Author: Momo Chan

I work the night shift at the Red Moon Hotel. The base salary is $5,000 a month, and the tips are unlimited. On my second night, the hotel hosted a group event for a niche community of enthusiasts. I kindly handed each guest a copy of the hotel’s rules and regulations, only to have them laugh and toss them into the trash. At 9:30 PM, I heard their voices coming through the security monitors at the front desk. “Do we have enough this time? If we want one each, we’re still one short, right?” “It’s fine. Isn’t there a girl at the front desk? She looks like she’ll do.” “Yeah, we’re all going to try her eventually anyway. Don’t fight me for it! I get first dibs!” What they didn’t know was… The guest I checked in on my first night was already dead. 1 A few hours before my shift, I got a text from the manager about overtime. Hey Lin, we’ve got a group booking tonight. Please come in two hours early~ Don’t worry, you’ll get overtime pay~ If this were any other job, I’d be cursing my boss under my breath while pasting on a fake smile and replying, “Got it.” But this job is different. Base pay: $5,000. Tips: sky’s the limit. My first night, I walked away with over $20,000 in bonuses. But money isn’t even the most important thing. The most important thing is that this hotel is haunted as hell. Call me a coward. But if you were in my shoes, you wouldn’t even dare to curse in your head. I didn’t waste a second. I threw on some clothes and headed downstairs. That familiar, pitch-black hotel shuttle was already waiting for me. I got in silently, muttered a quick “hello” to the driver, and then kept my mouth shut. My shift runs from 10 PM to 6 AM. Tonight was overtime, so I had to be there by 8 PM. I wasn’t worried about being late. As long as I was in this damn car, the driver would get me there on time. I took a deep breath and started reciting the Red Moon Hotel Employee Handbook in my head. Rule 1: Employees must not be late or leave early. Rule 2: Employees must not leave their posts unauthorized. Rule 3: Front desk staff have the right to refuse any unreasonable requests from guests after check-in, but cannot refuse any requests from guests wearing VIP badges. Rule 4: Employees cannot refuse any request from any manager. Rule 5: Monthly staff meetings are mandatory. No exceptions. As you can see, only five rules. But these five rules are vital. Please remember, if you’re unfortunate enough to step into the Red Moon Hotel. If you’re unfortunate enough to work part-time at the Red Moon Hotel like me. Memorize these five rules. Never forget them. They could save your life! The black car stopped smoothly in front of the hotel. I got out and checked my phone. 8 PM on the dot. It was July. Even at 8 PM, it shouldn’t be completely dark. But within the grounds of the Red Moon Hotel, darkness had already swallowed everything. Only the hotel interior blazed with a blindingly bright light. The hotel manager stood at my station, smiling like a lifeless statue. She had a face on the back of her head. Her skin was ghastly white, even her lips were pale. Her whole face looked like a piece of waterlogged bread. Goosebumps erupted all over my body. I hurried over. “Lin, you’re here. We have a group event tonight. It’s going to be busy, so I’ll need your help.” I shook my head vigorously. “No trouble at all, Manager. It’s my job.” The manager pointed to the front desk, where a stack of bright red Red Moon Hotel Guest Manuals sat. “When you check the guests in later, remember to give one to each of them. Don’t miss anyone.” I nodded, a question popping into my head. “What if they don’t want it?” 2 A smile finally cracked the manager’s flawless, porcelain face. The corners of her mouth lifted at a steady pace until they froze at the highest point, forming a perfect, eerie grin. Her pitch-black eyes seemed to glint with an excitement that didn’t match her demeanor. Yes, excitement. “It doesn’t matter. You just need to hand them out. If they don’t want it, that’s their problem.” There it was again. That bone-deep chill wrapping around me. I immediately shut down my curiosity and asked no more questions. I went to the staff locker room and grabbed my uniform. As I took off my jacket, I felt two Hell Bank Notes in my pocket. A special reward from the hotel for getting two five-star reviews last night. Very ominous. But weirdly enough, right now, in this hotel, they gave me a sense of security. Like possessed, I slipped them into my uniform pocket. When I returned to the front desk, the lobby was empty and quiet. It felt like I was the only living person in the hotel. The Red Moon Hotel Guest Manuals on the desk drew me in. Driven by curiosity, I picked one up and started reading. Red Moon Hotel is honored to host your group event. Please observe the following rules. Rule 1: Please do not leave your room after midnight. Rule 2: If you need to leave your room or require assistance, please call the front desk. Rule 3: Please respect all hotel staff. Staff have the right to refuse unreasonable requests after check-in, but cannot refuse requests from guests with VIP badges. Rule 4: The hotel refuses all dine-and-dash, scamming, and freeloading behavior. Please pay for every service requested. Rule 5: You must check out before leaving the hotel, or face the consequences. Knock, knock, knock— “Hi there! We booked a group event. The name’s Lee. Could you check us in?” I looked up to see a girl with a round face, square glasses, and a long white dress. Like a little cream puff. I stood up and flashed my professional smile. “Of course. Happy to help. Could I have your IDs, please?” The girl, Lee, pulled out a stack of IDs. Sixteen in total, but they needed seventeen rooms. Sixteen standard rooms and one massive suite that took up an entire floor. “Lee, did you get scammed? A hotel this nice, seventeen rooms for only $900? Don’t play us!” A guy with green hair behind Lee looked around and spat on the floor. “I didn’t! It was a group buy online, used a coupon. If we need more money, I’ll pay for it.” Lee had a good temper, her dimples never fading. But Green Hair wasn’t letting it go. He looked at me with a sleazy grin. “Hey beautiful, tell me, is this hotel so cheap because someone died here or something?” My heart skipped a beat. A chill ran down my spine. He knew!!! 3 “Hehe, big hotel, just you at the front desk? Bet you’re scared, huh? How about I stay and keep you company? Ghosts, monsters, I ain’t scared of nothin’!” Green Hair reached out to touch my face. I frowned and stepped back. Just a pervert. “Roy, stop bothering her! I checked, this hotel has deals sometimes, and the reviews are all good. Keep messing around and if you get kicked out, don’t expect us to help you.” Lee’s face turned cold as she slapped Roy’s hand away. “F*ck! You think you can boss me around? If it weren’t for you…” Roy shut his mouth abruptly and slunk back into the group. Lee smiled apologetically at me. “Sorry about him. He’s got a foul mouth, but he’s not a bad guy. Sorry for the trouble.” Of all the customers I’ve dealt with, Lee was my favorite type. Reasonable, and keeps her friends in check. I warmed up to her a bit, my smile becoming more genuine. “It’s no problem. Please keep your IDs safe. Your room numbers are on the manuals. You can use your ID cards to unlock the doors.” As she took them, I added, “Please read the manual carefully. We hope you have the best experience.” Lee nodded and put everything into her large bag. I handed out the manuals to the rest of the guests. Unfortunately, not everyone was as patient as Lee. Roy didn’t even open his. He shoved it straight into the trash can by the elevator. “What a sh*tty hotel, giving guests rules. The customer is God! I ain’t reading this crap!” I stood there meekly, not reacting. Whatever. I didn’t even know if I’d make it out of here alive tonight. Warning them was the best I could do. Through the hotel system, I could see the occupancy rate. Just these sixteen guests. Or rather, probably only these sixteen guests tonight. Bored, I started snooping on their group activity. Normally, I don’t have this kind of fetish. But in this hotel, I couldn’t help it. I hate team building with a passion! But these people looked excited, not a hint of displeasure. I guess hobbies really do give you energy? I watched them enter the suite that took up the entire top floor. They methodically took out infrared detectors from their bags and swept every corner of the room. What the hell? Why so cautious? Something shady? No, no, that Lee girl didn’t look like that kind of person. I shook my head, clearing the dirty thoughts. “Hmm, no cameras. Lee found a good spot. We can come here for future events.” “Yeah, finally we can play freely. You guys don’t know how hard it is to hide usually.” What they didn’t know was that the Red Moon Hotel’s cameras were undetectable. Even the hotel itself was magical. I let my mind wander. Then, a conversation from the monitor chilled me to the bone. “Do we have enough this time? If we want one each, we’re still one short, right?” “It’s fine. Isn’t there a girl at the front desk? She looks like she’ll do.” “Yeah, we’re all going to try her eventually anyway. Don’t fight me for it! I get first dibs!” Me? They were targeting me? I frowned. What this group didn’t know was… The guest I checked in on my first night was already dead. 4 Beep beep beep— A white van pulled up outside the hotel, the door slamming shut so hard it almost fell off. The driver hauled out two large black sacks and walked straight towards me. “Miss, I’m leaving these here for a bit. Guests ordered ’em. Gotta run, but I’ll call ’em to come get it.” The sacks were wriggling, but silent. Seeing me stare, the honest-looking driver grinned. “Don’t be scared, nothin’ dangerous. Just some…” He was cut off by the manager, who appeared out of nowhere. “Alright, you can leave them here. We respect our guests’ privacy.” The man clicked his tongue, answered his phone, and walked out. “Take them to the back for processing, then help Lin deliver them upstairs.” The man behind the manager was also wearing the hotel’s black uniform. Unlike the manager who filled hers out, this man was tall and gaunt. He looked like a skeleton rattling around in his clothes. He wore a black mask, revealing only a pair of cold eyes. “Lin, this is the Logistics Chief. You two will deliver this to the guests.” “The Chief can’t speak to guests, so communication is on you. Also, if there’s any mess, contact cleaning immediately. The hotel must remain spotless. It’s how we respect our guests.” I nodded. I wouldn’t dare call it trouble. The Logistics Chief picked up a sack in each hand, gave me a cold look, and signaled for me to follow. We walked down the hall, past the locker room, to the Logistics Office at the end. The door opened, and a bone-chilling cold spilled out, wrapping around my ankles. “Wait here.” Leaving me with that, the Chief slipped inside and shut the door, sealing whatever was inside. Before I could think, the door opened again. The Chief was back. “Let’s go. Delivery time.” Was that even a minute? Probably not. What could he do in that time? The Chief’s voice was raspy and dry, calm like the manager’s. But for some reason, I heard a grit in his teeth when he said “delivery.” I’m smart. And I value my life. I didn’t say a word. Not a peep. I just followed him into the elevator. The group was on the 11th floor, rooms 1101 to 1116. The suite was on the 12th floor. This layout was different from my first night. But honestly, if the Red Moon Hotel disappeared tomorrow, I wouldn’t be surprised. The elevator went up. The Chief and I stood in silence. The two sacks of living things had been quiet since leaving the Logistics Office. Ding— 12th floor. This time, I walked out before the Chief. Knock, knock, knock— I knocked three times. “Hello guests, your delivery is here. Please open the door.”

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After my divorce from Liam, I announced my retirement from the entertainment industry. The internet cheered, congratulating him on escaping his “misery.” Finally, he was free from the “bloodsucker” ex-wife. #LiamFree trended at number one. I gave a bitter smile and deleted all my social media accounts. I completely vanished from the public eye. Later, my diary accidentally appeared on a variety show. Only then did everyone realize. The only mistake I made in my life was loving Liam. 1. Four years after divorcing Liam, his fame was bigger than ever. As his ex-wife, I seemed to have been forgotten by the public long ago. On a talk show, responding to requests from netizens, the host brought up Liam’s new relationship. On camera, Liam looked gentle, a smile playing on his lips. He radiated happiness. The live chat was flooded with “OTP” and “perfect match.” Then, the host shifted gears. “Everyone knows Liam once had a failed marriage. I’m curious…” “Do you have anything to say to your ex-wife, Chloe?” At the mention of my name. Liam’s smile froze. After a few seconds of silence. He spoke calmly. “I’m grateful my ex-wife stopped harassing me, allowing me to find true love.” The chat exploded. “Does the host know how to do her job? Why bring up that jinx?” “Is Chloe trying to make a comeback? Such a clout chaser.” “The internet never forgets. I won’t let anyone forget that toxic woman.” In their narrative. I was the “cancer” of the entertainment industry. The host glanced at the comments and suddenly smiled. “A while ago, an anonymous netizen sent us Chloe’s old diary.” “Liam, do you mind if I read it?” Liam sneered, “Anonymous? She probably sent it herself because she’s broke and wants to whitewash her image to get back into showbiz.” His eyes were full of contempt. But he had no reason to refuse. The host slowly opened the diary— 2. August 12, 2018 Dear Diary, Tomorrow, I’m officially going to be Mrs. King. I’m rolling around in bed. Too excited to sleep. Since I can’t sleep, I’ve decided to do something meaningful. I’m going to write down the story of me and Liam. If I don’t record it while we’re young, how will I tell our kids about the good old days when we’re old? Dear Diary. Do you believe in love at first sight? Liam said the first time he saw me, he almost forgot to breathe. In that moment, the whole world stopped. He could only hear his own heartbeat. He mustered up the courage to ask for my number. His ears were as red as a tomato. Hmm. That description ruins the vibe. They were like the most vibrant sunset. To pursue me. He did a lot of silly things. He listened to his roommate’s advice and bought a book called “High EQ Responses.” You wouldn’t believe how funny it was. I told him I had a pimple. He quoted the book: “Wow, you’re bubbling over with beauty.” I laughed and told him he was amazing. He quoted the book again: “If I wasn’t amazing, how could I be friends with you?” There’s so much more. When we have kids. I’m definitely going to tell them about the embarrassing things their dad did. Liam’s arrival added so much color to my life. Most importantly. I was chosen. I remember my junior year. My scholarship grant was stolen by the class president. Helpless, I hid in the stairwell and cried. When Liam found out, he dragged me straight to the administration office. He shielded me behind him. He single-handedly debated the class president and the counselor. He left them speechless. He listed over ten pieces of evidence proving the class president didn’t need the money. He fought for me. And got me the grant. So this is what it feels like to have someone in your corner. My parents divorced when I was four. My dad hated that I was a girl. My mom blamed the failure of her marriage on me being a daughter. Thankfully, my grandma was willing to take care of me. I knew how hard it was for Grandma, so I never wanted to cause trouble for her. Even when I was treated unfairly, I tried to swallow it. Because of my family situation, I was often bullied by other students. I endured it for so many years. Suddenly one day. Someone told me he would protect me. Who wouldn’t fall for that? Liam remembered everything I liked. He knew I loved tomato hot pot but hated tomato-flavored snacks. He knew I liked my milk tea with 50% sugar but my fruit tea with only 30%. He knew I was allergic to eggs, so my breakfast crepes couldn’t have eggs. Even my grandma said, “Little Liam, with him by your side, I can rest easy.” With him, I didn’t need to compromise. I just needed to be myself. Dear Diary, you won’t believe it. As soon as Liam was legally old enough, he dragged me to get our marriage license. Right after we got it. He tore it up right in front of me. With a smug, mischievous grin, he said, “Chloe, without the license, we can’t get divorced.” “I’m stuck with you for life.” That childish fool. But I loved that childish fool to death. Attached is a love letter. Liam wrote it the day he confessed. When we’re old, I’ll make him read it to me again. After reading this page. The chat slowed down. No one expected this. That Liam and I had such memories. In everyone’s mind. Our relationship was always me clinging desperately to him. No one knew. We truly loved each other once. The host turned to look at Liam: “Liam, reading the diary, it seems you two were truly in love.” Liam stared unblinkingly at the diary. Countless complex emotions flashed through his eyes. After a long while. He said, “That was years ago. What’s the point of talking about it now?” Yeah, years ago. Back then, our love burned brighter than fire. 3. June 17, 2019 Dear Diary. Long time no see. It’s been super busy lately. Things are looking up for me too. One small role after another. Of course. My Liam is even more amazing. He recently landed the lead role in a small web series. The company forbids us from exposing our relationship. But I still snuck onto Liam’s set to see him. I wore sunglasses and pretended to be a fan. Unexpectedly, a crew member muttered, “Even this nobody has fans?” I was so mad I memorized his face. Wait until my Liam gets famous. I’ll slap him in the face with success. Liam saw me. The moment the director yelled “Cut,” he winked at me. That childish fool. Attached photo: Liam on set today. Standing in the snow, wearing blue and white robes, a black sash around his waist. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. But filming this show is hard on Liam. The budget is tight, so they can’t afford stunt doubles. He has to do all the fight scenes himself. He’s often covered in bruises. Before he can even apply ointment. He has to film rain scenes. It breaks my heart. I need to make sure he eats well lately. Liam is working so hard for our future. I can’t drag him down. Tomorrow I’m auditioning for the third female lead in the web series “Dreamlike.” Life is really looking hopeful. After this page was read, the chat went wild. “Sob, Liam’s path to fame was really not easy.” “My poor Liam.” “Wait, Chloe auditioned for ‘Dreamlike’? Thank god she didn’t get it, or she would have ruined the character.” The host saw the confusion in the chat. She asked Liam, “Liam, did you know Chloe auditioned back then?” He squinted in thought. A moment later, he nodded. “I remember she not only auditioned but passed.” This statement stunned everyone. Everyone knew. Although “Dreamlike” was a low-budget web series, it was a sleeper hit. Almost everyone in the cast got a career boost. And I wasn’t in it. The host pressed on, “Since she passed, why didn’t she take the role?” “For Chloe back then, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” “What could be worth giving up her future for?” Liam frowned. After a while. He shook his head. He really didn’t remember. Of course he didn’t remember. Because he was the beneficiary. 4. June 18, 2019 Dear Diary. It’s a small world. I went to the audition today. The director paired us up for scenes. The person reading with me was the girl who bullied me in high school. One look, and I felt like all my strength was drained. My legs trembled uncontrollably. Over the years. I’ve imagined countless times. The miserable state she might be in. Maybe broke and destitute. Maybe a failed career. Maybe tasting what it feels like to be bullied. I told myself this kind of person would definitely get karma. But she didn’t. She was still vibrant and beautiful. Wearing an expensive Chanel suit. The arrogance in her eyes was even worse than before. I fled to the bathroom. Splashed cold water on my face. I tried to force myself to calm down. But my brain uncontrollably replayed her hideous laughing face. My scalp started to tingle. Just like the feeling when she used to yank my hair. “Chloe, your grandma picks up empty bottles at the south side stadium, right?” “Do you think if we stole her sack, she’d die of anger?” “Ew, does your bra not fit? Want me to help you rip it off?” … For a long time, she was my nightmare. And the reason she bullied me. Was simply because I refused to help her cheat on a test. Seeing that face again. My instinct was to run. I even wanted to give up the audition. Hiding in a stall, I trembling video-called Liam. Hoping for a shred of comfort. The call connected quickly. I saw Liam’s swollen, red face. It looked painful. But Liam squeezed out a smile, “Chloe, what’s wrong?” My throat choked up. Suddenly I didn’t know where to start. Sensing my gaze. Liam covered his right cheek. Acting relaxed. “It’s nothing. Just took a few extra slaps in the last scene. Doesn’t hurt.” The actor next to him couldn’t help complaining, “That resource hog is the worst. Can’t act to save her life, making you suffer.” “Saying she hasn’t slapped anyone before so she can’t find the feeling.” “Bullshit, what is she pretending for? I see her hitting her assistant every day…” Liam stared at me lovingly, eyes bright. “Don’t listen to his nonsense.” He was always like this. Reporting good news but not the bad. Getting cut by wires but gritting his teeth through it. If I hadn’t. Seen his back while he was showering a few days ago. I wouldn’t have known how hard he went for the action scenes. Realizing I was about to cry. I quickly hung up. In that moment, I suddenly woke up. Liam. He doesn’t back down no matter how hard acting gets. How can I give up an opportunity because of fear? Right? Dear Diary. I can accept failure. But I can’t run away. During the reading, she obviously recognized me. I overcame my instinct. And won the role of the third female lead in “Dreamlike.” When the results were announced, my arm was rammed hard: “Well well, Chloe, you’re moving up in the world.” Meeting those dark eyes that once terrified me. I rammed my arm back. Hmph. Dear Diary. I, Chloe, am not afraid of her anymore. She told me to watch out. Bring it on. After this page, the chat was shocked. “For real? Who? Bullying? Who?” “Holy crap, is the ‘resource hog’ the female lead in Liam’s drama?” “My poor brother, sob.” “Wait, so Liam was right, Chloe really passed the audition?” “Then why didn’t she take the role?”

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Chapter 1 Five years into our marriage, my husband, Liam, fell madly in love with a college student. The girl was poor but proud. She rejected the black card Liam handed her, saying, “I won’t be anyone’s trophy bird in a gilded cage.” That single sentence made Liam obsessed. He chased after this college girl, causing a scandal all over the city, completely forgetting he had a wife at home—a wife he had wooed with ninety-nine love letters before she finally agreed to marry him. I didn’t cry or make a scene. Instead, every time he hurt me for her sake, I burned one of those love letters. When all ninety-nine letters were ashes, that would be the day I left him for good. The day the first letter burned was our wedding anniversary. He stood me up to sit in the boba shop where she worked, waiting all day just for her shift to end. The day the thirty-sixth letter burned was a stormy night. I had a fever of 104, and he dumped me on the highway because she was afraid of thunder and needed him. The day the seventy-second letter burned was when he took down our wedding photo from the living room wall and replaced it with a doodle she had drawn, just to make her smile. … The ninety-fifth letter burned on the day of an auction. Liam had accompanied me to bid on my mother’s necklace, the sapphire one she loved most before she passed. It was her legacy. But as soon as the auction started, he saw the college girl working there as a server. She glanced at the necklace twice. Liam immediately lit the sky lantern, bidding an astronomical price to win it, then gifted it to her in front of everyone. “I saw you liked it, so I bought it for you,” he said, his voice low and seductive. “Do you like it?” She was wearing a server’s uniform, pushing his hand away self-righteously. “Sir, I told you, I’m not interested in wealth, and I don’t want to be your mistress. No matter what you give me, it’s useless. Please take the necklace back and let me work.” With that, she turned and walked away with her empty tray. Liam wasn’t angry. Instead, he chuckled and chased after her, leaving everyone—including me—behind. My heart seized. I stood there, stunned for two seconds, then ran after them. On the windy deck, Liam was still pestering her. seeing she really wouldn’t accept it, he casually flicked his wrist… And threw the priceless sapphire necklace into the ocean. “If you don’t like it, I’ll pick another one,” he said, his voice impossibly tender. “I’ll keep picking until you’re satisfied.” He walked away with her without looking back, completely oblivious that… I was climbing over the railing, jumping into the dark, freezing ocean without hesitation. As the seawater flooded my nose, I suddenly remembered that five years ago, he proposed to me on a cruise ship just like this. He said, “Paige, from now on, even if you want the stars in the sky, I’ll pluck them for you.” But now, he could toss my mother’s legacy into the sea like it was trash. It took me all night to crawl out of the freezing water. I clutched the necklace in my hand, the metal gleaming from the saltwater, but my fingers were frozen stiff. On the way home, I scrolled through my feed. All the rich kids were posting about it… “Liam is really gone this time, chasing a waitress and making headlines.” “He didn’t make this much noise when he chased his wife, did he?” My finger paused. My heart felt like it was being strangled by a thin wire. Yeah. When he chased me, he wrote 99 love letters and confessed 99 times before I nodded. We went from high school sweethearts to walking down the aisle. Our marriage was sweet once. Everyone said Liam was crazy about me. Until the fifth year. He was at the hospital getting an IV, and he met a clumsy intern. She missed his vein several times, turning his hand blue, but he didn’t get mad. Instead, he stared at her flustered face and smiled. Later, he threw money, cars, and houses at her, trying to make her his mistress. But she rejected him with a face full of integrity: “Mr. Luke, I’m not interested in your money. Please have some self-respect.” She even came to me and said, “Please control your husband. Don’t let him harass me anymore.” Anyone else, and Liam would have exploded. But with her, he wasn’t angry. He chased harder. I confronted him, and he said nonchalantly: “She’s interesting. I’m just playing. When I’ve had enough fun, I’ll come back.” “Paige, I love you, but loving one person for a lifetime is too hard. You have to allow me a moment to wander.” I was in agony, but I couldn’t bear to leave him. So, I took out those 99 love letters and decided to give him 99 chances… Every time he hurt me, I burned one. When the letters were gone, I would be done with him. Right now, I flicked my lighter and burned the ninety-fifth letter. As the flames devoured the paper, I thought: He only has four chances left. When the car arrived at the villa, I saw Liam standing on the stairs, looking down at me as soon as I walked in. “You’re back? I need to talk to you.” I nodded and walked up the steps, defenseless as always. But just as I reached him, he suddenly reached out and shoved me hard! “Ah…!” I tumbled down the stairs, the back of my head slamming against the steps. Warm blood trickled down my forehead, blurring my vision. I was shaking from the pain, looking at Liam in disbelief. He walked down slowly, crouched in front of me, and wiped the blood from my face. “Paige, bear with it.” “She’s looking for a caregiving job… Only if you’re injured do I have a reason to let her move in.” Chapter 2 I never imagined Liam would go this far for Jenny. To chase her, he would hurt his own wife. I tried to speak through the agony, but darkness swallowed me. When I woke up, a sharp pain radiated from the back of my head. I struggled to open my eyes, seeing an unfamiliar ceiling, disoriented. “Mrs. Luke, you’re awake.” A cool voice drifted over. I turned my head and saw Jenny standing by the bed, holding a medical kit. She wore a simple white t-shirt and jeans, a high ponytail, no makeup, radiating youth. “I’m your caregiver, Jenny,” she said calmly, her tone detached. “Even though I moved in, please control Mr. Luke. If he crosses the line again, I’ll leave immediately.” My chest ached. How ironic. This girl moves into my house and tells me, the mistress of the house, to “control my husband.” “I want a different caregiver,” I rasped. Jenny acted like she didn’t hear me, pulling out a syringe. “I’m giving you an anti-inflammatory shot now.” First attempt, couldn’t find the vein. Second attempt, missed, causing a bump on my hand. Third attempt, she poked right through, drawing blood. “If you can’t do it, get someone else,” I said, my voice trembling with pain. Hearing this, Jenny’s eyes reddened instantly. She retorted stubbornly, “What do you mean? If my grandma wasn’t sick, you think I’d want to be here?” She reached for my hand again, and this time the needle scratched my skin deeply. Blood ran down my pale wrist. I couldn’t take it anymore and shoved her away. “Enough! Don’t touch me!” Jenny stumbled back, knocking over the tray. Glass vials shattered on the floor. At that moment, the door burst open. Liam strode in. “What happened?” His gaze darted between us, finally landing on Jenny sitting on the floor. His face darkened. “If I’m not welcome, I’ll leave!” Jenny scrambled up, red-eyed, heading for the door. Liam grabbed her. “Who said that?” Jenny struggled. “Your wife! I was kind enough to give her a shot, and she pushed me! I’m just inexperienced, didn’t you guys know that from the start?” Liam looked at my swollen, bleeding hand. A flash of pain crossed his eyes, but when he turned to Jenny, it turned into compromise. “What will it take for you to stay?” he asked softly. Jenny lifted her chin. “I hate rich people acting high and mighty. I want her to apologize.” “Paige,” Liam turned to me, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Apologize.” I looked at him in disbelief. “She butchered my arm, and I have to apologize?” Liam’s eyes darkened. “If you don’t want to, think about your parents’ company.” I went cold. “You’re threatening me… for her?!” “Paige, it’s just an apology,” Liam frowned impatiently. “You won’t lose a piece of meat. Do you really want to watch your parents go bankrupt?” In that moment, I felt a thousand arrows pierce my heart. I bit my lip until I tasted blood. Seeing Liam’s expression turn colder, realizing he was serious, I forced myself up. Enduring the humiliation, I bowed deeply to Jenny. “I’m sorry.” Jenny frowned. “Do rich people apologize so quietly?” My nails dug into my palms. I bowed again, raising my voice. “I’m sorry! Are you satisfied now?” Seeing Jenny nod reluctantly, Liam’s face softened. He carefully coaxed her to go get bandaged. The moment the door closed, I couldn’t hold on anymore. I collapsed on the floor, weeping silently. I pulled a yellowed love letter from under my pillow and lit it with trembling hands. As the fire consumed the ninety-sixth letter, I remembered sixteen-year-old Liam writing it. Under the cherry blossom tree on campus, the boy with red ears shoved the letter into my hand and said, “Paige, be with me, okay? I’ll treat you well forever.” The flame died out, and the door suddenly opened. “What are you burning?” Chapter 3 I clenched the charred remains of the letter in my palm, the residual heat stinging my skin. “Nothing. Just burning some trash.” Liam frowned at the scraps, seemingly recognizing something, but before he could think, Jenny’s voice came from the hall. “Mr. Luke, are you going to the party or not? If we don’t leave now, I’m not going!” I looked up. “What party?” “I want to introduce her to the circle.” He paused. “But she says she’s your caregiver, so she’ll only go if you go.” “Paige, just come with me.” I felt like I’d been hit by a sledgehammer. I laughed bitterly. “Liam, what am I to you?” He seemed stunned for a moment, then finally said, “Paige, I already explained. I’ve never met a woman so hard to conquer before, so I’m interested. You don’t need to be jealous. Once I get her and get bored, I’ll come back and live a good life with you.” I closed my eyes. My heart felt numb. In the end, he forced me to go. In the car, Jenny suddenly pulled out a few white pills. “Mrs. Luke, these are antibiotics. You’ll heal faster if you take them.” I stared at the pills, not reaching out. “Are you sure these are antibiotics?” Jenny’s face changed. “If you don’t trust me, I have nothing to say.” “Paige,” Liam frowned, immediately defending her. “Take the medicine.” Under his cold stare, I felt exhausted. I closed my eyes and swallowed the pills with water. In the VIP box at the club, Liam’s boys were waiting. Seeing them enter, everyone started cheering. “Liam finally brought Miss Jenny out!” “So this is the girl Liam dreams about? Truly unique!” I sat in the corner, watching these people who once cheered for us, my heart throbbing with pain. “Miss Jenny, Liam really loves you,” one guy laughed. “Ask for the stars, he’ll get them!” Jenny didn’t believe it. “Really?” They egged her on to test him. “Then… give me the most expensive car in your garage?” She pointed at one of the guys. Liam didn’t hesitate. He smiled and tossed the keys over. Everyone cheered. She tested him a few more times. Watches, houses. He indulged her. The atmosphere in the room peaked. “See? Liam is serious about you. Just give in and agree to be his bird!” Jenny looked stubborn. “Impossible! I will never be a kept woman! Say that again and I’m leaving!” Afraid she’d actually leave, they changed the subject and started playing games. Every round, they let Jenny lose on purpose. The dares were sitting on Liam’s lap, or holding hands. The tenth time Jenny lost, the dare was to kiss the opposite sex on her left for three minutes. Cheers erupted. Liam was sitting on her left. Her expression froze. She stood up abruptly. “Are you guys doing this on purpose? I’m not playing anymore.” “It’s just a game, don’t be so serious.” “Yeah, how could we cheat? Liam is worth billions, is he that childish?” I gripped my glass, watching the smirk on Liam’s lips. Why wouldn’t he? To create a chance to get intimate with Jenny, this billionaire would absolutely play childish games with his frat boy friends. The last time I saw him like this was when he was chasing me. My heart felt like it was being sliced by a dull knife. But what was worse was that my breathing was getting harder. I clutched my chest, realizing my arms were covered in a terrifying rash. It was an allergic reaction. But I was always careful with food. I couldn’t breathe. Hazy, I remembered the pills Jenny gave me. Amidst the jeering, Jenny quickly pecked Liam on the cheek. He clearly wasn’t satisfied. He grabbed the back of her head. “Call that a kiss? Let me teach you what a real kiss is.” The next second, I watched them lock lips, his fingers tangling in her long hair. He didn’t notice his wife breaking out in hives, gasping for air. “Liam…” I struggled to grab his arm. “Take me to the hospital… I’m having a reaction…” “Stop it.” He pushed me away without looking, his other hand still holding Jenny’s neck. “Please…” I tugged at his shirt again, my voice hoarse. This time he shoved me hard, pinning Jenny to the sofa to deepen the kiss. Kissing harder, addicted, intertwined. As he lost himself in the game, my vision blurred. I stumbled and crashed into the champagne tower. Through the sound of shattering glass, I finally heard Jenny scream. “She fainted!” Chapter 4 When I woke up, I was in the hospital. Jenny was sobbing outside the door. “What do I do… I didn’t mean to mistake the sleeping pills for antibiotics…” “If something happens, it’s a major medical accident…” Then came Liam’s gentle comfort. “Don’t be scared. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to you.” “Even if they investigate, I can sign the waiver as family.” I bit my lip until I tasted iron. After a while, the door opened. Liam walked in. “What happened to me?” I asked, trembling. “Why did I faint?” “Low blood sugar.” Hearing those three words from his mouth, I heard my heart shatter. I remembered when we first got married, a socialite tried to force drinks on me. The next day, Liam tanked her company’s stock. When she knelt to apologize, he held my waist and said, “Paige, as long as I’m here, no one touches a hair on your head.” Now, I almost died because of Jenny’s “mistake,” and he was protecting the culprit! Liam, oh Liam. How could you hurt me like this? I was shaking with pain, but Liam didn’t notice a thing. Seeing I was “fine,” he stood up impatiently. “Jenny was scared all night because of you. I’m taking her home. I’ll come back later.” But for the next few days, I never saw him. I only saw on Instagram that he took Jenny to the beach, to concerts, to all the places we promised to go but never did. The day I was discharged, Liam finally appeared. He leaned against the car holding a bouquet of chrysanthemums. Seeing me, he handed them over. “Been busy with work. Today is your mom’s death anniversary. I’ll go with you.” I took the flowers silently, then realized Jenny was in the car too. I sat in the back, ignoring them, watching the scenery fly by. I remembered my mom’s last words: “Paige, I just hope you find someone who truly loves you.” I touched the three remaining love letters in my bag and thought bitterly: Mom, I think I picked the wrong guy. At the cemetery, before I could even pay my respects, I got hit with bad news. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Carter. The recent rains caused landslides. We need to relocate the graves in this section…” I gripped my bag, knuckles white. Mom loved peace and quiet. Now she couldn’t even rest in death. Liam appeared behind me, signing the paperwork the staff handed him. “Paige, go bring the urn down. I’ll handle the relocation procedures.” I nodded and walked up the hill. Rain soaked the stone steps. I dragged my weak body up, every step like walking on knives. Staff had already opened the grave. I knelt in the mud and lifted out the urn. A simple sandalwood box carved with her name… Eleanor Carter. “Your mom must have been beautiful,” Jenny said suddenly, reaching out. “Mrs. Luke, let me help you carry it.” “No need.” I turned sideways to avoid her, carefully walking down the hill with the box. But then, Jenny screamed. “Ah! A bug!” In her panic, she slammed into me. I was caught off guard and tumbled down the stairs. I hugged the urn tight, my back slamming against the stone steps. Pain blinded me. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to!” Jenny ran down frantically. “Let me help you pick it up!” She reached for the urn. Before I could stop her, she slipped… Smash! The urn hit the ground hard and shattered. Grey ashes spilled everywhere, instantly soaked by the rain. “I’m sorry! I… I’ll clean it up!” Jenny scrambled to scoop up the ashes, but she only made a bigger mess. Washed away by the rain, my mother’s ashes disappeared into the mud. I shook violently. I couldn’t hold it back anymore. I slapped her. “Enough! You did that on purpose!” Jenny clutched her face, tears flowing instantly. “I didn’t! I just wanted to help! I’m clumsy, but I had good intentions! Why did you hit me? I’m poor, but I won’t let you humiliate me like this!” “You just lost your mom’s ashes, but I lost my dignity!” Despair rushed to my head. I raised my hand again, but a strong grip stopped me. Liam appeared out of nowhere, grabbing my wrist. “Paige! What are you doing?” Jenny finally spoke, crying like a pear blossom in the rain. “I just tried to help her move the urn… I accidentally spilled it… and she hit me…” “If you guys can’t tolerate me, I’ll just leave.” She took a step, and Liam pulled her into his arms. “Don’t go. I’ll get justice for you.” Then, he looked at me coldly. “Apologize!” Rain mixed with tears on my face. I watched him tenderly wipe Jenny’s tears while yelling at me to apologize. It felt like someone carved a piece of my heart out. I stared at him, lips trembling. “Liam, did you hear me? She smashed my mother’s urn!” “That’s no reason to hit her!” Liam’s voice was colder than the rain. He grabbed Jenny’s wrist. “Don’t be scared. Since she won’t apologize and she hit you, hit her back.” My pupils shrank. Before I could react, I saw Liam’s large hand guide Jenny’s, slapping me with thunderous force. Slap! This slap was ten times harder than mine. Chapter 5 I stumbled back, the world spinning. My lower back hit a tombstone, knees slamming onto the stone steps. Sharp pain exploded through my body. But it was nothing compared to the pain in my heart. The tearing agony made it hard to breathe. Liam didn’t even look at me. He just wiped the rain from Jenny’s face. “Feel better?” Only when he heard her sob a “Yeah” did he sigh in relief. He wrapped his jacket around her and picked her up. Turning away, his leather shoes crushed the scattered ashes into the mud, leaving a glaring footprint. I sat in the rain, shaking with pain. I reached out with trembling hands, trying to scoop up the grey powder, but the rain washed it away too fast. Just like my love for Liam. Slipping through my fingers. “Mom, I was wrong…” I choked out. “I married the wrong man. I shouldn’t have married him…” After collecting what little ash remained, I took the ninety-seventh letter from my bag and lit it with shaking hands. As the fire ate the paper, I remembered Liam promising my sick mother: “Don’t worry, I’ll protect Paige with my life. I won’t let anyone bully her.” Liam. So helping another woman beat me is your way of protecting me? I regret it. I regret loving you so much. I had a fever all night. I dreamed I was sinking into the cold ocean. My mother’s ashes fell like snow around me. I tried to catch them, but I couldn’t. “Paige… Paige…” Someone was calling me. I struggled to open my eyes. I wasn’t in bed. I was in a speeding car. Outside, the scenery blurred. Liam gripped the steering wheel, his face grim. “Liam…” my voice was wrecked. “Where are you taking me?” He didn’t look at me. “Jenny was kidnapped.” I froze. My brain slowly rebooted. “So?” “The kidnapper asked for you.” He finally glanced at me. “It’s Zeke.” Zeke. That name was a knife. The psycho who stalked me until Liam ran him out of town. “You… you’re trading me for Jenny?” My voice shook. Liam tightened his grip on the wheel. “Zeke used to like you. He won’t hurt you.” I felt like I fell into an ice cave. I struggled to open the door, but my hands were tied under the seatbelt. “Liam!” I screamed. “Are you crazy? You know what kind of person Zeke is!” “Paige, calm down.” His voice was terrifyingly calm. “Once I get Jenny back, I’ll come save you immediately.” The car stopped at an abandoned warehouse. “I brought her.” Liam pushed me forward. “Where’s Jenny?” Zeke snapped his fingers. Two goons brought Jenny out. She was messy, tear-stained. Seeing Liam, her eyes lit up. “Mr. Luke!” Liam let go of me instantly and rushed to hug her. “It’s okay. I’m here.” I stood there, freezing. I watched him check her for injuries. I watched him wipe her tears. I watched him not give me a single glance. “Liam!!!” I screamed. He finally turned back. “Don’t be scared. I’ll come back for you soon.” Then, he put his arm around Jenny and walked away. Without looking back. I tried to run after them, but Zeke grabbed my wrist. “Long time no see, Miss Carter.” His breath on my ear made me shudder. Zeke shoved me into a car and drove straight to a hotel. The moment the door closed, he threw me onto the bed. Chapter 6 “Liam is generous,” he loosened his tie. “Hand-delivering a beauty like you.” I fought, but he overpowered me easily. He pressed down on me, tracing my cheek. “Do you know how long I’ve wanted you?” “Get off me…” I shook. “Don’t touch me…” Seeing my fear, Zeke laughed. “Tell you what. I’ll give you a chance. Call Liam. If he answers, I’ll let you go.” Trembling, I dialed Liam’s number. Once, twice, three times… Over a hundred calls. None answered. “See that, Paige? You’re worthless to him now.” “Be with me. I’ll make you happy.” Zeke grinned and leaned in, tearing at my dress. Just as he was about to violate me, I snapped. I grabbed a vase from the nightstand and smashed it over his head. He grunted and collapsed. I ran. It was pouring rain. I stumbled home. Soaked, bruised. Pushing open the door, I saw Jenny crying in Liam’s arms. “Did you really risk your wife’s life for me?” Liam wiped her tears. “Yes. You’re the most important thing to me.” Jenny cried harder. He cupped her face helplessly. “Baby, you’re safe now. Why are you still so scared?” “Who wouldn’t be scared after being kidnapped…” Liam smirked. “I know a way to make you not scared.” “I don’t believe you…” “Let me try?” He smiled. Then, Liam kissed her, pressing her onto the sofa. I watched, feeling my heart being carved out. I turned and walked back into the rain. I ran until I reached the old house. This was where we grew up. Our families were close. We lived in neighboring villas. Rain dripped from my hair. I walked to the old oak tree in the backyard. I remembered when we were eighteen, we buried a time capsule here. We promised to dig it up in ten years. “Paige, in ten years we’ll definitely be married.” Teenage Liam smiled brightly, putting a letter in the tin box. “I wrote a letter to my future self, telling him to love you forever.” I knelt in the mud, digging with my bare hands. My nails broke, fingers bled. I didn’t feel it. The box was rusty, but the letter was intact. I unfolded the paper with trembling hands. Teenage Liam’s neat handwriting jumped out: “To 28-year-old Liam: If you dare stop loving Paige, 18-year-old me will never forgive you. Remember, she is your life.” Rain blurred the ink. I pressed the letter to my chest and sobbed. I missed the boy who blushed giving me love letters. I missed the Liam who swore to protect me. “He broke his promise… he broke his promise…” I cried to the air, as if the boy could hear me. I sat there until the rain stopped. Then, I took the ninety-eighth letter from my bag and lit it.

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I crashed my ex-boyfriend’s wedding. As everyone gathered around for the cake cutting, I walked up to him, leaned in, and whispered a single sentence in his ear. He whipped around, the cake knife still in his hand, and plunged it into his bride’s chest. One stab, two stabs, three… He stabbed her eighteen times, like he was venting a lifetime of rage. Guests scrambled, screaming in terror. The “Red Wedding” dominated the news cycle for weeks. Everyone wanted to know what happened. But neither Cole nor I said a word. It was our unspoken pact. The police investigated for months but found zero motive and zero evidence of incitement. They had no choice but to declare him legally insane. He spent the next five years in a psychiatric hospital. The day Cole was released just happened to be his parents’ 70th birthday bash. And once again, I showed up uninvited. I walked up to a fully recovered Cole and whispered the exact same sentence in his ear… 1 “Cole hasn’t spoken to you in three years. Why can’t you let it go? Are you here to object or something?” I stood there in a black dress, looking like a grim reaper at Cole’s big day. Cole’s eyes were cold, scanning me like I was a stranger he’d never met. His gaze lingered for a second, then he turned back to whisper sweet nothings to his bride. The guests started whispering, their eyes darting between me and the groom. Cole’s parents marched over, faces purple with rage. “We didn’t send you an invite. If you know what’s good for you, get out. Don’t make a scene!” But the bride, ever the gracious saint, stepped forward. “We all know each other. I’m sure Fiona just came to wish us well.” Cole’s parents couldn’t argue with their new daughter-in-law, so they shoved me to a table in the very back corner. The awkwardness passed quickly. The party resumed, laughter and clinking glasses filling the air. It was cake-cutting time. The crowd surged toward the couple. In the chaos, I was pushed right next to Cole. His arm was around his bride’s waist, a loving smile plastered on his face. I seized the moment. I leaned in and whispered in his ear. His smile froze. His eyes shifted from gentle to monstrous, like something terrifying had just shattered his soul. He gripped the cake knife and drove it straight into the bride’s heart. She didn’t even have time to scream before blood soaked her white dress. The guests screamed, scattering like roaches. The flowers, the tablecloths, even the sky seemed to turn red. I stood there calmly, watching him kill. I didn’t stop him. I didn’t flinch. Until the sirens cut through the chaos. 2 Cole and I were interrogated in separate rooms. “What did you say to him?” Detective Miller slammed his hand on the table, barely containing his anger. “Why did he suddenly snap and butcher his own bride?” I lifted my eyelids slightly, my expression flat. I didn’t look like someone who had just witnessed a murder. “I don’t know.” Miller exploded. “How can you not know? Because of one sentence from you, an innocent woman is dead!” “We checked. Cole and the victim, Sarah, had a great relationship. No fights, nothing. If you hadn’t shown up, why would he turn into a monster?” I sneered. “Detective, do my words have magical powers? Do you really believe Cole killed his wife just because I whispered something?” Miller choked. Obviously, he didn’t believe in voodoo either. They’d done their homework. They knew Cole and I hadn’t seen each other in three years. Zero contact. Cole was a model citizen. Good grades, good job, volunteered at the animal shelter. He loved stray cats and dogs. He had zero history of violence. They couldn’t figure out why he snapped, so they pinned it on my whisper. “So what did you say to him? You can at least tell us that.” I looked him dead in the eye. “If you can prove my words caused the murder, I’ll tell you.” “Otherwise, I’m only stating what I saw.” “But you probably don’t need that. You have the tapes. Watch them yourself.” “You…” Miller’s face turned red. He gritted his teeth, looking like he wanted to throttle me, but eventually just stormed out of the room. Meanwhile, in the other interrogation room, Cole was in worse shape. He sat in the chair, eyes empty, like a puppet whose strings had been cut. No matter what Miller asked, he didn’t speak. It was like he had forgotten how. 3 As soon as I walked out of the station, Cole’s and Sarah’s parents swarmed me like vultures. “Fiona! What did you say to him?!” Cole’s mom screeched, her hand landing a sharp slap across my face. “I always knew you were trash. You never deserved my son.” “Now that you’re broken up, why can’t you let him go? Why do you have to ruin his life?” Even though Cole held the knife, Sarah’s parents poured all their hate onto me. Sarah’s mom was sobbing, tears streaming down her pale face. She grabbed my collar, shaking me. “Our Sarah was so kind. She never hurt anyone. Why did you make Cole kill her?” Sarah’s dad stood by, fists clenched white. “Cole broke up with you voluntarily! It had nothing to do with my daughter! Why take it out on her?” Let them scream. Let them curse. I stood there like a statue, feeling nothing. After that, reporters camped on my lawn, demanding answers. Some bored billionaire even offered a huge bounty for the “magic words” that could make a man kill. But no matter the threats or bribes, I kept my mouth shut. Six months passed. The police still couldn’t find a motive or proof of incitement. They had to settle for an insanity plea. The Cole family grabbed onto this lifeline. They spent their fortune on lawyers. They pulled every string they had. Finally, after a long legal battle, they got him committed to a mental institution instead of prison. To pay for his treatment and care, Cole’s parents sold their business. They rented a tiny apartment near the hospital and dedicated their lives to him. For five years, they blocked every attempt I made to visit. My entire interaction with Cole was limited to that one sentence at the wedding. Thanks to his family’s relentless efforts, Cole was finally declared “cured” and released after five years. The day he got out happened to be his parents’ 70th birthday. Double celebration. Even though the family fortune was gone, they took out loans to throw a massive banquet to celebrate their son’s rebirth. 4 I showed up in the same black dress from five years ago. The unwanted guest at the feast. Everyone froze. The lively hall turned dead silent. Cole’s mom couldn’t keep up the facade. Her smile cracked. She rushed over, grabbing my arm to drag me out. “You jinx! Why are you haunting us like a ghost?” “Get out! Or I won’t be polite!” Even though they were broke, Cole’s parents wanted to prove to the world that their son was normal again. They invited every VIP they still knew. They wanted to wash away the stain of the past. But seeing me shattered their illusion instantly. “Mrs. Stone, relax. I’m just here to celebrate the big day and Cole’s recovery.” I kept that ambiguous half-smile on my face as I handed over a gift box. She slapped it out of my hands like it was a bomb. “We don’t want your trash! Who knows what you put in there!” “Take your garbage and get the hell out!” There were reporters there, smelling blood in the water. One shouted out: “Mrs. Stone, are you scared because Cole isn’t actually cured?” “Are you afraid he’s gonna grab a knife again?” Cole’s mom frowned, forcing a smile. “Of course not. The doctors said Cole is fully recovered. He’s not dangerous.” “But this woman is evil. Who knows what she’ll say to trigger my son!” The reporter sneered. “If one sentence is enough to make him kill, he belongs in a cage, not at a party.” His words hit her like a hammer. She was speechless. I picked up the gift box, dusted it off, and handed it to her again. This time, she didn’t refuse. She took it with shaking hands, muttering a dark “thank you.” 5 She shoved me to the back table again. She and her husband glued themselves to Cole, terrified we’d make contact. When the toasts began, the crowd surged toward the main table. Cole’s parents got distracted by well-wishers, laughing and drinking. They relaxed. They didn’t see me raising my glass, moving closer to Cole. When it was my turn to toast, I leaned in and whispered the same sentence from three years ago. Cole’s face changed instantly. He grabbed a carving knife from the table, moving faster than thought, and plunged it into his mother’s stomach. Blood sprayed everywhere. His mother’s eyes bulged in disbelief as she slumped to the floor. “Cole is killing again!” The scream tore through the room. Tables flipped. Glasses shattered. No one dared to step in. His dad tried to stop him. But Cole was in a frenzy. He slashed wildly at his father. His dad fell, arms and legs cut, begging on the floor. “Son… it’s me… it’s Dad…” Cole didn’t hear him. He slit his father’s throat. Blood soaked the carpet. After finishing his father, Cole walked back to his dying mother. Just like with Sarah, he stabbed her eighteen times. Someone called the cops. They arrived quickly. Cole didn’t fight. He let them cuff him. But his relatives turned on me, screaming. “Why aren’t you arresting her?!” “We saw it! She whispered to him, and he snapped!” The crowd joined in. “Yeah! Five years ago, she did the same thing! He killed his wife because of her!” “She’s the real murderer!” Detective Miller was there. He recognized me instantly. “What did you say to him?!” Just like five years ago, I stayed silent. “Three dead bodies, Fiona. Are you still not going to talk?” Suddenly, a kid ran out holding a camcorder, grinning. “I recorded what the lady said!”

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1 After college graduation, my parents suggested I go on a road trip with all the students my family’s foundation had sponsored. Driving through No Man’s Land, the fuel gauges on our three SUVs were hitting empty. That’s when Sarah piped up with a brilliant idea: pour water into the gas tanks. “Just add some water, the gas will last longer,” she chirped. My boyfriend, Liam, smiled and agreed. The other sponsored students nodded along like bobbleheads. I shut it down immediately. Water in the gas tank? That’s a one-way ticket to a wrecked engine. I couldn’t let everyone die out there. I took a hard line, siphoning gas from two vehicles into one, and risked my life driving out alone to get help. When my car ran dry, I hiked for a day and a night until I found a rescue team and brought them back. On the return trip, Sarah claimed I looked down on her. She ran off crying and stumbled straight into a wolf pack. They tore off both her legs. She sobbed that I had led her into the wolves. Liam, furious, threw me out of the car. The wolves tore me apart. Not even a bone was left. When I opened my eyes again, I was back to the moment Sarah suggested watering down the gas. I smiled. “Sure, go ahead. Water makes the car go faster.” “Gas stations water down their fuel anyway. If we add water to the tank, we can definitely save some gas.” Sarah’s voice buzzed in my ear. I pinched my own face. Ouch! I’m reborn? “Zoe, stop being stubborn. Just listen to everyone. Maybe this method can help us get out of No Man’s Land.” Sarah looked at me with wide, fearful eyes, like I was about to eat her. Liam and the other sponsored students stared at me. If I dared refuse Sarah’s suggestion, they’d gang up on me. I’d been through this scenario a thousand times. I smiled. “Sarah, you’re so smart to think of such a great idea.” “Do it. Water in the tank makes it go faster.” Standing nearby, Liam finally gave a satisfied smile. “For once, you actually know your place.” I didn’t want to waste breath on them. My brain was already calculating my escape plan from this wasteland. There were eleven of us in three cars. Originally, I was in the same car as Liam, but Sarah insisted on riding with him. So, I’ve been driving one car solo this whole trip. In my last life, my car had the most gas. To give everyone a fighting chance, I left them all the supplies and drove alone into the endless desert to find help. In this life? I’m not lifting a finger for these idiots. I’m getting myself out. Based on my past life, heading west for sixty miles gets you out of this desert. My tank has enough for forty miles. Luckily, I’ve always been into extreme sports. My stamina is solid. I can hike the remaining twenty miles before dark. The supplies in my car are more than enough. With a detailed plan in mind, I started to relax. Just to be safe, I pulled a watch out of the trunk. It was a birthday gift from him. In my last life, he found this watch where the wolves killed me. He broke down, slapping himself, blaming himself for not telling me sooner that this watch had a satellite GPS. If I had turned it on, he could have found me anywhere. I smirked, fiddled with the settings, and activated the GPS. This time, I hope he finds me. Seeing the luxury watch on my wrist, jealousy flashed in Sarah’s eyes. “Zoe, doesn’t your car have a case of water? Bring it out for us.” My heart sank. They want to use my drinking water to fill their gas tanks? 2 “You have four cases in your car. Why don’t you use yours?” I shot back. Sarah pouted, acting self-righteous. “Zoe, we’re in a desert. Water is precious. You can’t hoard it all for yourself.” I laughed. Just moments ago, she was using bottled water to wash her face. Now water is precious? Liam stepped forward, staring me down. “Bring it out.” His tone left no room for argument. I took a deep breath, suppressing my rage, trying to reason with him. “I bought that water…” “We’re in a crisis, and you’re still talking about ‘yours’ and ‘mine’?” Sarah interrupted, looking like a saint. “We need to unite in the face of difficulty. If everyone was as selfish as you, how would we ever get out of here?” The other students immediately chimed in, looking at me with disdain: “You can’t drink a whole case by yourself. Bring it out for distribution.” “Zoe, bring the water! Don’t make us take it.” “Capitalist daughters are so selfish. Not sensible like Sarah at all.” … Selfish? If my family hadn’t sponsored your education, you’d be hauling cement at a construction site right now, not going to college or getting jobs at our company. I finally understood why my parents wanted me to go on this trip. Crisis reveals character. This was their final test. Seeing I wouldn’t budge, they opened my trunk and started unloading supplies. I tried to stop them, but they pinned me to the ground. I watched helplessly as they poured my drinking water into their gas tanks. Without water, driving in this heat would mean dehydration and passing out. “Give me back my water…” I struggled to get up. Sarah grabbed a handful of sand and shoved it into my mouth, snarling, “Shut up! Say another word and I’ll fill your stomach with sand.” I gagged, coughing as sand filled my nose and throat. Snot and tears ran down my face. I was pathetic, lying in the dirt. The students laughed, clutching their stomachs. “Is this the heiress of the Ling family? Looks more like a dog to me! Hahaha…” I gritted my teeth and stood up, raising my hand to slap Sarah. The next second, my wrist was caught in a vice grip. Sarah reacted instantly and slapped me. Smack! Liam froze, instinctively letting go. I collapsed, my face burning. Sarah hid behind Liam, trembling. “I’m sorry, Zoe. You tried to hit me first. It was just self-defense.” Liam reached a hand out to me, looking disgusted. “Get up. Stop embarrassing yourself.” I forced the tears back and looked up into his eyes. “Liam, let’s break up.” “Sarah was just reacting, she didn’t mean it. Why are you throwing a tantrum again?” Liam shielded Sarah, looking at me warily, like I was going to snap his little white flower in half. A wave of exhaustion hit me. Throwing a tantrum? From the moment we started dating, any time I didn’t go along with his decisions, I was “throwing a tantrum.” Not going to the same college as him? Tantrum. Studying abroad? Tantrum. Sarah cries? My tantrum. … “Liam, we’re not on the same path. Breaking up is best for both of us.” Time had corroded the man I loved beyond recognition. When I was twelve, I snuck out to eat street food and saw Liam huddled in a corner washing dishes. His hands moved mechanically, scrubbing greasy plates, but his eyes looked enviously at the students in uniforms. 3 I felt sorry for him and asked my dad to sponsor his education. Liam worked hard, got into high school with top grades, and ended up at my school. At the opening ceremony, a stage light fell. He shielded me with his body, getting a concussion that hospitalized him for a month. Blood blurred his vision, but he smiled and comforted me: “Don’t be scared. I’ll protect you.” Later, we naturally became a couple. I don’t know when his gaze started drifting to Sarah. She was a charity case like him. Sarah, the delicate little flower, always made him feel soft, made him want to take care of her. Eventually, his heart completely tilted her way. I staggered up, snatched my keys from Sarah, and started the car. As I hit the gas, I felt a weight lift. Finally escaping. The next moment, Liam blocked the car with his body. I slammed the brakes, hitting my head on the steering wheel. A flash of pain crossed Liam’s eyes, and his tone softened. “Stop this. It’s dangerous to go alone.” Sarah walked up, linked arms with Liam, and smirked at me. “Zoe, stop with the princess attitude. Your car has the most gas. If you waste it, what about us?” Her words rallied the others. “Yeah, it’s safer if we all stick together.” “Siphon the gas from her car. That gives us more hope.” I sneered. “This car is mine. Why should I give you my gas?” Not just this one. All three cars were mine. One guy shouted indignantly: “We need to work together to get out of the desert. There is no ‘yours’ and ‘mine’ right now.” I rolled my eyes. “Your two cars are full. Where am I supposed to sit? You giving up your seat?” He shut up. Sarah tilted her head, feigning innocence. “Zoe, don’t you love convertibles? You can sit on the roof! It’s way more exciting than a convertible.” Everyone agreed instantly. “Exactly! The roof is great. She loves freedom, let her feel the wind.” “Don’t worry, we have ropes. We can tie you down so you won’t fall.” “Money can’t buy this kind of thrill. Miss Heiress can brag about this when we get back.” Liam sighed. Just as I thought he would shut down this ridiculous idea, his next words froze my blood. “You like extreme sports. You’re physically stronger than them. Sitting on the roof is fine.” I gave up hope. I slammed the gas pedal. Sarah screamed, “She’s running! Grab her!” They swarmed the car. The door was ripped open, and I was dragged out. I thrashed, trying to break free. “Ah!” Sarah cried out, clutching her stomach and crouching on the ground. “Zoe, why did you kick me?” Liam shoved me aside and held her. I froze, instinctively arguing, “I didn’t even touch her…” Sarah shrank into Liam’s arms, looking at me with terror. “Zoe, I shouldn’t have blocked your way. Please don’t kick me again… it hurts…” Liam frowned, his voice cold. “Apologize!” “I didn’t do anything! Why should I apologize?” The others started accusing me: “You were struggling so hard, you definitely kicked Sarah.” “Sarah is so kind, she wouldn’t lie. You have to apologize!” 4 Sarah was sweating, breathing fast. “Sand got into my wound…” She showed Liam a one-inch scratch on her arm. Liam glared at me. “Zoe! Look what you did.” I smirked. “Any later and the wound would have healed itself.” Sarah forced a pained smile. “Zoe, I don’t need an apology. Can I borrow your sun jacket? Just to block the sand, my wound hurts…” My jacket was custom-made, designed by my mom with high-tech fabric. Sun-proof, wind-proof, breathable. You couldn’t buy it. I refused immediately. “I’m allergic to UV rays. No.” Sarah moaned in pain. “Forget it. My life isn’t worth as much as the princess’s delicate skin.” Liam’s face went ice cold. “UV allergy? That’s just an excuse because you don’t want to get tan.” “I’m counting to three. Take it off yourself!” “One, two…” Before three, Liam lost patience. He grabbed my wrist and stripped the jacket off me. I was left in a tank top. My skin, exposed to the brutal sun, started to burn immediately. My face stung. Liam gently put the jacket on Sarah, carefully blowing away the sand on her skin. Looking at them made me sick. I turned to leave. Just as I reached for the car door, Liam grabbed my hand. “It’s just a jacket. Why are you throwing a tantrum again?” “Throwing a tantrum.” Those words lit a fuse. I slapped Liam across the face. Hard. “I don’t throw tantrums. I throw hands!” Liam’s face swelled instantly. Sarah screamed. “Are you crazy? How dare you hit Liam!” Liam pressed his tongue against his cheek, his face dark as a storm. “Zoe, you mess up and refuse to repent. Looks like you need a lesson.” My heart sank. “Since you don’t want the roof, take the bumper.” I gasped. “Liam, are you insane?!” Two muscular guys grabbed me, tied my hands, and tied the other end of the rope to the back of the car. “We’ll let you down when you admit you’re wrong.” With that, he got into the driver’s seat. The engine roared. I was yanked forward. The car picked up speed. I couldn’t keep up. I fell, dragged for dozens of yards. Rocks and sand tore my skin apart. Blood flowed. I screamed in panic. “Stop! Please stop!” Laughter came from inside the car. They couldn’t hear me. The car drifted around a rock. My head slammed into it. Stars exploded in my vision. Blood blurred my eyes. Terror flooded me. Survival instinct took over. I begged, “I’m sorry… I was wrong…” The roar of the engine drowned me out. The car didn’t stop. I was going to die here. My consciousness faded. Through the blur, I saw a helicopter approaching. A man’s desperate voice shouted: “Let her go!” Smoke poured from the two cars ahead. They had to stop. One student yelled: “Bad news! The cars broke down!” 5 Before the helicopter even landed, the man in the pilot’s seat jumped out and sprinted toward me. He cut the rope with a knife and crushed me into a hug, his voice trembling. “Moon, I’m late.” “Brother…” As soon as I spoke, my nose stung and tears poured out. I choked, unable to form a sentence. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left you.” I shook my head slightly, trying to smile. “I’m happy to see you.” “Ethan! Let go of my girlfriend!” Liam got out of the car. Seeing me in Ethan’s arms, anger washed over his face. Ethan set me down gently, turned, and punched Liam square in the jaw. Liam hit the dirt. Ethan, eyes red, pounded him again and again. The students were stunned. “What are you waiting for? Help him!” Sarah shrieked. They snapped out of it and pulled them apart. Liam wiped blood from his lip, veins popping. “Ethan, you’re a psycho!” Ethan’s eyes were bloodshot, chest heaving. “I’m a psycho? You’re an animal!” “Zoe loves you, and you tried to kill her!” Liam finally saw my state. Covered in wounds, forehead bleeding. His face paled. “I just wanted her to apologize… I didn’t think she’d get hurt this bad…” “Apologize?” Ethan sneered. “Looks like you’re not just stupid, you’re blind.” Liam shot back, “You’re just the Ling family’s adopted son. What right do you have to interfere with me and Zoe?” Ethan’s gaze shifted to me, gentle as water. “From now on, I’ll protect her for the rest of my life.” I froze. I didn’t expect him to say that. Ethan was the son of my dad’s best friend. His parents died in a car crash when he was young, and my dad adopted him. We were close as kids. I followed him around calling him “Brother.” But in high school, he turned cold. He forbade me from calling him Brother. When I started dating Liam, he went abroad. He only came back a year ago. He brought a first aid kit and bandaged me. “Just a quick fix. I’m taking you to the hospital.” I nodded. Sarah whined, “How can we all fit in that tiny helicopter?” She was already planning to grab the best seat for the view. Ethan laughed coldly. “What does your survival have to do with me?” “You!” Sarah fumed. Seeing me on the helicopter, she put on her innocent mask. “Zoe, you wouldn’t be heartless enough to leave us, would you?” I smiled faintly. “Didn’t you say water in the gas tank would get everyone out? I believe in you.” Seeing the smoke pouring from the cars, the students started to panic. “Sarah, didn’t you say water saves gas?” “The engines are blown! What now?!” Sarah’s face twisted. She lost it. “It’s not my car! How should I know? I don’t even have a license! You guys are men, shouldn’t you know cars better than me?” That enraged everyone. “Sarah, what the hell? We trusted you because you’re the top student! Now the cars are wrecked and you’re blaming us?” “I don’t care! You have to get us out of here!” Sarah hid behind Liam, eyes darting with calculation. “Don’t they have a helicopter? Go take it!”

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“One week of silence means we’re done.” My boyfriend, Lucas, used that phrase like a weapon for the entire year we dated. Every time we fought, he’d drop that line and ghost me. Until our last fight. He pulled the same stunt—blocked me on everything and walked away without looking back. In that moment, I realized just how garbage this relationship was. I didn’t spam him with friend requests this time. I didn’t chase him, begging for forgiveness. Instead, I quietly changed my college application preferences and avoided every place I knew he’d be. Seven days flew by. His friends started panicking. “Lucas isn’t even mad anymore, he’s just waiting for you to apologize.” “If you keep acting like this, he’s actually going to dump you, and you’ll have nowhere to cry.” I smiled. “Cool. Let’s break up then.” “Just like he wanted.” 1 The sun was blazing, but Lucas’s face was ice cold. Beneath the coldness was a layer of thick impatience. “I’ve told you a million times, Mia and I grew up together.” “She’s like a little sister to me. I just look out for her.” “Can you stop being so jealous over nothing? It’s annoying.” I didn’t speak. I didn’t cry like I used to, frantically defending myself. I just felt tired. Being unhappy over the same thing again and again was exhausting. Seeing my silence, Lucas softened his tone slightly. “Okay, look.” “I know you get jealous easily. I’ll try to keep my distance from her.” The bitterness in my chest finally spilled over. My eyes stung. Maybe there really was nothing between them. Like Lucas said a thousand times: If he liked Mia, why would he be dating me? But then he added, “But you have to promise me something too.” “Because you threw a fit last time, people started calling Mia a homewrecker.” “That kind of label hurts a girl. You know that.” The cicadas were screaming in the trees, but my heart plummeted into a silent abyss. I looked at Lucas. His face was so familiar, yet so strange. “What do you want?” “Find a chance to clarify things for her. Tell everyone it’s not true.” “She was crying about it yesterday, her eyes were so swollen…” “No.” I cut him off. Lucas froze, then visibly bristled. “Say that again.” “I said, no.” I dug my nails into my palms to stop my voice from shaking. “Fine.” Lucas laughed, a sharp, angry sound. He pulled out his phone and blocked me right in front of my face. “Emily.” He looked at me coldly. In the heat of summer, his voice was freezing. “If you have any dignity, don’t come crawling back.” 2 That night, one of his friends sent me a screenshot of Lucas’s Instagram story. Caption: “The neighbor’s kid grew up.” Attached were two photos. One of them at three years old, holding hands and grinning. One of them now. Not holding hands, but looking at each other with that same smile. Mia commented: “Hehe, am I still as cute as back then?” Lucas replied: “Still as greedy for snacks, little piggy.” His friend texted me: “See? Lucas just sees her as a sister.” “He posted this to clarify things so people stop misunderstanding.” I didn’t reply. I just smiled bitterly at my screen. Lucas wasn’t clarifying things for me. He was clarifying for Mia. Proving she wasn’t the “other woman.” While blow-drying my hair after a shower, I remembered all the Polaroids I took with Lucas. I dug the album out from the bottom drawer and packed it up. Tomorrow, I’d find a place to destroy them. Before sleep, my phone buzzed. A message from an unknown number. Just a photo. Two hands, fingers interlaced tightly. I recognized the guy’s hand. It was Lucas’s. The other hand must be Mia’s. Interlocked fingers. Just like their childhood photo. The text read: “Sis, do you really think the new girl can beat the childhood sweetheart?” I stared at it numbly for a few seconds. I didn’t reply. I took a screenshot, saved it, and blocked the number. 3 The next day, I went to a recycling center. I destroyed the photos, the letters, the little gifts Lucas gave me. After that, I logged into the college portal and changed my application preferences. Once everything was done, I checked my messages. My bestie sent me the location for a party. Since graduation, everyone was partying every day. Usually at the same old spots. So, of course, the moment I walked in, I bumped into Lucas’s crew. They saw me and immediately started winking and nudging each other. “Emily! Here for Lucas, right?” “What a coincidence, he just got here. He’s inside.” “Told you guys. She couldn’t even wait a day, let alone a week.” “Lucas is a legend. One sentence and he’s got her on a leash.” “I’m not here for him,” I said, frowning. I’d heard this crap before, but this time, it just made me sick. “Stop pretending, Emily…” I didn’t bother engaging. I turned to leave. They paused, surprised. “Wait, you’re actually leaving?” “She’s just acting tough. Watch, she’ll be begging him to take her back by tomorrow.” I scoffed and looked back at them. “Sure. Keep waiting then.” 4 Lucas glanced at his friends walking in. He looked behind them, expecting someone else. His eyes darkened. He definitely heard Emily’s name just now. But she wasn’t there. Lucas felt a wave of irritation. Emily’s temper had been out of control lately. Making scenes over Mia constantly. Didn’t she get it? He and Mia had known each other since they were in diapers. If he wanted Mia, Emily wouldn’t even be in the picture. His phone buzzed. He unlocked it quickly. A WeChat message. The corners of his lips quirked up. Finally, the friend request. But when he opened it, it was from Mia: “Lucas, can you come get me?” He frowned, annoyed. “It’s close, can’t you walk?” “I hurt my leg.” Mia sent a photo. Her calf was bleeding. It looked bad. But Lucas’s eyes fixed on the bottom right corner of the photo. A flash of a teal skirt. If he remembered correctly, Emily had a skirt exactly like that. He stood up immediately and strode out.

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My senior year of high school, my parents cut me off. Completely. They demanded I drop out. With no other options, I walked into St. Jude’s Academy, a place crawling with trust fund babies and nepo babies. Because my grades were stellar, the school waived my tuition. But I still needed to eat. After starving for two weeks, wearing my most pathetic, threadbare clothes, I finally mustered the courage. I looked at the class of rich kids who never studied and said: “Hey… does anyone need their homework done? It’s… it’s only five bucks a pop.” The young masters and misses, busy flexing their wealth, stopped dead. They all stared at me in shock. A moment later, the room erupted: “Five bucks? Are you insulting me? Five hundred! Do mine first!” “I’ll pay five thousand! I’m first in line!” “Fifty thousand! US Dollars!” “Screw you guys! I’m lighting a sky lantern! Let’s see who dares outbid me today!” 1 The day I got kicked out, I had just started senior year. My dad, face twisted in rage, pointed a shaking finger at my nose. “Other girls your age are bringing in bride prices! But you? You’re just a money pit, spending my cash all day.” My mom chimed in, her voice dripping with false concern. “If you don’t marry, where will your brother get the money to marry and carry on the family line?” I clutched my stack of academic awards, screaming my defense until my throat was raw. It was useless. I ran away. My dad’s voice chased me out the door. “I’d like to see how you survive until college without us feeding you!” I took my transcripts and went from high school to high school. The answer was always the same: “Your grades are okay, but who knows if you’ll slip up senior year?” “We can only offer a tuition waiver.” That wasn’t enough. Clinging to my last shred of hope, I stood in front of St. Jude’s Academy. This place was rich kid central. Heirs and heiresses everywhere. Their daily routine was fighting and flexing. Nobody studied. In their world, the SATs were just a formality. They were all going abroad anyway. When I stood in the office, wearing clothes washed so many times the hems were fraying, the Dean looked down her nose at me. “You’re sure you want to come here? Aren’t you afraid of getting bullied?” I shook my head vigorously. “As long as you can waive the tuition and give me a tiny scholarship…” “Just a little… fifty, no, twenty bucks a month is fine. I’ll study hard. I’ll bring honor to the school.” The Dean agreed. I took the advanced scholarship check for two thousand dollars, thanked her profusely, and backed out. As the door closed, I heard her scoff. “Twenty bucks? Who does she think we are?” 2 I made it into the classroom. The noise of the rich kids died down instantly. They all sized me up with curious eyes. “What is she wearing? Are those holes intentional? Is this the new ‘Warzone Chic’ from Balenciaga?” “Why not Chanel?” “The fabric is holding up surprisingly well for being that worn. Must be off-brand. Only street stall stuff is that durable.” “Oh, you’re an expert? You wear that stuff?” “You dare accuse me of wearing street stall clothes? You’re dead! I’m telling my dad to pull funding from your dad’s company tomorrow…” Two rich kids started brawling. I kept my head down, walked past them, and found my seat. It was in the corner, right next to the trash can. I blocked out the gossip. I’d heard worse from my parents. The mockery of these pampered kids was nothing. Now I had a school. I had a shot at college. Nobody bullied me. During the break, a gorgeous girl even ran over to my desk, looking at me like I was a new species. “Hey, Perry,” she asked, genuinely curious. “Why are your clothes so tattered? Did you not like this season’s couture?” “Is it possible,” I said slowly, “that I just can’t afford it?” “Why not? Did you get your allowance cut? You can just draw from your trust fund.” I sighed. What is a trust fund? Chloe rested her chin on her hand. “How did you get here?” “Walked. Got up early.” “Why didn’t your driver drop you off?” “No driver. No car.” “Then why not ride your motorcycle?” “Don’t have one of those either.” “Oh, I get it. You only like helicopters, and yours was in the shop this morning, right?” I hid my face behind a book. Forget it. I can’t explain this. 3 Two weeks in, I was basically invisible. I huddled in my corner, grinding through practice problems. The teachers started to like me. Because I was the only one listening. I took notes, answered questions, and saved them from the awkward silence of an empty room. But my focus was slipping. I was hungry. So hungry I wanted to gnaw on the desk. Tuition was free, but I had to pay for housing. The Dean refused to let me live in the dorms. She said my background was too “different” and the other students wouldn’t accept it. I had to rent a place. Rent was insane. I begged the landlord until he agreed to take six months upfront. My two thousand dollars instantly became one hundred. In this city, where land is gold, that only got me a tiny attic room in the boonies. The last hundred went to utilities. I was broke. My grades weren’t good enough for Ivy League yet, so I didn’t dare ask the Dean for more money. Living in that hellhole at home had destroyed my study time. Despite killing myself to catch up, my junior year scores were only good enough for a state school. I wasn’t the main character in a novel who could date, slack off, and still get a perfect SAT score. My stomach had been empty for over eight hours. Breakfast was a piece of steak and half a tuna sandwich I fished out of the school trash can. Delicious, but tiny. I licked my lips and looked up at my classmates as the final bell approached. They were discussing which golf course to hit or whose yacht to party on. I pinched my arm hard, summoned every ounce of courage I had, and asked timidly: “Um… excuse me… does anyone need their homework done? It’s… it’s only five bucks a copy.” 4 I had never seen these kids do homework. Whenever the teacher assigned it, I was the only one writing it down to do later under my scavenged lamp in that stifling attic. After I spoke, the room went silent. The flexing stopped. Everyone looked at me like I’d grown a second head. Chloe gasped. “Class Prez, you do homework?” Since the teachers loved me, I had been promoted to Class President. Which meant I also did all the cleaning. My voice was barely a squeak. “Yes. I write fast and accurate. If you need a ghostwriter, consider me.” “I don’t charge much. Five bucks a paper. Buy five, get one free.” Thinking about how rich their families were, I quickly added: “Price is negotiable if that’s too high.” Shock cracked across their faces. Then, chaos erupted. “Five bucks? Are you looking down on me? Five hundred! Do mine first! Let my dad see his son loves learning!” “Five hundred? Embarrassing. I’ll pay five thousand! I’m first!” “Fifty thousand! US Dollars! I have nothing but money!” “Sky lantern! I want to see who dares outbid me today!” 5 The classroom was a zoo. The bids were getting ridiculous. It was like I was selling a Picasso, not Algebra II homework. I waved my hands frantically. “Just five bucks! I can’t take more. If you want it done, I’ll go in order.” “It’s all STEM stuff anyway, I can do it fast.” Business needs to be sustainable. I was afraid if I took too much, their parents would find out. Freshman year, I did homework for six bucks. A parent checked the accounts, found out, and screamed at my door for an hour. The shouting continued until Chloe secured the first slot. She triumphantly transferred me twenty bucks. My second-hand phone lagged for a solid minute before the notification popped up. I stared at the balance. Twenty dollars. “Don’t worry, Miss Chloe. I promise to make your homework look beautiful tonight.” I made a hundred bucks that day. Five orders. I worked until 1 AM. To ensure quality, I never took more than I could handle. The next day after school, I was staring at a fresh hundred-dollar transfer, about to shoulder my Chanel backpack (scavenged from the trash), when I was blocked. The class’s richest, most volatile Queen Bee stood in my way. She tapped her diamond-encrusted nails and nodded at her two minions. “Drag her to the bathroom!”

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I always wanted a big brother growing up. But when my mom remarried, my new stepbrother hated my guts. He called me clingy, a nuisance, and eventually manipulated our parents into transferring me to the rival high school just to get rid of me. I left without a fight. One semester later, when his anger faded and he came to bring me home, he found things had changed. I had new teachers, new friends, a new life. And I had a new brother. 1 I used to beg my mom for a brother. She’d look at me, sigh, and say, “That’s a bit tricky, honey. Unless you plan on being reborn.” I’d pout. “Okay, maybe I don’t want one that bad.” But then, Mom remarried, and I actually got one. Hayden was a year older than me, a junior in high school while I was a sophomore. I was thrilled. He was ice cold. He forbade me from calling him “brother” at school or even acknowledging we lived in the same house. At first, I thought he was just slow to warm up. Maybe he was struggling with the blended family dynamic. So, I tried to be the sunshine to his storm cloud. I waited by the door every morning so we could walk to school together. I blew off my friends to hang out by his classroom after the final bell. Hayden was always “busy.” He’d make me wait an hour outside his homeroom while he messed around on his phone. The sun would go down, the janitors would start mopping, and finally, his buddy, the class president, would walk out and look at me with pity. “Luna? Everyone’s gone. Why are you still here?” I shifted my weight on my numb legs. “I’m waiting for… Hayden.” “Hayden? Oh, I’ll grab him.” He turned back and yelled into the room, “Yo, Hayden! Quit stalling. Your girl’s waiting.” Through the window, I saw Hayden scowl, sling his backpack over one shoulder, and kick a chair out of his way as he stormed out. His friend tried to defend me. “Dude, what were you doing in there? Filling out forms? You made Luna wait for an hour.” Hayden didn’t even look at me. He just walked past, his voice dripping with indifference. “I didn’t ask her to wait.” I forced a smile at his friend. “It’s okay, really. He probably didn’t know I was there.” By the time I finished my sentence, Hayden was already down the hall. I jogged to catch up. As I passed the trash can near his locker, I saw a familiar flash of colorful foil. It was the wrapper for the artisan sandwich I’d made him that morning. I’d spent twenty minutes picking out that specific paper. When he took it this morning, I thought it was a peace offering. Turns out, he didn’t even take a bite. He just trashed it. 2 The walk home was silent. Hayden ignored me completely. That was fine. I could monologue. “So, the Dean came in to check our dress code today, and he walked in the back door and yelled at us for being loud, then walked to the front and praised us for being quiet. It was hilarious…” My laughter echoed in the empty street. Hayden stopped walking. “Can you ever just shut up?” My voice shrank. “Sorry.” He sped up, leaving me in the dust. I gathered my courage and jogged after him. “Hayden, can we just talk? I feel like there’s a misunderstanding between us…” He spun around under the streetlight, his face twisted in disgust. “You think I don’t see what you’re doing?” “Luna, the more you try to suck up to me, the more you make me sick.” He walked away. I crouched down on the sidewalk, burying my face in my arms. I couldn’t help it. The tears came. My parents divorced when I was tiny. Mom raised me on her own. She gave me everything she could, never missing a birthday no matter how many double shifts she worked. Family meant everything to me. I just wanted to make this work. I didn’t want Mom to be caught in the middle of a war. I didn’t understand why he hated me so much. After a good cry, I stood up and wiped my face. Maybe Hayden just wasn’t a family guy. Maybe he needed space. I can’t be so clingy, I told myself. One last try. If this fails, I’m done. 3 The next day, I baked a batch of cupcakes. I packed them in a cute box and went to find Hayden. He was in the student lounge with his basketball team. Hand on the doorknob, I froze when I heard my name. “Yo, Hayden, isn’t that girl Luna from Class 3 chasing you? Bringing you breakfast, waiting for you like a puppy?” I stood still. Even his best friends didn’t know we were step-siblings? Hayden didn’t answer, but someone else chimed in. “Not gonna lie, isn’t she your type? Cute, smart, great legs.” “Yeah, bro, she’s totally into you. With your rizz, you could probably get her into bed with two sentences.” “So when are we calling her sister-in-law? Or just a friends-with-benefits situation?” I clenched my fists and quietly pulled out my phone, hitting record. They laughed for a while until Hayden’s cold voice cut through the noise. “Her? Please. She’s disgusting. I wouldn’t touch her if she was the last girl on earth.” The room erupted in laughter. I stood outside the door, my blood turning to ice. I felt nauseous. Game over. My mom had married into a snake pit. It wasn’t that I wasn’t trying hard enough. It was that Hayden was a trash human being. Suddenly, all my efforts to please him felt like a bad joke. I wanted to dump the cupcakes in the trash. But I paused. Why waste good food on him? I sat on a bench outside and ate them myself. 4 From that day on, I ghosted Hayden. In the mornings, I left early and stopped for tacos or bagels on the way, no longer chasing his shadow. After school, I hit the street food stalls with my friends, eating corn dogs and loaded fries, coming home only when the streetlights buzzed on. I avoided him like the plague. I still baked, but now the cupcakes went to my friends, who actually appreciated them. My life without Hayden was peaceful. It was perfect. Apparently, Hayden hated seeing me happy. One evening, I was walking up the driveway with a takeout box of spicy wings and cheese curds when he blocked my path. I paused, clutching my food. “…Did you want a wing?” Hopefully not. I only bought a single serving. Hayden stared at the food, his lip curling. “Luna, how old are you? Can you stop stuffing your face with junk and focus on something that matters?” I blinked. The wings were from WingStop. That matters. He continued, “You’re technically my sister now. Stop embarrassing me at school.” He slammed the front door in my face. Literal insanity. Zero people at school knew we were related. I thought about it for a second. Then I sat on the porch steps and ate my wings while they were still hot. 5 Midterm grades came out. I scored ten points higher than Hayden. He looked like he’d swallowed a lemon. When he saw me in the hall, he did a 180 and walked the other way. Probable cause: Inferiority complex. A few days later, he posted a photo on Instagram. Holding hands with a girl. Caption: [From now on, I only protect you.] The comments were full of people calling her “Sis-in-law.” I squinted. It was Hailey, a cheerleader in his grade. I realized those times he made me wait outside his class, he was probably flirting with her. With his GPA? Bold move. I kept scrolling. Suddenly, a text from Hayden: [Check my first post.] I didn’t get it. Did he want a like? That’s cringe. But considering the tension, I liked the post and commented “99” (a slang for ‘lasting forever’) with a rose emoji. He didn’t reply. Minutes later, I found out he blocked me. After that, the PDA started. He brought Hailey to the cafeteria every day. Feeding her spoonfuls of mash potatoes. I was horrified. Cafeteria food is barely edible, and they were feeding it to each other like it was gourmet. I stared a little too long. Hayden noticed. He fed her more aggressively. Hailey looked like she was choking.

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Chapter 1 My husband killed himself. All because the “love of his life”—his muse—thought his amputated limbs were disgusting. Before he died, he demanded to be buried in the plot nearest to hers, just so he could watch over her for eternity. And what did I get? The wife who stood by him for years? I got a mountain of debt and a final letter full of venomous gaslighting. “Chloe, if it weren’t for saving you back then, I wouldn’t be a cripple.” “If you have a shred of conscience, you’ll take care of my parents and Bella after I’m gone. Send them ten grand a month.” My in-laws screamed at me, beating me, cursing me, wishing I had died instead of Ethan. But as the blows landed, the memories of the past sharpened in my mind. Ethan didn’t lose his limbs saving me. He was trying to save Bella. I was the one who dug him out of that pile of corpses with my bare hands. To pay for his surgeries, I liquidated my assets. I took on massive debt. Ten years of selfless devotion, and this was my reward. A heavy blow struck the back of my head. My vision went black. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day of Ethan’s accident. I pretended I knew nothing. I boarded the plane for my overseas business trip. In this life, I wouldn’t even spare him a glance. “Ms. Hart, bad news! An earthquake just hit Oakhaven!” “Mr. Pei arrived there yesterday. We can’t reach him.” As soon as I walked into the airport terminal, my assistant, Sarah, chased after me, phone in hand, looking frantic. That’s when the reality of my rebirth truly hit me. Just like in my previous life, right as I was about to leave for London to close a transnational deal, disaster struck Ethan. Last time, I abandoned the trip without a second thought to find him. That decision pissed off our investors. The hundred-million-dollar project was scrapped. My company took a fatal hit. I had focused all my energy on Ethan, watching the business I built from scratch spiral into bankruptcy. Now, the executives behind me were watching me nervously. They knew I was obsessed with Ethan. They knew that even though he treated me like cold leftovers, I was the pathetic simp who would drop everything for him. Someone whispered, “Ms. Hart, the contract…” “Let’s go,” I said, walking toward the gate. I paused and turned back, my voice ice cold. “In the future, don’t bother me with anything regarding Ethan Pei.” The team stood there, stunned, before scrambling to catch up. The shock on their faces was priceless. Everyone knew I loved Ethan to the point of madness. But that woman died in her previous life. Until the plane took off, I didn’t look back. The negotiations lasted seven days. We hammered out every detail and secured the partnership. The team returned to the States in high spirits. As soon as we landed, I turned on my personal phone which had been off for a week. Notifications exploded. Everyone in Ethan’s circle had been blowing up my phone. I glanced at the messages with a detached laziness, then hailed a cab to the hospital. Chapter 2 Ethan was lying in a hospital bed, wrapped like a mummy. One arm and one leg were gone. In my past life, because I got to him quickly, he only lost a hand. When he woke up back then, he screamed like a maniac. He couldn’t accept his “imperfect” body. I wondered if he could handle the reality of his injuries now that they were ten times worse. His mother, Linda, was sitting by the bed, weeping tears of exhaustion. “He’s been in a coma for seven days. He hasn’t woken up.” “The doctor said he was crushed under the rubble for too long. His internal organs are damaged.” “The amputation area is too high… he can’t even use prosthetics. What are we going to do?” “He was fine! How did he end up like this?” Linda cursed through her teeth, “Who the hell did this to my son?” It was the same script as my last life. “My son is going to be a famous painter! How can he live without his right hand?” “If I find out which little slut caused this, I’ll kill her!” Back then, Ethan’s injuries weren’t life-threatening, and he was awake. Hearing his mother, and unable to accept the loss of his painting hand, he had shouted: “I got hurt saving Chloe!” I was dumbfounded back then. Why would he say that? He was saving Bella. But Linda had found her scapegoat. She slapped me across the face. “You bitch! My son doesn’t even like you, why are you so toxic? Are you trying to kill him?” I couldn’t explain. I just stared at Ethan. I thought he was delirious from the pain. But then, he had looked at his mother, then grabbed my hand. “Mom, I want to marry Chloe.” “Look at me. She’s the only one who won’t be disgusted by me now.” Linda had sneered but agreed. “Since she ruined you, she has to take responsibility. She can take care of you for the rest of your life.” After Linda left, Ethan had hugged me, crying. “Chloe, don’t be mad. I only said that so my parents would agree to the wedding.” “If they knew I did this for Bella, they’d force me to marry her. But I don’t love her anymore. You saved my life. I only want you.” I was so stupid. I believed every word. I ignored my company. I spent my fortune on his treatments and custom prosthetics. He said he wanted to paint, so I found the best doctors. I traveled the world for his rehab. He cried about not being able to support his parents, so I bought them a villa and luxury cars. Even when I ended up broke and drowning in debt, I never let the Pei family suffer. And Ethan? Ten years of rehab later, the moment he could hold a brush, he went to Bella. He wanted to rekindle their romance. But she looked at his stump and called it gross. He couldn’t take the rejection. He killed himself. And on his way out, he blamed me. “If you hadn’t been so late, I wouldn’t be like this!” “You ruined me thinking I’d stay with you? Dream on. I’d rather die than give you that satisfaction.” He died, leaving me the debt and a request to support his parents and his lover. He probably didn’t expect his parents to beat me to death in their grief. I opened my eyes, staring at the unconscious man. This time, you won’t get what you want. Chapter 3 Just then, Ethan struggled to open his eyes. “Where… where am I?” “What happened to me?” His face was wrapped in gauze. He couldn’t see anything. Linda lunged forward, grabbing his remaining hand. “There was an earthquake in Oakhaven. You were buried for three days before they dug you out. Your right arm and left leg… they’re gone.” “Your organs are damaged too. Why did you run off to Oakhaven?” Ethan’s body went rigid. But a second later, a burst of adrenaline made him roar, sitting up. “Impossible! How could I be a cripple?” “Mom, are you crazy? I’m your only son! How can you curse me like that?” His father walked in, looking away in pain. “Why would your mother lie? Tell us, how did you get hurt like this?” “No… No! I will not be useless!” Ethan screamed, struggling. Suddenly, he ripped the gauze off his face. Fresh blood poured from the unhealed wounds. It was grotesque. But he didn’t seem to feel the pain. He just kept repeating that he wasn’t a cripple. Then, he saw me. Pure hatred flashed in his eyes. He pointed a shaking finger at me. “Chloe Hart! Did you orchestrate this?” He laughed, a manic, broken sound. “You think I’d believe this lie?” “You think if I believe I’m crippled, I’ll finally agree to be with you? Keep dreaming!” “You bitch, you will never have me.” Confidence is a hell of a drug. I chuckled. “Whether your leg and arm are there or not… why don’t you look for yourself?” Ethan’s cursing stopped abruptly. Like a rusted machine, he slowly lowered his head. He saw the empty pant leg. The reality hit him like a lightning strike. He tried to move his right arm. A sharp, phantom pain shot through his shoulder, but there was nothing there. The sleeve of his hospital gown was flat. He finally realized his parents weren’t lying. “No… this can’t be…” “How can I be crippled? I’m going to be a painter!” “Bella is waiting for me to paint with her… I can’t be like this!” Linda grabbed his shoulders, shaking him. “Son, tell me! Was it that fox Bella who did this to you? I will kill her!” Ethan froze. The name Bella was like a bucket of ice water. He spoke quickly. “It was Chloe. I got hurt saving Chloe.” Chapter 4 “So it was you, you bitch! My son is ruined because of you, and you only show up now?” Linda went feral. She lunged at me, claws out. I laughed. It was genuinely funny. What did this have to do with me? I did absolutely nothing, yet they still tried to pin this on me? Before the slap could land, I caught Linda’s wrist and shoved her back. Our families were neighbors. I was raised to respect my elders. But the torture they put me through in my last life had ground my politeness into dust. They didn’t deserve it. I spoke coldly. “I was in the city the whole time. A week ago, I flew to London for business. When exactly was I in Oakhaven?” “There are limits to lying, you know.” “If it wasn’t you, who else could it be?” Linda refused to listen. She screamed, “Besides a shameless stalker like you, who else would he risk his life for?” “Tha—” “Shut up!” Ethan cut me off. He turned to his parents. “Mom, Dad, get out. I need to talk to Chloe alone.” The old couple left, reluctant and angry. Ethan looked at me. The hatred was still there, but now mixed with arrogance. “Chloe, as long as you admit I got hurt saving you… I’ll agree.” A look of martyrdom crossed his face, as if he were making a massive sacrifice. “I’ll agree to marry you.” “HAHAHAHA!” I threw my head back and laughed. I laughed until I saw the rage building in his eyes. “Ethan, do you actually think you’re a prize?” “Why would I take the blame for this?” “You think you can just invent a narrative where you’re my savior and guilt-trip me for life?” “And honestly… do you think I want you like this?” “I’m not running a charity for the disabled. Why would I marry a cripple?” I turned on my heel and walked out. Venting felt amazing. “Chloe! How dare you speak to me like that?” Behind me, Ethan screamed in impotent rage. “You’re the one who begged to marry me! I’m finally saying yes, how dare you refuse?” “Chloe! Get back here!” He screamed until his voice cracked. I didn’t look back. Chapter 5 For the next few days, I was busy hosting the partners from London. If this deal went through, the company would level up. IPO within two years, guaranteed. My assistant rushed in, looking stressed. “Ms. Hart, bad news. There’s a scene downstairs.” I walked out of the building. Ethan was sitting in a wheelchair. His parents were standing next to him, wailing about injustice. Behind them, people were holding banners. When Linda saw me, she lit up. “That’s her! That heartless bitch!” “My son lost an arm and a leg for her, and she won’t even admit it!” “They’ve been together for years, and now that he’s hurt, she dumps him!” “Who would do business with a woman like that? She’ll scam you!” I scanned the crowd coldly. My eyes locked with Bella, who was hiding in the throng. Ethan was useless to her now. She probably wanted to use him one last time to extort money from me. But I wasn’t the soft touch I used to be. Ethan’s voice rasped out, “Chloe, I can forgive you for trying to abandon me.” “But I promised to marry you. That hasn’t changed. Let’s get married.” I finally understood why the Pei family was so bold. Ethan was convinced I still loved him. He thought all he had to do was snap his fingers, and I’d come running. I guess I played the role of the loyal dog for so long, they forgot I was actually a human being. “Uncles, Aunties, everyone listening,” I announced, stepping forward, voice projecting clearly. “It is true that someone has been dating their son for years and abandoned him after the accident.” “And it is true he became disabled saving a woman. But that woman isn’t me.” “If the rule is ‘you must marry the person who saved you,’ then you should be talking to Bella.” I pointed directly at Bella. “I have evidence of their years-long affair. I have proof that during the earthquake, Ethan Pei was buried under rubble trying to save Bella.” “And I have proof that Bella ran away to save her own skin, leaving him to die.” The crowd gasped. I smiled at Ethan’s parents. “You’re barking up the wrong tree.” “No! It wasn’t me!” Bella shrieked, looking like a cornered rat. I didn’t give her a chance. I tossed a handful of photos into the air.

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I didn’t want to sit next to the school bully. But the bully’s mom begged me not to switch seats. She even held up five fingers to seal the deal. So, when the bully acted up, I slapped him. If he threw a tantrum? That was a one-way ticket to a beatdown. I literally slapped him into an Ivy League school. Then his mom wired me fifty thousand dollars. Me: “?” Wait, the hand signal meant money? I thought she was telling me to slap him five times a day. 1 I got stuck sitting next to Jax Sterling in junior year. Jax didn’t do uniforms. He had silver hair, diamond studs, and always smelled like expensive cigarettes. He was handsome, and he knew it. He was basically a walking, talking “greasy TikTok f-boy.” Absolute cringe. He rubbed his sharp jawline, puffing out his cheeks in a way he thought was cute. “Want a smoothie? Some freshman girl gave it to me. I don’t do strawberry.” I declined. “No thanks.” I was terrified that if I stuck a straw in it, I’d just suck up pure grease. I zoned out thinking about a calculus problem. Jax thought I was staring at his backpack. He immediately flicked the giant logo with his long fingers. “Gucci. Heh, nothing gets past you.” Me: “…” He made luxury brands look like knockoffs from a flea market. After gym class, he came back to his seat and deliberately lifted his shirt to wipe his sweat, flashing his eight-pack abs. Using my English textbook! I couldn’t take it anymore. I ran to the counselor’s office. The counselor practically cried. “Since Jax started sitting next to you, I haven’t lost my performance bonus once!” I didn’t care. “Ma’am, I’m here to study, not to babysit.” “Then you’ll have to talk to his parents yourself!” So, she called in Jax’s mom. 2 “It’s not that we haven’t tried talking to him, but boys that age are impossible to control. That’s why we’re counting on you!” Mrs. Sterling, a woman who clearly spent a fortune on skincare, gripped my hand. “Susie, please, you have to keep him.” She leaned into my ear, whispering pleadingly, “As long as you keep him, I’m okay with anything.” I looked down. I saw her secretly holding up five fingers. For real? I could get physical? I knew Jax came from big money, which was the only reason I’d been holding back. Now that I had a “get out of jail free” card, I wasn’t going to waste it. I gave a disclaimer: “I have a heavy hand. You won’t be heartbroken, will you?” Mrs. Sterling grinned from ear to ear. “Do whatever you see fit, Susie.” So. The next time Jax harassed me with that fake, deep ‘morning voice’— “Suuusie, want Jax to drive you home after study haaaall?” I didn’t hesitate. I raised my hand and slapped that frog voice right back down his throat. The whole class went dead silent. His minions almost jumped me. But what was I afraid of? I was licensed. I was under orders. “Clear the gravel out of your throat before you talk to me!” Jax clutched his red face. The corners of his eyes turned pink. He stared at me, stunned, for a long time. Poor little puppy. Slapped silly. I might look frail, but I can carry a propane tank up six flights of stairs without panting. When he spoke again, he was back to his normal, clean teenage voice. “Sorry, Susie. Is this better?” I gave a slap, now I had to give a treat. “You can drive me home after school.” “Okay, Susie.” Under the desk, Jax’s long legs were practically twisting into a pretzel with joy. Not just his minions, but the whole class was shook: The Dog Whisperer had entered the chat. 3 Jax never showed up for homeroom. He texted me: [Susie, do you want a King Crab feast or high tea at the Ritz?] I replied: [Breakfast burrito from the truck outside school.] That lady sold burritos at 5:30 AM and moved locations by 7:30 AM. Jax missed her completely the first day. When he showed up empty-handed during the first period, I slapped him. “I have low blood sugar, didn’t you know?” That scared Jax straight. He fixed his sleeping habits the very next day. Homeroom hadn’t even started, but at 6:30 AM, Jax was sitting at his desk waiting for me. When he saw me, he unzipped his jacket. The burrito was still warm from his body heat. I suppressed the urge to gag and ate it, looking at him yawning. “If you’re tired, forget it.” He swallowed half a yawn. “I’m not tired. I’ll buy you breakfast every day.” Since then, the school bully never missed homeroom again. 4 Jax always had to be special. On uniform days, he’d wear flashy Haute Couture. Relying on the fact that his family donated a building to the school, he acted untouchable. Jax bragged, “Susie, custom made by a master tailor. Handsome, right?” I slapped him. “It’s so ugly it hurts my eyes.” He started questioning his own taste. He changed outfits day after day. Finally, desperate, he wore the school uniform. I casually said, “Not bad.” After that, he wore that uniform until it faded, refusing to change it. I caught a cold and was coughing bad. Jax snuck out during the break to smoke. He came back smelling like an ashtray. It made me cough even harder. Next break, I followed him to the roof. I slapped the cigarette right out of his mouth. His posse was dumbfounded. “You think being Class Rep makes you a god? You dare hit the Boss?!” What was I scared of? His mom told me to do it. Jax lost face in front of his boys. But he didn’t get mad. He smiled, took the pack out of his pocket, and tossed it. As I walked downstairs alone, I heard Jax bragging to his friends: “Strict family discipline is for my own good. You guys with no one to care about you wouldn’t understand.” 5 Jax begged me to tutor him. I didn’t expect to have to start from The Big Bang. He didn’t even know middle school stuff. “How did you get into high school?” Jax was honest: “We bought my way in.” Rarely seeing him interested in learning, I took the time to make him a study guide. But he didn’t do a single problem. He bragged to his bros: “Studying is impossible. I’m just faking it to keep your sister-in-law happy.” I was so mad I rushed over and unleashed a combo of slaps! I beat him until he was red in the face, afraid to make a sound. His minions were practically kneeling: “Sister-in-law, easy! Don’t give Boss a concussion!!” I didn’t speak. I just kept slapping. I didn’t talk to Jax for the rest of the day. Jax panicked. He stayed up all night doing the problems. All wrong. Afraid of wasting my time, he hired private Ivy League tutors. He finally shot up from dead last to the middle of the pack. Only then did I look him in the eye. When he heard my goal was the local Top Tier University, Jax was curious. “You have the grades, why not shoot for an Ivy out of state?” “None of your business.” I couldn’t be bothered to tell him I was staying local to take care of my paralyzed mom. But Jax overthought it. “Is Wifey staying here for me?” He got himself all fired up. “I will work hard to get into the same college as Wifey!” Me: “…” Idiot.

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