All Chapters of Hey, Ugly Duckling: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

When I was five months pregnant, my twin sister Claire Lloyd got into a car accident and lost a lot of blood. My parents knocked me unconscious and forced me to give Claire a transfusion of Rh-negative blood.In my daze, I heard my husband Byron Whitmore's voice. "I only married Sharon because her face looks so much like Claire's. Claire is my first love. I've never forgotten her."But I can't trade my wife's life for Claire's. Trust me—I'll find another way."When I woke up in the hospital bed, no one was around. The needle mark on my arm throbbed with dull pain as memories flooded back.When I was six years old, my parents clutched my drowned brother's body in anguish.Back then, Claire had pointed at me through her tears. "Oliver went looking for Sharon. That's why he fell into the pond. It's all her fault."After that, my parents looked at me with cold, merciless eyes. At the dinner table, the freshly made meal would always go to Claire, while I could only eat the leftovers.

Chapter 2

When I came out of the operating room, my legs were still trembling. As I passed the VIP room, the scene inside made me stop in my tracks."Claire, this is your favorite chicken soup from when you were little." Mom took the soup out of the microwave, carefully tested the temperature, and handed it to Dad.He took it, blew on it gently several times, and only passed it to Byron after confirming it wasn't too hot. And Byron, the man who once said he only loved me, carefully scooped up a spoonful and brought it to Claire's lips."Drink slowly. Don't burn yourself." His voice was so tender it was painful to hear.Claire shyly opened her mouth, but her gaze drifted over his shoulder and met mine at the door. A flash of triumph crossed her eyes before she quickly replaced it with a worried expression."How's Sharon? This is all my fault. I was driving too fast, trying to deliver that scarf she loves so much..."I froze at the doorway. Scarf? I never liked scarves. Growing up, I never o

Chapter 3

The next morning, the bedroom door swung open, and Byron pulled me into the dining room. "Claire cooked for you herself. She wants to make amends."The table was covered with dishes. Claire limped out of the kitchen carrying the last plate, her smile sweet. "Sharon, I made all your favorites.""She knows you gave her blood to save her. She wanted to cook you a nice meal to make up for it." Byron's voice was gentle.Mom and Dad were already seated, showering Claire with praise. "Your leg hasn't even healed, and you're already thinking of others. How thoughtful."I glanced at the table. There were shrimp, crab, and scallops. Every single dish contained seafood that would give me a severe allergic reaction.A memory tore open like a wound. When I was ten years old, Claire secretly chopped up shrimp meat and mixed it into ravioli filling. After I ate it, my whole body swelled up, and I could barely breathe, nearly going into shock.Claire had laughed hysterically outside the emergenc

Chapter 4

I returned to my room, soaking wet. I had just changed into dry clothes when Mom and Dad stormed in furiously.Mom grabbed a fistful of my hair. "Claire went out of her way to cook for you, but you had the nerve to throw a tantrum and even push her into the lake? Will you only be satisfied when she's dead?"My scalp burned with pain. My eyes reddened as I grabbed her hand and defended myself for the first time. "I've never hurt anyone. Just now, Claire was the one who pushed me into the lake."After I spoke, I looked at Mom expectantly. I thought they would be shocked, that they would suddenly realize the truth and regret everything.Instead, Mom shook her head forcefully, her eyes filled with disappointment. "Claire is so kind and thoughtful. Why would she do something like that? You're lying."Tears finally fell. How foolish I was to have any expectations of my parents. After all these years, their favoritism had already said everything.Mom grabbed me and dragged me to the hos

Chapter 5

In the VIP hospital room, Byron kept his head down as he peeled an apple. The peel formed one long, continuous strip."Byron, you're still so good at peeling apples. Back then, I loved eating apples but was too lazy to peel them, so you always did it for me." Claire's voice was soft.Byron's hand paused, but he didn't say anything.Claire bit her lower lip and continued, "Do you remember that Christmas Eve? The whole city was sold out of apples, but you searched half the night just to get me one."His throat bobbed, and he smiled faintly. "That's all in the past.""Do you still love me?" Claire lowered her lashes, her face full of shyness, though her words were tinged with hope."That's all in the past." It was the same answer, but his tone was firmer.Claire looked stunned. "That's impossible! Sharon is so ugly and horrible. What does she have that I don't?""Sharon isn't like that." Byron set down the knife. "There must be some misunderstanding.""Byron, I feel so dizzy..."

Chapter 6

Byron's eyes were bloodshot as he clutched the charred ring tightly in his hand.Mom looked anxious. "Byron, say something. Why did you come back? Shouldn't you be at the hospital with Claire?"He jerked his head up, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Is Claire the only person in your hearts? Has Sharon never mattered to you at all?"Mom's eyes flickered. "Claire just had a car accident. She's weak...""Sharon was pregnant. She gave two thousand milliliters of blood to save Claire and almost died on the operating table!" Byron's voice was hoarse. "Did anyone care to ask if she was okay, even once?"Dad frowned. "It's just pregnancy. What woman doesn't go through that? She's being too dramatic.""Dramatic?" Byron kicked over the coffee table. The sound of shattering glass was deafening. "You two don't deserve to be parents!"My parents were frightened by his savage expression and scrambled out of the villa. In the garden, they ran into Claire, who had rushed back.Her face was still st

Chapter 7

The villa door opened just then, and Byron walked out.Claire immediately threw herself at him and grabbed his legs. "Byron! Talk some sense into Mom and Dad! They fell for Sharon's tricks. I don't even recognize them anymore..."Byron stared coldly at the wound on her forehead. "Are you done with your little act?""Even you don't believe me?" Claire's eyes went wide."I just watched the whole thing from the upstairs window. You cut your own forehead." He kicked her hands away, his eyes icy.Claire's mouth twitched as she lowered her head. She had pulled this trick so many times. This time, she was finally caught.She sat on the ground and cried hysterically. Whether she was crying over her past mistakes or her current situation, no one could tell.But this time, no one believed her, and no one forgave her."You brought this on yourself. Sharon saved you so many times, yet how did you repay her?"When you pushed her into the water, did you even think about the fact that she wa

Chapter 8

Three years later, at the University of Ryona in Franco, I walked into the lecture hall carrying my teaching materials. Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows onto the students' young faces.Today's topic was philosophical discussions about love."Before we begin, I have a question for everyone." I looked around the classroom. "What do you think love is?"Students eagerly raised their hands. Some said passion, some said companionship, while others said it was the release of dopamine.Just then, a figure in the back row slowly stood up. My breathing stopped when I realized it was Byron.Three years had made him more mature and composed. His features carried more weight, but the tenderness in his eyes remained unchanged."Ms. Lloyd, I'd like to try." His voice was still deep. "From a philosophical perspective, love has many definitions. One famous philosopher believed love was a spiritual pursuit beyond the physical. Another said love was a single soul inhabiting two b

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