Author: Momo Chan

My wife Chloe and I had been married for two years. On our anniversary, her ex-boyfriend posted an ultrasound picture on social media. “Big news, everyone! Huge thanks to my girl Chloe for carrying this for me! I’m finally going to be a dad!” My fists clenched. I quietly commented: “Congrats to the three of you.” The next second, Chloe called me, furious. Her voice blasted through the phone, full of accusations. She practically yelled, “I’m just helping Noah out with surrogacy! God, can’t you be less petty about this? You’re supposed to be the man here!” After hanging up, I decided I had to deal with this massive betrayal myself. 1 I bent down and picked up the two crumpled sheets of paper I’d stepped on. I’d stayed up all night making them. One was a checklist for expectant mothers, the other for the baby’s needs. Chloe had never been enthusiastic about sex with me, nor did she like kids. She always said children were inherently difficult, noisy, and mischievous, draining too much energy to raise. But two days ago, I’d accidentally found an ultrasound report in a drawer in the study. It was tucked inside a small, fancy gift box, like a present. At first, I thought Chloe was pregnant and planning to surprise me. I was ecstatic, like an idiot, spending all my time researching what expectant fathers needed to do. But now, it seemed the surprise wasn’t for me! And the child… wasn’t mine either. Nausea surged in my throat. I went to the bathroom, soaked the two checklists I’d prepared in the sink, and threw them in the trash. Chloe came home unusually early that day. I checked the time – only 10 PM. Usually, she wouldn’t be back until the early hours of the morning. She called my name, “Ethan?” I was lying in the bedroom and didn’t answer. She didn’t call again. A little later, I heard the shower running in the bathroom. After her shower, she came into the dark bedroom and quietly lay down beside me without turning on the light. I felt a soft, tingling touch on my back. It was the first time she had ever initiated holding me like this. Then, she buried her head in my back, her tone pleading in a way I’d never heard before, “Honey, nothing happened between him and me, really.” “I only agreed to be the surrogate to help him fulfill his dream of having a family. Noah really wants kids. I promise, as soon as the baby’s born, I’m done with him! I’ll cut all ties!” As she spoke, her hand started to wander downwards. I didn’t say anything. I just removed her hand from my body and shifted slightly away. Sensing my rejection, she instantly became annoyed. “I’ve already stooped this low trying to appease you, what more do you want? Don’t forget you said my past didn’t matter, you swore you’d treat me right.” “Can’t you be a little more generous? God! I could have just lied and said it was yours, but I told you the truth out of respect! And this is how you react? So small-minded.” She poured out all her dissatisfaction, then finished with: “I’m sleeping in the guest room tonight. And you should think about how I’ve been treating you lately. When was the last time you wanted it and I didn’t give it to you?” The door slammed shut. I couldn’t help but laugh – at my pathetic marriage, and at my own blindness. In her eyes, saying a few soft words was doing me a huge favor. As if telling me the truth meant I had to accept it, otherwise I was the petty one. She hated the idea of having children so much, yet she was willing to carry a baby for ten months for that man. In the darkness, staring at the ceiling outline, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of disillusionment. This relationship… I didn’t want it anymore. 2 When I woke up the next day, Chloe was already gone. I knew exactly where she’d gone. She’d been leaving early and coming back late these past few days. Who else would she be spending time with? Chloe didn’t like working hard, so I’d given her a cushy Vice President title at the company I owned, a job that mostly involved signing papers and drinking coffee. Consequently, my assistant had called me several times looking for her. The assistant said Chloe hadn’t been to the office lately. I didn’t say much, but a different idea started forming in my mind. After preparing some documents, I drove to the city administration building, planning to terminate the portion of shares I had transferred to her. Coincidentally, while submitting the paperwork, I ran into Chloe. Noah had his arm around her waist. She frowned at me and asked, “Ethan, are you following me?” I didn’t answer her. Instead, I looked at Noah. Noah awkwardly avoided my gaze but didn’t remove his hand from Chloe’s waist. “Chloe, don’t be ridiculous! Why would Ethan follow us? We’re being open about this. As a man, Ethan understands how important having kids is, right?” Noah’s slick words immediately shifted the focus onto me. I replied with a cold smile, “Totally. So you two better make sure you do a good job carrying on that family line.” My bluntness angered Chloe. She pushed me. “What is wrong with you? I told you, I just see Noah like a brother.” My lower back hit the hard corner of the wall, making me hiss in pain. Seeing this, Noah immediately stepped closer, feigning concern. He verbally scolded Chloe, but his eyes held a flash of obvious provocation and smugness. Disgusted, I pushed him away, not wanting to exchange another word with them. Unexpectedly, Noah suddenly dropped to one knee, crying out that he’d twisted his ankle. Chloe rushed to help him up, then yelled at me, “If anything happens to Noah, I’ll never forgive you!” My back throbbed, breaking out in a cold sweat, yet I watched helplessly as my own wife ignored me, abandoning me to help another man leave. I stood there, watching them walk away, and suddenly felt a strange sense of relief. Relief that Chloe wasn’t carrying my child. How could someone who didn’t even love her husband possibly love a child they had together? Back at the office, I met with the lawyer I’d contacted earlier and drafted a divorce agreement. Just as I was about to message Chloe, I saw she had updated her social media feed. “Hope our baby grows up tall and strong like his daddy!” The photo showed the back of a man. I recognized him. It was Noah. Below were comments from Chloe’s best friends. “That back doesn’t look like your husband’s… uh oh, hehe.” “Wow, making big moves quietly! The old flame is back.” “OMG, I ship it so hard! After all this time, you finally fulfilled that pact about having kids!” Soon, I saw Chloe’s reply. “Don’t talk nonsense! I’m just helping out with surrogacy. Are you guys trying to get my husband to divorce me with all this gossip?” After that, her friends replied with variations of, “Got it, understood.” But Ashley (her childhood best friend) added: “Seriously? Why keep a petty guy like that? Just divorce him and be with Noah. Everyone knows you haven’t gotten over him for years. Just follow your heart!” Ashley had been Chloe’s best friend since they were kids. But she never really liked me, always thinking I wasn’t good enough for her friend, and certainly not as good as Noah. She said I wasn’t as handsome as Noah, not as smooth-talking, not as romantic. In her eyes, I couldn’t compare to Noah in any way. For Chloe’s sake, I had never said anything, often even buying gifts to appease these demanding friends. But now that my marriage with Chloe was over, I didn’t need to worry about anyone’s feelings. So, I slowly typed out a reply: “Don’t worry, the divorce is happening soon. It must have been hard worrying about Chloe for all these years.” Then, I went to my own profile and posted a picture – the divorce agreement I had just drafted. “This nightmare is finally ending.” 3 As soon as I posted it, my phone immediately blew up with questions from curious friends. Chloe’s loyal friends, however, conveniently chose to ignore it, though I imagined they were probably calling Chloe to celebrate. Soon, my phone started ringing non-stop. Not just my parents, but Chloe’s parents called too. Chloe was calling repeatedly as well. I declined her calls. But the phone kept buzzing relentlessly, like a persistent kitten. Finally, I texted my parents back and then switched my phone to airplane mode. “Mom, Dad, I’ll explain everything in person when I get home tonight.” As evening approached, I left the office. Downstairs, I happened to run into Chloe, who had just parked her car. She got out and stormed towards me. “Ethan, what is the meaning of this? You’re divorcing me just because I’m helping him with surrogacy?” “What’s wrong with me being a surrogate? It’s not like I broke the law! Are you ever going to drop this?” Her barrage of questions made me feel sick, but at this point, there was no need to argue. I ignored her anger, walked past her down the steps, and headed towards the parking lot. But she grabbed my arm forcefully. “How long are you going to keep this up? I already told you, I’ll cut ties with him after the baby is born! I’ve compromised this much for you, how much more do you want to push me?” Her shameless words echoed in my ears. I fought back my anger, turned around, and stared hard at her. “Don’t ruin your pure relationship for my sake. Ashley’s right, you should follow your heart.” “Why would you want a petty man like me anyway? You should find a generous husband, one who can accept you having another man’s baby.” “Remember to sign the divorce papers.” With that, I yanked my arm free from her grip and walked to my car. Behind me, I heard her impotent roar, “Fine, Ethan! Don’t you regret this!” How could I possibly regret it? I should actually thank her for this stunt. It finally made me realize I’d be much better off without her. When I got home, my parents immediately pulled me aside, asking why I was getting divorced. My mom’s eyes were red; she had clearly been crying. I told them about Chloe carrying Noah’s baby through surrogacy. My mom, heartbroken and angry, hugged me and cried, “I told you that woman was trouble! How could she do something like this!” My dad was silent for a moment, then said firmly, “You have to divorce her.” I pressed my lips together, finally letting my guard down in front of the people closest to me. My parents had never approved of my marriage. They always said they couldn’t see any love for me in Chloe’s eyes. But I had pursued Chloe for five years, finally getting her to agree to date me. Back then, I wouldn’t listen to anyone’s advice, convinced I could make Chloe fall in love with me eventually. Clearly, I failed. We had reached the point of divorce. All those years of effort taught me that you really can’t force love, like trying to sweeten a sour fruit. It doesn’t even quench your thirst. I waited for a long time, but Chloe still hadn’t signed the papers. Finally, after I told her I was going to file for divorce legally, she reluctantly sent me a few messages. “Can we meet tomorrow? I’ll have Ashley and the others apologize to you too.” “Please stop making a scene. Being pregnant is really tiring. I’m caught between Noah and you, and choosing either side isn’t the best solution.” “I apologize to you. Can you please try to understand that I’m pregnant right now? After the baby is born, I promise I’ll see him less!” 4 See him less? She kept saying she didn’t know who to choose between me and Noah, but her actions had proven countless times that she always chose Noah. On our wedding night, she abandoned me to pick up Noah, who was returning from abroad. On my mom’s birthday, she skipped the celebration to attend Noah’s promotion party. And on our anniversary this year? She was already pregnant with Noah’s child. In the past, whenever she bought gifts for holidays, she’d always buy two. One for me, one for Noah, maintaining this ridiculous facade of fairness. I’d complained plenty of times when I was drunk, but she always promised it wouldn’t happen again. Yet that “next time” never ended. If I pushed it too much, she’d call me petty and small-minded for a man. Thinking back, the happiest moment with her was the day I proposed. I had planned many surprises. The proposal took place in Norway, under the Northern Lights, where the stars seemed close enough to touch. Finally, witnessed by the aurora, I placed the sparkling ring on her finger. The look in her eyes when she said yes was sincere and passionate; even her vows sounded heartfelt and warm. But that proposal day was so long ago, so long that I could no longer piece together the complete memory. So long ago that I had never seen that earnest Chloe again. When Chloe saw I hadn’t replied to her messages, she called me directly: “Ethan, I’ve already booked a restaurant. Let’s all get together so they can apologize properly. See you tomorrow, okay?” I asked flatly, “Is Noah coming?” “Yes.” “Alright then. See you tomorrow.” If apologies were in order, why should they only apologize to me? Early the next morning, Chloe and Noah were waiting for me in the parking lot. She hadn’t driven, so I had no choice but to let them in my car. Noah opened the back door and helped Chloe get in. He gave me an apologetic smile. “Sorry about this, Ethan. Chloe’s pregnant, I don’t feel comfortable with her sitting up front by herself.” I smiled back faintly. “No problem.” In the past, being treated like their chauffeur like this would have definitely bothered me. But now, nothing they did, no matter how outrageous, could make me angry anymore. Interestingly, though, whenever I drove, the passenger seat next to me was always empty. Chloe always chose to sit in the back with him. When we arrived at the private room in the restaurant, Chloe’s group of friends were already seated. Ashley was the first to approach me, greeting me loudly and pulling me to sit next to her. “Come on, Ethan, do me a favor and sit here. I’ll give you a proper apology in a bit.” Her tone held no hint of apology, only a subtle challenge. During the meal, Ashley first poured me a glass of wine. Then she announced she would penalize herself with a drink, raised her own glass, downed it in one gulp, and began her apology. “Ethan, I’ve always been blunt, so don’t take it personally. I honestly don’t like you, and I don’t think you’re good enough for my best friend.” “But what can I do? My friend’s head over heels. So, for her sake, I sincerely apologize.” She then picked up another glass, raised it towards me, and said, “I’ll drink another one as punishment. Was I wrong the other day? Okay? I’m sorry.” I leaned closer and sniffed her glass. Not a trace of alcohol. I didn’t say anything, just chuckled softly. Seeing the atmosphere seemingly relax, Chloe quickly urged everyone to continue eating. But then Noah stood up, holding a glass of hard liquor, acting as if he were already drunk. “Ethan, buddy, let me apologize too. Chloe’s feelings for me… they run deep. Sorry you got caught in the middle, man.” Chloe quickly pulled him back down. “What are you doing, Noah? It’s not your fault. I chose to be the surrogate.” After saying that, Chloe looked directly into my eyes and slowly said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t handle this relationship well.” “Not so fast,” I interrupted. “There’s someone else who deserves to hear that apology too.” As I finished speaking, the door to the private room opened again. A sophisticated woman with flawless makeup walked in, wearing high heels.

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My twin sister, an influencer desperate for a comeback, abused me in my hospital bed and filmed it all. She pretended the footage was of her to milk sympathy from her followers. She ended up making bank, but wouldn’t spend a dime on my treatment. Then, afraid I’d expose her, she smothered me with a pillow. Next thing I know, I wake up. Back on the day her video went viral. This time, I’ll make sure she’s ruined, disgraced, and doesn’t scam a single cent. 1 Overnight, the video of me lying helpless in a hospital bed blew up. Mom stared at the like count, her eyes gleaming with excitement. “Get more footage, film more! This could go huge!” Then, feigning concern, “Hmm, maybe it’s not tragic enough. Needs more punch to really go viral.” She shook her head sadly, then looked straight at me, her eyes practically glowing. “Jessica, honey, you need to tough it out for your sister’s career. Remember how you hogged all the nutrients in the womb? Payback time.” Mom ripped at my hospital gown, pinching my skin hard. My body was already a canvas of black and blue marks. Her nails dug into my flesh, twisting and pressing brutally. The higher the likes climbed, the harder she hurt me. To craft an even more ‘authentic’ image, Ashley even used a lit cigarette to burn the skin around my IV sites. My hands clenched in pain, my whole body started shaking. Ashley couldn’t stand any resistance. Her slaps rained down on me. Harder each time. “You owe me this, Jessica.” My frail, sick body couldn’t take it. Blood started trickling from the corner of my mouth. They filmed me like this, then carefully arranged the blankets to hide the worst of the bruises before posting. Sure enough, a few hours later, it exploded. Top trending topic. People online rushed to donate money for ‘my’ medical bills. Ashley, rolling in the dough, panicked that I’d spill the beans. She pressed a pillow over my face, her hands clamping tight around my neck. She suffocated me. Just like that. Before I blacked out, I saw Mom patting Ashley’s shoulder. “It’s okay, honey, it’s okay. She was just paying you back, like she should.” Mom’s words were like daggers, slicing me up piece by piece. My body died. But my heart? That died the day I realized Mom would always choose Ashley. 2 When I opened my eyes again, I was back. The day the video went viral. This time, I didn’t fight back against their abuse. I even ‘helpfully’ suggested they buy some engagement, boost the post to hit the trending topics. “I’m gonna be famous! I’m gonna be famous! Hahahaha!” Ashley danced around the hospital room like a lunatic. I watched her pathetic little jig, my face cold. The higher you climb, the harder you fall. This time, she’d shatter. Fueled by Ashley and Mom’s promotion, the video shot to number one on the trending list. Then came the shriek that filled the room. “How?! How could they know? How did they find out the truth?!” Ashley’s face twisted into an ugly mask. She crouched down, clawing at her hair. Mom just collapsed onto a chair, eyes vacant, looking like she’d aged ten years in an instant. A small smile played on my lips. I picked up my phone and scrolled through the storm of online hate directed at them. “God, she’s so ugly and shameless. People will do anything for money.” “Ugh, using her sick sister to scam people? She deserves the worst.” “So disgusting. I actually felt sorry for her and donated quite a bit. What a lowlife bitch.” … The online sentiment flipped overnight. Sympathy turned to venom. The virtual spit almost drowned Ashley. She had no choice but to delete all her accounts. Hiding behind her screen like the coward she was. Suddenly, Ashley glared at me, pure malice in her eyes. She lunged. “It was you, wasn’t it?! You ruined me! Jessica, I’m gonna kill you!” Before her fist could land, a doctor rushed in and escorted her out. Seeing Ashley losing her mind, pacing frantically, felt unbelievably satisfying. Sweet, sweet justice. 3 The night the video first exploded, I begged every doctor and nurse I could find. Tears streaming, I described the hell I was living through. How my mother and sister were using my illness to scam people online. The medical staff listened, horrified and heartbroken. They all stepped up, offering to testify for me. And thanks to Ashley spending money to boost the post? There was no way she could spin this now. The truth was out there, amplified. My medical bills got covered by genuine donations from strangers who heard the real story. After I recovered, I found a decent job. It wasn’t long before Mom showed up, demanding money. Apparently, Ashley had gotten pregnant by some guy who’d recently struck it rich. His family demanded a $100,000 ‘dowry’ from them before they’d let Ashley marry him. “Your sister’s about to marry into wealth! As her sister, you should contribute.” Mom grabbed at my clothes, her hand reaching for my pocket. Her entitlement was almost comical. “Anyone with eyes can see that family’s just trying to scam you. Only idiots like you would actually fall for it and offer to pay them.” Mom raised her hand to slap me. “It’s a test! They’re testing our sincerity! Once she’s married, she’ll be living in luxury!” I shook my head, catching her wrist and shoving her hand away forcefully. “I’m not giving you a single penny. If she wants to marry him that badly, take out a loan.” Mom pointed a shaking finger at me, unleashing a torrent of abuse. “You ungrateful brat! You worthless snake! I regret the day you were born!” She started throwing a full-blown tantrum right there on the street, wailing and rolling around. Passersby started gathering, whispering among themselves. “Wow, that daughter’s heartless. Look how desperate her poor mother is.” Seeing she had an audience, Mom doubled down. She grabbed my legs and actually knelt, begging. I didn’t get angry. I laughed. Then I pulled out my phone and played the video clip of the doctor testifying about the abuse. The crowd, always eager for drama, immediately turned on Mom. “That old woman has no shame! I’ve seen it all today.” Someone actually spat near her, another threw some wilted vegetable scraps they were carrying. Realizing her act was busted, Mom scrambled up, brushing off the garbage. She started yelling obscenities at the onlookers. I couldn’t stand watching her shrewish display. “Stop embarrassing yourself. I’m out of here.” I walked away, leaving her shrieking curses behind me. All I wanted now was to make them pay for everything they’d done. 4 To marry the rich guy, Ashley actually mortgaged the house. Of course, Kevin’s family looked down on Mom and refused to let her move in with them anyway. So Mom ended up renting a cheap, run-down apartment. She really went all-in, hoping for that big payoff. Betting the farm to catch the golden goose. Heh. Her calculations were useless, though. Nobody seemed to realize that Kevin, Ashley’s fiancé, was a violent abuser, and his mother was obsessed with having grandsons. I’d found all this out as soon as Mom came asking for money. But warn Ashley? Hell no. I was perfectly happy to watch from the sidelines. Seeing them tear each other apart like rabid dogs was exactly what I wanted. In fact, Mom mortgaging the house? I might have subtly… nudged things along. Ashley’s pregnancy progressed. But Kevin’s family wouldn’t let her move in until they saw the cash. Mom liquidated every asset she could find. Still couldn’t scrape together the full amount. We were never well-off, and Mom clung to every penny. The house originally belonged to Dad. Mom fought for it and got it in the divorce. My few memories of Dad were of a kind man. He couldn’t stand Mom’s constant nitpicking and greed, so he left. He died in a car accident not long after. Mom was desperate for the money, afraid the growing baby bump would start gossip. Seeing her so frantic, I decided to ‘help’ her out. I happened to have a friend in real estate. With a little maneuvering, we arranged for the house title to be transferred… to me. Mom wouldn’t have any assets left to leverage in the future. And it wasn’t like Kevin’s family were decent people who’d ever give her money back. Looking at the deed in my hand. I could only imagine the fireworks when Ashley and Mom found out. 5 The day Mom moved into the cheap rental. The neighbors were already calling her and Ashley crazy. Mom screamed right back at them. “You’re just jealous! When Ashley marries him, I’ll be rolling in cash!” She had such a twisted way of thinking. Selling her daughter, practically, but framing it like some brilliant investment. Watching her puffed-up arrogance. I smirked. She had no idea the house was already mine. After the wedding, Ashley flooded her social media with posts. Showing off her ‘perfect’ life. March 15th Hubby bought me roses today! Loving him more every day <3 March 16th Baby kicked today! Hubby got me my favorite dessert! #blessed March 17th Mother-in-law made me delicious porridge this morning! ... Post after post designed to make everyone envious. The comment section was full of praise. I just scrolled past, smiling faintly. I focused on my job, worked hard, and eventually got a promotion and a raise. When Ashley showed up, heavily pregnant, to gloat, I found it genuinely funny. "Jessica, you'll never be on my level. I'm a rich man's wife now, and you're just a pathetic wage slave." Mom chimed in, putting on airs. "Jessica, learn from your sister! Find a rich man to take care of me, so I don't have to worry about supporting you later." Watching them perform their little duet. Like gorillas in a zoo exhibit. Hilarious. "Yeah, I guess I'm just not cut out for relying on a man. I can support myself just fine." I raised an eyebrow. My words hit Ashley like a slap. She'd dropped out of school years ago, obsessed with becoming an influencer. Not only did her 'career' fizzle out fast, but she lived off Mom's meager savings. Men weren't reliable. Abusive men definitely weren't reliable. All the manufactured happiness shattered after Ashley gave birth… to a daughter. The social media updates stopped abruptly. Clear proof that Ashley's life was anything but rosy. And that was exactly the outcome I'd been waiting for. 6 On Ashley's daughter Tiffany's birthday. Mom insisted I come over for dinner. I went, purely for the entertainment value. Mom was slaving away in the kitchen. Ashley was trying to soothe a wailing Tiffany. Kevin, meanwhile, sat on the couch, scrolling through his phone, looking thoroughly annoyed. "Can you shut that kid up? God, the crying is driving me crazy." Kevin snapped, his temper clearly short. The couple started arguing. "Why don't you try comforting her for once? Always glued to your phone. Probably texting other women behind my back." Maybe she hit a nerve, or maybe he just hated being contradicted. Kevin backhanded Ashley across the face. Hard. His mother, Ashley's mother-in-law, chimed in from the sidelines, dripping condescension. "Ashley, know your place. You married into our family, you need to learn some damn manners." I watched the whole disgusting scene unfold, detached. It confirmed everything: Kevin was abusive, his mom only cared about grandsons. I slipped into the kitchen, pretending to help Mom, just to get away from the 'main event'. "Mom," I whispered conspiratorially, "Looks like Kevin and Ashley are fighting out there. I think Ashley actually slapped Kevin." Mom heard her precious 'golden goose' might have been slapped? She lost it instantly. She slammed down her spatula and stormed out, grabbing Ashley.

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Jessica’s friend was getting married, but Ethan insisted on dragging me, six months pregnant, to the wedding. All because Jessica casually mentioned she wanted me to “see how a wedding works.” During the reception, the groom came around making toasts. When he got to our table, Jessica, the bride’s friend but clearly Ethan’s old flame, urged me to have a drink too. “Come on, sis-in-law,” she purred, even though we weren’t married, “everyone’s doing it, just for the atmosphere!” I politely refused again. Jessica bit her lip and dramatically downed a glass herself, supposedly “for me.” Ethan’s face instantly darkened. As the party was winding down, Ethan grabbed me, his voice tight with anger. “What’s your problem? Why are you so determined to embarrass me!” He gripped my chin, forced half a bottle of something strong down my throat, and shoved me out of the private room, snarling that I was ruining the mood. I threw up violently in the hallway, then stumbled outside and collapsed drunk on the sidewalk. When I came to, I was half-naked, freezing, and covered in blood below the waist. The baby was gone. And as far as I was concerned, so was Ethan… 1 My whole body ached. I was freezing and utterly drained. I blinked my eyes open, finding myself in a grimy alley. Cold wind whipped through, making me instinctively curl up. Then the horror hit me – I was barely clothed! A wave of disbelief and terror washed over me. I looked down, saw bruises mottling my skin, and then lower… blood. So much blood. My eyes flew wide with panic. I slapped a hand onto my stomach. Nothing. No movement. Just yesterday, he was kicking. Tears streamed down my face. Fighting through the pain and dizziness, I somehow managed to pull out my phone, using every last ounce of strength to dial 911 before passing out again. The next time I opened my eyes, I was on a gurney, being rushed through a hospital. Doctors and nurses hurried alongside me, their faces etched with pity. Seeing I was awake, a doctor leaned in close. “Ma’am, listen, this is critical. You need surgery right away. Is your family here? We need someone to sign the consent forms.” My lips were cracked and dry. It took me a moment to form words. “No one’s coming. I’ll sign.” The doctor’s expression shifted to one of understanding. He quickly instructed the others to prep for surgery. As the bright overhead lights of the OR flared on, a bitter, broken smile touched my lips. …Ethan, how could you do this to me?! All those years I’d devoted myself to him, taking care of his every need, even getting pregnant before marriage, all because he promised me the wedding of the century once he “made it.” And this is how it ends. All that love, all that devotion… completely wasted. The surgery went smoothly. When I woke up again, the doctor stood beside my bed, his face full of regret. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Peterson… about your baby…” I squeezed my eyes shut, a fresh wave of tears burning. My voice was a hoarse whisper. “I know.” The tears escaped, tracking down my temples. Even though I’d expected it, the grief was suffocating. A nearby nurse tried to offer comforting words, but nothing could touch the pain. This baby… it had meant everything to both of us. When Ethan first found out I was pregnant, he was overjoyed, doting on me constantly. But ever since Jessica came back into the picture a few months ago, everything changed. So much for true love being constant. He didn’t care that I was obviously pregnant. He was willing to force alcohol down my throat for Jessica. The doctors had called the police when they found me. Soon after I woke up properly, detectives arrived, showed me their badges, and got straight to the point. “Ms. Peterson, sorry to bother you. Can you remember where the incident happened last night, or where you woke up?” I closed my eyes, my head throbbing. Fragments of memory surfaced – the street name, the alley. I told them what I could recall. As they left, I overheard a younger officer speaking in the hallway. “Pregnant and out drinking! See? Asking for trouble. Now look what happened. I told you she was probably…” “Shut your mouth! How dare you talk about a victim like that? What have I taught you?!” An older officer cut him off sharply. Their footsteps faded down the corridor. A fresh wave of misery washed over me. I silently finished the young cop’s sentence in my head. Pregnant and out drinking, she deserved it. Yeah, maybe falling for a man like Ethan meant I did deserve this. Suddenly, my phone rang on the bedside table. It was Ethan. I answered, and his voice immediately hit me like a slap. “Chloe, where the hell are you?!” 2 “So I made you have a couple of sips, and now you’re throwing a tantrum and running away from home? Seriously? Running around town while pregnant! Do you even care about me, about this baby?!” Ethan launched into a tirade when I didn’t respond immediately. I felt bone-weary, utterly exhausted. I finally spoke, my voice raspy. “Ethan, so you do remember I’m pregnant. Then why did you force me to drink?” He clearly heard the hoarseness in my voice and paused, surprised. Before he could reply, Jessica’s voice piped up in the background, dripping with fake self-blame. “Oh, Chloe, I knew you left because of that! It’s all my fault. I just thought since you were further along, a little drink wouldn’t hurt, but I had no idea you’d…” “Jess, what are you talking about? It has nothing to do with you!” Ethan interrupted her impatiently, any flicker of concern for my weak voice instantly gone. “It’s all Chloe, just being dramatic! I’ve never seen a pregnant woman run off just because she had a little alcohol. She’s just spoiled and sensitive!” Listening to him, my heart felt like a dead weight in my chest. My eyes were empty. Ethan got back on the phone, his tone now harsh and demanding. “Chloe, I don’t care where you are. Get back here right now and apologize to Jessica. She’s just a sweet girl; how could you bully her like that!” Bully her? Sweet girl? I was actually six months younger than Jessica. I stayed silent, realizing it wasn’t about age. It was simply because he didn’t love me anymore. My silence seemed to infuriate Ethan further. This was probably the first time in years I hadn’t immediately folded or apologized, and it stoked his anger. “Chloe! Are you deaf?!” Ever since Jessica reappeared, I’d tried talking to him about his neglect, argued about her constant presence. Every time, he accused me of being petty, of imagining things, and then stormed out. And like clockwork, Jessica would post something on social media, clearly meant for me to see. “No, I’m not deaf.” A moment later, a notification popped up. A short video clip from Jessica. In it, she was wearing something skimpy, steam filling the bathroom, and through the haze, I instantly recognized Ethan’s silhouette under the shower. She retracted the video almost immediately, sending a voice message instead. “Oops, sorry Chloe! Sent that to the wrong person! You didn’t see anything, did you?” Her voice oozed false apology. It was such a blatant power play, asserting her claim. I felt nothing but cold emptiness. I held the phone close to my mouth and managed a dry chuckle. “Yeah, I saw it. Hope you two have fun.” She didn’t reply, but I knew she’d read it. The surgery and the emotional trauma had taken a huge toll. I’d barely managed a night of restless sleep when I was jolted awake by shouting outside my door the next morning. “Sir! You can’t go in there! The patient needs rest! Sir!” “I’m here to see my girlfriend, who the hell are you to stop me?! Which department are you from?” I opened my eyes just as Ethan shoved the nurse aside and stormed into the room. He froze for a second when he saw my pale face, then sneered. “Well, well. No wonder I couldn’t find you anywhere. Hiding out in here, huh?” 3 I frowned, wondering how he’d found me so quickly. Then it hit me – the hospital probably called the emergency contact number linked to the payment card I’d used last night. His number. Before either of us could say more, the click-clack of high heels echoed from the hallway. Jessica walked in, dressed to the nines, makeup perfect. She immediately started fussing over me with fake concern. “Chloe! Oh my god, what happened? Why are you in the hospital? Why didn’t you tell Ethan or me?” Before she could finish, Ethan pulled her protectively to his side. He looked me up and down. The blankets must have been too thick; he couldn’t see my now-flat stomach. He scoffed. “Jess, why are you wasting your sympathy on her? She’s faking it. That pale face? All an act to get my attention. There’s nothing wrong with her!” “Really, Ethan? But she looks…” Jessica feigned surprise, her face a mask of innocent concern. Seeing the contrast, Ethan seemed even more convinced of my supposed malice. He looked at me with utter contempt. “It can’t be alcohol poisoning. She used to hold her liquor just fine. She can’t fool me.” I closed my eyes, a bitter memory surfacing. Back when he was starting his business, I’d gone with him to countless dinners and networking events, drinking alongside him. I couldn’t really handle alcohol, but I forced myself whenever potential clients or investors tried to humiliate him by making him drink excessively. I’d always step in, taking drinks for him. I’d always sneak away to throw up afterward, hiding the countless nights of nausea and stomach pain because I didn’t want him to worry or be distracted. Five years wasted on the wrong person. I had well and truly learned my lesson. After this, there wouldn’t be a shred of feeling left for him. “You’re already in the hospital,” Ethan continued impatiently. “So, spit out whatever drama you’re trying to pull, and let’s go home. Stop embarrassing yourself here. Are you some college kid fresh out of graduation?” “Who is disturbing my patient?!” A stern voice cut through the tension from the doorway. I looked up; it was the head of the department. The nurse must have fetched him after Ethan barged in. Ethan and Jessica froze. Ethan let out a derisive laugh. “Wow, hired actors now? Going all out, aren’t we, Boss Lady Chloe?” “Actors?! Who are you people? Get out! Leave the patient alone! She just had a D&C procedure yesterday after a miscarriage! She’s weak and needs rest!” the doctor snapped, furious. The young nurse behind him nodded in agreement. “Like anyone believes that! Chloe, if you’re going to fake something, at least make it believable…” Ethan’s expression didn’t change, glancing dismissively at the doctor before turning back to me. He was still talking when I threw back the covers, revealing my flat stomach. My voice was ice. “Does this look believable enough for you, Ethan?” He stopped mid-sentence, mouth still hanging open, looking utterly ridiculous. A tremor ran through him. Panic finally flickered in his eyes. His voice cracked, disbelieving. “…Chloe, you… you got an abortion?!”

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My wife’s old flame shared a sonogram photo on his social media feed. He wrote: “Thank you, for helping me have a child of my own when I needed it most.” That’s when I found out. My wife had aborted our child, then underwent IVF to carry her old flame’s baby. I calmly liked his post and commented below: “Congratulations to you both.” Almost instantly, Sienna Miller’s call came through, her voice laced with annoyance: “I was just helping Ryan out, giving him something he needed. Don’t make this more complicated than it is!” I quietly hung up. I knew it was time to end our marriage. 1. I stared at the abortion clinic paperwork and sonogram dated a month ago, pulled from Sienna’s dresser drawer. Only then did I realize I had almost been a father. But now, just because Ryan Davis wanted a child, Sienna had ruthlessly aborted ours a month ago, only to turn around and get pregnant with Ryan’s baby. I looked at the pile of prenatal vitamins and baby gear stacked in the corner of the living room, a chill settling deep in my heart. Actually, I first saw a sonogram photo a week ago. It fell out of Sienna’s purse. Seeing it, I felt dizzy with joy. Sienna and I had been married for four years, and my biggest wish was to have a child, a symbol of our love. I waited all day, hoping Sienna would tell me she was pregnant. But even late into the night, she said nothing. I convinced myself she was waiting for the second trimester, planning to surprise me on our anniversary. But reality slapped me hard across the face. Not only did she have no intention of telling me, but she’d secretly terminated the pregnancy. Now, a month later, she was framing it as simply “lending her womb” to Ryan. Sienna never liked me touching her much, nor did she care for children. She claimed they were naturally mischievous, noisy, and hard to raise. But recently, I noticed her frequently researching pregnancy preparations. She even stayed up late making two checklists: one for a hospital go-bag for expectant mothers, the other for newborn essentials. My heart had soared then, but now I saw it clearly. All these preparations were for the child she was carrying – Ryan’s child. Sienna came home unusually early tonight. I checked the time; it was only 9 PM. She usually wasn’t back until late. She called my name once. I lay in the bedroom and didn’t answer. She didn’t push it. Soon, the sound of the shower started. After she finished, she slipped quietly into the bedroom without turning on the lights and lay down gently beside me. I felt a warmth around my waist – the first time she had ever initiated an embrace. She pressed against my chest, her voice soft, pleading, “Honey, there’s really nothing going on between him and me. I’m just doing him a favor so he can have a child. Ryan has always wanted a kid. I promise, once the baby is born, I’ll cut ties with him completely.” I didn’t say anything. I just gently removed her arm from around me and shifted away silently. Sensing my coldness, she immediately bristled, her voice rising. “I’ve already humbled myself asking you like this, what more do you want?” “Don’t forget, you were the one who said you didn’t care about my past, that you just wanted to be with me.” “Can you stop being so petty? I could have hidden this from you, but out of respect, I told you the truth. And this is how you react? You’re really letting me down.” I let out a cold snort. “How were you planning to hide it? Wait until you started showing and then tell me the baby was mine?” “Sienna, do I look like a total idiot to you?” “Ethan Cole, Ryan is my best friend in the whole world! I was just helping him out. Do you have to be so relentless about this?!” She vented her frustrations in a rush, finally throwing out, “You need to think long and hard about how I’ve been treating you lately. I know you want a child too. After this baby is born, I’ll have one with you.” “Forget it. I’ll sleep in the guest room tonight.” With that, the door slammed shut. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly – laughing at the tragedy of my marriage, laughing at how blind I’d been. In her eyes, apologizing to me was a huge favor, one I was obligated to accept. Otherwise, I was the one being unreasonable. She could treat me this way because, ultimately, I had indulged her far too much. So, this was all my own damn fault. 2. I woke up early the next morning to find Sienna already gone. I knew exactly what was happening; she’d been coming and going at odd hours lately. Her assistant, Lisa, called my phone several times, asking where she was. Lisa told me Sienna hadn’t been to her studio recently. Putting two and two together, she could only be with Ryan. I ignored it and went to the hospital to pick up my physical exam results. The doctor said my ulcer needed serious attention, or I might end up needing surgery. Leaving the clinic with the report, I bumped right into Sienna and Ryan. She was leaning against him, looking utterly dependent, while Ryan held several report forms. Seeing me, Sienna’s face hardened. “Are you following me?” I didn’t bother responding to her, looking straight at Ryan instead. His eyes flickered away nervously as he tried to change the subject. He feigned annoyance, pinching Sienna’s cheek lightly. “How can you say that? Ethan isn’t that kind of person. He knows there’s nothing between us.” Ryan’s words sounded like he was trying to smooth things over, but he was actually putting the ball in my court. I forced a smile. “Yeah, why would I follow you two? Just a happy couple here for a prenatal checkup.” Sienna flared up at that, shoving me hard. “What the hell is that supposed to mean! I only see Ryan as a brother.” I hadn’t eaten breakfast, and my stomach was cramping painfully. I didn’t notice the chair behind me and stumbled, falling to the ground. Ryan immediately pretended to help me up, muttering reproaches at Sienna, but his eyes held a clear look of provocation. Disgusted, I pushed him away, trying to stand on my own. Incredibly, he used the momentum to bump into Sienna behind him. Sienna instantly clutched her stomach protectively, yelling at me, “Ethan Cole! If anything happens to this baby, I will never forgive you!” I stood frozen, watching my wife scream at me over a child she was carrying for another man. A wave of desolation washed over me. Never before had I felt so grateful that Sienna had chosen to abort our child. How could someone who didn’t even love her own husband possibly love their child? Back home, I habitually picked up my phone to scroll through my feed. Right away, I saw Ryan’s latest post: a profile shot of Sienna, tenderly stroking her belly. The caption read: “Mine.” In the comments, Sienna’s friends chimed in. Ashley Young teased, “That side profile doesn’t look like your wife!” Chloe Jones joked, “Oh, back together with the dream guy, huh?” Lily Frost was more direct: “Ooh~ Now I get it. So the baby mama was here all along. Congrats, congrats!” Then, Sienna herself commented to clarify: “Don’t joke around like that. I’m just helping out. If you guys keep this up, my husband might get the wrong idea.” Her friends immediately understood, replying with “Got it,” “Understood.” But Ashley was an exception. She shot back: “Afraid of what? Why keep a petty guy like that anyway? Better off divorced. You and Ryan have been through so much for years, everyone sees how you feel. Just follow your heart!” Ashley always had it out for me, thinking I wasn’t good enough for Sienna compared to Ryan. Not as handsome, not as educated, not as charming. Honestly, I’d put up with it for years for Sienna’s sake. But now, with our marriage at its end, I didn’t need to protect anyone’s feelings anymore. So, I replied directly under Ashley’s comment: “Yeah, we’re getting divorced soon. Thanks for worrying about Sienna all these years.” After posting that, I went to my own profile and selected two photos: One was the divorce agreement. The other was the record of Sienna’s abortion procedure. I added a simple caption: “Finally free.” 3. My post immediately garnered likes and comments. Sienna’s friends were silent. They tactfully chose to ignore it, but I knew they were probably congratulating Sienna on escaping her miserable marriage. Then my phone started ringing off the hook. My parents, Sienna’s parents – everyone was calling to ask what was going on. Sienna herself frantically dialed my number, but I didn’t pick up. I just sent a quick text to my parents: “Coming home tonight. We’ll talk then.” I quickly packed my bags. As I was heading out, Sienna drove up, just returning. Furious, she got out of the car and stormed towards me, demanding loudly: “Ethan Cole, how could you divorce me over such a small thing and plaster it all over the internet!” “Do you have any idea how my parents called me, asking what happened, why I aborted the baby! Have you ever respected me at all?!” Her barrage of accusations nauseated me, but arguing was pointless now. Ignoring her anger, I picked up my suitcase and walked down the steps towards the gate. She suddenly lunged forward, blocking my path. “Does it have to be this way?” she pleaded frantically. “I told you I’d cut ties with him after the baby’s born! I’ve already bent over backward for you, what more do you want?” Her selfish words echoed in my ears, pushing me past my limit. I swung my hand back and slapped her hard across the face. “Sienna, you ask if I’ve respected you? Have you ever respected me? You aborted our child to carry one for Ryan.” “I am your legal husband, the father of that child, yet I had no right to know. Did you respect me then?” “Don’t let me stand in the way of your true love. Ashley’s right, you should follow your heart.” “A petty man like me isn’t right for you. Go find someone who can tolerate everything about you.” “I’ve already emailed you the electronic version of the divorce papers. Remember to sign.” With that, I stepped around her, pushed open the gate, and walked away. She yelled desperately after me, “You’ll regret leaving!” How could I regret it? This whole ordeal had finally woken me up. Leaving her would only make my life better. Back at my parents’ house, they anxiously asked about the divorce the moment they saw me. My mom’s eyes were red; she had clearly been crying. I told them everything – about Sienna aborting our child and then carrying one for Ryan. My mom pulled me into a hug, her voice thick with sympathy. “I told you from the start she wasn’t reliable.” My dad, after a moment of silence, said firmly, “Divorcing her is the right thing to do.” Truthfully, my parents had always had reservations about Sienna, feeling she wasn’t genuine with me. But I hadn’t listened back then. I’d chased her for five or six years, and finally getting together felt like a victory. I thought time would prove everything. Turns out, I was wrong. The marriage finally ended. It took me nearly ten years to understand that forced happiness isn’t sweet. After waiting a long time, Sienna still wouldn’t sign the divorce papers. Only when I threatened legal action did she finally respond, saying she would meet me and make Ashley and the others apologize. Her text message radiated exhaustion: “I’ll come pick you up with Ryan tomorrow. I’ll make Ashley and the others apologize to you. Can you please stop making things difficult for me? It’s so hard. Both you and Ryan put me in such an awkward position.” “I apologize to you. You know I’m someone who keeps my promises. I promised Ryan I’d help him, I can’t just abort the baby now.” “He also told me that once the baby is born, he won’t bother us anymore. It’s just that during this time, he kept saying he wanted to accompany me to the prenatal checkups. After all, I am doing him a big favor.” “Actually, his wife was supposed to go with me, but she’s not around lately. So, Ethan, please try to understand.” 4. She always claimed she didn’t know who to choose between Ryan and me, but her actions repeatedly showed that Ryan was always her priority. On our wedding day, she ditched me to comfort Ryan, who was arguing with his wife. On our anniversary, she ignored me because Ryan was afraid of thunderstorms. On my birthday, she went to celebrate Ryan’s. During holidays, she bought two sets of gifts – one for me, one for Ryan. It seemed fair on the surface, but it was utterly ridiculous. I expressed my dissatisfaction many times. She always promised to change but inevitably repeated her mistakes, even accusing me of being too sensitive. Looking back, the happiest moment between us was the day I proposed. On Skyline View Point, high above the city, under a sky full of stars, I planned a proposal just for us. That moment, the way she looked at me was filled with love, her vows warm and sincere. But now, everything had changed. When Sienna didn’t get a reply from me, she called directly. “Ryan has already booked the restaurant. Everyone’s coming to apologize to you. Don’t be angry anymore.” I responded calmly, “Will Ryan be there too?” “Yes, he’ll be there.” “Okay, come pick me up tomorrow.” If the apology was only for me, what was the point? Sienna’s car pulled up downstairs. When the window rolled down, Ryan was in the driver’s seat. He gave me a slightly apologetic smile. “Ethan, sorry about this. Sienna’s pregnant, so she can’t drive. I drove instead.” I smiled back. “No problem, I understand.” Previously, this would have bothered me, but now, whatever Sienna and Ryan did, I wouldn’t easily get upset anymore. Truth be told, even if Sienna had been driving, the passenger seat wouldn’t have been mine. At the restaurant, Sienna’s friends were already seated, waiting for the three of us. Ashley came over, greeted me, and insisted I sit next to her. “Ethan, sit here. I need to properly apologize to you later.” Her tone sounded more like a warning than an apology. Once everyone was settled, Ashley poured me a glass of wine first, saying it was her penalty. She downed it in one gulp, then began her “apology.” “Ethan, I’m a straightforward person, don’t take it personally. I used to think you weren’t good enough for my best friend.” “But since Sienna is still willing to be with you, then today, for her sake, I’ll apologize.” She poured another glass, held it towards me, and said, “This one is a sincere apology. I misspoke that day. I’m sorry.” As soon as she finished, Sienna’s other friends quickly followed suit with their apologies. Sienna, seeing the atmosphere easing, quickly encouraged everyone to start eating, trying to lighten the mood. But suddenly, Ryan raised his glass of fruit wine, stood up, and addressed me: “Ethan, I also need to say sorry. Sienna cares too much about me, and it’s caused you a lot of grief.” Sienna immediately pulled Ryan back down into his seat. “It’s not your fault, you don’t need to apologize.” Then she turned to me, looking earnest. “I’m sorry. I failed to handle this relationship properly.” I chuckled. “It’s okay. Actually, there’s someone else who’d like to hear your apologies too.” Just as I finished speaking, the door swung open, and a woman in high heels walked in. Ryan instantly panicked.

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On my deathbed, my husband, who had supposedly been “dead for years,” strolled in with his young, beautiful mistress, just to gloat. “Sarah, thanks for paying off all my debts. Allowed me to live it up overseas all these years, you know?” My chest flared with pain. Kevin Davis coolly yanked out my oxygen tube. “Honey, legally, I’m still your husband. So, all your assets? I’ll gladly take them off your hands.” Kevin watched coldly as I took my last breath. I closed my eyes, filled with regret. When I opened them again, I was back on the day my husband faked his death. 1 “Mrs. Davis, please accept my condolences.” Dr. Miller’s voice was low, trying to comfort me. I stared blankly at the figure covered by a white sheet, my mind still foggy. I glanced up at the digital clock on the wall. Somehow, I was back fifteen years in the past! The day Kevin supposedly killed himself! In my past life, Kevin had racked up enormous gambling debts and borrowed heavily from loan sharks. To protect his reputation as a respected teacher, he left a suicide note and staged his death. But even after he “died,” the creditors didn’t stop chasing the debt. To preserve my husband’s lifelong reputation and shield our family from harassment, I took on his burden. I sold both our houses, worked three jobs a day, pinched every penny. After ten long, hard years, I finally paid off the millions he owed. But the toil destroyed my health. At only fifty, I collapsed. As I lay dying, Kevin reappeared. He’d been living comfortably abroad, dodging his debts. The first thing he did upon returning was pull my oxygen tube to inherit my estate! Now, I’m reborn. And I’m going to watch you, you deadbeat scumbag, go straight to hell! 2 My thoughts snapped back to the present. I gathered my emotions, let out a loud wail, and threw myself onto Kevin’s body. “Honey! Don’t leave me!” I sobbed, pounding on Kevin’s “corpse.” I used about ninety percent of my strength, hitting him with solid thuds. Since Kevin was faking death, he obviously couldn’t move. Dr. Miller couldn’t stand it anymore and pulled me up. “Mrs. Davis, please calm down. You can’t bring him back.” I looked at Dr. Miller’s pudgy face, a fire igniting inside me. Kevin couldn’t have faked his death without help. That accomplice had to be the attending physician who declared him dead. Last time, I was too overwhelmed with grief, letting this doctor wheel the supposed body into the morgue. My mother-in-law handled the arrangements; I never even saw Kevin cremated. I just numbly accepted he was gone. It seemed I was the only one they kept in the dark. Fine. This time, I’ll settle the score with both of you! 3 I gathered all my strength and slapped Dr. Miller hard across the face. He was stunned. I howled uncontrollably: “Why? My husband was such a good man! Why couldn’t you save him?!” Like a madwoman, I grabbed Dr. Miller’s collar and started punching and kicking him. In the chaos, I managed to land a few more solid hits on Kevin. “Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Davis, calm down! I understand how you feel, but we need to take Mr. Davis to the morgue now,” Dr. Miller stammered, rubbing his already swelling cheek. I fell silent, staring at Dr. Miller, and said coolly: “Okay. I’ll go with you.” Dr. Miller hadn’t expected this request and looked hesitant. “Mrs. Davis, according to regulations, unauthorized personnel are not allowed in the hospital morgue.” I changed tactics: “Fine, then I’ll stay here with him. Kevin always hated the cold. I can’t bear the thought of him lying in one of those cold drawers.” Dr. Miller looked troubled. My actions were clearly throwing a wrench in their plans. “Mrs. Davis, it’s hot weather now. If Mr. Davis isn’t taken to the morgue, the body will start to decompose quickly.” I replied firmly: “I don’t care.” Dr. Miller grew anxious. But no matter how he tried to persuade me, I refused to leave Kevin’s side. Sweat beaded on Dr. Miller’s forehead. My lack of cooperation was making things difficult for him. He quietly slipped out of the room and made a hushed phone call. I sat silently by the bedside. The thought of Kevin lying under that white sheet, enduring this minute by minute, almost made me laugh. Twenty minutes later, my mother-in-law, Brenda Davis, burst in like a storm. “You jinx! Are you trying to stop my son from resting in peace?” Brenda pointed a finger right at my nose and started yelling. I looked coldly at her fierce, unpleasant face. In my past life, Brenda conspired with Kevin to deceive me, happily living off my hard work. This time, I wouldn’t be so weak. 4 “A jinx? Dad died young; does that make you a jinx too?” My sharp retort left Brenda momentarily speechless. “I don’t care! You can’t stop my son from finding peace!” Brenda moved to push the gurney. I stood in front of it, staring coldly at her. “Oh, God help me! My son just died, and now my daughter-in-law is trying to drive this old woman to her grave!” Brenda plopped down on the floor, slapping her thighs and wailing accusations at me like a common thug. A crowd began to gather, but I remained calm. “This woman! She deliberately wants to keep my son from being buried properly! She wants him to be a wandering ghost, unable to move on!” Brenda got more dramatic, playing to the onlookers. She accused me of being lazy, mooching off them, and bullying her. The bystanders started giving me suspicious looks. I didn’t rush. Copying Brenda, I sat down on the floor and started wiping away tears. “Mom, oh Mom! I married into your family five years ago. I worked tirelessly, taking care of both of you. Look at your hands, so white and soft. Not like mine, dark and rough.” I cried while holding up Brenda’s hand. Facts speak louder than words. Brenda’s hands clearly hadn’t seen a day of hard work. She was plump, well-dressed, a large gold bracelet gleaming on her wrist. I, on the other hand, wore simple clothes and looked haggard. Hardly the image of a domineering, cruel daughter-in-law. Brenda was thrown off by my tactic. “You brat! What nonsense are you spouting?” Brenda pointed at me, yelling. I pretended to be terrified, covering my head and screaming: “Don’t hit me!” My sleeve slid down, revealing the crisscrossed scars on my arm. Seeing this, the crowd immediately turned on Brenda. “Looks more like you’ve been bullying your daughter-in-law, doesn’t it?” “Yeah, you look well-fed, unlike her. She’s so thin, clearly been through a lot.” “Are those bruises on her arm? Should we call the police?” The accusations and criticism rained down on Brenda. She was furious, yelling at the crowd: “Get lost! Mind your own business! This is family stuff!” Brenda stood with her hands on her hips, ready to argue with everyone. And now, it was time for my next move. 5 “Excuse me, are you Mrs. Davis?” Several people in uniforms entered the room. The room instantly fell silent. I wiped my tears and shook their hands. “Yes, I’m Sarah Davis, Kevin Davis’s wife.” “Who are they?” Brenda eyed the newcomers warily. “Oh, they’re from the organ donation center. They’re here to help Kevin fulfill his final wish,” I said casually. “What organ donation? What are you trying to do?” Brenda raised her voice, blocking the gurney. “You know, donating his corneas, heart, liver… to save other people in need!” I explained calmly. Brenda panicked. She stood protectively in front of Kevin, shouting her refusal: “His body is sacred! It came from his parents! I don’t agree!” “Mom, you can’t ignore Kevin’s wishes! He always wanted to contribute to society!” I said righteously. To prove my point, I pulled out the organ donor registration document Kevin had signed from my phone. Thanks to Kevin’s hypocritical nature, always trying to build a saintly image at work, he had actually signed up for organ donation years ago. Brenda’s face flushed red, but she still wouldn’t let anyone near Kevin. Beside her, Dr. Miller was sweating bullets. If Kevin’s fake death was exposed, he’d be the first one to go down. To make it even harder for them to back down, I had another card up my sleeve. 6 “Make way! Is the hero donating all his organs in this room?” A swarm of reporters pushed into the already crowded, small hospital room. “Who are you people?” Brenda was on the verge of tears. “Ma’am, hello, we’re reporters from the local TV station. We heard that a hero’s family wishes to donate their deceased relative’s organs, and we came to cover the story,” a reporter answered with a smile. Brenda was dumbfounded. As the grieving widow, it was naturally my place to take charge. “Everyone, my husband, Kevin Davis, was a middle school teacher. He dedicated his life to educating others and was a man of great integrity. It was my husband’s wish to donate his organs. As his wife, I certainly won’t disappoint him. I have decided to donate all of my husband Kevin’s organs!” My passionate speech earned a round of applause. Camera flashes went off nonstop. Hearing the news, Kevin’s school principal and other administrators also arrived. They wouldn’t miss an opportunity that brought positive attention to the school. The situation had reached its peak. 7 “No!” Brenda clung desperately to the gurney, refusing to let anyone touch her son. “Ma’am, your son contributing to society is a noble act!” People in the crowd tried to persuade Brenda. Seeing that he was about to be taken away for dissection, Kevin finally couldn’t hold it in any longer. “I don’t agree!” Kevin’s sudden resurrection startled many people. “What’s going on?!” The reporters, though experienced, were visibly shocked, but their cameras remained steady. “Kevin! You!” My eyes widened as I pointed at Kevin in feigned shock. Kevin looked furious, glaring daggers at me. “Why aren’t you dead?” Angry and desperate, I slapped Kevin across the face. “How dare you lie to me?” I screamed, seemingly devastated. Kevin awkwardly shielded his face, growling at the reporters: “Stop filming!” But how could reporters pass up such a bizarre story? The scene descended into chaos. A man declared dead suddenly comes back to life! It was undeniably huge news. “Kevin, you… how?” Even the school officials were too stunned to speak coherently. Kevin frowned, stammering nonsensically. As people grasped the situation, they turned on Kevin with angry shouts. “This guy faked his own death to scam his wife! What was he planning?” “His mother must have been in on it too! Poor wife, kept completely in the dark.” “I bet he was planning to run off with money! What a terrible thing to do to his wife!” Kevin wished the ground would swallow him whole. He wanted to run, but the thick crowd blocked any escape. I smiled faintly. Was it over already? Not quite. 8 “Well, well, what’s all the commotion here?” Several menacing men, arms covered in tattoos, pushed their way into the room. Seeing them, Kevin’s face instantly turned deathly pale. “Kevin, pal. You were supposed to pay the interest. What’re you doing in the hospital?” One of the large men clapped Kevin on the shoulder with a humorless grin. Kevin actually collapsed onto the gurney bed. “Who… who are you people?” I timidly stepped forward. The big guy, dangling a cigarette from his lips, said casually: “You must be Mrs. Davis, right? Your husband, Kevin, did some gambling on our turf. Long story short, he owes a bit of money. Borrowed quite a chunk from my associates too. Payment’s been overdue for a few days now.” Kevin hung his head, silent. I looked around at the gawking crowd and the filming reporters, then asked directly: “How much does my husband owe you?” The big man waved his hand dismissively: “Not much. Just over a million bucks.” “Whoa!”

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After being framed for kidnapping a child, my own husband sent me to prison. The day after I went in, he started spending every night screwing his old flame in my bed. Three years of hell turned me numb. When I got out, I was forced to live with a dog and give up my parents’ inheritance. Finally, I signed the divorce papers, just begging him to leave me alone. But then he went crazy, regretting everything, kneeling at my feet, pleading: “I was wrong, I sent that woman to prison, please forgive me, okay?” 1 “Inmate 1556, you’re clear for release.” The guard’s loud voice snapped me out of my daze. Three years behind bars had drained the life out of me, leaving me numb to almost everything. Even seeing Ethan Hayes, my husband, waiting for me—the first time in three years—didn’t stir the intense emotions I used to feel. Seeing me just standing there, dazedly, Ethan frowned impatiently, then rolled down the window and barked. “What? Didn’t three years in prison teach you anything? Do I have to get out and open the door for you?” That familiar tone sent a pang through my long-dormant heart. I quickly reached for the passenger door handle, but he snapped again. “Get in the back.” Stumbling, I opened the rear door, only then noticing the cute little charms hanging from the rearview mirror and dashboard. Ethan always hated childish things like that; anything I ever put up got thrown out. But these were carefully placed. I didn’t even need to guess who they belonged to. Sure enough, a familiar face turned around from the passenger seat, greeting me brightly. “Ava, long time no see!” It was Chloe Vance, Ethan’s old flame. I didn’t answer, just gave her a blank nod. The next second, Ethan suddenly turned, reaching towards me. Instinctively, I covered my head and curled up. “I’m sorry!” Ethan paused. “What the hell are you doing?” I looked up and saw he was just grabbing a water bottle from the back seat. It hit me then—I might be out of that hellhole, but my mind was still trapped there. Ethan scoffed. “Looks like Chloe was right. Trash like you who kidnaps kids really does learn to obey in prison, hahaha.” “Look at you, like a kicked dog. Did they make you bark in there? Did you go ‘woof woof’?” I didn’t argue. Prison is a concentration of malice. I was nearly beaten to death on my first day. Initially, I tried asking the guards for help, but all I got were disgusted looks. Sometimes, they even deliberately covered for the inmates. Before I was arrested, I knew my alleged crime would make me a target inside. But I never expected the prison system itself seemed designed to destroy me. Daily beatings, moved to a new cell block every other week to be tormented by fresh faces. Once, when I was seriously injured and sent to the infirmary, the doctor pressed down hard on my wounds while sneering and pouring alcohol. So, survival meant adopting the most subservient attitude possible. It wasn’t learning to be like a dog; it was being less than a dog. Seeing my lack of response, the contempt in Ethan’s eyes deepened. Chloe quickly tried to soothe him in a soft voice. “Ethan, honey, don’t be mad. Ava’s been cut off from society for three years, she’s learned her lesson. You’ll just have to guide her back to being a decent person.” “Don’t worry, I’ll help you guide her too. After all, she did genuinely love you and take care of you once. I’ll definitely look out for her, for your sake.” Chloe’s eyes seemed sincere. But Ethan just grabbed the water bottle and threw it, hitting my forehead. “Everything that happened to Ava, she brought on herself! She’s just good at playing the victim to fool soft-hearted people like you!” “Disgusting!” Ethan looked like he wanted to kill me. If I hadn’t supposedly kidnapped Chloe’s cousin at the mall, Chloe wouldn’t have rushed and fallen, injuring her leg. Chloe placated Ethan with a kiss on his cheek. “Don’t be angry, Ethan darling. I’ll always be here with you, facing whatever comes!” “Chloe, it’s so good to have you.” 2 It happened on my birthday. I received a rare text from Ethan, asking me to meet him at a restaurant to celebrate. I was overjoyed. I thought maybe this marriage, which only I seemed committed to, finally had a glimmer of hope. I always knew Ethan didn’t love me. He wouldn’t have married me if it wasn’t to save his family’s struggling business. But that night, he said he had prepared many gifts for me at the restaurant. Yet, as wave after wave of customers left, he still hadn’t shown up. Just then, a little girl came up to me and took my hand. “Miss, I’ll take you to him.” Thinking it was part of Ethan’s surprise, I followed the girl to the mall next door. Soon, sirens wailed. The girl suddenly fell, crying. Before I could even help her up, several police officers tackled me to the ground. When I saw Ethan arrive, I desperately pleaded for him to save me. But my frantic explanations were no match for Chloe’s choked words. “Ava, I know you’re jealous of my relationship with Ethan and always wanted revenge on me.” “But if you have a problem, take it out on me! My cousin is just a child!” Coupled with the girl’s terrified crying, I was suddenly accused of child abduction, completely bewildered. The hand I reached out to Ethan was flung away with disgust. “Ava, she’s only six! Can she lie? You are truly vicious!” And then, Ethan personally handed me over to the police. Later, when even the judge handling the case expressed doubts, it was Ethan who hired the best lawyer in the country to convince the judge to convict me. All of it, just to please his old flame. The car gradually entered the city limits and stopped at the old family house. This mansion, originally mine, had been transferred to Ethan’s name the day before I went to prison. The butler hesitated as he walked ahead of me. As much as he wanted to talk to me, he had to watch Ethan’s expression; Ethan was the master of the house now. Not long ago, a maid was fired just because she couldn’t style Chloe’s hair exactly the way she liked. Ethan not only fired her but also ruined her career, blacklisting her in the industry. “Miss Ava, you’ve suffered terribly.” While Ethan and Chloe went upstairs to change, the old butler quickly pulled me aside and pressed an envelope into my hand. I looked up, surprised. “Miss Ava, if it weren’t for you back then, my grandson might not be here today. He’s doing well now. Please take this money.” It was the bank card I had given him before. I clutched it tightly, ultimately pocketing it due to my current desperate situation. Indeed, as long as I was breathing, Ethan would only ever feel disgust towards me. My old room in the house had been converted into a room for Chloe’s pet dog. But he insisted I stay in that room, sharing it with Chloe’s dog. He was humiliating me. What he didn’t know was that even sharing a room with a dog was far better than the conditions I’d endured for the past three years. He wrapped his arm around Chloe’s waist, his eyes full of disdain for me. “Chloe’s and my room is right next door. You’ll stay here tonight. Behave yourself. Don’t you dare disturb our rest.” “And if you hear anything, don’t get any funny ideas, understand?” “Ava, you need to recognize your place now. You have absolutely no right to say no.” He looked at me like I was a dangerous criminal. But when he looked at Chloe, his eyes were always overflowing with affection. Watching him hold Chloe tight, for the first time, my heart felt no trace of bitterness. After all, I had already decided to divorce him. My love for him had died during those three years. 3 That night, I couldn’t sleep. Besides the dog whining, there were the low moans of Ethan and Chloe making love next door. They sounded like wild animals, unleashing buried desires in the dead of night. “Ethan honey, now that Ava’s back, does that mean I can’t stay here anymore?” “But I want to be with you forever. I want you to be the first thing I see when I wake up every day!” Her words, practically a confession of love, hit Ethan hard. He had waited so long to hear this. “Chloe, I feel the exact same way.” “Thank god, thank god I finally have your answer.” This was a message for me. A reminder that they were the perfectly matched pair in this world. And I was just an intruder, an invader. “But Ethan darling, what if Ava forces you to kick me out?” “Her? Dare she? She barely dares to speak loudly to me. You know how she kisses my ass.” “In Ava’s mind, I’m more important than her own life.” The next morning, I knocked on their bedroom door. Thanks to my old phone still working, I had prepared the divorce agreement overnight. As if deliberately trying to provoke me, Ethan opened the door shirtless. His body was covered in love bites and scratches. He held his head high, eyes dripping with scorn. “What do you want?” I silently averted my gaze and handed him the papers. “To divorce you.” Ethan laughed out loud, absurdly, as if he’d heard the world’s biggest joke. “You?” “Divorcing me?” He looked down on me, his tone full of disbelief. “Ava, don’t you know that divorce is something only I get to initiate?” Chloe emerged from behind him, throwing herself into Ethan’s arms. They ignored me, getting intimate right in front of me, leaving me standing there. The sounds of heavy breathing started again, like two animals constantly in heat. After a long while, Ethan finally spared me a sliver of his attention. “Fine, if you want a divorce, it’s not impossible.” “Ava, kneel and beg me.” I froze. I didn’t understand. He had the woman he loved by his side now, why deliberately make things difficult? Shouldn’t he, like me, want to end this marriage as soon as possible? Seeing my prolonged silence, Ethan sneered. “I knew it. This is just another one of your manipulative little dramas.” “Hearing me with another woman every night got to you, didn’t it? If you can’t stand it, move out! Don’t put on an act in front of me.” “Let’s see where you can possibly go once you leave me.” His overwhelming confidence crushed my self-esteem into dust. “Do you really… hate me that much?” I subconsciously voiced the question that had haunted me for three years. Ethan nodded without hesitation. “Of course. Just looking at you makes me sick.” I took a deep breath and pulled the divorce papers back. Pulling back the last shred of illusion I had about him. 4 The company my parents left me before they died… I had already transferred most of the shares to Ethan when we got married. Later, because of my sudden imprisonment, only one of the original senior executives remained. I didn’t know if the others quit on their own or if Ethan forced them out one by one. It wasn’t until he heard me personally say the word “divorce” that the remaining executive finally laughed with relief. “Ava, I stayed at the company all this time just waiting for you to come back! Thank goodness you’ve finally come to your senses. Don’t worry, this time I’ll do whatever it takes to get back what’s yours.” “Including your reputation.” Three years ago, when they framed me, I still clung to the fantasy that Ethan would save me. If I had used every means possible back then to prove my innocence, maybe I wouldn’t have ended up in such a wretched state. But that kind of clarity… Only dawned on me after three years of being emotionally stripped bare by love. Thanks to the butler’s bank card, I rented a small apartment outside the estate. When Ethan realized I wasn’t just putting on an act, a rare hint of panic flickered across his face. “Ava, what do you mean by this?” “Why are you still so manipulative? You have a home, why run off like this? Just to make sure everyone knows I drove you out?” I quietly finished packing my things before turning to address him. “Having a child kidnapper in the house… don’t you find it unlucky?” “After all, I’m the criminal you so righteously handed over yourself.” The moment the words left my mouth, Ethan slammed his fist against the wall, radiating a terrifying aura. Seeing this, Chloe rushed over, tenderly rubbing Ethan’s reddened knuckles. “Ethan, honey, don’t be angry with Ava.” “Maybe Ava just realizes the terrible things she did before, so she doesn’t dare stay near you anymore.” “Why don’t you just agree to the divorce? Out of sight, out of mind, for your own peace.” Chloe whispered softly in Ethan’s ear. One sentence after another, like brainwashing. Persuaded by the woman he adored, Ethan finally relented. He suppressed whatever fleeting unease or anger he felt, reverting to his usual look of disgust towards me. “Chloe’s right. Ava, I agree to divorce you.” “Hurry up and give me the papers. I’ll generously give you some assets, then disappear from this city. Saves me the nausea of looking at you.” His tone was as arrogant as ever. He seemed to assume I would obey him like I always used to, holding out his hand, waiting for me to place the divorce agreement in it. I stared at him for a moment.

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Every time my wife and I fought, she’d buy me a luxury watch. By the time I had collected 99 of them, I decided I couldn’t accept any more, and I asked her for a divorce. It all kicked off one night last fall, sparked by a social media post from my wife’s assistant. “This holiday night, spending it with you, finally feels like home~” The picture showed him at a fancy rooftop garden restaurant. Leaning against him was a woman, half her face hidden in shadow, but her distinct collarbone and the faint hickey on her neck screamed intimacy. Alex then commented: “The boss looks amazing. My Venus.” I glanced at the message Amanda had sent just minutes before, saying she was working late. A faint smile touched my lips as I replied in the comments: “Her technique’s even better.” Shortly after, Alex called, his voice laced with faux injury, explaining it was just some quote he found online, nothing more. Amanda snatched the phone, her voice dripping with sarcasm towards me: “We just grabbed dinner after working late, what’s your problem? Do you have any idea how Alex felt when you said that publicly?” Then, her tone softened towards Alex: “Don’t take it personally. He watches too many trashy romance dramas; thinks everyone’s a rival.” The line went dead. The next day, Amanda came home, and with her, another watch box. This one contained a green watch. “Honey, please forgive me. What I said last night was just to save face.” Staring at the drawer overflowing with expensive watches, I gently shook my head. I had loved her for seven years. I had forgiven her ninety-nine times. This time, I was letting go. 1 When Amanda got home, I was digging into a special extra-spicy, loaded-with-peppers hot pot I’d made just for myself. She never touched spicy food, so for seven years, chili peppers had been banished from our dining table. Amanda walked straight over, grabbed my personal hot pot without a word, and dumped it down the toilet. “I’m allergic to peppers, did you forget?” She then handed me an elegant gift box. “Alex picked it out. As an apology from him. Seriously, look at what you said last night. He’s so much more considerate than you are. You’re older than him, his senior; can’t you be a little more magnanimous?” I didn’t move an inch. She nudged me. “Are you listening to me? Why are you being so petty?” As she spoke, she noticed my eyes watering – from the intense spice – and looked slightly flustered. She mumbled something about getting tissues, but I stopped her. “Don’t bother. I’m going to take a shower.” I went to wash up, avoiding her. When I came out, she was surprisingly still there. Amanda sat on the sofa, the gift box on the table. She seemed calmer. “Honey, I lost my temper earlier. Come see the gift we picked out for you.” Amanda eagerly tore open the packaging, but froze when she saw the color. “Why is it green…” Her words trailed off, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. She quickly forced a smile and tried to explain, “Honey, forgive me. What I said last night was just to keep up appearances.” The excuse felt incredibly flimsy. I didn’t bother looking closely. I ran a hand through my hair, about to bring up the divorce. Just then, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen and immediately answered. “What’s wrong?” Alex’s voice came through, choked with tears. “Amanda, my stomach hurts so bad, and I can’t get a cab to the hospital.” Amanda’s expression turned grave instantly. Without even a glance my way, she grabbed her coat and rushed out the door. I stood there, stunned. A few minutes later, a voice message arrived from her. “You have to accept that watch. Otherwise, Alex will feel terrible, and it’ll affect his work.” I didn’t reply. She sent another. “I’ll be back soon.” The sound of speeding cars bled through the background noise. I didn’t need to guess. She was racing to Alex’s side as fast as she could. 2 After Amanda left, she never came back that night. I waited from late evening until dawn. Nothing. That night, the emotional turmoil triggered a severe angina attack. I was rushed to the emergency room. I tried calling Amanda, but her line was constantly busy. Just as I was about to give up, a notification popped up. Alex had updated his social media status. He shared a photo of himself getting an IV drip, captioned: “Looked into your eyes, knew you were the one. Watching over me through the night, by my side in my toughest moment. Boss, how can I ever repay this kindness? How about… with myself?” The message oozed gratitude and adoration for Amanda. Right below it, a comment from someone apparently working at the hospital: “OMG, I work here! Just snapped this on the sly, totally explosive!” The attached picture showed a frail-looking Alex, with Amanda standing by his bedside, his arms wrapped tightly around her waist. It looked like a poignant movie scene. Another candid shot showed Amanda watching over Alex’s bed, her eyes filled with a tenderness and concern directed solely at him. Even though I should have been used to it, my heart clenched painfully. Almost involuntarily, I dialed Amanda’s number. “Let’s get a divorce,” I said curtly and hung up. I used to be skeptical about the “seven-year itch,” but right then, I had to admit it was real. The exhaustion and disappointment had completely drained my will to continue. My angina attack was brought under control quickly, and I was discharged soon after. Dragging myself home, I had barely stepped inside when Amanda confronted me, furious. “What stunt are you pulling now? Can’t you stop being so unreasonable? He was really sick, shouldn’t I have taken care of him?” “I just had a severe angina attack. I almost died.” I cut her off coldly, my eyes devoid of any warmth. Hearing this, Amanda’s face went deathly pale, her eyes wide with disbelief. She froze, speechless for a long moment. 3 To the outside world, Amanda and I were the picture-perfect couple. Amanda wanted to be childfree, and because I loved her, I respected her decision without argument. So, for seven years, we never had children of our own. Until recently. One night, Amanda came home drunk after a work function. As I helped her onto the bed, she suddenly threw her arms around my neck, her eyes hazy. “Honey, let’s have a baby…” Then she passed out. I carefully removed her makeup and changed her clothes. I thought she genuinely wanted a child with me. I thought she still loved me. Until… Three days prior, my sudden angina attack landed me in the ER. The feeling of being pulled back from the brink still haunted me. Originally, I had made preparations, even got a full physical. I had planned to spend the holiday weekend with Amanda, tell her I wanted to cherish every day we had together even more. My health check confirmed I could provide my half of a healthy child. But now, none of it mattered. On that autumn night, Amanda spent it with her assistant, Alex, even speaking coldly to me in front of him. What hurt most was that green watch she held – a symbol of betrayal. Her words defending Alex were like sharp knives, cutting into my heart again and again. She knew exactly what the color green implied in certain contexts, yet she went along with Alex’s choice. It was chilling. Amanda stood up angrily, her knuckles white from clenching her fists. But she didn’t ask why I hadn’t told her about my condition sooner. Because she had already chosen to discard me, call after unanswered call. I had given her countless chances, hoping she’d come back to me, but she always chose Alex. “Enough, Ethan!” Her voice was filled with anger and contempt. “You’d make up a lie like that just to get my attention!” She shoved me hard onto the sofa. “You’ve been fine for years, and suddenly, right after I hire an assistant, you have a heart attack? Do you think this is some kind of TV drama?” “When did you become like this? Alex is just my assistant! Is it wrong for me to care about my staff? Can’t you stop being so sensitive, watch fewer of those stupid shows, and stop messing with your head?!” She stormed out, slamming the door behind her. Staring at the closed door, I remembered a text message I’d seen five days earlier. Alex had told Amanda he wanted a child. Amanda had replied to Alex: “Baby, I want a child that belongs to us too.” In that moment, I knew with chilling clarity that she seemed to have completely forgotten the vows we once made together. So, her drunken words that night… they were meant for Alex. I looked at the shut door, no longer feeling the familiar urge to compromise or smooth things over. In our seven years of marriage, I had always been the one trying to hold things together. Today, I was completely disheartened. I thought back over the years. She had once given me ten watches as symbols of love. But since Alex appeared, the subsequent eighty-plus watches felt more like milestones marking their relationship. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms, fighting back the pain as I texted my lawyer: “Hello, I need to consult about a divorce. As soon as possible.” 4 For several days, Amanda didn’t come home. On the fourth day, my phone finally rang. Amanda’s voice still held a trace of lingering anger, tinged with coldness and distance. “Come downstairs. My mom wants us to come over for dinner.” Before I could respond, she hung up. My mother-in-law had always been kind to me. No matter how much I resisted going, I had to consider her feelings. When Amanda saw I had made an effort to dress up, a sarcastic smile played on her lips. “Well, look at you, all spruced up. And you tried to tell me you almost died. How ridiculous.” My breath caught. Then I managed a small smile and said softly, “Yeah. Right.” She didn’t press the issue, instead turning on the car’s music system. As the music started, a soft voice alert played. “Your little assistant Alex reminds the dear Mrs. CEO, please enjoy the music, but also drive safely, love you~” Alex’s gentle, slightly magnetic voice echoed in the somewhat awkward silence of the car, making the atmosphere even more charged. In the past, I would have immediately demanded an explanation from Amanda, insisting she justify it. It would have ended in another argument. But now, I chose silence. I just sat there quietly, saying nothing. Amanda seemed to realize her blunder, a flash of embarrassment crossing her face. “…Alex said personalized voice prompts are trendy now, so I had him set one up for me.” I nodded slightly, my expression calm and unreadable. During dinner at her parents’ house, my mother-in-law clearly sensed the strained atmosphere between us, occasionally casting questioning glances our way. As the meal drew to a close, she finally leaned in and asked quietly, “What’s going on with you two? Had a fight?” Amanda laughed lightly, naturally linking her arm through mine. “No, Mom, don’t worry about it.” Her mother immediately relaxed, her face filled with relief. “That’s what I thought! All those online rumors about you and your male assistant being too close are nonsense. My Amanda would never do anything to hurt Ethan!” 5 “News? What news?” Amanda looked puzzled. Her mother glanced at me, paused for a moment, then took out her phone and handed it to her. “This. Everyone online is buzzing about a ‘ManXu’ CP – pairing the CEO and her male assistant.” I caught a glimpse of the phone screen. It was a compilation of photos featuring Amanda and Alex, many taken in settings I’d never seen. For instance, one showed Amanda and Alex painting plaster dolls together in a park. One of those identical cartoon figures sat silently on the nightstand in our bedroom. She had told me it was painted by an employee’s child, and she brought it home because she thought it was cute. Thinking back now, it was just another carefully crafted lie. Amanda took the phone, then grasped my hand to explain, “Those photos were all taken during company events. It’s not like what they’re saying online.” “Alex just graduated; I mentored him closely, like his teacher. It’s natural for him to rely on me. Sometimes, when we spend a lot of time together, he even worries you might misunderstand and tells me I should go home and spend more time with you.” I wasn’t particularly interested in her explanation, just replying flatly, “Mm, I get it.” The tension eased slightly from her face, but then I turned to her mother, my voice firm. “I want a divorce from Amanda.”

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On our third anniversary, Ethan forced me to give blood for his old flame’s dog. The long needle pierced my skin, the suffocating feeling of my blood being drawn making me scream in despair. My life hung by a thread. Meanwhile, Ethan and Olivia were busy planning the dog’s funeral arrangements. He didn’t forget to warn me: “You stay in that room and reflect on what you did, otherwise, forget about marrying me!” After I got out of the hospital, I didn’t hesitate. I called my Aunt Carol and agreed to the match she’d arranged overseas. But Ethan, why are you now frantically searching the world for me, spending nights outside my building, repenting? 1 When I was finally let out of the room I’d been locked in, Ethan was helping Olivia move her things in. Silently, I moved my suitcase into the guest room, leaving the master bedroom for her. Only then did Ethan nod, satisfied. “Locked up for a few days, you finally learned your lesson.” My breath caught, my fingertips trembling uncontrollably. Three days ago was our third anniversary. I had excitedly planned a proposal, only to have Olivia show up unexpectedly and ruin everything. The moment Olivia saw me, she smiled. “Wow, you really do look like me. No wonder Ethan’s with you.” It hit me like lightning – the crushing realization that I was just her replacement. I was so stunned I didn’t even notice when Olivia approached Ethan’s golden retriever, Goldie. She gently stroked Goldie’s fur. “Goldie, Mommy’s home.” But the next second, she plunged a sharp pair of scissors deep into Goldie’s body. The dog died right there in a pool of blood. A few tears from Olivia, and Ethan instantly, furiously decided I was the murderer. That same night, he dragged me to the hospital, practically wanting to drain me dry. “Goldie bled to death. You should feel what Goldie felt!” Ethan’s cold, final words echoed in my ears. The feeling of my blood leaving my body, the suffocation, made me shriek in desperation. I explained, begged, apologized over and over… But it wasn’t enough for him. He locked me, weak from blood loss, in that room, alone with Goldie’s lifeless body, forcing me to repent until I broke down. Whenever exhaustion threatened to pull me under, Ethan would play recordings of Goldie barking, constantly grating on my nerves. For three whole days, every time I closed my eyes, I plunged into agonizing nightmares. Fear and despair washed over me like a flood. While Ethan and Olivia were planning Goldie’s funeral, I dragged my weak body to the hospital. I was so close to death, even the doctors weren’t sure they could save me. After being discharged, I immediately called my Aunt Carol. “Aunt Carol, I’ll do it. I’ll go abroad for the marriage arrangement.” 2 I had two weeks before Aunt Carol would come pick me up to go overseas. I had no choice but to return to that house. As soon as I walked in, Ethan forced me to kneel before Goldie’s urn and repent. Olivia stood nearby, eyes red from crying, mourning Goldie’s tragic end. Then she turned, helped me up, and spoke softly, “Sarah, I was so lost in grief over Goldie the past few days, I couldn’t check on you. You don’t mind, right?” “And Ethan… honestly, locking you in that room with Goldie’s body… that must have been so hard for you.” Ethan sneered, “She brought it on herself!” The whole situation felt utterly absurd, and a wave of fear washed over me. The man I had loved for three years wanted me dead… over a dog! After the memorial, Ethan tossed a necklace at me. “Your third-anniversary gift. Making up for it now.” I looked at the necklace – clearly an accessory matching one of Olivia’s expensive designer bags. I sighed inwardly and didn’t reach for it. Ethan’s face instantly darkened. “Don’t like it? Sarah, don’t be so greedy.” I forced a bitter smile and took the necklace. “I like it. Thank you,” I said calmly. Only then did Ethan look satisfied. He left, taking Olivia out for French food, her favorite. I leaned against the doorframe and slowly sank to the floor, bitter tears escaping the corners of my eyes. Ethan wasn’t always like this. For three years, he had cherished me. If I randomly craved those specific tacos from downtown at 3 AM, Ethan would drive across town without hesitation to get them for me. He never forgot my birthday or any of our anniversaries, always planning surprises weeks in advance. Every payday, he’d transfer his check straight to my account, saying he wanted me to feel completely secure. … Until six months ago. Ethan started coming home late, sometimes not at all. Whenever I called, it went straight to voicemail or was busy. Once, I couldn’t stand it anymore and brought lunch to his office. He casually handed the meal I’d spent hours preparing to his assistant – Olivia. Then he urged her to eat. “You have a sensitive stomach, you need to eat on time.” In that moment, a sense of unease and defensiveness gripped me, especially when Olivia smiled and called me “Sarah, dear.” Her eyes held a clear hint of provocation. I asked around and found out the truth: Olivia was the old flame Ethan could never get over. As soon as she returned to the country, she became his assistant. Feeling insecure and desperate, I planned the proposal on our third anniversary, hoping marriage would tie him down. But Olivia’s words – “You look like her” – shattered everything. Three years as Ethan’s substitute. It was time to face reality. 3 Ethan and Olivia came back very late. The sounds drifting from the living room woke me up. “Ethan, this is so thrilling… Aren’t you afraid your fiancée will find out?” Her breathy moans were unbearable. I clutched the blanket tightly, my lips pressed into a thin line. Then I heard Ethan’s careless reply: “Afraid of what? This is my house, not hers.” “Oh, stop~ Aren’t you worried she’ll break up with you?” Olivia tested. Ethan scoffed, absolutely certain. “She won’t. She loves me way too much. Why would she ever leave me?” “Besides,” he added, his voice laced with contempt, “she has no job, no savings… and let’s be honest, who else would want her now? She’s not exactly untouched. Marrying me is her only option.” “Shh, baby, let’s not talk about unpleasant things. Just enjoy the moment.” … Tears fell like broken pearls until they dried up. The noises from the living room finally stopped. When I woke up the next morning, Ethan and Olivia were gone. I started packing my things and realized how little I actually owned. Everything fit into one suitcase. For Ethan, I had given up the chance to emigrate with my aunt, moving alone to this unfamiliar city. Three years had passed. My aunt, focused on her career, was thriving. Me, focused on finding true love, had failed miserably. I gathered all the gifts Ethan had ever given me. Anything useful, I donated. Anything useless, I threw into the dumpster downstairs. It took several trips up and down before everything was gone. Downstairs, I ran into Ethan again. My first instinct was to run, terrified he’d realize I’d thrown out all his gifts. But he casually took my hand. “What are you doing?” I suppressed my panic. “Just taking out the trash,” I said coolly. Ethan gave a distracted “Mm-hmm,” his eyes glued to his phone. Looked like he and Olivia were arguing again. After a moment, he asked, “What did you say?” “Nothing,” I replied quietly. He still hadn’t heard me. Needing both hands to type, he let go of mine and walked towards the elevator by himself. But then his phone rang. His expression changed drastically when he saw it was Olivia. He hesitated for a few seconds before answering. Olivia’s crying voice came through the receiver: “Ethan, you have to come save me! These business partners are trying to get me drunk…” Before she could even finish, Ethan bolted out the door. 4 After Ethan left, I hailed a cab and went to the bank. I transferred the entire inheritance my parents left me into Ethan’s salary account. It wasn’t a huge amount, but it was enough to cover everything he’d spent on me over the past three years. If I was leaving, I was leaving completely, owing nothing. As for what Ethan owed me… I decided to let it go. After leaving the bank, I got a text from Ethan. He told me to meet him at a hotel restaurant. I hesitated for a few seconds, then changed my route and told the driver to take me there. As I approached the private dining room, I heard people singing “Happy Birthday.” The first thing I saw was Ethan and Olivia locked in a passionate kiss. Olivia was wearing an expensive haute couture dress, a diamond sparkling on her hand. I recognized it. It was the gift Ethan had placed in the crystal cabinet in his study a month ago. At the time, I’d foolishly thought it was a birthday present for me and had been happy for days. Now, it was clear it was always meant for Olivia. Another round of false hope, but this time, it didn’t hurt as much as before. Those three days locked in that room had extinguished any love I had left for Ethan. People in the room looked confused when they saw me enter. A few well-meaning guests even asked if I had the wrong room. A sharp pain twisted in my chest. I looked at Ethan, my gaze complicated. So, after three years together, he had never even mentioned my existence to his friends. To the world, he maintained the image of being single. Ethan frowned, accusatory. “What are you doing here?” I lowered my eyes, speechless. I should have known. In three years, Ethan never initiated plans with me. It was always me taking the first step. Olivia smoothly intervened, “Ethan, I invited Sarah to celebrate my birthday with us. You don’t mind, do you?” Ethan’s expression softened slightly. His cold eyes scanned me before he finally let me sit down. I chose a seat in the furthest corner, watching everyone congratulate Ethan and Olivia, reminiscing about their high school romance. “I remember back in high school, Ethan swore he wouldn’t marry anyone but Olivia. I was so bummed when you two broke up. But look, after all this time, you found your way back to each other! Meant to be! Cheers!” “Yeah, Olivia, you better treasure Ethan! When you went abroad, he was miserable for ages. He dated a few girls afterwards, but they all kinda looked like you!” … My fingertips trembled uncontrollably. Hot tears fell onto my hand. No wonder I chased Ethan for two years and he never agreed. The moment Olivia left, he got together with me. So, it was all just to get back at Olivia. My nails dug deep into my palms, drawing blood. A voice message notification popped up from my aunt. I meant to tap ‘voice-to-text’ but accidentally hit the speaker mode. “Sweetie, it’s your birthday today! Did you have cake? Auntie ordered one for you, celebrate with your friends!” The message played out loud. The room fell silent for a moment, the atmosphere turning awkward. Ethan looked surprised, but mostly angry. “Sarah, what is your problem? You know damn well today is Olivia’s birthday, and you pull this stunt? Who are you trying to disgust?” Ethan lashed out without thinking. Hearing this, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. My own boyfriend, celebrating his old flame’s birthday on my birthday, and wouldn’t even let someone wish me well. What a prize. “What are you laughing at?” Ethan demanded, annoyed. I looked him straight in the eye, calm, and said, syllable by syllable, “Coward.” Anyone could see the tension between Ethan and me. Combined with the fact that I resembled Olivia, it wasn’t hard to guess I was another one of her stand-ins. Only Ethan refused to acknowledge it. “Sarah, oh, it’s your birthday too? Why didn’t you say so earlier…” Olivia tried her usual tactic, feigning retreat to gain ground. I tilted my head, staring into her eyes. “My birthday. What’s it got to do with you?” Crash! The glass in Ethan’s hand shattered at my feet, sending shards flying, embedding themselves deep into my calf. Blood started flowing freely. “Apologize to Olivia!” Ethan roared. The same rage as the day he locked me in that room. But this time, I wasn’t afraid. I couldn’t wait to get out of this place, out of this city. My feet moved faster than my brain. I bolted for the door. But Olivia suddenly ran to stop me. A piercing scream cut through the room as she crumpled to the floor, her face contorted in pain. My eyelid twitched violently. A wave of unease washed over me. SLAP— Ethan struck me hard across the face. I fell to the ground, watching helplessly as the heel of his leather shoe ground viciously into the back of my hand. Cold sweat broke out all over me from the pain. Ethan didn’t stop until my hand was a bloody mess. “If anything happens to Olivia, I swear I won’t let you off the hook!”

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After I was burned and disfigured saving my husband. Julian Astor held me, sobbing, promising he’d always be good to me. But on our wedding anniversary, his secretary showed up with a baby bump and a diamond ring, demanding I step aside. Julian sent the secretary away and voluntarily got a vasectomy. He even took me to do IVF. Everyone in the city praised Julian as a devoted man who had seen the error of his ways and returned to his love. But on the day our child was set to inherit the family business, the secretary ran in, claiming she was the child’s biological mother. I calmly took a sip of my tea, smiling faintly. “Oh, really? I’m curious to hear how you plan to argue that my son is actually yours.” 1. It was the second year after I was burned and disfigured saving my husband. His secretary, Bianca Thorne, chose Valentine’s Day to flaunt her pregnancy and a diamond ring, trying to force me out. Overwhelmed with despair, I stood on the hospital rooftop, ready to jump. Julian grabbed me, holding me tight. “Chloe! I’ll make Bianca get an abortion immediately and fire her. I’ll never see her again, I swear. Please, don’t leave me!” I looked at him, my voice filled with sorrow. “Julian, your love was the only thing keeping me going. But you don’t love me anymore. I can’t hold on.” “Chloe, you’re the only one I’ve ever truly loved!” Julian knelt before me, tears streaming down his face. “I’ll get a vasectomy tomorrow. Please, give me a chance to make it up to you!” Persuaded by everyone around us, I finally decided to give Julian one more chance. He was ecstatic, hugging me tightly, unwilling to let go. “Chloe, I’ll spend the rest of my life making amends, atoning for what I did. I’ll never betray you again!” “If I ever do, you won’t have to lift a finger—I’ll end it myself!” True to his word, Julian had the vasectomy the next day. He also transferred 10% of the Astor Corp. shares to me as compensation. Then, he took me to start the IVF process. He announced that this child would be the heir to the Astor fortune. Eighteen years flew by. Julian spoiled me rotten, making me the envy of the city’s elite social circle. I thought life would continue like this forever. But the unexpected arrived. On the day our son, Ethan, was to inherit the family business, my husband Julian threw a grand succession ceremony for him. The lawyer read out the share transfer agreement from the board of directors. Julian solemnly handed the corporate seal to Ethan, his eyes full of pride. “Son, the Astor family legacy is in your hands now. You are my only child, my greatest pride!” “Do well. Dad believes in you!” Ethan bowed respectfully to Julian, then looked at me. “Mom, thank you for raising me, for all your effort and sacrifice. I’ve decided to transfer 5% of the company’s shares to you as your birthday gift.” “Quick, come up and sign.” The room erupted in applause. Astor relatives praised me for raising such a filial son. Just as I was about to step onto the stage. A figure rushed past me, grabbing Ethan’s hand, crying hysterically. “Ethan, I’m your real mother! The woman beside you, Chloe Fang, she’s an imposter!” “I’m Bianca Thorne, your father’s secretary. Back then…” Her words hung in the air, and Mr. Astor Sr.’s face turned to ice. Julian hurried to my side, his voice trembling. “Chloe, I haven’t seen Bianca since that incident, believe me!” Ethan, standing on the stage, instantly understood who Bianca was. His face flushed with anger, he slapped Bianca hard across the face. “You shameless, despicable homewrecker! Wasn’t it enough that you tried to destroy my parents’ marriage back then? Now you show up claiming to be my mother?” “Who gave you the nerve, huh?” “My mother is Chloe Fang, from the Fang family!” Bianca clutched her swelling cheek, heartbroken. “Ethan, how could you hit your own mother?” “I really am your mom!” Julian strode forward, pulling the woman away from Ethan, his voice furious. “Bianca, if you’ve lost your mind, go see a doctor! Don’t embarrass yourself here!” “Security! Get her out of…” Julian stopped mid-sentence, staring in shock at the documents Bianca held up. “You… how could you be so vicious… You!” He clutched his chest, collapsing to the ground in pain. “Dad!” Ethan’s expression changed drastically. He rushed to perform first aid. “Dad, what’s wrong? Wake up!” “Don’t worry, sweetie. Your father just needs some time to accept that I’m your mother. He’ll come around,” Bianca said, then shot me a provocative smile. “Chloe Fang, how does it feel? Raising my son for eighteen years, only for me to reap the rewards?” “With the son comes the status. I’ll be the rightful Mrs. Astor now!” “And you? Get ready to be kicked out of the Astor family!” Ethan picked up the scattered documents, his lips trembling violently. “How could this be?” “Bianca secretly swapped my mother’s egg during the IVF?” “My mother is Chloe Fang…” I walked up and took my son’s hand, my voice firm. “Ethan, I am absolutely certain you are my son. The documents Bianca provided…” “The proof is right in front of you, and you still don’t believe it?” Bianca glanced at me scornfully, her tone dripping with mockery. “You got burned saving Julian, had to give up your acting career to be a housewife. Then you schemed to have his child to secure the inheritance. Too bad you were just paving the way for me.” “I almost feel sorry for you. Feel like crying yet?” 2. Bianca’s words caused an uproar. Julian’s sister-in-law looked at me sympathetically. “Oh, Chloe, dear, your luck is just terrible. Raised Ethan all these years just for the mistress to benefit. And those company shares you were about to get… gone just like that.” “The dividends alone are worth millions every year. Such a pity!” “Indeed, a pity,” her husband chimed in. “My brother Julian only has this one son. That 5% stake should obviously go to the biological mother. You…” “Ethan,” an elderly relative, Uncle Harrison, spoke up. “Chloe Fang hasn’t given our Astor family any children, and your father had a vasectomy. Logically and emotionally, it’s inappropriate for her to continue living in the Astor mansion. I suggest she move out as soon as possible.” “We don’t want outsiders gossiping about a cuckoo in the nest.” Bianca’s eyes lit up. She nodded at the old man. “I’ve always heard that Uncle Harrison is reasonable and fair. Meeting you today truly impresses me.” “It’s only right,” Uncle Harrison said, turning to Julian, who was slowly coming around. “Julian, since Bianca is Ethan’s biological mother, let’s take care of the family recognition ceremony today while everyone’s here!” With him taking the lead, others quickly agreed. A servant brought a chair for Bianca, practically fawning over her. “Don’t even think about it!” Ethan gripped my wrist tightly, scanning the room. “I only recognize Chloe Fang as my mother. As for Bianca trying to get into the Astor family? Not while I’m here!” “Dad, what about you?” I looked at Julian, waiting for his answer. He avoided my gaze, his eyes settling on Bianca with a complicated expression. After a long pause, he said, “Ethan, don’t be so impulsive…” A sharp pain shot through my heart. Tears welled up. “Julian, you instructed Bianca to switch my egg back then, didn’t you?” “I risked my life, got burned and disfigured for you, and you not only betrayed me, but you also…” “Chloe, absolutely not!” Julian retorted coldly. “I deeply regret cheating back then and causing this mess.” “All these years, I’ve searched for treatments to restore your looks, I reopened a film company for you, supported you until you won Best Actress again. I’ve been doing everything I can to make it up to you. You feel that, don’t you?” “You’re the only one I’ve ever loved!” “Bianca was just… a tool for physical release!” “A tool for physical release?” Bianca looked at Julian, disappointed, her doe eyes filling with tears. “That’s not what you said when you were on your knees proposing to me!” “You said meeting me made you understand what true love was…” “Slap!” Julian struck Bianca across the face, gritting his teeth. “If you keep slandering me, don’t blame me for disregarding your connection to Ethan and sending you to prison!” “You’re so cruel! Just like that, you turn on me and want to send me to prison?” Bianca was utterly devastated, collapsing into tears and lunging at him, hitting him. “I carried a child for you too! Why are you doing this to me?” “It was a boy, four months along, already kicking, sob…” “And you forced me to abort him, sob sob…” People rushed to break up the fight. Ignoring the chaos, I took a report from my purse and handed it to Ethan. “Son, I am 100% certain you are mine. Because I have the DNA test results.” “DNA test results?” Bianca snatched the report from my hand. After reading it, she gasped, “How is this possible? I clearly swapped your egg with mine! Afterwards, I even paid that Dr. Evans $50,000!” “Why wouldn’t it be possible?” I watched her frantic state with a cold smile. “I paid him $100,000. Naturally, he’d do double the work for me.” “What do you mean?” Julian frowned at me. “What else did you have Dr. Evans do?” 3. I took a sip of tea, my voice nonchalant. “Nothing much. I just instructed him to carefully cultivate the embryo, ensuring it would successfully survive.” “The fact that our Ethan turned out so intelligent, capable, and handsome… we really should thank Dr. Evans.” Mentioning his son, Julian’s face filled with pride. “I’ll have someone send Dr. Evans a generous gift later to thank him properly.” “I declare the succession ceremony back on!” “Chloe, come up and sign.” I walked onto the stage, signed the share transfer agreement with a flourish, and gave my son a hug. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Bianca being dragged out by security. Her face was ashen as she stared at me, then suddenly, a chilling smile spread across her lips. “Chloe Fang, you think Julian really loves you? What a joke!” “He once tried to…” Before Bianca could finish, security threw her out. Julian blocked my view. “Chloe, don’t listen to Bianca’s attempts to drive us apart. You know how I’ve treated you all these years, right?” I returned his gaze with a faint smile. “Yes, I understand perfectly.” Julian’s tense brow relaxed. He opened his arms to embrace Ethan and me. “Photographer, take a picture of our family of three!” “Mr. Astor, taking a family photo without me wouldn’t be quite right, would it?” A male voice cut in, followed by Julian’s sister-in-law’s surprised gasp. “Isn’t that Liam Hayes? Chloe’s childhood friend?” “He’s always been at odds with our Astor family. Is he here deliberately to cause trouble?” “I have no interest in causing trouble. I’m here to claim my son,” Liam Hayes said, raising a hand in greeting to the crowd. He strode confidently towards Ethan and held out his arms. “Ethan, come to Dad.” A collective gasp went through the room. First, a fake mother claiming the son. Now, a fake father jumping into the fray. This was explosive! “Liam Hayes, what the hell is wrong with you?” Julian grabbed Liam’s collar, teeth clenched. “Ethan is the son I worked hard to raise! What are you doing, showing up and claiming him?” “Mr. Astor, are you sure he’s your son?” Liam gave a wicked smile, turning to the crowd. “Uncles, aunts, take a good look. Whose son does Ethan really look like?” His words ignited the room. Julian’s sister-in-law covered her mouth, exclaiming, “Oh my god! Ethan’s eyes are exactly like Liam Hayes’—those same distinct eyes! And they both have that little skin tag in front of their ears… This… how is this possible?” “Tsk tsk, besides the eyes, their mouths are very similar too. Look, Julian has thin lips, but Ethan’s are fuller. I thought he took after his mother, Chloe, but now…” Mr. Astor Sr. shuffled forward unsteadily, pulling Ethan closer for a detailed look. He shot me a look filled with resentment. “Chloe Fang, quite the schemer! Our Astor family treated you well! How could you do this? Where is your conscience?” “Julian already had a vasectomy, this was his precious only son! You’re twisting a knife in his heart!” “You venomous woman!” “You’re all talking nonsense!” Julian’s face changed drastically. He let go of Liam and cupped Ethan’s face, yelling, “Look! Ethan’s eyebrows are low like mine, he has cavities like me, stomach problems like me! He’s clearly my son!” “Julian, the paternity test is right here. See for yourself.” Liam tossed the document at him, smiling slightly. “Now, your son is mine. And soon, your company will be mine too!” “I don’t believe it!” Julian stumbled towards me, his voice urgent. “Chloe, you love me so much, you would never betray me like this, right?” “Tell everyone! Who is Ethan’s real father?” “Tell that Hayes guy to get lost, now!” I put down my teacup, my voice flat. “Julian, earlier you asked what ‘double the work’ I had Dr. Evans do. Now you see the answer.” “I secretly had him replace your sperm with Liam Hayes’. Surprise, surprise?” “Impossible!” Julian roared. “You were recovering in the hospital from your burns back then, under tight security by my people! You had no chance to see Hayes! You must be lying!”

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After I got wasted, someone dragged me off to take the fall for them in their car, and I ended up getting hauled in by the cops for questioning. Luckily, they figured out I hadn’t done anything wrong, but the embarrassing part is, I was so out of it, I latched onto the female officer’s leg and refused to let go. Turns out, that cop was my buddy’s sister. And she was into me. Like, really into me, for a long, long time. 1 I got dumped. One drink, and I completely fell apart. “A drink that’s only thirty-seven percent alcohol? Seriously?” The bartender placed a freshly mixed drink in front of me. The liquid shimmered under the pale blue light, like crystal. Me, the guy who never used to touch a drop, had ordered several drinks I’d never dream of trying before. I picked up the glass and downed it in one go. The burn and bitterness exploded on my tongue, and then the damn tears started streaming down my face. Three years. Over a thousand days and nights. Thirty thousand-plus hours. Over three million seconds. All down the drain! I slammed back the last drop in my glass and slammed the glass down hard on the bar, making a dull thud. The alcohol was hitting me. I grabbed my phone and made a call. “Alex, what’s up?” My best friend’s voice came through the phone. “Jake, tell me, what the hell is wrong with her?” “She’s the one who ditched me for some rich kid, cheated first, and she has the nerve to blame me? Saying I won’t find a job, won’t make money, can’t give her a happy life?” I took another huge gulp of my drink, fueled by the booze, and started ranting about my ex. “At the police academy, I aced everything, awards up the wazoo, even did a few heroic things, you know? What right does she have to look down on me?” “Ha! Plenty of girls are into me… what’s she got to be so stuck-up about?” “Yeah, yeah, totally,” Jake agreed. “Alex, you’re a great guy. She doesn’t appreciate you, that’s her loss!” “Exactly!” I slammed my hand on the table. “She’s not worth it!” I was drunk, my head was spinning, not making much sense. After hanging up, I couldn’t even remember what I’d said. I just stared at the bottle. Why am I torturing myself? Why hang myself up over one girl? Thinking this, I took another big swig. It’s just a breakup. What’s the big deal? I stumbled out of the bar. It was already dark. The cold air hit me. My head started to ache, but mostly I felt dizzy. The world seemed to be spinning. I couldn’t tell which way was up, staggering down the street. Just as I was lurching along, someone suddenly grabbed me. “Hey buddy, do me a favor.” A rough, low voice. I turned my head. The guy reeked of booze, his face was flushed red, and his eyes were glazed over. I scoffed. Lightweight. But before I could say anything, he yanked me into a car. What the hell is this guy doing? I tried to fight back, but I was totally limp, no strength at all. He shoved me into the driver’s seat, tossed a couple hundred bucks on me, then took off running, stumbling, nearly face-planting. I was still confused when a cop walked up. He waved at me, signaling me to stop, then tapped on the window. “Can I see your ID, please?” I automatically reached for my wallet, but just then, the alcohol really hit me. My head spun harder and harder… I passed out. … I woke up… in the police station. Blue and white walls, neat lockers, warning signs on the walls came into view. As awareness slowly returned, my blood ran cold. Damn it. I was set up! “You’re awake?” The person talking was in uniform. Tall, fair skin, sharp features, almond eyes, a high ponytail, looking sharp and capable. “Officer, I wasn’t drunk driving! Someone dragged me into the car!” I explained frantically. If I got booked for a DUI, I’d be screwed. “Relax. My colleagues already found the car’s owner.” She handed me some breakfast and sat down beside me. “Eat something first. Get something in your stomach.” Seeing I was still panicking, she opened her laptop, pulled up a video, and put it in front of me. In the video, I was drunkenly walking and singing, even helping an old lady cross the street. Then, just as I reached the intersection, a big guy with a red face dragged me into the car. Then the cop showed up. The woman smiled. “My colleagues pulled the surveillance footage last night. We were going to send you home, but you were clinging to my leg for dear life, wouldn’t leave. We had no choice but to let you sleep it off here.” 2 My face flushed hot. So embarrassing. I never knew I was such a messy drunk! “Officer, uh, what should I call you?” “My last name is Miller.” Miller? “Officer Miller, I was totally out of line last night, I’m really sorry, and for wasting your time, look…” She smiled gently. “It’s okay, understandable. Just finish eating and head home. Your family’s probably worried.” I paused, saw Officer Miller really didn’t seem bothered, nodded, finished my food, and left quickly. I got home late morning. Jake Miller was squatting on my doorstep, playing games on his phone. As soon as he saw me, he jumped up. “Alex! You’re finally back!” “You were gone all night, didn’t answer your phone… I thought something happened to you!” I pulled out my phone, only to realize it was dead. I scratched my head awkwardly. “Uh… spent the night at the police station.” “What?” Jake looked shocked. “What’d you do?” “It wasn’t me! I got dragged into a car last night by some drunk guy trying to get me to take the fall for his DUI. I was so wasted, I passed out. Woke up at the station. I’m worried if this will mess anything up for me.” I sighed, feeling anxious. “Which station were you at?” “The one in the West End Precinct.” Jake started laughing. “No way! My sister works at the West End Precinct. You want me to ask her about it?” “Yeah? Awesome. Thanks, man.” My eyes lit up. “No problem.” Jake dialed a number. “Hey, Sis? My buddy got picked up yesterday, Alex Reed… Yeah, can you see…” That evening, I got a friend request on my phone. I checked the name, saw it was Jake’s sister, and accepted. 【I asked around for you. The car owner was plastered too last night and came up with that stupid plan. He turned himself in this morning.】 【So don’t worry about it affecting anything. But since you’re an academy student, you should probably be more careful in the future.】 I paused, wondering how she knew I was in the academy… figured Jake must’ve told her. 【Okay, got it. Thanks so much.】 Jake’s sister replied quickly. 【No problem. Just buy me dinner sometime when you’re free.】 【Okay, deal.】 I didn’t think much of it, figuring she was probably just being polite. Then I thought about Officer Miller again. Her striking face popped into my head. Maybe I should get her a thank-you gift too? 3 A week later, I got a call from Jake’s sister, Claire. I rushed to the station. Jake was sitting there, cheek swollen, bruised lip, clothes torn up. “Alex!” He ran over as soon as he saw me. “Finally!” I frowned. “What happened to you?” “Got mugged! But I won the fight!” Jake said, flexing his fist. I mentally facepalmed. This idiot. Still so upbeat even like this. “Are you okay? Need to get checked out at the hospital?” “Nah, Alex, just scrapes and bruises. No big deal. But you should see the other guy!” Jake patted my shoulder, looking proud. Just then, Officer Miller—Claire—and two other cops appeared, escorting someone. The person had a hoodie pulled low, clothes ripped, face and arms covered in cuts and bruises. Clearly the mugger. Seeing the guy, I couldn’t help but chuckle. Jake really did a number on him. He wouldn’t be looking normal for weeks. Claire saw me and gave me a small smile. My heart hammered. “That’s him!” Jake, completely oblivious to my reaction, pointed at the man, gritting his teeth. “Little punk! Serves you right for trying to rob me!” “Alright, that’s enough,” Claire cut him off coolly. “Go give your statement.” “Okay,” Jake mumbled, looking put out, and followed the other officers. I waited in the lobby, awkwardly greeted her. “Officer Miller. We meet again. Uh, thanks for your help with this.” Claire looked a little surprised, so I quickly introduced myself. “We met last week, remember? The drunk guy? I’m Alex Reed. R-E-E-D.” No idea why, but I suddenly really wanted her to remember my name. “Alex Reed… Got it.”

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