I Played A Mean Wife But Cried In Secret Chapter 09

I Played A Mean Wife But Cried In Secret Chapter 09

[Do you think Elias recognizes you as that girl from years ago?]

The System asked, not noticing it hadn’t used the cold, rigid title of “male lead” this

time.

“I don’t think so.”

I was all wrong back then-dowdy, insecure, scrawny. Nothing like I am now.

“And I don’t want him to recognize me either.”

Shame washed over me at the thought of all the cruel things I’d done lately.

If he saw that the girl he’d once helped had turned into someone so foolish, so vain, so

malicious… he’d be so disappointed.

The System’s tone turned stiff,

[Stop overthinking. Following the plot is part of paving his way to success. No lead ever

gets an easy path.]

“I know, I know.”

I repeated softly.

That was why I agreed to take the adopted daughter’s place. Why I accepted this mission

without a second thought.

I wanted to watch Elias pick himself up, to see him rise again.

But…

Images of Elias covered in scars filled my mind,

enduring backbreaking labor, underground fights, and endless humble compromises.

My eyes slowly grew damp.

“Why does chasing success have to hurt this much?”

I hated seeing him suffer like this.

It was December 31st.

I put on the coat Elias had given me, ready to spend New Year’s Eve with him.

Yet when I found him, a beautiful young woman stood right beside him.

[The female lead has finally appeared. She’s the underground fighting ring owner’s daughter. After you divorce him, she’ll be the one standing by his side as he rebuilds his

life.]

The real female lead.

I froze in my tracks, suddenly wanting to turn and leave.

But it was too late.

They both heard my footsteps and turned to look at me at the same time.

The girl, Scarlett, spoke first in a playful tone,

“So this is why you turned down my New Year’s Eve invitation. You already had plans.”

Elias walked over, took my bag naturally, and simply nodded.

I noticed he wasn’t wearing the down jacket I’d bought him, but an unfamiliar coat I’d

never seen before.

The same brand logo was stitched onto the hem of Scarlett’s clothes too.

I vaguely remembered this from the plot. The female lead, seeing how strapped he was

for cash, had given him the coat.

Was Elias wearing the gift from Scarlett now?

A strange, uneasy twinge settled in my chest, indescribable and sour.

Scarlett greeted me like an old friend, no awkwardness at all.

She looked at me for a moment, then her expression shifted.

“Oh, I know you.”

Before I could react, she pulled out a photo.

“Aren’t you the one stringing Kian along? Getting him to spend a fortune on you,

talking about marriage and a bunch of kids. So how’d you end up with Elias?”