, “My ex-wife left me when I was at my lowest point. You’ve been by my side this whole time. You’re the one I love most. Don’t think too much about it.” I remembered the year I met Jack. He couldn’t even afford $300 and was struggling to make ends meet while raising Ethan. After marrying him, I sold my dowry to raise funds for his business startup. As he earned more and more money, he treated me impeccably well. Afraid that Ethan would reject me, Jack would actively try to improve the relationship between Ethan and me.

I softened my heart once again. Since Jack took the initiative to explain things to me, I had no reason to dwell on it further. Just as I was about to say something, Jack’s phone rang. He glanced at it and walked to the balcony to answer the call. I don’t know why, but I could clearly sense that Jack’s mood had changed. After hanging up, Jack suddenly changed his tune: “Amelia, let’s have the baby. After all, it’s our flesh and blood. I’ll take care of you and make sure you deliver this child safely.” I nodded slightly, but something still felt off. That night, Jack cooked dinner himself. He even took a photo of the pregnancy test results and posted it on social media. But it was because of this pregnancy announcement that my mother-in-law showed up at our door. “I was wondering why Ethan has been so unhappy lately. So it’s because you vixen got pregnant with Jack’s child! You have such evil intentions! Are you trying to use the baby to trap Jack?” my mother-in-law accused me as soon as she arrived. She didn’t like me because when Jack married me, he was broke. My parents asked Jack to at least contribute something financially for the wedding. My mother-in-law had been holding this small issue against me for a long time. She was convinced that I had deliberately made things difficult for Jack. Now she was using this as an excuse to berate me again. “I only recognize Ethan as my grandson! When my son married Olivia, he didn’t have to spend a penny!” my mother-in-law exclaimed, bringing up Jack’s ex-wife just to upset me. I looked to Jack for help. He sighed, “Mom, Olivia and I broke up ages ago. Let it go.” My mother-in-law’s eyes widened. “But don’t you still like her?” Her words threw my mind into chaos. Part of me wondered if Jack still had feelings for his ex-wife, while another part tried to reassure myself to trust my partner. With a loud bang, Jack kicked over a chair. My mother-in-law was too frightened to make a sound. “Mom! I said, drop it! And don’t bring it up in front of Amelia anymore. It’ll make her overthink things,” Jack said, pinching the bridge of his nose before helping me back to our room to rest. I silently scolded myself. Jack had been so good to me and even stood up for me. How could I doubt him? When I woke up, it was already 11 AM. Jack had just finished bringing out the last dish. “Huh? Don’t you dislike bell peppers? Why did you cook them today?” I asked, confused. After all, Jack had mentioned before that he didn’t like the taste of bell peppers. Before Jack could answer me, the doorbell rang. My mother-in-law immediately went to open the door. It was Ethan and Jack’s ex-wife, Olivia. My mother-in-law said smugly, “Olivia, come in quickly. If you ask me, Jack still cares about you. He specially cooked bell peppers for you. Hurry and try them – see if they taste the same as before!” Jack hurriedly whispered in my ear, “Amelia, I made it for Ethan to see.” Jack reached out to hug me but pulled his hand back, looking apologetic. “Ethan’s here. I don’t want him to get the wrong idea.” The three of them looked like a real family, while I felt like an outsider. But I was Jack’s wife in name. Olivia suddenly looked up at my belly. After a moment, she said, “Once your wife gives birth, I’ll take Ethan away. After all, you’ll have your own child then, so you won’t need to think about my son anymore.” Her words seemed to draw a clear line between her and Jack, but she was actually trying to see how Jack would react. Jack didn’t answer. He just silently put a piece of beef on my plate. But I’m allergic to beef. Olivia gave Jack a long, meaningful look. “Jack Anderson, can you figure out what you really want in your heart?”

Jack’s eyes swept over Olivia like daggers. Olivia laughed recklessly, “Figure it out soon. I have to go now. I’ll leave Ethan with you to take care of for a few days.” Olivia picked up her bag and walked towards the door. Jack glanced at her retreating figure before quickly lowering his head. Ethan stared blankly at Jack and asked, “Dad, Mom said you love her the most. So why are you still with Amelia?” Jack frowned, “What do kids know?” Under the table, Jack gripped my hand tightly to reassure me. My mother-in-law snorted coldly, “Your dad is just trying to make your mom jealous!” I knew my mother-in-law was trying to upset me, but my heart wavered. “I still have some work to finish,” Jack said, putting down his chopsticks and standing up to leave. Ethan tightly grabbed Jack’s sleeve. “Dad, I hate you! Mom is always crying because of you!” The usually gentle Jack suddenly shouted at Ethan, “Go study! If you don’t study until 11 PM, don’t even think about sleeping!” Ethan burst into tears, but Jack remained unmoved. After that day, Jack treated me better and better. To put it dramatically, even if I asked for the stars in the sky, he would be willing to pluck them down for me. When I was one and a half months pregnant, Jack hurriedly threw on a coat late one night to go out. I handed him a thicker jacket. “It’s cold outside. Wear more. Are you going back to the office to deal with work so late?” He suddenly gripped my shoulders seriously and said, “Olivia has a high fever. You know her family isn’t around, so I…” “Go then,” I said. Perhaps because I spoke with no expression, Jack anxiously tried to explain, fearing I would be angry: “I’ll be back soon. I don’t have feelings for her anymore. I’m just taking her to the hospital because she’s Ethan’s mother.” I pushed him out the door, carefully placing the car keys in his hand. The next morning, Jack called me and asked me to bring Ethan to the hospital. Without hesitation, I coaxed Ethan awake and took him to the hospital. “Amelia, you haven’t eaten yet either, right? I’ll go get breakfast for you guys. Wait here for a bit,” Jack said. As soon as Jack left, Olivia pointed to the phone he had left behind on the bedside table. “Jack and I have always been deeply in love. Open our chat history. You’ll see what you want to see,” Olivia said, her words enticing. I couldn’t help but pick up Jack’s phone and unlock it. When I discovered that Jack had sent Olivia flowers every Valentine’s Day since we’d been together, I felt strangely relieved. Ethan pointed at me and laughed, “Mom, look! Amelia’s eyes are red, haha!” The hospital was 20 kilometers from home. I didn’t take a taxi or bus – I walked back on my own two feet. The wind cleared my head as I walked. I calmly drafted a divorce agreement, printed it out, and made an appointment for an abortion. When Jack returned home, he was carrying hot food. “Amelia, why did you leave? You haven’t eaten yet, right? Sit down quickly.” My mother-in-law walked over to me and deliberately glared at me. “Does my son need to feed you with his own hands?” Jack’s face hardened. “Mom, can’t you be nicer to Amelia?” I had no desire to watch Jack act anymore. I handed him the divorce papers. “I’m bowing out of this relationship. The house and car can be mine. After all, you don’t love me, so just compensate me with money. I’ll get rid of the baby. There’s no point in having it.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295385”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #励志Inspiring #浪漫Romance #校园School #魔幻Magic