"David, I'm sorry, I'll handle it right away."

"Susan, don't... yet."

Before he could finish, he saw Jessica pick up Teddy and scrutinize him closely before asking Susan.

"Is this your dog?"

Susan stepped forward and answered timidly.

"I'm sorry. Usually, he's very good, but he's also a bit pitiful. If I hadn't found him, he probably would have starved to death. Please don't hurt him, okay?"

Jessica looked her over carefully for a few moments before speaking again.

"How could I hurt him? Actually, I want to thank you for adopting him—he's my lost puppy."

"You're very kind. What do you want in return? I can make it happen."

Watching the scene from a distance, I couldn't help but wonder if it was an illusion. Jessica's eyes didn't look grateful or appreciative. Instead, her words felt like a hunter throwing bait to lure prey.

Susan forced herself to hide her excitement and replied in surprise.

"Really? That's such a coincidence. I adopted him because I liked him and didn't expect to return him."

"If you want to thank me, I hope you'll seriously consider the company's project I worked on. I stayed up several nights to write it."

Everyone around stared at Susan in surprise. Someone was about to speak but was stopped by a look from the manager.

Jessica was momentarily stunned but then nodded.

"Since it's your project, let's just sign it directly. I believe that a kind person like you wouldn't treat her work carelessly."

After saying that, she turned to leave but looked back halfway.

"Susan, right? Let's have dinner tonight. I'll have my driver pick you up."

Susan's face lit up with excitement.

The manager smiled as he saw Jessica off and returned to announce Susan's transfer immediately.

"Lena, give the project materials to Susan. She'll take over from here. You don't need to worry about it."

"But manager, this project is clearly—"

Seeing the manager's sudden change of expression, I stopped my colleague from speaking.

Only after I handed the materials to Susan did the manager relax.

"It's good that Lena understands the situation and can see the big picture. Only if the company thrives can we all thrive."

After the manager left, Susan stood in front of me like a proud peacock.

"Lena, you must be regretting it now, right? But it's useless to regret—after all, you gave up first."

"Are you angry and frustrated? The project you worked on for half a year ended up with me. I'm relieved—that's what you get for not helping me yesterday!"

"Let me tell you, soon I'll marry into the Grant Family and become Mrs. Grant. Meanwhile, you'll be stuck working 9-to-9 forever!"

"And all of you, in the future when you see me, better treat me well. When I marry into the Grant Family, maybe I'll be kind enough to introduce some big clients to you."

After saying this, Susan walked out of the company arrogantly.

Seeing her proud attitude, the coworkers couldn't help but gossip.

"But it's just about picking up a dog. What's there to be proud of? It's still just a favor. Does she really think she's going to soar to the top?"

"What kind of person is this? Stealing Lena's project is bad enough, but she thinks she's a big shot just because she got lucky once?"

"I think she's just dreaming. Rich people are polite—she thinks she can marry into a wealthy family by picking up Jessica's dog? What nonsense!"

"Lena, don't be mad. We're just waiting for her to come back humiliated and get slapped down."

I just smiled silently. Because I knew that Jessica really would propose tonight to make Susan her daughter-in-law.

That was why she looked down on all of us so arrogantly. Just because this marriage was tied to a dog, was it really as simple as everyone thought?

Sure enough, less than two days later, Susan Moore came dazzlingly dressed, handing out invitations. As she walked toward my desk, she glanced at me with a superior smile.

"Lena, you must be dying to attend my luxurious wedding, right? After all, not everyone gets such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

I replied coldly, "Susan, I heard Mr. Grant is abroad. You haven't even met him yet and you're rushing to hold a wedding? Don't you think it's a bit hasty?"

She cut me off with a smirk.

"Heh, I've seen Grant's photos. He's handsome and wealthy. Why wouldn't I marry him?"

"My mother-in-law said that although the timing is rushed, what should be, will be. Looks like you're just sour grapes!"

I didn't bother responding further. I reached out for the invitation she was holding, but she jerked it away.

"It's yours if you polish my shoes first."

I wasn't particularly interested in the invitation. I had other questions and I wanted to sneak into the hotel to check things out.

A moment later, I was crouched down shining her shoes. When Susan saw me groveling, she laughed aloud.

"Not bad at all!"

Then she kicked me lightly on the shoulder, put on her sunglasses and left.

The wedding day arrived and the scene was set just as I remembered from my past life. As before, the groom missed his flight and the whole room was buzzing with gossip.

Before Jessica Grant could say anything, Susan took the initiative to complete the ceremony herself. Jessica didn't expect Susan to be so agreeable and said what she needed to say, then immediately transferred ten million dollars to her.

Since Grant wasn't there, the banquet ended with Susan alone, holding the dog, in the new hotel suite.

I quietly opened the phone monitoring app, matching my memories from my previous life and while no one was paying attention, I slipped in to install surveillance devices.

On the footage, Susan watched the numbers scrolling on her phone and smiled broadly. Then Jessica walked in, urging her to drink some milk and rest early.

Soon, Susan fell asleep without even changing clothes. In my previous life, I also drank milk and fell asleep.

The next morning, I woke up to find my clothes scattered on the floor and bruises all over my body. Now, I knew exactly what had happened after falling asleep.

Suddenly, something appeared on the wall of my new room, making me gasp in shock.

A shadowy figure appeared, a man's silhouette moving violently against Susan's form, quickly stripping off her clothes.

His face was twisted with lust and he muttered curses under his breath.

"It's been so long since I tasted a woman's scent. This suffocates me."

"This fine skin, this tender flesh, your hair smells so good... Brother will take good care of you..."

Then, as if recalling something, he slapped Susan hard.

"Bitch, you dared to kick me three times? I'll settle you today!"

Though it was just a shadow, Susan's face showed red marks where the blows had landed.

The voice was familiar and as I observed the shadow carefully, I realized it looked a lot like Grant from the photo.

In my previous life, I had some physical irregularities and asked Jessica Grant about it. She told me her son, Grant, had come home at night but had important business and flew away again after his encounter with me.

Because it was my first time and I had no experience, plus it was a bit embarrassing to talk to my elders about this, I didn't dig any deeper. I never imagined that the wound inside Jessica Grant's mouth actually came with a shadowy apparition.

After Grant's son, Nathan, became rougher, he tore off the lower part of Susan Moore's skirt without the slightest pity. But just as he was about to go further, he suddenly stopped. His eyes darkened.

"Damn, bitch!" he spat.

"I thought you were pure, but you're so filthy. Wasting my time."

I frowned at that. Hadn't Nathan just said "Susan"? Why did he suddenly say she was filthy?

Probably because his harsh words were too loud, Jessica Grant walked in. Seeing that Susan was already bruised and battered from Nathan's fury, she quickly stopped him.

"Son, what's going on?"

"It's so hard to find a woman who meets the criteria. Take it easy, how can you have a child if you break her body?"

But Nathan was furious.

"What criteria? She's not worthy! We've all been tricked!"

"Mom, she's pretending to be pure, but she reeks. No way she can have a child."

I was even more confused. I didn't know if Susan really smelled, but what did that have to do with having a child?

Soon their conversation gave me the answer.

Jessica frowned slightly and sniffed the air.

"What smell? I don't smell anything."

"Mom, can I lie to you? You forgot that the master gave me a spiritual technique to detect if a woman is a virgin by her scent."

"This woman usually covers it up with perfume, but when she undresses, the stench is unbearable. I don't know how many men she's been with."

"Mom, what should we do? We picked the wrong person!"

Jessica looked puzzled.

"How could it be? The master clearly said we'd meet a virgin with a pure Yin constitution, perfect for you, at that time and place."

"He said the woman would be kind-hearted and love small animals and would definitely bring you home."

"All of this matches when Susan found you. How could it be wrong?"

Hearing this, I nearly covered my mouth to stop from screaming. If their story was true, then the target from the start was me.

It was only because I was reborn and returned that Susan disturbed everything.

But even if I really was a pure Yin constitution, why did they want me to bear Nathan's child?

The next sentence I heard sent chills down my spine.