Author: Momo Chan

After my husband died, his twin brother’s personality suddenly changed drastically. The originally silent and steady man suddenly became sunny and loved joking. He used to treat his beautiful sister-in-law like an old married couple, but recently swept away his reserve, lights in her room staying on all night. During the day, he shamelessly held hands and hugged her waist in front of people. Until that night, he groggily entered the wrong room after using the bathroom and climbed into my bed. Suddenly approached by a familiar body, I finally saw through him. I knelt and begged him to come home, but he protected the charming sister-in-law, flinging me away coldly: “Sister-in-law, the dead cannot come back to life, stop being crazy!” Afraid I would make a scene, he pushed me into the icy river to freeze to death, and my five-year-old daughter was chained to a dog house and starved to death. Opening my eyes again, I returned to the day of his “funeral.” This time, I didn’t expose him. I cried and cooperated, “It’s hot, cremate him quickly, don’t delay.” While he was busy destroying the evidence, I went straight to the police station and completely canceled the identity of “Luke”! Holding the urn, I went to collect the huge pension with a smile. Chapter 1 “Sister-in-law, my condolences… the dead cannot come back to life…” My husband Luke, with red eyes, looked at me with a face full of grief, mimicking his older brother’s tone. Looking at the man’s corpse covered by a white cloth, I cooperated with a scream, threw myself on it, and cried hoarsely: “How could you leave like this!” My mother-in-law Brenda walked over, pulled me, and muttered: “Lily, stop crying. Luke is gone, but Liam is back. Our family still has a backbone.” I acted as if I had a “sudden realization,” wiped my tears, and choked: “Brother, from now on, this family depends on you.” Luke looked at me with complex eyes, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. With me here, I won’t let you and your daughter suffer.” As he spoke, his eyes involuntarily glanced at the door of the inner room. There, my sister-in-law Scarlett was leaning against the door frame, wearing a fashionable red dress that set off her fair skin and beauty, her figure bursting out. She looked at Luke with hooks in her eyes, a faint smile of triumph on her lips. In the 80s, the tycoon Liam was a legend in the area, and his beautiful wife Scarlett was the dream of men in the dead of night. Luke had been drooling over her for a long time. I cried for a while, wiped my dry tears, and said to Luke: “It’s hot, the body can’t be kept for long. You hurry to contact the crematorium, let him go with dignity, don’t delay.” Hearing this, Luke looked relieved, nodding immediately: “Sister-in-law is right! I’ll do it right away!” Luke couldn’t wait to send that corpse to the van. He was more anxious than anyone to destroy the evidence. In my past life, my husband Luke swapped identities, using his brother Liam’s corpse to fake his death, and openly got together with Scarlett. My mother-in-law also called me a jinx who killed her son and made me serve Scarlett during her postpartum confinement. Their family conspired to make me work like a horse. But I realized he wasn’t dead, knelt and cried begging him to come home, asking why he impersonated his brother. He protected the charming Scarlett, said I was crazy and talking nonsense, and pushed me, who couldn’t swim, into the icy river. My five-year-old daughter cried asking why daddy didn’t want her, but was chained to a dog house and starved for seven days and nights. Our orphan and widow duo, one froze to death, one starved to death. Reborn, I would rather be a widow than want this dog of a man. I thought coldly: Luke, since you want to be Liam so much, want to fly with Scarlett so much, fine, I’ll fulfill your wish. You just be Liam for the rest of your life! Luke moved fast, coming back with an urn in less than half a day. A simple mourning hall had been set up at home according to custom. On the black and white photo was Luke’s smiling face. Heh, Luke is really something, burying “himself” personally. Neighbors came to offer condolences, sighing that a glorious tycoon turned into a pile of ash just like that. I looked pale and haggard, having lost a lot of weight. In the eyes of outsiders, I really looked like a widow who lost her husband and was heartbroken. Luke, no, should call him “Liam” now. He put his arm around Scarlett’s waist, walked up to me, and said in the tone of an older brother-in-law: “Sister-in-law, Scarlett is weak, can’t stand the smell of incense, and is afraid of bad luck. She doesn’t need to keep vigil.” He helped Scarlett sit on a chair nearby, his face full of feigned grief and unconcealable tenderness. I was too lazy to look at their disgusting faces, but Scarlett took the initiative to speak. Her seductive peach blossom eyes glanced at me sideways, tone full of charity: “Lily, now that Luke is gone, you a woman with a sick child, will have many places to beg our Liam in the future. You can’t take advantage for free, right?” Her greed was undisguised. “Liam” immediately echoed: “Yes, Sister-in-law, I remember Luke said before that you have a thousand dollars of private money given by your family? Why not take it out first to buy a VCD player for Scarlett to relieve her boredom at home.” “You are a sister-in-law, and a widow with an orphan, what do you need so much money for? If Scarlett is in a good mood, she can take care of you two in the future.” I looked up sharply, bloodshot eyes staring dead at him. A thousand dollars! That was the last bit of savings my mom desperately saved for me before she died, and it was the life-saving money I prepared to take Lola to the city to treat her asthma! How dare he! “Liam” felt a bit guilty under my gaze, but still stiffened his neck and said righteously: “What are you looking at? This is what Luke promised me before he died, saying he would pool money to buy me a motorcycle. Now that he’s gone, you have to take this money out, right? Besides, Scarlett suffered so much with my brother, now that my brother is gone, I as a younger brother can’t compensate my sister-in-law for him?” In his panic, he even forgot his current identity, sometimes Liam, sometimes Luke. The neighbors were confused, but all felt it was unseemly for an older brother-in-law to ask a newly widowed sister-in-law for money. I was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly covered my face and wailed. “No money! Not a penny left! Luke’s money was long spent by himself on eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling! Even my dowry was secretly pawned by him! I don’t even have money to buy medicine for Lola now!” “Liam” was anxious and blurted out: “Impossible! You clearly still have a thousand! That passbook is in…” He stopped abruptly halfway, his face turning extremely ugly. I seized this slip of the tongue, crying even harder, pointing at him and accusing: “Brother-in-law! My husband just died, his bones are not yet cold, and instead of guarding the mourning hall, you run to force a widow for her private money! Are you trying to drive us mother and daughter to death?!” This was naturally false. Although Luke was a jerk, he hadn’t reached the point of whoring and gambling. But now, dead men tell no tales, he couldn’t refute at all. The neighbors looked at me with sympathy and began to persuade “Liam” to be more tolerant as a man. “Liam, your sister-in-law isn’t having it easy.” “Yeah, she’ll need your care in the future.” “You are a tycoon, what do you need that $1000 for!” “Liam’s” face turned green and white, too angry to speak. Chapter 2 I sneered, turned and rushed into the room, carried out all of Luke’s things—his work clothes, our wedding photos… all of them. “Luke left these useless things! I’ll burn them for him in front of everyone now, saving some people from thinking about them!” I dragged over the fire basin for burning paper money, threw them in without looking! Flames whoosh shot up. “Lily, what are you doing!” “Liam” subconsciously wanted to rush over to stop me, but stopped abruptly after taking a step, face black as a pot bottom. He is “Liam” now, what right does he have to stop a “sister-in-law” from burning her “late husband’s” belongings? I picked up our wedding photo. In the photo, he smiled brightly, and I was full of happiness. I stared at the photo for a few seconds, then decisively threw it into the fire basin. The glass of the frame cracked in the heat, making a “crackling” sound. “Liam” finally couldn’t hold back, he rushed over, voice trembling: “Sister-in-law! These are the memories Luke left for you! What do you mean by burning them all?” I raised my tearful eyes, voice choking and shrill: “The person is gone, what’s the use of keeping these dead things?!” “Moreover, you all force me! My man just left, and you come to ask for money! You can’t wait to skin us orphans and widows!” I cried bitterly, heartbroken. Everyone around was moved, looking at “Liam” and Scarlett differently. “Liam’s” face was iron green, fists clenched, but could only watch helplessly as I burned every trace of his existence in this world, bit by bit, into ashes. Back in the room, my daughter Lola pulled my clothes, looking up with a pale little face, asking me puzzledly: “Mommy, that man outside is clearly Daddy, why does everyone say he is Uncle?” My heart hurt sharply. Yes, even a five-year-old child can recognize him, but he can be cruel enough to ignore his own daughter. I hugged Lola tightly, trying not to let tears fall. “Lola be good, that’s not Daddy. Daddy… Daddy has gone to a very far place.” The next day, I entrusted Lola to a trustworthy neighbor and took the bus to the county town myself. I went to the textile factory where “Liam” worked before he died and went straight to the factory director’s office. The director, Mr. Wang, was a kind-looking middle-aged man. Seeing me, he sighed: “Comrade Lily, we heard about Comrade Luke. It’s really a pity, he was the youngest workshop director in our factory.” I lowered my head, shoulders trembling slightly, acting grief-stricken. Director Wang comforted: “Luke passed away on the way to transport raw materials. If you have any difficulties, just mention them, the factory will try its best to solve them.” This was exactly what I was waiting for. I raised my head without hesitation and said my plan. “Director Wang, I want to request to cancel Luke’s household registration from the factory, settle the pension in one lump sum according to the regulations for death on duty, and convert the unassigned house into money for me.” Director Wang was a bit surprised: “Cancel registration? Comrade Lily, according to regulations, you can take over Luke’s position and work in the factory. This is an iron rice bowl. And the pension can be collected monthly, so you and your son have a guarantee for life.” This was exactly what I wanted to avoid. Taking over the position meant I would still be involved with this factory and the Li family. I shook my head, tears flowing again: “Director, I don’t want to stay in this sad place. Lola has asthma, I want to take her to the big city for treatment. Staying here, seeing the factory, I think of Luke… I really can’t hold on.” “So I want to collect the pension in one lump sum, then leave here with the child and start over.” My reason was reasonable. A heartbroken widow wanting to stay away from a sad place, no one could say anything. Director Wang pondered for a moment and nodded: “I understand your feelings. Okay, I’ll report to the superiors. Don’t worry, Comrade Luke had an accident while pulling raw materials for the factory, definitely counts as sacrifice on duty, the pension will be generous.” Chapter 3 The process went faster than I imagined. Three days later, I not only got Luke’s official death certificate and household registration cancellation documents but also received a pension of up to $3,000 and a $50,000 housing subsidy. This was a huge sum in 1988. I held the money and documents tightly in my arms and returned to that disgusting home. Entering the yard, I saw my mother-in-law Brenda sitting in the yard cracking melon seeds. Seeing me come in, she spat the shells at my feet and spoke sarcastically: “Yo, jinx is back? Running out all day after husband died, don’t know which wild man you hooked up with outside! My son was really unlucky to marry a bad luck star like you!” In the corner of the yard, five-year-old Lola was squatting on the ground, struggling to scrub a large basin of clothes, her small hands red from cold and covered with foam. My anger shot to the top of my head, immediately rushing over to pick up my daughter. “Lola is only five! Can’t you see her hands are soaked white!” Brenda glared, hands on hips cursing: “You two live in my Li house, eat my Li food, don’t work and want to be offered as ancestors?” I sneered: “Fine, since you say so, we’ll leave! Anyway, my man is dead, I’m an outsider here, won’t take advantage of your Li family!” Saying that, I turned to leave holding Lola. Brenda panicked hearing this, rushed over to block me: “Want to leave? Not so easy! Scarlett is about to give birth, who will serve her if you leave? Eating and drinking for free in my house for so many years, want to leave just like that, dream on!” Under the window of the inner room, Scarlett was touching her belly that didn’t show at all, looking at me triumphantly. “Sister-in-law, not that I want to scold you, but your own belly didn’t live up to expectations. What I’m carrying is Liam’s only root, the only eldest grandson of the Li family, you have to serve well with all your heart.” Luke walked out from behind her, holding her waist with one hand, ordering me: “Lily, Mom is old, Scarlett needs someone to take care of her now. Don’t throw a tantrum.” I laughed in anger. When I was pregnant with Lola, where was he as a husband? When my water broke, I ran to the town health center alone, pain almost killing me. Brenda treated me coldly because the ultrasound showed a girl, didn’t give me a sip of hot soup during confinement. Luke was nowhere to be seen, using busy work as an excuse, never visited the hospital once. Now, why do they want me to serve this usurper woman like a slave? I gritted my teeth, holding Lola back to our small dark room, closed the door, carefully dried her small hands, and applied my homemade clam oil. Outside the door, came the lowered voices of “Liam” and Scarlett. “Look at Lily’s dead look. If you weren’t smart and replaced the identity, the child and I would have been bullied to death by her.” Scarlett’s voice was coquettish. “Liam’s” voice was gentle enough to drip water: “Don’t worry Scarlett, for you and our child, I’m willing to do anything. I will protect you for a lifetime.” “Mom is also on your side, otherwise how could she agree to let me impersonate big brother. That old lady only recognizes money and grandson.” My palm was pierced by nails, lips almost bitten to bleed. So the child in Scarlett’s belly is Luke’s! So they hooked up long ago! So from beginning to end, mother-in-law Brenda knew everything! Their family, gang up to treat me as a fool, a tool to be sacrificed and manipulated at will! I looked at Lola’s quiet sleeping face, took a deep breath, constantly telling myself: Lily, soon, soon can take the child away from this hell. Sure enough, two days later, Director Wang sent a message to me, saying a state-run guesthouse in the city needed an accountant, he had contacted for me, ready to report anytime. I immediately packed our few belongings, took all my belongings and documents, ready to leave at dawn. But unexpectedly, holding Lola and pushing open the door, I met “Liam’s” iron-green face. His gaze fell deadly on the bulging cloth bag in my hand, tone icy cold. “Lily, carrying a bag, where are you taking Lola?” Chapter 4 I subconsciously tightened the strap of the cloth bag, hiding Lola behind me. “Where I go is none of your business. You are now my older brother-in-law, my whereabouts as a sister-in-law are not your turn to manage, Liam.” I deliberately emphasized “Older Brother-in-law” and “Liam.” “Liam’s” face stiffened, then switched to a high-sounding rhetoric: “Scarlett is about to give birth, the family is short of hands. You just manage housework and take care of Lola like before, the family won’t be short of a meal for you two.” I looked at him coldly: “My man Luke is dead. What is it for a widow like me to stay in your house? Doesn’t sound good if spread out.” “We orphans and widows can’t help much. Scarlett is your wife, it’s more appropriate for you, the husband, to take care of her personally.” With that, I was about to lead Lola around him. “Liam” suddenly took a step forward, catching me off guard, snatching the long-distance bus ticket to the city I was clutching tightly! He glanced at the destination on the ticket, eyes instantly turned sinister, tearing the ticket to shreds in two or three moves! Paper scraps fell at our feet like snowflakes. “Lily…” He said unquestionably, “I’m doing this for your own good. A widow with a sick child, how will you live away from the Li family? Better stay home honestly, at least won’t starve.” Looking at the paper scraps on the ground, I trembled with rage. I pushed him hard: “What are you blocking me for now? Luke, don’t go too far!” In panic, I shouted his real name. His face changed drastically, but soon returned to that lofty look, expression impatient. “Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit! I said stay, what more do you want?” I only felt absurd and ridiculous. In previous life, I knelt begging him to save our daughter, he let Brenda kick us out, leaving us to die. Now, I want to leave voluntarily, they jump out one by one to stop. Just want to keep me as a free nanny, serving their family. “You are my brother-in-law, not my husband! I leave if I want, what right do you have to stop me!” I shouted sternly. He frowned, seemingly making a major decision, compromising: “Lily, are you this heartless? Luke’s bones aren’t cold yet, you can’t wait to leave?” He paused, lowering his voice: “Then I’ll take both wives okay? Don’t you just lack a man? I give you a title, odd days I sleep with Scarlett, even days with you…” Before he finished, I used all my strength and slapped him hard on the face! Slap! Crisp sound echoed in the morning yard. Luke was beaten to turn his head, half face swelling red visibly. He seemed to not expect me to dare hit him at all. Stunned for seconds, face suddenly gloomy enough to drip water. “Don’t be ungrateful!” He grabbed my wrist, force strong enough to crush my bones, “Dare walk out this gate, try it!” He dragged me into the house. I pressed my feet against the ground, struggling desperately. Just as we were tearing and entangled, noise came from outside the yard gate. Then, my yard gate was pushed open with a creak. Seeing the visitor, the ferocity and anger on Luke’s face froze instantly.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390178”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

While cleaning up my mom’s phone for Christmas, a Year-in-Review popped up from her airline app. [2025 Annual Summary: 121 Flights, 170,000 Kilometers Traveled] I laughed out loud on the spot. She’s afraid to even take the Greyhound bus to the next town. How could she fly alone? Just as I was about to uninstall the app, I accidentally clicked it open. [Frequent Destination: New York, Average Round Trip Every 6 Days] I froze instantly. My sister lives in New York. Disbelievingly, I tapped into the payment history. The $50,000 savings I entrusted to my mom… only $3.28 remained. In the dense list of transactions, round-trip tickets, fine dining, and luxury gifts appeared constantly. The latest transaction was a $12,000 luxury family trip to Hawaii for five. The note read: New Year with my baby daughter’s whole family. My sister, her husband, even her in-laws were included. Only I was missing. I thought of the time I had acute appendicitis, curled up in the ER calling her. She sighed on the other end: “The hospital is so far, Mom is really afraid to go out alone…” Turns out, I was the only fool kept in the dark. I called the bank immediately: “This transaction was not authorized by me. Please help me charge it back.” Chapter 1 Just hung up, Mom brought two plates of soggy potstickers to the table. A faint sour smell drifted up; who knows how long they’ve been frozen. Oblivious, she shoveled them into my bowl one by one. “The market downstairs is sold out, and you know Mom is afraid to go far…” “Let’s just make do with this meal. Mom will definitely make you something good next time.” My chest felt tight. Not for anything else, but since childhood, I was always the one “making do.” Elementary school field trip, both bento boxes were stuffed into my sister’s bag. I asked the neighbor to tell her I had no food, but Mom said she was too scared to go out. I starved for a day. In middle school boarding, I had a fever of 102 degrees. Contacted Mom, she said the school was too far, she was afraid to leave the house. But my sister’s school was even further, yet she went three times a week, delivering clothes and snacks. Even during the SATs, I went to the city alone for the exam, and my document bag was stolen on the bus. I was frantic, begging Mom to send me my backup admission ticket. She said her anxiety flared up, getting dizzy as soon as she stepped out. I watched helplessly as I missed the exam. When it was my sister’s turn, she personally escorted her to the exam hall. I asked her why she could go out for my sister. Mom clutched her chest, complaining: “My heart panics! It’s all because your sister is spoiled, only knows how to trouble Mom!” “Ellie, luckily you are sensible, know how to be considerate of Mom.” Because of the word “sensible.” For so many years, I swallowed my grievances and chose to understand her. But now, the 170,000 kilometers flight record slapped me hard in the face. Heart felt like a big hole was punched through, cold air rushing in. The dumplings at my mouth were hard to swallow. Seeing this, Mom frowned and urged. “Eat up, it’s mushroom and pork filling, isn’t it your favorite?” I put down my chopsticks, looking straight at her. “Mom, I don’t eat mushrooms. Chloe is the one who loves them.” Hearing this, Mom’s face changed. She sat down heavily, shouting: “I see it now, you just want to make me unhappy during the holidays!” “I serve you and you’re still not happy, not even half as sensible as your sister!” The last bit of thought to defend her dissipated completely. Mom went straight to the living room and video called my sister. Voice came clearly. “Spending holidays with your sister is a sin!” “Spent half a day making dumplings for her, she won’t eat a bite!” “Complaining I didn’t make her a big meal!” In just a few minutes, my heart went cold again and again. Speaker on, my sister Chloe’s sarcastic voice sounded: “Sis, Mom can’t go far, you know that.” “If you were really filial, you would take Mom out to a restaurant.” Mom took over: “She doesn’t have that heart! Came home for Christmas and didn’t even buy anything!” “You even bought Mom a scarf!” The two accused me back and forth, giving me no chance to interrupt. I didn’t buy things, but I gave a $1,000 red envelope. Chloe just bought a $19.99 scarf, and Mom was happy like this. Mom suddenly turned to glance at me: “It’s the holidays, I won’t bicker with you.” “Buy me a new phone. I’ve used this one for years, GPS isn’t accurate, easy to get lost when going out.” “Sure.” My tone was calm. “Didn’t I leave a card with you for safekeeping? Just take it and buy one.” Mom froze instantly. “Can’t save anything! That’s your savings, why touch it!” “Transfer me another $2,000, buy one for your sister too, as her New Year gift!” I sneered, piercing through them directly: “Not that you can’t touch it, but it’s all spent, right?” “The money you save from not flying to New York for a month is enough to buy a phone.” Chapter 2 Mom was stunned for a few seconds, then retorted sharply: “What New York? You know I can’t go far!” “You heartless thing, I kindly help you save money, and you accuse me!” She collapsed on the sofa, snot and tears flowing. Chloe followed suit: “Sis, look how you angered Mom during the holidays!” Listening to these black-and-white reversing words. I just felt a bit numb. I placed the bank card balance of $3.28 in front of them. “The $50,000 in the card, if you didn’t spend it, did it evaporate?” Her tears stopped suddenly. Expression became weird. “No wonder you’ve been pulling a face, turns out it’s because I spent a little of your money.” “Since you know, transfer me another $5,000, treat your sister’s family to a good meal.” I felt utterly absurd. Mom became more self-righteous as she spoke. Just as I was feeling suffocated, the bank called. I put it on speaker. “Ms. Chen, we understand your request.” “The detailed bill for the $12,000 charge has been sent to your phone. You can negotiate a refund with the travel agency.” Hearing this, Mom exploded: “What are you doing? You dare refund my Hawaii luxury tour?” I looked at her expressionlessly. “I didn’t spend this money, what’s wrong with me claiming it back?” “Besides, didn’t you say you can’t go far? What Hawaii?” My tone was full of mockery. Mom turned angry from shame, ran to the door, threw my suitcase and clothes out. “Get out! Get out right now! Raising you is worse than raising a dog!” The door slammed shut in front of my eyes. On this reunion day, I suddenly realized, I have no home. The streets were festive, lights decorating everywhere. Wearing a down jacket, I felt bone-piercing cold. Three hours later, I returned to my assigned dorm. Just collapsed on the sofa, phone rang one after another. It was Aunt Sarah. “Ellie! Your mom had an accident trying to find you!” “It was her first time taking the subway, didn’t understand the transfers, fell on the escalator, now in the city hospital!” Almost simultaneously, Mom posted a photo of her leg in a cast. She cried in the family group chat: “Ellie, where are you, come home quickly!” “Mom won’t scold you anymore, Mom will spend whatever you want…” Relatives saw this and came out to blame me: [Ellie, this is wrong of you, running away from home during holidays] [Your mom is afraid of cars, found her way to the city for you, not easy] [She raised you sisters alone, and you ask her for money? What an ungrateful wolf!] I didn’t speak. Just logged into the hospital app. There was indeed a medical record. [Common Cold] Nothing to do with injury. I laughed. I understood clearly what disappointment felt like. Seeing the group tagging me repeatedly. I suppressed the corners of my mouth, pulled out the bank statement and threw it into the group: [My mom is not someone afraid to go far] [She flies to New York twice a week on average to see my sister, 121 times a year] [The $50,000 I saved since graduation, all spent by her!] Chapter 3 The group went quiet instantly. A few minutes later, someone stood up to smooth things over: [Your sister married far away, your mom just couldn’t let go, that’s why she visited so many times] [Exactly! Why calculate so much within family] [Besides, your mom fell looking for you!] I didn’t speak, posted another screenshot of chat with Mom when I was hospitalized for appendicitis. [Mom, my acute appendicitis acted up, can you come take care of me for a few days?] [Too far, Mom is afraid to go] Looking at the two lines, I felt tears blurring my eyes. Long suppressed grievances made me send a voice message directly: “Mom, you think a three-hour drive is far, but my sister is thousands of miles away, and you go whenever you want.” “Are you afraid to go out, or do you just not care about me?” The group fell into silence. I suddenly felt so tired. Sent the last sentence. “My mom didn’t fall at all, everyone rest assured, happy holidays.” Attached the medical record screenshot. After doing this, I threw the phone aside and cooked myself a bowl of noodles. Until the phone dinged. The $12,000 travel refund arrived. I felt a bit better. Clicked WeChat, the small group of me, Mom, and sister already had 99+ messages. I didn’t look, just muted them. Started clearing my shopping cart for myself. Five years after graduation, I lived frugally, still living in the free employee dorm. Actually, I knew Mom was biased. But I couldn’t cut off the longing for family affection. From the first paycheck, I transferred living expenses to Mom. Varied at first, now fixed at $500 a month. Thinking back, this money probably all went into my sister’s pocket. Thinking of this, I canceled the monthly automatic transfer. Now I really thought it through. Next second, a call popped up. It was my sister. Her tone was resentful: “Sis, I agreed with my husband and in-laws! We leave tomorrow! You refunded the money, how can I face them?” “I know, you’re just jealous Mom didn’t take you, right?” “How about this, you add your share of money, let’s go play together.” Listening to her charitable tone, I sneered: “Why? This money is enough for me to travel a dozen times myself.” “My money, not a cent for you in the future.” With that, I hung up directly. Missing the flight, I thought it would finally be quiet. But the next day, a friend sent a frantic voice message: “Ellie! Look at Facebook, your mom posted about you online!!!” I clicked Facebook. The cover was Mom’s tearful face, the title piercing the heart: [Ten Years of a Mother PUA’d by Her Daughter] Chapter 4 My fingers trembled slightly. In the video, it was full of Mom’s accusations against me. She said she is 67, stepped out of her small town for the first time, having been a free nanny for me before. As if thinking of painful memories, Mom shed tears while speaking. “Actually, I always wanted to go out and see, but I was afraid and didn’t know how to take the bus.” “Whenever I asked my eldest daughter, she would frown and say I was stupid, useless to learn, and embarrassing.” “I fell into depression, feeling useless.” After saying this, she showed a depression diagnosis report. Wiped tears, continued: “Thanks to my little daughter teaching me hand in hand, encouraging me, giving me courage to step out.” “My condition slowly improved, able to enjoy convenient transportation, see the outside world.” Next second, Chloe appeared in the lens. Mother and daughter cried holding each other under the sunset by the sea. Post released six hours, over 100k likes. Uninformed netizens were moved by this mother-daughter love. But more were attacks on me, the ungrateful wolf: [This eldest daughter treats the elderly as a nanny, and belittles her, how vicious!] [For every like on this comment, the eldest daughter gets hit by a car!] My DMs were stuffed with nasty greetings. Chloe called triumphantly: “Sis, how’s the taste of being cyberbullied?” “If you reimburse the travel expenses for me and Mom, we’ll put in a few good words for you, deal?” This is the sister I loved since childhood. I refused directly: “F*ck off.” Soon my info was doxxed, seriously disturbing my life. I closed all social media directly. Until New Year’s Day, the door was knocked. It was my boss with hot New Year’s Eve dinner. What I didn’t expect was. Mom not only didn’t go home, but posted on Moments repeatedly to show off, big meals every time. But sister and her husband’s combined monthly salary in New York is only a few thousand. Mortgage needs in-laws’ subsidy every month. Where did Mom get the money to splash? Soon, I knew the answer. I received many collection calls and texts. She actually borrowed Payday Loans! I forwarded the texts intact to Mom. Next second, she shouted at top of her voice: “Anyway if you don’t pay, I won’t go back, they’ll find you!” Her shameless tone made me angry. At this point, she still wants to manipulate me? Impossible. I pretended nothing happened, spent a lively New Year with my boss’s family. Until the debt exceeded $100,000, collectors couldn’t hold back. This morning, I was blocked by several burly men at the street corner. The leader looked fierce: “Your mom owes over a hundred grand, should have paid back long ago!” “Either pay, or we empty your house!” I honestly took them home. Opened the door, everyone dumbfounded. Room was empty. I took out the lease termination, spread hands helplessly: “Big brother, not that I don’t want to help her pay, this house was sold last week, moved out long ago.” “I really have no money to pay you, still living in the company.” Looking at the bewildered debt collection gang. I kindly opened the map guide: “But my sister’s family is quite rich, she lives in New York, and is filial.” “Go find her, she will definitely give money.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390177”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Tonight is New Year’s Eve, and also my anniversary with my boyfriend. At 6:05 PM, I picked up my bag, ready to clock out, but was blocked by my boss. “Leaving so early? Who allowed you to leave?” He leaned against the door frame, tone sarcastic. “Didn’t you see I haven’t left yet? You are the most unruly person in the entire company.” I pointed to the time on my phone: “Company policy says work ends at 6:00. It’s 6:05 now.” “Leaving on time is perfectly justified.” The boss’s face sank: “In this company, I am the law.” “Who are you to talk rules with me?” “I say you haven’t finished, you sit back down obediently.” I froze for a few seconds, then took out my phone and sent a text to my boyfriend. “My boss won’t let me leave. Cancel that project we talked about.” Chapter 1 “What kind of attitude is this! I’m talking to you, and you’re playing with your phone?” “Do you have any respect for me as your boss!” Boss Sterling saw me taking out my phone to text, his face darkening instantly. I put away my phone, tone flat: “Since I can’t leave on time, I have to tell my boyfriend. Is there a problem?” “Is there a problem? Huge problem!” Sterling looked me up and down, eyes full of contempt. “I wondered why your efficiency has been so low lately. Turns out your mind is all on romance!” “A girl thinking about dating all day, what future can you have?” Heh, my future doesn’t depend on you, and you can’t afford it either. Sure enough, jobs found by submitting resumes myself are unreliable. I should have listened to Preston and taken a leisurely job at his company. Drinking tea and reading newspapers every day would be better than watching people’s faces here. Besides, I have always been diligent. Projects delivered on time, overtime not rare. How is my efficiency low? Simply nonsense. Counting it up, this is the twelfth time this month the boss picked on me. At first, I really thought it was my problem and reflected daily. Turns out, he just purely wants to find someone to scold, to show off his authority as a boss. Now, I won’t spoil him. I retorted directly. “Mr. Sterling, dating is my private matter and hasn’t affected my work.” “I completed all my duties on time.” Colleague Linda next to me whispered in support, “Yes, Mr. Sterling, Sarah has always been serious and responsible, never made mistakes.” Sterling exploded on the spot. “Who do you think you are? Are you the boss or am I? Do you have a say when I criticize employees?” “Don’t think I don’t know, you two drink bubble tea and order takeout together every day, practically wearing the same pair of pants. Forming a clique, huh?” “If she makes a mistake and gets her salary deducted, should I deduct yours too?” Linda’s eyes reddened with grievance, but she dared not talk back to Sterling. Sterling scolded enough, then turned back to me. “What do you mean completed? Who are you fooling?” “Where is the Annual Gala plan I asked you to do last week?” “We agreed the first draft must be submitted before New Year’s Eve.” “Work not done, and you have the nerve to leave? Where is your shame?” Colleagues around were peeking to watch the drama. The boss wouldn’t let me go, so they dared not leave either, afraid the boss would scold them too. I was too lazy to argue, too lazy to turn on the computer that was already shut down. I took out my phone and opened Slack. Clicked on the chat with the boss. “Boss, the Annual Gala plan was sent to you via Slack file two days ago, Monday at 4:15 PM.” “At 4:23 PM, you replied with an ‘OK’ emoji.” “I haven’t received any further feedback from you.” “I assumed you had confirmed receipt.” The screen displayed it clearly. The boss’s face became even gloomier. “What confirmed receipt!” “Replying OK means I know, not that I finished reading and confirming!” Sterling spat as he spoke, getting more excited. “Also, if I didn’t give you feedback, why didn’t you remind me?” “Ah? Can’t you be more proactive in doing things?” “Where is your sense of responsibility for project follow-up? Sending a plan to me and considering it done?” “Is this your work attitude?” I’ve heard this pot-dumping rhetoric until my ears calloused. Forgetful himself, blames employees for not reminding. Missed seeing it himself, blames employees for not writing clearly. Working here for a few months, after being picked on a few times, I already had a response plan. I zoomed in on the chat history. “Mr. Sterling, look carefully at the chat history.” “When I sent the file to you, the note was very clear.” I read out the chat record. “Mr. Sterling, the first draft of the Annual Gala plan has been sent. Please confirm the plan ASAP.” “I booked a 30-minute meeting with you on Jan 4th at 10 AM to go over the final plan. Does that work?” Sterling panicked, slapping the table loudly. “You sent so many words, who has time to read them one by one!” “As HR, don’t you know my work habits? Important things must be said in person!” “Sending a Slack message counts as notification? You are slacking off!” Heh, here we go again. He is the boss, he is always right. I sneered in my heart, but my face remained calm. “Mr. Sterling, you forgot. The rule you personally set at the company meeting last month.” “You said, to clarify responsibilities, all communication and work reports must leave a trail on Slack to avoid disputes later.” “I was just strictly following your rules.” Sterling’s face turned completely black. “Good! Good sharp-tongued Sarah!” “Dare to talk back to me.” “Said so much, just want to leave work, right?” “I tell you, no way!” “This company is named Sterling, I am the boss.” He gritted his teeth and stared at me. “I officially notify you now, you are not allowed to leave!” “Meeting right now! Discuss the Annual Gala plan!” He scanned the office viciously. “And Linda, Zack… your entire department, no one leaves. Everyone comes to the meeting.” As soon as this was said, people in the office were stunned. Zack, who was named, tentatively spoke: “Mr. Sterling, I… my girlfriend is waiting for me downstairs for dinner, we agreed…” “Girlfriend?” Sterling sneered, “Can a girlfriend pay your salary? Can she pay your insurance? Can’t distinguish priorities!” He flung his hand fiercely, pointing at me again. “Blame your good colleague Sarah.” “It’s her smart-ass backtalk that dragged you all into overtime.” “Today, I’ll teach you a good lesson, so you don’t forget who holds the cards!” Several resentful looks immediately cast on me. Everyone still counted this debt on my head. I was about to say something, but Linda immediately held my arm. “Sarah, stop talking, forget it.” “The boss is angry. The more you resist, the more energized he gets. He really can make us stay all night!” “My child is alone at home, I…” “Just treat it as me begging you, endure it, okay?” “Let’s go, let’s go to the meeting.” But glancing at Linda’s pleading face, The fire in my heart faded a bit. This shitty job, this stupid boss, staying one more second is dirty. But in the few months I’ve been here, Linda really treated me like a sister and taught me a lot. I can’t let her be embarrassed because of me. Fine, give her face. I nodded at Linda and swallowed all the words back. Linda turned to squeeze out a smile at Sterling, bowing and scraping: “Boss, we’ll go to the conference room right away, right away.” “Sarah is young and ignorant, don’t hold it against her.” Sterling snorted, looking triumphant. “Go! To the conference room! Today I’ll teach you a lesson personally!” I rolled a huge eye in my heart. Laugh, laugh hard. Don’t know how long you can laugh. My text message has been sent. When Preston sees it, he’ll cry. This project was only possible because Preston’s grandfather agreed to cooperate with him seeing I work here. Otherwise, with Sterling’s small volume, he wouldn’t touch The Preston Group even in a hundred years. Chapter 2 In the conference room, Sterling sat at the head, starting his lecture. “Today, keeping everyone here is not to punish you, but to educate you!” “What is Wolf Culture? What is team spirit? Some of you just lack this spirit!” As he spoke, he glanced at me with the corner of his eye, the meaning self-evident. I lowered my eyelids, staring at the conference table, feeling annoyed. New Year’s Eve, anniversary… all ruined. What is Preston doing now? Is he waiting for my call? Just thinking, the phone on the table buzzed suddenly. The screen lit up, displaying: Preston. I quickly pressed the hang-up button, then put the phone in my pocket. But those two short vibrations were still exceptionally abrupt. Sterling’s long speech stopped abruptly. He scanned every face in the conference room and roared loudly. “Who?” “Whose phone was ringing just now?” Everyone’s eyes focused on me immediately. Zack sitting next to me even pointed his finger at me. “Boss, it’s Sarah’s phone.” I looked up, looking straight at Sterling. “It’s me.” “You again! Sarah!” Sterling slapped the table and stood up directly. “Good! You are really good!” “I’m here talking my heart out about the team, about the future, and you are flirting with your little boyfriend down there!” “Playing with your phone in a meeting, do you have any discipline in your eyes! Do you have me as a boss!” I frowned, explaining calmly, “I didn’t play with my phone, just a call, I already hung up.” “Hung up?” Sterling was furious, “You think you’re right?” “I see you are unrepentant!” “If I don’t show you some severity, you won’t know how many eyes Lord Ma has!” He pointed at me viciously. “I officially notify you now, according to company regulations, handling personal affairs during a meeting,” “Seriously affecting meeting order, fined $3,000! Deducted from your next month’s salary!” I twitched the corner of my mouth. “Mr. Sterling, I memorized the employee handbook when I joined. There is no rule saying answering a call in a meeting gets fined.” “Handbook?” Sterling sneered, tone disdainful, “What I say is the rule!” “I have the final say in this company!” He looked unhappy, frowning at everyone, “Everyone say, am I right to fine her?” “Is it people like her with no sense of collective honor who drag down our entire department’s progress?” Linda spoke carefully, “Mr. Sterling, please calm down.” “Sarah is still young, just graduated, doesn’t know better. This is the first time, how about… give her a chance?” “Her probation salary isn’t high, $3,000 isn’t a small amount…” Sterling glared, “She’s young? She doesn’t know better? She knew too well when she talked back to me?” “Linda I tell you, don’t mix mud here!” “It’s because of softies like you that she is so lawless!” Linda sat back awkwardly, daring not say another word. Zack was best at reading expressions. He spoke righteously, “No rules, no standards. I support Mr. Sterling’s decision.” “Sarah, it is indeed your fault this time.” Other colleagues immediately echoed, “Yeah, Sarah, just admit the fine quickly so we can finish the meeting and leave!” “We could have left at six, what time is it now? It’s all your fault!” “Who do you think you are? Talking back to the boss?” “Apologize to the boss quickly, stop being stubborn!” Looking at their expressions accusing me all at once, I suddenly found it very funny. These are my good colleagues. I usually treat them with snacks often. Once trouble hits, they push me out immediately. I straightened my back, “I won’t admit fines that shouldn’t be fined.” Sterling’s face collapsed, preparing to curse. My phone vibrated again. Sterling exploded immediately, “Sarah, is there no end? I order you, hand over the phone immediately.” I snorted coldly: “Impossible.” “The phone is my personal property. You have no right to confiscate it.” “Seems you still don’t understand the boss is the biggest in the company.” Sterling glanced at Zack coldly. Zack understood immediately, calling a few other male colleagues to surround me. Linda’s face turned pale, “Mr. Sterling, what are you doing! Talk nicely!” “Shut up!” Sterling pushed her away, “None of your business!” “One more word, and you resign and get out too!” Linda stumbled, pushed into the file cabinet by the wall. Other colleagues all lowered their heads, pretending to see nothing. My heart went cold. Indeed, just colleagues. Next second, several hands clamped my shoulders. “Let go!” I struggled, but the strength difference between men and women kept me pinned to the chair, unable to move. “Sarah, don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!” “Hand over the phone, it’s good for everyone!” I clutched the phone tightly, fingertips white. “Mr. Sterling, this is robbery, it’s illegal!” “Illegal?” Sterling raised his hand and slapped me. Left cheek burned with pain, heavy metallic taste in my mouth. “Go ask around, in Manhattan, who dares to touch me, Sebastian Sterling.” “Our Sterling family is protected by the Preston family.” “The richest Preston family, understand? Bitch.” Heh, he hit the future matriarch of the Preston family, and wants the Preston family to protect him? Simply dreaming! I smiled mockingly, “You will regret this!” “I never regret what I do!” Sterling lost patience, stepping forward personally to pry my fingers. His nails were long, digging hard into the back of my hand. My eyes reddened with pain. In the last second before the phone was snatched, I used all my strength, finger swiping the answer button. Sterling let out a sneer. “Heh, so what if you answered.” “Let your boyfriend hear how pathetic you are now!” Sterling pressed the speaker button, tone rampant, “Hello? Looking for Sarah?” The voice on the other end turned cold, “Who are you?” “Who am I?” Sterling laughed loudly, “I am her boss!” “I tell you, stop waiting. Your girlfriend Sarah talked back to her superior. I’m punishing her to stay in the company for overtime and deep reflection!” “Tonight, she goes nowhere!” Silence on the other end. Sterling became more smug, “Heard that? A grown man knowing only to circle around women, useless!” “I tell you, stop calling and disturbing our company meeting, or I’ll make you suffer consequences you can’t bear.” “Oh? Really?” An icy voice interrupted Sterling’s clamor. But this voice did not come from the phone. Instead, it came from the corridor nearby. Everyone’s eyes widened, looking at the conference room door. Only to see a tall and slender figure striding over. “I’d really like to see how you make me suffer consequences I can’t bear.” “Who the hell are you?” Sterling spat low, “Who let you in?” “Our company is holding an important meeting. Idlers get out!” The man glanced at Sterling lightly. “I’m here to pick up Sarah.” After he finished, his gaze fell on me. The colleagues grabbing me immediately let go. I threw myself into Preston’s arms immediately. “Preston, you finally came.” He looked at the red mark on my face and the bloody scratches on my hand, frowning with heartache. “Who did this.” Red-eyed, I pointed at Sterling, and Zack and the others. “Don’t worry, I will make them pay.” Preston patted my back gently, “Let’s go, I’ll take you to the hospital to treat the wounds first.” Saying that, he held my hand, turning to leave. Sterling laughed arrogantly. “Kid, you are Sarah’s boyfriend, right?” “I tell you, you can’t take her today!” “Sarah is my employee. When she can leave work depends on me!” “Now, immediately, get out! Don’t hinder our company’s internal discipline rectification!” Preston’s tone was three degrees colder than before. “I say it again, I’m taking her.” “Are you f*cking deaf!” Sterling rolled his eyes impatiently, “Who do you think you are? Dare to talk to me like this?” “Do you know who I am? The boss of Sterling Capital!” “Ask around this territory, who doesn’t give me some face.” Colleagues aside started whispering. “Done for, this young man is in trouble.” “Yeah, heard the Sterling family has good relations with major powers in the city.” “Especially the richest Preston family. I heard the boss’s driver say Sterling’s father even ate with Old Mr. Preston!” “Mr. Sterling has a bad temper, but his connections are really something.” “This young man is still too young, thinking he can walk sideways with a big mouth. Impulse is the devil.” Sterling became more smug, looking at Preston with disdain. “Heard that, brat? Didn’t ask who you are messing with before entering?” “Tell you, today you kicked an iron plate.” Iron plate? Just their Sterling family? A second-rate family at best. Being able to attend the Preston family dinner was only because I work at their company, And the Old Master wanted to give them a chance. Really think he’s somebody. I looked at Preston mischievously. “Preston, what to do? Their background is so hard, I’m a bit scared.” Preston spoke lightly, “Scared of what, if the sky falls, I’ll hold it.” Sterling revealed a mouthful of yellow teeth. “Kid, what do you hold it with? Relying on this face?” “You look handsome, but I must warn you,” “Society is not your home, not a place you can pretend just because you dress like a human!!” “No strength, no background, you are a fart!” He turned around sharply, pointing viciously at me. “Blame your brainless girlfriend for offending people she shouldn’t offend.” “Today your New Year’s Eve will be spent in my f*cking office!” He turned, raising his eyebrows triumphantly at everyone in the office. “See that? This is the result of not working hard!” “Not only do you have to work overtime, but your boyfriend also has to wait outside like a dog!” Zack immediately echoed fawningly, “Mr. Sterling is right! Work is heaven. Heaven is big, earth is big, but work is the biggest!” I gently pushed Preston away and looked at Sterling. “Mr. Sterling, I quit.” As soon as these words came out, Linda’s face turned pale, winking at me desperately. Sterling laughed holding his belly. “Quit? Sarah, is your brain really kicked by a donkey?” He stopped laughing, tapping at me with his finger, “Sure, hand in the resignation letter. According to labor law, 30 days notice.” “In these 30 days, you, Sarah, are still an employee of my Sterling Capital!” “If I tell you to work overtime, you work! If I tell you to work, you work!” “Want to leave? Fine, 30 days later, get out!” “But tonight, don’t even think about stepping out of this door!” Sterling really won’t cry until he sees the coffin, still so arrogant. I frowned, “Mr. Sterling, I’m just notifying you, I quit. I won’t listen to your orders anymore.” “As for deducting salary, deduct whatever you want, doesn’t matter.” “Tonight, I am leaving.” Sterling sneered, “You think the company is a place you come and go as you please?” “Zack, call security.” Preston spoke lightly. “I remember, The Preston Group recently has a $30 billion new energy project, planning deep cooperation with you.” Hearing “The Preston Group” and “$30 billion,” Sterling straightened his back even more. “Count yourself knowledgeable, kid!” “That’s right! That project is led by our Sterling family!” “The Preston family, understand? Our Sterling family is protected by the Prestons!” He thought Preston was scared, tone even more insufferable. Preston pulled a cold smile. “Oh, really?” “That’s just right.” He took out his phone, dialing his assistant directly. “Assistant Lee, notify down. All cooperation intentions between The Preston Group and Sterling Capital are terminated.” “Also, I want Sterling Capital to disappear from the city before dawn.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390176”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

After being diagnosed with hemophilia, I became the family’s “Glass Princess.” The doctor said I wouldn’t live past five. So Mom and Dad put me first in everything, even spending all their savings to treat me. Until my fifth birthday, there was rare laughter in the house. Only my little sister asked innocently: “Sissy, will you die tomorrow?” That was the first time Dad hit her. And Mom knelt beside her, praying desperately, begging God to keep me for a few more years. But on the day my sister started kindergarten, I just said my chest hurt a little. Mom suddenly broke down crying and slapped me: “Why are you so disgusting? Will you only be satisfied if you drive your sister to death?” “We revolve around you every day, can’t we even send your sister to school?” “If you want to die, just die! Stop torturing us!” She threw all the medicine at me, grabbed my sister’s hand, and slammed the door. I didn’t speak, just watched the continuously bleeding wound, my body getting colder and colder. … When the medicine bottle shattered, I happened to raise my hand to block it. I stared at the wound for two seconds before remembering what the doctor said: “Child, you absolutely cannot have any wounds on your body, or the bleeding won’t stop.” I hurriedly found a band-aid and put it on. But it was soaked through in less than half a minute. I turned to get a bandage, but blood dripped all over the floor. Mom loves cleanliness the most; I can’t cause her any more trouble. I panicked and tore my sleeve to wipe it. But the blood on the floor seemed to explode, smearing more as I wiped. I grabbed a towel and wrapped the wound. My body started to get cold, from fingertips to bone marrow. I walked into the bathroom and filled the tub with hot water. Lying in it, I felt a little relief. Blood was still flowing, dyeing the water red. I suddenly missed Mom and Dad very much, dialing Dad’s number with my smartwatch. It rang for a long time, no one answered. I called Mom again. It was very noisy over there. Music, children laughing. Lively as if in a different world from me. “Speak quickly if you have something, it’s your sister’s turn to perform soon.” “Mom, I don’t feel well, I’m bleeding…” An impatient voice came through the phone: “Uncomfortable again?” “Are you uncomfortable as long as we don’t revolve around you?” “Clementine, you are eight years old, a big girl now, can you be more sensible?” Next second, the busy tone sounded in the empty bathroom. I looked at the tub of water slowly turning red, suddenly wanting to cry. Mom was right, I seem to always cause trouble for people. Being sick is trouble, being in a bad mood is trouble, now bleeding is also trouble. Mom’s cardigan was draped on the edge of the tub. I gently covered my face with the clothes, which still had the familiar scent of jasmine. It felt like going back to childhood, she guarded me like this when I had a fever. The water slowly cooled. The bleeding seemed to slow down a bit, probably almost drained. When my head started to get dizzy, I wondered, will I be better after the blood runs out? Mom and Dad won’t have to worry about their sickly daughter all the time. My sister won’t have to yield to me every day. I won’t have to pretend to be sensible carefully, won’t have to grit my teeth in pain at night daring not to make a sound. I curled up in the bathtub, as safe as in my mother’s womb before I was born. Chapter 2 When I opened my eyes again, I only saw my small self soaking in the bathtub, face pale as death. So I am already dead. The sound of the door opening came from outside, followed by my sister’s cheerful laughter: “Sissy, I’m back!” I rushed out. Mom and Dad came back holding my sister’s hand, carrying a strawberry cake. Dad saw the mess in the living room and froze: “What happened here?” Mom frowned: “She threw a tantrum with me at noon.” “Seeing I was going to take her sister to school, she lied about feeling unwell.” Dad’s face darkened: “Really getting less and less sensible.” I wanted to explain, waving desperately in front of them: “No! Clementine didn’t mean to make Mom angry!” But my hand passed through Dad’s shoulder, they noticed nothing. My sister broke free from Mom’s hand and ran to my room door. She knocked gently: “Sissy, come out and eat cake.” Silence inside the door. My sister looked up and asked: “Is Sissy asleep?” I hugged my sister: “Thank you, Joy.” Mom’s voice was cold and hard: “What sleep, just ignoring people on purpose.” “Ignore her, let’s eat first.” Dad put the cake on the dining table. My sister looked eagerly, whispering: “But I want to wait for Sissy to eat together…” Dad opened the box, exchanging a look with Mom: “If Clementine was half as sensible as her sister, we would worry much less.” Candles inserted, lit. My sister was lifted onto the chair, blowing out five candles under my parents’ gaze. Today is also my sister’s fifth birthday. Mom asked gently: “Did Joy make a wish?” My sister’s eyes sparkled: “Yes! I wish Sissy…” Dad smiled and patted her head. “Wishes won’t come true if you say them out loud.” I watched quietly from the side. On my birthdays in past years, the house was always filled with the smell of medicine. The candle numbers on the cake were like a countdown. And my sister’s birthday finally looked like what a birthday should be. When cutting the cake, my sister insisted on cutting the biggest piece: “This is for Sissy!” She carried the plate to my room door and knocked again: “Sissy, eat strawberry cake with Joy!” Still no response. The smile on my sister’s face slowly disappeared. She carried the plate back to the table, whispering: “Sissy is ignoring me.” Dad suddenly reached out, snatched the plate from my sister’s hand. And threw it into the trash can along with that exquisite strawberry cake. Dad slapped the table angrily: “Don’t eat then! No one is allowed to call her again.” “So insensible, starve a few meals and she’ll know she’s wrong.” My sister was scared, eyes red instantly. Mom hugged her, glaring at Dad: “Why are you fierce to the child?” Then said softly to my sister: “Good girl, we eat first. When Sissy knows she’s wrong, she will come out herself.” I squatted next to the trash can, looking at the cake inside. The strawberries on the cream were still so fresh, but now mixed with dirty tissues. What a pity, it’s my favorite strawberry flavor. My sister ate her cake in small bites, looking at my door from time to time. Mom and Dad stopped talking, eating silently. There should have been four places at the table, now one is empty. I sat in that seat, whispering Happy Birthday to my sister. Chapter 3 At night, Mom bathed my sister. I blocked in front of the shower curtain, heart clenched into a ball. Afraid Mom would open the curtain and see me in the tub. In the steam, Mom soaped my sister. My sister looked up, wet hair sticking to her forehead: “Mommy, why isn’t Sissy out yet?” Mom’s hand rubbing soap paused. “Sissy might be asleep.” My sister whispered: “But I miss Sissy, I haven’t seen her all day.” Mom turned off the water, wrapped my sister in a big towel, and hugged her. “Joy, do you blame Mommy and Daddy?” “Blame what?” Mom hugged my sister tighter: “Blame us for always revolving around Sissy, giving her the best. Blame us for sometimes neglecting you.” My sister wrapped her wet little arms around Mom’s neck. “No blame, because Sissy is sick.” “Teacher said today, sick people need care the most.” “Daddy, Mommy and I must love Sissy together.” Mom’s shoulders trembled slightly. She buried her face in my sister’s towel, silent for a while. “Joy is so sensible.” “Actually Sissy is very pitiful.” I stuck to the cold tiles, hearing Mom continue: “Sissy was born with bad health, doctor said she might not grow up.” Mom sniffled: “So Mommy and Daddy are always afraid she hurts, afraid she feels bad, wishing to pile all good things on her.” Her voice got lower and lower: “But sometimes Mommy gets tired too.” “Also think, how good if Sissy was healthier. How good if I could spend more time with you.” My sister listened half-understandingly, patting Mom’s back with her small hand. I squatted in the corner, big transparent tears falling down. “Sorry, Mom, I was insensible…” “If I never existed, how good if Mommy and Daddy only had a sister.” But they couldn’t hear anything. After bathing, Mom carried my sister to bed and coaxed her to sleep. Then she walked to my door, stood for a long time. Finally, she raised her hand and knocked gently. “Clementine, are you asleep?” I floated to her, wanting to reach out and touch her, but my fingertips only passed through air. “Mommy shouldn’t have lost temper at you today, Mommy was wrong.” “Today was sister’s first day of school, Mommy was too nervous, didn’t mean to be fierce to you.” She paused again, as if waiting for my response. Of course, I could never respond to her again. Mom sighed: “Left cake in the living room. It’s your favorite strawberry flavor, remember to eat.” She stood at the door for a few more seconds before returning to her room. Door closed. I walked to the living room, saw a piece of cake on the dining table. Small, on a plate, the strawberry on top a bit crooked. It was late at night. I looked at the small me in the bathtub. The water was cold, my face white as paper. Mom never opened the shower curtain. She didn’t know, I could never eat the cake she left. I could never hear her apology again. Chapter 4 I followed Mom into the master bedroom. Dad looked up hearing the sound: “Did Clementine come out?” Mom sat by the bed folding clothes, shook her head: “No movement. Child is growing up, strong self-esteem.” Dad took off glasses rubbing the bridge of his nose: “Clementine is bitter inside too.” “Never went to school since childhood, made few friends. Seeing her sister go to school, envy is normal.” “If really no way, let’s hire a tutor for Clementine?” Mom paused: “Hire a tutor? Where’s the money? Last month’s medicine bill is still owed to the hospital.” Dad sighed, turned over: “I’ll drive Uber. Drive a few hours after work at night, can scrape some together in a month.” Mom turned to look at him. Lamplight shone on Dad’s face, dark circles obvious under eyes. “You are tired enough working day time, this is dangerous.” Dad waved hand: “It’s fine, I’m healthy.” “Just shoulders a bit sore recently, put a patch on me.” Dad turned over, Mom lifted his pajama collar, that patch of skin red and swollen. I stood by the bed, looking at the redness on Dad’s shoulder, tears fell on the quilt. I used to say he came home late, say he didn’t play with me. Never thought, every day he came home late was paying for me. I threw myself into his arms: “Sorry, Dad. Please forgive my willfulness.” Mom put on the patch, both lay down and turned off the light. I lay down between them, like when I was little. Mom’s warm breath on the left, Dad’s steady heartbeat on the right. I reached out, hugging them loosely. At this moment, I felt especially happy. Next morning, Mom called us for breakfast. Passing the dining table she found that piece of strawberry cake still on the plate, untouched. Cream collapsed, strawberry withered. Gentleness on Mom’s face faded bit by bit. She put down the plate, walking towards my room. She knocked twice: “Clementine, come out.” No response. Her eyes started to redden: “Mommy apologized yesterday, what more do you want?” “Not eating cake, want to hunger strike?” “Who are you showing attitude to? Want to anger Mommy to death?” Still no sound. Mom held the door handle, pushed open the door. Room empty. Mom turned pale, turned around shouting fearfully to Dad: “Honey, Clementine is missing!” Dad ran over scared: “What? Don’t be afraid, let’s look properly, must be at home.” Just then, my sister’s voice came: “Mommy, Sissy is playing with water in the bathroom.” I was so anxious I didn’t know what to do. I shouted at my sister: “Joy, get out quickly, don’t let Mom see me!” But my sister couldn’t hear, she pulled the shower curtain fully open. Mom breathed a sigh of relief: “Clementine, you went too far this time! Mommy is really angry!” Next moment, she saw me soaked in bloody water. Chapter 5 In the bathtub, I lay quietly. Water was dark red, my face transparently white, lips blue-purple. Long hair spread like seaweed, still wearing that pink pajama from yesterday. “Ah!” Mom let out a piercing scream. She stumbled to the bathtub, trying to lift me out. “Clementine! My daughter!” Mom incoherent: “Baby don’t be afraid, Mommy is here!” My body was stiff and cold, like a heavy stone. Mom used all her strength, slipping several times, finally fishing me out of the bloody water. She hugged me tightly, as if trying to warm me with her body heat. Mom lowered her head, cheek against my forehead: “My daughter, open your eyes and look at Mommy.” Tears fell one by one on my blue-white face: “Mommy was wrong, Mommy was really wrong! Mommy didn’t mean to ignore you, wake up and scold Mommy okay?” “Hit Mommy is fine too, I only beg you to open your eyes and look at me!” She called my name over and over. Fingers trembling combing my wet sticky hair, wiping water stains and blood from my face. But my eyes never opened again. I knelt beside her, reaching out futilely to wipe tears from her face. But my fingers passed through her cheek again and again, touching nothing. Could only watch her grief drown me. My sister was stunned by this huge change: “Sissy?” She walked timidly to Mom, pulling my clothes: “Sissy get up, water is cold.” “Get up and play blocks with Joy okay?” She didn’t understand why I didn’t move, why Mom cried so scarily. Mom hearing my sister’s voice, collapsed even more. She hugged my body tighter, as if letting go meant losing: “My child, Mommy failed you!” She cried out of breath, almost fainting. Body convulsing violently, eyes unfocused, on the verge of passing out. Dad heard Mom’s crying, rushed to the bathroom door too. But when he saw the scene in the bathroom clearly, blood drained from his face instantly. Lips trembling, eyes staring dead at me, as if unable to understand what happened. Next second, his legs went soft, tall body collapsing on the floor directly. “Clementine?” Dad’s gaze moved from my face to Mom’s collapsed face, then back. He shook his head, crawling over on hands and feet: “Impossible! This isn’t real!” After feeling I had no pulse, Dad slammed his head against the bathtub violently. “Why? Why does God treat me like this?” He looked up sharply, face covered in snot and tears: “Where is my phone? Call, call 911!” He trembled so much he could barely hold the phone, entered wrong password several times, finally unlocked it. When dialing, fingers shook missing numbers. Tears blurred vision, barely seeing the screen. Dad spoke to the phone, voice broken into pieces. He reported the address intermittently. After hanging up, he hugged Mom and me tightly again. My sister was completely scared, crying loudly on the spot. I was beside them, soul aching like being torn. I wanted so much to tell them stop crying, wanted to hug them. But I could do nothing. I could only say silently: “Sorry, Mom and Dad, I’m a burden even in death.” “Sorry, sister, Sissy was bad, scared you.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390175”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My husband invented a time machine and went back without hesitation, preparing to resurrect “the one that got away.” Perhaps because of his time travel, my current life trajectory changed. Day one, I found the husband’s name on the marriage certificate at home changed to my nemesis. Day two, I found my nemesis lying in my bed. Day three, a little bean who looked exactly like my nemesis opened the door and called me, “Mommy.” After we lived happily as a family of three, my husband traveled back, and he broke down. Chapter 1 In the third year of my marriage to Caleb, as a genius scientist, he invented a machine that could travel through time and space. He told me, “Sarah, I want to go back and save Julia.” Julia was his college girlfriend. They broke up because Julia insisted on developing her career abroad. Six months after breaking up with Julia, he confessed to me. At that time, Caleb was a top student, the favored son of heaven, impeccable in looks and personality. With such a prize falling on my head, I couldn’t help but be moved. I agreed, and we were together. After grad school, we got married. Now we have been married for three years. I don’t know much about Julia, only that she was also excellent and died in a plane crash returning to the country. Caleb promised me, “Sarah, don’t worry, you are already my wife. I’m going back only because it’s a pity Julia died. Once I save her, I will travel back.” I pulled a ridiculous smile, “Caleb, where do you place me?” “Caleb, do you really not have Julia in your heart? Are you planning to lie to yourself too?” He was silent for a long time, finally speaking, “Sarah, let’s divorce.” I sneered. “I thought about it. If an accident happens, the best way is for us to divorce. I will leave with nothing. You wait for me for two years. If I don’t come back in two years, you can marry someone else.” “Why do you think I am willing to wait for you?” Caleb looked at me with a tired face, softening his tone, “Sarah, stop making a scene.” Coming back from work, I felt a sore throat. I went back to the bedroom without a word and lay down. At night, I felt my body sinking. High fever made me speechless. In my drowsy consciousness, Caleb picked me up, voice gentle, “Wifey, get up and take medicine.” After being fed medicine by him, I asked him with a hoarse voice, “Promise me, can you not go?” Under the light, Caleb’s face looked exceptionally handsome. He was silent. I smiled bitterly, “Let’s go divorce tomorrow.” The next day, my consciousness was still groggy. Caleb persuaded me, “Divorce isn’t urgent. How about we divorce when you get better?” “No need.” I wore a coat. When Caleb was about to put a scarf on me, I dodged calmly. He handed me the scarf with some disappointment. After I put it on myself, he drove to City Hall. Coming out of City Hall, my vision went black, almost falling over. Caleb supported me. One month left until the divorce papers are finalized. Then he will take the time machine back to the past. On the way back, I asked him, “If you really save Julia, and she says she likes you and wants to be with you, what about us?” He guaranteed me, “Sarah, I will be with you. I will choose you.” I just found it laughable. During this month, Caleb and I were like strangers under the same roof, barely speaking. Probably due to bad mood, my illness lingered. When I stepped on the scale, I realized I had lost ten pounds. Caleb and I finalized the divorce. Before stepping into the time machine, he said to me, “Sarah, wait for me to come back.” I opened my mouth, “Caleb, I won’t wait for you.” With a look of astonishment, he slowly disappeared from the time machine. In the following days, I started living alone. At first, I was unaccustomed, suddenly feeling the bed was huge and the house empty. I put the divorce papers under the pillow. Until a year later, the papers fell out from under the pillow. I found that the divorce papers had turned into a marriage certificate. Chapter 2 I opened it and found the photo of me and my nemesis, Quinn, on the marriage certificate. The date was March 2015. At that time, I seemed to still be a college student. In my memory, I had just been with Caleb for six months. Why would I marry Quinn? Moreover, except for the renovation, many things in the house changed. A night light appeared on the bedside table. If I get up to use the bathroom at night, I can tap it on. The washing machine in the bathroom that always made strange noises turned into a brand new fully automatic one. I opened the closet and froze for a moment. Caleb’s clothes completely disappeared. Inside were crisp men’s suits. Then, I found more details. After Caleb’s toothbrush was thrown away by me, two toothbrushes reappeared on the sink. A yellow one was mine, the other blue one… could it be Quinn’s? There was also a pair of men’s slippers at the door. But surprisingly, there weren’t many male elements in the house, not like a man lived here long-term. I wanted to find evidence of my contact with Quinn. I opened WeChat and found Quinn was no longer in my blacklist, appearing grandly in my chat list. Then I clicked on the chat history with him. Very thin. Last contact was ten days ago. He said, “Going on a business trip.” I replied, “Mm.” Then no more contact. The next night, I woke up in the middle of the night and found a man lying next to me. I was startled. After turning on the light, I saw Quinn’s face. He wore a bathrobe, belt loosely tied, revealing smooth chest muscles, looking sleepy. I asked him, “Why are you in my house, in my bed?” A hurt expression appeared on his face instantly, but his tone was very cold. “Sarah, we are husband and wife. Of course I am in your bed.” I asked him, “Why are we husband and wife? Why did I marry you?” “In my memory, Caleb and I are the couple.” Quinn and I weren’t originally enemies. We fell out because of Caleb. My relationship with Caleb wasn’t smooth at first; he wasn’t enthusiastic about me. Quinn persuaded me to break up several times. We quarreled many times. The last time, I blacklisted him and decided never to interact again. For so many years, it’s not that I haven’t regretted it, but I couldn’t lower my face to reconcile with Quinn. Quinn was the same, never contacting me for so many years. Speaking of this, I felt Quinn’s face darken obviously. “Sarah, you have been married to me for so many years, still can’t forget Caleb? What’s good about that man.” I advised him, “No, Caleb is trash. Who can’t forget Caleb?” He asked me with astonishment, “You really forgot?” “Really.” He asked me, “Can you repeat that?” I asked him, “Repeat what?” “Caleb is…” “Trash.” He hooked his lips, looking very satisfied. Chapter 3 I asked him, “So why on earth did we get married?” He asked back, “Don’t you know yourself?” If I knew, I wouldn’t ask him. Quinn and I lay in the same bed after all. I felt indescribably awkward, worried he might do something to me. Fortunately, he slept very disciplinedly. When I showered in the morning, I found a scar suddenly appeared on my belly. When I came out of the bathroom, breakfast was already on the table. It was my favorite pancakes, bacon and eggs, and a bagel on the table. Quinn put on the black suit hanging in the closet, looking unnatural, even coldly telling me, “I went out for a morning run, passed by the breakfast shop, bought a bit more.” I looked at him suspiciously, “The pancake place in the south, the bagel shop in the north. Your ‘passing by’ is a bit far.” I looked him up and down. In my impression, I had never seen Quinn in a suit. Actually, Quinn was tall with long legs, a perfect clothes hanger. He looked very good in a suit. I asked him, “Why are you dressed like this?” “I’m going to work.” I asked him, “What position are you now?” Then I lifted my shirt to show my belly. Quinn was surprised, face turning red instantly. I looked at him confusedly. If we have been married for so many years, we should have seen each other’s bodies long ago. Why does he still look so innocent? I asked him, “What’s with the scar on my belly?” He asked me, “Sarah, you really don’t remember?” I decided to confess to him. “Actually, in my memory, I married Caleb.” His hand holding the bacon paused in mid-air. “Sarah, do I need to remind you, I don’t want to hear this.” “After so many years, you still can’t forget him?” “No, you have to listen.” He crossed his arms, looking like ‘let’s hear what you can make up’. I told him, “Actually, I married Caleb.” His face turned black, “My name is not Caleb.” When he stood up to leave, I held him down. “In the third year of marriage, Caleb invented a time machine. He said he wanted to go back and save Julia. Before he went back, we divorced.” “Then, I lived alone for a year. I don’t know why a marriage certificate of you and me appeared under my pillow.” “Nor do I know why you appeared at home.” “Even less do I know why we got married.” “So, what is the scar on my belly?” He looked at me in surprise, then calmed down quickly. “It’s a C-section scar.” “We have a child.” I asked him, “But there are no traces of a child living in this house. How old is he?” “Six years old.” “At my parents’. We are busy with work, inconvenient to take care, so the child is with my parents.” I asked him, “Boy or girl? Can I see him this afternoon?” I touched the scar on my belly, really couldn’t imagine how I gave birth to a child. When I married Caleb before, it wasn’t that I didn’t want to have kids, but he proposed to be DINKs. I could only agree, so we didn’t have children in three years of marriage. Quinn told me, “It’s a boy. He’s in elementary school. I’ll pick him up after school this afternoon.” “Okay.” In the afternoon, I saw a very cute little bean, standing at the door looking at me timidly, finally calling me obediently. “Mommy.” A softness rose in my heart suddenly. I really couldn’t imagine I would give birth to such a child. Chapter 4 When going to sleep at night, Quinn wore a bathrobe, belt loosely tied at the waist, super unintentionally revealing full chest muscles. I sighed, “I’d better sleep in the next room.” Quinn looked aggrieved, “Sarah, we are husband and wife.” I was silent for a moment, “But I have no memory of our life together. Suddenly like this, I can’t accept it.” He promised immediately, “I won’t do anything. If you don’t believe me, you are questioning my character.” Before I could reply, I saw the little bean at the door holding a pillow. “Daddy.” Then he looked at me, speaking timidly, “Mommy, baby is scared sleeping alone. Baby wants to sleep with Daddy and Mommy.” My heart softened completely. Then turned head to see Quinn hesitating to speak. Little bean wore soft beige pajamas, standing by the bed. Asked me, “Mommy, can baby sleep in the middle? Baby wants to stick to Mommy.” “Of course.” Then Quinn gritted his teeth, “Zack, you slept alone since three.” I felt worse, “Poor baby, come to Mommy.” Zack took off his slippers, placed them with ours neatly, then lay down obediently between me and Quinn. Usually, I had trouble falling asleep, but this time I had a dreamless night. Waking up in the morning, I found Zack lying in my arms. After I opened my eyes, he opened his big watery eyes, “Mommy, good morning.” Then his little face came close, kissing my cheek. It was a magical, soft touch. Quinn carried Zack off the bed, “Zack, stop acting. You need to go to school. Daddy will dress you now and send you to school.” Zack looked serious, “Daddy, what are you saying? Baby truly loves Mommy.” Then he turned to look at me, “Mommy, although Grandpa and Grandma treat me well, baby still wants to be with Mommy more.” “Will Daddy pick baby up after school today?” “Yes.” Very strange. After breakfast, Quinn drove, Zack and I sat in the back, sending Zack to school together. I asked Quinn, “What does baby like to eat usually?” Quinn listed them one by one. I didn’t expect him to know so well. Finally, he added, “As long as it’s junk food, he loves it.” Then I asked, “Just wear school uniform usually? I don’t see baby having other clothes.” Quinn replied, “Mm, wears school uniform mostly. Other clothes are at my parents’.” “Then let’s buy a few sets for baby after school.” Quinn hesitated, finally couldn’t help saying, “He has a name, he is called Zack.” Zack nested in my arms, looking innocent, “But I am Mommy’s good baby.” At the school gate, Zack kissed me reluctantly again before entering school. I am not a person swept by consumerism. Clothes are mainly minimalist, buying twice a year. But after Quinn, Zack, and I entered the mall, I had a feeling of dressing up a little figure. Zack looked very much like Quinn, with deep and sharp eyebrows and eyes, but his lips were like mine, slightly upturned, neutralizing the sharpness perfectly. Even in a school uniform, his outstanding appearance couldn’t be hidden. Especially the salesguide was very good at talking, “Your child looks so good in this set, a proper little British prince.” “This set is also good, preppy style.” Quinn advised me on the side, “Enough, enough.” “The child is growing, won’t fit in no time.” I bought red-eyed, finally bought a dozen sets. Quinn carried big and small bags, we walked out of the mall. Dinner was made by Quinn. honestly speaking, it fit my taste very well. Zack should love it too, a bowl of rice pressed solid, finally not a grain left. I even sprouted a feeling that this is home.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390174”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My husband has always had a female “best bro,” a classic “Pick Me Girl.” From the first moment we met, I knew she didn’t like me. When we traveled together, she was in charge of booking tickets but “forgot” mine. She cried and apologized, and my husband persuaded me to forgive her. At our wedding, she deliberately led the groomsmen to smear cake on my face. She said it was a “tradition,” and my husband told me not to be petty. After our new house was renovated, under the banner of a housewarming party, she and “The Boys” trashed the place. I couldn’t bear it anymore and exploded. My husband told me to calm down: “She flipped a table at someone else’s wedding last month. We are all bros, don’t hold a grudge, okay?” I touched my pregnant belly and helplessly threatened: “Next time, divorce!” After that warning, the “female bro” settled down for a while. Until my daughter’s first birthday party, she looked at my daughter’s face with a conflicted expression. “Why does the baby look less and less like my bro? Bro, is this really your kid?” The other bros chimed in. My face went cold on the spot. My husband was also furious and kicked them out. “It was fine before, but now you say my daughter isn’t mine? We are done being bros!” Unexpectedly, that night, I saw a hot thread on Reddit. [My daughter is one year old. My bros say she doesn’t look like me. I suspect my wife cucked me. What should I do?] Chapter 1 [If you don’t do a paternity test, just accept raising another man’s child with a green hat on.] The OP replied: [I thought about doing a paternity test, but if my wife finds out, she will divorce me. I don’t want a divorce.] Many comments below mocked him for being a coward and a cuckold. Some also condemned him for believing his bros instead of his wife. [Calling them bros, do you really think they wish you well? They are miserable and wish your family would fall apart!] OP replied: [No way, we grew up together. Why do you speculate maliciously about my bros like my wife?] Someone gave him an idea. [Steal your daughter’s hair for a test. If it’s yours, pretend nothing happened. If not, just divorce.] At my daughter’s first birthday party, my husband Julian’s female bro Mia just instigated that the daughter wasn’t his. This thread appeared at night, and the OP’s daughter is also one year old. Similarly, every time I said Julian’s “Frat Pack,” especially Mia, targeted me and sowed discord. Julian also said I thought his bros were too vicious. The OP even had the same IP address as us. I highly suspected the OP was Julian himself. Looking at Julian sleeping next to me, about to talk in his sleep, a wave of grievance and anger surged in my heart. I took his phone and unlocked it, but searched through his phone and couldn’t find the Reddit app. The chat history with his bros also stopped yesterday. Scrolling up, there was nothing excessive. Could it be that the thread wasn’t posted by him? I felt my anger subside a bit. Early the next morning, Julian got up early as usual to take care of our daughter, loving her very much. I breathed a sigh of relief, starting to feel that the thread might really be a coincidence. But unexpectedly, when I came out of the kitchen with baby food, I saw Julian pulling my daughter’s hair. “What are you doing!” I rushed over, pushed him away violently, and hugged my daughter. Julian looked shocked: “Wifey, what’s wrong?” I questioned him with red eyes: “Why are you pulling our daughter’s hair?” “You mean this?” He reached out and showed me what was in his hand. It was a flying insect. “Don’t know where the bug came from, it flew onto baby’s head. I was just catching the bug.” He was very aggrieved: “Wifey, why would you think I was pulling baby’s hair? And why are you so agitated?” Seeing I misunderstood him, I felt a burst of guilt. “Sorry, I was afraid you would hurt her.” Hearing this, Julian didn’t pursue it further. After coaxing my daughter to sleep at noon, I opened Reddit and found that the thread had been updated. [I almost got caught by my wife pulling my daughter’s hair today. Luckily I pretended to be calm and fooled her. Give me another idea.] Chapter 2 I felt my head explode, vision went black, almost couldn’t stand steady. Now I’m sure, the person who posted this thread is Julian! Otherwise, how could there be so many coincidences! At this moment, I didn’t want to care about anything. I frantically wanted to rush to him and hold this thread in front of his face. Then drag him and our daughter to do a paternity test, then divorce. But the next second, I saw the OP reply to a comment. [Bro, I see you are also from State J. Which city? I have a friend working in a private testing center who can get expedited results. DM me, I’ll hook you up. Don’t raise another man’s child.] OP replied: [Bro, I’m from City S. DM’d you.] My home is in City H. This OP is only in the same state as me, not the same city. I almost wrongly blamed Julian again. Luckily I saw this reply in time. Otherwise, if I really asked him, our relationship would definitely deteriorate because of this distrust. When we were dating, Julian said the most important thing between us was mutual trust. In college, he agreed with Mia and the others to go on a beach vacation behind my back. Notified me to go together only when they were about to leave. I already couldn’t stand him and Mia always having no boundaries. Many things were only told to Mia and not me, as if I, the girlfriend, was the outsider. Now I was even more angry. Went to the airport with him only to find Mia didn’t buy my ticket at all. She cried and apologized to me: “Sorry sister-in-law, I’m used to buying tickets for six people, didn’t realize there was one less person.” But I knew she did it on purpose. My face was ugly. Julian’s bros started accusing me of being petty. Julian also persuaded me: “She’s just careless. Don’t be angry. I won’t go, I’ll stay with you.” His bros were unhappy, calling him prioritizing hoes over bros. Julian was in a dilemma. I sneered in my heart, but my face returned to calm. “You go, I’m not angry.” Until boarding, Julian was making sure I wasn’t really angry. After confirming the plane took off, I blocked him and all his bros’ contact information directly. Leaving a sentence: “You and Mia go ahead.” That night, Julian took a red-eye flight back to school, begging for my forgiveness like crazy. I ignored him. Finally, he had no choice but to threaten suicide by jumping into the river. I went to the hospital to see him. He explained to me that not telling me about the island trip was to surprise me. “Mia said you girls like surprises.” He promised to keep a distance from Mia in the future, so I got back together with him. The day we got back together, he hugged me and cried: “No matter what happens, you have to trust me. If you don’t trust me, I feel worse than death.” After that, he really avoided suspicion with Mia, otherwise I wouldn’t have married him. I felt fortunate. The trust between me and Julian was almost destroyed. Out of guilt, I decided to leave the child to the nanny today and go on a date with Julian. After sending him the date message, I picked clothes in the cloakroom. Picked mine, then Julian’s. As a result, I found a phone I had never seen before at the bottom of his sock drawer. Chapter 3 The phone password hadn’t changed. After unlocking, I subconsciously looked for the Reddit app. Found it, clicked into the account, saw that familiar thread, familiar ID. My brain buzzed. Before I could react, tears started to fall. I tried hard to hold back tears, clicked on the DM on the homepage. Saw his private chat with the person who said he could expedite results. [Bro, I’m actually from City H. How fast can I get the results?] I closed Reddit expressionlessly and turned this phone upside down. Turns out, he has so many alt accounts I didn’t know about. In WeChat, his alt account and his bro group had a chat group called “Mia is Best”. Mia kept explaining: [Bro, I really didn’t mean to say it in front of so many people. Help me explain to sister-in-law.] [Sister-in-law never liked me, now she misunderstood even more.] Other bros were also persuading Julian not to blame Mia. Julian didn’t speak. Finally, Mia said: [But Bro, we’ve been bros for so many years, I genuinely wish you well. Baby really doesn’t look like you.] [I’m afraid you really became a sucker. When the child grows up, neither wife nor child is yours.] Julian replied with two words “Shut up” and ignored anyone. After that, Julian went to Reddit to post. Scrolling up, there were photos of them going to bars together, Julian surrounded by women. So many times Julian said the company was busy, he was busy playing with women in bars with Mia. Seeing this, I actually laughed inexplicably. It was really too ridiculous. Opened his TikTok again. Mia shared a few thirst trap videos with him. [Isn’t this body more exciting than my sister-in-law’s?] [Bro, I dug out the best stuff for you, are you still angry?] Julian replied “Get lost”, and Mia immediately messaged him to chat. Scrolling up, Mia shared thirst trap videos with him almost every day. Every one showed he had watched it. These things were like countless slaps on my face. Putting down the phone, I slumped on the ground, face white as a dead person. Chest hurt so much I could hardly breathe. Turns out, Julian has been acting in front of me with Mia all along. Their intimate relationship never broke. The love Julian talked about, the trust, the no deception. All lies to me! These years, he and Mia watched me being fooled like a fool. Nausea in stomach churned with pain. I climbed up from the ground. Outside came the nanny’s voice. “Madam is in the room.” Click. Door opened. Julian walked towards me with a happy face. “Wifey, I’m not going to work today. Where do you want to go for a date?” Gaze fell on my face and froze: “What’s wrong?” He walked over to wipe my tears, dodged by me. I looked at him with disgust. Picked up that phone, opened that thread, held it in front of him. “Paternity test done?” Chapter 4 Julian panicked in an instant. “Wifey, what paternity test? I didn’t.” I sneered: “Didn’t you make an appointment with a netizen, and took our daughter’s toothbrush for a test this afternoon?” Julian hurriedly denied: “I didn’t, wifey. I just posted that thread because I was confused for a moment.” I was too lazy to listen to his explanation, reached out my hand to him. “Show me the results.” “Is the daughter yours? It would be bad if I gave you a green hat.” My cold calmness scared Julian. He shook his head: “I really didn’t go, Jessica. Believe me, okay?” “Don’t be like this.” I looked through his phone, mouth curling into a mocking arc. “You didn’t go?” Julian nodded vigorously. I threw the phone into his arms. “Then let’s take our daughter for a paternity test together, so you don’t have to worry and ask around online.” Julian’s face turned whiter. I hugged my daughter directly, dragged him, and walked to the underground garage. “Notify your good bros to come too. Let them see if my daughter is your seed.” Julian almost cried. “Wifey, let’s not go, okay? I was wrong, I really know I was wrong.” I stuffed him into the car, snatched his phone, and notified them in the “Mia is Best” group chat. Mia replied first: [Bro, you finally figured it out!] [Don’t be afraid, bros are here for big things!] [Women are like clothes, bros are like limbs. Bros never betray you!] Mia and others arrived at the hospital, seeing me there too. All stunned. Then Mia smiled and patted Julian: “Bro, you are finally not henpecked, tough for once!” Smiled at me again: “Sister-in-law, don’t blame my bro. After all, which man can tolerate raising someone else’s child?” “Now doing a paternity test while the child is small, confirming the bloodline, my bro can be at ease too. Please understand.” I nodded indifferently: “Mm, I understand.” Soon the doctor asked me, Julian, and our daughter to draw blood. When drawing my daughter’s blood, she didn’t understand why the needle pricked into her vein. When she reacted, she cried loudly. I looked at her pouting mouth, eyes almost drowned by tears, heartbroken. All disguised indifference shattered at this moment. I hugged my daughter, apologizing to her constantly. “I’m sorry.” Sorry for finding the wrong dad for her, letting her suffer such things at a young age. Waiting in the hospital for a few hours, the paternity test results came out. Doctor came out with the report. Mia snatched it fastest. After reading the result, she covered her mouth in shock at Julian. “Bro, the child really isn’t yours. Jessica cheated on you!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390173”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

As a washed-up genius composer, I hid it from my husband and sold the rights to my last few masterpieces—my magnum opuses—to a rival company just to scrape together the money. But one hour before the surgery, the payment window showed “Insufficient Funds.” I called my husband Julian frantically, only to be hung up on and blocked. Until the LED screens across the city lit up, a two-million-dollar drone light show illuminating the night sky. The screen boldly read: [May the great artist Scarlett’s inspiration never dry up — Gift from Julian] I stumbled into the light show venue, but Julian frowned and pushed me away: “Scarlett is in a creative bottleneck. These two million can buy her a masterpiece handed down for generations. What do you know about art?” “Is our son’s life not as important as a painting?” Julian sneered: “Don’t use the child to emotionally blackmail me. The doctor said it’s just the early stage, he won’t die.” Under the brilliant lights filling the sky, news came from the hospital that my son’s heart had stopped beating. And in Julian’s eyes, my breakdown at this moment was just jealousy of his “true love.” Chapter 1 Just when Julian threw a few thousand dollars at me, just when Scarlett shouted “Inspiration is here.” My Leo, the little angel who would lie in my arms calling Mommy and asking for chocolate cake, stopped breathing on the operating table. When he left, Mommy wasn’t there, Daddy wasn’t there. Only the exploding lights outside the window, worth two million, belonging to the fireworks his dad gave to another woman. “Leo said, the fireworks are bright, but the sky is too dark, he can’t find Daddy.” This sentence suddenly echoed in my mind. After huge grief, it wasn’t hysteria, but a heart-palpitating dead silence. I slowly lowered my hand, slowly raised my head, looking at the two people still flirting in front of me. Meeting my gaze, the smile on Julian’s face froze. He subconsciously took half a step back, inexplicably shivering. “E… Evelyn, why are you looking at me like that?” He frowned, masking his inner unease, scolding sternly. “I tell you, don’t think acting mysterious will make me forgive you! Here’s your phone, get out!” Snap. The phone was thrown on the ground by him, screen cracking. I didn’t pick it up. Nor did I kneel and beg for mercy like just now, nor did I scream in anger. I just looked at him quietly, looking at this man I loved for seven years, to whom I gave all my youth and talent. “Julian.” I spoke. Voice very light. “You don’t need to forgive me.” I bent down, picking up those few bills stepped on and dirty on the ground. That was the few thousand dollars he gave me like charity just now. I patted the dust off them one by one, then folded them neatly, putting them into my inner pocket. This is Leo’s funeral expense. Even if only a few thousand, I want him to leave with some dignity. “Evelyn, you…” Watching my unusually calm actions, Julian’s uneasiness grew stronger. “What? Playing tricks again?” Scarlett said sarcastically on the side. “Took the money, why not leave?” I didn’t pay attention to the barking dog. I just looked at Julian deeply, for the last time. No love, no hate in that look, only the pity of looking at a dead person. “Julian, you won.” After saying this, I turned around, dragging my bare right foot, step by step, walking into the darkness. Behind me, the fireworks continued. Boom—! Another brilliance exploded. That was the elegy sending off my son. Chapter 2 When leaving the riverside, a fine rain began to fall. I don’t know how I got back to the hospital. Only remember the nurse guarding the operating room door, handing me a death certificate with red eyes. “Mrs. Evelyn, the child went quietly… didn’t suffer much.” Didn’t suffer much. These three words cut my heart a few more times. I pushed open the door to the morgue, a chill hitting my face. Leo lay on the iron bed in the center, covered with a white cloth. I walked over, gently lifting a corner of the white cloth. He was really quiet, like having a dream he didn’t want to wake up from. His little face was pale, body stiff. “Leo, Mommy is here.” I took out that stack of bills with body warmth from my pocket. That was the few thousand Julian gave as charity. “Mommy is useless, couldn’t snatch the money back…” “Although not much, it’s enough to buy Leo a beautiful new outfit, and a small house.” I wiped the residual blood from his face bit by bit with a towel, movements gentle as if washing his face. At this time, the phone in my pocket vibrated. It was a WeChat message from Julian. Not asking where I was, nor asking how our son was. But a photo. In the photo, a luxurious celebration party. Huge champagne tower shining under crystal lights, Scarlett standing in the center, holding a painting tube, smiling triumphantly. Julian stood beside her, face glowing with happiness. Caption: [Congrats to Scarlett for finding inspiration! Not going home until drunk tonight!] This is my husband. While I was dressing my son in grave clothes, he was popping champagne for another woman. While I was wiping my son’s body, he was hugging another girl laughing endlessly. I didn’t reply, nor was I angry. I silently turned off the phone, dressed Leo in the slightly large grave clothes, then leaned down, planting a last kiss on his cold forehead. “Leo be good, wait for Mommy here for a few days. Mommy has a little bit of trash left to clean up.” After finishing simple cremation procedures, I walked out of the hospital. The villa late at night was empty. Julian hadn’t returned, probably still celebrating Scarlett’s “rebirth” in that gold cave. I didn’t turn on the light. Borrowing moonlight, I walked into the music room at the end of the corridor again. Locked here was my entire seven years of blood and sweat. Dozens of thick composition notebooks, hundreds of unreleased master tapes, and that violin Julian gave me back then, now covered in dust. These things used to be the only capital I had to stand tall in this wealthy wife identity. Relying on them, Julian turned the nearly bankrupt Starlight Entertainment into an industry giant. I also naively thought, as long as I kept writing good songs, he would always love me, would leave a place for me in this home. But now it seems, I am a complete joke. I opened the safe, hugging out those stacks of manuscripts. “Silent Wind”, “The Last Farewell”, “Echo of the Deep Sea”… Every song here could sell for a sky-high price on the black market. Especially “Nirvana”, the core soundtrack needed for Scarlett’s so-called “synesthetic painting.” “All trash.” I whispered, throwing them all into the fireplace. Scratch. A match broke the darkness, flame landing on the paper pile. Dry paper ignited instantly, tongues of fire greedily swallowing the staves. Notes twisted in the flames, turning black, turning into smoke. Firelight reddened my face, also illuminating Scarlett’s poster on the wall. He looked melancholy. I sat on the carpet in front of the fireplace, holding a bottle of red wine, drinking gulp after gulp. Watching this fire, my heart was surprisingly calm. Burn. Burn it all clean, and I can leave cleanly. Just when the fire was at its peak, noisy footsteps and laughter suddenly came from the entrance. “…Scarlett slow down, don’t break the painting tools.” “Julian, tonight was so happy! I feel inspiration still surging endlessly!” “Quick, to the music room, I want to try if ‘Nirvana’ can change key again!” “Okay, whatever you say. As long as you are happy, change however you want.” The door was pushed open. Julian held Scarlett, walking in with the smell of alcohol and cold wind. The smiles on their faces hadn’t had time to converge before they saw the soaring fire and smoke at the end of the corridor. “Fire?!” Scarlett screamed, hiding behind Julian. Julian’s face changed instantly. He smelled that familiar burnt scent—the smell of special music paper burning! “My songs!!” He let out a sharp scream, stepping in leather shoes, rushing towards the music room like crazy. Standing at the door, seeing the half-burnt manuscripts in the fireplace, he screamed. “Evelyn!! What are you doing!!” Ignoring the high temperature, he pounced on the fireplace, reaching out to grab those burning papers. “Stop! Stop it! Are you crazy?! Do you know how important this song is to Scarlett?!” “Ah—!” Flame singed the back of his hand. He cried out in pain withdrawing his hand, but still firmly protected those few remaining pages, turning his head, staring at me with eyes wanting to eat people. “Evelyn! I see you really don’t want to live!!” Chapter 3 “Evelyn! You are crazy!!” Julian screamed, reaching into the fireplace recklessly to grab those burning papers. Tongues of fire licked his fingers. He withdrew his hand in pain, but still wouldn’t give up, turning around and pouncing on me like a madman, raising his hand and slapping me hard on the face. Slap! My head was beaten to the side, cheek burning with pain, a trace of blood taste in my mouth. “Do you know how much these manuscripts are worth?! Do you know how important this is to the company?!” Julian grabbed my collar. “This is the trump card I saved for Scarlett to win awards! How dare you burn them?! You just can’t stand seeing Scarlett do well, right?!” He cursed while scratching and clawing at me. Sharp nails cut my neck and arms, leaving trails of blood. I didn’t dodge, nor fought back. I just held that small blue box tightly against my chest, even when pushed into the corner by him, I didn’t loosen a bit. That was Leo. I can’t let him hurt anymore. “Julian! Julian don’t do this!” Scarlett only rushed up to pull him fake-heartedly then. She glanced at the manuscripts turned to ashes in the fireplace, a flash of pleasure in her eyes, but mouth showing heartache for Julian. “Oh my, burned is burned, beating her is useless. Don’t hurt your hand, I’ll be heartbroken.” She stepped forward hugging Julian, looking at me in a mess, sighing with feigned magnanimity. “Actually I can understand Ms. Evelyn.” “After all, I heard she felt she had no status at home these years,” “Maybe she wants to get your attention this way.” “Get attention?” Julian sneered. He looked at me, eyes full of disgust. “Is she worthy? If I didn’t raise her these seven years, she would have starved to death long ago!” “Now daring to burn my things to demonstrate to me? Evelyn, you are simply an ungrateful wolf!” He didn’t know at all. These seven years, who raised whom. Those golden songs that sent Starlight Entertainment public, those hits that made him earn buckets of money, which one didn’t come from these hands? Which one wasn’t written by me draining my heart’s blood? Now, he takes the money I earned, raises another woman, and calls me an ungrateful wolf. Too laughable. I hugged Leo’s urn tightly, slowly sliding down the wall to sit on the floor, mouth curling into a sarcastic arc. “Yes, I am an ungrateful wolf.” I looked up at him, voice hoarse and calm. “So President Julian, since I am this kind of person, what are you waiting for?” “I’ve already signed the divorce agreement on the table. You sign it, we are even.” Hearing the word “divorce,” Julian’s body stiffened. He seemed not to expect that Evelyn, who used to obey him and loved him like life, dared to mention divorce so resolutely. And at a time when he thought I was “making trouble without reason.” “Divorce? Dream on!” Julian suddenly sneered, eyes becoming more sinister. “Burned my manuscripts worth tens of millions, want to leave just like that? No such cheap thing!” “How to calculate those losses? How to calculate Scarlett’s mental damage?” Scarlett rolled her eyes, suddenly interjecting. “Julian, actually it’s not that serious.” “Ms. Evelyn is in the circle after all, although not famous, she knows a bit about music.” She walked to me, looking down at me, wearing a hypocritical smile. “Ms. Evelyn, my charity gala is starting tomorrow night,” “Originally ‘Nirvana’ was to be played by me personally as the finale.” “Now the score is burned, can only use that unfinished draft.” “How about this, you come to the gala tomorrow night too.” “Apologize to Julian in front of the whole city’s media and celebrities, and help me turn pages on stage, be an assistant.” “As long as you are willing to admit in public that you burned the manuscripts out of jealousy, and willing to be my assistant,” “This debt, we can write off.” Make me an assistant? Make me, a former candidate for Vienna’s principal violinist, turn pages for this idiot who can’t even read all the staves? And admit jealousy in public? Julian’s eyes lit up, seeming to think this was a good idea to humiliate me and vent for Scarlett. “Scarlett is right. Evelyn, this is your last chance to redeem yourself.” He pointed at me, tone unquestionable. “Tomorrow night at seven, The Peninsula Hotel.” “Clean yourself up, don’t embarrass me looking like a beggar!” “If you dare not come, or play tricks at the banquet, I’ll make you spend the rest of your life in jail!” With that, he took Scarlett’s arm, stepping over the mess, walking out of the music room without looking back. “Scarlett, let’s go to another room, the air here is too dirty.” “Okay, whatever you say…” The voices of the two drifted away. The music room returned to deathly silence. Only the remaining embers in the fireplace occasionally made cracking sounds. I looked down at the blue box in my arms. Luckily, Leo wasn’t woken up. “Leo, did you hear?” I whispered, eyes gradually turning cold. “They invited Mommy to the gala.” “Good.” I looked at the charred score fragments in the fireplace, only black corners left. On them, vaguely visible notes scorched by fire, seeming to cry, seeming to scream. “Just right, Mommy also wants to send their ‘art’ off for the last time.” “This last performance, Mommy will definitely make them… remember for life.” Chapter 4 The ballroom of The Peninsula Hotel, crystal chandeliers projecting brilliant light. I wore an ill-fitting black dress, standing in the shadow at the side of the stage. This was specially requested by Scarlett. She said my existence would affect the visual beauty of the stage, only worthy of staying in the gutter turning pages for her. Below, celebrities gathered, flashes of cameras blinding. Julian sat in the center of the first row, in a haute couture suit, like a king. He looked at Scarlett on stage, eyes full of pride and expectation. “Good evening everyone.” Scarlett sat in front of the Steinway piano worth millions, speaking affectionately into the microphone. “Tonight, I want to play my original farewell work for everyone — ‘Rebirth’.” “This piece was born under last night’s fireworks, a collision of my inspiration and soul.” Thunderous applause. Scarlett raised her chin at me triumphantly, eyes full of provocation. I looked at her too, mouth curling into a sneer. Start. Let your ugliness have nowhere to hide under the spotlight. Music sounded. As soon as the prelude came out, the whole venue was quiet. That was the prelude of ‘Nirvana’, written by me using complex syncopation to match Leo’s heartbeat. However, listening further, the brows of knowledgeable musicians below furrowed tighter. At the chorus climax, the melody that should have been soaring suddenly became strange and twisted. Scarlett didn’t understand the modulation processing at all. To cover up her fingering that couldn’t reach, she forcibly added an inexplicable glissando. Harsh, abrupt, extremely ugly. “This is… the master’s synesthesia?” Someone whispered below. “Why does it feel a bit out of breath?” Scarlett obviously realized something was wrong too, cold sweat on her forehead. She panicked trying to make up, but played more chaotically, finally even playing a wrong note directly, making a loud CLANG. Scarlett’s hand froze on the keys, face pale as paper. Just then, I walked out of the shadows. “Can’t play anymore? Master Scarlett.” I walked to the piano, in front of everyone, pulling out the blurry photocopied score from her music stand. “Because this fragment can only support you to play till here.” I held up that paper, facing all media and guests below. “This is Ms. Scarlett’s so-called ‘Original’?” “Holding a few burnt pages, not even understanding the rest rests on them, dare to call it a collision of souls?” “The modulation in the twelfth bar, that is compassion only C major can reflect,” “You forcibly changed it to E flat major to show off skills, ugly!” “Evelyn! Shut up!” Scarlett turned angry from shame, standing up abruptly wanting to snatch the mic from my hand. “Security! Where is security! This crazy woman is jealous of me! Get her down quickly!” Uproar below. Reporters’ flashes flashed crazily, shutters clicking continuously. “Jealous?” I sneered, just about to continue exposing her. “Enough!” Julian rushed onto the stage, face iron green. He didn’t question why Scarlett played wrong, nor looked at that fragment score, but rushed directly to me, raising his hand— Slap! Another loud slap. Harder than the one in the music room last night. Half my face swelled quickly, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of my mouth. “Evelyn, have you made enough trouble?!” Julian pointed at my nose, announcing loudly to all guests: “Everyone, really sorry.” “This woman is my ex-wife. Because she has been raised by me, her mind is twisted,” “She can’t stand Scarlett being better than her, that’s why she deliberately made trouble tonight!” “Scarlett’s talent is obvious to all. This song is indeed her inspiration last night.” “As for the mistake just now, it was completely because this crazy woman affected her mind!” Final verdict. He is the President of Starlight Entertainment, he is the capital. He says black is white, then it is white. Public opinion below reversed instantly. “So it’s a gold digger jealous of a genius, disgusting.” “How can such a person have the face to live in the world?” Seeing this, Scarlett immediately put on the face of an aggrieved victim. She clutched her chest, eyes red. “Julian, forget it… Ms. Evelyn followed you for seven years after all, has credit if not hard work. I don’t blame her.” “Just…” She changed the subject, a trace of viciousness flashing in her eyes. “Since Ms. Evelyn looks down on my art so much, and values money so much. How about this.” “Heard Ms. Evelyn studied music before too, those hands even won some Vienna ‘Golden String’ award.” Scarlett pointed at my long hands, mouth curling into a cruel smile. “Since you ruined my premiere, why not bring out your trophy for charity sale to atone.” “Or… ‘donate’ these hands, maybe I can forgive your rudeness.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390172”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I knew from the beginning. Julian Hale never got over the ex-girlfriend who almost cost him half his life. He allowed me to stay by his side for five years, promising me a title, Only because I was more obedient than Madison. I wouldn’t cry and say he trampled on my dignity with money when he gave expensive gifts. Nor would I threaten to break up over his scandalous rumors, staging a “chasing wife” drama. So on our wedding day, he felt justified running off to comfort Madison. Leaving me alone to face the embarrassment of the full venue. The officiant tried awkwardly to smooth things over, while his rich buddies laughed in a group: “Sister-in-law, being a wealthy wife isn’t that easy. Consider today our first lesson for you!” Unfortunately, Julian and they all calculated wrong. I didn’t swallow my pride to marry into a wealthy family, begging him to change his mind. Instead, I took off my wedding dress on the spot, took the money Julian gave me over the years, and quietly left New York. Chapter 1 Three hours past the ceremony time, Julian still hadn’t appeared. Ignoring the sympathetic or mocking gazes around me, I calmly removed the white veil pinned in my hair. Connor Hale leaned against the door, sneering with a curled lip: “Can’t wait already? Julian is just a little late. Want to be the future mistress of the Hale family, but don’t have this little patience?” I didn’t look up, continuing to face the mirror, taking off the matching jewelry piece by piece. His cousin, who always looked down on me, leaned in, persuading with a soft voice: “Sister-in-law, don’t take it to heart. Cousin Julian is always punctual. Today… maybe Madison is suddenly sick and needs his care~” She deliberately said the name “Madison” slowly and clearly, her exquisite eyes unable to hide her schadenfreude. I looked at her expression in the mirror and suddenly laughed. “Take it to heart?” I repeated, gently placing the last earring back into the jewelry box. “Why should I take it to heart?” The air in the dressing room suddenly quieted. I turned around, my gaze calmly sweeping over faces with various expressions. “You guys don’t really think I’ve been waiting for him for these three hours, do you?” Connor’s face darkened: “Scarlett, what do you mean?” I stood up, fingers touching the zipper on the back of the wedding dress, slowly pulling it down. “This dress is quite expensive. Pity not to take a few photos.” My tone was as flat as discussing someone else’s affairs. “Scarlett, don’t be ungrateful!” Someone couldn’t help but speak up. “It’s a huge grace that Julian is willing to give you a title. You want to play the runaway bride game? I tell you, if you dare walk out this door today, there will be no place for you in New York tomorrow!” Zipper down to the bottom, the gorgeous wedding dress slipped off. I had already changed into a plain shirt and pants underneath. I bent down, finding my old phone used for years from that pile of jewelry worth millions. Then, looked at every pair of eyes staring at me in the room, smiling faintly: “I never belonged here anyway.” “So, there’s nothing to lose.” With that, I ignored their stunned expressions and walked out without looking back. Julian is the sole heir of the Hale family in New York. Naturally, those around him are rich kids who grew up in piles of money. They always looked down on me. Compared to them, my background was like a glass bead mixed into a pile of pearls. No one knew why Julian chose me. So even if I was about to become his wife, the contempt in their tone never diminished by half. The person who disappeared today was clearly him, but in the end, I was the one facing criticism and ridicule. I should have had a good fight with them, returning the grievances and injustices accumulated over five years one by one. But I didn’t have time. I was leaving New York tonight and had to rush back to pack. Julian fleeing the wedding today, I wasn’t surprised at all. The night before the wedding, tossing and turning in bed, I opened my phone and accidentally entered Madison’s livestream. At 3 AM, she was still selling cosmetics hard in front of the camera. Years after leaving Julian, she didn’t seem to be living easily. The popularity of the livestream was unexpectedly high. But most people didn’t come for cosmetics, but were attracted by the constant screen-flooding gifts and that mysterious Top Donor. [Turn off the stream, go rest.] [Your stomach condition can’t handle staying up late. Madison, if you faint again, I won’t go take care of you.] [Unblock me, send me your account number, I’ll transfer you some money.] [I’m getting married tomorrow. Don’t contact me again, and stop putting on that pitiful look.] Accompanied by every cold text, dazzling gift animations filled the screen. Julian was generous to everyone, even to this ex-girlfriend he once hated to the bone, spending money like water. Madison’s voice explaining products already carried a slight tremor. She lowered her head to wipe the corner of her eye, voice so light it was almost inaudible: “Julian, don’t use money to insult our past feelings.” [Did we have feelings?] [Madison, for you, I almost lost half my life. I fell out with my family, even to force myself to forget you, I’m marrying a woman I don’t love at all tomorrow. I wanted to erase all your traces like a madman. It was you who let go first, you destroyed everything between us.] I stared at the phrase “woman I don’t love at all,” stunned for a rare moment. The comment section was already out of control, full of “Get back together” and “Don’t get married.” Madison bit her lower lip tightly, looking at the camera with red eyes: “Julian. If I say, I’m willing to come back to you, willing to pay any price to make up for it.” “Can you… not get married?” Chapter 2 I didn’t see Julian’s answer, but his absence today explained everything. It’s no secret that Julian can’t let go of Madison. Two years ago, my back injury relapsed. Julian insisted on giving up the superior medical conditions in New York and took me to a hospital thousands of miles away in the north. As expected, we met Madison in that hospital. She was still like the old photo in Julian’s wallet, young, beautiful, innocent. Julian supported my waist, looking at her expressionlessly, gaze obscure. But only I knew, the second Madison appeared. Julian’s fingers around my waist tightened suddenly, so hard that I frowned slightly. “Sorry, I didn’t know you would come here…” The girl retreated a few steps in panic. “I’m leaving now. I said I wouldn’t disturb you again.” Julian’s Adam’s apple rolled. I stood quietly aside, gaze falling on the tattoo on her collarbone. A puppy that looked very much like Julian’s dog. Indeed, a good match with the kitten on Julian’s collarbone. “Move.” Julian’s voice was cold as ice. But waiting for the elevator, his eyes kept drifting to the end of the corridor. “Hold it tight.” I said, “Don’t lose it.” The black card Madison held was Julian’s supplementary card. He was a man of clear boundaries. People who offended him in business never had a chance of reconciliation. And that unlimited black card was probably the last bit of warmth, a way out he gave the girl. Even though he said she was the person he least wanted to contact in this life. On the way back, a rainstorm suddenly started. Julian held the steering wheel with one hand, somewhat distracted. Phone screen lit up. A number not saved in contacts. He glanced at it and slammed the brakes. I rushed forward, forehead hitting the windshield hard. Blood gushed out instantly. “Julian…” Suppressed sobbing came from the phone. “Sorry, I really shouldn’t call you… but my mom is critically ill, the hospital says it’s urgent, I don’t know who else to call…” “I’m so scared… I…” Julian looked at me, panic unable to be hidden in his eyes: “Scarlett, you go back first, I have something urgent.” I rarely saw Julian like this. Even when the company faced life and death, he hadn’t been this panicked. Panicked enough to let me get off at a highway exit late at night. Panicked enough to drive recklessly in the rainstorm. Panicked enough to forget, on a winter night of minus five degrees, I was only wearing a thin shirt. He just left. Leaving me shivering in the howling cold wind. The highway exit was desolate. I couldn’t call a car. After standing in the cold wind for nearly four hours, Julian came back with hazard lights flashing. Obvious fatigue between his brows. “Madison fainted.” I lowered my eyes. “Arrived at the hospital only to find out her mother was just hospitalized normally. She exaggerated the condition in a panic. I turned to leave, she fainted from emotional agitation. She’s fine now.” He approached, holding my hands red from cold. “Sorry, made you wait alone for so long… She’s been in a bad state recently, I was afraid she would do something stupid.” I didn’t know what to say. “Have you really… let her go?” I heard my own voice asking. If he really couldn’t let go, I wouldn’t tactlessly continue to stand in the middle. After driving far away, Julian whispered: “There’s nothing about letting go or not. I’m not a fool to hang myself on one tree.” “Just… seeing her helpless now, felt a bit pitiful.” Oh. So he hasn’t let go. Since then, Julian consciously hid all news related to Madison from me. I knew, but I didn’t care. Because every time after he got involved with Madison, the jewelry or real estate he casually compensated me with was enough for an ordinary person to strive for a lifetime. So what? One can’t refuse real money for self-esteem. Chapter 3 Because everyone knew how much Julian cared about Madison, they never thought I could stay by his side for long. So when we announced our marriage, almost everyone thought it was incredible. A week before the wedding banquet, Connor organized a grand bachelor party. He booked the most high-end private club in the city, inviting the most playful socialites in the circle. All with exquisite makeup and slender figures. Of course, Madison was invited too. I had no reaction. Instead, Julian frowned slightly, whispering to me: “These people play without limits. If you feel uncomfortable, find an excuse to go back first later.” Just as he was about to lead me inside, Connor blocked the way smiling: “Sister-in-law, you don’t usually come to our gatherings. It’s normal not to be used to it.” Wearing a deep V black shirt, he handed me a glass of champagne. “Our circle is like this, playing open, different from your rhythm of living a steady life.” I smiled, took the glass, and took a sip. Looking down to adjust my skirt, tone calm: “It’s okay, as long as you enjoy yourselves. Just don’t play too late. Watch Julian for me, don’t let him drink too much.” Julian was obviously stunned, seeming not to expect my reaction. Connor didn’t notice his brother’s strangeness, putting his arm around Julian’s shoulder: “Julian, sister-in-law said so, what are you waiting for? Come in!” “I specially messaged Madison to come. Last single night, rare opportunity.” For Connor’s childish provocation, my heart had no waves, just calmly waved at Julian. Unexpectedly, he suddenly grabbed my wrist, brows locked tight: “Scarlett, what do you mean? Pushing me out?” Pushing you out? But when did you ever truly belong to me? I felt it a bit laughable, looking up and asking back: “Then if I say, I don’t want you to go, don’t want you to see Madison, can you agree?” Inside the private room, lights were blurry, music restless. I looked at Julian quietly. Connor spoke before him, raising his voice: “Julian! Everyone is waiting!” Julian’s eyes flickered, Adam’s apple rolled, finally letting go of my hand. “Scarlett, wait for me at home.” Before he finished, he was pulled in forcefully by Connor. Standing in the shadow of the corridor, I glanced through the door crack, turned and left, never looking back. On the way out, a loud noise suddenly came from the next private room. Followed by a girl’s suppressed crying. Very familiar, sounded like Madison. Just as I approached, the door was pushed open violently. A man stumbled out covering his bleeding forehead, smelling of alcohol: “Who do you think you are? Dare to hit me?” “This isn’t over today!” Madison looked up, looking like she suffered a huge grievance. “I don’t know you! You kept pestering me!” The man was exasperated: “You slut pretending to be pure! Either pay up, or don’t think about leaving tonight!” Madison’s eyes reddened, tears swirling but stubbornly held back. Red eyes swept towards me. “Laugh if you want… I have no backer, but I’m not lower than anyone. Don’t look down on me!” Speaking as if the person humiliating her right now was me. The man steadied himself, grabbing her wrist. “Then pay.” “I have no money.” “Then drink all this wine, and I’ll let you go.” The man glimpsed the corner of the black card in her bag. “Using this kind of card and telling me no money?” “No!” Madison cried out, “This can’t be touched!” “I’ll drink!” She squatted by the coffee table, grabbing the bottle and pouring it into her mouth. Alcohol choked her into coughing violently, but she wouldn’t stop. I couldn’t stand it. “How much, I’ll pay.” “Don’t need your hypocrisy!” Madison screamed out of control. She raised her hand, slapping me hard. “It’s all your fault! You stole Julian!” “Didn’t you call me here today just to show off you’re marrying him? You think I don’t know?!” “Now using money to trample my dignity! I don’t want your charity!” Ears buzzing. Spinning, I saw the door pushed open, Julian rushed in, passing me. He held the trembling girl tightly in his arms. “Madison, stop being cowardly, hit back!” “Why didn’t you use the money I gave you!” I almost couldn’t stand steady. Holding the wall, cheek burning with pain. “Scarlett!” Julian looked at me, eyes cold as ice. “You said go back first, just to come here to trouble Madison?!” I opened my mouth, said nothing, turned and left. Of course he wouldn’t know, I wished he thought I did it. After all, the more he hates me, the cleaner I can leave. Julian finally returned home at 3 AM smelling of smoke and alcohol. I hadn’t slept, checking immigration procedures in the study. He leaned over, hugging me from behind, chin on my shoulder, hot breath mixed with alcohol spraying on my ear. “Why haven’t you slept? Waiting for me?” “Mm. Is Madison okay?” “Sorry, I misunderstood you. That man deliberately troubled Madison. I handled it, sent her home and came back.” He nuzzled my neck, tone fawning: “I kept checking my phone, you didn’t send a single message. Still angry?” I really wasn’t in the mood to deal with him. Who knew he was extra clingy today, insisting on turning my face to look into my eyes. “Jealous? I swear, I didn’t touch Madison, Connor can testify. I didn’t touch any of those girls, didn’t give contact info.” I looked at him for a long time, finally sighed, resignedly supporting him to the bedroom. Chapter 4 First time I met Julian was by the old book stall outside the north gate of NYU. He probably just came out of the club opposite, holding a black umbrella, face gloomy, like he just had a big fight. Just as he was about to get in the car, the stall owner suddenly grabbed me trying to put back an old dictionary. “Stop! Page corner folded, you have to buy this book!” “I just opened it to look… this crease was already there.” I tried to explain, voice drifting in the wind. Owner relentless: “I say you did it, you did it! Thirty dollars, don’t leave without a cent less!” During the struggle, the backpack strap couldn’t bear the load, ripped open, books scattering all over the ground. The student loan overdue notice sandwiched in the book floated out, instantly soaked by puddle water. Just as I squatted to pick it up, a black umbrella steadied over my head. “How much?” Julian’s voice wasn’t loud, but carried an unquestionable coldness. The owner froze, looked up at him and the car behind him, momentum instantly weakened: “Th… thirty…” Julian didn’t speak. Assistant behind him already pulled out a bill and handed it over. Owner took the money, muttering and retreating behind the stall. He then looked down at me. Gaze swept over my soaked hair, finally landing on that crumpled tuition bill. “Which school?” “…NYU.” He nodded, handed the umbrella to me, squatted down himself, picking up my books soaked in dirty water one by one, stacking them. I stood there blankly holding the umbrella, watching him take off his trench coat, putting it on my thin sweater without refusal. “Get in, I’ll send you back.” His car was parked by the road, interior spotless, heating on high. “Short of money?” He looked ahead, tone flat as discussing weather. “Mm.” “Name?” “…Scarlett.” He tapped the steering wheel twice, seeming to think. “Follow me. Your tuition, living expenses, I’ll cover. Plus, $50,000 monthly allowance.” Reason told me to refuse immediately. This was too absurd, unreasonable. No free lunch in this world. But from the corner of my eye, seeing luxury goods placed everywhere in his car, and dollar bills thrown all over the back seat. I wavered. I needed this money, needed to get rid of the immediate predicament, needed… to seize this sudden possibility. Car stopped at the tree-lined avenue outside the dorm area. Rain had lessened. He didn’t rush me to get off, just waited quietly. “Why?” I heard myself ask. He turned to look at me, no warmth in his eyes: “You look quite obedient.” Paused, he added: “Besides, this little money means nothing to me.” Yes, indeed means nothing. My embarrassment, my struggle, in his world, small enough not to mention. I lowered my eyes, gripping the wet books in my arms. “…Thank you. I will consider it carefully.” At that time, I didn’t understand why he did this. But later hearing his roar on the phone, I understood everything. To him, I was just a whim, just to prove to Madison who left him that he had moved on, just a… tool to provoke old love. But perhaps it was the desire for money, or a trace of inexplicable heartbeat, that made me choose silence at that moment. I knew what I was doing, and knew what I wanted. Anything but love. … Maybe because my attitude towards Julian’s absence was too calm, his friends were uncertain, secretly calling him. “Julian! Scarlett seems to be going home to pack, looks like she’s leaving New York!” Girl’s joyful laughter came from the phone. Julian’s voice carried a faint impatience of being disturbed. “Leaving? What is she making a fuss about now.” “Today is your wedding… guests are all here.” “So what?” Julian chuckled lightly. “Tell her, don’t be willful, I’ll go over when I’m done.” “Julian, this time seems not willful, she…” Julian interrupted, tone casual: “Those pearl earrings I gave her last month, suitable for today, let her wear them.” Silence on the other end for a moment. “…Mentioning this now is probably inappropriate. Scarlett looks serious.” “What’s inappropriate?” Julian’s voice was careless. “She stays with me for money, right? Real estate, shares, jewelry, what have I given less? Putting on this attitude now… taking herself too seriously.” He paused, seeming to sip wine. “Tell her, I’ll transfer another million to her account, make her behave. If not, I’ll say some nice words when I get back. Women, just coax them.” Phone hung up. Whispering outside the door stopped abruptly. Those friends who tried to smooth things over for him now looked complex. “Just for money?” “Just coax her.” I hooked the corner of my mouth extremely sarcastically at the lonely wedding ring on the vanity table. Then opened the door, walked out calmly under everyone’s varying gazes. Let him leave his money and love to Madison.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390171”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My husband has Bipolar Disorder. Every time he beats me, he guiltily transfers $10,000. I never resist. I silently accept the money, covering the bruises with foundation. My best friend calls me cheap, urging me to divorce. I count the balance in my account, a sneer curling my lips. “Don’t rush, the pig isn’t fat enough yet.” Until one day, he punched me in the stomach, and I miscarried. Chapter 1 “Venmo received: $10,000.” The mechanical female voice echoed in the empty living room, sounding particularly harsh. I spat out a mouthful of bloody saliva, a bit metallic, like the taste of rust. Lucas sat on the sofa opposite, head in hands, fingers buried in regret. His hair was messy, grabbed by himself during his madness just now. “Sorry… Honey, sorry… I couldn’t control myself…” His voice carried a sob, trembling like a withered leaf in the wind. I didn’t speak. Just silently climbed up from the floor. My knee hit the corner of the coffee table just now, piercing pain. Probably bruised. I walked to the mirror in the entryway. Left cheek swollen. Five finger marks clearly visible, red turning purple. Lucas didn’t hold back this slap. He really wanted to kill me, or rather, the “him” during the episode wanted to kill me. I picked up the concealer, covering it layer by layer. The foundation liquid was cold, touching the burning wound, this temperature difference sobered me up a little. Heavy footsteps came from behind. He hugged me from behind, burying his head in my neck. Tears dropped into my collar pata pata, burning me to a shiver. “Honey, hit me, scold me… I’m really not human…” “It’s okay.” I looked at myself in the mirror, pulling a perfect, tolerant, even saint-like smile. “I know you are sick. I don’t blame you.” Lucas cried even harder, like a child who made a mistake. He took out his phone again. “Venmo received: $10,000.” Plus the one just now, twenty thousand. This slap, twenty thousand dollars. Quite worth it. My monthly salary is only eight thousand, enduring the boss’s bad breath and clients’ difficulties. But at home, taking a beating, just enduring a few minutes of pain, equals three months of my salary. This account, however calculated, is a bargain. Lucas is a Trust Fund Baby, family owns factories, money is just a number to him. To me, it’s life. Chapter 2 Lucas fell asleep. Beating people is also physical work, especially beating hysterically like him. I covered him with the quilt, looking at that face which still seemed a bit gloomy in sleep. If not for the episodes, Lucas actually looks quite good. High brow bone, straight nose, a pair of seemingly affectionate peach blossom eyes. Who would have thought, under this skin, hides a beast? I closed the bedroom door, walked to the balcony, and lit a cigarette. I don’t smoke much, only one when it hurts too much to sleep. Phone lit up. WeChat from best friend Sarah. “Still alive?” I took a screenshot of the bank balance and sent it over. Silence on the other end for a while, then a long voice message. “Nicole are you sick in the head? Do you have masochistic tendencies? Twenty thousand bought you? Do you know domestic violence has only zero and countless times? One day he beats you to death, will you spend these millions in hell?” Sarah scolded fiercely, but I knew she meant well. She is the only one who knows Lucas beats me. I blew out a smoke ring, watching the smoke dissipate in the night. Typed reply: “Soon.” “What soon?” “The pig is almost fat enough.” Sarah sent a string of ellipses, probably thinking I was hopeless. Of course I’m not crazy. I am very sober. More sober than anyone. I touched my belly. It was flat, soft, without any sign of life. But I need it to have one. Lucas’s Bipolar Disorder is getting worse. Used to be throwing things, then pushing, now using fists. Frequency changed from once a month to once a week. I know, that critical point is coming. Once crossing that line, I might really die. But I can’t leave now. The current Lucas, although guilty, is not enough. His guilt value hasn’t reached the amount I want. I want more than these twenty or thirty thousand pocket money. I want his everything. Or, his life. Chapter 3 Preparation work is almost done. That blood bag was bought online, special for movie effects, realistic texture, even with a disgusting b****y smell. As for that “fetus.” Obtained through some special channels. Very small, only palm-sized, an unformed lump of flesh, heart-stopping to look at. I hid it in the bottom freezer drawer, wrapped in three layers of black plastic bags. Every time I open the fridge for milk, I feel that lump staring at me with cold air. This is crazy, I know. But to hunt a beast, the hunter must be crazier than the beast. This Friday is Lucas’s birthday. According to custom, he will drink some wine. Alcohol is taboo for Bipolar Disorder, especially mixed with medication. But I still prepared the best red wine for him, Screaming Eagle, costing a small half of my savings from a year of beatings. Investment, always has costs. At 7 PM, Lucas came back. He looked in a good mood, carrying an Hermès bag. “Wifey, happy birthday.” I froze: “Today is your birthday.” Lucas smiled, walked over and kissed my forehead: “I know, but I want to give you a gift. As long as you are happy, I am happy.” At that moment, I was even a bit dazed. Ignoring those violent nights, Lucas is really a perfect husband. Rich, romantic, gentle. Pity, he’s a lunatic. I opened the gift, a limited edition Birkin bag. “Like it?” He looked at me expectantly. “Like it.” I nodded smiling, “Let’s eat, I made your favorite Sweet and Sour Ribs.” On the table, candlelights flickered. Lucas drank one glass, two glasses, three glasses. His eyes began to blur, cheeks flushed, voice louder. I knew, the drug effect started. Not the alcohol, but the “seasoning” I added to the wine. It’s a neuro drug that amplifies emotions and induces rage. Lucas has been taking Lithium Carbonate prescribed by the doctor recently, but I swapped the pills. Swapped for vitamin tablets that look exactly the same. And the real strong medicine, is all in this wine. “Nicole…” Lucas suddenly smashed the wine glass on the table heavily. Red wine splashed on the white tablecloth, like an exploding blood flower. “Do you look down on me?” His eyes changed. That familiar, violent, murderous look returned. Show time. Chapter 4 I pretended to be panicked, shrinking back. “Hubby, what’s wrong? How could I look down on you?” “You just look down on me! You think I’m a lunatic! You think I live off my family!” Lucas stood up abruptly, knocking over the chair. He walked around the table, approaching me step by step. I didn’t retreat but advanced, protecting my belly desperately. This action stimulated him greatly. “What’s in your belly? Huh? Is it a bastard!” This step I didn’t expect. His paranoia flared up worse than I imagined. But it fits my plan perfectly. “Lucas! Are you crazy? This is your child! I’m three months pregnant!” I screamed, voice shrill. “My child? Hahahaha! I can’t have children at all! I’m sick! I’m a lunatic! How can a lunatic have children!” Lucas roared, like a wild boar losing reason. He rushed over, grabbed my hair, and smashed me against the wall. Bang! Very painful. But I endured. I fell to the ground, curling into a ball. “Don’t hit me… please… don’t hit the child…” I cried out, voice getting weaker. But this didn’t awaken his conscience, instead acted like a catalyst, making him crazier. “Die! All die!” Lucas raised his foot, kicking my belly viciously. Once. Twice. I felt the illusion of broken ribs. But I must wait for that hardest hit. Now! I pressed the blood bag hidden in my clothes fiercely. Warm, viscous liquid gushed out instantly, soaking my dress, flowing down my thighs all over the floor. Bright red blood, spreading on white tiles, shocking to the eye. I let out the last scream, then pushed the prepared “fetus” out from under my skirt. It mixed in the blood pool, a small lump, purple-black, hideous and terrifying. The world went quiet. Lucas stopped moving. He panted heavily, eyes staring dead at the pool of blood on the floor, and that lump of flesh in the blood. His pupils shrank violently, whole person like struck by lightning, frozen in place. I also “fainted.” But the moment before closing my eyes, I saw the expression of extreme collapse on Lucas’s face. That was fear. Pure fear. Not because he hit me, but because—he killed someone. Chapter 5 When I woke up, I was lying on the bed in the bedroom. The sheets were new, but I was still wearing that blood-stained dress, even the blood stains had dried and hardened. Lucas didn’t dare change my clothes. Nor dared send me to the hospital. He was afraid. He was currently huddled in the corner of the room, like a frightened mouse, hugging his knees and shivering. The room was filled with a heavy smell of blood, and the smell of urine. Seems he peed himself in fear. I moved my fingers, letting out a weak moan. Lucas looked up sharply, eyeballs full of red blood streaks. “Wifey… you woke up… you didn’t die… great…” He crawled over, wanting to touch me but daring not, hand trembling in mid-air. “Child…” I spoke weakly, tears flowing from the corner of my eyes. “Where is my child…” Lucas’s face instantly pale as paper. He pointed to the bathroom, voice shaking uncontrollably: “In… inside… I… I don’t know what to do…” “Lucas, you killed him.” I looked into his eyes, saying word by word. “That was your own flesh and blood, a boy, I already named him… but you killed him.” “Ah!!!” Lucas covered his ears, letting out a beast-like wail. “I didn’t mean to! I really didn’t mean to! I didn’t know… I didn’t know you were pregnant…” “I’m calling the police.” I struggled to reach for the phone on the bedside table. Lucas pounced like crazy, snatching the phone, smashing it hard against the wall. Phone screen shattered, like a spider web. “No police! No police! Police mean I’m done! I’ll go to jail! I’m mentally ill, but I don’t want to be locked in a mental hospital for life! Nicole, please, don’t call the police!” He knelt by the bed, kowtowing to me frantically. Thud thud thud. Forehead broke quickly, blood flowing all over his face, but he seemed not to feel pain. I saw the timing was about right. The torture of this night, plus the side effects of drugs, his psychological defense had completely collapsed. The current him is a lump of mud for me to knead. “No police is fine.” I looked at him coldly, tone suddenly becoming calm, eerily calm. “But you have to pay the price.” Lucas looked up, face covered in blood and dirt, eyes dull: “What price? How much do you want? One million? Five million? Ten million? I’ll give you all! As long as no police!” I shook my head. “I don’t want money.” I propped myself up, enduring the severe pain (it really hurt this time, he hit too hard), pulling out a document from under the pillow. This was prepared long ago. “Sign it.” Lucas took the document with trembling hands. By the dim light, he saw the title clearly. [Voluntary Organ Donation and Full Body Disposal Power of Attorney Agreement]. Beneficiary/Executor: Nicole. “What is… this?” Lucas looked at me blankly. “This is your indulgence ticket.” I leaned close to him, whispering in his ear, voice like a devil’s whisper. “You killed my child, that’s a life of yours. Since you don’t want to go to jail, give your life to me for safekeeping.” “As long as you sign, this agreement takes effect. In the future, whether you live or die, your heart, your liver, your kidneys, even your corneas, are under my control.” “If you dare touch me again one day, or when I want you to die…” I extended a finger, gently sliding across his carotid artery. “I’ll take you apart, sell pieces one by one, to sacrifice to our child.” Lucas shivered. This is actually a threatening document with no legal effect, even absurd. But in the eyes of a lunatic on the verge of mental collapse, deeply mired in guilt of killing his son, and poisoned by drugs, this is a judgment from hell. And his only straw to clutch at. “I sign… I sign…” Lucas grabbed the pen, hand shaking like Parkinson’s, crookedly signed his name. Last stroke fell. I smiled. This time, not a saint’s smile. It’s a hunter’s smile. Pig, finally in the cage.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390170”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I waited like a fool for my husband all day, waiting for him to come home and spend Valentine’s Day with me. But it wasn’t until 1 AM the next day that he finally appeared before me, covered in travel dust. He pulled me into his arms, a hint of deliberate guilt in his voice: “Baby, that’s the bad thing about budget flights, taking off too late. But… I saved over a thousand dollars.” “Didn’t you always nag me to save some diaper fund money for the baby?” My eyelashes trembled slightly. I suppressed the indescribable grievance in my heart and teased him pretending to be relaxed. “Our Julian, the second-generation heir of the Sterling family, the young master who believes in hedonism, when have you ever been persuaded by me? Just a business trip, and you seem like a different person.” His body stiffened for a split second, almost imperceptibly. Then, he frivolously scraped the tip of my nose, masking everything with a smile. “Isn’t it all influenced by my little financial manager? Money that shouldn’t be spent, not a cent can be wasted.” Chapter 1 He remembered something, turned around and opened his suitcase, “Sweetie, I brought you a Valentine’s gift.” Saying that, he handed me a bag. Inside was a pink floral dress. I held it up. “It’s pretty, just…” It was too different from the style of gifts he used to give me. Not designer bags, perfumes, or other jewelry. But a dress without even a tag. Julian rubbed my head, tone somewhat proud, “Bought it at the Miami Night Market, two for sixty-five.” “Great cut, nice fabric, super cost-effective.” His eyes shone as he looked at me, begging for praise. I leaned in, cupping his face and examining it seriously. “Confess, who picked it for you!” I didn’t believe he became so thrifty overnight, and could even pick out a nice dress from a street stall with sharp eyes. He quickly pecked my cheek, tone helpless. “It was Mia, she insisted on showing me the prices on the street outside her university.” “Finally know how college students live on eight hundred a month.” Mia, his biological sister attending college in Miami. I breathed a sigh of relief. Asked casually: “Your family only gives Mia eight hundred a month?” He froze, hugged me, “How is that possible. It’s her roommate who has a poor family background.” Then he rested his chin gently on my shoulder, somewhat tiredly said: “So tired.” “This month on business trip in Miami, missed you especially.” “Is the baby good? Didn’t make you uncomfortable again, right?” I touched my belly, tone softening, “The little guy tosses and turns all day.” Seeing this, he said fiercely to my belly, “Make Mommy trouble again, and I’ll spank you when you’re born!” I couldn’t help laughing, “Alright, hurry up shower and sleep.” Paused, then mumbled, “Julian, you owe me a Valentine’s Day tomorrow.” “Yes ma’am!” The sound of water started in the bathroom. I put my mind at ease, the depression of missing Valentine’s Day swept away. His phone was casually placed on the table. Ghost-driven, I picked it up. Wallpaper still our photo, password still my birthday. No anomalies in WeChat chats. He was even really chatting with Mia about money-saving tips, reading like he was eager to try. I smiled speechlessly, annoyed at myself for being so bored. He couldn’t possibly cheat, and I was checking his phone seriously like others. Exiting to the desktop, just about to turn off the screen, a red app in the corner caught my attention. He even downloaded Temu. Clicked in, no purchase records. Just as I was about to exit, a message popped up at the top. [You have successfully assisted Daisy! The system gifts you a new user free order qualification…] Chapter 2 Daisy… I silently recited this name. So Julian downloaded Temu just to help her get a deal. I unconsciously gripped the phone tightly. Remembered when we first started dating, I invited him too. He refused without thinking. “If you want money, I’ll just transfer it to you.” The sound of water in the bathroom didn’t stop. Budget flight tickets, floral dress, and this Daisy. Julian, is there really no problem? My throat tightened, heart pounding. Walked to the balcony, dialed Mia’s number. The girl’s cheerful voice sounded. “Sister-in-law, why aren’t you sleeping so late, what’s up?” I said gently: “Mia, I want your roommate’s contact info. Heard from your brother her family is poor, considering sponsoring her.” “Oh, Daisy Xu. I’ll send you her WeChat.” “Her family values boys over girls, gave birth to four daughters before having a son.” “She’s the third, living the hardest, but quite inspirational, living happily on eight hundred a month.” “My brother keeps nagging me to learn from her, ears are calloused…” I instructed her not to tell anyone first. She agreed. I didn’t hear clearly what she said later, just staring at the pretty girl’s avatar on the screen in a daze. If I remember correctly, the remark Julian gave her was “Teacher Daisy.” A vague yet extremely ambiguous title. My fingertips turned white. Clicked friend request, using my identity as a famous writer. “Scarlett?” Julian stood not far behind me at some point. I turned off the screen, turned to hold his hand, chuckled lightly: “Came out for some air, let’s go back to sleep.” Late at night, lying in bed tossing and turning. While he was asleep, I got out of bed, quietly pushing open the bedroom door. The light of the phone screen hit my face. Quickly found Daisy’s social account. A girl who loves sharing life, username just Daisy. Scrolled down, saw the first post related to Julian. Title: [Roommate dating a punk, let me entertain her CEO brother QAQ] She took him to the night market, ate cheap food he never ate. From disdain to acceptance, from cold face to smiling. [CEO really smells good (changed his mind)!] [With me, he can learn many money-saving tips, feel like I can charge tuition…] A pure black avatar commented under the post. [Please guide me more, Teacher Daisy.] Girl went crazy. [Damn, cover blown!] [Teacher Daisy reluctantly takes you on a budget tour of Miami hahaha.] Last Friday was her birthday, Julian pushed work to accompany her to the amusement park. Roller coasters, pendulum rides, drop towers. He, who is afraid of heights, played them all, face pale, retching desperately. Daisy posted: [Super moved, specially brave Mr. Shen!] And that day I was alone in the hospital for prenatal checkup. The baby either sat straight up unable to be photographed, or arm blocked the face. Tossed for a whole afternoon, anxious and uneasy. Pretended to be relaxed texting Julian to complain, he never replied. Maybe due to pregnancy hormones, I panicked for no reason, rarely contacted his assistant. Reply was, “Mr. Sterling is busy with a meeting, might not have seen Madam’s message.” “Next checkup I can help contact the Old Madam to accompany.” I put my mind at rest: “No need, just a bit worried about him.” And his mother always looked down on me, no need to ask for a snub. Latest post, Daisy wore that pink floral dress, spent Valentine’s Day with him. Parting, she said [Don’t like immorality, hate female competition even more, I want you to choose me unswervingly.] Julian commented after getting off the plane. [You are strong, brave, kind. Beauty is the least worth mentioning merit.] [Regret is we met too late.] [If there is a next life, I choose you.] 5 AM, sky gradually turning white. I sat quietly on the living room sofa, booked a hospital abortion. Julian, no need for next life. You can choose her now. Chapter 3 8 AM, he woke up. Looked for me immediately, relieved seeing me “Scarlett, why up so early.” “Baby not behaving again?” He squatted in front of me, worry looking genuine. Touched my belly with heartache, “Wifey, really hard on you.” “I dreamed of our first child last night.” “Sigh, let’s not mention this, this one will definitely go smoothly.” “I won’t leave again, this time I will accompany you until birth.” “Make you the happiest Mrs. Sterling!” His tone was very sincere. If I hadn’t seen those posts, I’m afraid I would have believed these words. Moved his hand away from my belly, forced a smile, “Go to work quickly.” “Earn more diaper fund for this naughty one.” He frowned, face full of disapproval, “Said I’ll make up a Valentine’s Day for you.” “Even if the sky falls today, I will accompany you.” He rubbed my head comfortingly, “Don’t worry, all arranged. No one will disturb us.” “Sweetie, go change clothes.” “I prepared many surprises this time.” He was in high spirits. I frowned, clutching the phone, thinking maybe I should change the appointment time. Changed clothes and came out, disappointment flashed in his eyes. “Why not wear that dress?” I smiled: “Haven’t washed it, you became so unparticular after a business trip.” Panic flashed in his eyes, then he smiled and shook his head, “Pregnancy brain for three years, looks like I’m the silly one.” Then diligently brought shoes to me, “Princess please lift foot.” Prepared everything needed for going out in detail. Phone rang suddenly before leaving. He looked, expression unchanged. “Sweetie, I’ll take a call.” “You sit and rest a while.” I opened my phone, found the abortion appointment interface. Finger paused, no movement. Cold silence in the air for three minutes. He came out from the soundproof balcony, silent for a long while. Expression a bit guilty, voice extremely low. “Company has some problems, I have to go there quickly.” “Scarlett, make up Valentine’s Day tomorrow okay?” “Or I let the assistant accompany you to play first?” Tone almost pleading. Although I comforted myself long ago, he probably doesn’t love anymore. Or loves more than one. Heart still sank inevitably. He lowered his head daring not look into my eyes. “I swear, just this once.” I said gently: “Okay, you go.” He sighed with relief instantly, “Thank you for your understanding.” Self-lamented: “Really married a good wife.” Hurriedly planted a kiss on my forehead, turned and left. Completely didn’t notice my obviously red eyes. Julian, actually I saw. The one calling you was Teacher Daisy. Chapter 4 I asked my lawyer best friend Chloe to help draft a divorce agreement. Took a taxi to the hospital myself, didn’t tell anyone. Afraid of softening if persuaded. After all, I looked forward to the baby’s arrival more than anyone. Doctor looked solemnly at the preoperative checkup sheet in hand. “Ms. Su, fetus is eleven weeks.” “Given your current physical condition, having an abortion might mean unable to conceive in the future.” “Please sign here if confirmed.” My raised hand was trembling. First child with Julian, aborted under his mother’s coercion. Five years, I still clearly remember how painful the painless abortion was. Also remember him hugging me tightly after surgery, red-eyed promising to love me forever. Just finished signing, phone ding-dong, Daisy accepted the friend request. Her Moments updated ten minutes ago, [Just couldn’t help saying miss you.] Picture shows two hands fingers interlocked. Laughable is Julian still wearing the ring I gave. But flew to Miami leaving me behind just because she missed him. When they kissed under the Canton Tower, I was lying on the operating table. When they walked by the river, I was pushed out of the operating room. Chloe rushed over, face paler than mine. “Scarlett, you are too stubborn. Insisted on marrying him back then.” “Now coming alone…” She paused, stopped talking. I curved my lips gently, “Alright.” “How is the divorce agreement preparation?” She sniffled, “Electronic version sent to your email.” “Julian he… cheated?” I nodded imperceptibly. Her eyes filled with tears, “Heartache for you.” “If I knew this, I wouldn’t have advised my brother to let go back then.” “I’ll call him back now!” I frowned, urgent: “Chloe!” “Not calling, not calling, don’t get excited.” She put down the phone. “What to do next?” I had no expression, said softly: “You know, my temper is stubborn.” “They are finished.” I told Daisy I learned about her family difficulties, asked if she needed sponsorship. Girl thought she met a benefactor, lines full of admiration. [Sister, I loved reading your books most in high school!] [If possible, really hope to get this sponsorship quota!] I hooked my lips, [If convenient come to New York to meet.] Midnight. Julian messaged me, [Sweetie I just got off work, you not home?] [Don’t know why heart always panicked, really want to see you immediately.] [Playing at Chloe’s? I pick you up.] I said: [No need, staying at her place these days.] [Came often when you were away, used to it.] Silence on the other end for a long time. [Sorry, Scarlett.] [I promise won’t happen again.] Again? We have no again. A week later, I wore a waist-cinching long dress attending the press conference. When Julian arrived, gaze fell on my flat belly first, frowning. “Why thinner?” “Baby teasing you again?” “Tsk, really have to spank hard then.” I smiled, “Julian, let me introduce the little girl I want to sponsor.” Turned back holding the girl waiting aside, “Come, Daisy, this is your brother-in-law.” Julian froze on the spot, gaze shifted from her somewhat panicked. Girl spoke first, “Hello brother-in-law.” He nodded indiscriminately, forced a smile. Conference started. I announced the marriage with Julian, and told the reason for this sponsorship. Finally pointed to the screen. “Daisy is a good child, these are some awards she won during school.” However, once the video played, the audience exploded. Julian ran onto the stage with a pale face, supporting my trembling body. “Scarlett, listen to my explanation.” “Don’t believe these, must be someone wanting to harm our baby!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “390169”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel