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No More Living in Her Shadow
No More Living in Her Shadow
Author: Ninety Thousand Years

Chapter 1

Author: Ninety Thousand Years
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56
The smoke from the burning candles in front of my grandmother’s grave stung my eyes, turning them red.

A bunch of bright flowers lay on the ground. I stared at them mindlessly, my body like an unthinking machine.

The doctor’s words echoed in my head, carrying a hint of regret, “You should get hospitalized soon.”

I was twenty-two years old, and I had just been diagnosed with stage three lung cancer.

My life was supposed to just be starting, but it was already hurtling toward a desperate end.

I gripped the diagnosis. There it was—my name, Lynn May, clearly written on it.

Henry Shaw gave me that name when I was twelve, after I came to live with him.

The other children at the orphanage called me ‘Little Mute’ because I hardly ever said anything.

I still remember that boy, who was a head taller than me, leaning down with warmth and kindness in his eyes.

“You’re so small. Let’s call you Lynn from now on.”

I cherished that name. After all, one only named something if one cared about it.

However, three months ago, Henry introduced me to a woman.

She studied my face, noticed how similar we looked, and asked Henry with a playful smile on her face, “Her name’s Lynn?”

Henry introduced her. “This is Lynette, my childhood friend.”

The girl extended her hand with a face full of arrogance.

“I’m Lynette Monroe.”

I was the tiny, insignificant Lynn, and she was the one and only Lynette.

When my grandmother died when I was six, I wandered the streets covered in filth, scavenging for food until the police officers sent me to the orphanage.

At twelve, Henry picked me out from the crowd of children and brought me home.

No one had ever chosen me so decisively before.

My grandmother used to tell me that as long as someone remembered your name, your soul stayed whole even after death.

Her tombstone read Wanda Carson. However, I could not remember what I was called before I became Lynn May.

“Grandma, I’ll come for you soon. Hold on a little longer…”

I would be joining her soon. After I left, no one would visit us.

I had already reserved a plot next to hers.

Suddenly, the cemetery manager came rushing over, looking troubled.

“Miss May, Mr. Shaw says he’s taking the plot you reserved.”

Wiping away the tears the smoke had pulled from my eyes, I called Henry.

His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.

“Lynn, you finally decide to beg now that your burial plot’s gone?

“I told you to come. Why haven’t you shown up?

“Do you always need to make others wait for you just to feel important?”

I could hear Lynette sobbing softly in the background.

Henry lowered his voice and pressed on, “Lynn, if you don’t come today, don’t bother showing your face to me again.

“You caused this mess. Now, you’ve got to clean it up!”

Three days ago, Lynette’s cat fell from the balcony and died. She had been heartbroken ever since.

Her tear-filled eyes bore into me.

“If he scratched you, I would’ve apologized for him. I’d even kneel if you wanted me to!

“Why did you have to kill him?”

Those tears were enough to make Henry decide I was beyond forgiveness.

He looked at me with his jaw clenched in anger.

“You threw him to his death just because he scratched you?!

“Lynn, how did I never realize how cruel you are to animals?

“Or did you just want to kill him because Lynette loved him?!”

The truth was that the cat had been spooked by the loud party they were throwing downstairs and ran up to the second-floor balcony.

I had been out there smoking and managed to grab him just before he could jump.

However, in his panic, it scratched me badly.

As Henry raged, I stood there with flesh torn and bleeding from the scratches, feeling utterly defeated.

What was the point of explaining to someone who would never believe you?

Since Lynette returned, this had been my life.

After Henry’s comforting words, she eventually ‘graciously’ forgave me.

She planned a funeral for the cat, and Henry demanded that I attend, bow, and apologize in front of everyone.

I refused, and in retaliation, Henry threatened to give my burial plot to the cat.

My grip tightened on the phone, and my knuckles went white.

“Henry, I went to the hospital today...”

He cut me off, feeling irritated.

“It’s just a scratch. How many times do you need to go to the hospital for that?

“When did you become so delicate?

“That cat spent years with Lynette abroad. Do you have any idea how much he meant to her?

“You’re trying to play the victim with your little injuries?

“What’s next? Are you going to threaten to kill yourself?

“Lynn, are you really competing for attention? Can’t you have a little self-respect?”

Competing for attention? What right did I have to compete?

I was a stand-in, a substitute.

No matter how many words were stuck in my throat, they were powerless against his favoritism.

At that moment, as the smoke swirled around me, I was suddenly overwhelmed with confusion and doubt.

If I was not Lynn, who had lived her whole life putting Henry first, who was I?

I did not go to the cat’s funeral. I was dragged to the company instead.

The assistant informed me that Elan Corporation wanted to discuss a partnership.

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  • No More Living in Her Shadow   Chapter 3

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  • No More Living in Her Shadow   Chapter 4

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  • No More Living in Her Shadow   Chapter 5

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    The road was shrouded in darkness. Leon stumbled along, his footsteps quickening with urgency.His biological mother had been driven out of the Pierce family by Madam Pierce when he was just a child.His older brother treated him like a pet. He would play with him when he felt like it and kick him when he did not.Their father despised this unwanted presence that disrupted the harmony of the family. Whenever he was the slightest bit displeased, he would beat Leon until his skin was raw, tossing him into the basement.It was pitch black with no light to break the endless darkness, and he had no food or water.He could not feel time passing, and all of his senses felt magnified.The silence became so profound that he could hear his own fragile nerves snapping, one by one.Desperate, he pounded on the door, crying out for mercy.No one answered.Slowly, he learned to be quiet.He learned to live quietly, grow up quietly, and turn the world upside down quietly.Later, as s

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  • No More Living in Her Shadow   Chapter 8

    The road was shrouded in darkness. Leon stumbled along, his footsteps quickening with urgency.His biological mother had been driven out of the Pierce family by Madam Pierce when he was just a child.His older brother treated him like a pet. He would play with him when he felt like it and kick him when he did not.Their father despised this unwanted presence that disrupted the harmony of the family. Whenever he was the slightest bit displeased, he would beat Leon until his skin was raw, tossing him into the basement.It was pitch black with no light to break the endless darkness, and he had no food or water.He could not feel time passing, and all of his senses felt magnified.The silence became so profound that he could hear his own fragile nerves snapping, one by one.Desperate, he pounded on the door, crying out for mercy.No one answered.Slowly, he learned to be quiet.He learned to live quietly, grow up quietly, and turn the world upside down quietly.Later, as s

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  • No More Living in Her Shadow   Chapter 6

    After moving out of the Shaw Residence, I temporarily settled in an apartment across from Leon’s place.He had a grand villa in the suburbs, but this unit in the city was more convenient for people like him who worked late hours, especially since it was just opposite the company.To make sure he had peace and quiet, he bought both the upper and lower floors, taking up two entire units on the same level.That evening, Vivian called me.“Lynn, where have you been hiding out?!“Henry is getting engaged. I’ll send you the venue details and a list of things we need. You’d better get on it!“The Monroe family is prestigious, and we can’t afford any mistakes…”I interrupted her. “Madam Briggs, I’ve resigned.”She paused for a moment, then let out a cold laugh.“Even if you’ve resigned, you’re still just a servant the Shaw family raised!“Being able to relieve your master’s burden is a privilege for you.”I recalled what Leon had said earlier that day.“They think I’ll stop at noth

  • No More Living in Her Shadow   Chapter 5

    My resignation was nothing more than a petty act of defiance to Henry.He quickly notified the HR and finance departments to fire me, ensuring I received the statutory severance pay.I accepted the money. After all, my hospital bills were mounting.Henry also had the butler contact me, asking where to send my belongings.“Miss Monroe is getting a new pet.” “Mr. Henry instructed that your old room be converted into a pet space.”I replied, “Just throw everything away. I won’t need it anymore.”The doctor told me to stay optimistic. I had about six months left.I glanced over at Leon, feeling a little helpless.I was utterly alone during my hospitalization. Only this former ‘rival’ had come to visit me.He still insisted I should join his company.“You’ve seen it for yourself. I only have six months left. If I die at your company, you’ll be liable for damages.”Even as I said it, doubt crept in. I had no family left, so who would even seek compensation on my behalf?“Well,

  • No More Living in Her Shadow   Chapter 4

    This was not my first encounter with hardship. Back when he was still a boy, Henry had no idea how to hide his brilliance, and as a result, he made a few enemies.As the person closest to him, I once found myself cornered in an alley by a group of boys and girls.They carved their cruel words into my skin—’Henry’s lapdog’.Henry had searched everywhere outside the country for scar removal treatments, yet I still bore a few faint white marks over my heart.Without a moment’s hesitation, I slammed the gas pedal and barreled toward the crowd, hoping to break free from their blockade.However, the spikes scattered on the ground punctured my tires.The airbags deployed, disorienting me as the windows shattered.A pair of strong hands, accompanied by mocking laughter, yanked the door open and pulled me out.“Hey, chick! Are you so scared you’re about to wet yourself?”“Go ahead and pee! We’ll get you some new pants!”Their filthy words echoed in my ears, and the flashing lights in

  • No More Living in Her Shadow   Chapter 3

    Vivian spoke animatedly about what a perfect match Henry and Lynette were.“When our families join forces, there won’t be any place left for you.“By this time next year, I should have a grandchild.“You can just stay home and change my grandson’s diapers or something.“I can still offer you a meal or two.”Henry and I were supposed to have a child together.If the baby had been born, he would be three years old now.The year Henry’s father passed away, Vivian could do nothing but cry. I had to oversee the funeral while helping Henry deal with the relatives with ulterior motives. The stress caused me to miscarry.We could not let anyone see our weaknesses, so we hid in the hospital room. Our eyes were red.Henry held me in his arms tightly, as though I were his last connection to the world.He wept as though his heart was breaking.“Lynn, I’m so tired…“Lynn, you’re all I have left…”Was it me he really wanted to hold back then? Did he have someone else in mind?Endurin

  • No More Living in Her Shadow   Chapter 2

    Shaw Corporation was officially handed over to Henry three years ago, when his father passed away.However, behind the scenes, most of the company’s burdensome work fell on my shoulders.After his father's death, there was an intricate mess of company politics, with subtle shifts of influence beneath the surface.Henry had to maintain the peace. He could not afford to tear things apart, so I became the one wielding the knife.I was insulted both openly and behind my back. The doctor said my condition had worsened because my body was running on empty.Lately, I had been competing with Elan Corporation for a project. We had been at each other’s throats, with both sides taking losses. I clenched my teeth and pushed through the pressure, only to finally earn a chance to negotiate a win-win deal.“Miss May, Madam Briggs is here too. She’d like to withdraw some money from the company’s account...”As soon as I walked into the office, my assistant hurried to brief me.Henry's moth

  • No More Living in Her Shadow   Chapter 1

    The smoke from the burning candles in front of my grandmother’s grave stung my eyes, turning them red. A bunch of bright flowers lay on the ground. I stared at them mindlessly, my body like an unthinking machine.The doctor’s words echoed in my head, carrying a hint of regret, “You should get hospitalized soon.”I was twenty-two years old, and I had just been diagnosed with stage three lung cancer.My life was supposed to just be starting, but it was already hurtling toward a desperate end. I gripped the diagnosis. There it was—my name, Lynn May, clearly written on it.Henry Shaw gave me that name when I was twelve, after I came to live with him.The other children at the orphanage called me ‘Little Mute’ because I hardly ever said anything.I still remember that boy, who was a head taller than me, leaning down with warmth and kindness in his eyes.“You’re so small. Let’s call you Lynn from now on.”I cherished that name. After all, one only named something if one cared ab

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