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."

Upon hearing Sylvia's words, Clint was annoyed. He grabbed Sylvia's wrist. "Sylvia, stop it. "I know you still have feelings for me, but Paulina and I are getting engaged. That can't be changed."

Just then, Roderick's call came through.

His gentle male voice instantly lifted Sylvia's spirits.

"Sylvia, I'm asking my driver to pick you up now. Let's go and choose the ring."

Sylvia responded with a soft "okay." She didn't expect that Roderick had remembered her offhand request.

After they got home that evening, she had glanced at her bare ring finger and sighed, "Even without a wedding, there should at least be a ring."

She merely said that to mock herself, as she never expected Roderick to actually buy her a ring because she and Roderick didn't have much affection for each other.

Besides, Roderick was a wealthy businessman. He might have just chosen to marry her to cover up a scandalous one-night stand.

Yet, Roderick actually took it seriously.

Clint was unhappy to see Sylvia ignoring him. He gripped her wrist tightly and said with more emphasis, "Sylvia, are you even listening to me? Please leave. You're putting me in a difficult position here. If you truly love me, then bless my new relationship. Okay?"

As they talked, Roderick's black Cullinan pulled into the Norris family's estate.

The driver walked up to Sylvia and bowed respectfully. "Mrs. Norris, please get in the car."

At that moment, Paulina, with swollen eyes, tugged on Clint's sleeve. "It's okay, Clint. After eight years of your relationship, I should have expected this. It was foolish of me to think your love for me would never change... Sylvia, I'm letting go of Clint for you..."

Seeing Paulina's distress, Clint looked at the driver coldly and said, "I don't know what Sylvia told you, but Paulina is my fiancée. She is the real Mrs. Norris."

With that, Clint turned and glared at Sylvia and frowned.

He said, "Sylvia, you actually bribed the driver to upset Paulina. Your tricks to win me back are truly desperate."

Then, under the driver's puzzled gaze, Clint arrogantly lifted his chin and said, "Let's go. I know you're here to pick us up and choose the ring."

The driver nodded in confusion. But he was there to pick up Sylvia.

Paulina stood beside them and suddenly seemed to understand something. She clung to Clint's arm and asked with excitement, "So? Your father agreed to our marriage?"

Clint gently ruffled Paulina's hair and said instantly in a softened tone with affection, "How could he refuse? You're such an amazing woman. I heard him on the phone this morning talking about choosing the ring. Look. Isn't that why the driver was sent here to pick us up?"

Paulina instantly looked at Sylvia with triumph in her eyes.

She raised her tone with delight, saying, "Well then, Sylvia, we'll be off now. Goodbye."

Before Sylvia could respond, Paulina eagerly pulled Clint into the car.

Watching the car disappear, Sylvia let out a cold snort and dialed Roderick's number.

At that moment, Roderick was sitting in his office and staring absentmindedly at his ring finger.

Seeing Sylvia calling him, he composed himself and answered in a steady tone, "Has the driver arrived?"

"He has, but then he left with Clint."

After a brief silence, Sylvia heard the sound of a garage door opening.

Then Roderick said in a slightly flattering voice, "Feel free to take any of the cars. I've already transferred all of them to your name. See you soon."

In the garage, dozens of luxury cars lined up. They were so dazzling.

Finally, Sylvia chose the most understated one among them.

As soon as Sylvia entered the MT Jewelry Store, a commotion greeted her.

It was Clint and Paulina.

They stood in the reception hall and were blocked by dozens of staff at the entrance to the second floor.

Paulina pointed angrily at the receptionist. "Are you out of your mind? Do you even know who my husband is? My husband is the sole heir of the Norris family, the wealthiest family! Why aren't we allowed on the second floor?"

MT was a leading global jewelry brand and catered exclusively to the affluent and influential.

However, based on net worth calculations, only top-tier individuals had the privilege of accessing exclusive services on the second floor.

Clearly, Clint was not one of them.

Sylvia clutched the hem of her dress tightly.

She hadn't expected Roderick to let her buy the wedding ring in such a place.

She assumed he would just pass off something simple, as he might suspect she had ulterior motives after she accidentally slept with him.

Yet, Roderick not only trusted her but also offered her the best.

Reflecting on her past eight years, Sylvia suddenly felt a sense of irony.

Seeing Sylvia in the store, Clint didn't feel angry anymore. He said helplessly, "Sylvia? Haven't you caused enough trouble today? Just leave as soon as possible. Even though you follow me all day, I won't change my mind."

Sylvia brushed aside a few stray hairs from her forehead and didn't want to talk with that hypocrite.

She turned to a receptionist and said, "Hello, I'm here to choose a ring."

Upon hearing this, Paulina laughed, with her hand covering her mouth. "Sylvia, do you even know what kind of jewelry store MT is? Please, stop being so stubborn. Clint and I are getting married soon. Please don't disrupt us anymore. Plus, it's really quite embarrassing for a woman to buy herself a ring and beg a guy to marry her."

Ignoring Paulina's taunts, Sylvia simply handed over her prestigious credit card. "May I go to the second floor?"

Paulina burst into laughter as Sylvia's words fell. "Sylvia, do you know who can go to the second floor? Either you're very wealthy or incredibly valuable. Don't do such ridiculous things just to get Clint's attention."

Sylvia shrugged indifferently. She was no longer the same woman she had been before.

Over those eight years, she gave up her talent in biomedical research to delve into finance just because Clint once said he wanted his own company.

She had tried her best to support him.

But thankfully, she broke up with Clint and got back to her beloved career.

She was a sought-after biomedical expert internationally now.

The latest breakthrough in cancer spread delay was her own creation.

She intended to reciprocate Roderick's generosity with the finest ring she could buy.

She did that under her own name, not as Mrs. Norris.

From the moment she left Clint, Sylvia knew that she was herself first and then a guy's wife.

The receptionist hesitated as she accepted Sylvia's prestigious credit card.

She was uncertain if Sylvia could qualify for the second floor, as she was plainly dressed.

But the receptionist left with Sylvia's credit card as she saw Sylvia's graceful and composed demeanor.

Everyone waited to ridicule Sylvia, as she was too confident, especially Paulina, standing behind Clint.

Her eyes were filled with gleeful delight.

She was eager to see Sylvia humiliated, to highlight her own sophistication.

But then, the receptionist gasped, and the store manager came to welcome Sylvia. The entire hall fell silent.

The manager rushed down from the second floor and bowed respectfully to Sylvia. "Ms. Sylvia Payne, welcome to MT. I am Michael Clark, the manager here."