Married for eight years, everyone praised me as the happiest woman in the capital's social circle. My husband was famously devoted, showering me with jewelry, buying me a yacht, and even renting out an entire island for my birthday. I, too, tirelessly played the role of the gentle, respectful, and frugal Mrs. Vance. Even the media described us as a rare example of deep affection in a marriage of convenience. Until the day my daughter was born. His little canary had her son delivered early by C-section, openly provoking me, the legitimate wife. Naive as I was, I thought he would consider our wealthy families' reputations and send the mother and son abroad. I never expected that he would secretly swap my daughter for that illegitimate son. He even handed me a custody agreement, self-righteously forcing me to sign it. "I owe her, I must repay her." "Our daughter will acknowledge you as her godmother. When she grows up, I'll send her to Switzerland to study. Don't worry, she will be a little princess everyone envies." "And you will always be my wife." I nodded, smiling as I took the pen and signed. He let out a long sigh of relief, thinking I had finally accepted my fate, completely unaware that today was exactly what I had been waiting for. 1 I handed the signed custody agreement to Arthur Vance. He glanced over it and nodded in satisfaction: "Get some rest." Walking to the door, he looked back once more: "Oh, right, the son is named Leo. The daughter... is named Luna." The door closed. The hospital room returned to silence. I stared at the baby boy in the crib, examining him. He was awake, looking at me with open eyes. That little face did indeed resemble Arthur, especially the eyes and the bridge of the nose. A wave of nausea surged up, and I covered my mouth, dry heaving. The nanny, Maria, pushed the door open and came in. Seeing the baby boy in the crib, she was startled: "Ma'am, didn't you give birth to a daughter? How come..." I laughed self-deprecatingly: "This is Mia's child." Upon hearing this, Maria said indignantly: "Ma'am! How... how can this be! Who does that woman think she is, an illegitimate child becoming the heir to the Vance family?" "The precious daughter you carried for ten months and worked so hard to give birth to, are you really going to give her away to be the daughter of that D-list model?" "This... this is just too much bullying! How could you... how could you agree?" She was so angry her hands were shaking, every word expressing how unworthy this was for me. I looked out at the gray sky through the window, smiled bitterly, and shook my head: "Whether I agree or not... does it really matter?" Maria sighed: "But you are Mrs. Vance! Is there no justice anymore!" Justice? With Arthur, he was his own justice. I closed my eyes, and that familiar sense of powerlessness crept up again. It didn't matter. My wishes had never mattered. After all, from the very beginning, the person Arthur loved wasn't me. During his years abroad, he always had women around him, and Mia was the one who stayed the longest. She was beautiful, had a hot body, and knew how to act coy, completely bewitching Arthur. But in a top-tier wealthy family like the Vances, how could they ever allow a model who clawed her way up by showing skin to marry into the family? Old Mr. Vance, without a second thought, immediately ordered him back to the country to meet me. As soon as the news of our marriage of convenience spread, Mia started throwing tantrums. To coax her, Arthur piled all the best film and television resources of the Vance Group onto her. He forcefully elevated a hidden canary into the mega-popular, A-list actress she is today. He gave her whatever she wanted, eager to rip out his heart to compensate her. And now, he even wanted to swap my child for hers. Thinking of this, I took out my phone and sent a message to an old friend: [The fish has taken the bait.] 2 In the blink of an eye, Leo was a month old. The one-month celebration banquet was held at the Vance family estate. The five-story mansion was filled inside and out with peonies flown in from Holland, and the champagne tower was stacked higher than the one at our wedding. I wore an evening gown, greeting guests in the banquet hall. Arthur held his son, beaming with the pride of a spring breeze. The wife of the Chairman of the Apex Group walked over with a wine glass, smiling: "Mrs. Vance, you look glowing, you've recovered so quickly." I smiled and thanked her, catching a commotion at the entrance out of the corner of my eye. Mia had arrived. She wore a Valentino haute couture dress, the neckline plunging almost to her navel, extremely sexy. The entire venue fell silent for a moment, everyone's eyes focused on her chest. A massive pink diamond necklace sparkled brilliantly under the refraction of the crystal chandeliers. That necklace was the finale piece at last month's Sotheby's auction, sold for twenty million dollars. The media reported at the time that Arthur had won it as a postpartum gift for his wife. Now, it hung glaringly around Mia's neck. Arthur's eyes lit up the moment he saw her. He handed his son to the nanny and walked towards Mia. Mia habitually hooked her arm through his, the two of them pressing close together. Camera flashes erupted like popcorn, and reporters, like sharks smelling blood, all swarmed over. "Ms. Mia, what is your relationship with Mr. Vance?" "Is this necklace a gift from Mr. Vance?" Mia smiled at the cameras. As she raised her hand to brush her hair, a red mark on the back of her neck was exposed, glaringly stark against her pale skin. She tilted her head to look at Arthur, saying shyly: "Mr. Vance, you should be the one to say it." Arthur put his arm around her shoulders, saying to the cameras: "Mia is a top-tier artist of our Vance Group, please don't write nonsense! The company's legal department will pursue anyone who publishes false information to the fullest extent." The reporters looked at each other, faces full of disbelief, but ultimately, deterred by the Vance family's power, didn't dare to press further and dispersed resentfully. Several wives gathered around to comfort me. "Chloe, don't take it to heart, men, you know..." "Exactly, they play around, but they always have to come home in the end." I smiled and nodded, bringing my wine glass to my lips, only to realize my hand was shaking badly. A little champagne spilled on my hand, ice-cold. Mia walked over, arm in arm with Arthur. She stood in front of me, looking me up and down. "Chloe looks beautiful today." I gave a faint smile: "Thank you. Ms. Mia is also very striking today." She took a step closer, whispering: "Don't worry, Arthur said it, you will always be his wife, no one can replace you." As she spoke, she deliberately touched the necklace around her neck. I pointed to the necklace: "As expected of an eight-figure pink diamond, very flashy." "Is it?" She chuckled softly, "Arthur also said it suits me. Unlike you, it would look old-fashioned on you." Arthur frowned slightly: "Mia." "Just joking." Mia shook his arm, "Chloe won't mind, right?" I nodded: "I don't mind." That night, the trending topics exploded. #MiaHickey# #TheCrownPrincessPalesInComparison# #ArthurAndMiaIntimateInteraction#. My name was sandwiched in between, utterly ridiculous. 3 Arthur didn't return until late at night. Seeing me, he was taken aback: "You're not asleep yet?" I smiled: "Waiting for you." He walked to the side of the bed and said softly: "Next month, I want to take Mia and Leo to Switzerland for a vacation." I put down my phone and replied evenly: "Sure, have fun, take lots of pictures." "You... have changed." He looked at me, hesitating to speak. I looked up at him: "Have I?" He stared into my eyes, saying earnestly: "You weren't like this before. Back then, there was light in your eyes. Now... it seems like you don't care about anything anymore." I sneered inwardly. Of course I've changed. From the day Arthur swapped my daughter at the hospital, that Chloe was dead. The one living now is nothing more than a walking corpse wearing the skin of docility. But I just smiled: "People always change. You've changed too, haven't you?" Arthur sighed heavily. He stood up, walked to the door, and then looked back: "If you want to go, you can come with us." I shook my head: "No need. There are still things to do at the company." After Arthur left, I immediately shed that docile skin. He went to Switzerland to live it up, and I turned around and enrolled in a top-tier EMBA program. The coursework was heavy, but I enjoyed it. Mia hadn't forgotten me, though. Every few days, she'd send intimate photos of them, occasionally accompanied by a few boastful words. I replied patiently every time, even praising her photography skills. My calmness confused her instead. She probably found it boring and eventually stopped sending them. After Arthur returned to the States, he clearly noticed my changes. He probably thought my "understanding" was a compromise after being disheartened, and unprecedentedly, he began to try to make amends. Gifting Hermes today, booking Michelin-starred restaurants tomorrow. Even his tone became ingratiating. Once, when he was drunk, he grabbed my hand and said: "Chloe, can we go back to how we used to be?" I pulled my hand back and smiled: "How did we used to be? I've forgotten." The light in his eyes instantly dimmed. No matter what he said or did now, it couldn't stir even the slightest ripple in my heart. Right now, I was just waiting for the right moment to take back everything that belonged to me. 4 For Luna's fourth birthday, Arthur made an exception and allowed her to come to our house to celebrate. I got up early to bake her a cake. Just as I finished whipping the cream, Maria hurriedly knocked on the door: "Ma'am, Luna is here!" I didn't even care to wipe my hands and rushed out. As soon as I walked into the living room, I heard intermittent piano playing. From a distance, I saw my daughter, wearing a beautiful princess dress, sitting on the piano bench playing. Mia leaned over and asked her: "Does Luna like playing the piano?" Luna nodded like a pecking chicken, answering in a childish voice: "I like it!" "Then we'll play often from now on, okay?" Mia smiled and stroked her hair. Luna was even happier, saying loudly: "Okay!" She was so happy that she accidentally knocked over the amethyst vase next to the piano. The vase fell to the ground, shattering into pieces. Everyone froze. Mia's face changed instantly. She grabbed Luna by the arm, yanked her off the piano bench, and raised her hand to slap her. Smack! A crisp sound. Luna's head was knocked to the side, a red mark quickly blooming on her face. She stayed stunned for two seconds, then burst out crying, "Waah!" That crying sound was like a sharp blade, stabbing into my heart over and over again. I rushed over. Mia was still scolding: "You little brat! Do you know how much this vase cost? This was custom-made for me by Mr. Vance!" She raised her hand again. I grabbed the cake-cutting knife from the dining table. Before her hand could fall, I seized her wrist and gave it a vicious twist. Mia screamed and stepped back, being pinned against the piano by me. The piano let out a series of chaotic sounds. I pressed the knife against her neck and asked sternly: "Do you want to die?" The living room was in chaos. Leo was scared and started crying, and the nanny quickly picked him up. Mia struggled desperately to run. I just grabbed her by the hair, yanked her back, and slapped her hard several times! Smack! Smack! The crisp sounds were exceptionally jarring in the chaotic living room. She screamed and tried to protect her face. I backhanded her hard on the mouth, and blood immediately seeped from the corner of her lips. "You dare hit me! Arthur! Arthur, save me!" She cried and screamed hysterically. I raised my hand, wanting to continue teaching this reckless thing a lesson. "Chloe, stop it!" Arthur stood at the door, looking at me coldly. Mia cried out for help loudly: "Arthur, save me! She wants to kill me!" I pressed Mia down hard, looked at Arthur, and roared: "If Mia ever shows up in our house again, I'll kill her!" "What did you say?" Arthur frowned. I sneered: "I don't repeat myself!" Arthur was stunned. He had probably never seen me like this: eyes bloodshot, veins popping on my hands, like a mother wolf protecting her cub. Luna threw herself at me and hugged my leg: "Godmother..." Mia took the opportunity to struggle. I applied pressure with my hand, and she immediately didn't dare to move. "Arthur!" she cried out, "Are you just going to watch her bully me?" Arthur was silent for a long time. So long that Mia's cries grew weaker. Finally, he spoke: "Take her back." The bodyguards standing by were also stunned. "Are you deaf?" Arthur's voice rose. Two bodyguards immediately stepped forward, and only then did I let go. Mia was hauled up by them. She glared at Arthur in disbelief: "Arthur? You're treating me like this?" Arthur looked away, "You go back first." "Arthur! You—" She was dragged out, her curses growing further and further away. That night, Arthur uncharacteristically didn't go to coax Mia. He leaned against the headboard, looking at his phone. I lay on the other side, my back to him. In the dark, he spoke abruptly: "You were too impulsive today." I didn't say anything. "But..." he paused, "Mia did cross the line, but I believe she didn't do it on purpose." I sneered: "She hit my daughter. Of course, you wouldn't feel the heartache." He sighed: "Don't say that. Luna is also my daughter, how could my heart not ache?" I sneered, didn't expose his lie, and just said: "Go to sleep." He leaned over and hugged me tightly from behind. This posture was very intimate, like a real married couple. But I only felt disgusted. 5 On the first day of spring, Arthur rarely had free time and said he wanted to take the kids to the golf club. The men went to the course, while the wives sat in the lounge area, drinking tea and chatting. Luna sat next to me, drinking orange juice. "Luna, is your godfather good at golf?" Mrs. Sterling asked curiously. Luna put down her glass and said seriously: "My godfather doesn't know how to play golf, but my daddy does." "Really?" "Really." Luna nodded. "My daddy said he hit a hole-in-one when he was 18, and even gave that little white ball to my mom." Instant, dead silence. The wives exchanged glances. Arthur never played golf. He thought the sport was a waste of time. He excelled at trading stocks; he knew nothing about things on the golf course. But his arch-rival, Sterling Pierce, did. Sterling grew up in New York; golf was a required course for him. Fifteen years ago, at that charity golf tournament. Arthur forced himself onto the course to save face, but ended up making a fool of himself. While Sterling at the time, with an easy swing, sent the little white ball in a beautiful arc straight into the hole. The whole crowd cheered. Sterling took off his white glove and publicly handed that little white ball, signed with his name, to me, sitting next to Arthur. Arthur's face at that time looked so awful he could kill someone. Later, that little white ball was hidden by me in the jewelry cabinet in the walk-in closet. My thoughts returning to the present, as I turned to pour juice for Luna, out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of Arthur standing at the door. He had heard everything just now. 6 That night, after Arthur came home, he went straight to the study. By ten o'clock, he still hadn't returned to the bedroom. I went downstairs to get water and saw the light in the study was still on. Pushing the door open, Arthur was sitting in front of the computer. On the screen was the membership list of the golf club. "Not asleep yet?" I asked. He looked up at me and asked in a deep voice: "What Luna said today, what does it mean?" Holding my water glass, I looked bewildered: "What words?" Arthur stood up, walked up to me, "She said her dad hit a hole-in-one and gave the little white ball to her mom." "When have I ever hit a hole-in-one? When have I ever given you a little white ball?" I thought about it: "She probably watched some cartoon. Kids can't tell reality from cartoons." "Is that so?" Arthur sneered. "Chloe, are you sure?" "Otherwise?" I retorted. "Do I really have a lover who plays golf and can hit a hole-in-one?" As soon as the words left my mouth, I startled myself. It was too sharp, unlike my usual self. Arthur was also stunned. He looked at me, looked for a long time, and finally waved his hand: "Forget it, go to sleep." Although I obediently went to sleep, he didn't. For the next few days, he began a frantic investigation. Asking the club manager, checking my spending records, questioning people I frequently contacted. Just as Arthur was preparing to dig deeper, Mia started causing a scene. She led Leo directly into the Vance Group, making a huge ruckus at the front desk. I happened to be waiting for the elevator and heard the mess outside. "I want to see Arthur! Now! Right now!" "Ms. Mia, Mr. Vance is in a meeting..." "What meeting! Tell him to come out!" I walked out and saw Mia with disheveled hair, her eyes swollen like walnuts. Leo was so scared he hid behind a chair and cried. The employees formed a circle, no one daring to step forward. Seeing me, Mia got even more fired up, "Chloe! Arthur doesn't love you at all! He should have divorced you and married me long ago!" Before I could even speak, Arthur shouted sternly: "Mia, what are you doing!" "Me, causing a scene?" Mia screamed. "Arthur, you said you'd marry me once I gave you a son! Look how big Leo is now! How long are you going to make me wait?" Dead silence. A pin-drop silence. The employees lowered their heads, pretending they didn't hear anything. Arthur grabbed Mia's arm and dragged her towards the elevator: "We'll talk upstairs!" "No! We'll make it clear right here today!" Mia struggled. "If you don't get a divorce, I'll spill all those things—" "Shut up!" Arthur interrupted sharply, forcefully shoving her into the elevator. Although the farce ended, the news had already spread. Arthur was overwhelmed. Mia caused a scene every day, and the media caught wind of it, digging up the luxury mansions and cars she had received over the years. Arthur, while pacifying her, suppressed the news, temporarily shelving the investigation into Sterling Pierce. I took this opportunity to proceed with the next step. When we married, Arthur gave me 5% of the Vance Group shares, and over the years transferred more. Plus my family's original holdings, I now held 20%. I had prepared the transfer agreements for these shares long ago. That night, Arthur came home later than usual. As soon as he entered the bedroom, he threw a stack of photos in front of me. I moved closer to look, and my breath hitched. The photos were all of me and Sterling Pierce. I smiled faintly: "Just old friends meeting for a meal, is it worth you hiring someone to secretly take photos?" Arthur picked up a photo of me and Sterling hugging, sneering: "Is this what old friends do? Chloe, do you take me for a fool?" I ignored him and turned to go take a shower. He grabbed my arm and roared: "Answer my question!" "What exactly is your relationship with Sterling Pierce?"
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