After Being Dumped by her Boyfriend, She Became his Stepmother

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.

She looked at Clint, and her disgust rose from her stomach.

If he truly felt sorry, why had he decisively abandoned her back then?

"Sylvia, please leave..." Clint said as he reached to pull Sylvia towards the door.

"Let go of me." Sylvia broke free from Clint's hand and took a few steps back. "Don't touch me. I feel repulsed."

While Clint was in confusion, Sylvia sat at the dining table and began to enjoy her breakfast.

Before she finished it, Paulina walked into the room naturally. She was dressed in luxurious attire.

Upon seeing Sylvia, Paulina froze for a moment. Then her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

She pointed at Sylvia and looked at Clint with a face full of grievance. "Didn't you tell me that you broke up with her? Clint, you lied to me..."

Seeing her upset, Clint quickly pulled her into his arms and gently explained the situation. "Sweetheart, she came by herself. It has nothing to do with me..."

He then attentively wiped away the tears at the corner of Paulina's eyes.

Sylvia sneered and turned her head away.

She had never seen Clint so gentle.

Previously, when Sylvia broke down crying over an unfinished project, Clint had coldly stood by and said that she wouldn't solve problems by crying.

Seeing Sylvia's indifferent reaction, Paulina had resentment flashing in her eyes. She began to sob and said, "Sylvia, Clint doesn't love you. Please stop clinging to him. Clint and I are about to get engaged. You're a woman, too. I hope you can understand me."

Sylvia looked at Paulina and didn't know what to say.

Eight years ago, Paulina insisted on going abroad to continue with her education and rejected Clint.

At his most disheartened moment, Sylvia stood by Clint and supported him step by step through it all.

Throughout those eight years, she wholeheartedly cared for him.

When his business faced obstacles, she stayed up all night writing proposals for him.

Finally, she helped Clint achieve his dream.

But on the day Clint was supposed to propose to Sylvia, Paulina came back.

Sylvia didn't know how she managed to leave the hotel. She only remembered Clint roughly removing the wedding ring meant for her.

Then, amidst everyone's shocked gazes, he rushed to the airport and publicly declared that his love had returned.

Watching Clint's grand declarations of love on social media, Sylvia felt like a thousand arrows were piercing her heart, leaving her breathless.

She had once wanted Clint to announce her identity on social media, but he had always told her to wait a little longer.

So she waited eight years.

Paulina made him do that in just one second.

Looking at Paulina's tearful, aggrieved appearance, Sylvia felt ridiculous at that moment.

She gracefully placed her coffee cup down, walked over to Paulina, and smiled.

She was elegant and confident, but Paulina and Clint felt coldness in her smile.

Sylvia said, "If you want to get engaged, you have to ask for my approval."