Chapter 45: Crafting Personas 

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Vivian’s professional woes stretched from dawn till dusk, with little progress. Calls and emails that once yielded instant results now went unanswered, even with in–person visits. Years had passed, and she’d forgotten how difficult her early days at the magazine had been. She believed her current success was entirely due to her talent and hard work. So, when John’s message implied that her access to his influence had ended, she wasn’t overly panicked. She was the chief editor of a major international fashion magazine’s Greater China region, respected by her superiors and obeyed by her subordinates. She’d held this position for ten years, her power seemingly unshakeable. 

That arrogance crumbled within a day. Facing constant rejections, she suddenly realized she still relied entirely on the Janson Group’s clout. As chief editor, as Vivian herself, she held no real value in the eyes of these powerful people. She’d clung to Amy for the future, but now realized without Amy, she had nothing. 

She sat at her desk, her gaze vacant. Then, Hanson called. 

“John’s gone mad. He hates me now because of the switched daughter – what does it have to do with me?! My work’s a disaster!” 

She vented her frustrations, overwhelmed by a wave of self–pity. She’d worked tirelessly all these years, only to be treated so coldly by John! She’d believed she held a significant place in his heart, given their long history. She’d envisioned replacing the “substitute” and then confessing her long–held feelings. Now, nothing remained. She was nothing. 

Hanson had no patience for Vivian’s self–pity. Once he got the information he wanted, he hung 

1. up. 

Amy wasn’t actually a Janson heiress! This meant Amy’s value would diminish over time, reducing the resources she could access from the Janson family. Hanson’s expression darkened; this news shattered his plans. 

No, he had to maximize the benefits Amy could obtain, knowing those benefits would eventually trickle down to him. His eyes gleamed with calculation; there was no trace of the refined, aloof→→ young man Amy admired. He was utterly crass. 

Lily only learned about Vivian’s dismissal two days later, from Bella. John, averse to petty triumphs, never used such events to seek validation from Lily, a testament to her effective guidance. 

In their early days, John had once mentioned turning down a confession to garner praise from Lily. She praised him, but only once. The second time he tried, he got a scolding. Rejecting advances while in a relationship was basic decency; not something worthy of praise in Lily’s 

view. 

“If you think doing that was for me, then I’ll make room for them. Go be lovey–dovey. I don’t need that much credit.” 

Lily’s views on relationships were straightforward. Their relationship was a mutual choice; mentioning occasional rejections was cute; frequent mentions felt like a demand for validation, and what kind of validation was that? 

John learned his lesson. He never discussed such matters with Lily again. She was right; it was just 

a matter of course and not something to be boasted about. Besides, he’d seen it as problem–solving, not accepting a confession. 

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Chapter 45: Crafting Personas 

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Bella, however, had embellished the story, hoping to see Lily’s reaction, but she failed. After returning to China, Bella, eager to meet Lily while maintaining an air of casual indifference, used Vivian as an entry point. Seeing Lily’s calm demeanor, Bella fumed inwardly. This girl was no pushover; no wonder Vivian couldn’t beat her. 

Lily set down her coffee cup, getting straight to the point.“You said you’d help me. How?” Bella had ordered Lily’s coffee beforehand, knowing she didn’t like coffee, and observing her briefly sniffing the cup before setting it down was enough to read her anxiety. Bella was satisfied; she knew Lily couldn’t be as calm as she seemed. 

“Vivian was shocked because she thought she saw her cousin, the Lily who looks nine–tenths like you even your names are identical.” 

– 

You’re a complete replacement! 

Lily calmly responded with a “Oh,” leaning forward, her gaze unwavering, asking slowly, “Only nine–tenths similar?” 

Bella’s pupils dilated; the face hidden in her memory for fifteen years resurfaced. Up close, even the tiny beauty mark by the corner of her eye matched perfectly! 

It wasn’t nine–tenths; the girl before her was almost an exact replica of Lily. It explained John’s intense attachment. 

Bella had spent days strategizing abroad, realizing that attempting to harm Lily was futile. A change of approach was needed; gaining favor with the current person was far more reliable than clinging to memories of the past. 

She hadn’t revealed her plans to Lindsey; the other woman was fixated on revenge, and there was no need to lock herself into that approach. Her early return was to assess Lily’s attitude. There were no permanent alliances; if necessary, she could abandon Lindsey; their relationship wasn’t strong to begin with. 

“You’re very similar, almost identical.” 

• . 

“I hear you were close friends. Why help me?” 

“She was a kind person, and I know she wanted everyone to be happy after she was gone. I didn’t like you at first, but I’ve changed my mind. It’s been fifteen years. Maybe we should all move on.” Bella sounded wistful. 

With that, her persona was set. Bella intended to gauge the true nature of her former friend, but Lily knew it was impossible with her obvious lies. Considering Bella’s years of closeness, her acting must have been truly exceptional. 

“You’re a good person.” Lily’s sincerity was dripping with sarcasm. 

“Perhaps we can become good friends,” Lily added, smiling. Creating personas was child’s play. After sufficient small talk, Lily addressed her real concern. 

“I’ve noticed Amy and Andy aren’t getting along. Is there a misunderstanding between them?”