Author: Momo Chan

I met Ethan through a blind date set up by friends. We dated for a few months and then had a whirlwind wedding. This year marked our first Christmas together as a married couple. Before getting married, we agreed to alternate holidays with our families. This year was supposed to be with my parents, next year with his. After we hit the highway, Ethan was driving and told me to get some rest. Next thing I knew, I opened my eyes, and the car had turned around and was heading onto a completely different freeway. … Waking up in the car, I saw a sign ahead. 【Rockbridge: 50 miles】 Rockbridge? That wasn’t anywhere near my parents’ place. I snapped awake instantly and turned to Ethan in the driver’s seat. “Where are we going?” He looked a bit uncomfortable, but the car sped up slightly. “Honey, my mom just called. Maybe we could go to my place first this year?” Suppressing my anger, I asked, “Is there some emergency at your parents’ place that requires us to rush back today?” He stammered, unable to give a straight answer, just silently pressing the gas pedal a few more times. My voice rose. “Ethan, we had a deal. My parents have cooked a whole feast waiting for us for dinner.” Sensing my displeasure, Ethan finally started explaining: “Sarah, my sister Jenny managed to come home with her kid for Christmas this year, it’s a rare occasion. She really wants me to bring you home so we can all take a family photo together. Can you do this for me?” He’d told me about this sister before. She rarely came home after getting married, and supposedly her husband wasn’t good to her, always messing around. Her sudden return this time… did something happen? I checked the map on my phone. We were getting closer and closer to Ethan’s hometown. Turning back to my parents’ place would add another three hours to the trip. After his repeated pleading, I had to give in. I called my parents, explained the situation, and told them we’d have to go to my in-laws’ first this year. Though unhappy, my parents just reminded me to be careful and polite when I got there. … When we arrived at Ethan’s family home, his parents beamed, seeing us loaded down with bags and gifts. A woman walked out of the house, holding the hand of a five or six-year-old boy. The boy resembled Ethan somewhat. They say nephews often look like their uncles, so I guessed that must be Ethan’s sister, Jenny. Ethan’s mom quickly pulled the child over to me. “Bobby, come here. Say hi to Aunt Sarah.” The boy mumbled a soft “Aunt Sarah,” and I handed him the gift card I had ready. He shyly retreated back to his mother’s side. I politely greeted her, “Hi, Jenny.” She just sniffed, turned around, and took the boy back into her room. Ethan’s mom looked a little embarrassed. “She hasn’t been home in a long time, she’s a bit out of sorts. Don’t mind her, Sarah.” Since we were already here, I figured we had to make the best of the holiday. Ethan and I started helping his mom get things ready, bustling around. Jenny just watched us come and go with a long face. Especially when Ethan showed any concern for me, she’d throw out a snide remark or two. I quietly asked Ethan if his sister didn’t like me. He just reassured me, saying she was heartbroken after her husband left her, and that’s why she was acting this way. It’s normal for someone going through a rough breakup to be moody. I was puzzled, though. If she specifically wanted to meet me, why was she being so cold? All these questions were answered on Christmas Eve. During dinner, Ethan’s mother suddenly proposed that Jenny’s son, Bobby, be legally put under my name so he could attend school in the city. I glanced at Ethan. He practically buried his head in his bowl. His mother continued: “Sarah, Bobby just needs to use your address for the school district. It’s just on paper. Besides, you two don’t have kids yet anyway.” The apartment was mine. My parents made the down payment before the wedding, and I paid the mortgage. Ethan and I split our finances down the middle after getting married, so decisions about the apartment were mine to make. Seeing my silence, Ethan’s mother nudged Jenny beside her: “Are you mute? Say something.” Jenny finally spoke, reluctantly: “Can’t you see she doesn’t want to? What’s the point of you blabbering on?” Her words silenced the table instantly. Everyone looked our way. My chopsticks, reaching for food, hovered awkwardly. I nudged Ethan under the table, but he pretended not to notice, just kept eating. My heart instantly turned cold. This mother-daughter duo was putting on a show, trying to pressure me into agreeing out of politeness. … “The apartment is technically still under my parents’ names. I’ll have to ask them about this.” Luckily, when I bought it, my salary wasn’t high enough, so we put it in my parents’ names initially. It served as a convenient excuse now. Hearing this, Jenny scoffed, while Ethan’s mother forced a smile. “Well, yes, you certainly need to ask your parents. Let’s eat, let’s eat.” The rest of the meal passed with unspoken tensions. Later that night, while setting off some fireworks, one of Ethan’s young cousins accidentally bumped into Jenny. The boy mumbled, looking down, “Sorry, ma’am.” (He used a term closer to ‘sister-in-law’ in the original, but ‘ma’am’ or avoiding a title fits better here). I thought he might be talking to me and asked loudly, “What’s wrong?” The little boy just bolted away. Jenny, however, shot me a glare. That look made me feel she genuinely disliked me. The next day was Christmas Day. As soon as I woke up, Ethan told me to go serve tea to the elders. (This custom is specific, let’s adapt it to a more general ‘pay respects’ or ‘give gifts’ scenario typical of a formal family gathering, though less common in the US. Let’s make it about giving a small gift or offering a formal greeting). I was surprised that this small town had such specific holiday rituals. After offering greetings and a small gift to Ethan’s parents, his mother gave me a card with some cash inside, smiling. I took the card and turned to leave, but Ethan stopped me and led me over to Jenny. “Give my sister a greeting too.” I looked at him, utterly confused. Paying respects to parents, I understood. But to his sister? I’d never heard of such a thing. It felt archaic, almost demeaning. Jenny sat on the chair, chin held high, looking down at me with disdain. I strongly felt her hostility, even though this was truly our first real interaction. Seeing me hesitate, Ethan urged me on. “Didn’t we only do this for your parents at the wedding?” Even though Jenny wasn’t at the wedding, Ethan had plenty of other cousins and relatives there, and this wasn’t done. Ethan nudged me again. “It’s a family tradition here. Just offer her a greeting.” Seeing me remain motionless, Jenny’s expression hardened where she sat. She snapped sharply: “You married Ethan, so you follow the family’s ways. You have to do this today.” This was the first time Jenny had raised her voice at me since I arrived, openly showing her dislike. I took the small token gift Ethan was holding out, making them think I was about to present it to Jenny. The next second, I dropped it on the floor. … The atmosphere instantly froze. Enraged, Jenny lunged forward and slapped me hard across the face. It happened so fast I didn’t have time to react. Clutching my stinging left cheek, I stumbled back a step. “You’re just Ethan’s sister. What right do you have to hit me?” Looking at Ethan standing there, completely stunned, I wondered how I could have married such a spineless man. Watching his wife get hit by his own sister, and he just froze in shock. Jenny suddenly burst out laughing, her face twisting as she lunged at me again. “Today, I’ll teach you a lesson for Ethan, you disobedient bitch!” I thought Jenny was the aloof type, but deep down, she was completely unhinged. I even wondered if she had some mental health issues. Ethan’s parents finally reacted, rushing to pull her back. “Jenny, don’t be rash! Think about Bobby’s future, it depends on Ethan and Sarah!” I naturally assumed they meant Jenny was divorced and now relying on her family and her brother, Ethan. Suddenly, Bobby rushed out from the room, pummeling me with his small fists and feet. “You bad woman! It’s your fault I don’t have a daddy! I’ll beat you up!” Bobby’s words left me completely bewildered. This was the first time I’d ever met Jenny, let alone her supposed ex-husband. What misunderstanding was this? Ethan’s mother quickly covered Bobby’s mouth and dragged him away. Jenny was also led away, leaving just Ethan and me in the living room. He was silent for a long time, seemingly searching for an excuse. “Sarah, don’t take it personally. My sister… she’s not mentally stable right now. I apologize on her behalf.” He tried to step forward and hug me, but I dodged him. “So you just stood there and watched your sister hit me?” My relationship with Ethan was built over just a few months. He was introduced by a friend, and I thought he was honest and responsible. Now, it seemed he’d hidden his true nature very well. The plan to start trying for a baby after the New Year was now completely off the table in my mind. I decided I needed to seriously re-evaluate our marriage. … That evening, after Ethan’s sincere apologies, I backed down slightly. Christmas break was only a few days anyway. I could tough it out. Seeing my mood soften, Ethan brought up Bobby again. “Do you think maybe Bobby could come live with us after the holidays? My mom could come too, to look after him. My sister’s mental state… she definitely can’t care for him right now.” Seeing my silence, he added: “My parents have retirement pensions; they won’t need money from us. We can live just like before, plus we’ll have someone home to do chores and cook.” With him putting it that way, it was hard to refuse. Even if I disliked Jenny, the child was innocent. Growing up with a seemingly unstable mother could ruin his life. Plus, his grandmother would be looking after him, not me. When I nodded, Ethan was overjoyed and tried to get close to me. I instinctively pushed him away. “We have to get up early tomorrow to visit your uncle’s family. Let’s sleep.” The next day, on the way to visit relatives, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the neighbors were looking at me strangely. When I glanced their way, the chattering groups would fall conspicuously silent. Just as we neared his uncle’s house, an older woman, Mrs. Davis maybe, suddenly called out from behind us: “Ethan! How come your first wife isn’t out today?” Ethan’s face became extremely unnatural. “Mrs. Davis, what nonsense are you talking about? My wife is right here!” Mrs. Davis looked me up and down. “Oh? Went to the city and tricked another pretty wife, did you!” Another? Mrs. Davis’s words made me certain Ethan was hiding something significant from me. I wanted to ask her what she meant, but Ethan quickly pulled me away, muttering that Mrs. Davis had dementia. After visiting his uncle’s family and exchanging pleasantries. The uncle’s family also acted strangely, constantly asking, “When is Jenny leaving?” I was surprised by their intense curiosity about Jenny’s plans. I returned to Ethan’s house filled with doubt. Before I even stepped into the living room, I heard his mother’s voice. “Jenny, you need to stop provoking that Sarah for a while. What if she gets upset? What about Bobby? Can’t you just tolerate it for a few days?” Then came Jenny’s furious roar. “What was wrong with me asking her to show respect? She should have knelt and served me tea! Just based on the fact that I entered this family before she did! Back in the day, Sarah would just be a concubine!” My mind suddenly went blank. A few words echoed in my head. Ethan’s child… concubine… The words circled relentlessly. I couldn’t believe it, but I quickly understood what she meant. Ethan beside me was already panicking, rushing inside to try and stop them. Just then, Jenny burst out of her room, hair disheveled. The slap mark on her face was still clearly visible. … Seeing Ethan and me standing at the doorway.

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I was in the hospital for my stomach problems, watching the live broadcast of my wife, Ava, winning the Breakthrough Artist Award on the TV. She was all smiles, talking about thanking the most important person in her journey. But there wasn’t a single mention of me. The camera panned to the audience, focusing on Ava’s childhood friend, Liam. A reporter asked what their relationship was. They stood silent. But the identical rings on their clasped hands sent the reporters into a frenzy of flashes. Finally, under the gaze of thousands, they shared an intimate, passionate kiss. I chuckled softly and typed a comment on the live stream. Wishing you happiness. 1 A sharp sting on my hand made me frown. The nurse was staring intently at my phone, only realizing I was looking when she flinched and hastily tended to my IV drip. “You’re a fan of them too! I absolutely love their CP! They’re such a rare real couple in show business!” The nurse chattered excitedly, pulling out her own phone to show me fan edits of Ava and Liam, the screen filled with well wishes that made my eyes ache. I scrolled through them, my heart aching too. January 20th, my birthday. Ava said she had work at the studio and couldn’t come home. Instead, she decorated an entire beach with flowers for Liam. March 16th, our wedding anniversary. Ava said she had a tight schedule. But she was photographed embracing Liam on a beach in Miami. June 5th, Ava’s birthday. I cooked a huge dinner. By the time the food went cold, she and Liam were sharing smiles in a recording studio. Every time she was absent from my life, she was present somewhere else, with him. The ache in my chest intensified, mirroring the churning pain in my stomach. My finger slipped, and the tablet screen landed on a reality show. It was a couples’ show. When the invitation first came, I’d worked overtime for a month straight just to clear my schedule so Ava and I could participate. But Ava dismissed it, saying it was boring, that her career was taking off, and appearing on it wouldn’t be good for her image. So I had to drop it. During that month of overtime, I saw the city skyline at 4 AM more times than I could count. But home was always dark, just me, alone, lonely. Yet, on that show, Ava had her arms wrapped around Liam’s neck, laughing loudly, saying, “Of course, you have to leave a light on for the one you love when they come home.” I took a deep breath, feeling the sharp pain in my gut, and sent Ava a text: “Let’s get a divorce.” On the live broadcast, Ava’s assistant quickly handed her the phone. 2: Dreams of the Past Ava frowned as she opened the message, her brow furrowing. She muttered under her breath, “Damn it,” then shut off the phone and tossed it back to her assistant. She seamlessly returned to the live broadcast, smiling sweetly as she held onto Liam’s arm. A curious reporter asked, “Ava, who was that message from? You didn’t look too happy.” Ava’s expression froze for a second, then she shook her head with a troubled look. “Just some overly enthusiastic fans. My assistant is handling it.” She leaned into Liam’s embrace. “We really hope everyone can be rational fans. I already have someone I love.” Liam stroked her hair affectionately. “Our Ava is just too popular. It’s making me feel insecure.” Ava snuggled against him, saying sweetly, “But my heart belongs only to Liam.” Liam looked down at her, and they shared a meaningful smile. My stomach twisted painfully. To help Ava win this Breakthrough Artist Award, I, someone unfamiliar with the entertainment industry, had busted my gut finding resources for her. She couldn’t sign with a good agency? I invested my own money, throwing cash at the problem until she got a contract with the best agency out there. Her acting wasn’t great? I begged veteran actors to mentor her while simultaneously sucking up to directors to get her more opportunities. Her temper was volatile? I hired the best PR firm to spin it as “straightforward and endearingly honest.” Even this stomach condition – I got it from being forced to drink excessively at business dinners while trying to secure those resources for her. I gave almost everything for her, but it seemed like she never saw any of it. The live broadcast continued, their sweet interactions drawing screams from the audience. I gasped from the pain, my hand trembling as I reached for the call button by the bed. Everyone was focused on them; no one cared about me, alone in this hospital bed. The room was filled only with the cheers from the broadcast. I tried desperately to control the pain, but then a line from the show echoed: “Ava loves Liam forever!” I whipped my head toward the screen. Amidst a shower of pink heart effects, Liam and Ava were locked in a tight embrace. They looked like they would never be parted. Amid the screams and blessings, the churning in my stomach became unbearable. I lost control, fell from the bed, and passed out. When I woke up again, Ava was sitting by my bedside, scrolling idly through her phone. 3: Pushing Too Far Seeing me awake, Ava tossed a file onto my chest, ordering, “Sign this.” My stomach still throbbed dully. I picked it up and almost laughed bitterly. It was an appointment letter. If signed, Liam would replace me as CEO of Sterling Corp. I pressed the call button for my assistant, asked him to bring me water, and help me sit up. “Is there nothing else you want to say to me?” I stared fixedly at Ava, unable to believe I had loved this person for five years. “Just sign it. I’m busy. I’ll leave once you’ve signed.” Perhaps seeing my lack of movement, Ava clicked her tongue impatiently. “Someone dug up an old interview where I mentioned my husband was the CEO of Sterling Corp.” “Things being what they are, I can’t let Liam be wronged. Just appoint Liam as CEO.” “Liam is innocent. It’s tragic enough he got dragged into our mess. Don’t make trouble.” I gave a cold laugh. “So, what you’re saying is, even though I’m your legal husband, to prevent your lover from feeling wronged, I need to hand over everything I own?” “Ava, how did I never notice before? Are you completely clueless?” Ava shot up from her chair, furious. “Ethan! What did you say!” “How dare you talk about Liam like that!” “Let me tell you, I’m famous now! I’m not someone an upstart like you can associate with! If you know what’s good for you, sign the papers. Otherwise, don’t blame me for playing rough!” I was livid, staring hard at Ava, about to say something more, when the door suddenly opened. Liam walked in carrying breakfast. “Ava, honey, I got you breakfast. You must have been exhausted last night.” They exchanged a knowing smile. Liam then acted as if he just noticed me. “Oh, Ethan, man, I’m so sorry. I forgot you were in the hospital with your stomach thing. Didn’t get you anything. Please don’t mind.” Ava rolled her eyes. “Mind? Why would he mind? Why should you have to serve him?” She threatened again, “Hurry up and sign this agreement!” Liam wrapped an arm around Ava’s waist, feigning embarrassment. “Ethan, really sorry about this. Ava just cares about me too much. She can’t stand seeing me suffer even a little, so you’ll have to take the hit, buddy.” “No need to be sorry. It’s not like I plan on taking any hits.” I snapped a few pictures of the agreement with my phone, then, to their utter shock, ripped it into pieces and threw the shreds in their faces. “I’m not signing this. You can leave now.” I closed my eyes, ready to dismiss them. Liam looked hurt, holding Ava’s hand. “Ava, maybe you should just tell everyone about Ethan. I’m really not good enough for you. You’re so amazing, and I have nothing. Only someone like Ethan, who has everything, deserves your love.” It was always like this. Whenever Liam wanted something from me, he’d claim he wasn’t good enough for Ava, and Ava would invariably hand over whatever he desired on a silver platter. This time was no different. Ava asked me coldly, “Last chance. Are you signing or not?” “Not signing.” I watched her calmly, curious to see what stunt she’d pull next. But Ava just turned and left. 4: Wife Escalates, My Counterattack Not long after Ava left, my assistant rushed into the room. “Mr. Sterling! This is bad! Mrs. Sterling is saying you coerced her!” The accusation was so absurd that I froze for a moment. Taking the assistant’s phone, I saw Ava had posted on social media, accusing me of essentially forcing her into a relationship using my power and wealth, making her my “kept woman.” That was why, she claimed, she’d said on the show her husband was the CEO of Sterling Corp. But then, she alleged, I cruelly discarded her for someone new, leaving her unable to cope, even developing depression. It was Liam, she claimed, who saved her, helping her slowly heal and embrace the world again. A complete reversal of truth, twisting facts. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Who was this person I had loved all these years? Her audacity stemmed from one thing: she was convinced I loved her. Convinced I wouldn’t destroy her. Convinced I’d take all the blame. Convinced she could threaten me. But the moment she kissed Liam, that love died. Ava had just won the Breakthrough Artist Award the night before; her popularity was peaking. Major media outlets were reposting her social media blast. Even the company’s stock price was affected. I said calmly, “Release the marriage certificate. And everything about Ava’s history with the company, release it all.” Ava and I met in college. She wrote letters to me via campus mail for a year. We agreed to meet on a specific day. After we met, things progressed naturally – dating, marriage. In the early years of our marriage, I arranged for her to work at Sterling Corp. But she was spoiled and arrogant, using her status as the CEO’s wife to run wild, even leaking confidential company information. When discovered, she denied everything until the security footage was played. But back then, she cried, promising she’d change, her eyes filled with tears, looking at me helplessly, as if I were her entire world. How could I abandon her? So, I protected her. Later, she said she wanted to enter the entertainment industry, unwilling to be confined to domestic life. So I poured money and resources into launching her career. But she grew closer and closer to Liam, to the point where, unbeknownst to me, the public saw them as the couple. My eyes stung. Fighting back tears, I told my assistant, “Draft a divorce agreement.” Ava, this time, I’m letting you go. 5: Wife Refuses Reality, I Resolve to Leave After my assistant posted the marriage certificate and details of Ava leaking company secrets online, the situation exploded. The internet was buzzing, filled with condemnation for Ava: “So all that marketing was just the ‘true love’ story of an adulteress and her side piece.” “Using her husband’s resources only to slander him? What kind of new low is this?” But I wasn’t finished. I hired a top-tier PR firm, instructing them to use this incident to utterly ruin Ava’s reputation. Simultaneously, I reached an agreement with her entertainment agency to suspend all her activities, effectively blacklisting her. I didn’t forget about Liam either. Liam had been obscure since his debut until about two years ago when his luck suddenly changed, landing him a role on a reality show he wasn’t qualified for, which made him famous. I had my assistant investigate Liam, and sure enough, some interesting things surfaced. After handling all this, the suffocating pressure in my chest finally eased somewhat. But Ava stormed into my hospital room, furious. “Ethan! Do you have any idea how much damage you’ve caused me!” “How could you do this to me?” “I’ll give you one chance. Go public right now and say you made it all up. Otherwise, I’m divorcing you!” She ordered me around arrogantly. I just smiled faintly and had my assistant bring the drafted divorce agreement. “You want a divorce? Fine. Sign here.” Ava snatched the papers, glanced through them quickly, then threw them on the floor. “On what grounds are you demanding I leave with nothing!” Liam noticed Ava trembling slightly and quickly took her hand. “Ava, Ethan’s just angry. We were in the wrong this time.” “He’s just upset. If you just sweet-talk him a little, he’ll come around. Think about how much Ethan loves you! How could he possibly bear to treat you like this?” “Guys just need a little coaxing. Just smooth things over, and it’ll be fine.” Liam’s words seemed to restore Ava’s confidence. She scoffed, rolling her eyes at me. “You want me to bow down? Not in this lifetime!” “I’m a big star now! I won the Breakthrough Artist Award! But you, Ethan, you’re just some new money!” “If you know what’s good for you, apologize to me! Otherwise, we get divorced!” With that, she proudly swept out with Liam. Her sheer confidence left me with a headache. All my past sacrifices for her, what did they mean in her eyes? It wasn’t that she didn’t see them; she just didn’t care. She took everything for granted. She squandered it, wasted it. To her, I was just a fool, wasn’t I? Even now, she thought my actions, based on my past blind devotion, were just ploys to force an apology out of her. I sighed and called my assistant. “I recall the VIP rooms have security cameras, right?” “Yes, Mr. Sterling. What is it?” “Release the footage from the day Ava came here demanding I sign that appointment letter. And release the photos of the letter too.” Let’s see how confident they remain when facing utter ruin.

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My wife brought her young lover home while I was away on a business trip. To keep our six-year-old daughter from interrupting their fun, in fourteen-degree weather, my wife’s lover locked her out on the balcony all night. By the time I got home, my daughter was barely breathing. The prolonged exposure to the cold had caused multiple organ failure. Sobbing, I begged my wife to come to the hospital to see our daughter one last time. She couldn’t care less, even angrily slapping me across the face. “Ethan, do you ever do anything besides making excuses to get my attention? This just makes me sick of you!” I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, a desolate smile spreading across my face. “Fine. I won’t bother you again.” This marriage was about to end soon anyway. … My business trip was supposed to continue, but a sudden blizzard grounded all flights. Around midnight, I dragged my suitcase home. Afraid of waking my sleeping wife and child, I let myself in quietly. As I approached the bedroom, I heard faint, intimate moans coming from inside. I froze. Through the slightly ajar door and in the dim light, I glimpsed my wife, Chloe, half-reclined on the bed, a half-naked man leaning over her, doing things I couldn’t bear to describe. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. The embarrassing, lustful sounds kept spilling out from the room. “Chloe, is your husband as good as me? Who makes you happier, him or me?” “You, of course!” Chloe gasped. “My husband’s useless, getting old, body’s breaking down. How could he compare to a young, energetic guy like you!” I stood there, stunned into disbelief, a thunderclap exploding in my head, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. The intimate sounds continued. “Nate… it was never satisfying enough back at the office. Tonight… you better please me properly!” “Chloe, this is the third time tonight, still not satisfied?” “Three times isn’t nearly enough… five times, at least!” … I listened blankly to their conversation, my mind a void, my chest pricked by a thousand needles, the pain so sharp it almost stole my breath. I couldn’t believe the woman I’d been married to for seven years had betrayed our marriage long ago. In an instant, immense rage consumed my reason. Burning with fury, I kicked the bedroom door wide open. With a loud bang, the two people inside jumped, startled, scrambling off the bed. Chloe hastily threw on a coat, looking at me in shock. “Ethan, weren’t you on a business trip? Why are you back so suddenly?” Chloe’s face was flushed, and several glaring red marks on her neck stung my eyes. My heart aching beyond measure, I strode towards her. “If I hadn’t come back, how could I have caught you in the act?” “What nonsense are you talking!” Chloe’s face flashed with annoyance as she tried to defend herself. “Nate is just someone I hired for an in-home massage. We were just doing a simple massage. Can’t your mind be less filthy!” “Massage?” I couldn’t help but sneer. “Massaging you with his mouth? And does a massage require taking off all your clothes?” Chloe flew into a rage, yelling at me furiously, “Are you blind! Can’t you see I’m still wearing underwear? Where am I naked!” My gaze dropped to the lace bra and thong visible under her coat. The absurdity was overwhelming. In seven years of marriage, she had never dressed this seductively for me. My voice was ice. “Are you sure what you’re wearing isn’t lingerie?” “Ethan!” Chloe’s eyes widened in fury, glaring at me. “Can you stop twisting things! I work hard enough all day, and then I have to come home to your attitude! I just paid for a massage, do you really need to make such a big deal out of it?” She showed no guilt, only righteous indignation. I stared at the Chloe before me, feeling nothing but a chilling sorrow in my heart. She was always like this, twisting logic, turning the tables, making wrongs seem right. Suddenly, I felt incredibly tired. Chloe ignored me, went to the closet, grabbed some clothes, got dressed, and then headed for the door with the massage guy. “Good thing you’re back. You can take care of Lily. I have to go back to the office for overtime. I’m leaving now.” With that, she left with the massage guy without a backward glance. 2 Only then did I remember my daughter. Lily was six now, old enough to understand some things. How much psychological damage would Chloe brazenly bringing a man home for an affair cause her? I couldn’t bear to think about it. I immediately went to my daughter’s room, only to find it empty. Living room, study, playroom… Lily was nowhere to be found. Panic surged through me, my brow starting to twitch uncontrollably. Just as I was about to call Chloe, I caught a glimpse of a small figure almost buried in snow on the dimly lit balcony. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. I rushed over, unlocked the sliding balcony door, and with trembling hands, lifted my daughter from the freezing snow. Lily was barely conscious, curled into a tight ball, her breath shallow, her body bone-chillingly cold. The glass door was covered in scratches, mark after mark made by her small hands, shocking and heartbreaking to see. Tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. Pushing aside my grief, I hurried my daughter to the hospital. Outside the emergency room, I furiously dialed Chloe’s number. But her phone remained off. Hours later, a nurse wheeled Lily out of the ER. The doctor shook his head regretfully. “You brought her in too late. The child suffered from hypothermia for too long, leading to multiple organ failure. She doesn’t have much time left… You should prepare for the worst.” I stared at the doctor in disbelief, my heart feeling like it was being shredded by a thousand knives, the pain nearly suffocating me. I couldn’t accept that my daughter, so full of life just yesterday, was now about to be separated from me forever. Lily was in a deep coma, yet she kept murmuring, “Mommy… Mommy.” My heart twisted in agony. The doctor sighed. “The child probably wants to see her mother one last time. You should call her mother quickly; there isn’t much time.” Clutching my aching chest, I nodded, grief-stricken. No matter how deep our conflict ran, I couldn’t let my daughter die with regret. Chloe’s phone was still unreachable. I drove straight to her company, running three red lights in my desperate haste. But as I reached her office door, I heard a familiar male voice from inside. “Chloe, last night at your place was unfinished business. Your bratty daughter kept interrupting us. We finally locked her out on the balcony, and then your useless husband came back. Such a buzzkill! How about now… we continue where we left off?” My fists clenched tightly, knuckles white. Chloe’s soft, seductive voice seeped through the door crack. “Okay, while no one’s bothering us, let’s have some real fun～” I couldn’t hold back any longer. I furiously kicked the office door open. The two, who were undressing, jumped in fright. Chloe quickly pulled her clothes back on. Seeing it was me, her face turned livid, and she scolded sharply, “Ethan, why didn’t you knock!” Consumed by rage, I strode towards the massage guy and punched him hard in the face. Before he could react, I kicked him twice more, sending him staggering backward. I grabbed his collar, raising my fist again. Chloe rushed over, enraged, and slapped me hard. “Ethan, are you crazy! Why are you hitting people for no reason?” My blood boiled, and I stared daggers at Chloe. “Chloe, to screw around with this shameless gigolo, you locked your own daughter out on the balcony in the freezing cold? Do you have any idea how cold it was last night? Fourteen degrees Fahrenheit!” But Chloe wasn’t concerned about Lily; her only focus was defending her lover. “I’m warning you, watch your mouth! Nate is my assistant now, not some gigolo! Don’t you dare slander his reputation!” My heart felt like it was being torn apart. I forced back the pain. “Chloe, do you know Lily was freezing last night, she got hypothermia, she’s dying…” “Stop talking nonsense all day long!” Chloe refused to believe me, shouting, “That girl is tough as nails, eats like a horse, hasn’t caught a cold in years. How could she be dying from being outside for a little while? I think you’re just trying to manipulate me!” Thinking of my daughter in the hospital, tears flowed uncontrollably. “Fourteen degrees, all night long, Lily was only wearing thin pajamas. Even an adult couldn’t stand that, let alone a six-year-old child…” “Enough, Ethan!” Chloe cut me off impatiently. “All I did was have Nate come over for a massage, and you’re making such a jealous scene! If you want to be jealous, don’t use our child to lie to me!” Utterly exhausted, I didn’t want to argue anymore. I just hoped she would go see Lily. My voice hoarse, I pleaded sorrowfully, “I’m not lying. Lily is really dying. She wants to see you. Please come to the hospital with me, see her one last time…” But Chloe remained unconvinced, raising her hand and slapping me again. “Ethan, do you ever do anything besides making excuses to get my attention? You’re over thirty, accomplished nothing, and all you do is get jealous! This just makes me sick of you!” I stared blankly at Chloe, feeling chilled to the bone. Seven years of marriage. I poured my heart and soul into this family, gave her my salary, did all the chores, gave her everything. When Chloe wanted to start her business, I even gave her my parents’ retirement savings to support her. And this was how it ended. I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth, a desolate smile spreading across my face. “Fine. I won’t bother you again.” This marriage had no reason to continue. 3 I returned to the hospital, heartbroken. Sitting by Lily’s bedside, watching her pale face and weak breathing, my tears fell like broken strings of pearls. My daughter used to be lively, cheerful, innocent, and naive, a little sunbeam constantly brightening my life. Now, she lay weakly on the hospital bed, hanging on by a thread. In the end, all I could do was watch helplessly as the heartbeat on the monitor slowly flatlined. My daughter was gone forever. I held her small body, crying hysterically. I handled Lily’s funeral arrangements alone. After her cremation, I carried her urn back home. It was late at night when I arrived. Chloe had once again brought the massage guy home. They were flirting openly on the living room sofa. I was numb, walking past them as if they weren’t there. “Ethan,” Chloe called out nonchalantly, “Nate is visiting today. He’s hungry. Go make him a bowl of noodles.” I ignored her, walking straight into Lily’s room. I took out a duffel bag and started packing Lily’s favorite clothes and toys, intending to burn them and bury the ashes with hers. Halfway through packing, Chloe stormed in angrily. “Ethan, I’m talking to you, didn’t you hear me!” I didn’t acknowledge her. Chloe, furious, snatched a toy from my hand, cursing, “What’s your problem? I haven’t even blamed you for hitting Nate today, and you’re giving me the silent treatment!” She glanced at the duffel bag in my hand. “Why are you packing Lily’s things for no reason? Don’t tell me you’re planning to run away with her? Ethan, you’re over thirty, can you stop being so childish? Is playing these games all day fun?” Seeing my continued silence, she went on, “How many times do I have to tell you, Nate is just my new assistant. Those times you caught us, he was just giving me a massage, nothing else! Can you stop being so jealous? You’re really exhausting me!” I didn’t even look at her, continuing to pack my daughter’s belongings. Once everything was packed, I turned to face her and calmly said, “Chloe, let’s get a divorce.” “What did you say?” Chloe paused, disbelief washing over her face. “Are you crazy? You want to divorce me?” “Yes, divorce,” I murmured softly. “Ethan, how long are you going to keep throwing this tantrum!” “I’m not throwing a tantrum. I’m serious.” My voice was devoid of emotion. Chloe, however, was agitated, her neck flushed red with anger, her eyes filled with resentment. “On what grounds do you want a divorce? I’ve been with you for so many years, sacrificed so much for this family, even had a C-section, cut through seven layers to give you a daughter, and this is how you repay me?” Hearing the word “daughter,” an unavoidable stab of pain shot through my heart. My voice hoarse, I retorted coldly, “Chloe, you’re unworthy of being a mother. What right do you have to mention our daughter in front of me?” “Ethan!” Chloe completely lost it, her eyes blazing, her face contorted with rage. Suddenly, she snatched the duffel bag from my hand and threw it violently onto the floor. Instantly, Lily’s belongings scattered everywhere. “Ethan, don’t push your luck! I’m telling you, my patience has limits!” Looking at the mess on the floor, my heart ached. I immediately bent down to pick up Lily’s things. But Chloe’s gaze shifted to the urn on the table. “What piece of junk is this? Carrying it around like a treasure since you walked in. Did some slut give it to you? I’m smashing it today!” My pupils contracted. I quickly stood up to stop her. “Chloe, don’t!” But Chloe was blinded by rage, completely ignoring my plea. With a sweep of her hand, she knocked the urn violently to the floor. With a loud crash, the urn shattered into pieces. My daughter’s ashes scattered across the floor, drifting in the air, a scene of desolate sorrow. My composure shattered, I nearly fainted. “Chloe, do you know what this is—” “Chloe, what are you guys doing?” The massage guy, hearing the commotion outside, walked in, wrinkling his nose in disgust. “Why is it so dusty in here? What kind of dirty stuff did you spill?” Hearing this, my blood boiled, the rage inside me about to explode. What right did he have to call my daughter dirty! Fury consumed my reason. I ran into the kitchen, grabbed a kitchen knife, and charged towards the massage guy, overcome with rage. Chloe’s face paled. She immediately ran over to block me. “Ethan, what are you doing? Are you insane!” My eyes were bloodshot, my body trembling with anger. “I’m going to kill this adulterer!” Chloe thrust out her chin, her gaze sharpening, almost grinding her teeth. “Ethan, what’s gotten into you! If you have the guts, kill me first! You coward, do you dare?” I stared deadly at Chloe, the hand holding the knife trembling slightly. For a fleeting moment, I truly wanted to raise the knife and slash her neck. But just then, my phone rang, breaking the tense standoff. My sanity gradually returned. I took a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down. Lily wasn’t buried yet. I couldn’t do anything foolish. I took out my phone and answered the call. The cemetery staff’s loud voice came through the receiver immediately. “Mr. Hayes, the paperwork for the burial plot you purchased is complete. You can proceed with the burial now…” Chloe froze, her face filled with astonishment. “Buy a plot? What plot? Who died?”

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A few days before Christmas, my boyfriend, Ethan Cole, suddenly vanished. I searched everywhere, finally finding only a blank check and an envelope. “I’m off to marry some heiress. Take this check and disappear. Know your place and don’t make a scene.” My place? What place is that? I wonder if my actual place, as NYC’s unofficial princess, measures up to the “place” he’s talking about! … I glanced at the handwriting on the envelope. It was definitely my boyfriend’s. I was puzzled. Ethan and I had barely argued since we started dating. We hadn’t even exchanged harsh words. Why would he suddenly dump me like this? And so cruelly? Tucking the envelope away, I raced to the exclusive club Ethan frequented for leisure. I had the black card he’d given me. Unexpectedly, I was stopped at the door! “Excuse me, this is a private club. Members only.” I looked at the tall man in black standing before me, my knuckles cracking audibly. “Are you sure you want to stop me?” He seemed prepared for this reaction, showing no surprise. “Please leave, Miss Yang. Mr. Cole doesn’t wish to see you.” Before I could respond, Ethan’s familiar voice came from behind him. “As a parting gift, you’ll receive a blank check.” “On the condition that you keep your mouth shut. Understand?” I looked at this man, both strange and familiar, feeling lost. Though Ethan and I hadn’t known each other long, my feelings for him were real. Just last night, he’d arranged a spectacular fireworks display specifically for me. In that moment, I admit, my heart soared. We watched the sky explode with color from the hotel’s floor-to-ceiling windows, hugging, kissing. But when I woke up the next morning, my boyfriend was gone. I had even planned to bring him home for Christmas. But everything happening now felt like it was telling me it was all just a dream I’d imagined. “Ethan, have you run into some trouble lately?” I reached for his hand, but he pulled away. “If you’re really in some kind of difficulty, just tell me. I can help you solve it. Please don’t joke about breaking up!” It was the first time I’d ever spoken to anyone in such a pleading tone. The moment I finished, Ethan glanced at me disdainfully. “You?” He looked at my faded, almost white work clothes and laughed out loud. “I even got you your job. What could you possibly do to help me?” “Just take the check and get out of my sight.” Ethan had interviewed me for my job, but that was because I didn’t want to work at my own family’s public company. “Ethan, listen to me. I really can help you. You just need to tell me what’s going on.” I lowered my pride, truly not wanting to lose him. But this time, Ethan didn’t even look at me. Instead, someone beside him spoke up. I recognized him – Kevin Harding, the HR manager. One of Ethan’s lapdogs. “Miss Yang, it seems you haven’t quite grasped the difference between you and Mr. Cole.” He approached me slowly as he spoke. “Mr. Cole is offering you a blank check out of consideration for the time you spent together.” “Don’t push your luck. Don’t think you’re something special.” Normally, Harding’s words would have set me off. But now, I bit back my anger and spoke again to Ethan, whose back was still turned to me. “Ethan, do you remember what you told me before?” “You said nothing could ever tear us apart, no matter what happened. Have you forgotten all that?!” I practically yelled the last sentence. Ethan flinched slightly but still didn’t turn around. “Ava, just go. Take the money and start a new life somewhere else.” “And… everything I told you before… it was all lies. Forget about it.” His words hit me like a deflating balloon. All my strength drained away. Soon after, Harding started pushing me towards the exit. “Miss Yang, if you please.” I couldn’t resist, shouting towards Ethan’s back. “Ethan! I’m begging you, believe me! I really can help you!” “Believe you?” Harding sneered. “Count your blessings, Miss Yang. You dated Mr. Cole for a short while and gained wealth most people never see in a lifetime.” “If I were you, I’d be pinching myself to make sure I wasn’t dreaming.” Amidst Harding’s mockery, I was forcibly ejected from the club. In the final second before the door slammed shut, Ethan never told me why he broke up with me. 2 After leaving the club, my initial plan was to reveal my true identity to Ethan. But as soon as I picked up my phone, another message arrived. It informed me I’d been fired from the company! It seemed he was determined to cut all ties with me completely. Not long after, Kevin Harding from HR tagged me in the company-wide chat, demanding I come in today to process my termination paperwork. I silently replied “Okay” in the chat. Ten minutes later, I was back at the entrance of Ethan’s company. I looked up at the place where I used to work, sighing at how quickly things had changed. Though I was just a junior employee, everyone treated me politely because Ethan had my back. Now that news of me being dumped had spread throughout the company, probably everyone was waiting to laugh at my misfortune. Sure enough, the moment I stepped out of the elevator, the whispers began. “See? I told you girls like her, who sleep their way up, always get replaced eventually.” “Exactly. Look at her background. Did she really think some trash could turn into treasure?” “I heard Mr. Cole gave her a million dollars and a condo as a break-up settlement. She’s set for life.” … With every step I took, I heard my colleagues’ taunts. I offered no explanation, just silently signed my name on the termination papers. “Ava Yang, is it?” Just as I put down the pen, ready to leave, Harding suddenly grabbed my wrist. “What do you think of me?” Harding stared at me with a lecherous grin, his eyes roaming my body. I instinctively stepped back, looking at him with disgust. “Get away from me. I don’t know what you mean by that.” He smirked, pulled the blinds closed around us, and lunged, grabbing me in a hug. “Ava, dear, Mr. Cole doesn’t want you anymore, but I do.” “As long as you take good care of me, then…” A flash of coldness crossed my eyes. A sudden “Aargh!” echoed. Harding instantly clutched his groin, sinking to his knees in pain. “I suggest you get to a hospital now. If you wait too long, the Harding family line might end here.” Tossing that remark over my shoulder, I kindly opened the blinds for him. The employees outside gasped, their mouths agape at the scene. I’d heard rumors while working here that the HR manager often harassed female employees. My kick, in a way, was doing Ethan’s company a public service. Pest control. Just as I gathered my things and prepared to leave, I finally overheard the real reason for Ethan’s breakup in the elevator. “Hey, did you hear? Mr. Cole’s fiancée is the Kingsley heiress from Boston. They say she has a notoriously bad temper, and worst of all, some disturbing hobbies… rumor has it she enjoys tormenting men.” “Totally. If the Kingsleys hadn’t helped crack open the Boston market these past few years, why would the Cole family be so desperate to marry their son off to her?” “Tomorrow, at our company’s annual gala, Mr. Cole is going to officially announce the engagement to Miss Kingsley.” I only managed to step out of the elevator, leaning against the doorframe, after everyone else had dispersed. The Kingsleys of Boston? Ethan, this was the reason you wouldn’t tell me? What a fool. The Kingsleys, who seem so untouchable in your eyes, are just a minor pawn in my view. If I wanted, anyone could take their place. A few minutes later, I dialed a number back home in DC. “Dad, the Kingsleys are bullying your daughter and stealing your son-in-law-to-be. You gonna do something about this?” 3 Cole Industries, Ethan’s company, was considered a major player in NYC. Their annual gala was naturally a lavish affair. Especially today, being the day the Cole and Kingsley engagement was to be announced, nearly every big shot in NYC would be attending. “Excuse me, Miss, do you have an invitation?” When I arrived at the gala venue, a security guard stopped me at the entrance. “Sorry, I forgot my invitation.” Truthfully, I had no idea you even needed an invitation to get into this place. Growing up, I’d always gotten into any venue just by showing my face. “I’m really sorry, but without an invitation, I can’t let you in.” Just as I was about to make a call, a sickeningly familiar voice sounded behind me. “Well, well, isn’t it Miss Yang? It’s cold out here, why aren’t you inside?” “Oh, dear, silly me. I forgot, you just got dumped by Mr. Cole, didn’t you?” I didn’t even need to look to know it was Ethan’s lapdog, Kevin Harding. He had a woman in a revealing dress draped on his arm. His walking posture, however, was a bit strange. I couldn’t help but chuckle. “It seems yesterday’s kick didn’t leave a lasting impression on Mr. Harding.” Harding didn’t get angry at my words, just leered at me. “Want to get inside, Miss Yang? Beg me. If you beg me, I’ll take you in.” “Of course, as payment… tonight, you’ll have to…” Before he could finish his sentence, another “AARGH!” ripped through the air. Just like last time, Harding clutched his groin, collapsing to his knees in agony. This time, I’d used full force. Even rushing to the hospital now probably wouldn’t be enough. I strode forward, looking down at him imperiously. “Know why a dog is always a dog? Because it can’t stop eating shit.” With that, I crouched down and rummaged through his jacket pocket until I found the invitation. Without a word, I handed it directly to the security guard who had stopped me earlier. “Here’s the invitation. Can I go in now?” Before the guard could fully react, I quickened my pace and slipped smoothly into the venue. I had to admit, as one of NYC’s top families, the Coles did have some resources. The main ballroom alone could hold several thousand people. It was clear the Coles placed great importance on this union with the Kingsleys. But compared to my family’s events, this was… cute. I remembered my eighteenth birthday when my father rented out Madison Square Garden to celebrate. During the time Ethan and I dated, he mentioned more than once how rich his family was. Each time, I’d pout “Not as rich as my family.” And each time, Ethan would playfully tap my nose. “Okay, okay, my Ava is the richest princess in the whole world.” He said it jokingly, but it was the absolute truth. I was indeed a princess, the richest princess in DC, in fact. But he just wouldn’t believe it. “Ava! What are you doing here?” As I wandered around, I spotted that incredibly familiar figure in the crowd. Ethan saw me and quickly hurried over. “Didn’t I leave you enough money? What are you doing here?” He carefully pulled me into a deserted corner, seemingly afraid of being seen. I stared blankly at the man who had promised to love me forever, the words catching in my throat. Seeing my silence, Ethan grew more anxious. “Leave! Now! Get as far away as possible. This isn’t the place for you.” He grabbed my hand and started pulling me towards the exit. Feeling the warmth from his palm, I drifted off for a moment, as if back in those happy times. “Ethan Cole, you have some nerve.”

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Learning I was pregnant, my husband’s old flame deliberately set a fire, trying to burn me alive. I didn’t scream for help. Instead, I helped my mother-in-law, who had passed out from the smoke, struggling to survive. In my past life, I cried desperately in the inferno. My husband led people to rescue my mother-in-law and me first. To compete with me, his old flame, Chloe, rushed back into the fire and died from severe burns all over her body. After she died, my husband said she deserved it for setting the fire deliberately, and he became incredibly attentive to me after the shock. But after my child was born, my husband used a picture frame with Chloe’s photo to beat our baby to death. “It’s all your fault, you and your daughter, for making me lose my beloved! Go to hell and atone!” In despair, I took him down with me. When I opened my eyes again, I was back in the inferno. … “Sarah, hang on! Mom will get you out of here!” A familiar voice sent a chill down my spine. Just as I opened my eyes, the burning, warped wooden door crashed down, barely missing my nose. Terrified, I immediately pulled my mother-in-law back into the bedroom. “Mom, don’t open the window! It’ll make the fire worse.” I quickly scanned the room, ripped open a pillowcase, soaked it with bottled water, and handed it to my mother-in-law, motioning for her to cover her nose and mouth. Sirens wailed downstairs. My mother-in-law’s face lit up. “Don’t worry, Ethan’s here with help.” “We’ll be okay.” Seeing her excitement, I lowered my eyes and said nothing. I didn’t know how to tell this elderly woman that her own son would later torture and kill her granddaughter for his old flame. The temperature inside rose rapidly from the fire; the tiles beneath my feet were scorching hot. Just as I helped Mom to a safer spot, Ethan’s voice sounded outside the door. “Chloe! Chloe, are you in there?” “Don’t be scared, I’m here to save you!” With a loud crash, the door was violently broken down. I couldn’t see anything through the crimson flames, but I heard Chloe’s crying: “Ethan! I’m on the balcony!” “Help me, I’m so scared…” “Everyone follow me! Don’t waste time searching, come to the balcony rescue!” Hearing their conversation, my mother-in-law suddenly clutched her chest, gasping violently. “That monster… Ethan, that damn monster, how could he…” Before she could finish, she rolled her eyes back and fainted from sheer anger. Through the thick flames, I saw Ethan carrying Chloe princess-style, his back retreating. The fire consumed everything. Tears welled in my eyes, only to evaporate instantly upon falling. In that moment, I choked back the cry for help that almost escaped my lips. Ethan, this time, I don’t owe you anything. As Ethan carried Chloe away, I covered my nose and mouth, shifted positions several times, and finally managed to get Mom onto my back. The effort caused sharp pains in my abdomen, and it took all my strength just to stand up straight. I carried Ethan’s child in my womb and Ethan’s mother on my back. Standing there in the sea of fire, I listened to their distant voices. “Chloe, is anyone else home?” “No one, Ethan. Sarah said she was pregnant and too delicate… We just argued a little, and she locked me in, set the fire, and ran off herself…” “That damned bitch! When I catch her, I’ll make her pay!” My body went limp, and I nearly collapsed. The next second, another voice rang out: “Ethan, I thought I heard someone talking in the bedroom.” “I have a feeling someone’s still inside. What if Sarah’s still in there…” “Chloe already said Sarah did this to her! Would she stick around waiting to die after doing something like that?” “Let’s go! Chloe’s always been frail; the most important thing now is to get her to the hospital!” 2 The pain in my stomach was unbearable; I nearly ground my teeth to dust, wanting to fight my way out of the fire. My mother-in-law on my back must have been woken by the thick smoke. She gripped me tightly, stopping me, and started screaming desperately. “Ethan, you little bastard! Your wife and child are trapped in here! Who are you taking to the hospital?” I stopped, listening intently for sounds outside. But the footsteps had faded. Ethan was long gone. A wardrobe, warped by the fire, crashed down violently, blocking our only escape route. Trembling, I poured the last bit of water onto the cloth and handed it to Mom. Tears streamed down her aged face as she looked at me. Just as she was about to speak, sirens wailed again downstairs. The sound was just like when they arrived. Ethan had left with his Chloe. The fire grew fiercer. I thought despairingly, We’re probably not getting out this time. Mom coughed a few more times on my back, then went silent. The flames intensified, already licking at the hem of my clothes. In the nick of time, a shout came from outside the door: “Sarah! The security guard said he didn’t see you leave! Are you still in there?” I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer and quickly responded. Soon, a figure burst through the fire with an extinguisher. I finally couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed. When I opened my eyes again, Mom and I were safely downstairs outside the building. The person who saved us was Ethan’s colleague, Mike. His face was blackened with soot. Seeing me awake, he managed a smile. “Sarah, I told him I heard you guys! That Chloe insisted no one was inside…” After saying that, he crumpled to the ground. Onlookers quickly called for ambulances. The three of us weren’t critically injured, but Mom had several underlying health conditions, and Mike had inhaled too much smoke; both were still unconscious. When Ethan got the news, he rushed to the hospital. Seeing me, he ignored the nurses trying to stop him and slapped me furiously across the face. “You bitch! How could you be so cruel? Why would you try to kill Chloe?” “You weren’t even home! Why did you go back into the fire? You almost killed Mike too, do you realize that!” “I can’t believe I married such a venomous woman! If anything happens to either of them, you’re a murderer!” I had just survived a near-death experience, still reeling from the terror, only to be knocked to the floor by him. Meanwhile, Chloe peeked out from behind Ethan. “Sarah, I know you hate me, but did you ever think about how many people you could have hurt?” Then, she leaned weakly against Ethan’s shoulder and started coughing violently. Seeing the flecks of blood Chloe coughed up, Ethan turned and brutally kicked me just as I managed to stand up, sending me sprawling again. “You evil bitch! Why didn’t you die in that fire!” “I should have just dragged Mike away back then and let you burn alive!” He looked down at me, his eyes filled with hatred. The woman he protected in his arms had a look of pure provocation on her face. And I no longer had the strength to argue with them. Blood began to pool beneath me. Tears streamed down my face from the pain. My scorched throat could only manage a few syllables: “Doctor… call a doctor…” Seeing my agony, Ethan smirked cruelly. “Doctor?” “Did you ever stop to think, what if you had killed them? Would they have had the chance to call a doctor?” I stared fixedly at the man before me, my eyes stinging unbearably. Before Chloe showed up, he had been so excited about this baby. He had prepared the nursery early, even chosen a name. Ethan Jr. He said, giving the child his last name and a part of mine was the best gift. But now, seeing the blood spreading beneath me, he turned and covered Chloe’s eyes. “Disgusting. Don’t let it scare you.” 3 When I woke up again, I had been moved to a different room. Seeing me awake, the nurse slammed a medicine bottle into the trash can, her voice dripping with disgust. “Well, look who’s tough.” “Hurt so many people, and all you lost was a baby. Lucky you, huh?” My throat felt like it was on fire, I couldn’t make a sound, only endure the contempt. Seeing my state, the nurse slammed the door open and loudly called out to people outside. “The suspect’s awake! Take her away, don’t dirty our hospital.” “How dare you harm the daughter of a fallen hero? Such bad luck. Why didn’t you burn to death?” Two officers grabbed me without a word. Soon, I was facing Ethan. Across a table, his face was dark. He immediately started accusing me: “Sarah, you venomous snake. Attempted murder.” “Considering you were pregnant, I can request probation for you, but you’re definitely doing time for this!” After saying this, he stiffly turned his head away, as if speaking another word to me would taint his purity. I opened my mouth to defend myself, but my voice was so hoarse I could only cough violently. Just then, Chloe rushed in, crying, and threw herself into Ethan’s arms. “Ethan, I had another nightmare.” “I dreamed I was burning to death in the fire, I was so scared…” Ethan’s barely softened expression turned to stone again. “Sarah, I really don’t know how a sweet girl like Chloe could have possibly offended you.” “Why do you hate her so much? Why do you keep trying to hurt her, again and again!” “Her father died in the line of duty! How could you, how could you do this to the daughter of a hero!” He couldn’t continue, clenching his fists and slamming them hard on the table. Someone handed me warm water. I took several sips before I could finally speak, my voice raspy: “I didn’t start the fire. Chloe did.” “The one who should be in jail isn’t me, it’s her, the arsonist. And you, for failing your duty.” Ethan slammed the table again, jumping to his feet. He leaned forward, his gaze fixed intently on my eyes. “Chloe is innocent and kind! How dare you slander her like that!” “She already told me everything that happened! It was you! You, you venomous woman, set the fire deliberately over a petty argument!” Beside him, Chloe appropriately burst into tears: “Ethan, she’s trying to frame me again.” “I’m so scared… I just wanted to stay by your side like a little sister, is that too much to ask? Sarah, do you really have to want me dead before you’ll stop?” She stepped forward, shaking my arm insistently. As I pulled my arm back in disgust, Chloe screamed and fell backward. “Ethan, help me! She pushed me hard…” Ethan promptly stood up, caught Chloe in his arms, and with his other hand, grabbed me and threw me violently to the floor. “Sarah! You dare hurt her right in front of me?” “Have you got any conscience left!” “If pregnant women couldn’t avoid jail time, I’d throw you in right now to make you reflect!” I looked up at the furious Ethan. His features were still so familiar, just like when he used to make promises to me. But now, I held no more illusions about him. In the last life, Chloe killed herself, and he thought I was the murderer. This life, Chloe is alive and well, and he still thinks I’m the arsonist. This marriage… I didn’t see the point anymore. I opened my mouth, my voice devoid of any emotion: “Ethan, let’s get a divorce. If you want to charge me, go ahead.” “The baby’s gone now. Let’s see if you can actually send me to jail.” Ethan’s brow furrowed suddenly, his voice laced with disbelief: “What nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean, the baby’s gone?”

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My mom was a hardcore shipper, obsessed with M/M romance. To get a front-row seat to her favorite kind of OTP, Mom introduced me to Jason Miller. I was kept completely in the dark, forced into being his beard. Jason’s boyfriend, Ethan, had kidney failure. To get him a transplant, Jason planned to carve my kidney out himself, knife stroke by knife stroke. In my final moments, I placed my last hope in my mother and sister. But Mom took a step back, feigning heartbreak, and shook her head at me. “Chloe, honey, someone always has to sacrifice for true love. It just happens to be you this time.” My sister, Stella, was in the operating room, frantically punching numbers on a calculator, greedily eyeing my remaining organs. “Why not just take the rest of her organs too? They’re worth a lot of money.” I died tortured, leaving only an empty shell, my body dumped in the river by their combined efforts. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Mom introduced me to Jason. 1 The memory of the pain was still vivid. But the harsh sunlight streaming through the window told me I’d been reborn. My gaze fell on Mom, beaming as she introduced the sharply dressed Jason Miller standing beside her. “Chloe, honey, you’re not getting any younger. You know what they say about women over thirty! Look at this young man, so handsome, great job.” Meeting their probing, appraising gazes, I fought down the hatred threatening to erupt inside me. Last time, I’d believed Mom was looking out for me, carefully choosing a good man. I didn’t realize until I was dying that it was all to satisfy her own obsession—shipping real-life gay couples. As my eyes closed for the last time, I’d asked her in disbelief, why? Why push your own daughter into the abyss? My words seemed to tear open an old wound. Her eyes bloodshot, she brandished a knife, slashing at me viciously. “What do you understand? Only same-sex love is real love! Straight relationships are just… wrong. Someone has to sacrifice for pure love! It just happens to be you!” “I had a true love once, but your grandmother ruined everything! She tore us apart! She forced me to get married and have children, making me lose my true love forever!” Hatred flared in Mom’s eyes. Amidst my terror, she plunged the knife down, gouging out my eyes. After I was dead, she cradled my body, sobbing. “Don’t blame Mom, please don’t blame Mom. Your eyes… they’re just like your grandmother’s. I hate her, I hate her!” Snapping back from the memory, I calmly picked up my coffee cup and took a sip. Mom’s smile froze, a hint of anger creeping in. “Chloe Davis, are you even listening to me?” I looked Jason up and down. He seemed like a decent guy, almost too perfect. “He doesn’t look like he’s hurting for female company,” I said lightly. “Or male company, for that matter.” Jason blinked, then awkwardly offered, “You can check my phone anytime. I have nothing to hide.” Right on cue, his phone rang. The caller ID read “Delivery.” Same old trick. Whenever I was with Jason, he’d get calls from “Delivery,” but he never actually received any packages. Once, when he was showering, I tried to answer it for him. He burst out, barely bothering with pants, snatched the phone, and yelled at me. Clearly, his little boyfriend getting jealous. But this time, I snatched the phone first and quickly hit speakerphone. Ethan’s slightly coquettish voice came through. “Baby J, why aren’t you answering my calls?” I feigned surprise. “Wow, delivery services are getting really personal these days, huh?” Jason’s face went pale as he lunged for the phone. “I’m working. Be professional.” The voice on the other end immediately switched tones, calling him “Mr. Miller.” Mom jumped in, trying to cover for him. “Oh, you know how young guys are, always joking around. Don’t be so sensitive.” 2 I nodded slowly, pretending to finally understand. Jason breathed a sigh of relief and immediately asked, “Ms. Davis, would you consider—” I held up a hand, cutting him off, and rushed towards the restroom. I stayed there for a good ten minutes. “Sorry,” I said upon returning. “My old job as a hotel manager… it was so busy, I never had time for bathroom breaks. I got used to holding it in. Now that I’m older, my kidneys aren’t what they used to be.” “My last check-up wasn’t great. Tried to take better care of myself, but it didn’t really help.” Jason visibly tensed but managed a polite smile, seemingly unsure if I was serious. “You’re too impressive, Chloe. I’m worried I’m not good enough for you. But if you’re interested, of course, we could give it a try.” Mom clapped her hands together and leaned back, grinning like an idiot. Jason offered me his contact info, asking me to add him. My eyes flickered, and I waved my hand apologetically again. “Sorry, gotta use the restroom again.” I repeated this charade four or five times, really selling the “bad kidneys” story. When I returned the final time, Jason’s face was dark, arms crossed, looking impatiently at Mom. I glanced down at the barrage of texts from Stella on my phone – mostly variations of “Where the hell are you?” and “Why didn’t you clean up my makeup disaster?” I snapped a picture of Jason and sent it back. “Sorry, sis. Mom set me up on a blind date. Bit busy today. Actually, I’ll probably be busy a lot from now on… busy dating.” Sure enough, Stella unleashed a flood of sixty-second angry voice messages, demanding to know why Mom found me such a hot guy and demanding my location. A smile touched my lips. I generously sent her the address. I remembered vividly how, as I lay dying, Stella had been in the operating room punching numbers on a calculator, figuring out how much my organs would fetch. She had conspired with Jason, personally forcing the drugged milk down my throat. Afterward, she’d stood over me like a victor. “My dear sister, who told you to be so stupid? Can’t even keep a man interested. If you had any charm, he wouldn’t have cheated with a guy. This is all your fault, your incompetence. You deserve to die.” Since she was so capable, this “blessing” was hers for the taking. Mom was desperately trying to make conversation between Jason and me. Jason just leaned back in his chair, ignoring her, scrolling through his phone. Mom shot me frantic looks. I pretended not to notice, patiently waiting for Stella to storm in. 3 Soon enough, the star arrived. Stella, wearing dramatic makeup, her eyes lighting up the second she saw Jason, plopped down right next to him. She tossed her hair, feigning shyness. “Hi, I’m Stella Davis, her sister. Younger and prettier.” Jason looked her up and down, unable to hide the smirk in his eyes. Mom shot me a furious glare, panicking, and yanked Stella away. “Who told you to come here? You brat, get back home right now! This isn’t the place for you.” Stella stomped her foot, pouting. “Why does she get introduced to such a great guy? You always favor her! I don’t care, I like him too.” I watched, amused, as Mom stammered, unable to explain, and Stella fought tooth and nail to take something—anything—from me. Stella lived by a simple motto since childhood: “What’s mine is mine, and what’s hers is mine.” She’d throw a fit if I got something she didn’t, even something trivial. So, I knew she’d fight me for Jason. In my past life, she’d actually cried and screamed at home, demanding to marry him. That was the one time I’d held onto something I thought was mine. Turns out, I was holding onto trash. Mom’s face flushed red. She couldn’t very well reveal Jason was gay—why would she introduce a gay man to her daughter then? Jason stood up and smoothly pulled Mom aside into the nearby stairwell. Clutching my stomach, pretending to have another urgent need, I slipped away towards the restroom. Then I quietly doubled back, held my breath in the stairwell, and listened to their conversation. Jason’s tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. “I want Stella. Her kidney is a better match. Ethan can’t wait much longer. Don’t make trouble.” Mom, teary-eyed, clutched his sleeve. “No, no, go mess with Chloe! Do whatever you want to Chloe! Stella… I raised her since she was little. I can’t bear it.” Jason grabbed Mom’s throat, squeezing until her face turned purple. “So what if you raised her? Forgot whose blood runs in her veins? That man’s blood. Admit it, after all these years, he tamed you. You fell for him.” Mom’s eyes turned bloodshot, hatred spewing out with her yell. “I didn’t! I hate them! Only same-sex love is real! My heart only has room for her!” Satisfied, Jason helped her up. “That’s right. Only same-sex love is real. Someone has to give something up for pure love, right? You wouldn’t want to see me and Ethan end up separated like you were, right?” Mom’s eyes hardened slightly, but she still hesitated. Then Jason played his final card. “I’ve found the woman you loved back then. She’s overseas now. After she left you, she lost her appetite, couldn’t sleep, fell into a deep depression. I’ve already arranged for her treatment. If you help me, I’ll bring her back to you.” Mom shed her last trace of sadness, her voice urgent, as if afraid he’d change his mind. “Okay, okay, I’ll help you! You have to make sure she gets the best treatment. I want to see her.” Just like that, in less than ten minutes, Mom traded Stella away like a bargaining chip, just as she had done with me in my past life. I quickly and silently slipped away, returning to my seat across from Stella, acting as if nothing had happened. Stella shot me a venomous look, her challenge obvious. When Mom returned, she wore the mask of a loving mother again, beaming as she told Stella that Jason found her very unique and felt more connected to her. I nearly choked on my coffee. Unique? If wearing lingerie as outerwear counted as unique, then sure. Stella shrieked with delight, linking her arm happily through Mom’s. Before leaving, she looked down at me with pure mockery. “Sister, I win again. You’re still useless. What was yours is mine now.” A genuine smile spread across my face. “You can have him. Trash belongs in the trash can, after all.” Watching her swagger off triumphantly, I knew the seeds of my revenge were already sprouting. My dear sister, your good fortune is just beginning.

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My ten-year-old daughter was kidnapped. The kidnappers demanded a $5 million ransom, or they’d kill her. In the video they sent, my daughter’s face was streaked with tears, beaten black and blue, her voice hoarse as she cried for her mommy to save her. Seeing the video, my mother-in-law was overcome with grief, nearly fainting. My husband and sister-in-law were practically bouncing off the walls, looking like they wanted to tear the kidnappers limb from limb. But me, the one who should have been the most frantic – her biological mother – I was strangely calm. Not only was I leisurely sitting in the study reading a book, I even slowly brewed myself a cup of tea. My husband knelt before me, pleading anxiously, “Honey! There’s not much time! If we don’t get the money together soon, our daughter will die!” I replied coolly, “Whoever wants to scrape the money together can go ahead. It has nothing to do with me.”

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I was the ghost singer for Ethan Cole, the hottest rising star in the music industry. My voice built a world for my girlfriend, Jenna. But she teamed up with Ethan, got me drunk, tried to wreck my vocal cords. Later, when I finally shone on stage myself, she was left crying in regret. 1 It was just past midnight, New Year’s Eve. I’d just finished the last song backstage at the big televised concert. On stage, soaking up the applause, was Ethan Cole, the music industry’s golden boy. But none of the audience knew that behind all his performances, it was my voice they were hearing. He was my paycheck, and I was just his shadow. I needed the money, needed it to give my girlfriend, Jenna, a better life. The winter night air cut like a knife. As I stepped out of the venue’s side door, snow began to fall. A single, lonely snowflake drifted down. I imagined how cold it would feel landing on my palm. I wondered what Jenna was doing. Was she waiting at home like usual, ready for us to ring in the New Year together? Suddenly, Ethan’s sleek car pulled out from a private exit, stopping not far from me. Just as I was about to wave, a familiar figure slipped out of the side door and slid into the passenger seat in a flash. I rubbed my eyes. That silhouette… it looked so much like Jenna. While I stood there, stunned, the car drove past me. Ethan rolled down his window. He gave me a nod, a playful, almost mocking smirk on his face. For some reason, Ethan never really seemed to like me, even though I poured my heart and soul into singing for him. But this time, through the window, I got a clear view of the woman in the passenger seat’s profile. The pale moonlight hit her face – the high brow bone, the slight curve of her eyes… every detail was agonizingly familiar. It was Jenna. She didn’t see me. She was too busy laughing and chatting intimately with Ethan. In that instant, my heart plunged into an icy abyss. That familiar smile, the bashful affection that used to belong only to me… I pulled out my phone and saw a text Jenna had sent before I went “on stage” tonight. “Hey, something came up tonight, can’t make it for midnight.” This was the first time in seven years Jenna wouldn’t be with me for New Year’s. Every single New Year’s Eve for seven years, no matter how far apart we were, no matter how busy, Jenna would drop everything and fly to be by my side. She used to say, “Lovers should be together day after day, year after year. As the new year starts, our love stays true.” That seven-year tradition had made sharing New Year’s Eve sacred to me. But now, she’d broken it with the most casual, indifferent text. 2 The apartment was cold and empty when I got back. I must have been getting sick. My throat was painfully dry. I tossed and turned in bed. I sat up, staring blankly out the window, overwhelmed by a sudden wave of sadness. My gaze fell on the two pillows on the bed. One was mine, and the other… well, that was mine too tonight. I sat there alone until dawn, unable to reach Jenna. Her phone just kept ringing, unanswered. On the other end was a mystery I couldn’t fathom. She didn’t come home until morning. Seeing me on the couch, she flinched for a second, then quickly put on a warm smile. She leaned in close, nuzzling my cheek with her nose affectionately. The familiar gesture reminded me sharply of her laughing with Ethan in his car. “Where were you?” My voice was rough, hoarse after singing all night. I was exhausted. “Nowhere special. I told you, just hanging out with friends.” She snuggled closer, resting her head on my shoulder as if nothing had happened. I caught a faint whiff of cigarette smoke clinging to her clothes. A smell I hated, something I couldn’t afford to be around as a singer. I turned to look at her, searching her eyes for any flicker of panic or guilt. There was nothing. My eyes drifted lower. Around her delicate neck was a necklace I’d never seen before. I recognized the brand. It was way out of our price range. Sensing my stare, Jenna subtly pulled away. “Where’s the necklace I gave you?” I knew, instantly, that this new one was far more expensive, far flashier than the one I’d given her. “Oh, um, I lost it somehow. So, I just bought a new one.” Her voice was soft and pleading, her usual weapon against me. Had she really lost it? Then why had I just seen a picture on Ethan’s latest social media post… of the necklace I gave her… clasped around his pet dog’s neck. The caption read: “Cheap trash like this is only good enough for the dog to play with.” Yeah, compared to the diamond necklace Ethan probably gave her, mine was cheap trash. But I’d saved up for three months, sung my throat raw, filled with joy anticipating giving it to her. Back then, I dreamed of slowly upgrading her gifts, getting her prettier, more luxurious things, fueled by my love and this voice. But before I could make it big, Jenna’s heart had already started to wander. She started comparing, wanting more, secretly meeting Ethan behind my back. Maybe in Jenna’s eyes, my gift really was, as Ethan put it: cheap, unworthy. But my love for her had never been cheap. It had never faltered. 3 Suddenly, I felt utterly drained. I didn’t want to dig for the truth anymore. The night of singing had left my throat raw, and I coughed, trying hard to suppress it, hunching over slightly. Jenna appeared with a glass of water. “Drink this, it’s good for your throat.” It was sweet, with honey, just like she always made it. But it didn’t taste the same anymore. The sweetness couldn’t wash away the bitterness in my heart. I still frowned. As I put the glass down, Jenna suddenly held out a vinyl record – a rare, limited edition I’d been wanting for ages. “Like it? Special New Year’s gift for you! I waited in line forever to get it.” Her eyes sparkled. She remembered our tradition of exchanging New Year’s gifts. How could she remember that, but forget our promises? Forget that the start of the New Year was meant to be shared with the person you loved most, wishing them happiness? I mumbled my thanks, said I wasn’t feeling well, and retreated to my room. Inside, I placed the record Jenna gave me on the desk. There were now two identical records lying side by side. Yes, the other one was a gift Ethan had given out to his crew after the show as a New Year’s bonus. Everyone got one. I suspected the one Jenna gave me was the one Ethan gave her, just last night. What had she and Ethan really done last night? I couldn’t bear to think about it. A knot of resentment tightened in my chest. I’d willingly become Ethan’s shadow for Jenna, and now she and him… they were betraying me together. Ethan trampled on my dignity, and Jenna trampled on my love. I grabbed my guitar, strumming aimlessly. The strings let out a dull, heavy sound, like my silent protest. Lost in thought, I started playing louder, pouring my frustration into the music. Jenna knocked and opened my door, annoyance clear on her face. “Can you stop, Ethan? I’m exhausted, I want to sleep.” Jenna looked drained. I wondered what Ethan had put her through to leave her looking so worn out. Normally, I would have immediately put the guitar away, coaxed her gently to bed. But now, anger simmered inside me, just needing a spark to explode. “That’s your problem. I need to work right now. I have to sing. How else am I supposed to build a future?” I didn’t say the last part out loud: How else can I keep you? Truthfully, I’d noticed it for a while. Ever since Jenna met Ethan, they’d gotten closer and closer. Jenna was beautiful, with a great figure, easily rivaling some of the minor celebs in the industry. And because of that, I felt her slipping away. I pushed myself harder, taking more singing gigs, singing until my voice gave out multiple times, using the money to cover Jenna’s increasing expenses. But I was fighting a losing battle. Once Jenna got a taste of the glamorous world, she was hooked. I couldn’t satisfy her anymore. Only a star like Ethan, raking in crazy money, could give Jenna the life she now craved. I knew saying this was cruel, but I couldn’t stop myself. I even started deliberately strumming discordant notes, trying to provoke her. I needed a fight, a release for this pent-up emotion. “I have to sing! I’ll sing myself to death if I have to!” Jenna stared, shocked. Then, snapping, she rushed in, snatched the guitar from my hands, and smashed it violently on the floor. “Sing, sing, sing! All these years, and what’s it gotten you? Where’s the fame?!” The guitar splintered. And somewhere inside me, a string snapped too. 4 This guitar… Jenna gave it to me on our first anniversary. I vividly remembered her, young and shy, carefully bringing it out from behind her back. “Ethan,” she’d said, “as long as you keep singing, I’ll keep listening. I always want to be your first audience.” She had carved our names intertwined onto it: Jen & E. It symbolized sailing through rough seas together, reaching for the stars. That guitar had been my constant companion ever since. Whenever my music career stalled, when I wasn’t making money, when I even thought about giving up, she would comfort me. “Ethan, we can take it slow. I don’t want you under so much pressure. I don’t want you turning your dream into a burden just for money. I don’t want your music tainted by greed.” The young Jenna had eyes only for me. She supported my musical dream unconditionally. But the Jenna standing before me now, her eyes were filled with disdain. She despised my lack of fame, despised my inability to quickly turn music into cash. But had I really achieved nothing? Okay, I couldn’t compare to Ethan making bank, but over the past seven years, this voice had bought Jenna a car, a spacious apartment. Her closet was gradually filled with designer labels, luxury goods. She never missed out on the latest bags or jewelry each year. I had worked hard, using my voice to build a world for her, and now she scorned that world for being too small, too low. It wasn’t that the world was too small; it was her ambition that had inflated, ballooned until she took my sacrifices completely for granted. After her outburst, Jenna seemed stunned too. She opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but no words came out. I shook my head, pulling away from her touch. The person before me was not the person I knew. We looked at each other, and all that remained was disappointment. After that, I started leaving early and coming home late, deliberately avoiding Jenna. Until a few days later, after I finished a recording session for Ethan, just as I was about to leave. Ethan stopped me. “Come grab dinner with me later.” I instinctively refused. I never liked those industry schmooze-fests. “Are you sure? Your girlfriend, Jenna, will be there too, you know.” Through his sly gaze, I sensed malice.

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My best friend and her precious boyfriend had a fight, and she bolted over to my place in the middle of the night. My instant reaction was to push her right back to him: “He’s such a great guy, really. He’d rather punch a wall than lay a hand on you. That shows restraint, you know? Reliable.” After all, in my past life, her precious boyfriend hacked me to death, and she turned around and begged my parents to forgive the murderer. They’re such a perfect match. How could they possibly break up? 1. “But… but he smashed the computer and the TV! I just bought them!” Chloe’s eyes were swollen like peaches from crying, endlessly complaining about her boyfriend, Kevin. I glanced at the clock on the wall. Yep, 3:30 AM. Fighting off sleep, I patiently tried to counsel her: “See? That just proves he’s not materialistic. He doesn’t care about possessions. Solid guy, totally reliable.” Chloe’s eyes widened. She stared at me, utterly bewildered, clearly shocked that I was suddenly defending Kevin. “…Didn’t you used to hate him? Every time we fought, you got angrier than I did.” I gently patted my bestie’s head. “I’ve thought it through. Whatever makes you happy is what’s best. You should go home now. Look how much he loves you—your phone’s been blowing up nonstop since you got here.” Of course, I wasn’t going to get angry for her anymore. After all, last time, when they were splitting up, I took Chloe on a trip to clear her head. Kevin, in a rage, tracked us down from miles away. The guy screamed that I was the one poisoning their relationship and then stabbed me repeatedly right there on the street until I was dead. And what did Chloe do? She went to my parents, crying, talking about the bond they shared as husband and wife, offering to be their daughter from now on, if only they would forgive the man who killed me and spare him the death penalty. Seriously? Who could stomach that? It took days after I was reborn for the sheer rage to subside. I was so stressed out I broke out in these huge, painful zits all over my face from the constant anger simmering inside me. This time around, they weren’t even married yet. I wasn’t about to make the same mistake, getting all worked up and calling him scum every time they argued. Because the moment they made up, Chloe would repeat every single word I said right back to her precious Kevin. Do. Not. Get. Involved. In. Other. People’s. Karma. I had to repeat that to myself thirty times before bed every night. 2. The 99+ missed calls from Kevin? In Chloe’s eyes, that was just proof of his love. After my pep talk, her tears turned into a smile, and she practically skipped back home. On this exact day in my past life, Chloe had done the same thing—banging on my door around 2 AM, nearly giving me a heart attack. She’d wanted Kevin to go walk the dog with her, but he was deep into his nightly gaming session right after dinner and refused. Chloe complained a bit too much, and the guy slammed his keyboard down, smashed the monitor, found a nice, clean patch of drywall, and started banging his head against it. Hard. It scared Chloe, and frankly, it scared me too. Someone that emotionally unstable? If they got married, who knew what else he was capable of? But that conversation, where I tried to talk sense into her, was what made Kevin start hating me. The next day, they were lovey-dovey again, and I dragged myself to work with dark circles under my eyes. Then, I got the threatening text from Kevin: “You bitch, if I hear you’re trying to break Chloe and me up again, you’ll regret it.” This time, however, while I still went to work exhausted with dark circles, I received a different kind of message from him: “I feel better knowing Chloe has a friend like you looking out for her. Next time she throws a tantrum and runs to you, just let me know right away, okay?” I glanced at it and deleted the message. My career was really taking off right now. If I landed this project successfully, I’d get transferred to the company headquarters. I didn’t have time for this toxic couple’s drama. HQ was in my hometown. After remembering how I was brutally murdered by that psycho, leaving my parents devastated and crying constantly, I had decided. I was moving back home to be with them, to really be there for them. 3. The next six months passed relatively smoothly, without any major disasters. During this time, Chloe still called me sporadically, at all hours, always to vent. The topic was inevitably her boyfriend, his family, or some random acquaintance of theirs. Unlike before, I no longer dropped everything to listen to her relationship woes. I’d offer a few vague platitudes, claim I was busy, and hang up. My project at work wrapped up successfully. But the night of the celebration dinner with my colleagues, I got home to find a woman holding two cats waiting for me at my door. She was sitting on the steps, surrounded by bags. I frowned slightly. “Mrs. Davis? What are you doing here?” This was Susan Davis, Chloe’s mother. Chloe and I had known each other since middle school, and our families were acquainted back then, so I knew her parents. Her mom was known for being loud, eccentric, and difficult to deal with. I remembered back in high school, Chloe secretly went on a date with some guy from outside our school. Her mom grabbed me and demanded I take her to all the places Chloe might hang out to find her. Back then, I was such a pushover. Worried about Chloe but too intimidated to refuse her aggressive mother, I trudged around with her for half the night in the freezing cold – it must have been below twenty degrees Fahrenheit. I ended up sick with a fever for days and almost missed my final exams. As soon as Susan saw me, her face lit up. She slapped the dust off her pants and stood up. “Sarah, honey! You’re finally home! I came to talk to you about something important.” What was this about? This hadn’t happened before. I kept my frown subtle and nodded politely. “What is it?” She didn’t answer directly, just looked at me, then glanced at my apartment door. “It’s getting chilly out here in the hallway tonight. Can we talk inside?” I looked at the two cats cradled in her arms. I knew her family always liked pets, but I honestly didn’t expect her to travel all this way from out of town with two cats in tow. The cats stared at me with wide, round eyes. They were cute cats, but unfortunately, I have allergies. Bad ones. Cat fur sets off my allergic rhinitis like crazy. Still, it was cold out, and I couldn’t bear leaving the cats in the hallway. After a moment of internal debate, mostly for the cats’ sake, I nodded and unlocked my door. 4. Susan plopped herself right onto my sofa and immediately started complaining, her face etched with worry. “Sarah, dear, I came here hoping you could help me talk some sense into Chloe. Convince her not to marry Kevin.” Hearing the name of that monster, the one who still gave me cold sweats, made my expression instantly harden. The agony of being stabbed to death on the street in my past life seemed to crawl back up my nerves. Was it my imagination, or did my muscles actually start to twitch and ache? I poured Susan a glass of water. “But from Chloe’s social media, it looks like they’re already setting a date. They seem really happy together. Maybe we shouldn’t interfere?” Susan immediately got agitated. Her eyes flew wide open, and her voice shot up several decibels. “How can you say that? That boy’s family has no money! His parents don’t even have retirement savings, and he’s got a deadbeat brother! What kind of life is Chloe going to have with him?” She had a point. Chloe’s family had never really approved of Kevin. It seemed my encouragement had finally pushed Chloe to decide on marriage. I tried again, calmly. “Chloe says Kevin treats her really well. She’s an adult now, and this is her choice. I don’t think it’s my place to interfere in her life.” That did it. Susan shot up from the sofa, pointing a finger right at me. “Aren’t you supposed to be her best friend? You’re just going to stand by and watch her walk into a disaster? Sarah, how could you become so selfish? If Chloe ends up miserable in this marriage, won’t you feel guilty?” She grew more agitated as she spoke, seemingly picturing her daughter’s ruined life, all supposedly my fault. “If her marriage fails later, if she gets divorced, it’ll be your responsibility, you know that! I was wondering why she was suddenly so determined to marry him! Was it you egging her on?” Guilty? My responsibility? Was this another attempt at emotional blackmail? I almost wanted to applaud her audacity. It was just like that time in high school, dragging me along to find Chloe while muttering that if we didn’t find her, I, as her best friend, would regret it for the rest of my life. I stood up just as abruptly, looking down at her coldly. She was much shorter than me, and her aggressive posture seemed to deflate slightly under my gaze. I let out a cold laugh, staring directly into her eyes. “Mrs. Davis, I’m Chloe’s friend, not her mother. Now, if she wanted to get on her knees, call me Mom, and ask for my parental advice, then sure, I’d jump right in and try to talk her out of it. But otherwise…” “You—You disrespectful little brat!” The old woman seemed genuinely furious now. She raised her hand and swung, slapping me hard across the face. My ear rang, and I instinctively cupped my stinging cheek. Damn. She hit hard. Growing up, my own parents had never laid a hand on me, let alone slapped me. Who the hell did she think she was? 5. I picked up the mug of still-warm tea from the table, lifted it high in front of Susan, and then, as she watched, I splashed the entire contents onto her face. The temperature wasn’t hot enough to burn her, but it was definitely enough to be unpleasant. Her makeup instantly streaked. Black mascara ran down her cheeks in watery lines, and her foundation became a patchy mess of dark and light splotches. I couldn’t help but let out a snicker. “Aaaah!” Susan shrieked dramatically, like a pig being slaughtered. “I’m calling the police! This is assault!” Her tightly permed short hair now looked like a soggy bird’s nest, and even her down jacket was soaked. Without a word, I opened the door and pushed her out. “Go ahead. Call them. Let’s see which is worse: you slapping me, or me splashing you with some lukewarm tea.” It was already midnight. Most of the neighbors were asleep, and I really didn’t want to argue with her anymore. But Susan struggled fiercely. Seeing she couldn’t overpower me, she grabbed one of the cats beside her and threw it directly at me. Startled and caught off guard, the cat instinctively lashed out, sinking its claws deep into my arm twice. Along with the sound of fabric tearing, blood started to drip from the wounds. “…I didn’t do that! The cat did it! It wasn’t my fault; you must have provoked the kitty yourself.” Susan didn’t seem flustered at all. She picked up the cat, acting completely uninvolved. I looked at my torn sleeve, then at the bleeding scratches. I calmly closed my apartment’s security door, pulled out my phone, and dialed 911. I looked back at her through the peephole, a small smile playing on my lips. “Well, isn’t this great? You got your wish. Even if you wanted to leave now, you can’t.” 6. I had a security camera installed in my entryway. Everything that just happened was clearly recorded. After filing the police report and getting a medical assessment for my injuries, Susan was required to compensate me for all damages and medical expenses. I presented her with the bills for the rabies shots, the emergency room visit to treat the wounds, and the receipt for the ruined clothing. “The total comes to eighteen hundred dollars. You can transfer it to me.” She looked at me in disbelief, snatched the receipts, her eyes wide. “Are you dreaming? What kind of crappy clothes cost eighteen hundred dollars? You’re just trying to shake me down!” I scoffed. “My purchase records and receipts are all perfectly clear. We just left the police station not too long ago. Want to go back? Or perhaps, I could just ask your daughter for the money?” She ground her teeth, her face pale with fury. “Hah, you’ve got nerve. Just you wait. I’m going to tell Chloe your true colors, let her see what kind of little monster her so-called best friend really is!” I smiled sweetly. “Tsk, Mrs. Davis, isn’t it true that you wouldn’t be here, bags and all, if she hadn’t blocked you? I’m just a supportive friend who believes in her freedom to choose her own partner. What did I do wrong? It was her mother who lost her temper and attacked me, remember?” I knew Chloe and her mom’s relationship was a ticking time bomb; they blocked each other every other week. Usually, when that happened, one would ask me to relay messages to the other. It drove me nuts. Sure enough, hitting that sore spot made Susan flush with anger. She raised her hand again as if to strike me. “You—!” I quickly stepped back, pointedly holding up my phone displaying my Venmo QR code. “Scan this. Unless you want to risk having a heart attack from all this stress. That would end up costing you a lot more.” 7. Susan might have been loud and aggressive, but she wasn’t completely reckless when it came to the law. She was afraid I’d actually drag her back to the police station. Although she was furious, she transferred the money. My transfer orders hadn’t come through yet, so I just took a week off work. Back home, having been awake for nearly twenty-four hours straight, I collapsed onto my bed and fell into a deep sleep. In my dream, I was like a floating camera, watching myself being chased by Kevin wielding a knife. Chloe stood behind him, crying, yet clapping her hands. “Yes! Yes! He still loves me! Even if he hurts other people, he wouldn’t hurt me.” The bone-deep pain and terror from that memory seemed to seep out of the dream and into my body. I jolted awake instantly. I gasped for air, trying to steady my racing heart, when I suddenly heard a noise coming from the living room. Every hair on my body stood on end. Adrenaline surged through me. Thinking quickly, I slid silently out of bed, grabbed the tennis racket hanging on the wall, and crept nervously towards the door, listening intently. Knock, knock-knock. My bedroom door was tapped gently. Then, a familiar voice called out. “Hey, cuz, you still sleeping? I brought breakfast. Get up and eat something?” I let out the breath I’d been holding tightly and opened the door. “Megan? What are you doing here? You didn’t even call! You scared me; I thought someone broke in.” Standing before me was my cousin, Megan, almost half a head taller than me, who was attending college in the city. She gave me a weary smile. “You’ve been asleep for almost twenty hours! Your neighbor messaged Aunt Carol yesterday, said the police came to your place late last night. Aunt Carol and Uncle Joe freaked out. They tried calling you, but you didn’t answer, so they asked me to come check on you.” I looked at my phone. It was dead. I must have been so exhausted I just crashed without even plugging it in, causing my parents to worry. 8. I scratched my head sheepishly. “You probably still have classes, right? Sorry to make you come all this way and worry everyone.” “No big deal, I’m a senior, barely any classes left. Mostly focusing on finding an internship now.” She smiled, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me towards the dining table. My eyes welled up looking at the steaming bagels and hot coffee. My stomach growled instantly. I sat down and started eating like I was starving. My cousin popped a piece of bagel into her mouth, then suddenly remembered something and swallowed quickly. “Oh yeah, that friend you used to hang out with, Chloe? Did you guys have a fight? Aunt Carol called her first, thinking maybe you two went out together. But Chloe was apparently super rude and snapped at her.” I couldn’t help but frown. I hadn’t told my parents about all this drama because I didn’t want them to worry and it was complicated to explain. Looks like I needed to fill them in, before they got dragged into this mess somehow. After all, Chloe and her mom both had my parents’ contact info and knew where they lived. Just as I was about to explain things to Megan, someone started pounding heavily on my front door. “Sarah Miller! Open this door!” Well, speak of the devil. “Cuz, who is that?” Megan looked tense. I shook my head and got up to open the door. Whatever needed dealing with, it was better to get it over with sooner rather than later.

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Reborn on my wedding day. That’s how it felt. I watched my wife-to-be, Sarah, slip away, saying she needed to touch up her makeup. But I saw her get into a sedan parked just around the corner from the hotel. A few moments later, she came back, eyes red-rimmed, her lipstick smudged, tears glistening. I knew who was in that car. Mark. Her ex-boyfriend she could never quite let go of. I also knew… in five minutes, a car would lose control and speed toward us. In my previous life—the one that felt like it just ended—she pushed me. Right into the path of that speeding car. I died with my eyes wide open. 1. The moment I was hit, everything seemed to shift into slow motion. The piercing screech of brakes, the acrid smell of rubber burning against asphalt, the driver’s terrified face reflected in the windshield as it spiderwebbed, the brutal impact tearing at my body— Then, screams from bystanders, the sickening crunch of bone, and the heavy thud as I hit the ground. My mind fogged over. Blood poured out of me like water from a burst pipe, staining the concrete sidewalk red, staining… the velvet ring box clutched in my hand. I blinked, slow, sluggish. Through blurry vision, I saw Sarah. Her back was to me. She was frantically checking Mark, her voice tight with panic, “Are you okay? Did any glass hit you? That car just came out of nowhere—” She stopped mid-sentence, as if finally registering something else. She froze. Slowly, stiffly, she turned. Her eyes scanned the shattered glass on the ground, the spreading pool of blood, and finally landed on me, drenched in it. Her lips trembled. Her perfectly made-up face went blank. Fat tears rolled down her cheeks. I stared at that face, a mixture of grief and shock, and hated myself for the flicker of familiar pity, the instinct to comfort her. “Hey, don’t cry…” The whisper died in my blood-filled throat. The next second, Mark pulled her firmly into his arms, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Shh, don’t look.” And Sarah wrapped her arms around his shoulders, clinging to him with an intimacy that felt like a physical blow. Her choked sobs came muffled against his shoulder, “What do we do? What do we do… I didn’t mean to…” He just held her tighter, murmuring reassurances. Like they were the couple. The ones meant to be. —If only Sarah wasn’t wearing the custom wedding dress we’d picked out together. —If only I wasn’t the groom waiting for her. The whole scene felt absurd. A sick joke. Amidst the growing chaos of sirens and shouting people, my world faded to black. Silence. My unfinished wedding day. My very complete death day. 2. The flashback hit me like a physical blow, snapping me back to the present. I blinked, seeing Sarah’s sweet, pretty face right in front of me. My bones and muscles ached with phantom pain. I pressed my fingers to my temples, fighting a wave of dizziness. It slowly dawned on me… I was back. Reborn. Reliving it. Right now, Sarah and I were standing at the entrance of the hotel lobby, greeting wedding guests. She was radiant, smiling, the perfect bride. She noticed me staring, lost in thought. Her cheeks puffed out slightly, a faint pink blush rising on her ears. “What are you looking at me like that for? You goofball, spacing out again!” I forced down the panic churning inside me and managed a shaky smile. “Nothing.” But… Sarah’s mind was already elsewhere. She glanced down at a new message on her phone, her expression shifting, becoming restless. I watched her eyes dart towards the street outside, saw her fingers tighten almost imperceptibly. Suddenly, I felt ice-cold calm. Her fidgeting lasted only three minutes. Then, as if she’d made up her mind, she looked up at me, forcing a casual tone. “My face feels a little oily. I’m just gonna pop over and have the makeup artist touch it up.” Before I could reply, she hitched up her wedding dress and started walking quickly towards the exit. Instinctively, I grabbed her wrist. “Don’t rush off. I’ll come with you.” Her hurried expression froze. She bit her lip, then tried for a playful pout. “Silly, I’m getting my makeup fixed. What would you come for? Are we ditching the guests? Forgetting about greeting our relatives?” I took a breath, my grip tightening slightly without meaning to. “Your makeup looks perfect, honey. You don’t need a touch-up.” “Our parents and aunts and uncles will be here soon. And aren’t we changing outfits and getting a whole new look after the receiving line anyway? You can get touched up then.” Sarah stomped her foot lightly in frustration, but her attention was immediately snagged by her phone vibrating in her hand. She shot a quick glance at the screen, her face paling. Wrenching her arm free from my grasp, she bolted outside. Without even a word of explanation. I stared down at the polished marble floor of the five-star hotel, silent for a long moment. I knew. That text was from him. Mark. The ex she couldn’t forget. Right now, that struggling musician was sitting in a beat-up sedan around the corner, waiting for her. Struggling or not… it didn’t matter. One short text message, and the woman I’d cherished, spoiled, and loved with everything I had for three years, would drop me without a second thought and run to him. I also knew that in about ten minutes, a car would lose control and crash towards the three of us. And Sarah, desperate to protect the man behind her, wouldn’t hesitate to shove me under its wheels. 3. It took me a year to win Sarah over. We first met at the convenience store where she worked the late shift. The first time I saw her, she had her hair up in a messy bun, her face clean of makeup, naturally pretty with a soft pink glow. She was adorable. Right then, though, she was being yelled at by an older woman pointing a finger right in her face. “Which one of your eyes saw me open this drink? You expect me to pay? Just some broke kid working here, trying to scam people out of money?” Sarah’s round, almond eyes filled with tears, her face flushed bright red. Her voice was small but firm. “I saw… you opened that bottle of coffee…” The older woman glanced towards a corner, clearly a blind spot for the security cameras, and her voice got louder, more confident. “You little liar! Slandering people has consequences, you know that?! I’m going to report you to your manager!” Just as her finger was about to poke Sarah’s nose, I stepped in front of the trembling girl. I held up my phone towards the woman. “Ma’am, I was just testing out the new video features on my phone. Happened to catch you feeling thirsty, twisting the cap off, and drinking half that bottle.” “You must have forgotten after you took that phone call, right? Easy mistake to make.” The woman’s face went through shades of red and white before she finally threw five bucks on the counter and stormed out, embarrassed. The girl wiped her eyes and gave me a small smile, revealing cute dimples. “Thank you so much. My name’s Sarah. Let me buy you a drink.” “Uh, I’m Ethan,” I stammered, caught off guard by her sweet, genuine smile. It felt like a feather had brushed against my heart. Growing up, I wasn’t exactly starved for female attention. I’d gotten my share of crushes and notes. But Sarah… Sarah was the first girl in years who actually made my heart skip a beat. Still, Sarah turned me down when I first asked her out. She explained her situation. An irresponsible younger brother, a father with a gambling problem. Her family wasn’t well-off. That’s why she was working two jobs, day and night, trying to make ends meet. It had even forced her to break up with her boyfriend. She didn’t want to be a burden to anyone. While I wasn’t some trust-fund kid, my parents were both university professors. We were comfortable. I’d recently started a company with a few buddies from college, and we’d just secured our first round of angel investment. We were from different worlds. But I was stubborn. Possessed by this need to see it through. Every night, I waited outside the convenience store until her shift ended, insisting on walking her home. After a year, she finally gave in. She agreed to go out with me. 4. As we got closer, I realized that despite her independent streak, Sarah was actually quite hesitant and unsure when it came to emotional decisions. Maybe because she got so little warmth from her own family, she valued relationships intensely. She willingly sacrificed so much for her family, just trying to hold onto that thin thread of connection. But I never imagined that this same trait—this deep sense of loyalty—would also make it so hard for her… to completely break away from her past relationship. Sarah was honest with me. She told me about her ex, Mark. They were high school classmates who went to the same local college. After graduation, Mark decided to try and make it in the city. Sarah, pressured by her parents, stayed in our hometown to work and help support her family. The distance, her parents’ disapproval of Mark’s financial situation, and her own fear of holding him back led to their breakup. Her past didn’t bother me. If anything, it made me care about her more. During our relationship, I poured all my patience, tenderness, and attention into her. Over three years, I watched the smiles on her face become more frequent, the shadows in her eyes replaced by a playful light and a growing reliance on me. I felt deeply satisfied. People are only reserved when they don’t feel cherished. With me, she could be impulsive, moody, even a little spoiled. I’d handle it. I wanted to be the one who loved her unconditionally. My business partners joked that I was raising a daughter, not dating a girlfriend. But only I knew how much I wanted this girl, the one with the sweet dimples, to have a life that was sweeter, just a little bit sweeter. Until this moment. Thirty minutes before our wedding, watching her run off without a backward glance, rushing towards the hotel exit. She didn’t even notice her veil slip off and fall to the floor behind her. I looked down at the engagement photo displayed near the entrance – us, smiling, happy. My heart settled into a cold, hard decision. 5. I calmly watched Sarah get into the sedan parked down the street. She seemed completely absorbed by Mark inside the car, totally oblivious to me standing just thirty feet away at the corner. I thought I could hear faint sobs carried on the wind. Even though I’d made my decision, my heart still sank, inch by inch, in the cold breeze. Had I ever realized… that marrying me made her feel this trapped? This miserable? Their silhouettes seemed to merge in a tight embrace. I didn’t go closer. I just turned quietly and walked away. Twenty minutes later, Sarah found me back in the lobby, her nose slightly red. “Okay, I’m back. Makeup’s fixed.” I looked deeply into her eyes, noting the faint redness at the corners, and nodded noncommittally. She seemed nervous, weaving her fingers through mine, holding our joined hands in front of her. She looked earnestly at me. “Ethan, I really do want to marry you. Spend my life with you.” Her clear, almond eyes held the familiar look of dependence I knew so well. Except… it didn’t stir anything in me anymore. I lowered my gaze, smiling faintly. Using the excuse of greeting an arriving guest, I gently pulled my hand free. “Is that so.” She seemed to sense the shift but didn’t know how to ask. She just stuck close to my side like a shadow, pouting slightly. “Ethan, what’s wrong? You’re acting kind of weird. Are you keeping something from me?” My gaze drifted away. “I got you a surprise gift,” I said distractedly. “You’ll find out during the ceremony.” She seemed slightly reassured, her eyes curving into a sweet smile. Ten minutes later. The wedding ceremony. The officiant asked, “Mr. Ethan Miller, do you take Ms. Sarah Jenkins to be your lawfully wedded wife, to respect her, to love and protect her, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, in good times and bad, forsaking all others, ’til death do you part?” Under Sarah’s pleading gaze, I lowered my eyes slightly, smiled faintly, and answered, slowly and clearly, gently but firmly, “I don’t.” I watched calmly as the happy smile on her face froze, the color draining away, leaving her almost translucent and swaying under the spotlight. 6. The entire room erupted in shocked whispers and gasps. Sarah’s father, Gary, and her brother, Danny, jumped up from their seats, furious, but a couple of my friends, whom I’d briefed beforehand, quickly and firmly held them back. Meanwhile, my groomsmen escorted Mark onto the stage, gripping his shoulders tightly as he tried to struggle. Under Sarah’s terrified gaze, I gave her a small smile. “Sarah, honey, your groom… is someone else.” Amidst the rising murmur of confusion, I took the microphone from the officiant. “My apologies to everyone for this… unexpected turn of events.” “This gentleman,” I gestured towards Mark, “is the bride’s ex-boyfriend. Though… judging by their recent tearful reunion, perhaps I’m the one who should be leaving.” “Sarah, you don’t have to sneak off to see him before the wedding anymore. You don’t have to put on that heartbroken, can’t-let-go act for him.” “You know, over the last three years, whatever you wanted, I always found a way to give it to you.” “This wedding reception, this venue… consider it my gift to you.” “I always just wanted you to be happy.” “But from here on out, I can’t walk that path with you anymore.” “I wish you happiness.” Sarah was trembling violently, barely able to stand. She reached for my hand, tears streaming down her face. “Ethan, it’s not what you think…” “I just… I just had a moment of weakness, I wanted to say goodbye properly… You’re the one I care about! I really wanted to marry you, spend my life with you!” “You were always the one who forgave me everything, right? You said I could be myself with you, act out, test boundaries, do whatever I wanted, and you’d always accept me!” “I know I messed up this time! Please, forgive me, okay?” I looked at her face, etched with grief and desperation, and felt a strange calm, almost surprising myself. The old me… I could never bear to see Sarah shed a single tear. Even just the slightest hint of redness in her eyes would send me into a panic, ready to offer her my heart on a platter. So… this is what she looked like when she cried. It wasn’t… that big a deal, after all. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mark’s face flushed red, his jaw clenched tight. I smiled faintly and gently wiped the tears from Sarah’s cheek. A flicker of hope ignited in her eyes. She looked at me through her tears. She always knew how to soften me up. After three years together, I knew her better than she knew herself sometimes. She was genuinely scared, genuinely regretting it now. I believed that when she got into that car, she hadn’t actually intended to leave me for good. I even believed that in the previous timeline, when she instinctively pushed me, she hadn’t fully grasped the consequences. But… so what? Instincts reveal the truth. I’d already died once because of it. I had to have learned something from that. You can’t un-spill milk. And my love, Ethan Miller’s love… it wasn’t that cheap.

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