Chapter 2

Serena Hayes froze.

She stared at my practiced move, utterly disbelieving.

"What are you talking about? How can you smoke!"

Her sharp voice pierced my ears. I casually stubbed out the cigarette in the ashtray and stood up.

"So what?"

"Are you rushing to tattle to Dad, or are you calling the cops to arrest me?"

Serena was stunned. She couldn't understand why her usually gentle sister had suddenly transformed.

Immediately, she continued to fawn over me:

"Sister, what are you saying? Are you angry because Dad set up a trust fund for me overseas? Dad's just planning for Mom and my future. After all, Grandpa Sterling said the company's management has to stay in your hands."

"You still come out ahead."

"I just thought you and Julian would be perfect together, and I wanted to set you two up."

Perfect together?

A mocking smile touched my lips. I glanced at that slick Julian in the photo, then at the two-faced Serena standing before me.

A scumbag and a manipulative bitch.

You two are truly perfect for each other.

Seeing my smile, Serena thought I was interested.

She quickly leaned closer, handing me a thick stack of flyers.

"I knew Sister still liked Julian."

"We go to the same school, so I already found out what kind of girls he likes. These training classes? I handpicked them, and I even signed you up!"

"The first step to winning Julian over? Becoming the perfect wife and mother!"

My gaze dropped, scanning the flyers. Home cooking, crash course barista, dining etiquette, infant care, patient nursing… Serena had even signed me up for cleaning classes.

She leaned in to add:

"Dad also said, Sister, you just need to relax and enjoy life at home, marry a good husband to manage the company for you."

Looking at Serena's earnest eyes, I almost believed her.

Too bad.

In this life, "perfect wife and mother" was a derogatory term to me.

Serena and that old geezer just wanted to make me useless and dependent.

I picked through the flyers, pulling out one for "Charm and Etiquette Training." I raised my hand high and slapped it hard against Serena's face, chuckling:

"Save it. I have zero interest in Julian Blackwood."

"If you like him, go for it. This class is actually pretty perfect for you, though."

"You should teach a class on being a manipulative sweetheart!"

With that, I pulled my mask higher and headed towards the backstage lounge.

The competition was about to start; I’d only stepped out for a few minutes to smoke.

I hadn't expected to be ambushed by Serena. What a pain.

TPL was the biggest esports event in the country, and this was my second consecutive year making it to the finals. But in elite circles, being good at gaming was still seen as something lowbrow.

So, to avoid any trouble, I always wore a mask during matches, keeping a low profile.

But that was exactly how Serena had exploited me last time.

In my previous life, Serena had snuck into the lounge, posing as my sister.

She'd swapped my keyboard and mouse, stolen my clothes, and dressed up to look like me.

Not only did her sabotage make me lose the championship due to equipment issues, but it also made Julian Blackwood, watching from the audience, equate the star esports player "K" with Serena.

The calm commands, the powerful resolve, the steady leadership of that young girl, along with her fingers flying across the keyboard…

They became Julian Blackwood's lifelong dream.

Even I, his wife, no matter how virtuous, how gentle, how devoted I was to him…

I couldn't compare to the indelible mark on his heart.

But this time, there would be no such opportunity.

Back in the lounge, I immediately sought out our team leader.

"My stepsister is not to be trusted; she might try something. The match is about to start, and we absolutely can't have any problems. Get a few more security guards from the venue to secure the lounge."

"No one gets in except for players and coaches!"

This life, my glory—no one would steal it.