Chapter 1

My boyfriend and brother didn't know that after they hurt me for their charity beneficiary exactly 100 times, I would leave them for good and never look back.

All the love and privileges I once had, they now showered on that girl they sponsored.

I, on the other hand, was discarded like trash.

The 94th time they hurt me, I called Captain Miller:

"Please arrange a faked death for me. I'm ready to execute the police mission immediately."

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At the National Heroes' Memorial, tombstones stood solemn and dignified under the sunlight.

I placed the flowers I held, tears welling up in my eyes as I looked at the black-and-white photos of my parents.

Captain Miller of the Veridian City Police Department, looking at his fallen comrades' orphaned daughter, wore a colder, more serious expression than usual.

"Eleanor, are you sure you want to rejoin the force? Your parents were heroes who sacrificed for their country; they died with honor. But as parents, they would never have wanted you to follow the same path. Besides, your brother and boyfriend would never agree."

"Captain Miller, I understand better than anyone the importance of putting duty and community before personal desires. You know I've always looked up to my parents, vowing to contribute to my country and society. You even helped me choose which police academy to attend; you should know me best."

My voice was firm, my face set with an unshakeable resolve as I spoke.

After a long pause, Captain Miller sighed. "Since your mind is made up, I won't try to dissuade you. Undercover narcotics officers must conceal their identities. All your current information can no longer be used. I will quickly arrange a faked death, making Eleanor Evans's identity disappear completely from the world. Prepare yourself and await my notification."

With my wish granted, a heavy weight lifted from my heart.

I bowed to the esteemed elder and slowly walked away.

When I arrived home, the usually quiet living room was unusually tense today.

My brother, Marcus Evans, and my boyfriend, Liam Carter, sat on the sofa, their faces incredibly grim.

Beside them, Chloe, with her messy, bird's nest hair, was crying, sobbing out her complaints.

"Mr. Evans, Mr. Carter, please don't blame Miss Evans. I know she didn't mean to cut my hair like this. It's all my fault; I made her angry, and she took all her frustration out on me."

Seeing her put on such a pitiful, aggrieved act, Liam's eyes grew darker, his voice filled with anger.

"You don't need to make excuses for her. Marcus and I know her entitled attitude all too well."

"I've spoiled her rotten over the years! Don't worry, we'll get justice for you today." Marcus chimed in, then shot me a cold glare, his tone severe.

"Eleanor, look at what you've done! Apologize to Chloe immediately!"

Catching the fleeting glimpse of triumph on Chloe's face, I remained silent, my expression cold.

I hadn't seen Chloe in days, so how could I have suddenly cut her hair?

It was clearly just another one of Chloe's staged setups.

But I didn't bother to explain, because I knew that no matter how clumsy the accusation, if Chloe said it, my brother and my boyfriend would believe it.

Just as I expected, seeing my indifferent demeanor, Marcus's anger flared even more.

"You're completely out of line. Liam, hold her down for me!"

I stared at them in disbelief. Before I could say anything, Liam had already pinned me down, making me immobile, while Marcus picked up a pair of scissors and, without hesitation, harshly snipped my waist-length hair.

Watching strands of black silk flutter to the ground, my heart instantly clenched in pain.

I remembered when Marcus, as a child, clumsily tried to tie my ponytail, taking ages to get it right.

And Liam's favorite thing was to buy me all sorts of cute hair clips, placing them in my hair himself.

After Mom and Dad were killed in the line of duty, our family was just the two of us siblings.

My brother, Marcus, built his empire from the ground up, raising me alone, spoiling me rotten to the best of his ability.

When I was fifteen, he introduced me to his best friend, Liam Carter.

Liam fell for me at first sight and couldn't wait until I was an adult to confess his feelings, becoming my official boyfriend.

From then on, I had two men who doted on me unconditionally.

They indulged my every whim, except for one thing: they feared I'd follow in our parents' footsteps and ultimately sacrifice myself, so they forbade me from applying to police academy.

But I secretly enrolled without their knowledge, carefully studying for four years, only dreaming of the day I could pick up my parents' badge.

Now that I had graduated, I still didn't know how to tell them about joining the force.

Until Chloe appeared, and I realized there was no longer any need to say goodbye to them.

Chloe was a scholarship recipient sponsored by the Evans Corporation. The corporation sponsored hundreds, even thousands, of students every year, but Chloe was the only one who showed up in person to thank us. Not only that, but she also found a way to get a job at the Evans Corporation, growing closer to Marcus and Liam.

The moment I first saw Chloe, I disliked her, sensing she was incredibly manipulative. Chloe's subsequent actions only confirmed this.

She not only loved to play the victim and feign innocence, framing me countless times for hurting her, but even, a year ago during that major earthquake, she stole credit for my actions.

Marcus and Liam both believed it was Chloe who had bravely saved them, disregarding her own safety, and that's why they'd doted on her ever since.

But it was *me* whose legs were chafed raw by mud and whose fingers were broken by rocks that day, all to save them. After pulling them out, I collapsed from exhaustion, only for Chloe to take all the credit.

Time and again, being falsely accused had turned my heart to ice, so I hadn't even planned on telling them about rejoining the force.

Yet, I never imagined they would be so heartless as to cut off my long hair just because of a few casual accusations from Chloe.

After my long hair fell to the floor, Liam released me, and Marcus threw down the scissors. Then, they both fawned over Chloe, taking her to dinner.

They never looked at me once the entire time.

Watching them walk away, I slumped amidst a pile of my chopped hair, letting out a bitter laugh.

The next morning, as I opened my bedroom door, I saw Marcus and Liam waiting outside, frowning at me.

"Eleanor, don't throw such entitled tantrums anymore. Chloe is our family's savior; you should treat her kindly."

"You're still the one we love most. Being good to her is just our way of repaying a debt. Don't be jealous of her."

I had grown sick and tired of hearing these words over the past year. My thin lips parted, and I spoke a single number.

"95."

The two men exchanged a look, then spoke in unison:

"What 95?"

I looked at them, my voice as still as stagnant water.

"Marcus Evans, Liam Carter. This is the 95th time you've hurt me for Chloe. By the 100th time, I, the one you claim to love most, will be gone for good!"

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