It was pouring heavily in Jovania on the day I finished my postpartum treatment. Hazel had showed up at my door, soaked from head to toe. She was kneeling on the ground, begging me to take her in.

She said her parents were going to sell her to a fool from their village for a bride price of 200 thousand dollars. She said only I could save her, and that she did not care even if she had to work as a nanny in my home.

Hazel had been my best friend. How could I watch her sacrifice herself to a miserable life?

So, I let her stay. I even paid her parents two million dollars to settle the matter. Since she had studied medicine, I asked her to help me recover and regain my health.

My husband, Richard Hudson, traveled a lot for work. So, having Hazel around truly lifted my spirits. I never actually made her work as a nanny. Instead, I gave her a bank card and told her she could spend it however she liked.

Gradually, things started to feel off.

The household staff stopped listening to my orders. Even if I wanted an extra dessert, they would check with Hazel first. More outrageously, Richard would take her with him on multiple business trips.

When my son, Miles, spoke his first word, he called Hazel "Mommy".

Richard said Hazel was my best friend, and he was the one who had told the household staff to ask her instead of bothering me. He also said Miles was still young and didn't know any better, that I was his real mother no matter what.

So, I believed him.

Hazel even acted hurt because I doubted her, saying she wanted to move out. At that point, I genuinely believed my postpartum emotions had made me overly sensitive. I apologized to her and even agreed to her suggestion—that she attend some company events on my behalf.

I thought it was necessary for me to attend certain functions as the CEO, considering my parents had left the company to me before they passed. However, since my health was failing, having Hazel cover for me didn't seem like a bad idea.

Back then, I truly believed I was the happiest woman in the world. I had a sweet child, a loving husband, and a caring best friend. Later, as my condition worsened, Hazel became bold enough to ask to tag along on Richard's business trips.

Everything fell apart one day when I forgot to take the medicine she had prepared for me. That was how I caught them having an affair. Once they realized they couldn't hide it anymore, they worked together to have me locked away in a psychiatric hospital.

I vividly remembered how my skin was covered in sores, pain pumping through my body every second, right before I died. Hazel had pressed her high heel against my face and cursed at me.

"Oh, Maxine. If you'd just stayed quiet and pretended to know nothing, I could've let you live. You could've rotted away in this psychiatric ward for the rest of your life, but you just had to go looking for death."

The memory of that excruciating agony crawling all over my skin sent a shiver down my spine. Somehow, by some kind of twist of fate, I was given a second chance in this new life.

Now, I sat in the CEO's office, my phone buzzing nonstop. All the messages came from Hazel.

"Are you crazy, Maxine? Why did you change the password? The employees are all watching!

"Are you trying to embarrass me? Hurry up and send me the new password!

"You ungrateful bitch. Don't forget who's been nursing you all this time!"

…

I looked at the dozens of messages and almost laughed. Ungrateful? Nursing me? She had been trying to poison me, not help me.

Hazel wanted to set up a fund to buy homes for the key employees. I didn't mind rewarding the real backbone of the company, but when I looked at the list, I couldn't help but laugh.

Key employees? There were more like the usual few sycophants who hovered around Hazel all the time. None of the people who had helped Mom and Dad build this empire were on the list.

"Clear the way!"

Out of the blue, Hazel had fainted and was being carried into the office. The person holding her was none other than Richard, who shouted, "Get over here and help, Maxine! Can't you see Hazel's passed out?"

The same employee who had shoved me earlier stormed in, fuming. "Why are you, a freaking nanny, sitting in Ms. Moore's chair? Get off and help her! Can't you see she needs help?"

She turned to Richard. "Mr. Hudson, she's too kind-hearted, and that's why she spoils her nanny. You should really talk to her about it."

It was only then that Richard finally set Hazel down on the couch. His eyes avoided mine. I crossed my legs and asked, "Apparently, I'm the nanny, while she's the CEO. Is that right, honey?"

Before he could answer me, Hazel jolted awake. "Of course not!"

She looked at me. "Hey, Max? I fainted earlier, and the company went into chaos. I'll explain everything to you when we get back. You should go home for now, and remember to take all your meds."

"Yeah, Max. You really picked the worst time to act out. Hazel's been very patient with you," Richard echoed.

The employee from before sneered at me. "Oh. So, someone forgot to take their medicination. I guess that explains the whole delusional act. I can't believe you're still sitting in that chair and even called Mr. Hudson 'honey'. Ew."

"Enough about that," Hazel said, her face pale. "Max and I have always been the best of friends. Even if she's ill, I'll never abandon her."

I couldn't believe I acted the way I did in my previous life. I must've been so blinded by love that I never realized how these two lowlifes had been slandering me behind my back.

It seemed the employee wanted to show off in front of Hazel. She glanced at her, then stepped forward to grab me.

"Ms. Moore's just doing this to spare you the embarrassment. She didn't call you a nanny and even treats you like a best friend. Now, get off the chair and help her out!" she barked.

A crisp smack echoed in the air. I slapped her across the face with the back of my hand.

"How dare you hit me!"

"Oh, I'll do more than hit you. I'm firing you," I said.

Seeing that I was serious, Richard hurried over. He said with a fake, comforting tone, "Linda is a senior employee. How can you fire her over something so trivial? Why don't you go home and cool off?"

So, an employee insulting the CEO was considered trivial.

"Max, please, don't make it any harder for me, alright?" Hazel pleaded, tugging at my arm.

She then turned to the employee. "Linda, I know you're worried about me, but you can't talk to Max like that. She's sick and can't handle this kind of provocation. Don't do it again, okay?"

I yanked my arm free and glanced at the employee's ID badge. Her name was Linda Green. Then, I immediately called HR. "Handle the termination of Linda Green from the business department, please. Thank you."

Linda burst into laughter. "Oh my gosh. Look at you go."

It wasn't long before she received a call from HR. She stood there, dumbfounded, staring at me. "You… M-Ms. Moore? What's going on here?"

Hazel immediately pulled her aside to explain. I didn't bother arguing. My priority was to get home quickly and make sure Miles was safe. Only then could I deal with these two without holding back.

Soon, our chauffeur, Leonard Clark, arrived. "Mrs. Hudson."

That only confused Linda even more. Immediately, Hazel shot Leonard a look. "Leonard, I'm here!"

Realizing an outsider was present, he respectfully turned to Hazel, treating me as if I didn't exist. She told me, "Max, I called Leonard over. Let's head home together."

Seeing her put on that fake act, I looked at her coldly. "Walk home by yourself. And get out of my house."

Hazel was stunned. "W-What are you talking about, Max?"

Linda, now completely convinced of who the "real" CEO was, let out a mocking laugh. "You're really a lunatic. How dare you tell Ms. Moore to move out of her own house? She's been far too kind not to send you into a psychiatric ward!"

Hazel kept up the act. "Why don't we let Richard drive? We can sit in the back and talk."

I scoffed and shook my head. "I don't think you heard me clearly. I told you to get out of my house. Richard, too."

Hazel's pitiful act made Leonard take her side. "Easy… Every time you had an episode, Hazel was the one taking care of you. You really shouldn't have embarrassed her like that in front of everyone."

Perfect. Yet another ingrate.

"In that case, you should pick up your last paycheck," I said to Leonard. "From now on, she'll be the one paying you."

I snatched the keys from his hand and walked off without looking back.