My cousin saw a marriage video online and wanted to marry an enclave leader, dreaming of living like royalty. The two handsome men in the video seemed so sincere. [“We’re simply looking for a wife to spend our lives with. We promise to treat you well, cherish you, and grow old together.”] Something felt off to me. I begged my cousin not to go. Six months later, my cousin saw a viral live stream. There, in plain sight, were the same enclave leaders from the marriage video. A woman nestled happily in their arms, gushing about her blissful and incredibly wealthy life post-marriage. Turns out, the enclave leaders were worth hundreds of millions. That very day, my cousin burst into my apartment and grabbed me, squeezing my neck tight. “You b*tch! Why did you stop me from marrying into a wealthy family?!” When I opened my eyes again, I saw my cousin, Tiffany, blushing as she asked me, “Maya, should I go meet them?” I opened my eyes again, and the phantom sensation of being choked still lingered on my neck. Cold sweat instantly drenched my back. I looked around. It was my familiar rental apartment, the lingering scent of instant noodles still in the air. Had I… come back to life? “Maya, what are you spacing out for? Come on, help me look!” My cousin, Tiffany Miller’s voice, jolted me back to reality. I stiffly turned my head. She was holding up her phone, and on the screen played a video I knew all too well. In the video, two men stood side by side. One was mature and composed, the other bright and charming. Both wore clothes that hinted at an exotic, far-off land. “Miss Tiffany Miller, hello. I’m Kael,” the older brother, Kael Thorne, said, his voice deep and magnetic, his eyes sincere. His younger brother, Zane Thorne, then spoke, his smile dazzling. “And I’m Zane.” “We are sincerely looking for a wife to spend our lives with.” “From the first moment we saw you, we knew, Tiffany, you are the one destined for us.” “We sincerely invite you to meet us, to give us a chance to get to know you, won’t you?” In my previous life, my first reaction to that marriage video was utter absurdity. What era were we in? Claiming ‘destiny’ after seeing someone only on a video? This was either a catfishing scam or worse, a human trafficking trap. Pure bait. I painstakingly tried to explain the risks to Tiffany, from online fraud to human trafficking, from fake personas to international crime. Finally, after talking until I was hoarse, I managed to convince her. Though her face showed reluctance, Tiffany reluctantly closed the video, promising she wouldn’t contact those two men again. I thought that was the end of it. Until six months later, a live stream by a blogger named “Seraphina Blackwood” went viral overnight. In the live video, a woman dripping with jewels was nestled happily in Kael and Zane’s arms. Inside a palatial mansion, the dining table was laden with exotic gourmet dishes most people had only dreamed of. She casually picked up a limited-edition Hermes bag and flaunted it. “So many people ask me how I suddenly started living this life. The secret? I married well, darling!” “When my husbands first asked me to meet them, I actually thought it was a scam. Who knew they were secretly billionaires?” “You’re asking what I do now? Every day, I just shop, get beauty treatments, and have SPA days.” “My only complaint is that the brothers are just so… passionate. I can barely keep up!” “Why can I marry two men? Oh, my husbands come from a unique enclave. Their community practices polyandry – one wife, multiple husbands. And there are still so many handsome bachelors without wives!” “You want me to ask for you? Sure! If you’re interested, sweethearts, remember to DM me after the stream!” Tiffany completely lost it after seeing that live stream. She believed I had deliberately blocked her from marrying into wealth and becoming one of the elite. So, that night, she barged into my apartment, rushed to my bed, and choked me to death. “Maya Reid, you b*tch! If it weren’t for you, I’d be living like a goddess right now! Why did you stop me?!” The suffocating pain and her twisted, enraged face were the last things I remembered before dying in my past life. Seeing me still lost in thought, Tiffany nudged me again. “Maya, they seem so sincere, and they’re so handsome. Tell me, should I go meet them?” Watching her face flush with imaginary bliss, a chill ran down my spine. My good intentions in my previous life had led to my brutal death. This time, Tiffany Miller, I won’t stand in your way. So, when she asked, I simply replied, “Cousin, this is a huge decision for your life. You need to think it through and decide for yourself.”
Hearing my answer, Tiffany visibly froze. She had probably prepared a whole speech to argue with me, never expecting me not to stop her. She eyed me suspiciously, thinking I hadn’t finished, but I just turned to scroll on my phone, ignoring her. Seeing I wouldn’t say more, Tiffany put away her phone, a smile returning to her face. “You’re right, of course. After all, not everyone gets this kind of incredible luck.” “Just wait for my good news, sis.” I didn’t say another word. I had no desire to relive the painful experience of my past life. Tiffany Miller, this time, you walk your own path. Your hell, you descend into it yourself. Without my interference, Tiffany moved with astonishing speed. That very afternoon, she took time off work and booked a flight for the next morning to the border city where the men were located. The next evening, Tiffany video-called me. The moment I answered, the luxurious scene on the screen dazzled me. Tiffany was sitting in a lavishly decorated private room, a dazzling crystal chandelier hanging above her. She wore heavy makeup, designer clothes, and a huge emerald pendant gleamed at her neck. “Maya! You won’t believe how amazing they are!” Tiffany’s voice was buzzing with excitement. “They are totally my soulmates! After just a few words, they understood me completely!” “And they’re even more handsome in person than in the video, and so incredibly gentle and sweet!” Then she aimed the camera at the dishes on the table; each one was an exquisite work of art. “Do you know how much this meal cost us?” She didn’t give me a chance to answer, holding up both hands. “A hundred thousand! A full hundred thousand! Have you ever had a hundred-thousand-dollar meal?” “And this afternoon, Kael asked if I’d be willing to marry both of them.” “Kael and Zane said that according to their enclave’s tradition, I can marry both brothers! They practice polyandry!” “See? What did I tell you? I, Tiffany Miller, am destined for wealth! Two high-quality men have fallen for me head over heels!” Just then, Kael and Zane appeared in the frame, offering polite but distant smiles. “Hello, you must be Maya, Tiffany’s cousin? Tiffany talks about you often, says you’re her best sister.” Kael spoke, his tone gentle, but his eyes were sizing me up. “That’s right, we brothers are both very fond of Tiffany,” Zane’s smile was still bright. Tiffany snatched the camera back, her face so red it looked like it would drip blood. She happily announced, “Just now, I said yes to their proposal!” She eagerly lifted her wrist, showing off chunky gold jewelry. “See? These are all gifts they gave me just now. They said that as long as I marry in, the entire enclave’s treasury will be mine.” Then she glanced at my loungewear, her eyes full of undisguised pity. “Maya, look at you, working yourself to death with overtime every day, and your monthly salary isn’t even enough for one of my bracelets. Sister’s telling you, a woman, it’s not about working hard, it’s about marrying well.” “Don’t worry. Once I’m a rich lady, I definitely won’t forget you. I’ll introduce you to some of their enclave’s eligible bachelors with deep pockets, so you can have a good life too.” I listened silently to her bragging, just pulling at the corners of my mouth in response. “Well, congratulations, cousin.”
My calmness completely threw Tiffany off. She pouted, bragged a few more times, and then reluctantly hung up. Over the next few days, my Ins feed was flooded with Tiffany’s posts. One day, a selfie in a five-star hotel’s presidential suite. The next, a shopping spree with Kael and Zane at a luxury boutique. The day after, a top-tier club with tables piled high with Romanee-Conti, and her holding a glass, her eyes glazed. In the photos, she was always flanked by the two men, her designer outfits changing daily, never repeating. The comments section exploded. Friends showered Tiffany with extravagant praise. “OMG! Tiffany, did you land a sugar daddy? That’s insane!” “Those two hot guys adore you! What kind of fairy-tale love is this? I’m so jealous!” “Tiffany, you’re literally living the dream! Take me with you!” Tiffany humblebragged in her replies: “Hehe, not really, I just found the love of my life, that’s all.” She never mentioned marrying two men, simply basking in the adoration of the crowd. I thought that after she married into wealth, she wouldn’t bother her poor, struggling cousin anymore. Until one day, walking home from work in my neighborhood, I suddenly felt a shiver down my spine. Like a pair of eyes were staring at me from the shadows. The gaze was cold, sticky, making my hairs stand on end. I spun around, but there was no one there, only the rustling of leaves in the evening breeze. Was it just my imagination? Muttering to myself, I quickened my pace, jogging back to my building. Just then, my phone rang. “Tiffany Miller” flashed across the screen. I hesitated, then answered the video call. “Maya!” On the video, Tiffany’s face seemed thinner, and the dark circles under her eyes couldn’t be hidden even by a filter. But her tone was still frantic. “I’m marrying Kael and Zane next week!” “We’re best friends, how can you not be there for such a big event?” “Hurry up and come be my bridesmaid, soak up some of my good luck!” She smiled, looking perfectly sincere. “I’ve already had Kael book your flight, all expenses paid. It’ll be a real eye-opener for you, consider it my gift.” I looked at her slightly distorted face on the screen and sneered inwardly. Bridesmaid? More like luring me there to sell me off or harvest my organs. “No, cousin,” I refused. “I’m really swamped with work lately, I can’t take time off.” To my surprise, the moment I finished speaking, Tiffany’s face instantly darkened. “Maya Reid, what do you mean?” Her voice suddenly sharpened. “I’m giving you a chance to make it big, don’t be ungrateful!” “Are you jealous of me? Can’t stand to see me doing better than you?” Her voice grew louder, but I couldn’t be bothered to argue. “Think whatever you want.” As I spoke, I reached into my bag for my keys, ready to unlock the door. But I searched and searched, and found nothing. My wallet? It had my ID, bank cards, and a few hundred dollars in cash. Had it fallen out on the subway on the way home… “I can’t talk anymore, I think I lost my wallet.” I said into the phone, preparing to hang up. “What’s the big deal about a stupid wallet?!” Tiffany was still ranting on the other end. I ignored her and hung up directly. The feeling of being watched grew stronger. I didn’t dare linger downstairs and quickly hailed a cab to the police station.
Telling Tiffany I lost my wallet and was going to the police station wasn’t entirely an excuse. My documents were important. Stepping into the police station, that persistent, chilling sensation finally receded slightly. The officer on duty, Detective Miller, was patient. He took my statement and said he would keep an eye out for my wallet. But for a wallet lost on the street, the chances of recovery were slim to none. “Don’t worry too much, young lady. But it’s best if you report your bank cards stolen first. We can help you with a new ID,” Detective Miller said. But my real purpose went beyond that. I told the police everything about Tiffany’s situation, from that ridiculously suspicious marriage video to the so-called enclave leaders and polyandry. As I spoke, I handed Detective Miller screenshots of Tiffany’s Ins posts. At first, Detective Miller thought it was just another common catfishing scam. But as he listened, his expression grew increasingly serious. By the time I finished, he immediately connected it to several recent disappearances of young women. “The pattern is too similar. They all use online romance or high-paying jobs as bait, and the victims disappear completely within days of arriving at a border city. We suspect there’s a well-organized cross-border crime syndicate at play,” he said. Hearing that, my heart sank. In my previous life, I was merely a victim. This time, only now did I truly glimpse how deep this rabbit hole went. “Ms. Reid, the information you’ve provided is incredibly important. Your cousin is in danger right now; she might even be an accomplice to these people.” “We need your cooperation. This is a chance to take them all down.” “Take this micro-tracker. If they forcibly take you away and imprison you, find a way to leave the tracker behind. We’ll use its location to launch a rescue operation.” Detective Miller looked at me, his expression grave. “This process will be extremely dangerous. Are you willing?” “I am,” I replied without a moment’s hesitation. This wasn’t for Tiffany. It was for myself, who had died so tragically in my past life, and for all the innocent girls like Tiffany who had been lured into hell. By the time I left the police station, it was completely dark. Walking home, that chilling gaze reappeared. My heart pounded, and my palms were slick with cold sweat. As I approached a street corner, I hardened my resolve. I suddenly sprinted a few steps, then ducked and hid in the nearby bushes. I held my breath, staring intently at the corner. Rapid footsteps grew louder, approaching from afar. Closer and closer! It was him! My heart was practically leaping out of my throat. Just as the person was about to appear, a little boy on a scooter shot out from around the corner, shouting, “Avengers assemble!” The rapid footsteps came to an abrupt halt. I paused, confused. Had I… been too nervous? I waited a little longer in the corner, but no one else passed by, and the chilling sensation on my back vanished. I let out a breath of relief, chuckled self-deprecatingly, and hurried home. Maybe I was just overthinking things. However, the very next morning, reality slapped me hard in the face. I was about to leave for work. The moment I pulled the door open a crack, several unfamiliar faces blocked my way. They were all burly, their eyes hostile, reeking of stale cigarettes, alcohol, and menace. My heart jumped, and I instinctively tried to close the door. “Bang!” A foot firmly wedged in the doorframe. Before I could even scream, a knife pressed against my waist. I was paralyzed with fear by the sudden turn of events, forced back into my apartment. “What do you want?” I heard my voice tremble. The leader of the men grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth. “What do we want?” “Of course, we’re taking you to Miss Tiffany’s wedding.” His words instantly sent a chill through me. It was Tiffany! She had actually hired people to kidnap me! My mind went blank. Before I could react, a towel reeking of acrid chemicals was clapped over my mouth and nose. In the last second before darkness claimed me, I thought I saw a glint of reflected light behind the man. When I woke again, I found my eyes blindfolded. My mouth was tightly sealed with tape, allowing only muffled sounds to escape. My hands and feet were bound with rough rope, and any slight movement caused my wrists to burn with pain.
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