Author: Momo Chan

My boyfriend’s childhood friend turned obsessive. When she couldn’t have him, she went after my dad instead. Liam took me out for a candlelit dinner, and the next thing I knew, Chloe was jetting off to Paris on a private plane with my dad, on a massive shopping spree. She even had the nerve to sneer at me, “Satisfied with just a casual dinner? My man is way more generous than Liam Maxwell!” I nodded furiously, like a bobblehead. “Oh yeah, totally! Your man’s the most generous!” So generous, in fact, that my name is on his will. “Liam, are you *really* going to abandon me for this woman?” “I’ve been by your side for eleven years. Does that mean nothing compared to someone who saved your life?” “W-w-what? I’m the one who loves you most in this world! Can’t you just look at me?” I’m Anya Sharma, and this woman in front of me, wailing out her woes and pleading her case to my boyfriend, is his childhood friend, Chloe Reed. In Chloe’s words, childhood sweethearts just couldn’t compete with a ‘destined’ connection. Chloe blocked our path, crying nonstop. She acted as if Liam and I being together meant *she* was the one being abandoned. But heaven knows, that wasn’t the case at all. I’ve lost count of how many times Chloe has pulled this stunt. Not hundreds, but easily dozens. You couldn’t get rid of her; she was like a stubborn stain I couldn’t scrub off. They just happened to be in the same class from elementary school all the way through college, and she unilaterally decided to crown herself his ‘childhood sweetheart.’ Liam had assured me repeatedly that he barely knew her. And I’d even had someone look into it; this was clearly Chloe’s one-sided fantasy. Sure enough, Liam grabbed my hand, ready to leave, not even bothering to glance her way. As we walked past Chloe, I paused, looking at her. “Sister, seriously, if it’s really that bad, maybe we should find a hospital and get your head checked out?” It was a genuine suggestion, but she took it as a provocation, glaring at me fiercely. Her eyes seemed to accuse me of stealing her man. Hopeless. People who only want to live in their own delusional world can’t be reasoned with. What else could she do besides see a doctor? Just as we were about to leave, Chloe suddenly roared from behind us, “Liam Maxwell! This is your last chance! If you’re going to be heartless, don’t blame me for being ruthless!” Liam didn’t even turn his head. Sometimes, I actually felt sorry for my boyfriend. If it were any other woman, they probably would’ve cracked under Chloe’s harassment by now.

When I first met Liam, I was a freshman, and didn’t really know anyone at school. Chloe, along with some others, decided to corner me. “You’re forbidden from talking to Liam Maxwell ever again, or I’ll make you regret it!” Behind her were a few red-haired delinquents, who were apparently Chloe’s admirers. I immediately gave them a masterclass in self-defense. The result was a pile of bodies on the ground. Liam appeared out of nowhere to watch the show, even recording my fierce, take-no-prisoners attitude. “I was going to record this to call the police for you, but now it looks like I should be calling them for *them* instead.” With Liam’s video as evidence, I was just acting in self-defense. Chloe, as the ringleader, was detained for fifteen days. The school was going to expel her, but somehow, one of her relatives pulled some strings and got her off the hook. But I wasn’t intimidated. In fact, I should probably thank Chloe’s meddling. If she hadn’t cornered me that day, Liam and I might never have gotten to know each other better. After Liam and I officially started dating, Chloe nearly lost her mind when she found out. She charged at me, intending to fight, but I gave her a spectacular over-the-shoulder throw, which landed her in the hospital for a month. After that, she changed tactics, constantly emphasizing to Liam, “I’m the woman who loves you most!” I actually admired her persistence. She kept it up for a full five years. Midway, I did worry. Could a woman’s unwavering obsession really fail to stir even a flicker of emotion? When I asked Liam about it, he didn’t say a word. But the next day, he printed out a stack of advanced placement textbooks and practice exams and tossed them in front of Chloe. “Someone who claims to be a brilliant university student, but can’t even solve these basic problems, what makes you think a little bit of ‘love’ will impress me?” “I’d tell her that consistent effort leads to significant results, and all she’d ask is what we’re having for dinner.” Just thinking about Liam’s actions still makes me laugh. Indeed, if Chloe could somehow manage to be the top student in the entire school, Liam might actually be willing to discuss academics with her. Liam and I got together because I was annoyed he beat me in a debate, so I chased him to his dorm and debated him for three days straight. We were drawn to intellect, to sharp minds. What attracted us was the powerful soul of the other person, not some fleeting, superficial feeling. Chloe probably would never understand that.

But I truly never expected it! Why did Chloe suddenly parachute into my company? HR announced a new hire today, a “high-tech talent.” I was all geared up to have a lively discussion about technology with this newcomer, only to find Chloe’s smug face staring back at me. “High-tech talent”? She’d barely scraped by her college English exams, even after multiple tries, and struggled through basic university courses. And now she’d suddenly become the company’s tech expert? Even taken over the department manager position? She’d become my new boss. I’d worked my way up from intern for a year, only to become a team lead. I was on the verge of a promotion and a raise, and Chloe just swooped in and took it? “What?! Anya, didn’t they say the manager position was yours? How did an outsider just get parachuted in?” “When this last project finished, the higher-ups said Anya would be promoted…” “Shh! You don’t know? This woman has serious connections.” “What kind of connections? Spill!” “She seems to be connected to the big boss. I saw her getting out of his car yesterday…” “Oh my god…” “Shush! Keep your voice down, someone might hear.” From their whispers, I caught the crucial information. The big boss? My ridiculously wealthy, infuriating father? I couldn’t help but glance at Chloe on stage. She had her sights set on Liam Maxwell, surely her taste hadn’t changed so drastically that she’d go for my dad? It had to be a rumor. Chloe immediately spotted me sitting in the crowd and raised an eyebrow. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, she walked right up to me, a triumphant smirk on her face. “Anya Sharma, what a coincidence! Looks like you’ll be my subordinate now, huh?” “And here you were, calling yourself a top student, a modern woman. Honestly, you haven’t achieved much, have you?” At this point, it was clear to everyone that the new manager harbored hostility towards me. My familiar colleagues nervously watched. But I couldn’t care less. I threw a question right back at her. “I hear Manager Reed is a high-tech talent. So you must be able to answer some questions for me, right?” Chloe arrogantly tilted her chin. “Of course. Ask away.” I suppressed a smile and asked, “Manager Reed, who invented the C programming language?” “It was…” Chloe opened her mouth, then choked. She’d been cramming programming books for days, preparing for any unexpected questions. She never imagined I’d hit her with something so basic, yet so out of left field. Chloe’s face turned beet red, but not a single extra word came out of her mouth. Around us, faint snickers erupted, as if mocking her overconfidence. And why not? No one liked these “parachuted” hires. Why should everyone work late nights on projects, striving for promotions and raises? Only to have some talentless newbie, who couldn’t even name the inventor of C language, snatch it away? “Anya Sharma! You’re doing this on purpose! You’re just jealous I took your position, so you’re trying to make things difficult for me!” Chloe finally realized my intention and yelled it out. I didn’t bother to hide it, nodding openly. “Yep, I am. But you really didn’t know, did you?” “If you’re so smart, ask me a different question!” “If you can’t even answer that, there’s nothing else worth asking you.” Ultimately, the welcome meeting for Chloe ended with her storming out in a huff. After the meeting, my team members immediately swarmed around me, showering me with support. “Anya, that was epic! Don’t worry, we’ve got your back, always!” “Totally! Anya, you fly, we’ll carry your burdens, haha!” “Anya, take down that outsider! If it gets too rough, go solo, and we’ll follow you anywhere!” I quickly reassured them. No way! These were my best tech talents. Not one of them could quit. This was the empire I was building for the company’s future. I had originally joined under a false name, working my way up from intern. My dad probably didn’t even know I was “undercover” in his own company. But I was deeply touched to have such a loyal and supportive team. “Don’t worry. I won’t be the one leaving this company.” News of Chloe being a “parachuted” hire spread like wildfire. Other colleagues came to gloat, but before I could even open my mouth, my awesome team members had already shut them down. Having lost face in the meeting, Chloe naturally wanted to get her revenge privately. Sure enough, at noon, she ordered me to compile all the projects our team had ever handled and present them to her. She could have easily accessed the company archives herself. But Chloe insisted I compile them, and wanted hard copies. “Anya Sharma, have all the projects summarized for me before the end of the day. You can do that, right?” It was a direct order from my superior, so I had no choice but to comply. I had anticipated Chloe’s move, and thankfully, I have a habit of keeping my own copies of every completed project. So, five minutes later, I handed all the documents to Chloe. “That fast?! Anya Sharma, are you trying to fob me off with some random files?!” I looked at Chloe, amused. “Manager Reed, if you think I’m fobbing you off, why don’t you cross-reference each document? Then you’ll know if I’m bluffing or not.” That resulted in Chloe being forced to stay late and work overtime. And I got to happily leave for the day.

Liam was still at his company, working late. He started his own studio in his senior year of college, and now it had grown considerably, making his work exceptionally busy. I sent him a SnapChat message: “Going back to my dad’s tonight. Won’t be home.” I needed to go back and ask my dad if Chloe was his recommendation to the company. After arriving home, I first went to the living room to pay my respects to my mom’s memorial, then headed to my dad’s study. But he wasn’t there? “Mrs. Jenkins, where’s my dad?” “Miss Anya, Mr. Sterling hasn’t been home for a few days.” I called him, but his phone was off. I tried contacting my dad’s secretary, but his phone was off too? The next moment, I scrolled through Ins and saw Chloe’s post: “Was supposed to work late, but someone couldn’t bear to see me so tired. Taking a private jet to the next city for a French feast~” The photo showed the interior of a private jet. Just one look, and it seemed familiar. Very much like *our* family’s jet. I glanced at my mom’s memorial, a mix of emotions swirling inside me. My mom had passed away from massive blood loss during the birth of her second child. In all these years, my dad hadn’t remarried. Not because his love for my mom was so profound, but because he found remarriage too troublesome, and one daughter was enough for him. And to honor my mom, he even let me use her maiden name. My dad was a notorious playboy CEO. Since my mom’s passing, his gossip column mentions outnumbered even those of the usual tabloid fixtures. Initially, the paparazzi loved following him, but they eventually realized their scoops couldn’t keep up with his pace of changing girlfriends, so they just gave up. Could Chloe really be involved with my dad? The absurd thought sent a chill down my spine. No way, absolutely not. Chloe had been obsessed with Liam for so long, she couldn’t suddenly fall for my plump, easygoing father. Since my dad wasn’t home, staying in this huge mansion by myself was pretty boring. I had the driver take me back to the small place Liam and I shared. The moment I walked in, I bumped right into him. Liam smelled faintly of soap. He picked me up and settled me onto the couch. I didn’t move, just nestled in his arms. A sigh escaped me; if only time could stop. He brushed the stray hairs from my forehead and tucked them behind my ear. “Anya, you seem a little down today?” I thought for a moment, then decided to tell him about Chloe parachuting into our company. Liam didn’t know I was the daughter of the Sterling Group CEO. And we had a silent understanding not to delve into each other’s backgrounds. After all, if too many things got mixed into love, it wouldn’t be pure anymore. To my surprise, Liam then told me something even more shocking. “She called me today too. I didn’t pick up at first, so she called my company directly. She said she was going to get revenge on me. Looks like she really found herself a sugar daddy?” Liam spoke in a calm, flat tone, and I could tell he didn’t take Chloe’s threats seriously. Of course, he was fiercely independent and proud. I had always assumed Liam was a genius but from an ordinary family, so I couldn’t help but worry about him. “What if Chloe really hooked up with that Mr. Sterling, and whispers in his ear? Couldn’t that jeopardize your company?” Besides, this kind of thing wasn’t uncommon. Plenty of passionate young entrepreneurs try to make their mark in the cutthroat business world, but many eventually get acquired or monopolized. Liam patted my shoulder. “Relax. Don’t you trust me? She can try her best.” Liam was brimming with confidence, but I couldn’t bear to see the company he’d built with his own hands ruined by a woman like Chloe. Forget it. If it came to it, I’d just have to come clean with my dad. Thinking that, I felt a little lighter. The next day, both Chloe and my dad were indeed absent from the company. The excuse was a business trip, but everyone knew perfectly well that it was… Three days later, Chloe, arm-in-arm with my dad, made a grand entrance at the company. They got out of the same car, and my dad personally escorted her to her office door. I stood far off in the crowd. My dad was beaming like a blooming flower, and Chloe was playing the role of the demure, devoted girlfriend. So, this was their public debut?

First off, how did Chloe sweet-talk my dad into being so public? And how could *she* even stomach it? My dad was roughly her father’s age, almost fifty. After her display, Chloe immediately called me into her office to gloat. The moment I stepped in, I was nearly blinded by the diamond on Chloe’s finger, so huge it practically had its own zip code. She practically shoved her hand into my eye. “So, what do you think? Is my diamond ring big enough? I wonder how many years Liam Maxwell would have to slave away to afford just this one ring?” How was I supposed to tell her that Liam wouldn’t need to buy it? It was the kind of thing I used to toss around like a pebble when I was a kid. Though, my dad certainly was generous this time, a two-hundred-million-dollar ring, just like that. Oh, wait, I just noticed. It wasn’t just the ring. Chloe’s entire outfit had changed—high-end clothes, designer bags. Did my ridiculously wealthy, infuriating father actually like her? I couldn’t fathom why I was busting my ass working for him. “You’ve seen it, Mr. Sterling dotes on me. With just a word from me, Liam Maxwell’s company would disappear. Do you believe me?” I shook my head. “I don’t.” “Everyone knows Mr. Sterling is a playboy. He can dote on you today and fall for someone else tomorrow. Oh, and if you’re trying to cash in, you’d better do it fast, or you’ll have nowhere to cry when he dumps you~”

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On the operating table, I was covered in my own blood. Ten minutes after the anesthesia wore off, the cold scalpel was carving its third incision across my lower abdomen. My body seized with agony, tears blurring my vision as I desperately strained to look at him through the observation window. He was cradling my stepsister, Serena, a chilling smile on his face as he instructed the doctor, “Take the uterus and kidney together. No scars. They’re for Serena later.” I tried to scream, but a nurse clamped a hand over my mouth. “Ms. Hayes, don’t struggle. Mrs. Knight said your life was salvaged from that car accident five years ago because you shielded her daughter. Now it’s time to return what’s rightfully hers.” So, that ‘accident’ five years ago wasn’t him risking his life to save me. It was him who shoved me out of the car, hoping *I* would die in Serena’s place. So, these five years of marriage were nothing but a twisted game of cultivating my organs. The operating lights swam before my eyes, and my stepsister’s sickly sweet voice drifted into my ears: “Thank you for dying for me, sis. Next life, remember to stay far away from what’s mine.” I choked down my last breath. When I opened my eyes again, it was that rainy night five years ago – he was smiling, extending a hand to me: “Need a ride? I can drop you off.” This time, I simply raised my hand and slapped him.

I opened my eyes, the blinding operating lights searing into my pupils. My whole body ached as if someone had sliced me open, inch by agonizing inch. I tried to move, but my hands were strapped tightly to the operating table. The anesthesia had worn off. I could distinctly feel the cold scalpel carving its third incision across my lower abdomen. Tears blurred my vision, and I strained my head, desperately looking toward the observation window. Through the glass, I saw him. Julian Knight, my husband, stood there, his arm wrapped around a woman. That woman was my stepsister, Serena Hayes. He pointed at my body, saying something to the lead surgeon. His voice crackled through the intercom: “Take the uterus and kidney together. No scars. They’re for Serena later.” I froze. What was he saying? I tried to scream, but a nurse’s hand clamped over my mouth. The nurse looked at me coldly: “Ms. Hayes, don’t struggle. Mrs. Knight said your life was salvaged from that car accident because you shielded her daughter. Now it’s time to return what’s rightfully hers.” Return what’s rightfully hers? My mind roared, and the scene of that car accident five years ago suddenly flashed before me. It was a stormy night. My stepmother and I had argued, and she’d thrown me out of the house. Julian Knight’s car pulled up to the driveway. He smiled at me and said, “Need a ride? I can drop you off at school.” I got in. As the car drove to the outskirts, an out-of-control truck suddenly veered towards us. I remember him sharply turning the steering wheel and shoving me toward the passenger door. The door flew open on impact, and I was thrown out. Then, I remembered nothing. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, that memory erased. Julian Knight sat by my bed, gently holding my hand: “You took the brunt of the crash for Serena. She’s so grateful.” I thought it was an accident. I thought he had saved me. For five years, he had been meticulously devoted, showering me with care and concern. I thought it was love. It wasn’t. That car crash wasn’t an accident. He had pushed me out of the car himself. These five years of tenderness were nothing but a twisted game of cultivating my organs. The operating lights swam before my eyes, and Serena Hayes’ sickly sweet voice drifted into my ears. “Thank you for dying for me, sis. Next life, remember to stay far away from what’s mine.” I tried to speak, but only muffled whimpers escaped my throat. Julian Knight turned, his gaze passing through the glass to me. His eyes were terrifyingly calm, as if he were looking at an item about to be scrapped. I struggled desperately, the straps biting into my wrists. The lead surgeon picked up the scalpel, ready to continue cutting into my abdomen. I felt the icy touch of the blade against my skin. It hurt. It hurt so much. I wanted to beg, to scream for them to stop, but I couldn’t even make a sound. Large tears streamed down my face, splattering onto the white surgical sheet. Julian Knight remained expressionless behind the observation window. Serena Hayes leaned on his shoulder, smiling exquisitely. I closed my eyes, refusing to look at them anymore. The scalpel sliced into my body, inch by inch, and the scent of blood filled the air. I felt my life slowly draining away. My consciousness grew hazy, and the voices faded into the distance. In my final moments, I had only one thought. If I could do it again, I would never have gotten into his car. Then, everything went black.

I gasped, my eyes snapping open. My body was drenched in cold sweat, my heart pounding fiercely. I stared blankly at the scene before me—the entrance to the Hayes family villa. Rain poured down, cold and biting against my face. I was soaked, my phone screen shattered. A black Bentley pulled up, and the window slowly rolled down. Julian Knight smiled, extending his hand to me: “Need a ride? I can drop you off at school.” I froze. That face, this scene, those words. Exactly the same as five years ago. No, more accurately, exactly the same as just a moment ago. Hadn’t I just died on the operating table? Why was I back here? Julian Knight’s brow furrowed when he saw me unmoving. “Clara? What’s wrong?” I stared at him, countless images flashing through my mind. His cold eyes, directing doctors to harvest my organs. His intimate posture, holding Serena. The moment he pushed me out of the car on that rainy night. I took a step back, raised my hand, and slapped him without hesitation. “SMACK!” The crisp sound of the slap echoed loudly in the rainy night. Julian Knight froze, clutching his cheek, staring at me in disbelief. “You…” “Get lost.” My voice was icy. I turned and walked into the rain. His voice called out behind me: “Clara! Are you crazy?” I didn’t look back, walking straight into the villa. My stepmother stood in the living room, a sneer on her face when she saw me. “What, couldn’t bear to leave?” I ignored her, went straight upstairs, and returned to my room. Locking the door, I leaned against it, trembling. I had been reborn. I truly had. I was back to that rainy night five years ago, where it all began. I remembered the script of my previous life. Tonight, I would be kicked out by my stepmother after an argument, and Julian Knight would “just happen to pass by” to offer me a ride. The car would encounter an “accident” on the outskirts, and I would take the fatal impact meant for Serena, falling into a coma with severe injuries. I would wake up, having lost that memory, and Julian Knight would approach me as my “savior.” Over five years, he would slowly groom me into a perfect organ donor. But this time, I had rejected him. I walked to my desk, opened a drawer, and took out a USB drive. These were all the pieces of evidence I had gathered against Serena Hayes during my college years. In my past life, I was too naive, believing she truly was a charitable socialite. It wasn’t until my death that I understood she was glamorous on the surface but secretly controlled an underground organ trafficking network. The victims of those “car accidents” were all carefully selected matching donors. I was simply the perfect match found after Serena’s kidney failure. I opened my laptop, inserted the USB drive, and files filled the screen. A list of victims from seventeen “accidents.” Every person was sent to the Knight family’s private hospital after their “accident.” Their organs were removed, and they were then declared beyond saving. I gripped the mouse, a cold glint in my eyes. This life, I wouldn’t let them succeed. My phone vibrated. It was a SnapChat message from Julian Knight. “Clara, I was out of line earlier. Please don’t be angry. Can I still drive you back to school?” I looked at the message, a sarcastic smile playing on my lips. In my previous life, he used this gentle facade to deceive me for five years. This life, I wouldn’t fall for it again. I replied: “No thanks. We’re not close.” After sending it, I pulled out the USB drive and hid it in my safe. Tomorrow, I had somewhere to go.

Three days later, I received a notification from the hospital. Serena Hayes had suffered acute kidney failure and was in critical condition. I stood in the hospital corridor, looking at the red light above the emergency room. Mrs. Knight sat on a bench, wiping away tears. She immediately stood up when she saw me. She grabbed my hand: “Clara, you’re finally here!” I pulled my hand back, expressionless: “Mrs. Knight, what can I do for you?” Mrs. Knight froze, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes, quickly replaced by a pleading look. “Clara, you and Serena are sisters. Can you save her?” I didn’t speak, just watched her quietly. “The doctors say your match is perfect. If you just donate a kidney…” Before she could finish, the emergency room door opened. Julian Knight walked out, his gaze complex as he looked at me. “Clara.” He walked towards me. I instinctively took a step back. He paused, softening his voice: “That slap the other night, I understand now.” I looked at him coldly: “You understand what?” “You’re mad I haven’t paid attention to you before, right?” He took a deep breath: “Clara, I know the Hayes family hasn’t treated you well, but Serena is innocent.” “I promise you, if you save her, I will compensate you.” I heard the probing in his words. In my previous life, I was manipulated after losing my memory. This life, my memory was intact, and they were trying a new strategy of emotional manipulation and tempting offers. I said, expressionless: “Mrs. Knight, I also want to save her, but donating a kidney is a major surgery. I need to think it through carefully.” “I’ll give you my answer in a week.” With that, I turned and left. Behind me, I heard Mrs. Knight’s hushed voice: “This girl isn’t easy to fool anymore. Should we use the old method?” Julian Knight was silent for a few seconds: “Wait a bit longer. Don’t tip them off.” I gripped my phone tightly. The recording was saved. Leaving the hospital, I hailed a cab and headed straight for the city police station. In the car, I reviewed the files on my USB drive. It was only after I died in my past life that I learned the Knight family and Hayes family had conspired to keep me as a backup organ supply for five years. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes had received millions of dollars in hush money from the Knights. My stepmother had even proactively offered to “deliver the goods anytime.” This life, I would make them pay the price. The taxi stopped in front of the police station. I got out and walked inside. The front desk officer looked up at me: “Hello, can I help you?” “I’d like to report an organ trafficking case.” My voice was calm, but it made the front desk officer pause. “Please wait a moment.” He picked up the phone and spoke in a low voice. Ten minutes later, a middle-aged man in plain clothes walked out. “Follow me.” I followed him into an office. He sat down, gesturing for me to take a seat: “I’m Detective Miller, head of a special investigation unit assigned by the state.” I nodded, pulling the USB drive from my bag. “This contains a list of seventeen ‘accident’ victims Serena Hayes manipulated over five years.” Detective Miller took the USB drive, his brows furrowing. “Every person was sent to a private hospital after their ‘accident,’ and declared beyond saving after their organs were removed.” I paused: “The Knight family’s private hospital was the transplant facility. The Hayes family was responsible for identifying matching donors and staging the ‘accidents.’” Detective Miller plugged in the USB drive and quickly scanned the files, his expression growing more grim. “We’ve been tracking this case for two years, but we’ve always lacked core evidence.” He looked up at me: “Why do you have all this?” I calmly said: “Because I was supposed to be their next target.” Detective Miller narrowed his eyes: “You mean…” “I can cooperate with you to lure them out.” I opened my phone and played the recording I made at the hospital. Mrs. Knight’s voice clearly echoed: “Should we use the old method?” Detective Miller listened, silent for a long time. “What are your terms?” “Three.” I held up three fingers: “First, protection for my personal safety. Second, the arrest operation must happen before they perform any forced surgery. Third, afterwards, I want to completely disappear, change my name and identity, and leave this city.” Detective Miller looked at me, then finally nodded: “Agreed.”

By the time I left the police station, it was evening. The sky was darkening, and streetlights flickered on one by one. My phone vibrated. It was a call from Mr. Hayes. I answered, but didn’t speak. “Clara, where are you?” Mr. Hayes’ voice sounded anxious. “Out.” My answer was brief. “Come home quickly. I have something to tell you.” I hung up, a cold smile playing on my lips. Detective Miller was right; they were going to make their move early. I hailed a taxi and gave the address of the Hayes family villa. Outside the car window, the city lights sped by. I looked at my reflection in the glass, my eyes terrifyingly calm. In my previous life, it was tonight that Mr. Hayes called me home. Then I was drugged and sent to the Knight family’s private hospital. This life, I had already set the trap. The taxi stopped at the villa entrance. I paid and got out. The living room was brightly lit. Mr. and Mrs. Hayes were both sitting on the sofa. I pushed the door open, and they immediately stood up. “Clara, you’re finally home.” Mr. Hayes walked towards me, a forced smile on his face. I looked at him, the man who, in my past life, sold his daughter for millions of dollars. “What do you want?” My voice was cold. “It’s about Serena. Her condition is very serious. The doctors say she needs surgery soon.” Mr. Hayes rubbed his hands: “You see, you and she are sisters. Can’t you…” “No.” I cut him off. Mr. Hayes froze: “Clara, how can you be so selfish? Serena is your sister!” “Sister?” I sneered: “What kind of sister is she to me? How many times have we seen each other since we were kids?” My stepmother stood up, pointing at me: “Clara Hayes, don’t be ungrateful!” “Ungrateful?” I looked at her: “Then let me ask you, that car accident five years ago, was it planned by you?” My stepmother’s face changed, and Mr. Hayes froze. “What are you talking about!” My stepmother shrieked. “Whether I am or not, you both know in your hearts.” I turned to go upstairs. Mr. Hayes grabbed my arm: “Clara, you’re not going anywhere tonight!” I pulled his hand away: “Let go of me.” “Your father had no choice.” Mr. Hayes sighed, his eyes suddenly turning cold. My heart tightened, and I instinctively tried to run. But my stepmother already had me in a hold from behind. “What are you doing!” I struggled desperately. Mr. Hayes pulled a syringe from his pocket, filled with a clear liquid. “Clara, don’t blame your father.” He walked over and grabbed my arm. The needle pierced my skin, and the cold liquid injected into my body. My vision began to blur, and my body grew weaker. “You…” I tried to speak, but my tongue wouldn’t obey. My stepmother released me, and I fell to the floor. Mr. Hayes picked up his phone: “Julian, she’s ready. Send the car.” I lay on the cold floor, my consciousness slowly fading. Before I lost consciousness, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Hayes standing nearby, watching me expressionlessly. Like they were looking at a piece of cargo. Memories from my past life surged, despair and fury threatening to consume me. But quickly, I calmed down. Because I knew Detective Miller’s people were already outside. I had sent him my location before coming here. Moreover, I had a miniature recording device on me. At this moment, outside the operating room, a dozen police cars were silently approaching. I closed my eyes, awaiting the final moment. Julian Knight, this time, I won’t let you succeed. Half an hour later, I was carried into a black SUV. The car started, heading towards the Knight family’s private hospital. I felt the car stop, and someone carried me out. Blinding lights, the smell of disinfectant. I was placed on the operating table, my hands restrained. Julian Knight’s voice echoed in my ears. “I’m sorry, I can’t wait any longer.” I snapped my eyes open. The dazzling surgical lights shone directly into my pupils, and Julian Knight, dressed in surgical scrubs, stood beside me. His eyes were cold, as if he were looking at an item about to be processed. “Serena’s kidney failure is already in its late stages. Any more delay and it will be too late.” I tried to move my wrist, the strap cutting into my flesh. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll die on the operating table?” My voice was hoarse, but clear. Julian Knight paused: “You’re awake?” “Forced organ removal carries a rejection risk, no matter how perfect the match.” I scoffed. Mrs. Knight walked over, looking down at me. “Don’t worry. We’ve been cultivating you for five years. We know your body data better than you do.” She sneered: “And even if you die, your life should have ended five years ago anyway.”

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I was maliciously infected with a disease. In retaliation, I seduced Caleb Taylor, a wealthy heir. Four months later, Caleb became my boyfriend. On Christmas Eve, after a date, I deliberately lured Caleb to a hotel. The next day, Christmas Day, Caleb received a gift box. At the very bottom of the box was a greeting card, with a terrifying message: *Welcome to the world of the virus.* This was my special Christmas gift to Caleb. That Christmas night, someone knocked on my door. I opened it, and it was Caleb. He was panting heavily, his face etched with panic. I feigned concern and surprise. “What’s wrong, Caleb? We still have a while before we’re supposed to go out. Why are you here so early?” Caleb’s eyes were red-rimmed, his brows deeply furrowed. He bent down and hugged me in the entranceway. “Ava, I’m so scared.” He buried his face in my neck, and I gently patted his back, soothing him. “I’m here. What happened?” My tone and actions were tender, but a cold smile played on my lips. Caleb pulled me inside and showed me the Christmas gift box. He didn’t notice my eyes flicker when I saw it. He took out the card from the very bottom and held it out to me. “Look, I don’t know who sent this to me. Do you think… I really got infected?” Holding the card that had been in my hands just that morning, I narrowed my eyes. Turning to Caleb, I held his hand and calmly reassured him. “Don’t worry, it’s just a prank.” After over a year of manipulation and deception, Caleb truly prioritized me above all else. See? His first reaction to trouble wasn’t to go to his family, but to come straight to me. 3. This “prank” was so disturbing that Caleb told his family. When Chloe Taylor, Caleb’s sister, heard about it, her reaction was strange. “Bro, this kind of disease spreads in peculiar ways. Either you’ve been messing around, or… could it be Ava who infected you?” “What are you even saying?!” My heart jolted at Caleb’s sharp, furious retort that echoed through the phone and shocked me, sitting on the couch. Caleb’s brows were tightly furrowed as he snapped, “Don’t you dare accuse Ava! Not even as a joke!” A sigh of exasperation came from the other end of the line. “Fine, fine. Guess someone’s just jealous and trying to mess with you.” The moment Caleb hung up, he quickly shuffled over to me in his slippers. “Ava, you have to believe me. I’ve never cheated! Not before, not ever. I’ve always been faithful, I swear!” Of course, he hadn’t been messing around. I was the one who infected him. For several days, Caleb remained deeply uneasy. Even when I tried to get close, he pushed me away. Had he found out? No, that couldn’t be right. I couldn’t take it anymore and confronted him. “Caleb, what’s going on? Are you trying to cut me out of your life?” Caleb, still wearing a mask, tried to approach me, then instinctively pulled back. He mumbled an apology. “No, Ava, it’s not like that. I’m just afraid of ‘what if.’ If I really am infected, then… maybe we should break up.” I stepped closer, pressing him back, until he had nowhere left to retreat, pinned against the wall. I ripped off his mask. “First of all, this disease isn’t transmitted through saliva.” A muffled, weak voice responded, “I know. I just… I can’t shake this feeling. I don’t want you to be in any danger.” I tilted my head up and kissed his lips. “I don’t care. Even if you really have it, I don’t care.” *Hah. Of course, I don’t care.* *The sooner you’re infected, the sooner you can join me in hell!* 4. Two weeks later, Caleb went for a hospital check-up. Nothing. Four weeks later, another check-up. Still nothing. He hadn’t been infected. *What luck. He actually dodged it.* *What a pity.* I was tired of playing this game with him. It was my birthday that day. Caleb had arrived at my place early, cooked a huge meal, and was waiting for me to come home. When he saw I still wasn’t back, Caleb went into the bedroom to look out the window at the street below. I texted him back: *Just arrived at the gate.* In the time it took him to turn around, Caleb noticed the medical records and medication on the table. He picked them up to examine them. The more he read, the more horrified he became. His hands clutched the documents tightly, the veins on his trembling fists bulging. I walked into the bedroom, saw the scene, and instantly understood. “So, you found out.” Caleb sharply turned to me, staring intensely, his eyes bloodshot. “Why?” I gave a cold laugh. “Why what?” Caleb held up the medical records and rushed towards me. “Why did you hide your illness from me? Why did you send me that kind of gift box on Christmas? Why… did you trick me into going to that hotel?” The room fell eerily silent. Suddenly, I burst out laughing. I took a step forward, looking up to meet Caleb’s gaze. “You really are lucky, aren’t you? As for *why*… go ask your dear sister, Chloe Taylor!” “Go ask her if she remembers Anya Miller!” Caleb listened, his face filled with shock, then he abruptly turned and left. 5. Caleb sped down the road, screeched into a bar, and dragged Chloe out. Chloe, who had been in high spirits, was annoyed and about to curse him out. But seeing her usually gentle and cheerful brother’s grim face, she didn’t dare utter a sound. Caleb pulled Chloe to a quiet spot. Chloe, still bewildered, was about to ask what was going on. “Tell me, who is Anya Miller?” Chloe froze for a moment, then her face stiffened. “How do you know about her?” Caleb roared, “Don’t you dare try to change the subject! What exactly did you do to Anya Miller?!” Back in college, Anya Miller and I were in the same year, but different departments. Back then, my name was Anya Miller, not Ava. At that time, there was a senior who was very popular with the girls, and he and I grew quite close. I liked that senior, and Chloe liked him too. Chloe was spoiled and arrogant, a real princess with a terrible temper. No, she was worse than that. She was a truly nasty piece of work, enabled by endless pampering. Chloe gathered a few people to corner me outside my dorm. They threatened me, telling me to stay away from Daniel, or I’d regret it. I wasn’t going to back down. I was an orphan with no family. Why should my feelings be dictated by others? Surely, these people wouldn’t actually dare to do anything to me on campus, right? But I was wrong. I was too naive. Those people put dead mice in my bed, poured red ink all over my closet. My dorm room became a living hell for my roommates. They shoved me into a foul-smelling ditch, taking countless humiliating, ugly photos. They spread rumors around school that I was selling myself, that I was involved with shady characters off campus. Chloe herself never appeared during any of this. I went to the teachers, but they couldn’t do anything. I went to the school administration, only to be warned about my own conduct. Why? Why was I suffering, yet no one helped me? “Chloe Taylor’s family donated a whole building to the school. Can *you* do that?” “Oh, I forgot. You’re just a parentless orphan, aren’t you?” The terrifying faces of Chloe’s cronies were right in front of me, mocking, jeering, filled with pure malice. Yes, I couldn’t. I was a poor student, an orphan with no one to back me up. How could I ever fight against them? I distanced myself from Daniel. But Daniel found me. “Anya Miller, I like you. I don’t believe any of those rumors, they’re baseless, they’re just trying to slander you!” I looked at Daniel, exhausted. “Then, Daniel, can you help me? I’m scared, I’m really scared. I don’t know what to do anymore.” Daniel hugged me, his broad, warm hand gently patting my back. “I’ll help you. Don’t be afraid.” Isolated and helpless, with no one to turn to, I clung to the only lifeline I saw. Days passed, much calmer. I thought Chloe had seen Daniel protecting me and decided not to harm me further. Until that day… It was a departmental outing. I drank a little, which was unavoidable, and texted Daniel. When I went to the restroom, a hand suddenly clamped over my mouth from behind, dragging me into another private karaoke room. I struggled with all my might, but the person behind me was incredibly strong. I couldn’t move them. In that moment, I wished for just one person to appear, anyone, as long as they could save me. But there was no one. The hallway was empty. I watched, helpless, as the door slowly closed. The music in the room was deafening. No one would hear my cries for help. The person behind me blindfolded me, then roughly and savagely forced a debilitating drug down my throat that made my body go completely limp. I was violated. The next day, I took emergency contraception and rushed to the police station to report it. They found nothing. For three agonizing weeks, I felt like I was being tormented in hell, but they couldn’t find a single lead! Three weeks later, I started feeling nauseous, vomiting, and generally unwell. I went to the hospital, and the doctor told me I had been infected with a disease. When the results came back, the doctor’s somber tone and sympathetic gaze made me collapse in the hospital corridor. I felt a chill spread through my entire body. So many patients came and went around me, so many people, yet I felt completely alone. Like I was the only one abandoned by this world. When I saw those people on campus again, one of the girls leaned close to my ear and whispered, “That’s what happens when you cross Chloe Taylor.” I snapped my head towards her. “You guys? This is illegal! I’ll report you!” I thought no matter what, they wouldn’t do something this harmful and illegal. But I was too naive. She looked straight ahead, her breath on my ear like a viper’s hiss. “Go ahead and report us. It’s been so long, do you have a single piece of evidence?” It turned out that from beginning to end, Chloe Taylor had orchestrated everything. She had kept her hands clean, never once appearing herself. Simply because I hadn’t yielded to her wishes, she wanted to destroy me. 6. “SMACK!” A stark red handprint bloomed on Chloe’s face, the sound sharp and clear. Chloe’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Bro!” Caleb was dizzy with rage, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “Don’t call me bro! How could you do something like that? How could you harm someone over such a petty thing?!” After composing himself, Caleb sat down, leaning his head on his hand, and questioned her, “When you called me, asking for my help, was it all a lie? Was it just to harm Anya Miller?” Chloe lowered her head, knowing she was in the wrong. Back then, Chloe, wanting to get back at me, knew that what she was doing was illegal and needed help destroying evidence. So, Chloe called Caleb, crying. “Bro, someone outside of school is bullying me! Can you find some people to help me deal with her?” Caleb, who was far away overseas at the time, had no idea how many terrible things his sister was doing behind his back. Always doting on his sister, Caleb only knew she was being bullied by bad people. Without a second thought, he found some guys to help. “Just make sure to keep things in proportion.” He never imagined *this* was the kind of help she needed. Caleb was incredulous. “You deliberately lied to me to destroy someone else’s life? Chloe! How spoiled have you become all these years? How can you lack even basic human decency and morals?!” “Hahahaha, so, I was the one who pushed her into hell with my own hands. I was the one who harmed her!” With a crash, the glass in Caleb’s hand shattered on the floor, splintering into pieces. 7. A hesitant, slow knock echoed at the door. I opened it, and it was Caleb again. He stepped inside, looking at me urgently. “Ava, I’m so sorry, truly sorry. I didn’t know Chloe wanted those people to do something like that. I’m truly sorry. It’s my fault, it’s Chloe’s fault. I’ll drag her here tomorrow to apologize to you. I’ll do anything you want!” I violently shook his hand off, sneering. “Apologize? If an apology could fix things, what about all the suffering I’ve endured for years? What about my prime years, now reduced to perhaps less than a decade of life?! My whole life has been ruined by your family!” Caleb’s eyes were red-rimmed. “Ava, whatever it takes to make you feel better, I’ll do it.” I took a step forward, a sarcastic smile playing on my lips. “What makes you think you can atone for Chloe’s sins? Fine. Why don’t you try getting this disease yourself and see my pain?” Caleb choked on his words, stammering. “I… I…” “Hah, you can’t, can you? I knew it.” I turned away dismissively, unwilling to look at him any longer, and walked back into the house. My arm felt warm as Caleb grabbed it. “Ava, can you tell me? Did you genuinely like me when you first approached me, or was it…” Caleb’s eyes flickered, filled with hope. I only found it laughable. I lazily tilted my head, letting out a soft scoff. “Of course, I deliberately approached you. You didn’t really think you were charming enough to make me fall for you, did you?” The grip on my arm loosened. Caleb recoiled as if in pain, muttering, shaking his head. “So you planned to get close to me all along? Is that right?” “What else?” Caleb’s lips twitched slightly, his voice hoarse. “Then, did you… ever like me, even a little?” My expression remained unmoved. “No.” The hope in his eyes vanished, and his gaze dimmed. “Fine. Fine. So you’ve been acting this whole time, playing with my emotions!” Caleb left.

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Five years into working at The Skyline Club, I found myself arrested and taken to the police station. Three days later, in the interrogation room, I saw Julian Vance, whom I hadn’t seen in five years. “Ms. Hayes, I’m Julian Vance, your attorney here to bail you out.” I looked up at the man before me. He wore a perfectly tailored, crisp Kiton suit, an Aurora diamond fountain pen clipped to his chest pocket. Golden-rimmed glasses rested on the bridge of his nose, and his gaze swept over me from behind the lenses. Calm, professional. “Julian.” I froze. Subconsciously, I glanced down at myself. My smoky makeup was half-melted by the harsh fluorescent lights, cheap cosmetics streaking down my cheeks. My flimsy fishnet stockings were ripped with several large holes, and my bare feet were covered in tiny cuts. In that instant, an overwhelming wave of humiliation washed over me. That trembling “Julian” made him look at my disheveled face. His expression remained unchanged. “According to regulations, I need to confirm your basic information.” “Your name, place of birth, and ID number?” My throat constricted. “Julian, you know all of this, don’t you?” Julian’s gaze was devoid of warmth as he corrected me. “Ms. Hayes, here, I’m just your lawyer and client. Please call me ‘Mr. Vance.’” My face drained of all color. Julian took a document from his briefcase and slid it toward me. “Before we begin, you need to sign some necessary retainer papers.” His long fingers tapped the signature line on the document, his voice calm. “Sign after you’ve confirmed everything is accurate.” I took the heavy, expensive pen, my hand trembling. I scrawled my name, barely daring to look up at Julian. Julian retrieved the document, then opened my police report from three days ago and my past records. “Records show your first arrest for soliciting a man at The Skyline Club at age 22. As of now, this is your fourth time being summoned by the police for similar activities.” “Due to your prior record and the severe nature of the case, you could face 15 days or more in penalties.” Julian’s words were like a cold, sharp blade, relentlessly slicing through my already tattered pride. I lowered my eyes, my fingers clenched so tight they turned white. “Mr. Vance, are you here to help me or to judge me?” Hearing this, Julian closed the file, his tone still icy. “Sign the bail agreement, and I’ll process your release.” “Consider it the last time I, as your… ‘family friend,’ help you.” I looked at Julian’s placid face and was suddenly overcome by an overwhelming sense of helplessness and self-loathing. It was as if, in front of him, I would always be at a disadvantage, always so pathetic. I signed my name again in the blank space. Then, I watched Julian rise crisply, turning to leave without another word. The cramped interrogation room instantly fell silent, leaving me alone. Half an hour later, a female officer opened the door, unlocking the handcuffs on my wrists. “Don’t leave New York soon, and keep your phone on.” I nodded dazedly, following Julian out of the interrogation room. Outside, seeing Julian’s retreating back, I couldn’t help but remember five years ago. It was November 7th. I had learned that Julian was handling a transnational lawsuit in Sydney. I chased after him, sending him a message. 【Julian, I need to see you. Can we meet?】 Julian replied:【Okay.】 I quickly sent another:【I’ll wait for you on MacDougal Street.】 But I waited for six hours, from broad daylight until dusk. Instead, I saw Julian and a female colleague engrossed in conversation.

That female colleague wore a well-fitted camel coat, a distinctly men’s scarf covering most of her face. And Julian, usually so aloof, was gently smiling as he plucked a jacaranda blossom from her long hair. In that moment, I ran. It wasn’t until my flight back home was about to take off that I received Julian’s message. 【I’m here. Where are you?】 I didn’t reply. I deleted Julian’s chat. For the next five years, we never saw each other again. Until today… Just then, a familiar female voice interrupted my thoughts. “Julian, what took you so long? Mom’s waiting for us to come home for dinner.” I looked up to see a woman intimately linking arms with Julian, looking up at him and smiling. Julian showed no resistance to her touch. Perhaps sensing my gaze, the woman looked in my direction. Our eyes met, and I froze. It was my sister, Violet Hayes, who had disappeared for five years! Seeing Violet, elegantly dressed in designer brands, I rushed forward. “Sis, you’re back!” Violet frowned, looking at me. “How dare you still call me ‘Sis’?” “Working at The Skyline Club, did you ever think about Mom and me?” Hearing Violet’s words, I was confused. “Sis, what are you talking about?” “You ran off abroad alone. Five whole years. Did you know Mom got sick? If I hadn’t…” My words were cut short by Violet. “Are you going to say you worked in that kind of place because you were paying for Mom’s medical treatment?” “Can you stop spouting such blatant lies?” “When Dad had his car accident, and Mom fell ill, you ran off with a man! If I hadn’t been studying and working abroad, sending money back all these years—” The word “died” remained unsaid. I was stunned. “Sis, what are you saying?! I clearly—” Violet interrupted me again, her voice cold. “Julian and I are getting married soon. You don’t need to put on a show for us in front of him.” “I know you used to like him, but he’s your brother-in-law now.” “Don’t go after him again, understand?” With that, Violet linked arms with Julian and drove away. I watched them leave, rooted to the spot. I couldn’t understand how my sister, Violet Hayes, could tell such bold-faced lies. Five years ago, after Dad’s car accident and Mom falling ill, Violet secretly left the country. The few times she contacted me from abroad, it was always to say she was in trouble and needed money! Mom was hospitalized long-term, undergoing three major surgeries, and Violet never once showed concern… Just then, my cracked phone screen lit up with a call. It was the hospital. I quickly answered. A polite female voice came through the line. “Ms. Hayes, your mother’s hospital bills have been overdue for a week. Please settle them as soon as possible. Otherwise, the hospital can’t guarantee continued medical services.” I awkwardly promised. “I’ll pay it soon.” I hailed a taxi and went home. After showering and changing, I cooked chicken congee for Mom before rushing to the city hospital. After paying the overdue hospital bills, I went to the ward. I immediately saw my sister, Violet Hayes, there. I hurried forward. “Sis, why did you lie in front of Julian today?” Violet scoffed. “I’m your sister. It’s none of your business what I do.” “If you dare expose me, I’ll ruin you!”

With that, she grabbed her bag and left. I stood there, hearing Mom’s weak voice. “Autumn, don’t argue with your sister. It hasn’t been easy for her these past five years!” My wrist ached faintly from the handcuffs, the chafing a reminder of three days in custody. I suppressed the pain and looked at Mrs. Hayes. “Mom, haven’t you seen how she’s dressed now?” “Does that look like it ‘hasn’t been easy’?” “Do you know she’s about to marry Julian Vance?” Mrs. Hayes’s eyes darted away, clearly knowing everything. “Your sister getting to be with someone she loves makes me happy, dear.” But my chest felt heavy, as if stuffed with cotton. Mom clearly knew I had once loved Julian too. I couldn’t help but ask. “Mom, when Dad had his car accident and you fell ill, Sis took all the family’s money and left the country without a word. Don’t you blame her?” Mrs. Hayes shook her head, her voice low. “No, I don’t blame her. I never wanted your sister to stay and suffer.” I froze for a moment, then asked, my voice trembling. “What about me, then?” Mrs. Hayes remained silent, avoiding my gaze. Sometimes, silence is the answer. My heart felt like it was bleeding. I took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within, and spoke again. “Mom, now that Sis is back, let her take care of you from now on.” “No.” Mrs. Hayes refused without a second thought. “Your sister has never suffered hardship since she was little, nor has she taken care of anyone. Besides, she’s getting married soon. How can she take care of a sick person like me?” Sister can’t take care of her? But how can I? I had never felt so utterly disappointed. “Mom, I wasn’t born knowing how to take care of people either.” Mrs. Hayes didn’t respond, nor did she acknowledge my suggestion about Violet taking care of her. She just kept talking about how difficult things were for Violet. How much Violet had suffered struggling alone overseas. And that I should be more accommodating to Violet. I listened silently, offering no response. Only after Mom fell asleep did I leave. Just outside the hospital. The strong wind tousled my hair, and raindrops slapped my face like a series of harsh blows. By the time I took the bus back to my rented apartment complex, I was completely soaked. I trudged up to the top floor, breathless. As I took out my keys from my canvas bag, I looked up and saw Julian Vance’s tall figure standing at my door. His sharp suit and tie looked completely out of place in this run-down neighborhood. Seeing Julian again, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. “Julian, you…” Before I could finish, Julian cut in. “I found your address from your records. How did you end up like this?” I looked down at my soaked, cheap clothes, my throat dry. I feigned composure, my hand trembling as I unlocked the door, and replied. “Like what? I think I’m doing just fine.” Hearing this, Julian seemed annoyed. “Do you even know what ‘fine’ means?” “You and your sister are from the same parents. She worked hard abroad, got into Melbourne University, and earned her degree.” “And you? All these years, you’ve only caused trouble, just wasting yourself away.” Julian’s harsh reprimand felt like a series of slaps, making my face burn. I couldn’t hold back any longer. “Julian, do you know that all the money my sister used for her studies abroad, I gave it to her?” In that moment, Julian was utterly disappointed. “You’re lying again. When Violet was abroad, I visited her regularly. “I know perfectly well whether she used your money or not.”

In that moment, I was speechless. I knew any further explanation would be useless. Julian wouldn’t believe me, so I simply stopped talking. Seeing that he still hadn’t left. I broke the silence. “Do you want to come in and sit down?” Then, I opened the door and stepped inside. Julian followed her in, scanning the room. The cramped room was sparsely furnished. Only a bed, an old table, and a chipped wardrobe. There was nowhere to sit. Suddenly, Julian’s eyes darkened. He immediately spotted the bedhead, covered with clippings of his photos from newspapers. I followed his gaze, realizing I had completely forgotten about them. I hurried to tear down the photos. “Don’t misunderstand. My place is so run-down, so I just used these newspaper clippings to cover the mold on the wall.” Julian didn’t expose my lie. I felt his gaze on me, like a knife slowly carving away at my self-esteem. “Do you have anything else? If not, I won’t keep you.” Julian pulled out a card and handed it to me. “There’s ten thousand in here, enough to live on for a while. Don’t do anything illegal again.” “Find a decent job.” I clenched my hand, my palm bleeding from my nails digging in. I pushed Julian’s hand away. “No thanks. I can earn my own money. I don’t need your help.” Julian looked at my stubbornness, a flicker of something unusual in his eyes. “This money is from your sister.” My heart seized. I couldn’t help but ask. “Julian, can I ask you something?” “Seven years ago, when I confessed to you, you said I was just a kid. But why are you now with my sister, who’s only two years older than me?” Julian was silent for a moment, then looked into my eyes, speaking each word distinctly. “Your sister is different from you.” With that one sentence, my heart utterly died. I stood there, stunned, unable to speak. I could only watch as Julian placed an invitation and the card on the table beside me. “Violet and I are getting married on September 30th.” “Your sister hopes you can dress appropriately and attend our wedding.” So Julian had come specifically to give me money, afraid I would embarrass them at the wedding. My emotions were a messy tangle. After Julian left, I walked to the table and tucked both the invitation and the card into a drawer. I wouldn’t go looking for humiliation. After doing everything. I lay on the bed, and an overwhelming wave of fatigue swept over me. I had a dream, of more than a decade ago, the first time I met Julian. Julian was wearing a dark overcoat, smiling as he asked me. “Little girl, what’s your name?” In that moment, my heart melted. I woke up the next morning. I was roused by the ringing of my phone. Still half-asleep, I grabbed the phone from my bedside table and answered. My sister Violet Hayes’s impatient voice came through the line. “Hello! What are you waiting for? Mom had an accident, the bed is all wet!” “I’m on my way.” I skipped breakfast, washed up quickly, and rushed to the hospital. As soon as I entered the ward, I heard Violet’s sharp voice. “I told you already, we have no relationship anymore. Can you please stop bothering me?”

Mrs. Hayes’s face was pale. She struggled to sit up and tugged at Violet’s sleeve. “Violet, Mom missed you so much. Every night I dream of you.” “These five years you’ve been away, Mom could only look at your SnapChat, not daring to call you, afraid of disturbing you.” “Now that you’ve finally found your place, Mom is happy for you.” Violet’s face was full of impatience. “Everything I have today, don’t I owe it all to myself? What could you two do to help me?” Mrs. Hayes was speechless. After a long while, she couldn’t help but cautiously ask. “Is the wedding all ready? When will it be? Mom can help prepare…” Before she could finish, Violet cut her off, her eyes full of disdain. “How can you attend my wedding looking like this?” “You just lie in a hospital bed all day. What if you have an accident at the wedding? Do you want me to lose face in front of Julian’s family?” “Let me tell you, from now on, I only have one mother, and that’s Mrs. Vance.” Mrs. Vance, Julian Vance’s mother. I couldn’t stand it anymore and pushed the door open. “Sis, how can you talk to Mom like that?” “I’m your sister. It’s none of your business how I talk, is it?” Violet said, then slammed the door and left. I watched her retreating back, suppressing my anger, and was about to comfort Mrs. Hayes. But I met my mother’s gaze. “Autumn, don’t be so harsh on your sister.” “She was just spoiled as a child; her nature isn’t bad.” My fingertips clenched. “Mom, Sis is practically disowning you. Are you still going to defend her like this?” Mrs. Hayes didn’t answer, weakly saying. “Autumn, Mom has wet the blankets. Can you help Mom change them?” Seeing Mom’s head full of white hair, I still couldn’t bring myself to blame her further, and neatly changed the bedding. After everything was tidied, I left for work. That evening, at The Skyline Club. After finishing my makeup and changing into my red slip dress for work, I came out to find Liam Foster, the head manager, leaning against the dressing room door. Liam saw my pale face, his expression worried. “Feeling unwell?” I nodded. “Just came from the hospital, a bit tired.” A flicker of concern crossed Liam’s eyes. “If you’re tired, rest. Don’t aim to be number one here; aim to leave.” “You’ve earned a lot of money over the years. Why don’t you think more about yourself?” “Your sister is back now; it’s her turn to carry Mom’s burden.” Liam knew about my family situation and that my sister was back, so he couldn’t help but advise me. My heart warmed. “Yeah, I’ll try to think more about myself.” Liam then slipped me an anti-hangover pill. “Tonight, you’re assigned to The Platinum Suite. The clients there are high-profile individuals, so they shouldn’t cause trouble. But still, take this, just in case.” “Thank you.” Over the years, Liam had taken good care of me. I sincerely thanked him, then headed to The Platinum Suite. At the door of The Platinum Suite. I knocked and entered, immediately spotting Julian Vance sitting among a group of men. He wore a dark suit, his face under the golden-rimmed glasses looking cool and distinguished. My body stiffened. And Julian, at that moment, looked up, our eyes meeting. Then, a colleague next to him asked. “Julian, you know her?” All those with him were prominent lawyers, sharp-eyed enough to know everything with just a glance. Julian subtly shifted his gaze from me. “Not well.” Not well… My expression faltered slightly, then I quickly regained composure and walked inside.

Now, it was true, Julian Vance and I weren’t close. I suppressed the dull ache in my heart and spoke. “I’m Autumn Hayes, number 108. It’s an honor to be in The Platinum Suite to serve you all.” As soon as I finished speaking, the man sitting next to Julian waved me over. “Come here.” I walked over and sat between him and Julian. I recognized this man; his name was Carter Stone, Julian’s partner, and he often appeared in newspapers with him. Carter smiled and instructed. “Remember not to touch Mr. Vance. He’s very principled; he doesn’t let any other woman near him except his fiancée.” So, everyone knew Julian was only special to my sister. I nodded stiffly. “I understand.” The next moment, I heard Julian’s displeased voice. “Carter, mind your own business.” Carter shrugged. After a few rounds of drinks, the people in the suite were tipsy, and a group of prominent lawyers started playing spin the bottle. Carter picked up the bottle and spun it. The neck pointed at me. Carter, his face flushed from alcohol, eyed me up and down. “Autumn, have you ever been taken out overnight by a client?” My face instantly burned crimson. I fought hard not to look at Julian. “I choose dare, I’ll drink.” Then, I picked up the brandy on the table and downed it in one gulp. My stomach instantly felt like it was on fire, burning with pain. Carter spun the bottle again. It rotated once and again pointed at me. “Julian, do you want to ask Ms. Autumn a question?” Julian finally looked at me at that moment. His eyes were indifferent, as if I were merely a stranger. “I have nothing to ask.” “Then I’ll ask for you!” Carter seemed to be getting carried away and asked me again. “How much do you charge for an overnight stay with a client? How many men have you been with?” Without thinking, I picked up the glass, about to drink. But Carter snatched the glass from my hand. “You already drank once! You can’t drink again now! You have to answer.” Hearing this, I bit my lower lip hard. “Two thousand a night. Three men.” As I spoke, I saw Julian’s gaze shoot toward me, the anger in his eyes clear. I immediately lowered my head, not daring to look at Julian again. If he weren’t here, I could have handled any intrusive game question with ease. But today, I just couldn’t do it like before. Carter didn’t want to stop and spun the bottle again. It stopped, still pointing at me. “Oh, no, Autumn, it’s you again…” Before Carter could finish, Julian cut him off. “Enough! That’s it for tonight.” With that, he picked up his suit jacket and walked out of the suite without even a glance at me. Seeing Julian suddenly angry and leaving. Carter was somewhat surprised. He turned to me and asked. “What exactly is your relationship? This is the first time I’ve seen him like this.” My fingertips clenched slightly. “Just a hostess and a client.” Carter didn’t ask further and followed Julian out. The others in The Platinum Suite also dispersed. I was the last to leave the suite, my stomach churning for some reason. Tonight was the only time I hadn’t been harassed or forced to drink, yet it was the most humiliating. Julian must be so disappointed in me. Back in the main hall. Liam handed me a stack of cash wrapped in brown paper. “This is your commission for today, a total of one thousand.” He then asked. “How were the clients today? No one laid a hand on you, did they?” I took the money and shook my head. “Thanks for arranging it. The clients today didn’t lay a hand on me.”

After saying that, I was about to walk out. Liam couldn’t help but call out to me again. “Autumn.” I looked back, puzzled. “What is it?” Liam hesitated for a moment, then gathered his courage. “If it’s possible, would you consider me?” I was startled, and before I could answer. Liam forced a light smile. “It’s fine, I just asked. It’s okay if you don’t want to.” As soon as he finished speaking, a familiar voice came from not far away. “Julian, look, Autumn has quite a few admirers.” I looked over and saw Julian and the others from The Platinum Suite also at the entrance. Carter Stone sneered and said to Julian. “That man is Liam Foster, the head manager of the club. Managers at places like this are quite promiscuous. If the girl agrees, she’ll have a hard time.” Julian followed their gaze and saw my face flushed, standing beside Liam. A strange anger welled up in his eyes. “Let’s go. It has nothing to do with us.” Julian’s car arrived. He didn’t spare me another glance, got in, and drove away. I stood not far away, my heart feeling like it had been hollowed out. Nothing to do with him… Just then, my phone suddenly rang. I answered. Mrs. Hayes’s weak voice came through. “Autumn, Mom has something to tell you.” “Okay.” I rushed to the hospital. As soon as I entered the ward and saw Mrs. Hayes, I quickly asked. “Mom, what happened?” Mrs. Hayes saw me, a look of difficulty on her face as she spoke. “Mom needs you to kneel and swear that you will always take good care of your sister from now on.” “No matter what she does, you must forgive her, or you will die a horrible death!” I heard this and froze. I knew Mom had always favored my sister, but I never imagined she would ask me to swear such a deadly oath for her sake. “Mom, am I your real daughter?” I couldn’t help but ask. Seeing my reaction, Mrs. Hayes raised her hand and slapped me across the face. “You were born from my womb after ten months. If you’re not my daughter, whose daughter are you?” “Swear it now, or we’ll cut ties as mother and daughter!” Cut ties as mother and daughter! Hearing those words, my heart utterly died. “Okay, I swear! But once I take this oath, you will truly no longer be my mother.” Mrs. Hayes’s eyes were dull. She didn’t speak, just stared at me blankly. And I, numb, knelt on the floor, raising my index and middle fingers, enunciating each word. “I swear that I will take good care of my sister, Violet Hayes, and forgive her no matter what she does, or may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!” The moment my words fell, the tension in Mrs. Hayes’s heart finally eased. After a long while, Mrs. Hayes said again. “You can go now. I need to rest.” I slowly got up, turned, and left. I never imagined that this departure would be a permanent farewell. That evening, as I was working. Suddenly, a group of uniformed police officers walked up to me, showing their badges. “Autumn Hayes, we’ve received a report. You’re suspected of murdering your biological mother. Please come with us for questioning!” My mind reeled, my eyes wide with disbelief. “What are you saying?” “Your mother was found deceased at 7 AM this morning. You were the last person seen with her before she died.” “Your sister reported it. You can say whatever you need to at the station.” After being taken back to the New York City Police Department, my mind was a blur. It wasn’t until the interrogation. I learned that after I left, someone had pulled out Mom’s breathing tube and administered illegal drugs to her. My mind suddenly flashed back to Mom’s last words: No matter what Violet Hayes does, you must forgive her! I understood everything now. It had to be Violet… I quickly told the police. “Can you investigate my sister, Violet Hayes? This morning, I was called to the hospital by my sister.” “Also, can you help me find a lawyer? I want to see Mr. Julian Vance!” 10. The police, seeing that I didn’t seem to be lying, told me in a professional manner. “We will investigate all the leads you’ve provided.” That afternoon. The detention room door opened. “The person you wanted to see is here.” I was led to the visiting room. As soon as I entered, I saw Julian Vance in a dark suit, sitting behind the table. I quickly explained. “Julian, I didn’t hurt Mom. You have to believe me.” Julian looked at me, his eyes filled with disappointment. “The evidence is stacked against you now. How do you expect me to believe you?” I was stunned. “What evidence?” Julian placed his phone in front of me and played a video. It was a video of me in Mom’s hospital room. The video showed my mother and me arguing about something. I explained. “My mom made me promise to forgive my sister no matter what she did.” “At this point, are you going to blame everything on your sister?” Julian asked. I was stunned. I refused to give up, explaining again. “Julian, I’m really being framed! When I went to the hospital, Mom was perfectly fine…” Julian, seeing that I still wouldn’t admit it, said in a deep voice. “Autumn Hayes, do you have any conscience? You killed your own mother. It’s either the death penalty or life imprisonment!” Hearing his resolute voice, I couldn’t speak another word. Julian spoke each word distinctly. “If you confess now, you might get a reduced sentence.” My eyes instantly welled up. “Julian, how can I confess to something I didn’t do?” Julian stood up. “I’ll come back when you’ve thought it through.” With that, he turned and left. I watched his retreating back, at a loss. Just then, the officer said someone else wanted to see me. The person who walked in was Violet Hayes. As soon as I saw her, I immediately stood up. “What did you do to Mom? How did she die?” Violet looked at me, smiling sweetly. “What could I do? Wasn’t it you who couldn’t stand her, so you pulled her tubes and put her out of her misery?” “I should thank you. From now on, I have no burdens whatsoever.” Hearing this, my pupils contracted sharply. “You know this is murder, right? I’m going to tell the police!” Violet laughed. “Go ahead and tell them. My husband is the best gold-standard lawyer in the country! Do you think the police will believe you, or me?” “And I have something to show you.” Violet pulled out her phone. “This is what Mom left for you before she passed.” In the video, Mrs. Hayes’s face was ashen, speaking each word distinctly. “Autumn, Mom knows she’s been a burden to you all these years, which is why you wanted Mom to die.” “Mom doesn’t blame you.” Seeing this, my head buzzed. My fingertips dug into my nails, my palm bleeding. I never imagined that the first time I heard my mother’s instructions, it would be to frame me. “Mom… why would you do this to me? Am I not your daughter anymore?” Only despair remained. After Violet left, I stayed alone in the detention center, in agony. After a week of being dazed and confused. The officer told me that my case was so severe it had spread throughout New York City. No lawyer in New York City was willing to take my case; not even legal aid wanted to touch it. But Julian Vance came to see me again. Visiting room. As soon as I entered, before I even sat down, I heard Julian speak. “Have you thought it through? Are you willing to confess?” I looked at him, my face pale, repeating my previous answer. “How can I confess to something I didn’t do?” Hearing the same answer as last time, a flicker of annoyance crossed Julian’s eyes. “Autumn Hayes! You’re still unrepentant even now. Do you know how many people outside want you to get the death penalty?” I lowered my gaze and asked. “What about you?” 11. Julian unconsciously averted his gaze, falling silent. The room was quiet. What else was there to understand? I clung to a last shred of hope, asking Julian. “Julian, do you really not believe me at all?” Julian heard the hope in my voice and his gaze returned to my face. He couldn’t help but remember the little me, always trailing behind him, her voice soft and sweet. “Julian, when I grow up, I want to marry someone just like you.” “Julian, I like you so much. Let’s be together when I’m an adult, okay?” “Julian, don’t worry about your bar exam, I’ll take care of your mom…” Thinking of these things, a strange pang of pain pierced Julian’s heart. Seeing Julian fall silent again, I smiled bitterly. “I understand. It’s fine.” “But since no one is willing to take my case now, Julian, can you be my lawyer?” I could go to jail, but I didn’t want to go to jail with a bad name. Julian, however, refused without hesitation. “I won’t take the case of someone like you.” One sentence completely crushed my heart, stripping away my last hope. My clenched hands trembled slightly. Then, I heard Julian say. “Violet’s and my wedding has been postponed. I’m now Violet’s lawyer; she has filed a lawsuit against you.” Hearing this, I suddenly understood. So this was why Julian had come to see me, to make me confess. I felt as if I’d fallen into an ice cellar, lowering my eyes in self-mockery. “Only now do I understand, Julian, you truly don’t like me.” Julian didn’t answer me, but stood up. “I will personally ensure you’re sent to prison, for your sister.” After he left, I suddenly laughed. I didn’t understand why I was laughing. Perhaps it was for my twelve-year, unrequited love. I was led out of the visiting room by the officer, but at the door, I saw Liam Foster. Liam saw me, his eyes filled with worry. “Autumn, I know you’re innocent! You took care of your mother for six years; you couldn’t possibly murder her!” My eyes welled up. The Julian I had loved for over a decade didn’t believe me, but Liam, who I’d known for five years, firmly believed in me. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t have the chance to start a new life with him. “Liam, thank you for believing me.” “But I’m sorry, I have to cancel our plan to eat tiramisu.” And the promise to date him was also cancelled. Liam’s eyes immediately reddened. “Don’t say that. When you get out, I’ll make it for you again.” I shook my head. “No, I’m actually quite alright now.” “The life I lived at The Skyline Club was worse than being in jail. At least in jail, I don’t have to entertain clients, and I don’t have to worry about not having money for Mom’s treatment.” Liam, however, wouldn’t give up. “I will find evidence to prove your innocence!” “Wait for me!” After he left, I was sent back to the detention room. Soon, the day of the trial arrived. I sat alone in the defendant’s dock, facing Violet Hayes, the plaintiff, and a sharply dressed Julian Vance. I just watched. Julian meticulously presented all the surveillance footage, videos, and other evidence, explaining each point to the judge. I felt as if I couldn’t hear anything. In my mind, there were only snippets of my past with Julian. His praise for my delicious breakfasts, his gratitude for me taking care of Mrs. Vance. And the way he rejected me. And now, the way he was desperately trying to convict me. “Does the defendant have anything else to say?” My eyes were red-rimmed as I looked at the video of my mother before her death, displayed behind Violet. I then looked at Julian across from me, the corners of my eyes red. My own mother used her death to frame me; how else could I argue? “I plead guilty.”

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My wife, Serena Evans, had an unblemished surgical record. Yet, she managed to turn my minor wrist fracture into a permanent disability. The very next day, her “best friend,” Julian Cole, replaced me as the Chief Physician. That same day, he posted online: “Thanks to someone for prioritizing friendship over her man. May our journey together be filled with storms and triumph.” The accompanying photo showed him with his arm wrapped around my wife, a smug grin plastered across his face. I scoffed and commented: “Teaming up with an idiot? You’re guaranteed storms alright.” A second later, Serena’s furious call came through. “What the hell did you mean by that comment? Delete it right now!” “Your hand’s useless now, so you’ve become a psycho, is that it? Julian just started at the hospital; he can’t handle you slandering him like this.” “I’m telling you, if you don’t delete that comment today, we’re getting a divorce.” Divorce? I was thinking the exact same thing. Serena didn’t even realize that mixed in with the medical malpractice waiver she signed on my behalf, was our divorce agreement. Cautious as she usually was, she’d never make such a rookie mistake. But right then, all she cared about was Julian’s promotion; she had no time to spare for anything else. I requested a medical malpractice investigation from my supervisor. But they told me they’d investigated immediately. Serena’s procedure had been flawless; everything was just an accident. I laughed. The protocol to avoid being misjudged in a medical malpractice investigation? I had taught it to Serena. Now, she was using it against me. A moment later, Julian’s promotion to Chief Physician was announced on the WhatsApp group. Julian, who was always at the bottom of the pile in terms of performance, was suddenly ranked first with a massive lead in the official results. I looked closer and realized that all those patients were ones I couldn’t follow up with after my hand was crippled. Their most complex surgeries were already done, leaving only simple post-op recovery. Anyone could see this was a classic move, a perfect snatch-and-grab. Julian, ever the hypocrite, posted in the group: “To be appointed to such an important position just two months into the hospital makes me truly humble. You are all my seniors, and I humbly ask for your guidance moving forward.” Serena quickly replied: “Julian, you’re the most promising cardiothoracic surgeon I’ve ever seen. No position is too important for you; don’t underestimate yourself.” My colleagues also started showering him with compliments. “Dr. Cole, you’re too modest. Is it so hard to admit you’re excellent?” “Good thing it wasn’t Dr. Reed who became Chief, or we’d all be miserable.” I’d always had a reputation for being tough in the hospital. Because in the medical field, even the smallest oversight can be a matter of life or death; there’s no room for messing around. But I’d also made quite a few silent enemies because of it. Still, I never imagined that the first ones to badmouth me would be my own apprentices, The very ones whose mistakes I’d covered countless times. Lost in thought, another message popped up: “Alex Reed is so irresponsible. He’s faking a disability to slack off, leaving several difficult surgeries to Chief Cole.” “Only Chief Cole, with his good temper, would be willing to take on such a mess.” I sneered. What kind of “mess” gets you promoted to Chief overnight? What kind of “mess” lets you steal someone else’s entire surgical portfolio? Just because of a few complicated surgeries I hadn’t had time to do, they were calling me irresponsible. Not wanting to hear any more from these idiots, I exited the group chat. But moments later, Serena’s call came in, her tone cold and business-like. “Alex, I need you to finalize the treatment plans for those difficult surgeries within two days.” “On the day of the operation, you’ll assist Julian throughout the entire procedure.”

Ha. Not a peep when they were snatching my position. Now that they’re in trouble, suddenly they remember me? I scoffed, too annoyed to even reply. Serena exploded: “Alex, what is this attitude? Are you blaming me for crippling your hand, so you’re deliberately trying to make things difficult for me? Do you think I wasn’t devastated when my surgery failed? Instead of comforting me, all you can think about is your Chief position.” “You’re a doctor yourself, yet you couldn’t even protect your own hand. What right do you have to be angry?” “I haven’t even asked you to thank Julian for taking over your mess, and you have the audacity to throw a tantrum and refuse to cooperate with our work.” I was incredulous. She knew I’d gotten into that car accident in a panic after receiving her urgent call! Just as I was about to retort, I heard Julian’s voice from her end. “Alright, alright, don’t get angry because of me. Helping your husband clean up his mess was my choice. Let me talk to him.” I couldn’t be bothered to even acknowledge him. I just hung up. Serena called back, a dozen times, but I ignored every single one. She was truly spoiled rotten. Destroying my career to pave the way for her affair partner wasn’t enough; now she wanted me to write plans for him and assist in his surgeries, just so he could take all the credit. That manipulative witch! She must be out of her mind. Since the hospital couldn’t resolve this, I had to take it higher. I dialed my parents directly. “Mom, Dad, I lost. My time working at the ground level needs to end early.” “Have all the Northwood City hospitals reassigned to my name.” Serena and I came from mismatched backgrounds. My parents had strongly disapproved of our marriage from the start. But I’d insisted on marrying her. My parents, helpless, had only made one condition: I had to hide my identity for two years. If Serena didn’t betray me within those two years, The Reed family would officially accept her as their daughter-in-law. Who would have thought that in less than six months, Serena would reveal her true colors? Betraying me, and betraying our marriage. After talking to my parents, my mood finally lifted a little. I’d just hung up when my phone rang again. I thought it was my parents, forgetting something, but when I answered, my mother-in-law’s voice blared through. “What did you do to upset Serena again? You don’t make any money all day, so where do you get such a temper?” “I’m warning you, go and pacify Serena right now, or I’ll have her divorce you in a minute.” Every argument Serena and I had was like this. She couldn’t be bothered to explain things to me, so she’d push me off to her mother. Back then, my parents didn’t support my marriage, and the $50,000 I put up for the wedding, which was everything I had, made my mother-in-law feel slighted. She always felt her daughter could do better, and she’d resented me ever since. “Divorce me” had almost become a catchphrase for Serena and her mother. In the past, every time I heard that, I’d be in agony and quickly humble myself to save the marriage. But this time, I was tired. There was no point in holding onto a marriage devoid of dignity. My friend and I went on a long-overdue trip out of town. It was the first time I hadn’t contacted Serena for over a day. That night, for the first time during a cold war, she reached out to me. “I know you’re this angry because you can’t work with me anymore, right?” “Alright, be a good boy. I’ll help you find a job closer to me, okay?” I almost burst out laughing. How utterly pathetic must I have been in the past for her to think she had such immense charm? “No need. And stop bothering me.”

With that, I turned off my phone. All I wanted now was to get the divorce finalized. Over the next few days, Serena kept sending me job postings. There were positions for pharmacy receptionists near our hospital, then patient escorts for $50 an hour. Finally, she even sent me a job posting for a hospital cleaner, with a message: “I know the cleaning supervisor, I’ll ask her to consider your hand and give you light work.” “This is the closest job to me. What do you think? Want to consider it?” Her tone was utterly serious. I couldn’t even find an excuse to pretend she was joking. So, in her eyes, I was only fit to be a cleaner now. I sneered, replying coldly: “Julian went to school for Hospitality Management. Wouldn’t *he* be a better fit for this?” Serena’s impatient voice note quickly came back: “You’re still jealous of Julian, aren’t you? He went from a hospitality major to where he is now, and you’re here mocking him instead of recognizing his hard work and talent. Let me tell you, Julian is my best friend, and I won’t allow you to slander him. If you insist on competing with him, then you’re not fit to be my husband.” “He works hard, and I don’t?! Serena, do you even have a heart? Can’t you see how much I’ve sacrificed for our home, so your mom wouldn’t look down on me? How could you just give away my position?” I practically screamed it, my voice raw. I’d always thought Serena, despite her temper, at least saw my efforts for her. But I never imagined she only saw me as a stepping stone to elevate another man. She only ever thought from his perspective. What kind of “friend” does that? Are they *really* just friends? Serena sighed and said: “I just think you’re capable, you can survive anywhere. But Julian is different, he needs my protection.” I gave a bitter laugh. “So, you’re finally admitting you intentionally botched the surgery, aren’t you?” My words left Serena stunned, speechless for a long moment. Three years ago, I came to this small hospital for her. Back then, I thought as long as we loved each other, as long as we worked hard enough, any difficulty would be overcome. But the truth proved I was too naive. Some people aren’t worth your efforts, and some are destined to only walk a short path with you in life. The next day, I returned to the hospital to complete some handover procedures. My right hand was completely useless; I couldn’t perform my current duties and had to resign. But as soon as I walked in, I was surrounded by a group of people. I looked closely and realized they were all families of patients I had treated. Seeing Julian smiling brightly behind them, I understood immediately. He’d probably told the families something. They approached aggressively, their words far from polite. “Dr. Reed, we all came to this hospital specifically for your treatment. How can you be so irresponsible, just refusing to operate?” “Yeah, right? So what if someone took your Chief position? You’re refusing to provide treatment plans just because of that? How petty can you be?” I tried to explain that Julian was their new doctor and they should talk to him. Julian, at that moment, casually let slip a remark. “He couldn’t have run out of ideas, could he? Maybe he’s faking his disability to avoid responsibility.” At his words, the patient families grew even angrier, no longer listening to anything I said. The leader of the group marched over and ripped off the bandage from my hand. My weak, somewhat atrophied hand was exposed to everyone.

A hush fell over the crowd for a second, then someone scoffed: “Huh, who knows if he’s faking it?” “Let’s see if he reacts to pain; that’ll tell us if he’s faking.” Julian offered, fueling the fire. The leader immediately understood, grabbed me, and threw me to the floor. He stomped viciously on the back of my hand. Excruciating pain shot through my ruined hand, but I had no strength to pull away. I could only let out a guttural, desperate scream. Julian suddenly rushed forward, as if to intervene. I found it strange, and sure enough, Serena’s voice quickly rang out behind me. “What are you all doing?!” Julian, at that moment, cried out in surprise and stumbled to the ground. “Alex, I was trying to help you! Why did you shove me?!” Everyone immediately started talking amongst themselves. “Didn’t he say his hand was useless? How does he have the strength to push someone?” “He really is just trying to shirk responsibility, isn’t he?” Serena’s gaze at me became incredibly complex. But it was only for a second. She rushed over, and immediately slapped me across the face. “Alex, what the hell is wrong with you?! Julian was being kind enough to help, and you pushed him!” I hadn’t even reacted when Julian pulled Serena’s hand to his mouth, gently blowing on it. “Did you hurt your hand, darling? Why do you always lose control when it comes to me?” “Alright, don’t be angry. Alex is jealous that I took his position, I can understand that. Just let him vent on me a few more times; I can take it. Don’t make a big deal out of this, it’s not good for him, or for you.” His words sounded so kind and magnanimous. They not only made Serena look at him with tenderness but also made the patient families sigh in admiration. “They’re both doctors, but their character is so different.” In the end, it was Julian who repeatedly promised them that he would get the treatment plans from me. Only then did they reluctantly leave. Some even grabbed my collar before leaving, threatening me: “If those treatment plans aren’t out today, you can tell your family to prepare for your funeral.” A notification popped up on my phone from HR, telling me to clear out the hospital apartment. This was the apartment Serena and I had applied for together. Now, having to move out, I truly felt that Serena and I were over. I planned to clean it out myself, but Serena caught up, offering to help. I couldn’t care less. Anyway, she was now the sole owner of that apartment. But when I stepped back inside, I knew why Serena had chased after me. The chili plants and mint I’d personally grown on the balcony were gone. The couple’s mugs and matching aprons in the kitchen had been replaced. The wallpaper, sofa, and bed throughout the entire apartment were now in Julian’s preferred style. Even the photo of Serena and me graduating from medical school, which used to hang in the living room, had been replaced by a photo of Julian and Serena on the day he became Chief. I didn’t need to pack anything. This small home, once decorated by Serena and me, was completely unrelated to me now. Three short days. That’s all it took. All my belongings were packed into a single suitcase, left abandoned outside the apartment door. Along with Buddy, the pet dog Serena and I had adopted together. Serena was DINK, so we’d adopted Buddy. She used to say he was like our child. Now, she’d thrown our child out with me. The thick summer air choked me, making it hard to breathe. “Buddy,” I called out. Hearing my voice, Buddy’s chubby body trembled, and he stood up. Seeing it was me, he whined excitedly, as if wanting to get close like usual. When he realized his head couldn’t squeeze through the bars of his crate, he just sat obediently, wagging his tail incessantly.

My nose stung uncontrollably, and the surging emotions could no longer be suppressed. I rushed into the living room. “Why did you throw all my things outside? I’m still your legal husband, aren’t I?” “Everything else aside, you know Buddy was abandoned because of his disability, he’s terrified of being left behind. How could you throw him outside?” “Julian is afraid of dogs.” Serena’s bland statement choked all my words in my throat. “Julian’s current apartment is too expensive, that’s why I let him move in. It’s just to save money.” She added, as if granting me a favor. Her cold demeanor completely extinguished my heart. Picking up Buddy, I struggled to push my suitcase out of the apartment. As I passed my old office, I heard my former colleagues passionately discussing surgical plans. A sense of indescribable melancholy filled me. That night, I meticulously prepared all the surgical plans for my patients. I believed that as a doctor, I had a clear conscience towards my patients. How Julian would complete the surgeries afterwards was no longer my concern. The next day, I contacted the most authoritative medical dispute arbitration recommended by my mother. I slapped the drafted lawyer’s letter in front of Serena. “Dr. Evans, aren’t you known for your zero-failure surgeries? How can you let me be a blemish on your record?” “For your sake, I absolutely *have* to win this case.” Serena frowned, glanced at the lawyer’s letter in her hand, and disdainfully tossed it aside. Then she threw the surgical plans I’d written last night back at me. I opened them and saw that while the general direction was my writing, some minor details had been altered. And these alterations contained incredibly stupid, low-level errors that were obvious at first glance. I smiled. Whether this was Serena’s scheme or Julian’s, I no longer cared. I slammed the plans onto Serena’s face. “First, these patients are all Julian’s now. I have no obligation to write plans for them.” “Second, I keep drafts of everything I hand over. I taught you that rule, you haven’t forgotten, have you?” “Finally, your current position is one I let you have. Now, your so-called ‘best friend’ wants to steal *my* position too. Fine, take it all. I just wish you, who are undeserving of your positions, don’t crash and burn. Otherwise, it’s the patients who will suffer.” “Oh, and I suggest you take that lawyer’s letter seriously.” “As I always taught you, vigilance prevents disaster.” With that, I didn’t bother to look at Serena’s face, a canvas of disbelief and guilt, and strode out of the hospital. While waiting for the traffic light, I received a call from my lawyer. “Mr. Reed, your divorce proceedings have encountered some issues.” “We’ve found that your wife, Ms. Serena Evans, took out a $150 million loan in your name during your marriage to help a Mr. Julian Cole establish Cole Medical in Riverbend City, building over a dozen private hospitals.” “Unless this debt is settled, your divorce proceedings will be difficult to finalize.” I hadn’t even processed this astounding news when a heavy truck barreled towards me. My mind went blank instantly. I felt like my insides had been utterly pulverized. But the next second, the truck reversed, deliberately driving over my right hand again. My already battered hand was mangled beyond recognition, practically glued to the asphalt like ground meat. The pain was gone; I even started thinking absurdly: how would the paramedics even scrape my mangled hand off the asphalt? Through my fading consciousness, I heard the truck driver speak into his phone, addressing someone on the other end: “Ms. Evans, it’s confirmed this time. It’s completely ruined. It won’t affect Mr. Cole anymore.”

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I had a fling with a younger guy back in the day. Once I had him hooked, I dumped him. Later, he became a billionaire CEO. He found me, broke and bankrupt, and married me. Everyone said I hit the jackpot. But they didn’t know he brought different women home every single night. I didn’t cry. I didn’t fuss. But it drove him mad. He retaliated by getting his mistress, Serena, pregnant. I stayed calm, cool as ice. He slammed me against the wall. “Chloe, do you actually love me or not?” Later, Serena and I broke our water at the same time. I fell to my knees, telling him I loved him, begging him to take me to the hospital. He hugged me tight, a cruel smile on his face. “I knew it!” “You liar.” He shoved me away, hard. He scooped up Serena, then walked out without a backward glance. “I’ll send you to the hospital later. The pain of childbirth is your punishment!” All I saw was his retreating back as he rushed away. My lower abdomen ached as if all strength had been drained from me. I collapsed heavily to the floor. Amniotic fluid gushed out, soaking my thighs, spreading a wet stain on the ground. Weakly, I raised a hand, calling out to a maid nearby, my voice hoarse. “Please, take me to the hospital…” The maid looked at me, her face full of dilemma. “Mrs. Miller, Liam specifically told us we must wait for him to return. I wouldn’t dare…” “You wouldn’t dare?” I clutched my abdomen, my voice trembling from the pain. “If anything happens to me or the baby, Liam will never forgive you. Take me now!” The maid, terrified, finally scrambled to her feet and rushed out. She had barely reached the door when Liam’s personal assistant, David, blocked her path. “David, Mrs. Miller is in labor. She needs to go to the hospital right away,” the maid stammered nervously. David glanced at the fluid on the floor, then at my contorted face, his tone calm. “Mr. Miller said to wait for him. Mrs. Miller is just using her pregnancy to manipulate us again. Help her back to her room to rest.” “If we delay any longer, the baby will be gone! Will you take the blame?!” I desperately pushed myself up, pointing a trembling finger at him. David offered a polite, fake smile, his eyes devoid of any warmth. “Mrs. Miller, Mr. Miller is with Miss Serena at the hospital, making sure her baby is safe. He said to wait for him to return.” “You know Liam’s temper. No one dares to cross him.” “I’m in labor! The baby can’t wait!” The agonizing contractions returned, like a knife twisting and tearing inside my abdomen. I curled into a ball, cold sweat instantly soaking through my clothes. “What are you waiting for? Help Mrs. Miller to bed, now.” David snapped, his voice sharp. Two maids immediately rushed forward, ignoring the intense pain in my abdomen, roughly grabbing my arms and dragging me towards the bedroom. At that moment, I suddenly felt a warm liquid gushing out. I looked down—it was blood! “Blood! I’m bleeding!” Frantically, I grabbed a maid’s hand, screaming. “Take me to the hospital, quickly! Any later and the baby will really be in danger!” “Mrs. Miller, I can’t make that decision. I’ll call the family doctor over first.” The maid pulled her hand away, guilt written on her face. “I don’t want a family doctor! I need to go to the hospital!” “Mrs. Miller, please don’t get angry. I’ll go ask David right away.” The maid finished speaking and ran out in a panicked hurry. The pain in my abdomen was like a knife carving into my very bones. Cold sweat, mixed with blood and amniotic fluid, soaked the velvet blanket. Time ticked by, but no one came. Dragging my bleeding body, I painfully shifted to the edge of the bed and grabbed Martha, who had just walked in, by the hem of her uniform, crying out. “Martha, please, go check! I can’t hold on any longer…” Martha nodded, her face full of sympathy. “Mrs. Miller, just hold on. I’ll go hurry them up now.” But as she turned, David blocked her. He slowly walked towards me. His gaze swept over the blood-stained blanket, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. It was quickly replaced by cold indifference. “Let Dr. Miller take a look first.” As he spoke, Dr. Miller quickly entered with his medical bag. Several maids immediately stepped forward and pinned down my struggling limbs. “Let go of me! I need to go to the hospital!” I twisted my body desperately, tears mixing with cold sweat. “The baby can’t wait!” Dr. Miller, expressionless, examined me. Then he took out a few white pills and instructed Martha to give them to me. “What’s that?” I shook my head wildly. “I won’t take it! Are you trying to kill my baby?!” “It’s medication to delay labor. The contractions will lessen after you take it.” “No! That will cause the baby to be oxygen-deprived!” Dr. Miller remained coldly impassive, not saying another word. “Dr. Miller, your wife is also about to give birth, isn’t she? If she were lying here right now, would you make her take this medication? Aren’t you afraid of karma?!” I endured the intense pain and looked at David again. “David, if anything happens to me and the baby, you’ll be the murderer! Liam Miller won’t let you get away with it!” Dr. Miller and David exchanged a glance. Just as David was about to agree to send me to the hospital, his phone suddenly rang. It was Liam. He answered the call, responding respectfully, the hesitation on his face completely gone. “Mrs. Miller, you heard him.” His voice was filled with helplessness. “Mr. Miller said to absolutely wait for him to return. It’s not that I won’t help you, it’s that I truly don’t have the authority to decide.” With that, he gave Martha a meaningful look. Two maids immediately held down my shoulders, forcibly prying open my mouth. Martha took the opportunity to pop the pills in. I struggled to vomit, but the pills still slipped down my throat. Tears streamed silently down my face. I looked at the ceiling and suddenly burst into hysterical laughter. The laughter only made my tears flow harder. “This is excellent. Remember this day! If anything happens to my baby, I will become a vengeful spirit and drag you all down to hell with me!” “Mrs. Miller is unstable. Give her a sedative shot. Don’t let her hurt herself or the baby. Martha, keep an eye on her.” David frowned, then, after speaking to Dr. Miller and Martha, he turned and left. I stopped struggling, letting the thick needle pierce my arm. Turns out, in Liam’s heart, his mistress was far more important than his own flesh and blood. To save her baby, he would let his own child struggle on the brink of death. The despair I felt in that moment was equal to my regret for having been so determined to marry him. I thought if I was good enough, he would see it. Sometimes, for a fleeting moment, I believed he loved me. But now I knew: if he doesn’t love you, he just doesn’t. Even carrying his child couldn’t earn me a shred of his concern. I caressed the rising curve of my abdomen. Amniotic fluid and blood had long since soaked the entire bed. I slowly closed my eyes, tears once again wetting my face. “Liam Miller, if anything happens to my child, I will never let you go!”

Perhaps the medication had taken effect, as the pain of the contractions gradually lessened. But the blood still gushed from below. I lay weakly on the bed. In a haze, I suddenly heard Martha calling Mr. Miller’s name. Hope instantly ignited in my heart. Had he finally softened and decided to send me to the hospital? He still cared about me and the baby. So I gathered all my strength and shouted into Martha’s phone. “Liam Miller, quickly! Tell someone to send me to the hospital! The baby really might not make it!” Martha had put the phone on speaker, but what came through was Serena’s soft yet arrogant voice. “Sister, you really need to hold on. Liam is still here with me. He can’t spare a thought for you right now.” She paused, then instructed Martha. “Martha, make sure you take good care of Mrs. Miller, okay? Make sure she listens to Liam.” “Serena, let Liam take the call…” Before I could finish, someone clamped their hand over my mouth, leaving me to only make muffled sounds. Martha smiled fawningly into the phone. “Don’t worry, Miss Serena, we’ve already given her the delay medication. Mr. Miller’s instructions will definitely be followed.” “That’s good.” Serena’s voice was filled with triumph. “If Sister is still in pain later, I know a method that can both stop the pain and help her last until Liam gets back.” “What method?” Martha urgently asked. I held my breath, staring intently at the phone, wanting to hear what twisted idea she’d come up with next. The voice on the phone suddenly turned sinister. “First, hang her upside down, head first, feet up. After five minutes, the baby will slowly retract. Then, find a rope and tie it tightly below her abdomen. That will naturally help her last longer. If that still doesn’t work, then…” She deliberately raised her voice: “Like, stitch her up. In short, no matter what method you use, you must wait until Liam returns.” I desperately shook my head, but only muffled sounds came out. Martha stood frozen, her face ashen, only managing to force out a sentence after a long moment. “Miss Serena, isn’t that… inappropriate? Something bad could happen…” “How could it?” Her voice was full of disdain. “Where I’m from, to make sure the baby is born at a ‘good time,’ people often do this. Babies are resilient, you know.” She paused for two seconds, then continued. “Liam is right here next to me, and this is his idea. He’s the one who asked me to call and tell you. He said he needs to properly fix Chloe’s jealous streak. And he said to protect my baby at all costs. If you go soft, and anything happens to me, Liam will never forgive you.” Ignoring the gushing blood from below and the pain of the contractions, I violently broke free from the maids and screamed. “No! Liam wouldn’t do this to me and the baby! You’re lying! You evil woman! Martha, don’t listen to her!” But the next second, two maids roughly pressed me back onto the bed. Tears streaming down my face, I looked at Martha, pleading desperately. “Martha, you’re a mother too. Can you really be so heartless towards my baby?” Martha was trembling, sweating profusely, even the hand holding the phone was shaking violently. Serena was relentless. “Liam said he’ll divorce her soon. You need to think carefully about who’s more important, me or her.” Then the phone was abruptly hung up. After a moment of silence, Martha suddenly spoke to the maids. “Let go of Mrs. Miller.” A surge of joy filled me. I thought she had finally taken pity on me. I weakly reached out to her. “Martha, quickly, to the hospital. Any later and it will be too late.” But she sharply turned her face away, avoiding my gaze, and instructed the maids. “Get some ropes.” “Martha, what are you doing? You can’t do this!” I stared at her, horrified. But she acted as if she hadn’t heard me. Then two maids forcefully pinned me down on the bed. Ropes savagely bit into my hands and feet, instantly leaving raw, bloody marks. Every movement felt like my flesh was being ripped open. “Mrs. Miller, this is for your own good. Please, bear with it.” Martha threw out this sentence, then shouted to the maids again. “Bring the metal frame!” “For my own good?” I looked at her, tears streaming uncontrollably. “Don’t believe Serena’s lies! No matter what, Liam wouldn’t treat me like this! He swore he’d never hurt me!” But no one listened. Not a soul. Not until the metal frame was finally wheeled into the room. They grabbed my arms and forcibly dragged me towards the frame. A long trail of blood instantly marked the floor. The baby in my womb seemed to sense the danger, suddenly kicking wildly in my belly. The agonizing contractions returned, and I could barely breathe from the pain. Then, they hung me upside down on the metal frame, head first. My head pounded, the baby violently kicking my abdomen. Black spots danced before my eyes. Tears streamed down my forehead, mixing with my damp, sticky hair. “Liam Miller, please come back and see me! Are you really so heartless?” “Liam Miller, I really can’t hold on any longer. The baby will really…” As my consciousness blurred, I thought I saw Liam walking towards me, smiling. Just like before, he kissed my forehead, his voice tender. “Chloe, I’ll protect you and our child from now on. Don’t cry.” “Chloe, I’ll give up everything for you, even my life.” I reached out, my hand trembling, but I couldn’t grasp him.

The excruciating pain from the rope constricting my lower abdomen violently yanked me back to consciousness. Moments later, a maid brutally pulled me down from the metal frame. My back slammed hard against the floor, as if my bones would shatter. The rope binding my abdomen dug into my flesh, intensifying the contraction pain. The more I curled up, the tighter the rope bit, as if it was crushing my internal organs. Just then, a tearing, plummeting pain suddenly erupted from below. My hand trembled as I beckoned Martha. “Quick, I’m really giving birth…” Jenny, a maid who had just entered, suddenly gasped and screamed. “Martha, the baby… the baby’s crowning! Get her to the hospital, fast!” Martha’s face went white, but she just spun around in confusion. I stared at her, weak and in pain all over. “Please! Any later and the baby will be gone!” She suddenly raised her hand, her eyes cold. “Get a needle and thread. First, sew up her lower body.” “No!” Jenny rushed to the bed, spreading her arms to protect me. “Mrs. Miller and the baby will die! You’ll have to step over me first if you want to sew her!” “Do you dare defy Mr. Miller’s orders?” Martha scolded sharply. “But there’s so much blood!” Jenny cried, her voice choked. “Martha, how can you be so cruel?” “If we upset Mr. Miller and Miss Serena, we won’t even be able to save our own lives!” “Tie her up! Don’t let her interfere!” Two maids rushed forward, dragging Jenny towards the metal frame. Tape was slapped over her mouth. Her eyes bloodshot, she struggled desperately. The metal frame was knocked to the ground, hitting her back hard. She curled up on the floor, her body convulsing violently, and remained motionless for a long time. Enduring the pain in my lower abdomen, I screamed, my eyes red. “Let her go! You monsters! I hope you all rot in hell!” The next second, tape was sealed tightly over my mouth. Martha took the needle and thread, lifted my dress, and plunged the long needle into the flesh of my lower body. Excruciating pain instantly spread through my entire body, like a sharp knife carving into my flesh. I shook my head wildly, tears mixing with cold sweat. The maids held down my hands and feet tightly, making it impossible for me to move even an inch. “Mrs. Miller, it’s a cosmetic stitch, won’t leave a scar.” Martha’s face was expressionless, her needle still pushing deeper. “No anesthetic is better for you. Childbirth is much worse than this, anyway. You’ll get through it. We’ll send you to the hospital once Mr. Miller returns.” I looked at these inhumane people, closed my eyes, and gave up struggling. Just then, the door was violently thrown open. “What are you doing?! Stop it!” Liam’s sister, Sarah,’s stern voice echoed from outside the door. The air in the room instantly froze. The maids hurriedly released me, all lowering their heads in unison. Martha stood frozen, her face pale, her hands stained with blood, smearing her uniform. Liam and Sarah had grown up together, their parents having passed away when they were young. Liam’s success today was half due to her efforts. In the Miller family, her word carried more weight than Liam’s. Sarah’s gaze swept over the purple bruises on my abdomen, the blood-soaked bed, and the half-finished, bloody stitches in my lower body. Through the fresh blood, a glimpse of the baby’s hair was visible. She stumbled, clutching the doorframe, her voice trembling. “Who gave you the audacity?! How could you be so wicked?!” “It… it was Mr. Miller who said we had to wait for him to return…” Before Martha could finish, Sarah raised her hand and slapped her twice, hard, drawing blood from the corner of her mouth. “That wretched woman again! She’s behind this!” Sarah was trembling with rage. “I don’t have a cold-blooded brother like him! And the Miller family certainly doesn’t have an animal who hurts his wife and child!” “She’s Mrs. Miller! How dare you treat her like this! If anything happens to her and the baby, I swear I’ll make you pay a hundred times over! You’ll rot in jail! Get her to the hospital, now!” The maids scrambled to untie the ropes from my body. The moment the ropes loosened, I felt a sudden relief in my abdomen. Immediately, more blood gushed down my thighs, and the excruciating pain below remained. Sarah rushed over, crouching beside my bed, her voice shaking uncontrollably. “Chloe, I’m so sorry I’m late. You’ve suffered so much. You have to hold on! Please, don’t give up!” I looked at her red-rimmed eyes, wanting to reach up and wipe her tears away, but then my vision suddenly went black. In a daze, I felt myself enveloped in a warm embrace, carrying a faint, clean scent. Sarah’s tearful voice whispered in my ear. “Chloe, look at me. Don’t sleep. I’m taking you to the hospital right away!” I wanted to respond, but no words would come out of my throat. I only heard a maid’s sudden scream nearby. “Blood! So much blood! The baby… I think I saw the baby’s head moving!” Sarah suddenly looked up, pointing her blood-stained right hand at Martha, roaring. “What are you waiting for?! Call an ambulance! Quickly!”

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Everyone knew that Julian Blackwood, the most prominent man in the city, had married a mute woman. For ten years of marriage, Julian never once acknowledged me as his wife. They all said: “Mr. Blackwood married you; you should be grateful.” I swallowed every mocking word, every scornful glance, simply because I loved him. But the day I found out I was pregnant, I saw him in bed with my half-sister. They pushed me to the brink, cornered me until I had nowhere left to go. I jumped from the high-rise— Yet, Julian’s eyes burned red. He bowed his proud head, begging me, desperate for me to return to him. Pushing open the bedroom door— The overwhelming smell of alcohol and clothes strewn everywhere screamed at me, reminding me just how intense things had been in here. My legs buckled uncontrollably, and tears streamed down my face. Tiffany Miller chuckled as she looked at me. Calmly, she put on her clothes, then sashayed towards me. “Aurora, clean this mess up. Don’t let Julian find out. If you dare utter a single word about what happened today…” Tiffany paused, touching the necklace around her neck, her eyes turning vicious. “I can’t guarantee your mother won’t ‘have an accident.’” I frantically grabbed Tiffany’s arm, my eyes pleading, signaling that I would obey her. Tiffany smirked, glaring at me. “Right. You’re mute. It’s not like you can say anything anyway.” Tiffany left, triumphant. I leaned against the door, sliding down to the floor, powerless. My hands fell limp, and the doctor’s report slipped from my grasp. “Congratulations, your baby is two weeks old.” The doctor had said, flipping through the report. I touched my belly, incredulous. A wave of immense joy washed over me. I’d always had trouble conceiving. I never thought I’d have a baby of my own. On the way home, my heart pounded with anxiety. I wondered if Julian would dislike this child because it was mine, if he would despise it as much as he despised me. But I never imagined I’d come home to find my half-sister and my husband sleeping together. I knew Julian didn’t love me. But he didn’t have to humiliate me like this. My heart felt like it was clutched by an invisible hand, squeezing the breath from me, threatening to suffocate me. Slowly, I cleaned the room, tears dripping onto the floor as I numbly wiped them away. I tore the pregnancy test report into tiny pieces and flushed them down the toilet. I walked to the bed. Julian lay there, eyes closed, brows furrowed. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, still hazy with drunkenness. Julian reached out, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me beneath him. He nuzzled his nose against my face, then whispered in my ear. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t push him away. My eyes stung, and I bit my lip hard, refusing to let the tears fall. Then Julian called out, “Tiffany.” The name plunged me into an icy abyss. My blood froze, and my heart felt pierced by countless shards of glass. Raw and bleeding, tears traced paths down my cheeks, then disappeared into my hair. “Aurora.” Julian’s voice in the morning pulled me back from sleep to reality. He gripped my wrist tightly. Just waking up, he looked annoyed. His eyes were deep, his aura heavy. “Didn’t I tell you not to climb into my bed again?” Julian’s voice was arctic. I shook my head frantically, signing to him. “No, you pulled me in yesterday.” Julian’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Aurora, I’m not *that* desperate.” I froze for a moment, then lowered my head. Seeing me like that, Julian impatiently brushed a strand of hair from his forehead. He turned, pulled out a checkbook from a drawer, signed a check, tore it off, and flung it at my face. The paper was light, but it struck my heart with brutal force. Julian glanced at me. “Aurora, don’t let this happen again.” My eyes were numb, and I forced out a bitter smile, tears welling up. The scars on my heart felt like they were being ripped open again. Just when they’d started to heal, they were raw and bleeding once more. “Julian Blackwood, I’m not doing this for money.” Tears streamed down my face as I signed.

Julian grabbed my hand, looking displeased. “Don’t play the innocent woman. Take it, just take it. What’s with all the signing first thing in the morning? It’s irritating.” I opened my mouth weakly, but no sound came out. My face was streaked with tears. Julian stood up, a clear look of disgust in his eyes. The door slammed shut with such force that my body trembled. Downstairs, everyone was already seated at the dining table. Mrs. Blackwood looked at me with disdain, her voice sharp and sarcastic. “My daughter-in-law is even lazier than I am.” I signed an apology to everyone. But not a single person looked at me, not even a glance. I sat down dejectedly, trying to make myself as small as possible. Suddenly, a bowl of hot soup splashed onto my hand. My hand trembled with pain, turning visibly red. “Oops, Aunt Aurora, I’m so sorry.” It was Julian’s niece, Stella. She apologized with her mouth, but her eyes held a sly glint. She winked at me, feigning innocence. “It doesn’t hurt, does it, Aunt Aurora? I thought you’d scream in pain.” I was about to raise my hand to protest. “It’s just a bowl of soup. How hot could it be? Just eat your breakfast. It’s disgusting first thing in the morning.” Mrs. Blackwood looked at me impatiently. I clenched my hands, then looked up at Julian. He was quietly eating, completely unconcerned by what was happening to me. I pressed my lips together, suppressing the bitter ache in my chest. “Don’t let it bother you, Aurora.” Lily Blackwood, Julian’s sister, gently applied medicine to my hand. Looking at this young girl who bore a striking resemblance to Julian, tears involuntarily fell from my eyes. Perhaps she had touched the softest part of my heart. It was a pity such a kind girl had a congenital heart condition. A pang of tenderness flashed in my eyes. She smiled at me, her eyes curving into crescent moons. In the Blackwood family, she was the only one who didn’t look down on me, the mute. “Hello, Mrs. Blackwood.” Tiffany beamed, her smile fawning, as she entered the Blackwood home. The two chatted merrily. Tiffany could talk easily with everyone in the family; she seemed more like a Blackwood daughter-in-law than I ever could. My heart felt like it was being pricked by a thousand tiny needles, the pain so intense I could barely breathe. Tiffany pulled me aside. She took out a bottle of pills. “Aurora, find a way to make Lily take these.” Tiffany’s expression was sinister. “No! She can’t take those randomly.” I frantically waved my hands, refusing. Tiffany touched the necklace around her neck. “It seems you don’t care much about your mother after all.” My body stiffened. Tiffany shoved the pills into my hand. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I bit my lip hard, a salty, metallic taste spreading in my mouth. But Lily still didn’t escape that night. I grabbed Tiffany, tears streaming down my face, signing my questions. “Why? I didn’t make her take them! Why?!” Tiffany smirked. “I knew a fool like you couldn’t do it.” She pushed me away violently, then walked off triumphantly. *Smack!* “Aurora, you truly have a cruel heart.” The pills were found in my room, making me undeniably the murderer of Lily Blackwood. Julian was silent, his eyes slightly red. If you looked closely, you could see his hands trembling slightly. Lily was his beloved sister, and now, because of me, he had lost her forever. I crawled to his feet, tears streaming down my face like a broken dam. I signed. “Julian, I’m sorry.” Julian’s eyes turned bloodshot, filled with a fierce rage. He grabbed my throat, his hands tightening.

My face turned crimson from lack of oxygen. My hands fell limp, and the light in my eyes seemed to dim, fading into nothingness in an instant. Tears fell uncontrollably, one by one. Julian’s eyes were dark and cold, the icy stare piercing my heart like an ice pick. It felt as if a sharp knife was twisting repeatedly in my chest. Each turn was enough to send me to hell. Just as I was about to lose consciousness, Julian tossed me aside like trash. I gasped for air. “Aurora, I’ll give you one more chance. Just say you didn’t do it, and I’ll believe you.” A storm of hatred and despair raged in Julian’s eyes, but he suppressed it, burying it deep inside. I shook my head desperately. Tiffany touched her necklace, giving me a warning look. I wanted to tell the truth. But my mother’s life was in Tiffany’s hands. I couldn’t risk it. I sat there, stunned. I couldn’t forgive myself. A huge stone seemed to weigh down on my chest, making it hard to breathe. Tiffany rushed over, hugging Julian’s arm. “Julian, the evidence is right in front of us. I never thought my sister would do such a thing.” She shot me a glance, her hand going to the necklace around her neck. Despair flashed in my eyes. The pain inside me was like darkness, slowly devouring me. I collapsed to the floor, like a lifeless puppet. Julian’s eyes grew colder and colder. His deep gaze was like a still, dead pool. “Aurora, you will pay the price for what you’ve done.” Lily Blackwood’s funeral lasted five days, and Julian made me kneel for all five days. During that time, I stayed there, kneeling. The scornful stares and pointing fingers of those around me slowly gnawed at my soul. Tiffany, assuming the air of a hostess, managed everything in the Blackwood household. Tiffany raised her hand and fiercely pinched my chin. “Aurora, Mrs. Blackwood, this position will soon be mine. You’ll end up like your mother, thrown out.” I glared at her, my eyes filled with hatred. Tiffany dug her nails into my flesh. “Aurora, you don’t know, do you? Lily thought of you even as she died, worried you’d be bullied. But I just watched her take her last breath.” I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, wildly flailing my hands. “Why? Why did you kill her?” Tiffany sneered, her eyes sinister. “Everyone who stands in the way of me becoming Mrs. Blackwood has to die.” Her hand went to her abdomen. “Aurora, I’m pregnant.” Tiffany raised an eyebrow, looking at me triumphantly. I clutched my chest. My heart felt pierced by countless shards of glass. I wanted to scream, but no sound would come out. In that moment, I wanted to die with Tiffany. Then my heart wouldn’t have to suffer so much, and Lily wouldn’t have died in vain. Hatred blinded me. I used all my strength to shove Tiffany. She hit her head on a table, bleeding profusely. “Aurora, what are you doing?!” Julian rushed in, his voice angry, his eyes sharp and filled with rage. Tiffany lay weakly in Julian’s arms. “Julian, my head hurts so much.” I laughed, laughing like a madwoman, the blood at the corner of my mouth making it even more terrifying. I opened my mouth, screaming soundlessly, my chest aching. My lower abdomen cramped, and I had to curl up. I felt something warm leaving my body. I reached out my hand, wanting to call out to Julian. But he just held Tiffany and walked away without a backward glance. Tiffany looked at me, a defiant smile on her face. I collapsed to the floor, completely losing consciousness. In a daze, I felt someone kick me hard. Then I heard Tiffany’s voice. “That slut was actually pregnant. Good thing the baby’s gone now; saves me the trouble.” A man’s voice immediately followed. “Evil woman, you don’t deserve to carry my child.” It was Julian’s voice. I wanted to open my eyes, but I could only see a blurry figure. I wanted to raise my hand, to beg him to save our child, because no matter what, Julian, it was *your* child. But all that waited for me was a long silence and Julian’s inaction. A bucket of cold water was thrown over me, chilling me to the bone. I jolted awake. I found myself naked, with a man lying next to me. A torrent of curses and blows rained down on me. The man knelt on the floor. “Grandma Blackwood, Mr. Blackwood, it’s not my fault! This woman seduced me first.” Julian’s face was livid. He kicked the man. Ignoring everyone, he scooped me up, shoved me into the bedroom, and roughly threw me onto the bed, breathing heavily. “Aurora, you’re utterly depraved!” “Depraved?” I managed a bitter laugh. The thought of my child filled me with hate. I wanted to escape this man, this murderer who had turned a blind eye, who had watched my child die. In my despair, a smile suddenly bloomed on my face. Under his cold gaze, I slowly made a gesture. “Julian, let’s get a divorce.” 4. His expression froze, his eyes filled with shock. But soon, he sneered. “Divorce? Aurora, you’ve disgraced me completely. And now you have the nerve to ask for a divorce?” The pain in my abdomen had long since numbed me. I stared at him with resentment. “Julian, I don’t know anything. I woke up like this.” Julian’s eyes were full of scorn. “Aurora, do you really think I’ll believe that?” Julian restrained me, his eyes showing disappointment and hurt. “Aurora, why?” My heart was dead. I waved my hand. “Julian, you don’t love me. Let’s get a divorce.” He took a deep breath, his eyes hardening with ruthlessness. “Aurora, I won’t let you get rid of me. You’ll never think about divorce for the rest of your life. Not unless you die, or I die.” He threw me onto the floor. The bone-chilling cold enveloped me. Julian locked me up. From then on, I never saw him again. Until— Tiffany and Julian appeared together beside me. Tiffany leaned against Julian, looking frail, her swollen belly stabbing at my eyes. I thought of the child I had lost. My heart felt squeezed by an invisible hand, making it impossible to breathe. My eyes were vacant, but the look of profound grief vanished in an instant. Now, I carried too many burdens. Every night, I dreamt of my lost child and Lily. Guilt and self-reproach filled my heart. Tiffany smiled triumphantly, gently stroking her belly. “Aurora, Julian and I are together now.” I weakly raised my hand, signing. “Congratulations. You got what you wanted.” Tiffany pinched my arm, leaning in to whisper in my ear. “Aurora, you and your mother have bad luck. Oh, by the way, your mother didn’t make it through last night. She died.” Tiffany yanked my mother’s necklace off her neck and threw it to the ground. The necklace shattered into pieces instantly. I pounced on it, carefully gathering the fragments in my hands. A storm instantly swept through my world, leaving behind nothing but ruins. I clutched the fragments tightly to my chest, crying hysterically. My eyes were bloodshot. In that moment, I wanted to die with Tiffany. I pushed her, making her stumble. I bit down hard on her wrist until I tasted blood in my mouth. Julian pushed me away forcefully. “Aurora, what are you doing?!” I laughed, like a lunatic, the blood around my mouth making it even more terrifying. Tiffany cried. “Julian, my sister must be…” Julian raised his hand. Several men in black appeared, restraining me. Julian gently stroked Tiffany’s cheek. “Take it out on her as you wish.” Slap after slap landed on my face. Soon, my face was swollen and unrecognizable, blood trickling from the corner of my mouth. My ears buzzed. In a daze, I thought I saw my mother. I saw her smiling gently at me. I missed her so much. Tears flowed from the corners of my eyes. My whole body trembled with pain, but I could only cry silently. Tiffany and I were half-sisters. My mother and father had been married for over a decade, yet Tiffany was only a few months younger than me, which was laughable. My mother’s health deteriorated day by day, and my father divorced her, then turned around and married Tiffany’s mother. My mother was confined to a nursing home, and if I didn’t obey, her medication would be stopped at any moment. So, I had no choice but to listen to Tiffany. I had harmed everyone. My mind was in a haze. I crawled to Julian’s side, humbly grabbing his pant leg. I opened my mouth, wanting to beg him to let me go. But he kicked me away. His disgusted eyes pierced me. I thought of the time Julian’s eyes were injured. Perhaps that was the happiest time of my life. Back then, he would gently hold my hand and promise me—

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The Protagonist Refused to be a Puppet After I lost my memory, I realized something was really off. My seemingly innocent brother secretly slipped into my bed in the middle of the night. My successful businessman uncle kept sending me clothes. My cold, sophisticated Professor Thorne gave me unsettlingly intimate instructions. And Jax, the infamous bad boy from the other side of the tracks, pinned me against the wall and whispered, “Eighty bucks for the night.” I figured there had to be some huge misunderstanding, so I gathered them all together, planning to set things straight. But to my shock, they just exchanged knowing smiles, looking at me like a lamb ready for slaughter. “All four of us? Playing *that* kind of game? How thrilling,” one of them purred. I paused for a beat, then slapped each of them across the face. “Thrilling *now*?” I woke up, and my memory was completely gone. All I remembered was my name, Anya. Everything else was a blank. I looked around. It was a cozy bedroom, tastefully decorated. On the nightstand, there was a photo. Tiny script at the bottom read: *To my dearest Mom, Dad, and little brother.* So, a family of four. Just as I put the photo down, I heard footsteps outside the door. My bedroom door was suddenly pushed open. “Sis, dinner’s ready!” It was a tall, lean teenager with a fair complexion and a bright, open smile. He grabbed my wrist with an alarming familiarity, pulling me out of the room. “What are you waiting for? Let’s go!” This must be my brother. Liam. At the dinner table, the family felt so harmonious, so picture-perfect. I quietly ate my food, listening to them chat. “Liam will be a senior next year. It would be great if he could get into Anya’s college. You two could look out for each other.” Liam nodded dutifully, “I’ll definitely get in.” He then flashed me a smile. “You have to wait for me at school, sis.” He looked so innocent, just a typical teenager. But even then, something about his words felt off, and his eyes held a disturbing glint I couldn’t quite place.

Late that night, I lay in bed, drifting in and out of sleep. Suddenly, I heard faint rustling in the room, and a blurry figure moved past. I startled, sitting bolt upright, but a hand clamped firmly over my mouth. “Shhh, quiet. Don’t let Mom and Dad hear.” It was Liam. I was still wondering why he was in my room so late when he lunged at me, pressing me back onto the bed. I gasped. “What are you doing?” “Heh.” He gave a wicked smirk. “What do you think I’m doing? I’m doing *you*.” What kind of talk was that?! I pushed him away. “I’m your sister!” “Not just my sister. You’re *my* woman.” His words hit me like a shockwave. Without thinking, I kicked him squarely off the bed. “Get lost!” “Anya, what are you playing at? You’re just a slut who’d sleep with anyone—Ah!” He didn’t even finish his sentence before I delivered another kick. This one landed right in his crotch. I watched him curl up, howling in pain, then I flexed my ankle and clicked my tongue. “So small.”

Liam’s behavior last night made me realize that everything around me was definitely off. Even though I couldn’t remember anything right now, we were siblings. There was no way I was *that* kind of person. I walked out of my room, my expression heavy. Passing the bathroom, I ran into Liam brushing his teeth. I gave him a slow, wicked smile, my gaze dropping pointedly to the very spot I’d brutalized the night before. *Plink.* His toothbrush clattered to the floor. I feigned surprise. “What’s wrong, little brother? Why are you foaming at the mouth?” Liam’s face was pale. He took two steps back, seemingly intimidated, looking like he wanted to scream but didn’t dare. No fun. I turned and walked away, bored. It was the weekend, so Mom and Dad had already left for work, leaving just Liam and me at home. After breakfast, he plopped onto the couch and started playing video games. I looked at the unwashed dishes on the table, annoyed. “Liam, come wash the dishes!” But he didn’t even look up from his phone. He said, “Didn’t you always do the housework? You’ve always been the one doing the chores around here, haven’t you?” So, it turned out I used to be a free maid. I thought for a moment, then plopped down next to him. “Fine, let it all go to hell. No one’s doing anything.” He suddenly froze, staring at me with a strange expression. “Anya, you’re different. You never used to refuse me. You…” He narrowed his eyes at me. “Are you playing games? Trying to get my attention?” “Huh?” “Don’t act dumb. You want my attention, right? Don’t bother, I could never like you.” I looked at him like he was an idiot. Seriously, how could someone so utterly ordinary be so unbelievably arrogant? He went on, “But, even if I don’t like you, doing other stuff isn’t off the table. After all, you’re so desperate for a guy, aren’t you…” His hand, once again, snaked towards my collar. I grabbed his hand, twisted it, and he cried out in pain. I offered a slight smile. Some kids just need a good reality check… or another punch.

Before college started, I went to the hospital alone. The results came back normal. The doctor said I likely had temporary amnesia caused by an unknown reason. Just as I stepped out of the hospital, I heard a shout. “Anya!” I turned and saw a mature man in a sharp suit. I didn’t know who he was, so I stood there, unmoving. He walked closer to me and asked, “Why are you at the hospital alone? Are you feeling unwell?” I shook my head. “I’m fine.” He grabbed my wrist. “Then Uncle Marcus will take you home.” So, this was my Uncle Marcus, the CEO of Sterling Enterprises, the successful and promising man my parents always talked about. But the way he looked at me, with an uncomfortable invasiveness, made me frown and pull my hand away. “No thanks, I called a ride.” He froze. “Anya, are you still mad? What happened that day was my fault, and I apologize. But you have to believe me, you’re the only one for me. I’ll take care of you for the rest of my life.” As he spoke, he put an arm around my shoulder. I shoved him away and stomped hard on his foot. “Uncle, aren’t you a bit old to be playing the innocent card?” He bent over, groaning in pain. I took the chance to put some distance between us. “I know you’re busy with work, but maybe take some time for skincare and hit the gym? Your crow’s feet are practically racing each other across your face!” Honestly, my uncle wasn’t a bad-looking guy. I just couldn’t understand why all these men seemed to have some secret, twisted connection with me. He winced, then managed a pained smile. “Anya, if it makes you feel better, you can hit me a few more times.” “You’re a glutton for punishment.” “I am.” His eyes were filled with a disturbing adoration. “You never used to hit me before. I never knew you could be so beautiful when you’re angry.” I scoffed. Seriously, who asks for that? I gave him another kick, then turned and walked away without looking back. Back home, I found a package. It was from Uncle Marcus, paid for three days ago. I unwrapped the high-end gift box, only to find a piece of intricate lingerie inside. At the same time, I got a message from him. He’d sent me three PayPal transfers: $5000, $2000, and $1000, saying it was my spending money. Attached was a lengthy, gushy confession. I didn’t even read it. I tapped my phone a few times. I accepted all three transfers, then immediately donated every single cent to a charity organization. I screenshotted the donation receipts and sent them to him. *Uncle Marcus, send more! Charity work needs your support.* As for the lingerie, I sent it right back to him with a note: *I think you’d look much sexier in it, Uncle Marcus.*

Before I knew it, it was the first day of classes. I packed my bags and headed back to college. When I pushed open my dorm room door, my three roommates, who were busy gossiping, suddenly stopped and all stared at me. Their eyes were filled with wariness. Clearly, we weren’t on good terms. I shrugged, gesturing for them to continue. I found the only empty bed and slowly started unpacking. The room was silent for a moment, then one of the girls spoke up. Chloe. “Let’s just talk. Why bother with *her*?” “Yeah, she’s so shameless anyway, she wouldn’t care what people say.” Maya chimed in. The other two looked awkward. “Come on, Brianna, don’t say that.” They must have been talking about me. Suddenly, I was curious. “Are you guys talking about me? Spill the tea.” “What are you playing at?” They looked surprised. “Everyone knows you confessed to Jax from the other school, got rejected, and then wouldn’t give up, practically begging him to sleep with you! Today, his school is playing our school in basketball, and everyone’s going to be laughing at you!” “Yeah, how could *we* be roommates with someone as shameless as you?” Brianna added. Their words dripped with contempt. I silently pulled out my phone and scrolled through my contacts. Sure enough, I found Jax. But strangely, the chat history was empty. “We’re going to the basketball game now. Anya, I’m warning you, you better not go. No one’s going to care if you get booed to tears.” The three of them walked out of the dorm. I thought for a moment, then pulled my laptop out of my bag. I logged into SnapChat on my computer and clicked on my chat history with Jax again. Sure enough, there were some synced messages. They were few, but enough for me to realize that things weren’t at all as they described. Jax had been sending me flirtatious messages. From what I could see, *I* was the one being pressured. So, Jax must have deleted the chat history from my phone and then slandered me, claiming I’d seduced him. What a manipulative jerk! I put my laptop in my bag. I decided it was time to confront that scumbag at the basketball court.

I wasn’t very familiar with the college campus, so I twisted and turned until I reached the gym. Suddenly, an arm shot out from around a corner. He wrapped it around my waist, smoothly pinning me against the wall. A cocky, arrogant face was inches from mine. He grinned. “Anya, you actually dare to show up at the basketball game? “You’re that desperate to see me, huh?” I guessed he was Jax. So I said, “I’m here to watch how badly you lose.” “Then you’ll be disappointed. With your school’s basketball skills, there’s no way you’re beating me.” He was confident and arrogant. “Once I win the game, you’ll have to celebrate with me. “Don’t go back to your dorm tonight. Spend the night with me. Don’t worry, I won’t stiff you.” He held up a hand, showing eighty with his fingers. “Eighty bucks for the night, how about it? “That’s the kind of price you’d pay for a hooker, and a cheap one at that.” He smiled as he uttered those stinging words, his eyes looking at me like I was the lowest form of entertainment. I raised my hand and slapped him. “You hit me?” He looked utterly incredulous. “Anya, aren’t you scared I’ll make those photos public?” Oh, so he had something on me, huh? I smirked, then slapped him again. “That’s what you get.”

This university’s facilities were top-notch. The indoor basketball court was huge, and the bleachers were already full, even the aisles were packed. The game between the two schools had the students hyped, but the name I heard most often was Jax. Rumor had it his family had serious ties to the local underworld, and he was known as the infamous bad boy of the other school. “Excuse me, could you let me through?” I called out to a student blocking the way. He turned around and exclaimed in surprise: “Anya’s here!” At that shout, I instantly became the center of attention. “Anya actually showed up?! Hasn’t she humiliated herself enough? She’s utterly shameless.” “You don’t understand, that’s true love. Even after a thousand rejections, she still loves Jax like her first crush!” “First crush? The kind where she throws herself at him for sex?” There were plenty of whispers, but they also instinctively cleared a path for me. I walked down the steps as if deaf to their words, easily reaching the front row. Jax saw me too. He deliberately blew me a whistle, then silently mouthed two words. I could read his lips: “Eighty bucks.” He was still trying to humiliate me, utterly full of himself. So I mouthed four words back to him. “Your face is swollen.” That’s right, I’d slapped him twice, left and right, and now his face was slowly turning red and puffy. He clenched his jaw and glared at me. I raised an eyebrow. What are you looking at? You can’t even beat me. Jax was right, our school’s basketball team was pretty weak. I watched the score widen, surrounded by shouts of “Jax is so hot!” It wasn’t long before he secured the victory. Basking in the cheers of the students, he walked up to me. “Anya, why are you still bothering me?” The guys around him started booing and jeering, and everyone’s gaze was hostile. Rumors spread like wildfire, but trying to extinguish them is a losing battle. In their eyes, I was just a desperate, promiscuous girl. No one would listen to my explanation, at least not right now. So I stood up and challenged him: “Jax, do you dare to play me one-on-one? “Most baskets in a set time wins.” He froze for a second, then burst out laughing. “Are you serious? You, Anya, challenging *me*?” I nodded. He suddenly roared with laughter, and the crowd around him joined in. A delicate girl challenging a highly skilled male basketball player? Utterly delusional. I even heard someone say, “Is she trying to get Jax’s attention? Or maybe create some ‘accidental’ physical contact?” Ignoring their malice, I calmly repeated myself. “Do you dare to play me?” He looked at me with disdain. “Fine, but there has to be a stake, right? Otherwise, what’s the fun?” “What do you want to bet?” “If you lose, you have to dance for everyone. And it’ll be… a strip dance.” It was blatant humiliation, but under everyone’s watchful eyes, I calmly nodded. “Okay. What if *you* lose?” “Me lose?” He laughed. “What do you want me to do?” I pointed to the court. “If you lose, you’ll get on your hands and knees, bark like a dog, and crawl three laps around the court.” “Anya, are you out of your mind?!” He clearly hadn’t expected me to be so bold. But if he wanted to humiliate me, he needed to be prepared to be humiliated himself. I asked him one last time, “So, do you want to play?”

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  My best friend and I were both heartbroken on the same day, but unlike me, she insisted on dragging me into her twisted version of a “romantic ending” and dying together. Ignoring my protests, she set fire to my house. When she saw me burning alive, skin blistering and flesh charred, she panicked and ran. I survived with severe burns and lay in the hospital for three long months. The day I was finally discharged, I discovered she was marrying my wealthy ex-boyfriend. When I confronted her, she brushed it off with a sweet smile: “Don’t overthink. I married him to punish the scumbag and get revenge for you.” But her actions told another story. She sold all the wedding jewelry and told her husband I had taken them to buy gifts for a boytoy. She maxed out his credit cards, claiming it was to pay off my gambling debts. When she got pregnant and slept with her husband’s driver, she nearly bled to death—then told everyone I had gone to a hotel with a bunch of male models, and she miscarried while trying to “save” me. In the end, her husband sold me off to the Golden Triangle. There, they cut out my kidney and tortured me until I died in agony. But when I opened my eyes again, I was back on the very day she had her affair and miscarriage. ***** Alexia always used me as her excuse whenever she met her lover. She told her husband, Paul Eveline, that I was the one calling her out—sometimes saying I’d been beaten by a wife for being a mistress and needed comfort, sometimes that I owed loan sharks and begged for help. She even said that I was being treated for a dirty disease and needed her by my side. If Paul hadn’t once stormed into my house in my past life, spitting venom and condemning me for all those fabricated sins, I never would’ve known just how “colorful” my life had become in her lies. And now, his number was flashing on my phone again, vibrating relentlessly. The moment I picked up, his furious voice exploded in my ear. “Hedy! It’s the middle of the night—why are you keeping Alexia with you again?” “I’ve tolerated you long enough! After we broke up, you wanted to ruin yourself, fine. But must you keep sucking the life out of Alexia? She’s your best friend, not your mother!” “She’s married now, and pregnant. Can’t you have some shame and stop bothering her every damn day? Do you even know how pathetic you are?” “What is this, revenge because I dumped you? Are you trying to destroy my family? Alexia is pure and innocent—if you dare exploit her again, don’t blame me for being ruthless! Send her back right now!” His voice was so loud and venomous that my ears rang. The truth was I hadn’t had any contact with Alexia ever since she set me on fire. But Paul never believed that. I received his calls almost daily. At first, hearing his accusations, I actually thought Alexia was really punishing him on my behalf. It wasn’t until he barged into my home in a rage, beat me black and blue, stuffed me into a sack, and sold me to the Golden Triangle that I realized I had been nothing but a scapegoat. Remembering the flames she lit, the slander she spread, and his merciless revenge—a surge of hatred burned in my chest. ‘Paul, this time, you’ll see with your own eyes what your so-called “pure, good wife” really is.’ Curling my lips into a cold smile, I answered the call. “Alexia is busy right now—she’s unclogging the sewer. She won’t be back anytime soon.” Then my face hardened. Without waiting for his reply, I hung up and switched off my phone. But only moments later, pounding fists rattled my door. The lock had barely turned when a powerful force slammed it open, throwing me back. Before I could react, several bodyguards pinned me to the ground. And Paul stormed inside, footsteps heavy and furious, tearing through my home in search of Alexia.   My small two-bedroom apartment had been turned upside down by his men. Yet he still found nothing. “Didn’t you say Alexia was unclogging a sewer? Where is she?” His face flushed red as he stormed up to me, voice booming with rage. Seeing him like this, a wicked satisfaction curled in my chest. Revenge tasted sweet. I raised my brows, speaking slowly, almost lazily, “I only said she was unclogging a sewer. I never said it was in my house. Maybe she’s unclogging one at your driver’s place. Why don’t you check there?” Paul’s eyes went cold. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and yanked hard. “Drop the sarcasm,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “I’ll ask you one last time—where are you hiding Alexia?” Alexia’s whereabouts had always been a secret. I was nothing but her scapegoat—how could I possibly know? Through gritted teeth, I answered, “She’s a grown woman with hands and feet of her own. Why would I know where she goes? I’m not her mother!” Not getting the answer he wanted, Paul’s eyes turned vicious. He released my hair only to strike me hard across the face, the blow leaving my head ringing. Rage flared through me—yet beneath it, an even greater anticipation stirred. ‘You’re angry already? You’ve seen nothing yet, Paul. The worst is still waiting for you,’ I muttered internally. He loomed over me, striking my face again and again with his palm, as he sneered, “You think keeping your mouth shut means I can’t deal with you?” He reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and powered it on. Holding it up to my face, he unlocked it with the facial scan, then scrolled straight into my contacts. When he spotted my emergency contact, a cruel smile spread across his lips. He dialed. “Hello? What’s wrong?” On the other end, my husband, Leopold, answered with his usual gentle voice. I opened my mouth, desperate to speak—but one of the bodyguards clamped a hand over it, suffocating my words. “You’re Hedy’s husband, right?” Paul’s voice was cold, dripping with disdain. “And who the hell are you?” Hearing an unfamiliar man, Leopold’s tone sharpened, his calm was instantly replaced by unease. Paul met my eyes, mocking me as he replied, “I’m Hedy’s ex. But don’t worry—I’m married now. I’ve got no interest in her anymore.” There was a short silence, then Leopold demanded, “Then why are you calling me with her phone?” “No real reason. I just thought you should hear the truth about your lovely wife.” Paul began his assault, every word a dagger meant to bury me alive. “Do you know how she got those burn scars? She tried to set herself on fire when I dumped her and wanted to die with me. If my wife hadn’t tried to save her, she’d already be ashes.” “When that failed, she threw herself at man after man, desperate for company.” “She’s lived off my wife for years—sold her wedding jewelry to buy gifts for boytoys, gambled away her money, maxed out my credit cards, made my wife pay her debts.” “She even got caught playing mistress and was beaten by the man’s real wife.” “Oh, and she was at the hospital recently, getting treatment for a dirty disease. If I were you, I’d go get tested.” “Tell me, doesn’t it shame you to be married to a filthy woman like her? Don’t you feel pathetic being cuckolded? If I were you, I’d be dead already.” Each word was venom, each sentence a blade, hacking at my dignity until nothing remained. On the other end of the line, Leopold fell into a long, chilling silence. My heart twisted. Since the day we married, our relationship had always been good…

  Leopold was always upright and kind, gentle and attentive to me. He never once despised the burn scars on my body. Instead, he told me I was an angel who had survived the flames, and that for the rest of my life, he would shield me from the wind and rain. With him, no matter how badly we argued, he never gave me the cold shoulder or lost his temper. He would always coax me patiently, again and again. But this time… after hearing Paul’s lies, he said nothing. Not a word. When Paul hung up the call, triumph lit his face. “Well? Still not going to tell me where Alexia is?” The guard finally released his hand from my mouth. I glared at Paul, fury burning in my chest. “You’ve broken into my home, restrained me, assaulted me, and spouted lies. Every one of those things is against the law.” I wanted nothing more than to tear this fool apart. At my defiance, his rage deepened. “Against the law?” He sneered. “Then let me show you what real breaking the law looks like!” He barked an order at his men. “Smash her place to the ground!” Obeying instantly, the bodyguards began to wreck everything in sight. In minutes, my once neat little apartment became a wasteland of broken furniture and shattered glass. Nothing was left intact. Grinding my teeth, I spat, “Paul, with such blatant lawlessness, aren’t you afraid of the law catching up with you?” He laughed coldly, full of scorn. “The law? The law punishes leeches like you. You’ve bled Alexia dry for years—don’t you know how much you’ve stolen from her? Everything in this place was bought with her money. I’m smashing my own things. What crime is that?” His words rang with righteous fury, as if he weren’t a criminal but a judge passing sentence on the guilty. I checked the time. Less than thirty minutes until Alexia’s miscarriage. The real show was about to begin. Forcing down my rage, I smiled faintly and drawled, “Why don’t you wait a little longer? Your dear wife will be contacting you very soon.” My calmness only made him more frantic. His eyes burned with rage. “Still stubborn? Fine! Today, I’ll utterly destroy your reputation!” “Take her out!” The guards dragged me to the gate of the apartment complex. The commotion quickly drew a crowd. Dozens of eyes turned on me, whispers swelling into a storm. Paul seized the opportunity, loudly broadcasting my so-called sins for everyone to hear. And the crowd believed every word. “This is disgusting. She’s already at this age and still leeching off her pregnant best friend? That’s basically murder!” “Exactly! Her friend is just too kind. If it were me, I’d have kicked her out ages ago.” “Classic fake friend—pretending to care while scheming behind the scenes. My wife had one just like her, and drove her into debt and depression. Even now, she’s still on antidepressants!” “She’s a vampire, that’s what she is. First her family, then her friends, then her husband. Whoever meets her is cursed!” “And she’s filthy too—already married but still chasing after male models, playing mistress. Sharing a community with a tramp like her was just bad luck!” Spittle and curses rained down, painting me as some vile, irredeemable villain. Paul looked down on me, his smirk full of provocation. “Well? Still want to keep that hard mouth of yours?” He thought he had me cornered. That I would crumble under the weight of shame. Instead, I laughed coldly, lifting my chin in defiance. “A dignified tycoon—and this is the best you can do?” “What’s a few neighbors cursing me out? Even if they spit until their throats dry, all I need to do is move somewhere else, and it’s over.” “If you really want me ruined, Paul, you should’ve called some internet influencers. Let them livestream it all. That way, maybe—just maybe—you could make me infamous across the entire country.”   Paul’s expression darkened. He gritted his teeth and said, “Fine. You want it big? I’ll make it big for you!” Without another word, he pulled out his phone and made another call. My heart surged with anticipation. Yes. Stir it up. The bigger, the better. Let the whole world witness the scandal of your perfect, wealthy family. With his influence, it didn’t take long before a swarm of online streamers rushed to the scene, all raising their phones, livestreaming with eager faces. “Everyone, we’ve just caught a huge piece of gossip! See this woman right here? Don’t be fooled by her innocent looks—she’s rotten to the core!” “She once tried to drag her best friend into a suicide pact after a breakup. Her friend risked her life to save her, and she lived. But instead of gratitude, she became jealous of her friend’s better life, and has done nothing but cause trouble since!” “For years, she’s been leeching off her friend. Whenever she had no money, she runs to her. Pregnant and heavily burdened, her friend still runs errands for her, cleans up her messes, even drags herself out in the middle of the night to fetch her when she’s drunk out of her mind.” “And what does she do in return? Nothing! She spends money like water, treats her friend’s generosity as her due, even pawns her friend’s wedding jewelry to buy gifts for boytoys! She maxed out her friend’s credit cards to pay off her massive gambling debts!” “Her private life is a disaster. Already married, yet constantly fooling around, seducing men, knowingly becoming the mistress. She’s been chased down and beaten by wives multiple times!” “I heard that she even contracted a filthy disease. She went to the hospital in secret, dragging her friend along to cover for her—who knows how many men she infected before that?” “Everyone, remember her face! If you’ve got guts, slap her if you ever see her. If not, just stay far away—don’t risk catching something from her!” The streamers piled lie upon lie, weaving tales out of thin air, exaggerating every word. Soon, every livestream platform was boiling with curses. “Holy shit, her friend and husband must be saints to put up with trash like her!” “This isn’t even a woman—it’s a walking tumor!” “Right? Keeping her alive is like letting a plague spread!” The scandal fermented at lightning speed. Within minutes, my photo was plastered across the internet, shooting straight onto the trending hot search. “Leeching Woman.” “Toxic Friend.” “Slut.” Ugly labels piled onto my name, one after another, until they became my new identity. As the streamers fanned the flames, the onlookers’ emotions exploded. One by one, they began hurling eggs and rotten vegetables at me. Some who had been eating nearby even smashed their beer bottles at my feet. Like a lamb before slaughter, I stood in the middle of the filth, drowning in insults, reeking of garbage. And then—through the chaos, a familiar figure emerged from the crowd. It was Leopold. At the sight of his face, my lonely heart finally found a refuge. To me, Leopold had always been my strongest support. No matter what grievances I faced outside, he would patiently comfort me, help me, shield me. He was not only my husband—he was my safe harbor, my home. At that moment, all my defenses fell. I wanted nothing more than to run into his arms, to collapse into the warmth I trusted most. So I did. But the moment I reached him, he shoved me away. The force caught me off guard. I stumbled back, losing balance, and crashed heavily to the ground.

  Shards of broken beer bottles dug deep into my palms and thighs. The sharp pain shot straight to my brain—yet compared to the agony in my heart, it was nothing. ‘Even Leopold… doesn’t believe me anymore?’ “Hedy,” he said, his face dark with fury, his eyes filled with disappointment, “I never thought you were this kind of person.” “For all these years of marriage, I treated you like a treasure. Whatever you wanted, I gave. I never lost my temper at you, never let you suffer even the smallest grievance.” “I learned massage and therapy just to care for you better. I kept you warm, clothed, tended to every need—terrified that you might be even a little unwell.” “And you? What did you do?” “You went behind my back, sucking your best friend’s blood, gambling, destroying your own reputation and dignity!” “The body I worked so hard to nurse back to health—you ruined it with your filthy, shameful acts!” “Hedy, you’re not just degrading yourself—you’re trampling on our marriage!” The man who had always been so gentle, for the first time, was completely unhinged. His voice was raw, each word like a blade, cutting me deeper than any wound on my body. Seeing him like this, my chest tightened painfully. Holding back tears, I forced myself up and tried to explain, “Leopold, I—” But before I could finish, his palm cracked harshly across my face. “Shut up! Don’t you dare say my name—you’re not worthy!” With that, he tore the wedding ring off his finger and flung it at me. “Let’s divorce.” The cold finality in his voice pierced my heart deeper than the slap. The man I had once thought was my shelter—just shattered my last piece of faith. I froze, feeling empty, like my soul had been ripped away. Paul seized the moment, sneering. “Hedy, now do you understand what it feels like to be disgraced and ruined?” “A greedy, scheming, dirty woman like you—did you really think you deserved anyone’s love? You didn’t even deserve Alexia’s kindness!” “Thank heavens I dumped you. Staying with a disgusting leech like you would’ve been the biggest shame of my life.” “The only useful thing you’ve ever done was bringing Alexia into my life. From now on, you can choke on the contempt of everyone around you. I’ll make sure Alexia cuts all ties with you. Without her, let’s see how you survive!” His words hit like stones, and the crowd erupted in agreement. The barrage of insults multiplied—comment feeds, streamers, onlookers—thousands of voices united in cursing me. The crushing weight of being condemned by all… it was suffocating. Even though I had braced myself, I still couldn’t hold back. I broke down. And then—Paul’s phone rang. The caller was Alexia. He answered instantly, only to be met with her sobbing voice, “Hubby… I… I lost the baby…” Paul’s eyes reddened in an instant. “What happened?!” Alexia stammered between tears, “It was Hedy… She insisted on going to a hotel with a bunch of male models. I tried to stop her, but she pushed me down… she’s the reason I miscarried!” Her words made the crowd gasp. As for me, standing at the very heart of the storm—I finally let out a long, shaky breath. It’s starting. The end has finally come.

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  The first time my childhood sweetheart’s werewolf traits awakened, his friends called me to help calm him down. But what they didn’t know was that I heard him say: “I really don’t want to waste my first time on her. A werewolf’s love is for life. Whoever we mark first becomes our only mate. When Pearl gets here, I’ll have to resist, even if she begs me to let her help.” But he waited and waited, and I never came. What he didn’t know was that his older brother’s bodyguard had been blowing up my phone. “Miss Jasper, the young master marked you as his mate a long time ago. Please, I’m begging you, can you come and kiss him?” It turns out, five years ago when I died in a skiing accident, his brother saved me. He performed a blood bond, giving me half of his own werewolf lifespan to pull me back from the brink of death. That night, I wrapped my arms around his brother’s neck, my voice a low, seductive whisper. “Come on, Justin. Don’t hold back. Tell me… how many years have you been secretly in love with me?” *****   My childhood sweetheart, Noah, comes from a family of werewolves. After their twentieth birthday, every full moon sends them into a powerful heat. And according to their ancient laws, the first person they mark becomes their one and only mate for life. I always thought that when the time came, Noah would choose me. So when his friends called me on the night of his first transformation, telling me he was in agony and needed me, I rushed over without a second thought. But as I reached the door of the private room, I heard Noah’s voice, tight with frustration. “God, I really don’t want to waste it on Pearl.” “I want to go after Karen, the most popular girl in school, but she’s not the easy type.” “Not like Pearl. She’s like a pathetic little lapdog who comes running whenever I call.” “When she gets here, I’ll have to resist, even if she begs me to let her help. The last thing I need is to be shackled to her for life after one mistake. She’d have me wrapped around her little finger forever.” I stood frozen outside the door, my mind a complete blank. I couldn’t believe it. The boy I’d grown up with, the boy I adored, saw me as nothing more than that. His friends, all of them the type to kiss up and kick down, burst out laughing. “So, she’s just a toy to you.” “Should I call and tell her not to come? Save her the trouble of trying to climb into your bed and trap you. Honestly, man, you get what you pay for.” But Noah stopped him. “No, don’t,” he said, his voice strained with discomfort. “If we tell her not to come now, how would that make her feel? Even if she is just a toy, she’s one I’ve cared for since we were kids. I don’t want to hurt her.” He let out a ragged breath. “When she gets here, I’ll just… see if I can hold back. I don’t want to spell things out for her, but maybe this will finally make her understand.” In that moment, I wanted to storm in there and scream at him. You don’t want to hurt me? You call me a dog in front of your friends and let them laugh at me, and you think you have the right to my devotion? But I held back. Why waste my breath on someone who didn’t value me? I turned and walked away, a humiliating retreat. Don’t cry, I told myself. Don’t you dare cry. Then, I remembered a different call. I pulled out my phone and dialed the number of his brother’s bodyguard. “That offer you made earlier… to help Noah’s brother? Is it still on the table? Send me the address. I’m on my way.”

  Half an hour earlier, the bodyguard had called and revealed a truth Noah had deliberately kept from me. “Miss Jasper, do you remember five years ago? When the second young master, Noah, took you skiing and you fell into that ravine?” “The eldest young master, Justin, led the search party. It took us three days and three nights to find you, buried under the snow. You were frozen solid, like a statue of ice. You weren’t breathing.” “Master Justin told Noah that a werewolf can give half of his lifespan to his mate through a blood bond on the night of a full moon. It’s another form of marking. Once performed, that person becomes their eternal mate.” “But Noah… he refused. He couldn’t bear to let you die, he just held your body and sobbed, but he wouldn’t do it.” “In the end, it was Master Justin who saved you. As luck would have it, that night was a full moon. To save you, he performed the blood bond himself, giving you half of his life. In doing so, he marked you. For the rest of his life, you are the only one he can ever be with.” “Noah begged him never to tell you. For the past five years, Master Justin has endured every full moon alone. He never disturbed you, and he forbade any of us from ever revealing what he did.” “But tonight… tonight is different. He’s been gravely injured, his life is on the line. And with the full moon… he won’t make it without you. Please, I’m begging you. Can you come help him?” My mind went completely blank. I had died once? Five years ago, I had actually died? Noah, the boy who had cherished me my whole life, refused to sacrifice for me. But his brother, Justin—the cold, intimidating man everyone called the Ice King—had pulled me back from death’s door. Even so, my heart had been stubborn. “I’m sorry,” I had told the bodyguard. “Noah needs me more tonight.” I was willing to be ungrateful, to ignore the man who saved me, all to rush to Noah’s side. And my reward? To be called a pathetic lapdog. A worthless toy. God, I was such a fool. I deserved to be treated like dirt. But not anymore. I scrubbed away the humiliating tears, my knuckles white as I clutched my phone. “Is it too late to repay my debt?” I asked the bodyguard, my voice shaking. “If Justin really needs me tonight… I’ll be there. And I’ll give him everything he needs.” The bodyguard’s voice was choked with relief. “It’s not too late! Not at all! Miss Jasper, I’m sending you the location right now. If the master wasn’t so badly hurt, if his life wasn’t on the line, I would never have disobeyed his orders. The family punishments are severe.” I understood. Justin probably just wanted to save my life, not to have me clinging to him forever out of obligation. And I just wanted to repay the debt. It wasn’t about being heartbroken by the younger brother and immediately running into the arms of the older one. It was just… a debt.

  I never expected what I’d find when I arrived at the hospital’s VIP wing. Karen, the most popular girl in school, was standing outside the door, frantically trying to push her way in. “Let me in! It’s the full moon, isn’t it? How do you know Justin doesn’t need me? Justin! Please, just let me in and help you!” A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Noah had called her “not the easy type,” yet here she was, throwing herself at his brother. The bodyguard who had been blocking her saw me and immediately opened the door, his eyes welling with tears of relief. “Miss Jasper, you’re finally here. Please, come in. The master really needs you tonight.” Karen’s face twisted with a vicious mix of envy and hatred. “Why does she get to go in?” she shrieked. “He’s only in this condition because he was saving her! She’s a jinx! How can you let her near him again?” I froze. Saved me again? What does she mean? The scene inside the room was chaos. I saw Justin, bare-chested and lying face down on the bed. His face was flushed with fever, his short hair soaked with sweat. His fingers were curled tightly into his palms, fighting the waves of heat rolling through him. His back was wrapped in thick white bandages, now stained a horrifying, spreading crimson. A doctor stood beside him, shouting in desperation. “For God’s sake, man, stop fighting it! I’m begging you, just find a woman to help you! We just changed these dressings and they’re already soaked through! How much blood do you have to lose? On a full moon, a werewolf’s blood is already agitated, and your clotting ability is shot. I’ve given you the strongest coagulants we have, and they’re doing nothing!” “You have to relieve this fever, or you’re going to bleed to death before morning! Where is this girl you said could save him?” The bodyguards by the bed had already seen me. In unison, they turned and bowed a full ninety degrees, their expressions a mixture of reverence and gratitude. “Doctor,” one of them said. “She’s here.” At their words, the man who had been suffering his own private hell on the bed suddenly opened his eyes. They were a deep, mesmerizing crimson, burning with a fierce, restrained desire. His gaze, powerful and sharp, landed on my face, and his expression shifted to shock, then fury. “Who brought her here? Get her out!” One of the bodyguards bowed his head. “It was me, sir. If Miss Jasper can help you tonight, I will accept any punishment. Besides, you were injured this time saving her life. Again.” “You’ve risked your life for her twice now, and you won’t even take the credit. You might not feel wronged by it, sir, but we do. On your behalf.” I stole a glance at the formidable man on the bed. Though I’d grown up with Noah, I had always been terrified of Justin. He was known as the Ice King for a reason. Even the most arrogant heirs and troublemakers in our circle turned into meek little boys in his presence. His power and aura were absolute. I usually went out of my way to avoid him. But now, that same terrifying man was gripping the bedsheets, his toes curling in agony, his whole body radiating a palpable heat. His ragged, shallow breaths filled the room. The contrast was jarring, almost… alluring. A fallen king on his sickbed was a dangerously captivating sight. “Wait,” I said, my voice small. “You said he was hurt because of me… again?” A bodyguard started to speak, but Justin cut him off with a roar. “Shut up! Say one more word and see what happens!” Then, he turned his voice on me, forcing a tone of gentle dismissal. “Pearl, you should leave. I don’t need you here.” Another bodyguard spoke up, seemingly fearless. “Sir, stop pretending. Stubbornness won’t win you a wife. You act all tough, but your heart is soft when it comes to her. Did you think we were blind? When Miss Jasper is in danger, you’d walk through fire for her. You literally did.”     It wasn’t just one; all the bodyguards in the room started chiming in, a chorus of fearless truth-tellers. “Exactly! Last full moon, who was it that spent the whole night staring at a picture of Miss Jasper on his phone? You were so out of your mind with fever you kept whispering her name. I bet you were dreaming of her, too.” “And the month before that! You parked your car outside her dorm building and sat there all night. How many times did you almost get out and go in, only to force yourself to stay put? Job himself would have tapped out.” “If we don’t say anything, she’ll never know! Are you really planning to suffer like this for the rest of your life?” “Shut up,” Justin said, his gaze dropping. “I can handle it.” The doctor practically exploded. “Handle it? Handle my ass! You keep ‘handling it’ and you won’t live to see the sunrise!” He turned to me. “Young lady, what are you just standing there for? Do something! Help him!” The bodyguards all bowed to me again, their faces pleading. But I was at a loss. “What am I supposed to do? I… I don’t know how.” The doctor, snipping away the blood-soaked bandages, didn’t even look up. “Kiss him!” My face flushed a deep crimson. Standing there, at the head of the bed, with everyone watching… how could I kiss a man who pushed everyone away? Suddenly, a bodyguard shouted, “Miss Jasper, do you know how the master got hurt? Two days ago, there was a fire in your university’s auditorium! You were trapped inside, weren’t you? You passed out from the smoke inhalation and almost died.” “It was the master who saved you. Because of the mark, he can sense when his mate is in danger. He ignored everyone’s warnings and ran into the burning building to find you. As he was carrying you out, a flaming beam fell and hit him across the back. His whole back was on fire.” “But he gritted his teeth, held on through the pain, and used the last of his strength to get you out. And what happened then? Your precious Noah swooped in and took all the credit. He saw his brother carry you from the flames and snatched you out of his arms. If he was so worried about you, why didn’t he run in there himself?” What? I couldn’t believe it. That was how Justin had been injured? I remembered waking up from the smoke inhalation two days ago. Noah was sitting by my bedside. I had assumed… I thought he was the one who saved me. My head was spinning with too much new information to feel shy or awkward anymore. Saving him was all that mattered. Acting on pure instinct, I leaned over Justin, fixed my eyes on his lips, and pressed a firm kiss against them. “Don’t,” he growled, his voice harsh, pushing me away with his words. But his hands only gripped the sheets tighter, his throat working as he swallowed hard, his eyes a terrifying shade of red. The sight of him, so powerful yet so vulnerable, was an invitation to sin. His voice turned colder. “Pearl, do you have any idea what you’re doing? You usually act like you can’t get far enough away from me. Don’t do something you’ll regret just to repay a debt. And don’t listen to them. It’s useless. You can kiss me all you want. I feel nothing.” But the doctor suddenly cried out in excitement. “It’s working! The bleeding is slowing down! Miss Jasper, keep going! Kiss him again! His body is a hell of a lot more honest than his mouth. Kiss him like you mean it!” The doctor’s words were a direct slap to Justin’s stubborn pride. His face looked deeply uncomfortable, and in a move that stunned me, he buried his head in the pillows. Was he… blushing? His ears were so red they looked like they were about to catch fire.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398314”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #Werewolf #UnrequitedLove #SecretCrush #Revenge