As I expected, mom quickly called me.
On the phone, she directly told me to delete the video.
I asked her why, and she actually said: “If people know you’re Daniel’s daughter, where will he put his face at school?”
I was momentarily speechless.
But I’m clearly the daughter of my dad, Jack, right?
What does Daniel Chen have to do with me?
Of course, if we have to say there’s a relationship, he is indeed my mom’s lover.
I narrowed my eyes.
With a smile that didn’t reach my eyes, I said: “I understand, mom. I’ll delete it right away, I promise not to embarrass Uncle Daniel”
Mom was finally satisfied.
The next second, I directly posted a video of stepdad chatting happily with a foreign woman on Instagram.
“Last month when visiting the university, I ran into Uncle Daniel. Uncle Daniel seemed very patriotic, he didn’t look happy talking to the foreign sister at all.”
13
I heard that day, mom and stepdad had a big fight.
i don’t quite understand, wasn’t I just showcasing Uncle Daniel’s fluent English and how he’s not intimidated by foreigners?
Why would mom be so angry?
Stepdad personally called, asking me to delete the Instagram post.
He also took the opportunity to lecture me about cosplaying anime characters.
But I put the call on speaker, and it was all heard by my stepmom.
Stepmom has a hot temper. She grabbed my phone and unleashed some colorful Chinese at the receiver.
“Listen here, mister. You were the one eyeing up that foreign woman, chatting her up like your eyes were glued to her body. Why are you blaming the kid? And are you sure you’re a university professor? Not even knowing such a classic Chinese anime, the character my daughter cosplayed is from ‘The Outcast‘. You’re not qualified for your position! Finally, let me warn you, my daughter Emma is under my protection. If you dare bully her again, I’ll come to your school with a megaphone and expose you, got it?!”
Me: “…”
My dad: “…”
As for stepdad, well, he’s a distinguished university professor, how could he use such vulgar language?
He took several deep breaths, left a “You shrew!” and hung up the phone in a huff.
D
4:25
<
In the living room, the three of us burst into laughter in tacit understanding.
Stepmom pinched my cheek and handed me a document folder.
She said: “Here’s the passport for Europe, Auntie has arranged it for you. After your exams, our family will travel to Europe together!”
My eyes suddenly lit up.
At the same time, I thought of Chloe.
In my previous life, was it really stepmom who made her fall and ruined her reputation?
Wasn’t it her own laziness and greed, her indulgence and desire?
She kept wanting others to change her, but never made any effort herself.
In the end, she lost self–control and became the laughingstock of the world, but didn’t reflect on herself. Even with the chance of rebirth, she still wanted to tie her life to her stepdad.
If she doesn’t fail, who will?
Chloe is pitiful enough.
So I don’t plan to settle scores with her over the Instagram post.
After all, her birthday is coming soon.
I just joined dad in giving her a pure white dress.
However, the day after her birthday.
Chloe came crying to our house looking for dad.
I was shocked to see her face extremely swollen.
And, her waist–length hair had been cut into a buzz cut.
She grabbed dad’s hand and said: “Dad, I regret it. I want to live with you!”
14
Besides Chloe, only I knew what happened last night.
Although the person following mom was no longer me, Daniel was still the same Daniel who harassed female students.
Chloe tried on that white dress in her room, just wanting to show mom in her bedroom.
Unexpectedly, stepdad was also present.
Chloe happily twirled a couple of times, but stepdad went crazy and scolded her: “Dressing like this and spinning in front of men, you really have no shame!”
Stepdad rushed to the bathroom.
The next second, mom’s face changed dramatically.
She dragged the confused Chloe, stripped off her clothes, and angrily slapped her more than a dozen times.
“You’re even going after your stepdad, have you no shame?!”
15
At home, Chloe couldn’t stop sobbing.
Her confused, resentful, and envious gaze occasionally fell on me
4:25 PM
<
Obviously, she had just realized that the freedom she lost in her previous life now belonged to me.
Dad patiently comforted her.
He still said helplessly: “Chloe, dad can’t make the decision. If you want to stay with me, your mom definitely won’t agree.”
I was painting my nails on the side, showing sympathy: “That’s right, Chloe. Besides, weren’t you the one who insisted on going with mom?”
“Look at you now, the perfect good student, good girl. You’ll definitely be able to find a good job and marry into a good family in the future.”
Chloe screamed and lunged at me.
It was stepmom who blocked her.
A dramatic scene unfolded.
Chloe actually hugged stepmom’s legs, crying and calling her: “Mom! Have you forgotten me? I’m Chloe!”
Then, who was that woman appearing at the door?
Our birth mother had arrived at some point.
She saw Chloe kneeling on the ground calling another woman mom, and angrily rushed over.
16
Chloe was taken back.
Mom said she would properly educate this daughter, and told my dad not to interfere.
Dad was also somewhat heartbroken and often went to visit Chloe.
But he was always blocked at the door by mom.
Chloe also stopped posting on social media and stopped shading me.
She had completely behaved herself.
In July, I received my acceptance letter from a top university.
As promised, dad and stepmom took me on a trip to Europe.
Along the way, stepmom kept introducing me to the cultural aspects of each city, but between the lines, I could hear.
Stepmom wanted me to rely on myself in the future, to travel the world’s beautiful landscapes.
To return still loving this land of our motherland.
“It’s a great thing for girls to gain more knowledge. This way you can understand that a woman’s life can also be vast and boundless.”
I nodded thoughtfully.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through my mind.
Since my life could be vast and boundless.
Why should I still bother with my immature sister about the things from my previous life?
I could completely change her fate again.
But this time, I wanted to change from giving her fish to teaching her how to fish.
17
After starting university, I immediately got to know that conios student
4:25 PM
<
This time, without wasting much time, I found the victim who had been harassed by stepdad.
I compiled the evidence into two copies.
One was sent to stepdad’s school’s official email.
The other was sent anonymously to Chloe.
I didn’t tell mom about this anymore.
Chloe received the email and quickly replied to me: “Is this true? You’re not lying to me??”
I replied: “Believe it or not, it’s up to you. But remember, don’t tell anyone about this.”
When she replied again, I had already closed my email.
In the email, I had already told her very plainly that the stepdad she admired and respected was not a good person.
Liking such a man, even willing to have an affair for him, what kind of beautiful future could mom bring her?
I thought, Chloe wouldn’t be so lacking in insight.
Counting the time, she would also take the college entrance exam in two years.
She had the full ability to change her future by herself.
On the other side, Daniel’s history of sexual harassment was also exposed.
But this storm only lasted for a while before it stopped.
I think he must have used some means to settle it.
And mom never spoke up. Her silence had already proven that she was on the same side as Daniel.
That day, Chloe unexpectedly sent me a message.
She said: “Sis, I think I made the wrong choice again.”
I pretended not to understand what she was talking about.
Soon, she sent a second message.
She said: “I’m sorry, sis.”
