Author: Momo Chan

I had booked the flights and the resort weeks ago, a meticulously planned escape to Hawaii for the holidays. It was supposed to be a gift—a gesture of goodwill to my boyfriend’s parents. “Sure thing.” I took the phone, my smile practiced and terrifyingly docile. Right there, in front of everyone, I tapped the phone to pay the additional baggage fees. As the distinct ping of the transaction echoed, I met his mother’s satisfied gaze. My voice was soft, barely a whisper. “Have a wonderful trip, Pamela. The bill always comes due eventually.” 1 I stood at the curb of the International Terminal, gripping the handle of my Tumi suitcase, staring at the crowd in front of me. for a second, I thought the jet lag from a previous business trip was making me hallucinate. My boyfriend, Miles, wasn’t just standing with his parents. He was surrounded. There was a mob. A literal mob of people. Men, women, children, hauling duffel bags and chaotic luggage. I counted. Including Miles’s parents, there were thirteen people. A dull throb began behind my temples. “Hi, everyone. Um… who is this?” I set down my bag, forcing my voice to remain steady. “Harper! You made it!” Pamela, Miles’s mother, lunged forward and grabbed my hand with aggressive affection. “Surprise! These are the cousins and the aunties. We heard you were treating us to a Hawaiian getaway for the holidays, and everyone just wanted to come along for the fun. Isn’t that wonderful?” My gaze sliced through the crowd to find Miles. He was staring at his sneakers, aggressively picking at the edge of his boarding pass. The air around us grew heavy, suffocating. Aunt Linda, a woman I had met once and who had criticized my shoes, chimed in with a voice like grating metal. “Oh, look at her face. Harper doesn’t look very happy to see us. Miles said you were generous. He said family was ‘no problem.’” Seeing my hesitation, Pamela immediately whipped out her phone, pulled up a flight itinerary, and shoved the screen in my face. “Don’t worry, Harper, honey. I already booked their tickets to make it easy. You just need to Venmo me the total.” Six thousand dollars. Ten tickets. All upgraded Economy Plus. I had suggested the Hawaii trip. I had offered to cover the flights and the hotel for his parents. It was my Christmas gift to them, a peace offering. I did not expect a family reunion. And the implication was clear: I was the bank. “Miles,” I said, my voice dangerously quiet. “Did you know about this?” “Harper, don’t be like that.” Pamela’s smile stretched tight across her face, eyes crinkling but cold. “We’re family! The more the merrier. You make that big executive salary; this is just pocket change to you, right? Besides, the cousins rarely get to travel. As a future daughter-in-law, showing a little appreciation is just… expected.” The relatives swarmed closer, a chorus of pressure: “Exactly, Harper is a VP at that tech firm, she’s loaded!” “I’ve always wanted to see Maui.” “Miles is so lucky to snag a sugar mama.” Miles still wouldn’t look at me. He knew. He knew his mother would pull this stunt. He knew I would be blindsided with a bill for thousands of dollars in the middle of a busy terminal. He knew I would be humiliated if I said no. And he said absolutely nothing. My heart felt like it was being squeezed by a cold hand. I remembered when we first started dating. He would have dinner plating when I got home from late nights at the office. He remembered my coffee order. He left a light on for me. He told me he didn’t have much money, that he came from humble beginnings, but he would spend his life making me feel safe. And what had I told him? I told him I didn’t care about his bank account. I told him I was tired of fighting the world alone. I just wanted a partner. I wanted a home. It turns out, the rent on that “home” was higher than I thought. “Harper?” Pamela’s voice snapped me back. Her smile was fraying at the edges, impatience bleeding through. “Hurry up and transfer it. We need to check bags.” I took a deep breath. The Hawaiian air would be sweet, I told myself. “Sure thing.” I took the phone. I smiled, a soft, submissive curve of the lips. And right there, in front of the mob, I paid her. “Attagirl!” Pamela clapped me on the shoulder as the payment confirmed. “That’s the spirit. What’s yours is Miles’s, and what’s Miles’s is ours. That’s how family works. Come on, let’s go.” I didn’t move immediately. “Have a wonderful trip, Pamela. The bill always comes due eventually.” She paused, blinking, not quite catching the subtext. She settled for a dismissive nod. “Right, right. Bills. Come on.” Miles exhaled a breath he seemed to have been holding since he parked the car. He sidled up to me, whispering, “Harper, I’m so sorry. I promise, later I’ll…” “Your mom fronted six grand?” I cut him off, staring directly into his evasive eyes. “I know your family’s finances, Miles. Where did she get that kind of cash to front?” Miles’s eyes darted away again. My stomach dropped. “Miles. Tell me the truth. Did she use the emergency card I gave you?” I deposited two thousand dollars a month into that account. It was for him. For emergencies. He was usually so frugal, he rarely touched it. He didn’t answer. Silence is a confession. Fascinating. They used my money to buy the tickets, and now they were asking me to “reimburse” them for the money they stole from me. “Let’s go check in,” I said, turning my back on him. I stared at the departure screen, seeing nothing. Couldn’t say no? No. He didn’t want to say no. Six years. How did I miss this? He was gentle, yes. But he was also a coward. Every time his parents made an insane demand, it was the same script. Apologize to me in private. Say “they’re old fashioned.” Beg me to “keep the peace.” I had kept the peace. His mom wanted a Louis Vuitton for her birthday? I bought it. His dad wanted to host a reunion in the city? I booked the hotel. His cousin needed an internship? I called in favors. Every time, Miles said, “This is the last time.” Every time, he lied. But this time? This time felt different. 2 We landed in Kahului as the sun was beginning to dip, casting long, golden shadows across the tarmac. The heat hit us the moment the automatic doors slid open—thick, humid, smelling of plumeria and jet fuel. At baggage claim, I watched Miles getting ordered around like a pack mule. Pamela stood by the carousel, pointing a manicured finger at heavy Samsonite cases, barking orders. Thirteen people. Twenty-five bags. Miles was sweating through his linen shirt, looking frantic. He shot me a pleading look. I pursed my lips and gave him a cheerful thumbs-up. You got this, babe. The transport I had arranged was waiting: a luxury SUV for four. And, because I adapt quickly, a dusty, third-party shuttle bus for the rest. Pamela took one look and scowled. “Harper, why are there two cars? We should all travel together! It’s a family trip!” I adjusted my sunglasses. “My reservation was for four people, Pamela.” “Well, fix it!” She waved a dismissive hand. “Fine. The elders will take the nice car. You kids take the bus.” Of course. Face comes first. Comfort comes second. I looked at Miles. He hung his head and silently began loading his parents’ luggage into the black Cadillac Escalade I had paid for. On the ride to the hotel, I sat in the back row of the shuttle bus, watching the palm trees blur past. Miles sat next to me. He tried to take my hand. I moved it to check my watch. “Harper, I know you’re mad,” he whispered. “When we get back, I’ll make Mom pay you back.” “Pay me back?” I turned to look at him. “Miles. Do you honestly believe that?” He opened his mouth, then closed it. I let out a dry, short laugh. “You can’t even tell her ‘no’ about a vacation. You think you can make her write a check? You just want me to fix it. Like I always do.” “No, that’s not it, I—” “Miles,” I interrupted. “If this entire trip—every single cent—was being charged to your credit card, right now… how would you feel?” He stared at me, blankly. The concept was so foreign to him it didn’t even register. I turned back to the window. 3 We pulled up to the resort. It was one of those places where the lobby is open-air and the ocean breeze hits you before the staff does. The relatives went feral. Phones out, filming everything, loud voices echoing off the marble. I walked to the front desk. “Hi, checking in. Reservation for Harper Vance.” The receptionist typed rapidly. “Ms. Vance. Welcome back. We have two Oceanfront Premier Suites reserved for five nights. I just need IDs for the other guests.” Pamela shoved her way to the counter. “We have nine more people! We need three more rooms!” The receptionist maintained her professional smile. “Ma’am, it is the holiday peak season. We are fully booked except for the Executive Suites. They are twelve hundred dollars a night.” The silence that followed was heavy. Thirteen pairs of eyes turned to me. I was about to speak when Miles finally tugged on his mother’s sleeve. “Mom, maybe we can just squeeze into the rooms we have…” “Squeeze?” Pamela shook him off like a fly. She turned her high-beam smile on me. “Harper wouldn’t let her family sleep on the floor like refugees, would she?” “Of course not,” I said brightly. “We’ll take the three suites.” Ding. Eighteen thousand dollars. The relatives cheered, grabbing key cards. As Pamela breezed past me toward the elevators, she patted my cheek. “You’re a good girl, Harper. You’re going to make a very trainable wife.” I smiled as the elevator doors closed. Then I turned and looked at Miles. 4 I had barely unpacked my toiletries when Pamela’s message popped up in the newly created “Hawaii Family Fun” group chat. Pamela: 6:30 PM. Hotel Seafood Buffet. Harper is treating! Don’t be late! A cascade of emojis followed. Thanks Harper! So generous! Miles is a lucky guy! I read it. I didn’t reply. Miles sat on the edge of the bed, looking like a man awaiting sentencing. “Harper… about dinner… maybe we should split the bill?” “Split it? Do you think your mother brought her wallet?” He looked at the floor. I grabbed my purse. “Let’s go. Shouldn’t keep the family waiting.” When we arrived, they were already seated, napkins in laps, waiting for the credit card to unlock the trough. The holiday buffet price was $125 per person. With drinks and service, we were looking at two grand, easily. Miles leaned in. “Harper, this is too much. Maybe we can go somewhere else…” “Too much?” Pamela’s ears were like radar dishes. “Harper is treating! We have to eat well, or else it looks like we don’t respect her success!” “Pamela is right,” I said. I tapped my phone against the terminal. Paid. The family descended on the food like locusts. Lobster tails, prime rib, oysters—plates piled so high things were falling off the sides. Miles sat next to me, dissecting a prawn with surgical sadness. “Harper, I’m sorry. I really didn’t know it would be like this…” “It’s fine.” I peeled a shrimp and popped it into my mouth. “It’s all going on the card.” “Harper!” Aunt Linda suddenly materialized, sliding into the empty seat next to me. “So, I hear your company is Fortune 500? My Kyle has been out of college for six months and can’t find a thing. You can get him in, right?” “What’s his degree in?” “General Studies. But he’s very smart!” Aunt Linda beamed. “He doesn’t want to start at the bottom, though. He needs something management level. Maybe 80k to start? Full benefits. Remote work only.” I smiled. “Aunt Linda, I work in Biotech. Does he have a background in science?” “Can’t you just pull some strings? You’re a VP!” Her face soured instantly. “Or do you just look down on us?” Heads turned at the neighboring tables. Pamela leaned over. “Harper, help family when you can. It’s what we do.” I looked at Miles. He was staring at his mutilated prawn as if it held the secrets of the universe. “Sure,” I said. “I’ll ask HR when we get back.” Aunt Linda clapped her hands. “See? I knew you were useful! Here, have some melon.” She pushed a half-eaten plate of fruit toward me. I took a sip of my water. 5 Day two. 7:00 AM. The group chat pinged. Pamela: What’s the plan? Harper, you have the itinerary, right? I took my time with my skincare routine. Then I typed: Let’s hit the luxury outlets. At the Shops at Wailea, the family scattered like marbles dropped on a tile floor. “Harper, look at this bag!” Pamela was clutching a Gucci tote. “It’s only three thousand. It’s practically an investment.” My cousin-in-law held up a skincare set. “Harper, this La Mer set is a steal at five hundred!” “I got a watch for my husband,” Aunt Linda shouted. “Only two grand!” They piled it all on the counter. The total came to $18,000. The cashier looked at me. The family looked at me. “Pamela,” I started, “don’t you think…” “Oh, stop,” Aunt Linda interrupted. “You make this in a week. Don’t be stingy. We’re family!” “Right. Family.” I pulled out a credit card. A sleek, black card. I handed it to the cashier. Pamela tried to peek at the name, but I shifted my stance, blocking her view. “Ma’am,” the cashier whispered. “This card was declined.” My expression didn’t change. “Try this one.” I handed her a second card. Blue. Approved. Both cards had Miles’s name on them. In the van on the way back, Pamela was humming, surrounded by shopping bags. Miles leaned over, his voice a harsh whisper. “Harper… how much was that?” “Not bad,” I said, looking at the ocean. “Maybe forty thousand total so far?” He stopped breathing for a solid ten seconds. “That is… that is insane.” “Is it?” I tilted my head. “Your mom is happy. Everyone is happy. That’s what matters.” Pamela piped up from the front seat. “Exactly! Miles, stop being such a penny-pincher. Harper wants to spoil us. It’s her way of showing respect!” Miles opened his mouth, but the words died in his throat. I leaned into his ear, whispering, “I put it on your…” “What are you two lovebirds whispering about?” Pamela barked. “Pamela,” I said sweetly. “I was just telling Miles how much I’m looking forward to planning tomorrow.” “Good!” Pamela settled back. “You’re finally learning.” 6 Lunch was at a high-end seafood place overlooking the cliffs. “Lobster for everyone!” “Get the expensive wine!” “King crab legs!” Miles’s dad, Bob, was ordering like a mob boss. I did the mental math. This lunch was going to be two grand. The waiter looked nervous. “Sir, the crab is market price. It’s quite high today.” “Get it! My daughter-in-law is rich!” Pamela waved him off. Miles sat there, shrinking into his chair. The wine flowed. The inhibitions dropped. Uncle Bob, red-faced and loud, pointed a fork at me. “Harper, I gotta say. Thank you. People like us, we don’t get to do this. Miles really lucked out finding a sugar mama like you.” Pamela laughed, a sharp, barking sound. “That’s right! Miles might not make the big bucks yet, but he’s a good man. Loyal. And let’s be honest…” She lowered her voice conspiratorially, though everyone could hear. “Harper isn’t exactly twenty-two anymore. A woman her age needs a young, strong man. She’s lucky he’s willing to settle down.” The table went quiet. I set down my fork. “Mom!” Miles hissed. “Shut up.” “What? Did I lie?” Pamela’s voice rose. “Harper is what, twenty-nine? Thirty next year? That’s the danger zone for women. Miles is twenty-eight. He’s in his prime. If she wasn’t paying, who knows if he’d stick around?” The female cousins giggled. I dabbed my mouth with the linen napkin. “You’re right, Pamela. I am getting older. I know exactly what I want.” I smiled, a shark showing its teeth. “And Miles is very… obedient.” The insult landed. Pamela’s eyes narrowed. She spent the rest of the afternoon punishing me. “Harper, go buy everyone water.” “Harper, take a picture of us. No, lower. Get a better angle.” “Harper, my sandal strap is loose. Fix it.” That last one stopped traffic on the promenade. Pamela stood there, foot extended, smirking. I smiled. I knelt. I tied her shoe into a perfect, tight bow. “There you go, Pamela.” She looked disappointed that I hadn’t fought back. Back at the hotel, Miles pulled me into an alcove near the elevators. “Harper, my mom… she wants to rent a yacht tomorrow. For the day.” He looked sick. “I asked. It’s six thousand dollars.” I looked at him. “Do you want to go?” “I… Harper, I know it’s too much money. But if we say no now, she’ll never let me hear the end of it.” “Okay,” I said. “I’ll book it.” “Harper!” He grabbed my hand. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” I pulled my hand away. “Go rest, Miles. Big day tomorrow.” I didn’t go to the room. I went to the hotel bar. I ordered a whiskey, neat. I sat in a dark corner booth, listening to the jazz, feeling absolutely nothing. Six years. I thought I had found a sanctuary. I thought his passivity was peace. It wasn’t peace. It was just a vacuum where a spine should be. A few minutes later, Pamela and Miles walked in. They didn’t see me. They sat two booths away. “Mom, seriously? We’ve spent fifty grand in three days!” “So? Does it hurt you?” Pamela scoffed. “Harper makes that in a month or two. To her, this is nothing.” “But—” “No buts! Miles, listen to me. This is your chance. If she takes this? If she swallows this disrespect and keeps paying? That means you own her. That means she’s desperate.” “Mom!” “Don’t ‘Mom’ me. Once you’re married, her money is your money. You need to break her in now. If you don’t assert dominance, she’ll walk all over you. A woman with that much money needs to be reminded of her place.” Snap. That was the sound of the last thread of affection severing in my chest. “She’s damaged goods, Miles. Old. You’re doing her a favor.” I couldn’t hear the rest. The blood rushing in my ears drowned it out. I sat in the dark until they left. The ice in my glass had melted. 7 The next morning, we stood on the dock next to a gleaming, 50-foot catamaran. The captain approached with a clipboard. “Ms. Vance? I need a signature for the rental agreement and liability waiver.” Pamela stepped in front of me. “I’ll sign. I’m the matriarch.” The captain looked at me, confused. I smiled. “Let her sign.” Pamela grabbed the pen, flourishing her signature on the document. She didn’t read the clause that said: Signatory assumes full financial responsibility for any damages incurred to the vessel.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “391388”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Everyone’s a Villain? My Secret Identity is Leaking. I was standing in the middle of a “Welcome Home” gala for a long-lost heiress when the comments started flickering across my vision like a glitch in the Matrix. [This girl is a disaster. To get back at the “fake” heiress, she actually stole the engagement heirloom? Talk about desperate.] [Even if she’s technically the “real” daughter, look at her. The hero has taste; he knows the “fake” sister is his true soulmate.] [What fiancée? She’s just a common thief. Someone kick her back to the slums where she belongs.] Maya Montgomery, the girl currently wearing a princess-cut gown and surrounded by the city’s elite, glided toward me. She looked like a dream—the kind of girl who’d never known a day of hunger in her life. “Sister, you’re finally home,” she said, her voice dripping with artificial honey. “Mom, Dad, and I have missed you so much. From now on, we’re a family.” I didn’t say a word. I just kept chewing on my buffalo wing. When I didn’t respond, Maya’s eyes instantly welled up with tears. With a practiced, sudden movement, she reached into my battered backpack and pulled out a diamond-encrusted women’s watch. “Why would you do this?” she sobbed, holding the watch up for everyone to see. “I know you’re bitter about being replaced, but you can’t just steal the engagement gift Harrison gave me! I wanted us to be sisters, but you’re a criminal!” Harrison Kent, the golden boy of the city’s tech scene and my supposed fiancé, stepped forward with a look of pure disgust. “Give it back to Maya right now, then get the hell out of this house.” Under the judgmental glares of the 1%, I looked up at the stage where my boss was currently clinking glasses with Maya’s father. I tilted my head, genuinely confused. “Steal what?” I asked. “I’m not here for a family reunion. I’m just here because my boss invited me for the free catering.” The comments went into a frenzy: [LMAO, too awkward! She’s not the daughter, she’s just an employee?!] 1 Maya’s eyes widened, her voice hitting a sharp, frantic pitch. “Employee? How could you be an employee!” She turned back to Harrison, the tears flowing even faster now. “Harrison, look at her! She’s still lying! She’s so jealous of everything I have that she’s invented this whole persona just to save face!” Harrison took a step closer, his tall shadow looming over me like a self-appointed judge. “Enough. Stop the act.” His tone was dripping with condescension. “Did you really think such a pathetic lie would work here?” I swallowed the last of my chicken, took a napkin, and wiped my mouth. This was getting ridiculous. My father is actually the wealthiest man in the state. However, because I work at his firm and hate being treated like a “nepo baby,” I keep my identity hidden and refer to him simply as “my boss” in public. When the Montgomerys invited him to this gala, he turned them down, citing his busy schedule. I was the one who wanted a change of pace, so I begged him to let me go in his place just to see how the other half lived—and to eat some high-end appetizers. I didn’t expect to become the main course of the drama. “Why would I be acting?” I asked calmly. “Mr. Montgomery invited my boss. My boss was busy, so he sent me. Is there a problem with that?” I met their eyes directly, refusing to flinch. The comments exploded again. [Lol, what a reach. “Sent her”? What kind of boss sends an entry-level employee to a private family gala?] [She’s just digging her own grave. Does she think playing dumb will help?] [She’s probably trying to imply her boss is more powerful than the Montgomerys. Delusional.] Maya caught onto my words, her face contorting into a mask of faux concern. “Sister, stop it. You look exactly like Mom and Dad. How could you not be my sister?” That one sentence silenced the room. Every eye settled on my face. Internally, I sighed. People with good genes tend to look alike. My father and mother are strikingly attractive people. Maya’s mother, Mrs. Montgomery, did share a passing resemblance to my own mother, but her aura was miles away from my mother’s grace. “Look at them! Everyone sees it!” Maya pointed at the whispering guests, a twisted sense of triumph in her voice. “You’re family. You’re the daughter who grew up in that trailer park! I know it’s a lot to take in, but you can’t let jealousy turn you into a thief!” Her rhetoric was flawless. First, she forced the “family” connection, then she branded me as the “trashy girl from the sticks,” and finally, she cemented the crime of theft. Harrison scoffed, his eyes burning with loathing. “Don’t waste your breath on her, Maya.” He pointed a finger at my chest. “Give the watch back, and get out. The Montgomerys don’t welcome thieves.” The socialites around us began to chirp like vultures. “So she’s the one from the country? No wonder she’s so classless.” “How embarrassing for the Montgomerys to have a daughter like this.” “Look at her outfit. Does that cost even fifty bucks? Of course she’d go for Maya’s watch.” I looked down at my work blazer. It was a company uniform, sure, but the quality was top-tier—my dad doesn’t skimp on his staff. I took a breath, trying to be the adult in the room. “First, this watch belongs to me. Second, you’ve got the wrong person. The ‘real’ daughter you’re looking for is probably out there somewhere, waiting for you.” I caught a glimpse of a movement in the corner of the ballroom. A thin girl in a server’s uniform was watching the scene with wide, terrified eyes. Her features were a 90% match for Mrs. Montgomery. 2 Harrison lunged forward, grabbing my wrist with a bruising grip. “Give Maya her bag back! Don’t make me get physical.” A sharp pain shot up my arm, and I felt my temper flare. “Let go of me.” “It’s my watch,” I snapped. “Why would I give it to her?” [Whoa, she’s fighting back? The audacity of this girl!] [Harrison is so hot! Alpha energy! That’s how you handle a woman with no shame!] [Snatch the bag! Let’s see what else she’s pilfered!] I remembered my dad’s voice on the phone a few hours ago: “Ava, Arthur Montgomery is a bit of a social climber. I’ve never liked his vibe. Go there, see if their ‘family values’ are as solid as they claim, and just enjoy the food.” Well, Dad. The values are non-existent, and the vibe is toxic. Seeing that Harrison had me pinned, Maya grew bolder. she reached out to snatch my backpack. “Get off! This is my bag!” I struggled, twisting my other arm to shield my belongings. In the middle of the scuffle, a woman draped in diamonds and silk approached. It was Victoria Montgomery, Maya’s mother. She immediately pulled Maya into a protective embrace, as if I were a rabid animal. “Maya, darling, what’s happening?” She looked at me with cold, aristocratic disdain. “Mom!” Maya wailed, burying her face in Victoria’s shoulder. “She’s the one… the girl from the country! She stole the watch Harrison gave me, and now she’s attacking us!” Victoria’s expression shifted from confusion to pure vitriol. “So, it’s you.” She patted Maya’s back, her voice soothing for her daughter but venomous for me. “Oh, honey, of course she won’t admit it. Look at her. She reeks of desperation. She’s not fit to be a Montgomery.” She paused, raising her voice so the entire room could hear. “I see now. It was a mistake. The hospital must have been wrong. My Maya is the only daughter I need. As for you…” She pointed a manicured finger at me. “A creature who crawled out of the dirt shouldn’t expect to keep things that don’t belong to her. You’re delusional.” [Burn! Go Mrs. Montgomery!] [This is the reality check she needed. Know your place!] [The ‘fake’ is the real queen. Twenty years of breeding vs. blood—breeding wins every time!] I actually laughed. The absurdity was too much. “Mrs. Montgomery, you might want to watch your tone.” “On what grounds are you claiming I’m a thief? Or that I’m from the ‘dirt’?” Victoria blinked, stunned by my defiance. Her face turned a mottled purple. “You dare talk back to me?!” She turned to Harrison. “Harrison, why are you just standing there? Take what’s ours! I feel sick just looking at her.” Harrison took the cue, his grip tightening until I thought my bone might crack. “I’m not asking again. Give. Me. The. Bag.” “No!” The pain sparked a white-hot anger. I swung my leg and kicked him square in the shin. Harrison groaned, stumbling back, but he didn’t let go. Maya shrieked, “Oh my god! She’s violent! Harrison, she’s attacking you!” The entire ballroom felt like it was closing in on me. The whispers turned into a roar of condemnation. My dad was upstairs in the study, likely closing a deal with some high-level contact, completely unaware that his daughter was being lynched in the lobby. 3 Victoria watched Harrison stumble and her eyes turned murderous. She folded her arms, looking down at me as if I were a bug she was about to squash. “Shameless. And a brat to boot.” She addressed the crowd. “I apologize for the scene, everyone. We thought we were bringing home a long-lost relative, but it turns out we just invited a viper into our home.” With those words, my fate was sealed in the eyes of the guests. [Mrs. Montgomery is so poised. She’s handling this like a pro.] [By comparison, this girl looks like a street brawler.] [Call the cops already. Stop talking to her.] Harrison, bolstered by Victoria’s support, yanked my arm again, trying to drag me toward the corner. “You heard her! Give it back!” I lost my balance, stumbling into a table. Enough was enough. I used every ounce of strength to shove him away. “Don’t touch me!” Harrison wasn’t expecting me to fight back so hard. He crashed into a dessert table, sending a champagne tower wobbling. Maya saw her opening. With the timing of an Oscar-winner, she let out a theatrical gasp and threw herself backward. “Ah!” She didn’t hit the floor. She landed perfectly in Harrison’s arms. “You’re actually hitting people now?” Harrison roared, holding a ‘trembling’ Maya. Victoria was shaking with rage. “This is it! You ungrateful little peasant! We were going to give you a life, and this is how you repay us? Stealing, lying, and now assault? You’re a common thug!” I looked at this family of actors and felt a wave of nausea. “I hit someone? He put his hands on me first. That’s self-defense. I shoved him because he was trying to rob me.” I pointed at Maya. “And as for her? That fall was the fakest thing I’ve seen since her last Botox appointment.” “You!” Maya turned white. “Liar! I was terrified!” She huddled closer to Harrison. “Harrison, I’m so scared… she’s crazy… what if she has a knife?” Harrison’s eyes were filled with murderous intent. “Security!” he bellowed. “Where is security?!” “We have a thief and a violent trespasser! Get her out of here and call the police!” Two uniformed guards came running. Victoria added coldly, “Pin her down. Don’t let her run. When her ‘boss’ comes down from his meeting with my husband, I want him to see exactly what kind of trash he’s employing.” The guests parted, their faces filled with a sick kind of excitement. [Finally, the handcuffs! So satisfying!] [She needs to go to jail to learn a lesson.] [Let her rot! Make her pay for ruining the gala!] The guards closed in. I backed up until my spine hit a cold marble pillar. There was nowhere left to go. My heart sank. My dad was just a floor away, but he was being kept in the dark while his daughter was being humiliated. “Get her!” Harrison urged. A rough hand reached for my shoulder. I gritted my teeth and reached into my bag for my phone. If logic wouldn’t work, I’d have to call in the cavalry. I had to call my dad. 4 Just as I unlocked my screen to dial the number I knew by heart, a dark shape blurred in front of me. Smack! My phone was swatted out of my hand. It skidded across the polished floor, hitting a wall with a sickening crack. The screen shattered instantly. It was Harrison. “Looking to call for backup?” He sneered. “Who do you think you are? A thief from the gutter—who’s coming to save you? Even if your ‘boss’ shows up, what is he compared to the Montgomerys and the Kents?” My heart went cold. He’d cut off my only lifeline. [Good move! Shut her down!] [Let her feel the despair! Hahaha!] [Harrison is such a boss. This is how a real man protects his woman!] Maya leaned into Harrison’s chest, watching my face pale. She mouthed two words at me: You lose. Victoria folded her arms, gesturing to the guards. “Stop wasting time. Bind her hands. When the police get here, we’ll have the stolen goods and the witnesses. I want to see her try to lie her way out of a cell.” The guards moved in again, zip-ties in hand. I was pinned against the pillar, alone, surrounded by a sea of cold, mocking faces. Humiliation and fury bubbled in my chest. I had done nothing wrong, yet I was being treated like a criminal because I didn’t look the part. Why? Because I looked “poor”? Because I didn’t have their “status”? A hand grabbed my forearm, twisting it behind my back. I struggled, but I was no match for two trained men. The cold plastic of the zip-tie touched my skin. Harrison spoke, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. “Regretting it now? If you had just played nice and given the watch back, you could have slunk away with a little dignity.” Maya chimed in with her fake pity. “It’s true, sister. I didn’t want it to end like this. But you’re just so stubborn.” The guard yanked my arm harder, forcing me into a painful wince. “Ow—” Suddenly, a voice like a thunderclap erupted from the top of the grand staircase, vibrating through the very bones of the building. “STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM HER!”

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I was simultaneously working as a body double for two billionaire brothers. For the older brother, who liked it sultry, I pulled out all the stops: lace dresses and bunny tails. For the younger brother, who preferred the “pure” look, I played the part in oversized white shirts and black thigh-highs. Because I was a consummate professional, I never slipped up. Until one day, I got sloppy, and a paparazzo caught me in his lens. The headline “Vance Brothers Suspected of Sharing the Same Canary” blew up on social media. When the younger brother came storming through the front door, I was busy sitting on his older brother’s lap, playing the perfect, doting pet. 1 The other girls in the “Double” circuit felt so sorry for me. They knew I was the “canary” kept by the younger Vance brother, Rowan, but Rowan never touched me. “Mia is so gorgeous, how did she end up with a prude like Rowan Vance?” “I heard he’s saving himself for his first love. That’s why he won’t lay a finger on her.” “Poor girl, living like a widow in her twenties. How does she stand it?” As I listened to them, I grabbed a couple of tissues and dabbed at non-existent tears. It was true—Rowan never touched me. He paid me fifteen thousand a month just to eat dinner with him, go for drives, and chat. It was the easiest life imaginable. But because I had so much free time, I took on a side hustle and found a new benefactor. This was a massive breach of professional ethics, so I kept it a total secret. Right now, my friend Harper was hugging me sympathetically. “Mia, this dry spell is bad for your health. You should find a new sponsor.” “What about the older Vance brother, Declan? He’s worth billions, single, and incredibly hot. Why don’t you try your luck with him?” “Forget it,” another girl chimed in. “I heard Declan already has a girl. He keeps her hidden away. No one even knows who she is.” I took a giant gulp of my drink, not daring to say a word. Just then, my phone buzzed. It was a text from Declan. [Wait for me at the villa tonight.] I obediently replied: [Okay.] To be honest, the mysterious girl Declan Vance was keeping… was also me. 2 Declan was nothing like his brother. He was wild, unrestrained, and had more energy than a freight train. He loved to play. After entering the house, I shed my black trench coat to reveal a seductive fox-themed outfit, complete with a pair of fuzzy ears. Declan was clearly pleased. His eyes darkened, and his breathing grew heavy. He unbuttoned his shirt with one hand, unbuckled his belt with the other, and gestured to me. “Come here. Sit.” I sat on his lap, wrapping my arms around him. “I made these ears myself. Do you like them?” His hot palm pressed against my skirt. “I love them,” he rasped. I took the chance to pout. “I saw a limited-edition bag yesterday.” “Buy it,” Declan said dismissively. His hand was busy, tracing slow circles on my waist. He tilted my chin up, his lips inches from mine. “Is my little fox illiterate?” “What?” I blinked, confused. He smirked, his hand moving toward my zipper. “I want to do a deep dive into your ‘educational background,’ okay?” In the middle of the heat, I remembered the truth. I had recently discovered I was living inside a trashy romance novel. The Vance brothers were the male leads; their childhood sweetheart was the heroine. I was just the temporary “placeholder” side character. When the heroine eventually returns from Europe, the brothers will fight over her. Because she hates me, they will imprison me, torture me, and eventually toss me into a psychiatric ward. In the book, I die in the dead of winter. Once I realized this, I snapped out of my “love” for Declan. I needed to hoard cash. The heroine wasn’t due back for a year. I’d work both jobs, save every cent, and vanish before the plot could kill me. Suddenly, my phone started ringing. It was Harper. [Mia, you absolute legend! How did you keep this from me?] [We’re all canaries, but you’re working double shifts for double the pay!] [I felt bad for you, but you’re living the dream!] I typed back: [?] She replied: [Stop acting. Everyone knows you’re Declan’s secret girl now.] Declan was right there, shirt off, waiting for me. I didn’t have time to ask how she knew. I just begged her: [Keep it quiet. I’ll explain later.] [Too late. Look at the news.] She forwarded a link. The headline read: “Vance Brothers Suspected of Sharing the Same Canary.” 3 I clicked on the link with shaking fingers. There were two photos. One was of me and Rowan at dinner. He was wiping my mouth, looking at me with pure devotion. The second was much more scandalous: me and Declan on an outdoor balcony, with me dressed in a bunny outfit. Goddamned paparazzi. My privacy was gone, and my game was up. Harper texted again: [Do they know yet?] [No,] I replied. [Run. Now. My guy says Rowan already saw it.] Right then, a text came from Rowan. Just two words: “Very well.” I shuddered. Rowan looked gentle, but his anger was lethal. Beside me, Declan was getting impatient. He pulled me back into his arms. “Are you done with your phone? My time starts now.” He guided my hand across his chest. “Mia, take it off for me.” But how was I supposed to have the mood for this?! I yanked my hand back. “Declan, not tonight. My sister has a fever. I have to go.” I threw on my coat. “Next time! I promise!” Declan stared at me, his fire cooling into confusion. “I’ll drive you.” “No need!” I said, but the doorbell rang. Rowan’s voice came from the other side, cold and flat. “Declan, are you home?” 4 I dove behind the sofa in a panic. Declan opened the door. Rowan didn’t waste time. “Declan, do you know a Mia Hayes?” “I do. You can call her your sister-in-law,” Declan said, crossing his arms. “Why? You know her too?” Rowan’s mouth twisted into a mocking sneer. “I do. You can call her your sister-in-law.” The silence that followed was deafening. “What the hell are you talking about?” Declan demanded. “Haven’t you seen the news?” Rowan handed him his phone. “To put it simply, the girl I’m keeping… and the one you’re keeping… are the same person.” The air froze. I didn’t wait to hear the rest. I snuck out through the back door of the villa. I needed to get as far away from these two psychopaths as possible. As I ran through the night, I did the math. I lost the house and the bag Declan promised, but I had a few million in the bank—enough to support me and the girls at the orphanage for years. “Those two idiots,” I muttered, kicking a stone. “If they’d been more discreet, I wouldn’t be in this mess.” Suddenly, something cold touched my neck. A hand hooked into my necklace. Rowan was standing right in front of me. He forced me back against a streetlamp. “Mia. My brother is easy to fool, and I’m easy to please. Is playing both of us a game to you?” I tried to run, but Declan appeared from the other side. His shirt was still unbuttoned, his expression unreadable. “Mia, I think you owe us an explanation.” I was trapped. “I was just working two jobs!” I blurted out, trying to stay calm. “You guys never said I couldn’t have a side hustle!” Rowan looked like he wanted to laugh from pure rage. “You think you need to be told that?! It’s basic ethics!” Before he could grab me, Declan stepped between us. His gaze was icy. Just then, a phone rang. It was Serena, their “First Love.” “Rowan, I’m back. I just landed.” Her voice was clear in the quiet night. “I tried Declan, but he didn’t pick up. Can you tell him?” The heroine was back a year early. Rowan was distracted by the call. I took the chance and bolted. He was too busy talking to catch me. As for Declan, I looked back once. He was just standing there, tracing the red marks on his neck where I’d scratched him earlier. He didn’t even try to follow. Good, I thought. The real queen is back. They don’t need the substitute anymore. 5 I went back to the orphanage. It was 10 PM. I handed an envelope full of cash to the Director, who was the only mother I’d ever known. Two years ago, she’d needed heart surgery. I’d used all my savings, but it wasn’t enough. That was when Rowan had found me. “Mia, you look just like the girl I love. I have a deal for you.” The deal was simple: ten thousand a month to eat and talk. He gave me a checklist of Serena’s habits, her likes, and her style. I memorized it all. The first time we ate, I ate the shrimp four times. Rowan’s face went cold. He lifted my chin. “You’re failing the part. She never eats more than three bites of a single dish. I’m docking your pay.” Three thousand dollars, gone. My heart bled. Later, the Director had complications. I asked Rowan for an advance. He smiled, but his words were ice. “Greed is an ugly habit, Mia. She wouldn’t do that.” He wouldn’t give me the money. But I needed it. So when Declan offered me a hundred thousand a month, I didn’t hesitate. Declan never mentioned Serena. I pretended she didn’t exist. “Mia, I can’t take this,” the Director said, looking at the money. “Keep it for the girls,” I said, hugging her. “I’m leaving for Chicago. I won’t be back for a while.” In this city, the Vance brothers were gods. I needed to disappear. I booked a flight for three days later. Harper kept texting me. “The original really is different,” she messaged. “Did you see the fireworks over the harbor? Declan spent millions to welcome Serena back.” I remembered a night with Declan. He’d asked what I liked besides money. I said fireworks. He promised to set them off for me. Men are liars. “Rowan is throwing a huge gala for her tonight,” Harper added. “Since you’re leaving, I’m throwing you a farewell party. Here’s the address.” I went to the address, but it looked too fancy. Inside, I saw Serena in a blue diamond dress, flanked by Rowan and Declan. My heart stopped. I looked at my phone. A text from Harper had just arrived. [Wrong hall! Serena’s party is in the front. Don’t go in there!] I wanted to kill her. As I tried to sneak out, Serena walked toward me. “You must be Mia?” she said, holding a wine glass.

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My husband couldn’t forget his “the one that got away.” Whenever he went to keep his terminally ill childhood sweetheart company, he would drop hints, asking if we could get a divorce. Because her dying wish was to legally be his wife. Today, he hinted at it again. I didn’t cry, and I didn’t cause a scene. I just calmly said, “Okay.” Because we had already had this exact conversation ninety-nine times. Today was the one hundredth. And I had finally found the perfect reason to convince myself to walk away. I had a miscarriage. Our baby was gone. Now, the only thing connecting him and me was a thin piece of paper—our marriage certificate.

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My neighbor, Brenda, worked late and asked if I could pick up her son, Timmy, along with my own kid from school. I didn’t think much of it. It was on my way, so I agreed. Who knew that just a few days later, her son would catch a cold, and she’d start bombarding my phone with texts. [My son definitely caught a cold on the ride home in your car. You need to take full responsibility.] [The medical bills are $500. From now on, we’re going to hire a private car service to drop him off, and you’re paying for that too. I’ll give you a discount, just send me $3,000.] I was so furious I immediately blocked her. She panicked, showed up at my office building with a giant protest banner, and started screaming that I harmed her son and was refusing to pay up. Without a second thought, I called the local psychiatric hospital: “Hello? My neighbor is suffering from a severe psychotic break. I really hope you can come take her in for treatment.” 1 That day, when I picked up my son, Leo, from school, he told me that Brenda’s kid, Timmy, had a fever and was taken to the hospital. They lived in the apartment building right across from ours, so I figured I’d put together a fruit basket and go check on him later. I was literally washing the fruit when my phone started blowing up with texts from Brenda. [Chloe, you are so incredibly malicious. I just asked you to pick up my son one time, and you actually made him catch a cold!] [Do you know how fragile my son’s health is?! Because of your negligence, my son is sick, and you must take full responsibility!] [If this leaves any lasting damage on his health, I’m never letting this go!] The next second, she sent me photos of Timmy’s hospital bills and test results. They had even done a CT scan of his brain. [You are paying for all his medical bills at the hospital. It totals $500. To make sure my child doesn’t get worse, you are going to hire a private car service to take him to and from school from now on. I won’t make you pay the full amount. I’ll give you a discount. Just Venmo me $3,000.] I stared at my phone, completely baffled. I had picked Timmy up four days ago. Plus, the temperature had dropped significantly lately; kids catching a cold was totally normal. I took a deep breath and replied: [Brenda, please calm down. I know you’re anxious because Timmy is sick. But you can’t just randomly push the blame onto me. You asked me for a favor, and I agreed because it was on my route. It’s been days, how can you possibly blame me?] Brenda stopped typing and just started sending voice memos, screaming at me. “What do you mean ‘randomly push the blame’?! My mom picked Timmy up the last two days, and there’s no way she let him get cold. She practically shields him with her own body! Colds have an incubation period. It was definitely your lack of care the day you picked him up that made him sick!” “Listen here, Chloe, don’t think you can weasel out of this. You are going to take full responsibility for my Timmy! I went through three years of IVF to have my precious baby boy! If he has any long-term effects from this cold, I will make you pay!” Lack of care? That day, I specifically turned the car heater on ahead of time and even brought a thermos of warm water for them. When we got to his building, his grandmother wasn’t home yet, so I didn’t even let him get out of the car. I stayed in the car with him and waited until his grandmother got back. I had gone above and beyond. Brenda saying this was incredibly insulting. [Brenda, you need to speak with a conscience. You asked for a favor, and I did my absolute best. Furthermore, the weather has been fluctuating wildly. It’s highly likely Timmy just caught a chill at your own house.] Brenda immediately started cursing: “Screw you! My entire family treats this boy like a prince. He only eats organic vegetables. From the day he was born, he hasn’t so much as sneezed! You take him in your car one time and he catches a cold. It’s obviously your fault! I’m telling you, you have to pay this money, otherwise, I am going to make your life a living hell!” She really was mentally ill. I replied: [I think Timmy isn’t the sick one here, you are! I was being nice by helping you pick up your kid, but no good deed goes unpunished. I don’t have time to argue with your delusions. Blocked!] After sending that, I blocked Brenda’s number. There was no reasoning with people like her. I handed the washed fruit to Leo. After this, I was going to cut all ties with her. But I never expected that the very next day, she would show up outside my office building with a massive protest banner. 2 I was in the middle of a meeting when I heard a commotion outside my office. Everyone was crowded around the floor-to-ceiling windows. My assistant ran in and said, “Bad news, Ms. Davis. There’s a woman downstairs with a banner claiming you harmed her son. Half the company is down there watching.” A woman? Could it be Brenda? I got up from my chair and looked down. Sure enough, it was Brenda. She had unfurled a massive banner right in front of the main entrance of our corporate building. It read: “CHLOE DAVIS HARMED MY SON AND REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. PEOPLE LIKE HER DON’T DESERVE TO LIVE!” She was holding a megaphone and screaming into it: “Chloe! Don’t think just because you blocked me I can’t do anything! I’m going to block the entrance to your company and make sure everyone sees exactly what kind of monster you are!” “You made my son sick, you refuse to pay his medical bills, and you won’t even apologize! Are you even human?!” The crowd of onlookers was growing. My assistant suggested I go down and handle it. I turned around, sat back in my chair, took out my phone, and called the local psychiatric hospital. “Hello? My neighbor is suffering from a severe psychotic break. I really hope you can come take her in for treatment.” Then I called the non-emergency police line: “Hi, there’s a mentally unstable person causing a disturbance outside our corporate building. Could you please send someone to handle it?” After making those two calls, I told everyone to sit back down so we could continue the meeting. But ten minutes later, Brenda’s screaming reached the executive floor. “Chloe! Don’t think you can hide from me! You are going to pay me for Timmy’s medical bills today! Also, even though Timmy is home, he needs to rest, so he can’t go to school for the next few days. I had to hire a private tutor, which costs $200 a day, until he’s fully recovered. On top of that, you have to pay for his nutritional supplements during this period. Just give me $5,000 for that.” “The weather is getting cold, and since he’s been sick, his immune system isn’t what it used to be. He definitely needs a private car service now. You’ll cover the first two months. Add all of that up, and you can just write me a check for $15,000.” Brenda was currently standing aggressively outside the conference room door. She had literally hung her banner on our glass door so everyone could see it. It was hilarious she could even say those words with a straight face. My best friend is a pediatrician, and she actually happened to be Timmy’s attending doctor. She told me Timmy just had a common cold with a slight fever. He was perfectly fine after getting some fluids that night. But Brenda refused to let him be discharged. She insisted he had “long-term effects” and dragged the poor kid through a full-body workup. Timmy was already tired from the cold, and all the unnecessary tests made him pass out from exhaustion. So, they kept him for one night for observation, but he was completely recovered now. Even then, Brenda threw a fit and refused to leave. The hospital director actually had to step in and have them escorted out. I scoffed coldly. “Your son is already home, which means he’s perfectly fine. Where do you get the nerve to demand this much money from me? Let me tell you right now, I am not giving you a single dime. Furthermore, I am currently in the middle of a very important business meeting. If you delay our company’s business, you will be held liable for the losses. Not much, just about $5 million.” When Brenda heard “$5 million,” her eyes bugged out. The next second, she spat at me. “Ptoey! You want me to pay you?! Keep dreaming! Right now, the most important thing is my son. My son is a future genius. His dream is to become a famous entrepreneur. He’s definitely going to be more successful than you! But now, because of the illness you gave him, his brain might be damaged, which means he might not become a famous entrepreneur! You have to take responsibility for that loss! Asking you for $15,000 is a bargain! Pay up right now!” 3 I just let out a cold laugh and didn’t bother replying. Seeing my indifferent attitude, she dramatically collapsed onto the floor and started wailing. “Look at this, everyone! This woman harmed my son and refuses to pay! Is there anyone more evil in this world?! I went through three years of IVF to have my son! What am I going to do if something happens to him?!” “Oh, my poor baby! You’re only in elementary school and you’ve already been poisoned by someone! What’s going to happen to your future?!” The way she was crying, you’d think her son had actually died. The people who had been watching downstairs had all migrated up to our floor. She was crying her lungs out. The onlookers were starting to look at me with increasingly unfriendly eyes, but since I was the General Manager, they didn’t dare say anything out loud. They just whispered among themselves. But wait, our building has security access. Who let her up here? While I was pondering this, my workplace nemesis, Sarah, walked over and started laying into me passive-aggressively. “Chloe, how can you be so malicious? You’re the General Manager; you should be setting an example. You’re a mother yourself. How could you harm someone else’s child? Children are a gift. Watch out, or karma is going to come for your own son.” Her lackeys immediately chimed in: “Vice President Sarah is right. Someone like this isn’t fit to be a General Manager. Who knows if she might harm us next!” Seeing someone take the lead, the crowd started speaking up: “I never expected GM Davis to be so vicious. You really can’t judge a book by its cover.” “That poor mother. GM Davis, hurry up and give her the money. Are you waiting to be struck by lightning?” “A child is a mother’s heart and soul. GM Davis really crossed the line here. I don’t think she’s qualified to be GM anymore. I think Sarah is a much better fit.” Hearing the praise, Sarah lifted her chin proudly. She stepped forward to help Brenda up, but she was still lecturing me. “Chloe, look how pitiful this mother is. Stop acting so high and mighty with your GM title. Don’t you have any sympathy?” I sneered. “If you have so much sympathy, why don’t you write her a check? It’s just $15,000. That’s nothing for a Vice President, right?” Sarah panicked. “Are you crazy, Chloe? You’re the one who harmed her kid. Why should I pay for you?! Everyone, don’t let her get away with this! We can’t stay silent just because her title is higher than ours! We have to bring her to justice!” At her rallying cry, the people around us started shouting: “Yeah! Give her the money! You’re both mothers, put yourself in her shoes!” “You’re a General Manager, don’t tell me you can’t afford $15,000.” Seeing everyone taking her side, Brenda cried even louder. “My poor baby! You were living such a happy life, and now this bitch made you sick! What if you have permanent side effects? Your whole life is ruined!” Sarah put on a show of holding Brenda’s hands. “It’s okay. Whatever happened, just tell us. I’ll take you to see the CEO. You can expose Chloe’s evil nature directly to him, and I guarantee she won’t survive in this company anymore.” Brenda, completely buying into it, started to follow her. Sarah thought I would be scared, but I had actually texted the CEO a long time ago. They hadn’t even taken two steps before they saw the CEO standing right there. He had witnessed everything that just happened. 4 Sarah immediately started sucking up to him. “Mr. CEO, look at this. Chloe hasn’t even been GM for that long, and she’s already brought this kind of scandal to our doorstep. It’s terrible for the company’s image. And look how pitiful this mother is. We’re all women, shouldn’t we be understanding of each other?” Brenda stepped forward and pointed a finger directly at the CEO. “Are you her boss? Then you need to make your employee pay me right now, or I’m going to expose you all online! Don’t blame me if your company’s reputation gets ruined.” Sarah chimed in: “Mr. CEO! We can’t let one bad apple like Chloe ruin our entire corporate image! I say we fire her immediately to set an example!” The CEO ignored Sarah and Brenda. Instead, he looked at me and said calmly, “Chloe, I’ll give you a chance to explain.” I calmly turned to Brenda. “You’ve been screaming for twenty minutes, but you still haven’t gotten to the point. What exactly did I do to make your son sick?” Brenda craned her neck and yelled, “He caught a cold!” The whispering in the crowd abruptly stopped. Even Sarah’s face changed. “My son hasn’t had a single fever since the day he was born! But 6 days ago, I had Chloe pick him up once, and yesterday he had a fever and was hospitalized! Isn’t that her fault?!” The more she spoke, the quieter the room got. Everyone was looking at Brenda like she was an absolute idiot. Gritting her teeth, Sarah stepped forward to salvage the situation. “A cold might be a minor thing, but if Chloe really caused it, she still needs to take responsibility.” Now Brenda was the one panicking. “My son catching a cold is NOT a minor thing! He’s going to go to an Ivy League school! One cold could impact his entire life! From the day he was born until now, that was the one night I wasn’t there to take care of him, and Chloe harmed him! You all have to give me justice!” Sarah finally realized that Brenda was a complete lunatic. She rolled her eyes and shut her mouth. The CEO turned to me. “Resolve this quickly, then come back to the meeting. You’re the only one who can handle this account.” With that, he turned and walked away without looking back. Sarah covered her face and tried to slip away, but I grabbed her arm. “Where are you going? I thought you were the champion of justice? Brenda is still waiting for you to get justice for her. You’re not going to go back on your word, are you?” Seeing Sarah trying to leave, Brenda grabbed her too. “You can’t leave! You promised you’d help me get justice! If you leave, I’ll expose you online too!” Sarah violently shook Brenda off. “Are you crazy?! A kid doesn’t die from catching a cold! I was trying to speak up for you, why are you coming after me?!” Brenda grabbed Sarah’s arm in a death grip, refusing to let her move. “What do you mean a kid doesn’t die from a cold?! My son had a fever of 99.5! And your CEO is gone, you’re the only Vice President left here! Who else am I supposed to talk to?! You spoke up for me, so you have to see this through! If Chloe won’t pay me, then I have to get it from you. It’s your fault for being her coworker.” Hearing this, I burst out laughing. Sarah had tried to use this opportunity to tear me down in front of the CEO, but ended up trapping herself instead. “Chloe! You started this mess! Fix it!” Sarah yelled. I mocked her. “Weren’t you going to bring me to justice? How can you say that? Brenda is waiting for you to preside over this.” Sarah was going insane. She yelled at her lackeys: “Are you all just going to stand there and watch?! Help me!” But everyone was terrified Brenda would latch onto them next. Nobody stepped forward to help Sarah; in fact, they all took several steps back.

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I think someone has been watching me lately. Every day, a strange, anonymous letter arrives in my mailbox, filled with the sender’s inner thoughts. At first, I thought someone had the wrong address, but things gradually took a sinister turn. The letters started mentioning details of my private life, and this person seemed to know me intimately. It felt as though… they were living in my house with me. 1 “The spicy beef stew you made this weekend looked delicious.” “Were you up late yesterday? Binge-watching a show or something? I saw your lights were on until 1:00 AM. Make sure you take care of your health.” “Haha, with a body as great as yours, it’s a shame to wear those childish kitten panties. This is what suits you best. Wear it for me after your shower tonight, okay?” Along with that letter came a set of sheer, provocative lingerie. I couldn’t take it anymore. Disgusted and terrified, I shredded the lingerie with scissors, threw it in the trash, and decided to quit my job and move. “Mr. Vance, this is my resignation letter. Please take a look,” I said. “What’s wrong?” Arthur Vance asked. He was my boss—young, successful, and someone I could learn a lot from. If it weren’t for this unknown creep stalking me, I would never have given up the opportunity to work at his company. “Um… I’m planning to move back to my hometown,” I lied. I had no intention of telling him the truth; the fewer people who knew, the better. In reality, the stalking had me terrified. This person seemed to know everything. If I made a scene and alerted them, they might become enraged, and my life could be in danger. Slipping away quietly was the best plan. “Alright, but I hope you can give us one week to hand over your projects smoothly.” I naturally agreed. I could use that time to find a new job and a new apartment in a different part of the city. What I didn’t know then was that this final week was about to turn my life upside down. 2 On the first day after I submitted my resignation, Mark Reynolds started acting strange. He was my co-worker, sitting right next to my cubicle, and was universally recognized as the office golden boy—handsome, charismatic, and highly competent. He started chatting with me constantly, almost as if he were trying to fish for information… He also began dropping not-so-subtle hints that he liked me. One day, when no one was looking, he explicitly slid his hand onto my thigh. “What do you think you’re doing?” I asked coldly, immediately rolling my chair far away from him. “Nothing. Maybe it’s because you’re leaving soon, but you look especially captivating today,” Mark smiled, and it made my skin crawl. “Are you out of your mind?” He completely ruined my mood. During lunch, I vented to two female co-workers about it, but they didn’t believe me at all. “What? Chloe, stop making things up. Mark is so nice to everyone, and he’s practically a saint. How could he possibly do that?” They exchanged a look, as if accusing me of trying to take advantage of the office heartthrob. They didn’t even bother to hide the disdain in their eyes. Right, I thought. I’m leaving anyway. There’s no need for them to pretend to be friendly anymore. It was chilling. They nonchalantly changed the subject, chatting away while I sat in silence. I finished my food quickly, made an excuse, and left. I had been at this company for almost a year, and we had always laughed and talked during lunch. I honestly thought we were friends. The very next day, rumors about me and Mark spread like wildfire through the office. They were saying that I was trying to hook up with him before I left. “Hey, did you hear? The real reason Chloe is quitting is because Mark rejected her. She got so mad she started spreading rumors that he touched her thigh!” Who was spreading these lies? When I saw the two girls I had lunch with whispering with a crowd in the breakroom—and noticing how they avoided eye contact with me all day—I knew exactly who it was. Riding on the privilege of his “nice guy” face, Mark grew even more smug. Using a voice only I could hear, he leaned in and said: “Those two girls came running to me yesterday, asking if I touched your thigh. Did you really think I’d admit it? You can see whose words carry more weight around here.” “If you had just been a good girl and let me feel you up, you wouldn’t be dealing with all this trash talk today.” I didn’t speak, nor did I look at him. I just kept a cold face and pounded aggressively on my keyboard. I knew clearly that no matter how angry I was, causing a scene right now was unwise, even though I wasn’t the one who started it. People only hear what they want to hear, and the more scandalous and dirty the gossip, the better. Looks like I’d just have to count the days until Friday. 3 I never expected my reputation to be entirely destroyed in my final week. It felt like everyone’s attitude toward me shifted overnight, all because Mark touched my thigh. On the bright side, the creepy stalker hadn’t sent another letter. I thought with bitter irony, This guy is surprisingly “considerate,” knowing I’m in a bad mood and choosing not to bother me. Fortunately, most of my projects were wrapping up and didn’t require much collaboration. I only needed Mr. Vance’s signature on a few things. He treated me exactly the same as always. When he heard the rumors, he even reprimanded the gossiping employees. “I know you’re not that kind of person,” he told me privately. Those few words moved me so much I almost cried. Because of that moment, a different, special kind of feeling began to bloom in my heart for him. With Arthur’s strict orders, no one dared to gossip openly anymore, though their eyes still darted away when I walked by. I pretended not to notice. Just having some peace and quiet was a blessing. On the fourth day after my resignation, my handover was mostly complete. I had found a new apartment to share with my best friend, Sarah, on the completely opposite side of the city. With thirty minutes left until clock-out, I opened a chat window on my computer to vent to Sarah about the week’s disasters. My neck was feeling stiff, so I stretched a little. As I tilted my head, my peripheral vision caught something that froze my blood. My heart practically stopped. Mark had turned his entire face toward me. His neck was craned forward, and he was staring dead-eyed at my computer screen. His gaze was hollow, completely devoid of focus. What… what the hell is that? Why is he looking like that? Has he always been staring at my screen? Why didn’t I notice before…? I didn’t dare turn my head to look at him directly, nor did I want to meet that dead stare. I pretended I hadn’t noticed, typed a quick, irrelevant message to Sarah, and closed the chat. When I finally gathered the courage to glance at him out of the corner of my eye, he was acting completely normal, as if nothing had happened. For a second, I thought I was just being paranoid and hallucinating. “Chloe, why do you always attract the weirdos? Haha, it’s okay! Once you move in with me this weekend, you won’t have to worry!” Sarah texted my phone. Whether it was a stress-induced hallucination or not, it was better to be safe. Seeing my best friend’s comforting words made me feel a lot better. Just a few more minutes until quitting time. Tomorrow was my last day. I just prayed nothing else would go wrong. 4 I came into the office today to pack up my desk, planning to leave before lunch. I was worried Mark might try something crazy again, but thankfully, he had called in sick. “Chloe, come here for a second,” Arthur called me into his office. “What is it, Mr. Vance?” “I see you only have one bag to take with you. On your way out, could you do me a favor and drop these two boxes in the back storage room? Also… this is a personal gift from me, to thank you for everything you’ve done for the company over the past year.” He pulled out a stunning, clearly expensive necklace. I wanted to decline, but the gift was exactly my style. I always loved wearing necklaces. After a moment of hesitation, I accepted it, planning to buy him a nice dinner and a return gift in the future. Besides, I had my own selfish motives. Maybe… this could lead to something more between us? “Thank you, Arthur. What kind of things do you like? I can’t just take a gift without giving one back.” He smiled and said we could talk about it later. Knowing he didn’t like to dawdle, I didn’t press the issue. I carried the two heavy boxes down the hall to the storage room and set them inside. Just as I was wondering what was so heavy inside them, the storage room door slammed shut behind me. The loud noise made me jump. I turned around and saw someone standing there. “Mark?” 5 “What… what is the meaning of this? What are you trying to do?” I asked, backing up. “I’ve liked you for a really long time. I was planning to reel you in slowly, but I didn’t expect you to leave so soon.” His eyes were bloodshot. He started taking off his jacket as he walked toward me. Seeing him like this, I knew I couldn’t provoke him. “Then… then why didn’t you just ask me out normally? You’re a great guy, I definitely would have given you a chance. Why do this? You’re just scaring me and pushing me away…” I pretended to be incredibly hurt, even squeezing out a few tears. In reality, my peripheral vision was frantically scanning the room for an escape route or a heavy object I could use as a weapon. Seeming to see right through me, Mark sneered maliciously: “Don’t waste your energy. The only way out of here is the door behind me. No one ever comes down to this storage room. Let’s get this over with quickly.” Seeing I wasn’t giving up, he added, “Oh, right, don’t even think about calling the cops. I specifically walked through the camera blind spots to get here. Besides, after the rumors this week, whose side do you think the company is going to take?” I had no other options. I screamed for help at the top of my lungs while backing away, praying someone would hear me. But it was too late! Mark lunged forward, grabbed me, and began violently tearing at my clothes. BANG! The storage room door was kicked open! Before Mark could even react, a fist slammed into his face. The punch was brutal. I couldn’t tell if it was just my imagination, but Arthur seemed to be taking out some serious personal rage. I didn’t overthink it, though. I was saved. I was overjoyed. Arthur stood tall, looking down at Mark groveling on the floor, holding a digital audio recorder in his hand. “Mark, you’re fired. Don’t bother showing up on Monday. Also, the audio from this recorder is going into the company-wide chat right now. Get the hell out of my building.” 6 “Arthur, you…” For a girl fighting to survive alone in a big city, how could my heart not flutter for a man who had protected me twice in a single week? “I was watching you leave from the upper floor and saw Mark hiding in the corner. Putting that together with the rumors he’s been spreading about you, it didn’t take a genius to figure out he was up to no good.” He was watching me leave… Does he pay attention to me in secret too? Thinking about this, my schoolgirl crush was probably written all over my face. I couldn’t stop my lips from curving upward. Arthur laughed. “Alright, stop grinning like an idiot. Since you don’t work here anymore, you don’t have to call me Mr. Vance. Call me Arthur.” I remembered I had lied to him about moving back to my hometown. Seeing how I had kept my guard up against him made me feel guilty. “Um, actually, I didn’t quit because I’m moving back home. I quit because…” “It’s okay, I understand. People who resign always use ‘moving back home’ as an excuse. Let’s go grab lunch.” “But… it’s still working hours.” “I think you forgot something.” “What?” “I own the company!” Arthur laughed brightly. I had only ever seen his serious, professional side. I never realized how charming he was outside of work. I think I was falling in love with him. 7 After that incident, Arthur and I grew close. He naturally confessed his feelings to me, and we started dating. The honeymoon phase lasted for several months, and I moved out of Sarah’s place and into Arthur’s luxury apartment. Lately, however, he seemed incredibly busy. While he was just as gentle and attentive as always, something was clearly distracting him. Whenever I asked, he would just smile and say it was nothing. My intuition told me he was hiding something. While he was in the shower, I secretly opened his phone. I was pinned to the top of his messages. The rest were just standard work chats—nothing suspicious. Just as I was convincing myself I was being paranoid, a text from an unsaved number popped up: Meet me at the old place tonight. My heart dropped. I put the phone back exactly where I found it. After forcing myself to calm down, I decided to follow him. If I caught him cheating red-handed, I’d dump him on the spot. “Chloe, I have to handle an emergency at work. I’ll be sleeping late tonight,” he said, smiling as he patted my head. I was stunned. How could he be so calm right before doing something so slimy? This obviously wasn’t his first time. But I smiled and nodded, wearing my usual pajamas to avoid raising suspicion. The moment the front door closed, I threw on my coat and shoes. I was ready. We lived on the ninth floor. Through the peephole, I saw the elevator pass the seventh floor. I opened the door and bolted down the stairwell. Watching his retreating back from a distance, I had fully prepared myself mentally to beat him and his mistress up, then run out of the hotel crying.

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My stepmother is a notorious “black widow.” Rumor has it she cursed her two ex-husbands to death—and then my dad. The moment my dad died, she didn’t hesitate; she had him cremated immediately. When my dad’s mistress showed up with her son to demand a share of the inheritance, they were completely dumbfounded. My stepmother was sitting cross-legged on the sofa, beaming from ear to ear, counting stacks of cash. “I’m rich! I couldn’t spend all this money in a lifetime.” I hid behind the dining table, too terrified to make a sound. My relatives came running, wanting to adopt me. While I was hesitating… A string of floating text suddenly appeared before my eyes. [Is the plot starting already? The female lead is going to be taken in by her relatives and tortured! I can’t wait!] [These relatives have black hearts. Once they get her inheritance, they’re going to sell her to some remote mountain village.] [So what? The male lead will make up for all her childhood suffering with his love later! A pure white flower growing in adversity, meeting her savior when she grows up… OTP!] Me: ??? What kind of tragic female lead gets a story like that? Is it too late to cling to my stepmother for dear life? 1 Not too long ago, my dad married a new wife. I hid in the shadows, watching this newly minted stepmother. She was stunning—bright, charming, and delicate. I finally understood why my dad married her. Even knowing the rumors that she cursed her two previous husbands to death, he still went ahead with it. Just for that face, he probably thought it was worth it. These men all thought they were the victors, the ones who finally tamed the beauty. Unfortunately, they all ended up dead. My dad, in fact, died a mere two months after the wedding. Some suspected my stepmother was behind it, but no one could find a shred of evidence. They could only attribute it to the supernatural. They said my stepmother was too toxic, born under a cursed star—anyone who touched her died. The very day my dad died, several women showed up at our door with their kids, demanding their share of the inheritance. My stepmother, having clearly won the championship of domestic warfare against these types, unleashed her full firepower. “Uncle Wang, throw these filthy things out!” Cutting off someone’s money is like killing their parents; how could these women just let it go? My stepmother looked delicate, but her words were razor-sharp. She brought out my dad’s urn. “Oh, look, he’s already burned to ash! Guess we can’t do a paternity test now. But hey, you can always go down there and look for him yourselves!” The women burst into tears. “Are you even human? Liangping’s body wasn’t even cold before you had him cremated!” My stepmother smiled sweetly. “I touched him. He was cold. Ice cold.” That smile sent shivers down my spine. I silently scooted a little further away. Eventually, the crying and screaming women and children were dragged out by the bodyguards. My stepmother lounged comfortably on the sofa, in a fantastic mood, pouring herself a glass of red wine. “I’m rich! I couldn’t spend all this money in a lifetime.” “Shame about the extra baggage, though.” I watched her, smiling one second and frowning the next, completely too scared to make a peep. She seemed to think I was a burden. Was I going to be homeless? Thank goodness I had my uncle, who had doted on me since my mom passed away. He had said just yesterday that he was going to take me away. A short while later, my uncle and aunt arrived. My aunt had cried the whole way there; her eyes were red. “Yinyin, why did your parents have to leave so early?” “Poor Yinyin, a little girl with no parents… what is she going to do now?” My uncle patted my head, looking heartbroken. “Poor child. You’ll come live with your uncle and aunt from now on.” They looked at me with such genuine affection. I snuck a peek at my stepmother. She didn’t look like she wanted to keep me around. Everyone said she was evil, but I hadn’t felt it. To her, I was just a stranger, exactly like I was to my dad. The scales in my heart were slowly tipping toward my uncle. Just as I was about to speak… A string of floating text suddenly materialized in the air before me. [Is the plot starting already? The female lead is going to be taken in by her relatives and tortured! I can’t wait!] [These relatives have black hearts. Once they get her inheritance, they’re going to sell her to some remote mountain village.] [So what? The male lead will make up for all her childhood suffering with his love later! A pure white flower growing in adversity, meeting her savior when she grows up… OTP!] [This evil stepmother doesn’t look like a saint either. She probably can’t wait to throw the female lead as far away as possible.] 2 I didn’t understand all the words. What’s a “male lead”? What’s a “pure white flower”? Seeing that I hadn’t moved, my uncle and aunt’s tone turned impatient. “Yinyin? Your aunt is talking to you!” Were the “relatives” mentioned in the floating text my uncle and aunt? Would they really sell me? I started to hesitate, unable to make up my mind. My uncle made the decision for me. “Alright, you take Yinyin. I’ll go talk to Chloe about this.” Ignoring my resistance, my aunt grabbed my arm and forcefully dragged me toward the door. I burst into helpless tears. My stepmother stood up, looking annoyed. “What, trying to kidnap a child in my own house?” Like grasping at a life preserver, I wrenched my hand free from my aunt’s grasp and ran toward my stepmother. Before I could even touch her sleeve, she dodged me with a look of disgust. Twisting my fingers together, I finally called out that word: “Mom… I don’t want to go with them.” It was the first time I had ever called her Mom. A look of surprise flashed across my stepmother’s face. She was speechless for a moment. “You…” My uncle grabbed my arm again, talking over me to my stepmother. “The kid is just throwing a tantrum. She’ll be fine once we get her home.” He turned and glared at me fiercely. “Both your parents are dead! I’m your closest relative. If you don’t come with me, who else are you going to go with?” “Stop annoying your mother and come with us right now.” In that moment, I started to believe the strange floating words. Maybe they really were going to take me away and sell me. I looked up at my stepmother with pleading eyes. She was my last hope. My stepmother ignored the man’s words. She looked down at me from her imposing height. “Have you thought this through? If you stay, you’re my daughter from now on.” “And you’ll be responsible for taking care of me when I’m old.” I hesitated, then nodded. My stepmother shot a cold glare at my uncle. “Did you see that? She doesn’t want to go with you.” My uncle let out a dry laugh. “You’re still young. You can have your own children later.” “This kid is skinny, scrawny, and not very bright. Keeping her around will only cause you grief.” My stepmother scoffed. “Don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming. I am her legal guardian now. Without my permission, no one is taking her anywhere.” Seeing her firm stance and the bodyguards standing at the door, my uncle didn’t dare force the issue. He probed tentatively, “Um, didn’t her father leave a sizable inheritance? We could help her manage it, so she doesn’t waste it.” My stepmother nodded with exaggerated enthusiasm. “Oh, yes. Lots and lots of money.” Seeing their eyes light up with greed, she added, “But it’s none of your business.” That really ticked them off. Just as my uncle was about to lunge forward… The bodyguards sprang into action, lifting the two of them up and tossing them out. The floating text reappeared: [Wait, why is the plot changing? Is the evil stepmother actually going to raise the female lead?] [Ahhh! What about my male lead?! The female lead was supposed to be sold to the mountains by her aunt and meet the kidnapped male lead!] [Maybe the stepmother is going to sell her instead! Don’t panic guys, let’s wait and see.] 3 After my uncle and aunt made that scene, even though I was young, I realized they weren’t good people. If I couldn’t trust them, who could I trust? My stepmother? Would she really sell me, like the floating text said? After my uncle left, I tried to make myself as small and invisible as possible around the house, hoping she wouldn’t notice me. I was terrified that one day she’d remember me, decide I ate too much, and sell me off to the mountains. But she seemed very busy and I barely saw her for days. I breathed a sigh of relief. One day, while I was sneaking around the kitchen looking for food, her voice suddenly rang out. “What are you looking for? Have you eaten?” I clutched the hem of my shirt and whispered timidly, “I ate, Aunt Chloe.” “You little brat. When you need something, it’s ‘Mom,’ but when you don’t, it’s ‘Aunt Chloe,’ huh?” She scoffed, sounding displeased. “I was busy the last few days. How have you been eating?” How had I been eating? The same as usual, of course. Whatever the maids left over was my food. I told her the truth. She opened the fridge, looked at the leftover chicken bones inside, and frowned. “So, this is what you usually eat?” I nodded. What else was there to eat? I was just the lucky one out of all my dad’s illegitimate children to actually be brought home. And only because my mother got sick and died, leaving me with no one to care for me. After my dad brought me home, he completely ignored me and rarely came back. I was utterly forgotten in a corner. The maids were shrewd. Seeing how my dad treated me, they started giving me the cold shoulder too. If I was lucky, I’d get leftovers. More often than not, I’d go hungry for the entire day. After a long silence, my stepmother muttered a curse word I didn’t understand, then summoned all the staff in the villa. She announced in front of everyone: “What is their status, and what is your status?” “As my daughter, you eat leftovers? If word got out, I’d be a laughingstock.” “Elena, look at these maids. Point out whoever bullied you.” 4 The next day, all the maids I pointed out were gone, replaced by a fresh batch of young college students working part-time. My stepmother said college students were cheaper, competitive, and worked harder. And the government encouraged hiring them. I didn’t really understand. Until I saw the floors being mopped three times a day and the dining table covered in a rotating array of gourmet meals. Then I started to get the picture. I sat carefully at the dining table, smelling the aroma of fresh food, not daring to pick up my chopsticks. My stepmother, resting her head on one hand, pushed the food toward me. “Finish all of this. You’re not allowed to leave until you do.” I gulped. Was this real life? I put on a performance of inhaling the food like a vacuum cleaner, which made her frown deeply. “You have to eat like this from now on. Otherwise, people will think I’m a wicked stepmother starving you.” I nodded enthusiastically while chewing. After I was full and satisfied, the floating text appeared again. [What is the evil stepmother doing? Fattening up the daughter to sell her for a better price?] [This plot twist is brilliant! Letting the female lead experience warmth before brutally abandoning her—the emotional damage will be even greater!] [Look at this little dumpling of a female lead, she’s so obedient! No wonder so many men fall for her when she grows up.] My stepmother leaned back, stretching lazily. “Stop sleeping in that doghouse. It doesn’t even look fit for human habitation.” “I had a room cleared out for you upstairs. You’re moving up to my floor.” The way she paused between sentences nearly gave me a heart attack. Her last sentence sent my heart straight into my throat. I couldn’t help but think of the floating text that had just flashed by. Was it true? Was she really going to fatten me up just to sell me? … I spent the entire summer break walking on eggshells. Finally, the first day of school arrived. Thanks to my stepmother’s constant feeding, my health had improved drastically, and my cheeks had even developed a bit of baby fat. My stepmother loved it. She couldn’t keep her hands off my face, pinching my cheeks every day. I didn’t dare get angry, nor did I dare complain. When I got to school, everyone noticed the massive change in me. The skinny, scrawny girl had transformed into a pale, clean, squishy dumpling. I was even wearing a brand-new dress. I sat down at my desk, and the girl behind me, Jessica, kicked the back of my foot hard. “Elena, where’s my stuff?” I knew she was asking for her summer homework. I kept my head down, not daring to speak. My summer homework had been torn to shreds by one of the maids who used to bully me, along with Jessica’s copy. Seeing that I didn’t have it, Jessica started kicking my calves frantically. “Just wait until after school!” Ultimately, because I couldn’t hand in my homework, the teacher singled me out and made me stand in the back of the classroom as punishment. Because Jessica’s family had money and power, the teacher turned a blind eye to her behavior, pretending not to notice. After school, to avoid her, I specifically took the side exit. But I was still caught. Jessica and her gang surrounded me, dragging and pulling me toward the restrooms. This restroom was secluded, and rarely did anyone go there. Even if someone saw, no one would dare speak up. Jessica kicked me in the chest and shoved my head into the sink. “You motherless freak! How dare you not do what I tell you to do?” “You must have a death wish!” With that, the group took turns punching and kicking me until I was too weak to fight back. They were smart; they only aimed for places covered by my clothes. That way, no one would notice anything wrong with me. I lay weakly on the ground, trembling from the pain. “I’ll let you off this time. If this happens again, I’ll have someone kill you!” … [The evil supporting female character is this ruthless even as a kid? I love the ‘mean girl’ persona!] [The plot was getting way too derailed before, but it’s finally getting back on track.] [The female lead doesn’t even fight back when she’s beaten! She knows no one will come to save her. She’s so pitiful!] Things like this happened every week. Any resistance from me only resulted in worse retaliation. A flicker of confusion crossed my face. It seemed like no one was really going to come and save me.

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Everyone said Arthur Vance was aloof and untouchable, but he chased me like a dog for ten years. Even when I was pushed into a roaring fire, he didn’t hesitate to throw away his billion-dollar empire to follow me into the flames. Given a second chance at life, I decided I wouldn’t be the wicked woman who kept him dangling anymore; I would treat him with my whole heart. Unfortunately, it seemed he had been reborn too. “Elena, did you really think you could train me like a dog again this time around? Hmm?” He cornered me, forcing me to sign the divorce papers. He said he would absolutely never want me in this life. Absolutely never. 1 When I was eleven, someone deliberately broke five of my fingers. From that moment on, I swore I would climb to the absolute top of this world. No matter what it took. By any means necessary. Later, I did a lot of terrible things. Eventually, someone took revenge and pushed me into a raging fire. As the flames swallowed me, my mind was blank. But then, a figure in white burst into my vision and held me tight. It was Arthur, my husband. The man who loved me to death, the man whose only flaw in his entire flawless life was me. As we turned to ash together, I thought: If there’s a next life, I swear to god, I will give him my whole heart. 2 “These are the divorce papers.” “Sign them.” The flickering lights made my thoughts scatter. The man standing opposite me lowered his eyes. Hiding the ice within them. “Arthur.” “Don’t do this.” I tried to grab his hand. His veins pulsed as he quickly pulled it away. It had been one hour and forty-one minutes since my rebirth. Suddenly, I felt a strange sense of relief. Arthur had finally realized I was a terrible woman who only wanted his money and toyed with his feelings. He didn’t want me anymore. 3 I sat in a bakery, looking through the thin glass. Watching two figures wandering around the academic building across the street. Arthur definitely didn’t know I was secretly watching him. Watching him explain a problem to that girl, while she practically rubbed against his shirt. Yes, in this life, Arthur finally knew who was truly kind and innocent. But resting my chin on my hand, I still texted her. “Chloe, why are you trying to seduce your brother-in-law?” 4 Chloe Miller was my sister. To be precise, she was the real heiress; I was the fake one. When I was twelve, Mrs. Miller picked me up on a night of torrential rain. Everyone thought it was a coincidence. It wasn’t. To make sure Mrs. Miller found me looking pitiful in that rainstorm, I purposely broke my own leg. I wanted wealth, I wanted power, I wanted to never taste that bone-deep humiliation ever again. And Chloe? She was found and brought back to the Miller family when she was sixteen. She was forever kind, innocent, and pure. The things I had to shatter my bones to get, she received without doing a single thing. I hated her. I hated that she never had to fall into the mud to taste real suffering. 5 I was just that kind of vicious, wicked woman. That’s why I suffered so much in my past life. Perhaps Chloe really was what everyone called her: A “girl like a deity.” And I had angered the deity. So in this life, the only person who ever loved me had abandoned me too. I curled up on the sofa, staring at the divorce papers on the coffee table. “Arthur, are you coming home tonight?” The message sat in my phone; it had been four full hours without a reply. Arthur was naturally aloof. His friends always joked he was a block of ice. But in my past life, I never felt that way. I thought he was my dog. He’d come running as soon as he caught my scent, always nuzzling me, wanting to hold my hand if it was free. Forget ignoring my texts; if I sent one word, he’d reply with ten lines of nagging concern. But now… A notification popped up. Thinking it was him, I hurriedly checked it. It wasn’t him. It was Chloe, with a text and a photo attached. “Sister, I have no intention of seducing my brother-in-law.” “I want to help manage Dad’s business, so Arthur is just introducing me to some people.” In the photo, she was smiling sweetly, standing right next to him. They looked like the perfect couple. 6 I must have called Arthur a dozen times. He didn’t answer a single one, and eventually just blocked me. Truth be told, Arthur was terrible at networking and office politics; he was just an academic. In my past life, to snatch some market share from Chloe in my dad’s company, I made him woo executives from various pharmaceutical companies. He went and did it without a single complaint. I never considered how a prestigious university professor, someone so proud, managed to bow his head and beg those people for favors. I only remembered one incident from my past life. I had secured a deal, gotten drunk, and called him to pick me up. The private room was full of prominent figures. Leaning against the sofa, watching that pale figure approach me step by step, I called out, “Here boy…” Calling him over like a dog. A highly respected medical professor, a man who never lowered his chin for anyone. To be teased and humiliated by me like that in public… the old me must have felt so smug. …Everyone thought he would storm out. But what did Arthur do? He walked right up to me. Then, with complete naturalness, he squatted down and grasped my ankle. He slipped my high heel back on. He looked up, his brow bone looking like a gentle mural. “It’s getting cold. Don’t catch a chill.” “Elena.” 7 Elena. He loved calling me that. But since our rebirth, he hadn’t used that name once. … I’m a light sleeper, so I woke up when he came home. I lay there, wondering what he’d do seeing me completely defenseless. But he did nothing. He walked right past me, not even willing to drape a blanket over me. I sat up and hurled the divorce papers at his back. The man paused, the lines of his back distractingly attractive. “Don’t rip them.” “If I have to draft a new one, you won’t be getting nearly as much.” In the pale moonlight, I sat there watching him speak so calmly. A dark cloud seemed to hide in his pupils, mixing with an obscure, icy detachment. “I won’t sign.” I stared dead at him. He seemed to expect this, nodding. “Fine. Then we’ll go to court.” “Arthur, you bastard.” I lunged at him, but he easily pinned me down. The crescent moon cast a sliver of light as he held me against the sofa. His hand gripped my neck, not gentle at all. I bit the webbing between his thumb and index finger, but he didn’t seem to feel the pain. Then, suddenly, he let go. A gentle touch brushed my cheek. “So you cry too.” He left me with that cold, cryptic sentence. Leaving me alone in the living room, I pressed my hands hard against my eyes. As if that would stop the tears from spilling over. “Don’t leave me.” I had sworn when I was ten years old. That I would never say those words again. 8 I refused to sign the divorce papers. The very next day, Arthur pulled out of every collaboration related to me. A significant portion of the Vance family’s assets was in the medical industry, and he was a top-tier scholar in the field. I admit, in my past life, I only married him because it was profitable. I knew he didn’t want me anymore. But when I learned he had transferred all those projects to work with Chloe instead, my heart still gave a sudden, dull ache. Yet, I felt this was how it should be. He saw clearly in his past life. Chloe was so pure and clean. Unlike me. I was used to using filthy methods to get what I wanted. But his withdrawal from our collaborations set off alarm bells for our peers. Instantly, I found myself isolated and helpless. … I prepared to suck up to Arthur again. “Arthur, are you at the university?” “I made some lunch, should I bring it over?” I didn’t dare hope he still had feelings for me, but I really hoped he’d remember our history and not cut me off completely. Staring at my silent phone, I felt utterly shameless. We had fought so badly yesterday, but when it came to business, I still had to beg. I decided to cook some nice dishes and deliver them personally. Then I realized a problem. I had no idea what Arthur liked to eat. He, on the other hand, probably had my likes and dislikes memorized backward and forward. After all, Professor Vance’s biggest obsession in our past life was feeding me all sorts of delicious food. I wasn’t actually that delicate, but I loved throwing tantrums in front of him. “Arthur, these noodles are too hard.” “Arthur, who are you feeding these mushy noodles to?” “Arthur, I don’t like spicy food.” “Arthur, since when do you cook so blandly?” He only got genuinely angry with me once. His ink-dark eyes stared at me, his tone cold and serious. “Elena, do you think I’ll always be on your side?” I looked down, admiring my manicure, and told him: “Then get lost.” That was my answer. And he really did get lost. It was freezing outside, and he left without a coat. He must have been furious. I probably texted him around dusk. “Arthur, I miss you.” Within fifteen minutes, the front door opened. He pulled me into a sudden, tight embrace, bringing the sharp winter chill indoors with him. His high nose bridge pressed against my neck, and I heard him say: “Yes, I will always be on your side.” …See? For the old me, training Professor Vance was easier than training a dog. … After cutting my finger for the third time, watching the unidentified bubbling mass in the pot, I finally snapped out of my memories. I realized I possessed exactly zero culinary talent. So, I ordered takeout from the Linchuan Pavilion. And transferred it into my own thermos. Anyway… he probably couldn’t tell the difference between home-cooked and restaurant food. …Probably. 9 “I’m sorry, Sister.” “I didn’t know you brought lunch for Professor Vance too.” “He’s already eating the food I made…” Chloe stood blocking my path, looking visibly flustered and helpless. “Call him brother-in-law.” I gave her a sharp smile, noticing her small hands tighten inside her cuffs. … “Arthur.” I stood in front of the man who was eating with his head down. When he ignored me, I snatched the chopsticks from his hand. I swapped his lunchbox for mine. He stared down at the new dishes for a moment. His deep, dark eyes finally focused on me. “Look.” I held up my bandaged hand to him. “To cook for you, I cut myself three times.” “It took me forever. Please eat mine?” I met his gaze, looking very calm. But it was a calm that looked like it was about to shatter. Finally, he sighed. “Elena. These dishes look exactly like the ones from Linchuan Pavilion.” “Did you steal their recipes?” “…” I pretended not to hear the mockery in his voice. I decided to just go for broke. “Arthur, just tell me if you’re going to eat it or not!” It seemed that so many times before, if I got angry, he would soften and coax me. I was so used to it, I forgot this wasn’t the him and me from our past life. But he still lowered his head and, spoonful by spoonful, finished the seafood congee I brought. He was so obedient, just like the Arthur from our past life who did whatever I told him to. When he finished, he watched me bend down to clean up the lunchbox—something I’d never done before. “Elena.” He called my name, his voice like a clear stream. “I’m allergic to seafood.” “Two lifetimes, and you still can’t remember.” I flinched violently and looked up at him. His wrist, usually pale enough to see the veins, was already breaking out in red hives. He just showed it to me. “Will you only be happy when you’ve tortured me to death?”

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The world didn’t know it, but he was the real stand-in. At 2 AM, my ex called, saying he wanted to get back together. With red eyes, I agreed. But from the other end of the line erupted a thunderous roar of laughter. [I told you guys, this woman, Emily Vance, as long as I crook my finger, she’ll shamelessly crawl right back to me.] I didn’t get angry. I just asked him if what he just said still counted. [Nathaniel Hale, as long as you come back, you can do whatever you want to me…] Deathly silence on the other end. [Emily Vance! I’m fucking Liam Sterling! You better explain right now, who the hell is Nathaniel Hale?!] 1 In the middle of the night, I was running a slight fever. In a groggy haze, I heard my phone ring. I answered it. There was a lot of noisy commotion, and it took a while before a man’s magnetic voice reached my ear. [Emily, I miss you.] That familiar voice made my eyes instantly tear up. For the past few months, I’ve been relying on sleeping pills just to close my eyes. Hearing his voice again, I couldn’t help but choke up. [I miss you too.] Soon, the voice spoke again. [Emily, let’s stop fighting. Let’s get back together.] The man’s voice was like rich red wine, instantly intoxicating me. After the high fever, a layer of sweat coated my body, soaking through my clothes. My long nails dug into the edge of my phone case. I could barely suppress my sobs as I eagerly nodded in agreement. But then, a burst of thunderous laughter erupted from the phone. [Liam is the man! Two sentences and he’s got his ex-girlfriend begging like a dog!] [People actually fall for the middle-of-the-night ‘let’s get back together’ routine? Liam, where did you find this weirdo? When you were together, she treated you like a king. It’s been three months since you broke up, and she’s still hung up on you.] [That’s just our Liam’s charm. When they were together, he’d tell her to get lost and she would, obedient as a dog.] [One time, Liam was out on a date with another woman, and with one phone call, Emily came over just to drop off condoms.] [Are there really people that pathetic?] [That’s our Liam’s charm. I’ll take this penalty drink.] Unbridled mockery poured from the phone, finally replaced by Liam’s voice again: [I told you guys, Emily Vance is pathetic. As long as I crook my finger, she’ll shamelessly cling to me.] Liam’s voice was still deep and magnetic, but laced with a hint of smugness. Then, he said to me: [Emily, we’re playing Truth or Dare. Thanks for taking a drink for me.] His tone was dismissive, and he sounded ready to hang up. But I didn’t want to miss this hard-won opportunity. I pressed him urgently: [Did you mean what you just said?] He froze. Even the background music seemed to quiet down a bit. [Emily, are you sick in the head? You didn’t actually think I was calling you in the middle of the night to get back together, did you?] Liam cursed at me. I ignored him, persisting: [You said it, and I agreed.] As I spoke, I couldn’t hold back my cries. My voice took on a pleading tone, lowering myself to the absolute dust: [Nathaniel Hale, as long as you come back, you can do whatever you want to me…] No response from the other side. For a long, long time, it was a deathly silence. Then, a furious, low growl from Liam: [Emily Vance! You better explain right now, who the hell is Nathaniel Hale?!] 2 Nathaniel Hale. That name accompanied me throughout my entire youth. In a daze, I was transported back to when I was sixteen, the summer I first met Nathaniel. Those were the hardest days of my life. My grandmother, who I had always depended on, passed away. I became like a wild dog completely off the leash, letting myself rot in the mud. Caught in another vicious fight, my homeroom teacher issued a final ultimatum: if my parents didn’t show up this time, she would report me to the school board for expulsion. I didn’t care. Leaning lazily against the wall, I said indifferently: [My dad is in Canada, my mom is in Thailand, and I can’t reach either of them. Do you want me to invite my grandma up from the grave?] [Emily Vance!] My homeroom teacher, enraged by my attitude, grabbed me by the collar to drag me to the expulsion office. That was when Nathaniel Hale appeared. He hurried over and stepped in front of me. His first words were: [I’m sorry I’m late. I’m Emily’s older brother.] Brother? I froze, and so did the teacher. The teacher froze because the man standing before her had a clean, sharp aura, looking like he belonged to a completely different world than me, with my messy hair and heavy makeup. I froze because I never expected my parents to have an illegitimate child this old. So, I was extremely resistant to him. [Bullshit, I don’t have a fucking brother!] I cursed loudly, lunging forward to push him away. But Nathaniel, despite looking slim and refined, easily pinned me with one hand while calmly communicating and apologizing to my teacher. He promised that from now on, he would keep a strict eye on me. Due to his pleading, the teacher decided to give me one last chance. Nathaniel practically dragged me home. On the way, he shoved me into a hair salon, getting rid of my chaotic, colorful hair and the heavy makeup. The mirror revealed my original face. He stared at me for a moment, then smiled and ruffled my hair: [Look how nice you look as a student.] I didn’t dodge; instead, I took the opportunity to bite down hard on the webbing between his thumb and index finger. I failed. He caught my chin instead. [Tsk, such a fierce little girl?] [Get lost! I’m calling the cops, you kidnapper!] I mumbled my curses, my jaw held tight. Even though Nathaniel was very good-looking, it didn’t stop me from hating him, especially when he smiled—it was blindingly bright. I cursed, kicked, and hit him. Nathaniel didn’t get angry. He let me throw my tantrum. Only when I settled down did he slowly explain: [I’m not a kidnapper. Your parents entrusted me to take care of you.] [Bullshit. They don’t care about me. Otherwise, why didn’t they come back when Grandma died?] I tried to act like I didn’t care, but I still choked up when I yelled, glaring at him with red eyes. My cheeks felt a little itchy, and a little wet… Nathaniel fell silent. He let go of me, and after a long while, he promised: [Once you get into college, they’ll come back.] I thought for a moment and replied: [They’re dreaming.] 3 Whether I agreed or not. Nathaniel forcefully moved into my house. During that time, I called the police, but Nathaniel actually produced a legally binding guardianship document, signed by my parents, completely shutting me up. I gave up and started treating him like he was invisible. We had a two-bedroom apartment. I had one room, and Grandma had the other. Now he moved into Grandma’s room, and he really started acting the part, preparing three meals a day and taking care of the daily cleaning. A free maid? Why not. Once I figured that out, I accepted it with peace of mind. Except one thing was really annoying. He nagged me to come home every day after school. No matter which shady internet cafe I hid in, he would always catch me red-handed. As soon as I got home, he checked my homework. If I said I didn’t understand, he would actually sit by my side and explain it to me. Whatever I didn’t understand, he could teach. [Nathaniel Hale, tell me the truth…] Caught and dragged home yet again, I couldn’t help but ask: [Did you get bound to some mission system? If I get into college, do you get points or wealth? Or get cured of a terminal illness?] Nathaniel flicked my forehead. [Going to college is for yourself.] [Why go to college?] I rubbed my forehead, complaining: [I don’t even want them to come back…] [Do you really not want them to come back?] Nathaniel interrupted me, looking at me with a very serious tone: [Don’t you want to prove to them that even if you’re all alone, you can become excellent?!] My fingertips curled, and my heart surged slightly. He had a tiny teardrop mole at the corner of his eye. I looked into his eyes; they seemed to hold a galaxy, shining so brightly… 4 Midterm exams. I went from second to last to the top fifty in my grade. When I got my report card, no one around me could believe it. I was so happy. My mind was full of how to tell Nathaniel the good news that night. I’d lie and say I was still second to last, then extort a meal of braised pork ribs out of him. Nathaniel’s braised pork ribs were seriously delicious. I was thinking happily, but before school even ended, I was called into the homeroom teacher’s office… She suspected I cheated and wanted to cancel my score. That night, I went to a bar. 5 Nathaniel bailed me out of the police station. According to the police officer: During a spot check, the police caught a bunch of minors in the bar. I was the most conspicuous one, drunk in my school uniform, twisting and shaking on the dance floor with a bunch of shady characters, having the time of my life. Nathaniel’s face was very dark. I saw him whisper something to the police officer, sign a document, and then walk over to take me out of the station. Actually, I hadn’t drank that much, and after standing in the drafty police station hallway for so long, I was mostly sober. All the way home, Nathaniel didn’t speak to me. Seeing his stern face, I got angry too. I was about to storm into my room when he stopped me: [Stop! Don’t you have anything to say?] That one word ignited all the rebellion in my body. [I don’t need you managing me! Are you my dad, or my mom?! Do you really think a piece of paper gives you the right to control me?!] Nathaniel strode toward me. Even though he was skinny, when he kept a straight face, his aura was terrifying. Standing in front of me, he was a full head taller. Looking down at me, his face as cold as frost, his tone harder than ever before: [Do you know how disappointed your parents would be if they saw you like this?!] Hearing that, I slammed my backpack down as hard as I could and screamed hysterically: [How disappointed could they be?! The grass on their graves is taller than I am! What the hell do they know?!] I saw the ice on Nathaniel’s face crack, piece by piece. The air was stagnant for a long time before his deep voice finally broke the silence: [When did you find out?] My fists were clenched tight. The feeling of the alcohol rushing to my head returned, and my whole body felt uncontrollably hot. Biting my lip, I looked into his eyes and enunciated every word: [Stop treating me like a child. I understand everything. My parents have been dead for a long time! You hid it from me, and my grandma hid it from me too… I know a lot. I also know that they were undercover agents, and you’re a cop too!] 6 Groggy. Memories flooded my mind like a tidal wave, making my already throbbing head feel like it was splitting open. On the phone, Liam was still demanding an answer. I snapped back to reality and replied instinctively: [Where are you? I want to see you right now.] I missed him so much. I really, really wanted to see him right now. The other side went silent. I heard mocking banter in the background—some calling me shameless, others saying I was playing hard to get, and some teasing Liam, asking if he was getting anxious. Finally, Liam sent an address. I didn’t even bother getting dressed up; I just hurried over. When I got to the bar, Liam’s group was still there. Seeing my pale face, Liam, sitting right in the middle, froze for a second. [Emily, we haven’t seen each other in a few months and you look like you’re… dying?] I didn’t care. Ignoring all their mocking stares, I approached him. But when my eyes adjusted to the dim light and I saw Liam’s face clearly, an indescribable wave of fury washed over me. [Where is your teardrop mole?] I reached out and grabbed his chin, frantically inspecting his face. I hadn’t seen him in a few months. Liam’s face was different. The corners of his eyes, his nose bridge… and more importantly, the teardrop mole at the corner of his eye, the one just like Nathaniel’s, was gone… He didn’t look like Nathaniel anymore! Annoyed by my grabbing, Liam pushed me away roughly, his tone impatient: [That mole was ugly as sin. I’ve wanted it removed for ages. It looks much better now.] He touched his face, smiling confidently. But I suddenly started tearing at him like a madwoman. [Who told you to remove it?! You don’t look like him at all anymore!] I had searched so hard to find someone who looked so much like him, and now Liam had ruined it. In my anger, I turned my wrath on the man in front of me, getting up to leave, but my arm was forcefully grabbed. [What do you mean? Like who? That guy named Nathaniel Hale? Emily Vance! You better explain to me right now, who the hell is Nathaniel Hale?!] Liam finally remembered his previous question and interrogated me sharply. Someone tried to break up the fight. [Liam, calm down. Emily is definitely playing hard to get…] [Exactly. This guy probably doesn’t even exist.] Hearing this, Liam’s expression softened, and the look he gave me became a bit more contemptuous. He said: [If you want to get back together, show some sincerity. Don’t just make up some random ‘Nathaniel Hale’ or whatever, using a fake person to mess with me…] Before Liam could finish. I slapped him across the face. With one hundred percent of my strength. [Who are you calling fake?! Nathaniel Hale isn’t dead! He isn’t!] [Emily Vance, have you lost your mind?! Are you psycho?!]

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Julian spent $100,000 on a fireworks show for his newly hired secretary. He even remembered to text me: [Elena, I’ll give you a fireworks show on our tenth anniversary.] That was exactly what I wanted ten years ago. Back then, we were broke. After getting our marriage license, we could only afford sparklers. Now, watching the sky light up with fireworks, I scrolled back to our announcement video from ten years ago, took a screenshot, and posted it on my feed: [In the end, it all comes down to this.] Julian didn’t come home that night. The next day, I had a courier deliver him a divorce agreement. Arriving with it was a letter from a slow-mail service, sent ten years ago. In the letter, Julian had handwritten: [Did I love Elena a little more today?] 1 As soon as he received the divorce agreement, Julian called me immediately: “Elena, what are you making a fuss about now? “Do you find it amusing to bring up divorce over every little thing? “You’re thirty this year, not three. Can you act a little more mature?” He was furious. His tone was filled with blame. Before I could reply, a coquettish female voice came through the phone: “Mr. Vance, don’t be angry. Sister probably didn’t mean to argue with you. She’s just getting older and might be in a bad mood. Just coax her a little and she’ll be fine.” Julian seemed even angrier: “Shut up.” Then he yelled at me: “Elena, I’m coming back now. We’ll talk this out face-to-face.” 2 Right after he hung up, I received a notification for new social media posts. A girl named “Blooming Youth” posted three times in a row: [Ugh, my ‘brother’ actually yelled at me. His punishment is not seeing my smile for a whole week.] The accompanying picture was of Julian’s CEO office. [Hehe, my ‘brother’ apologized. He said the woman at home was acting up again and told me to be a good girl and not to cause trouble. Fine, I forgive him.] The picture was of two cups of premium bubble tea. [My ‘brother’ has to go home and coax that old hag again. Older women really are so demanding. Unlike me, I only feel sorry for him.] The picture was a side profile of a pale, innocent face. She was Julian’s newly hired secretary, Chloe. Three months ago, Julian desperately needed a document and sent Chloe to our house to get it. I happened to be home at the time. The young girl, barely in her twenties, wore light makeup. Her cheeks were fair and plump. Her high ponytail swayed in the breeze. She wore casual sportswear. She gave off the vibe of an innocent high school girl. After getting the document, she smiled and asked for my social media handle. Without thinking much of it, I agreed. Before leaving, she affectionately hooked her arm through mine: “Elena, what’s your skincare secret? You don’t look like you’re pushing thirty at all. No signs of aging. “Unlike me, I’m barely twenty and I feel like I’m already getting wrinkles.” She smiled brightly. Her eyes looked sincere. I put on a professional, fake smile: “It’s simple. Don’t say things you shouldn’t, and don’t do things you shouldn’t.” After that day, I talked to Julian about Chloe. He chuckled playfully: “What, are you jealous? “She’s just a naive little girl fresh out of school. Don’t worry, she’s no threat to you. “Besides, HR hired her, and you know our company’s processes are very transparent. “Moreover, don’t you trust your husband? We fell in love at seventeen, married at twenty, and it’s been almost ten years now. “No one can destroy our relationship.” At that time, I looked at the earnest Julian in front of me. His youthful vows still echoed in my ears. True love conquers all. But no one ever mentioned that true love could also create those very obstacles. 3 Yesterday was the company’s ninth anniversary. It was also a major milestone as the company’s profits surpassed one billion dollars. As the Vice President, I should have been there. But there was a problem with a contract from a major client down south. The client had to be appeased immediately. Julian couldn’t leave. And since we signed the client together and had been working with them for over five years… He only felt comfortable if I went. Although I was the Vice President, I had gradually been relinquishing my power since last year. I was preparing for pregnancy. I only participated in company affairs occasionally. I was confident about this business trip. After settling everything, I went home and crashed. I just didn’t expect the company’s celebration banquet last night to be so “exciting.” At 10 PM, Julian called to check in: “Elena, I won’t be coming home tonight. The veteran employees want to celebrate until 3 AM. You’ve had a hard day, get some good rest.” I had complaints, but I swallowed them. It was the company’s ninth anniversary, growing from a mom-and-pop shop to the leading enterprise in the city. The employees who had fought alongside us deserved to be rewarded. I simply reminded him: “No smoking, and don’t drink too much. We’re still trying for a baby.” “Yes, ma’am!” His phone call chased away my sleepiness. The red notification dots on my social media app practically begged to be clicked. Amidst the overwhelming sea of updates, I immediately locked onto Chloe’s. [He said he couldn’t promise me all his love, so he promised me a sky full of fireworks instead.] The accompanying pictures were nine live photos of a hundred-thousand-dollar fireworks show. The fireworks clearly spelled out the initials “CC.” I clicked on the first live photo. A deep, lingering male voice instantly turned my hands and feet to ice: “Little Chloe, has your eighteenth birthday wish come true now?” It was Julian’s voice. At the same time, I received a voice message from Julian: [Elena, the company’s fireworks show is beautiful tonight.] [Wait until our tenth anniversary, I’ll give you a fireworks show just for you.] The exact same voice. Just lacking a bit of intimacy and indulgence. Refusing to give up, I went back to Chloe’s post and clicked on the second live photo: “Brother, is this fireworks show really just for me?” Third live photo: “Yes, just for my little Chloe.” Fourth live photo: “But these are clearly the company’s fireworks. They’re not just mine.” Fifth photo: “The company’s banquet didn’t have fireworks planned. I custom-ordered these for you.” Sixth photo: “Be a good girl. They’re just benefiting from your special treat.” … Nine live photos completely shattered the illusion of my beautiful romance. I stood on the balcony. From the eighteenth floor, the entire city spread out before me. Clusters of blue and purple fireworks exploded in the sky. Chloe’s updates kept coming, one after another. [Let those unspoken feelings drown in this sky full of fireworks.] … It was as if she were mocking pathetic me. Ten years ago, I also wanted a fireworks show just for myself. 4 Back then, Julian and I had just graduated from college. He majored in software engineering, and I majored in economics. He wanted to start a tech company. And I had passed the civil service exam in my hometown. Coming from a small town, we had no backing. Everyone around us mocked him for his pipe dreams. But when he looked at me with hopeful eyes, I didn’t hesitate to throw away my secure job and follow him to the big city. During our poorest year, we got our marriage license. Tears welled up in his eyes: “Elena, I’m sorry. When we’re successful, whatever wedding gift you want, I’ll make it up to you.” At the time, I still loved romantic dramas. The male lead always confessed his love deeply under a sky full of fireworks. So, I told him: “I want a fireworks show that belongs only to Elena.” That day, we played a fireworks scene from a TV show. We lit sparklers. And made a vow to be together forever. Now, the company had been running for almost ten years. The fireworks show that was once out of reach, Julian could easily throw hundreds of times. Yet he custom-ordered a hundred-thousand-dollar fireworks show for his little mistress first. Now, clicking on the video we took the day we got our marriage license… The girl holding a sparkler, smiling sweetly at the camera, looked so naive and ridiculous. So, no matter how deeply we once loved each other… This is how it all ends! I had been deceiving myself, refusing to believe the clues that had long been obvious. … A noise came from the entryway. Julian was back. 5 His anger seemed to have subsided significantly: “Elena, let’s not fight anymore, okay?” He held a pink envelope in his hand. It was the proof of love we left at a slow-mail shop in the city ten years ago. At the time, I badgered him to see what he had written in the letter. He hugged me tight and whispered in my ear: “Elena, the me ten years from now will give you the answer.” The warm breath, the youthful flutter. It was a beautiful memory that made me blush every time I thought about it. He had put my contact information on that letter. This surprise from ten years ago had now become a joke. I looked at the envelope and asked, “Julian, did you love Elena a little more today?” His expression froze, and he said somewhat awkwardly, “Of course.” I pressed, “Of course what?” He replied, “Of course I love Elena.” I continued, “Who ‘of course loves Elena’?” He looked displeased, “Elena, why are you getting more melodramatic as you get older? Julian loves Elena. Are you satisfied now?” I took the envelope from his hand and opened the yellowed letter: “Julian, ten years ago you wrote: ‘Did I love Elena a little more today?’” “But ten years later, you don’t love me more. Because you’ve transferred that love to someone else.” He rubbed his temples in frustration: “Elena, we’re not kids anymore. Can we stop being so dramatic? “I’ve told you I’ll only love you in this life, and you will be my only wife.” I played Chloe’s live photo. Julian’s deep but clear voice came from it: [Little Chloe, has your eighteenth birthday wish come true now?] [Be a good girl. They’re just benefiting from your special treat.] Hearing his voice, Julian snatched the phone away: “Elena, is this fun for you? Having me followed!” Seeing that it was Chloe’s post, he hurriedly explained: “That kid said she’d never seen a fireworks show. As her boss, I was just fulfilling her wish.” His explanation was truly laughable. “So you custom-ordered a hundred-thousand-dollar fireworks show for her? Mr. Vance, you are truly generous. “You’ve read the divorce agreement, right? If there are no issues, just sign it!” Seeing my firm stance, he finally realized I was serious. He rubbed the bridge of his nose in annoyance, his tone filled with resignation: “Elena, stop arguing with me, okay? I have absolutely crossed no lines with Chloe. “I just think she looks a little like you did ten years ago: clumsy, silly, with a fearless drive. “This fireworks show was entirely because she casually mentioned it was her 18th birthday wish, and it reminded me that your wish at 20 was also to have a fireworks show. “That’s why I agreed. Honestly, I did this for the 20-year-old you. “And I promised, on our tenth anniversary, I’ll give you an even grander fireworks show.” I really don’t understand men. Why would compensation for a lover be given to a mistress? His lover is right here, isn’t she? I didn’t know how to respond to him. I could only crouch on the floor, burying my head in my arms. I tried my best to hold back my sobs. But my body wouldn’t stop shaking. Julian hugged me from behind: “Elena, give me a little more trust, please? “We went from school uniforms to wedding attire. I would never betray the sincere heart you showed when you ran to me without hesitation. “Actually, I have some good news.” 6 He grabbed my hand. His index finger constantly stroked my wedding ring. “Before I came back, Arthur called me and told me you’re pregnant.” Julian and I had been trying to get pregnant for over a year. But there had been no good news. A week ago, we went to the hospital for another checkup. The doctor was our mutual friend—Arthur. The three of us went to college together. Arthur was a groomsman at our wedding. Now, this good news was delivered by our good friend. If Chloe wasn’t around, how wonderful this would be. I slowly raised my head. The tear streaks made my face look even more haggard: “Julian, what did you say?” He gently wiped away the teardrops from the corner of my eye: “Elena, we’re having a baby. We’re going to be parents.” I let out a mocking laugh: “A baby is only willing to come to a family where the father loves the mother. Julian, do you think this baby wants to come?” He held me tightly in his arms: “Elena, what exactly do I have to do for you to believe that I love you?” I broke free from his embrace, looked up, and met his eyes: “They say, ‘Where a man’s money is, his love is,’ right?” He seemed to see a glimmer of hope: “Elena, all my assets are in your name. What else do you have to worry about?” I sneered: “Julian, you run a company. I think you should be very clear about how marital property is divided.” Perhaps out of guilt for his infidelity, or perhaps eager to prove his love so I would safely deliver his child… That very day, we signed a marital property agreement in front of a lawyer. The agreement stipulated that all real estate under our names would belong solely to me, and the other party would no longer have any rights or interests in those properties. At the same time, we notarized the agreement and registered the transfer of the real estate. A week later, I received five properties and three commercial storefronts. Along with the five million dollars in our joint account. Julian and I maintained a superficial peace. This embryo became the only bond between us. Sustaining this fractured marriage. I no longer brought up Chloe. He also seemed to forget that I had brought up divorce. Instead, he started instructing the nanny to prepare nutritious meals. Every day, he would send me flowers, bags, jewelry, and clothes in different ways. Men can be so pathetic. Half a month later, Arthur called, urging me to go in for a prenatal checkup. In the examination room, his voice was slightly hoarse: “Elena, how have you been lately?”

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