Author: Momo Chan

The day I got my cancer diagnosis, Ethan Cole secretly emptied my bank account. He took all that money to Maya Vance’s wedding as a gift. I went to the reception hall, desperate to get that money back for my surgery deposit. Maya, tipsy and bold, pointed at me and slurred, “Ava, you look so pale… anyone who didn’t know better would think you were dying!” Laughter erupted around us; they all thought it was just a drunken joke. I lowered my voice, telling her I was dying and needed the gift money back. But Ethan flared up first. “Maya just had a little too much to drink! It’s her big day, why are you making a scene?” He then dragged me out of the reception hall. He even took the last five hundred dollars I had on me. “You crashed Maya’s big day like that, you definitely owe her another gift.” “Look at yourself, Ava. All you do now is stir up drama and act jealous. You don’t even bother to take care of yourself anymore. You look frighteningly pale!” He was so sure I couldn’t live without him. But this time, I saw him clearly. So I turned around, went home, and called a real estate agent. “Ms. Thorne, if you’re not in a rush, we could probably get a better price for this place,” the agent suggested. I shook my head. “I am in a rush. Please find a buyer as soon as possible.” The young agent was diligent, calling several potential buyers right then and there. We scheduled meetings with buyers for the following week. On the way home, maybe I was lost in thought, spacing out. I didn’t notice the yellow light flashing at the crosswalk. A car, rushing God knows where, startled me, and I stumbled, cracking my arm hard on the curb. It was bleeding badly. Thankfully, a passerby called 911 for me. “Ma’am, I need to contact your emergency contact,” the paramedic said. I nodded, pointing to my phone. Ethan was saved in my contacts as “My Love.” Easy enough to find. The nurse kindly put the call on speaker. “Hello, are you Ms. Thorne’s husband? This is County General Hospital. Ms. Thorne was in an accident, we need you to come down as soon as possible.” “An accident? She’s really committed, isn’t she? Now she’s stooping to faking accidents out of jealousy? Fine, just call me when she’s actually dead so I can sign whatever papers!” Then, through the phone, came a sickeningly familiar voice. “Ethan…” The nurse instinctively hung up. But I’d heard it. It was Maya’s voice. 2 Today wasn’t the first time I’d encountered Maya. It just seemed like every time I did, Ethan and I ended up fighting. Like the last time, when Ethan got a call from Maya late at night. Without a second thought, he got dressed and rushed out to find her. “It’s late, she just broke up with her boyfriend, it’s not safe for a girl to be out alone. I’ll just check on her and be right back.” But that day, I waited until the early hours of the next morning, and Ethan never came home. Meanwhile, Maya’s social media feed was filled with pictures of her eating and drinking lavishly. And in one photo, showing someone peeling a crab for her… I recognized Ethan’s hand immediately. Because the wedding ring on that hand was the custom one I had specially made for him. Ethan had once told me that crabs were expensive and a pain to peel, and feeding them to me would be a waste. When he finally came home that day, I showed him the picture. He actually turned it around on me, accusing me of not trusting him. “Ava Thorne, I swear, you have too much time on your hands! All you do is pick fights and act jealous. Don’t you have anything better to do?” But I used to be a key player at a tech company. He was the one who said he couldn’t bear seeing me overworked, practically forcing me to quit my job. “Ms. Thorne?” I snapped back to reality, looked at the nurse, and forced a smile. “Wrong number. That was just an old nickname from a game I forgot to change.” “I… I don’t have a husband. And my family lives out of state. Can I just handle this myself?” That day, thankfully, the kind young nurse stayed with me and helped get my arm treated. But the gash was deep. The doctor warned me not to put too much strain on my arm for a while. After thanking the nurse profusely, I took a cab home. Before I even opened the door, I heard Maya’s voice. “Ethan, do you think maybe it’s my fault? Otherwise… otherwise, why would something like this happen to me? Being left at the altar…” No wonder I hadn’t seen the groom at the wedding hall. Turns out, he’d run off. “How could it be your fault? It’s definitely because Ava showed up today and made such a scene. When she gets back, I’ll make sure she apologizes to you!” Ethan’s words were meant to be comforting. If only I wasn’t the one being blamed. I unlocked the door and walked in, my eyes immediately falling on the two of them snuggled together on the sofa. So that was the proper posture for comforting someone. 3 “You finally decided to come back? Get over here and apologize to Maya. Do you have any idea that because of your stunt today, Maya’s wedding was called off?” “So you have to hold her like that? Is that how you’re apologizing for me?” Ethan looked startled for a second, released Maya, and stood up. “Ava, look, this whole thing is mostly your fault. You should at least apologize to Maya. And if you hadn’t stormed into the wedding demanding money, tonight would have been Maya’s wedding night.” I nodded with a humorless smile. “Since you think it’s my fault, why don’t you help her make up for the lost wedding night? Don’t worry, I won’t disturb you.” No anger, no shouting. I calmly walked into the master bedroom. Surprisingly, Ethan actually followed me this time. Standing in the bathroom, I looked at my bandaged arm, wondering how I’d manage. “Ava, don’t be mad. Maya’s going through a tough time, you know.” Ethan hugged me from behind, his hand brushing against my injured arm. “You… you really got hurt? Just your arm? That nurse was overreacting, saying you were in a car crash!” I didn’t say anything, just pushed him away. But he tightened his grip, pulling me under the showerhead. “Since you’re hurt, let me help you wash your hair. I know how clean you like to be; you probably can’t stand going a night without washing it.” Ethan turned on the shower, full blast, water soaking the bandage on my arm. He didn’t seem to care at all. “Ava, your clothes are soaked too. Might as well just take them off.” He tugged at my shirt without any hesitation. “Ethan, I’m injured.” My voice was flat, devoid of emotion as I refused him. He let go of my shirt. Only to slide his hand onto my waist. I let out a bitter laugh, took his hand, and placed it on my back. Because of the cancer, I hadn’t been able to eat much lately. I hadn’t paid much attention to it at the time. It wasn’t until the diagnosis day that I realized how frighteningly thin I’d become. Ethan’s hand touched my bony back. The next second, he snatched it away. As fast as if he’d touched something monstrous, something that could devour him. “Ava, I…” Just as Ethan started to explain, a crash came from the guest room where Maya was staying. Ethan immediately ran out. But moments later, he stormed back in like a madman, roughly dragging me from the bed to the guest room. On the guest room bed, Maya lay still, as if asleep. Sleeping pills were scattered on the floor. “Ava Thorne, you knew Maya was vulnerable right now, and you still put sleeping pills in the guest room drawer! You did this on purpose, didn’t you!” “Do you realize I could call the cops right now and report you for attempted murder!” I looked at my arm, where his grip had reopened the wound slightly, then at the pills on the floor. They were indeed my sleeping pills. 4 It was just from that period when the constant stomach pain kept me awake all night. Afraid of disturbing Ethan’s sleep, I had moved into the guest room. But the pain still wouldn’t let me sleep, so I bought a bottle of sleeping pills. And now… “Ava Thorne! What time is it to be throwing a tantrum! Hurry up, grab the car keys, and take Maya to the hospital!” I held up my bleeding arm for him to see. He just impatiently swatted it away. “Ava Thorne! This is a person’s life! Don’t you have a conscience?” Ethan roughly shoved me aside. Then he carefully lifted Maya and rushed towards the door. Ethan basically forced me all the way down to the underground parking garage. “Get in! Unlock the car!” He yelled so loud that several neighbors cursed at us. Thinking about selling the house in a few days, I didn’t want things to get too ugly. So I got in the car. The entire ride, Ethan sat in the back, holding Maya. He kept talking about their shared memories, trying to rouse her. And I was just the invisible driver. A free driver, at that! The moment we reached the hospital, Ethan rushed Maya into the emergency room. He didn’t even glance at the bandage on my arm, now soaked bright red with blood. “It’s you again! Your arm…” Thankfully, I ran into that same kind young nurse. “Get off your feet! Didn’t the doctor tell you not to strain that arm?” She asked a hospital valet to park my car and quickly pulled me inside. “Dr. Evans, quick, take a look at her! I think her wound reopened.” She anxiously found a doctor for me. “You need to be careful with this wound! If this keeps up, forget about avoiding a scar, you’ll probably get an infection!” Dr. Evans carefully re-bandaged my arm. “Ava Thorne! What are you doing here!” Ethan barged in, roughly pushing the young nurse aside. “I just heard him call your name, I thought he was your friend…” the nurse explained timidly, afraid she’d caused trouble for me. I shook my head. “Maya is still in the ER getting her stomach pumped, and you’re here fooling around with this guy!” I was truly amazed by Ethan’s audacity. “Thank you. Uh, could I talk to him alone for a minute?” I watched Dr. Evans lead the nurse out, then turned to face Ethan. “Ava Thorne, why did you make them leave? Feeling guilty?” “Let me tell you, I am definitely calling the police! You better go wait outside the ER right now, and when Maya wakes up, you apologize and beg her forgiveness. Otherwise, you really will end up at the police station!” 5 I looked at him, amused, and pointed to the trash can containing my freshly removed bloody bandage. “Ethan! Do you see that? That’s the bandage I just changed.” “If you insist I tried to poison Maya, then call the police! I’ll wait right here!” Ethan froze, about to argue. Just then, a voice came from the direction of the ER. “Maya Vance’s family? Where is Maya Vance’s family?” As usual, Ethan dashed off immediately. But this time, as if afraid I’d run away, he grabbed me and took me with him. He actually remembered to grab my uninjured arm. “You wait here until Maya wakes up. After all, if it weren’t for you, Maya wouldn’t be lying here.” He locked me in the hospital room, forcing me to watch over Maya. Until Maya finally woke up. “Ethan, what are you doing? My… my situation has nothing to do with Ava.” “It’s just my bad luck, being jilted at my own wedding. I couldn’t bear to live anymore, and then I just happened to see those sleeping pills in the nightstand drawer…” “I thought… it must be a sign from heaven… It has nothing to do with Ava, she just happened to leave a bottle of sleeping pills there.” Tears streamed down Maya’s face as she spoke. Those tears were like fuel for Ethan’s anger. He spun around, grabbed my wrist, demanding I apologize to Maya. “Ava Thorne! Did you see that? Maya is lying here in a hospital bed, and she’s still trying to cover for you!” “Ava Thorne, it’s just one apology, is it really that hard for you?” “And even if tonight’s suicide attempt had nothing to do with you, it was still your tantrum at her wedding that caused her groom to leave her! So either way, isn’t it still your fault?” I looked at him, forcing a laugh as my stomach started cramping violently again. “Since she’s awake, can I go now? As for the apology you mentioned, sorry, I did nothing wrong, so I won’t apologize. If you think that’s unfair to her, then call the police and have me arrested.” Clutching my stomach, I quickly walked out of the room. But the pain was too intense. I collapsed just as I reached the corner of the hallway. When I woke up again, I was in a room in the oncology department. “You’re awake?” It was Dr. Evans, the one who had bandaged my arm earlier. The young nurse was behind him. “Ma’am, this is the third time we’ve met, and each time you look so pitiful…” A sharp look from Dr. Evans silenced the nurse. “Thank you, you saved me again.” “It’s okay, ma’am. Oh, here’s your phone.” Dr. Evans repeatedly warned me not to get too emotional. If the cancer cells spread before the surgery, the success rate would drop significantly. I nodded, understanding. Bored, I scrolled through videos on my phone. Suddenly, a recommendation for a local live stream popped up. I tapped on it instinctively. “Thank you all for your concern, babies. I’m okay. I’m feeling much better now. Thankfully, I have him here with me.” It was Maya. And the “him” she was referring to was Ethan. 6 Maya was sitting up in bed, live streaming. Ethan was beside her, handing her water, peeling an apple for her. After a short while, Ethan disappeared from the camera’s view. The comment section flooded with people asking where he went. Maya, while saying they were “just friends,” picked up her phone and got out of bed. The next second, Ethan appeared in the frame. He was crouched over a small basin, washing Maya’s underwear. “Oh! Ethan, I told you I could do this myself!” “The water’s cold here, don’t touch it.” The comment section erupted with blessings and praise. 【OMG, marry a guy like that!】 【Wow, why can’t I ever meet a good man like him!】 I looked at the comments and exited the live stream. Cold water. I’d heard that excuse before. Only the original words were, “This water is so cold, how could I touch it?” Ethan and I dated for three years, married for four. I hadn’t ignored little things like this. It’s just that Ethan always seemed uninterested. I just figured he wasn’t the romantic type. When we were dating, he pursued me. But every time we ate out, I paid the bill. When we traveled and needed a hotel, I paid. Even his daily expenses were often covered by me helping him out occasionally. Because his family was struggling financially, and he had to support his parents. I always thought we would definitely get married, so there was no need to split hairs over money. Even the roses he gave me the day he proposed were ones he’d picked out of a trash can. But I never called him out on it. After we got married, he took my support for granted even more. Never mind simple chores like putting clothes in the washing machine – he found even that too troublesome. Even taking out the trash on his way downstairs to work, something perfectly convenient, he’d say wasn’t his job. So usually, the cooking and cleaning at home fell entirely on me. I laughed bitterly at myself. What a ridiculous fool I used to be. Completely manipulated by a guy who married up. I took a deep breath and decisively blocked Ethan’s contact information. Then I put my phone aside and, for once, slept soundly. 7 “Honey, sweetie, your phone’s ringing.” The older lady in the next bed woke me up. Seeing an unknown number on my phone, I answered. “Ahem… It’s Ethan.” “Where have you been the past few days? Why haven’t you even come home?” “We’re out of cooking oil at home. How are we supposed to cook if you’re not back?” “Uh… I was just going out to buy oil anyway. Where are you? I can swing by and pick you up.” I listened to Ethan’s self-absorbed rambling and ridiculous excuse, shaking my head. But remembering I had the meeting with the buyer in a couple of days, and I needed him to move out before that… I agreed anyway. “I’ll send you my location in a bit.” After hanging up, I sent him the hospital’s location. He arrived shortly after. But his first words were: “I know you’re angry, Ava, but you don’t need to waste hospital resources just to make me worry!” Lying in the hospital bed, I looked at him, amused. He knew nothing. His first reaction was to assume I was just throwing a tantrum. “Alright, get up, get dressed, and go handle the discharge paperwork. I’ll come pick you up later.” Ethan turned and walked out. When I finished the discharge process, I ran into Ethan. He was holding a bouquet of red roses. “Turns out Maya is being discharged today too. She doesn’t have anywhere to stay right now, so she’s coming back with us to stay for a little while longer.” I nodded. This time was about laying everything bare anyway. Whatever happened after wouldn’t concern me. Back home, he kept harping on about my hospital stay. “Ava, stop throwing these tantrums. Maya was really sick when she was hospitalized, you saw it that day. There’s nothing wrong with you, staying in the hospital not only wastes medical resources, but it’s also kind of morbid, don’t you think?” I constantly reminded myself of the doctor’s warning: don’t get too emotional. But Ethan was just too disgusting. I threw the diagnostic report right at him. “I am sick! Read it carefully!” Ethan stared blankly at the report in his hands. After seeing the diagnosis, Ethan quieted down considerably for a few days. Maya, however, found out I was sick. She actually started cooking soup. “Ava, this is beef soup I simmered for hours. Try some.” I looked at her, amused. “You should save this soup to suck up to Ethan.” “Ava, you… you still mind me living here, don’t you? I can leave. But I really made this soup for you with good intentions.” Ethan heard the commotion and rushed out. “Ava, Maya is just trying to be nice, what’s wrong with you?” “I saw the soup too. Maya got up early this morning to make it, spent hours on it. You… you can’t keep being so prejudiced against Maya!” I took the bowl of soup and poured it directly into the kitchen sink right in front of them. “Ava…” “Ava Thorne! What is wrong with you!” “Stomach cancer patients can’t eat tough, greasy things like beef! Things like this only irritate the stomach and offer no benefits to someone with stomach cancer!” I retorted sharply, intending to turn and go back to my room. “Forget it, Maya. Don’t stoop to her level. She’s just being difficult because she’s sick.” “If she doesn’t want to drink it, fine. I’ll drink the soup.” Ethan’s voice wasn’t loud, but I heard him clearly. Back in my room, I confirmed the meeting with the realtor and a buyer for two days later. Then, just as I was about to message Ethan to schedule a time to talk… A message from Ethan popped up first. 【Let’s talk tomorrow night after I get off work.】 【Okay.】 Looking at the divorce papers I had already printed out, I felt a rare sense of relief. 8 The next day, Ethan left for work early. Only Maya and I remained at home. Maya, still smarting from yesterday’s rejection, was stubbornly making soup again. This time it was lamb soup. Gamey and pungent. Just the smell made my stomach churn. “Oh, Ava, you’re up?” “I told you yesterday, I can’t drink this kind of soup.” “I never said I made this soup for you. But if you want some, I don’t mind sharing a bowl. After all, more than anyone, I hope you kick the bucket soon.” Maya suddenly dropped the pretense, no more fake sweetness or manipulative words. It actually surprised me. “What? Done with the act?” “Acting? Of course, I have to act! But you only perform for people who matter. Someone like you, who won’t live long anyway, isn’t worth my time.” I didn’t want to get tangled up with her any further and turned to go back to my room. “What’s wrong, Ava Thorne? Does it sting realizing the man you defied everyone to marry isn’t all that great?” “Suddenly wish you’d listened to your parents back then, so you wouldn’t have ended up like this?” “Too bad, your parents are six feet under now. They can’t hear your regrets.” “But hey, you could beg me. Maybe after you die, I’ll do you a favor and put your ashes next to theirs.” It was true I had fought with my family about marrying Ethan back then. But besides Ethan, hardly anyone knew about it. Rage surged through me. I spun around and slapped Maya across the face. “Don’t you dare talk about my parents!” Maya crumpled to the floor, deliberately pulling the bowl of soup off the table as she fell. The hot soup splashed onto the floor, splattering upwards. Maya’s wrist got scalded slightly. But most of the soup splashed onto my leg. “Maya!” Ethan was back. Ethan rushed over and scooped Maya up. He carried her to the kitchen sink, running cold water over her scalded wrist. “Ethan, it’s not Ava’s fault! It was my fault, I said the wrong thing. That’s why Ava accidentally hit me.” Ethan shot me a look filled with blame. “Ava Thorne, when are you going to stop this drama! You’re constantly overthinking things and making trouble, no wonder you got sick!” My emotions were haywire. My stomach cramped fiercely. The burn on my leg started to throb with pain. “Ava Thorne, you better pray Maya doesn’t get a scar here, or you deserve to die! Maya’s a streamer, a scar like that is for life!” Ethan said, about to take Maya to the hospital. I curled up on the floor, clutching my stomach in agony, my voice trembling. “Ethan, call… call 911 for me…” Ethan saw me, his steps faltering for a moment. But Maya just whimpered “it hurts” in his arms, and he continued towards the door. “Ava Thorne! Stop acting! Your condition has been stable lately, you just need to wait for the surgery!” “And seriously, Ava, your acting is terrible! Stop it! I’m taking Maya to the hospital first.” Without a shred of hesitation, Ethan turned and carried Maya out the door. He was in such a hurry he didn’t even close the door behind him. Clutching my violently aching stomach, tears dried on my cheeks. “Help… someone… help me…”

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At the wedding everyone was talking about, two grooms showed up. Me, the actual groom-to-be, was forgotten. My bride, Ava, face flushed and shy, reached out her hand to Caleb, her supposed savior, who was down on one knee proposing. He was wearing the expensive custom suit Ava had commissioned for me, holding the ring that was meant for me. When I questioned her, her face filled with disgust, her tone dripping with impatience. “A wedding is just some meaningless ceremony. The person I legally marry will still be you.” Well, if they were so madly in love, I should naturally step aside and let them be happy. Turning my back on the wedding scene, I made an overseas call. I said softly, “Pull the funding. I’ll be leaving the country as soon as possible.” 1. At the incredibly lavish wedding venue, I, the groom-to-be, was left standing alone. An endless firestorm of rage burned through my chest. My eyes were bloodshot, fists clenched tight. My fiancée, Ava, wearing her wedding dress, looked down with a surprised smile at Caleb, who was on one knee, proposing to her. The sight stabbed at my eyes, turning them red. The tightly wound thread in my mind finally snapped. This wedding was the last chance I was giving her. Before the wedding, she had sworn to me, promising to cut ties with Caleb completely and focus on being my bride. The agony flooding my eyes met Caleb’s blatant smugness and provocation. All my sincere feelings became a joke in that moment. I laughed bitterly to myself. It felt like someone had ripped a gaping hole in my chest, letting an icy wind howl through it. “Ethan, buddy, I’m sorry. I accidentally put on your suit. How could you be late on such an important day like the wedding?” Caleb’s attempts to smear me were still so pathetic. But the willfully blind Ava couldn’t see through him. Seeing my cold expression, Caleb feigned fear and hid behind Ava. She shielded him, looking at me defensively. Her voice laced with anger, the eyes that once looked at me with tenderness now held no trace of love, only irritation. “Have you caused enough trouble?” “You show up late to your own wedding and have the nerve to question Caleb? Thank God he got here in time to save the day.” I let out a cold laugh and turned around, revealing the back of my shirt, stained dark and damp with blood. Ava froze, her eyes widening slightly, a touch of red creeping into them. She stared incredulously at my back, her voice filled with confusion, “What happened?” Seeing my gaze fixed directly on Caleb, who was desperately trying to look calm, Ava’s brow furrowed slightly. She blurted out, “Impossible.” Caleb, full of dirty tricks, seized the opportunity, putting on an innocent face to defend himself. “Maybe he was just late and splashed some fake blood on himself on purpose.” “Oh really? I get mysteriously knocked out from behind, making me late. You think the real culprit might get scared if I called the cops?” Caleb’s face instantly paled, his eyes darting around, unable to meet mine. “Enough! I already agreed Caleb could handle this mess for you. I believe he’s innocent.” As soon as she finished speaking, Ava publicly took Caleb’s hand. She signaled for the ceremony to continue. And I, the real groom, became a mere spectator at my own wedding. Because Caleb had supposedly saved her life once, she was always at his beck and call, acting like his devoted wife. Fine. I’d let them have each other. 2. This time, I couldn’t even be bothered to question her. My heart had gone completely cold. Since she didn’t cherish this seven-year relationship, why should I cling to it? The back of my head throbbed where I’d been hit. I had risked my life to get to this wedding. And she agreed to let another man marry her in my place, not worried at all about my disappearance. It was always just me being foolishly devoted. Just as I was about to leave, rows of bodyguards blocked my path. “Hold him down. Make him watch and see what happens when he defies me.” Struggling was useless. The bodyguards forced me to my knees at the feet of Ava and Caleb. Forming a grotesque human triangle. The guests below, enjoying the spectacle, erupted into mocking laughter. “Hilarious! Even a kept man has a temper?” “If Ava hadn’t been supporting him all these years, he’d probably be begging on the streets. Maybe some rich old lady would pick him up as a pet she could beat whenever she wanted.” “Ava gave him plenty of respect, and he still dared to ditch the wedding? He needs to be taught a harsh lesson.” Hearing this, Ava flashed a satisfied smile. She bent down slightly, grabbing my chin, her tone dripping with contempt. “Behave yourself. You should be thanking Caleb for saving the day for you.” How could she humiliate me like this? Tears streamed down my face, but then I started to laugh, my whole body shaking. Seeing me like this, seemingly losing my mind, Ava casually looked away. She deliberately made me watch as she and Caleb exchanged wedding rings, then embraced and kissed deeply amidst waves of applause. Accompanied by my own enraged screams. The kiss ended, their lips slightly red and glistening. Caleb’s eyes were full of lust. Seeing the anguish in my eyes, he pulled Ava even tighter. His gaze towards me was pure provocation. Ava waved her hand, signaling the bodyguards to release me. She ordered me coldly, “Behave yourself later. Run interference with the drinks for us. I won’t hold being late against you anymore.” I suppressed the fury inside me, just wanting to get out of there quickly. My heart, already riddled with holes, felt so tired. I tried to walk away, but Ava blocked my path again. “Are you deaf?” My ice-cold gaze fell on their intertwined hands. A sarcastic sneer appeared on my lips. “The illegitimate daughter and the homewrecker – a perfect match. You two deserve each other. Just stay locked down and don’t ruin anyone else’s life.” The mockery in my words made both their faces change instantly. Ava, furious, pointed her finger at my nose, scolding, “Can’t you stop being so petty? The wedding is just a meaningless ceremony! The man who will legally marry me, my lawful husband, will only be you, Ethan.” Seeing me flustered, Caleb’s triumphant gaze filled his eyes. He eagerly added fuel to the fire, “Ava’s right. The wedding is just for show, for outsiders.” “If you’re still mad, you can hit me to blow off steam.” Saying this, Caleb leaned his handsome, pretty-boy face closer. I smirked slightly and rewarded him with a loud, sharp slap across the face. Caleb looked up, stunned, his cheek already swelling where I’d hit him. A flash of malice crossed his eyes. His face gradually turned red. Clenching his teeth, he managed to force a smile. Seeing him get hit, Ava flew into a rage and swung a slap at me. After this, I finally saw through her cold, heartless nature. With no lingering affection left, why would I just stand there and take a slap? I dodged it, meeting her surprised gaze. I tugged at the corner of my mouth and turned to leave the wedding venue. Threatening words followed me from behind. “If you dare take one step out of here, we’re breaking up, effective immediately!” She used to always use breaking up to control me, banking on my love for her. But now I was planning to leave her world. The leverage built on love was useless against me now. 3. I had given up my family, staying alone in this city, willingly devoted to Ava for seven years. Only to be mocked by her friends and family as a kept man, a loser, leeching off a woman to survive. This time, I was really leaving. I dialed that familiar number. Forcing down the surging, bitter emotions, I pretended to be casual, saying lightly, “Cut the funding. I’ll be leaving the country ASAP.” In three days, I would completely disappear from Ava’s world, never to meet again for the rest of our lives. After getting my head wound treated at the hospital, I returned to the home I had personally decorated for us. Forcing myself to stay awake, I threw away everything that belonged to me, just like myself – alone. From now on, there would be no trace of me left in Ava’s world. Late at night, I curled up on the sofa, burning with fever, feeling miserable. I was about to get up and turn on the lights, planning to go to the hospital. In the darkness, the firmly shut front door opened. Two voices, panting with arousal, intertwined. Even though I had warned myself internally, seeing the scene unfold before me still sent a shameful pang of pain through my heart. Ava and Caleb were tangled together, their kissing sounds like claps of thunder striking deep into my soul. I silently watched the passionate scene playing out. “Baby, I can’t wait anymore. Give yourself to me, please? I’ll be good to you.” Caleb chuckled lewdly, eagerly trying to pull off Ava’s clothes. Ava made a show of protesting playfully, hitting him lightly a few times. Clearly playing hard to get. We dated for seven years, lived together for five. I had always cherished her too much to touch her. I wanted to save that respect and value for our wedding night. But her? She couldn’t wait to bring someone back to our home, fooling around right there in the entryway. How pathetic. Just as they were about to cross the line, I abruptly flipped on the lights. It startled Caleb so much he almost went limp from fright. I chuckled nonchalantly, clapping my hands in front of them. “Quite the show tonight. Caught you red-handed, cheating.” My words stung Ava, her face paling slightly. Being caught in such a private act, even her thick skin couldn’t handle it. Her lips trembled, her face turning from white to red. Caleb pulled her into his arms, comforting her softly, then looked up at me, his eyes filled with hatred. “Ava already broke up with you. This is her house. Get the hell out.” I had seen everything just now. My stomach churned violently. Ava’s nose was red from crying, but the words she spoke sent a chill down my spine. “You’ve loved me for so many years. Can’t you even tolerate this little thing?” “Where else can you go if you leave me?” “Just be good and listen. We’ll go get legally married in a while.” ‘Be good and listen’ again. She always wanted to control my thoughts, my soul, make me live like a puppet on a string. I wasn’t her pet. I clenched my fists in anger, my body trembling uncontrollably. A coldness escaped my lips. I stared intently at the face I had loved day and night. Hating myself for being so blind, for falling in love with such a faithless woman. Sorrow wrapped around my heart like dense wires, suffocating me. I felt sick. My voice turned icy, “I agree to the breakup. From now on, we are strangers.” As soon as I said it, Ava’s expression darkened instantly. Caleb, however, looked thrilled, thinking he could finally latch onto the wealthy CEO. Endless riches would soon be his. “Ethan, I’m not discussing this with you. I’m informing you.” My head felt increasingly heavy and sick. I couldn’t be bothered wasting my breath on her. Ignoring her words, I turned to leave. But they blocked the door. Ava’s face darkened as she snapped at me. “Listen to me! Go back to your room and stay there. What’s the big deal? Everyone plays around sometimes. Just turn a blind eye.” Her brows furrowed, her eyes glaring at me with hostility. Knowing I was weak, running a high fever in the middle of the night. She ordered Caleb to drag me into the room and lock the door, only letting me out when I was ready to admit I was wrong. Even my phone, my only connection to the outside world, was confiscated. My forehead was covered in cold sweat. I curled up, feeling incredibly sick. From the next room came sounds of moaning, like relentless raindrops, washing over my already shattered heart again and again. 4. I drifted in and out of consciousness. I don’t know how much time passed before the door finally opened. Caleb kicked my head aggressively, his voice unable to hide his excitement. “Well, look who’s still alive. Be smart and get out of the way. Ava can only be mine. Even her first time was with me.” “You protected her for seven years, didn’t even dare touch her, yet she willingly let me. As another man, I even feel sorry for you.” Finished speaking, Caleb leaned close to my ear, his laughter seeming to seep in from everywhere, constantly reminding me of this humiliation. Not long after, Ava, clearly exhausted from her night’s activities, walked awkwardly out of the room. Burning with fever all night, plus the wound on the back of my head splitting open again… I opened my mouth, my voice hoarse, calling to her, “Give me my phone. I need to go to the hospital.” Hearing my voice, Ava raised an eyebrow in surprise, looking down at me. A satisfied smile appeared on her face again as she asked, “Learned your lesson?” “I’m tired of this faking-sickness act. Get up and make us breakfast.” A wave of desolation washed over me. My cheeks were flushed red from the fever; anyone who wasn’t blind could see it. Consciousness faded again. The last thing I saw was Ava’s enraged face as her hand came flying towards me in a slap. It wasn’t until the next day that I slowly regained consciousness. I was lying on the cold floor. There was a patch of white dampness on my chest, smelling faintly of bitter medicine. She hadn’t even bothered to take me to the hospital, just poured some medicine down my throat and left me lying on the floor, not caring if I lived or died. When I moved my jaw, a sharp pain shot through my face. I pushed myself up from the floor and walked to the mirror. My face was swollen like a balloon. Clear finger marks were imprinted on it. I instinctively clenched my fists. Seven long years, I gave everything, yet I didn’t even deserve basic respect. My phone, tossed on the floor, vibrated a few times. I picked it up. Caleb had sent several pictures and videos of him and Ava kissing, every message dripping with bragging. They had gone on their honeymoon. The honeymoon I had looked forward to for seven years, she casually gave it to another man. The three days were up. This reunion, seven years overdue, had finally arrived. I threw away the SIM card. The last moment before deleting my messaging app, my blurred vision focused on the pinned chat. Seven years of love. Let it have a proper end. [Goodbye!] After sending the farewell message, I boarded the plane without looking back. From now on, I was free as a bird. I would no longer be her caged pet. 5. During the time I was unreachable, Ava received the farewell message and panicked, as if she had lost the most important person in her life. She became obsessed, dropping everything to search for any trace of me. Tears of regret streamed down her face. Completely unaware of this, after a flight of over ten hours, I landed in a completely unfamiliar country.

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Megan Vance’s sloppy mistake on the price quote cost the company a fortune, and now they were demanding huge compensation. To win back the contract, I had to go to this awful dinner meeting to apologize, forced to drink until I was practically sick, a gut-wrenching, humiliating apology. After smoothing things over, Megan cooed promises of a huge, lavish wedding. But the day before we were supposed to get married, I saw her, already in a wedding dress, throwing herself into Kevin Sloan’s arms. When I confronted her, she just shrugged it off. “You’re just a small-town guy trying to play in the big leagues. What makes you think I’d actually marry you?” “Besides, Kevin’s father is a Director. He’s in a totally different league than you.” “But… if you’re still really into me, I guess I could let you stick around.” Was Megan actually asking me to be her side piece? That slap wasn’t just loud; it shattered whatever was left between us. I turned my back on her and agreed to marry my childhood sweetheart, Evelyn Reed, heiress to the Reed fortune. Unbelievably, our weddings ended up scheduled for the same day, at the very same hotel. As I approached the hotel entrance, Megan, flanked by a crowd of our former colleagues, blocked my path. “Liam Miller, are you seriously trying to crash my wedding? Let me tell you, I won’t let anyone ruin my perfect day with Kevin.” “Since you’re so desperate for attention, why don’t you get on your knees right here and apologize to Kevin in front of everyone?” The crowd around us started jeering and egging her on. Megan kicked the back of my knee, forcing me down, and even started trying to rip my clothes off to humiliate me further. It wasn’t until Ms. Reed herself arrived that Megan stopped, plastering on a fake, fawning smile. “Ms. Reed! My ex is having some kind of breakdown, claiming he’s your husband. Don’t worry, I’m handling it. So… about that Northgate contract, do you think we could sign off on it?” … A crane accident near the subway had shut down traffic, so Evelyn and I had to take separate routes to the venue. When I finally got to the hotel, I was about to get out of the car. Just as I opened the door, I saw Megan, beaming, arm-in-arm with Kevin Sloan, walking into the hotel. My hand froze. I didn’t get out immediately. I couldn’t believe we were getting married on the same day. Ever since I’d cut ties with Megan, I’d wanted nothing more to do with her. Especially not today, on my own wedding day. I didn’t need that kind of bad luck. “Liam! Big brother! Over here!” A cute little girl darted towards me from nearby, yanking open my car door. “Brother, you’re here! Why aren’t you getting out?” Annie’s voice was loud, instantly catching Megan’s attention. She’d opened the door so fast I had no time to react. Suddenly, I was making eye contact with Megan across the short distance. Megan’s initially bright expression twisted into rage. She stormed over, pushed Annie aside, and yanked me out of the Lincoln sedan. “Liam Miller, how long are you going to keep harassing me?” Then her eyes landed on the groom’s ribbon pinned to my suit. Her pupils dilated, then she let out a contemptuous laugh. “Wow, you really are pathetic. It’s my wedding day, and you show up trying to crash it.” I forcefully pushed Megan’s hand off me and pulled Annie up from the ground, shielding her. Before I could even explain, Megan glared at me, spitting venom. “Liam, today is the most important day of Kevin’s and my life. If you dare cause trouble, don’t blame me for what happens!” Guests nearby started whispering: “How shameless can Liam be, trying to crash the wedding?” “If it weren’t for his screw-up with that quote, we wouldn’t have lost our year-end bonuses!” “Yeah, but you still have a job thanks to him, right? He’s the one who had to sleep with those execs from the client’s side to save the deal.” “Men and women, I heard. Can his skinny frame even handle that?” “Ugh, Liam’s so dirty. Just breathing the same air as him makes me sick. And he dares to crash her wedding.” Listening to their degrading comments, I trembled with fury. Megan had pinned everything on me. Just then, Kevin Sloan emerged from the crowd. His disdainful gaze shifted when he saw the bouquet in my hands, and his eyes lit up. “Megan, honey, how about I give you this bouquet from him?” 2 The bouquet I held was custom-made, ordered specially by Evelyn from France. It was incredibly expensive, interwoven with delicate, pure gold filigree roses. The unique craftsmanship and costly flowers made it sparkle in the sunlight. Megan had looked slightly guilty when she heard people blaming me for the quote error. But the next second, seeing I even had a bouquet prepared, her expression turned back to scorn. “Liam, there’s no way I’m marrying you. Just give me the bouquet; consider it your contribution to our wedding.” “After all, you love me so much, you wouldn’t want to embarrass me, right?” I stared at Megan, stunned. How could the girl I once knew, who was always kind and helpful, turn into this? I sighed, about to speak, when Annie darted out from behind me and gave Kevin a shove. “You big bully! Why are you trying to steal my sister’s bouquet?” “My sister had this specially made by a master artist in France!” Annie was small, so Kevin just stumbled slightly before regaining his balance. He looked down at her with disgust. “Where did this grimy little kid come from? Careful you don’t dirty my custom-made suit. It cost thousands.” Annie, Evelyn’s little sister, probably spent thousands on pocket money daily. She tilted her head, genuinely curious, and asked me, “Brother, his suit is so cheap, is he really worried about getting it dirty?” Kevin flushed crimson with rage, his finger practically poking Annie’s eye. I immediately pulled Annie behind me, my voice sharp. “Megan, I’m not here to crash your wedding.” Megan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a cold smile playing on her lips. “Liam, still putting on an act even now?” “If you’re not here to crash the wedding, why are you here, dressed like a groom?” “Don’t tell me you’re also getting married here, at the Grand Excelsior Hotel?” I nodded. A wave of laughter erupted from the crowd. “Seriously? What a low-class move. He probably doesn’t even know how exclusive the Grand Excelsior is. How dare he try to associate himself with it?” “If it weren’t for Kevin Sloan being the Director’s son, none of us would probably ever get to see the inside of this place.” “Exactly. Thank God Kevin went and begged Ms. Reed. Otherwise, Liam probably thinks taking off his clothes a few times is enough to land a contract.” Many of those talking were my former colleagues, people I had helped numerous times. Now, they were twisting the truth, slinging mud at me without a second thought. Megan watched me with a smirk, waiting until the ridicule died down before speaking. “You come from nothing, dirtied yourself with God knows who, men and women… Who else would want you besides me?” “Alright, stop pretending. Give the bouquet to Kevin, and I’ll allow you to stay for the reception.” She reached out to snatch the bouquet. Annie, who had been pampered her whole life and never treated this way, reacted instantly, rushing forward to protect me. She pulled the half-finished juice box from her little backpack and splashed it all over Megan. Caught off guard, Megan’s suit was soaked. Her face turned terrifyingly dark. But Annie, oblivious to the danger, clapped her hands excitedly. “I got the bad guy! I got the bad guy!” “Such a naughty little brat. Needs to be taught a lesson,” Megan hissed, her voice dripping ice. She waved her hand, and several large, burly men suddenly surrounded us, grabbing Annie in seconds. I tried to stop them but Megan slapped me hard, sending me stumbling to the ground. Seeing Annie about to be dragged away, I forgot everything else and yelled, “She’s Evelyn Reed’s sister!” 3 Everyone froze for a second. Just when I thought Megan would let Annie go, she burst out laughing. “Evelyn Reed’s sister? Don’t tell me you’re going to claim you’re dressed like this today to marry Evelyn Reed?” I nodded grimly. “Now that you know, let Annie go… Ahh—” Before I could finish, Megan slapped me again, hard, her teeth clenched. “Still playing games at a time like this? Looks like you won’t learn your lesson until you’re taught one.” She raised her hand again, ready to strike. This time, Kevin stopped her. “Alright, Megan. It’s our wedding day. Let’s not waste time on this lowlife.” Then his tone shifted. “Why don’t we take this opportunity to make Liam write a resignation letter? Saves me the trouble of seeing his face at the office later.” Although Megan had publicly claimed she saved the Southbridge project contract, upper management knew perfectly well it was signed only after I met with the client. The commission was rightfully mine. But if I resigned, it would all go to Megan and Kevin. Megan’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. She immediately started forcing me to write the resignation letter. When I refused, Megan pinched Annie’s chubby cheek hard, threatening, “Such a young child. What if she got a little scar on her face, or maybe lost an arm or a leg? Who knows if she’d even survive after that…” I couldn’t believe it. Megan was using a child to threaten me, just for some commission money. Annie started crying, terrified, calling my name. Megan snatched the bouquet from my hand and presented it to Kevin like a trophy. Ignoring that, I looked straight at Megan, my voice flat. “If I write the resignation letter, will you let Annie go?” Megan nodded, a mocking smile on her face. “Believe it or not. It’s not like you have any other choice, do you?” “I warned you, Annie is Evelyn Reed’s sister. And I am marrying Evelyn Reed today. You’re humiliating her fiancé and her sister like this. Aren’t you afraid of her retaliation?” The crowd roared with laughter again. “Has Liam lost his mind? He came to crash the wedding, realized Megan didn’t want him, saw Ms. Reed was also getting married here, and suddenly decided he’s marrying her?” “I bet he doesn’t even know who Ms. Reed really is. She’s the Evelyn Reed, the most powerful heiress in the city. Ruthless. Nobody dares to cross her. Liam pretending to be her fiancé? He must have a death wish.” “That Southbridge project was with her company’s subsidiary. That’s why the commission was so high.” Understanding dawned on the onlookers, and their gazes turned even more contemptuous. The pen trembled in my hand. Humiliation and fury washed over me. The moment I finished the last word, Megan snatched the paper away, glanced at it with satisfaction, and handed it to Kevin. “Now, can you let Annie go?” But Megan’s lips curved into a cruel smile. “Let her go? She threw juice on my suit. Doesn’t she need to apologize?” Annie and I were alone, cornered. I didn’t want to prolong this. I apologized immediately. Megan snorted. “Just a quick ‘sorry’ is enough?” I clenched my jaw, staring hard at her. “What else do you want?” Megan sneered, kicked the back of my knee again, and laughed coldly. “An apology requires the right attitude. I want you kneeling when you apologize to me.” I was forced onto one knee, but I refused to bow my head completely. I was about to become Mr. Reed. My humiliation was Evelyn’s humiliation. Megan clearly didn’t expect me to be so stubborn, refusing to fully kneel even after being kicked. She reached out again, trying to force my head down. In the struggle, the sleeve of my jacket rode up, revealing a collection of expensive watches on my wrist. Kevin’s eyes widened, instantly shouting: “Well, well, Megan! So you spent money buying Liam all these fancy watches? I want you to take every single one of them off him right now!” 4 Megan froze. She knew perfectly well she hadn’t bought me these watches. Suddenly, she flew into a rage, kicking me hard in the chest. Sharp pain exploded, nearly making me black out. All I could hear was Megan’s furious voice. “So you didn’t just whore yourself out to other women, you took their gifts too?” “Liam Miller, you are utterly shameless! You make me sick.” Even as she spat the words, her eyes greedily scanned my arm. Impatiently, she ripped up my other sleeve. Seeing more limited-edition watches there, her eyes practically glowed. Kevin sneered. “Megan, those watches look exactly like the ones that were stolen from me.” I looked up in disbelief. What was he talking about? These were all limited-edition pieces Evelyn had tracked down for me through various channels after learning I collected watches. Most people couldn’t even get their hands on them. But Megan instantly understood Kevin’s ploy. She yelled loudly: “Liam Miller, I never thought you were this kind of person! You actually snuck into my place and stole the watches I bought for Kevin!” She lunged, trying to rip the watches off my wrists. I fought back desperately, but Annie was still her hostage, and I was no match for several large bodyguards. Soon, I was pinned to the ground, my pristine suit stained and dirty, my entire appearance utterly wretched. To prove her point to Kevin, Megan personally started yanking the watches off. Most of them had been custom-fitted by Evelyn to my size. They fit perfectly, and their clasps were intricate. Megan had no idea how to remove them properly. But she didn’t care about hurting me. She just ripped them off with brute force. My sharp cries of pain accompanied each watch she triumphantly handed to Kevin. Annie screamed from the side, “I’m gonna tell my sister! She’ll make you pay!” But no one paid any attention to a little girl’s threats. Soon, both my wrists were raw and bleeding, scraped horribly by the forced removal. I gasped in pain but refused to beg for mercy. “Can you let Annie go now?” I struggled to sit up, wanting only to get Annie away from them. But Kevin suddenly blocked me, eyeing me maliciously. He drawled, “Megan, you think maybe Liam stole the other things I’m missing too?” “Why don’t we strip him down and see if he’s hiding anything else under his clothes? We wouldn’t want them turning up in his possession later, making things awkward, right?” Megan nodded readily. Ignoring my struggles, she reached out and ripped my dress shirt open down the front. A cold draft hit my chest, exposing large patches of skin marked with intimate-looking bruises or hickeys. Instinctively, I tried to cover myself, but my bleeding hands wouldn’t cooperate, I couldn’t lift them properly. The crowd leered, making crude jokes. My former colleagues were the loudest. “I always knew Liam was trash. He used to hit on me all the time back at the office.” “He probably got those marks from all the men and women he’s been with, right?” “…” The vile comments rained down, filling me with shame and agony. But apparently, this wasn’t enough for Kevin. He wanted me to suffer more. He pulled out his phone, grinning wickedly. “Liam, don’t say I never did anything for you. I’m about to make you famous. Going live right now!” Kevin’s eyes glinted with malice, fixed on me. I covered my face, trembling with helpless rage. If looks could kill, Kevin would be dead a hundred times over. But I was alone, surrounded by people enjoying my humiliation. Just as despair washed over me, a cool, commanding female voice cut through the air: “Who dares cause trouble at my wedding?”

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It was the New Year’s Eve party. Someone swapped my pineapple juice for a beer. The problem? I had just taken antibiotics that day. I barely made it after they rushed me to the hospital. When I came to, my wife, Chloe, was shielding the guy who did it. “Let this go, Ethan. Be the bigger person. He didn’t mean it.” I wasn’t about to let this guy—the one who’d been way too close to my wife for comfort—off the hook. Chloe cut me off, frowning. “Enough! He just graduated, he’s just a kid who doesn’t know any better. Why are you picking on him?” “Do you have to ruin his life to be happy?” Seeing her defend him like that, my heart turned to ash. “Then maybe you two should be together.” … “What do you mean, we should be together?! Ethan, can you stop being so petty? What’s wrong with a boss caring about her employee? And you twist it into this? You ruined a perfectly good New Year’s party!” My words hit a nerve. Flustered, Chloe lashed out, trying to sound tough. I let out a cold laugh. “Oh really? Some ‘caring’. Seems like you care more about him than your own husband. When I collapsed at the party, you were the one who stepped back, weren’t you?” Chloe froze for a second, then visibly tried to calm herself down, forcing her anger back. “Ethan, I know you’re upset. I promise I’ll discipline Sam. I’ll give you an outcome you’re satisfied with. But calling the cops? That’s completely unnecessary. He just graduated college…” “How are you planning to discipline him?” Having just stared death in the face, everything suddenly felt crystal clear. A dull ache throbbed in my temples. I cut through her rambling. Chloe blinked, then mumbled, “Dock his pay for three days.” “…I almost died, and you want to dock three days’ pay?!” I couldn’t believe it. I almost laughed out of sheer anger. “Enough! He didn’t do it on purpose! He’s just a kid fresh out of college, how much money do you think he has? He has rent, bills… this is already serious! How is he supposed to live next month?!” Chloe’s face turned ugly. She clearly wanted me to drop it. But I had lost all interest in talking to her. I pulled out my phone to call 911. Just graduated? Sorry, old enough means old enough to take responsibility for your actions. I’d barely dialed a few numbers when Chloe snatched the phone from my hand, hanging up and yelling. “Do you really have to destroy his future?! He’s so young! What does he know?!” “I just want to tell the police the facts. He knows exactly what he did.” My brow furrowed. I reached to grab my phone back. The tension in the hospital room was thick. Neither of us would back down. Knock, knock, knock. The door opened. It was Sam, holding a fruit basket. He had a couple of perfectly placed tears on his cheeks. He entered the room looking timid and scared, bowing his head in apology the moment he met my gaze. “I’m so sorry, Ethan. This is all my fault. I’m really, truly sorry.” “Sam, quick, sit down.” Chloe immediately rushed to welcome him, taking the fruit basket and patting his shoulder. “Look at you, spending money like this. Ethan’s fine, really. What are you crying for? Don’t be scared.” “Sorry, Chloe. I caused you so much trouble.” That only made it worse. Sam’s eyes reddened further as if he really was terrified. His choked sob made Chloe’s heart ache even more. As tears welled up, he glanced up at me, a flicker of triumph in his eyes. I frowned, about to tell him to cut the act, but the next second, he dropped to his knees in front of my hospital bed with a thud. He bowed his head and spoke through tears. “I’m sorry, Ethan, I’m really sorry. I didn’t know you’d taken medication. Switching the drinks… it was just… for the atmosphere. I honestly didn’t mean anything else by it.” “Sam! What are you doing?! Get up!” Chloe was stunned. She moved to pull him up, then turned to me, furious when she saw my expressionless face. “He’s like this! And you still don’t believe him?! Ethan, I never realized you could be so cold-hearted! Forgive him right now! Stop making things difficult for this kid! Sam… get up, please. I don’t want to see you like this either…” “I’m not getting up! Not until Ethan forgives me!” Tears streamed down Sam’s face as he knelt there, stubbornly demanding my forgiveness. My head throbbed. I couldn’t be bothered watching his performance. Seeing me still unmoved, Chloe marched over and slapped me hard across the face. “Ethan! You son of a bitch!” Smack! It happened so fast. My right cheek burned. That slap completely extinguished the last spark of feeling I had left for her. 2 Chloe and I met in college. We were classmates in the finance program. Our university’s finance department was one of the best in the country. Most students there had family with “connections” and “backgrounds,” but Chloe was different. She got in purely through her own hard work and planned to build her future from scratch. That determination drew me in almost instantly. Getting together with her felt inevitable. I pursued her. I learned a lot from her too. My family never thought much of Chloe. When we graduated, they’d already picked out a suitable bride for an arranged marriage, figuring Chloe was just a phase I’d get over before coming home. But youth is rebellious. That fire I had back then is long gone now. I fought with my family and chose Chloe. Looking back, we’ve been married for three years, together for five. In those three years, Chloe’s career took off, thanks in part to my help. There was a time she stood up for me just like she was standing up for Sam today. She once yelled at a condescending business partner who was trying to force drinks on me. She used to cook for me late at night. I truly believed Chloe and I would spend our lives together. Our life got better, but the feelings faded. Ever since Sam joined the company as an intern assistant, Chloe’s attitude towards me took a nosedive. I heard she specifically requested to have Sam transferred to work directly under her. After that, she was constantly traveling for work or working late, and Sam was always with her. The official reason was “developing his skills.” I wondered just what “skills” were being developed. It got to the point where rumors started flying around the office these past few months, suggesting Sam wasn’t just getting mentored, but that Chloe was involved with him. I was lost in thought when another slap hit me, just as hard. I slowly looked up at Chloe. She gritted her teeth, spitting out each word. “Ethan, accept Sam’s apology. Right now. Or I’ll make your life hell.” “Chloe, don’t hit him! Please don’t fight because of me!” Sam waited until after she hit me to intervene. Then, he decisively stood up, a look of resolve flashing across his face. “Ethan, since you still won’t forgive me, maybe I should just turn myself in. I’m willing to spend the rest of my life making amends for this!” With that, before we could react, he bolted out of the hospital room. “Sam! Where are you going?! Don’t do anything stupid!” Chloe frantically chased after him. Before leaving, she shot me a parting threat. “Ethan, if anything happens to him, I’ll never forgive you!” The door slammed shut, finally leaving the room quiet. I let out a long breath, feeling utterly exhausted. Of course, Sam wasn’t going to turn himself in. Everything he did today was calculated to drive a wedge between Chloe and me. It was such an obvious ploy, only Chloe would fall for it. Sure enough, a little while later, Chloe posted on social media. The picture was a scenic view not far from the hospital. Her caption read: “I’ll protect you forever.” She didn’t hide it from anyone. Just put it out there for the world to see. After chasing him out, she never came back to see me. I guess it made sense. I was out of danger, so there was no need. I laughed coldly, indifferent to her passive-aggressive provocation. My stomach had just been pumped the night before. I couldn’t eat anything, but I didn’t want to stay in the hospital either. I talked to the doctor about being discharged the next day. I packed my things and went home. Chloe was there. 3 “You’re back?” Chloe was sitting on the sofa. The moment she saw me, her smile vanished. Her tone was lukewarm, and she didn’t even ask how I was feeling. She clearly hadn’t expected me back so soon. She seemed to have been in a good mood before I opened the door, but my arrival instantly soured it. For a married couple to reach this point… we were truly just putting on a show. “Yeah, I’m back.” I replied casually, my tone equally flat. That’s when I noticed her posture seemed unconsciously tense. I frowned. The next moment, I heard the sound of the shower running in the bathroom. Someone else was home. “Who’s taking a shower?” Even though a suspicion had already formed in my mind, I still held onto a sliver of hope as I asked. But as soon as Chloe heard the question, her expression turned guarded, and she quickly forced an explanation. “It’s Sam. His water’s been shut off for a week, so I let him come over to shower after work. Don’t get the wrong idea, his water really is off.” “Got it. I wasn’t thinking anything.” My calm response actually seemed to throw her off. She studied my face, searching for any sign of anger. When she found none, she visibly relaxed. “Wow, you finally figured it out. Nice to see you’re not making a scene for once.” Making a scene? Is that how she saw my reactions all along? I didn’t reply. I walked straight into the bedroom, dragged a suitcase out of the closet, and started packing without a word. During this time, Chloe didn’t even peek in to check on me. As I packed, I realized how few things I actually owned after years of marriage. I’m not a particularly materialistic person. I left behind everything Chloe had given me and anything we owned jointly. I didn’t want them. I didn’t want the memories. When I finished packing and came out, Chloe was already drying Sam’s hair. She was kneeling on the sofa, laughing and chatting with him. Looking at them, they seemed like a genuinely loving couple. I felt completely out of place in my own home. Chloe’s back was to me, and the hairdryer was too loud for her to hear me approach. But Sam saw me the instant I stepped out of the room. He slowly looked up, a smug expression spreading across his face, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly. It was as if he was saying, See? You can’t win against me. My face remained blank. I didn’t want to win, nor did I feel like I had lost. I just quietly watched Chloe patiently and gently drying Sam’s hair, her expression soft. I couldn’t remember the last time she’d looked at me like that. So, it wasn’t work stress making her lash out at me at home. It was just that her tenderness was reserved for someone else. The hairdryer switched off. Chloe turned, saw me, and her expression tightened. She quickly explained. “Just drying his hair. Didn’t want him to catch a cold with wet hair and miss work tomorrow.” “I know. You don’t have to tell me everything.” My casual, indifferent reply gave Sam another opening. He adopted a timid look. “Ethan, I guess I’m not welcome here… I should probably go.” He made a show of getting ready to leave, and Chloe immediately stopped him. “You just showered. Going out now, you’ll catch a cold!” “I didn’t say you weren’t welcome. I’m the one who’s extra here. You can stay. I’m leaving.” I grabbed my suitcase from the bedroom and headed straight for the door. Seeing this, Chloe’s face darkened, and she stepped in front of me to block my way. “Ethan, what are you doing? I knew something was up when you came home acting so calm. What kind of scheme is this?!” A faint, ironic smile touched my lips. I really couldn’t be bothered to guess what kind of image Sam’s manipulations had painted of me in Chloe’s eyes. I looked at her calmly, my voice devoid of emotion. “No scheme, Chloe. Check your email soon. I’ll be sending you the divorce papers.” 4 “You want to divorce me?!” Unexpectedly, hearing those words didn’t make Chloe explode with rage. Instead, she frowned, a hint of confusion in her expression. “Ethan, you have no reason to divorce me. All I did was look out for Sam, practically like a little brother. If you want a divorce over this, I can only assume you don’t love me anymore, that you never really cared.” “Think whatever you want. The divorce is happening.” I didn’t even glance at her. Arguing at this point was meaningless. My unwavering attitude seemed to finally make something click for Chloe. She initially thought I was just “making a scene” like before, but now she realized I was serious. She instinctively reached out and grabbed my arm. “Ethan, stop messing around. Let’s just talk…” I yanked my arm away, a deep look of disgust flashing across my face. “Don’t touch me!” With that, I turned to leave. Thrown off balance, Chloe stumbled back, her anger finally igniting. She yelled after me. “Ethan! Where are you going to go without me?! Back to your family? Don’t forget, you cut ties with your family years ago!” “Get back here! Did I say I agreed to this divorce?!” I acted as if I hadn’t heard a word. I got in my car and drove straight to the office. After packing up my desk, I went to HR and submitted my resignation. “Uh… Ethan, are you sure about resigning?” The HR person saw my blank expression and probably guessed what was happening. She held the form, asking tentatively. “Yes.” I understood her hesitation. Everyone in the company knew I was the husband of the CEO, Chloe. Although she always claimed to keep business and personal life separate, there was inevitably office gossip. Sure enough, a troubled look crossed the HR person’s face. “Well… I can’t really approve this myself. Maybe we should wait for Ms. Hayes to get back?” (Assuming Hayes as Chloe’s Americanized surname). “No need. My position doesn’t require her sign-off. Just process it through the usual channels.” Chloe founded this company five years ago. I was one of the first employees back when there were only about ten of us. I wore multiple hats – tech guy, running errands, handling sales. I worked incredibly hard for a long time. But in the last couple of years, as the company started doing well, Chloe kept me in this low-level position, earning a basic salary. It was even less than what Sam made as her personal assistant. The HR person sighed helplessly. Technically, my position didn’t require CEO approval. She signed the form, probably just hoping Chloe’s eventual wrath wouldn’t land on her. I went back to my desk, picked up the cardboard box with my belongings, and walked out. As I left, I saw the pitying looks from my colleagues and heard their hushed whispers. “He’s really… leaving?” “I actually liked Ethan… When I first started, he was the one who taught me everything about sales.” “It’s because of Ms. Hayes’s new assistant, isn’t it… She really has been a bit too…” Hearing their words didn’t change my expression one bit. Just as I stepped out of the building, I saw Chloe arriving with Sam. When she saw me holding the box, she immediately flew into a rage. “Ethan, how long are you going to keep this up?! You want to leave me that badly?! You’re even quitting the company?!” “Ethan, calm down. I heard you’ve been with this company for years… Don’t be impulsive.” I completely ignored Sam’s attempts to stir the pot, not even giving him a glance. Seeing my indifference, Chloe took several deep breaths, struggling to contain her fury. “Fine! Fine! You’re dead set on divorcing me, aren’t you? Then let’s do it! I’ll sign the papers right away! Ethan, just don’t you regret this!” Hearing this, I stopped walking, finally showing a reaction. “Since you’re signing, let’s go to the courthouse this afternoon.” That same afternoon, Chloe and I finalized the divorce. She was clearly still furious and left immediately with Sam. I didn’t bother trying to talk to her further. I was just relieved it was over so quickly. Standing outside the courthouse, I took a deep breath, pulled out my phone, and dialed a number I hadn’t called more than a few times in three years. It rang twice before a somewhat stern voice answered, sounding surprised. “Hello? Ethan?” I pressed my lips together, then spoke, my voice hoarse. “…Dad? Mom? I want to come home.”

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Christmas Day. My daughter lay in the hospital, burned by fireworks, desperately needing money for surgery, while my CEO wife was busy celebrating with her childhood friend and his daughter. She tossed a hundred-dollar bill at me dismissively. “It’s just a little burn, not a big deal. Slap some ointment on it. I’m busy!” Later, because we missed the optimal treatment window, my daughter died. My wife, however, lost her mind. She sold her company, ready to spend her entire fortune to buy the lives of her childhood friend and his family. 1 I manage a trendy restaurant, and on Christmas Day, business was absolutely insane. Just as I was completely swamped, my mom called me frantically. “Son, get to the hospital, now! Lily got burned by fireworks down by the riverbank! She needs help! Mom doesn’t know how to wire money online, you have to come save Lily!” My mind went blank. I bolted out of the restaurant, flagged down a cab, and raced towards the hospital. I anxiously watched the map on my phone while frantically calling my wife, Vivian Sterling. Over a dozen calls, every single one went straight to voicemail or said unavailable. It wasn’t until I reached the door of the emergency room that Vivian finally picked up, immediately launching into a tirade. “I’m busy! What’s with the dozen calls? Are you trying to kill me? Trying to jinx someone?” “Vivian…” I was shaking uncontrollably, struggling to speak. “Wire me some money… Li-Lily got burned… she needs emergency surgery…” “Every time you call, it’s about money! Leo, are you obsessed? I’m a person, not your personal ATM! Aren’t you ashamed of freeloading all the time, you loser!” My daughter, lying on the hospital bed, had already lost consciousness. Her feet were bare, her small body covered in black and red burns. The fireworks had burned through her pajamas, the fibers melted into every wound. Each time the doctor cleaned away a piece of charred cloth, the raw flesh beneath would ooze blood and yellow fluid. I collapsed to my knees, curling into a ball, pleading desperately. “I’m a loser, I’m worthless… Say whatever you want about me, Vivian, I’m begging you. All my money is with you. Please, just wire the money. Lily really can’t hold on much longer…” Vivian always said men turn bad if they have money. Even though she, as a corporate CEO, was loaded, she demanded I hand over my entire paycheck every month, leaving me just two hundred bucks for gas and cigarettes. But my words only seemed to infuriate her more. She shrieked, “I knew you had a problem with giving me your paycheck! Fine! So you’re using our daughter to try and scam money out of me, is that it? How bad can a burn be? Just put some cream on it. I’m in a good mood today, I’ll send you a hundred bucks. Be grateful for that!” Vivian regularly donated thousands to animal shelters. I was about to beg her for more, but she quickly hung up. Then, my number was blocked. I couldn’t reach her anymore. A doctor rushed out. “Family member! The child’s condition isn’t good. Her heart rate and blood pressure are dropping steadily. We need to operate immediately. Aren’t you going to pay the deposit?” Looking at the $100 notification from Vivian and the ten thousand dollars – my mom’s entire savings – in her account, I completely broke down. “Yes! Doctor, just give me three minutes! I’ll borrow the money! Save my daughter!” 2 After getting a three-month advance on my salary from the restaurant owner, Lily was finally wheeled into the operating room. I helped my mom to the waiting area for a sip of water. Just then, Vivian’s assistant, Jason, strolled over casually. “Mr. Evans, you seem quite relaxed,” he drawled. “Isn’t Lily burned? How come I don’t see her responsible father taking care of her? Good thing Ms. Sterling is smart and saw through your little trick. Otherwise, you would have ruined a perfectly lovely Christmas for her, Mark, and little Chloe!” Hearing this, I froze. Chloe. That was the name of the daughter of Vivian’s childhood friend, Mark Chandler. So, while our daughter was fighting for her life, desperately needing money she controlled, Vivian was busy celebrating Christmas with another man and his daughter. My fists clenched as I fought down the rage boiling inside me. “Where is Vivian? Why isn’t she here?” “Hah.” Jason scoffed, tossing a plastic bag at my chest. “It’s just a minor burn. Why bother Ms. Sterling herself? She was kind enough to buy you guys some food and had me deliver it. She also told me to tell you: your daughter isn’t an excuse to ask for money. If something like this happens again, she’ll divorce you!” I sank weakly onto the chair. This wasn’t the first time. In Vivian’s heart, anything involving Mark Chandler always came first. Lily and I were always second priority. The year before last, when Lily started elementary school, I had pulled every string imaginable to get her into a good school. But then Chloe mentioned wanting to go to a prestigious private school, and Vivian gave Lily’s spot away without a second thought. Last year on Lily’s birthday, we had planned a family trip to the amusement park. But a call from Mark saying, “Chloe has a fever, need to go to the hospital,” was enough for Vivian to abandon us at the subway entrance. And today… our daughter’s life, in her eyes, wasn’t even as important as a holiday celebration! My mom sensed my turmoil and patted my shoulder. “Son, don’t let things fester between husband and wife. Lily’s in surgery now. Let’s just pretend today didn’t happen. She did think of you, sending food for you and Lily. Have a bite. Mom knows you’ve been running around and haven’t eaten.” I nodded, trying to suppress all the emotions churning inside me. But the moment I opened the plastic bag, my hands started shaking violently. My blood felt like it was boiling, crashing wildly through my veins, desperate for an outlet. Inside the container: extra spicy Cajun crab claws and a portion of blistered shishito peppers. Lily and I prefer mild food. We never eat anything spicy. More importantly, I recognized those blistered peppers instantly. They were a signature dish at the trendy restaurant I managed. Our restaurant wasn’t offering takeout or delivery today due to the Christmas rush. This food… it was their leftovers. Quickly, I pulled up the restaurant’s security camera feed on my phone. There, from earlier in the evening, while I was frantically coordinating orders in the kitchen, sat Vivian, Mark, and Chloe at the most secluded table. At home, Vivian always pushed Lily towards independence, making her sleep in her own room since she was four. But in the footage, she was patiently feeding Chloe spoonful by spoonful. When Chloe got restless, Vivian held her, making silly faces, playing games, her patience seemingly endless. Grinding my teeth, I was about to call and confront Vivian when the surgeon walked out of the OR, shaking his head. “I’m sorry. The child missed the critical window for treatment. We did everything we could…” 3 My mom couldn’t bear it and fainted on the spot. I bit my lip so hard it nearly bled, forcing myself to stay upright. I got my mom settled on an IV drip, completed Lily’s death certificate, kissed her cold little face one last time, and watched her being taken away by the funeral home van. Countless thoughts screamed in my head. I need to get back the money that’s rightfully mine from all these years, to give my daughter a proper funeral! I need to divorce the bitch who let my daughter die! I need to find out how my daughter, safe at home, ended up burned by fireworks. I need to make whoever is responsible pay! The cab back to the restaurant got stuck halfway. The driver sighed, lighting a cigarette. “Hey driver,” I asked, staring at the endless sea of red taillights ahead. “Why’s traffic so bad?” The driver sighed again. “You haven’t heard? Ms. Sterling, the CEO of Sterling Corp? For her daughter’s Christmas, she set up a row of thirty-foot-tall Christmas trees along both sides of this road! Word is, this is the route her daughter takes home. The lights just came on, tons of people are stopping to take pictures. We’ll probably be stuck here a while.” Too bad Lily was already dead. She would never see the surprise her mother prepared. My eyes stung fiercely. I quickly looked down to hide it. Suddenly, the sound of a microphone pierced through the traffic noise. “All 88 cash envelopes have been given out! Each one contains $888!” “To everyone who got an envelope, please join me in shouting loud and clear – Merry Christmas to little Chloe!” A deafening roar erupted from the crowd. The driver rolled down his window, watching with interest. I recognized the voice. It was Vivian. Quickly paying the driver through an app, I threw open the car door and started running frantically through the gridlocked traffic towards the crowd. The cold wind whipped tears and snot across my face. The image of my daughter, covered in wounds on the hospital bed, flashed in my mind. Her sweet, baby voice asking for hugs echoed in my ears… Just a few days ago, she had told me she wanted to prepare a Christmas surprise for Mommy. To save money for a small Christmas tree, she had smashed her little piggy bank, carefully picking up every quarter and dime, looking up at me with a bright smile. But she was dead! My sweet, well-behaved daughter was dead! My living, breathing daughter was gone! Amidst the bustling, festive Christmas crowd, she lay alone in a cold funeral home, while her own mother was showering someone else’s daughter with extravagant gifts! I don’t know how long I ran, but I finally saw Vivian. She, Mark, and Chloe stood on a makeshift stage, looking like a picture-perfect happy family. Chloe, in a princess dress, accepted a gift from Vivian. Mark, touched, took off his glasses and gave Vivian a big hug. The crowd below cheered and applauded wildly. Panting heavily, I walked towards them and yelled, “Vivian Sterling, get down here!” 4 Seeing me didn’t faze Vivian. She arrogantly flicked her hair back, crossed her arms, and approached me, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Is Lily’s little burn all better? Done pretending, you liar?” I took a deep breath, fighting back the urge to sob. “I never lied. Lily’s injuries were too severe… She didn’t make it…” “Hahahahaha!” Vivian burst out laughing as if she’d heard the funniest joke ever. She pointed at me, doubled over with laughter. “Look everyone! Can you believe this guy? Making up stories about his own daughter dying from a simple burn, just for money? Leo, have you gone completely broke and desperate? This is pathetic!” Whispers started rippling through the crowd. “That does sound kind of crazy… How can a burn be fatal? Never heard of that.” “So his daughter died, but what’s that got to do with Ms. Sterling? I’m a bit confused…” Scanning the onlookers, I forced a cold smile. “The ‘Ms. Sterling’ you’re talking about is my wife of ten years. It’s because she was too busy celebrating Christmas with someone else’s daughter that our daughter missed the critical treatment window and just died at the hospital!” “I want a divorce from Vivian Sterling, and it’s not about the money! After ten years of marriage, all I want is the salary I earned back. When my daughter died, she didn’t even have shoes on her feet. I want to use everything I have to give her a decent funeral, so she can rest in peace!” A sudden commotion erupted in the crowd. “Whoa! So the little girl in the dress isn’t even her daughter? I thought they were a happy family! Turns out this guy’s the other man!” “Man, taking this cash feels dirty now. I can’t believe Ms. Sterling is that kind of person!” Vivian, being a CEO and used to constant praise, couldn’t stand being criticized. She lunged forward. “If you think the free cash I gave you is dirty, you can give it right back! Don’t talk nonsense if you don’t know the whole story!” “Chloe’s father is my childhood friend! He’s divorced! As a friend of over twenty years, what’s wrong with me showing concern for a child from a single-parent home?” “Yes, legally, Leo and I are married. But I earn millions a year, while he’s just a manager at some small restaurant! He’s a total freeloader! The house, the cars – didn’t I buy everything? All I did was ask him to hand over his paycheck, and now he’s trying every trick in the book to get money out of me!” “Ladies here, don’t your husbands give you their paychecks? Don’t your husbands make up excuses to get cash from you to go out drinking with their buddies? But my husband uses the absurd lie that our daughter died from a burn to trick me! Who would believe such a ridiculous excuse?” “If anyone else has a problem, feel free to return the envelope you received! My conscience is clear, say whatever you want!” Perhaps because they had accepted her money, or perhaps because the wives in the crowd lumped me in with their own deadbeat husbands, their gazes turned scornful. A middle-aged woman in the front row pointed at me. “Pah! Ms. Sterling is right! Shame on you, a father using his daughter’s life like that! Tell us, how exactly did your daughter die from a burn?” I closed my eyes in pain. “It was fireworks… This evening, there was a firework display down by the riverbank. Lily was standing too close… she was burned by the burning fuel…” Loud jeers rose from the crowd. “Bullshit! No way fireworks can burn someone that badly!” Vivian rolled her eyes at me and started to turn away with the crowd. A young voice cut through the noise, sounding out of place. “He’s right, though. There were fireworks at the riverbank today! Didn’t you guys see them? And they were those super rare rainbow fireworks, really powerful. If you were standing right next to them, getting hit could definitely be fatal!” Hearing this, the crowd stopped and turned back to look at me. Vivian froze mid-step. She turned back slowly, disbelief etched on her face, her whole body starting to tremble with fear. Her lips moved silently, then she looked towards her assistant, Jason, behind her. “Rainbow fireworks? I’m the only one in the city who bought those… Tested them this afternoon at the riverbank… Could it be…?”

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After I got pregnant, I made up an excuse to break up with Ethan, successfully pulling off my “keep the baby, ditch the dad” plan. Two years later, pushing my kid out for some sun, I bumped into Ethan right at the entrance of my complex. We stared at each other, horrified, and blurted out at the same time: “You already had a kid with someone else?!” “Are you here to take my baby?!” 1 “Ava, honey, remember to take little Leo out for some sunshine every day. Don’t just stay cooped up inside, okay?” “Got it, Mom. We’ll head out in a bit.” Hanging up, I looked at the little guy who had just made a huge mess on the bed and was now giggling at me. I was torn between exasperation and adoration. Even though he’s my own flesh and blood, it doesn’t stop me from being grossed out by his… output. Mask on, I struggled to clean up the disaster zone. It took two exhausting hours. Usually, my mom and the nanny handle most of his care. But the nanny’s off for a few days, and Mom went on a trip with her friends, leaving me solely responsible for the little rascal. It’s genuinely exhausting and soul-crushing. If he wasn’t so darn cute, I’d seriously consider stuffing him back where he came from. Just before sunset, I pushed Leo in his stroller, planning a walk in the nearby park, but I spotted a familiar figure at the complex gate. His profile… looked an awful lot like Leo’s biological father… As if sensing my gaze, the man turned. Our eyes met, and simultaneous panic flashed across both our faces. We spoke at the exact same moment— “You already had a kid with someone else?!” “Are you here to take my baby?!” After the outburst, we both stood there, momentarily bewildered. Ethan tilted his head, confused. “Take… the baby?” Okay, looks like he still doesn’t know Leo is his. My mind raced. Playing it cool, I said, “Sorry, I guess motherhood’s made me a bit paranoid. Uh, fancy seeing you here. What brings you around?” Disappointment washed over Ethan’s face, but he quickly schooled his features. “It’s not fancy,” he said gravely. “I came looking for you specifically.” “Looking for me? What’s up?” Ethan’s gaze dropped to Leo in the stroller. He stared for a long moment before speaking, his voice tinged with resentment, “Ava, this kid… looks like he’s about a year old, lengthwise.” …Who judges age by length?! I thought he was starting to suspect the truth. My heart hammered again. I gave a vague answer, “Uh, yeah, around that.” Ethan looked even more hurt, clenching his fists, his eyes filled with accusation and sadness. “So, you mean right after we broke up, you immediately turned around, married someone else, and had a baby?!” Whew, scared me to death. He hadn’t figured it out. Good thing Leo takes after me more. I had no idea why Ethan suddenly showed up. I figured after two years, he would have moved on. But judging by his reaction, maybe not… In this situation, I should probably be ruthless to cut ties cleanly. But remembering I technically “stole” his genetic material made me feel a pang of guilt. I couldn’t bring myself to twist the knife further. I assumed his pain and anger stemmed from me moving on so quickly. So, I offered a white lie, “Well, not exactly… it was a little while after we split.” Ethan’s eyes reddened. He shook his head in disappointment, murmuring as if to himself, “I thought… I thought you wouldn’t get married easily. Turns out, you just didn’t want to marry me.” No, I genuinely don’t plan on marrying anyone, I answered silently in my head. Ethan looked at me, wanting to say more, his eyes swirling with unspoken emotions. Two years apart had matured the shy, boyish college kid considerably. His thoughts were no longer so easy to read. My pulse quickened under his silent scrutiny. But in the end, he said nothing, just turned and walked away, looking utterly dejected. 2 I watched his retreating back with mixed feelings. Just then, Leo started crying, almost as if sensing his biological dad leaving. I quickly knelt to soothe him. At the same time, my work phone rang. An emergency at the office required me back immediately. Patiently, I explained to my employee that I couldn’t just leave, that I needed at least a day or half a day to arrange childcare for Leo. But they kept urging me frantically, acting like the sky would fall if I didn’t rush back that second. Coupled with Leo’s wailing, my temper flared. “Doesn’t the company have anyone else who can handle an emergency?! Is the whole place going to collapse if I don’t show up today?!” My outburst silenced the employee. Leo, however, cried even harder. Taking a deep breath, I softened my tone. “Give me some time to sort out childcare. I’ll get there as soon as I can.” While comforting Leo, I started calling friends, trying to find someone trustworthy to watch him for a bit. But it seemed like bad luck was following me today. Everyone I trusted was either out of town or had important commitments. My anxiety spiked. “Where’s your husband?” A voice suddenly spoke from behind me, making me jump. Turning around, I saw Ethan. He’d somehow reappeared. “Still need something?” I countered, avoiding his question. Ethan glanced at Leo, frowning. “Why are you dealing with this alone? Why isn’t his dad helping?” I shot him a silent look, speechless. Ethan, bless his high-quality genes, was incredibly decent. Even after being hurt by me, the “heartless woman,” he couldn’t stand seeing me struggle. Assuming my non-existent husband was slacking off, he reached for my phone, intending to call him. Panic seized me. I quickly clamped down on his hand, blurting out a lie, “My husband’s on a business trip overseas. He can’t help right now.” Ethan eyed me skeptically. “So what are you going to do? Don’t you have to get to the office?” It was definitely tricky, but… Suddenly, I realized Leo had stopped crying. I looked down. The little guy was sucking his thumb, eyes wide and round, staring intently at Ethan. My gaze flickered between the two of them. Then, swallowing my pride, I asked Ethan, “Hey, um, if you’re not busy, could you maybe watch him for me? Just for half a day? I’ll be back tonight!” Ethan looked genuinely stunned by my audacity. “You want me to watch your kid with another man?! Ava, how could you humiliate me like this?!” “Fine, if you don’t want to—” Ethan suddenly held out his hand. I tilted my head, confused. “What?” “Your keys. You expect me to watch him on the street? Or take him back to my place?” Ethan scoffed. “I’m not letting you and some other guy’s kid into my apartment.” 3 “Building 9, Unit 2806. Door code is 0927.” I gave him the info without hesitation, pushing the stroller towards him. “Formula and bottles are on the dining table, use warm water. Diapers are in the living room cabinet. If you don’t know something, ask me or Google it. Also, if you don’t mind, maybe push him around the complex for a bit longer, get some more sun.” Ethan: … With Leo sorted, I frantically prepared to drive to the office. After a few steps, I turned back, uncertain. “You’ll take good care of him, right?” Ethan let out a cold, angry laugh. “No,” he said icily. “I’m going to torture this kid you had with someone else.” Despite his words, I felt strangely reassured. When I first got together with Ethan, he was still in college. My company needed part-time male models, and Ethan had tagged along with a friend to the audition. I don’t remember his friend’s face, but Ethan, waiting by the door, caught my eye immediately. The boy was stunningly handsome; even I, generally uninterested in men, felt a flicker of attraction. Initially, I just wanted to recruit him as a model. Later, lust took over, and he became my younger boyfriend. Getting to know him better revealed that Ethan wasn’t just gorgeous; he was smart, kind-hearted, and possessed excellent qualities all around. Unfortunately, the age gap was significant, and I’m fundamentally not the marrying type. We were doomed from the start, destined only for a fleeting affair. But his arrival did accelerate another plan I had. I’d spent years focused on my career, planning to achieve financial independence by 35 and then have a child to raise alone. When I met Ethan, I was already financially independent, but at 29, I wasn’t quite ready for motherhood. Besides, acquiring high-quality sperm wasn’t exactly easy. After dating Ethan for a year, he was facing choices about studying abroad or starting work. Logically, he should have pursued further education to enhance his prospects. But the silly boy, desperate not to do long-distance and eager to be on my level quickly, was actually considering giving up studying abroad. He seriously shared his future plans with me, every step revolving around me. His earnestness changed the dynamic of our relationship. I couldn’t handle the intensity of his affection, couldn’t take responsibility for it. Though reluctant, I knew I had to break up with him. But before ending things, I made one last use of his high-quality genetic material. After successfully conceiving, I first persuaded him to go study abroad – I couldn’t bear to let his promising future be ruined by a temporary lapse in judgment fueled by romance. Once he left, I used that as the excuse to break up, employing every soft and hard tactic imaginable. All in all, it wasn’t an amicable split. Mainly because Ethan was far more invested emotionally than I was. I definitely caused him some pain. Normally, I wouldn’t feel bad about a breakup – it’s a normal part of life, better to be amicable and move on, right? But… I had used his contribution without permission… That first instant seeing Ethan today, my heart leaped into my throat. I thought he was here to settle scores, to fight me for the child. Thank god he wasn’t— Wait. He hasn’t figured out Leo is his yet. But if they spend more time together, what if he does realize?! I’d only thought of him as trustworthy in the moment, completely forgetting that crucial detail! Regret washed over me for my impulsive decision. But I was already stuck at the office, unable to leave. All I could do was pray that when I got back, Leo would still be solely my child… 4 At eleven PM, after finishing up overtime, I rushed home, not even bothering to change my shoes, heading straight into the apartment to find Leo. Leo was sleeping soundly in his crib. Ethan was sitting on the floor, head resting on the crib railing, apparently asleep too. The scene looked surprisingly peaceful. Relief washed over me. I tiptoed out to change my shoes and pour myself a glass of water. I debated whether to wake Ethan and send him home. “You’re back?” His low, slightly raspy voice startled me from behind. “Did I wake you?” Ethan shook his head, sitting down across from me, casually picking up my water glass and taking a sip. “Didn’t fall asleep, just dozed off.” He looked up, his gaze slightly mocking. “Seeing you rush in like that, were you afraid I’d done something to him?” My eyes darted away. I didn’t answer. I had been a little worried. Ethan chuckled coldly. “If you were so scared, why leave him with me? Ava, you’re not usually this reckless.” He was right. I’m generally rational and cautious. Today’s decision was indeed impulsive. Maybe subconsciously, knowing he was Leo’s biological father automatically added a layer of safety filter. “Anyway, thank you for today. He’s usually quite a handful, did he give you a hard time?” I asked. “He was fine. Pretty well-behaved.” Ethan said this as if implying: I hate to admit it, but your kid with another guy is actually quite good. I found that surprising. These past few days, the little guy had worn me out completely. Except when asleep, “well-behaved” wasn’t a word I’d associate with him. And his sleep schedule was maddening – you could never predict when he’d get tired, and he’d always wake up crying after short naps. But then Ethan added, “He’s just a bit ugly. His father must not be good-looking.” I glanced at Ethan’s own practically flawless face and smiled. You said it. Ethan tapped his finger on the rim of the glass, studying me intently. Suddenly, he said, “There’s not a trace of a man living here, Ava. Are you—” My heart leaped again. Had he figured it out?! “—separated from your husband?” I discreetly wiped a bead of sweat from my forehead and forced a smile. “Ah, he’s abroad long-term, so yeah, not much of his stuff is here.” “Really? Perhaps… you’re actually divorced?” “Of course not,” I denied quickly. Ethan’s expression fell, clearly disappointed. I genuinely couldn’t understand what he was thinking. It’s the 21st century; shouldn’t two years be enough time to get over a relationship? Besides, I was now a supposedly married woman with a child. Could he possibly still have feelings for me? It seemed highly unlikely. So maybe… he was still resentful about me “dumping” him? Considering this, I tried reasoning with him gently, “Ethan, I know you’re probably upset about the breakup, but you must have known we were unlikely to work out long-term. Ending it sooner was better for you. Look at you, you’re such a great catch, came back from studying abroad still young, bright future ahead, plenty of wonderful girls would love to be with you.” “I’m not upset with you.” I paused. “What?” Ethan’s fingers tightened on the glass. He looked down. “I know I was young in your eyes, immature, couldn’t give you the security and sense of belonging you needed. It’s normal that you gave up on me.” “So after the breakup, even though I missed you terribly, I forced myself to hold back. I thought I needed to grow up fast, that maybe if you saw how I’d changed, you might give me another chance.” “I finished my studies early, threw myself into work, desperately tried to achieve something. I think I’m finally on a path where we could be equals, but… it’s still too late.” I’ve always been pessimistic about romantic relationships. To me, love is just a hormonal drive for physical intimacy. Once that state fades, so does the so-called love. Two years apart, whatever love existed between us should have vanished. So, I couldn’t empathize with Ethan’s current emotions. After a moment of silence, I tried again, “It’s getting really late. Maybe… you should head home and rest?”

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New Year’s Eve. I was planning to propose to the girlfriend I’d loved for three years. I was also ready to finally tell her the truth – that I was the son of the wealthiest man in the city. But when I opened the door to our apartment, I found my usually innocent girlfriend dressed scantily, blindfolded, kneeling by the entrance. And the person she was waiting for wasn’t me. … “Master, you’re finally here!” As soon as I opened the door, a voice, dripping with seductive charm, hit my ears. Chloe, usually so pure and simple, was dressed provocatively, kneeling blindfolded at the doorway. Seeing this scene, I froze. The roses I held dropped to the floor. I couldn’t even believe that the woman kneeling before me was the girlfriend I cherished. “Mmm, smells nice. Did you buy me flowers, Master? Why aren’t you coming to tame me already?” Maybe because I hadn’t made a sound, Chloe’s voice grew impatient. She started crawling towards me, past the fallen roses, past the engagement ring I’d spent so long picking out for her. Then, her hands reached up and touched my thighs. My hands trembled. I wanted to rip the blindfold off her eyes, but just then, the electronic lock on the door behind me beeped as someone entered the code. The door opened. The person who walked in was Ryan Miller – her childhood friend, the one she always called her ‘one that got away’. I’d heard her and her best friend mention him countless times before Chloe and I even got together. She even still had a picture of the three of them on her phone. It wasn’t until I heard that Ryan, who was living abroad, had gotten engaged that I finally started pursuing Chloe. Back then, I naively thought she had completely moved on from Ryan. Turns out, I’d been the clown all along. “Looks like I came at a bad time?” Ryan stood in the doorway. The moment he saw me, surprise flashed in his eyes, quickly replaced by a smirk dripping with provocation. “Leo? What are you doing back?” Hearing Ryan’s voice, Chloe frantically tore off her blindfold. “What? Did I interrupt something?” I struggled to keep my voice calm, glancing at Chloe’s revealing outfit. The sight that should have been thrilling now just made me sick to my stomach. Following my gaze, she seemed to finally realize what she was wearing and hastily pulled on the robe lying nearby. “Leo Sterling, what are you talking about!” “This was just a dare! Ryan and I were playing Truth or Dare, and I lost, that’s all.” “It was just a game, why are you being so petty?” Tying the robe sash, Chloe crossed her arms, reverting to her usual innocent demeanor. As if the wanton woman kneeling on the floor moments ago never existed. “Yeah, seriously man, lighten up.” “Chloe, if I’d known your boyfriend was such a poor sport, I wouldn’t have come. Total buzzkill!” Ryan tilted his head, shot me a challenging glance, then let his eyes greedily roam up and down Chloe’s body without any attempt to hide it. “Cut the crap! Shut your damn mouth!” With a roar, I threw a punch square into Ryan’s face, knocking him to the ground. “Shit! You actually hit me? Do you have any idea who I am? I swear, I’ll make sure you can’t survive in this city!” Lying on the floor, Ryan wiped a trickle of blood from his lip, looking stunned. Hearing his threats, I lifted my foot, ready to give his face a couple more kicks. But Chloe suddenly pushed me aside. SLAP! “Enough! Leo, what are you doing! Are you crazy!” 2 Her hand struck my face hard, but the sharp sting resonated deep in my heart. “You’re just jealous of me and Ryan, I get that, but why did you hit him?” “I never realized you were so emotionally unstable.” “And you planned to propose to me like this? No money, no family connections, do you think you’re worthy?” She finished, glancing down at the ring on the floor. “Leo, think about it. If Ryan and I were really having an affair, would you even stand a chance?” “Now apologize to Ryan. Immediately.” Standing between Ryan and me, arms spread wide like a mother hen protecting her chick, Chloe nervously watched me, afraid I’d lash out again. “Ha, you want me to apologize?” Her words made me laugh bitterly. I flicked my tongue against the inside of my stinging cheek. “Since you say it’s just a game, you wouldn’t mind an audience, right? Go on, start your game.” Leaning against the entryway wall, I lit a cigarette. Taking a deep drag helped me calm down completely. It took me four years to see this woman for who she really was, but better late than never, I guess. “Hmph, Leo, admit it. You just wanted to see me like I was earlier, didn’t you?” “Fine, I’ll wear it for you sometime. But right now, you have to apologize to Ryan! Or we’re breaking up!” Chloe remained defiant, showing no remorse whatsoever. Even now, she thought threatening to break up would force me to apologize to her precious Ryan. “Fine!” Chloe must have thought I was about to apologize to Ryan, because a faint smile touched her lips. “Then let’s break up. But remember this: you got dumped!” Without another look at her, I stepped over Ryan, who was still lying on the floor. I hadn’t walked far when I heard Chloe’s concerned voice behind me, fussing over Ryan. Her gentle tone was completely different from the cold, sharp way she usually spoke to me. “Ryan, are you okay? Does it still hurt…?” I laughed mockingly to myself. So, she could be caring after all. Her voice faded as I walked away. I didn’t care what they said or did next. It didn’t matter anymore. Back in my car downstairs, I called home. “Mom, you don’t need to call off the engagement. Just sell my current apartment. I find it… dirty.” I looked up one last time at the home I’d lived in for four years and took a deep breath. “Henderson, take me back to my bar.” Sitting in the corner of the bar I’d started specifically as a venture to prove I could support Chloe… I huddled there. The image of Chloe kneeling on the floor wouldn’t leave my mind. When did she become like this? Or was she always like this? I kept drowning myself in alcohol. Back then, I fought countless times with my parents just to get this chance. If I could hide my identity as a billionaire’s son and survive college supporting myself, they’d let me be with her. Seeing me stick it out, my parents were finally moved. They were actually preparing to cancel the arranged marriage they’d set up for me, agreeing to let me marry the seemingly ordinary Chloe. I couldn’t hide my grin back then, eager to surprise Chloe. So I texted her, lying that I had family matters to deal with. Told her I couldn’t spend Christmas with her this year. But then I bought the flowers and the diamond ring, ready to reveal everything. Now, it all just felt like a pathetic joke. 3 I don’t know how long I drank, or how much. Eventually, the table was covered in empty bottles. All I knew was that the bar, quiet when I arrived, was now pulsing with music, kicking off its New Year’s Eve party. Suddenly, a wave of nausea washed over me. Under the dim lights near the restrooms, I threw up violently. As I came out, I heard two familiar voices from the makeup counter nearby. “Don’t worry about it. Bet you anything, within three days, Leo will regret it and come crawling back, begging me to take him back.” Chloe’s voice was light and confident, completely unaffected by today’s events. “So that pathetic simp Leo really broke up with you over something so small?” Chloe’s best friend sounded incredulous. “Whatever, good riddance. I heard Ryan’s back for good this time.” As if seeking confirmation, her friend offered words of comfort. “Honestly, I’ll kind of miss Leo. Got used to having him wait on me hand and foot like a servant. It’s just a shame he’s got no background.” “Plus, being with him… there was no feeling of being conquered, you know?” “He just agreed with everything, went along with whatever I wanted. You won’t believe this, one time I was in a bad mood, kicked him awake in the middle of the night, told him to get on a plane and fly to New Orleans to get me beignets. He didn’t even get mad! Just got dressed and went!” Chloe laughed as she spoke, like she was telling a hilarious joke. “Hey, did you hear? Ryan’s fiancée is supposed to be that Shaw heiress. Can you actually compete with her?” “Maybe you should keep Leo hanging on before things are official with Ryan? You know, just as insurance.” I didn’t listen anymore. Shaking my head with a bitter smile, it’s true what they say: birds of a feather flock together. Looks like I really was blinded by so-called love. How did I never realize what kind of women they were? She used to be so pure in my eyes. I never even told her I owned this bar, the one I started myself. I didn’t want her anywhere near a place like this. But years of effort and emotion now seemed utterly worthless. And now she was planning to keep me dangling as a backup? Too bad for them, their little plan wasn’t going to work. Even if I hadn’t accidentally overheard this conversation today, I would never let them play me again. Because the moment I opened that door and saw Chloe, completely shattering her image, all my love for her vanished. All that remained was the humiliation of that scene. Now, to me, they weren’t even worth comparing to dogs. I rubbed my temples, slightly aching from the alcohol, and decided to leave. “Hey! Fancy seeing you here. Just thinking about finding you, and you walk right up?” Ryan, flanked by two guys who looked like spoiled rich kids, swaggered towards me. Talk about bad luck. But I wasn’t planning on getting tangled up with them. A pair of scumbags weren’t worth my time. I frowned, acting like I didn’t see the three approaching, and walked straight past them. But one of Ryan’s buddies, a guy with bleached yellow hair, grabbed my collar and shoved me against the wall. “Are you deaf? Ryan’s talking to you! Did he say you could leave?” 4 Across the room, the duty manager and security guards saw what was happening and started rushing over, but I waved them off with a subtle hand gesture. I wanted to see what else they thought they could do to a supposedly ‘ordinary’ guy like me. “Buddy, weren’t you pretty tough earlier? What happened, scared now?” Ryan held a cigarette between his fingers, tapping my forehead with it. “You know, after you left, your girlfriend, wearing that outfit… damn, she was so hot! Hahahaha~” “You’re asking to die.” I clenched my jaw, staring daggers at him, fighting the urge to kill him right there. Just then, Chloe and her friend walked out. Seeing me, Chloe had an ‘I knew it’ expression on her face and exchanged a glance with her friend. “Leo, since you followed me all the way here, I’ll give you one more chance. Just apologize to me and Ryan, and I’ll pretend none of this happened! I forgive you!” Chloe smiled confidently, linking her arm through Ryan’s, deliberately pressing her body against him. Ryan looked down at his arm, licked his lips, then looked at me provocatively and laughed. “Since Chloe wants to give you a chance, I won’t make it too hard. But just saying sorry isn’t enough.” Ryan pointed to the floor. “Get on your knees, bow your head, and call me ‘sir’. Then we’ll call it even!” I scoffed. “Make me kneel? You couldn’t handle it!” Seeing I wasn’t about to kneel, Ryan signaled his two buddies to move, trying to force me down. “I’m gonna break your damn leg today! Let’s see if you kneel then!” When his buddies struggled to pin me, Ryan grabbed a fire extinguisher from a nearby cabinet, his eyes fixed on my knees. “Hah, you want to touch me? Hope you don’t regret it.” I was about to signal my own people when a clear, cold female voice cut through the tension. “Ryan Miller, your grandfather knows you act this arrogantly?” “Seraphina?” Under the bar’s flashing, dim lights, Ryan recognized the speaker and spoke her name in surprise. “You don’t get to call me Seraphina.” The woman called Seraphina coldly dismissed Ryan’s familiarity, walked over to my side, and glanced at the goons still holding me. “Aren’t you going to let go?” The two goons immediately released my shoulders and scrambled behind Ryan. Clearly, they recognized her too. “Ryan, who is she?” Perhaps seeing Ryan’s familiar tone with another woman, Chloe tightened her grip on his arm as if staking her claim. Ryan completely ignored Chloe’s question, instead shaking her hand off, wanting to distance himself from her. “Seraphina, what are you doing in a place like this? Your Uncle Shaw wouldn’t be happy if he knew.” “And don’t misunderstand, she’s just an old high school classmate.” Tears welled up in Chloe’s eyes. She tried to step forward and demand answers but was pulled aside by her friend. “Our relationship is none of your business, you don’t need to explain anything to me. And where I go is none of your concern either! You can’t control me.” “And let me say this one last time: call me Seraphina Shaw. You don’t get to call me Seraphina.” “Stop trying to use your grandfather’s connection to constantly show up at my house. I have nothing to do with you!” Seraphina’s expression grew even colder, completely disregarding Ryan’s pride as she linked her arm through mine. “Let’s go.” “You’re not going anywhere!” Ryan gritted his teeth, blocking Seraphina who was trying to lead me away. “You dare stop me?” It was clear Seraphina was genuinely angry now. “I wouldn’t dare stop you. You can go. But he can’t.” Ryan pointed at me, his eyes burning with murderous intent. “I don’t care what your relationship is. Even if God himself showed up today, he’s not leaving.” “You…” Seraphina pointed at Ryan, trembling slightly with anger. “Are you sure?” I snapped my fingers. A dozen burly bodyguards in identical suits immediately surrounded us. “Throw them all out. And I mean throw!”

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After getting a gig as an assistant to my favorite influencer, I discovered he had two faces. To the rich, he was a bootlicker, calling everyone “sir” this and “Mr. That.” To regular people, he was condescending, calling them “nobodies” and “losers.” On camera, he’d call me “buddy” and praise my hard work. Off camera, he cursed me out, saying I didn’t deserve to eat and was societal trash. Disappointed, I quit. But then he tried to dock my pay. I didn’t argue. I just turned and got into an extended-wheelbase Rolls-Royce. Perfect timing. Wasn’t he trying to score an interview with the heir living in that ridiculous Beverly Hills mansion? Let’s see how he licks my boots. … “What are you looking at? Do it again! I’m gonna kick your food over again! I haven’t eaten, how dare you eat?” In the studio, Jason Vance, the influencer with millions of followers, knocked my lunch container right out of my hands. Seeing the food scattered on the floor, I seethed. When I didn’t apologize and just glared at him, he pointed at my nose and continued his tirade: “You piece of garbage! In this whole team, you’re the only one without a clue! Didn’t you see nobody else is eating? If I wasn’t generous enough to give you a job, you’d be fighting dogs for scraps under an overpass by now!” Hearing his condescending tone, I wanted to slap him hard. It was already 1 PM! He’d eaten earlier and wasn’t hungry, finding time to flirt with another female streamer, but completely deaf to everyone else’s stomachs growling as they chugged water bottle after water bottle. He’s a grown man. If he doesn’t eat, does that mean no one else can? We’re all just working here. Who does he think he is? I wasn’t going to put up with it, and I didn’t want to! Shoving his hand away, I went to grab another lunch container. Seeing my defiance, Jason blew up: “What the f—, are you deaf? I told you not to eat! You lowlife trash, you still dare to eat! I’m gonna teach you a lesson!” He moved to kick the food again, but I saw it coming and sidestepped. He, however, couldn’t stop his momentum and took a tumble, landing flat on the floor like a clumsy mutt. I clutched my stomach, laughing hysterically, which infuriated Jason even more. He scrambled up, pulled out a notebook, and started writing me up to dock my pay. This was his M.O. Anyone in the department who crossed him or displeased him got noted down. Come bonus or payday, he’d deduct amounts one by one. The worst time, he docked someone’s entire month’s salary. He knew this, expecting me to apologize and beg, figuring everyone has family to support. I rolled my eyes at him and took a big bite of my food. His hand paused, then he yelled at the top of his lungs. “You, Kevin Riley, you’re fired! Get the hell out of here now!” I quickly covered my lunch container, worried his spit might fly in. What if I ate it and became an ungrateful jerk like him? The rest of the team looked at me worriedly. Jason was basically the petty king in this agency. His word was law, and he held grudges. Anyone fired by him would have their reputation trashed, making it impossible to find work in the online media industry again. Hearing this, my buddy Mike, who I got along with, suddenly jumped out to defend me: “Bro, Jason, Kevin’s just new here. Please, cut him some slack this once. Jobs are hard to find right now, and he’s got bills to pay. I’ll keep an eye on him for you.” “Fine. Lick the rice off my shoe. If he licks it clean, I’ll let him stay!” Jason pointed at his expensive designer leather shoes, smirking down at me contemptuously. I remained unmoved, didn’t even look up. Watching an idiot wasn’t as good as eating. He got flustered and yelled at Mike: “If he won’t lick it, then you do it!” A vein pulsed on my forehead. I slammed my lunch container down onto his pricey shoe. He wanted to show off his thousand-dollar kicks, right? Fine, let him show them off like this! Jason jumped up and down, screaming: “You motherf—! You chose the hard way! Can you even afford to replace these, you broke loser?” As he said this, his fist came flying. I pushed Mike aside and raised my hand to counter. Suddenly, a familiar voice sounded from behind me. I turned, making eye contact with my dad’s Executive Assistant. 2 “Kevin, hurry up and meet Mr. Davies! This is our company’s biggest advertiser!” As soon as the overweight agency owner’s voice rang out, Jason Vance, who had been so arrogant moments before, completely transformed. He quickly retracted his foot and then clapped me on the shoulder like we were old pals: “Good work, buddy. Take the team and go eat first. Don’t starve yourselves for me, you guys are my A-team.” Buddy? Freaking buddy? I almost threw up the food I just ate. His words did bring a flicker of joy to the team members’ faces; they were eager to grab their lunches and leave. But my expression remained dark, and I didn’t move. Jason’s eyes turned icy, but he controlled his temper, adjusted my collar, and whispered menacingly, so only I could hear: “Don’t get any funny ideas. If you screw things up with my sponsor, I’ll make you regret it.” I scoffed, shrugged off his hand, and walked straight towards Mr. Davies. My father always told me not to use power to oppress others, to maintain compassion. He even suggested I come here, saying an influencer agency was a good place to see all walks of life, a place for me to gain experience. But facing scum like this? I was going to use power to crush him. Consider it pest control for the public good! Before I took more than a few steps, Mike was pushed forward. He grabbed my arm and pleaded softly: “Kevin, man, I’m begging you, just bear with it. I need this job. My mom’s sick, and it’s tough for grads to find work right now!” Seeing his anxious expression, the words revealing my identity died on my lips, washed away by the sight of his large teardrops. Mike’s hands were trembling: “Please, I really need the money!” My feelings were complicated. I wanted to pat his shoulder, but Jason bumped him aside. As Jason passed me, his tone was contemptuous: “You think losers like you can fight me? How naive!” “Kevin Riley, you just wait. When I get back, I’ll deal with you properly!” Watching his retreating back, I ground my back teeth until they squeaked. Losers? Wasn’t he also from a single-parent home, clawing his way up step by step? Now that he’d made it, profiting from the internet boom, he thought he was high and mighty? The internet really has made stars out of too many undeserving people. Mike wiped his tears and tried to smooth things over in a weak voice: “Kevin, that’s just life. Yeah, he has a bad temper, but he pulls huge numbers. Working on his team, if we push hard, we can still make good money. Let’s just endure it. He’ll cool down when he’s in a better mood!” Others murmured their agreement in low voices: “Yeah, the economy’s bad, jobs are scarce. Let’s not be impulsive!” Saying this, they bent over their now-cold lunches and scarfed them down. Seeing this scene made my eyes sting with anger. I walked out immediately to find Mr. Davies. Heading towards the parking garage entrance, I saw Jason obsequiously opening the car door for him. His smile was sickeningly fawning, crinkling the corners of his eyes into ridiculous shapes. I shivered, shaking off the goosebumps. I’d met plenty of crass people, but someone who could put on such an act was a first! I honestly didn’t know how I ever thought he had culture and refinement. How, from the list my father gave me, I’d chosen him to be an assistant for. Turns out, demystification is life’s greatest lesson. Whatever Mr. Davies said, Jason just bowed and nodded, like the perfect student. Even more absurdly, as the car started rolling, he jogged alongside it, waving goodbye enthusiastically. Only when the black Rolls-Royce disappeared around the corner did he straighten up. When he saw me, a flash of embarrassment crossed Jason’s face. Quickly, his gaze sharpened as he asked me: “What did you just see!” “I saw you acting like a dog in front of a rich guy. No, actually, worse than a dog!” I knew exactly what he wanted me to say, but right now, I just wanted to provoke him. Hopefully, he’d lose his cool and hit me, then it would just be self-defense! Clearly, it worked as expected. Jason’s face fell, and he threw a punch straight at me. This was the chance I was waiting for. With a slight turn of my head, I sent a fist straight towards his face. Could this weakling compare to me, someone who’d trained in Krav Maga since childhood? He was stunned by the hit and stumbled backward, landing hard on the pavement. Confirming there were no cameras around, I punched him again, this time on the left cheek. He clutched his face, yelling in pain, but could only roar helplessly: “You son of a bitch, you dare hit me! Just wait and see how I deal with you!” I ripped the lanyard with my ID badge from my neck and slapped it across his face: “Screw you! A lowlife like you dares to talk about dealing with me? Let me tell you, grandpa’s done! I quit!” Hearing this, he wasn’t angry; instead, he laughed out loud: “Fine! You walk out that door, and I’ll make sure you never work in this industry again!” 3 That kind of threat might work on others, but to me, it was a joke. My family’s Riley Enterprises is top five on the wealth charts, with complex holdings across various sectors. Even this influencer agency is majority-owned by Riley. He thought he could deal with me? He just picked a fight with the wrong person. Before leaving, I had to grab Mike. Otherwise, knowing Jason’s petty and vengeful nature, Mike would definitely suffer. Sure enough, a threatening voice echoed from behind me. “Kevin Riley, you can leave, but can Mike leave? How you treated me, that’s how I’ll treat him!” His infuriating words sent adrenaline surging through me. I couldn’t resist turning back and landing another punch. This time, I finally knocked out one of his teeth. … “You’re saying you’re Richard Riley’s son? Your dad… your dad… is really him?” Back at my place, after I told Mike my identity, he asked disbelievingly several times. Hearing the same answer each time, he let out an excited shriek. “Kevin, no, Mr. Riley! This place is hell. Can you… can you get everyone else out too?” On that note, I leaned in and whispered a plan in his ear. Mike nodded vigorously and went off to talk to the other team members. The online platform competition is fierce, with too many people scrambling for a piece of the pie. Even Jason Vance, a top influencer, wasn’t immune to slumps in engagement. With his numbers looking weak this week, hearing Mike’s proposal would surely tempt him. After all, who could refuse a collaboration, a “crossover,” with the “heir” of the wealthy family he so admired? Especially when the interview location was a mega-mansion valued at tens of millions? Every part of this screamed viral potential! “Good job! Don’t worry, if this video blows up, I’ll definitely give you a cut.” Jason, Mike, and the team were coming out of the office just as I was leaving with my backpack. Mike caught my eye when Jason wasn’t looking and gave me a subtle nod, signaling success. The next second, my burner phone received a friend request notification. 【Hello, Mr. Riley Jr., this is Jason Vance. Please accept my request~】 That “Mr. Riley Jr.” just oozed subservience. I actually preferred his arrogant self from before, calling me a loser and social trash… Just as I was about to tap accept, my phone was slapped out of my hand, shattering the screen. Jason stepped on it, grinding it under his heel, his tone smug: “Weren’t you leaving? Consider this an advance payment on the interest!” I found it hilarious. If he knew he’d just destroyed his only line of communication with the “heir” he worshipped, would he still look so smug? Too bad I wasn’t planning on revealing the twist just yet. “Oh, right, you have to leave the stuff in your bag behind too!” With that, a strong tug ripped the backpack off my shoulder, and the Patek Philippe box inside tumbled out. Everyone gasped. This item clearly didn’t match my supposed status. Jason had already pulled out his phone and was livestreaming: “Kevin Riley, how does a working stiff like you have a watch worth hundreds of thousands? Where did this come from?” The live comments instantly flooded with accusations: “Thief!” A few speculated if I might be a rich kid, but their comments were drowned out by the accusers! Only Mike, who knew the truth, stepped up to defend me: “That’s Kevin’s. Don’t make accusations without proof.” This provoked Jason’s sarcastic retort: “I don’t have proof? Then let him prove where he got the money to buy the watch! Why does the watch I ‘lost’ look exactly like this one?” His words were cleverly phrased, not directly accusing me of theft, but planting seeds of suspicion. Even the female streamer beside him chimed in snidely: “Wearing $50 shoes, clothes from who knows where, cheap glasses… if someone like that can afford a six-figure watch, then everyone here should be millionaires by tomorrow!” Before I came here, my dad had specifically altered my public records. Anyone checking would only find I came from a very ordinary family. And to fit the role, my clothes were custom-made, deliberately avoiding large logos. This watch was actually a 22nd birthday present from my mom yesterday; I hadn’t even taken it out yet. Even if I said these things, nobody would believe me, just like showing a receipt wouldn’t easily prove my innocence. This “prove yourself” trap was exactly the pit Jason had dug for me. Seeing me just stand there dumbfounded, Mike got anxious and nudged me: “What are you standing there for, man? Kevin, call your dad! Get him down here! Once he shows up, everything will be cleared up. Standing there like that makes you look guilty!” Hearing this, Jason bent over laughing. “Are you asking him to call his construction worker dad? Wouldn’t his dad showing up just prove the watch doesn’t belong? Mike, you’re not helping him, you’re burying him!” Mike’s face flushed red. “You don’t know crap! Kevin’s dad is the Chairman!” His words were met with a brief, stunned silence, followed by thunderous laughter. “Whoa, you think just ’cause they have the same last name, he’s the Chairman’s son? Nice try trying to latch onto someone famous!” The live comments were exploding with “LOLOLOLOL!” Jason deliberately took out another phone and held it provocatively in front of me. “Since Mike insists your dad’s the Chairman, go on, give him a call.” “Fine!” As I reached for the phone, he deliberately pulled it back in a circle, like teasing a dog. “Nah, I don’t believe you, and I’m not lending you my phone! If you’re really the Chairman’s son, I’ll eat my own shoe!” But the next second. Someone in the crowd suddenly yelled. “The Chairman’s here! Richard Riley is really here!” Jason’s face changed, and he looked back in alarm.

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My eight-year-old son was dying of kidney failure, desperately needing money for a transplant. I was worth millions, but I wouldn’t spare a dime. Instead, I went out clubbing. When my husband, Mark, found me at the club, I was making it rain on some male dancers. He dropped to his knees, sobbing, begging me to lend him fifty thousand dollars for our son Leo’s kidney transplant. I flatly refused. My mother-in-law showed up, hysterical, shoving her phone in my face. On the screen, Leo’s face was sallow, dark, almost lifeless. He was barely conscious, mumbling, “Mommy, I don’t wanna die.” Disgusted, I snatched the phone and smashed it on the ground. “If he’s gonna die, let him die already! Why show me this? Buzzkill!” Then I jumped onto the stage, grabbed the mic, and yelled, “Tonight, everything’s on my tab! I’m buying!” … The club erupted in cheers and shouts. Under the flashing lights, I raised my glass, reveling in the chaos and glamour. The next second— My mother-in-law stormed the stage, ripped the mic from my hand, and slammed it down. BANG—! The feedback shrieked, making everyone cringe and cover their ears. Even the band stopped playing. SMACK! She slapped me hard across the face. “Olivia! Are you even human?! Leo is lying in a hospital bed, about to die!” “They found a kidney match! All we need is fifty thousand dollars! Just fifty thousand, and he can have the surgery and live! Mark even said we’d borrow it from you, pay it back! Why won’t you agree?!” “You have money to waste here, money to entertain all these strangers, but you can’t save Leo? He’s your son! Your own flesh and blood!” “His eighth birthday is just two weeks away!” She wailed, her voice thick with tears and desperation. The crowd, forgetting the ringing in their ears, fell silent, all eyes on me. Annoyed, I kicked her. “Who do you think you are? You dare ruin my fun, old hag? Touch me again, I dare you.” She crumpled to the floor, clutching her stomach. “Mom!” Mark rushed onto the stage, eyes red, and helped his mother sit up. He turned to me, his expression a mix of pain and forced patience. “Honey, Mom’s just frantic about Leo, that’s why she hit you. But how could you hit her back? She might be your mother-in-law, but she’s always treated you better than me, her own son. Have you forgotten?” I hadn’t forgotten. Even before I married Mark, his mother had fawned over me. After the wedding, she treated me like royalty, practically offering me the moon and stars. Every time Mark and I argued, she’d take my side without question, yelling at Mark to make me feel better, cooking my favorite foods to cheer me up. She often held my hand, saying she’d always wanted a daughter and was thrilled her son brought home such a perfect daughter-in-law. Seeing my expression soften slightly, my mother-in-law shifted from sitting to kneeling, wringing her rough, calloused hands as she pleaded again. “Olivia, honey, I’m begging you, please save Leo! The doctor said if he doesn’t have the surgery today… he might not make it through the night!” “After Leo was born, I didn’t want you to tire yourself out, so Mark and I raised him mostly. But you gave birth to him! Even a wild animal protects its young! How can you just watch him die?” “Before he turned five, sure, Leo was a bit naughty. But these last three years, he’s been so good! Anytime there was a treat, you were the first person he thought of. When you had that bad flu, he was so worried he barely ate for two days. He insisted on washing your feet every night… his tiny body struggling with that heavy basin of water, wobbling as he walked, but still smiling, taking care of you.” “Fifty thousand… for someone worth millions like you, even five million wouldn’t be a problem! Mom is begging you, please, save Leo!” She started banging her forehead on the stage floor, tears and snot smearing her wrinkled face. Amplified by the dropped microphone nearby, her desperate cries and the sickening thud of her head hitting the stage echoed through the silent club. The strangers who had cheered my generosity moments ago now stared at me with shock, disgust, and anger. “She looks so put together, but she’s rotten inside!” “Ugh! I don’t want drinks from someone like her! Letting her own son die while she flaunts her wealth here? Makes me sick!” “Using the money that could save her son’s life to buy us booze? What if she tries to blame us later, saying we killed her kid?” “I feel ashamed just being in the same club as this evil woman! Where’s the manager? Get her out of here!” “Yeah! Kick her out!” 2 The crowd was furious, chanting for me to be thrown out. Some started throwing snacks, even bottles, my way. Suddenly, Mark stood in front of me, shielding me. A glass bottle shattered against his head. Blood immediately started trickling down his temple. Yet, he kept me behind him, pleading with the enraged crowd. “Everyone, calm down! Please! My wife… she’s probably just in shock, overwhelmed by what’s happening to our son! That’s why she’s acting like this! Please don’t misunderstand her! Leo is waiting for his mom at the hospital.” “If Leo saw his mom hurt, the little guy would be heartbroken! Please, stop!” Maybe it was the sight of Mark’s bleeding head that scared them, or perhaps his desperate, tearful defense actually moved them. The crowd stopped throwing things. Mark let out a breath of relief and turned to look at me, his eyes full of pained affection. “Olivia, I know you’re devastated. But right now, saving our son’s life is the most important thing.” “I know you like to keep control of the finances… afraid I might betray you if I had money. That’s okay. You can transfer the money directly to the hospital’s account. Our nanny is there with Leo. As soon as you send it, I’ll have her tell the doctors to start the surgery immediately. Okay?” I slapped away the hand he reached out to me. Expressionless, I brushed a piece of thrown popcorn from my hair. “Not okay. If he dies because there’s no money, at least his suffering ends sooner, right?” “Forget fifty thousand. I won’t give a single penny.” He stared at me, dumbfounded, as if he couldn’t believe my cruelty. He stumbled back a step, almost losing his balance. Still, he clung to a sliver of hope, his voice trembling, choked with tears. “Olivia… Leo really doesn’t have any more time… You’re… you’re still mad at me, aren’t you?” “Pushing you… I only did that because I was so worried about Leo, I panicked! I didn’t mean it! Besides, you weren’t hurt, right? Once Leo has his surgery, I’ll apologize however you want. Anything. Okay?” I fell silent. If he hadn’t mentioned it, I’d almost forgotten how he’d nearly shoved me down the stairs in his rush to get Leo to the hospital. My mother-in-law started sobbing and pleading beside him again. The onlookers were moved by their desperation; some were already wiping away tears. The male dancers I’d thrown money at earlier glared at me with disgust, pulled the cash I’d given them from their pockets, and stuffed it into my mother-in-law’s hands. They helped her to her feet. “Ma’am, this is the money your daughter-in-law gave us. It’s not much, but maybe it can help.” “It’s not enough! This isn’t nearly enough!” My mother-in-law clutched the bills, stomping her foot in anguish. I shook my head, a cold smile playing on my lips. “So many kind people in the world.” “Well, there’s an idea, Mark,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “Look at all these generous souls. Why don’t you try asking them? Pass the hat around. Who knows, maybe you’ll scrape together enough. Let’s just hope… the one in the hospital lasts long enough for you to manage it.” With that parting shot, I turned and strolled away. My mood was thoroughly ruined. What a drag. But seeing them so wretched and miserable… should I feel happy? Or maybe… excited? 3 Mark lunged after me, grabbing my wrist. Just as he was about to speak, his phone rang. It was the hospital. He answered immediately. The nanny’s frantic, sobbing voice came through the line. “Leo’s coding again! They rushed him back into emergency! The doctor needs to know, are you doing the surgery or not?! There’s no time left! Get back here now!” He hung up, swaying on his feet. “What’s wrong with my grandson? What happened to Leo?!” his mother shrieked. Mark ignored her, his grip tightening on my arm like a vise. He started dragging me towards the exit. “My son can’t die! Olivia, I’m sorry, but you have to come to the hospital and pay today.” I fought back, twisting and pulling, almost breaking free. Suddenly, my mother-in-law grabbed a handful of my hair and yanked me viciously in Mark’s direction. They shoved me into the car and wrestled me all the way to the hospital. A crowd of gawkers and self-proclaimed “righteous” people from the club followed us, including a few young men and women holding up phones, live-streaming the whole spectacle. Mark and his mother pinned my head down, forcing me to use my face ID—or maybe they forced my thumb onto my phone—to authorize the fifty-thousand-dollar payment for the surgery. We rushed to the emergency room, only to find the nanny slumped against the wall, tears streaming down her face. “Leo… he’s gone.” Hearing the news, my mother-in-law’s eyes rolled back, and she collapsed backward in a dead faint. If one of the bystanders from the club hadn’t caught her, she would have cracked her head open on the floor, likely ending up paralyzed. What a pity. Mark’s breath hitched. He released his grip on me, ignoring even his unconscious mother, and bolted into the emergency room. Heart-wrenching sobs echoed from inside. The nanny, her eyes swollen and red, turned to me, her voice choked with tears. “Why? Why didn’t you save Leo? He was your son! He was such a good boy! He could have lived!” I rubbed my bruised wrist, my voice chillingly calm. “You wanted to save him, so you saved him. He’s dead now. Make sure the hospital refunds my money.” Honestly, even without me saying it, the money would have been refunded to my account anyway. Hospital refunds always go back to the original payment source. Ignoring the curses and hateful glares from the onlookers, I turned and walked away coldly. Seeing that I didn’t even spare a glance for my dead son, their insults grew uglier. One young woman, the live-streamer, followed me relentlessly, filming and narrating my every move. She kept saying she wanted to see if the “evil, heartless mother” would eventually break down and cry in some hidden corner. I didn’t stop her. In fact, I slowed my pace so she could keep up. I went straight to my upscale spa, the one I owned, and treated myself to a facial, scalp treatment, and full-body massage. Crying? Not a chance. Breathing in the calming aromatherapy scents, I drifted off into a comfortable, deep sleep. When I woke up, it was noon the next day. As I walked out of the VIP suite, I noticed the way the technicians looked at me. Their eyes held undisguised disgust and contempt. Calmly, I opened my phone. Just as I expected, yesterday’s events had exploded online. My spa was now trending along with my name. Countless netizens were denouncing me, showering me with vile insults. But when I saw the surge in followers and attention, I actually smiled. 4 The young woman live-streaming was still camped outside the spa entrance. Through her feed, I could see a swarm of reporters and angry people waiting to confront me. I checked my reflection, adjusted my clothes and hair. This was exactly what I wanted. Maximum publicity. Then, I would expose the truth in front of everyone and tear off their hypocritical masks myself. But just as I opened the door, before the reporters could even surge forward, a disheveled woman burst through the crowd, flanked by police officers, and pointed right at me. “It was her! That vicious woman killed my grandson, Leo! Leo didn’t just have kidney failure! She poisoned him! Arrest her! Arrest her now!” Oh. It was my mother-in-law. Hair wild, face streaked with grime and tears, I almost didn’t recognize her. “Mom! There has to be some misunderstanding!” Mark suddenly appeared, stepping between me and the advancing officers. “Leo died because Olivia didn’t pay in time, yes, but… she wouldn’t poison her own son! Our whole family treats her so well! She has no reason to do this!” Without a word, his mother slapped him hard across the face. “You love-struck fool! The autopsy report is crystal clear! Leo died from long-term ingestion of juice contaminated with heavy metals! Our whole family drinks juice every day, but only Olivia!” “Every time you personally juiced the fruit and took it to her room, that was exactly when Leo would be washing her feet! She must have put something in it and tricked Leo into drinking it! That’s why he got sick!” “You always bend over backward for her, fine! But are you still going to protect her now?!” Her accusation hung in the air. Dead silence. For the past six months, Mark and his mother had been cultivating a wholesome online image through short videos on their social media account. They weren’t hugely famous, but locally, they were known as the perfect husband and the doting mother-in-law. After a few seconds, the silence shattered. A torrent of curses rained down on me. “Oh my god! You’d get attached to a dog after that many years! This woman is pure evil!” “I’ve seen their family videos! Her husband and mother-in-law treated her like gold! The kid was so sweet too! I can’t believe she’s such a monster!” “She should be drawn and quartered! A woman like that!” “I heard she owns this spa! Let’s trash the place! Give that poor family some justice!” The enraged crowd surged forward, trying to storm the spa. The police radioed for backup, struggling desperately to maintain order. “Everyone, stay calm! Is risking yourselves for someone like her worth it? Please trust us! We will not let any criminal escape justice!” My mother-in-law, furious at Mark’s initial defense, started hitting him. “You have to divorce this woman today! And she leaves with nothing! All her assets should go to you as compensation for what she did to Leo, and to you!” “If you don’t divorce her, I’ll die right here, right now!” Ah, there it is. The real motive finally comes out. Mark turned to me, his face etched with agony. “Olivia! Even if you thought I wasn’t good enough for you, even if you found some richer guy, even if you thought Leo would hold you back… how could you kill him? He was our son!” “I didn’t want a divorce before because I couldn’t bear the thought of Leo losing his mother! But how could you do something like this?” “For years, our family practically worshipped the ground you walked on! Wasn’t that enough?!” With those few sentences, he accused me of infidelity and laid out a clear motive for murder. Amid gasps of shock, the crowd was now utterly convinced I was an irredeemable monster. Suddenly, I snorted, then burst into loud laughter. I laughed until tears streamed down my face. 5 Thinking back, ever since I met Mark, he had been incredibly good to me. Almost… subserviently so. After we got married, his attentiveness became meticulous. He always hand-washed my socks and underwear. Whatever I craved, no matter how far or how late, he’d happily fetch it for me. Every anniversary, every holiday, he’d conjure up elaborate surprises. Everyone envied me for marrying such a model husband. I used to think so too. I believed I must have accumulated lifetimes of good karma to deserve such a happy life. He played his part so well. He didn’t just fool everyone else; he almost fooled me too. A flicker of malice crossed Mark’s eyes, but he quickly masked it with a look of pained resignation. “Olivia, what you’ve done this time… it’s unforgivable.” “I’ll let you keep a small house out in the suburbs. So you’ll have somewhere to go when you get out of prison. As for everything else… just like Mom said… let’s… get a divorce.” “Divorce? Fine by me.” I stopped laughing, stood on the top step of the spa entrance, looking down at him. “But the one leaving with nothing shouldn’t be me. And the one going to jail isn’t me either. It’s you, Mark!” “You won’t get a single cent of my money! Did you and your mother think just because my parents are gone, I’d be easy prey? You truly are… a heartless, ungrateful snake!” SMACK! The crisp sound echoed as my slap sent his head snapping to the side. Ignoring the sting in my palm, feeling it wasn’t enough, I started kicking him furiously with my high-heeled foot. My mother-in-law shrieked and lunged at me, but I kicked her down too, sending her sprawling and whimpering in pain. Seeing his mother assaulted again, Mark finally dropped the act. He lunged at me with a roar, eyes blazing with fury. “Olivia, that’s ENOUGH!” Given his size and strength, my two years of self-defense classes were useless. Just as his fist was about to connect with my face, the police officers who had arrived as backup managed to tackle him and pull him off me. “Let me go! She hit my mother! I have to teach her a lesson today!” He was completely enraged, out of control. It took four officers to wrestle him to the ground and restrain him. Seeing Mark pinned down, my mother-in-law nearly choked with rage, wailing, “You’ve got the wrong person! That’s my son! The woman is the criminal! Arrest her!” The reporters and onlookers chimed in, confused and indignant. “Yeah, you’ve got the wrong guy! She hit him and his mother first! He’s the victim here!” “That woman is insane! She poisoned her own son, then attacked her husband and mother-in-law! She’s a murderer! A lunatic! Arrest her!” “What kind of police are you? Arresting the victim instead of the attacker? Does money mean you can just ignore the law?” Hearing this, the officers holding Mark hesitated. They exchanged glances with their colleagues. Instantly, two or three officers started moving towards me. “Stay back!” I pulled out a small, sharp fruit knife I’d grabbed from a spa tray and held it to my own throat. “The law is supposed to protect justice, yes! But the truth isn’t decided by whoever shouts the loudest!” I closed my eyes for a brief second. Finally. It could all end now.

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The year my son turned three, I overheard a conversation between my down-on-his-luck husband and my secretary. “Ethan, honey, if Seraphina ever found out you’re spoiling the kid rotten on purpose, just to ruin him, she’d probably have a heart attack, right?” “A heart attack? You underestimate her. If she discovered the truth, she’d kick me to the curb without a second thought.” “We need to keep this completely under wraps. Once she realizes her son is a lost cause, our little Mason can be ‘adopted’ by her, inherit everything!” I glanced at my own son, Daniel. Only three, yet they’d already fattened him up to sixty pounds. Pretending I hadn’t heard, I pushed another bite of cake into the little chubby boy’s mouth as he threw a tantrum on the floor. Twenty years later, my son Daniel was proficient in every vice – drinking, gambling, womanizing. He died violently in a street brawl. I let my husband rant about our son’s lack of filial piety, watched numbly as Ethan personally scattered Daniel’s ashes into the fish tank. Shortly after, he transferred all my company shares and assets to our ‘adopted’ son, Mason. At the share transfer meeting, Nicole, my secretary, clung to Ethan’s arm, holding a paternity test report. She presented it to me. “Seraphina, Mason is Ethan’s and my biological son. You’ve had him long enough. Now, it’s time to give him back.” I raised an eyebrow. “As you wish.” 1 “Honey, aren’t you flying to France for that project meeting today? Why haven’t you left yet?” Ethan Cole pushed the suitcase he’d meticulously packed for me, his voice laced with the usual concern. I looked at Daniel, already plump as a little piglet, and sighed. “Ethan, you’ve certainly made him… sturdy. But… being this overweight, won’t it stunt his growth?” Ethan gently draped my coat over my shoulders. “Don’t worry. I take Danny for check-ups every month. The doctor says he’s way ahead of his peers, strong as an ox. He’ll definitely hit six feet.” “You’re so busy, don’t stress about Daniel. I’d hate for you to get worn out,” he added, his eyes full of care. I met his gaze, smiled faintly, and said nothing. Ethan and I were childhood sweethearts. When his family lost their fortune, I married him without hesitation, ignoring everyone’s objections. Twenty-seven years, side-by-side. He knew my every like and dislike. He’d wait in line all day for a slice of cake I loved. He meticulously prepared gifts for every important occasion. He even bravely pushed me out of the way of a speeding car once. If I hadn’t come home early that one day and overheard his conversation with Nicole Ryan, his secretary… I would never have imagined, not in a million years, that the man sleeping beside me was plotting to steal my fortune and harm my child. “Auntie Nikki, you’re here! I want lots and lots of strawberry cake today! And I wanna watch JOJO!” The door opened, and Daniel bounced up excitedly, half-tumbling, half-crawling towards Nicole. Nicole scooped him up, expertly stuffing a large piece of cream-dripping cake into his mouth. “Eat up, little Danny, eat lots!” Then, Nicole suddenly noticed I was still home. Her smile froze instantly, a flash of panic crossing her face. Before she could speak, Ethan jumped in. “Honey, sometimes it’s just too much for me to handle Daniel alone. Besides you, there’s no one I trust. So, I asked Nicole to lend a hand occasionally.” Nicole quickly put Daniel down, nervously explaining, “Ms. Vance, I promise it doesn’t interfere with work. As soon as I help Mr. Cole out, I head straight back to the office.” Seeing her pale, pretty face, I couldn’t help but remember the day Daniel was born. Nicole had come to visit, held the baby, but in her ‘excitement,’ she dropped him. If not for the soft mat on the floor cushioning the fall, Daniel might have suffered brain damage. Back then, Nicole’s face had been just as pale. Seeing me silent now, Nicole looked about ready to cry. “Ms. Vance, please don’t be upset. I’ll head back to the office right now.” I chuckled, stopping her. “Don’t be silly. I’m too busy with work to manage him properly. If Daniel likes you, I should be thanking you.” “How about this: forget the office for now. Starting today, why don’t you stay here and help me take care of Daniel?” I paused, seeing the barely concealed excitement and joy flicker in both their eyes. “I know you’re highly educated, and being a nanny might feel beneath you. Tell you what, besides your regular salary, I’ll add an extra five thousand dollars a month.” Nicole’s smile nearly split her face, yet she managed a demure reply. “Ms. Vance, I’m happy to do anything for you. I… I’m just worried I won’t be a good enough caregiver for the young master.” I squeezed Daniel’s chubby arm. “Danny, do you like Auntie Nikki? Do you want her to take care of you?” Daniel nodded vigorously. “Yes, yes, yes! I love Auntie Nikki the most!” As if afraid Daniel might say something revealing, Ethan quickly stuffed another piece of cake into his mouth. “Honey, thank you so much! With Nicole’s help, I’m sure Daniel will be even better taken care of.” Nicole quickly added her assurances: “Ms. Vance, please rest assured. I’ll treat Daniel like my own son, spoil him rotten.” Hearing this, Daniel beamed, pulling both of them towards the TV for cartoons. I glanced at the ‘family’ snuggled on the sofa. A knowing smile touched my lips as I wheeled my suitcase out the door. 2 2 Perhaps thinking I was too consumed by work to ever notice anything amiss with Daniel, Ethan and Nicole grew bolder. Before, Nicole could only sneak time with Ethan when things were slow at the office. Now, with the convenient arrangement of her living under my roof, sparks flew constantly between them. The living room, the kitchen, the balcony, even my bedroom—nearly every corner of that house bore traces of their liaisons. Their carelessness only snapped back into focus when Daniel, whom they’d started to ignore, let out a piercing shriek after being scalded by hot water. Only then did they scramble, pulling on clothes and dialing 911. Daniel spent a month in the hospital. Guilt-ridden, they became even more indulgent, catering to his every whim, feeding him endless fried chicken and cake. They even got him his own smartphone. I timed my return home perfectly one day to find a child, layers of fat jiggling, spewing curses at a game on his phone while sprawled on the sofa. Seeing my disappointed expression, Ethan rushed to placate me. “Honey, don’t worry. All kids get hooked on phone games these days. Once he matures a bit, understands things better, he’ll naturally grow out of it.” I snorted coldly. “My son is not comparable to children from ordinary families. He’s supposed to take over my company someday. This behavior is unacceptable!” At this, Nicole produced a pre-prepared video. “Ms. Vance, look, this is research I did. Ninety percent of families struggle with kids playing mobile games. But experts say it actually helps develop their intelligence!” “Look at Danny’s progress! He can even do some basic coding himself now!” I glanced at the screen, showing a simple program easily replicated by typing a few letters from a template someone else had clearly made. I nodded with feigned satisfaction. “It seems times really have changed. All I know is how to make money. Educating children… I suppose I’ll have to leave that to you two.” Seeing my smile, they exchanged a knowing glance, smirking inwardly. They laughed because they thought I was easy to fool. I laughed because they were utter fools. 3 3 Daniel’s college entrance exam results came back – a disaster. His scores were abysmal, barely enough to break triple digits if you added them all together. Playing my part, I staged a furious outburst at home. “Daniel! Did you take these exams with your backside? You could score higher just by randomly guessing C on everything!” Daniel, barely five feet tall but weighing nearly two hundred pounds, just kept his head down, engrossed in his game, ignoring me completely. “Mom, chill. We’re loaded, right? You can just buy me a degree somewhere.” “Besides,” he sneered, “only losers need diplomas. I’m gonna be the CEO. Who’d dare look down on me then?” Ethan shot me a look, then turned to Daniel with a pained expression. “Danny! How dare you speak to your mother like that? Apologize! And put the phone away when you’re talking to adults, understand?” Seeing Daniel still glued to his screen, I snatched the phone and threw it down the stairs. “Starting today, no more phone. I’m arranging for you to be sent abroad to study properly. Until then, you stay home, grounded. You’re not going anywhere.” To my surprise, Daniel exploded, shoving me hard. “You old witch! I don’t want you controlling me! The first thing I do when I take over the company is lock you up in a mental hospital!” Caught off guard, I stumbled back, hitting the corner of a cabinet sharply. I cried out in pain. Daniel just scoffed, “Stop faking it, Mom. It’d be better if you actually died.” With that, he stormed out. Nicole could barely contain her glee, quickly schooling her features into a concerned frown as she chased after him. “Ms. Vance, don’t worry, I’ll bring Danny back and make him apologize.” I stared sadly in the direction Daniel had run, murmuring, “Ethan, how did our sweet boy turn into this?” Ethan looked pained, hesitating before finally speaking. “Honey, it seems Daniel… might be a lost cause. Actually, for years, I’ve been quietly sponsoring a young man. He just got into Stanford this year. A very promising, good kid.” Meeting my questioning gaze, he continued, “He’s an orphan. Why don’t we adopt him as our son? Let him manage the company for Daniel in the future. That way, your years of hard work won’t go to waste.” Seeing the nervous anticipation on Ethan’s face, I pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. “Alright. Maybe having some competition will give Daniel a sense of urgency, motivate him to shape up.” Mason Cole was soon brought before me and formally adopted, becoming Mason Vance. He was indeed brilliant, hardworking, and crucially, knew how to be respectful and navigate social situations. During his four years at Stanford, I diligently mentored him, familiarizing him with the company’s operations. Daniel, on the other hand, refused to repeat his exams or go abroad. He fell in with a rough crowd, spending his days drinking, fighting, and causing trouble. Eventually, I stopped even answering the frequent calls from the police station asking me to bail him out. I left all matters concerning Daniel for Ethan to handle. I focused instead on preparing a graduation gift for Mason. Ethan massaged my shoulders, his voice full of sympathy. “Honey, you’ve worked so hard all these years. Thankfully, Mason is about to graduate. He’ll be able to help you soon.” I leaned back tiredly in my chair. “Yes, finally. I can take a proper rest.” Ethan’s smile was strange, hinting at something more. “Yes, soon. Our family of three can finally, truly rest.” 4 4 On the day of Mason’s graduation from Stanford, Ethan dressed sharply and insisted I accompany him to celebrate. As we were leaving, Nicole fussed over us, repeatedly reminding Ethan, “Make sure to take lots of pictures for me!” Then, dabbing at non-existent tears, she explained to me, “I just want to see what a university graduation looks like… hoping one day our Danny will have such a proud moment too.” I frowned, annoyed. “Is Daniel out carousing again?” “Nicole, find him and bring him back. Tell him he’s grounded, confined to his room to think about his actions.” Later, as Mason stood on stage delivering his valedictorian speech, Ethan suddenly thrust his phone in front of me, trembling. “Honey, bad news! Daniel got into a fight, he’s been stabbed! They’re rushing him to the hospital now, we need to go!” I looked at the photo – a blurry image of an obese figure, a bloody mess. Disgust churned in my stomach. I placed a hand on Ethan’s arm, stopping him from rising. “Hmph. It’s probably just another scheme cooked up with his lowlife friends to scam money out of us. Ignore him.” “Mason’s speech is quite impressive,” I added coolly. “He has my flair from back in the day.” Ethan gave me a suspicious look, but seeing only genuine disdain for Daniel and admiration for Mason in my eyes, he seemed reassured and started clapping along with the audience. By the time Mason, Ethan, and I arrived home, laughing and talking, Daniel had been reduced to an urn of ashes on the coffee table. Nicole was sobbing uncontrollably. “Ms. Vance! Danny… he didn’t make it through surgery. He’s gone!” “After he died,” she wailed, “those thugs were threatening to desecrate his body! I had no choice, I was so scared, I had him cremated immediately!” Mason quickly steadied me as I pretended to swoon. Trembling, I asked, “How could this happen? What kind of trouble did he get into?” Nicole cried, “The police said he was trying to stage a fight to scam money from home, but they argued over the split, and things got violent… and then… then this happened.” I feigned fury, pointing at the urn. “Idiot! He was always an idiot!” Ethan looked at me with ‘concern’. “Honey, please don’t let this degenerate upset you so much. It’s not worth your health.” “Daniel was ungrateful! I’ll feed his ashes to the fish right now to vent your anger!” Seeing my cold indifference, my lack of objection, Nicole lunged forward as if to stop him. But somehow, perhaps intentionally, she stumbled as she got up, shoving Ethan hard from behind. Ethan lost his balance. The lid of the urn popped open, and the ashes scattered entirely into the large fish tank. The fish swarmed eagerly. Nicole, a manic glint of triumph in her eyes, turned to me. “Honey, are you satisfied now?” My gaze swept over Ethan, Nicole, and Mason, my eyes dark and deep. “Watching the son I despised being fed to the fish? Naturally, I’m extremely satisfied.” I sank onto the sofa, feigning weakness. “Mason, Mom only has you now. Thank goodness you’re so capable.” “Mom is tired. I’ve decided… I’m transferring all my company shares to you, right now.” Nicole covered her face, seemingly overwhelmed, and ran out. I ignored her, forcing myself to contact my legal team, instructing them to expedite the share transfer process. After the share transfer meeting concluded, while people were still lingering, Nicole made a grand entrance, dressed in a designer gown. Amidst the confused and surprised murmurs, she held up a paternity test report and announced loudly to me: “Seraphina Vance! Mason is actually Ethan’s and my biological son! You’ve kept them apart for so many years. Now, it’s time you returned him to me!” The room erupted in gasps and whispers. “Isn’t that Nicole Ryan? Ms. Vance valued her so much years ago, even moved her into her home… Talk about letting a wolf into the sheepfold!” “Showing up now to claim the son? It’s obviously about Ms. Vance’s money!” Amidst the condemnations, Ethan wrapped an arm around Nicole, speaking defiantly. “Most of you here are men. Ask yourselves honestly, could you accept your wife being away on business constantly, never home to take care of you?” “For years, it’s just been me, Nicole, and the boy in that house. We were already a family.” I remained silent, merely looking towards Mason who stood nearby. He walked over to stand beside Ethan and Nicole, then addressed me calmly. “Mom, if you just sign the divorce papers and let our family finally be together, I promise I’ll take care of you in the future.” “How about… you stay on as our housekeeper?” His words ignited outrage among the onlookers. “What kind of disgusting people are these? Ungrateful snakes! She just transferred billions to him, and he immediately turns around and insults her, offering her a job as a maid?” “I can’t watch this! Ms. Vance, don’t be afraid! We old-timers support you! Without us, Mason won’t find it easy to establish himself in this company!” People were defending me, indignant on my behalf, yet Ethan and Nicole looked calm, almost smug. As if they could handle any fallout. However, amidst the rising anger of the crowd, I offered a gentle smile. “Fine. I’ll sign.” Then, under everyone’s astonished gaze, I signed the divorce agreement. The trio – Ethan, Nicole, and Mason – looked at each other, eyebrows raised in disbelief, seemingly shocked I’d agreed so readily. They carefully inspected the documents, and confirming everything was in order, they smiled, relieved. Seeing their triumphant, smug expressions, the look of having won it all. I smiled too. “It’s rude not to return a gift. And I have a rather significant one for you.”

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