Chapter 1

Immediately after picking up my new Porsche Panamera, I took a photo of the steering wheel and uploaded it to my Instagram.

Less than two minutes later, the female manager from the department next to mine, Quinn Zote, began to bombard me with a slew of questions.

"You're driving such a luxurious car? Can you even afford the upkeep?"

"That car sits too low. Men are likely to get in accidents driving it, and if all that bouncing around ruins your prostate, how are you supposed to carry on the family line?"

"Bring me the car key right this instant. It just so happens that I need to use a car tonight!"

Completely dumbfounded, I was only able to retort with a "Is there something wrong with you?" before Quinn called me.

She screamed angrily over the line, "You're just an insignificant little employee, so why should you drive a luxury car? After we marry, you have to transfer that car over to my name!

"I'm warning you, if you ruin your body with all that bouncing around and can't get me pregnant, I'm going to divorce you, and you'll leave with nothing to your name! Now, I'm giving you ten minutes to drive that car over here to the office building. Otherwise, I'm going to deduct your attendance bonus for this month!"

I could hardly contain my furious laughter at her outrageous behavior. After hanging up, I immediately sent a recording of the call to the "Executive Inspection" group chat my father set up.

Along with it, I sent a message that read, "Is this woman really a member of the upper management at your branch company?"

Chapter 1

My name was Jackson Whitman, and I was the only son of the chairman of the biggest conglomerate in the city, whose office was located on the city's tallest skyscraper in the central business district.

However, to ensure I would gain firsthand knowledge of the business at the operational level, Dad sent me to work at a branch company. While hiding my true identity, I worked there as a low-ranking admin who barely made 2,500 dollars a month.

To ensure my identity wouldn't be exposed, I either squeezed my way onto the subway trains or rode a bicycle to work every day. I would even purposely wait till there was a buy one, get one free promotion before I bought myself a decent cup of coffee.

Today just so happened to be my 24th birthday, and in an act of generosity, Dad gifted me a Porsche Panamera with the highest specs.

As I went to pick up my new car, I couldn't refrain from taking a photo of it and showing it off on my Instagram.

However, I had completely forgotten to block the post from my colleagues.

Not even two minutes later, the female manager of the sales department, Quinn Zote, began launching a series of questions at me.

"You're driving such a luxurious car? Can you even afford the upkeep?"

"That car sits too low. Men are likely to get in accidents driving it, and if all that bouncing around ruins your prostate, how are you supposed to carry on the family line?"

"Bring me the car key right this instant. It just so happens that I need to use a car tonight!"

For a moment, I stared at the messages in bewilderment.

Quinn had a habit of ordering the male employees around at work. Taking advantage of the fact that she was a manager, she was always going on about the importance of rank and status, and about how one should know their place in life.

Still, never would I have imagined that she would be this outrageous.

Fury drowned my rationale, and I didn't hesitate to reply rudely, "Is there something wrong with you? How I drive my car is none of your business!"

I had just barely sent the message when she called me.

The instant I accepted the call, her shrill voice screeched at me furiously, "Jackson Whitman! How dare you speak to me like that! What do you mean by it's your car? You listen to me! After we marry in the future, you are to immediately transfer ownership of that car to my name!"

I was so stunned by her words that I was momentarily speechless. "Quinn Zote, did you hit your head or something? Who the hell is getting married to you?"

"You even dare talk back to me?" Quinn yelled. "I'm warning you, if you injure your body and become unable to get me pregnant, I'm going to divorce you! See if I don't! Then, you'll be left with nothing to your name and become a penniless man that nobody wants! You'll be the subject of mockery for everyone!

"Anyway, I'm giving you ten minutes! Drive that car over to the company building right this instant and hand me the key. Otherwise, I'm going to the HR department tomorrow to tell them to deduct your attendance and performance bonus for the month!"

Upon hearing that, I couldn't stop the angry bark of laughter that left my lips.

"Seriously, woman? Did you read one too many brainless romance novels and forget to bring your brain to work with you? You want to deduct my performance bonus? Who do you think you are?"

With that, I ended the call before she could respond. Then, without any hesitation, I downloaded the recording of that call and uploaded it to the "Executive Inspection" group chat my father had set up.

Less than three minutes later, Jerry Cardin, the CEO of the branch company we worked at, sent me two messages, one privately, the other in the group chat.

"Mr. Jackson, please calm down! This is clearly failed management on my part!"

"I've already dealt with her and kicked her out of the building with her belongings! She won't be an eyesore for you ever again!"

At first, I thought that this would be the end of this matter and that the disgusting woman would never appear in my world again.

Unfortunately, I never would have expected that this was just the beginning.

Chapter 2

The next morning, I entered the branch company to clock in like usual.

However, I had barely taken a step into the office area when I was stunned motionless at the sight before me.

The originally boring, lifeless office space had suddenly been transformed, with colorful balloons floating all over the place and bright banners strung everywhere with the words, "Congratulations!"

More importantly, Quinn, who was supposed to have been kicked out of the company with her belongings, was currently wearing an ill-fitting white dress as she stood smack dab in the middle of the office. A comically thick layer of makeup had been slathered onto her face, and it certainly wasn't a pretty sight.

I stood rooted to the spot, still not having regained my composure when the branch's CEO, Jerry, came over with a wide smile splitting his face.

"Everyone, I have two wonderful pieces of news to share today! Firstly, due to outstanding performance, our sales department manager, Quinn Zote, will be promoted to serve as the director of our branch, despite the usual requirements!"

Immediately, a wave of thunderous applause resounded in the office.

"Congratulations on your promotion, Ms. Zote!"

"You're amazing, Quinn! I knew that you would be promoted sooner rather than later!"

My breathing stuttered to a halt as I turned to look at Jerry in disbelief. Yesterday, he had clearly assured me in the group chat that he had fired Quinn. So, why was it that Quinn was not only still working here, but had even been promoted?

Just as I was about to demand answers, Jerry swiftly changed the topic, his eyes locked onto my figure. "As for the second piece of good news, our new director and Jackson Whitman from the admin department are finally taking the next step in their relationship—they're getting engaged today!"

The moment those words left his lips, all our colleagues simultaneously turned to look at me.

My body jerked in shock. "Mr. Cardin, what nonsense are you spouting? Since when were Quinn and I getting engaged?"

"Jackson, there's no need to be shy!" Walter Pott, the colleague whose desk was next to mine, was holding a handful of candies like the sort given with formal engagement announcements.

He lumbered over to me and chortled playfully. "We're all colleagues here. Why bother hiding it from us?"

"That's right!" A female colleague hastily added, "When we saw your post about your new Porsche yesterday, we already realized just how good Quinn is to you. You can't just accept her luxury car then turn your back on her!"

Bewildered and furious, I smacked aside the candies Walter offered to me. "Are all of you nuts? I bought that car myself! Quinn and I are definitely not in any sort of relationship! None at all!"

"Jackson Whitman, how could you be so heartless!" Walter's expression darkened as he jabbed a finger at me and began berating me.

"Quinn is such an honest, sweet woman. Have you forgotten how she's always worrying over you at work? Now that she's bought you a luxury car, what's with this high-and-mighty attitude? Don't tell me you plan on dumping her and latching on to an even wealthier woman?

The others also threw me disdainful looks as they whispered to each other.

"Are men nowadays all so vainglorious and materialistic? Look at him refusing to acknowledge their relationship after taking her money."

"I know, right? If it weren't for Ms. Zote, would he have been able to afford a Porsche with his meager salary?"

My fingers curled into tight fists as I stared at these colleagues of mine who were normally rather polite to me. However, they seemed somewhat off today, as though they were under some sort of spell that caused them to be unable to tell right from wrong.

At that moment, my phone vibrated with a message.

An intern I was normally on good terms with had stealthily sent me a screenshot that showed a group chat of the company without me in it.

Apparently, at midnight yesterday, Jerry had sent over a dozen money packets into the group, each with 800 dollars in it.

"Everyone, Quinn Zote and Jackson Whitman are about to get married soon. This money is courtesy of Quinn, who wants to share the joy. You guys can also think of it as your bonus for this quarter. Jackson is easily embarrassed, so I hope that everyone will help things along tomorrow. Just make sure you don't put him in an awkward position."

As I finished reading the message in the screenshot, realization dawned on me.

No wonder these people all seemed to be spouting the same things and were putting in so much effort into this act!

"Enough!" I slammed a hand onto a nearby desk, glaring angrily at Jerry and Quinn. "I already said that I'm not in a relationship with her! If any of you dare to continue spreading these false rumors, I'm going to call the police!"

Chapter 3

My outburst had the originally noisy atmosphere in the office swiftly turning tense.

Quinn walked through the crowd toward me, her expression dark. With a wave of her hand, she gestured for the others to scatter first.

Then, she came to a stop before me and stared at me with an oddly passionate look that made my skin crawl.

"Jackson, stop causing a fuss, will you?" She lowered her voice so that it was only loud enough for the two of us to hear. "I know that you're mad at me for what happened yesterday, but I was only thinking of our future together, alright?"

When she stepped closer to me, the distinct stench of low-quality perfume mixed with body odor reached my nose.

I took a step back in disgust. "Quinn Zote, are you delusional? Why would I have a future with you?"

"Jackson Whiman, stop pretending already!" Quinn abruptly raised her volume into a screech, her hand flying up to clutch her chest as a wounded expression crossed her face. "What is this? Have you forgotten all about me after pulling up your pants? Or could you be testing me?"

I was utterly dumbfounded. Just what sort of crazy nonsense was she spouting?

Quinn grew increasingly agitated as she spoke, eventually digging out a thick stack of photos from her cheap bag and tossing it onto my desk with a smacking sound.

"Take a look at these! And you still have the audacity to say that we're not in a relationship?"

I lowered my eyes to look, but just a glance was enough to freeze my blood in my veins. A layer of cold sweat instantly wet the back of my shirt.

Two figures appeared in the photos, one of whom was a man who looked almost identical to me.

He was wearing an expensive tailored suit of the sort that I had never worn before, and a limited edition Patek Philippe adorned his wrist. Under the dim lighting of a high-end club, he had his arm wrapped intimately around Quinn's waist.

A few of the photos even depicted a luxurious condominium, where the man had Quinn pinned to the couch as they kissed passionately!

"T-These are fake!" My heartbeat pounded loudly in my ears, and my first thought was that these had to have been made with AI. "Quinn Zote, how dare you fake these photos!"

"Fake?" Quinn let out a condescending laugh before pointing at a mole on the man's neck. "Jackson, you actually have that hidden under your collar, don't you? That's what you really look like underneath the clothes.

"Mr. Cardin already told me about how you're the heir to some wealthy family who's come to the branch company to experience life as one of us. At the same time, you're hoping to find a woman who genuinely likes you for you.

"At work, you treat me so coldly, but when in private or at the club, you practically throw yourself at me. However, now that the entire company knows, you're actually putting on airs?"

I clearly knew that something was fishy here, but as I stared at the face in the photo, even I was momentarily dazed and wondered if it actually was me.

AI technology was indeed quite advanced nowadays, but the lighting and details in the photos, even the look in the man's eyes as he gazed at Quinn, were just too realistic—terrifyingly so!

These were far more than simple AI‑generated photos. Someone was systematically stealing my life from me, even somehow managing to clone another me in real life!

"Just what do you want?" I asked.

Chapter 4

I gnashed my teeth and glared at Quinn.

With a smug smile on her lips, she pulled out the chair next to mine and sat down before digging out a folder from her bag and smacking it down on the table.

"I've already seen the Porsche. It's pretty nice."

Rapping her knuckles against the table, she continued with an air of self-righteous confidence, "Since we're about to marry, your money is mine. Hurry up and sign this agreement, then head to the DMV with me tomorrow to transfer ownership of the car to me.

"I'm just a poor, defenseless woman, so you can't expect me to squeeze onto a subway train every day while my husband drives a luxury car, right? Besides, I'm the director of a company! I have my pride and dignity!"

At that moment, our janitor, an older man, charged over with his mop. He shot me a superior look before lecturing me in the annoying way of someone who thought that being older gave them the right to talk down to someone younger.

"Jackson Whitman, my daughter is now the director of this company! You should feel honored and blessed that she would even take an interest in you! Once you marry, you'll belong to her completely. Think of that car and what little wealth you possess as the bride price you're paying us for getting her hand in marriage!

"To become part of our family, you must be obedient! Now, quickly sign the papers and hand over the car key!"

For a moment, I simply stared at the repulsive father-daughter duo. Taking a deep breath, I answered, "And what if I refuse to sign?"

"You won't sign it?" Quinn scoffed coldly, her eyes taking on a sinister gleam. "Jackson, you'd better cooperate with us. Otherwise, I certainly have ways to completely destroy your reputation and turn you into the laughingstock of society!"

"You're going to destroy my reputation?" I let out a furious bark of laughter, ripped the ridiculous agreement into scrap paper, then tossed the pieces at Quinn's face. "With what? Those few fake photos of yours? Do you think I'd be scared of you?"

"Fine! Since you insist on doing this the hard way, you have no one else to blame but yourself for what happens next!"

With that, she spun on her heel and rushed toward the central AV control console at the front of the office that was normally used to control the projector screen typically used for the company's morning meetings.

She shoved aside the admin in charge of the console before linking her own phone to it.

"Everyone, come take a look at just how shameless of a simp the usually cold and aloof Jackson Whitman is when in private!"

Following her furious yell, the massive projector screen lit up.

At first, the image on the screen shook and jerked around, but it quickly stabilized.

The recording appeared to be dashcam footage from inside a car—none other than a Porsche Panamera! In fact, it was identical to the one I had just picked up yesterday, even including the limited-edition blind box figurine I had placed on the dashboard on a whim!

My heart sank to my feet as a bad feeling rose in me.

The video began to play, showing the passenger door opening before a man dressed in the exact same suit I had worn today slid into the car.

To my immense shock, when he turned his head to reveal his face, I saw "myself" staring back at me!