My boyfriend of five years, Justin, promised me a "huge surprise" for my birthday. I was full of anticipation, thinking he was finally going to propose. But at exactly 1:14 PM, he sent me a Venmo for $0.25 with the note: "Read it backward." When I called him out for being cheap and thoughtless, he got defensive. "I timed it perfectly for 13:14 (1:14 PM military time, sounds like 'forever' in Chinese slang) to send you that red packet, and you're calling me thoughtless? Chloe, you really are a gold digger!" I was shaking with anger, but he just slammed the door and left. That same night, he took his childhood sweetheart to a charity auction and spent $520,000 on a "Heart of True Love" necklace for her. I packed my bags and left him without a word. A year later, we met again at a business gala. Seven months pregnant, I leaned into my billionaire husband's arms and introduced Justin: "Honey, this is the ex-boyfriend who sent me 25 cents and told me to read it backward." Chapter 1 When I ran into Justin’s best friend, Liam, I was already seven months pregnant. I was bored, so I went to the supermarket with our housekeeper. While she was in the produce section, I wandered into the home goods aisle and bumped into Liam. He looked shocked, pacing back and forth near me until I finally called his name. He rushed over. "Chloe? Is that really you? Where have you been? It’s been so long!" I nodded politely. "I went to Hong Kong. Just got back recently." Liam's jaw dropped. "Hong Kong? Justin has been going crazy looking for you!" Hearing Justin’s name again didn't even cause a ripple in my heart. I replied casually: "Why is he looking for me? We don't really have any reason to be in contact." "Huh? Aren't you guys still together..." "We ended things a long time ago." It ended the day he sent me that $0.25. A year ago, on my birthday. Justin, my boyfriend of five years, said he had a surprise for me. I excitedly waited, thinking a proposal was coming. Instead, at 1:14 PM, I got a notification: You received $0.25. "My birthday, and you send me a quarter?" I looked at Justin in disbelief. "Justin, five years, and this is how you treat me?" Facing my questions, Justin acted even angrier than I was. "Read 0.25 backward! It’s 520! It means 'I love you'!" "And I specifically waited until 13:14 (forever) to send it! Instead of being moved, you call me thoughtless?" "Is it because it's too little money? Sarah was right, you really are just after my money!" With that, he slammed the door and left before I could react. I was shaking with rage, tears streaming down my face. But thinking about my birthday and our five-year relationship, I endured it. I pulled myself together, cooked a table full of his favorite dishes, and waited for him to come back so we could talk. I waited and waited. The clock ticked from 11:59 PM to 0:00 AM. The food went cold. My birthday passed. Justin never came back. Just as I picked up my phone to call him, a headline stabbed me in the eyes: "Heir to the Lin Group Spends $520k Just to Make a Beauty Smile" My hands trembled as I clicked the link. The article detailed Justin’s glorious deed at the auction that night: spending $520,000 on the "Heart of True Love" necklace for his childhood sweetheart, Sarah. There was even a photo of Justin smiling as he put the necklace on a blushing Sarah. I stared blankly at my phone, tears blurring my vision, my heart filled with bitter acid. On my birthday, he sent me $0.25. Then turned around and dropped half a million on Sarah. Was he telling me I was only worth a quarter? Five years of love, traded for this humiliation. My heart died that night. I packed my bags and moved out. I deleted Justin from everything, blocked everyone associated with him, and changed my number. Later, I met my current husband and moved to Hong Kong with him. A year had passed. I had long forgotten Justin. If I hadn't run into Liam, I probably wouldn't have remembered he existed. Chapter 2 "You and Justin were together for five years, how can you just cut it off like that?" Liam looked disapproving. "Chloe, Justin hasn't stopped looking for you all year. Stop being stubborn and just contact him." I asked him back, "You think I've been holding a grudge for a whole year?" Liam was speechless, looking a bit awkward at my indifference. "Ma'am, I've got the groceries. We can head back now." My housekeeper walked over with the bags, speaking respectfully. Liam exclaimed, "You're married?!" I nodded calmly. "Yes, I am." "You're really married? Then Justin..." "Doesn't Justin have Sarah? They seem close. Haven't they settled down after all these years?" "What are you saying? Sarah and Justin are just friends..." Liam's voice trailed off under my gaze. Clearly, even he felt Justin and Sarah's relationship crossed the line of "just friends." "Oh well, not my business anyway. I'm going home; my husband gets off work soon." With that, I left with the housekeeper. I thought that was the end of it, but I ran into Justin at a gala. He was wearing a bespoke suit, chatting elegantly. When he saw me, he froze, then rushed over aggressively. "Chloe?" I gave him a faint nod, feeling annoyed. If I knew he was here, I would have ordered room service. Seeing my indifference, Justin's face stiffened, then he demanded angrily, "Liam told me he saw you, and I didn't believe him. A year without a word, and you have nothing to say to me?" I looked at him, confused. Did I have anything to say to him? Justin's face went cold. "You left me because you thought 25 cents was too little, and now look at you. Is this the life you wanted?" What's wrong with my life? I looked down at my pajamas. Sure, they were a bit out of place compared to the haute couture at the gala. But I had just woken up hungry and was too lazy to change, so I threw on a shawl to find food. If I knew I'd see him, I wouldn't have come down. "Chloe, long time no see." Sarah appeared out of nowhere, linking arms with Justin. Her eyes were full of disdain. "Haven't seen you in so long. Didn't expect you to become a mistress." I frowned at her. "What nonsense are you spouting?" "Isn't it true?" Sarah scoffed. "This gala is invite-only for VIPs. You have no background, no status, and you're wearing a bathrobe. You obviously sold your body to get in here." I rolled my eyes at her certainty. Not wanting to deal with this drama, I turned to leave. But Justin grabbed my wrist, believing her instantly. "You actually became someone's mistress!" His grip was tight, hurting my wrist. I cried out in pain, "Let go!" "Justin, take it easy. Look at her, she probably just crawled out of someone's bed." Sarah fanned the flames. Red-eyed with rage, Justin raised his hand to slap me. The slap landed heavy on my right cheek. It swelled up immediately. I stumbled, instinctively protecting my belly. Sarah saw my movement and yanked off my shawl. My seven-month baby bump was exposed for all to see. Chapter 3 "You're pregnant?!" Anger practically spilled out of Justin's eyes. "Chloe, you left me without even a breakup, and now you're a mistress carrying someone else's child!" "In the end, you really are a gold digger. You left just because I didn't give you enough money, didn't you!?" Watching him rage, I found it hilariously pathetic. He always thought I was with him for his money. He forgot that when we met, I didn't even like him. I stayed away from his "rich heir" identity. He claimed love at first sight, chased me relentlessly for three years, and even got injured saving me before I finally agreed to date him. Now he accuses me of wanting his money. "What? Silence because Justin hit the nail on the head? Embarrassed?" Sarah taunted. I took a deep breath and looked at her blankly. "Sarah, if you like Justin, go chase him. Why are you obsessed with me?" "I have a husband who loves and spoils me. I stopped liking Justin a long time ago. What's the point of targeting me?" Sarah's face froze. She glanced at Justin and denied it instantly. "What are you talking about?! I only see Justin as a friend!" A friend she wants to sleep with? I scoffed, ignoring them, and turned to leave. But Sarah stepped forward, grabbed my arm, and with a fake stumble, snapped the pearl necklace around her own neck. She shrieked: "I spent a million dollars on this necklace at an auction! Why did you break it?!" Pearls scattered everywhere, attracting everyone's attention and blocking my path. I frowned, annoyed. "What do you want?" Sarah sneered. "You broke my necklace, obviously you have to pay for it!" I looked at her coldly. "You know exactly who broke it!" Sarah leaned in, whispering maliciously: "If I say you broke it, you broke it. Do you think people will believe you or me?" Seeing her smug face, my stomach started to cramp. To avoid trouble, I thought about transferring the money first and dealing with her later. Then I realized I didn't have my phone. "I didn't bring my phone. Let me go back to my room to transfer it." Sarah laughed like she heard the biggest joke. "Transfer money? A mistress like you has that kind of money? This is a million dollars, not a hundred bucks!" "Oh, or do you need to go back and spread your legs for your sugar daddy to get it?" Her words made everyone look at me with disgust and contempt. Humiliated, I pressed my lips together, one hand guardedly over my belly. Sarah smirked, then suddenly grabbed a wine glass and threw it at me. I dodged, face pale. My stomach cramped painfully. "Oops, hand slipped." Sarah shrugged, her malice intensifying. "I know you can't afford it. How about we play a game?" "This necklace cost a million. Let me throw things at you 100 times, and we'll call it even!" She grabbed a plate and threw it. I stumbled back. The plate shattered at my feet, shards cutting my ankle. I gritted my teeth. "Sarah, are you insane!?" Sarah smiled. "98 to go." Panting, I looked around. Everyone was watching like it was a show. I looked at Justin, hoping he would control her. Justin sighed, looking like he was compromising. "Chloe, just admit you were wrong back then. I'll pay the million for you. You don't have to be a mistress anymore. Come back to me, I'll treat you well." Sarah's face darkened. She forced a smile. "Justin, she's pregnant with another man's child..." Justin clenched his fists, voice strained. "Then abort it!" I was shaking with anger. Sarah was mad with jealousy. She grabbed a wine bottle and hurled it at me. I barely dodged, but slipped and fell hard. Warm liquid gushed between my legs. My face went white. I almost fainted from the pain. Suddenly, the banquet hall doors burst open. A crowd sycophantically surrounded a handsome, noble-looking man as he entered. The man frowned, his deep eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. His expression turned to panic. "Chloe!" Chapter 4 Watching Ethan rush toward me, I teared up, feeling wronged. "Hubby... my stomach hurts..." Ethan squatted beside me, carefully letting me lean on him. He didn't dare move me, only soothing me gently: "Baby, don't be scared. Bear with it, the doctor is coming." His assistant had already run to find a doctor. "I thought she was a mistress? Doesn't look like it..." "Yeah, look how precious she is to him. Is that his wife?" Whispers spread through the crowd. Sarah stepped forward first. "Who are you? Chloe's sugar daddy?" Her voice was shrill. She looked at Ethan with admiration that quickly turned to jealousy. She didn't expect my "sugar daddy" to be such a quality man. Ethan looked at her darkly. "What did you say?" Sarah shrank back from his cold glare but straightened up again. "Isn't it true? You look like someone with status. Why pick a vain woman like Chloe as a mistress? Did she trick you?" Ethan ignored her, looking down at me. "Did she bully you?" I nodded weakly. "She framed me for breaking her necklace, then threw glasses and bottles at me. She said if she threw 100 things at me, she'd let me go..." Veins popped on Ethan's forehead. His eyes were murderous. He waved his hand, and several bodyguards immediately pinned Sarah down. "What are you doing!?" Sarah panicked, screaming for help from a stunned Justin. "Justin! Save me!" Justin snapped out of it, trying to pull the bodyguards off, but was shoved away. He turned to Ethan. "Sir, I don't know who you are, but Sarah is the daughter of the Su family. Offending the Su family for a mistress... might not be wise." Ethan sneered. "I didn't know I ever needed to fear a tiny Su family! And since when did my lawfully wedded wife become a mistress?" Justin stared blankly. "You're really Chloe's husband?" Ethan glared at him, displeased he used my first name. "And who are you?" I tugged weakly at his sleeve. "Hubby, this is the ex-boyfriend who sent me 25 cents and told me to read it backward..." Justin's face paled. Humiliated by my introduction, he roared red-eyed: "Chloe, stop bringing up the 25 cents!" "I just wanted you to understand my heart! If you had seen my sincerity back then, I would have taken you to the auction the next second and proposed with the Heart of True Love!" "With your 25-cent sincerity?" Ethan laughed mockingly. He looked down at me, chiding gently, "Chloe, your taste back then was terrible. You picked this thing?" I tapped his chest feebly. He suddenly lifted my chin, looking at my swollen cheek. "Who hit you?!" I glanced at Justin. Two more bodyguards immediately pinned him down and started slapping him left and right, hard. Justin's face swelled up quickly, blood trickling from his mouth. "Good. Very good!" Ethan's voice was ice-cold. "Bullying my wife at my Emerald Group gala. You people have guts!" His words were like thunder, freezing everyone in place. "What did you say!? You are Ethan Jiang, CEO of Emerald Group!?" Chapter 5 Sarah's eyes bulged in disbelief. "How is that possible!? That slut Chloe, how could she be the wife of the Emerald Group CEO!?" Before she finished, a bodyguard slapped her twice. Her cheeks burned red, but she kept screaming, "Impossible! This is impossible!" Justin stared blankly at us, his expression shifting complexly. The doctor arrived. After a checkup, he confirmed it was just a fright, nothing serious. Ethan finally relaxed and picked me up princess-style. "However these two bullied my wife, pay it back tenfold! If anyone has a problem, tell them to come find me personally!" "As for everyone who stood by and watched my wife get bullied, don't bother seeking cooperation in the future. Emerald Group is out of your league!" Ethan's cold voice rang out. The banquet hall fell silent, followed by a chorus of begging and apologies. "Mr. Jiang! Misunderstanding! We didn't know she was your wife!" "Yes, Mr. Jiang, this is the Su and Lin families' fault! Please don't punish us!" "Mr. Jiang, wait..." Ethan ignored them, carrying me out. Back in the room, he placed me on the bed with a cold face, then sat by the window, lit a cigarette, and took a deep drag. He had quit smoking since I got pregnant. Starting again meant he was extremely agitated. I pursed my lips, standing up to approach him. Ethan snapped, "Don't come over!" My eyes reddened instantly, voice choking up. "You're yelling at me..." "I smell like smoke... never mind." He crushed the cigarette and walked over, helpless. "I really owe you in a past life, little ancestor." I leaned into his arms, sobbing. "I was hungry, I wanted to find food. I didn't know I'd run into them..." "I was already bullied and upset, and now you're yelling at me..." "I didn't yell at you." Ethan sighed, kissing away my tears. "I'm angry at myself for not protecting you, letting you get scared." "You're carrying a baby. No crying. Remember, the baby will come out ugly." I suddenly got annoyed. "In the end, it's all for the baby. Is the baby more important or am I?" Ethan paused, then coaxed me helplessly, "You. Of course you. No one is more important than my baby girl. Hungry? I'll have food sent up?" I nodded haughtily. After eating and cuddling with Ethan for a while, I fell into a deep sleep. The next day, I walked downstairs yawning to find the living room full of people. Ethan was drinking tea on the sofa. Justin and a middle-aged couple stood on one side. On the other were Sarah and her father. I recognized them. Justin's parents and Sarah's dad. "Awake?" Ethan saw me first. He got up, wrapped me in a blanket from the sofa, and picked me up like a child. "Why aren't you wearing shoes? You'll catch a cold." He placed me on the sofa. "Wait here, I'll warm up some milk." I nodded obediently, watching him walk to the kitchen, ignoring everyone else. "...Um, Chloe, long time no see." I turned to look at Justin's parents, their faces awkward and fawning. "Mr. Lin, Mrs. Lin. Long time no see."
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