When Riverbend Industries collapsed, the entire social elite of New York City mocked me, the long-lost heiress, for choosing the wrong man. They waited, eager to see us reduced to beggars. At that time, penniless, he lay beneath a bridge, his face etched with despair. “Leave me, Amelia. I have nothing left.” I paused for a second. “…Don’t be so quick to discount yourself. You can at least drag your lame leg to deliver takeout and support me.” He pushed himself up. “You’re right.” Actually, I was poorer than him. The system had bound me as Declan Gray’s exclusive trophy wife, incapable of doing anything else. I was tied to the system; my only source of income was Declan. If he didn’t support me, I would literally starve. His ‘one that got away’—Liana—and my adopted brother, Alex, had stormed into my apartment, clearing out every single thing, leaving not even a cent in my digital wallet. Just as we were at our wits’ end, a voice echoed in my mind: “The Vicious Ex-Girlfriend System has activated! Host, you will receive cash rewards for tormenting the male lead!” “Current Mission: Step on his chest and call him useless! Reward: Fifty thousand dollars!” My eyes lit up. I looked at the dejected Declan. “Big brother! The system’s finally alive! It wants me to torment you, and then we’ll have money!” 1 Yes, I knew I was the vicious female antagonist of this story, and the real heiress of the Sterling family, swapped at birth. The fake heiress was the protagonist. Not only did my entire adoptive family adore her, but she was also the darling of all the powerful figures in New York. When I was brought back to my birth family, they did nothing but humiliate me, never spending a dime on me. Bound by the system, I was forbidden from doing business, earning money outside of the male lead, or even saving it. My sole purpose was to be his trophy wife. Everything was set for me to humiliate and provoke him after his downfall, driving him to win back the protagonist. Their eventual reunion would be a “broken mirror made whole,” and I, the antagonist, would be tormented to death as retribution for the protagonist’s “humiliation.” The system had promised that if I completed all the missions, I would gain a chance to survive. Finally, this day had come. Declan, after hearing my words, didn’t stir. “Have you lost your mind too?” I tugged at his sleeve. “Brother, just play along, okay?” I always knew that my character, the vicious antagonist, was quite attractive. Declan had been incredibly doting on me over the years, even though the story established his true love was my fake heiress sister. But it didn’t matter. The system initially told me: complete the plot, and I’ll be free to return to my original world with a one hundred million dollar reward! So, for all these years, I’d contentedly played the role of the perfect trophy wife, just waiting for this day. Declan reached out and stroked my head. “You’re right. I can’t fall apart. I still have to take care of you.” He endured the pain of his broken leg—a result of his half-brother’s thugs—and struggled to get up. “Declan, I’m serious!” I grabbed his hand. “I really am bound to a ‘Vicious Ex-Girlfriend System.’ Can you please cooperate with me? We can milk the system for money, and then we can fix your leg!” Declan had been good to me all these years, both in life and in bed. He was an excellent lover, and once, a brilliant CEO. Sterling Corporation had reached unprecedented heights under his leadership. If not for the betrayal of his family and board members, he wouldn’t have fallen so low. He’d founded numerous children’s charities and ensured girls in impoverished areas had access to education. So, when the system bound me, I decided not to truly harm him. I planned to tell him everything and just have him cooperate. After all, the system only cared about what I did, not my intentions. Declan picked up a wooden stick to support himself. “Audrey Reed, when I earn enough money, I’ll definitely take you to a doctor.” I… He limped towards the exit of the underpass. I quickly followed. “Declan Gray! Don’t make me get rough…” Before I could finish, several figures descended the steps. “Well, well, well, my dear sister has been hiding here!” Liana Sterling, the fake heiress, stepped down, flanked by my biological parents and brother, and Declan’s half-brother. I quickly helped Declan. He’d just had his leg broken by over thirty men for exchanging a few words with his brother. Liana looked at Declan’s disheveled state, her face a mask of heartbreak. “Declan, you’ve disappointed me so much. I only went abroad, I wasn’t dead. Why did you find her to replace me? You knew it was because of her that I left all those years ago! I just want you to taste what it’s like to lose everything!” I rubbed my temples. Right. Because of this misunderstanding, the male and female leads would torment each other, then eventually forgive each other. That was the plot. But Declan merely glanced at her. “Who said she’s your substitute?” My headache worsened. In the original story, these two were both incredibly stubborn. The male lead acted as if he had no tact, always picking fights with the female lead. I looked at the bodyguards on the bank, worried they’d break Declan’s other leg. I forced a smile at Liana. “Miss Sterling, he’s already in this state. Why don’t we… just let it go?” Liana glared at me. “When we’re talking, do you have the right to interrupt?!” The words barely left her mouth when I raised my hand and slapped her. What the hell! System, are you controlling me?! I’m such a gentle person, how could I hit someone?! Looking at her rapidly swelling face, I quickly explained, “Miss Sterling, I swear I didn’t mean to hit you… do you believe me?” Declan looked at me, his eyes full of tenderness, as if saying, She’s truly lost her mind. I need to work harder delivering takeout to pay for her treatment. Liana’s eyes welled with tears. “Mom, Dad! Sister actually did this to me…” “Wait!” I cut her off. “Miss Sterling, mind your titles. The day I came home, because you threatened to kill yourself, they disowned me. None of you acknowledge me, so I’m not your sister. Alright, carry on—but watch your language, please.” Liana… Declan gently patted my back. “It’s okay. You still have me. I’ll collect soda cans to support you.” I nodded. “Actually, plastic water bottles are worth more. The PET can even be turned into clothes.” “Is that so? I’ve learned something new.” He looked around. “There are quite a few around here. Even more near the stadium.” “You’re experienced.” I genuinely praised him. My birth mother, Serena Sterling, looked at us, trembling with rage. “Audrey Reed! Look at yourself! What kind of behavior is this?!” “Excuse me, ma’am, who are you? What right do you have to lecture me?” I maintained my smile. Serena clenched her fists. “I gave birth to you!” “No, no, I wasn’t. The day I left the Sterling mansion, you said you never had me. So, we have no connection.” Julian Sterling’s old face also darkened. “Audrey Reed! From today on, you break up with Declan Gray. I’ll give you a thousand dollars a month, and you live your own life!” “You’re putting on airs, Mr. Sterling.” I chuckled. “And who are you to me?” The Sterling brothers behind them looked like they wanted to speak, but I pointed at them directly. “You’d best shut up. We have nothing to lose!” I pulled a “gun” from my canvas bag. “Worst case scenario, we all die together!” Everyone recoiled in fear, terrified I’d actually shoot. “Fine, fine! Audrey Reed, you can go live under a bridge with Declan Gray!” “Audrey Reed, you are forbidden from using the Sterling name for anything ever again!” “Audrey Reed, our only sister is Liana! If you die out there, it has nothing to do with the Sterling family!” … They retreated far away, even the bodyguards encircling them. I flicked open the gun, a small flame sputtering out. “Hmph, it’s just a lighter. And you’re already scared?” Their faces turned various shades of green and white. Declan, leaning on his wooden stick, whispered, “I’ll buy you a real one later.” I patted his shoulder. “We don’t do illegal things, even if you were a former CEO.” “Audrey Reed!!” Liana gritted her teeth. “You guys, go strip her clothes off!” The bodyguards’ eyes widened. “Miss Sterling, violating a woman’s consent is illegal. That’s outside our job description.” Liana grew even angrier. “I’ll pay you more!” Bodyguard: “That’s even more impossible. We’re assigned by the company. Taking private payments will affect our performance bonuses. Don’t get us in trouble.” I shook my head. “It’s 2026. Even the richest heirs in New York get jailed for breaking the law. Don’t make it hard on these working people. Declan, let’s go somewhere else to continue what we were doing. Ignore these lunatics.” Declan nodded. It was time to find a cleaner bridge. This one was too dusty with all the traffic. “Big brother.” Alex Gray, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, his sinister face devoid of emotion. “Little brother left you alive. You should cherish it, big brother.” I looked at him. In the original novel, he loved Liana unrequitedly and constantly targeted Declan. Later, I cooperated with him, and after my death… he was the one who collected my body. Eventually, realizing he could never have Liana, he was sent abroad, living out his days in depression with endless money. Honestly, I suspected the author was a bit of a simp. Why did I, the vicious antagonist, have to die horribly, while the vicious male antagonist got to enjoy wealth and luxury for half his life? And depressed?! With endless money, no classes, no work, you’re depressed about what?! If you don’t know how to live a good life, give it to me! 2 Alex watched Declan’s still indifferent expression, a flicker of murderous intent crossing his eyes. He extended a hand to Liana, his voice calm. “Liana, it’s time to go. When we get engaged, we’ll invite big brother and his girlfriend.” Liana stared intently at Declan, waiting for him to break down, regret, and weep. Unfortunately, nothing. His face remained distant, as if everything before him had nothing to do with him. Alex suddenly gripped Liana’s hand tighter. Could it be that my brother no longer liked Liana? Did he like… Audrey Reed?! “Audrey Reed.” Alex suddenly turned his gaze to me. I looked at him too. What, was the vicious male antagonist going to team up with the vicious female antagonist? “Are you interested,” a slight curve played on his lips, “in being my woman? I can keep you outside of everything, and money, you can spend as you please.” Declan’s face finally changed. He looked up at Alex, his eyes incredibly dark and dangerous. I scoffed. “Who needs your money? I only want my darling husband’s~” As I said it, I hugged Declan’s arm, but internally, I was crying hysterically. This damn setup! Except for the money Declan gave me, I couldn’t spend a single cent from anyone else. If I took Alex’s money, I’d be in the hospital the next second, and that money could only be used for medical bills. Who cares about that?! Declan’s tense expression visibly relaxed. He put his arm around my waist, his voice low. “Let’s go.” Liana, hearing Alex’s words and seeing Declan’s complete indifference to her reaction, trembled with rage. She pointed at me, her voice shrill. “Audrey Reed! You only cared about Declan’s money, didn’t you? You don’t love him at all! Now that he has nothing, you’ll eventually find a richer man. Stop lying to him!” I… She knew me so well. Truly, we were born on the same day. But I showed no outward reaction. Instead, my eyes reddened, and with tears welling, I looked at her. “Miss Sterling, how could you say such a thing? My feelings for Declan are genuine… I will never leave him in this lifetime. Even if we have to collect plastic bottles together, I’ll be by his side!” He collects, I’ll sit in a pedicab scrolling through TikTok, waiting for him. Declan squeezed my hand. He looked at me with deep eyes, as if saying: So she truly loves me this much. Ignoring the gazes behind us, we leaned on each other, slowly walking out of their sight. 3 Liana trembled with rage, suddenly turning to glare at Alex. “Didn’t you say you loved me? Why would you say such things to Audrey Reed?!” Alex brushed imaginary dust from his sleeve, his tone light and airy. “I suddenly found it more interesting to fight Declan for things. Whoever he loves, I’ll fight for.” He glanced at Liana, a half-smile on his face. “I thought he loved you.” Liana’s face instantly paled, then flushed scarlet. The Sterling family quickly gathered to comfort her. “Liana, how could she compare to you? Those two will starve on the streets eventually!” “Exactly. Sterling Corp has blacklisted them across all industries. They won’t find work. A rich boy like Declan, can he really stoop to collecting bottles?” “Audrey Reed will soon come back begging us… Their little romance won’t last long. She’s not used to living in poverty.” … Liana buried her face in Serena’s arms, her voice choked with tears. “Mom, if my sister really comes back… please don’t send her away. Just let her stay. Otherwise, if she’s out there, selling herself to make a living, it’ll be the Sterling family’s disgrace.” Serena hugged her tightly, her heart aching. “Okay, okay! If she comes back, I’ll lock her in the attic. I’ll never let her go out and embarrass us again!” Liana subtly curved her lips over Serena’s shoulder. Once Audrey Reed couldn’t bear the hardship and ran back… she could go be with Declan. Keep him outside of everything… He’d loved her for so many years. How could he find a replacement and then truly stop loving her? She refused to believe it.
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