I was twelve when Henry Shaw took me home from the orphanage, gave me a new name, put me through school, and gave me a good life. Ten years later, his first love returned from abroad. Her name sounded like mine, and her face looked like a mirror image. I quickly realized I had been a stand-in all along. Crushing the diagnosis in my pocket, I decided that I was going to live the rest of my life for myself, even if I did not have much time left.

The smoke from the burning candles in front of my grandmother’s grave stung my eyes, turning them red.

A bunch of bright flowers lay on the ground. I stared at them mindlessly, my body like an unthinking machine.

The doctor’s words echoed in my head, carrying a hint of regret, “You should get hospitalized soon.”

I was twenty-two years old, and I had just been diagnosed with stage three lung cancer.

My life was supposed to just be starting, but it was already hurtling toward a desperate end.

I gripped the diagnosis. There it was—my name, Lynn May, clearly written on it.

Henry Shaw gave me that name when I was twelve, after I came to live with him.

The other children at the orphanage called me ‘Little Mute’ because I hardly ever said anything.

I still remember that boy, who was a head taller than me, leaning down with warmth and kindness in his eyes.

“You’re so small. Let’s call you Lynn from now on.”

I cherished that name. After all, one only named something if one cared about it.

However, three months ago, Henry introduced me to a woman.

She studied my face, noticed how similar we looked, and asked Henry with a playful smile on her face, “Her name’s Lynn?”

Henry introduced her. “This is Lynette, my childhood friend.”

The girl extended her hand with a face full of arrogance.

“I’m Lynette Monroe.”

I was the tiny, insignificant Lynn, and she was the one and only Lynette.

When my grandmother died when I was six, I wandered the streets covered in filth, scavenging for food until the police officers sent me to the orphanage.

At twelve, Henry picked me out from the crowd of children and brought me home.

No one had ever chosen me so decisively before.

My grandmother used to tell me that as long as someone remembered your name, your soul stayed whole even after death.

Her tombstone read Wanda Carson. However, I could not remember what I was called before I became Lynn May.

“Grandma, I’ll come for you soon. Hold on a little longer…”

I would be joining her soon. After I left, no one would visit us.

I had already reserved a plot next to hers.

Suddenly, the cemetery manager came rushing over, looking troubled.

“Miss May, Mr. Shaw says he’s taking the plot you reserved.”

Wiping away the tears the smoke had pulled from my eyes, I called Henry.

His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

“Lynn, you finally decide to beg now that your burial plot’s gone?

“I told you to come. Why haven’t you shown up?

“Do you always need to make others wait for you just to feel important?”

I could hear Lynette sobbing softly in the background.

Henry lowered his voice and pressed on, “Lynn, if you don’t come today, don’t bother showing your face to me again.

“You caused this mess. Now, you’ve got to clean it up!”

Three days ago, Lynette’s cat fell from the balcony and died. She had been heartbroken ever since.

Her tear-filled eyes bore into me.

“If he scratched you, I would’ve apologized for him. I’d even kneel if you wanted me to!

“Why did you have to kill him?”

Those tears were enough to make Henry decide I was beyond forgiveness.

He looked at me with his jaw clenched in anger.

“You threw him to his death just because he scratched you?!

“Lynn, how did I never realize how cruel you are to animals?

“Or did you just want to kill him because Lynette loved him?!”

The truth was that the cat had been spooked by the loud party they were throwing downstairs and ran up to the second-floor balcony.

I had been out there smoking and managed to grab him just before he could jump.

However, in his panic, it scratched me badly.

As Henry raged, I stood there with flesh torn and bleeding from the scratches, feeling utterly defeated.

What was the point of explaining to someone who would never believe you?

Since Lynette returned, this had been my life.

After Henry’s comforting words, she eventually ‘graciously’ forgave me.

She planned a funeral for the cat, and Henry demanded that I attend, bow, and apologize in front of everyone.

I refused, and in retaliation, Henry threatened to give my burial plot to the cat.

My grip tightened on the phone, and my knuckles went white.

“Henry, I went to the hospital today...”

He cut me off, feeling irritated.

“It’s just a scratch. How many times do you need to go to the hospital for that?

“When did you become so delicate?

“That cat spent years with Lynette abroad. Do you have any idea how much he meant to her?

“You’re trying to play the victim with your little injuries?

“What’s next? Are you going to threaten to kill yourself?

“Lynn, are you really competing for attention? Can’t you have a little self-respect?”

Competing for attention? What right did I have to compete?

I was a stand-in, a substitute.

No matter how many words were stuck in my throat, they were powerless against his favoritism.

At that moment, as the smoke swirled around me, I was suddenly overwhelmed with confusion and doubt.

If I was not Lynn, who had lived her whole life putting Henry first, who was I?

I did not go to the cat’s funeral. I was dragged to the company instead.

The assistant informed me that Elan Corporation wanted to discuss a partnership.

Shaw Corporation was officially handed over to Henry three years ago, when his father passed away.

However, behind the scenes, most of the company’s burdensome work fell on my shoulders.

After his father's death, there was an intricate mess of company politics, with subtle shifts of influence beneath the surface.

Henry had to maintain the peace. He could not afford to tear things apart, so I became the one wielding the knife.

I was insulted both openly and behind my back.

The doctor said my condition had worsened because my body was running on empty.

Lately, I had been competing with Elan Corporation for a project. We had been at each other’s throats, with both sides taking losses.

I clenched my teeth and pushed through the pressure, only to finally earn a chance to negotiate a win-win deal.

“Miss May, Madam Briggs is here too. She’d like to withdraw some money from the company’s account...”

As soon as I walked into the office, my assistant hurried to brief me.

Henry's mother, Vivian Briggs, was sitting in the CEO’s chair. Her tone was sharp.

“Mr. Leon, that was impressive. You climbed your way up by throwing the rightful heir into prison.

“He is your older brother, after all.”

A man's voice chimed in nonchalantly, “I’m just trying to survive.

“I’m not as lucky as Madam Briggs, though. She gets to live a life of leisure, being taken care of by others.”

It was Leon Pierce, the boss of Elan Corporation, who had shown up himself.

Leon was the illegitimate son of the Pierce family. Vivian was Henry’s father’s kept woman.

They were both slinging insults right in each other's faces.

I rushed in before things could get any worse.

Vivian saw me and immediately threw a file at my face.

“How dare you keep a senior waiting?! You have no respect at all! You've gotten too full of yourself!”

The sharp corner of the folder cut my forehead, and blood dripped onto my brows, making my assistant scream in shock.

Leon rose to his feet with a calm expression on his face.

“It seems like today’s not the day. Miss May, I’ll take my leave.”

Feeling humiliated, I could only have my assistant show him out.

I grabbed a couple of tissues, pressed them against my wound, and tried to explain to Vivian, “The company's money belongs to the company. It can’t be used for personal purposes.

“It’s illegal.”

Vivian let out a cold sneer. Her tone dripped with mockery.

“Can’t I take a little pocket change from my own company to buy a handbag for my future daughter-in-law?

“Do I need your permission for that, Miss May?

“Lynn, you’re nothing more than the doll my son played with when he was a kid.

“Who do you think you are?”

Vivian had always despised me.

When Henry first wanted a playmate at home, Vivian had thought of her niece.

However, Henry insisted on picking me, the wild child.

When I was seventeen, Henry's father said, “Lynn’s grown up. She should start learning how to manage the company.

“She’ll be a good helper for Henry in the future.”

His gaze was as loving as a father’s, but his hand, which was casually placed on my waist, said otherwise.

Vivian, with little backing of her own, never dared to stand up to him and his son, but she sure could take her frustrations out on me.

“We fed you and clothed you, yet this is how you repay us? Ungrateful little brat!”

She rolled her eyes and scorned.

“Now that the lady of the Monroe family is back, she’ll be my future daughter-in-law.”

“Don’t tell me a cheap imitation like you is still foolishly dreaming of marrying my son!

“If you ask me, you should be satisfied after all these years of living the high life.

“Stay in your lane and stop coveting things people like you don’t deserve."

If I had ever coveted something Henry could give me, it would not be money or power.

It would be love.

On his eighteenth birthday, Henry got drunk.

I helped him back to his room, but he clung to me, refusing to let go.

“You think that little bit of alcohol can get me drunk?

“I just don’t want to waste my time with those people. I’d rather spend my birthday with the person who matters most to me.”

His warm breath and forceful kiss unlocked the secret I kept buried deep inside.

“Lynn, be mine.”

Henry chose me and gave me a home, a place of refuge.

He paid for my education and let me see the world beyond the orphanage.

He stepped in to protect me countless times when Vivian made things difficult for me.

I thought it was love until I realized he only loved me as a substitute for her.

Vivian told me Henry was going to get engaged to Lynette.

Once she finished speaking, a satisfied smile spread across her face as she saw my stunned expression.

“Of course, we didn’t bother to inform the housemaid or the company’s assistant.”

Vivian spoke animatedly about what a perfect match Henry and Lynette were.

“When our families join forces, there won’t be any place left for you.

“By this time next year, I should have a grandchild.

“You can just stay home and change my grandson’s diapers or something.

“I can still offer you a meal or two.”

Henry and I were supposed to have a child together.

If the baby had been born, he would be three years old now.

The year Henry’s father passed away, Vivian could do nothing but cry. I had to oversee the funeral while helping Henry deal with the relatives with ulterior motives.

The stress caused me to miscarry.

We could not let anyone see our weaknesses, so we hid in the hospital room. Our eyes were red.

Henry held me in his arms tightly, as though I were his last connection to the world.

He wept as though his heart was breaking.

“Lynn, I’m so tired…

“Lynn, you’re all I have left…”

Was it me he really wanted to hold back then? Did he have someone else in mind?

Enduring Vivian's relentless onslaught, I fought to contain the sharp pain tightening in my chest.

I looked up and took a deep breath.

“How about this? You should let Henry fire me.

“After that, you can break the law as much as you want.”

The Monroe family’s fortune had dwindled over the past couple of years, which was why they were willing to ‘lower themselves’.

However, if Shaw Corporation took on this burden, the road ahead would undoubtedly become much more difficult.

Setting emotions aside, I had no formal education. Everything I knew about business management was self-taught. I had been involved with Shaw Corporation since I was seventeen and had endured years of scorn. My blood, sweat, and tears were woven into the company’s success.

While driving, I called Henry to discuss the pros and cons of leaving.

However, ever since Lynette returned to the country, Henry seemed to have reverted to a foolish teenager.

He scoffed.

“Are you saying that Lynette will drag me down but you won’t?

“Lynn, I’ve spoiled you and raised your expectations after all these years.

“If you think we’re a burden, go find someone better.

“But before that, you owe Lynette an apology.”

My throat suddenly spasmed, and I hung up the phone before erupting into violent coughs. The sickly taste of blood clogged my throat, cutting off my breath. Flecks of my blood stained the steering wheel with each cough.

I slammed on the brakes. The seat belt dug painfully into my ribs.

The sun dipped below the horizon.

I leaned back in the seat. Dark red spots were clouding my vision, like fireworks announcing the countdown to my death.

After a moment, I pulled out a tissue and slowly wiped away the blood bit by bit.

I turned the car around and headed for the hospital.

My forehead was bruised, my arm was inflamed, and my lungs felt shattered.

When I went to register, I did not even know which department to choose.

I realized I could not even swipe my card to cover the registration fee.

I did not draw a salary from the company. My everyday expenses came from Henry’s supplementary card, which had clearly been deactivated.

The people in line behind me grew impatient, urging me to hurry.

Luckily, someone extended their phone to help me cover the fee.

I turned around and was surprised to see that it was Leon.

Usually, we only met on the battlefield of negotiations.

We each had our own hidden agendas, with polite greetings and insincere motives.

Today, having gotten into two awkward situations with him, I picked up the registration slip and thanked him.

However, it felt too curt, so I tried to make small talk.

“Mr. Leon, are you here to visit someone?”

Leon quickly folded the medical record he was holding.

I still caught a glimpse of his name on it.

Elan Corporation had several decked-out hospitals. Why was he here for treatment?

Leon did not follow my lead.

“The Shaw family is teaming up with the Monroe family, so our cooperation seems to be indefinitely postponed.”

He seemed to have the inside scoop.

“Miss May, are you really not considering my proposal?”

Leon had made several attempts to recruit me for Elan Corporation.

Back then, Henry had called him an illegitimate child and accused him of underhanded tactics.

My phone buzzed. It was Henry.

However, when I answered the call, it was Lynette.

“Lynn, Henry’s had too much to drink. He wants you to come pick him up.

“We’re at…”

It was a place I did not know.

Since Lynette returned, the two of them often hung out to reminisce about their childhood.

They would come up with various excuses to make me pick them up, forcing me to endure their public displays of affection as childhood sweethearts.

I was just an intruder who came along later.

Leon seemed to be waiting for my response. I held up the registration slip and said, “Thank you.”

Then, I hurried off.

The road grew increasingly isolated as I drove until all that lay ahead was an old, abandoned warehouse.

Feeling uneasy, I turned around to leave, but my way back was already blocked by two vans.

Four or five men got out of the vehicles.