Author: Momo Chan

I never in my wildest dreams imagined that the ruin of my ten-year marriage to Daniel Sterling wouldn’t be a well-connected socialite, or a formidable rival, but the innocent darling he’d personally groomed – Scarlett Hayes. Two months ago, my latest A-list fantasy screenplay, *Nine Heavens*, had just wrapped principal photography and was entering intense post-production. Daniel had urged me to rest, assuring me he’d handle everything at Starlight Entertainment. I believed him. I was a top-tier screenwriter, responsible for seventy percent of Starlight Entertainment’s blockbusters. I thought Daniel and I were comrades, partners, our relationship built on shared ideals and struggles, unshakeable. Until my assistant, Chloe, a fresh graduate, hinted subtly, “Maya, lately, Scarlett… and Mr. Sterling have been getting too close. The resources the company is allocating to her already exceed the standards for A-list artists…” I just smiled then, telling her not to overthink it. After all, Daniel had personally scouted her from obscurity, and she was Starlight Entertainment’s face for the coming years. Investing more in her seemed normal. Until that day. I came home early from my studio for a crucial soundtrack detail. The villa was eerily quiet. I stood by the half-open door of the upstairs study, where a soft, intimate glow spilled out. Then I saw it. Scarlett was sitting on Daniel’s lap, wearing a sheer silk nightgown, clinging to him like she had no bones. Daniel had just showered, his bathrobe loosely tied. Scarlett’s hand was tracing circles on his chest, far too boldly. “Daniel, I still can’t quite grasp this scene… could you explain it to me again?” Her voice was syrupy sweet, dripping with an almost childish vulnerability. Daniel laughed, a rare, genuine laugh, not the fake business smile he used for investors, but one filled with indulgence and affection. “Little siren, always trying to charm me.” He pinched Scarlett’s cheek. “Can’t even memorize your lines, and you want to be Best Actress?” “With you, Daniel, I’m not afraid of anything.” Scarlett tilted her head back, her eyes hazy. “Daniel, don’t you think my ‘experiential’ approach has more soul than Maya’s scripts, which are just built on pure technique?” My blood ran cold, freezing in my veins at that instant.

I waited for Daniel to refute her. Six years ago, Starlight Entertainment was on the brink of bankruptcy. I had poured in my mother’s entire inheritance and pulled all-nighters for three days and nights writing three screenplays, just to rescue him from the brink of ruin. He swore in front of all the shareholders: “Maya Linwood’s talent is the soul of Starlight. Anyone who dares to question her, questions my very existence.” The local media had labeled him “the doting husband.” He would remember. But the next second, I heard Daniel say, in a voice I had never heard before, tender to the core: “Of course. You’re unpolished jade, a natural talent, a born genius who doesn’t even have to try. Maya… she’s just a mature, excellent craftswoman. You’re different.” Craftswoman. Ha. Ten years of my hard work, in his eyes, I was just an artisan drawing blueprints and hammering nails. My heart felt like an invisible hand had clamped down on it, then thrown it into an ice bath. The pain was so intense my vision blurred. Scarlett, emboldened, buried her face in his chest, her voice laced with a sob: “Daniel, I’m so scared… I’m scared that one day Maya will dislike me, will think I’m stealing your attention, and then she’ll drive me away…” Daniel patted her back, his voice soothing: “Silly girl, with me here, no one can touch you. Starlight will always be your rock.” Always Scarlett’s rock? I forced a smile, but it didn’t reach my eyes. Daniel probably forgot that Starlight Entertainment was founded on my blood, sweat, and talent. Without me, he wouldn’t be where he was today. The last flicker of warmth in my eyes died out, like a candle flame extinguished by a cold wind, leaving only a wisp of smoke. I didn’t cry, nor did I make a scene. I just quietly, step by step, turned and walked down the stairs. “Mrs. Linwood, you’re back.” Mrs. Jenkins, the housekeeper, looked surprised to see me. “Mm.” I didn’t stop. I knew that the “devoted” pair upstairs had already heard me. Good. I’d wait for them in the living room downstairs. I had no interest in watching them scramble to get dressed. I simply turned on the living room’s home theater system, connected to the cloud server, and pulled up the past two months of indoor surveillance footage. When I wasn’t home, Scarlett acted like the lady of the house. Drinking from my cups. Wearing my slippers. Even sitting in my exclusive creative studio, on my chair, ordering Daniel to peel her fruit. And Daniel, the man who was so attentive to me outside the house, didn’t refuse her at all; in fact, he seemed to enjoy it. On the monitor, Scarlett pointed at my award-winning interview on the TV, pouting to Daniel: “Daniel, look how amazing Maya is. When will I be as great as her, so you’ll only have eyes for me?” Daniel turned off the TV, pulled her into his embrace, and whispered, “You don’t need to be like her. Just be yourself, that’s enough.” I watched it all, expressionless. My heart was a barren wasteland. I even saw how Scarlett subtly manipulated my five-year-old son, Leo. She’d hand him cheap toys and say, “See, Aunt Scarlett bought these for you. Your mommy only works; she doesn’t even know what you like.” She’d also point towards my study, asking with feigned innocence, “Leo, does Mommy not like Daddy playing with you? She’s always alone in her room, it’s so strange, isn’t it?” And Daniel? He just watched from the side, silent, implicitly condoning it. An icy dread snaked up my spine, chilling me to the bone.

Footsteps echoed from the stairs. Daniel and Scarlett descended. Scarlett had changed into a modest long dress, her face a mask of perfectly calibrated panic and innocence, eyes red-rimmed, clinging tightly to Daniel’s arm like a terrified fawn. Heh, impressive acting. No wonder she’s hailed as the next big thing. Daniel’s face was grim, his brows furrowed, with a hint of displeasure at being caught. “Maya, why didn’t you say you were coming home?” He walked towards me, his tone carrying a trace of accusation he probably hadn’t even noticed himself. I ignored him. I raised my hand and pressed pause. On the enormous screen, the image of Scarlett nestled in his arms, calling me a “craftswoman,” was frozen. The air instantly became dead silent. Scarlett’s face went white as a sheet, and she swayed as if she might faint any second. Daniel’s face turned ashen. He strode to me, blocking the screen, his voice low and warning: “Maya, what is this? What are you trying to do?” “What am I trying to do?” I finally looked up, my gaze calm. “Daniel Sterling, that’s what I should be asking you.” “I…” Daniel was speechless. Behind him, Scarlett had already started crying, her tears, like a string of pearls, began to fall. “Maya, please don’t blame Daniel; it’s all my fault… I just admire you so much, and I wanted Daniel to give me some acting tips, we…” “Shut up.” I bit out two cold words. Scarlett’s sobs hitched, and she looked at me in disbelief. She probably hadn’t expected the usually gentle me to speak to her in such a tone. Daniel’s temper flared. He grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like he wanted to crush my bones. “Maya! Come at me! What does this have to do with Scarlett? She’s just a kid, she doesn’t understand anything!” A kid? A twenty-four-year-old actress was a kid in his eyes? I looked at his furious face and suddenly found it ridiculous. “Daniel, look closely at what she’s wearing.” I yanked my hand free and pointed at Scarlett’s sexy silk nightgown on the screen. “Wearing that to ‘practice lines’ with you? In your study, sitting on your lap, until your bathrobe was practically open?” My voice wasn’t loud, but every word was like an ice-cold knife, striking both their faces. Daniel’s face flushed red, then pale. Scarlett’s dramatic streak kicked in again. She cried harder, rushing to cling to Daniel’s arm. “Daniel, I didn’t mean to… I just felt comfortable wearing something casual at home… Maya, I truly didn’t mean to ruin your relationship, I… I’m leaving now! I’ll never bother you again!” With that, she covered her face and ran out, looking heartbroken. Just as expected, Daniel immediately felt a pang of sympathy. He shot me a furious glare, an expression that saw me as nothing but an unreasonable lunatic. “Maya, do you have to make such a scene?!” He chased after her. I heard the car engine start outside, followed by a deadly silence. He was gone. He’d left me alone in this house, empty as a tomb, for that “wronged” Scarlett. Slowly, ever so slowly, I walked to the massive floor-toceiling window. Outside, was the rose garden I had personally designed and planted. It was right here, years ago, that Daniel held the first script I had ever written and told me, “Maya, marry me. I’ll spend my life protecting you and your talent.” Ten years. How many decades do you get in life? I’d given him my best ten years, given them to Starlight. What I got in return was being called a “craftswoman.” I picked up my phone and dialed my private lawyer. “Mr. Davis, prepare something.” “Prepare what, Ms. Linwood?” “Divorce papers, and also… a full audit for copyright divestment and asset liquidation for all film and television projects under Starlight Entertainment where I served as screenwriter or held the original creative concept.” Mr. Davis on the other end was silent for three seconds, clearly stunned by the news. “Ms. Linwood, are you certain? This is almost half of Starlight’s empire.” “I am.” I hung up, looking at the roses outside the window. Daniel, you think Scarlett is unpolished jade, a genius? Fine. I’d like to see what kind of castles in the air your unpolished jade can build without me, the “craftswoman,” laying the foundation. This play needed a new ending.

The next day, I didn’t go to the office. Daniel hadn’t returned home all night, not even a phone call. I guessed he was busy comforting his startled “innocent angel.” Good. I’d use this time to settle all the messy accounts between us. I had Mr. Davis’s team move into Starlight, beginning the copyright and financial audit. The news spread like wildfire, sending the entire company into an uproar. Daniel’s call finally came through at noon, his voice thick with suppressed fury. “Maya! What the hell are you trying to do?! Bringing lawyers into the company, do you want everyone to laugh at us?!” “Laugh at us?” I leisurely applied lipstick in the mirror, the vibrant red like a battle flag. “Mr. Sterling, what’s left between us besides a joke?” He choked, his breathing growing heavier. “Stop messing around! Get your lawyers out of there! We can talk about this at home!” “Home?” I chuckled. “Which home? The one with you in it, or the one with Scarlett?” “Maya!” he practically roared. “Are you really trying to destroy ten years of our lives together?!” “Our lives?” I pulled a cold smile at my reflection. “Daniel Sterling, from the moment you put Scarlett and me on a scale, calling her a genius and me a craftswoman, there was nothing left between us but business.” “And I, Maya Linwood, never do business at a loss.” I didn’t wait for his reply; I hung up directly. My phone rang again almost immediately. This time, it was my assistant, Chloe. Her voice was utterly frantic: “Maya! It’s bad! Something huge has happened!” “Slow down,” I said, remarkably calm. “Scarlett… Scarlett gave a live interview today, and she said… she said that the new script you’re working on, *Begonia*, the lead character ‘Begonia,’ is based on her!” My hand, applying lipstick, froze. *Begonia*. That was the script I wrote for my mother. My mother’s childhood nickname was Begonia. She was the most resilient, gentle woman I had ever known, and she passed away in an accident when I was ten. This script was my elegy to her, the softest, most sacred place in my heart. I had never mentioned it to anyone, not even Daniel. Scarlett… how could she know? “Not only that,” Chloe’s voice was tearful, “she also implied in the interview that many details of the character resembled her own life experiences, and she ‘thanked’ you for tailoring it for her… Now the entire internet is calling you a ‘genius screenwriter’ who, to promote Scarlett, even ‘copied’ her life story!” “Copied” her life? Heh, she wished. A wave of nausea and pure rage surged up from my gut. “Maya, the PR department is losing their minds, and Mr. Sterling’s phone is unreachable, what should we do?” “Don’t panic.” I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and when I opened them again, my gaze was icy. “Tell the PR department to do nothing. Wait for my message.” After hanging up, I immediately logged into my Ins account. That account, which had been dormant for almost a year, still boasted millions of followers. I didn’t post a long rant, just a photo and a single sentence. The photo was a black-and-white picture of my mother when she was young, holding a幼年的 me, smiling gently and serenely. In her eyes, one could vaguely see the shadow of the ‘Begonia’ character. The caption read: “*Begonia*, written for my one and only muse, my mother. She’s gone, but she lives forever in my stories. #BegoniaLivesOn” Not a single word mentioned Scarlett, but every word was a resounding slap across her face. Ins exploded instantly. #MayaLinwoodBegoniaIsMyMother #ScarlettHayesScam #FeelSorryForMaya These topics shot to the top three trending lists with unstoppable momentum. The tide of public opinion turned instantly. The marketing accounts that had previously praised Scarlett as “naturally talented” and “the chosen one” were left utterly exposed and humiliated. Countless netizens flooded Scarlett’s Ins, calling her a “fake innocent girl,” a “scheming manipulator,” and accusing her of “exploiting the deceased for fame.” I watched the comments, feeling no joy. Only a vast emptiness. I knew this was just the beginning. The war between me, Daniel, and Scarlett had just begun. My phone vibrated. It was a text from Daniel, just a few short words. [Are you satisfied?] I stared at those words and laughed. So, in his eyes, my act of clarifying the truth, of defending my mother’s dignity, was merely for my “satisfaction.” I didn’t reply. Because I knew he wouldn’t think that way for long. Sure enough, half an hour later, Chloe’s call came again, this time her voice filled with despair. “Maya… we’ve been hit by a backlash…” “What do you mean?” “Mr. Sterling… Mr. Sterling himself intervened.” Chloe’s voice trembled. “He ordered the company’s online smear campaign to claim that you… that you are exploiting your deceased mother, seeking sympathy, and deliberately suppressing a newcomer…” “He said Scarlett is just a naive young girl who misspoke out of pure admiration for you, and that you, as a senior, are being ruthless and utterly graceless!” “Now… now the tide has turned again, and many people are calling you malicious, calling you a publicity-seeker…” I gripped the phone, my knuckles turned white from gripping the phone. For a moment, I felt like I was choking on glass. Daniel Sterling. To protect Scarlett’s so-called “innocent darling” image. He actually stepped in personally, directing an online smear campaign, using the most vicious language to defame me and my deceased mother. He was trampling me into the mud, just to build a pure, unblemished wall around that ‘innocent’ woman he cherished. I finally understood. My talent, my efforts, my ten years of selfless love, even my most sacred family bonds. In front of Scarlett, they were utterly worthless. This man was no longer the boy who had weathered hardships with me. He had become a lunatic who would twist facts and sacrifice anything for his “precious darling.” And I was the price to be sacrificed at will. I opened my contacts and found a number I had saved but never thought I’d dial. The contact name was – Julian Thorne. The head of Aura Media, the man whom even Daniel Sterling had to treat with caution in the capital market. The call connected quickly. A deep, magnetic male voice, with a hint of lazy amusement, answered. “Ah, Ms. Linwood, finally remembered me?” “Mr. Thorne.” My voice was calm, without a ripple. “I want to discuss a business deal with you.” “Oh?” He seemed interested. “Tell me more.” “I want to start my own company, a new film and television production house.” “I have three A-list projects in hand: a sci-fi blockbuster, a suspense crime thriller, and one that’s currently at the center of controversy, *Begonia*.” “I need funding, distribution channels, and top-tier promotional resources.” “In return, you’ll own thirty percent of the new company’s shares, and… exclusive distribution rights for all projects overseas.” Silence fell on the other end of the line. It lasted so long I thought he would refuse. Then, Julian Thorne laughed, a deep chuckle, like the resonance of a cello. “Maya, do you know you’re declaring war on Daniel Sterling?” “I do.” “He’ll tear you apart.” “So what?” I looked out the window. The sky was darkening, a storm was brewing. “I have nothing left, so I have nothing to lose.” “Interesting,” Julian Thorne said. “I accept your terms.” “However, I have a condition too.” “Name it.” “I don’t want shares.” Julian Thorne’s voice, transmitted through the phone, carried an undeniable authority. “I want you.” I froze. “Mr. Thorne, I don’t…” “Don’t misunderstand,” he interrupted. “What I mean is, I want Maya Linwood to become the future head of production for Aura Media. Your new company, Aura will acquire it entirely. You’ll have one hundred percent creative freedom and decision-making power. I’ll give you the platform, the resources, everything I can give.” “Why?” I asked, puzzled. “Because I think betting on a genius’s revenge is far more thrilling than betting on a businessman’s marriage.” “Besides,” he paused, his voice dropping lower, imbued with a strange seduction, “I also want to see Daniel Sterling’s expression when the jewel he personally destroyed blossoms with even more dazzling brilliance in someone else’s hands.” “It’ll be quite a show, won’t it?” I had Mr. Davis send the divorce papers directly to Starlight’s board of directors. Attached was a fifty-page list for copyright divestment and asset liquidation.

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I could see everyone else’s final exam scores and college acceptances floating above their heads, but never my own. Didn’t matter to me, though. I was practically top of my class; if I said I was second, no one would dare claim first. The day before the final exam results were released. My fiancé, Julian, had a perfect 700 hovering above his head, along with the name of the prestigious university we’d promised to attend together. The maid’s daughter, Chloe, had a measly 250 and some low-tier community college. But the very day after the exam, Chloe’s score inexplicably changed to 720, and her college admission was suddenly the same as Julian’s. I thought exhaustion was making me see things. Turns out, I wasn’t wrong. The day the official scores were released, Chloe really did get a 720, with countless elite universities practically begging her to enroll. Meanwhile, no matter how many times I refreshed the score checker, my own score remained a pathetic 250. “Rich Prodigy Flunks with a 250, While Poor Innocent Girl Defies All Odds”—the headline instantly plastered everywhere, spreading like wildfire. Everyone, absolutely everyone, claimed my previous stellar grades must have been achieved through cheating. Even Julian, who had always spoiled me rotten, distanced himself, turning to hold Chloe’s hand instead. As I was spiraling into a mental breakdown, the maid’s daughter delivered the final, crushing blow. “My 720 is actually *your* score. And your fiancé, Julian, personally helped us swap them. Too bad no one will ever believe you.” I finally cracked, completely lost my mind, and was committed to a mental asylum where I was tortured until I died. Only on my deathbed did I discover that Julian was linked to a grade-swap system. The next thing I knew, my eyes fluttered open, and I was back. Back to the day before the scores were released. This time, I was going straight to live streaming my college entrance exam predictions!

“Ding! Congratulations, Host, you’ve activated the Live Prediction System!” The moment I opened my phone, a huge screen popped up in front of me. Turns out, my ability to see scores was also due to being linked to a system—it just hadn’t been fully activated in my previous life. A robotic voice echoed from the system. “Host, please accept your mission: Before scores are released, successfully predict the scores of 10,000 live call-ins. Mission success reward: Julian’s grade-swap system will malfunction. Mission failure penalty: Host will die.” My eyes widened, and I trembled with excitement. My original goal for going live was just to use public opinion to force Julian and Chloe to confess the truth about the score swap. Now, things just got a whole lot easier. “So, if I succeed, my scores will come back?” “Yes, Host.” Remembering that hellhole of a mental asylum from my last life, I didn’t hesitate to hit the confirm button. That hellish place. I swore I’d never set foot in it again. I quickly opened my live stream, and the system began its countdown. “Mission countdown: 24 hours begins!” Ten minutes had already ticked off the 24-hour clock on the screen, but my live stream was completely empty. Even if someone clicked in, they left just as quickly. To get 10,000 live call-ins before the scores were released, I’d have to stream non-stop, without eating or sleeping. Otherwise, I wouldn’t just lose my scores again; I’d die. Again. I quickly logged onto the school forum and posted anonymously: “SHOCKING! Top Senior Student Going Live to Predict College Entrance Exam Scores – 100% Accuracy!” In less than ten minutes, over twenty people flooded into my live stream. [Can she really predict scores?] [She’s a fraud, the scores aren’t even out yet.] [Isn’t that Stella Sterling, the number one student?] I took a deep breath and tapped the ‘Join Call’ feature. “Welcome to my live stream. I can accurately predict your college entrance exam scores and which university you’ll get into. If you don’t believe me, call in and verify.” The comments section was filled with skepticism, but soon, the first call-in request popped up. I accepted it, and a familiar face appeared on the screen—Ryan, the basketball team captain. A notorious troublemaker, always looking for a fight. “Well, well, if it isn’t our number one student,” Ryan smirked, his eyes full of mockery. “You claim you can predict scores? So tell me, what did I get?” I gazed at his head; a clear number floated there: 423 points, with the name of a local sports college beneath it. “423 points, Sports College.” I said calmly. Ryan’s face changed dramatically, then he burst out laughing. “Bullshit! I can get at least 500 points! My practice tests were always over 500!” The comments section blew up: [LOL! What a trainwreck!] [Ryan actually has decent grades though] [Stella’s gonna crash and burn this time] I simply smiled. “You’ll see when the scores are out. Next?” Muttering curses, he slammed the ‘End Call’ button, but the number of viewers in my stream had already climbed to over 300. Looks like controversy really does bring traffic. The second call-in was from an unfamiliar girl, wearing a mask that only revealed her eyes. “I… I want to see if you can really tell?” I looked at her head: 586 points, State University. “586 points, State University.” The girl’s eyes widened. “That… that’s actually the school I want to apply to.” The tide of comments began to shift: [OMG, how is she so accurate?!] [It’s a setup, right?] [Let’s keep watching, maybe she’s just guessing.] Over the next hour, I predicted scores and colleges for over twenty more people. Some believed, some didn’t, but my viewer count had already surpassed 2,000. My live stream became so popular that even Julian, who lived next door, stumbled upon it.

He barged into my room, his usual gentle and caring demeanor replaced by a terrifyingly dark expression. “Stella, aren’t you worried that live streaming rumors will affect your final exam scores?” I looked at Julian’s face, and it felt like a lifetime ago. The old me would have thought he was concerned for my well-being. But now, I knew perfectly well that he wasn’t afraid of my scores being affected. He was afraid for Chloe’s swapped score. My gaze turned ice-cold. “Who gave you permission to enter my room? Get out!” Julian was stunned, clearly not expecting me, usually so mild-mannered, to suddenly be a completely different person. But in a flash, he brushed past me, reaching for my laptop, clearly intending to shut down my stream. I quickly stepped in front of him. “Julian, was I too easy on you before? Don’t forget, you’re merely my fiancé, part of the Sterling family. Without the Sterling name, you’re nothing!” Julian’s pride was legendary; there was no way he could tolerate such humiliation. He would surely storm out. I didn’t have time to waste on him; I needed to get him out of here fast. At that moment, the comments section exploded: [Fiancé?!] [What kind of high-society scandal is this?!] [Quick, record this! Big news!] Julian’s face flushed crimson, but he still wouldn’t leave, stubbornly trying to close my stream, lecturing me all the while. “Stella, I’m doing this for your own good. I know you’ve been a pampered princess since childhood, and this is just a game to you, but if your predicted scores are fake, have you considered the consequences? Results come out tomorrow. What if something happens to you? What about our agreement?” I never thought Julian would sacrifice his pride for Chloe’s score. “Agreement? Are you talking about your agreement with the maid’s daughter, Chloe?” Julian’s pupils constricted, his face instantly turning ashen. In my previous life, I only found out at the very end that he and Chloe had been together all along. The live stream audience had already surpassed 500,000, comments scrolling wildly: [Too much information!] [Maid’s daughter? Fiancé?] [This is a real-life high-society drama!] I seized the opportunity to accept more call-ins, and the number of predictions rapidly exceeded 5,000. System prompt: [Mission progress 50%]. And Julian, seemingly afraid I’d reveal more, quickly threw out a parting shot before leaving. “Stella, don’t you dare regret this!” After Julian left, to prevent anyone else from disturbing me, I quickly locked my bedroom door and wedged a heavy object against it before settling back in front of my stream. Just then, I connected with a total academic superstar, which significantly boosted my stream’s traffic. I accepted the call, and a familiar face appeared on the screen—Daniel, the second-ranked student in our grade, known for his meticulousness. “Stella, can you really see our final exam scores?” Daniel pushed his black-rimmed glasses up his nose, his gaze sharp as a knife. I looked at his head; a clear number floated there: 705 points, with Harvard’s name beneath it. “705 points, Harvard.” Daniel’s brows furrowed. “Impossible. My self-assessment puts me at 685 at most. There’s no way it could be over 700.” The comments section immediately exploded: [OMG, the number two student is personally stepping in to expose this scam!] [Daniel is famously meticulous; if he says 685, he must have a reason.] [Stella’s gonna crash and burn this time, right?] My heart pounded, but I maintained a calm exterior. “You’ll know when the scores are released.” Daniel scoffed. “I participated in the Physics Olympiad and got 20 bonus points. But even with those 20 points, it’s only 705. How could you possibly know I had bonus points? Unless…” He suddenly stopped, a flicker of shock in his eyes. The comments section went even crazier: [Wait, if Daniel really has bonus points, then 705 matches up?!] [This is too mind-blowing! She even knows about competition bonus points?] [She must be guessing! Daniel himself said it’s impossible.] I seized this moment. “Daniel, you know in your heart if what I’m saying is true. Your Physics Olympiad bonus points are for a national first-place award, which grants 20 points, correct?” Daniel’s face changed. He opened his mouth, but said nothing, simply disconnecting the call. The live stream viewer count instantly surged to 200,000, comments almost entirely covering the screen: [Daniel just defaulted!] [OMG, Stella really can see!] [This is unbelievable!] Riding this wave of traffic, I quickly accepted many more call-ins.

System prompt: [Mission progress 70%]. But then, an uninvited guest arrived. Chloe’s account entered the live stream and successfully connected. “Stella, big sis, can you check my final exam score too?” On screen, Chloe was wearing a limited-edition dress I’d bought her just last month. In my previous life, I had poured my heart out for her, yet she wished me dead. I stared at the number above her head – 720 points, Harvard. Exactly the same as my previous life. But what came out of my mouth was: “250 points, some low-tier community college.” Chloe forced herself to suppress a smirk, feigning innocence. “I think Stella, big sis, is lying. Before the final exam, Julian tutored me every single night. There’s no way I could get a score like that. Maybe my college will even be the same as yours.” The moment Chloe’s words fell, the live stream instantly exploded. [OMG! Tutored every night? So much info!] [Isn’t that the maid’s daughter? Is she the one the princess mentioned earlier?] [Stella applied to Harvard; everyone in our school knows. Chloe’s grades were never that good, how could she possibly get in?] Chloe’s face subtly changed, but she quickly put on that pitiful, innocent expression again. “Stella, big sis, I know you’ve never liked me, but you can’t just hire trolls to slander me like this. Julian said I did really well this time…” The live stream comments scrolled wildly, and the online viewership had already passed two million. The system’s chime sounded in my ear: [Mission progress 80%, Host, please hurry.] Chloe’s face showed a hint of panic as the stream’s viewer count soared, but she quickly composed herself. “Stella, big sis, the scores come out tomorrow. Then we’ll know who’s lying.” “Oh yeah? How about we make a bet? If your score truly is 720 tomorrow, I, Stella Sterling, will quit the internet forever. But if your score is 250, then you’ll get out of the Sterling household.” Chloe hesitated, thinking about all the luxuries she’d enjoyed at the Sterling mansion over the years. I added fuel to the fire. “Are you scared, perhaps?” “How could I be?!” “Then bet,” I challenged, looking at her provocatively. “Or do you have something to hide?” Chloe’s face went pale, her lips trembling, unable to speak. Just then, a flood of paid trolls suddenly poured into the live stream. [Stella Sterling is a bully!] [Being rich doesn’t make you superior, bullying the maid’s daughter!] [I heard Stella Sterling’s grades were always faked!] I sneered. These troll accounts were clearly Julian’s doing. In my past life, he used this exact tactic to turn public opinion against me. Seeing these comments slandering me, Chloe immediately regained her confidence. “Bet it is. When the scores are checked tomorrow, I’ll definitely meet Harvard’s admission line.” I curled my lips. “Then we’ll see.” Just then, Julian appeared behind Chloe. He earnestly tried to advise me. “Stella, don’t keep making mistakes. If you can even get Chloe’s score wrong, let alone others’, give up now. If something goes wrong, I’ll face the consequences with you.” What superb acting. But I could still detect a hint of mockery in his eyes. He was laughing at me, unaware my score had been swapped, laughing at me about to plummet from heaven to hell, to be trampled under his feet, completely clueless. But I didn’t care now; I just wanted to use him to hit my target number. Because Julian had hired trolls, my stream lost quite a few viewers for a moment. Now, I was only one thousand people short of completing the mission, and only an hour remained on the countdown. I didn’t care if he wanted a prediction or not; everyone in the stream counted. I directly stated his score and college. “700 points, Harvard.” Julian paused for a moment but quickly recovered. “What’s that supposed to mean? We grew up together; it’s not surprising you’d know my score, is it?” With my fiancé’s arrival, the number of curious onlookers in the stream began to climb again, and with it, the number of score predictions. I directly uploaded a custom-coded system app; users could upload a selfie to get their score predicted. Efficiency immediately skyrocketed. To keep the momentum going, I dropped a major bombshell. “You guessed right. My fiancé has been secretly messing around with the maid’s daughter for a long time.” The live stream instantly erupted, comments scrolling like a raging torrent. [!!! I’m actually witnessing a live high-society drama?] [OMG, this is more exciting than a novel!] [So Julian tutoring Chloe was fake, and their secret affair was real?] Along with this came rapidly soaring prediction data. Just one more person needed, with only 30 seconds left on the clock. But then, the official score check system suddenly went live, *early*. Just then, Chloe triumphantly flashed her score: 720 points. “Stella, what do you have to say for yourself now?” Everyone was cursing me out.

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  My wife had always hated stuffed animals. But recently, she bought a giant teddy bear—and started cuddling it to sleep every night. As for me, I was left to the side, completely ignored. I couldn’t take it anymore. So, during our daughter’s first birthday banquet, I asked for a divorce. The entire room went silent in shock. Cora splashed a glass of wine in my face and shouted, “You’re jealous of a teddy bear?! Are you out of your mind?” I calmly wiped my face and said coldly, “Didn’t you say you wanted to spend the rest of your life with that teddy bear? I’m just making it easy for you.” —— “Jason!” she seethed. “Our daughter just turned one—and you’re divorcing me over this? What kind of heartless bastard are you?” Cora’s eyes turned red with fury, her body trembling. “Sign the papers,” I said, throwing the divorce agreement on the table. “See you at the Civil Affairs Bureau at nine tomorrow morning.” I didn’t bother explaining, and just turned and walked away. The guests were stunned again, exchanging confused glances. We were the couple everyone admired—the so-called perfect match. No one understood how things could fall apart so suddenly. There was a flash of panic in Cora’s eyes. Her parents frowned, their expressions darkening. They clearly hadn’t expected me to be this decisive. Her assistant, Amos, grabbed my arm and pleaded, “Come on, all girls like stuffed animals—are you really making a scene over this? Apologize to Ms. Cora.” “Have you forgotten how she nearly died giving birth to your child? She refused anesthesia and passed out from the pain, just to deliver your daughter.” “She sleeps in a separate room and takes care of the baby herself, so she doesn’t disturb your rest. Can’t you see how much she’s sacrificing for you?” More guests chimed in, rebuking me. “He’s right! You two had a good thing going. So many people envy you for marrying such a good woman.” “If there’s a problem, talk it through. What kind of man uses divorce as a threat? You can’t just take it out on your wife.” Cora took a deep breath and steadied herself. Then she rushed over and hugged me tightly. “Honey,” she said softly, “we’ve been through twelve years together—from strangers to soulmates. You’ve always been gentle and patient. You never lost your temper.” “Is it something at work? Are you trying to protect me by pushing me away? Tell me. Whatever it is, we’ll get through it together.” Hearing her speak up for me so earnestly, the guests began to side with her. They looked at me with increasing disappointment. “Jason,” her father finally spoke up. “I may be retired and out of the business world, but I still carry some weight.” “We’re all family. If something’s wrong, you should say it. Don’t bottle it up.” Even Cora’s parents chose to believe in me. After all, I was the son-in-law they had hand-picked. But I didn’t care about any of them. Without a glance around, I shoved Cora off me. My voice was cold. “It’s simple. I don’t love you anymore.” A dead silence ensued. “…What?” Cora froze. Tears began to well up at the corners of her eyes. “I said—I don’t love you anymore,” I repeated. “Did you hear me clearly this time?” I stepped past her, ready to leave. “Stop right there!” Amos grabbed me by the collar and yelled, “Enough with this nonsense! Even as her assistant, I can’t stand watching this anymore!” “Have you forgotten how hard you chased after her for three whole years?” “And it took another six just to finally walk down the aisle with her!” “Have you forgotten what you said at your wedding? To hold her hand and grow old together. To never leave her.” “And your kid is already one year old! Do you want him to grow up in a broken home?” Watching him defend her so passionately, I smirked and said with a mocking tone, “Why are you so worked up? What—don’t tell me… you have feelings for her?”

“Anyone with a conscience would be disgusted by a thankless bastard like you.” Amos clapped back. His tone was growing even more arrogant. “You came from nothing, and yet Cora didn’t look down on you. She even arranged a job for you in her family’s company.” “If it weren’t for theCronin family, would you be living the good life you have now? Would you even be sitting in the president’s chair?” Smack! I slapped him across the face without hesitation. “You’re just an assistant. Know your place and keep your mouth shut.” Seeing him hurt, Cora instantly panicked. “Jason, are you insane?! What gives you the right to hit Amos?” She shoved me aside and hurried to help Amos off the ground. Her eyes were full of concern. “He deserved it,” I said flatly, clenching my fists, utterly unapologetic. The crowd instantly turned against me. They began to think my usual calm demeanor was all just an act—deep down, I was nothing but a violent hypocrite. Amos lowered his head and said quietly to Cora, “I’m sorry, Cora. This is all my fault.” “I shouldn’t have spoken out of turn. I must have upset Mr. Jason. Please don’t blame him.” He looked so guilty and remorseful. “It’s not your fault,” she replied gently. “I dragged you into this.” Then she turned to me, her voice low and humble, “Honey, this is between us. Don’t take it out on others.” “Today is our daughter’s first birthday. Can’t we just get through the day without drama? I’m begging you.” Tears welled up in her eyes as she spoke. Her softness. My aggression. The contrast couldn’t have been starker. Naturally, the guests sided with her. Her father, Franco, took a deep breath and tried to mediate once more. “Jason, over the years, you’ve always been hardworking, devoted to the family, and respectful to your elders.” “There’s no need for things to get this ugly.” “If you really feel wronged, bring out the evidence. I promise I’ll stand up for you.” He was giving me an out, but I didn’t take it. I remained cold and firm. “This marriage is over. I’m divorcing her no matter what.” At that instant, his expression changed, and a hint of gloom clouded his face. Cora looked at me through tears. “Is there someone else?” she asked, voice quivering. “Think whatever you want,” I said indifferently. “If that’s what you believe, go ahead.” “That’s enough!” Franco finally exploded. “Jason, I’ll give you three days to think this through.” “Either you go home and act like a husband and father—” “—or we’ll see you in court. And don’t expect to leave with a dime.” “Don’t forget, everything you have now came from me.” The words were harsh and final. Everyone thought I’d finally give in. But instead, I turned and walked out without hesitation. Outside, my junior from university, Kelly, was already waiting for me. “I’ve already sent someone to Europe,” she said with a smile. “The answers you want—won’t take long now.” “Thank you.” I leaned wearily against the backseat, exhaustion soaking into my bones. “I’ll be facing Cora in court in three days,” I added. “I’ll need you to represent me.” As I spoke, I pulled out my phone and opened a video clip. In the surveillance footage, Cora’s beloved teddy bear walked straight out of the side bedroom. Then—it began dancing in front of the living room camera. That footage alone was enough to upend everything. Three days. That’s all I needed. Originally, I planned to check into a hotel. But all my bank cards had been frozen. Only then did I remember—over the past year, control of our finances had slowly shifted back into theCronin family’s hands. Even the bank account was now registered under Cora’s name. I had thought I was living in a warm and happy family. In reality, I was completely alone. That night, I crashed at Kelly’s place. The next morning, I returned to the company to collect my things. The moment I stepped into the lobby, I was bombarded by gossip and whispers from the employees.

“A live-in son-in-law asking for a divorce? Doesn’t even know how lucky he is—he’s dumber than a pig.” “So what if PresidentCronin likes cuddling a teddy bear to sleep? That’s not weird. I do it too!” “He probably got bored of her after she gave birth and her figure changed a little. Wouldn’t be surprised if he’s keeping a harem of mistresses on the side.” The way they looked at me was full of disgust as though I were some vile criminal. I hadn’t even opened my mouth to respond when a familiar voice rang out from behind. “Enough! Who gave you permission to speak like that? Get back to work!” It was Cora. Only then did the employees reluctantly scatter. She walked up to me with a warm smile. “Honey,” she said, “I bought you a new watch. Try it on.” From her bag, she took out a pristine wristwatch. Gasps erupted around us. “A Patek Philippe limited edition! Only three were ever made—rumor is, they were all snatched up by mysterious collectors!” “PresidentCronin must’ve gone to great lengths to get her hands on this. She’s so thoughtful…” Everyone looked on with admiration and envy. But my response remained cold. “I came to collect my family heirloom,” I said, stepping back. “You can save the watch—for your teddy bear.” The words hit like ice water. Cora froze, stunned. The crowd erupted again, only now with outrage. “What an ungrateful bastard!” “He doesn’t deserve anything good!” I ignored every word and headed upstairs. When my parents passed, they left me with only one thing—a pendant they said would ward off evil. I’d worn it around my neck ever since. A while ago, Cora had complained that her office felt eerie, that strange noises kept happening. So I’d taken off the pendant and hung it in her office. From that day on, everything went quiet. But now? She didn’t deserve to keep it. As I entered her office, I saw Amos playing with a little girl. “President Jason,” he greeted with a grin. “You’re finally back. Nothing matters more than a happy family. Come, take a look at your daughter.” “She’s adorable—how could you bear to walk away from her?” He walked over with the child in his arms. “Move,” I said with a frown of pure disgust. “She’s your daughter,” Amos insisted, his voice rising. “You won’t even spare her a glance?” “Get out of my way!” I shoved him aside impatiently and walked straight in to retrieve the pendant. I turned. Amos and the girl had both fallen to the floor. At that exact moment, Cora walked in with several senior executives and saw everything. She rushed to the child, checking her from head to toe. Only when she confirmed there were no injuries did she breathe a sigh of relief. “What happened?” she asked, eyes darting between me and Amos. Amos hung his head. “I just wanted President Jason to look at his daughter, but he refused. He pushed me… I wasn’t steady on my feet, and I fell.” What? Before I could react, Cora slapped me hard across the face.   “You’ve become heartless!” she screamed. “That’s your own daughter!” “She’s barely a year old. What if she had been seriously hurt?” My face remained indifferent. “Say whatever you want. Even if she had died from the fall—it’s not my problem.” Her expression collapsed. Tears streamed down her face. Amos pointed at me, shaking with rage. “What the hell is wrong with you?! Cursing your own daughter to die? You’re beyond help!” “Enough,” Cora choked out, trembling with fury. “I’m done.” “Get out.” “Get out of my life! I can raise our daughter on my own. She doesn’t need a father like you.” “We’ll settle this in court.” Cora’s final words were practically screamed at the top of her lungs. I didn’t respond. I simply turned and walked away. Not long after, news of my divorce with her exploded online. One exposé after another flooded the internet. Some claimed I was keeping dozens of mistresses. Some said I was a regular at shady clubs. Others even alleged I had an illegitimate child. Photos were posted as so-called evidence. I was crucified on the internet—labeled a heartless scumbag who abandoned his wife and child. Still, I remained silent. No explanations. No statements. Until three days later, when I appeared in court. Because the trial was public, the gallery was packed—not just with friends and family, but with reporters as well. “Jason,” Cora said, fists clenched tightly, “I’ll give you one last chance. Admit your mistake, and let’s move on with our lives.” Amos chimed in beside her. “You don’t have a leg to stand on. You’ll lose everything in the divorce. What then? Who’s going to want anything to do with you?” “Just give in,” he sneered. “Unless you want to end up sleeping on the street.” Cora’s parents sat stiff-faced. “Jason,” her father said sternly, “think carefully about the consequences.” “If your whole argument for splitting assets is that Cora sleeps with a teddy bear, you have no chance of winning.” In the face of their criticism, I said nothing. I simply walked to my seat beside Kelly. The entireCronin family scoffed in unison. The hearing began. After reviewing Cora’s submitted evidence, the judge turned to me. “Sleeping with a teddy bear doesn’t constitute a fault in a marriage,” he said. “However, the plaintiff has submitted over fifty photos of you in intimate situations with other women.” “If you cannot provide new evidence, the court will rule you at fault based on the current facts.” I stood up calmly. “I have evidence.” Now the real show was about to begin.

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Chris and I were synced up on this Truth-Teller App. The deal was, if either of us lied, the system would automatically deduct $1314.00 from their linked account and transfer it to the other person. My best friend, Chloe, developed it. She asked me to help her beta test it. During our holiday weekend trip to a popular beach town, something felt off. On the train, Chris went to take a call in the restroom. When he came back, his expression was completely wrong. “Who was that?” I asked. He avoided my gaze. “No one. Just a spam call.” The next second, my phone buzzed with a notification: [Partner detected lying. $1314.00 deducted from linked account.] I stared at the message, speechless. Chris saw me staring at my phone, not saying a word, and leaned closer. “What’s up, Jo? What are you so engrossed in?” I turned the phone screen towards him. A muscle in his jaw jumped. “I thought you… usually kept app notifications off?” I didn’t say anything, just watched him. He snatched my phone, his fingers frantically tapping the screen, as if trying to delete the notification. “These apps are getting out of hand now. I’ll help you uninstall it later.” He shoved the phone back into my hand as he spoke. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the turmoil in my chest. “So, that call just now? It wasn’t a spam call?” Chris’s eyes darted away again. He insisted stubbornly, “It was a spam call!” The words had barely left his mouth. “Ding-dong.” My phone chimed again, a new notification popping up. [Partner detected lying. $1314.00 deducted from linked account.] The air went completely silent. “Joanna!” He practically spat my name through clenched teeth. “Are you using this thing to spy on me?” He accused me outright. I scoffed. “Spy on you?” “Chris, have you forgotten?” “This app was developed by Chloe. She asked me to help her beta test it, and you agreed to link your account.” “What? Now that your lies are exposed, you’re trying to turn the tables on me?” He suddenly sat up straight, frowning at me. “What lie did I tell!?” “It was just a stupid call! What if I don’t want to talk about it?” “Why do you always have to pry into everything? Do you have any respect for my privacy!?” His voice grew louder and louder. Passengers around us cast curious glances our way. “Fine, I won’t ask.” I turned my face away, looking out at the rapidly receding scenery through the window. This holiday, from its very first second, was destined to be unpleasant. Chapter Two When we arrived at the cozy rental we’d booked, Chris was still sulking. He tossed his suitcase onto the floor, then stormed into the bathroom, his face dark, slamming the door shut. I looked at my pale face in the mirror and let out a self-deprecating laugh. My phone vibrated again. It was a message from Chloe. [Hey, babe. Is the app stable? How’s the user experience?] I stared at the words, and almost instinctively replied. [Very stable. The experience… is incredibly stimulating.] Not long after, Chloe called. “What’s wrong, Jo? Your tone sounds off.” I walked out onto the balcony, closed the glass door, and quietly recounted what had just happened. There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Then, Chloe cautiously spoke. “Joanna, don’t overthink it.” “Chris isn’t like that. Maybe he really has something he can’t talk about?” “Like… maybe family needing money or something. He’s a man, you know, too proud to admit it to you.” Her words sounded reasonable, like she was making excuses for him. “If he’d just been honest, do you really think I wouldn’t help?” “Men have their pride,” Chloe sighed. “Why don’t you talk to him properly later? Don’t let this minor issue affect your relationship.” “If this app makes you uncomfortable, just turn it off. Forget the testing.” After hanging up, the irritation in my heart eased a little. Maybe I really was overthinking things. The bathroom door opened, and Chris walked out, hair still damp, wrapped in a towel. He stood in front of me, hesitated for a moment, then softened his tone. “Joanna, I’m sorry. My attitude was bad earlier.” I looked at him, not speaking. He reached out to hug me, but I stepped aside, avoiding him. His arm froze mid-air, and his face clouded over again. “Ugh! Fine, I’ll tell you. It was just my mom calling for money. I was annoyed and felt embarrassed, so I lied.” He explained, but his eyes wouldn’t meet mine. “Are you serious? You’re still nagging about this?” My heart stirred. I pulled out my phone and tapped open the “Truth-Teller” app. I looked directly into his eyes. “Chris, you just said that your mom called, asking for money, and that’s why you lied to me. Is that true?” A flicker of panic seemed to cross his face, but he quickly composed himself, nodding forcefully. “Yes, it’s true!” My gaze locked on the phone screen. One second. Two seconds. Three seconds. My phone stayed quiet. No notification popped up.

A huge weight lifted off my chest, as if instantly. Could it be that I had really misjudged him? He saw my expression soften, and breathed a sigh of relief, pulling me into his arms. “Joanna, stop overthinking. I love you the most.” His voice was gentle, whispering in my ear. I closed my eyes, enveloped in his familiar embrace. Just as I was about to believe him, my phone vibrated subtly again. I snapped my eyes open, pulled away from his embrace, and looked down. It wasn’t an app notification. It was a bank deposit alert. [Your savings account ending in 6689 has received $1314.00.] I froze. Then, another one. [Your savings account ending in 6689 has received $1314.00.] It was the money from the previous two deductions, transferred to my account down to the last cent. This was Chloe’s “penalty disbursement” feature. She’d said that if the other person lied, the deducted money would serve as compensation for emotional damages to the wronged party. I hadn’t even had time to fully process it when Chris’s phone suddenly rang at the worst possible moment. He glanced at the caller ID, his body stiffened noticeably. Then, phone in hand, he hurried to the balcony, locking the glass door behind him. The movement was so smooth, so practiced, it sent a chill down my spine. Through the glass, I couldn’t make out what he was saying. I could only see the gentle smile on his face. Chapter Three By evening, a light rain had started in the beach town. Chris returned from his phone call on the balcony, looking inexplicably down. He sat on the edge of the bed, smoking a cigarette in silence. I walked over, took the cigarette from his hand, and put it out in the ashtray. “Don’t smoke so much. It’s not good for you.” He looked up at me. “Joanna, let’s go back tomorrow.” I paused. “Why? We just got here today.” “Something urgent came up at work. I have to go back and deal with it.” He stood up and began packing the few clothes he had just unpacked. I watched his back, and the cloud of suspicion in my mind resurfaced. “What kind of emergency requires you to rush back immediately?” I pressed. He paused, his back to me. “Don’t ask. You wouldn’t understand.” Those words again. I walked in front of him, forcing him to look into my eyes. “Chris, look at me.” “Tell me, is what you’re saying right now true?” He sighed, replying helplessly, “Yes.” “Ding-dong.” The familiar chime. [Partner detected lying. $1314.00 deducted from linked account.] Chris suddenly dropped the clothes in his hand and sank onto the bed. “Why…” he murmured, “Why do you have to push me like this?” Watching him like this, I felt a mix of grief and indignation. “Am I pushing you, or are you pushing me?” “Chris, we’ve been together for three years. I thought there were no secrets between us.” “But now? You haven’t told me a single truth!” “I didn’t lie to you!” he suddenly yelled at me. “Everything I said was true! This stupid app is the problem! It’s trying to tear us apart!” He lunged at me, trying to snatch my phone. I held onto it tightly, not letting him succeed. During the struggle, his nail scraped my hand, leaving a stinging red mark. I gasped in pain and released my grip. He grabbed the phone and frantically tried to uninstall the “Truth-Teller” app. But he quickly discovered that the app couldn’t be uninstalled. Chloe had written it, directly embedding it into the system’s core. Unless both of us applied to unbind, it would keep running. He slammed the phone onto the floor. “Crazy! Both of you are crazy!” The phone screen shattered. But the notification was still lit. That night, we lay back to back, neither of us speaking.

I stared wide-eyed until dawn. Chapter Four The next day, we ended our trip early. The atmosphere on the way back was incredibly heavy. Chris wore headphones, eyes closed, refusing any interaction with me. And I, meanwhile, repeatedly looked at the three deduction records on my phone, and the three “emotional damages” payments transferred to my account. A total of $3942.00. How ironic. Back home, Chris slammed the door to the guest room. I sat alone in the living room, my grievance nowhere to go. Chloe messaged again, asking if we had argued. I sent her a photo of my phone with the shattered screen and replied with three words: [You tell me?] She immediately called, her voice full of apologies: “I’m so sorry, Jo. I didn’t know it would be like this… I just wanted to make a fun app, I never thought…” “Chloe, tell me the truth. Why did you really develop this app?” I interrupted her. Another silence on the other end of the phone. “I… it was just a hobby,” she stammered. I sneered. “Really?” I tapped open the app, looking at our two linked profile pictures. “Chloe, did you know Chris was trouble all along? Did you make this app to warn me?” “No! Absolutely not! Jo, don’t overthink things!” she denied frantically. My gut told me she was lying. But I had no proof. Maybe from the beginning, I shouldn’t have agreed to this. That evening, Chris emerged from the guest room, his eyes swollen. He sat down beside me. “Joanna, let’s talk.” I didn’t respond. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” he said, head bowed. “I shouldn’t have lied to you.” “I admit it. I lied to you.” My heart clenched. “That call, it wasn’t my mom.” “It was… a childhood friend of mine, Mark.” “He got into gambling, owed money to loan sharks, and was being chased by them.” “He called me for help, and I, being soft-hearted, lent him the money we were saving for a car down payment.” He said, looking up. “I was afraid you’d be angry, afraid you’d scold me for not thinking straight, so I didn’t dare tell you.” “Joanna, I really know I messed up. I’ll find a way to get the money back.” His explanation sounded watertight. If this had been before today, I might have softened, might have believed him. But now. I looked at his face and calmly asked the question. “Is everything you just said completely true?” “Cross my heart!” He raised three fingers, swearing solemnly. “May lightning strike me if I’m lying again!” My phone was silent. No deduction. Could it be… that this time, he was finally telling the truth? I looked at him, my heart a mess of conflicting feelings. He cautiously watched my expression, then tentatively took my hand. “Joanna, please forgive me?” “Let’s unbind that app. It feels like a thorn between us. I’m afraid it’ll eventually tear us apart.” I looked at the earnest plea in his eyes, and my resolve started to crumble. Maybe he really did know he messed up. Should I really give him another chance? Just as I was about to nod. Chris’s mom called. I put her on speaker. On the other end, her voice was choked with tears.

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I was born with an uncanny ability to attract wealth. Anyone who marries me is guaranteed a life of endless prosperity and luxury. In my previous life, desperate to marry Brandon Stone, I foolishly told his mother this secret. To save their failing company, she personally drugged Brandon, forcing him to consummate our marriage. That very night, when Tiffany Roberts heard the news, she threw herself from a building and died. Brandon, enraged by the death of his childhood sweetheart, dragged me into his basement and locked me in a dog cage. “This is all your fault, you bitch! Tiffany died because of you. I’ll make you wish you were dead!” Every day, his bodyguards whipped me a hundred times. There wasn’t a single spot of good skin left on my body. Finally, Mrs. Stone arrived. She wrinkled her nose in disgust when she saw me. “Just keep her breathing,” she ordered coldly. “As long as she’s alive, our family’s business will flourish.” With my last breath, I bit my tongue, ending it all. When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day Mrs. Stone came to formally propose. … She arrived with her bodyguards, carrying a tattered old blanket as an engagement gift. The Stone family, with their vast empire, actually thought a worn-out blanket was enough as a marriage offering. But even then, in my past life, I had happily agreed. This time, I wouldn’t make the same mistake. “This is our offering from the Stone family. Given your family’s situation, I certainly wouldn’t have agreed in the past.” “But seeing your genuine affection for Brandon, I’ll overlook it.” She spoke with disdain, scrutinizing our home. Mom knew how deeply I adored Brandon and turned to ask for my opinion. “I already have someone I like,” I declared, looking Mrs. Stone dead in the eye. “And you clearly look down on me. We won’t stoop to marry into your family.” With that, I pointed to the door, gesturing for them to leave. She was taken aback by my attitude. After all, I had always been so meek and subservient around them before. They had always hated that I was too loud, too boisterous, like some commoner. But now, I didn’t care. I grabbed their pathetic blanket, marched upstairs, and threw it straight out the window. Mrs. Stone stamped her foot, pointing at me, her dignified ‘lady’ facade completely crumbled. “Who do you think you are? If it weren’t for your special ability, why would I ever let you into our family?” “Honestly, this place makes me sick; it reeks of… well, poverty. I can’t stand to be here for another minute!” Hearing that, Mom grabbed her arm and pushed her out of the house. Then, she turned to me, her eyes filled with heartache. “My darling, they’ve been treating you this way all along? Why didn’t you ever say anything?” In my previous life, after I died, the Stone family’s business plummeted. They actually came to demand answers from my parents, eventually driving them to suicide. This time, I would make them pay. On the TV, the news was broadcasting about Stone Corp. and Thorne Enterprises battling for a major contract. Last time, it was my marriage to Brandon that saved Stone Corp. from ruin. And Thorne Enterprises had gone bankrupt, their entire family forced to jump to their deaths because they couldn’t repay their debts. Looking at Julian Thorne’s handsome face on the screen, I decided to change the game. I hailed a cab and went straight to Thorne Enterprises. Coincidentally, I ran into Julian there. “I need to talk to you.” To my surprise, he showed no reaction, no ripple of emotion. He simply led me into his office. “I was born with an ability to attract wealth. Believe it or not, if you marry me, you’re guaranteed to win this bid.” “So, will you partner with me to take down Brandon Stone?” He didn’t hesitate for a second. He just nodded. “Alright. Let’s set the wedding for the day after tomorrow.” I looked up, meeting his gaze. In that moment, I knew. He had been reborn too. Chapter 2 Since he already knew, there was no need for further explanations. The wedding itself wasn’t important to me; a simple ceremony would suffice. My sole purpose was to make the Stone family suffer a fate worse than death. Julian dropped me off at my company, right as Brandon Stone happened to be passing by. Seeing me with his sworn enemy, Brandon immediately pointed a finger at me and started yelling. “Are you that desperate for a man? Just a few days ago, you were madly in love with me, practically obsessed! Now, after just a few days, you’ve found a new lover, huh?” Julian, seeing how aggressively Brandon was acting, immediately stepped in front of me, shielding me. Brandon then adopted a sneering expression. “Wow, you’re really not picky, are you? So desperate you’ll take my sloppy seconds?” Hearing that, I couldn’t take it anymore. I stepped forward and delivered a hard slap across his face. The force of the blow was considerable. Brandon stared at me, his face contorted with rage. Tiffany Roberts, seemingly out of nowhere, rushed over. Seeing the red mark on his face, she started to drip with sarcasm. “Oh, Sister, I know the news of our wedding must have upset you.” “But you shouldn’t hit people! My security guard’s son is only 40 this year; I could introduce him to you, if you’re interested.” I couldn’t stand her sickening act for another second. I snapped my hand back and slapped her too. Tiffany clutched her cheek and buried her face in Brandon’s chest, sobbing theatrically about the pain. “Apologize to Tiffany, right now! Are you deliberately trying to disfigure her so you can take her place at the altar? I’m telling you, it’s never going to happen. I will only marry her!” I rolled my eyes at them. What a pair of twisted psychos. “I’m getting married very soon too. You two just lock yourselves together and spare the rest of the world!” Brandon stared at me in shock as I took Julian’s hand and walked away. That evening, to my surprise, Brandon sent me a barrage of messages. [My wedding with Tiffany is the day after tomorrow. Don’t cause any trouble!] [Were you intentionally trying to make me jealous by going with Julian today? Forget it!] [Don’t bother me anymore…] It felt like our roles had suddenly reversed. Before, I was the one chasing after him, constantly texting and calling him. I never imagined I’d receive a non-stop text bombardment from him one day. It was utterly annoying. I just blocked him. Finally, the world was quiet. As fate would have it, Julian’s and my wedding was scheduled for the same day, at the same hotel, as Brandon’s. His face turned black when he saw me appear in a wedding gown. He pushed me into a corner, screaming hysterically. “I told you, today is my wedding with Tiffany, don’t you dare ruin it! Are you deliberately trying to embarrass my family by wearing that?” With that, he reached out, trying to rip off my wedding dress. I struggled relentlessly, but I was no match for his strength. My wedding dress was torn to shreds. He shoved me into a dark storage room and locked the door. “You can stay in there. No one is interrupting my wedding today!” The darkness in there, the claustrophobia, it brought back vivid memories of the basement I was locked in during my last life. Suddenly, painful memories flooded back, and my head began to throb violently. I hammered on the door, but everyone was at the wedding. No one was coming to save me. My phone had no signal down here. I felt myself fading, unable to hold on much longer. Just then, I heard Julian’s voice from the hallway. A wave of hope washed over me, and with my last ounce of strength, I called his name. The moment the door opened, I couldn’t hold on any longer and passed out. Chapter 3 When I opened my eyes again, I was lying in a hospital bed. Julian, seeing that I was awake, asked if I was still uncomfortable. Looking at the tenderness in his eyes, I found myself a little unaccustomed to it. His assistant, Leo, suddenly burst through the door. “Mr. Thorne, we won the bid! We won!” He quickly turned on the TV, and Julian’s eyes were alight with excitement. My phone wouldn’t stop ringing. I picked it up and saw it was Mrs. Stone. “Did you, you witch, reveal our confidential bidding price to the Thorne family? Do you have any idea that if we didn’t win this bid, we’re completely finished?” “Didn’t you say you loved Brandon? I’ll agree to you two being together! Just get that bid back for us, right now!” They truly were mother and son; their greedy faces were identical. Annoyed, I hung up on her. Not long after, Brandon, I don’t know how, found his way to my hospital room. Seeing Julian taking care of me, he charged in, intent on dragging me away. “What exactly did you tell Julian? Did you leak our bid price to them?!” He yanked me straight off the bed. I hit the floor with a thud, wincing in pain. Seeing my pain, Julian helped me up and then turned to his bodyguards, ordering them to remove Brandon. Tiffany, playing her innocent victim routine, stood at the doorway. “Sister, what did you tell Mr. Thorne? Last time, I saw you sneaking around outside Brandon’s study.” Brandon, hearing this, became even more furious. He stood at the hospital room doorway and cursed my entire family tree. He had never allowed me near his study, yet Tiffany was always free to come and go as she pleased. Suddenly, I remembered it had been the same in my previous life. Company documents were leaked. Brandon, believing Tiffany’s words, accused me and forced me to kneel on shards of glass for three days and nights. My knees were a mess, completely ruined. Later, it was found out that Tiffany’s subordinate was the real culprit, but he never apologized, only saying I should “be more careful next time.” I glanced over at Tiffany, who was watching with a smug, entertained look. “Brandon Stone, when have I ever been in your study? Why don’t you check Tiffany’s computer?!” At that, Tiffany’s expression shifted. Brandon immediately told Leo to check her computer. They stormed out of the hospital, still arguing noisily. After three days in the hospital, I couldn’t stand it anymore. Julian said that we would have a proper wedding ceremony once I was better. For now, I went home. Suddenly, there was an urgent knock on the door. I opened it to see Mrs. Stone, accompanied by a scowling Brandon. “Anya, I know you were just jealous, so I’ve specifically brought Brandon here to make amends.” “Brandon and Tiffany only had a wedding ceremony; they haven’t legally married yet. It doesn’t count as being married! As long as you agree to legally marry Brandon, I’ll promise you anything!” Brandon, hearing this, looked utterly annoyed. “Mom, do you really believe she’s some kind of money-magnet? Tiffany has a Master’s in finance! Is there any problem Tiffany can’t solve?!” Mrs. Stone, looking disgusted, told him to shut up and continued to plead with me, trying to appeal to my softer side. “Alright, if you agree to legally marry Brandon, half of Stone Corp.’s shares will be yours.” Brandon kept interjecting, calling her crazy. “Okay,” I said, a sly smile playing on my lips. “But I have one condition.” “Tomorrow is my wedding with Julian. If Brandon can livestream a ‘wedding raid’ in front of the entire city, then I’ll agree to marry him.” “Are you insane?! Mom, she’s only in it for the money! What is our family’s reputation? How can we do a livestream? It’s so embarrassing!” Mrs. Stone shot me a venomous look, then gritted her teeth and agreed. The next day, just as the wedding was about to begin, Brandon finally appeared. His livestream quickly went viral. He stood on the stage, holding a ring, and knelt before me, looking completely forced. “Marry me!” I gave a knowing smirk and pulled Julian closer. “No way, I’m not marrying you. I already have a husband.” Chapter 4 Brandon’s face instantly contorted. He threw the phone he was livestreaming with. “You dared to trick me! You conniving bitch, I’ll kill you!” Julian grabbed him by the collar.

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Julian and I had been tearing each other apart for six years, a constant war fought both in the open and in the shadows. His cruelty had driven my mother to fall, leaving her paralyzed. In return, I leaked confidential information that led to his bankruptcy. Everyone expected us to be locked in this cycle of torment forever. When we met again, he had already made a spectacular comeback, effortlessly fielding reporters’ questions. “Back in college, we all joked about finding love at 18, getting married by 25, and having a kid before 28. Julian, how far along are you?” “Almost engaged.” “Wow, you’re definitely ahead of the game!” I twirled the ring on my left hand. Funny, I’d already hit all three milestones myself. The girl who walked in was Julian’s fiancée. She was young, beautiful, and polite. She gave a polite nod to everyone, including me, before settling beside Julian. He didn’t look at her, though. His gaze was fixed solely on me. I could feel the probing glances from everyone around us, sharp and curious. In the past, Julian and I had created enough public drama to make our story a household name. I picked up my bag and started to leave. The two people next to me, however, clearly thought I was about to storm the stage and claw that girl’s face off. They instinctively held me back. I raised an eyebrow at them. “Ah, haha, Ava, where are you going?” “Restroom.” “Oh, haha, alright.” They chuckled nervously, settling back into their seats. Before I left, I overheard their whispered comments. “Two years, and Ava’s definitely reined in her temper.” “Seriously, I almost died of fright. Given her old personality, she’d have been up there clawing Chloe’s face to ribbons, wouldn’t she?” “Still can’t let him go after two years. She sees Chloe and immediately has to escape, can’t stand to be in the same room.” “Since nothing’s happening, tell them to pull back security.” Only when I stepped outside did I see the two rows of bodyguards standing by the door. They looked a little tense when they saw me. The one in charge tapped his earpiece, then motioned his team to stand down. I sat on the outdoor lawn, calling my daughter. She was telling me a new story she’d learned today. Julian’s interview also moved outside. We always found each other in a crowd. “Mr. Julian, regarding your previous bankruptcy, do you have anything to say to the person responsible?” He chuckled softly, looking at the camera. “I saw her today. Her eyes are still as beautiful as ever. If I get the chance, I’ll personally gouge them out and make them into a necklace for my fiancée.” Everyone present was stunned by his words. It was just a cruel threat, nothing out of the ordinary after six years of us hating each other’s guts. “So, did you take any revenge back then?” “Does crippling her mother count?” I casually swirled my drink, watching a children’s story on my phone, gently coaxing my daughter to sleep. My utterly nonchalant attitude clearly infuriated Julian. Or perhaps, between the two of us, no reason was needed to wish for the other’s agonizing demise. Julian sat down beside me, one finger pressing against my phone. He glanced at it, then let out a snicker. “Still pushing that ‘zen’ act, huh? Maybe a mindfulness podcast would be more your speed.” Julian gestured to the person behind him. “Chloe, this is Ava, our former class president from college.” Chloe smiled sweetly, extending her hand towards me. “Ava, it’s so lovely to meet you! I’m Chloe, Julian’s fiancée.” While they were all anticipating me to completely lose my mind, I simply offered a casual, “Hi there.”

Julian narrowed his eyes, as if he wanted to see right through me. Then he scoffed, a sneer twisting his lips, clearly believing I was overdoing the act. While Julian was being interviewed, Chloe pulled my hand. “You’re so gorgeous! I heard Julian’s ex-girlfriend, the one he dated for six years, is also here today. Do you happen to know who that is?” I couldn’t be bothered to decipher the sincerity behind her words. I pulled my hand away, a touch of my usual germaphobia kicking in, and wiped it with a tissue from my bag. Chloe looked down, her face flushing with embarrassment. “Ava, what’s with the act? You’ve been a total mess since college. Two years gone, and you’re still as fake as ever.” Leo slouched opposite me, radiating his usual arrogant idleness. “Leo, don’t say that! Ava isn’t like that.” “Chloe, you’ve only met her once, and she’s already got you fooled. I’ve known her for six years! If it weren’t for her, my brother wouldn’t have gone bankrupt!” “What do you mean?” “Chloe, still clueless? She’s my brother’s trashy ex-girlfriend.” Leo, with a defiant smirk, spat his gum in my direction. I used my bag to block it, then stood up and slammed the bag into Leo’s face. “Ava! What the hell was that?! Do you think I’m some commoner like you? I’m Leo Sullivan, the second son of the Sullivan empire! Who do you think you are, touching me? My brother will have your fingers chopped off, I swear!” “Your Sullivan family means nothing to me. If I could make him go bankrupt once, I can do it again.” This sudden, ugly confrontation completely derailed their interview. Julian rushed back. I looked down at the candy stain on my white bag. I had germaphobia. I held up the bag, looking him dead in the eye. “Ten grand.” “You seriously expect my brother to pay you ten grand for that? You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Looks like you haven’t been doing so hot these past two years, but your talent for seducing men sure has improved.” I raised the bag again, ready to strike, but Julian clamped down on my wrist. “What was the last thing you said?” “Ten grand.” “The one before that.” I thought for a moment. Unsure if that was the line he wanted. But if he wanted to hear it, then he would. “If I could make you go bankrupt once, I can do it again.” Julian smiled. It was the first genuine smile I’d seen on his face all night. “I prefer you when you drop the act. You’re much more… tolerable.” I pulled my hand free, my arm frozen mid-swing. But he actually leaned his face closer. “If that hand lands, I’ll make sure your mother’s upper body joins her lower one in paralysis.” I was so disgusted I didn’t want to touch him, but the moment he finished speaking, my palm connected solidly with his face. Leo rushed forward first. “She actually hit you! Are you insane?!” He grabbed my neck; I yanked his hair. A clear glass stool crashed against Leo’s body, blood streaming down his head. I picked up a shard of glass and slashed Julian’s arm. Julian, with absolute force, shoved me into the pool. We tumbled into the pool, our fight a chaotic, undignified mess. “I heard you’ve been taking care of your mother these past two years. Must be exhausting, right? How about I arrange a little ‘accident’ for her? Then you won’t have to be tired anymore.” “Your eyes are truly beautiful. Gouge them out and propose to Chloe with them; it would be stunning.” I didn’t have as many meaningless words as he did. I stared intensely at his chest and plunged the knife down. I wanted to see him try to act tough and talk big then. And then maybe, just maybe, I’d see him tremble and beg me to make it quick. But the scene I imagined didn’t happen. Chloe shielded him. Blood bloomed on her white dress. “What is wrong with you? Take your rage out on me! Why hurt her?! Don’t you know she has a condition, she can’t stop bleeding?!” I twisted the knife even deeper. “I do now.” “Ava! Don’t you dare involve family!” “Oh, so my mother deserved to be paralyzed then?”

Without a shred of mercy, I shoved Chloe into the pool. Then I wiped the blood from the knife onto Julian’s shirt. No one dared to step forward at the sudden turn of events. Julian called me a psycho, but his eyes… they were clearly alight with a disturbing thrill. “Psycho?” “Isn’t this exactly what you wanted?” He’d been pushing my buttons from the moment I arrived at this party. Julian and I had fought for so long that I’d even forgotten what it felt like when we were in love. On the day Julian proposed, I sold off his company’s top-secret files. On the day I agreed to marry him, he had someone disconnect my mother’s oxygen tank. That day, after his car accident, when he was being flown abroad for emergency treatment… He was hooked up to countless tubes. When he saw me, he ripped off his oxygen mask and bit savagely at my lips. “Ava, if I die, promise me you’ll marry me in our next life. Let’s not torture each other anymore, okay?” He slowly slumped, gasping for air, as I watched his hopeful eyes and shook my head. “There is no ‘next life’ for us.” At the hospital, Julian rolled up his sleeves. “We’re the same blood type. Take mine. If it’s not enough, drain me dry.” When he stumbled out of the blood donation room, he was swaying on his feet. He pressed on my shoulder, desperately wanting to prove himself. “Ava, do you see? I know how to love now.” “Bro, you’ve given too much blood. You’re not thinking straight. Let me help you.” Julian pushed Leo away. “Get lost!” “I’m not that out of it.” He looked at me again. “Do you see now? I *can* love someone deeply! I can pick anyone, *anyone*, and love them with all my heart! Don’t you get it?!” Red and blue police lights flashed across our faces. I pushed him towards Leo, then, with my usual germaphobia, brushed off the spot where he’d touched me. “The police are here. Time for statements. I’ll cover her medical bills.” “Ava, I’m giving up first. Let’s just let each other go.” I didn’t answer him. I had already let him go two years ago. At the precinct, we were placed in separate interrogation rooms. After giving my statement, I just sat there. The murmurs from the next room grew louder. “Bro, you can fool others, but you can’t fool me. Is this another one of your schemes? You know she won’t marry you, so you’re trying to force her hand, just to spite her.” “What about Chloe then? Oh, right, Chloe’s so obedient, she’d probably even be happy just being your mistress.” “I’m serious. But until she agrees, I won’t break it off with Chloe. She’s young; it would be too much for her if I suddenly did.” “Bro, she won’t hear us, will she?” After a long silence, Julian’s voice finally came through. “If she heard, she’d be in here in a flash, slapping us both without mercy. She’s not here, so she clearly can’t hear.” I found it amusing. I lowered my head and made a call. “Hey, come pick me up.” Less than ten minutes later, a police officer called my name. “Ava, your family is here for you.” “Okay, thank you.” “You can leave after you sign.” I walked out of the room, passing theirs. Leo scoffed. “Family? Doesn’t she only have her paralyzed mother?” “Probably a friend.” Leo suddenly couldn’t resist. He pushed the door open with a grin. “Officer, who came to pick up Ava just now?” “What business is that of yours? Go back inside.” “Officer, don’t be like that~” Leo stood on his tiptoes, peering around the hallway corner.

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After I was reborn. I clutched my ID and stormed into the bank. I made sure that savings card, the one ending in 666, was canceled, completely and irrevocably. In my past life, Gareth always claimed he was short on cash for his business, constantly borrowing my card to funnel money through. I was so blinded by love back then; I even set the password to his birthday. It wasn’t until the debt collectors kicked down my door that I saw my name listed as the emergency contact on all the loan agreements. Every deposit in my bank statement flowed straight into Gareth’s gaming accounts and luxury boutiques. I took the transfer records to confront him. He was there, arm around his new girlfriend, trying on a Rolex he’d just bought with *my* card. During our argument, he shoved me. The moment my head hit the sharp edge of the counter, I saw a message pop up on his phone: “Mr. Evans, the online loan applied for using Ms. Reed’s information has been approved.” Then, I opened my eyes again. The calendar on my office desk had just flipped to the day Gareth first asked to borrow my card. His SnapChat was still flashing on my phone: “Baby, can I borrow your card for a quick transfer? I’ll pay you back immediately.” Would I be that stupid this time? Gareth Evans, you just wait. You’re about to reap what you sow!

My fingertip hovered over the ATM screen for three seconds. Finally, I pressed confirm. The moment the machine swallowed that savings card, the one ending in 666, I heard my heart pound like it wanted to burst from my throat. My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Gareth. My fingertips tingled when his name flashed on the screen. Scenes from my past life suddenly flooded back. He stood with his new girlfriend in front of a luxury counter, the Rolex on his wrist glinting under the lights. It was bought with my card. I rushed over, tugging at his sleeve. The impatience in his eyes when he turned, it was like shards of ice. “Are you done making a scene?” He pushed me hard. I stumbled backward, my head hitting the sharp edge of the counter. Did it hurt? I don’t think so. My vision just suddenly went black. The last thing I saw was his phone screen glowing. The text message was etched into my mind, as clear as day: “Mr. Evans, the online loan applied for using Susan Reed’s information has been approved.” Susan Reed. That’s my name. My phone was still buzzing. The vibration grew more frantic. I took a deep breath and hit ‘decline’. As I turned to walk out, the glass doors of the bank lobby reflected my face. Pale, with dark circles under my eyes. It was the lingering image of being tormented by nightmares from my past life. But my eyes were bright. Bright, like a look forged in fire. Gareth Evans, this time. Everything you owe me, I’ll make you pay back, little by little, tenfold. Just as I stepped out of the bank, my phone rang again. This time, it was a landline. The caller ID showed it was from the city. I stared at the screen for two seconds. Then, I swiped to answer. “May I speak to Ms. Susan Reed?” A robotic female voice came from the other end. “This is Summit Financial. Mr. Gareth Evans has applied for a loan in your name, and we need your confirmation…” I hung up immediately. And blocked the number. My actions were swift, without a trace of hesitation. It was this exact call in my past life. Back then, I foolishly asked, “What loan? I don’t know anything about it.” The voice replied, “Mr. Evans provided your ID photo and bank card information. If you don’t confirm, it will affect your credit score.” I panicked. I called back, desperate to explain. And from that moment on, I fell into a bottomless pit. My phone went silent. The sunlight felt warm on my skin. I looked up at the sky. It was blindingly blue. Today is Friday. Gareth’s first request to borrow my card is still three hours away. The day he tricks me into signing that “guarantee contract” is seven days away. The day my parents are forced to flee overnight by debt collectors is three months away. Everything is still in time. I clutched the bank card cancellation receipt in my pocket. My knuckles were white. Gareth, the game has begun. This time, I set the rules. Chapter 2 Testing the Waters When I returned to the office, the front desk intern gave me a strange look. “Susan, you look terrible.” I forced a smile and said nothing. In the elevator, I ran into my department manager. He patted my shoulder. “Reed, make sure you stay on top of Gareth’s partnership deal this afternoon.” I nodded. But my fingertips were trembling. It was this very deal in my past life. Gareth said the client required a personal account for the transfer and asked to borrow my bank card for a day. “Just a quick transfer, I’ll return it immediately.” He smiled so gently then, his eyes sparkling like stars. I was tricked by those very stars. Tricked into losing everything. In the office, Gareth was already sitting at the cubicle opposite mine. He wore a white shirt today, sleeves rolled up to his forearms. Revealing the watch on his wrist. I bought that. Last year for his birthday, I saved three months’ salary to buy him an Omega. Now, looking at it, I only felt a sharp pang of irony. He looked up, saw me, and smiled. “Susan, you’re here.” His voice was still so pleasant. Like the low notes of a cello. I used to love listening to him talk. Now, it just grated on my ears. “Didn’t sleep well last night?” He raised an eyebrow, his gaze falling on the dark circles under my eyes. “No,” I replied, pulling out my chair and sitting down. I deliberately slowed my movements as I opened my laptop. I was waiting. Waiting for him to ask for the card. Sure enough, he tapped on my desk. “Oh, by the way, the client’s transfer is coming in this afternoon. Could I use your card for it?” Here it comes. My hand tightened around the mouse. A document popped up on the screen, a marketing plan I hadn’t finished revising last night. I stared at the screen, not looking at him. “My card was eaten by the machine yesterday.” My voice was perfectly calm. Gareth froze for a second. “Eaten?” “Yeah, the ATM glitched.” I turned to him, forcing a smile. “I just went to the bank to cancel it.” The smile on his face stiffened for half a second. Then, it quickly returned to normal. “That’s unlucky.” “Tell me about it,” I lowered my gaze, pretending to flip through files. “You’ll have to use someone else’s.” He didn’t speak. I could feel his gaze on me. Full of scrutiny. As if he was trying to figure out if I was lying. After a moment, he spoke again. “Alright, I’ll ask someone else.” His tone was unreadable. But I knew. He was suspicious. Good. It’s better he knows early that I’m not the same fool I used to be. At three in the afternoon. The client’s payment arrived. Gareth used another girl’s card from the same department. I watched him, phone in hand, smiling so tenderly at her. Exactly the way he used to smile at me. It felt like a needle pricked my heart. Not painful. Just a little numb. Her name was Maya Chen. In my past life, she was also scammed by Gareth. He took fifty thousand dollars from her. Later, she came to me in tears, saying Gareth had disappeared. At that time, I was too deep in my own troubles to help, I could only watch her cry. This life. I wouldn’t let her fall into that same trap. As I was leaving work, Maya called out to me. “Susan, Gareth said he’s taking me out to dinner tonight, to thank me for helping him out this afternoon.” My steps faltered. I turned back to her. The young woman’s eyes sparkled, clearly showing her interest in Gareth. “Why is he taking you to dinner?” I asked. “He said… he thinks I’m a really nice person.” Maya lowered her head, a little shy. I took a deep breath. “Maya,” I looked straight into her eyes, speaking each word slowly and deliberately, “Stay away from Gareth.” She was stunned. “Susan, you…” “Just listen to me,” I cut her off. “Don’t ask why.” With that, I turned and walked away. I didn’t look back. I didn’t know if she would listen. But I had said what I needed to say. Walking out of the office building, my phone rang. It was my mom. “Susan, are you coming home for dinner tonight? Your dad bought ribs.” The moment I heard her voice, my nose stung. Tears almost fell. In my past life, the last time my mom spoke to me was at the entrance of the nursing home. Her eyes red, she cursed me: “How could I have raised such an ungrateful monster?” Later, she fell ill. When I went to the hospital to see her, she kept her eyes closed, not even lifting an eyelid. “Mom,” I clutched my phone, my voice a little hoarse, “Yes, I’ll be home.” “Okay, then I’ll wait for you.” After hanging up, I stood by the roadside, watching the busy traffic. The sunlight stretched my shadow long. It felt so good. They were still here. Still calling me home for dinner. Gareth. See? This is what I’m protecting. If you dare to touch it again. I’ll make sure you regret it in the most painful way imaginable. Chapter 3 The Transfer When I pushed open the door, the aroma of ribs wafted towards me. My dad, wearing an apron, poked his head out of the kitchen. “You’re back?” “Yeah.” I changed my shoes and walked over. The gray hairs at his temples were fewer than I remembered. I felt a pang of relief. In my past life, he’d turned completely white overnight from the stress of debt collection calls. “Dad, let me help you.” “No, no, you just sit and rest.” He gently pushed me away. “Your mom’s in the living room prepping veggies.” My mom was on the couch, string beans in hand. She smiled when she saw me. “Tired? Have some water first.” A glass of cool water sat on the coffee table. I picked it up and took a sip. It was sweet. Just like it tasted when I was a child. During dinner, my dad suddenly brought up Gareth. “That young Gareth, he seems quite taken with you.” My hand, holding my fork, paused. “Dad, how do you know?” “Last time I went to your office building, I saw him bringing you a coffee.” My mom chimed in. “He’s a good-looking young man, and so polite.” My heart tightened. So, it started this early. “Mom, he and I are just colleagues.” “Colleagues?” My dad raised an eyebrow. “The way he looks at you, it’s more than just colleagues.” I put down my fork. “Dad, Mom, I need to tell you something.” They both looked at me. “Gareth, you two need to keep your distance from him in the future.” My mom looked puzzled for a moment. “What’s wrong? Did he offend you?” “No,” I shook my head. “I just don’t think he’s a very good person.” I couldn’t tell them that this man would later make it impossible for them to even live in their own home. “You, child,” my dad frowned, “You can’t just talk bad about people.” “I’m not talking bad,” I looked at them. “Just listen to me. Don’t have any dealings with him, especially when money is involved.” My mom thought for a moment, then nodded. “Alright, Mom will listen to you.” My dad didn’t say anything, but he didn’t object either. I felt a little more at ease. At least, they wouldn’t easily trust Gareth now. After dinner, I helped clear the table. My phone rang in the living room. It was Gareth. My mom answered. “Hello? Oh, you’re looking for Susan? She’s doing the dishes… Okay, I’ll tell her to call you back.” She hung up, then looked at me with a slightly suggestive expression. “Young Gareth is looking for you.” I dried my hands, picked up my phone. I walked out onto the balcony before calling him back. “Hello?” “Susan, you’re home?” Gareth’s voice was laced with a smile. “Yeah.” “Maya just told me you told her to stay away from me?” Of course. Maya had told him. I leaned against the railing, watching the streetlights below. “Yes.” “Why?” His voice deepened slightly. “No reason,” my tone was flat. “I just don’t think you’re good for her.” “Then who am I good for?” he suddenly asked. I paused for a second. Then chuckled. “Definitely not me.” Silence hung on the line for a few seconds. “Susan, you’re acting strange today.” “Am I?” I fiddled with the hem of my shirt. “Maybe I’m just tired.” “Tomorrow’s the weekend. Want to catch a movie?” He changed the subject. “No, I have plans tomorrow.” “What plans?” “None of your business.” With that, I hung up directly. And blocked him. The whole sequence of actions was smooth and effortless. In my past life, I was too concerned with his feelings, which made me easy to manipulate. This life, there’s no need for that. Just as I tucked my phone back into my pocket, I received a text message. It was from the bank. Alerting me that my savings card ending in 3791 had a deposit of five thousand dollars. I paused, confused. I’d only opened this card today. No one but the bank knew the number. Who would transfer me money? I tapped to open the transaction details. The sender was an unfamiliar name. But the memo read: “Gareth asked me to transfer this.” My heart lurched. Gareth. What was he up to now? Five thousand dollars. Not too much, not too little. Exactly the amount he first borrowed from me in my past life. Back then, he said his mom was sick and needed money urgently. Without a second thought, I transferred him my freshly paid salary. Only later did I find out he used that money to buy his new girlfriend a bag. I stared at the text message for a long time. My fingertips were icy cold. He was testing me. Testing to see if I was truly guarding myself against him now. If I transferred the money back, he’d know I had indeed changed. If I kept it… He’d think I was still the same fool he could easily control. I took a deep breath. Opened the transfer details. Found the sender’s bank account number. Then, I transferred the five thousand dollars back. The memo had only two words: “No loan.” After doing all that, I set my phone to silent. And returned to the living room. My mom was sitting on the couch, watching TV. She smiled when she saw me. “Who were you talking to for so long?” “Just a colleague.” I walked over and sat beside her. “Mom, how about we go for a picnic next week?” My mom’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that sounds wonderful! Your dad has been wanting to go for ages.” Seeing her smile warmed my heart. Gareth. No matter what tricks you try to pull. I won’t let you ruin my life again. Chapter 4 Evidence I woke up early on Saturday morning. Sunlight streamed through a gap in the curtains, casting a ribbon of light across the floor. I picked up my phone and opened SnapChat. Gareth’s name was still on my block list. A sense of calm settled over me. I got up, washed, and changed. Before I left, my mom handed me a bag of pastries. “Eat these on the way.” “Thanks.” I was going somewhere today. In my past life, Gareth had a secret hideout. An apartment he rented. He kept a lot of things there. Including the loan agreements he’d taken out using my information, and chat logs with other women. I only discovered the place by accident after he died, when I was clearing out his belongings. I remembered the address clearly, even now. It was in an old, rundown apartment complex on the outskirts of the city. It took forty minutes to get there by cab. An old man sat in the security booth by the complex entrance. He squinted at me and asked, “Who are you looking for?” “Gareth Evans,” I gave his name and the apartment number. The old man eyed me up and down, then waved me in without another question. It seemed Gareth brought different women here often. The old man was used to it. As I stepped into the stairwell, a musty smell wafted over me. Paint was peeling off the walls, and the stair railing was rusty. I gripped the railing and walked up. Third floor. Apartment 302. The door was closed. I stood in front of it and took a deep breath. In my past life, I had to pry the lock open. This time, I came prepared. I took a set of keys from my bag. I had them specially made yesterday. In my past life, I’d found Gareth’s spare key for that apartment hidden in the fire hose box by the door. And sure enough, I found it there again. The key slid into the lock, a gentle turn. *Click.* The door opened. A faint scent of perfume mixed with cigarette smoke hit me. Exactly the same as I remembered. The apartment was small, just a living room and one bedroom. The decor was simple. But everywhere, there were women’s things. Lipsticks, earrings, dresses. Clearly, more than one woman had been here. I walked into the living room, my gaze falling on the coffee table. A laptop sat on it. It was Gareth’s. In my past life, it was on this very laptop that I found all the evidence of his crimes. I walked over and opened the laptop. It required a password. I typed in my birthday. Wrong. Then I tried his birthday. Also wrong. I frowned. In my past life, his computer password was my name spelled out. Had he changed it? A flicker of panic. If I couldn’t open the laptop, I wouldn’t find the evidence. I took a deep breath, trying hard to recall. How did I open it in my past life? I think it was… I tried Maya Chen’s name. The screen lit up. The password was correct. My heart gave a sharp lurch. He actually used Maya’s name as his password. Did that mean he was truly serious about Maya? Or was it just a new novelty for him? No time to think about that. I clicked open a folder. Inside, there were indeed many things. A folder named “Contracts.” I opened it. It was full of scanned loan agreements. The “Borrower” field clearly showed my name. Susan Reed. The emergency contact was my parents’ phone number. The date was one month before I was hounded by debt collectors in my past life. There were many other women’s names too. Maya’s was among them. Loan amounts ranged from five thousand to fifty thousand. My hand was trembling. This evidence was more than enough to ruin him. I took out my phone and started taking pictures. One by one, making sure they were perfectly clear. Then, I backed up these photos to the cloud. And sent them to another one of my email accounts. After doing all that, I opened another folder. Inside were screenshots of chat logs. Gareth’s flirtatious conversations with different women. He said pretty much the same things to every woman. “You’re the only one for me.” “Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll introduce you to my parents.” “Those other women? They’re just casual flings.” My stomach churned as I read them. My past self had truly been blind. To believe such garbage. I kept scrolling down. And found chat logs with an unknown number. The contact was saved as “Mr. King.” “Gareth, that loan for Susan Reed needs to be repaid.” “Mr. King, please give me a few more days, I’ll have the money soon.” “Don’t play games with me. If you don’t pay up, I’ll go to her parents.” “No, no, Mr. King, I’ll definitely pay.” The date was three days before I was first hounded by debt collectors. So, he knew all along that the collectors would come. But he didn’t tell me a single thing. Leaving me completely in the dark. Even watching as I was pushed to the brink by the debt collection company. Tears suddenly fell. Splashing onto the keyboard. Spreading a small wet stain. I quickly wiped my tears away. Can’t cry. This wasn’t the time for tears. I took pictures of these chat logs, too, one by one. My fingertips brushed the keyboard, accidentally knocking a photo frame on the corner of the desk. The glass shattered on the floor. In the photo, Gareth had his arm around a woman, smiling brightly. I knew that woman. She was our company’s director. Lydia Hayes. Thirty-five, divorced, with a lot of connections. In my past life, after I was fired, I found out Gareth had already hooked up with her. Using the money he’d scammed from me. To buy her bags, buy her a car. It was truly ironic. I knelt down, carefully picking up the photo. And slipped it into my bag. This was also evidence. Suddenly, the sound of keys turning came from outside the door. My heart leaped into my throat. Someone was back. Was it Gareth? Or another woman? No time to think. I quickly shut down the laptop, restoring everything to how it was. Then, I hurried into the bedroom. And hid inside the closet. The closet was filled with women’s clothes. The perfume scent was even stronger in here. I covered my mouth and held my breath. The door opened. Footsteps entered the apartment. A man’s voice. He was on the phone. “Got it, Mr. King, I’ll definitely pay that money back next week… Don’t worry, Susan Reed, I’ve got her handled… She’s still head over heels for me…” It was Gareth. My nails dug deeply into my palms. Head over heels? He really had the nerve to say that. “Alright, that’s it for now, someone’s here.” He hung up. Then, a woman’s voice. “Who was that?” It was Lydia. “Nothing, just debt collectors.” Gareth’s voice was impatient. “Debt collectors again?” Lydia’s voice sounded a little worried. “How much do you even owe?” “Not much, I’ll pay it back soon.” Gareth reassured her. “By the way, could you lend me some first?” “Didn’t I just transfer you fifty thousand last time?” “That’s not enough.” “Gareth, what are you doing?” Lydia’s voice rose. “If you keep this up, we’re done.” “No, don’t say that, Lydia.” Gareth’s voice softened. “I’m working on a huge project, you know? Once it’s successful, I’ll pay you back ten times, a hundred times over.” “What project?” “That… I can’t talk about it yet.” “I think you’re just scamming me.” “I’m not…” Next, there was a sound of a struggle. Then, Lydia’s scream. “Let go! Gareth, you’re hurting me!” “Lydia, just help me one more time, just one.” Gareth’s voice was desperate. “I don’t have any more money!” “How can you not have money? Didn’t you just sell your apartment?” “That’s for my son’s tuition!” “Just lend it to me for a bit, I’ll pay you back as soon as I have money.” “You wish!” “Then don’t blame me for being unpleasant.” Gareth’s voice turned harsh. I trembled in the closet. In my past life, how could I have not seen he was this kind of person? Manic, obsessive, ruthless for money. The commotion outside grew louder. The sound of something shattering. And Lydia’s cries. I pulled out my phone, switched it to record. And extended it slightly through the closet gap. Trying to record as clearly as possible. After about ten minutes. The outside grew quiet. Only Lydia’s sobs could be heard. “Gareth, you animal!” “The money, I can give you.” Gareth’s voice was calm. “But you have to do something for me.” “What?” “Help me get Susan Reed transferred to the branch office.” My heart plummeted. He wanted to transfer me? Why? “Why transfer her to the branch office?” Lydia asked, confused. “She’s been a little disobedient lately.” Gareth’s voice grew cold. “Keeping her far from me will make her easier to control.” “What do you want to do to her?” “Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t.” Gareth cut her off. “Just tell me, will you help me or not?” Lydia was silent for a long time. “Okay, I’ll help you.” “That’s more like it, Lydia.” Gareth’s voice turned gentle again. “Once my plan succeeds, I’ll definitely reward you handsomely.” “No need. I’ll transfer the money to you, and from now on, we’re even.” “Lydia…” “Don’t call me.” Footsteps sounded. Lydia left. The door slammed shut with a heavy bang. Only Gareth was left in the apartment. He seemed to be drinking. The clink of bottles. Then, his soliloquy. “Susan Reed… You think canceling your card made a difference?” “You think telling Maya to stay away from me means I have no options?” “So naive.” “Your ID copy, your bank card information, I have all of it here.” “You want to get rid of me?” “Dream on.” “This life, you’ll still be my obedient ATM.” My heart sank, little by little. So that was it. He had already prepared a backup plan. He still had my information. Did that mean everything I did today was for nothing? No. I can’t give up. I still have the evidence. I recorded his conversation with Lydia. I found his loan contracts. These were all proof of his crimes. Gareth. Just you wait. I won’t let you get away with this. After a while longer. Gareth seemed to have left. The apartment was completely silent. I stayed hidden in the closet for a long time. Only daring to come out when I was sure he was really gone. The apartment was a mess. A vase lay shattered on the floor. The table was overturned. There were also bloodstains on the floor. Was it Lydia’s? A chill ran through me. I walked into the living room, grabbed my bag. And hurried out. The moment I closed the door, I heard my own heart pounding. Like a drum. When I reached downstairs. The sunlight was blinding. But I felt utterly cold. My phone vibrated in my pocket. It was a text message. From the company HR. “Susan Reed, the company has decided, after deliberation, to transfer you to the branch office for a new assignment. Please report on Monday.” It came. Gareth’s moves were swift. The branch office was in a neighboring city. Over two hundred miles away. He wanted to move me away from my parents. Then, he could freely use my information to take out loans. Leaving me no one to turn to, nowhere to go. He wished. I looked at the text message. A cold smile played on my lips. Gareth. You want to play games. I’ll play along. Transfer me to the branch office, you say? Fine. I’ll just have to see. What kind of tricks you can pull. Chapter 5 The Transfer Order It was afternoon by the time I got home. My mom saw me and gasped.

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On the eve of our new song’s release, I vanished, taking the lyrics with me. Julian called me 999 times. “We said we’d get married after this song dropped. What is this, then?” “Someone saw the lyrics online. Are you trying to dump me?” He didn’t know. I was in prison, accused of accidentally killing a thug while intervening to help someone. Both my ears had been pierced, leaving me deaf. I couldn’t hear a sound. I signed to a guard, pleading for them to send a message on my behalf. 【I don’t want to be a burden to you anymore. I’m going solo.】 When I saw Julian again, he was the owner of a major record label. After the holidays, the sanctuary was bustling with visitors. Important clients were coming to seek blessings for a new venture, so I quickly pulled on my yellow vest to help. I’d only been out of prison for two months. No one would hire an ex-con like me. Luckily, Father Michael took me in as a volunteer, providing food and lodging, plus a modest stipend of a few hundred dollars a month. I was saving diligently, hoping to afford a better cochlear implant. I looked up and saw Julian. He hadn’t changed. He was still the man I deeply loved in my memories, instantly overlapping with the present. “This place is so stuffy, let’s just donate and go!” The girl beside him looked impatient, fanning her hand in front of her nose. “Didn’t you say you wanted the new album to be a smash hit?” Julian playfully tapped her nose. “I told you about the traditions and superstitions of this industry. Don’t blame fate if things go south!” His voice was patient and gentle. His eyes were practically glued to her. “Fine, I’ll just get my blessings and leave.” “You need three incense sticks… I’m talking to you, are you deaf?” It wasn’t until the girl raised her voice that I noticed the anger in her brows. I hurried to take out the incense, lit it, and handed it over. Julian didn’t even glance my way. Was it my current appearance that kept him from recognizing me, or was he simply unwilling to have anything to do with a betrayer like me? “Ah!” A scream shattered the air, and before I could even react, a slap sent me sprawling to the ground. “Are you trying to burn me alive?” The girl clutched her red hand. I fumbled to pick up my old, broken cochlear implant and put it on, bowing repeatedly in apology. “It hurts so much.” The girl leaned into Julian’s embrace. “I have a photoshoot tomorrow for promotions. What if it leaves a scar?” Julian’s eyes were filled with tenderness as he gently blew on her hand. “It’s okay, baby. When we get home, I’ll apply my special scar-fading cream. If it does scar, we’ll just get a tattoo to cover it. I’ll get one with you.” He rolled up his sleeve and patted his arm. The tattoo of my name, “Cassie,” was gone. Once, I’d cut my arm badly on glass, and the doctors warned it might scar. Julian knew how much I loved wearing sleeveless tops, so he researched old remedies and made a special scar cream. Even with nightly applications, a faint scar remained. He, worried I’d be upset, suggested I get his name, “Julian,” tattooed on my arm, and he’d get “Cassie” on his. Now, my last trace had been erased. His exclusive affection, once mine, now belonged to someone else. I tugged at my burned sleeve, desperate to hide my embarrassment. My cochlear implant seemed to be damaged again. I watched their lips move, but I couldn’t quite hear their voices. I just kept tapping it. “I’m talking to you!” The girl shoved me hard. “Is ‘sorry’ all you’ve got? A volunteer, listening to music with headphones on duty?” Julian glanced at me, his expression distant and cold. Father Michael rushed over to intervene, but I stopped him. “I’m sorry.” I bowed deeply again. “If you want to get even, you can burn me back.” I exposed my un-tattooed arm and straightened my back. “Forget it.” Julian wrapped an arm around the girl’s shoulder. “No need to waste time on insignificant people. It wouldn’t look good if the media caught us.” He leaned in and whispered something to her, and she immediately blushed, her tears turning into a smile. “Okay, I’ll wait for you in the car.” Even her glare at me softened a little. Julian pulled out a check and waved it. “Father Michael knows, Starlight Records donates the most to this sanctuary every year.” “I hope you’ll be more discerning when hiring volunteers. Don’t let people who slack off and mooch off you work here, understand?” Father Michael looked at me with a pained expression, then nodded. It was then I understood the emotion in Julian’s eyes. It wasn’t love, not even hatred. It was a profound disgust that he could never forgive. He was the kind of gentle person who’d just brush himself off and say he was fine, even if he got knocked over… His hatred for me—wasn’t that exactly what I’d hoped for five years ago when I made my decision? Cassie, you’re just a deaf ex-con. What more are you hoping for?

Father Michael, in his kindness, allowed me to stay in the dorm until the new volunteer started. I began to pack my luggage. Two blocks from the dorm was the dark alley where my fate had been rewritten five years ago. It all started with how Julian and I met. We’d met at a bar, kindred spirits. I carried my guitar, accompanying him as we chased our dreams in New York. He played keyboard and composed, I played guitar and wrote lyrics. After countless rejected resumes and failed songwriting competitions, we spent a year painstakingly perfecting a masterpiece. We showed it to a producer we knew, who said it had a high chance of becoming a massive hit. Julian promised me that no matter the song’s reception, he would marry me as soon as it dropped. That night, I was returning to our studio with the final revised lyrics. Passing through the dark alley, I suddenly heard a faint cry for help. I immediately recognized Chloe’s unique way of expressing herself—Julian’s sister, who had autism. I grabbed an iron rod from the alley entrance and charged in. “Let her go! Or I’ll call the police!” Chloe’s clothes were disheveled, and she looked at me with pleading eyes. “Well, isn’t this convenient? One for each of us.” There were two burly men. Outnumbered and outmatched, I could only shield Chloe behind me. As they grinned menacingly and lunged at me, I frantically swung the weapon in my hand. Suddenly, a scream ripped through the air as one of the men slipped. The iron rod pierced his chest, and blood gushed out. Seeing that someone was killed, the surviving assailant fled the scene. Chloe collapsed from exhaustion. Her mother received an automatic alert message from Chloe’s phone and arrived even before the police. She knelt before me. “Cassie, I know you’re a good girl.” “Chloe has autism. Her life is already difficult enough. If her reputation is stained, her life will be ruined forever.” “I’ll take her away. When the police arrive, please don’t mention her presence.” Julian and Chloe had lost their father at a young age and were raised by their mother. Mrs. Davies was right; Chloe was emotionally unstable due to her autism and unsuitable to testify in court. I didn’t think much of it then, believing I was simply intervening to help, and that the man had just accidentally slipped. But I never imagined that the man I’d accidentally killed was Blake, a notorious playboy from a powerful family in the city. On my very first day in prison, a fellow inmate pierced my eardrums, leaving me deaf. When I woke up in the infirmary, a guard handed me a phone. It showed 326 missed calls from Julian. And a stack of messages. One voice message was from Mrs. Davies. “Cassie, I’m so sorry. I can’t let Chloe testify. That family is too powerful for us to cross. I hope you can forgive me.” “As for Julian, I made up a lie to deceive him.” “If Julian knew the truth, with his temper, he’d blow things out of proportion. I hope you can willingly break up with him.” “If you want compensation, I’ll sell everything we own to give it to you… I just want my two children to live safe and happy lives.” I touched my bandaged ears. The doctor said my hearing was severely damaged, with only 5% left. I would have to live with a cochlear implant for the rest of my life. The beautiful sounds of this world would be forever lost to me. How could I, like this, continue to chase musical dreams with Julian? So, I asked a guard to help me send a message. I used the most decisive method to become a betrayer, to vanish completely from Julian’s life. From then on, I served my sentence peacefully until my release. I heard Julian left New York not long after. He returned five years later. He became the owner of a record label, and I was an ex-con scorned by everyone. I just never expected to see him again at a production company after leaving the sanctuary. I’d finally found a company willing to accept my lyrics, so I went to apply with my resume. I waited in the reception room for a long time when the door suddenly opened. A familiar face—it was Marcus, our old bandmate who’d chased dreams with us in New York. “Well, if it isn’t the infamous plagiarist, Cassie! This lyric sheet of yours—you didn’t scam it from some gullible fool, did you?” “Julian, you’re here. Take a look for me, will you?”

“Marcus, who’s here?” A couple, arm-in-arm, walked out of the recording studio. Julian stiffened when he saw me. “Aren’t you that girl from the sanctuary the other day…?” Stella frowned slightly. Marcus smiled at me. “Let me introduce you. This is Stella, Julian’s heavily promoted new singer and his current girlfriend.” “And as for this one…” He looked at me meaningfully. “Julian’s former bandmate, the notorious plagiarist, Cassie.” The word “plagiarist” hit me like a sledgehammer to the chest. I looked up and saw a twisted amusement playing on Julian’s face. “So, it’s you.” Stella sneered. “Julian’s downfall was all because of you… If I’d known, I would have slapped you twice more at the sanctuary!” “The sanctuary?” “Cassie, have you changed your ways?” Marcus scoffed. “Don’t tell me you’re repenting your sins and thinking of becoming a nun?” “No, I was just volunteering there…” Before I could finish, Stella’s palm connected with my face. Julian grabbed her tightly, a flicker of panic in his eyes. “Don’t hold me back! I want to get revenge for you!” She was furious. As I bent down to pick up my cochlear implant, she stomped down. “Still listening to music? Is it the song you stole?” Stella lifted her foot, cruelly crushing my last shred of dignity. My cochlear implant shattered into pieces under her shoe. Julian watched with a twisted amusement, not saying a word to stop her. But then he suddenly bent down and grasped Stella’s foot. “Does it hurt?” He used his hand to brush away the fragments of my cochlear implant, his expression one of utter disgust. “Why get so angry? It’s not worth it to bother with someone like this.” Someone like this? Yes, I was a plagiarist, an ex-con, and deaf. My cochlear implant was destroyed, but even without ears, I could discern the overflowing tenderness in Julian’s voice. After five years of being deaf, I had long since learned to read lips. “It doesn’t hurt… I just feel bad about these shoes. You had them custom-made for me from abroad…” Stella’s face was filled with regret. “It’s okay, I’ll order you another pair.” Julian casually tossed the broken high heel into the trash. He swept Stella into his arms and carried her away, not even sparing a glance for me. I stared intently at the trash can, wondering how many pairs of cochlear implants that one pair of shoes could buy. Marcus threw the lyric sheet at me. “Our small studio can’t afford to be associated with an acclaimed plagiarist like you… Take your stuff and get out. Don’t you dare linger around Julian again…” I bent down to pick up my shattered dignity scattered on the floor. My cochlear implant was utterly destroyed. No matter how I tried to piece it together, it could never be restored, just like my image in Julian’s heart. He hated me so much. I sighed softly, a bitter smile playing on my lips as I entered the elevator. A hand blocked the elevator door. Julian backed me into a corner, his gaze piercing. “Can’t you take it?” I turned my face away. “Aren’t you supposed to be so resilient?” he scoffed. “Running off with our love song to a sugar daddy… Didn’t your sugar daddy keep you well-hidden? Why are you showing your face here?” “That’s right, he got bored and dumped me.” I lifted my head and smiled. “So I’m really broke now. Is that answer satisfactory, Mr. Davies?” Julian’s lips pressed into a tight line, his gaze deepening. “Why don’t you give me some money? Consider it payment for the three years I spent chasing dreams with you… I can give you anything you want, even my body…” I grabbed Julian’s hand and pressed it to my chest, but he flung my hand off. “Shameless!” His breath hitched, and he turned his face away, trembling. “I wouldn’t touch a body as dirty as yours.” “Tomorrow morning at eight, at The Blue Note. We need a guitarist for the new song release… Fifty thousand for one night. Will you come?” “Yes.” At seven-thirty, I arrived at The Blue Note early. The decor was identical to where Julian and I first met. Only the neon sign outside and the banner above the stage were different.

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My father’s illegitimate daughter, Serena, needed a kidney transplant. And out of our entire family, only I was a match for her. Julian Sterling, my fiancé, usually so composed and refined, had a desperate plea etched across his face. “Astrid, the doctors say you’re her only hope. Serena… she’s fading fast. Please, save her. I’m begging you.” I chuckled softly. “Alright, I’m willing to donate a kidney to her. But I have conditions.” “Our engagement is off. You marry her.” A surge of wild ecstasy instantly bloomed across Serena’s pale face. Their eyes locked in a gaze brimming with affection. I watched, cold and detached. Take it. My kidney, my life, take it all. Reborn into this life, I’d like to see if you’ll still thank me for my ‘generosity’ today. … I looked at Julian. A wave of immense relief washed over him. “Astrid, thank you.” My father let out a long breath, walking over to pat my shoulder, his voice filled with feigned comfort. “Astrid, you’re finally understanding things. We are family, after all, and Serena will never forget this. Don’t worry, even if you and Julian break off your engagement, your father won’t treat you poorly.” Family? I scoffed inwardly. Ever since my mother passed away, and he brought that woman and her daughter into our home, I haven’t had a family. From her hospital bed, Serena squeezed out a few timely tears, her voice weak as she spoke. “Sister, it’s all my fault. If it weren’t for me, you and Julian never would have…” “Stop!” I raised a hand to cut off her performance. “Since a decision has been made, let’s skip the pointless theatrics. Julian, our engagement was set by our grandfathers. It needs to be formally dissolved with both families’ elders present.” “Get that done before the surgery.” Julian nodded quickly. “Okay, I’ll contact my grandfather right away.” Watching the three of them, so visibly relieved, even beginning to discuss Julian and Serena’s future as if I were invisible, I turned and walked out of the hospital room, a bitter taste in my mouth. In my previous life, I was trapped in the same moral bind. But I refused. I clung desperately to the engagement, clinging to the title of “Miss [family name, removed to avoid Chinese surname implied]’s daughter,” a status that existed in name only. Mom was gone, the family shattered, so I had to hold onto something, right? Even if it was just a faint hope, a title. How ridiculous. I knew perfectly well that in my father’s eyes, I was nothing compared to his precious daughter by his ‘true love.’ Julian’s love was never mine, Serena was his true north, his distant star. But I was stubbornly unwilling to let go… The result? I lost everything. They bribed the doctors, drugged me, stole my kidney, and the incision was crudely stitched. Julian held my hand, hypocritically promising to compensate me for the rest of my life. Later, I married him as I had wished. After the wedding, my body, ravaged by the surgery, grew worse with each passing day. Meanwhile, Serena, radiant and glowing, stood by Julian’s side. They were a picture of perfect harmony, a true power couple. On my deathbed, Serena stood by my bed, smiling. “Sister, just go peacefully. I’ll make sure to put the family’s assets to good use for you!” Until the moment I closed my eyes, all I could think was, *Why?!* Why do good, kind people meet such an end? And why do the wicked, those who cause so much harm, live so comfortably in the sunlight? Perhaps, there is no justice in this world. If so, this time, I’ll forge my own path. Everything Serena so desperately wants? I’ll give it to her. 2 Within three days, the elders of the Sterling and [Father’s family name, removed] families gathered. Mr. Sterling looked at me, his face etched with guilt. “My dear, our Sterling family has wronged you.” I offered a faint smile, placing the exquisite jade pendant—a family heirloom of emperor green jade, given as our engagement token—on the table. “Mr. Sterling, it’s not your fault. A forced union never truly thrives. I wish Julian and Serena a lifetime of happiness.” My father chimed in with a saccharine smile. “Yes, the children’s choice. As elders, we should simply bless them.” He was practically salivating at the thought of Serena marrying into wealth. From then on, his favorite daughter would live a life of comfort and privilege, and he would gain a powerful ally in his business dealings. The engagement was smoothly dissolved. The next day, I was wheeled into the operating room. Just before the anesthesia took full effect, Serena was rolled in beside me. She looked at me, her eyes gleaming with ill-concealed triumph and provocation. Julian stood beyond the sterile glass, his gaze fixed on Serena, filled with tender concern and adoration. I closed my eyes, allowing myself to drift into the darkness. In the darkness, I saw my mother. She was as gentle as I remembered, swinging me on a swing, laughing. She whispered to me, “My sweet girl, promise me you’ll always be happy.” Mom, I’m sorry. I don’t think… I can do that anymore. When I woke again, the dream shattered. A searing pain from the incision violently yanked me back to reality. A wave of weakness washed over me. From the doorway, I heard my father and Julian talking in hushed tones. “Serena’s surgery was a success, the doctors say she’s recovering well,” Julian’s voice was filled with relief. “That’s wonderful, truly wonderful!” My father entrusted Serena to Julian. “Julian, I’m entrusting Serena to your care from now on!” “Don’t worry, Richard, I will.” Julian’s voice paused, a hint of hesitation. “By the way, Astrid… what about her?” “Her? Just hire a nurse. Here’s my card, take it. The PIN is Serena’s birthday.” “The money in there is my compensation to her.” Footsteps receded, and the hospital room door gently pushed open. It was Julian. He walked to my bedside, silently placing the bank card on my nightstand. I slowly opened my eyes, my blurred vision meeting his complex gaze. “Astrid…” I looked at the card, a weak, broken scoff escaping my lips. “Take it away.” My voice was hoarse. Julian’s brows furrowed. He reached out as if to check my forehead. “Don’t be childish, your health is what matters.” I sharply turned my head, dodging his touch. The movement pulled at my incision, making me gasp in pain, cold sweat instantly beading on my forehead. “Don’t touch me!” I gritted out. “Julian, who is this act for?” He froze, his hand suspended in mid-air. “I’m not…” “What you are, no longer matters.” I closed my eyes, no longer looking at him, and said, exhausted, “Get out.” After a long moment, I heard a faint sigh, then footsteps receding. I picked up my phone and dialed a number I knew by heart. “Uncle Arthur, my surgery is done.” On the other end, a man’s steady, yet furious voice replied, “Send me your address, I’m coming right away. That scumbag, Richard!” My uncle, Arthur, was my mother’s only brother, and one of the most respected and feared legal minds in the entire city. After my mother’s death, he constantly tried to take me in, but I stubbornly stayed with my father’s family, clinging to that ridiculous obsession. In my previous life, I never dared to contact him until I was dying, afraid of being a burden. This time, I wouldn’t be so foolish. 3 Half an hour later, Uncle Arthur, accompanied by his assistant and two bodyguards, burst into my hospital room. Seeing my pale face, his eyes immediately welled up, and his fists clenched, knuckles cracking. “How dare they! How *dare* they do this to you!” I offered a weak smile. “Uncle Arthur, don’t be angry. I volunteered.” “You…” Uncle Arthur was too furious to speak, finally letting out a long sigh. “You foolish child. Never mind. Come home with your uncle. No one will ever dare to bully you again!” I nodded, handing him the bank card from my nightstand. “Uncle Arthur, can you check how much money is on this card for me? Then help me get discharged. I don’t want to stay here for another minute.” “Absolutely!” My uncle’s efficiency was unmatched. The card held exactly five million. My father probably thought my kidney was worth precisely that much. I had Uncle Arthur transfer all the money out, then anonymously donate it to a children’s education fund in a rural area. Astrid, I don’t want his dirty money! While processing my discharge, we ran into my father and Julian in the hallway, who were on their way to visit Serena. Seeing Uncle Arthur, my father’s face immediately fell. “Arthur? What are you doing here?” My uncle snorted, shielding me behind him. “If I didn’t come, would I just watch you wolves devour my niece alive?!” “Richard, my sister must have been blind to marry you! She shouldn’t have ‘lifted’ you from obscurity; trash belongs in the trash!” Yes, Mom, you shouldn’t have. My mother, once a vibrant socialite from a prominent family, lived a life of glittering indulgence, adored by all. Yet she fell for my father, then a poor young man. She painstakingly helped him rise to his current position, while she herself, through endless toil, ruined her health and lost her vivacity, her spark. Her best years were spent on my father. All she got in return was his betrayal; only then did she realize he had never loved her, only wanted to climb the social ladder using her. My mother’s later years were spent in endless disappointment and illness, her life extinguished, like a flickering candle. “You!” My father, hit where it hurt, trembled with rage. Julian frowned, stepping forward, his tone carrying a hint of reproach. “Astrid, how can you be so reckless? The doctors said you need rest. How can you leave the hospital?” I looked up at him, my gaze calm. “Mr. Sterling, we have no connection anymore. My affairs are none of your concern. You should spend more time worrying about your fiancée, who is using *my* kidney.” With that, I turned away from him and said to Uncle Arthur, “Uncle, let’s go.” My uncle helped me, and surrounded by bodyguards, we walked out with our heads held high. Leaving my father and Julian, their faces a mix of green and white. It wasn’t until I arrived at the villa Uncle Arthur had prepared for me that I finally truly relaxed. Every plant and tree here was identical to the old estate where my mother had lived. “Astrid, focus on recovering. I’ll handle the company affairs for you,” Uncle Arthur said gravely, tucking me into bed. “Uncle,” I took his hand, “I also need your help collecting some information.” In my previous life, I only learned a crucial secret just before I died. This time, I intended to strike first. 4 Soon, it was time for Serena and Julian’s engagement ceremony. I walked arm-in-arm with Uncle Arthur, making a grand entrance into the banquet hall.

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The perennial singleton, Serena, was asked on a reality show: “Artists your age are already married with children. Why are you still single?” Serena smiled faintly: “Because the man I love already has a devoted wife.” “Oh my god! Who did he marry?!” Serena glanced at me, also a guest on the show. My social media was instantly flooded: “How does it feel to be a homewrecker?” “Are you happy about ruining someone’s life?” “Are you really not going to let your husband go?” I looked at Liam Miller, the investor sitting in the audience: “Honey, they’re asking if I should let you go.” “Oh my god! Serena, the man you love is… Mr. Miller!” Serena darted a glance at Liam, then quickly lowered her eyes, a hint of reluctance in them. The live comments were going wild: 【OMG, she’s so jealous! My heart aches for her!】 【Jade’s triumphant smirk, flaunting Mr. Miller right in front of Serena – isn’t she just rubbing salt in the wound?】 【Um… but Mr. Miller *is* Jade’s husband, right?】 【The commenter above defending a homewrecker? Must be one herself!】 … I simply glanced at Liam, unfazed. Three years of marriage, and no one had ever questioned our relationship. He insisted on investing in any reality show I joined, just in case I was targeted by the crew. If he couldn’t accompany me, he’d double his investment. But as I really looked at Liam, I found his gaze fixed on Serena. His eyes were complex, holding an emotion I couldn’t decipher. My hand, propped against my chin, subtly dropped away. How could I have forgotten? Serena was the one Liam loved first. Back then, Serena was so fresh and ethereal. At an age when other girls would swoon if Liam merely looked their way, only she would disdainfully toss his gifts in the trash, muttering: “Entitled jerk.” Even when she reluctantly agreed to date him, she broke up with him abruptly on the day of our college entrance exams: “You have a bright future ahead. I won’t be joining you on that path.” Liam completely shut down on the spot. It was me, with a face strikingly similar to Serena’s, who approached him: “If she won’t keep you company, I will. I can play any role you want, just pay me.” I became Serena’s stand-in. I made a killing by the side of the wealthy heir. When the Millers demanded he marry, I packed my bags to leave. But he grabbed my hand. The man who had been withdrawn for years declared firmly: “I want her.” I touched his forehead: “Do you even know who I am?” “Jade.” “Not Serena?” He gritted his teeth: “Jade, it’s always been Jade.” I leaned in closer: “Who is Jade to you?” “My wife.” After helping the scion overcome his withdrawal, the Miller family immediately accepted me as their daughter-in-law. Everyone said I was lucky, that I’d snagged a man even A-list actresses couldn’t win over, and I, an industry nobody, had him wrapped around my finger. But now, looking at Liam’s eyes, I wavered— What if Serena came back? Seeing Serena’s shy expression, a lump formed in my throat. “Do I know this woman?” Liam’s words made Serena’s smile freeze. “What does my marriage have to do with you? Do you think you can slander any woman whose husband you fancy? “No wonder Ms. Serena has been in the industry for years and is still just an influencer, without a single award to her name.” Serena’s smile vanished completely. Liam, however, chuckled: “Sorry, my withdrawal just cleared up recently, so I’m not very good with words. Don’t mind me.” “Uh… of course, haha.” Serena’s laugh was worse than a cry. As soon as the recording ended, I rushed into Liam’s arms. The comments had long since shifted from accusing me of being a homewrecker to “JadeLiam forever!” Serena stood nearby, her gaze meeting Liam’s. Sadness, heartache, spilled over. Liam merely gave her a brief glance, then wrapped an arm around my waist and walked away. Back home, I happily scrolled through comments. Then I saw the top trending topic: 【Serena Invites Mr. Miller to Love Swap – EXPLOSIVE!】 I clicked on it. Serena had retweeted the link to the Love Swap reality show, tagging Liam: 【Coming?】 Liam’s reply was the first comment: 【Yes】

“Honey, since she’s slandering you like this, of course I have to make her give up in person. Only if I participate in the Love Swap show and choose only you as my partner will the whole country know her malicious intentions.” I sipped my yogurt pouch, watching Liam. His attitude was earnest, just as it had always been. “Liam,” I said, biting the corner of the pouch, “if you regret it, we can get a divorce… Mm-!” The yogurt mixed in our mouths. He only let me go after kissing me until I was breathless. “Don’t say things like that again. “Besides, doesn’t your bag design need a promotional opportunity?” “Let’s do it!” I nodded instantly. No reality show was more popular than Love Swap; it was wildly popular, even internationally. After all, a group of married/partnered celebrities swap partners to experience different lives, full of taboo and excitement. Liam could spend a fortune promoting me, but it probably wouldn’t compare to this single appearance. Serena’s social media account exploded, with many fans celebrating the ultimate triumph of first love. But Serena merely smiled shyly at the press conference: “How is this a victory? He’s just doing it to advertise for his wife. “For me, just seeing him from afar would finally bring closure to my youthful regrets.” My best friend, Chloe, was fuming: 【She just found out how hard the entertainment industry is and now she’s regretting it, seeing how Jade has Mr. Miller backing her up!】 【Ugh! That manipulative witch!】 But she was immediately attacked by netizens: 【Get this straight, it’s Jade, the homewrecker, who stole our Serena’s man! You’re defending a homewrecker, probably because you’re used to being one, right?】 【LOL, maybe she’s also got her eye on her best friend’s man. Saying Serena’s a manipulative witch? Maybe she just doesn’t want another competitor!】 I immediately stopped Chloe from arguing, to prevent retaliation. At the same time, I collected the IDs of those making outrageous comments and handed them over to our legal team for defamation. While scrolling through Serena’s response video, I suddenly noticed a pair of hawk-like, sharp eyes behind her. I zoomed in. The cold face of Serena’s fiancé, from her arranged marriage, filled the screen. Serena had indeed been single before. But she recently accepted a commercial marriage arrangement from her family, and then, immediately, she eagerly signed up for Love Swap. I knew this man. The biggest jewelry magnate in Silverwood City, the undisputed heir to that dynasty. Seeing the possessive look in his eyes, I sighed— Serena always had such good luck. In her student days, Liam Miller, the East Coast scion, was crazy about her. Now, after a casual arranged marriage, the Silverwood City heir was utterly obsessed with her. I sipped my yogurt pouch, sighing. Just as I was about to put down my phone, another trending topic exploded: 【Liam Miller: Stop pretending】 I quickly clicked on it. Under Serena’s response video, Liam’s comment had soared to the top: 【Stop pretending】 Serena hastily held a press conference to clarify. I was doubled over with laughter, but then accidentally glimpsed Noah Hayes, the Silverwood City heir, in the corner, staring coldly at the camera. His eyes were filled with fierce protection for his fiancée.

The reality show soon began filming. Before choosing whose partner to team up with, the production team arranged a week-long cohabitation period to help them make their choices later. Liam always stayed by my side. Even during group dinners arranged for all the guests, he maintained a respectful distance from any other female guests sitting next to him. Serena was repeatedly arranged to sit beside Liam, but he would simply get up and leave. The crew tried to persuade him: “This is Love Swap, Mr. Miller, you have to follow the rules.” “I’ll cover any penalties.” Liam dropped those words and walked away. Serena bit her lip, her eyes red-rimmed, watching him walk towards my room. Noah Hayes, standing nearby, cast a glance at his fiancée. His eyes held complex emotions. Serena stopped clinging to Liam. Because after watching a few live broadcasts, public opinion on her took a sharp turn: 【Mr. Miller said no, so why is she still pushing? Is she really like that netizen said, she’s struggled enough in the industry and is now envious of Jade having a powerful husband?】 【LOL, isn’t she already clinging to Noah Hayes?】 【How could Noah, that ice king, compare to the rush of young love that could give her a better marriage?】 As if to reinforce this public sentiment, the production team’s treatment of Serena declined. Her meals were downgraded several times, and her screen time was fleeting. One evening, after dinner, as Liam and I were taking a stroll, she dramatically stumbled out of her room, wrapped in just a thin shirt. She fell right at Liam’s feet. The mid-winter chill had her skin red, her nose red, making the tears in her eyes look genuinely pitiful. “Mr. Miller! Save me! I…” She instinctively grabbed Liam’s hand. Seeing me, her hand stiffened. She quickly let go and stumbled back two steps: “I… I didn’t mean it like that, Ms. Jade, please don’t misunderstand, I won’t dare to again…” She choked up, covered her mouth, and turned to flee. Her bare footprints marked the snow. I was stunned. Her performance was so flawless that by the time I processed it, it looked as if I had ordered someone to bully her. She instinctively sought help from Liam but then saw me, the “culprit”… But, given Noah’s intense gaze for Serena, how could he possibly let her suffer? I smiled, a hint of sarcasm on my lips. I turned to observe Liam’s expression. His face was unreadable. “I heard there’s a public outcry against her online. The production team signed a contract so they can’t kick her out, so they’ve just started collectively ostracizing her.” I looked at Liam. He wrapped an arm around my waist, simply mumbling, “Hmm.” That night, before bed, I deliberately asked him: “Do you believe Serena is being bullied?” He looked out at the snowy night sky, letting me rest my head on his arm. “No.” I smiled. After all, Noah was also an investor in the show. I understood that much, and as a businessman, Liam should understand it even better. The next day, for the partner selection segment, I put on beautiful makeup and appeared hand-in-hand with Liam. Serena’s eyes were red, as if she had been crying for a long time. She had never held hands with Noah on camera. Noah stood behind her, arms crossed, watching. His eyes showed deep displeasure. The director’s camera focused on Liam, and the comments went wild with laughter: 【Is this even a choice? Who doesn’t know Mr. Miller is totally devoted to his wife?】 【To be honest, I didn’t come for Love Swap, I came to watch Mr. Miller and Ms. Jade’s sweet romance.】 “I choose…” Liam’s hand slackened. I instinctively reached to tighten my grip, but he directly pushed my hand away: “Serena.” Serena, her eyes red, suddenly looked up, her face filled with disbelief. The comments were a sea of question marks. I also stared at Liam in shock. But he simply walked to Serena’s side.

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