Chapter 1 On my wedding day, I knew full well that my half-sister had spiked the sweet soup she brought me with a sedative. Yet, I smiled and drank it all in one gulp. I watched as she eagerly put on my wedding dress and got into the wedding car belonging to Arthur Sterling, the crown prince of high society. In my previous life, when I woke up, I hysterically tore off her disguise, ruining her reputation and getting her banished from the city. I then married Arthur, using my father’s position as a military commander to help him legitimize his business and climb to the pinnacle of power. It wasn't until I was clinging to life after a surgery in the hospital that Arthur sent the doctors away. With his arm around my sister and their one-month-old son, he looked down at me coldly: "Chloe, if it weren't for the power of the Miller family, and for the grievances you put Mia through back then, I would have sent you on your way long ago. Now that your father can't even protect himself, it's time for you to step down." My sister ground her heel into my fingers, a sinister smile on her face: "Sister, the things you've been protecting, my baby and I will enjoy them thoroughly. From now on, the position and honor of Mrs. Sterling should also return to their rightful owner." In the midst of agonizing betrayal and excruciating pain, I took my last breath. When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn on the day of my wedding. ... Outside the window, the melodious wedding sonata drifted in faintly. I sat up, waited quietly for about fifteen minutes, then rubbed my temples and pushed the door open. My mother was just about to turn and go back into her room, the tears not yet fully wiped from the corners of her eyes. Looking up, she bumped into me standing by the door. She let out a gasp of shock. My father, hearing the sound, turned and saw me too: "Chloe? Didn't you just get in the car?" He pointed toward the main gate in shock: "Then who was the person wearing the wedding dress that was just sent off?" I placed a hand gently over my heart, feigning panic: "It couldn't be... Last night, Mia said she couldn't bear for me to leave and made me a bowl of sweet soup. After I drank it, I felt drowsy and slept right up until now..." The previously festive atmosphere instantly froze. The guests exchanged subtle glances. My mother's chest heaved violently, almost losing her footing. She immediately commanded sharply, "Bring Sarah Jenkins here!" Sarah, Mia's mother, was dragged out from the crowd by the guards. She was dragging a suitcase, clearly intending to flee. "No wonder you were crying even harder than I was just now. I thought you really couldn't bear to part with the eldest daughter. It turns out you personally sent your own daughter into the Sterling family's wedding car!" Sarah's eyes darted around, but she forced a calm facade: "Madam, what do you mean? The eldest miss woke up late and missed the time herself. How can you blame Mia?" Before she finished speaking, the butler hurried over to report softly: "Sir, Madam, the wedding car from the Vance family to pick up the second miss has arrived at the gate." My mother's face was covered in frost: "Which car did Mia get into? Get her back here!" A sneer flitted across the corner of my lips. It had been almost half an hour; she was probably already inside Arthur's penthouse penthouse. By this time, Arthur was likely already impatient. My gaze swept over Sarah's poorly concealed smirk, and I understood completely. These two, mother and daughter, had really played a good hand. Years ago, Sarah, arranged by my father's rivals, drugged him and gave birth to Mia. To protect his reputation, my father had no choice but to let them into the house. Now, Mia used the same trick, drugging me to take my place. Even if I realized it, they had already made it a done deal. I was faced with only two choices: swallow this immense humiliation, or take her place and marry into the Vance family. Although the Vance family wasn't overwhelmingly powerful, Julian Vance, at a young age, was already my father's most capable general, with outstanding military merits and limitless potential. My father appreciated his calm and resolute character, which was why he favored this match. But Mia had switched places, exchanging the engagement she disdained for mine. If I accepted it, within half a day, the news that the eldest daughter of the Miller family was discarded by the Sterling family and passed on to the Vance family would spread throughout the city. I would become the laughingstock of the entire elite circle. Chapter 2 In my previous life, Mia relied on Arthur's backing to steal my marriage. With my parents' support, I led people to storm the Sterling family's wedding venue on the peak. Fearing my father's authority in the military, Arthur actually flat-out denied knowing about the switch on the spot, allowing Mia to be taken away by my father's guards. I logically completed the wedding with him. After the marriage, Arthur took meticulous care of me. I had naively thought that he was truly kept in the dark on the wedding day, unaware that he and Mia had long been having a secret affair. They were just waiting for the right moment, using the Miller family's power to strengthen themselves, before turning around and pushing us into the abyss. The butler reported urgently: "The second miss is indeed not in her room. The wedding dress sent by the Vance family was left on the bed, but all her personal belongings and documents are gone!" He handed over a sealed document bag: "This was found in a hidden compartment in the second miss's room." With a dark face, my father tore it open. Inside were several passionate letters handwritten by Arthur, along with several pieces of valuable jewelry. The veins on his forehead bulged as he slammed the document bag hard into Sarah's face. "This is your good daughter, actually seducing her own brother-in-law! The Miller family has lost all its face because of you two!" Mia had naturally treasured those tokens carefully, but the first thing I did when I woke up was find them and make them public. I wanted everyone to see clearly that they had been secretly involved for a long time. Sure enough, gossip immediately erupted around us, full of disdain: "A daughter brought in by a mistress. The Miller family taking her in is already a massive favor, yet she dares to use drugs to knock out the legitimate sister and steal her marriage, hoping to climb the social ladder into the Sterling family! Truly reckless!" "That Sterling boy is also a scumbag. Being engaged to the eldest Miss Miller, yet daring to mess around with someone so unpresentable. His character is obvious!" Calculating the time and feeling the situation was set in stone, Sarah actually straightened her back and said to my father: "Sir, Mia is, after all, the second miss of the Miller family! Why not just grant her wish! It will also be easier to explain to the Sterling family..." My mother, trembling with anger, raised her hand and delivered a crisp slap to her face. "Grant her wish? You mother and daughter use filthy tricks to steal my daughter's marriage, and you still delusionally ask for us to grant your wish?" "Someone, detain this woman. Send her to the police station later!" Sarah slumped to the ground, howling shrilly: "You dare touch me? I am now Arthur Sterling's mother-in-law. If my son-in-law finds out, he will never let you off!" "I only have one daughter, Chloe." My father's eyes were icy. "Taking you in all these years was already the utmost benevolence. Since you dare to scheme against my daughter, don't blame me." He waved his hand, and Sarah was immediately dragged away mercilessly by two guards. Chapter 3 The butler looked troubled: "Sir, the Vance family's people are still waiting at the gate, asking what time they can come in to receive the bride." My father's face was livid, and he said decisively: "Gather our men and come with me to the Sterling family! Tie that wretched spawn up and bring her back, have her marry into the Vance family immediately!" "Father, there's no need." I stepped forward and calmly held his arm. "Since Arthur's heart belongs to Mia, I, Chloe Miller, disdain to fight for such a fickle and morally corrupt man." My eyes were firm: "Julian Vance is someone you personally promoted. He has outstanding abilities and is loyal and reliable. If we refuse the marriage today because of this, where will he and the Vance family put their faces? I am willing to marry him." My mother grabbed my hand in astonishment, "Chloe, don't speak out of anger, how can this..." "Mom, I'm not acting on impulse." I squeezed her hand back. "Julian is young and promising. Relying on his own military merits, he has made it to where he is today step by step. His future is limitless. I trust father's judgment, and I believe in his future." Hearing this, the surrounding guests looked at me with admiration and respect. "The eldest Miss Miller's magnanimity and vision are truly rare!" "In comparison, that illegitimate daughter who used all kinds of filthy tricks is simply mud compared to clouds." My mother hugged me tightly, her voice choked with emotion: "It's just that this is too unfair to you..." My father took a deep breath: "That Sterling boy humiliated my daughter like this. From now on, don't even think about getting any care from me! Don't expect his businesses in the gray areas to go smoothly anymore!" His tone was resolute: "But right now, I must go to the Sterling family for an explanation. Otherwise, that bastard will really think my Miller family has no one and can be manipulated by him!" When we arrived at the Sterling family's luxurious mansion, the wedding banquet was in full swing. Seeing our group barge in, the guests were all stunned and began whispering among themselves. "Isn't this the eldest Miss Miller? Isn't she the bride today? Why is she here?" "Then who was the one who just exchanged rings with Mr. Sterling and was sent upstairs?" An accompanying uncle snorted coldly: "That was just an illegitimate daughter brought in by a mistress. She used underhanded methods to steal her sister's marriage!" The whispering instantly swelled like a tide. The noise grew louder, and Arthur finally came downstairs. Seeing me, he preemptively started blaming: "Chloe, haven't you caused enough trouble? You can't blame all of this on Mia!" "If you must blame something, blame the fact that your sisters' wedding dates fell on the same day. She was just confused for a moment and got into the wrong wedding car. And I," he paused, his gaze completely devoid of apology, "had a few too many drinks just now, was momentarily overcome by emotion, and mistook her for you. Now that things have come to this, I have to take responsibility for her." He looked at me again: "Don't worry, with my status in the city, I won't abandon you. I will leave a place for you by my side." Chapter 4 I almost wanted to applaud his shameless remarks. Leave a place for me? What era is this? He actually still wants to have a wife and a concubine. If it weren't for the backing of my Miller family, those businesses of his that skirt the gray areas would have been uprooted long ago. How could he be allowed to spout such nonsense here today? He actually thought that I, the eldest daughter of a chief commander, would be his backup? My father laughed out of extreme anger: "Arthur Sterling, say that again? Have my daughter be your mistress? Who gave you the audacity! Have you forgotten who covers for you normally?" At this time, Old Mr. Sterling hurried out upon hearing the commotion: "In-laws, what's going on..." His expression turned to shock when he saw me, "Chloe? Why are you here?" My mother slammed that stack of letters down in front of him: "Mr. Sterling, see for yourself! Your precious son has long been having an affair with that illegitimate daughter. They conspired to use drugs to steal my daughter's marriage. Today, you must give my Miller family an explanation!" Old Mr. Sterling's face instantly turned livid. He raised his cane and struck Arthur hard on the back: "You rebellious son! Tell me, what exactly is going on here?" Before Arthur could defend himself, Mia, clutching a bathrobe that wasn't even buttoned properly, stumbled out and shielded Arthur, tearfully saying: "Uncle Sterling, this has nothing to do with Arthur. It's all my fault. I couldn't control my feelings. If you want to hit someone, hit me!" She turned to look at my father, her voice choked with sobs, but every word hiding a sharp edge: "Father, things have already come to this. If we make a bigger scene, the Miller family is a military family and values reputation the most. Your face won't look good either..." My mother was so angry her fingertips trembled: "When you used drugs to secretly switch the marriage, why didn't you think about the Miller family's reputation? Now that we're seeking justice, we become the ones who don't care about reputation? How shameless!" I took a step forward: "Mia, if you had been honest earlier, I might not have refused to grant your wish. Why did you have to choose my wedding to use such underhanded methods? Do you want to embarrass me, or do you want to make the Miller family the laughingstock of the whole city?" Having her true intentions exposed, she turned pale: "Arthur and I truly love each other..." She looked at Arthur as if pleading for help. How could the guests present not see the trickery involved? They criticized one after another: "Like mother, like daughter! Back then, her mother used this method to climb into a bed. Now the daughter has surpassed the master." "If this were my daughter, I'd break her legs!" Someone even directly mocked Old Mr. Sterling: "Mr. Sterling, your son doing such a thing... If the Sterling family doesn't give an explanation today, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to smooth things over, right?" Chapter 5 Old Mr. Sterling had nowhere to hide his shame. He forcefully threw down his cane and delivered two resounding slaps to Arthur's face. "You bastard! Kneel down and apologize to your father-in-law, mother-in-law, and Chloe immediately. Then we will redo the ceremony and welcome Chloe into the family." Arthur took the two slaps head-on. The look in his eyes towards me was laced with undisguised venom, exactly the same as what I saw right before my death in my previous life. In his mind, I was the perpetrator, not the victim. He sneered: "Dad, I only have Mia in my heart. I'm disgusted just looking at Chloe's high-and-mighty attitude. It's absolutely impossible for me to marry her!" "If she's willing to bow down and act submissive, I might occasionally take her out to see the world. Otherwise, I'm putting it out there today: I won't give her a status! I'd like to see, a woman discarded by me, Arthur Sterling, who else in the city would dare to take her?" Even the guests couldn't stand these words anymore. No one could understand where a man who only gained a foothold in the gray areas because of the Miller family's protection got the audacity to speak so wildly. After Old Mr. Sterling retired, Arthur acted increasingly boldly, even stealing business from rivals and offending many people in the underworld. It was because I remembered our old feelings and begged my father to intervene that he was able to weather the storm. Back then, Arthur even knelt before my father and swore that he would never fail me in this lifetime. But now, with his wings slightly grown and a bit of a false reputation in both the legitimate and underworld circles, he dared to trample on the past kindness! Seeing me silent, Arthur thought I was intimidated by him and pushed his luck: "Since you're so deeply attached to me, I'll give you a chance. According to the old customs of the city, you can enter the family as a concubine." "Serve a cup of tea to Mia, the lawful wife. If you behave yourself in the future, I might consider letting you have a child." These shameless remarks caused an uproar in the hall. Even the elders of his Sterling family looked on with pity. My father, angry to the extreme, surprisingly calmed down. He spoke slowly: "Mr. Sterling, what a great display of power. My Miller family cannot reach so high. My daughter cannot enjoy the grace of being your concubine." He stared at Mia, "As for this wicked spawn, I, Miller, will act as if she never existed from today onwards! From this moment on, Mia has nothing to do with the Miller family! Her actions, be it honor or disgrace, will be solely borne by your Sterling family in the future!" Chapter 6 Mia feigned a few tears: "Father, you've always favored my sister. Now you've finally gotten your wish." "But Arthur and I truly love each other. Sister is the third party." She turned to me: "I'm also going to publish it in the newspaper to tell the whole city that Arthur doesn't want you! Don't come back begging later because you can't bear to let go." I raised my hand to stop my father, who was about to explode: "Don't worry, only you would treat garbage as a treasure. By the way, the three truckloads of dowry following the wedding car, I'm taking them all back untouched." Mia instantly bristled: "Those are my dowry! What right do you have to take them away?" I sneered: "Your portion is at home. As a favor, I can have someone send it over. But you won't get a single piece of my things." She screamed and rushed up to tear at my clothes, "Don't even think about it! These are all mine!" My mother was quick-witted and shoved her away. My father immediately signaled the guards to go drive the cars. Arthur gave a signal, and his bodyguards instantly stepped forward and surrounded our family. "Let's see who dares to move a muscle. I've given you enough face, but you don't appreciate it. Since the dowry came following Mia's car, it belongs to her. If you dare take it away today, you're crossing me!" My father was completely unafraid of this gangster behavior: "Arthur Sterling, you dare touch me?" Arthur sneered arrogantly: "Old man, don't think you're so great just because of your military title! If I wasn't managing the underground circles, those desperadoes would have overturned your command center long ago! If you know what's good for you, leave your eldest daughter to be my concubine. Otherwise, none of you will walk out of this door today!" My father was so angry at her words that his chest heaved violently and his face turned pale. My mother hurriedly supported him and helped him catch his breath. Mia nestled in Arthur's arms, mocking smugly: "See? Your family is just so ignorant of the times!" "Leave these dowries to me. If you guys get into trouble in the future, maybe I can put in a few good words for you in front of Arthur." My mother was so angry she wanted to step forward and hit her, but Mia actually raised her foot and kicked my mother: "Old bitch, I've had enough of your attitude long ago!" I immediately stood in front of my parents. Arthur, however, reached out and forcefully tilted my chin up, forcing me to look at him. "Chloe, it's not too late to regret it now. For the sake of our past relationship, I can let you stay here." "As for these two old fogeys, since they disrespected me just now, kneel down and kowtow to apologize, and I'll let them go." His subordinates twisted my parents' arms on the left and right, and two other burly men stepped forward wanting to forcefully drag me upstairs. The guards my father brought were firmly blocked by Arthur's men and couldn't get close for the moment. Just at this critical moment, an authoritative and stern shout suddenly came from outside the main gate: "Police! Nobody move!"
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