Author: Momo Chan

My childhood friend and the billionaire heir both chased me. I chose the billionaire. My childhood friend was furious. “Don’t mock a youth for being poor. One day, I’ll make you regret this.” Six years later, he drove a luxury car, a beautiful woman on his arm. He ran into me selling grilled sausages on the street. He sneered, “Since we’re old friends, I’ll take two.” 1 The next time I saw my childhood friend, Luke, I was selling grilled sausages on the side of the road. He had his arm around a young girl’s waist, mocking me: “Hah, Sarah, you’ve been reduced to a street vendor?” “The Pierce family went bankrupt, so your rich boyfriend can’t support you anymore?” Caleb Pierce, who was casually fishing a sausage out of the fryer, asked me, “Who is this?” Luke’s face turned green, choked into silence. I stifled a laugh and explained, “Luke, your college roommate.” The girl next to Luke, holding a sausage in one hand, looked confused. “Luke, you know them?” He patted the girl’s head affectionately. “Just old acquaintances. It’s cold out, go wait in the car.” Under Luke’s smug gaze, I looked up at the SUV parked by the curb. “Sarah, seems like your taste isn’t great either. You dumped me for the richer Caleb Pierce, do you regret it now?” I rolled my eyes. “Five bucks total, don’t forget to pay.” “My girlfriend loves these. Fry two more, help boost your sales.” I wanted to tell him to get lost. Caleb patted my shoulder nonchalantly, pushing me aside. He fried the sausages with good temper, packed them nicely in a bag, and handed them to Luke. Luke pulled out a hundred-dollar bill. “Keep the change. Eat something good tonight.” Caleb didn’t take it, a cryptic smile in his eyes. “No need. Since we know each other, it’s on me.” Luke scoffed. “Don’t try to save face at a time like this.” Caleb glanced at the car by the road. “That car is second-hand, right?” Luke stiffened. “What nonsense are you talking about?” “Let me give you a piece of advice. This woman could dump me back then, she can dump you now.” He dropped that sentence, turned around, got in his car, and left. Leaving Caleb and me staring at each other in the cold wind. “Why didn’t he say ‘don’t mock a youth for being poor’ just now?” I was speechless. “Probably forgot.” Caleb took a bite of a sausage and asked amusedly, “Will you dump me?” “Not necessarily.” “Will we be together forever?” “Hard to say.” Caleb: … “How did you know his car was second-hand?” I asked. “Because when it was first-hand, it was mine.” While we were bickering, the real stall owner came back. He was Caleb’s best friend. He fell out with his family because he refused an arranged marriage. His parents cut off his cards, and he swore he would start his own business. Selling grilled sausages. He snatched the sausage from Caleb’s hand, cursing. “Bro, I went to the bathroom for a second, you ate six, and didn’t make a dime!” Caleb: “Some idiot just bought sausages and didn’t pay.” “Who the hell was it? This is my blood and sweat money!” Luke daring to provoke us meant he must have gotten wind of the news. He wasn’t wrong. The Pierce family was indeed facing bankruptcy. 2 Luke and I were neighbors since childhood. We went to school together, did homework together, accompanying each other for over a decade. After graduating high school, we came from our small town to New York for college. Luke’s family ran a small factory, which was considered well-off in that small town. My mom was an English teacher, my dad a math teacher. They valued my grades highly. I was an only child, and all the family’s resources tilted towards me. Pretty dresses, exquisite stationery, the occasional expensive accessory, and pricey dance lessons every year. After starting college, I realized the prosperity of the big city was far beyond what that small town could compare to. New York’s wealth was dazzling. I was still a student, able to enjoy college life freely with the allowance from home. But what about after graduation? I wanted to stay. When I chose to be with Caleb, many people felt indignant for Luke. They said I was greedy, vain, and dumped my childhood sweetheart. Greedy for wealth? I admit it. Who isn’t? The Pierce family’s listed company was incomparable to Luke’s small factory. But dumping Luke? I don’t admit that. We were never together. Now, the Pierce family faced bankruptcy, and everyone avoided them like the plague. Luke, however, was no longer the same. The food factory expanded, caught the wave of the internet, and started live-streaming sales. They opened over twenty stores and made a fortune. Many people were waiting to see me become a joke, laughing at my short-sightedness and wrong choice. 3 Caleb was a law student; I was in Foreign Languages. We wouldn’t have crossed paths. I knew him because he was Luke’s roommate. Knowing his background, I was polite to him. Being on good terms with him couldn’t hurt. Ideally, make friends and develop connections. His attitude towards others was always mild. Not cold, but not warm either. A bit cool. Freshman year, apart from classes, my mind was full of making money. At first, I worked part-time in the cafeteria, selling pasta. When Caleb came to eat, the cafeteria was almost empty. Seeing it was me, he was slightly surprised. “You need money?” I wasn’t embarrassed. “Not really, just earning some extra cash.” He nodded and asked, “Which flavor is good?” “I like the tomato one.” “Then I’ll have that.” After working in the cafeteria for a month, I quit. Reason being: too much work, too little pay. The boss said, “You can eat for free, save on living expenses.” Sounds nice, but I can’t eat pasta for every meal. Before leaving, though, I introduced a classmate who wanted a part-time job to him. The next time I saw Caleb, I was in the mailroom. He chuckled lightly. “You’re quite busy, working multiple jobs.” I teased, “What, the young master shops online and picks up packages too?” He accepted the title without hesitation. “Young masters are human too.” “Shouldn’t you just make a call and have someone deliver it directly?” He rolled his eyes. “Read fewer novels.” A month later, I quit the mailroom job too. A senior introduced me to a translation gig. 4 On Luke’s birthday, we celebrated at a KTV, inviting many classmates. Caleb was there too. A girl with pink hair and a fresh face caught my eye. Very cute. I noticed her because she gave Luke a watch, and my gift was also a watch. Her watch cost nearly four thousand, a bit expensive for a student. Everyone knew my relationship with Luke and was curious about what I gave. Looking at my three-hundred-dollar watch, I felt a bit embarrassed to take it out. Luke chuckled. “I like whatever Sarah gives.” After that, singing, chatting. I didn’t participate, sitting aside eating and watching them play. Luke, maybe a bit drunk, suddenly shouted, “Our Sarah learned classical dance. How about she performs for us?” Others joined in, urging me to dance. Seeing Luke showing me off like a trophy, my face stiffened. “My clothes today aren’t suitable. I’ll dance for you another time.” I kept a polite smile. Luke’s other roommate, Mike, had no tact. “Just improvise a bit, don’t be a buzzkill.” I looked at Luke for help, signaling him to control his roommate. I didn’t want to dance on such an occasion. But he pushed me. “Sarah, it’s my birthday, do it for my sake.” Since he put it that way, I stopped indulging him. “What sake do you have?” The scene froze instantly, everyone looking at each other. Luke’s face turned ugly. This wasn’t my fault anyway. I stood up nonchalantly. “Excuse me, I’m going to the restroom.” When I came back, Luke and the others were chatting again, as if the little episode never happened. Just as I was about to push the door open, I heard the conversation inside. Through the crack, Mike asked curiously, “Luke, are you and Sarah together or not?” “Didn’t you say you were childhood sweethearts?” Luke explained with a smile, “We played together since we were three. Our parents always wanted to matchmake us, but I haven’t decided yet.” The pink-haired girl chimed in, “That’s just the elders’ wish. Knowing each other since childhood doesn’t mean you have to be together.” Mike: “I saw Sarah working part-time in the cafeteria a while ago. A pretty girl like her, why work in a cafeteria?” Luke frowned, sounding concerned. “She really is something. Why didn’t she tell me if she needed money?” I had an urge to rush in and curse. Luke continued, “After high school graduation, Sarah confessed to me. I didn’t say yes, but our families are close, I didn’t want to make it awkward.” “Heh.” A cold snort came from the corner. Caleb, who hadn’t spoken much, smiled thoughtfully. “What’s the big deal? If you don’t like her, just reject her directly.” Luke wasn’t happy. “Caleb, you don’t understand. Sarah and I have known each other for so many years, our feelings are deep.” Caleb said nonchalantly, “It’s fine. Maybe she isn’t as good as you think.” “Huh? Why do you say that?” “Because I made it up.” Luke: … Me: … Saying speechless things with a straight face. I had a new understanding of Caleb. He didn’t play by the rules. Luke said helplessly, “Caleb, you really know how to joke.” Caleb continued asking, “So do you like her or not?” Luke fell silent. He always stood perfectly in the friend zone, unwilling to take a step forward, yet unwilling to reject clearly. Caleb walked to him, patted his shoulder, sounding like a wise mentor. “You’ll meet many people in four years of college. Trust me, you deserve better.” Luke hesitated. “But Sarah…” “She’s the best, not suitable for you.” “…” Outside the door, I almost burst out laughing. Caleb’s nonsensical remarks left everyone speechless. Wanting to laugh, but couldn’t. “Caleb, you…” Luke looked stiff, wanting to speak but not knowing what to say. Caleb ignored him and walked towards the door. My heart tightened. I quickly ran to hide around the corner of the corridor. Slowly calming my breathing, I heard footsteps getting closer. “Stop hiding, come out.” I didn’t move. “If you don’t come out, I’ll go back and tell them you were eavesdropping.” “…”

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I was the scholarship kid sponsored by the wealthy Sterling family. After seven days of the silent treatment from Holden Sterling, the family’s heir, over a trivial argument, I finally cracked. I planned to use discussing college applications as an excuse to apologize and make up. But when I walked into his classroom, I saw him sitting at the new transfer student’s desk, helping her pick colleges. After a long while, he finally looked up, his gaze bored and dismissive. “What do you want?” “I don’t care where you apply. I don’t want to go to the same school as you anyway!” I looked up, stunned. Suddenly, a barrage of floating text—like a livestream chat—scrolled across my vision: 【Ugh, the second male lead is being stubborn again. So annoying.】 【He says he doesn’t want to go to the same college, but he secretly bought two sets of dorm supplies.】 【Please, girl, don’t chase him anymore! North State is great, you’ll meet the real male lead sooner!】 【Exactly! The male lead is handsome, smart, and totally devoted. Way better than this arrogant jerk who can’t express his feelings!】 Chapter 1 It was “College Decision Day” at our high school. The moment I walked into Holden’s classroom, laughter erupted. “Oh look, Holden, your little shadow is here again!” “Does the Sterling family still adopt her even after graduation? They’re too kind.” “I heard they were betrothed as kids, didn’t you know?” “To be fair, Luna is pretty. Having her as a girlfriend wouldn’t be a loss.” The jokes flew around the room. Holden didn’t move. He didn’t even turn his head. He wasn’t at his own desk. He was sitting next to Chloe, the new transfer student, holding a fountain pen, meticulously analyzing her SAT scores and potential colleges. Only when Chloe nudged his shoulder and pointed at me did he lazily look up. His eyes were full of boredom and annoyance. “Luna.” “You need something?” I took a deep breath, remembering why I came. “Holden.” “Applications are due tomorrow… Your mom asked me to check with you.” “Which university are you aiming for? We could apply to the same one, look out for each other.” Silence hung in the air for a second. Holden turned his face away. “Did my mom send you?” He scoffed. “You’re so obedient.” “But forget it.” “You don’t need to ask me. I don’t want to go to the same place as you, so apply wherever you want.” Chapter 2 My heart sank. In the beginning, Holden wasn’t this cold. My father and his father were best friends. They grew up together, were college roommates. Our parents even joked about us getting married one day since we were the same age. But the jokes ended when tragedy struck. My parents’ company was framed, plunging into a massive crisis. On their way to fix the mess, they died in a car crash. They never came back. The little assets left were devoured by greedy relatives. Nothing remained. And I became a burden. No one wanted me. In the end, it was Holden’s parents who took me from the empty, foreclosed house. Little Holden followed behind, tugging at my shirt, stumbling as he tried to comfort me. “Don’t be scared, Luna.” “Follow me from now on. I’ll protect you. No one will bully you!” He kept that promise. For years, he always took me with him. He acted like a big brother, the first to fight anyone who mocked me for being an orphan living on charity. Until high school. Sophomore year. Rumors started spreading about us. They said I was his “child bride,” that the Sterlings only adopted me to fulfill an old engagement. At first, Holden didn’t care. But the gossip grew. And Chloe, the new girl who quickly became part of Holden’s group, kept teasing him. “For real, Holden? Is that little follower really your child bride?” “So you’re taken? Aww, I better stay away so people don’t call me a homewrecker, haha!” Holden’s face changed. A few days later, on the way to school, he pulled me aside and drew a line between us for the first time. “Luna, stop following me all the time.” “Don’t you think it’s annoying?” “Let’s keep some distance.” Chapter 3 From that day on, Holden stopped walking to school with me. Even on campus, he avoided me. I could feel he hated the rumors. But today, I only came to tell him something important. According to the adoption agreement, the guardianship ended when I turned eighteen. After graduation, I would leave the Sterling family. Mrs. Sterling felt that since we grew up together, we shouldn’t lose touch. She wanted us to go to the same college, to support each other. But… If Holden didn’t want that, then fine. I heard Chloe giggle. “Come on, show some respect to the class beauty!” “So, Holden, I want to go to North State University. Want to come with me?” Holden twirled his pen. He looked up nonchalantly and smiled. “Sure.” “You like it there? Then I’ll apply there too.” A hand squeezed my heart. Acidic pain spread through my chest. I looked up, blinking hard to hold back tears. That’s when the text appeared floating in the air. [Comments] User1: Ugh, typical second male lead behavior. Talking trash again. So annoying. User2: Exactly. He’s been secretly in love with the heroine since childhood but acts like a jerk to distance himself. User3: Saying he’s going with the transfer student? He’s just saying that for Luna to hear! User4: Why does the heroine have to follow them? Can this guy just exit the story already? User5: It sucks that the real male lead is at South U. Luna won’t meet him until after graduation… User6: Ahhh Luna, stop coaxing him! Go to South U! User7: The male lead is handsome, smart, and a total simp for her! Six-pack abs under that white shirt… a total dreamboat! … “South U?” I froze when I saw the comment. I didn’t care about “male leads” or whatever. But South U had the best program for the major I wanted! It fit my career plans perfectly. In fact, the summer of freshman year, I mentioned South U to Holden. Back then, we weren’t distant. Walking home, we dreamed about the future together. “South U?” I remembered Holden frowning, looking at me. He hesitated, then ruffled my hair. “Nah, Luna.” “South U is in the south. It’s humid and hot. I hate that weather.” “Plus, Archer got into South U this year. I don’t want to be his junior.” “Let’s…” “Let’s go north. How about North State? It’s just as prestigious.” Chapter 4 Archer Sterling was Holden’s cousin. Holden’s grandfather had two sons. Archer’s father and Holden’s father. Rumor had it the brothers were only harmonious on the surface, fighting a secret war for the family business. Archer and Holden were constantly compared. I had never met Archer. But I heard the stories. Elders described him as brilliant, mature, decisive, and cold. A natural-born CEO, even at eighteen. Holden’s grandfather clearly favored Archer. At family dinners, he’d bluntly compare them. “Archer is already analyzing financial reports, and you’re still playing basketball and video games!” Over time, Holden grew to resent his cousin. That summer, he tugged at my backpack, pleading. “If I follow Archer, they’ll just compare us again. Besides, Archer is awful. He’s strict, cold, and heartless. Let’s stay away from him, okay?” “He’s in the south, so we go north.” What did I say back then? I laughed. “Is he really that scary?” “Fine, fine. We won’t go.” “But north or south, you have to study hard.” But now… The boy who promised to go to college with me had let go of my hand. Since he made his choice, whatever I put on my application wouldn’t break our promise. South U? Sounds good. Based on my grades, I had a good shot. I nodded. “Don’t worry, Holden.” “I’ll fill out my application alone tomorrow. I won’t bother you again.” “And I’ll make sure to avoid the place you want to go.” Everyone was surprised by my decisiveness. The room went quiet. Holden looked up sharply. He stared at me, unblinking. His gaze was stunned, mixed with a trace of resentment. “Is that so?” “Fine. Remember what you said, Luna.” “Don’t regret it.”

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On a variety show, the host asked us to confess the most wicked thing we’d ever done. I smiled shyly. “When I was a kid, my best friend and I hid all of her older brother’s pants.” The other guests leaned in, their faces full of curiosity, demanding to know what happened next. Beside me, the famous movie star smiled and finished the story for me. “And later, she turned around, provoked me, and threatened to pants me herself.” I froze. 1 I ended up on this variety show as a favor to a friend, basically just to fill a seat. In the first episode, the host asked us about the most wicked thing we’d ever done. I fell silent for a moment. Not because I couldn’t think of anything, but because I’ve done so many questionable things growing up. Where to even start? After everyone else shared their stories, the camera panned to me. I picked the crown jewel of my childhood pranks without hesitation. “When I was a kid, my best friend and I hid all of her older brother’s pants.” The memory was so ridiculous I couldn’t help but giggle. Sitting next to me, fellow guest Lexi leaned in, eyes wide. “And then what happened?” I racked my brain, then hesitated. I was too embarrassed to finish the story. The truth was, I didn’t apologize. Instead, I doubled down and taunted him. I hadn’t dared to show my face in front of him since. Seeing me stammer, Lexi let her imagination run wild. “Did you get beat up?” I shook my head. “Did you guys start dating?” I shook my head violently like a rattle drum. Lexi, impatient as ever, stomped her foot. “So what happened? Tell us!” I scratched my head, about to speak, when the movie star next to me smiled and chimed in. “Later, she turned around, provoked me, and threatened to pants me herself.” I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. Him? He was Liam Stone? Lexi’s gaze darted between me and Liam, her brain clearly overheating. After a long pause, she finally asked, “So, the poor guy who got his pants stolen… was you?” Then she looked at me. “And the little devil who stole them… was you?” I kept my head down, my eyes involuntarily drifting toward Liam. I couldn’t figure it out. I just wanted to share a funny story. How did I end up sitting next to the victim? 2 It wasn’t entirely my fault I didn’t recognize Liam. Back then, he wore a black mask all day long, acting all mysterious. My best friend, Lola Stone, constantly cried to me about how cruel her brother was. Stealing her allowance, eating her snacks… you name it. Eventually, she invited me over to steal Liam’s pants. She called it “teaching him a lesson.” I was at that age where justice felt paramount, and after hearing Lola’s tales of woe, I agreed in a burst of righteous indignation. Our plan was simple. I’d be the lookout in the living room while Lola sneaked into his bedroom to grab the goods. But there was a snag. As I was helping Lola transport the loot to her room, we ran smack into Liam. Remembering his cold stare still makes me feel guilty. But thinking of how much Lola suffered under his tyranny, I summoned my courage and shouted, “If you bully Lola again, next time I’ll pants you myself!” Years later… Lola got drunk and accidentally spilled the beans. The stolen allowance? The snatched snacks? All lies. Just stories she made up during her dramatic phase. I kept a straight face, but inside I was screaming. The stories were fake, but my threat to Liam was very real! Since then, I haven’t dared to see Liam face-to-face. 3 Believing in owning up to mistakes, I immediately apologized to Liam. “I’m so sorry. I was young and ignorant. I’ve learned my lesson. Please forgive me, Mr. Stone.” How profound was this lesson? Well, since that incident, I only believe about a third of what Lola says. The live comments were going wild. [Haha, look at Anna looking like a scolded elementary schooler.] [Mr. Stone, forgive our Anna! She’s just a little bit clueless.] [Don’t blame Anna! Being clueless isn’t a crime!] [I’m crying. I told my bestie my brother bullies me, and she said, ‘Good job, bro.’] [Okay, but Liam doesn’t look mad at all. He’s been smiling the whole time.] Seeing that last comment, I looked up at Liam. Our eyes met. Liam seemed to remember something, and let out a low chuckle. I was terrified. Lola’s words echoed in my mind: Liam has evolved. He’s learned how to play dirty. I pulled out my phone and texted Lola for help. Even from across the ocean, she replied instantly: [Be careful! My brother texted me hours ago saying he ran into you. I could feel the murderous intent through the screen!] Combined with Liam’s meaningful smile, my hands trembled as I typed: [What do I do?] [Your brother holds grudges like crazy!] [Help me! How do I apologize so he’ll accept it?] Lola went silent. I was panicking like an ant on a hot pan. Just then, the director told us to pick partners for the upcoming tasks. Lexi, enjoying the drama, nudged Liam. “Want to partner up with Anna?” Liam smiled, eyes crinkling. “Of course.” Before I could panic, he added, “I want to see how she plans to pants me.” Me: [Internal Screaming] 4 After pairing up, Liam naturally sat next to me. I struggled internally for a long time before finally whispering, “Can I not be your partner?” Liam raised an eyebrow but said nothing. According to Lola, this was the calm before the storm. I lowered my head, speaking fast. “I was young and dumb when I helped Lola hide your pants. I really know I was wrong.” “And I swear, I never actually wanted to pants you! Really!” I even raised my hand in a vow. Liam leaned back on the sofa. “You think I picked you to get revenge for the pants incident?” Talk about stating the obvious. But I nodded anyway and apologized again. “I really know I messed up.” Liam looked at me for a few seconds, then laughed. “Your apology seems sincere enough.” I quickly ran through Lola’s teachings but couldn’t decipher the emotion behind his words. So I sneaked a glance at him. Okay, he’s smiling. That means he’s probably in a good mood. Relieved, I asked, “So about the partners…” Liam kept smiling, but his words killed my hope. “Of course we’re staying together. We’re old acquaintances. Our chemistry should be great.” I tried to smile, but my face wouldn’t cooperate. Seeing my despair, Liam’s mood improved even more. Before leaving, he ruffled my hair and dropped a bomb. “Why has your courage shrunk so much?” I smoothed my hair, staring at his back, thinking angrily that Lola was right. Liam Stone is not a good person!

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I deliberately ignored the bank’s collection calls, let my accounts freeze, and officially became a “deadbeat.” I wasn’t panicked, but the intern sure was. In my past life, on Black Friday, the intern used my identity to take out a massive loan, treating the entire company to a shopping spree at the mall. It left me saddled with millions in debt. When I confronted her, demanding she pay it back, she threw herself into my boyfriend’s arms, sobbing. “Sarah, just because I have money doesn’t mean you can accuse me like this!” My boyfriend was even worse, screaming at me. “Sarah, you’re just vain! You took out those loans to buy luxury goods yourself, and now you want to frame Bella to pay for it? How can you be so vicious?” In the ensuing argument, I was pushed down the stairs and fell to my death. My boyfriend and my colleagues all testified for the intern, claiming I fell on my own. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day the intern invited the whole company on a shopping spree. Chapter 1 “Tomorrow is Black Friday! To thank everyone for taking care of me, I asked Jake for the day off. I’m taking the whole team to the mall for a shopping spree. It’s all on me!” Hearing Bella’s familiar voice, I looked at the clock on the wall and realized instantly: I had been reborn. The next second, Bella grabbed my arm. “Sarah, new members get a 10% discount at that mall. Can I borrow your ID to sign up?” My body trembled violently. The pain of falling down those stairs in my past life flooded back. In my previous life, on this exact day, Bella invited the company to shop. She used the excuse of a “new member discount” to borrow my driver’s license. It wasn’t until the debt collectors showed up that I realized the million dollars she spent was a loan taken out in my name. When I confronted her, she played the victim, crying into my boyfriend Jake’s chest. “Sarah, just because I have money doesn’t mean you can accuse me!” Jake shouted at me, “Sarah, you’re just jealous and vain! You bought luxury goods and now you’re trying to pin the debt on Bella? You’re disgusting!” During the argument, I was pushed. I died. And they all lied to cover it up. Thinking of the pain, I gritted my teeth. Before I could react, Jake snatched my purse, dug out my license, and handed it to Bella. I snapped back to reality and ripped it out of Bella’s hand. “Jake! Who gave you the right to take my ID?” Jake looked at me with annoyance. “Sarah, what is your problem? Bella is treating everyone tomorrow. She just needs your ID for a membership card. Give it to her and stop holding everyone up.” Bella held my hand, smiling sweetly. “Sarah, if we open the card, all the reward points will go to you. You can use them to buy whatever you need for the house.” Jake put his arm around Bella, eyes full of adoration. “Bella, you’re such a saint. Always thinking of others.” Chapter 2 Jake glared at me impatiently. “Sarah, I wish you were half as sensible as Bella. She’s always thinking of you, and you just hurt her feelings over and over. Give her the ID and apologize.” I laughed out loud. “No thanks. Give your charity to someone else. I can’t afford it.” Jake exploded. He slammed a folder onto my desk. “Sarah! You are targeting Bella on purpose! She’s being nice to you, and you’re being ungrateful! Apologize to her right now or we’re done! I hate jealous, petty women like you.” If this were the old, love-struck me, I would have been introspective, blaming myself. But now? Watching their performance just made me sick. I looked at him coldly. “Fine. Let’s break up. You and your ‘little sister’ can live happily ever after.” Jake’s eyes widened. He looked shocked that I would actually agree to a breakup. “Sarah, are you crazy? Do you know what you’re saying? I only see Bella as a sister! Stop projecting your dirty mind onto us!” Bella looked at me with big, teary doe eyes. “Sarah, Jake takes care of me, but we really are just like siblings. Please don’t fight because of me. How about this? Tomorrow at the mall, I’ll buy you a new Hermès bag. Consider it a rental fee for your ID.” Jake sneered at me. “Sarah, isn’t that what you wanted? Taking advantage of Bella? Without her, you’d never even set foot in an Hermès store in this lifetime. Give her the ID and stop wasting our time.” Colleagues chimed in. “Bella uses your ID but gives you the points AND a luxury bag? People would kill for that deal. Stop being ungrateful.” “You’re just jealous because Bella is a rich intern. She must be some heiress. You could work for a hundred years and never be on her level.” “Seriously, Sarah. As a manager, you only buy us cheap coffee once a week. So stingy. No wonder everyone likes Bella more.” I used to buy them drinks out of my own pocket every week, and they never complained. Now I’m stingy? Ungrateful wolves. Fair-weather friends. Bella started getting impatient. “Sarah, please stop making a scene. Give me the ID. I need to go to the mall after work to set up the card so we don’t waste time tomorrow.” I clutched my bag tight, staring her down. “I have plans tomorrow. I’m not going. I don’t need you to buy me anything. Borrow someone else’s ID.” A flash of malice crossed Bella’s face before she switched back to the crying victim. “Sarah, I know you don’t like me. But everyone has been working so hard… I just wanted to treat the team. If you’re not happy, let’s just forget it. Everyone can just come to work tomorrow instead.” Chapter 3 Bella’s words painted me as the villain who canceled the party. Instantly, my colleagues turned on me. Someone shoved me to the ground. Another splashed water from a cup onto my clothes. “Sarah, do you hate seeing us happy? Just because you don’t want to go, you have to ruin it for everyone?” “How can you be so toxic? We finally get a day off and a shopping spree, and you ruin it out of jealousy?” Someone kicked me in the stomach. I gasped in pain. “You always act so high and mighty. Now you’re ruining everything for us just because you’re envious?” Ignoring the pain, I grabbed a vase from a desk and smashed it on the floor. The crash startled everyone. I used the moment to push them away and stand up. “Are you all insane? I never said you couldn’t go shopping! I just refused to let her use my ID! If you want to go, give her your IDs! Why does it have to be mine?” A colleague rolled her eyes. “It’s just an ID. Why are you being so petty?” She pulled out her own license and handed it to Bella. “Bella, ignore Sarah. She’s ungrateful. Use mine. I’m new too.” “Bella, use mine! I don’t mind. Just buy me a bag!” Bella looked at the people offering their IDs with hidden disgust, but kept a smile plastered on her face. Near the end of the day, I had a sudden stomach cramp and went to the restroom. When I came back to grab my bag and leave, I paused. Something felt off. I remembered leaving my bag unzipped because I was in a rush. Now, it was zipped. I checked immediately. Everything was there. My license was still in the inner pocket. I breathed a sigh of relief. Jake walked by and chuckled. “Sarah, do you have a persecution complex or something?” I rolled my eyes and ignored him, walking out. That night at home, I felt restless. Something was wrong. Just as I was about to sleep, my phone rang. It was a woman from the bank. I had borrowed $300,000 six months ago and missed the payment. It was a month overdue. I checked my records. A year ago, my cousin had an emergency and needed money. Since I was estranged from my parents because of Jake, my funds were frozen, so I took a loan to help her. I had been so busy with work I forgot to pay it back. I was about to transfer the funds when the bank employee continued: “Miss Vance, if you do not repay immediately, you will be blacklisted. All your credit lines across all major banks will be frozen, and no new loans will be issued.” My finger froze. An idea struck me. “I’m sorry. I don’t have the money right now. Go ahead and freeze all my accounts.” I hung up and blocked the number. Finally, I relaxed. Even if Bella had stolen my info, she couldn’t take out a loan now. Chapter 4 The next day, I got a call from our family butler. “Miss, today is your mother’s birthday. Are you coming home? She misses you terribly.” I looked at the calendar. A wave of sadness hit me. It was Mom’s birthday. I hadn’t been home in over a year since the fight. Thinking about how much I hurt my parents for a scumbag like Jake made me want to slap myself. “Uncle Lee, I know. I’ll be there tomorrow.” After hanging up, I decided to go to the mall—one owned by my family—to buy a gift. I walked into a luxury boutique and spotted a new limited-edition bag. Just as I reached for it, another hand snatched it away. I looked up. It was Jake and Bella. Jake handed the bag to Bella. “Bella, this is the new Hermès. There’s only one. It suits your elegance perfectly.” Bella looked at me provocatively. “But Sarah seems to want it too. Maybe I should let her have it?” Jake sneered. “Oh look, it’s Manager Vance. Didn’t you say you weren’t coming? Tell you what—if you get on your knees and apologize to Bella right now, I’ll let you join our shopping trip.” I rolled my eyes and turned to leave. Jake grabbed my arm and threw me to the floor. “Sarah, stop pretending! Without Bella, a bag like this would cost you three months’ salary. I’m giving you a chance. Don’t be ungrateful.” I rubbed my sore arm, stood up, and slapped Jake across the face. His eyes bulged. “Sarah! You dare hit me?!” Bella started crying immediately. “Sarah, I’m sorry! I won’t treat everyone anymore!” My colleagues rushed over, surrounding me. “Sarah, did you do this on purpose?” “Why are you so toxic? You’re like a ghost haunting us!” “Bella is paying for us, and you keep trying to ruin it! You just can’t stand seeing us happy!” Someone grabbed my hair and forced me down. Another sprayed perfume directly into my eyes. It burned like fire. Another colleague took off the shoe she was trying on and pressed the sole into my face. “Sarah, if not for Bella, you’d never even smell luxury like this. Consider this a favor.” The sales associate tried to intervene. “These items are not testers! Once opened or damaged, you must purchase them!” Jake scoffed. “Ignorant. Bella can buy out this whole store with a wave of her hand.” He smashed a vase on the floor next to me. “Sarah, apologize to Bella now!” I struggled up and pushed Jake. “I did nothing wrong! Why should I apologize?” My colleagues started throwing items from the counter at me. The store was a mess. The staff tried to stop them but got pushed down too. “Relax! We’re paying!” The store manager walked up with a card reader. “Then please pay for the damages first. It’s roughly $800,000. Or I’m calling the police right now.” Everyone stopped. “Blind fools. No wonder you just work retail. Bella, pay them so we can leave this dump.” Bella pulled out a black card and tapped it on the machine. Beep. “Insufficient funds. Transaction declined.”

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The lab fire was sudden and violent. My boyfriend instinctively raised his hand to shield me, losing a layer of skin in the process. On the day we broke up, I deliberately aimed for his deepest wound. “Every time I look at those hands, I feel physically sick.” Years later, he became my father’s attending physician. Before discussing the prognosis, he asked with a calm expression: “Miss Miller, will my hands cause you any physiological discomfort?” 1 Yesterday, a friend called to say there might be hope for my dad’s condition. A doctor named Dr. Vance had just returned from studying abroad at their hospital, specializing in exactly this rare disease. But I never expected this “Dr. Vance” to be Julian Vance. “Dr. Vance is so handsome. If only his hands weren’t burned like that, he’d be perfect!” “I heard from Dr. Reed that his ex-girlfriend caused it. She even broke up with him because of it.” “What? That’s disgusting.” Passing the nurses’ station, I overheard their chatter while they prepped medications. My steps faltered, then I forced myself to continue down the hall. With every step closer to that door, my heart pounded faster and faster. My hand was trembling as it touched the doorknob. But the moment I saw that familiar figure, everything went quiet. The man in the white coat stopped writing and looked up at the sound. Our eyes met, and my heart seemed to stop. My whole body went rigid. To be honest, I was prepared for Julian’s mockery. Because— I was that disgusting ex-girlfriend. 2 But as long as he could give my dad a fighting chance, I would take anything. In a flash, he looked away. “You must be Mr. Miller’s family. Please, have a seat.” His voice was cold and distant. I remembered he had this unapproachable aura when I first pursued him, too. He gestured to the chair opposite him with his chin, then… Went back to writing. Was he— Pretending not to recognize me? The thought flashed through my mind but was instantly dismissed. How could he pretend in front of someone he loathed? He was proud. When he got tired of my chasing back then, he would just turn and leave without a word. But thinking about it, maybe he really didn’t recognize me. I was wearing a mask, and I had bangs now. So many years had passed. My heart, suspended in my throat, slowly settled. After sitting down, my eyes involuntarily drifted to his terrifying hands. The raised scars from the burn were stark against his pale skin. My heart clenched. The pain buried deep inside resurfaced. Back then, a girl in my lab group caused a flash fire due to improper handling. Flames erupted instantly. Julian was right next to me. His reaction was lightning fast. He shielded my face with his hands. In that instant, his skin burned away, revealing horrifying red flesh. It was terrifying. I cried and asked him why he did it. He lowered his head, wiped my tears, and looked straight into my eyes. “Because it’s you, I’d do anything.” Those scars made me certain about Julian. So much so that on the day I broke up with him, I used those very scars to end it. The vicious words still echoed in my ears. “You know, every time I see your hands, I feel sick to my stomach.” “I can’t stand it for another day.” He must hate me to death. The scars he bore for me were met with such cruelty. … “Miss Miller?” I didn’t know when Julian had looked up, but his gaze was fixed on my face. “Yes.” He raised an eyebrow thoughtfully, noticing where I was staring. “My hands won’t cause you any physiological discomfort, will they?” 3 I shook my head awkwardly. “No.” How could they? He got them for me. I only felt heartache; how could I feel disgust? He curled his lip slightly and explained patiently. “That’s good.” “Everyone has different sensitivities. I have to ask beforehand.” “Have the blood count and bone marrow biopsy been done?” “Yes.” “When was the last transfusion?” “Two months ago.” “What is your relationship with Carter?” Carter was the friend who referred me to Julian. But what did that have to do with my dad’s illness? The answer stopped at my lips, suspicion creeping in. “Do… do you need to know that too?” He glanced at me calmly. “Of course. It’s protocol.” He was the doctor; I was the patient’s family. Naturally, I answered whatever he asked. “College classmates.” Those dark eyes suddenly stared straight at me, scrutinizing, as if trying to discern something. Before I could speak, he pulled out the prepared files, switched to a professional demeanor, and began outlining the treatment plan. A while later, the door opened. “Julian, what do you want for lunch?” 4 Behind the sweet, light voice was a face that was adaptable and soft-featured. I recognized her almost instantly. It was Sarah Reed! She was the girl who made the mistake in the lab. Luckily for her, her injuries back then weren’t severe. It really is a small world. She stared at me, too. Slowly, the smile on her lips began to fade. A deep, magnetic voice cut off the name Sarah was about to say. “Whatever you want.” “Or that Thai place downstairs.” “You go get a table. I’ll be done in a minute.” They spoke across me. From this angle, I could clearly see Julian’s sharp jawline, and… The gentle look in his eyes, devoid of any guard. That look used to belong to me. In high school, Sarah was in our class but wasn’t close to Julian or me. Many times during breaks, I would go to Julian. Sarah sat behind us. I always saw her sitting quietly at her desk, alone. Maybe it was awkwardness, unable to join our conversation. Sometimes when our eyes met accidentally, she would immediately look away. Now the roles were reversed. I had become the outsider. Sarah looked at me one last time before closing the door, her expression back to normal, nodding politely. Once again, it was just me and Julian in the office. He naturally exuded an oppressive aura, suffocating the space around us. I lowered my eyes, resting my elbows on the edge of the desk, heart still racing. Suddenly, the light in front of me was blocked by a shadow. His broad frame leaned forward, looming over me. Almost instinctively, I leaned back, creating distance. His hand froze in mid-air, his face turning completely cold. “What are you hiding from?”

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On my twenty-second birthday, my uncle discovered my journal. When he found out I had a secret crush on him, he shipped me out of the country and spent millions on a wedding for his “one true love.” At the airport, he warned me with a cold, indifferent face, “Don’t ever have thoughts you shouldn’t have.” Years later, I returned to the States holding a child. He looked stunned. “Yours?” I smiled and nodded. “Yeah. Just finished my postpartum recovery.” 1 Sitting on the plane, I still felt a bit dazed. I never thought that after five years abroad, I would ever have the chance to come back. After all, Lucas Sterling had said that it would be best if I never appeared in front of him again in this lifetime. But he was also the one who personally bought my plane ticket back, inviting me to attend his and Chloe’s fifth wedding anniversary gala. After two layovers, I finally landed. My daughter, Lily, had slept peacefully on the flight, but the moment we got off, she started to cry. “Mommy, my feet hurt.” Hearing Lily’s soft sobs, I quickly picked her up and walked toward the exit. At the arrivals gate, I pulled out my phone to call a rideshare. Just then, my phone rang. Looking at the familiar number on the screen, I fell silent, debating whether to answer. In the end, I didn’t pick up. But a second call came through almost immediately. I sighed and pressed answer. Lucas’s voice came through instantly. It hadn’t changed in years. “Are you out of the airport? I sent an assistant to pick you up.” Lucas spoke in a business-like tone, as if we were strangers. I gave a bitter laugh. “I can call an Uber.” There was a second of silence on the other end. Lucas probably didn’t expect me to say that. Back then, I was spoiled by him. Living under his roof for years, I had staff taking care of my every need. I never had to call a cab myself. After a moment of silence, Lucas spoke lightly, “Just let the assistant take you. I bought a gift for your aunt on your behalf and put it in the trunk. You can bring it in when you come to dinner.” Lucas was still so thoughtful, handling even the gift perfectly. It made sense. He had spent millions on the wedding venue and bid on a limited-edition diamond to craft a unique ring for Chloe. It was obvious he loved her. “Understood.” I rubbed my temples and answered in a low voice. Lucas didn’t speak, but he didn’t hang up either. After a long pause, he finally said, “Jane, after five years abroad, I hope you’ve truly reflected on yourself. If you do anything to Chloe, I won’t let you off easy.” Hearing this, I froze. The noise around me seemed to fade away. Lucas said he wouldn’t let me off easy. Before I could reply, he hung up. Actually, he didn’t need to worry. I wouldn’t do anything to them. I just wanted to take care of Lily and find a job. Leaving the airport, I lowered my head. The proud twenty-two-year-old me would never have imagined my life would become this desolate. 2 I was kicked out of the country by Lucas on my twenty-second birthday. That day, he found my journal. When I was a kid, my parents died in a cruise ship accident. They never came back, and Lucas, being my father’s best friend and honorary “uncle,” naturally took me in. We always had a harmonious relationship. Until I turned eighteen, and I realized I didn’t just see Lucas as an uncle. I loved him. But I knew very well there was no future for us. So, I wrote all my feelings into a journal. If Lucas hadn’t seen it, I could have pretended my feelings were just familial love. But he saw it. He tore my journal to shreds and asked how I could have such disgusting thoughts. “Do you have any idea who I am? I’m your guardian! Even without blood relation, we can only be family!” The usually gentle and gentlemanly Lucas was gone. He screamed at me, his eyes full of disgust. I wanted to explain, but I couldn’t find the words. I could only bow my head and apologize over and over, saying I was wrong, saying I shouldn’t have fallen for him. But Lucas didn’t calm down. The next day, he made me quit the job I had lined up and sent me to a remote university in Europe under the guise of “further studies.” To prevent me from contacting anyone, he even hired bodyguards to watch me. At first, I didn’t understand why he treated me this way. Until the first month I was abroad, news of Lucas’s wedding trended online. Only then did I learn that for all these years, he had a “one true love” in his heart. I watched the video of his wedding over and over. In the video, the way Lucas looked at Chloe was tender and full of longing. He had never looked at me like that. From that moment on, I knew that Lucas taking care of me all those years was just out of pity and responsibility. The only person he loved was Chloe. “Miss Foster, please get in.” The assistant’s voice brought me back to reality. Chapter 2 I nodded and got into the car holding sleeping Lily. Seeing Lily, a look of surprise crossed the assistant’s face. “Miss Foster, this is…” I made a shushing gesture, afraid chatting would wake her. Only when we were settled in the back seat did I whisper, “This is my daughter.” The assistant nodded and fell silent. When he pulled up to the destination, I froze. This hotel was where Lucas and Chloe got married. Married for five years, he held an anniversary gala every year and personally picked gifts for her. I thought, Lucas really cherished Chloe. Years ago, he didn’t allow me into their world. Bringing me back this year was just to make me witness their happiness. I got out of the car numbly and saw Chloe standing on the curb, smiling as she walked toward me. Unlike me, haggard and dressed simply, Chloe wore expensive jewelry and perfume. She looked well taken care of by Lucas. The smile on her face stiffened for a second. I knew she saw Lily in my arms. Sure enough, when she reached me, Chloe looked shocked. “Jane, how did you secretly have a baby abroad without telling your Auntie? I’ve been married to your Uncle for so long, do you still treat me like an outsider?” Before I could speak, Chloe grabbed Lily from my arms. Lily woke up and immediately started crying, struggling against Chloe. I took Lily back and soothed her for a while. Actually, Chloe knew I had a crush on Lucas. Coming back this time, I didn’t want to get too involved with her. But Chloe stubbornly insisted on holding Lily. When we arrived at the private dining room, Lily was still crying for me. Chloe forced a smile and shoved Lily back into my arms. “Your Uncle knows having kids isn’t easy. We haven’t thought about having kids these past few years. Seeing you with a daughter, I just got too excited.” There were already a few people in the room. I wasn’t used to socializing, so I picked a corner seat. Chloe naturally sat next to me. She enthusiastically linked her arm with mine, introducing me and Lily to everyone. The others looked at me with obvious mockery and curiosity. I couldn’t stand the weird atmosphere and excused myself to the restroom. When I came back after splashing water on my face, I heard Chloe’s voice. Someone asked Chloe why she brought a “jinx” like me inside. “What jinx? Jane is Lucas’s niece. Even though she strayed and tried to seduce him back then, she has a kid now. She definitely won’t make that mistake again.” Hearing Chloe say this, I stood quietly at the door. Right. In everyone’s eyes, I was the crazy girl who tried to seduce her guardian, a shameless homewrecker. Lily tugged at my clothes anxiously. I comforted her and walked in. Some things had to be faced. I don’t know how long passed before everyone in the room suddenly stood up. “Mr. Sterling is here!” “Good evening, Mr. Sterling!” A crowd swarmed him, but I didn’t move, just sitting in my seat. After a long while, I looked up at Lucas. He seemed thinner. Lucas wore a suit, and Chloe leaned on him. When they looked at each other, their eyes were full of smiles. Surrounded by people, Lucas didn’t notice me in the corner. For all these years, he remained the center of attention, while I was the only one living a miserable life. Suddenly, as if remembering something, Chloe playfully nudged Lucas. “Lucas, Jane is here too. You haven’t seen each other in years, catch up properly. Jane brought a surprise back too!” Hearing the word “surprise,” Lucas remained indifferent. He helped Chloe sit down first, ordered her a bird’s nest soup, and only then lifted his eyes to look my way. Lily shrank back in fear, looking defensive. Lucas clearly saw Lily and his eyes widened in shock. “Jane, what is this?” He was asking about Lily. I hadn’t told them about her, so seeing me with a child elicited identical expressions of shock or amusement. Chloe answered for me. “Lucas, this is Jane’s daughter. Isn’t she cute? She looks just like Jane. Looks like she’s a few years old already.” Lucas’s gaze fell on Lily, then on me, scrutinizing me for a long time. Just when I thought he wouldn’t speak to me again, he pointed at Lily, his voice hoarse. “In these years abroad… you got married and had a child?” I looked up, meeting his gaze, and hummed a ‘yes’. “Married a long time ago. Sorry I didn’t tell you.” Chapter 3 The room was silent. No one spoke. Lucas stared at me, as if judging whether my words were true or false. Chloe seemed about to say something, but Lucas was already standing in front of me. “Where is your husband?” I pursed my lips. “He’s been busy lately, so he didn’t come.” Whispers and snickers rippled through the room. However, out of respect for Lucas, the guests didn’t laugh too openly. Lucas’s face was livid. In the end, he said nothing and just sat down next to Chloe. I ate the meal without tasting anything. Everyone else was praising how perfect Lucas and Chloe were together, while I just wanted to take Lily back to rest. The rent here wasn’t too expensive; I could afford it. I didn’t want to go abroad again. The dinner ended quickly. I wanted to leave, but Lucas stopped me, saying he had something to tell me. In the end, Lucas and I stayed in the private room. Chloe was there too. Lucas looked at me with cold eyes, his words as temperature-less as his expression. “Jane, since we both have families now, I hope you won’t disturb me in the future.” Chloe covered a smile with her hand. “Lucas, don’t be so harsh on Jane. She’s a grown woman now; she knows what not to do.” The couple played off each other perfectly. And I was excluded from their understanding. They never believed my promises. But I nodded anyway and bowed. “I won’t, ever again.” Neither of them spoke as I turned and left with Lily. Lucas called an assistant to drive me, but this time, I refused. Back at the rental, Lily suddenly whispered and asked if the uncle and auntie today hated her. They say children are sensitive and know everything. I shook my head. “They don’t hate you, Lily.” They just… hated me. Lily seemed to have many questions but didn’t ask. She just hugged me and said, “Mommy, you worked hard.” The tears I held back all day threatened to fall. But I couldn’t cry in front of her. So I tilted my head back and forced them down. After putting Lily to sleep, I suddenly received a text. It was from Chloe. “Jane, if you have time, let’s talk.” I frowned, wondering why she didn’t just text me what she wanted. Chloe didn’t send another message. Until right before bed, when I got a call from her. “I’m downstairs at your place. I just want to ask you one thing.” “Do you still have thoughts of going abroad recently? Lucas and I actually both hope you stay overseas. Plus, your husband is abroad, right? It’s better to go back.” I was confused, but after processing it, I found it funny. The only thing that would make Chloe call me late at night was this. They hated me that much. They couldn’t even stand being in the same country as me. I glanced at sleeping Lily beside me. Going downstairs, I saw Chloe standing under a streetlight. Standing in front of her, I took a deep breath before meeting her eyes. “I don’t plan on going abroad anymore.” For Lily’s sake, I wouldn’t drag her through more travel. Chloe laughed lightly. With no one around, the disdain in her eyes was unconcealed. “Jane, I know you need money right now. If I give you a sum, would you be willing to leave?” Chapter 4 3. I was silent for a moment. The fact that I needed money was apparently public knowledge. Chloe and Lucas knew I had a hard time abroad, so when they threatened me, they knew exactly where to strike. But I refused. Chloe looked surprised. That night ended on a bad note. For the next few days, I was busy looking for work, but every time, I was rejected after the first interview. It wasn’t until a young interviewer stammered that it was “Ms. Chloe’s orders” that I realized she didn’t even want me to find a job. Chloe was dead set on making me leave the country again. After being stunned for a long time, I thanked the interviewer who told me the truth. Just as I left the office, I got a text from the hospital. Last night, I made an appointment to get some antidepressants. During the visit, the doctor told me my condition was bad and suggested more therapy sessions. Doctors abroad had given me the same advice. It seemed my depression was indeed severe. Walking out of the clinic with my meds, I was reading the instructions and accidentally bumped into someone around the corner. “Sorry…” I apologized first, but looking up, I realized the person standing in front of me was Lucas. And behind him stood Chloe. Lucas frowned, seemingly not intending to speak to me, ready to walk past. But then, he noticed the medicine in my hand. “Jane, why are you at the hospital?” He seemed to want to see what I was holding, but I quickly stuffed the box into my bag. “Just a cold, buying some meds.” Chloe chimed in at the right moment. “Lots of people getting the flu lately.” Lucas didn’t speak, but kept staring at my bag. I lowered my head and quickly walked downstairs. Running into Lucas wasn’t in my plan. Before, I always wanted to see him, but he was always busy. Before I went abroad, the times we met were countable on one hand. Most of the time, he’d just send a text or two. After I left, he stopped contacting me altogether. I didn’t expect that now, when I truly didn’t want to see him, I’d run into him. I’ve had depression for a long time. At my worst, I had severe somatic symptoms and even thought about jumping off a building, but I gritted my teeth and survived. When I got home, Lily was waiting in the living room. She hadn’t slept well the night before. I decided to put her to bed early. But just as I started feeling sleepy, I smelled something burning. Lily was fast asleep, unaware. At first, I thought a neighbor burned dinner, but as the smell got stronger, I realized something was wrong. Jumping out of bed, I went to the window and saw thick smoke rising into the air. —This building was on fire. Memories flooded back. Ignoring everything else, I snatched Lily from the bed. She rubbed her eyes groggily. “Mommy, what’s wrong?” Realizing the fire, she gripped my sleeve. “Mommy?” I was shaking from fear as I held her. Stumbling out the door, I carried her down the emergency stairs. I fell three or four times, bruising my knees, but I stood up without feeling the pain. Bursting out of the building entrance, I saw a crowd gathered outside. The fire trucks had arrived. The scene before me overlapped with memories of the past. Holding Lily, I leaned against a tree across the street, feeling faint. Lily asked anxiously, “Mommy, are we going to die?” I snapped back and hugged her tighter. “No.” As long as Lily was with me, I would never let anything happen to her. Because— Lily’s biological mother already died saving me.

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The System threw me into a romance novel to save the “devoted second male lead.” But I’m not a savior. I’m a high-maintenance diva with the temperament of a rabid chihuahua. I have zero patience for his tragic backstory. He was hopelessly in love with the heroine, unrequited, and decided to end it all. While he was upstairs preparing a lethal cocktail of sleeping pills, I was downstairs interviewing housekeepers. “Hey! Are any of you virgins? If you’re not a virgin, don’t even think about serving me! Filthy!” Upstairs, the Second Lead heard me and spat out his poison. My identity in this world is a student he sponsors. He’s notoriously upright and feels responsible for my moral upbringing. He hesitated, put down the pills, ran downstairs, and tried to lecture me gently: “Nina, ‘virgin’ isn’t a word we should use like that. It objectifies people. Let’s not say it again, okay?” I slapped him across the face, impatient. “Shut up. Also, who gave you permission to breathe? Don’t you know I hate the sound of breathing?” The Devoted Second Lead was stunned. After a long pause, he spoke, his eyes full of guilt: “Nina, you’re only eighteen. It’s my fault you turned out like this. I was so drowning in my own heartbreak that I neglected you. From today on, I will educate you properly.” What was he rambling about? But the floating text—the “Bullet Screen” comments from viewers in the real world—went wild: 【99 previous transmigrators failed to stop him from committing suicide, but Nina did it with one sentence! What a tactic! Top-tier succubus… no, top-tier brat!】 【Nina is too powerful! Sob, my handsome, rich, gentle Second Lead finally isn’t dying!】 Chapter 1 I sized up the 24-year-old man in front of me. This was the book’s tragic Second Lead, Julian Vance. Planning to kill himself over love? What a loser. Before the comments could finish celebrating, his phone rang. It was the heroine, Bella. Julian scrambled to answer, terrified to make her wait even a second. “Bella? Are you okay? Is something wrong? You haven’t called in so long.” Bella was a girl Julian had sponsored, helping her leave her rural hometown to attend college in New York. She refused to live in the dorms because they were “too small to study in,” so she asked to live in Julian’s downtown penthouse. Julian agreed. Over four years, Julian fell in love with her. But she fell for the poor scholarship student, the Male Lead, Noah. Julian was heartbroken but didn’t dare disturb her happiness. He wrote a will leaving his billion-dollar fortune to Bella and prepared to off himself. Until I interrupted. On the phone, Bella’s voice was crisp and furious: “Julian! Did you get Noah fired from the coffee shop?!” Julian looked panicked. “Bella, I didn’t! I never touched him. I swear…” She cut him off. “I don’t believe you! Just because you’re rich and powerful doesn’t mean you can bully people! I love him, Julian! I love him so much! And I don’t love you! If you hurt him, I’ll die!” In an instant, Julian’s face went pale, like the life had been sucked out of him. He replied robotically: “Okay. I understand. I…” She hung up before he could finish. I crossed my arms and watched him. He stared blankly at his phone, the screen illuminating his handsome, scholarly face. He wore gray loungewear, buttoned to the top. Even in despair, he looked pristine, his broad shoulders slumping in defeat. He let out a bitter laugh. “Four years… and she still doesn’t know what kind of person I am? Heh. Why would I bully a student working at a coffee shop…” I grabbed his face, squeezing his cheeks. “Stop being sad for a second. I have a question. Are you a virgin?” He blinked, stunned, and nodded dumbly. I stood up. “Good. Now, drive me to get my nails done. I only allow virgins to be my chauffeur.” A flash of shock crossed his face. He frowned, looking at me with gentle concern. “Nina, you’re eighteen. You’re so young. Why do you talk like that? It’s not appropriate. I know I just met you today, but…” I checked my watch and cut him off. “Hurry up! The salon closes soon!” Julian’s phone buzzed. A message popped up. [Bella (Loves cheese, hates water, remind her to hydrate): JULIAN! It’s your fault I’m upset! I drank too much. I feel sick. I can’t tell Noah. Come pick me up.] [Bella: Angry Cat Sticker] But Julian didn’t even look at his phone. His entire focus was on me. He looked at me with infinite patience, gentle but firm. “Nina, let’s correct this habit together, okay? If you can go a month without saying ‘virgin,’ I’ll give you a surprise gift.” Tsk. Why was he talking to me like a toddler? And who wants him as a big brother? But… his penthouse looked expensive. His “surprise gift” would probably be expensive too. Maybe something shiny with a designer logo. Damn it. I kinda wanted it. I huffed. “Fine. But you still have to drive me.” He smiled, his eyes crinkling. “Good girl. Thank you for listening. Let’s go get your nails done.” The comments scrolled by fast: 【She made the Second Lead ignore the Heroine’s text! Nina is a god!】 【Why does he give off such ‘Male Mom’ energy? I love a rich, gentle Male Mom with big pecs.】 【He’s distracted now, but he’ll probably try to kill himself again later… especially with Bella provoking him.】 【Go Nina! There’s a ten million dollar prize for saving him!】 Chapter 2 I didn’t want to “go Nina.” My personality is terrible. I have zero patience for “saving” men. Sure, time in the real world stops while I’m here, so I’m not losing anything. But getting transmigrated without consent annoyed me. It was all Julian’s fault for wanting to die! Thinking about it made me mad. I reached up and strangled Julian with both hands. Surprise flashed in his eyes. He was putting on his coat to drive me. He stopped, looking down at me. “Nina, what’s wrong?” I squeezed harder. “Tsk. Why is your neck so hard? I can’t even choke you properly. Are you sick?” I demanded unreasonably. “Didn’t you go to Harvard? Did they not teach you how to make your neck softer?!” The comments rolled: 【Holy crap, Nina is a demon child.】 【She makes zero sense! But she’s so beautiful… oh no, my brain is fighting itself.】 【Nina: Beauty 100, Morality 0.】 Julian bent down to make it easier for me to strangle him. From this angle, I could see his collarbones and a hint of muscle. He looked genuinely worried. “Nina, Harvard doesn’t teach neck-softening. You’re a freshman this year… why don’t you know what college teaches? Are you skipping classes? Why? Is someone bullying you at school?” His phone rang. Bella’s name flashed. He didn’t even look. He hung up and squatted down to look me in the eye. “Nina, are you being bullied? Can you tell me?” ? How dare he misunderstand me? I got even angrier. When I get angry, I cry. So I started sobbing while slapping him. “Of course not! Idiot! Shut up! Now!” Chapter 3 Seeing my tears, he froze. Then, with perfect manners, he looked away to protect my dignity. He handed me a tissue. His fingers were long, pale, and elegant like jade. “Wipe your face. It is a bit hot in here. Bullying trauma is heavy. If you don’t want to talk about it now, we can talk later.” Weird. Why was he looking at me with pity? Why was he feeling bad for me? Chapter 4 My identity here was a poor student sponsored by Julian. He seemed convinced I was being bullied, so he insisted I stay at his house to “talk.” The next morning, I was sleeping soundly when banging on the door woke me up. I opened it. It was Bella. She was thin and frail, wearing an oversized men’s white shirt. The comments said it belonged to Noah. I glared at her. “What?” She narrowed her pretty eyes, scanning me, then scoffed. “Aren’t you the charity case from the sticks? Why are you living in Julian’s house?” I crossed my arms. “None of your business.” She laughed coldly, shouldering past me into my room, acting like she owned the place. “Drop the act, sweetie. I know your type. I used to be a ‘green tea’ girl too. I’m going to see Julian now, and when I do, I’ll make sure you’re kicked out.” She stared me down, smiling. “After all, Julian does whatever I say.” I walked over and slapped her. “I’m going back to sleep. I don’t want to hear dogs barking. Get out.” Her face went blank. Then she screeched, losing all her cool composure. “You hillbilly! You dare hit me?” The butler rushed in, blocking her path to me. His voice was cold. “Miss Bella, you were once a ‘charity case from the sticks’ too. Have you forgotten?” Her face turned green at the mention of her past. “You!” The butler continued icily: “Miss Bella, our Young Master was suicidal because of you. Thanks to Miss Nina, he found a reason to live. Miss Nina is our VIP. As for you… I’m being polite by not throwing you out myself. You should leave.” Bella looked embarrassed. Then, she seemed to remember something. Her arrogance returned. “You’re just a servant. What right do you have to kick me out? Julian loves me the most. He wants to see me.” She pushed past the butler and ran into the hall, shouting up at Julian’s room: “Julian! It’s Bella! I have something important to tell you!” She turned back to smirk at us, posing like a winner. Sure enough, from upstairs, Julian’s excited voice rang out: “So that’s how it works! Adolescents need positive reinforcement!” Bella froze. She frowned. “What? Julian, it’s me!” Julian didn’t even open the door. He shouted through the wood: “Sorry, Bella! Can it wait? I have three more parenting books to finish!” The smug look froze on Bella’s face. It was hilarious. She repeated dumbly: “Parenting books?” The butler smiled, smoothing my bedsheets. “Ah, yes. Young Master stayed up all night reading about raising teenagers. He wants to take better care of Miss Nina. It’s wonderful to see him so passionate about life again.” Bella’s eyes widened in disbelief. She grabbed the butler’s collar, shrieking: “Why?! She’s eighteen! Why is he reading parenting books for her? She doesn’t deserve it!” The butler shrugged, his expression frosty. “Teenagers are still children. And if the Young Master enjoys it, who are we to stop him?” The butler signaled the door. Security guards in black suits immediately stepped forward and “escorted” Bella out. Her face was gray. She looked at me with pure venom. But under the guards’ watch, she had no choice but to leave.

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Before the SATs, my mom had one rule: no washing our hair. She firmly believed that shampoo would wash away all the knowledge in our brains. I didn’t buy it, but my twin sister, Lily, obeyed without question. Later, Lily became the laughingstock of the school. They said her hair was dirtier than a pigsty. Crying, she begged me to take her to a salon. As a result, she bombed the SATs. When Mom demanded answers, Lily blamed me: “If my sister hadn’t made me wash my hair, I would have been valedictorian!” In a fit of rage, she pushed me into the river. When I opened my eyes again, I heard my mom’s voice: “For the next 100 days until the SATs, no one is allowed to wash their hair!” Chapter 1 “Washing your hair washes the knowledge right out of your brain.” My mom’s shrill voice jolted me awake. “For the next 100 days until the SATs, neither of you is allowed to wash your hair!” I snapped back to reality, finding myself sitting at the kitchen table. Across from me was my twin sister, Lily, with her usual meek and obedient expression. I had been reborn. “Mom, that’s just a myth. How can you still believe that?” I heard myself blurt out the words. In my last life, I said the exact same thing and got chewed out for it. Mom slammed her chopsticks down and smacked me on the head. “What do you know? The experts say it’s true! “Mrs. Johnson’s son next door didn’t listen, washed his hair, and his score dropped by 100 points!” What Mom didn’t know was that Mrs. Johnson’s son cheated on every test. When it came to the SATs, with no one to copy off of, of course his score tanked. I tried to argue, hoping to change her outdated mindset. But she just unleashed her anger on me. She called me unmotivated, disrespectful. She even blamed me for her divorce and her fear of dating again. Before, I was too stubborn, always trying to reason with her. But with a mom who refused to listen, I needed a new strategy. “Mom, the kids at prep schools wash their hair every day. They say feeling fresh helps them focus.” I raised my voice deliberately. “And their acceptance rates are way higher than ours.” Mom paused. She was a sucker for the “other kids do it better” theory. But soon, she regained her composure, her face stern. “Stop with your nonsense! Lily, you be the judge. Who’s right, me or your sister?” Chapter 2 Lily glanced at me first. Seeing my calm expression, she turned to Mom with a sweet, obedient smile. “Of course I listen to you, Mom.” “See? Lily is the good one.” I didn’t argue further. I finished my soy milk and left for school without another word. Behind me, Mom’s muttering continued: “Always with that long face. What a burden. Unlike Lily, who was born to be a blessing.” Mom always said Lily looked more like her. But we were identical twins. We had the exact same face. Growing up, Mom always favored Lily. When she divorced Dad, she didn’t hesitate to dump me at my grandma’s house. If Dad hadn’t remarried and Grandma hadn’t passed away, forcing my grandparents to take me in because they pitied me… She wouldn’t have even remembered she had another daughter. I used to feel sorry for her, a single mom raising two girls. But my sympathy was met with constant belittling. When I used my allowance to buy her clothes, she called me wasteful. When Lily simply said “Mom, you work so hard” empty-handed, she was so moved she gave her a thousand dollars on the spot. She was a mother, but she wasn’t my mother. At the school gate, Lily caught up, panting. She immediately started lecturing me: “Sister, Mom has it hard. Don’t make her angry!” Her face, feigning innocence. It sent a chill down my spine. In my last life, she begged me to take her to a salon in secret. Afterward, she asked me to keep it a secret. But in the end, she pushed me to my death. The last thing I saw was her hateful expression. As if I were a monster who deserved to die. But I was just trying to help! I turned around and nodded casually. “Yeah, got it.” She wanted to say more. But I had already run through the gates, blending into the crowd of students. We weren’t in the same class anyway. Whatever happened to her from now on was her choice. In this new life, whether they washed their hair or not was none of my business! Chapter 3 That night, I had just stepped out of the shower. I ran right into Mom. She grabbed my ear and yelled: “I told you this morning not to wash your hair! are you deaf?” I pulled away and took a step back. “Even if I wash it every day, I’ll still be in the top ten for the mock exams.” Mom raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. After all, she had never been to a single parent-teacher conference for me. Between Lily and me, she always chose Lily. “Fine! If you don’t make it, don’t expect your grandma to buy you a phone!” When Lily said the new iPhone looked nice, Mom bought her the latest model immediately. I had begged from freshman to senior year, but my requests were ignored. Even when Grandma wanted to reward me, Mom would intervene. I was numb to this double standard. Lily, who had been hiding in her room eavesdropping, rushed in after Mom left. “Why did you bet your grades just to spite Mom?” “You’re smart, but I can’t score that high. If Mom yells at me later, it’s all your fault!” I admired her ability to make everything about herself. I kept working on my English practice test without looking up. “If you’re afraid of getting yelled at, read fewer romance novels and study more.” Her face turned pale with anger, and she stormed out, slamming the door. “Some sister you are!” From the next room came the sound of things being thrown. I acted like nothing happened and dove back into the sea of questions. Lily’s hair, unwashed for a month, started to smell pungent. Although she secretly used dry shampoo, it didn’t solve the root problem. She came home crying, saying classmates mocked her, writing “Toilet” on her desk with chalk. Boys would make gagging noises when she walked by. Even during gym class, she was forced to stand at the very back. Mom called the principal on the spot, accusing the teachers of ignoring bullying. Lily’s homeroom teacher got disciplined because of it. After the incident blew up, the whole school knew. There was a girl in Senior Class 2 who didn’t wash her hair. The mockery expanded from her classmates to the entire student body. She became known as the “Homeless Girl.” Wherever she went, people would snicker knowingly. Someone even started a TikTok account updating the “Homeless Girl’s” daily life. One day after school, she begged me with red eyes: “Sis, take me to get my hair washed.” I kept walking towards the bus stop without turning back. She tugged hard on my backpack strap. Unable to pull away, I frowned. “Ask Mom to take you.” She looked both fearful and disgusted. “You know Mom won’t agree!” I raised my voice. “Then keep being a good girl and listen to her.” In the end, she didn’t wash her hair. She washed her hats every day. She bought wigs to wear and sprayed perfume on her head. But these were just band-aids. They couldn’t hide the smell of grease and rot. Lily begged me three or four more times in private. But I was busy with my studies and refused. I wasn’t going to carry that burden again. Chapter 4 The first mock exam results came out. I was firmly in eighth place. Mom was so happy she bought Lily another new phone. “Lily has been under a lot of stress lately, her grades slipped. She needs to relax.” Lily waved her phone at me, showing off. “My sister is introverted at school, unlike me. I think a flip phone is too much for her.” Mom confiscated my phone that day, saying it was a waste of money if I didn’t use it. I was used to this level of bias. If I wanted something, I could earn it myself. After the second mock exam, Lily’s score dropped another thirty points. She defended herself tearfully: “The test was too hard this time.” Meanwhile, my score went up by 30 points. I was third in the grade, twentieth in the city. The teacher called specifically to congratulate us. Mom brushed it off and kept asking about Lily. The teacher said awkwardly: “I’m not Lily’s teacher. You should ask her homeroom teacher.” Mom’s execution was swift. She texted the teacher immediately. But she found out the teacher had blocked her. Mom cursed: “Irresponsible teachers like that deserve to be punished! She should be fired!” She forgot. She was the one texting the teacher at all hours. Calling at 2 AM because she couldn’t sleep. The teacher couldn’t take the harassment anymore. Mom never reflected on her actions. So Lily, raised by her hand, was exactly the same. Lily didn’t work hard enough and regressed, but she always blamed external factors. Mom even suggested Lily stop showering. “Washing your hair washes away knowledge. Showering might affect it too.” Lily couldn’t win against Mom. She only dared to wipe her body down secretly late at night. One month before the SATs, Lily finally broke down. With greasy, matted hair, she rushed into the bathroom. Mom dragged her out and comforted her patiently: “Lily, just a few more days. Hang in there.” I sat at my desk, listening to English tapes. But the cheap headphones didn’t block out the noise. I couldn’t block out my sister’s hysterical screaming: “I have to wash it! Everyone laughs at me, calling me a homeless kid! My hair is dirtier than a pigsty! Even the teachers dodge me when I say hi!” Mom made another call. Not to the principal this time, but to the Board of Education. She reported severe discrimination and bullying by teachers and students at Lily’s school, demanding punishment. During the critical pre-SAT period, everyone was afraid of a scandal. After an investigation, the instigator turned out to be the whistleblower herself. I heard that when the Board leaders called Mom in for a chat… She smashed a teacup and threw files everywhere. In the end, the police took her away for a “talk.” All the way to the station, she screamed: “My daughter doesn’t smell!”

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When we were at our lowest, my sister and I became the trophy wives of the Sterling brothers, bearing them each a son. My sister, burdened with a condition that made her cry easily, was taken by the eldest, the psychopathic Richard Sterling. I, mute from birth, ended up with the illegitimate son, Cole Sterling, who was obsessed with his dead, mute first love. In the fifth year of our miserable existence, my sister said she wanted to leave. Because Richard, obsessed with watching her cry, had “accidentally” killed her kitten. And their son had clapped and cheered for his father. She told me to be obedient, stay with Cole, and take good care of my son. She promised to visit often once she settled down. I grabbed her suitcase and signed to her: “But I don’t love him, and I don’t love that child. I only came to the Sterling family to follow you.” My sister sighed softly. “Then let’s leave together.” Chapter 1 After placing the last piece of clothing inside, I closed my suitcase. It wasn’t a large case, yet it was still half empty. My sister, Maya, lifted the suitcase for me and asked softly, “Is this it?” I nodded and pointed to the small, silver carry-on in the corner. That was all she was taking. Like me, despite living in the Sterling mansion for five years, she hadn’t accumulated much that truly belonged to her. We each took a suitcase. Maya reached out and held my hand as we walked downstairs. In the living room, my son, Leo, and Maya’s son, Ethan, were glued to a video game. Maya led me over to them. Leo, his view slightly blocked, immediately screeched: “Move! The mute and the crybaby, so annoying!” I stood still. The “Game Over” sound blared from the TV. Furious, Leo pushed over my suitcase, threw down his controller, and jumped up to glare at me. “Are you deaf as well as mute?!” Ethan sat silently on the side, but his expression was filled with undisguised disgust. He was older than Leo and more like his father, Richard—better at hiding his emotions, but just as cold. Maya crouched down and set my suitcase upright. Standing up, she looked calmly at Ethan. “When your dad and uncle get back, tell them your aunt and I have left.” Ethan didn’t respond. Maya didn’t say another word. She took my hand and led me towards the door. Just as we were about to step out, Ethan’s voice rang out from behind us. “You’re not coming back?” Chapter 2 Maya’s grip on my hand tightened for a fraction of a second. She paused at the doorway, silent for a moment, but didn’t turn around. “No,” she said simply. “We’re not coming back.” Behind us, Leo cheered. “Finally! The two annoying pests are gone!” Ethan said nothing more. It was the height of summer, and rain was pouring down outside. As we left, Maya held the umbrella, tilting it to cover me. A few days ago, Cole had taken his anger out on the racetrack after being scolded by his father. He dragged me along, and his reckless driving nearly cost me my leg. The wound was just starting to scab over, and Maya was worried about it getting wet. I looked at her soaked shoulder. She smiled warmly. “It’s okay. I’m tough.” In the taxi, she changed the dressing on my leg. When she looked up, her eyes were red, her voice trembling. “It must hurt. It won’t… ever happen again.” I shook my head and signed, It doesn’t hurt. We took the taxi to the train station and boarded a high-speed train. The long tracks were taking us back to our hometown by the sea. Halfway there, Richard actually called Maya. I was sitting close enough to hear his displeasure through the phone. “Where did you go?” Outside the window, the scenery blurred past. Maya pressed one hand against the glass, her fingers curling anxiously. But her voice remained calm and gentle. “I cleared out my things. If I missed anything, please throw it away.” Richard’s voice deepened, impatient. “I asked you, where did you go?” Chapter 3 Maya was used to obeying. When our father was alive, she obeyed him. After he died and she went to Richard, she obeyed Richard. So, when she spoke again, her voice held a trace of unnatural defiance. “You don’t need to know. We have nothing to do with each other anymore.” The silence on the other end suggested Richard was surprised by her attitude. After a long pause, he said angrily, “Did I say you could leave?” Maya’s voice grew quieter. “You have no reason to stop me.” She knew. For all these years, Richard’s heart belonged to someone else. He laughed, a sound born of extreme anger. “Because of that stupid cat?” This time, Maya was silent for a long time. Just as I thought he might have hung up, she spoke. “Yes. Let’s say that’s why.” Richard sneered. “Good timing. My secretary, Sarah, needs a place to stay. She can take your room.” “You and your precious sister can rot in the streets for all I care.” The line went dead. Maya put down her phone and hugged me. She always tried to hide her tears, afraid of upsetting me. But I felt them soaking into my shoulder. I let her hold me, feeling her body shake. After a while, I gently pushed her away. I took a bank card from my pocket and pressed it into her hand. I signed, I saved a lot of money. I can take care of us. It didn’t matter. Men were just men. We didn’t need to rely on anyone. Since the day I was born, the only person I could truly rely on was my sister. Maya wiped her tears, forced a smile, and nodded. The train sped on. The city where we had lived for five years faded into the distance. Chapter 4 From the train, we took a ferry. It was nearly midnight when we reached the island. Our father had left us an old house here. It was small, but livable. It was the only thing he left us. The house was dusty from disuse. By the time we cleaned it up, dawn was breaking. Through the window, we could see a faint glow on the horizon. We decided not to sleep and went to the beach to watch the sunrise. Sitting on the soft sand, the sea breeze blew away our exhaustion. The sun slowly rose from the sea, bursting through the clouds and bathing the water in gold. I leaned my head on Maya’s shoulder. She suddenly said, “I want to open a restaurant here.” She had said the same thing years ago. Then Dad died, leaving behind a mountain of debt. She went to her ex-boyfriend, Richard, bringing six-year-old Ethan with her. After that, the ex-boyfriend became her patron, and she became his mistress. Unable to open a restaurant, she cooked for Richard instead. But after a few days, Richard frowned and told her, “I have chefs. I don’t want to come home to a woman smelling of grease. It’s disgusting.” Maya never cooked for him again. But Richard’s attitude never improved. She realized it wasn’t the cooking; he just found her disgusting. But none of that mattered now. I raised my beer can and clinked it against hers. To Maya’s success. To a smooth future. Maya’s restaurant opened quickly. I invested in a travel agency and started working as a sign language tour guide for the deaf and hard of hearing. There are millions of deaf people in the country, but very few guides for them. I led groups around the island, watching sunrises and sunsets, catching crabs at low tide. Seeing them sign “thank you” with familiar gestures warmed my heart. After work, I would eat seafood at Maya’s restaurant and wait for her to close up so we could walk home together. Business was booming. Maya was beautiful and honest, and her restaurant soon went viral on social media. Days turned into weeks. Cole and Leo were like a fading watercolor painting in my memory. Until one night, over a month later, as I was getting ready for bed, Cole texted me. “What are you doing?” Chapter 5 I thought I was hallucinating. In five years, Cole had never once cared about my whereabouts. I stared at the message, unsure how to reply. A moment later, another text came: “Wrong person.” Expected. I exited the chat, unbothered. I contacted the agency about tomorrow’s tour. When I finished, I noticed Cole had sent another message half an hour ago: “How’s your leg?” I didn’t know what he meant. Maybe he felt awkward about the wrong text and was making conversation. Or maybe he was just mocking me. Either way, there was no need to reply. The scar on my leg throbbed. The memory of Cole crashing his car toward me on the track, his cold, crazy face, came rushing back. It felt like a thorn in my heart. I tapped his profile picture and deleted him. We were never going back. There was no need to stay in touch. My phone was finally quiet. I washed up and went to bed. Closing my eyes, I remembered the first time I met Cole. I had gone to the city to find Maya and got caught in a storm. Richard’s servants locked me out of the iron gates. He looked at me coldly and said, “This isn’t a shelter for strays.” I tried to explain, “My sister is Maya. She’s your girlfriend.” He scoffed. “Girlfriend? She wishes.” I couldn’t get in, and Maya couldn’t leave. She still owed Richard. That was when Cole drove up. He looked reckless and wild, laughing as he cursed at Richard. “Are you human? Leaving your woman’s sister out in the rain?” Richard said indifferently, “You take her then.”

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After I landed my first real job, I refused to hand over my debit card to my parents. They sued me. They demanded I pay back every cent they spent raising me in one lump sum. From the diapers I used as a newborn to the three meals I ate when I visited home a month ago—every single expense was itemized. They even split the bill for those dinners. The total came to $574,823.60. I thought no court would ever entertain such a ridiculous lawsuit. But yesterday, I was served with a subpoena. After calling around, I realized my parents had sued me in the Court of Dissolution. 1 I hung up the phone and immediately Googled “Court of Dissolution.” [The Court of Dissolution handles irreconcilable family conflicts. Appearing in this court means severing all familial ties. Parties face each other as strangers.] [All sacrifices and contributions are quantified and settled financially.] [The verdict is final. No appeals. Both plaintiff and defendant must comply immediately.] [Once the trial concludes, the parties are legally strangers with no further obligations to each other.] That was it. Information was scarce. A few stray forum posts claimed the court was incredibly fair. I doubted it. If it were fair, how could it accept such an absurd case? While I was researching, my phone rang. “Elena, you got the subpoena, right?” My mom’s voice dripped with smug satisfaction. “Once we’re in court, everything I spent on you counts. Can a fresh college grad like you afford that?” “If you don’t pay, I can garnish your wages. Once your credit is ruined, you won’t even keep your current job.” “Listen to me. Just give me your debit card. I’ll give you an allowance every month. Would I mistreat you?” “If you come to your senses, I can still withdraw the lawsuit.” I rejected her proposal without hesitation. After graduating, I found a job paying $7,000 a month. My mom demanded I hand over my salary so she could “manage” it, offering me a $1,500 monthly allowance. Her logic? “I raised you, fed you, paid for your school. Now that you’re working, it’s time for my return on investment.” She said it with such conviction I nearly rolled my eyes out of my head. $1,500 a month? In this city? I’d be eating air. And I knew once she had my card, I’d be lucky to see $500. Hearing my refusal, she exploded. “I’m not taking your money! I’m just afraid you’ll waste it! When you get married, you can have it back.” “You’re choosing the hard way. Once the judgment hits, plus interest, you’ll be in debt forever!” I stayed silent, my resolve hardening. I knew that if I gave her my card, my income would vanish into a black hole. Asking her for money would be like wringing water from a stone. That money would be “repaying their kindness”—straight into my brother’s pockets. I’d rather let a judge decide a lump sum than be held hostage by my family for life. The negotiation failed. My mom snarled: “Ungrateful wolf. I should have given you away at birth!” Heh. As if I asked to be born into this family. I hung up, exhausted, and waited for judgment day. Soon, the trial arrived. 2 “Case C-7342 of the Court of Dissolution is now in session!” The gavel strike sounded like a bone snapping—sharp and painful. The judge’s voice boomed from the speakers, mechanical and devoid of emotion, underlined by a faint metallic hum. “Plaintiffs George and Linda Miller. Defendant Elena Miller. Do you understand that once this trial begins, all legal and ethical ties between you will be erased? You will no longer be parents and daughter,” the judge stated solemnly. My parents—no, George and Linda—glared at me with venom in their eyes. “Your Honor, Elena is an ungrateful wretch. She knows nothing of filial piety. We’d rather have nothing to do with her!” “I don’t want a daughter like this!” I lowered my head slightly, my voice steady. “I understand, Your Honor.” Linda pointed a shaking finger at my nose. “An animal! Even crows feed their parents. You’re worse than a beast!” “I wanted to be lenient, but you don’t know what’s good for you!” “I was blind to raise you. Now I’m taking back everything you owe us!” Bang. The gavel struck. “Order!” The trial proceeded. “Plaintiffs George and Linda Miller versus Defendant Elena Miller for the return of child-rearing costs. Case open.” “The plaintiffs claim the defendant owes $574,823.60. Per procedure, the court must verify this amount.” “Plaintiffs, please place your hands on the metal sensors in front of you. The court will extract the relevant memories.” 3 The holographic screen in the center of the courtroom lit up. Scenes from the past flickered by. The first frame was a hospital receipt from my birth. George held it, smoking a cigarette, sneering. “Spent all this money, and it’s just a girl!” My grandmother was tearing up old rags to boil for my diapers. At seven years old, I had gastroenteritis. Linda complained while paying the bill. “Other kids are fine. Only you are so delicate. Getting sick from eating… what a waste of money!” Before elementary school started: “School costs six hundred a year!” “Girls just marry out anyway. Why send her to school?” “Save the money. She can stay home and watch her brother!” When I needed two dollars for a notebook, I begged for hours before they threw two crumpled bills on the floor like charity. Dinner time. Linda banging her chopsticks on the table, scolding me. “Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating!” “Eating so much… want to be a pig? If you get fat, no one will marry you, and you’ll be stuck here!” Middle school tuition, books. The one time they bought me clothes in high school. … In college, when my part-time job paid late, I borrowed $300 from them. … Even last month, when they called me home to demand my bank card, the three meals I ate were there. Split AA style. Every cent counted against me. Every scene was money they spent on me. Every scene was money I had to pay back. 4 Initially, George and Linda looked uncomfortable as their cruelty was displayed for everyone to see. They shouted excuses: “We’re the fourth generation! I wanted a son to carry the name. Is that a crime?” “Plenty of girls in our town didn’t go to school. I complained, but didn’t I send her anyway?” “If I didn’t send her to school, would she be here today?” “Ungrateful brat!” “I stopped her from eating for her own good! Figure is important for a girl!” “…” “Of course meals cost money! Food isn’t free!” “Elena ate more than the boys! Do you know how much it cost to feed her?!” Bang. The gavel hit my heart. “Silence!” The judge glanced at the indignant couple and offered a “kind” explanation. “The money you spent is not discounted by your attitude toward the defendant.” George and Linda sighed in relief. The judge added: “Furthermore, inflation over the years will be factored into the final settlement.” Their faces lit up with joy. I kept my head down, anxiety gnawing at me as the debt piled up. The memories flashed faster, playing for over three hours. And these were just excerpts. Since we all accepted the accuracy of the memory extraction, the judge decided to skip the rest. It was noon. The court recessed for lunch.

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