it.”
“I’m busy, I won’t see you out. Close the door
on your way out.”
く
Harrison exploded. “Fine!”
“Remember, you left, don’t come crawling
back.”
“I should have let you drown in that pool, you
ungrateful brat!”
He stormed out.
My first encounter with Harrison was at a Hayes family dinner.
I’d just moved in with Harrison’s grandmother. The Hayes children taunted me, calling me a country bumpkin, poor, an orphan.
I was quick–tempered, couldn’t stand being called an orphan, and tried to fight them, forgetting I was much smaller.
They pushed me into the pool.
I sputtered, calling for help, while they laughed, calling me a “country dog” who
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couldn’t swim.
Harrison rescued me.
From that day, I followed him like a shadow.
I watched his passionate romance with Sarah, his three–day fast after her death.
Even as an audience member to their love story, I foolishly agreed to marry him, hoping to replace the woman in his heart.
But I was wrong; even raised in the Hayes household, married to Harrison, I wasn’t family.
The wealthy world was cutthroat; after ten years, I’d lost my sharp edges, playing the enviable role of Mrs. Hayes.
The night I escaped, I regretted the.
uncertainty of my future.
Without Lucy, I might have returned the next
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く
day to be a superficially successful Mrs.
Hayes.
Thankfully, fate was kind.
When I was homeless, it sent my first light
Harrison’s grandmother.
When I was lost, it sent my sun Lucy.
Lucy whined, “Claire, my sweet Claire! I don’t want to edit today. You do it!”
I refused; even the sun is sometimes hidden by clouds.
“If you don’t edit, no spicy beef or chicken tonight. Just greens and tofu.”
Lucy sat down, muttering, “Mrs. Hayes is so cruel! Trying to starve me!”
I laughed.
She looked at me seriously. “Claire, do you regret leaving? Going from luxury to…
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<
roughing it with me?”
I hesitated, then told her my story with the
Hayes and Harrison.
It was shorter than I expected.
Lucy seethed, “That jerk Harrison! ‘Just
dinner‘? If he ever shows up again, I’ll chase him away with a broom!”
“He didn’t love his ex that much; otherwise,
there wouldn’t be that gold digger. He’s defiling love.”
I nodded in agreement.
I’d never dated, but I knew love wasn’t like that.
I saw Harrison again during our Xinjiang trip. An interview of his was trending.
A reporter asked, “What are your thoughts on the popular travel vlogger who is allegedly
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Mrs. Hayes?”
Harrison looked surprised, then said calmly,
“It’s her hobby. I respect that.”
Lucy asked, “He knows?”
I shook my head. “No, it’s just a formal
response.”
Harrison wouldn’t pay attention to what I did. After I’d rejected him, he’d probably celebrate
with his mistress.
He’d always wanted to get rid of me, except he’d promised his grandmother to take care of me.
Harrison kept his promises; that’s why he said I’d be Mrs. Hayes.
“Claire, your turn to edit!”
“And then Korean lessons.”
“Don’t look at that jerk!”
<
Lucy’s words pulled me back.
I agreed and started editing.
I’d rather learn Korean than wallow in sorrow.
After Xinjiang, Lucy told me she’d secretly
entered my painting “Rebirth” into a
competition. It won second prize.
I’d thought I was talentless.
When I finished the painting, I excitedly showed it to him.
He tossed it to the floor. “With this skill, you’re entering a competition? Why do you have to compete with Sarah in everything?” “Painting takes talent. Sarah could paint a thousand times better than you, even blindfolded.”
I never picked up a brush again.
“Claire, I know you love painting. That
nainting hrings hone symbolizes and things Join the bookshel
<
painting brings hope, symbolizes good things,
I thought it was perfect for the competition,
So…”
Her voice trailed off, apologetic.
She thought I’d blame her for making the
decision for me.
She didn’t know that what she saw as a
mistake was my rebirth.
“Claire, why are you crying? I’ll tell them we’re
withdrawing!”
Hearing her worry, I wiped my face; I was crying.
I shook my head. “No… I’m just so happy!” “I didn’t expect to win.”
Lucy hugged me. “Claire, you’re amazing! Don’t listen to Harrison’s nonsense; his mouth is dirtier than a toilet! You’re far better than that Sarahl”
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that Sarah!”
I laughed.
“Let’s go to the awards ceremony, dressed to
impress, and blind him!”
Yes, the people who love you think you’re the best.
I’d been fooling myself, thinking I could
replace Sarah, only to be humiliated.
At the awards ceremony, seeing Lucy happier
than me, I felt immense satisfaction.
After the ceremony, I saw someone who
looked like Harrison. I dismissed it.
Lucy rushed to me. “Claire! Amazing! When
you won, people said your painting was wonderful!”
I smiled.
People were excitedly leaving with catalogs: “I
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heard YY’s painting also entered, and got
third place.”
“YY is amazing; I loved her before she died.”
“But I loved the second–place painting. It
makes you believe in a better future.”
YY was Sarah’s artist name, combining her and Harrison’s initials.
Lucy was right; I wasn’t bad.
“Claire!”
Harrison’s voice.
I pulled Lucy’s hand and ran.
But my arm was grabbed.
I looked back at him, confused.
“What do you want?”
Harrison frowned slightly, his voice
dismissive.
“Is this a Hayes company? What I do is none
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of your business.”
His frown deepened. “If this is your way of
getting my attention, congratulations, you
succeeded.”
I was disgusted.
I’d never known him to be so arrogant.
Before I could retort, Lucy stepped forward,
putting me behind her, like a protective hen.
“Mr. Hayes, open your eyes and look at the
winners. Claire won second prize.”
“She won second prize in her first
competition. Were you blind before?”
Harrison’s eyes widened, but he retorted,
“Claire, did you steal Sarah’s painting?”
I wasn’t surprised.
I tugged on Lucy, who was ready to fight him.
“Lucy, let’s go.”
く
Harrison watched us leave, unmoving.
Harrison stared at Claire’s retreating back,
lost in thought.
He thought about the painting.
A teacher had said it was only technically
inferior to the first–place winner.
But it truly embodied its name – “Rebirth,”
offering hope.
The painting showed the artist’s anticipation for the future and letting go of the past.
The vibrant life in “Rebirth” was
unforgettable.
It was different from the Claire he
remembered.
Her future was once bleak.
He’d thought Claire was the one with cancer,
lifeless.
<
But when she first arrived at the Hayes house,
she was like a firecracker.
Over time, people commented on her poise
calm, generous.
Harrison hated that demure Claire.
But the Claire he’d just seen was different –
bright, full of life, her eyes shining.
He couldn’t look away.
Harrison was still stuck on his old impression
of her.
Hearing that “Rebirth” was by Claire, he
doubted it.
But he knew it was impossible.
If this was the current Claire, keeping her by
his side wouldn’t be a bad idea.
He wanted beautiful things.
But Claire’s eyes, when she looked at him,
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held no love.
Perhaps even she didn’t realize the slight
disgust in her gaze.
Harrison felt like he’d lost something
precious.
