Author: Momo Chan

After my lifelong rival lost his memory in an accident, I convinced him I was his girlfriend. He fell for it completely, handing over his bank accounts and letting me spend his money however I pleased. So, I spent my days blowing through his cash, and my nights secretly downloading confidential data from his corporate laptop. Just as I was preparing to take his innocence and flee the country, leaving him completely ruined, a string of text suddenly appeared floating in mid-air: [Little does she know, the big bad villain has been waiting for this exact moment for ages.] [He’s been faking his amnesia this whole time just so he can finally sleep with her!] [Oh my god, the tension! He’s literally burning up inside! Just do it already!] My hand, holding the glass of milk I had just spiked with sedatives, trembled violently. Should I still give it to him? 1 While I was agonizing over my next move, Elias Vance suddenly wrapped his arms around me from behind. His deep, magnetic voice brushed against my ear: “Baby, what are you thinking about?” Before I could even respond, Elias noticed the milk in my hand. He smoothly took it from me and downed it in one gulp. It happened so fast I didn’t even have a chance to stop him. Crap. For the past few months, under the guise of being a doting, caring girlfriend worried about his stressful job, I had been making him a glass of hot milk every night before bed. A glass of milk laced with a mild sedative. Once Elias was deeply asleep, I had free rein to access his laptop and steal highly classified corporate secrets. Elias was completely oblivious, genuinely believing I was just being sweet. It became a habit. Every night, he drank the milk I “lovingly” prepared for him. That was my plan for tonight, too. I wanted him to drink the spiked milk without suspecting a thing. I had everything perfectly planned. Elias was famously disciplined. Even after I manipulated him into moving in with me, he absolutely refused to cross any physical boundaries before marriage. For a man that rigid, losing his innocence to me—especially when he eventually regained his memory—would be a fate worse than death. But right as I was about to execute the final phase of my revenge, those bizarre floating comments appeared. I had no idea if the comments were telling the truth. While I was hesitating, Elias went ahead and drank the milk anyway. [LMAO, she probably has no idea the villain knows she’s been drugging his milk this whole time.] [He drank it on purpose.] [This guy plays the perfect gentleman during the day, insisting on sleeping in separate rooms, but at night he’s literally taking cold showers to keep from losing his mind.] I was still highly skeptical of the floating text. I decided to test the waters and see if Elias’s amnesia was real or fake. I intentionally dropped a bomb: “Elias, let’s break up.” 2 Instantly, Elias’s calm, relaxed expression vanished. He grabbed my hand tightly, as if terrified I was going to vanish into thin air. His tone was incredibly desperate and submissive. “Baby, are you upset because I haven’t been spending enough time with you lately?” “If there’s something you don’t like, I’ll change it, okay? Please, don’t break up with me.” Before his amnesia, Elias was notoriously cold and unapproachable. He showed zero interest in women and displayed the emotional range of a glacier. Even if I stood right in front of him and cursed him out, he wouldn’t even bat an eye. He would never act like this. It seemed like his amnesia was genuine. The comments were clearly lying. But the next second, new text popped up. [Tsk, tsk. Don’t let his pathetic act fool you. If she actually tries to run, he wouldn’t hesitate to handcuff her to the bed.] [Hehehe, considering how many cold showers he takes, if he finally gets his hands on her, she probably won’t be able to walk for three days.] [She has no idea he secretly had custom chains made just for her.] [I live for this dark, obsessive romance trope! Yes!] I instinctively took a step back, and by pure coincidence, caught a fleeting, dark, predatory gleam in Elias’s eyes. He took a step forward, backing me into a corner. Only then did I realize how incredibly tall and physically imposing he was. The physical proximity was suffocating. I was trapped against the wall. I had put a heavy dose in that milk. It worked fast. Within minutes, the corners of Elias’s sharp eyes flushed a deep, feverish red. He looked incredibly, dangerously alluring. Even though I despised him, I had to admit, he was exactly my physical type. He leaned in, his hot, heavy breath brushing against my neck. His large, slightly calloused hand gently guided mine down toward the hem of his shirt. He was making me touch his abs. The very same abs he used to violently forbid me from going near. The texture was incredible. Hard as a rock. His voice was hoarse as he coaxed me: “Baby, please don’t break up with me.” “You can touch me wherever you want.” [Look at those abs! Elias is so…] [This is making me sweat! Just do it already!] [I am begging you, please sleep together right now!] 3 This version of Elias was honestly significantly more endearing than the old one. At the very least, I had never seen him look this desperate and vulnerable before. For a moment, I completely forgot about the comments claiming he was faking his amnesia, and just internally celebrated my victory. Even if he was faking, I had still forced Elias Vance to bow down to me. My lifelong dream had finally been realized. But then I remembered the part about him meticulously plotting all of this while pretending to have amnesia. He was far too calculating. I needed to quit while I was ahead. So, I gently coaxed him into letting go of me, and then bolted for the study door. Just as I grabbed the doorknob, the comments returned. [Sigh. As much as I want them to hook up right now, the plot has to move forward.] [Poor thing doesn’t know that the second she walks out that door, she’s going to get hit by a speeding semi-truck and die, which triggers the villain’s ultimate descent into madness.] My hand froze on the doorknob. I slowly turned around and looked at Elias’s broad shoulders and narrow waist, partially obscured by the shadows of the room. He seemed to be violently suppressing something. The memory of those rock-hard abs flashed in my mind. You know what? Maybe I should just ruin his innocence right now. 4 I didn’t know if the comments were telling the truth, but I wasn’t taking any chances. I had worked my ass off to steal his corporate secrets; I hadn’t even had the chance to use them yet. I wasn’t about to die now. I decisively walked back to Elias. Under his utterly shocked gaze, I reached up and kissed him. I never expected Elias, who always acted so cold and untouchable, to have such incredibly soft lips. His eyes glazed over as I aggressively tugged at his collar, messing up his perfect shirt. The sharp, defined lines of his muscles shifted with his ragged breathing. He looked absolutely stunned, almost as if he couldn’t believe it was happening. His voice trembled as he asked: “Chloe, why did you come back?” I was instantly furious that he used my real name. It reminded me of the very first time I lost to him academically. I was so angry, I pointed a finger at him and yelled, “Elias Vance, just you wait!” “I, Chloe Sterling, will beat you one day, and you’re going to admit defeat!” That was the very first time Elias ever actually looked at me. He smiled. Even though his face was usually a mask of ice, his smile was devastatingly handsome. I was momentarily dazed, and when I snapped out of it, he delivered the most infuriating line ever: “So your name is Chloe Sterling.” I was so incredibly insulted. I had considered him my ultimate rival. I studied until I bled, desperately trying to beat his test scores, and he didn’t even know my name?! From that day on, I officially declared him my mortal enemy. Whenever he was near me, whenever he spoke, I made sure to aggressively insult him. This went on for so long that one day, he rubbed his temples and asked me, sounding incredibly exhausted: “Chloe, do you really hate me that much?” Why is he calling me by my first name? Are we friends?! I just got even angrier. So, when he got amnesia and I tricked him into thinking I was his girlfriend, I strictly forbade him from using my name. He was only allowed to call me “Baby.” Because whenever he used my name, I got so mad I couldn’t even stay in character. I was just about to bite him and demand he stop using my name when… A massive wave of comments flooded my vision. [Why did she go back???] [This isn’t how the plot goes! Did the author rewrite the chapter?!] [Whatever, I’ll read anything at this point. But it would be even better if they actually slept together.] [Yes, write it, write it! Feed us!] [If the dark, villain-era Elias knew she didn’t actually die, he’d probably cry his eyes out.] Amidst the chaotic, thirsty comments, I finally spotted one that actually made sense. I don’t know if I was imagining things, but I swore I saw a flash of moisture in Elias’s eyes.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391604”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

A fire broke out at the hospital where my mom worked. My dad and I rushed there immediately to help with the rescue. We managed to get my mom out safely, but my dad was severely injured in the process. The only person in the country who could perform the complex surgery to save him was my mom—a top-tier surgeon. I begged her to operate on him, but she scoffed and refused: “My time is valuable. Do you know how many lives I can save in the time it would take to deal with him?” “Putting aside the fact that you two are my husband and son, putting out fires is his job. He was just doing what he’s supposed to do!” Desperate, I called in every favor I had and finally managed to get a renowned foreign specialist to fly in for my dad. When my mom found out, she intercepted the doctor and sent him right back to the airport: “Dr. Chen is a leading expert in the medical field! If he finds out your father is faking his injuries just to get attention, how am I supposed to show my face in the medical community ever again?” “I’ve spoiled you two too much. If your dad keeps pulling these stunts, I’m divorcing him!” She hung up the phone, cutting off my last shred of hope. Denied timely treatment, I watched my dad die in my arms. While I was arranging his funeral, I saw a post from my mom’s “first love”: “It was just a minor cold, but she stayed by my side for three days and three nights. Truly the people’s good doctor!” The attached photo showed my mom in a VIP hospital suite, gently feeding him porridge, her eyes brimming with love and concern. I stared at it in silence for a long time, then liked the post and commented: “A cheater and a homewrecker. You two deserve each other forever.” 1 When I walked out of the funeral home, I felt like a walking corpse. I wandered aimlessly down the street. I had already cried until I had no tears left. My phone rang abruptly. The name “Chloe” flashed on the screen. I hesitated for a moment but finally answered. “Liam! What kind of nonsense are you posting online?!” “Do you know that Ethan is having chest pains and can barely breathe because of your vicious comments?!” “Apologize to him right now!” Her furious voice blasted through the speaker. I instinctively held the phone away from my ear. When I finally spoke, I realized my voice was completely hoarse. “Apologize? Did I say a single word that wasn’t true?” “You left your critically ill husband to die, but you ran around waiting on another man for a minor cold! Have you ever treated my dad like a husband? Have you ever treated me like a son?!” My mom exploded with anger on the other end of the line: “How dare you! Is this how you speak to your elders?!” “Your father ruined you! Put him on the phone! I want to ask him how he raised such an ungrateful son!” I tilted my head back, trying desperately to stop the tears from falling again. But my throat felt completely blocked, and I couldn’t make a sound. After a long while, over the sound of her angry breathing, I finally forced the words out: “Dad… haha… he’s dead. You killed him. You’re never going to get another phone call from him.” “You cold-blooded murderer! You’re going to rot in hell!” After a brief, stunned silence, her furious roaring assaulted my eardrums again. I couldn’t bear to listen anymore. Exhausted, I hung up, curled into a ball on the sidewalk, covered my face, and cried. Boom! Boom! Boom! Suddenly, several loud explosions startled me out of my daze. I looked up. Countless fireworks were bursting in the night sky, their brilliant colors instantly illuminating the entire city. “Wow, those fireworks are gorgeous!” “Yeah, so romantic!” I heard the amazed gasps of pedestrians around me. I stared blankly at the sky. The dazzling fireworks shifted shapes until they finally formed the outline of a man’s face. A face I knew all too well. It was Ethan. The fireworks danced around his image before spelling out a massive, glowing sentence: [Happy Birthday, Ethan!] I stared at the name, the rage surging back into my heart. Before I could even process what was happening, I heard people talking nearby: “Wow, who is that guy? He’s so handsome!” “Is he a movie star? Or some rich heir?” “Don’t you know? That’s Dr. Chloe Sterling’s first love. He just got back from overseas.” “Wait, Dr. Sterling? The famous surgeon? My friend’s mom was in a horrible car crash, and several hospitals basically told them to prepare for the worst, but Dr. Sterling managed to pull her back from the brink of death.” “Yeah, she’s a legend in the medical field. I heard she’s drop-dead gorgeous too. But the craziest part is how devoted she is! Her first love went abroad for over a decade, and she waited for him the whole time. Never even dated anyone else.” “Yes! I heard about that! Last week, her boyfriend caught a minor cold, and she booked him a VIP suite and stayed up for three days and three nights taking care of him. She’s so deeply in love with him.” “She set off fireworks across the whole city just for his birthday! And all those billboards have pictures of them together.” “Oh my god! That is so sweet! How can a woman be that perfect?” “I’m so jealous. It’s like a romance novel come to life right in front of us!” Their words pierced my ears one by one, making me physically sick. I turned around in a daze and looked at the massive LED screen in the center of the plaza. Two familiar, smiling faces were displayed on it. My mom looked incredibly gentle, her eyes filled with love as she looked at Ethan. I had never seen her look like that. Around my dad and me, she always had a cold, stern face. She was always indifferent and heartless. Watching the slideshow of their happy photos, my mind went completely blank. Until a voice broke through: “Young man, are you okay? Are you in trouble? Do you need some help?” I snapped back to reality and realized my eyes were blurry with tears. I shook my head vigorously. It took a long time to find my voice: “No… I just… I miss my dad…” I looked down at the urn in my hands and muttered: “But I… I don’t have a dad anymore…” The stranger paused, then handed me the small cake they had just bought. “Every hardship passes eventually. Your dad will watch over you from heaven.” “Stay strong and keep living. Things will get better.” Before I could even try to hand the cake back, they quickly said goodbye and disappeared into the crowd. Looking at the cake in my hands, the tears flowed uncontrollably again. Even a complete stranger could show me this much kindness. Why was my own mother so cruel to her husband and son? 2 For as long as I can remember, my mom was rarely around. Whether it was parent-teacher conferences or the times I ended up in the hospital sick, it was always my dad running around, taking care of everything. My mom never came to keep me company. She was absent for almost my entire childhood. And my dad wasted over twenty years of his life by her side. On countless long, quiet nights, my dad would hold me and tell me the story of how he and my mom met. When she was twenty-three, my mom suffered the double blow of losing both her parents and going through a terrible breakup. She fell into a deep depression. One night, in the middle of a breakdown, she started a fire in her bedroom, intending to burn herself and the house to ashes. It was my dad’s very first dispatch as a firefighter. He literally had to drag her out of the burning building by force. Learning about the immense tragedy she had endured, my dad was overwhelmed with compassion and sympathy. He volunteered to visit her in the hospital, constantly encouraging and comforting her, helping her get through the darkest period of her life. Perhaps moved by his kindness, my mom confessed her feelings to him the day she was discharged. A young man experiencing his first crush is an easy target for a woman’s gentle trap. Especially since my mom was stunningly beautiful and incredibly elegant back then. Within a month, my dad was hopelessly in love. After dating for two years, they walked down the aisle. For the first few years, they had a beautiful, happy life together. Then my mom got pregnant. To take better care of her, my dad agreed to her request to quit his job as a firefighter. When I was born, my mom barely gave me a passing glance before tossing me to my dad like an afterthought. Simply because she felt I was delaying her career progress. Later on, as her career took off, she became increasingly busy, often not coming home at all. She started despising my dad for being “useless” and constantly belittled him. My dad developed severe depression. Then, one night, my dad accidentally discovered that my mom had reconnected with her first love. All the suppressed emotions exploded. He started becoming intensely paranoid about her whereabouts. They fought constantly. But every time she threatened him with divorce, his anger would instantly extinguish. The trivialities of marriage exposed her true nature. She increasingly viewed him as a lazy good-for-nothing, a failure in every aspect. She grew colder and colder, eventually cutting off his access to the household finances entirely. With no source of income, my dad had to go back to the fire department and take a low-paying logistics job. He was single-handedly supporting all our household expenses, so he lived incredibly frugally. He washed the same clothes over and over until the cuffs were frayed, and he still wouldn’t throw them away. He didn’t own a single decent suit or a good pair of shoes. I tried to convince him to get a divorce more times than I can count. But he foolishly held onto the belief that she still loved us, that she was just too busy. He believed that one day, she would remember our little family. I knew he was just using the beautiful memories of their past to numb himself to the reality. That’s why, when he heard a fire had broken out at her hospital, he completely ignored everyone trying to stop him. Even though he had long since been reassigned to logistics, he charged into the inferno without a second thought. He risked his life to pull her out, but he was engulfed by the flames himself, suffering severe, disfiguring burns. Yet, when I thought my mom would finally feel a shred of gratitude or sympathy for him… She looked at him, wrapped entirely in bandages, frowned in disgust, and told him to get away from her. In that moment, she felt like a complete stranger. My dad’s injuries were critical; he was hovering between life and death. My mom was the only surgeon in the country with the skill to perform the complex procedure he needed. I swallowed all my pride, knelt in front of her, and begged her to save him. To save her own husband. But she remained completely unmoved. She even cruelly turned away the renowned specialist I had gone through hell to fly in from overseas, completely cutting off my dad’s last chance at survival. I will never forget how he looked in his final moments. He lay weakly in the hospital bed, covered in cold, sterile tubes. He struggled to open his eyes, looked at me, and used the last of his strength to say: “Leo… don’t hate your mother… You have to… live a good life…” Before he even finished the sentence, those eyes, which were always so full of resilience, dimmed forever. Even as he was dying, he was still defending her, telling me not to blame her. But Dad, not only did she kill you with her own hands, she’s flaunting her love for another man while your body isn’t even cold. She’s a monster. I can’t let go of my hatred for her, and I can’t let them live happily ever after. I swear, I will drag that cheating pair straight to hell myself! 3 The moment I pushed open the front door, a blast of warm air hit me, accompanied by piercing laughter and chatter. Under the crystal chandelier, the living room was packed with people. My mom and Ethan sat in the center of the sofa, acting exactly like the lady and master of the house. On a makeshift stage, a hired entertainment troupe was performing enthusiastically. I had barely stepped inside when one of my mom’s business partners grabbed my arm: “There’s our little butler! Just in time! Come on, do a trick for Mr. Ethan!” Ethan, who had his arm around my mom, immediately perked up and whispered in her ear: “Yeah, yeah! Let Leo do a performance!” My mom glanced at me, frowning slightly, but said indifferently: “Fine. Do your best trick.” Before I could even process what was happening, I was shoved onto the stage by a few drunk guests. Someone yelled from the crowd: “Get his dad up here too! I heard the father-son duo spent days preparing for Ethan’s birthday party!” A man named Mr. Lee, standing next to my mom, smiled and patted her shoulder: “You’re so lucky, Chloe. Finding a father-son butler team this capable—they clean the house, handle the clients, and now they even do tricks! Impressive!” He turned to me and shouted: “Don’t just stand there! Get started! Let us see what you can do!” I froze, feeling the blood turn to ice in my veins. A father-son butler team? Is that how she introduced us to the world?! I looked at her in sheer disbelief. She was looking down, pretending to adjust her dress. She looked a tiny bit embarrassed, but she never opened her mouth to deny it. A raging inferno ignited in my chest. I grabbed a champagne flute from the table, smashed it violently against the floor, and pointed straight at Ethan, roaring: “You shameless parasite! You think you’re worthy of having me and my dad perform for you?!” “And you bunch of snobs! Sucking up to a kept man, is it fun?! My dad is the legitimate husband and master of this house! Who the hell gave any of you the right to order us around?!” My sudden outburst silenced the room for a few seconds. Then, those so-called “business elites” finally reacted, pointing at me and hurling insults. “A butler’s son, throwing a tantrum in front of us?! Have you lost your mind?!” “Ungrateful trash! The father and son must be desperate to climb into her bed!” They clamored, demanding my mom fire us and throw us out immediately. Everyone was bullying me, insulting my dad. And it was all because of one lie my mom told. My eyes were red as I stared directly at her: “Tell them! Am I your son, or am I your servant?!” Her expression shifted rapidly, but she ultimately said coldly: “A servant.” She glanced at her business partners, who were still shouting, and added: “Alright, he’s just a kid who doesn’t know his place. Let it go.” Then she waved dismissively at the nanny. “Lock him in his room. Don’t let him out to ruin Ethan’s birthday party.” Mrs. Zhang, our nanny, hesitated. She looked at my red, swollen eyes, sighed, and whispered gently: “Don’t be sad. Madam is just angry right now. Let me help you to your room to rest.” Inside my room, I could still hear the noise from the party through the walls, as if my outburst had never happened. Separated by a single wall, my face was covered in tears. From now on, there was no one left to comfort me. 4 After the party ended and the guests trickled out, the massive mansion fell silent again. When Mrs. Zhang opened my door, I was curled up in the corner, my eyes completely swollen. My mom was standing at the top of the stairs, her face ice-cold: “You made Uncle Ethan angry today. Locking you up was to teach you a lesson.” She frowned and asked: “Where is your dad? Ethan drank too much today, and his stomach is hurting. “Call him and tell him to get back here and make some hangover soup.” She spoke with such entitlement, as if my dad truly was just her butler. Because my dad worried about how hard she worked and how much she had to drink at business dinners, he always prepared hangover soup for her, no matter how late or how busy he was. And now she wanted to use that to pamper Ethan! I clenched my fists so tightly my nails dug into my palms. The anger and grief boiling in my chest finally erupted: “My dad isn’t your butler! Why should he?!” “You already killed him! He’s dead, and you still won’t let him rest!” Slap! I stumbled backward, clutching my burning cheek. My mom’s hand hung in the air. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by cold indifference. At that moment, Ethan slowly walked down the stairs. His eyes were slightly red, one hand gripping the banister tightly. “Leo, even if you don’t like me, you shouldn’t curse your own father like that. “I know Arthur must have stayed away because he hates me too. “Maybe… I should just leave…” He took a step, pretending he was actually going to walk out the door. I glared coldly at his pathetic, fake-vulnerable performance. My stomach churned with nausea. My wonderful mother, predictably, grabbed his hand immediately. “This is my house. I make the rules. You stay here.” When she turned back to me, her eyes were freezing again. “If your dad doesn’t want to come back, fine. Let’s see how long he wants to drag this tantrum out. “I’m not going looking for him. You pass a message along for me: tell him to stop throwing these fits. If he keeps this up, we’re getting a divorce!” With that, she linked her arm through Ethan’s and turned to head upstairs.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391603”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Two days before our wedding, I received a text from my fiancé, Liam. “Mia, let’s push the wedding back by a day.” I was literally at the bridal boutique, staring at my reflection in a wedding dress, completely bewildered. When I called him to ask what was going on, the voice that answered belonged to his high school sweetheart, his ‘first love’. “Hi, Mia! A group of us are playing Truth or Dare right now, and Liam lost. He picked ‘Dare,’ and his dare is to pretend to be my boyfriend for three days. I’m sure you understand, right?” I calmly hung up the phone and immediately dialed another number. “Dad. That thing we talked about last time? I agree. Change the marriage alliance candidate.” 1 “Mia, marriage isn’t a game. Are you absolutely certain?” “If you still feel this way tomorrow morning, I’ll make it happen.” After hanging up with my dad, I drove straight to the location they were at. Liam was blackout drunk, draped heavily over Chloe’s shoulder. The crowd around them was cheering and howling, “Congratulations, Liam! You finally got what you wanted!” When they saw me walk in, the noise died instantly. Chloe tried to set him down, but Liam frowned and slurred, “Chloe, why are you putting me down? You’re my girlfriend right now.” I picked up a bottle of cold mineral water from a nearby table, walked right up to him, and poured it directly over his head. “Are you sober now?” He wiped the water from his face. His eyes were ice-cold, devoid of even a shred of guilt. “Mia, are you crazy?!” Sobered up slightly, he saw it was me and didn’t offer a single apology. Instead, he snapped coldly, “Good timing. I lost a game of Truth or Dare, so I’m pretending to be Chloe’s boyfriend for three days. I’ve already had my assistant notify all the friends and family. The wedding is postponed by one day.” If this were the old me, I would have burst into tears and caused a massive scene. But today, I felt nothing but a chilling calm. “Fine. Postponed by one day.” But the groom isn’t going to be you anymore. I pulled out my phone and texted my dad: “I’ve made my decision. I’m not changing my mind.” “See? I told you she couldn’t bear to leave me,” Liam chuckled arrogantly, pulling Chloe closer against him. “Mia, you know Chloe and I are just pretending. Just wait one extra day. We’re still getting married. We’re going to be husband and wife; you can at least give me this much grace, right?” In that moment, the sheer humiliation made me want to sink into the floor, but it also completely extinguished whatever feelings I had left for him. An eight-year relationship, completely obliterated by a stupid joke from his ‘first love’. I didn’t say another word. I turned around and walked away. Perhaps because I didn’t cry or scream, one of the onlookers muttered, “Liam, Mia didn’t even say anything this time. You don’t think she’s actually mad, do you?” “Impossible. You guys know how it is. She’s been obsessed with me since we were kids. We’re practically married; there’s no way she’d actually break up with me.” Liam’s mocking, confident voice drifted after me. “Just watch. Give it a few minutes, and she’ll come running back to apologize.” But this time, he miscalculated completely. Love that requires you to crawl in the dirt isn’t love worth having. I left without looking back. When I got home, I opened my phone and scrolled through my social media feed. Chloe had just posted an update. “Ah! I won against my first love in Truth or Dare, and now we have to rekindle our romance for three days! What do I do? I’m so nervous…” And right beneath it was a comment from Liam, acting like a desperate lapdog: “When two people who love each other can’t be together, they have to cherish the time they have left.” I literally wanted to vomit. I locked my phone, grabbed a pair of scissors, and shredded the wedding dress I had brought home. I tore up every single one of our engagement photos, threw all of his belongings into garbage bags, and then called my assistant. “Sell this apartment within three days.” The news of Liam postponing the wedding inevitably spread. Early the next morning, Liam’s grandfather showed up at my door, dragging Liam by the ear. “Mia, the Sterling family has wronged you. I absolutely do not agree to postponing this wedding.” Before I could even speak, Liam jutted his chin out defensively. “Mia, I knew you’d pull some passive-aggressive stunt like this! Agreeing to my face, but running to complain to my grandfather behind my back. Let me tell you right now, just because you dragged him into this doesn’t mean I’m going to cave. I am not changing my mind!” Grandpa Sterling slapped him hard across the face. “What kind of garbage are you spewing?! Mia hasn’t said a single word to our family about this! You’ve completely lost your mind over that Chloe girl!” Liam clutched his cheek, glaring at me with pure venom. “Mia, I made it perfectly clear. I am going to marry you; the wedding is just pushed back one day. Don’t think that just because you brought my grandfather here, I’m going to drop everything with Chloe. She finally agreed to be my girlfriend for three days, and I am not throwing that away.” Grandpa Sterling raised his hand to hit him again, but this time, I stopped him. “Grandpa Sterling, it’s fine.” Liam scoffed at my intervention. “Mia, stop putting on an act. Do you honestly think I’m going to thank you for stopping him? You’re just trying to play the victim to make yourself look good! Stop dreaming. If it wasn’t for our arranged engagement, Chloe never would have gone abroad in the first place. If it wasn’t for you, we would have been together years ago. All I want is to fulfill my dream of dating her for three days. If you can’t even allow that, you’re just being cruel.” Smack. I backhanded him as hard as I could. “Liam Sterling, I won’t stop you from going to Chloe. The engagement is off.” 2 Liam was stunned again, and Grandpa Sterling was furious. “Liam! Apologize to Mia right now!” “Fine, fine, fine! I really misjudged you, Mia. I had no idea you were this manipulative. You say you want to cancel the engagement, but you know damn well our families will never actually let that happen. You’re just using this as leverage to force me to give up my three days with Chloe! Well, Mia, I won’t let you get what you want.” With that, Liam stormed out, vibrating with rage. Grandpa Sterling looked at me apologetically. “Mia, Liam is just temporarily blinded. When I get him home, I’ll talk some sense into him.” I shook my head. “Grandpa Sterling, I wasn’t joking. I meant it. The engagement is over.” Seeing my deadly serious expression, Grandpa Sterling was genuinely shocked. “Mia, you…” I couldn’t blame him for being surprised. The Vance and Sterling families had been close for generations. My grandfather had even saved Grandpa Sterling’s life back in the day. So this marriage alliance… as long as I didn’t agree to break it, the Sterling family would never dare initiate the cancellation. Since I was a little girl, I had always followed Liam around. By the time I was fifteen or sixteen, right when girls start experiencing their first crushes, I was completely obsessed with him. At my eighteenth birthday party, our engagement was officially announced. For the past eight years, I had chased him relentlessly, catered to his every whim, and constantly lowered my own standards just to please him. Everyone in the city knew I was madly in love with him. But now, I was the one proactively breaking it off. “Don’t worry, Grandpa Sterling. As long as I’m around, Chloe is never going to marry into your family. This marriage alliance was arranged while my grandfather was still alive, and I won’t disrespect his memory.” “Liam isn’t the only Sterling I can marry.” Grandpa Sterling froze, the image of his other son suddenly flashing in his mind. “Mia, that’s too unfair to you. After all, he’s eight years older than you…” I shook my head. “Grandpa Sterling, I’ve thought about it. Compared to a reckless, immature boy, I think Arthur is a much better fit for me.” Grandpa Sterling didn’t argue further. He quickly made a call to Arthur, who was currently overseas. Upon hearing the news of the marriage alliance, Arthur’s hand reportedly trembled. He booked the very next flight back home. Even though I was the one who initiated the breakup, I couldn’t deny that I was still in a terrible mood. When my best friend heard the news, she dragged me out to dinner to cheer me up. By sheer, terrible coincidence, we ran straight into Liam and Chloe. “Liam, you have no idea. If I hadn’t suddenly found out you were engaged, I never would have left the country,” Chloe’s voice drifted over from the next table. “You’re getting married so soon… Just being able to be your girlfriend for these three days is enough for me.” “Chloe, I’m so sorry…” My heart violently twisted in my chest. My best friend shot out of her chair and pointed directly at Chloe. “I have never met anyone so shameless! You know perfectly well he’s about to get married, and you still throw yourself at him like a desperate leech! You’re clearly trying to break them up! If you were actually ‘satisfied,’ you’d be wishing them well!” “Mia, are you done?! I already explained everything perfectly clearly! I’m only pretending to be with Chloe for three days, and then I’m marrying you! I swore nothing inappropriate would happen! You don’t need to stalk me and monitor my every move!” My best friend was ready to throw hands, but I pulled her back. I glanced coldly at the two of them. “Liam, you’re flattering yourself. I just came here to eat in peace.” “You expect me to believe that?” Liam sneered at me. “Mia, did you forget? Back when I was first pursuing Chloe, you used this exact same excuse—’just happening to be there’—to insert yourself into our dates. Are you really trying that old trick again?” He stepped in front of Chloe, shielding her. “But this time, you’ve miscalculated. I told you I’d marry you, but I am not changing my plans for these three days.” Before I decided to cancel the engagement, I always believed that I just wasn’t good enough, which was why Liam didn’t love me back. But looking at his twisted, arrogant face now, I realized how incredibly wrong I had been. Love is a binary thing. It’s either there, or it isn’t. And a man like Liam was completely unworthy of the genuine love I had given him. 3 “Whether you change your plans has absolutely nothing to do with me, because I already changed mine!” I didn’t back down an inch, my gaze piercing him like ice. “Liam, our engagement is over! From now on, you walk your path, and I’ll walk mine! Forget pretending to be her boyfriend for three days—even if you two drove straight to the courthouse and got married right now, I wouldn’t waste the energy to stop you!” Chloe stared at me in shock, while Liam’s brow furrowed tightly. Just then, his phone buzzed. He glanced at a message from his assistant regarding hotel bookings, and his face instantly darkened. “Mia, there’s a limit to your pathological lying! If the engagement is really cancelled, why are you having your people book bridal suites?!” I raised an eyebrow. “The engagement with you is cancelled. What I do with my bridal suites is none of your business.” Liam looked utterly unconvinced. “Mia, whatever manipulative game you’re playing, it’s not going to change my mind! For these three days… I am exclusively Chloe’s boyfriend!” Chloe immediately seized the opportunity, her voice dripping with fake, sickly-sweet concern: “Liam, I’m so sorry… I never meant to cause you so much trouble. Maybe… maybe we should just call it off? After all, you’re going to marry Mia…” Liam, looking like he was under some kind of hypnotic spell, grasped her hand with profound devotion. “Chloe, don’t say that. I lost the game, and I’m honoring the bet! For these three days, we are a couple, and no one can change that!” Chloe shot me a hesitant, artificial look of guilt. “But…” Liam’s expression hardened. “I fought hard for these three days! You don’t need to care what she thinks!” Chloe pressed her lips together submissively. I, however, had reached my absolute limit. “I just wanted to eat my dinner in peace! Manager! These two are no longer welcome here. Throw them out!” Liam let out a harsh bark of laughter. “Mia, are you brain-damaged? This restaurant is owned by the Sterling family! Who are you, an outsider, to tell me to leave?” “I think you’re forgetting who decides the inheritance of the Sterling family!” To repay my grandfather’s life-saving favor, Grandpa Sterling had established an ironclad rule years ago: whoever married me would inherit the vast majority of the Sterling empire. And this specific restaurant? Grandpa Sterling had transferred the deed to my name as an engagement gift years ago. Right now, I had every legal right to tell them to get out! Liam obviously knew this. He looked at me with absolute disgust. “Mia, you are sickening. You keep insisting you want to cancel the engagement, but at the same time, you’re aggressively clinging to Sterling family assets!” In his mind, he was entirely convinced I was bluffing—using the threat of a broken engagement just to force his hand! I was done arguing with these two drama queens. A moment later, the manager hurried over, looking incredibly uncomfortable. “Mr. Sterling, please… you’ll have to leave.” Liam clearly hadn’t expected me to actually follow through. His eyes turned murderous. “Mia, have you lost your damn mind?!” “This is my property now. If I want someone gone, they’re gone!” Liam pointed a furious finger directly at my face. “Mia, you’re going to regret this!” “Trust me, I won’t be the one regretting anything.” “There are plenty of other restaurants in this city. We’re leaving!” Liam grabbed Chloe’s hand and turned to storm out. I slammed my hand on the table and shouted, “Hold it right there!” Liam stopped and turned around, flashing a smug, intensely punchable smile. “Mia, I knew you’d crack and try to stop me. But I’m sorry… you’re too late! Unless you grovel and apologize to Chloe right now, I will absolutely ignore you for the rest of these three days!” Looking at this man’s staggering, delusional narcissism, I suddenly felt a profound wave of disgust at my past self for ever loving something so pathetic. I let out a cold laugh. “You’re confused. I just wanted to remind you that since you ate the food, you need to pay the bill.” Liam’s face turned rigid. “Mia, I was going to give you one last chance, but since you want to play it like this, don’t come crying to me later!” “I promise you, I will never cry over you again. But surely someone with as much pride as Mr. Sterling wouldn’t resort to dining and dashing?” Suppressing his explosive rage, Liam pulled a platinum credit card from his wallet and slammed it onto the table. “Run it!” A few minutes later, the manager returned, looking even more awkward than before. “I’m… I’m so sorry, Mr. Sterling, but this card… it was declined. Insufficient funds.” Liam’s face instantly turned ash-gray. He realized immediately what had happened: Grandpa Sterling had frozen his accounts because of this stunt. He glared at me with absolute venom. “Mia, do you honestly think this little trick is going to make me beg you? I’m telling you, it’s never going to happen…” I mocked him openly. “Not going to beg? Then pay the bill!” 4 Liam’s jaw tightened. At this exact moment, he was literally broke. With no other options, he stepped aside and dialed his parents. Unsurprisingly, neither of them answered his calls. His expression grew darker by the second. He then tried calling several of his close friends. But the result was the same. The moment he asked to borrow money, they all suddenly had urgent excuses and hung up. I knew exactly what was going on. Grandpa Sterling was furious this time. Not only did he freeze Liam’s cards, but he had also sent a warning to every prominent family in the city associated with the Sterlings. Essentially, right now, no one in the entire city wanted anything to do with him. I didn’t hold back. “What’s wrong? Can the great Mr. Sterling really not afford to pay for a simple meal? Tell you what, for old times’ sake, if you just ask nicely, I’ll let you put it on a tab.” Liam’s hands clenched into tight fists, his face a mask of furious humiliation. Just as he looked ready to explode, Chloe stepped forward. “Liam, don’t be angry. I’ll pay for it.” I was actually a bit surprised she stepped up at that moment. But… did she actually have any idea how much this meal cost? Liam’s face flushed with shame. “Chloe, I’m so sorry…” “It’s okay. We’re a couple right now. And I’m not some gold-digger; splitting the bill is totally normal.” Liam’s eyes immediately reddened with emotion. He looked like he was profoundly regretting ever letting her go. But I had absolutely zero interest in watching this sickening display of fake romance. The manager quickly took her card. However, he returned moments later with the same bad news. “I’m sorry, Ms. Vance, but your credit card limit is insufficient.” Chloe froze, her face turning red. “No, that’s impossible… This card has a fifty-thousand-dollar limit…” What kind of meal were they eating that fifty thousand wasn’t enough? The manager explained, “The food you ordered wasn’t actually that expensive, but you ordered a bottle of vintage imported French wine… that alone is a hundred thousand…” I looked at Chloe with open mockery. A few years ago… when Liam was first pursuing her, she had no idea what his true background or net worth was. But none of that mattered now. I paused dramatically. “Oh, so Ms. Vance doesn’t actually have the money. I assumed…” “Who said I don’t have it?!” Chloe lifted her chin defensively, pulling out several more credit cards. “Run them all! It’ll be enough!” The manager didn’t hesitate and quickly processed the transactions. Liam, obviously feeling humiliated on her behalf, glared at me fiercely. “Mia, do you think everyone in the world is as obsessed with money as you are?! I am not going to forget what you did today. Just you wait.” Shortly after, he and Chloe finally left. My best friend looked at me, bewildered. “Mia, has Liam lost his mind? Someone like Chloe clearly only came back after finding out his real identity. She’s just using this ‘fake couple’ excuse to drain as much money from him as possible.” I watched their retreating figures and smiled. “She’s significantly more calculating than you think.” My best friend didn’t understand, but I couldn’t be bothered to explain. “But this time, she’s going to be severely disappointed.” With the Sterling family changing heirs, who knew how long their “true love” would actually last? Although the interruption was annoying, my overall mood remained relatively positive. After finishing my meal, I headed back to the office. When I walked in, I was surprised to see Arthur, looking like he had just rushed straight from the airport. “Mia. Have you made your final decision?” I knew he was referring to the marriage alliance, and I couldn’t help but smile. “If I said I regretted it right now, would it be too late?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391602”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Everyone knew I was Alexander Clark’s favorite trophy girlfriend. Beautiful and compliant, gentle and considerate. As long as the money was right, I’d endure his endless whims. Even when he humiliated me for the sake of his true love, I never showed the slightest complaint. Everyone assumed I would never leave. But no one knew that when the contract expired, I would marry another man and completely sever ties with that relationship. The ping of my phone broke the silence as I sorted through research documents for my return home. The words “500,000 credits deposited” flickered on the screen. I casually placed my phone on the corner of the table and continued verifying the files. That was my monthly allowance. My best friend, Sophia, looked worried. “Alexander knows you’re getting married. He won’t come back and make trouble, will he?” My fingers paused. My voice was calm. “He won’t. He’s always generous with ex-lovers. He’ll just find a new trophy girlfriend.” My contract would expire in a month. Then I could change my name, move to a new city, and forget everything about this foggy city. The rain started falling again in this foggy city. I returned to my apartment. As I reached the door, a custom black umbrella caught my eye—it was Alexander’s. My steps involuntarily halted, and my heart tightened slightly, as if entangled by fine threads of rain. He was here. Pushing open the door, in the warm orange glow, his back was silhouetted in the kitchen. I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind, a perfectly calibrated tone of complaint in my voice. “You haven’t been back in twenty days. Before, it was never more than fifteen.” This was the dynamic I had painstakingly learned: an occasional complaint from the trophy girlfriend made the benefactor feel depended upon. In the past, he would always ask if I needed money. But this time, he simply plated a steak, his voice cool. “Eat, then take a shower.” I glimpsed a bite mark beneath his cuff, thick with a scab. I resisted asking questions, quietly heading into the bathroom. The woody scent from the shower was identical to the first time I met him four years ago. My thoughts drifted back to that moment, echoing the rhythm of the rain. That year, during my university entrance exams, my mother slipped notes into my stationery, and I was caught cheating, my scores invalidated. I, who could have attended an Ivy League, ended up branded a ‘cheating student,’ mocked by everyone. She then cried and knelt, forcing me to give up my re-take to work and support my sister’s art college tuition. I fled to this foggy city, but on my way home one night, I was mugged, all my money gone. I didn’t even have enough for next month’s rent. Desperate, I called my mother for help, only to be met with, “It’s your own choice.” In the international student community, for a poor student like me, apart from scholarships, the only way to make money was to find a rich “boyfriend.” That day, with my last bit of cash, I dressed myself provocatively. I went to a midnight party and immediately saw Alexander Clark in the center of the crowd. I forgot how I ended up kneeling before him, allowing his hand to easily touch my most vulnerable neck. I only remembered him smiling faintly, his eyes slightly narrowed under the dazzling lights. A clap of thunder pulled me from my memories. I walked out of the bathroom. Alexander stood by the window, surrounded as if by deep winter’s ice and snow. “Come here.” His voice was indifferent. As I approached, he pulled me onto the bed. His movements were rough, and I bit my lip, daring not to make a sound. “Not going to ask about the bite mark? Or why I’m angry?” He curled his lip. I forced a smile, leaning in to kiss him. “As long as you’re happy, nothing else matters.” Maintaining boundaries, that’s how a trophy girlfriend avoids getting hurt. Initially, I couldn’t distinguish love from desire, mistaking his indulgence for affection. Until the first time he treated me roughly, and I said he was out of line. He coldly replied, “If you don’t like it, get out.” Afterward, I learned my lesson, understanding I was merely a pet. But I am still a person, so when the contract ends, the trophy girlfriend should leave. The next day, Alexander was already gone. Due to his company’s international business, Alexander spent half of each month in Capital City and the other half in this foggy city. I opened my phone. The international student group chat had exploded, hundreds of messages flooding in, half of them tagging me. A secretly filmed video went viral: Alexander holding a woman’s hand. The woman bit his wrist, yet he didn’t let go, instead forcefully kissing her. The sadness and deep affection in his eyes were something I had never seen before. Sophia messaged me, asking if I was okay. I replied, “I’m fine,” but stared at the video for a long time until my eyes ached. I had always accepted my fate; a trophy girlfriend should live in her cage, not peek into her benefactor’s life. As graduation approached, I was busy with wrapping things up. Returning home on a stormy day, I heard piano music as I reached the door. Pushing it open, I saw a woman with delicate features sitting at the piano. Her profile was identical to the woman in the video. “So you’re the little trinket Alexander keeps in this foggy city?” Her tone was dismissive. I clenched my hands, responding politely, “Hello, I’m Stella Taylor.” She didn’t introduce herself, merely saying casually, “This piano still sounds perfectly in tune. Alexander must have it tuned regularly, doesn’t he?” I remembered when I first moved in, thinking Alexander liked piano, I had specifically studied for a year. But when I played for him, he angrily pulled me away, scolding, “What right do you have to touch this piano?” Now, the one with the right had finally arrived. The door opened. Alexander saw the woman and his body stiffened. After a long moment, he spoke coldly, “Fighting with my brother again? Sister-in-law?” I froze. So, she was Alexander’s sister-in-law, Victoria Lin. Victoria’s voice was low. “Alexander, must you speak to me like that?” Alexander’s jaw tightened, and he softened his tone. “Haven’t eaten?” “I was waiting for you,” Victoria murmured. Alexander took off his suit and walked towards the kitchen. “The usual? Filet mignon with Merlot, alright?” My heart clenched—this was the dinner he often made for me. I had once thought it was a unique gesture, only to realize it was merely a continuation of someone else’s preference. Victoria suddenly asked what I wanted to eat. Alexander finally looked at me, his voice icy. “You, go out.” I feigned composure. “Okay, I’ll come back later.” He flatly refused. “No need. Stay in a hotel these next few days. I’ll call you when it’s time to come back.” The door slammed shut behind me, rain lashing against my face. It felt as cold as it did three years ago when the landlord kicked me out. I thought I was clear-headed enough, but subconsciously, I had still considered this place “home.” Sophia called, reminding me that the contract expired on March 14th, asking if I wanted to book a flight for the 16th, avoiding Alexander’s birthday on March 15th. I took a deep breath. “Book it for the 14th. End it on the day it’s meant to end.” The next morning, Alexander messaged, “Come back.” I obeyed, taking a taxi back, only to see workers moving things out. “All this is being thrown out just because one woman doesn’t like it. Rich people are so capricious.” The worker’s words stopped me in my tracks. Another worker held up a cartoon plushie, carefully asking Alexander, “Not this one either?” That was a gift Alexander had given me. I had once mentioned wanting it as a child but never getting it, and he had specially postponed three days of his schedule to return home to find it. That was the first time I had forgotten my place, hugging him and crying uncontrollably. But now, Alexander said coldly, “Throw it away.” The plushie dropped into the garbage truck, buried beneath trash. I wanted to step forward, but Alexander called out, “What are you doing?” I forced myself to be calm, linking my arm through his. “I got your message. I was back in ten minutes, wasn’t I quick?” He made no comment, merely stating, “Live here from now on. Don’t leave anything behind.” I looked at the garbage truck, where all my belongings lay. After a long moment, I gently nodded. “Okay.” Alexander didn’t stay that night. The next day, his assistant delivered a dozen limited-edition Chanel bags. Along with a 7-million-credit black card and a property deed for an apartment in the city center. “This is Mr. Clark’s graduation gift to you.” I knew it was his way of placating me after he’d discarded my belongings. “Will he be coming back these next few days?” I asked. The assistant replied, “Mr. Clark postponed his business trip for Ms. Victoria Lin’s concert. He’ll return after it’s over, probably next month.” But I couldn’t wait until next month. I bought a ticket to the concert. Sophia scoffed, “A third-rate musician built on capital, what’s there to see?” But this was my last chance to see Alexander. The concert had already begun. The hall was dim, yet I instantly spotted Alexander in the first row. He gazed at Victoria Lin on stage, his eyes a deep ocean blue, a tenderness I had never witnessed. Victoria spoke, “I want to thank my husband. He gave me this piano, and I brought it. He’s always by my side.” The host mentioned Alexander, and Victoria smiled, saying, “Besides being family, we’re also very good friends.” Alexander abruptly stood up and walked out, bumping right into me. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me into a car. The driver, sensing the tension, discreetly left. His kiss was filled with icy rage; I couldn’t breathe, my wrist ached from his grip. “Mr. Clark, not here…” “Shut up!” he barked, yet his movements gradually softened. Finally, he whispered in my ear, “I love you…” My heart skipped a beat, but the next second I heard him call out, “Victoria Lin.” Under the starlit ceiling, I froze. His ‘love,’ it turned out, was never for me. Tears fell uncontrollably. Alexander asked what was wrong. I hugged him tightly. “Nothing, I just wanted to hold you.” It started raining outside. He suddenly asked, “Why did you come looking for me?” I softly said, “I wanted to see you.” He looked down at me, a slight upturn to his lips. “Such a good girl. What do you want? I’ll have Liam send it over.” For the first time, I refused. “No, thank you, Mr. Clark.” He froze, but his phone rang. Victoria’s voice was tearful. “Alexander, the hotel I’m staying in is blocked by the police. I’m so scared…” “I’ll be right there.” Alexander hung up, glanced at me, his voice icy. “Get out!” The heavy rain instantly soaked me. He shoved an umbrella into my hand, his voice detached. “I have something to do. Go back by yourself.” The Rolls-Royce’s headlights vanished into the rainy night. I held the umbrella, but the wind broke its ribs. I boarded a bus. The cold air made me shiver. Then, a jacket was draped over my head. I looked up, only seeing a handsome profile. He quickly got off the bus, disappearing into the rain. Back at the apartment, I washed and put away the jacket. I opened my phone. In a pushed news interview, a reporter asked if the woman Alexander had taken away was his girlfriend. Victoria smiled and said, “Just an irrelevant person who stumbled in. Alexander took her out because he was afraid of affecting me.” Alexander merely responded, “Yes.” I exited the video and opened my email. Two emails lay side by side: one was an invitation to a top domestic research project. The other was an offer for a million-dollar annual salary from a top 100 global conglomerate. On March 12th, I took a deep breath and replied to the research project email: “I am honored to join.” The next day, I returned home. The kitchen light was on, and Alexander was cooking. I walked over, only to see oxtail clear soup on the table—my favorite—instead of his usual steak. “Why this today?” I asked softly. He said casually, “I won’t be making steak anymore. You try this.” I glimpsed Victoria’s message on his phone: “I don’t want to be like everyone else.” My heart clenched, and I sat down in silence. “Tomorrow, Victoria and I are going to Germany. Don’t contact me these next few days,” he said coldly, pushing the bowl of soup towards me. I knew he was going to celebrate Victoria’s birthday with her, as he had for the past two years. “Okay,” I forced a smile. He promised, “I’ll bring you a gift from France.” “No need,” I looked up at him. “Mr. Clark, happy birthday.” He stood up and walked over to me, his tall figure eclipsing the light. His kiss was as hot as a volcano, and he lifted me, carrying me towards the bedroom. This was the most intense time in three years. I eventually passed out. He held me while cleaning, then pressed a kiss to my forehead. When I woke up, he was already gone. Sophia messaged, “3 PM flight. I’ll pick you up.” I scanned the apartment; all traces of me had long been thrown away. Packing my last few items of clothing, I placed the property deed and bank card on the study desk. “Honestly, I’ve always been grateful to you for helping me when I was at my lowest.” I took one last look at the apartment. “Thank you, Alexander Clark.” At 3 PM, Alexander’s plane landed in Germany, and my plane took off. 12 hours later, he was at a birthday party in Germany. I landed in Capital City. Taking the new phone handed to me by the staff, I headed to the research base. Two days later, Alexander returned to the foggy city early. His assistant smiled, “Mr. Clark, don’t worry, I’ll deliver the gift to Miss Taylor.” “It’s for her,” Alexander said flatly, then added, “Draft the renewal contract again, increase it from 500,000 to 700,000 credits. Send it tomorrow.” He returned to the apartment, made dinner, and waited for me from dusk until deep into the night. I didn’t come back. He took out his phone to call, but only heard an automated voice: “Hello, the number you have dialed is no longer in service…” Alexander dialed again, still getting the same message. He rushed upstairs; the bedroom, balcony, and study were all empty. Only the card and property deed remained on the desk, with a note tucked underneath: “Alexander Clark, thank you for these three years.” He called his assistant, his voice icy. “Find out where she is.” The assistant, bewildered, replied, “Isn’t Miss Taylor with you, Mr. Clark?” “Find her,” Alexander cut him off. Victoria messaged, “Alexander, I want to see you.” In the restaurant, Victoria cried, “Your brother found another woman. Help me get rid of her. You’re already keeping a little trinket in the foggy city, so keeping another one in Capital City won’t matter.” “Victoria Lin,” Alexander interrupted her. “Her name is Stella Taylor.” Victoria froze. Alexander continued, “This was your choice, back then.” Victoria tried to speak, but Alexander pulled his arm away. “I’m leaving.” Standing in the long corridor, looking at the city lights, Alexander suddenly thought of me. He took out his phone. “Find her location. Bring her back tonight.” The assistant hesitated. “Mr. Clark, someone has deliberately hidden Miss Taylor’s information. We can’t find her.” Capital City, Seventh Aerospace Research Institute. The academician patted my shoulder. “We have a new member joining. You both studied abroad in the foggy city, so you can pick him up.” “He’s a genius in physics, a rare talent in a century. He earned two bachelor’s degrees at 15, a doctorate at 17, and now holds two doctorates.” I turned, curious, and the young man at the door turned towards me—it was the same person who gave me his jacket on that rainy night in the foggy city. “It’s you.” My heart skipped a beat. “You remember?” he asked. “You’re not someone easily forgotten.” I extended my hand. “Thank you for that day. Welcome aboard. My name is Stella Taylor.” “Jasper Harris,” he said, shaking my hand, his voice cool and clear. In the foggy city apartment, Alexander looked at his assistant. “You’re telling me that with all of Clark Holdings’ connections, you can’t find a single Stella Taylor?” The assistant wiped sweat from his brow. “Top hackers, both domestic and international, have tried, but they can’t breach that firewall. It’s likely a state-level secret.” Alexander dismissed his assistant. The room instantly became a mess. He leaned over his desk, emotions surging in his chest, threatening to drown his reason—something had utterly slipped from his control. Alexander went to the club, walking directly towards Sophia. “Where is Stella Taylor?” Sophia feigned ignorance. “Stella Taylor? I don’t understand.” “On the afternoon of the 14th, you drove her to the airport. I’m asking you one last time, where is she?” His eyes were icy cold. Sophia’s heart turned cold. “She went back to the country. Said she wanted to go home to get married.” “Married?” Alexander was almost too angry to laugh. Sophia mustered her courage. “If you don’t like her, then let her go. She only came to you because she was desperate, treating herself like a commodity. But she’s a human being, with flesh and blood.” “Humiliation?” Alexander frowned. “You think I was humiliating her?” Sophia opened her phone. The screenshot showed the trending topic “A certain female international student, shameless, selling her body to climb the ladder.” It also showed photos of me trying to please Alexander. Suddenly, Alexander’s fingers froze—the zipper of the plushie in the screenshot was open, revealing a note inside the cotton. “I love you, Alexander Clark.” It was the plushie he himself had said he’d thrown away. Alexander gripped his phone tightly, Victoria Lin’s face flashing in his mind. “I didn’t know,” his voice was hoarse. Sophia said, “She paid to suppress the news that night, saying she didn’t want to trouble you. But what did you do?” Alexander remembered that day. Victoria had said she didn’t like the things in the apartment, so he, in front of me, had thrown away all my belongings. Standing under the eaves, Alexander called Victoria. Victoria exclaimed with delight, “Alexander, did you agree to what I asked? I knew it…” Alexander gently interrupted her. “That night in the apartment, what did you do?” Victoria froze. “I didn’t do anything. I was so tired that day; I went to bed early.” “Victoria Lin!” Alexander said coldly. “That day, what did you see in my room?” Victoria was silent for a moment. “If you’re asking me this way, do I still need to say it? Haven’t you already figured it out?” Alexander said in disbelief, “How could you be like this?” “Isn’t it because your brother and you forced me? One cheated, the other didn’t help me, always hiding out with his little mistress in the foggy city. When I needed support, there was no one behind me. I just wanted to drive her away, to make sure your attention was only on me. What did I do wrong?” Victoria gritted her teeth and yelled, “And anyway, weren’t you the one who actually threw her things away?” Alexander was completely stunned. Yes, he was the one who threw away my things, who lost me. It had always been him. He weakly hung up the phone with Victoria, looking at the dark night sky. A strange fear spread from his bones. He sent me a message: “I’m back.” “I, I’m back.” But there was no reply. Rain poured down. The assistant rushed over with an umbrella. “Mr. Clark…” The rest of his words caught in his throat. He watched Alexander stand silently in the rain, water soaking his hair, tracing his eyelids, leaving streaks on his face. The rain in this foggy city seemed to never cease. Two years later, the project ended. I called Sophia.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391601”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

“Ash, please stop… It’s already so raw.” Tears streamed down my face as I slumped before the man in military uniform. His voice was gentle, yet his hands didn’t falter. “Unless it’s perfectly clean, I won’t come near you.” My husband, General Ashworth Thorne, was… peculiar. Not only did our monthly intimacy require a formal request from me, but before he’d even consider touching me, I had to undergo a full three-stage disinfection, inside and out. But then, on our fifth wedding anniversary, I found a ripped silk stocking in his car. When I confronted him, he merely turned the steering wheel with an unnervingly calm expression. “I lent the car to Xander last week.” I didn’t say anything. Instead, I contacted his aide, Sergeant Brooks. That’s when I learned about a new junior comms officer recently assigned to Ashworth’s division. Over the phone, Brooks’s voice was hushed, almost a whisper. “Ms. Harper, I saw the General kiss her foot with my own eyes. They even shared a drink. And… I hear she might be pregnant.” “You’ve been good to me, I couldn’t stand to see you kept in the dark.” After hanging up, I calmly drafted the divorce papers. Ashworth, we’re done. … The next morning, I drove straight to the military headquarters. Sergeant Brooks’s face went white when he saw me. I glanced at Ashworth’s office – papers were strewn everywhere. Ashworth, the man who would instantly disinfect anything another person so much as brushed against, was currently pinning a woman to the floor, locked in a passionate kiss. Faint whimpers escaped the room. The woman inside met my gaze, her eyes devoid of any fear. I remembered that face. Three months ago, she’d just been assigned here, and had been utterly terrified, apologizing profusely when she’d accidentally knocked a file from my hands. “It must be hard on you.” I greeted Brooks, then pushed the door open without a knock. CRASH! The door slammed against the wall with a deafening thud. Startled, the two broke apart. I’d expected some flicker of panic, a clumsy excuse, or at least a hint of shame when caught in the act. But there was none. He merely frowned, his eyes filled with bewilderment and irritation. “Didn’t I tell you that you need to wear a sterile suit and disinfect three times before entering my office?” In his eyes, no emergency, no personal drama, could ever outweigh his almost pathological need for cleanliness. For five years, I had rigidly adhered to his rules. But now, it seemed utterly pointless. Because the young woman’s sweat was mingling with his, and he didn’t seem to mind in the slightest. Elara Vance’s uniform was disheveled, her face flushed crimson. “Ms. Harper, please don’t misunderstand. I just slipped while delivering some files, and General Thorne helped me steady myself.” Though she spoke to me, her eyes darted to Ashworth’s reaction. This girl, eight years my junior. Young, vibrant, and utterly oblivious to boundaries. I ignored her, tossing the divorce papers onto Ashworth’s face. The freshly printed pages still carried the faint scent of toner. Ashworth’s frown deepened. He must despise that smell. After all, in our home, every item had to undergo three layers of disinfection before it was allowed in his presence. Ashworth’s gaze flickered to the agreement on the floor, and he sighed with exasperation. “Listen, Harper, I told you, that item belonged to Xander. Can you please stop being so dramatic?” Xander was his academy classmate, one of his very few friends. But he’d forgotten, in his lie, that Xander had been deployed for field training four months ago, and Ashworth never lent his car, because he found it ‘dirty.’ But he wasn’t the only one with a cleanliness fixation. I found a disloyal marriage just as dirty. “Sign it. Divorce. It’s the best outcome for us.” I stood my ground, unyielding. He laughed, a bitter, angry sound. “What’s the point? You know my parents and the command won’t approve.” “In all our years of marriage, I haven’t touched another woman. This is just this one time.” “Can’t you just do what a General’s wife is supposed to do? Turn a blind eye?” According to him, I should be grateful that he only cheated with one person. He turned to Elara, his voice softening instantly. “You can go now. Don’t worry, I’ll handle this.” But Elara took a step forward, a patch of skin on her collarbone, marked with a kiss, peeking from under her loose hair. “Ms. Harper, please don’t be angry with General Thorne. It’s all my fault.” Of course it was her fault. Breaking up a military marriage? Did she expect me to comfort her? SLAP! Before Elara could finish, I slapped her hard across the face. “This isn’t your place to speak.” Elara was stunned, clutching her cheek, her eyes instantly welling with tears. Ashworth and Brooks, who was still by the door, froze. They were both accustomed to my calm and professional demeanor, even when dealing with the most challenging trauma patients on the battlefield. Regaining her senses, Elara crumpled, falling into Ashworth’s arms. She sobbed uncontrollably, letting her makeup smudge onto Ashworth’s pristine military shirt. Ashworth, though his brow was slightly furrowed, patiently patted her back, his eyes filled with tenderness. Seeing this, I remembered. Because Ashworth loathed the smell of cosmetics, I had gone five years barefaced. He’d even insisted I wipe off my lip gloss for our wedding photos. “Are you insane? Do you know what you’re doing?” I met his furious gaze, my smile cold. “Doing what a General’s wife should.” “The Thorne family does not allow mistresses to waltz in.” Ashworth didn’t even glance at the divorce papers before telling Brooks to shred them. If he wouldn’t agree to a divorce, then I’d force his hand. No one knew better than me how to shatter his defenses. I kicked my military boots haphazardly in the entryway, poured live fish from the market into the bathtub, and even splashed sweet and sour sauce onto the cream-colored rug. The entire house was instantly filled with a fishy, greasy odor. Before, Ashworth would have replaced every single item in the house. Then he’d have soaked himself in disinfectant for hours. I sat in the chaotic living room, smirking, waiting for him to finally reach his breaking point and throw the divorce papers in my face. But until one in the morning, there was no sound from the front door. My phone screen lit up. Elara had sent me a photo from Ashworth’s phone. Ashworth sat on a greasy, shiny plastic stool at a night market stall, sharing a bowl of spicy noodle soup with Elara. [He’s willing to break all his principles for me.] My stomach churned. That year, I came back from a mission, carrying the faint scent of a street food stall. He banished me to the guest room for three days, then burned all the clothes I’d worn, claiming the smell disgusted him. So I’d endured five years of bland meals with him, to the point where the sight of red chili oil made me nauseous. But now, it seemed he could sit in a night market littered with bamboo skewers and grime, all for Elara. I sat awake all night, until my tears ran dry, then dialed the division’s political affairs office. “This is Major Harper. I demand you immediately reassign Comms Officer Elara Vance.” The line went silent for a few seconds, then a hesitant voice spoke. “General Thorne specifically instructed that any reassignment of Officer Vance must be personally approved by him.” My fingers, clutching the phone, felt ice-cold. The next second, Ashworth’s call came in. “Harper, how much longer are you going to keep this up?” “What, as a field officer, I’m not allowed to reassign a comms officer with questionable conduct?” “Not her.” “Harper, you need to reflect on your own behavior. Stop being so unreasonable.” They were the ones cheating, they were the ones who made mistakes, yet he thought I was the one who needed to reflect. But I was never one to just take things lying down. The next morning, I took a stack of photos and plastered them all over the bulletin boards in the military office area. The photos showed them passionately kissing in the jeep, entangled in the office, and feeding each other at a street food stall. By the time Ashworth arrived at the headquarters, it was too late. “I always knew there was something going on between that comms officer and General Thorne. I’ve seen them out alone multiple times.” “So young, yet so manipulative. Too bad she chose the wrong path.” “General Thorne is usually so morally upright, how could he… doesn’t he have a severe phobia of germs? Doesn’t he find her dirty?” Ashworth violently ripped the photos from the wall, his eyes practically spitting fire as he looked at me. “Harper, what’s the difference between you and those hysterical, screaming women now?” So he knew this kind of thing was disgraceful. If he knew, why did he do it? Everyone’s gaze, like sniper sights, zeroed in on Elara’s face. She clutched her face, hiding behind Ashworth. “Ash, I can’t show my face anymore. Maybe I should just request a transfer. Let’s not contact each other again.” I thought Ashworth, for the sake of appearances, would tell her to handle it discreetly. But he didn’t. In front of everyone, he took off his military jacket and draped it over Elara’s shoulders. His gaze swept across the crowd, sharp and menacing. “Had enough looking?” “From today, Elara Vance is reassigned to the operations department as an administrative assistant, and her stipend is increased by two grades.” “She is my person. Anyone who discusses this privately will face disciplinary action.” No one dared to speak again. They had careers to protect, and General Thorne was not someone they could afford to offend. I lost. The outcome of this, just as Ashworth had predicted, was me becoming a hysterical, irrational woman. As I walked out of the military headquarters building, Elara, who had been sobbing, finally whispered to me. “Thank you. Otherwise, Ash might have kept me hidden for who knows how long.” I returned, utterly dejected, to the city’s finest military general hospital. The psycho-trauma intervention clinic there was the only place that truly belonged to me. “Dr. Harper, about that…” My assistant called out to me, while the nurses nearby whispered amongst themselves. Though I was mentally prepared, pushing open the door still made my breath catch. The sofa was slashed with a knife, bookshelves were toppled, and broken glass and scattered files covered the floor. Ashworth had once pulled strings to secure the best equipment and a dedicated floor for me to practice here. Now, because of my defiance, he had personally destroyed it. I slowly knelt, picking up the scattered patient files. A familiar photograph slid out from the bottom of a folder. In the picture, Ashworth wore a hospital gown, his eyes vacant and terrified, curled tightly in a corner. Back then, his severe germ phobia caused him to violently vomit and tremble if anyone even approached him. Even the military doctors said he might never be able to serve again. I treated him for two years, helping him regain basic social functions, allowing the already highly-regarded officer to return to the force, where he rapidly rose to the rank of General. Ashworth’s grandfather immediately decided on our marriage. But why? Why should I be his permanent sacrifice, clinging to this already rotten marriage? The hospital director called me into his office. “While the expert panel deems you fit to work, the hospital cannot directly confront General Thorne.” “You should take some time off and rest.” I understood his predicament. Without argument, I took my new prescription and went home. Opening the door, I saw a pair of women’s short boots, not mine, neatly placed in the shoe rack. I chuckled self-deprecatingly. At Ashworth’s insistence, no one else had ever set foot in this house besides me and the cleaning lady who came once a week. Including our child. The year we married, I unexpectedly became pregnant. But Ashworth absolutely forbade me from having the baby. “I cannot tolerate something covered in blood and bodily fluids in my house.” “Besides, I’ve always disliked children, you know that.” Seeing him short of breath and trembling, I tried desperately to calm him, but in the struggle, I fell down the stairs. I lost the baby, and I almost bled to death on the operating table. From then on, after our monthly conjugal duties, he would personally watch me swallow birth control pills. Elara heard the door open and walked over, proudly caressing her flat stomach. “Sister, I’m pregnant. You must have heard, right?” “I don’t want my child to be born a bastard.” She leaned close to me, her voice light. “So, Harper, we’re actually on the same side.” “I want to move up, you want a divorce. We both get what we want.” I scoffed. “You’re mistaken. My desire for a divorce doesn’t mean I’d ever endorse a mistress like you taking my place.” “A mistress is always a mistress.” Perhaps my words stung her. The smile vanished from her face, replaced by anger. “What are you, anyway? Can’t keep your man, so you take it out on me?” “You actually think Ash isn’t divorcing you because he can’t bear to let you go? He just hasn’t sorted things out with his family yet.” “Men only let the woman they truly love carry their child.” “Your child? He didn’t want it, even when you conceived.” Her smile was sickening. I froze. The Thorne family had kept that incident under wraps. It was a permanent scar on my heart, and a scandal the military family preferred not to mention. But Ashworth had so easily told this woman. In my daze, the pill bottle in my pocket fell out. Elara picked it up and read the label, her sneer deepening. “What’s this? An aphrodisiac? You still haven’t given up on Ash?” “To be a woman who needs drugs to keep a man… how pathetic.” I stared at her, hatred churning in my gut. The next second, I fiercely twisted open the cap and tried to force the pills into her mouth. “This is an abortifacient. Specially prepared for you.” “You want to have a baby? I’ll make sure you can’t.” She gasped, her face turning ashen, struggling desperately. Suddenly, the door behind us opened, and she broke free from my grasp. “Ash! Sister, she tried to make me take some medicine!” “Our baby… my stomach hurts so much!” Ashworth shoved me to the ground. “What did you do to her?” Elara sobbed hysterically, though I knew she hadn’t swallowed a single pill. Ashworth glanced at the pills on the floor, his face changing drastically. After five years of marriage, he recognized the medication by osmosis. Paroxetine, contraindicated for pregnant women. He quickly scooped her up and rushed into the bathroom, helping her to induce vomiting. Vomit covered the pristine sink. The man who once demanded I disinfect a doorknob if my fingertip so much as brushed it. Was now clearing the grime from her lips with his bare hands, utterly unconcerned. After confirming she was alright, he emerged, his eyes like they wanted to devour me whole. “Harper, are you really so incapable of tolerating a child?” I tolerate her child? Who ever tolerated my child? I stared blankly at the pills on the floor. How ironic, a psychologist, suffering from depression. But I was fully aware of what I was doing. I wasn’t losing control; I was just consumed by hatred. I sat powerlessly on the bed, but habitually remembered that I hadn’t changed into my loungewear. It seemed I had been so thoroughly trained by Ashworth that I constantly thought of his rules. But he wasn’t afraid anymore, was he? In a daze, Ashworth entered the room. Seeing my coat, he stopped two meters away from me. So he wasn’t unafraid. It was just that Elara was always the exception. “You’re sick? Since when?” Probably for a long time. Under the constant pressure of his monthly demands for reports, scrubbing, and disinfection. Under the crushing pain of losing our child. Under the despair of sensing his infidelity with nowhere to turn. I thought, since he was asking, he might show an ounce of concern. But instead, he just went on. “Your behavior just now makes you unsuitable to continue working in psychological intervention.” “Quit your job. You’ve always wanted a child, haven’t you? Elara’s child, I’ve decided.” “You just need to explain at the press conference that she’s your distant cousin, pregnant out of wedlock.” “And that you’re infertile, so you’ll adopt her child, registered under our name.” “We’ll live together, and you’ll raise the child together.” My fists clenched. I thought I must have misheard him. How could he utter such an outrageous request? “What if I refuse?” I bit the inside of my cheek. “Harper, can’t you be a little more considerate of the bigger picture? That’s my flesh and blood too.” I sneered. “If we divorce, she and the child can be legitimate.” Ashworth didn’t speak. After a long moment, he sighed. “If you don’t agree, I’ll have the hospital cut off your mother’s specialized nursing ward and her targeted medication. You decide.” “Don’t bother trying to contact my parents. They’re inspecting the border defenses, you won’t be able to reach them.” My mother’s late-stage kidney cancer relied entirely on the military general hospital’s cutting-edge treatments. He was cutting off my mother’s lifeline. I surrendered.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391600”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

“My mother is the person I hate most, and I am the person she hates most.” She hated me for being conceived after a brutal assault by a street thug. Even when I topped my class, she had me expelled because, due to health issues, she had no choice but to carry me to term. I hated her for being a terrible mother, and because of her, I developed a twisted, possessive need for maternal love. When I was four, she threw me into a river to drown. After I was rescued, I blackmailed her, threatening to make her streak naked down the street if she didn’t sign the non-prosecution agreement. When she was hospitalized after a car accident, I used a stone to carve my name into her body while she was immobile. After she was discharged, she uncharacteristically bought me an ice cream, but secretly sprinkled a powder on it that attracted bees, causing them to sting my mouth raw. No matter what, she would only ever call me a bastard, and even shoved me into a cabinet, nailing the door shut. Yet, through the crack in the door, I saw my thug father. And through the same crack, my mother looked at me, making a ‘shush’ gesture. … My mother, a ‘distinguished parent,’ had just taken the stage to give a speech at my senior year commencement rally. But the moment she opened her mouth, the audience began to murmur. “This little bastard of mine, I know her rotten character better than anyone. There’s no way she earned these grades honestly; she must have cheated.” “This school, honestly, it’s senior year. Can you please stop deluding yourselves?” The principal’s face instantly darkened, and he gestured for a teacher to pull her off the stage. The students were already buzzing, marveling at my mother’s audacity. But my mother, ignoring the teacher’s attempts to stop her, continued her ‘speech’ on stage. “What a joke of a school! And you, you little bastard, weren’t you supposed to have me here to collect a prize? Otherwise, I wouldn’t have bothered coming. Do you know how much I make in a day? You’ve got some nerve, trying to fool me!” Her voice trailed off as she was finally escorted away. I stood below the stage, not a trace of shame on my face. Instead, I felt a thrill of victory for having successfully tricked her. The speech was the last item on the agenda. Afterward, everyone could go home. I saw a crowd forming ahead and immediately recognized what was happening, pushing my way forward. It was my mother, of course. A student asked her, “Who is the ‘bastard’ you were talking about?” My mother blurted out, “My daughter.” Another student asked her what she did for work. My mother glanced at me, then grinned as she replied, “Me? What do you think someone as pretty as me does?” Lila Bright, who always had it in for me, chimed in, “I bet you’re a prostitute!” The surrounding chatter instantly died, followed by a burst of laughter. My fists clenched, my gaze fixed on Lila, wishing I could burn a hole through her with my stare. But Lila seemed unfazed, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips as she looked at me. “What are you staring at? I’m not wrong. Every day I go home, I see your mom coming out of that massage parlor. My mom said the jobs there aren’t reputable, and it’s even been reported before!” Everyone turned to look, and the crowd grew larger. But my mother remained unconcerned, showing no intention of refuting it. Instead, she grinned at Lila. “Oh, little girl, you know quite a lot. Tell you what, send your dad to my shop sometime, mention my name, and I’ll give him a ten percent discount. I guarantee he’ll leave feeling completely satisfied!” It was an indirect admission of her profession. Lila’s face turned scarlet, speechless. Just then, a teacher arrived and dispersed the crowd. Furious, I grabbed a plastic stool meant for parents and slammed it onto my mother’s head. She, in turn, angrily swung her own stool at my head. “Your brain must be rusted, you can’t even hurl an insult! Are you happy listening to others curse your mother every day?!” We practically clawed at each other, fighting all the way home. Many people on the street stared, whispering behind their hands. My chest felt constricted, a knot of frustration I couldn’t untangle, fueling the force of my blows against my mother. As punishment, the moment we got home, she locked me directly into a wooden cabinet in the kitchen, nailing the door shut. Memories, like a busy street, flashed through my mind. Before I was four, my grandmother raised me. After she passed, I returned to my mother’s side for the first time. The first night living with my mother, I lay in bed, anxious, clutching a small paper flower I had folded, sweating with nerves. In the darkness, my mother fumbled her way to the bed. The rehearsed words caught in my throat, my eyes wide with shock. My mother lifted me with one hand, then, as if casually discarding something unimportant, dropped me onto the floor. “Who told you to lie there? If my mom hadn’t forced you on me before she died, do you think I’d take in a little bastard like you?” “So filthy, and you dare get into my bed? Don’t you know I hate children more than anything?” After she spoke, she spat on me again, her disdainful gaze practically nailing me to the ground. I had never seen such a fierce mother, completely unlike little Timmy’s mom in the village. Trembling, I sat on the floor, my round eyes wide with terror. I was ordered to leave, but I shamelessly huddled by the bed, sleeping there all night. I woke up many times in the middle of the night, terrified my mother would vanish again if I opened my eyes. Overwhelmed with fear, I didn’t even notice a blanket had been placed over me. But when I finally opened my eyes, my mother was gone. I ran barefoot through the streets, searching everywhere for her, finally finding her in a massage parlor. Her hands held something I didn’t recognize, tapping repeatedly on a man’s body. The man’s hands roamed freely over my mother’s thighs. I might have been mistaken, but my mother seemed to glance my way, then quickly averted her eyes. She then slapped the man’s hand irritably, yelling, “Are you trying to get yourself killed?! What are you groping for?! Don’t you believe I’d chop off that hand right now?!” I thought, the man so intimate with my mother must be my father. I immediately ran up to him and called out “Dad.” When my mother turned and saw it was me, the fury in her eyes finally broke free. She ignored the man, chasing me all the way to the river. I had a bad feeling. Sure enough, the next second, seeing no one around, she picked me up and threw me into the river. As I fell, I saw murderous intent in my mother’s eyes. It was a cold day, and I was only wearing thin clothes, flailing desperately in the water. She walked away, without a backward glance. Eventually, a passerby found me and took me to the police station. I didn’t hesitate for a second, looking at the officer intently. “My mother threw me into the river!” My mother was arrested, and the first thing she said when she saw me chilled my heart even further: “You have such a strong will to live, you actually didn’t die!” My soaking hair was still dripping water. I didn’t understand why my mother, whom I had only known for two days, would throw me into the river. Grandmother had always said that only disobedient children would be eaten by the river monster. My mother forced me to sign a non-prosecution agreement, saying she had important things to do and couldn’t go to jail yet. In that moment, words beyond my years came out of my mouth. “If you want me to forgive you, then you’ll have to streak naked down the street. Otherwise, I won’t forgive you.” She raised her hand to hit me in anger, forgetting she was at the police station, and couldn’t follow through. The officer asked if I wanted to go to an orphanage. Before I could refuse, my mother became agitated! “What for? What if I have to pay? Besides, if she leaves, who will serve me?!” The officer looked at me with sympathy, trying to explain that orphanages were free, but my mother impatiently refused. From then on, a seed of wickedness was sown in my heart. I developed a pathological possessiveness over maternal love. No matter what my mother did to me, it only fueled my desire for revenge. I was locked in the cabinet, but I didn’t struggle. Instead, I thought about how I could ‘get back at her’ later. Should I deliberately arrange a car accident to cripple her, or simply disfigure her with acid? Distracted, I saw my face reflected in something shiny. It was a knife! I jumped, instinctively wondering if someone had broken in. The knife drew closer and closer, finally pressing against the crack in the cabinet door. I panicked, my heart racing. The person outside kept pounding on the cabinet door, making loud thudding sounds. I huddled in the corner, praying they wouldn’t find me. Until I saw the person’s face—it was my thug father! I had seen his picture at home before, marked with several angry red crosses by my mother. Suddenly, his face disappeared! Then my mother appeared, looking terrified, and made a ‘shush’ gesture with her finger. I instantly realized something and started pounding on the cabinet door frantically. Through the crack, I could see my mother’s body slowly falling, until she lay still. I even cried out inside the cabinet, but the door had been nailed shut, impossible to open. My mother could only be killed by my revenge; no one else was allowed to kill her! I started to search for a tool on my body, and when I looked up again, my mother was standing on the ground. She then stood there, laughing loudly, looking at me as if I were a clown. “You bastard, are you stupid? Reading a couple of books really made you an idiot! Let me tell you, someone like you, going to school is useless! Starting tomorrow, you’re not allowed to go to school anymore, and I won’t give you a single penny!” I felt like an absolute fool, thoroughly played by my mother. She stood there like a madwoman, holding the knife—the very knife I had seen earlier. So, everything just now had been her own elaborate act. I swore at her, which only angered her. She made a small hole above the cabinet and threw a snake inside from somewhere. I remembered someone saying there were snakes in the neighborhood, but the property management hadn’t done anything. The cabinet was pitch black, with only a sliver of light coming through that hole. “You little bastard, still daring to curse me? You can sleep with the snake in the cabinet tonight!” My mother left with a harsh threat, and the room grew so quiet I could hear the snake’s hissing. I grabbed the snake’s head, trying to bite it to death, but it still bit me unexpectedly. My consciousness blurred, and I could barely see anything. A figure reappeared at the crack in the door. I wanted to call out to my mother for help. This snake was venomous. Before I could even speak, the person lunged at me with that same knife, stabbing me fiercely. One stab, two stabs, three stabs… Blood continuously gushed from the knife wounds, staining the body of the snake I had just killed. Because the venom was so potent, I couldn’t even scream. In the second before I lost consciousness, I clearly saw the person’s face. It wasn’t my mother, but my thug father—he had broken in and attacked me! The man finished his assault and quickly left. I clutched my wounds, trying to slow the blood loss. My consciousness drifted, and I could clearly see my own body lying in a pool of blood. My mother didn’t notice anything amiss. She packed her things and left for her night shift at the massage parlor. Halfway there, she suddenly remembered she’d forgotten her electric scooter keys, so she pulled out her phone to call me. The call didn’t connect. She seemed to have forgotten the fact that I was locked in the cabinet and couldn’t answer. So she frowned, cursing at her phone, “This little bastard, how dare she not answer my call.” She had no choice but to go back for her keys. As she passed the cabinet, she saw the blood spreading out from it. Annoyed, she kicked the cabinet hard. “So, you’re quite capable, huh? You actually killed the snake!” She quickly grabbed her keys, but then turned back, holding a snake she had seen in the hallway. She casually threw it into the hole above. As she threw it, she taunted, “Afraid you’re bored, so here’s another one. Hope you just die already!” Seeing no response from me, a flicker of doubt crossed her face. “That snake has no patterns. Is it even venomous? What are you playing dead for?!” I stood beside her, watching this scene, a bitter smile on my face. How I wished I could tell her that I was already dead, and that the snake’s belly did have patterns. She no longer had to think about how to humiliate me every day, or how to get rid of me. All I hoped for now was that my spirit would cling to her for the rest of her life. If she knew that the person she hated most, even in death, would haunt her forever, she would be furious! This was my first time seeing my mother work the night shift at the massage parlor. But strangely, no matter how much those men took advantage, she didn’t get angry and stop them, or yell at them like before. Yet every time I had caught her, she had been furious. It wasn’t until three in the morning that she finally got to rest. My soul, beyond my control, hovered around my mother. I couldn’t see the state of my body, but I imagined it must have been bitten dozens of times by the newly introduced snake. My mother received a call from a teacher asking why I hadn’t been to school. But my mother, upon hearing the teacher’s voice, immediately hung up and blocked the number. “She didn’t go to school, so go find her! What does it have to do with me?!” After returning home, she immediately collapsed onto the bed and slept soundly. How I wished I could pour a bucket of cold water on her! Even if she didn’t love me, she should at least come collect my body! She was my mother, after all… My mother usually slept until evening after her night shift. But this time, for some reason, she woke up suddenly as if from a nightmare, her eyes fixed on the direction of the kitchen. She walked with heavy steps towards the cabinet, towards my corpse, and called out my name. “Bastard?” I didn’t respond. It had been almost two hours; my body must be ice cold by now. My mother paused in front of that pool of blood, reaching out a trembling hand to touch it. She suddenly realized it wasn’t snake blood, but human blood! She called my name again, her voice trembling. I had never seen her like this, not even when she had thrown me into the river with her own hands. She looked terrified, and immediately grabbed tools, pulling out the nails one by one. Finding the tools difficult to use, she started pulling them out with her bare hands, even using her teeth to bite them. Finally, her fingers were bloody and raw, half a tooth broken, but all the nails were removed. But when she trembled and opened the cabinet door, she screamed in horror! Inside the cabinet, my chest had a gaping, bloody hole. The blood had dried on my chest, already soaking through my shirt. Two snakes lay beside me. One I had already killed, while the other slithered nearby, occasionally hissing. I had expected her to be happy when she saw I was dead, even clapping and cheering with joy. After all, she had disliked me from the very first day she knew of my existence. To my surprise, she stood motionless before me, as if her spirit had been sucked dry by a monster. I floated beside her, thinking she was scared by my appearance, and instinctively blurted out a taunt. “Hey, is that all the guts you have? Can’t you see I’m dead? Aren’t you going to collect the body?!” The sarcastic words escaped my lips, and I almost forgot that the dead person was me. And my mother couldn’t hear me. She stood there for two minutes, unmoving, her gaze fixed on the blood-soaked hole in my chest. She slowly knelt, reaching out to check my breath, but her hand stopped abruptly in mid-air. Then she began to shake me violently. “Bastard, do you think playing dead will make me feel sorry for you?” “It’s just a few snakes, what’s the big deal? They can’t actually kill you, can they?” “Didn’t you used to eat snake meat when you were little? How come you can’t even kill a snake now?!” That’s right, my mother was so confident throwing snakes in because when I was little, she starved me for three days and nights without food. I happened to find a snake, so I simply ate it. But no matter how much my mother shook me, I wouldn’t wake up again. I watched her from the side, wondering how much she truly hated me. I was dead, and she still treated me this way. So I became even more determined in my idea: I would float by my mother’s side in spirit form, until my consciousness faded. Didn’t she hate me? Then I would stick to her and haunt her! Seeing that I still hadn’t woken up, she seemed to confirm the fact of my death and turned and ran. My heart sank a little. I didn’t follow my mother’s spirit. Instead, I began to calculate how long it would be before my body started to smell, and how long until someone discovered me. But I was too far from my mother, and was forcibly pulled back to her side. I was shocked to find she was on the phone. But she was too nervous, her fingers trembling, constantly dialing the wrong number. I clearly saw a tear on the phone screen. Then, two drops, three drops… My mother was actually crying. I stopped, looking at her in disbelief, my mind a jumble. This was the first time I had ever seen her cry. For whom? She finally got through to the emergency services! On the phone, my mother screamed, frantically urging them to hurry. The emergency operator’s routine questions, in her eyes, were just delays. The operator on the other end told my mother to calm down, saying that being anxious wouldn’t help. My mother suddenly roared, screaming hysterically, “If your family member died, would you be so calm?!” Not only did the operator fall silent, but even I was stunned. My face froze, then softened with relief, a gentle smile gracing my lips. Could I be hallucinating after death? Medical personnel quickly arrived, but after only a brief look, they told my mother there was no need for treatment. I had lost too much blood and had long since passed. “Who said there’s no need for treatment? Why not treat her? Do you think I can’t afford it?!” She rushed over agitatedly, grabbing a medic’s collar, the ferocity in her eyes even more resolute than when she’d thrown me into the river. The medic initially wanted to explain, but seeing the emotion in my mother’s eyes, they agreed to take me away. How I wanted to stop her, to tell her there was no need to treat me, it would just be a waste of money. But my hand passed directly through my mother’s body, causing me to stumble. The hospital issued a pile of examination forms, again asking my mother if she wished to continue treatment. My mother, annoyed, snapped at the doctor, “How many times do I have to say it?! Are you doctors deaf, or what? I said, treat her!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391598”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

The car crash that killed my parents happened while I was on the operating table, undergoing an abortion. It was our second child, mine and Jace Frost’. At my parents’ funeral, I called Jace again and again. Until his childhood sweetheart, Nora Vance, answered, her tone sharp with impatience: “Jace is washing strawberries for me. What do you want?” Clutching the urn with my parents’ ashes, my expression was distant. “Nothing. Just tell Jace, after you’ve finished your strawberries, that I agree to the divorce.” 1 I cremated my parents’ bodies alone. Along with the second child I had deliberately ended, the one I shared with my husband, Jace Frost. All my loved ones in this world were confined together in that small incinerator. Reduced to a handful of ashes. But it didn’t matter anymore. I was dying too. My parents had been kind people their entire lives; many relatives and friends attended their funeral. The only one conspicuously absent was Jace. My parents’ dearest friend, Uncle Ben, mentioned Jace’s name and shook his head with resentment, his eyes full of pity when he looked at me. They all said very similar things: “The Peterson couple, kind their whole lives, ended up supporting an ungrateful viper like Jace Frost!” Dressed in black mourning clothes, clutching the urn, I walked along the path to the burial site. The sky was overcast. My lower abdomen still throbbed faintly; I slowly touched it. It had once nurtured two unborn children. What a pity… Never mind. Their father didn’t love me, so he wouldn’t have loved them either. The half of my wrist exposed from the sleeve of my mourning gown was thin and withered. I remembered the doctor saying I had three months left to live. In these three months, I would take my parents’ and baby’s ashes to see the world one last time. Without Jace. I took out my phone and dialed the number I knew by heart. Again and again, no answer. Not until the 13th attempt did it finally connect. But it was Nora who spoke, her voice petulant and demanding: “Big sis, it’s four in the morning in Los Angeles!” In the past, I would have hysterically cursed her. But now, my heart was calm, devoid of emotion. I simply said, “I need to speak to Jace about something.” Nora scoffed, utterly impatient. “Jace is washing strawberries for me. What do you want?” Before I could answer, she sneered again, “Don’t you think you’re being too possessive? We just finished a big meeting, and Jace and I are both exhausted. Just tell me directly whatever you want.” I was silent for a moment, my gaze falling on the urn in my arms. My expression was detached as I replied, “Nothing. After you’ve finished your strawberries, tell Jace I agree to the divorce.” Without waiting for her reaction, I hung up. I had loved Jace for ten years, binding him to me through marriage for five. But I still couldn’t warm his heart. Now, I chose to let go. The next time I heard from Jace was the following day. I was sorting through my parents’ belongings. Jace’s voice on the phone was filled with disgust: “Liv Peterson, what are you stirring up now?! I’ve told you countless times, taking Nora abroad this time was just for business cooperation!” “You deliberately made Nora cry again last night, saying you want to divorce me because of her. Nora was heartbroken all night. Do you find that amusing?” Nora was clearly the apple of Jace’s eye. He chose to believe even such a clumsy lie. In the past, I might have felt wronged and tried to explain. But now, he could believe whatever he wanted. I carefully wiped my parents’ photos, softly replying: “Alright. So when are you coming back to the country? We can go to the courthouse for the divorce.” His voice stopped then. A moment of silence. I thought he was considering the property division, so I reassured him: “Don’t worry, I don’t want a single penny from you. I’ll leave with nothing.” Anyway, I wouldn’t live much longer. Jace’s money? I didn’t want it; it felt dirty. Jace, however, gritted his teeth, his voice venomous: “Liv Peterson, I’m not divorcing you! You can forget about it!” With that, he hung up directly. I was speechless. He had left with a harsh threat before going abroad: “Liv Peterson, your family forced Nora away back then. You ruined her chance at happiness.” “If you keep acting up like this, we’ll get a divorce!” He had made that threat because Nora had shattered the urn containing my first child’s ashes. I had slapped her. Jace, who arrived when he heard the commotion, showed only disgust when he saw the ashes on the floor. Nora, crying, explained: “Jace, I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry, I was just scared…” Jace, hearing this, slapped me on Nora’s behalf. His voice filled with revulsion: “They’re already dead. Why keep the ashes in the house? It’s bad luck!” It was then that my heart finally died. He truly didn’t love me, to the point of utterly despising even the child I carried for him. So, on the third day of his trip abroad, I aborted the second child. It was a beautiful, sunny day. My parents had just attended my cousin’s wedding. They didn’t know I was pregnant yet, but they were so happy. They had just received an investment, and with that money, their bankrupt factory could reopen. Just as I was about to call them, I received a recording from an unknown number. The recording contained only Jace’s voice. He said: “…Nora’s brother’s leukemia is a ticking time bomb. Luckily, Liv is still useful. I’ll have another child with her. The baby’s cord blood can save him…” I was thunderstruck. I had always known Jace didn’t love me. But I never imagined he would manipulate me to such an extent! So I gave up. In that moment, the last shred of my love for Jace vanished. I went directly to the hospital for an abortion. But I never expected that my parents would be rear-ended by a dump truck. And perish. Jace returned home on the third day. At that time, I had just returned from the hospital with my medication. A bag full of painkillers. The doctor who prescribed them had a solemn expression and asked me, “Ms. Peterson, where are your family members? Painkillers will only worsen your condition—” I curved my lips, a faint smile forcing its way onto my gaunt, hollow cheeks. “I know. But my family is all gone. I don’t want to live anymore.” The doctor’s words froze. He looked at me with pity. I wore the oversized coat my mother bought me, but it still couldn’t hide the cold that chilled me to the bone. I was truly sick; my physical condition was too poor. I tightened my coat and opened the villa door, only to see Jace sitting on the sofa. When he saw me, he stood up and walked over. But I recoiled a step, as if his aristocratic aura had stung my eyes. His eyes, which had initially held a flicker of expectation, were now covered by a thick cloud of gloom. “Where have you been?” He looked down at me, his voice harsh. I blinked, ignoring the cufflink on his wrist, and said nothing. I had seen that cufflink just two weeks ago on Nora’s social media. It was her birthday gift to him, a custom design. All the gifts I had given him over the years had been discarded for various reasons. A handmade cup, given to a subordinate as an ashtray; a coat that took six months to tailor, later used as a mat for Nora’s dog; even the pregnancy test results for our first meticulously planned child, torn up carelessly… For ten years, I had tirelessly pursued Jace, caring for him, worrying about him, loving him. Now, I was tired. “Why did you go to the hospital? Why do you look so pale? Do you have a fever?” He frowned, stepping closer, reaching to check my forehead, but I dodged him. “Don’t trouble yourself, Mr. Frost. I’m fine.” I lowered my gaze, suddenly understanding Jace’s past feelings. It turned out that when you no longer loved someone, even trying to make small talk with them was exhausting. “It’s still early. We still have time to go to the courthouse.” I returned to the master bedroom, put away my medication, and then went downstairs with our marriage certificate. Only to be met with Jace’s astonished expression. I asked him, “Didn’t you want a divorce? I agree. Let’s go.” Jace’s face instantly turned ashen. As if struck in a raw nerve, he pointed at my nose and roared, “Liv Peterson, what do you mean by this?!” “Why are all you Petersons so selfish? Your parents, seeing my potential, forced me to marry you just because your family supported me for a few years!” “And then used their power to force Nora to study abroad at a young age!” “Now that I’ve made a name for myself, your family is still insatiable, wanting to divorce me to get a share of my earnings so you can run off with your lover?!” He finished his outburst, like an enraged lion, his face contorted in a snarl. Yet, I couldn’t help but want to laugh. And I did. The tremors in my abdomen exacerbated the ache in my muscles, and tears streamed down my face as I laughed uncontrollably. So, my parents, these good people who spent years on charity. Sponsoring Jace Frost, a brilliant student whose parents had died, was that wrong? My secret decade-long love for Jace, begging my parents to secretly give Jace’s startup a project, was that wrong? My mother, believing Nora’s artistic talent was better suited for a prestigious foreign art school, sponsoring her studies abroad—was that wrong too? “…Hahahaha, yes, I was wrong…” My chest ached from laughing, my mouth filled with the taste of blood. “My whole life, I’ve been utterly, disastrously wrong…” Jace seemed startled by my hysteria. He stared at me coldly, grinding his teeth as he spoke: “Tell me, was this another one of your parents’ snobbish ideas? “Tell them to come speak to me themselves!” I closed my eyes, letting tears stream down my face. Remembering my parents’ bloody bodies after the car crash, only regret remained in my chest. Just then, there was a knock at the door. It was our next-door neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Davies. They were close friends with my parents but had settled abroad. They had rushed back after hearing the news of my parents’ passing. Mrs. Davies’ eyes were red and swollen from crying. She trembled as she hugged me: “I’m so sorry, Liv. We’re too late…” Mr. Davies wiped his tears, choking out: “The Petersons never did a bad thing in their lives. How could they just be gone like that?!” The grief and regret in their voices seemed genuine. Seconds later, Jace’s incredulous voice rang out: “Who did you say passed away?” I looked at Jace with red eyes and a cold sneer. “You hate my parents so much, shouldn’t you be happy they’re gone?” Jace, however, opened his mouth, speechless for a moment. Mrs. Davies hadn’t recognized Jace. As if remembering something, she asked me, “You didn’t end up with that young man your family sponsored, did you? Oh, back when your factory was struggling and cash flow was tight, your dad specifically borrowed thirty thousand dollars from me to pay for that boy’s tuition. He said the boy was very talented and would surely achieve great things in the future…” CRASH! It was the sound of Jace bumping into furniture. His face was pale, as if he couldn’t believe it. But I just tugged at the corner of my mouth, telling Mrs. Davies, “Let’s not talk about that, Mrs. Davies. I’ll take you to see my parents.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391597”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My husband received a text message late one night. [They say you’re married. If you’re happy, don’t reply to this message.] My husband didn’t move. He only smiled after I’d finished reading it. “Learning to check up on me now, are we?” His open demeanor showed no hint of guilt. I calmly put the phone back down. Not a word was said. It wasn’t until past midnight that I saw him meticulously composing a reply to that number. [How have you been all these years?] 1 When Leo met my clear, wakeful gaze, there was a momentary flicker of guilt. “Why are you awake? Did I wake you?” My eyes fell on his screen, lit up once more. Suddenly, I felt weary. “No, go back to sleep.” Leo visibly relaxed, exhaling softly. He carefully lifted the covers, his breathing hushed. My face was turned the other way, but I could clearly see the light from his phone flickering on his side of the bed. We didn’t need to say it out loud. We both knew the owner of that number: Kitty Kingsley. She was finally… back. Everyone knew. Kitty Kingsley had pursued Leo for three years. Leo, usually so reserved, was gradually moved by her persistence. On her birthday, he promised to grant her one wish. Everyone silently knew what Kitty’s wish would be. But as fireworks erupted, Kitty was nowhere to be found. Until someone pushed open the private room door. She was entangled with Leo’s best friend. Seeing Leo, her eyes widened in terror. “How are you here?! Then who is he?! You shouldn’t have…” She pointed at the man on the sofa, belatedly trying to shield her body. Fate had played a cruel trick on them. Kitty’s spiked drink had gone to the wrong person. The wind was strong that day. She dressed, tears streaming down her face. “Leo… Can we still be together…?” Leo stared at her, his voice hoarse as he looked away. “It’s already past midnight. The wish… it doesn’t count anymore…” She left the country in tears. Even today. I glanced at the calendar. In three days, it would be her birthday again. Her birthday. Another chance for wishes. Before the storm, everything was calm, like any other day. Leo was adjusting his tie again, glancing at me as if by accident. “I’ll be going on a business trip in a few days.” My hand, brushing my hair, paused. I only asked, “A few days?” He didn’t look at me, just turned his face away. “Three days from now, to Seattle. Is there anything you like? I’ll bring it back for you.” What else could I want? I put down my comb, gently straightening his tie. “When you come back, I’ll tell you what gift I want.” Leo chuckled. “Another riddle? What if you don’t like what I bring back?” I never answered his question. I thought. No matter what he brought back, I wouldn’t be satisfied. I didn’t need to deliberately inquire to know Kitty Kingsley’s activities. Among our mutual friends, everyone was posting photos on social media of the souvenirs she’d brought back. Only Leo and I hadn’t received any. A friend said, “But she clearly said she had big gifts for everyone, especially Leo—” The friend stopped talking. The entire room fell silent. We all imagined what that ‘big gift’ might be. The friend awkwardly added, “Maybe it’s a private gift she gave him, not for public display, haha…” Someone coughed as a reminder. The friend immediately tried to backtrack, “I mean, a tangible gift, not something… intimate…” The friend clapped a hand over their mouth. I smiled, finished the remaining half-glass of wine. “Next time, I have other plans.” I didn’t walk far, still able to hear my friend’s frustrated voice. “Oh, my big mouth!” Leo and I should never have ended up together. His and Kitty’s convoluted fate was too dramatic. No one would willingly be a mere backdrop to such a story. Yet, unexpectedly, I met Leo during a blind date. I treated the meal like a casual gathering with an old friend. As I was leaving, he stopped me. “Should I go home and wait for your call?” I froze. He shrugged. “This isn’t just a formality for me. I’m serious. I’m very pleased with you, Lena.” I had only one month left until my thirtieth birthday. Leo appeared. Limited relationship history. Emotionally stable, no bad habits. Our social circles overlapped, and his assets easily surpassed mine by a digit. I had to admit. He was the pinnacle of the dating market. And so, Leo and I had our second meeting—at my home. He brought expensive gifts, even a sincere proposal. He skipped all the usual dating steps. Yet, no wedding custom was missed. And so we ended up together… I wasn’t without attempts to change this life. During one of Leo’s drunken nights, I asked him, “Are you content with a life like this, unchanging, forever?” Leo looked at me then, his eyes veiled with a smile. “Being rebellious, having unforgettable experiences—those are things for youth.” Leo fell asleep. In the soft hum of his slumber, I couldn’t help but wonder. Whose unforgettable experience… was he thinking of? Just like in many novels. At this stage, Kitty Kingsley was bound to come and provoke me, his legal partner. But she was smart. She added me on a dummy account. And in every single picture, Leo himself wasn’t visible. But I knew him too well. The silhouette reflected on the snow. The hands intertwined with Kitty’s. He had meticulously removed his wedding ring, leaving only the faint mark on his ring finger. I stared at the snowy landscape and laughed out loud. So it wasn’t Seattle. It was Aspen. When he returned, a familiar smile played on his lips. “Didn’t tell you beforehand, wanted to surprise you!” I didn’t reach for the beautifully wrapped gift box. Leo keenly sensed something was wrong, his brow furrowing slightly. “What’s wrong? Not happy?” I glanced at his gift box, speaking calmly. “That brand has a boutique here. No need to trouble yourself with a trip to Aspen.” Leo’s expression froze. He silently put down the gift bag. “I was careless. I forgot to tell you I rerouted from Seattle to Aspen. If you don’t like this gift, what do you like? Or should I have someone buy something from Seattle?” His eyes were downcast as he untied his tie. His wedding ring was still securely on his finger, as if he truly had just returned from a business trip. If only I hadn’t seen that small red mark on his neck. He came over and gently hugged me, his voice soft. “Wife, don’t be upset.” As if desperate to prove something, Leo was exceptionally attentive. I avoided his lips and, with a heavy heart, stated, “You have something on your neck.” Leo looked at me strangely. When he emerged from the bathroom, he stiffly explained, “Maybe I ate something bad while I was away. I’m allergic.” Meticulous as he was, when he consciously made a mistake, his lies were impeccable. I didn’t press further. Catching a thief red-handed. Ding— Both our phones chimed simultaneously. Kitty Kingsley’s group message. [I’m going abroad next week. Before I leave, let’s all have a farewell get-together!] At the end, it was the hotel location she had booked. Leo frowned slightly, looking at me. “We shouldn’t go…” He didn’t finish his sentence. Our gazes met. “Go.” He stared at me silently, finally defeated, a blend of helplessness and indulgence in his voice: “Alright, anything to make my wife happy.” After so many years, I finally saw her in person, after her encounter with my husband. At the door of the private room, she wore a qipao with a daring slit, her eyes curved into a smile as she linked her arm through mine. “Lena, so slow. I waited especially for you.” Our eyes met. We both understood the meaning of ‘waited especially.’ Leo suddenly grabbed my arm from behind. Kitty turned around. From my angle, I could almost see her eyes redden slightly. “Leo is so protective of his wife. Can’t even be apart for a moment.” Leo’s expression was natural. He simply put his arm around my shoulders. “Of course, my wife is more important than anything.” The other friends chuckled. Only Kitty, with downcast eyes, then looked up, released me, and gracefully spun around in front of me with a dazzling smile. “Lena, tell me if what I’m wearing today suits the local aesthetic.” I didn’t have time to speak. She then added, “Someone once told me that I would look especially good in a qipao.” I looked up, glanced at Leo. “Qipaos are beautiful. And Leo, for example, really likes women in them.” In the private room, all laughter ceased. Everyone’s gaze turned to us. Leo didn’t speak, taking a sip of his drink, then took my hand and placed it on the table. “Yes, I like my wife in them the most.” Someone tried to smooth things over, arranging the food and drinks. Kitty had clearly drunk a little too much; her smile was distinctly bitter. “Lena, if only I hadn’t made that mistake back then…” I didn’t drink the wine. Instead, I chuckled softly. “Old wine is sweet, and it’s a good thing you two made up for the love you missed out on back then.” Those closest to us widened their eyes. “Enough!” a sharp voice roared. My words were abruptly cut off. Leo’s hand, clasping his glass, trembled slightly, betraying his emotions. He let out a breath, his gaze shifting to Kitty. “Are you drunk, or what? What nonsense are you telling my wife?!” She gasped, her eyes immediately welling up, tears pattering onto the table. Others awkwardly offered tissues, urging Leo to show her some compassion. Across the crowd, I looked at Leo. “You’re scolding me, but you’re insulting your mistress to maintain peace. Doesn’t that hurt?” Their movements all stopped. I stood up, giving my most sincere smile. “After all, you just slept together in Aspen. To turn on her so quickly, Leo, how heartbroken must Kitty be? Stop the act. Go comfort her.” In the chaotic private room, Leo remained frozen. Kitty even forgot to cry, covering her mouth in a panic. “Leo, I didn’t say anything…” I smiled, not missing the fleeting triumph in Kitty’s eyes. “I never thought one man, Leo, could make you obsess for so many years. I didn’t send you anything for your birthday a few days ago. Today, consider this my belated gift.” Before everyone’s eyes, I pulled out the divorce papers I had long prepared. In the hushed room, I could clearly hear Kitty’s breathing quicken. As I opened the cover, my wrist was suddenly grabbed fiercely. Leo’s eyes were dark. “Lena, it’s not what you think.” Our friends discreetly cleared out, leaving just Leo and me. His Adam’s apple bobbed violently. After a long moment, he finally managed to say, “I… I did have contact with Kitty.” I looked at him, not replying. A few minutes later, his voice was strained: “But I never had any intention of abandoning our family.” I waited a long time but heard nothing further. Impatient, I grabbed my bag to leave. But he instantly blocked my way. “Lena! Let me explain! If it weren’t for me back then, Kitty’s first time… wouldn’t have been with someone else…” He spoke rapidly. I scoffed. “So you regret it, and now you finally have a chance to make amends?” He frowned. “You’re too extreme. I only took her to Aspen once… Even if you didn’t expose us, after she leaves, we wouldn’t contact each other anymore.” “So you think what you did was right? The only mistake was that I shouldn’t have exposed it?” Faced with my questions, Leo remained silent. Before I could pull away and leave, he suddenly said, “Before we got married, you weren’t unaware of what was going on between her and me…” The main door was pulled open. I stood still. Everyone hadn’t left. Kitty Kingsley was surrounded by friends, looking pitiful. “These years, I’ve had it so hard abroad. But if there were any other way, who would want to leave their home and country…” I walked closer to her. Kitty couldn’t keep up the act, her expression defensive as she backed away. “Lena, you…” My hand raised high. Before it could fall, she yelped and cowered. Behind me, I heard the rapid sound of leather shoes. I smiled, leaning close to Kitty. “Don’t worry, I won’t hit you.” Behind me, Leo approached. The slap that never reached Kitty landed squarely on his face. CRACK! Everyone gasped. Kitty’s eyes immediately reddened. “Leo—” My palm tingled slightly. I shook my arm. My gaze fell on Leo’s astonished eyes. “Hitting her is illegal. Hitting you isn’t.” The pent-up frustration in my chest finally dissipated a little with that slap. I left alone. The mess, I left for Leo to clean up.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391596”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I walked at six months—a proud story my parents told—until a car crash at age one changed everything. A firefighter said my swaddled body shielded Mom from a steel rebar. Losing a leg felt worth it if it saved her. When Mom said sadly, “It’s my fault, Alice,” I’d hug her and smile. “I love you. It doesn’t hurt.” Back then, it was just us, warm and close. Then Lily was born. She hated the attention my leg drew. She’d break my toys and blame me. Slowly, Mom’s eyes grew cold. Once, Lily accused me of throwing her teddy in the pond. Mom grabbed a cane and whipped me. “Stop bullying Lily!” I tried to run but couldn’t. “Get that bear now, or don’t come home!” “Mom, please,” I begged, “Grandma said the water’s dangerous.” Holding Lily, she sneered, “If you can’t get it, just die there.” I closed my eyes, jumped into the icy river, and remembered too late: a cripple in water can truly drown. The frigid river water rushed into my lungs instantly, and my soaked cotton clothes became incredibly heavy. Through my blurry vision, I saw the teddy bear lying still at the bottom. A pang of fear struck me; my instinct was to swim back to shore, but Mom’s words, “You can’t come home without the bear,” echoed like a curse in my mind. I wanted to go home, to be with Mom. So, enduring the intense pain of my lungs being crushed, I stretched out with all my might and finally clutched the teddy bear from the riverbed. “Mom, look. I found the bear.” I struggled desperately to swim towards the bank, but the clinging weeds, like countless icy hands, wrapped tightly around my left leg. In a haze, I heard Mom’s voice, so near, yet so far away: “Alice, why are you standing by the river all alone? You could die if you fall in!” Then came Lily’s soft voice: “Mommy, I’m waiting for big sister to get my bear.” “That useless brat, she’s taken so long to get it back, who knows where she’s playing. Look at you, your hands are freezing cold.” “Come home with Mommy, Mommy will bake you oranges.” My heart clenched, and I struggled frantically towards the surface. Mom, don’t leave, I’m still here! Suddenly, my body felt lighter. I burst out of the water, scrambling onto the ice, only to see Mom’s retreating back. She held Lily, walking straight towards home. Lily hugged Mom’s neck affectionately: “Mommy, I saw fish blowing bubbles just now!” Mom smiled, stroking Lily’s cheek: “Does Lily like fish? How about Daddy and Mommy take you to the aquarium tomorrow?” I tried to take a few steps to follow, but my disabled left leg gave way, and I fell heavily onto the ground. Mom, wait for me, I found Lily’s bear. Can you, please, take me to the aquarium too? The teddy bear tumbled from my embrace. I reached for it, but it slipped through my fingers again and again, skittering across the ice. Tears welled up in my eyes; I was so frustrated. Why couldn’t I pick it up? If I couldn’t get the bear, Mom would be upset. Just then, a man in a tall black hat appeared before me. He bent down, picked up the teddy bear, and gently placed it in my arms. “Alice, come with me.” I looked at the man in black, confused: “Sir, do you know me? I can’t go with you, Mom will worry.” The man in black frowned: “You are dead. You need to be reincarnated now. I’ve found you a good family, and if we’re too slow, you’ll miss your chance.” I’m dead? A huge sigh of relief escaped me. Mom, did you hear that? I’m not that useless brat. It’s because I died, that’s why I couldn’t pick up the bear. I turned my head, searching for Mom’s retreating figure, but behind me, everything was a boundless expanse of white. Mom had already gone far away. I tugged on the black-clad man’s sleeve, whispering a plea: “Sir, can I wait one more day?” “I want to go to the aquarium with Mom one last time.” The man in black hesitated for a moment, then nodded, letting out a soft sigh: “Alright, I’ll give you one more day. I’ll come personally to pick you up tomorrow.” “Thank you, sir!” Clutching the teddy bear, I ran back home without looking back. Oh, joy, Mom. I can go to the aquarium with you now. When I was five, my classmates teased me because I couldn’t walk properly. I cried all the way home, and Dad and Mom took me to the aquarium. Dad carried me on his shoulders, pointing at the gracefully dancing mermaids behind the glass. “Look, Alice,” he said, “mermaids don’t have legs, do they? You’re the little mermaid gifted to Mom and me by the heavens.” “Your legs will turn into a beautiful tail one day, which is why you can’t walk properly for now.” I was so happy. Every day after that, I’d ask Mom when she could take me to the aquarium again. But after Lily was born, Mom always said it was inconvenient to take me out, and I never went to the aquarium again. I knew Mom wasn’t unwilling to take me out. She blamed me for my lame leg, that I was just a burden to them. I returned home to find Dad, Mom, and Lily sitting around the dinner table. On the table was my favorite sweet and sour pork ribs. “Mom, Dad, I’m home!” Dad picked up a rib for Lily, anxiously glancing outside: “Where did Alice run off to? It’s dinner time, and she’s still not back.” “She probably went off playing again. Even with her bad leg, she loves to run around so much.” Mom, I didn’t run wild. I went to get Lily’s bear back for her. Oh, I forgot. I’m dead. Mom can’t see me. Dad put down his chopsticks and looked at Mom, a hint of reproach in his voice: “Alice’s leg isn’t her fault, it’s ours. Why are you so hard on her?” Mom slammed her bowl onto the table, startling Lily into loud sobs. “My fault?! If you hadn’t been fooling around…” I desperately wanted to wipe away the tears welling in Mom’s eyes. But I forgot, I was dead, and there was nothing I could do. Dad comforted Lily, sighing: “Alright, alright! Is this something to be proud of? Let’s just eat.” Mom’s phone rang; it was Grandma! Lily sweetly said into the camera, “Happy New Year, Grandma!” Grandma smiled broadly: “Lily is such a good girl. Where’s your sister? Why isn’t she eating with you?” Mom picked up Lily and aimed the camera at her own face: “That brat, who knows where she’s been. When she gets back, I’m definitely going to give her a good talking to.” Grandma coughed twice, then sighed: “Since it’s the New Year, why don’t you send Alice to stay with me for a couple of days? You and David (Dad’s name) have a lot of pressure too.” I murmured to myself, Grandma’s house had my cousin who always played with me; I loved going to Grandma’s the most. “Alice is also the child you carried for ten months. You should talk to her gently…” Mom pursed her lips, interrupting Grandma: “She’s nothing but trouble, a curse. All these years, she’s inconvenienced me and her dad enough, and she’s dragged Lily down with her, getting her discriminated against and bullied.” I knew Mom was talking about the time I got into a fight at school. I opened my mouth to explain, but tears wouldn’t stop falling first, so I quickly covered my mouth with my hand. Mom said she didn’t like crying children. But Mom, it really wasn’t me who caused Lily to be bullied. Dad had said he had to work late and asked me to pick Lily up from school. But Lily’s classmates saw I was a cripple and surrounded us, spitting at me and Lily: “The lame sister is here to pick up the lame sister!” They laughed at me for being a cripple, and I didn’t get angry, but they couldn’t bully Lily. Mom said I was the older sister, I had to protect my sister. I charged forward, headbutting the strongest little chubby kid, then sat on him, hitting him left and right: “Don’t you dare bully my sister! My sister isn’t a cripple, apologize to her!” A group of them pushed me to the ground, and the chubby kid kicked me in the stomach, but I didn’t feel any pain at all. I pushed Lily away, turned my head, and shouted at her: “Lily, run!” Lily ran, and she called Mom. I held my head high, like a proud little peacock. I had protected my sister, Mom must be here to praise me. But what greeted me was Mom’s fierce slap. “I work myself to the bone to send you to school, and you come here to fight people!” “Do you have any respect for me and your father?” I turned my head away from the blow, wiping away my tears, full of injustice: “They were bullying Lily, that’s why I fought them.” The teacher came out then and pulled Mom away: “Alice’s Mom, when the school staff arrived, it was indeed Alice who was getting beaten.” Mom looked at me suspiciously, then Lily suddenly spoke up: “No, it wasn’t like that at all. Sister was the one who rushed up and started hitting first. They were just playing a game with me.” No, it wasn’t like that, not at all. I looked at Lily in disbelief, not understanding why she would say such a thing. Mom, after hearing Lily’s words, twisted my ear and took me home. All the way home, the scrutinizing gazes of the students felt more painful than any wound. When we got home, Mom snapped two canes asking me why I had lied. I lay on the floor, dizzy, clutching my stomach, but I couldn’t lie. I could only explain over and over again: “I fought to protect Lily.” From then on, to avoid Lily being implicated, Mom never let me go to school again. I didn’t blame Mom; it was my fault, this little cripple, for burdening her again. The news report on TV jolted me back to reality. “Breaking news: A female body has been recovered from the artificial lake in the city center. Preliminary identification indicates the age of approximately nine years old.” I pointed at the familiar shadow on the TV, my eyes instantly hot, and I yelled at Mom: “Mom! That’s me, I’m dead!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391595”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

On the third year of my runaway bride escapade, Jack found me in the back kitchen of a small diner. My hands were chapped from the cold, raw from washing dishes. He frowned, his handsome brow furrowed. “Alice, make your choice. Come back with me and be Mrs. Blackwood, or keep slaving away here.” Without a word, I put down the dish I was holding and went home with him. From then on, I became the perfect fiancée in Jack Blackwood’s eyes. I no longer begged for his love. I no longer demanded his fidelity. Even when the young student he was keeping showed up at our doorstep, I didn’t cry or make a scene. Jack thought I had finally learned my lesson. But what he didn’t know was that I was an awakened NPC. Washing dishes for three years was just to accumulate points. Now that I had enough points, I could finally change my character settings. 1. “Alice has learned her lesson.” In the private dining room, Jack exhaled a smoke ring, proudly boasting to his friends. “No way, the once wild and proud Miss Spencer would actually be well-behaved? When she gets here, let’s see just how well-behaved she truly is, haha.” Jack said he was throwing a welcome dinner for me, insisting on my attendance. It turned out he just wanted to show off the results of his three years of “taming” me. I stood outside the door, listening to the malicious laughter from within, my fists clenched tight. But then, I replaced my expression with a gentle smile and pushed the door open. Sure enough, besides Jack’s cronies, the college girl he was keeping, Chloe, was also there. She was clinging to Jack like a little bird, feeding him sliced mango. Seeing me, her face instantly went pale, and she quickly stood up, looking scared. “Alice, you’re here. I didn’t mean to be here, I’ll leave right away.” Three years. Her acting skills had improved significantly. Three years ago, on the eve of my wedding, I discovered Jack’s relationship with Chloe and went to confront her. Before I could even say much, she fainted. Afterward, Jack came to me and said: “Alice, the position of Mrs. Blackwood will only ever be yours, but you also need to understand that I, Jack Blackwood, will never have just one woman in my life.” At that moment, my entire world crumbled. I couldn’t believe these words were coming from the man I had grown up with, my childhood sweetheart, the one who had promised to pluck the stars and moon for me and love me forever. I cried, I made a scene, even storming into the lavish apartment Jack had set up for Chloe and smashing everything. All I got in return was Jack’s disgust and gossip throughout the upper-class circles about how the Spencer heiress had turned into a shrew. Now, looking at Chloe’s innocent and harmless face, my smile grew even more gentle. So, it’s an act, is it? I can play that game too! Jack pulled her back to sit beside him, his face full of indulgence. “I called you here, you don’t need to leave.” He then turned to me. “You still have some capacity for generosity, don’t you, Alice?” I hid the disgust in my heart, walked over, poured a full glass of wine, and offered it to Chloe. “My dear, I used to have a terrible temper. I apologize for that now. Thank you for taking such good care of Jack these past three years. I’ll be relying on you in the future too.” With that, I downed the wine. A deathly silence fell. Chloe, instead, looked uncomfortable. Jack’s expression was unreadable; he asked in a low voice, “Alice, are you sincere?” I smiled radiantly, “Of course, Jack. Don’t worry, what you used to worry about will absolutely never happen again. I’ll get along well with her.” The room again fell silent, then Jack’s friends burst into raucous laughter. “Jack, tell us, what’s your secret to making our Miss Spencer so well-behaved?” “What’s there to teach? Alice loves Jack to death. She must have been frantic when Jack ignored her for three years, so she had to come back and grovel.” I lowered my head and smiled. I once believed I loved Jack to death too. Until I awakened. I learned that I was supposed to run after Jack on our wedding day, only to be hit by a car and die, forever becoming his cherished memory, his “white moonlight.” But I chose to run away from the wedding, and that’s when the System appeared. The System said that if I accumulated enough points, I could change my character settings. I diligently washed dishes for three years, finally earning enough points. I used all my points to wish for a life swap with Jack. The System agreed. It said that if I could smoothly transition to the wedding day, then I would become the richest person in Northwood City. Now, the wedding was three days away. I raised my glass, gently and generously, to everyone present. “I truly love Jack Blackwood, so you all simply must come to our wedding.” 2. “Hahaha, look at our Miss Spencer, so sensible for the wedding. Jack, why don’t you bring Chloe back to the bridal suite tonight?” “She’ll surely cooperate.” Chloe looked bashful, but her eyes, when they met mine, were full of provocation. “I don’t mind, but I wonder if Alice does.” Just then, the clock struck midnight, and the wedding countdown became two days. My “showing face” task from yesterday was complete. I picked up my bag and smiled at Jack. “Jack, you can take Chloe home. I’m a little tired, so I’ll be heading out.” I expected him to proudly boast to his friends, but instead, his face suddenly darkened, and he looked at me with a complicated expression. What surprised me even more was that he actually took Chloe back to the bridal suite. “There’s going to be a thunderstorm tonight, and Chloe is scared. I’m bringing her over to stay for the night.” Jack said this while watching my expression. If this were before, I would have lost my mind, screaming and smashing things. But now, I considerately and generously took Chloe’s hand. “Alright, dear. Which room do you prefer? Pick one yourself.” Jack’s eyes darkened, and he grabbed my hand, his voice laced with anger. “You really don’t mind?” I subtly pulled my hand away from his. “I just want to be your most understanding Mrs. Blackwood.” Jack gritted his teeth. “You better be.” Chloe bit her lip and whispered, “Alice, I like the master bedroom.” I immediately instructed the staff to clear out the master bedroom for Chloe. Then, I packed a couple of outfits, preparing to leave. Chloe was actually doing me a favor; staying in a hotel was far more comfortable than staying in the bridal suite. Just as I was about to leave, Jack grabbed me again. He finally lost his temper and said, “Alice, you’d even give up the bridal suite? You don’t have to pretend like this. You can cry, you can scream. I’ll take her away right now.” Seeing him so enraged, I was a little puzzled. Now, I had finally become the sensible, obedient, and generous Mrs. Blackwood he wanted. What more could he be dissatisfied with? I gave him a bright smile: “Don’t worry, Jack. No matter what you do, I won’t run away from the wedding this time.” Jack angrily flung my hand away: “Suit yourself. I’d like to see how long you can keep up the act.” The door slammed shut in front of me with a bang. I merely smiled, unaffected, and enjoyed a comfortable bath at the hotel. The exhaustion from three years of washing dishes slowly began to dissipate. Jack, however, sent me a message then: [Come back as soon as you’ve calmed down. I’ve already sent Chloe back. Don’t worry, I won’t let her threaten your position as Mrs. Blackwood.] Along with the message came a pink diamond necklace, which he had bought for hundreds of millions three years ago. At the time, I always thought it was Jack’s wedding gift to me. It wasn’t until I saw it around Chloe’s neck that I went insane, storming into the villa Jack had bought her and causing a huge scene. The result was a slap from Jack and rumors of the Spencer heiress turning into a shrew. Now, looking at the necklace, I merely smiled faintly, tossing it into the trash can without a second thought. I slept comfortably at the hotel and woke up to go to the bridal shop for my scheduled wedding dress fitting. This wedding dress was one I had personally designed for myself three years ago. At the time, I desperately wanted to be the most beautiful bride in the world, so I poured all my heart into it. Later, after I ran away from the wedding, the dress was ruined, but Jack had someone custom-make an identical one for me. Unexpectedly, the wedding dress was now being worn by Chloe. She stood there in the perfectly fitted gown, turning to smile at me. “Alice, do I look pretty?” The identical pink diamond necklace around her neck gleamed brilliantly, momentarily making me lose focus. Chloe, however, had already walked up to me, her expression contorted, her voice sharp. “You think pretending to be generous will make Jack fall back in love with you?” “Hilarious. To tell you the truth, the necklace he gave you is just a fake. Mine is the real one.” “Also, what’s the big deal if you ran away? He still stayed with me last night, and he was very… passionate with me.” I looked at her self-satisfied face, and just as I raised my hand, an angry shout came from behind me. “Alice, don’t you dare go crazy!” 3. Jack nervously pulled Chloe behind him, shielding her, and glared at me. “Just because of a wedding dress, are you going to start throwing a tantrum again?” Chloe looked wronged. “Jack, I might never get to wear a wedding dress in my life. I just wanted to secretly borrow a little of Alice’s happiness.” “Chloe, it’s not your fault.” They were playing the role of a loving couple. I walked forward and straightened the crooked necklace around Chloe’s neck. “Don’t be nervous. I just think your necklace goes perfectly with the wedding dress. I saw it was crooked and wanted to fix it for you.” Chloe froze. Jack’s face darkened. After a long moment, Chloe shrieked as she finally reacted. “Alice, I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but please don’t hurt me. I’ll give you back the wedding dress right now.” She fumbled nervously, trying to take off the dress while backing away, but she tripped and fell to the ground. With a rip, the wedding dress tore open at the bust, exposing a large expanse of Chloe’s cleavage. “Alice, I knew you were faking it all along. Is a necklace really worth all this? Do you really have to humiliate Chloe to be happy?” Jack rushed over and roughly pushed me away. He embraced Chloe and took off his jacket to cover her. Crash! The glass behind me shattered, and I, unable to dodge in time, fell onto the broken shards. Glass pierced my palms, and blood trickled onto the floor. I hissed in pain. Jack’s pupils constricted as he saw my bleeding hand, and a flicker of guilt crossed his face. He stood up, intending to help me, but Chloe conveniently collapsed into his arms. “Jack, my foot hurts so much, I think it’s broken! What should I do?” Jack hastily swept her into his arms. “Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.” The two of them hurried away. The shop assistant looked troubled. “Miss Spencer, the wedding dress is severely damaged. I’m afraid we won’t be able to repair it in two days.” I casually pointed to another dress nearby. “I’ll wear that one.” The assistant hesitated. “Miss Spencer, that dress is a few years out of style.” “It’s fine. Any one will do.” The wedding itself was no longer important, so what did the dress matter? Jack sent a message: [That necklace was just borrowed by Chloe for two days. I’ll get it back for the wedding.] I smiled and sent a “hug” emoji in return. He typed for a long time before finally sending: [Alice, you’ve really changed. Don’t worry, I’ll give you a wedding of the century.] Wedding countdown: one day. My parents found me, saying that my running away from the wedding had disgraced the Blackwood family, and that for the sake of our relationship and reputation, I needed to apologize to my future in-laws. I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. When I first discovered Jack’s affair, I went home and proposed breaking off the engagement. To my shock, my father slapped me hard. “Do you have any idea how many interests are tied to the alliance between our two families? You want to break off the engagement over such a trivial matter?” “Unless you’re dead, you will crawl to that wedding if you have to.” I was held captive at home and only found an opportunity to escape on the wedding day. They cut off all my cards, allowing Jack to oppress me in various ways for three years. If it weren’t for my awakening, I probably would have died out there long ago. This time, I didn’t resist and obediently followed them to the Blackwood family estate. Unexpectedly, Chloe was also there. When we arrived, she was sitting with my future mother-in-law, laughing and eating bird’s nest soup. 4. When Mrs. Blackwood saw me, her previously smiling face instantly darkened. “You have the nerve to show your face here? If it weren’t for our families being old friends and business partners, you wouldn’t even step foot in my house!” “Look at you, you don’t even compare to Chloe!” “I’m not afraid to tell you, Chloe is pregnant. This is my Blackwood family’s first grandchild!” She was still rattling on when Jack, coming downstairs, stopped her. Jack looked at me with a completely justified expression. “I only found out about it yesterday when I took Chloe to the hospital.” “Don’t worry, this changes nothing. The child will be registered under your name when it’s born. You will be Mrs. Blackwood no matter what.” A flicker of resentment crossed Chloe’s face, but she quickly put on a smile, stood up, and affectionately took my hand. “Alice, don’t worry, I just want to be by Jack’s side. I won’t compete with you for anything.” She pretended to embrace me, but whispered in my ear, her voice chilling: “For tomorrow’s wedding, I’ve prepared a grand gift. You’d better be ready for it.” Oh, I raised an eyebrow, then I’m utterly looking forward to it. Jack, seeing our harmonious relationship, was deeply moved. He came over and took my other hand. “Alice, I can forgive you once, but not twice. Tomorrow, you absolutely cannot run away from the wedding again.” “Why would I?” I deftly pulled Chloe back to Mrs. Blackwood’s side, considerately telling her. “Sit down and rest quickly. You need to be careful with your body when you’re pregnant.” My parents were dumbfounded. Mrs. Blackwood wore a constipated expression, staring at me in disbelief. I then smiled at everyone and said, “Don’t worry, I will definitely be at the wedding tomorrow.” Jack observed my expression, his eyes filled with deep affection. “Alice, I know this situation has caused you distress. Don’t worry, I will treat you well after we’re married.” I looked back at him, my smile deepening. On the wedding day, Jack fulfilled his promise, making the spectacle even grander than three years ago. He invited hundreds of media outlets and live-streamed the entire event, declaring that he would make me the most beautiful bride. I stood in my outdated wedding dress amidst the incredibly lavish setting, ignoring the mocking glances of the guests. As the wedding progressed to the ring exchange, Jack’s phone rang abruptly. Chloe’s voice came through. “Jack, I thought about it, and I’ve decided to leave with the child. Don’t worry, I’ll raise him well. I wish you a happy marriage.” Clatter. Jack’s phone dropped onto the red carpet, and he turned to leave. I called out loudly, “Jack, are you running away from the wedding?” His face went ashen as he looked at me. “Alice, you’re the most understanding. I have to go after Chloe. Don’t worry, I’ll make it up to you with another wedding.” He left without looking back. Amidst the guests’ whispers, I received a system notification: [Wedding critical node triggered, character change complete.] At the same time, there was a boom outside. Guests cried out in panic: “Oh no, someone’s been in a car accident outside!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391594”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel