The union between the Zhao and Ye families faced an abrupt end when an unexpected revelation surfaced – Alex had an illegitimate daughter. The Zhao‘s, particularly Isabella with her romantic notions, were much keener on the alliance than the Ye’s. In fact, Isabella had been at the forefront, ardently pushing for the two families to become in-laws. The Ye family, while not treating the potential union as a must-have, were quite irked when the marriage discussions fell through, primarily due to the presence of Lizzy. There were two key reasons for their anger: first, the perceived benefits of the union between the two families, and second, Alex's actions that seemingly tarnished the reputation of the Ye family. Thankfully, the talks had only been exploratory, so the dissolution wasn’t too embarrassing. Still, subsequent meetings between the two families were marked with slight awkwardness. When the elder Mr. Ye discovered the existence of his great-granddaughter, he reprimanded Alex f

Lifting her eyes to meet his, Michelle's voice held an unwavering calm, "Let's discuss. I could consider not moving out of the Ye residence, but I won't take care of the child." Alex pondered, assessing the situation. If Michelle wouldn't be taking care of Lizzy, was there any point in having her move back to the Ye residence? Meeting his gaze, Michelle retorted, "If I don’t look after Lizzy, do you really have any reason to keep me at the Ye’s house?" She paused, and then with deliberate emphasis said, "No. Reason. At. All." Distancing herself from past affiliations with Alex and Lizzy, she no longer addressed him with formal respect, opting instead for the more direct 'you'. Alex caught this subtle shift, realizing that Michelle genuinely had no interest in marrying him or returning to the Ye residence. He desired a marriage with Michelle. But did she want the same? Upon hearing her resolute stance, he responded, "There is every reason." Now, Michelle was at a loss for words. Sh

Some time ago, Michelle pondered a fascinating question. If she were to find herself within the world of a book, would the plot still unfold according to its original outline? And if it did, would it adhere to the author's initial summary or to the detailed narrative she, as the writer of this new version, had envisioned? While the general direction of both storylines might remain consistent, numerous finer details could diverge. For instance, the original blueprint never made mention of Lizzy's biological mother. Nor did it hint at the female protagonist seeking vengeance on a side character after breaking off her engagement with the secondary male lead. Michelle wasn't sure if the original author had envisioned such a subplot, but she was certain she wouldn't have included it. Such actions didn't align with the female protagonist's character as she perceived it. In her interpretation, Isabella, though smitten in love, was, after all, from a prestigious background. As an heiress of

When Michelle saw the transfer notification, she thought to herself, "Truly a friend of the wealthy businesswoman." It seemed they shared the same demeanor, not hesitating to send money without so much as a discussion. Was it because they feared she'd learn of a hidden snag and change her mind? Michelle hesitated. She truly feared that they might be setting a trap for her. But she was exhausted from constantly writing, not wanting to continue ghostwriting novel drafts any longer. Moreover, she had set her price high and they had accepted it. It'd be rather unjust to refuse now, wouldn't it? After a moment of indecision, Michelle clicked on the confirmation to accept the payment. Then came the demands. The client described to her an incomplete world view, narrating yet-to-be-fleshed-out character relations. They wanted Michelle to draft detailed character designs. These were to encompass everything from appearance and orientation to past experiences and character evolution—everything

Michelle really didn't feel like taking Lizzy out to play. However, when even Mr. Alex, known workaholic that he was, said such a thing, she, a mere freelance professional, found no ground to refuse. Alex, after all, was someone who dealt with multi-million-dollar businesses. Every minute he spent was potentially worth millions. If he believed that spending time with a child was more important than work, how could her drafts, possibly deemed worthless, ever compare to the importance of a child? Michelle had on more than one occasion asked Alex to spend more time with Lizzy. Now, the roles seemed to be reversed. If she declined now, she suspected Alex would have a reason to rebut her in the future. Reluctantly, Michelle agreed. However, she made it clear to Alex that she had commitments in the afternoon. She could only join them for a morning outing. Alex had no objections; he had plans to return to his office in the afternoon to attend to some matters. The two novice parents, as i