Author: Momo Chan

I had a dream. In it, the year I turned twenty, I became the “fake” daughter. I was kicked out of the Vance family with nothing but the clothes on my back. The real daughter quickly took my place, effortlessly winning everyone’s affection. I became the designated foil—the trainwreck. No matter what I tried, I failed. Meanwhile, she just got brighter and brighter. Eventually, I hit rock bottom. I became the mistress of a balding, old rich guy just to survive. I didn’t know he was abusive. He eventually started passing me around to other men to seal his business deals. Then I caught something disgusting. The old man refused to pay for treatment. I withered away in pain and rot. While I was dying, the real daughter married the man I had worshipped from afar—the ultimate titan of industry, Silas Thorne. Hearing that news was the last thing I did before I took my final breath. My life ended like a piece of rough, scribbled-out scrap paper. It was so ludicrous I woke up laughing. Wiping tears from the corners of my eyes, I reached out and took a stack of documents handed to me. “I’ll sign. I’m cutting all ties with the Vance family.” Chapter 1 “I’ll sign.” Saying those words felt like a physical weight lifting off me. Like I had just broken free from some invisible, suffocating shackle. “Harper, I am so disappointed in you. If you keep making this difficult, I’m just going to despise you more…” Mrs. Vance’s cold, elegant voice cut off abruptly. “What did you say?” I looked at that beautiful face, one that had once looked at me with unconditional adoration, and swallowed the bitter lump in my throat. I swallowed the word “Mom” right along with it. I didn’t repeat myself. I just picked up the pen, found the signature lines in the thick stack of paperwork, and wrote my name, stroke by stroke: Harper. Just as they wanted, I no longer carried the Vance name. “Here.” I handed the stacked documents back to her. By then, her cold expression had been replaced by stark astonishment. She looked like she couldn’t believe it had gone this smoothly. She had actually brought bodyguards just in case I refused. “Do you even know what these are?” I said softly, “Mostly transfers of stock options and property deeds, and a total severance of my relationship with the Vances.” Grace Vance opened her mouth, then paused. “Since you aren’t biologically mine, we have to correct this. We need to put everything back on the right track. I hope you can understand.” I looked at the bodyguards standing behind her and suddenly felt drained. “I understand.” Whether I understood or not was irrelevant. Even if I hadn’t agreed, someone would have forced my hand eventually. I really thought I had just had a ridiculous, vivid nightmare. Until my twentieth birthday, when a girl who looked exactly like Grace Vance showed up at our front door, claiming she was the real Vance daughter. Everything that happened after that matched the dream point for point. Compared to the real heiress, I—who had been raised on purely curated resources—had nothing to offer but a pretty face. The real heiress, having returned from the slums, was sharp, beautiful, resilient, and capable. She was accepted immediately. When she pointed a finger at me, her eyes filled with an endless, burning resentment, she had sobbed, “I want her gone.” “Every time I look at her, I remember that she stole twenty years of my life. I just…” She broke down before she could finish. Eleazar and Grace Vance were so full of guilt and pity for her that they agreed on the spot. Even my younger brother, whom I had practically raised, stood by her side. “Don’t cry. You’re my only real sister now.” They looked at me like I was a thief. “Harper, you need to leave.” The me in the dream couldn’t believe that the family I had lived with for twenty years, who had supposedly loved me so much, could discard me just like that. I had cried hysterically, but no one cared. To stay in the house, I deliberately took a freezing cold bath, hoping to get sick so they couldn’t kick me out. A common cold was cured too quickly, so I tried a hunger strike next. None of it earned me a single ounce of mercy. It only made them more determined to cut ties. The real daughter had kicked open my bedroom door, jealousy flashing in her eyes for a second before she satisfied herself looking at my things. “Harper, you should be grateful you got to steal twenty years of my luxury. Now, Mom and Dad aren’t just kicking you out; they’re taking back everything they ever gave you. It’s time you learned what life is like at the bottom.” “No, Mom and Dad wouldn’t do that to me,” I had denied, unable to accept it. I had been pampered and arrogant for twenty years. Forcing me into poverty was worse than killing me. The Vance family was a massive empire; what was one more daughter to them? I was beautiful. Many wealthy men liked me. I could at least be useful for a strategic marriage alliance. Yes, that’s what I thought. I needed to go tell them I was still useful. “Stop right there.” The real daughter grabbed me. “Don’t flatter yourself. You fawned over Silas Thorne for years, and he never even gave you a second glance, did he?” “I, on the other hand, have only been back a few days, and Silas has already asked me to dinner.” Looking at me, she sneered, “A fake is always a fake.” In the dream, hearing that Silas treated her differently made me snap. I raised my hand and slapped her across the face. She immediately grabbed my hair, and we got into a vicious hair-pulling fight, tumbling right down the grand staircase together. When I woke up, I knew those weren’t just dreams. It was a life I had already lived. Chapter 2 Grace Vance took the documents back, still looking a bit dazed. “Mrs. Vance, may I leave now?” Her head snapped up, staring at me. “What did you just call me?” I lowered my head, avoiding her eyes, and gave her a slight bow. “Thank you for taking care of me all these years, Grace.” Her voice trembled, a mix of anger and disappointment. “My daughter was right. Blood tells. You really are an ungrateful brat.” I raised my head, wanting to argue. Aren’t you the ones discarding me? But then I saw something that wasn’t in the dream. Grace’s eyes were red. There was none of the disgust or utter resoluteness that had heartbroken me every time I remembered the dream. Instead, I saw a familiar warmth and reluctance to let go. What was going on? I cooperate perfectly, and now she feels sad? I didn’t let myself get sucked back in by her sudden sentimentality. As long as the “real” daughter was in the Vance family, there would never be a place for me. “I’m sorry,” I said softly. Grace stood up, shaking off her momentary loss of composure, returning to her usual elegant, icy demeanor. “Go. Pack your things. You can take your essentials.” Different again. In the dream, on the day I was kicked out, they hadn’t let me take anything but the clothes on my back. I wasn’t going to be proud and stupid. “Thank you.” I packed a few favorite outfits, a bag I used daily, and my toiletries. It filled one large suitcase. When I struggled to drag the suitcase downstairs, the real daughter, Bridget, insisted on inspecting it. She wanted to make sure I hadn’t stolen anything I shouldn’t have. In her eyes, I was a thief. I stole her life, and now I was stealing the Vance wealth. When she saw the suitcase contained nothing but simple daily items, Grace finally frowned and snapped, “Enough!” It was the first time Bridget had been scolded since her return. Her eyes went red, and she bit her lip, letting silent tears flow. “This family has been too good to her already.” Grace sighed, ultimately siding with her biological child. She turned to me, offering a final warning. “Harper, since you’ve signed the severance agreement, we are strangers if we meet again. You are absolutely forbidden from using the Vance name or reputation out there.” Even knowing Grace was cutting me off, hearing it said like that made my heart feel like it was being stuck by needles. “Understood.” I was right not to take any jewelry or valuables. Once I was a good distance away from the Vance estate, I couldn’t pretend to be strong anymore. I let go of the suitcase handle and squatted down on the sidewalk. Actually, when I fell down the stairs with Bridget in the dream, I had broken a rib. Every word I had spoken to Grace just now had been through absolute agony. I knew that even if I showed pain, they would have just thought I was faking it—another tactic to manipulate my way back into the Vance house. I wasn’t going to be that greedy, pathetic clown from the dream again. This time, I was leaving with my dignity intact. And I was going to survive. Chapter 3 Trembling, I pulled out my phone. My instinct was to call my close friends. No. Stop. My hand shook, and the phone slid out of my grasp, clattering onto the concrete. I remembered segments from the dream. After being kicked out by the Vances. I swallowed my pride and begged my former friends to let me crash with them for a few days. Every single one refused. They even blocked my number. When I was truly backed into a corner, I ran into someone who used to constantly hit on me. I thought I had found a savior. Instead, he dragged me into a VIP booth at a club and humiliated me for his friends. “Harper Vance, didn’t you used to love making people bark like dogs for your amusement? Why don’t you get down on your knees and bark three times right now, and maybe we’ll help you.” “Oh, wait, make her finish this whole bottle of tequila first, then make her bark.” A crony, whose name I couldn’t even recall, had looked at me with disgusting lust. “Our little princess is homeless. How tragic. Why don’t you come live with me? I’ll give you $500 a week. How about it?” Those vile words felt like they were being whispered in my ear right now. I covered my ears, shaking my head violently. That night in the dream, they had forced so much alcohol down my throat. Someone took the chance to get revenge and violently squeezed my injured rib, causing internal bleeding that put me in the hospital. It had hurt so much. Just breathing was agony. The physical pain, mixed with the utter terror of abandonment, finally made me break down. I sobbed on the sidewalk, unable to control myself. Was I still doomed to the same ending? It wasn’t my fault I was switched at birth. Why do I have to bear all this suffering? Bridget was so accomplished; it was obvious my biological mother hadn’t abused her. Why did she hate me so violently? She got to go back to being the wealthy socialite, while I was hit with the triple blow of being homeless, having an unknown father, and a deceased mother. I sat on the ground for a long time until the horizon swallowed the last sliver of sunlight and night fell. If I didn’t find a place soon, I’d be sleeping on the streets tonight. Where was I supposed to go? I picked up my phone and checked my digital wallet. I only had a few hundred bucks, mostly from digital red envelopes. Every credit card under my name was frozen. If I had only known sooner… I shook my head. Knowing wouldn’t have changed anything. My brain, which hadn’t used even ten percent of its capacity in twenty years, started spinning rapidly. There’s a massive wholesale produce market on the south side of town. Every day, they throw away tons of veggies that are slightly damaged or just don’t look good enough for retail. I could go forage there. It’s free. Rice doesn’t cost that much. Then I just need to find a part-time job. My eyes lit up. Everything would be okay. Right now, the most important thing was finding a place to stay. My face fell again. That was the hardest part. I didn’t dare contact a single old friend. Who was left that could help me? Suddenly, a name popped into my head. Julian Reed. The toyboy I was sponsoring. Because Silas Thorne had rejected me, I had gone out and “sponsored” a struggling college student who happened to have a side profile very similar to Silas’s. It was a classic rebound trope. I had paid $200,000 for a one-year contract, up-front. There were still six months left on that contract. My breathing turned shallow and fast. I found the name in my contacts and dialed. The first time, he didn’t pick up. I dialed a second time. “What is it?” Julian’s icy voice came through the receiver. I shivered. Recalling how I used to treat him, I knew I deserved this tone. To force him to be my rebound, I had destroyed the tech startup lab he had founded with his classmates. I wasn’t kind to Julian either. Every time Silas ignored me, I took my rage out on him. I was terrified. If he knew I had been kicked out, would he come back and take his revenge on me now? Chapter 4 I was having serious second thoughts. Considering my history with him, would he just retaliate? While I was panicking silently, Julian’s voice got even colder. “Speak.” “Say something, or I’m hanging up.” “Don’t!” I said quickly. “I’m coming over tonight.” After saying that, I waited nervously for his response. Julian was a rebellious “partner,” to put it mildly. He refused me all the time. Usually, if it wasn’t urgent, I let it go. But if I was in a rage and he refused me, I used to have plenty of leverage and dirty methods to force him over. I used to be arrogant and stubborn myself; I had liked his unbroken spirit. Because the prouder he was, the more satisfying it felt to crush him into the dirt. My god, I really was a psycho. I really deserved to die, I thought miserably. But I couldn’t worry about that now. He was the only life raft I could reach. There was a long silence on the other end. He didn’t refuse, and he didn’t hang up. Just as I was about to lose hope, Julian spoke. He said, “Fine.” I bit the bullet and called a Uber to take me to the University District. It cost over $50. My heart hurt even more than my ribs. Originally, to make visiting Julian convenient, I had rented a high-end apartment near the university campus with excellent privacy. I had signed a one-year lease. I never imagined this place would become my last refuge. I knew Julian hated that apartment. Unless I demanded it, he almost never went there. I could live here alone. But right now, standing in front of the door, I wanted to die of regret. Why hadn’t I taken the spare key from the main house? If I had, I could have just moved in silently and hidden out until the lease expired. Now, I had to wait for my rebellious rebound. I was terrified of what would happen next. I didn’t know when he would show up, so I sat on my suitcase, resting my head against the doorframe to soothe my exhaustion and pain. I don’t know how long passed. “Why aren’t you inside?” The voice was sharp, coated in frost. I opened my eyes and saw Julian’s towering silhouette, his sharply defined features illuminated by the hallway light. He was looking down at me. It felt like a lifetime since I had seen him. I almost cried with relief. Being careful not to pull on my injury, I didn’t stand up. I just whispered, “You’re here.” Julian, long time no see! Julian froze. He had never seen me quiet and compliant before. When he saw the suitcase, his brow furrowed tightly. “You?” I looked up at him. “Can we go inside first? I’m cold.” Julian unlocked the door. I swayed on my feet as I made my way to the sofa, collapsing onto it and gasping for air. Safe. At that perfectly wrong moment, my stomach let out a thunderous growl. I couldn’t help it. I hadn’t eaten, and I was starving. I shot an embarrassed look at Julian. If I asked him for food… Before my brain could even process the thought, my mouth was already speaking: “Julian, I’m hungry.” Julian’s face looked even worse now. “Chloe Harrington, what kind of sick game are you playing this time?” Chapter 5 I lowered my eyes, tired. “No games. Just… things have changed.” I corrected him softly. “And it’s just Chloe now. Just call me Chloe.” Julian’s whole body stiffened. The look he gave me was indescribable. I turned my face away. I realized my voice had been too soft just now, almost sounding like I was acting cute or flirting. But that wasn’t my intention. Speaking with too much force just hurt too much. After a long silence, Julian said, “I have instant ramen. You want some?” I nodded frantically. “Yes, please.” Twenty minutes later, I had downed the last of the broth. I was mentally preparing how to bring up terminating our contract with Julian. Ideally, I wanted to ask for $100,000 back. Before today, $100,000 was just pocket change for a few outfits or a bag. But now, that $100,000 was my life. I kept sneaking glances at Julian. He was dressed entirely in black today—a black button-down shirt. I wasn’t sure what the fabric was, but it had a nice sheen and drape. His thick hair was parted slightly, the ends slightly curled. He had that mixture of aloofness and youthful vigor. Honestly, looking like that, the $200,000 had been worth it. How should I phrase this? I smack my lips, immediately regretting the gesture. As the saying goes: Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. I was so consumed by my internal debate that I completely missed the fact that the man was watching all my little movements. A flash of disgust crossed his eyes. “Alright, let’s get this over with. How do you want to play today?” “Huh?” My eyes went wide. “Let’s make this quick!” Julian started walking toward me, unbuttoning his shirt as he came. Before I realized what was happening, I caught a faint scent of lemon, and Julian had already unbuttoned his entire shirt, exposing his chest. He got down on one knee right at my feet, lowering his head, presenting his profile to me. From my perspective, that profile was almost an exact carbon copy of Silas Thorne. It was the angle I used to love. He was heart-wrenchingly practiced at this. “Mistress, punish me…” You couldn’t see the humiliation in his eyes from this angle. I was terrified. “No! Get away!” Julian let out a cold snort. “Not that one today?” With that, he stood up and started undoing his belt. The click of the buckle sounded like a switch, flooding me with horrible memories. I looked at him in stark terror, quickly scrambling back into the corner of the sofa until I couldn’t go back any further. I curled up tightly, unable to stop my whole body from shaking. “Don’t come near me! Please, don’t come near me…” In the dream, someone else had done this exact thing, pulling his belt off while walking toward me. He used that belt to tie me up, to beat me. I couldn’t run, I couldn’t hide… “Let me go, let me go…” I mumbled unconsciously. “Chloe Harrington.” “Chloe.” He called my name twice, but I was so submerged in terror that I didn’t hear him clearly. Julian finally realized something was very wrong. “Chloe.” That nice lemon scent drifted back into my nose, and I snapped out of it. I looked up and saw Julian’s cold, intense eyes right in front of me. “Don’t come near me… don’t touch me…” I was hyperventilating, and the heavy, ragged breathing was pulling on my broken rib. Pain. It let me know this was real, not a dream. Julian sat down on the coffee table opposite me, furrowing his brows, keeping me company in the silence.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394621”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

In the fifth year of my relationship with Julian, we had another explosive argument. He grabbed his keys and stormed out the door, choosing the silent treatment once again. I sat quietly on the sofa. After holding it in for a while, I started scrolling through TikTok, giggling at the videos. At 2 AM, I was woken up by a phone call. Julian’s voice on the other end was cold enough to freeze water: “I’ve been outside until now, and you haven’t called me once?” Only then did I awkwardly remember he was still wandering around in the freezing snow. I said, embarrassed, “Uh, how about… you just don’t come back, and we call it quits?” 1 After I said that, the other end of the line fell into a brief silence. Then, with a click, the call disconnected. I was so sleepy I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I rolled over and comfortably fell back asleep in my warm bed. When I woke up the next day, I heard rustling noises in the living room. I went out and saw Julian packing his bags. He acted as if he didn’t see me, just keeping his head down and shoving everything into his suitcase. I stood there frowning, watching him for a while, terrified he might accidentally pack my things. When he finally finished packing and zipped up the suitcase, he said flatly: “You should calm down for a bit. Let’s not contact each other for a while.” That sentence sounded familiar. It seemed like this happened last year too. We had a huge fight, and he grabbed his keys to leave. I broke down, pulling on him: “Why are you doing this again? Why do you always leave me alone? Can’t we just talk things out face-to-face? Why are you always running away?!” He really didn’t leave that time. He turned around and locked himself in the bedroom. But when my emotions had slightly calmed down, I saw him come out carrying a suitcase. His voice was detached and calm, completely unlike my hysteria. “Take a few days to calm down. We’ll talk later.” For over half a month after that, he really didn’t contact me. All the messages I sent and the calls I made sank like stones in the ocean, receiving no response. I was completely overwhelmed back then, crying so much every day I couldn’t sleep. In the end, I actually swallowed my pride and sent a message begging for forgiveness. Once it happens once, it happens again. Julian realized the silent treatment worked exceptionally well. I would get over it without him needing to coax me, so he started engaging in frequent cold wars with me. From my initial desperate craving for a response, I gradually learned to digest it all on my own. The process in between… only I know how I endured it. Right now, he was standing in front of me with his suitcase, just like last year. His expression was flat, seemingly devoid of any emotion, and he even generously advised me: “Don’t overthink things. Eat well, work hard. It’s not like you have nothing else to do besides clinging to me.” I rubbed my sleep-filled eyes and agreed casually: “Mhm. Be careful on the road.” Julian’s originally detached expression stiffened slightly. He clearly hadn’t expected me to not offer a single word asking him to stay. I took two steps toward the bathroom, remembered something, and turned back to remind him: “You packed your summer clothes too, right? If you can carry them, take them all today so you don’t have to make another trip.” His face looked awful. Without a word, he slammed the door and left. My heart instantly relaxed. It was great. All of this was finally over. 2 Today is Saturday. In the past, I would always pester Julian to spend the weekend with me. Later, Julian found the perfect strategy to deal with me. As soon as we argued, he would pack his bags and leave. And he would be gone for at least half a month. I was forced to get used to spending holiday after holiday alone. From initially sending paragraph after paragraph of hysterical text messages, to gradually becoming numb and detached, and finally returning to my single self—happily spending my days off with friends. That entire process took just one year. I cooked myself a steaming bowl of pork and century egg congee. After eating, I curled up on the sofa, petting my cat and watching a horror movie. The weather outside was gloomy, with a cold winter rain drizzling down. I had the heater on, enjoying a cozy, solitary moment. After the movie ended, I made a hot drink and casually scrolled through Instagram. I didn’t expect the very first post to be from Julian. 【On a business trip with Ms. Hayes.】 The attached photo was a selfie of him and Elena at the airport, their arms around each other’s shoulders. Elena was his college classmate and business partner. They had a very close relationship. Every time Julian and I had a cold war, the two of them would go on a long business trip alone together. The first time I found out, I agonized over it for a long time. I didn’t know if they were just colleagues, or if there was really something going on. Until the second cold war, and the third… Julian invariably dragged Elena along on out-of-town business trips, leaving me alone at home. I started frantically messaging and calling Julian, demanding to know what he was playing at, why he went on a business trip every time we fought, and why he brought Elena every single time. He usually brought his assistant on business trips, so why, when he traveled with Elena, did he not even bring an assistant? Three days later, Julian finally replied with a few detached words: 【Think whatever you want.】 Then he went radio silent again, not replying with a single word. I knew right then there was no point in continuing the relationship. Wiping my tears, with trembling hands, I typed a few words: 【Then let’s break up.】 I then turned off my phone, forbidding myself from acting crazy or making a fool of myself, and threw myself into work to distract myself. A few minutes later, my phone buzzed. I couldn’t even last three minutes before picking it up to check. It was messages from work group chats. It was ad notifications from various apps. It was a text from the bank wishing me a happy birthday. It wasn’t until 9 PM that a message with Julian’s name finally popped up. Two short, cold words. 【Suit yourself.】 I completely broke down, burying myself in my bed and sobbing loudly. While crying, I sent messages accusing him of never loving me, detailing every disappointment and instance of neglect I had felt from him, trying to awaken a shred of guilt in him, trying to make him realize he failed in this relationship. But everything sank like a stone in the ocean, as usual. It was as if there was no one on the other end. Or rather, he couldn’t even be bothered to read a single sentence. Scrolling through his Instagram, I saw a photo of him and Elena having dinner with clients. The atmosphere was joyful, and everyone was smiling happily. It was like a bucket of cold water poured over my head. I clearly saw myself as a clown, jumping around desperately but only making a fool of myself. My rationality clearly told me he was not a good man. I finally stopped sending messages. But my life became a blur. I tried hard to act like everyone else, but everything became mechanical and numb. Only when I dragged my exhausted body home and looked at the empty apartment could I not help but squat down and cry. I knew there was a high probability he was a piece of trash. But I missed him terribly. I knew I was incompetent and fragile, but pretending to be normal had exhausted all my strength. In the dark of the night, I allowed myself to agonizingly miss him. I didn’t know when the end would come. It wasn’t until thirty-six days later that he finally contacted me again. 【Have you calmed down?】 【Are we still breaking up?】 I stared numbly at that message. A message that arrived far too late could no longer spark my anticipation or excitement. I slowly typed two words: 【Whatever.】 He sent a voice memo. “I got you a birthday present. I’m heading back now.” His voice was light and carried a smile. There seemed to be another woman’s laughter beside him. That laugh was very distinct; it was Elena’s voice. Even through the phone screen, I could imagine the two of them getting off the plane, travel-worn but in high spirits. Unlike me. I was like a filthy, trapped beast locked in a cage. All my agonizing internal struggles hadn’t affected Julian in the slightest. Everything I felt in this relationship seemed to be just my own paranoid, self-directed drama. While Julian was magnanimous and stable; he tolerated me. 3 My thoughts returned to the Instagram post in front of me. There were already several comments underneath. A: 【A match made in heaven, Mr. Julian.】 B: 【Nonsense, our Elena clearly has both brains and beauty!】 Julian: 【Good eye.】 C: 【A one-month business trip? Leaving the sister-in-law alone at home again, is that okay? #doge】 Julian: 【We’re all adults, does she need me to accompany her all day long?】 C: 【True, you can’t spoil women too much.】 Amidst all the random comments, a glaring one suddenly appeared. Chloe: 【No need to accompany the girlfriend, but the female partner must accompany you on business trips~】 The “~” was dripping with sarcasm. This was the girlfriend of another male partner at Julian’s firm, Mark. I heard they were originally planning to get married this year, but it’s already the end of the year and there’s still no news. Her boyfriend, Mark, went on solo business trips with Elena just as often as Julian did. I heard that last time Chloe’s mother was hospitalized and she was incredibly busy at the hospital alone, Elena posted a cheek-to-cheek selfie with Mark under the Eiffel Tower. They said it was a business trip, but anyone who didn’t know better would think they were on their honeymoon. Chloe had a huge fight with Mark over this. Although they made up, their relationship wasn’t the same as before, and they haven’t mentioned marriage since. After her comment, the originally lively post seemed to be put on pause. There were no new comments for a while. Just as I was about to scroll away, a new comment popped up. Elena: 【Little girl, don’t be so dramatic. What’s more important, business or your petty romantic squabbles?】 Elena: 【If you want to marry a rich guy and reap the rewards without doing any work, then just obediently be a trophy wife. Don’t ruin your own chances.】 Chloe replied quickly. 【Compared to someone who can’t even take an assistant on a business trip and insists a male partner accompany her every time, I’m much more independent in my work. Who’s the trophy wife here?】 After a ten-minute pause, Elena finally replied with a few words. 【You don’t know what you’re talking about.】 Ever since Chloe found out Mark was always going on solo business trips with Elena, they hadn’t gotten along. They would argue anywhere they could. I was used to it. I closed Instagram. Just as I was about to start making dinner, my landlord called: “Hey Sarah, your lease is up next month. You’re renewing, right?” I looked around the apartment. A spacious, brightly lit penthouse. Outside the window was the most bustling night view of the city. Back then, Julian constantly asked me to move into his place. But I always worried that living in someone else’s house came with the risk of being kicked out, so I stubbornly insisted on living alone. He was very clingy back then, showing up at my door the next day with his suitcase, looking pitiful. I had just started working and didn’t have much money. I was living tightly in a 300-square-foot apartment, far from the city center. I knew Julian was used to the good life, and I always felt it was unfair to make him live in such a small place with me. So, as soon as I became a full-time employee and got a raise, I bit the bullet and moved here. It ate up almost half my monthly salary. “No,” I told the landlord. “I plan to move to the East Side.” It was closer to where I worked. I wouldn’t have to leave the house at 6 AM every day to catch the subway. The landlord was a bit surprised: “What’s wrong? Didn’t you say before that this place was convenient because it was close to your boyfriend’s company?” “Yeah,” I replied softly, kicking my slippers while looking down. I smiled. “We broke up.” The landlord sighed heavily. After comforting me for a bit, she kindly recommended a moving company before hanging up. 4 My company was planning a livestream event at a mall recently. I took the new junior colleagues to the mall to handle the coordination. The junior colleagues were two recently graduated male college students, bursting with energy and enthusiasm, which even brought some life back to us seasoned corporate veterans. After we finished coordinating that day, the two of them insisted on dragging me out for barbecue, saying we needed to relax after working so hard for so many days. At a street-side barbecue stall, under the dim yellow lights, I took a picture of the table piled high with food. The two college boys tilted their heads into the frame, smiling cleanly and brightly. I snapped the photo and posted it on Instagram with a smile: 【Coordination complete! Tomorrow I can finally enjoy the weekend!】 When I got home, it was past midnight. A message from Julian unexpectedly popped up on my phone. He sent a picture of himself having dinner with clients, seemingly reporting his whereabouts to me: 【I’ll be back in another week.】 【I brought you a gift.】 I pretended not to see it, sanitized my phone, plugged it in to charge, and placed it on my nightstand. In the past, when he first started giving me the silent treatment, I panicked and frantically sent him messages, begging for even the slightest response. Later, I forced myself to try getting used to the single life after every time he left. Gradually, I stopped messaging him. He, in turn, softened his cold war strategy and became less indifferent. From sending me a message once a month, to calling me every half month, to a week, to three days. What a blessing. Whoever wants this kind of blessing can have it. After showering and getting into bed, I saw Julian had sent a few more messages. 【What did you do today?】 【Was work tiring?】 【Are you asleep?】 I muted his notifications. I didn’t delete him, I didn’t block him, and I didn’t respond. I learned that perfectly from him. 5 There were still over twenty days left until my lease expired. I started packing my things early. Packing a little bit every day actually made it quite easy. When Julian’s mother came over, she saw my apartment filled with cardboard boxes of various sizes. When I opened the door, I thought it was food delivery, so I had my guard down and she barged right in. She was carrying a thermal lunchbox, her pointed leather shoes kicking the cardboard boxes I had stacked in the hallway. Her voice was as affectionately overbearing as ever. “Sweetie, Julian is out of town on a business trip right now. What’s the matter with you two that you can’t just let go? He’s so distracted at work now, so he asked me to come check on you.” As she spoke, she walked straight into the apartment, sat down on the sofa, crossed her legs, and acted like she owned the place: “Julian even specifically asked me to bring you food. I told him he’s being ridiculous. You’re twenty-six or twenty-seven years old, not a three or four-year-old child. Do I really need to watch you eat?” I took a deep breath, turned around, and was just about to speak when she suddenly looked around the room and frowned: “I hear Julian praise you every day for being so clean, but look at yourself. How can a girl make her house look like this?” “Even though our Julian has some money and won’t be unable to afford a maid or nanny in the future, you can’t be this sloppy, right?” My face darkened. Julian was a local of this city. The exclusivity of this city’s locals is well-known. Julian’s mother was a very typical local older woman. She always assumed that girls from out of town all had ulterior motives towards her son, wanting to use marriage to steal his property and residency status. “Auntie, Julian and I have already broken up,” I said, trying to keep my voice as calm as possible. She acted as if she didn’t hear me, even letting out a light scoff. But she quickly put on a smiling face again, looking up at me: “You just have too much of a temper. I always tell our Julian, he might not be able to handle the temper of an out-of-town girl, but he just won’t listen. Young people, they don’t know pain until they hit a brick wall themselves.” Seeing my face getting uglier, she laughed: “Don’t overthink it, I’m not talking about you. Come, come, come, eat your food first.” She opened the thermal lunchbox, laid out the dishes one by one on the table, then took pictures from every angle and sent them to Julian. “I have to report back to him, tell him I delivered your food.” “Auntie isn’t trying to lecture you, but you’re not a child anymore. There needs to be a limit to your tantrums. Julian is a businessman. If you keep affecting his mood like this, isn’t that affecting his career? What good does that do you?” “You should also settle down. You two are getting married next year. It’s best if you have a baby before the end of the year. That job of yours doesn’t make much money anyway; you should quit sooner rather than later.” I laughed out of sheer annoyance: “Auntie, didn’t you hear me? Julian and I have broken up. I’m not marrying him.” She curled her lip: “Alright, alright, I don’t want to hear you talk like this. You’ve just watched too many TikToks and rotted your brain. Thinking about remaining single and childless all day, talking about female independence. All this talk about independence, but aren’t you still spending my son’s money?” This wasn’t the first time she had said this. But every time she said it, Julian never contradicted her, nor did he ever say a word in my defense. He would only calmly advise me afterward: “My mom is getting old, her thinking is just like that. Don’t take it to heart.” Thinking about it now, perhaps he fundamentally agreed with those words. He was just using his mother’s mouth to let her play the villain, subtly keeping me in line. I repacked the lunchbox she had laid out on the table, shoved it back into her hands, and directly pushed her out the door. Julian’s mother looked shocked, cursing as she went: “What is wrong with you, little girl?! How can you treat an elder like this?! With behavior like yours, you still want to marry my son…” SLAM! With the door violently shut, the apartment finally returned to peace.

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My daughter and my husband’s godson were diagnosed with acute leukemia at the same time. The doctor said cord blood could save their lives. His adopted sister, Mia, knelt before me holding her child, kowtowing over a hundred times. “Chloe, please give the cord blood to me. Leo’s father died right after he was born, and I didn’t save any cord blood. Just have pity on us, mother and son.” “Leo is my only child, please save him.” I firmly rejected her pleas, unwilling to gamble with my daughter’s life. However, on the day of my daughter’s surgery, Arthur ran me over with his car, leaving me severely injured. The tires rolled back and forth over my thigh bones; the pain was so intense I nearly lost consciousness. He looked at me struggling in a pool of blood, his eyes full of complex emotions. “Chloe, I’m sorry. I had to do this for Leo.” “You shouldn’t have fought Mia for the cord blood. Leo’s condition is much worse than our daughter’s; if we have to save someone, it has to be him first.” I was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, while he turned around and took the cord blood to save Mia’s son. It wasn’t until I woke up in the hospital room that all I received was my daughter’s death certificate. 1 [Death caused by asphyxiation resulting from intracranial hemorrhage.] These stark words were printed on Joy’s death certificate. My hands trembled, and my vision gradually blurred. Boisterous noise drifted in from outside the hospital room. Many people had gathered to celebrate the successful surgery of Mia’s son. Arthur was especially radiant; holding Leo in his arms, he gently squeezed his little hand. “I knew Leo had a great destiny. The surgery was very successful, and now our Leo can grow up healthy just like other kids!” This sentence pierced my chest like a sharp blade. My daughter Joy, just over a month old, could have grown up healthy too. But now, she was dead in this hospital. Large teardrops instantly fell onto that piece of paper. When Arthur stepped into the hospital room, Mother Vance and Mia were right behind him. Seeing I was awake, his face beamed with joy, and he held Leo out for me to see. “Chloe, look! Leo’s treatment was very successful! I can hardly believe it; the doctor originally said the chances of success were very low.” “Leo truly is a lucky star…” Before he could finish, he looked up and met my bloodshot eyes. For a moment, all his words choked in his throat. Arthur also remembered what he had done to me to save Leo, a flash of guilt passing through his eyes. At that moment, Mia walked to my bedside and, without a word, knelt down before me. “Chloe, thank you. If it weren’t for you, Leo’s surgery wouldn’t have been successful!” Seeing her kneel, Arthur and Mother Vance were overwhelmed with heartache. Mother Vance looked at me with extreme impatience and pulled Mia up. “Alright, the gesture is enough. Her daughter was so sick, she should have given the cord blood to Leo anyway.” They were still immersed in the joy of Mia’s son recovering his health. But no one knew that my daughter was already dead. Seeing my dazed expression, Arthur sighed. “The most important thing for you now is to rest and heal. I had no choice. No matter what, Leo is my godson, and my mom loves him so much.” “Whether you hate me or resent me, don’t go looking for trouble with Mia. I will figure out another way for Joy’s illness.” He admitted to what he did, but there wasn’t a hint of regret in his eyes. For an outsider’s son, he could even abandon his own biological daughter! My heart plummeted, and with bloodshot eyes, I met his gaze. “Joy just passed her one-month mark. Did you even think about her? She is your biological daughter!” “You are all so selfish. Did you ever think about what would happen to my daughter?!” Chapter 2 My emotions were near collapse as I questioned them like a madwoman. Leo was scared by my shouting and started crying loudly. Arthur’s face turned pale, and Mother Vance trembled with anger. She pointed at my nose and scolded. “My son staying with someone like you is just wasting the rest of his life!” “My old bones just want to hold a grandson. If you hadn’t given birth to that sickly, worthless girl, I would have had a grandson long ago!” Mother Vance was typically biased towards boys. Since I gave birth to Joy, She had been spreading rumors everywhere that it was all my fault. That if my genes weren’t bad, I wouldn’t have given birth to a daughter with congenital deficiencies. Mother Vance left after throwing a tantrum. Arthur continuously comforted Leo in his arms, his eyes looking at me with extreme complexity. After they left, the hospital room returned to silence. It wasn’t until a nurse came in to give me an IV that I spoke hoarsely. “Do you know where my daughter’s body is? I want to see her.” As my words fell, the nurse looked at me in surprise. “Hasn’t your daughter already been donated to our hospital? The child’s father has already signed the papers.” “She’s now in the specimen room…” 2 My head buzzed, not understanding what the nurse meant. “What specimen? Where is my daughter?” My eyes widened, my lips trembling, as I tried to drag my broken leg to leave the room. The nurse was scared by my drastic reaction. She stopped me while trying to calm me down. “Mrs. Vance, you just had surgery, you can’t get out of bed yet.” “Your husband signed the body donation agreement, which will contribute to the entire medical field. Please calm down first.” The moment my freshly operated leg touched the ground, the severe pain made my vision go black. Blood spilled all over the floor as the wound tore open. The nurse kept trying to dissuade me, but I tightly grabbed her hand. “I want to see my daughter! I never agreed! She was just a month old, what right does your hospital have to take her for research!” Seeing my frantic state, the nurse had no choice but to take me to the specimen room. I saw Joy at a glance. I stood rooted to the spot, my trembling fingertips pressed against the glass. She was soaked in formalin, her face a dark, bruised color. She would never open her eyes again. “Your hospital is breaking the law! I never agreed to donate her body!” I roared silently, my fists continuously pounding against the glass. The nurse tried to stop me but couldn’t. The commotion quickly attracted security guards, who forcefully dragged me out of the specimen room. The nurse looked at me with deep sympathy. She showed me the body donation agreement, and Arthur’s signature was indeed on it. “Please accept my condolences.” I stared blankly at Arthur’s name, a metallic taste of blood suddenly rising in my throat. A long while later, I staggered to my feet and looked up, only to see Arthur not far down the corridor. Beside him, Mia was teasing the child lying in his arms. Anyone who didn’t know better would think they were a family of three. I stumbled over to him and fiercely grabbed his collar. “Why did you do this?! Why did you treat Joy like this? She was your daughter! She was the child I carried for ten months and barely survived bringing into this world!” My roar echoed through the hospital corridor, and people passing by stopped to look. Faced with my questioning, Arthur’s face was as dark as ink. He held the child in his arms tightly and forcefully swatted my hand away. “What crazy fit are you throwing? You’re injured, shouldn’t you be resting in bed instead of causing a scene in front of me?” “Didn’t I tell you? I’ll figure something else out for Joy. Medical care is better abroad. I won’t let our daughter suffer.” Chapter 3 I sneered, my eyes red. The image of Joy’s body in the specimen room lingered in my mind, refusing to fade. She was still so small, her organs hollowed out, turned into a specimen. Forever submerged in a tank of formalin. Even so, Arthur was still playing dumb. Mia shielded the child behind her, looking at me nervously. “Chloe, if you have any grievances, take them out on me. Don’t blame Arthur; he did it all for me.” “Don’t let me ruin the relationship between you two…” Although Mia was speaking words of apology, I caught the glint of triumph flashing in her eyes. I instantly understood. If it weren’t for Arthur’s indulgence, my daughter wouldn’t have died, nor would she have been turned into a specimen. My hands hung limply at my sides, tears shimmering in my eyes. Looking at my blood-soaked state, Arthur’s tone softened involuntarily. “Don’t worry, I do what I say. There’s no need for you to make a scene here.” “I already promised to give our daughter the best treatment. With leukemia, she could only live for three years at most. You might as well let her go early…” “We are still young. We can have another healthy child.” He had said this to me countless times since Joy was born. “Arthur, you really don’t deserve to be a father.” Rather than having Joy spend her whole life in a hospital, it was better to take her away. And never return. 3 I stayed in the hospital for a full month before being allowed to be discharged. During this time, Arthur tried multiple times to mend our relationship, but I ignored him every time. Gradually, he lost patience too. He seemed to have forgotten he even had a daughter, pouring all his energy into Leo. It wasn’t until I was discharged that Arthur came looking for me. “Leo has recovered very well. Mom wants us to go back to the old house for dinner to celebrate.” Seeing I remained silent, he sat beside me and squeezed my hand. “I know you’re still angry about that. Don’t worry, I’ve already contacted doctors abroad. In a little while, we’ll send Joy abroad for treatment…” “How long has it been since you went to see Joy?” I suddenly interrupted him. He still didn’t know Joy had passed away, and I no longer cared to correct him. Arthur’s face stiffened. He seemed to recall that he indeed hadn’t checked on his daughter for a long time. Just as he was about to say something else, I stood up first, creating distance between us. “Didn’t you say we’re going back to the old house for dinner? Let’s go.” Arthur agreed and followed closely behind me, his gaze frequently landing on me. When we arrived at the old house, Mia was there too. She smiled politely at me. The child in her arms had already been nourished to a fair and plump state. I felt a bit dazed. If Joy were still alive, I would definitely have raised her even better. “Chloe, you don’t mind me being here, do you?” Catching my gaze, Mia became even more protective of her son. “It’s just that Mom specially asked me to come over today too…” “I don’t mind.” I dropped that casual remark and walked past her. The dinner was anything but harmonious. Arthur sat close to Mia, looking at Leo with eyes full of fatherly love. Mother Vance also couldn’t get enough of this grandson. I sat silently in the corner. Until Mother Vance’s attention finally landed on me. She let out a cold snort and suddenly spoke. “Chloe, you carrying that burden Joy around is already dragging our Arthur down.” “So I want you two to divorce, and let Arthur marry Mia.” “Leo’s father passed away, and he needs a new father. Don’t worry, whatever amount of money you want, I can give it to you.” Chapter 4 As soon as Mother Vance finished speaking, the chopsticks in Arthur’s hand fell to the floor. He stared at Mother Vance with wide eyes in disbelief. “Mom! Didn’t I tell you not to bring this up again!” “Besides, Chloe and I, and Joy…” He instinctively looked at me as he spoke. “Mia grew up with you, and Leo is your godson. He’s still so young, and his condition just stabilized. If you become his father, there’ll be someone to take care of him.” Hearing this, Arthur pressed his lips tightly together and didn’t argue back. I knew he was hesitating. His eyes showed a lack of resolve. Beside him, Mia spoke understandingly. “Arthur, it’s okay if you don’t want to. I will take good care of Leo. Don’t feel put on the spot because of me.” Mother Vance kept urging him from the side. His gaze lingered on me constantly, and after a long while, he finally sighed. “Chloe, you heard it too. I really have no choice.” “How about we divorce first, and when Leo grows up, we remarry.” This sentence made my clenched fists slowly open, and the hope at the bottom of my heart completely dissipated. He truly always chose someone else. I didn’t refuse, just nodded and put down my chopsticks. “Alright, when are we going to the courthouse? Now?” 4 Arthur didn’t expect me to agree so readily. For a moment, the expressions on his face shifted constantly. Seeing they weren’t speaking, and unwilling to stay there any longer, I prepared to leave. But Arthur called out to me. “I promise, as soon as Leo doesn’t need me anymore, we’ll remarry.” “During this time, I will support you and our daughter, and I’ll be a responsible father.” I didn’t respond to his promise. After leaving the Vance family mansion, I went straight to the hospital. I was going to take my daughter away. Even if she had become a specimen, she was still my daughter. Ignoring the hospital staff’s attempts to stop me, I charged straight into the specimen room. The doctors chased after me. “Mrs. Vance, your daughter’s body donation was consented to by her father. We followed legal procedures.” “I understand your feelings right now, but you can’t just take her away like this.” Deaf to their protests, I grabbed a fire extinguisher and repeatedly smashed the formalin container. The glass shattered with a crash, the sharp shards cutting my palms. I tightly hugged my daughter’s shriveled corpse, glaring resentfully at those doctors. “I am the child’s mother. Without my consent, you have no right to take my daughter away.” The doctors were frightened by my manic state. Unable to stop me, they contacted Arthur and Mia. By the time they arrived, I was still entangled with several doctors. Mia shouted loudly. “Chloe, stop making a scene, okay? It’s one thing if you’re unhappy with us, but why cause a ruckus at the hospital? These specimens are very helpful for the hospital’s research!” On the surface, Mia was trying to stop me, but her words were entirely meant to remind me that it was Arthur who signed the body donation form, which led to Joy becoming a specimen. Joy had a chance to be saved; it was all because of them. Meeting my bloodshot eyes and seeing the mess on the floor, Arthur instinctively frowned. “You say you don’t care, but now you’re making a huge scene at the hospital. Have you ever considered my face?” I held Joy tightly in my arms, tears shimmering in my eyes. “Didn’t you want to marry Mia? I’m stepping aside for you.” I took large strides past him. He had never seen me like this before and yelled after me. “Chloe! If you leave, don’t ever come back.” I didn’t pause for a moment. My daughter and I would, as he wished, never come back.

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Outside the pantry, two new interns were showing off their pay stubs. “Mr. Carter is so generous! He gave us a twelve-thousand-dollar sign-on bonus!” “I got ten thousand too! Sticking with Mr. Carter means eating well.” My hand, holding my coffee mug, froze in mid-air. I had been married to Arthur Carter for seven years, and I had been his primary portfolio manager for those same seven years. In the first year, I helped him earn back his family inheritance. My monthly salary was five hundred dollars. In the second year, the company went public. He claimed cash flow was tight, so my salary was bumped to six hundred. From the third to the sixth year, the funds I managed multiplied ten times over. My salary didn’t increase by a single cent. This year, the seventh year, he claimed the market was sluggish and wanted to cut my salary to three hundred. Yet he turned around and handed out massive sign-on bonuses to two interns who only knew how to fetch coffee and water. I pushed open the door, threw my employee ID into the trash can, and dialed that mysterious phone number: “I agree to come home.” 1 Outside the pantry, two new interns were showing off their pay stubs. “Mr. Carter is so generous! He gave us a twelve-thousand-dollar sign-on bonus!” “I got ten thousand too! Sticking with Mr. Carter means eating well.” My hand, holding my coffee mug, froze in mid-air. I had been married to Arthur Carter for seven years, and I had been his primary portfolio manager for those same seven years. In the first year, I helped him earn back his family inheritance. My monthly salary was five hundred dollars. In the second year, the company went public. He claimed cash flow was tight, so my salary was bumped to six hundred. From the third to the sixth year, the funds I managed multiplied ten times over. My salary didn’t increase by a single cent. This year, the seventh year, he claimed the market was sluggish and wanted to cut my salary to three hundred. Yet he turned around and handed out massive sign-on bonuses to two interns who only knew how to fetch coffee and water. I pushed open the door, threw my employee ID into the trash can, and dialed that mysterious phone number: “I agree to come home.” … After hanging up, I pushed open the door to Arthur’s office. Laughter echoed inside. Arthur was sitting in his executive chair. That intern, Chloe Davis, was playing with his tie, half her body practically glued to his. “Oh! Sis, what are you doing here?” Chloe, like a startled rabbit, sprang away, her hand “accidentally” pulling the tie and choking Arthur slightly. Arthur patted the back of her hand indulgently. When he looked up at me, the smile instantly vanished from his face, replaced by an impatient scowl. “Don’t you know how to knock? Have you forgotten company rules?” I slapped the salary reduction notice onto his desk. “Three hundred dollars? Arthur, are you paying off a beggar?” Arthur frowned, picked up the notice, glanced at it, and casually tossed it into the trash can. “Chloe Vance, are you done? The economy is bad, the whole company is tightening their belts. You’re the boss’s wife; you should lead by example.” “Lead by example?” I laughed out of sheer anger, pointing out the door. “Just now in the pantry, Chloe Davis said she got a twelve-thousand-dollar sign-on bonus. Is this what you call tightening belts?” Chloe’s eyes immediately reddened. She hid behind Arthur, her voice laced with tears: “Sister-in-law, don’t blame Mr. Carter. My family is having a hard time, and Mr. Carter felt sorry for me, so he gave me an advance… If you’re upset, I’ll just give it back.” Saying that, she made a show of reaching for her phone to transfer the money, tears falling pit-a-pat. Arthur’s heart ached for her. He grabbed her hand and turned to yell at me: “Chloe Vance! What are you picking on a recent grad for? It’s not easy for her to make a living alone in New York. How can she compare to you? You eat my food, live in my house, have a car to drive, and a maid at home. That three hundred dollars is just for you to buy snacks! What more do you want?” “Eat your food, live in your house?” I looked at this man, suddenly feeling like my seven years of youth had been fed to the dogs. “Arthur, every single core trading strategy at Carter Capital for the past seven years… which one wasn’t created by me? Shorting Luckin Coffee last year, targeting Teda the year before… which time didn’t I pull all-nighters to help you turn the tables?” Arthur stood up abruptly, his gaze dark and sinister. “Enough!” He walked up to me, looking down from his height, his finger almost poking my nose. “Chloe, know your place. I am the one who makes the final call on those strategies! The traders are the ones executing the orders! You just do some data analysis and organize reports. Without the platform I gave you, your stupid charts are worthless!” He took a deep breath, as if granting a massive favor: “Alright, stop throwing a tantrum. There’s an investor cocktail party tonight. Go home, change your clothes, and don’t embarrass me by dressing like some middle-aged housewife. Chloe Davis is going too, so teach her how to toast with the clients.” Chloe smiled through her tears, giving me a provocative look. “Thank you, Mr. Carter! Sister-in-law, I’ll be troubling you to teach me.” I watched their little performance, the last trace of warmth in my heart completely freezing over. “Okay,” I said flatly. “I’ll teach her very well.” 2 The evening cocktail party was held at the most upscale Marriott in New York. I wore the black evening gown I bought seven years ago, looking a bit outdated. Chloe, however, wore a white tulle dress from the current season’s haute couture collection, and around her neck was the diamond necklace that had been sitting in my shopping cart for three years because I couldn’t bring myself to buy it. Arthur, with Chloe on his arm, chatted and laughed with the crowd. “Mr. Carter, who is this?” An investor, Mr. Wang, looked at Chloe with an ambiguous gaze. “Oh, this is our company’s new Operations Director, Chloe Davis. A very bright young lady.” Arthur introduced her, looking incredibly proud. “Operations Director?” Mr. Wang paused, his gaze sweeping over to me standing in the corner. “Then Mrs. Carter…” The smile on Arthur’s face stiffened for a moment before he waved it off casually: “Oh, Chloe. She mostly handles logistics now. She’s getting older, can’t keep up with the market’s pace, so she just enjoys a peaceful life at home.” My fingers gripping the champagne flute turned slightly white. Logistics. So my seven years of non-stop, day-and-night trading was just “logistics” in his mouth. Chloe walked over with her wine glass, laughing uncontrollably. “Sister-in-law, Mr. Carter just feels bad for you. Look at you, you already have fine lines around your eyes. It’s better to leave this exhausting, public-facing work to us young people.” She deliberately emphasized the words “fine lines,” causing a few wealthy wives nearby to let out low chuckles. “Yes, Chloe, it’s time for you to step back to the second line.” Arthur walked over, adjusted his tie, and spoke with a commanding tone: “Mr. Wang wants a freshly brewed Blue Mountain coffee. Go buy him a cup. Remember, half sugar, add milk, and the temperature must be exactly 150 degrees Fahrenheit.” This was a cocktail party. Where was I supposed to get freshly brewed coffee? The nearest coffee shop was a mile away. I looked at him: “I’m your wife, not your secretary.” Arthur’s face darkened, and he lowered his voice: “Chloe, don’t be ungrateful. Mr. Wang is a key figure in our next round of financing. Chloe Davis is negotiating a multi-million-dollar project with him right now. What’s the big deal about asking you to buy a cup of coffee? If you can’t even handle this small task, what are you good for?” Chloe chimed in, fanning the flames: “Mr. Carter, let it go. Sister-in-law might be tired. I’ll go buy it, even though it’s a bit inconvenient in my high heels…” She bit her lip, looking wronged, playing the part of someone enduring humiliation for the greater good perfectly. Arthur grabbed her arm and glared fiercely at me: “Let her go! If you’re going to be a freeloader, you need to act like one! Go!” The gazes around me pricked me like needles. There was mockery, sympathy, but mostly, people just watching the show. I took a deep breath and set down my wine glass. “Fine, I’ll go.” I turned and walked out of the banquet hall, the laughter behind me growing even more piercing. Arthur, this is the last time you ever order me around. 3 I didn’t go buy coffee. I sat on the sofa in the hotel lobby for half an hour, looked at the text message reading “Come home,” and replied with one word: 【Okay.】 When I returned to the banquet hall, the atmosphere was lively. Arthur stood on the stage, holding the microphone, looking triumphant. “Thank you all for your support. The achievements of Carter Capital over the past seven years are inseparable from the team’s efforts. Especially this year, we successfully secured the management rights for the billion-dollar ‘Smart City’ fund!” Thunderous applause erupted from the audience. I froze. The core algorithm model for the ‘Smart City’ project was something I had spent three full months building, losing handfuls of hair in the process. I had just sent the final version of the proposal to Arthur last night. Arthur continued: “Here, I want to give special thanks to a key contributor. It was she who conquered the algorithm challenges with her unique perspective and astounding talent!” My heart skipped a beat. Did he finally find his conscience and decide to publicly acknowledge my contributions? I instinctively smoothed my skirt, getting ready to go on stage. “Let’s welcome with warm applause—Carter Capital’s youngest Operations Director, Ms. Chloe Davis!” The spotlight violently hit Chloe. She lifted the hem of her skirt and walked gracefully onto the stage like a princess, a shy yet triumphant smile on her face. My feet were nailed to the floor, my blood running cold. The audience gasped, followed by even more enthusiastic applause and whistles. “What a genius!” “So young and so capable, Mr. Carter has a great eye!” Chloe took the microphone, tears in her eyes: “Thank you to Mr. Carter for his guidance. Actually, I only provided a little bit of inspiration for this proposal; the main credit goes to Mr. Carter’s excellent leadership…” Arthur looked at her with eyes full of adoration, their hands overlapping on the microphone. I stood in the shadows, looking at the glamorous couple on stage, feeling like a complete joke. That algorithm model had a fundamental logic loophole known only to me, a backdoor left to handle extreme market risks. Chloe couldn’t even read a candlestick chart. What the hell kind of “inspiration” did she provide?! After the cocktail party ended, in the underground parking garage. I blocked Arthur’s path. “Why is the ‘Smart City’ proposal credited to Chloe Davis?” Arthur impatiently loosened his tie, reeking of alcohol. “Does it matter whose name is on it? It’s a company project anyway. Chloe is the company’s main focus for promotion right now; she needs this halo. We’re an old married couple; why do you care about these empty titles?” “Empty titles?” I stared at him dead in the eye. “That was three months of my blood, sweat, and tears! You took my hard work to impress your little mistress?” Slap! A resounding slap landed on my face. Arthur pulled his hand back, pointing at me and yelling: “Chloe Vance, watch your mouth! What little mistress? Chloe is a talent! A dirty-minded housewife like you knows nothing about business strategy! Let me tell you, don’t cause trouble for me, or you won’t even get that three-hundred-dollar salary!” Chloe sat in the passenger seat, rolled down the window, and looked at me with an innocent expression: “Sister-in-law, please don’t be angry. I really just wanted to help the company. If it bothers you, I’ll go tell Mr. Carter to change the name back…” “Change what back!” Arthur roared. “Get in the car! Let her reflect on her behavior alone!” The Maybach sped away, leaving me coughing in a cloud of exhaust. 4 The next day was the company’s seventh anniversary, and also the day Arthur promised to make up for our wedding. Seven years ago, we got married with nothing. He promised that when the company went public, he would definitely give me a grand wedding. In the company group chat, HR sent a notification: 【Everyone must attend in formal attire. Mr. Carter has a major announcement!】 I looked at the wedding dress sealed in my closet for seven years, laughed self-deprecatingly, and shoved it into a garbage bag. I changed into a sharp white pantsuit, put on full makeup, stepped into four-inch stilettos, and headed to the company. The anniversary venue was decorated exactly like a wedding, with flowers, balloons, and a champagne tower. Arthur stood in the center of the stage, dressed in a white suit, looking like Prince Charming. Chloe stood next to him, wearing that… My pupils contracted violently. She was wearing the exact wedding dress I had just thrown away! Although the size was altered, I recognized it at a glance. I had hand-stitched the lace trim myself. “Everyone!” Arthur’s face was flushed with excitement. “Today is a double celebration. First, we are celebrating the company’s seventh anniversary. Second, I am announcing that Carter Capital will award 5% of its founder’s shares to the company’s most outstanding employee!” The entire room held its breath. 5% of the founder’s shares was worth at least five million dollars at current market value. Everyone looked at me. After all, I was the veteran who built this company from scratch with Arthur, the undisputed boss’s wife. Even my own heart harbored a sliver of ridiculous hope. Maybe… this was the surprise he had for me? Arthur’s gaze swept over the crowd, finally resting on… Chloe Davis. “She is—Chloe Davis!” Gasps. The entire room was in an uproar. Chloe covered her mouth, looking completely shocked, tears streaming from her eyes. Arthur affectionately took her hand: “Although Chloe hasn’t been with us long, the vitality and innovation she brings are the company’s most valuable assets. This 5% share is exactly what she deserves!” He turned to look at me in the audience, his eyes as cold as ice: “As for Chloe Vance, given her recent negative work attitude and repeated insubordination toward her superiors, not only will she receive no reward, but her performance bonus for this month will be docked. She is demoted to Administrative Assistant, responsible for cleaning and ordering lunches.” The room erupted in laughter. Those employees who used to respectfully call me “Ms. Vance” were now whispering to each other, their eyes full of mockery. “I knew it. An old hag can’t compare to a young girl.” “Administrative Assistant? Isn’t that just a janitor? Hahahaha!” Chloe lifted the hem of her wedding dress, walked up to me, and condescendingly handed me a glass of wine. “Sister-in-law… oh, no, Assistant Vance. The cleanliness of my office will be your responsibility from now on. I toast you with this glass. Thank you for taking such good care of Mr. Carter. From now on, I’ll take over taking care of him.” She deliberately lowered her voice, speaking so only the two of us could hear: “This wedding dress is a bit tight. Sister-in-law, your waist really is thick. And that 5% share? Mr. Carter said it’s the dowry for the future boss’s wife.” She tilted her wine glass, and the red wine poured down my white suit, like an ugly scar. “Oh my! My hand slipped! I’m so sorry, Assistant Vance. You won’t hold it against me, will you?” Chloe cried out exaggeratedly. Arthur frowned: “You can’t even hold a glass of wine. What a piece of trash! Go clean yourself up, stop embarrassing us here!” I looked down at the wine stain spreading across my chest, then up at the “perfect couple” on stage. The mocking laughter around me submerged me like a tsunami. All my grievances, resentment, and anger peaked in this moment, and then— Instantly reset to zero. I raised my hand, wiped the wine from my face, and slowly broke into a brilliant, dazzling smile. I walked onto the stage and snatched the microphone from the MC. “Arthur, weren’t you going to announce some good news? As it happens, I have some too.” Arthur looked at me warily: “What are you doing? Get off the stage!” I pulled a document from inside my jacket and threw it hard against his face. The papers scattered, like confetti floating in the air. “This is the divorce agreement, and—my resignation letter.” I stared into his shocked eyes and articulated every word clearly: “Arthur, keep that 5% share. Use it to buy your coffin.”

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After paying a small fortune to add the campus bad boy and the campus golden boy on Snapchat. Other people think about how to date them. I’m different. I wanted to set them up. Through my hard work… The bad boy and the golden boy actually started dating. When they met up in person, I watched the good show from the sidelines. Only to find it was a total disaster, and I was dragged out by the two of them. The golden boy roared, “This is the Southern sweet girl you found me?” The bad boy cried out in anger, “Give me back my six-foot tall dominant girlfriend!” 01 Someone in a club was selling the Snapchat handles of the campus bad boy and the campus golden boy. The guy was shouting that it was fifty bucks for the two of them. But no one believed him. Only I walked up and asked, “Really?” The guy pulled out his Snapchat code and let me scan it on the spot, “Guaranteed real, girl!” I added the two accounts without a second thought. “Added!” “Quick and easy, girl!” The guy took the money and immediately ran off. I stared at the two accounts I just added. Did I just get scammed? The campus golden boy, Liam’s profile picture was an abstract smiley face, and the bad boy, Jax’s profile picture was a cute kitten. Are these… real people? 02 After returning to the dorm, I told my roommates about this. None of them believed me. “You definitely got scammed.” “I even added Liam’s Snapchat before, his profile picture is clearly an aloof, cool guy picture.” “Exactly, Jax’s profile picture is an anime guy. How could he use such a cute profile picture?” “Feeling sorry for you for a second, how could you be scammed out of your money like this!” I stared at the two profile pictures and sighed, “So annoying.” My allowance wasn’t much to begin with, and I got scammed out of fifty bucks. What a total sucker! Just as I plunged into endless regret. The kitten profile picture sent me a message, [Who is this?] I hesitated for a good while before replying. [An alumnus.] Since I already added him. I might as well treat him as the bad boy and project that handsome face onto him. Kitten, [Oh.] So aloof? I jiggled my foot, wracked my brain, and finally squeezed out a question, [Are you from A University too?] Kitten, [Yes, you too?] [Yeah.] After asking, there was another silence. I really didn’t know how to chat. If only there was an AI auto-reply. 03 The second day after adding them on Snapchat, those two accounts just lay there in my app. As quiet as the dead. When I was bored in class, I clicked into Liam’s chat box and poked him. Smiley, [?] [Hello.] Smiley, [Need something?] Asking so directly? How is someone supposed to reply to that? [Are you Liam?] Smiley, [Yeah, need something?] So it is real. He actually admitted it. Then I’ll mess with him a bit, [Do you want to date?] Smiley, [Not considering it at the moment.] [Do you have someone you like?] Smiley, [Have a little crush, wouldn’t call it like.] Has someone he likes, huh. I immediately typed and asked, [Who is it?] He hesitated for a while, [Who are you?] “…” Why are they all asking who I am? What should I say. I got it! I typed a string of words, closed my eyes, and sent it over, [I’m here to introduce you to someone, want one?] Smiley, [Introduce what?] [You know, a girlfriend.] There was no reply from the other side for a long time. Why is he just like the kitten profile picture? So fond of playing disappearing acts!? I directly tossed the bad boy’s Snapchat handle over. With a note, [Southern sweet girl, plays games, pretty, and has a sweet voice!] Let these two be locked together. I turned off my phone and listened to the lecture. 04 Smiley, [?] To prevent Smiley from not taking the initiative, I tossed the golden boy’s Snapchat to the bad boy. With a note, [Six-foot tall dominant girl, plays games, good grades!] Kitten, [?] What do these question marks mean? Not interested? I sent to Kitten, [The girl I’m introducing you to, if she’s not good, come to me for a refund.] [Guaranteed real?] Watching Kitten gradually step into the trap. I couldn’t hide the excitement in my heart anymore. [Guaranteed real!] Indeed, people never get tired when doing bad things. I sent to Smiley again, [Southern sweet girl, if she’s not sweet, you can get a refund.] Smiley, [What kind of routine is this?] [The routine to lead you to success in both career and love!] […] Ah, this should work out now. 05 Two days later, the whole school was gossiping that the golden boy was dating. As soon as class started, he stared at his phone and giggled. Except for me, everyone in the dorm was holding their heads and crying. “I’m heartbroken!” “Who did the golden boy fall for?” “There’s no news on the forum at all! I’m so anxious! Is he dating or not?” “His roommates all say he is, so he definitely is!” They were chatting passionately. I quietly listened from the side, and was suddenly noticed. “Chloe, why aren’t you sad?” “Yeah, didn’t you like Liam the most?” Indeed, telling one lie requires a thousand lies to cover it up. When I first moved into this dorm, in order to get along with them. I had to say I liked Liam. Only then did we have something to talk about. I had to pretend to squeeze out two tears, “I’m sad inside, I’m going to rest first.” “We know you’re the saddest, go rest.” After getting into bed, I finally let out a sigh of relief. My phone blew up at this moment. Smiley: [Thank you for introducing someone to me, this is a little token of my appreciation.] Followed by a red envelope. Kitten: [This dominant girl is really too good! This is a little token of my appreciation!] Followed by a red envelope. I sat up in shock. Holy crap! This actually worked! Did I just become a matchmaker? 06 “Chloe, are you okay?” I made too much noise, and my roommate asked with concern. I coughed, pretending to be calm, “I’m fine.” Then silently accepted both red envelopes. Smiley sent a big red envelope of $388. Kitten sent $1000. I earned back the fifty bucks I was scammed out of! Great! I really do have the potential to be a matchmaker! I sent to both sides, [Wishing you eternal happiness.] After I logged into the game, I saw that both of their accounts were in a game. Just as I was about to start a match to relax, the two of them pulled me into the room at the same time. [You come too, we happen to be short a support.] No wait. What is this situation. Before I could decline and leave, the game immediately started. Snapchat message popped up. Kitten, [He’s too good! I’m playing a bit poorly, it’s not so awkward with you here!] Am I part of your play too? [What do you mean?] Kitten, [You’re worse than me, distract her attention.] My blood pressure went up from anger. But thinking of that thousand bucks, I still forced it down. [Okay.] Smiley, [She plays very cutely, but seems very shy, she might not be so reserved with you here.] Me, […] $388 is still money, I have to endure it. 07 Once the game started, Smiley played the jungler. Kitten played the mid lane. And I, because I was replying to their messages, was forced to choose a support character!? Early game Kitten: [You go follow the marksman.] Mid game Smiley: [You go protect the mid lane.] Late game Kitten: [You go protect the jungler.] After one game, I ran so much my shoes were falling apart. After playing, I immediately left the room. Just planning to play a game by myself to relax. Kitten, [Are you her friend? What does Liam like? I plan to buy her a gift.] Smiley, [Is Jax your friend? I want to know what she likes, I want to send her a gift.] No wait! Are you two really playing a golden boy and bad boy romance play? Still the same old saying. Money is hard to earn, shit is hard to eat. What else can I do? I have a plan. I asked Kitten, [Do you have anything you particularly like?] Tossed the same question to Smiley. Kitten, [I like sneakers, I like sports a lot.] Smiley, [Nothing I particularly like, just like cute things.] Isn’t this settled? What exactly are they shy about? Do they have to act so realistically? I copied and pasted their exact words and sent them to the other party. Not long after having some free time. Kitten sent two pictures, [Which one do you think I should choose?] Aren’t these the same? Choose your… Polite words. I randomly picked one, [The second one.] Kitten, [Just what I thought.] Hehe! Twelve o’clock, just about to sleep. Smiley, [Are you asleep?] Not asleep, but about to break. [What’s up, dear?] Smiley, [I want to ask her, what size shoe she wears.] I tossed the question to Kitten. Kitten, [Size 10.] I replied to Smiley, [Size 10.] Smiley, [Is… is it that big?] I typed sleepily with my eyes closed, [How about you ask her yourself?] […No need.] So freaking annoying! 08 In the morning, I opened Snapchat. Almost fainted. 99+ messages. Did I break some heavenly law? These two psychos! Go date somewhere else! I scanned through, and basically they had a fight. Smiley thinks Kitten lacks ambition, Kitten thinks Smiley is too serious. The two of them debated right and wrong all night, and even created a group chat specifically for this. They kept tagging me in the group. Who’s right, who’s wrong. I’m really begging you guys! If it wasn’t for the after-sales service, I’d block these two right now. “Chloe, are you awake?” “Yeah, what’s wrong?” “Nothing, we were afraid our crying would wake you.” My mouth twitched, “What happened now?” “You actually don’t know? Liam posted on the forum, it basically means an official announcement!” “I still don’t know who that girl is, who exactly could win over that aloof golden boy?” “Fuck! I don’t want to live anymore!” I looked at my roommate jumping down from her bed, “What’s wrong with you now?” “The bad boy is dating too! I’m crying to death!” Oh crap, almost forgot, there are bad boy fangirls in this dorm too. “What’s going on? Are all the handsome guys dating collectively recently?” “They’re all dating, what handsome guys am I going to look at in the future?” “As the psychology committee member, I don’t feel good!” The whole dorm wailed like ghosts and howled like wolves before going to our 8 AM class. 09 During class, while I was dozing off, my phone suddenly vibrated. Kitten, [Forgot to ask you, what’s your name?] I typed and sent it over with my eyes covered, [Chloe Smith.] Two minutes later, I suddenly opened my eyes and picked up my phone. Dead hand, quickly unsend it! It’s over, how did I reveal my own name? It’s over, it’s over! My roommate asked me, “What’s wrong with you?” “I’m feeling a bit like dying.” “Then hurry up, class is almost over.” Kitten, [The name sounds very nice, I’ll call you Chloe from now on.] To—tal—ly—over. 10 After playing dead for two days. I saw the Moments posted by both of them at the same time. Real. Liam. Golden Boy posted a selfie. Holding the doll sent by Jax in his hand. [Seeing this is like seeing you.] And Real. Jax. Bad Boy took a mirror selfie wearing the shoes sent by Liam. [Didn’t expect to meet true love on my first online dating experience.] You sister! How are they real people!? I’ve really caused trouble this time! My head spun. I felt like the rest of my life was doomed. Right right, try to persuade them to break up first. I sent a message to Kitten, [Forgot to tell you, I introduced the wrong person to you, I don’t even know this Liam.] The same words, in a panic, I actually forwarded directly to Smiley. Smiley, [?] [What does this mean? Sowing discord?] Fuck! How can a person make continuous mistakes? I’m innocent, [Also forgot to tell you, I introduced the wrong person, I don’t know any Jax.] Smiley, [It’s fine, we get along well, and we’re going to meet up soon.] Meet… meet up!? Holy crap, are two grown men dating on fast forward? Meeting up so quickly! No no no, if I get exposed. The bad boy Jax won’t let me off. I can’t get into Harvard, and I don’t want to get beaten up either! 11 So, I harassed the two of them from morning till night. I became the person I used to hate the most. [Even as an outsider, I can tell you two aren’t suitable! If you stay together for a long time, you’ll definitely fight often!] Liam, [It’s fine, I’ll give in.] Give in my ass! In a previous debate competition, I was pushed by the club to fill in, and got shot full of holes by Liam. I didn’t manage to say a single word. Liam’s mouth is like it’s smeared with poison. Licking it once could poison yourself to death. Jax, [I have a good temper.] Good temper my ass! I still remember when college first started, Jax got into a conflict on the basketball court, threw the ball out in anger, and hit me. Because of that, I have a phobia of the basketball court now. Seeing that I couldn’t argue with them. I could only, [Log on! Let’s play a game!] They all say games make feelings fade. I don’t believe my sabotage can’t make them break down! Liam, [What are we playing?] Me, [Ranked!] [Okay.] As soon as the game started, I set traps for Jax. Making him so angry he immediately typed to scold me, [What’s wrong with you? Why didn’t you block the skill for me just now?] Me, [I didn’t buy boots, couldn’t walk fast enough, didn’t you die because you suck?] Jax, [You were clearly just standing there not moving! The opponent’s damage all landed on me!] Me, [Say what you want, anyway I think I’m playing pretty well.] I went to follow Liam. After a few kills, Liam, [She’s playing pretty well.] Jax, [Why are you speaking up for her?] Liam, [I observed her operation, there’s really no problem.] Jax, [So it’s my problem then!] Liam, [No no, it has nothing to do with you.] Jax [Right right right, it has nothing to do with me!] Liam, [I didn’t mean… that.] My mouth was almost splitting from smiling. Fight, fight, make it more intense! I don’t believe they won’t break up over this! 12 With just one game, these two went offline to fight. Just as I was beautifully thinking about sleeping. Jax, [By the way, we plan to meet up the day after tomorrow, you come along too.] I sat up in shock. No way… [What did you say? Meeting up?] Jax, [Yeah, we’re at the same school anyway, it’s not hard to meet.] [You can’t! You don’t even know who the other person is and you’re meeting up, what if it’s…] Jax, [Aren’t you there? You were the matchmaker back then, you have to help me check things out.] Is it too late for me to issue a refund now? [I’m not going, I have something to do the day after tomorrow.] Jax, [What is it, more important than us meeting? By the way, I also brought you a gift.] Then he sent a picture. Tiffany!? Holy crap! [I’m going, I’m going! You put too much thought into the gift, I’ll treat you guys to a meal depending on the situation.] I don’t know if this meal will still happen after the two of them meet. Anyway, I feel like I can save some money. At most I’ll just get beaten up, I’ve been resistant to beatings since I was a kid. It’s fine!

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Walking out of the police station after handling the accident, I got into Arthur’s passenger seat and broke up with him. “Chloe, I’m tired. Can you stop causing a scene?” Looking at Arthur’s profile as he gripped the steering wheel, I suddenly laughed. “I’m not causing a scene.” “Arthur,” I turned my head, my gaze falling on the neon lights outside the window, “we’re done here.” … The Tesla slammed on its brakes in the middle of the river-crossing bridge. The air in the car froze solid, like a frozen lake. “Give me a reason.” Arthur tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, his voice cold enough to form frost. “Give me a decent reason for whatever crazy fit you’re throwing now.” I looked in the rearview mirror at the white Audi that had been tailing us for three intersections. I rolled down the window, letting the night wind rush in. “I bet… thirty seconds tops.” “The person in that car is going to come looking for you.” I started counting down. “Thirty.” “Twenty-nine.” “Twenty-eight.” By the time I reached twenty-five, the white Audi had already pulled over. The door opened, and a girl in a beige trench coat ran over and tapped on Arthur’s window. Arthur frowned and rolled down the window. “Arthur, I’m so, so sorry!” The girl’s eyes were red, her voice carrying a sob. “I really didn’t mean to rear-end you. I just saw you driving so fast, and I was worried you’d get into an accident, so I followed…” She looked at me, a tear falling with perfect timing. “Chloe, please don’t be mad. I didn’t mean to interrupt you guys. I was just… just too worried.” She reached out to grab my sleeve, but I avoided her. “Hit me,” the girl offered her face. “If it makes you feel better, hit me.” Arthur firmly grabbed the girl’s shoulder. “Mia, what are you doing?” Then he turned to me, his eyes full of disappointment. “Chloe, where are your manners? Did a dog eat them?” I laughed out loud. See? I did absolutely nothing, just sat here, and somehow I became the unreasonable, petty one. I pushed Mia’s hand away and looked straight at Arthur. “Understand now?” “Arthur,” the area where my heart was felt completely numb. I unbuckled my seatbelt. “This is the reason.” “Let’s break up.” I pushed open the car door, and under Mia’s shocked yet faintly gleeful gaze, I smiled at Arthur. “Congratulations. All those little tricks you played over the years to wedge yourself between me and Arthur have finally paid off.” “I don’t want Arthur anymore.” I turned and started walking away. Arthur rushed out of the car and grabbed my wrist. “Chloe Vance! Do you have any idea how important the signing I missed today was because of this accident? Just because you called and said your car got hit, I ditched my client and rushed to the police station! And what do I find? The person who rear-ended you was Mia! The intern from my company!” “She’s already apologized, the insurance is handling it. What more do you want?” “I’ve tolerated you for a long time, Chloe. Mia constantly speaks well of you in front of me, telling me to be more considerate of you, telling me not to fight with you. Can you stop being so ungrateful?” He gripped my wrist so tightly it hurt, pulling at an old injury and sending sharp pain shooting up my arm. I looked down at the ring of skin. “Let go!” I forcefully shook him off, rubbing my aching wrist, and roared. “Arthur Sterling!” “I’ve tolerated you for a long time too!” Arthur and I had been together for eight years. From college to our startup, from a basement rental to a luxury penthouse with a river view. We fought, we made a scene, we gave each other the silent treatment, but I had never, ever humiliated him in front of an outsider like this. But I didn’t want to tolerate it anymore. “When I had a 104-degree fever, you accompanied her to the animal shelter to find homes for stray cats. When my project presentation was heavily criticized by a client, you watched a meteor shower with her on the roof. Every time I needed you, you were by her side!” I stared into Arthur’s eyes. “You gave her the passcode to my apartment so she could come get documents for you while I was on a business trip. You gave her my collectible figurines as a birthday present, saying, ‘Chloe doesn’t play with these anyway.’ Today, when my car gets rear-ended, your first words are, ‘Is Mia okay?’—” “Arthur!” “We are over!” My emotions were like a broken dam. The dignity I had maintained all night completely collapsed. Arthur’s face changed, and he instinctively explained, “I had Mia get the documents because I had a meeting right away! I asked about Mia because her car was damaged worse! Why do you always cling to these trivial things?” “Chloe!” He looked at me, his eyes filled with exhaustion and disappointment. “When did you become so petty? Clinging to every little clue and refusing to let go.” “Chloe, a pathetic woman looks exactly like you do right now!” I thought I wouldn’t hurt anymore. From giving my statement at the traffic police to getting into his car, I had been very calm. Even in the car, I reviewed our past eight years—from meeting to falling in love, from having nothing to having everything. And I reached a conclusion: it was time to end it. I wanted to leave with dignity. But my heart still ached because of his words, like the softest piece of flesh being repeatedly beaten with a blunt instrument. “Yeah. In your eyes, I’m the most pathetic one.” I let out a low laugh. “So, I don’t care about your love anymore either.” I turned to leave, but Mia lunged forward and grabbed my hand. I hadn’t even cried, but she started crying first, tears falling pat pat pat. “Chloe, I’m sorry, it’s all my fault… I’ll resign tomorrow, I’ll leave the company, I’ll disappear… Arthur really loves you, please don’t throw a tantrum at him, okay?” I hated this act of Mia’s the most. Watching her cry a river of tears, I forcefully shook her off. “Get lost!” Mia stumbled a few steps from my shove, looking at me in shock. “Chloe!” Arthur rushed over to support Mia. Seeing that she scraped her elbow, he turned and yelled at me, “Are you crazy?! Apologize to Mia!” “In your dreams.” I looked at Arthur, caught the fleeting look of triumph in Mia’s eyes, and dropped one last sentence: “Either we part amicably, or I move out. You choose.” I didn’t look back, nor did I care about Mia’s sobbing or Arthur’s coaxing behind me. I hailed a cab directly and went to my best friend, Elena’s, house. When Elena opened the door and saw me, she didn’t ask anything, just stepped aside to let me in. She brought out two twelve-packs of beer from the fridge, placed them on the coffee table, and asked only one question: “Is this enough?” Looking at the beer, my eyes suddenly welled up with tears. I was holding it together just fine a second ago. Elena didn’t say a word, just opened her arms. “Cry if you want to cry. You don’t have to pretend in front of me.” I completely broke down, burying my face in her shoulder and sobbing loudly. I cried until my voice was hoarse, until I was shaking all over, until I rushed into the bathroom and threw up violently. Finally, with a raspy voice, I said: “I want to break up.” What is the end of love? It’s going from people who promised to fight the whole world together, to becoming opponents stabbing each other in the back. It’s going from believing that marriage can make flowers bloom in a graveyard, to finally admitting that flowers fade and love withers. I stayed at Elena’s place for half a month. During this half month, I saw thirty-seven updates from Mia on her social media. Every single one had traces of Arthur. 【Late nights at the office are only not lonely when someone keeps you company.】 Attached was a selfie of Mia, with Arthur’s silhouette working at his computer in the background. 【You said you would always be my light.】 Attached was a picture of two hands—Mia’s wrist wearing the watch I gave Arthur for his birthday last year, and another hand resting on her wrist. Arthur’s hand. 【Going somewhere important with someone important.】 Attached was a photo in an airport VIP lounge. Mia smiling brightly, with Arthur resting his eyes beside her. One after another. It made Elena bounce off the sofa, pointing at the phone and cursing loudly: “Holy shit! This bitch! Is Arthur blind? Can’t he see what she’s after? A dog could see it!” Elena was jumping mad. I, on the other hand, was very calm. It seemed like I was getting through the withdrawal period. Regarding Elena’s fury, I merely said flatly: “Arthur knows exactly what’s going on.” “Knows?” Elena sat next to me. “If he knows, why is he pretending to be innocent?” “In his eyes, as long as they haven’t slept together, he’s innocent.” I twitched the corner of my mouth. “After all, he always says that he and Mia are completely clean, and it’s my mind that’s dirty.” Arthur always guarded that bottom line. So every time I caused a scene, he could always use that line, “Your mind is dirty, so everything you see is dirty,” to leave me speechless. Looking at these things now, I didn’t feel much anymore. I reminded Elena: “The moving company is booked for ten.” Since I wanted a clean break, I had to move out of that house. I didn’t have much stuff, but there were some things I couldn’t leave behind—like the box of out-of-print design drafts my dad left me. “As long as you’ve really thought it through.” Elena patted my shoulder. When we arrived downstairs at the apartment building, I glanced at my phone—Mia had posted an update half an hour ago. The location was a resort hotel in a neighboring city, and a photo collage entirely filled with Arthur. I thought I wouldn’t run into her today. But the moment I pushed the door open, I smelled food. Walking into the living room, I saw Mia wearing my loungewear, sitting cross-legged at the dining table eating shrimp. Seeing me, she jumped up like a frightened rabbit. “Chloe…” I looked at her clothes, then at Arthur’s frozen expression as he came out of the kitchen carrying soup. “You’re back?” Arthur asked stiffly. “Have you eaten?” I ignored him and walked straight toward the study. Then I stopped dead in my tracks. The design books that were originally neatly arranged on the bookshelf were scattered everywhere. The blueprints on the work desk were all over the floor. But what made my heart clench the most was— The door to the safe in the corner was open. “Chloe…” Mia followed me to the door, her voice as faint as a mosquito. “I’m sorry… Arthur and I just got back from the hotel, and I left my suitcase there… Arthur let me wear your clothes first…” “I accidentally… bumped into the safe…” My brain buzzed. I turned my head and saw the stack of yellowing blueprints in Mia’s hand—a large section of the edge was stained with coffee. “I really didn’t mean to!” Mia suddenly threw herself at me, kneeling in front of me and grabbing my arm. “Hit me! Please! Hit me to vent your anger!” “I didn’t know these were your father’s belongings! I really didn’t know!” Mia grabbed my hand and pulled it toward her own face. “Hit me! Hit me hard! It’ll make me feel better!” She made a motion to kowtow. Just as her forehead was about to touch the ground, a hand reached over and caught her. Arthur pulled her up, looked at me, and spoke with a tone as calm as if he were remarking on the nice weather today. “He’s already gone; these are just inanimate objects in the end. Mia knows she made a mistake. Don’t make things difficult for her.” His tone was so self-righteous. As if I were the one making a big deal out of nothing, the narrow-minded one. He stood in front of Mia in a protective stance, telling me: “She feels guilty enough already. Don’t harp on it.” I couldn’t utter a single word. As long as Mia played the victim, I was always in the wrong. From Mia “accidentally” losing my award certificates, to “unintentionally” deleting the design proposals on my computer, to “not noticing” and breaking the custom couple mugs Arthur and I had, and now, ruining the last manuscripts my dad left me— Arthur always told me to be magnanimous, to forgive. The buzzing in my ears grew louder. My fingertips trembled. I walked up to Mia, and before Arthur could react— I grabbed Mia’s hair and smashed her head violently against the bookcase door. Then, amidst Mia’s screams, I kicked the back of her knee, forcing her to truly kneel before me. “That’s not how you kowtow.” I stepped on her calf, grabbed her hair, and slammed her head heavily against the floor. A dull thud. Mia’s forehead instantly drew blood. “This is how you admit your mistakes.” My eyes burned. I grabbed her, ready to slam her head again, when Arthur rushed over and grabbed my wrist. “Let go!” “In your dreams!” Arthur’s other hand came down, forcefully prying my fingers open. The agonizing pain of my fingernail being ripped back made me frown deeply, but he didn’t seem to notice and kept applying force. “Chloe Vance! That’s enough!” Enough? I looked at Arthur, laughing out of sheer fury: “Arthur, the difference between humans and animals is that humans can think and have a bottom line! We don’t just blindly show favoritism based on instinct!” “Since you insist on protecting her—” Ignoring the agonizing pain of my torn fingernail, in the moment Arthur was stunned, I slapped Mia fiercely across the face. Along with the pain of my split nail, a few bloody scratches appeared on the face that showed up on my feed every day. Mia broke down and screamed. I laughed out loud. “Karma.” I looked at Arthur’s disbelieving expression, then at Mia, who was covering her face and howling. I enunciated every word clearly: “I was never a pushover, you should have known that.” “Arthur, you’ve thoroughly pissed me off.” “If I don’t ruin you both, my last name isn’t Vance!” When Elena rushed in with the movers, her first reaction was a “Holy shit,” followed by a cold look as she saw my bloody fingers: “Animal!” She swung her hand and slapped the back of Arthur’s head, leaving him bewildered. Arthur looked at Elena, then at the movers, and demanded of me: “What exactly are you trying to do!” “Making room for your precious sweetheart,” I said coldly. “But looking at things now—” I glanced at Mia, who was sitting on the floor covering her face, and the furious Arthur. “There’s no need.” I grabbed a crowbar from one of the movers and walked toward the abstract painting on the living room wall—a piece we painted together when we first moved in here. I smashed the crowbar down. The canvas tore; the frame shattered. Just like our eight years, shattered beyond repair. “Guys,” I handed the crowbar back, “I’ve transferred the money. Sorry for making you come all the way out here today.” “The stuff here,” I swept my gaze around the room, “is too dirty. I don’t want it anymore.” The mover, startled by the scene, asked quietly: “Do you need… to call the police?” Mia jumped up from the floor: “Call the police for what! She hit me! If anyone’s calling the police, it’s me!” Elena finally noticed the scratches on Mia’s face and let out an “Oh”: “Isn’t this our little white lotus? Not pretending to be delicate anymore?” Mia glared at her viciously, enduring the pain, and said: “Chloe, I never wanted to steal Arthur! Why are you doing this to me!” “Don’t you know how important a reputation is?” “Of course you do!” she suddenly raised her voice. “Arthur told me everything!” “You were sexually harassed by a professor in college! You’re not clean yourself, so you think everyone else is dirty too!” “Mia!” Arthur shouted sternly. “Shut up!” This was the first time I had ever seen Arthur yell at Mia like that. In my memory, Mia was always right, and I was always wrong. Even breathing was a mistake. I used to think that Arthur might just be momentarily confused. That maybe when he calmed down, he’d turn back and apologize. Maybe I should wait. Maybe I should give him another chance. But I never thought that my painful past would be spoken from Mia’s mouth. I never expected Arthur to expose my scars to others, giving them a knife to stab me with. “Yeah.” I suddenly smiled. “I am pretty dirty.” In my senior year, to help Arthur secure a guaranteed spot in a graduate program, I offended a well-connected professor in my department. Later, I was called to his office for a “talk” and almost got assaulted. Although he didn’t succeed, rumors spread. They said I slept my way to the top, that I won awards through illicit means. Back then, I thought Arthur believed me, that he was on my side. My heart still hurt. It hurt so much I couldn’t breathe, yet I still had to look at Arthur, who was now panicking: “So, don’t make me look down on you.” I grabbed Elena and walked out. Elena cursed as we walked: “Bastards! A whole family of bastards!” “You motherfucking, cursed bastards!” The bastard chased after us. The bastard used the soft, yielding tone I had waited half a year for to stop me: “I didn’t!” “Chloe, believe me! I never thought you were dirty! Never!” Arthur’s eyes were red with anxiety. “Those things… I didn’t mean to tell Mia. She kept asking, and I had too much to drink, so I…” He tried to grab my hand, but I violently shook him off. “Wait for the letter from my lawyer.” As Arthur tried to pursue us again, Elena turned around and slapped him across the face. “Get lost!” In the car, Elena didn’t ask where I was going, and I didn’t give a destination. We just drove around the city for over three hours. Watching the familiar streets, the light from the streetlamps flowing across the car windows… I remembered the year my dad was in the late stages of liver cancer, lying in his hospital bed, holding my hand and saying: “Chloe, you’re the one I’m most worried about leaving behind.” I remembered that rainy night, squatting in the hospital corridor crying until I was dehydrated. Arthur found me, looked at me tenderly, and swore: “Chloe, from now on, I am your family.” “I will love you in your dad’s place.” “I will love you forever.”

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It was my first time staying over at my boyfriend’s place. In the middle of the night, his ex-girlfriend suddenly unlocked the front door and barged right into the bedroom. I could feel his body go completely rigid. The room plunged into a dead silence. “Ethan.” Her voice was hoarse, thick with tears. Yet he acted as if nothing had happened. Pinning my wrists down, he casually leaned in and continued kissing me. 1 Bang! The front door slammed shut exactly as I expected, the sound echoing endlessly in the quiet night. I heard my own strained voice ask, “How does she know your door code…” Ethan paused, then continued kissing my jaw, his voice so light it was almost a whisper. “After we broke up… I forgot to change it.” “Is that so?” I instinctively turned my face away, dodging his touch. He froze for a second, then cupped my face, his thumb brushing against my skin as he offered a careless promise. “It’s the truth.” Meeting his pitch-black eyes—which held absolutely no trace of lust—I suddenly couldn’t find the words to say anything at all. In a daze, my mind drifted to Mia, the ex-girlfriend who had just left. This afternoon, she had deliberately sent me a harassing text message: “He’s just my leftovers. Do you want to bet? If I just crook my finger, he’ll come running right back to me.” Ethan had been sitting right next to me when I received it. Seeing the message, his expression remained completely indifferent, as if it had nothing to do with him. I was the only one silently seething. It wasn’t that I was genuinely afraid of Ethan being stolen away. I wouldn’t get jealous over an ex’s baseless provocation or question my relationship with him over it. I just felt a little defensive on his behalf. And… my heart ached for him. Later, just as I was about to say something, Ethan suddenly leaned in and kissed me without a word. His voice was husky, muffled, and inexplicably coaxing. “Babe… don’t go home tonight.” Ethan usually had a very cold, aloof personality. We rarely even kissed. This was the first time he had ever called me “babe” with such intimacy, the first time he had made such a physical demand. I didn’t refuse. I just didn’t expect Mia to walk in on us. Her face had turned deathly pale. She even looked a bit pitiful. But throughout the entire ordeal, Ethan never once glanced at her. Was he too afraid to look… Or couldn’t he bear to? A sudden crack of thunder brought my thoughts snapping back to reality. A bright flash of lightning streaked past the window, illuminating Ethan’s pale, cold face. “It’s raining,” I murmured unconsciously. Ethan abruptly went still. He darted a quick glance out the window, his indifferent eyes flickering with emotions I couldn’t read. I stared at him blankly. Having been together for a while now, no matter how well he hid it, I could easily see through the look in his eyes. He was worried. Worried about Mia, who might be out there getting drenched in the rain. And he was regretting. Regretting that he was spending tonight with me. 2 A chilling sensation started in my chest and instantly swept through my entire body. My fingertips trembled as I violently shoved him away. Ethan snapped out of his daze and shifted his gaze back to me. I saw my own pathetic, disheveled reflection in his pupils and lowered my head. “Go wait outside. I need to get dressed.” A complex look crossed his face, but he didn’t say anything. He left the room in silence. When I finished getting ready and walked out of the bedroom, I saw Ethan standing by the front door. He held an umbrella in one hand and his phone in the other, dialing a number over and over. As the automated voice repeatedly informed him that the other party’s phone was turned off, the anxiety and agitation on his face grew undeniable. I stared at him, numb. I took a step, didn’t notice what was in front of me, and tripped. My knee smashed brutally against the sharp corner of the coffee table. The bone-deep pain made me gasp. Not wanting Ethan to notice, I swallowed the pain and quickly sat down on the sofa nearby. Hearing the commotion, Ethan turned his head hesitantly. When he saw me, his thin lips pressed into a tight line. It took him a long time to finally speak. “The rain is too heavy. Her mental state wasn’t great when she left. I can’t let anything happen to her.” A piercing pain radiated from my knee. I bit my lip, a plea almost slipping past my teeth: Can you just not go? “I’m sorry, Chloe.” He didn’t hesitate for a second. The last few strings holding my sanity together completely snapped. The last shred of pride in my heart crumbled. I forced myself to stand up and limped toward him, tears instantly blurring my vision. “Ethan, you really do owe me an apology.” I took a deep breath, haphazardly wiping my tears away with the back of my hand. “If you never let her go, why did you even get together with me?” “Am I just a convenience? A rebound to pass the time?” When I said the word “rebound,” my voice choked up. But I still looked up at him, stubbornly wanting an answer I already knew. Suddenly, my balance gave out, and I swayed to the side. Ethan caught me by the waist with quick reflexes. “What happened to your leg?” I looked at him and said nothing. Ethan’s eyes darkened. Without a word, he scooped me up into his arms and set me down on the sofa. After grabbing the first-aid kit, he slowly rolled up my pant leg. The careful, gentle way he did it made me freeze for a moment. My right knee was completely swollen, and a large patch of skin was scraped raw. Bright red blood was trailing down the curve of my calf. It looked gruesome. Even I didn’t realize it was this bad. Ethan’s frown deepened. He took out some antiseptic to clean the wound, his voice raspy. “Bear with it.” The next second, a stinging cold hit my knee. The pain was so sharp that I instantly clamped down on his arm, my nails digging deep into his skin. Ethan didn’t make a sound, just let me grip him. When he finally finished cleaning the wound, he pulled out a tube of ointment, but it was clearly empty. “I’ll go downstairs and buy some.” He stood up. I fiercely grabbed his arm, my eyes turning red. He paused, his long eyelashes casting shadows over his eyes, looking almost tender. “There’s a pharmacy right downstairs. Ten minutes, max. I’ll be right back.” 3 Three minutes, five minutes… Ten minutes… When I checked my phone again, I realized I had been waiting for almost three hours. My knee had long since gone numb from the pain. My throat was suddenly incredibly dry. There was a glass of water not too far away. I lifted my knee, moving with stiff, sluggish motions. A seemingly simple task took me nearly three minutes to accomplish. When I finally picked up the glass and took large, desperate gulps, I realized the hot water Ethan had poured for me before leaving had gone completely cold. Just wait a little longer. Just a little longer. When another hour passed, I started calling and texting Ethan repeatedly. He didn’t answer a single call. He didn’t reply to a single text. The look in my eyes slowly died, settling into a heavy, ashen calmness. I don’t know how much time passed before I received another harassing text from Mia. It was two lines of text and a photo of Ethan brewing hot tea in a hotel kitchen. In the photo, Ethan was completely soaked—both his hair and his clothes. He had taken an umbrella when he left, yet he was still drenched. Even though he looked like a mess, the expression on his face in the photo was relaxed and peaceful. “He told me he hasn’t touched you yet. Tonight was supposed to be your first time, right?” “Heh. When he and I first got together…” 4 It was 3:00 AM when Ethan finally returned. With a click, the wall sconce by the entryway flicked on. The dim, yellow light spilled downward, casting shadows over his pale, emotionless face. “Why are you still awake?” He looked surprised to see me sitting rigidly on the sofa. My hand tightened around my phone, and I watched him in silence. “I waited in line to buy a cheesecake for our breakfast tomorrow.” He lifted the box in his hand and calmly placed it in the fridge. “You know that bakery only opens in the middle of the night. The line is pretty crazy.” His tone was as indifferent as ever, acting as if absolutely nothing had happened. Seeing that I wasn’t speaking, Ethan frowned slightly and slowly walked over to the sofa. “What’s wrong?” He stared at me for a long moment before carefully lifting my leg onto his lap. He lowered his head to inspect it. “Does your knee still hurt?” From this angle, I could see his pitch-black hair brushing against the nape of his neck, smooth and glossy. Like it had just been washed and blow-dried. The words Mia had sent suddenly rushed back into my ears, piercing and arrogant, as if exploding right next to me. Embarrassment, humiliation, and rage utterly annihilated all my defenses. Suppressing the tremors racking my body, I pulled my leg off his lap, deliberately avoiding his intimate gesture. Ethan paused, momentarily stunned. “It’s too late today. My knee is injured, so I’ll borrow your sofa for the night. Tomorrow, I’ll wire you the money for the stay.” Ethan’s eyes finally darkened, and he looked at me with a chilling expression. “Chloe, what exactly are you throwing a tantrum about?” “A tantrum?” I repeated, looking up at him. “Ethan, where exactly did you go tonight?” Ethan’s eyelashes fluttered, but he didn’t meet my eyes. “I went to buy you medicine, and then I went to wait in line for the cake.” “So, where is the medicine?” Ethan didn’t speak. “Tonight, I called you exactly fifty-eight times and sent you one hundred and five text messages.” “Before you left, you poured me a glass of hot water. You said it would take ten minutes to cool down, just in time for me to drink it when you got back.” “I don’t know if she’s okay or not, but my leg… it hurts a lot.” The room was dim. Ethan’s face was practically devoid of emotion, save for his fingers slightly curling, rubbing the seam of his pants back and forth. That meant he was irritated and wanted a cigarette. I blinked, forcing down the burning sensation in my eyes. I stared at his aloof face, biting my lip until I tasted blood, before finally forcing the words out. “Ethan, let’s break up.” Almost instantly, Ethan grabbed my wrist, his voice deep. “I refuse.” 5 “I can explain,” he said. “The medicine fell into a storm drain on the way to buy the cake. My phone got smashed too, so I couldn’t receive any messages.” Dead silence filled the air. I just stared straight at him. Ethan’s frown deepened. He raised a hand, roughly unbuttoned the top of his shirt, and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it. I had tried to persuade him to quit smoking many times before, but he never listened. Makes sense. Why would he care about anything I had to say? It wasn’t until the smell of menthol smoke dissipated that I heard his hoarse voice. “I’m sorry.” “If you’re apologizing for abandoning me to go find her, I don’t accept it,” I said softly. Ethan looked stunned. This was the first time I had ever read defeat in his expression. “She is, after all… an old college classmate.” “Just a college classmate?” I tried my best to regulate my emotions, asking in the calmest voice possible. Ethan was silent for a long time before answering. “A few days ago, her parents called me. They said she bought a plane ticket and flew here all by herself. If something happened to her, I wouldn’t know how to explain it to her family.” “Chloe, I’ve never thought about getting back together with her, you—” Before he could finish, I pulled up the harassing texts and photos Mia had just sent me and shoved the screen in his face. He froze. “If you just went to find her, why are your clothes and hair all wet? What happened between you two?” “If you never thought about getting back together with her, why did you feel the need to prove your loyalty by telling her you hadn’t touched me yet?” I tried so hard to hold it in, but my voice still cracked with a hoarse, crying tone. “Ethan, what am I to you?” Looking at his pale, silent face, seemingly unable to offer a rebuttal, I suddenly felt the urge to laugh. In a flash, so many details I had deliberately ignored in the past became crystal clear. Ethan was the one who pursued me first. He had transferred to corporate headquarters two years ago. We had handled the same project several times and were surprisingly in sync at work. We often pulled all-nighters together, and the dynamic between us had subtly shifted. So when he made the first move, I didn’t think about it for long and quickly agreed. During our year together, apart from his somewhat aloof personality, Ethan treated me very well. He never deliberately hid his past either. I knew he had an ex-girlfriend of five years. They were each other’s first loves and broke up a year after college. To say I didn’t care at all would be a lie, but holding onto it felt like I was just punishing myself. I had asked him why they broke up. Ethan’s answer was simple and calm: “She and I weren’t suitable.” At the time, he had added, “Chloe, I think you and I are very suitable.” In all fairness, he sounded very sincere. But my heart had sunk like a stone. The word “suitable” should be a compliment for people in love, but an inexplicable wave of irritation had sprouted in my chest. Did he pursue me because he liked me, or just because I was “suitable”? Perhaps sensing my emotional shift, Ethan didn’t say anything more at the time. He just let out a low sigh, pressed his lips to mine, and said somewhat helplessly, “Chloe, don’t overthink it.” As our breathing grew heavier, I naturally wrapped my arms around his neck. But Ethan abruptly pushed me away, lowering his gaze, lost in thought. After a long silence, he somewhat stiffly reached out and ruffled my hair. “Chloe, we have a long future ahead of us.” I didn’t think much of it then. I assumed he was respecting me, wanting to save the best for after we were engaged. Until Mia showed up. The signs were all there from the start. I was just too in love with him. Love filtered everything out, deluding me into thinking he liked me just as much. Or maybe it wasn’t even ‘like’. It was just pure, simple suitability. The moment I realized this, I felt as naked and humiliated as if I’d been stripped in public. This humiliation was delivered by his ex-girlfriend, but Ethan had been the one to hand her the knife, eager to please her. I couldn’t even imagine what Ethan was like when he was with Mia. Was he as cold and reserved as he was with me? Probably not. 6 I calmly texted my best friend, Harper, telling her Ethan and I had broken up, and asked if she had time to come pick me up tomorrow. I could tell she was shocked, but she didn’t ask questions. She just sent a “hug” emoji. She said: I’ll come get you. The moment I put my phone down, the world spun, and I found myself scooped up into Ethan’s arms. I froze for a few seconds before my face turned ice-cold. “What are you—” Ethan spoke with an unquestionable tone: “Your knee is injured, and the sofa is too small. It’s better if you sleep in the bedroom.” I pressed my lips tightly together, glaring at him with defensive, wary eyes. Ethan’s expression shifted, but he quickly covered it up. “I’ll sleep on the sofa tonight. I won’t… do anything to you.” I paused. I suddenly realized how ridiculous my reaction was. Ethan never liked me to begin with. His attempt to be intimate with me earlier was just him acting out after seeing Mia’s provocative text. My defensiveness was completely pointless. “Put me down. I can walk by myself, thank you,” I said, looking into his eyes, my tone unnervingly calm. When our eyes met, I thought I saw a flash of hurt in his. I figured I must be seeing things. Ethan didn’t say anything else. He set me down in silence, and I didn’t look at him again as I limped toward the bedroom. Just as the door clicked shut, I heard his raspy voice. “Chloe.” I stopped. Ethan was quiet for a moment before pulling a small box from his pocket and opening it. Inside was a delicate women’s ring. “Mia threw it into a storm drain. It was pouring rain, and there were no streetlights. My phone broke by accident. I looked for a long time, and I got soaked. I was afraid you’d overthink it, so I went to a hotel to dry my clothes first.” He paused, his breathing seemingly heavier. “She was frantically demanding to know if I was going to propose to you, asking why I touched you. Everything was just chaos in that moment. I don’t even remember what I told her.” He pressed his lips together, his voice hoarse, but I clearly heard a faint trace of regret in it. “Mia’s personality is completely different from yours. She was like this in college—reckless and wild. She won’t stop until she turns someone else’s world upside down.” In college… Those words made my heart physically clench. That was a territory I could never, ever reach. It belonged exclusively to their past. “I’ve already deleted her number and blocked her. Tomorrow I’ll explain things to her parents. They won’t bother me about her anymore.” I looked up into his eyes, listening to him promise, word by word: “Chloe, she and I are in the past.” Perhaps because he didn’t get a response for so long, Ethan’s eyelashes trembled slightly, and his lips lost a bit more color. It took a long time before he softly said, “Get some rest.” I didn’t say anything. I just watched quietly as he closed the door. Lying in bed, I closed my eyes but couldn’t fall asleep. My mind was a chaotic mess. After hearing those words and seeing that ring, it was impossible to say I felt absolutely nothing. But two images kept flashing back and forth in my mind. One was when Ethan was driving me home early in our relationship. He had suddenly grabbed my hand, his usually cold features softening as he earnestly asked if I wanted to be his girlfriend. The other was Ethan unhesitatingly abandoning me to go find Mia. Can we really… just move past this? Even if things are truly over between them, can my heart move past it? When I woke up the next day and walked out of the bedroom, the first thing I saw was an unopened tube of ointment resting quietly on the table. A belated tube of ointment. I lowered my eyes, ignoring Ethan’s slightly complicated gaze, and walked straight toward the front door. The moment my hand touched the doorknob, the door suddenly swung open. Mia’s bright, arrogant face barged right into my line of sight.

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On my twenty-third birthday, I was preparing to confess my feelings to Arthur. But he beat me to it, falling in love at first sight with my roommate. I watched them break up and make up, endlessly entangled. Finally, I gave up all hope and got a boyfriend. On the day I officially announced my relationship on Instagram, everyone was offering sincere congratulations. Arthur never showed up. Until the next day, when someone brought it up in front of him. “Did you see that Instagram post? What do you think of Nora’s boyfriend?” The man was leaning back on the sofa. Hearing this, he glanced at me. After a long pause, he drawled slowly, “Oh, he’s just average.” 1 As Arthur’s words fell, the room went quiet for a moment. Everyone’s eyes turned to me. Some were watching the drama unfold, others looked worried and uneasy. In this day and age, everyone loves posting short videos and Instagram updates. Two people standing shoulder-to-shoulder, smiling and clearly in love—who wouldn’t want to hear others say they look like a perfect match? But not Arthur. He just bluntly evaluated him, saying, “Oh, he’s just average.” Although his temper could be bad, he was usually very polite in his dealings with people. Acting like this now… it was almost as if he was intentionally trying to embarrass me. I held back my anger and asked him: “What’s wrong with my boyfriend?” In fact, Caleb was very handsome. Even my mom, who is incredibly picky, couldn’t help but praise him when she met him. “Compared to that friend of yours, Arthur, he’s definitely not lacking.” I stared at Arthur, my expression showing my displeasure. But he suddenly let out a weary smile. Then he glanced at me, “Just a passing comment, don’t take it to heart.” “Bring him around sometime when you’re free.” After saying that, he stood up and left without any hesitation. He didn’t spare me another glance. Someone tried to comfort me, saying, “Tsk, almost forgot. He just had a messy breakup with his girl. He must be feeling really irritated right now.” “It’s fine. It’s always like this with them. They’ll be back together in a few days.” Saying this, the person glanced at me. “Don’t you think so, Nora?” I zoned out for a second. “Yeah, that’s how it is.” They had been entangled for so long, how could it be that easy for them to separate? Over the past few years, I anticipated and was disappointed time and time again. I had already understood this fact, hadn’t I? 2 Exiting the private room, I saw Arthur smoking a short distance away. He rarely did that. Because Mia didn’t like it. He was acting really unusual tonight. I was still angry about what happened earlier, so I didn’t speak to him and walked straight toward the exit. But I hadn’t taken two steps before someone grabbed my wrist. I turned around to meet a pair of cold, detached eyes. Long before I even met him, I had heard others talk about Arthur. The famous young master of the Sterling family, groomed from a young age to be the heir. Wealthy and aristocratic, there were droves of people wanting to pursue him, but he never gave anyone the time of day. Later, when Arthur and I became close, everyone praised my good luck. For all these years, I was the only female friend by his side. Inevitably, some people made sarcastic remarks, “Who knows, maybe one day she’ll go from friend to girlfriend, climb the social ladder, and become Mrs. Sterling?” It wasn’t that I hadn’t entertained such beautiful dreams. But later, when Mia appeared, I realized she was his true destiny. He remained single for over twenty years just waiting for her. As for me, I was just lucky enough to have known him. Under the dim lights, he stared at me, his expression somewhat scattered. He said: “How did you meet?” I didn’t react immediately, stunned for a second. He patiently repeated himself. “I mean, you and that guy, how did you meet?” 3 It was a snowy, freezing day. Arthur instinctively turned his body, shielding me from the cold wind blowing from afar. I looked at his features, silent for a moment. “We met while traveling. Thought he was pretty nice, so we got together.” There’s a saying: “right place, right time.” That basically summed up Caleb and me. Hearing this, Arthur lifted his eyelids. “Traveling? When did you go traveling? Why didn’t I know?” I smiled slightly. “Just last month.” He probably didn’t remember anymore. One night last month, he called me late, saying Mia had a fight with him and went abroad in a fit of pique. He said, “You two are the closest. Go over and help persuade her. She’s insisting on staying in a foreign country, she’s going to suffer.” I packed my bags overnight and traveled thousands of miles with him. But shortly after landing, he received news that Mia had already gone to another location. Back and forth, another ten-plus hour journey. I happened to be running a high fever and couldn’t keep traveling with him. He had no choice but to leave me behind to go find Mia. After he left, I stood by the river, looking at the bright moon on the other side, and suddenly felt exhausted. To stay by his side, I gave up a stable job in my hometown. Even when my father was hospitalized last year, I couldn’t be by his bedside. Time is merciless. What have I gained, and what have I lost? No one knows. My thoughts returned to the present. I looked at Arthur standing in front of me and spoke very calmly. “Done asking? I need to go.” He froze. After a long time, he spoke again. “Let me borrow your phone for a second. Mia blocked me.” Honestly, I really wanted to ask—with so many people in the private room, did he have to borrow mine? But I didn’t say it. After all, the joy, sadness, and despair… from beginning to end, only I knew. In his eyes, I was a perfect friend, completely detached from romantic feelings. I pulled out my phone and handed it to him. He took it and walked to the side to make the call. They talked for a good while. When Arthur came back, his expression was no longer as tense as before. His eyes were smiling. He handed the phone back to me, but right at that moment, a message suddenly popped up on the screen. Caleb: 【I’m coming back to the States next month.】 In an instant, the smile on Arthur’s face vanished completely. He narrowed his eyes, his voice flat: “Your relationship seems to be going pretty well.” 4 Since I had already decided to let go, I intentionally started distancing myself from Arthur’s circle. I stopped initiating contact with those people. And I tried my best to avoid places they frequented. One day, Arthur messaged me. 【Your birthday is in a couple of days. Want to come check out the venue?】 He was very generous. Whenever his close friends had birthdays, he would always do his best to help organize everything. I wasn’t the first, nor was I the only one. But to this day, I still remember my twenty-third birthday. Arthur pointed at Mia in the distance and asked me, “Is that your friend? Give me her Instagram.” A perfect match, a destined encounter. I figured they should probably thank me, their matchmaker. Later, to pursue Mia, Arthur basically went through fire and water, suffering a lot. I heard someone ask him, why did it have to be Mia? At the time, he was texting Mia. Hearing the question, he smiled, raised an eyebrow: “She was wearing a red dress that day. I’ve rarely seen anyone wear that color so well.” But who could remember that I, too, was wearing all red that day? For many years after that, I never wore that color again. Thinking of this, I typed. 【I’ve been busy lately, no need.】 It took a long time for a reply to come. 【Busy dating?】 I replied, 【Yes.】 After that message, he didn’t reply again. Instead, his best buddy, Noah, sent me a voice memo, speaking with a playful tone. “Impressive, Nora. Arthur put a lot of effort into planning your birthday party this time. We all pulled several all-nighters with him, and you just say you’re not coming. He was so pissed, hahaha.” I replied with a few casual words. Right then, a red dot appeared on my email app. I clicked on it. It was a job offer. I thought about it, feeling a bit happy, and messaged Caleb. 【Once I finish handing over my current work, I can resign. When you get back, we’ll go back to River City together.】 Coincidentally, we were both from River City. He replied, 【Okay.】 This person looked serious and always spoke meticulously. But looking at this single word. I inexplicably smiled. 5 Neither Caleb nor I were very talkative people; we only chatted when there was something to discuss. But I didn’t expect him to come back half a month early. He came back specifically to celebrate my birthday. In an exquisitely decorated Western restaurant, he handed me a gift bag. “Sorry, I only found out it was your birthday today from a post your mom made. I prepared this in a rush, I don’t know if you’ll like it.” The day after we decided to be together, he dropped everything and went back to River City with me to meet both sets of parents. We were planning to get engaged in two months. My mom kept telling me lately, “Caleb is a good guy. His education and character are impeccable. You need to treat him well.” Halfway through the meal, Caleb stepped out to take a call. While he was gone, I looked down at my phone. I happened to see a post from Noah. 【Can someone please save me!? Arthur is acting crazy today, insisting on out-drinking me. I’m about to drink myself to death here, and his face isn’t even red. I can’t take this anymore.】 Noah had a bouncy personality and often posted things like this, so I wasn’t too surprised when I saw the text. I was just a bit confused. That day outside the private room, when Arthur borrowed my phone to call Mia, they had clearly buried the hatchet. Acting like this now… did they fall out again? It wasn’t strange for me to think that. Arthur’s life had always been smooth sailing. Except in love, he would never take a loss anywhere else. Just as I was thinking this, a call came through on my phone. It was Noah. We had a decent relationship, and I was afraid something had really happened to him, so I answered immediately. His voice was drunk. “Hey, let me tell you, Arthur is simply not human…” Halfway through, his voice grew quieter and quieter until it disappeared. I called his name twice. There was no response. Just as I was about to hang up, someone finally spoke. It was Arthur. His voice was cold and slightly hoarse. “This guy couldn’t hold it together and passed out on the table. Nothing major.” I said, “Oh, glad it’s nothing major.” He was silent for a moment, then asked, “What about you? How was today? Are you happy?” I met him when I was twenty. Up until now, five years have passed. Every year on this day, he was unwaveringly by my side. Except for this time. It was an exception. I was about to answer when Caleb returned from outside and asked who I was talking to. I said. “A friend.” When I looked down again, the call had already been disconnected. 6 I slept very soundly that night. For some reason, I actually dreamt of Arthur. I dreamt about the year he got into a car accident while street racing trying to pursue Mia, lying half-dead in the hospital. I took care of him for two months. But the very first thing he did on the day he fully recovered was go find Mia. In the hospital corridor, his cousin told me with a look of helpless resignation: “Arthur has always gotten whatever he wanted since he was a kid. Don’t be fooled by his easygoing exterior; he’s actually incredibly obsessive. Once he sets his sights on something, he’ll get it even if it kills him.” “What happened now is exactly what he asked for.” But I knew that Mia had actually fallen for Arthur a long time ago. The reason she kept stringing him along was simply because… she knew I also liked Arthur, and she wanted me to see him losing his mind over her. Arthur always thought Mia and I were good friends. But that was just what he thought. In reality, Mia came from a wealthy family and completely looked down on hanging out with me. Only in front of Arthur would she pretend to be close to me. I smiled bitterly. “Yeah, I know.” Then I went to find Mia and told her, “You don’t like me, so why bother stringing Arthur along? He’s a good guy, and he likes you so much. I beg you to treat him well, okay?” I woke up right at this point in the dream. I instinctively raised my hand and touched my face. It was completely covered in tears. I took a long while to compose myself before looking at my phone. Just a moment ago, Arthur had sent me a message. He said: 【Forgot to say it yesterday: Happy birthday. The gift was mailed to you, make sure you sign for it.】 I thought about it and replied: 【Oh.】 In the past, I would never have spoken to him like this. Perhaps because my reaction was too cold, he didn’t text back. After that, we had no contact. The next time I got a call from Arthur was two days later. At the time, I was taking a walk with Caleb. The moonlight was hazy. His face was handsome and romantic. When I asked about his dating history, the man frankly admitted that he had three girlfriends before me, but his romantic path had been rocky, and none of them lasted long. I smiled slightly. “What about me?” “You don’t love me, and I don’t love you. Can we really make it work long-term, Caleb?” Hearing this, Caleb froze. Just as he was about to answer, my phone rang. I lit up the screen. Arthur’s voice came through from the other end. “Noah is organizing a get-together tonight. Coming?” I didn’t think much of it and refused directly. “Not coming.” His voice paused, and then I heard the sound of a lighter clicking. “Busy with work?” he asked. “No.” As the word fell, he let out a soft tsk, and his tone became a bit strange. “Alright then. I won’t bother you.” I put away my phone, and Caleb, beside me, suddenly spoke up. He asked me: “You like this guy named Arthur? Is he the man who made you cry your heart out on the streets of Paris that day?” I looked up, a wave of infinite sorrow welling up in my heart. I said, “Yes, but not anymore.” When I was young, studying calligraphy and solving math olympiad problems, my teachers and parents evaluated me like this: they said I was earnest, introverted, and prone to going down a path without turning back. A cowardly and timid person like me had only done two bold things in my entire life. The first was the night before my twenty-third birthday, folding a whole jar of origami cranes, preparing to confess to Arthur. Unfortunately, it was cut short by the appearance of Mia, his true destiny. The other was that day on the street, when I heard Caleb’s mother calling to pressure him about marriage, I resolutely asked this man I had only met once: “What do you think of me?” Many times, if we don’t keep moving forward, we really don’t know who we’ll meet or what we’ll experience. 7 Two days later, Caleb returned to Paris. He was very busy with work and had been rushing a project abroad for the past six months. Now was the most critical juncture. He stayed with me for three days. We watched movies, went hiking, and rode a Ferris wheel together. Before he left, he sighed, gave me a meaningful look, and said: “Actually, that day wasn’t the first time I met you, Nora.” Then he left. I was full of questions and could only wait until he returned to solve the mystery. Right at this time, I received a wedding invitation. The sender was a good friend from college. I heard she was marrying very well; the groom came from a prominent family, and his parents were influential figures in North City. On the day of the wedding, shortly after I set out, I received a call from the bride asking me to take a detour and pick something up for her. “The ceremony will probably have started by the time you arrive, and the venue is a bit hard to find. My husband said he’ll have a friend come out and get you.” I said okay. After I picked up the item and hurried over, I saw Arthur smoking by the side of the road. When he saw me, his expression was very calm, as if he had known all along that I was the person he was waiting for. Our eyes met, and he said, “You’ve been hard to get a hold of lately. Didn’t expect to run into you here.” I felt a bit awkward. Yeah, how did we end up running into each other here? Moreover, with his personality, he didn’t seem like the type to be easily ordered around. Once inside the venue, we ended up at the same table. He sat opposite me. And next to me, surprisingly, was Mia. They were usually inseparable wherever they went. It was strange they weren’t sitting together today. Halfway through, I went to the restroom and happened to hear someone talking about Arthur and Mia. “Are they really done this time? No chance of getting back together?” “Probably. I heard Arthur was the one who initiated the breakup this time. You know, before, it was always Mia who brought it up.” “And before, we all thought this time was just playing around too. The groom even seated them together. But just now, Arthur voluntarily moved to the opposite side, making it clear he doesn’t want to sit with Mia.” “Tsk, why do I feel like Arthur has fallen for someone else…” Hearing this, I stopped listening. Returning to my seat, perhaps out of sheer boredom, Mia proactively asked about Caleb and me. I casually gave a few details. She smiled slightly, her voice very low, yet loud enough for the others at the table to hear. “You guys are really meant for each other, your relationship must be great, right? You’re so pure, do you blush when he kisses you?” As soon as she said this, everyone at the table looked at me with gossipy expressions. I was just about to speak when someone knocked a glass to the floor, making a shattering sound. I looked up. It was actually Arthur. He leaned back in his chair and spoke slowly. “Asking about this kind of stuff, do you all have too much free time?”

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On the day I was diagnosed with nerve necrosis in my hand, I sat alone outside the clinic, waiting for the final verdict. Arthur, who was supposed to accompany me for the follow-up, sent a text: [Mia fainted from nervousness at her stage debut. I have to stay with her at the hospital. Go see the doctor yourself first.] Right after, I saw Mia’s social media post. In the photo, Arthur was carefully massaging her wrist with those hands of his that were always considered precious, his eyes filled with a level of anxiety I had never seen before. The caption read: [So glad you’re here. My hands are your life.] Right. She is a pianist; her hands are her life. I am a surgeon; my hand was ruined to save Arthur, so it’s worthless. I calmly turned off my phone. Instead of having a hysterical breakdown like I used to, I pushed open the department head’s door and signed my name on the already prepared Doctors Without Borders Agreement. This journey meant life or death was uncertain, and there was no return date. As I walked out of the hospital, Arthur called, his tone carrying a guilt-ridden attempt to please: “Chloe, when you get home tonight, I’ll stew your favorite soup to nourish you.” I looked at the withered yellow leaves falling by the roadside and replied flatly: “No need.” Because there would be no ‘after’ anymore. 1 Arthur didn’t come home until early the next morning. When he walked in, I was in the living room sorting out discarded surgical scalpels. Those were the tools I once relied on to make a living, but now they could only be disposed of as scrap metal. He saw me, frowned, and spoke with a hint of exhaustion and impatience from staying up all night: “Why didn’t you answer my calls yesterday? Still mad about what happened with Mia?” I didn’t even look up, tossing a delicate scalpel into the trash can. “Not mad. Just fell asleep.” Arthur clearly didn’t believe me. In the past, whenever he abandoned me for Mia, I would have trashed the house and cried, forcing him to choose between the two of us. But today, the house was excessively clean. Even the medical trophies I usually cared about the most were packed away. He paused for a moment, then seemed relieved and walked over to take my hand. “It’s good you’re not mad. Yesterday Mia had a stress-induced syncope. The doctor said she has poor psychological resilience and needs someone by her side. You’re a doctor, you should understand, right?” I turned sideways to avoid his touch. My right hand trembled slightly. That was the lingering effect of the car accident three years ago, when glass pierced my wrist as I protected his head. “Yeah, I understand.” Arthur’s hand hovered mid-air, and his face darkened. “Chloe, that’s enough. I’ve already explained it, and I brought you a gift.” He pulled a delicate velvet box from his pocket and handed it to me. Opening it, I saw a bracelet. It was beautiful, but I immediately recognized it as the brand Mia endorsed—it was a complimentary gift the brand had sent yesterday. “Thank you.” I closed the lid and casually placed it on the corner of the coffee table. A flash of irritation crossed Arthur’s eyes: “What kind of attitude is that? Didn’t you want jewelry from this brand the most before? I brought it back for you now, and you’re giving me an attitude?” Looking at his self-righteous demeanor, I suddenly found it funny. I wanted it before because I thought it was proof of his love for me. I don’t want it now because I know that in his heart, I am not even worth as much as Mia’s freebie. “Arthur,” I looked at him calmly, “my hand hurts, I don’t want to fight.” Hearing the words “my hand hurts,” Arthur’s arrogance instantly deflated by half. Probably remembering that this hand was ruined because of him. He took a deep breath, his tone softening a bit: “Is your old injury acting up because of the rainy weather? It just so happens Mia gave me some special medicated patches, saying they’re good for joints. I’ll go get them for you.” You see, this is Arthur. His “compensation” to me always carries Mia’s shadow. I stood up, not looking at him. “No need, I have things to do and need to go back to the hospital.” Arthur grabbed me, his brow furrowing: “It’s the weekend, why are you going back to the hospital? Can’t your hand not perform surgery anymore?” “To process my resignation.” Arthur paused, then sneered: “Resigning is good too. Since your hand can’t hold a scalpel steady anyway, just stay home and focus on preparing for pregnancy. I’ll support you.” He thinks I’m returning to domestic life because I’m incapable. He doesn’t know I’m preparing to leave him for good. I didn’t explain. I grabbed my bag and pushed the door open to leave. 2 Arthur never liked my job. He thought being a surgeon was dirty, tiring, involved night shifts, and left no time for family. Especially after my hand was injured, he publicly stated on multiple occasions: “My Chloe will be a rich housewife from now on, no need to go serve patients anymore.” Everyone praised him for his deep devotion, for not minding that I was a cripple. Only I knew that he just found my scar-covered hands disgusting and embarrassing to take out in public. Arriving at the hospital, I handed the signed agreement to the department head. The department head looked at me and sighed: “Chloe, have you thought this through? The environment over there is very harsh, with wars and plagues constantly. Even though you can’t be the primary surgeon, you’re more than qualified to be a medical consultant here. There’s no need to risk your life.” I smiled and nodded. “I’ve thought it through. There’s nothing left for me here, and I also want to go find the meaning of life.” Coming out of the department head’s office, I ran into Arthur’s assistant. He was holding a thick stack of documents, and when he saw me, he looked a bit flustered, instinctively trying to hide the documents behind his back. “Dr. Hastings… what a coincidence.” I glanced at the corner of the document peeking out from behind him; it was a proposal for establishing the “Mia Sullivan Arts Foundation.” So, Arthur had been so incredibly busy recently, not even having time to accompany me for my checkup, because he was busy throwing money at paving the way for Mia. I smiled: “It is a coincidence. Did Mr. Vance send you?” The assistant stammered: “Mr. Vance said… Miss Sullivan’s hands need top-tier care, and asked me to inquire if the hospital has that imported physiotherapy machine.” A pang hit my heart. I had begged Arthur for half a year to help contact foreign manufacturers to import that physiotherapy machine. With my nerve damage, only that machine could alleviate the pain of atrophy. What did Arthur say back then? He said: “Chloe, that machine is too expensive, and the process is too complicated. With your hand the way it is, using it won’t make much of a difference. Just endure it and it’ll pass.” It turns out it wasn’t too complicated; it was just that my hand wasn’t worthy. Now, just for Mia to maintain her skin, he eagerly sends someone to buy it. “Dr. Hastings, please don’t overthink it, Mr. Vance is also doing this for…” The assistant tried to explain. “For his life, I know.” I cut him off. “Go about your business.” I turned and walked away. My phone buzzed. It was a message from Arthur: [There’s a charity gala tonight. Come with me. Remember to wear that long-sleeved dress to cover the scars on your hand.] Even through the screen, I could feel his disgust. I replied with one word: [Okay.] This would be my last time playing along with his act. 3 The gala was filled with glamorous people. Arthur held my arm, a polite smile on his face, playing the role of the perfect fiancé. But his grip on my arm was very tight, seemingly terrified I would accidentally expose the hideous scars on my wrist. “Tonight is Mia’s night. Talk less and don’t embarrass me,” he warned me in a low voice. I nodded submissively. Halfway through the banquet, Mia went on stage to perform. Under the spotlight, she wore a pure white gown, looking like an otherworldly fairy. Her hands danced across the black and white piano keys; it was indeed beautiful. As the song ended, thunderous applause erupted. Arthur watched the stage with a burning passion in his eyes I had never seen before. “Tonight, there is a special segment. To celebrate Miss Sullivan’s successful debut, Mr. Vance has prepared a mysterious grand prize!” With that, a hostess wheeled out a display case. When the red cloth was lifted, the crowd gasped. It was one of only three sets of top-tier microsurgical instruments left in the world, priceless and unavailable on the open market. My heart skipped a violent beat. This was something I had always dreamed of. I had shown pictures of it to Arthur countless times, telling him that if I had these instruments, my hand might still be saved, and I could return to the operating table. He had only told me I was dreaming then. Now, he had bought it. Arthur turned his head, looked at me with a hint of credit-seeking smile in his eyes: “Do you like it?” I froze. Did he buy it for me? In that moment, my dead heart actually experienced a shameful waver. Maybe he did remember my dream? Maybe his previous coldness was just because he was too busy? With trembling hands, I reached out to touch the display case. “Everyone!” Arthur’s voice boomed through the microphone across the hall. “These instruments represent the limit of human hands. I bought them hoping they can protect the most precious thing.” He paused, looking deeply at Mia. “Mia, your hands are God’s masterpiece. I am donating these instruments to your Arts Foundation to be the cornerstone collection, to forever remind the world that the value of art is above all else!” The hall erupted in thunderous applause. My hand froze mid-air, like a joke. It turns out, the scalpel meant to save lives was, in his eyes, merely an ornament to be displayed to showcase that woman’s nobility. Mia gathered her skirts and ran off the stage, throwing herself into Arthur’s arms, saying coquettishly: “Arthur, you are so good to me! But Chloe seems to really like this, how about…” She looked at me, her eyes full of provocation. Arthur wrapped his arm around her waist, not even sparing me a glance. “Her hands have been ruined for a long time; giving it to her would be a waste of a treasure. Such top-tier items only have value when placed with you.” I felt the blood in my veins reverse course. A waste of a treasure. So the hands I risked my life to save him with were nothing but trash in his heart. I took a deep breath, forcing back the burning sensation in my eyes. “Mr. Vance is right,” I spoke, my voice so calm it scared even me. “Trash indeed does not deserve to possess such things.” Arthur frowned, seeming surprised by my compliance, and yet feeling my words were somewhat jarring. But I didn’t give him time to think, turning and walking toward the restroom. In the stall, I received a confirmation email from the medical aid team to Africa: [Dr. Chloe Hastings, your flight is booked. Departure in three days. Please maintain confidentiality.] Looking at the flight information on the screen, I finally smiled. Three days. Just three more days, and I would be completely free. 4 After the gala, unusually, Arthur didn’t take Mia home but returned to the villa with me instead. In the car, he frequently looked at me through the rearview mirror. “You’re very quiet tonight,” he broke the silence. “Usually at occasions like this, if you saw me being good to Mia, you’d be throwing a fit.” I looked at the night scenery flashing by outside the window. “Tired of fighting. It’s pointless.” Arthur seemed very satisfied with this answer. “It’s good you’ve figured it out. Mia is a pure girl; she and I are just confidants. As long as you’re obedient, the position of Mrs. Vance is always yours.” Mrs. Vance? Who cares. Back home, Arthur was in a good mood and uncharacteristically poured me a glass of water. “By the way, next month is your birthday. I had my assistant book flights to the Maldives. We’ll go relax.” He probably felt he had embarrassed me publicly tonight and wanted to throw me a bone. In the past, I would have been so happy I wouldn’t have been able to sleep. But now, I only found it ironic. Next month, I would already be on the war-torn African continent. “No need,” I took the water but didn’t drink it. “I have plans next month.” Arthur’s face darkened: “What plans do you have? Just staying at home, right? Chloe, I’m giving you an out, take it. Don’t be ungrateful.” “The company arranged a continuing education course for me,” I lied. “It’s closed-door; no phones allowed.” Arthur paused, then sneered dismissively. “Continuing education? In your current state, what can you even study? Learning how to do logistics?” “I suppose so.” “Fine, do whatever you want.” He loosened his tie, looking indifferent. “You won’t achieve anything anyway. Going just to pass the time is fine too, saves you from sitting at home overthinking.” He didn’t care at all where I went or what I did. To him, a Chloe who had left him was just a cripple incapable of making any waves. He might even think me being away for a while was better, making it more convenient for him and Mia to spend time together. “Then pack your bags yourself these next few days. I have to accompany Mia to the recording studio for the next two days, so I won’t be coming back.” After Arthur finished, he grabbed his jacket and headed for the bathroom. I looked at his back and said softly: “Arthur.” He paused and looked back at me: “What now?” “If one day I disappeared, would you look for me?” Arthur acted like he had heard a joke: “Chloe, how old are you to still be playing this running-away-from-home game? Where could you go? Without me, you couldn’t even pay your medical bills.” He was certain I couldn’t leave him. Certain that with my crippled hands, I could only rely on him to survive. “True.” I nodded. “After all, I am a cripple.” Arthur ignored me and closed the bathroom door. The sound of running water started. I took out my phone, blocked Arthur’s name in my contacts, and started packing. I didn’t have much luggage. Aside from a few changes of clothes and necessary documents, I didn’t plan on taking anything from this house. Including that engagement ring I once treated as a treasure. I took it off, placed it on the nightstand, and pressed it under the VIP ticket to Mia’s concert he had just given me. Early the next morning, Arthur was still fast asleep. I took one last look at the place I had lived in for three years, feeling no attachment, and dragging my suitcase, walked into the thin morning mist. Goodbye, Arthur. 5 I left decisively, without looking back. In the bustling airport terminal, looking at the one-way ticket in my hand, I felt no reluctance in my heart, only a sense of settled relief. While waiting for my flight, my phone buzzed. It was a message in the hospital colleagues’ group chat. Someone tagged me: “Dr. Hastings, I heard you’re going for further studies? Wishing you a bright future!” Following that were rows of likes and well-wishes. Arthur was also in this group, but he never spoke, and I had long been accustomed to his silence. It wasn’t until the moment before boarding that I took out my SIM card and threw it in the trash can. As the plane soared into the sky, this city, along with the man named Arthur, was completely left behind. Life in Africa was much harsher than I had imagined. Sandstorms, extreme heat, the occasional sound of gunfire and artillery… Everything here reminded me of how fragile life was. Yet, I found a long-lost peace here. Although my right hand couldn’t be the primary surgeon, I could use my left hand for simple suturing and use my extensive experience to guide younger doctors. Here, no one knew I was the crippled Chloe despised by her fiancé; they only knew I was Dr. Hastings from the States, a life-saving angel. Meanwhile, back home. Arthur didn’t realize I was missing until three days later. After accompanying Mia to finish recording and returning home, seeing the empty rooms, his first reaction was to call me. “The number you dialed is powered off.” The mechanical female voice irritated him. “Chloe, you’d better hope I don’t catch you. Is this disappearing act fun?” He cursed while calling his assistant. “Go find out where Chloe’s continuing education course is and tell her to get back here immediately!” The assistant stammered on the other end: “Mr. Vance, I checked with all the hospitals in the city, and there’s no record of Dr. Hastings taking any courses…” Arthur froze. He hung up, rushed into the bedroom, and pulled open the closet. My clothes were there, my jewelry was there, only a few commonly worn T-shirts and jeans were missing. His gaze fell on the nightstand. There was a concert ticket, under which was pressed a diamond ring. It was our engagement ring. Arthur’s heart contracted violently, a sense of foreboding washing over him. He picked up the ring and found a note pressed underneath it. It only had three simple words: “Let’s break up.” “Break up? Heh, Chloe, what right do you have to ask for a breakup?” Arthur sneered, crumpled the note, and threw it into the trash can. He was convinced this was just me playing hard to get. After all, I loved him so much, loving him enough to sacrifice a hand for him. How could I just leave like that? He was certain that within three days, I would come crying back, begging for his forgiveness. However, three days passed, a week passed, a month passed. I seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth, without any news. Arthur finally started to panic. He mobilized all his connections to find me, but only got one result: No such person found. It was as if I had never existed, completely disappearing from his world.

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On the day my fiancé was supposed to get engaged to the real heiress, I had a fleeting, manic thought of driving my car straight into the venue and perishing together with them. But right at that moment of madness, my phone started ringing off the hook. I answered. It was the hospital. “Ms. Hayes, you’re pregnant…” I turned off the engine and sat there, frozen. Half an hour later, joyful music drifted from the banquet hall. I started the car, turned around, and headed to the airport. From then on, the “fake heiress” of the Hayes family vanished from New York, just as everyone wished. I went to Miami, thousands of miles away, narrowly escaping death to give birth to my daughter—my only true blood relative. I never contacted those people again. Until four years later, when they, one by one, reappeared in front of me. 1 Seeing Arthur again after four years was at the kindergarten entrance. I had just picked up Lily when a mother next to me suddenly leaned in: “Lily’s mom, look at the guy across the street. He looks just like that famous singer… what’s his name again…” I followed her gaze and saw him. “Arthur Vance!” the mother tapped her head. “Yes, Arthur Vance!” I looked away. “I don’t know him.” She looked surprised. “Do you not listen to music? Arthur Vance! The hottest original singer-songwriter these past few years! He’s won so many awards! “Oh wow, honestly, his face looks a bit like yours… you’re both so good-looking…” I smiled, shook my head, took Lily’s hand, and kept walking. “Chloe Hayes.” Unexpectedly, his voice came from behind. I ignored him and kept walking. “Chloe!” Lily looked up. “Mom, is that uncle behind us calling you? Why did he call you Chloe Hayes?” I smiled and shook my head. “He got the wrong person.” Who would have thought, as we reached the parking lot and I was about to open the car door, someone grabbed my arm. I turned around. It was a panting Arthur. “Chloe, you… you’re actually still alive?!” His words were as sharp and mean as always. But perhaps because he ran too fast, his eyes were faintly red. 2 I left Lily at a neighbor’s house. Walking downstairs, Arthur stood with his hands in his pockets: “Why do you live in such a dump? Where’s your apartment? I’ll go up and take a look.” I shook my head. “There’s no need for that.” Four years ago, he was the one who said his only sister was Mia. He was also the one who said calling someone like me his sister made him sick. When I was kicked out of the Hayes family by Liam, dumped by Ethan, and completely out of options, I had thought of turning to him, my biological brother. On a heavily snowing day, I stood outside his office building all night, nearly freezing to death. But all I got in return was him saying his biggest wish was that he never had me as a sister. “If you hadn’t been born, Mia wouldn’t have been switched at birth and wouldn’t have suffered so much. “Sister? What a joke. The Hayes family threw you out, and now you’re trying to leech off me using blood ties? “I will never recognize someone like you as my sister.” That was when I realized, no matter how well I treated him, he hated me because of Mia. Right now, he still looked at me with that scrutinizing, frowning gaze. “That kid… is Ethan’s? You ran away just to have his baby?” I was silent for a moment. “She’s my child alone.” He scoffed. “Chloe, that kid is a spitting image of him. Do you think I’m blind? “Don’t tell me you thought secretly having his kid would win his heart back? Are you that desperate for love? “How ridiculous. How stupid…” “I said, she is my child alone,” I interrupted him. “I never thought of returning to New York, nor did I ever think of using a child to steal Ethan from your sister. You can rest easy. There’s no need to be so aggressive. “Just like you said back then, apart from blood, we are essentially strangers. I have no interest in your life now, so please don’t dictate mine.” He froze. “If you have nothing else to say, then leave.” I turned around. “Wait.” He suddenly grabbed me. He opened his mouth, then closed it. “You, you…” I frowned. “What?” “Why… why did you leave back then…” I looked at him quietly. “You were a spoiled rich girl who couldn’t do anything. Just because people said a few bad things, you played the ‘run away pregnant’ trope? “If I hadn’t run into you, how much longer were you planning to live this miserable life? And these past four years…” He paused. “How… how did you survive?” 3 I looked at the reddening corners of his eyes. Probably from anger. He was probably shocked I was still alive, and my being alive was a threat to Mia’s happy life. How did I survive? Someone traded their life so I could live. But I had no obligation to tell him that. The old Chloe Hayes, who never had to lift a finger, was like a beautiful, dependent dodder plant. But the current Chloe Vance had long stopped crying and begging others for support. Seeing me stay silent, he grew anxious. “No, why are you being so evasive now? Did that massive earthquake in Miami a few years ago break your brain? “Running off to this middle of nowhere, encountering an earthquake is what you get.” Just then, a neighbor walked by and greeted me, “Hey Chloe, haven’t started cooking yet?” I smiled. “Just about to.” Arthur was stunned. “You should go,” I said. But he grabbed onto me tightly. “Why did you change your last name?! Vance?! Did you get married? No, whose last name is this?” “Whose last name it is is none of your business.” I brushed his hand away, speaking clearly. “What my last name is, how I’m doing… Arthur, it has absolutely nothing to do with you.” 4 Arthur is a celebrity. He couldn’t afford to be seen tussling with me in public. I went upstairs, brought Lily back, and through the hallway window, saw him still standing blankly downstairs. He had never cared about me before. His melancholy now was probably just him not being used to my cold attitude. After all, four years ago, when I learned about this poor prodigy’s musical dreams, I exhausted almost all my connections in New York’s high society just to get him a chance to perform on stage. Even his current management agency—I found the best one for him. He was my biological brother. He had suffered a lot, and I wanted the best for him. But all my efforts were ultimately twisted by him. He thought I was calculating, trying to use him to isolate Mia and make her miserable. “Mom, was that uncle today your family?” I was slightly taken aback, then smiled and patted Lily’s head. “No, why would you think that?” “I just guessed. You guys look alike.” Family. Liam’s face suddenly flashed in my mind. I used to think that regardless of blood, Liam would always be my older brother. But four years ago, holding Mia who had fallen down the stairs, he looked at me with a gaze full of pure fury. “Chloe, you are such a disappointment. “From today on, the Hayes family doesn’t know you, and I don’t have you as a sister. “My only sister is Mia.” I cried and clung to his pant leg, swearing I didn’t push Mia, begging him not to abandon me, but he kicked me away and walked off holding Mia without a single look back. I shook my head. “That person is not Mom’s family.” She looked a bit disappointed. “I thought besides Uncle, Mom had other family.” I smiled and tapped her nose. “For Mom, having you and Uncle is enough.” “But Uncle isn’t here anymore…” She pouted. “I miss him so much.” I understood how she felt. But mere disappointment is better than the agonizing pain of gaining and losing, of relying on someone only to be ripped away from them. I had been through it, so I wouldn’t let my daughter go through it again. But I didn’t expect… The very next day, I saw Liam. 5 Lily got a fever in the middle of the night. I took her to the hospital. The viral infection was quite aggressive, requiring hospitalization and an IV drip. I stayed up all night. The next morning, her fever finally broke, but she was listless and weak. I carried her on my back to head home, stopping by street vendors to buy some meat and vegetables. After I paid, the bags were taken from my hands by a pair of long, well-defined fingers. I froze, looked up, and in the misty morning fog, I saw Liam’s face. Sleep deprivation made my mind go blank. I blankly called out “Brother,” before realizing he had forbidden me from calling him that a long time ago. I couldn’t afford to offend the Hayes family. After all, to punish me for “bullying” Mia, Liam just needed to say one word to have me blacklisted by all of New York high society. “Mr. Hayes,” I immediately corrected myself. I was trying to figure out why he suddenly appeared in Miami, naturally missing his momentarily ugly expression. “I’ll carry this for you,” he said softly. “No need.” I hurriedly reached for the bags in his hand, losing my balance. Lily whimpered on my back. “Don’t push yourself, Chloe.” He grabbed my arm, stopping me from taking the bags back. “I’ll take you and the child home.” 6 Chloe. Liam hadn’t called me that in a very long time. The Hayes parents were abroad year-round. In the past, I was practically raised single-handedly by Liam. When he treated me as his biological sister, Liam truly spoiled me. Someone once asked him, wasn’t he afraid I’d cause trouble if he spoiled me this much? He just half-squinted. “So what if she causes trouble? If she wants to cause trouble, let her. Even if the sky falls, I’ll cover for her.” But later, Mia returned to the Hayes family. At first, he still told me I would always be his sister. But faced with Mia’s repeated provocations, he always told me to endure it. “She’s suffered a lot, Chloe. Let her have her way.” He said we had to compensate her. I didn’t want to make things difficult for him. He had been my brother for over twenty years; I wanted him to be happy. So I yielded, I endured, time and time again. It wasn’t until he ultimately believed Mia’s framing of me unconditionally that I understood: I saw him as a brother, but he had long stopped seeing me as a sister. And when he withdrew all his kindness toward me, when I fell into the mud and was condemned by everyone, I finally realized how foolish I was to have always relied on him. The drive was silent. I hadn’t sat in a luxury car like a Maybach in a long time and wasn’t used to it. I just held Lily and shrank into the corner, thinking about why Liam was here. Did Arthur tell him? Was he afraid I’d hurt Mia, so he rushed over overnight to make sure? What would he do to me? Would he punish me for secretly having Ethan’s child? I didn’t know, and I couldn’t figure it out. My head just hurt so much. I held Lily tighter, completely missing the deep longing in his eyes as he looked at me. “Chloe…” I looked up. He had many more wrinkles around his eyes. “Four years ago, we all thought… you…” “Thought I died, I know,” I finished his sentence. “Actually, you can just pretend I died. I lost the desire to compete with Mia a long time ago. Everything belonged to her anyway. Returning things to their rightful owner is fine. You don’t need to be nervous, you don’t need to be on guard, and you certainly don’t need to come confirm it. I just want to live a quiet life with my daughter now.” “Oh, and my daughter will only stay with me. She will absolutely not look for Ethan. I swear on my life, I will definitely not proactively use my daughter to ruin Mia and Ethan’s relationship. You can rest easy.” I looked at him and repeated: “You really can rest easy.” He froze. “I’m not…” “Are you afraid I’ll use the Hayes identity to do something bad? Don’t worry, I absolutely won’t. I changed my last name ages ago…” “Chloe!” he suddenly interrupted me. His eyes were red. “Brother wants… wants to take you back…” 7 I didn’t understand what Liam was thinking. I haven’t been a Hayes for a long time. He was the one who announced it to the world four years ago. And what would I go back for? To continue being Mia’s punching bag? I also didn’t understand why a man of his status insisted on following me back to a 500-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment. I put Lily on the bed in the bedroom, walked to the cabinet, and took out a box of tea leaves. But then I realized he probably wouldn’t drink this cheap stuff. After thinking about it, I handed him a bottle of mineral water. His gaze fell on my right hand, a look of incomprehensible bitterness crossing his face. “Your fingers… are they better?” I looked down. The pinky and ring fingers on my right hand couldn’t move. This stemmed from after Mia returned to the Hayes family. Once, I accompanied her to visit a Hayes factory. She was curious and discussing a mechanical design with an engineer. To test her theory, she pressed the start button on a test machine. And at that moment, my hand was resting right there. Before the accident, I was a rising star in piano performance. It was the only area where I outshone Mia. I wasn’t as smart or as capable as her; playing the piano was my only talent. When Mia first returned to the Hayes family, whenever I practiced, she would look at me with deep regret: “I’ve loved music since I was little. If I hadn’t been switched at birth, I would be playing the piano right now too.” But I could never play the piano on stage again. I found it hard to accept for a while, causing scenes and throwing fits for a long time. I always felt she did it on purpose, so I couldn’t help but hate her for stealing my only source of light. Until she suddenly attempted suicide. After she was saved, I instantly went from victim to perpetrator. I still remember that day. Liam came back from visiting Mia, pinching the bridge of his nose, and said to me: “It’s just that you can’t play the piano. It’s just two fingers. Do you really have to have her life? Even if you’re a useless piece of trash, even if you aren’t my biological sister, didn’t I tell you the Hayes family would provide for you for the rest of your life? Do you really have to act like this?” Arthur coldly added: “If it weren’t for the mix-up, Mia would be the one playing the piano anyway. You’re just giving back what you stole. What right do you have to throw a tantrum?” They both told me my fingers would never fully heal and that throwing a fit wouldn’t change anything. But later, at the celebration party where Mia secured a patent using the mechanical design that crushed my fingers, I overheard a doctor telling Liam: “I told you back then, if Ms. Hayes went abroad for rehabilitation immediately, she could definitely recover over 90% of her function. But you never took her? Now it’s going to be very hard to recover.” Liam replied indifferently: “It’s fine if Chloe doesn’t play the piano anymore. Mia has wanted to learn the piano since she was little. Seeing Chloe unable to play might help balance her out mentally.” “Besides, no matter how useless Chloe is, I’ll take care of her. Whether she can play the piano or not doesn’t matter.” So my dreams, my future—in his heart, they were merely weights used to balance Mia’s mind. When did I start being afraid of him? Probably starting from that moment. “I heard you’re teaching music at an institute,” he suddenly said now. I froze, eyes wide as I looked at him. “I’m just teaching introductory music to toddlers. It’s simple music, so I don’t need my ring or pinky finger to play it. “I have no intention of returning to the stage to play the piano. I absolutely will not affect Mia’s mood because of me. I just need this job to raise my child. And the doctor said my fingers have permanent nerve damage. I’ll never be able to play the piano well in this lifetime. Even so, are you still not going to allow this?” He froze: “Chloe, I didn’t…” But whatever he said, I couldn’t hear it anymore. The fear of my life being ruined struck me again. I couldn’t lose this hard-won job just because it might upset Mia. So I desperately showed him my immobile fingers. “Really! I can’t play, I really can’t play. I gave back everything the Hayes family gave me!” “If you don’t believe me, you can try bending them. They don’t move!” “I was your sister for many years, can’t you at least leave me a way out?” He stood up in a panic, taking quick strides forward to hold my constantly trembling shoulders. “Chloe, don’t be afraid! Don’t be afraid! “This time I will protect you! Believe your brother!” How could I not be afraid? This life I finally managed to restart. The life Noah traded his own to give Lily and me. “No!” I shoved him hard. But the more I struggled, the tighter he held me. Having not slept all night, I ultimately couldn’t match his strength. And in the struggle, my vision suddenly went black… And I fainted.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “394612”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel