Ficorpio
Chapter 1
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First Edition
In CEO novels, the supporting female characters are usually wealthy heiresses, but I wasn’t so Montgomerycky. By the time I was transported into the story, the original character’s family had already gone bankrupt.
Not only did I have to shoulder a massive debt, but I also had to face the revenge of the domineering CEO.
Because the original host had slapped the female lead right in front of him.
1
“It seems Miss Montgomery no longer wants her hand?”
This was the first thing the male lead, Sebastian, said to me after I realized I had transmigrated into the novel.
Just a moment before I took over as the original host, Sophia, she had slapped the female lead of this story, Nina.
Unlike other CEO romance novels, the original protagonist resented the female lead not because she was competing for the male lead’s affection, but because the Montgomery family’s bankruptcy was caused by Nina.
The female lead, Nina, was originally the adopted daughter of the Montgomery family.
Sophia had struggled with a heart condition since childhood and couldn’t play outside freely like other children.
To give Sophia a companion, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery adopted Nina, who had grown up in an orphanage.
Although Nina was adopted, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery always treated her and Sophia equally.
Whatever Sophia had, Nina had to have as well.
At first, Sophia genuinely liked this older sister.
But Nina’s arrival inevitably took away some of the love and attention from Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery.
Especially when Sophia saw Nina freely enjoying the sports she herself couldn’t participate in due to her health, she gradually grew more jealous and resentful toward her sister.
Even so, Sophia never harmed Nina out of jealousy.
As the female lead, Nina’s looks and talents were naturally flawless.
This aroused the jealousy and constant provocations and schemes of another antagonist in the book, Diana Vanderlyn.
At the banquet, Nina deliberately stole the spotlight and shone brightly.
Because she knew Diana couldn’t stand to see her succeed.
When people lose control of their emotions, they are capable of anything.
Diana tried to set up Nina, but Nina turned the tables on her—she arranged for Diana to be assaulted by two thugs and even left behind a recording.
Nina had intended to use this opportunity to eliminate Diana as a threat once and for all.
Chapter 2
But in doing so, she thoroughly angered the Vanderlyn family, bringing disaster upon the Montgomery family.
The Montgomery family went bankrupt, and in despair, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery took their own lives.
Yet the tragic sacrifice of the Montgomery family served merely as a plot device in the book to reunite Nina with her biological parents.
2
“Sophia.” Sebastian’s menacing voice called my name, interrupting my thoughts.
“How dare you zone out right in front of me? It looks like I’ve been too easy on you before.”
I steadied my breath and gave Nina a cold glance as she held her cheek. “Does Mr. Ashford think I shouldn’t have slapped her?”
Sebastian appeared taken aback by my question.
He paused for a moment before replying, “Nina was only trying to help you, and you repaid her with violence. Truly, no good deed goes unpunished.”
Sebastian’s gaze drifted toward the piano in the corner. “I heard Miss Montgomery enjoys playing the piano? In that case…”
Before Sebastian could finish, Nina quickly grabbed his arm. “Sebastian, I’m fine.”
Sebastian’s expression softened instantly. “Your face is swollen, and you say you’re fine?”
Nina shook her head at him, then turned to look at me. “Miss Montgomery, the Montgomery family raised me for twenty years. I’ve already transferred the expenses to your brother. Now that you’ve slapped me, I no longer owe the Montgomery family anything.”
After the Montgomery family went bankrupt, Nina was taken back by her biological parents.
Twenty years of raising a child were repaid with $70,000 from Nina and a cold, indifferent “my condolences.”
“What a way to say you’re no longer indebted to the Montgomery family!” Even though I wasn’t the original host, Nina’s words still infuriated me.
“Has no one told you that the Montgomery family went bankrupt because of you?” I couldn’t help but laugh.
Because she was the female lead, everyone protected her?
In the original story, Nina’s biological parents and the male lead, Sebastian, kept her in the dark about the fact that the Montgomery family’s bankruptcy was actually her doing—all to spare her the grief of their downfall.
3
But I believe that even if no one else said it, Nina must have known.
Nina’s character wasn’t an innocent, pure flower.
Rather, she was the kind of “femme fatale” that’s quite popular nowadays—not only clever and cunning but also highly accomplished in business.
Although the Montgomery family wasn’t exceptionally wealthy, their company was by no means small.
As the adopted daughter, wouldn’t Nina look into the collapse of her adoptive parents’ company?
The author once remarked that Nina was not a perfect heroine—she had her flaws and moments of selfishness.
Chapter 3
But after reading this book, I came to truly understand how devastating such a setup was for the victims.
“You knew Diana disliked you, yet you deliberately stole the spotlight at her event, provoking her schemes.You had countless opportunities and ways to handle Diana, but you chose the most extreme approach, leaving the Montgomery family with a disaster.”
Of course, Diana was also at fault, and it was understandable that Nina wanted revenge.
But while she enjoyed her revenge, the Montgomery family went bankrupt and even lost two lives.
“The Montgomery family raised you for twenty years. When you went after Diana, did you ever stop to think about what it would do to the Montgomery family?”
I sneered mockingly. “Nina, I’d really like to see if your heart is as black as they say.”
4
Nina seemed caught off guard when I laid everything out in front of Sebastian.
Her face paled, then flushed with anger. “Sophia, don’t you know why the Montgomery family adopted me in the first place?”
Nina’s expression was filled with bitterness. “Everyone thinks I’m lucky—even though I was lost as a child, I was adopted by a wealthy family. But how would they know that, while I was called the Montgomery family’s adopted daughter, in reality, I was just a plaything for you, Sophia?”
Hearing Nina’s words, Sebastian looked heartbroken beside her.
Nina stared intently at me. “I not only had to please you, but I also had to constantly monitor your moods—because if you ever disliked me, I might be abandoned.”
“So you deliberately provoked Diana?” Leo, the original host’s older brother, rushed in from outside.
His chest rose and fell rapidly, and his breathing was somewhat labored.
In the original story, upon hearing that Nina had brought Sebastian to meet Sophia, he rushed back immediately.
But he was still a step too late.
After Sophia slapped Nina, Sebastian had someone break one of her hands.
Sophia’s health was not good, and her only hobby was playing the piano.
Although her hand eventually healed, she could never play the piano as well as she once could.
And this was precisely the beginning of Sophia’s descent into darkness.
The author once explained in the comments that tragedy is about tearing apart something beautiful to show it to others.
Sophia’s life was a tragedy.
5
Even though he now had almost nothing, Leo still carried himself like a nobleman.
He looked me over anxiously, and only after confirming I was unharmed did he relax a little.
“Does it matter whether it was intentional or not?” Sebastian interjected, perhaps worried the situation might turn against Nina. “Leo, you should be grateful that your Montgomery family once took Nina in. Otherwise, your sister’s hand might not have been saved.”