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Sylvia Payne rubbed her aching back and cautiously made her way down the stairs.
At the corner, she unexpectedly ran into Clint Norris, whom she hadn't seen for three years.
He had dumped her after they had been in a relationship for eight years due to his beloved woman, Paulina Bailey.
As soon as Clint saw Sylvia, he furrowed his eyebrows and sighed, "Sylvia, I know this is unfair to you. But Paulina and I truly love each other. Please consider me owing you in this lifetime... Even if you come to my house and beg me to get back together, I will never agree. Please leave..."
Sylvia didn't know what to say at that moment.
Where was she supposed to go?
This was her home now.
In fact, Sylvia was now Clint's stepmother.
Two days ago, she had gotten married to Clint's father, Roderick Norris.
...
After breaking up with Clint, Sylvia had sworn off love.
She had spent her best eight years with the worthless guy, Clint.
When her proposal ceremony turned into a breakup announcement, she was devastated and even developed a temporary loss of speech.
She couldn't believe that their eight years of love were defeated by one simple sentence, "I'm back", from Clint's beloved woman.
After that, Sylvia began to detest guys and avoided all interactions with them.
She devoted herself entirely to her scientific career, believing that that was how her life would be forever.
Yet, at an academic conference last week, she lost control.
When she was drunk, she clung to Roderick's neck and shamelessly kissed him.
She didn't understand why she was so obsessed with him. They even spent a sleepless night.
After she woke up the next day, she saw the mess around her and realized how absurd the situation was.
There was her torn gown, the shirt missing buttons, and the red marks all over.
As she found Roderick's business card on the floor, she felt all her strength leave her and cried out in despair.
She had slept with the biggest investor in her research project. What would happen to her project in the future?
Sylvia tried to explain the situation to Roderick in a panic, but she froze as she met his eyes.
In the sunlight, Roderick looked so distinguished and charismatic, like an untouchable deity. Sylvia even momentarily forgot what she wanted to say.
Roderick adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses on his nose and said slowly, "Ms. Payne, I will take responsibility for you. If you're willing, we can get married."
Sylvia wanted to refuse him, as she was afraid of repeating her bad experience.
But when Roderick promised to continue funding her research project, she agreed.
So they got married that very afternoon.
Because they had sex too passionately the previous night, Sylvia's legs trembled all the way home. Roderick finally carried her home.
After she saw a family portrait at his place, she realized that Roderick was Clint's father.
"Sylvia, it's me who owes you anyway..." Clint's sigh pulled Sylvia back to reality.
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