Chapter 45 : Crafting Personas Menu Vivians professional woes stretched from dawn till dusk , with little progress . Calls and emails that once yielded instant results now went unanswered , even with in person visits . Years had passed , and shed forgotten how difficult her early days at the magazine had been . She believed her current success was entirely due to her talent and hard work . So , when Johns message implied that her access to his influence had ended , she wasnt overly panicked . She was the chief editor of a major international fashion magazines Greater China region , respected by her superiors and obeyed by her subordinates . Shed held this position for ten years , her power seemingly unshakeable . That arrogance crumbled within a day . Facing constant rejections , she suddenly realized she still relied entirely on the Janson Groups clout . As chief editor , as Vivian herself , she held no real value in the eyes of these powerful people . Shed clung to Amy for the future , but now realized without Amy , she had nothing . She sat at her desk , her gaze vacant . Then , Hanson called . Johns gone mad . He hates me now because of the switched daughter what does it have to do with me ?! My works a disaster ! She vented her frustrations , overwhelmed by a wave of self pity . Shed worked tirelessly all these years , only to be treated so coldly by John ! Shed believed she held a significant place in his heart , given their long history . Shed envisioned replacing the substitute and then confessing her long held feelings . Now, nothing remained . She was nothing . Hanson had no patience for Vivians self pity . Once he got the information he wanted , he hung up . Amy wasnt actually a Janson heiress ! This meant Amys value would diminish over time , reducing the resources she could access from the Janson family . Hansons expression darkened ; this news shattered his plans . No , he had to maximize the benefits Amy could obtain , knowing those benefits would eventually trickle down to him . His eyes gleamed with calculation ; there was no trace of the refined , aloof →→ young man Amy admired . He was utterly crass . Lily only learned about Vivians dismissal two days later , from Bella . John , averse to petty triumphs , never used such events to seek validation from Lily , a testament to her effective guidance . In their early days , John had once mentioned turning down a confession to garner praise from Lily . She praised him , but only once . The second time he tried , he got a scolding . Rejecting advances while in a relationship was basic decency ; not something worthy of praise in Lilys view . If you think doing that was for me , then Ill make room for them . Go be lovey dovey . I dont need that much credit . Lilys views on relationships were straightforward . Their relationship was a mutual choice ; mentioning occasional rejections was cute ; frequent mentions felt like a demand for validation , and what kind of validation was that ? John learned his lesson . He never discussed such matters with Lily again . She was right ; it was just a matter of course and not something to be boasted about . Besides , hed seen it as problem solving , not accepting a confession . C 12.0 % Chapter 45 : Crafting Personas : Menu Bella , however , had embellished the story , hoping to see Lilys reaction , but she failed . After returning to China , Bella , eager to meet Lily while maintaining an air of casual indifference , used Vivian as an entry point . Seeing Lilys calm demeanor , Bella fumed inwardly . This girl was no pushover ; no wonder Vivian couldnt beat her . Lily set down her coffee cup , getting straight to the point . You said youd help me . How ? Bella had ordered Lilys coffee beforehand , knowing she didnt like coffee , and observing her briefly sniffing the cup before setting it down was enough to read her anxiety . Bella was satisfied ; she knew Lily couldnt be as calm as she seemed . Vivian was shocked because she thought she saw her cousin , the Lily who looks nine tenths like you even your names are identical . Youre a complete replacement ! Lily calmly responded with a Oh , leaning forward , her gaze unwavering , asking slowly , Only nine tenths similar ? Bellas pupils dilated ; the face hidden in her memory for fifteen years resurfaced . Up close , even the tiny beauty mark by the corner of her eye matched perfectly ! It wasnt nine tenths ; the girl before her was almost an exact replica of Lily . It explained Johns intense attachment . Bella had spent days strategizing abroad , realizing that attempting to harm Lily was futile . A change of approach was needed ; gaining favor with the current person was far more reliable than clinging to memories of the past . She hadnt revealed her plans to Lindsey ; the other woman was fixated on revenge , and there was no need to lock herself into that approach . Her early return was to assess Lilys attitude . There were no permanent alliances ; if necessary , she could abandon Lindsey ; their relationship wasnt strong to begin with . Youre very similar , almost identical . I hear you were close friends . Why help me ? She was a kind person , and I know she wanted everyone to be happy after she was gone . I didnt like you at first , but Ive changed my mind . Its been fifteen years . Maybe we should all move on . Bella sounded wistful . With that , her persona was set . Bella intended to gauge the true nature of her former friend , but Lily knew it was impossible with her obvious lies . Considering Bellas years of closeness , her acting must have been truly exceptional . Youre a good person . Lilys sincerity was dripping with sarcasm . Perhaps we can become good friends , Lily added , smiling. Creating personas was childs play . After sufficient small talk , Lily addressed her real concern . Ive noticed Amy and Andy arent getting along . Is there a misunderstanding between them ? In "CEO's Wife with Many Identities" by CrushReel, follow the captivating journey of a protagonist striving to reclaim her grandfather's cherished heirlooms. Barred from an appraisal event due to concealing her true identity, she grapples with the repercussions of her secrecy. Amidst themes of family legacy and hidden truths, this modern romance unfolds in the opulent backdrop of a billionaire CEO's world. As the drama escalates within the luxurious mansion setting, the tangled web of contract lovers adds a layer of intrigue to the narrative. What sets this tale apart is its exploration of love, wealth, and deception against a backdrop of power dynamics and emotional entanglements. Engaging and immersive, "CEO's Wife with Many Identities" promises readers a unique blend of romance and suspense. Available to read at CrushReel for those seeking a story that defies convention within the realms of billion-dollar empires and complicated relationships.