Author: Momo Chan

After my rebirth, when Julian’s little secretary, Chloe, once again “accidentally” spilled red wine on my face while pouring me a drink, giggling like it was a joke. I didn’t slap her like I did in my past life. I didn’t scream for a divorce like a shrew when Julian rushed to defend her. Instead, I smiled calmly at Julian. “She’s really cute. Have fun playing with her.” “Let’s consider our seventh anniversary celebration over early. I’m going home.” With that, I grabbed my bag and walked out of the private room without looking back. I had no choice. After divorcing Julian in my last life, my life was a living hell. He crushed me like a business rival, gripping his assets so tight I couldn’t get a cent. I hired every lawyer in the city, but all I got in the divorce settlement was literally $7.50. Right after the divorce, I was diagnosed with cancer. When the pain became unbearable, I swallowed my pride and knelt before Julian. But he let his secretary slap me three times and didn’t give me a penny. In the end, penniless and broken, I froze to death on the doorstep of the home I had lived in for seven years. So, dignity? Dignity is nothing compared to staying alive. 1 I didn’t expect Julian to chase after me. He grabbed my arm. “Let me explain, Sarah. Chloe is just young and playful. She spilled the wine to lighten the mood, to make you laugh.” “She doesn’t have bad intentions. We grew up together, she’s always been mischievous. She treats you like family, so she sometimes forgets boundaries. Don’t hold a grudge against her.” Julian said these exact words in my past life. Back then, humiliated by the wine dripping down my face and shaking with rage, hearing him defend her so tenderly was the last straw. I slapped him in front of all our friends, screamed “Divorce!”, and ran out. I was so stupid then. I thought threatening divorce would scare him. Instead, I walked for four hours in the freezing winter rain, tears streaming down my face. My heels rubbed my feet raw until they bled. I ended up with a 104-degree fever. While I lay dying in our empty house, Julian didn’t call once. That very night, he took Chloe on an overseas business trip. Photos of him adjusting her spaghetti strap dress and her kissing his cheek even made it onto the company gossip forums. The irony was too much. A cynical smile tugged at the corner of my mouth. The next second, Julian angrily shook off my hand. “How many times do I have to tell you? Chloe is the daughter of my dad’s friend. I’m just looking out for her.” “It’s just a little wine spill. Go home and wash it off. Can you stop being jealous over nothing and imagining things between us?” Seeing the sudden anger on his face, a bitterness rose in my chest. Not for him, but for my past self. In my last life, after the divorce, I got pancreatic cancer—the king of cancers. Every day was either nurses poking me with long needles until I cried, or rolling on the floor clutching my stomach, begging for death to come faster. When I ran out of money, I even stabbed myself with a fruit knife, hoping the pain would distract me enough to sleep. Yet even then, I couldn’t bear to sell our wedding ring for pain meds. When the doctor gave me a month to live, I dragged my skeletal body to find him, hoping to reconcile. After all, when my parents died, he swore he’d be with me forever. I knelt before the security guard at our old home, begging him to call Julian. When Julian picked up, he heard my voice and said calmly: “Sarah, we’re divorced. Divorce means we have nothing to do with each other. Don’t contact me again.” He hung up. I collapsed in the backyard of the villa where we lived for seven years. In the final moments of my life, I saw him holding Chloe in the house I had lovingly decorated, drinking from the wine glasses I bought, having a romantic date. The pain in my chest was suffocating. I didn’t want to remember anymore. I quickly hid my emotions and smiled calmly. “Julian, I’m really not jealous. And I’m really not angry at Chloe.” “I’m just tired and want to go home. You should go back inside.” Surprise flashed across Julian’s face. Before he could react, I turned and walked away down the street without a backward glance. 2 As soon as I got home, I went straight to my room. I called the hospital and booked an appointment with a specialist for a full checkup tomorrow. Whether in the past life or this one, I really want to live. Just as I hung up, Julian suddenly came back. I don’t know why. He loosened his tie impatiently. “What did you mean back there on the street?” “Sarah, can you stop throwing attitude for no reason?” Ever since Chloe became his secretary, Julian had become incredibly harsh towards me. He found fault with everything I did. His attitude change and Chloe’s provocations were why I acted crazy in my last marriage. I endured the suffocating pain in my chest and turned around calmly. “Julian, believe it or not, I’m not angry. I’m not being unreasonable, and I’m not throwing attitude.” “Look, I’ve already washed my face. I’m not mad at you, and I certainly wouldn’t dare be mad at Chloe.” With that, I ignored him, went into the bathroom, and locked the door. When I came out, he was gone. Instead, my phone started buzzing non-stop. It was Chloe’s habit. Whenever she was with Julian, she would spam me with photos of their life together. She treated me like her personal cloud storage. In my last life, this made me cry or scream at Julian constantly. But now, looking at the photos, I didn’t curse her. Instead, I replied earnestly: “Your angle is off. Julian’s side profile is better. Hold the phone higher next time.” “Also, crop the photo tighter. Less background makes you look more intimate.” As soon as I sent it, Chloe replied: “Did you get hacked?” I sent a smiley face. “No. Just letting you know, you can have him.” Then I blocked her. This triangular property relationship works for me. I want the title of Mrs. Thorne and the supplementary credit card. Julian’s body and heart? Chloe can have them. Unlike my past self, I’m not stupid enough to want his love anymore. 3 After dealing with Chloe, I lay in bed and closed my eyes. Even though I was reborn, I didn’t sleep well. Just like when I had cancer, I kept dreaming of our past. When we were kids, Julian was introverted. His mother, a strict teacher, used to beat him. Often at midnight, while I was asleep, he would still be doing homework in his thick glasses. His mom would stand there with a stick, hitting his back for every mistake. I lived across the street. Seeing him beaten made me pity him. So on the way to school, I would sneak candy into his backpack and whisper, “Julian, eat one when your back hurts.” The first time I did it, he turned red and ran away. A hundred meters later, he whispered, “I… I don’t eat candy.” I waved at him. “Julian, you should talk more. Your voice is nice.” After that, it became a habit. The lonely boy started waiting for me in the alley, waiting for his candy. We walked through countless springs, summers, and winters together. When we were 18, Julian became the top student in the county and got into a prestigious university. He awkwardly handed me a slip of paper. “I checked. This college is near mine. Ten minutes walk. Your scores aren’t good enough for a bachelor’s, but you can do an associate’s degree there.” I looked at his nervous face. I didn’t tell him my parents had already decided to pay for a private university so I could get a bachelor’s degree. I secretly changed my application to be near him. My parents gave me a mixed-doubles beating, but I never regretted it. We went to the same city. Away from his mother, Julian blossomed. He got contacts, grew out his buzz cut, and changed his style. He traded plaid shirts for white button-downs and black sneakers for white ones. I didn’t know why he changed until I was screaming at a concert for my favorite idol. Julian grabbed me, eyes red. “I changed into the type you like. Can’t you like me yet?” The word “like” hit me like a hammer. Even at different schools, I heard of the legend of Julian. The tech god. Freshman year, he led the team to win a national competition. Sophomore year, he got offers from big tech giants. There were even forum posts tracking his “glow up.” I thought an ocean separated us, that we’d only ever be friends. But he said he liked me. Thick-skinned as always, I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him without hesitation. We started dating. My life became feeding him bubble tea and desserts. I had no career plans, just planning our dates. Julian’s life was on a rocket ship. Graduate school, startup, multiple rounds of funding. By the time he got his PhD, his tech company was top 10 in the industry. My life went the opposite way. I failed the transfer exam to a bachelor’s program. After graduation, I lived off Julian. Then my doting parents died in a car crash rushing to see me when I was hospitalized for pneumonia. Orphaned, I cried over their bodies. Julian knelt beside me, ignoring his mother’s glare, and swore to take care of me forever. We got married. I had multiple miscarriages. Then he met Chloe. He started disliking me for having no depth. I only knew how to ask what to eat. Chloe could talk about art and the future of the internet with him. Tears soaked my pillow. When I opened my eyes, it was dawn. Just like in my last life, I woke up crying. Julian sent a WeChat message. “Visiting my mom at the nursing home this afternoon.” 4 I replied calmly: “Busy today. No time.” Julian called immediately. “What are you busy with?” “Sarah, how many times do I have to say it? There’s nothing between me and Chloe. Why are you clinging to small things?” A sneer formed on my lips. Since his success, Julian spoke in short, concise sentences. This was the first time he rambled defensively. He was trying to convince himself he hadn’t fallen for her, trying to lessen his guilt. My heart ached, but I explained calmly: “Julian, I’m not feeling well. I’m going to the hospital for a checkup. I really can’t go.” “Also, your mom has a heart condition and hates me. Me not going is better for her health. She likes Chloe, says only Chloe is worthy of you. Why don’t you take her?” I genuinely meant it as good advice. But Julian exploded. “Sarah, keep acting out. See where it gets you.” He hung up. I listened to the dial tone, smiling bitterly. This is the difference between love and no love. When he loved me, a slight frown from me would make him panic and ask what he did wrong. Now, even my sincere advice is seen as throwing a tantrum.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387742”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Everyone in New York’s elite circle knew that Julian Ford would lie about anything to protect his “godsister,” Lily. At a family gathering, he publicly tore my ultrasound report to shreds. “I have congenital asthenospermia. If you want to trap me, Sarah, you’ll need a better lie than a pregnancy.” Under the mocking gazes of the crowd, he tenderly wiped a tear from Lily’s eye. In that moment, I realized that for the unloved, even pregnancy is a sin. I touched my slightly swollen belly and turned to jump off the luxury yacht. “Julian, since you can’t have children, consider this one a gift from a ghost.” Five years later, a miniature version of him outbid him for a plot of land he coveted at an auction. Red-eyed, Julian demanded a DNA test. The child just smiled. “Uncle, you’re sick. You couldn’t produce a seed as smart as me.” 1 Silence fell over the auction hall. That childish voice was like a slap across everyone’s face. Below the stage, Julian’s handsome face twisted. The bidding paddle in his hand crunched into a ball of useless plastic. He stared deathly at the child in the front row, who was swinging his short legs. A face identical to his own had become the biggest irony in the room. Julian moved. He strode over the seats, radiating murderous intent. Security didn’t dare stop him; guests didn’t dare breathe. He reached out, fingers hooked like claws, aiming straight for the child’s collar. The boy didn’t dodge. He just looked up, his eyes—so like mine—filled with cold indifference. Just as Julian’s hand was about to touch the child, a black shadow struck from the side. A hand wearing a black tactical glove clamped onto Julian’s wrist. I used my full strength. Veins popped on the back of Julian’s hand, bones cracking audibly. He tried to shake me off in pain, but I didn’t budge. He followed the arm up, his gaze colliding with my icy pupils. Julian’s pupils constricted violently. He stared at my face as if seeing a ghost, squeezing two words through his teeth: “Sarah… Vance?” Instantly, the guests exploded. “Sarah Vance? Julian’s ex-wife who jumped into the ocean five years ago?” “Didn’t they say no body was found? How is she alive?” “I heard she was pregnant with a bastard and jumped out of shame…” The whispers buzzed like flies. I threw his hand off expressionlessly, with enough force to make him stumble back half a step. Bending down, I straightened the child’s bowtie, then stood up. I pulled off the glove, revealing a palm roughened by years of seawater. I looked at Julian coldly. “Mr. Ford, you’re mistaken. I’m this child’s father, not your ex-wife.” Behind Julian, Lily covered her mouth and screamed. “Ghost! Julian, she’s a ghost!” She shrank behind Julian in terror, trembling. Julian instinctively shielded her in his arms, a habit carved into his bones. After comforting Lily, he turned back to me, the shock in his eyes replaced by utter disgust. Even after five years, his gaze could still sting. Julian looked me up and down, his eyes scanning my cargo pants and combat boots before landing on the child. He sneered. “Didn’t die but hid for five years? Couldn’t make it out there? Came back with a bastard to beg for money?” His look was like watching a dog wag its tail. “Sarah, does this outfit even cost fifty bucks? Couldn’t your lover afford to keep you?” A few snickers rippled through the crowd. I ignored him. I took the Rubik’s cube from the child and placed it on the table. Then, I raised my bidding paddle. My voice rang clear through the hall. “Fifty million.” The crowd gasped. That was the land Julian was determined to get. The starting bid was only twenty million. The mockery froze on Julian’s face. The auctioneer slammed the hammer down in excitement. A staff member ran over with the card machine. I rolled up my sleeve, revealing a jagged scar on my wrist. That was the mark left by deep-sea decompression sickness, proof of my five years risking my life. I swiped the card and signed, movements fluid. “Also,” I shoved the Black Card back into my pocket and looked straight at Julian, “Mr. Ford, if you’re not using your eyes, donate them. Get out of my way.” I took the child’s hand and started to walk. Julian’s face was livid. He signaled his bodyguards. The heavy doors slammed shut. A dozen men in black blocked the exit. Julian pushed Lily aside and advanced on me step by step, gritting his teeth. “Trying to leave? Explain yourself. Whose bastard is this?” He pointed at the child, eyes full of violence. “Here to scam me? I don’t mind verifying it right here and making you disappear again.” 2 In the VIP lounge behind the auction hall. A dozen burly men surrounded the child and me tightly. Julian sat on the sofa, legs crossed in arrogance, spinning a pinky ring, eyes dark. “Speak, Sarah.” A file slammed onto the coffee table. It was the private investigator’s report from five years ago. “Which man did you climb on to get here? Or did you sell your body for that fifty million?” Every word was a knife to the heart. Lily held a cup of hot tea, eyes red and pitiful. “Sister, don’t fight with Julian. Just tell us who the father is, and the Ford family will give you some money.” Her gaze swept over Julian’s lower half, voice lowered but loud enough for everyone to hear: “After all, everyone knows about Julian’s diagnosis of asthenospermia.” “Insisting the child is his… isn’t that just rubbing salt in his wound?” That knife twist was vicious. My son suddenly laughed. The laughter was crisp but cold, unlike a child. He unwrapped a piece of gum, chewed twice, and looked at Lily. “Auntie, your perfume is really strong. It smells like the bug spray in my bathroom.” Lily’s face stiffened, tears threatening to fall. Julian stood up abruptly, raising his hand to slap the child! “Uneducated brat! Who are you to talk to her like that?” The slap came with the wind, merciless. I grabbed the phone from the table and smashed it into the back of his hand. Bang! The screen shattered, and Julian’s hand instantly swelled red. He cried out in pain, clutching his hand and retreating, glaring at me. “Sarah! You dare hit me for this bastard?” I pulled the child behind me and looked at him coldly. “Julian, watch your mouth. Don’t you know if this child is a bastard?” Julian laughed in extreme anger, eyes full of madness. “Good! Very good!” He roared at the bodyguards. “Drag this little brat for a DNA test!” “I want the results now! I want all of New York to see whose mongrel you were carrying back then!” He pointed at my nose, voice twisted. “I will prove my innocence! Prove I never touched a slut like you!” To humiliate me, he didn’t hesitate to emphasize his own “impotence” in public. His logic was twisted to the extreme. The bodyguards moved to grab the child. My son didn’t dodge. He plucked a hair from his head and held it out. I stopped the bodyguard, took the hair from the child, and walked up to Julian. I placed the hair on the coffee table, looking at him like he was trash. “Test it.” My voice was terrifyingly calm. “Julian, but you can’t afford the consequences.” Just as Julian was about to explode, Lily suddenly clutched her chest and moaned. “Julian… I don’t feel well. My heart hurts.” Her face went pale instantly, and she slumped. Julian’s anger vanished, replaced by panic. He shoved me aside and rushed to pick up Lily. “Lily! Where’s the medicine? Get the car! Hurry!” He carried Lily toward the door, not even glancing at me as he passed. He only left a cold command: “Watch this crazy woman and that bastard! No one leaves until the results are out!” Half the people rushed out. I stood there, watching his frantic back. It was like this five years ago. Whenever Lily frowned, everything else had to wait. Even if I was bleeding out in the delivery room. I took a crumpled old newspaper clipping from my bag. It was a photo of Julian tearing up my ultrasound report in the hospital. I crumpled it into a ball and threw it in the trash. Then, I dialed an encrypted number. “Hello.” “You can bring that thing up now.” 3 Three days later, at the marina. The sea breeze was biting. Julian’s car was parked by the pier. He stood in the wind, holding the unopened paternity test result. Lily, wrapped in his cashmere coat, huddled beside him, cheeks rosy, looking anything but sick. I walked over holding the child’s hand. Bodyguards blocked our path. Julian waved a manila envelope, eyes cold. “Want this?” He pointed to the deep, dark water below. “Lily accidentally dropped the family heirloom ring. It’s a Ford heirloom, it can’t be lost.” He stared at me, a cruel smile on his lips. “Sarah, I heard you do deep-sea salvage abroad?” “Since you’re so capable, fetch it for Lily.” Naked humiliation. The late autumn seawater was freezing, full of undercurrents. Lily pretended to pull at Julian. “Julian, forget it.” “If the ring is lost, it’s lost. The water is too cold. Sister is weak, don’t make her go.” Her mouth said no, but her eyes were full of provocation and anticipation. Julian said coldly, “That was your engagement ring. It must be found.” “Isn’t she a professional? If she can’t handle this small thing, how can she talk about fifty million?” Ignoring their act, I bent down and handed the child to my assistant. I took off my coat, revealing the black wetsuit underneath. “Conditions.” I checked the oxygen tank and spoke coldly. “I bring it up, the DNA test is destroyed on the spot, and the Ford family and I are done. This child has nothing to do with you.” Julian paused, then sneered. “So eager to destroy it? Guess you know the results are shameful. Fine, I agree.” In his eyes, I was just guilty. I put on my goggles, bit the regulator, and jumped. Splash! I vanished into the gray-black water. The monitor screen on the shore lit up, showing the live feed from my suit camera. My heart rate data was a flat line. Julian stared at the screen, brow furrowed. Water temperature 46°F. My calmness annoyed him. Underwater visibility was poor. Suddenly, a strong current hit me. Someone had tampered with the environment. The air hose jerked violently, cutting off the flow to my regulator. Suffocation hit instantly. I looked up and vaguely saw the operator under the boat shaking the line violently. Lily had bribed someone. She wanted me dead. On the monitor, my heart rate still didn’t spike. I didn’t call for help or struggle. Calmly, I reached behind my back, cut the main air line, and opened the backup micro-tank. This little trick wasn’t enough. Using the current, I flipped out of the turbulent flow and dove straight into the seabed silt. Amidst scrap metal and nets, a faint glint. I reached out, fingers clawing, and grabbed the ring. Movement sharp and vicious. Three minutes later, I broke the surface. I climbed onto the dock, soaked, face pale, but eyes sharp as knives. Julian looked at me and subconsciously took a step back. I strode up to Lily. In front of Julian, I held up the so-called “heirloom” ring. I squeezed. Crunch! The gem-encrusted ring crushed into an oval in my fingers. I tossed it casually. It rolled to the toe of Lily’s couture shoes. “Fake.” I took off the regulator and sneered. “Just like you. Gold-plated copper.” A piece of the plating chipped off, revealing cheap brass underneath. Lily’s face went white instantly. She looked at Julian in panic. Julian stared at the ring on the ground in shock, then at my water-streaked face, forgetting to react. Julian bent down and picked up the deformed ring. The mottled brass rust stung his eyes. Face livid, he snapped his head toward Lily. The question stuck in his throat. The giant LED billboard on the pier suddenly lit up. 4 Someone in the crowd gasped. “That’s…” It wasn’t an ad. It was a live feed from a DNA testing center. On the high platform, my child held a tablet, fingers flying. He had hacked the pier’s system. On screen was the director of the testing center, a mole I planted five years ago. He faced the camera, expression serious, opening a sealed bag. “DNA comparison result: Sample A, Julian Ford, and Sample B, Paternity Index 99.9999%.” The director’s voice boomed through the loudspeakers across the pier. “Conclusion: Biological father-son relationship supported.” Dead silence. Then, the murmurs exploded, louder than the waves. Julian stared deathly at the screen, the copper ring cutting into his palm until it bled. “Impossible!” He roared, eyes red. “I have asthenospermia! I’m infertile! Sarah, you dare fake this!” He was still clinging to that laughable lie. I unzipped my wet suit and walked toward him step by step. I pulled a voice recorder from a waterproof bag and pressed play. After a crackle of static, Lily’s sobbing voice emerged. “Julian, please. If your mom finds out I had a hysterectomy after the abortion, she’ll kick me out. Help me.” “As long as you admit it’s your problem, she won’t blame me.” “You don’t love Sarah anyway. What’s wrong with letting her take the blame?” Every word was a slap across Julian’s face. His face turned gray, his whole body shaking. The surrounding looks turned from awe to contempt. Even his bodyguards looked away. Lily screamed and lunged. “Fake! It’s all AI synthesized!” She tried to grab the recorder. The child on the platform spoke coldly. “Audio analysis chart sent to the media. Real or fake, they’ll know.” He paused, then pressed another key. The screen changed to a foreign birth certificate. “Auntie Lily, you gave birth to a child named David in California five years ago. You said you couldn’t have kids. Whose is this?” Lily trembled and collapsed to the ground. Julian looked at her, his eyes filled only with the hatred of being played. “You lied to me?” His voice shook. “You’ve been lying to me the whole time?” “I destroyed Sarah, destroyed my home for you! And you already had a kid?!” I walked up to him and straightened his wind-blown collar. My cold fingertips touched his skin. He shivered. “Mr. Ford,” I whispered in his ear, voice icy. “Your illness is fake.” “The sister you treasured for five years put a green hat on you overseas long ago.” “Does it fit well?” Julian froze, unable to say a word. On the ground, Lily suddenly let out a piercing scream. She scrambled up, charging like a madwoman toward the child on the platform. “It’s all you! You little bastard!” She pushed the child toward the edge of the high platform. “Careful!” I screamed, heart tearing. The child tipped over, falling toward the black water. Julian moved. He was closest. As he reached out, Lily slipped and fell too. On one side, his son. On the other, Lily. In that split second, Julian made an instinctive choice. He grabbed Lily’s hand.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387741”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Chapter 1 I had sponsored a struggling student for three years, and when she wanted a summer job, I arranged for her to work at my husband’s company. A few months later, she burst into my office with a bulging belly, tearfully accusing me: “I knew it! You never had good intentions when you sponsored me!” “Now I’m pregnant with CEO Smith’s child, and he’s suddenly disappeared. Did you hide him?” Her brother looked even more ferocious, pointing at my nose and yelling: “If it weren’t for your fake kindness, how would my sister have met such a scumbag?” “Getting her pregnant and then trying to run? No way!” “Either pay up or get a divorce and let her be Mrs. Smith. It’s your choice!” The news spread quickly, and the internet was full of curses. Everyone said I was a pimp, using the guise of sponsoring poor students to find mistresses for my husband. But I just laughed. If she could really get pregnant by my husband, I’d have to apply for a patent. … I was grading papers when my office door was slammed open by a menacing man. “Where’s your husband, Cheng? Did you hide him?” “He got my sister pregnant and wants to run? In his dreams!” Fang Ting stood behind him, protecting her belly, her eyes red. Beside her was a girl live-streaming the whole thing. I frowned. “Fang Ting, why are you here?” Fang Ting choked up, “Ms. Cheng, I really have no other way. CEO Smith is missing, I can’t find him…” “And I have a special condition; the doctor says I can’t have an abortion…” I leaned back and looked at her quietly. “So? What do you want by coming here today?” Fang Qiang sneered, “Two options! Either let Smith marry my sister! Or pay up! My sister is a top student at an Ivy League school, and your beast of a husband ruined her!” The girl holding the phone immediately chimed in, “Guys, look at this ‘teacher’! She pretends to help poor students but is actually pimping for her husband! Fang Ting is so pitiful. She worked so hard to get out of the countryside, only to fall into this trap!” The comments were scrolling frantically: “Real or fake? This teacher looks quiet, but she’s worse than a beast!” “Exactly! The girl looks barely eighteen or nineteen. Her life is ruined!” A crowd of curious students gathered at the office door, their whispers growing louder. I stood up, walked to the water cooler, poured a cup, and took a sip. “Are you done?” Fang Qiang raged, “What’s with your attitude! My sister is carrying your husband’s seed!” “Impossible,” I tossed the paper cup into the trash can. “The child in her belly is absolutely not my husband’s.” Fang Ting’s eyes instantly turned red. “Ms. Cheng, I know it’s hard for you to accept, but it’s the truth! That night, CEO Smith got me drunk, and when I woke up… he said he truly liked me…” “Oh?” I raised an eyebrow. “CEO Smith told you himself that he liked you?” Fang Ting nodded vigorously and pulled a stack of photos from her bag. “These are the evidence, Ms. Cheng. If I’m lying, may lightning strike me!” I glanced at the photos. The angles were tricky, but I could see Smith’s profile and Fang Ting leaning on him. The hotel surveillance screenshot was clear, dated one night three months ago. “The photos are real,” I said. Fang Qiang immediately gloated, “See! I told you…” “But the child isn’t my husband’s,” I interrupted him. “Fang Ting, if you leave now, I can pretend this never happened. If you keep making a scene, I’ll call the police.” Chapter 2 The girl live-streaming immediately screamed: “We should be the ones calling the police! Ms. Cheng, your husband raped a college student and got her pregnant. You’re an accomplice!” The live stream chat exploded: “Is this teacher crazy? The evidence is solid, and she’s still denying it!” “Where’s the dean? Why isn’t she fired yet?” “Don’t be afraid, Fang Ting. Tens of thousands of us support you!” Several female students watching at the door were already teary-eyed. “Fang Ting is so pitiful! Betrayed by the teacher she trusted most and given to an old man!” “Exactly, someone like her doesn’t deserve to be a teacher!” Fang Ting clutched her belly, crying so hard she could barely stand. I felt a chill in my heart. Three years ago, I traveled to Yufeng Village. I saw Fang Ting’s parents trying to marry her off to a fifty-something bachelor just before her college entrance exams to get a dowry for her brother. She knelt in the mud, hugging me and begging, “Teacher, I want to study. Please help me…” I softened. Not only did I stop the marriage, but I also promised to sponsor her until she graduated college. She worked hard and got into a top university. The day she got her acceptance letter, she called me crying, “Ms. Cheng, I will study hard and repay you in the future.” I was so gratified back then. This summer, she said she wanted to earn her own living expenses. I thought about it and arranged for her to work-study at my husband’s company. I thought I was helping her. Now it seems I was digging my own grave! Seeing my silence, Fang Ting looked up and bit her lip: “Ms. Cheng, I know you and CEO Smith have a good relationship, but my child is innocent…” Fang Qiang immediately interrupted, “Tingting, you’re just too soft-hearted! Even if that scumbag is willing to divorce this old woman and marry you, you still need to ask for a million dollars in emotional damages!” I laughed and raised an eyebrow: “A million dollars? Fang Ting, do you think you’re worth that price?” The students gasped: “Is that something a human would say? Disgusting!” “Yeah! So vicious! I hope her daughter encounters the same thing in the future!” “Someone like her doesn’t deserve children!” Fang Ting’s face turned pale, and she almost fell. The girl live-streaming quickly supported her and cried to the camera, “Everyone saw it! This woman doesn’t treat Tingting like a human being!” Fang Qiang was furious. He grabbed the water cup on the table and was about to throw it. I looked at him coldly. “Try throwing it! Intentional property damage, provoking trouble. That’s enough for you to stay in detention for a few days.” His hand froze in mid-air. “And you,” I glanced at the girl live-streaming, “livestreaming in the office without permission, invading privacy. Believe it or not, I can call security right now and give you a major demerit?” The girl’s face changed. Seeing this, Fang Ting cried even harder, “Ms. Cheng, how could you be like this? I came to you because I had no other choice. If CEO Smith was willing to take responsibility, I wouldn’t bother you…” “Take responsibility?” I stood up. “For what? For something he never did?” I walked up to her and stared into her eyes. “Fang Ting, search your conscience and tell me, is the child in your belly really Smith’s?” Her eyes flickered for a moment, then she said firmly, “Of course it’s his!” “Is that so?” I smiled. “Then tell me, what color underwear was Smith wearing that night?” Chapter 3 The office fell silent instantly. Even the live stream chat paused for a second. Fang Ting froze, her mouth open, unable to make a sound. “What? Can’t remember?” I pressed. “Or did you never see it?” “I was drunk…” she stammered. “Drunk, but you remember he forced you?” I continued. “Drunk, but you’re sure the child is his?” Fang Qiang exploded, “Cheng Yue! Stop changing the subject! The evidence is right here, and you still want to deny it?” “A few blurry photos convict him?” I sneered. “Then can I just take a few photos of you walking with another woman and say you raped her?” “You!” “Also,” I interrupted him, “how did you get the hotel surveillance footage? Would a hotel just give surveillance footage to strangers?” Fang Qiang was speechless. Fang Ting quickly explained, “My roommate used her connections…” “Oh?” I looked at her roommate. “Does your family own the hotel? Or do you know the owner?” The girl hemmed and hawed, “My cousin works there…” “What a coincidence?” I smiled. “Your cousin just happened to work at the hotel where Smith forced Fang Ting? Just happened to get the surveillance? Just happened to be willing to risk breaking the law to give you screenshots?” The sentiment in the live stream began to shift: “That makes sense…” “Yeah, hotel surveillance isn’t something you can just get.” “Right, if it was forced, why didn’t she call the police immediately?” Just then, Fang Ting suddenly clutched her belly and squatted down. “My stomach hurts so much…” “Tingting!” Her roommate exclaimed. “That’s too much! This old woman is definitely doing this on purpose! She’s jealous that you’re having her husband’s child!” Fang Qiang also pointed at my nose and cursed, “Cheng Yue! If anything happens to my sister and the child, I won’t let you off!” I watched their performance coldly. “Do you need me to call 911 for you?” Fang Ting curled up on the floor, tears streaming down her face. “Ms. Cheng, why push me like this? I just want justice…” “Justice?” I sneered, finding it incredibly ironic. “Fang Ting, when you knelt in the mud begging for my sponsorship, you said the same thing. You said you wanted to study, wanted a fair life.” “Now that I’ve given you an education, given you a chance to change your destiny, this is how you repay me?” Her eyes darted away, afraid to look at me. “Cheng! Stop your moral kidnapping!” Fang Qiang roared. “So what if you sponsored her? Does sponsorship mean you can let your husband ruin my sister?” I stood up: “Enough. I’ll say it one last time. First, Smith couldn’t have forced anyone. Second, the child in your belly absolutely cannot be his!” “Third, if you continue to make trouble here, I will call the police immediately. The charge of slander is not light.” The office was dead silent. The live stream chat scrolled frantically: “This teacher is tough! Her logic is clear!” “Yeah, she looks very confident!” “Is there a hidden story? Could it be a badger game?” Just then, Department Head Wang squeezed through the crowd and rushed in. “What’s going on?!” Fang Qiang acted like he found a lifeline. “Director Wang, you’re just in time! This Cheng Yue, her husband raped my sister. She’s four months pregnant now, and they won’t admit it, even accusing my sister of extortion!” Chapter 4 “Director Wang, they’re lying,” I said calmly. “My husband couldn’t have gotten Fang Ting pregnant!” Fang Qiang raged, “Still stubborn even at death’s door! Such a teacher is ruining the school’s reputation! Director Wang, I demand Cheng Yue be fired immediately!” Director Wang looked at me with difficulty. “Ms. Cheng, why don’t you go home and rest for a few days?” I looked at Director Wang. “Even you believe their nonsense?” Director Wang lowered his voice. “It’s become such a mess, the impact is very bad! Ms. Cheng, you have to think about the school!” For the school, I should accept this baseless accusation? “Director Wang, if you punish me under pressure today, I will sue the school for defamation tomorrow. Think clearly!” Director Wang’s face grew even uglier. Just then, Fang Ting suddenly got up from the floor and pulled a paper from her bag. “Ms. Cheng, I knew you wouldn’t believe me easily, so I went for an amniocentesis paternity test last week!” She held the paper up to the camera. “The test results show that the biological father of the child in my belly matches CEO Smith’s DNA by 99.99%.” The office went instantly silent. After a few seconds of pause, the live stream chat exploded. “She asked for the hammer, she got the hammer! How can this old woman deny it now!” “Exactly, it’s in black and white. Can this be fake?” “She won’t cry until she sees the coffin. Still a teacher? Shameless!” Director Wang’s face grew increasingly grim. Fang Qiang gloated, “Ironclad evidence! Cheng, what do you have to say now? Hurry up and pay the emotional damages! Five million, not a penny less!” Fang Ting cried and pulled her brother. “Brother, don’t be like this. Ms. Cheng has been kind to me…” Fang Qiang shook her off. “She was kind to you, so she could let her husband force himself on you? Today, your brother must get justice for you!” The students watching at the door also started shouting: “We demand the school fire Ms. Cheng immediately! Police investigation! Punish this beastly couple severely!” The waves of voices grew higher, and someone even threw leftover milk tea at my head, splashing liquid everywhere. I looked at the test report and suddenly laughed. “This report is fake. Also, a paternity test requires DNA samples from both parties. Where did you get Smith’s DNA?” Fang Ting’s face instantly went white. “I got it from a cup he used…” I asked her, “Smith has a dedicated cup at the company, washed and sterilized immediately after every use. You said you got DNA, which day? Which cup?” Fang Ting was speechless. Fang Qiang immediately interjected, “Who cares how she got it! Anyway, the test report is real! If you don’t believe it, we can go for another test right now!” “Okay,” I said. “Let’s go now. I’ll have Smith come over for on-site sampling!” Fang Ting panicked. “Isn’t CEO Smith missing?” I smiled. “Who said he’s missing?” “I called and texted him these past few days, he didn’t reply…” Fang Ting’s voice grew smaller. “I went to the company to find him, the secretary said he was on a business trip…” “He was indeed on a business trip,” I checked my watch. “But he should be back now.” Fang Qiang’s eyes lit up. “Great! Let him confront my sister face to face! I want to see what this rapist has to say!” The live stream chat buzzed again: “Waiting for the scumbag to show up!” “Does he dare to come to this kind of occasion? Probably ran away!” “Is this Cheng Yue stalling for time?” Director Wang quickly smoothed things over. “Ms. Cheng, if your husband can come, that would be best! Clearing things up face to face is good for everyone!” I took out my phone and dialed a number. “Yue?” Smith’s voice came from the receiver. “I just finished a full body maintenance and was about to contact you. What’s up?” “Come to my school office,” I said. “Bring your full set of ID documents and product manual.” “Manual?” Smith paused. “What happened?” I glanced at Fang Ting, meaningful: “Someone is pregnant with your child. Don’t you want to come take a look?”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387740”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My husband hired a new intern for the purchasing department, and the moment she walked in, she started barking orders at me. “You’ve wasted all the company’s money! Do you even understand ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’?” She pulled up Amazon on her phone, shoving her order history from last month in my face. I stood there, stunned. “Just as I thought, a total dinosaur. You don’t know anything!” “If I were the purchasing manager, this company would have gone public by now!” I took a breath, trying to ignore her ridiculous comments. “Why don’t you shadow Sarah for now and help organize the invoices…” Before I could finish, Lynn slammed her hand on the desk. “I didn’t come here to be a secretary! I came here to save this company!” She rolled her eyes at me. “A boomer like you who doesn’t even get ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ is just waiting to be replaced by me!” I took a deep breath. Fine. If that’s how you want to play it, your daily wages can be ‘Paid Later’ too. 1. I immediately called my husband, Tom, the CEO. Where on earth did he find this chaotic “genius”? The phone rang and rang. No answer. Just then, the office door banged open. Lynn burst in, arms overflowing with snacks, plastic bags crinkling loudly. “Come on, everyone! Dig in!” she shouted with her mouth full of potato chips, tossing bags of snacks onto my colleagues’ desks. “My treat!” “Work sucks, might as well have something sweet, right?” Colleagues swarmed around her, grabbing snacks and praising her. “Lynn, you really know how to liven up the place!” “This girl gets it!” 2. Lynn lifted her chin triumphantly, dusting chip crumbs off her hands. “This is nothing! I got it all using ‘Buy Now, Pay Later.’ Didn’t cost me a cent today!” Just as I was about to step out and reprimand her for causing a disturbance during work hours, my phone buzzed. The screen lit up with a notification from the gourmet grocery store downstairs— [You have activated ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’ this morning. Order total $999 pending payment.] The rustling of plastic bags and laughter of my colleagues continued outside. Lynn’s boastful voice grated on my nerves. “Stocking up with this feature is the best deal. The money doesn’t come out until next month anyway!” I stared at the unauthorized transaction on my screen, my grip tightening on the phone. I pushed the door open. The office went silent instantly. Everyone froze. Lynn was tossing the last bag of chips to Sarah. Seeing me, she rolled her eyes publicly. “Oh, now you want snacks?” She sneered, her voice sharp. “Dream on. I’m not giving you any.” She deliberately shook the empty plastic bag at me. “Some dinosaurs don’t even understand ‘Buy Now, Pay Later.’ Do you really deserve to eat the food I bought?” I stared at her smug face and held up my phone, screen facing her. “The $999 pending payment at the grocery store downstairs… did you use my account?” 3. Lynn snatched the phone from my hand. Seeing the screen, her eyes lit up. “Hey, it’s activated!” She bobbed her head smugly. “See? You learned how to use advanced features.” She shoved the phone back into my chest, acting self-righteous. “You should be thanking me for helping you set it up!” A few colleagues couldn’t help but chuckle. “It’s so convenient. Money isn’t deducted until next month,” she patted my shoulder patronizingly. “Consider the $999 a tuition fee. Even dinosaurs need to keep up with the times!” The plastic bag rustled as she tore open a pack of cookies, crunching loudly. I snapped. I slapped the cookies out of her hand, sending them crashing to the floor. “What the hell did you do?!” Lynn screamed, grabbing a handful of snacks from the desk and throwing them at my face. “You’re wasting food, you b*tch!” Chip crumbs stuck to my face as she shrieked, “The store downstairs is for employees only! I’m an intern and didn’t have access, so I used your name—” She waved her phone triumphantly, showing the transaction record on my account. “The owner knows you. I told him to send the bill to you. ‘Buy Now, Pay Later.’ You’re paying that tuition fee whether you like it or not!” I grabbed her wrist. “Pay me back right now! I’m cancelling this stupid feature!” Lynn yanked her arm away, her voice rising. “Ungrateful! I teach you a financial hack and this is how you repay me?” 4. Her greasy hand grabbed my collar. “You deserve to be left behind by society! The money isn’t due until next month, why are you rushing to pay?” Seeing a few colleagues snickering, she got bolder. “I’m helping you elevate your spending habits. You should be kneeling to thank me!” I dragged her toward the door. “We’re going to the store. And don’t bother coming in tomorrow!” Before I could finish, SMACK! A crisp slap landed on my face. I stood there, hand on my burning cheek, stunned. She shook me off and shouted at the top of her lungs. “Everyone knows you’re the most useless person in Purchasing! I had to teach you how to use ‘Buy Now, Pay Later’!” Some colleagues were secretly filming with their phones. “What are you staring at?” She stepped forward, spit flying onto my face. “CEO Tom hired me personally. Who are you to fire me?” Lynn lifted her chin arrogantly. “You think you can fire me? Let’s see if Tom listens to you or me!” She shoved me hard, grabbing the pile of snacks from the desk. ” pearls before swine. I wouldn’t even give this to a dog!” I was shaking with rage. I pulled out my phone and dialed Tom again. “Let’s see if I kick you out today!” The phone rang and rang. No answer. My colleagues’ eyes were pinned on me. The busy tone felt like another slap in the face. I dialed again. Still no answer.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387739”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Chapter 1 It was the third year since my brother and I were kidnapped and taken to a hellhole in Southeast Asia. His fate was unknown, while I had been tortured into a living corpse. The rotting flesh on my body reeked permanently. The rusted shackles on my ankles had grown into my skin. To fill my stomach, I had fought stray dogs for scraps. After countless failed attempts to escape or call for help, I finally gave up. Despair consumed me. I just wanted to die. But just as I swallowed a handful of stolen pills, waiting for the darkness to take me, I heard an argument outside my cell. “She’s your own sister! You ruined her future after she got into Stanford just for that charity case you took in. Why do you have to torture her like this?” Suddenly, my missing brother, Liam, kicked the door open and scooped me up. His voice was frantic, yet filled with anger. “She knew I’d always provide for her, that grades didn’t matter. But she just had to show off and score higher than Vanessa, triggering her depression again. I’m just teaching her a lesson. I needed to humble her.” “Vanessa graduates in a month. I was going to take Riley home then anyway. A little suffering builds character. What’s the big deal?” The realization hit me like a physical blow. No wonder… no wonder I risked my life searching the entire compound for him and never found a trace. It turned out that from the very beginning, this was all his doing. A punishment for upsetting his precious foster sister, Vanessa. I coughed up blood and laughed until tears streamed down my face. Liam, the punishment is about to be over. Forever. And I’m never going home with you. … The smell of antiseptic in the hospital room was suffocating. I stared blankly at the ceiling, my stomach churning with nausea from the charcoal they had pumped into me. Liam pushed the door open, holding my medical chart. Watching the person I had spent three years searching for walk toward me so casually… My pupils trembled. A tsunami of emotions crashed over me. I stiffened my neck, refusing to let the tears fall. He stared at me, suppressing his rage. We both knew the score. Neither of us wanted to speak first. Finally, our eyes met. I couldn’t stop my voice from trembling. “Liam…” But my voice only ignited his fury. He slammed the gastric lavage report onto my face. “Riley! Have you made enough of a scene? You knew this was just a punishment, so you swallowed pills to force me to come out? You’d risk your life just to make me feel sorry for you?” “It was just a few years of hardship. I specifically told those people not to permanently damage you. Painting fake wounds on yourself won’t work—it just makes you look pathetic!” I froze in disbelief. The agony stuck in my throat. For three years, I dreamed of finding him. I imagined our reunion a thousand times. I thought I would be excited. I thought I would cry in relief. I never imagined… his first words would be a dismissal of my torture and his habitual distrust. After a few seconds of silence, Vanessa walked into the room. She smiled sweetly and handed me an invitation. “Riley, I’m graduating soon. Come to my party. I don’t blame you for what happened in the past.” I stared at Liam with bloodshot eyes, my hands motionless. Vanessa instantly lowered her head, wiping away a tear. “Liam, it looks like Riley still hates me. Don’t worry about me. Cancel the party. Just take Riley home. I… I’ll leave the family.” Liam’s heart broke instantly. He glared at me, his fists clenching tighter and tighter, until he roared. “Riley! You’re still this stubborn? You still won’t accept Vanessa? You know she has severe depression, yet you still make her cry!” “It seems the punishment wasn’t enough!” Liam immediately ordered his bodyguards to throw me out of the hospital. “Let her suffer on the streets for another month. Maybe then she’ll learn her lesson!” It wasn’t until Liam drove off with Vanessa, the exhaust fumes hitting my face, that I snapped back to reality. I looked blankly at the bustling street. The banners hanging from the lampposts were all celebrating Vanessa’s graduation. The massive screen on the mall across the street was playing a video of Liam’s graduation gift to Vanessa: a chest full of jewelry and two island villas. Passersby were whispering, envious of how much Liam spoiled her. I suddenly laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. Tears flowed uncontrollably. It turned out, during those three years where I lived a life worse than death… During the three years I risked everything to find him… During the three years I prayed for rescue… He was out here, treating Vanessa like a princess. Chapter 2 I wandered the streets aimlessly. My body was covered in hideous scars, and I was wearing a blood-stained t-shirt in the freezing winter wind. Everyone looked at me like I was a monster. But I didn’t care. I just stared at the river in the distance and kept walking. There was a faint sense of relief in my heart. Suddenly, a hand tapped my shoulder. I instinctively dropped to a crouch, covering my head in terror. “Don’t hit me! Please don’t hit me! I’ll be good…” The person frowned, eyes full of confusion. “Riley? Is that really you?” Hearing a familiar voice, I peeked out cautiously. It was Ms. Clarke, my favorite teacher from high school. “What happened to you? Does your brother know? He used to value you more than his own life.” Hearing her words, I let out a self-deprecating laugh. From the day Liam brought Vanessa home, I was no longer the sister he valued more than his life. Back then, Vanessa framed me constantly. Today, I slapped her; tomorrow, I tore her dress; the next day, I orchestrated bullying against her. Every single time, Liam believed her without question and scolded me. When I tried to explain, he would get angry, accusing me of being vicious and a liar. Finally, he slapped me hard across the face. “Riley! I give you this privileged life to give you confidence, not to give you the audacity to bully the weak!” “I’ve spoiled you too much! You need a lesson!” He locked me, knowing I was claustrophobic, in the basement for a week. From then on, I stopped talking to him. For six months, silence. Until I got the highest SAT scores in the state. Liam said he wanted to take me on a graduation trip to make amends. I knew he was trying to coax me. We were siblings, after all. There was no deep hatred. But on the day of the trip, we were bagged and dragged away to that camp abroad. The next day, Liam vanished. I was terrified something had happened to him. I searched the compound even as my flesh was whipped raw. Old scars hadn’t healed before new ones were added. But no matter how much it hurt, I never stopped looking for him. Once, after being branded with a hot iron for running away and nearly fed to the pigs, a kind older woman whispered to me: “Little girl, stop looking. People who disappear here… they’re usually dead.” In that moment, my heart died too. I drowned in guilt. If I hadn’t held a grudge, he wouldn’t have planned this trip to appease me. If it weren’t for me, my brother wouldn’t be dead in this hellhole. I stopped fighting. I numbly accepted the daily beatings. I numbly accepted the scars. I became numb enough to want death. Finally, I found a bottle of sleeping pills. Just as I was about to be free… I heard the truth. A truth more painful than death. Everything I suffered was because I scored higher than Vanessa, triggering her insecurity. It was Liam punishing me because his heart ached for her. As I recounted this to Ms. Clarke, my smile turned grotesque, and the dam holding back my tears broke. Ms. Clarke’s eyes were red. Her lips trembled, trying to speak but failing. Finally, she just hugged me tight. “Tell me what you need. I will do everything in my power to help you.” I shook my head bitterly. “I don’t need anything anymore.” In a way, I was already dead. I didn’t want this empty shell of a body anymore. If Liam hadn’t “saved” me, I would already be free. Chapter 3 No matter how much I refused, Ms. Clarke insisted on buying me a warm coat. She took me for the fullest meal I’d had in three years. Before leaving, she bought me a bag of snacks and told me to call her anytime. Watching her walk away, my heart ached with sourness. Back in school, when Vanessa framed me, my own brother didn’t ask a single question before punishing me. But Ms. Clarke had chosen to believe me. Three years ago, she was the only warmth I had. Unexpectedly, three years later, she still was. A thought sparked in my dead mind. Before I die, I want to repay her. I want to thank her for her help. I decided to buy her a bouquet of flowers. I had no money, and my broken body couldn’t handle labor. So, I walked around collecting plastic bottles and cans to sell. But every time I managed to fill half a bag, someone would snatch it and dump the contents into the river or a dumpster. At first, I chased them, shouted at them, and then resigned myself to starting over. After it happened several times, I finally collected enough cans. I sold them immediately, terrified of another “accident.” Clutching the cash, I bought a single bouquet. Just as I was dialing Ms. Clarke’s number… The flowers were snatched from my hand, thrown to the ground, and crushed under a polished leather shoe. “What are you doing?!” I screamed, lunging forward. The man kicked me aside, sneering. “This is the price of offending Mr. Hart. He paid me a lot of money to watch you. You aren’t allowed to have a single penny.” I froze. I remembered Liam saying he wanted me to suffer a bit more. I still couldn’t believe it. He was my brother! Was he really going to stomp me into the mud for Vanessa? My head buzzed. Without thinking, I grabbed a rental bike and rode straight to the Hart estate. Vanessa’s graduation party was in full swing. It was lively, opulent. I didn’t care about anything. I grabbed a glass of wine and hurled it at Liam. “Was Myanmar not enough?!” My scream silenced the entire party. “Will you only be satisfied when I’m dead?” Liam turned, frowning at me. His tone was cold, casual. “What’s with all this talk of death? I just wanted you to suffer a bit, to smooth out that attitude of yours.” “Enough. Vanessa’s party ends tonight. The punishment ends tomorrow. I’ll bring you home then. I’ll give you whatever you want. Why are you making a fuss over some trash you picked up?” Trash? I looked around the venue. A single bottle of wine here cost thousands. This party cost millions. And all I wanted to live for… was to trade recyclable trash for a bouquet that cost twenty dollars. The things he sneered at were things I had to bleed to obtain. At that moment, Vanessa walked over in a princess gown, glowing. She patted Liam’s back gently, looked me up and down, and sighed. “Riley, everything Liam does is for your own good. Why can’t you understand his good intentions?” Chapter 4 She stepped forward and took my hand, her face a mask of innocence. “Today is my graduation party. Since you’re here, celebrate with me. I won’t hold your past bullying against you.” “For Liam’s sake, I hope we can get along in the future.” Just then, my phone buzzed. It was Ms. Clarke returning my call. I stared at the screen, about to answer. Vanessa suddenly shrieked, slapping the phone out of my hand. “Ah! Riley! Why are you still in contact with Ms. Clarke? Are you two plotting how to hurt me again?” Before I could react, she started bowing to me frantically, acting like a terrified victim. “I’m sorry! Riley, I shouldn’t be in the Hart family. I shouldn’t be an eyesore to you. I understand now… only if I die will you be satisfied!” She turned, wiping fake tears, and ran toward the river opposite the villa. Chaos erupted. Liam’s face went pale with terror. He sprinted after Vanessa without hesitation. Just as Vanessa climbed onto the railing, Liam tackled her, pulling her back to safety. She wept in his arms like a fragile flower. “Liam, why did you save me? Why won’t you let me die? I don’t want to relive that nightmare. Only death will set me free.” Liam’s eyes were red. Along with his heartache for her, there was an intense rage directed at me. He choked back tears, comforting Vanessa. Then he turned, marched over to me, and slapped me across the face with all his strength. “Riley! Wasn’t it enough that you and that teacher bullied Vanessa into depression back in school?” “You just got back, and you’re already trying to kill her! You are incurable!” My head snapped to the side. I clutched my burning cheek, standing there, stunned. Why? Why is it always my fault? I didn’t do anything! I looked up, a trace of stubbornness in my eyes. “I never hurt her. What do I have to do for you to believe—” But when I saw the sheer disappointment in his eyes, it overlapped with every moment from the past. I laughed at myself. The words died in my throat. There is no “why.” If you don’t want something anymore, you treat it like trash. The last thread of familial love in my heart snapped. I stared at him blankly. “Your punishment is almost over. Can you promise me one thing? Send flowers to Ms. Clarke for me.” He scoffed, full of contempt. “Once the punishment is over, as long as you don’t team up with her to bully Vanessa, I’ll give you whatever you want.” You won’t have to worry about your precious sister being bullied anymore. And aside from those flowers, I don’t want anything. “You keep your word.” My heart was completely empty. I lowered my head and turned toward the secluded part of the riverbank. Liam watched my retreating figure—walking like a corpse—and his heart gave a sudden, violent lurch. An unprecedented uneasiness welled up. He was about to chase after me when a soft cough from Vanessa pulled him back. He immediately picked her up and rushed her to the hospital. I waited by the river until late at night. When no one was around, I climbed over the railing. Looking at the dark water, I closed my eyes, finally feeling relief… To soothe Vanessa, Liam stayed with her for a full week. Checking his phone, he realized my birthday was approaching. He decided to bring me home and give me all the birthday presents he missed over the last three years. But just as he was about to dial my number, a news alert popped up on his phone. [Breaking: A decomposed female body was recovered from the Linlang River today. Identity confirmed as the former top scholar who vanished three years ago, Riley Hart!]

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387738”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Every tabloid in New York knew that Roman Sterling would rather sleep with a random club girl than touch his own wife. The daily question: When will Mrs. Sterling finally give away her precious V-card? Facing the paparazzi’s flashing lights, Roman looked at me with fearless arrogance. “Worst case scenario, we each play our own game. If you don’t like it, you can find someone too.” With that, he shoved his hands in his pockets and casually walked away. That same night, photos of him in bed with his latest fling trended on Twitter. Everyone thought I would spend the night crying alone until dawn. Instead, I contacted a paparazzo and booked a trending spot for myself. Then I tore my lace nightgown, messed up the sheets, and took a “candid” photo of myself in bed. I sent an anonymous text to Roman: [Bro, your wife smells amazing. Let me know when you get divorced.] 1 Watching the trending topic I bought shoot straight to #1, I happily got ready for bed. Within half an hour, heavy, hurried footsteps thundered down the hall. “Chloe! Is this how you get back at me? Who the hell is that guy?!” A photo was slammed into my face. One half was my suggestive bed selfie; the other was a passionate shot of Roman pressing his latest fling, Bella, against a window. This was exactly the headline I had the paparazzo publish. [The Sterlings reach a new agreement: Playing their own games within the marriage, no interference.] I sat on the edge of the bed, casually wrapping my robe tighter. “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?” “You never should have humiliated me by messing around with my father’s illegitimate daughter!” Roman’s breath hitched. He didn’t respond to my accusation, instead gritting his teeth. “Who is he?” “You don’t need to know. That’s what makes it fair.” I used to swear I would dig three feet into the ground to find out everything about his lovers. I was young then; I couldn’t tolerate a speck of dust in my eye. But later I realized… Before I could even lift a finger, he’d already moved on to a new one. So I stopped asking. It was pathetic. Roman let out a sudden, sinister laugh. “You’ve got some nerve!” His gaze landed on a red mark on my collarbone. He pinned me to the bed. I struggled desperately, screaming. A sharp knife pierced the skin of my collarbone, blood covering the “hickey.” “Are you crazy! Let me go!” Roman pressed down on me, eyes bloodshot, veins popping on his forehead. “First time, and last time!” “I’ll take down the trending topic. Before I lose control, you better go back to normal!” The “normal” he spoke of was me remaining impassive while photos of him in bed with lovers flew everywhere. Me happily accepting the used condoms and stained panties they mailed to me. Roman stared into my eyes darkly for a long time. Seeing my face wet with physiological tears, he finally let go and took some gauze from the drawer. I pushed him away violently. “Don’t touch me!” Roman stood up from the bed, his face completely dark. “You put on this show just to piss me off? What are you pretending for now?” “You’re shameless just to get my attention. What else are you capable of?” The knife in his hand accidentally grazed my arm. Blood soaked the silk sheets. I was sweating from the pain. But my heart hurt a thousand, ten thousand times more. Roman didn’t even blink, his gaze almost heartless. “My mother was right. A woman like you who climbed up from the bottom can never do anything classy!” “Why hire someone to put on a show for me? If you have the guts, really divorce me! Your sister is ten thousand times better than you!” Dropping those words, he stormed out without looking back. A moment later, a divorce agreement signed by him was sent to my phone. Even the asset division was 70-30 in my favor. He firmly believed I couldn’t leave him. But I signed it. Then I called a number to confirm my departure time. Roman, what makes you so sure this man doesn’t exist? 2 After hanging up, the tears pooling in my eyes finally fell. When Roman insisted on marrying me, the whole world opposed it. His parents looked down on my ordinary background. The Chamber of Commerce almost expelled him. But he weathered all the public pressure to give me the wedding of the century. They said I was the happiest woman in New York. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the only one who wanted this god-like man. On our wedding night, he took a call and never came back. I sat with my eyes open until dawn. He came back drunk in the early morning, calmly patting my head. “You know what’s cutest about you? You’re sensible enough not to cause trouble. The Sterling family needs a wife like you.” In that instant, the anger blocking my heart was extinguished by a bucket of cold water. I learned to be good. No fighting, no noise. Just a decoration. But now, he was playing with the person I hated most in this life: Bella. Back then, my dad brought Bella home and forced my mom to accept her as a “daughter.” My mother, proud all her life, held me silently. She gave my father two choices. Either send Bella away, or she would take me and leave the family. My father said nothing, standing on the balcony in the cold wind all night. When he returned to the bedroom, he found my mother had jumped from the window. It rained heavily that night, washing away the blood on my mother’s body. Roman rushed over and held me, letting me punch him over and over, constantly saying, “It’s okay, it’s okay…” But he chose Bella as his new favorite. What dignity did I have left as Mrs. Sterling? Roman didn’t come back that night. The trending topic I arranged was buried deep by him. It couldn’t be found anywhere online. But he openly took Bella to galas, letting her replace me as “Mrs. Sterling.” He high-profile invited everyone in New York to celebrate Bella’s birthday tomorrow. But he knew in his heart that her birthday was also the anniversary of my mother’s death. He just wanted me to face reality: someone like me could never fight him. Roman sent a private doctor to bandage the wound on my collarbone that exposed the bone. “Mr. Sterling still cares about you. He remembered your constitution is unique and wounds don’t heal easily.” I smiled self-deprecatingly and said nothing. The next second, I received an anonymous video. It showed Bella losing control of her emotions: “That night I went to persuade Auntie to accept me as a daughter, but she hit me and said I wasn’t worthy.” “In the dispute, I pushed her down by accident. It was purely self-defense! Dad, Roman, what should I do now…” Bella slapped her own face frantically, claiming she was sorry to me. My ears rang, the world spinning. My father slapped her hard, clutching his heart in anger. “How did I give birth to a daughter like you! That was my wife!” Bella, with a red handprint on her face, looked stubbornly at Roman’s back. “You’ll help me. You have me in your heart, right?” Silence for a century. My heart was in my throat. In the video, Roman’s expression was unreadable, but his voice was firm and calm. “Go hide for a while. I’ll handle the police.” 3 Every word Roman said was clear and piercing. The whole world was hiding the truth about my mother’s death from me, including Roman, whom I trusted unconditionally. That year, I ran to the police station in the rain. Roman got into a car accident chasing me. He crawled out of the car with difficulty, grabbing my ankle with a bloody hand. “Chloe, go back now. Leave this to me.” I naively thought he would get justice for me and my mother because I never believed she would abandon me. But unexpectedly, my father and husband both betrayed me. The next day, I appeared at Bella’s birthday gala, disheveled and unkempt. She was intimately holding Roman’s arm, enthusiastically showing off the heirloom jade ring he gave her. As if she really was Mrs. Sterling. When I entered, everyone’s eyes fell on me—contemptuous, mocking. Only Roman looked relaxed, thinking I was there to beg for reconciliation like before, opening his arms slightly towards me. But he was destined to be disappointed. “Roman Sterling, Bella killed my mother, right? You were an accomplice, right?!” His breath hitched, but the guilt in his eyes vanished instantly. “Today is Bella’s birthday, don’t make a scene!” Even my father rushed up from the audience and slapped me hard. Seeing the warning looks in their eyes, I finally accepted reality. The content of that video was true. At this moment, Bella threw herself over, crying like a pear blossom in rain. “Sister, I know Auntie hated me enough to kill me when she was alive, but Sister, we only have each other now. Please don’t hurt me anymore…” “I won’t pursue you for abusing me. I’ll be obedient.” As she spoke, she inadvertently revealed scars on her arm, looking pitiable. Seeing this, Roman frowned deeply in distress, his eyes full of disappointment looking at me. “Chloe, she’s your sister! How could you be so cruel!” The crowd gasped and whispered. “Chloe’s mother tried to murder Miss Bella and ended up killing herself? Serves her right.” “I didn’t expect Chloe to be so shameless. Playing the victim to fight for favor. Old virgins just love to cause trouble.” “They mother and daughter are used to bullying others. Trash from the gutter can’t change its smell.” … Endless abuse and accusations washed over me. The scene of my mother falling in despair flashed rapidly in my mind. I couldn’t bear it anymore. By the time I reacted, my hands were already around Bella’s neck. “I want you to pay with your life!” She struggled in my grip. The next moment, a huge force pushed me away violently. Roman raised a trembling hand and slapped my face without holding back. “Chloe, what are you trying to do!” “I order you to clarify to everyone right now that you framed Bella and bullied them mother and daughter, otherwise…” His voice suddenly dropped low, gentle but cruel enough. “Otherwise, I’ll level your mother’s cemetery. Isn’t today her death anniversary?” 4 I looked up in shock. Meeting his almost heartless gaze, seeing the threat in his eyes. His brow was still gentle, but it couldn’t overlap with the face of the deeply affectionate man from the past. I stared at him stubbornly, eyes bloodshot. “No!” Unexpectedly, as soon as the words fell, the man took a remote control from his pocket. “There are bombs buried under the cemetery. Chloe, be good. Don’t force me.” He called me by my nickname, but it sounded more like the whisper of a devil. So he was prepared. To protect Bella, he held my lifeline in his hand at all times. That cemetery was the only thought keeping me alive in this world. I couldn’t watch my mother’s soul be scattered. I swallowed the blood in my throat, pushed him away, shuffled over, and knelt in front of Bella. “Bella, my mother and I wronged you.” “I! Am! Sorry!” I looked up at Bella’s triumphant face, then at Roman. “Is this apology enough?” Roman’s chest visibly heaved for a moment, then he cleared his throat. “As long as you know you’re wrong. You can go. Mourn your mother for me.” Dropping this polite remark, he put his arm around Bella’s waist and turned to continue the celebration. Amidst the laughter, guests whispered. “No wonder Mr. Sterling won’t touch her. Her heart is so dirty. No wonder those bed photos of her came out a few days ago.” “She and her mother bullied others. I didn’t expect she stole her sister’s engagement with tricks. She’s the mistress!” “Married for five years and still a virgin. Who would want her? People might think she has a disease.” … I knelt on the ground in a sorry state, listening numbly. I disdained to keep the so-called “forever and ever.” Just as I was about to leave, a piercing ding sounded in my ear. Not far away, Bella waved the remote control at me from an angle no one else could see. Watching the countdown tick closer, the hair on my back stood up! I struggled to get up and stumbled out of the banquet hall. Roman followed my back deeply. Just as he was about to call me, Bella pulled him. “Come toast with me.” The man twitched the corner of his mouth, his attention returning to Bella. At the cemetery. I dug frantically at the gravestone with my hands, fingers bloody and curled. The next moment, a loud bang exploded in my ears. Debris flew, and my mother’s tombstone shattered into pieces. The urn buried deep underground also exploded. Watching the ashes flying in the sky, my heart died completely. Then, a sudden heat wave hit, and my vision plunged into darkness… Roman didn’t stay for Bella’s birthday cake after all. Instead, he brought a bouquet of flowers to the cemetery. But the moment he stepped in, his pupils dilated instantly!

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387737”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

My parents were on the brink of a nasty divorce because of my dad’s affair. The only thing stopping them was the custody battle over me. To prove she could support me, my mom got a high-paying job that required travel. On the day she left for a business trip, she made my dad promise to take care of five-year-old me. But the moment his first love called, he abandoned me to go cook for her cats. Before he left, he dumped a case of instant noodles and a pack of water bottles on the kitchen floor. Five days later, I developed a high fever. In my confusion, I swallowed my grandmother’s heart medication instead of Tylenol. With my heart rate spiraling out of control, I called my dad in agony: “Daddy, I’m sick. I took the wrong medicine… I think I’m dying.” His voice dripped with impatience at being woken up: “Why are you lying like your mother? Stop making things up!” “I’ll be back in a few days. Go to sleep.” The drugs made me nauseous. I begged him one last time: “Daddy, please save me. I really—” I heard the phone being tossed aside. A woman’s voice drifted through the line: “Your daughter says she’s dying. Aren’t you worried?” His tone was casual, unbothered: “Don’t listen to her nonsense. If she dies, it saves me the trouble!” “She’s the only reason her mother won’t sign the divorce papers!” I remembered the countless times my mom broke down because of his cheating. He was right. Only if I died could my mom finally be free. 1 I used my last ounce of strength to crawl into bed, clutching the family photo from the nightstand. I huddled under the covers, staring at it. In the photo, Mom was kissing my cheek, her smile radiant. Dad was looking at us with deep affection. Mom said this photo was taken when I was two. That was before Dad’s first love came back. His love was entirely in this home. When I was three, she returned. His gaze toward Mom and me turned into indifference and annoyance. But Dad always said he loved me. I was the extension of his life. Especially after the doctor said an injury made him sterile. I, his only child, became his only hope. Even when Mom offered to leave with nothing but me, letting him visit whenever he wanted… He refused. Tears fell onto Mom’s face in the photo. I lowered my head and kissed her forehead one last time. Suffocation wrapped around me like a heavy blanket. With my last breath, I whispered: “Goodbye, Mom.” As my eyes closed, a memory of Mom kneeling before Dad flashed in my mind. “I beg you! Give me the child!” “You don’t love us at all. Stop torturing us.” She was crying so hard her thin shoulders shook violently. Dad looked at her with disgust: “How do I not love you?” “You’re the one throwing away a good life!” “If you really loved our daughter, you’d give her a complete family!” “I will never give you my daughter!” Desperate and furious, Mom stood up and screamed at him: “You love her? Ha!” “Bullsh*t!” She hated it when Dad claimed to love me while neglecting me. Usually gentle, she exploded during their later fights, listing his sins one by one: “You love her? She was in the hospital for a week with pneumonia, and you didn’t show your face once!” “What were you doing?! You took your mistress to see polar bears in Alaska!” “Not only did you not come back, you spent all our savings on that woman!” “You always wanted to know where the money for our daughter’s treatment came from, right?” “I’ll tell you! I sold myself! I slept with an old man for six hours! That’s how your daughter got treated! Are you happy now?!” “I hate you! You don’t love her! Stop lying!” “I birthed her through twenty-four hours of pain. Why can’t I take her?!” 2 That day, I finally understood why Mom spent so long in the shower. The running water hid her sobs. Whenever I asked why she was crying, she’d smile and say I heard wrong. To stop Mom’s pain, I begged Dad too: “Daddy, apologize to Mom. Stop making her cry.” Dad frowned, picked me up, and wiped my tears. He glanced at Mom impatiently: “Stop acting crazy! You’re scaring our daughter!” “I’m telling you one last time. Give me custody, and I’ll sign the divorce papers right now.” “Otherwise, we stay like this! Stop turning the house upside down over nothing.” Mom wasn’t willing to give up. She grabbed his arm, needing to vent: “Mark Zhou, you’re not a man!” “You claim to love your daughter, but what have you done for her?” “You cook for your mistress’s cats, but your five-year-old daughter has never eaten a meal you made!” “You even stole the birthday money I saved for her to buy premium cat food!” “You buy that woman clothes, bags, even clothes for her cat.” “Have you bought a single piece of clothing for your daughter?” Scenes like this played out every few days. Every time, Dad would just say impatiently: “Go crazy if you want. No one cares!” All the arguments ended with Mom screaming alone like a madwoman. I cried snot and tears, secretly begging Dad: “Please divorce Mom. She has to take pills to sleep now.” “She gets sick all the time, cries every day, and stops eating.” “Daddy, even if I live with Mom, I’ll still love you.” “Please, Daddy, let me go with Mom. I don’t want to see her in pain anymore.” Dad’s eyes reddened. He held back tears, stroking my face with his large hand. He whispered softly: “Mom is just throwing a tantrum.” “Daddy can’t bear to let you go with her. She has no job, she can’t raise you.” “We will always be a family, okay?” Mom heard this. From then on, the woman who had been a housewife for five years pulled herself together and found a job. Mom would cup my face, eyes full of hope: “Baby, once Mom’s job is stable, I’ll sue for divorce.” “Once I have financial stability, the court will give you to me.” “Give Mom a little time, okay?” I smiled and cheered her on every time. I learned from listening to adults that before having me, Mom was a brilliant, talented woman. She became a housewife to take care of me and Dad. In my memory, she worked from dawn to dusk. Cooking three meals a day. Keeping the house spotless. Caring for my sick grandparents. Whenever she had a moment, she read to me and played with me. I often saw her exhausted. After getting a job, she was even busier, leaving early and returning late. Dad complained: “For a stupid job, you neglect your family!” Mom, her heart dead to him, stopped arguing. She focused only on making money, getting that stable income proof to win my custody. 3 Dad didn’t change at all. He would only hug me when he was in a good mood. Less than five minutes later, he’d put me down, smiling at his phone, texting that woman. When he was happy, he’d kiss my cheek and say: “I love my big girl so much.” I couldn’t remember any other warm moments with him. It was mostly him fighting with Mom, smashing things, and me crying in terror. Now, it’s okay. I’m dead. They don’t have to be deadlocked over my custody anymore. Mom came back at night. My soul was floating in the living room. “Baby, Mommy’s home!” She dragged her suitcase in, looking travel-worn. In her left hand, she held a Capybara plushie and my favorite snacks. I instinctively ran to hug her, but I went right through her. My transparent soul passed through her body. I remembered then—I was already dead. Mom looked at the messy living room, instant noodle crumbs everywhere. Empty water bottles on the floor. A foul smell in the air. She wrinkled her nose, put down her suitcase, and walked in. Calling my name as she looked around: “Mumu? Mumu, Mommy’s back.” She muttered under her breath: “Only a few days and the house is a pigsty.” “How does he take care of a child!” “And he wants to fight for custody like this!” I followed Mom, reaching out to hold her hand. Just like when I was alive, her big hand wrapping around my small one. But I couldn’t feel her warmth anymore. I looked up at her face and said: “Mommy, I’m dead.” “You can divorce Daddy now.” “You don’t have to fight anymore.” She couldn’t hear a thing. Not finding me in the living room, she went to the bedroom. She saw my small form tucked under the covers. A happy smile lit up her face. She tiptoed to the bed. She stared at me lovingly for a while, then blew me a gentle kiss, afraid to wake me. My nose stung, and tears fell like broken pearls. I cried, hugging Mom’s leg. I knew clearly. In this world, she loved me the most. And I loved her the most. I wanted her to be free, but I was terrified that finding me dead would break her. In that moment, I understood why Mom always said: “You are my weakness.” Back then, I always told her to leave Dad. Naively thinking that if she left, she wouldn’t be sad or sleepless anymore. Every time, she would hug me tightly, heart aching. Determinedly telling me: “Mommy will definitely take you with me. Mommy won’t leave her baby behind.” But Mom, I’m sorry. I left you behind. She quietly closed the bedroom door. She walked to the bathroom farthest from my room to call Dad. It rang for a long time before connecting. She covered her mouth, scolding angrily: “Where the hell are you!” “Are you with that bitch again?!” “Mark Zhou, you are an animal!” “How could you leave our daughter home alone!” Afraid of waking me, she kept her voice low, her face red with rage. Dad’s voice on the phone was as impatient as ever: “I have things to do too!” “Stop looking for trouble every day!” “Mumu is five years old. She’s good, she can stay home alone!” “If you’re so worried, quit your job and come back to watch her!” Beep. He hung up! 4 Mom angrily called back. But Dad had turned off his phone. She cried in frustration, clutching her chest, wiping tears again and again. Painful sobs twisted her face. She covered her mouth to suppress the sound. I hugged her, heart aching, coaxing her over and over: “Mommy, don’t cry.” “You can leave Daddy now.” Her shoulders shook in my transparent embrace for a long time. Red-eyed, she started cleaning the messy house. Just like countless times before, silently doing chores. I followed her like a little shadow, just like when I was alive. Listening to her sniffle as she worked. I cried silently with her. After cleaning, she opened the fridge and found it empty. Just as she was about to cook for me, her boss called. He needed a proposal urgently. She immediately put down her work and opened her laptop in the living room. I lay on the table, watching her quietly. A while later, her phone rang again. It was Grandma. “You’re wasting your youth! How long are you going to drag this out?” “It’s not like you can’t have more kids. Just give him Mumu and leave! Get divorced!” I had heard these words until my ears bled. Mom, as usual, replied firmly and impatiently: “Don’t worry about my business. I won’t give up Mumu.” Grandma got angry: “You think I want to worry? Mark Zhou, that heartless man.” “He mortgaged your house! He bought that mistress a diamond necklace!” “That woman came to show off in front of your dad and me! Your dad had a heart attack from anger!” “He’s been in the hospital for five days! I didn’t want to worry you!” Mom froze, thunderstruck. She didn’t expect Dad to be so heartless. Her chest hurt suddenly, and she patted it weakly. After a few minutes of silence, she picked up her phone and called a man: “I can be your mistress, but I want a divorce. You have to help me get custody of my daughter.” A man’s cheerful agreement came from the other end. I suddenly remembered—this man was an old grandpa with white hair. Mom was so clean and proud. How could she be with an old man for me? I stomped my feet in anxiety: “Mommy, I’m dead! Go check on me in the room!” “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do for me anymore!” Mom stared blankly for a while until her phone vibrated again. Her boss urging her for the meeting. She hadn’t eaten all day, her stomach hurt, but she only had time for half a glass of water. She grabbed her briefcase and rushed to the office, calling Dad on the way: “I’m going to the office. Get your ass back home and watch Mumu.” “If I come back and find Mumu alone again, don’t blame me for going to that mistress’s mother’s house and making a scene!” Dad never took Mom’s threats seriously. He didn’t come back until almost 9 AM the next day. Just as the kindergarten teacher called him: “Mumu’s dad, Mumu’s mom is busy, she asked me to call you.” “Please bring Mumu to school today.” Dad agreed: “Okay, I’ll bring her now.” Hanging up, he walked into the bedroom. Seeing me still under the covers. He playfully pretended to be a lion: “Which little kid is still in bed at 9 o’clock!” “I’m the big lion, let’s see which lazy bones is sleeping in… is it little Mumu?” As he pulled back the covers, the smile vanished from his face instantly. All color drained away.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387736”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

I had always been obedient, doing exactly what I was told. When my wealthy parents finally brought me home, my adopted sister whispered in my ear: “The position of the Sterling heiress is mine. If you know what’s good for you, get lost.” I nodded obediently, turned around, and jumped into the traffic on the highway. My parents were terrified, dragging me back into the car with shaking hands and pale faces. My brother, face dark as thunder, warned me: “If you dare pull another stunt for attention, believe me, I’ll send you back to that hellhole.” I obeyed immediately. That night, I locked myself in the dog cage. My brother was dumbfounded. He dragged me out, grinding his teeth, looking at me like he’d seen a ghost. Later, when my adopted sister faked an illness, my brother forced me to donate blood for her. I obediently took the knife and sliced my wrist without hesitation. When my parents arrived, blood was spraying everywhere. They screamed, lunging to stem the flow. “Doctor! Call an ambulance!” My brother’s face was white. After a long while, he stammered: “Mom, Dad, I just asked her for a few drops of blood for Chloe… I didn’t tell her to slit her wrist…” I blinked. My brother wasn’t lying. He didn’t teach me that. The “counselors” at the reform school they sent me to five years ago taught me that. 1 It took three hours of emergency surgery to stabilize my heartbeat, which had almost flatlined. Seeing my parents’ faces turn green with rage, Chloe Sterling couldn’t keep up her act anymore. “It really wasn’t me… she just suddenly cut herself. I was scared too,” she sobbed, desperate to clear her name. My brother, Liam, immediately stepped in front of her, his tone firm. “Mom, Dad, this has to be another one of Maya’s tricks for sympathy!” “If she really wanted to die, why not just stab her neck? She slit her wrist knowing she could be saved! She’s manipulative!” I opened my eyes from the dizzying darkness just in time to hear that. I slowly crawled to a corner no one was watching and obediently picked up the knife that hadn’t been taken away yet. The sticky laughter and tearing pain from my memories swirled in my mind… I tried to stop my body from trembling and forced a pleasing smile. “Brother, sister, I’ll listen to whatever you say.” Then I pressed the tip of the knife to my neck and stabbed down hard. The family turned at the sound of my weak voice, and their souls nearly left their bodies. The room exploded into chaos—screams, lunges… My parents coaxed and pleaded until they pried the knife from my hand. Liam wanted to say more, but my father slapped him across the face! “Enough!” Dad threw the knife on the floor. His trembling finger pointed at Chloe, then at Liam. “Have you ever seen anyone seek attention like this?!” “Look! Look at what you’ve done to Maya!” Chloe and Liam’s eyes widened in disbelief. Chloe stomped her foot, tears welling up. Liam glared at me, grinding his teeth. “Maya, just you wait! If you make Chloe upset, I won’t forgive you!” I shrank behind my mother, eyes full of fear. My body reacted faster than my mind. I gently tugged Liam’s sleeve, voice weak. “Brother, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have upset sister… I’ll apologize to her right now.” Before they could react, I slowly moved to the window, opened it, and under everyone’s shocked gaze, jumped. Silence for a second. Then, a piercing scream tore through the room. “Maya!!” My parents stumbled to the window. My mother looked down once and collapsed, fainting on the spot. My father scrambled to find a doctor, tripping over himself. Liam and Chloe stood frozen, completely dumbfounded. Wind rushed past my ears. A warm wetness spread beneath me, followed by shattering pain. Consciousness faded, and I slowly closed my eyes. 2 That night, the fake medical records were slammed at Chloe’s feet by my father. Chloe’s feigned illness and Liam forcing me to donate blood were exposed. Chloe’s tears fell instantly. She gasped for air between sobs. “Mom, Dad, I’m sorry. I was just so scared.” “Maya treated me so badly before. I didn’t know if she really changed, so I just wanted to test her. I didn’t mean to fake being sick.” She grabbed clothes from her closet and stuffed them into a suitcase. “I know I was wrong. I’ll move out now so I don’t annoy you…” Liam rushed to stop her, raising his voice. “Mom, Dad! You hear that? Chloe is just insecure!” “You know how badly Maya bullied her back then!” He glanced at my room, his tone getting agitated. “Did you forget what Maya was like? Arrogant, spoiled, wild!” “She went to ‘learn manners’ for five years and completely changed? Who believes that?” “Does a normal person slit their wrist and jump out a window over a few words? She’s ruthless to herself, which means she’s scheming. I say her acting skills just leveled up…” “Shut up!” Dad shouted him down. My parents glared at him, but his words had planted a seed of doubt. From that night on, everyone looked at me with scrutiny. With my parents’ tacit approval, Chloe’s “tests” escalated. But when she poured a bucket of ice water over my head, I stood still, even smiling up at her apologetically. When she deliberately put seafood, which I’m allergic to, in my bowl, I whispered thanks and ate it all. Watching the rash spread rapidly across my neck, Chloe lost patience. She grabbed a handful of sleeping pills and shoved them into my mouth. “Swallow it! Aren’t you obedient?!” “Let’s see how long you can keep up the act!” Dad paused, looking like he wanted to speak. Mom hesitated, reaching out a hand, then looked away. Liam stood by with his arms crossed, enjoying the show. They were waiting. Waiting for the old, spoiled Maya to smash plates and throw a tantrum. Even Chloe tensed up. But I didn’t fight back. I opened my mouth obediently and swallowed the pills. Chloe froze for a second. Then her face went white. She lunged at me, fingers jamming into my throat. “Are you crazy?! Spit it out! Spit it out!” “Maya! Those are sleeping pills! You could die! Are you trying to frame me for murder?!” By the time the family doctor arrived, the corners of my mouth were bleeding. The induced vomiting was long and humiliating. I curled up on the sofa, shivering uncontrollably. Dad draped his jacket over me with shaking hands, his red eyes glaring at Liam and Chloe. “This is your brilliant idea! Are you satisfied now?!” Mom hugged me, wailing. “Maya, my Maya! What happened to you!” I just stared blankly at the ceiling light, unresponsive. 3 After fainting that day, I had a long nightmare. In the dream, Chloe would scratch her own arm when my parents walked by, then cry into their chests, “Maya hit me again…” She would jump down the stairs when she saw Liam coming, then point at me tearfully, “Maya pushed me.” Whenever my family hesitated, she would choke up, “Since Maya still can’t accept me, let me leave. I’ll survive on my own.” In the dream, I was still the old Maya who couldn’t stand being wronged. Every time I was framed, I would scream and defend myself. Over time, I looked like the crazy one. Until the final straw. Chloe locked herself in her room and set it on fire to frame me. After being rescued, she insisted I started the fire. I went mad with rage and attacked her. And my family finally ran out of patience. They wouldn’t listen to a word of my explanation. They personally handed me over to the traffickers posing as a “wilderness therapy camp.” Brainwashed by the smooth talkers, they quickly bought the pitch about “learning discipline.” They signed a five-year contract to “straighten me out.” When I woke from the nightmare, a psychiatrist’s face filled my vision. I was surprisingly cooperative. “Maya,” she asked softly, “can you tell me why you don’t fight back, or even hurt yourself, when others do things to you?” I blinked. My voice was natural. “Because only if I’m obedient enough, I won’t get beaten.” The sticks, the torn clothes, the dark cellar… I had tasted the price of disobedience enough. The doctor stared at me, speechless. After a while, she tried again. “But you’re home now, Maya.” “There are people who love you here. No one will hit or bully you.” I tilted my head curiously. “No one bullies me?” “Does sister pouring water on me and shoving pills down my throat count as bullying?” “Does brother forcing me to give blood count as bullying?” “Or like Mom and Dad…” I leaned closer and whispered: “One second they’re hugging me crying, but the next, even seeing everything Chloe did, they just watched because they thought I was acting. They even think I’m sick and hired you…” “Does that count as bullying?” I stared at her, enunciating every word. “Doctor, disobedience leads to death.” “I used to have friends like me.” “But they’re gone now.” “Because they weren’t obedient enough… and were beaten to death.” The doctor’s hand froze in mid-air. Her face went pale. She repeated every word I said to my parents. The final diagnosis: Severe PTSD with extreme submissive behavior and emotional dissociation. After the doctor left, my parents locked themselves in the study for a whole day. Until Liam kicked the door open. 4 After Liam kicked the door in, a massive argument erupted. From then on, my parents treated me with terrifying caution. At dinner, I always ate first. Mom would blow on the soup to cool it before feeding me. Dad dug out old photo albums, showing me page by page. “Look, Maya, your third birthday… your first dance recital… you were so cute.” Liam walked by, sneered, and stopped. “Great acting.” “Just playing the victim to push Chloe out, right?” “This act… makes me sick.” My gaze fell on a photo of me and Liam. He used to be so good to me that I dared not recall when it changed. What brought me back was the sound of a slap across Liam’s face. My parents finally snapped. Chloe rushed over, clinging to my parents’ arms, voice soft. “Mom, Dad, don’t be mad. Liam just has a temper. He didn’t mean it.” “We’ll get along with Maya, I promise.” She paused, as if remembering something. “By the way, isn’t there a gala next week? I remember Maya loved dancing!” “I’ll take her. Maybe… it’ll cheer her up.” My parents looked at the smiling little girl in the photo album. After a long silence, they nodded. At the gala, Chloe grabbed my hand the moment we arrived. “Come on, let’s pick the prettiest dress in the back.” I followed obediently, letting her drag me away from the crowd. By the pool, she stopped and whispered viciously in my ear. “You think playing the obedient pet will steal everything from me? Dream on!” “Mom, Dad, and Liam love me. Only me.” She smirked cruelly. “Wanna bet? If I win, you leave the Sterling family and never come back.” Before she finished, a force shoved me from behind! Splash! I was swallowed by the cold water. Chloe watched for a while, then jumped in herself. She screamed, “Liam! Help me!!” When Liam rushed over, he froze. He hesitated for only a second before diving in and swimming toward Chloe. Only after he dragged Chloe to the shore did he hear the guests gasping. “There’s another one!” “That one isn’t moving! She’s sinking!” He whipped his head around, face going white, and dove back in to fish me out. I curled up on the cold ground, coughing up water. Liam pressed his lips together, worry flashing in his eyes. The next second, Chloe’s tearful sobbing cut his concern short. He looked at Chloe’s red eyes, seemingly remembering something, and his face darkened again. “Kneel and apologize to Chloe! Look how scared she is!” I wanted to nod, but my body shook uncontrollably. Seeing this, his eyes went cold. “Maya Sterling! Everyone knows you’re a good swimmer! You won the city championship in elementary school!” “You’re addicted to acting, aren’t you?!” He shouted, grabbing me roughly to force me to my knees in front of Chloe. In that violent tug… I lost my balance and fell forward. That’s when the prosthetic leg detached. The flesh-colored prosthetic with its metal screws rolled across the ground. The air went dead silent. Then, screams of horror erupted from the crowd. Staring at my empty pant leg, Liam’s face went sheet white. He stumbled back, eyes wide with horror, and fell onto his butt.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387734”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

At 3 PM, my newly hired colleague, Liam (who went by “Lia” at the office), suddenly tagged me in the company-wide Slack channel with hundreds of people: @SarahVance: You btch in cubicle 203, can you stop banging on your keyboard? The vibration is giving me cramps!* @SarahVance: My baby is sleeping in my belly right now. If your noise gives him a concussion, I will make your whole family pay! I hurriedly explained that I was rushing a proposal due EOD and that I was using a silent mechanical keyboard. But he refused to believe me. I patiently explained multiple times. To avoid conflict, I even applied to work from a desk in the hallway. Unexpectedly, a week later, he barged into the breakroom with a freshly boiled kettle of water and poured it over my head. I collapsed in a pool of scalding water, skin peeling. He still疯了一样 (like a madman) smashed my head with his high heel, screaming hysterically: “It’s all your fault! I miscarried! Your keyboard noise killed my son!!” My vision blurred, and I lost consciousness—dying without understanding how a silent keyboard could kill anyone. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day he cursed me out in the group chat. Facing his familiar abuse, I didn’t back down. I directly questioned him in the group: “What kind of pregnant woman are you pretending to be? If you pulled it out, your d*ck would be bigger than mine!” 1 After I sent the message to the group, the chat, which had been buzzing with hundreds of people discussing projects, went dead silent. A few seconds later, Lia’s messages flooded the screen like a broken dam: @SarahVance: What kind of bullst are you spouting, you dirty whre? I’m three months pregnant! I have the ultrasound right here. How dare you slander me?! @everyone: Come look at this! Sarah in 203 is jealous because she can’t lay an egg herself, so she can’t stand seeing others have babies! @HR @CEO_Zhang: There’s a person like this in the company! I’m calling the police! This is defamation! This is a personal attack! Lia threw a tantrum, crying and screaming. Immediately, colleagues stepped up, pointing their spears at me. Karen from Design: Sarah, that’s too much. How can you talk to a pregnant woman like that? Your mouth is poisonous! Another colleague tried to mediate: Lia, calm down. Don’t get angry for the baby’s sake. Sarah was probably just joking. Lia wasn’t having it: Joking? Is this something you joke about? What do I have to say to her? She’s just jealous I married well and have my husband’s seed in my belly! My pregnancy is high-risk! The doctor specifically ordered bed rest and quiet! But this slt keeps typing like she’s operating a jackhammer! If anything happens to my baby, I’ll skin her alive!* Other colleagues on the floor started chiming in: Exactly. Lia said she’s not feeling well. Can’t you be quieter? It’s already afternoon. Can’t you submit that proposal tomorrow? Why antagonize a pregnant woman? Reading these black-and-white distortions, I laughed out of pure rage. In my past life, this was how they pushed me into a corner step by step. I explained over and over that I used a silent keyboard. To avoid disturbing her, I even took my laptop to work in the stairwell. But what I got in return was her scalding me from head to toe with boiling water. Before I died, with my skin boiled off and my skull crushed by a high heel, Lia’s crazed face was the last thing I saw in this world. I closed my eyes. The searing pain of boiling water seemed to brand my soul. Anger and hatred crashed against my chest. Lia was still frantically tagging me in the group: Cat got your tongue? Why aren’t you talking, you btch? Guilty?* Did you do it on purpose? You don’t want me to have a good life, right? I finally got pregnant, and you just have to kill my son, don’t you? If anything happens to him, can you afford to pay? Will you pay with your life? “Pay with my life?” “Pay for the turd you’re going to birth?” I stared at those words, unable to suppress my fire any longer. I sent a voice message directly to the group, my tone icy: “Fine. Come over here right now. As long as you dare to drop your pants in front of the whole company, I, Sarah Vance, will jump out this window right now to pay for your son with my life!” 2 My voice message made the entire company explode. The group chat was silent for a full minute. Then, a commotion erupted from the direction of my cubicle. I looked up and saw Lia clutching her belly, supported by several female colleagues, marching towards me with red-rimmed eyes. “Sarah!” Her voice was shrill, laced with tears, as if she had suffered the world’s greatest injustice. “How can you be so vicious? How did I ever offend you for you to humiliate me like this?” “I’m carrying a boy! He’s the only heir for generations in our family. Can’t you just tolerate him?” The female colleagues beside her immediately jumped to her defense: “Sarah, you’re inhuman. Lia just joined the company, why are you bullying her like this?” “Exactly! Won’t you have children yourself one day? Can you bear to see your own child cursed like this?” “Messing with an unborn baby? Aren’t you afraid of karma?” Lia was still dry heaving, acting her heart out. Tears came on command as she leaned weakly on a colleague: “I’m going to kill you… You ruined my innocence… I’m going to kill you…” His crying was piercing, stimulating my eardrums and my memories of the past life. Thinking of how I was tortured to death by this gender-confused maniac, my body couldn’t stop shaking. Hearing him say he wanted to kill me, I couldn’t hold back anymore. I stood up abruptly, shoved the female colleague aside, and grabbed him by the collar. “Kill me? You already killed me once in my last life!” “Act! Keep acting! Where’s your belly? Where’s the ultrasound? Show me!” He was frightened by my aura. After freezing for a few seconds, he suddenly clawed at my face. I dodged sideways and tripped him precisely. Thud. He fell face-forward onto the floor. Recalling the agony of boiling water pouring over me in my past life, rage consumed my heart. I stepped on his back, grabbed his silky wig, and smashed his face into the floor. “Keep pretending! Keep acting! Let’s see what kind of thing you really are today!” Lia was pinned down by me, screaming like a slaughtered pig: “Ah! Help! Sarah’s crazy! She’s killing people! My belly… my baby…” His shrill screams attracted more colleagues. Everyone rushed up, pulling us apart. Two male colleagues held me back. I was still panting. Calculating the time, I had only been reborn for half an hour. That means, half an hour ago, I was murdered by this monster in front of me! How could I be calm?! But after pulling me away, the crowd pointed fingers at me: “Sarah, are you insane! It started with your foul mouth, and now you dare to hit a pregnant woman?” “How did we not notice before that our company had such a vicious woman like you!” “I’ve called security! If you dare move again, we’ll call the police directly and let them handle you!” 3 Freed from my suppression, Lia became arrogant again. He was helped up, clutching his belly, crying and pointing at me: “Everyone saw it! She’s jealous of me! She wants to kill my child!” He stumbled towards me, raising his hand to slap me. I wanted to fight back, but I was firmly held by the male colleagues. “Still want to fight?! Can’t you behave?” Seeing I couldn’t move, a smug grin appeared on Lia’s face, and his insults became nastier: “You rotten goods who can’t lay an egg! You should just rot in the ground!” Other colleagues also criticized me for lacking empathy. Karen, who spoke up earlier, comforted Lia while glaring at me hatefully: “You’re an adult, have you no shame? Making a pregnant woman this upset over a proposal, what is your heart made of?” “It’s hard enough for Lia to work while pregnant. If something happens to her because of your tantrum, can you take responsibility?” I struggled, trying to break free, and shouted back: “I’ve explained a dozen times, I use a silent keyboard! How did I disturb him? Telepathy?” “Besides, he says he’s pregnant. Has anyone seen his prenatal checkup reports? Has anyone seen his husband pick him up?” My words made a few people pause, doubt creeping into their eyes. Lia immediately pulled a crumpled paper from his bag: “This is my ultrasound! It clearly says 12 weeks pregnant!” I sneered: “Just now you said my keyboard sounded like a jackhammer and gave you cramps. Now you’re jumping and screaming here, and your precious son is suddenly fine?” Everyone froze. Karen muttered to herself: “Yeah, when I was pregnant, let alone fighting, even a loud noise made my heart race… Is Lia’s fetus made of steel?” Security arrived just then, seeing the tense situation, they quickly interjected: “Everyone calm down! Talk it out!” Lia, who was arrogant just a moment ago, suddenly covered his mouth and started dry heaving. After a while, she said weakly: “I can’t… my stomach hurts so much… She must have hurt the baby when she pushed me!” “I need to go to the hospital! If I lose my baby, Sarah, I won’t let you go even as a ghost!” I wasn’t going to let him off that easily. “Great, let’s go to the hospital! I’ll go with you! I’ll also help you book a urologist to check your prostate!” Lia went berserk, screaming and pointing at my nose: “You… you crazy woman! You’re slandering me! I’ll sue you for defamation!” I immediately addressed the crowd: “Did everyone hear that? Just one check at the hospital and we’ll know. If he really is a pregnant woman, I’ll kowtow and apologize to him in front of everyone, and pay all medical bills!” Then, I turned to Lia: “Do you dare to go?” Saying that, I grabbed him and dragged him toward the exit. “Let’s go, right now! Let the whole company see if you’re carrying a child or just a bag of bad water!” My colleagues and I stared at him, waiting for an answer. Lia’s face went from red to white. He never dreamed that the soft persimmon he crushed in his past life would turn into a prickly maniac in this one. He gripped the desk tightly, refusing to move a step. Then, as if struck by an idea, he suddenly collapsed straight to the floor with a thud. A pool of “blood” quickly spread beneath him. He reached out, pointing a trembling finger at me, eyes full of venom: “My baby… Sarah… you killed my baby!” 4 Lia was quickly taken away by an ambulance, and the company was in chaos. Karen pointed at me, shaking with rage: “Sarah! Are you happy now? You killed someone’s child!” Another colleague had already dialed 911: “Hello, police? Someone here intentionally assaulted a pregnant woman, causing a miscarriage!” I stood by the pool of “blood,” watching coldly. That wasn’t blood at all; it was just red ink. This scammer was certainly well-prepared. Soon, the police arrived at the office. Lia had been sent to the hospital for “emergency treatment,” and I was taken back to the station as the prime suspect. The office surveillance clearly recorded the whole process. From my message in the group chat, to Lia bringing people to confront me, to me pushing him, and finally his “miscarriage.” All evidence was extremely unfavorable to me. In the interrogation room, the officer’s expression was grim: “Sarah, why did you use such heavy hands on a pregnant woman? Just because she asked you to be quiet?” “Do you know your actions constitute intentional assault?” I looked at the officer and said calmly: “Officer, I didn’t. First, I didn’t intentionally hurt him. Second, he isn’t a pregnant woman.” “He is a man.” The officer frowned: “We’ve verified with the hospital. The victim, Lia, female, was indeed 12 weeks pregnant, but has miscarried due to severe impact.” “What else do you want to fabricate?” I laughed: “Hospital? Which doctor did the check? Dare you let him come confront me face to face?” “I said, Lia is a man. What’s in his belly isn’t a fetus, but a silicone pad and a bag of red ink.” My words stunned the police. They probably had never seen such a “stubborn” suspect. A male officer slammed the table: “Sarah! You still show no remorse! Surveillance video, witness testimony, hospital diagnosis, all evidence points to you!” “Do you think spouting nonsense will get you off the hook?” I met his gaze fearlessly: “I haven’t committed a crime, why would I need to get off the hook?” “I demand to see Lia. I want to prove he is a man in front of you.” “If I can’t prove it, I’ll plead guilty and accept the punishment, no questions asked.” My attitude was so firm that the police began to doubt. After deliberating for a few minutes, they decided to take me to the hospital for a confrontation. Arriving at the hospital, Lia was lying in a hospital bed, face pale, hooked up to an IV, looking incredibly weak. Karen and a few colleagues were guarding the bedside. Seeing me, they rushed up like hens protecting their chicks. “You dare to come here! You murderer!” Karen’s spit almost sprayed on my face. I ignored her and walked straight to the bedside, looking at Lia acting his heart out. “Stop acting. You’re overdoing it.” Seeing me, Lia shuddered violently and shrank back in terror: “Don’t come over… you demon… what else do you want? You’ve already killed my child…” He cried hoarsely, attracting the attention of the entire ward.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387733”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel

Late at night, after finishing a ten-hour surgery, my phone buzzed like crazy in my locker. It was the new intern in our department, tagging @everyone in the main hospital group chat: “I’m getting married tomorrow! Everyone must come and share the joy! No gifts needed, my husband is covering everything!” Exhausted, I replied out of politeness: “Sorry, I have plans tomorrow. Congratulations on your wedding.” The next second, she DM’d me: “Dr. Chase, don’t be ungrateful. My husband is an investor in this hospital. Do you want to lose your job?” “I already reserved a spot for you as a server at the banquet. An unwanted old woman like you just wants to come to high-end places to fish for a rich husband, right?” Then, she posted her wedding photos in the main group chat. When I saw my husband’s face kissing hers in the photo, I laughed out of anger. A trophy husband who climbed the ladder thanks to my family has the guts to keep a mistress and throw a wedding? I replied directly in the main group: “Fine. Since you don’t want gifts, I’ll send you a big surprise instead!” … I turned off my phone and went straight home. The house was a mess. My slippers were kicked aside from when I rushed out this morning. It seemed my husband, Simon, hadn’t been home either. Was he so busy planning the wedding he forgot where he lived? A poor boy who climbed up step by step thanks to the Chase family. Now, he’s the “young and promising hospital investor” in everyone’s mouth. It seems my long-term hands-off approach made him forget who he is. He really thinks he’s somebody. I sneered and dialed my family’s estate manager. “Freeze all assets under Simon’s name immediately. Cut off all his supplementary credit cards.” “Also, prepare a big gift for me. Deliver it to the wedding venue at the hotel tomorrow.” I didn’t sleep all night, but I didn’t feel tired. Instead, I felt a sickly excitement. Just as I was about to leave in the morning, Simon sent a text. “Babe, you must be exhausted from all the surgeries lately. When I get back from my business trip, I’ll give you a good massage.” “I prepared a surprise gift for you!” He pretended to be considerate as always. I replied: “Sure. When you see me, I’ll give you a big surprise too!” As soon as I arrived at the wedding venue. The new intern, Linda, was wearing a wedding dress, smugly welcoming colleagues from the hospital. “Oh, really, no gifts needed. My husband is rich; we don’t need the money.” “He’s the hospital’s biggest investor. We’re all family now; my husband will take good care of you.” Someone sharp-eyed saw me and immediately spoke sarcastically. “Oh, isn’t this Dr. Chase, the ice queen of our department? How did you find time to attend our Linda’s wedding?” “Usually, we can’t even drag you out. Showing up uninvited today… surely not just to share the joy?” A sycophantic nurse next to her chimed in: “I heard Dr. Chase is thirty and still single. She probably saw that Linda’s husband is an investor and came to dig for gold!” “Dr. Chase, you act so high and mighty in the department, but turns out you’re just like everyone else.” I couldn’t be bothered with these clowns. I pushed a gift box as tall as a person straight in front of Linda. A bloody dog’s head was hanging on the box. Linda’s face turned green instantly. “Elena Chase! What is the meaning of this? I was kind enough to let you be a server and meet some elites.” “Who are you mocking with this dog head?” I replied: “My family has a male dog in heat that pees everywhere to mark territory. Maybe he peed on you.” “Doesn’t this dog head suit you perfectly?” Hearing this, Linda started cursing: “Elena! Speak clearly! Who’s the dog? Did you come here today just to cause trouble?” “You’re just an old woman dumped by men. seeing me young, beautiful, and married well, you’re jealous!” “Let me tell you, my husband will be here any minute. One word from him and you’re out of the hospital!” I took a slow step back. To avoid her spit landing on my face. Then I tilted my chin at the tall gift box. “Alright, calm down. Time to open the present.” In front of everyone, I ripped open the packaging. Inside was a massive set of custom banners, like the ones used at funerals, but with twisted wedding wishes. Left Banner: A B*tch Matches a Dog, Forever and Ever. Right Banner: A Scumbag Matches a Wh*re, Stuck Like Glue. Top Banner: Struck by Lightning. Dead silence filled the room. Linda shook with rage: “Elena! You b*tch! Psycho!” “You’re jealous I can marry a tycoon like Simon, so you use these dirty tricks to get attention!” I picked my ear, finding her voice too shrill. “Linda, let me confirm one more time. Are you sure you want to marry this man?” She lifted her chin arrogantly: “Duh! My husband Simon is the hospital’s biggest investor, worth billions! He makes more money by lifting a finger than you, a poor doctor, will make in a lifetime!” “Marrying him makes me Mrs. Smith, someone all of you have to look up to!” The colleagues behind her nodded in agreement. “Linda was born for the rich life. Unlike some people, trying to climb the social ladder at her age.” “Dr. Chase, making such a scene today… how will you show your face in the department?” “Offending the investor’s wife… I think your career as a doctor is over!” Hilarious. Climbing the social ladder? If they knew this “ladder” was planted by my own hands, I wonder what faces they’d make. Saving lives was my only dream growing up. This hospital was a gift from my dad when I graduated medical school. Just so I could pursue my ideal in a pure environment without distractions. Simon, an investor? Just a dog I can kick out whenever I want. Seeing my silence, Linda thought I was scared. Her smugness grew. She took out her phone, dialed a number, and put it on speaker. “Honey, where are you? I’m being bullied, come quick!” “That Elena from our department, she crashed our wedding and brought funeral banners to curse us!” Simon’s voice on the other end panicked: “What? Elena? Baby, don’t worry, I’ll be right there. Don’t get into a conflict!” Hanging up, Linda raised her chin even higher. “Hear that? My husband is coming! Elena, you’re dead today!” “Not only will you get fired, but I’ll also make sure you can’t work in the entire medical field!” Colleagues started pointing fingers at me. “It’s over. She pissed off Mr. Smith.” “Dr. Chase usually looks smart. Why is she so impulsive today?” “Over thirty and still fighting with a young girl over jealousy. Doesn’t she know her place? How can she compare to Linda?” Linda looked at me provocatively: “Elena, I’ll give you one last chance. For the sake of being colleagues, kneel and kowtow to apologize.” “And eat this unlucky thing. I might consider asking my husband not to kick you out.” “Otherwise, you’ll suffer!” I stepped forward, looking straight into her eyes. “Make me kneel?” “Are you worthy?” The next second, I pulled two marriage certificates from my bag and slapped them onto her face. “Open your eyes and look closely. The billionaire Simon you talk about is my, Elena Chase’s, legal husband!” “And you are just a mistress who can’t see the light of day!” The certificates hit Linda’s face and fell to the floor. Linda froze for a few seconds, then laughed exaggeratedly. “Hahahaha! Elena, are you crazy for men?” “Photoshopping fake marriage certificates to fantasize about my husband? Do you have no shame?” She picked up the certificates, didn’t even look at them, and tore them to shreds. “I heard some female doctors in the hospital are loose. Turns out it’s you!” “Knowing my husband is an investor, you lost all shame. When you see him, will you drop your pants and spread your legs?” She turned to the guests and colleagues. “Everyone, judge for yourselves! This woman relies on her seniority to forge documents and claim my husband is hers. Isn’t it laughable?” A doctor who usually sucked up to Linda stepped forward immediately. “Dr. Chase, we’ve known each other for years. I never realized you were so cheap!” “Who is Mr. Smith? How could he look at an old woman like you! I suggest you leave! Stop embarrassing yourself!” A group of people started pushing and shoving me. “Get out! Don’t dirty Linda’s wedding!” “Shameless trash!” I stumbled from the pushing, my lower back hitting the corner of a table. The exhaustion from ten hours of intense surgery made my vision go black. I held onto the wall, barely standing. Linda turned and splashed a glass of champagne in my face. “Kneel and apologize now. I might be merciful and let you keep the server job!” Just then, an unexpected person appeared. “Elena, why are you here?” I looked back and froze. It was my mentor, a titan of domestic medicine. Ignoring the alcohol on my face, I rushed over. “Professor, what are you doing here?” My mentor was the person I respected most. He wrote my recommendation letter for my studies abroad. To me, he was like a father. He patted my hand and sighed. “I heard a junior in the department was getting married, so I thought I’d come share the joy.” “I didn’t expect…” His gaze swept over the banners and Linda’s venomous face, frowning. Linda immediately threw herself at him, crying. “Professor, you have to help me! This woman is bullying me because of her seniority!” The professor was known for being protective, especially of young doctors. “Elena, what is going on? Even if there’s a conflict, you shouldn’t cause a scene at someone’s wedding.” Before I could explain, Linda accused me first. “Professor, Elena is crazy! She has a crush on my husband and came to make a scene! She even sent a dog head and banners to curse me!” The surrounding colleagues chimed in, twisting the truth. Listening to them, Professor Zhang looked at me with disappointment. “Elena, you are the backbone of our department, a role model for young doctors. How could you do something so inappropriate?” “Apologize to her and take the things away.” My heart went cold. Even my most respected teacher chose to believe the seemingly weak Linda without knowing the truth. Linda stepped forward then, smashing a wine bottle over my head. “Destroying someone’s happiness deserves lightning strikes. Didn’t you learn that, Dr. Chase?” “I’m three months pregnant with Simon’s child. It’s too late for you to try and climb into his bed now!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MotoNovel” app 🔍 search for “387732”, and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel