Author: Momo Chan

When I was thirteen, I decided to end it all. But the moment before I jumped off that bridge, I met a man. He grabbed my arm, stopping me from plummeting into the icy water below. When I asked him why he saved me, he just smiled and said nothing. Before he left, he said something that sounded like a riddle: “In the name of spring.” I didn’t understand what he meant back then. But later, I realized he was saving me in the name of a season that represented hope. He was the spring that lasted my entire life. 01 At thirteen, I made a decision. Death might seem like a distant concept to most kids my age. But as I sat on the railing of the bridge, I was genuinely calculating the best way to fall. Making the decision to die is actually the hardest part. I looked down at the rushing river. A crowd had gathered, pointing fingers and whispering. A frantic woman nearby was trying to talk me down, someone had already called 911, but the sirens were still distant. I looked at the world with total apathy. Dying on my birthday seemed poetic. It wasn’t like anyone cared what day it was anyway. Not my parents. Not my grandparents. Not a single soul in my life. 02 I was the middle child. Above me was Serena, the golden girl my parents adored. Below me was Noah, the son my grandparents had prayed for. I knew from a young age that I was the mistake. Serena meant “serene and bright.” Noah meant “rest and comfort.” My name was Elara. Just Elara. When I was born, my grandparents walked out of the hospital without even looking at me. They even took back the homemade soup they’d brought for my mother. Serena was three then. My dad worked all day and came home to a postpartum wife, a crying toddler, and a newborn me. He grew to resent it all. “Another girl? What’s the point? We shouldn’t have bothered.” I heard stories like that before I could even tie my shoes. I was six when Noah was born. Money was tight. My family didn’t love me—a fact I accepted before I lost my first tooth. But understanding it didn’t mean I accepted it. If there were two drumsticks at dinner, I’d still shamelessly fight for one. Mom would intervene: “Elara, you’re the older sister. Let Noah have it.” “What about Serena?” I’d ask, looking at Dad. Dad would just put the other drumstick in Serena’s bowl. “Your sister is about to start middle school. She needs the protein for her brain.” I chewed on my bitter greens, face blank. I survived until thirteen, but the neglect only got worse. In the morning, Grandma woke Noah up with kisses. Mom made Serena a fresh omelet and Dad drove her to school. Me? I got a ten-dollar bill—my food allowance for the day—and walked to school alone. Indifference is scary. Habit is scarier. When indifference becomes a habit, love evaporates. Today, they took the whole family to Six Flags to celebrate Serena getting straight A’s. They completely forgot that today was my thirteenth birthday. 03 “Oh my god, come down, little girl! Think of how heartbroken your family would be!” Family? I scoffed. They were probably screaming on a rollercoaster right now, having the time of their life. “I’m not lying, honey! Look, your brother is here!” The nosy woman clapped her hands, pointing. Brother? Noah was seven. “Right there! Talking to the cop. The guy in the trench coat.” That was the first time I saw him. Even years later, I never learned his real name back then. “Elara,” he called out, his voice cutting through the wind. “Come down.” He reached out his hand. 04 Trusting a strange man is dangerous. That’s what I’d been taught. But in that moment, possessed by something I couldn’t explain, I reached back. I let him pull me down to the pavement. “Thank God!” the woman yelled. But my eyes were locked on the man. “Since her brother is here, we’ll let you handle it,” the police officer said, looking relieved to avoid the paperwork. “Kid, talk to your family. Don’t go scaring people like this.” “I will,” the man nodded earnestly. “I’ll take her home.” The cop tipped his hat and drove off. The crowd dispersed. The man turned to me. “Let’s go. I’m taking you to get some food.” “Who are you?” I asked, speaking my first words of the day. He flashed a brilliant, white-toothed smile. “Me? I’m the guy who’s here to save you.” 05 Walking off with a stranger was reckless. But I went anyway. Part of me darkly hoped he was a serial killer. If I died, would my parents finally cry? Would they regret treating me like a ghost? When you’re young and hurting, you often want to hurt yourself to punish others. It took me years to realize that if they don’t care, your pain means nothing to them. But at thirteen, I just wanted revenge through death. “Stop overthinking, kid,” he said lightly, tapping my forehead. He took me to a clean, quiet diner. “What can I get you two?” the waitress asked. “A stack of pancakes with a candle, and the biggest burger you have,” the man said smoothly. “It’s the kid’s birthday.” “Coming right up!” I stared at him. His temples were graying, his hair messy, but he had kind, laughing eyes with a small mole beneath the left one. “Why are you staring?” He slid a menu toward me. “Order whatever else you want.” I shook my head. “Who are you? You didn’t answer me.” “Me?” He leaned back, crossing his legs with a roguish grin. “I’m from the future. I came back just to save you.” I read a lot of manga at the bookstore to escape my house. So, surprisingly, I believed him. “Why me?” I was the unlovable child. The black sheep. The punching bag. I wasn’t a protagonist. The man smiled, but his eyes seemed to shimmer with unshed tears. “Because, Elara… In the name of spring, I had to come for you.”

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I was four months pregnant when my OB-GYN husband, Alex, accompanied me to pick up the prenatal screening report. The smile on his face froze the instant he saw the results. Without a word of explanation, he dragged me toward the appointment desk to schedule an abortion. I stood there, stunned. The attending doctor had just told us the fetus was perfectly healthy! I wrenched my hand free and demanded, “Why? Why do I need an abortion?” He didn’t answer. He had already booked the D&C procedure on his phone. Seeing I was about to run, he gripped my arm tight enough to bruise. “This child absolutely cannot be born!” Protecting my belly, I frantically dialed my parents, who were also prominent OB-GYNs. When they arrived, my father—who had always doted on me—raised his fist as if to punch me right in the stomach. My mother looked horrified, shaking her head frantically. “No, we can’t do it like this.” “Find a few men. Lock them in a room with Sarah.” I didn’t understand why they wanted to dispose of my child—and me—in such a brutal way. I tried to flee. But they overpowered me and threw me into a dark basement room. When I saw the blood running down my legs, I knew my baby was gone. My mother came to pick me up, smiling as if nothing had happened. I screamed at her, begging to know why they did this to me. She didn’t answer. She turned around and had me committed to a psychiatric ward. I was tortured to death in that hospital. But when I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day we went to pick up the report. … 1 “Honey, this is our first baby. I can’t wait to meet him.” Alex looked at me, his face beaming with joy. “Come on, let’s go. The clinic gets busy.” Hearing Alex’s voice, I snapped back to reality. My hand instinctively went to my slightly protruding lower abdomen. I was pregnant. I was back. In my previous life, Alex had been the perfect expectant father. He bought something new for the nursery every day and had a list of a hundred names. Since he worked at the hospital where I was getting my care, he always made time to be there. At four months, we went for the standard genetic screening. The doctor told us the fetus was healthy and ruled out Down syndrome. Alex, being a doctor himself, took a look at the detailed report. That was when his smile vanished, replaced by a look of pure terror. Without explaining, he grabbed my wrist and tried to force me into surgery. “Alex, the baby is fine! Why are you doing this?” I had screamed, pulling away. He ignored me, his breathing jagged, eyes bloodshot. “Sarah, this child cannot exist!” Terrified, I had messaged my parents. When they arrived, instead of saving me, they made it worse. My father punched Alex in the face, demanding to know why he wanted to terminate a healthy pregnancy. Alex didn’t speak. He just handed the report to my father. The moment my father saw it, his anger turned into horror. His hands shook as he held the paper. 2 My father raised his fist, aiming directly at my pregnant belly. My mother threw herself in front of me, taking the blow. “Are you crazy?” she screamed. “That’s your grandchild in there!” Father let out a cold laugh and shoved the report into Mother’s hands. My mother, who had just been protecting me, looked at the paper and turned pale as a ghost. She shoved me away from her like I was contagious, shaking her head violently. “No… no, this can’t happen.” I realized the problem was in that report. “Mom, what is it? What’s wrong with my baby?” She ignored me. She grabbed my father’s arm. “We can’t do it here. It’s too public. I have an idea.” “Get some men. Put them in a room with Sarah.” I stood frozen, a chill running down my spine. Why did that piece of paper turn my loving family into monsters? I tried to run, but my father caught me. They gagged me, threw me into a van, and locked me in a windowless room with five naked men. I banged on the door until my hands bled. No one came. The men dragged me to the floor. When I fought, they beat me. My child became nothing more than a pool of dried blood on the concrete floor. A week later, my parents and Alex came to get me. “Let’s go home, Sarah,” my mother said, smiling sweetly. 3 “Why?” I had screamed at her, hysterical. “Why did you do this to me?” My mother’s smile vanished. My father slapped me across the face. “Ungrateful slut!” Then, my mother looked at me with cold, dead eyes. “Sarah is confused. Take her to the asylum.” Inside the institution, Alex paid the orderlies to make my life hell. The husband who once adored me wanted me dead. Three months later, I died in agony. And I still didn’t know why. Now, standing in the hospital lobby, the old fear washed over me. I took a deep breath, hand on my belly. This time, I had to find out the truth. I made sure to grab the report first. Even after the attending physician said everything was fine, I held onto the folder tight. As long as Alex didn’t see it, I thought I’d be safe. But as we walked out, Alex held out his hand. “Let me see the report, babe.” My heart skipped a beat. I forced a smile. “Why? You heard the doctor. We’re both healthy.” “I’m the father, and I’m a doctor,” he laughed. “It’s normal for me to want to see the details.” “I trust your colleague,” I said, tucking the report into my purse. “I’m not showing you today. Keep the mystery alive.” Alex thought I was just being playful. “Okay, fine. As long as you feel good.” “I need to use the restroom,” I said, clutching my bag. “Then we can go home.” I rushed to the bathroom. I needed to read every line of that document in private. I had glanced at it earlier, but I hadn’t seen anything obvious. But when I opened my bag in the stall, my heart stopped. The report was gone. 4 I panicked and ran out of the bathroom. Down the hall, I saw Alex. His face was ash white. He was holding the report. He saw me. He started walking toward me, fast. I tried to turn and run, but he caught my arm. His grip was iron. “Sarah,” he hissed, eyes bloodshot. “This child cannot stay. We are doing the surgery. Now.” It was happening again. The transformation from loving husband to executioner. But this time, I wasn’t going to be dragged away quietly. “Help!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. “He’s trying to kill my baby!” The hallway was crowded. Immediately, people turned to look. Alex gritted his teeth. “Shut up, bitch!” I dropped to my knees, clinging to his leg, making a scene. “Alex, the doctor said the baby is healthy! Why are you forcing me to get an abortion?” A large man stepped in, shoving Alex back. “Hey! What the hell are you doing?” “My god,” a woman gasped. “The baby is healthy and he wants to terminate it? Does he not want to pay child support?” “Forcing a woman to abort is illegal! Someone call the police!” Alex was hyperventilating. He looked at me with pure hatred, but surrounded by a hostile crowd, he couldn’t drag me away. Then, he smiled. A twisted, cruel smile. He pulled out his phone and called my parents. When they arrived, they saw us surrounded. My mother rushed to hug me, acting the concerned grandmother. The crowd explained what happened. My father, furious, raised his hand to slap Alex. But before the blow landed, Alex held up the report. “Dad, don’t look!” I lunged forward. Too late. My father snatched the paper. I saw his eyes widen. The pupils trembled. “Dad?” I whispered. He looked at me. His eyes were red with rage. He slapped me across the face so hard I tasted blood.

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During a critical surgery, my husband’s girlfriend suddenly called. He abandoned the anesthetized patient and left the operating room for a full 40 minutes. I tried to stop him: “The surgery isn’t finished. If you leave now, what if something happens?” My husband, the lead surgeon, sneered coldly: “If something happens, it’s your problem as the anesthesiologist. I’m the lead surgeon, but I haven’t cut yet. If the family wants to sue or attack anyone, it’ll be you and the attending physician. What does it have to do with me?” Afterward, Chloe Sterling, his wealthy mistress, arrogantly told me: “See? All it takes is one word from me, and your husband will drop everything to come to me.” It turned out Chloe called him away just to spite me? I didn’t say a word. I silently contacted others and began compiling a dossier of evidence… 1 I am an anesthesiologist, and today was my shift. The moment I saw the schedule, I frowned and asked the Chief of Anesthesiology, “Why am I paired with Dr. Pierce?” The Chief smiled, avoiding my gaze. “There were some last-minute changes. Dr. Pierce needed to move his surgery up, and you were available.” I pressed him. “Does the hospital not have a policy against spouses operating together?” Although there’s no explicit law forbidding immediate family members from being in the same OR, it’s an unwritten rule in the industry to avoid it. The risk of personal conflict affecting professional judgment is too high. Our hospital had specifically listed this rule in the employee handbook. “Heh, special circumstances require flexibility…” The Chief chuckled, trying to smooth things over. I despised Ethan Pierce. I pretended not to understand the Chief’s hints and kept citing the rules, insisting I wouldn’t work with him. Annoyed by my persistence, the Chief dropped his smile. “Dr. Lin, rules are dead, people are alive. That rule is meaningless.” My brow furrowed. “Spouses have conflicts, sure, but don’t colleagues? Don’t dating couples?” he argued. “If a doctor and a nurse fight, do we ban them from surgery? Think about it. How many doctors and nurses are secretly dating? If we had to police that, the whole hospital would shut down.” “Besides,” he added with a meaningful smirk, “before you and Dr. Pierce got married, didn’t you partner up all the time?” “Not only did you two work well together, but when Dr. Pierce was dating Nurse Sarah Jones, he brought her into every surgery. The work got done, didn’t it? No accidents.” I clenched my fists, a bitter taste in my mouth. Ethan Pierce was my husband, but I wasn’t his only woman. Sarah Jones was a nurse, one of his many conquests. When they were “in love,” Ethan took her everywhere, flaunting their relationship to the entire hospital. The Chief was using Sarah to needle me, likely annoyed by my lack of cooperation. Knowing there was no room for negotiation, I took a deep breath and looked down. “Understood.” Leaving the Chief’s office, I returned to my desk, trying to convince myself: It’s just one surgery. It’ll be fine. Before we were married, Ethan and I were a seamless team. As long as we stuck to our roles, nothing would go wrong. But my eyelid kept twitching. I had a bad feeling. My phone buzzed. A text from Chloe Sterling. [When are you divorcing him?] Short, rude, no greeting. My temples throbbed. Ethan had many women, but Miss Sterling was the most arrogant. Chloe Sterling was Ethan’s new “student.” She had returned from studying abroad with a degree in Landscape Architecture—completely unrelated to medicine. Yet, through some “special program,” she was slotted into a residency under Ethan. In three years, she’d be a doctor. Ordinary people lose their hair studying for a decade just to get a foot in the door. To get a residency under a top surgeon like Ethan, you usually need to be a top-tier med student from an Ivy League school. But Miss Sterling, a graduate of a third-rate foreign college with a non-medical degree, was stepping over everyone. Not only that, she somehow had several SCI papers to her name. A glittering resume built on money and connections. When I learned about her family background, her “excellence” made sense. That’s why I never thought she’d sleep with Ethan. When rumors first swirled, I laughed. “No way. Someone like Miss Sterling would choose a husband who matches her status. Dating Ethan would be a stain on her family name.” Ethan was successful, sure. But he was over 40, married, with a 7-year-old child, and a reputation for sleeping around. Chloe was young, beautiful, and filthy rich. Why lower herself? Did she like that he didn’t shower often? If she wanted his influence to gild her resume, money and power were enough. She didn’t need to sleep with him. Ethan wasn’t exactly a man of high moral standing; pay him enough, and he’d do anything. But the jaw-dropper was that this heiress actually fell for him—and got pregnant! It was absurd. For her, Ethan quickly cut ties with other women, playing the role of the doting partner, and started pressuring me for a divorce. 2 Thinking back on Ethan and Chloe, I suppressed my anger and typed back: [Miss Sterling, I will not divorce Ethan.] When I first discovered Ethan’s infidelity, my instinct was to leave. But the bastard wanted me to leave with nothing—no assets, and he wanted full custody of our daughter. So, I refused. I was going to drag this out until it destroyed him. As soon as I hit send, Chloe called. “Lacey, don’t be ungrateful.” I replied coldly, “You’re the one who needs a reality check, Miss Sterling.” Chloe laughed. “Me? You’ve already been demoted from Team Lead to a regular anesthesiologist. Still don’t get it?” My heart sank. She hit a sore spot. I used to be the lead anesthesiologist for the ICU team. After my conflict with Ethan over Chloe began, I was demoted. I gritted my teeth. “Since you guys stripped my title, I have even less reason to divorce. Let’s see who breaks first.” “Lacey, I think you’re mentally ill,” Chloe sneered. “You’re fighting a losing battle. Your marriage is dead. Why not divorce and live freely instead of watching us be happy? You’re asking for pain.” “Who said our marriage is dead?” I scoffed. “We’re great. Don’t try to drive a wedge between us. During the last board inspection, we were even praised as a ‘model couple.’” The term “model couple” made me want to laugh. Because we actually were praised. Since we weren’t divorced, Ethan had to bring me to high-profile events. Chloe finally got angry. “‘Model couple’? Stop lying to yourself. Ethan loves me. You can’t control him, but I can. One phone call, and he’ll be by my side. I’ll prove it to you…” She was so childish. At her social level, arguing with me over who a middle-aged philanderer truly loves was pathetic. It was about money and power, yet she insisted on packaging it as romance. “Oh, really? Amazing,” I deadpanned. “You don’t believe me?” “No, I don’t.” I hung up. I had a surgery to prep for. I entered Operating Room 6. The nursing team was already prepping. The room was sterile, instruments laid out perfectly. The nurse nodded at me. I went to my station. The patient was already on the table—an 8-year-old girl, just a year older than my own daughter. She had a congenital heart defect. Two previous surgeries had failed. Her parents had sold their house and traveled across the country to our hospital, specifically for Ethan. They believed a famous doctor guaranteed safety. Ethan did have skills; you don’t become Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery without them. I spoke softly to the girl. “Don’t be scared. You’ll fall asleep quickly, and when you wake up, it’ll be all done.” She nodded obediently. “I want to get better soon so Mommy and Daddy stop worrying.” An angel. “You will,” I smiled. I injected the anesthetic. Soon, she was unconscious. “Anesthesia complete.” “Let’s begin.” Ethan walked in, scrubbed and gowned. He picked up the scalpel without looking at me. I focused on the monitors. We were strangers now. Suddenly, a phone on the side table rang. A specific ringtone. I recognized it immediately. It was Chloe’s ringtone, customized by Ethan. It rang twice. Ethan barked at the nurse, “My phone. Bring it here.” The nurse held it to his ear. I don’t know what was said, but Ethan’s face changed dramatically. He put down the scalpel and marched toward the door. “You too, come with me!” he ordered his assistant surgeon. 3 The nurses and I were stunned. The patient was under, the incision site prepped. Why was the surgeon leaving? And he took his assistant. With both doctors gone, no one could operate. We were left waiting. The nurses looked at each other in panic. Remembering Chloe’s threat, a chill ran down my spine. I bit my lip and chased after him. The automatic doors closed behind me. The hallway was empty except for Ethan and his assistant. “Wait!” I called out. Ethan turned, frowning. “What do you want?” “The patient is on the table,” I said. “Why are you leaving?” “Something came up,” he said curtly. “What sort of thing?” Ethan sneered. “Who are you to demand a report from the Chief of Surgery?” I choked back my anger. “When will you be back? You have to give us a time.” He laughed, a dismissive sound. “How should I know?” How should I know? My eyes widened. “If you don’t know when you’re coming back, what about the patient?” Ethan smiled again, a cruel, mocking smile. “That’s your responsibility as the anesthesiologist. Until I return, you keep the patient stable. Understood?” Cold sweat broke out on my back. If a surgeon delays, the anesthesiologist has to keep the patient under. But prolonged anesthesia carries huge risks. If something went wrong, I would be the primary person responsible, not the surgeon who hadn’t cut yet. Was he doing this just to punish me? “Ethan, be clear. Are you doing this to get back at me?” He raised an eyebrow, didn’t answer, and kept walking. I ran in front of him, blocking his path. “Ethan! You cannot play with a patient’s life for personal reasons. Go back!” “I have an urgent matter. Stop acting crazy,” he spat. “If something happens to the patient, you can’t escape responsibility!” Ethan smiled slightly, spreading his hands. “I haven’t even made the incision. If something happens, what does it have to do with me? You’re the anesthesiologist. You’re liable.” I was shaking. In big hospitals, if there’s an anesthesia accident, the family sues the anesthesiologist and the attending physician. Even if the delay caused the complication, the blame shifts. “Do you have no conscience?” I trembled with rage. Ethan’s face darkened. “I said I have business. Get out of my way!” He shoved past me, taking his assistant. Defeated, I walked back to the OR. I tried to rationalize it. Ethan was a scumbag, but he cherished his reputation as a top surgeon. He wouldn’t joke with his career. Maybe it really was an emergency. 4 Looking at the little girl on the table, my heart was heavy. “Dr. Lin, when is the Chief coming back?” a nurse asked. I shook my head. “He didn’t say.” The nurses exchanged worried glances. I kept my eyes glued to the monitors. Everyone was anxious. Minutes ticked by. My phone vibrated. It was Chloe. I declined the call. I wouldn’t take personal calls during a crisis. A moment later, a WeChat message popped up on my screen: [See? All it takes is one word from me, and your husband will drop everything to come to me.] I stared at the message in disbelief. He really left because Chloe called him? He abandoned a surgery just to help her bully me? I took a deep breath and typed: [Is there an emergency?] My phone rang again. Chloe. I answered. “Lacey,” her voice dripped with arrogance. “Do you see the difference between us now?” “What is wrong with you?” I hissed. “He was in surgery! The patient is anesthetized on the table! Why call him away? What if something happens?” “I didn’t know he was in surgery,” she sniffed. “Besides, what do I care if a patient lives or dies?” Liar. When Ethan answered the phone, everyone in the OR heard him say, “I’m in surgery.” I didn’t have time for this. “Send him back. Now.” “He’s the Chief,” she giggled. “I’m just a student. I can’t order him around.” She hung up. My chest tightened. She wouldn’t let him return. A patient was waiting, life hanging in the balance, and they were playing games to hurt me? I looked at the girl. It was my fault. If I had refused to work with him more firmly… No. Stop blaming yourself. Solve the problem. I called the Chief of Anesthesiology and reported it as an incident. “It’s only been 10 minutes,” the old man said. “Wait a bit longer. Dr. Pierce has urgent business.” “Chief,” I snapped, “Chloe Sterling called him away. They are doing this to spite me. They are gambling with a patient’s life!” “Dr. Lin,” he chided. “Don’t spread rumors. Don’t let your emotions dictate your professionalism. Who will want to work with you if you act like this?” I choked. The schedule change. The pairing. It was all a setup. “It’s been 10 minutes,” the Chief repeated. “It’s normal for a surgeon to step out.” “He took his assistant!” I yelled. That was the smoking gun. If a surgeon steps out, the assistant takes over or preps. Ethan took everyone who could cut. “Maybe they’ll be back soon,” the Chief said, dismissive. I hung up, helpless. Ten more minutes passed. The nurses knew what was happening. Some were silent, others furious. But no one dared to speak up against Ethan Pierce.

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During the years I believed in pure love, I wrote a love diary every day. Sterling Vance pretended he didn’t care about anything. But when I asked him what he wanted for his birthday, he blushed and blurted out that he wanted my diary. My heart was so sweet it could burst. Until the class president, Aria Sterling, sent me a video— In the first part of the video, there was my diary, filled with words I had written stroke by stroke. The lines spoke of a girl’s sincere, innocent, and secret love. In the second part, Sterling smiled lazily. “If it weren’t for making Aria jealous and giving her a little sense of crisis, I wouldn’t be interested in dealing with a low-achiever like Stella Starling.” “Compared to a trophy girlfriend who follows me around like a puppy, I much prefer a cool, intellectual type like Aria.” Oh. So I was just a pawn in their love game. I didn’t cry or make a scene. I asked my brother to transfer me to another school, voluntarily exiting their passionate world of two. Eight years later. Sterling, who had searched the entire city for me, suddenly saw a trending topic about a top star’s wedding. The beautiful bride wore a pure white wedding dress, smiling brightly at the camera. Hundreds of love diary entries written to his wife on the star’s secret social media account were also exposed. “May 6, 2025. Tuesday. Sunny.” “The Blue Gum has met its migration bird; I love nothing in this world but you.” 1 While I was getting an IV drip at the hospital, a message suddenly popped up on my phone. It was from our class president, Aria Sterling. She had forwarded a video to me. The first part of the video showed the diary I had painstakingly written. Between the lines, it poured out a young girl’s sincere, green, and hidden affection. Then the video cut to Sterling Vance. He was leaning back, his long legs stretched out, looking bored. “Reading that trashy diary every day makes me sick. No wonder her grades are so bad; you don’t need a brain to be a clingy admirer.” He glanced casually at Aria, who was sitting not far away. “Compared to a pretty vase like Stella Starling, I much prefer a cool, intellectual type.” Aria kept her head down, reading her textbook, acting as if she hadn’t heard a thing. Sterling scoffed and walked over to her desk. He leaned over, placing both hands on the desk, trapping her between the desk and his arms. “So, my genius lady, are you going to keep rejecting me?” Aria looked up, pursing her lips, cool and stubborn. “Sterling, what do you take me for?” “You’re already with Stella. I won’t be the other woman.” Sterling raised an eyebrow. “Who said you’re the other woman?” Tears instantly welled up in Aria’s eyes, looking full of grievance. Sterling’s gaze softened. He ruffled her hair and explained gently. “I’m just playing around with Stella.” “If I didn’t provoke you, how could I force you to show your true feelings?” “If anyone is the third wheel, it’s Stella, not you.” … The video ended. I stared blankly at the phone screen. I was at a loss. What did Sterling mean? What did he mean by “just playing around” with me? 2 Before I could recover, Aria sent another voice message. “Stella, did you watch the video?” I took a deep breath. Clutching the phone, I wanted to demand an explanation. But my hands were trembling so much that I couldn’t type a single word. Aria’s voice messages came one after another. “I have your diary. Sterling gave it to me.” “Actually, Sterling has been chasing me for two years, but I wanted to focus on my studies and never agreed.” “I just didn’t expect him to get involved with you just to force me to admit my feelings.” “I’m really angry, but I have to admit, his tactic was very effective. I can no longer ignore his feelings.” “Sterling said you’re too love-struck and was afraid you couldn’t handle it if he told you directly. He wanted to break it to you slowly. But I think it’s better to rip off the bandage quickly. So Stella, I’m officially notifying you—” “Don’t have any delusions about Sterling. He belongs to me.” “We’ve already agreed to apply to Stanford together.” “I advise you to focus on your studies. The SATs are in a year. With your current grades, it’ll be hard for you to get into even a decent state college, right?” Aria’s voice was clear and cool, her pacing unhurried, her emotions calm and stable. She carried the unique confidence of a straight-A student. 3 Sterling had said similar things to me. My grades were lopsided. I excelled only in English and Creative Writing, having won several national writing competitions. But my other subjects were barely passable, and my Math was a complete disaster. If I was a natural underachiever, then Sterling was a natural genius. His grades were incredibly stable, always ranking in the top ten of our grade. The gap between us was like a chasm. But I was delusional. I studied day and night, wanting to apply to Stanford with Sterling. Sterling saw through my little ambition and laughed at me. “Why torture yourself?” “With your grades, forget about Stanford; you’ll struggle to get into a mediocre state school.” My heart stung, and my eyes couldn’t help but redden. He then came to comfort me. “Okay, okay, my bad. How about I tutor you to make up for it?” During that time, for the sake of tutoring, we were inseparable. I had attended cram schools and hired tutors, but Sterling was better than all of them. His explanations were clear, and he knew my weak points. Under his tutoring, my math scores actually improved significantly. When I got my report card, I excitedly hugged him and cried loudly. His eyes held a smile. But his gaze was wandering, landing somewhere in the distance. At that time, immersed in the joy of progress, I was oblivious. Only now did I realize. The direction he was looking at back then was clearly where Aria sat. Proactively helping me with tutoring. The intimate interactions. It was all an act. Sterling indeed never confessed to me. I thought we had a tacit understanding of mutual affection, just waiting for someone to break the silence. But in Sterling’s eyes, I was just a tool to make Aria jealous. 4 Just as I walked out of the hospital entrance after finishing my IV, I heard someone call my name. “Stella!” I looked back. Sterling and Hayes were standing under a huge oak tree. Standing together, the two of them were handsome in their own unique ways. Sunlight filtered through the branches, dappling light and shadow on them, like a scene from a teen drama, causing passersby to glance over repeatedly. I walked over slowly. Looking up, I stared straight at him. Noticing my gaze, he asked with amusement: “What? Is there something on my face?” I lowered my head and said nothing. Sterling suddenly leaned in close, examining me carefully. “Why are your eyes red? Like a little kid, did you cry from the shot?” Saying this, he took my hand and blew gently on the needle mark. “Let me blow on it for our little Stella. It won’t hurt after I blow on it.” I awkwardly pulled my hand back and asked in a muffled voice. “Where is my diary?” A trace of unnaturalness flashed in Sterling’s eyes, then he frowned and said. “It’s on the bookshelf at my house.” “Since you gave it to me, it’s mine. Why are you asking?” I didn’t expose him. Sterling took out the notes for the classes I missed today from his backpack and handed them to me. “Hayes took these notes. His handwriting is better than mine, and he marked the key points for you. Take a look yourself.” Hearing this, I glanced at Hayes, who had been standing silently by the side. Seeing me look at him, he smiled at me, his eyes curving. Sterling hooked his arm around Hayes’ shoulder and continued. “I won’t tutor you today. Hayes and I are going to play basketball tonight.” “I suddenly have something to do. You go play by yourself,” Hayes said calmly, pushing Sterling’s hand away.

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The day my stepbrother, Chase, was released from prison for a crime I committed, I went to see him. He was leaning against the wall of a dive bar, smoke curling from his lips as he unbuckled his belt. I reached out to help, but he grabbed my wrist, stopping me cold. His eyes were dark, his laugh bitter. “What, you think I’m sick? I’m not gonna touch my own stepsister.” I retreated, feeling the sting of his rejection. Later, I found solace in one of his friends. Chase caught us. The friend froze, terrified. Chase just clenched his jaw and walked away, pretending he hadn’t seen a thing. But the friend disappeared soon after. And Chase? He was done pretending. “I’ve waited eighteen years for you,” he growled, cornering me. “And you’re just gonna let anyone touch you? Like you don’t care?” His hand tangled in my hair, pulling me close. “I’m gonna kiss you until you forget everyone else.” 1 Chase got out of prison today. His crew was already waiting outside the gates, a convoy of trucks and muscle cars ready to pick him up. I didn’t even get a chance to talk to him before they whisked him away to a bar for a welcome-home party. I followed them. A childhood crush mixed with a heavy dose of guilt for him serving my time made it impossible to stay away. I saw him head for the bathroom and intercepted him in the hallway. He was wearing a dark jacket over a black tank top, cargo pants, and combat boots. His buzz cut was sharp, and the edge of a massive dragon tattoo peeked out from his shoulder. He walked with a swagger that said he owned the world. When he saw me, his expression soured. He took a drag from his cigarette and tried to brush past me. “Chase,” I called out. He stopped, raising an eyebrow. “What? Here to thank me for taking the fall?” I bit my lip and nodded. He scoffed. “How you gonna thank me?” I didn’t have words, so I reached out and put a hand on his waist. “Are you crazy?” He slapped my hand away. “I’m not into this.” My eyes welled up. “Why not? It’s not like we’re blood-related. We just grew up together.” “I don’t have money, Chase. This is all I have.” He laughed, a sharp, angry sound. “You think I need your money?” “You know how I feel…” I started. He ran a hand over his buzz cut, looking exasperated. “Look, I’m not an animal.” I turned my head, cheeks burning. “It wouldn’t matter if you were.” He heard me. He took a long drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly before he spoke. “Harper,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “Are you trying to seduce me? Because I swear, I will throw you into the ocean.” Is that a promise? I thought, bold all of a sudden. Action speaks louder than words. I reached for the top button of his shirt. 2 Before I could even undo one button, Chase slapped my hand away and buttoned it back up, his face like thunder. He buttoned it all the way to the top, choking himself. “Trying to strangle yourself so I can find a new man?” I teased. He gave a short, disbelief laugh. “Don’t just go around unbuttoning guys’ shirts, Harper. You’ll regret it.” I looked up at him. The buzz cut, the jacket, the sheer size of him. He was mesmerizing. My ears burned as I whispered, “Are you just ‘any guy’?” He snorted, pinning me against the wall with one hand. “Doesn’t matter. Don’t waste your time on me. I’m not interested.” He pushed off the wall and started to walk away, not looking back. One of his friends called out, “Chase! Someone’s here for you.” Over his shoulder, he tossed back, “Don’t waste your breath.” I looked up, but he was gone. I slumped into a corner booth, his words echoing in my head. Don’t waste your time. A sour feeling spread through my chest. My eyes burned, and tears started to fall. I downed a shot of whiskey, the burn a welcome distraction. Then I saw him. Chase was walking out, phone to his ear, laughing. “Damn, you missed me that much?” I followed him without thinking. I had to know why I wasn’t enough. Outside, a bright red sports car was idling. A woman with long, wavy hair and a tight dress was leaning against it. Chase was lighting her cigarette, their bodies almost touching. My nose stung. A tear splashed onto my hand, hot and sobering. Eighteen years of history, and it meant nothing compared to some random woman with a fast car. I wiped my eyes, clenched my fists, and turned to leave. The woman noticed me. She blew out a plume of smoke and nodded in my direction. “Chase, who’s the virgin?” Chase glanced over, a smirk playing on his lips. “That’s just my stepsister. Ignore her.” “Got a lot of stepsisters, don’t you?” she laughed. Hearing them joke about me made me snap. I marched over and slapped Chase across the face. Hard. Then, forcing tears into my eyes, I screamed, “Is one not enough for you? How many others are you hiding?” “Is this why you don’t come home at night? Because of her? Brother?” “…” The woman choked on her smoke. “Holy shit. You let her hit you, Chase?” “What’s going on? You just got out and you’re already juggling chicks?” I glared at him, lip trembling. Chase laughed, a genuine sound this time. He rubbed his jaw, eyes glinting. “Damn. I guess I better pay up on this debt tonight. You just wait.” My bravado evaporated. I pointed a finger at him, stammering, “You… you…” but nothing came out. I had played myself. The woman was loving it. “Chase still got it, huh?” “…” I didn’t think I’d see her again. Until… 3 I saw her at Chase’s new auto shop. Turns out, her dad had hired Chase to manage his fleet. The pay was incredible—enough to open ten shops like this one. But Chase had turned it down flat. “Tell your dad thanks,” he’d said, “but I don’t do well with bosses.” The shop was his dream. It was massive. Tonight, he was hosting a grand opening party. In the past, when we had no money, Chase would still save every penny to build his dream garage. It had everything: a gym, a pool table, a bar, a karaoke room. His friends had always wanted to see it, but he never let them. He hated the noise. I didn’t expect to see him tonight. But then someone yelled, “Holy crap, look who it is!” Chase walked in, wearing his signature black tank top and cargo pants. The dragon tattoo on his shoulder flexed with every movement. He owned the room. He was looking for someone, peeking into rooms as he passed. I quickly shut the door to the karaoke room. But it opened again. Chase stood there, looking at me and the guy I was with—one of his friends, Leo. He frowned. “Out.” His voice was low and raspy, like he’d just woken up. But it held an authority that no one questioned. Leo scrambled to apologize and left. The karaoke room was empty now, just the two of us. I took a nervous sip of my juice, coughed, and tried to act casual. “So, you decided to show up?” “What? Interrupting your date?” Chase was flipping his lighter open and closed, the flame dancing. I decided to push my luck. “Yeah, he’s cute, isn’t he?” Chase laughed, a sharp bark. He put a cigarette between his lips and lit it, inhaling deeply. His eyes were intense, stripping me bare. “I thought one was enough for you? I thought I wasn’t coming home?” “I thought you wanted me to pay my debts? What happened?” I choked on my juice, sputtering. My ears burned. “Chase, don’t be gross. If your future wife heard you, what would she think?” “Oh? You didn’t think about that when you were making a scene at the bar. Now you’re shy? Playing hard to get?” His arrogance was infuriating. If he wasn’t so damn hot, I’d punch him. I took a breath and forced a smile. “So, how are you going to pay your debt, big brother?” Two can play at this game. Chase paused mid-smoke. He took two quick drags, stubbed it out, and turned to leave. I spun around to stop him, but I tripped and fell onto the couch, pulling him down with me. I twisted my back. He landed on top of me. I couldn’t move. Chase seemed stunned. He put his hands under my arms to lift me, but it hurt too much. “Ow, stop. Can you not?” He had to adjust his grip. I whimpered. We were stuck like that for two minutes. I was pinned underneath him, my voice muffled against his chest. “Chase, are you enjoying this? Is that why you won’t let me up?” His jaw clenched, a vein popping in his forehead. “Enjoying you squirming around? You wish.” “Who knows? Maybe it’s your thing.”

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I grew up with Caleb Sterling. Fifteen years of friendship that blossomed into romance. I finally married him, believing we were destined for a happily ever after. I didn’t expect that on our very first wedding anniversary, he would fly across the ocean to find his “one that got away.” Furious, I chased after him to demand an explanation, only to be abandoned by him in a foreign bar, left to fend for myself. Months later, after enduring hell on earth, I escaped back to the States, covered in scars. I arrived just in time to find Caleb and his friends at a club, celebrating “The 191st Day Since Harper Vance Vanished.” He held a drink, laughing. “Every day I spent with Harper was nauseating. If it weren’t for her, Sienna and I would have been together years ago.” I decided to grant his wish. I turned to leave. But then, he fell to his knees, weeping, begging me to love him again. 1 When I returned to Chicago, Caleb Sterling was throwing a party. A banner hung outside the VIP booth: [Celebrating 191 Days of Freedom from Harper Vance]. Standing outside the door, I heard Caleb’s voice, lazy and dismissive. “Harper finally learned her lesson. Women need to be taught a thing or two.” “Harper’s temper was insane. Only you could tolerate that, Caleb.” “She used to be the Vance family heiress; everyone gave her a pass. Now that she’s broke, someone needed to humble her.” “Honestly, our lovely Sienna is the real MVP here. One move and she tamed Harper completely.” “The Vance family is bankrupt. Harper is going to cling to you even harder now, Caleb.” Caleb scoffed loudly. “She really is like a piece of gum stuck to my shoe. Every day I was with her, I felt physically sick.” Just as the words left his mouth, I pushed the door open. The rowdy atmosphere died instantly. I saw a mix of emotions in their eyes: surprise, contempt, resistance, and… shock. Their eyes widened in disbelief. The vibrant, proud Harper Vance of six months ago was gone. Standing before them was a skeletal figure, radiating the aura of someone already dead. Sienna Cole spoke first, her voice laced with feigned concern. “Harper? What happened to you? You look… terrible. Don’t just stand there, come in and sit.” I scanned the room. There was only one empty folding chair in the corner. Everyone else had their fixed spots. For instance, the seat next to Caleb now belonged to Sienna. I stood calmly. I didn’t scream or throw a fit like I used to whenever I saw Sienna getting too close to Caleb. Sienna—gentle, beautiful, understanding Sienna. She was their goddess, the group favorite. In the past, every time I made things difficult for her, they hated me a little more. It was laughable. I was the one who grew up with them, yet now I was the intruder. Sienna coughed lightly behind her hand. Caleb immediately frowned with worry. “Are you deaf?” he snapped at me. “Didn’t you hear Sienna? If you don’t want to come in, then get lost. Don’t leave the door open; she’ll catch a cold.” His voice was filled with the same old disgust and impatience. Six months. He had zero curiosity or concern about where I had been. I should have given up on him a long time ago. 2 I forced a smile. I reached into my bag and pulled out a manila envelope and a small box, sliding them across the table toward him. Inside the box was his proposal ring. To be accurate, it was a metal keyring he had casually taken off his car keys. It was too big, cheap, and rusting, but I had treated it like a diamond. Every time Sienna showed off the massive gems Caleb bought her, I told myself my keyring was more precious because it was a promise. How pathetic I was. If I had a real diamond, maybe I could have sold it to buy my father a decent grave plot. But thankfully, I didn’t want any of it anymore. The envelope contained the divorce papers. I had already signed them. Caleb’s face darkened. He pursed his lips, staring at me. Sienna suddenly gasped, covering her mouth as she stepped back. “Harper, your hands… what happened?” Everyone’s gaze shifted to my hands. The back of my hand was swollen, purple, and covered in a dense cluster of needle marks. It looked horrifying. I calmly pulled my hand back into my sleeve and looked at Caleb. “Caleb, the divorce papers are signed. I’m sorry for tying you down with this marriage all these years. You’re free now.” Caleb’s voice was icy. “Harper, what’s the play this time? Put away these cheap tactics. It’s disgusting.” “You sign, we divorce, and you never have to be disgusted again,” I said, turning to leave. “Fine! Great, Harper! You better be serious. Don’t you dare regret this, and don’t come crawling back like a pathetic dog begging to reconcile!” I didn’t stop. I didn’t look back. “See you at the courthouse.” Behind me, the sound of shattering glass echoed from the booth. 3 On our first wedding anniversary, Sienna posted a single sentence on social media: [I wish he was here.] Caleb immediately flew to Europe to be with her. Angry and unwilling to accept that she was the shadow over my marriage, I followed him. I found them in a bar, embracing intimately. When I confronted him, Caleb looked at me like I was his enemy. His words were daggers. “What right do you have to control me? If not for you, Sienna and I would have been together ages ago.” But I was the one dating him first. Sienna was the one who interfered, then dumped him, then came back. Why was it my fault? Blinded by rage, I smashed things. A shard of glass scratched Sienna’s finger. Panic-stricken, Caleb rushed her to the hospital, leaving me alone in a chaotic bar in a foreign country. That same night, back home, my father committed suicide by jumping off a building. I missed his final call because I was running for my life. I came back for two reasons: to bury my father, and to divorce Caleb. I lay on the bed in the small rental apartment, enduring the burning pain in my stomach. This tiny studio was the only asset left after the family bankruptcy. It was small, but it allowed me to sleep with dignity. 4 I was woken by violent banging on the door. My instinct was to curl into a ball inside the closet. It took me a moment to remember I was back in the US. I opened the door to find Caleb looking annoyed. “Are you dead? How could you not hear that?” He stopped mid-sentence, frowning as he looked me over. “Why do you look so pale? You’re sweating. Are you sick?” Last night in the dim club, he only saw that I was thin. Today, in the daylight, I looked like a terminally ill patient. “Harper, what is wrong with you?” I shook my head. “Did you sign the papers? If you signed, let’s go to the courthouse.” Caleb’s face turned stormy. “Enough! Harper, I’ve tolerated you long enough. Haven’t you acted out enough? Today it’s divorce, tomorrow will you claim you have cancer just to get my attention? It’s useless! I don’t care what you do. I will never love you!” “Good. After the divorce, I promise never to appear in front of you again.” I pulled out my phone to book an appointment. Caleb snatched the phone and smashed it onto the floor. I immediately dropped to my knees, trying to reassemble the shattered pieces. This phone was a gift from a woman in the bed next to mine, just before she died. Caleb threw his wallet at my head. “Don’t act like a beggar to get my pity. Buy a new phone. Keep the change. And don’t use ‘I don’t have a phone’ as an excuse to pester me.” He stormed off. I looked at the cash in the wallet and laughed a dry, tearless laugh. If only he had given me this money six months ago… I wouldn’t have had to run, I wouldn’t have had to sell my body to science just to survive. I didn’t use his money. I found an old brick phone in the apartment. I called Caleb’s assistant to come pick up the wallet. “Mrs. Sterling,” the assistant said awkwardly. “I’m in a critical meeting. Could you bring it to the office?” In the past, Caleb forbade me from entering his company. Even for urgent documents, he’d send someone home rather than let me visit. Now that we were divorcing, I didn’t want to overstep. “You’re busy. I’ll figure something else out.”

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I chased Gabriel Stone shamelessly for four years. He was fed up. With a single order, my family fearfully sent me abroad. He said, “I don’t care what it takes, just keep her away from me! Otherwise, don’t blame me for being ruthless.” Drugs, hypnosis, electroshock… These methods were truly effective. I forgot the feeling of loving him. Even my memory of him became blurred. Finally, he relented and allowed me to return to the States. Wherever he appeared, I actively avoided him. Because my mother told me that this god-like man was someone I couldn’t afford to offend. Seeing him kissing my sister, I secretly took out my phone to take a picture. His gaze was fierce and cold. Terrified, I shrank into the corner, stammering: “I’m sorry, I just thought… you two looked so perfect together, so shippable…” I don’t know why. But the eyes of the man who usually hid his emotions trembled violently. 1 Since returning from Europe, I’ve felt like my brain isn’t working right. I spend most of the day sleeping. I think I might be sick. Mom comforted me, saying not to worry. “You’ve always been a sleepyhead since you were little, unlike your sister who is so disciplined.” “It doesn’t matter, everyone’s constitution is different. If you’re sleepy, just sleep.” I poured a large cup of black coffee, trying to wake myself up. But it had no effect. I rubbed my temples, feeling distressed, when the front door opened. The butler announced: “Miss Aria has brought Mr. Stone back.” Joy immediately surged in Dad and Mom’s eyes. Dad eagerly went out to welcome them. Mom was about to follow but suddenly remembered something. She looked at me with difficulty: “Lily, you…” I nodded sensibly: “I know, Mr. Stone doesn’t like me.” “Sister’s engagement is important. I’ll go upstairs first. I need to catch up on sleep anyway.” Mom looked at me, yawning, with relief. I took a few steps, then suddenly remembered I hadn’t taken my coffee cup. Wait, I wanted to try drinking another cup. The moment I turned around, I inadvertently met a cold gaze. Almost instinctively. I forgot the coffee cup and ran for my life. As if running late would cost me my life. I ran into my room and locked the door. Then I braced a table against the door. Only then did my heart, hanging in my throat, settle down. I couldn’t explain why, but seeing Gabriel Stone gave rise to an intense emotion: Fear. Mom said this was because Gabriel was a natural-born ruler, and anyone with him would feel oppressed. “Especially a natural weakling like you.” Mom told me not to appear in front of Mr. Stone. “Mr. Stone, he doesn’t like people who look cute but are actually stupid.” “His gaze will only stay on excellent girls like your sister.” “What status does the Stone family hold? If we can become related to the Stone family through marriage, it would save us lifetimes of struggle.” “Lily, you need to be sensible.” I was very sensible. So, every time Gabriel came to our house, I actively avoided him. Mom was very pleased with this and sometimes patted my head. This was the greatest reward for me, and I cherished it very much. So, I never dared to tell Mom. Even if she didn’t say it, I would actively avoid Gabriel. His aura was too overwhelming. I felt very uncomfortable. Very suppressed. As if my heart was being squeezed hard by someone. There was also an inexplicable sourness. Laughter came from downstairs. Amidst this laughter, I fell asleep. 2 When I woke up again, the sky was dim. It was already evening. The villa was very quiet. Gabriel must have left. I was hungry. I opened the door, wearing a white princess nightgown, and went downstairs barefoot to find something to eat. The floor was cold, and I felt my brain clear up a tiny bit. I was standing by the kitchen counter heating a slice of bread. The study door suddenly opened. Gabriel, in a sharp suit, walked out of the study. Under the warm yellow light, his contours were more three-dimensional, his figure upright. His features were like a sculpture. Like a god descending with the power of life and death. But he was too cold. His temperament was cold, his eyes were cold. Even the lead-gray cufflinks of his suit gleamed coldly. Separated by the long living room, his gaze fell lightly on me. His thin lips pressed into a straight line. Full of pressure. Almost instantly. I came back to my senses. Holding my head, I squatted under the dining table. Hiding myself clumsily. Sister’s light steps flew down the stairs. She ran into Gabriel’s arms, hugging his arm and shaking it. “Leaving so soon? You haven’t even seen my new stills yet. Stay for dinner, okay?” Sister’s temperament had always been distant and cold. But now she showed a young girl’s charm, her voice sweet and pleasant. Like a beautiful bird. With bright feathers and a melodious song. Gabriel didn’t speak; he looked coldly at me, shivering under the table. Sister’s smile fell. She bit her lip and said: “If you’re busy, another day is fine too. Let’s go, I’ll walk you out.” Gabriel stood still. The pressure on him was so heavy, as if he wasn’t listening to Sister at all. Sister opened her mouth but dared not make a sound. After a long time, he spoke, his voice deep: “Okay, I’ll leave after dinner.” Surprise crossed Dad and Sister’s faces simultaneously. Gabriel curled his lips slightly: “What are you afraid of? Didn’t she forget everything?” Gabriel walked to the dining table with his long legs and squatted down. His suit pants outlined the firm lines of his legs. “Lily, do you still recognize me?” I looked up timidly, then lowered my eyes, not daring to meet his gaze. I nodded slowly. But my fingertips and toes suddenly felt a needle-like pain. Like a stress reaction. I screamed. I closed my eyes tightly. Shaking my head desperately. “I don’t know you! Don’t hit me! I don’t know you!” 3 At the dinner table, the atmosphere was weird. Dad and Mom tried hard to liven up the mood. But Gabriel just ate quietly. His posture was noble. He had no intention of speaking. It made Dad and Mom’s enthusiasm very awkward. Sister had a dark face and said nothing. I dared not pick up food, only eating small bites of rice. Finally getting through this meal, Dad and Mom seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. Watching Gabriel’s figure about to leave, I suddenly remembered something and called out to him: “Mr. Stone, wait a moment.” Everyone looked at me in surprise. Including Gabriel. His brows furrowed slightly, obviously impatient. “Just a moment. Okay?” I gestured a one-centimeter distance with my fingers. Saying that, I ran upstairs and soon ran down holding a tin box. Everyone’s eyes were locked on me. I opened the lid of the tin box and asked: “Mr. Stone, this is yours, right?” On top of the tin box were over a dozen ID photos. Some were one inch, some two inches. Obviously not obtained through legitimate channels. Because some photos had steel stamps, some had solidified glue on the back. Clearly pryed from various places. The Gabriel in the photos was younger than now, with a few traces of greenness between his brows. But his features were already very superior. Besides the ID photos, there were some messy things. Candy wrappers, cigarette boxes, used pen refills, crumpled test papers, etc. Gabriel looked at me with a burning gaze. I gritted my teeth before daring to continue: “I found it in a corner of my closet. I don’t know who put it there. But I recognized your photos, so it should be yours, right?” Gabriel’s eyes moved slightly, seemingly with a bit of inquiry. I felt shorter under his gaze. My shoulders dropped. He said: “Not mine, throw it away.” “Oh, okay.” I tossed it into the trash can beside me and was about to go upstairs. A hint of danger suddenly appeared in Gabriel’s eyes. “Lily, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?” He called out to me. I was puzzled: “What?” He seemed to see through everything, his eyes mocking, and sneered. “Nothing. Good acting. Don’t do it next time. I’m not interested.” With that, he walked away. 4 Mom closed the door. Sister held it in all night and finally burst into tears on the table. Dad, heartbroken, couldn’t help but slap me. I was caught off guard and fell to the ground awkwardly. My head hit the corner of the table. Buzzing with pain. Mom hugged Sister’s shoulders heartbrokenly and said to me: “Lily, don’t blame your father for being harsh. Tonight, you really disappointed us too much!” “Did you forget Mom’s repeated instructions?” “Why did you go downstairs without permission? Why did you talk to him? Are you that cheap?!” Blood seeped from the wound on my forehead and flowed into my eyes. A blood mist appeared before my eyes, blurring my vision. Covering the wound, I tried to explain: “I’m sorry, I thought he left. I didn’t mean to…” Sister suddenly grabbed my collar and screamed hysterically: “Running downstairs dressed like that, deliberately dangling your bare feet in front of him, and holding a broken box trying to get his attention, Lily, who are you trying to seduce?!” “Do you know Gabriel’s status? Do you know your own status? How dare you have designs on him?” “Do you know that just because of your indiscretion tonight, I might lose him?” “Can’t you live without a man? You even have to seduce your own sister’s boyfriend!” With that, Sister opened the door and walked out. Mom hurriedly pulled Sister: “Aria, where are you going so late?” Aria looked at me hatefully: “In this house, it’s either me or her. If she’s here, I’m not. I’m leaving!” Soon, the sound of a car starting came from the garage. Mom sighed deeply. Dad slammed the door in anger. I spoke softly: “I’ll stay out tonight, okay?” Mom hesitated: “Where can you go?” “I’ll stay at a hotel. I stayed in hotels a lot abroad, I’m familiar with them.” Back then, I couldn’t stand the inhuman torture, so whenever I had the chance, I escaped from the hospital. Staying in the cheapest motels. Avoiding the painful treatments they arranged for me. But Sister always found me quickly and took me back. Mom was silent, then nodded after a while: “You were indeed wrong tonight, so go stay out. Mom will bring you back when your sister calms down.”

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Five years at this company, and my salary is still stuck at $3,800 a month. Everyone calls me a pathetic lapdog, unable to leave my female boss, Claire Chen. I count on my fingers; this is the tenth time I’ve asked for a raise. Her face is still cold, impatient. “How many times have I told you? The company isn’t doing well right now. Can’t we talk about this at the end of the year?” My colleagues whisper about me. “See that? That’s the end of an old lapdog! Even after being treated like this, he still can’t leave Claire.” The next day, a new intern arrived, a returnee from overseas, with a salary of $25,000. On his first day, Claire put him right at my desk. Only then did I realize that my request for a raise had offended her. In a fit of anger, I turned around and jumped to a competitor company as a vice president. I’m done being this old lapdog! 01 “Claire, the contract with Runyuan Company has been signed. I’m asking for a raise!” “Can’t you see I’m busy? Who let you in? Asking for a raise just because you closed one deal? I don’t like employees who bargain!” I forced a smile and repeated it. This was her own promise to me. She said that if I could close this project with Runyuan Company, she would double my salary. Before I could finish, she looked at me with impatience. “Didn’t I tell you? The company is facing the pressure of going public right now. It’s good enough that I haven’t laid anyone off. You should be secretly happy that you still have a job. Where else can you find a good boss like me?” It was the same old rhetoric. I couldn’t help but remind her, “But, boss, my salary has been only $3,800 for all these years…” “I’m giving you $3,800, and you’re still not satisfied? With your work level, who would want you if you left my company? Don’t think that just because you closed a few deals, the company can’t do without you, understand?” Claire waved her hand as if she were shooing away a fly, wanting to end this unpleasant topic as soon as possible. I suppressed my anger and explained, “Claire, I’ve always been grateful to you, but I also need to eat and live. With this salary, I really don’t have enough!” She poked her finger at my forehead in anger. “Jiang Yuan, don’t always think about getting a raise. After so many years, why haven’t I given you a raise? Isn’t it because you haven’t done well enough in some places, and your contribution to the company isn’t big enough?” When Claire said my contribution to the company wasn’t big enough, I couldn’t help but sneer out loud. I’ve been with the company for five years. To close deals, I don’t know how many times I’ve drunk with clients, how many times I’ve drunk until my stomach bled. If it weren’t for that special feeling for Claire, I would have chosen to leave the company long ago. Now, she denied me with a single sentence, which couldn’t help but chill my heart. Seeing me stunned in place, she looked at me impatiently and said, “Alright, I still have things to do. Next month’s salary will increase by $200!” $200? Do you really think I’m a beggar? Back at my desk, several female colleagues started whispering. “I say Jiang Yuan is just a lapdog. Being humiliated by Claire like that, he doesn’t dare to fart.” A girl covered her mouth and laughed. “That’s right. For so many years, he’s been following Claire around like a dog without a mind of his own. Can Claire even look at him? It’s really a toad wanting to eat swan meat. He doesn’t even take a look at himself in the mirror!” I clenched my fists, suppressed my anger, and walked back to my desk quietly. As soon as I got home after work, I received a call from Claire. “Why did you leave after work? We’re about to sign a contract with Shengshi Group. Don’t you know? Have you done the proposal?” “Claire, didn’t you ask Dong Xin to coordinate that proposal? Besides, if I do it now, I’m afraid it will be too late!” Before I could finish, Claire yelled at me. “How many times have I told you to cooperate with Dong Xin? What’s the matter with you? Do you really think my company is a place to loaf around and wait for death?” “Claire, that’s not my duty. Besides, the projects under my command are also rushing to catch up with the schedule. I really don’t have time…” 02 “Jiang Yuan, can’t you stand in my shoes and think about me? I’m tired to death every day. Can’t you be considerate of me?” The sound of men clinking glasses came from Claire’s side. I gritted my teeth, thinking that it wasn’t easy for her, and decided to compromise one more time. So, I kindly reminded her, “Rest early. It’s not good to drink with the opposite sex so late!” Before I finished speaking, Claire yelled violently, “Jiang Yuan, what are you? You’re bossing me around? Let me tell you, if it weren’t for the fact that you’re an old employee, I would have let you leave the company long ago. Do you believe it? If the company leaves you, there are a lot of people better than you waiting to come to my company!” After speaking, she seemed to hang up the phone angrily. I had to believe it. The next day, colleagues whispered that a returnee intern was coming to the company, with a monthly salary of $25,000, which was several times mine. This time, I finally couldn’t help it and barged into her office again. “Claire, a colleague just said that you hired an intern, and his salary is several times mine, right?” I tried my best to make my tone sound natural. Claire snorted coldly and said, “Do I need to report to you when I hire someone? Don’t think that just because you are a veteran of the company, I have to listen to you. Don’t you take a look at yourself in the mirror? You’re almost thirty, and you haven’t achieved anything.” Holding back my anger, my voice trembled uncontrollably, “But why is he only here, with a monthly salary of $25,000, while I only have a monthly salary of $3,800 until now?” She said impatiently, “You don’t even understand this. Gu Yunze is a returnee student, the exact talent our company needs. Which company doesn’t lack such talent now? What do you understand!” I bit my lip and asked softly, “So, is this the reason why you won’t give me a raise?” Claire slapped the table angrily and said, “Jiang Yuan, are you sick? I am the president of the company. What kind of person I want to use has nothing to do with you. If you want to work, work. If you don’t want to work, I don’t welcome you.” I asked with final hope, “Claire, I’m asking for a raise. If it continues like this, I really can’t go on.” Claire sneered, “Do you not understand human language? Starting next month, I’ll give you a raise of $200. Are you deaf? Also, what kind of bullshit is this proposal you wrote? Take it back and rewrite it for me!” She slapped the proposal on my face, and my cheek suddenly hurt from the blow. I knew she was deliberately finding fault, and this proposal was done a few days ago. I went back to the department resentfully. Some colleagues looked up at me, and many people had sarcastic smiles on their lips. 03 Claire’s secretary, Yuan Xiaoling, saw me and said arrogantly, “Jiang Yuan, Claire just told me to arrange a new desk for you immediately.” “Arrange a new desk? Why?” Yuan Xiaoling smiled sinisterly and commanded two colleagues to carry a small table over and place it next to my desk. Where is this a new desk? It’s clearly an intern’s desk. Seeing me silent, Yuan Xiaoling hooked her lips and pouted, “This is the new intern, Gu Yunze. He’s a high-achieving returnee student. Claire wants you to guide him first, and later you will also hand over the work in your hands to him!” I clenched my fists and said unconvinced, “Why should I guide him!” Yuan Xiaoling sneered, “This is Claire’s arrangement. I am just conveying Claire’s words. If you don’t agree, you can get out of our company immediately. I think if you lose your job, you’re afraid you’ll have to beg on the street!” Before the words fell, many colleagues laughed. Yuan Xiaoling had only been here for less than a year, but she liked to take a chicken feather as an order. She was usually bossy to us old employees or liked to report on us behind the leaders’ backs. After Gu Yunze sat down, he said to me unceremoniously, “Your name is Jiang Yuan, right? Follow me and pay attention to work efficiency. You should immediately prepare a material for me to deal with Yunhao Company. I want to connect with them.” “By the way, is it Yunhao Company? I am Gu Yunze. I will follow up on this project in the future. Oh, that Jiang Yuan, is now my follower!” Gu Yunze held his mobile phone and acted like a company boss. He didn’t even know that President Zhou of Yunhao Company hated others to play tricks on him the most. I couldn’t help but smile secretly. Just wait for this project to fail! Gu Yunze started yelling again, “Who is that? Help me pour a glass of water, and that initial design proposal, have you finished it!” I was about to explain when Yuan Xiaoling looked at me nonchalantly and said, “That Jiang Yuan, Claire asked you to go to her office. She has something to tell you!” After speaking, she still looked at me with a gloating expression, while Gu Yunze smiled even more proudly. Sure enough, Claire said with a straight face, throwing the folder on my face, “What’s the matter with you? You are in charge of this project. Now Yunhao Company doesn’t want to cooperate with us. Look at what you’ve done!” 04 Forcing myself to endure the stinging pain on my cheek, I explained, “Claire, this is Gu Yunze’s responsibility!” Claire snorted coldly, “Didn’t I tell you? Let you guide him. How did you guide him? When something goes wrong, you want to shift the responsibility to others. You idiot. Does the company pay you to do stupid things?” I held back my anger and was so angry that I couldn’t say a word. Gu Yunze also scolded from the side, “Claire, this is all his arrangement!” After speaking, Gu Yunze still looked at me with unkind intentions. Claire also stared at me angrily, “Do you have any sense of responsibility? When something goes wrong, you push the blame to the intern. Don’t get paid this month. Gu Yunze has a high academic qualification and good work performance. He is promoted to manager of the marketing department!” Gu Yunze nodded quickly and said, “Thank you, Claire. I will definitely work harder!” Claire nodded with satisfaction, “This is our company’s competent employee, especially some old employees. They should correct their positions. If they don’t work hard every day, I’ll immediately let him pack up and get out!”. After speaking, Claire also looked at me purposefully. A few days later, Gu Yunze threw the project contract with Tenghai Group to me. “You go and connect with Tenghai Group. If this project fails, don’t think about working here!” I sneered, “Manager Gu, you followed up on this project. Now you throw it to me. Why!” Gu Yunze didn’t expect me to say that. He was stunned, and his face suddenly turned ugly. He widened his eyes in disbelief, and his tone was sharp, “I am your leader now. If I ask you to do it, you do it. Do you still want to stay in the company!” Claire appeared behind me and also said impatiently, “If he asks you to do it, you do it. Do I have to arrange you to agree? In the company, Gu Yunze’s words represent my words. Do you not want to work in the company?”. I almost laughed when I heard this. I asked her with a sneer, “Claire, how can such an important thing be given to me? I’m afraid I’m not capable enough to do it well!” Claire didn’t expect me to say that. Her face was distorted with anger. “You are working for the company, not for you to be picky here. If you don’t go, get out immediately!” Seeing me silent, Claire became anxious and immediately changed her words, “Jiang Yuan, you are also an old employee of the company. Don’t you know how difficult it is for me?” “If this contract cannot be signed, how much loss will it bring to our company? You have worked in the company for so many years. Can you think about it for me?” I knew that if I didn’t agree to Claire’s request this time, the company’s capital chain would be broken. I still softened and agreed again.

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Everyone thought I was secretly in love with Chase Sterling. So when he lost a round of Truth or Dare, the crowd roared, pressuring me to kiss the star athlete from the rival university in his place. My breath hitched in my throat. “Come on, Elara. It’s just a kiss, it won’t kill you.” “Yeah, don’t worry. Chase will understand.” Chase leaned back, looking at me with that signature lazy, arrogant smirk. “Yeah, Elara. Do me a solid, will you?” He was betting on me refusing. He knew I was conservative, the quiet girl who never stepped out of line. But I lowered my head and whispered, “Fine.” Chase’s smile faltered instantly. His expression darkened. “Fine then. Three seconds. Not a millisecond less.” “See? I told you she’d do anything for Chase.” “Chase has her trained well.” Ignoring their jeers, I stood up and walked slowly toward Liam Thorne. I stood on my tiptoes, leaned in, and pressed my lips against his. 1 Chase Sterling was used to running the show. He’d seen it all. But tonight, in the private VIP room of the restaurant, he lost a game and picked “Truth.” Someone asked him if, in the three years we’d known each other, he had ever felt a spark for me. everyone leaned in, eager for the gossip. Chase paused for a second, then burst out laughing. “Who? Elara?? A spark? You’re kidding, right?” The room erupted in laughter. Only two people at the table remained silent. Me, sitting on the far edge of the booth. And Liam Thorne, sitting right next to Chase. Liam was the captain of the basketball team at the university next door. Tonight’s dinner was organized by Chase after their game. I had practically begged him to let me tag along. I hadn’t said a word all night, feeling completely out of place. Eventually, the group moved on to drinking and games. Chase, lounging in his chair, lost again. This time, he picked “Dare.” The card read: Kiss the person to your left for three seconds. To his left was Liam. Everyone looked at Liam. He didn’t react, just calmly continued eating his appetizers. Chase threw an arm around Liam’s shoulder. “Bro, you don’t mind if I kiss you, right?” Liam, known for being cold and distant, paused his fork. He offered a half-smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Actually, I do mind.” The crowd started hooting. “Chase, man, Liam doesn’t swing that way. Just get a girl to sub in for you.” “Let Elara do it.” “She’d do anything for you, right?” I stayed silent. Chase looked at me, his eyes dancing with mischief. “Elara, help me out?” He was so sure I’d say no. “Fine,” I said softly. The room went quiet. Chase’s face dropped. “Okay. Three seconds.” I walked over to Liam. His face was flawless. It felt like a crime to touch him and ruin that perfection. My gaze drifted from his sharp jawline to his lips. Wait, did Chase specify where to kiss? He didn’t. So, cheek or lips… it didn’t matter, right? I bent down, intending to aim for his cheek, but at the last moment, I turned and pressed my lips firmly against his. I felt Liam’s long lashes flutter against my skin. His Adam’s apple bobbed. The room exploded. “Whoa! Elara!” “Three seconds! Count it!” “3.” “2.” “2.5.” “2.3.” Liam’s lips were incredibly soft. My entire body was trembling with nerves. “2.15…” Chase couldn’t take it anymore. He stood up abruptly, breaking the countdown. “Three seconds are up. Done.” He yanked me back by my arm, putting distance between Liam and me. Sensing Chase’s foul mood, the group quieted down and awkwardly went back to their food. 2 On the drive back, the silence in the car was suffocating. Chase stared straight ahead at the road before suddenly speaking. “Elara, you were getting back at me, weren’t you?” I blinked, pulling myself out of my thoughts. “What?” “You saw me kissing that girl outside the dorms last week, didn’t you? So you used Liam to get revenge? You’re so petty. That was just a fling.” Kissing? I recalled vaguely that I had gone to drop off some notes for Chase a week ago. I did see him making out with a stunning girl by his car. It was loud and public. Very on-brand for Chase Sterling—wild and unattached. But I hadn’t felt a thing. I had told Chase before that I didn’t like him. He just never believed me. 3 When I was ten, my family went bankrupt. My father fled the country to escape debt, and shortly after, my mother went abroad with a friend. My uncle took me in. By then, my uncle had remarried into the wealthy Sterling family. He was Chase’s stepfather. I moved into the Sterling estate. Chase was my age, but he was a terror. He loved to tease me, prank me, and order me around. After six months, I was done putting up with him. Chase sensed my defiance. He threw a stack of cash at me with a sneer. “Elara, you’re broke, right? Be my personal assistant. I’ll pay you a salary.” He wasn’t wrong. I had no one. I couldn’t rely on my uncle forever; he was already walking on eggshells in the Sterling household. I needed money. Money meant freedom. Money meant a safety net. At first, Chase knew I stuck around for the cash. But eventually, he convinced himself I was actually in love with him. It started in our sophomore year of high school. Chase and Liam lived in the same luxury gated community and went to the same private school. I went to the public school on the other side of town. I only came back to the Sterling estate on weekends. When I heard Chase had a game against Liam, I asked if I could come. Chase eyed me suspiciously. “I thought you had to study? You said you weren’t going out.” “I’m not too busy this week,” I lied. Chase leaned in, invading my personal space. “My dad said you’ve been pulling all-nighters studying. You came back just for my game?” His eyes lit up with narcissistic realization. “You like me, don’t you? Wow, Elara, get a grip!” I waved my hands frantically. “No, you misunderstood, I don’t…” Chase ignored me, already dialing his best friend. “Dude, you were right. Elara is totally into me. Her grades dropped three spots this week because she’s distracted, but she still came to watch me play. Dinner’s on me.” I found out later his friends had bet that I wasn’t just doing it for the money. At the court, I didn’t look at Chase once. My eyes were glued to Liam. He wore a light-colored jersey. His hands were strong, his movements graceful. When he jumped for a shot, his jersey lifted, revealing toned abs. I kept my head down, terrified someone would catch me staring. Nobody would ever link someone like me to someone like Liam. Nobody knew about the summer I was fifteen. I used to sneak out at night to go through the recycling bins in the rich neighborhood. Rich people threw away amazing things. Designer bags with tiny scratches, clothes with tags still on, electronics. I could sell them for good money. One night, at the last house on the block—Liam’s house—I saw something glinting in the storm drain near the curb. It was a ring. I spent twenty minutes fishing it out with a stick. Just as I grabbed it, the front door opened. Liam ran out, wearing silk pajamas, looking panicked. He was tall, clean, and smelled like expensive soap. I was holding a trash bag and covered in grime. I turned bright red. He saw the ring in my hand and let out a huge breath. He looked at me without a hint of disgust. “I’m so sorry,” he said, breathing hard. “Could I buy that ring back from you? My parents were fighting and… it got thrown out. I thought it was gone.” That was the first time Liam Thorne really saw me. But I had known him since I moved in. He was the golden boy. Even my aunt, who hated everyone, praised him. He was everything Chase wasn’t—polite, disciplined, brilliant. I handed him the ring. It was grimy from the drain, so I wiped it with a tissue from my pocket. “Here.” “Thank you. Wait here, let me get my phone, I’ll transfer you…” “No need,” I mumbled. I grabbed my bag of “treasures” and ran into the night. I felt ashamed of the difference between us. But that night, I made a promise to myself. One day, I would stand in front of him as an equal. I started secretly following his life. I went to every game he played against Chase. I found out which city he wanted to go to for college. He became my goal. While chasing that goal, I fixed myself. That year, I cracked the top three in my class. For the first time, teachers looked at me with respect. Only Chase thought I was doing it for him. When I nagged him to study (per my uncle’s request), he thought it was love. When I went to games, he thought it was love. When I endured his pranks for my paycheck, he thought it was love. I stopped trying to explain. After graduation, I got into a university in Boston, right next to Liam’s Ivy League school. Surprisingly, Chase followed us to Boston, attending a different college nearby. During freshman year, I didn’t see Chase much. But sophomore year, the inter-collegiate games started up. I went to every single one. Chase told his friends he’d never seen a girl so clingy.

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I had the worst luck in the world. During a live-streamed audition for a dating reality show, my dress was lifted by a gust of sea wind, exposing me to the entire internet. The screenshots went viral instantly. I was the laughingstock of the year. But that humiliating accident somehow “awakened” a paralyzed billionaire who hadn’t felt desire in years. His younger brother offered me eighty million dollars on the spot. The job? “Spend his birthday with him.” I signed the contract and became his private companion. Every day, I walked past him in high heels. He could look, but he couldn’t touch. But the one who went crazy first wasn’t him. It was his brother. 1 I swear I must have been cursed. My flashing incident was trending #1. As soon as my stilettos hit the red carpet, a gust of wind off the Pacific lifted my white skirt, Marilyn Monroe style, but without the grace. The producers didn’t cut the feed fast enough. The comments section exploded. “That innocent vibe is killer!” “Is she here to date or to commit a crime?” “Wife material!” I stood there frozen, the sound of shutters clicking like gunfire around me. I wanted to die. The worst part was, I didn’t even want to be there. I was filling in for my childhood best friend, Chloe. She had a fever and a swollen face, so she shoved me into the dangerous white dress. “Just stand there for me! You’re so conservative you radiate holy light. They definitely won’t pick you! Just do it!” I shouldn’t have listened to her. Three hours later, I was curled up on a deserted stretch of Malibu beach, burying my face in my knees. Last week, I got laid off. Yesterday, my boyfriend of seven years dumped me. He said I was as exciting as a dusty Bible in a convent, then slept with a girl he just met nineteen times in three days. And today, the whole world had seen my underwear. “Excuse me.” A gentle, unfamiliar male voice broke the silence. I looked up. A young man stood there in a crisp white shirt, smiling perfectly. “Hi, I’m Ethan Vance. I’d like to talk to you.” He pointed behind him. At the end of the wooden boardwalk, a silver-grey wheelchair sat in the shadows. The man in the wheelchair wore a dark black shirt. His features were sharp as a knife, his eyes cold as ice. But when his gaze landed on me, his pupils dilated—shock, delight, and a terrifying hint of… greed. Before I could refuse, Ethan ushered me into a black sedan. The leather seats smelled of expensive cologne. The wheelchair was folded in the trunk. The man, Sterling Vance, stared at me the whole ride. He looked like he was dissecting a struggling butterfly. Suddenly, he spoke. “I remember every angle of your skirt lifting.” My face burned. I reached for the door handle, but Ethan tossed a thick document onto my lap. Agreement for Psychological Stress-Induced Physiological Rehabilitation Companionship. 42 pages. It detailed everything: appear within his visual range daily, wear “elegant yet alluring” attire, maintain eye contact for no less than 20 seconds, provide physical comfort if necessary to stabilize mood, guide physiological recovery… “You want me to be a fluffer?” I laughed angrily. “A companion,” Ethan corrected softly. “Don’t misunderstand.” He wrote a check. Ten million dollars. One month. Until his brother’s birthday. As long as I “appeared as I did today,” he guaranteed Sterling wouldn’t touch me. Of course, supplementary agreements could be signed if needed. It sounded even more perverse. My phone buzzed. It was my dad’s assistant: “Miss Harper, the company’s funding chain broke. We’re short eighty million. Your dad is threatening to jump off the roof.” I closed my eyes and whispered, “I’ll sign. But I want eighty million.” “Eighty million? Miss, did you read the part where he won’t touch you under the basic agreement?” “Doesn’t that depend on my skills?” I shot back. “A woman elegant, charming, and innocent enough to make your brother lose control with a single look.” “Deal. Not just companionship. If you cure his physiological disorder, you get eighty million.” Ethan smiled. “Until July 14th, you are my brother’s… exclusive gift.” 2 When I officially moved into the Vance estate, I realized it wasn’t a house. It was a fortress. Face ID entry, sensor elevators, private security guards… Sterling lived on the top floor of the main wing. The whole space was sealed off like a palace. As the “Special Companion,” I lived one floor below him. So close, yet worlds apart. The most absurd part was the man who showed up at my door, claiming to be my training coach. “Hello, darling~” The man wore a pink polka-dot shirt and oversized red sunglasses. “I’m Wyatt. I’m here to turn you into a weapon of mass seduction.” I stared at his flamboyance, speechless. “…” “Today we start with Lesson One: Sexy Body Language!” Wyatt clicked a laser pointer at a PowerPoint presentation. “Topic: How to give a man heart palpitations without triggering a sexual harassment lawsuit while walking.” “This… this is too much…” I wanted to quit. “Quit and pay the breach of contract fee. Eighty million,” Wyatt sang, holding up eight fingers. “Come on, put on this dress and walk ten meters.” He tossed me a cream-colored lace dress. It was even more revealing than the one Chloe gave me. I changed, my hands trembling. Wyatt shouted from the hall, “Don’t walk too steady! Be like a willow in the wind… like you just finished a tango and want to collapse but can’t. Rebellious but weak.” I took a deep breath and walked from the end of the corridor, pinching the hem of the dress. But my heel slipped on the polished floor, and I nearly wiped out. “Stop!” Wyatt lunged forward. “You look like a drunk toddler, not a seductress!” “You do it then!” I snapped. “I teach, I don’t test. If I were a woman, you wouldn’t have this job.” As we argued, a soft whirring sound came from the other end of the hall. Sterling’s wheelchair stopped silently at the top of the stairs. He was wearing a dark grey shirt today, buttoned all the way up. His face was pale and ascetic. He stared at me without speaking, but his knuckles were white as he gripped the armrests. I realized I was still wearing the “training dress.” My heart skipped a beat. “Walk again,” Sterling said suddenly, his voice raspy. I froze. “What?” “Those steps you just took.” His gaze locked onto my thigh, visible through the lace. “Do it again.” The air solidified for three seconds. Wyatt grabbed my arm and hissed in my ear, “Eighty million! Don’t forget the eighty million! Walk!” I gritted my teeth, went back to the end of the hall, turned, and walked toward him step by step. I looked up, trying to mimic the eye contact technique Wyatt taught me: Glance, look away, then look back with hesitation. Sterling watched me, his expression growing colder by the second. When I reached him, he suddenly said, “In the future, don’t look at me like that when you walk.” “You asked me to walk!” I laughed in disbelief. “Walking is allowed,” his eyes darkened. “Looking is not.” “What do you want from me?” I whispered. Sterling lowered his eyes, slowly turning his wheelchair around. His voice sounded like it was being dragged out of his chest. “People who play with fire… should be afraid of getting burned.” He left. His back was cold enough to freeze the air. Wyatt whispered in my ear, “Congrats. He’s showing symptoms.” “What symptoms?” “Physiological reaction!” He looked ready to dance. “Oh my god, I can see you counting cash in the Maldives already!” I rubbed my temples. “You certainly have sharp eyes.” I turned around and saw a glass of warm milk on the table. It was still steaming. I knew only Sterling had been there. 4 I didn’t tell anyone I dreamed about Sterling that night. In the dream, I was practicing the “seductive glance back” in the hallway. The lights were soft. I wore the cream lace dress, swaying towards him. When I looked back, I crashed right into his deep, dark eyes. He looked like he’d been electrocuted. His wheelchair slammed into the wall with a dull thud. I woke up covered in cold sweat, heart pounding. That morning, Wyatt took a leave of absence. I finally had a moment of peace to walk in the garden. The garden was the only place in the estate without cameras. I walked along the gravel path, silently rehearsing Wyatt’s instructions: Left foot light, right foot drags, show 30% ankle, don’t look back too fake… I muttered to myself, “I feel like a weirdo.” “You look like one, too.” A cool male voice cut in. I jumped, nearly tripping. Sterling had appeared out of nowhere. His wheelchair was parked by the colonnade. The wind ruffled his black clothes. He held a book but wasn’t reading. “Stalking me again?” I stepped back warily. “Your footsteps are too loud,” he said calmly. “I heard you.” “Seen enough?” “No.” He put the book down and slowly wheeled closer. “Continue.” My legs went weak. “I’m not acting anymore.” “You’re afraid of me?” He stopped, staring at me intently. “…No.” “Yes.” He seemed to read the twitch of my lips. “You’re afraid I’ll get close, and you’re afraid you’ll fall for me.” The words hit me like an arrow. “Are you crazy?” I blurted out. “Are you sick?” He didn’t get angry. He actually smiled faintly. “Indeed. My medical report says ‘Post-Traumatic Adaptation Disorder,’ with ‘deviated physiological response to stimuli’ in parentheses.” I opened my mouth but couldn’t speak. He suddenly reached out and tucked a stray hair behind my ear. The gesture was gentle, like a lover’s touch. “Do you know what you smell like right now?” he whispered. “W-what?” “A trapped animal.” He enunciated each word. “You look like a little pet that wants to run but doesn’t know where to go.” My face burned. Before I could retort, a voice interrupted. “Brother, breakfast is ready.” Ethan stood on the stone steps, smiling innocently. “Harper, come join us? The chef made pumpkin gratin, your favorite.” I let out a breath and practically ran toward him. But Ethan leaned in and whispered, “Don’t be fooled by my brother’s serious face. He wasn’t always like this.” “What do you mean?” “He used to love sketching figures.” Ethan winked. “Realism. The kind where you measure proportions with your eyes.” I was speechless. “After the accident, he stopped talking. The doctors say… he might have suppressed it for too long. Who knows why he only reacts to you.” “You mean I’m like a switch?” “Maybe,” he sighed. “I’m just worried about you. You don’t know his state. He’s… deep.” I looked down at my shoes, feeling heavy. Of course I didn’t know Sterling Vance. The man with eyes full of forbidden fire… I couldn’t read him, and I didn’t dare to try. “If you want to quit this game,” Ethan patted my shoulder, “I’ll help you.” I looked at him. He stood in the sun, his smile as clean as spring water. I turned back to the colonnade. Sterling was gone. The sunlight hit the tire tracks he left behind, looking like a path leading into an abyss.

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