My sister fell in love with the Crown Prince of New York’s elite circle at first sight. To create an "opportunity," she didn't hesitate to spike his drink at the gala. This time, I didn't stop her. Instead, I personally delivered the drink for her. I even thoughtfully booked her the presidential suite. In my past life, I saw her drugging the drink and kindly tried to stop her. I warned her that the Sterling family had deep connections in both the legal and underground worlds—we couldn't afford to offend them. That night, Julian Sterling found another woman to relieve the effects, and the next day, he announced a whirlwind engagement. My sister didn't say anything to my face, but on the drive home, she shoved me off the overpass. I died instantly, crushed into a pulp by a speeding truck. Before I took my last breath, she screamed that I had ruined her only chance to marry into a billionaire family. When I opened my eyes again, I was back at the gala. This time, I’m going to sit back and watch her destroy herself. 1 I watched as Julian Sterling downed the spiked wine. My sister, Bella, stood in the distance, her eyes gleaming with calculation. Two minutes later, the drug kicked in. A flushed, unnatural red crept up Julian’s neck. His private bodyguards immediately stepped in, supporting him as they moved toward the elevators. I flashed Bella an "OK" hand sign and slipped her the room key card. I tried to slip away, but she grabbed my arm in a vice grip. She lowered her voice, threatening me: "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking! You aren't going anywhere until this is a done deal!" "Stay at the door and be my lookout! If Julian’s people see you, you know what to say and what not to say!" She thought I was going to lecture her like before. instead, I shook her hand off. I glanced at the bodyguards who had already clocked her suspicious behavior and smiled. "Relax. You're my sister. If I don't help you, who will?" "Just don't forget your dear little sister when you marry into the Sterling family." In my last life, she was convinced I blocked her path to riches and killed me for it. This time, I won't just step aside; I’ll give her a push. Let’s see just how deep of a grave she can dig. Bella didn't think twice. She lifted her chin, smug as hell. "Glad you finally know your place. When I’m Mrs. Sterling, I’ll find you a driver or a secretary to marry. It’ll be enough to keep you fed for life." "Now shut up and follow me. If anyone asks, you're a waitress waiting for Mr. Sterling’s orders. If you ruin this for me, you know the consequences!" She glared at me, grabbed my wrist, and dragged me upstairs. The bodyguards were stationed at the door. Bella used the excuse of delivering water to get inside. Moments later, I heard the heavy thud of a body hitting the floor. I hid at the end of the corridor, watching. Not long after, Bella was dragged out, unconscious. Five bodyguards, wearing nasty grins, dragged her into the adjacent room. Seeing this, I let out a breath of relief, dusted off my hands, and turned to leave. But the next second, a sharp pain exploded at the back of my head. Everything went black. 2 When I woke up, my wrists and ankles were tied to the headboard with silk ribbons. Hovering over me was Julian Sterling’s face, dripping with sweat. My eyes widened. I tried to scream for help. He sealed my lips with his own. "Don't think I don't know there was something in that drink." "Since you delivered it, you can solve the problem..." My screams were drowned out by heavy breathing. I struggled until I had no strength left. Whatever drug Bella used was potent. Julian didn't stop until dawn. Fighting through the aches in my entire body, I waited until he fell asleep to untie the ribbons and change back into my clothes. Julian Sterling was known for being ruthless. I wasn't stupid like Bella. I wasn't going to stick around for his morning wrath. I wiped down any traces of myself in the room and fled. Before I left the floor, I glanced at the room Bella had been dragged into. The door was cracked open. Five sets of men's clothes were scattered on the floor. She was lying on the bed, passed out cold. I stayed silent and slipped away. 3 As soon as I got home, my parents rushed me. When they didn't see Bella, their faces dropped in unison. "Chloe, where’s your sister? Why did you come back alone?" Remembering how they blamed me for "ruining" Bella's chance in my past life—how they didn't even collect my body—my expression turned cold. "Maybe she used too much of the drug. Mr. Sterling might still be... busy." My mom’s angry face instantly bloomed into a smile. "I knew Bella was capable! Unlike some people—useless waste of space. Raised you for twenty years and you're still a losing investment!" My dad didn't even look at me. He rushed Mom to the kitchen. "Go make the herbal soup! We need to make sure she conceives a son!" I couldn't be bothered to argue. I sat on the couch to rest. Just as the soup started boiling, Bella walked in. She was limping. Her neck was covered in purple bruises. She clearly had no idea who she had actually spent the night with. The moment she saw me, she started listing my crimes to our parents. She screamed that I didn't keep watch and didn't help her with the aftermath. Mom snapped immediately. She slapped me across the face, screaming: "I knew I couldn't count on you! Useless trash! Why did I raise such a burden?" "Your sister finally found an opportunity, and you didn't help? You just ran away? Money falls from the sky and you don't even know how to pick it up. You're destined to be a wage slave for life!" I held my stinging cheek and laughed at her shamelessness. "I work for my money. I have dignity. I can't bring myself to sell my body like that." Dad flew into a rage. He grabbed a heavy glass ashtray from the coffee table and hurled it at my head. Blood instantly soaked my shirt. He ignored it, continuing his tirade: "Work, work, all you know is work! If we relied on your salary, your mother and I would starve before our ashes even cooled!" "You're useless, and you dare insult your sister? Look at yourself! You're worth nothing!" "If I knew it would be like this, I should have just sold you off years ago! It would've been less hassle!" "Marrying you off to some poor guy for a few grand in dowry? Do you think I'm running a charity?" I pressed a tissue to the gash on my forehead, but the blood wouldn't stop. Disappointment in this family washed over me. I couldn't help but yell back: "I am your daughter! Not a piece of meat in a butcher shop! If you want a daughter who sells herself, why didn't you just open a brothel?" "Every cent I earn is clean. What is wrong with feeding myself with my own skills?" "If you hate me this much, why did you even give birth to me?" A flicker of panic crossed their eyes. Before they could explode again, Bella started gloating: "Don't listen to her. When I have this baby and marry into the Sterling family, she'll be on her knees begging me." Hearing this, Mom and Dad stopped cursing me and swarmed her, asking about the night. Bella put on a shy act. "You have no idea. Julian isn't as cold as the rumors say. He was wild all night... I’m still sore." "When I woke up, he was gone. He just left a bank card in the room." "We did it so many times. I'm definitely pregnant. The position of Mrs. Sterling is practically mine!" My parents laughed hysterically, seemingly already visualizing themselves as billionaire in-laws. They had no clue about the Sterling family's background. They didn't know what the name "Sterling" actually meant in this city. Scheming against Julian Sterling? They wouldn't even know how they died. I needed to cut ties with them immediately. Right now, they were worshipping Bella, praising her for being "ambitious." They brought out tonics and herbal soups, wishing Bella could pop out a baby right this second. I took the chance to call out their greedy, gold-digging faces. Predictably, it triggered them. Dad kicked me off the sofa, tore my page out of the family registry (Hukou), and threw it at me. "Get out! Get out now! I don't have such a useless daughter!" Mom looked at me with pure disgust. Bella rubbed her legs, smirking. "I was going to find you a driver or secretary to marry so you could live comfortably. Since you love earning your own money so much, get out. Don't come crying back to me when you get fired!" Goal achieved. I smiled, picking up my registration papers from the floor. "One day, you'll realize the Sterling family isn't as simple as they look." "You schemed against Julian Sterling. We'll see who ends up kneeling and begging." 4 I stayed at a cheap hotel that night. I bought some antiseptic and bandages for my forehead. The next day at work, the office was buzzing with gossip. "Did you hear? Someone drugged Julian Sterling last night! Slept with him and ran. He's tearing the city apart looking for the culprit!" "Is that person insane? Messing with Julian? The last person who tried to drug him is literally fertilizer now." "Doesn't he have an engagement with the Lu family? Even though the Lu heiress went missing years ago, the contract is still active." Suddenly, Liam Lu appeared behind us. His voice was ice cold. "Are you all bored? Is your work done? Gossiping about Mr. Sterling... do you want to disappear?" The colleagues scattered like rats. Liam looked me up and down, a faint smile playing in his eyes. He grew up with Julian; their families were close allies. Given his reputation in the business world, I knew Julian wasn't someone to be trifled with. Bella was doomed. Thinking about my colleagues' words, I typed up a resignation letter immediately. If I can't fight them, I can hide. My boss didn't ask why. He approved it instantly. Terrified of being found by Julian, I rented a tiny apartment and didn't leave for a week. Bella did the opposite. She loitered around the Sterling Group headquarters every day. She was desperate for Julian to recognize her as the woman from that night. Unfortunately, Julian’s bodyguards walked past her countless times without a glance. Bella got desperate. She registered a social media account under her real name and posted constantly about the gala. After ten posts with no response from Julian, she took a photo of the bank card he allegedly left and posted a "Lost and Found" notice. This time, she got a bite. Julian publicly replied to one of the comments: "The card is mine. Please provide your contact information. I will retrieve it personally. Much appreciated." His reply broke the internet. Screenshots hit the trending page instantly. The cold CEO's rare gentleness was interpreted as a flirtatious exchange. Everyone guessed that my sister, the "kind soul" who found the card, was about to become Cinderella. Netizens doxxed Bella’s address immediately. They linked her to the drugging incident rumors. Before Julian even showed up, people trying to curry favor were lining up at my parents' door. Talent scouts offered Bella contracts, claiming she had "star quality." Businessmen invited her to fancy dinners, begging her to put in a good word with Mr. Sterling. Rumors flew. People were placing bets that Julian would cancel his engagement with the Lu family. In one day, Bella gained millions of followers. She became an influencer. Riding the wave, she put on a fake act, telling people not to spread rumors. Her "innocent and reserved" image won over a ton of fans. Meanwhile, the scandal spread everywhere. I couldn't sit still. I went out and officially transferred my household registration away from my parents. When I went back to pack my things, my parents were practically floating. They were glued to their phones, reading comments and laughing. It was like they were already envisioning the wedding. I stayed silent and went to my room. Mom scoffed. "Doesn't know how to enjoy life. Born to be a servant. Useless." Dad sighed, disappointed. "If you had half your sister's ambition, we'd be living next door to the Sterlings by now!" Bella walked out of her room, a $200 face mask plastered on her skin. She gloated: "You don't know, do you? Julian messaged me. He wants to meet." "He definitely figured out I was the one who 'helped' him that night. He's not mad. He probably liked it!" "I just tested. Two lines. Pregnant." "If you suck up to me now, it's not too late." "You're my sister, after all. Once I'm Mrs. Sterling, getting you a job as a maid won't be hard." Hearing "two lines," my heart skipped a beat. I subconsciously touched my own flat stomach. "You started the rumors online, didn't you? Do you know how powerful the Sterling legal team is? You aren't helping Mom and Dad; you're dragging the whole family into an abyss." As if on cue, Mom saw a notification. The Sterling Group had issued an official statement. It said that anyone continuing to spread rumors would face legal action. The comment section, which had been on fire, was instantly locked. All of Bella’s posts were taken down. Her account was banned. She panicked. But sticking to her "reserved" act, she opened her chat with Julian but didn't dare message him. While my parents crowded around her in panic, Julian finally messaged. "I'm sending someone to pick you up. Be downstairs in five minutes." Bella’s frown instantly turned into a smirk. She waved the phone in my face. "See? The Sterling Group is a big company; they have to be low-key publicly. My husband couldn't wait to explain it to me in person!" "With your cowardly attitude, you aren't even fit to carry my shoes! Move!" She shoved me aside and went to change. My parents chimed in. "You have none of your sister's skills, yet you try to bring her down. What is the point of you?" "Get out! Stop being an eyesore!" Mom was tearing up with joy. "This risky move paid off! We might be moving into a mansion tonight!" Dad laughed, holding Bella’s positive pregnancy test like a trophy. "I never dared to dream... The Sterling family! We're upper class now!" "Honey, look at this suit. Is it good for the wedding? I don't want to embarrass our daughter!" "What should we get for the grandkid? We can't let the in-laws look down on us!" Watching their excitement, I silently packed my bags. When I left, I trailed behind them from a distance. Downstairs, they were surrounded by neighbors. Envious chatter filled the air. "You are so blessed to have such a daughter! I saw the news online. If my daughter married into the Sterling family, I'd wake up laughing!" "Look at you two, glowing! You look ten years younger!" "I should have told my daughter to try. I thought Mr. Sterling was untouchable, but he's just a man after all. Can't resist temptation." I felt a wave of nausea and almost retched. My parents were grinning ear to ear, promising to invite everyone to the wedding. In the middle of the laughter, police sirens wailed. Several cruisers pulled up. An officer stepped forward, flashing his badge. "Which one of you is Jiang Wan? She is suspected of spreading rumors and using controlled substances. Please come with us."
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