Author: Momo Chan

Christmas Eve fell on a weekend this year. Except for the senior class, the entire campus had emptied out for the holidays. That day, I watched the Dean’s profile picture in the school group chat turn pitch black. I watched my classmates die in front of me, one by one. I felt like I was dead, yet somehow, I was the only one still breathing. There was no peace on this Silent Night. Our prep school had become a living hell. 1 Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. “Who’s damn alarm is that? Turn it off, seriously!” Brock rolled over in his bunk, sat up, and shouted at us, his voice thick with sleep and aggression. “I didn’t set one, man. Kyle, is it yours?” Chase didn’t even look away from his gaming monitor, tapping furiously at his keyboard. “Not mine, Chase.” Kyle flashed a sycophantic grin before turning a glare on me. “Why do you have an alarm set in the middle of the day? You woke up Brock. Turn it off, idiot.” “It’s almost three in the afternoon…” I whispered. “So what? If Brock wants to sleep, he sleeps. You got a problem with that?” Kyle kicked his chair back and stood up, puffing his chest out. I held up my phone with trembling hands. “No… no problem. It’s not… it’s not an alarm. It’s a notification from the Grade Group Chat. As soon as I opened it, the music started playing.” “You’re the only loser who actually pins the school chat. It’s the weekend, what could they possibly want?” Brock scoffed, pulling the duvet over his head. The noise broke Chase’s concentration. A massive GAME OVER flashed on his screen. He slammed his headset onto the desk. “Alright, alright. We’re all roommates here, let’s not kill each other. Liam, read the message. What’s so important?” I knew the drill. If I didn’t read it with the right tone, Chase would take his frustration over the lost match out on me. My arm, still throbbing under the scab of a fresh cigarette burn, shook as I lifted the phone. The account that posted the announcement had a Santa Claus avatar and the name Saint Nick. The subject line was five bold, blood-red words: CHRISTMAS EVE RULES OF CONDUCT Christmas trees are green, not red. If you see a red Christmas tree on campus, lower your head immediately. Do not look at the top of the tree. Candy found on the ground is not real candy. No matter how delicious it looks, do not eat it. Dining Hall Hours: All students must eat dinner between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM. You must be back in your dorms by 9:00 PM. The only meat served is Roast Chicken. If the lunch lady serves you anything else, no matter how good it smells, ask for an exchange immediately. The only dessert is Pudding. Pudding does not speak. If your pudding speaks to you, eat it quickly. The Campus Store has Apples. These are not for sale. If you want to gain His favor, giving Him an Apple is never a mistake. If a Stocking appears by your bed, do not be afraid. A Long Stocking is a gift from Santa; keep it on you, but keep it hidden. If it is a Short Sock (Ankle Sock), find the Housemother immediately. He may already be watching you. The Housemother hates Christmas. If you see her wearing a Santa hat, she is not the real Housemother. Do not trust her. Lights out after midnight. If you need light, use a candle, though it carries its own risks. If you see Santa Claus on campus, stop, make eye contact, and smile while saying, “Merry Christmas!” When a Christmas Carol plays, freeze and close your eyes until the song ends. You may make a wish. Perhaps Santa is listening. Reindeer are Santa’s eyes. Remember, there are no live reindeer on campus. If a reindeer nuzzles your hand, run. No matter what happens, remember: There is no real Santa Claus. 2 I finished reading. The dorm room fell dead silent. “Who the hell posted this prank? Hacking the school chat? That’s psycho behavior.” Brock cursed, grabbing his phone, clearly awake now. “Probably some senior cracking under the pressure,” Chase said, unbothered. “But…” I stammered, “Only admins can post announcements. Dean Miller is the only admin.” A chill crawled up four spines simultaneously. Kyle suddenly pointed at his screen. “Guys, look! There are two admins now!” “It wasn’t Dean Miller who posted it!” “I clicked on the profile. It’s blank. No bio. Just… a background image that says: Welcome to Santa’s World in red letters.” Chase leaned in, intrigued. Then he scoffed. “It’s just a hacker script. Some edgy kid trying to scare people with bloody fonts.” Another notification pinged. Santa Claus has been removed from the group chat. “See? Dean Miller handled it. Just a prank. Childish.” Chase smirked, reaching for his headset again. Brock, now fully awake, looked at Chase. “Jump on a lobby with me?” “Wait… no, wait! Look!” Kyle screamed. “That Santa account… he’s back!” “The Dean…” I gasped. “Dean Miller’s profile picture just turned black.” A new message popped up. From Santa. “The admin didn’t seem to like Santa very much. That’s okay. I sent him to hell early.” An image loaded. It was Dean Miller. He was kneeling in a pool of dark liquid. A silver carving knife was buried in his chest. Written on the floor beside him, in blood, were the words: Merry Christmas. “To all the students in the chat: You don’t want to end up like this, do you?” “I am very reasonable. Just follow the rules.” “Welcome to Santa’s World.” “Let the festivities begin!” 3 “AHHHH!” Kyle threw his phone across the room. “Is… is that picture real?” “He killed the Dean! He actually killed him!” “Calm down! Everyone shut up!” Chase’s face was pale, but he tried to maintain his cool leader persona. “I’m calling the Dean’s office.” He dialed. His fingers were shaking. Beep… Beep… Beep… “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed does not exist…” “Does not exist…” I stood up so fast my chair screeched against the floor. “It’s real. He’s dead.” A single tear rolled down my cheek. I leaned against the wardrobe, my legs giving out. “Stop crying, you wuss! Use that useless brain of yours to think!” Brock’s voice was hoarse, masking his terror with anger. “Call 911! Call the cops!” Kyle yelled, scrambling for his phone. “No signal,” Chase said, staring at his bars. “I checked the hallway. The guys next door saw the message too.” “Someone from the track team tried to make a run for the main gate. He said it’s locked. It’s pitch black outside the perimeter.” “Another kid tried to climb the wall. He threw a rock over to check the drop… he never heard it hit the ground.” Chase looked at us, his eyes dark. “The school is an island now. Nobody gets out.” He took a deep breath. “Follow the rules. Pray you get lucky.” I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I broke down sobbing. They thought I was crying out of fear. After all, I was the dorm’s punching bag. The coward. None of them knew. I wasn’t crying because I was scared. I was crying because I was excited. 4 I came from a dead-end town in the middle of nowhere. Parents dead. Passed around by neighbors until my Uncle took me in. When I got the scholarship to the city prep school, the whole village came to see me off. “Liam, you’re a smart kid. A good kid,” the old mayor told me. “Make something of yourself.” I hugged him and promised I’d pay everyone back one day. My Aunt and Uncle couldn’t have kids. They treated me like their own. Even when business was bad, they made sure I had the best textbooks, the best uniform. “We can’t let you look less than those city kids,” my Aunt would say, smoothing my collar. I studied until my eyes bled. I got into the most prestigious private high school in the state. I chose to live on campus to save them money. I applied for every grant, every meal voucher. The day I left, my Aunt packed two huge bags for me. “Don’t save money on food, okay? Take care of yourself.” She choked up. Uncle wrapped his arm around her. “Liam’s a tank. He’s going to the Ivy League. He’s our pride and joy.” I held back my tears. I swore I’d get a high-paying job. I swore I’d buy them a big house. I walked through those iron gates full of hope. I didn’t know I was walking into a slaughterhouse. 5 It started with Brock. Brock was a varsity athlete, a legacy admission. His dad donated a new wing to the library. He skipped class, partied, and treated the school like his playground. “Hey, Scholarship. I got practice. Do my history paper.” “I know you’re broke. Here, catch.” He’d throw a crumpled ten-dollar bill at my face. “Idiot tax. Don’t thank me. Just make the handwriting look like mine.” I thought of my Uncle bowing to customers. I thought of my Aunt’s rough hands. “…Okay.” I swallowed my pride. Then, Brock demanded I help him cheat on finals. “There are cameras! If we get caught, I lose my scholarship!” I pleaded. “Relax. Dean Miller is on my dad’s payroll. He won’t do a thing.” Brock smirked. I realized then that the system was rigged. The Dean and the bullies were on the same team. “Just do it. Or do you want your Aunt to find out you got expelled for ‘stealing’?” I had no choice. I thought that was the bottom. I didn’t know that once you open the door to evil, it floods in until you drown.

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On Christmas Eve, my husband wanted a thrill. He snuck his childhood sweetheart into my high-security research lab for a tryst, using my credentials to override the locks. She went rogue, touching things she shouldn’t have, and smashed a vital piece of containment equipment. The result? A catastrophic virus leak. Seventy-two researchers trapped inside, infected, and left to die. But when the dust settled, everyone pointed the finger at me. My husband, Mark, stood tall on the moral high ground. “Even though you’re my wife, Sarah, I can’t protect you. How could I face my dead colleagues? They were brilliant minds, patriots!” His mistress, Chloe, chimed in with a tearful plea. “Sarah, making a mistake at work isn’t shameful, but this is seventy-two lives! You have to turn yourself in. Stop running from responsibility.” I tried to explain, but I was drowned out. The furious families of the victims surrounded me. I felt the cold steel of a knife, once, twice… over twenty times. As I lay dying on the cold floor, my vision fading, I heard Mark whisper to Chloe: “Good thing I used Sarah’s badge to get you in. Since it’s her login, she takes the fall.” Then, darkness. When I opened my eyes, I was back in my office. It was the morning of Christmas Eve. Chloe had just broken into the lab. 1 “Sarah! How can you just sit there drinking coffee? Do you realize you’ve killed everyone in the containment wing?!” My husband, Mark, kicked open my office door. He stormed in, launching immediately into a tirade. My colleagues jumped, exchanging bewildered glances. “The containment wing? Killed who?” I sat perfectly still in my ergonomic chair, taking a slow sip from my mug. “I’ve been sitting here all morning. I haven’t stepped foot near the labs. What does any of this have to do with me?” “You’re still lying!” Mark screamed, veins bulging in his neck. “You tampered with the equipment! You caused a malfunction that led to a Level 4 leak! The whole building is contaminated!” It was the exact same script as before. I laughed internally. In my past life, Mark cheated on me with Chloe. To spice up their affair, he gave her my clearance badge. She broke a centrifuge, triggered a leak, and they framed me. Last time, the moment I heard “virus leak,” I panicked. I ran to the lab, desperate to help. My anxiety looked like guilt. This time, I was the calmest person in the room. “A virus leak? If it’s that serious, why aren’t you initiating lockdown protocols instead of screaming at me? Seems like you care more about pinning blame than saving our colleagues.” Mark choked on his words. His face flushed a deep, ugly red. “Don’t change the subject! The access logs show only you entered the lab this morning. Who else could it be?” He found his footing again, pivoting to attack. “You’re the culprit. You should be down there fixing this, not hiding in here while they die!” He lunged forward, grabbing my wrist to drag me out. “Come with me to the main lobby. You need to answer for what you’ve done!” My colleagues were getting restless. The accusation was too serious to ignore. I yanked my hand back. His grip left a red welt on my skin. “I can walk,” I said coldly. “I’ll go. Not to confess, but to prove I didn’t do a damn thing.” Mark sneered. “Still stubborn? Wait until you see the families.” We arrived at the lobby of the Science Complex. A crowd had already gathered. Chloe was there, blending in with the terrified staff. When I appeared, the atmosphere shifted. Dozens of eyes locked onto me. They had already been told I was the “Patient Zero” of this disaster. Someone spoke, voice trembling. “Sarah… did you really cause the leak? Is that why the hazard signs are up?” I looked at the yellow tape blocking the corridor: BIOHAZARD. DO NOT ENTER. “I didn’t cause the leak,” I said loud enough for everyone to hear. “But I did put up the sign.” Mark’s eyes flickered with surprise, but he covered it quickly. “See? She admits she put up the sign! If you’re innocent, why seal the area? You’re trying to cover up your mistake by burying everyone inside! You’re trying to silence the witnesses!” 2 The crowd murmured. Doubt was spreading like the virus Mark claimed was loose. “He’s right… there are a dozen people on the night shift we can’t reach.” “If she sealed the doors, they’re trapped.” “My God, a Level 4 breach kills in hours.” Before I could speak, the sound of rushing footsteps echoed from the entrance. The families. Many lived in the nearby company housing. They had heard the rumors. “What is going on?!” a woman screamed. “Why isn’t my husband picking up his phone?” “Is there a leak? Is my son inside?” An elderly woman grabbed the arm of a junior researcher. “Please, tell me the truth. Is it safe?” “We… we don’t know,” the researcher stammered, looking at the ominous warning tape. “It might be critical…” A wail of pure anguish pierced the air. People tried to rush the tape. Security guards held them back, struggling against the tide of desperate relatives. “Let me in! My wife is in there!” It was chaos. Mark watched the scene, a flicker of satisfaction crossing his face. He turned on me, raising his voice to be heard over the sobbing. “Sarah! Look at this! Are you still going to deny it? If you hadn’t messed with the pressure valves, none of this would be happening!” The families froze. Slowly, they turned their heads toward me. The elderly woman who had been asking questions let go of the researcher and grabbed me. Her hands were shaking. “Director Sarah… is it true? Did you kill my son?” I supported her trembling frame. “Ma’am, it wasn’t me. I swear, I didn’t do this.” That’s when Chloe stepped out from the crowd. She put on her best ‘concerned citizen’ face. “Sarah… please stop lying,” she sobbed softly. “I saw you running out of the lab at 8:00 AM when I was bringing Mark his breakfast. You looked so guilty. I know work is stressful, but… these are human lives!” Mark nodded vigorously. “Exactly! The digital logs confirm it. Only Sarah’s ID badge was used at 8:00 AM. There is no other suspect!” It was a perfect pincer movement. Just like last time. They riled up the crowd until logic didn’t matter anymore. Last time, the grief-stricken families beat me to death before I could utter a complete sentence. I saw the hatred kindling in their eyes. They began to close in, forming a tight, suffocating circle. Mark seized the moment. Smack! He slapped me across the face. “You incompetent bitch! It wasn’t enough to screw up the experiment? You had to cover it up? These people are patriots! They are fathers, mothers, sons!” “How do you sleep at night? Do you hear their screams?” “Look at these families, Sarah! Look at them!” He was conducting them like an orchestra of rage. “You murderer!” a mother screamed, shoving me hard. “My son praised you! He trusted you! You monster!” “My dad promised he’d be home for Christmas dinner!” “Die! You should just die!” They were on me. Hands clawing, fists flying. I fell to the linoleum floor. The air was thick with the smell of sweat and fury. Mark stood back, looking righteous. “Confess, Sarah! Even I won’t protect you. You need to pay for this with your life!” I curled into a ball, protecting my head. Just as a boot was about to connect with my ribs, a booming voice echoed through the lobby. “POLICE! EVERYBODY BACK UP!” 3 The motion stopped instantly. Through the gaps in the crowd, I saw a squad of uniformed officers swarming the lobby. The lead officer held up his badge. “We received a call about a riot in progress.” He looked at me—hair messed up, cheek swelling, uniform torn. “Did you call 911, ma’am?” I coughed, pulling myself up. “I did.” Mark’s face paled for a fraction of a second before he switched tactics. He pointed a shaking finger at me. “Officer! You have to arrest her! She committed an act of bio-terrorism! She caused a massive virus leak due to negligence and killed everyone in that wing!” “She’s a murderer! She has the audacity to call the police? Take her away!” I knew Mark’s game. He wanted the police to arrest me, remove me from the building, and officially charge me. Once I was in the system as the suspect, the narrative would be set. I took a deep breath. “They are framing me. I didn’t kill anyone.” Mark got in my face. “How dare you lie to the police!” He turned to the officer, putting on his best grieving hero act. “Officer, she sabotaged the lab to hide her incompetence. Dozens are dead. My colleagues…” The crowd surged again. “Arrest her!” “Justice for our families!” “She’s a devil!” The officer looked disturbed. “Is this true? Are there casualties?” “Yes!” Mark shouted. “It’s a massacre! Check the logs! Only she went in!” Chloe chimed in, “Officer, please, just take her. She needs to pay.” The officer reached for his handcuffs. “Ma’am, given the severity of the accusation, we need to bring you in for questioning.” I clenched my fists. “I said, I didn’t hurt anyone.” I turned to the elderly woman who had grabbed me earlier. “Ma’am, your son is David, right? David Liu?” She nodded, tears streaming down her face. I pulled out my phone. “Officer, before you cuff me, let me make one call.” Mark laughed nervously. “Stalling? The virus kills in hours. David is probably already dead or in a coma. He can’t answer!” I tapped the screen. Video call. Ring… Ring… Click. David’s face filled the screen. He was smiling, holding a sandwich. Behind him, people were laughing and walking around. “Hey, Director Sarah! What’s up?” The lobby went silent. “David,” I said calmly. “Where are you right now?” He looked confused. “Uh, we’re at the Annex. You told us the main lab was undergoing maintenance this morning, remember? So the whole night shift crew came over here to do inventory on the mice. We just finished up.” The background was clearly the Annex building—miles away from the “contaminated” lab. 4 David’s mother let out a strangled cry and lunged at my phone. “David?! David, is that you?” “Mom?” David frowned on the screen. “Why are you at the Institute? Why is everyone crying?” “You’re alive… oh thank God, you’re alive!” she sobbed, sliding to her knees. The other families rushed forward. “Is my husband there?” “Is Jessica with you?” “Get my dad on the phone!” A few moments later, a team of Hazmat workers walked out of the “sealed” lab, pulling off their hoods. They looked confused to see the crowd. “What’s going on? We just finished the fumigation. The building is empty.” At the same time, David panned his camera around. Every single “missing” researcher was at the Annex, eating lunch, completely safe. The relief in the lobby was palpable. It washed over the crowd like a wave. Then, the wave receded, leaving something else behind. Anger. The families turned. They wiped their eyes and looked at Mark and Chloe. “You liar!” David’s mother screamed. “You told me my son was dead!” “You said they were trapped!” “You almost made us kill an innocent woman!” The police officer lowered his handcuffs. He looked at Mark, his expression turning icy. “Sir? You said there was a massacre. Making a false report of a bio-terror incident is a federal felony.” Mark was sweating profusely. He backed away, bumping into Chloe. “I… I…” He stammered. “It must have been a mistake. The alarm went off… I thought…” “A mistake?” I stepped forward. “You were pretty sure a minute ago. You said I killed them. You rallied a lynch mob.” I looked at the officer. “I’m pressing charges. Slander, filing a false report, and incitement to violence.” Mark looked trapped. Chloe tried to slink away into the crowd. “Where are you going, Chloe?” I called out. The crowd blocked her path. “Don’t let them leave!” someone shouted.

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On Christmas Eve, my stepmother prepared two apples for my sister and me. Mine was large, red, and beautiful. My sister, Bella, who was usually the spoiled favorite, received a small, lopsided apple. When she cried and threw a tantrum, she was scolded and told to let me have the better one “just this once.” Then, my stepmother looked at me with a loving, almost hypnotic gaze. Her voice was soft, like she was coaxing a small animal into a trap. “Stella, honey, your sister has always been in poor health. If you had the chance, would you be willing to give your health and safety to her?” I agreed on the spot. But, terrified that she would change her mind and beat me later, I secretly gave the big apple to my sister to eat. My stepmother gave me a special apple for three days in a row. For three days, I gave them to my sister. On the third night, a mechanical voice rang in my ear: “Life force transfer successful. Stella has acquired five years of Bella’s lifespan.” From the master bedroom next door, my stepmother screamed in horror: “Why did Stella get it?!” Chapter 1 “Stella, I’ve prepared an apple for you and Bella for Christmas Eve,” my stepmother said, handing us two gift boxes. My box was noticeably larger, wrapped beautifully with a silk ribbon. In contrast, Bella, who was usually showered with affection, received a plain, tiny box. Bella pouted immediately. She tore her box open, revealing a small, bruised, and lopsided apple. She froze. Then she snatched my box and ripped it open. Inside sat a massive, crimson apple—perfect and shining. “Mom!” Bella exploded. “Why are you being so unfair?!” My stepmother snatched the big apple from Bella’s hands and placed it firmly in mine. “Bella! Your sister always yields to you. Can’t you let her have this one thing on Christmas Eve? Is that how I raised you?” “I don’t want it!” Bella slapped her small apple off the table and ran to her room. My stepmother didn’t seem to care. She turned to me, her expression shifting to a loving warmth that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Stella, Bella has been sickly since she was a baby. If there was a way, would you be willing to share your own health and luck with her?” It was a strange question, but she always demanded I be good to Bella. Sharing some “luck” didn’t seem like a big deal. I nodded without hesitation. “I am.” Her smile deepened, looking incredibly satisfied. She lifted the apple in her hands. “Good girl. Now, eat the apple. Eat it all.” Something about her expression terrified me. I was afraid that if I ate it, she might regret giving me such a nice thing and beat me later when Dad wasn’t looking. I rolled my eyes, thinking fast. “Denise, I’ll eat it in my room.” “Make sure you finish it, you hear?” Her phone rang at that moment, distracting her. “I will, I promise,” I nodded vigorously. I was always obedient. I never dared to go west if she said east. So, she let me go without suspicion and answered her call. Back in my room, I didn’t take a bite. Instead, I waited until Bella was getting ready for bed and snuck into her room. I pulled the warm apple from my hoodie pocket. “Bella, I didn’t eat it. Here.” Bella’s anger vanished instantly. “At least you have a conscience. Thanks, Sis.” I patted her head. “Can you finish it all?” Bella’s health was fragile. She took a small bite and nodded. “Yeah. Wow, this apple is so good. I’ve never tasted anything like it. It melts in my mouth like cotton candy.” I found it funny—how could an apple taste like cotton candy? I watched her eat the entire thing, bite by bite. I was surprised she finished it, and worriedly touched her stomach. Strangely, despite the size of the fruit, her belly didn’t bulge at all. “I’m going back to my room. Don’t tell Mom you ate it, okay?” Bella, being her usual proud self, nodded. “Of course. I ate it, so I won’t tell. If I do, she’ll hit you.” Maybe it was the lighting, but Bella’s face seemed to drain of color the moment she finished the last bite. It wasn’t like her usual sickness. It looked as if her very essence had been siphoned away. “Sis, I’m sleepy,” she mumbled, lying down weakly. “Okay, go to sleep. I’m leaving.” I tucked her in. In that short span of time, she was already asleep. Her lips, usually pink, were pale despite having just eaten a red apple. It was like she had suddenly… withered. Chapter 2 When I left her room, Dad had returned home. He and Denise were talking in their bedroom. I thought about telling Dad, but I figured there was no point in mentioning that I gave the apple to Bella. Denise would just find a reason to punish me for it. I went to sleep. In the middle of the night, I realized Denise had come into my room and taken the empty gift box away. The next morning, I went to wake Bella, but she wouldn’t stir. She had a high fever. “Denise! Bella is burning up!” Denise was making breakfast. Dad had already left for work. She rushed into the room, saw Bella’s flushed face, and panicked. She scooped Bella up, then turned and saw me standing there. “What are you standing there for?! Go get the documents!” She freed a hand and slapped me hard on the back. The force knocked me to the floor. My hand scraped the ground, stinging sharply, but her tone was far scarier. “Hurry up! Stop dawdling! If anything happens to your sister, I won’t forgive you!” I was used to this. She always hit me on my back, my butt, or my legs—places where bruises could be hidden by clothes, places that hurt a lot but healed fast. Denise came into our lives when I was three. Bella was born when I was four. Dad was busy with work. It was just Denise, me, and sickly Bella. Whenever Bella got sick, Denise got anxious, and I became her punching bag. I told Dad once because it hurt so much. But there were no marks, and he didn’t believe me. Denise punished me for days for being a “tattletale.” Since then, I learned to be quiet. I scrambled up and ran to their bedroom to grab the insurance cards and medical records. I knew the drill. We went to the hospital so often the doctors knew us by name. At the hospital, Bella was put on an IV drip. The ward was empty; she was the only patient. Denise sat by the bed, crying, her eyes swollen. I heard her muttering through her sobs: “Bella, just wait… just wait two more days… just wait… don’t scare Mommy…” I didn’t understand what she meant by “wait.” That night, despite her grief, Denise gave me another apple. It was identical to the first one—huge, red, and beautiful. She pulled it from her bag, shoved it into my hands, wiped her tears, and forced a smile. “Stella, here. You didn’t eat breakfast. Have an apple.” I held the apple, sensing she intended to watch me eat it. Her expression was intense, terrifying. Luckily, Bella woke up, and Denise rushed to call the doctor. Bella saw the apple. “Sis, why do you have another big apple?” Her voice was weak. I looked at the fruit, then at my sister. “Do you want it? Denise gave it to me.” She wanted it. She ate it quickly, just like the night before. Again, her stomach didn’t bulge. After eating, she fell into a deep sleep immediately. This time, she didn’t wake up for the rest of the day. Chapter 3 Denise was so worried she couldn’t eat. Her mood was explosive. Any small movement I made resulted in a curse or a slap on the back. Dad came to the hospital that night and took me home. Denise stayed overnight. The next morning, Dad dropped me back at the hospital. “Stella, stay with your sister for a bit. I have an emergency at work. Your stepmom will be here soon.” He was rushing. It should have been his job to stay while Denise went home to change, but he had to go. “Okay, Dad.” Then, Dad pulled out a red apple. “This is a reward from your stepmom. She said you’ve been working hard helping with Bella.” The third apple. “When did she buy this?” I asked. “She gave me one yesterday and the day before.” Dad looked puzzled. “I don’t know. She always manages to find high-quality stuff. Just eat it. I didn’t have time to get you breakfast.” Right then, Denise called Dad. I could hear her asking urgently if he had given me the apple. “Yes, yes, I gave it to her. Don’t worry, it’s in her hand right now,” Dad reassured her. She told him to make sure I ate it. He agreed, but the moment he hung up, he pushed me into the ward. “Watch your sister. Don’t go out until Denise gets here. Call the nurse if anything happens.” He was in a rush. “I know. I’ll watch her,” I promised. Dad left. I sat there holding the apple. It smelled incredibly sweet. I swallowed. I actually wanted to eat it this time. While I stared at it, Bella woke up again. “Sis?” Her voice was barely a whisper. She looked even worse than before—like a ghost. All her vitality was gone. I forgot about the apple and grabbed her hand. “Bella, do you hurt anywhere? I’ll get the doctor.” “Don’t go,” she stopped me. Her hand brushed against the apple on the bed. Her eyes lit up. “It’s that yummy apple.” This time, I didn’t want to give it to her. “Bella, let’s not eat this. I think… I think the apples are making you sick.” She didn’t believe me. “Mom gave them to us. Why would she give us something that makes us sick?” She sat up, struggling, and grabbed the apple with both hands. This one was the reddest of all. It looked like the poisoned apple from a fairy tale. I felt a sudden panic. “Bella!” She looked at me blankly, but didn’t stop. She took a bite. She kept eating, entranced. I tried to take it away, but she held on with surprising strength, chewing mechanically. I was terrified. I ran to get the nurse. By the time the nurse arrived, the apple was gone. Fortunately, Bella didn’t faint this time. She finished her IV drip and was discharged that afternoon. Denise was ecstatic. She cooked a huge dinner and kept piling food onto my plate, smiling at me like I was her favorite person in the world. That night, as I was drifting off to sleep, a voice spoke clearly in my ear. “Ding! Life force transfer successful. Stella has acquired five years of Bella’s lifespan.” It sounded like the automated voice at the vending machine Dad used. The moment the voice faded, a scream tore through the apartment from the master bedroom. “Why is it Stella?!” Denise shrieked. Chapter 4 Even through the wall, I could hear the horror in her voice. Hearing my name made my heart pound with fear. The bedroom door slammed open. Before I could sit up, Denise was at my bedside, hauling me up by my collar. “Stella! Did you eat the apples?!” Her face was twisted, monstrous. She was on the edge of insanity. I was shaking. I nodded frantically. “I ate them…” “You ate all three?!” She choked me, shaking me violently. I couldn’t breathe. My vision started to go black. “What are you doing?! Star did nothing wrong! You’re choking her!” Dad rushed in, prying her hands off my neck. Denise collapsed, wailing. “Her! Bella! My Bella!” She scrambled out of the room and ran to Bella’s bedroom. Dad smoothed my collar and patted my back. “Stella, what happened?” I shook my head, coughing too hard to speak. From the other room, Denise screamed. “Bella!” “Bella, don’t scare Mommy!” The grief in her voice froze us both. Dad dropped me and ran. Bella had gone into shock. The ambulance came. Denise cried until she nearly passed out. She rode in the ambulance. Dad and I followed in a taxi. At the hospital, Bella was still in the ER. When Denise saw me in the hallway, her eyes were filled with pure hatred. “Stella! You didn’t eat the apples, did you?!” She lunged at me like a wild animal. I scrambled back, terrified. “Dad!” Dad blocked her. “Calm down! What apples? What is wrong with you?” Denise looked like she wanted to tear my throat out. I was cowering in the corner, sobbing. “I’m sorry, Denise. I didn’t know… Bella didn’t have an apple, so I gave mine to her. She’s sick… I wanted her to have the good food.” It wasn’t the whole truth—I gave them to her because I was scared of Denise—but I couldn’t say that in front of Dad. Denise went rigid. Her face contorted into a mask of despair and fury. “You… it really was you. I gave those to you! You ungrateful wolf!” Her eyes were bloodshot, practically bleeding. She stared at me, unblinking. “You! You!” “Stella!” She screamed my name like a curse. Then, her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed.

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On Christmas Eve, my three-year-old son, battling cancer, took a turn for the worse. His only wish was for “Santa Daddy” to bring him a gift. I called my husband, frantic. But he just yelled at me in annoyance. “Why are you calling me all the time? I’m just helping Emily find Bubble! Why do you have to make a scene?” “If Bubble is gone, Emily will be devastated!” Bubble? His high school sweetheart Emily’s dog? I swallowed my rage and told him our son, Winter, might not make it through the night. He just laughed. “Stop being dramatic, Claire. I know you. Winter is just acting out because you taught him to.” “If he hadn’t kicked Bubble, the dog wouldn’t have run away! Tell Winter he needs to apologize to Emily tomorrow!” I hung up and spent my son’s last Christmas by his side, tears streaming down my face. The next day, my husband’s social media was full of posts about a lost dog. Mine was an obituary for my son. Ten years of marriage, gone like melting snow. It was Christmas Eve. The doctor called me, his voice urgent. “Mrs. Miller! Winter’s condition has deteriorated. We’re rushing him to the ICU! Mr. Miller isn’t picking up. You need to get here now!” I dropped everything and ran to the hospital. Usually, I’m the one by his side, but tonight I just stepped out to make Winter some soup… Tonight was supposed to be Liam’s shift. He promised! Where the hell was he?! I called Liam over and over as I drove, but it went straight to voicemail. Shaking with rage, I texted him: Liam! You promised! Winter is in the ICU! When I got to the hospital, I sprinted toward the emergency room. The doctor intercepted me, his face grim. “Mrs. Miller… you need to prepare yourself.” I pushed him away, shaking my head violently. “No! That’s impossible! He was fine yesterday!” The doctor held my shoulders firm. “Mrs. Miller… Winter’s condition was always unstable. The monitors help, but having a parent there to catch the early signs is crucial. Tonight, no one was with him… We were too late. I’m so sorry.” I collapsed to the floor, clutching my phone until my knuckles turned white. My heart felt like it was being crushed. “Liam!” I don’t know how much time passed before the lights in the ICU turned off. The surgeon walked out. “Family of Winter Miller… you should go spend this Christmas Eve with him.” Christmas Eve… How did it end up like this? Back in the hospice room, Winter opened his eyes weakly. He looked around. “Mommy… Daddy promised he would dress up as Santa and bring me presents… right?” I held his hand tight, choking back a sob. “Yes, baby. Santa Daddy is coming…” I looked down at my phone. Still nothing from Liam. Until I opened Instagram. Emily had a new post: Bubble is missing. I feel like I can’t breathe… Bubble, where are you? The photo showed a festive, snowy street. And there was Liam, looking anxious, searching for the dog. Bubble. Emily’s dog. The irony was suffocating. Our son was dying, and he was out looking for his ex’s dog. I typed a furious comment: If Winter dies, I will never forgive you two! Winter squeezed my hand. “Mommy, why are you crying?” I looked up, realizing my face was wet. Guilt, grief, hatred for Liam—it was all mixing together. But I had to smile. For Winter. I turned off my screen and wiped my face. “Mommy is just so happy. It’s Christmas Eve. We’re all safe and sound.” Less than a minute later, Liam called. For Winter’s sake, I answered. Liam sounded angrier than I was. “Claire! Watch your mouth on social media!” I took a deep breath, trying to keep my voice steady. I turned away from the bed and whispered, “Liam, Winter is dying.” Silence on the other end. Then, a scoff. “What is your problem? One second you’re raging on Emily’s post, the next you’re using Winter for sympathy?” My blood ran cold. The pain and anger were a physical weight in my chest. I looked at Winter, terrified to raise my voice. “Liam, I’m begging you…” The tears wouldn’t stop. I asked a nurse to watch Winter and ran into the hallway. “Get to the hospital! You promised Winter you’d be Santa!” I screamed into the phone. “I’m busy!” he shot back instantly. “I’m helping Emily find Bubble. She’s upset.” Then he added, “Christmas is tomorrow. You just want me there because you’re jealous.” I closed my eyes. Ten years. I finally realized that to him, Winter and I were worth less than a dog. I took a breath. “Liam, you were supposed to be with him tonight. If you hadn’t left, Winter might not…” “Enough,” he interrupted, impatient. “I checked on him. He was fine.” “Besides, Emily was nice enough to visit him, and he kicked Bubble…” “What?!” I roared. “Winter is terrified of dogs! You let her bring a dog into his room?! Are you insane?!” Silence. He must have forgotten Winter was allergic to dander. Maybe the sudden decline was triggered by that. In the background, I heard Emily’s voice, soft and cloying. “Liam, maybe Claire really needs you. I’ll… I’ll find Bubble myself. It was the first gift you gave me… even if we aren’t together, seeing him reminds me of you…” “You run a company, you’re tired. I don’t want to add to your stress. If Claire won’t give you space, you should go.” Liam comforted her. “Ignore her. She always uses the kid to manipulate me.” I laughed, a broken sound. He wouldn’t have to worry about that anymore. “Liam! You killed Winter. You’re going to regret this!” I yelled. I hung up. My chest ached as I walked back to the room. I couldn’t let Winter leave this world disappointed. I searched the floor until I found a doctor about Liam’s height. I begged him to help. An hour later, dressed in a rented Santa suit and holding Winter’s favorite model kit, the doctor walked into the room. Winter cried tears of joy. “I knew Daddy wouldn’t leave me…” I covered my mouth and hugged him tight. The nurse took a picture of us. A few hours later, Winter passed away as the snow fell outside. I called my brother, my only family, who lived overseas. Then I took Winter to the crematorium alone. Winter was six. I used to be so proud that he was tall like his father. Now… he fit in such a small urn. I hugged the urn close. “Winter always wanted to see the ocean. Mommy will take you there, okay?” This world was too cruel for him. I preferred the deep, quiet sea. When I walked out of the funeral home, the sun was rising. Half an hour ago, Liam had posted another “Lost Dog” alert. I posted Winter’s obituary. Before blocking Liam, I sent one last text: We’re getting a divorce. My brother, Mark, was waiting at the airport. When he saw the urn, he broke down. In the car, after a long silence, he said, “Don’t worry. I won’t let Liam get away with this.” I nodded. I stayed at Mark’s villa, planning to scatter Winter’s ashes the next day. The next morning, shouting woke me up. I looked out the window. It was Liam. He was yelling at the housekeeper. “Tell Claire to get out here!” “Mr. Miller, you are not welcome here,” the housekeeper said firmly. “I need permission to see my wife?!” He looked up at the house. “Claire! I know you’re in there! You flew halfway across the country to cheat on me? Have you no shame?” “Come out! Bring my son out!”

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To surprise my boyfriend for Christmas, I custom-ordered a scandalous, three-piece Santa-themed lingerie set. I planned to gift myself to him on Christmas Eve. But the day the package arrived, I received a text from his “one who got away.” It was a mirror selfie. She was wearing the lingerie I bought, wrapped tightly in Lucas’s arms. “Hey sis, sorry I messed up your place. You don’t mind cleaning up, do you?” That night, when I got home, Lucas pulled out a velvet box, dropped to one knee, and looked at me with eyes full of devotion. “Chloe, you are the only woman I have ever loved. Will you marry me?” I accepted the ring with a smile full of joy. Once he fell asleep, I summoned the System. “In seven days, send me back to the real world.” 1 The System was surprised, its mechanical voice tinged with mockery. [Didn’t you just throw a tantrum about staying in this world to marry Lucas? If you change your mind now, you’ll take the penalty for nothing.] I gave a bitter laugh. I didn’t have the energy to explain. The System sighed, compromising. [Fine. The extraction process takes a minimum of seven days. Use this week to say your goodbyes.] Goodbyes? I looked at Lucas, sleeping peacefully with his arms locked around me like a vice. Subconsciously, I reached out and brushed his eyelashes. Sensing my touch, he woke up. His deep voice was thick with concern. “Chloe? What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick? I’ll take you to the hospital right now.” I interrupted him, shaking my head as I turned over. “Lucas, let’s move the wedding up. Let’s do it on Christmas Day.” He pressed against my back, wrapping me up again. His warm breath tickled my neck as he chuckled. “Christmas is only seven days away. You’re that eager to be Mrs. Miller? Alright. Whenever you say. I’m stuck with you for life anyway.” Lines I had heard a thousand times suddenly tasted like ash. A wave of nausea hit me. I cut off his whispering. “Did you see my package? I bought some clothes. The tracking said delivered, but I can’t find it.” Lucas stiffened. He instinctively loosened his grip. “I didn’t see it. If it’s lost, just buy another set. Your husband is rich now; don’t be afraid to spend money.” He tried to deflect with a joke, but I was done playing along. “But the concierge said you signed for it personally. Maybe it’s just misplaced. I’ll check the security cameras tomorrow.” “Don’t!” As expected, he panicked. He climbed over me, nuzzling his face into my collarbone like a puppy. “Okay, Chloe, look… I saw the package. I threw it away.” “I promised you. You are so pure, so perfect. I swore I wouldn’t touch you until we were married.” “Besides, your health has been fragile. The priority is getting you healthy, then we can do… other things. Be a good girl, okay?” I nodded blindly, but my mind was stuck on that photo. In the picture, Lucas’s eyes were heavy with lust. One hand gripped Bella’s bare waist, the other choked her neck. It looked intense. Once upon a time, I loved Lucas to the point of madness. I took the System’s punishment, accepting a body riddled with chronic illness just to stay in this fictional world with him. But in just a few days, he had cheated, brought a woman into our home, let her wear my clothes, and lied to my face. Earlier today, I had secretly gone for a treatment. While at the hospital, I received that explicit photo from Bella. The shock and grief nearly killed me right there on the table. Now, looking into his “deeply affectionate” eyes, I kind of wished I had just died on that table. Six days left. The first thing I did was go to the company to liquidate my assets. As a “Player” in this world, I had the advantage of future knowledge. In just five years, I had turned Luxe Inc. into the city’s leading conglomerate. I had made Lucas a king. Originally, Lucas was just a tragic background character. I chose him. I saved him. I gave him luck, strategy, and power. My love had nothing to do with the System’s mission. I just wanted him to be happy. But now? He didn’t deserve it. I drafted a donation agreement. The moment I left this world, every cent of the company’s assets would be donated to local orphanages and nursing homes. Nothing would be left. As I was signing the papers, Lucas appeared at my office window, briefcase in hand. When our eyes met, his smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. He walked in and kissed my forehead naturally. I smirked, a little maliciously, and handed him the contract. “Don’t you want to see what I came in to sign?” He didn’t even glance at the text. He flipped to the last page, put the pen in my hand, and wrapped his fingers around mine to guide the signature. “Chloe, you’re my lucky star. With you by my side, I can’t fail. I trust you.” He was right. I was his lucky star. I was willing to do anything for him. But that era was ending. He held my hand as we walked through the building. Employees whispered about what a perfect power couple we were. If this were yesterday, I would have believed them. Then, Lucas’s phone buzzed. I saw the screen. It was Bella. Two words: “You coming?” Lucas kissed my cheek and grabbed his jacket. “Chloe, finish up here. I have to go home to prepare a surprise for you. I’ll send the driver to pick you up later.” Thirty minutes later, I accessed the hidden cameras in our villa. Some surprise. Bella and Lucas were tangled together on the balcony, naked, indulging in the thrill of being caught. “Lucas, who do you like better? Me or Chloe?” He didn’t answer, just covered her mouth roughly. Bella broke free, turned around, and lit a cigarette, leaning against the railing. “If you won’t say you like me, we’re done.” Lucas glared at her. Then, Bella transformed into a clingy bunny, rubbing against him. “Break up with her. Marry me. I’ll do whatever you want. Chloe is practically an invalid; can she even handle you?” Slap. Lucas struck her across the face. “Shut up. You don’t deserve to say her name.” Yet, even as he defended my honor, he flipped her over and pressed against her again. I watched the whole thing as the sky turned dark. When cars started passing on the road below, Lucas finally got dressed. There was a fresh burn mark on Bella’s lower back. Lucas had pressed her lit cigarette into her skin. He said, “Chloe hates the smell of smoke. Don’t smoke here again.” Bella laughed, triumphant. “Lucas, I’m your first love. Your white moonlight. I’ll get rid of her eventually.” He didn’t look back. “You’re a rotter, Bella. Black to the core. You’re no moonlight.” As he kicked her out of the villa, naked, he warned her: “If you let Chloe know about this, I will make you beg for death.” A second later, I received a photo from Bella. A close-up of the cigarette burn. “Sis, your fiancé is so rough. It hurts~ But you probably wouldn’t understand. It’s a kink. You should try it sometime.” I took a screenshot, saved it to a hidden folder, and went back to watching the feed. The maid cleaned up the mess. Lucas showered, put on an apron, and started making a stew for me. When I got home, his text arrived: “Babe, come home for dinner.” It was the first time he’d ever cooked for me. I had once mentioned wanting a domestic husband, so he learned. The table was full. But I couldn’t eat. Bella texted again. “Sis, Lucas’s cooking is delicious. We’re having the same dinner tonight!” He had sent a portion to her. The woman he called a “rotter” was eating the same meal prepared by his hands. I couldn’t wait any longer. I had to get out of here. When Lucas came out of the kitchen, he saw me standing there with a suitcase. Panic flooded his eyes. “Chloe? Where are you going?” I stared at him. “My mom misses me. I’m going to stay with my parents for a few days.” It wasn’t a lie. I was going home. He hugged me. He smelled like soap. His hands were shaking. “I’ve never met your parents. We’re getting married… let me come with you.” I pushed him away. “Luxe Inc. shares are tanking. You need to stay here and fix it.” Without me, the business was crumbling. He couldn’t leave. On Christmas Eve, there was a crucial negotiation. He had to be there, or the company would go under. He hesitated, but eventually let go. “Okay. Come back soon. I’ll be waiting at the altar, wifey.” That last word dripped with deep affection. I felt nothing. I checked into the Presidential Suite at a five-star hotel nearby. It was the same hotel where our wedding was scheduled in six days. Lucas had rented out the entire top floor for a week. The Christmas decorations were already up. It was beautiful. What a waste. I blocked Lucas. Christmas Eve arrived. The city was glowing with red and green lights. By now, Lucas should be at the negotiation table. I lay in the bathtub by the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the fictional skyline one last time. My phone buzzed. It was Bella. “Chloe. Before you leave, let’s talk.” I frowned. She set the meeting at a noisy bar near the hotel. “Aren’t you supposed to be with Lucas at the business dinner?” I asked as I sat down. My assistant had told me Lucas brought Bella to the event. They looked like a power couple. But without my intel, Lucas was eaten alive. He was kicked out of the deal in the first round. Bella smirked. “You don’t care about that. I’ll tell you the truth if you drink with me.” It turned out Bella was a Player too. This was a high-freedom sandbox world. She had chosen Lucas, a target I had already “conquered,” because she was lazy. “I know you cancelled your residency here,” she said, her eyes full of ambition. “But why leave him empty-handed? The company is tanking. He can’t run it.” “You leave, I step in. I run the business, I get the guy, and you… well, your body is failing anyway. Why not let us be happy?” I realized why she was desperate. If Lucas failed, she got no rewards from her System. She was a leech, and her host was dying. She stood up, pointing a manicured finger at me. “It’s your fault! You’re ruining him! You can’t just leave!” I was about to laugh at her delusion when the world spun. Drugged. Before I blacked out, I felt her heel crushing my hand. “You think you’ve won, Chloe?” “I have one chance left. If Lucas chooses to save me over you today, your mission fails. You get wiped from existence.” “The extraction portal takes seven days. It’s only day six. You’re not going anywhere.” I woke up in the hotel penthouse. I was naked, bound with rope, with a black bag over my head. Two small holes were cut for my eyes. In front of me was a massive screen showing a video call. On one side was Bella, also naked and masked. On the third screen was Lucas. He looked haggard, sitting in a bar, drinking alone. A digitally altered voice boomed. “Lucas Miller. Sign over Luxe Inc., or one of these women dies tonight.” Lucas didn’t hesitate. “Impossible. That company is Chloe’s legacy. I won’t give it up.” Then he squinted. “Why are you torturing women? Let them go.” Suddenly, seven or eight men rushed into my room. A hand choked me. Pain exploded all over my body. “Mr. Miller, we heard you have high stamina. So we prepared a show. Two women. One is your fiancée. One is your mistress. Fate is funny, isn’t it?” Lucas scoffed. “My Chloe is a saint. She never goes to bars. She’s with her parents. You grabbed the wrong girl.” The voice continued. “They are in the penthouse suites. Room 888 and Room 999. In two minutes, the bombs strapped to them will detonate. Pick one.” Lucas frowned. “I’m calling the police.” “Lucas! Help me!” Bella screamed on her feed. “It’s real! I don’t want to die!” Lucas looked away from her and stared intently at my screen. “Chloe? Is that you?” He had never seen my naked body. He didn’t know it was me. I tried to scream for help. “Lucas…” But my voice was a ruined, guttural rasp. The drug had burned my vocal cords. Lucas sighed in relief. “I knew it. Chloe wouldn’t be here. She’s safe.” I struggled violently, biting at the bag, trying to rip it off. Just as I managed to tear the mask, Lucas’s phone dinged. Someone had used my stolen phone to text him: “Babe, wait for me. I’m coming home for Christmas Eve.” Lucas looked down at his phone with a smile, missing the moment my face was revealed. By the time he looked up, the bag was back over my head. Beep. Beep. Beep. One minute left. “Lucas! I’m in 999! Save me!” Bella shrieked. Lucas finally realized this wasn’t a prank. He started running up the stairs. On screen, I saw him torn. He hesitated between the floors. But then, the signal jammers kicked in. He realized he couldn’t call for help. I lay in the dark, listening to the countdown. My System was silent. I used the last of my strength to croak out, “Lucas… help…” Lucas stopped in the hallway outside my door. He tried to kick it open. It held. “Miss,” he shouted through the door. “I am sorry you got dragged into my business war. If you die, I promise I will take care of your family.” Lucas, you are my only family here. “Bella is… she’s my woman. I have a duty to save her. I’m sorry.” Footsteps faded. Then, a crash on the screen as he broke into Room 999. Bella threw herself into his arms, sobbing. Three seconds left. Bella looked at the camera and mouthed: I win. The kidnapper ripped the bag off my head. In the final second, I looked into the camera. I saw Lucas’s eyes widen in absolute horror as he recognized me on the screen. He screamed, a sound of pure agony, and sprinted back toward my room. 3… 2… 1. The Christmas bells rang. Fireworks exploded outside the window. A wave of heat swallowed me. Darkness took over.

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Chase and I met on Christmas, we got married on Christmas, and today marks exactly seven years. But on this special day, he brought his high school sweetheart home for dinner. They walked in wearing matching outfits, looking like the perfect couple, while I stood there in my apron, looking like the hired help. “Babe, it’s the holidays,” Chase said, breezing past me. “The more the merrier, right?” Without waiting for an answer, he pulled Sierra to the table and sat her down. Chase, who usually has a memory like a steel trap, stared blankly at the cake that read “Happy 7th Anniversary.” He had forgotten. Ever since Sierra came back into town, I’ve become invisible. I watched him take the wedding ring off my finger—claiming it was “too tight” on me anyway—and slide it onto Sierra’s finger to show her the design. I looked at Chase. And I smiled. “Happy 7th Anniversary, Chase. I want a divorce.” 01 “Hazel, what the hell was that? You’re throwing away our marriage over a joke?” Chase had just dropped Sierra off at her place. The moment he walked back through the door, the accusations started flying. I didn’t say a word. Just looking at his face made me sick. When I didn’t respond, he assumed I was feeling guilty and doubled down. “We were having a nice holiday, but you had to be petty. You just had to make a scene. Now look—Christmas is ruined, and everyone is miserable.” He conveniently forgot that he was the one who brought Sierra here. He was the one who forgot our anniversary. He was the one who brought a guest to our romantic dinner without asking. “I’m being petty?” I scoffed. “Do you hear yourself? It’s laughable.” I finally snapped. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. Chase flared up. “Laughable? You’re the one being childish! You don’t just throw the word ‘divorce’ around! You upset Sierra so much I had to spend half an hour apologizing to her. You need to call her and apologize, too.” I let out a cold laugh. Why should I apologize? I cooked a full Christmas feast. I baked the cake. I cleaned the house. And I’m the one who needs to apologize? Seeing my reaction, Chase pulled the ring out of his pocket—the one I had handed to Sierra. His tone was nasty. “Take care of the things I give you. A wedding ring isn’t something you just hand to a stranger.” I didn’t take it. I stared at the ring. It had always been a little tight on me, choking my finger. But on Sierra? It fit perfectly. When I didn’t move, Chase frowned deeply. “Hazel! That’s enough!” “That’s enough? Chase, do you even respect me? Who brings another woman home on their wedding anniversary?” I stood up, glaring at him. A flash of guilt crossed his face, but he buried it under defensiveness. “It’s Christmas, Hazel. Sierra is all alone in the city. Inviting a friend over is normal! I didn’t think you’d be so insecure.” I looked at him and felt my heart turn to ash. A week ago, he left me stranded at a party to pick her up. He didn’t notice then, and he doesn’t notice now. The line between love and indifference is crystal clear. He cares about Sierra. Way more than he cares about the woman who has stood by him for seven years. And honestly? I don’t want to do this anymore. 02 I didn’t argue. I just reached out and brushed the collar of his grey wool coat. Chase looked confused. We were in the middle of a fight, and I was grooming him? He didn’t pull away, though. I bought him this coat. The light grey fabric shows everything. Including the faint, red smudge I just found. Lipstick. Not my shade. Chase followed my gaze and saw it. His face fell. Once your heart completely breaks, you don’t feel anger anymore. You feel a strange, detached calm. I gestured at the stain. “Next time you’re fooling around, try to clean up better.” “Excuse me? Why do you have to be so disgusting?” Chase exploded, pointing at the stain. “I brushed against her by accident! Is that a crime?” “It’s because it was an ‘accident’ that I’m pointing it out. I’m saving you the trouble of me asking questions later. Look, Chase, if you and Sierra are soulmates, go for it. But don’t insult my intelligence.” I kept my face blank. I’d heard the excuses before. I used to force myself to believe him. But tonight, my patience hit zero. His heart has tilted so far toward Sierra that he’s forgotten I’m his wife. Ever since she came back a year ago, everything changed. Sierra was his high school sweetheart. She went to Europe after graduation, and they drifted apart. Chase and I met in college. We fell in love, got married, built a life. Three years dating, seven married. That’s a decade. But Sierra has been back for one year, and she’s already torched ten years of history. People change. Betting on a man’s loyalty is a losing game. The “Seven Year Itch” isn’t just a saying. Chase always calls me petty. But he’s the jealous one. If I bump into a male friend and say hello, I get the third degree. But if I ask him who he’s texting? World War III. He screams about “privacy” and “personal space.” The double standards are exhausting. He lets her eat takeout in his car and leave crumbs on his desk. But if I eat a cookie in the passenger seat, I get a lecture. Thinking about it made my blood run cold. Chase glared at me for a long time. Seeing that I wasn’t going to back down or cry, he sighed, defeated. He reached out to hug me. “…Babe, can we please stop fighting?” 03 “It’s a holiday. I lost my temper, okay? I was wrong. Can we drop it?” I stood stiffly in his arms. My chin rested right on that lipstick stain on his collar. Chase didn’t notice my resistance. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “I’m sorry I forgot the anniversary. Work has been insane. I was just worried about a friend, but I swear, Sierra and I aren’t like that.” I inhaled. Underneath his usual cologne, there was a sweet, floral scent. Her perfume. He kept talking. “Yeah, we had a thing when we were kids. But we’re adults now. I’m over thirty, Hazel. I’m not that immature. Can’t you just trust me?” Then, the tone shift. The gaslighting. “Besides, were you being rational today? You took off your ring, handed it to a guest, and demanded a divorce. You humiliated me in my own home. Do you blame me for getting mad?” I pulled away from him. I knew exactly what this was. “Right,” I said, my voice flat. Chase relaxed, thinking he had won. He took my hand gently. “Sierra is an old friend. She won’t hold a grudge. Let’s take her to lunch tomorrow, clear the air. You can buy her a little gift, apologize, and we can move on.” I didn’t answer. The audacity was breathtaking. He thought my silence was agreement. He leaned in to kiss me. I turned my head. His lips hit my cheek. His face darkened instantly. Before he could snap at me, his phone rang. He pulled it out. I saw the screen clearly. Sierra. As if to prove he had nothing to hide, he answered it on speaker right in front of me. Sierra’s voice, dripping with helpless distress, filled the room. “Chase? Are you home? I… I hate to bother you, but my fuse box just sparked and there’s a weird smell. I’m really scared. Can you come over?” I smirked. Classic. Chase’s face went pale. “I’ll be right there.” He hung up and looked at me, guilt flashing in his eyes. “Hazel, look, I just need to go check. It could be an electrical fire. Safety first.” He didn’t wait for my permission. He just left. Slam. The door closed. And so did my heart. Once again, when forced to choose, he chose her. I watched from the window as his car sped out of the driveway. I opened my laptop, downloaded a divorce agreement template, and filled it out. I sent a copy to a lawyer friend for a quick review. I was just about to email it to Chase when my phone rang. It was him. “Hazel! What the hell is wrong with you?!” I frowned. “What now?” “Don’t play dumb! Did you call Sierra while I was driving over here? You are vicious! Two-faced!” “Chase, what are you talking about?” “She’s threatening to kill herself, Hazel! Because of you!” 04 “What? Suicide? Why would she…” My confusion was drowned out by his screaming. “Shut up! I never should have trusted you. You never change, Hazel. Sierra’s call log shows your name right before I got here. Don’t lie to me!” “You toxic, jealous… I never should have married you. How can you be so heartless? You know she’s fragile!” He didn’t let me get a word in. He hung up on me. When I tried to call back, he sent me straight to voicemail. I sat there, stunned. Tears pricked my eyes, hot and angry. Seven years of devotion, and he doesn’t believe a word I say. He trusts her blindly. Once the crying started, it wouldn’t stop. But eventually, the tears ran dry. I booked a train ticket out of town for the next morning. I was done. I wasn’t going to explain myself. It was such a clumsy, obvious lie, but Chase was the only idiot falling for it. If he had an ounce of trust in me, he’d check the number. He’d ask me calmly. But he didn’t. He just attacked. I didn’t sleep that night. Around 2 AM, I saw a post on Sierra’s social media. A picture of the night sky, two silhouettes. I recognized Chase’s posture instantly. Caption: Thankful for the one who stays. I blocked them both. I finally fell asleep as the sun came up. My dreams were a montage of every fight Chase and I ever had. I woke up at 9 AM, printed the divorce papers, and packed my bag. When I walked into the living room, Chase was standing there. He looked awful. “Where were you?” he barked. I ignored him. He grabbed my arm and started dragging me toward the door. “I booked a table. You’re coming with me to apologize, and we are ending this drama right now.” “Let go of me! Chase, stop!” I tried to shake him off, but his grip was iron. He dragged me all the way down to the car before releasing my bruised wrist. “Get in. You agreed to this last night. Stop being difficult.” I rubbed my wrist, took a breath, and pulled the papers out of my purse. I slapped them against his chest. “Chase. I want a divorce.”

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1 When my bestie Lexi got pregnant, she decided she wanted to keep the baby but ditch the dad. She made me register a burner account to pose as her secret lover and text her husband a picture of a positive pregnancy test: [Your wife is carrying my child. Divorce her.] But my hand slipped. I sent it to my husband—our marriage was purely a business merger, by the way. Just as I was about to hit “unsend,” I saw the comments scrolling across my vision like a Twitch chat. [The villainess thinks sending this by mistake will make the Hero jealous? She’s literally digging her own grave.] [Testing the Hero with her best friend’s pregnancy test? Aside from humiliating herself, what’s the point?] [Forget being pregnant with someone else’s kid—even if this side-chick had ten male strippers in the living room, the Hero wouldn’t even blink!] [He only married the villainess for the family merger. The Hero will always love the scholarship girl, the true Heroine!] [The Heroine is about to return from overseas! The villainess is gonna be crying and begging not to get divorced in five minutes!] I stared at the floating text, lost in thought. I casually opened an app and clicked on a $500 “VIP Wellness Package.” If that’s the case… I might as well order ten male models to go with it. The day Lexi found out she was pregnant, she grabbed my hand and sobbed. “I want to divorce him. He said he doesn’t like kids, and he’s still shady with his childhood sweetheart.” “But he refuses to sign the papers. You have to pretend to be my side-piece and text him. Make him think I’m cheating so he’ll let me go!” Lexi flew overseas to clear her head. I pulled out my dusty burner phone and fired off the text intended for her husband. Me: [My baby is carrying my child. Divorce her!] Attachment: [Photo of positive pregnancy test.] I was nervous. It was my first time pulling a stunt like this. Lexi’s husband is a notorious hothead CEO in our circle. Rumor has it he hates liars. I got a reply almost instantly: [?] Me: [Can’t you read English? She’s pregnant with my kid. We’ve been together for over a year. Be smart and sign the papers.] He replied instantly: [No divorce.] Me: [Fine, enjoy raising another man’s kid then.] I waited half an hour, but there was no further reply. I forwarded the screenshots to Lexi and headed home from work. As soon as I walked in and flipped on the lights, I nearly jumped out of my skin. Hayes was sitting on the sofa in total silence, his long legs crossed, his expression dark. Those pitch-black eyes swept over me, his thin lips pressed into a tight line. Something was wrong. Seriously wrong. In the year Hayes and I had been married, he never came home before midnight. It was only 6:00 PM. What was he doing here? I opened my mouth to ask. But then, the comments started scrolling past my eyes again. [Is the villainess satisfied now? Using a fake pregnancy test to test Hayes? And pretending it was a wrong number? Does she really think the Hero cares?] [Aside from embarrassing herself, what did that accomplish?] [It accomplished something, lol. Now her reputation is cemented as a total slut!] Villainess? I’m the villainess? I sent the pregnancy test to the Hero… Hayes? Horrified, I whipped out my phone to check. That’s when I realized I had sent the text to Hayes. Panic set in. My hands shook as I texted Lexi: [Girl, I am dead meat. I didn’t send that text to your husband. I sent it to MINE!] “Who are you texting?” Hayes’ gloomy voice drilled into my ears. I took a deep breath. Watching his tall frame rise from the sofa, I was trembling. But I feigned indifference. “No one. Didn’t we agree when we got married not to interfere in each other’s private lives?” “I’m going to take a shower.” The moment I closed the bedroom door, I felt like I’d survived a near-death experience. I texted Lexi again: [I’ve decided to divorce him too. Let’s find a place to raise the baby together. You be the mom, I’ll be the dad.] Immediately, the comments started scrolling again. [This villainess is so boring. Honestly, even if she did have ten male models, the Hero wouldn’t care.] [He only married her for the business alliance. He’s still in love with the poor scholarship student, the Heroine!] [Bella is coming back to the US. The villainess is about to beg him not to leave her!] According to the comments, Hayes had been sponsoring the Heroine, Bella, since middle school. He spent millions on her education until she went abroad. But because this is a “Girlboss” novel, Bella wanted to be an independent woman. She went overseas to study and told Hayes not to be a simp and wait for her. One year ago, I got drunk and stumbled into Hayes’ hotel room. The next morning, the elders from both our families were banging on the door. Seeing the messy sheets, Hayes’ grandfather locked down the marriage immediately. [The villainess claims she walked into the wrong room drunk. LMAO. She totally set him up.] [Look at her acting innocent. She got what she wanted, forcing the Hero to marry her in front of everyone.] [That’s why the Hero hates coming home early.] [The villainess doesn’t know, but the Hero’s abs are reserved for the Heroine’s eyes and hands only!] I watched the text float by. I thought about how Hayes avoided me like the plague. If I got close, he’d frown and take three steps back. Since the wedding, aside from that night at the hotel… and that one time two months ago when I got drunk again… Unfortunately, I had no memory of either event. I could only fantasize about his abs in the dead of night based on blurry memories. Thinking about it made me bold. I opened a local service app. I bought the $500 VIP massage package. Then I ordered ten male escorts. It’s just abs. Whatever. Who doesn’t have them? 2 I finished my shower. Did my makeup. Put on a leather skirt, black stockings, and tied my hair in twin tails. Just as I pulled on my boots, my stomach lurched. I felt dizzy. Was I just too excited about the ten guys? Did the adrenaline cut off oxygen to my brain? I leaned against the wall. The comments appeared again. [Here she goes again. Faking morning sickness. So fake. She sees the Hero is home and just wants to throw herself at him.] [Ahhhh dammit, the Hero is actually walking over. The villainess is gonna seize the chance.] I struggled to lift my head. I saw Hayes walking toward me. He looked down at me from his height. “You okay?” “I’m… fine.” I covered my mouth, fighting the nausea, trying to dodge past him. But the dizziness hit hard. I blindly reached out, grabbing his tie, my hand landing on his abs. [I told you she was up to no good!] [Why is she grabbing his tie? That is such a blatant move.] [She’s touching his abs! Wait, why is her hand going lower? Is this premium content??] [She is such a faker! The Hero belongs to the Heroine!] The comments scrolled faster and faster. I gripped Hayes’ pants tightly. And then I blacked out. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed. Hayes was sitting beside me, looking grim. The doctor, however, was beaming at me. “Mrs. He, you’re nine weeks pregnant. You need to rest more.” “If Old Man He finds out, he’ll be smiling ear to ear!” My jaw dropped. Pregnant? Am I pregnant? “Mrs. He, you look pale. Is something else wrong?” The doctor frowned and looked at Hayes. “Mr. He, your wife needs nutrition. You can’t just focus on work.” I glanced at Hayes. He was staring right at me. Our eyes met, and I felt guilty. That time two months ago… One shot, one kill? [The villainess is pregnant with the Hero’s kid? What about the Heroine’s baby? She’s flying back tonight!] [Don’t worry guys. She’s pregnant with the Hero’s kid, but in the Hero’s eyes, that’s the “wild man’s” baby from the text!] [Classic. The villainess played herself. Even if she confesses now, the Hero won’t believe her.] [She walked right into the line of fire to pave the way for the Heroine.] [It’s karma. A child conceived by drunk entrapment is just a bastard anyway.] Despair washed over me. Hayes didn’t say a word. The atmosphere in the room was suffocating. Until the doctor suggested calling Hayes’ grandfather. Hayes spoke slowly. “It’s only nine weeks. It’s not stable. Don’t tell Grandpa yet.” [Hahaha, the Hero said it’s not stable. Sounds like he wants to handle it himself.] [The Hero hates anyone touching him except the Heroine. Now the villainess is pregnant? She’s done for.] [Obviously. A woman who cuckolds the Hero will meet a terrible end.] [Does the villainess know the Hero is a total yandere? He likes keeping things in his basement… pools and plants… meant to lock her up and punish her.] 3 On the way home, I was a nervous wreck. I texted my bestie: [Lexi, I’m in deep trouble! Where are you? I’m coming to find you. Turn your phone on!!!] I sent message after message. I also Googled escape routes out of the country. As soon as Hayes’ car stopped at the villa, I jumped out without looking back, ran upstairs, opened my laptop, and started researching divorce procedures. After an hour of frantic research, Lexi finally called back. Her voice was raspy. “Harper, what kind of trouble?” I told her everything that had happened over the last two days. “I’m an architect, for God’s sake. After the divorce, we’ll go abroad. I’ll work hard to support you and the baby.” Lexi and I run in the same circles. We hated each other as kids. But in high school, when my family was on the verge of bankruptcy and I was being bullied, Lexi stood up for me. We’ve been inseparable ever since. “But… are you just going to give up on Hayes?” Lexi asked carefully. The comments rolled by. [The villainess is so stubborn. She loves the Hero to death but acts all high and mighty. Can she do anything besides fake it?] [She’s liked the Hero since high school. How could she give up so easily?] I gripped my phone tightly. My lips trembled. I like Hayes. I really like him. The summer of our senior year, the class monitor pushed me into a drainage ditch. He sneered, “I used to chase you because your family had money, and you acted so stuck up. Now you’re just a broke dog. You dare reject me?” He tried to force me to be his girlfriend, threatening to leave me to rot in the ditch if I refused. Hayes showed up just in time. He fished me out, soaking wet and smelling of sewage. He didn’t cringe at the stench. He went with me to the police. He demanded the bully apologize to me in front of the whole school. When I was at my most helpless and depressed, he appeared like a beam of light. I fell for him instantly. “We slept together. I got what I wanted.” I forced a smile. “But I love you best, babe. Being with you makes me happy. We’ll run away together, take the kid to the grocery store… it’ll be awesome!” I got more agitated as I spoke. “Unlike Hayes. I never even see him. Handsome face, nice body—useless if he’s never there.” I let out a cold laugh. “Twice in a whole year. Looked good, didn’t work good! I’m divorcing him immediately!” Crash. Something shattered behind me. I turned around. Hayes was standing in the doorway. A bowl of chicken soup lay smashed on the floor. Glass shards and golden broth were splattered everywhere, staining his expensive suit. “Hello? Harper? Why did you stop talking? What happened? Is it Hayes? Did he hit you? I’m coming back right now!” Lexi sounded panicked on the phone. My heart raced. “I’m fine. Don’t come.” I hung up quickly and shoved the phone in my pocket. Hayes remained in the doorway, frozen in the same posture. His thin lips curled into a dangerous smirk. “You want a divorce? “Don’t even dream about it.” I could hear his teeth grinding. He turned and called down to the housekeeper. “The master bedroom is dirty. Clean it up.” The housekeeper looked heartbroken at the spilled soup. “Oh my goodness, Sir, how could you be so careless? You simmered that soup for an hour! Was it too hot? “I told you I would bring it up, but you insisted on doing it yourself. Such a waste of your effort! Look, your hand is blistered.” The housekeeper’s rambling snapped me out of my trance. Hayes made the soup himself? [He made soup? The Hero is interesting. Probably wanted to slip some abortion pills in there, right?] [Hahaha, “The master bedroom is dirty.” That is such a burn on the villainess!] [The villainess should just leave sensibly. Don’t ruin the Hero’s night picking up the Heroine!] I trembled as I read the comments. The next second, Hayes got a call. His tone returned to normal. “Okay, I’ll be right there.” He hung up and glanced at me. As he turned to leave, my anger flared. I stepped over the broken glass and blocked his path. “Did I say you could leave? Since you heard everything… “The divorce agreement is being drafted. Sign it, then you can go.” 4 The housekeeper’s eyes went wide. She swept up the last shard and practically bolted from the room, closing the door behind her. “Why?” “Because you managed twice in a year.” I mimicked the tone of a wicked novel villainess and sneered. “Other men do more than that in a single night.” […What is she doing? Provoking him? Does she actually want a divorce?] [LMAO, she’s talking trash just to make him mad so he won’t go pick up Bella!] [Trying to make our Heroine wait at the airport all night? Such a toxic villainess!] [She just wants more intimacy! Hero, don’t fall for it!] [Wait… why is the Hero taking his clothes off???] Hayes threw his soup-stained jacket on the floor. His knuckles white, he undid the top two buttons of his shirt. He stepped toward me. “If that’s the reason…” He looked up, grabbing my wrist. “I can fix that.” 8:00 PM. I hadn’t been drinking this time. Neither had Hayes. Veins popped on his forehead. His hands braced on either side of me, his breath scorching hot. “Harper Hu.” He said my full name. Kisses rained down on me. [What is happening? What kind of weak Hero is this? One provocation and he folds?] [Relax guys. I bet a dollar he won’t go all the way. Men get heated, but his heart belongs to Bella! He’ll stop.] [Possibility: Since the baby is nine weeks, maybe he wants to… get rid of it naturally.] [True! No man wants to be divorced. If anyone is leaving, the Hero does the dumping.] My palms were sweating. My hand drifted toward his abs. The moment I touched him, Hayes groaned. And sure enough, he stopped. Arrow on the string, but he didn’t fire. “I have something to do tonight. Be good and don’t provoke me. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you said earlier.” He frowned, an unreadable emotion flashing through his eyes before disappearing. So… Even in this situation, Hayes could slam on the brakes. Instant cooldown. His phone rang again. A woman’s voice came through: “Hayes, I’ve been waiting at the airport for an hour. Are you coming? How much longer do I have to wait?” I recognized the voice. It was Bella, the Heroine. “On my way.” Hayes put his phone away, glanced at my suitcase, and ordered the butler: “Until I return, no one leaves this house.” It was pouring rain outside. Hayes rushed off. I watched his back, my heart sour. The comments were scrolling furiously: [LOL, the Hero cooled off. Told you he had no interest in the villainess.] [The villainess only got in because of her family status. If our Bella came from money, the villainess wouldn’t stand a chance.] [Don’t worry, the Hero is only interested in Bella! He’s rushing over there to get some real action!] I met Bella in freshman year. She was Hayes’ junior in college. She was different from us. She came from a rural village and worked incredibly hard. Every step Bella took was solid. Top of her class every year. Full scholarship, yet she still worked part-time. Brilliant and focused. plenty of guys chased her, but she only had eyes for Hayes. She said more than once in front of her suitors, “You know Hayes? He’s my standard.” The rumors about Bella and Hayes were everywhere on campus. [Bella got into Ivy League for Hayes, didn’t you know? Hayes has sponsored her since middle school. They are super close.] I secretly investigated Bella. I learned that due to a family feud in the He Group, Hayes’ father had failed, and Hayes was exiled to a remote mountain town during middle school. They called it “character building.” In reality, they wanted to make sure his family never recovered. That’s where Hayes met Bella. The comments said they saved each other. They met at their lowest points. So the first thing Hayes did when he reclaimed his power was sponsor Bella. In college, they worked on patents together. Co-authored papers. Until Bella went abroad. Hayes’ heart seemed to die. He did nothing but study and run lab experiments. Focusing on his career. His heart died. And mine died with it. I hated the idea of being the “other woman.” So I started online dating. Looking at random guys’ abs. I never expected that after graduation, I’d get drunk, mistake Hayes for… well, Hayes, and accidentally sleep with him. My phone screen lit up. Hayes sent a message to my burner account: [One million. Is that enough?]

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Chapter 1 The day after the stick turned pink, Mark’s entire family descended on our house. They came bearing casseroles and unsolicited advice. They sat there, lecturing me on how to be the perfect incubator. During the chaos, Mark’s nephew, a brat named Tyler, took a shine to my dog, Buddy. He wouldn’t let go of him, squeezing him tight. He looked up at me and asked, “How old is the doggy?” I smiled, trying to be patient. “If you do the math, he’s your big brother. He’s fifteen years old.” Mark’s mom, Brenda, scowled immediately. “Don’t talk nonsense,” she snapped. “Comparing a beast to my grandson? You’ll curse the baby to come out looking like a mutt.” I bit my tongue. After lunch, I was drained. I made myself an iced latte and retreated to the bedroom to recharge. They chatted downstairs for a while. Eventually, I heard the front door close. Silence. But something felt off. Buddy usually hated when people left. Normally, I’d hear him barking at the door, or he’d come trotting in to nudge my hand for a treat. Today? Dead silence. I got up, calling his name. Nothing. I checked the living room. Empty. A cold knot formed in my stomach. I rushed to the window and looked down at the driveway. There was Tyler, sitting in the backseat of his dad’s SUV. He was holding Buddy. My blood ran cold. I tore open the window and screamed. “Put my dog down!” They all looked up. Brenda waved dismissively. She signaled her other son, Hank, to drive. “Go, go!” she mouthed. Hank actually started the engine. I didn’t think. I just reacted. I grabbed my half-finished latte and hurled it out the window with everything I had. It exploded against Hank’s windshield. A creamy brown mess blinded the glass instantly. He slammed on the brakes. Mark, standing in the driveway, looked up at me in horror. “Are you crazy?!” he yelled. I sprinted downstairs and out the front door. Brenda started yelling at me, but I ignored her. I pounded on the car window. “Unlock the door! Give me my dog!” Brenda grabbed my arm. “The kid likes the dog, just let him have it!” She looked at me like I was the unreasonable one. “You had your fun with it. You’re pregnant now, why do you need a filthy animal?” “He is fifteen years old!” I screamed. “He is not a toy for a child!” Inside the car, Hank looked at his mom, exasperated. He cracked the window just an inch. “Ma, get a rag or something for the glass. Get her to calm down.” That was it. I snapped. I took my phone and smashed it against the glass. Over. And over. And over again. “Put the dog down! He is mine! You have no right!” Spiderwebs of cracks spread across the window. Mark rushed over, gripping my arm hard enough to bruise. “Have you lost your mind?” he hissed. His face was twisted in embarrassment. “You’re making a scene in front of my family.” “I’m the one making a scene?” I was shaking violently. “You’re my husband, and you let them steal my dog behind my back?” “I Googled it!” Mark yelled back. “Toxoplasmosis! Dog hair! It’s bad for the baby! I’m doing this for our child!” “Shut up! Your mouth is filthier than any dog!” Hank, worried about his precious car, finally unlocked the doors. I ripped the back door open. Tyler was clutching Buddy, wailing at the top of his lungs. “I want the doggy! Auntie, give him to me!” Chapter 2 “No!” I reached for Buddy. But the kid turned his back, shielding the dog. He looked at his parents, screaming. “I want it!” Hank’s wife, Sarah, was usually the reasonable one. She sighed. “Tyler, give the dog back to Auntie. Mommy will buy you a puppy tomorrow.” “I don’t want a puppy! I want this one!” Tyler shrieked. Brenda stepped in, clutching her chest. “You’re making my grandson cry! You’re a grown woman, fighting a child?” I swallowed my rage. I held out my hand. “Give him to me. I won’t ask again.” Tyler was sobbing, hiccupping. Buddy, poor old Buddy, licked the tears off the boy’s face. He didn’t know he was a hostage. Then, the kid snapped. He didn’t hand Buddy over. He screamed, “Fine! Take him!” And he slammed Buddy onto the asphalt. My heart stopped. I watched my fifteen-year-old dog hit the ground. He yelped. A sound of pure, sharp pain. He tried to stand, his back legs giving out, whimpering. I lost it. I grabbed Tyler by the collar and slapped him across the face. Hard. The silence was deafening. Mark stared at me, mouth open. Brenda raised her hand to strike me back. But she froze. Not because she respected me. But because of the baby in my belly. I scooped up Buddy. He was trembling, twitching in pain. Everyone rushed to comfort Tyler. Mark was cooing at him, promising him Lego sets, video games, anything to stop the tears. No one looked at the dog. I walked back into the house, tears streaming down my face. Buddy’s breathing was shallow. He was hurting so bad. I grabbed my car keys. I needed to get him to the vet immediately. Mark stormed in, blocking the doorway. “You are going to apologize to Tyler. Right now.” I looked at him, clutching my keys. I felt nothing but cold hate. “You embarrassed my mom, you hit a child… how are we supposed to have family dinners after this?” he ranted. “We aren’t,” I said calmly. “I’m taking Buddy to the vet. Then I’m going to my parents’.” “I’ll see you in court.” “I’m filing for divorce. I’m keeping the kid, and he’s taking my last name.” Mark froze. He looked like I’d spoken a foreign language. I adjusted my grip on Buddy and moved to the door. Mark grabbed my purse, ripping it off my shoulder. “Put the dog down. Go to your room.” Chapter 3 I looked at Mark, and I felt sick. Does he think he’s some alpha male in a movie? It’s funny how love dies. It doesn’t take years. It takes one second of clarity. “Keep the purse,” I said. I opened the door, holding Buddy. “You’re divorcing me over a dog?” Mark screamed. His face turned purple. “When I got 100% on my spelling test in third grade, my mom got me this dog,” I said, my voice steady. “He was there through high school. Through college. He’s been with me for fifteen years.” “I’ve known you for four.” “You’re being dramatic!” “I was standing alone against five people, and you sided with them.” “I want a man who protects his wife. You’re not him.” His jaw clenched. “Fine. Divorce. But you’re paying me back for the wedding.” “Check the joint account. I already transferred my share out.” He checked his phone. His face twisted. “You really are doing this over a mutt.” Suddenly, Mark lunged. He ripped Buddy out of my arms. And, just like his nephew, he smashed him onto the floor. Buddy screamed. He tried to crawl away, his little legs scrambling on the hardwood. But he couldn’t stand. “Get away from him!” I shoved Mark, desperate to reach my dog. Mark grabbed my arm, his fingers digging into my flesh. “I’m done with your princess attitude!” “You want a divorce? Let’s make it worth it!” He dragged me into the kitchen. He grabbed a chef’s knife from the block. “Are you going to kill me?” I gasped. “I don’t hit women,” he sneered. He dragged me toward Buddy. Fear, cold and sharp, pierced my chest. “Buddy! Run!” I screamed. Buddy always listened. But he was old. And he was broken. He dragged his body toward the door, whining. Mark let go of me to close the distance. He caught up to the dog in two steps. And brought the knife down. Blood sprayed across the floor. Buddy’s body seized. Chapter 4 Mark didn’t stop. He hacked at the dog. Over. And over. “This is for your screwed-up priorities!” “This is for hitting a kid!” “This is for threatening divorce!” I watched my best friend being butchered. He wasn’t dead yet. He was suffering. “Mark, I’m going to kill you!” I grabbed a heavy wooden chair from the dining table. I smashed it over Mark’s head. Wood splintered. Blood trickled down Mark’s forehead. But he didn’t drop the knife. His eyes were wide, manic, red-rimmed. He raised the blade again. He was going to chop Buddy into pieces. I remembered my self-defense class. Go for the soft spots. I gathered every ounce of strength I had. And I kicked him squarely between the legs. Mark’s eyes bulged. He dropped the knife, clutching his groin. He collapsed to the floor, making a sound like a dying radiator. Just then, Brenda rushed in. She saw her son on the floor, bleeding. She screamed, shoving me aside. “You ruined it! You ruined everything!” she wailed, cradling Mark’s bleeding head. I crawled over to Buddy. He was quiet now. He was just… a pile of fur and blood. Mark, still gasping in pain, reached out. He grabbed Buddy’s severed head. He threw it at my feet. “Welcome to the real world, Princess,” he wheezed. “Nobody’s going to baby you anymore.” I fell to my knees. I picked up the head. It felt so light. I remembered when he used to tackle me in the yard, licking my face until I couldn’t breathe from laughing. I remembered carrying him when his arthritis got bad. “You’re getting heavy, old man,” I used to say. Now… nothing. I walked out. Mark couldn’t stop me. The kick had been too hard. He needed an ambulance. I drove to my parents’ house. Buddy was in a plastic bag on the passenger seat. On my wedding day, Buddy had sat in the limo with me.

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Right after high school graduation, the class mean girl posted my pregnancy test results in the group chat. “Trailer trash is always going to be trailer trash. Selling yourself the second you turn eighteen? Do you even know who the baby daddy is? I bet it’s some wrinkly old sugar daddy.” Everyone jumped on the bandwagon, mocking me. Someone even dug up a photo of me on my knees in the mud, digging up sweet potatoes, looking like a mess. Just as the roasting was at its peak, a message popped up from the class’s most untouchable, old-money heir. “I’m the father. Anyone got a problem with that?” Chapter 1 I was shoveling fertilizer in the garden when I gagged. The smell was awful, so at first, I thought it was just the fumes. But later, while feeding Nana her lunch, the nausea hit me again like a freight train. Nana looked at me, her eyes clouded with age but still sharp as a tack. “Savannah, are you pregnant?” Her gaze was like a knife, cutting straight through my secrets. “You went down the wrong path, didn’t you?” My heart stuttered. I swallowed hard. “Yes.” A few months ago, Nana went into heart failure. I was broke. Desperate. So I took night shifts at a dive bar downtown. That’s where I ran into Sebastian Sterling, the golden boy of our senior class. He’d been drugged. His usually pale, aristocratic face was flushed crimson, and he was delirious. He grabbed my hand, trying to pull me under his jacket. Seeing the school’s “High Mountain Flower”—the untouchable Sebastian—drowning in lust like that… my heart wouldn’t stop pounding. I hesitated for exactly one second. Then I dragged him into the employee changing room. Everyone else was working the floor. It was just us in the back. We spent half the night tangled together. When I left, I wrote a note. I figured, hush money. Even fifty grand would save my life. I didn’t expect him to wake up the next day and act like it never happened. It made me panic, so I tracked him down to ask for the cash. I remember his eyes. Ice cold. Like he was looking at garbage. He just said, “Here’s a hundred grand. Don’t cause trouble.” Then he dismissed me like I didn’t exist. I took the money and ran to the hospital to pay Nana’s bills. In the chaos, I forgot the Plan B pill. By the time I remembered, my period was long gone. I bought a stick from the pharmacy. Two pink lines. I was torn. On one hand, the Sterling family is elite. Old money. Their threshold is too high for a girl like me. On the other hand, this was a lottery ticket. A chance to rewrite my destiny. I didn’t want to fold my hand just yet. I dragged it out. My belly started to show. I wrapped it tight with bandages just to walk across the stage at graduation, but I passed out from exhaustion and ended up in the ER. That’s when Tiffany, the school’s self-proclaimed queen bee, snapped the photo and blasted it to the world. Chapter 2 Sebastian showed up the next day. He wasn’t alone. His grandmother, the Matriarch of the Sterling empire, was with him. Sebastian was stone-faced. His eyes flickered over my stomach, then dropped to the floor. I couldn’t read him at all. His grandmother, Mrs. Sterling, was surprisingly gentle. She asked my age, about my parents, my family situation. When I told her honestly that my parents were dead and it was just Nana and me, the old lady teared up. “Poor child.” She offered to take me in. I told her I couldn’t leave Nana, who was bedridden. She immediately arranged for Nana to go to the Sterling family’s private care facility. “To be honest, a family like ours doesn’t usually welcome outsiders,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “But that baby is the first of the Sterling next generation. And you are Sebastian’s first woman. We can’t just leave you out here in the sticks.” On the ride back to their estate, Sebastian kept his eyes closed. He didn’t say a word. I couldn’t tell if he liked me or hated me. But I got my answer soon enough. He threw my bag onto the sofa and told me I was sleeping there. Yeah. He definitely hated me. The Sterling mansion was massive. His bedroom suite alone was split into three rooms. He put me in the smallest one. When I looked up, I saw a framed photo of a stunning ballerina on the wall. Sebastian shoved his hands in his pockets. “Pretty, right? I’ve been in love with her for years.” He looked down at me with a faint sneer in his eyes. I lowered my head, stealing another glance at the photo. Elegant. Swan-like. Her fingers looked like porcelain. No wonder he looked at me like I was dirt. Chapter 3 I didn’t interact with Sebastian much. Even though we were classmates for three years, our relationship was limited to me collecting his homework. He was rich, a genius, always surrounded by simps. I’d snatch his notebook and run, keeping my head down. Even being that quick, I still got roasted. “Savannah, stop being so thirsty. Stop trying to seduce him.” “Her family is dirt poor, she’s practically selling herself. Don’t let her taint our Sebastian.” Small towns are vicious. Someone had seen me helping Sebastian into the back room that night at the bar. Rumors spread that I was selling my body for cash. But nobody guessed who the guy was. I’d catch Sebastian’s eye from across the classroom. Silence. I was immune to the slut-shaming by then. I never thought I’d actually be living with him. Even if we were sleeping rooms apart. He slept like a corpse. Face up, hands folded on his chest. Like a robot. I couldn’t sleep. I turned to look at him. “Savannah, stop moving.” “I didn’t move.” “You did. Your breathing is too loud.” “Sorry.” He didn’t speak again. His breathing evened out. I’d had insomnia for years, but somehow, listening to him, I drifted off. That night, the nightmares came back. My mother’s screams. My father’s roaring. The flash of the knife. Chapter 4 When I woke up, Sebastian was already gone. He didn’t wake me. I couldn’t find the guest bath, so I had to use his. When I went downstairs, the ballerina from the photo was sitting at the dining table, sipping milk like royalty. Seeing me, she flashed a sweet smile. “Oh, this must be Sebastian’s little friend. She’s cute.” Fairies really are nicer than humans. I’ve spent my life toiling in the sun. I am definitely not “cute.” Sebastian sat next to her. I learned her name was Mia. Principal dancer for a top European ballet company. They grew up together. To the world, she was his “big sister” figure. But I knew the truth. Sebastian was down bad for her. His room was a shrine to her. Being loved like that… must be nice. I swallowed the bitterness rising in my throat. After breakfast, Mrs. Sterling sat me down. She said she was speaking for Sebastian’s mother. The deal: Sebastian is eighteen. He isn’t getting married. Especially not to me. The baby will be born and raised as his sibling. And I? I get a payout. A villa in the city. And a nine-figure sum in the bank account. If I wanted, the Sterlings would send me abroad to study. The condition: I can never see the child again. As she laid this out, Sebastian sat nearby, flicking his Zippo lighter open and closed, watching me with that same mocking smile. I sighed softly. I nodded. “Okay. I agree.” The lighter in Sebastian’s hand stopped spinning.

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My boyfriend stormed out again. The reason? I worked late and didn’t scoop the cat litter the second I walked in. This time, I didn’t run after him. Suddenly, a stream of floating text—like live comments on a Twitch stream—started scrolling across my vision. 【What is wrong with the FL (Female Lead)? The ML (Male Lead) is standing right outside. He didn’t even push the elevator button; he’s waiting for her to chase him!】 【The ML totally noticed she has low blood sugar just now. If she just opens the door, he’ll definitely come back and cook her something delicious. He won’t hesitate!】 【The ML is just super insecure, that’s why he’s throwing a tantrum about the litter box! Actually, all he needs is an “I love you” from the FL and he’d walk through fire for her. Who wouldn’t love a man like that?】 【FL, hurry up and comfort him! The ML is about to cry!】 【Yeah, he regretted it the moment he ran out. He’s probably eaten up with guilt right now, scratching at the walls. Boohoo, this is so angsty!】 I was hesitating, hand hovering over the doorknob, when my phone buzzed. It was a text from my boyfriend, Liam. [Liam: Chloe, let’s break up!] [Liam: Move out before I get back!] My heart seized, and my eyes instantly stung with tears. [Chloe: Okay.] 1 I put my phone away, wiped my tears, and dragged my suitcase out of the closet. The floating comments went wild. 【Omg, the ML is just being awkward! He’s dying to come back and hug her, but he’s stubborn and has a toxic mouth. Saying “break up” is just his way of showing insecurity!】 【Exactly! His parents divorced when he was a kid and both remarried quickly. He has abandonment issues! The FL knows this! Why is she actually packing? Girl, don’t! He loves you so much, how will he live if you leave?】 【That trash mouth of his! You can’t believe what he says when he’s angry. Just open the door, he’ll come wagging his tail back to you. Don’t pack, what will he do without you?】 【No one in this world loves you more than he does. You guys survived high school, went through four years of college, and finally graduated. You’re his whole life! If you leave, what happens to Liam? And what about Jelly?】 I started folding clothes, forcing myself to ignore the barrage of text floating in the air. I’ve lost count of how many times this has happened. Every time he says “break up,” he demands I move out. And every time we make up, he acts cute, pouts, and tells me he didn’t mean it. I remember the first time Liam kicked me out. I was terrified. We were supposed to go on a trip the next day, so I worked overtime to hand off all my projects properly. I wanted to enjoy the vacation stress-free. But Liam felt I didn’t care about the trip because I got home past 11 PM. He didn’t listen to my explanation. He didn’t care that I hadn’t eaten dinner. He shoved a suitcase into my hands and slammed the door in my face. I stood there for half the night, starving. It was winter. I didn’t even have my coat. I was shivering violently in the hallway. Liam never opened the door. If a neighbor hadn’t found me passed out from hypoglycemia and banged on the door to wake Liam up, who knows what would have happened? Liam was scared to death that time. When I woke up, he swore up and down: “Chloe, I love you so much.” “If I say hurtful things when I’m mad, please promise not to take them seriously, okay?” “You know I’m insecure. As long as you give me enough security, I won’t get mad anymore.” I believed him. So, every time we fought after that, and every time he told me to get out, I told myself he was just angry. I knew he was awkward. I knew he was insecure. So, I made him the center of my universe. But now? I’m tired. Eight years. Eight years of bowing my head, of apologizing, of being kicked out every time he had a mood swing. I am truly. Exhausted. 2 Packing didn’t take long. I made myself a bowl of instant ramen. I felt a tug on my pant leg. I looked down. It was Jelly. As soon as I crouched down, Jelly jumped into my lap. Jelly was originally a cat belonging to one of Liam’s junior classmates, a girl named Bella. She got tired of raising it after less than two weeks. Liam brought the cat home, and it became my responsibility. Scooping litter, vet visits, vaccines, deworming—it was all on me. If I ever slipped up, Liam would look at me coldly. “If it wasn’t because you liked it, why would I have brought Jelly home?” “Chloe, when did you become so irresponsible?” And coincidentally, this breakup was because I hadn’t changed the litter fast enough, and the apartment smelled a bit. While eating my noodles, I checked my phone. I saw that Bella, the “junior classmate,” had posted on her social media. [QAQ, my poor homeless senior is so pitiful. I guess I’ll reluctantly take him in. (๑>ᴗ<๑)] The photo was half of Liam's face, holding a drink at a bar. 【The ML is so pitiful. Look, he’s drunk but his eyes are glued to his phone. He’s still thinking about the FL!!】 【Girl, don't be mad! He only went to the Junior’s place to make you jealous. He doesn't like her at all, she’s just a tool to him!】 【Yeah, look at his phone, he’s staring holes into it. If you send one text right now, he’ll instantly turn back into your puppy dog.】 Before I could finish reading the floating comments, a video came through from an unknown number. In the video, Liam was leaning back, eyes closed, resting his head on a woman's chest. The woman asked, "Liam, if you sleep at my place tonight, won't your girl dump you?" Liam let out a cold sneer. "I'll just freeze her out for two days. She'll be begging to carry me back home in a sedan chair." The woman laughed, her voice trembling with amusement. "So she's a simp then? The kind you can't get rid of even if you try?" I held my breath. Then I heard Liam give a low, "Yeah." The video ended. I stared at the ramen in front of me. I couldn't take another bite. So. The heartache I felt for him, the step-by-step retreat I made for his "security"... In his eyes, and in everyone else's eyes... It just made me a doormat. A simp who comes when called and leaves when dismissed. I looked at the cup of noodles. Cold, with a layer of congealed grease floating on top. Disgusting. 3 Eight years of a relationship, boiled down to one small suitcase. "Meow... meow..." Jelly seemed to sense something and bit tugged at my jeans. I hesitated for a second. Considering I’ve been the one caring for Jelly for the past year, and knowing Liam wouldn't want the hassle, I picked the cat up. We were leaving together. It was 2 AM when I checked into a hotel. Early the next morning, I opened Zillow and started scrolling. Within an hour, I found a small studio apartment near my company. It was tiny, but the commute was practically zero. When we first graduated, we didn't live there. Liam loved to sleep in. Every morning was a battle to wake him up. He’d been written up twice for being late. I was the one who suggested we move closer to his company. Back then, I thought love could conquer all. As long as it was convenient for Liam, a one-hour commute for me was nothing. Later, when his startup succeeded and he bought a place, it was also near his office. We lived there for three years. Now that I’ve moved out, I can finally save those two hours of my life. I moved into the studio that same day. "Chloe, aren't you heading out? The subway is going to stop running soon," a coworker reminded me as I worked late. I looked at the unfinished report and shook my head. "I moved nearby. I'll head back after I finish this." "Whoa! Chloe, you finally came to your senses and moved?" My colleagues had always thought it was insane for me to waste two hours a day commuting. Inconvenient and a waste of life. Hearing I’d moved closer, everyone dragged me out for late-night drinks to celebrate. I went home and crashed, dead to the world. The next day, right after work, I got a text from one of Liam's friends. [Sister-in-law, did you and Liam fight? He’s at my place acting like a drunken maniac.] I paused. [Not a fight. A breakup.] He immediately sent a voice note back, his tone dripping with condescension. 4 "Chloe, come on, that’s not cool. You know how he is. In all these years, how many times has he said 'break up'? Has he ever meant it?" "You used to be so understanding. Why are you being so stubborn this time?" "Don't say I didn't warn you. If you come over now and say a few nice words, he’ll cool off and go home with you." "If you don't show up, and he decides to make the breakup real, don't come crying to me later." It was laughable. Even his friends were convinced I couldn't live without him. Before I could reply, the call ended. A second later, a location pin popped up. I blocked the number. Liam's friends had always treated me with indifference anyway. Since Liam and I are done, there’s no need to keep his friends in my contacts. 【Why does the FL look actually angry? The ML had his friend call on purpose to give her an out! Couples don't hold grudges overnight!】 【Exactly! The ML is just awkward. He loves her to death, otherwise, why would he give up his dream university to go to the same one as her? Sigh, our girl is just triggered. The ML has puked three times already, he’s gonna hurt his stomach.】 【Am I the only one who thinks the ML is just toxic? Why is it that when a girl acts up she's crazy, but when a guy acts up he’s just 'insecure'? It’s speechless behavior.】 I saw the last comment and couldn't help but smile bitterly. Exactly. Liam is toxic. In the beginning, he was okay. But ever since he "sacrificed" his dream school for me, he became impossible. Every time we fought, if I didn't apologize immediately, his friends would call. They’d guilt-trip me about how much he gave up for me. Do you have a conscience? they’d ask. But when we were filling out college applications, I told him repeatedly that I didn't mind a long-distance relationship. I told him that even if we were thousands of miles apart, he was still the most important person to me. But Liam stubbornly applied to the same school as me. When I asked him to confirm if it was truly what he wanted, he stayed silent. Then, the day after the deadline, he got blackout drunk. His friends called me then, too. Calling me selfish. Saying I forced him. That was the first time I realized his "dream school" wasn't the one we went to. Back then, I was moved by his "sacrifice." I rushed over and took care of him. But over the years, whenever he was unhappy, his entourage would remind me of my debt to him. It felt like because he gave up a college for me, I owed him my entire life. "Chloe, let's go, time to eat." 5 We worked late again, too late for delivery. We decided to hit a nearby bistro. I used to skip these gatherings because I was terrified of missing the last train. Now, knowing my apartment was a ten-minute walk away, I said yes. We were a group of five or six. After dinner, we decided to hit a bar. As soon as we sat down, I noticed the table next to us was loud. I glanced over instinctively. It was Liam and his crew. And, of course, his "junior," Bella, was there too. "Liam, a bet is a bet! You have to kiss someone here for three minutes! Hurry up, hahahaha!" Truth or Dare. My glance happened to lock with Liam’s. I didn't linger. I looked away immediately. Liam seemed to pause. A moment later, he replied slowly, "Fine." Cheers erupted from his table. "I didn't think Liam would actually play along! So, who are you picking? Hahaha!" Someone teased, "We're all dudes here, surely he picks Bella? Unless he wants you?" "Oh, stop it, you guys are annoying!" Bella covered her face, acting shy. "Come on, Liam, pay up. Pick someone now or I'm volunteering myself!" "Hahahaha, Liam's virtue is at stake!" The noise from the next table got louder. The floating comments started pleading again. 【FL, what are you doing? Don't you see the ML staring at you? He doesn't want to kiss anyone else, his brain is full of you right now!】 【He hasn't been home for days, he doesn't even know you moved out! He’s waiting for you to bow your head. Don't be stubborn now! If he gets pushed into a corner and actually kisses the side-chick, what then?】 【He’s not talking because he’s waiting for your reaction! Just look at him! You don't even have to go over there, just make eye contact and he’ll come over like a good boy. He won't look at anyone else!】 I picked up my drink and took a sip. As I put the glass down, my hand slipped, and the drink spilled across the table. "Oh no, Chloe, are you okay?" A colleague flagged down a waiter to clean it up. The commotion obviously caught the attention of the next table. The rowdy group went silent. Several pairs of eyes turned to me. Bella stood up aggressively and marched right up to my face.

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