After being reborn, I make up my mind to stop chasing after my husband and daughter

Chapter 542

My heart, which had finally calmed down, felt like someone had hurled a rock into it-now the waves- just

wouldn't stop.

| thought, ‘Edward’s not the type to lose control like this."

‘It’s not like he’s stwenty-something kid who can’t handle his feelings.”

‘He’s thirty-three-he’s been through everything. Relationships are nothing new to him. But somehow, the last

person who should be acting like he’s got his first crush is now stuck in this weird, doomed thing, eating himself

up inside.”

| gripped my phone, thinking for ages before finally replying to Edward, “You can’t force feelings. Let's just go our

separate ways and be well.”

As soon as | hit send, | blocked him again and wiped out all our chats.

If this kept going, he’d makelose my mind. If it were any other guy, | would've just confronted him face to

face-with Ryan right there to backup.

But with Edward, | just couldn't do it. | didn’t even dare let Ryan notice the slightest thing off.

Lately, spending twith Ryan has actually madea bit anxious. Maybe what people call “rationality” is just

something women use to protect themselves when there’s no love in the picture.

But once your body truly feels pleasure and satisfaction, those emotions that were just floating around suddenly

find a place to settle. And as you keep going back and forth, you start to develop feelings you never even

realized-attachment, maybe even a little infatuation.

Back then, | would've just been tossed around by these feelings, like a helpless little shrimp getting thrown

around in a hot pan.

But now, I've decided to open my arms and welcwhatever comes my way.

Maybe... | really am starting to catch feelings for Ryan.

After a good night's rest, | was in the bathroom brushing my teeth, my mind wandering to Sophia.

Halfway through, a random thought popped into my head.

Back in school, Sophia was always so innocent, never caught up in all that or trying to outdo anyone. But

once you step out into the real world, everything changes-this place messes with people.

Chapter 542

Aiden’s my brother, my closest family. | want nothing but the best for him, and I really hope he marries someone

sweet and gentle.

Looks like | need to pull the strick | used on Tracy-tto find someone to keep tabs on Sophia.

Getting a trustworthy PI in Beijing is no walk in the park, so | decided to hit up Ryan for help.

It was a little after three when Sophia showed up at our office with a colleague from her bank to handle some

banking business.

Because I'd been moving my deposits through her, Sophia was definitely going to exceed her monthly quota this

time.

After they finished up their official business, Sophia cover to find me.

Of course, | made sure my assistant gave her a warm welcome. Sophia cin holding a coffee, grinning as she

said, “Sis, | had a long talk with Aiden yesterday. We were chatting about the future- houses, kids, even what

names we'd pick for them.” She brought it up so casually, like it was just everyday stuff.

My hand froze on my coffee cup for a moment, then | smiled. “You and Aiden have been together since your

freshman year, right? Five years already. That really says a lot about your relationship.”

“Oh, we're great! Aiden treatsso well,” Sophia said, her face glowing with happiness.

| casually glanced at the bag she was carrying-it looked like it cost over 20 thousand dollars.

Thanks to my experience with luxury brands in my previous life, | took another look at the necklace she was

wearing. It was a thin chain with a circular pendant, and that alone probably set her back tens of thousands.

Back when Aiden was in college, | used to slip him spocket money, and Jared helped out behind the scenes

too. As for my parents, they were always worried he'd be short on cash for his girlfriend, so any spare money

they had went straight to him.

With all that, unless Aiden had smajor expenses, he should've had a decent amount saved up by now. But

from the looks of it, he barely had anything left-he must've spent it all.

“If you guys are thinking about getting married soon, you should start planning,” | said, keeping it casual.

“Ugh, everything's so expensive these days. No matter how much we plan, we just can’t seem to save enough,”

Sophia sighed, looking stressed. “It’s my fault for not coming from a better background, Aiden’s really good to

my parents-whenever he has a little extra, he wantsto send shome.

07:31 Sat, 6 Sept VIE

Chapter 542

Sis, do you ever look down onbecause of where | cfrom?”

Hearing Sophia's probing tone, I couldn't help but smirk to myself.

‘Let's be real, if | actually said | minded, you'd just get mad,’ | thought.

“You can’t choose your family. Even from the humblest nest, a phoenix can rise. It's really not a big deal to me,” |

replied, just giving her a polite answer.

Sophia broke into a bright smile. “Sis, Aiden always says you're the sweetest woman he’s ever met. | didn’t

really buy it before, but now I do. You're not just gentle, you're also so capable. Honestly, you're. my role model-I

really look up to you.”

| could hear the flattery in her voice, and | knew from experience-the more someone praises you, the more likely

it is they're about to ask for something.

“Work’s been pretty stressful forlately. I'm really not as amazing as you think,” | said lightly.

Sophia glanced around nervously, then asked, testing the waters, “Sis, do you happen to have any spare

apartments in Beijing?”