Chapter 8 

1 first met Matthew Harrison at my company. 

At the time, I was working as an intern, learning the ropes at the bottom ring of the ladder. 

I was unremarkable, not particularly talented, and completely invisible in the company. [ 

Matthew was also an intern, starting at the same time as me. [ 

He wasn’t particularly smart, and he even seemed a bit awkward. 

But having grown up in the countryside, he was no stranger to hardship. His work ethic was strong, and he was the most diligent of all the interns, spending every day completely focused on his tasks without a hint of laziness. 

No matter when, I would always see him glued to his computer, working tirelessly. 

I was moved by his perseverance.] 

Originally, he was on the verge of being fired due to his lack of results, but I pulled some strings behind the scenes and got him promoted early. 

That day, he was over the moon, practically glowing with excitement. He looked so much more alive and energized. 

After his promotion, he threw himself into his work even more. 

What I admired most about him was that determined, never give up attitude. 

Gradually, we became friends.] 

As I got to know him, I realized that the quiet, stiff Matthew was actually quite charming and funny, 

He often made me laugh, and being around him always felt light and easy, 

Even when we sat in silence, his presence alone gave me a sense of peace, 

But it wasn’t until one fateful day that we crossed the line from friendship to something more. 

That day, I had just left a business dinner when I was harassed by a group of drunk men. They surrounded me, making lewd comments, and I felt completely helpless. 

But at that crucial moment, Matthew appeared like a hero, stepping in to protect me. 

Though he ended up getting beaten badly by the drunkards, I was safe. 

It was the first time I felt my heart skip a beat for him, this man who was willing to risk everything for me.] 

While I stayed with him in the hospital as he recovered from his injuries, I couldn’t help but confess my feelings for him. 

He gladly accepted, and that’s how we started dating. 

During our relationship, I kept things simple. 

We ate at street stalls, took long walks, visited parks, watched movies, and enjoyed theme parks together. 

Life was simple, but it was happy. 

Eventually, I brought Matthew home to meet my parents. 

The moment he learned that I was the daughter of the wealthiest family around, he was visibly nervous and on edge. 

My parents knew he came from a poor background, but they didn’t look down on him. 

They didn’t care about social standing; after all, no one could rival our family’s wealth. 

name.] 

They only had one condition: Matthew would have to marry into our family and take our name. 

Since I was an only child, my parents didn’t want me to marry out of the family. 

I thought Matthew might hesitate or struggle with the idea, maybe even refuse, since he was also his family’s only son. 

And becoming a “son–in–law” in our family, where he would take my last name, wasn’t exactly an easy pill for any man to 

swallow. 

But to my surprise, Matthew agreed without a second thought. 

He even declared on the spot that he would dedicate himself to me and only me for the rest of his life. 

To prove his sincerity, he signed a prenuptial agreement right then and there, promising that if he ever strayed, he would leave the marriage with nothing. 

At the time, I was deeply moved by his gesture. 

After we got married, Matthew continued to be the perfect husband–gentle, thoughtful, and attentive. 

He took care of me in every way possible. 

Even when our daughter was born and took my last name, Matthew didn’t mind at all. 

He treated her like a precious jewel, doting on her constantly.] 

For years, I was convinced that Matthew was a good husband and a loving father, wrapped up in the perfect image of his devotion. 

But it was all a façade. 

Through my investigation, I discovered that while Matthew was showering me with love and affection, he was secretly seeing someone else–the person I considered my closest friend, Victoria Hayes. 

For all the years we had been together, Matthew and Victoria had been having an affair behind my back. 

When I was pregnant, Victoria found out she was also pregnant. 

On the day I gave birth, Matthew arranged for both of us to deliver in the same hospital 

By some twist of fate, we both had baby girls. 

To ensure that Victoria’s daughter would live the life of a wealthy heiress, Matthew swapped our babies at birth. 

The daughter I had raised and loved all these years was actually Victoria’s child. 

My biological daughter had been left in Victoria’s care, where she was abused, beaten, and suffered from multiple broken 

bones. 

If I hadn’t lived through my death in my previous life, I never would have uncovered the truth–that my real daughter had been switched and tormented while I unknowingly raised someone else’s child.]] 

Chapter 9