My childhood sweetheart spoiled me like a princess for twenty years, only to fall for Chloe, the new scholarship girl. He skipped classes and got into street fights for her. He even demanded to call off our arranged engagement. He had no idea she was playing multiple guys at once, just to hook a rich husband. I warned him, “Don’t let her innocent act fool you.” But Ethan just splashed his red wine right onto my face. “Are you really stooping to petty catfights now, Serena? You disgust me.” After that, I completely gave up on him and got engaged to Logan—the man who had been silently protecting me all along. On my wedding day, Ethan crashed his sports car through the church doors. Bleeding and desperate, he held out a wedding veil to me. “Let’s start over, please?” I snatched the veil and ripped it to shreds. “Do I look like a recycling bin to you? I don’t pick up trash.” I found Ethan in a grungy downtown alley. He was shielding Chloe behind his back, his fists covered in blood as he beat up a group of street thugs. I rushed forward to stop him. “Ethan, stop! The paparazzi are already on their way.” Before this, he had already made a name for himself by skipping elite college classes for Chloe. I was terrified he would anger his father, Richard, again, so I tried to drag him away. But he shoved me back hard. “Serena Vance, I thought you just lacked empathy. I didn’t realize you were actually this malicious.” “Ethan, don’t blame Serena,” Chloe sobbed, pretending to tremble. “She’s right. I’m nothing but trouble.” As she spoke, she made a move to drop to her knees in front of the thugs. “Please, just give me some time. Once my mom’s surgery is over, I’ll go dance at a strip club to pay you back.” Hearing this, Ethan’s eyes practically overflowed with painful devotion. “How could I ever let my woman work in a place like that? It’s just fifty thousand dollars, right? I’ll pay it!” The exact moment he whipped out his checkbook and signed it, the flashing lights of the paparazzi captured everything. “Mr. Thorne, rumors say you have a secret girlfriend. Is it her?” “Is your upcoming engagement to Miss Vance still on schedule?” The rain was pouring down. The crowd of reporters surged forward, knocking my umbrella out of my hand. Ethan only gave me a freezing look. “You can handle this yourself, right?” “What?” Before I could even process his words, he took Chloe’s hand, sprinted to his car, and sped off. He left me standing entirely alone in the freezing rain. I stood frozen. That familiar feeling of abandonment rushed back, just like when I was a child. When I was five, my parents divorced. My mother walked out, and my father couldn’t care less about me, constantly cycling through new girlfriends. Everyone abandoned me. During the worst phase of my depression, Ethan was the only one who held an umbrella over my head. “Don’t cry, Serena. I’ll always stand by your side.” Because of that promise, he spoiled me for twenty years, and my heart belonged to him for twenty years. But now, he had abandoned me for a girl who had just dropped out of thin air. The sudden drop from being cherished to being discarded pierced my heart like a needle. Even in front of the cameras, I couldn’t stop my tears. “Miss Vance, may we ask…” “Can you please stop?” I covered my face and tried to walk away, but a reporter grabbed my arm. “Please cooperate with our interview.” Just as I was about to break down, a black umbrella shielded me from the rain. “She has the right to refuse.” A tall, familiar figure stepped in front of me. “If you have questions, ask me.” The reporters gasped. “Mr. Logan Thorne! What is your relationship with Miss Vance?” “I don’t mind telling you, but it depends on her,” Logan replied, flashing me a playful, boyish grin. He hadn’t changed at all. His manager quickly ushered me into a nearby SUV. “Logan is used to dealing with these media circuses. Don’t worry about him.” With Logan’s natural charm, he was practically born for the spotlight. I wasn’t worried about him. I was worried about tomorrow’s headlines. My fears were justified. The next morning, Richard Thorne’s fury descended. He threw a crystal glass that shattered right against Ethan’s forehead. Blood trickled down Ethan’s face, but he stood his ground, stubborn as ever. “I am calling off the engagement! Chloe is the love of my life. She doesn’t care about our family’s money at all!” The love of his life? Suddenly, a flood of memories rushed into my mind. My eighteenth birthday party, my high school graduation, my first solo piano recital… At every milestone of my life, Ethan had sent me flowers. The cards always read: *To Serena, the love of my life.* When did his “love of his life” change? Richard suddenly turned to me. “Serena, when is your father free? I think we need to move up the wedding.” I snapped out of my daze. “Okay. I’ll call him.” But Ethan snatched my phone away and threw it. “Are you really that desperate, Serena? Do you have no dignity left?”

“What did you just say to her?!” Logan, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly lunged forward and slammed his fist into Ethan’s face. “Do you have any idea how much she loves you? How dare you humiliate her like that?” Ethan sneered, wiping the blood from his lip. “That’s her own choice. I never asked for it.” “You bastard!” The two brothers started punching each other, and Richard roared in anger. I quickly dragged Logan out of the living room. Out in the courtyard, as I gently dabbed antiseptic on his cut knuckle, he looked at me nervously. He squeezed my hand gently. “I’m sorry, Serena. I know I shouldn’t have lost my temper, but I just…” “Thank you.” “What?” I smiled softly. “Thank you for standing up for me.” His ears turned bright red, and he nervously scratched the back of his neck. “Then… are you…” Before he could finish, a loud shouting match echoed from the villa. “If you keep trying to stop me from being with Chloe, I will leave this family!” Ethan screamed. “Fine! Let’s see how long you survive out there without my money!” Richard bellowed back. Seconds later, Ethan stormed out of the house. As he passed the courtyard, he glared at me with absolute disgust, as if I were a piece of trash blocking his way. Not too long ago, he used to look at me with so much warmth, whispering, *“Who else could I ever love but you, Serena?”* Everything changed the moment Chloe appeared. Chloe Miller… If she willingly backed away, would everything go back to normal? I dug up her address and went to find her with a checkbook in my bag. But when I arrived at the entrance of her sketchy alley, I saw her flirting with a man covered in tattoos. She was carrying a brand-new designer bag. “Thanks, Leo. Thanks for helping me clear that debt with the underground casino.” Casino debt? Didn’t she say her mother needed emergency surgery? Chloe noticed me first. She quickly pushed the man away and adjusted her clothes. “Can I help you?” she asked, her voice instantly turning cold. I had to admire her acting skills. She composed herself so quickly. “I thought you loved Ethan so much? I thought it was ‘true love’? Can’t keep up the act anymore?” Chloe chuckled mockingly. “So what? Ethan prefers my sweet, innocent act over your perfect heiress persona. In the end, I win.” “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell him the truth?” “Go ahead. Tell him. Let’s see who he believes.” She turned to leave. I grabbed her wrist. “Enough. You just want money. How much?” Chloe snatched her hand back. “How much can you give me? A million? Five million? Once I marry Ethan and become Mrs. Thorne, I’ll have more money than I could ever spend. Don’t make me laugh.” She walked away without looking back. The more I thought about it, the more suspicious it felt. I tracked down one of the thugs from the alley and slid him a stack of cash. He finally spilled the truth. “Chloe’s mom died years ago. That money she owed was from a gambling run in Vegas. A wealthy client had already paid it off for her. We weren’t even planning on bothering her, but she paid us to stage that fight so she could look like a damsel in distress for that rich idiot.” So that was her game. I immediately drove to Ethan’s apartment to tell him. But before I could even open my mouth, he slammed his keys on the table and yelled at me. “How could you do this, Serena? How could you hire people to beat Chloe up?” He grabbed my shoulders, his eyes bloodshot. “You know how much I care about her! Why are you doing this?!” I stared at him, completely numb. “Do you really trust her more than me now?” “Yes!” Ethan let go of me, his eyes filled with pure disdain. “This is my final warning. Stay away from Chloe. Stop trying to sabotage our relationship.” “If you do something like this again, I won’t hesitate to ruin you.” Ruin me?

He had probably forgotten. Back when I used to suppress my emotions to please everyone, he would hold me tight and say: *“You don’t have to be perfect, Serena. With me, you have the right to be as spoiled and wild as you want.”* He was the one who raised me to be a princess. Why was it suddenly all my fault? I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Tears finally spilled over. “Ethan, how can you do this to me? We have twenty years of history. How can you throw it all away?” “Stop using our past as a weapon. Because I don’t care about it anymore.” Losing control, I swung my arm and slapped him across the face. *Slap!* It was incredibly loud. But he didn’t even look angry. He just looked exhausted, as if even arguing with me was a waste of his breath. “Since we despise each other this much, let’s stop talking. Don’t call me, don’t see me. If we cross paths, just pretend we’re strangers.” I suddenly wanted to laugh. “Ethan, who do you think you are, acting like I’m the one stalking you? You’re the one who made promises to me. You’re the one who said you loved me. You were the one who proposed to me first!” He just sighed, his expression filled with utter annoyance. “Then just pretend I’m the bad guy.” Ethan walked away, and this time, he didn’t look back. I collapsed onto the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees, and sobbed. I couldn’t hold it back anymore. Years ago, Ethan forbade me from drinking. Back then, my depression was at its worst, and I often forgot my medication schedule. Once, I made the mistake of drinking wine to help me sleep after taking my pills. I ended up in the ER getting my stomach pumped. When I woke up, he was holding my hand, crying like a baby. *“Don’t ever do that again. Do you have any idea how terrified I was of losing you?”* That was the first time in his life he had yelled at me. Since that day, I never touched alcohol again. But now, he wasn’t here to care. I could drink as much as I wanted. But why didn’t I feel happy? “Serena.” A familiar, gentle voice called out behind me. I spun around in hope. A beautiful bouquet of flowers appeared in front of my eyes. Ethan was smiling at me softly, just like he used to. “I’m sorry about today, Serena. I’ll never hurt you again. I love you.” Tears of joy ran down my face. “Really?” “Yes.” I reached out with trembling hands to take the flowers. “They’re beautiful…” I wanted to find a vase to put them in, but my foot caught on the edge of the rug. I fell. The flower vase shattered into a million pieces. The bouquet was crushed. “My flowers… where are they?” I looked up to find Ethan, but the spot where he had been standing was completely empty. The night breeze blew in from the balcony, taking his ghost with it. I let out a painful scream, curling myself into a ball in the corner. “Why? Why does everyone I care about leave me?” My mother did. And now, him. “Serena!” I didn’t even realize Logan had entered the room. “What happened? Why are you bleeding?” He frantically scooped me up into his arms. “I’m taking you to the hospital.” I had no strength left to fight. I let him carry me away. When I finally regained some consciousness, I heard Ethan’s voice echoing in the hallway outside my hospital room. “The Serena Vance I knew is gone. She’s selfish, manipulative, and cruel. She’s probably faking this entire hospital stay. Her depression was cured years ago. How could she suddenly be having hallucinations?” I didn’t even have the energy to argue anymore. But Logan couldn’t take it. He roared in fury, “You’re the one who betrayed her! How dare you talk about her like that? Do you have any idea how much she’s suffered because of you?” “That’s her problem,” Ethan’s voice was cold and detached. “I never asked for her love. To me, her constant affection is suffocating. Don’t call me for her drama ever again. My girlfriend gets jealous.”

I heard the sounds of a scuffle, but it was quickly shut down by the nurses. A few minutes later, Logan walked back into my room, breathing heavily. He was holding a slightly crushed cake box. “How…” my voice was raspy and dry, but he seemed to understand what I wanted to ask. “Today is your birthday, Serena. Did you forget?” he asked softly. “We always celebrate it together. But my brother… he had other plans today.” “I see.” So, did Ethan actually forget my birthday, or did he choose this exact day to cut ties with me on purpose? When Logan lit the candles, he was the only one singing to me. In the sterile, quiet hospital room, he did his absolute best to make me smile. “Make a wish, our princess. May you stay beautiful and happy forever.” *I wish… that sincere people are never treated like fools again.* Before I could blow out the candles, the TV screen on the wall flashed with a breaking news alert. *“Breaking: Ethan Thorne, heir to the Thorne Conglomerate, has officially called off his engagement with his fiancée. Sources say he spent millions on a grand romantic gesture for his new girlfriend…”*

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After the mafia Don brutally murdered my only love, I began my pursuit of his daughter. For three years, I played the part of her devoted simp to perfection. Everyone in our circle knew I was crazy about Serena Vance. They knew I would gladly throw away my life for her. Finally, Serena agreed to marry me. And I, at long last, secured the complete trust of her father, the Don. Everyone started calling me the Underboss. They all believed that once Serena inherited the throne, I would take her father’s place and become the new ruler of the Vance family empire. Until our wedding day. Kai, her first love who had been missing for five years, showed up covered in blood, hunted by rivals. In the heat of the moment, to protect him, Serena pushed me directly into the line of fire. And I gladly took the bullet for them. It was only after Kai betrayed her that Serena realized how colossally she had messed up. She knelt by my hospital bed, weeping, begging me to wake up. She cried, telling me she loved me. But the truth is… I don’t love her. From the very beginning, my only reason for getting close to her was to utterly destroy her.

I spent three years acting like Serena’s loyal dog, risking my life for her time and time again. Finally, my “sincerity” moved her. She asked me if I was willing to marry her and help run her father’s criminal empire. I pretended to be overwhelmed with joy, asking her why she finally chose me. She merely stepped on my chest with her sharp stiletto heel, looking down at me as I knelt on the cold floor. “Because out of everyone I’ve ever known, you’re the most loyal dog I’ve had.” “You love me enough to be obedient, you’ve got the muscle, and most importantly… you look just like my first love.” Looking up into her stunning, cold eyes, I forced a bitter smile. “So… I’ve just been a stand-in this whole time.” They say strong men don’t cry, but in front of Serena, a powerful man like me let tears slip down his face. Serena froze. A flicker of complex emotion crossed her eyes before she turned and walked away. Actually, I had always known. In Serena’s heart, I was nothing but a replacement for Kai Sterling. Showing pain and shedding tears was just a calculated move to make her feel guilty. She didn’t show it on the surface, but I knew she had already fallen for me during our time together. She just didn’t want to admit it yet. She was still playing her arrogant princess games, blind to her own feelings. So, I had to help her realize it. Even my subordinates tried to comfort me: “Boss Leo, the princess definitely loves you. She’s just in denial. Look, she’s marrying you now! Even the Don agreed. That shows how much he approves of you as his son-in-law.” Indeed. For three years, I played the submissive partner at home. Outside, I was a terrifying, cold-blooded enforcer, but the moment I stepped through the door, I bowed to her. That kind of contrast could melt even the coldest heart. Before Serena even realized it, she had started acting cute around me. She would kiss me, hug me, and on those passionate nights, she would actively seduce me. Through her, I successfully made my way to her father, Victor Vance. Victor had heard of my capabilities. Seeing how desperately I adored his daughter, he wasted no time in approving our marriage. Everyone began calling me the Underboss. They assumed that once Serena took over, I would run the family. For a moment, I was the most powerful man in the Vance syndicate, second only to Victor himself. Until our wedding day. Kai Sterling, her first love who had been gone for five years, suddenly crashed our ceremony, covered in wounds. That day, our wedding was ruined by that useless street punk. The hitmen chasing Kai burst in right behind him, raising their guns and firing without hesitation. To save her precious ex, Serena pulled Kai behind her back, and without a second thought, she shoved me forward. But actually, we had already run into Kai once before the wedding. The day we met him, I went to an exclusive VIP lounge to bring Serena home. The moment I pushed open the door to the private suite, my brows furrowed. I knew Serena played wild, but every time I saw it, it made me sick. As soon as I walked in, a bunch of women immediately crowded around me, rubbing their bodies against mine. Serena rarely acknowledged our relationship in public. Most people only knew me as the ruthless Underboss, not as her fiancé. “Hey, Boss Leo!” I didn’t stop the women from clinging to me. Even though it disgusted me, seeing the jealousy flare in Serena’s eyes was incredibly satisfying. Serena, who usually hated admitting I belonged to her, slammed her wine glass onto the floor that night. She glared at me, her eyes filled with rage and hurt. Only then did I brush the women off. I loosened my tie, walked over, and wrapped my arm around Serena’s slender waist. “Ready to go home, babe?”

Serena snorted. She was clearly pleased by my gesture, but she still wanted to throw a little tantrum. Seeing a few girls still trying to make a move on me, I lit a cigarette and growled, “Get the hell away from me. If anyone makes my woman unhappy, I’ll put a bullet through their head.” The room instantly fell silent. The men kept their mouths shut, terrified of my reputation, while the women glared at Serena with envy. Hearing me call her my woman in front of everyone made Serena’s cheeks flush bright red. No matter how much she used to look down on me, she actually knew how to blush now. “I’ve never seen you act so dominant in public before,” Serena purred, pouring me a glass of whiskey. She then pressed her lips to mine, claiming her territory like a spoiled cat. “Let’s go home, babe. You’re drunk,” I whispered, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear and gently biting her earlobe. Shivering from the sensation, she finally behaved and agreed to leave with me. But a woman nearby suddenly chimed in, “Leaving already, Serena? We just ordered some hot male hosts to bring up the expensive champagne. You sure you don’t want to stay and play?” I cast a cold glance at that woman, and she quickly turned her face away in fear. “Keep your hands to yourself. My fiancée only needs me.” But right as the words left my mouth, the suite door swung open, and a line of male hosts walked in. Kai Sterling was among them. He was wearing a cheap, flashy suit, holding a tray of champagne bottles. The moment he saw Serena, he froze. Then his eyes drifted to our joined hands, and he let out a self-deprecating laugh, lowering his gaze. Serena had been completely focused on me, even teasing me with little touches. Until someone in the crowd shouted: “Wait, isn’t that Kai? Wow, after you dumped our rich princess, you really hit rock bottom, huh?” Instantly, a heavy, suffocating silence fell over the room. Serena’s head snapped toward him. Her grip on my hand tightened so hard that her long, manicured nails dug deep into my palm, making me wince. Ashamed of his current state, Kai trembled. The tray slipped from his hands, and the champagne bottles shattered onto the floor, sending glass and liquid flying everywhere. I immediately pulled Serena behind me to protect her. A sharp piece of glass sliced through my suit pants, cutting my calf. Blood started soaking through my pants, but Serena didn’t even notice. Her eyes were locked entirely on the man who had abandoned her years ago. Kai tried to turn and run, but Serena lunged forward and grabbed his collar. Disregarding everyone in the room, she screamed at him, “Kai! How dare you show your face here? Didn’t I tell you that if I ever saw you again, I’d kill you!” Yes. Kai was Serena’s first love. Their breakup had been incredibly ugly. They had known each other since childhood—one was the pampered princess of the mafia, and the other was a reckless street punk. To put it plainly, he was just a thug. But back then, Serena was hopelessly in love with him. Later, after a massive fight, Serena’s pride wouldn’t let her bow down. To hurt her, Kai got drunk and slept with another woman. When Serena found out, she ruined that woman’s life, and her relationship with Kai officially ended. After Kai left, everyone thought Serena hated his guts. But I knew the truth. Kai was the scar on Serena’s heart—unforgettable and impossible to erase.

Watching Serena lose her mind over her ex, I ignored the throbbing pain in my leg and spoke up. “Serena, don’t make a scene. Let’s keep our dignity.” I meant dignity for all of us—for Kai, and especially for me, her fiancé. But Serena glared at me with pure frost. “Who the hell do you think you are? What happens between him and me is none of your damn business!” Her words cut deep. I stopped trying to persuade her and simply narrowed my eyes. Across from her, Kai shot me a mocking, triumphant smirk when Serena wasn’t looking. Then, he turned back to Serena, his eyes filling with tender regret. He actually reached out to touch her cheek, whispering softly, “Serena… even if you hate me, you shouldn’t have found a replacement. Marrying a man you don’t love just to spite me… it breaks my heart.” A street thug like him actually managed to squeeze out tears for her. “About what happened back then… I always wanted to tell you. I was drugged. Everything you saw was a setup. Nothing happened between me and that girl…” Serena froze. “Then… why didn’t you explain?” The hatred in her eyes evaporated the moment he claimed he was drugged. She looked at him with nothing but worry and hesitation. Kai let out a bitter laugh. “I knew I had broken your heart, and with my poor background, I felt I didn’t deserve you anyway. I didn’t want to drag you down…” He didn’t finish his sentence, but Serena was smart enough to fill in the blanks looking at his cheap clothes. “You idiot!” Serena threw herself into Kai’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Kai wrapped his arms around her, shooting a cold, smug look right at me over her shoulder. Of course, Kai’s story was absolute garbage. Anyone with half a brain could see through it. But there was no way to prove it. The girl he had slept with had been tortured by Serena years ago and had long since disappeared. But it didn’t matter if the whole world knew Kai was lying. Serena believed him. Right in front of me, her fiancé, she forgave the man who had betrayed her and wept for him. My chest felt tight as I stood there, enduring the pitying and mocking stares of everyone in the room. Serena completely ignored me. She clung to Kai’s arm and smiled. “Now that the misunderstanding is cleared up, come home with me. You can work for my father. I’m bringing you home.” “Serena.” For the first time, I called her by her full name, my voice dangerously low. “That is *our* home.” But Serena didn’t even turn around. I heard someone whisper in the background, “Is the princess really getting back with her ex? What about Boss Leo?” “What about him? He’s getting dumped, obviously. Now that the first love is back, why keep Leo? Though, Leo is so capable and loves her so much, even if Serena throws him away, old man Victor won’t want to lose such a good son-in-law.” Serena heard it too. Finally, she deigned to look at me. Seeing my six-foot-two frame standing there looking miserable and pathetic, she frowned, but said nothing. That night, Serena brought Kai back to the new penthouse I had bought for our future. I had risked my life to earn the money for this place, and now, my fiancée was bringing her ex inside. I walked in behind them, my fists clenched tight. Before closing the door, Kai blocked me outside. “Thanks for dropping us off, Underboss. You can leave now.” I let out a cold laugh. Looking at his arrogant face, I pulled out a knife and pressed the blade directly against his carotid artery.

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My childhood sweetheart went bankrupt, and I supported him for five long years. He lived off my wealth, yet he had the audacity to fall in love with my father’s illegitimate daughter. To rid himself of me, he used my love as leverage, trying to force me into accepting his mistress into our family home. The next second, I wrapped my arm around my taller, hotter, gorgeously tanned bodyguard and sneered. “Who do you think you are? You’re nothing but a paid toy.” “Serena, how can you be so cruel? Hailey is your sister! She’s suffered so much out there. How can you refuse to let her be recognized by the family and get her name on the trust fund?” I was reborn. My newly awakened brain slowly processed the memories of my past life. It seemed even God pitied me. Standing before me was Julian Cole, the handsome man I had grown up with and loved since childhood. His family’s status used to be similar to mine—both of us heirs to high society. But then his family went bankrupt. His father committed suicide, his mother followed shortly after, leaving Julian as the sole survivor of a once-happy family. I still remembered him kneeling before me, wrapping his arms around my waist, weeping hysterically. He said, “Serena, I only have you left.” Out of love, and out of the pity inherent in my nature, when nobody wanted Julian, I took him in. I not only let him live in my house but also covered all his expenses and college tuition. I still spoiled him like the wealthy heir he used to be. I thought we would end up together anyway, so spending money on him was just an investment in love. There was nothing to keep track of. But I didn’t realize that the man I was feeding had somehow hooked up with my father’s secret bastard daughter. In my past life, on my twentieth birthday party, Hailey—dressed like a poor, pitiful white flower—had burst in. She cried and questioned why I was hogging her father, ruining the party and causing a scene in front of all the guests. My father and Julian both took her side. Julian even spat vicious words at me, calling me heartless and unworthy of his love. In the end, for Julian’s sake, I compromised. That decision ended up giving my beloved grandfather a heart attack, landing him in the hospital. And that was the exact moment my nightmare began. Hailey conspired with my gold-digging father, Richard, and secretly poisoned my grandfather to death. After seizing my grandfather’s shares in the company, they had Julian target me, wanting to swallow my mother’s portion of the inheritance as well. To do this, the man I had loved for half my life did not hesitate to slip slow-acting poison into my daily supplements. He even orchestrated a car accident for me, all so he could live happily ever after with my half-sister. The day I finally learned the truth, I set a massive fire. I dragged Julian into the flames with me. All four of us burned to ashes in that inferno. But God had mercy. He gave me a second chance at the very last second of my death. This time, I would seize the opportunity. I would make those who killed my grandfather and coveted my family’s empire pay a painful price! I was going to play them to death! My mind snapped back to the present. I turned coldly toward Julian, who was shielding Hailey. I raised my hand and swung it down with all my might, slapping him hard across the face. Julian had never been treated this way by me before. That one slap completely dazed him! I merely curled my lips into a disdainful smirk and shook out my hand. “Recognized by the family? Whose family? Whose trust fund?” “I don’t know how much she’s suffered, but I do know you’ve been living a very comfortable life!” “If I had raised a dog for all these years, it would at least wag its tail at me. What are you, Julian? A loyal pet? No, you’re an ungrateful mutt. How dare you stand there and challenge me? Do you really think the Vance family is soft?” After barking at him, I caught sight of my grandfather standing behind the crowd. He was looking at me with a satisfied, relieved expression. Emotion flooded over me. My eyes welled up, and I desperately wanted to run over and give him a tight hug. But right now, the room was crawling with snakes. The guests stood around holding their champagne glasses, waiting to watch me—or any of us—make fools of ourselves. Of course, I had to play this drama out perfectly.

By the time Hailey snapped out of her shock, she threw herself in front of Julian to protect him, glaring at me as if I were some evil stepmother. And after my sudden outburst, even my father, Richard, who had originally wanted to force Hailey into the household, stood frozen, not daring to make a move. Hailey shrieked at me, “How can you hit him!” Before she could finish her sentence, I slapped her too. “What? Jealous? Here, let me share the love.” “Serena! You’ve gone too far!” Seeing his sweetheart get slapped was too much for Julian to bear. He lunged forward to confront me. But my personal bodyguard quickly stepped in, catching his arms and pinning him. With a swift kick to the back of Julian’s knee, Julian fell hard onto the floor, kneeling right in front of me. As soft snickers broke out from the surrounding crowd, his handsome face flushed a dark, angry red. I looked down at him coldly. The warmth that used to fill my eyes was replaced by absolute disgust. It was the first time I had ever looked at him this way, and it made him freeze in shock. In front of everyone, I stepped forward and pressed the heel of my stilettos hard against his shoulder. —Right over the scar he had gotten from self-harming back when his family went bankrupt. “Julian, you have a really short memory. What, just because you’re wearing designer clothes, you actually think you’re still the high-and-mighty heir of the Cole family?” “Everyone in this room knows that if it weren’t for me, you’d be begging for scraps on the street. No matter how high I’ve built you up over the years, you are still nothing but a dog kept by Serena Vance. How dare you bark at your master?” I smirked, pressing my tongue against the inside of my cheek, and let out a soft laugh. “You must be tired of living.” With a flick of my eyes toward my bodyguard, Julian and Hailey were dragged out of the ballroom, kicking and screaming. Then, I turned my gaze onto Richard. “Dad, you seem to be living a very colorful life too. I didn’t know you had a secret daughter.” Step by step, I approached this man who had climbed into high society solely by marrying my mother. I showed none of the respect a daughter should have. “How long has my mother been dead? And your bastard child suddenly pops up? And she’s actually older than me? What’s going on, Dad? Are you planning to pack your bags and leave this family empty-handed?” Under the judging and mocking stares of the high-society guests, Richard pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket. With trembling hands, he wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and tried to explain weakly. “No, Serena… I didn’t mean to ruin your birthday party… It’s just that your sister… she insisted on coming, and I couldn’t stop her.” “Sister?” I repeated the word, emphasizing it with dripping sarcasm. “I don’t have a sister.” I turned my eyes toward the elderly man being rolled into the hall in a wheelchair. “Grandpa, don’t you agree?” The moment Grandpa Arthur made his entrance, the entire room fell dead silent. Over all these years, even those who loved to gossip about my family never dared to show an ounce of disrespect toward my grandfather. As a young man, he had built his business empire from scratch. He expanded his territory until he became the wealthiest man in the country. The only mistake this legendary man had ever made in his life was giving in to his beloved daughter’s wishes and letting her marry a gold-digging nobody. Now that my mother was gone, Grandpa had nothing but cold disdain for Richard. If it weren’t for the fact that Richard still held some shares of the Vance Group, Grandpa would have kicked this parasite out of the city long ago. The guests bowed their heads respectfully. “Mr. Vance.” Richard trembled even more. He was terrified of Grandpa Arthur. Every time he faced the old man, he would shake. But at the same time, he harbored a deep, poisonous hatred for him. He hated that Grandpa always looked down on him and refused to hand over the company. That was why he had resorted to murder in my past life. But this time, I would protect Grandpa. I would protect the only person who genuinely loved and shielded me. Grandpa cast a freezing glare at Richard.

“The Vance family has only one daughter, and only one sole legal heir—Serena.” “Richard, if you want to bring your stray dog into this house, then hand back the shares my daughter left you. Take your bastard daughter and get out of my sight with nothing but the clothes on your back. Otherwise, shut up and play your role as the ‘house manager’ of the Vance family. I don’t tolerate trash in my house. Do I make myself clear?” These words were an absolute slap in the face. Even though he was a gold-digger, Richard was still my biological father and held some company equity. Yet, Grandpa had publicly reduced him to a mere “house manager.” “I understand, Father. I was wrong.” Richard clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. He shot a stealthy, venomous glare at me, keeping his head low as his body shook. I couldn’t tell if it was from fear or pure rage. “If you understand, then get out. Don’t ruin Serena’s birthday.” With that, Richard turned and slunk away like a beaten dog. I smiled and threw one last jab at his back. “Don’t forget to send me my birthday gift, Dad!” As the banquet drew to a close, Grandpa officially announced to the public that I would be entering the family business. He was transferring twenty percent of his shares to me. Combined with the twenty percent my mother had left me, I now held a forty percent controlling stake, officially making me the largest shareholder of the Vance Group. “Serena, I’m getting old. Your father is useless—no morals, no brains. I will never hand the company to him. You are the only one I trust. You have a sharp mind for business, and you understand me. I trust you won’t let me down, right?” Looking at Grandpa’s silver hair, my nose tingled with warmth. I leaned down and hugged him tightly. “Don’t worry, Grandpa. I’ll learn fast. I will protect our family legacy.” After the party ended, I finally remembered Julian and Hailey, who had been dragged away. My bodyguard reported, “We locked them in the basement. Your father went down there earlier to get them out, making a huge scene.” I stopped walking and looked at him. “Did you let them go?” “No, boss. We locked your father in there too, so he could cool his head.” I was speechless for a second. “Good job.” The tall, muscular, gorgeously tanned bodyguard scratched his head, offering a sheepish grin. “Just doing my job, boss. No matter who he is, you’re the one paying my salary. As long as you’re happy.” I arched an eyebrow, looking at this bodyguard of mine with genuine interest for the first time. “You’re quite loyal.” The next second, my hot bodyguard’s cheeks flushed a light pink. But I didn’t have time to admire him. I grabbed a bottle of expensive, high-proof alcohol and headed down to the basement. The three of them were tied up. In an effort to help each other, they were currently wriggling on the floor like oversized caterpillars. It was a hilarious sight. When they saw me walk in, Richard and Hailey started screaming hysterically. Julian glared at me with an arrogant look, expecting me to rush over and untie him. Annoyed by his face, I kicked him. Julian let out a sharp yelp, which instantly made me feel better. My hot bodyguard thoughtfully pulled up a chair for me to sit on. I sat down comfortably, enjoying the sound of their mental breakdowns. Richard yelled, “How dare you tie me up! You’re fired! All of you! Do you hear me?!” Hailey shrieked, “Serena Vance! You monster! You stole my father for so many years, enjoying all this wealth while I had nothing! You’re selfish! You’re evil!” Julian groaned, “Ah! My crotch! Call a doctor! Now!” I smiled slowly, gesturing for my bodyguard to uncork the liquor. The bodyguard looked confused, but he did it anyway. “Are you… planning to drink here, boss?” I took the bottle. Instead of drinking, I poured the expensive spirit over my hands, using it like sanitizer. The three of them instantly went quiet. I winked at my bodyguard. “Have you ever heard of sanitizing your hands before giving someone a good slap?” My bodyguard watched as I turned the ring on my finger, twisting the giant, rock-sized diamond so it faced the inside of my palm. He immediately got the idea. Looking at Richard’s wide eyes and dropped jaw, I gave him a sweet, gentle smile. “Don’t worry, Dad. I won’t lay a hand on you.” Richard let out a massive sigh of relief, but a second later, he panicked. “Then who are you going to hit?” A sharp, resounding slap across his daughter’s face was his answer.

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At our engagement party, my famous pop-star fiancée lost a game of Truth or Dare. The dare was to feed someone in the room a shot of liquor, mouth-to-mouth. Without a second thought, she chose her rumored billionaire lover. Everyone in the room turned to look at me, shocked. But I didn’t care. I even pulled a hotel key card from my pocket and tossed it over: “Get pregnant, Serena. That’s your only ticket into the billionaire empire you’ve always dreamed of.” It was our eleventh anniversary, and also the night of my engagement to Serena Vance. I had prepared fresh flowers, a diamond ring, and a grand banquet. But under the dim lights, my fiancée’s cheeks flushed as she took a sip of whiskey, sank into Carter Sterling’s embrace, and fed it directly into his mouth. They locked lips, kissing passionately for a full ten minutes before pulling apart. Serena’s lips were swollen and red from the intensity. Everyone in the room stared at me. Their eyes were filled with amusement, mockery, and pity. “Is Ryan really going to take this lying down?” “What else can he do? Fight Carter Sterling?” “He wouldn’t dare.” A wave of mocking laughter echoed through the hall. Carter wrapped his arm around Serena’s waist provocatively, raising an eyebrow at me as if marking his territory. “Don’t take it personally, man. It’s just a game.” He was a billionaire CEO. I was just an underappreciated songwriter. Even if I minded, what could I do? But strangely, I didn’t feel a spark of anger. Instead, I felt a wave of relief, like a heavy burden had finally been lifted. For the first time in eleven years, I saw Serena for who she truly was. I set my glass down and smiled back. “Why would I mind? Have your fun.” Serena froze, clearly not expecting this reaction. “Ryan, don’t start acting jealous. It was just a game.” “Sure,” I replied casually, signaling the others to keep playing. Seeing my usual submissive attitude, Serena stopped pushing. After all, I had always been at her beck and call. She never had to care about my feelings. Soon, another round ended, and Serena lost again. Someone looking for drama asked, “If Ryan weren’t in the picture, would you marry Carter?” Serena’s expression shifted. She obviously hadn’t expected that question, but she quickly lowered her head and gave a shy, blushing, “Yes.” Once again, all eyes landed on me. This time, I was the first to clap. I even pulled a hotel key card from my pocket and tossed it onto the table. “Get pregnant, Serena. That’s your only ticket into the billionaire empire you’ve always dreamed of.” Hearing this, Serena assumed I was just being petty. She frowned, snapping in annoyance, “I told you, it’s just a game! Do you have to make a big deal out of everything?” My own engagement party. A venue I had spent weeks personally decorating. Yet, my fiancée was kissing another man and admitting she’d rather marry him. It was pathetic. In the past, I would have thrown a fit, causing a huge scene. Serena would get angry, storm off, and refuse to come home until I begged for her forgiveness like a stray dog. Only then would she look down on me and throw me a bone. But tonight, I felt absolutely nothing.

From that day on, Serena and I fell into a cold war. Using “work” as an excuse, she came home later and later, until she stopped coming back entirely. I knew she was with Carter. After all, whenever, wherever, under any circumstances, Carter only had to snap his fingers, and Serena would run to him. Whether it was our anniversary or my birthday, she would leave without a second thought. In the past, I would have lost my mind. I would have stopped eating, stopped sleeping, and searched the entire city for her. I would torture myself imagining her with another man, driven mad by jealousy. But now, I didn’t care. A few days later, just as I was drifting off to sleep, the beep of the smart lock at the front door woke me up. Serena and Carter walked in together. She was completely drunk, her designer dress torn and messy. That dress was bought with the money from three months of side gigs I worked, saving every penny. Back then, I had been so excited to give it to her, but she had looked at it with utter disgust, saying a cheap dress didn’t match her status as a rising star. Now, she was finally wearing it—only to get drunk and wild with another man. Carter looked down at me coldly. “There are paparazzi outside. Make sure you clear her name on Instagram.” In the past, whenever Serena got into a scandal or got caught with Carter, I was the one who cleaned up her mess. Her fans used to call me “the queen’s most loyal golden retriever.” Looking back, that title was incredibly insulting. I spared Carter a cold glance, then looked directly at Serena. “Why should I do it? Did I tear her dress?” Serena frowned. She probably didn’t expect me to mock her twice in a row. “Ryan, are you seriously going to keep score right now?” Carter sneered. “Look at the time. Serena is wasted. Instead of taking care of her, you’re picking a fight with me?” On the surface, his logic seemed flawless. I had to hand it to Carter; his gaslighting skills were top-tier. Hearing his words, Serena’s eyes welled with tears as if she were the victim. “Yeah, Ryan. Carter was nice enough to bring me home, and you’re treating him like this? Are you even a man?” I had never seen anyone “nicely” escort someone straight to their bed. I stayed silent. Serena, her eyes red, leaned her weight onto Carter, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Carter, since he doesn’t trust us, let’s just leave.” Carter smirked at me, his eyes dripping with triumph. “But there are paparazzi outside,” he murmured. “Let them take photos. I don’t give a damn.” With that, she grabbed Carter’s hand and pulled him toward the door. When she noticed I didn’t move an inch to stop her, shock and anger flashed in her eyes. I knew what she wanted. She wanted me to fight Carter out of jealousy. She loved being worshipped on stage, and she loved being fought over off stage. My sudden indifference was breaking her ego. I waved lazily. “Remember my advice. Get pregnant. A baby is your only shot at securing that bag.” Then, I shut the bedroom door. But the drama didn’t stop there. Before I fell asleep, my phone buzzed with a video message from an unknown number. I clicked it. Though blurry, it clearly showed a man and a woman passionately tearing into each other. The woman was wearing the exact dress I had bought Serena. Soon, the video showed them tangled together. Even an idiot could tell what they were doing. So, they had been caught on camera, which was why they came back to me to use me as a cover-up. I ignored it. A few minutes later, a text popped up: “Two million dollars.”

It was a paparazzi blackmailing me. I rolled my eyes and blocked the number immediately. Whether Serena’s scandal leaked or not had absolutely nothing to do with me anymore. Years ago, the first time she was caught kissing her sugar daddy, I spent all my savings and even sold the house my parents bought for my future wedding to cover it up for her. Now, I wouldn’t spend a single dime on her. Besides, her affair with Carter was an open secret anyway. Who cared if it went public? But the fallout went far beyond what I expected. When I woke up the next morning, the video was indeed trending on Twitter. The comments were a mess, but her PR team and fans quickly flooded the tags to bury it. Just when I thought the storm would pass, Sterling Group’s official account released a statement. But it wasn’t a denial. Instead, they dropped a bombshell: Carter Sterling was getting engaged. The fiancée, however, was not the famous pop star Serena Vance. Serena’s fans went absolutely wild. They swarmed the Sterling Group page, cursing Carter out, calling him a cheating bastard who abandoned their “queen.” Some fans suddenly remembered me, posting that I was the only one who truly loved Serena. Oh, so now they wanted me to play the backup boyfriend? “Are you kidding me?” I muttered, rolling my eyes. Just then, the front door clicked open. Serena walked in. She looked exhausted, her eyes swollen from crying. “You saw it?” she asked quietly. I nodded. “It’s hard to miss when it’s all over my feed.” Serena threw her bag onto the floor and suddenly rushed over, throwing her arms around me. “Ryan, Carter and I were just putting on a show. There’s nothing between us! You know how the industry is, I couldn’t afford to offend him.” I never knew she could act so well off-camera. If Carter hadn’t dumped her, she wouldn’t have even remembered I existed. “Let’s get married, Ryan. Please don’t leave me.” Once, I had dreamed of walking down the aisle with her, spending the rest of our lives together. But she had drained my love, slowly crushing every bit of affection I had for her. Now, her proposal was nothing more than an attempt to make Carter jealous. The second Carter waved her back, she would run to him without looking back. “Let’s break up.” I pushed her away, looking at her coldly. Serena froze, tears streaming down her face. “What did you say?” “I told you, Carter and I were just acting! I only love you! Why do you have to be so dramatic?” Serena’s voice spiked an octave. Looking at her righteous indignation, I almost questioned if I was the one who cheated. Even now, she didn’t realize that people don’t wait around forever, especially after being hurt over and over again. I might have been a simp, but I wasn’t pathetic. “This has nothing to do with Carter. I just don’t love you anymore, Serena. We’re done.” With that, I walked into my bedroom and locked the door. I had thought it through over the past few days. I couldn’t waste my talent on her anymore. I was thirty now. It was time to find my own purpose and career. I had much more important things to do.

During our cold war, I wrote a song for myself and posted it on my Instagram. My account used to be dedicated entirely to Serena. This sudden personal post shocked everyone. Especially with my caption: “Turning thirty. Ending an old chapter, stepping into a brighter future.” It was a clear, public announcement that Serena and I were over. Very quickly, the post went viral. “What an ungrateful loser. If it weren’t for Serena, who would listen to his trash music?” “Even if our queen doesn’t marry Carter, she’s way too good for this simp.” My comment section was flooded with hate. But soon, logical netizens stepped up to defend me. “Without Ryan’s songwriting, your queen is just a glorified high-end escort.” I glanced at the comments and closed the app. These words didn’t affect me. As long as I had real talent, I had nothing to fear. The next morning, I woke up coughing from a strong smell of smoke. In the kitchen, Serena was holding a spatula, frantically trying to make breakfast. Looking at the messy kitchen I had just cleaned, irritation flared up inside me. “What do you think you’re doing?” Serena looked at me, trying to sound sweet. “I wanted to make you breakfast.” We had been together for eleven years, and I was always the one serving her. When she was dieting, I spent hours cooking low-carb meals. When she was sick, I stayed up all night nursing her. When she was jobless, I went out drinking with producers to get her gigs, even drinking myself to stomach ulcers. When she was on tour, I would stay awake for days managing her schedule. But she had never done a single thing for me. This sudden change was bizarre. Seeing my cold expression, Serena held out her hand, looking like a scolded child. “I burned my hand.” I gave a cold grunt, turned, and walked away. Serena chased after me, grabbing my wrist. “Please believe me. I won’t ever talk to Carter again.” I shook her hand off, looking at her calmly. “It has nothing to do with me. We broke up.”

I ignored her, grabbed my laptop bag, and headed to a record label office. When I finished my meetings, I received a Snapchat from Serena. She asked if I wanted to attend a gala with her. I had been busy preparing my new album and writing songs, so I texted her back saying I wasn’t going. [Ryan, there will be tons of singers and producers at this gala.] [You’ve always wanted to meet that legendary indie producer, right? I saw his name on the guest list.] [I can introduce you to him. It’ll make things much easier for your career.] In the past, Carter was always the one who accompanied her to these events. Under the spotlights, she was the dazzling princess, Carter was her prince, and I was just the clown hiding in the shadows. When Serena first became famous, she attended an award ceremony. I asked if I could go as her assistant just to be there, but she refused. She said I was too low-profile and didn’t know how to dress, claiming I would embarrass her. Later, I accidentally saw her text messages with her best friend. [That broke loser Ryan actually wanted to come to the gala. Is he blind? He doesn’t even look at the mirror to see if he fits in.] [IKR? How can he even compare to Carter?] Reading those texts felt like a bucket of ice water poured over my head. My hands shook as I held my phone. But back then, I didn’t dare bring it up. I was too afraid she would leave me. Since then, I stopped listening to that producer’s music entirely. And now, she was inviting me to the gala, offering to introduce me. How ironic. [I’m not going.] I refused bluntly. Then, I added: [Please understand, we are broken up.] After that, Serena didn’t text back. Just when I thought she had given up, a black luxury van pulled up right in front of me. The door slid open, revealing Serena in a gorgeous gown, crying her eyes out. “Just come with me this once, and I promise I’ll leave you alone forever.” That offer was highly tempting. While I was hesitating, her assistant shoved me into the car before I could say no. At the gala red carpet, Serena took my arm naturally, smiling brightly for the cameras as if nothing had happened. I figured she just wanted to silence the breakup rumors. After all, we were in the same industry, and a messy split wouldn’t look good for either of us. Despite feeling deeply uncomfortable, I tolerated it. But once we walked inside, I finally understood why she had been trying so hard to please me.

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The year I graduated, sudden blindness ruined my bright future. Fortunately, my girlfriend stayed by my side to get me through the darkest time of my life. But it wasn’t until today, seven years later, that I realized my blindness was never an accident. I was just a fool, kept in the dark and played by her for seven years. My name is Lily Carter. I love my boyfriend, Julian Thorne, so much that I don’t care that he’s blind. It is this love that has kept me going, caring for him for seven long years without a single regret. Julian is incredibly handsome. A friend introduced us in college, and the moment I saw him, I fell hopelessly in love. Back then, his eyes were full of life, and he practically glowed. Unlike an invisible person like me, he was always the center of attention wherever he went. If Julian hadn’t suddenly gone blind, our paths probably would have never crossed. But the seven-year curse seems unavoidable for every couple, even if your partner is a blind man. Julian has changed. Two weeks ago, without any warning, his attitude toward me took a complete 180-degree turn. I couldn’t read his mind, and he kept avoiding me, refusing to give me any explanation. On top of that, ever since he went blind, he had isolated himself from everyone. Yet, out of nowhere, he asked me to set up a meeting with his old friends. To be honest, during this tormenting period, the thought of ending this relationship has crossed my mind more than once. But every time I think about everything I sacrificed for him, and the beautiful memories we shared over the years, my heart aches. I don’t want to break up, but I don’t want to keep hurting each other either. Maybe I really should follow the advice of those online relationship experts and have a heart-to-heart talk with him. But during this talk, though he didn’t say much, he made my blood run cold.

“Julian, I think we need to talk. I really don’t want to keep fighting with you.” I stopped tracing the page with my fingertips, slipped the bookmark in, closed the book, and turned toward the direction of her voice. “Can you tell me what’s wrong with you lately? Are you tired of me? Is that why you lose your temper so often?” I let out a self-deprecating laugh and closed my eyes, which could no longer tell night from day. “Lily, your voice is so beautiful. Do you remember Chloe Evans? I never told you this, but your voices sound so similar. I can barely tell you two apart.” Lily froze. She took a step back, letting go of my hand. “Why are you suddenly bringing her up?” They say when a person loses their sight, their hearing becomes incredibly sharp. I am no exception. Even though I couldn’t see her face, and even though she tried her best to hide her shock at hearing that name, I could still hear the slight tremor in her voice. I didn’t answer her question. Instead, I started talking about our college days. “I don’t remember when I first met Chloe. I just knew she was your best friend. But she was always so shy, barely speaking, always hiding in your shadow.” Lily didn’t say a word. Maybe she was lost in the memories just like me. “But then, one day, I finally heard her speak a full sentence. I realized she wasn’t completely invisible. At least, her voice was just as beautiful as yours.” I heard the sound of her hair whipping as Lily snapped her head up. She stopped hiding her emotions, her voice filled with agitation. “Is that how you saw her?” Sensing she had overreacted, she quickly added, “She is my best friend!” “I’m sorry,” I said, holding my head in guilt. “Since I lost my sight, I haven’t heard anything about her. I thought you guys drifted apart because of me.” Seeing me in pain, Lily softened. She rushed over and wrapped her arms around me. “No, it wasn’t because of you.” I breathed in the faint scent of gardenia on her skin. “I want to apologize to her for what happened back then. Can you invite her over to our place?” Lily’s body went stiff, rigid as a robot. “She doesn’t live in Oakridge anymore. If you have something to say, tell me. I’ll pass it on.” “I just wanted to tell her… thank you for loving me back then. But having you is enough for me.”

The year I went blind, I was incredibly unstable. I was violently angry, smashing things and destroying the house on a daily basis. My family is very wealthy, and I’m not the only son. So, to let their mentally broken son “recover,” my parents bought me a private condo in the city and hired a private nurse to take care of me. Back then, the only people with me were the nurse and Lily. She loved me so much. No matter how much I screamed at her, she never left me. But I couldn’t accept the fact that I would never see again. During one of my tantrums, I accidentally threw a glass vase that cut her. She begged me to stop destroying myself and try to look on the bright side. What a joke. She wasn’t the one who was blind. Of course she could say that. So I screamed at her, telling her to get the hell out of my life. That day, I said some horrible things. Things that make me cringe even now. Lily was heartbroken, and she walked out of my apartment without looking back. I went on another destructive rampage. At first, the nurse tried to stop me. Eventually, she gave up, standing far away and watching me smash everything, only cleaning up after I was done. Maybe the things I said to Lily were too harsh this time, because I actually started to feel terrified. I was terrified she would never come back, terrified the only person who loved me would abandon me. That was when Chloe Evans showed up. I forgot to mention, besides Lily, there was someone else who visited me every single day—Chloe. But because she barely spoke and just sat quietly by my side, she had almost no presence. That was the first time Chloe had ever seen me so pathetic. She must have felt pity. She walked past the broken shards on the floor, came to my side, and spoke her first words in a long time. I don’t remember what she said, but I mistook her voice. I thought Lily had come back. I threw away all my pride and bitterness, holding her tightly. I apologized, showed my vulnerability, and begged her to forgive my harsh words. She didn’t say a word. Instead, she cupped my face and kissed me. I was ecstatic, thinking she had forgiven me, so I kissed her back wildly. I was so irrational. If I had just taken a second to think, I wouldn’t have made such a mistake. Lily never wore perfume, but the girl in my arms smelled heavily of gardenias. The endless darkness had not only taken my eyes, it had taken my brain. Right then, Lily came back. Her sharp gasp interrupted us. Hearing them together, I finally realized the difference between their voices. I let go of Chloe instantly, standing up from the couch in a panic. I started apologizing frantically, trying to grab Lily’s hand, trying to hold her. But she seemed determined to ignore me. No matter how much I begged, she didn’t make a sound, refusing to let me know where she was standing. Later, I tripped over some broken glass I had thrown. All she left me was the sharp slam of the front door. I started screaming at Chloe, calling her shameless for trying to seduce me. I don’t know when Chloe left. She was always like a ghost. When I grew tired of screaming, I started smashing things again. But there was barely anything left to break. I felt like my life was completely pointless. I picked up a piece of broken glass and slashed my wrist. The nurse, wanting to keep her job, quickly called an ambulance. None of my family members showed up. They were already used to my daily suicide threats. The only one with me was the nurse. Just when I thought Lily would never forgive me, she showed up again the next evening. She had changed a lot. She talked less, and she became much quieter. I understood—it was because I hated her lecturing me. So she stopped saying all those useless things about getting better. So, I changed my attitude too, because I had nothing left to lose. I never screamed at her again. I went from being a monster to being completely obedient. Gradually, she opened up to me again, returning to her cheerful self. We tacitly never brought up Chloe again, as if she had never existed. At first, I avoided the name, but over time, I actually forgot about her. I forgot that she used to visit me every day, and I forgot that she had never shown up again since that day. Just like that, seven years flew by. 3. To be honest, after losing my sight, I lost all concept of time. If Lily hadn’t mentioned the date, I wouldn’t have realized we had been living like this for seven years. During this time, I kept going for regular eye checkups and took the pills the doctor prescribed. I only did it for that tiny, hopeless shred of light, hoping that one day I would see again. But after seven years of waiting for a miracle that never came, my hope died. So, I stopped taking the pills. When Lily found out, she flew into a rage for the first time. Terrified she would think I was giving up on life again, I swallowed the bitter pills right in front of her, promising I would never do something so stupid again. Only then did she calm down, repeatedly warning me to listen to the doctor. I groaned inwardly but promised her anyway. She had given up seven years of her youth for me. I didn’t want her to feel like she had loved the wrong man. Besides, there was so little I could do for her. But once the seed of doubt was planted, it was hard to pull out. I still stubbornly threw away the pills every day. I kept it a secret and hid it perfectly. But then, the unthinkable happened. About three months later, as the weather turned cold and we traded short sleeves for heavy coats, a miracle happened. I saw a flicker of light! I was ecstatic. My first instinct was to call Lily. But as I speed-dialed her number and listened to the long rings, hearing her voice on the other end suddenly calmed me down. What if it was just temporary? What if I woke up tomorrow in darkness again? Maybe I was just hallucinating. Years ago, my eyes had played a trick on me like this. I had been so happy back then, sharing the news with Lily on the first day, only to plunge back into total darkness the next. She asked me what was wrong. My excitement crushed by my own fear, I just said I missed her, chatted for a bit, and hung up. That night, I lost myself in her, making passionate love to her until dawn. I woke up the next morning with a racing heart. But when I opened my eyes, the light was still there. I was overjoyed. But I still didn’t tell Lily. I changed my mind. I would wait until my vision was fully restored to give her the surprise of her life. After all, I was still a young, healthy man. Within just one week, my vision was fully restored! That was the first time I walked out of my apartment without a cane in seven years. I was too proud to use one anyway. After going blind, I had cut off all contact with the outside world. I was terrified of the pity from friends and family. Every “How are you?” felt like a blade stabbing into my chest. I didn’t walk far. Time had flown by so fast, and I wasn’t confident I could find my way home after seven years. When you’re blind, time drags. When you can see, it flies. I took a nap on the couch, only waking up when I heard the front door open. My beloved was home. But the moment I opened my eyes, I froze. Was the woman taking off her shoes at the entryway really my beloved Lily? Even after seven years, someone’s face doesn’t change *this* much. The woman standing before me was not the Lily in my memory. Then who was she?

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My uncle, Thomas, was completely whipped. In my past life, he finally decided to grow a spine, dragging my parents along to help him catch his wife cheating. But when things turned violent, he cowardly ran away, leaving my parents to be brutally murdered by his wife’s lover. After their deaths, Chloe and I were adopted by Thomas, but only because he wanted to get his hands on my parents’ estate. Later, for a massive cash payout, he literally kidnapped me and sent me to a back-alley clinic in Thailand for a forced gender-reassignment surgery, just so he could sell both Chloe and me off to wealthy, twisted old creeps as brides. Chloe died during a difficult labor after being forced to give birth to five children. As for me, because I couldn’t get pregnant, I was beaten to death by my “husband.” When I opened my eyes again, I had traveled back in time—right to the day my parents went to help him catch his cheating wife. I saw my mom pick up her phone, a look of relieved pity spreading across her face. I knew instantly that it had to be Thomas on the other end. My uncle, Thomas, was a total coward who let his wife walk all over him. He knew damn well that his wife, Rachel, was sleeping around, but he didn’t dare to say a word to her. Every single time Rachel cheated on him, he would call my mom to cry about it, swearing up and down that he was finally going to get a divorce. This had to be the ten-thousandth time he had made this exact same call… My mom hung up the phone and immediately urged my dad to start the car. Dad rolled his eyes at the empty air. “Stop wasting your time, Sarah. How many times has your brother said this? Every single time we drive to the motel, he doesn’t even dare to knock on the door. He just stands outside listening to his wife with another guy…” This uncle of mine was afraid of everything under the sun, but the only people he wasn’t afraid of was our family. I remembered my dad complaining about it before. Years ago, to raise enough cash for his wedding expenses, Thomas had demanded fifty thousand dollars from my mom, threatening to cut ties with her forever if she didn’t give it to him. In the end, Mom fought with Dad for half a month, giving Thomas all the money they had saved to renovate our house. To this day, he hadn’t paid back a single dime. I could see Dad really didn’t want to go, but he was also terrified of Mom throwing a tantrum. He stood up reluctantly. “Fine. Let’s go help your precious brother.” Hearing this, Mom’s tense shoulders finally relaxed. “But this is the absolute last time!” Dad warned. Mom nodded repeatedly. “I promise. Even if he begs me next time, I won’t help him.” However, it wasn’t until they both walked out the front door that the realization hit me—I had been reborn. We were doomed. The tragedy of my past life was about to repeat itself! “Chloe! Call Mom and Dad right now! Or we’re going to end up as orphans!” Chloe looked at me, completely confused. I didn’t have time to explain. I snatched the phone right out of her hand and dialed my parents’ number. My heart hammered against my ribs, but Mom’s line was busy. Dad was probably driving and couldn’t pick up. Chloe looked at me in a panic, demanding to know what was going on. … Mom finally called back. In a stroke of desperate panic, I wailed into the receiver, “Mom! Chloe is dying! You need to come back right now!” “What did you say?!” I threw Chloe a desperate look, and she caught on instantly, letting out a blood-curdling scream in the background. “What’s happening?!” I heard Dad’s anxious voice from the speaker. “Chloe’s appendix exploded!” I lied. I heard Dad shout that they were turning around immediately. But to my horror, they had already picked up Thomas. I could hear Thomas grumbling in the background, completely indifferent. “An appendix won’t kill her! Just let her suffer for a bit and she’ll be fine!” Hearing his cruel words, Chloe screamed even louder. “Dad, come back! Bring Mom with you!” Ten minutes later, my heart sank to my stomach when I saw only Dad walk through the door. “Where’s Mom?!” “Your uncle dragged her to the motel anyway!” In that second, my entire world turned black. It was over. I had only managed to save my dad. “Dad! Call Mom right now! Tell her not to go!” I burst into tears of sheer terror. Dad, thinking something was seriously wrong with me, looked panicked. “Why are you crying?! Where’s Chloe?” “Chloe is fine! Just go get Mom! How can she handle a confrontation like that alone?!” I practically dragged my dad toward the door, and Chloe followed closely behind us.

By the time we arrived at the motel lobby, Mom was already walking out, her face covered in bruises and scratches, with Thomas trailing behind her. Seeing that she was still alive, a massive weight lifted off my chest. “Mom, your face…” From what Mom said, I realized their cab had been delayed. By the time they arrived, Rachel’s lover had already escaped. Thomas had been brutally beaten and screamed at by Rachel. In her attempt to break up the fight, Mom was the one who ended up getting severely hurt. “I told you not to go! But you just wouldn’t listen!” Dad’s voice shook with rage, though his eyes were filled with gentleness. “For that deadbeat brother of yours, how far are you going to drag yourself and this family down?!” He grabbed the first-aid kit and started gently applying antiseptic to Mom’s cuts. “Hey, George, put some of that on me too. That crazy bitch scratched my arm up pretty bad,” Thomas said, holding out his arm. Dad glared at Thomas, picked up the rubbing alcohol, and poured it directly onto his open scratch. Thomas shrieked in pain, jumping back. “George! What the hell is wrong with you?!” But Dad just stared him down, his voice ice-cold. “If you ever drag your sister into your pathetic drama again, I swear to God I will end you.” Seeing that Dad was truly furious, Thomas immediately turned to my mom for backup. “Sarah! Are you just going to stand there and watch your husband bully your own brother?! Did you forget what Mom told you on her deathbed? She told you to take care of me and never let me suffer!” Mom sighed quietly. She turned to Dad and said, “Just drop it, George. It’s actually my fault. I shouldn’t have let him marry Rachel back then.” I remembered it clearly—it was Thomas himself who had thrown a massive tantrum, insisting he would only marry Rachel. But Mom seemed to have completely blocked that out. Beside me, Chloe rolled her eyes hard at Thomas. Thomas instantly redirected his anger at her. “What happened to your ‘exploded appendix’? I told you she’d be fine after a little pain. George, you’re blaming me, but it was Chloe who wasted our time. If she hadn’t ruined it, I would have gotten my divorce by now. What a useless brat!” Chloe wasn’t afraid of him at all. She snapped back immediately, “If I’m a brat, then you’re a pathetic coward! If you actually had the guts, you would’ve divorced her already instead of blaming me. And hey, I hope your appendix explodes next so you can see how ‘fine’ it feels!” “Sarah, George, look at this girl! She has absolutely no respect for her elders! If you don’t discipline her now, she’s going to turn out completely useless! Kevin is so much better than her.” I thought to myself, *Shut your damn mouth. Don’t you dare try to drive a wedge between my sister and me.* But even after dinner, Thomas showed no intention of leaving. Dad stood up, clearly trying to kick him out. “Thomas, it’s getting late. You should go home. Your wife is probably…” Thomas remained glued to the couch, sending Mom a pathetic, pleading look. Mom’s heart softened again. “George, let him stay for the night. They just had a huge fight. Let them both cool down. He can leave tomorrow.” Dad let out a long sigh, looked at Mom with utter disappointment, and walked back to the bedroom alone. My parents had fought countless times because of Thomas. I think Dad had finally realized that Mom was a lost cause. “Sarah, I’m sleeping in Kevin’s room tonight!” Thomas called out. Chloe immediately spoke up for me. “Thomas, you’re a grown man! How can you steal a kid’s bed? Aren’t you embarrassed?!” Thomas argued shamelessly, “Did your teachers never teach you to respect your elders?!” Chloe mocked him ruthlessly. “Well, where do you sleep when Rachel kicks you out of bed? The floor? Our living room floor is pretty spacious. Go sleep there.” Thomas began bickering with Chloe like a spoiled toddler. “Enough! Both of you!” Mom interrupted, putting an end to the useless argument. “Kevin, sweetie, would you mind letting your uncle have your bed tonight?” Chloe shook her head at me frantically, warning me not to agree. I was about to refuse, but a sudden thought struck me. This was the perfect opportunity. So, I smiled. “Of course I don’t mind!” Chloe glared at me, clearly thinking I had betrayed her.

Chloe dragged me into the hallway, furious. “I thought you said he destroyed our lives in the past? Why are you…” I pulled her into a quiet corner, whispering mysteriously, “Chloe, let me borrow your phone tonight…” As soon as I walked into my bedroom, Thomas started complaining that my bed was too old and too small. He had no idea that the money meant to buy me a new bed had been given to him by Mom so he could marry his toxic wife. Suppressing the burning hatred in my chest, I acted completely normal. “Thomas, this pillow is brand new. You can use this one.” Thomas took the pillow and patted it. “I like firm pillows.” Looking at his smug face, I wanted nothing more than to make him pay for my past life right then and there. But it wasn’t time yet. In this house, Thomas never acted like a guest. The next morning, he looked at the plain pancakes on the table and threw a fit. “Sarah! Are you feeding pigs? Where’s the bacon? Where’s the meat?!” Chloe immediately snapped, defending Mom. “If you want meat, go buy it yourself! You’re not a guest here!” *Slap!* Thomas swung his hand and slapped Chloe right across the face. The force of it split her lip, and blood began to trickle down her chin. “You disrespectful brat! I’ll teach you some manners if your parents won’t!” Chloe was terrified by the sudden violence and burst into loud tears. I was about to jump in to help when Mom rushed out of the kitchen. “What happened?!” “Thomas hit me!” Chloe cried. Hearing Chloe call him by his first name, Thomas lunged forward again. “Sarah, I have to teach this worthless brat a lesson today!” Mom quickly threw herself in front of him. “She’s just a child! Why are you fighting with a kid?!” “I’ll beat whoever the hell I want! Get out of my way!” Thomas shoved Mom hard. *Bang!* Her forehead slammed right into the sharp edge of the dining table. Blood immediately started gushing from her forehead. “Mom!” Chloe and I rushed forward. In a fit of rage, I sank my teeth deep into Thomas’s arm. He shrieked in pain and threw me to the ground. “You little bastard! How dare you bite me?!” He kicked me hard in the stomach twice. The pain was blinding, making me curl into a ball. Chloe and I sobbed, screaming, “You’re a monster! Just wait until Dad gets home! He’s going to destroy you!” Hearing Dad’s name, Thomas’s raised hand froze in mid-air. He glared at us with vicious eyes. “You worthless brats. Just wait. I’ll deal with you two later.” With that, he slammed the door and left. But before he walked out, he didn’t forget to grab all the cash from Mom’s wallet hanging by the door. Chloe and I, ignoring our own pain, quickly got the medical kit to stop Mom’s bleeding and bandaged her head. “Mom, let us take you to the hospital!” She waved her hand dismissively, sighing to herself. “Don’t blame your uncle. That’s just how he is. He’s still immature.” “Mom! We are the children here! We are your actual kids! Why do you always protect him?!” “And… you treat him so well, but he still does this to you…” I would never understand why Mom had this sick, pathological obsession with protecting Thomas. It wasn’t until much later that I realized Mom had grown up under the extreme, toxic influence of my grandparents, who firmly believed that sons were everything and daughters were worthless. She was a victim of that generational curse. In fact, even between Chloe and me, Mom always favored me a bit more because I was a boy. Thankfully, Dad was always there to keep her in check, so it never got out of hand. “Why did you pull me away back there?” Chloe was still angry about the morning. With the memories of my past life, I was no longer a child in my mind. To cheer her up, I gave her my favorite ice cream. Then, I pulled her phone out from under the pillow I had given to Thomas. “Chloe, this is where our revenge begins…”

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I supported my fiancé’s college tuition for four long years, only for him to dump me the second he graduated. He told me that the powerful King family of Manhattan was a beast he couldn’t fight. He had no choice but to marry into their family and become their kept husband. Then, he sighed, looking down at me, and called me an ignorant, clueless country girl. He threw a check for twenty thousand dollars at my face and said we were even. Too bad for him, he had no idea. I am the only real heiress of the King family—the one destined to inherit the entire empire. I packed my things, getting ready to head back to New York City. I called Oliver. Within an hour, he pulled up outside my rural cabin in a blinding silver supercar. He had to stop there because the road ahead was too narrow for his low-clearance ride. “I thought you’d fallen in love with the quiet country life and forgotten all about Manhattan,” Oliver teased, leaning against the door. “None of this scenery is half as distracting as you,” I smiled, sliding into the passenger seat. The moment I arrived in New York, I went straight to Columbia University to see Ethan. I spotted him from a distance and waved. When he saw me, he panicked and ran over, looking around nervously. “Mia, I know I broke your heart,” Ethan hissed, his voice hushed. “But even if you stalked me all the way here, I’m not changing my mind. We are over.” I walked right past him, completely ignoring his existence. Just then, Dean Fletcher of Columbia University walked up. He smiled warmly and patted my shoulder. “Chloe! Welcome back. I’ve kept your enrollment active this entire time. Whenever you’re ready, you can resume your classes.” I took the documents Dean Fletcher handed me. I didn’t give Ethan a single glance. Ethan stood there, his jaw practically hitting the floor. He looked like his entire reality had just shattered. He definitely recognized the Dean. Leaving him to drown in his confusion, I drove straight to the King family’s estate. The security code at the front gate was still the same. The moment I walked in, my mother rushed over and hugged me so tight I could barely breathe. She was crying so hard she forgot all about her usual high-society elegance. Suddenly, Serena bounced out from the living room. Her face went pale, and she shrieked as if she had seen a ghost. “Aunt Helen, don’t let her fool you! My cousin Chloe died four years ago!” She lunged forward, trying to grab me. *Slap!* I smacked her hard across the face. “I’ve come back from the grave to collect my debt, Serena,” I whispered, my voice ice-cold. “You better lock your bedroom door very tight tonight.” Serena burst into tears, completely losing her composure. I didn’t care. “Mom, I’m home,” I said, wiping my mother’s tears. “And I’m never leaving again.” My mother believed I had just been studying abroad for the past four years. She had missed me too much to question anything else. Just then, the front door swung open, and my father walked in. “Chloe? My baby girl is back?!” His booming voice echoed through the grand hallway. I rubbed my ears with a smile and threw myself into his arms. My tough-guy dad was trying hard to play it cool, but I could see his eyes brimming with tears. Hearing the commotion, Grandma Evelyn came out of her study. She was visibly shaking. “Your rebellious granddaughter is finally home, Grandma,” I said. I knelt beside her rocking chair, burying my face in her hands. Grandma was a woman of traditional values. To her, family respect was everything. That night, the lights in the King estate burned until dawn. Serena stood in the corner, muttering bitterly. “Grandma, we should double-check her identity. What if she’s just some imposter who wants our family fortune?” I knew she would try this. Before coming down, I had already explained everything to Grandma, and my parents knew the truth too. For the public, we agreed on a cover story: I had been studying secretly in Europe for four years and had just returned. “That’s enough, Serena!” Grandma snapped, slamming her cane on the floor. “Your cousin’s return is a blessing. If I hear you spreading rumors again, I will personally kick you out of this house!” Serena had every reason to doubt my return. After all, four years ago, she was the one who hired the thugs to kill me. She was also the one who plunged a knife into my back before pushing me into the freezing river.

I didn’t return alone. Clara came back with me. Four years ago, Clara’s sister, Lily, was my personal assistant. When the killers attacked us, Lily threw herself in front of a speeding car to push me out of the way. She died on impact. During my first week back, we hosted a family dinner. Serena was noticeably absent, claiming she was unwell. “Is Serena feeling sick? I should go check on her,” I said smoothly. I visited her villa bringing a massive gift basket filled with the most expensive luxury wellness products—imported white truffle serums, Swiss caviar extracts, and royal jelly elixirs. Serena, greedy as always, couldn’t resist taking them. Once she accepted the basket, I slipped a black card onto her vanity. It was an ultra-exclusive VIP card for *The Eden Sanctuary*. “You look pale, Serena. Take this card. Go pamper yourself. We can’t have the public saying the King family treats its daughters poorly.” In Manhattan’s elite circles, *The Eden Sanctuary* was legendary. It was the ultimate playground for billionaire women—private hot springs, custom anti-aging therapies, and personal stylists. But it was nearly impossible to get in. Money wasn’t enough; you needed real political and social influence. A spoiled, second-tier cousin like Serena, living off family handouts, would never qualify for a membership on her own. The temptation was too much for her to resist. “Chloe… is this really for me?” she stammered, her eyes wide. “Of course. But you can give it back if you don’t want it. Someone gifted it to me, and I honestly don’t have the time. Maybe I’ll just give it to Mom…” I reached to take it back, but Serena snatched it out of my hand instantly. What she didn’t know was that I secretly owned *The Eden Sanctuary*. I had already instructed my staff to give her “special treatment.” Serena couldn’t wait. The very next day, she booked an appointment. The face masks they prepared for her were custom-made. After a few sessions, Serena’s skin indeed looked radiant. She looked flawless. “Miss King, your skin is absolutely glowing,” the esthetician flattered her. “You are going to be the most beautiful bride in New York.” “Make sure you keep up the good work,” Serena sneered arrogantly. “Do a good job, and I might tip you next time.” She had been there eight times and hadn’t left a single dollar in tips. Her cheapness was embarrassing. But the staff at *The Eden Sanctuary* were professionals; they just smiled and nodded. Serena’s engagement to Ethan was set for three months from now. Too bad their dream wedding was never going to happen.

Serena claimed to be my cousin, but she was actually just the daughter of my uncle, Charles. And Charles wasn’t even Grandma’s biological son. He was my grandfather’s illegitimate child from some nameless affair abroad. When Grandfather was young, he had a brief fling during a business trip. Nobody knew the full story, but a year later, he brought a baby boy back to New York. That baby was Charles. Grandma, being the graceful woman she was, took the child in and raised him alongside her own sons. But Charles grew up to be deeply resentful. He wanted the entire King empire for himself. He even tried to ruin my father. Charles was completely useless at running a business. To bring my father down, he leaked company secrets to our rivals, costing us tens of millions. He also secretly swapped out high-grade construction materials for cheap, sub-standard ones to line his own pockets. Eventually, one of our major construction projects collapsed because of the faulty steel and concrete. Thankfully, no one was killed. Yet, Charles showed no remorse. He went as far as hiring hitmen to kidnap my father. Luckily, Dad was smart and escaped. When Grandma found out, she was furious. She banished Charles to Europe and warned him never to set foot in the US again, or he would be completely cut off from the family fortune. Serena had grown up in the King estate, and she turned out exactly like her father—a greedy, ungrateful snake. Four years ago, while my parents were away, she tried to murder me. First, she hired someone to run me over. Lily saved me but lost her own life. When I tried to flee, Serena’s men caught me. Serena herself held the knife and plunged it into my back. I only survived by leaping into the rushing Hudson River. I was going to make her pay for Lily’s life, and my own, in blood. But I knew Grandma. She was incredibly fair. Without solid, undeniable proof, she would never allow me to ruin Serena. I needed to trap her so tightly she couldn’t squirm out of it. That was why I set Ethan up to meet her. He was my perfect pawn. Ethan was handsome, tall, and smart. He had always been at the top of his class. But his family was dirt poor. Even though he got into Columbia University, his family couldn’t afford the tuition. More importantly, Ethan had an insatiable greed. He wanted the best of everything. If he saw a chance to climb into high society, he would grab it with both hands. So, when Serena—posing as the ultimate wealthy heiress—crossed his path, he pursued her like a rabid dog. And Serena, who loved being worshiped, easily fell for a handsome, ambitious Ivy League boy. Every expensive suit, watch, and pair of shoes I had bought Ethan during our four years together looked low-key but was actually ultra-luxury, custom-made wear. A girl raised in the luxury of the King family would recognize those brands instantly. Before the semester started, I had intentionally whispered in Ethan’s ear: “Make sure you don’t get distracted by the wealthy girls at school and forget about me. I heard the heiresses of the King family love handsome, brilliant future elites like you.” So, when Ethan demanded a breakup to be with Serena, I wasn’t surprised at all. I was thrilled.

Grandma threw a massive gala to celebrate my official return. Naturally, Ethan was on the guest list. Dressed in a stunning, custom-made gown and dripping in diamonds, I stood beside Grandma, laughing and talking. The moment we walked down the grand staircase, we became the absolute center of attention. “Ethan, what are you staring at?” Serena hissed, pulling his arm. “I’m warning you, don’t get any ideas. That’s my cousin!” Ethan was staring at me in absolute shock. It was the exact same face, but the aura was entirely different. I excused myself and walked out to the quiet balcony. As expected, Ethan followed me. “Miss King,” he began, his voice trembling. “You look exactly like an old friend of mine.” “Ethan,” I turned around, a mocking smile on my lips. “Did you really think you wouldn’t recognize me?” “It *was* you at Columbia that day!” his eyes widened. “Are you Mia, or are you the King family’s heiress?” “I’m Mia, Ethan. Everything I did was for you,” I whispered. By now, Ethan had surely realized who the *real* heiress of the King empire was. He reached out to touch my shoulder, but I stepped back, dodging him. “But… you are Serena’s fiancé now.” “Mia, we were together for four years! You are the only one I love,” Ethan pleaded, putting on his best act of devotion. “I promise you, I’ll make things right. We can be together forever.” Suddenly, Serena burst onto the balcony. She slapped Ethan across the face. “You worthless trash! You’re cheating on me with this bitch?!” Before she could scream again, I slapped Serena right back. “Who are you calling a bitch?” I sneered. “I told you, Serena. I’m here to take your soul.” Serena shrieked in terror and ran back into the ballroom. As expected, she had no brain. She chose to make a scene in front of everyone. “She’s an imposter!” Serena pointed at me, screaming to the crowd. “She’s not Chloe! She’s just a poor country girl named Mia!”

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My sister, Chloe, had always been obsessed with the idea of marrying into old money. To make it happen, she bought a bottle of viral “Glow-Up Pills” that were trending all over TikTok. Back then, I warned her. I told her these sketchy, unregulated supplements had severe side effects and could literally ruin her body. Hearing my warning, Chloe threw the pills away immediately. She even hugged me and thanked me for saving her life. But not long after, photos of a lavish wedding went viral on Instagram. The groom was a billionaire heir, and the bride was the very influencer who sold Chloe those pills. Chloe was convinced that the influencer only snagged the billionaire because of those Glow-Up Pills. She blamed me for destroying her dream. In a fit of rage, she ran me over with her car. “You jealous bitch! If you hadn’t meddled, I’d be the one marrying into the Sterling family!” Our parents helped her cover up the crime, telling everyone that my death was just a tragic car accident. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the day Chloe was showing off those Glow-Up Pills to me. Our parents were standing by, smiling. “It’s fine, Mia. Every girl wants to look pretty. Right?” I smiled back. “Yeah. If you want to take them, Chloe, go ahead.” 1 “Mia, look! I paid a fortune for these Glow-Up Pills. Everyone on Snapchat says they make you gorgeous enough to snag a billionaire!” The moment I opened my eyes, I saw Chloe excitedly waving a beautifully packaged bottle of pills in front of my face. “Once these pills make my skin flawless and pale, those rich guys will be crawling to me.” Before I could say anything, Mom and Dad cut in. “If Chloe wants them, let her have them. It’s normal for girls to care about their looks.” “Mia, don’t always be such a buzzkill. As long as Chloe is happy.” In my past life, they said the exact same thing. But as a Pre-Med graduate, I could see through the scam immediately. The so-called “glow-up” effect of these pills was caused by banned hormones. They gave a temporary boost to the skin, but long-term use caused toxins to build up in the body, leading to sudden organ failure. In my previous life, I had explained all the medical risks to Chloe. I even showed her news articles about girls who ended up permanently disfigured from taking them. Chloe had been terrified. She threw the pills straight into the trash. “Mia, thank God you told me. Being pretty isn’t worth dying for.” Even our parents had looked relieved back then. But soon after, photos of a high-society wedding flooded Instagram. The bride was the very influencer who sold Chloe those pills. Chloe lost her mind. She convinced herself that if I hadn’t stopped her, she would have been the one in that wedding dress. So, she lured me out, waited until my back was turned, and slammed her accelerator, crashing her car straight into me. “You jealous bitch! If you hadn’t meddled, I’d be the one marrying into the Sterling family!” I died on the spot. My parents lied to the cops, claiming I had severe depression and that it was a suicide. Chloe didn’t spend a single day in jail. Instead, she used my tragic death to gain clout on TikTok, building a massive following and making a fortune. Feeling the phantom pain still lingering in my chest, I forced down the burning hatred inside me and forced a casual smile. “Chloe, once you marry a billionaire and live in a mansion, don’t forget about me.” Chloe beamed with pride, her smile reaching her ears. “Mia, we’re sisters. Once I make it big, I’ll definitely look out for you.” Then, Chloe hesitated, a flicker of worry crossing her face. “But… I am a little nervous. These pills won’t actually hurt me, right? You studied medicine. Can you check the ingredients for me?” I opened my mouth, but then swallowed my words. I had warned her in my past life, and what did I get? My parents helped her lie, blamed me, and treated my brutal murder like a convenient accident. I blinked innocently. “I didn’t major in pharmacology, Chloe. I don’t really know much about these synthetic supplements. If you’re that worried, maybe just throw them away?” I said this on purpose. I knew Chloe, and I knew our parents. Since we were kids, our parents never said “no” to anything Chloe wanted. Sure enough, Chloe instantly clutched the pill bottle tightly to her chest. “Tons of girls on TikTok got gorgeous from these. I will too. Once my skin is perfect, finding a rich guy will be a piece of cake.” I said nothing. Go ahead. Take them. This time, I wanted to see if Chloe would end up in a mansion or with a ruined face. 2 Chloe was still slightly anxious, so she spent the whole night searching Snapchat and TikTok for success stories. Thanks to the algorithm, her feed was quickly flooded with videos of girls glowing up and marrying rich after taking the pills. Occasionally, a video debunking the pills as a dangerous scam would pop up. But Chloe swiped past them instantly. She only wanted to see the success stories, fantasizing about achieving instant fame and wealth. Meanwhile, I was busy sending out resumes, running to job interviews, and looking for internships. When I got exhausted, I relied on coffee and mint balm to keep myself awake. Chloe, on the other hand, stayed up all night researching how to sneak into exclusive VIP parties and hunting for wealthy guys on Instagram, giggling at her phone all day. One day, seeing me editing my resume over a cheap takeout box, Chloe curled her lip in disdain. “Mia, you work so hard sending resumes and doing interviews, but you’re just going to end up with a basic, low-paying job.” “You should really try these Glow-Up Pills with me. Once you’re hot, you won’t have to worry about finding a guy to take care of you. It’s way better than wage-slaving.” Without thinking, I blurted out, “No, thanks.” Chloe’s face darkened instantly. “Mia, do you still think something is wrong with these pills?” Seeing the suspicion in her eyes, I quickly smoothed things over. “No, Chloe. It’s just… I’m not naturally pretty anyway. Even if I take them, it won’t make a difference.” “But you’re already gorgeous and slim. The pills will work like magic on you. I don’t want to waste them.” Seeing my self-deprecating look, Chloe’s anger turned into smug satisfaction. She looked down at my faded hoodie with sheer contempt. “True. A plain girl like you wouldn’t know what to do with a glow-up anyway.” I nodded in agreement, my mind completely calm. Our family was working-class. Our parents worked odd jobs to get us through school. In my past life, I worked myself to the bone just to land a decent entry-level job. But I had been content. I wanted to graduate, work hard, and help my parents. I never expected Chloe to destroy everything. And what broke my heart the most was that my parents knew the truth, yet chose to protect my murderer. Remembering how they casually dismissed my death as an “accident,” a cold rage washed over me. Watching Chloe lose herself in her delusional fantasies, I looked away and went back to editing my resume. Soon, the night of the charity gala hosted by the Sterling family arrived. Before leaving the house, Chloe posted on Twitter: “Big night ahead! ✨” with a picture of a Glow-Up Pill. The gala ended late. The moment I walked through the front door, I heard Chloe’s excited voice echoing from the living room. “Chloe, did you seriously meet Zachary Sterling?!” A few of her friends were crowding around her, green with envy. Chloe tossed her hair proudly. “Of course. He even asked for my Snapchat. He told me I looked absolutely stunning tonight.” To prove she wasn’t lying, Chloe started listing the brand of Zachary’s designer suit, his luxury watch, and the exact words he said to her. My heart skipped a beat. Knowing Chloe’s social circle, there was no way she could have gotten close to someone in that elite bracket. Did Zachary Sterling actually take an interest in her? 3 Listening to Chloe brag, the other girls’ eyes practically turned into hearts. “Oh my god, Chloe! This is insane! Zachary is totally into you!” “Forget about basic rich guys, you’re about to secure an actual billionaire!” The flattery went straight to Chloe’s head. Then, one girl asked, “Chloe, how did you do it? We’re best friends, you can’t keep the secret to yourself.” “I saw your Twitter post. Is it because of those Glow-Up Pills?” Chloe didn’t even hesitate. She proudly admitted it. The girls gasped. “If we take those pills before the next party, will we get that gorgeous too?” The room went wild. Everyone stared at Chloe like she held the key to heaven. “Chloe, where did you buy them? Can you get some for me? I’ll pay you right now!” Chloe hesitated at first, but when she realized she could charge them a premium, her eyes lit up with greed. After pocketing their cash, Chloe promised she would secure the pills as soon as possible. Then, she turned to look at me. “Mia, I can get a bottle for you too. I’ll even give you a sister discount.” I rejected her instantly. “No, thanks. I’ll just stick to my regular routine. Besides, those things have crazy side effects. What if something goes wrong?” Hearing my words, the hyped-up girls suddenly quieted down. Realizing there might be dangerous side effects, several girls started getting cold feet. Seeing her easy cash being handed back, Chloe glared at me with pure venom. “Mia, I can’t believe you. Just because you can’t afford these pills doesn’t mean you have to ruin things for everyone else!” I put on a hurt expression. “Chloe, I’m just looking out for you guys. What if someone gets hurt?” Chloe snorted. “I’ve been taking them and I’m perfectly fine! Look at how bright my skin is. If you guys want to stay ugly, fine by me.” Seeing Chloe’s flawless skin, the girls wavered again. A few of the more insecure girls didn’t hesitate. They Venmoed Chloe the money on the spot, begging her to buy the pills for them. Chloe smiled and accepted the money, then smirked at the others. They looked back and forth between me and Chloe, eventually shaking their heads. “We’ll pass.” Chloe let out a condescending laugh, pointing at me. “Fine. Since you’d rather listen to Mia, let’s see what kind of ‘amazing’ job she lands with her boring life.” That night, the girls who bought the pills posted matching Snapchat stories of the capsules with the caption: “Ready for my glow-up! 💖” Looking at their stubbornness, I sighed and went back to preparing for my interview tomorrow. A week later, at another college party, those girls indeed looked significantly fairer. Wealthy frat boys were actually approaching them. They came back ecstatic, crowding around Chloe. “Chloe, these pills are literally magic! My skin is glowing!” “Those rich guys who used to ignore me were buying me drinks all night!” But I knew this was just the calm before the storm. I had secretly researched the chemical compounds in those pills. The short-term whitening effect was real, but the banned hormones would build up in the body. Within six months, the backlash would begin—skin rotting, severe pigmentation, and even organ damage. I tried to drop subtle hints to Chloe, but she wouldn’t listen to a word. “You’re just jealous! Look at my skin, it’s better than any celebrity’s!” What she didn’t know was that Zachary Sterling wasn’t interested in her looks. He was using her as an unregistered distributor to sell his toxic pills to college girls. 4 As word spread, more and more girls came knocking on our door. “Chloe, do these pills really work?” “Are you blind? Look at me! It’s your own fault for not believing me sooner. Just sit back and watch me shine.” “Chloe, you’re literally an angel for sharing this with us.” Hearing this, the girls who had hesitated earlier were filled with deep regret. Noticing their jealousy, Chloe turned her smug gaze onto me. “Mia, if you hadn’t held me back, I would have reached this level months ago. I’d probably be engaged to Zachary by now.” She sighed dramatically. “But don’t be too sad. If you missed out this semester, there’s always next year.” Chloe’s words completely shifted the blame. The girls who had been on my side yesterday now glared at me with burning resentment. “Mia, did you do that on purpose? Just because you’re plain doesn’t mean you have to hold your sister back!” “I was going to buy them, but I listened to you and missed my chance! You ruined my life!” Accusations flew at me from all directions. I kept my face blank, my mind focused on one thing. The pills’ results were real, but the price was absolute. Chloe had no idea she was walking straight into Zachary’s trap. While I was lost in thought, a girl violently shoved my shoulder. “Mia, are you just jealous of Chloe? Why do you hate seeing her succeed?” Chloe put on a fake, sympathetic show. “Guys, don’t blame Mia. She was just ‘worried’ I’d ruin my face. That’s why she stopped me.” This made everyone even angrier. A few girls got so worked up they cornered me against the wall. “Who do you think you are, trying to control our bodies?” I braced myself against the wall, trying to stay calm. “Get a grip! Those pills contain banned substances! They will destroy your kidneys and rot your skin in the long run! I was trying to save you!” But they blocked out my voice. The scene was spiraling into chaos. Our parents, hearing the shouting, rushed out of their room. They were shocked to see me surrounded by a hostile crowd. “What is going on here? Get away from Mia!” Chloe stepped forward. “Mom, Dad, don’t blame them. Mia is the one who blocked everyone from getting their glow-up pills.” Under our parents’ confused stares, the girls started shouting their grievances all at once. Our parents’ expressions became very complicated. But Chloe didn’t notice. She kept egging them on. “This is all Mia’s fault. She’s average-looking, so she wants everyone else to stay average too. She’s just toxic and jealous!” The crowd roared in agreement, demanding I apologize on my knees. Dad frowned, looking at Chloe. “Wait… Chloe, you’re saying you took those pills and your skin actually got better?” Chloe nodded proudly. “Yes, Dad! Look at me. Don’t I look ten times better? Just wait until I marry Zachary, you’ll see.” Hearing this, the girls who hadn’t taken the pills looked green with envy, their hatred toward me growing stronger. Mom tried to disperse the crowd, but nobody listened. A few girls got so aggressive that one of them screamed, “She took away our future! Push her off the balcony!” Before I could react, several hands grabbed my arms, dragging me toward the apartment balcony. I desperately grabbed the doorframe, my sneakers sliding against the floor. “Let go of me! Are you guys insane?!” They didn’t care. They shoved me hard, pushing my upper body over the low balcony railing. I was dangling stories above the concrete pavement, the cold wind whipping my hair across my face. “What are you doing?! Pull her back!” Mom screamed in terror. “Mia, you think you’re so smart? Keep talking now, bitch!” one girl yelled, her eyes bloodshot with rage. I gripped the railing, my knuckles white. “Don’t listen to Chloe! The medical results aren’t out yet! Don’t do this! Murder is a federal crime!” But they were completely deaf to my pleas, trying to push me over the edge. Just as I thought I was going to plummet to my death, the sharp wail of police sirens echoed from the street below. A neighbor had called 91 The cops burst into the apartment seconds later, tearing the girls away from me and pulling me back to safety. Chloe stood in the corner, a faint, cold smirk on her face. When the officer demanded an explanation, Chloe spoke up first. “Officer, this is my sister, Mia. She got jealous because I’m prettier than her, so she tried to stop us from taking our vitamins. Everyone just got a little emotional.” I leaned against the wall, gasping for air, unable to utter a single word. Finally, Dad sighed, looking exhausted. “Since this has become a police matter, I’m taking Chloe to the clinic tomorrow for a full medical checkup. We’ll see if these pills are actually poison.” Chloe whined, but she couldn’t argue with Dad. The next afternoon, the lab results came back. The report showed Chloe’s liver enzymes were off the charts, heavy metals in her blood were at toxic levels, and her skin biopsy showed deep-layer chemical damage. Chloe stared at the paper, completely frozen.

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The mountain had collapsed. My mother-in-law, Helen, and I were trapped inside the crushed car. But when the rescue team arrived, I didn’t cry out for help. Instead, I quietly searched for an exit on my own. Because I knew my husband would never choose to save me. In my past life, I had screamed frantically inside the deformed car cabin. My husband had dug through the rubble with his bare hands until his fingers bled to get us out. But after we were rescued, his childhood friend, Chloe, ran back into the danger zone out of jealousy. She was buried in the second landslide. After her death, my husband held me as I shook with fear, whispering that everything was fine as long as I was safe. He even took me on a hiking trip to help me clear my head. Yet, when we reached the peak of the mountain, he suddenly pushed me off the cliff. “It’s your fault I lost the love of my life! Go to hell and rot!” When I opened my eyes again, I was back in that dark, suffocating space. “Jane, hang in there! I’m going to get us out!” I woke up in a cold sweat at the sound of that familiar voice. The moment I opened my eyes, I saw the crushed car door, deformed by falling boulders, scraping against my face. Panic surged through me. I immediately pulled Helen into the safest corner of the cabin. “Helen, don’t try to push the door. Any movement could trigger another collapse.” I scanned our surroundings and found a dropped water bottle. Pouring the last drops of water onto a small towel, I handed it to her to cover her nose and mouth from the thick dust. Outside, the sirens of rescue vehicles echoed. Helen’s face lit up with hope. “Don’t worry, Jane. Ethan is here with his rescue team. We’re going to be okay.” Looking at her hopeful eyes, I lowered my gaze and remained silent. The air in the car was growing thin. The temperature was dropping fast, and the muddy ground beneath our feet was freezing. Just as I got Helen settled, Ethan’s voice boomed from outside. “Chloe! Chloe, are you in there?” “Don’t worry, I’m coming for you!” As the sound of clearing rocks grew louder, a sliver of light pierced through the cracks. Through the swirling dust, I couldn’t see clearly, but I could hear Chloe’s pathetic whimpering. “Ethan… I’m under the big rock ahead. Save me… I’m so scared…” “Everyone, follow me! Don’t waste time searching this area. Move up to the front!” Ethan commanded. Hearing their conversation, Helen suddenly clutched her chest, gasping for air. “That bastard… How could Ethan do this…” Before she could finish her sentence, she fainted from oxygen deprivation and sheer shock. Through the cracks, I watched Ethan’s retreating back as he carried Chloe away. The cold seeped into my bones. Tears welled up in my eyes, cutting clean tracks through the dust on my face. In that moment, I choked back the scream for help that almost escaped my throat. *Ethan, in this life, I don’t owe you anything anymore.* As Ethan disappeared with his muse, I adjusted my mask. I shifted my position to shield Helen, trying to find an escape route on my own. All the straining sent a sharp, agonizing pain through my ribs. It took everything I had just to stay upright. I was shielding Ethan’s mother. And there we were, trapped in the dark ruins of the landslide, listening to their voices fade into the distance. “Chloe, is there anyone else in that car?” “No, Ethan. Jane… she had a fight with me and suddenly grabbed the steering wheel. The car hit the cliff and triggered the slide. She jumped out and ran away…” “That despicable woman! When I find her, I’ll make her pay for this!” My body went limp. The physical and emotional pain made it almost impossible to breathe. A second later, another rescuer’s voice echoed: “Captain! I think I heard something over there.” “I feel like someone might still be trapped under here. What if Jane is in there?” “Chloe already said Jane caused this! Do you think a murderer would stick around to die?” Ethan snapped. “Everyone, move out! Chloe has external injuries. Our priority is getting her to the hospital!”

Enduring the agonizing pain, I tried to squeeze through a small gap. Beside me, Helen was awoken by the dust. Coughing violently, she grabbed my arm and began to scream for help with all her might. “Ethan! You ungrateful bastard! Your wife and your mother are buried in here! Who are you taking to the hospital?” I froze, listening closely to the sounds outside. But the footsteps and the scraping of shovels had already faded. Ethan was long gone. Suddenly, the urgent voice of another rescue worker pierced the silence: “Captain! Over here! We found an elderly woman trapped under the chassis. She still has a pulse!” Then, Ethan’s cold, irritated voice crackled through the walkie-talkie: “Leave her for now! Chloe said her mother was in the car earlier, and after the fight with Jane, she probably got out before the crash. She’s likely just nearby. Focus all resources on getting Chloe to the hospital first! Her injuries are severe. As for the old woman… let the backup team handle it.” Hearing her own son’s heartless words, Helen’s eyes widened in sheer disbelief. She gasped for air, suffocated by shock, and blacked out completely. Above us, a loose boulder crashed down, completely sealing the small gap of light we had just seen. With trembling hands, I poured the very last drop of water onto Helen’s dry lips. She was unconscious and couldn’t swallow. Time ticked away. Despair settled over me. For a moment, I truly believed we weren’t going to make it out alive this time. The temperature kept dropping, and my limbs began to go numb. Just when all hope seemed lost, Ryan’s voice shouted from above: “Captain! Wait! This looks like your mother! She’s wearing the scarf your mom had on today!” A flurry of chaotic noises followed, and Ethan’s voice, cracking with panic, blasted through the radio: “What?! Look closer!” But there was no time for explanations. Ryan was already digging furiously with his tools. Soon, a figure cleared the debris, shining a flashlight on us. Unable to hold on any longer, I finally blacked out. When I opened my eyes again, Helen and I had been moved to a temporary medical tent by the road. Her face was pale, and she was hooked up to an oxygen mask as EMTs rushed her into an ambulance. The one who had saved us was Ryan, Ethan’s colleague. Covered in dirt, he looked at me with a complicated, exhausted expression. “Jane… Ethan… he thought it was your mother under there, so he… he gave that order. I got Helen onto the ambulance first, but the delay…” He slumped to the ground, completely drained. The ambulance rushed us to the hospital. Because of the delayed rescue, Helen was in critical condition and was sent straight to the ICU. I was admitted to a general ward for a cracked rib and multiple lacerations.

When I woke up, I was lying in a hospital bed. Ethan had rushed to the hospital upon hearing the news. But of course, he went to Chloe’s room first. When he finally showed up at my door, there was no concern on his face. Only blinding rage and disgust. Ignoring the nurse’s protests, he slammed the door open and slapped me hard across the face. “You crazy bitch! Are you and your mother insane? Why did you grab the wheel and try to kill Chloe? Now even your own mother is paying for your sins!” My head snapped to the side, my ears ringing violently. The sharp pain in my ribs made my vision go black. I stared at the man I had once loved with all my heart. His eyes held nothing but pity for Chloe and utter disgust for “my mother” who had been hurt. Chloe stood right behind him, her arm wrapped in a clean bandage, clutching his jacket like a frightened child. “Ethan, don’t be too hard on Jane. Her mother… she didn’t mean to do it. She was just too emotional at the time…” She coughed right on cue, spitting up a tiny speck of blood. The sight of that blood triggered Ethan. He spun around and kicked my bed rail violently, making a deafening metallic screech. “You evil monsters! You almost killed Chloe! Your mother got exactly what she deserved! Why didn’t you just die under those rocks?” He loomed over me, his eyes filled with pure hatred, as if my mother and I were the most disgusting creatures on earth. I didn’t even have the energy to argue. I could only manage a raspy whisper: “That’s your mother… Helen…” Ethan let out a harsh, mocking laugh. “Now you’re calling her ‘mother’ to gain sympathy? Why didn’t you think about that before you caused the crash? Your mother is rotting in the ICU right now, and it’s pure karma!” Just then, a nurse ran in frantically. “Mr. Collins! The elderly female patient in ICU Bed 3 is crashing. The doctor needs the family to…” Ethan waved his hand dismissively. “I get it! That’s Jane’s mother, right? Let Jane handle it! We need to focus on Chloe here!” The nurse froze. She looked at me, then at Ethan, her mouth opening and closing before she finally sighed and walked out. Ethan glared at me one last time. “Don’t look at her, Chloe. It’s bad luck,” he whispered gently, wrapping his arm around her as they walked out of my room.

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Reborn to the day my best friend, Victoria, and I were to be married off to the heirs of the Rossi mafia empire. Victoria snatched my husband from my past life, Carlo Colombo, without hesitation. In my previous life, Carlo was the one who ultimately took over the entire Colombo crime family. She wrapped her arm snugly around Carlo’s, leaning in to whisper in my ear: “Dearest Sera, it’s my turn to be the Mafia Queen. I’ll let you have the heir who’s destined to die young.” So, she had been reborn too. But what she didn’t know was that Carlo only managed to conquer the mafia in our past life because of me. Because I could hear the inner voices of everyone around me. I woke up back on the day Victoria and I were choosing our partners. Across the mahogany table sat two men of similar age. One was Alessandro Rossi, the eldest son of the Rossi family—notoriously dubbed “Cold-Faced Alessandro”. The other was Carlo Colombo, the son of the family’s key business partner, who wore a deceptively gentle smile. [This time, the future Capo will be mine!] A sharp female voice echoed in my mind. It was Victoria. I looked over at her, but her lips weren’t moving. Her eyes were locked onto Carlo. [The crown of the Mafia Queen belongs to me this time.] Her voice rang out again. I realized then: I wasn’t just reborn. My mind-reading ability was back. And judging by her thoughts, Victoria had been reborn too. Otherwise, she couldn’t have known Carlo would eventually seize power. Sure enough, the next second, she elegantly glided over to Carlo’s side, flashing a sweet smile. “Hello, I’m Victoria. It’s an honor to meet you.” Our adoptive father, Don Lorenzo, who sat at the head of the table, spoke up. “Sera, since Victoria has chosen Carlo, you will marry Alessandro.” At those words, smugness flashed in Victoria’s eyes. She hugged me, whispering in my ear: “Dearest Sera, it’s my turn to be the Mafia Queen. I’ll let you have the heir who’s destined to die young.” She expected me to break down in despair, but all I felt was a cold, mocking laugh in my heart. In our past life, Victoria married Alessandro. Alessandro was the designated heir of the Rossi family, but his methods were too straightforward. He didn’t play dirty. Victoria tried to help him, but her amateur schemes only made things worse. Eventually, Alessandro lost the brutal power struggle within the family and was sidelined. Victoria suffered endless humiliation alongside him, until they were eventually banished. Meanwhile, Carlo, whom I married, was initially just an insignificant partner’s son. But I had the gift of mind-reading. I knew exactly what everyone thought—their deepest desires, their fears, and their darkest secrets. I used this gift to pave a golden path for Carlo. I knew who to bribe, who to eliminate, and when to make the perfect move. Within three years, Carlo climbed from a nobody to the seat of the Godfather. On the day he took over the family, he hugged me in front of the entire underworld. “Sera, I couldn’t have done any of this without you.” But that very night, I heard his true thoughts for the first time: [I don’t need her anymore.] Only then did I realize he had long discovered my ability. All his warmth and affection had been a facade. He had been practicing suppressing his surface thoughts, only letting me hear what he wanted me to hear. Later, he drugged my food. My mind-reading became glitchy and unreliable. He locked me up, torturing me in various ways to “test” the limits of my power. Victoria, consumed by jealousy over my power and status, seized her chance during one of my rare supervised outings. She personally drove her car directly into mine, pushing me off a cliff… As I plummeted into the freezing ocean, her ecstatic, twisted smile was the last thing I saw.

“Of course, Father. I actually quite like Alessandro,” I smiled gracefully, walking over to sit beside Alessandro. I had to admit, the man’s aura was terrifying. Just sitting next to him, I could feel the suffocating pressure radiating from him. I tried to read his mind, but I got nothing. Complete silence. This was different from my past life—back then, I could at least hear brief, fragmented thoughts from him. But when Carlo smiled at Victoria, I caught his inner voice. [Another plaything.] The voice was warm and gentle, exactly like it had been at the start of my previous life. But I knew it was all an act. Right now, he was calculating Victoria’s worth, planning how to exploit her. I knew his mask too well. Instinctively, I reached out and took Alessandro’s hand. Though his exterior was freezing, his hand was surprisingly warm. Startled by my sudden touch, he glanced down at me. I quickly let go, and he remained silent, offering no objection. Even though he seemed difficult and completely unreadable, I knew one thing: Carlo didn’t deserve that throne. It belonged to Alessandro, and I was the one who had built Carlo’s path. In this life, I would use my power to put the right man on the throne. Victoria and I had a double wedding. Just like in our past life. Back then, Alessandro hadn’t bothered to show up for the morning ceremony, whereas Carlo had arrived early, looking like a prince. Everyone praised Carlo for being a doting husband. As expected, this life played out the exact same way. Carlo, dressed in a sharp white tuxedo, eagerly walked up and took Victoria’s hand. As they passed me, Victoria gave me a triumphant look. “Sera, why hasn’t Alessandro come to pick you up yet?” I simply smiled. “Don’t worry about me. You should focus on yourself.” My words choked her, and her face fell. [Keep laughing. Let’s see if you can still smile when you’re being discarded later.] She sneered in her mind before walking toward the priest with Carlo. But it was too early to celebrate. Who would have the last laugh was still undecided. Alessandro’s absence, just like in our past life, sparked whispers and pitying glances from the crowd. Victoria’s smile grew wider. She couldn’t wait to whisper to Carlo, “I love you, darling.” Then, she pressed her lips to his, looking at me with absolute smugness. I knew she wanted to see me humiliated. But I wasn’t stupid. I wasn’t going to storm off in a rage like Victoria did in our past life. Doing that would only embarrass the family and make me look weak. I remembered how the elders had whispered back then that Victoria was too unstable to be the wife of the Rossi family’s eldest heir.

I picked up the microphone and smiled graciously at the guests. “Alessandro is currently closing a vital business deal for the family. I will be handling the toasts on his behalf today. I hope you all enjoy yourselves.” The moment I spoke, the whispering stopped. Donna Marta, sitting at the head table, gave me an approving nod. The Rossi family held immense power, and their reputation was everything. In moments like this, a wife couldn’t panic. She had to show the poise of a true matriarch. Victoria noticed Donna Marta’s look, and a flash of irritation crossed her face. [Disgusting b*tch. Just wait, I’ll make sure you embarrass yourself during the toasts!] Honestly, mind-reading was the best cheat code ever. It made everything so much easier. During the reception, I elegantly lifted my gown and walked toward Donna Marta’s table. Victoria approached me under the guise of offering a toast, but her hand “slipped,” and a full glass of red wine was about to splash all over my white dress. Thanks to my mind-reading, I anticipated it. I turned naturally to speak to a guest, flawlessly dodging her. The wine splashed onto the floor. “Oh my god, Sera, I’m so sorry! I was just so happy for you, my hand shook,” Victoria apologized instantly, her voice dripping with fake concern. “It’s fine,” I replied coldly. Carlo rushed over to support her. But in his mind, he hissed: [What a useless idiot!] All eyes were on us. Donna Marta looked utterly displeased. “Clumsy and embarrassing. Is this how a Colombo lady behaves?” “I’m… I’m so sorry, Mother. It was an accident,” Victoria stammered, though her eyes burned with resentment. If I were her, I would keep my head down and live quietly in this life. But since she wanted to make my life miserable, I wasn’t going to sit back and take it. Because of Victoria’s little stunt, the wedding ended abruptly. Donna Marta didn’t give her a single warm look for the rest of the night. But when she looked at me, her eyes were filled with pride. She squeezed my hand and said, “Sera, I will make sure Alessandro comes home to be with you tonight.” Sure enough, Alessandro returned that evening. He opened the door, loosening his tie, exhaustion written all over his face. I quickly stepped forward to take his coat. “Tough day, Alessandro?” He only spared me a glance and didn’t say a word. In our past life, the servants whispered that Alessandro hadn’t returned on his wedding night at all. Victoria had spent the night alone in the bridal suite, becoming the laughingstock of the estate. She had gone to Donna Marta to complain, only to get scolded for her own lack of charm. While Alessandro was in the shower, I made the bed and poured him a glass of scotch. Then, I grabbed some blankets and began fixing up the sofa for myself. When Alessandro walked out of the bathroom, he stared at me, a hint of surprise in his eyes. I quickly spoke up. “You take the bed. I’ll sleep on the couch.” “Sera, what kind of game are you playing?” He narrowed his eyes at me. Since his bathrobe was loosely tied, his muscular chest was slightly exposed. I had to admit, he was incredibly fit. I quickly averted my eyes. “No game. We don’t have feelings for each other. Sleeping in the same bed would just be awkward for both of us.” “If possible, I’d like to propose a partnership.” “What do you mean?” “Our marriage is purely for family alliance. Many couples like us live separate private lives while keeping up appearances in public. I only married you for a stable life. I don’t expect love.” Hearing my words, a smirk played on his lips. “You’re smart.” “Fine by me. I agree.” I was just an ordinary girl. I didn’t have the grand delusion that I could easily control a powerful man’s heart. Besides, in this family, his attitude toward me dictated how others treated me. I didn’t want to end up like Victoria in our past life—ostracized and hated by everyone. That would serve me no good. And considering how ruthless he had been to Victoria back then, I had no desire to provoke him. A peaceful coexistence was the best path. In this life, I just wanted to make my own money, build my own empire, and rely entirely on myself!

I had Alessandro post a photo of us holding hands on his Instagram. The caption was simple: [Newlyweds.] My reasoning was to convince everyone that our marriage was perfect. I also noticed his Instagram was incredibly clean—aside from that post, there was nothing. A man like him probably lived a highly disciplined and boring life. That night, he actually took the bed and left me to sleep on the sofa. Zero gentlemanly instincts. Whatever, at least this arrangement worked. The next morning, Alessandro woke me up. At the crack of dawn, he was blasting music while doing push-ups. They say men who aren’t interested in women have boring private lives. But looking at his muscular, powerful frame… he was leagues ahead of Carlo. “Stop staring. I’m not interested in you,” he suddenly said, pushing himself up from the floor. “Get dressed. We’re having breakfast.” Translation: let’s go play the happy couple. Honestly, he wasn’t that hard to deal with. Why had he been so brutal to Victoria in our past life? Once I got ready, we walked out together. Almost immediately, we ran into Victoria and Carlo walking hand-in-hand. Victoria rushed over, grabbing my hand with fake concern. Her voice was just loud enough for the nearby servants to hear. “Sera, why is your wrist so bruised? Did you trip? Did Alessandro… do something to you?” She glanced at Alessandro, heavily implying I was being abused. Meanwhile, her own high-neck collar parted slightly, revealing dark purple handprint bruises on her throat. She looked incredibly smug as she sized me up. [Wrapped up so tightly, she must be hiding bruises from being beaten.] Her thoughts echoed in my head, followed by a triumphant laugh. “Sera, how was your wedding night?” Today, I was wearing a classy, modest maxi dress. Victoria seemed to have forgotten that Donna Marta despised any vulgar or overly revealing outfits in family areas. But I wasn’t about to correct her. I simply smiled. “Victoria, according to family hierarchy, you should address me as your superior.” Her face instantly soured, and she gritted her teeth. “Alessandro hasn’t even demanded that. What makes you think you have the right?” She then turned to Alessandro. “Alessandro, tell her!” I could feel the temperature around Alessandro instantly drop. In his mind, Carlo was roaring: [Stupid b*tch! Just wait till tonight, I’m going to ruin you!] Carlo yanked Victoria’s hand, signaling her to shut up. But she was still completely oblivious to the danger. “Carlo, what is the first rule of this family?” Alessandro asked, his voice low and dangerous. Carlo immediately bowed his head. “I’m sorry. I’ll correct her immediately.” The next second, a loud *SLAP* echoed as Carlo struck Victoria across the face. “Greet your superior right now!” Victoria’s face burned bright red from the blow. She looked like she was about to explode with rage. But knowing Alessandro was not someone to be messed with, she could only grit her teeth and mutter, “Good morning, Sera.” With that, Carlo dragged her away. I knew the rules. The absolute first rule of the Rossi family: never show disrespect to the heir or his wife. And Alessandro was the sole heir. In my past life, I had memorized every single rule just to survive. Back then, Victoria had bullied me constantly because I obeyed the rules and didn’t dare fight back. She probably thought she could do the same in this life, completely ignoring the family laws.

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