My mom was forced into a divorce. The instigator was my aunt. Because she only wanted me, my mom was forced by my aunt to leave with nothing. On the day of the court verdict, in front of everyone, I declared that I wanted to live with my dad. That year, I was 12, and my revenge had just begun. 1 The one who "successfully usurped the throne" was my biological aunt. She was only 26 that year, with a pretty face, a seductive figure, and eyes full of cunning. Unfortunately, such a "beauty" had never found a match. Most likely because she had a cousin whose father was unknown. My grandparents worried sick about her. Even on their deathbed, they urged my mother to take good care of her "immature" sister. To fulfill her parents' dying wish, my mother kindly took care of my aunt. I didn't expect my aunt to climb straight into her brother-in-law's bed. My mother, who had always been gentle and mild, couldn't bear the sight and fell ill immediately. Young as I was, I still remember her tearful, "tragic" display by my mother's bedside. "Sister, I really couldn't control my feelings..." "Besides, for all these years, Robert... I mean, brother-in-law and I have had feelings for each other." "Moreover, this isn't the first time he's done something like this." A paternity test completely destroyed any remaining love my mother had. It turned out that my cousin, whose background was unknown, was actually my half-sister! The double blow from her husband and sister made my mother bedridden. My aunt was still the same aunt, but I finally saw clearly the wolf's eyes she couldn't hide under sheep's clothing. Young as I was, it seemed I grew up in an instant. During the height of summer, whenever my aunt came, she would always cry her eyes out, asking my mom not to be too hard on them for the child's sake. Just when my mother thought she still had a shred of conscience and wanted to "settle it internally" for my sake, Unexpectedly, her real thought was... "Sister, just divorce brother-in-law." "Your daughter has already enjoyed the warmth of a family for 10 years, it's time for our Mia's turn." "Mia, quickly beg your aunt!" She dragged her 5-year-old cousin right up to my mom's sickbed. "Please, Auntie, you already have a sister, please give Mia's daddy back to Mia." My cousin was really "a big drama queen in a small body." While bowing to my sick mother, she actually started crying directly. Ha, how shameless. 2 Although my mother felt uncomfortable, what happened had already happened. In the eyes of my shameless aunt, she had gained the upper hand. She stopped going to the job she had been introduced to, stayed at our house every day, and stubbornly demanded an explanation. "Anyway, the child is here. You can kill us or do whatever you want." My aunt pushed my cousin forward, looking as if she were at our mercy. "Auntie, I beg you, don't hit me." My little cousin was even more ridiculous. Her eyes were like faucets; her acting skills were so refined she could cry in three seconds. For a time, the house was always filled with the child's crying and my aunt's roaring, making everyone anxious and restless. In such an environment, my mother was both annoyed and agitated. Over the next few days, I continued to hear arguments between her and my father. Those unbearable truths painted a "dirty picture of adults." For several days in a row, whenever night fell, I couldn't sleep, so I could only wander aimlessly around our old house. My father's ancestors had always been in business, and by his generation, they were already wealthy. Since my parents got married, I had been living in this old house left by my grandparents. Even if some of the wood had problems, my father would rather seal off the rooms than dismantle them easily. "This place holds all my childhood memories. If I tear it down, it will lose its flavor." My father was a sentimental and nostalgic person, and he was very gentle and considerate to my mother. To be honest, my dream used to be marrying a man like my father. But I didn't expect that without the filter, my father would turn out to be even more unbearable than an ordinary person. Below the stairs, I caught a glimpse of my father sitting alone at the bar, drinking. During the few days my mother was exhausted, he also looked increasingly haggard. "Robert, why aren't you sleeping yet?" A soft female voice came. Late at night, I caught sight of the figure I had already guessed. My aunt, wearing a light green silk nightgown, stood under the light, stretching her waist, graceful and charming. "I can't sleep, do you want a drink with me?" She held a bottle of wine in one hand and held a slender wine glass with the other. When I grew up, I often wondered why my father fell for it back then. After thinking about it, the only answer is—human frailty. The more concentrated the mind, the easier it is to get distracted. There are no absolutely rational people in the world, especially in an environment full of temptation. Never fight against human nature; you will inevitably lose terribly. 3 After Mia's identity was exposed, my aunt moved in openly. My mother's complexion worsened day by day, but apart from shedding tears, there seemed to be no substantial progress. My aunt took root in our house with unprecedented speed. She gradually replaced the servants and the driver. By the time my mother reacted, she had no one available by her side. My father, probably also "too lazy to argue," just hid at his company. Only my mother and I were left at home. Every day at the dining table, my aunt and Mia acted more like the true masters of this house; even the seats were swapped. "What exactly are you trying to do?" My mother's spirit was near collapse, but my aunt was still smiling. "Sister, I just want Mia to have a better life. You're a mother too, you definitely understand me." My aunt's foxy eyes were smiling, but that touch of ruthlessness always sent a chill down my spine. It wasn't just my mother; Mia's "invasion" towards me also slowly began. She said she liked my room and moved in. She didn't kick me out but insisted on sharing the room with me. Every evening after dinner, she would always call my father's office and then quickly hang up after I entered the room. "Sister, do you know? I've envied you so much since I was little. Every time you came to grandma's house, you wore different clothes." "At that time, I really hoped you would grow up faster, so that when you couldn't wear those clothes anymore, you could give them to me." "But now, I have new clothes too." She held up a long dress and showed it to me. The floral long dress reached her ankles; it was clearly my size. Mia's behavior was bizarre and confusing, tormenting me constantly. Finally, my mother lost her composure, sat down with my aunt, and laid her cards on the table. She asked what it would take for my aunt to leave. I thought my aunt would fly into a rage out of humiliation, or even tear off her mask, but what happened was unexpected... "I'll leave this afternoon, the tickets are already bought." My aunt answered very straightforwardly; let alone my mother, even I was stunned. "Sister, take care of yourself." "Are you really..." "Really, I mean what I say. Even if you beg me, I won't come back." The next day, my aunt did indeed leave with Mia. Everything happened so fast, but it dissipated with unusual ease. "Chloe, everything that happened recently is over." My mother's comforting smile looked exceptionally weak. Looking back at the few months since my aunt arrived, it really felt like a nightmare. Autumn wind blew in from the window, and I felt a bleak chill. The green plants my aunt gave us when she arrived had grown, and their leaves were swaying with the wind. Will she really leave so simply? My doubts were confirmed three days later. My father, who had been hiding for weeks, finally returned home, but it was to argue with my mother. It turned out my aunt had anonymously reported my father. "If it weren't for my friend at the stock exchange tipping me off, do you know how serious the consequences would be? Can you stop provoking your sister? You really know how to cause trouble." My father was truly panicked. So much so that he even forgot why my aunt came in the first place. Helpless, my mother still called my aunt. She didn't answer the whole day; it wasn't until late at night that my mother's phone kept ringing. "Sister, you were looking for me." "What exactly do you want? Where are you now? Let's talk this over properly." "You're asking me to come back, right? Then I'll set the conditions. Divorce. Except for the child, you take nothing." Compared to my mother's hoarse voice from anxiety, my aunt's voice was noticeably light and thin. Ringing in the quiet midnight, it had an indescribable eeriness. Like a death warrant from a grim reaper. It suffocated my mother like she was dying. 4 Sure enough, the consequence of my mother's compromise was divorce, leaving with nothing. My father also "kindly" stated that my mother could take me away; mother and child are connected by heart, he understood. Leaving with nothing? Although I was still young, from the reminders of others, I still understood that my aunt wanted to drive my mother out of the house. She didn't want to give my mother a single penny of the money that should have belonged to her. My mother could also go to court and sue my father for bigamy, but she still didn't want me to have a tainted father, so she chose to endure. I wanted to urge my mother to sue; I wasn't afraid of my father having a stain. But my mother insisted that I was small and my considerations were not comprehensive enough. Ultimately, during the divorce mediation, when the court pronounced the verdict, to my mother's astonishment, I chose my father. Because I wanted to protect my mother; she absolutely must not have nothing. Because she couldn't get my inheritance rights, my mother finally calmed down and proceeded with the divorce mediation with my father, ultimately taking away a small portion of my father's net worth. The scene I caused in court really made my aunt panic for a while. Her wishful thinking was not perfectly realized because of my sudden change, but soon, she accepted this fact. "If you like calling me aunt, keep calling me that. If you don't, you can call me whatever you want." "The family has its rules; call me what you should." My father, "freshly remarried," was completely bewitched; every word he spoke was defending my aunt. "Then sister should just call her mom with me." Mia also blinked her big eyes, looking innocent. Since my mother was forced to leave, I got to see my aunt's methods. In terms of understanding my father, my mother really couldn't compare to this "latecomer." Compared to my mother's care and interaction as a wife, her attitude towards my father was more like to a boss. She could easily control my father's emotions and state her demands at the most appropriate time. My aunt was like boiling a frog in warm water, step by step restricting my father's emotions. My aunt provided the best emotional value to my father, but to me, it was endless psychological suppression. My aunt would from time to time "display family warmth" in front of me. But when my father wasn't around, she would mock me in various ways. Fortunately, I, who understood my situation, learned self-control. When it was really unbearable, I went to see my mother. As long as my mother was there, my life wasn't too hard; for my mother, I had the courage to persevere. My aunt would grow old, and I would eventually grow up too. When that time came, I would be able to protect my mother completely. Having a clear goal, I put all my energy into my studies. My studies were as good as ever, and I could win places in various competitions. But not long after, using "my health" as an excuse, my aunt gradually reduced my various skill classes. Without money to renew the fees, I had to say goodbye to the things I liked, but Mia walked my old path and became the "beloved pupil" of those teachers. Even so, my aunt was still worried about me "overusing my brain." In my first year of high school, she rarely studied my various grades. Without my consent, she arbitrarily changed my career direction, switching from liberal arts, which I liked best, to science. "I'm doing this for your own good." Every time, she would strike me and then smile brightly at me. I looked at her; she gradually got crow's feet, but that ruthlessness was only more terrifying than before. I knew the reason why my aunt was restraining herself was that she hadn't gotten her biggest "bargaining chip" yet. Just half a year after I entered school, I finally heard the news. "Sister, I'm going to have a little brother." Mia happily announced to me. This time, she didn't even bother saying "we," but directly used the word for herself. After being away from home for half a year, I finally learned that my aunt had been pregnant for over 7 months. Even though she was an older pregnant woman, she put a lot of thought into it, and the pregnancy was very stable. 5 Shortly after learning about my aunt's pregnancy, I took advantage of the weekend to visit my mother. After the divorce, my mother, who got the dividends, quickly started a new life. With growing experience, my mother started her own small business. Although it couldn't compare to my father's industry, compared to her past life as a full-time housewife, it was a "qualitative leap." I occasionally met with my mother; she was still gentle, but the light in her eyes was somewhat diminished. "Mom, actually, after so many years, if there is a suitable person, you can remarry." I had this idea long ago. But I was too young before to dare mention it to my mother. Now, my aunt is about to secure her position in the family completely because of her child, while I, who originally thought I could drive this mother and daughter out of the house after I grew wings, in fact, not only made no progress, but my aunt is now "elevated by her child." "I'm tired, I'm not looking anymore." My mother stroked my face, very affectionately. "When you get into college, you can date, and then mom will check them out for you." "I'm not looking, I'll just be with mom for the rest of my life." I shyly snuggled in my mother's arms, enjoying a rare moment of warmth. As the sun set, I also said goodbye to my mother. She stood behind me, waving and telling me to be careful crossing the street. A pregnant figure entered my mother's shop after I left. Three minutes later, my mother rushed out crying. She was too sad; tears overflowed her eyes, blurring her vision. When I turned around and ran forward, I only heard a loud bang, and after a huge impact, my mother's crying abruptly stopped. Not far away, my aunt was sticking out her pregnant belly, looking at all this with an innocent face. 6 Six years later. Looking at the Golden Glory Building in front of me, I smiled comfortably. I had been back here for a week, but I hadn't contacted anyone. Now, I was no longer the little orphan girl who lost her mother, but a top student from Yale with an MBA. Giving up a high salary in the US, I resolutely chose to return to my home country. Everything was because of a man I had never met. That person was the "ideal son-in-law" my aunt had her eye on. I heard my aunt had secretly arranged for him to interact with Mia for a long time, just waiting for Mia to graduate to finalize this matter completely. That man was very mysterious; after checking for a long time, I didn't know much either. I heard he was someone from the province's largest enterprise—the Sterling family, a year older than me. "Aunt, your daughter should taste the suffering my mother went through." I found my father's old "rival," and with his help, I passed the interview at the man's company using a completely clean identity. "Miss Vance, please wait a moment, the president's meeting will be over in half an hour." Today was the final round of my interview for the president's secretary position. In the office behind me sat my examiner for today. He was also my aunt's most desired "ideal son-in-law," Mia's future "fiancé." Since she gave birth to a son six years ago, my aunt's status as a wealthy wife has been secured. Mia also became the veritable eldest miss of the Wang family. At this point, everything is ready except for a decent marriage. As for me, not only because I wasn't 18 at the time and my inheritance could only be kept by my guardian father, I was also "sent overseas for further study overnight" by my aunt without a penny. I lost not only my mother but also my surname, which was changed to my mother's maiden name. "My sister left early, we must leave a memento." From then on, I was logically kicked out of the scope of heirs. In a foreign land, without even a high school diploma, I managed to earn my pre-university tuition by washing dishes in Chinatown. For six years, I didn't contact anyone. Naturally, they didn't pay attention to me either. My aunt would never know that, thousands of miles away, I still thought of "her" all the time. Over the past few years, my father and she seemed glorious, but in reality, it was just an empty shell. I had originally intended to wait until their foundation was a bit more solid before returning. But now... Calculating the time, I stood up and walked towards the pantry. When I returned to the waiting area with a coffee, the door to the president's office happened to just be closed. I knocked on the door. "Come in." A pleasant male voice sounded from inside, gesturing for me to enter. "Hello, President. I am Chloe Vance, here for the secretary interview today." I placed the coffee cup on the desk, but the man didn't even look up. I carefully examined the man's face. He looked very young, yet carried the aura of a king in power. To be honest, my aunt really had a good eye for choosing men. But would a "little white flower" like Mia really be this guy's type? 7 The man was looking at documents on his own, not paying any attention to me at all. After a long while, he finally tapped the coffee cup lightly with his fingernail and then looked up at me. "I don't like subordinates who take matters into their own hands." The implication was that he was asking me to leave. "Today is Wednesday. What you wanted to drink should be Blue Mountain..." "But I don't have the right to use the key to your exclusive locker, so I could only choose the best beans available on the counter." "This cup is Mandheling, best for refreshing." Rumor had it that Sterling Group was negotiating an acquisition with Sudilai Chemical, and the stock market was changing every day. Presumably, he must have been incredibly busy pulling all-nighters recently. "You can go out now." This time, he scrutinized me carefully. At the moment I closed the door, I caught a glimpse of him picking up the coffee cup from the corner of my eye. I smirked. It seemed the result of my interview should be pretty good. ... Just as I was about to celebrate my initial success, a late email disrupted my plan. "Sister Chloe, I'm sorry, I sent you the wrong photo." The hacker I hired apologized profusely to me. Looking at the smiling but very unfamiliar face on the screen, my expression completely froze. If the man on the screen was my actual "brother-in-law," then who did I meet today? Soon, I found out the answer. "I originally wanted to flirt with a rookie, but stepped on an eagle's wing." It turned out my aunt's appetite wasn't that big. The one she set her sights on was not the current big boss of the Sterling Group, Arthur Sterling, but his nephew—Julian Sterling. Legend has it that Julian lost his mother when he was young and was deeply involved in the battle for family assets, almost becoming a discarded pawn. Fortunately, he had a powerful uncle. Arthur, who was only in his twenties at the time, not only helped him protect his maternal family's property but also set a trap for his brother-in-law's company, slowly eating away and swallowing it up. Because of his childhood experience, Arthur has always carefully protected his nephew, not letting him fall deep into the complex business world. Julian, who only held a sinecure, was kind to others and had a very honest and sincere temperament. The face I interviewed with today appeared in my mind. He looked decisive and resolute, with "Don't Mess With Me" written all over him from head to toe. "Really, he's obviously an older guy, why does he look so young... If you had an old face, would I have made such a blunder?" There was no way around it; I had already flirted with him, so the only plan for now was to stay in the company first. 8 In the days that followed, while exposing my "shortcomings," I continued to secretly collect information about Julian. This time, I didn't make any more mistakes. Fortunately, Julian also worked at Sterling Group, just in a different department. My "feigned clumsiness" quickly wore out Arthur's initial "good impression." A week later, I received a suspension notice from HR. "Miss Vance, starting tomorrow you will no longer be the president's secretary. If you are willing to accept a reassignment, you can still stay in our company." No matter what, I had to stay first. I held my patience, started from the bottom, and constantly paid attention to internal transfers within the company. Through round after round of promotion exams, I finally got my wish and became the assistant to the Marketing Director, Julian. HR also finally sent the transfer order. Heh... Brother-in-law, it's really hard to get to see you. ... And just like that, I became Julian's assistant. At work, I performed impeccably in professional aspects, but in human relations, I occasionally made some insignificant little mistakes. "Your family must have protected you very well; you can't even read the room." "I'm sorry, Director, it won't happen again next time." I looked a bit frustrated and lowered my head in anger. But the kind-hearted Julian wasn't angry at all and even comforted me. "It's okay, you don't have to come to this kind of social event next time." I was just about to argue, but instead received a look of affirmation from him. "Everyone has what they are good at, you don't need to mind." "..." In fact, Julian was the one who was best protected. So much so that he couldn't see through my little tricks even once. Over time, my persona as a "confused elite" was firmly established. In today's era of big data, I had already clearly figured out Julian's preferences. Science shows that the so-called "dream lover" in people's hearts is actually the idealized self that they have not yet reached. Men and women use the combination of "love and marriage" to fulfill the regrets in their hearts. I wasn't sure if Julian would "make do and try" with Mia, but getting him to sincerely accept this marriage would be no easy task. Especially after I had already worked hard to mold an image infinitely close to his "dream lover." ... Late autumn was approaching, and the cemetery had become unusually desolate. Standing in front of the tombstone, the autumn wind blew the hem of my coat. My mother's face on the tombstone was still beautiful, but it could no longer respond to my calls. "Chloe, is that you?" My father's voice came from behind. The eye drops I deliberately put in took effect; after the soreness, tears fell right on cue. "Dad?" Turning around, my face was full of astonishment, and I took off my sunglasses. The man in front of me had long lost his bossy spirit from my memory; he had a potbelly, and his hair was slightly sparse. They say you are influenced by the company you keep. He really looked more and more like my aunt.
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