Chapter 1 Who Wouldn't Be Tempted by a Billion Dollars?

James Smith was just about to sign the divorce papers when he heard a familiar voice in his head. His hand froze, and he glanced up at Emily Johnson, soon to be his ex-wife.

Emily's inner voice: [Finally, I'm about to get my billion-dollar divorce settlement!]

James thought, 'Is that Emily's voice?'

But Emily, sitting across from him, had tears in her eyes and looked at him with a pitiful expression. It didn't seem like something she would say.

Emily: [Why did you pause? Give me my billion-dollar divorce settlement! James, I'm begging you, just sign it! Wait, could he have found out that it wasn't me who harmed Sophia but his secretary, Olivia? I thought I played my part perfectly. Where did I mess up?]

James stared at Emily. She hadn't spoken, but the voice echoed in his mind.

What shocked him even more was that it was Olivia Brown, his long-time assistant, who had pushed Sophia, his sister, down the stairs. Could it be true?

"Mr. Smith, you have an international meeting in half an hour," Olivia said, noticing James's hesitation. She was worried that this rare opportunity would slip away because of James's soft heart and felt a bit anxious.

Emily: [I need to do something to get him to sign. Otherwise, when Sophia wakes up, he'll know it was actually me who saved her, and I won't be able to get a divorce!]

[I have an idea! James hates it when I touch him, cry, or call him darling. I have to use my tricks, or this divorce won't go through.]

Emily's tears fell as she held James's hand. "Darling, please don't divorce me, okay?"

Emily: [He hates it when I act like this. He should sign now, right?]

James frowned. He thought, 'Can I hear her inner voice?'

Emily: [He's frowning! Sign it, please, I can't keep up this act much longer.]

James's face twitched. 'She's putting on quite the performance,' he thought. A mix of annoyance and curiosity flaring up in him. And wait—what does she mean I hate it when she's emotional? I never told her that… or even felt that way. Does she think I do?'

James shook his head self-deprecatingly. For now, it seemed like the one with delusions might be him.

Emily: [James! Hurry up and sign! Otherwise, the hospital will notify us that Sophia is awake, then the truth can't be hidden! Give me my billion dollars!]

"Let's wait until Sophia wakes up," James put down the pen and held Emily's hand. "Don't worry, I won't wrong anyone."

Emily didn't react immediately.

Emily: [What's he doing? Will I still have a chance if we wait until Sophia wakes up? I finally got you to bring up the divorce!]

Olivia chimed in, "Mr. Smith, many people witnessed Ms. Sophia Smith falling down the stairs, and Mrs. Emily Smith was the only one with her."

James felt displeased with Olivia's words. As an assistant, making such assertions was clearly overstepping boundaries.

Emily picked up a tissue to wipe her tears while complaining in her mind.

Emily: [If you want to replace me as James's wife, you don't have to act so obvious! How am I supposed to help you when you say such blatant things? When Sophia wakes up, I'll have to help you cover up. This divorce is so hard to get.]

James was shocked since he didn't expect that Olivia had feelings for him. Olivia had saved Sophia before, so he had always trusted her. He only saw Olivia as a subordinate. Did Olivia really harm Sophia?

Moreover, what did Emily's last sentence mean? Did she think this divorce wasn't progressing smoothly and felt aggrieved?

James rubbed his temples. Was he going crazy, believing he could hear Emily's inner voice?

At that moment, James's phone rang. It was a call from the hospital.

"Mr. Smith, Ms. Sophia Smith has woken up," John Williams, James's other secretary, said in a slightly excited but clearly restrained voice.

Emily: [It's over; this divorce won't happen.]

Emily saw the assets in the divorce agreement, feeling heartbroken.

Emily: [This is fate. Now I have to stick with James to see Sophia. Maybe I can still turn things around. But James probably won't let me go with him. He usually doesn't like me following him. Whatever, I'll give it a try! I've wasted so much effort trying to get this divorce!]

James felt a bit angry. When did he ever dislike Emily following him?

Although their marriage was forced, he had been trying to be a normal couple with her.

Emily spoke, "Mr. Smith, I..."

James didn't wait for her to finish and stood up. "You're coming with me to the hospital. Sophia is awake."

Emily: [Really? He's actually letting me go with him?]

Emily's eyes were red as she looked up at James.

Emily: [Good things come after some difficulties. I'll have to rely on Sophia to help me. I need to make a plan before we leave.]

Emily stood up and angrily pointed at Olivia. "What are you standing there for? Get my bag!"

Olivia was lost in thought, but Emily's angry voice snapped her back to reality.

Out of long-term habit as an actress, Olivia's body instinctively reacted, and she immediately handed Emily the bag. Olivia stole a glance at James and quickly lowered her head again.

Emily took the bag with her head held high. "Get it straight, I am James's wife. So what if I pushed Sophia? James still can't bring himself to divorce me."

Emily paused, then sneered, "As for you, Olivia, you'll always just be the mistress."

Emily: [I say it so loudly, James should hear it, right? I wrong him so much, James should be angry! I slander him and treat the people around him like this, he'll definitely think I'm a stupid and bad person. How smart I am!]

"Darling, let's go," Emily took James's arm and walked ahead.

In fact, Emily had time-traveled here a week ago.

In her original world, she was born with a bit of bad luck. No matter how hard she studied, her grades always just missed the passing mark.

Later, on her way home from working overtime, she died in a car accident. In heaven, she found out that God had mistakenly assigned her the fate of someone with the same name, which was why she was so unlucky.

To compensate, God gave her a time-travel opportunity, allowing her to become Emily in another world.

In the other world, the Johnson Family was also a prestigious family. But Emily's parents died saving James, and on their deathbed, they entrusted Emily to the Smith Family.

The Smith Family always treated Emily as their own daughter, but for some reason, the original Emily suffered from depression.

Later, the Smith Family took her to see a psychologist, who attributed her mental block to unrequited affection for James, who did not reciprocate her feelings.

Upon learning this, the Smith Family quickly arranged a wedding for Emily and James.

Despite they had grown up together, James never really liked Emily, feeling something was off, as if she had changed after growing up.

In the end, the original Emily succumbed to her depression.

And so, Emily came to this world and began her story.

After arriving, Emily discovered that she had acquired MindSweep, a special skill that allowed her to automatically access all the thoughts, past, and some secrets of anyone whose name she knew or with whom she had contact.

She first discovered MindSweep yesterday when Sophia brought her to the Smith Group. Sophia wanted Emily to spend more time with James, but James was busy with a meeting. So Sophia arranged for Emily to rest in the CEO's office. Familiar with the Smith Group, Sophia soon went off to other departments because of feeling bored.

Emily waited in the office for a long time, worried about Sophia, and got up to find her.

On the way, she saw Olivia looking flustered, and MindSweep activated.

MindSweep told her that Sophia had been pushed by Olivia at the stairs.

At that moment, James and some employees were coming out of a nearby meeting room.

Olivia showed no respect for Emily, James's nominal wife, and walked straight past her to James.

Emily didn't have time to think much and rushed to the stairs.

Seeing the unconscious Sophia, Emily called 911 first.

As a result, many employees witnessed Emily accompanying the unconscious Sophia from the stairs. Thus, she was blatantly misunderstood and framed.

In a fit of anger, James asked for a divorce.

Since James had no feelings for her, Emily thought it might be a good thing to regain her freedom.

With money and time, Emily could find countless handsome men.

Since they were getting divorced anyway, she might as well take one last look at James's information.

Sitting in the car, Emily deliberately leaned on James's shoulder while curiously searching for James's information in her mind.

Olivia, sitting in the front passenger seat, saw this through the rearview mirror and clenched her fists in anger.

Emily: [Let me see if there's any information between Olivia and James. Incredible, James really only sees her as a friend? Is he unaware? Does he possess some inkling? Has he just found out about Olivia has feelings for him? Strange, why are his thoughts so changeable? Boring, I thought I'd find some juicy gossip.]

James rubbed his hands, his heart pounding. Could the content of Emily's inner voice really be true?

He indeed didn't know about Olivia's feelings for him until just now.