I Quit Being Docile, You Beg For My Attention

I am the infamous Mad Heiress.

Once, someone mocked my late mother. I shattered his kneecaps and made him kowtow a thousand times at her grave.

Someone kicked my dog. I released a thousand snakes into her house, photographed her wetting herself in fear, and posted the images everywhere.

Since then, everyone avoids me.

Later, on vacation in B City, my wallet was stolen. I was about to have my guards break the thiefs hands when a man appeared. He pinned the thief down, got my wallet, and tossed it back.

"Kid, traveling alone? Pickpockets target out-of-towners. Be careful."

In that moment, my heart fluttered.

I learned he was B Universitys most popular guy. He liked "good girls"sweet, obedient, innocent.

The next day, I transferred to B University. I hid my true self and approached him.

I made him bento boxes, showing the burns on my fingers. I handed him water and towels at basketball, always lowering my gaze shyly.

We got together. I kept up the act for three years. My best friend said I seemed brainwashed.

For him, I endured anything.

Until a video arrived on my phone.

The always aloof man was riding a motorcycle in a downpour. A girl with fiery red hair and bold tattoos sat behind him.

The caption read: "The one he loved all his youth is back. A good girl like you should step aside now."

Step down? You want me to step down? Do you think Im a pushover?

It was midnight, and River still hadn't returned.

I crushed the walnut I was rolling in my hand and called him. The moment he answered, my voice was choked with tears.

"River, it's thundering outside. I'm so scared. When are you coming back?"

If my friends back in A City saw me acting like this, their jaws would drop to the floor.

The noisy background on his end disappeared abruptly.

His gentle voice came through. "I have some things to handle at the company. I'll be late. You go to sleep first."

"But I'm too scared to sleep. How about I come to the company to find you..."

"No!" he refused sharply, without hesitation.

In the three years we'd been together, he had never spoken to me in that tone.

A chill ran through my heart.

Perhaps realizing his tone was too harsh, he quickly tried to smooth things over.

"Willow, there are other colleagues here. It wouldn't look good if you came. Even though it's my family's company, my dad is testing me. I'm almost through the probationary period. Once this is over, I promise I'll spend more time with you."

Faint, suppressed laughter echoed from his end of the phone.

My eyes grew cold.

Did he really think I was an idiot?

I refused to accept this.

Why should I hand over the man I had worked so hard to get, just because his so-called "first love" had returned?

For me, Willow, when I want something, I will get it by any means necessary.

Let's see exactly where he was in the middle of the night.

My men quickly tracked his location. It was a bar.

The private room's door was slightly ajar.

Inside, a group of men and womenRiver's friendswere gathered. They were cheering loudly, pushing the girl from the video towards him.

"River, aren't we great brothers? We brought the person you've been pining for right to you."

"You two were together in high school. If Sierra hadn't gone abroad with her parents, you would never have broken up."

"Yeah, what does Willow have to do with anything?"

"Everyone at school thinks you like good girls. But only we know you chose her because she is the exact opposite of Sierra! It was the only way you could stop thinking about her!"

"Now that the real deal is back, when are you going to dump that boring good girl?"

River fell silent.

Sierra smiled and spoke up. "River and I are in the past. I think his current girlfriend is quite nice. River likes her a lot, too. I bet he's already forgotten about me..."

"No, don't talk nonsense," River retorted anxiously, terrified she might misunderstand.

The room fell silent.

My heart plummeted straight to the bottom.

After a brief pause, the room erupted again. They shoved River and Sierra closer together, chanting, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

Right as the atmosphere reached its peak, I pushed the door open and walked in.

Facing a room full of shocked, dumbfounded faces, I tilted my head, looking the picture of pure innocence.

"What are you guys playing? Can I join in?"

"Willow!"

River was the first to react, shooting up from the sofa. His hand, which had just been resting on Sierra's shoulder, suddenly seemed to burn him.

"Why are you here... were you following me?"

His face turned livid.

I shook my head innocently. "No, I was just too scared at home and wanted to find somewhere with more people."

River paused, then said anxiously, "So you came to a bar alone? Do you know how messy this place is? Why didn't you call me? You..."

"River, aren't you going to introduce us?" Sierra raised an eyebrow, smiling.

A flash of embarrassment crossed River's face. He had no idea how much I had overheard.

He gave a brief introduction.

From beginning to end, Sierra's eyes were fixed on me. Suddenly, she patted the sofa beside her, inviting me to sit. Before River could stop her, I sat down.

Sierra took a drag of her cigarette, blowing the smoke directly into my face, her red lips curving upward.

"So this is the good little girl River has been spoiling for the past three years. You do look quite obedient."

I snatched the cigarette from her fingers, stubbed it out in the ashtray, and smiled. "No smoking indoors, okay?"

How dare she make me inhale secondhand smoke. If it were the old me, I would have ground the cigarette butt into her face.

A dark glint flashed in Sierra's eyes.

"I heard you've never been to a bar, and you don't drink or smoke. Are we scaring you?"

As she spoke, she handed me a glass of orange juice. Before I could even touch it, she let go. The glass shattered on the floor.

The crisp sound of breaking glass silenced the room for a moment.

Sierra hissed in pain, grabbing a tissue to press against her foot, which had been cut by a shard of glass. She waved her hand, looking apologetic. "Sorry. If you didn't want orange juice, you should have said so. I'll get you something else."

"Willow!"

River strode over and yanked me away from Sierra. He used so much force that I frowned in pain.

In our three years together, he was always terrified I might get a single scratch. It was no exaggeration to say he treated me like I was made of glass. If someone accidentally bumped into me, he would hold a grudge and retaliate.

A wave of bitterness washed over me, and my eyes reddened slightly.

But now, he was already crouching in front of Sierra, carefully tending to her cut.

His friends leaned in, exaggerating the situation.

"Oh my god, the cut is pretty deep. She's bleeding so much."

"Even if the room is a bit dim, it's not like you couldn't catch the glass."

"Who knows if she really didn't see it or if she did it on purpose."

These people had never liked me. When they first found out River was dating me, some of them had openly and covertly mocked me, saying I wasn't good enough for him.

It was true. In B City, I was just a girl from an ordinary family, while River was a wealthy young master. I played the role of a quiet, obedient girl, which meant I didn't fit in with their crowd, so naturally, they looked down on me.

But I didn't care about any of that, as long as River loved me.

Having stopped Sierra's bleeding, River walked over to me, his face dark.

I pursed my lips and said softly, "River, I didn't drop the glass on purpose..."

River used to believe me.

When I first transferred to B University, a girl who hated me hid her necklace in my bag and accused me of stealing it.

I had a hundred ways to prove my innocence and destroy her in return. But before I could do anything, River stormed into my classroom and told everyone I wasn't a thief.

Leaning against his broad chest, I suddenly felt that as long as he believed in me, nothing else mattered.

Later, through whatever strings he pulled, the girl admitted she framed me and left the university.

He had said, "You're so good. How could you ever do something like that?"

I tugged at his sleeve, looking at him with pleading eyes.

But the next second, River shook off my hand.

"Willow, apologize to Sierra."

My mind went blank for a second.

"What?"

He looked at me and repeated it.

"Apologize to Sierra."

A ball of fire erupted in my chest, and my fists clenched. I almost couldn't hold back my true nature, but I forced it down.

I continued to play the victim, squeezing out a few tears. "I didn't do it. Why should I apologize?"

"Forget it, River," Sierra interjected. "Maybe the room is too dark, and she really didn't see it."

River frowned. "You're an important friend of mine. I can't just stand by and watch you be wronged."

It felt like a needle had pierced my heart.

In the past, if I shed a single tear, River would be so frantic he'd want to offer me the world. Now, he only cared about defending someone else.

I sneered inwardly.

Wronged? Who was really being wronged here?

"Willow, if you don't apologize, I won't go on the graduation trip with you."

"Fine, then we won't go."

River froze, his eyes full of shock. He knew how much I had been looking forward to this trip.

I had started planning it a year ago. From domestic spots to international destinations, I had meticulously mapped out every leg of the journey. What to eat, what to play, where to stayI filled three thick notebooks.

I had even joked that not even the apocalypse could stop me from going. He had laughed along, promising he'd go with me no matter what.

But for Sierra, his promise vanished in an instant.

After saying that, I walked over to Sierra.

I picked up a shard of glass from the floor and slashed it hard across my own hand. Blood welled up instantly. It looked far more terrifying than the cut on Sierra's foot.

Gasps filled the room.

Sierra was stunned, staring at me like she had seen a ghost.

River was horrified, yelling, "What are you doing?!"

"River, I told you, I won't admit to something I didn't do." I held up my bleeding hand and smiled. "But since you care about her so much, this should be enough, right?"

With that, I turned and left the bar. On the way back, I received a call from my dad.

"Sweetheart, how are things in B City? Isn't it time to think about coming home?"

Looking at the glaring cut on my hand, I suddenly felt bored with it all.

"I think I've had enough playing here."

I agreed with my dad that as soon as my graduation project was finished, I would return to A City. He happily announced he would throw a grand party for me.

I knew the old man just wanted an excuse to scout for potential marriage alliances.

That night, I moved out of the apartment I shared with River and went back to the dorms.

River apparently didn't expect me to be this angry. He bought my favorite cakes and flowers and had them sent to my classroom repeatedly.

I gave them all to my classmates.

He sent over a hundred text messages, explaining that he only saw Sierra as a friend and that I was the one he truly loved.

I didn't reply to a single one.

On my way back to the dorm, he blocked my path.

"Willow, are you still angry?"

"I admit I went too far that night. I'm sorry. Can you forgive me?"

"I bought the tickets. Let's go on our graduation trip."

He spoke earnestly, even saying he had already packed my bags for me.

I had planned this graduation trip for a long time. Whether River was suitable to be my future husbandperhaps this trip would give me the answer.

After a moment of internal struggle, I finally nodded.

River excitedly pulled me into his car. On the way to the airport, he talked animatedly, seeming like the River from before Sierra returned.

I wondered to myself, was I just overthinking things? Was his relationship with Sierra truly just friendship?

When we arrived at the airport, he settled me in and ran off to buy me hot coffee.

An hour passed, and he still hadn't returned. The airport announcements started broadcasting our flight information.

I called him, but his phone was off.

I began to worry that something had happened to him.

My men reported that River was in a fight in an alley near the airport.

I didn't have time to wonder why he was there; I immediately rushed over.

From a distance, I saw River, his head covered in blood, shielding Sierra behind him. Facing him were five or six young thugs wielding metal pipes.

"River! Hand over that bitch behind you, and we'll spare your life!"

"She conned our boss out of his money and his feelings. She's not getting away with this!"

River was already swaying on his feet, but he forced himself to stay standing.

"As long as I have a breath left in me, you won't touch a hair on her head!"

My heart ached sharply. But the situation was urgent. I stood where I was and shouted toward them, "I've called the police! If you don't leave now, it'll be too late!"

River looked shocked when he saw me. "Willow! What are you doing here... Run!"

One of the thugs rolled his eyes, realizing what was going on, and quickly darted forward, grabbing my shoulder.

"This little chick is yours too? Young Master River, aren't you a bit too greedy?"

"How about this? Let's play a game. Choose one. How about it?"

River's face turned ashen at the thug's words.

I remained expressionless. My bodyguards were lurking in the shadows; these thugs couldn't hurt me.

But I was suddenly very curious. If forced to choose, who would River pick?

"River, don't worry about me! Go save Willow! She's your girlfriend!" Sierra suddenly shouted from behind him.

"They came for me anyway. If they want to kill me or torture me, let them."

Biting her lip hard, Sierra pushed River toward me.

River stumbled forward, suddenly snapped out of his daze, and fiercely grabbed Sierra's hand.

"Are you crazy?! How could I just leave you?!"

"Then... what about Willow?" Sierra looked toward me, a flash of triumph quickly crossing her eyes.

"Willow..." River met my eyes, then suddenly looked away guiltily.

My heart sank into the abyss.

He didn't say a word, but I already knew his choice.

A bitter smile touched my lips.

River, you really... disappoint me time and time again.

"I choose Sierra. She's injured," he said.

He added guiltily, "Willow, wait for me. Once I get Sierra to safety, I'll come right back to save you!"

With that, he hauled Sierra onto his back and ran off into the distance.

Watching his figure fade away, the light in my eyes completely died.

Did he not consider what would happen to a defenseless girl left alone with a group of thugs?

Perhaps he did, he just couldn't bear to let Sierra face it.

"This guy River really has no humanity. If I'm not mistaken, you're his girlfriend, right?"

"Abandoning his current girlfriend for an old flame... River is no good either. Hey, pretty girl, why don't you submit to me?"

"Hehe, let me go first... Ah!"

Men in black suits swarmed from all directions, instantly taking down the thugs.

I brushed off the spots on my clothes where they had touched me and said coldly, "Cripple their arms and legs."

"Yes, ma'am!"

One agonizing scream after another echoed from behind me, accompanied by the roar of an airplane engine overhead. The flight we were supposed to take soared into the sky, gradually disappearing into the clouds.

Back at the university, I blocked out all outside information and locked myself in my dorm for several days and nights until I finally completed my graduation project.

While booking my flight back to A City, a news headline caught my eye.

[Gen Z Jewelry Designer Sierra Reaches the Pinnacle on Her First Exhibition! Multiple Pieces Auctioned for Astronomical Prices!]

Sierra?

The background check I had run on her indeed showed she had studied jewelry design abroad. But from what I knew, her skills were mediocre at best.

Suspecting the news was an exaggeration, I scrolled down. When I saw the pictures of the jewelry, my eyes widened in fury!

These were not her designs!

The designs that fetched those astronomical prices were clearly based on my mother's posthumous sketches!

How did Sierra get access to my mother's designs?

A sudden realization hit me, and my blood ran cold.

I had once shown River my mother's sketches. Did he secretly take photos of them when I wasn't looking?

I immediately sought out River to confront him.

When he saw me, he smiled. "Willow, you finally came to see me. I thought you would never forgive me. Actually, I went back to look for you very quickly that day. I..."

Slap!

I slapped him hard across the face.

"You stole my mother's design sketches and gave them to Sierra!"

River froze, clearly not expecting the normally docile me to strike him. He rubbed his cheek. "Willow, how can you use a word like 'steal'? Sierra was just drawing inspiration..."

"Inspiration? That was blatant plagiarism! Tell her to confess the truth immediately, or don't blame me for blowing this out of proportion!"

River gripped my shoulders, his expression serious.

"Sierra's parents got divorced. The only way she won't be bullied is if she establishes herself here through her own merits."

"Willow, I'm begging you. Please don't blow this up, okay? How much money do you want? I'll buy the designs from you. Will that be enough?"

My hands fell limply to my sides.

He thought I was giving in and stepped forward to hug me. "Be good. You're the most understanding. I promise from now on I will only spoil you and love you. Once you marry into the River family, you'll have whatever you want... Ugh!"

He shoved me away forcefully, staring in disbelief at the hairpin stabbed into his shoulder.

This hairpin was the first gift he had ever given me. I hadn't used hair ties since.

Now, I was giving it back to him.

My long hair cascaded down, hiding the frost on my face, but it couldn't mask the bone-chilling cold in my voice.

I spoke into my phone. "Burn down Sierra's exhibition. Burn every single piece of jewelry. Don't leave a single one intact."

River stared in shock at the person I had suddenly become. The icy aura radiating from me made him instinctively step back.