But it's highly likely that Rose has pocketed it.

Besides, I know Rose well.

Every day, she spends her time taking selfies with her phone and in front of the mirror.

When has she ever put her mind to studying?

Her so-called studying is merely to gain Jason's favor...

At this moment, I felt very embarrassed.

Physically and mentally exhausted.

Just as I was about to walk out, a man's voice called out to me.

"Hey, Norah, right?

"Is your health okay?

"Do you need me to accompany you to the hospital?"

I turned my head.

I saw that the big boy was handing me a clean white handkerchief.

It was Riley Hart.

He is the top student in our department.

In my impression, although Riley comes from a poor family, he studies very hard.

I reached out and took the "kindness" Riley offered me.

I gratefully said, "Thank you!"

I still remember that in my previous life, it was Rose who fought with Jason.

At that time, she was also beaten, with blood dripping from the corner of her mouth.

Similarly, Riley had handed a handkerchief to Rose (back then, she was still called Rose Burns).

However, Rose had scolded Riley harshly.

She said, "Get lost, you poor boy.

"It was just my fiance messing around with me."

At that time, Rose had not yet given up on the idea of becoming Jason's wife.

Riley was very clever.

He knew that Rose was always dreaming unrealistic dreams.

After that, Riley never spoke another word to Rose.

Moreover, I saw Riley throw that handkerchief into the trash can.

I knew that although Riley was stubborn and proud, his family was indeed very poor.

He relied on scholarships to barely pay his tuition fees.

Usually, to save money, he tried to eat as little as possible.

This made his once strong physique become increasingly thin.

I used the handkerchief to wipe the blood from the corner of my mouth.

Looking at the handkerchief stained red with blood, I felt that I owed this good guy Riley a considerable favor.

I said, "Mr. Hart, the handkerchief is dirty."

"I'll wash it and return it to you when I get back."

Riley didn't say much but turned to leave.

He just threw back, "No need.

"A dirty handkerchief can just be thrown away."

Maybe Riley felt there was no need for excessive communication between him and someone like me, a "young lady."

We are people from two different worlds.

Since there's nothing in common, there's no need to say much.

...

In the evening, I dragged my embarrassed body back home.

When I sat at the dining table with my dad, mom, and brother, Dad put a piece of fresh fish in his mouth.

He said, "Jason, after all, Norah is your sister."

"When playing around with your sister, be careful with the scale."

Jason just responded with a "Hey."

He didn't even bother to look at me.

In Jason's eyes, I was still that "materialistic woman" who sought his identity and wealth.

And the Burns family's impression of me was merely that of an orphan who had risen to wealth.

The reason the Burns family "welcomed" me into their home was just for the title of a "philanthropist."

The Burns family has only one biological son, Jason.

I, Norah, am just a facade for the Burns family.

Jason wants to control me, of course, it's just a game to him.

No matter how outrageous Jason is with me, Dad will only give him a few light warnings.

Fortunately, the Burns family is wealthy; they are among the top elite in Vertex.

Mom, wanting to maintain her "virtue," will still take care of me financially.

Although that money is just a small fraction of what the Burns family has.

It's enough to make me stand out on campus!

I get a monthly allowance of two hundred thousand.

Plus, I have various designer clothes, bags, accessories, and cosmetics.

It's simply the dream of most girls.

Mom gave me a credit card.

She said, "Norah, Jason doesn't understand.

"Don't let your brother get to you.

"This card has a limit of one hundred fifty thousand; consider it my apology to your brother."

I happily accepted my mom's kindness.

Meanwhile, Jason shot me a look of hatred.

"Are you satisfied? Happy?

"Isn't this why you came to our family?"

I had nothing to say.

I knew that no matter what I said, it would be pointless.

Even though I was still very hungry, I put down my fork to avoid Jason and headed upstairs to my room.

I wanted to go back to my bedroom and study quietly.

But as soon as I reached the corner of the stairs...

A big hand pressed me hard to the ground.

My whole body throbbed in pain.

Tears brimmed in the corners of my eyes.

The voice behind me kept roaring.

"Norah, it seems like you're handling this money quite easily?

"Is it that cheap and easy to take?"

Jason kept punching and kicking me.

The injuries I got during the day had already left me weak.

And now, I was getting new injuries.

I kept thinking to myself, 'Norah, don't cry.

Norah, you are strong.

Norah, your parents are great scientists of the nation.

Norah, you can't embarrass your deceased parents!'

Perhaps Jason felt that my reaction was not what he had anticipated.

He became bored after a while.

Exhausted from beating me, he finally stopped.

Throughout it all, Mom and Dad of the Burns family just kept their heads down.

One was eating, the other was nibbling on fruit.

They showed no intention of stopping their son.

It seemed like I came to the Burns family just to amuse their son.

I was so hungry and in pain!

I knew that if I didn't save myself, I might die here tonight.

I quickly walked out of the villa.

Behind me, I heard Jason's scolding.

"Norah, if you're brave enough, don't come back to our home.

"Hmph, you must be reluctant to leave this immense wealth behind!"

...

Even though I was badly hurt, most of it was external injuries, which weren't hard to deal with.

I went to the pharmacy to buy some bandaging supplies.

By chance, I ran into Riley.

He was also buying medicine.

"Excuse me, can you give me a discount?

"Can you sell it to me for thirty dollars less?"

The sales clerk turned red in the face.

Angrily, she said, "You're the aunt here; your whole family is a bunch of aunts."

I walked over.

That woman looked to be at most in her mid-twenties.

My body was already in excruciating pain.

Laughing only aggravated my injuries.

I felt the urge to laugh, but it hurt so much.

This feeling was really unpleasant.

I looked again at the nerve medication Riley bought.

The total price was only fifty bucks.

He asked the seller to lower it by thirty.

No wonder the salesperson was getting angry.

I knew that Riley genuinely couldn't spare much money.

Otherwise, with his prideful nature, he wouldn't have resorted to such humiliating behavior.

I paid for Riley.

"Do you need anything else?"

Riley blushed and stayed silent.

He just glanced at the other two medications.

I bought two more boxes for Riley.

I knew Riley had a grandmother who often suffered from headaches.

His father was a rich kid, and his mother ran off with another man.

He worked hard to take care of his grandmother.

Riley held the medicine in his trembling hands and said, "Norah, I owe you this money.

"I'll pay you back as soon as I get my scholarship."

It was only a little over a hundred bucks.

But for Riley, that was already a significant amount.

I said, "You can tutor me to make up for the medicine."

In my past life, Riley was destined to be a scientist.

His grades were excellent.

Since he hadn't "made it" yet, I decided to build a good relationship with him in advance.

For me, that was a win-win situation.

Riley hesitated.

He still had an innate resistance towards me, the "rich girl."

"If you don't see me as a brother, that's fine.

"I won't consider you a friend anymore."

Riley finally nodded.

"Okay, Norah, we'll be good friends from now on."

I bought the medical supplies.

With the help of the staff and Riley, I finished the bandaging.

"Norah, did your brother bully you again?"

I replied, "To wear the crown, one must bear its weight!"

Riley's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Good friend, I remember now!

"I won't let Jason get away with it."

...

In this life, Rose went to the poor Mr. Martin's house to become a "stepdaughter" to win over Jason.

She thought that since I thrived in the Martin household in my past life, she could do the same.

But she overlooked one thing.

My success was the result of my hard work.

Although the Martin family was poor, poverty didn't equate to goodness.

It certainly didn't mean they were good people.

Mr. Martin was sexist and a gambling addict.

His second wife was lazy and cold-hearted by nature.

I can only say that Rose truly went down the wrong path by going to the Martins.

Not a single one of them was a decent person.

In my past life, Mr. Martin had always hoped for a son.

They could only adopt me because they couldn't find a willing "male heir."

In the Martin family, I did all the hard, dirty work.

I studied tirelessly to prove my worth.

Only then did Jason value me like a treasure, to the point where he wouldn't marry anyone but me later on.