Author: Momo Chan

On the fifth Christmas of my husband Liam Lopez’s affair, the system that had been unreachable finally appeared again, telling me I could go home. In those final seven days, I stopped fighting and arguing with Liam, stopped caring about him going out with his mistress and not coming home at night, and stopped caring about him giving my precious belongings to other women. The day I left was our fifth wedding anniversary. Liam burst into the house with Emma White, knocked over the meal I had prepared, then grabbed me by the throat and pressed broken glass against me, demanding to know why I had hurt Emma and his child. Liam also said, “How did you become so vicious? You even make me sick.” I smiled and didn’t defend myself at all, only saying, “I did all these things. I am that vicious. Are you only realizing this now? So, I wish you two will be together forever.” Then, under his gaze, I viciously slashed the artery in my neck, ending everything I had in this world. ***** The first time the system appeared, Liam and I had just finished fighting. The bedroom floor was in complete chaos, covered with paper scraps and glass shards. Liam had just returned home from a trip with his kept mistress, and the first thing he wanted to do was have sex with me. He held me tightly, kissing me all over my body, his hands wandering everywhere. My eyes were filled with disgust as I pushed him away, but he became like an enraged beast, his eyes turning red. Liam glared at me viciously and said, “Do you know how those women outside please me? What are you pretending? Didn’t you used to say you’d do anything just to be with me? Now you’re playing the pure woman?” I looked at him in disbelief. I never thought he would compare me to those women. Moreover, he was the one cheating, yet he still had the audacity to blame me for not cooperating with him. I couldn’t bring myself to please Liam while feeling disgusted. When he was out playing with other women, did he ever think of me? I said, “I just find you disgusting. Don’t touch me.” I was extremely emotional, resisting his advances, even wanting him to disappear from my sight immediately. Liam sneered coldly, forcefully grabbed my hands, and pressed me against the mirror on the vanity. He also reached out and squeezed my face hard, his eyes full of contemptuous mockery: “Look at yourself now, completely different from before. Do you still think you’re that most beautiful girl in school that everyone chased after? Scarlett, face reality. You’re just an old woman now, with nothing to keep me interested. Besides your body, what else is worth a second glance?” Scarlett Stewart is my name. I looked at myself in the mirror—clothes disheveled, fine lines appearing on my once-beautiful face, eyes full of sorrow. I really couldn’t compare to his young kept woman. After all, she was young and obedient, knowing how to make Liam happy. While I was like a thorny rose, unable to say sweet words, unable to please him, always making him uncomfortable. But I had always been this way from the beginning. Back then, he said he loved me just like this. Liam’s voice was like a demon’s whisper: “You’re now just a bad-tempered woman who loves to make a scene, exactly like your mother.” This last sentence Liam said shattered all my self-respect, humiliating me thoroughly before trampling me underfoot. I broke free from his restraints like a madwoman and slapped him with all my strength. Then my tears kept falling to the ground. Liam was stunned by my sudden action. He gritted his teeth wanting to hit me, but seeing me cry so heartbrokenly, he froze. I was a very strong-willed person who had never cried in front of Liam before. This was the first time he’d ever seen me cry so heartbroken. Liam and I had been together for five years, and though I’d endured countless grievances, never had there been a moment that made me feel he was this cruel. Through my sobs, I asked him, “Liam, do you dare repeat what you just said?” But Liam remained silent. I pressed him again: “Say something!” I was consumed with hatred. I hated how he ignored all the wrongs I’d suffered, hated that he’d fallen for someone else, and most of all, I hated that he said I was just like my mother. He knew perfectly well this was the one thing I never wanted to discuss, my only boundary. Yet to mock me, he’d casually thrown it in my face. Perhaps he’d been wanting to say these things all along, and now, in his emotional state, he’d finally let it all out. Liam let out a cold laugh, completely dismissing my breakdown. He thought I was just throwing a tantrum. He said, “There’s nothing left to say between us. Scarlett, what I said today wasn’t because I was emotional. Is there any difference between how you look right now and what I described?” My throat felt blocked, unable to swallow or breathe, the pressure making my chest ache. My vision began to blur, my nails digging into my palms, yet I felt no pain. The suffocating sensation threatened to drown me like a rising tide. I could no longer make out what he was saying after that. I asked him, “So what? Liam, is this your excuse for cheating? Why? Why are you treating me like this?” As I spoke, I couldn’t help but picture Emma’s youthfully vibrant face. Her eyes sparkled with life and barely concealed ambition. She truly was beautiful, radiating vitality and an irresistible charm that couldn’t be ignored. It was only a matter of time before Liam would be drawn to her. Then Liam said, “Isn’t this enough? Scarlett, if you just behave yourself, I can continue maintaining this marriage with you. After all, besides me, you have no one else to depend on. Emma may be better than you in every way, but I’m just having fun with her. She won’t affect your position. What are you worried about?” Liam moved closer, whispering gently in my ear while patiently wiping the tears from my face. He continued, “So don’t do anything excessive.” My heart felt like it was being crushed in a giant fist. Liam was such a bastard! He’d been playing with people’s emotions all along! Liam added, “Besides, being seen with her makes me look better.” After saying this, he looked me up and down, then suddenly burst into laughter. He said, “As for you? You’re not young anymore. You only embarrass me.” I kept my head down, saying nothing. Finally, just as Liam was losing patience and preparing to leave, I found my voice, hoarse and ugly. I asked, “Liam, do you really love me?” Liam paused for a moment, then without hesitation, slammed the door shut. The room fell silent. After a long while, I let out a short, mocking laugh. Even I found myself ridiculous. Finally, the emotions I’d been suppressing for so long completely erupted. I lost control, screaming and smashing many things in the house. I collapsed alone on the floor, staring at the chaos around me, letting my heart be consumed by grief and pain. Just then, the System that had been absent for so long appeared. Its voice sounded like both beautiful music that could save me and a devil tempting me to sin. It said, “Host, it’s time to go home. Your mission is complete.”

I sat on the floor, numbly cleaning up the mess around me. Even when glass shards cut my fingers, I refused to stop. When Liam and I first got together, everyone said we were a perfect match, and our relationship was the envy of everyone around us. His family background was so privileged that ordinary people wouldn’t even dare to dream of it—a height I could never reach no matter how hard I tried. I once couldn’t believe that someone as outstanding and brilliant as Liam would actually fall for a girl like me from such humble circumstances. But back then, his presence truly rescued me from my difficult situation. For someone as proud as Liam to be willing to do anything for me was more beautiful than all the love letters in the world. When I first arrived in this world, I didn’t want to pursue him as a target. I didn’t want a beautiful relationship to begin with calculation. Growing up, I was surrounded by nothing but lies and deception. I hated that world, yet I had to compromise because I wanted to survive. I locked my heart away tightly, wearing a fake mask every day. I despised myself like that, and I was sick of everything in this world. But Liam was different. He genuinely liked me, encouraged me, and gave me the love I had always craved but never received. I once looked forward to building a family with him. In this world where I had no one to rely on, I finally had a place to call home—a home filled with love. But now, the house was in complete chaos, just like my relationship with Liam—nothing but trouble. Our wedding photo still hung on the bedroom wall. In that picture, my face was filled with a happy smile, and the way he looked at me wasn’t filled with the disgust and disdain I see now. When exactly did our relationship start falling apart like this? I was consumed by anger and resentment. I slowly stood up, staring at the wedding photo on the wall, then grabbed the glass in my hand and hurled it at the picture. In an instant, the photo shattered, and along with it, my dream of spending a lifetime with Liam. I asked the system, “How much longer until I can go back?” The system replied, “Seven days. Host, you have seven days left to say goodbye to this world.” I lowered my head, understanding clearly. Though I didn’t like my original world, I had no other choice now. Liam’s betrayal made me realize that no one in this world was more reliable than myself. Rather than placing all my hopes on others, I should seize the opportunity myself. Just then, a hashtag quietly appeared on Twitter. It contained a video of Liam and Emma vacationing together in France, captured by someone. In the video, they were incredibly intimate, like newlyweds, their faces glowing with happiness. Liam’s expression was so tender, his eyes full of adoration as he watched Emma throw a tantrum beside him, unable to help but coax her gently. I don’t know what Liam said, but Emma’s angry face gradually broke into a smile, then she hugged him intimately, looking absolutely delighted. After watching the video, I felt nothing but irony, and my heart ached in waves. Once upon a time, he treated me the same way. But now, he had given all the love that was once mine to another woman. And now, I no longer expected his affection. Shortly after, Liam called me, demanding that I clarify the situation online. Liam was the company’s CEO. This kind of cheating scandal would significantly impact his company’s stock value, so he wanted me to come forward and minimize the negative impact. How ridiculous! Only when it affected his interests did he think of me. Liam said over the phone, “I already told you. Emma and I are just fooling around. If there are problems with the company’s stock, you won’t be able to live the lifestyle you have now either. I need you to help clear Emma’s name as soon as possible. She’s been crying nonstop. Remember, don’t do anything unnecessary.” His tone was still filled with impatience. Liam must be exhausted—he just finished fighting with me and now he’s off to find another woman. I replied, “I understand.” Perhaps it was because my emotions were too calm now, or maybe it was the first time I mentioned Emma without arguing with him, but he was unusually stunned and didn’t say anything. After a while, Liam said, “It’s best that you can do this. You should be sensible like you are now. If you had been this sensible earlier, I wouldn’t have fought with you. Scarlett, you should please me, just like you’re doing now.” His tone was full of smugness and satisfaction. I hung up the phone myself, not wanting to get entangled with him anymore. Now, just hearing his voice made me involuntarily think of how he looked when he was cheating, and I found it particularly disgusting. After Christmas and I got together, Liam announced our relationship to everyone. When we got married, he even gave me a sensational, grand wedding. This made many people think Liam was a rare good man—both devoted and deeply affectionate. Even I thought so. But on our first Christmas as a married couple, Emma came to find me. She looked at me smugly, with a charming smile on her face, but her eyes were full of provocation as she looked at me. She smiled and said, “Hello, I’m Mr. Lopez’s assistant. He said he left a document in the study and asked me to come get it.” Emma’s gaze looked me up and down. I frowned, then led her into the study, but she asked me to wait outside the door. She said, “Mr. Lopez said this document is confidential and can’t be seen by outsiders. Please wait outside for a moment. I’ll come out as soon as I get the document. Mr. Lopez is in a hurry.” Emma’s words made me feel a sense of crisis. When Liam came home, I couldn’t help but complain to him about this incident. He smiled and explained, “She’s the daughter of a business partner. He asked me to take extra care of her. If you mind, I can have her go back.” Liam spoke very sincerely, and since our relationship had always been good and he had never done anything excessive outside, I thought about it and shook my head. I said, “It’s okay. Replacing a business partner’s daughter might affect your business. I don’t mind.” But what I didn’t expect was that this was my first time meeting the mistress Liam was keeping outside. Later I discovered that the two of them often went out behind my back. It wasn’t until I saw them kissing passionately in the underground parking garage that I realized how foolish I had been. I had believed Liam’s lies without any doubt and even thought he was working hard for our family. That night, Liam came home drunk. When he held me tightly, he whispered in my ear, “Emma, why have you lost so much weight? Did you change your perfume?” I was tremendously shocked and couldn’t believe it. The person who once truly loved me was now intimately holding me while calling out another woman’s name. That was our first fight, and we fought so fiercely that I’ll never forget it for the rest of my life. After I discovered his affair, Liam seemed to deliberately oppose me, often texting Emma right in front of me, and he stopped hiding it afterward. He looked at me mockingly and said, “If you were as obedient as Emma, as passionate toward me as she is, I wouldn’t have cheated.” From then on, Liam completely pushed me into the abyss of pain.

Knowing I’d soon be leaving this place, I couldn’t care less about Liam’s attitude toward me, and I stopped obsessing over whether he loved me. I didn’t want to know the answer anymore. He and Emma were probably together now—he hadn’t come home in four days. Three more days until our fifth wedding anniversary on Christmas, which would also be the day I left this world. I didn’t have much stuff, and I couldn’t take it with me anyway. I still hadn’t cleared up the online scandal as Liam demanded, instead leaving it for the system to handle. When Liam left earlier, he took the necklace he’d given me for the first time. It was something I treasured deeply. When he confessed his feelings, he took me to an amusement park. Under a sky full of fireworks, he pulled out that necklace. Liam said, “Scarlett, I haven’t officially taken over the family business yet, so I can only use my allowance to buy you something that’s not too expensive. But I’ll get you better, more expensive gifts in the future. Will you be my girlfriend? “I promise I’ll treat you well and love you even more than I do now.” Back then, his eyes were sincere, full of love. That necklace had once been my comfort during the pain of betrayal, the only hope that could save my miserable life. But now, hatred spread like wildfire. All our beautiful memories had turned into thorns that wounded me. When Liam took the necklace, I said nothing. He said, “Emma likes this necklace. You know that. She doesn’t ask for much. Whatever I can give her, I will. You’ve worn this necklace for a long time, and you have better necklaces to wear.” I nodded, and the hope in my eyes completely died. Liam smiled and said, “You’re being so understanding today. I love it when you’re like this.” All my years of devotion and companionship had earned me nothing more than being called “understanding.” He claimed he didn’t like Emma, but his actions clearly told me he’d fallen for her long ago. That necklace meant everything to me. Did he really not know that? Just then, the system told me the online scandal had been cleared up. It also asked, “Do you really love Liam? When I first contacted you, you didn’t seem to want to leave this place.” The system’s words made me smile bitterly. I really didn’t want to leave back then. The feelings between Liam and me were real. The experiences we shared might not have been memorable enough to last forever, but every emotion and detail in those experiences was genuine. I’d depended on him for so many years—my life was filled with his presence. In my original world, I had no one to rely on. So I clung to the warmth he gave me. I used to deliberately ignore the problems, thinking that even if life was this miserable, I had to hold onto the little bit of happiness he’d given me in our youth. But things developed beyond my control. I cared. I really, deeply cared. If I had to live like this for the rest of my life, I would truly die. When Liam called again, his voice was furious. “Scarlett, I never thought you could be this vicious. Just you wait! If anything happens to Emma, I’ll never forgive you. “You’re just as disgusting as your mother. What good could come from someone who crawled out of the slums? Especially someone who came from your mother’s womb. “Bitch! I should have seen through your true nature long ago. When you were with me, you acted so pure and innocent, but I never realized how petty you are. “Your mother was a woman who sold her body for money—vicious and scheming—and you’re exactly like her.” I froze, my whole body trembling uncontrollably. All I could manage was a soft, “Liam.” But Liam wouldn’t listen, only saying, “Scarlett, I’m telling you—you’ll bear the consequences of this alone.” After Liam hung up, I sat there stunned for a long time before snapping back to reality. His words were like sharp daggers, piercing deep into my heart. There wasn’t an ounce of affection in them—just pure insults directed at me. I couldn’t understand why someone who once cherished me so deeply would now curse at me with such vicious words. That unbearable pain crashed over me like waves, hitting me again and again. From the System, I learned that Liam and Emma had encountered an accident while out together. Emma had been hit by a car. The driver was drunk and completely unaware of what had happened. But Emma insisted that I had bribed the driver, trying to harm her and the child in her womb. This accident had made Liam furious. Blinded by rage, he called to blame me without a second thought. The crushing blow left me dizzy and disoriented. I had been unwilling to admit that Liam’s feelings for me had long since vanished through his repeated betrayals. So I could only try to maintain this crumbling marriage through such means. I kept lowering my standards, silently accepting everything he did. I used to hate deception more than anything. But to hold onto this warmth I had longed for, I began deceiving myself and hurting myself. But now, I didn’t want to continue like this anymore. Liam had been staying out for the past couple of days and hadn’t come home. I spent time at home packing up many things. All those photos that once captured our sweet moments were thrown into the trash. My clothes and luggage were all packed. Finally, I was the only one left in the villa. Over the years, Liam had been transferring money into my bank account, but I rarely used it. Since I wouldn’t be in this world much longer, I wouldn’t need the money anyway. I donated all the money to an orphanage under Liam’s name. I had done this before. I simply hoped the children could live a little better, and that it might help his career. This would be the last thing I’d do for him. On our fifth wedding anniversary, I calmly prepared a whole table of dishes for myself. These were dishes I had specifically learned to make for Liam. I knew he sometimes had to attend cocktail parties, and I worried about his stomach, so I wanted to learn to make him some stomach-soothing food. But now, I sat alone at the dining table, eating by myself. Before I could even start eating the elaborate dishes on the table, the front door was kicked open. I saw Liam standing in the doorway with a dark expression. Seeing the food on the table, he let out a cold laugh, then flipped the entire table over. All the plates crashed to the floor, glass shards scattered everywhere, some cutting my feet. Liam grabbed my throat tightly, making it impossible for me to breathe. Behind him, Emma watched me with a smug, provocative look. He leaned in close, saying viciously, “Because of you, Emma and I lost our child. How can you be so evil? “Scarlett, if it weren’t for me, how would you have your current life? How could you have escaped your humble origins? “How did you become so vicious that you make me sick?” His grip on my throat was suffocating. I opened my mouth but couldn’t say a word. Emma smiled contemptuously and said, “Scarlett, no matter how much you hate me, you can’t take it out on a child. This was mine and Liam’s only child. Do you know how much I treasured him? “I don’t want status or money—I just wanted to give birth to Liam’s child. That was my only wish.” Emma spoke with such grievance, and I could feel Liam’s grip on my throat tightening. Just as my face turned red and I was about to suffocate, he finally let go. I coughed violently, gasping for air. It took me a long time to recover. Liam said, “Scarlett, you hurt Emma. I want a divorce.” Those words felt like being pushed into hell. I had never imagined that Liam would be the first one in this marriage to want to give up. I looked at Liam, my eyes filled with despair. I said, “You’re right. I did everything. I am that evil. You’ve known me long enough. What’s wrong? Are you disappointed? “When you first got together with me, why didn’t you notice?” He had probably long forgotten the promises he once made to me. Liam, consumed by rage, slapped me hard across the face. I suddenly felt dazed. Liam had once said, “Scarlett, no matter what you become in the future, I’ll love you. Don’t worry—I’ll take care of everything.” But now, watching him defend someone else and call me evil, I suddenly laughed—a wild, crazy laugh. I said, “Liam, my biggest regret is falling in love with you, marrying you, and believing your words.” I picked up a glass shard from the floor and pressed it against my throat. I said, “Since you love Emma so much, I wish you two eternal happiness. “Liam, wasn’t the life where I trapped you boring? “Now, you’re free.” With that, I sliced through my artery with force, blood spraying all over Liam. Emma screamed in terror. In the final moment before consciousness faded, I seemed to see eighteen-year-old Liam running toward me with a smile. He said, “Scarlett, let’s go home together.” I thought, “Yes, I want to go home.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “MyFiction” app 🔍 search for “398287”, and watch the full series ✨! #MyFiction #B×G #Paranormal #Cheating #MarriageInTrouble #regret

My Boss Tried to Frame Me… But I Can Hear Thoughts?! I collapsed at work, my heart seizing up, dying right there. Not a single colleague bothered to call 911. They just watched, cold-eyed, as I faded away. In my last moments, a familiar voice echoed in my ears. “I can control everyone to hear my thoughts. What makes you think you can compete with me?” “Ashley, a poor girl like you should just stay in your village. This isn’t where you belong.” Even as I died, I had no idea how I, a small-town girl who’d put herself through college with scholarships and the tight-knit support of my community, and then worked tirelessly to land my dream job, had ever offended anyone so deeply. When I opened my eyes again, I was back. Back to the day I’d exposed the expired pre-packaged meals in the conference room, just before my last life’s sudden demise. I was still reeling from the strange, familiar voice I’d heard right before I died. Then, a voice popped into my head. *{Should I tell the Director that Ashley intentionally changed the packaging dates? If it comes out, the entire team’s year-end bonus will be forfeited.}* I spun around, staring in disbelief at Brittany, my supposed best friend, sitting beside me. She was smiling at me, her face innocent and sweet. But she didn’t know that this time, I could hear her thoughts too.

I couldn’t believe it. The girl who had looked out for me so meticulously since I joined the company was actually the one who’d caused my death. I remembered my last life. The Director had heard Brittany’s thoughts and wrongly assumed I’d changed the dates myself, just to claim credit. He’d immediately announced that our team’s year-end bonuses were canceled. Afterward, the entire team isolated me. They were too scared to oppose the Director, so they unleashed all their anger on me, ostracizing me completely. I regretted it then, blaming myself for being too tongue-tied to explain things clearly to the Director. I carried that guilt, always feeling like I’d let everyone down. And that was exactly what set the stage for my eventual heart failure. I snapped back to the present. The Director was scrutinizing the photos of the expired pre-packaged meals I’d submitted earlier. A moment later, his eyes widened, as if he’d noticed something, and he looked up at me. “Ashley, did you take these photos during your store visit?” I slowly stood up, my gaze sweeping across everyone in the conference room, especially my closest friend. As expected, the next second, Brittany’s thoughts echoed in my mind. *{No wonder I saw her editing the dates on those photos in Photoshop yesterday. She was fabricating evidence.}* *{The Director keeps looking at her. He must have realized the photos are off.}* I pulled my gaze away from Brittany’s feigned innocence. When I looked up, the Director was frowning at me. Then, he slammed the photos onto the table, stood up, and strode towards me. Knowing the truth, I faced the situation with an unsettling calm this time. The Director quickly reached my side, his voice sharp with anger. “Ashley, there are hundreds of employees at Eastbay Group. How is it that *only you* could find expired pre-packaged meals?” “Are your eyes better than everyone else’s?” “Or are you saying everyone else in the company is blind except for you?” I lowered my head, my voice barely a whisper. “Director, I didn’t. I truly found these during my store visit.” The Director sneered. “I’ve played all the games you’re trying to pull. I’ve seen countless people like you.” “Today, I’ll show you what happens when you try to be a hero! The year-end bonuses for Ashley’s entire team are canceled!” “Anyone who has a problem with it, come talk to me. Grab your termination papers, and I’ll ensure you get every penny of your severance.” Everyone in the conference room stared at me. My teammates’ eyes were practically spitting fire. “Who the hell does Ashley think she is? What’s with her trying to act so smart?” “She’s a menace! Our whole team was counting on those thousands for the holidays, and she just ruined it all!” Instead of returning to my seat, I silently moved to a corner. I secretly sent a SnapChat message to Leo, the store manager of the location with the expired food. ‘I can’t help you anymore. The Director won’t accept this. It’ll probably go to the General Manager sooner or later. I advise you to confess to the GM yourself.’ The Director caught my small movement from the corner of his eye. He swiftly walked over and snatched my phone. “Ashley, you’ve got some nerve.” “You ruined the entire team’s year-end bonuses, and you’re still shamelessly playing on your phone? Aren’t you ashamed?” I bit down hard on my lip, saying nothing. Just then, Mr. Davies, my manager, also came up to me. “Ashley, are you freaking mute?” As I slowly released my bleeding lip, about to speak, the conference room door suddenly swung open. Sarah, the secretary, rushed in, whispered something to the Director, and then quickly left. With the Director gone, I instantly became the common enemy. A torrent of insults rained down on me.

A few minutes later, the conference room door opened again. The General Manager’s secretary called me and the rest of the team out. As soon as I stepped into Mr. Thompson’s office, he rushed over, taking two steps at a time, to apologize to me. “Ashley, Mr. Davies unfairly accused you in this matter. I’ll have him apologize to you right away and clear your name.” Mr. Thompson spoke, his eyes filled with resentment as he glanced at the Director standing behind him. I kept my head down. “General Manager, an apology isn’t necessary. I’d like to transfer departments.” He had doubted my integrity and suspected me of fraud based solely on Brittany’s word. Such a person didn’t deserve to be my leader. Mr. Thompson nodded, readily agreeing. Then he continued, “Mr. Davies, if this expired pre-packaged meal incident isn’t handled properly, do you know how much damage and loss it could bring to the Group?” “I don’t think you should continue as Director.” My heart lurched. I had thought the Director would, at most, face some penalties or a fine. I never expected him to lose his job. Mr. Davies was in his forties; being fired at his age meant his future was over. He realized this too, and the light in his eyes instantly faded. But he dared not blame me, and certainly not the General Manager. He turned, searching for something, and when he spotted Brittany hiding behind the crowd, he lunged forward and grabbed her collar. “You b*tch, if you hadn’t said Ashley fabricated evidence, why would I have accused her?” “You ruined my future!” Brittany struggled, her face filled with terror. “I… I don’t know what you’re talking about! You disgusting old man, let go of me!” Mr. Davies yelled hysterically. “You’re still lying, damn it! From the first day you joined the company, I noticed you constantly looking at Ashley like a resentful woman! Do you dare deny you deliberately provoked me to lash out at her?” His words sent a jolt through everyone in Mr. Thompson’s office. Those who could hear Brittany’s thoughts believed him implicitly. A few team members mumbled, “No wonder we always heard her badmouthing Ashley. She was just jealous.” Hearing this, Mr. Davies’s bloodshot eyes widened, and he clamped his hands around Brittany’s neck. “You b*tch! I’ll f*cking kill you!” The General Manager’s office erupted into chaos. Mr. Thompson frowned, signaling Sarah to call security. The security guards arrived swiftly, dragging the Director out. Until the very last moment, as he was dragged from the office, Mr. Davies’s venomous gaze remained fixed on Brittany.

Brittany’s hateful glare lingered on me for a few more seconds before she quickly concealed it. Then, as if nothing had happened, she walked over to me. “Ashley, don’t listen to the Director’s nonsense. We’re best friends, you have to believe me…” Before she could finish, I excused myself to the General Manager and left. Brittany was left standing there awkwardly. Once my team colleagues understood the truth, they all sincerely apologized to me. Brittany, who had once been the group’s darling, was now thoroughly despised by everyone. That afternoon, as I packed up my belongings, preparing to transfer to another department, I saw Brittany still hunched over her desk, sobbing alone. A cold snort escaped me internally. She can’t handle this already? The pain she caused me in my last life, it’s time for her to experience it herself. The expired pre-packaged meals incident eventually quieted down. A few days later, while on a routine store visit in my area, a boy started vomiting uncontrollably right after leaving a restaurant. His reaction was exactly like the food-poisoned boy I’d saved in my previous life. Seeing his grandfather’s helpless, bewildered eyes, I decisively scooped up the boy and, speeding through at least ten red lights, rushed him to the hospital. The final diagnosis confirmed the boy was poisoned due to excessive aflatoxin from expired pre-packaged meals. If I hadn’t gotten him to the hospital in time, his life would have been in danger. The incident quickly caught the attention of various media outlets, and all Eastbay Group stores were subjected to investigation. Thankfully, no other expired products were found. Mr. Kingston, the Group Chairman, specifically instructed the General Manager to publicly commend me at the company. At the commendation ceremony, just as I stepped onto the stage, Brittany’s thoughts rang out in my head. *{First, she finds expired food, now she saves a kid just in time? How could it be such a coincidence?}* *{She probably hired that kid as an actor. She’s just vain, trying to get fame and money this way. She thinks the General Manager is an idiot.}* Next to me, Mr. Thompson’s face suddenly stiffened, and he looked at me with suspicion. A wave of murmurs rippled through the colleagues in the audience. Seeing everyone’s reaction, a bitter smile touched my lips. Brittany, why are you trying to ruin me, again and again? The terrible plight of my last life flashed through my mind. In that commendation ceremony, swayed by Brittany’s manipulations, the General Manager had believed her. He canceled the ceremony, citing disruption to the month-end workflow. Hearing his words, everyone directly chased me off the stage. My pre-existing heart condition, exacerbated by emotional stress and pressure, flared up, and ultimately, no one called 911. I died filled with resentment. But now, I had a plan to deal with it. I snapped back to reality, Brittany’s thoughts hadn’t stopped. She continued: *{There are so many intersections on the way to the hospital. How could she have gotten there so smoothly if she hadn’t rehearsed it beforehand?}* *{It must be Ashley, that b*tch, who staged this.}* *{Oh god, if the company praises such a calculating girl, won’t it discourage everyone else?}* On stage, Mr. Thompson’s face completely changed. Just as I was about to speak, the General Manager cut me off directly. “Ashley, the company recognizes the positive impact you’ve brought to the Group.” “However, could you please explain in more detail what exactly happened at that time?” I let out a long breath. Grateful that the General Manager still retained a shred of rationality. I glanced at Brittany below the stage and recounted the entire incident in detail. Finally, I pulled out my phone and projected my Google Maps activity history onto the large screen. “General Manager, ever since I transferred to the new department, the first thing I did was familiarize myself with all the stores in my jurisdiction and the surrounding routes.” “I believe this is a basic professional quality for every Eastbay Group employee.” Mr. Thompson nodded approvingly. Brittany’s thoughts resurfaced. *{What can a broken map prove? With how advanced the internet is, all this can be faked.}* *{I think she’s just avoiding the crucial points, being vague about the poisoned boy and his grandfather from start to finish. There must be a hidden agenda.}* *{And what about Mr. Davies, who was suddenly demoted? Who knew this young girl had such deep schemes? Who knows if the General Manager is next on her list?}* *{I also heard Ashley already approached the Chairman, expressing her desire to become a department General Manager.}* Mr. Thompson’s previously softened expression clouded over again. He considered it carefully. It was true that Ashley had just been reprimanded by the Director, and then, immediately afterward, the expired pre-packaged meals incident had been brought directly to him. His gaze at me became complicated. The quiet murmurs from below the stage turned into open whispers and hisses. Mr. Thompson looked at me and said, “Ashley, doing good and being a good person are inseparable.” “Some things, if you don’t want others to know, then don’t do them.” “This commendation… think carefully, do you really deserve it?” With that, Mr. Thompson walked off the stage, saying coldly as he went, “It’s month-end, and everyone’s rushing to meet their deadlines. This commendation ceremony, in my opinion, can wait until next month.” “Everyone, get back to work. Disperse.” I stood there, stunned. Below the stage, several burly men approached. Disregarding my struggles, they simply dragged me off the stage. In an instant, I was the biggest mistake again. “Pfft, what a piece of trash. Someone like her is a menace to Eastbay Group.” “Just get lost already. I feel sick being her colleague.” I never imagined Brittany would be so ruthless, so utterly without a bottom line, just to discredit me. Brittany slowly walked toward me from a distance, her face full of mocking amusement. “What’s wrong with these people? They’re really going too far, leaving an excellent employee alone here, like this.” “Ashley, what exactly did you do that was so shameful?” “If it were me, after something like this, I’d be so embarrassed I’d quit.” I looked at Brittany, a cold laugh forming in my mind. I hadn’t even gone looking for you, and you delivered yourself right to my doorstep. “My dear friend, I’m returning the General Manager’s words to you, exactly as he said them.” “Some things, if you don’t want people to know, don’t do them.” Brittany’s eyes flashed with a hint of panic. “What do you mean by that? I don’t understand.” A sneer played on my lips. “The entire Group strictly ordered a crackdown on expired pre-packaged meals. How is it that no other store had them, but a store in *my* area did?” “You never expected things to blow up this big, did you?” “You must have wanted the company to fire me, right?” Brittany’s gaze changed completely as she listened to my words. “You… Ashley, what nonsense are you spouting? We’re best friends!” I slowly leaned in close to Brittany’s ear. “I’ve already found evidence that you arranged for someone to secretly place expired pre-packaged meals in the kitchen.” “If I’m not mistaken, Mr. Kingston should already know about this by now.” Brittany recoiled several steps, muttering, “No, this can’t reach Dad’s ears.” My brow suddenly furrowed. Dad? Mr. Kingston is Brittany’s dad? Just then, a panting young man wearing an Eastbay Group catering uniform walked up from the stairwell. “Excuse me, where is the General Manager’s office?” The young man’s appearance drew some colleagues’ attention. The moment Brittany saw him, her triumphant expression instantly turned to terror. She rushed forward to block him. “What are you doing here?” The young man’s eyes darted nervously. He whispered, “Ms. Evans… the famous fraud investigation team has already uncovered everything.” “If I keep covering for you, I’ll go to jail.” With that, the young man ignored Brittany and hurried straight towards the General Manager’s office.

Hearing this, a flicker of unease crossed Brittany’s face, then she looked at me. “Ashley, is there some misunderstanding between us? We’re best friends!” I just gave her a cold smile and said nothing. Brittany pressed on. “Ashley, don’t forget how you were when you first joined the company. If I hadn’t helped you every step of the way, would you be so secure in this position?” “Just because you overheard the Director and some other colleagues talking nonsense in the General Manager’s office a few days ago, are you going to be so ungrateful to me?” I looked at Brittany with a detached gaze. “Brittany, you hypocrite. I genuinely thought you were my best friend, and you’re still trying to fool me like I’m an idiot?” Brittany realized her lie had been exposed and staggered back a few steps. Her gaze lingered darkly on the General Manager’s office, then she turned. “Ashley, do you really think you can beat me like this?” With that, Brittany turned and walked away, heading straight for the General Manager’s office. I looked around. This was where I’d died from a heart attack in my previous life. But this time, I would begin my new chapter right here. Brittany still didn’t know I could hear her thoughts, and that would be my ultimate weapon against all her schemes. A moment later, the General Manager’s assistant called me into the office. Inside, Mr. Thompson looked at me with a complex expression. The young man who had rushed into the GM’s office earlier had already left. Only Mr. Thompson, I, and Brittany were in the room. Mr. Thompson looked at me and said, “Ashley, Brittany just told me that you submitted some information to Mr. Kingston that’s unfavorable to the Group’s internal harmony.” As he spoke, Mr. Thompson gestured for me to sit on the sofa. “The Group fully acknowledges your heroism in saving the child. However, the media is closely watching the Group right now.” “I think, at this juncture, we should set aside personal conflicts, shouldn’t we?” I understood Mr. Thompson’s meaning. Clearly, Brittany had used some tactic to get him on her side. But I was already prepared for the worst. If it came down to it, I’d take everyone down with me. Having experienced death once, many things I couldn’t let go of in my past life, like my job, now seemed insignificant. “I don’t understand the General Manager’s words. It sounds like everything is my fault?” Mr. Thompson hadn’t expected me to reject his flattery. He gave a dry laugh and continued, “Ashley, I know you’re still angry. As for the details of the incident, you must have seen, the young man who came to report to the company has already told me everything.” “This whole thing, it was Brittany’s rashness. She’s already recognized her mistake.” “As for your commendation ceremony, I will certainly reschedule it for you.” “Not only that, but I’ll also submit an application to the Group headquarters to promote you to Manager.” “As long as you…” Mr. Thompson didn’t finish his sentence. I cut in. “As long as I tell Mr. Kingston that the information I submitted about Brittany’s unauthorized placement of expired pre-packaged meals was all false, then everything will be fine, right?” Mr. Thompson exchanged a knowing smile with Brittany. I stood up and scoffed. “You two are truly shameless.” “Brittany, I’m going to tell you plainly today.” “I am determined to expose this matter of an internal Group employee placing expired pre-packaged meals in stores to Mr. Kingston.” “Want to coerce or entice me into compromising? No way!” With that, I walked directly out of Mr. Thompson’s office. For the next few days, perhaps Brittany realized that her mind-reading abilities were useless against me, so I enjoyed a rare period of peace. Although some colleagues still misunderstood me, occasionally glancing at me with disdain, I didn’t care. I simply continued diligently with my work, visiting stores, organizing documents—everything proceeded as usual. One day, as I went to the underground parking garage to dispose of trash, I unexpectedly stumbled upon Brittany complaining tearfully to a stranger. I slowly approached. “Brother, you know Mom has always been good to me since I was little, but Dad has always been so stingy with me. Even during my internship, he wouldn’t let me do any management work, saying I needed to be down-to-earth.” “Am I really that much less in his eyes than that worthless child his ex-wife gave him?” The man sighed deeply. “Brittany, you know Mom came into the picture later. Dad’s feelings for Mom were never as strong as they were for his deceased first wife.” “Plus, Mom intentionally made sure the child his first wife left behind went missing back then.”

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My Family Tossed Me Aside, But I Came Back to Reclaim Everything When I was little, my brother Brandon and his first love, Leo, were kidnapped. The kidnappers were ruthless. They specifically demanded that I, a small girl, deliver the ransom. Brandon and Leo were safe, but I was taken as a hostage and eventually sold into a brothel. My parents were heartbroken, so they adopted a girl to replace me. Ten years later, relying on hazy memories, I finally found my way back to the house I once called home. My family hugged me, weeping floods of tears. Not wanting to make things difficult for me, they didn’t hesitate to send the adopted girl away. But the day before Penelope was supposed to leave, Brandon cruelly pushed me down the stairs. “Sometimes I wish she’d just died ten years ago.” “But she’s your sister, your *real* sister. She risked her life for you back then.” “Does being ‘real’ even matter? I only see Penelope as my sister.” Mom and Dad didn’t argue. Maybe that’s what they secretly thought too. I slowly opened my eyes, deliberately feigning confusion. “Who… who are you people?” I wasn’t welcome here. So, I’d take everything back to square one. My fake family? I didn’t need them. And everything that was rightfully mine? I’d take it back with my own two hands.

My head still spun, and I tried to sit up. A voice, laced with fury, crashed down on me: “Don’t pretend you’re still asleep now that you’re awake!” It was my own brother, Brandon Albright. He stood by the hospital bed, his brows furrowed, his tone dripping with impatience. “You hit Penelope, and we haven’t even settled that score yet. Now you’re playing the victim?” Before I could even open my mouth, Leo Davis, my childhood sweetheart, suddenly stood up from the corner, his voice filled with urgent concern for Penelope: “Penelope? What happened? Is she hurt?” His face was etched with worry, and his gaze towards me carried an added layer of blame. But Penelope knew perfectly well this was all her made-up story. Yesterday, I caught her secretly tossing the new dress my mother bought me into the trash in the living room. Afraid I’d tell, she deliberately cried to Brandon, claiming I pushed and insulted her. And now, somehow, it had become *my* fault. Leo quickly walked to the bedside, his voice firm and unyielding: “Chloe Albright, you apologize to Penelope right now! She’s so kind; how could you lay a hand on her?” I rubbed my throbbing temple, my face cold as I looked at Penelope, who was standing behind Brandon. “I don’t remember anything. Did I… do something to you?” Penelope’s eyes instantly flickered with panic. She didn’t dare speak, just shrank further behind Brandon. Brandon immediately shielded Penelope, glaring at me with a harsh reprimand: “Don’t you dare try to scare my sister! You’ve clearly been in that brothel too long; you can’t get rid of that wild streak!” “Chloe, if you still consider me your brother, then apologize to Penelope right now!” Watching him protect someone else, the last shred of hope I had for my family crumbled. I forced a smile, my voice icy: “Who wants to call *you* brother? I don’t even know you.” “You’re faking it! Keep faking it!” Brandon was enraged by my words. He reached out, grabbing my arm. “Mr. Albright, please calm down.” The doctor quickly intervened, seeing the situation. “When the kidnappers took Ms. Albright ten years ago, they detonated a bomb to deter police pursuit.” “Ms. Albright’s head sustained an impact, leaving a lasting sequela. This fall down the stairs likely stimulated those nerves. It’s highly probable she’s genuinely suffering from amnesia right now.” The kidnapping of the eldest sons of the prominent Albright and Davis families had been a widely known scandal back then. As soon as the doctor spoke, Brandon, who had been so aggressive just moments ago, froze. His outstretched hand hung awkwardly in mid-air. He looked at me, the anger on his face slowly fading, replaced by a flicker of undeniable embarrassment and guilt. Mom rushed to the bedside, sobbing, her voice choked: “Chloe, you really don’t remember anything?” I nodded gently, pulling my hand away. A perfectly timed look of confusion crossed my face: “Ma’am, may I ask who… you are?” Mom’s tears flowed even harder. She opened her mouth, her voice trembling: “Chloe, I’m your…” “She’s your owner!” Brandon suddenly cut off Mom’s words. He stepped forward, blocking Mom from me, his eyes cold as he stared at me, speaking each word distinctly: “She’s your owner. And you, you’re just a servant we took in out of pity when we found you, a long time ago.”

Brandon’s cold words momentarily confused Mom. But Leo was the first to react. He took half a step forward, as if convincing himself: “That’s right, you’re just a servant of the Albright family.” “Mr. and Mrs. Albright kindly took you from that remote place and raised you, but you’re so ungrateful. You’re jealous of their real daughter, Penelope Albright, and you even attacked her. That’s just too much.” His words pierced me like a needle. I looked at him—Leo Davis, who used to cling to me so much as a child, the person I risked my own safety to save. Now, for another girl, he was saying such insane things to me. Ten years really could change so much. Mom’s eyes slowly shifted. Perhaps, deep down, she’d long wanted to get rid of me, this burden. I’d spent ten years in isolation, a world away from Penelope, whom she had carefully groomed to impress her high society friends. Before, guilt might have made her hesitant, but now, this was her golden opportunity to finally shed me. Still, she hesitated, her lips moving as if she wanted to say something. Just then, Penelope hugged Mom’s arm, her voice soft and tearful as she comforted her: “Mom, don’t be sad. You still have me; I’ll always be your daughter.” Penelope’s words melted away Mom’s last bit of hesitation. She hugged Penelope: “Penelope, Mom knows, I only have you, my good daughter.” I couldn’t stand to watch this sickening display of a loving mother and daughter. I turned my gaze to Dad, who had been silently standing in the corner. I spoke softly, “Excuse me… is what they’re saying true? Am I really a servant the Albrights adopted?” The words had barely left my lips when Brandon exploded: “What do you mean by that? You don’t believe what I’m saying?” “You’re a servant who saw my kind and easily bullied sister, and you wanted to take her place!” “Yesterday, you tried to harm Penelope, but you accidentally tripped and fell down the stairs yourself. You brought this on yourself, serves you right!” “Let me tell you, the Albright family doesn’t owe you anything. Don’t think you can play the victim and fish for sympathy here!” *I* tripped and fell down the stairs? I sneered internally. It was *him*, the brother whose life I saved, who personally shoved me down the stairs. If I had truly lost my memory, as they believed, I might have actually fallen for his lies. But I hadn’t. I waited for him to finish yelling everything before I slowly spoke. “I wasn’t even asking you. Why are you explaining so much? Is it because you have something to hide?” “You!” Brandon choked on my words, his face instantly turning scarlet. I watched his exasperated expression, still wanting to provoke him further. Then, Dad, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke. “You are indeed a servant the Albright family took in, all those years ago.” I froze. I thought Dad would at least show a flicker of doubt, But I never imagined that even he would so readily deny our blood ties.

I looked at Dad’s face, recalling childhood memories. I was his favorite child, but now, the way he looked at me held no trace of his former warmth. Instead, it was as if he was looking at an Albright family possession that didn’t belong to him, something that could be discarded at any moment. I steadied myself, slowly nodding. “Alright, I understand. Thank you to the Albright family for taking care of me all these years. The money spent on me, I will pay back every cent.” Mr. Albright looked at my expressionless face and actually showed a hint of imperceptible sadness. He opened his mouth, seeming to want to say something more, but Brandon’s cold scoff interrupted him. “Pay back? Look at yourself!” Brandon crossed his arms, his face full of disdain. “A day’s stay in this fancy hospital would probably wipe out a year’s worth of your wages. What are you going to use to pay us back?” I met his gaze, my tone still flat: “Is that so? If I can’t afford it, then I’ll leave right now.” With that, I started to throw off the covers and get out of bed. Seeing this, Mr. Albright quickly stepped forward, his voice tinged with a hint of pity: “Don’t be impulsive, you’re not well yet. Why don’t you come home with me first? The family will continue to look after you.” I stopped, turning to him and giving a slight nod, my voice distant: “Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Albright. I will repay the Albright family in the future.” Hearing that address, Mr. Albright’s face blurred for a moment. He looked at me with complex eyes, as if remembering something, or regretting something. Brandon, however, couldn’t hold back. He stepped forward, blocking me, warning fiercely: “Who needs your repayment? Just don’t cause trouble! You can come home with us, but if you dare to bully Penelope again, I swear I won’t let you off!” I ignored him, just looked at Mr. Albright, silently waiting for him to decide. Finally, Mr. Albright took me back to the Albright house. Mrs. Albright instructed Maria to prepare dinner. The ingredients were already ready, and soon the dishes were served. I didn’t move, instead turning and walking towards the small room where the staff ate. Mr. Albright, seeing this, opened his mouth in confusion: “Where are you going?” I looked back at him, calmly asking in return: “Mr. Albright, didn’t you say I was a servant the Albright family adopted?” “How can a servant sit and eat with their employers in the dining room?” The single sentence froze everyone present, all of them looking awkward. Penelope’s eyes suddenly reddened. She tugged at my sleeve, softly saying: “Sister, don’t be like this. I’ll give you my seat; I can stand and eat.” Mrs. Albright immediately pulled Penelope close, her voice gentle and pained: “Penelope, you’re our precious daughter. How can you stand and eat? Come, sit with Mom.” Penelope immediately leaned into Mrs. Albright’s arms, whining playfully: “Mom, you’re so good to me.” Another dazzling display of a loving mother and daughter. Seeing this, Brandon and Leo immediately jumped to Penelope’s defense. “Look at you, Penelope is being so accommodating, and you’re still so relentless!” Brandon glared at me. Leo also frowned, saying: “Chloe, you’re being far too aggressive. How could you treat Penelope like that?” I shrugged nonchalantly. “She offered her seat herself. I didn’t force her.” “If there’s nothing else, I’m going to eat.” With that, I no longer looked at their displeased faces and walked straight into the staff room. Early Monday morning, I was carrying my faded backpack, ready to go to school, when Brandon stopped me just as I reached the door. “Don’t go causing trouble at school, and don’t tell anyone you know us. You’ll just embarrass the Albright family.” “Also, don’t bother me or Leo unnecessarily. We’re not in the same league as you.” Leo stood beside him, tacitly agreeing with Brandon’s words, though he cast a complicated glance at me before quickly looking away. I didn’t reply. I opened the door and walked directly to the bus stop. Since they declared me a servant, the family car had never once taken me to school.

At school, Penelope and her clique of friends always tried to cause me trouble. But I never paid them any mind, treating them like annoying dogs barking in my ear. This morning, as I reached the school gate, Penelope and her friends blocked my way. I had an old-fashioned MP3 player plugged into my ears. I didn’t have the chance to go to school when I was in the brothel, and I always wanted to study properly. Now that I was back in the city, I could finally slowly catch up. “Chloe Albright, what is that piece of junk you have plugged into your ears?” One of Penelope’s friends reached out and yanked off my headphones, her voice full of mockery. “What century are you living in? Still using a prehistoric MP3 player. What a total geek!” “What kind of lame music are you listening to? Let us hear it, huh?” She turned on the speaker. Penelope, hearing it, immediately covered her mouth and laughed: “Oh, you’re studying English? With your pathetic level, what’s the point?” Her friend chimed in: “Exactly! Penelope’s English is way better than yours. She’s going to an Ivy League university abroad with her grandmother after she turns eighteen!” “Chloe, you could study English your whole life and never surpass Penelope!” Penelope listened to their words, her face beaming with pride. I hadn’t even opened my mouth when an elegant old lady, with silvery hair, walked up, carrying a suitcase. She wore a well-fitted trench coat, her face showing a hint of urgency. It turned out she was Grandma Eleanor, a wealthy matriarch who had lived abroad for decades and was not fluent in the local language. She asked for directions in English, and I understood enough to communicate with her and point her the way. Penelope scoffed at me: “Chloe Albright, your English accent is so embarrassing, you’ll make everyone laugh.” I rolled my eyes at her, speaking flatly: “Didn’t you say your English was so good? Then *you* help her with directions.” Penelope adopted a haughty posture: “Why should I help her? An old lady, it’s none of my business if she falls and dies.” With that, she dragged her friends into the school. I ignored her. I turned back to the old lady, offering a polite smile, and conversed with her fluently in English. The old woman looked at me with an admiring gaze. Only after her back disappeared down the road did I pick up my MP3 player from the ground and head into school for class. Time flew by, and soon it was Penelope’s eighteenth birthday gala. The Albright family hosted a grand party, with everyone fawning over Penelope, who was the center of attention. No one remembered that today was also *my* birthday. Just then, the ballroom doors opened, and a distinguished old woman walked in – it was the Albright family matriarch, Grandma Eleanor. She usually lived abroad and had returned specifically to take her chosen grandchild overseas to further her career. Mrs. Albright’s eyes lit up. She immediately nudged Penelope forward: “Penelope, quickly go help Grandma and sit with her.” Penelope instantly put on a sweet and innocent act. “Grandma, you’re back. What a tiring journey for you.” But as her hand just touched Grandma Eleanor’s sleeve, she froze. Grandma Eleanor was staring at her with an icy gaze. The next second, Grandma Eleanor brushed her hand away, her voice as cold as ice: “I don’t need your help. It’s none of your business even if I fall and die.” Penelope’s face flushed with embarrassment, her hand suspended awkwardly in mid-air. I stood in the corner, barely holding back a laugh. Wasn’t that the matriarch I met at the school gate that day? Turns out, she’s *my* grandmother. “Chloe Albright! What are you laughing at?!” Brandon immediately yelled at me. “This has nothing to do with you! Get out of here right now!” I was about to turn, but Grandma Eleanor called out: “Wait, child.” She quickly walked to my side, grabbing my hand, her voice instantly softening as she showered me with concern: “How have you been? Are you eating properly? Come, sit with Grandma.” Mrs. Albright quickly stepped forward to intervene, a forced smile on her face: “Mom, this isn’t proper. She’s just a…” Her words were cut short by Grandma Eleanor’s sharp interruption. “Just a what?” “Regardless of her status, *I* feel a connection with this girl. She feels more like my granddaughter. Do any of you have an issue with that?”

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My Face Reconstructionist husband, obsessed with restoring his first love’s ruined face, dove headfirst into researching facial transplant techniques. His method? Flaying mine. Every time Anya Petrova craved a ravishingly beautiful face, my own skin was brutally flayed from me. As it peeled away, my blood pooled into a crimson river on the floor, leaving my raw flesh exposed. Yet, he would casually say: “Cover up those wounds. Don’t let Anya see you like this; you’ll scare her.” “You ruined Anya’s face. Even a thousand flayings won’t be enough to pay for what you did. You deserve every bit of it.” I was the one who had supposedly harmed Anya, so I bore no resentment. But the 101st time I awoke from the agonizing pain of a flaying, I overheard his conversation with his subordinate: “Damian, Ms. Davies’s face can’t take any more. If we continue, she won’t survive… Besides, Ms. Petrova’s facial defect was congenital, Sera didn’t cause it.” Damian Thorne’s fingers idly spun a surgical scalpel, his expression chillingly blank: “She doesn’t need saving. Once Anya has a perfect face, I’ll grant her a dignified death.” So, I wasn’t guilty after all. I was merely kept alive as Anya Petrova’s human face-growing vessel. Tears streamed down my face as I laughed. If that’s the case, then I’ll simply erase my identity, cross the vast ocean, and vanish where no one can ever find me.

The familiar, excruciating pain flared again. Blood on my face blurred my vision, crimson tears tracing paths from the corners of my eyes. The scalpel was pressed down mercilessly, my face flayed right off me. Damian swiftly severed nerves and blood vessels. “You disfigured Anya. I’ll make you pay a thousand times over for her pain!” My face was placed in a special medicinal solution Damian had concocted. Every time Anya voiced the slightest dissatisfaction, another one of my faces would join the others in the sterilizer cabinet. I couldn’t suppress a cry of agony. Damian sneered, “It’s just a surgery without anesthetic. Can’t you handle even that?” My blood flowed like a river on the floor, my raw flesh exposed. He merely said, his tone dismissive: “Cover your face. Don’t let Anya see that horrifying sight.” I turned my head. Anya’s face contorted into a shriek, “Damian, her face is so scary!” Damian soothed her, his gaze filled with adoration, “Don’t be afraid, my Anya. You’ll have the most beautiful face in no time.” His words struck me like a physical blow. He used to call *me* his Anya when he was affectionate. My name, Seraphina, sounds similar to Anya. I thought it was a tender nickname for me, but it turns out he was never truly calling *my* name. Damian brought a mirror. Anya looked at me, a defiant smirk playing on her lips, “What a truly beautiful face!” Damian turned and went to the blood pool, retrieved a flower, crushed it, and applied it to Anya’s face. “Damian, what kind of flower is this? It smells like blood.” Damian was still adjusting it for her, “This is a Bone Bloom. It will help accelerate your wound healing.” Our Lumina Clan is born with innate regenerative and healing powers. Even after death, our bones and blood can transform into Bone Blooms. I never imagined that even after my parents were gone, Damian still wouldn’t spare them. Desperate to get closer, I tumbled off the operating table. Damian’s voice was low and stern, “Since you enjoy kneeling so much, go kneel on the broken glass outside the door.” Through the half-open door, I heard Anya’s sweet, seductive voice, “Damian, try this one, won’t you? Morbid curiosities made from dead people’s bones, just thinking about it is thrilling…” From the operating table, through to where I knelt outside the door, Anya’s soft cries for mercy echoed, “Damian, please, spare my ears.” Blood from my face trickled into my ears. I remembered how, on our wedding night, Damian had also teasingly played with my ears. It was just him recreating the sensations he shared with Anya, using me as a substitute.

A bone, covered in some foul substance, struck my face. My thoughts were jolted back to the night a year ago when our entire clan was consumed by fire. Damian pushed open the door, his boot crunching ruthlessly over the charred remains of my family. His voice was filled with a perverse satisfaction, “Tell me where your remaining family is, and I’ll give you some pain relief, make it a little less agonizing for you.” I gave a bitter laugh, the wound tearing painfully. A warm liquid, whether blood or tears, traced a path down my face. “My family, they’re all gone.” Damian paused, suddenly remembering that he had given Anya free rein to do as she pleased with them, just to appease her. “They died serving their purpose, atoning for your sins. If it weren’t for you, how would Anya’s face be like this? This is all on you!” I collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath, enduring double the pain. My Lumina bloodline is potent, granting me powerful regenerative abilities. Damian had used forbidden magic to transfer Anya’s pain directly to me. I applied medicine to my face, put on a mask, and prepared to lay my mother’s remains to rest. As soon as I stepped out of the operating room, Damian’s subordinates seized me and dragged me to the reception hall. On an exhibition platform, blinding lights shone on my face. Damian’s voice was devoid of any warmth, “She caused Anya’s disfigurement. Anyone who performs a hundred acts of punishment on her will earn a voucher for a facial reconstruction.” His smile was dangerous, “Since she has regenerative powers, as long as her face remains untouched, you can do whatever you please.” The moment he finished speaking, the crowd surged forward, punching and kicking me. My clothes were shredded, and countless hands ravaged my body. Men lined up, one after another, eager to drag me into private rooms. When the brutality finally ended, there wasn’t a single unbruised spot on my body. By the time I was finally brought before Damian again, I was barely recognizable as human. His appointments were booked solid for the next fifty years. Anya leaned into Damian’s embrace, “Damian, you must be so tired. Is this too much for you? Sera didn’t mean it.” Damian glanced at me on the floor, “Her disfigured face startled you and upset you, which might affect your recovery. This is just a small punishment for her!” Damian’s assistant stepped forward to report, “Damian, Leo has been clamoring to see his mother. I couldn’t stop him, so I brought him.” Damian snapped, “Useless. Can’t even control a child. Go take your punishment.” At that, Leo bounded in, jumping into Anya’s arms. My voice was hoarse as I called out his name, “Leo, my sweet Leo, *I* am your mother…” My mask had fallen off nearby. Leo looked at me, then shrieked, “Monster! Mommy, I’m scared, Daddy, get this monster away!” His piercing scream merged with the memory of an infant’s cry. It brutally pierced my eardrums. For years, I was only granted a few photos of him when a flayed face of mine pleased Anya. Seeing that I couldn’t harm him, Leo ran over and brutally stomped on my hand. When I struggled, he pointed at me and said, “Daddy, I want to see this monster perform some tricks! It’ll be hilarious!” Anya chimed in: “Damian, I want to see it too. Make her perform for us.” Damian gently stroked her face, “There’s no refusing you.”

Anya’s smile was malicious, “Leo told me he really wants a puppy.” Leo clapped his hands in delight. My legs were broken with an iron bar, a pet collar was fastened around my neck, and the leash was held in Leo’s and Anya’s hands. “Mommy, let’s have a tug-of-war! See who can pull her!” The collar choked my neck, close to suffocating me. Bones in my broken legs churned in the bloody mess. Every movement felt like countless steel needles piercing me. “Why is she so lifeless? She resisted so fiercely when I was… on her!” “Right? Don’t let her scary face fool you, her body is actually better than those professional escorts!” I never imagined that the child I desperately brought into this world would be the sharpest knife to wound me. Nails Anya scattered on the floor pierced my body and face. I felt all my blood draining, slowly losing warmth. Scenes from childbirth flashed like a movie in my mind. All because of Anya’s single complaint about feeling insecure. Damian had stormed into the delivery room, ignoring my heavy post-birth hemorrhage. He ordered his men to keep me alive with drugs, then forcibly began the facial transplantation surgery. Wave after wave of tearing pain crashed over me. Blood poured from my face and between my legs. My thoughts snapped back. Leo climbed onto my back, demanding a piggyback ride. The steel nails dug deeper into my body, pulling my consciousness back. A second before I completely lost consciousness, I heard Damian’s words, “Drag her out, give her some medicine and water. Don’t let it affect the next facial transfer.” When I saw daylight again, I was back on the operating table. This time, the facial transfer wasn’t as painful as expected. Damian, uncharacteristically, had given me medication before the procedure. I fell into a long, terrifying dream. I could faintly hear voices nearby, “Damian, did you give Sera a fear-inducing serum?” Damian’s cold, sharp voice pierced my eardrums, “She ruined your face and made you suffer daily. This serum will stir her deepest fears; it’s just an appetizer.” Lumina Village. Our clan had lived in seclusion for generations. The first time I brought Damian home to meet my parents, I unknowingly brought the wolf to the door. Anya had followed us. She coveted our clan’s legendary artifact, the Mirage Bloom, a flower rumored to shift appearances. But the curse of the Mirage Bloom backfired, leaving her severely injured and spitting blood. My parents caught her red-handed. Damian arrived, pretending indifference, but that very night, he drugged our food. My parents were seized, locked in a dark room, and subjected to endless torture. Their blood was drained, their bones dug up to cultivate the Bone Blooms. I desperately begged him to spare the rest of my clan. Anya, however, cried and claimed she was traumatized by the false accusations. Damian left his men behind, letting Anya direct their actions. That night, a sea of fire erupted in the forest, consuming everything. All the clan members screamed and scrambled in the flames, but ultimately, they were reduced to ash and charred bones. I tried to save them. But I couldn’t reach them. I couldn’t change anything.

A bucket of ice water splashed over me, jolting me awake from the nightmare. I gasped for air like a fish flopping on the brink of death. Damian looked down at me from above: “Anya is entering a beauty pageant. You will be the morbid spectacle for the show, building hype for her.” He ordered coldly, “Someone, take her and administer a silencing draught. Don’t let her voice interfere with the competition.” My hand was seized, and I signed a liability waiver. On the beauty pageant stage, Anya was dressed in dazzling splendor. I was locked in a cage. Anya announced her act: dragging me with an iron chain to leap through flaming hoops. If I moved too slowly, a barbed whip, soaked in brine, cracked against my flesh. The audience below roared, “Whip her! Whip her harder!” “Beasts need to be broken to obey! She’s so ugly, why is she even out here? Serves her right!” After the grotesque show, Anya’s popularity soared, and she was voted first place. Anya, clutching her trophy, threw herself into Damian’s arms, “It seems everyone really loved my performance, Damian!” Damian’s lips curved into a smirk, “She owes you this!” Anya said casually, as if just thinking aloud, “My sister is so resilient, many people must be interested. She’d make excellent collateral for a wager!” Then she tugged Damian’s sleeve, “Damian, you’ve already spent so much money supporting my pageant. Why don’t you let my sister…” Damian responded with action, “Drag her to the underground casino.” At the underground casino, I was masked and placed in the center. The host began to announce the rules, “Tonight, our casino owner, Mr. Thorne, has devised a new game. Everyone, bet on how long it will take for this woman’s blood to fill the tank, once the game begins!” He paused dramatically, feigning mystery. “The rule is, you guess a specific time. If you’re wrong, you lose nine dollars and ninety-nine cents to our boss. If you win, well, you get to spend the night with her.” The gamblers’ eyes gleamed with a crazed, bloodthirsty excitement. Looking at the rows of knives stuck into the ground, I instinctively wanted to retreat. Anya leaned into my ear, “Sister, this has all been carefully prepared just for you. Go on!” She shoved me forcefully, sending me stumbling. My foot was savagely pierced by a knife. The sharp blade protruded from the top of my foot. Unable to bear it any longer, I collapsed to the ground. The surrounding knives deeply embedded themselves in my thighs and arms. A single movement, and blood poured out. I gritted my teeth through the piercing pain, pulling out the knives from my feet and arms. With every step I took, a new gash opened on my body. The gamblers, their eyes bloodshot, shouted, “I bet 20 minutes!” “30 minutes!” “A foot won’t bleed that fast! When I punished a traitor from my gang, it took over an hour for him to bleed out!” Due to severe blood loss, my consciousness was fading. “I guessed it right! I guessed it right!” A raggedly dressed beggar shrieked in excitement. The beggar greedily tore the mask from my face, “A ghost! A ghost! A demoness come to claim my life!” He stumbled back, falling onto the floor, terrified. “I thought it was a beauty, but it’s a terrifying monster! She’d scare you awake in the middle of the night, ha-ha-ha!” The beggar, initially startled, felt his fear curdle into malice upon hearing the laughter. He stood up and began to kick and punch me. “You ugly witch! You scared the hell out of me! Let me properly teach you a lesson!” After venting his rage, he called out to his fellow beggars, “Waste not, want not! Quick, help me carry her back. Once I’m done, you can all have her.” As they passed Damian, I desperately clutched his sleeve. He stopped them. I looked up, thinking he might finally release me. Instead, he slowly rolled up his sleeve and said, his voice flat, “You can do whatever you want with her, just don’t damage her face. And try not to kill her.” My heart turned to ash, instantly plummeting into a deeper hell. In a squalid shack in the slums, water dripped from the tattered roof onto my naked, violated body. My head thumped against the wall with every movement. Men came and went, an endless procession.

As my consciousness drifted in and out, a straw mat was thrown over me. A man’s voice, cold as ice, said, “Take her to the hospital. Her face is still useful!” Opening my eyes, Leo stared at me with wide, curious eyes. A pang of bittersweet emotion, a mix of sorrow and a flicker of hope, shot through my heart. “Leo, did you come to see me? I’ve missed you so much.” I reached out a hand, still hooked to an IV drip, to touch his face, but he slapped it away. Leo’s face contorted in disgust, “Liar! My mommy is the most beautiful woman in the world! You’re just an ugly monster!” With that, he turned and ran out. Soon after, he came back, holding Anya’s hand. “You ugly monster, stop lying to me! *This* is my mommy! You’re not even fit to lick her shoes!” Anya stroked his head, coaxing him, “Leo, if you pull out that tube from her face, you won’t have to see her anymore.” Leo asked, confused, “Really? I hate her, I don’t want to see her!” I closed my eyes in despair. The person I fought so hard to bring into this world wanted to kill me. How pathetic, how ironic. In the end, a nurse rushed in and saved me. From that moment on, I decided I had never given birth to this child! Damian pushed open the door and ordered expensive imported medicine for me. I had no expectations left for him or his son. Sure enough, his next words were, “Anya has had too many facial transfers recently and needs to recuperate. No more transfers for now. You are to be on call 24 hours a day, ready to appear the moment you’re needed.” He then added, “Anya won first place in the beauty pageant. She said it was all thanks to you. As a reward, she’s granting you a chance to visit your parents’ graves.” I gave a bitter laugh. When did visiting my own parents’ graves require someone else’s permission and reward? The ninety-ninth time I woke from the agonizing pain of a flaying. “Damian, Ms. Davies’s face can’t take any more. Her Lumina bloodline is too weak; if we continue, she won’t survive! Besides, Ms. Petrova’s facial defect was congenital, Ms. Davies didn’t cause it.” Damian idly spun a surgical scalpel, his expression chillingly blank, “She doesn’t need saving. Once Anya has a perfect face, I’ll grant her a dignified death.” So, from the very beginning, he only approached me for my face. I was merely Anya Petrova’s human face-growing vessel. Tears streamed down my face as I laughed. If that’s the case, then I’ll simply erase my identity, cross the vast ocean, and vanish where no one can ever find me. To help Anya recuperate, Damian took her to a famous spa town in France. Seeing vast fields of lavender, a strange stirring pulsed within Damian’s heart. His first encounter with Sera Davies had also been in a field of flowers. As a Face Reconstructionist, her striking beauty immediately captivated him. Later, he found the little girl who had always comforted him in his childhood. He had promised her that when his skills were perfected, he would give her the most beautiful face. When he saw Anya lying on the ground in the village, her face covered in blood, he was consumed by a raging fury. From then on, Sera Davies lay on the operating table countless times, and Anya Petrova’s face was transformed again and again. Later, he vaguely sensed that Anya wasn’t as innocent as she seemed. But what did it matter? Sera Davies’s face was merely a natural professional attraction to him. He still loved the little girl who had once told him she believed he would become the greatest Face Reconstructionist. “Damian, what are you staring at? Come take my picture!” Damian rubbed his temples, feeling a surge of irritation. Sera Davies never behaved like this. She always gazed at him with gentle eyes, meticulously handling every detail. Damian suddenly remembered that Sera Davies’s favorite color was purple. Damian called Mr. Jenkins, “Jenkins, arrange for 999 bouquets of lavender to be air-shipped back home.” “Damian, isn’t Ms. Petrova here with you? Are you planning a surprise? Should I send them to the old estate or the villa?” Damian’s face darkened, “Is that any of your business? Send them to the villa, addressed to Sera Davies.” Overhearing at the manor entrance, Anya’s face twisted with jealousy and rage. At the vineyard estate. A phone rang, breaking the afternoon silence. Damian was unusually quiet today, idly swirling a wine glass in his hand. He drank cup after cup. “Damian, Ms. Davies’s blood pool is almost empty. The wound medicine we sent hasn’t been used, and the guards haven’t seen Ms. Davies in a long time!”

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My husband, a Chief Physician, desperately tried to stop me from operating on Maya, Director Thompson’s daughter, who had fallen four stories. All so his ‘precious’ first love, Veronica, a surgical specialist fresh back from overseas, could take the lead. It was the same in my previous life. She knew absolutely nothing about actual surgery, only theory, no practice. We almost missed the optimal window for the operation. I was the one who fought tooth and nail, insisting on the initial treatment plan, pulling Maya back from the brink. But Veronica felt humiliated. She actually jumped from the hospital rooftop, ending up with high paraplegia. In retaliation, my husband banished me to a tiny rural clinic for “training,” even arranging for people in the village to torment and humiliate me. I tried to hide and call for help, but his voice on the other end was ice cold. “Scarlett, it’s just one surgery. Do you *really* have to hog all the glory from Veronica?” “Then you should taste what it’s like to be tormented.” My location was exposed because of that call, and I was ultimately humiliated to death. When I opened my eyes again, the emergency gurney was already being wheeled in front of me. This time, I didn’t rush. My hands were in my pockets, just waiting to see how his beloved first love would handle all of this. .

“What’s taking this overseas doctor so long? We’re racing against death here!” “The patient’s body temperature is already rising, and her limbs are swelling.” “If she starts convulsing, we might not be able to save her.” Everyone in the operating room was behind me, frantic. But no matter how anxious they were, how much they urged, all they got was Derek’s angry shouting. “What’s the rush? Do you honestly think any of *you* can save this patient?” “Veronica graduated from the best hospital overseas. As long as she’s operating, there’ll be no problem.” Derek’s yelling left the surgical team disoriented. But he always had full control over major surgeries, and no one dared question him. Chloe, a neurosurgeon from my university days, who was standing behind me, couldn’t hold back. “If we wait any longer, we might not save her. Let’s just get her into surgery, intubate her, at least that’ll buy us some time.” Every department in the hospital had rushed to the consultation, desperate to finalize the best surgical plan and save her life. But Chloe’s words didn’t sway Derek; they only made him more irritated. “This entire operation is under my full authority! You neurosurgery folks just wait for my orders.” Chloe got angry. “How are you talking to me? All departments are equal here!” “Besides, I’m giving you advice!” But Derek’s face was cold. He looked at the Chief of Neurosurgery. “Replace her. Send her back to Neurosurgery. We don’t need her here!” Chloe turned away furiously, glaring at Derek before she left. Then, Derek’s eyes landed on me. “Scarlett, what do *you* think?” Chloe was my college roommate. Derek had just yelled at her and sent her away, only to ask me after she’d gone. His meaning was crystal clear. I looked at him and smiled faintly. “You’re the Chief of Surgery and the one in charge of this operation. Of course, I’ll follow your lead.” Derek hadn’t expected me to be so compliant today. He gave a satisfied laugh, then looked at the consulting doctors behind him. “See? *This* is the kind of obedience a doctor should have.” I stood calmly behind him, watching it all unfold. In my previous life, I chose to fight him to the bitter end, and in return, he had me killed in the countryside for Veronica. This time, I wouldn’t be that foolish.

Just as everyone was anxiously waiting, Veronica finally arrived, fashionably late. She had a perfectly made-up face and strolled in without a hint of urgency. Maya’s body temperature was steadily rising. Veronica walked up to the patient, looking around. “Did you take X-rays? How am I supposed to pinpoint the fracture without X-rays?” Nurse Reynolds immediately handed her the imaging films. The nurse’s swift action cut Veronica’s pretentious speech short. But Veronica still didn’t admit she couldn’t do the surgery. “Just images aren’t enough. I also need to know the amount of blood loss, whether it’s suitable for an incision.” Nurse Reynolds finally lost her patience. She looked at Veronica, her eyes full of disdain. “Dr. Veronica!” She emphasized “Doctor” with a hint of thinly veiled sarcasm. “You’re supposed to be a *doctor*! Are you even capable of performing this surgery?” “This isn’t the time to assess blood loss! We need to get her into the operating room immediately. Every second counts; every minute she’s out here increases her risk exponentially!” Veronica bristled. She looked at Nurse Reynolds and spoke coldly. “Am I the lead surgeon, or are you?” “You’re just a Head Nurse; how dare you speak to me like that!” Nurse Reynolds had worked in this hospital for over twenty years, accumulating as much knowledge and experience as any doctor. Veronica, utterly arrogant, then turned to Derek, whining slightly. “Derek, darling, since they all look down on me so much, maybe I should just leave.” Derek quickly stopped Veronica, then looked at me. He whispered conspiratorially in her ear. I didn’t hear what they said, but Veronica finally conceded. “Fine, let’s get her into the operating room.” Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief, quickly wheeling the patient into surgery. But then came another long wait. Everyone in the operating room looked at me, hoping I would take charge. I looked at the girl’s increasingly faint heartbeat on the cardiac monitor, feeling a wave of helplessness. “Scarlett, please, at least stabilize her breathing, get the airways clear. We can prevent further lung damage to the child.” I hesitated for a moment, just about to nod. Veronica, dressed in surgical scrubs, strode in. Everyone’s eyes fixed on her, filled with an unspoken resentment. If this precious life were to be lost because of this imbecile, they’d tear Veronica limb from limb. But Veronica remained oblivious. She walked forward arrogantly, glanced at the girl’s body, and spoke indifferently. “It’s not as serious as I thought. To call me here for *this*? I hadn’t even finished my facial mask yet.” Nurse Reynolds gritted her teeth in anger but held back. Then Derek walked in. Veronica huffed, then went to Derek’s side. “Derek, darling, with you here, this surgery is bound to be a success.” Derek tenderly brushed her cheek. “Of course, you’re the best doctor in the world.” Their intimate display made the other doctors in the operating room exchange glances, their gazes involuntarily drifting to me. My mask hid my face, but it couldn’t hide the simmering resentment in my eyes. Not for their private affair, but for the life on that table. I finally couldn’t hold back. “Can we start now?” Veronica rolled her eyes at me, then scoffed. “What, you want to do it?” “Ordering me around now, are you? *I’m* the lead surgeon!” “Go get an overseas doctorate if you’re so capable.” I didn’t speak, but the cardiac monitor suddenly shrieked. Nurse Reynolds yelled in a panic. “Oh no, the patient’s heart is in ventricular fibrillation!”

The atmosphere in the operating room instantly became frantic. “Quick! Get the defibrillator ready!” “Asynchronous defibrillation, 200 joules!” “One! Two! Three! Clear!” The nurses were a flurry of motion, everyone passing the torch to extend a life. Veronica, however, was terrified by the commotion. She ran into Derek’s arms, whimpering dramatically. “Oh, Derek, darling, this is too scary.” “I don’t want to stay here. I want to leave.” No one in the operating room had time to deal with her sickening display, and neither did I. Derek, however, guarded Veronica like she was precious cargo. “It’s alright. Just let them resuscitate her, and then you can continue.” Finally, after more than two minutes of CPR, the girl’s heart resumed beating. But there was little time left to waste. Nurse Reynolds was barely able to control her inner anxiety. “Dr. Veronica, can you or can you not operate on this patient?” “If not, then get out of here!” Veronica shot her a venomous glare, then looked at me. “This kind of surgery isn’t worth my time.” “You.” She raised her hand and pointed at me. “You do it.” I frowned. A shiver of surprise ran through me. I had been hiding my presence, waiting until the last moment when I absolutely *had* to step in. But not only had Derek singled me out earlier, Veronica, too, seemed to have a tracking device on me. She had zeroed in on me. I pressed my lips together. In my moment of hesitation, Derek also spoke. “Scarlett, since Veronica wants you to do it, then you do it.” Derek’s expression was calm, making it impossible to guess what they were truly planning. And everyone else in the operating room, hearing Veronica pick me, ask me to do the surgery, felt like a ray of hope piercing through the storm clouds. Nurse Reynolds quickly ushered me to the operating table. “Dr. Scarlett, we really can’t let them mess around anymore.” “This is a human life! They’re wasting precious time like this!” I reassured Nurse Reynolds with a glance, then began preparing for the surgery. Incision, intubation – a seamless, practiced flow. Nurse Reynolds stood beside me, handing me the surgical tools. I didn’t need to speak; I’d just extend my hand and receive the exact tool I needed. Though I had performed this very surgery once before in my previous life, I still couldn’t afford any mistakes this time. Maya was severely injured. She had fallen from five stories, sustaining skull damage and comminuted fractures in both arms and legs. I had to proceed methodically, step by painstaking step. My forehead was already glistening with sweat. After the neurosurgeons finished with the skull, I would take over the arms and legs. The skull work was done, and the neurosurgeons handed the reins over to me. I nodded, ready to pick up a tool and begin on an arm, when Veronica, who had been silent, spoke again. “Derek, darling, I want to learn from Scarlett how to perform surgical procedures.” I looked at Veronica, puzzled. Her face was alight with a challenging smile. Derek didn’t hesitate. “Of course, darling. Veronica can go wherever she wants, see whatever she wants.” “Scarlett, you don’t mind, do you?” I couldn’t refuse, nor could I afford to. Veronica came to my side, pushing Nurse Reynolds away. “Scarlett, dear, let me be your assistant.”

I knew that the person beside me wasn’t truly interested in watching my surgery, despite what she said. But I looked at the monitors; the patient’s vitals were steadily worsening. There was absolutely no time to waste. I forced myself to focus all my attention on the surgery. “Forceps.” I spoke coldly, reaching my hand to the right to grab the tool. But I waited and waited, and no tool came. Veronica’s shrill voice cut through the silence. “Oh, Scarlett, dear, there are so many forceps here! Do you want toothed forceps, or non-toothed forceps?” “Non-toothed.” Only after getting a definitive answer did she place the forceps in my hand. And that was just the beginning. After that, anything I asked for wouldn’t be provided immediately. Finally, on the fifth time, she asked me. “Scarlett, dear, do you want a laser scalpel or an ultrasonic scalpel?” I swept a cold gaze over her. The triumphant look on her face made me want nothing more than to plunge the scalpel in my hand straight into her cold, manipulative heart. How could anyone be so careless with a human life? “Do you know how to do this or not? If not, just stand aside and watch.” I spoke calmly. “Nurse Reynolds, please take over.” I had no time to argue with her. Now that this surgery was in my hands, I *had* to complete it and save this child’s life. Veronica scoffed dismissively. She stomped angrily to the other side, then watched my every move, incessantly chattering. “Scarlett, dear, if all the doctors in this country were as professional as you, wouldn’t our national medicine already be far ahead in the world?” “Scarlett, dear, why don’t you teach me? I’ve only studied these things, I haven’t gotten any hands-on experience.” I frowned, not looking at her. “If you haven’t gotten hands-on experience, go watch videos and practice.” She felt the sting of rejection, bit her lip, then huffed contemptuously. “Fine, don’t teach. What’s with the arrogance?” “You’ve just been stuck in this hospital longer. You’re nowhere near as capable as Derek.” “He’s a Chief Physician now, and you’re just a lowly surgeon.” I completely ignored her, which only fueled Veronica’s indignation. She raised her hand and shoved me. “Hey, I’m talking to you! Why aren’t you answering?” The push itself wasn’t the problem; it was *when* she pushed me – just as I was about to remove the necrotic tissue. Her shove made my hand falter, and the scalpel sliced through an artery. Blood instantly began to spray, throwing everyone in the room into a panic. “Quick, stop the bleeding!” “Oh no, the patient’s blood pressure just dropped to 60! We need to stop the bleeding immediately!” Even Veronica hadn’t anticipated such an accident. She froze, unable to move. It was then that Derek finally spoke up. “It’s alright, as long as you stop the bleeding.” Veronica seemed to draw comfort from his words. She continued her boorish chatter in my ear. “Oh, Scarlett, dear, how could you make such a huge mistake!” “If Director Thompson finds out you’ve caused his daughter more injury, what kind of punishment do you think you’ll get?” I finally stopped being indifferent, glaring at her with wide eyes. “What do you mean?” Just then, more bad news came from the anesthesia team. “Dr. Scarlett, bad news! The patient’s blood oxygen is dropping rapidly! We need to stitch the wound immediately!” Veronica bent closer to me, whispering in my ear. The blaring warning from the monitors and her words were like a demon’s whisper from the very depths of hell. “I don’t think this child is going to make it.” “But it’s fine. Even if the surgery fails, you’ll be the one to take the fall.”

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My Savior Stole My Life** I was the envy of the entire metropolis. My billionaire husband adored me, holding me as the very core of his being, and my newly wealthy brother cherished me down to my very soul. Three years ago, I was diagnosed with a rare illness. They swore they’d give their lives to see me well again. And they made good on that promise. My husband halted several crucial projects, pouring billions into the global search for a kidney donor. My brother, too, canceled all his social engagements, and was by my side at the hospital every single day. Three years later, my health had largely recovered. I could finally come back to the city. I didn’t tell them, wanting to surprise them. But I was stopped at the familiar villa gates. The security guard’s voice was sharp with警惕: “Who are you looking for?” “This is my home, I’m Julian Thorne’s wife.” I smiled. The guard paused, then his face twisted into a look of pure disgust, like I was some low-rent gold-digger. “Mrs. Thorne doesn’t look like you.” As he spoke, the guard pulled out his phone and opened his gallery. The woman in the photo looked incredibly similar to me, even down to the two faint dimples when she smiled. I knew her. It was Seraphina Hayes, the woman who had donated her kidney to me years ago.

I stumbled back, my phone nearly slipping from my grasp. The guard’s disgusted glare intensified. “See? If you had an ounce of dignity, you’d know better than to come here and make a spectacle of yourself.” “Mr. Thorne treats his wife wonderfully, we all see how much they love each other. Don’t you go living in a fantasy.” With that, the guard shoved me hard. I wasn’t steady on my feet, and after a long, restless journey, I fell heavily. My head hit the ground with a sickening thud, and my mind spun. Just then, the guard’s walkie-talkie buzzed. A familiar voice crackled through— “What’s all that noise outside?” The guard’s attitude instantly turned fawning. “Mr. Thorne, just some crazy woman claiming she knows you.” “Get her out of here immediately. Mrs. Thorne just fell asleep, don’t disturb her.” I heard Julian’s voice clearly. It was arrogant, impatient, yet filled with a deep, protective affection for the “Mrs. Thorne” he spoke of. So, Julian and his “wife” were living in this villa now. In the home we built together, our matrimonial haven. My blood ran cold, solidifying in my veins. How many beautiful memories did we share within those walls? How could he let another woman live there? My blood boiled, and a sickeningly sweet, metallic taste flooded my mouth. “Julian, who is it?” A woman’s sleepy voice drifted from the walkie-talkie. Then came Julian’s voice, soft to the point of melting. “It’s nothing, darling, just a minor issue. Go back to sleep.” “Stay with me, though.” “Alright, alright, you always get your way, don’t you?” “Tomorrow, I still need to see my brother…” The walkie-talkie went silent. My heart felt as if it were being squeezed in a vice, the pain stealing my breath. That gentle voice, brimming with love. Before, he only spoke to *me* like that, adoring me as if I might melt right there in his hands. And my brother… Could Cameron know about this too? Of course. How could anything happening here be kept from my brother? I don’t remember how I left. I stumbled along the street, my phone vibrating incessantly. A message from Julian popped up. 【Darling, are you feeling better today?】 【Did you take your medicine? When is your surgery scheduled?】 My brother’s message arrived at the same time. 【My sweetest, most adorable little sister, do you miss me?】 【Brother’s been swamped with work lately and couldn’t visit you abroad. Are you mad at me, sis?】 Looking at those messages, tears streamed down my face uncontrollably. They seemed to love me so much, but why? Why would they let someone else take my place? Seraphina Hayes was the kidney donor Julian and Cameron found for me. She had a face strikingly similar to mine. The first time I met her, I even joked that we might be alternate versions of each other from a parallel universe. Back then, my brother had cupped my face and said: “My sister is one of a kind. No matter how much she looks like you, she can’t compare to even a fraction of your beauty.” Julian, from beginning to end, hadn’t spared Seraphina a second glance. Julian’s assistant spoke with Seraphina about the compensation after the kidney donation. That’s when I learned Seraphina’s family was extremely poor. She was forced to donate her kidney to pay for her seriously ill mother’s treatment. I still remember Seraphina back then, wearing a faded T-shirt, looking at me awkwardly. “Ma’am, I will take good care of my body and cooperate fully with the surgery.” I looked at her, my heart softening a little. I handed her a card: “Take this for your mother’s treatment first.” But she refused to take it, saying she wasn’t accepting charity. 2. The memory abruptly cut off. I suddenly looked up, towards the brightly lit villa in the distance. On the second-floor balcony, Julian held a petite woman tightly in his arms. On a whim, I called him. The next second, he hung up. I called again. He hung up again. My heart ached, and I squatted on the ground, gasping for air. About ten minutes later, he lifted the woman into his arms and carried her inside. Then, he reappeared on the balcony. My phone rang. “Hey, darling, what’s wrong? I was just on a video call.” I wanted to expose him right then and there. But the words caught in my throat, bitter and dry, unable to escape. “Darling?” Julian sounded confused. I still didn’t speak, biting my lip hard to keep from crying out loud. Julian finally sensed something was wrong and his tone turned worried: “Did someone upset you?” I wanted to say, *the ones upsetting me are you two.* I managed a bitter smile: “Julian Thorne, do you remember what day today is?” The other end fell silent for a moment, then he chuckled. “Oh, you’re mad because I forgot our wedding anniversary. My little princess is angry again.” “I’m sorry, darling, I’ve just been so busy today. I’ll come visit you abroad in a few days and make it up to you, alright?” Just then, I saw Seraphina come out again. She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Julian on the lips. The wet, sticky sound of the kiss was clearly audible through the phone. A wave of disgust washed over me. My voice was already hoarse: “No need. If you’re busy with work, then focus on that. Don’t worry about me.” “Okay, darling, you’re becoming so understanding.” The call ended, and the two figures on the second-floor balcony embraced under the moonlight, truly a loving couple! Tears instantly welled in my eyes. Was this what betrayal felt like? Eighteen-year-old Julian Thorne and Aurora Sterling could have never believed that twenty-five-year-old Julian would become a betrayer. He had loved me so fiercely. That summer, a boy held a basketball, dazzling under the sun. The wind brushed my cheek, carrying the eighteen-year-old’s voice across the years— “Aurora, I love you, and I’ll only ever love you. If I ever betray you, Aurora, may I drop dead on the spot!” The night wind made my entire body tremble uncontrollably. I slowly stood up, leaning against the wall, then turned and walked away. I hailed a taxi. The place I went was the small apartment my brother had given me for my eighteenth birthday. My hand trembled as I inserted the key into the lock. The moment the door opened, a suffocating wave of stale air and dust assaulted me. Clearly, no one had lived there in a long time. The furnishings inside were exactly as I’d left them three years ago. On the desk was a photo of my brother and me. Cameron wore a black suit, and I, standing next to him with a high ponytail, smiled joyfully. Cameron and Julian learned of my return the next day. Both of them gathered at my small apartment. Two powerful men, now facing me, their faces showed surprise and a touch of awkwardness. Julian was the first to step forward, reaching out to take my hand as he always used to. “Aurora, you’re back? Is it… is it all clear now?” I subtly avoided his hand. My brother’s eyes were moist, his voice choked. “Sister, this is wonderful. It’s great that you’re alright.” Julian’s hand froze in mid-air, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. Then, an even deeper tenderness softened his gaze. “Are you perhaps too tired from the long flight?” Hearing that, my brother hurried to my side, already worried, and reached out to touch my forehead. I didn’t move, my body stiff. Cameron checked carefully, “No, your temperature’s normal.” I forced a smile. “Yeah, I’m probably just a little tired.” Julian smoothly took over the conversation. “In that case, you should stay here for now, don’t run around. “This place is close to the hospital, it’ll be convenient for your follow-up appointments.” My lips curved into a bitter smile. Was this his way of preventing me from discovering he was keeping his mistress hidden away? How absurd. His wife was living outside, while his lover brazenly moved into our home. It seemed I was the one who looked like the ‘mistress.’ I smiled bitterly, “Whatever.” It wasn’t like I’d be staying long anyway. Julian’s brows unfurrowed, his tone imbued with his usual doting affection. “Such a good girl. Rest well here, I’ll come visit you often.” Cameron also visibly relaxed: “Okay, I’ll have Mrs. Olsen come tidy up. Tell me if you need anything, sis.” “Mm-hm.” I played along with their charade. 3 Julian’s phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the screen, then uncomfortably looked at me. He walked to the balcony, his voice deliberately lowered. Yet, blurred words still drifted into my ears. “Be a good girl, I’m busy right now, can’t come back yet… I’ll be done soon… Mm, I’ll bring you a small cake…” When he hung up and turned around, the tenderness hadn’t yet faded from his face. Julian walked back, a hint of apology in his eyes as he looked at me. “Something urgent came up at the company, I need to handle it. I’ll be back later for dinner.” I nodded, saying nothing. My brother looked at Julian with concern. “Is something wrong?” “Minor issue.” They were putting on a show, talking in veiled terms in front of me, thinking I didn’t know. Cameron eventually left with Julian. At the door, both of them turned back to look at me. Julian’s gaze was lingering: “Aurora, wait for me. I’ll be back tonight.” Cameron also looked at me dotingly. “Sister, get some sleep. I’ll take you to the hospital for your follow-up tomorrow.” I smiled and nodded. The next second, the door gently closed. The door separated me from them, and it severed my last shred of hope. In the empty living room, only I remained. The wall clock ticked, each beat seemingly echoing in my shattered heart. It felt like Cameron and Julian were slowly, agonizingly destroying me, all in the name of ‘love.’ That night, Julian didn’t return. He only sent me a message: 【Company business is demanding. I’ll have to stay at the office tonight. Get some rest, darling.】 And the next day, my brother, who had promised to take me for my follow-up, didn’t show up either. I took a taxi to the hospital myself. As I was leaving after my check-up, a commotion suddenly broke out nearby. I instinctively looked up. Just one glance, and my blood instantly turned to ice. Julian was carefully supporting Seraphina, his face full of tenderness and concern. My brother walked on the other side, his tone cautious and worried. “Slow down. The doctor said you have a threatened miscarriage. You can’t overexert yourself right now.” I froze. Seraphina was pregnant… Seraphina pouted at Julian, her voice sickly sweet. “It’s all your fault. You didn’t come back to be with me all night, that’s why I almost miscarried.” “Yes, yes, it’s all my fault.” Julian looked down, one hand supporting her shoulder, the other stroking her belly. The doting in his eyes was impossible to hide. “I’ll stay with you from now on, alright?” “My husband is so good to me.” Seraphina broke into a smile through her tears. My brother chimed in: “As long as you’re well, we’ll do anything for you.” The three of them stood there, backlit, their figures searing my eyes. Seraphina leaned against Julian’s chest: “Husband, will you always be good to me?” “Of course, you’re my wife, and you’re carrying my child. Of course I’ll be good to you.” Julian looked at her, his profile unbelievably soft. My brother joked from the side. “You spoil her too much.” But there was no hint of blame in his tone, only doting affection. Seraphina giggled. That sickeningly sweet taste flooded my throat again. I covered my mouth, forcing myself to swallow the blood. Shortly after leaving the hospital, my phone vibrated a few times. It was a message from my brother: 【Sister, how were your follow-up results?】 【Brother’s a bit busy here and couldn’t get away. I’ll definitely go with you next time.】 I looked at the text message and laughed, tears streaming down my face. After returning home, I took a cold shower. It finally cleared my head a little. Julian’s words to Seraphina, “You’re my wife…,” kept echoing in my ears. I sent a message to a contact with a completely black profile picture. “Marcus, my senior researcher, help me look into Julian Thorne…” About ten minutes later, he called me back. “Aurora, I found out you and Julian Thorne divorced six months ago.” “Julian Thorne’s current wife is Seraphina Hayes.” I clutched my agonizing stomach, laughing and crying on the sofa. It was so absurd, so ridiculous. I was nothing but a joke. In three years, someone had completely taken my place. The person on the other end of the line sounded very concerned. “Aurora, are you okay?” “I’m fine, Marcus, I’m fine. And—I agree to marry you.” “What? Really?” “Yes.”

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My husband, Mark, was a renowned psychologist, a master of hypnosis, never having failed a single session. Yet, when he was treating my mom, his hypnosis went disastrously wrong. Her condition relapsed, and she plummeted from the rooftop. I held my mom’s bloodied body, tears streaming down my face. He, however, casually told me, as if it were the most natural thing in the world: “Psychological treatments often have a high relapse rate, and hypnosis errors are common. I truly did my best.” A few hours later, a post from his junior protégé, Luna, on Ins struck me like a sledgehammer. “First time doing hypnosis, and I got stuck with an older woman in her fifties. Failed miserably. Luckily, my senior brother stepped in to clean up my mess.” “To comfort my wounded little heart, my senior brother even hypnotized me. In the dream, we got married on the beach. Is that a hint, perhaps?” The intertwined hands in the photo felt like a jagged, barbed blade, piercing deep into my heart. I gritted my teeth, almost shattering my phone screen. “It’s a hint, alright. You’re about to get exactly what you wished for.” The next second, a phone number, previously switched off, flashed across my screen. “Anya, what is wrong with you now?! Luna’s upset because she failed her first hypnosis session. What’s wrong with me, as her senior, comforting her?” “Therapists are under a lot of pressure, you know. What if your post makes her overthink and get depressed? Delete it, now! And apologize to Luna!” I hung up the phone, looking at a photo of Mom and me. I whispered. “Mom, I’m going to make them feel your pain too, okay?”

This photo was taken when Mom was feeling better; we went to the park together. Back then, Mark had solemnly promised me that Mom had overcome her psychological trauma and would soon be completely healed. But within a mere week, Mom’s smile was forever framed in that picture. At the funeral home, relatives and friends looked around, asking me. “Anya, call Mark and tell him to hurry. If he doesn’t come soon, your mom will be buried.” My expression blended with my black attire, making me look like Mom’s tombstone. “No need. He won’t come.” My relatives were all astonished. “How can that be? Mark is so devoted, and your mom always praised him.” I didn’t explain further. It wasn’t until the burial, the sealing of the tombstone, and the end of the ceremony that Mark finally arrived, rushing in. He was driving so fast that he even ran over Mom’s funeral wreath. Yet, he showed no trace of remorse. Dressed in a blue suit, he walked up to me and sighed. “This was an accident. People in her age group have weaker psychological defenses, and relapses are common. I poured all my knowledge into helping Eleanor, but I only stepped away to get a glass of water, and she jumped.” “Eleanor lived longer than many other patients with depression. Try to see the brighter side. Now, Luna is being gossiped about because of your words. You should find a time to apologize to her on Ins.” “Long-lived,” he said. If I hadn’t seen Luna’s Ins post, I might have actually believed his nonsense. It turned out he rushed here just to make me apologize to his mistress. Meeting his blaming gaze, I let out a sarcastic chuckle. “When my mom jumped, it took you all day to walk down three flights of stairs. But when your lover felt wronged, you rushed from the city to the suburbs in minutes.” Mark instantly flared up, but guiltily avoided my eyes. “Anya, can you stop being so harsh?” “I’m just stating facts! Failures in psychological treatment are a dime a dozen. If every family member acted as unreasonably as you, then therapists might as well quit!” He put his hands on his hips, scanning the funeral arrangements. “I’m sad Mom’s gone too, but you’re making such a grand display. Do you want everyone to know she died of depression and be judged even after death? Clean this up quickly. She’s dead, what’s the point of putting on a good show?” There was no remorse in his tone, only blame and resentment. The relatives and friends who had kindly stayed to help me clean up all froze, shocked by his words. He snapped back to reality, clearing his throat to save his reputation. “Alright, I know you and Mom relied on each other, and you’re heartbroken that she’s gone. But it’s done. You just have to accept it.” “Don’t dwell on it. At most, we’ll pick a more expensive burial plot, and we can visit it every year…” *SMACK!* A five-finger print quickly appeared on his face. I had put all my strength into it, and my hand was red and throbbing. Mark and I met when Mom was undergoing psychological therapy. Back then, to pursue me, he had solemnly promised that he would restore Mom to her old self. Mom had been through two marriages, suffered multiple domestic abuses, and faced endless societal judgment. As a child, I didn’t know the reason for Mom’s quiet demeanor was depression. By the time I realized it, she had already started self-harming to cope with her trauma. I took her to countless renowned therapists, but the effects were minimal. Only Mark gave me hope. Under his guidance, Mom’s mental state steadily improved. He used this as an opportunity to ask me out repeatedly, launching an intense pursuit. Once, I asked him: “Are you working so hard to treat my mom because of me?” He shook his head: “In my heart, Eleanor is first and foremost my patient, and only then your mother.” It was because of that sentence that I felt safe enough to wholeheartedly be with him and marry him. Just six months ago, he told me that Mom no longer had self-harming tendencies and her condition was much better. I could start trying for a baby with peace of mind, and by the time the child was born, Mom would surely be fully recovered. And now, standing before Mom’s black and white photo, he casually offered a more expensive burial plot in exchange for Mom’s life. How sanctimonious, how utterly disgusting! Mark snapped back, roaring at me. “Anya, are you insane?!” With that, he raised his arm to strike me. Chloe, my friend closest to me, grabbed his hand. “Mark, are you really going to hit Eleanor’s daughter in front of her memorial picture?!” My relatives and friends immediately stepped in front of me, sticking up for me. “Anya’s mom worked so hard to raise her. Now that her mom is dead, aren’t you intentionally trying to provoke her with those words?!” “Exactly! Don’t you know how much Anya loved her mom? How could you hit Anya in front of the deceased? How heartbroken would her mom be if she saw this from heaven!” “I must have been blind! I was just comforting Anya, saying you must have been delayed. But what you just said, it chills me to the bone!” Mark violently shook off Chloe’s hand, pointing at me with a sneer. “Seriously, like mother, like daughter!” A sudden ringtone pierced the air. He irritably pulled out his phone, his fury instantly extinguished, his voice softening. “What’s wrong?” Luna’s plaintive and dependent voice echoed through the empty funeral home. “Senior brother, a patient just came in, and I failed the hypnosis again. He called me incompetent and threatened to complain about me.” “Please come back quickly, I’m so scared…” “Don’t worry, I’ll be right there to back you up.” He quickly said his piece, turned, and left. Suddenly remembering something, he looked back and warned me. “Anya, when I’m done, I’ll come back and settle things with you. You’d better not try to deliberately smear my name in front of our relatives again!” With that, he walked out without looking back. Once in his car, he floored the accelerator, deliberately running over the wreath he had knocked down earlier, as if to vent his frustration. When Mom was alive, Mark always said she was like his own mother. Now that Mom was dead, he not only ran over her wreath but didn’t even light a single stick of incense for her. I bit down on the flesh of my cheeks, using the pain and blood to restrain my heartache. It was late when I left the funeral home. Luna had already deleted her previous posts. Her latest one was posted an hour ago. “Oh yeah, senior brother makes me feel so safe! He not only cleaned up another one of my messes, but he hypnotized me again! This time the hypnosis was a little naughty. I even had a baby with senior brother in the dream, and his ears turned red when he found out. If he weren’t married, I’d really think he was some innocent college boy.” Even knowing it was fake, a strong wave of physical nausea surged from my stomach, making me dry heave on the spot. Therapists don’t easily use hypnosis because during the process, patients reveal their deepest, most private secrets. Many therapists, after learning too many secrets, can’t bear the inner pressure and become depressed. Even Mark, with his strong psychological defenses, didn’t easily hypnotize people, and his hypnosis sessions were incredibly expensive. Before, because of Mom’s condition, I had almost fallen into depression myself and asked Mark to hypnotize me to help process my emotions. He had flatly refused me, saying he’d worked all day and didn’t want to expend more mental energy when he got home. But now, in less than a day, he had hypnotized Luna twice. He even used the hypnosis to have a dream-relationship with her. The urn in my arms was chillingly cold, and my last shred of self-deceiving fantasy shattered. I made a call. “Withdraw all funding from Serenity Mind Clinic. Have hackers infiltrate Mark and Luna’s therapy room computers.” It’s standard practice for therapists to record audio and video sessions, to protect themselves if a patient causes trouble. I needed to know: what exactly happened to Mom? What made her relapse and jump? After arranging everything, I returned home. Mom’s bedroom still held her scent. I collapsed onto her bed, instantly feeling small again, as if back in her warm embrace. The immense grief and exhaustion caused me to hallucinate. “Anya.” Mom’s voice sounded above me. Opening my eyes, she was gently stroking my head. “Anya misses Mom, doesn’t she? Mom’s right here, I won’t leave.” Her warm breath was so close. I was enveloped by a sudden wave of happiness. I hugged Mom’s waist tightly, terrified she would disappear the next second. “Mom, don’t leave me, don’t…” Before I could finish, Mom’s pained voice echoed. “Anya, I hurt so much, save me, Mom!” “Mom doesn’t want to leave you, but she said it was Mom’s fault, Mom deserves to die…” “Anya!” I looked up. Mom’s face cracked open, and blood dripped into my eyes. “Mom!” I screamed, jolting awake from the nightmare. Cold sweat instantly chilled me, and I shivered, suddenly terrified by Mark standing at the doorway, my pupils trembling. “You’re awake? Did you have a nightmare? I heard your scream from far away.” My heart still pounded. As I came to, he had already turned on the light. The light stung my eyes, as did his condescending words. “Anya, I know you’re sad, but the dead cannot be brought back. Eleanor’s spirit wouldn’t want to see you looking like a ghost. Can’t you pull yourself together?” I heard no genuine concern, only saw a wolf in sheep’s clothing. My throat was dry and sore. I slowly sat up. I didn’t want to see him. I pointed to the door, telling him to get out, not to be in Mom’s room. Suddenly, Luna’s figure appeared at the doorway. She was wearing a couple’s bathrobe that I had bought for Mark on our anniversary. She had nothing on underneath, her body pressed intimately against Mark’s bathrobe. Meeting my gaze, she gave a playful greeting. “Sister-in-law, I’m here to visit! You don’t mind, do you?” Mark instinctively stepped in front of her, offering a strained explanation. “I forgot to tell you, there were police in Luna’s building, and she’s on a lower floor. I was worried something might happen to her, a girl living alone, so I asked her to stay here for a few days.” Just a few days? Wearing my husband’s bathrobe, in the middle of the night, right after my mom’s burial, standing before me like the lady of the house. Whether it was a temporary stay or a permanent move, it was obvious to anyone with eyes. I hadn’t even spoken when Luna casually walked into Mom’s room, looked at Mom’s memorial photo, and sighed. “Eleanor, really. Any hurdle can be overcome. Why jump because of a little depression, leaving you all alone, Sister-in-law?” Hearing her condescending tone, I forcefully pushed her away, roaring with red eyes. “Get out! You killed my mom!” A flicker of guilt crossed Luna’s eyes, then she tearfully snuggled closer to Mark. “Senior brother, is sister-in-law misunderstanding something about me?” At her words, Mark shielded her, his face turning foul. “Anya, stop being crazy! Your mom’s death has nothing to do with Luna. Spreading rumors has consequences!” I grabbed a nearby decorative item and threw it. “You get out too!” Mark instantly flared up and started arguing with me. Seeing this, Luna, behind him, pouted. “Sister-in-law, whatever you have, direct it at me. Speaking like that will hurt senior brother’s feelings.” “Don’t worry, I won’t stay for free. I’ll help with cleaning. This box looks dusty, I’ll wipe it for you…” “Don’t touch it!” Just as I shouted, Luna seemed startled by me, bumping into the cabinet. Mom’s urn fell with a crash. *BANG!* The urn shattered, and Mom’s ashes scattered across the cold floor. My blood ran cold, my breathing and heartbeat stopped. Luna’s tearful voice in my ears grew shrill. “I’m sorry, Sister-in-law, I didn’t mean to. Senior brother, please explain for me, I just wanted to help clean up…” Mark’s face was troubled, but he still defended her. However, before he could open his mouth, I, with bloodshot eyes, lunged at Luna. “Who told you to touch it?! I’ll kill you!” Luna’s face turned pale with fright, and she cowered behind Mark. “Ah! Senior brother, save me!” Mark didn’t budge, grabbing my hands firmly. “Anya, didn’t you hear Luna say it was an accident?! Don’t make such a big deal out of it!” “She did it on purpose! Mark, you’re an accomplice, both of you deserve to die!” I cursed loudly, kicking and punching Mark without mercy. He was enraged by me, violently shoving me away. “Have you caused enough trouble?!” I was sent stumbling backward by his sheer force, falling hard onto the shards of the urn. Cuts appeared on my arm and waist, making me break out in cold sweat from the pain. Mark looked down at me from above. “I don’t think you *seem* crazy, I think you *are* crazy!” “Every time, you just cling to those small mistakes, never looking forward! You and your mother are exactly alike!” “I’ll tell you this right now. Eleanor’s depression was her own fault. She didn’t work every day, lived so comfortably, yet still clung to old issues. It’s a miracle she even got better! Even if she hadn’t died now, she would have sooner or later dug her own grave!” Those words, “dug her own grave,” struck me like thunder. I froze, as if plunged into an icy wasteland. I stared at Mark in disbelief. He knew… He knew how much injustice my mom suffered in her youth. Because she was a girl, she was denied an education. She was forced into an abusive marriage as a teenager, and nearly beaten to death when she bravely divorced to protect me. Fate had been so cruel to her. I had tried every way to make money, to give her a good life. But still, she withered day by day like a flower in autumn. Every time I saw the cuts on Mom’s wrists, I felt a helpless, agonizing heartache. So many times, it was Mark who stood by me, comforting me. And it was Mark who, time and again, told Mom. “Pain cannot be compared; there’s no such thing as ‘big’ or ‘small’ suffering.” Now he was saying Mom dug her own grave! I slowly slid to the floor, tears silently streaming down my face. Mark realized his words had gone too far. He rubbed his temples, softening his tone. “Alright, stop acting like you’re dying. She’s dead. Ashes are just a keepsake. We’ll clean this up and buy another urn tomorrow, that’s all.” This wasn’t about the urn! This was my mom, the only family I had! Mark lost all patience. He protected Luna and walked out. “I apologize to you on your sister-in-law’s behalf. It’s late, you should rest.” A moment later, I knelt on the floor, gathering Mom’s ashes, piece by piece. Then, I calmly left the house. At the hotel, my assistant sent me the video of Mark’s last therapy session with Mom. After watching the entire video, I broke down, smashing everything in the hotel room, vowing to make the culprits pay for their blood debt! I didn’t sleep all night, my eyes bloodshot. When my phone rang for the ninety-ninth time, I finally answered. Mark’s furious roar immediately filled my ear. “Anya, how dare you withdraw the funding?! Do you have any idea how much effort I poured into that clinic, how many patients are waiting for treatment? Are you really going to make all those patients suffer because of an accident involving your mother?!” An accident? I scoffed coldly. “Whether it was an accident or not, you know perfectly well yourself!” Mark clearly didn’t want to get tangled up in that question with me. “I’m warning you, you’d better reverse your decision, or we’re getting a divorce!” Luna’s panicked voice chimed in. “Senior brother, don’t rush! Sister-in-law is definitely mad at me. I’ll go apologize. Don’t let me be the reason you two divorce…” “I won’t divorce.” Luna instantly fell silent, and Mark seemed to regain his composure. “Anya, if you don’t want to make things ugly, do as I say…” I hung up the phone. Not only would I divorce him, but I would also make him and Luna pay for their blood debt! Opening my eyes again, I caressed Mom’s photo, my gaze firm.

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My Fiancé Filmed Our Bedroom for His Mistress The day before my wedding, my fiancé installed four cameras in our marital bedroom, all pointed directly at the bed. I warned him that these internet-connected cameras weren’t safe and posed a huge risk of privacy leaks. But he just brushed it off, accusing me of paranoia. “You’re marrying into *my* family, so you’ll listen to *my* decisions. Stop questioning me.” I thought it was just one of his little quirks, until I caught him talking to the cameras: “Serena, I did everything you asked. Please, don’t be mad, take me off your block list.” “I’ll keep them on during our wedding night tomorrow too. I’ll do anything for you.” A wave of disgust washed over me. I immediately dialed his father. “Mr. Davies, it seems your son is quite keen on… filming. In that case, let’s just forget about him getting any share of my family’s assets, shall we?” … I can tolerate my partner having a few quirks, but loyalty is my absolute bottom line. Less than two minutes after hanging up with Mr. Davies, Damian stormed into the study, furious, to confront me. “What did you tell my dad?! When did I ever say I was making a movie?!” I lifted my eyes, giving him a flat look. “Your dad misunderstood. What I meant by ‘filming’ was, you know, adult films. You’re so eager to put on a show for others, but don’t drag me into it.” Damian clearly thought I was just bothered by the cameras in the bedroom. A flicker of disdain crossed his face. “You’re so naive. Bedroom cameras are pretty common now.” “You should count yourself lucky you’re even marrying into our family at your age.” “I advise you to stay in your place. Otherwise, if I break off the engagement, you might regret losing the fifty million I’m giving you.” I paused, completely stunned for a few seconds. What was he talking about? That fifty million was clearly *my* money, which I was providing *him*. How had it become his money to give *me*? Seeing my silence, Damian curled his lips into a sneer. “What, speechless now that you might have to give the money back?” “Typical gold-digger. If you don’t want to lose the cash, you’ll behave. You don’t get to call the shots in this house.” With that, he spun around and left. Outside, the housekeepers, who had been secretly watching, whispered amongst themselves: “Fifty million still isn’t enough for her? She dares to defy the Young Master?” “Exactly! Fifty million! What’s wrong with a few cameras? It’s not like it’s her first time, so why is she so shy?” I frowned, glancing towards the door. Damian’s father had practically *begged* for this marriage arrangement, relying on his long-time friendship with my dad to save his company from bankruptcy. I’d bought the house and the car. And to ensure Damian would be comfortable after the wedding, I’d even hired his family’s old housekeepers to serve him. I never imagined… goodness is truly taken for weakness. 2. Seeing Damian’s arrogant expression, I made up my mind to break off the engagement. I immediately called contractors to come and dismantle the cameras. If I was calling off the wedding, he should take all his junk with him. Halfway through the job, Damian rushed in and halted them. “Who gave you permission to tear these down?!” “Each one of these cameras costs over a hundred grand! If you break them, can you afford to pay for it?!” The workers exchanged nervous glances, unsure what to do. Hearing the commotion, I followed them into the bedroom. “I told them to. This is *my* house. I have the right to decide what stays and what goes.” But Damian scoffed as if I’d told the funniest joke, pointing at me. “Every brick in this house belongs to the Davies family!” “You haven’t even walked down the aisle yet, and you’re trying to take over? I guess I need to teach you the Davies family rules.” With that, he ignored my protests and the presence of outsiders, pushing me directly under a camera. He brutally ripped at my clothes. Then, he ordered the housekeepers to bring a whip and saltwater. Two female housekeepers, catching me off guard, kicked the back of my knees, forcing me to the ground. They held me down tightly. “Damian! What right do you have to punish me like this?!” Damian took the whip and snapped it, the terrifying crack echoing through the room. He smirked coldly. “The right of a man whose family put up fifty million! I can discipline you however I see fit!” As the whip was about to descend, I trembled and quickly cried out to stop him. “Damian, you have no idea about our engagement!” “I advise you to calm down now and immediately call your dad to clarify everything!” But Damian didn’t care. He coldly poured saltwater onto the whip, his eyes frigid. “Whatever it is, you can talk about it after you’ve endured your punishment!” Just as he raised the whip, poised to strike, an urgent report came from the security guard outside the door: “Young Master! Ms. Serena is here for you!” 3. The moment the words left his mouth, Damian’s face immediately lit up with a smile, and he quickly exited the bedroom. Once they were gone, I shakily leaned against the wall to stand, quickly grabbing another piece of clothing to cover myself. I instructed the contractors to continue their work. After sorting that out, I went downstairs as well. Damian was holding a pretty girl’s hand, surveying the villa with her. My brows furrowed as I watched housekeepers carrying in luggage. “You’re letting her move in?” Damian gave me a cold look, tightening his grip on the girl’s hand. “This is *my* house, so of course, I can have anyone I want live here!” “Serena is the love of my life. If you want to keep your place as my wife, you’d better treat her with respect!” Not only had he installed cameras in our bedroom to please his mistress, but he dared to bring her to live in our marital home! I took a deep breath, reining in my emotions, forcing down the urge to kick him out right then and there. “Regardless of whose house this is, are you really so brazen as to bring your mistress home? Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell my dad and yours?” Damian heard me invoke our elders, but his face remained indifferent. “Trying to scare me? That won’t work on me!” “With fifty million, I could have ten mistresses, and you’d just have to put up with it.” Serena pouted, batting her eyelashes. “Is this the ugly woman you spent fifty million to marry? She doesn’t look like much to me!” Seeing this, Damian quickly adopted a gentle tone, echoing her. “Exactly. She’s old and a gold-digger. How could she ever compare to you?” “If you weren’t so curious to see her reaction in bed, I’d be disgusted to even touch her.” “Perfect, I’ll take you to see the cameras I installed in the bedroom. Let’s check how clear the footage is.” I was fed up with this farce and was about to turn and go upstairs when Serena suddenly grabbed an apple from the table and hurled it squarely at my head. “Did I say you could leave?! Get over here and toast me!” 4. I rubbed my throbbing forehead, a surge of anger rising within me. “Toast you? Who do you think you are to demand a toast from me?” Serena linked her arm through Damian’s, looking at me with her nose in the air. “Because Damian dotes on me! If you make me unhappy, I’ll livestream your wedding night for the whole world to see tomorrow!” “And who knows, your dad might even be secretly watching, getting off on it…” *Smack!* I’d had enough. I rushed forward and slapped her across the face. “If you ever disrespect my dad again, I promise you’ll regret it!” Serena was stunned by my sudden outburst, covering her face and mumbling for a long moment. Damian, seeing his beloved at a disadvantage, pulled her behind him, shielding her. “Anya Blackwood! A woman with no upbringing like you doesn’t deserve to enter our Davies family’s door!” “Go back and tell your dad, I’m not going through with this wedding!” I nudged the suitcase beside my foot, casting a meaningful glance between their faces. “Are you sure you want to call off the wedding?” Given the Davies Group’s current financial situation, without my family’s support, they’d be bankrupt in three days, at most. Serena jumped in before Damian could speak. “Scared now, are we? Too late!” “Just leave! See who’d want a used goods like you after being rejected!” Serena was incredibly eager, as if my departure would immediately clear the way for her. I looked at Damian. He nodded, tacitly agreeing with Serena, so I saw no need to say more. “Fine, then. Let’s annul the engagement.” The contractors who were dismantling the cameras had just finished and came downstairs. The foreman held up a camera, asking me what to do with it. Serena suddenly flared up, kicking him. “Why are you asking *her*? We’re the owners of this house! So clueless, you’ll all be out of a job!” The workers broke out in a cold sweat, looking to me for help. I opened my phone and generously tipped them fifty thousand dollars through an app. “Don’t worry, you did nothing wrong.” “After all, the property deed for this villa is in my name.”

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A devastating car crash ripped Ashton’s world apart, turning a brilliant future into a broken present. He tried everything – jumping, cutting, a desperate, endless search for oblivion, determined to turn himself from a broken man into nothing at all. It wasn’t until I came into his life that Ashton found a reason to live again. He threw himself into grueling physical therapy, even undergoing procedures to minimize the jagged scars on his wrists. He diligently relearned the ropes of corporate management, all because I’d once whispered, “I just want you to live, Ashton. Really live.” Everyone said I’d pulled Ashton back from the brink of death, that I *was* his life. But in the four years we’d been together, while Ashton showered me with countless treasures, he never once publicly acknowledged our relationship. Then, on our four-year anniversary, I suddenly received a call from Ashton’s friend, Liam. “Aurora, Ashton’s gone insane! He’s risking his life for a stupid badge, insisting on trying that extreme alpine skiing challenge!” My hand trembled, clutching the phone. I knew exactly what that challenge was. Rushing down an impossibly high snowy mountain – one wrong move and he could die on the spot. “Put Ashton on the phone!” But Ashton never came to the phone. The call abruptly disconnected, leaving me with a gut-wrenching sense of dread. Ignoring everything, I sped towards the ski resort. But the moment I arrived, the scene before me made my mind go completely blank. “Ashton, are you really going to get that badge for me? Won’t it be too dangerous?” A girl who looked eerily like me, a solid six or seven out of ten resemblance, stood beside Ashton. Though her words feigned concern, her clear, bright eyes betrayed her, fixated on that badge with an undeniable longing. “Wait for me.” Ashton looked at the girl, the raw affection in his eyes was so thick, so palpable, it felt like it could never melt away. That intense emotion, witnessed by me, was incredibly piercing. He was risking his life for a badge that *this* girl wanted! I rushed forward, blocking Ashton’s path. “Ashton! Your legs just barely recovered! You can’t afford another accident, don’t go!” Ashton’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly when he saw me, but in the end, he still raised a hand and pushed me away. “Don’t get in my way.” Amidst the gasps of the crowd, Ashton stepped onto the ski platform. I watched Ashton, so stubbornly set on his path, and my heart went cold, dropping like a stone. Since Ashton confessed his feelings to me four years ago, he had never dismissed my existence so completely, nor had he treated his life so recklessly. My eyes were locked on Ashton, terrified to even blink. I was so afraid something terrible would happen to him. Thankfully, Ashton had a smooth run, with only the final stretch of the cliff remaining. That’s when everything changed. Ashton’s right leg suddenly buckled. I instantly realized it was his old injury flaring up. Before anyone could even process what was happening, I broke through the safety barriers at the finish line, pounced forward, positioning myself to break Ashton’s fall. “Ugh!” I managed to break Ashton’s fall, but the combined weight of him and his equipment, along with the impact of the fall, slammed into me. A choked gasp escaped my lips, and I uncontrollably coughed up a mouthful of blood. Ashton had just started to check on me when someone hugged him from behind. “Oh, Ashton! Ashton, you were incredible!” The girl stood on her tiptoes and kissed Ashton’s cheek. I watched Ashton’s retreating figure, never coming closer to me, and then I completely passed out. In and out of consciousness, I heard voices. “Liam, you protected Seraphina in that car accident, but she abandoned you and went abroad. Now that she’s back, you’re risking your life for her again.” “You even hurt Aurora. She broke five ribs protecting you. Are you really going to abandon her and go back to Seraphina?” A heavy silence stretched between them before I heard Ashton’s voice. “My heart has always belonged to Seraphina.” “As for Aurora, she filled a void these past few years, a stand-in for Seraphina. I’ll make sure she’s compensated.” 2. “Seraphina twisted her ankle on the way here. I’m going to check on her first. As for Aurora, you guys make sure the doctors take good care of her.” When my consciousness fully returned, there was only one man visiting me in the hospital room. “Mr. Julian.” “You’re awake?” Julian handed me a glass of warm water and pressed the call button by the bed. I didn’t take the water. Every breath I took felt like steel needles piercing my lungs. I remembered the conversation I’d overheard while unconscious. Suddenly, everything clicked into place. Why, out of all the students the Pei family had sponsored, Julian had specifically picked me to get close to Ashton. I was just a substitute for Seraphina. And now, the real one was back. “Mr. Julian, Ashton doesn’t need me anymore. The person he truly loves is back.” “Our contract is up in seven days. Please arrange for me to leave then.” Julian seemed surprised by my decision to leave, but after Ashton’s callous actions, he didn’t object. “In seven days, I’ll have everything arranged for you.” I stared at the stark white ceiling, lost in thought again. Four years ago, I graduated with Julian’s sponsorship, the CEO of the Pei Group. After graduation, Julian only made one request of me. “Spend four years by my nephew’s side, help him overcome the trauma of his car accident. If you succeed, I’ll give you fifty million.” I’d heard about the accident. Months earlier, the news had reported that Ashton Pei, the young heir of the Pei family, had been in a severe car crash. He had virtually no sensation in his legs, and the doctors offered little hope for recovery. Julian had been kind to me, and fifty million was a massive reward. I had no reason to refuse. Under Julian’s arrangement, I became a nurse at the hospital where Ashton was recovering. The first time we met, a flicker of light returned to Ashton’s eyes. From that day on, Ashton began to pursue me. Whatever I desired, fame or fortune, Ashton was ready to lay it all at my feet. But whether it was jewelry worth millions, or public displays like a sea of roses that had the whole city talking, nothing moved me. It wasn’t until my fingers brushed against the jagged scars on Ashton’s wrist that I finally spoke my first wish. “Ashton, I just want you to live well.” Ashton froze for a long moment, then responded with his actions. Even when physical therapy left him sweating profusely from the pain, Ashton never gave up, because I was there by his side. In just six months, Ashton’s legs had fully recovered—it was nothing short of a medical miracle. That same day, I moved into Ashton’s mansion, and we officially became a couple. From then on, I became the key to Ashton’s compliance, his every action hinged on my word. Ashton was completely obedient and gentle with me. I believed we would be like this forever. Now, it seemed all that special treatment was only because I was Seraphina’s stand-in. Everything I received was merely a proxy for her. After Julian left, I couldn’t hold back my tears any longer. I’d fallen for my target, and that was my biggest mistake. Ashton no longer needed me, and I wouldn’t cling to him. Leaving was the best choice. I recuperated in the hospital for half a month. The day I was preparing for discharge, Ashton, who hadn’t contacted me at all, suddenly sent a message. “Come to the Cloud Terrace Hotel immediately.” Before I could even reply, a group of burly bodyguards burst into my hospital room. “Ms. Aurora, Mr. Ashton sent us to escort you.” Though they said “escort,” their actions were anything but gentle. The IV needle was violently ripped from my arm, tearing my skin and leaving a trail of blood. They forcibly dragged me into a car. 3. When we arrived at the Cloud Terrace Hotel, I realized Ashton was hosting a welcome party for Seraphina there today. Ashton saw me, still in my hospital gown, and his brow furrowed slightly. “What happened to you?” Ashton’s tone was sharp, but not directed at me. He simply saw my pale, sickly face and the bloodstains on my hand, and an inexplicable anger flared within him. The bodyguards exchanged glances, unsure how to reply, when Seraphina, who had been the center of attention, walked over. She casually linked her arm through Ashton’s. “Ashton, didn’t you say you invited Ms. Aurora here to make an announcement?” I, who had been silent, looked up at Ashton. He had ignored my physical condition, forcibly bringing me to Seraphina’s welcome party. What exactly did he want to announce? More and more guests gathered, and seeing me, who bore a striking resemblance to Seraphina, they couldn’t help but whisper. Hearing their chatter, Ashton suppressed the confusing swirl of emotions in his chest and walked over to me with Seraphina. “There have been some baseless rumors circulating about me, and I need to set the record straight.” “Aurora was merely the nurse who cared for me during my recovery. There has never been anything more than a friendship between us.” “Seraphina and I have known each other since we were kids, and our families have always intended for us to be together. You could say we’ve been unofficially engaged since childhood.” “All these years, Seraphina has been the only one I’ve been waiting for.” “Now that my fiancée is back, I don’t want her to be upset by any false rumors.” Ashton’s last sentence held a veiled threat, but I couldn’t respond. The word “friendship” completely erased any blurred lines between Ashton and me. So, all these years without a title, it was just Ashton clearing the path to openly give that title to another woman. Even calling me here today was just to “clarify” our relationship and prevent Seraphina from being upset. But in those four years, when had Ashton and I ever kept to the boundaries of “friends”? His words were like a blunt knife, slowly, agonizingly carving into my heart, leaving me raw and bleeding. My fractured ribs flared with pain again, and my face grew even paler. But no one cared about my feelings. The guests applauded enthusiastically. Amidst the applause, Seraphina, feigning emotion, flung herself into Ashton’s arms. “Ashton, thank you for waiting for me all this time.” Ashton gently wiped away Seraphina’s tears, his charming eyes gazing at her with profound affection. “My heart has always belonged to you.” I stood there, stunned, watching Ashton and Seraphina’s interaction. At some point, tears blurred my vision. The two in front of me looked so perfect together. And I was merely a witness to their happiness. Though my four years with Ashton had begun as a transaction, through our daily interactions, I had long since given him my heart. I couldn’t bear to watch another second. I turned to leave, but several strangers blocked my way. “You, a mere stand-in, occupied Seraphina’s place for so long. Letting you just walk away is too easy.” Sensing their malice, I turned to run, but they caught me anyway. They dragged me towards a less crowded area. I screamed for help, but the guests who saw me were unwilling to offend these people for my sake. Ashton, the only one who might have saved me, was engrossed in kissing Seraphina and didn’t notice the commotion. “What do you want?” “Just to teach you a little lesson, so you’ll know to stay away from Ashton.” As soon as she spoke, I was roughly shoved into a nearby pond. I struggled to surface, but they fiercely held my head down, forcing me deeper underwater. The intense pain of suffocation gradually stole my ability to fight. More and more water flooded my already injured lungs and chest. Before I completely lost consciousness, I dimly saw a figure plunge into the water, rushing desperately toward me. 4. “Cough, cough…” I awoke with a violent cough. Staring at the stark white ceiling, the antiseptic smell reminded me that I had been saved. The doctor stood nearby, a hint of pity in his eyes. “Ms. Aurora, fractured ribs, lung infection. Another incident like this, and we might not be able to save you.” I heard his words but couldn’t make a single expression. The doctor shook his head and left. Only then did I feel like I’d found my breath again. I gasped for breath, looking at the empty room, and realized I was still that unwanted orphan, utterly alone. “Did you jump in on purpose?” Ashton’s voice came from the doorway. He leaned against the doorframe, his gaze icy as it fell on me. “What?” Ashton saw my pale face and somewhat bewildered expression, and his face actually darkened further. “You knew that party was for Seraphina. After I confessed my feelings to her, you chose to ruin the party in *this* way.” Hearing Ashton’s words, I felt an incredulous surge of disbelief. I had been pushed into the water, even held down, almost drowned in that pond! And now Ashton was here accusing me of malice! “I didn’t!” “I was pushed into the water! If you don’t believe me, check the surveillance footage!” Ashton’s gaze grew even colder, laced with impatience and even more disappointment. “The surveillance around the pool conveniently broke down two days ago. I asked everyone there, and they all saw you jump into the pool willingly. What else do you have to say for yourself?” I felt like my breath was completely choked off. My face grew even paler. My fingers dug so hard into my palms, leaving deep crescents, I could almost feel the skin break. My aching lungs and fractured ribs still throbbed with relentless pain. I’d thought after four years, Ashton would trust me, even just a little. Just a little. But without evidence, Ashton still chose to believe strangers over me. Ashton’s eyes filled with increasing disappointment, already convinced my reaction was the silence of someone caught red-handed. “You ruined the party. You need to apologize to Seraphina.” I stared at Ashton, aghast. Seraphina’s friends pushed me into the water, I almost lost my life, and now I had to apologize to *Seraphina*? But in Ashton’s eyes, this was me being unrepentant. “I originally wanted to spare you some dignity. Now, it seems completely unnecessary.” Ashton let out a cold laugh. Bodyguards streamed in, and despite my struggles, they forcibly dragged me out of the hospital room. Ashton had intended to take me to Seraphina’s family to apologize, but just outside the room, he saw Seraphina in the hospital corridor. “Seraphina, why are you here?” “I had the housekeeper make some soup. I wanted to come see Ms. Aurora.” “Perfect. I was just about to bring her to you to apologize.” At Ashton’s signal, the bodyguards forced me to my knees before Seraphina. Many passing doctors, nurses, and patients in the hospital corridor stopped to watch the spectacle. My dignity was trampled into the ground. “Apologize.” As Ashton’s words fell, my forehead was pressed down hard against the floor. Pain and shame intertwined, and my tears flowed uncontrollably. The crisp thud of my forehead hitting the tiled floor echoed through the hospital corridor. Seraphina watched for a moment before finally speaking up to stop it. “Alright, alright, I don’t blame Ms. Aurora. I think what happened last night was just an accident.” Seraphina walked closer to me. The bodyguards released their hold. “Ms. Aurora, please get up.” As Seraphina moved to help me up from the floor, her heel landed squarely on the wound on my hand. 5. I cried out in agony, instinctively trying to pull my hand away. Seraphina, however, lost her balance, spilling the entire contents of her thermos of hot soup all over me. “Seraphina! Are you okay?” Ashton steadied the falling Seraphina. Seeing a splash of hot soup had reddened her hand, his eyes filled with distress. “I’m fine, it’s just Ms. Aurora…” Prompted by Seraphina, Ashton finally saw my wretched state. The skin on my neck and shoulder was scalded red, covered in large blisters. It was just a fraction of an inch away from scalding my entire face. Ashton’s breath hitched, a wave of concern churning in his chest, but he forcibly suppressed it. “I saw everything. If she hadn’t tried to push you away, the soup wouldn’t have accidentally spilled.” “She deserved it.” My tears and blood mingled, dripping onto the floor. Listening to their conversation, my heart shattered completely. I leaned against the wall, enduring the pain, and left without a word of protest. Ashton’s heart had always, from the very beginning, belonged to Seraphina. He would believe anything she said. All I could do was wait until the contract ended and leave for good. After having my burns treated at the hospital, I went to the house Ashton and I used to share. I packed up all my belongings. There were matching toothbrushes, identical towels – all couple’s items Ashton had insisted we use together. Thinking of that phrase, “she deserved it,” I expressionlessly threw them all into the trash. I opened the closet, looking at the array of gentle, feminine dresses. I suddenly felt a pang of disorientation. This wasn’t my usual style of clothing, but Ashton had always insisted on buying these kinds of dresses for me. I’d once asked him why, and Ashton had replied that these dresses suited me. Then I remembered that Seraphina always wore similar styles when she appeared. So, when Ashton bought me these clothes, did he truly think they suited me, or was he just trying to see more of Seraphina’s reflection in me? The thought flashed through my mind for a brief second, but I didn’t dwell on it. Ashton and I had no connection anymore. I also gathered every piece of jewelry Ashton had given me, from million-dollar gemstone necklaces to hundred-thousand-dollar earrings. Ashton had said these things, once given, were mine. I planned to sell them all and donate the money to orphans who, like me, had a tragic past. As I was organizing, I heard Julian’s assistant’s voice from the doorway. He hadn’t found me at the hospital, so he’d tracked me down here. “Ms. Aurora, these are the things you’ll need.” Because of Julian’s instructions, the assistant was extremely polite to me. I looked at the plane tickets and visa in his hand, a little surprised. I thought Julian would wait until the very last day to send these. “Thank you.” “Please don’t mention it. Mr. Julian instructed me that if you need anything else, just ask. This is the Pei family’s way of making amends.” “I don’t need anything else. This is enough.” I clutched the plane tickets and visa tightly. “Alright.” After clarifying the departure time and arrangements, the assistant left. I looked at the plane tickets and visa in my hand; they represented my future. The items felt heavy in my grasp, but my heart felt lighter than ever before. I finished packing and was about to leave the mansion when Ashton returned. Seeing the luggage I’d packed, his face didn’t look too good. “What are you doing?” 6. I looked at him, subtly hiding the plane ticket in my hand. “My belongings.” “After all, Seraphina is back. She wouldn’t be happy if I continued to live here, would she?” Ashton looked at my face, nodding slightly. “Hmm, you’re right.” “Seraphina is back. It’s truly not appropriate for you to stay here.” “I can find you another place.” Ashton didn’t hear my reply, finding my silence unusual. He was about to say something else when he caught sight of the plane ticket in my hand. Ashton grabbed my hand and snatched the ticket away. The ticket clearly showed the destination: France. “You’re going abroad?!” “Why are you going to France? I don’t recall you having any reason to leave the country.” I didn’t understand Ashton’s meaning. Seraphina was back, and I was leaving according to his wishes. Shouldn’t he be happy? Ashton waved the ticket, staring intently at me, almost as if he wanted to drill a hole through me with his gaze. “Ashton, Seraphina is back. Don’t you want me to leave?” My words struck a chord with Ashton, stirring up emotions he couldn’t quite sort out himself. He looked at me, then tore the ticket to shreds. “Are you doing this on purpose? Are you trying to get my attention this way?” “Aurora, I’ve already announced that Seraphina is my fiancée.” “Don’t cross that line.” I stared at the shredded ticket, my lips pressed together, unable to speak. I was truly leaving; I wasn’t playing games. “Just be good. Don’t do anything else unnecessary.” “I…” At that moment, a phone call interrupted my impending goodbye. Ashton answered the phone. After he hung up, his face darkened considerably as he looked at me. “Aurora, I warned you not to do anything else unnecessary. Why are you making things difficult for Seraphina?” I didn’t understand why Ashton’s topic had shifted so abruptly. When had I ever made things difficult for Seraphina? “What are you talking about? I didn’t do anything to her.” Ashton looked at me, his eyes full of disappointment. “Seraphina is missing right now! Seraphina’s friend said she went to meet you before she disappeared!” My heart seized in my chest as I met Ashton’s disappointed gaze. I’d been by Ashton’s side for four years; I thought he knew me, that I would never do such things. But Ashton would never believe me, just as we had never truly understood each other in those four years. “I didn’t.” “You can check the surveillance. I only came here after leaving the hospital; I haven’t seen Seraphina.” Ashton clenched my hand tightly, his eyes bloodshot. “Aurora, I’m giving you one last chance.” “Where did you take Seraphina?” I swallowed the bitterness in my heart and spoke each word clearly: “I don’t know.” “I told you, I haven’t seen her!” “You’re clearly not interested in dignity.” I was dragged to the mansion’s basement. It was dank and gloomy, filled with an array of chilling torture devices. “Ashton, what are you going to do?!” My voice was hoarse and trembling as I looked at the instruments. But Ashton merely stood coldly by the doorway, watching me. “Tell me when you’ll talk, and I’ll let you go.” The bodyguards grabbed my hair and dragged me to the center of the basement, fastening a finger vice onto my hand. “Let me go!” I struggled, and my defiance only made the bodyguards more aggressive. They yanked hard, and the vice tightened. I could feel my fingers being squeezed inch by agonizing inch. The pain was excruciating, shooting straight from my fingers to my heart. A guttural scream tore from my throat. “Ah—” “No, please, I really don’t know! I didn’t kidnap Seraphina…” 7. Wave after wave of agonized screams echoed from the basement, chilling anyone who heard them to the bone. I couldn’t understand why Ashton could treat me like this. Even without love, could he be so heartless? Ashton, meanwhile, had left the mansion as soon as he locked me in the basement, determined to find Seraphina himself. An hour later, Seraphina suddenly appeared in his office. “Ashton, look! I specially bought you a gift!” Ashton was momentarily stunned to see her. Hadn’t I kidnapped her? “Seraphina, where were you?” “Why couldn’t I reach you?” “Didn’t your friend say you were going to meet Aurora?” Ashton clutched Seraphina’s shoulders, staring at her. Seraphina seemed startled by his intensity, her eyes welling with tears, looking somewhat wronged. “I was going to meet Ms. Aurora, to ask if your preferences had changed over the years.” “But I didn’t see her at the hospital…” “Ashton, you’re hurting me.” As Seraphina spoke, a single tear fell perfectly. Ashton, seeing her tears, panicked and quickly tried to comfort her, afraid she would be upset. “I was too anxious.” “You suddenly disappeared and I couldn’t reach you. I thought you…” As he spoke, Ashton suddenly remembered me, still locked away. Ashton’s face changed slightly. He quickly called someone to release me. But the news he received was that I had been tortured unconscious in the basement. When I vaguely awoke, I was back in my room. My mind was still sluggish, unsure what had happened. I tried to raise my hand to turn on the bedside lamp, but my fingers throbbed with excruciating pain. “Ugh…” A moan of pain escaped my lips. I looked at my bandaged hand, wrapped like a mummy, and then recalled everything I had endured in the basement. In that dark, gloomy basement, I had been tormented by those bodyguards. No matter how much I cried for help, no one came to my rescue. The agony of having my fingers slowly crushed was unforgettable. I had never wished so desperately to leave that place. I couldn’t understand why Ashton could be so cruel to me. Even if it was for Seraphina, how could he inflict such torture on me without even bothering to check for evidence? My tears silently soaked into the pillow, leaving a large damp patch. I lay on my side, my back to the door. At some point, Ashton had appeared in the doorway. “Aurora.” Hearing Ashton call my name, I instinctively flinched. At some point, I had developed a physiological fear of Ashton. “This time, it’s my fault. I misunderstood you.” “There’s an auction tomorrow. I’ll send someone to pick you up.” “You’ve suffered. I’ll compensate you.” I remained with my back to him, not turning around. Ashton stood in the doorway for a long time. Seeing my unwillingness to acknowledge him, he didn’t say much more. He simply closed the door, leaving me to my space. I curled up on the bed. Ashton’s starkly contrasting attitudes confused me. He had been so cruel to me, and now suddenly he had changed. I didn’t need compensation. I just wanted my life to return to peace. The next day, Ashton still arrived on time to take me to the auction. After Ashton forcibly led me into the car, I realized it was just the two of us. I was a little dazed. Was Ashton taking me to an auction behind Seraphina’s back? “At the auction, you can have anything you want. Consider it my compensation.” Ashton glanced at my bandaged hand, a flicker of irritation in his eyes. I keenly caught the change in his expression and instinctively shrank my fingers. I lowered my head, no longer looking at Ashton. I didn’t want to see emotions I disliked in his eyes again. 8. When the car stopped, I keenly picked up the sound of high heels outside. “Ashton!” Seraphina rushed into Ashton’s arms. She leaned over, smiled, and greeted me. “Ms. Aurora, you’re here. Ashton accidentally hurt you because of me, so I specifically asked him to invite you.” “It’s all his fault. Go ahead and bid on whatever you want later. Spend his money lavishly!” So, this was all Seraphina’s doing. A hint of bitter smile touched my lips. I nodded and softly hummed in agreement. I had no choice but to agree. At the auction, there were countless precious jewels, paintings, and calligraphy, but I didn’t want any of them. I wasn’t after Ashton’s money; these things were useless to me. I spent the entire time absentmindedly, completely unaware of Ashton’s frequent glances my way. “Next is the final item of this auction.” “It’s said that those who acquire this pair of rings will be happily married until old age with their beloved.” “Starting bid, fifty million.” Hearing those words, Ashton immediately raised his paddle. “No matter the price, I’m in.” The auction ended before it even began, with Ashton’s declaration. I recognized those rings. They belonged to an elderly couple. Ashton and I had met them two years into our relationship, during a trip to the seaside. That couple had started from nothing and built their way up to become the wealthiest in the city, enduring over sixty years of ups and downs. They had never once quarreled and were deeply devoted to each other. “Aurora, I hope we can love each other until old age, just like them.” I still remembered Ashton’s sweet words to me then. At that moment, looking into Ashton’s sincere eyes, all I could hear was my own heartbeat. After the couple passed away, these rings were donated to be auctioned for charity. To me, these rings represented Ashton’s promise to me. A promise of forever. But now, I could only sit by, watching Ashton place the female ring on Seraphina’s finger. Under the gaze of everyone at the auction, he expressed his love for Seraphina. “Seraphina, the true value of this ring lies in its symbolism.” “Seraphina, I love you.” The entire room erupted in applause, celebrating Ashton’s declaration of love. My mind was filled with a ceaseless buzzing. The Ashton who had confessed his love to me under the sunset was completely gone. The man standing before me now was Ashton, deeply in love with Seraphina. The day after the auction was the last day of our contract, and my day to leave. I took nothing with me, only the new plane ticket Julian had arranged, and headed to the airport. “Aurora, where are you right now? Ashton’s going to challenge giant wave surfing! We can’t talk him out of it, come quickly!” I received a call from Ashton’s friend on my way to the airport. The other end of the line was chaotic and unclear. Before I could say another word, the call was disconnected. I couldn’t just leave Ashton to his own devices. Today was the last day, and I couldn’t breach my contract with Julian. I sent a message to Julian. “Ashton is surfing at the beach. I might arrive at the airport a little late.” After sending the message, I told the driver to change course and head to the beach. “Ashton!” As soon as I got out of the car, I saw Ashton, about to set off. The weather was bad today; the waves were churning, and the deep sea exuded a dangerous aura. I rushed to Ashton, gritting my teeth against the pain, and grabbed his arm with my injured hand. Ashton looked at me, frowning slightly. Before he could speak, I cut him off. “I know this time, you’re doing it for Seraphina again.” “But this challenge is too dangerous. I’ll go instead.” 9. Ashton’s face changed slightly, but I didn’t give him time to hesitate. I pushed him off the surfboard. I quickly and efficiently had the staff prepare safety measures for me. Ashton had never seen me so decisive. I had always been gentle and warm in front of him. This was the first time he’d seen such determination and unquestioning resolve in me. Ashton was somewhat stunned. This version of me felt strangely unfamiliar to him. Before Ashton could even react, I had already stepped onto the surfboard and was riding the waves. Ashton remembered I was still injured, and his face instantly paled. He was about to tell someone to pull me back. But Seraphina rushed from behind him, wrapping her arms around his waist and burying her head in his back, whining playfully. “Ashton, you’re so good to me!” Seraphina’s words made Ashton pause. He instinctively placed his hand on Seraphina’s arms around his waist. When he looked up again, I was already far out. It was too late to call me back. The waves out at sea were considerable. Even though I was giving it my full attention, it was still exhausting. A sharp, piercing pain in my chest – my old injury had flared up again. My head spun. By the time the pain subsided, a ten-meter-high giant wave was towering before me. There was no escaping it. I was swept under by the oncoming wave, swallowed by the seawater. Salty seawater continuously poured into my mouth. I struggled desperately but was carried further and further away by the waves. I screamed for help towards the shore, but no one seemed to notice I had been swept away by the sea. Ashton stood with his back to me, tightly embracing Seraphina. Seraphina was on her tiptoes, her head tilted up, and they looked like they were passionately kissing. Watching this scene, I realized I was on my own. I struggled to swim towards the shore. But just as I managed to fight my way to the surface, Another colossal wave crashed over my head, submerging me completely in the seawater. Ashton seemed to suddenly realize something. His heart clenched, and he abruptly turned to look at the sea. The surface was empty. There was no sign of me anywhere. Only a lone surfboard was washed back to shore by the waves. I was gone.

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My Obsession, His Apathy I stood outside Julian Blackwood’s bedroom door, my fingertips digging into my palms. Suppressed moans and the crisp shatter of glass filtered from inside. Pushing open the door, I saw Julian half-reclining on the bed in the dim light. His tie was loose, his shirt unbuttoned to his chest, revealing reddened skin. Sweat plastered his fringe to his forehead, his breathing was heavy, and a thick, primal desire swirled in his eyes. But the moment he looked up and saw me, those eyes instantly turned cold. “Get out.” His voice was hoarse, yet it carried an undeniable authority. I didn’t move. My voice was barely a whisper: “Uncle Julian, you’ve been drugged. I can help you…” Before I could finish, Julian seized my wrist, his grip so fierce it felt like my bones would shatter. The desire in his eyes had been replaced by fury, his voice as cold as ice: “Do you have any idea what you’re saying?” I looked up at him, my eyes red-rimmed: “I do.” “I failed to raise you properly all these years.” He released me, his tone laced with bone-deep disappointment. “You’ve gone astray, developed these disgusting fantasies.” Disgusting. The word was a knife, plunging savagely into my heart. My face went pale, as if I’d been slapped hard, my cheeks burning, yet I stubbornly refused to leave. But the next second, Julian, right in front of me, picked up a photo of Scarlett Vance. She was his first love, a stunning, graceful woman who was a globally renowned pop sensation. Julian’s gaze lingered on the photo, the coldness in his eyes gradually replaced by another emotion. His thumb gently stroked Scarlett’s face, his breathing growing heavier. I froze, watching as his other hand unbuckled his belt. The movement was practiced and controlled, as if he’d done it countless times. My heart clenched painfully. He’d rather find solace with a photo of Scarlett than touch me. Julian closed his eyes, then suddenly picked up his phone and dialed. “Scarlett, come over.” His voice was deep and tender, a tone I’d never heard him use before. He hung up, and when he looked at me again, the warmth on his face vanished instantly: “Mr. Henderson, take Miss Evans to The Vault.” I gasped, my pupils constricting: “Uncle Julian… no!” I hated the dark, I hated enclosed spaces, especially that room. My parents’ urns were kept there. But Julian was unmoved. Mr. Henderson silently gripped my wrist, dragging me towards the door at the end of the hallway. I struggled, looking back, but only saw Julian’s cold, unyielding back. “Bang!” The moment the door slammed shut, darkness swallowed everything. I curled up in the corner, trembling uncontrollably. My parents’ urns sat in the center, chilling me to the bone. Just beyond the wall, in the bedroom, violent sounds erupted. 2. The creaking of the bed, a woman’s soft moans, a man’s low gasps. Scarlett had arrived. I clamped my hands over my ears, but the sounds seeped in everywhere. I bit down hard on my lip, tears streaming silently down my face. I remembered ten years ago, when my parents died in a car crash. Everyone had pointed fingers, calling me a jinx, but Julian had taken me in, spoiling me into the city’s most celebrated little princess. Julian had been an orphan brought back by Old Master Blackwood on a whim, enduring endless cold shoulders in the Blackwood family. They were polite on the surface but called him an illegitimate child behind his back; even the servants dared to boss him around. As an adult, he’d left the Blackwood family without hesitation. He started Blackwood Enterprises from scratch, carving his own empire in the business world with the most ruthless tactics. Those who once looked down on him now needed to book an appointment months in advance just to see him. No one expected him to adopt me. When my parents died and all my relatives were busy trying to exploit me, it was he who brought this helpless little girl home. He bought me the most expensive art supplies, hired the best teachers for my painting. When I was writhing in pain from my period, he flew back overnight from abroad, personally preparing me soothing tea. When I received my first love letter, he coldly forced the boy to transfer schools, and from then on, no one dared to approach me. His control over me bordered on the pathological, yet on some nights, he would wipe away the cream from my lips with his thumb, his gaze dark and unreadable. I thought it was love. A young girl’s heart was irrevocably caught. I had been infatuated with him for ten years, confessing my feelings 999 times. Each time, Julian pushed me away harshly, punishing my foolish infatuation. Until Scarlett Vance, his first love, a pop sensation, returned to the country. Julian began to stay out frequently. When he occasionally came home, he always carried the scent of rose perfume. He stopped caring about my art exhibitions, stopped asking about my life, and even… deliberately let me hear his intimate moments with Scarlett. The first time, I fainted outright. The second time, I hid outside the door, crying until I couldn’t breathe. The third time, I stood numbly in the hallway, listening to the sounds from inside, my heart turned to ash. And now, I was locked in here, listening to the man I loved being intimate with another woman. I bit my hands until they bled, but it was barely a fraction of the agony in my heart. Night passed, and dawn broke. The door to The Vault was pushed open, and blinding light streamed in. I knelt in the corner, my face streaked with tears, my hands clamped over my ears. Julian carried Scarlett past me. Scarlett’s body was covered in bruises, and she had passed out. He didn’t spare me a single glance, walking straight to the bathroom to personally clean her. I swayed to my feet and returned to my room. From a drawer, I pulled out a diagnosis report. Stage IV stomach cancer, one month at most. I stared at the paper and suddenly smiled. “Uncle Julian, as you wished.” “I won’t cling to you anymore. Soon, I’ll leave, disappearing forever.” 3. My packing was slow. I carefully placed each art supply into the box, my fingertips tracing the paints and brushes, every single one personally chosen by Julian. Now, they would never be used again. I planned to spend my final days quietly abroad. In my next life, I never wanted to be tangled with Julian Blackwood again. I expected to cry, but my eyes were dry and aching; not a single tear would fall. My phone rang just then. “Uncle Julian” flashed on the screen, my fingers trembled slightly, but I finally pressed the answer button. “Seven tonight, The Grandview Hotel.” Julian’s voice came through the receiver, cold and devoid of warmth. “Scarlett and I are having our engagement party. You must be there.” I remained silent, my nails digging deep into my palms. Blood oozed from between my fingers, but I felt no pain. “Mia, obey.” His tone was an unyielding command. “…Okay.” I whispered my assent, then hung up. I knew I had to give up completely. The ballroom of The Grandview Hotel glittered with lights, guests smiling, chatting, and toasting one another. I stood in a corner, watching Julian, with Scarlett on his arm, walk step by step towards the central platform. Scarlett wore a vibrant red gown, radiant and beautiful, her smile so bright it seemed to illuminate the entire night. Julian was in a black suit, his expression stern. Yet, when his eyes met Scarlett’s, they softened, a rare sight. “They look so perfect together…” “Scarlett Vance waited for Julian Blackwood for so many years, and she’s finally getting her happy ending.” “I heard Julian didn’t marry all these years just to wait for her to come back.” The whispers around me drilled into my ears, every word like a blunt knife, slowly carving away at my heart. Yes, Scarlett’s love was grand and known to all. And mine? My love had to be hidden deep within, even speaking it aloud was a sin. “Mia, why are you alone over here?” A syrupy sweet voice sounded, and I looked up to see Scarlett approaching me with a glass of champagne. A victor’s smile played on her lips. “Congratulations.” I said softly, my voice so calm it felt unfamiliar even to myself. Scarlett extended the champagne to me: “Have a drink, to wish Julian and me well.” I shook my head: “I’m allergic to alcohol.” Scarlett’s smile faltered, but she wouldn’t let it go: “Just one glass, it won’t do anything. If you don’t drink it, you’d be disrespecting your future sister-in-law.” I pursed my lips, my gaze involuntarily drifting towards Julian not far away. He was surrounded by a group of guests, and he seemed to have noticed the commotion here. But he only cast a cold glance, then looked away. “Obey.” His lips formed the word silently. My heart sank heavily. He knew. He knew I was allergic to alcohol, that even a drop would quickly bring out a rash, make my breathing rapid, and could even lead to shock. But right now, he only cared about Scarlett’s mood. I smiled silently and reached for the glass. But just as my fingers touched the rim, Scarlett suddenly cried out, “Oh dear!” and stumbled backward. The massive champagne tower crashed down. Glass shattered on the floor, fragments scattering, champagne drenching me. My body was cut by the shards, blood trickling down my calves, while Scarlett merely scraped her finger. “Scarlett!” Julian noticed the commotion and rushed to Scarlett without hesitation, catching her in his arms. “How could you be so careless?” He murmured, comforting Scarlett with a tenderness I’d never heard from him. So that’s how Julian acted when he loved someone. He had always been cold towards me, never even willing to smile. A cold breeze swept through, the champagne-soaked dress clinging to my body. Many gazes, both overt and covert, were now fixed on me. Contemptuous, mocking, malicious stares poured over me. Only Julian’s was missing. He looked only at Scarlett with tender concern. The wound on my leg burned, but it was barely a fraction of the agony in my heart. I stood there, mortified, my whole body trembling slightly. Scarlett looked at Julian with feigned vulnerability, “Julian, my hand hurts so much…” Julian looked up, his gaze falling on me, his voice sharp and cold: “When did I ever teach you such vile tactics?” His expression was grim, he looked at me like a stranger: “Don’t think I didn’t see it, you pushed Scarlett just now. Drink this entire champagne tower as an atonement to Scarlett.” My pupils constricted slightly, my fingertips trembling. An entire champagne tower, dozens of glasses. If I drank it all, I probably wouldn’t survive. “Julian Blackwood, are you insane?!” My best friend, Chloe Adams, rushed over, shielding me. “She’s allergic to alcohol, it could kill her!” Julian scoffed: “I am her guardian; it’s only right for me to discipline her. Did the Adams family not teach you manners?” Chloe seemed to have her throat clutched, unable to make another sound. Julian Blackwood was untouchable in North City, his influence absolute. No one dared cross him. I pushed Chloe away, shaking my head slightly. I walked to the champagne tower, picked up the first glass, and tilted my head back, downing it in one gulp. My throat felt like it was on fire, my stomach churning. But I was expressionless, and picked up the second glass. One glass, two glasses, three glasses… My skin began to flush red, my breathing became rapid, and my vision blurred. But I didn’t stop, not until I had emptied the entire champagne tower. As I finished the last glass, my vision was already blurry, my legs gave out, and I collapsed. Before completely losing consciousness, I heard Julian Blackwood’s icy voice: “I’m so disappointed in you, Amelia Evans.” “It seems The Vault didn’t make you give up that disgusting idea.” But I no longer had the strength to argue. Darkness swallowed my consciousness, leaving only a cacophony of voices and a fading heartbeat in my ears. 4. When I woke, my head throbbed. I struggled to open my eyes, and as my vision gradually cleared, I realized I was lying in a familiar room. Julian was sitting by my bed, propping his head with one hand, eyes closed, seemingly asleep. There were obvious dark circles under his eyes, and his shirt was wrinkled, clearly indicating he hadn’t slept all night. My heart gave a sudden tremor, and a warmth surged through me. I remembered times past, when I was sick, Julian would sit by my bed just like this, never leaving my side. Memories flooded back. When I was ten, I had a high fever that wouldn’t break. Julian flew back overnight from abroad, personally feeding me medicine and coaxing me to sleep. His palm was warm and dry, gently patting my back, his voice deep and tender: “Mia, be a good girl. You’ll feel better after the medicine.” When I was fifteen, I broke my leg at school. Julian dropped all his work, picking me up and dropping me off every day, carrying me down long hallways. His back was broad and strong, and as I lay on it, listening to his heartbeat, I felt incredibly safe. These memories made my eyes well up. It was these warm memories that had me trapped, tightening the ropes, suffocating me to the point where I couldn’t imagine a world without him. A slight vibration interrupted my thoughts. Julian’s phone lay on the bedside table, its screen lit up, SnapChat messages popping up one after another. His phone was never locked, and my gaze involuntarily fell on the screen. It was Scarlett’s messages. “Julian, when are you coming back? I miss you.” “I can’t sleep without you.” “Oh, by the way, did you check on her today? How is she?” “Don’t punish her, she’s just a little girl being jealous, my hand hurts but it’s really nothing.” Her tone was self-righteously forgiving, she was unilaterally forgiving me. But she was the one who knocked over the champagne glasses. Julian had replied to every single one of her messages. Julian, who was always so busy in front of me, too busy to ever have time, could reply to Scarlett’s every message. My fingers curled slightly, my chest felt like something had sharply stabbed it. I continued to scroll down, and the last message made my blood run cold. Julian had written: “Today she dared to push you; who knows what trouble she’ll cause later. I can’t afford to be embarrassed by her.” “I’ve already decided to send her to The Horizon Academy for a few days.” Scarlett asked again: “Are you sure you want to?” This academy, disguised as a “reform school for troubled youth,” was actually a notorious facility where the elite sent their inconvenient children. Once admitted, all contact with the outside world was cut off until they were “reformed.” “If I can’t control her twisted thoughts, it’s better to let professionals handle it.” Julian’s reply was brief and cold: “I only took on this burden for the shares anyway. Just like keeping a pet cat or dog.” Scarlett offered a few half-hearted words of persuasion, and seeing that Julian was serious about sending me to the academy, she ended the conversation, satisfied. My breathing stopped. I felt as if I’d plunged into an ice cave. All the warm illusions of these years shattered in that instant, like a glass tower crashing down. They pierced me, leaving me bleeding and heartbroken. So that was it. All his kindness over the years was merely a calculation for my parents’ inheritance. He watched me grow up, only to suddenly withdraw all his tenderness. Hot and cold, always condescending. All of it because, in his eyes, I was merely a dispensable pet. 5. Tears streamed silently, my stomach churned, as if a fire was burning inside. I dug my nails into my palms, blood oozing from between my fingers, but I felt no pain. “Seen enough?” A cold voice suddenly cut through the air. Julian had woken up at some point and was staring at me with cold eyes. There was no hint of panic or guilt in his gaze, only disgust and indifference. He reached out and retrieved his phone, his movements swift and decisive. My lips trembled, I wanted to say something, but no sound came out. Julian stood up, looking down at me, his voice devoid of warmth: “I’ve done more than enough for you. Your jealousy towards Scarlett is sickening.” I finally found my voice, my throat raw as I yelled: “I didn’t set Scarlett up! I never did!” Julian scoffed, saying nothing, but his eyes were filled with cold mockery. He didn’t believe me. He never believed me. Julian turned and left, the door slamming shut, making my eardrums ache. I was alone in the room again, tears flowing like a broken dam, unstoppable. I curled up on the bed, as if to ward off the icy despair in my soul. I don’t know how much time passed. I tremblingly picked up my phone, compulsively opening Scarlett Vance’s Ins account. I used to secretly look at it; it was filled with Scarlett and Julian’s daily romance, every photo, every caption exuding sweetness and showmanship. For Scarlett’s casual remark, “I want cake from the west side of town,” Julian drove across half the city in the middle of the night to buy it. To make Scarlett smile, Julian spent a fortune at an auction, commissioning a private fireworks display for her. The internet was filled with envious comments. “Mr. Blackwood spoils Ms. Vance rotten!” “I heard Ms. Vance studied abroad back then, and Mr. Blackwood didn’t marry for years, just waiting for her.” “So sweet!!” Today, however, the comment section wasn’t praising a fairytale romance, but filled with vicious curses. They were all asking: Amelia Evans, why doesn’t she just die? My fingers trembled so violently I almost dropped the phone. I didn’t know what had happened, so I clicked on the trending topics. A glaring headline immediately caught my eye: “Blackwood Heiress Accused of Jealousy and Setting Up Scarlett Vance, On-Site Video Exposed!” It was last night’s scene. The video was cleverly shot, the angle intentionally misleading. In the footage, the moment I reached out, Scarlett stumbled backward, and the champagne tower crashed down. Anyone watching would think I had pushed her. At the same time, Scarlett posted a victim-playing message on her Ins: “I never expected something like this to happen at my engagement party… my hand is hurt, it’s so painful. But I don’t blame her, she’s still young, it was just an impulsive act.” At the end of the text, she added: “I understand a young girl’s feelings, but such affection is ultimately wrong.” The post was accompanied by a photo of her bandaged finger and a love letter. It was my naive confession to Julian when I was eighteen. He actually showed that to Scarlett. I twitched my lips, feeling only immense irony and ridicule. Even more glaring was Julian Blackwood’s comment: “I’ll handle it.” Those brief words, four of them, instantly ignited the fury of netizens. The comment section exploded. “Holy hell! She actually has *those* kinds of thoughts about her own uncle?!” “That’s disgusting, this is incest, right?!” “No wonder her parents died young, she has no upbringing!” I scrolled through my phone, my fingertips trembling over the words “twisted obsession.” I clicked on the trending topics. The hashtag #AmeliaEvansJulianBlackwood was followed by a blazing red “trending” icon. The page was filled with black and white images of me, like mocking funeral portraits. My fingers trembled as I scrolled, every comment like a knife, cutting me deeply. I tried to explain, but as soon as I typed a few words, my account was reported and banned. My private messages were filled with curses and insults. 6. I put down my phone, my stomach churning, a metallic taste rising in my throat. I bit my lip hard, swallowing the blood. The hospital room door opened, and the doctor walked in, holding my test results, his brows furrowed: “Miss Evans, your condition has worsened. Stage IV stomach cancer is already fragile, and you drank so much alcohol…” He paused. “Moreover, your depression has worsened significantly, and you need to start chemotherapy immediately. Last time, why did you ask me to keep it from Mr. Blackwood? Your current situation…” I gave a desolate laugh: “No need.” “But your family—” “What’s the point in telling him now?” I interrupted the doctor, my voice as faint as a fallen leaf. “Anyway, I’m leaving soon.” The doctor looked like he wanted to say more but finally sighed: “Chemotherapy can prolong your life…” “I don’t like chemotherapy.” I shook my head, touching my straw-like hair. “It’s too ugly. Just let it be.” The doctor gave me a helpless glance, then turned and left, as if I were already a corpse. I stayed in the hospital for a few days; no one visited except my best friend, Chloe Adams. Julian’s phone was unreachable; I even suspected I’d been blocked. Until the fifth day, Chloe called, her voice urgent: “Mia, something terrible has happened!” “Your parents’ headstone… it’s been vandalized.” My breath caught in my throat. “Those people surrounded your parents’ grave, holding protest signs, taking photos, saying they wouldn’t leave until you publicly apologized to Scarlett Vance…” She tremblingly opened her SnapChat. The hashtag #MyParentsGravesite was blazing across the trending topics. In the video, my parents’ joint headstone was defaced with red paint, “Failed Parenting” scrawled across it, and offerings to the dead were kicked and scattered. The voice on the other end of the phone blurred, leaving only a sharp buzzing in my ears. My gaze fell on the bedside table, where a family photo sat—my parents hugging a young me, all smiles. And now, where they lay buried, they couldn’t even rest in peace. I mechanically hung up the phone, slowly got out of bed, and changed into my only clean clothes. 7. As I left the hospital, the sky was so overcast it felt like it was pressing down on me. I hailed a taxi and gave the address of the cemetery. Soon, I arrived at my destination. Media vans were parked outside the cemetery gates, and a crowd of people holding up their phones gathered there, as if waiting for something. I pulled my hat low and quietly slipped in through a side entrance. From a distance, I saw the crowd. They held banners that read “Amelia Evans Apologize,” and some shouted through megaphones, their voices piercingly loud in the silent cemetery. At my parents’ grave, red paint covered the words “Jinx,” and their photos were slashed beyond recognition. Offerings lay scattered, and the flowers were trampled to pulp. I stood frozen, my legs heavy as lead, unable to take another step. My stomach twisted in pain, and cold sweat drenched my back. The crowd spotted me and instantly swarmed forward. “Bitch! You finally dared to show your face?!” “Hurry up and apologize to Scarlett Vance!” “How could your parents raise a daughter like you? They deserved to die early!” Amidst the harsh shouts, someone shoved me. I staggered backward, hitting the cold headstone, and blood immediately streamed from my forehead. I looked up at the defaced photos of my parents, and my tears finally broke free, a torrent. “Apologize!” The crowd shouted in unison, phone cameras aimed at my pale face. I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. My gaze swept over the crowd, landing on a distant tree. Julian Blackwood stood there, watching coldly. My last sliver of hope completely shattered. In that moment, I suddenly laughed. I laughed until my whole body trembled, until tears streamed down my face, laughed so hard that the crowd exchanged glances, calling me “crazy.” Under everyone’s watchful eyes, I slowly knelt down. “I’m sorry…” My voice was barely audible. The crowd fell silent for a moment. I lowered my head, my fingers digging into the ground, blood seeping from under my nails. “When I was ten, my parents died in a car accident…” My voice trembled. “Before they left, they held me tight and told me not to be scared…” My tears splattered on the ground. “Mom would knit sweaters for me, Dad would secretly buy me candy… They never thought I was a jinx.” My throat tightened, as if something was blocking it. “They loved me so much… truly loved me…” Someone scoffed: “What are you doing, playing the victim? Do you think that’ll make up for what you did to Scarlett?” I didn’t look up, just continued: “If you hate me, come at me… please, don’t disturb my parents anymore… they didn’t do anything wrong…” My voice grew weaker, as if it could break off at any moment. “I’m sorry…” I suddenly raised my voice, tears mixing with blood as they flowed down. “I’m sorry!” I cried out again, my voice hoarse beyond recognition. A few scattered voices still jeered: “What a pathetic act!” “Do you think this will clear your name?” My vision began to blur, and my stomach burned. “I’m sorry…” I cried out once more, my voice utterly broken. Suddenly, I retched, a large mouthful of blood spewing out. The blood splattered on the ground, a shocking red. My body swayed, my vision spun, and I collapsed heavily. My whole body ached. In my ears, there were chaotic shouts of alarm, someone yelling “Call an ambulance,” and others scoffing, “She’s such a good actress.” My consciousness gradually faded, and before I completely sank into darkness, I seemed to see Julian Blackwood pushing through the crowd and rushing towards me. His face was filled with a panic I’d never seen before, his brows furrowed, his lips trembling as he called my name. I thought, this must be a hallucination. How could my Uncle Julian show such an expression for me? Darkness consumed me. 8. When I woke, everything was stark white. I moved my fingers with difficulty and found a needle in the back of my hand, blue-green bruising visible under the skin. The hospital room door suddenly opened, and Julian Blackwood strode in. His face was grim, and he held a piece of paper, his knuckles white from his grip. My gaze fell on the paper, and my pupils constricted sharply. It was my stomach cancer diagnosis. “What is this?” Julian’s voice was ice-cold, as he flung the paper onto the bed. The sheet fluttered lightly onto the covers, and my heart sank. I had never imagined he would find out. I had planned to leave quietly, without alarming anyone. I forced down my panic, looked up, and spoke calmly: “It’s exactly what you see.” A faint flicker of hope sparked in my heart. Perhaps he would feel sad for me for just a second? Even a momentary flicker of emotion would be enough to bring me some comfort in my final moments. However, Julian scoffed, then suddenly raised his hand and slapped me hard. “Slap!” The sharp sound echoed in the room. My face snapped to one side, a fiery pain instantly spreading across it. I froze, my ears ringing. “Still lying to me.” Julian’s voice was filled with disgust. “You’re perfectly fine. If Scarlett hadn’t specifically brought in an expert to examine you, I would have really fallen for your trick.” I felt like I’d plunged into an ice cellar, my face deathly pale. I slowly turned my head, my eyes filled with disbelief as I looked at Julian. In his eyes, I was such a liar, someone who would even use cancer to play the victim? My heart grew completely cold, and tears streamed silently down my face. A sudden metallic taste filled my throat, and I coughed violently. A mouthful of fresh blood gushed out, staining the pristine white bedspread. Julian’s pupils constricted sharply, his gaze fixed on the blood I had coughed up. Before him, I was skeletal, my face gray and withered, as if a gust of wind could scatter me. A flicker of hesitation crossed his mind, but it was quickly suppressed by reason. He thought of Scarlett. She was kind and gentle; she had donated a kidney for his illness all those years ago, waited for him for so long, and now she was being framed. He couldn’t soften because of my pathetic act. “Because of what you did at the cemetery, Scarlett’s reputation is now very poor, caught in a media storm.” Julian said coldly. “She was so depressed she wanted to commit suicide. If I hadn’t found her in time, you would have to atone for her your entire life!” My heart felt like it was being sliced by a knife. When I was being cyber-bullied, did Julian worry for me even for a second? Now that Scarlett suffered a minor grievance, he was rushing to accuse me. “I told you, I didn’t do it.” My voice was hoarse, filled with shattered despair. “You don’t believe me. Do you want me to kneel again?” Julian’s anger ignited instantly. He grabbed my wrist, his grip so strong it felt like my bones would be crushed: “Unrepentant! Just because you like me, you would frame Scarlett like this. Julian Blackwood can’t afford to be embarrassed by you!” I suddenly laughed, a desolate and desperate laugh. I violently flung his hand away, yelling with all my might: “I don’t like you! I haven’t liked you for a long time!” Julian froze. My eyes held none of the usual infatuation, only cold detachment and shattered despair. In that instant, his heart felt as if something had pierced it, but it was quickly replaced by anger. “Good, very good.” He sneered, turning towards the door and shouting, “Guards!” Two bodyguards immediately pushed open the door. “Take her to The Horizon Academy.” Julian’s voice was unquestionable. “Release her when she admits her mistake.” My breath hitched, and my body trembled uncontrollably. The Horizon Academy, that place rumored to break people, body and soul. Once inside, all contact with the outside world was severed until one was “reformed” to their liking. The bodyguards stepped forward, grabbed my arms, and roughly dragged me off the hospital bed. The IV needle was ripped out, and blood immediately welled up on the back of my hand. I didn’t struggle; I just stared fixedly at Julian, my eyes terrifyingly vacant. “Julian Blackwood.” My voice was as faint as a fallen leaf. “If one day you know the truth, will you regret it?” Julian frowned, but didn’t answer. The bodyguards dragged me out, my figure so frail it seemed I could vanish at any moment. The hospital room door slowly closed. Julian stood there, a sudden, inexplicable irritation welling up in his heart. He glanced down at the blood-stained bedsheet, his brows furrowed. A moment later, he took out his phone and dialed Scarlett Vance, his voice instantly softening: “Scarlett, it’s handled… Don’t worry, I’m here.” On the other end of the line, Scarlett’s voice was tearful: “Julian, those people online are saying such terrible things… I can’t take it anymore…” “I’ll be right there.” He forced himself to look away and strode out of the room. In the hallway, medical staff hurried past with a medicine cart, no one noticing the grim-faced man. Julian walked to the elevator, pressed the button, but the image of me coughing blood kept replaying in his mind. The elevator doors slowly closed, swallowing his figure. 9. When I was dragged into The Horizon Academy, it was already dark. The iron gate slammed shut behind me, emitting a dull clang. My wrists were roughly held by bodyguards, and I was stumbled into a pitch-black room. “Get in.” A bodyguard coldly tossed the words, then slammed the door shut. Darkness swallowed everything. I curled up in the corner, trembling uncontrollably. I didn’t know what would happen next. Footsteps sounded outside the door, followed by a blinding flashlight beam directly onto my face. “Amelia Evans?” A middle-aged man’s voice echoed, his tone filled with condescending scrutiny. I struggled to look up and saw a cold, indifferent face. It was Director Thorne, the head of the academy. “I hear you have inappropriate feelings for your uncle?” He scoffed. “Not very old, but quite bold.” I didn’t answer, just bit down hard on my lip. Seeing my silence, Director Thorne sneered and turned to the person behind him: “Take her to the Rehabilitation Chamber.” Two burly men immediately stepped forward, grabbing my arms and dragging me out. The Rehabilitation Chamber was a cramped room, its walls lined with electroshock devices and restraints. I was forced into a chair, my hands and feet firmly bound by leather straps. “First rehabilitation session, just to make you recognize reality.” Director Thorne looked down at me. I was strapped into the electroshock chair, and currents repeatedly surged through my body, the intense pain almost making me lose consciousness. Again and again, until I completely passed out. The days that followed plunged me into hell. I was confined in a sunless room, given only a bowl of watery gruel each day. If I didn’t cooperate with the “rehabilitation,” even that meager food was withheld. Once, I was so hungry I couldn’t bear it, and I trembled as I crawled towards the door, only to be kicked over by a guard. “Want food?” The guard sneered. “Crawl over here and bark like a dog.” My stomach cramped, and my vision blurred. I bit my lip hard, but eventually, driven by hunger, I slowly crawled over. “Woof…” My voice was so weak it was barely audible. The guard laughed loudly and casually tossed a piece of moldy bread onto the floor. “Eat it.” I tremblingly reached for it, but just as my fingers were about to touch it, another foot stomped hard on my hand. “Beg me.” I trembled all over from the pain, tears hitting the ground, but I stubbornly refused to speak. The guard sneered, adding more pressure. My fingers were almost crushed, but I clenched my jaw, refusing to beg. Finally, the guard released his foot, bored, and walked away, cursing. I curled up on the ground, trembling as I picked up the dust-covered bread and slowly shoved it into my mouth. My stomach churned, but I didn’t dare to vomit. Because if I threw up, I would truly have nothing left. Two weeks passed, and I was gaunt, a shadow of my former self. My eyes were vacant; no matter how much they hit or cursed me, I was like a soulless shell, unresponsive. Director Thorne finally panicked. “What’s wrong with her?” he frowned, asking his subordinate. “Don’t know, she’s been like this for two days, not eating, not drinking.” Director Thorne impatiently waved his hand: “Find someone with medical knowledge to check her.” Soon, a man in a white coat walked in. After a brief examination, his face changed. “She already has stage IV stomach cancer. Now her body has completely collapsed. I estimate… she won’t last much longer.” Director Thorne paused, then sneered: “Julian Blackwood clearly doesn’t want her. He didn’t even come to pick her up for his wedding tomorrow. He probably won’t ever think of her again.” He pondered for a moment, then waved his hand: “Give her some medicine, just don’t let her die here.” The subordinate nodded: “What about after that?” Director Thorne glanced at my dying form and said blandly: “Once Ms. Vance is satisfied, we’ll ‘take care’ of her.” Their conversation clearly reached my ears. My pupils constricted slightly, but I didn’t even have the strength for fear. They would kill me. And I didn’t even have the strength to resist. Everyone left, and the room plunged into darkness again. I curled up in the corner, freezing cold. I could no longer cough up blood, my breathing so shallow it seemed it could stop at any moment. Would I die? I hugged my head, trembling incessantly, muttering to myself: “I was wrong… I was wrong…” I didn’t know what I was wrong about, but if I didn’t admit it, those people would hit me, they wouldn’t give me food. In a daze, I seemed to feel a warm hand gently caress my hair. My body trembled, thinking it was those people. I instinctively recoiled, incoherently repeating: “I was wrong… I’m sorry…” But the voice was silent for a long time, finally sighing softly and saying to me: “Mia.” “Let me take you away.” 10. On the eve of the wedding, Scarlett Vance’s social media was practically flooded. She posted over a dozen Ins updates, each meticulously curated with photos. From the delicate lace details of her wedding dress to the dazzling facets of her diamond ring, everything announced the upcoming wedding of the century to the world. “Tomorrow, I’ll be Mrs. Blackwood, thank you for all your blessings!” The post was accompanied by a side profile of her in her custom wedding gown, the shattered diamonds on the skirt shimmering in the light. The comments section was filled with envy: “This is a true high-society wedding!” “Mr. Blackwood’s devoted husband image holds strong!” “Scarlett Vance must have saved the galaxy in her last life!” Scarlett looked at the continuously rising popularity with satisfaction, then tapped her finger and posted another update: “Our wedding will be live-streamed tomorrow. Everyone is welcome to witness our happy moment~” Meanwhile, Julian Blackwood stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, expressionlessly looking at the constant stream of notifications on his phone. For the past two weeks, he had been distracted. Marrying Scarlett was something he had planned for years, yet now that the day was truly here, he felt an inexplicable emptiness. “Julian, do you think this wedding dress looks good?” Scarlett’s voice drifted from the walk-in closet, interrupting his thoughts. Julian looked up and saw Scarlett emerge in a magnificent wedding gown, the crystals on the skirt glittering blindingly in the light. “It’s beautiful.” He replied mechanically, his gaze involuntarily drifting outside the window. In a haze, he seemed to see eighteen-year-old me. That year, I had secretly tried on his white shirt, laughing like a child who had stolen candy. “Uncle Julian, do I look good in your clothes?” The girl’s voice was clear and sweet, with a hint of playful charm. “Julian? Are you listening to me?” Scarlett frowned, displeased, and waved her hand in front of his eyes. Julian snapped back to reality, suppressing the strange emotion in his heart: “Sorry, something came up at the office.” Scarlett pouted, then turned to look in the mirror, not noticing his suddenly dark expression. Julian walked onto the balcony and lit a cigarette. In the swirling smoke, he remembered when I was fifteen, how I had secretly tried his cigarette out of curiosity and choked, tears streaming down my face. He had been furious and swatted my hand. But later that night, he had quietly gone to my room to apply medicine. The young girl, with red-rimmed eyes, had said: “Uncle Julian, I was wrong.” What had he replied then? “Mr. Blackwood, Miss Adams is here again.” Mr. Henderson’s voice interrupted his memories. Julian frowned: “Tell her to leave.” “She said…” Mr. Henderson hesitated. “If she doesn’t see you today, she’ll cause a scene with the press.” Julian’s eyes instantly turned cold. In the reception room, Chloe Adams had red eyes, and rushed towards him as soon as she saw him: “Julian Blackwood, where did you take Mia?!” “That’s none of your business.” “How can you be so heartless? You raised her yourself, you—!” Chloe’s voice almost tore. “Don’t you know she…?” “Enough!” Julian cut her off sharply. “What kind of charade are you two planning now?” Chloe stared at him, then suddenly smiled: “You’ll regret this.” Julian looked at her coldly: “I never regret anything.” Chloe left, but not before throwing one last sentence back: “You’re just banking on her loving you.” “Have you ever considered what if one day, she completely disappears and never comes back?” Julian’s heart sank suddenly. For some reason, he remembered the several missed calls he had received from a funeral home these past few days. His time was precious, and he never answered such nuisance calls. No, that’s impossible. He forced himself to calm down. It had been two weeks; Mia must have reflected enough at the academy. Tomorrow was his wedding to Scarlett, it was time to bring me out. He wanted me to witness his marriage, to completely sever those inappropriate feelings. After that, he would give me the best life, compensate me well. Julian picked up his phone and dialed his subordinate: “Go to The Horizon Academy and bring Miss Evans out. Bring her to the wedding tomorrow.” After hanging up, his phone rang again. It was that funeral home number again. Julian’s finger hovered over the answer button, but he didn’t press it. “Julian! Come try on your suit!” Scarlett called from upstairs. He ultimately did not answer that call. The next day, the wedding venue was breathtakingly luxurious. The entire hotel was booked, from the entrance to the ceremony hall, overflowing with imported roses, their scent so dense it was almost suffocating. Media stood with long lenses and microphones on either side of the red carpet, flashbulbs popping incessantly. Scarlett, linked arm-in-arm with Julian, walked down the red carpet, her radiant smile and long train trailing behind her. Julian walked beside her, his expression impassive, his gaze occasionally sweeping towards the entrance. Why hadn’t Amelia Evans arrived yet? “And now, will the bride and groom please exchange rings.” The emcee’s voice brought his thoughts back. Julian mechanically picked up the ring, just about to place it on Scarlett’s finger, when his phone rang again. It was the funeral home. This time, as if by a strange impulse, he pressed the answer button. “Mr. Blackwood, Miss Evans…” He didn’t hear the rest, because the doors of the ceremony hall were suddenly flung open. Mr. Henderson stumbled in, his face streaked with tears, clutching a small box tightly in his arms. The butler, steady as a rock for decades, now looked like a helpless child, crying so hard he could barely stand. The entire hall erupted in murmurs, and live broadcast cameras swung to capture the unexpected interruption. “Sir…” Mr. Henderson choked, barely able to form a complete sentence. “Miss Mia… she…”

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