Shocking! The Amazing Thing She Did for Love!

My best friend Monica Lloyd's maternity check brought the unexpected news that the baby had an extra Y chromosome, making it 47,XYY. I suggested an abortion, to which she agreed wholeheartedly.

That same night, though, I was kidnapped by Monica and her boyfriend, Liam Evans. To my horror, they buried me alive in a desolate landfill.

After the rebirth, she asked me again if she should keep the baby.

I told her, "Your son has an extra Y chromosome, a super tough guy! You should definitely keep him."

"Jean, what do you think? Should I keep the baby?" Monica asked, her face showing her uncertainty as she held the checkup report.

Pulling myself out of the memories, I looked at Monica, whom I had known for the past sixteen years, and showed her a smile.

"Of course, why not?"

In my past life, Monica was carrying a child out of wedlock. I had been by her side during the checkup, only to discover the fetus had an extra Y chromosome—47,XYY. The doctor had delicately recommended she consider an abortion, leaving her indecisive.

Monica had been pinning her hopes on this child as a means to secure a future with her boyfriend, Liam.

My experience in the medical field had given me a good understanding of the difficulties often faced by children with such conditions. I had presented numerous cases to Monica in an attempt to persuade her towards termination.

She agreed, even setting up an appointment, and asked me to come with her to the hospital.

But that night, when I offered her a ride, I was drugged.

When consciousness returned, I found myself trapped in a suburban dump.

Liam's eyes blazed with fury as he spat out, "You actually convinced her to abort my child? How evil you are!"

Tied up and gagged, all I could do was look to Monica with a plea in my eyes.

But she remained silent, her gaze cast downward.

With each shovelful of soil that Liam dumped into the pit where I lay, he hurled insults, "You're so wealthy and yet you won't share with us. How can you claim to be Monica's good friend and family member for over a decade? Bah!

"Luckily, the beneficiary of your insurance is Monica. Hurry up and die, and I'll have money to support my son when you're gone!"

In my previous life, I died in a grave injustice, with no time to save myself or ponder why. Liam had buried me alive.

The suffocating sensation of neardeath clung to my mind, a constant reminder that in this life, I would make my killers pay.

"Jean?"

Monica's voice brought me back to the present. I still managed a smile. "You can have the baby. The extra Y chromosome means a super tough guy."

Monica looked at me oddly, "But... the doctor said it's best not to..."

"But without this child, Liam wouldn't marry you, right?"

I sighed, "Won't Liam be upset if you abort it?"

Liam and Monica had been together for six years, a relationship marred by infidelity with more than thirty others.

I'd tried to talk some sense into Monica, the hopeless romantic, but she was convinced Liam really loved her.

So, I decided to just wish her well.

It was clear from Monica's expression that she had no intention of aborting the baby.

After we left the hospital, Monica naturally went to the passenger seat of my car.

I stopped her, saying, "I've got some work to do at the office. Why don't you have Liam come get you?"

Monica turned pale and questioned, "What could be more important than taking me home? I'm pregnant."

I rolled my eyes, thinking to myself, "You're not pregnant with me."

I used to be kind to Monica because we both came from the same orphanage.

I was fortunate enough to be sponsored by a charity to go to college, while Monica decided not to go to college and started working instead.

We were always in the same city, so you could say we leaned on each other.

There was a time when, no matter how busy or tired I was, if she called for help, I'd rush over. Whatever she wanted, I'd buy it for her without hesitation.

In my heart, she was like a sister to me.

But people change. What I thought was family turned out to be a relationship filled with hidden agendas and deceit.

I disregarded Monica's growing frown, offering a nonchalant reply, "The company needs me right away. If I'm late, there'll be a penalty."

Hearing about the fine, Monica reluctantly agreed, "Alright then."

After all, I was basically her personal bank, and she was probably worried about losing her ATM.

Instead of heading back to the office after leaving the hospital, I went to my lawyer's office.

There, I retrieved records of the transfers I'd made to Monica over the years, amounting to 200 thousand dollars.

The lawyer pointed out that these weren't special occasion gifts, and given that Monica and I weren't in a romantic relationship, there was a good chance I could recover the money.

I also reviewed the insurance policy I had taken out, with Monica as the beneficiary, and decided to change it.

Initially, it was Monica's idea for us to each buy insurance and name the other as the beneficiary. Back then, I naively thought it was a sign of familial affection.

Now, I realized that Monica and Liam had been plotting against me.

After discussing with my lawyer, I opted to make myself the beneficiary of my insurance policy.

The lawyer inquired if I wanted to sue Monica for the 200 thousand dollars, but I declined.

It wasn't the right time to take legal action against her.

I left the lawyer's office and headed straight home.

Upon seeing the house cluttered with Monica and Liam's belongings, I was gripped by selfdoubt.

How had I let Monica move in, eating my food and using my things in my previous life?

I must have been insane.

Without delay, I called the movers and had everything that wasn't mine taken to Liam's rental place.

Liam had a lease on an old, rundown apartment near his workplace, but he rarely stayed there. He'd rather stay with Monica at my place because he didn't like the conditions of his own apartment.

Midway through the moving process, Liam sent Monica back to my house.

Liam confronted me with a scowl, "What's the meaning of this? Who gave you the right to move our belongings?"

Monica also frowned, questioning, "Jean, I thought you said you were at the office?"

I met Liam's angry gaze and dismissed his outrage with a roll of my eyes. "Why shouldn't I move your stuff? It's my house."

Liam suddenly shouted, "Bullshit! Monica helped you with the mortgage. We have as much right to this house as you do. Are you trying to claim it all for yourself?"

I stared at Monica in disbelief, "You paid my mortgage?"

Monica hung her head, and her cheeks flushed. Then she managed to stammer out, "Jean, we're like family. It's no big deal..."

I let out a humorless laugh.

"Monica, when exactly did you pay my mortgage? I bought this house outright. You weren't conned into giving money, were you?"

Hearing this, Liam quickly turned and grabbed Monica's arm. "Didn't you say you contributed to this house? We could use it as our wedding house? What's really going on?"

Monica's face grew even redder as she looked at me with reproach. "Jean! Didn't you say I could live in this house as I pleased? Why are you bringing this up now?"

I scoffed, "It's my house, I can let anyone I choose live in it. It's none of your business."

Monica was confused by my sudden change in attitude. After all, in my past foolishness, I did promise to give her this house when they got married.

Liam, catching Monica's anxious look, realized she had lied again. After a moment's thought, he decided to play the scoundrel to the end.

"I don't care, Jean Spencer, you've been friends with Monica for years, didn't you say she's like family? If you don't give us this house, I won't marry her!

"Think about it! She's carrying my child!"

I was completely taken aback and looked at Liam, who I thought was an idiot. "Whether she marries or not is not my concern, I'm not her mother!"

Monica looked at me in disbelief, "Jean! I've always considered you like a sister! How can you say such a thing?"

I didn't entertain their accusations and focused on the movers, instructing them to toss all their belongings out the door.

Liam, enraged by the scene, turned and slapped Monica in front of everyone, "You useless thing!

"If you can't secure this house as our wedding home, forget about getting married! I'll see who wants you after you've had a child out of wedlock!"

Monica watched Liam storm off, then covered her face and wept bitterly. She turned to me with resentment. "Jean Spencer, you did this on purpose!

"Did you have a crush on Liam, so you're trying to use the house to force him to leave me and marry you?

"You're well aware that Liam's mother adores this house and would approve of him marrying anyone who could provide it. Have you been scheming to betray me all along?"

I was at a loss for words.

What a repulsive imagination!

I couldn't hold back any longer and slapped Monica across the face.

"What's the matter with you? Are you off your medication or something? Why do you spout such nonsense! Liam's a spineless mama's boy, not even as tall as me with his lifts, and only a fool like you would even consider him!"

Monica went berserk.

It used to be that she was the one barking orders at me, and I never dared to utter a harsh word to her.

I had always put Monica first in my life.

Now, reflecting on it, I couldn't help but feel the urge to slap my past self.

While others might be hopeless romantics, I had been utterly Monicabrained.

"Jean Spencer! How dare you do this to me? Don't you forget, I've got dirt on you!"

I furrowed my brow. "Like what? Why am I unaware?"

Monica seemed to gain a sudden sense of triumph. "You've had several boyfriends and even lived with them. If I spread the word, do you think you'll be able to get married in the future?"

I was at a loss for words, again.

Weren't we living in the 21st century?

What century did she timetravel from?

"In any case, you'd better stay away from Liam and transfer this house to me, or I'll expose your past to your company and the Internet, and we'll see how you handle that!"

Monica strutted away like a victorious rooster. She left the house to chase after Liam.

I let out a sigh and cursed my bad luck. Then I contacted the real estate company to put the house up for sale.

I couldn't live here anymore. They'd just keep making trouble.

After renting an apartment close to the office, I resumed my work and life as usual.

However, within only a few days of this peaceful interlude, there was a new development.

"Ms. Spencer, you... you should go check, Monica's boyfriend seems to be waiting for you downstairs."

My assistant, Ruby, blushed and looked like she wanted to say something more.

I was confused. "You're talking about Liam, Monica's boyfriend?"

Ruby nodded, looking helpless.

Monica was a familiar face around the company. She'd often come by to bring me lunch or pick me up after work.

As for Monica's boyfriend, Liam, he too had made a few appearances, so Ruby should have no trouble recognizing him.

I wasn't sure what Liam was up to, so instead of rushing downstairs, I peered out the window.

One glance was almost enough to take my breath away.

There was Liam, in a disheveled suit and greasy hair slicked back, holding a bouquet of red roses. Behind him was a line of people carrying banners that read: [Jean Spencer, Marry Me.]

I was pretty close to passing out.

"Ms. Spencer, what's happening?"

I gave my temples a good rub, which were throbbing with irritation, and told Ruby, "Get security to remove them, or call the police if they can't handle it."

Ruby saw my bad mood and didn't push for more information.

Out of the blue, my cell phone buzzed with an unknown number. I answered it without thinking too much.

"Jean, I heard from Monica that you've had a crush on me for a long time. Since that's the case, I'll give you a chance."

It was Liam.

I couldn't help but sneer. "What do you really want?"

"I will agree to take the house and marry you, but you must accept the baby Monica is carrying and raise him as your own son."

I hung up the phone without saying a word, deleted the number, and blocked it.

Liam and Monica were cut from the same cloth when it came to being idiots.

The thought of people like Liam and Monica with such disregard for human life just sent chills down my spine.

They had been able to kill me for money in my past life. It wasn't out of the realm of possibility in this one.

I picked up my phone and made a call.

"Ms. Stone, do you have any strong, tall, brave men available?"

My boss, Yvonne Stone, sounded amused. "Yes, yes, yes, I'll send them over right away."

I could tell she was thinking the wrong thing.

"I mean, I need bodyguards."

Yvonne replied perfunctorily, "I know. I get it."

After ending the call, Ruby returned.

She reported that Liam initially refused to leave and caused a scene, demanding to see me, but once she threatened to call the police, he cursed and left.

I breathed a sigh of relief and got back to my work.

It was already ten o'clock when I clocked out from work at night. As I made my way to the underground garage, a sense of unease washed over me, and instinctively, I switched on the recorder I had with me.

The moment after, Liam emerged in front of me, flanked by two men.

"Jean Spencer, I'm showing you respect, if you know what’s good for you! Don't turn down the friendly gesture and then suffer the consequences."

I looked at Liam coldly. "What are you trying to pull now? I'm through with you and Monica."

Liam frowned and said, "Playing hard to get, are you?

"Monica mentioned that you've had a crush on me for a long time, which is why you're holding onto the house, trying to force my hand into marrying you."

I saw no point in continuing to argue with him. However, fearing they might resort to something I couldn't avoid, I turned and sprinted to my car.

Liam yelled, "Bitch, you dare to run? Get her!"

Once I was inside, I locked the doors and immediately reached for my cell phone to call the police.

I didn't start the engine. I just wanted to drive Liam crazy.

Liam and his goons approached the car, kicking the tires viciously.

The phone rang, and it was Liam on the line.

"Fucking bitch, you want me to play hardball? Get out of the car!

"Either hand over the house and marry me, or I'll plaster Monica's sneaky photos of you all over the internet. It's your call!"

I sneered and said, "The house is already sold, so I can't give it to you.

"On top of that, the mere thought of dealing with people like you makes me sick."

A vile person like Liam was easily baited.

The moment I hung up, the backseat window shattered with a crack.

I glanced up at the security camera, silently counting down the minutes until the police arrived.

"Finally, just as the last of the glass fell from the window and the tires were slashed,

the police arrived."

I stepped out of the car and looked at Liam, pinned to the ground by the officers. Then I laughed heartily.

I retrieved the surveillance footage from the garage and submitted the recording of Liam's blackmail threat. I refused any private mediation and immediately filed a lawsuit against him in court.

Apart from the blackmail and harassment, Liam had also vandalized my car, a crime severe enough to cost him dearly.

I hired the best lawyer to fight my case and made sure Liam faced a stiff sentence.

In the week leading up to the trial, Monica kept trying to approach me.

But I was shielded by bodyguards sent by Yvonne, so she couldn't get near.

However, I was curious about what Liam had said about Monica taking my pictures, so I decided to confront her.

Monica was visibly pregnant at five months, her belly prominent, and she seemed drained and pale, likely from the stress over Liam's situation.

However, the moment she saw me, her eyes blazed with unmistakable resentment.

"Jean Spencer, what on earth are you trying to do? Do you want to destroy me completely?

"My child isn't even born yet, and you're already determined to send his father to prison. What are you thinking?

"Do you have any idea how Liam's mother has been making my life miserable? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been kept out of their door!"

I was astonished and asked, "Do you still want to marry him after all this?"

Monica just took it for granted. "Who else would I marry if not him? Do you think I can find a better man by leaving him?"

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, thinking that any man on earth would be a step up from Liam.

With a mocking snort, I looked at her coldly. "Monica, I've been generous to you throughout our years of friendship, not counting clothing and daily expenses, the money I've transferred to you adds up to 200 thousand dollars."

I brought this up, hoping that Monica might still have a shred of conscience to feel some shame.

But to my surprise, she impatiently shot back, "You gave it to me willingly, I never asked for it."

I swallowed the anger rising in my throat and continued, "Also, Liam mentioned that you had secretly taken pictures of me. Is that true?"

As if struck by sudden inspiration, Monica burst into laughter. "Yes, I did take pictures of you without your knowledge, photos of you nude, and even while you were showering!

"So, if you don't want those pictures to see the light of day, you better get Liam out and give me the house!"

I pretended to be panic and pursed my lips. "I don't believe that! You're just trying to scare me."

Seeing my feigned panic, Monica became even more selfsatisfied, as if she was relishing the thought of me in a state of desperation and begging for mercy. She quickly pulled out her phone and opened her photo album for me to see.

I inhaled sharply.

She wasn't bluffing. She really had those pictures.

Noticing my silence, Monica became smug.

"To be honest, it was Liam who was clever. He once told me that you're not as nice as you seem and suggested I take photos of you, saying I could use them against you when necessary. I had almost forgotten about that if you hadn't brought it up."

With a cold snort, I gave a hint to the bodyguard sitting at a nearby table, who was disguised as a bystander.

Now that it was confirmed that the photos existed, dealing with the situation became a simple matter.

The bodyguard swiftly moved in and snatched Monica's cell phone from her grasp, and as realization dawned on her, she erupted into screams.

"What are you doing? Are you trying to delete those photos?

"I'm telling you, even if you take my phone, it won't matter. I have backups!"

I exhaled wearily, "Who said I was trying to erase the pictures?"

I took out my cell phone and made a call. "Hello? 911?"

In times of crisis, turning to the police was the right move.

I knew precisely when to involve law enforcement.

I declined any private mediation and submitted the evidence, including the transfer records to Monica, to press charges against her.

My lawyer paused for a moment, then remarked that this was another lawsuit, another cost to be paid.

The first to face trial was Liam, and with my lawyer's persuasive arguments and solid evidence, he was sentenced to one year in prison and ordered to pay 300 thousand dollars in damages.

Monica faced her own trial and was sentenced to six months in prison and 300 thousand dollars in restitution. However, due to her pregnancy, her sentence was not executed immediately.

The law had spoken, and Liam and Monica dared not make a scene.

I was taken aback when the lawyer informed me that Monica had actually proposed to marry Liam while he was in prison.

"Has she lost her mind?"

The lawyer shook his head and sighed, "I just feel for the baby. His parents are certainly not the epitome of stability."

I scoffed and said, "I'm afraid this kid is going to be a troublemaker as well.

After all, he was diagnosed as 47,XYY.

Even if Liam and Monica were to be released in the future, I suspected their lives would be anything but tranquil.

Just as I was thinking that the coming year might be a little more peaceful, the lawyer dropped a bombshell, informing me that Liam and Monica had been released on bail.

Upon further investigation, it turned out that the person who had bailed them out was none other than Yvonne.

I immediately made my way to Yvonne's office.

"We've known each other for ten years. Why did you do this?"

Yvonne sighed and explained with a tone of helplessness, "I didn't want to, but it's out of my hands."

Yvonne told the whole story to me.

She revealed that Monica appeared to be the lost daughter of her aunt, Susan Norton.

The bodyguards Yvonne had assigned to me were on loan from the Norton family, and one of them recognized the pendant around Monica's neck as a Norton family heirloom and reported back to Susan.

This led to the confirmation that Monica was indeed the only daughter of the Norton family.

The Norton Group, known for their involvement in both legitimate businesses and underworld dealings, was certainly not a group to be trifled with.

Yvonne looked at me with a hint of apology in her eyes. "The Stone family has always been in the Norton family's debt, and I had no choice but to comply. I am truly sorry about this."

I was silent for a moment, then shook my head. "I don't blame you."

With that, I left Yvonne's office.

I never imagined that Monica would have such a background.

It was my own action of hiring the bodyguard that accidentally revealed Monica's true identity.

Yet, there was no way I could simply sit back and let events unfold.

People like Liam and Monica, once they got the upper hand, wouldn't give me a chance to breathe.

I informed Yvonne that I was leaving the Stone Group. Instead of trying to stop me, she offered me a substantial severance package.

We both understood that our decadelong friendship had reached its conclusion.

After departing from the Stone Group, I went directly to the Norton Group.

As soon as Ethan saw me, he greeted me with a teasing smile.

"You didn't come to the Norton Group when we waved high salaries at you. Why are you taking the initiative to come today?"

Ethan Norton and I were classmates in college and shared a tutor during graduate school, so we had known each other for ten years.

I got right to the point and said, "I heard that the lost daughter of the Norton family has been found."

Ethan's smile faded. "You are well informed."

As the adopted son of the Norton family, Ethan was no doubt disturbed by Monica's return.

"Susan indicated that I could continue to work at the Norton Group if I am willing to marry her daughter."

I scoffed and said, "Ethan, you're inherently arrogant and choosy. Would you really want to marry a woman who's a hopeless romantic and didn't even finish high school?

"Besides, she is carrying another man's child. Such a heavy burden, would you be willing to shoulder it?"

Ethan's gaze intensified. "So what? What are you trying to say?"

"I can assist you. We could collaborate."

I was an orphan and hadn't enjoyed the privileges of life that Monica had. But I had toiled for years in my studies and career, building connections across various sectors.

Ethan recognized my value, so he wasn't going to turn me down.

"All right, I'm in."

Ethan and I came to an agreement, and he arranged for me to take a senior position within the Norton Group.

I didn't waste time. I proactively went to see Liam.

While Monica was embraced by the Norton family, Liam was left to grapple with his situation in a dilapidated rental house.

Ethan told me that the Nortons had originally intended to leave Liam to fend for himself, but Monica's desperate pleas for Susan to help Liam had forced them to rescue him as well.

The Norton family had paid a substantial sum in damages, sparing Monica and Liam from imprisonment.

As soon as Liam saw me, he cursed with hate. His eyes were bloodshot as he lunged at me, ready to strike.

But he was blocked by the bodyguard Ethan had assigned to me.

I chuckled softly. "Liam, how did you end up in such a pitiful state? Monica—oh, I mean Monica Norton now, she's become the apple of the Nortons' eyes, with more money than she could ever spend. Why didn't she come to pick you up?

"Didn't she say she wanted to marry you? How could she forget about you the moment she became a lady of wealth?"

Liam froze and then asked, "What lady of wealth?"

I feigned surprise. "You didn't know? Monica is the longlost daughter of the Norton family."

Liam was rooted to the spot, shock written all over his face, as I turned on my heel and walked away without a backward glance.

With Monica's hopeless romanticism and Liam's thug persona, the Norton family might find themselves in for a world of chaos.

I had been immersed in my work at the Norton Group, simultaneously searching for evidence of tax evasion by the organization.

During this time, Ethan paid me several visits.

He informed me that Liam, who had somehow gotten the address to Norton Manor, had been showing up every day and making a scene to see Monica.

Monica, in turn, was persistent in her desire to meet with Liam.

However, the Norton family was firmly under Susan's thumb. With only one daughter to her name, Susan was protective to a fault and refused to allow her daughter to marry someone like Liam.

"Due to Liam's constant presence, Susan is already planning an engagement party for Monica and me to sever the ties between them."

I snickered, impressed by Liam's tenacity. He hadn't failed in his attempts to reach Monica after I deliberately disclosed the address to Norton Manor.

Ethan, however, seemed a bit melancholy.

Susan pressured him to claim Monica's baby as his.

Ethan looked at me with anticipation in his eyes. "Is there anything else you want to say?"

My lip curled in a quick sneer. "What's the rush? Liam is planning to make a big scene on engagement day. The engagement will fall through anyway."

Ethan seemed a little anxious. "That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking, do you really want Monica and me to get engaged?"

I looked at him, puzzled. "What does this have to do with me?"

Ethan left, shutting the door with a bang.

I smiled at the evidence that was just about complete in my hands.

On the day of the engagement party, I specifically bribed the security guards at the door to ensure they'd let Liam in.

When Monica emerged with her prominent baby bump, the guests' expressions varied.

But such occurrences were not uncommon in wealthy families, and the engagement of an adopted son to a daughter was not something shocking.

Susan, a tough and astute woman, helped Monica up to the stage and loudly declared that Monica was the daughter of the Norton family, and the baby in Monica's belly was Ethan's.

Monica hung her head low, lost in her own thoughts. Judging by her expression, she was not keen on this arrangement.

But she couldn't let go of the privilege.

She wanted to be a princess, yet she also wanted to be with Liam.

"Honey! I finally get to see you!"

A loud voice echoed through the hall, signaling the start of the dramatic scene.

Liam dashed through the entrance and positioned himself beneath the stage, gazing up at Monica with an expression of deep affection.

Susan's face immediately registered shock. "Who are you? How dare you just barge in like this? Where is the security guard? Throw him out at once!"

But Monica, in a sudden motion, shook off Susan's hand and hurried towards Liam, cradling her baby bump.

"Hubby, I've missed you so much," she exclaimed.

They held each other, tears streaming down their faces, while Ethan watched from the side, feigning a mixture of annoyance and humiliation.

The attendees, all business elites, quickly caught on to what was happening.

The adopted son of the Norton family had been betrayed.

The media present were thrilled at the prospect of such breaking news.

Susan's face turned purple with rage as she stepped forward, forcibly separating Liam and Monica.

"What are you yelling about? My daughter is about to get engaged!"

How could Liam pass up this golden opportunity to impress the wealthy Nortons?

From his pocket, he produced the marriage license he and Monica had obtained while he was in prison.

I couldn't help but sigh in amazement. Monica's infatuation with Liam had gone so far as to secure a marriage license even while he was behind bars.

"This is our marriage license. Monica is my wife. Mrs. Norton, you can't just marry Monica off to someone else just because I'm poor! I love her, and I'll do my utmost to take care of Monica and the child. Please don't marry Monica off to someone else!"

It had been a long time since Monica had heard such loving words from Liam, and she was instantly moved to tears.

"Mom, all I want is to be with Liam. I don't want my child to have to call someone else his father. The child needs the love of his real father."

Ethan and I exchanged glances, both of us in good spirits as we watched the unfolding drama.

After today, word of the Norton family's scandal would spread, and those who had grievances against the Norton Group would surely seize the opportunity to exploit the situation.

With Liam's impassioned plea, the engagement party could not proceed any further.

After all, Susan had a soft spot for her daughter, and seeing Liam's tearful confession of his wrongdoings, she simply gave him a chance.

Susan promised to arrange for Liam to join the Norton Group once Monica had given birth.

Upon hearing this news, Ethan complained to me, "She's getting more and more muddled with age, not only allowing that 47,XYY child to be born but also letting that scoundrel into the senior management of the Norton Group."

I patted him on the shoulder. "Isn't this exactly what you wanted? The net has been cast for so long, and it's time to reel it in."

Ethan took a deep breath. "It's only a matter of time before the Norton Group goes bankrupt. Let it pave the way for my new company."

Four months later, Monica gave birth to a son, Felix Norton.

As he wished, Liam joined the company.

On the day of the shareholders' meeting, which was also Liam's first day at the company, he showed up late. He also kicked Ethan out of the main chair, being really arrogant.

Ethan didn't just let Liam's behavior slide—he actually greeted him with a smile.

Liam, emboldened, pushed further and demanded Ethan's office.

Ethan remained silent, offering no resistance.

Liam got a bit too comfortable and, of course, didn't forget about me. It wasn't long before I received the news of my dismissal.

Followed by a team, Liam came specifically to my office. "Jean, I think I have to thank you. If you hadn't told me that Monica had become the daughter of the Norton family, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy today's success."

He smiled smugly. "How about this? If you get down on your knees and beg me, I'll promise not to fire you."

I kept my head down, continuing to pack, paying him no mind.

He leaned closer and whispered something only we could hear, "If you're willing to be with me and give me a son, I'll consider keeping you in the company. What do you say?"

I looked up, met Liam's gaze with a smile, and pulled out my recorder.

"If I play this recording for Susan, do you think you'll still be able to swagger around here?"

Liam's face drained of color and he cursed under his breath. Then, probably bored, he left with his team, not bothering me anymore.

Leaving the office, I headed straight to the lawyer's office where Ethan had been waiting for me for quite some time.

With the evidence we had meticulously gathered, we were wellprepared to take down the Norton Group.

I asked Ethan, "You stayed with the Norton Group for so long, were there ever any moments of hesitation?"

Ethan sneered and replied, "If it weren't for the Norton family, I wouldn't have lost my family in the first place. How could I have hesitated?"

It turned out that Ethan's biological parents had been under Susan's employ.

When Susan's husband had passed away and the Norton Group faced allegations of tax evasion and collusion with gangsters, Susan had used Ethan's parents as scapegoats. She then adopted Ethan to maintain her reputation.

We submitted the evidence, leveraging all of our connections to ensure it had the intended impact.

Eventually, the Norton Group collapsed under the weight of its scandals.

The saga ended with the bankruptcy of the Norton Group. Ethan seized the opportunity to acquire the company as a subsidiary of the new conglomerate he had created, thrusting him into the limelight.

However, Susan was not one to go down without a fight. Despite the decline of the Norton family's fortunes, they were not entirely destitute.

In a lastditch effort to save herself, she made Liam take the fall for the family's misdeeds. Now he was facing the prospect of a life behind bars.

I became a shareholder in Ethan's company. I saw Susan on several occasions, humbled and seeking cooperation.

However, she was mostly ignored.

Ethan occasionally visited my office to tease, "Jean Spencer, you've done me such a great favor, should I give myself to you in return?"

I smiled back at him. "Let's talk about that when you hand over control of the Synthovision Group to me."

Ethan promptly fell silent.

After all, men were often more concerned with power and position and were not always trustworthy.

Everything settled into a steady rhythm.

For seven years, Ethan and I enjoyed a peaceful life.

Then one day Ethan told me that Susan and Monica had died.

There was a fire at Norton Manor and they could not escape. Only Felix survived.

Ethan said that Felix was probably around seven or eight years old and that the 47,XYY syndrome's negative traits were already manifesting.

He had scalded Susan with boiling water, causing disfigurement, pushed Monica down the stairs twice, leading to her hospitalization in intensive care, abused stray cats, and even blinded a classmate.

The fire, it turned out, was also set by Felix.

After blinding a classmate, Susan had lost a significant amount of money and had reprimanded him, which led Felix to hold a grudge.

At this young age, he faced the police without any sign of panic and even stated that Susan and Monica deserved their fate.

Such a child couldn't be placed in an orphanage due to his criminal actions. However, because of Felix's age, he couldn't be sentenced and was instead sent to an institution.

Nevertheless, I was certain that individuals like him would eventually face the consequences of their actions one day.

Indeed, it took me a decade of persistence to win Jean Spencer's heart before she finally agreed to be with me.

When we tied the knot, she was thirtyfive, and I was thirtyeight.

Jean was truly the most remarkable woman I had ever encountered.

She was intelligent, a genius, and if I was to be honest, her talents were far greater than my own.

Being an orphan who began with nothing, she managed to skillfully navigate the world of the affluent.

It seemed as though she had been bestowed with impeccable emotional intelligence, which, ironically, might have come at the expense of her romantic life.

Our paths crossed in college where she was a wellknown figure in our class.

Attractive, academically gifted, outgoing, and competent, she was universally liked.

She often took parttime jobs and lived a frugal life.

At that time, I assumed a girl like her must have been astute and competent, but it turned out she was completely oblivious to recognizing deceitful individuals.

I'd met Monica Lloyd a few times and could tell she wasn't a genuine friend to Jean.

Jean, however, was insistent on considering Monica as family.

Back then, I had a wealthy roommate who was quite into Jean. He sought Monica's help in his pursuit of Jean.

But Monica misled him, claiming that Jean was seeing multiple men at once.

Given Jean's daily parttime commitments and how busy she was, it was impossible for her to juggle several relationships at the same time.

I tried to warn Jean about Monica's true character, but she misunderstood my intentions.

She accused me of being a pervert for always being around her.

However, I had to say that each encounter was purely coincidental.

We never spoke again after that.

It wasn't until I started graduate school that I was taken aback to find out we'd not only be attending the same institution, but we'd also be studying in the same field, even sharing a tutor.

Despite our shared academic journey, she kept her distance from me.

After graduation, I joined the Norton Group to work for the Norton family, yet I kept tabs on her, hoping she would join me at the Norton Group to assist in my endeavors.

Our tutor was particularly supportive of her, introducing her to many influential figures in our field, and I suspected that the tutor had groomed her much like an extraordinary hopeful.

But Jean was worth it.

I'd never met a girl as tenacious and intelligent as she was, yet seemingly blind to deception.

I must have been quite smitten with her.

So I made her an offer at the Norton Group with a substantial salary, but she turned it down.

Well, it was confirmed. She was not interested in me.

Just as I was contemplating alternative strategies to win her over, she approached me with an offer of cooperation.

I accepted all her proposals without hesitation.

After all, pursuing my future wife was a mission that required my own efforts.

As things settled down, I avenged my parents and started my own business.

I cautiously gauged her feelings, but she turned me down.

Or at least, what I perceived as a rejection was, in fact, more about her own insecurities.

She had her sights set on the Synthovision Group, but I didn't immediately agree.

I didn't own the Synthovision Group by myself.

My partner and I split the shares of the company. Although my voice carried more weight, the new company was still finding its footing in the marketplace.

After five years of hard work, I finally gained complete control of the Synthovision Group.

At the first opportunity, I proposed to Jean.

There was no diamond ring, no roses—just the shares of the Synthovision Group and all my wealth.

Once I became a man without a fortune, Jean consented to marry me.

She asked me, "You've strived for so long to achieve what you have. Won't you regret giving it all to me?"

Weighing the pros and cons was in my nature as a businessman.

But I believed that being Jean's husband would bring me more joy than having hundreds of millions of dollars in assets.

After all, I had been harboring feelings for her in secret for many years.

Fulfilling a longheld dream was, in itself, the greatest return on investment.

Thus, I had no regrets.