Author: Momo Chan

I was at Owen’s place to drop off some hangover soup. His mother pulled me aside, her voice a conspiratorial whisper. “The girl who brought him home last night… she slept in the guest room. Don’t get the wrong idea.” I asked without thinking, “What idea would I get? That she’s still too drunk for me to look after her?” The question hung in the air, followed by a dead, unnerving silence. Just then, the guest room door creaked open. A girl in Owen’s button-down shirt emerged, rubbing her eyes. A fresh, angry-red mark bloomed on her collarbone, impossible to miss. It was Owen who broke the silence, his voice rough with sleep. “Paige, let me explain.” I nodded, setting the thermos down on the console table. “Explain what? That the shirt fits her perfectly?” I asked, my voice dangerously calm. “Or do you need me to run out and buy her a woman’s blouse to change into?” This time, the color drained completely from Owen’s face. 1 The moment the car door clicked shut, Owen’s hand shot out to block it. “Paige, it’s not what you think.” I relaxed my grip on the steering wheel and turned to look at him. The early morning light slanted through the windshield, illuminating the dark circles under his eyes. He was wearing the shirt the girl had just taken off, and the collar still carried the faint scent of a perfume that wasn’t mine. “What is it I think, Owen?” I asked evenly. “That you two had a drunken one-night stand? That she wore your shirt on purpose to provoke me? Or that you called me over specifically to witness this little drama?” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “It was the project wrap party last night. Nina drank too much, got sick all over herself. I couldn’t just let her sleep in dirty clothes.” “So you lent her your shirt,” I finished for him. “And the mark on her collarbone? Did you lend her that, too?” His pupils contracted, a flicker of involuntary panic. It was an interesting reaction. I’d known him for twelve years, been with him for seven. I knew what every single one of his micro-expressions meant. That was the instinctual fear of a lie being exposed. He recovered quickly. “She must have done that herself. Paige, can you stop being so sensitive? We’re about to get married.” “That’s right. The wedding’s next month,” I said with a thin smile, starting the car. “Which is why I’m so curious to know why my fiancé let another woman walk out of our future home wearing his shirt.” As I drove out of the complex, I caught a glimpse of Nina in the rearview mirror, standing on the balcony. She was wearing my slippers. And she waved at me. 2 Owen and I met in college. Sophomore year, our club went on a camping trip. The zipper on my tent broke, and I was left standing in the middle of a dark, cold mountain field, hugging my sleeping bag, completely lost. He gave me his tent and sat by the campfire all night himself. When I crawled out at dawn, his shoulders were damp with dew, and tiny droplets clung to his eyelashes. The feeling that rushed through me in that moment was like a mountain spring bursting forth, clear and overwhelming. Later, he told me, “Paige, holding that sleeping bag, you looked like a little lost animal.” He said, “I couldn’t just leave you there.” We dated for three years. He went to grad school; I started working. He started his PhD; I got a promotion. The day he got his official offer from the research institute last year, his colleagues egged him on until he got down on one knee and proposed with the pull-tab from a soda can. “When I have the money, I’ll get you a real one,” he’d said, his eyes shining. I said yes. I never replaced the ring. It’s still that same pull-tab. I threaded it onto a thin chain and have worn it around my neck, close to my heart, for over three hundred days. Until last week, when I saw his purchase history on his phone. A diamond ring from Cartier. A woman’s ring. The status said, “Delivered.” The shipping address was not our home. 3 Proposals and mock-ups were spread all over the conference table at the wedding planner’s office. The planner was in full swing. “For the main color scheme, are we thinking champagne gold or a dusty blue? Dr. Reed, which do you prefer?” Owen was scrolling through his phone, distracted. “Either is fine.” I took the lookbook and pointed to a design. “This one. The gardenia theme. Gardenias were the first flowers he ever gave me.” Owen finally glanced up at me, his expression complicated. After the meeting, he went to get the car. I was waiting on the curb when my phone buzzed. A photo from an unknown number. The second I opened it, my fingers went numb. In the picture, Owen was standing at a jewelry store counter, leaning forward slightly to help a girl try on a ring. The diamond refracted a cold, hard light. He looked just as serious as he had when he’d proposed to me with a pull-tab. The girl’s profile was bright and lovely. It was Nina. A second message followed immediately. [He said this style really suits my hand. What do you think, Paige?] I looked up to see Owen’s car pulling up. He rolled down the window, his tone normal. “Hop in. I’ll take you back to the office.” I deleted the photo and got in. As I fastened my seatbelt, I asked softly, “Owen, if you met someone you liked more, would you tell me?” He frowned. “What’s this about now?” “Just asking.” The car merged into traffic, and the Bluetooth automatically connected to his phone. A series of message alerts chimed, and he fumbled to silence it, accidentally hitting play instead. Nina’s saccharine voice filled the car. “Thanks again for taking care of me last night! Oh, and my parents saw the ring. They absolutely love the style you picked out—” Owen slammed the off button. After a long, heavy silence, he said in a low voice, “Paige, that was a wedding anniversary gift for her parents. Her boyfriend cheated on her, and she asked me to help her pick out a ring to pretend she still had someone who cared.” “So you bought it on your account?” “She just started working. She doesn’t have that kind of money saved up.” I stared out the window at the morning rush hour, a sea of red taillights. This city has eight million cars and three thousand accidents a day, and thirty percent of them are caused by distracted driving. “Owen, pull over. I’ll take the subway,” I said. “What are you starting now?” I unbuckled my seatbelt. “I’m not starting anything. I just had a sudden thought that your passenger seat might have a new occupant very soon.” 4 I couldn’t sleep. At three in the morning, I got up for a glass of water. As I passed the study, I saw a sliver of light from under the door. Owen was still working. The tapping of the keyboard was rhythmic and urgent. In the two years since he’d finished his PhD and joined the institute, he had gotten busier and busier. Overtime was his new normal. I leaned against the doorframe, water glass in hand, and watched his focused profile. I used to love this version of him. Smart, dedicated, full of ideals. He used to say he wanted to develop a more efficient wastewater treatment technology to clean up the polluted river in his hometown. When he said that, we were crammed onto the tiny balcony of our rented apartment, sharing a bowl of instant noodles. The light in his eyes was brighter than any star. But now, that light seemed to be shining somewhere else. “Still up?” he asked, sensing me without turning around. “Thirsty.” I walked in and placed the glass by his hand, my eyes catching the open message window on his screen. I wasn’t the chat pinned to the top. The profile picture was the back of a girl in a lab coat. The contact name read: Nina – Environmental Engineering. The last message was from twenty minutes ago. Nina: [Senior, I double-checked the data on page three of the proposal, and it’s still not adding up. Could you maybe video call and walk me through it?] Owen: [You’re still up this late?] Nina: [Well, you’re not sleeping either. It’s a little scary being home alone. You could just leave the video on to keep me company.] He hadn’t replied to that one. But scrolling up, I saw that last Wednesday at 1 a.m., she’d made the same request, and he had agreed. The chat history included a screenshot from Nina. The video call had lasted two hours and forty-seven minutes. My voice was very quiet. “Owen, do you remember last month when I had a fever of 102? I called you and asked if you could come home early.” His fingers paused on the keyboard. “You said you were in the middle of a critical project phase and couldn’t get away. In the end, my neighbor had to take me to the hospital. I was in the ER on an IV until four in the morning. You got home from work, saw the empty bed, and only then did it occur to you to ask where I was.” He turned around, his brow furrowed. “Paige, are we dredging up the past now?” I shook my head. “It’s not the past. It’s the sudden realization that you do have time. You’re just not willing to give it to me anymore.” The fluorescent light in the study was stark, making his face look sallow. We stared at each other across the chasm of seven years. Between us lay countless nights he’d come home late, countless times I’d waited, swallowing the words I wanted to say. And the image of that girl, walking out of our guest room in his shirt. “Nina is just a colleague,” he finally said, his voice weary. “She’s new to the institute, there’s a lot she doesn’t know. I’m her senior, I’m just mentoring her.” “Does mentoring require house calls? Video calls at three in the morning?” “That was a special situation—” I cut him off. “Owen, that’s what my father used to say.” He froze. “He’d say he was working late, that it was a business dinner, that his female colleague was just for work,” I said, a bitter laugh escaping me as tears welled in my eyes. “Then my mom waited outside a hotel until dawn and saw him walk out with his arm around that ‘just a colleague.’ She was wearing his jacket. Just like Nina was wearing your shirt.” “Don’t compare me to your father!” he snapped, jumping to his feet. “Then stop acting like him!” The shout exploded in the study, then quickly died, leaving a ringing silence. We were like two trapped animals, facing off in the ruins of our seven-year relationship. Finally, he softened. He reached out to touch my face. “Paige, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled. But you’re really overthinking this. Nina and I—” I took a step back, avoiding his hand. “The wedding,” I heard myself say. “Let’s postpone it.” 5 The decision to postpone the wedding dropped like a bomb on both our families. My mom drove up from her town that night, carrying bags of home-cooked food and groceries, saying she needed to “help Owen get his strength back.” She had no idea it wasn’t his body that needed fixing, but his straying heart. “Couples shouldn’t let the sun go down on their anger,” she chattered while stuffing cured meats into our fridge. “Owen is such a good kid. A respectable job, and he’s so good to you. He’s just been a bit busy lately. You need to be more understanding.” I didn’t say anything. I just stared at the pile of wedding invitations on the coffee table. Champagne gold cardstock, silver foil lettering. My name and Owen’s, side by side, looking like a perfect match. We had picked out the design together three months ago. He said he wanted the best, that the cost didn’t matter. He’d held me close that day, his chin resting on the top of my head, his voice soft. “Paige, I’m going to give you a wedding you’ll remember for the rest of your life.” The invitations were still here. The man who said those words was long gone. Owen’s mother called, too, her tone cautious. “Paige, dear, I shouldn’t have said anything the other day. The truth is… that Nina girl has had a tough life. Her parents are divorced, she’s all alone out here trying to make it. Owen just has a soft heart. He was only looking out for her because he felt sorry for her.” “Ma’am,” I asked, “if I had been the one to walk out of your guest room that morning, wearing another man’s shirt, would you also think he was just ‘looking out for me’?” The line went silent for a long time, then ended with a sigh. After hanging up, I opened Nina’s social media profile. She had posted a few photos from the institute’s annual party. In one of them, she and Owen were standing side-by-side on stage, accepting an award. She was beaming, and Owen was looking at her, his head turned slightly, a light in his eyes I hadn’t seen in a very long time. [Got an award with my senior! Thanks for all your guidance, looking forward to the future!] In the comments from mutual friends, people were teasing them. [The golden couple!] [When’s the wedding?] She replied with a blushing emoji. I turned off my phone and walked into the bathroom. The woman in the mirror had dark circles under her eyes and a downturned mouth. She looked like a bitter shrew. No wonder Owen was tired of me. Who would want a partner so devoid of life? But I used to laugh and joke. In college, I was on the debate team. Owen came to every single one of my matches, sitting in the front row holding a glowing sign that said “PAIGE FOR THE WIN.” When I won, he’d rush onto the stage, pick me up, and spin me around, shouting to the cheering crowd, “That’s my girlfriend! Isn’t she amazing?” The pride in his eyes back then was real. When did it all change? Maybe it started when he graduated with his PhD and joined that top-tier institute. He was suddenly surrounded by Ivy League alumni and post-docs, discussing international projects. And me? I had a bachelor’s from a state school and worked as an administrator at a small company, dealing with invoices and meeting minutes. We had less and less to talk about. He’d tell me about the lab’s latest breakthrough, and it would all go over my head. I’d tell him about office gossip, and he’d be looking down, texting on his phone. Eventually, he stopped talking about work, and I stopped sharing my life. We became like two strangers sharing an apartment, sleeping in the same bed with a galaxy between us. 6 That weekend, for the first time in ages, Owen didn’t have to work. He said he’d booked a table at a nice restaurant. He wanted to talk. I picked out a dress and put on some makeup, trying to reclaim some semblance of a date night. He had chosen a French restaurant where dinner cost a week’s salary. The floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the river, the lights of passing cruise ships sparkling on the water. As the waiter poured the wine, Owen’s phone screen lit up, then went dark, then lit up again. “Trouble at the lab?” I asked. He silenced the call and placed his phone face down on the table. “It’s nothing. Tonight is just for you.” By the third course, his phone started vibrating again. This time it was a call. The name “Nina” was clearly visible on the screen. Owen glanced at me and declined it. I sliced into my foie gras. “You should get that. It might be an emergency.” “It’s not. Tonight we agreed—” Before he could finish, his phone rang again. Nina’s voice, choked with sobs, came through the speaker. “Senior… my mom’s in the ICU… I’m at the hospital, I’m so scared… can you please come… please?” Owen’s face changed. “Which hospital? I’m on my way.” After hanging up, he looked at me. His eyes were full of guilt, but something else, too: urgency. “Paige, Nina’s mom had a sudden heart attack. She’s in critical condition. She doesn’t have any family here, I…” I put down my fork and knife. “Go. It’s a matter of life and death.” He looked relieved. He stood up so quickly he knocked over his wine glass. The dark red liquid spilled across the white tablecloth and onto my dress, like a vicious wound. “I’m sorry, I—” I dabbed at the stain with a napkin. “It’s fine. Just go.” He rushed out, forgetting even to pay the bill. As the waiter brought the check, I watched the direction he had disappeared and let out a soft laugh. How familiar this all was. Two years ago, I had acute gastroenteritis, curled up on the floor in agony in the middle of the night. I called Owen, and he said he was in the middle of running experimental data and couldn’t leave. I ended up calling an ambulance myself and spent the night in the emergency room. He showed up the next morning with a container of porridge, his face etched with guilt. “I’m so sorry, Paige. The project was at a critical stage.” I told him it was okay, that I understood. And I truly did. I believed his career was important, that our future depended on his hard work now. But it turned out he wasn’t too busy. He just saved his time for people who were more worthy of it. I paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant. The river breeze was cool, carrying the first chill of autumn. My phone buzzed. It was a text from Owen: [Her mom is stable. I’ll be back late. You should get some sleep.] I typed a reply: [Okay.] I thought for a moment, then added another sentence: [Owen, let’s break up.] Then I turned off my phone. 7 Moving out of that house was easier than I expected. Owen stayed at the hospital for three days, which gave me plenty of time to pack. For seven years of a shared life, I had surprisingly few things. Two boxes of clothes, one box of books, and the small jewelry box with the pull-tab ring. Everything else, the furniture, the appliances, the matching sets of dishes, belonged to us. And us no longer existed. I took off the pull-tab necklace and left it on the living room coffee table. Next to it, I placed a printout of the receipt for the diamond ring he’d bought for Nina. I took one last look around the home we had built together. The gardenia on the balcony had withered because I’d forgotten to water it. Owen had forgotten, too. We were both too busy, too preoccupied with our own separate worlds, to remember that the things we shared needed tending. As I was leaving, my next-door neighbor came out to take out her trash. “Going on a trip, Paige?” she asked with a smile. I pulled up the handle of my suitcase. “Yeah, a long one.” I didn’t say I wasn’t coming back. Some goodbyes don’t need a ceremony, just as some relationships don’t even deserve a funeral. I found a temporary one-bedroom apartment in an old building near my office. After the movers left the boxes in the living room, I sat on the floor and started unpacking. At the bottom of the book box, I found an old photo album. The pictures were from college, so young they were almost painful to look at. There was one of Owen giving me a piggyback ride down the mountain. I’d sprained my ankle after that camping trip, and he’d insisted on carrying me. The trail was steep, and he was sweating, but he was smiling. “You’re so light, Paige. I could carry you forever.” I had believed him. As I flipped through, the photos became fewer and fewer. We rarely took pictures after we started working. He was busy, he was tired, he said we were an old married couple, why bother with formalities. The love was already fading then. I was just too slow, or too scared, to admit it. When I turned my phone back on, there were dozens of missed calls, all from Owen. My messages had blown up. The last one was from ten minutes ago: [Paige, where are you? We need to talk. Please.] I replied: [There’s nothing left to talk about. The key is with the building manager. Do what you want with the ring.] He responded instantly: [I’m not breaking up. I don’t agree!] I typed slowly, [It’s been seven years, Owen. Leave me with a little dignity.] The “typing…” bubble appeared and disappeared for a long time. Finally, a message came through. [It’s because of Nina, isn’t it? I swear, there’s nothing going on between us.] [Her mom needed someone, I was just—] I cut him off. [Owen, do you remember when my mom had surgery? Two years ago, to remove a fibroid. The day of the surgery, you said you had a project review you couldn’t miss. I waited outside the operating room alone for six hours. You showed up later with a bouquet of flowers. You said you were sorry you were late. I said it was okay, the surgery was a success. But you never asked me how I got through those six hours. You didn’t see the woman in the next bed, surrounded by her husband and daughter. The sound of their voices made me feel like I was a ghost. And you never noticed that from that day on, I never complained to you again.] After sending that, I blocked his number.

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“Alice, the company has decided to terminate your employment.” HR director Janet’s voice was flat. I glanced at my phone—the photo of the positive pregnancy test still lit the screen. I’d just found out yesterday. Today, I was being let go. “On what grounds?” “Restructuring.” I almost laughed. Three months ago, my colleague Jessica got pregnant. Our boss even gave her a bonus and three months of paid leave. The day after I find out, I’m suddenly “restructured.” “And the severance?” “Two months’ salary.” After six years, standard compensation should be around $120,000. She was offering twenty. “Fine,” I stood up. “But a reminder—the Astra Group contract renews next week. I haven’t handed over the files yet.” Janet paled. I walked out. An $18 million account. Good luck landing that without me. 1 The conference room door clicked shut behind me. I leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath. My palms were slick with sweat. Down the hall, my boss, Bonnie, was standing by the door to the breakroom. When she saw me, she picked up her mug and strolled over, her pace infuriatingly casual. “Alice. All done in there?” she asked, as if she were asking what I wanted for lunch. “Bonnie,” I said, looking her straight in the eye. “I want to know why.” “Why what?” “Three months ago, Jessica announced her pregnancy, and you gave her paid leave.” I held her gaze. “The day after I find out I’m pregnant, I’m being pushed out.” Bonnie smiled. “Alice, you make it sound like the company is targeting you.” She took a sip of her coffee. “Jessica’s situation is different from yours.” “How is it different?” “She has a high-risk pregnancy. She needs to rest. You don’t.” “That doesn’t mean you can fire me the very next day,” I said, my voice tight with anger. “I’ve worked here for six years. I’ve handled the Astra Group account by myself from the very beginning.” A flicker of something—annoyance? unease?—passed through Bonnie’s eyes. “And?” She set her mug down and leaned in closer. “Alice, let me be honest with you. This company doesn’t pay people to sit around.” “You’re pregnant. You’ll be on leave for at least half a year, right? Who’s going to manage the account then?” “I can work remotely while I’m on leave, I can—” “And you think the client will be okay with that?” she cut me off. “Look, don’t get emotional. This was a company decision, not something I could control.” I clenched my fists. “Then what about Jessica? She’s taking leave, too. Why does she get to stay?” Bonnie’s expression shifted. A subtle, unnatural stiffness, the look of someone caught off guard. “Her situation…” “How is her situation any different?” I pressed. “She’s only been here a year, she’s never managed a major account. Why does her pregnancy get her a vacation, while mine gets me fired?” Bonnie was silent for a few seconds. Then she laughed. “Alice, you’re a capable employee, no doubt.” “But you think you’re more important than you are.” She turned and walked away, leaving me with one final, cutting remark. “This company will do just fine without you.” I stood frozen in the hallway, watching her go. My phone vibrated. A message from my husband: How did it go? I didn’t reply. Because I saw someone else. Jessica was coming out of Bonnie’s office, holding a folder. She saw me and stopped for a second, then walked over with a smile. “Alice, I heard you weren’t feeling well. Are you taking some time off?” Her baby bump was just starting to show. And the file in her hand… I saw the title. Astra Group 2024 Partnership Renewal Proposal. It was the proposal I wrote. My name had been crossed out. Hers was written in its place. 2 I didn’t say a word. Noticing my stare, Jessica instinctively hid the folder behind her back. “Alice? Is everything okay?” “That’s my proposal,” I said, pointing behind her. “I worked on it for three months. I just finalized it last week.” She blinked. “Oh, this?” “Bonnie said you were leaving, so she asked me to start getting familiar with the account.” “When did I say I was leaving?” Jessica’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second. Then it was back. “Alice, you’ll have to ask Bonnie about that. I’m just doing what my manager told me to do.” She tried to step around me, but I blocked her path. “Jessica, be straight with me,” I said. “What do you know about this?” She looked up at me, her eyes darting away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Alice. I’m just taking over a work assignment.” She sidestepped me and hurried away. I stood there, pieces clicking together in my head. Jessica had joined the company three months ago. Bonnie had introduced her as a distant cousin and asked me to “show her the ropes.” And I did. Client files, communication protocols, email chains—I taught her everything, step by step. I thought I was training my successor. Turns out, I was training my replacement. My phone vibrated again. Three frantic messages from my husband. How’s the baby? What did the company say? Don’t panic. Whatever it is, we can talk about it when you get home. I shoved my phone in my pocket and walked toward my desk. As I pushed open the glass door to our department, two dozen pairs of eyes snapped toward me, then quickly looked away. The office was eerily silent. Liz, the office gossip, was staring intently at her screen, motionless. The intern, a young man named Jake, opened his mouth as if to speak, then shut it. I walked to my desk. A cardboard box was sitting on my chair. Next to it was a document. Employee Offboarding Checklist. They’d even packed for me. I picked up the list. First item: Astra Group project files and client contact information. Second item: Shared departmental drive administrative access. Third item: Company-issued laptop and access card. At the bottom, a line was reserved for my signature. The date was today. I put the list down and opened my laptop. Before I could even type my password, a message popped up on the screen: Your account has been disabled. Please contact the IT department with any questions. The account was locked. They weren’t even giving me time to process it. “Alice.” A quiet voice came from behind me. I turned. It was Jake, the intern. “What is it?” He bit his lip, his eyes flicking toward Bonnie’s office. “During the morning meeting…” “What meeting?” “The daily huddle. Before you went into the conference room, Bonnie already told us.” His voice got quieter. “Told you what?” “That you had resigned for… for personal family reasons.” “She also told us to be understanding and not to pressure you.” I stared at him, stunned. “I resigned?” Jake nodded. “She also said Jessica would be temporarily taking over the Astra account. Her exact words were… ‘at Alice’s recommendation.’” He looked at me, his expression troubled. “I just thought… I just thought it was strange. You work so hard. Why would you suddenly quit?” I didn’t answer. Bonnie’s office door opened. She stood in the doorway and beckoned to me. “Alice, come in for a second.” 3 I walked in. Bonnie was sitting behind her desk. She gestured for me to close the door. “Have a seat.” I remained standing. “Bonnie, I have a few questions.” “Go ahead.” “First, on what legal grounds am I being terminated?” “Departmental restructuring. Didn’t Janet tell you?” she said, flipping through a file without looking up. “Second, why did you tell my colleagues that I resigned?” Bonnie’s hand paused. “Alice, you’re a veteran employee. Isn’t it better to part ways gracefully?” “I don’t need grace,” I said, my eyes fixed on her. “I need a reasonable explanation.” She finally looked up. “What explanation do you want?” “Is there a problem with my performance?” “No.” “Have I ever caused the company any losses?” “No.” “Then why are you forcing me out?” Bonnie sighed. “Alice, you’re a smart woman. There are some things I’d rather not say so bluntly.” “I’m not afraid of blunt.” She looked at me, a complex expression on her face. “Fine. I’ll be direct.” “You’re pregnant, aren’t you?” “Yes.” “Your pregnancy, maternity leave, and nursing leave will add up to at least a year. Can you work normally during that time?” “I can—” “You can what? Work remotely? Part-time?” She gave a small, humorless smile. “Alice, our clients aren’t idiots. Astra Group pays us eighteen million dollars a year. Why should they wait for you to have a baby before they talk business?” “Then you could have at least let me complete the handover—” “There’s no time,” she cut me off. “The renewal window is next week.” “And besides…” She paused. “Besides what?” “Besides, Mr. Vance at Astra already knows you’re leaving.” I froze. “What?” “I spoke with him this morning,” Bonnie said, her expression perfectly calm. “I told him you were resigning for family reasons and that Jessica would be taking over. He said that was fine.” My head was spinning. She had notified the client before I was even called into the meeting. This wasn’t a negotiation. It was a dismissal. “So,” Bonnie said, standing and walking around her desk to face me, “you sign the papers, and we can all move on amicably.” “If you don’t sign…” Her voice dropped. “Alice, it’s been six years. You know how I operate. I have a hundred ways to make you sign.” She patted my shoulder. “Don’t burn your bridges.” I stood there, motionless. She walked past me and opened the door. “Oh, one more thing.” She glanced back. “Finish the handover by the end of the day. You don’t need to come in tomorrow. I’ll have the front desk mail your things to you.” The door closed. I was alone in her office. Outside the window was the city’s central business district, a forest of skyscrapers and a river of traffic. I had worked here for six years. I had started as a junior assistant and worked my way up to marketing manager. I had landed the Astra Group account all by myself. And now, they were kicking me out. Without even giving me twenty-four hours. My phone rang. I pulled it out. The caller ID read: Dominic Vance. Marketing Director at Astra Group. My college classmate. He had been the one to bring me this project. Because he was my guy. I answered. “Alice, what’s going on?” Dominic’s voice was urgent. “Your boss Bonnie just called me, said you’re resigning?” “I didn’t agree to it,” I said. “What do you mean you didn’t agree?” “Dominic, I’ll explain everything later,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Right now, I just need to ask you one thing.” “Shoot.” “Next week’s renewal. Can you hold off on it for a bit?” There was a two-second pause on the other end. “Alice, what are you planning?” “What am I planning?” I looked at the file on Bonnie’s desk. The Astra Group Renewal Proposal. My blood, sweat, and tears for the last three months. The cover page now bore Jessica’s name. “Dominic,” I said, my voice steady. “I’m planning on showing some people that they can’t just take this eighteen million dollars.” 4 At three o’clock, I ran into Jessica in the breakroom. She was making coffee and her hand jolted when she saw me. “Alice.” “Hey.” I went to the water cooler and filled a cup. She stood there awkwardly. “Alice, Bonnie asked me to go over the Astra files with you this afternoon. Is now a good time?” “It’s fine.” I turned to face her. “Jessica, can I ask you something?” “When you found out you were pregnant, what did Bonnie say to you?” She froze. “What do you mean?” “I mean… how did she arrange your maternity leave?” Jessica looked down, stirring her coffee. “Bonnie told me to focus on my health and not to worry about work. She also said she’d give me a raise when I came back.” “How much of a raise?” “Twenty percent.” I laughed. I had been there six years and only got a five percent raise last year. She’d been there one year, and was getting a twenty percent raise for getting pregnant. “What’s so funny, Alice?” “Nothing.” I put my cup down. “Come on, let’s go to my desk. I’ll give you the files.” She followed me, her steps small and hesitant. At my desk, I took a flash drive out of my drawer. “Everything for the Astra account is on here. Client contacts, email history, price quotes, draft contracts—it’s all there.” She took it, surprised. “So fast?” “I always keep backups.” I looked at her. “There are a few other things I should tell you.” “Okay.” She opened the notes app on her phone, ready to type. “Dominic Vance is the main point of contact. He’s a pretty laid-back guy, prefers to talk business in informal settings. We closed the last deal over drinks.” Jessica nodded seriously. “Also, he doesn’t like corporate jargon. The more direct, the better.” “Got it.” “And one last thing.” I paused. “Dominic is a very loyal person. He’s worked with me for three years because we’ve known each other since college.” Jessica’s fingers stopped typing. She looked up. “You and Mr. Vance were classmates?” “We were.” I looked her straight in the eye. “He’s the one who brought this account to me.” The breakroom was suddenly very quiet. I could see it in her eyes—panic, calculation, and a faint, tell-tale flicker of guilt. “Alice…” “I’m not trying to cause trouble,” I said with a small smile. “I’m just reminding you that some things can’t be solved just by swapping out a person.” I picked up my bag. “The files are all yours. I’m leaving now.” “Alice!” she called out after me. “What?” “Are you… are you really resigning?” I didn’t answer. I just walked away. As I reached the elevator bank, I heard hurried footsteps behind me. It was Bonnie’s voice. “Jessica, how did it go? Did she hand everything over?” “She did.” “Are the files complete?” “They are, but…” “But what?” “Bonnie, Alice and Mr. Vance were college classmates.” A few seconds of silence. “I know.” “So…” “It’s fine,” Bonnie said, her voice as composed as ever. “Dominic Vance is a businessman. He cares about the bottom line, not old friendships. As long as the terms of the contract are good, it doesn’t matter who the contact person is.” The elevator arrived. I stepped inside and pressed the button for the ground floor. Bonnie was right. Dominic was a businessman. But she had overlooked one crucial thing. The most important thing to a businessman isn’t the terms of the contract. It’s trust. 5 It was almost seven when I got home. My husband was waiting at the door with a glass of warm milk. “What took you so long?” “Handing things over.” I slipped off my shoes and dropped my bag on the couch. He followed me and pressed the glass into my hand. “What did the company say?” “They told me to finish the handover today and not to come in tomorrow.” “What about the severance?” “Two months’ salary.” He stared at me. “You’ve been there six years. The law says you’re entitled to N+1.” “It should be about $120,000,” I said, sinking onto the couch and taking a sip of milk. “They’re only offering twenty grand.” My husband sat down next to me, silent for a moment. “What are you going to do?” “What do you think?” He looked at me. “I think you’re not the type to take this lying down.” I smiled. “You know me so well.” “Of course I do.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “So, tell me. How are you going to make them pay?” I leaned against him, staring at the ceiling. “I brought in the Astra Group account myself. Bonnie knows that Dominic and I were classmates. What she doesn’t know is that Dominic was the one who approached me three years ago. He had just been promoted to marketing director and needed a reliable agency. He chose me, not the company.” My husband understood. “So, if you leave, he leaves with you?” “Not necessarily,” I said, shaking my head. “Dominic’s a smart guy. He’s not going to sacrifice business for a personal relationship.” “Then what’s your leverage?” I picked up my phone and pulled up an email. “This is Astra Group’s internal procurement process. Every partnership has to go through three levels of approval: the marketing director, the procurement department, and the VP of Finance. Dominic is just the first gatekeeper.” My husband glanced at it. “And you can get past the other two?” “The head of procurement is a woman named Heather,” I said. “Last year, her son was applying to a private international school. The consultant quoted her $18,000. I called in a favor and got it done for five. She told me she owed me one.” My husband raised his eyebrows. “And the VP of Finance?” “The VP of Finance is a guy named Michael. I don’t know him. But,” I said, swiping to another email, “he just submitted his resignation last month. Next week is his last week. The new VP is an external hire and hasn’t started yet. Which means the renewal approval this week is basically just a formality on the finance end. As long as Dominic and Heather sign off, the contract will go through.” My husband was silent for a few seconds. “You had this all planned out?” “No,” I said, putting my phone down. “I honestly thought I would work at that company until I retired. I thought they saw my contributions. I thought Bonnie was my boss, not my enemy.” I closed my eyes. “They’re the ones who broke the rules first.” My husband didn’t speak, just tightened his arm around me. After a long moment, he said, “So, when are you going to make your move?” I opened my eyes. “Next Wednesday. The last day of the renewal window.” “That’s the day Bonnie is taking Jessica to Astra Group to sign the contract. She thinks she has it all figured out. She thinks Dominic will play along. She thinks the client won’t care who their contact person is.” I smiled. “I’m going to show her that that eighteen million dollars was never hers to begin with.”

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“Your husband got a half-million-dollar bonus this year! What are you guys doing for the holidays?” It was the company’s annual gala, and my husband Nathan’s colleague’s wife, Laura, was smiling at me. I froze. Half a million? Nathan told me it was five thousand. He said business was slow this year, that everyone took a pay cut. I stared at Laura’s genuine, smiling face, suddenly at a loss for words. “Oh, you know. The usual,” I heard myself say, my voice sounding distant and hollow. On the drive home, I replayed the last eight years in my mind. Business is slow. The company’s struggling. Just wait a little longer. I had been listening to those words for eight years. 1 When I got home, Nathan was on the sofa, scrolling through his phone. The TV was on, the volume barely a whisper. A half-empty glass of cold tea sat on the coffee table. “You’re back?” He glanced up at me for a second before his eyes returned to the screen. “How was the gala?” “It was fine.” I put down my purse and went to the kitchen for a glass of water. Standing at the kitchen doorway, I watched the back of his head. Eight years. We had been married for eight years, and he never let me manage our finances. “I’ll earn it, you’ll spend it,” he’d promised when we got married. But what had I spent in these eight years? The house we lived in, he bought before the wedding. The car was his before we married, too. The year I quit my job, he said, “Just stay home and take care of the kids. You’ve got me.” I believed him. “Nathan,” I said, walking over to sit beside him on the sofa. “How much was the year-end bonus?” His thumb froze over the screen. It was a tiny, almost imperceptible hesitation, but I saw it. “I told you. Five thousand. Business was slow this year.” “What about Kevin?” Kevin was in the same department as him, having joined the company two years after Nathan. “Him?” Nathan frowned. “Probably about the same. Why?” “No reason.” I didn’t press him further. But I remembered what Kevin’s wife, Laura, had said at the gala. “Your department did great this year! My husband got $400,000, so yours must have gotten even more.” Even more. That’s what she’d said. Even more. That night, after Nathan showered, he left his phone charging on the nightstand. I lay in bed, pretending to read. He went out to the balcony for a smoke. I stared at the phone, my heart hammering against my ribs. In eight years of marriage, I had never gone through his phone. He had never gone through mine. We were the kind of people who “respected each other’s privacy.” But tonight… My hand reached out and picked up the phone. I knew the passcode. Our wedding anniversary. I opened his messages, scrolling through the chat history. Nothing out of the ordinary. I opened his payment app and checked his transactions. Nothing there either. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding, about to put the phone down— When a single line item caught my eye. “Transfer to Bank Account ending in 8856: $35,000” Thirty-five thousand dollars? I scrolled down. The same account, last month: $28,000. The month before that: $32,000. And further back— Every single month. A transfer. The amounts varied, the lowest being twenty thousand, the highest fifty. My heart began to beat faster, a frantic, painful rhythm. I didn’t recognize that account number. It wasn’t any of our cards. The balcony door slid open. My hand trembled. I quickly placed the phone back on the nightstand and squeezed my eyes shut. Nathan came back to bed. He climbed in beside me and fell asleep almost instantly. But I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, until the sun came up. The next morning, after Nathan left for work, I dropped our daughter, Phoebe, at her kindergarten and didn’t go home. I went to the bank. “Hello, I’d like to check the account holder’s information for this card.” The teller glanced at me. “And you are?” “I’m his wife.” “I’m sorry, ma’am. We can’t disclose another person’s account information.” I paused, then forced a smile. “Of course. Thank you.” I walked out of the bank and stood on the sidewalk for a long time. Account ending in 8856. Twenty to thirty thousand dollars a month. That was three to four hundred thousand a year. Over eight years… I didn’t dare do the math. Back home, I opened my laptop and logged into Nathan’s email. The password was his mother’s birthday. I knew it by heart. I found his pay stubs. A monthly salary of $48,000. With benefits and bonuses, his annual income was nearly $800,000. Eight hundred thousand dollars. He had told me it was $300,000. He said business was slow, that everyone was taking pay cuts. He said the bonus was only five thousand, that I should be careful with money. And me? The last time I bought a coat for $200, he gave me the silent treatment for a week. “Why do you spend so much? It’s not like you don’t have clothes to wear.” I returned the coat. That afternoon, I went to a coffee shop near Nathan’s office. I wasn’t there to see him. I was there to see Laura, Kevin’s wife. We’d met a few times. We weren’t close, but we had each other’s numbers. “Sophie? What’s up?” Laura looked curious when she arrived. We rarely met up alone; she probably thought it was strange. “Nothing much, just wanted to chat,” I said, smiling as I ordered her a coffee. “I had to leave the gala in a hurry the other night, didn’t get to finish our conversation.” “Oh, really?” “Yeah.” I looked at her directly. “So you said your Kevin got a $400,000 bonus?” “That’s right,” Laura beamed. “It was a great year. He said their department was number one, and everyone’s bonus was up almost fifty percent from last year.” “So what about Nathan? He’s the department head. He must have gotten more, right?” Laura paused for a second. “I guess so? Kevin said Nathan got the biggest bonus in the department, something over half a million, he heard. Why?” I smiled. “No reason. Just curious.” Half a million dollars. He told me it was five thousand. When Nathan came home that evening, I had a full dinner waiting for him. Braised short ribs, sweet and sour fish—all his favorites. “What’s the special occasion?” he asked with a grin, taking a seat at the table. “Did I win the lottery?” “No reason. Just felt like cooking.” I served him a bowl of soup. “Nathan, how long have we been married?” “Eight years,” he said, picking up a piece of pork. “Why the sudden question?” “Eight years, and I’ve barely traveled anywhere,” I said. “How about we take Phoebe on a trip for the holidays this year?” “A trip?” Nathan’s brow furrowed. “Where to?” “Maybe Hawaii. Phoebe’s been saying she wants to see the ocean.” “Hawaii?” He put down his chopsticks. “That’s so expensive. Flights and hotels during the holidays would be tens of thousands.” “But didn’t you just get your bonus?” “It was only five thousand. What’s that going to cover?” he said, shaking his head. “Besides, I’m swamped with work after the new year. I don’t have time to go anywhere.” I just looked at him, saying nothing. He went back to eating as if nothing had happened. I suddenly remembered when Phoebe was three. I told him I wanted to take her to Disneyland. Nathan said it was too expensive. Maybe later. Phoebe is six now. “Later” still hadn’t come. After dinner, Nathan went to the balcony for his smoke. As I was clearing the table, his phone rang in the living room. I glanced at the screen. The contact was saved as “Mom.” But it wasn’t his mom. I had his mother’s number saved. The last four digits were 3344. This one ended in 6677. I answered the call. “Hello? Nathan? Max has a fever. Can you come over?” It was a woman’s voice. Young, with a hint of a sweet, wheedling tone. Max? Who was Max? “Who is this?” Her tone changed instantly. “Who’s on the phone?” I didn’t speak. Neither did she. Three seconds later, she hung up. I stood there, phone still in my hand, frozen. Nathan walked in from the balcony and saw the look on my face. He stopped. “What’s wrong?” I held the phone out to him. “Who is Max?” 2 The color drained from Nathan’s face. It was only for a second, but I saw it. Then he chuckled, taking the phone from me. “Max? Oh, that’s my subordinate’s son. She’s a single mom, things are tough for her. The kid got sick, she must have panicked and called me.” “A subordinate?” “Yeah, her name’s Isabelle. Just started last year. Her husband’s working abroad, so she’s raising the kid on her own.” He slipped the phone into his pocket. “I’m her boss. I have to help out sometimes.” I stared at him. He met my gaze, his expression open and honest. “You don’t believe me?” He smiled. “Fine, I’ll delete her contact. Here, you can watch.” He pulled out his phone, opened his contacts, and scrolled to a name. The profile picture was of a very young woman, posing with a little boy. The child looked about five or six, with a bright, happy smile. Nathan hit delete. “There. Happy?” He waggled the phone at me. “Seriously, you’re overthinking things.” I didn’t say a word. He patted my shoulder and walked into the bedroom. That night, he slept soundly. I didn’t. I waited until I was sure he was asleep, then quietly got out of bed and took his phone. He had deleted the contact, but not the call history. I found the number—the one ending in 6677. There were so many calls. At least two or three every week. Sometimes he called her, sometimes she called him. The longest one was forty-seven minutes. I wrote down the number, put the phone back, and returned to bed. The next day, I contacted a private investigator. It wasn’t that I couldn’t find things out myself. It was that I needed professional, undeniable proof. “This phone number. I need to know who it belongs to, where they live, and what they do.” The investigator was a man in his forties with a calm, seen-it-all expression. “Alright. You’ll have your answers in three days.” I went home, and life continued as normal. I cooked, took care of Phoebe, and waited for Nathan to get home from work. He acted just like he always did. Came home, ate dinner, scrolled on his phone, showered, and went to bed. As if nothing had happened. On the third day, the investigator called me. “Mrs. Davies, we have the results.” “Tell me.” “The number belongs to a Ms. Isabelle Reed. She’s thirty-two years old and currently resides at the Willow Creek Estates in the southern district.” Willow Creek Estates. I knew the place. A new luxury development that opened three years ago. The average price was over a million dollars for a condo. The place we lived in was worth a quarter of that. “She owns a 1,300-square-foot condo, which she moved into in 2022. She also has a car, a BMW X3, purchased in 2021.” “Did she buy the condo and the car herself?” “The property was paid for in cash,” the PI said, pausing for effect. “The payer was not her.” My knuckles went white as I gripped my phone. “Who was it?” “The system shows a wire transfer from a corporate account. The legal representative of that corporation is—Nathan Davies.” Nathan. I closed my eyes and took a deep, shaky breath. “What else?” “Isabelle Reed has a son. He’s eight years old, his name is Max. The father’s name is left blank on the birth certificate. However—” He paused again. “However?” “We checked through some other channels. The boy’s private kindergarten and elementary school tuition fees were all paid from Nathan Davies’s bank account. And every year, during winter and summer breaks, Nathan is the one who takes the boy on vacation.” I heard myself laugh. A quiet, dry, brittle sound. “Is there more?” “One last thing,” the investigator said. “The title deed for Ms. Reed’s condo has two names on it. Hers, and—” “Nathan Davies.” “Correct.” I hung up the phone and sat in my car for a long time, the engine off. Eight years old. The boy was eight years old. Nathan and I had been married for eight years. Our daughter, Phoebe, was six. That meant the boy existed before Phoebe was even born. Before we were married—no, wait. We got married in 2016. The boy was born in 2016. I thought back to the spring of 2016. Nathan and I had just gotten engaged and were planning the wedding. One night, he told me he had a last-minute work emergency and had to go on a business trip for three days. When he came back, he gave me a diamond necklace, saying he’d picked it up for me while he was away. I was so happy. I thought he loved me so much. It turned out he spent those three days with another woman while she gave birth to his son. I went home. Nathan wasn’t back from work yet. I sat alone in the living room, staring at our wedding photo on the wall. It was taken eight years ago. We were smiling so sweetly. I was twenty-six then. I had just quit a decent job at a good company, ready to become a full-time housewife after the wedding. Nathan had said, “Just relax and stay home. You’ve got me.” I believed him. Not only did I believe him, I was grateful. I thought I was the luckiest woman in the world to have found a man who wanted to provide for me. For eight years, I never bought a piece of clothing that cost more than fifty dollars. Because every time I bought something a little more expensive, Nathan would frown. “Our budget is tight. You need to be more frugal.” I switched my skincare from designer brands to drugstore ones. I swapped my designer-adjacent handbags for ones I found online. I even used the personal savings my mother gave me to help with household expenses. Because Nathan said business was slow, and he was under a lot of pressure. I felt sorry for him. I wanted to share his burden. And him? He bought another woman a luxury condo. He bought another woman a new car. He sent her tens of thousands of dollars every month, for eight straight years. Over eight years, that had to be at least three million dollars. I did a quick calculation. An average of $30,000 a month is $360,000 a year. Over eight years, that’s $2.88 million. Add the down payment on the condo, the car, the private school tuition— At least four million dollars. And what about me? How much money had I spent in those eight years? I tried to think, but I couldn’t calculate it. Because the amount was so small. So small I couldn’t even remember what I’d bought. At six o’clock, Nathan came home. “You didn’t cook tonight?” he asked, taking off his shoes and walking into the living room. I sat on the sofa, watching him. “Nathan.” “Yeah?” “Who is Isabelle Reed?” He stopped in his tracks. But he recovered almost instantly. “I already told you, she’s my subordinate.” “Then who is Max Reed?” This time, his expression finally cracked. “You’ve been investigating me?” “I wasn’t investigating you,” I said, standing up. “I was investigating the woman who’s been living off our family’s money for the past eight years—to the tune of four million dollars.” Nathan was silent. He stood by the doorway, not moving forward, not backing away. After a long moment, he sighed. “I was going to tell you, when the time was right.” I laughed. “The right time? You couldn’t find it in eight years?”

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My older sister, Penny, has brittle bone disease. Our home was a fortress of safety rails and padded corners. I was never allowed toys, running, or jumping, lest I distract or endanger Penny. This lasted until my eighth birthday. As I carried the cake to her, Mom’s sharp voice cut in: “Stand up straight, let me see!” She measured our heights — I was now taller than Penny. I felt a rush of pride. Maybe I could finally help more, protect her better. But when I turned, I saw devastation on Mom’s face. “What are you showing off for? If your sister wasn’t sick, she’d be taller than you by now!” Panicked, I stammered an explanation. The cake slipped from my hands and splattered on the floor. Trying to help, Penny lost her balance and fell. Mom shoved me aside and rushed to her. “Why do you have to upset her? Can’t you let her have one good day?” “Why couldn’t it have been you who got sick? Why aren’t you the one dying?” My hand tightened around the medical report in my pocket. Okay, Mom. … I’d been carrying that report with me for a week. Last week, when I went with Mom for Penny’s check-up, the doctor had stopped me, suggesting I get a quick exam as well. Mom was busy at the pharmacy window, picking up Penny’s prescriptions. Without even turning around, she’d said, “There’s nothing wrong with her. She’s as healthy as a horse.” When the results came back, I held the paper in my sweaty palm. I couldn’t read all the words, but I recognized the two that mattered: “brittle bone disease.” They were the exact same words written on my sister’s chart. The doctor told me I needed to wear braces, take medication, and come in for regular check-ups. He said a lot of things, but I only remember one question: “Your bones are already showing subtle signs of the condition. Does it hurt?” Yes. It hurt. A sharp, splitting pain whenever I turned over in my sleep, when I got out of bed in the morning, when I walked down the stairs. But I shook my head and forced a smile. “No, it doesn’t hurt.” I carefully folded the report and tucked it deep into my pocket. That evening, I worked up the courage to tell her, but I overheard Mom on the balcony, her voice a low, desperate plea. “Brenda, you know how sick my daughter is… can you please ask the foreman for another month’s advance on my paycheck? My daughter can’t wait.” The words died in my throat. I looked down at the corner of the report peeking out of my pocket and pushed it deeper inside. It was okay. My teacher always said, “first come, first served.” Penny got sick first, so she should be treated first. I could wait. I tiptoed into Penny’s room and quietly took a set of her old, worn-out braces. I clumsily strapped them on under my clothes. This way, I wouldn’t get hurt. I could definitely hold on until Penny was better. But the next day, as Mom was helping me with my jacket, her fingers brushed against the unnatural hardness on my arm. She ripped open my sleeve. When she saw the braces, her face turned to stone. “What is this? You’re stealing from your sister now? These things are for saving her life!” “Do you have any idea how expensive these are? You’re perfectly healthy. Are you wearing this to curse yourself, or are you cursing your sister?” I flinched, my eyes pleading with her. “No, Mom, I…” Mom cut me off. She raised her hand, held it there for a second, then let it fall, her shoulders trembling. “So young, and already so cruel.” “You see your sister suffering, and it makes you happy? You have to copy her just to spite me?” I took off the braces, folded them neatly, and placed them back by Penny’s bed, closing her door with a heavy heart. “I’m sorry, Mom.” It’s okay. I’ll just be extra careful, and then I won’t get hurt. As long as I’m careful enough, I can live for a long, long time. It wasn’t until Mom screamed those words at me—”Why don’t you just die?!”—that I finally understood. I was sick, but I couldn’t take Penny’s place. A single bottle of medicine cost so much money. Mom’s money was all for Penny. There wasn’t enough to share with me. But what if I died? Then Mom’s burden would be lighter. All the money, and all the love, could go to Penny, whole and complete. Mom was right. This was the best, most correct thing I could do. After Mom finished massaging Penny’s legs and giving her medicine, she carried her back to bed. Penny whispered, “Mom, don’t be mad at Annie. She didn’t do anything wrong. I was just clumsy.” Mom didn’t answer, just waved a tired hand. I hid behind the door, listening, my fingers gently rubbing the ribs where Mom had shoved me. When Mom came out, she froze for a second when she saw me. Her eyes were still red, her voice hoarse. “I’m leaving for work now. You watch your sister. Don’t cause any more trouble.” I nodded, rubbing my cheek against the hand she offered. Mom’s hands were always on Penny. For once, her touch lingered on me. Her palm was so warm, and her sleeve smelled faintly of soap. I had yearned for this for so, so long. She paused, gave my cheek a gentle squeeze, and then she was gone. The door clicked shut. I knelt by Penny’s door, listening until I was sure she was asleep, then I started to clean. I looked at the smashed cake on the floor and licked a bit of frosting from my fingertip. It was sweet. Such a waste. I scrubbed the stain from the floor, mopped until it shone, and folded the clean laundry into neat piles. Every time I bent over, a sharp pain shot through my spine. I bit my lip and told myself it was okay. It’s okay. This is the last time I’ll have to help Mom. I looked around the tidy apartment, nodding with satisfaction. I dragged a chair over to the wall cabinet and took down the family first-aid box. My teacher said you should never take medicine without a grown-up, or you could die. I was glad I had paid attention in class. I knew exactly how to die. I rummaged through the box. This was Mom’s sleeping medicine. I had to leave that for her. Can’t take it. This was Dad’s pain medicine. Can’t take that either. This was Penny’s medicine. It was very, very expensive. I put it carefully back in the very corner. I kept searching, and finally, I had a small pile of colorful, rarely used pills. I cupped them in my palm. They looked like a tiny, rainbow-colored mountain. I slid the chair to the refrigerator and took out the strawberry milk Mom had given me as a reward last week. I hadn’t been able to bring myself to drink it. But the medicine would be bitter. If I couldn’t swallow it all and didn’t die, I would just cause Mom more trouble. I hesitated, then poured half of it into a glass. I put the cap back on the other half and placed it back in the fridge for Penny when she woke up. I carefully locked the front door. I knelt by my bed and, from under the mattress, pulled out the award certificates I’d never been allowed to display. I smoothed them out, one by one, and then placed them back under the mattress with my medical report. Finally, I climbed onto my little bed. From under my pillow, I took out my savings: three twenty-dollar bills, seven tens, one five, and five dimes. Some of it was saved from my lunch money, some from selling scrap I’d collected, and some from doing homework for classmates. I wrote on a slip of paper: “For a new wheelchair cushion for Penny. She says her current one hurts.” I placed the money and the note in the very center of the table, where Mom would see it the moment she walked in. There. Everything was taken care of. Now I could die in peace. I swallowed the pills with the half-glass of strawberry milk. It was fragrant and sweet, and it covered the bitter taste of the medicine. Strawberry milk was so delicious. Penny would definitely like it. I lay down, pulled the covers up to my chin, and folded my hands over my stomach. On TV, people who died peacefully always looked like this. When Mom came home and saw the clean house and the money I’d left, she would feel a little bit of relief, right? Dad wouldn’t have to work three jobs at once anymore, and Mom wouldn’t have to beg for advances on her paycheck. And Penny… Penny could have all the love. My breathing got lighter. My body felt like it was sinking and floating at the same time. I squeezed my eyes shut, afraid to open them. The pain in my ribs was fading, replaced by a spreading numbness. What a strange feeling. Suddenly, I missed Mom so much. And Dad. Last month, when Dad left for his long-haul job, he promised he’d bring me strawberry chocolate when he came back. It’s a shame I’ll never get to taste it. When I opened my eyes again, I was looking down at myself, lying on the bed. So this is what it’s like to die. It doesn’t hurt. It just feels… light.

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After getting into college, I delivered food for DoorDash to earn tuition because my family was poor. When my dad found out, he scolded me for embarrassing him, tore up my acceptance letter, and forced me to drop out and work in a factory. Mom tried to stop him, but he pushed her down, causing a miscarriage, and she ended up in the hospital. To pay for the medical bills, I started delivering food secretly again. Until I delivered a birthday cake to a mansion and saw a woman sitting on my dad’s lap, flirting. “Mr. Franklin, it’s been twenty years. Haven’t you had enough of playing the ‘poor game’ with that mother and daughter?” Dad laughed: “You don’t understand. Watching a fallen heiress willingly wash clothes and cook for me is much more interesting than being a CEO.” The woman asked again: “Then your daughter…” “Eh, it’s your birthday today. Don’t mention that bad luck charm,” Dad said mockingly. I turned and left, my heart completely cold. Later, I found a new husband for my mom. Why is this fake-poor dad begging Mom to come back with his fortune in hand? Chapter 1 Carrying the takeout, I rang the doorbell of the mansion. The butler who opened the door disliked the rain on me and made me use the servants’ stairs. Reaching the last step, I habitually turned on my phone, preparing to record a simple delivery confirmation video. But as I was filming, my blood froze instantly. At the head of the hall, the man surrounded by people, wearing an expensive silk shirt I had never seen before, was my dad. Around him were well-dressed men and women. Someone pushed playfully, and a woman in a silver sequined long dress with exquisite makeup giggled and fell onto his lap. “Mr. Franklin, it’s been twenty years. Haven’t you had enough of playing the ‘poor game’ with that mother and daughter?” The woman’s voice came through the faint music. Dad laughed loudly, his arm naturally wrapping around the woman’s waist. “You don’t understand. A fallen heiress willingly washing clothes and cooking for me is much more interesting than being a CEO.” The woman covered her mouth laughing, then asked: “The heiress is your fun, I get it. But what about your daughter? Heard…” Dad raised his hand directly, gently blocking her lips with his finger, a playful smile on his face: “Bad luck outsider, what’s there to mention.” He looked around at everyone present and raised his voice: “Today, only you are my leading lady.” The woman exclaimed, cheeks flushing red. Dad laughed heartily again and clapped his hands. Immediately, someone presented a deep blue velvet gift box. He opened it. Inside lay a necklace, the main diamond dazzling even from a distance. He personally put it on the woman, the diamond refracting cold, brilliant light on her neck. The woman also smilingly took off the old watch on Dad’s wrist and threw it downstairs casually. She took out a new watch and put it on Dad: “Mr. Franklin, that one doesn’t suit you.” Flattery erupted around them. “Sister Chloe is so lucky. This ‘Tear of the Stars’ must be worth ten million? Mr. Franklin bought it just like that!” “Tsk tsk, that yellow-faced woman Fiona saved money to buy Mr. Franklin a watch? Heard it was only three thousand? Even my servant would find it shabby!” “Exactly, Fiona only holds the title of a wife with a marriage certificate. How can she compete with our Sister Chloe…” Amidst the buzzing discussion and laughter, the woman named Chloe triumphantly lifted her face and exchanged a lingering kiss with Dad again. I held my phone, cold tears sliding down my cheeks. Dad’s watch was exchanged for Mom embroidering a complex tapestry for a whole month. Mom embroidered until her fingers were pricked with countless tiny holes, until her eyes were almost blind, until her neck started to hurt. But she still smiled and said to me: Crystal, your dad and my 20th wedding anniversary is coming. He loves face, Mom is giving him a good watch. But the watch Mom almost went blind stitching stitch by stitch. Dad just let another woman throw it away like trash so easily. I trembled all over, pressed the stop recording button, put the cake on the stair corner, and turned to leave. Ring ring ring… The phone rang. The screen flashed with the word “Mom.” My heart clenched violently, and I immediately pressed the hang-up button. Just after doing all this, footsteps came from the stairs. “Cake delivery?” A waiter-like person walked over. I lowered my head, mumbled a vague “Mmhmm,” and went downstairs quickly. Just sitting on the e-bike, the phone in my pocket rang again. Still Mom. I took a deep breath and pressed answer: “Mom?” “Crystal,” Mom’s voice came from the other end, tired, “Did I disturb your delivery just now?” Chapter 2 “No, didn’t disturb.” I cleared my throat, “Signal was bad in the elevator just now.” “Oh, that’s good.” Mom paused, a trace of imperceptible nervousness in her tone, “Crystal, why is your voice a bit hoarse?” My heart soured, immediately raising my pitch a bit to cover up: “Someone was smoking in the elevator just now, choked me.” Silence for a few seconds on the other end, Mom sighed: “Then be careful, come back early.” “Mmhmm.” I hung up the phone. After delivering the last order, I bought a small cake and went to the hospital. Gently pushing open the ward door, Mom was half-leaning on the bed, pale but peaceful. And Dr. Gold, who was in charge of her ward, was facing away from the door, leaning slightly, saying something. “Okay, I will follow the doctor’s orders and eat well.” Mom nodded promising. Dr. Gold’s expression softened. “Crystal is back?” Next second, Mom saw me and waved. Dr. Gold straightened up and turned around. Seeing me, his smile deepened: “Good child, tired? Rest a bit, your mom is recovering well.” “Thank you, Dr. Gold.” I walked into the ward and thanked him sincerely. After Mom was hospitalized, Dad didn’t have time to come. It was Dr. Gold who ran around helping settle Mom down. Dr. Gold nodded, instructed Mom to “rest well” again, and turned to leave. I walked to the bedside, Mom seemed to come back to her senses. “Dr. Gold was checking the room?” I asked casually, not wanting Mom to see my face, looking down to open the delivery box and take out the small cake. “Ah, yes.” Mom’s voice was a bit light, “Dr. Gold is very responsible.” “Indeed, he even advanced the medical bills for us.” I nodded in agreement, smilingly handing the cake to Mom: “Mom, the cake shop messed up the pattern on this one.” “The shop owner lady knows me, sold it to me for five bucks.” Mom handed the cake back to me: “You haven’t eaten, you eat first.” “What delicious food are you eating?” The ward door was pushed open violently. A tall figure appeared at the door. It was my “poor” dad who couldn’t afford medical bills, Franklin. “Cake, I asked Crystal to buy it back.” Mom spoke first, winking at me simultaneously. I quietly pushed the delivery box by my feet under the bed. Dad had already walked in. He took out a stack of frayed banknotes from his pocket and placed them by Mom’s hand. “Fiona, this month’s salary is settled, three thousand. You use it first, check whatever needs checking, don’t save.” Mom looked at the money, her eyes red instantly. She put the cake on the bedside table, then held Dad’s hand. “Why are your hands so cold.” Mom was full of heartache, “Rained on again?” “It’s all my fault. If not for my bad health, you wouldn’t have to work so hard…” She couldn’t go on, tears rolling down. “Don’t talk nonsense.” Dad immediately held Mom’s hand tightly back. He lowered his head, Adam’s apple rolled, and when he spoke again, his voice was a bit hoarse: “I didn’t take good care of you. Don’t worry about money, I’m here.” Warmth filled the ward. But I remembered Dad’s face in the villa, spending money like water, hugging beauty and laughing. A wave of nausea rushed to the top of my head. I couldn’t help speaking, voice cold and hard: “Mom, you’ve done enough. At least, much better than some people who are clearly clean but insist on pretending to be dusty and dirty.” Voice fell, Dad looked up sharply at me. Chapter 3 “Crystal, what do you mean by that?” I pinched his dry and clean sleeve, sneering: “You earned this hard money, but you are quite clean.” “If people didn’t know better, they’d think you work in an office, not a factory!” Slap! Dad swung his arm. My cheek burned. “Franklin!” Mom screamed, propping herself up. Dad raised his hand again. Slap! The slap landed on Mom’s face. Dad’s hand froze in mid-air. His face changed drastically, sweeping the small cake on the bedside table to the floor. “Loving mother spoils the child! Eat eat eat, I let you eat!” He kicked the scattered cake away, then strode out of the ward. Dead silence in the ward. Mom covered her mouth, tears flowing silently. Looking at the sweet mess on the floor, I felt my heart was also covered with a layer of cold cream, suffocating. After cleaning up the cake, I suppressed all churning emotions back to the bottom of my heart, rasping: “Mom, I’ll go to the cafeteria to get you some food.” Almost escaping, I pulled open the ward door and walked out. Once out, I saw Dad leaning against the cold tiled wall, arms crossed, head down. Hearing the sound, he looked up. “Didn’t eat dinner, for you.” Dad walked over heavily, handing me the hospital meal box. I didn’t take it. He took out two boiled eggs from his pocket again: “Apply on your face, don’t leave marks.” I still didn’t take it, just staring at him: “Dad, what exactly do you want to do?” “Do you love Mom, love me or not?” I finally couldn’t help asking. Dad frowned: “Why ask this? Dad of course…” Ring ring ring— Phone ringtone interrupted him. He answered in front of me. A woman’s commanding voice came from the other end: “Franklin, time to come back for overtime!” “Yes yes yes, Supervisor, I’ll be right back!” He bowed and scraped to the phone, hung up, and showed an apologetic look to me, “Crystal, factory needs overtime. Tell your mom I won’t be back tonight.” Saying that, he stuffed the meal box and eggs into my hands, turned and left hurriedly. Looking at his back, tears rolled down. What supervisor, clearly Chloe. I could recognize that voice. I dug my nails into my palm, wiped my tears. Back in the ward, Mom’s eyes were still red. I put down the meal box, asking softly: “Mom, can we not live with Dad?” Mom was stunned, then held my hand urgently: “Silly child, what nonsense are you talking about?” “Your dad loves us. He’s just under pressure. When you were sick as a child, he guarded you day and night…” These words again. I numbly said “Oh” and stopped talking. At night, Mom slept. I went out with the thermos. Coming back, I heard Dad’s suppressed roar outside the ward. “I work myself to death outside, and you are lovey-dovey with your first love here?” I pushed the door open hurriedly, seeing Dad grabbing Dr. Gold’s collar, eyes red. Mom cried defending: “No, Dr. Gold was just checking the room…” Dr. Gold tried to break free: “Mr. Franklin, you misunderstood!” Dad didn’t listen, punched Dr. Gold in the face, turning to Mom with a hideous look. I rushed in, blocking in front of Mom. “Franklin, enough!” “When you celebrated Chloe’s birthday in the villa, when you hugged and kissed, did you think of Mom?” “What deep affection are you pretending now!” Voice fell, Mom forgot to cry, eyes wide open. And Dad’s lips trembled, seeming to want to say something. Crying, I took out my phone from my pocket and clicked on that video… Dad’s face lost all color instantly. Next second, panic turned into tangible ferocity. He pounced like a beast to snatch the phone. Prepared, I turned sideways to protect it firmly. “Give it to me, that’s fake, synthesized.” His eyes were splitting, veins on forehead throbbing. Mom struggled to get up, voice trembling… Chapter 4 “Franklin, Crystal, what are you doing? What video?” Her pale face was full of bewilderment. Dad froze because of her voice. In this second, I handed the phone over. Screen lit up. In the paused frame, Dad’s profile hugging Chloe was incredibly clear under the brilliant villa lights. “Fiona, don’t believe it, listen to me…” Dad’s pleading stuck in his throat. Mom didn’t look at him. She took the phone, fingertips trembling, but clicked play with abnormal firmness. Volume not high, but those words, frivolous, flattering, malicious, still drilled into the dead air like snakes. “A fallen heiress willingly washing clothes and cooking for me…” “Bad luck outsider, what’s there to mention…” “Fiona that yellow-faced woman…” I saw Mom’s shoulders starting to shake slightly, then violently. She stared at the screen, eyes wide open, pupils dilating bit by bit, breathing rapid. Video ended. Phone slipped from her completely powerless hand, smashing on the floor with a PA. She maintained the head-down posture, solidified. “Fiona, that’s a misunderstanding, just acting on occasion.” Dad stepped forward, reaching out to touch her. Mom’s body swayed slightly, like a puppet with broken strings, falling backward straight. “Mom!” “Fiona!” Dad and I screamed simultaneously. Dad reacted faster, opening arms to catch. But a white figure was faster than him. Dr. Gold rushed over agilely, arm steadily supporting Mom’s sliding body, other hand already checking her neck pulse. “Fiona!” He called urgently in a low voice, no calmness of a doctor at all, face full of panic. Dad’s arms missed, looking at Mom, ashen-faced in Dr. Gold’s arms. He froze for a moment, then raged: “Let go of her, give her to me!” He reached out to snatch. I used all my strength to rush forward, pushing him away fiercely. Caught off guard, he stumbled into a chair. I blocked in front of Dr. Gold and Mom, every word quenched in ice. “Franklin, you don’t deserve to touch her.” “It’s you, you made Mom like this.” Dad froze. Dr. Gold ignored us. He had quickly laid Mom flat, pressed the call bell, and ordered the arriving nurse clearly. “Patient emotional shock, blood pressure and heart rate unstable, prepare for emergency room!” He bent down, carefully picking Mom up onto the gurney, movements gentle as treating fragile porcelain. Then, he pushed the bed, rushing out the door without looking back. Dad woke up from a dream, wanted to chase. “Franklin,” I blocked him, stopping his steps, “Chasing now, is it to perform ‘deep affection’, or afraid Mom wakes up and says more things you don’t know?”

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Eight years ago, Mom and River were diagnosed with leukemia at the same time. As the only one in the family with a matching blood type, I became their only hope. At first, my blood was enough. But eight years is too long. By the third year, the doctor told me I needed to find other ways. Sometimes, money can’t solve everything… I was humiliated by men lurking outside the hospital, taken advantage of by those matching my blood type. Even taken to an underground bar in the suburbs to perform “vulgar” shows. But every time I thought about bags of fresh blood flowing into Mom and River’s bodies, making them feel a bit better, I felt everything was worth it. Until I went to the Director’s office, begging him to let me pay the medical bills two days late. I saw Mom and River chatting and laughing inside… Dr. Young’s familiar voice came out: “That’s enough! It’s been eight years. How long do you want to fake this illness? Just because of that small incident eight years ago, torturing Luna like this is too much!” “How can it be a small incident!” River’s voice came out. “Stella has severe anemia, and Luna was so careless to scratch her hand! That was life-threatening!” “A scratch?! Not even the size of a fingernail!” “Alright, Dr. Young, I know what I’m doing. After all, it has been eight years. I see Stella’s mood has improved a lot recently. I will end this soon…” “In the days to come, as her brother, I will spoil Luna desperately to make it up to her…” I stuffed my bony fist into my mouth, forcing myself not to make a sound. Make it up? I’m afraid there’s no chance… Chapter 1 “Make it up?!” Dr. Young suddenly raised his voice. “Do you know what Luna has gone through in these eight years?!” “Her small body has to support two adults like you. At first, you still had some humanity, asking for surgery once a month. She at least had time to recover. But later, you demanded it once a week! Didn’t you think she couldn’t take it?!” “Dr. Young, your words are too harsh…” Mom, who had been silent, finally couldn’t stand it. “We did our homework. Human blood can regenerate. It’s just Luna suffering a few needle pricks. But eight years ago, Stella faced life-threatening danger. This punishment is already very light…” “Enough, Dr. Young.” Mom’s lips curled into a smile. “I know you medical people are rigorous and like to exaggerate things. But I know my child. I raised Luna with love. She is very healthy. Unlike Stella, who grew up in foster care, her body is extremely weak and can’t stand any harm…” “Healthy?! In the third year, Luna didn’t have enough blood. Do you know what those men squatting outside the hospital do?!” “How many times, when Luna was pushed into the operating room, her chest, her abdomen, were covered with marks of being… abused! She is a beautiful girl, didn’t you ever think…” “Dr. Young.” River interrupted Dr. Young. Handed him a cigarette. “Of course I know what those people do. But eight years ago, I instructed the family’s subordinates to protect Luna. They report to me every day. Those lowlifes outside won’t do anything to her.” I pulled my cap lower, curling up into a ball outside the office. The scars from being bitten last night began to throb with pain. Eight years. Can’t remember how many times I was tied up and thrown into a room. But I never saw any of the people River said were protecting me… In those nauseating moments, I screamed desperately for help. Except for suffering more excessive treatment, only boundless despair remained… “Dr. Young, what’s wrong with you today? Why so emotional?” River’s words pulled me out of the memories filled with humiliation and fear. Dr. Young suddenly lost his temper. Extinguished the cigarette in his hand, slamming his fist on the desk. “Of course I’m emotional! Because if this game happens again, Luna’s body…” “Whose body?!” Dr. Young was only halfway through when a figure with a strong perfume scent ran past me. Pushed the door open and rushed into Dr. Young’s office. Stella held River’s arm, looking at the heaving Dr. Young, speaking coquettishly. “Uncle Young, what made you so angry? I heard you talking about Sister? What’s wrong with Sister’s body?” “Yes, I’m talking about your sister. Her body…” “Dr. Young!” River stood up abruptly, interrupting Dr. Young sternly. “Don’t mention that bad luck charm in front of Stella!” Then turned around, hugging Stella, comforting her gently. “Didn’t mention her. We were talking about you. Dr. Young said your health is much better…” In their mouths, I am a bad luck charm… I, who endure severe pain and humiliation every day to extend their lives, am a bad luck charm… Dr. Young slammed the door and left in anger. The huge sound of the door closing made my head dizzy. Couldn’t hold it back, bleugh, vomited all over the floor… Chapter 2 To ensure the health of my blood, I swallow a handful of pills and high-protein food every day. These things make the smell of my vomit exceptionally pungent. Waves of sour rot spread out, and I vomited uncontrollably again. “Oh my god, what smells so disgusting!” The pungent smell made Stella scream inside the office. She rushed out. Seeing me curled up on the floor wearing a baseball cap, she instantly raised her voice. “Hey! Who are you! Why vomit outside the Director’s office! So disgusting, clean it up quickly!” Stella’s screeching attracted passersby. “Hey! Isn’t that the girl who hangs out with those lowlife men at the hospital gate all day?” “Yes! That’s her! I just saw her get off that man’s van with my own eyes. Before getting off, that man even grabbed her ass. How did such a little slut come to the Director’s office?” “Let’s go, let’s go. Looking at such a shameless bitch makes me sick…” Hearing their discussion, Stella immediately pinched her nose. Shouting towards the office. “Brother, come look! How does Uncle Young manage the hospital? Letting any dirty thing in? Look at her, she vomited in front of me, so disgusting!” “Clean it up!” River’s suppressed roar came from above. I was about to look up, get up… Stella stepped forward and pressed my head, pushing me directly onto that pile of vomit. “What are you looking at!” “Clean up this filth! Are you deaf?!” I was pressed firmly onto the filth. In the narrow space, every deep breath I took sucked the filth back into my nose and mouth. “You’re eating it?! Disgusting to death! If you like it, eat it all!” Stella pressed my head harder. While pressing me, she looked up at River, making retching sounds. Seeing this, River quickly pulled Stella into his arms. Then stepped on my head, his tone losing all patience. “Hurry up!” I had no strength to lift my head anymore… Yeah, what was I thinking just now? Deluding myself that they would feel guilty seeing me and love me as before? But eight years. If they had any regret, today wouldn’t have happened, right? Tears mixed with filth were swallowed into my mouth. So bitter… That large pile of filth was “cleaned up” by me. Above my head came Stella’s crying voice. “Brother, so annoying. I was in a good mood today, but met such a dirty thing. Her stubborn look really resembles my annoying sister…” Before Stella finished, I felt a scrutinizing gaze on me. River, who had intended to walk away. Suddenly stopped and looked back at me. He seemed to want to turn back and look carefully. But Stella cried out. “Brother, why did Sister refuse to apologize to me eight years ago? Clearly she hurt me. Does she dislike me? Was I always superfluous? Brother, every time I think of this, I feel so sad…” The head that just turned back turned away again. Stopped steps moved forward again. “Don’t talk nonsense. You are Mom and Brother’s most beloved treasure. How could you be superfluous? If anyone is superfluous, it’s her!” “Stella don’t be angry, Brother will teach her a lesson right now!” With that, River took out his phone to call me. Mom, who hadn’t spoken, blocked him. “River, maybe don’t call? I just heard Dr. Young imply Luna suffered a lot these years…” “Mom! Why are you becoming as nagging as Dr. Young? Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing!” River interrupted Mom. Dialed my number. They had already turned downstairs, not hearing the ringtone in my pocket as I lay on the filth… I answered with trembling hands. River’s usual weak voice sounded on the other end. “Luna, come to the hospital quickly, save… save Brother…” Chapter 3 When the flustered nurses brought me to the operating room after I cleaned myself up in the bathroom. I saw Dr. Young who had slammed the door and left… “Luna, blood donation is voluntary. You can refuse. If you…” “Dr. Young, your wife just called. Said your group of friends went to your house again.” The nurse’s words froze Dr. Young in place. For eight years, every time before my surgery. Dr. Young’s house would be visited by such a group of “guests.” I grew up in the Gu family, I understood too well what these “guests” do. “Luna…” Guilt and heartache flowed in the eyes of this elderly man. I forced a smile and lay on the operating bed myself. “It’s okay, Dr. Young. Let’s start.” “Luna, your body really can’t take it anymore. One more time, I’m afraid…” “Dr. Young, hurry up. Auntie is waiting for you for dinner at home.” How could I not know the state of my own body? Really don’t want innocent people involved anymore. Let me bear this sin alone… Minutes later, I saw the extremely weak River inside the operating room. River, pale-faced, tremblingly stepped forward and held my hand. “Sorry, Luna. Blame Brother’s useless body. Sometimes Brother really wants to smash his head and die here…” Scalding tears fell from River’s eyes. But when they hit the back of my hand, I could only feel coldness… I broke free from the wrist held by those withered hands. Looking at this brother who was chatting and laughing just now but looks haggard at this moment. Must be that punishing me, the bad luck charm, cost him a lot of effort these years too. Clearly such a robust person. At this moment, thin as a skeleton… “Luna, ultimately Mom and Brother failed you…” Mom’s trembling cry brought back my thoughts. She rushed in disheveled, wearing a large hospital gown. Seeing me, she hugged me tightly. Mom used too much force, pressing on the wounds from being tortured last night, causing piercing pain. “Mrs. Gu, is your health bad again?! Both of you again?!” Dr. Young looked at Mom with bloodshot eyes, questioning in disbelief. Through the mirror, I clearly saw Mom winking at Dr. Young non-stop. Sure enough, Dr. Young stopped talking the next second. Perhaps to cover up Dr. Young’s emotion just now. Mom cried even harder. “Luna, why don’t you go live your own life? Mom really doesn’t want to delay you anymore…” I broke free from her embrace, staring into her red eyes, rasping. “Is that really okay?” Instantly, the huge operating room became deathly silent… Mom’s expression changed awkwardly and quickly like a clown. Finally, River broke the terrible silence. “Mom, look at you, why say this! Eight years, if Luna wanted to leave, she would have left long ago. She is my flesh and blood, meat from your belly. Can she watch us die?” “Yes, Mom, Brother is right. I am meat from your belly, his flesh and blood. Even if I exchange my life for yours, I am willing…” An unknown emotion flashed in River’s eyes. Looked like guilt, or maybe heartache. But it has nothing to do with me anymore… Urged by the nurse, the three of us lay back on the operating beds… Chapter 4 Eight years. This surgery took an exceptionally long time. I even saw Grandma, who passed away long ago, in my dream. She called my name over and over in the dream. She said if I felt no one loved me, go find her… I want to find her so much. I almost touched Grandma’s warm rough hands… “Luna? Wake up!” Woke up in a daze, finding myself in a ward. The person calling me was Dr. Young. “You’ve been asleep for three days…” Dr. Young tucked me in. “Luna, after eight years of treatment, your brother and mom’s condition has improved a lot. You won’t need to enter the operating room with them anymore. Your body has been ruined in these eight years. Rest well for the remaining days…” Finished, before I could reply. Dr. Young shook his head sighing and left. Clearly good news. But why did Dr. Young look so bad… I looked around and saw tubes all over my body. Turns out this isn’t a ward, this is the ICU. Looks like that day is really coming… I wanted to sleep a bit more, talk to Grandma in my dream. But just closed my eyes, the ward door was kicked open from outside. Stella rushed in and slapped my face. “Gu Nanyue (Luna), what are you pretending for?! Think lying here will make Mom and Brother care about you?! Dream on!” “Gu Nanxing (Stella), some things, even if you snatch them, aren’t yours…” I summoned my last strength, enduring the stinging pain all over my body to say this. Before I finished, I was interrupted by Stella gritting her teeth. “Who says so! I’ll show you today, what I snatch is mine forever!” Voice just fell, Stella took out a dagger from her pocket, slicing straight at her own forearm. Then screamed towards outside. “Brother, Mom, help! Sister wants to kill me…” Before voice fell, River kicked open the door and rushed in. Seeing blood flowing from Stella’s forearm, River hugged her. Looking at me with eyes full of hatred. “Luna! What are you doing! Just now Dr. Young told us you were sick, we were worried! Didn’t expect you were faking it!” “Never seen a patient who can get up and hurt people with a knife! Who are you putting on this act for!” Mom bandaged Stella’s wound in panic while glaring at me. “You evil creature, shouldn’t have pitied you! Don’t think just because you gave blood for eight years, you can do whatever you want in this house. Dream on!” “Mom, Brother, I’m scared. Why did Sister fake illness to harm me? Maybe I should leave our home, go back to foster care…” Stella’s words completely ignited the anger in River’s eyes. He lunged at me. “Let you pretend!” “Let you harm Stella with evil intentions!” He cursed while tearing off all the tubes on my body. Then dragged Mom and Stella away without looking back. Ignoring the red lights lighting up everywhere and the ear-piercing beeping of those devices… Don’t remember how long passed. Dr. Young rushed in with a group of people. He frantically plugged those tubes back into me. But I knew, it was useless… “Dr… Young, stop busy…” “Child, tell Uncle Young any request, Uncle fulfills it…” “Call Brother and Mom, let them come back…” Consciousness fading, I seemed to really see Grandma. White cloth slowly covered me. Just as it covered my head. I saw River and Mom rushing in recklessly…

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At the ten-year high school reunion. My deskmate suddenly asked me: “Do you still hate Lucas for suddenly changing his college choice and leaving you alone in Boston?” I smiled and swirled the wine in my glass: “I stopped hating him long ago. If I hadn’t gone to Boston alone, I wouldn’t have abandoned my love-struck brain to focus on my studies and successfully get my Master’s.” I casually revealed the ring on my finger: “I’m getting married next month. Everyone is welcome to come. Honestly, I have to thank him.” As soon as these words came out, the private room fell silent. Everyone looked at the man who crushed the wine glass in his hand. His eyes were terrifyingly red, staring dead at me, blood mixed with wine dripping down. I was surprised by his breakdown. After all, two hours before the commitment deadline back then, Just because of one sentence from the Prom Queen, he suddenly changed his choice from MIT Architecture to UCLA. The class group chat exploded instantly: “What about his little tail, Clara? You two swore to be the MIT twin stars since middle school!” Lucas seemed to just remember this, his reply carrying a careless smile: “She has my account password, she definitely saw I changed it immediately. She’ll change hers too. For so many years, when has she ever truly left me?” “Lucas you’re the man! As expected of you!” “Clara is your human accessory. She carried your shoes and water for every game in high school, how could she bear to separate?” I didn’t listen any further. I turned around, stuffed the sneakers I just retrieved for Lucas into his locker. And left the gym silently. That day, I didn’t log into the account carved in my brain again. Nor did I follow him to change my choice from MIT to UCLA. He probably didn’t know. He could go to LA for Jessica’s insecurity, and I also had a distance I must reach. That dream that supported me through countless nights of drawing. Was never just for him. Chapter 1 Getting into MIT Architecture together was an oath we made while munching on Cheetos on the old playground in eighth grade. A week before the application deadline, our parents even sat together, carefully circling the admission plans. Now, he changed it lightly. Too lazy to even say hello. In the class group chat, Dave was still asking: “Lucas, are you sure Clara will log into your account to check again? What if she didn’t notice at all?” Lucas scoffed, with a habitual certainty: “More than just checking? Don’t I know her?” “She checks ten times a day, cares more about mine than her own, afraid of any mistake that would separate us.” His tone revealed a bit of helplessness. “You guys won’t understand, I’ve had this little tail since I was a kid, used to it.” Then, a burst of knowing laughter came from the group. At this moment, I sent a message using my alt account: “Lucas, isn’t this a bit unfair? At least tell Clara.” Lucas sounded a bit annoyed: “Forgot, and too lazy to explain.” “If she knows I changed it for Jessica, she’ll ask endlessly again.” “Besides, I didn’t change it blindly. With Jessica’s mom’s situation, she’s panicked going to LA alone. With an acquaintance looking after her, she’ll feel safer.” The group was quiet for a moment. “True… given Jessica’s conditions and family situation, it is worrying.” “Unlike your Clara, a nerd who only knows how to draw blueprints. Standing next to the Prom Queen, she does lack something.” “Tsk, giving up the dream MIT Architecture for this, Lucas is loyal!” … Looking at the conversation in the group. I clenched my fists, nails digging into my palms, but felt no pain. A chill rushed up from the soles of my feet, freezing my limbs stiff. I really wanted to rush in and ask Lucas clearly. But my feet seemed nailed to the floor. In the end, I just turned silently and walked out of the gym gate. Chapter 2 Locked myself in the room. Those words echoed repeatedly in my mind. Still couldn’t figure it out. How could he give up the MIT Architecture he longed for? We stayed up late together for so many years, models we made filling half the study. Just an hour ago, I was still foolishly excited about the side-by-side future. But I never expected. It turned out the dual blueprint I tried my best to construct. He would tear it up casually just for someone else’s panic. Even if he wanted to change, why was it too troublesome to even tell me? Is he so afraid of my entanglement? Since he’s afraid of entanglement, what about the kiss with tentative breaths in the cool night breeze on the rooftop on my seventeenth birthday? Was it just a joke he started on a whim, but I took it seriously? Something in my heart shattered with a click. Actually, I didn’t have to stick to him. From elementary to high school, I went to the same school and same class as Lucas. Everyone, including Lucas himself, thought I would follow him forever, like a shadow that never disappears. But no one knew, besides wanting to be with him, I chose MIT Architecture for another unshakable reason. Unrelated to Lucas. Even without him, I would go. I closed the browser I opened unconsciously. Didn’t look at the familiar application page again. And there was not a single thought of changing my choice for him. He can rush thousands of miles for Jessica, and I also have a distance I must reach. Since we have different directions, those entangled pasts need not be asked. Thinking it through, the boulder on my chest loosened. No big deal. As my mom often says, one has to pave one’s own way. As for that kiss… Just treat it as being bitten by a stray dog. The phone buzzed, Lucas’s name jumping on the screen. My brain resisted, but my finger habitually swiped to answer. “Clara the Nerd, what’s taking so long?” “Everyone is here, just waiting for you to start the feast! Hurry up, sent you the location of our usual spot.” It was the farewell dinner after graduation, Lucas’s group took turns hosting, today was his turn. But I didn’t want to go anymore. “Not going, you guys eat.” Before I finished, a deliberately softened female voice came from the receiver. “Lucas, Clara won’t come, is it because she doesn’t welcome me joining your small circle?” It was Jessica. Before Lucas could speak, Dave’s loud voice snatched the lead: “No way, Queen! We are honored to have you!” “Clara is just a bit stubborn, gets awkward whenever a girl gets close to Lucas, get used to it.” The video screen shook, Jessica’s delicate side profile appeared on the edge of Lucas’s lens, very close. She whispered considerately: “Lucas, maybe I should leave first? Don’t want to make you guys unhappy because of me.” Lucas’s face darkened immediately, reaching out to press her shoulder: “Jessica, you don’t need to leave.” “Clara doesn’t know what crazy fit she’s throwing today, let her be.” “Not waiting, let’s eat.” He threw me a cold sentence and cut the video directly. A nameless fire rushed straight to the top of my head. I dragged all of Lucas’s contact information into the blacklist. Since childhood, this was the first time I blocked him. Again, for Jessica. Chapter 3 Since Jessica transferred here in sophomore year. I’ve lost count of how many times Lucas broke rules for her. Maybe boys all like that type, cold, beautiful. In the days I wore faded T-shirts burying my head in drawings, Jessica always seemed dust-free, wearing simple dresses like a fairy. For her, Lucas and I argued, had cold wars. I even thought he fell in love with Jessica and alienated him disheartenedly a few times. But every time, Lucas would find me, frowning and promising: “What are you thinking? I’m just ordinary friends with Jessica, nothing else, don’t drill into a dead end.” “Just helping her out seeing it’s not easy for her, her family situation… you know, glamorous on the surface, how much gossip behind the back.” I believed Lucas. Jessica’s mother was seriously ill, father ran away with money, leaving the mother and daughter struggling, indeed not easy. So, I didn’t care too much about the getting closer distance between Jessica and Lucas. After all, growing up, Lucas never lied to me. He said no, I believed. But later, in places I couldn’t see, Lucas had more and more interactions with her that I didn’t know. Until now. Even college decisions could be changed at will for Jessica. Making my trust look like a joke even more. WeChat notification interrupted chaotic thoughts. [Clara, you grew skills huh? Blocking me? Wait for me when I get home.] It was Lucas using Dave’s account. I expressionlessly blocked Dave too. Checked the time, grabbed my bag and went to school. Last day of application, homeroom teacher called the last class meeting. Traffic jam on the way, when I arrived at the classroom, Lucas and Jessica were already there. My usual seat next to him was occupied by Jessica. Seeing me, she had no intention of getting up, a trace of imperceptible smugness in her eyes. Lucas glanced at me, quickly turned his head, handsome face tense, obviously waiting for me to soften first. But I won’t anymore. Just right, I don’t want to be next to him either. Looking around, I walked straight to the empty seat next to my buddy Zach in the back row. Far away from them. “Students, last few hours for application, must check carefully, decide cautiously!” The teacher left hurriedly after instructing. Zach was complaining to me about the bad ending of a new drama he chased, when someone tapped my head lightly. “Clara, come out.” It was Lucas. I turned, meeting his slightly angry eyes. Moved my gaze away, ignored him. Continued listening to Zach’s complaints. Lucas grabbed my shoulder, forcing me to face him. “Clara, how long are you going to make a scene?” “Tired or not? We’re adults, still playing this cold war game, childish much?” I was forced to look at him, tone flat: “It is quite childish and boring, so don’t come to me anymore.” Eyes confronted for a moment, Lucas lost patience first. “Fine, too lazy to argue with a stubborn donkey like you.” “Act if you want, don’t cry under the blanket later.” He said with habitual mockery. I kept a cold face and didn’t respond. After a moment of silence, I thought he left. Shoulder was pressed hard by Lucas again. He looked straight at me, tone rarely serious: “Today is the last day, your application… check it again properly, don’t make mistakes!” He paused, wanted to say something more, Jessica walked over holding a laptop. “Lucas, there seems to be a small problem with my application system, can you help me look?” Lucas nodded, habitually trying to ruffle my hair like countless times in the past before leaving. I turned my head to avoid. His hand paused in mid-air, finally leaving only a sentence: “Remember to go to the computer room to check, don’t be careless.” Chapter 4 My heart was ice cold. He probably thought, as long as he reminded me, I would definitely check, find he changed, and definitely panic to fill in LA with him, right? True, telling me directly he changed his choice, he’d have to struggle to explain the reason to me, a trouble, how tiring. Luckily, I won’t turn back anymore. Glancing at Lucas who was focusing on checking the screen for Jessica, Zach and I left the classroom. Just out of the school gate wanting to hail a taxi, Zach saw my bad face, dragged me to his cousin’s birthday party. Couldn’t refuse, had to follow. After dinner, dragged to a newly opened arcade club. Arrived to find Lucas’s group was also here tonight. Many acquaintances, two groups soon merged into a large private room. When Lucas saw me, his eyes flickered, didn’t speak, didn’t say hello. I treated him as transparent too. On the way to the restroom, heard Lucas and Dave’s voices around the corner. Dave advised him: “Better make it clear to Clara? She’s going to Boston so far alone, unfamiliar place…” Lucas’s voice revealed certainty: “Relax, I emphasized so many times.” “She definitely changed it. Making a scene now, probably angry I didn’t discuss with her in advance.” I stopped. Two people turned the corner, bumping into me. Lucas signaled Dave to go first with his eyes, blocking me against the corridor wall backhand. “Clara, let’s talk.” He smelled faintly of beer. I turned sideways to bypass. Moved a step and was pulled back by him, hands pressing my shoulders. Tipsy breath hit my face. I turned my head away subconsciously. Stalemate for a few seconds, Lucas scoffed first: “Still angry? Wanted to call you to the club this afternoon, blocked by you.” “Got angry at you in the classroom again, forgot to say.” “Alright, stop being angry. Don’t know where you get so much anger.” “By the way, checked the application, right?” He looked down at me, tone softened a bit. I lowered my eyes, silent. In the stalemate, Jessica’s sweet voice sounded behind. “Lucas, Dave and the guys are looking for you to play Dance Revolution.” “Sorry… interrupting you?” Sometimes I really suspect Jessica has a radar. Whenever Lucas talks to me alone, she always appears just right. I didn’t want to entangle, pushed his hand away while he looked back. Passing Jessica, wrist was grabbed by her.

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On New Year’s Eve afternoon, my best friend’s flower shop received an order from my husband. I checked the WeChat ID of the person placing the order on the shop’s phone three times. Confirmed it was indeed my husband, who was supposedly on a business trip out of town. But the recipient wasn’t me. I made a video call, which connected after a long time. Just as I was about to question him, my best friend squeezed into the screen smiling, speaking before me. “Not even coming back for New Year’s? What gift did you buy for our Cynthia to apologize?” The room on the other side was pitch black. My husband covered his head with a quilt, squinting his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching unnaturally. “Honey, I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you when I get back.” “Stayed up all night yesterday, too tired. I’ll sleep a bit more.” This interruption calmed me down a lot. I perfunctorily said a few words and hung up. Picked up the wrapped bouquet and walked out the door. “I’ll deliver this order.” Chapter 1 The delivery address wasn’t far from the flower shop, a new luxury condo complex opened last year. Security stopped me. “No deliveries allowed inside.” I took out the flower shop’s phone, dialed the number, and explained the situation with a pinched voice. My husband’s voice came from inside. “I’m Vincent, owner of Unit 1603, Building 5. Let her in.” Security acknowledged, registering the info before letting me pass. The elevator door opened with a ding. I took a deep breath. “I’ll go in myself.” My best friend Grace nodded and walked to the stairwell nearby. “Call me if anything happens.” I turned on my phone’s video recording and pressed the doorbell. Vincent’s shout came from inside, “Wifey, open the door.” After footsteps, the door opened, and she froze. “Luna’s mom?” I froze too. She was my daughter’s art teacher at the interest class. She quit half a year ago due to pregnancy. Is she carrying my husband’s child? Seeing the flowers in my hand, she looked me over, lowered her head and smiled, shy yet provocative. “Luna’s mom, you started delivering food now?” She wore a loose long nightgown, her belly bulging high. The paper wrapping the flowers was crushed by my tightening grip. She reached out to take the flowers, looking considerate. “Thank you. It’s so cold, must be hard. Want to come in and rest?” “Sure, thank you.” She was stunned, didn’t expect me to agree so easily. Glanced hurriedly at the kitchen, then smiled and opened the shoe cabinet, taking out a pair of slippers. Many men’s shoes in the cabinet. One pair was what I bought for Vincent last month. He wore this pair on the day he left for the business trip. Cartoon photos of the two were displayed at the entrance. Lyla sniffed the flowers. “My husband is always so romantic, never forgets to arrange surprises for any festival.” I sneered, “Does he send flowers on Tomb Sweeping Day too?” She opened her mouth, paused, then said: “Life after divorce must be hard, rich wife starting to deliver food.” I looked at the decoration inside. The floor-to-ceiling window overlooked the entire Emerald Lake. The sunset shining in had an ultimate beauty. My heart could only feel its desolation right now. Dense pain spread throughout my body. “Yeah, unlike Teacher Lyla. Following President Vincent, quality of life leaped a thousand miles.” Relationship exposed, she became triumphant. “If not for Luna, President Vincent would have divorced you long ago. But my child is more important. Hearing I was pregnant, he divorced you immediately.” “Divorced?” “Stop pretending. Vincent told me everything. Going back once a month is just acting in front of Luna. Since you saw it, be sensible. Don’t use this trick to pester my husband.” “We are all women, I know your little thoughts very well.” She said confidently with her head high. Just then, Vincent came out of the kitchen with freshly stewed chicken soup, carefully placing it on the dining table and serving soup. He didn’t see me. Lyla held his arm, voice sticky. “Hubby, we have a guest.” Vincent turned around, saw me, hand shook, bowl fell to the ground with a crash, shattering into pieces. “Why are you here!” Lyla sighed with pity. “Luna’s mom is having a hard time, delivering food now.” Vincent glanced at the flowers on the table, recalling the delivery person’s voice just now was indeed similar to mine, but never expected it to be really me. He pulled me awkwardly. “Listen to my explanation, this…” Before he finished, Lyla pulled him to declare sovereignty. “You guys are divorced, what’s there to explain.” “Luna’s mom, President Vincent will pay Luna’s child support. Don’t be shameless and pester him.” I stared into Vincent’s eyes. “It is time to divorce.” Chapter 2 Vincent shook off Lyla and pulled me outside. “Let’s talk outside. Lyla is in late pregnancy, don’t scare her.” Lyla slipped on a piece of broken porcelain, fell to the ground unsteadily, pulling Vincent’s pant leg. “Hubby, my belly.” Vincent turned pale with shock, picking her up in panic. “Lyla don’t be afraid, I’ll take you to the hospital.” I was hit hard by his elbow, severe pain coming from my lower back. “Ah!” Vincent looked back subconsciously, “Cynthia…” Lyla moaned, interrupting him. He looked at the painful expression of the person in his arms, speeding up with heartache. I walked out the door, Grace ran to support me. “Are you okay?” “I’m fine.” Grace held up her phone chat interface. “I suspect he’s secretly transferring assets. Asked my brother to check.” Grace’s brother is a lawyer. I nodded thanks, sending the video I just recorded. “That woman is Lyla, Luna’s former art teacher. Ask your brother to draft a divorce agreement too.” “Okay, I’ll drive you back.” Grace said my state wasn’t suitable for driving, insisted on sending me home, and picked up Luna to stay at her place for two days. Grace’s brother was fast. Just got home, he sent the found information. The house and car under Lyla’s name were bought by Vincent. Plus transfers, about 70 million ($10 million USD). A year ago, Vincent told me the branch company had issues, needing him to go there often. Turns out it was a love nest. Every time he lied about business trips, he was here with Lyla. I immediately called the company CFO. “Director Wang, send me the accounts of the company and branches for recent years.” “Madam, company secrets, you have no right to view.” “I am a shareholder!” Pause on the other end for two seconds. “I will apply to President Vincent. I’ll send it to you after he signs and agrees.” Good, very good. Since pregnancy, I never asked about company affairs, shopping and doing SPA daily, taking care of the child. Everyone thought I married well. Probably even Vincent forgot, I am the largest shareholder of the company, qualified to remove him anytime. I started clearing the trash at home. Opened the closet, threw Vincent’s clothes on the floor one by one, tearing and stomping, venting my dissatisfaction like a madwoman. Throwing to the end, a storage box appeared in the corner of the closet. Inside were all the things Vincent gave me during four years of college. Tulip LED night light, hand-sewn backpack, personally designed hairpin, star bottle with sweet moments written, etc. His family was poor, no money for expensive gifts. Most gifts were handmade by him. I hugged them and cried loudly until dawn. The next day, mother-in-law and sister-in-law entered early, cursing loudly seeing the messy room. “Cynthia, are you crazy? You smashed such expensive things? Is it easy for my son to make money! How did he marry such a wasteful wife like you? Can’t give birth to a son, and can’t even manage a household.” Seeing me, a slap came straight. “Bitch, almost harmed my grandson.” “Daring to show off in front of Lyla after giving birth to a girl. Be sensible, divorce my son quickly, get out of our Wan family.” Sister-in-law packed all the bird’s nest, sea cucumber, aged ginseng and other supplements in the kitchen into bags. “Wasting good stuff on her. Mom, let’s take them all to give little sister-in-law for her body.” Mother-in-law rushed to the kitchen hearing this, packing with hands and feet. “Right, Lyla is our family’s great hero, must nourish well.” The day I gave birth to Luna, she looked once, saw a girl, and never appeared again. I didn’t care about her attitude, but that Lyla actually gave birth? “Where is Vincent?” Mother-in-law spat. “Of course accompanying my grandson. I warn you, if anything happens to him, I’m not done with you!” Chapter 3 Lyla gave birth to a boy. The whole family knew about them long ago, hiding it from me. Until afternoon, Vincent came home, eyes tired, face full of impatience. “My mom just took some stuff from home, and you called the police? These were bought with my money, what’s wrong with my mom taking them?” “Pack up and go to the police station to explain.” Mother-in-law and sister-in-law left, I called the police immediately, reporting theft. Home surveillance captured clearly, taken items worth over ten thousand, enough for investigation. Police found them at the hospital. Only Vincent was left to care at the hospital, overwhelmed. Finally contacted a confinement nanny, had time to come back and settle with me. I looked at him sneering. “Your money?” He seemed to hear a joke, tone mocking. “Not my money, is it yours? If not for me propping up the company these years, it would have gone bankrupt long ago. I’ve been raising you, letting you enjoy life for over ten years.” “My big company needs an heir. You be your Mrs. Vincent obediently, no one can threaten your position.” I pointed at the family photo on the wall questioning. “Isn’t Luna your child?” “What’s the use of a girl? Eventually falling into others’ hands.” My heart trembled. What does falling into others’ hands mean? Could it be… “Vincent, you approached me in college for this reason too?” Vincent lowered his head grabbing my hand, tone softening. “Cynthia, I love you.” I threw the printed divorce agreement on him. “Sign it.” He glanced at the agreement twice, threw it on the ground, sneering. “Cynthia, look at others. Who doesn’t drink and party, keeping several mistresses? For so many years, I just made a small mistake, and you want a divorce?” “Stop making a scene okay? My mom wants a son, you can’t have a second child, I had no choice. At worst, bring the child back to raise with you when he’s older.” His tone was like saying the weather is good today. I looked at him in disbelief, backhanded two slaps. “Scumbag!” He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Wifey, I know you are angry, but how can you live without me? Really going to deliver food?” “Don’t forget, the company is mine.” Vincent chuckled. “Don’t be silly. For over ten years, people in the company stopped listening to you long ago.” “Let’s live a good life. I promise you, no one will ever affect your position as Mrs. Vincent. I won’t give less to Luna either.” “As long as I don’t agree, you won’t get custody of the child. Can you bear to leave her? Bear to let her have a broken home? For Luna, think about it carefully.” Truly laughable. He didn’t think of the child when cheating, now moral kidnapping me. When Father died, he gifted him 10% shares, hoping he would treat me well. Now it became a weapon against me. Before marriage, I hid my identity. After graduation, we joined the company together. When we ran for executives, I found out I was pregnant. Father found out, held a wedding for us quickly, ordering me to stay home and rest. Not long after, Father died of a sudden illness. My depression caused a miscarriage. After discharge, I had severe depression. He took care of me while helping me prop up the company. He said he would guard Father’s empire for me. I believed him, uniting other shareholders to support him as Chairman. In that situation, I indeed had no energy to manage the company. Since then, I became the envied Mrs. Vincent, and gave birth to a beautiful daughter. Because I lost a child, I valued Luna very much. Vincent knew this, so he thought of using the child to persuade me. “Vincent, the naive one is you, not me.” Chapter 4 A few days later, I used my shareholder status to remove Vincent from all positions and notified that I would take over all company affairs. Email sent to every employee’s mailbox. I put on the professional suit I hadn’t worn for a long time and walked into the company. Front desk stopped me. “Miss, who are you looking for?” I haven’t been in the company for at least five years. Many employees don’t recognize me. “I am Cynthia, here to work.” “Cynthia?” The receptionist muttered, remembering the email seen in the morning. “You are the new Chairman!” She opened the door for me respectfully. Elevator rose to the 26th floor. The moment the door opened, Vincent stood at the door with other shareholders, as if waiting for me. He smiled, seemingly saying I overestimated myself. The first to speak was Uncle Wang. He started the business with Father for many years, watched me grow up. Now putting on an elder’s posture to lecture. “Cynthia, Vincent told us everything. You are making too much trouble! Couple fight shouldn’t come to the company. Chairman is such a big matter, not for your tantrums!” Employees watching the fun snickered. “President’s wife probably can’t even read reports, right?” “Not staying home to raise kids, coming to the company for what fun.” “I know this kind of housewife. Just afraid husband runs away with someone, coming out to brush existence.” Other shareholders also smiled and advised me. “Mrs. Vincent, Chairman position is not a joke. Go home and accompany the child.” “Cynthia, The Group grew bigger under President Vincent’s lead. Why cause trouble.” “Company isn’t yours alone. What right do you have to make such a decision?” Vincent smiled confidently, relieving me. “It’s all my fault, made Cynthia angry, causing such trouble. I apologize to everyone for her.” “President Vincent is joking. Since it’s your family matter, we won’t participate.” “Cynthia, no more jokes like this!” A group of people laughed and went down the steps, ready to go back in twos and threes. Vincent bent down and whispered in my ear. “See? No one will stand by your side.” Many are confidants who followed Father for years, now all side with Vincent. I looked around, chill in heart growing bit by bit, spoke coldly. “Joke? I am the largest shareholder of the company. I demand the immediate removal of Vincent from all positions.” Shareholders froze, looking at Vincent in unison. Vincent wasn’t annoyed, “Just right everyone is here. Convenient to hold a Shareholders’ Meeting, elect a new Chairman together.” “Assistant Sun, take everyone to the conference room. Notify Director Lee too.” We walked into the conference room. Vincent sat naturally in the main seat, taking out his equity agreement. He actually has 20% shares! “Scattered shares were acquired by me long ago. I hold 20%, Cynthia has 35%. Who do you support?” Uncle Wang, Uncle Zhao and others successively expressed support for Vincent. Vincent crossed his legs looking down at me, tone arrogant. “Now 40% stand by my side. You only have 35%. Give up.” I looked at the door, waiting for another shareholder. Vincent looked away, mouth curling into a sarcastic smile. Half an hour later, Director Lee arrived late, looked at me. “Cynthia, you shouldn’t be like this.” My eyes reddened instantly. “Third Uncle, Vincent betrayed me.” Third Uncle pulled me aside to scold. “Even if Vincent is wrong, you shouldn’t bring it to the surface. Men need face. Alright, solve this at home.” “I support Vincent.” Others aside, didn’t expect my own Third Uncle would help Vincent. Voice fell, Vincent stood up thanking everyone. “Cynthia, 46% support me total. What else do you have to say.” “President Vincent don’t forget, there is still a 19% share holder who hasn’t expressed stance.”

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The CEO saw me as a vicious gold digger. With a wave of his hand, he threw a check for $1 million at me, demanding I leave his Executive Assistant, Jason. I smiled and tucked the check into my pocket: “Deal! Mr. Sterling is so generous!” After taking the money, I immediately blocked Jason. Jason looked at the red exclamation mark on WeChat, crying his eyes out: “Sis, don’t you want your own brother anymore?” Chapter 1 Jason and I are biological siblings, though we might look like a random assortment. When our parents divorced, Mom waved her hand domineeringly: “I take the house and the daughter.” Dad wouldn’t show weakness: “I take the savings and the son.” So, I took Mom’s last name, Gu, and became an invisible landlady owning three condos downtown. Jason took Dad’s last name, Jiang, and became a poor corporate slave destined to inherit… uh, his dad’s ten-year-old second-hand car if he didn’t work hard. Jason, this kid, has had a “I’m miserable but I’m strong” weed-like temperament since childhood. As his older sister, to prevent him from being like Dad who couldn’t save a penny, I naturally had to give him an education named “Exploitation” but really “Love.” For example, on payday, 80% of his salary must be handed over to me for safekeeping. Actually, it’s to help him save for a wedding fund. Another example, he must be on call on weekends. At this moment, I was lying on the sofa with my legs crossed, issuing orders to the phone: “Hey, Jason, pick up a package for me on your way back from work.” From the other end came Jason’s suppressed voice, background noise filled with furious typing: “Sis… I’m still suffering in overtime…” “Cut the crap.” I blew on my freshly done nails, “Don’t eat dinner yet. Come over later for a feast. I ordered too much. If you dare eat before coming, I’ll skin you!” “Fine, I won’t eat, okay!” Jason hung up with a crying tone. Meanwhile, in a skyscraper in CBD. Jason hung up, looking at the name “She-Devil” on his phone screen, and sighed deeply. His stomach growled timely. He hadn’t eaten dinner. But he had to go to Gwen’s house later, so he could only snack a bit now. He sneaked into the pantry, skillfully fishing out a pack of free soda crackers from the depths of the cabinet. Jason gnawed on the dry crackers, swallowing them with warm water. “Yo, Assistant Jiang, eating this again?” Amy from Admin walked by with a cup of fancy yogurt, looking at him sympathetically, “Your girlfriend is too strict. Look at your suit cuffs, they’re frayed, and she won’t buy you a new one?” Jason almost choked on the cracker, face flushing: “N… Not girlfriend…” It’s a creature scarier than a girlfriend—biological sister. “Oh, I get it.” Amy looked like she knew it all, “Gold diggers these days have high tactics. Draining your money while making you think it’s for your own good. Look at you, Mr. Sterling’s Executive Assistant, salary isn’t low, right? Why do you look like you escaped from a refugee camp?” Jason couldn’t explain. “Actually… she’s saving money for me…” Jason defended weakly. “Tsk tsk tsk, only an honest guy like you would believe that.” Amy shook her head and left, leaving Jason alone doubting life with half a cracker. This scene was fully witnessed by Sebastian Sterling, who just came out of the conference room. Sebastian, Jason’s boss, a business upstart with immeasurable wealth. At this moment, he stood in the shadows, frowning tight. Jason was his most capable assistant, strong ability, tight-lipped, hardworking. But recently, Sebastian found this subordinate was always stingy. Counting every penny. Sebastian originally thought Jason’s family had some trouble, like a sick father or loan sharks. Until just now, he heard the words “Gold Digger.” Sebastian returned to the CEO’s office, slender fingers tapping the desk. “Found anything?” The assistant immediately handed over a file, looking a bit weird: “Mr. Sterling, found it. Assistant Jiang’s cash flow is very… singular.” Sebastian opened the file. On Jason’s payroll statement, the second his salary arrived each month, a huge sum would be transferred to an account. Recipient: Gwen Gu. Transfer notes were varied, filled with suffocating “PUA” vibes: –[This month’s tribute, please check, Your Majesty.] –[Monthly bonus, please check, Your Majesty.] “Gwen Gu…” Sebastian read the name, eyes turning cold. He flipped to the next page, photos taken by a private investigator. In the photo, Jason followed a young woman, carrying bags of cat food and packages. Although only a side profile was captured, the woman dressed casually, hair messy. And Jason, a top university graduate, was so humble in front of this woman. “Good tactics.” Sebastian sneered, closing the file, “Controlling a man to this extent, pretending to be virtuous in broken pajamas… while pocketing all the money.” The assistant added carefully: “Heard… Assistant Jiang is going to her house to pick up packages after overtime tonight.” Bang! The pen in Sebastian’s hand was slammed onto the desk. This is bullying. Since when did Sebastian’s people get trampled by such a vain woman? “Prepare the car.” Sebastian stood up, adjusting his suit that had no wrinkles, eyes flashing with the light of justice, “Let’s meet this ‘Miss Gu’.” And by the way, wake up that woman who doesn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth with money. At this time, I was wearing those “broken pajamas” to take out the trash and pick up my spicy ramen delivery. I had no idea that a furious CEO was driving towards me murderously. Chapter 2 A Maybach that looked hard to park blocked my way. The window rolled down, revealing a face that was indeed handsome, but eyes filled with “30% coolness, 30% ridicule, and 40% carelessness.” The man looked me up and down, gaze lingering on the two bowls of spicy ramen in my hand. “You are Gwen Gu?” Voice was nice, just the tone sounded like interrogating a criminal. I sniffed: “Where is this scam from? Pay property fees at the front desk. Selling insurance… I have no money.” The man sneered, pushing the door open. “I am Jason’s boss, Sebastian Sterling.” He cut to the chase, “I want to talk to you.” Talk? Did Jason the idiot cause trouble at the company? My heart tightened, but face remained calm: “Talk about what? If Jason isn’t obedient, you can beat him, just don’t fire him, he needs this job to make money! “Wait, if the severance package is right, like a 5N something… let me calculate how much that is…” Sebastian’s eyes instantly became sharper, as if looking at an unforgivable witch. “As expected.” He muttered low, then took out a check from his pocket, clipped between two fingers, handing it to me. “Here is one million dollars.” Me: “?” Firing my brother for a million? Why didn’t I know his income was this high? Dare to lie to me! Wait… Jason definitely wouldn’t dare lie to me! Is the man in front of me scamming? But… what kind of new scam is this? Or a prank show? Where is the camera? Seeing I didn’t take it, Sebastian thought I found it too little, frowning deep enough to kill a fly. “Miss Gu, one should be content. Jason is just an assistant, his monthly salary isn’t enough to buy your… pajamas, right?” Although my pajamas were $9.99 free shipping from Amazon, his tone made it sound like I was wearing the Emperor’s New Clothes. “I know your tactics are brilliant, confusing Jason, making him transfer his salary to you the moment it arrives, and come to serve you like a slave after work.” Sebastian took a deep breath, seeming to suppress some anger named “Justice.” “But he is an honest man, and has a bright future. I don’t want him ruined by a woman like you… who is vain and greedy.” “Take this million, leave him. No more asking him for money, no more ordering him around.” At that moment, the world was quiet. I looked at the check. Then looked at Sebastian’s handsome face written with “humiliating you with this.” After my CPU ran fast for three seconds, I realized. We have different last names. He is Jiang, I am Gu. We have financial dealings. He hands over salary monthly. We also have… intimate actions? Coming to my house daily, free nanny? I realized it! In this CEO’s eyes, I am a scumbag, gold digger, love scammer who PUA his beloved subordinate. What to do? “Oh, Mr. Sterling, you misunderstood, I am his…” Before the words “biological sister” came out, my brain immediately imagined Sebastian smiling awkwardly, taking back the check, saying “Sorry, my mistake”… So… being his sister means losing a million dollars?! Of course not. I am a Taurus. Refusing money delivered to the door will bring divine punishment. I took a deep breath, revealing a smile named “Greed.” I extended two fingers, clipped the check, and flicked it, hearing a crisp sound. “Deal.” I looked at him smilingly, “Mr. Sterling is indeed generous. Since you asked, I will definitely follow. From today on, I will definitely not pester Jason anymore!” Sebastian obviously didn’t expect me to agree so readily. His stomach full of bargaining and ridicule was choked in his throat. He looked at me, a flash of astonishment in his eyes, then turned into deeper contempt. “As expected, just someone who opens eyes wide at money.” “Thanks for the compliment.” I stuffed the check into my pajama pocket, then waved at him, “Then safe travels, Mr. Sterling? I won’t see you off. My spicy ramen delivery just arrived, gotta eat it while hot.” Finished, turned and ran. Afraid that if I ran a bit slower, this sucker would regret it, find my brother not worth a million, and ask for the money back.

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While scrolling on company time, my phone pushed a Reddit thread to me. [AITA for falling in love with the new intern at first sight, even though his girlfriend is also interning at the company?] Top comment: [If he has a girlfriend, give up. Do you want to be a homewrecker?] The OP replied with a long paragraph. [Let me introduce myself: 30, single, no kids, own a car and house, have savings. Except for being 8 years older than him, I don’t lose to his girlfriend in any way.] [Is it really right to give up when I finally found someone I like?] Immediately, a bunch of people popped up to give her advice. [The young couple just graduated, haven’t experienced the beatings of society or conflicts of interest. If you drive a wedge between them, they’ll probably break up!] [Support OP to pursue love bravely. I think the comment above is right. Be nice to his girlfriend, so the guy feels unbalanced. Once they argue, they’ll definitely break up.] [Then you can block the girl’s full-time offer. Won’t the company just be left with you and the guy?] I cursed silently in my heart, “Psycho,” and didn’t take it to heart. Who knew, that afternoon, Director Mandy called me and my boyfriend into her office. She said to us: “Corporate sent down a key project. Whoever gets this interview can be converted to full-time early!” Chapter 1 Hearing this, I frowned subconsciously. Probably because I just came out of that thread not long ago. So, I almost immediately associated it with the content inside. But within a second, I shook my head, throwing this thought out. How could there be such a coincidence in this world? Hearing my boyfriend Kyle say “No problem,” I quickly responded, “Yes, Director.” Seeing us both agree, Director Mandy nodded and let us leave. She doesn’t look like the OP in the thread at all. I was overthinking. I instantly threw this matter to the back of my mind. Out of the office, Kyle and I verbally drafted a gentleman’s agreement. “No matter who wins or loses, no one is allowed to be unhappy!” “No matter who gets this interview, we go out to celebrate!” We laughed tacitly. Actually, when we decided to intern at the same company, we anticipated competition. But neither of us thought this would affect our relationship. At least, a month has passed, and we both adapted very well. We don’t worry about fitting in, going to work, eating, and leaving work together every day. Boyfriend and girlfriend, and also best work buddies. I’ve said more than once that I love our current state. Kyle too. After work today, we didn’t go home together as usual but went our separate ways. I guessed Kyle would definitely go to block that CEO. So, I decided to take a different approach and contacted the CEO’s daughter. It is said that this CEO, Mr. Sterling, is a daughter-slave. Starting from his daughter might be easier to succeed. Probably because the chat was pleasant, she promised to put in a good word for me. When I returned home satisfied, I found Kyle had already cooked dinner. And he looked in a good mood. My heart skipped a beat, thinking, am I a step too late? Just thinking that, I heard Kyle say to me: “Babe, Mr. Sterling has agreed to accept my interview. You were a step late, don’t be unhappy, okay?” He couldn’t hide his joy, but there was no intention to show off. Moreover, he cooked so many dishes I love, I naturally felt happy for him. “Then congratulations in advance on becoming full-time!” I smiled. He patted my head, coaxing me: “My baby is so great, converting to full-time won’t be a problem either. When I get my salary, I’ll give it all to you to manage.” I nodded, not feeling lost because of this. Even felt sweet because of his words. So much so that I forgot to message Miss Sterling. Until I woke up the next day, I didn’t remember this. When we arrived at the company the next day, Director Mandy called me and Kyle into the office. I knew she definitely wanted to talk about the interview and the full-time offer. I was prepared to be criticized. The workplace is like this. But what I didn’t expect was that Director Mandy walked up to me. Smiling, she said: “Zoe, congratulations on getting this interview opportunity. Perform well!” As her words fell, the smiles on my and Kyle’s lips froze. Chapter 2 In the end, I reacted first, explaining subconsciously: “Director Mandy, is there a misunderstanding? Kyle got the interview opportunity!” Kyle also came back to his senses. However, he didn’t blame me immediately. Just asked with equal confusion. “Yesterday afternoon, Mr. Sterling personally agreed to accept my interview. Did something change?” Director Mandy seemed not to expect there was such a story inside. She immediately showed a surprised expression. Said: “But Mr. Sterling called me this morning, explicitly naming Zoe for the interview.” I frowned. Don’t know why, a bad premonition rose in my heart. Before I could speak, I heard Director Mandy say to me earnestly: “Zoe, I know you are boyfriend and girlfriend, but at work, there’s no need to yield to each other like this!” “I believe you have this ability. Good luck.” After speaking, she looked at Kyle again. Speaking in an educational tone: “Kyle! Competition at work is completely normal. It’s okay, missed this time, there’s always next time!” Kyle nodded. Although there was disappointment on his face. But he still said: “No matter what, this is beneficial to the company.” Director Mandy nodded, didn’t say more, and shooed us out. Outside, Kyle said to me: “It’s okay babe, do the interview well, accumulate experience!” “Don’t feel burdened, work hard.” I nodded absently, always feeling something was wrong. Just then, I received a message from Miss Sterling. I realized maybe the change was due to Miss Sterling. I hurriedly explained to her and asked her to clarify with Mr. Sterling. Miss Sterling called directly and scolded me. “If you didn’t beg me, I wouldn’t have spoken for you in front of my dad!” “Shouldn’t you be happy snatching this interview from your boyfriend? Why pretend now!” “Don’t contact me again!” With that, she hung up. Then, the message I sent turned into a red exclamation mark. I sighed in confusion, turned around, and saw Kyle standing behind me. Obviously heard the words from the phone just now, a look of disbelief on his face. I opened my mouth, about to explain. Heard him say angrily: “Zoe, if you wanted this interview opportunity, I could have given it up to you, but calculating behind my back is meaningless, right?” I was sure I didn’t calculate Kyle. But someone definitely calculated me. Just as I was about to explain my matter with Miss Sterling. I heard Director Mandy’s voice behind me. “Kyle, come to my office!” When Kyle came out of the office, it was already half an hour later. But work was busy later, and I didn’t find a chance to talk. Finally waited until lunch break, Kyle left a cold sentence: “I have something to do this noon, won’t eat with you.” With that, he turned and left. I knew he must have believed Miss Sterling’s words on the phone. No chance to explain face to face, I had to message him. But until he came back from lunch break, until off work, he didn’t reply to me. On the way back, silence all the way. After getting home, I couldn’t help asking. “Kyle, did you see what I sent you…” Before I finished, I saw him pulling out a suitcase and starting to pack. I panicked instantly, asking anxiously: “Kyle, what do you mean!?” I’ve been with Kyle since freshman year. Counting now, we’ve been together for four years. Is he going to break up with me just because of this? I grabbed his arm, trying to stop him. Heard him say: “Zoe, the interview project is yours, do it well. Director Mandy asked me to accompany her on a business trip. We’ll talk when I get back.” “Let’s both adjust our mindset.” With that, he dragged the suitcase and left the house. Accompany Director Mandy on a business trip? I frowned, thinking of something, ghost-driven, I found that thread from yesterday and clicked in. Sure enough, the OP updated. Chapter 3 [I arranged an interview project for them, let my old acquaintance agree to the guy first, then made him change to name the girl for the interview. Today the two argued in the break room.] [I’ve arranged for the guy to go on a business trip with me. Sisters, wait for my good news!] Everything matched. Now, I finally confirmed that this thread was posted by Director Mandy. I didn’t expect her to be such a person! Under this update, many netizens were camping for updates. I was furious, trembling hands commenting. [What’s the difference between this behavior and a homewrecker? You are disgusting!] My sentence quickly got a reply from Mandy. [Although taking advantage of a crisis is shameful, isn’t it useful? If I can really pry him away, maybe the other party should thank me!] Although her words made sense, I still felt suffocated. Before I could reply again, netizens started questioning me. [WTF! Same IP address. The poster is so angry, could she be the girlfriend?] [Why argue with the OP here? Getting your boyfriend back is the priority!] I knew these netizens weren’t considering for me. Just purely want to watch the drama. However, within two seconds, my comment was deleted. I gritted my teeth, clicked into WeChat, and called Kyle. He answered quickly. “Zoe, no need to explain, I saw it. I know, this isn’t your fault!” “I’ll bring you gifts when I come back from the trip.” He said to me in that gentle tone he used to have. Hearing his words, my heart calmed down inexplicably. Yeah! I’ve been with Kyle for so long, we have so many beautiful memories. How could I doubt him because of a thread! Mandy said one thing right, if she could really pry Kyle away. It would help me see Kyle clearly instead. Thinking this way, I wasn’t angry anymore. However, uncontrollably, I couldn’t help but click into the thread. Mandy didn’t update for a long time, Kyle reported to me all the time. As if this conflict didn’t affect our relationship. I gradually felt relieved. Until the night before he came back from the trip, we were FaceTiming as usual. Not long after, there was a knock on the door over there. Immediately, I heard Mandy’s voice. “Little Song (Kyle), the shower in my room is broken, can I borrow yours?” Kyle obviously didn’t think much, agreed immediately. I became alert. Wanted to ask Kyle to go out and call me. But unexpectedly, before I could speak, Kyle hung up hurriedly. My good mood vanished instantly. [Don’t hang up on me! Call me back right now!] [Kyle, I’m going to be angry!] No reply to the messages sent. I called back. Still unable to connect. Several minutes passed before Kyle replied to my message. [Zoe, I have something to do, talk later.] What could he have to do? A man and a woman alone, what could happen? I wanted to trust him, but found it hard in this situation. I kept refreshing the page, but didn’t get his “talk later.” Until 3 AM, my heart gradually became cold and numb. I stopped messaging him. But seeing the thread update, I couldn’t help clicking in. Saw Mandy’s latest update at a glance. [These days I’ve been trying physical contact with him. Although he avoided it, I can feel he doesn’t resist me.] [Going back tomorrow. I used the excuse of a broken shower to enter his room. Yes, we kissed. I asked if he did this with his girlfriend, he said no.] [I asked if he wanted to try with me. He was moved, but stopped in the end. Said he couldn’t sorry his girlfriend.] [Sisters! What should I do now?] These words stabbed my heart like needles, making me breathless. I knew Mandy might have written this for me to see, maybe not true. But if not true, why didn’t Kyle reply to me? My eyes reddened, already deciding to break up with Kyle. I even packed my luggage. But unexpectedly, just before I said breakup. Kyle suddenly said to me: “Zoe, I plan to resign.” Chapter 4 I froze then. Didn’t know what he meant by saying this now. Because we were at work, he didn’t explain much, and I didn’t ask. I only knew he wrote a resignation letter and submitted it then. But I couldn’t be happy at all. Didn’t sleep all night, eyes sore and dry, mind chaotic. Normally, I should be happy now. But thinking of those words I saw yesterday, I couldn’t smile. Thought, let’s make it clear after work. Not long after Kyle submitted his resignation, he was called into the office. Came out ten minutes later. When he came out, I saw a very obvious wound on the corner of his mouth. And this wound wasn’t there before entering the office. Almost without thinking deep, I knew what happened. I curled my lips mockingly, finding my thought just now funny. Since betrayal is a fact, there’s nothing to talk about. During lunch, I clicked into the thread again. Sure enough, Mandy updated again. [The little boy is quite innocent, actually wants to resign! Pity, I didn’t agree.] [I said if he sleeps with me for one night, I’ll approve his resignation, and won’t trouble his girlfriend in the future.] Seeing her words, I felt disgusted instantly, lost appetite. Ate two bites hurriedly, returned to my desk. Mandy’s thread continued updating. Netizens asked her: [Then what do you do? Giving up?] [Sigh, listening to OP’s description, feels the guy is interested in you too. Probably conflicted. Feels hard to make the guy initiate breakup, better let the girl break up!] [Hiss! Sister you’re bold! The guy hasn’t done it yet, just make him addicted to your body!] Mandy liked the last comment. Replied: [Men, can’t withstand temptation!] Then replied to everyone: [Don’t worry, I have a plan. Not only can I make him initiate breakup, but also make the girl resign voluntarily!] Under this sentence, everyone commented waiting for her good news. I felt uneasy. I can accept Kyle falling for someone else, can accept work not going smoothly. But I can’t accept work and relationship failing simultaneously. I don’t know what she wants to do, but felt this is an opportunity. Since she wants to harm me so much, I’ll let her know what harming others eventually harms oneself means. After work, I stopped Kyle. “I have something to tell you!” “We…” Let’s break up. Before the last three words came out, Kyle interrupted. “Zoe, I have something to tell you too, but I have something tonight, tell you tomorrow!” With that, he turned and left. Instantly, I thought of the thread content. Looking at the direction he disappeared, I couldn’t help curling my lips. Until this moment, I was finally completely disappointed in this man. Mandy was right, men can’t withstand temptation. Since he can’t hold the bottom line, I don’t want him! That night back home, I moved my luggage to my friend’s house. Knowing this, my friend angrily scolded Mandy in the thread for over an hour. But the other party was probably busy with “business,” didn’t see the post. Instead, many netizens came to watch the drama. “Pissing me off!” Hearing my friend’s voice, I patted her arm. Smiled: “Busy is good, busy is good!” Before my friend could react to what I meant. I clicked the share link on the top right, sharing this thread to the company group chat. Accurately, the big company group. Then sent two messages: [Bestie, help me look, why do I feel the people in this thread look like my boss and boyfriend?] [They just went on a business trip together two days ago, today my boyfriend isn’t coming home either.] My friend’s eyes widened, silently giving me a thumbs up. In a while, surprised emojis appeared in the group chat. My heart felt instantly refreshed! However, within two seconds, the phone rang. It was Kyle calling. Answering, heard his questioning voice from over there: “Zoe, what are you posting in the company group? Recall it quickly!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390179”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel