“He’s a pathetic stray. Only I’d ever feed him. Where else would he go?” My wife sneered, her voice dripping with contempt. There she stood, safe and clean beside her male best friend, laughing into her phone. And I—the “stray” she mocked—stood nearby, covered in soot, skin blackened by smoke. Moments before, I’d rushed into a burning building after her desperate call, believing she was trapped. I found her unharmed, amused by my panic. “Ashton, you fool,” she laughed, tears in her eyes. “Fooled ninety-nine times, and you still fall for it.” A bystander spoke up: “Aren’t you afraid he’ll divorce you?” She didn’t flinch. “He caused my first love’s death. This suffering is nothing.” That’s why she was sure I’d never leave. I didn’t argue. I just gripped the medical report in my hand, hidden beneath my stained clothes. She didn’t know: I was dying. This time, I was really leaving. 1 I looked at my wife, Scarlett, standing before me. The disgusted expression on her face mirrored the faces of those who had bullied me in my memories. But in the past, every time I was humiliated, she would stand in front of me without hesitation, protecting and caring for me. She even risked breaking rules and facing family punishment, just to stand up for me. Everyone envied us, saying we were childhood sweethearts, truly meant for each other. Both our parents had also arranged our marriage. However, if I had known that after we married, we would become enemies filled with mutual loathing, I would have preferred to remain her friend forever. Right now, Scarlett and her male best friend were still laughing, making a clown out of me. But I finally spoke the words I hadn’t dared to utter in five years of marriage: “Scarlett, let’s get a divorce!” The laughter abruptly stopped. A flicker of surprise crossed Scarlett’s eyes, and she immediately refused without thinking: “I don’t agree.” I looked up at her, taken aback. Did she still have some feelings for me? Before I could ponder it, the next second, Scarlett raised an eyebrow, displeased. “You know that if I divorce, my family’s company stock will drop. You’re deliberately using that to threaten me, aren’t you?” “Ashton, don’t forget, you owe me a life. You have to spend your entire life repaying it. Don’t even think about escaping.” My heart constricted, and my sickly pale complexion grew even whiter. Yes. She hated me too much to have any feelings for me. I was just deluding myself. Five years ago, because of my marriage into her family, Scarlett was forced to break up with her first love, Liam Hunt. At first, knowing the arranged marriage was unavoidable, she didn’t resist. She even solemnly promised me: “Ashton, I’ll forget Liam and live a good life with you.” “It’s just that our breakup was so abrupt, I’m afraid he might do something foolish in a moment of despair. Can we keep our marriage a secret for a while before telling him?” Just being by her side was enough for me, so I naturally agreed to her wishes, nodding to a secret wedding, not to be publicly announced yet. But on our wedding day, news of our arranged marriage leaked online, a powerful alliance that became known to everyone. Liam, rushing to the scene, tragically died in a car accident. Scarlett rushed, heartbroken, to the morgue, and found a blood-stained wedding invitation on his body. Everyone around her accused me of spreading the news, and of sending the invitation. “Ashton, I promised to live a good life with you, so why did you maliciously cause his death?” Scarlett was furious on the spot, convinced that I had caused her first love’s death. I explained countless times that it had nothing to do with me, but she refused to believe me ever again. From then on, she despised me, and her attitude changed completely. She not only spoke cruelly to me but also openly kept Liam’s doppelgänger, Alex Miller, by her side, claiming he was just a male best friend for the sake of reputation. She often found amusement in tormenting me daily, games like today’s often played out over these five years of marriage. Facing their taunts, I had grown accustomed to them, keeping my head down and remaining silent, meekly listening to her reprimands. Fresh out of the fire, I was covered in soot, my clothes torn in several places, looking utterly wretched. Scarlett’s friends, unable to watch any longer, handed me a jacket. My parched throat managed a faint thank you. But Alex rushed forward, ripped the jacket off, and threw it aside, pointing at me and raging: “Ashton, you caused your mother’s death, and you caused Scarlett’s beloved’s death.” “You carry two lives on your conscience. You don’t deserve a good life. Just endure the ridicule and scorn of others, and walk back step by step.” I instinctively looked at Scarlett. Scarlett said nothing, tacitly approving Alex’s actions. I smiled bitterly. My mother died in childbirth with me. My father and brother both believed I was responsible for her death, subjecting me to constant harsh treatment from childhood—either depriving me of clothes and food, or verbally and physically abusing me. Scarlett, however, always quietly extended a helping hand, even comforting me: “Life and death are fated. Your mother’s death isn’t your fault. Don’t let others’ words affect you.” But now, she allowed Alex to speak of me this way, without stopping him, which was no different from their tacit belief that everything was my fault. My father and brother despised me; now even the only light in my life, Scarlett, hated me intensely. But I couldn’t understand, I had always been so careful with my words and actions since childhood, where exactly did I go wrong? A wave of pain coursed through my body. I shook my head. Never mind, I won’t think about it. Anyway, I have late-stage lung cancer and not much time left to live. When I die, they’ll probably feel their vengeance is complete. I walked on in silence, Alex happily recording a video behind me. A flicker of something—perhaps reluctance—crossed Scarlett’s eyes. She waved her hand, stopping him. “Enough. He’s my husband, after all, even if just in name. If passersby film this and upload it, it’ll damage my family’s reputation.” After all, she marketed herself as a dutiful wife. If word got out about her mistreating me, her live-in husband, it would undoubtedly invite criticism. She warned everyone present not to spread what happened today. Then she drove me home, roughly pushing me out of the car. Without a backward glance, she slammed her foot on the accelerator, and the car sped away. The house staff secretly chuckled, calling me a usurper and saying I deserved what I got. Not one dared to interfere. I was long past caring. I limped back to the bedroom. After showering and changing, exhausted from the day, I drifted into a hazy sleep. I don’t know how much time passed. Suddenly, there was a loud bang. My bedroom door was violently kicked open. 2 Alex burst in, enraged, ordering his bodyguards to drag me from the bed onto the floor. He then raised his hand and slapped me several times across the face. My ears rang, and through the buzzing, I heard Alex’s roar: “Ashton, I underestimated you! You actually dared to post this online, stirring up public opinion and ruining Scarlett’s reputation!” I was still dazed. Scarlett, heels clicking, walked into this room, a room she hadn’t entered since our marriage. Alex lowered his head and apologized: “Scarlett, I’m sorry. I silenced everyone present, but I never imagined Ashton would leak it himself.” “It seems your little ‘fire prank’ angered him quite a bit. He’s even willing to go down with you.” Only then did I understand. It turned out that the incident where they ridiculed me during the day had been exposed, and they were blaming me for it. Scarlett was about to unleash her fury on me, but then she suddenly noticed my swollen face. She paused, demanding from Alex: “You hit him?” How could she be concerned? The pain she inflicted on me was a hundred times worse than a mere slap. Alex raised an eyebrow, retorting, “What, Scarlett? Are you feeling sorry for him?” Scarlett looked at his face, nine-tenths similar to her first love’s, and gave a haughty snort. “Next time, don’t hit his face. It looks bad.” My lowered gaze darkened. So, she was afraid of damaging the company’s image and her own. If not for that slight concern for public opinion, she wouldn’t even spare me a glance, even if I were beaten to death. Scarlett looked down at me. “Ashton, did you leak that news?” Of course not me. But if I said so, would she believe it? Ever since Alex moved in, he had repeatedly slandered me. No matter how much I explained, or even presented evidence, she only believed Alex. Simply because he resembled her first love, Scarlett saw everything through a biased lens, convinced that every fault was mine. Each time I tried to explain, her hatred for me deepened. Now, I was tired of explaining. I merely hummed in acknowledgment: “If that’s what you believe, then it is.” Hearing my answer, Scarlett’s emotions seemed to find release. With tear-rimmed eyes, she threw her bag at me. “What? This time you’re not stubborn, you admit you were wrong?” “Ashton, if you had just admitted your mistake earlier, you wouldn’t have suffered so much!” She had the housekeeper bring me ice to put on my face, her tone still distant. “Once the swelling goes down, come with me to the press conference to show affection and clear up the rumors.” Seeing that Scarlett had no further punishment planned and her attitude had softened considerably, Alex tugged at her, confused. “Scarlett, Ashton caused a lot of trouble for our PR department. Are you just going to let him off so easily?” Usually, Scarlett was almost completely subservient to his words, but this time she raised an eyebrow, brushing him off. “Didn’t you hit him? He’s been punished. Let’s not let it happen again.” A flicker of hope inexplicably ignited within me, and I asked her expectantly: “Scarlett, if I die, will you be sad?” Scarlett looked displeased. “Ashton, don’t push your luck! You’re getting off easy.” “If you die, I’ll set off fireworks for a month to celebrate.” I gave a bitter smile. I had imagined too much. She was still the Scarlett who hated me to the core. The pain in my lungs spread throughout my body. I bit down on my teeth, forcing myself not to groan, but inside, I felt a subtle sense of liberation. Good. Her wish would soon come true. 3 Seeing my face contorted in pain. Scarlett glanced at me. “Wipe that jaundiced makeup off your face. I’m not falling for your self-pity act.” I froze. She thought my sickly pale face was due to makeup, little did she know, I was close to death. She finished speaking and was about to leave when her assistant approached with a phone. “Ms. Su, your call.” Scarlett put it on speaker. From the other end, her competitor’s light laugh drifted through. “Ms. Su, the online rumors are just a warning. You’d best withdraw from this bid.” “Otherwise, if I’m not careful, all the videos I have might just get released.” The call ended. Scarlett clicked on the video, her face turning ashen. It turned out that the online rumors were spread by her competitor; they had all wrongly accused me. Alex apologized, remorseful. “Scarlett, it’s my fault for not checking thoroughly. I almost messed things up.” Scarlett couldn’t bring herself to blame him, sighing. “Ultimately, it’s our carelessness that gave others something to exploit. We just need to be more careful next time.” Seeing Scarlett frowning. Alex gritted his teeth, helped me up, and offered a stiff apology. “Ashton, I misunderstood you this time. If you’re upset, hit me back.” Before I could even move, Scarlett lovingly reached out to block me. “Nonsense! You were looking out for me. He himself didn’t speak up clearly, so it’s not your fault.” Heh. It was my fault again. But when had she ever believed my explanations? I remained silent. She, in front of me, her husband, hooked her arm through Alex’s, consoling him as they left, not even sparing a glance for me, the wrongly accused. The people in the room dispersed with them. My strained body could no longer hold out. A dizzy spell hit me, and I collapsed to the ground. When consciousness returned, my nostrils were filled with the scent of disinfectant. I was about to open my eyes when I heard Alex’s hushed, gleeful voice: “Ashton has late-stage lung cancer; he won’t live much longer. It wasn’t in vain that I caused Liam’s death and sabotaged their relationship back then.” “Now, I’m finally close to achieving my goal!” My body trembled. So, all these years, I had been covering for someone else! For a moment, I desperately wanted to tell Scarlett the truth. But the next second, I bitterly withdrew the thought. I had no evidence; Scarlett wouldn’t believe anything I said. Once Alex’s voice completely faded, I pulled out my phone and contacted a private investigator, asking them to look into the matter. Whether Scarlett believed it or not, I had to clear my name before I died. After what felt like an eternity, Scarlett finally rushed in, agitated. The moment she entered, I actually caught a flicker of worry in her eyes. But as soon as I blinked again, only coldness remained, as if everything I had just seen was an illusion. She asked the doctor: “Why did he suddenly faint?” 4 The doctor hesitated. Alex interjected, “Oh, he had low blood sugar. It’s nothing serious.” Scarlett breathed a sigh of relief, believed him without even asking me, and took it as truth. She discharged me from the hospital and brought me home. She had the housekeeper prepare a lavish meal and pushed a bowl of pork rib soup in front of me, scolding me to eat. “Ashton, I haven’t deprived you of food or clothes, have I? Who are you trying to impress with this pathetic act?” “Hurry up and eat more, so people won’t say my family mistreats its live-in son-in-law, that we don’t even feed him.” Scarlett valued her reputation above all else. So, even during the most strained period of our relationship, she never followed my family’s example of depriving me of food and clothes, letting everyone know I was disliked. Instead, for the sake of appearances, she maintained an image of a loving couple in public. Seeing I didn’t speak, Scarlett put down her chopsticks, paused, then spoke. “I was wrong to blame you about the previous incident. I have something for you; just a moment.” She got up and went upstairs to retrieve it. I watched her leave, feeling a strange curiosity, wondering why she was being so kind. Alex pulled a small booklet from his bag and waved it in front of me. “Do you know what this is?” I ignored him. Then, I heard a ripping sound. He tore the booklet into shreds, smiling sinisterly at me. “These are Liam’s love letters to Scarlett.” I froze, and before I could react, I heard Alex loudly, exaggeratedly shout: “Ashton, that’s something Scarlett values more than her life! Stop him!” Scarlett, hearing the commotion, rushed in, only to see her first love’s handwriting torn to pieces, scattered on the floor. Alex, eyes red, slapped himself across the face. “Scarlett, it’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have taken it out in front of Ashton, giving him a chance to destroy it.” Scarlett’s face darkened. She raised her hand and slapped me directly, then slammed a set of luxury car keys onto my body. “I was originally planning to get you a car for getting around. But now, it seems you don’t deserve it!” It was like this again, accusing me without any clear reason. I couldn’t help myself; I wanted to reveal the truth, but just as I uttered the words “It wasn’t me,” The butler, standing to one side, knelt. “Miss, I failed to stop Ashton from tearing up the keepsake. I am also at fault. Please deduct my salary.” Other servants also jumped in, seemingly admitting fault, but in reality, accusing me. The scenes from five years ago were replaying today. When I saw Alex’s triumphant gaze, I finally understood. These people had all been bought by him long ago. Scarlett saw my attempt to argue and flew into a rage. “Ashton, you still dare to talk back? You’re simply incorrigible!” “Butler, throw him into the dark room in solitary confinement. Release him only when the press conference begins.” I was dragged away by bodyguards. She, on the other hand, carefully collected the shredded paper, while still comforting Alex. “Don’t be sad. It’s not your fault. Ashton is simply malicious, not even sparing a deceased person’s belongings.” She still didn’t trust me, as always. But it didn’t matter. I was about to be a dead person myself. I was locked in a pitch-black room, my phone confiscated. Without medication, I passed out from the pain and woke up again, countless times, unsure of how much time had passed. Perhaps it was due to inhaling a lot of smoke earlier while trying to save Scarlett, but I noticed my condition seemed to have worsened. My consciousness slowly blurred. The moment my eyes finally closed, the screen of my phone, locked in a cabinet, lit up. The detective sent a message: “The truth has been uncovered. Evidence will be handed to Scarlett soon. Bro, don’t forget to settle the final payment with me.” Meanwhile, Scarlett, calculating the time, knew it was time to release me. As she was about to enter the house, a delivery driver handed Scarlett a sealed envelope. “Are you Ms. Scarlett Su? Please sign for this.” Scarlett took it, and her expression froze when she saw the name on it. 5 It had “Ashton Kaling” written on it. She raised an eyebrow, signed it, and tossed it aside. The delivery driver hastily added, “Ms. Su, the sender said this is very important.” “It’s imperative that you open it immediately upon receipt.” Scarlett was displeased, but seeing an outsider present, she didn’t curse. Instead, she impatiently tore open the envelope. The delivery driver breathed a sigh of relief, pulled out his phone, and sent a message, reporting the task complete. The moment Scarlett saw the contents, she froze, a flicker of bewilderment in the depths of her eyes: “Why did he send me this stuff?” When I saw Scarlett, I was also somewhat confused. Wasn’t I in solitary confinement? When was I released? I had no memory of it. Before I could dwell on it too long, I heard Scarlett’s murmur, and was instantly surprised. Shouldn’t Scarlett be furious upon learning the truth? Why was she wearing that expression? I walked over, curious. “Scarlett, let me see.” She acted as if she hadn’t heard my question. I called her several more times, but she still pretended not to hear. I sighed, reaching out to take it, but my hand passed through the documents, grabbing nothing. “Scarlett.” Scarlett looked up at the sound. Seeing Alex approach, a smile appeared on her usually serene face. She waved to him, her arm passing directly through my body. I looked down, startled, and only then realized that my body was semi-transparent. The sun shone brightly above, yet I cast no shadow. I smiled bitterly. It turned out I hadn’t been released. I had died. “Scarlett, what’s this?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “415105”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The very first night in my new apartment, a dark shadow darted across the living room. Before I could even process it, a monstrous rat was already charging straight for my feet. Terrified, I fumbled for my phone, desperate to call maintenance for help. Just then, a new message popped up on my screen. The sender was “Ace Rat Catcher – Ginger,” and the message read: “On-site rat catching service, two cans of wet food, immediate deployment.” How could they be so fast? My mind was swimming with questions, but I opened the door anyway. The hallway outside was empty, not a soul in sight. I was about to close the door when a soft “Meow” stopped me. Looking down, I saw a ginger cat standing by the entrance, its paws neatly together, looking incredibly polite. I stared at it for a few seconds, and a wild, ridiculous thought bubbled up. “Are you… Ace Rat Catcher – Ginger?” I couldn’t help but ask. The ginger cat responded with two “Meows,” and then, another message from “Ace Rat Catcher – Ginger” appeared on my phone. … After I moved into my new place, the building management added me to the residents’ group chat, saying it was for important announcements. I didn’t pay much attention at first, especially since everyone’s profile picture was some kind of animal. Then one day, I idly scrolled through the chat. Evil Fuzzybutt: [I’m so mad! Mom caught me stealing snacks and spanked my butt a few times. Tonight, I’m definitely tearing up her slippers!] Lord Poshpaws: [Useless! How can you let that human walk all over you?] [I am the tiny emperor.jpg] Goldie the Fatcat: [Hey everyone, when you drink water, does it sometimes taste kinda spicy?] Lord Poshpaws: [Idiot! Your water dispenser is probably leaking electricity, kick it over already!] Sweet Cheesus: [Mom’s trying to clip my claws, help! Call the cops!] I watched, amused, for quite a while. I figured it was just the neighborhood kids, playing animal characters in the chat. Honestly, their cute, quirky conversations were quite heartwarming. Just then, a new message popped up. [I think there’s a stranger in my house.] [Observing from the shadows.jpg] The sender’s profile picture was a small husky. From previous messages, it seemed like a four or five-year-old kid. My heart jumped. I was about to ask if he was home alone when I saw the other group members expressing doubt. [Are you sure it’s a stranger?] [A stranger in your house again? Last time you said there was a stranger, and it was just your dad in a different shirt.] [Meow, I’ll call the police for you!] I hesitated, wondering if I should tag the building management. Then, the husky replied, [Hehe, turns out it was just Dad wearing a mask. As a reward, tonight I’m peeing in his room.] False alarm. While I found it funny, a faint, unsettling feeling lingered. That day, I got back late from an interview. As I flicked on the light, I saw a dark shadow scuttle across the living room floor. My heart lurched. I was just about to crouch down and peer under the coffee table. When a large rat shot straight for my feet. I shrieked, leaping onto the coffee table. Immediately, I panicked and messaged the group for help. [There’s a rat in my house! Does anyone know of a reliable, immediate rat catching service nearby? Urgent, waiting online!] [Meow? Rat? What’s a rat?] [A rat is a fast little toy that squeaks when you squeeze it. Dad won’t let me play with them.] [Are you new? Never seen you before. Why is your profile pic a human? What species are you?] Can’t my profile pic be human? What did “what species” even mean? No time to think. The squeaking of the rat made my skin crawl. I immediately opened an app to find an on-demand service. Just then, someone in the group tagged me. Ace Rat Catcher – Ginger: ? [Two cans of wet food, no haggling, immediate on-site service.] [At your door, open up Meow.] That fast?? I opened the door, but the hallway was empty. Just as I was about to close it, a cat’s meow caught my attention. A very polite ginger cat stood at the doorway, its paws pressed together. As our eyes met, an unbelievable thought popped into my head. “You’re Ace Rat Catcher – Ginger?” The ginger cat meowed twice, and a message popped up in the group. [It’s the cat.] [Two cans of wet food, immediate deployment.] I chuckled, reaching out to stroke its head. The ginger cat tilted its head, dodging my hand. [Meow meow meow, that’s extra. A head pat costs half a sausage.] I don’t have pets, so I naturally didn’t have any cat food cans. I negotiated with Ginger, offering four sausages as payment. It licked its paw and agreed. But it demanded payment in installments. Deal made. The nimble Ginger followed the rat from the living room to the kitchen. Aside from accidentally knocking over my water glass on the table. The rat-catching service was successfully completed. Ginger, sensing my fear, placed the dead rat outside the door. [Human, cat accidentally broke your cup. Cat can charge you one less sausage.] I shook my head, [We agreed on four sausages, not one less. But can I get a head pat for free?] Ginger let out a soft “Meow.” It lowered its head and rubbed against my palm. Before leaving, it said I could call it in the group if I needed it again. After the house grew quiet, I finally processed everything. It all felt like a dream. The animals in the Starry Cove Community chat group were real. Their profile pictures were their actual selves. No matter how fantastical last night’s experience was. When the sun rose the next day, I still had to hustle for interviews in this new city. I live on the 12th floor. When the elevator reached the 10th, a guy stepped in, leading a husky. He looked familiar. Of course, I meant the husky. I stared at it intently. It sensed my gaze and stared back just as intently. The guy looked at our staring match. “You two… know each other?” I quickly waved my hands. How was I supposed to tell him I thought this husky was the one from the group chat? I certainly couldn’t ask if it peed in his room yesterday. Just then, the Starry Cove Community chat popped up with a new message. Dad’s Big Brain: [Saw a girl in the elevator, she looked familiar, like I’d seen her somewhere before. Hehe, she smells so nice, want pats.] Evil Fuzzybutt: [Stupid dog!] Lord Poshpaws: [Stupid dog!] I tentatively reached out my hand, and sure enough, the husky leaned in for a rub. The guy gave me a look that screamed, “You said you didn’t know each other!” As I petted the dog, I gently asked, “What’s your name?” “Liam.” I squatted down and gently squeezed the dog’s paw. “Nice to meet you, Liam.” The guy: “……” “I’m Liam!” I looked up, embarrassed. “Oh, my bad, my brain wasn’t working.” Liam’s face flushed slightly. “It’s okay, I just didn’t react fast enough. He’s called… Buddy.” [Big Brain! Miss, I’m Big Brain! My mean dad got my name wrong, hit hit hit!] Big Brain immediately stood up and got into a scuffle with Liam right there in the elevator. Liam cursed the “stupid dog” while fighting back. I stood by, laughing and trying to mediate. After a morning of rushing around, I’d interviewed at three companies. The results didn’t look promising. I decided to head home and grab something to eat. Walking back along the street, I suddenly spotted a pet supply store for sale. Thinking of the Starry Cove Community chat, an idea sparked in my mind. Isn’t this the perfect way to directly understand customer needs? Who wants to be a drone when they can be their own boss? I tallied up my savings, contacted the current owner, and bought the store. Then, I started advertising in the group. [Does anyone like this little toy?] [New stock: biscuits, freeze-dried treats, small snacks! Welcome to bring your humans for a taste test!] The ads exploded in the group chat. No dog or cat had ever posted a short video in the group before. They immediately sensed that I was different. Lord Poshpaws: [It’s a human! It’s a human! It’s a real human! A human snuck in!] [My reign is over.JPG] Ace Rat Catcher – Ginger: [The cat told you guys last time…] Sweet Cheesus: [Human, can you tell Mom that I don’t like getting my claws clipped?] At first, the pets in the group were astonished by my human identity. Once they realized I meant no harm, they grew accustomed to it. They would even frequently ask me to relay messages to their humans. So, I simply launched a special offer. For any single purchase over five hundred dollars, I would provide one free pet consultation. My first client was Liam. He bought ten pounds of dog food and several small toys for Big Brain. “You can really communicate with them?” I offered a noncommittal shrug. He raised an eyebrow, gave me a mischievous grin, then ruffled Big Brain’s head and said, “Alright, then ask him, he eats too much, Dad can’t afford him anymore. Can he be more self-sufficient?” I waved at Big Brain, subtly picking up my phone. After a moment, I managed to suppress my laughter and said, “Big… Buddy says it’s okay if you’re broke, he can go out and eat poop, and he can take you with him. He’ll eat the poop, and you can have the good bits.” Liam looked down, a profound expression on his face. Big Brain gazed back at him with sincere eyes. “Stupid dog, is this how you repay the old man who raised you so painstakingly?!” Liam fiercely rubbed Big Brain’s head. Dad’s Big Brain: [???] [Giving Dad all the good poop bits, and he’s still not happy! So unfair to a dog, hit hit hit!] Big Brain straightened up, waving its two paws, and started another brawl in my store. I had no idea how one dog could be so fond of hitting people with its paws. My second client was also a familiar face—or rather, a familiar feline. It was the little tabby cat from the group, Sweetie. Her owner was a young woman. Holding the cat, she said, a bit shyly, “Sweetie’s been acting strange lately, always meowing at the wardrobe. I’m a little scared. If you can really talk to pets, could you ask her what’s wrong?” I immediately thought of online news stories about strange men hiding in wardrobes. But the young woman insisted it wasn’t that. “I was afraid of that, so I already checked. There’s nothing in the wardrobe.” That was odd. I took Sweetie, carried her into the back room, and then tagged her in the group chat.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “415104”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Opening my eyes, I was back at freshman orientation. Daisy, my boyfriend’s childhood best friend, stood upfront again, claiming to be a billionaire’s daughter while calling me the poor girl she pitied. But this time, I calmly accepted the “broke scholarship kid” label. Right after, I texted my parents: “Cut off my allowance. I’ll earn my own money.” What surprised me was Daisy’s panicked look when she checked her bank balance. I knew why—the parasitic system tied to her soul, one that stole wealth and identities. In my past life, that system ruined my family, bankrupted our company, and led to my parents’ fatal crash. After their funeral, I sought comfort from my boyfriend, only to find him smiling, thanking Daisy’s system for stealing all that should have been mine. 1 Getting a second chance at life meant I was not going to make the same mistakes. Daisy and that treacherous man owed me blood, and I was going to collect it drop by drop. “Hi everyone, I am Daisy Kensington. My father is Richard Kensington, and my mother is Eleanor Kensington.” That overly sweet, familiar voice made my body tremble involuntarily. Looking at Daisy covering her mouth and giggling coyly at the front of the classroom, I knew for a fact I had been reborn. Just like in my previous life, all it took was dropping my parents’ names to set the entire room buzzing with wild speculations. “Richard Kensington? Wait, isn’t he the richest real estate mogul in Chicago? I have never seen a picture of his kids, but everyone knows that name!” “And his wife Eleanor is a legendary art collector. I went to one of her gallery exhibitions last year. I can’t believe their daughter is literally in our class.” “No wonder Daisy is so generous with her money. She is literal royalty.” Hearing the whispers, Daisy did not deny a single thing. She just put a finger to her lips and winked. “Let us keep a low profile, guys. Hush.” Her playful lack of denial only fueled the fire. I sat in the back, totally unfazed and unnervingly calm. I was the only person in the room who knew she was spinning a massive web of lies. Daisy grew up in a dirt-poor rural town. Her parents were heavily traditional and favored sons over daughters. Despite her incredible grades, they wanted to pull her out of school and marry her off to the highest bidder just to collect a dowry. If my parents had not gone to that exact mountain village for a philanthropic mission, taken pity on her, and funded her entire education, she would have never escaped that place. Yet, this was the same girl who, after my family paid for her to attend the same elite university as me, immediately decided to hijack my identity. In my past life, I was so furious hearing her steal my life that I stood right up and called her a liar. She did not even flinch. Instead, she pointed a trembling finger at me and burst into theatrical tears. “Seraphina, you are just a girl my family sponsors. I begged my parents to let you attend this school with me out of the goodness of my heart. How could you try to steal my identity?” To prove my innocence, I immediately pulled up my bank app to show everyone the million-dollar wire transfers from my parents. But Daisy was ready for me. Thanks to her system, her banking app magically displayed transfer records exactly ten times larger than mine. She turned the tables completely. She told the class that the money I had was scraped from her own allowance, crying about how ungrateful I was. The classmates bought it hook, line, and sinker. I was instantly branded a gold digger, a social climber, and a parasite. I was isolated. Bullied relentlessly. They even spread rumors that the older men dropping me off at campus, my own father and brother, were actually my sugar daddies. From that day forward, a dark cloud hung over my family. Our supply chains collapsed. Our stocks tanked. Then came the fatal car crashes. Thinking about that bizarre, supernatural system bound to Daisy made my blood run cold. Until I figured out exactly how her system operated, I had to play it incredibly safe. I could not afford to act recklessly. Because I did not stand up to expose her this time, I assumed she would just be happy she got away with it. But when I glanced up, her face was grim. She was staring a hole through me, practically begging me to cause a scene. I narrowed my eyes. Why did she want me to expose her so badly? The applause died down, and the professor gestured for her to take her seat. But Daisy’s eyes glazed over for a second, like she was reading an invisible screen or listening to a voice no one else could hear. Just as the silence in the room became awkward, she finally spoke up. “Professor, I think Seraphina should introduce herself next.” Hearing the supposed billionaire heiress call my name, the class immediately assumed I must be a wealthy socialite too. “Seraphina uses actual La Mer skincare, and her tote bag is vintage Chanel. She has got to be old money.” “Yeah, on move-in day, I literally saw a maid unpacking her suitcases and making her bed. I knew she was elite.” But their admiring whispers hit a brick wall the moment Daisy dropped her next sentence. “She is the scholarship student my family sponsors. I want her to follow my introduction so she feels included.” The room completely exploded. “Wait, what? If Seraphina is a charity case, how can she afford all that designer stuff?” “Oh my god. Do you think she just steals or borrows Daisy’s things to flex? If so, that is beyond pathetic.” “That is actually disgusting. Faking a rich girl aesthetic when you are living off someone else’s dime? Talk about vain.” In a fraction of a second, Daisy’s entire scheme clicked into place in my mind. If I kept my mouth shut, I would be branded a vain, deceptive poor girl mooching off her benefactor. If I called her out, she would use her system to produce fake receipts and humiliate me all over again. But why was she so desperate for me to fight back? A chilling realization washed over me. In my past life, my family’s horrific luck only started after I tried to expose her and got slapped down by her system’s counter-evidence. Could the two be directly linked? Did her system require me to actively challenge her to steal my family’s fortune? I stood up, pasting a serene, unapologetic smile on my face, and completely owned the broke girl persona. “The clothes and the bags are high-end fakes. The woman making my bed was just my mom. I might be a broke scholarship student, but having a little vanity is not exactly a capital crime, right?” Not everyone in our class was a trust fund baby. Seeing me own up to it so casually, the professor and most of the students just chuckled, assuming I was just a girl with a bit too much pride. Because I accepted the poverty label without a fight, Daisy looked utterly shell-shocked. Denied the dramatic confrontation she desperately needed, her eyes flashed with genuine panic and anger. It was like I had just derailed her entire master plan. A lightbulb went off in my head. I was absolutely right about her system’s trigger. Well, if I was going to play the broke girl, I was going to deserve an Oscar for my performance. The second I sat down, I opened my family group chat and fired off a message. “Starting today, absolutely no one is allowed to send me a single cent of allowance. Not a penny. If anyone wires me money, I will block your number and never speak to you again!” My parents and brother immediately panicked, blowing up my phone with objections. But after a relentless barrage of pleading and emotional blackmail on my end, they finally caved. Just to be safe, I made them type out a formal promise not to fund my lifestyle. As soon as I got back to the dorm, I packed up all my designer clothes, limited edition sneakers, and luxury bags. I hauled them down to a luxury consignment boutique and sold everything. I replaced my wardrobe with basic fifty-dollar outfits and swapped my La Mer for drugstore moisturizers. Once that was done, I wired every single dollar in my bank account back to my mother, leaving exactly one thousand and five hundred dollars to survive the month. The wire transfer had barely processed when my phone started ringing. Connor sounded frantic on the other end of the line. “Sera, what is going on? Did something happen? Why did you just empty our account? You know that is incredibly messed up, right? That is our joint account. You can’t just drain it without asking me first.” He called it a joint account, but every single cent in there belonged to me. Connor had never deposited a dime in his life. He was just another scholarship kid my family had taken under their wing. His tiny stipend was barely enough to feed him, but he had a massive ego. To keep up the illusion that he was a wealthy frat boy, he constantly bought drinks and dinners for his roommates, entirely on my dime. Whenever he swiped my card, he always spun some poetic excuse about how he did not care about money, only about providing for me. I let out a sharp, mocking laugh. “Connor, are you actually delusional? We both know exactly how much of your money is in that account. Zero. Did you genuinely start believing my trust fund was your personal piggy bank?” Dead silence hung on the line. He clearly never expected me to speak to him like that. Ever since he saved me from a group of street thugs two years ago, I had been completely devoted to him. Whatever he wanted, I handed over without a second thought. Hearing the absolute venom in my voice, he instantly softened his tone, playing the victim. “Sera, you know that is not what I meant. I am just worried you won’t have enough to eat. If you are having cash flow issues, you should…” “If you are so worried about my finances, then you need to pay back every single dollar you spent on me. My family cut off my major allowances. I need cash, now.” Connor panicked. His voice cracked slightly. “But you spent that money on me willingly. You can’t just ask for it back! Sera, why would your family cut you off? Just go act cute and beg them for a deposit.” “Are you deaf? I want my money back. Fast. If you don’t wire it over, I am going to have a nice, long chat with my dad about where my allowance has been going.” Less than a minute later, a notification popped up. A transfer for thirty thousand dollars. Connor’s voice was dripping with fake sweetness, but I could hear his teeth grinding together. “That is literally everything I have to my name right now. I will pick up some extra shifts this week and get you the rest as soon as humanly possible.” In my past life, hearing him say he had to work manual labor would have broken my heart. Now, I felt absolutely nothing. I even gave him a cheerful reminder. “Make sure you work double shifts. If you take too long and I get stressed out, I might accidentally let it slip to my brother that you are a broke leech.” After hanging up, I pictured Connor’s face turning purple with rage. I threw myself on my cheap dorm bed and yelled, “That felt amazing!” He was dead meat. I was going to make him vomit up every single thing he swallowed from my family. To secure my own living expenses, I sought out Harper, our class monitor who was always working side hustles. She shared a dorm with Daisy, and she happened to be in the room when I dropped by. Hearing that I needed a part-time job, Harper kindly offered to introduce me to the owner of a restaurant she waitressed at. Daisy immediately jumped off her bed, looking completely unhinged. “Seraphina, no! Working part-time is grueling. You won’t last a day. Just drop it. I will call my parents and have them increase your allowance.” I ignored her completely and scanned the QR code to add the restaurant owner on social media. Seeing me ignore her, Daisy lunged forward and tried to snatch the phone right out of my hand. “Did you not hear me? I told you not to get a job! I will just give you the cash. Are you incapable of understanding simple English?” “Sure. I need three hundred grand. Are you writing a check?” She choked on her words. I snatched my phone back and gave her a freezing glare. “See? You can’t fund my life forever. What, do you expect me to shamelessly leech off you until we graduate? Do I look like an ungrateful parasite to you?” I put heavy, pointed emphasis on the last sentence. Daisy was already feeling guilty, terrified I had figured out her secret. She muttered something about me biting the hand that feeds and scurried back up to her top bunk. Sensing the tension, the other girls in the dorm quickly tried to smooth things over. “I think it is awesome that Seraphina wants to earn her own keep. It shows character.” “Totally. Even if she is on a sponsorship, she can’t just rely on handouts forever. That would make her a total mooch.” I don’t know which specific word triggered it, but Daisy suddenly snapped. “Shut up! You are all so incredibly annoying!” The entire room went dead silent. No one had ever seen the sweet, wealthy heiress look so feral. Realizing she had slipped up, Daisy quickly scrambled to save face. “I am so sorry, guys. I just have a splitting migraine. I am not feeling well.” The others bought the excuse, but I knew better. I had hit a massive nerve. My part-time job was definitely messing with her system. I just did not have the full picture of how it all connected yet. A week later, after wrapping up a shift and getting paid my first few hundred bucks, I was walking towards a late-night diner when I stumbled upon Connor and Daisy arguing violently in a dark alleyway. “Connor, you have to help me! My system only multiplies the money by ten if Seraphina accepts cash from her family. If she earns the money herself, I get hit with a penalty one hundred times the amount. I owe the system a hundred grand today. If I don’t pay up, it is going to punish me severely! Please!” Connor looked highly annoyed, aggressively running a hand through his hair. “A hundred grand? Where the hell am I supposed to pull a hundred grand from? Do you not see me working double shifts right now? Seraphina is holding a gun to my head. If I don’t pay back the money I spent, she is going to tell her dad, and I will be blacklisted from working at their company after graduation. You are on your own for this one, Daisy.” Daisy sounded like she was on the verge of a panic attack. “I have no other options! I can’t even get approved for a credit card, but you can. Just take out a cash advance for me, please.” “Absolutely not. I need my credit line for emergencies. What about the millions the system deposited into your account last week? Just use that.” Mentioning that money only made Daisy more hysterical. “I can’t touch it. The funds are locked until I successfully frame Seraphina, ruin the Kensington family, and fully siphon away her heiress luck. But she completely ruined the script. She practically bragged about being a charity case on the first day. I had all the fake receipts lined up to destroy her, and she made them useless.” “That is an easy fix. Just do this.” Connor let out a dark chuckle, leaning down to whisper directly into Daisy’s ear. I couldn’t hear the specifics of their new plot, but I knew it was going to be vile. Just to be safe, I ordered a batch of micro-cameras online and started keeping them in my pockets at all times. The night before the weekend, the class group chat lit up. Daisy, who was supposedly drowning in system debt, was renting out a massive VIP room at a high-end karaoke lounge and inviting the whole class. Terrified I would bail, she tagged me repeatedly, making it clear my attendance was mandatory. I smiled to myself and typed a simple “See you there” into the chat. I was dying to see what kind of trap they had set. The next evening, Harper and I arrived straight from our shifts. A crowd of classmates were already hovering around Daisy, obsessing over the jewelry on her wrist. Daisy was basking in the attention, her voice dripping with fake humility. “Oh, this? It is just a little gift from my parents. The pink diamond alone was half a million, but the whole piece appraised for around two million dollars.” I took one glance at the bracelet. Under the club’s neon lights, the stones looked completely dead. No fire, no brilliance. Compared to the real diamonds my mother bought me, it was painfully obvious it was a cheap knock-off. But a bunch of college freshmen had no idea what to look for. “Oh my god. No wonder it is so sparkly. I have never seen anything so expensive in my life.” “You better keep a close eye on that, Daisy. If you lose it, I would literally die.” Daisy waved off their compliments and enthusiastically dragged me over to sit right next to her. She even went out of her way to place my canvas tote bag on the chair tucked into the dark corner behind us. I watched her every move like a hawk, but aside from a quick trip to the bathroom, she never left the couch. I waited for hours. By the time everyone was packing up to leave, she still had not done anything suspicious. I started to wonder if I was just being paranoid. But right as everyone was putting on their jackets, Daisy suddenly let out a piercing gasp, grabbing her empty right wrist. “My bracelet. The diamond bracelet my parents gave me is gone.” Hearing that a two-million-dollar piece of jewelry was missing, the entire class panicked and started tearing the room apart looking for it. They checked under every couch cushion and behind the TV, but it was nowhere to be found. Daisy covered her face, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. “Did someone pick it up and decide to keep it? Please, if you found it, just give it back. It is a family heirloom. I will literally buy you whatever you want as a reward, just please don’t steal it.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “415103”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My consciousness was trapped within my own heart, reawakening inside Vivian Vance. It was then I understood. That so-called car accident was nothing but a smokescreen. Their real target was my heart. Eden Brown, my fiancé of five years, had ended my life with his own surgical knife. He covered me with a white sheet, declared my death, then turned and gently told Vivian, “Vivian, I’ve given you her heart.” Vivian Vance, my best friend for ten years, was the ultimate beneficiary of this murder. It turned out that on the third day after I was declared brain dead, Eden had personally closed my eyes and then performed the heart removal surgery. They treated me as mere “consumable material” to provide a heart, unaware that from inside Vivian’s chest, I could clearly see all their ugly faces. The shadowless lamp in the operating room was colder than any light in a morgue. Eden, in his sterile gown, his profile as handsome as ever, looked at Vivian with a tenderness I had never seen before. He leaned down, pressing a kiss to Vivian’s forehead. “Vivian, don’t be afraid.” “With her heart, you will be reborn.” “From now on, you must love me twice as much, for her sake too.” Vivian lay on the adjacent operating table, her face pale, yet a victor’s smile played at the corners of her eyes. “Eden, I’ve waited for this day for so long.” “Chloe… will she disappear completely?” Eden’s hand, holding the scalpel, was steady, without a single tremor. He even let out a soft chuckle, his tone resolute and cruel. “Of course. I’ve already signed the death certificate.” “An accidental car crash, brain death. No suspicious details.” So, that sudden car accident was meticulously planned by them. My best friend and the man I loved most. We were the envy of outsiders, an unbreakable trio. Eden was a top cardiac surgeon, I was a rising designer, and Vivian was our mutual friend. I believed our friendship and love were indestructible. I shared everything with Vivian, including my fiancé, Eden. I thought she was frail and needed care, so I asked Eden to look after her more. I thought she was lonely, so I invited her to live with us in our wedding home, sharing meals and space. I even gave her the wedding gown I designed myself, which was meant for me, as a birthday gift. I said, “Vivian, when you get married someday, I’ll design an even more beautiful one for you.” At the time, she was moved to tears, hugging me and saying, “Chloe, you’re the best friend I’ll ever have.” Looking back now, it’s nothing short of ironic. The moment the scalpel sliced open my chest, I felt no physical pain. Only the excruciating agony of my soul being ripped apart. I watched my heart, held in Eden’s hand. That heart that had beaten for him for ten whole years. He didn’t spare it a single glance, walking directly to Vivian. “Vivian, close your eyes. It’ll be over soon.” He soothed her tenderly, just as he had soothed me countless times when I was ill. No, even more gently than he had ever treated me. As my heart was placed into Vivian’s chest, as her blood merged with my heart. I thought my soul would dissipate then and there. But a powerful suction force firmly locked my consciousness into that confined space. I, inside Vivian’s body, had come back to life. Vivian’s heart transplant surgery was a tremendous success. Eden had pulled nearly every string he had, arranging for the best post-operative care team for her. He stayed by Vivian’s bedside twenty-four hours a day, never leaving her side. And I, like a spectator trapped in a cage, was forced to watch their display of affection. I couldn’t control this body, couldn’t even make a sound. I could only listen, only watch. Watching Eden peel apples for her, feed her water. Watching him carefully wipe her body, his eyes full of tenderness and adoration. All of these had once been exclusively mine. Vivian revelled in it all, like a queen, openly accepting Eden’s devoted service. “Eden, I want a bubble tea from that new shop downstairs, full of taro paste and boba.” Eden immediately put down what he was doing, without a hint of impatience. “Okay, you lie still. I’ll go get it right away.” After he left, the fragility on Vivian’s face vanished instantly, replaced by a triumphant smirk. She took out her phone, opening a photo of Eden and me. In the picture, I was smiling brightly, leaning intimately against Eden’s shoulder. Vivian extended a finger and harshly swiped across my face. “Chloe, you really were a fool.” “Did you truly believe Eden loved you?” “He’s loved me since college. Being with you was just because your heart was healthy enough to prolong my life.” “Your fiancé, your love… now, even your heart is mine.” “Everything you had, I’ve taken. Aren’t you happy?” My consciousness was screaming, yelling. But translated to this body, it only caused Vivian’s fingertips to tremble slightly. She frowned, dismissed it, and deleted the photo. Soon, Eden returned with the bubble tea. He carefully inserted the straw and held it to Vivian’s lips. Vivian took a big gulp, but then suddenly grimaced. “Ugh, why is it so sweet? It’s sickening.” She pushed the bubble tea away with a look of disgust. Eden looked somewhat perplexed. “Didn’t you used to love this kind, full sugar?” “I don’t know, it just suddenly feels really nauseating,” Vivian said, annoyed. My consciousness sneered. That’s right, Vivian had an insatiable sweet tooth, while I absolutely detested overly sweet things. My greatest love was bitter black coffee. The game, it seemed, could now begin. The next day, Vivian was finally able to get out of bed and walk around. Eden supported her as they strolled through the hospital garden. As they passed the hospital coffee shop, Vivian’s steps involuntarily halted. The rich aroma of coffee wafted over, and I felt a long-lost craving. Vivian, however, covered her nose. “It’s so bitter, let’s hurry up and leave.” Yet, her feet seemed to be rooted to the spot, unable to move. Her mouth, under the strong influence of my consciousness, even opened uncontrollably. “I… want a cup of black coffee.” Eden froze. He stared at Vivian, his eyes filled with scrutiny and confusion. “Vivian, you never drink coffee, especially not black coffee.” Vivian also panicked. She could feel that uncontrollable urge within her body. “I… I don’t know, I just… suddenly wanted to try it,” she stammered, explaining. Eden gave her a deep look, but eventually conceded. “Alright, I’ll get you one, but you can only have a small sip.” When that piping hot, pure black coffee was handed to Vivian, my consciousness trembled with excitement. Under Eden’s gaze, Vivian reluctantly took a small, disgusted sip. The bitter liquid slid down her throat, and she almost gagged. But the next second, a strange sense of satisfaction spread from the location of her heart, through every inch of her body. It was my lingering obsession, finally sated. Vivian’s expression transformed from a pained grimace to a momentary look of bewilderment and comfort. This subtle change did not escape Eden’s eyes. His brow furrowed even deeper. On the day she was discharged, Eden took Vivian back to the home he and I had shared, our marital home. Everything there was exactly as it had been before my death. My design drafts lay scattered on the desk, my clothes still hung in the wardrobe, and the air even carried the faint scent of my usual perfume. Eden apparently had no intention of clearing out my belongings. The moment Vivian stepped through the door, she eagerly asserted her claim. She walked into the walk-in closet and threw out all my clothes. “Eden, throw away all this junk, it’s an eyesore.” A flicker of displeasure crossed Eden’s face, but he complied. He packed my clothes one by one, as if packaging a past he had personally buried. I watched my favourite red dress, destined for an awards ceremony, being nonchalantly shoved into a trash bag. I remembered smiling and asking him, “Eden, do I look pretty in this?” He had kissed my eyes then and said, “My Chloe looks beautiful in anything.” The vows still echoed, but his heart had changed. That night, Eden and Vivian lay on the bed that had once been ours. In the darkness, I could feel Vivian’s anticipation and excitement, and Eden’s… slight distraction. Vivian wrapped herself around him like a snake. “Eden, I’m all better, we can…” But Eden suddenly rolled over, turning his back to her. “Vivian, you just had surgery. Your body still needs to recover.” Vivian’s body stiffened. This was the first time Eden had refused her since they’d been together. “Eden, what’s wrong?” Eden was silent for a long time before he finally whispered, “Nothing, go to sleep.” But I knew he wasn’t asleep. Because in the dead of night, I heard him unconsciously murmur a name. “Chloe…” That single “Chloe,” like a bolt of lightning, struck Vivian’s heart. It was also like a powerful shot of adrenaline, injecting itself into my consciousness. The next day, Vivian’s face was dark. She confronted Eden, “Whose name did you call last night?” Eden, in the middle of tying his tie, paused, his eyes a little evasive. “I just had a dream, don’t overthink it.” Vivian wouldn’t let it go. “You dreamt of Chloe? Are you still thinking about her?” Eden’s patience seemed to wear thin. He turned, grabbing Vivian’s chin, his grip a little rough. “Vivian, Chloe is dead.” “The one standing alive in front of me now is you.” “Stop being unreasonable.” His tone was cold, and Vivian’s eyes immediately welled up. “I’m sorry, Eden, I’m just… so scared.” “I’m afraid you still love her.” Eden’s expression softened. He sighed and pulled her into a hug. “Fool, you’re the one I’ve always loved. For her, perhaps there was some affection, but more than that… it was guilt.” “I will spend my life making it up to you.” The same old excuses. I watched their saccharine charade with cold contempt, finding it nothing short of nauseating. After Eden left for work, Vivian was alone in the empty mansion. Bored, she turned on the TV, but every channel irritated her. Finally, her gaze fell upon the cluttered design desk in the study. On it were my unfinished graduation design drafts. It was the work I had poured countless hours into, intending to submit it to an international competition. Vivian walked over, picked up a design draft, and scoffed contemptuously. “What a mess.” She casually picked up a pen, intending to doodle on it. But the moment the pen tip touched the paper, her hand moved beyond her control. Driven by my intense consciousness, her wrist began to dance across the paper with a professional, fluid grace completely unfamiliar to her. The lines, contours, and details I had conceived a thousand times in my mind were now manifesting through her hand. Vivian’s eyes widened in horror. She wanted to stop, to throw the pen away. But her body, as if possessed, completely disobeyed her. She could only watch herself, stroke by stroke, completing my unfinished work to perfection. When the final stroke fell, the entire design draft burst forth with astonishing vitality. Vivian’s hand finally regained control. She dropped the pen as if shocked by electricity, backing away rapidly. She stared at the flawless gown on the paper, cold sweat trickling down her back. “No… I didn’t draw this…” “It’s Chloe… it’s her! She’s back!” She shrieked, stumbling out of the study. And I, looking at the design draft that embodied all my dreams and hard work, for the first time, felt the thrill of revenge in another’s body. This, was just the beginning. When Eden returned, he found Vivian huddled in the corner of the sofa, trembling. “What’s wrong? You look awful.” Vivian clung to him like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline, her voice shaking. “Eden, there’s a ghost! There’s a ghost in the mansion!” “It’s Chloe, she’s back! She’s possessed me!” She incoherently recounted what had happened that afternoon. Eden’s brows furrowed deeply. He led Vivian to the study. When he saw the completed design draft, his pupils constricted sharply. The style of this drawing, the unique brushstrokes—without a doubt, they belonged to Chloe. It was even more mature, more stunning than Chloe’s previous works. This was absolutely something Vivian, who knew nothing about design, could not have drawn. “Eden, believe me, I really didn’t draw it!” Vivian cried. Eden silently gazed at the drawing, his eyes dark and unreadable. After a long moment, he slowly spoke, his voice hoarse. “Vivian, you’re too tired, you’re hallucinating.” “There are no ghosts in this world.” He took Vivian back to their room, even giving her a sedative injection. Vivian quickly fell asleep. Eden, however, returned to the study alone. He stood before the design desk, his fingertips gently tracing the paper, as if caressing a precious treasure. His gaze held a mixture of obsession and pain that I had never seen before. “Chloe… is that you?” “Are you really… back?” He whispered, like a madman. From that day on, Eden grew increasingly strange. He began calling my name, looking at Vivian’s face. One time, Vivian was humming a song in the kitchen, her favorite pop tune. Eden walked over, hugged her from behind, and whispered in her ear, “Chloe, stop singing, I want to hear you sing ‘Moonlight’.” “Moonlight” was my favorite song. Vivian’s singing stopped abruptly, her body stiff. “Eden, what did you call me?” Eden, as if waking from a dream, released her. “Nothing, I misheard.” Another time, they went to a restaurant for dinner. Vivian ordered her favorite strawberry cake. Eden, however, frowned, pushed the cake aside, and replaced it with a cup of black coffee. “Too many sweets are bad for your heart,” he said flatly. Then, he gazed at Vivian, a hint of expectation in his eyes. “Try this, you’ll like it.” Under my influence, Vivian no longer resisted black coffee as much. She hesitantly took a sip. Eden, seeing her lack of disgust, actually let out a satisfied smile. That smile held a morbid fascination and a maniacal joy. Vivian felt a chill run down her spine. Who did Eden truly love? Was it Vivian Vance, or was it the shadow of Chloe, wearing her skin?

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “415102”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I decided to divorce Mindy Wilson on the third day of our wedding anniversary trip. We had planned this trip for nine months, but she insisted on bringing her male assistant along, claiming she couldn’t neglect work. No matter how much I objected, it was useless. When I told her my decision to divorce, she asked, incredulously, if I was joking. I didn’t hesitate; I just nodded, clearly telling her again: “Yes, divorce.” “We don’t need to live this exhausting life. Let’s end it here.” That was my final summary of our relationship. 1 “A reason?” Mindy Wilson’s eyebrows shot up. “Marcus Heckerling, you better explain yourself clearly.” I leaned against the hotel room window, outside was the azure water of the Maldives. We were supposed to be spending a romantic fifth wedding anniversary here; this was a beautiful trip I had painstakingly planned for over half a year. But now, I only found that blue offensively garish. “You’ll know the reason soon enough.” Just then, the doorbell rang. Mindy turned, and the male assistant appeared at the door. “Ms. Wilson, the ten o’clock conference call is about to start.” Adrian Miller’s voice was deliberately lowered, thick with an unctuous tenderness. His gaze swept over me, a fleeting smirk of triumph playing on his lips. My expression remained calm. “Mindy Wilson, two days into our trip, you and your male assistant have had over a dozen conference calls.” “Day or night, you two spend more time together than you do with me.” “Do you think this marriage still needs to be maintained?” Mindy frowned, “Is there something wrong with that? You know how important this merger is to me!” “Merger?” I took a step forward, looking directly into her eyes. “For our fifth wedding anniversary trip, you brought three suitcases.” “Two of them were filled with documents.” “You didn’t pack a single outfit for me, didn’t even bring your own swimsuit, but you remembered to prepare three suits for Adrian.” “Can you explain why?” Mindy was speechless. Adrian stepped in at just the right moment, a nauseatingly humble smile on his face. “Mr. Heckerling, it’s all my fault.” “I didn’t arrange the meeting times properly, affecting your and Ms. Wilson’s itinerary.” He lowered his head slightly, his bangs falling forward, making him look innocent and wronged. “Ms. Wilson has been under too much stress lately, sometimes she forgets things. Please don’t blame her.” I watched his performance, noticing that as he spoke, his fingers unconsciously brushed Mindy’s wrist. A seemingly unintentional but deliberately intimate touch, and Mindy didn’t pull away. “Mr. Miller,” I said, my face hardening, “when I’m speaking with my wife, it’s not your place to interrupt.” Adrian immediately took half a step back. “I’m sorry, Mr. Heckerling, I was wrong.” He looked at Mindy, his eyes like a puppy caught in the rain. So pathetic. “Ms. Wilson, I’ll go prepare the meeting materials then. I won’t disturb you further.” “Wait.” Mindy grabbed his arm. She turned to me, her eyes holding that familiar stubbornness. “Marcus, don’t be unreasonable. You know the special nature of my work.” I retorted, “Special enough to share a room with your assistant discussing until two in the morning?” Then I pulled out my phone and opened my photo gallery. “Special enough that he can call you Mindy, but I, your husband, have to make an appointment just to have dinner with you?” Adrian’s face changed, but he quickly put on his innocent expression again. “Mr. Heckerling, you’ve misunderstood.” “Yesterday, because there were so many documents, we…” “Shut up.” I cut him off without ceremony. Mindy’s brows furrowed. “Marcus! How can you speak to Adrian like that? He’s my most competent assistant!” I scoffed, directly retorting, “Since he’s so excellent, then I ask, how much has he contributed to the company? How many big deals has he closed for the company?” Mindy was speechless for a moment. Adrian lowered his head, feigning self-reproach. “Mr. Heckerling is right, I do have many shortcomings and haven’t been able to share more of Ms. Wilson’s pressure.” Seeing this, Mindy immediately patted his shoulder with a pained expression, then glared at me. “Marcus, that’s enough!” “Adrian has been working almost day and night for this merger. Can’t you see his dedication?” “What right do you have to question him?” “Day and night?” I sneered. “Yes, even on our anniversary trip, he has to be stuck to you day and night. How tiring for him.” Mindy’s face flushed instantly, and she raised her voice. “Can you stop being so sarcastic?” “Adrian is my assistant, his job is to assist me. What’s wrong with that?” “Are you expecting me to drop all my work because of your unreasonable behavior?” “My unreasonable behavior?” I repeated her words, suddenly finding it incredibly absurd and laughable. I pointed at Adrian. “You two shared a room until dawn last night. As your husband, I was left alone in an empty bed.” “He blatantly touched your hand in front of me, and you couldn’t even be bothered to flinch.” “Ever since he joined the company, no matter what, if he opens his mouth, it’s always my fault.” “I can’t even question him!” “So all of this, in your eyes, is my unreasonable behavior?” Adrian quickly interjected, “Mr. Heckerling, you’ve really misunderstood. I only have respect for Ms. Wilson, absolutely no other intentions!” “No other intentions?” I sneered, “Not even a dog would believe your words!” Mindy exploded like gunpowder, shielding Adrian behind her. “Marcus, that’s enough!” “Adrian is my employee, and he’s my friend. I won’t allow you to insult him like that!” 2 I stared into her eyes, trying to find a trace of guilt or hesitation. But there was only stubbornness and anger. I suddenly felt tired, exhausted. Too weary to listen to any more of this nonsense, I simply turned and left. “Marcus!” Mindy called after me, her voice laced with a hint of panic. “Where are you going?” I didn’t look back. That night, I sat on the patio smoking. Mindy returned. “Marcus.” Her voice was much softer than during the day, with a deliberate hint of conciliation. “There are a lot of mosquitoes out here, come inside.” I didn’t move, just stared at the dark ocean outside the window. She sighed, walked over to me, and reached out to take the cigarette from my hand. I subtly shifted, avoiding her. Her slender fingers paused awkwardly in the air for a few seconds. “Don’t be like this,” she whispered. “We need to talk calmly and properly.” Only then did I look up at her. She was wearing a black, sexy lace negligee, the sheer fabric barely covering anything, gleaming seductively in the moonlight. This was a gift I’d given her on our honeymoon, which she’d always refused to wear, saying it was too revealing. I was surprised she’d brought it this time. “Does it look good?” She tilted her head slightly, a tempting smile playing on her lips. I extinguished my cigarette, stood up, and walked past her towards the room. “Put some clothes on. We need to discuss the divorce papers.” “Marcus!” She chased after me, grabbing my wrist. “What do you want from me?” “You know how much I love you, I don’t want a divorce!” I stopped, turning to face her directly. “If you don’t want a divorce, it’s simple.” “Fire Adrian immediately and promise never to have any contact with him again.” “Can you do that?” The expression on her face instantly froze. She let go of my hand and stepped back. “Just because he’s my assistant, you want me to fire someone who’s vital to the company?” “Vital?” I sneered. “He hasn’t completed a single independent project in the six months he’s been with the company. He only keeps his job by clinging to you.” “Mindy Wilson, you’re not an idiot. You’re an adult. Stop playing dumb.” Her cheeks flushed with anger. “You’re too petty! Adrian is diligent and responsible, this merger wouldn’t have been possible without him…” “Without him, it wouldn’t affect your ability to get the job done.” I cut her off without ceremony. “But you chose to let him infiltrate every corner of our lives.” “Our wedding anniversary, you brought him along.” “Our dinner date, he sat at the next table.” “Now, even during our conversation by the bed, you’re defending him.” Mindy’s chest heaved, her black lingerie trembling slightly with each breath, creating an alluring shadow in the moonlight. In the past, I would have already pulled her into my arms. But now, I only felt a surge of weariness. “You don’t understand,” she still tried to explain. “Work is like this, I need his assistance.” My voice rose. “Mindy Wilson, I’m not discussing this with you anymore.” “Either he goes, or we’re over.” “There’s no third option.” Her eyes widened; she seemed not to expect me to be so firm. Suddenly, a harsh phone ring broke the stalemate. Mindy hurried to the bedside table, glanced at the caller ID, and visibly tensed. I didn’t need to guess; it had to be Adrian calling at this hour. She answered, her expression swiftly changing from worry to panic. “What? You fell? Is it serious?” “…Okay, I’ll be right there.” Hanging up, she hastily grabbed a jacket and started to leave, not even stopping to change out of her sexy lingerie. “Mindy Wilson.” My voice was chillingly calm. “If you walk out that door today, the divorce is final.” Her hand was already on the doorknob. At my words, she paused. Time seemed to freeze; I could hear the sound of my own heartbeat. Three seconds, five seconds. She turned her head, her eyes holding an unfamiliarity I’d never seen before. “Marcus, don’t be like this,” her voice pleaded. “Adrian is really hurt. This isn’t home, he’s alone with no one to care for him…” “So what?” I straightened up. “The hotel has doctors, staff, they can even call an ambulance.” “He’s not a three-year-old child, and you’re not his mother.” Mindy: “But he’s hurt because he was working late…” “Choose, Mindy Wilson,” I cut her off. “Now, immediately.” Her lips trembled, a flicker of an emotion I couldn’t read in her eyes. Finally, she took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, I’ll be back soon.” The night wind blew away my last shred of hesitation. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. “Mr. Davies, regarding the divorce agreement, let’s discuss it in detail tomorrow after I return home.” 3 Mindy Wilson didn’t return all night. At four in the morning, my phone vibrated. I opened social media and saw Adrian had just posted an update. In the photo, he was sitting on a lounge chair on the hotel patio, his knee wrapped in bandages, holding a glass of champagne. Mindy stood behind him, leaning slightly close to his shoulder, a bright smile on her face. “Far from home, grateful for your company.” I closed social media and booked the earliest flight back home. As I boarded, a stranger sent me a video. In the video, a man and a woman were tumbling on a bed, kissing passionately. Though their faces were a bit blurry, I recognized the female lead immediately. I tightened my lips, directly turning off my phone. When the plane landed and I turned on my phone, dozens of missed calls and messages immediately popped up, all from Mindy. I was about to turn it off again when her call came through. “Marcus!” Her voice was distinctly angry. “Where are you? Why did you suddenly come back?” “Suddenly?” My tone was calm. “I thought my intentions were quite clear.” “Just because I went to take care of Adrian last night, you just left me and took off?” Her voice suddenly sharpened. “Do you know how worried I was, alone in that hotel?” I laughed sarcastically. “I saw you and Adrian having a great time, even posting on social media. You actually had time to worry about me?” Silence on the other end for a moment, then her slightly guilty voice came through. “He posted on social media?” “The photos are quite good,” I said coldly. “Marcus, do you have to be so sarcastic?” “Adrian fell and got hurt last night. I just went to help him with his injuries!” “As his boss and a friend, I have an obligation to look after him.” My patience completely evaporated. I sneered, “Mindy Wilson, don’t take me for a fool.” “You’re utterly unreasonable!” “Adrian and I are completely innocent. You’re just petty, you always have to think the worst!” “Whether you’re innocent or not, you know in your heart. Just wait for my divorce papers.” “Marcus!” Her voice finally carried a hint of panic. “Are you really going to divorce me over a small matter?” “It’s only a small matter to you.” “But for me, it’s a man’s bottom line.” I heard her hurried breathing on the other end, as if she still wanted to say something. But I didn’t give her the chance; I just hung up. The next day, Mindy, as if deliberately provoking me, frequently updated her social media. Sometimes it was photos of her and Adrian eating at a restaurant, sometimes she showed off gifts she received, with ambiguous captions. “Thanks to someone for the surprise, all the hard work is worth it.” I scrolled past them expressionlessly, sending her the divorce papers with the assets divided. Soon, Mindy called. “Marcus, what is this supposed to mean?” “You really think I can’t live without you, don’t you?” Too lazy to argue, I simply hung up and blocked her number. Seven nights later, on a stormy evening, I was at a friend’s gathering. A strange number sent another video. In the video, Adrian was wearing my silk pajamas, holding a glass of red wine, looking up at the huge wedding photo of Mindy and me. A mocking sneer hung on his lips, and on the bed was the sexy lingerie I bought Mindy, disheveled. An indescribable fury surged from the depths of my heart. Mindy and I weren’t even divorced yet, and he was brazenly occupying my house, acting like the man of the house. He had gone too far!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “415101”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Frozen in 1975, I awoke in 2025, the experiment’s sole survivor. With the appearance of a twenty-year-old, I sought out my now-wealthy younger brother. Suddenly, strange pop-up comments appeared: “She’s too foolish. Her brother forgot her long ago. Reuniting is pointless.” “The Thornes are fighting over inheritance. Claiming kinship will get her eliminated!” “Only Damian Miller truly cares. Marrying him is her only path to happiness.” Damian immediately knelt, proposing, “Jessica, high society is dangerous. Marry me. I’ll protect you always.” I was nearly moved to say yes when I overheard his thoughts: “System, are the fake comments out?” “Released, Host. But marry Jessica? In the original plot, once the villainess Emily becomes heir, you could live in luxury with her.” “I gave Jessica’s heir position to Emily. I owe Jessica a lifetime, but Emily will be fine without me.” I swallowed my emotional response. You schemer, I was being sincere, and you were plotting. But you’re mistaken—I’ve always prioritized my career; a little romance won’t hinder me. 1 Seeing my silence, Damian slipped a ring onto my finger, his eyes full of affection. “Jessica, don’t worry, I’ll protect you for the rest of your life.” I pulled off the ring and slapped it across his face. “No need. I’m going to reunite with my family.” Damian’s thin lips pressed together, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at me. Pop-up comments scrolled frantically before me. “The devoted male lead is being rejected, how unfair! The protagonist is such an idiot; if she goes to reunite tonight, she’ll definitely be thrown to the dogs by Emily Thorne!” “I don’t get the protagonist. Why throw away a good life to court death?” I ignored them, lifting my leg to walk away. Damian hastily grabbed me, his voice urgent. “Jessica, don’t bother. Even if you go, Old Man Thorne won’t acknowledge you as his sister, and there’s no way he’ll give you any property!” I looked at him. “Why?” Damian sighed. “Old Man Thorne made his fortune from your pickle stall and became the richest man, he’s long forgotten his roots. Now, everyone in the Thorne family wants you dead, so why would he just hand over his property?” I saw his face full of worry and found it amusing. I raised my hand and pushed him away. “Even so, that’s my business. Whatever the outcome, I have to try.” The pop-up comments went wild. “No, is the protagonist crazy? Is a home and property more important than life? She’s just asking for trouble!” “The male lead is really worried about the protagonist, poor guy, he’s so devoted but it’s misplaced. Just wait, the protagonist will regret it!” The more enthusiastic the comments became, the faster I strode towards the mansion. Behind me, I heard Damian’s confused inner thoughts. “What’s going on? Why is Jessica Thorne so insistent on this family reunion? Does she know Old Man Thorne has been waiting for her return all this time?” “Host, what do we do now?” Damian’s inner thoughts: “I’ll just play it by ear. I won’t let her succeed.” I followed the address and found my brother’s estate. There were many people coming and going. Dressed decently, I blended in. Suddenly, a woman in a luxurious dress raised her hand to stop me, scanning me from head to toe with a condescending gaze. “Who are you? I don’t recall you being invited to this family gathering.” The comments started flashing. “The vicious female villainess has finally appeared. The protagonist is doomed now. Serves her right, who told her to come back for a reunion!” “The villainess is Old Man Thorne’s beloved granddaughter, raised to be the heir. If she didn’t have some tricks up her sleeve, she wouldn’t have gotten to this position.” The woman before me had arrogant brows. I spoke calmly. “I’m here for a family reunion.” Emily Thorne crossed her arms, letting out a mocking laugh. “Another one here for a reunion. Tell me, which of the Thorne family’s illegitimate daughters are you?” At that, I straightened my back, my voice firm and clear. “I am your great-aunt.” Emily froze, then looked utterly speechless, as if she’d met a madwoman. The hall immediately erupted in laughter. “I’ve seen people claiming to be fathers, mothers, but it’s the first time I’ve seen someone claiming to be a granddaughter.” “If she really were the great-aunt, then Leo Thorne, who broke her only portrait, would be strangled by now.” I followed the mocking voices, spotting an out-of-place young man sitting in a corner. He had delicate features, his clothes stained with red wine, looking quite disheveled. He stared at me fixedly, as if he’d seen something horrifying, his gaze filled with disbelief. “It’s really… Great-Aunt…” Upon hearing this, the group of people who had been mocking me maliciously patted his face, laughing uncontrollably. “A great-aunt would have to be seventy or eighty years old. She’s just a young girl, looks even younger than Emily. You really believe she’s your great-aunt? So stupid and foolish, you’re not even fit to compete with Emily for heir!” “Exactly, he’s cursed. Born to an unlucky fate, his birth killed his mom, then he shattered Great-Aunt’s portrait, making the Old Man so angry he almost didn’t make it out of the hospital. You should just quietly shut up and stay in your room, understand?!” “Alright, just hit him, but don’t mention Great-Aunt’s portrait. That’s Grandpa’s sore spot.” With that, a few of them moved to pour wine on him again. My temper flared. “Stop it!” My sharp command startled them, making them nearly drop their drinks. Emily coldly glanced at me. “Why are you still here? Someone throw her out. If Grandpa sees such a thing, he’ll get angry.” My eyes darkened. Just as a few people were about to act, the main door was suddenly pushed open, and Old Man Thorne entered, escorted by bodyguards. Everyone immediately fell silent, watching Old Man Thorne take the main seat. I gazed at him blankly. Fifty years had passed; my brother’s hair had turned white, and time had etched its lines onto his face. Seeing those weathered yet familiar eyes, I instinctively called out his name. “Jonathan Thorne…” Old Man Thorne’s body stiffened. He slowly raised his eyelids, looking at me. The pop-up comments exploded. “Holy cow, the protagonist is too bold! Daring to call Old Man Thorne by his first name, does she have a death wish?” “Look at these people, looking like they’ve seen a ghost, it’s hilarious! Now there’s a show, the protagonist is in for it!” Everyone stirred, looking at me with schadenfreude. Emily’s face grew darker and darker. She said angrily. “This is an outrage! Security, immediately throw this raving lunatic out!” Several security guards rushed forward to restrain me. I ripped off the ancestral jade pendant from my neck and held it high. “I am your great-aunt. I’d like to see who dares to touch me!” At this, everyone gasped. “This, this is the Thorne family heirloom from their registry. Could she really be the great-aunt?” “You’ve got to be kidding me. Is your great-aunt twenty years old?” “But I heard Old Man Thorne say that Great-Aunt participated in a secret experiment back then. Could the result of this experiment be eternal youth?” Hearing this, a flicker of panic crossed Emily’s eyes. She hastily stepped forward and intimately linked her arm with Old Man Thorne’s. “Grandpa, even a jade pendant can be faked. She’s just a lunatic, please don’t believe her nonsense.” The atmosphere in the hall tensed. Old Man Thorne leaned on his cane, looking at me for a long time, then slowly spoke. “Bring the jade pendant here, let me have a good look.” Just as I was about to hand over the jade pendant, Damian Miller suddenly burst through the door, snatched the pendant from my hand, and smashed it to the ground. “Jessica, stop deceiving yourself. The Thorne family is not somewhere you can aspire to!” 2 When I came to my senses, the jade pendant was shattered into pieces. My head buzzed instantly. My hand moved faster than my brain, delivering a slap to his face first. “Damian Miller, if you’re sick, go see a doctor. Why are you smashing my stuff?!” Damian took the slap but didn’t resist, only giving me a deep look before bowing to everyone and apologizing. “Please excuse us, everyone. She’s my girlfriend, and that jade pendant was a fake she bought online for nine ninety-nine!” “She has delusional disorder; she always fantasizes about being rich. This is her medical record. Every word I say is true. I hope everyone won’t blame her.” The medical record was passed around, eliciting murmurs of sympathy and scorn. “She’s truly gone mad with poverty, dreaming of getting rich by claiming kinship. But her demeanor just now was so convincing, even I was almost fooled.” “Sure enough, she’s mentally ill. Daring to try and scam the Thorne family. Only Old Man Thorne is kind-hearted; with another powerful family, the grass on her grave would be three feet high by now.” The medical record was handed to Old Man Thorne. His face darkened bit by bit. He waved his hand helplessly. “Alright, take her away. Our Thorne family won’t trouble a patient.” Emily secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a triumphant smile playing on her lips. “Didn’t you hear Grandpa dismissing her? Security, hurry up and throw her out!” Several security guards moved to act again. Damian shielded me from them, reaching out to me, pleading. “Jessica, high society isn’t a place for us to get involved in. I just want to live a good life with you. Come with me quickly!” The pop-up comments exploded instantly. “Ahhh, the male lead loves her so much! He risks his own safety to take her away, I’m crying!” “Protagonist, don’t be ungrateful! Only by following the male lead can you survive!” Everyone’s gazes fell on me, filled with mockery. I understood. Damian intended to use this method to force me to leave, ensuring Emily became the heir. I slapped his hand away and spoke to Old Man Thorne. “Since no one believes me, I request scientific examination – a DNA test.” After I woke up, I frantically searched for my family. During that time, I had already learned about new methods of family reunion. DNA could help me confirm kinship; I wouldn’t let anyone manipulate me. Everyone was stunned. “What’s going on? She actually dares to do a DNA test? Could she really be the great-aunt?” Emily’s smile froze, her expression turning a bit panicked. “You’re just trying to stall. Why should we listen to you?” “Enough.” Old Man Thorne rapped his cane heavily twice on the floor, and everyone immediately fell silent. “Emily, go find a doctor to conduct a DNA test for her.” Emily bit her lower lip, unwilling but not daring to argue. “Yes, Grandpa, I’ll go right away.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “415100”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

1 Five years ago, the government launched the Landmark Project, to be led by my parents, both star architects. On the day the building finished, it collapsed, burying them. The Blackwell family’s reputation was ruined overnight. Relatives and friends who’d once been close turned me away coldly. In my despair, my fiancé Daniel Bloom stood by me. He arranged their funeral and married me as promised. For five years, I dedicated myself to design contests to restore my family’s honor, only to fail on my 99th attempt. With little money left, I bought roses to surprise him, but overheard him talking to a friend. His friend mocked my repeated failures and mentioned Audrey Spano, Daniel’s real love, returning soon. They said Daniel had only married me because he couldn’t be with Audrey then, and now her success made it all worthwhile. I crushed the roses in tears, realizing my supposed salvation was just a stepping stone for his true love. Fine, Daniel. I’ll give you what you want. … “But—” Daniel cut off his friend directly. “Even if I hadn’t married Phoebe, the Bloom family wouldn’t have allowed me to be with Audrey. Since that was the case, I could only help her, lift her from being a lowly employee. As for Phoebe… marrying her was the greatest return I could offer her.” His friend’s indignant voice followed immediately, “You sent her so many proposals, and she rejected them all, but then she specifically asked for Phoebe’s blueprints? She was completely intentional! She’s sabotaging your relationship with Phoebe!” “If this ever comes out, you and Phoebe can never go back. She might even hate you, considering she only has you.” Daniel abruptly stood up, taking a sip of his drink. “I know all that. But Audrey only has me too. I can’t just stand by and watch her suffer alone overseas. Once I get these blueprints, everything will be over. And you, don’t bring it up again.” “Not talking about it doesn’t make it disappear, does it? Phoebe buried herself in the studio for five years, and you expect her to watch the thief of her hard work bask in glory while she’s scorned by everyone? She’s human, you can’t just—” Daniel slammed his glass down, shattering it in frustration. “Enough! It’s only five years, not a lifetime.” “Worst case, after all this, I’ll get her an award, let her be the Blackwell heiress again!” “Oh, why go through all this? Phoebe’s talent doesn’t need your help; she shouldn’t have been dragged into it. The Bloom family has so much… Don’t get mad, I won’t say another word. You do whatever you want.” The voices inside gradually faded into silence. I slid down the wall to the floor. Five years ago, after my parents’ sudden death, the Blackwell company faced collapse. All I knew was drawing, and I was completely lost. It was Daniel who pulled me back from the edge, from the rooftop, and we rushed to get married. As the son-in-law of the Blackwells, he handled everything. Later, when the Bloom family found out, they pressured him to divorce me. He knelt and begged Grandfather Bloom for time, believing I could restore the Blackwell name. He even helped me gather information on various competitions, all to help me win awards. That’s why, despite 99 consecutive failures, I never gave up, all because of Daniel’s faith in me. But all of it, it was just him paving the way for Audrey. Wiping away my tears, I staggered to my feet, handed the crushed roses to a staff member, and walked away. With every step, a piece of my love for Daniel disintegrated. Until my feet were blistered and bleeding, I silently opened his most treasured possession: his diary. All love vanished completely. The moment the book opened, my eyes fell upon a hand-drawn portrait. The lines were blurred, clearly worn from constant touching. Every page of the diary held a photo of Audrey, arranged chronologically. The very first picture was from the day Daniel and I got married. So, for five years, every time he said he was writing in his diary to record our beautiful moments, he was actually just reminiscing about Audrey. Beneath the diary was a locked box. I entered Audrey’s birthday and it clicked open. There were no precious items inside, only the love letters Audrey had written to him. From the first time I failed a competition, every time he got my design, she would write Daniel a love letter. They were filled with the longing and devotion shared between the two of them. Even though I already knew our relationship was just a lie orchestrated by Daniel, my heart felt like it was ripped in two. After each of my failures, Daniel would always invite experts to analyze my problems and offer guidance. I had believed in his affection because of this, willingly falling deeper. But who knew, everything he did was merely to facilitate passing my blueprints to Audrey. Flipping to the very end, there was a letter Daniel hadn’t mailed. My hands trembled as I opened it. After reading it, tears streamed from my eyes uncontrollably. Daniel planned to propose to Audrey after getting my final blueprint. Even if he couldn’t give her a proper title, he would give her a wedding. As for me, because my parents had passed away, Daniel had said it wasn’t appropriate to celebrate, so I received nothing but that marriage certificate. I scoffed, wiping the tears from my face, and used my phone to photograph all these letters. They were not only symbols of Daniel’s betrayal but also proof of Audrey’s theft of my awards. Having done all this, I silently restored everything to its original state. Closing the bedroom door, I made a call. “Miss Blackwell, you agree?” “Yes, I agree to authorize all my designs to you. But you must help me with one thing!” I had just hung up when Daniel’s familiar voice came from behind me. “Phoebe, who were you just on the phone with? What do you need help with?” I quickly put away my phone, calmly replying, “Nothing, just an employee from the studio. She asked for some help with something.” “Do you like the flowers I sent? I’ll arrange them.” Hearing this, Daniel didn’t ask further. He handed me the roses, his fingers brushing against my palm as I arranged them. “Sweetheart, let’s have a baby?” My hand, holding the rose, suddenly froze. He took the stem from my hand and looked directly into my eyes. “Didn’t you go to the orphanage and play with the kids last time?” “I didn’t like children before, but seeing you that day, I suddenly didn’t hate them anymore.” “We’ll have two children, one like you, one like me. What do you say?” I looked at his hopeful expression, unconsciously biting my lip. He was lying to me again. For the past five years, he had kept me hanging with one promise after another. Was he going to use a child as leverage now? But the truth was, the day after we got our marriage license, I’d ensured I would never have children. It was because Daniel had said he was terrified of pregnancy and children; his mother had died in childbirth. He loved me, and I couldn’t bear to hurt him, so I had voluntarily taken the sterilization potion. He had forgotten all these things. “Sweetheart, what do you say?” His question broke my reverie. Afraid he would notice, I could only hug him back, my gaze turning increasingly cold. He, however, thought I was overcome with emotion, and quickly ran off to instruct the staff to prepare a candlelight dinner, not forgetting to glance back at me suggestively. I watched his retreating figure and quietly said, “Daniel Bloom, you saved my life, but you lied to me for five years. That’s enough to pay off the debt.” After that, I sent another message to that number. After my parents’ death, the Blackwell family had long faded from the city’s elite circles. Revealing Audrey now, I had no chance of success. The only opportunity was her awards ceremony three days later. Then, everything would end. 2 The next day, when I woke up, Daniel was already gone. I hastily drafted a divorce agreement and went to Bloom Corp, only to be stopped at the reception. Daniel’s phone went straight to voicemail. In desperation, I called his assistant. “Miss Blackwell, my apologies. The receptionist is new; she doesn’t recognize you. I’ll reprimand her later. Please, go on in.” I didn’t intend to argue with a junior employee, but before I’d gone far, I heard gasps and whispers behind me. “Is that really Mr. Bloom’s wife? But I just saw Mr. Bloom personally come down and pick up someone else, arm in arm. I thought she was his wife.” “Assistant Cole, it’s not my fault! She’s dressed so shabbily, who could tell?” “Of course, she’s shabby. Five years ago, her family was already struggling in this city. Now she’s entirely dependent on Mr. Bloom – a total parasite. I really don’t know what Mr. Bloom saw in her.” “The woman who just went in is different. Have you been to Pearl Harbor in the City of A? She designed it herself. It’s an indispensable tourist attraction now, and the government even awarded her a prize. Only someone like that deserves our Mr. Bloom!” I clenched my fists tighter, ignoring them. I walked straight to Daniel’s office door. Just as I was about to knock, the voices from inside made me freeze. “Audrey, how have you been these past few years?” “Haven’t you read all the letters I’ve written you? Many men have been around me over the years, but I’ve only ever loved one person, always. It’s just a pity he’s married. I wonder if I’ll ever have a chance.” Daniel’s eyes welled up with tears, and he looked up in shock. “You will, you definitely will.” “Daniel, thank you. If you hadn’t been willing to help me back then, how could I have achieved all this on my own?” “Before the celebration party, I still shouldn’t meet Phoebe. She already misunderstood me last time. After all, I used to be an employee of the Blackwell family. Now our positions are reversed; I’m afraid she’ll find it even harder to accept.” A cold smirk played on my lips. How could it be a misunderstanding? When I failed my first competition, I had secretly investigated. I found that her submitted work was strikingly similar to my design. I reported her through official channels, demanding she show her sources, but the police arrested me for defamation. Everyone said I couldn’t accept my failure and was maliciously slandering others. Only Daniel had stepped forward to mediate for me, believing me unconditionally, as always. But the truth was, he had handed over everything of mine to her. Through the crack in the door, Daniel wore a bitter expression. He took a paper from his desk and handed it to Audrey. “This is Phoebe’s latest design. With it, you’ll establish a foothold in this country after the celebration party in three days. Consider it a welcome-back gift.” Audrey accepted it with a smile, her eyes filled with triumph. Seeing this, I suddenly didn’t want to let them off the hook. I crumpled the divorce agreement in my hand and turned to leave. “Miss Blackwell, are you finished with Mr. Bloom already? So soon?” The assistant’s words made Daniel in the office whip his head around. His eyes were tense as he quickly walked towards me. “Phoebe, why are you here? Is something wrong?” “Do you remember Audrey? She came to the Bloom family for help back then, and you took her in. She just returned and was discussing a collaboration with me. She even said she wanted to invite us, as a couple, to dinner to thank us personally.” Daniel subtly signaled to Audrey, who placed the documents behind her back and immediately chimed in with a smile, “Yes, Phoebe, I wonder if I’d have that honor!” Looking at her outstretched hand, it was clearly the demeanor of a successful person, high and mighty. It was as if our roles had been reversed, and I was the lowly employee begging for shelter. I swallowed my unspoken thoughts and calmly replied, “No need.” Suddenly, my phone buzzed with a message. Before I could even check it, Daniel spoke. “Phoebe, if you have something to do, go ahead. I still have some work matters to discuss with Audrey. I’ll see you home tonight.” Seeing how eager he was to rush me away, I understood everything. “You two carry on. I’ll see you tonight.” When I got home, I had just finished packing all my belongings when people from an auction house arrived at the Bloom residence. Daniel had successfully bid on an item a week ago, but he had given a wrong digit in his phone number, so they had tracked me down instead. When signing to receive it, the person opened the box for verification. Inside lay a pair of exquisite matching rings. I froze for a moment, looking at the simple, almost crude wedding ring on my own finger, my heart turning cold. Daniel’s call came as expected. “Phoebe, I won a piece of jewelry at auction. It’s for a client. My phone died earlier; can you take it home for me? I’ll have Assistant Cole pick it up.” “Also, don’t overthink what happened today. Audrey and you are both in the architectural field. I spent a lot of effort convincing her to give you some advice.” “Didn’t you always want my dad to approve of you? Now’s the best chance.” Listening to his words, so seemingly considerate of me, I suddenly felt like laughing. To elevate Audrey, he didn’t hesitate to abandon his upbringing and become a thief. Now that his goals were within reach, why bother using the Bloom family’s approval to manipulate me? “I know you’re doing this for my good. Take care of yourself; I’ll wait for your news.” Hearing my words, his tone relaxed. I hung up and put the box away. Daniel, you’ve lied to me so many times. I’ll only lie to you once.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “415099”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I opened my eyes, shocked to find myself back at the start of the nightmare—the campus sweetheart was pulling out her card. This time, I didn’t let her speak. I took out my own card and announced, “It’s on me.” No one knew that every “generous” swipe of hers—praised by all for her beauty and kindness—ended up charged to me. My part‑time earnings vanished under her “charity,” and my physics competition scholarship was wiped out when she “treated the class.” When I finally confronted her, the whole class accused me of slandering her out of jealousy. Only my boyfriend claimed to believe me, promising to help stop it—but my balance kept falling. Before finals, she escalated, using a million dollars I’d gathered for my mother’s surgery to treat everyone. The money drained instantly; my mother died untreated, and I collapsed, my account in the red. In my last moments, I saw a video: my boyfriend kissing the campus sweetheart, saying, “Maeve is too jealous. I only pretended to believe her—I was afraid she’d harm someone innocent like you.” 1 “Crystal, this sweltering summer is full of ‘ice cream assassins,’ and you’re actually willing to treat the whole class to whatever they want. Truly the campus sweetheart, beautiful and kind-hearted.” My boyfriend, Rory,’s booming voice was accompanied by a relentless stream of deduction alerts on my phone. The suffocating feeling of being ‘charged to death’ in my previous life still clung to me. Rory nudged me, snapping me back to reality. “Maeve, I got you the cheapest ice cream. You’re not used to the good stuff, so buying expensive ones would be a waste. Save Crystal some money.” Crystal Quinn smiled, saying not to worry about it, and lightly patted Rory’s shoulder. Rory’s face glowed with delight. He declared Crystal generous, unlike me, who was “stingy and calculating to the bone.” My phone continued to vibrate. I opened it to see deduction alerts ranging from three to thirty dollars. My fifteen hundred dollars in wages from my part-time job had already dwindled to a thousand in just a short while, and the deductions kept coming. The entire class clustered around Crystal, leaving me squeezed into a corner. The memory of my mother’s suffering and death ignited a furious blaze within me. I pulled out my phone and publicly challenged Crystal. “Why is it that you’re treating, but it’s draining my account?” Crystal shook her head in feigned confusion. The students paused for a moment, then burst into snickers. “Maeve, have you lost your mind? Would a rich girl like Crystal really care about your money? Everyone knows you’re the stingiest in class, always just eating plain bread and pickles. You’d actually treat everyone to ice cream?” I was about to pull out my phone to show proof. Rory snatched it from my hand, apologizing to the entire class on my behalf. “Maeve’s family isn’t well-off, so it’s understandable she’s a bit petty and jealous. She just lost control for a moment. Please don’t hold it against her.” After speaking, Rory forcefully dragged me out of the supermarket, as if terrified I’d say another word and embarrass him. His grip was so strong that my wrist turned purple and bruised, the pain rendering me speechless. It had been the same in my previous life. Before the class gathering, Rory had branded me as jealous, separating me from the group. I became an outcast in the eyes of my classmates; no one believed me anymore. This time, I couldn’t repeat that mistake. I bit down on Rory’s wrist. He cried out in pain and loosened his grip. I seized the opportunity to snatch back my phone. He still tried to stop me from going back inside. “Maeve, your family background isn’t great, you don’t have spare cash. Your Valentine’s Day gift to me was just a regular belt and some clothes, I’m not holding that against you.” “Crystal was raised a pampered young lady. I won’t allow you to slander an innocent, kind person out of jealousy.” I tightened my grip on the phone. If I exposed Crystal immediately, everything would simply repeat itself. I smiled. “Aren’t we going to dinner soon? The campus sweetheart is so kind, I can’t always take advantage of others.” “Rory, why are you so eager to drag me out? Don’t you want me to treat my classmates to dinner? I’m telling you, you can’t be so petty! Today, my treat!” The students emerging from the supermarket overheard my last sentence. 2 In my previous life, after Rory dragged me away, Crystal used my account to treat everyone to dinner. My money was gone, and I was stuck with a reputation for being poor and petty. She used my money to become the school’s renowned rich girl. Later, no matter how hard I tried to stop it, the money in my account continued to drain away. My family was of modest means, and my mother’s health was poor. To raise money for her medical expenses, I worked four part-time jobs, not even having time to eat. Yet, my phone kept receiving high-value bills. I went to the police station to report it, but they couldn’t find anything. Everyone called me crazy. Only Rory stayed by my side, and I thought he believed me. But on the day I died, I learned that he was just afraid that I, this ‘madwoman,’ would harm his goddess. This time, I had to find a way to break the curse. As soon as we arrived at the restaurant, I rushed in first, immediately putting down all eight hundred dollars. If she swiped my card, I would be charged. But if I swiped my card, would she be charged instead? Anyway, I couldn’t hold onto this money, so trying wouldn’t hurt. I thought Crystal would fear me stealing her moment to shine and rush over to swipe her card. But she showed no urgency, walking slowly, with utmost grace. “Maeve, your family isn’t well-off, you probably haven’t eaten at a proper restaurant, so you might not know the prices.” “The minimum spend here is three thousand. Your eight hundred is nowhere near enough.” Only then did I notice the front desk attendant’s embarrassed expression. Laughter of mockery erupted among the classmates. Rory’s face darkened, and he was about to drag me away again. Crystal was moments from swiping her card. Anxiously, I blurted out, “Three thousand, I’ll pay. You all go ahead and order.” An impatient flicker crossed Rory’s eyes. “Maeve, no one looks down on you for your humble background. Why are you putting on a show, trying to outshine Crystal, the rich girl? I already saw you only have a thousand left in your account.” The students’ gazes at me became even more scornful. “Crystal treats because her family is rich. Maeve can barely afford her own meals, yet she’s putting on airs, acting like we’re desperate to spend her money.” No matter what, I absolutely couldn’t let Crystal swipe her card today. Because once my balance was insufficient, she would be swiping my life. My mother’s hopes were still on me. My life was precious. As we stood in confrontation, I received notification of my physics competition scholarship. A full thirty thousand dollars. I curved my lips into a smile. “Rory, I’m not treating for the attention. I truly see my classmates as family, and I want to share the joy of receiving my physics scholarship.” I shook my phone, letting the attendant swipe four thousand dollars. I intently watched Crystal’s expression, wanting to confirm if such a large sum I swiped would also demand her life. 3 I learned after I died that Crystal Quinn’s family was of modest means, not rich at all. If she hadn’t been draining my account, she wouldn’t have been able to maintain her rich-girl persona. Crystal’s face indeed looked a little worse, but her body showed no discomfort. It was only as she brushed past me that I heard her say, “Maeve, you’re finished.” Her phone screen was blank; the money I swiped wasn’t going to her account at all. My surprise met her triumph. After the students saw that I really was treating, their attitude towards me improved considerably. “We misunderstood you before; we thought you were just jealous of the campus sweetheart. Never thought you considered us all friends.” “Rory, you’ve got a girlfriend like Maeve, who knows when to spend and when to save. You should really cherish her.” Rory puffed up with the praise. I had initially been drawn to him because he, like me, knew how to save money, thinking I’d found a kindred spirit. Turns out he was just a vain, gold-digging parasite. I deliberately sat further away from him, but he insisted on sticking close. He even wanted to go on a date with me alone after dinner. Crystal saw the students fawning over me and ignoring her, and her face fell. “Rory, your girlfriend is really cunning. She looks so ordinary, yet she can spend money like water. You’re going to have a tough time with her.” Rory, uncharacteristically, only gave Crystal a perfunctory reply before insisting on walking me back to my dorm. I knew it wasn’t because he had changed and suddenly liked me, but because he saw the tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship money I had just received. Back in my dorm, my thoughts were still a jumbled mess. Even if I had passed this hurdle and avoided being ostracized by my classmates, I still hadn’t found a way to break Crystal’s curse. She could still drain my account, even my life, at any moment. Luckily, I had just received thirty thousand dollars, so Crystal shouldn’t be able to drain it all that quickly. Thinking this, I grabbed my basin to go wash up. As soon as I stood up, a choking sensation gripped my neck. My legs gave out, and I knelt directly to the floor. I instinctively glanced at my phone. The balance was zero! Before my roommate could help me up, Crystal rushed in. She told my roommates to rest and insisted on taking me to the hospital alone. I wanted to refuse, but the choking in my neck made me unable to utter a word. My roommates all thought Crystal was kind, and even the nurses at the hospital said I was lucky to have such a beautiful and kind friend. Hearing these words, my heart was filled only with resentment. Rory came over and immediately started cursing at me. “The doctor said there’s nothing wrong with you. What kind of act are you putting on? Do you know how much it costs to come to the hospital?” He stared at the bill, his brows furrowed in deep lines. He clearly didn’t want to pay for me, so by insisting I was faking it, he could shamelessly demand money from me. Crystal handed him her card. “We’re all in the same class; I can’t just stand by. Use my card.” I reached out to stop them, but I couldn’t. Rory glared at me. “It’s not your money, why are you getting so worked up? Poor people cause so much trouble.” Once again, it was just Crystal and me in the hospital room. She whispered in my ear, “Who told you to try and steal my thunder? This is your punishment. Maeve, your family is just too poor. I just bought washing machines for all the dorms in the class and paid a thousand for electricity for each dorm. Is that enough to drain your life?” “Don’t worry, as long as your lifespan isn’t completely drained, this discomfort is only temporary.” After she finished speaking, the choking sensation in my neck indeed subsided. I grabbed her collar. “What the hell is going on?” Crystal curled her lips. “I thought you’d beg me to let you go first.” She pushed my hand away, disdainfully getting up. “Maeve, you’re destined to be my stepping stone in this life. Once you die in disgrace, everything you have will be mine.” Crystal left the room, leaving me utterly confused. After I died, I would be useless. What else could she possibly get from me? 4 My balance was zero, and my body grew weaker and weaker. The speed at which I earned money couldn’t keep up with the rate at which Crystal spent it. I wished I could just kill Crystal, but with my current physical condition, I would be counter-killed by her before I could even harm her a bit. As I was frowning in worry, I saw the registration for the closed English competition. During the confinement period, all students would be together, so as long as she couldn’t get out, she couldn’t spend money. And if I could win the prize money, I could make up for the previous losses. I thought everything was foolproof, but I hadn’t expected Crystal to swipe her card to buy an Hermes Birkin bag before entering the enclosed building. My life force plummeted rapidly. The moment I saw her in the classroom, I directly pressed the tip of my pen against her throat. If I was destined to never escape this curse in this life, I would rather die with her. But before I could apply pressure with the pen, someone hit me from behind. When I opened my eyes again, I found myself tied to a chair by Rory. “Maeve, you’re bullying Crystal right in front of everyone. Who knows how you bully other classmates behind their backs? As your boyfriend, I can’t just stand by and watch!” He spoke with righteous indignation. He had clearly sneaked a look at my phone, knew my account was empty, and just wanted to show off in front of the ‘rich girl.’ I looked at the students’ condemning gazes, my heart sinking. I told them the truth about my life being drained, but no one believed me. Rory sneered. “You’re so jealous you’ve lost your mind, aren’t you? Would a rich young lady care about your paltry savings?” “You said Crystal is draining your life, right? Then let’s try it now. If you die, I’ll pay you back with my life.” He pulled out a piece of paper and had Crystal write him an IOU for ten thousand. Rory reassured Crystal, with so many people watching, he would never demand the money from her. Crystal, nestled against Rory’s shoulder like a delicate bird, said tearfully, “If this money can prove my innocence, I don’t mind giving everyone ten thousand each. My family truly doesn’t lack this small amount.” She signed IOUs for the classmates present, one by one, and then transferred the bills. The choking sensation in my neck grew stronger and stronger; I could feel my life rapidly draining away. Later, I even started convulsing. The entire classroom fell silent. I thought they finally believed me. To my surprise, Rory scoffed, “You’re acting so well, why don’t you go perform on stage?” The students all shook their heads. “If what Maeve said was true, I’d never find a girlfriend in my life. Lying so outrageously, she’s shameless.” Everyone was blaming me. I opened my eyes only to see their fingers almost poking my face. A thought suddenly flashed through my mind. So that’s it. I finally knew the whole truth. In this life, Crystal Quinn wouldn’t dare to step on me to climb higher again. After the choking subsided, I endured the discomfort and completed the English competition exam. With the scholarship money, I bought a train ticket home. As I left, I saw a notice in the class group chat. “Crystal is taking everyone to an auction the day after tomorrow to broaden our horizons. She’ll be at the Vermilion Perch, treating the entire class to a sky lantern.” In my previous life, I died in that “sky lantern” event. Even the surgery money I’d raised for my mom by selling our house wasn’t saved. This event was supposed to be before the end of the semester, but this time it was much earlier. Crystal was really eager to send me to my death. Unfortunately, this time, it could only be her digging her own grave. As soon as I got on the car, I received a message from Crystal. “If you kneel before me now and kowtow three times, and then lick my feet in public, I might consider letting you off the hook, Academic Maeve.” I smiled faintly, not replying. I spent two days looking after my mother in the hospital. Just as I was about to get water, I received a call from Rory. He was furious, demanding to know, “Maeve, what strange illness did you infect Crystal with? Why is she convulsing just like you did that day?” I chuckled coldly, “Because…”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “415098”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I rarely went back to my hometown during vacation, but after dinner, my dad ordered me to wash the dishes. I froze. “Don’t we have a housekeeper?” My mom frowned. “Laura works so hard taking care of us every day. Since you’re back, you should let her rest. You should do everything.” But I couldn’t understand. “I’m paying her to be our housekeeper—isn’t that what she’s here for? Why should I pay money and still do the work myself?” This comment made the housekeeper cry and angered my parents. My mom frowned. “What good are you? I barely see you once a year. Laura’s more thoughtful than you—at least she’s here every single day.” My dad pointed at my nose. “Don’t bother coming back anymore. From now on, Laura is our real daughter! You can go do whatever you want!” I laughed bitterly. I was busy with work, but I sent home plenty of money every month and even hired an expensive housekeeper. Yet in the end, they treated the housekeeper like their daughter. If that’s how it is, I won’t be paying the housekeeper’s salary anymore!

The company gave us time off, so I went home early. I wanted to surprise my parents, but when I got to the house, my key wouldn’t open the door. I tried several times, but the key still wouldn’t turn. That’s when I realized—they’d changed the locks. With no other choice, I pulled out my phone and called my mom. It rang several times before she picked up. I could hear the bustling sounds of shopping in the background, along with my mom’s voice: “Hello, Charlotte? Why are you calling all of a sudden?” “Mom, I’m home, standing outside. Why was the lock changed? I can’t get in.” My mom paused for a few seconds before answering slowly, “Oh, you’re back? Your dad, Laura, and I are out shopping. Just wait by the door for a bit—we’ll be back soon.” Before I could say anything else, she hung up. I stood in the hallway with my suitcase, waiting for a full hour. Finally, I heard footsteps in the corridor. I looked up and saw my parents walking ahead with the housekeeper Laura squeezed between them. Her right hand was linked affectionately with my mom’s arm, and her left hand carried shopping bags for my dad. The three of them were laughing and chatting like a family of three. When they reached the door and saw me standing there, none of them looked surprised. My dad just glanced at me indifferently, and my mom only said casually, “Oh, you’re back.” Laura, on the other hand, immediately let go of my mom’s hand. A warm smile spread across her face as she hurried toward me. “Charlotte, you’re home! Why didn’t you tell us in advance? We could have picked you up.” I forced a smile and nodded slightly, my eyes falling on the door lock. “When was the lock changed? Why didn’t anyone tell me?” Laura quickly explained, “It was changed a month ago. The old lock was getting stuck—it wasn’t very safe.” “I was worried about Uncle and Auntie since they’re getting older, so I had someone install a new one. I didn’t have time to tell you. Please don’t mind, Charlotte.” Before I could respond, my dad snorted coldly and pushed open the door, his tone dripping with dissatisfaction. “Someone who couldn’t even come home for Christmas—what difference does changing the lock make to you?” I knew my dad was still upset that I hadn’t come home for Christmas. He was holding a grudge. I didn’t want to start a fight the moment I got back, so I didn’t respond and just followed them inside. After entering, I instinctively went to the shoe cabinet to get my slippers, but I saw my pair of fleece slippers on Laura’s feet. Laura noticed my gaze and awkwardly pulled out a pair of disposable slippers from the bottom of the cabinet, handing them to me. “Charlotte, I’m sorry, I put on the wrong ones. Wear these for now.” I looked at the thin disposable slippers, then at my fleece slippers on Laura’s feet. A strange feeling rose in my chest, but I didn’t say anything. I silently changed into the disposable slippers. After dinner, I’d just sat down to rest and recover from the long journey when my dad pointed at the dining table. “Go wash the dishes.” I stood there, stunned, and instinctively replied, “Don’t we have a housekeeper?” My mom immediately frowned, put down her water glass, and gave me a stern look. “Laura works so hard taking care of us—cooking, cleaning, exhausting herself all day long. Now that you’re back, let her rest. What’s wrong with you washing some dishes?” “I’m exhausted from work too,” I said, looking at them in confusion. “I work overtime every day. I finally got a break and came home to rest, and you want me to do chores?” “Besides, I’m paying her good money to be here—isn’t this what she’s supposed to do? Why should I pay and still do the work myself?” Laura stood to the side, head lowered, looking like she’d been wronged. My dad slammed his hand on the table, his face darkening as he shouted at me, “Money, money, money—all you care about is money! Is there anything in your eyes besides money? I think you’d rather spend time with your money and your job than with your parents!” “You didn’t come home for Christmas, you barely visit, and now when you’re finally here, all you talk about is money. You might as well just live with your money and your job—why even bother coming back!” My mom sighed beside him, disappointment filling her eyes. “Exactly. After you started working, you rarely come home. I barely see you once a year. Laura’s the one who takes care of everything around here.” “When we’re feeling unwell, Laura’s the one who runs around getting medicine, bringing us water, taking care of us.” “And you? As our daughter, do you even care about us?”

As her words fell, Laura gently stepped forward, reached out to hold my mom’s hand, and softly consoled her. “Don’t be angry. Charlotte’s a senior manager now—she’s busy with work. It’s not that she doesn’t want to come home.” Hearing them talk like this made me so angry I wanted to laugh. I don’t care about them? I send them ten thousand dollars a month for living expenses. Worried they’d be too frugal to spend it, I hired a high-priced housekeeper to take care of their meals and daily needs. I work myself to death out there so they can live comfortably. How did I become worse than a paid housekeeper in their eyes? I clenched my fists, suppressing my anger. “Mom, Dad, that’s not fair.” “You say I don’t care about you? That I only focus on work and money?” “Before, whenever I had free time, I came home. You complained I was wasting money, said I looked foolish always coming back like a child who never grew up, told me to stop running home all the time. I listened.” “But I’ve never missed calling or video chatting, have I? I’ve never missed sending your monthly living expenses, have I? I hired Laura at a high salary specifically to take care of you. Doesn’t any of that count in your eyes?” My dad’s face immediately darkened. “But you didn’t even come home for Christmas—is that acceptable? You weren’t here for a family reunion. What good is money? Your mom and I have enough—we don’t need your money.” “Don’t be upset,” Laura quickly stepped forward, gently tugging on my dad’s arm with an obedient smile. “Charlotte has it tough working in New York. Senior managers are so busy—she can’t help it. I’m sure she still thinks about you in her heart.” But my dad only got angrier after hearing that. “Senior manager? So what? Why does a girl need to work so hard? Eventually, she’ll get married and return to family life anyway. What’s the point of climbing so high?” My mom chimed in, “Charlotte, you’re not young anymore. You really should consider getting married.” “A colleague at work has a son about your age. He’s honest and dependable, works locally, and comes from a good family. Since you’re back this time, why don’t you meet him? If it works out, you can get engaged.” I didn’t even think before refusing. “I don’t want to go on blind dates, and I don’t want to get married.” “You don’t want to get married?” My dad’s face turned iron-blue. “Are you planning to spend your whole life with your job?” “Why not?” I met his gaze. “You—” My dad was so angry his chest heaved. “Your mom and I are getting old. We need someone nearby. If you go on blind dates, get married, and stay here, we’ll have someone to rely on, someone to take care of us. Why can’t you think about us?” I frowned. “Haven’t I already hired Laura to take care of you?” My dad slammed the table and issued his ultimatum. “Then if you won’t get married, quit your job and come back to take care of us. Otherwise, stop recognizing us as your parents, and we’ll make Laura our daughter instead!” I laughed in frustration. “When I graduated, I planned to find work back home so I could easily take care of you.” I looked at them calmly. “But you thought it was embarrassing for a graduate of a prestigious university to work in a small town. You said I had no ambition and forced me to go to New York.” “I’ve struggled in New York for so many years, finally getting a foothold and building my current life.” “And now, with one sentence, you want me to give it all up and quit?”

I shook my head firmly. “That’s impossible.” My dad’s brow furrowed, his voice immediately rising. “What do you mean, impossible? We raised you all these years, and when we ask you to come back, you make excuses?” “I’m not making excuses,” I explained patiently. “My job in New York is what I fought for all these years. If I just give it up, all my suffering would be for nothing.” “So you’re just going to abandon us?” My mom joined in, her face full of disapproval. “You’re our only daughter. When we’re old, who else can we rely on but you?” “I didn’t say I’d abandon you.” I took a deep breath and offered a solution. “If you want me to take care of you, fine—move to New York and live with me. That way I can work and look after you at the same time.” My dad immediately waved his hand dismissively. “Move to New York? We’ve lived in our hometown for decades. All our relatives and friends are here. We’re not moving to some unfamiliar place where we don’t know anyone.” My mom nodded along. “Exactly. You’re still renting in New York—how could that be as comfortable as home? We’re not going.” I frowned. “If you won’t go and I can’t quit, then there’s nothing I can do.” My dad’s face darkened. “Nothing you can do? I think you’ve just grown wings and don’t care about us anymore!” “Anyway, I won’t quit.” My tone was firm, without any hint of compromise. My dad opened his mouth, about to continue scolding me, when Laura quickly stepped forward, gently mediating. “Charlotte rarely comes home. Let’s talk nicely as a family instead of fighting and hurting each other.” She turned to me with a gentle smile. “Charlotte, Uncle and Auntie are just getting older and want someone to keep them company. That’s natural. Don’t be upset.” Hearing this, my dad’s expression softened slightly. He looked at Laura with instant warmth. “Laura’s so understanding, so considerate of us. Not like you—all you care about is work and money.” I was too tired to argue with them anymore. Even one more word felt exhausting. I turned and headed to my room. The moment I pushed open the door, I froze completely. My bed had unfamiliar sheets and a comforter. The desk was covered with skincare products and hair ties. The closet was full of women’s clothing—clearly someone had been living here long-term. I whipped around to look at Laura, who had followed me. “Don’t you have your own room? Why are you living in mine without permission?” Laura’s eyes flickered, and she lowered her head, looking flustered. “Charlotte, I’m sorry, I…” Before she could finish, my mom spoke up to explain. “Laura’s air conditioner broke. We tried to fix it several times but couldn’t. It was cold, so I let her stay in your room.” “You never come home anyway—it would just sit empty.” The anger in my chest flared up again. “Even if I don’t stay here, this is still my room! How could you let her move in without asking me?” “How could we?” My dad suddenly roared, his face livid. “Your mom and I bought this house. We can let whoever we want live here. Forget letting Laura stay—we could kick you out if we wanted!” I was trembling with rage. Looking at my parents, who should have been so familiar, they suddenly felt like strangers. This was supposed to be my home, but I felt like an outsider. I stopped arguing, turned, and walked to the entryway, pulling my suitcase behind me. “Fine. If you want me to leave, I’ll leave.” My dad snorted coldly, his face full of disdain. “Go ahead and leave if you’re so capable. Don’t come back to this house!” My mom opened her mouth, but in the end, she only sighed and said nothing more. Laura stood to the side, anxiously speaking up. “Charlotte, don’t be angry. It’s all my fault. I’ll move out right now…” I didn’t want to hear her talk. I pulled my suitcase and walked out the door without looking back. I dragged the heavy case down the stairs, step by step, and finally took a cab to a nearby hotel.

The next day at noon, my cousin Muriel called. “Charlotte, we’re visiting the ancestors’ graves today. You’re back, right? Hurry over—everyone’s almost here.” “Got it, I’m on my way.” After hanging up, I quickly got ready and headed to the cemetery. When I arrived, I could see from a distance that all the relatives had gathered. My parents were there too. But as I got closer, I stopped in my tracks—Laura was there too, standing beside my mom. Muriel saw me first and waved. “Charlotte, over here.” I walked over and asked quietly, “Why is she here?” Muriel sighed. “Your parents brought her.” After the ancestral rites were finished, everyone went to a pre-booked restaurant for a meal. The whole extended family sat around a large table. During the meal, my mom said: “Since all the relatives are here today, Casseres and I have something to announce.” My dad took over, looking at everyone. “We’re planning to officially adopt Laura as our daughter.” As soon as those words came out, the table fell silent. Relatives exchanged glances. My mom continued, “Laura is truly thoughtful. She’s with us every day, serving us tea and water, cooking and cleaning. She’s more attentive than Charlotte.” After my mom spoke, relatives instinctively looked at me. I held my knife and fork but said nothing. My dad glanced at me, his tone growing heavy. “Unlike some people who can’t be seen all year long. When she finally comes home, all she talks about is money. Not thoughtful at all.” “We asked her to quit and come back to take care of us—she refused. We asked her to go on blind dates and settle down—she won’t do that either.” “Her wings have grown hard. She doesn’t care whether we live or die anymore.” Muriel quickly tried to smooth things over. “Charlotte does care about you. She really is busy with work—the pressure is intense. Don’t talk about her like that.” My mom immediately waved her hand, her expression sour. “Busy, busy, busy—all she knows is being busy! What’s the point of all that money if she can’t be here with us?” “Laura’s different. She knows when we’re cold or hot. When we’re not feeling well, she’s the one running around, buying medicine, bringing water, taking such good care of us. She’s so much more reliable.” My dad got more worked up as he spoke, his voice rising. “Since we can’t count on Charlotte, we’ll adopt someone thoughtful!” “If Laura takes care of us in our old age and when we die, we might as well leave this house to her!” The whole table was shocked. Everyone looked at each other, no one daring to speak. Some wanted to offer advice, but seeing how determined my parents were, they swallowed their words. The meal ended in a strange atmosphere. After everyone dispersed, Muriel pulled me aside, her face full of worry. “Charlotte, have your parents been brainwashed by that housekeeper? How can they say they’ll leave the house to her?” “You need to go back and talk to them properly. You can’t let them stay confused like this.” I looked at Laura in the distance, laughing and chatting with my parents, and gently shook my head. “Maybe they always wanted a caring daughter who could be with them every day and obediently listen to them.” “I can’t be that person. If they want someone else to do it, I can’t stop them.” The vacation ended quickly, and I prepared to return to New York. Before leaving, I called my dad—no answer. I called my mom—she hung up immediately. I tried several more times. All rejected. I looked at my phone and didn’t persist. I pulled my suitcase and went to the station, boarding the train back to New York. Over the next few weeks, I kept seeing my parents’ Twitter posts. Today they were eating hot pot with Laura, the three of them leaning together intimately for a photo. Tomorrow they were walking in the park together, Laura holding my mom’s arm, smiling obediently. The captions all radiated the warmth and harmony of a family of three. I scrolled through the posts without liking or commenting, pretending I hadn’t seen them. Then, a few days after another vacation ended, a call suddenly came in. It was my mom. As soon as I answered, I heard her dissatisfied voice come through directly. “Charlotte, why haven’t you sent this month’s living expenses yet? And Laura’s salary—why haven’t you paid her either?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “382835”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster

I was born in a perpetual haze, my mind often muddled and confused. Three years ago, in a daze, I brought home a drunk, handsome stranger. When he woke up, he stared at me for a moment, then suddenly said, “Let’s get married.” Too lazy to think, I nodded. For three years, I lived in a fog as a wealthy socialite. I could swipe my cards freely and live in mansions as I pleased. I had just found out I was pregnant and hadn’t had the chance to tell him when he handed me divorce papers: “I’m bankrupt. This is the last of my money. Take it and go.” Just then, several floating comments suddenly appeared before my eyes: [Whoa! Leonardo’s first love, Prescott, is back in the country!] [I bet Leonardo is faking bankruptcy just to dump Lawrence so he can win Prescott back!] [Leonardo got drunk three years ago because Prescott went abroad. Lawrence is just a substitute!] Huh? So I was just a replacement? I slowly nodded. “Oh, okay. Let’s divorce then.” The light in his eyes instantly extinguished. Looking at him, I felt like there was something I’d forgotten to mention. Whatever. I’ll tell him when I remember.

Leonardo pressed his lips tightly together, pushing the agreement and pen toward me. His eyes were slightly red, his fingers tapping lightly twice on the edge of the table. It was his nervous habit. I looked at the agreement but didn’t rush to take the pen. Instead, I reached out and touched the back of his hand resting on the table. “Your hand is so cold.” Leonardo trembled slightly but didn’t pull away. Without even glancing at the content, I picked up the pen to sign. Leonardo pressed down on my hand. “Wait! Read it carefully before signing.” He explained each clause of the agreement to me. The villa would remain mine, the savings would go to me, and all debts under his name had nothing to do with me. He had even purchased a substantial trust fund for me to ensure my future would be secure. Comments floated before my eyes: [Holy crap, this divorce agreement is all in Lawrence’s favor?] [What an incredible man! But I feel like Leonardo really is bankrupt!] [Wait, in the original story, Leonardo ends up filthy rich later…] After hearing his explanation, I just felt stars swimming before my eyes. “Don’t understand. So I just need to sign, right?” I moved to sign again, and Leonardo stopped me once more. His Adam’s apple bobbed, his voice somewhat hoarse: “There’s one last clause. Divorce doesn’t mean we’re strangers. If you ever need my help in the future, just ask.” I looked at him oddly. “You’re drowning in debt. What could you possibly help me with?” Leonardo was at a loss for words and lowered his head. I thought about these past three years—how no matter how busy he was, he always replied to my goodnight messages. Any dessert I mentioned in passing would appear in the fridge the next day. Every time I came home tipsy, the living room light was always on. My heart suddenly softened. I said seriously: “If you really end up too poor to survive, come find me. I’ll take care of you.” Leonardo’s head snapped up. His eyes grew even redder. His Adam’s apple bobbed several times before he finally said in a low voice, “…Okay.” More comments floated by: [What kind of attitude is this? He just gave you everything he had!] [Poor Leonardo! He still thinks he’s not worthy!] [Prescott, come out and comfort him!] [Lawrence is really so oblivious…] Leonardo said he’d found work hauling bricks at a construction site. The pay was good, with room and board included. He was leaving right away. He stood in the living room with a suitcase, glancing back at me. His lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing. He pulled open the door and left. The moment the door closed, the comments exploded: [Hauling bricks? Is he serious?] [A CEO going to haul bricks… I kind of want to laugh, what’s wrong with me] [Stop laughing, this is tragic] [Wait, he really is bankrupt? Otherwise why would he actually haul bricks?] I returned to the bedroom. Traces of Leonardo were everywhere. In the closet, his shirts hung neatly in rows. On the nightstand sat the business magazines he read every night. In the bathroom, his toothbrush stood beside mine. I lay on the bed, thinking about these three years. He’d stayed up late fixing my broken music box. Whenever I woke up hungover, there was always warm water and hangover medicine by the bed. After business dinners, no matter how late, he’d always wash up in the guest room first so the smell of alcohol wouldn’t bother me. Lost in thought, a sudden wave of nausea hit me. I rushed to the bathroom and dry-heaved. After recovering, I remembered. Oh right, I forgot to tell him I was pregnant. Comments suddenly flashed frantically: [Leonardo’s first love Prescott is here! Right at the villa gate!] I walked to the window. I saw a woman in a white dress with elaborate makeup standing outside the iron gate.

I opened the door. Prescott looked me up and down and gave a knowing smile. “So you’re Leonardo’s wife?” She paused. “No, ex-wife now.” I leaned against the doorframe and yawned. “Who are you?” Prescott tucked her hair behind her ear and began introducing herself. Between the lines, she hinted that she and Leonardo were childhood sweethearts. Three years ago, Leonardo had gotten blind drunk because she went abroad. Now that she was back, naturally Leonardo wanted a divorce. Comments floated past: [Leonardo’s first love is so pretty!] [Lawrence! Feel inferior!] [Get your eyes checked. Lawrence is clearly prettier] [No catfighting allowed! Also, I don’t think they look alike at all?] [I agree, they don’t look alike. Is Lawrence really Prescott’s substitute?] Prescott pulled a photograph from her handbag. It was a picture of her and Leonardo from high school. Standing together, though Leonardo wasn’t smiling, his eyes were noticeably softer. Prescott’s tone was gentle, but her gaze carried barbs: “He never loved you. You were just a substitute.” I stared at the photo for three seconds. “He was a bit heavier then, his face rounder.” Prescott froze. I continued, “Thanks for telling me this. Otherwise I wouldn’t have known what he looked like in high school.” “Can I keep the photo? I’d like a memento.” The comments livened up: [??? Is that the point here] [I can never follow Lawrence’s train of thought] [But somehow this is satisfying] [Prescott is speechless] Prescott’s expression shifted. She said coldly: “You’re quite the oddball. But it doesn’t matter—he’s already chosen me.” “You know why he left you the villa? Because he’s about to move into my house.” I tilted my head, thinking. “Oh, that’s good. He won’t have to sleep at the construction site then. Hauling bricks is exhausting.” My tone was sincere, without a trace of jealousy. Prescott was completely speechless. As she turned to leave, she threw out, “Someone like you deserves to be dumped.” The door closed. I leaned against it and slowly slid down to a squat. It wasn’t that I wasn’t sad—my sadness just came half a beat slower than everyone else’s. I touched my still-flat stomach. “Baby,” I said softly, “your dad seems to be going off to be someone else’s dad.” After spacing out for a while, I picked up my phone. I wanted to message Leonardo to tell him I was pregnant. Just as I unlocked the screen, comments suddenly scrolled: [Oh my god! Leonardo really is hauling bricks!] [His hands have blood blisters… But I looked ahead and Leonardo really does become ridiculously rich! Can someone explain what’s going on?] [Can’t explain it, I want to know too] [Prescott called Leonardo asking for his address and is now driving to the construction site!] I stared at the comments, forgetting what I was about to do, but feeling somehow empty inside. So I walked to the wine cabinet, wanting to pour myself a drink. Comments floated past again: [??? If Lawrence doesn’t want to keep Leonardo’s child she can terminate it, no need to deliberately drink alcohol! Poisonous woman] [Right, Lawrence is pregnant but Leonardo doesn’t know yet. In the later plot Leonardo has no children, so this baby definitely won’t survive] I froze mid-motion, silently put the wine back, and locked the wine cabinet. Sitting on the sofa, I contemplated what to do about this child. My phone suddenly vibrated. Leonardo sent a message: “Remember to eat dinner. Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Don’t play with your phone with the lights off. And don’t stay up too late.” I stared at it for a while, suddenly reluctant to terminate this pregnancy.

A week later, I received a bank notification. Leonardo had transferred money to me. The note read: “Half month’s wages, use it for now.” The amount wasn’t large, with odd cents included. I stared at the message, spacing out. Comments instantly flooded the screen: [Leonardo literally only kept enough for himself to eat bread every day!] [His hands are covered in blisters but he’s still thinking about his ex-wife] I climbed up from the sofa. Touching my still-flat belly, I said slowly, “Baby, your dad seems about to starve to death.” Then I walked into the kitchen—a place I’d barely entered in three years. Leonardo used to make me all sorts of elaborate dishes. I could only cook instant noodles, and I often burned them. I looked up recipes, nearly cut my finger, forgot to add seasoning. After two hours of struggling, I finally made a pot of soup. I also went to the pharmacy for iodine and band-aids. Based on the scattered comments mentioning “southern new development zone,” I took a cab there. The construction site was dusty. Standing at the entrance in my soft house dress and slippers, carrying a thermos, I looked completely out of place. Comments laughed at me: [Lawrence in this outfit is somehow adorable] I was looking around when I saw a white car pull up. Prescott got out. She was carrying an elegant lunch box. She saw me too. Her smile stiffened momentarily before recovering its elegance. “Miss Lawrence?” She walked over. “What brings you to a place like this?” She eyed my thermos and laughed lightly. “Bringing Leonardo food? He has a sensitive stomach, can’t handle anything too greasy.” I seriously examined the soup I’d made. “It’s chicken soup. Not greasy. I skimmed the fat.” Prescott stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Miss Lawrence, there are some things you might not understand.” “Leonardo is at his lowest point right now. What he needs is someone who can help him make a comeback, not a princess who only knows how to make soup.” I thought for three seconds. “But he’s hauling bricks right now. Hauling bricks requires strength, not a comeback.” I paused, then added: “And I’m not a princess. I can earn my own money… though I haven’t figured out how yet.” Comments were dumbfounded: [Prescott is rendered speechless] [Lawrence’s logic is always so bizarre yet irrefutable] The awkward moment was broken when Leonardo emerged from the construction site. He wore dust-covered work clothes, band-aids on his hands, sweat on his forehead. Seeing us, he visibly froze. Prescott immediately rushed over. “Leonardo, I brought you food…” But Leonardo walked straight toward me. His brow furrowed. “Why did you come here? It’s dusty.” I held up the thermos and medicine bag. “I brought you soup. And medicine.” Leonardo’s eyes showed emotion. When he took the items, his fingers trembled slightly. Prescott’s face went pale. “Leonardo, I specially…” Leonardo turned to her, his tone polite but distant: “Miss Prescott, thank you for your kindness. But I don’t need it. Don’t come here anymore.” Then he said to me in a low voice, “I’ll take you home.” He completely ignored Prescott, frozen in place. In the taxi, both were silent. Looking at the band-aids on his hands, I suddenly said: “The wounds on your hands got dust in them. They’ll get infected.” Leonardo pulled his hands back. “It’s fine.” I said slowly, “Prescott said you two are moving in together.” Leonardo’s head whipped around. “She’s talking nonsense!” His voice was urgent, with rare anger. Then, realizing he’d lost composure, he explained in a low voice: “I have nothing to do with her. I’m living in the workers’ dormitory now.” I said “Oh” and fell silent again. Comments floated by: [Wait, why Leonardo ends up so rich later is still a mystery?] [What kind of CEO is as miserable as Leonardo, I’m speechless!] The car arrived at the villa. Before I got out, Leonardo suddenly said, “Don’t worry about money. If you need more, tell me.” His eyes were bloodshot, but his gaze was serious. I nodded, remembering tomorrow was my prenatal checkup. After taking two steps, I turned back. “Will you still be hauling bricks tomorrow?” Leonardo: “Yes.” “Okay, then you do your thing.” With that, I walked straight into the villa. Before bed, I received a text from an unknown number. “Leave Leonardo. You’re not worthy of him.” I looked at it for a while, then slowly replied: “Are you Prescott? You texted the wrong person. I’m his ex-wife.” Then I blocked the number, turned off my phone, and went to sleep.

Early the next morning, I went to the hospital alone. Registration, waiting in line, waiting to be called. The pregnancy symptoms were severe. My face went pale during the blood draw. After the ultrasound, the doctor said I was slightly anemic and prescribed iron supplements. Coming out of the examination room with my report envelope, I felt extremely dizzy. Looking for somewhere to sit, I glanced up and saw a crowd gathered near the emergency room. In the crowd, I saw Leonardo. He sat in a chair in the emergency room, his left hand wrapped in bandages. Prescott stood beside him, bending down to say something to him. She held a cotton swab, trying to treat the scrape on his face. Leonardo turned his head away. Prescott persisted, reaching out to support his shoulder in an intimate gesture that drew attention. I stood there, watching. Comments scrolled frantically: [Holy crap! Drama incoming!] [Leonardo got injured at the construction site saving a coworker!] [Prescott’s information network is really something, already here] [Wait! I know! I know why Leonardo gets rich later!] I was about to see what the comment revealed when Leonardo’s voice came from behind me. “Lawrence!” I turned my head and saw him break free from Prescott, walking toward me. Prescott tried to hold him back, but he shook her off. He walked quickly, reaching me in a few strides. He looked down and saw the report envelope in my hand. It clearly read “Obstetrics Department.” Then he saw my pale face, my weakened state. Leonardo froze completely. He stared at the report envelope, then looked up at my face. His eyes gradually reddened, bloodshot veins filling the whites. His Adam’s apple bobbed violently. His voice was so hoarse he could barely speak: “You’re… pregnant?” I blinked, trying to recall if I’d forgotten to tell him about this. I clearly wanted him to come with me to the checkup today, but he had to haul bricks. Seeing my silence, his lips began to tremble. His left hand lifted, fingers shaking badly, but he didn’t dare touch me. His voice shattered, carrying desperate tremors: “…Did you terminate our baby?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “382834”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster