It sounded like Jason Wade had stood up abruptly. Amid the noise, his voice was unusually anxious.

"Why did you suddenly agree, Dawn? Did something happen?"

My nose suddenly stung.

In the original story, Jason was the devoted second leading man. His role was to have "a little bit of falsehood mixed into his true feelings", making Stanley's wholehearted devotion to me stand out even more.

In this world, Stanley was the all-powerful, domineering CEO.

I was the poor, stubborn girl who strived to get into Eastvale University and ended up getting saved by him.

The only one who could rival Stanley was Jason, who was almost his equal.

I was 70% similar to Jason's first love from his childhood, and he wanted me as a stand-in to stay by his side.

In my past life, I would rather die than be humiliated, so I firmly rejected Jason.

He disappeared from my life after that, but after my death, he came to my grave and smoked half a pack of cigarettes.

I recalled that he always carried that girl's photo with him, and that his obsession ran deep.

In this life, I had no choice but to use his genuine feelings for someone else. It was shameful, but at least we would both survive.

After all, after my death in the previous life, Stanley still wasn't satisfied. With the leading man's plot armor protecting him, he had harmed many people like a madman.

Stanley eventually shot Jason. Jason died in front of my grave.

My thoughts wavered for an instant. Just now, in the private room, the diamond on Tina's ring finger had gleamed blindingly.

Compared to her warm, bright personality, I was indeed bland and boring. I could never hold onto anything.

At least, my grandmother's emerald pendant was entirely mine.

…

I drove back to the Meyer residence, and the moment I pushed open the door, I froze in place.

Tina spun around to face me. What hung around her neck was a familiar emerald pendant!

This scene overlapped with the one from my past life.

I stood there rooted to the spot and pale-faced.

Tina sneered mockingly. "Dawn, you just can't let it go, can you? Did you want to come back and seduce Stanley? Too bad he's already kicked you out."

Tina clapped her hands smugly. The maids filed out in unison and threw my things out like trash.

I endured her arrogant humiliation and said calmly, "The pendant around your neck is mine."

Tina clutched her chest dramatically, and her voice was sharp. "Dawn, what ridiculous fantasy are you having? This is Stanley's welcome gift to me, you—"

No—that was something my grandmother, while on her deathbed, asked me to give to Stanley.

Back then, Stanley had gripped the pendant tightly and sworn he would treat me well for the rest of his life.

Now, it had become another toy he casually used to make Tina smile.

Shaking with anger, I pulled up a photo on my phone and showed it to Tina, cutting off her bragging.

"This is my grandmother's last keepsake."

Tina stiffened as if someone had a hand around her throat. She glared viciously at the photo, as if she wanted to tear me apart.

After a long moment, she yanked the pendant off her neck and held it in her hand. "It's a piece of junk. I didn't want it anyway. But if you want it, come up here and get it yourself."

I could see the cunning and malice in Tina’s eyes, but I couldn't care less about that anymore.

Without hesitation, I ran upstairs and clutched the pendant tightly to my chest. For the first time since being reborn, I finally felt a sense of peace.

The next second, a piercing scream rang out in my ears, followed by the sound of something heavy falling.

My eyes went wide with shock as I spun around. I couldn't believe what I saw.

Tina had tumbled down the stairs. Beneath her, a bright red pool of blood slowly spread.

In the next second, the front door was kicked open, and Stanley shouted urgently, "Tina, what happened? The maids said your heart was hurting and you didn't want anyone disturbing you—"

Stanley's voice caught abruptly. Trembling, he slowly dropped to his knees and carefully gathered Tina into his arms.

Tina said weakly, "Stanley, don't blame Dawn. I made her angry by wearing her emerald pendant. I deserve to be pushed down these stairs…"

Stanley's eyes turned bloodshot as he looked up at me. His voice was icy cold as he gritted out, "Dawn. Perkins. You'd better have an explanation for this."

At this point, my heart had strangely settled into a sense of calm.

"There's nothing to explain. I didn't push her."

Enraged, Stanley laughed out loud. His large hand clamped down on my jaw as if he wanted to crush my bones.

"Are you saying Tina threw herself down the stairs just to frame you? Dawn, at least use your brain when you lie!"

I struggled with all my strength. The discomfort in my stomach was growing worse.

"There are security cameras all over the house. You can check them yourself."

Before I could finish speaking, Stanley kicked me hard in the stomach.

I collapsed against the wall. The blood in my stomach finally spilled out, gurgling from my mouth.

I coughed violently, and my voice was hoarse as I muttered, "All you had to do was check the cameras to know the truth. Stanley, why do you never believe me…"

Stanley looked down at me from above. His gaze was completely devoid of warmth. He said slowly, "Dawn, Tina has a serious heart condition."

Shadows fell across his handsome face, making him look like a vengeful spirit. He grabbed my hair with one hand and yanked my head up, forcing me to meet his eyes.

"Are you saying Tina would risk her own life just to frame you, huh?"

My scalp throbbed as if it would split apart. I gasped violently, and the pain left me unable to speak. Blood seeped slowly from my nose and mouth.

Stanley straightened up and casually wiped his fingers clean. He fixed his gaze on my miserable state and, almost instinctively, took a step forward.

Then, Tina cried out tearfully, "Stanley, it hurts so much…"

Only then did Stanley seem to snap out of it. He let out a cold, derisive snort.

"You're pretty good at pretending, Dawn. Tina doesn't have the dirty thoughts that you do. Trying to sow discord between us won't work on me.

"Since you hurt Tina over a cheap emerald pendant, you can forget about keeping it."

Amused, Stanley's eyes gleamed with cruel excitement as he watched me scream in despair.

"No! Give it back… Give it back to me!"

As if he hadn't heard, Stanley took out his phone. His movements were resolute and mercilessly cold.

"Since you can't behave yourself, maybe a few days in a psychiatric hospital would do you good. Don't worry. I'll make sure the doctors take very good care of you."

My eyes widened in terror, and memories of being abused in the psychiatric hospital in my last life flashed through my mind.

"No… No! I've already… tried so hard to avoid this…"

Without giving me a chance to argue, Stanley scooped Tina into his arms and left in a rush. His voice was gentler than it had ever been as he said, "It's okay, Tina. We're going to the hospital."

I collapsed onto the floor. The moment they left, I forced myself to get up and dial that number.

"Jason Wade, I'm begging you. Please come and save me…"

The man who would one day be cold and decisive sounded unexpectedly tense on the other end of the line.

Through the phone, he whispered, "Dawn, don't be afraid."

I heard the sharp rattle of car keys.

"Send me your location. I'll be there soon," Jason said.

As Stanley watched the doctor tend to Tina's wounds, he realized he didn't feel the heartache he had expected. That was strange.

He was obviously in love with the bright and dazzling Tina now, but what surfaced in his mind instinctively was my face, pale as a ghost.

As the daughter of a housekeeper, I had always lived frugally. My frame was as fragile and thin as a sheet of paper.

After he kicked me and I vomited blood, I seemed even more fragile. It was as if I could disappear at any moment…

Stanley felt as if a small thorn had pierced his heart, sending a brief, sharp pang of pain through him.

As she lay in the hospital bed, Tina catalogued Stanley's dazed expression. Her gaze slowly darkened.

After the doctor left, she quietly tore at her wounds to make them worse. With tears in her eyes, she called out to Stanley, "Stanley… It hurts…"

Stanley watched the blood slowly spreading across the white sheets. His eyes widened in shock as he quickly grabbed Tina's hand.

"How did it suddenly get so bad?"

Tina pulled her hand away, turning her face as tears fell. She looked like a stubborn, delicate flower.

In that instant, Stanley's heart ached unbearably for her. He pulled Tina firmly into his arms and promised, "Tina, you've been wronged. If you stop crying, I'll grant you anything you want."

This was exactly what Tina had been waiting for. She spoke softly, and her gaze brimmed with a bitterness she didn't realize she had.

"Is that right? What if I said I wanted Dawn dead?"

Stanley abruptly pulled his hand back with a look of disbelief on his face. "Tina, I've already sent her to the psychiatric hospital. She won't be a threat to you anymore."

Yet Tina wouldn't let it go. She grabbed Stanley's hand tightly and pleaded, "Stanley, I've never asked you for anything. This is the first time…"

Stanley's expression gradually turned cold as he said flatly, "Enough, Tina."

Tina froze, and her expression turned dark and unreadable. Slowly, she said, "I'm sorry, Stanley."

She forced a fragile smile and sniffled. She said pitifully, "I'm just a little envious of Dawn. Despite her humble background, she’s so confident and beautiful.

"It's like anyone standing next to her becomes the leading man, and she's the only heroine…"

Something about these words touched a nerve in Stanley. He pinched the bridge of his brow, growing impatient.

"Stop. You know I don't believe in that kind of talk."

Tina sensed the unease hidden under his irritation. She smirked and continued. Her words were a veiled jab.

"After all, it's because I'm just the illegitimate daughter of the Wests. People call me a fake, saying I could never compare to the true heirs of noble families. That's why I can't let things go—"

Stanley punched the wall and roared, "I told you to stop!"

The fact that Stanley wasn't truly the rightful heir of the Meyers was an unspoken secret in Eastvale's elite circles.

It was a notorious joke in the social circle that, back then, his mother had flaunted her pregnancy in front of Mr. Meyer's wife. Then, after Mrs. Meyer died of anger, Stanley's mother took him along with her and shamelessly seized her chance to rise to the top.

This had always been an untouchable sore spot for Stanley.

It might have been one thing if he actually had talent and virtue to match his position. Yet, he couldn't even measure up to me, a housekeeper's daughter.

By my junior year of college, I was already navigating the business world—drinking on his behalf, making connections, and brokering deals.

After graduating and officially entering the workforce, I shone like a rising star. My worth far surpassed Stanley's.

Over the past few years, people had outwardly praised Stanley as young and accomplished. In reality, everyone knew he was a weakling who relied on a woman to climb the ranks.

As a child, he relied on his mother. As an adult, he relied on his girlfriend.

Stanley couldn't help but feel jealous, even resentful, toward me.

The thought only fueled Stanley's rage. His face twitched in a grimace, and he forced himself to speak calmly.

"Get some rest. I need to go to the office to handle some things."

The moment he stepped out of the hospital, he immediately dialed a number, unable to wait any longer.

"Hey, I'm coming to see Dawn. Make sure she doesn't get off easy!"

Before he could finish, his subordinate nervously interrupted him, saying, "Mr. Meyer, Ms. Perkins has disappeared…"

Stanley roared in fury, "What are you talking about? She was half-dead. Where else could she go besides the psychiatric hospital?"

His subordinate swallowed hard. "Mr. Meyer, you'd better come back and see for yourself. The car that took Ms. Perkins… had plates from Haldon."