Chapter 1
At our Mid–Autumn family dinner, my uncle Lysander casually opened a water bottle for me.
His girlfriend Rachel suddenly let out a cold laugh: “You know what? You’re pretty fucking fake sometimes.”
“A grown ass woman who can’t even open a water bottle? Playing helpless baby so your uncle will take care of you? What is this, some twisted uncle niece fantasy bullshit?”
I took a deep breath and raised my right hand wrapped in bandages, trying to stay calm: “Rachel, I cut my wrist on broken glass this morning. Can’t really grip things properly–you’re totally misreading this.”
Her contempt only deepened.
Her eyes swept over the gauze on my wrist with a vicious tone: “Who knows if that was on purpose? Lysander and I are about to get engaged. Even if you slit your wrists and died right in front of him, he wouldn’t spare you a fucking glance.”
“You-” Her words had me shaking with rage. I was about to fire back when she suddenly snatched Lysander’s phone and shoved the screen right in everyone’s faces-
There it was: a WhatsApp account with my profile picture, showing a message sent late last night: “I miss you.”
Dead silence.
I stared at that message I sure as hell never sent, ice running through my veins.
But I’d blocked Lysander ages ago!
Rachel Sterling’s voice was loud enough that all the chattering relatives immediately went silent.
Mom frowned and looked over at us.
had no clue why Rachel thought there was something inappropriate between me and Uncle Lysander, so I
patiently explained.
I cut my wrist this morning when I accidentally broke some glass. It’s not the kind of… self–harm you’re thinking of.
Lysander quietly confronted her. “It’s just opening a water bottle. What’s your problem?”
“My problem?” Rachel laughed coldly.
“The second you hear Seraphina’s precious little voice, you get all protective and rush to her rescue, right?”
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Chapter 1
Then she turned on me with this contemptuous stare.
“Deliberately talking in that fake baby voice, perfectly capable but pretending to be helpless–just dying for your amcle to dote on his precious little niece, aren’t you?”
“Only nineteen and already learned how to manipulate men. What’s next?”
I was completely speechless.
I was born with a naturally soft, gentle voice that people constantly mistake for being fake. I’m used to it by now.
As for seducing my uncle… absolutely ridiculous!
He’s just Dad’s sworn brother from outside the family.
Because he’s competent and smooth with people, Dad even put him in charge of our subsidiary.
Not only is he seven years older than me, but Lysander always acts like some kind of authority figure around me–total mansplaining energy.
A couple years ago I adopted a stray cat, and he’d constantly lecture me about “wasting time on frivolous things” and “cat ladies never get married.”
I wear a dress, and he’s got opinions: “Young ladies shouldn’t dress so provocatively.”
Always with the “you’re too young to understand” bullshit.
Until one time I completely lost it and called him a patronizing old creep for three straight hours. Only then did he finally back off.
I’d love nothing more than to stay far away from Lysander!
But tonight wasn’t just the Mid–Autumn family dinner–it was also Mom’s birthday.
Not wanting to start a fight, I swallowed my anger and said, “Rachel, you’re really overthinking this.”
Even if Lysander and I weren’t related by blood, even if every other man on earth died, I still wouldn’t be
nterested in him.”
ysander looked stunned for a second.
de grabbed Rachel’s arm, his face darkening. “Enough. I opened your water bottle too, so stop looking for trouble.”
You think this is about a water bottle?!”
Rachel suddenly snatched Lysander’s phone away.
Despite his attempts to stop her, she slammed it down on the table.
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She Slandered Me to Millions. (Cue the Lake Tours Livo) Rust Hor Viral Performance? All My Courtroom Evidence!
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Chapter 1
The screen showed a WhatsApp conversation.
Someone with the contact name “Sera” had sent a late–night message:
[Miss you]
Rachel stared at me with this sarcastic sneer.
“Don’t like him? Then why are you sending flirty messages to your uncle in the middle of the night? Cut the
innocent act!”
I stared at the screen in shock, my mind going completely blank.
The profile picture was definitely my selfie.
The contact name was definitely mine.
But I’d blocked Lysander ages ago!
17:07
