My life changed course at sixteen when I met Leo Hayes. By twenty-four, I was his wife. On our wedding night, we left traces of our passion everywhere—the living room, the kitchen, the bay window. My throat went raw from screaming, but he only pushed harder, refusing to let me go. For three years, Leo couldn’t get enough of me. Until one day, he was caught in a sudden fire, leaving me utterly alone. Heartbroken, I mourned him fiercely. Yet, a month later, at a grand banquet, I saw my supposedly dead husband! I’d only stepped away to use the restroom, but from inside a stall, I heard a woman’s soft moans. Peeking down, I saw men’s dress shoes and women’s high heels intertwined beneath the door. “Leo… seeing how frail Alice looks… are you regretting faking your death to run off with me?” It was meant as a question, but her low groans laced it with a seductive charm. “Baby… what are you even saying?” Leo chuckled softly, whispering, “She’s nowhere near as adventurous as you, nowhere near as uninhibited. She doesn’t have your wild, intoxicating charm.” My pupils constricted sharply, my breath caught in my throat. I stood rooted to the spot, my mind a blank. Only after they finished did the horrifying truth finally sink in. That night, I erased every trace of Leo from our home. Then, I knocked on the door of Alexander Sterling, the heir to one of the country’s most powerful empires. “I’m completely over Leo. Marry me.” The next day, news of my impending marriage to Alexander Sterling spread like wildfire across the city. The ‘dead’ Leo, upon hearing it, went absolutely insane, calling me a thousand times.
My legs felt like lead as I slowly dragged myself out of the restroom. From a dim corner, a voice I knew all too well echoed, tinged with faint mockery: “Alice still crying every day?” The man’s figure was hidden in the shadows, indistinct. Yet, the moment Jake Morgan, Leo’s best friend, spoke, I knew it was Leo—the man who had ‘died’ a month ago. “Leo, Alice has been heartbroken this past month. If we hadn’t stopped her, she probably would have followed you to the grave!” “Are you… really going to abandon Alice for Chloe Miller?” Leo’s tone was casual: “Just keep comforting her for me for now…” Another friend, Mark Evans, whispered from beside him: “Leo, you haven’t actually fallen for Chloe, have you?” “You faked your death just to chase her back from abroad, and made us all go along with your charade.” I clenched my hands tightly, my body trembling uncontrollably. Leo’s voice cut through the air again. “Whether I’ve fallen for her or not is none of your business. Just keep it from her.” Jake frowned: “But Alice, she…” “She relies on me too much,” Leo interrupted. “It’s not good for her in the long run.” Mark tentatively asked, “So when are you planning to tell Alice the truth?” “No rush,” he said, turning, his voice languid. “I’ll tell her when I get bored of Chloe.” “It’s not every day I get an opportunity like this. It would be a waste not to have some fun, wouldn’t it?” The three men exchanged knowing smiles. A chill seeped from the top of my head straight to my core, making me tremble uncontrollably. I had prayed countless times for Leo to come back to life. But never in this twisted way. I didn’t rush out to confront them. Instead, I turned and discreetly walked away. But at the corner, I accidentally bumped into a woman. She caught me before I could fall, asking softly, “Madam, are you alright?” At the sound of her voice, my body stiffened. It was her. The woman who shamelessly engaged with Leo in the restroom, the same Chloe Miller that Jake and Mark had mentioned. The moment I looked up, she visibly faltered. Then, she subtly sized me up, a faint sneer playing on her lips. I knew she recognized me. Feigning ignorance, I offered a quiet thank you and left. Back home, I stared at the woman in the mirror. Dark circles under my eyes, bloodshot gaze, utterly ravaged. I splashed water on my face, trying to wake myself up. A month ago. Leo’s company building was suddenly engulfed in flames. When I arrived at the scene, glass shards rained down from the inferno, the entire building a giant torch. I clung to the barrier in front of the blaze, watching firefighters rescue survivors batch after batch, but Leo was nowhere to be found. When Jake and Mark were finally carried out, their faces were etched with grief as they clutched my hands: “Leo… he’s dead… it’s all our fault. If he hadn’t saved us, he wouldn’t have… gone.” I tried desperately to rush into the fire, but firefighters held me back firmly. Even when they told me Leo had perished, a sliver of hope still clung to my heart. Hours later, firefighters finally found a body in the rubble. It was burned beyond recognition. But the diamond ring on its ring finger, a symbol of our love, confirmed it was my Leo. In that moment, I felt my world collapse. Overwhelmed by grief, I fainted. Now, they tell me it was all a charade. My heartbreak, from start to finish, was just a cruel joke. How utterly ironic!
Late that night, my phone suddenly rang. I stared at the unfamiliar number, already knowing the answer. But I answered anyway, and immediately heard his familiar, cloying voice. The man demanded that the woman on the other end admit he was her most beloved. Her voice grew more excited, each cry louder than the last. I listened in a daze, until after what felt like an eternity, the woman’s syrupy voice asked Leo, “Leo, who do you truly have in your heart—me or Alice?” Leo panted, “Of course it’s you… I faked my death and ran off with you, isn’t that proof enough?” My heart clenched. Even though I knew the whole truth, it was still shattered into a million pieces. Leo and I had known each other since we were sixteen. Back then, my parents had already found a suitable match for a strategic alliance: Alexander Sterling, the heir of the powerful Sterling family. But I didn’t want to marry him. My parents’ marriage had always been transactional. Growing up, I watched them feign affection in public, only to bring different partners home in private. Their rare moments together were filled with endless arguments and mutual accusations. I was sick of such a hypocritical and broken family dynamic, so I strongly resisted any arranged marriage. That year, Leo transferred to our class and became my deskmate. During my lowest moments, he approached me like a happy puppy, wagging his tail, full of boundless energy. So, when he confessed his feelings, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. We went from high school sweethearts to husband and wife, becoming an enviable couple in everyone’s eyes. They all said we were a real-life campus romance, and I immersed myself in those words, believing I had found true love. Little did I know, the person I thought would never betray me had, at some point, started another life, another home, with another woman. He even faked his death to run off with her. Sleepless through the night, I mercilessly discarded all of Leo’s belongings. Those things I once cherished now felt like garbage. Every corner of the house was meticulously cleaned, scrubbing away every trace of his existence. I used the phone number to search for Chloe Miller’s SnapChat account. Unsurprisingly, she accepted my request. Browsing her posts, I realized she had often been right under my nose. Chloe used to be Leo’s secretary. Her latest SnapChat update was from a month ago. The photo showed a pair of lovers, windswept and weary, embracing on a foreign street. The caption read: [That year, he chose true love, willing to throw everything away just to run off with me.] Jake Morgan and Mark Evans had both commented below: [Cheers to Chloe and Leo, forever and always!] [Chloe, Leo made huge sacrifices for you. You better make it up to him, big time~] Leo replied to Mark’s comment: [Her ‘repayment’ is beyond amazing, fills me up every single day.] Chloe replied with two words: [You’re awful.] The further I scrolled through her SnapChat, the more I glimpsed the intimate details of their life together. Leo often held Chloe, softly singing her to sleep. Despite a hint of reluctance on his face, his eyes were full of doting affection. His so-called business trips always included Chloe. Those nights I thought he was working late were actually spent in another woman’s embrace. Once, I’d urged him not to work so hard. He just said firmly, “I don’t want anyone thinking I’m just living off my wife’s money. I’m going to make so much money that everyone will envy you for having such a capable husband!” Five minutes before the ‘accident,’ Leo had sent me a message: [No matter what happens, I will always love you.] That message had brought me to tears every time I read it over the past month. Now, all of it burst like a bubble, gone in an instant.
I listed this house, which held countless memories of Leo and me, for sale. Less than an hour after it went up on the real estate platform, Jake’s call came through. “Alice, I heard you’re selling the house?” His voice was laced with surprise, but in the background, I faintly heard Leo’s voice: “Ask her why she’s suddenly selling… that’s our marital home.” I took a deep breath, my voice surprisingly calm: “Leo’s dead. I have to move on with my life.” A few seconds of silence followed on the other end, then I heard Jake’s voice, hushed: “What about Leo? Alice says she’s moving on.” Leo nonchalantly replied: “She loves me too much. How could she ever move on?” “If she sells the house, she sells it. We’re not short on property anyway.” Jake said, “Alright, I won’t try to persuade her then.” I heard it all, clenching my fists. Leo, I don’t need you! Jake cleared his throat, raising his voice: “Alice…” I hung up immediately. After packing my belongings, my best friend, Lucy Sterling, called a moving company for me. “Alice, are you really okay?” she asked cautiously. She still vividly remembered my heart-wrenching sobs from a few days ago. I shook my head gently. “I’m fine. I just hope to find a new place soon and get out of this dreadful house.” Suddenly, she remembered something. “My brother has a house. He hasn’t lived in it since he went abroad. Why don’t you stay there for a while?” I frowned slightly: “Alex Sterling’s house? No, thanks.” Lucy shook my arm, persuading me: “Come on. My brother went abroad after you married Leo. He hasn’t been back in years, what are you afraid of?” I looked down slightly, embarrassed to tell her. Actually, Alex had texted me a month ago. But I was so consumed by Leo’s death that I hadn’t replied. After a moment’s thought, I politely responded to his message— [The dead can’t come back to life. Take care of yourself.] [Thank you.] He replied instantly: [Don’t be too sad. He’s not worth your tears.] I paused, then suddenly remembered the day Leo proposed to me. He’d asked me to meet under the cherry blossom tree near the school building. The wind was particularly strong that day. As I brushed the hair from my face, I saw Alex. He stood in the hallway, his deep eyes fixed on me. I glanced at him, then smiled and accepted Leo’s proposal. When I looked back in his direction, he was gritting his teeth, glaring furiously at Leo, before turning and storming away. Shaking off the memories. My packing was almost done. On the bedside table sat a photo of Leo and me. I ripped it without hesitation and threw it in the trash. He might not be dead, but in my heart, he was. When Jake and Mark arrived, my last box was already loaded onto the truck. “Alice, if you ever need anything, just say the word.” I remained expressionless. “No need.” Jake and Mark argued in hushed tones. Finally, Mark spoke: “Actually, Alice, you might be right. Leo might still be alive…” “The police still haven’t confirmed that body was Leo’s. Maybe if we wait patiently, there will be good news.” I scoffed inwardly. Did Leo really think I’d be desperate enough to die for him, and send his friends to give me false hope? How ridiculous! I knew Leo’s petty games. All he wanted was for me to pine for him forever. Dream on.
I actually owned a few properties myself, but they were all currently rented out. I couldn’t just kick out tenants because I needed a place to stay. So I accepted Lucy’s suggestion and temporarily moved into Alex Sterling’s vacant house. When Lucy handed me the keys, I asked again, still a little worried, “Your brother won’t suddenly come back, will he?” “No, he won’t. I just asked him recently, and he said he has no plans to return for now.” “Besides, if he does suddenly come back, you can just move in with me back at the Sterling family estate.” That evening, Lucy invited me for a drink at a bar. A few drinks in, I spotted Jake and Mark. Chloe was with them. As for Leo, I wasn’t sure where he was hiding. I pretended not to see them and turned my head. But out of the corner of my eye, I caught Chloe raising an eyebrow, a faint, mocking smirk on her lips as she stared at me. “What’s wrong? See someone you know?” Lucy asked, following my gaze. I took a sip of my drink, calmly replying, “Nothing. Just someone I’d rather not see.” Feeling the alcohol, I rushed to the restroom. Right at the entrance, I bumped into Chloe. Her chin was slightly lifted, her eyes filled with obvious disdain, and she let out a cold snort. I walked past her without a word, but she suddenly flashed a knowing smile. As I was about to leave the restroom, the scene reflected in the crack under the door made me freeze instantly—Chloe was wrapped tightly around Leo from behind, her hands tracing over his body. “Leo, don’t be in such a hurry to leave.” Her voice was laced with seduction. Leo’s brow was furrowed: “This isn’t appropriate. Let’s go somewhere else.” But Chloe paid no mind. Instead, she took his hand, guiding it to her intimate parts. A smirk played at the corner of her eye as she stood on tiptoe and whispered hotly into his ear. “Leo, it’s much more exciting here. Don’t you want to try?” Leo’s eyes glazed over, succumbing to the irresistible temptation. In the dim light by the restroom, their entwined figures flickered in and out of the shadows, the air thick with their intimacy. Chloe savored Leo’s rising passion, her gaze occasionally flicking towards the restroom door. She caught a glimpse of my silhouette, and a triumphant smile curved her lips. I bit down hard on my lower lip, trying to compose myself. It’s just a quick fling, it’ll be over soon. Just a minute or two, I can handle it. After their footsteps faded, my phone suddenly vibrated. The screen lit up, and a line of text pierced my eyes like a needle: [He loves me so much. Can you feel it?] My heart still ached, but Chloe’s provocation, ironically, became the remedy that ripped Leo from my heart by the roots. It was excruciatingly painful, yet incredibly effective. My sorrow was slowly replaced by disgust. After a few more drinks at the bar, I returned home late. The alcohol briefly numbed my brain, making me miss the subtle changes in the house. My head spinning, I walked up to the second floor. After washing up, I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open. I pushed open my room door and dove straight into bed. But the temperature under the covers felt off. Instinctively, I reached out and touched a scorching hot body. I shot upright. “Who’s there?” *Click*. The lights came on. The man squinted, his eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness. When he saw me, his gaze lingered. “Alice?” My mind felt sluggish. It took me a long moment to respond. “Alex Sterling? What are you doing here?” I rubbed my throbbing temples, trying to clear the fog from my thoughts. “This is my room,” he said, his tone flat, yet with a hint of subtle concern. “Drinking?” I nodded, explaining, “Sorry, I drank too much. I must have walked into the wrong room.” With that, I fumbled to get out of bed. But Alex suddenly reached out and grabbed my wrist, his voice low: “Since you’re here, don’t be in such a hurry to leave.” “We have some scores to settle.” Hearing his words, the image of Leo and Chloe together flashed in my mind. A strange impulse surged through me, overriding my reason. “Alex, marry me.” ———-此处为截断点———- Alex’s eyes widened slightly, clearly not expecting such an abrupt proposal. The grip on my wrist eased slightly, but he didn’t let go. “You’re drunk,” he said in a low voice, a hint of scrutiny in his tone.
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