Author: Momo Chan

My parents were responsible for the death of his parents. Because of this hatred, Asher Vance kept me as his lover for nine years. In those nine years, he told me countless times how much he hated me. Yet, he would drop a hundred-million-dollar project and fly back to the country just to make me soup when I caught a cold. I thought our feelings had long surpassed that old hatred. Until, two months after I gave birth to his child, I overheard a conversation between him and another woman. “Asher, the baby has stopped breathing. How are you going to explain this to Iris?” Asher answered without hesitation: “Explain what? The child of an enemy giving his life for our experiment is his fortune.” “It’s just right to let that woman see what it feels like to have her closest kin die tragically before her eyes!” It turned out he had been waiting bitterly for nine years just to truly take revenge on me. Holding my child’s ashes, I walked to the riverside, distraught, ready to end my own life. But as my body plummeted rapidly, he turned pale and tried to jump with me. Chapter 1 “Since you know everything, there’s no need for me to hide it from you anymore.” The white laboratory walls carried an impersonal coldness. Asher looked at me, a flash of pain quickly passing through his eyes, yet his words were heartless. “He is indeed dead.” “Injected with a large amount of experimental drugs by my own hands.” I stared at him in a daze, my hands trembling uncontrollably. “Why…” “That was your child too!” I moved my lips, realizing my voice was hoarse when I spoke. Asher looked at me silently for a few seconds, then turned his head away. “I told you countless times, Iris…” “Because of hate. I hate your parents, I hate you, and I also hate your child.” Hate… The familiar word appeared in my ears again. I bit my lip. In nine years, I don’t remember how many times I’ve heard it. He hated my parents for doing nothing during his family company’s crisis, dumping the entire mess on his parents. They even took all the funds and fled far away. Leaving his parents with no way out, choosing to end their lives with a bottle of sleeping pills. But he always talked about hating me while treating me well without restraint. He would drive all night to take me to see the sunrise at the beach just because I said I was bored. He would hold my hand in winter, putting it in his pocket for warmth. Sometimes, when the mood struck, he would even take the eyebrow pencil from my hand and draw my eyebrows for me, bit by bit. Then he would look at his clumsy handiwork and laugh embarrassedly. I thought… I thought that the hatred he constantly proclaimed would eventually fade with time. But now, when I questioned him in disbelief, he sneered: “Iris, because I could see that the better I treated you, the guiltier you would feel.” “It was just acting out a love drama with you.” “What, did you take it seriously?” My body went limp uncontrollably, my hands subconsciously touching my lower abdomen. The scar left by the C-section throbbed faintly, mixing with the pain in my heart, pressing down until I couldn’t breathe. With just a few words, he easily destroyed all my inner defenses. My hands gripping his collar dropped suddenly, feeling cold all over. I couldn’t help but laugh at myself mockingly. I was really too foolish, foolish enough to believe that between two people with a blood feud, love could grow lush and leafy across that hatred. But I still remember when I was eighteen, approaching college entrance exams but with both parents dead, living alone in a dilapidated rental room. I held a fruit knife, gesturing at my wrist. Thinking about where it would be appropriate to cut, but lacking the courage to really do it. A bed, a set of table and chairs, some pots and pans occupied almost the entire space of the room. Asher stood at the door, looking at the room with barely a place to stand, emotions in his eyes changing for a long time. Finally, he punched the wall behind me angrily and dragged me away by the wrist. I squatted down in despair, crying uncontrollably. Chapter 2 The urgent ringing of a cell phone sounded at that moment. I don’t know what the person on the other end said, but Asher glanced at me with a complicated expression. “Then just take him directly for cremation.” My heart shrunk as if sensing something, and I understood almost instantly. I desperately grabbed the corner of Asher’s clothes, as if grasping the last straw. “What cremation?” “Who are you going to cremate?” He didn’t answer me, just coldly pried my hands open, finger by finger. He said: “Go back to the hospital and stay there properly.” The way he threw me off forcefully was as if I wasn’t the girlfriend who had been with him for nine years, but a piece of useless trash. Although to Asher now, I, this girlfriend, seemed to be just a piece of trash. In this instant, I seemed to lose all strength. From this moment on, the will to die had taken root in my heart. After a long silence, I looked at him with red eyes, my voice already hoarse. “Asher, I want to see him…” But Asher promised nothing. He just gave me an indifferent look and turned his back. “You’d better go back to the hospital and stay put.” “Chloe, let’s go.” He took Chloe away, walking to the end of the corridor without ever looking back at me. I stared blankly at their retreating figures, watching them go further and further away. Just as they were about to disappear from my sight. I wiped the tears from my face and got up to follow them. I ran urgently, almost pushing Chloe down. “You!” Chloe’s face turned livid. Just as she was about to accuse me of something, In the next second, she saw me pull out the fruit knife I had prepared long ago. Slowly pressing it against my own throat. I looked at Asher, my expression calm, yet acting like a madwoman. I said: “Asher, take me to see him.” Chapter 3 Asher’s hand opening the car door paused slightly, his eyes holding some ambiguous emotion. “Want to send him off on his last journey?” I slowly lowered my head under his gaze. “Yes.” “Asher, I just want to see him…” “Please, can I?” “If you’re still not satisfied, take my life too…” For a moment, a trace of mockery appeared on Asher’s face. He seemed to think I was begging him only because I didn’t want to die. He pinched the wrist holding the knife, pushing it closer to my throat, and sneered. “Iris, do you think I really care about your life?” “If you want to die, find a quiet place. Don’t dirty mine and Chloe’s eyes.” “Besides, do you really dare to die?” After finishing, he drove away with Chloe, leaving me behind. Before getting into the car, Chloe looked me up and down. The disdain in her eyes made me clench my fists hidden under my clothes. Asher thought the laboratory was far in the suburbs and hard to get a taxi to. As long as he left with Chloe, no matter how unwilling I was, I would behave. But he didn’t expect that I, who had always been cowardly, after a moment of silence, lifted my feet and chased after them. I don’t know where the strength and courage came from. Through the rearview mirror, he could clearly see my figure running behind the car. Stubbornly, with all my might, chasing his receding car. Falling, getting up, falling again, getting up again… Falling over and over, climbing up over and over. As if I had lost my pain receptors. Asher slammed on the brakes, cursing under his breath. “Madwoman.” Seeing the car finally stop in the distance, hope suddenly rose in my heart. In a journey both distant and shallow, I stumbled and ran onto the car. It was clearly a scorching summer, but the temperature inside the car was cold enough to make one shiver. In the back seat, I hugged myself tightly, trying to find a tiny bit of energy from my own embrace. But the result always disappointed me. I couldn’t find the strength to support living anymore. Even when the car drove onto the cross-river bridge, I seriously considered it for a moment. If I jumped out of the car here and threw myself into the river to die. It seemed not bad. The laboratory was somewhat far from the crematorium. When we arrived there, it was almost evening. When getting out of the car, Asher reflexively reached out his hand to me. And for the first time in my life, I ignored him and rushed straight towards the morgue. Walking past corpse after corpse, I never found my baby. I don’t know how to describe my mood at that time. Was it despair, or relief… I repeatedly paralyzed myself in my heart. Maybe, this is just a dream of mine. In the dream, flowers withered, lifeless. But actually, my baby is still safely receiving treatment. Maybe in a few months, when I wake up from this dream, our family will be reunited. I didn’t know, I was just mechanically, numbly looking for my baby. When I came out of the morgue distraught, I happened to meet a staff member pushing a corpse towards the fire pit. I stopped as if feeling something. When I saw the corpse, I recognized him almost at a glance. That was my baby… In the two months since he was born, I had only seen him three times and held him once. They said the baby was weak and needed treatment in a sterile room. So every time I saw him, it was through a thick glass wall. I was outside, he was inside. I hadn’t even given him a name yet. In the two months after his birth, I looked through numerous classics but couldn’t find two suitable characters. I thought, when he gets better, I must… Must give him the name with the best meaning in the world. But I never imagined that our fourth meeting would be like this. He lay there quietly, being pushed towards the fire ahead by the staff. Chapter 4 The world seemed to have been muted. At this moment, there was no sound in my world. Only the flickering flames dancing in front of my eyes. And my child about to be pushed into the fire, disappearing from my world bit by bit. At that moment, I had long forgotten that the fire was enough to burn me to death. I couldn’t even hear the staff’s exclamations. Ghosts and gods at work, I rushed forward and threw myself into the fire. I wanted to hug him one more time. “Baby…” Sorry, really sorry. It was me who didn’t protect you well. Or maybe, I shouldn’t have given birth to you. A life carrying hatred ultimately won’t be happy. But, do you know how happy I was the moment I learned you had life in my belly… The scorching flames burned my skin bit by bit. But as if I couldn’t feel the pain, I rushed forward recklessly. I thought, anyway, my life is already rotten, dying with the baby like this seems not bad. “Iris, what are you doing?” Asher dragged me back from the fire desperately. By the firelight, I saw my reflection in Asher’s eyes. Messy and crazy. His eyes held emotions I couldn’t read. Like anger, like panic, and it seemed there was also a little bit of: pity. He gripped my shoulders tightly, his strength terrifying. “Do you want to die?” I collapsed weakly. He was right, I didn’t know the meaning of living anymore. “Yes, Asher, I don’t want to live…” “I’ve lived enough.” “Asher, let me die with the baby…” Under the firelight, I cried uncontrollably. Asher’s expression changed abruptly, a few traces of panic appearing in his eyes where I couldn’t see. Then, he grabbed my arm tightly again, forcing me to look at him. “Die?” “Iris, are you even worthy of dying?” “You have to live, live to atone for your parents.” His cold, hard expression pierced into my eyes, carrying a thorough chill. Like the substantive wind blades in a snowy night. “Also, don’t threaten me with death again.” “At eighteen you were too cowardly to die, do you think after nine years, you have the courage?” Looking at my breakdown, Asher felt as if his heart had been pricked by a tiny needle. Not very painful, but the strange feeling was particularly obvious. In a trance, another me appeared before him. The me who once fell asleep on the sofa waiting for him to come home. The me who carefully pulled his sleeve asking for forgiveness when making a mistake. The me who cried to him with red eyes when accidentally cutting a finger. The me who stubbornly ran into the kitchen to hug him from behind, refusing to rest even when sick and weak… These versions of me gradually merged with the me crying hysterically in front of him. Yet they seemed like two different people. For no reason, his heart felt a bit uncomfortable. Asher tightly clenched his hands hidden in his cuffs, forcefully suppressing the wave-like emotions in his heart. He took the urn handed over by the staff and threw it to me without hesitation. Like throwing away a hot potato. Under the night sky, his tone was cold and hard. “Done crying? Then take your son and get lost back home.” He left with Chloe, ignoring me behind him, almost crying to the point of fainting. Under the night sky, I held the child’s ashes, walking step by step back to the “home” I had lived in for nine years. The summer night wind wasn’t cold, but at that moment I felt there was not a trace of warmth left in this world. When I got home, Asher was leaning obliquely against the back of the sofa, thinking about something. He saw me, his gaze swept over the box tightly held in my arms, and his eyelids drooped. The words he spoke were ugly and piercing. “Only you treat him as a treasure.” These words were like heavy rain on a summer night, beating on my heart, provoking my anger towards him. For the first time in my life, I retorted with sarcasm. “Naturally can’t compare to you, who can even lay a hand on your own son.” Asher looked as if a sore spot had been pricked. A flash of pain passed through his eyes when he looked at me, but he refused to admit defeat. Finally, he snorted coldly and went back to his room.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388874”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Chapter 1 My father was an undercover narcotics officer. When he died, there was no body left to bury. His only belonging was a small recording bear, a toy that held something incredibly important to me. To get it back, I was prepared to bankrupt myself at the auction. I didn’t know the organizer of this auction was my ex-boyfriend, Julian Sterling, the man I dumped three years ago. In those three years, he transformed into a billionaire tycoon in the capital. And I was left destitute, with nothing but a broken body missing an arm. But Julian wouldn’t let me go. He bid $100 million for my father’s keepsake, just to give it to his dog as a chew toy. I knelt on the floor and begged him. In return, he had dozens of people line up to spit on me. Even after that, I didn’t get the bear back. It wasn’t until I reactivated my father’s badge number and went undercover at the border myself that Julian went crazy. He offered the cartel a billion dollars to buy my life back. But by then, I wasn’t going to survive. … At the auction house, my father’s recording bear sat in the center of the display case. It was stained with old blood. A few days ago, a friend tipped me off that this item had surfaced at a high-end auction in D.C., but no one was bidding on it. So I rushed here without stopping. Just as I eagerly raised my paddle to bid, a deep, heavy voice came from not far away. “I bid ten thousand.” I whipped my head around and crashed into a pair of deep, obsidian eyes. It was Julian Sterling. The ex-boyfriend I dumped three years ago. For me, this was the worst possible encounter. Of course, I soon realized this was no chance encounter. This was a trap Julian set personally to get revenge on me. Even this auction was part of it. I took a deep breath, turned back, and continued bidding. “Eleven thousand.” I didn’t have much money, but I was ready to “light the sky lantern”—to bid whatever it took. But to survive afterwards, I had to save something for myself. Unfortunately, Julian didn’t think so. “Twenty thousand.” I thought he was insane. When I looked at him again, I clearly saw the loathing and hatred in his eyes. Yes, he hated me. He should hate me. But that wasn’t a reason to steal my father’s only remnant. “Twenty-five thousand.” Julian didn’t stop. Every time he raised the bid, he started with increments of ten thousand. “Fifty thousand.” This time was even worse; he doubled it. I bit my lip, recalling the nightmares I’d had since losing my father. No, I couldn’t let those nightmares continue. I raised my paddle high: “One hundred thousand!” The room erupted in whispers. “Who spends that kind of money on a broken toy?” “I don’t know what goes on in the heads of these rich people.” I wanted to scream at them that this was the most glorious medal left by a great undercover cop. But no one gave me the chance, especially not Julian. His mockery was the loudest. “Buying it for my fiancée’s dog to play with. Is there a problem?” My heart throbbed with a dull pain. So he was getting married. The girl sitting next to him must be his fiancée. That was… good. I was willing to wish him happiness. As long as he let me have this one thing. I looked at him with pleading eyes, but Julian remained unmoved. He raised the bid again: “Two hundred thousand.” I sighed. I turned my body to face him fully. “That was left by my father.” “Please, have some mercy, Mr. Sterling.” Julian’s dangerous gaze swept over me. Then he sneered, “A keepsake from a dirty fugitive? Even if I buy it just to burn it, I’d be doing a public service.” “Don’t you think so, daughter of a dirty fugitive?” Chapter 2 I looked at Julian with complicated emotions. How could he say that? My father wasn’t a fugitive. He just… didn’t make it out alive. Instantly, tears welled up in my eyes. I knew that in the end, Julian could decide everything at this auction with a single word. I couldn’t compete with him. So I could only continue to submit. “I’m begging you.” Julian raised an eyebrow. “Begging me?” He stood up with interest, interrupting the auctioneer’s countdown. “Sure.” Julian walked toward me. Two bodyguards followed behind him. “Here’s the deal. You kneel on the ground. Then let everyone here walk past you and spit on you.” “Do that, and I’ll consider letting you have the item.” I looked up in a daze. Staring at Julian this close again, I realized he had changed a lot. His features were more mature, sharper. I also knew what he had gone through in the three years since I dumped him. That was why he made such a demand. I lowered my eyelashes. I whispered, “Okay.” This time, it was Julian’s turn to be surprised. “Maya Vance, where is your backbone?” I shook my head and didn’t speak. Julian scoffed. “Fine. Okay.” “Alright! The auction is paused. Everyone line up and spit on this woman!” “Whoever spits the most gets the jade on the display.” Hearing this, everyone scrambled to get up and crowded over. It began. Those people didn’t ask questions; they actually listened to Julian and started spitting on me. Liquid ran down my forehead to the tip of my nose, mixing with my unyielding tears. I kept my lips tightly sealed. For my father’s keepsake, I would endure it. I counted as person after person walked by me, leaving disgusting marks on my body and face. I subconsciously wanted to wipe it off, but Julian had his bodyguards restrain my hands. Some were even more malicious, prying my mouth open. I struggled hard and ended up vomiting. It was too humiliating. But every time I thought of my father’s situation, I grit my teeth. I stared fiercely at Julian, who was watching the show. Time passed minute by minute. Dozens of people had spat on me. I watched as Julian’s face grew darker and darker, until finally, he called a stop to this outrageous game. “Enough. This is boring.” “Maya Vance, three years later, you’re still like a boring dead fish.” As soon as he finished speaking, the whole room burst into laughter. Julian put his arm around his fiancée and kissed her on the cheek. “Auction continues!” I froze in place. “Didn’t you say you’d let me have it?” Julian looked back playfully. “I changed my mind. What, only you are allowed to back out of things whenever you want, but I can’t change my mind at the last minute?” Chapter 3 Julian shouted out an astronomical price of five hundred thousand. I touched the bank card in my pocket. I brought a million dollars this time. Could I win this gamble? After all, my luck had never been good. Just like three years ago. My father had an accident during “Operation Crime Hunter” and died without a trace. Because the criminal syndicate hadn’t been caught yet, the cause of my father’s death and his identity couldn’t be revealed. Everyone thought my father was a drug dealer who harmed people. During that time, my social media accounts received thousands of abusive messages and gruesome pictures every day. I started having frequent nightmares. Dreaming of my father being tortured, dreaming of him calling my name in pain. “Maya, leave D.C. Don’t look back.” In fact, my father’s advice was right. No one could protect me 24/7. So that day, I faced retaliation. It was a pitiful man whose whole family had been killed by the syndicate. He had lost his mind, yet he could accurately identify me as the “drug dealer’s” daughter. He kidnapped me to a warehouse in the suburbs, a long knife flashing before my eyes. Just as he was about to chop off my neck, the police arrived in time. I managed to survive. But immediately after, I received a threatening text message. “Neither you nor your boyfriend will escape death.” My boyfriend was Julian. A big boy who had just graduated from college, started a business with me, and had a bright future. I looked at the bloody words and got goosebumps all over. At first, I didn’t believe they could go that far. Until Julian was driving home and got run off the road into a green belt by a black car. My nightmare began. Countless threatening texts flooded my phone late at night. Reminding me that my life was no longer my own. Looking at Julian sleeping soundly next to me, I finally made up my mind to break up with him. In fact, I left without saying goodbye. I only left him a brief letter. I left him the company, the unfinished business. Including the aimless future, I left it all to him. Those three years must have been very bitter for him. So I understood why he hated me. He wanted my money, I gave it to him. He wanted my life, I thought I would give it to him too. But before that, I had to hear what was inside the recording bear. So I bid again, seven hundred thousand. Behind me, Julian clicked his tongue. “Let’s let everyone judge.” “A fugitive’s keepsake might contain state secrets. What do you say, should I let her have it?” Someone answered him. “Of course you can’t give it to her! She’s the daughter of a dirty fugitive; maybe that money is stolen.” “Exactly, we should call the police! Or just kick her out!” I closed my eyes in silence. Dad, I just want to take back what belongs to us. Why is it so hard? But I am a free citizen now. They have no right to kick me out or deprive me of the right to participate in the auction. So I raised my paddle and shouted, “I’m lighting the sky lantern.” The gaze from behind was incredibly hot. Julian led the applause. “Good, Miss Vance is really rich.” “Lighting the sky lantern, huh? Then I bid one hundred million.” “Are you sure you want to light this lantern?” At this moment, Julian’s fiancée, who hadn’t spoken for a long time, spoke up. “Julian, spending so much money on a toy for the dog is too wasteful.” “Besides, the dog won’t even play with that toy.” Julian turned his head and chuckled lightly. “It doesn’t matter, Mia. I just don’t want to see bad people get their way.” “That’s true. A hundred million for a dog toy, count it as part of the dowry for marrying me.” Listening to their conversation, my heart felt like it was being twisted. Julian knew perfectly well that I couldn’t afford a hundred million. When the auctioneer asked me if I wanted to increase the bid or light the lantern. I was left with only the last resort. That was, to kneel down in front of Julian with a thud. And start slapping my own face. Once, twice, louder and louder. Even Julian didn’t react immediately. In the venue, people were already pleading for me. An auntie walked over from the side, trying to help me up. “Girl, don’t do this. Lost things can be bought again, but lost dignity can’t be picked up.” But unfortunately, she touched the arm that had been chopped off. She felt nothing and looked horrified. “Oh my god, girl, your arm…” Inside the empty sleeve, a hard, cold prosthetic was revealed. I nodded. “Yeah, the arm is gone.” At that moment. I felt Julian’s gaze from above becoming increasingly intense. After a long while, he spoke. “How did that happen?” “Don’t you know how to take care of yourself?” His tone became increasingly urgent, as if he cared about me like before. Only now, the status wasn’t appropriate. I continued to kowtow to him. Finally, Julian couldn’t stand it anymore. He forcibly pulled me up. “Maya Vance, do you think a sob story will work on me?” I looked up at him. “Then what do you want me to do? What do I have to do to get my father’s keepsake back?” Julian looked away abruptly. His fiancée, Mia Jiang, put her hand on his arm and whispered something in his ear. Just loud enough for me to hear. “Maya Vance has a sugar daddy in South City who helps her with everything. She shouldn’t be short of money.” It was this sentence that made Julian’s eyes change suddenly. He stared at me tightly and said, “No matter what you do, I won’t give the thing back to you.” At the same time, the auctioneer banged the gavel for the last time. Chapter 4 “One hundred million, sold!” I couldn’t recover for a long, long time. When most people had left the venue, I subconsciously stood up. But turning around, I bumped into Mia Jiang. I intended to go around her, but she blocked me. Clearly, she was coming for me. I raised my gaze wearily. “Miss Jiang, is something wrong?” The next second, a slap landed on my cheek. “What do you think?” “You were doing so well in South City, why did you suddenly come back to D.C.?” “Maya Vance, don’t think I don’t know, you came back for Julian.” I didn’t know how to explain to her that there was no possibility for Julian and me in this lifetime. Besides, he hated me to the bone. How could we ever get back together? I said so too. “I came back this time only to get that thing back. Everything else has nothing to do with me, including your Julian.” “Hmph, then swear to me, if you have even half a feeling for Julian, you won’t live past this year!” I lowered my eyes helplessly. Finally, I repeated her words. “Satisfied? Can I go now?” Mia rolled her eyes. “Wait a minute, I want to show you something fun.” After saying that, she whistled towards the back, and a large dog ran in. What made my whole body stiff at a glance was that in the dog’s mouth, it was holding my father’s keepsake. I covered my mouth, holding back the trembling. Watching with my own eyes as the dog tore and bit the toy in its mouth. “No, don’t…” I lay on the ground, humbly begging Mia. “Just let me listen to the voice inside, just once, and I will never return to D.C. in my life!” Mia’s eyes lit up. “Really?” I nodded repeatedly: “I swear.” Finally, Mia took the little bear out of the dog’s mouth. Just as she was about to hand it to me. Not far away, Julian’s figure appeared. In the dark light, I couldn’t see his emotions clearly. But the downturned corners of his mouth already hinted at something. “Mia, don’t give it to her!” So just as I was about to touch the bear I thought about day and night, it disappeared again. Replaced by Julian’s condescending contempt. “Mia, take the dog out to play. Play until this broken toy is destroyed!” Under my gaze, Mia left anyway. I lay on the ground in despair. Julian lowered his noble body. “How is it? Does it feel good to have happiness within reach and then suddenly disappear?” I knew what he was talking about. But I was powerless to respond. So Julian continued talking to himself. “After you left me three years ago, the company fell into a funding crisis.” “Employees came to me for wages, I didn’t have any. They made me kneel on the ground and lined up to spit on me.” “When I got home that day, I showered for three hours, but couldn’t wash off that disgusting smell.” “But what I needed most at that time wasn’t money, wasn’t connections, it was you, Maya Vance.” After speaking, he lifted my chin involuntarily. “I thought you had some difficulties, until I heard you went to South City and got a sugar daddy?” “I heard everything you just said.” “Actually, if you had said even one sentence that you still had me in your heart, I would have returned that toy to you.” “But you didn’t, Maya Vance.” “From beginning to end, you betrayed me.” I looked at Julian’s fierce eyes, unable to say a single word to defend myself. Or rather, everything Julian said was right. For so many years, I betrayed him. No matter what difficulties I had. I deserved it. Seeing no reaction from me, Julian finally let go of me. He spat in disgust and lifted his foot to leave. But at the last second, I called out his name. “Julian.” Julian paused, stopping in place. I said, “I’m sorry.” “If you can let bygones be bygones, please tell me what’s in the recording toy within a month.” Julian turned his back to me and sneered. “Maya Vance, you have some nerve.” “Playing the countdown game with me?” “I’m telling you, you’re not worthy.” Julian left anyway. So he didn’t hear the last sentence I said to him. What I wanted to tell him was that in a month, I would reactivate my father’s badge number and go to the border to participate in the latest round of Crime Hunter operations. On this trip, I went with the determination to die.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388873”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I picked out a diamond ring at an auction as my wedding ring with Chloe Vance. But no matter how much I bid, the “little brother” Chloe sponsored, Liam Reed, always bid ten dollars more than me. Chloe smiled helplessly: “Honey~ Liam likes these shiny things, let him have it, okay? Be good~” I turned around and lit the Sky Lantern. That day, Liam ran out with red eyes. Chloe kissed my cheek: “Hubby is so bad.” She ignored Liam, and for the year after our wedding, she refused to be apart from me every night. One day, I received an invitation to a private auction. Photos of me blindfolded and choked by Chloe, our “Queen and Knight” couple’s game, were blatantly displayed as exhibits. Chloe leaned into Liam’s arms: “Don’t you like lighting Sky Lanterns? Three hundred and sixty-five photos of you serving me like a dog. If you don’t want them falling into someone else’s hands, you can take your time lighting them.” Chapter 1 I stood in the auction hall, watching dozens of men and women discussing loudly in front of the big screen: “Men really know how to play! I’ve been around the block, but this is the first time I’ve seen a male prostitute sluttier than a woman.” “Tsk tsk! Who would have thought, Chase Sterling looks so cold and aloof, but in bed he’s like a duck. And to think he usually tells us to get lost if we touch him, hahaha!” “President Vance really knows how to train men. The young master from a scholarly family has been ruined by President Vance, right? When…” A woman winked at Chloe, who was sitting in the main seat: “Should we tie him up and let us sisters have some fun?” I clenched my fists and turned trembling to look at my wife. Beside her, in the seat that originally belonged to me, sat Liam Reed. Chloe didn’t hide it at all, gently curving her lips: “Whoever wins the photos gets the full video of that night as a bonus.” “President Vance is generous!!” The crowd boiled over. Chloe looked at me, her beautiful brows tinged with a smile: “Don’t look at me like that. I said, you can light the Sky Lantern. Three hundred and sixty-five photos, take your time.” “Oh, President Vance, you don’t know yet! The Sterling family went bankrupt recently, Mr. Sterling doesn’t have much money left!” “Lighting a Sky Lantern costs fifty million a pop. It would be impressive if he still has a hundred million in hand now!” Chloe raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance: “Oh? Is that so?” “Tsk! What a pity. Three hundred and sixty-five photos, each one wonderful. Honestly, I want to light them all and take them back to study properly.” Someone stroked their chin and sighed: “Unfortunately, the only one present with that kind of financial power is President Vance.” Chloe laughed and raised her hand: “Everyone, for today’s auction, the Vance Group will not participate in bidding for any exhibits. All proceeds will be donated to charity. Please feel free.” Cheers erupted from the audience: “This is a true entrepreneur! Fortunately, the Vance Group secretly squeezed out the Sterling Group’s partners, otherwise we might not have been able to get the photos today!” “What are you worried about? There are dozens of us, let’s not fight, everyone gets some!” “No way! The third photo is arranged so perfectly, I must have it!” Only I trembled with clenched fists, looking at Chloe in disbelief: “The Sterling Group’s bankruptcy, you did it?” Chloe just looked at me and smirked. My eyes stung, blurring my vision, my voice hoarse: “Why… just because I lit a Sky Lantern a year ago?” Chloe ignored my grievance and took the microphone: “Time is limited, Mr. Sterling. If you’re not participating in the auction, I’ll let my friends start.” The men and women looked at me playfully. Everyone here was top-tier in the circle. The remaining hundred million in cash I had might just be pocket change for a short trip to them. How could I compete with them? “I’m going to the restroom.” I quickly turned and left the venue. Otherwise, I was really afraid I would go crazy right there. Laughter came from behind: “So male whores have shame too, hahaha!” “President Vance, don’t wait for him. A hundred million to play with us? He’s definitely embarrassed to say it straight and ran away using the restroom as an excuse.” “Shut up, all of you.” Chloe spoke coldly. She stared dead at the direction of the entrance. No one dared to act rashly, and they all shut their mouths. A moment later, I pushed open the door. I took my seat under everyone’s gaze, the corners of my eyes still red: “Let’s begin.” Chloe glanced at me, slightly surprised. To clearly display my photos, the big screen behind the host was transformed into a panoramic surround screen, showing my humiliation 360 degrees without blind spots. Allowing everyone to appreciate it from every position. Chapter 2 “First photo.” The host smiled meaningfully: “‘Moonlight Inquiry’, starting price two million.” The whole audience gasped: “Elegant! Too elegant! Appreciated by both the refined and the common! Mr. Sterling from a scholarly family really knows how to play.” “Two and a half million!” The host smiled without speaking, and released a text introduction. I stood up abruptly. That was a detailed description of the key parts of my wedding night with Chloe. Besides me, the only one who could write these details was… I looked at Chloe trembling. She sat there quietly, a sneer hanging on the corner of her mouth, as if everything here had nothing to do with her. Only when Liam leaned in to whisper to her would she turn her body sideways, her brows filled with shyness and tenderness. The discussions in my ears almost drowned me: “Thought the photos were slutty enough, didn’t expect the process to be even more explosive than I thought! Don’t fight! Five million! I want the video!” “Six million!” “Knowing how to play like this on the first night, can’t imagine what comes after… tsk tsk! Ten million!” “Light the Sky Lantern.” I heard my trembling voice. Everyone looked at me. The host looked at me with a professional smile: “Number 438 lights the Sky Lantern, are you sure?” I slumped back into the chair, my voice weak: “Sure.” “Tsk! What a pity, that video must be explosive.” “What are you afraid of? How many photos can he last?” “Exactly, and this is just the first one, right? It gets sluttier later, won’t be a loss to wait.” “Number 438 lights the Sky Lantern! Congratulations Mr. Sterling on obtaining the ‘Moonlight Inquiry’ photo and its accompanying video!” I closed my eyes, fingernails digging deep into my palms. The big screen immediately changed to the second photo, along with the accompanying introduction. “Second photo, ‘String Plucking’, starting price two million!” The venue boiled over: “Does this really exist? With this, who needs male models? President Vance surely gives us free access right!” Someone sitting close poked me: “Tsk tsk tsk! Can’t tell, you look so upright, but privately you’re so cheap.” I glared at him, and he immediately laughed: “Hey~ I don’t despise you! If President Vance doesn’t want you, come find me? I’ll help you light one, how about it?” “Don’t touch me.” My voice was cold enough to kill, the man snorted disdainfully and sat back: “What are you pretending for, a thing played rotten by others, ten million!” “Twenty million!” “Twenty-five million!” “Light… the Sky Lantern.” I didn’t know with what strength I said these words. The host glanced at me, smiling meaningfully: “Number 438 lights the Sky Lantern!” The transaction was completed, he looked at me with a professional smile: “Lit the Sky Lantern twice. According to your capital verification results, you have less than five million in cash flow left, oh?” My tone was dispirited: “Continue.” “Heh.” The disdain on the host’s face wasn’t held back for a moment, and he released the third photo: “Third photo, ‘Glazed Glass’, starting price two million!” “Light the Sky Lantern.” Hearing my voice, everyone looked at me in surprise. The host looked at me: “Mr. Sterling, your capital verification result before entering was one hundred million four hundred and thirty thousand. You have already lit it twice, the remaining money is not enough.” An old woman blinked at me: “Beg Brother Sterling, Brother Sterling will help you light it.” I ignored them and looked at Chloe. She was also looking at me. Only there was no intention of helping, instead, the corner of her mouth held an arc of disdain. Everyone looked at her. After all, she was still my wife. “What are you all looking at me for?” Chloe hooked her lips carelessly: “I said, all auction items are entirely handed over to everyone for bidding.” People breathed a sigh of relief: “Thank you President Vance for not competing!” Just then, Liam, who had been sitting beside her, raised his hand: “How about this, I’ll light this photo for Brother Chase.” Chloe looked at him, and after a bit of surprise passed, it was more of an unconcealable smile. Liam looked at me: “After all, Brother Chase also sponsored my tuition for studying abroad. I can’t be ungrateful.” The smile in Chloe’s eyes deepened. Looking at Liam, her always cold brows seemed to melt the ice. Everyone started jeering: “No wonder President Vance likes Liam, who wouldn’t like someone so obedient?” “Liam is a good man, blushes just hearing us tease him a bit, unlike someone, tsk tsk tsk!” Meaningful gazes pierced me like sharp swords. A trace of imperceptible pride flashed across Liam’s mouth, then he looked at me: “Brother Chase, don’t worry.” “Hypocrite.” Hearing my answer, he froze: “What?” “Your way of repaying me is to occupy my seat and seduce my woman?” I leaned back in the chair: “Sorry, I haven’t fallen to the point where I need help from a bitch and a scumbag.” “Chase Sterling.” Chloe rarely spoke to me. But it was a tone cold and strange. I glanced at her coldly and looked at the host: “I lit the Sky Lantern, I’ll do it myself.” “This…” The host was somewhat troubled: “If you still want to light it, we can only include the Sterling Group’s real estate, but the real estate after bankruptcy has shrunk significantly, barely scraping together fifty million, oh?” “Just light it, no need to say more.” “Tsk tsk tsk! This man is really crazy.” People shook their heads and teased: “Giving up even a place to live for this breath, pity, the third photo was the one I fancied at first sight.” “It’s okay, haven’t even sold a fraction yet, more than three hundred photos, what are you afraid of?” “Exactly, I took a peek, gets cheaper and less human further back hahaha!” Everyone’s gaze, whether pitying or mocking, was cast towards me: “Just a beast fighting in a cage.” “Wait for the next one, he can only watch us take his private photos.” “Tsk tsk tsk! Really want to know what expression he will have then, will it be the same as when dominated by President Vance?” Snickering sounds were endless. I endured the lump in my throat, silently clenched my fists, and looked up at the host. Chapter 3 The fourth photo was quickly displayed: “Fourth photo, ‘Netherworld’, starting price two million!” “Damn! I really like this one! Fifteen million!” “Twenty million!” “Twenty-five million!” “Light the Sky Lantern.” I spoke. Everyone’s gaze invariably projected towards me. The host couldn’t maintain his smile anymore: “Mr. Sterling, please do not disturb the order, if you continue like this we will have to ask you to leave.” I said coldly: “Not disturbing. I said I want to light the Sky Lantern. “And not just this one, I’m lighting all three hundred and sixty-five photos and videos in the venue.” The host and the audience below looked at each other and laughed out loud simultaneously. Even Liam couldn’t help but “Pfft!” and burst out laughing, leaning on Chloe’s shoulder sideways. Chloe’s eyes were so gentle they could drip water, her always indifferent face couldn’t help but melt a trace of ice. “Is he crazy? Three hundred and sixty-five photos? Eighteen billion two hundred and fifty million, did he even have this strength before bankruptcy?” “Except for President Vance who dares to play like this, who else dares to say so!” The host took several seconds to adjust before restoring his professional smile: “Mr. Sterling, in the previous round you already auctioned off all your family assets, so you can’t light this Sky Lantern, haha. “Which gentleman bid twenty-five million just now? “Twenty-five million going once!” “Smack!” I grabbed the water glass on the table and threw it forward. “Crash!” it shattered at the host’s feet, startling him into retreating a few steps hurriedly. I looked at him coldly: “I said I want to light the Sky Lantern, do you not understand?” “Chase Sterling!” Someone got impatient: “We played three rounds with you, you’re out of money long ago! What are you pretending for!” “Fake bidding carries responsibility, us brothers fancying your photos is appreciating you, don’t be ungrateful!” The host’s smile also couldn’t hang on: “Mr. Sterling, if not for President Vance’s face, you wouldn’t even have the qualification to enter and light the Sky Lantern. If you make trouble again, don’t blame the security for inviting you out!” I narrowed my eyes: “Who said I have no money?” Chloe glanced at me calmly. Everyone was also stunned: “Stop joking, although it’s a private auction, do you think our capital verification methods are a joke? Would we not know how much money you have?” I looked at the host: “As long as I still have money, I can still light the Sky Lantern, right?” “Yes, but…” “Re-verify capital.” I interrupted the host. Everyone looked at each other in dismay, and Chloe frowned imperceptibly. I pulled the microphone closer to myself: “What, you guys can’t afford to play?” “Hmph! Verify then! If we play, we’ll make you convinced!” On the big screen, my photos were all withdrawn, replaced by my account balance. The host stood still again: “Number 438, second capital verification.” Everyone stared tightly at the numbers on the screen, faces inevitably showing some nervousness. Many whispered: “Why is he so calm? Does he really have money?” “No way… President Vance secretly blocked all cooperation with the Sterling Group, is there anyone in the circle with more say than President Vance?” “Then is he crazy? Humiliating himself in public? Maybe he really has means we don’t know…” “Verification ended.” Everyone stared dead at the screen. Deducting the Sky Lanterns just lit. Account balance— Zero. “Hahahahaha!!” The whole venue exploded with laughter: “Thought he really had some tricks, turns out he’s really crazy!” A sneer appeared at the corner of Chloe’s mouth, Liam laughed until tears came out. The host made a gesture: “Sorry Mr. Sterling, you disturbed the order, trouble you to leave. Thank you for your support of this auction, security!” Immediately a row of burly men stepped forward to surround me. “Wait.” I sat quietly, looking down at my watch. Index finger tapping on the armrest with the second hand. After three times, I made a “please” gesture: “Now you can re-verify capital.” “Chase Sterling, who do you think we are, having time to talk nonsense with a madman!” The host had long been impatient, waving his hand: “Drag him away and throw him out.” But as soon as the voice fell, his eyes slowly widened, then he turned back abruptly, staring dead at the screen: “This… how is this possible?” Chloe also stood up abruptly. Everyone stood up: “This… fake, right?” On the big screen, the originally zero balance suddenly flashed. Then changed crazily. From single digits to four digits, from four digits to eight digits, leaping crazily, until stopping at the hundred billion level. “Bang!” The microphone was knocked to the ground by the host. He supported himself on the table, looking at the big screen in disbelief: “This is impossible… how is it possible to finance so much in such a short time!” The security guards who originally restrained me were also shocked into letting go. I said indifferently: “Sorry, large transfer review took some time, made everyone laugh.” Some people collapsed into their chairs in disbelief. Speaking, I looked at the host: “May I ask, three hundred and sixty-five photos, can I light the Sky Lantern now?” The host scrambled to regain his state, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead: “Yes, yes! That… cough! Number 438, lights the Sky Lantern!” The venue was in an uproar. The man who teased me just now was paralyzed in his chair. Although he had quite some family assets, compared to my current account balance, it was just a drop in the bucket. Thinking of what he did to me just now, a layer of cold sweat oozed from his forehead. Everyone couldn’t believe it: “Financing hundreds of billions in such a short time, didn’t he go bankrupt!” “Did President Vance deceive us? Actually Chase Sterling has always been hiding his light?” “Or… did he hook up with some big shot…” “Bullshit! What big shot can be bigger than President Vance!” I got up, walking step by step to Chloe’s seat. Raised my palm high, and landed it fiercely on her face: “Smack!” The crisp slap echoed throughout the hall. Chloe tilted her head slightly, looking grim. Everyone held their breath. “Secretly taking my photos?” After speaking, the next slap landed on the other half of her face: “Secretly recording my videos?” Then, a third slap was raised again. But this time, a dark shadow rushed up: “Brother Chase! Don’t!” “Smack!” This slap landed solidly on Liam’s face. Chloe, who had been silent, suddenly exclaimed: “Liam!” Liam took a slap, but it was like taking a heavy blow, collapsing into Chloe’s arms. Before I could react, my back collar was suddenly yanked fiercely, and I fell heavily backward to the ground. “Let go!” I struggled hard, but a crisp “Crack!” came from my wrist. Severe pain spread throughout my body. I gritted my teeth and looked up. Chloe’s bodyguards had swarmed out at some point, pressing me dead on the ground kneeling. My breath trembled slightly— When I attacked Chloe, Chloe didn’t mobilize them. Liam took a slap, yet she let these people treat me like this…

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388872”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

In the grand hall of the Riverfront nightclub, my heavily pregnant sister was shoved onto the stage. Below her, men argued red-faced over the child in her belly. “It’s gotta be mine! I put in the most work that night!” “Bullshit! I went the most rounds, my odds are way better!” My sister’s face was pale as a ghost. With tears in her eyes, she questioned the man beside her: “Lucas Thorne, you’re my fiancé. How could you treat me like this?” Lucas, with a delicate girl in his arms, sneered: “You don’t even know whose bastard you’re carrying, and you have the nerve to ask me?” The girl in his arms covered her mouth, giggling shyly, but looked at my sister with triumphant eyes. I sat in the audience, my gaze turning icy. I haven’t been back in a few years, and people already dare to bully my family? … My assistant leaned in and whispered, “Should I get the club owner, Chris Sheng, to give you an explanation?” I scoffed coldly: “What’s the use of calling him? Have everyone on standby!” “Yes, ma’am.” The assistant quickly retreated. Dare to touch my sister? Don’t expect to walk out of here in one piece tonight! Chapter 1 My sister’s voice trembled. “That night, it was only you! How could I be pregnant with someone else’s child?!” The girl in Lucas’s arms, Sue Locke, laughed coquettishly: “Mia, dear, you were drunk and yelling ‘one isn’t enough,’ dragging several men into the room. Don’t you remember?” My sister’s face turned instantly white. “Impossible! Only Lucas was in the room…” Mid-sentence, she stiffened, staring intently at Lucas. “It was you. That glass of red wine… you drugged me?!” Lucas didn’t deny it. He didn’t even look at my sister. He pulled a stack of photos from his pocket and scattered them on the stage. “Come on, place your bets live! Whoever guesses right gets a bonus hot video from that night!” Cheers erupted below the stage. “Damn, that’s intense! Not a stitch of clothing, clear as day!” “Hotter than a porn cover. Just one look and I’m burning up!” Sue also picked one up, glanced at it with disgust, and tossed it aside. A photo drifted down in front of me. I picked it up, and with just one glance, I was seeing red with rage. These people are insane! I’ll let you know soon enough what happens when you dare to touch a Jiang. The men below scrambled for my sister’s photos like hungry wolves, cash slapping onto the tables. Red-eyed, they placed their bets, as if auctioning off livestock. I sat in the shadows, rubbing my wine glass, watching this absurd gamble with cold eyes. My assistant hadn’t returned yet. Just a little longer… “Bets closed!” The dealer’s voice cut through the noise. “Now, please welcome the professionals to reveal the answer to this bet!” Several people in white coats rushed onto the stage with instruments. Without a word, they clamped down on my sister’s arm, a needle glinting coldly as it aimed for her skin. “Get away!” My always-weak sister suddenly turned fierce. She yanked herself free, her nails scratching a bloody streak across the other person’s face. “Where is Chris Sheng? Tell him to get his ass out here! If I lose a single hair tonight, this shitty club of yours will be shut down tomorrow!” My sister screamed herself hoarse, and everyone roared with laughter. Sue covered her mouth, laughing so hard she shook: “Oh my, is our eldest Miss Jiang still dreaming?” She suddenly grabbed my sister’s hair and whispered into her ear: “You forgot, Chris is my biological brother. He bankrupted the Jiang family long ago. Where do you get the nerve to shout here?” Already at the stage, ready to rescue my sister, I was startled. Chris’s sister? The Jiang family bankrupt? How did I not know about this? Lucas pulled Sue into his arms. “Why waste your breath talking to her?” He turned to the white coats and said, “Hurry up, don’t waste time!” Just as the needle tip touched my sister’s skin, the dealer beside them turned pale with fright. He suddenly bellowed: “Stop!” Chapter 2 Everyone was startled, and I also stopped my movements. Trembling, he pulled a green jade seal from my sister’s waist, cold sweat instantly soaking his back: “The… The Cloud-Water Seal?!” In shock, he pressed the highest priority call button in the nightclub. “Mr. Sheng, the Cloud-Water Seal has appeared. Please come and verify its authenticity!” Lucas’s face involuntarily darkened, and even Sue in his arms fell silent. Chris Sheng, the “Mr. Sheng” they spoke of, was just an adopted son of my father. In terms of age, he’d have to call me Big Sister. Knowing this was his territory, my tense nerves relaxed slightly. I waited calmly for my assistant to return. Not long after, Chris’s personal secretary, Bella Miao, arrived. “Mr. Sheng will be here shortly. Let me assess the situation first!” Just as her fingertips touched the seal, Sue in Lucas’s arms suddenly laughed delicately: “What a coincidence. I have one of those piece-of-crap things too!” She pulled a brocade box from her handbag. The moment the box popped open, the whole room was in an uproar. Two identical Cloud-Water Seals. “Hers has a crack!” Sue’s red lips parted slightly. “It’s a fake.” My sister cried out urgently, “My sister gave this to me personally. How could it be fake?” “I am the biological sister of Aria Jiang!” As soon as she finished speaking, Sue laughed. “I’ve lived in the Jiang house for so many years and I’ve never seen you have a sister. You really are a habitual liar, even fabricating that you have a sister!” After examining the seal, Bella respectfully returned Sue’s seal and smoothly picked up on Sue’s words. “Aria Jiang?” A look of disdain appeared on Bella’s face, as if hearing a joke. “I’ve never heard of such a person.” “Since the real Cloud-Water Seal is in Miss Locke’s hands, then it’s not our place to interfere with this Ms. Jiang’s affairs. You guys carry on.” With that, Bella stood aside, acting as if it was none of her business. The men instantly exploded: “Hurry up and test! I bet a hundred grand that she’s carrying my seed!” “After the test, everyone gets a turn for a taste.” The men were instantly like flies to blood. Some even started unbuckling their belts: “I’m upping the ante! After the test, I’m digging straight in!” The white coats pinned my sister down on the stage again. The needle glinted coldly, stabbing straight toward my sister’s pale skin. My assistant hadn’t returned yet, but I couldn’t care about that anymore. “Stop!” I leaped onto the awards stage and kicked over the metal instrument tray. Bella’s pupils shrank sharply: “Where did this crazy woman come from, daring to smash Mr. Sheng’s place?!” I smiled coldly. “Jiang family. Aria Jiang.” Chapter 3 Dead silence filled the venue. But the silence lasted only a second. “Hahaha—” The entire hall erupted in deafening mockery; some even laughed until they cried. “Aria Jiang? You?” “That’s the legendary big shot who could turn Capital City upside down! No news for years, how could she possibly show up here?” Sue covered her belly, laughing so hard she trembled. “Mia, which troupe did you hire this actress from? Her acting is quite something!” Lucas frowned, his gaze full of disgust. “Mia, get this impostor out of here quickly. Aren’t you embarrassed enough?” My sister grabbed me tightly, her eyes full of unbelieving excitement. The veins on my forehead throbbed, and I barely suppressed my raging anger: “When Chris gets here, the truth will naturally be revealed!” I pulled my sister behind me, my eyes sharp as knives. “Before then, whoever dares to touch a hair on her head, I’ll chop off their hand!” Sue covered her mouth and sneered sarcastically: “Oh, the acting is quite convincing. If Aria Jiang really were here, she’d be surrounded by an entourage. How could it just be you alone?” Out of the corner of my eye, I glanced at the bodyguard team squeezed into the corner, a cold smile curling the corner of my mouth. “Let Chris come out and speak! I want to ask him if he still respects me as his elder sister!” Bella narrowed her eyes, looking me up and down, a sneer curling her red lips: “Who do you think you are? Daring to call Mr. Sheng by his full name? You really don’t know your place!” She slowly turned the jade bracelet on her wrist, her voice suddenly dropping low: “Men, take her down!” “I want to see just how much you really weigh!” Hearing this, several burly men smiled greedily, their voices full of malicious teasing. “Yes! Bella, we’ll ensure she’s stripped clean, weighed inside and out, all clear for you!” Saying this, their hands reached out toward us sisters. I slapped the approaching man on the face. “How dare you! Do you want to die?! Do you know the consequences of touching me?” The man’s head snapped to the side from my slap. His eyes suddenly turned vicious, and he choked me violently. “Stupid bitch, I give you face and you take it for granted, huh?” “Today, in front of everyone, I’m gonna teach you what the rules are!” A roar of laughter erupted around us. Several men surrounded us maliciously; someone even pulled out their phone to record. My sister cried out, trying to rush over, but Sue grabbed her hair and shoved her hard onto the floor. “Mia, where did you find these people? Are they brain-damaged, daring to act wild here?” “You play the innocent rich girl so well, but who knows whose bastard is in that belly!” With that, Sue slapped my sister across the face, drawing blood from the corner of her mouth. I violently kicked away the man beside me, trying to save her, but several thick arms pinned me down tightly. My bodyguards were blocked by the chaotic crowd on the periphery, unable to move a step. “Tsk tsk, the impostor’s addicted to acting?” Sue stepped with her high heels, the tip of her shoe pressing against my sister’s chin. “Kneel down and kowtow three times, and I might ask Bella to let your fake sister go.” My sister looked at Lucas with tears in her eyes, her voice trembling: “Lucas, she really is my biological sister. If you touch her, you’ll all regret it…” Lucas adjusted his cuffs coldly, his eyes looking at them like a pile of garbage: “If it weren’t for you, where would all this trouble come from? Hurry up and apologize to Sue.” “Kowtow! If you don’t kowtow, we’ll strip her naked right now!” The men laughed savagely, reaching for my collar. “I’ll kowtow!” My sister’s knees hit the marble floor heavily. Her forehead pressed against the cold marble. “Please, don’t touch my sister…” I watched as she slammed her forehead against the floor again and again. Every time she kowtowed, it felt like a sharp knife was carving out a piece of my heart. My assistant still hadn’t returned, and the bodyguards at the door were abnormally quiet. This was clearly wrong. Bella looked at my exquisite and beautiful face, a flash of jealousy in her eyes. She had pulled out a scalpel at some point, the blade pressing against my face. “Such a pretty face. I wonder if Mr. Sheng would still recognize it if it were sliced up?” “Don’t touch my sister!” My sister suddenly struggled. “Chris will make your life a living hell!” “You really think you’re still the eldest Miss Jiang. Too bad the Jiang family name doesn’t belong to Jiang anymore.” Mocking my sister, Bella pressed the blade into my face. Warm blood slid down my neck. Just as she was about to slice again. The main doors crashed open, and Chris entered with a team of subordinates. His gaze swept over my sister’s bloodstained forehead and the wound on my face. The atmospheric pressure in the room dropped instantly to freezing point. Chapter 4 “Chris,” my sister’s eyes lit up. “Tell them to let go of Big Sister!” Chris’s gloomy gaze swept across the venue, finally landing on Bella: “What’s going on?” Bella immediately put on an aggrieved expression. “Chris, look, this woman brought a fake seal to impersonate your sister.” Chris then looked at my sister, his eyes full of disgust: “Mia, how long are you going to keep making a scene? Sue has been tolerating you at every turn, but you just keep pushing your luck?” “Tolerating?” My sister trembled with anger. “They humiliated me in public and said Big Sister’s seal was fake, and you say I’m pushing my luck?” “You promised Big Sister you’d take care of me! And now you’re helping an outsider bully me?” “Outsider?” Sue smugly took Chris’s arm. “I’m his biological sister! What are you?” My face covered in blood, I stared coldly at Chris. He was focused only on comforting Sue. My sister looked anxious, pointing at me and saying, “Big Sister has returned. How will you explain this to her now?” Chris finally looked at me. The moment he saw my face clearly, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly reverted to indifference: “Mia, your sister died a long time ago. Getting a body double to act is boring.” I couldn’t help but sneer. So the dog my family raised actually learned to bite when its master wasn’t looking. “Chris Sheng, you really throw your weight around!” Hearing the familiar voice, Chris’s pupils contracted violently, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. He lifted my chin with trembling fingers, examining me closely for a long time. His eyes were filled with thick, unresolvable emotions. For a long while, he gently touched the wound on my face and sighed deeply. “This face is really like her… What a pity. If not for this scar, I could have let you follow me.” “But now, it’s useless.” There was sorrow on his face, as if through me, he was remembering someone he loved but couldn’t have. “No matter how alike you are, what’s the use? She’s gone…” With that, he closed his eyes. “Bella, you handle it.” Bella had a sarcastic smile on her face, as if she saw me as a joke. She raised her hand and snapped her fingers. Several burly men immediately tore open my collar. My sister was roughly pinned onto a card table, chips scattering on the floor with a clatter. At this moment, the gilded gates of the grand hall crashed down with a loud bang. My assistant stood against the light, a dark mass of people behind him surging in like a tide. He had wounds on his face and said apologetically, “Sorry, Miss Jiang. There was… a delay on the way.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388871”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I woke up the day after my divorce was finalized with no memory of the past ten years. Later, my ex-husband, Asher, found me. He said that if I stopped acting crazy every day, he might consider remarrying me. I froze, biting down on my ice cream spoon. After a long pause, I finally spoke: “Let’s not! I… I… I’m actually perfectly fine just taking the money.” Chapter 1 When I woke up, my best friend, Chloe, was looking at me with a worried expression. She told me not to be sad. She said my body belonged to me, and even though I was divorced, I still had to live well. She said the kids wouldn’t be mistreated living with Asher, and there was no need for me to fight another lawsuit, especially since I wouldn’t win. I stared blankly for a long time before I couldn’t help but ask: “Who is Asher?” Chloe froze, looking completely baffled. After a long moment, she snapped out of it and ran to call the doctor. The doctor said I had amnesia from the car accident. Chloe hurriedly asked me how old I thought I was. I thought about it: “Eighteen! Didn’t I just finish my SATs yesterday?” Chloe burst out laughing, squatting on the floor clutching her stomach, pounding the bed with her fist. “Eve, you are amazing! This amnesia is fantastic! Yes, you are eighteen! Eighteen is great! No Asher, no kids… just the two of us…” I was even more confused. Chapter 2 Chloe took me home. Once it was confirmed that my memory was unlikely to return soon, she gave me a brief rundown of my current situation. I, Evelyn Vance, fell in love during my freshman year of college and met a poor boy named Asher Sterling. I dated Asher for ten years, from eighteen to twenty-eight. I accompanied him through his startup, ate ramen and leftovers with him, bore him children, and took care of his parents. Then, this year, he fought a lawsuit to divorce me. “??? What?” I was shocked. What kind of melodramatic tragedy was this? After a long while, I asked with a trembling voice: “So, you’re saying I served someone like a servant for ten years, and at twenty-eight, I was kicked out?” Chloe nodded: “Yes. You also have two children, a son who is six and a daughter who is four. But because you were a housewife with no earning capacity, and both children chose to live with their father, custody was awarded to Asher.” “…What??? The two children I worked so hard to raise are gone…” Although I hadn’t experienced any of this in my memory, it sounded terrifying. I was almost scared to tears. Then Chloe laughed and patted my shoulder: “Don’t be too sad. At least you still have money.” Tears swirled in my eyes as I tentatively asked: “How much?” Chloe sat up straight: “Eve, listen carefully. You got 20% of Asher’s assets, 10% shares in three listed companies, and two brownstones in Manhattan. The total value is about 270 million dollars.” “…” Silence. Thought. Then I tentatively asked: “Chloe, you’re not lying to me, are you?” “If I’m lying, I’m a dog.” That day, I stared dazedly at the sky outside the window. I had forgotten ten years of memories. I didn’t know how I had lived those ten years. But Chloe said I was rich. And at eighteen, what I loved most was money. So I figured this wasn’t too bad. Chapter 3 Chloe took time off work. For the next few days, she took me around to transfer various assets. I didn’t see the Asher person Chloe talked about. He had delegated all the divorce property division matters to his lawyers. We were busy for nearly a month. Later, Chloe helped me list all the properties under my name for rent. She calculated for me that the monthly rent would be around 170,000 dollars. That day, looking at the countless zeros in my bank account, I looked up at the mirror to see my exquisite twenty-eight-year-old self. I scratched my head. Not bad. Chapter 4 I had nothing to do at home, but Chloe had to work. I spent every day at Chloe’s place playing video games. When Chloe ordered takeout for lunch, she ordered for me too. Chloe got off work very late. When she came back at night, she was half-dead, collapsing onto the sofa lifelessly. I would drop my game controller and massage her shoulders. Perhaps due to muscle memory, I was excellent at massaging. After resting enough, Chloe started lamenting: “Asher is a freaking animal. Right after graduation, you worked for him for free. His mother was in poor health, and after work, you had to massage her back and shoulders.” “…” As she spoke, Chloe pulled me over and flicked my forehead: “Eve, you’re just spineless. When I’m not around, you let them bully you. That group of people just bullied you because you were an unloved child.” I rubbed my head, feeling a bit wronged: “I don’t remember any of what you said! I only remember you.” Chloe stopped talking, then laughed: “That’s right! You don’t remember. It’s better not to remember. Just remember me. I won’t bully you.” I believed Chloe because we grew up together. We both grew up in a foster home. When we were very young, I followed Chloe around. Chloe snatched snacks for me and helped me wash clothes. Later, when we grew up a bit, Chloe tutored me. She was a year older than me. When I was a senior in high school, she was a freshman in college. She called me every day, telling me to work hard. She wanted me to go to the same university as her, but Chloe scored too high. I studied myself to death, but I still couldn’t get into an Ivy League. The day the results came out, I hugged Chloe and cried. Chloe flicked my forehead: “What are you crying for? 1450 on the SATs, such an amazing score, what’s there to cry about?” She patted my head: “It’s already very good.” Later, I went to New York crying. Chapter 5 Chloe regretted it whenever she talked about it. She said she shouldn’t have let me go to New York: “If you hadn’t gone to New York, you wouldn’t have met Asher. If you hadn’t met Asher…” I interrupted: “Then I wouldn’t have these 270 million dollars.” Chloe put her hands on her hips: “Is money more important or your ten years?” I tried to guess the correct answer: “Money?” Chloe looked at me like iron that failed to become steel: “You are important! If you’re not happy, no amount of money is useful. Luckily you have amnesia, otherwise if you couldn’t think straight and did something foolish, what use would that money be?” “Hmm… buy me a nice cemetery plot…” Chloe laughed angrily: “Get lost!” “…” Chloe had always been amazing, and she was still amazing now. She was the general manager of a multinational corporation, with a monthly salary of around 60,000 dollars. But she was busy. Sometimes she had to travel for business and was worried about leaving me alone. So she took me along. Later, she figured since she was taking me everywhere anyway, why spend her own money? She hired me into her company as her assistant. I was familiar with this! I had read dozens of books about domineering CEOs falling in love with their little assistants in the past few months. On the first day, I wore a pencil skirt and went to work full of confidence. I made her coffee, organized her materials, and ran around. I looked very hardworking. Later, she laughed and told me to stop running. She gave me a spreadsheet: “Let Anna guide you. Work on this. Learn slowly, no rush.” “Okay, okay.” And just like that, I officially started working.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388870”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My diver husband sent a distress signal from deep underwater, but as the equipment manager, I just pulled the blanket over my head and went back to sleep. In my past life, he broke protocol and took his “first love” diving late at night, just to see the “starry sky” of the ocean floor. The moment their equipment malfunctioned, I dove in to save them without hesitation. Who knew he would let her lock me in a shark cage at the bottom of the ocean? When I finally managed to surface, gasping for air, he was waiting with a squad of police officers, accusing me of sabotage. “I knew you were up to no good sneaking out here in the middle of the night, intentionally damaging the gear! Thank god we caught it in time!” Facing the media cameras, his “first love,” Bella, cried until her eyes were red. “Is my sister really willing to tamper with the oxygen tanks just because she’s jealous of my relationship with Mark?” I saved him and his beloved Bella, yet they framed me, unleashed an internet mob against me, and I ended up taking my own life in prison. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day they planned their secret dive. Mark’s familiar voice rang in my ear. “Babe, you worked so hard staying up late. Once this busy period is over, I’m taking you to Bali.” The memories of my past life flashed before my eyes, and my body involuntarily shuddered. Seeing that I didn’t respond, Mark asked with concern over the phone: “What’s wrong? If you’re sleepy, just take a nap. No one comes into the base at this hour anyway.” I sneered, watching two sneaky figures in the distance. In my last life, I thought he truly cared about me. Instead, he pinned a charge of negligence on me. But it was midnight right now. In my past life, the media arrived the moment the incident happened. How could they have predicted an accident? Unless… Mark had planned it all along? Thinking of what was about to happen, I tried to calm myself and said: “Alright, honey. You get some rest early too.” Hanging up, I put in earplugs, pulled on an eye mask, and buried myself under the covers in the break room. In my past life, my husband took advantage of the empty base tonight to sneak Bella underwater to see the bioluminescent plankton—the “starry sky.” Night diving is extremely risky, and with no lifeguards on duty, it’s strictly forbidden. But just because Bella said she “wanted to see the stars under the sea,” Mark was willing to risk his life to make her wish come true. Not long after they went under, their gear malfunctioned. I dove in to save them without a second thought. Yet, after they were safe, they locked me in the shark observation cage at the bottom. No matter how I begged, they swam toward the surface without looking back. The oxygen in my tank wasn’t enough to last until dawn. In my panic, I found the spare key to the cage hidden in my wetsuit pocket—a stroke of pure luck that let me escape death. Once I surfaced, I rushed to the changing room, planning to confront Mark. But as soon as I changed, he surrounded me with police officers. He glared at me with hatred, as if I weren’t his wife but his mortal enemy. “Luna, how could you be so cruel? I’m your husband! You tampered with the diving equipment trying to kill me and Bella!” “How did I end up marrying a venomous woman like you?” Shocked and angry at his baseless accusations, I desperately denied everything to the police. But then, he produced a security video showing me cutting the oxygen tube on a diving suit. Experts verified the video wasn’t edited; it was real. Bella appeared with a swarm of reporters right on cue. She held up medical reports of injuries and a video of me slapping her, crying her heart out on a live stream, accusing me. She claimed that because I was jealous of her growing up with Mark, I used my position to bully her. She said I often beat her when no one was around. Blinded by rage, I charged at Bella, screaming: “Bella, what nonsense are you spouting? You framed me repeatedly, provoked me on purpose! I only slapped you because I couldn’t take it anymore!” “You need to tell the truth right now, or I won’t let you off!” Bella screamed in feigned terror, acting like a traumatized victim. That sealed it. Everyone believed she was the innocent victim. And I became the petty, malicious abuser. Just like that, I became a pariah. Convicted of attempted murder and assault, I was sentenced to fifteen years. Later, the story somehow reached the prison, and I became the target of beatings and abuse from other inmates. The inhumane life slowly drained my will to appeal. I gradually realized that everything I suffered was a trap set by Mark and Bella long ago. In the end, consumed by despair, I took my own life. Just like in my past life, Mark and Bella ran into trouble less than ten minutes after diving. Chapter 1 The piercing alarm woke up the others at the base. I chose not to dive in to save them, but Mark and Bella were rescued anyway. Compared to my past life, however, they suffered much more this time. When I followed the crowd to the shore, they were collapsed on the sand, gasping for air. Bella’s face was pale as a sheet, her eyes red from nearly drowning. Mark, seeing me standing in the crowd watching the show, immediately stormed over from the beach, pointing a finger in my face and roaring: “Luna, weren’t you on duty tonight? Why didn’t you come to save us immediately?” I glanced at him indifferently and gave a half-hearted explanation: “Sorry, I put in earplugs before sleeping, so I didn’t hear the alarm.” He ignored my explanation, grabbing my wrist and throwing me heavily to the ground. “I think you did it on purpose! Don’t think I don’t know, you planned all of this tonight!” Then, he turned to the others at the base, pointing at me viciously: “As the equipment manager, she intentionally damaged our diving gear, which is why we had an accident ten minutes after going under!” “And she deliberately refused to help, wanting Bella and me to drown!” Everyone looked shocked. Some colleagues who were usually on good terms with me spoke up: “Mark, Luna isn’t that kind of person. There must be a misunderstanding.” “Yeah, Mark, you and Luna have always had a good relationship. She has no reason to do this!” Of course, there were doubts too: “Mark is our base’s most experienced diver. If it wasn’t an equipment issue, how could he suddenly have an accident?” “Exactly, Mark has ten years of diving experience and zero errors on his record.” Whispers spread through the crowd. My gaze remained fixed on Mark’s face. I didn’t miss the calculation and triumph hidden beneath his anger. “Setting aside the fact that deliberately damaging diving equipment is a serious crime that would land me in prison,” I said calmly. “You are my husband. I would only want you safe. What benefit do I get if you die? I didn’t buy any life insurance for you!” As I finished speaking, more people started to side with me. Mark’s face darkened, his eyes full of malice. At this moment, Bella, having recovered from her near-death fear, was helped into the center of the crowd. She looked at me hesitantly before speaking: “Luna, we’ve known each other for so many years, and I considered us friends. I shouldn’t be saying this in front of everyone.” “But I never expected you’d try to kill us? Mark is your husband!” “He treats you so well. How could you be so cruel just because you’re jealous of our friendship?” “I will definitely press charges against you!” Mark immediately stood by her side to show his loyalty: “Luna was on duty tonight but neglected her post, almost causing a fatality. I don’t see how she can stay in this industry!” With that, he took out his phone to call the police. “911? I want to report an attempted murder!” Chapter 2 Seeing Mark call the police, the crowd stirred again. “This isn’t the first time Luna has done something like this. This toxic woman should be locked up!” Bella glanced at me, feigning distress but not holding back her words: “Mark and I have been neighbors forever, so we grew up close. His parents are like my godparents.” “You all know Luna has a strong personality, so my godparents don’t like her; they prefer me.” “Because of this, Luna often picks on me. I’ve explained many times that I only see Mark as a brother, but she won’t believe me. Sometimes she even hits me.” “I endured it because I didn’t want to make things hard for Mark, but I didn’t expect Luna to go this far.” Hearing this, the colleagues who had stood by me stepped back. Their eyes filled with the same disdain and anger as in my past life. It felt like history repeating itself. “Luna looks so nice usually. I didn’t know she was like this behind closed doors.” “I never liked her. She’s just arrogant because her family has money! Let’s see how she gets out of this.” “Sigh! You really can’t judge a book by its cover.” Seeing everyone believe them so quickly, Mark and Bella exchanged a secret glance of triumph. I clenched my fists until my nails dug into my palms. The pain kept me lucid, preventing me from drowning in the trauma of the past. Calming myself, I stared straight at the smug pair. “Every dive at the base requires registration and approval. There’s a clear rule: no night diving without special circumstances, and even then, at least two divers must accompany you.” “Mark, why isn’t your name in the logbook?” The crowd, previously busy blaming me, suddenly realized the truth. Mark had violated regulations by diving at night, which nearly caused a major accident. Even if the police came, he wouldn’t look good for breaking the rules. The smug look on Mark’s face twisted for a second. But soon, he smiled faintly. “Bella is the daughter of a shareholder. If she wants to dive, she naturally got approval directly from the owner.” “Stop changing the subject. If I hadn’t reacted quickly today, two people would be dead!” Suddenly, someone shouted: “The police are here!” Following them was a swarm of media and the base owner. Chapter 3 Several uniformed officers and a large group of reporters with microphones and cameras appeared at the base entrance simultaneously. Even though I was mentally prepared, the trauma of the past life’s cyberbullying was deep. Seeing the cameras, my body instinctively trembled. Bella saw this, and her smugness grew. While no one was looking, she whispered in my ear: “Luna, if I were you, I’d confess. Maybe they’ll go easy on you.” I sneered. Did they really think a few videos were enough to convict me? Seeing my silence, Mark pushed me toward the police, acting righteous: “Officers, this woman attempted murder! Arrest her immediately!” Dozens of cameras pointed at my face, but I was calm. “What proof do you have that I damaged the suits? Did you see me do it?” As if expecting this, Mark confidently pulled out his phone and played a surveillance video. In the video, I was holding a small knife, vigorously cutting the oxygen tube of a diving suit. When the video played, the crowd’s shock turned to disgust and anger. Mark, seeing their reaction, couldn’t hide his glee: “Luna, we’re married. I didn’t want it to come to this, but you’ve gone too far!” “If I don’t teach you a lesson now, next time you might actually kill me!” Mark marched up to the owner, pointing at me accusingly. “This woman abused her power for a personal vendetta, publicly damaging equipment and nearly causing a disaster. As an employee, I am ashamed of her!” Mark spoke with confidence in front of the police, completely missing the owner’s darkening face. Especially the young woman behind the owner, who was glaring at him. I smiled, not rushing to stop Mark’s tirade. He didn’t know that this morning, the owner had asked me to mentor his daughter, Chloe, who was interning at the base. The first task I gave her was to organize and inspect the diving gear. So, the only person in the equipment room during the day was the owner’s daughter, Chloe. Mark thought the owner looked mad because of me. He looked at me triumphantly. “Luna, the evidence is here. What else do you have to say?” I chuckled, clapping slowly as I stepped forward. “Officer, I want to report Mark for fabricating evidence and framing me. I have a witness!” Chapter 4 My words were loud and clear, shocking everyone again. Reporters, sensing a scoop, turned their cameras to me. Mark looked surprised, his face alternating between green and white, chest heaving. “Luna, I’ve shown irrefutable evidence, and you still dare claim you’re framed?” “What? Are you saying the person in the video isn’t you, but an imposter?” “Or are you questioning the authenticity of my video! And a witness? Who? Yourself?” “Officer, since she refuses to confess, I’m willing to hand over this video for forensic analysis. I just want justice!” Mark sounded so sure. As the officer took the phone, he patted Mark’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. We won’t wrong a good person, nor let a bad one go.” But the next second, the base owner rushed out and punched Mark in the face. “I am the witness!” “Luna didn’t damage the suits. You ungrateful brat, how dare you spread lies here!” In my past life, the suddenness of the event and the betrayal by my beloved husband left me unable to defend myself calmly. That’s why I was passive. Since my rebirth, I’ve been analyzing every detail, looking for flaws in Mark and Bella’s story. Mark was stunned, holding his face, unable to speak. He had no idea what was happening. But I wasn’t kind enough to explain. Seeing the owner’s face darken further, Mark finally squeezed out: “Boss, don’t be fooled by this woman. She’s a murderer!” I sneered. “Who’s the vicious one here?” “For your own selfish gain, you came up with such a sinister plan to frame me!” “Enough! Stop arguing!” The police shouted. “The truth isn’t determined by your shouting.” “We will investigate thoroughly. If you have more evidence, submit it. Otherwise, shut up!” Mark shut his mouth unwillingly, his face still ugly. Everyone involved was taken to the station, with reporters following the police cars. On the way, I looked at Mark’s angry face, recalling our five years of marriage. Before Bella returned from abroad, we were happy. We commuted together, cooked together. We dreamed of the future, planning to travel the world after retirement. But once Bella appeared, his heart left our home. He started staying out late. Whenever Bella and I had a conflict, he blindly sided with her. I thought if I treated him well, he would wake up and return to me. Instead, they sent me to hell. Mark glared at me viciously, then walked over to Bella. Bella must have told him what I whispered to her. Mark looked even gloomier. He glanced at me several times, each look sending chills down my spine. I don’t know how he comforted Bella. Minutes later, Bella stepped forward, shouting to the police and reporters: “Officer, I want to sue Luna for assault.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388869”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I secretly kept a cat in my dorm room. Since he was the only male living in a suite full of girls, my roommates jokingly started calling him “Hubby.” Over time, the little guy actually started responding to it. It was funny and cute within our four walls. Until the day he sneaked out, and I found myself running across campus screaming “Hubby!” at the top of my lungs. Chapter 1 I came back from my afternoon lecture to find my three-month-old orange tabby missing. “Girls, Hubby is gone!” I shrieked. The whole suite mobilized, searching every corner of the dorm, but he was nowhere to be found. It was the dead of winter in Boston. All I could think about was my little kitten freezing out there, starving, or worse—getting flattened into a pancake by a shuttle bus. Shame was a luxury I couldn’t afford. I ran around campus, checking every bush and corner, yelling “Hubby!” Students passing by gave me weird looks. I didn’t have time to explain. Then, I looked up and saw a guy holding an orange cat. Tears streaming down my face, I sprinted toward him. “Hubby! I finally found you!” Chapter 2 The guy looked terrified. My roommate, who was trailing behind me, looked like she was watching a reality TV show. “Ethan, is this your… wife?” his friend asked, confused. The guy holding the cat dodged my lunge defensively. “Excuse me? Please calm down.” I frantically waved my hands. “No, no! The cat! The cat is mine. His name is Hubby.” Who names a cat Hubby? Me, apparently. “Look, I know it sounds crazy, but you have to believe me.” To prove it, I looked at the cat and called out, “Hubby!” The orange tabby immediately meowed and leaped into my arms, purring. The misunderstanding was cleared up, but Ethan—that was his name—still gave me a stern lecture. “Pets aren’t allowed in the dorms. You’re violating policy, and honestly, it’s irresponsible to the cat.” I knew that. But I had rescued him from a storm and couldn’t find a foster. My roommates fell in love with him, so we kept him. A gust of wind blew cat hair into my eye. My eyes watered instantly, turning red. Seeing my tears, Ethan’s attitude softened. “Don’t cry… just take your… Hubby back.” Chapter 3 Back in the dorm, I recounted the rescue mission. “Do you think he’ll report you to the RA?” asked Lily, my roommate who always assumed the worst. I thought about Ethan’s handsome face. He looked like a stand-up guy. But then I remembered his cold lecture. Maybe he was a stickler for rules. My roommates suggested I buy him dinner—part thank-you, part bribe. That’s when I realized I forgot to ask for his number. “But I remember his face. I can draw him.” Thank you, Mom, for forcing me into art classes. I sketched a quick portrait and handed it to Jess, our suite’s “networker.” She knew everyone in Student Gov and the Greek system. “Ethan Wright. Computer Science grad student. Known as the ‘Ice Prince’ of the Engineering building.” Jess told me half the posts on the campus confession page were about him. Apparently, getting his contact info was harder than getting into Harvard. Well, I didn’t want his number for romance. I just wanted to keep my cat. Unfortunately, trouble came in pairs. I had to see Ethan again very soon. Chapter 4 In the Resident Director’s office, the bald RD looked at me with disappointment. “Ivy, we just had a meeting about campus conduct. Public displays of drama are discouraged!” “You were running around screaming ‘Hubby’? Do you think this is a soap opera?” I didn’t dare admit Hubby was a cat, or I’d get evicted. So I took the blame for being a dramatic girlfriend. “Bring your boyfriend here. We need to have a talk.” “What? No, no, no. That’s not necessary. I’ll tell him myself!” If I brought Ethan, the jig would be up. If the jig was up, my cat would be homeless. Homeless cat equals cat pancake. Seeing my hesitation, the RD got angrier. “Go get him! Now!” I stood outside Ethan’s lab, pacing. Excuse me, Ethan, can you help me take the blame? Ethan, want to lie to administration with me? He’d have to be crazy to agree. But my mouth had a mind of its own. When he walked out, instead of my rehearsed speech, I blurted out: “Ethan, can you be my Hubby?” His eyes widened. “Are you serious?” I quickly explained the RD situation. “So, you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend and get yelled at by administration?” “Do I look stupid?” “No, no! I’m the stupid one! Please, help a stupid girl out?” I clasped my hands together in prayer. Ethan shook his head and walked away. I couldn’t blame him. Who would do that for a stranger? Chapter 5 I had to keep lying to the RD. I said my boyfriend broke up with me over the incident and that I would be a model student from now on. To sell it, I cried my eyes out in the office before leaving. I thought it was over. I slept like a baby. Until Jess shook me awake the next morning. “Ivy! Your Hubby is here!” I shot up from bed. “What? The cat got out again?” “No, the human Hubby.” Ethan was standing downstairs outside our dorm, looking like a solitary pine tree in the snow. Why was he here? Revenge? To turn me in? I went down trembling, telling my roommates to be ready to rescue me. Ethan looked cold, a hint of suppressed anger in his brow. “Ivy, did I offend you in a past life?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388868”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I am the sole heiress of the Sterling family empire, but my gender is considered a flaw. Everyone said the three foster sons my father groomed were the true heirs, while I was just a placeholder. They never spared me a glance. I courted Liam Sterling hundreds of times, only to receive his countless looks of disdain. I thought he treated all women with such cold indifference, until I saw him kneel before Lily Blackwood, the chauffeur’s daughter, swearing an oath: “I only agreed to marry her to repay the Sterling family for raising me. Once I take control of the Sterling empire, I will marry you with the grandeur you deserve. As long as Seraphina Sterling doesn’t hurt you, I can give her a few million to live out her days abroad.” “You are the only wife in my heart.” On the eve of the shareholders’ meeting, my father asked me who I would choose. I recalled the evasive gazes of those three men and smiled: “After all, I am the Sterling heiress. Marriage should maximize benefits.” “I choose Alexander Thorne of the capital.” My father frowned: “Alexander was paralyzed in a car accident five years ago. He’s not only wheelchair-bound but also impotent. Are you sure?” Chapter 1 My voice was soft but firm. “In our class, true love is a myth. Since it’s all about profit, naturally, I choose the Thorne family, which offers the greatest benefit.” My father’s expression was grave. “That may be so, but of the three boys I raised for you, did none of them catch your eye?” My father loved my mother deeply, but she died of a sudden brain hemorrhage the year I was born. He couldn’t bear to remarry, yet he couldn’t rest easy leaving the vast Sterling empire solely in the hands of a woman. Following a friend’s advice, my father adopted three orphaned boys. He wrote his will early on: whichever one I chose would help me run the company and suppress the other board members. My father loved me, but that didn’t conflict with his belief that a woman couldn’t hold up the enormous Sterling Corporation alone. I looked at my father. “Although Alexander is paralyzed and impotent, I can use IVF to have his child. He is also the sole heir of the Thorne family. Rather than choosing an orphan to support the Sterling family, it’s better to choose a powerful ally.” My father nodded. “Since the three of them didn’t have the ability to win your heart, there’s no need for them to stay in the Sterling Corporation.” If I merely said it was because Liam didn’t love me and I didn’t want to force him, my father would surely make Liam kneel before me and question what right a foster son had to refuse. I didn’t want my father to use years of kindness to blackmail Liam, nor did I want to force Liam to marry me, creating a resentful couple. Moreover, the words Liam had spoken had thoroughly chilled my heart. Parting ways amicably was already my greatest mercy. As he walked out of the office, my father glanced sideways at Liam. After obediently seeing my father off, Liam turned and frowned at me: “What did you tattle about this time?” His eyes were full of disgust and impatience, as if I had committed some heinous crime. Before I could speak, Chase next to him sneered: “Isn’t it obvious?” “Probably complaining that we three didn’t include her or pamper her.” The remaining one, Noah, also looked disdainful. “I say, Miss Sterling, the old days are gone. Do you still think having some money makes you a princess everyone must revolve around?” The three of them united against a common enemy, using sharp words to sting me. I was baffled. “If none of you want to marry me, why did no one ever tell my father?” Although my father intended to groom them as potential husbands, he never forced it. As long as they said no, my father would immediately prepare a sum of money to send them abroad to live freely. In the end, they just couldn’t let go of the wealth behind the Sterling name. Noah, the most hot-tempered one, clicked his tongue impatiently: “That sounds nice, but you know we’re living under your roof. We’re just dogs raised by the Sterling family. What right do we have to refuse?” Liam looked at me with a grim expression. “If you want to choose me, then choose me. I just hope you won’t make things difficult for the other two in the future.” Hearing this, Noah and Chase were instantly moved. Seeing Liam’s expression of self-sacrifice, I only felt immense bitterness in my heart. Before I could say anything, Lily suddenly appeared. Seeing me, she acted frightened and hid behind Liam. Liam instinctively blocked Lily. “She didn’t do anything. Just let her go today.” I looked at them in confusion, only to find that the three who were supposed to protect me were all shielding Lily, afraid I would bully her. Chapter 2 Five years ago, when Lily first came to the Sterling estate, she gave me a hair clip. I gifted her a bracelet worth a hundred thousand dollars in return as a welcome gift. Unexpectedly, just as I opened the pastry box, Liam snatched it away. He scolded angrily, “You want to snatch the keepsake Lily’s mother left her too?” I looked at Lily in confusion, wanting her to explain that she gave it to me voluntarily. But Lily suddenly knelt down, weeping like a pear blossom bathed in rain. “It wasn’t the Young Miss who snatched it; I gave it to her voluntarily.” “The Young Miss is very good to me. She even gave me a bracelet. I really don’t feel wronged.” She kowtowed to me repeatedly. This scene made the three boys red-eyed, reminding them of their own foster status. They questioned me righteously: “Even if you are the Sterling family heiress, you have no right to force someone to give you their mother’s keepsake, right?” “Although the hair clip isn’t worth much money, its meaning is far beyond this bracelet worth a few tens of thousands. Give the hair clip back to Lily immediately!” “Truly as domineering as ever, only caring about your own happiness regardless of others’ lives.” My face changed instantly, but thinking there might be a misunderstanding, I thought clearing it up would be fine. Suppressing my anger, I handed the hair clip to Lily, but she didn’t catch it firmly. The hair clip shattered instantly. She bit her lip and shouted at me: “Since the Young Miss would rather destroy it than return it to me, why put on an act?” Liam, who always hated seeing the poor bullied, immediately threatened with a cold face: “Apologize to Lily right now, or don’t blame me for breaking the engagement!” At that time, I had already confessed to Liam, saying I wouldn’t marry anyone but him. Liam used this as leverage to force me to bow to Lily. I was too young then and dared not risk losing my beloved to defend myself. I could only lower my head and apologize with red eyes. But this apology lasted for a full five years. Since then, whenever Lily saw me, it was like a mouse seeing a cat. She would either suddenly kneel or burst into tears. But I did nothing… I looked at Liam coldly: “If you’re really afraid I’ll bully Lily, just tie her to your belt at all times.” It was clearly a sarcastic remark, but Liam frowned and said: “Are you threatening me? What do you want to do to Lily?” Noah clapped his hands and pointed at me. “Is it because we three gave the ‘Ocean of Stars’ to Lily, and you’re planning to use that as an excuse to bully her?” Chase looked at me with cold eyes. “You have everything, but no one ever celebrated Lily’s birthday. It’s just an ‘Ocean of Stars.’ Is it necessary to hold onto it?” My eyes turned cold. “‘Ocean of Stars’?” The “Ocean of Stars” was an underground aquarium that had been under construction since my birth. In the southeast, there was a piece of top-tier imperial green jade. Through the shimmering seawater, it refracted beauty like a cosmic galaxy. It was nearing completion half a year ago. My father entrusted the finishing work to Liam, making him responsible for presenting the “Ocean of Stars” to me at my birthday party in a month. But now, this gift that belonged to me had become Lily’s. My gaze fell on Liam. He was in charge of the final stages of this project. Without his approval, no one could enter the unopened aquarium. Liam looked a bit guilty under my gaze and turned his head angrily: “Lily has always lived in the countryside, busy making a living, and never properly seen the stars. I just wanted to fulfill one of her wishes. Besides, doesn’t the ownership of the aquarium still belong to you?” “Stop being unreasonable. At worst, I’ll announce our engagement at your birthday party in a month. Are you satisfied now?” Seeing Liam’s charitable expression, I almost thought I was the adopted one. But no one present realized anything was wrong. Instead, they all felt it was unworthy for Liam. “Why make such a big sacrifice? Seraphina is willful, capricious, and vicious. Marrying her is worse than becoming a monk.” “I’m afraid Seraphina will be so happy she won’t know north from south. Her long-cherished wish is finally coming true.” “Boohoo, Brother Liam, please don’t ruin your life’s happiness for me. I’ll kneel and kowtow to Sister Seraphina. I’ll be her slave; I’ll do anything…” My throat was dry as I spat out a sentence: “I won’t marry you.” Liam raised an eyebrow in surprise and suspicion. Noah and Chase looked at each other, terrified I would say I wanted to marry them. Being so despised by the three I grew up with, I was afraid I would cry if I didn’t leave immediately. I turned to leave but was grabbed by the wrist by Lily. Her eyes were red, and she knelt to me again: “Please don’t make things difficult for Brother Liam. The three of them were adopted by your Sterling family and are inherently inferior. If you are angry because they gave the ‘Ocean of Stars’ to me and want to complain to Uncle Sterling, I am willing to apologize to you with my forehead.” She started kowtowing bang bang bang, and soon her forehead was red and bleeding. Liam helped her up from the ground with heartache, turning to glare at me: “You say you won’t marry me, then have the guts not to choose me when the time comes! What kind of skill is it to retreat in order to advance and make things difficult for Lily?!” “Don’t you just want to take the opportunity to complain and force Lily away?” I looked at Liam coldly. “I don’t understand what you’re saying, but rest assured, I will absolutely not choose you as my husband.” I thought Liam would let it go at that, but unexpectedly, he grabbed my hand: “If you don’t choose me, who will you choose? Chase or Noah?” “Noah loves art and wants to go abroad for further studies. Chase yearns for freedom. Is harming one of me not enough? Do you want to attack them too?” Liam took a deep breath. “As long as you promise not to make things difficult for Lily from now on, I can marry you. Stop making a fuss, okay?” His eyes were full of exhaustion, as if he had been tortured by me for a long time. I looked deeply at Liam. “Everything will be as you wish.” He was afraid I would bully Lily, and even more unwilling to marry me. When I married Alexander Thorne, all his worries would be solved. Chapter 3 I hadn’t sought out Liam for a while, until the day of the birthday party, when he appeared with a cold face. Chase and Noah followed behind him, looking unhappy. I frowned at my assistant. I had clearly said the engagement partner to be announced today wasn’t them, so there was no need to invite them. But the assistant shook her head frantically, with a look that said, “I didn’t know; they came on their own.” I sighed helplessly, preparing to pretend I hadn’t seen anything. The guests below were warmer than me, greeting the three of them one after another. “Young Master Liam is truly young and promising. The project you secured last month must have generated millions in revenue, right? No wonder Miss Sterling is devoted only to you.” But I was the one who negotiated that project; Liam just went to sign. “Young Master Noah has a bad temper but hates evil as if it were his enemy. Miss Sterling surely won’t be wronged following you.” I sneered inwardly. The one who bullied me the most happened to be Noah. He viewed me as a viper, wishing he could execute me on the spot. “Young Master Chase is also a handsome talent. Miss Sterling choosing you isn’t wrong either. Anyway, please take care of us in the future.” The three of them were like fish in water at my birthday party, acting like the hosts. I frowned, wanting to stop this farce, but the three of them looked down at their phones simultaneously. Before I could react, Noah’s face changed first. He rushed to me in a few steps and slapped me. My head spun from the hit, and I almost fell to the ground. Everyone was frightened by this scene, dodging away, afraid to cause trouble. Liam clenched his hands into fists, stopped Noah who wanted to strike again, and turned to look at me with gritted teeth: “We have already come here like goods for you to choose from. What are you still dissatisfied with?” “Do you have to drive Lily to death?” I was baffled. Seeing my expression, Chase felt even more disdain in his heart. “You took advantage of our absence from Lily’s side and dared to hire someone to kidnap her. I tell you, you won’t get your way!” As soon as this sentence came out, I immediately understood that Lily was playing tricks again. The guests present were either my father’s friends or business partners. I was slapped in front of them, yet no one stopped it. My heart sank. Presumably, they believed the Sterling family wouldn’t fall into my hands, so they dared not easily offend the three of them. I covered my face and looked at Noah with cold eyes. “Apologize!” Noah glanced at my red eyes and spoke sarcastically: “Lily almost lost her purity. What do you have to feel aggrieved about just being slapped?” “Boohoo~” Lily ran in crying, her dress tattered, making people suspect if she had encountered something. Liam quickly took off his suit jacket and draped it over Lily, turning to look at me with disgust: “You truly are as scheming as ever. I will absolutely not marry a woman like you!” Chase, who was usually quiet, stood in front of Lily with a cold face: “Your mother couldn’t give birth to a boy to inherit the family business, so she tried every means to bring us three back as tools. We have accepted our fate, but I didn’t expect you to be insatiable.” “Since that’s the case, there’s no need to maintain this superficial peace.” He turned and left, not caring about the Sterling family’s face at all. Before leaving, Liam arrogantly dropped a sentence: “I will marry you, but you will just be a decoration in the future. If you want me to protect the Sterling family’s assets, you must behave yourself.” I laughed. Had they forgotten? Without me, the Sterling family wouldn’t have adopted them. Seeing the three of them about to leave, someone finally wanted to stop them. But I shouted with a cold face: “Let them go!” Lily glared at me provocatively, as if she had won the whole world. I stood there without saying a word until the assistant said anxiously: “What should we do? All three of them left. Who should you choose?” Other guests also frowned. “As a woman, she has to marry sooner or later. If the three foster husbands who know her well don’t want her, who else can she marry?” I wiped the tears from the corners of my eyes, smiling as I raised my red wine glass to toast everyone: “Guests, presumably everyone knows that today, besides being my birthday party, is also my engagement party.” A cold, handsome face appeared on the huge projection screen. Everyone gasped. “Isn’t that Alexander Thorne of the Thorne family in the capital?!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388867”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I was the “White Moonlight”—the unforgettable first love—of a wealthy dynasty. Four years after my death, I was resurrected. But by then, my replacement had already climbed to the top. Wearing a face identical to mine, she smirked at me with triumphant arrogance. “Everything you had is mine now. You’re too late.” What she didn’t know is the true power of a White Moonlight: The moment I appear, everyone abandons their principles and runs back to me. Chapter 1 “Mom, I’m home.” I pushed open the heavy oak doors of the Sterling estate with ease, smiling brightly at the woman sitting on the sofa. Just like every time I used to come home from school. Ordinary. Routine. Crash. The teacup in her hand smashed onto the floor, the sound muffled by the thick Persian rug. Her response was a scream that sounded like it tore her throat apart. “Serena! My Serena is back!” I am Serena Sterling, the eldest daughter of the Sterling empire. I died of heart failure. But on the brink of death, I was bound by a “Quick Transmigration System.” That’s when I learned the truth: I was just the early-dying “White Moonlight” in a novel about a substitute lover. The real protagonist was a body double who looked 90% like me. Because of her face, she would transcend her social class, catch the eye of the elite, and become the darling of the Sterling family. My parents would adopt her. My childhood sweetheart would fall in love with her. My little brother would obey her every command. She would gain everyone’s love. But all of this was based on one premise: I had to be dead. So when the System asked if I wanted to complete missions to earn a resurrection in my original world, I agreed without hesitation. Why should my life be a stepping stone for someone else? Why should my tragic death be the starting point of her happiness? So, I came back. “Mom, it’s me. I’m back.” My mother’s embrace was as warm as I remembered, but tight to the point of suffocation, as if she feared I would vanish if she let go. I sighed and gently patted her thin back, comforting her. The System had altered memories. Instead of dying in the hospital four years ago, the world now believed I went missing in a shipwreck. She thought she had been searching for me, day after day, year after year. And now, the lost was found. But this tearful reunion didn’t last long. A commotion at the door interrupted us. Chapter 2 “Mom! Look what we bought for you!” A voice, sugary sweet and unfamiliar, rang out before the person even appeared. A girl ran in first, carrying a box of pastries. A moment later, a voice I knew better than my own followed, filled with indulgence. “Slow down, don’t run.” Just one sentence, and I knew who it was. My childhood sweetheart, Julian Thorne. “Mom? Do we have guests? Why are you crying?” That was my little brother, Leo Sterling. He walked in as he spoke, but my back was turned to him, so he didn’t recognize me. He only saw our mother hugging a stranger and crying. He paused, confused. I felt my mother’s grip tighten. Her eyes were red, her lips trembling, trying to speak but choked by tears. “Mom, stop crying. What’s wrong? Who is this?” “Ouch, Julian, why did you pinch me? That hurts!” The sweet voice spoke again, this time with a whining, coquettish tone. Julian seemed to sense something. His burning gaze bored into my back. He ignored the girl’s complaint. His Adam’s apple bobbed as if trying to force out a name that had been familiar yet foreign for so long. “Why are you all acting so weird? The security guard at the gate said I already came home once today. So strange.” The girl muttered, looking from my crying mother to my silent brother, and finally to Julian, whose emotions were clearly volatile. Finally, her gaze landed on me. A bad premonition rose in her heart. As if to confirm her fears, I pulled away from my mother’s arms, turned around, and looked at them. “Leo. Julian. Long time no see.” Chapter 3 “Serena…” Julian’s voice trembled almost imperceptibly. Leo, however, had no filter. “Serena Sterling! You dare come back?! Where the hell have you been all these years? Do you know I really thought you were dead! How dare you! How dare you…” At eighteen, he wasn’t exactly composed. He spoke through gritted teeth, but his eyes were terrifyingly red, and tears fell one after another uncontrollably. I patted his shoulder guiltily. “Leo, you’ve grown up.” Back then, he was just a fourteen-year-old brat. In the blink of an eye, he was a man. He finally broke down, burying his head on my shoulder, sobbing softly. “Sis, I missed you so much.” While we were caught up in the joy and sorrow of reunion, the pastry box crashed to the floor. Only then did everyone notice the girl standing at the door, who hadn’t made a sound. I looked at her. That face, so highly similar to mine, had lost all color. She looked terribly pathetic. We sat together for a dinner filled with hidden currents. The table was full of my favorite dishes. Mom kept piling food onto my plate. Leo peeled shrimp for me without being asked. When Julian subconsciously put a piece of sweet and sour ribs—my favorite—into Chloe’s bowl, everyone froze. “Thank you,” Chloe said calmly, clenching her palm. It was the first time she had spoken since realizing who I was. “Mmh,” Julian paused, giving a faint response. I ignored the undercurrents at the table and ate calmly. “Your room hasn’t changed. I cleaned it myself every day. Go rest after eating. The doctor will come check on you later. Your dad comes back tomorrow.” Mom rambled on with her worries, and I agreed to everything. They didn’t say much about Chloe, but I wasn’t panicked. That’s the confidence of being loved. However, I didn’t expect that even if I didn’t go looking for trouble, trouble would come knocking. Late at night, there was a knock on my door. Chapter 4 I opened the door to see Chloe’s familiar face. She stood there holding a glass of milk. I raised an eyebrow at her, surprised. I thought she was here to smooth things over. But unexpectedly, she dropped the silence she held at dinner and wore a sneer on her face. “You died once, why did you have to come back? Do you think you can compete with me?” “I’ve spent four years conquering them. Except for this room, everything you owned is mine now. You’re too late, understand?” Conquering? That’s a familiar term. Before I could react, she splashed the milk onto her own face, screamed, and threw herself to the ground. The glass shattered with a crisp sound. She wept like a pear blossom bathed in rain. “Sister, I’m sorry! I just wanted to be nice, I didn’t mean any harm!” How long has it been since I experienced such a low-level frame-up? For a moment, I actually found it funny. I looked coldly at the girl on the floor. She was wearing thin clothes, milk dripping from her face and hair, eyes red, looking at me with fear and horror. In short, pitiful enough to break anyone’s heart. Actually, I wasn’t keen on fighting with Chloe. Whatever the reason, she was the one who comforted my family these past years. I didn’t have much malice toward her. I just wanted her to back off on her own. But her hostility toward me was clearly significant. Noise at night always attracts attention, especially on a day like this when no one in the house could sleep. So when Chloe screamed, several other doors opened one after another.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388866”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I am the most famous simp in Hollywood. But I’m the successful kind. I actually married the Movie King. Then one day, I woke up and realized I was the villainous ex-husband in a BL (Boys’ Love) novel. The plot? I’m the disposable antagonist who forces the male lead (my husband) into marriage while his true love is abroad, uses dirty tricks to keep him, and eventually dies a horrible death. Right now, I’m filming a live-streamed reality show about celebrity couples traveling together. Someone jokingly asked, “So, Ethan, what’s the one thing you want to do most right now on this beautiful beach?” I looked straight into the camera and said: “Get a divorce.” The internet exploded. Chapter 1 The room went dead silent. The live chat scrolling across the screen went berserk. Because just moments ago, I was still Ethan Vance, the number one simp for my husband, the award-winning actor Leo Sterling. And now, I was the one asking for a divorce. [Is Ethan crazy?] [What’s wrong with him this morning? Why bring up divorce out of nowhere?] [He’s just chasing clout again. LMAO, Ethan can’t live a day without drama.] [He was practically worshipping the ground Leo walked on yesterday. Divorce? I don’t buy it.] [Probably acting out again. Where does a D-list celebrity get the nerve?] [Hey, haters are still fans, right?~] Chapter 2 The comments were flying by too fast to read. “Oh, I get it! You mean ‘divorce’ from your exhaustion, right? Because we have that street interview challenge coming up!” another guest quickly tried to save the situation. I smiled and shook my head. “No, I mean…” Suddenly, a hand grabbed the back of my head and spun me around. The next second, warm lips crashed onto mine. The other guests started cheering and whistling. “Whoa!~” The production team took the cue and cut the live feed. I shoved the person away and, without thinking, slapped him across the face. Smack. Crisp and loud. After a gasp from the room, everyone cleared out, leaving just me and Leo in the massive living room. Chapter 3 Leo frowned slightly, his tone turning cold. “What’s wrong with you?” I pushed my messy black hair back from my forehead and unbuttoned the top button of my shirt that was choking me. The rage in my chest was bubbling up to my throat. Because just now, I hit my head. And suddenly, a flood of memories poured in. I live in a BL novel, and I’m the vicious male side character! With my brain overloaded with plot points, I was incredibly irritable. “What? I’m done pretending.” I sat down and crossed my legs, foot shaking. “You didn’t really think I was some pure, innocent angel, did you? Hilarious. I’m tired of acting.” I stared at Leo, waiting for his shocked expression. Unexpectedly, he remained expressionless and just said, “Okay. Then don’t pretend. Put your leg down, crossing them is bad for your knees.” My bouncing leg stopped. I put it down. It felt like punching cotton. Unsatisfying. It made me look like I was throwing a tantrum for no reason. Leo lowered his eyes and buttoned my shirt back up. His warm breath hit my face. In the end, I didn’t push him away. “Come on, let’s go record,” Leo said, taking my hand and leading me out. That’s Leo for you. He makes it impossible to stay angry. Chapter 4 Leo and I met at my 18th birthday party. Back then, I was a spoiled trust fund baby cruising on my family’s money. Leo was already a name in Hollywood. Debuted at 17, Best Actor at 20, Grand Slam winner at 25. A smooth ride to the top. In just seven years, he became the hottest A-lister in the industry. His flawless face and acting made even top directors sigh, “Born to be an actor.” But Leo was cold. He rarely took gigs outside of acting and had zero scandals. So, I plotted. I researched what he liked to eat, what he wore, and his type. The result: Cool, innocent, cute. I looked at my emo goth outfit and red hair. I decided to change on the spot. Two months later, I was wearing white shirts, smiling shyly, and had dyed my hair back to black. I hovered around Leo for six months before I caught his eye, then subtly seduced him for another year before we finally got together. Married for over two years, I was still obsessed with his face. Although he was cold, I always thought that since he agreed to be with me, he must have some feelings for me. Now you’re telling me he was forced to be with me and would dump me for his “White Moonlight” (first love)? Suddenly, all those times my enthusiasm met his cold shoulder made perfect sense. Chapter 5 Before I could process it all, Leo dragged me in front of the cameras. My rage had subsided; filming was the priority. To chase Leo, I ignored my family’s objections and dove into showbiz. My dad was so mad he still hasn’t spoken to me. He even threatened to kick out anyone in the family who dared to help me. Living is about proving people wrong, right? So I fought my way to this position on my own and gained quite a few fans. For the fans, I couldn’t just walk off set. Leo handed me a bottle of water and went to talk to the director. A figure sneaked up to me and whispered, “Ethan, what happened?” It was Luke, a guest on the show. A washed-up idol, but his husband is a top-tier star. Rumor has it they debuted on the same show. This reality show is their first public appearance as a couple. Luke looked silly. I looked at his husband, Gabe. Yep, the smiling tiger was staring right at me. With pity, I ruffled Luke’s hair. “Nothing. You just worry about yourself.” If you don’t go back soon, your husband’s going to think you’re cheating on him.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “388865”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel