No, it had to be a hallucination or just someone with the same name.

Back when we were together, he as nothing more than an ordinary medical student. There was no way he could be a heir of the Cooper family.

I leaned back against the seat, my mind buzzing.

The car glided smoothly through the gates of a luxurious hillside estate.

By the time my mother led me into the grand hall, quite a crowd had already gathered inside.

The soft melody of a piano drifted through the air.

At a glance, I recognized several familiar faces.

They were the same relatives who mocked my mother when she fell on hard times in my previous life, some of whom had even kicked her while she was down.

Now, every one of them hovered around her with flattering smiles, eager to win her favor.

The moment their eyes landed on my fish-scented hoodie, they made no effort to hide the contempt and ridicule in their expressions.

My eldest aunt pinched her nose and dramatically took two steps back.

“Wendy, is this the daughter who chose to follow that gambling-addict father of hers?

“She smells so bad it’s enough to make someone pass out.

“If I didn’t know better, I’d think some homeless kid had wandered in off the street.”

My mother shot me a sidelong glance.

I knew exactly what she wanted to see on my face.

Inferiority.

Shame.

Maybe even tearful regret for not choosing her all those years ago.

Since that was what she wanted, I decided to play along.

I looked around awkwardly, like a country bumpkin completely out of place, then shuffled a little closer to my aunt.

She nearly jumped out of her skin and hurried backward.

“Go away, go away! You’re filthy! Don’t touch my clothes! You can’t afford to pay for them!”

My mother watched my act, and the disgust in her eyes deepened.

She looked away, the corner of her mouth curling upward in satisfaction, as though she had finally gotten her revenge.

“Take her upstairs.”

After giving the order to a nearby maid, my mother turned and rejoined the guests.

I was left alone in a spacious guest room on the second floor.

The maid pointed to a formal dress laid neatly on the bed and said expressionlessly, “Ms. Sharp asked you to clean yourself up and change into fresh clothes.”

Once the door closed behind her, I let out a long breath.

I walked over to the mirror and pulled off my hoodie.

My skin was covered in scars of all shapes and sizes.

They were the marks left behind by five years of hardship, following my worthless father through the lowest corners of life.

Whenever he got drunk, he would hit me, and all I could do was endure it.

I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Warm water streamed over my exhausted body, washing away the lingering smell of fish.

Then, without warning, a sharp pain stabbed deep inside my head.

I doubled over in agony, gripping the edge of the sink with both hands.

My vision began to blur.

A strong metallic taste rose from the back of my throat.

I opened my mouth, and a mouthful of blood splattered into the basin.

I gasped for air and instinctively turned on the faucet.

The blood was quickly washed away without a trace.

I lifted my head and looked at my pale reflection in the mirror, forcing a strained smile.

There wasn't much time left, but I still had to hold on a little longer.

As long as my mother was doing well, it didn't matter if I rotted in the mud.

Just as I was steadying my breathing, a knock sounded from outside the door.

I quickly wiped the cold sweat from the corners of my mouth.

Then I slipped into the dress, hurried to the door, and pulled it open.

A little girl in a princess dress stood outside.

She looked about seven or eight years old, delicate as a doll.

She tilted her head back and studied me for quite a while.

“Miss, you're really pretty, but you look so weak.”

I crouched down to her eye level and answered with a gentle smile, “I’m fine. I just haven’t eaten yet. Why did you wander over here all by yourself?”

Instead of answering, she tilted her head curiously.

“What’s your relationship with Wendy? I saw her bring you in earlier.”

I lowered my eyes, my voice soft.

“I’m Wendy’s daughter.”

The little girl blinked, then suddenly broke into a smile.

“I’m Wendy’s daughter too!”

My heart skipped a beat.

A dull ache spread through my chest, growing heavier with every passing second.

####CHAPTER-NAME:

She had a new daughter now?

Good.

At least someone would be there to keep her company in the future.

Then why did my heart hurt so much?

Just as my eyes began to sting, the little girl added, “But I’m adopted.

“Mom said she used to have a daughter too, but that daughter didn’t want her anymore.”

I froze for a moment.

Maybe that was for the best.

In our previous life, she spent half her life suffering because of me and never truly gained acceptance from the family.

In this life, she finally had a daughter she could be proud of.

I reached out and gently patted her head.

The little girl tugged on the hem of my dress and pointed down the hallway.

“Mom asked me to bring you to meet your future husband.”

I followed her down the corridor, my nerves growing more unsettled with every step.

What kind of person was the Cooper family's infamous troublemaking heir?

Could it really be him?

A man as distant and aloof as he was—how could he have become the crazy lunatic everyone talked about?

The little girl stopped in front of a wooden door, waved goodbye, and skipped away.

I stared at the door, my heart pounding.

Then I pushed it open.

A tall man stood by the window.

He turned around when he heard me come in.

That familiar yet cold and chiseled face instantly came into view.

It really was Julian Cooper.

He looked more mature than he had five years ago, and far more indifferent.

The moment I saw him, memories flooded back.

The day I cruelly dumped him.

The day I told him he was a nobody who could never give me the future I wanted.

Instinctively, I turned and bolted for the door.

“Where do you think you're going?”

He reacted instantly and crossed the room in just a few strides.

He grabbed my wrist and yanked me into the room.

The door slammed shut behind us and was immediately locked.

He threw me onto the sofa and looked down at me from above, his eyes full of mockery.

“So, Miss Smith. You walked away without a second thought back then, and now that you've seen I’m the Cooper family's heir, you're feeling guilty?”

I opened my mouth to speak.

But his rough handling aggravated my fragile condition.

A violent wave of dizziness crashed over me.

The world before my eyes instantly twisted and darkened.

I didn't even get the chance to explain before I lost consciousness completely.

I didn't know how much time had passed before a cold touch startled me awake.

I forced my eyes open.

Julian was sitting on the edge of the sofa, checking my physical condition.

His expression was darker than I had ever seen it.

The moment he saw I was awake, his voice turned cold as ice.

“Suzy, what’s wrong with your body?”

I looked at his tense expression and knew there was no hiding it.

He studied medicine.

Five years ago, he had already been the brightest star in medical school. There was no way he wouldn't notice how weak I had become.

I calmly pulled my hand back.

I smoothed the wrinkles from my dress and met his gaze.

“Brain cancer. Late stage.”

His entire body stiffened.

The indifference in his eyes shattered instantly.

I ignored his shock and continued, “Mr. Cooper, I agree to the marriage.

“But I have one condition. After we get married, don’t tell my mother anything about me.”

Julian stared at me without blinking.

His chest rose and fell violently, and his hands clenched into tight fists.

I looked at his pale face, expecting him to lose his temper.

But he said nothing.

He stared at my bloodless face for a long time before slowly closing his eyes, concealing every trace of emotion.

When he finally spoke, only a single hoarse word came out.

“Okay.”

The tension that had been holding my nerves taut finally eased.

What I wanted to tell him was:

“I’m sorry. You’re the only one who can carry this burden now.

“But my mother is different.

“I’m not afraid of her hating me; I’m afraid of her worrying about me.

“Hatred is easier to bear than longing. When I’m gone, she’ll still have her adopted daughter by her side.

“She’ll probably think it’s better for a vain, money-hungry daughter like me to stay as far away as possible.”

I looked at Julian and said sincerely, with complete calm, “Thank you.”

####CHAPTER-NAME:

As I walked down the staircase with my arm linked through Julian’s, more than half the guests had already left the hall.

The remaining relatives immediately put on flattering smiles the moment they saw him.

But when their eyes landed on me, the contempt was still impossible to hide.

My mother sat at the center of the sofa, a glass of red wine in her hand.

Her gaze lingered on our intertwined hands for a second, her expression unreadable.

I couldn't tell what she was thinking. I only knew that when she spoke, every word was as sharp as ever.

“Since Mr. Cooper has taken a liking to her, this hopeless case is yours now.”

Her gaze shifted to me.

“Suzy Smith, don't go to the Cooper family and embarrass me by using my name.”

Her tone was vicious, filled with unmistakable satisfaction and revenge.

I forced down the waves of pain pulsing through my head.

Then I flashed a carefree grin.

“Don't worry, Ms. Sharp. I'll cling to the Cooper family with everything I've got. I definitely won't be borrowing your influence.

“After all, I'm off to live the life of a rich housewife now.”

My mother's hand trembled slightly around her wineglass.

She turned her face away and coldly spat out two words.

“Get out.”

The moment I turned around, the tumor in my brain seemed to crush every nerve in my body.

A burst of agony washed over me, and darkness nearly swallowed my vision.

The familiar metallic taste surged up my throat again, rushing toward my mouth.

I bit down hard on my back teeth and shifted all my weight onto Julian's arm.

In a trembling voice that only the two of us could hear, I pleaded, “Julian, get me out of here. Now.”

I couldn't collapse here.

I absolutely couldn't let my mother see me like this.

I had to play the role of a greedy, heartless opportunist to the very end and make her give up on me completely.

Julian immediately sensed something was wrong and tightened his grip around my hand.

Then he glanced over his shoulder and said, “We'll be leaving now.”

With one arm around my waist, half supporting and half carrying me, he quickly guided me toward the exit.

The night wind outside the estate was cold, carrying the biting chill of late autumn.

A black Maybach was parked at the bottom of the steps.

Just a few more steps away.

Once I got into the car, I could finally let myself pass out without having to keep pretending.

But at that moment, the sharp sound of hurried high heels came from behind.

At some point, my mother had followed us outside.

“Suzy Smith! You abandoned me for that gambling-addict father of yours, and now you've attached yourself to the Cooper family!

“A selfish, rotten person like you doesn't deserve anyone's sincere love!

“Once you walk out that gate, I won't spare you a second glance even if you die out there someday!”

I stopped in my tracks.

It felt as if a hand had closed around my heart, squeezing so tightly I could barely breathe.

I wanted to turn around and look at her one last time.

Just one last look at the mother I fought so desperately to protect.

But the moment I turned my head, the metallic sweetness rising in my throat could no longer be suppressed.

“Pfft!”

A mouthful of blood burst from my lips.

The overwhelming pain finally stole away my consciousness.

In the final second before my body gave out, the last thing I saw was my mother's face turning deathly pale, and her figure rushing toward me in complete panic.