A month after getting married, my husband suddenly proposed to bring his father, who had been paralyzed for years, to live with us. He said that now that we’re married, we should be filial to our parents. He also promised earnestly that it wouldn’t trouble me, saying his mother would take care of his father most of the time, and he’d hire a caregiver once his father moved in. I felt something was off. Kind-hearted netizens warned me: “Run quickly, you’re going to be the free caregiver.” I thought about it and decided to take their advice. Strangers might not harm me, but my husband just might. “Dahlia, I was thinking of having my dad come stay with us for a while. What do you think?” Kieran asked after dinner one evening. “Sure, how long will they be staying? I’ll buy some of their favorite foods,” I replied absently while clearing the table. Kieran quickly jumped in to help clean up. “Actually, I meant for Mom and Dad to live with us permanently. Mom could even help with the cooking. Wouldn’t that be great?” I froze. My naturally indecisive personality made even small decisions like grocery shopping a struggle. That’s why before our marriage, my parents had repeatedly confirmed with Kieran’s family that his parents wouldn’t live with us. It was the only way they agreed to the marriage. My dad had initially wanted me to marry someone who would move in with us, but seeing how good Kieran seemed, they didn’t push it, fearing it might affect our relationship. Before the wedding, my family knew that Kieran’s father had suffered a stroke and was partially paralyzed. His mother ran a small convenience store while caring for her husband. They had agreed that their older son would be responsible for their care in old age, and the family home would go to him as well. We had no objections to this arrangement. My parents even said I’d found a good family. My parents had contributed 100,000 towards our dow pay mounment on a house..Kieran was incredibly touched and volunteered the 30,000 he’d saved from work for renovations. This made my parents even more convinced that I’d found an exceptionally good man. They sent numerous health supplements to Kieran’s parents, and I saw the bill – it was jaw-dropping. My parents didn’t want me to tell Kieran the cost, worried it might make his family feel indebted. Kieran was indeed very good to me. He’d pick me up and drop me off for my night shifts, never complaining that my job kept me from being a traditional housewife. When I was busy at work, he’d cook and bring me meals. Whenever I needed advice on anything, no matter how trivial, he was always patient and helpful. I truly believed I had found the best man in the world. But now, just a month into our marriage, why was he suddenly talking about his parents moving in? “Didn’t we agree before the wedding that we wouldn’t live together?” I asked. “Well, it’s getting cold, and their place doesn’t have good heating. It would be more comfortable here,” he explained. “Besides, now that I’m married, I should take care of my parents.” “Dahlia, you’re so understanding. You wouldn’t object to this small request, would you?” Seeing my silence, Kieran added, “He’s my father. It’s my responsibility as a son. I can’t just ignore him!” “My brother has been taking care of them for years. It’s my turn to show some filial piety.” I remained quiet, feeling uneasy but unable to articulate why. I was about to call my mom for advice but remembered they were on vacation. Not wanting to spoil their trip, I put down the phone. Conflicted, I retreated to the bedroom and posted about the situation online. Responses came quickly: “Don’t agree to it! If you give in now, there will be countless more compromises waiting for you.” “Next, he’ll try to guilt-trip you.” Sure enough. I told Kieran I didn’t agree but offered to pay for better heating at his parents’ place. Kieran immediately became angry. “I’ve already spent tens of thousands on renovating our place, and you won’t even agree to this small request? How can you be so cold-hearted!” “My parents are getting older. Is it too much to ask for them to stay with their son for a while?” “But you promised before we got married that we wouldn’t live with your parents. It’s only been a month, and you’re already going back on your word,” I said, tears welling up in my eyes. Kieran, seeing me cry, paused for a moment before trying to comfort me: “I just heard from Mom that Dad caught a cold, and I got worried. I didn’t mean to yell at you.” “Baby, how about I buy you that lipstick you wanted? Please don’t be angry.” After countless apologies and cooking a table full of my favorite dishes, I finally calmed down. Maybe he was just overly concerned about his dad being sick? I thought the matter was settled, but that night Kieran said, “My parents are eager for a grandchild. Why don’t we start trying soon?” Puzzled, I replied, “Didn’t we agree to wait a couple of years? I still need to prepare for my certification exam.” “That won’t be a problem. My mom can come over to take care of you,” he said. Feeling something was off, I posted about this new development in the same online thread. A comment quickly caught my attention: “Girl, run! Once you have a kid, they’ll have you trapped completely.” “When his mom comes, his dad will follow since there’s no one to care for him.” “And with a baby, you’ll be stuck.” I broke out in a cold sweat. They were right! Using the excuse of caring for a pregnant woman, they could move in permanently, leaving me no way to object. I just wanted a peaceful life. I didn’t want to spend the rest of my days entangled in these petty conflicts. I lacked the ability to handle such situations, so it was safer to nip it in the bud. Realizing this, I firmly rejected his suggestion. Although he might not have had these intentions, what if he did? I may be indecisive, but I’m not stupid. I can tell when someone’s reasoning makes sense. Besides, we had just had an argument. Seeing my displeasure, Kieran didn’t push the issue. Instead, he became even more attentive. He cooked for me after work, brought back gifts from business trips, and took me to try new restaurants. One day, as we were eating steak at a new place, Kieran suddenly started crying. He said his parents had lived in their hometown all their lives, scrimping and saving, never even tasting steak. The thought made him feel guilty. He then recounted how his parents had struggled to put him through school, and now that he wanted to repay them, his father was paralyzed. Just then, Kieran’s uncle sent a voice message: “Your dad’s been crying, missing you. If you’re not busy, bring him over for a visit. He’s already miserable enough being paralyzed. How can you not care about the man who raised you?” “You used to be such a filial son. Have you changed since getting married? Is it your wife who won’t let you? Don’t forget your parents just because you’re married!” Kieran replied, “No, that’s not it. Dahlia’s been urging me to bring my parents over. I’ve just been too busy lately to arrange it.” Kieran took the blame on himself, but I still felt uncomfortable. He tried to reassure me: “Don’t worry, I won’t let them say anything bad about you. I love you, and I’ll handle this. You just focus on being happy.” Was I the one with the problem? Once again, I doubted myself. Maybe he really just wanted his dad to visit for a while?

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Seven years after marrying Adam Brown, I find a girl named Natalie Walker in his chat history. She is innocent and lively, always sending cute emojis with her messages. Adam’s replies are all short and to the point, but that’s what is most odd about it. I pretend to be curious and ask who she is. He says she is someone he’s saved during a mission. Adam works as a lawyer but also volunteers for a rescue team. He tells me she is pitiful, and that is why he can’t ignore her messages. But Adam never likes small talk. That day, Natalie and I are both taken hostage by kidnappers, and he can only save one of us. At that moment, he hesitates. When Adam Brown showed up with our son Lucas Brown, I was busy with the final preparations for my performance. It was the first show of my dance tour, “Rhythms”, and the whole company was taking it very seriously. Lucas rushed into my arms like a little puppy, saying, “Mom, you look so beautiful today.” His eyes, full of admiration and affection, sparkled like grapes, and I couldn’t help but smile back. But that joy faded the moment I saw Adam. He gave a little sigh, walked over to me, and quietly said, “Don’t be mad, okay? I didn’t mean it that way, honey, forgive me.” His apology was sincere, but it did nothing to ease the frustration I’d felt the day before. It all started about two weeks ago when Adam was working late every night. One evening, I happened to be free, so I decided to make dinner and bring it to him. But when I got there, there was already another lunchbox on his desk, and the owner of that lunchbox was chatting nonstop with Adam, who looked exhausted. Still, he tolerated her rambling on about her wild ideas. And when she said something particularly interesting, I even saw him flash a small, barely noticeable smile. I knew who she was, Natalie Walker, the girl Adam had rescued during a mission a year ago. I stared, lost in thought. Adam was a serious, reserved man, and he only ever showed that kind of gentle expression to people he was really close to. When had he started hanging around with someone like her? A chill ran through me, and my gut told me this girl had ulterior motives. When Adam saw me, a flicker of panic flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. “Chloe, what are you doing here?” “I brought you dinner.” I kept it short and simple, my gaze sweeping over the cute lunchbox on the desk. “But I guess mine might be a little unnecessary.” Adam frowned slightly. “No, not at all. I’m glad you brought me dinner.” Natalie’s face twisted into a displeased expression, and she bit her lip. “Adam…” Her expression was so fake, it made me feel sick, but Adam’s brow furrowed deeper. “Chloe, don’t overthink it. Adam saved me. I brought some food to thank him.” I snorted softly. She was too young, and her flimsy excuse seemed pathetic to me. “Have you studied social etiquette? Bringing someone dinner in the middle of the night isn’t exactly the best way to show your gratitude.” I didn’t like playing nice when I didn’t mean it, and I wasn’t afraid to speak my mind. Natalie’s eyes immediately filled with tears, and she looked helplessly at Adam. Adam stayed silent. Natalie’s face was a mix of confusion, resentment, and even a little hatred toward me. Typical of someone her age. She couldn’t keep her emotions in check. “Sorry, Chloe. I was too forward. Adam, I’m sorry for causing trouble.” Natalie quickly grabbed her lunchbox and rushed out of the office. After she left, Adam turned to me and met my eyes calmly. “She’s young, Chloe. You don’t need to be so hard on her.” His words were cold and flat, with no emotion behind them, but they made me shudder. From that moment on, Adam and I started a cold war. What was the cause of the silence between us? Was it just because of Adam’s offhand comment, which wasn’t even a real expression of anger? No, it was because Adam had defended another woman in front of me. He had started shifting the affection he once gave me onto someone else. The cold war was painful. Adam pretended to be consumed by work, staying out all night, and leaving all the household responsibilities to me. I was lost, unable to understand why sending away a girl who had feelings for him, just like I always had, would make him so angry. He had even once questioned my feelings for him just because I wasn’t the jealous type.

“Honey, please don’t be mad at me. The bed in my office is so cold and hard, I can’t get used to it. Please let me come home,” Adam said. “Oh, so now you want to come home? What, do you think I’d stop you?” I replied sarcastically. Adam rubbed his head against my neck, his usual way of trying to win me over, and my heart couldn’t help but soften. “Honey, I really am sorry. Don’t stay mad.” “I made a reservation at that restaurant. Let’s go after your show. They have your favorite blueberry cake today.” Adam kept rambling, and all the resentment I’d been holding onto seemed to deflate, like air escaping from a balloon, fading away completely. “Will you still argue with me over her?” I looked at him sideways. “No, I won’t. You’re the most important person in my life.” I didn’t respond to that. Instead, I simply said, “Their seats are in the second row. You take Lucas over there.” A smile crossed Adam’s face as he picked up Lucas in his arms and leaned in to give me a quick kiss on the lips. It was annoying. He smudged my lipstick, but I couldn’t stop the happiness from bubbling up inside me. I hated the coldness in a home, and I didn’t want to keep fighting with Adam. The “Rhythms” performance went wonderfully, with thunderous applause from the audience. As I left the backstage area, I overheard people excitedly discussing the show. At the door, Lucas was standing next to Adam, holding a bouquet of flowers that was almost as tall as he was. When he saw me, he turned his body and ran over. “Mom, these flowers are from me and Dad. Do you like them?” I took the flowers and gave Lucas a kiss on his soft, chubby cheek. “Thank you, Lucas. I love them.” Lucas, shy, covered his face with his hands and burrowed into Adam’s arms. In a little boy’s voice, he said, “Mom, I’m a big boy now. You can’t kiss my face like that anymore.” Adam and I exchanged a look, and in that instant, we both shared a quiet, amused smile. This was how things should be between Adam and me, not changed because of some woman who’d only been in the picture for a year. The meal was lovely, filled with Lucas’ childlike chatter. When Lucas had finished half of his cake, he smiled and made a wish. “I hope every day is like this, happy, and that Dad and Mom always love me.” The mood was peaceful and harmonious, until suddenly Adam’s phone rang, the caller ID showing an unknown number. Adam hesitated for a moment before he hung up, but the caller didn’t give up, dialing again twice more. I turned my head, a little confused, and asked, “Who’s calling? Why aren’t you answering?” “It’s someone unimportant. No need to pick up,” he said. Hearing this, I didn’t press the matter. But then, the phone rang again. And just as I turned my head, I clearly saw the name on the screen, Natalie. “Adam, there’s a power outage at my place. I’m so scared.” In an instant, I could picture Natalie’s pitiful expression. What kind of emotions must have been behind the words she’d sent? I could hear Lucas singing a childish song off-key in the background, but my gaze was fixed on Adam’s face, searching for any sign of change. His expression remained as calm and unreadable as ever. But Adam must have sensed my suspicion. He pulled me close into his arms, “Chloe, don’t overthink it. I won’t go see her. I know where my boundaries are. The person I want to spend my life with is you.” I leaned into him, the steady beat of his heart soothing against my ear. Was this reassurance meant for me, or for himself? That fleeting worry in his eyes… Was he afraid I’d be upset, or was he concerned about Natalie?

After that night, life with Adam seemed to return to normal. Kisses and hugs, flowers and gifts were a regular part of my life again, and we were once more the picture-perfect couple that everyone admired. I wanted to lose myself in this blissful illusion, but Adam’s phone kept ringing nonstop every day, with messages coming in one after another, constantly reminding me that Natalie hadn’t completely disappeared from my life. I asked Adam to delete her number. But Adam said, “Her background is pretty sad, and she’s sensitive and insecure. If I just delete her, it might hurt her feelings. Right now, she sees me as her savior. If I cut her off abruptly, it might make her overthink things. But Chloe, you have to trust me. There’s nothing between us.” I stared silently at Adam, my emotions unreadable. With a helpless sigh, Adam handed me his phone. “If you don’t believe me, check it yourself. I really don’t have anything to do with her.” I glanced at his phone, but just for a second before I quickly turned my head away. I’ve always believed that trust is the most important thing between a husband and wife. I’d never checked Adam’s phone before. “I don’t need to check. I trust you.” A smile tugged at Adam’s lips, and he pulled me into his arms. “Chloe, you’re the best.” I whispered, “But don’t let me down, okay?” “I won’t. I’ll never disappoint you.” Despite his reassurances, Adam’s phone continued to ping with messages from Natalie every now and then. Every time I saw Natalie’s messages, written in that sweet, almost playful tone, a wave of anger surged inside me. I had never seen someone so shameless. Adam had already made his feelings clear. Why couldn’t she just let it go? But I had forgotten that sometimes, a little pain can be the beginning of love, and I had underestimated the saying, “When a woman chases a man, even a thin layer of paper is a barrier.” So, Adam started getting busy again. On the night of my second performance, Adam had told me he was busy with work, even though I knew he had the evening free. Instead of joining me, he sent a bouquet of flowers. But later, I found out that he had actually left work early that day, and I had no idea where he went. He had lied to me. When Lucas got sick, Adam said he was busy, leaving me to take Lucas to the hospital alone. Lucas had a high fever and kept calling for his dad. I tried calling Adam, but he quickly hung up. Before he hung up, I heard a woman crying in the background. On Lucas’ fifth birthday, Adam had promised to get him a retired police dog. He’d even put in a request to the station early. With his position, getting a retired police dog should have been easy. But on Lucas’ birthday, Adam apologized to him, saying the dog hadn’t been approved yet, and asked him to wait a little longer. Lucas was disappointed, and the next day, I saw Natalie walking a retired police dog in the park. What really set me off, though, was when I found a woman’s lipstick mark on Adam’s shirt. The bright red imprint felt like a hammer hitting me in the head. All I could hear was a buzzing in my ears, and the blood seemed to drain from my body. Adam had cheated.

Adam stepped out of the bathroom, rubbing his damp hair. When he saw the shirt in my hands, his eyelids twitched involuntarily. He quickly walked over to me, and when he saw the lipstick stain on the shirt, his 6’3″ frame seemed suddenly stiff and awkward. I threw the shirt in his face, my voice trembling with fury. “What’s this? A challenge?” He steadied me with his hands, urgently saying, “Chloe, Chloe, I can explain!” “Explain what? Adam, do you really think I don’t know anything? Were you really working that night during the performance? The woman on the phone when Lucas was sick… Wasn’t that Natalie? And the retired police dog you promised Lucas… You gave it to Natalie, didn’t you? You promised you wouldn’t disappoint me, but everything you’ve done lately just breaks my heart! This lipstick mark? What did you two do? You hugged her, didn’t you? After that, did you do anything else?” This past month had been pure torture. I watched as Adam grew more and more involved with Natalie, and I kept forgiving him. But Adam didn’t wake up. He chose to lie to me, and I was on the edge of confronting him. I just never expected the disgusting truth would come out this way. My emotions were so intense I could hardly breathe. I gasped for air, my chest burning with pain as if I’d been stabbed. Adam’s touch made me feel sick. “I didn’t! I pushed her away! There’s nothing between us, I swear! She’s just so pitiful, alone and bullied by everyone. She didn’t even tell me at first, I only found out when I saw her being mistreated. I felt sorry for her, but that’s all. I just wanted to help her, nothing more!” “Then why lie to me?” “Because I was afraid you’d get angry! Chloe, you care so much about Natalie, and I didn’t want her to come between us.” “Do you even hear the nonsense you’re spouting? If there was nothing between you two, why would you be afraid of me getting mad? Can’t you see she’s trying to seduce you? Tell me. Do you swear you have no feelings for Natalie Walker?” By now, Adam’s face was no longer full of fear; it was replaced with irritation. He kicked the edge of the bed in frustration. “Do you have to speak like this? You’ve never been like this before!” I gave a bitter laugh. How could he still act so righteous after everything he’s done? “Remember that debate we had back in college? Whether emotional cheating was worse or physical cheating? You said it was all cheating, and that men like that weren’t worth anything. You promised me you’d never cheat, but look at what you’ve done now!” Did twenty-year-old Adam know that thirty-year-old Adam would completely forget those words? His face went pale, and his lips trembled uncontrollably. “Adam Brown, you’re disgusting.”

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I was reborn on the very day my parents divorced. My younger brother insisted on staying with Dad and told me to go live with Mom. I knew what he was up to. He had also been reborn, and was jealous of the life I’d had in my previous life as the president of the Hughes Group. He wanted to take my place. He was smug about it, but I nearly laughed out loud. Did he really think he could just leave the Hughes family so easily? Was it really that simple? In my past life, after Dad retired and stepped down from all his positions, I officially took over the family business, becoming the sole leader of the Hughes Group. I became a rising star in the business world, living a life full of success and admiration. Meanwhile, my brother Johnny Hughes flunked his SATs, refused to find a job, and fell into a cycle of drinking and gambling. He drained Mom’s savings with every scheme he could think of, only to lose it all at the casino. When Mom could no longer give him a single cent, he started using the money I sent for her support to fuel his alcoholism. In his drunk rages, he even hit her. Under this constant strain, Mom, who was younger than Dad, looked like she had aged 20 years. When I found out what had been going on, I brought Mom to live with me. Johnny, pretending he was just visiting Mom, showed up at my place, shamelessly asking for money. “Theresa, congratulations on becoming the CEO,” he said with a smile. “I’m a little short on cash right now. You’re doing so well. Surely you can lend me a few million dollars?” I sneered, “I bet you want that money to gamble again, don’t you?” Over the years, I’d sent so much money to support Mom, only for it to be squandered by him in casinos. Just then, Dad, who was visiting my company, coughed a couple of times. “Theresa, Johnny is your brother. Don’t be so harsh just for a little money.” Johnny’s face lit up when he heard Dad speak up for him. But I kept my face cold, showing no sympathy. “Last time, Dad, you said the same thing. I paid off all his gambling debts and then gave him even more money. And now you’re asking me for the same thing again as if I’m an ATM? If I had a choice, I’d rather not have a brother like him.” Johnny was caught off guard by my sudden decision to draw a line with him. His face turned as red as a beet. Dad, unable to stand my defiance, went pale with anger. “So, you won’t even acknowledge Shirley’s son, huh? Johnny is your real brother! How can you treat him like this? I see. You’ve gotten too big for your britches and want to push us all away, don’t you?” I stared at him in disappointment. “Dad, I’ve called you Dad out of respect for how you raised me, but your actions are truly disappointing! To you, I’m not even your daughter in the Hughes family. I’m just here to manage the money for you and your two sons, right?” Dad’s face turned red with anger as I hit a nerve. “You think you can just hold onto the Hughes family fortune forever, but one day, you’ll get married! When that happens, you’ll belong to someone else’s family. Your brother will be the only one left to rely on. What’s the harm in patching things up with him now?” I was so frustrated by Dad’s shameless reasoning I nearly laughed. He was trying to trick me into believing he was looking out for my future. He honestly thought that? With his spoiled eldest son, Johnny, and his second son, who was on his way to being just as useless, what were they ever going to do for me or the company? Johnny, listening to this, suddenly seemed to have an epiphany. “Ah, so this is why Dad doesn’t care about me anymore. It’s you. You vicious woman, who stole all the Hughes family wealth! You don’t care about your own brother, and you treat Dad this way… The Hughes family is doomed with a woman like you. We’ve hit rock bottom!” Listening to his self-righteous speech, it almost sounded like I was some kind of scheming woman trying to steal the Hughes family’s fortune, instead of the hardworking person who had spent years building a small company into a large corporation. I didn’t want to argue anymore. I simply decided to show them the actions of who was really in charge of this company. I had the security escort Johnny out. Johnny struggled violently, his eyes bloodshot with rage, staring at me with a look full of hatred and resentment. “Theresa Hughes! A cold-blooded, heartless, and vicious woman like you doesn’t deserve to be my sister! If I could live my life over, I’d make sure you’d never ruin the Hughes family again!” I smiled and waved my hand at him. “Sorry, but I only believe in the present! The present is the only thing I can control. Anything like rebirth is just wishful thinking.” But what I never expected was that Johnny really seemed to believe I was the one who ruined his life, blaming all his failures on me. He even went so far as to get drunk, grab a kitchen knife, and sneak into the company’s underground parking lot to take my life. I was caught off guard while getting into my car, and before I could react, he stabbed me seven times from behind. I collapsed onto the ground. I lost so much blood that my body began to feel cold, and my vision blurred into darkness. But I could still hear Johnny’s crazed laughter echoing in my ears. “I’ll make sure you pay for trying to steal the family fortune! Do you think you can look down on me as a CEO? Everything in the Hughes Group is mine! I’m going to kill you, you bitch who’s stealing my inheritance!” As I was on the verge of dying, I couldn’t help but feel frustrated. I thought he was insane. If I had known, I would have sent him to a mental hospital long ago. My dad’s little company grew to this scale because of me! I thought, “The inheritance he was supposed to get was all gambled away long ago. What does that have to do with me? At least when I’m dead, the property will go to the lawyer. Most of it will be donated, and the rest will be given to my parents monthly. He won’t get a penny!” With that thought, I sank into complete darkness. I didn’t know how long it was before I regained consciousness. When I opened my eyes, I found myself back in the old house where we used to live as a family of four. My mom was holding a suitcase, looking helpless as Johnny, now throwing a tantrum, refused to go with her. He was crying so hard he could barely catch his breath, desperately grabbing onto my dad’s suit. “Dad, I don’t want to live with Mom! She doesn’t have a job. She’s just a housewife! Can you really let me suffer like this?” My mom stared at him, shocked and unable to believe her once-beloved son was now speaking so cruelly to her. I watched coldly from the side, feeling a bit amused. It was sickening to see such a young boy with that much malice and calculation in his eyes. It was like forcing a filthy adult into the body of a young person.

If I still couldn’t tell that Johnny had also been reborn, I would really be blind. I could see my dad’s hesitation too. The truth was, he obviously wanted his son to stay with him, to carry on the family line. But he had always played the role of the stern father, and Johnny, who had always been closer to his mother, insisted on staying with her. At first, after the divorce, they lived relatively well with the alimony and property split. But when Johnny failed his SATs and couldn’t find a job, he turned to drinking and gambling. All the money they had couldn’t fix the mess he’d made. It wasn’t until he saw me on the news that he realized our small family business had turned into a huge corporation. Regret hit him hard. That was when he started showing up at my door, shamelessly claiming that the Hughes family’s wealth should be shared with him, too. Although my father realized that this son had been spoiled beyond help, he couldn’t bear to see him suffer. So, at my father’s request, I gave Johnny the inheritance that was rightfully his, ahead of time. But a gambler was already in a bottomless pit, and money never stayed with him for long. Soon, he demanded more money from me, but how could I keep footing the bill for his gambling habits? It was probably from that moment on that he began to resent me, and he was willing to go to extreme lengths, even to become a murderer, just to make me pay. Now, as I stand at the crossroads of fate in Johnny’s eyes, I finally understand his logic. His thinking was simple. If he had stayed by Dad’s side, he would have inherited the entire massive Hughes Group, and I would have had no connection to the family fortune. I would have had to live off the Hughes family’s generosity. But I had underestimated the cruelty of human nature. When Dad finally relented and told Mom that both children would stay with him, Johnny threw another tantrum. “I don’t want to live with my sister!” He pointed at me, his eyes red and swollen, as if looking at an enemy with a blood feud rather than his own sister. “My sister has never liked me. If she stays here, there won’t be any place for me in this family. She’ll bully me!” Dad kept reassuring him that he would always be his most beloved son and that nothing like that would happen. But Johnny didn’t believe him. The moment he saw me, he started crying and throwing a fit again. Under Johnny’s relentless tantrums, Dad hesitated, clearly torn. It was obvious to anyone who mattered who held more importance in his heart. I sighed deeply, my face gloomy, but inside, I wasn’t bothered. In a way, Johnny was right. I really never liked him. After he was born, my parents seemed to forget about me. No matter what happened, they always sided with Johnny. Even when Johnny did something wrong, it was always me, the older sister, who got blamed for not keeping him in check. In that environment of blatant favoritism, how could I possibly feel any affection for him? As for the small company of the Hughes family, I didn’t care about it. In my past life, I had already endured enough unfairness within the Hughes family. It wasn’t until I stood at the top that no one dared to look down on me. If I could cut ties with the Hughes family from the start of this life, I’d actually be grateful to Johnny. Out of this sense of gratitude, I kindly reminded him, “When Dad marries someone new, don’t be as spoiled as you used to be. Or else, you’ll regret it. Johnny sneered, “I know. It’s just Shirley, right?” Mom looked up in shock. “You know?” Shirley Parker was Dad’s secretary. Dad, tired of Mom being a housewife with no common ground with him, had been having an affair for two or three years. After Mom caught him, he simply filed for divorce. Johnny didn’t care about Mom’s feelings. He loudly declared, “Dad works so hard every day to earn money and support the family. Mom, you’re no help at all. All you do is complain. You’re so unreasonable. It’s no wonder you couldn’t hold on to a man like Dad, someone destined to be successful!” Mom shook with anger, and Dad’s face looked considerably better. After all, he had the worst qualities of a man. He didn’t want his women to do well after leaving him. Johnny’s words were exactly what he wanted to hear. I couldn’t stand watching this drama any longer, so I took the initiative to grab my mom’s sleeve. “Mom, it’s clear that my brother and I aren’t getting along. Take me with you.” My mom was hurt by Johnny’s words earlier, and she quickly took me away. Dad agreed without hesitation, much more willingly than when Johnny was about to be taken away. Before we left, I took one last look at Johnny. He was clinging to Dad, acting all sweet. When he saw me looking, he thought I was staring at Dad, unwilling to part with the future wealth of the Hughes family. He shot me a sharp glare and mouthed, “The Hughes family’s money is mine!” I simply smiled. My family valued sons over daughters, still holding onto those old traditions of passing down the family name. Johnny staying with Dad would likely mean he’d inherit most of the family fortune one day. But I knew better than anyone how things worked. Dad might be able to hold onto what he already had, but growing the business to the scale it reached in the past without outside help, was nearly impossible. In my past life, I was the one who truly expanded the Hughes Group. I thought, “This time around, could spoiled and lazy Johnny manage that?” I could already see the final outcome clearly, and the smile on my face grew even brighter.

We owned several properties, and one of them was given to Mom as a new home for the two of us. It seemed like Johnny had really gotten under her skin. On our way there, Mom kept complaining about how no man was all the same. I heard her, but I didn’t really pay attention. After all, no matter how terrible men were, Mom still loved her son dearly. All these complaints were just words. If she could truly be that heartless, she wouldn’t have let Johnny keep draining her money in the past. I spent the next few days organizing the most valuable asset from my past life, the memory of future market trends, and putting together a business plan. I went to talk to Mom, hoping to convince her to start an online store. The internet was steadily maturing, but e-commerce was still a vast untapped market. In my past life, I had sensed that physical stores were on the decline, which quickly led the Hughes Group into e-commerce. Although we were successful, we weren’t the first to seize the opportunity. I knew Mom had over a million dollars in cash from joint marital assets, aside from the house. She was cautious by nature, not one to take investment risks, but she was good at saving money. If it hadn’t been for Johnny stealing from her and using the money for gambling, we wouldn’t have ended up in such a mess. As expected, Mom didn’t believe in my plan. She just told me to focus on my studies and not worry about these things. I didn’t try to argue. Instead, I shared a few stocks from my past life that had risen sharply during this time, telling her to wait a few months and see if I was right. With her skeptical look lingering, I went back to my room and checked my phone. Johnny had sent me a message. [Theresa, this is the last time I’ll call you sis. Last life, when I was at my lowest, you didn’t help me. You ate your fill while I got nothing. Now that I’m rich, I won’t do anything to you out of blood ties, but don’t come near me!] Seeing this ungrateful brat ignore the countless times I’d sent money to the family, just to criticize me, I wasn’t upset. I had seen through his true nature long ago. [Fine. From now on, we’re completely cut off. No more ties between us.] I would never go back to the Hughes family again. I just hoped Johnny would really keep his word and stay away from me from now on. One month later, for the first time in her life, my mom paid attention to the stock market. When she saw the stocks I had mentioned soaring, her look at me immediately changed. Following my suggestion, she cautiously bought a few shares. By the time I started college, she had already made a significant profit. The day before school started, Mom looked at her earnings and suddenly kissed me on the cheek. “Theresa, you’re amazing! I was right to give you this name after all!” I just smiled faintly. My name is Theresa Hughes, but I now go by Theresa Walsh, taking my mom’s last name. When my parents named me, they must have had high hopes and expectations for me. I thought, “Love doesn’t disappear. It just shifts.” So, after some time, that attention shifted entirely to my younger brother. I didn’t tell her about my past life. Before marrying Dad, Mom had been an intellectual. It would be easier to convince her that I was a business genius than to make her believe in reincarnation. “Mom, now do you believe in me? I can still analyze which stocks will rise. But, you know, opportunity doesn’t wait. Relying on stocks and other people’s decisions is not a long-term plan. It’s better to seize business opportunities and earn money on your own. If you’re worried, you can start with a small investment, and we can begin with a little online store.” In reality, even if we invested all our money, we wouldn’t be able to run anything big at the moment. My initial plan was to start small with an online shop, slowly getting into the e-commerce scene. Once I built up some experience, I would use the knowledge from my past life. By then, my new company would grow rapidly! Mom was still hesitating. I thought she was worried about losing money, but instead, she said, “Theresa, even though you’re studying locally, are you sure you can handle it all? I don’t know anything about this. I’ll probably rely on you for everything. Money is one thing, but what if it affects your studies?” At that moment, seeing the concern in her eyes, I suddenly felt my own eyes well up with tears. Whether in this life or the last, I had always held some resentment toward my mom. Before the divorce, she favored my brother. After the divorce, she took him with her but abandoned me. I felt sorry for her, being treated that way by Johnny. But in the quiet of the night, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Your son, the one you loved most, treated you like that. In the end, it’s your neglected daughter who saved you. Do you regret it?” But now, I had finally let go of those feelings. Maybe my mom was biased toward my brother for reasons of her own, but her love for me hadn’t vanished. It might have lessened, but it was still there. For the first time, I took the initiative to hold my mom’s hand. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll balance my time. If my grades drop or the online store doesn’t do well, you can stop me anytime!” And so, I began my busy life of juggling both school and work at a young age. I had forgotten most of what I learned before, but thankfully, I still had the foundation. With relentless effort, I found my classes weren’t too hard to manage. At the same time, even though I was just starting a small online shop, I approached it with full determination. I was committed to making it perfect so that within two years, my mom would see the impressive results of e-commerce and trust me even more. I was busy every day. Mom saw it and, feeling sorry for me, started learning about e-commerce and the internet to help share the load. “I’m at this age, and there aren’t many good jobs available. It might be better to try working with you on e-commerce.” Looking at her smile, I couldn’t help but smile. Just as my studies, career, and relationship with my mom were starting to settle into place, Johnny broke his promise and came knocking on our door in a desperate state. “Mom, you can’t just ignore me!”

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My father, Bruce Smith, had been having an affair with a model, a girl who was barely old enough to be out of her teens. My mother, Amanda Smith, completely shattered and collapsed into a flood of tears. All she could demand was a divorce. In the courtroom, the judge, with a solemn expression, looked directly at me. I was only ten years old. His voice was gentle but firm as he asked me to make an unthinkable choice, “Which parent will you live with?” Under the hopeful, pleading gaze of my mother, I chose to live with my father. “My mother can’t give me a little brother,” I complained. “Girls are too fussy. I need to help Dad take care of my brother, the one who hasn’t been born yet.” Amanda wailed, her face crumpling as she buried it in her hands. I thought, “What a performance. She’s putting on quite the show.” In my innocent mind, both she and I knew that better days were just on the horizon. The courtroom was suffocating. The judge directed a question straight at me. “Whom do you wish to live with, child?” Everyone expected me to choose Amanda. Amanda was the one who provided stability and the warmth of a mother’s love. But I didn’t. Instead, I turned my gaze toward Bruce, who stood a few feet away and caressed the belly of his mistress. Bruce looked genuinely surprised when I pointed at him, but in his eyes, I wasn’t more than a mere afterthought. After all, I was just a daughter, not the son he’d always wanted. To him, I was a placeholder, a girl who’d eventually marry off and leave the family name behind. When the judge asked for my reasons, I spoke with the innocent conviction only a child could have. “Daddy’s so pitiful. He just wants to be with Helen. What’s wrong with that? Daddy has to work hard to make money, and Helen is pregnant. I need to help Daddy take care of my little brother inside her. Mom’s always busy teaching, but she can’t have a son and won’t let Daddy have one with someone else. Mom’s the mean one.” I glanced at Mom, whose face was buried in her hands. Her body shook with sobs. But I knew better. I knew my mother. Behind those trembling fingers, she was stifling a laugh. This was all part of the plan. She played her part, and I played mine.

Suddenly, the world around me flickered out, and with a blink, I was thrust back to the very year my parents decided to part ways. Amanda had yet to discover Bruce’s affair with that young model. She hadn’t stormed into his office, confronting him. It was the dead of night, but sleep was the last thing on my mind. Time was running out. Tomorrow, Amanda would stumble upon the telltale signs of Bruce’s betrayal on his phone after he failed to come home one night. This discovery would push her past her limits, and she would decide it was time to face him and end their marriage. I sprang out of bed and raced toward the master bedroom, my small fist pounding on the door. This evening was my prime, perhaps only, chance to step in and stop the heartbreak of my history from unfolding anew. Amanda, groggy and disoriented, opened it, her eyes heavy with sleep. She looked at me, puzzled by my nighttime urgency. “What’s wrong, sweetie?” Without a word, I slipped past her, quickly locking the door behind me. Sitting on her bed, I took a deep breath and let it all spill out. I told her everything because I knew, apart from myself, no one loved me more than my mother. I carefully avoided any mention of my death, which was too painful. Instead, I focused on how we could take control and stop Bruce from destroying our lives. Her eyes were welled up with tears. Sensing the words I couldn’t voice, she drew me into a tight embrace. There, in the comforting cocoon of her arms, I absorbed her warmth, finding solace in her protective hold. I looked up at her. “He’s been paranoid, installing cameras around the house, thinking you’d cheat on him, while he’s the one cheating.” Thankfully, he hadn’t stooped to putting cameras in the bedroom; otherwise, I couldn’t have safely disclosed everything to Amanda right there. I suggested she secretly collect proof and go straight for a divorce. I assured her that in court, I would opt to stay with Bruce. Watching her eyes brim with tears and her voice halting, I placed my hand over her mouth softly. “Mom, do you believe in me? I swear, I’ll see to it that you live well from now on.”

After the court hearing, I moved into a luxurious riverside villa with Bruce, slipping effortlessly into the role of the caring daughter. It wasn’t suspicion that struck me when Bruce, despite his financial troubles, managed to move into a luxurious villa; instead, I was excitedly talking about how Helen would have an easier time with the baby in a bigger house. I ran to my father, eager to show my support, insisting I would take good care of the little brother in Helen’s belly. Perhaps out of some lingering paternal affection, Bruce immediately transferred fifty thousand dollars to me, telling me to use it as I saw fit. He was quick to return to work, dropping us off before rushing off again. His haste wasn’t lost on me; I wasn’t a child, so I knew what it meant. And I bet Helen knew even better. The moment Bruce left, Helen White dropped her façade of kindness. She snapped at me, calling me shameless and scolding me for being so demanding despite my age. There was something unreadable in her eyes as she harshly pinched my forehead with her sharp nails, snatched my phone, and transferred the fifty thousand dollars Bruce had just given me to herself. She leaned in close, her voice dripping with authority, “If you dare tell your father, things will get much worse for you. Understand?” I nodded, playing the part of the frightened child, but inside, I was laughing at her transparent attempt to control me.

The next morning, I placed a simple breakfast of bread and jam on the expensive table. Bruce, fresh from his morning routine, couldn’t hide his disgust. He struggled to swallow the bland breakfast, his eyes meeting mine, full of hope. With a moment’s hesitation, he took a bite, only to spit it out immediately, his face contorting in disgust. I secretly chuckled inside; this was my specially crafted culinary disaster, designed to be unpalatable. When he finally recovered from the taste, he frowned and scolded, “Where did you get this breakfast? It’s awful. You’re old enough to buy something decent.” Then, noticing my unfit school uniform, he asked with irritation, “I gave you money to spend as you see fit. Can’t you buy a new uniform? You’re embarrassing me by going out like that.” At this point, Helen, who was awakened by the commotion, leaned lazily against the railing. Her pregnant belly was prominently visible. She watched the scene unfold with amusement. She probably thought I was getting another round of scolding. My lips curled into a slight smile, though I made sure my face wore a mask of grievance. Inside, however, I was thrilled. “Everyone’s here. Showtime.” Tears welled up in my eyes effortlessly, falling like pearls, evoking sympathy from anyone who looked my way. I met Bruce’s gaze with a wronged expression, sniffling before I spoke. “Dad, don’t blame Helen, but she took my money. Oops! Helen said not to tell you. Helen, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to let it slip. Please don’t make me leave.” I wailed as if I’d accidentally let something slip, apologizing fearfully to Helen. The act was flawless. I burst into soft sobs, apologizing repeatedly and pleading not to be thrown out. It was a great performance. Perhaps moved by my act, or maybe just fed up with Helen’s arrogance, Bruce turned to Helen and harshly rebuked, “You’re not my wife yet. If you don’t give me a son, get lost!” The words were like music to my ears. In a conciliatory gesture, he handed me his card. Observing Helen’s barely contained fury, I acted as if I was taking the card with great reluctance, which only prompted Bruce to scoff. “Petty,” he muttered. I accepted his scolding, though the corners of my mouth betrayed me, rising with a joy that was tough to contain. I assumed Helen would keep a low profile for some time after the incident; after all, one would think even the most brazen would want to preserve some semblance of dignity. However, as I should have anticipated, the vigor of a mistress, particularly one who had successfully become pregnant, was limitless. The very next day, she struck back. She mixed crushed peanuts into my breakfast, knowing full well I had a mild peanut allergy, right before my school placement exams. I laughed coldly to myself and “accidentally” spilled the oatmeal all over her pregnant belly. The autumn air did cool the oatmeal’s heat. But the sudden sensation on her skin made her jump in fright, and like many pregnant women, her pelvic floor muscles gave way, causing her to wet herself. Her face flushed crimson. Bruce, standing just a few feet away, looked at her with clear disgust before turning away and walking out of the room. Her fingers turned white as she clutched her skirt. A week later, she decided to hit back by paying my classmates to bully me. It was hilarious. What she didn’t know was that I wasn’t just another student. I was the class president, elected unanimously. I took the money and treated the entire class to a barbecue instead. We all ate to our heart’s content, laughing. Two weeks later, Helen, despite her pregnancy, tried something even more desperate. She staged a fall, blatantly attempting to frame me for causing her to slip. I just felt confused. Then, I pointed upwards to the three newly installed cameras on the ceiling that provided full coverage with no blind spots. I mentally asked, “Are you a fool?” Her pupils contracted in panic as she realized her little performance had been captured on camera. Without a word, she got up as if nothing had happened. After all that fuss, I was unscathed, but the fallout was even more bitter for her. My unfaithful father became even less inclined to come home. Now, Helen was confined at home, her pregnancy keeping her mostly indoors, while Bruce continued to make out with other women outside. I went to school each day with a spring; I even played the part of the dutiful child in front of Bruce, charming him into driving me to school himself. As a result, everyone at school knew that my dad was a powerful man with money, influence, and prestige, making it even less likely for anyone to dare mess with me.

From that point on, Helen seemed to give in, pouring all her attention into the pregnancy. In the meantime, I’d sneak away to spend time with Amanda, indulging her with shopping sprees on Bruce’s credit card. Of course, Bruce wasn’t exactly thrilled about the constant drain on his finances. So, to smooth things over, I’d make a pit stop at a flea market on my way home, pick up something cheap, have it prettily wrapped, and then exaggerate its price when I got back. Finally, I managed to keep the extra cash for myself, cleverly tucking away the difference. But I knew this little game couldn’t last forever. I was already thinking of other ways to bring in money. However, before I could even start, Helen was ready to give birth. After a frantic rush to the hospital, she delivered a healthy baby boy, sending him into raptures of joy, and his attitude toward her softened considerably. He had yearned for a son for ages, from before my time to the present, and now his dream was realized. Right after her postpartum recovery, Helen begged Bruce to make their relationship official by getting married. I clicked my tongue in disbelief, exclaiming, “Men like my dad weren’t built for loyalty. His infidelity knows no bounds, spreading evenly among all the beauties he meets.” Certainly, Helen’s beauty was unmistakable; she had the kind of allure that could make her a standout in the entertainment world, if not become an instant star. Yet, aspirations differed from person to person. Helen chose the security and affection of being a beloved wife over the pursuit of personal ambitions or the independence of soaring solo. She triumphed over all her rivals, cementing her position with the birth of her son. With the legal bond of marriage, she likely believed her status was now beyond challenge, yet she couldn’t abandon her former habits, resuming her attempts to dominate me. This time, she claimed I was a disturbance to her cherished little one. Taking advantage of the situation, I lamented to Bruce about feeling unwelcome at home. Since Helen had just scored a significant feat by giving Bruce a son, he was now completely at her service, attending to her every whim. Consequently, he arranged for me to live in a generous apartment near a prestigious university, providing me with a substantial allowance for my expenses. Truth be told, if this was what it meant to “suffer,” I wouldn’t mind enduring such “injustices” a few more times. With money in my pocket, everything became easier.

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The sixth time my husband mixed the used cooking oil with my homemade lard, I lost my temper. My son disapproved, “Mom, why are you so emotionally unstable? Dad just mixed up the oils.” When he asked to go to school during his vacation for the umpteenth time, I told him he didn’t care about family. My son complained that I was unsympathetic, “Dad’s earning money for the family, he must have his reasons.” Later, my husband became a renowned author and was interviewed for a documentary. After filming all the footage, the director casually interviewed me and asked about my wishes. I thought for a moment and said, “I hope I could live my life over again.” After the interview, the director said goodbye. I sat in the rocking chair, feeling lost. After a while, I found the divorce agreement hidden in the bottom drawer and placed it in front of James Quinn. James fiddled with the wooden carving in his hand, not even looking up. “What’s this?” “Can’t you see I’m busy?” “I’m going to school later, and I won’t be back for dinner.” I instantly lost the desire to communicate with him. I put on my coat, ready to pick up our son one last time. After picking up the child, I should leave. The school gate was bustling with activity. I stood there for a long time but didn’t see my son. Anxiously, I took out my phone and called his homeroom teacher. “Ryan? I saw him leave school alone quite early. Didn’t you see him?” I thanked the teacher and started searching along the small path next to the school. He used to walk this path when he was upset. At the end of the path was our secret hideout. Seeing Ryan there, I breathed a sigh of relief, but tensed up again the next second. An unfamiliar voice came from the bushes beside him. “This place is really nice, Ryan. Thank you for bringing me here.” My son’s voice was cheerful: “I’m glad you like it, Aunt Sophia. Next time if my dad upsets you again, I’ll bring you here.” The sound of their playful laughter seemed fitting for the scene. I stood not far away, watching the two of them. The woman noticed me and was startled. “Oh, I thought it was someone else. It’s just you, Abigail.” “I’m sorry, Ryan saw I wasn’t in a good mood and brought me here.” “He was being all mysterious, and I didn’t have time to tell you.” “Ryan, you should have told your mom. You made her worry for nothing.” Ryan saw me too and frowned: “Why are you here? Are you following me?” I watched the two of them put on a show, and turned to leave. Ryan followed, his tone softening: “I guess I misspoke. Next time, don’t come here uninvited.” I looked back at him and said softly, “Alright.” Memories surfaced of his chubby face as a baby, looking so much like James. He once held a private birthday party for me here. Holding flowers bought with his pocket money, he stood on tiptoes to kiss my cheek and said: “Mom, I love you. Even if dad doesn’t love you anymore, I still love you.” “Dad must have forgotten because he’s busy, but don’t worry, Ryan will keep you company.” “From now on, when you’re unhappy, Ryan will bring you here. This is our secret hideout.” The path came to an end, and the fragrance of flowers in my memory faded past their prime, scattering in the wind.

I returned home, and James opened the door for me. “You’re back? Come eat, I made your favorite sweet and sour pork.” Didn’t he say he wouldn’t be home for dinner? “Where’s our son? Didn’t you go pick him up?” “He’s with Sophia, probably right behind me.” I hung my coat on the rack, catching a glimpse of the unnatural expression on his face. I asked him, “What’s wrong?” He rubbed his nose, “Nothing, hurry and wash your hands for dinner.” At this point, the only thing I couldn’t put down in this life was my fork. Why not eat when someone has prepared the meal? I could pack my bags after dinner. While washing my hands in the kitchen, I habitually glanced at the stove. It was like this again. He seemed to never understand what I said. Every time he fried something, he would pour the used oil back into my newly rendered lard. Every time he did it, I reminded him every time. When he poured the oil into my sealed lard for the sixth time, I finally lost my temper. “Can’t you understand what I’m saying? Or are you deliberately going against me?” “Why do you have to pour the used oil into my new lard?” I was shrieking like a shrew, while he rolled up his sleeves, calm and composed. “It’s just pouring oil, can’t you talk nicely?” Haven’t I talked nicely? Did you ever take it to heart when I spoke nicely? Before I could voice my thoughts, our son spoke up. “Mom, why are you so emotionally unstable? Dad just mixed up the oils.” That was the first time Ryan complained about me. I felt hurt but assumed he didn’t understand the whole situation. As time passed, I forgot about it. Later, I learned online that James did it on purpose. As long as he messed things up, he could avoid me asking him to do it next time. But he cooked less than five times a month. I don’t know what got into him today. We were about to divorce, yet he voluntarily started cooking. At the dinner table, the three of us were silent. I looked at the red sweet and sour pork on the table and suddenly lost my appetite. He clearly knew I didn’t like sweet and sour pork made with ketchup. Sweet and sour pork with ketchup was Sophia’s favorite. Just as I was about to put down my utensils, I saw James open his mouth, seeming hesitant. But he chose to break the silence: “Look, we’ve been married for so long, can’t we just stop this petty argument?” “My book just came out, if news of our divorce spreads now…” Our son, who had been eating with his head down, suddenly looked up and said to me: “Mom, did you lose your temper with dad again?” “Are you going through menopause?” “Dad finally made it as a writer, don’t cause trouble.” He then turned to his father: “Dad, didn’t you say you were going to see Aunt Sophia?” “Aunt Sophia was crying earlier. You know her ex-husband is always harassing her.” The usually gentle and refined James suddenly changed his expression: “I… I’m going out for a bit, I’ll be back soon.” “You two eat first.” The temperature had dropped sharply recently, but he rushed out without even taking his coat. He came back a few seconds later, and I thought he was getting his coat. Instead, he took a brown object from the room and was about to leave again. I called out to him, “Hey.” He didn’t even turn around, impatiently saying, “I’ll be back soon, don’t meddle…” “Take your coat.” James stopped in his tracks: “…Thanks.” He turned and took the coat, put his hands on my shoulders, trying to kiss me. I instinctively stepped back, and he paused for a moment before quickly saying: “Calm down, we’ll talk when I get back.” I watched his receding figure, growing smaller, like my heart contracting in pain. The last time I saw him this flustered was when I was hospitalized due to exhaustion.

I married James Quinn when we were young, and we’ve been married for over twenty years. We met on campus. He was a respected teacher, and I was the owner of the small campus store. After getting married and having a child, I transferred the store and focused on raising our son. After having the baby, my health wasn’t as good as before. To avoid affecting James’s work, I chose to sleep in separate rooms. I shared a room with our child. But taking care of a child meant fragmented sleep, making it harder to maintain good health. James’s salary was stable but not high. To support the family and give our child a good education, we needed more money. To lighten the family’s burden, I took on a lot of handicraft work. The embroidery needles pricked my fingers, and it hurt. But seeing Ryan eat his favorite dishes, I felt satisfied. However, as time went on, I still collapsed from exhaustion. When I opened my eyes in the hospital, James was there with an unshaven face. He held my hand, his eyes red. “I should have noticed earlier, why didn’t you say anything?” “You should have said when you were tired, people need to rest…” He said he had taken time off work for a few days to stay with me and our son. Looking at his concerned face, I thought while lying in the hospital bed. It was all worth it. After that, he stopped constantly rushing to school. Until a year ago. He said his book was going to be published, but the editor wanted him to make some revisions. He probably wouldn’t be home much during this time. I was overjoyed and nodded eagerly. I said happily, “Focus on your writing, I’ll take care of everything at home.” After all, if the book was published, the burden on our shoulders would be much lighter. It seems that from then on, things started to go off track. The book was successfully published, but he became arrogant. After publication, James still often went out, always with excuses. “The school is having an inspection in a few days.” “I haven’t finished grading papers.” But how could there be so much work to do? He was already considered a senior teacher, and Mr. Carter, who was also in administration, could leave work on time every day. I often met him on the way to pick up our child. I couldn’t help but complain about James: “Always neglecting the family, when will you have time to spend with our son?” But he exploded like quicklime touched by water. He shouted at me: “What do you know? I’m out there making a name for myself, you just need to take care of the home.” “I’m earning money to support the family, you’re enjoying life at home, and you still have all these damn demands!” I didn’t understand. He wasn’t a businessman, he had a stable salary, and his book was published. What was he so busy with? Of course, I questioned him, but the response came from our son playing with his toys. “Dad’s earning money for the family, he must have his reasons.” “You shouldn’t meddle so much.” The voice from my memory overlapped with reality. Suddenly, Ryan in front of me seemed like a stranger. The child I carried for ten months, gave birth to, and raised. How did he turn into such an ungrateful brat in the blink of an eye? Ryan ate a few more bites of food and put down his utensils: “You clean up, I’m going to check on Aunt Sophia.” I suddenly became curious: “What’s wrong with your Aunt Sophia?” He coldly responded while putting on his shoes: “How can you not know? Isn’t it because of you that she’s like this?” “She was still smiling this afternoon, saying I made you worry.” He probably didn’t want to stay with me for even a second and quickly left. I couldn’t understand, so I went to the bedroom to find the answers I needed.

After rummaging through drawers and cabinets, I finally found a yellowed diary at the bottom of the wardrobe. It was more of a manuscript than a diary. This should be the manuscript of James’s published book. Busy with housework, I hadn’t read his book yet. Opening the first page, the handwriting was immature, different from his current flowing cursive. It recorded his bitter unrequited love from his youth, word by word. Coincidentally, the protagonists were Sophia and him. “I like her, but I feel I’m not good enough for her.” “Later, my junior was assigned to the same school as me. I thought this must be fate.” “I gathered the courage to confess to her, but she rejected me.” Touching the words on the notebook, I was lost in thought. I also had an unspoken crush once. The protagonists were James and me. I first saw him when he came to buy a broken red pen for a student. He was handsome, wearing a white shirt, and slim. His demeanor exuded scholarly charm. Perhaps it was love at first sight. From then on, I was impressed by this elegant man. The next time I saw him, he brought a box of stray kittens. “A student picked them up. I thought your place would be the most suitable to keep them. What do you think?” “They might help you catch mice.” As he spoke, he smiled, his eyes bright and teeth white. As if bewitched, I nodded. With the stray kittens, we saw each other more often. Later, after school one day, the janitor accidentally locked me in the bathroom. At that time, society wasn’t as safe, and there were many cases of robbery and violent crimes in the city. There were even robberies near the school, making everyone nervous. James couldn’t find me and was sweating profusely with worry. He finally heard my cries for help from the most remote bathroom in the school. He ran to the security office to get the key. As soon as he opened the door, he hugged me tightly. “You scared me to death… Do you know how worried I was?” After that incident, we confirmed our relationship. The reason I know Sophia is that James introduced her to me personally. After I got together with James, he brought me to meet Sophia. “This is my junior from university.” He put his arm around my shoulder, then looked up at Sophia. “This is my girlfriend.” I still remember the proud look in James’s eyes. Now that I think about it, it was just a young man’s revenge after being rejected. But I took it seriously. I stayed by his side for over twenty years.

Looking at those words full of love, they seemed to turn into sharp thorns, almost piercing my mind. I stumbled all the way to follow Ryan, arriving at a restaurant. Through the transparent glass window, I saw my husband raising glasses and laughing with another woman amidst the crowd. James rarely brought me to his gatherings. He would say, “You’re just a businesswoman. Don’t meddle in our intellectual gatherings.” “What do you women know? You have long hair but short wisdom. I’m afraid you’ll say something inappropriate if I bring you.” I had given him the cold shoulder for this before, but later when our son’s tuition was due and the electricity bill needed to be paid, I was the first to lower my head and talk to him. Most of these arguments ended with me giving in first. Later, I wondered how I had let my life become so pathetic. Even my son stood by, laughing. They looked more like a family of three. I couldn’t stay rational anymore, my expression distorted with jealousy. I rushed into the restaurant and slapped James hard across the face. Not satisfied, I raised my other hand and slapped him again. The room fell into a deathly silence. Only the red marks on James’s face told the story. After everyone reacted, the room erupted in chaos. “You hit me?” James covered his face, incredulous. Some people condemned, some tried to break it up. “Hey, lady, who are you? How can you just come in and hit someone?” “Where did this shrew come from?” Lady? I looked at the person speaking. She was clearly in her early forties too. I saw my reflection in the window. In my forties, there were already silver strands in my hair. I was wearing a hoodie that Ryan had discarded. My hair was messy from running all the way here. Looking back at James. Although middle-aged, he hardly had any wrinkles. Time seemed particularly kind to him. He matched well with the charming Sophia beside him. Sophia stroked James’s face tenderly, defending him: “Abigail, if you have something to say, can’t you discuss it calmly? Why resort to violence?” I interrupted her: “Shut up! What right do you have to lecture me!” Sophia was startled by me and closed her mouth, not daring to speak anymore. She hid behind James, her eyes quickly turning red, looking pitiful. James saw this and felt sorry for her. He stepped forward, grabbing my collar and pulling me outside: “If you have any issues, take them out on me. Why are you yelling at her?” “Look at yourself now, you’re not fit for polite society!” I stood there stunned. His words seemed to kill me, dissect me, and lay me out in front of everyone. Look, this is the man I’ve loved for twenty years. I struggled to find my voice. “…Is this how you see me?” “No, I-” he tried to refute. I cut him off: “You never brought me to meet your friends. You think I’m embarrassing, uneducated.” “Now I know it’s not just because I’m a woman, but because you look down on me from the bottom of your heart!” “You didn’t think I was embarrassing when you used my money to network with publishing houses, did you?” “Now that you’re famous, you find me embarrassing, so you’re out here living it up with your junior?” He was so angry his eyes bulged: “She’s different!” “If you have any complaints, you can tell me in private.” “I’m a public figure now, have you considered my reputation at all?” I laughed coldly inside. He could be criticized, but not his precious junior. He was certainly protective of her. I suddenly lost all energy: “Sign the divorce papers as soon as possible. Don’t wait for me to file a lawsuit.” “It won’t look good for anyone if it comes to that.”

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I accidentally sent a message meant for my best friend to my ex-boyfriend while drunk. “Come see me tomorrow. I have something to tell you.” Alex: ? “You think I’ll come just because you tell me to? We broke up, stop treating me like your dog.” “What do you want to say? Having regrets? Begging to get back together?” “Chloe Williams, you dumped me so decisively, there’s no chance of us getting back together!” … “Chloe, I’m downstairs.” “Say what you need to say now. Answer the phone.” “You’re not answering calls or messages, I’ve been worried sick about you, and here you are just sleeping, Chloe Williams!” “Wake up, wake up! I’ve got some crazy news – guess who I just ran into downstairs? Alex! It was Alex Shaw!” Early in the morning, Zoe dragged me out of bed. Zoe is my best friend. We’ve known each other since childhood and are close enough to share clothes and have keys to each other’s places. At the mention of Alex’s name, I opened my eyes briefly. Zoe put her hands on her hips and scolded, “Chloe Williams, you really do care more about guys than friends. I’ve been trying to wake you forever with no response, but the moment I mention Alex you’re wide awake. It’s been six months since you broke up and you’re still hung up on him? Zoe put her hands on her hips and scolded, “Chloe Williams, you really do care more about guys than friends. I’ve been trying to wake you forever with no response, but the moment I mention Alex you’re wide awake. It’s been six months since you broke up and you’re still hung up on him? Have you no self-respect?” I yawned and lay back down to continue sleeping. Alex Shaw appearing downstairs at my apartment? The chances of that were lower than the sun rising in the west. “Stop making noise. Let me sleep a bit more. I drank too much yesterday and my head is killing me. When I wake up, I’ll tell you about the juicy gossip I heard at the class reunion last night. It’s mind-blowing.” I thought Zoe had come over because of the message I sent her last night. Zoe shook me again. “No more sleeping! Alex is really downstairs!” “Are you crazy or am I?” “Neither of us is crazy. It’s Alex who’s gone mad. He really is downstairs! Think about it, when have I ever joked about him with you?” During those first difficult days after the breakup, Zoe had taken time off work to be with me every day. She knew better than anyone how much Alex meant to me. She had indeed never joked about him. “Really?” I started to believe her. Zoe: “Yes, really! I’m not lying, I actually ran into him! He was dressed all fancy, like he might have a new girlfriend. Maybe he’s waiting to pick someone up for a date right now! Oh, by the way, what gossip were you talking about?” New… girlfriend? Of everything Zoe said, all I could hear was Alex dressed up nicely and Alex having a new girlfriend. We’ve only been broken up for six months. I had just started to move on, and he’s already dating someone new? Fine, he can date whoever he wants. But did he have to pick someone who lives in my building? I was furious. I sat up abruptly. “Let’s go! Let’s go see.” I got ready as quickly as possible – washing up, putting on makeup, choosing an outfit, styling my hair… For our first encounter since the breakup, I couldn’t lose face!

Alex Shaw was a year ahead of me in high school. During those years, he was something of a celebrity at school. He came from a good family, had great looks, and was a top student. Many girls had crushes on him. I was just one of many. I also fantasized about winning over this unattainable guy, but it was just a fantasy. The closest I ever got to him was watching him on the basketball court from the bleachers. Even among the crowd of spectators, I was unremarkable. The turning point came on an ordinary hot summer day. During a break in the game, his eyes scanned the crowd, finally landing on me. Like a dream, he walked straight towards me and “borrowed” the water bottle from my hand. Then he tilted his head back and drained the entire bottle. “Hey, add me on SnapChat so I can pay you back for the water.” Those were the first words he ever said to me. “N-no… I mean, sure, let’s add each other.” I fumbled for my phone in a daze. And just like that, we connected on social media. Even with his contact info, I never imagined anything would happen between us. I only messaged him on holidays. “Happy 4th of July, Alex.” “Happy 4th.” “Happy Thanksgiving, Alex.” “Happy Thanksgiving.” … Out of politeness, he always replied. During our senior year, I found out he was planning to study abroad for college. After much deliberation, I decided to close this chapter of my youth. I gathered my courage and confessed to him. “Alex, I’ve actually liked you for a long time.” He replied instantly: “Then let’s be together.” Me: ???!!! And just like that, we started dating. Looking back now, it all seems so rushed and impulsive.

I spent over an hour doing my makeup and getting ready. As we headed downstairs, Zoe kept fretting that my hair didn’t look quite right and worrying that Alex might have already left with someone. Zoe: “It’s been so long, he’s probably gone by now.” I also thought Alex was likely gone, but I still wanted to go down and see. Not for any particular reason. I just wanted to know what kind of person could truly capture Alex’s heart. Surprisingly, Alex was still there. After six months apart, he hadn’t changed much. No matter where he stood, he was always the most eye-catching person around. Some girls passing by sneaked glances at him. He seemed oblivious, just looking down at his phone with furrowed brows, appearing quite irritated. Well, of course. Waiting so long for someone who never showed up, who wouldn’t be annoyed? Zoe marveled, “What kind of goddess could make Alex Shaw willingly wait this long?” Indeed, Alex was never a very patient person. When we were together, he had never waited this long for me. It was always me waiting for him. Thinking back to the days before our breakup, my emotions were complicated. My footsteps involuntarily slowed. Finally, I stopped moving altogether. “Let’s go back,” I said, turning around. Zoe: “Hey, wait!” “We’ve broken up. Whoever he’s with now has nothing to do with me.” Zoe: “That’s not…” “Don’t say anything, Zoe. I’ve finally moved on. I don’t want to fall back into old patterns.” Zoe grabbed me: “Shut up! He’s coming this way!” “Chloe Williams.” At the same moment, Alex called out to me. Zoe slipped away upstairs. Alex and I stood face to face, momentarily speechless. Up close, he seemed to have lost some weight. His jawline was more defined than before. Zoe said he was dressed up nicely, and she was right. He even wore cologne, giving off a faint scent of cedar – clean and refreshing. That jerk! I think this cologne might even be the one I gave him! “You said you wanted to see me?” I asked coldly. Alex was visibly confused: “You’re asking me?” “Who else?” Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a beautiful woman walking in our direction. My heart sank. “If you have nothing to say, I’ll leave. Don’t want to keep you from your girlfriend.” “Girlfriend? What girlfriend?” Alex looked completely baffled. The woman walked off in another direction. I was bewildered: “You’re not here to meet your girlfriend? Then why are you here?” “Chloe Williams, you’re asking me?” Alex repeated, still confused. “You called me out in the middle of the night, didn’t answer my calls or messages, and I’ve been waiting for you since last night until now. And now you’re asking me why I’m here?” Alex stared at me like I was the one who had wronged him.

“I… called you out?” I was dumbfounded. “When did this happen?” “Check your phone,” Alex said irritably. I felt my pockets: “I didn’t bring it.” Alex took a deep breath and pulled out his own phone. He opened it, glanced at it, then quickly put it away. “Last night, you told me to come see you, saying you had something to tell me.” His face was cold, his tone very unpleasant. I tried to recall. A thousand curses ran through my mind. No way, no way. Did I send the message meant for Zoe to Alex instead? “Um, well.” I couldn’t meet Alex’s eyes anymore. Alex was still cold: “Well what?” “Actually…” Alex tilted his chin up, gesturing for me to continue. I hesitated for a moment, then resigned myself: “Actually, that message wasn’t meant for you.” “I’m sorry, Alex. I was really drunk last night.” He froze, then his face darkened like he wanted to strangle me. Back home, I ignored Zoe’s questions and searched everywhere for my phone. When I found it, I realized it had died at some point. Zoe: “So? So? What happened? Huh?” I plugged in my phone to charge: “He came to see me.” “What for? To get back together?” I told Zoe everything that had happened from start to finish. “So, you’re the goddess he waited all night for?” Zoe was shocked. “He came just because of one text message, and waited from last night until now. Could it be… he still has feelings for you?” Zoe’s eyes sparkled with gossip. I turned on my phone, and the screen immediately lit up with notifications. Some were from Zoe, some from Alex. There were over a dozen missed calls, mostly from Alex too. Zoe: “Quick, check what Alex said!” I hesitantly opened the chat. 23:11 Alex: “You think I’ll come just because you tell me to? We broke up, stop treating me like your dog.” 0:0

Alex: “Chloe, I’m downstairs.” 0:0

Alex: “Say what you need to say now. Answer the phone.” “Hahahahaha!” Zoe burst into laughter next to my ear. “Chloe Williams, are you sure he doesn’t like you anymore? Look how well-trained he is now, haha!” 5 The reason for my breakup with Alex was very simple. There was no cheating, no misunderstanding. He just didn’t love me, that’s all. Shortly after we got together, Alex went abroad for college. It’s no exaggeration to say that at that time, we barely even knew each other. Long-distance relationships are hard. A long-distance relationship between two people who barely know each other is even harder. Add in the time difference, and it becomes nearly impossible. Back then, I often felt like I didn’t even have a boyfriend. When I opened SnapChat, our chat history was so bland, without a hint of flirtation. Alex: “Have you eaten?” “Just finished class.” “It’s snowing.” [Video] Me: “The snow looks beautiful.” I’d get his reply the next day: “Still snowing.” [Video] The day after, me: “It’s really coming down.” … A month later, I brought up breaking up for the first time. Three days later, Alex flew back to see me. Looking at his impatient handsome face, I immediately regretted it. Alex: “Can we not break up?” “Okay.” And so we continued our rocky relationship. For a whole year, we never watched a movie together, never celebrated Valentine’s Day. He never forgot to send gifts, but they were always things I couldn’t use. A junior started pursuing me, not believing I had a boyfriend. When I mentioned Alex’s name, he said, “Come on, don’t joke. My ex is Jennifer Lawrence.” I was stunned, suddenly wondering what Alex and I really were to each other. Why couldn’t I have a normal relationship like everyone else? When I’m old, looking back… I’d have nothing to reminisce about. After much thought, I brought up breaking up with Alex again. That afternoon, Alex suddenly appeared before me. With a grim expression, he tossed me a box: “Happy birthday, ex-girlfriend.” My birthday was the next day. He had flown back early, intending to surprise me. I accepted the ugly necklace he said he had spent a long time choosing. The breakup talk was, once again, left unresolved. We truly ended things after he returned to the States. When Alex was abroad, I thought distance was our only problem. With the distance gone, I realized there were other things between us. He was very busy, often forgetting to reply to my messages. We’d make plans to see a movie on the weekend, and I’d end up sitting alone in the theater until the credits rolled. We’d plan a trip, I’d even request time off work, then he’d say he had a business trip. On Valentine’s Day, all I got was flowers he ordered. Seeing him in person was out of the question. … I finally understood. He simply didn’t love me. That’s why everything else came before me. What was the point of a relationship like this? After being stood up yet again, I told Alex we were breaking up and blocked him on everything. Two weeks later, in the dead of night, I quietly unblocked Alex. I went through his TikTok, then his Twitter, then his Instagram. Alex was living his best life. He really didn’t love me. 6 Yes, I was the one who broke up with Alex, but I had my reasons. The way he talked about it made it sound like I was the bad guy. Earlier downstairs, after hearing my explanation, he looked so hurt. What did he have to be hurt about? In our relationship, I was the victim. I opened Instagram and saw he had even shared a very emo song. Me: “…” Utterly speechless, I was about to close the app when I accidentally liked his post. My phone immediately buzzed with a message from Alex. Alex: “?” Come on, man. That reaction was a bit too quick. I didn’t reply, so Alex sent more: “??” “???” He seemed determined to keep going until I responded. Reluctantly, I typed: “Misclick, sorry.” Alex: “Oh. Another misclick.” No matter how I looked at it, it seemed like he was mocking me for last night’s misdirected message. Sending the wrong message was my fault, and making him wait so long was my bad. But when we were together, he stood me up plenty of times too. I only made him wait this once, and it wasn’t even on purpose. Thinking about it this way, my feelings of guilt disappeared. “Didn’t I wait for you countless times before? You only waited for me this once, seems like you came out ahead if you ask me.” Five minutes passed, then ten. Alex didn’t reply. He probably realized he was in the wrong and had nothing to say. I smirked and put down my phone. The phone buzzed with a new message. Alex: “It wasn’t just once.” “I’ve been waiting for you downstairs since we broke up.” “I waited for three days, then saw you come back with another guy.” “Who was he?”

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That night, when my parents were kidnapped, my older brother, Allen Baldwin, a police officer, wanted to go bungee jumping with my parents’ adopted daughter, Elaine Baldwin. I didn’t stop him. I made the call to the police without hesitation and began preparing the ransom. In my previous life, Allen had stayed behind to try and save my parents instead of going with Elaine. But while Elaine was bungee jumping, the cord snapped, and she fell off the cliff. They never found her body. Allen didn’t say a word after that. On my birthday that year, he drugged me and took me to the edge of that very same cliff. “It was you who planned this kidnapping. You went this far just to fight for attention, right? You’re a demon! “Elaine is dead. You should die, too!” When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my parents were kidnapped. This time, Allen didn’t rush to rescue them. Instead, he went straight to Elaine. But later, he regretted it so much that it nearly drove him insane. I suddenly jerked awake, beads of sweat dotting my forehead. My heart was pounding in my chest as if it was going to burst out. The feeling of weightlessness and terror hadn’t faded. However, I soon realized that I was in my bedroom. I glanced at the date on my phone and realized that I had come back to the day my parents were kidnapped. I knew that in five minutes, the kidnappers would call and demand me to prepare the ransom in one hour, or they would kill my parents. As the daughter of the Baldwin family, I was lost for eighteen years and have recently been reunited with them. I had only been back with my parents for less than a year, and they meant everything to me. I couldn’t let the tragedy from my previous life happen again. I rushed downstairs and stood by the phone. Allen, in his casual pants, followed closely behind me. “Vickie, why are you so nervous? Mom and Dad aren’t even here. Didn’t you kidnap them?” Allen gave a mocking smile. At that moment, I was certain he had also come from the future. His expression seemed to say, “Don’t waste your effort. It’s all pointless. Without my cooperation, this charade our parents and you are playing wouldn’t last long.” In my previous life, Allen had believed I had masterminded the kidnapping to gain my parents’ favor and attention. I still didn’t know where he had gotten such a ridiculous conclusion. This time, Allen chose to ignore my “trap” entirely. “Vickie, don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Allen said with a shrug. “Inciting a crime is still a crime. If you get caught, don’t come crying to me to help you.” I wanted to say something, but just then, the phone rang, cutting me off. Each ring sent a shiver to my heart. Yet, Allen acted as though he hadn’t heard it. As he was about to leave, a look of disdain flashed across his face. “Do what you want. I’m going to go bungee jump with Elaine. “I know they won’t actually get hurt. Don’t disturb me if there’s no real problem.” In my previous life, he hadn’t said that. Back then, Allen had used his years of detective experience to track down the kidnappers’ hideout quickly. In less than an hour, he rescued our parents. That day, my mind was so occupied with my terrified parents that I didn’t notice the suspicion and anger simmering in Allen’s eyes. It was only later, when he brought me to the cliffside, that I learned what he was thinking. While Allen was rescuing our parents, Elaine had called him repeatedly. When he didn’t answer, she went bungee jumping alone and had an accident. The phone ringing now felt like a death sentence, tightening the knot of anxiety in my chest. I picked up the receiver, and the kidnappers’ voice came through clearly. “You should prepare twenty million dollars. Have the money ready in two hours, or your parents are dead.” I froze, wide-eyed in terror. I thought, “What? Wasn’t it only ten million dollars last time?”

I gripped the phone tightly, my palm drenched in sweat. It seemed that the reality at this time was different from the last, and the kidnappers’ location might have changed as well. I had been so confident before, but now panic was starting to creep in. With a tremor in my voice, I pleaded. “Can you give us more time? Please, I…” Before I could finish, the line went dead. I quickly gathered my composure. I knew it was useless to these desperate criminals. The priority was to prepare the ransom and locate the kidnappers. I quickly scribbled down everything I knew from my previous life. There were two kidnappers, both young men, and the kidnapping took place at one of their homes. The ransom was ten million dollars, and they asked us to place it in the third trash can at the south entrance of the train station. Before they could collect the money, Allen had tracked down their hideout and rescued our parents, saving both our parents and the ransom. With that in mind, I grabbed my phone and dialed 911. I also called my father’s good friend, Dominik Happer, one of the company’s shareholders, and asked him to get cash directly from the finance department. Dominik was just as frantic as I was on the phone. “Call the police, Vickie. I’ll handle the money.” His words made my heart settle a little. Two minutes later, police officers arrived. Allen’s colleague and close friend, Cason Rayne, walked in with a scowl. “Vickie, Allen just called me. Luckily, I was nearby… “Filing a false report is a crime!” All my courage and hope crumbled in that instant. Allen had already decided that I was the mastermind behind the kidnapping, so he’d sent his friend to stop my “nonsense.” I didn’t expect he would do something like that. I didn’t think I could solve it without the help from the police and detective expertise. My emotions got the best of me, and I squeezed the paper with the clues into a ball. The thought of my parents being tortured by the kidnappers pushed me over the edge, and I broke down crying. “Cason, I’m not lying! I’m an adult. I’m taking responsibility for my words. “Please, I need the police’s help. Please help save my parents!” I sobbed, gasping for air, glancing constantly at the clock. Almost ten minutes had passed, and there wasn’t much time left. Cason leaned casually against the couch, scrolling through his phone. My tears failed to elicit any sympathy from him. “They say kids who grow up in orphanages are sly. Do you think crying will guilt-trip people into helping you? “Allen’s right. If you’re not raised here, you’re just an outsider. “Elaine is so much more mature than you…” Elaine’s fate differed from mine. She was adopted at eight and nurtured as if she were the apple of my parents’ eye. Allen pampered her. He treated her with almost obsessive care. Even when they were both adults, they often slept together. The ticking of the clock pulled me back to reality. I forced myself to steady my breathing, trying to calm the storm inside me. “Cason.” I called his name with a serious tone. “Since you’re here on duty, you have an obligation to solve my case…” Before I could finish, he interrupted with a mocking laugh. “You little brat, acting all high and mighty. “Do you think just because you’re back with the Baldwin family, you can control everything? You’re still an outsider here.” His words hit me like a block of ice. “Allen told me. Your parents don’t love you as much as you think. They often confuse your name with Elaine’s. “He said you’ve been scheming for attention. You made Elaine move out because of it.” Cason snickered, munching on a fruit platter as he belittled me. I knew he had totally believed those things. After all, those stories were coming from Allen. He kept maligning me like that in front of Cason. To them, I was nothing but a scheming woman, always trying to steal the spotlight. I stood before him again, my resolve firm. “What will it take for you to believe me? My parents are in grave danger right now. “Are you ready to bear the responsibility if we miss this crucial window to save them?” Cason faltered, his hand frozen mid-air. He stood up from the couch. “Well then, go ahead and report me. You’re just a spoiled girl who needs a lesson…” Before he could finish, two officers in uniform appeared at the door. “Is Vickie here? We’ve received a report and are here to handle the case.” My legs nearly gave way, and I almost collapsed onto the floor. My parents were finally going to be saved!

As soon as Cason saw the officers, he rushed over to shake their hands. “We’re colleagues,” he said, “I’m here to meet Allen’s sister.” That’s when I noticed Cason was in casual clothes. He turned and started heading for the door, seemingly intending to slip away. But the two officers immediately blocked his path. I quickly stepped forward to update them on the situation. “Officers! My parents have been kidnapped. I have a recording!” The recording I had made earlier was finally useful. The moment the kidnappers’ voices came through, Cason’s face turned pale in shock. “Allen clearly said they are actors… “He said you planned this whole thing yourself.” I snorted dismissively, not in the mood to waste words on him. I slowly unfolded the crumpled piece of paper in my hand. Drawing from the fragmented memories of my previous life, I tried to recall every detail. I quickly pieced things together in my mind and tried my best to come up with an excuse. “Officers! I can give you details about the suspects. They haunted my house once before. “I’m not completely sure, but their voices sounded similar… they asked me for directions before.” Soon, the sketch artist and the surveillance team were in place. I focused all my attention on describing the two kidnappers’ appearances. With a comparison to a database of known offenders, the police quickly identified them. Both were young men who had served time for robbery. One of them had rented a house under his real name, so the police immediately planned a rescue operation. I slumped onto the sofa. Cold sweat drenched my entire body. Twenty minutes later, the police officer accompanying me got a report. “Sorry, Ms. Baldwin, we didn’t find any trace of your parents at the scene. “But we did find this.” They had discovered numerous photos the kidnappers had taken. Among them were pictures of my parents and of me. “They’ve been watching you for a long time. Don’t worry, these two won’t escape.” I felt like my head was about to explode. The worst-case scenario had come to pass. The kidnappers had moved to a new hiding place, which meant the lead I had was now useless. Cason, standing off to the side, made a call to Allen. Although he lowered his voice, I could hear every word clearly. “It’s a real kidnapping. We have suspects. You need to come back…” To my surprise, Allen laughed on the other end of the line. It sounded almost like he was deliberately letting me hear. “Enough with the charade. How do you prepare to end this? “If Mom and Dad felt angry at you, don’t come crying to me.” The fear and resentment from my previous life rushed back in an instant. I felt even if he didn’t like me, he should at least believe his friend’s words. I wasn’t at fault, and neither were my parents. For over twenty years, they had raised him with love, but now, for the sake of their adopted daughter, he had ignored their safety. If my parents knew the truth, they’d be heartbroken. I felt sorry for my parents. As I wiped the tears from my eyes, the house phone suddenly rang. The officer in charge of surveillance gave me a look. My heart skipped a beat. The kidnappers were calling again!

The officer monitoring the call gave me an “OK” signal. I picked up the receiver, my whole body still trembling. The officer beside me handed me a small note. It read: [Delay time] I took a deep breath, trying to steady my voice, desperately holding back my tears. “I’m preparing the money now. Please don’t hurt my parents.” The kidnappers on the other end let out a contemptuous laugh. “Hurry it up! If it’s not done in an hour, I’ll make good on my threat!” An officer passed me another note. I read the note and asked, “Where should the money be delivered? How will you return my parents after I pay?” The kidnappers’ tone turned impatient. “Leave the money in the locker at the station. Don’t worry, once the money’s there, your parents will be back with you.” A sharp throb in my temple made my head spin. The drop-off point was different from the last time. I tried to keep talking, hoping the officers could trace the call. “How are my parents? Can I hear their voices?” The kidnapper cursed viciously, “You’re a lot of work.” And then I heard the desperate voices of my parents. “Vickie, we’re just glad we found you. We have no regrets in this life. “Don’t risk your life for us. You have to protect yourself. “I want you to know… we love you more than you think, and we want to make up to you. We just didn’t know how to express it…” My father’s frail voice came through. “Vickie, I’m sorry I lost you when you were two. If I ever get the chance, I’ll apologize to you in person…” I choked up, unable to say anything. I wanted to tell them that I didn’t need their apology. I just wanted them to be safe. I wanted to promise them that I would save them. The kidnapper cut off the conversation impatiently. I could hear him kicking someone, swearing under his breath. “Old fools, so damn sentimental! Rich people are so dramatic! “Get the money over here, or I can’t promise your parents will come home safe.” With that, he hung up. Everyone instinctively turned to look at me and then shook their heads. They hadn’t been able to trace the call. The kidnappers had used technology to block the signal. My anxiety and fear exploded all over again. My mind was a tangled mess. All I could do was to deliver the money. At least it would ensure my parents’ safety. I quickly called Dominik, who had promised to help with the cash. However, no matter how many times I called, the phone wouldn’t go through. After calling him a heaps of times, my phone finally rang. I picked it up and heard my brother Allen’s voice. He was laughing. “Have you had enough of the show? Time to wrap it up.” I instantly tensed. “What did you tell Dominik?” Allen’s voice was light and carefree. “Of course, I told him not to give you any money. Twenty million dollars is an immense amount of money. Do you really think you can get away with a measly trick? “I told him you’re just playing a cheap trick. You are trying to empty the family’s pockets as soon as you’re back. He won’t listen to you.” In that instant, every shred of hope I had shattered. I felt my hopes drain away like water, leaving me utterly devoid of any will to fight. I knew that without that two million, my parents had no chance of survival. I had read the case file from the last time. Those two kidnappers already had blood on their hands. They didn’t care about killing a few more people. If they didn’t get the money, they would really kill my parents. The phone rang again, and the kidnappers’ impatient voice pierced my heart like a knife. “If you don’t bring the money soon, I’ll kill them right now!”

I felt as if a pair of invisible hands were squeezing my heart, the pressure so suffocating I could barely breathe. Sweat poured down my forehead. The ticking of the clock echoed in my chest, each tick hammering against my heart. I picked up the phone, my voice trembling. “It’s not time yet. We’re still withdrawing money from several banks. “The amount you want is too much. We have to visit more banks,” I explained to the kidnapper. The kidnapper’s mocking laugh echoed through the line. “The Baldwin family has such a big fortune, and you can’t even gather this little cash?” I was so nervous that I could barely speak. In that fleeting moment, I suddenly heard the unmistakable sound of a train whistle in the background. The monitoring officers noticed it, too, and signaled me to delay. “Let me hear their voices again. I need to make sure they’re safe,” I said to the kidnapper. The kidnapper’s tone clearly hardened with anger. “Do you really think you’re some princess that everyone has to cater to you? “You have thirty minutes. If I don’t see the money, you won’t see your parents,” he threatened. The call was abruptly cut off, and the time limit was reduced to thirty minutes. I realized that there was no reason with these kidnappers. Around me, chaos erupted as the police worked frantically to contact the banks and secure the cash. I bit my lip hard, shutting my eyes, replaying the moment just before he hung up. I was certain of what I heard. In those last two seconds, there was a short but eerie sound of wind howling through the phone. I grabbed the officer beside me. “Play the recording again. Quick! The last few seconds!” Everyone was startled by my urgency, but they cooperated and played it again. Sure enough, they, too, heard that eerie, ghostly wind at the end of the call. I jumped to my feet. “I know where my parents are!” At first, the officers didn’t believe me easily. But after I presented the detailed evidence, they immediately assembled a team to head to the location.

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Hailey’s boyfriend opened a private yoga studio, Whispering Willow Yoga Studio, charging a jaw-dropping $2,500 per session. The price was steep enough to hurt my teeth, but the place was constantly packed with clients. Especially the mistresses of wealthy men. No matter how poor their posture or demeanor, they’d walk out looking like regal swans. Curiosity got the better of me, and one night, I followed one of those mistresses into the studio’s changing room. That’s when I heard the chilling sound of a woman begging for mercy from the other side of the wall… Content Ever since Hailey started dating Zachary “Zach” Carter, a wealthy and resourceful man, our parents treated her like a queen. Meanwhile, I was the unwanted bonus that came with their cellphone plan. So, now and then, I’d poke at her boyfriend’s perfect facade. “Zach’s good-looking, capable, and surrounded by women all day. Aren’t you afraid he’ll cheat?” Hailey rolled her eyes as she saw right through me, utterly unbothered. “He’s obsessed with me,” she replied smugly. “Every night, without fail, he’s all over me. How could he have time for anyone else? You’re just bitter. I was almost thirty, still single, and walking around hunched over like some grandma. Even Mom looks younger than you!” Her words pierced straight through my self-esteem. From childhood to now, Hailey has always been the one everyone praises. I was the one people criticized. I had poor grades and no friends, and now, not even a man would take me if I begged. Hailey was the exact opposite. Brilliant, beautiful, and constantly swapping boyfriend-like outfits. And now, she was with someone as seemingly perfect as Zach Carter. I swallowed my tears and kept mopping the floor. Behind me, Hailey lounged on the couch, legs crossed, chatting on the phone. “Zach, what time will you be back tonight?” “You have another session? With Penny again?” “Ugh, I still remember the first time I saw her. She looked like some backwater hillbilly. After just a week of your sessions, she’s posting on Instagram looking like a total debutante.” After some idle chat, her tone shifted. “Zach, your sessions work wonders. Why won’t you ever let me come to the studio? I’m your girlfriend, after all. I want to be prettier too…” Click. Zach hung up on her. Even I could hear the sharp tone of the disconnection. Hailey’s face darkened, and she snapped at me, “What are you staring at? Get out!” I dropped the mop, clenched my fists, and let an idea take root. I had Penny Hawthorne’s contact. When Zach’s classes exploded in popularity, it was through my connection that Penny reached him. I opened Instagram and saw her latest post: a sultry, half-draped selfie. Her skin glowed smooth as silk, her posture radiated confidence, and her aura was captivating. Forget men—even I felt my pulse quicken. Every inch of her body looked like an artist had sculpted it. Her caption read: “9 PM session tonight! So excited!” It was already 8:30. I hailed a cab to the studio. The place was tucked away in a quiet, unlit area on the outskirts of town. Penny arrived shortly after I did, sneaking into the building like she was up to no good. Not even bothering with a flashlight, she climbed the stairs by moonlight. I followed her, heart pounding, holding my breath. On the second floor, doubt started creeping in. If I got caught, Hailey would lose her mind, and our parents would probably throw me out because I had embarrassed them. But… I glanced at Penny’s silhouette ahead of me. Even in the dim light, her figure was alluring and seductive. I wanted to be beautiful too. If I could expose Zach—whether it was cheating or some dark secret about this private yoga—he’d have to do whatever I asked. Click. Penny entered a code, and the automatic doors slid open. Before they closed again, I darted inside.

Zach wasn’t there yet, so I trailed Penny into the changing room. No lights were ever turned on. The studio relied entirely on the pale moonlight spilling through the windows. After showering and changing into yoga gear, Penny left. I stayed behind, glancing at my phone. It was precisely 9 PM. I heard movement outside—Zach had arrived. “Coach, are we starting now?” Penny’s voice was sweet and saccharine, enough to make anyone gag. Zach didn’t reply, but Penny started making sounds. It was…odd. Panting, gasping, somewhere between pain and pleasure. I thought, Is this really yoga? Why does it sound so intense? Could Zach be…? Summoning all my courage, I turned the doorknob and peeked through the crack. Even with my eyes wide open, I could only make out blurry shadows. The dim lighting heightened my other senses. The sounds were sharper, more urgent, like someone being devoured. Then came a man’s guttural noise, strange and feral, quickly drowned out by Penny’s cries. Through the darkness, I squinted hard enough to make out faint silhouettes. Penny lay on the ground in a yoga pose, her movements fluid. Beside her, the man moved like a ravenous animal, hunched over and devouring his prey. Even without clear visuals, what was happening was obvious. “My leg hurts! I think I pulled something. I can’t keep stretching!” Penny’s voice trembled with pain, almost sobbing, but the next moment, she called out to “Coach” in a higher pitch. I felt both confused and envious. The bizarre session lasted until my phone’s battery died from recording. It was all Penny’s one-woman show; Zach never spoke a word. If I showed this to Hailey, she’d laugh it off as inconclusive. No, I needed something more substantial. When the session ended, Zach left. Penny returned to the changing room to shower. I watched through a crack in the door as she admired herself in the mirror, completely naked, under her phone’s flashlight. “Finished class. Wish you were here~” She posed provocatively, likely for her sugar daddy. Her body was mesmerizing—an hourglass figure with flawless curves. Her legs were noticeably longer and straighter than before. When Penny finally left, I inspected the studio. The air still reeked of something unidentifiable. Under a yoga mat, I found a strange clump of silk-like material. By the time I got home, it was past 10 PM. Zach now lived with us, supposedly so someone could “care for him.” Hailey served him indoors while I played maid outside. Our parents were asleep as usual, and Hailey’s bedroom door was closed. I went to the bathroom to wash Zach’s laundry, but his clothes were spotless, and there was no evidence of him showering after class. That made no sense. On returning to my room, I noticed Hailey’s door was ajar. Peeking inside, I saw them on the bed. Zach was completely different here—his crude words sent me shivers. How could he be so cold and silent at the studio but vulgar and lively here? I blocked his path when he eventually left Hailey asleep and stepped into the living room. “I have proof you cheated on Hailey.” He smirked, unfazed. “So?” “You’re my future brother-in-law. I don’t want to ruin your relationship with my sister.” I clenched my fists. “I just have one request—teach me yoga. I want to be prettier than Penny Hawthorne.” Zach’s eyes scanned me, full of disdain. “Your starting point’s pretty bad,” he said, smirking. “But it’s not impossible.” His voice turned low and cryptic. “Tomorrow night at 9. Whispering Willow. Come ready—I’ll need to inspect you first.”

I stumbled back to my room, legs weak and hands trembling, still in shock that this was happening. Unable to contain my excitement, I pulled out the strange clump of material I’d grabbed from Whispering Willow Yoga Studio. Under the bright lamp, I saw it clearly—a tangled mess of fine, silky white threads. But what exactly it was, I had yet to learn. I posted about it on social media, adding a vague caption. Unsurprisingly, the post sank without a single comment. I wasn’t expecting much anyway. Zach had already agreed to teach me, and that was all that mattered. That night, I slept soundly, waking up the following day feeling refreshed. When I checked my phone, the post from last night had been bumped up with a comment in the middle of the night. It was from a random account with a default avatar and a gibberish username: “Where did you find such a cursed thing?” “Cursed?” I typed back quickly. “I just picked it up on the road.” The reply came instantly: “Have you been dealing with someone strange?” Strange? Zach Carter certainly fits the bill. “What is this stuff, anyway?” I asked. But the person avoided the question, telling me not to go anywhere at night for the next few days and not to trust anyone. As if I’d listen. The chance to transform myself was proper in front of me. I didn’t care if it meant walking straight into hell. Before heading out that night, I put on the nicest dress I owned, styled my hair, and spritzed on some perfume. I made sure to pass by Hailey on purpose. She spat a grape seed and sneered, “Ugly is still ugly, no matter how much you dress up. Who’s the poor blind soul you’re trying to impress? Don’t you worry about giving them nightmares?” For the first time, her words didn’t sting. At the studio door, I hesitated as I entered the code Zach had sent me. The clock struck 9 PM. Strangely, I heard noises that weren’t coming from the main door but rather … from beneath the floor? Before I could investigate further, something brushed against me. “Zach?” I whispered. The room was pitch dark, and a sickly, rotten stench hit my overly sensitive nose, making it hard to breathe. Whoever it was stayed silent, their hands roaming freely over me. I had mentally prepared for this, but their aggressive pace made me tremble with anxiety. “This isn’t right… I thought you were teaching me yoga?” My protests were useless against the overpowering force holding me. For nearly thirty years, I’d never even been kissed. Now, I was being stripped bare in mere moments. I hunched over, clutching the thin fabric over my chest like a lifeline. But my awkward resistance only seemed to excite him further. His hot breath hit my face, wet and heavy, like a panting dog: “Huff…” With one hand, he effortlessly pinned my arms above my head, leaving me completely vulnerable. RIP. The sound of tearing fabric shattered the last of my defenses. I stopped resisting. If this was the price of becoming beautiful, so be it. As his hands explored every inch of me, my body gradually softened, unfamiliar sensations coursing through me. Just when he was about to take the final step, he suddenly stopped. A faint rustling sound broke through the silence. “What’s that?” I asked, leaning weakly against him, still catching my breath. The man abruptly pulled away before I could process anything, leaving me exposed and confused. In an instant, my wrists and ankles were wrapped in those same fine, silky threads, pulling tight—then yanking me in four different directions. “Ahhh!” A sharp, searing pain shot through me, overwhelming every nerve.

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When his mother found out, she immediately brought me to their five-story mansion. Overnight, I transformed into a princess, surrounded by love and attention. Grandma: “My dear granddaughter-in-law, these are our family’s heirloom jade jewelry.” Mother-in-law: “Sweetheart, keep this black card safe. All our family’s money is managed by the women.” Father-in-law: “Darling, please sign this agreement to transfer some company shares. If you think it’s not enough, we can add more!” Running into Jasper and Ann at the hospital was something I hadn’t expected. When I was with Jasper, I knew he had a close junior from college. On Jasper’s birthday, Ann, who was studying abroad, made a special effort to send a video message with her wishes. Seeing how intimate they looked, my heart ached. We had only broken up two months ago, and he had already moved on? Even found someone new. I unconsciously clutched the pregnancy report in my hand, not wanting anyone to see it. Yes, I was pregnant, and the baby was Jasper’s, just over two months along. I watched their matching silhouettes and turned to leave. “Jane?” Hearing the familiar voice, my whole body froze. I gripped the report tightly, afraid to move. “Jasper, what’s wrong?” Ann asked. “Nothing,” Jasper replied in a low voice. I felt a wave of sadness. So Jasper truly didn’t love me anymore, treating me like a stranger even when we met again. Fine, let’s just be strangers then. I kept my head down and walked forward. “Wait! Jane.” It was Ann. I didn’t want to deal with this and quickened my pace slightly. But in high heels and with a baby on the way, I couldn’t move very fast. Surprisingly, Ann caught up and grabbed my hand, forcefully turning me to face her. This was my first time seeing Ann in person. She was beautiful and elegant, with bright red lipstick that highlighted her bold beauty. Jasper stood right beside her, his face cold and expressionless. It was so frustrating. The father of my child was here with another woman, and I couldn’t even say a word. After hesitating, I finally managed to ask, “Can I help you?” Ann’s face twitched slightly, as if she hadn’t expected me to respond this way. After composing herself, she said, “Of course I do.” She linked her arm with Jasper’s and continued, “I hope you’ll stop bothering Jasper from now on. Only relationships between people of the same social status can last. You’ll only hold him back.” Ann’s words hit a sore spot. This was the very reason Jasper and I had broken up. Our families were worlds apart. He was the sole heir to a wealthy family, while I was an overlooked girl from a humble background. My mom had tricked me out of my savings, claiming she needed surgery, only to buy my brother a house the next day. When I found out about the scam, I truly felt like I was dragging Jasper down. In an emotional moment, I suggested we break up. For some reason, he was in a bad mood that day too. He only asked once if I was sure, then agreed to the breakup. We ended things just like that, in a messy, unclear way, right up until our reunion today. “Ann, let’s go,” Jasper said, his face dark as if holding back something. How ridiculous! I should be the angry one here, being lectured by a stranger. If anyone should leave, it should be me first. I stormed off, fuming. As I went down the stairs, I accidentally missed a step. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest, but luckily a kind lady caught me, and I grabbed her arm to steady myself. “Are you alright, dear?” The lady kept supporting me until I was stable. “I’m fine, thank you so much.” I accidentally glimpsed the lady’s Hermès Birkin bag and my heart skipped a beat. Thank goodness I hadn’t grabbed that bag – I could never afford to pay for any damage. “You dropped this.” She picked up my pregnancy report from the ground. Just as I was about to take it back, she paused. “Young lady, is your name Jane?” Her surprised tone left me confused. We didn’t know each other, did we? “Yes, how did you…” Before I could finish, Jasper’s voice suddenly rang out. “Mom, what are you doing here?” No way, how could this be so dramatic? Running into my ex-boyfriend while checking on my pregnancy was one thing, but meeting his mother too? There was no way I could hide my pregnancy now. “Jasper, is this Jane?” Mrs. Thompson’s tone became serious. Jasper’s silence said it all. “How could you be so careless! Such a big thing and you didn’t even tell me!” “Jane dear, you’re coming home with me right now. Pregnant women need extra care. Let me look after you properly.” Mrs. Thompson took my hand and started to leave. This… this… “Mom, what are you talking about?!” Jasper exclaimed. “Shut it, young man! I’ll deal with you later!” Mrs. Thompson threw my pregnancy report at Jasper. When Jasper saw the report, he looked completely shocked. Of course, the one with the most dramatic facial expressions was Ann. Her face turned from red to white, then back to red again, her lips trembling with anger. “Mrs. Thompson, there must be some misunderstanding. Jasper has already broken up with her,” Ann interjected. “Our family matters are none of your business, Miss Brown.” Mrs. Thompson shot Ann a sharp glare, causing her to lower her head in fear. “My precious daughter-in-law, will you come home with me?” When Mrs. Thompson spoke to me, her voice was incredibly gentle, and she looked at me with loving eyes. Faced with such a warm-hearted lady, I found it impossible to refuse. Before I knew it, I was being led away. By the time I came to my senses, I was already sitting in Mrs. Thompson’s car. Things were spiraling out of control. I carefully began, “Mrs. Thompson, Jasper and I have indeed broken up. I think it’s better if I stay at my own place. Besides, Jasper has Ann now, so we should probably keep our distance.” “Nonsense, silly girl! There’s nothing between Jasper and Ann, and I would never approve of them being together!” “The only reason Jasper is nice to Ann is because she once saved his life in college. Of course, we’re very grateful to her, and we’ve always tried to accommodate her requests over the years. That’s fine, but if she’s getting greedy and trying to ruin your relationship with Jasper, making you suffer, I won’t let her get away with it!” “Now that you’re pregnant, it’s our family’s responsibility. If you don’t want to stay at our place, I’ll move in with you instead.” “Mrs. Thompson, this…” “It’s settled then!” I’d heard from Jasper before that his mother was quite headstrong, and now I was experiencing it firsthand. Calling the movers, packing up, loading the truck – the whole process was seamlessly executed. I was whisked away to the Thompsons’ five-story mansion in the middle of the night. Jasper wasn’t home, but his grandmother and father were there. When I got out of the car, both elders were waiting at the front door, which made me feel a bit embarrassed. “Hello, Grandma. Hello, Mr. Thompson.” I greeted them politely. Mr. Thompson smiled and nodded at me. “Oh, hello, hello! Come here, dear.” Grandma Thompson warmly beckoned me over. Seeing that the elderly lady was using a cane, I quickly went to support her. The old lady held my hand as we walked into the mansion. The interior decor was absolutely extravagant, with a European palace style. Once again, I was acutely aware of the vast difference between Jasper and me. His family lived in a five-story mansion in the city center, while mine lived in an old, run-down apartment in the suburbs. His father was a CEO, while mine was an alcoholic taxi driver with a gambling problem. His mother was a renowned dancer, while mine was a supermarket clerk who only cared about her son. Two people from such different worlds, brought together just because we caught each other’s eye at a friend’s birthday party – looking back, it all seemed so naive. Not to mention that Jasper was the definition of tall, dark, and handsome, standing at 6’2″ with sharp features. I’d heard from friends that Jasper had been the campus heartthrob during his school days. What made me feel most inferior wasn’t the stark economic difference between our families, but the contrast in family atmospheres. The Thompson family was warm and loving, while my family members only thought about how to squeeze every last penny out of me for their precious son. A bitter smile crossed my lips, but Mrs. Thompson’s words brought me back to reality. “Darling, you must be exhausted. Why don’t you go upstairs and rest? Your room is on the second floor. I’ve prepared everything for you.” Mrs. Thompson took my hand and led me to the room. “What do you think? Do you like it?” Mrs. Thompson smiled at me. The moment the door opened, I was truly amazed. It was an Instagram-worthy princess room, all in pink and white, completely fulfilling my childhood fantasies. There was also a huge wardrobe filled with various Barbie dolls and stuffed animals. When I was little, I loved Barbie dolls. Every year on my birthday, I would wish for my mom to buy me one. But my birthday wishes were never fulfilled, not even once. She would only buy limited edition Lego sets for my brother, never remembering my existence. A mix of sadness and gratitude welled up inside me. My eyes reddened, and I couldn’t speak as I looked at Mrs. Thompson. “Silly girl, why are you crying? I had this hastily arranged. Do you like it? If not, we can change it.” “Thank you, Mrs. Thompson,” I choked out. “No need to thank me, it’s what we should do. To be honest, I truly like you. Regardless of what happens between you and Jasper, I want to treat you like my own daughter. Jane, could you stop calling me Mrs. Thompson? Would you call me Mom instead?” She said the last part so carefully. I couldn’t bear to refuse, especially since Mrs. Thompson had been so kind to me. Although it was probably for the baby’s sake, I was still very grateful to her. “Mom,” I said softly. “Yes, dear!” Mrs. Thompson beamed with joy. “Now go and rest. I’ll have someone bring up some warm milk later. Drink it and get some sleep. I’ll be right next door if you need anything, okay?” That night, I slept more peacefully than I had in a long time. The next morning, after breakfast, I was taking a stroll in the Thompsons’ garden. The garden was full of roses planted by Mrs. Thompson, romantic and gentle. “Jane! What are you doing here?!” A sharp female voice, barely containing anger, interrupted my peaceful moment. I turned to see Ann carrying several bags of nutritional supplements, probably here to visit the Thompson elders. “I don’t think I owe you an explanation,” I replied. Ann stormed towards me, gritting her teeth as she said, “Did you not listen to what I told you last time? If you keep shamelessly clinging to Jasper, don’t blame me for not being polite!” “Oh? That’s quite a bold statement, Miss Brown. I’d like to see who dares to bully my daughter-in-law right in front of me!” Mr. Thompson’s authoritative voice rang out, accompanied by his stern face. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson had appeared without me noticing. Mrs. Thompson walked over and put her arm around my shoulders, frowning as she looked at Ann. “Uncle, I didn’t mean…” Ann said pitifully. “Hmph.” Mr. Thompson let out a cold snort. “Jane, come inside with me. We have something to discuss. Miss Brown, you should come in too. There are some things we need to clear up with you.” We all went into the house together. Grandma Thompson seemed to be waiting for us in the living room. I sat down next to Mrs. Thompson, and then the three elders simultaneously took out something. What they said next left me completely stunned. Grandma Thompson: “Granddaughter-in-law, these are our family’s heirloom jade jewelry, passed down to each generation’s bride.” Mrs. Thompson: “Daughter-in-law, keep this black card safe. All our family’s money is managed by the women.” Mr. Thompson: “Daughter-in-law, this is an agreement to transfer some company shares. Please sign it. If you think it’s not enough, we can add more!” Finally, Mrs. Thompson said, “This is just a small token of our appreciation. We hope you’ll accept it.” She patted my hand gently. “Mrs… Mom, these things are too valuable,” I said, quickly correcting myself when I saw Mrs. Thompson’s hurt expression. “Sweetheart, it’s nothing. This is what our family should do. Don’t be shy! As for some people, they shouldn’t have any improper thoughts!” Grandma Thompson said slowly, clearly hinting at Ann. Ann’s face turned red, but she didn’t dare say anything. “Also, we elders have discussed and hope that you and Jasper can get married soon. Jane, when would be a good time to arrange a meeting with your parents?” Mrs. Thompson’s eyes sparkled as she spoke to me. How could I tell her that I had cut ties with my mother? How could I tell her about the dysfunction of my birth family? Just as I was hesitating, Jasper appeared. Seeing Jasper, Ann seemed to find her backbone. She immediately rushed over, grabbing his hand and saying pitifully, “Jasper, you’re finally here.” Jasper didn’t respond to her. He discreetly pulled his hand away from hers, leaving Ann standing there awkwardly. Jasper stared straight at me and said firmly, “I don’t agree to getting married. I’ll make my own decisions about my marriage.” Then he turned to Ann and said, “I’ll take you home.” I lowered my head, not wanting to see Jasper being gentle with another woman. “You little brat! If you dare walk out that door today, I’ll disown you!” Mr. Thompson shouted. Jasper paused for a moment, then left without looking back. Ann hurried after him. Jasper didn’t come back all day. To avoid me, he didn’t even want to come home. Perhaps leaving would be the better choice. I lay in bed unable to sleep, the image of Jasper leaving with Ann replaying in my mind. To distract myself, I opened my social media. The first post was from my aunt: “Congratulations to my sister on her new house, and to my nephew on his new home.” This family would be the same with or without me. I was always the extra one. I closed my eyes, letting tears soak my pillow. The next morning, I groggily opened my eyes to see someone standing by my bed holding a breakfast tray. It startled me, but it was just Jasper. I don’t know how long he had been standing there. I thought he had come to make amends, but I was wrong. “Mom said pregnant women sleep a lot, so she asked me to check if you were awake. Now that you’re up, eat your breakfast. We need to talk after.” He had stubble on his chin and looked tired. While I ate breakfast, Jasper sat nearby staring out the window, his brows furrowed. I swallowed the last bite and said, “Jasper, I’m done. What did you want to say?” “Do you really want to keep this baby?” Jasper looked at me intently, his eyes filled with emotions I couldn’t decipher. “Yes, I want to keep it.” “Hah, Jane. Do you think keeping this baby will guarantee you a comfortable life? You’re quite the schemer, aren’t you? It must have been exhausting pretending around me for so long.” Jasper’s words infuriated me. “Jasper Thompson! I never planned to tell you about the baby in the first place. Don’t worry, isn’t this what you wanted? To get rid of me? You don’t have to say it, I was planning to leave today anyway! I won’t stay here and bother you anymore!” “Get out of my way.” I pushed past Jasper and started throwing clothes into my suitcase. Jasper stood motionless, but I could see from the corner of my eye that his fists were clenched tightly, veins popping out. Our commotion alerted Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. “Jane, what are you doing?” Mrs. Thompson took the clothes from my hands, stopping my actions. Jasper and I were both too angry to speak. Mr. Thompson’s gaze swept over the luggage on the floor, then turned to Jasper, his face dropping. “Jasper Thompson! Did you upset Jane?!” Mr. Thompson shouted. “Not talking, huh? Maria, bring me my cane. If I don’t teach this boy a lesson today, he’ll never learn how to be a decent person!” “Honey, stay with Jane. Jasper, get out here!” Mr. Thompson dragged Jasper out by his collar. Jasper had told me before that his father was a strict parent. When he was young, he often got disciplined, but after his teenage years, Mr. Thompson had never raised a hand to him again. Mr. Thompson must have been truly angry today. Mr. Thompson’s trust in me provided a small comfort, but Jasper’s hurtful words still pierced my heart like a knife. Maybe it was because of the pregnancy, but I felt more emotional than usual. Large tears rolled down my cheeks. Mrs. Thompson hugged me tenderly, gently patting my back. She said, “Jane, don’t be upset. It’s all that silly boy’s fault. I’ll make him apologize to you! He’ll kneel on durian if he has to! Later, I’ll show you his embarrassing childhood photos. If he dares to upset you again, we’ll post them on social media and let him lose face!” I was crying and hiccuping, but Mrs. Thompson’s words touched my heart. Putting Jasper aside, having such a mother-in-law would truly be a blessing. That afternoon, while taking a walk in the park with Mrs. Thompson, I once again brought up the idea of moving out. Mrs. Thompson refused to agree no matter what. In the end, we both compromised. I would continue to stay with the Thompsons, but I wouldn’t accept the gifts they had given me. Jasper and I had already broken up, and I couldn’t accept things from his family without a clear status. Mrs. Thompson couldn’t persuade me otherwise, so she had to compromise, saying she would keep the gifts for me until Jasper and I got married. Jasper and I… could we really get married? That night when I entered my room, I found that my bed had been changed to a bunk bed. Was Mrs. Thompson planning to move in and sleep with me? The next second, Jasper walked in with a sour face. “I’m sorry. You’re pregnant now, so you shouldn’t get too emotional.” What a half-hearted apology. “It’s nothing. I’m leaving.” Jasper yanked the door open. “Ouch!” Mrs. Thompson, who had been eavesdropping outside, nearly fell over. “Mom, what are you doing?” “Smack!” A crisp sound as Mrs. Thompson’s hand landed on Jasper’s back. “Jasper Thompson, can’t you be more sincere?!” “And where do you think you’re going? Starting today, you’ll be sharing a room with Jane.” “What?!” Jasper and I exclaimed simultaneously. “You don’t need to go to the company for now. Just focus on taking good care of Jane.” “No way! I refuse!” Jasper reacted strongly. “If you don’t accept it, then get out!” “Fine, fine, I’ll leave. I wonder who’s really your child here!” His tone sounded almost hurt and jealous. Jasper really did leave, and he didn’t show up for several weeks. Days passed uneventfully. During my time with the Thompson family, I deeply felt the warmth of a loving home. Mrs. Thompson prepared nutritious meals for me every day, always trying new recipes. Grandma Thompson and Mrs. Thompson, afraid I might get bored, kept me company with flower arranging, chess, chatting, and walks. Mr. Thompson, though more serious, also cared about me, often bringing home various nutritional supplements. I became increasingly attached to this place, not wanting to leave. But I knew it was impossible, especially since Jasper seemed to dislike me so much. Thinking of this, I let out a helpless sigh. “Jane, what are you thinking about?” Mrs. Thompson asked. “Nothing,” I said with a smile, shaking my head. “Then why don’t you come with me for a spa day this afternoon!” “Sure.” It wasn’t until we arrived at the beauty salon that I realized Mrs. Thompson wasn’t here for a spa treatment at all. She was here to introduce me to the family! Jasper’s aunts and female relatives sat in a row, smiling at me. The feeling of being scrutinized by a group of wealthy ladies – who could understand! “Jane, this is Jasper’s eldest aunt.” “Hello, Eldest Aunt.” “This is Jasper’s second aunt.” “Hello, Second Aunt.” “This is Jasper’s…” … Mrs. Thompson led me through a round of greetings. I smiled and nodded the whole time, my face almost cramping. By the end of it, I had not only become familiar with everyone but also received a stack of red envelopes. During this time, I endured many exaggerated compliments.

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My social-media-famous sister-in-law came to St. Grace Medical Center late in her pregnancy, demanding I deliver her baby. I rushed to prepare everything for her delivery. During labor, I suffered an allergic reaction to something I ate. The baby didn’t survive, and I thought it was my fault. She went live on TikTok and accused me of killing her baby. My husband, Ethan Rivers, publicly claimed I was just jealous of her online fame. The hospital fired me, saying I lacked professional ethics. The police cleared me of intentional harm, but my reputation was ruined. Wandering by the Chattahoochee River, heartbroken, Ethan revealed he’d framed me to be with Raina Ward, my sister-in-law. Then he pushed me into the river. When I opened my eyes, I had gone back in time to the day my mother-in-law begged me to help. I sidestepped her outstretched hand, my voice cold and firm. “I can’t.” …… Content “Nina, I’m begging you! Please, save your nephew.” “Have mercy; this old woman is on her knees for you.” The icy water of the Chattahoochee River stabbed through me, the suffocating fear forcing me to gasp for air. “Nina, say something!” The familiar voice jolted me. I instinctively looked up to see a wrinkled face. The sharp scent of disinfectant hit my nose. Was I in a hospital? No, I remembered being shoved into the river. I had died. Then it dawned on me—I had been reborn. I was back on the day my mother-in-law, Dorothy Rivers, had begged me to deliver Raina Ward’s baby. In my past life, I had fallen for this pitiful act. I worked tirelessly for my influencer sister-in-law, but during delivery, I had an allergic reaction. The baby was stillborn, and I became the target of everyone’s wrath. Ethan Rivers, my husband, told the media I had deliberately eaten something to provoke the allergy and create an excuse to kill the baby. Dorothy accused me of being jealous because I hadn’t conceived in our three years of marriage. Raina told her fans I nearly killed her during surgery. Followers on TikTok mobbed me online: “This woman is pure evil.” “Someone like her has no place being a doctor.” “She should die. Who knows how many more pregnant women she’ll kill out of jealousy?” No one listened to my explanations. The police investigated but found no evidence of foul play. Still, St. Grace Medical Center fired me for “ethical violations.” Numb, I wandered along the riverbank. That’s when Ethan told me he framed me to make his relationship with Raina legitimate. Then he shoved me into the river. “Mom, please get up.” I fought the bile rising in my throat and pretended to help Dorothy to her feet. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of Raina. Let me call an ambulance to bring her to the hospital.” “No, Nina, we want her to give birth at home,” Dorothy protested, kneeling again, halfway through standing. “Mom, hospital policy forbids doctors from making house calls, and the hospital is safer, right?” Dorothy hesitated, but my firm refusal forced her to relent. Later, she brought me a container of shrimp and grits. “Nina, I heard from Ethan you didn’t eat much this morning, so I made this just for you,” she said as the rich smell of meat filled my office. Finally, I understood why I’d had that mysterious allergic reaction in my past life. That morning, I had only grabbed a Southern-style sausage biscuit. Ethan had gotten up early, cooked, and insisted I eat, but I had surgery scheduled and didn’t want to risk needing the bathroom, so I skipped it. The problem wasn’t Ethan’s breakfast—it was Dorothy’s shrimp and grits. I’m allergic to Cajun crawfish, though my symptoms are delayed, making the timing suspiciously perfect. In my past life, the symptoms hit right before Raina’s surgery. A shiver ran through me. What had I done to this family to make them conspire against me like this? “Fine, leave it there. I’ll have it later.” Dorothy reluctantly left, turning back repeatedly to remind me, “Nina, make sure you eat it!” I opened the container, took a small bite in her presence, and smiled.

In my past life, I had been so busy after a surgery that I didn’t notice Dorothy’s sudden shift to “caring mother-in-law.” I had thought it was genuine concern for Raina. Dorothy had treated me decently—until she found out I couldn’t have children. Then her attitude did a 180. What she didn’t know was that her beloved grandson wasn’t biologically hers—her son was the one who was infertile. “Thank you, Mom. It’s delicious,” I said, and she left satisfied. I finished the food and took an amoxicillin pill. I’m allergic to amoxicillin, and the reaction would serve as my excuse to bow out of the surgery. Soon, Raina arrived at the hospital, TikTok Live rolling as she waddled in. “Don’t worry, my lovelies. I won’t stop streaming while I’m in labor. My sister-in-law Nina will be delivering me. She’s, uh, strict, but I’m sure she’ll do fine.” She didn’t look like someone at death’s door as Dorothy had claimed. Raina’s glowing complexion and cheery chatter showed she was basking in the attention of her fans. Despite her enormous belly and unsteady stance, she was all smiles, chatting away to the camera. Someone with that determination could’ve done anything—why settle for a loser like Ethan? After we married, Ethan quit his job, claiming he wanted to “focus on family,” which really meant mooching off me. I cooked, cleaned, and paid all the bills. This morning’s rare breakfast from him had been part of a setup. Nina, what were you thinking marrying this man? Raina sat in front of me, and I began asking the routine questions. “How many weeks?” “Twenty-seven,” she answered. I eyed her near-full-term bump. “Are you sure?” “Of course! Nina, are you doubting Raina?” Dorothy interjected, nearly jumping out of her chair. Her hysteria confirmed my suspicion: Raina’s baby wasn’t Ethan’s. “I see, Mom. Don’t worry, I just asked because her belly looks different from others at this stage.” “What’s different? It’s not a girl, is it?” “No, no, probably just a big baby from eating too much during pregnancy. It could make delivery harder.” “Oh, thank goodness. Nina, don’t worry; Raina knows what she’s doing.” “Mom!” Raina interrupted, clearly annoyed. “I’ve just read a lot of books on the subject.” I ignored her and continued, “Have you given birth before?” Dorothy jumped in again, “No, she hasn’t!” Her eagerness to answer before Raina spoke made me suspect she was hiding something. “Mom, let Raina answer. Maybe you could wait outside. And, Raina—no live streaming in the delivery room, okay?” The viewers weren’t happy with my tone. “This doctor is so rude!” “Raina deserves better!” “She should be grateful Raina trusts her.” But I wasn’t going to let public opinion sway me this time. I scribbled some instructions and handed them over. “Alright, go for a checkup.” “Why?” Raina asked. “To check on the baby,” I replied, typing into my computer. “I don’t see any prenatal records for you, so we need to ensure everything’s fine before surgery.”

In my past life, I had believed Raina Ward’s words and ended up falling into her trap. I suspected that the baby inside her now was already a stillborn. Last time, she had injected herself with labor-inducing drugs right before going into the operating room. Only with our team’s frantic efforts had the baby been delivered—otherwise, both mother and child wouldn’t have survived. “Nina Woodson, what do you mean by this? Are you cursing Raina to have complications? What kind of doctor are you?” Dorothy Rivers shot up from her chair and pointed at me, her face red with anger. “Raina’s already in this state, and you still refuse to arrange the surgery?” Tears immediately welled up in Raina’s eyes, spilling over as if on cue. “Sister-in-law, I don’t know why you dislike me, but I’m holding on, supported only by the encouragement of my fans. Otherwise, I wouldn’t even have the strength to sit here and talk to you.” Her followers on TikTok erupted with rage. “What kind of doctor is this? Raina’s in pain, and she’s still stalling with tests?” “She’s just out to make money. A set of tests must cost thousands. Half of it’s probably going into her pocket!” “She’s scamming us live on TikTok! Imagine what shady things this hospital does behind the scenes.” “We have to stand up for Raina and expose this corruption to the world.” Raina’s phone pinged nonstop as gifts poured in from her followers. Even when some viewers pointed out that testing was standard procedure, their voices were drowned out by the mob focused on “justice.” Ethan Rivers arrived, storming into the room. He jabbed his finger toward me, furious. “Nina, you’re deliberately trying to harm Raina’s baby, aren’t you?” I opened my mouth to respond but quickly shut it. What was the point of reasoning with this group of idiots? It was a waste of time. “Brother, I need to use the restroom,” Raina said softly, tugging at Ethan’s sleeve. “Of course, let me help you,” he said tenderly, taking her hand as if she were the most precious thing in the world. The display was so nauseating I almost gagged. I couldn’t resist a snarky comment. “Wow, Ethan, you’re so attentive to Raina. Anyone watching would think that baby is yours.” The two froze mid-step, their backs stiffening. Ethan whipped around, glaring at me. “What nonsense are you spouting, Nina? She’s my sister!” Raina looked at him with wide, tear-filled eyes. “Brother, maybe you should stay away from me. I don’t want to upset Sister-in-law.” “Don’t pay attention to her, Raina. Come on, I’ll take you to the restroom,” Ethan said, leading her away. Dorothy didn’t follow them. Instead, she stayed behind, glaring at me like a hawk, likely afraid I’d leave the hospital or refuse to operate. Raina returned shortly, and I noticed her TikTok live stream had hit number one on the platform. The comment section was filled with hate for me and the hospital. Rumors spread like wildfire, and media outlets announced plans to cover the story. In my past life, this storm of controversy erupted after the stillbirth. This time, it was happening earlier. But I wasn’t going to let history repeat itself. I would make every single one of them pay for what they did to me. Ethan and Raina refused to get the tests done, demanding surgery immediately. I ignored them and focused on my phone. “Sister-in-law, my stomach hurts. I think I’m about to give birth,” Raina suddenly cried out, clutching her belly dramatically. As if on cue, my phone rang. It was Dr. Leonard Caldwell, the hospital director. “Nina, do you know what people are saying about us out there? You’d better get Raina into surgery right now.”

Oh, how could I have forgotten about Dr. Caldwell? Looking back, it made sense. Why was Raina allowed to livestream in the hospital without anyone stopping her? Why hadn’t the hospital stocked allergy medication? Why was I fired despite being cleared of any wrongdoing? Clearly, this was all Caldwell’s doing. But why he conspired with Ethan was still a mystery. “Dr. Caldwell, I don’t feel well. I ate the shrimp and grits my mother-in-law brought me this morning, and now I’m having a reaction. Could you send another doctor to handle this?” “Useless! I’m coming myself!” he barked before hanging up. Dorothy’s panicked expression didn’t escape me. I feigned weakness, holding my head. “Mom, did you put something unusual in the shrimp and grits? I’m feeling really unwell, like I’m having an allergic reaction.” “Mom!” Ethan hissed at her, his lips moving soundlessly. What he didn’t know was that I had studied lip-reading for years to better communicate with patients. “I told you to use less!” Dorothy slumped to the ground, playing the victim. “Oh, woe is me! I made you a meal out of kindness, and you accuse me of poisoning you? Do you just not want my grandbaby to live?” My back itched, and red welts began appearing on my arms. “Mom, did you add seafood this morning? I’m seriously allergic.” Dorothy and Ethan exchanged nervous glances, clearly rattled by how quickly my reaction was progressing. “That… that can’t be! How is it happening so fast?” Dorothy stammered, unable to control her words. Meanwhile, Raina doubled over in pain, unable to speak. I knew it wasn’t labor—her cervix wasn’t dilated. It was the labor-inducing drug kicking in. Raina’s fans softened slightly, seeing my visible reaction, but they still criticized me relentlessly. “She’s faking it.” “Raina’s mom seems clueless. Bet she thought cooking it longer would make it safe.” “What a mess! This hospital’s best doctor is out of commission. What now?” “Why isn’t another doctor stepping in?” I had a suspicion why. If no one else showed up, I’d be forced to operate despite my condition. If the baby died, the blame would fall squarely on me. Caldwell arrived in a flurry. He slapped me hard across the face. “What are you waiting for? Get her into surgery!” Dizzy from the allergic reaction and the slap, I struggled to keep my balance. “I… I’m having an allergic reaction,” I rasped. “Impossible!” Caldwell exclaimed, his face betraying genuine surprise before he quickly schooled his features. “Didn’t you take medication?” “I didn’t have time. Her family wouldn’t let me leave,” I said, glancing pointedly at Dorothy and Ethan. Caldwell shot them a glare of frustration, silently calling them incompetent. Then he turned to Raina with uncharacteristic concern. I suddenly understood. “Dr. Caldwell… I think I’m going to be sick.” I grabbed his arm tightly, digging my nails into his skin. “Find her bag!” Caldwell snapped. Ethan sprang into action, rummaging through my belongings until he pulled out a bottle of allergy medication. “Dr. Caldwell, I found it!” he announced triumphantly.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “295153”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #现实主义Realistic #浪漫Romance #魔幻Magic #重生Reborn #校园School #惊悚Thriller