Elisa’s makeup had smudged from the sweat. Ronald irritably wiped her face. He realized that without makeup, Elisa didn’t look as much like Sarah.
Sarah’s skin was naturally flawless and fair, something Elisa tried to replicate with foundation. But once her makeup was ruined, her true skin tone showed through, making her look a bit ridiculous. And her eyebrows and eyes, without the makeup, Elisa looked a bit plain.
Elisa noticed Ronald’s distant look. She didn’t know why, but his gaze made her feel anxious. She had been feeling uneasy for a few days. She realized that Sarah’s influence on Ronald was still significant.
When Sarah wasn’t scheming against her, Ronald started to miss everything about Sarah.
Elisa knew she only beat Sarah because of her similar face and more submissive personality.
Realizing her makeup was ruined, she quickly got out of bed. “Ronald, I’m going to wash my face.”
Ronald was a bit tired after sex and didn’t want to deal with Elisa.
Less than half an hour later, Elisa came out of the bathroom. She had touched up her makeup, and her brows, eyes, lips, and nose now had a pitiful look that made her resemble Sarah’s innocent charm.
Elisa knelt in front of him, wanting to serve him, “Ronald, do you want more? Let me help you.”
Looking at Elisa like this, Ronald’s earlier hesitation quickly disappeared. Indeed, Elisa was the best. A proud young lady like Sarah would never go to such lengths to please him.
“If you had to choose between Sarah and me, who would you pick?” Elisa asked.
“Of course, I’d choose you,” Ronald replied, pressing her head against his lap.
******
The next morning, Sarah woke up with dark circles under her eyes. She found a pair of sunglasses and put them on.
Today, Merry had asked Sarah to join her for a lunch meeting with her aunt.
By coincidence, as Sarah entered the elevator, she ran into Ronald and Elisa.
Elisa wore a camisole with a sheer white outer layer. Her collarbones and neck, along with other areas, bore visible love bites.
Sarah rolled her eyes. Even without seeing those, she could guess what had happened last night from the sounds she had heard. The universe seemed to have it out for her, forcing her to witness this scene first thing in the morning.
Elisa greeted her with a pitiful tone, “Good morning, Sarah.”
Sarah rolled her eyes and ignored her.
Seeing Sarah’s anger, Elisa knew Sarah must have been jealous about her sleeping with Ronald last night.
Despite her inner glee, Elisa maintained her pitiful act, “I’m sorry…”
Ronald’s eyes fell on Sarah. She had long hair down and wore a black dress and sunglasses. Given that it was still morning, the sunglasses were a clear sign. Either she had cried out of jealousy after hearing last night’s noises and woken up with puffy eyes, or she had been missing him so much she hadn’t slept, resulting in dark circles.
Sarah spoke coldly, “No need to apologize, Miss Elisa. Just stay away from me.”
Damn protagonists, bringing bad luck to anyone who crossed their path.
“Elisa bought the house here not because of you,” Ronald said coolly. “Sarah, don’t flatter yourself. It’s just a coincidence.”
Sarah responded, “Sure, out of ten thousand neighborhoods in City N, it’s a coincidence that she bought in the same one as me, in the same building, and right above me.”
Elisa’s eyes shifted, “Sarah, why aren’t you living with your husband? Why are you living alone?”
Ronald scoffed. He knew the answer. It was because of him.
As the elevator doors opened, Merry stood there, “Sarah, you’re already down? Elisa?! What are you doing here?”
Without a word, Sarah grabbed Merry’s arm and got into the car.
Merry, fuming, asked, “Is that woman scheming against you again? Sarah, I’ll find a way to make her leave Ronald.”
Merry, like David, was a big believer in Ronald and Sarah being soulmates.
Sarah removed her sunglasses, “Forget it. Let’s just stay far away from them.”
Merry looked at Sarah cautiously, “Sarah, what’s wrong? Did they bully you?”
Sarah closed her eyes slightly.
She wasn’t scared of Ronald and Elisa. She just didn’t want herself and her friends to meet the same fate as in the book.
Sarah, Merry, and David were only in their twenties when everything went wrong. They should have had bright futures, enjoying life, but instead, their lives were tragically cut short.
Sarah asked, “Merry, is there something else you want to do?”
Merry looked puzzled, “Something else?”
She thought for a long time and felt lost.
Merry had never known what she wanted to do. Sarah had saved her, so she just followed Sarah’s lead, doing whatever Sarah asked.
Seeing Merry’s expression, Sarah had her answer.
In the book, characters like her and Merry existed solely to make the heroine’s life difficult and to compete for the hero. They had no goals of their own, just waiting to be defeated by the protagonist.
Merry finally said, “I don’t know. I just want to mess with Elisa and make sure you and Ronald stay together.”
“Starting today,” Sarah said, “let’s set a new goal, one that doesn’t revolve around them.”
Merry asked, “Like what?”
Sarah started frantically texting Holden, “Like me, my goal now is to get my husband to let me move in.”
She didn’t want to live under the hero and heroine anymore.
Buying a new place was an option, but Sarah and Holden hadn’t been married long. The original Sarah had spent her money recklessly or had it taken by her family.
In City N, real estate was expensive, and she couldn’t find a good place on short notice.
Holden’s place was big enough. He lived alone in a mansion with thousands of square feet.
Besides, Holden was a powerful figure who could support the hero. His influence was greater than the hero’s. Sticking with Holden might help her avoid a tragic end.
Holden had just finished his work in the morning and was relaxing with a coffee in his office when his phone started buzzing incessantly.
Few people dared to bombard him with messages.
He frowned and checked his phone screen.
Messages from Sarah kept coming in.
[Hey boss, can we talk?]
[Well, I want to move into your place. Can you give me a room?]
[I’ll even take a servant’s room.]
[I promise not to bother you. You’ll hardly notice I’m there.]
[…]
Holden replied, “Why?”
“Ronald and his girlfriend moved into my building,” Sarah quickly responded. “Seeing him every day breaks my heart. If I keep living in the same building, you might become a widower.”
Holden, a few years older than Sarah, always found young people’s dramatic stories amusing.
To him, Sarah was a joke.
He knew the original Sarah was infatuated with Ronald. He didn’t expect the new, naive Sarah to be just as smitten.
Fortunately, Holden didn’t mind this version of Sarah.
“Two rules,” Holden replied nonchalantly. “Sarah, if I see you with any other intentions or making any strange moves-”
Holden wasn’t distrustful of Sarah; it was just that because of Linda, Holden kept his distance from many young women.
A couple of years ago, Linda had tried to drug Holden and had even deliberately left her underwear under Holden’s pillow. Holden particularly despised such manipulative actions and tactics.
Sarah reassured, “Mr. Holden, rest assured! My heart is all for Ronald. I will absolutely not bother you. If I do, it will only be to ask for advice on how to pursue Ronald. I would never try to make a move on someone as important as you.”
Seeing her obedient tone, Holden couldn’t help but picture Sarah’s face pretending to be pitiful.
“Alright,” he agreed.
Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, tonight, she wouldn’t have to listen to Ronald and Elisa’s “ruckus”.
That evening, Sarah and Merry returned.
Sarah had to pack her things to move, and Merry came to help.
When Sarah was carrying her suitcase downstairs, she ran into Elisa and Ronald again.
Ronald’s gaze fell on Sarah’s suitcase. “Sarah, where are you going?”
Sarah replied coldly, “I’m a married woman, of course, I’m going to my husband.”
Ronald’s expression stiffened, and he looked at Sarah again.
She wasn’t wearing makeup today. Her small face looked a bit fragile, and there were dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating she hadn’t slept well the night before. Despite that, she was still beautiful, with her sharp chin, fair skin, and lightly pursed lips, exuding a mix of elegance and composure.
Ronald’s lips twitched. “We’ll be quiet tonight, you don’t have to-” He paused, feeling annoyed.
Why was he explaining himself to Sarah?
This woman had first given up on him to go abroad and later married a rich man for money.
Why did he still care about her?
Seeing Ronald’s expression, Elisa bit her lip. “Sarah, I wish you happiness with Mr. Holden. A man like Mr. Holden must be hard to handle, and there must be many women chasing him. You should hold on tight.”
Sarah retorted mockingly, “Don’t worry, I love my husband very much and will definitely hold on to him.”
Pretending to love Ronald in front of Holden and pretending to love Holden in front of Ronald-Sarah actually loved neither and wasn’t close to either. She took a deep breath, fearing that one day, Holden and Ronald might chat and expose her lies.
Elisa watched Sarah’s departing figure. Before this, Elisa had always thought Ronald was the best man she could get.
But after meeting Holden, she realized there was always someone better.
She had already beaten Sarah once.
Could she do it again?