Author: Momo Chan

My Birthday Wish Is Your Nightmare After finishing the physical examinations for all the students, I implanted explosive chips in every single one of their brains. SWAT teams, weapons drawn, had me completely surrounded. My voice was terrifyingly calm: “Grant my birthday wish, and I’ll remove the chips.” “Otherwise, every fifteen minutes, a random chip will explode!” All the parents panicked, desperate to know what my wish was. I clenched my jaw, trembling all over. “I can’t tell you! A wish spoken out loud won’t come true.” “Time is running out. You’ll have to guess.” … Everyone erupted. “Crazy much? How are we supposed to grant your wish if you don’t even tell us what it is?” “It’s five o’clock! I need to pick up my kid and get back to work! You’re wasting *everyone’s* time with this insanity!” “I bet those explosive chips are a bluff! Let the kids go, and if you want a birthday, go home and celebrate!” As they spoke, the SWAT teams tightened their cordon, some itching to storm the school. I gave a faint smile and pressed the button without hesitation. A deafening blast. The school infirmary was reduced to rubble. Everyone instantly fell silent. If reinforced concrete could be turned into rubble in an instant, what chance did a human head have? From the crowd outside the school gate, a man stepped forward, hands raised high. “Dr. Reed, please, calm down.” “I’m here to help you. Just tell us what you need, and we’ll do everything in our power to arrange it!” I knew this man – Detective Miller, the city’s most renowned negotiation expert. Many parents’ voices trembled as they echoed him. “Dr. Reed, you’ve been our school doctor for over twenty years. We’ve all witnessed your dedication.” “Someone who loves these children like her own couldn’t have been driven to this point without extreme duress.” “Whatever your hardship, just tell us! We’ll support you!” Their eyes were bloodshot and swollen, brimming with terror for their children’s safety. But I just caressed the button in my hand, my voice cold. “Didn’t I just say?” “Guess and grant my birthday wish, and I’ll release the children.” Some of the more volatile parents couldn’t hold back, cursing and spewing obscenities. Detective Miller shot them a stern glare, terrified I’d be provoked again. I shrugged. “These chips are extremely powerful. Once they explode, a person will be reduced to nothing but… a mess.” Parents’ eyes were blazing with fury, wanting to tear me apart. The school’s outdoor screen, usually displaying uplifting messages, now showed a vivid red countdown. “Time is running out. I advise you not to waste it on yelling at me.” “You have ten minutes left.” They had no choice but to compromise, huddled together in intense discussion. A minute later, dozens of armored trucks sped towards the intersection. “Dr. Reed, you’ve lived a simple life, your parents are bedridden, and their medical bills alone run into the tens of thousands every month!” “We understand your struggles. Here’s fifty million! Is that enough?” Everyone’s eyes lit up like stars, their faces full of anticipation. I spoke slowly. “I don’t want money.” My husband, who had been silent in the crowd, pounded his chest in anguish. “That’s fifty million! If you take the money, Mom and Dad’s illnesses, and our hundreds of thousands in debt, all our problems would just disappear!” “Don’t worry, the officer promised me they’d never take the money back!” Detective Miller’s tone was soothing, persuasive. “Dr. Reed, don’t be afraid.” “If you release them now, we won’t press any legal charges against you!” My voice was flat. “Sounds tempting.” “But that’s not my birthday wish.” “You have five minutes left.” Detective Miller gritted his teeth. “One hundred million! Is one hundred million enough?!” Silence was my reply.

The countdown relentlessly decreased, and the crowd grew increasingly agitated. “Just shoot her! One shot and all these crazy problems will be solved!” “Yeah, even if she has a reason, she’s still a kidnapper playing with human lives! She doesn’t deserve sympathy!” A sniper was already in position. I stood in the center of the plaza, with no cover around me. Detective Miller’s expression was grim. “Dr. Reed, this is your last chance!” I raised the button again. “The moment you shoot me, I’ll press the master switch, and thousands of students across the school will die with me!” The sniper slowly aimed the laser dot at my right hand. I smiled disdainfully. “Even if you cripple me, it’s useless.” “I’ve had hundreds of detection chips implanted all over my body. Any injury, anywhere, will trigger the explosive chips!” “If you don’t believe me, you can try.” Everyone held their breath. This involved thousands of lives; they couldn’t take the gamble. Three minutes remained on the countdown. The Mayor shouted loudly. “I’ll give you the National Medical Excellence Award! With that award, you can pick any hospital in the country!” This was an honor every doctor dreamed of. Since its inception, only two people had ever received it. Yet, I still shook my head. Parents stomped their feet in frustration. “You don’t want fame, you don’t want money, what on earth do you want?!” They forced my husband to recall my preferences. They even brought me birthday cakes, expensive dresses, luxury cosmetics… but I rejected them all. Two minutes left. My husband, who had been deep in thought for a long time, suddenly shouted. “I know what you want!” He frantically searched the back seat of my car, digging a piece of paper out from between the seats. Everyone suddenly understood.

A liver cancer diagnosis. Stage four. To survive, I needed a transplant. “Evelyn Reed, you want a compatible liver, don’t you?” “That’s something neither money nor power can guarantee!” Before I could answer, they immediately accessed their classified resource database, matching me with a suitable liver. In just one minute, a match was found. Fearing I’d burden my family, I’d kept silent about my cancer, barely surviving on painkillers. But now, if I agreed, I could get a free surgery right away, extending my life by at least thirty years. Everyone thought I’d agree. But I still shook my head. “That’s not my birthday wish.” “You have one minute left.” The crowd erupted into chaos. Professional teams had already scoured all my recent browsing history and call records, but still found no clues. Detective Miller frantically flipped through the thick stack of documents in his hands, trying to grasp at any shred of evidence. Thirty seconds on the countdown. Detective Miller suddenly received a call, his voice filled with excitement. “I know! You want revenge for your daughter!” “Three years ago, your daughter graduated and started working at a top tech company, but she quit after six months in a rush, not even collecting her salary!” “Officially, it was a voluntary resignation, but in reality, she was sexually harassed by her boss!” “You tried to seek justice through countless complaints and legal avenues, but they were all shut down.” “The culprit not only refused to admit guilt but even issued death threats against your family!” Someone in the crowd sighed. “So that’s it. A mother’s love is truly limitless.” “I knew it; Dr. Reed wouldn’t kidnap children unless she was pushed to the absolute brink.” Detective Miller’s eyes were full of sincerity. “We’ve just apprehended that man. Don’t worry, he’ll receive the punishment he deserves!” I curved my lips. “That man holds a high position. You’re truly impressive to have caught him in such a short time.” “I’m somewhat emotional. The nightmare that tormented me for three years, you managed to resolve in just a few minutes.” “Then why, for the past three years, did my cries for help go unanswered?” Detective Miller’s face paled. He tried to explain, feigning composure. I gently raised a hand to interrupt him. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter anymore.” “Unfortunately, that’s not what I want either.” The countdown on the large screen showed ten seconds. All the students in their classrooms were engrossed in a movie, occasionally bursting into laughter. They didn’t know that death was approaching. I picked up the megaphone connected to the school-wide broadcast, my voice gentle. “Students, watching movies for too long isn’t good for your eyes.” “Everyone, close your eyes and rest for a bit.” “And please, *please* don’t open them up…” 10, 9, 8… Just then, my daughter, Chloe, looking disheveled and frantic, suddenly arrived. “Mom, no—!” My body violently shuddered. Three years ago, her boss had drugged her, causing severe nerve damage. Doctors had diagnosed that my daughter would never speak again. I stared blankly at Chloe. Her voice was hoarse, her pronunciation strange from not speaking for so long. “Mom, I know you must have an incredibly difficult reason for this.” “But no matter what we face, we’re a team, we’ll get through anything together!” “Mom, please don’t do anything foolish, okay?” “Your daughter can’t live without her mom!” Chloe spread her arms, pleading with me to put down the button. A tender embrace awaited me. Countless people in the crowd wept. I clenched my jaw, trembling all over. *Beep*. The countdown hit zero.

I jolted, shivering. There was no turning back now! *Click*. The button descended. Almost instantly, the windows of Room 302, a third-grade classroom, turned a vivid crimson. Thick, viscous red liquid, like blood and… something else, snaked down the glass, chillingly reminiscent of venomous snakes. Students were splattered with fresh blood, frozen in place. Several minutes later, someone finally reacted, screaming and frantically banging on the door. But the doors and windows had long been locked by me. The school’s soundproofing was excellent, so their screams sounded like faint whispers to others. Other classrooms continued watching their movies. Only Room 302 was a living hell. The countdown reset to fifteen minutes. Chloe was so shocked she fainted, falling unconscious. The parents of Room 302’s students cried hysterically, their hearts breaking. They were too far away to tell if the child who had just exploded was their own. Parents from other classes visibly relaxed, relieved that their darlings had escaped. I secretly chuckled. “You might not know this, but I shuffled all the students’ class assignments.” “So, who do you think that unlucky child was?” Everyone erupted instantly. Wailing, praying, and furious shouts mingled together. Detective Miller’s gaze grew cold. “Evelyn Reed, a powerful sedative is on its way.” “I urge you to give up and surrender.” I laughed bitterly. “What’s the point of surrendering? Will you let me go?” Detective Miller forced himself not to look at the crimson window. “We can try to negotiate a lenient sentence…” I cut him off directly. “I’m terminally ill with liver cancer anyway. Death penalty or life imprisonment, it makes little difference to me.” “Ten minutes left. Let the games continue.” Everyone went wild. Infuriated parents directly aimed their rage at my family. The police couldn’t hold back the enraged crowd. David and Chloe were pelted with mud and filth, looking like beggars. I fought back tears, my voice trembling. “Five minutes left.” Chloe, barely conscious, forced herself up from her faint, tears streaming down her face. “Mom, you said you loved children most.” “When a child had a fever and their parents didn’t take it seriously, you’d pay out of pocket to take them to a big hospital for tests until the results were normal.” “When parents were divorcing, you’d bring the child home to live with us, fearing they’d be traumatize.” “Thousands of children in this school, didn’t every single one call you ‘Aunt Evelyn’?” “Mom, I’m begging you, tell me why you’re doing this? Please?” “What do you want, Mom?” Chloe cried herself hoarse. I trembled all over, biting so hard on the inside of my cheek that I could almost taste blood, but my words remained cold. “I can’t say.” “A wish spoken out loud won’t come true.” “Four minutes left.” Chloe screamed in despair, grabbing a fruit knife from a nearby stall and pressing it firmly against her carotid artery. “If you don’t tell me, I’ll die!” Chloe had suffered from depression for three years. With severe psychological trauma and nerve damage, she’d wake up dozens of times every night, barely getting two or three hours of sleep in total. But no matter how difficult, her eyes were always full of hope, never a word of discouragement. She even planned to study for her Master’s and restart her life. And now… The blade cut her skin, drawing a bead of blood. “Enough!” “Come here, I’ll tell only you.” Detective Miller squeezed Chloe’s hand tightly, signaling her not to be afraid. Chloe walked step by step, her frail body like a withered leaf. I leaned close to her ear and slowly whispered my wish. Chloe froze, the color draining from her face. It wasn’t until Detective Miller shouted himself hoarse that she nodded numbly, utterly bewildered, and started to walk back. Once she returned to the crowd, everyone clamored to know what I had said. Chloe slowly turned back, giving me a meaningful look. Suddenly, with an unnatural speed, she rushed towards the school fence! She threw herself onto it! Without hesitation, with absolute resolve. The spiked railing pierced straight through my daughter’s neck, blood gushing out. Yet, a strange smile spread across Chloe’s face. David instantly collapsed, screaming. “What did you tell our daughter?!” My face was streaked with tears as I stared blankly at the countdown. “Three minutes left.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298932”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

In my previous life, I chose the beautiful bird spirit beast, leaving the gray cat for my elder sister. I was lazy by nature, thinking a bird would fly me around for fun. I never expected it to be the Divine Beast Phoenix, Kaelen. It was fiercely ambitious, solely focused on cultivation and growth. Every day, it forced me to wake early for training, making me utterly miserable. Meanwhile, my sister’s gray cat spent its days basking in the sun and sleeping. Blair couldn’t even get it to move for cultivation. It drove my fiercely ambitious sister crazy, and I envied her greatly. This life, I snatched the gray cat first. Blair, who always doted on me, naturally indulged my whim. It turned out she was indeed a better match for Kaelen, and they both became the strongest duo in the sect. As for me and Arion, we had the time of our lives, completely oblivious to everything else. Then one day, everything changed. Battling demons and banishing evil was, of course, a job for Blair and Kaelen. I was just a beautiful disaster. But when this disaster was nearly devoured by a demon, my gray cat suddenly transformed, becoming a majestic, mountain-shaking Divine Beast White Tiger.

I hugged the gray cat, declaring I wanted it. Elder Thorne frowned in disapproval. He said this spirit beast had appeared earlier than the bird, its spiritual energy must be stronger, and it should go to Blair, who had better innate magical talent. Blair indulgently stroked my head, smiling. “Willow, do you really like the cat?” I nodded vigorously. “I just want the kitty!” “Alright, it’s yours then.” Elder Thorne started to protest further, but Blair had already left with Kaelen. Little did he know then, with his displeased expression, how grateful he would be to me later. Blair had always been more capable than me since childhood. She picked up spells and increased her spiritual power much faster. She was the one who truly deserved Kaelen, the spirit beast that would later awaken into a Divine Beast Phoenix. In my previous life, I chose Kaelen because I wanted it to fly me around for fun, but it turned out to be an incredibly ambitious spirit. It forced me to train day and night, pouring its heart and soul into me. Unfortunately, my spiritual root was too weak; I couldn’t even hold a candle to Blair. Kaelen often looked at me with disappointment, asking how Blair and I, being twins, could be so different. It said that in its bird world, someone like me would be abandoned at birth, or just grow up to be someone else’s dinner. After scaring me, it would gaze longingly at Blair, wishing she were its master. At first, I didn’t understand why a bird would try so hard all the time. It wasn’t until Kaelen awakened into a Divine Beast Phoenix on its own that I truly understood. I, the pretty useless one, was indeed holding it back. Blair was even happier than me when my spirit beast became a Divine Beast. She taught me many ways to cultivate with the aid of a Divine Beast. Kaelen watched from the side with quiet envy, practically wishing it could follow Blair. And I wanted it to follow Blair too! Ever since I got Kaelen, I hadn’t even set foot in the back mountains. The adorable little animals there must have missed me, and I was starting to forget the tempting scent of them after they were roasted. Not to mention how bustling the town below must be now; I’d become completely out of touch with the world. I asked Blair with a tearful face if we could switch spirit beasts. She just smiled gently. “Kaelen is a Divine Beast. It’s a better match for me than the gray cat.” No, nothing was a better match for me than the gray cat! My dream was to be delightfully useless, and the gray cat made my dream come true. Blair couldn’t even make it listen. Even with a master’s command, it would only cooperate with her for basic cultivation, offering no extra assistance. That’s why Blair’s power level never advanced. Every day, while I was miserably overseen by Kaelen during my training, I’d see the gray cat sleeping in various poses everywhere! Or it would be toying with and devouring various small animals! All those delicious treats that should have ended up in my stomach, it ate them all! I was furious, wanting it to save some for me, but before I could even get close, Kaelen’s piercing glare pinned me to the spot. Watching the gray cat lazily sunning its belly, I wished I could throw the sword I held right at it. With Kaelen’s help, my spiritual power did indeed increase significantly. But my talent was simply too limited; I couldn’t keep up with Kaelen’s pace, making it impossible for us to cooperate to our fullest potential. Consequently, when the demon race invaded, Kaelen stood before me, straining to hold them off for a long time, before ultimately falling in battle. Without its aid, I was quickly severely wounded. I only managed to push Blair, who was shielding me with her body, away with my last ounce of strength, before losing consciousness. This life, I would not torment Kaelen, nor would Kaelen torment me. Blair was the perfect match for a Divine Beast. I only deserved this lazy cat in my arms. Elder Thorne, who already disliked my foolishness, became even more displeased seeing me snatch the spirit beast from Blair. During lessons, he made sure no one called for me, and assigned me all the dirty and hard labor. Blair protected me, giving me private lessons after every class. But she didn’t know I actually preferred doing the chores. While they were in class, I would wander through the back mountains. When sent down the mountain for supplies, I’d explore and play everywhere, living a carefree life. It turned out Blair and Kaelen were truly a perfect match. In my previous life, Kaelen took three years to awaken on its own. This life, with its spiritual roots perfectly aligned with Blair’s, their cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds. Kaelen awakened into a Divine Beast in just one year. Blair, worried I might be unhappy, came to comfort me. She found me and Arion fishing in the back mountain river. No, ‘white cat’ now. It had been shedding a lot lately, and I was worried it would go bald, but then it suddenly started growing white fur, and its eyes turned blue. Now it was a striking blue-eyed white cat. I used one of the few spells I could competently cast to catch fish and roasted them over a fire, inviting Blair and Kaelen to eat with us. Kaelen haughtily refused, sticking close to Blair. Fortunately, I was already immune to its sarcastic remarks, so I ignored it and pulled Blair down to try my cooking. Blair relaxed, seeing I wasn’t upset. She asked what I’d been up to lately, as I was always off disappearing somewhere. Afraid she’d drag me back for lessons, I quickly said Arion and I had found a spirit-rich place in the mountains and were diligently cultivating there every day. Kaelen spoke coldly from the side. “Do you think Blair is foolish enough to believe that drivel?” I rolled my eyes at him. Before I could retort “Mind your own business,” I heard Blair say, “I believe her, Willow wouldn’t lie to me.” Seeing Kaelen’s visibly taken aback expression, I burst out laughing, cuddling Blair close. “Blair’s the best!” She stroked my head. “I can feel it, your spiritual power has grown. That means you really have been cultivating, so I’m relieved.” Kaelen scoffed. “Hmph, no matter how much she cultivates, she couldn’t match even a fraction of Blair. You’re about to break through to Level 7, and she’s still stuck at Level 4.” Arion, lazy as ever, spoke from beside me. “What’s wrong with Level 4? We live a carefree life, so happy. You, a bird, are so diligent, what, trying to become a feathered fanatic?” I ignored the bickering bird and cat, happily looking at Blair. To think, in the entire sect, only about a dozen cultivators had reached Level 7, and no one had ever reached Level 7 at Blair’s age. Elder Thorne wasn’t wrong; Blair was truly a once-in-a-century prodigy. This time, Blair’s talent and Kaelen’s spiritual essence weren’t wasted. Even more surprisingly, after Blair broke through Level 7, she became even more perfectly attuned with Kaelen. Their spiritual powers advanced by leaps and bounds. In just three short years, Blair actually reached Level 9. Meanwhile, Elder Thorne had only reached Level 10 Master level three years ago, after decades of cultivation. Elder Thorne said that the only good thing I’d ever done in my life was not choosing Kaelen as my spirit beast. Whenever I heard members of the sect say that Blair was highly likely to be the next sect leader, I’d happily indulge in three magnificent feasts. Because then, Blair would definitely protect me, and no one would ever force me to do things I didn’t like. There were many things I didn’t like, and number one was definitely spellcasting. For some reason, spells that others mastered in a few tries, I couldn’t get right even after dozens. Whenever this happened, people would say Blair had absorbed all the inherent magical energy in the womb, which was why I was so foolish. I hated it when they said that. What did Blair being clever have to do with me being slow? Since then, I never trained with the other disciples, preferring to cultivate alone in the mountains with Arion. I hadn’t lied to Blair last time; Arion and I really did find a spirit-rich cave with a spirit spring inside. Of course, I couldn’t actually feel if it was spirit-rich or not; Arion told me. I just found it incredibly comfortable to sleep in that cave, even my dreams were sweet. I asked Arion how he knew the spiritual energy was abundant here, because he was usually lazier than me. I at least occasionally recited spell incantations, while he just ate his fill and sunned his belly all day. He said he was a spirit beast after all. The moment he entered this spirit spring cave, all his pores felt soothed, more comfortable than being in the womb. While I doubted he’d ever actually been in a womb, I still believed him because he was definitely more capable than I was. Birds I couldn’t catch, he could swat down with a single paw. Deer I couldn’t keep up with, he could drop from the sky and stun. When chased by a wild boar, he could carry me and run as fast as if flying. Yes, without my noticing, he had grown large enough to carry me. When he was small, I used to hold him in my arms to sleep. Now, I slept in his arms, warm and cozy, no blanket needed.

Our sect was called Thousand Peaks Sect, located amidst mountains with countless peaks in the back mountain. No one dared venture too deep, fearing they’d get lost. But my favorite thing was exploring the mountains. In these past few years, Arion and I had explored almost every peak, changing our lodging every day and seeing many rare plants and unusual beasts. I had never been so happy in both my lives combined. So much so that I played until I lost track of time and the world outside. Naturally, I didn’t notice that it was almost time for the demon invasion, just like in my previous life. While I was playing wildly all these years, Blair, on the other hand, seemed to be racing against time, cultivating more diligently than ever, often going into seclusion for months at a time. By the time I’d explored the towns at the foot of the mountain so much that the ladies at the local taverns even started finding me annoying, I returned to the back mountains to run wild again. But even the adorable little animals weren’t coming out anymore. Arion and I lay in the forest, sunning ourselves, idly tugging at his fur. I suddenly remembered that Blair hadn’t dragged me back for lessons or even bathed me in a long time. I climbed onto Arion’s belly, eating berries and swinging my legs, asking him, “Have I not seen Blair in a long time?” “Seven months and nine days.” He remembered that clearly? I thought for a moment, my shock turning to suspicion. “Are you secretly crushing on Kaelen? Is that why you remember so clearly?” Arion’s belly swelled, launching me into the air. I calmly flipped over mid-air and landed back in his soft fur, too comfortable to get up. I buried my face in his fur and nuzzled him. “Then why else?” He lazily licked his paw, taking a long moment to reply. “That was the day Kaelen took human form. Blair hasn’t come looking for you since that day.” I suddenly understood. “Oh – you’re jealous Kaelen took human form! You became spirit beasts on the same day. He’s already awakened into a Divine Beast and taken human form, while you’ve just changed from a gray cat to a white cat, ha ha ha!” I mercilessly teased him, forgetting that I, too, was vastly different from Blair. “Who’s jealous of him? He looks like a flashy peacock. If I took human form, I’d be much hotter than him.” I scratched Arion’s fur. “I believe you, but you never cultivate, so how could you take human form? Let’s just both be happy as a beautiful disaster and a cute useless cat.” “A hot cat.” I got off Arion, straightening my clothes. “Come on, let’s go see Blair. I miss her.” Back in the sect, I keenly felt that the atmosphere was off. It wasn’t until I found my senior disciple, Jasper, that I learned Blair was about to become the sect leader. This was wonderful news! I turned and ran toward Blair’s courtyard, not hearing what Jasper said behind me. But I found her absent. Blair wasn’t in her courtyard. I asked a nearby disciple and found out she was with Elder Thorne. Elder Thorne was the person I feared most in the sect, and I would usually never go near him. But the joy of Blair becoming sect leader outweighed my fear. I rushed to Elder Thorne’s door, only to find it closed. Just as I was about to leave, Arion said there were people inside. I smelled gossip. Arion and I exchanged a look. He instantly shrunk back into a small cat. I scooped him into my arms and tiptoed to the window, crouching down. “The demon race has been restless lately. Rumor has it that Demon Prince Zareth is about to awaken. If true, they will surely seek revenge. In the battle twenty years ago, our Thousand Peaks Sect suffered heavy losses. In these past years, only you among the younger generation have reached Level 9, and there are only twelve cultivators above Level 7. We simply cannot withstand another demon invasion.” It was the first time I heard Elder Thorne’s voice sound so grave. Was it because the demons were coming? Time had passed so quickly. I recalled that in my previous life, it was around this time, when I was fifteen. “Although I’ve always publicly claimed to have just broken through Level 9, I have actually entered Level 10 Master level,” Blair said, her voice cold. “You’ve actually reached Level 10 Master level?” Elder Thorne sounded surprised and delighted, clearly not expecting Blair’s talent to be so high. In my previous life, when we fought the demon race, I barely made it to Level 6, and Blair was only at Level 7. We were utterly defenseless against the demons. But now, Blair was at Level 10 Master level; this time, we could definitely defeat the demon race. I happily leaned towards Arion’s ear, wanting to whisper something, but then I heard Blair speak again. “I will do my best to protect the disciples of Thousand Peaks Sect, but Elder Thorne, Willow’s magic is weak, and she knows nothing. She shouldn’t bear such a heavy responsibility.” “But with your strength alone, how can you fight the entire demon race? You are both twins. You cultivated day and night, reaching Master level to protect your fellow disciples, while she…” Before he could finish, Blair interrupted sharply. “The reason I trained relentlessly, reaching Master level so quickly, was entirely to protect Willow. No matter what, her safety is my top priority. Elder Thorne, if you don’t want anything to happen to me, then don’t even think about touching my sister.” I was completely bewildered, not understanding what the demon race had to do with me, or why Blair was arguing with Elder Thorne because of me. Before I could figure it out, I heard Blair’s footsteps approaching. She was coming out! I tossed Arion outside. He transformed back into his original form mid-air. I leaped onto him, wrapping my arms around his neck, and in one swift bound, we flew into the adjacent courtyard. A young attendant sweeping the courtyard nearly collapsed in fright at the sudden appearance of a person and a large cat out of thin air. Arion and I followed a small path back to Blair’s courtyard, but didn’t find her. She must have gone somewhere else after leaving. “Arion, tell me, what does the demon race have to do with me? My magic is so weak, what could Elder Thorne possibly want from me?” Arion lay quietly beside me, saying nothing. Right, if I couldn’t figure it out, he certainly couldn’t. Blair didn’t return until evening. She looked surprised to see me swinging on the swing in the courtyard. “Willow, why are you back?” She frowned slightly. “Did you hear something?” I smiled, stepping forward to link my arm through hers as we walked into the house. “Yes, I heard everything!” Her steps faltered. I pretended not to notice and continued, “Blair, you’re becoming sect leader! Such big news and you didn’t tell me!” Blair secretly exhaled a sigh of relief, then smiled. “Things have been busy lately, I forgot. You certainly are quick with news, and you came at just the right time. The inauguration ceremony is in a few days.” “Of course! There’s no fun event I wouldn’t crash,” I said proudly, looking at her. Although Blair was smiling, I clearly saw the worry hidden in her eyes. That night, I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. I poked Arion awake to chat with me. “Do you know about Demon Prince Zareth?” Arion lazily glanced at me, then after a moment of silence, said, “I do.” For some reason, I felt his voice was a little different than usual. But that wasn’t the point. The point was he actually knew! I didn’t even know about Demon Prince Zareth until just before I died in my previous life.

Since ancient times, humans and demons have been fiercely antagonistic towards each other. However, because neither side could completely annihilate the other, a delicate balance was maintained. It was a constant ebb and flow of power, each waxing and waning, with small skirmishes occurring from time to time, but no full-scale war ever erupted. That was until twenty years ago, when the appearance of Demon Prince Zareth shattered the balance. Zareth was said to possess the strongest demon core the demon race had seen in a century. He had cultivated in seclusion and never appeared in public until then. Upon his debut, he launched successive surprise attacks on several human sects. Those unprepared sects were almost completely wiped out. Zareth’s actions infuriated humanity. After deliberation, the major sects decided to unite and counterattack the demon race. But they didn’t expect Zareth’s true strength to be far greater than what he had shown. It was said that the battle lasted over a year, with countless casualties among the major sects. Almost all their elites were lost. If the stalemate continued, humanity would be completely depleted. The leaders of the nine major sects discussed and decided to sacrifice their lives. In the end, five of the nine sect leaders exhausted their power to extract Zareth’s demon core, forcing the demon race to retreat with their unconscious prince and cease hostilities. Humanity paid a terrible price for that war. They had no remaining strength to pursue the demons, nor the will to search for the missing demon core. Five of the nine sect leaders sacrificed their lives, including our Thousand Peaks Sect Leader. For the past twenty years, Elder Thorne had temporarily acted as sect leader, but he never truly claimed the title, saying he wasn’t worthy. It wasn’t until Blair appeared that he saw hope for the revitalization of the sect. As for Demon Prince Zareth, he vanished without a trace after that, his life or death unknown. But I knew he wasn’t dead. In my previous life, when the demon race invaded, Demon Prince Zareth reappeared. Though he no longer had his demon core, he had resumed cultivating demon arts. If he were to retrieve his demon core, his power would likely surpass his former self. I died too young in my previous life to know the final outcome, but I guessed it wouldn’t have been good. Although the major sects had been recovering and rebuilding after being heavily wounded, cultivation relied heavily on innate talent, and I hadn’t heard of any other sect producing such a gifted individual. This time, it was different. With Kaelen’s assistance, combined with Blair’s innate talent and diligent cultivation, I was confident she would have no problem defeating Zareth, especially without his demon core. Blair’s argument with Elder Thorne today was likely due to her worry about my low magical power, fearing I’d be in danger. But I could just stay out of sight! As long as I hid during the battle, my senior disciples and Blair would definitely win. It wasn’t that I was cowardly or retreating. It was just that I knew my own limitations. If I went forward, I would only hold Blair back. As long as I hid well and didn’t distract Blair, I’d be helping her immensely. Having figured that out, I peacefully went to sleep, not hearing Arion’s deep sigh.

During the sect leader inauguration ceremony, Blair announced the news of the demon race’s unrest, urging everyone to cultivate diligently and be prepared for battle at any moment. Blair told me not to run off into the mountains anymore and to stay obediently within the sect. She intended to personally supervise my spellcasting training. I also saw Kaelen in his human form for the first time. We were mutually annoyed by each other. He couldn’t win an argument against Arion, and after accompanying Blair to check on me twice, he stopped coming. Only after Kaelen took human form did Arion go to see him, returning to tell me he looked like a “flashy peacock.” But he wasn’t as flamboyant as I imagined; he was actually quite handsome. His black hair was streaked with peacock blue-green, which was why Arion said he looked like a flashy peacock. Blair supervised my cultivation daily. I expected Kaelen to mock me as he used to, but to my surprise, he was unusually quiet, simply watching Blair teach me, his eyes solemn. Blair had visited the spirit cave I told her about. Neither she nor Kaelen could sense any spiritual energy there. Yet, my spiritual power had consistently grown. Blair said it might only be effective for me, a unique connection. Thanks to the spirit spring, my spiritual energy was abundant, but I was still very slow to learn. Arion once said my spellcasting didn’t match my spiritual power, and now it seemed he was right. Under Blair’s guidance, my spellcasting barely scraped by to Level 6 when the demon race arrived, just like in my previous life. When the news broke, Blair became visibly restless and anxious. Even Kaelen’s comforting words didn’t help. She took me everywhere with her, as if I’d vanish if she looked away for a second.

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My wife, Isabella Hayes, knelt on the floor, her face pale, tears streaming down. She was begging me to save Julian Thorne, the love of her life. Her voice trembled, “Liam! Please! Save Julian! Just this once! I’ll wait on you hand and foot after this! I’ll even wash your socks!” Five years. I had a terrible reputation in the Hayes family. All because five years ago, Julian was severely injured while saving her and became a vegetable. Now, the chip in his life support machine was about to fail. The only replacement in existence was in my brother, Ryan Stone’s, hands. I looked at her, my face expressionless, and dialed Ryan. The call connected. I only said one sentence. Hope flared in Isabella’s eyes. Half an hour later, a sharp, prolonged beep echoed through the hospital. Julian Thorne’s life support machine had stopped. Isabella didn’t know that what I told my brother was: “Ryan, pull the plug.” That long beep was the last straw for Isabella. She lunged at me like a madwoman, her nails raking my face, leaving a bloody scratch. “Liam! You bastard! You killed him!” Her voice was sharp and shrill, every word laced with hatred. I didn’t flinch. The hospital hallway lights were stark white, illuminating my face and her twisted one. Our five-year marriage was nothing more than a transaction. I gave her money, she gave me the title of husband, convenient for maintaining her image as a tragically devoted woman. “He should have been dead already,” I said calmly. That sentence instantly ignited her fury. Enraged, she started punching and kicking me. Security guards rushed over and pulled her away. She was still crying and screaming from a distance, cursing my whole family to die. I turned and walked away, cold air filling my lungs. What was a little pain? Compared to how she degraded me these past five years, this injury wasn’t even a scratch! That night, Isabella’s retaliation arrived. She posted a lengthy article online, titled: “A Heartbroken Woman’s Tearful Accusation.” In the article, she portrayed herself as a saintly figure, and Julian Thorne as a hero who sacrificed for love. And me? I was the devil who, out of jealousy, ruined everything for them. The article went viral. Overnight, I became public enemy number one. My phone crashed from all the hateful messages. Texts, SnapChat DMs—they were all filled with malicious curses. “Ungrateful monster” and “backstabbing jerk” became my aliases. My ID, home address, and company information were all doxxed online. The texts were full of vicious curses; some threatened to burn down my house, others said they’d send me razor blades. Some even said they’d dance on my mom’s grave—these people didn’t even know who my mom was, yet they dared to say such things! What was even more disgusting was that colleagues I’d helped at the company were now stabbing me in the back. I saw someone post in a SnapChat group: “If I’d known Liam was this kind of person, I never would’ve let him help me with my proposal.” Others chimed in: “Ms. Hayes should divorce him ASAP and leave him with absolutely nothing!” I knew this was just the appetizer. What Isabella wanted was for me to completely disappear. The next morning, I went to Hayes Corporation as usual. The receptionist looked at me like a moving pile of crap. In the elevator, colleagues avoided me, whispering. “That’s him, he’s utterly despicable.” “Heard Ms. Hayes is divorcing him. Serves him right.” I walked into my office. Isabella’s assistant came over to inform me. “Mr. Stone, Ms. Hayes requests your presence in the conference room in ten minutes for an emergency board meeting.” I sat at my desk, calmly adjusting my tie. In five years, I had transformed a near-bankrupt Hayes Corporation into a multi-billion dollar giant. Those leeches in the Hayes family—Uncle Robert embezzling funds, Uncle Mark keeping mistresses—who didn’t I personally expose? Now, it seemed, seeing my downfall, their chance to strike had come. In the conference room, Isabella sat at the head of the table. She wore a black pantsuit, with makeup designed to look haggard, but the triumph in her eyes couldn’t be hidden. Beside her sat Uncle Robert, Uncle Mark, and several other veteran board members whose power I had stripped, all with smug satisfaction on their faces. “Distinguished board members,” she began, her voice trembling, her acting skills impeccable, “Mr. Stone’s actions have severely damaged the company’s image. My benefactor, Julian Thorne, was killed by him.” As soon as she finished speaking, an old executive I’d sidelined immediately jumped up. “Exactly! He’s ruined Hayes Corporation’s reputation! He must be fired!” “If clients knew we had someone like him, all our contracts would definitely fall through!” another chimed in. Isabella looked pleased. She turned to me, like a judge pronouncing a verdict. “I propose that Liam Stone be immediately relieved of all his duties within the company. Let’s vote.” It was a unanimous vote. No one objected. I didn’t utter a single word in my defense. In their eyes, I was just a kept man. Now, the owner of the meal ticket wanted it back. All I could do was leave. Isabella looked at me, enunciating each word: “Liam, you’re fired. Now, immediately, get out.”

Two security guards gripped my arms, their hold tight, as if escorting a criminal. That’s how I was thrown out of the company I had built with my own hands. At the company entrance, a swarm of reporters descended like sharks sensing blood in the water. Flashbulbs popped relentlessly, blinding me. “Liam Stone! Did you really kill Julian Thorne out of jealousy?” “What do you have to say about Ms. Hayes’s accusations?” “Do you think he stole your wife?” A fan, whose identity I didn’t know, violently smashed a bubble tea over my head. The sticky liquid ran down my hair, leaving me utterly disheveled. The security guards only made a token attempt to block them, then let me be surrounded by reporters. I didn’t say a word. I pushed through the crowd, walking forward one step at a time. My back was straight. It was my last shred of dignity. Back at the mansion, the butler was already waiting at the door. He pointed to a few worn-out boxes on the lawn. “Sir, the missus instructed that these are your belongings. Take them and leave.” All my luggage—just those old boxes I’d used during college—were tossed on the lawn. The automatic sprinklers were on, cold water drenching the boxes, and me. I looked up and saw Isabella standing on the second-floor balcony. She stood with her arms crossed, looking down at me, as if enjoying a good show. “Liam, sign this.” She threw a document down from upstairs. The paper landed at my feet, immediately soaked by the water. Divorce papers. I was to leave with absolutely nothing. The house, cars, and shares she had previously “given” me were all being reclaimed. All my personal bank accounts and credit cards were also frozen. She wanted to strip me of everything. I bent down and picked up the drenched agreement. The words on it had blurred, a massive mockery. “Everything you’re doing, is it all for that vegetable?” I looked up and asked her. Isabella’s face held a twisted smile. “You’re not even fit to utter his name. Liam, you destroyed my light, so I’m going to destroy everything you have. I want you to rot in the gutters like a stray dog.” The sky clouded over. Raindrops started falling, quickly turning into a downpour. I said nothing more, dragging my chipped suitcase out of the mansion gates. The rainwater, mixed with the bubble tea from my hair, ran into my mouth—sweet and bitter. I knew this wasn’t the end. What Isabella wanted was my life.

Night fell, and the rain intensified. I dragged my suitcase through the streets. My phone had long died, I was soaked, cold, and hungry. These past five years, all my energy had been focused on the company. I had no friends, let alone family. I was a lost soul in this city. As I passed a dimly lit alley, several figures emerged from the darkness and surrounded me. The leader was a punk with neon-colored hair, holding a steel pipe, smirking with a street-smart arrogance. “You the ungrateful monster, Liam Stone?” I glanced at them. They were just young thugs, their faces lit with cheap fanaticism. I knew who they were: Julian Thorne’s fans, Isabella’s blades for a proxy murder. “Get lost,” I said, my voice low, but it cut through the rain. The punk seemed provoked. “F***ing bastard, still got a smart mouth, huh? Get him, boys! Avenge Julian!” Fists and feet landed on me. I didn’t fight back, curling up to protect my head and heart. I felt my bones rattle, my consciousness starting to blur. A kick slammed into my right ribs. I heard the crisp snap of bone. Excruciating pain, and I coughed up a mouthful of blood. They got tired and finally stopped. “Barely put up a fight, did he?” The punk spat on me. “Remember, this is what you owe Julian.” They left. Only I remained in the alley, amidst the cold rain. I lay in the muddy, blood-soaked ground, feeling my body temperature slowly fade. So, this was what she meant by “rot in the gutters.” But I didn’t want to die. I used my last ounce of strength to pull a waterproof, sealed pouch from my soaked inner pocket. Inside was a discreet, custom phone that was always fully charged. I pressed the single button. It was a signal emitter. For five years, I had never used it. This was my father’s last gift, my ultimate safety net. Three minutes. If my brother, Ryan Stone, didn’t show up within three minutes, it meant my high-stakes gamble had failed miserably. Rain blurred my vision. I felt myself fading. Just as my consciousness was about to disappear, blinding headlights tore through the curtain of rain. The car door opened, and a tall figure, holding a black umbrella, strode quickly toward me. It was my brother, Ryan Stone. He knelt, seeing my bloodied, injured body, and his eyes instantly turned red. “Liam!” “Ryan…” I opened my mouth, my voice weak. “Don’t talk! I’ll get you to the hospital right away!” He moved to pick me up. I looked at him, using all my remaining strength. “Ryan… the plan, activate. Let them… fly high for a little while longer.” Ryan froze. He looked at my blood-smeared but clear-eyed face and understood what I meant. He set aside the idea of taking me to a public hospital, simply helping me into the car. The car was warm. Before I lost consciousness, only one thought remained in my mind: Isabella Hayes, Julian Thorne. It’s time for me to direct the show. I disappeared for a full seven days. During these seven days, the online trial against me reached its peak.

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Right before freshman year started, I bought a lottery ticket. And I got incredibly lucky – I won five thousand dollars cash. Thrilled, I offered to treat my entire dorm to a lavish dinner. But my three roommates, who always played up their financial struggles, just gave me cold stares. Brittany, our dorm leader, said, “So, you’re the one who sucked all the good luck out of our dorm. No wonder I’ve been losing things every day lately.” I thought she was kidding, so I proactively sent each of them a two-hundred-dollar e-transfer. But the next day, Brittany outright snatched my meal card. “You have to split your prize money with us, half and half! It’s the price you pay for stealing our luck!” The other two crowded around me. “Exactly! Ever since you showed up, I failed my test. It must be your fault!” “This is called a ‘luck equalization fee.’ If you don’t pay, we’ll curse you to hell and back every single day!” Seeing my refusal, they sneered. “Fine. We’re not scared of you, so let’s see who can outlast who.” But what they didn’t know was that I’d already used that prize money to prepare something that would expose all their secrets.

“Congratulations, third prize! Five thousand dollars cash!” When the staff told me, I just froze. Five thousand dollars! My fingers tingled as I clutched the envelope. Back in my dorm, I held up the envelope. “Girls! I won the lottery!” “Dinner’s on me tonight! That seafood buffet by the campus gates – let’s go have a feast!” The dorm fell silent. Brittany Hayes, our dorm leader, was putting on lipstick, glancing at me through the mirror. Chelsea Miller sat at her desk, flipping through a book, the pages rustling loudly, without even looking up. Our other roommate, Megan Jones, kept her head down, washing clothes, as if she hadn’t heard a word. My smile stiffened. “What’s wrong? Aren’t you guys happy?” Brittany snapped her lipstick shut, turned around, and crossed her arms. “Happy? Why would we be happy?” “Turns out all the good luck in our dorm was sucked away by you.” “No wonder I’ve been losing things every day lately. My prepaid laundry card, just after I’d loaded it up, went missing.” I was stunned. “How could that be? It’s just good fortune.” I pulled six hundred dollars from my wallet and handed two hundred to each of them. “Don’t say that. Finders keepers, right? Here, treat yourselves to something nice.” Chelsea stopped flipping her book, looked up, and reached for the money. Megan dried her hands and took two hundred dollars from me. Brittany scoffed, snatched the money, and stuffed it into her pocket. “At least you have some conscience.” I breathed a sigh of relief. I knew all three of them relied heavily on financial aid, so their living expenses were tight. Giving them cash probably seemed more practical. But I never expected that two hundred dollars would only whet their appetite.

The next day, I went to the cafeteria. Just as I swiped my card, a hand shot out and snatched my meal card. It was Brittany. She dangled my meal card. I frowned. “Brittany, what are you doing? Give me back my meal card.” “Give it back? Sure.” Brittany flipped the meal card in her hand, a cold smirk on her face. “You have to split yesterday’s winnings with us, half and half.” “Half of what? Didn’t I already give you guys some cash?” “Two hundred bucks? What, are we beggars to you?” Brittany raised her voice, drawing glances from other students around us. “You stole luck from all three of us and won five thousand dollars! Only giving us two hundred – doesn’t your conscience bother you?” Just then, Chelsea and Megan crowded around, blocking my exit. Chelsea pointed a finger at my face. “Exactly! The moment you arrived, I failed my pop quiz yesterday!” “It’s definitely your fault!” Megan quietly chimed in. “It’s called ‘luck equalization.’ You hogged all the good fortune.” “You have to share some with us, otherwise it’s not fair.” I burst out laughing, furious. “Do you have any sense of reason?” “Winning the lottery is random chance, and failing your quiz is because *you* didn’t study.” “How is any of this my fault?” “What ‘luck’ are you even talking about? Stop being ridiculous!” “Give me back my meal card!” Brittany shoved my meal card into her pocket. “Two thousand five hundred dollars, not a penny less!” “This is the price you pay for stealing our luck!” “If you don’t pay, we’ll curse you to hell and back every single day!” “You’ll have bad luck every single day, you’ll trip over your own feet just walking around!” I clenched my fists. “I won’t give it to you!” Brittany scoffed, exchanging glances with Chelsea and Megan. “Fine, Skylar. We’re the ones with nothing to lose, so we’re not scared of you.” “Let’s see who can outlast who!” With that, they took my meal card, swiped the most expensive meals at the counter, and strutted away. I stood there, seething and starving. Back in the dorm, my desk had been shoved into a corner. My books and skincare products were scattered all over the floor, a newly bought serum bottle smashed, its contents spilled everywhere. Brittany, Chelsea, and Megan were sitting at their own desks, eating with my meal card, laughing and chatting. Seeing me return, Brittany deliberately spoke loudly. “Oh, this braised pork is so delicious today.” “Eating with someone else’s card really does taste better.” Chelsea chimed in. “Doesn’t it? Some people are just born lucky.” “It’s only right that we get to share in some of that.” I was trembling all over. I rushed forward. “You’re going too far!” Brittany lifted her eyelids. “Too far? This is just the beginning.” “If you don’t pay up, you’ll only lose more of your things, and they’ll break faster.” Megan muttered softly. “Who told you to suck all our good luck away…” I looked at the mess on the floor, knowing that reasoning with them was pointless.

I woke up the next morning to my toothbrush covered in mustard. When I went to class, there was glue smeared on my forks. At night, when I tried to sleep, they’d deliberately blast music at full volume, then suddenly turn it off just as I was drifting off, tormenting me repeatedly. New clothes I bought would have holes the very next day. Snacks on my desk would vanish in a flash, the wrappers left on my bed. I couldn’t take it anymore and had a huge fight with them. Brittany, however, just plopped down on the floor and started bawling. “Everyone, come look!” “The rich girl is bullying us poor students!” “All I asked was for her to share a little of her prize money, and she’s trying to hit me!” Chelsea and Megan fanned the flames, claiming I was using my family’s wealth to look down on them and force them to kneel. The dorm hallway quickly filled with people, all pointing fingers and whispering about me. “Whoa, who is that? So arrogant?” “I heard it’s Skylar Reid from the finance department. She was flaunting a ten-thousand-dollar bag on Freshman Orientation Week. So high-profile.” “Being rich makes her think she’s special? Forcing someone to kneel, that’s disgusting.” I was speechless, my eyes welling up. I went to Mr. Davison, my counselor, explained the situation, and asked to switch dorms. After listening, Mr. Davison just gave me a placating smile, trying to smooth things over. “Skylar, I know you feel wronged.” “But you have to understand, your roommates come from difficult financial backgrounds, and they have strong pride.” “It’s great that you won the lottery, but you also need to consider their feelings, right?” I got agitated. “Mr. Davison, this isn’t about feelings!” “They’re extorting and bullying me!” He waved his hand dismissively. “Young people have little disagreements, it’s perfectly normal.” “You just need to talk it out.” “You come from a good family, so be more understanding with them. Just take the hit, consider it your good deed for the day.” “Switching dorms is a complicated process; it’s practically impossible.” “You should just go back and have a good talk with them.” I left Mr. Davison’s office, feeling utterly cold. So, “understanding” meant I had to back down. And “communication” meant I had to pay them. I returned to the dorm, where Brittany and the others were waiting for me. Brittany smiled when she saw me. “Well? Went to complain to the teacher? Was it any use?” Chelsea crossed her arms. “We already guessed it. Mr. Davison hates privileged princesses who whine whenever things don’t go their way.” “Don’t struggle anymore, Skylar.” “Just give us the money, and we can all get along peacefully.” Megan also added. “Yeah, it won’t do you any good if this gets bigger.” “We’ve already trashed your reputation.” I looked at them, and my last shred of hesitation vanished. I pulled out my phone and, right in front of them, sent a message to a number. Brittany thought I was about to transfer the money, and her smile deepened. “Came to your senses? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just do this earlier?” I ignored her and sent another message. That evening, I was studying in the library when I received a call from an unknown number. A woman’s voice came from the other end. “Hello? Is this Skylar Reid? I’m Chloe Davis’s mom!” Chloe Davis was the girl I tutored. My heart sank. “Ms. Davis, hello. Has something happened to Chloe?” “How dare you ask! What exactly did you do to my Chloe?!” The woman roared into the phone. “Your classmates all called and told me everything!” “They said you have bad character, that you form cliques and bully students at school!” “They said you cheat on your own exams and have no business being a tutor!” “My Chloe is so innocent, what if you lead her astray?!” “Don’t bother coming for tutoring this month! We don’t need you anymore!” The call ended. I clutched my phone, my hands and feet freezing cold. Brittany, Chelsea, Megan. They actually did something like this! They were trying to ruin my reputation, to cut off all my avenues! I rushed back to the dorm, shoving the door open. The three of them were huddled together, showing no surprise at my return. Brittany smiled at me. “Oh, you’re back? How does it feel to get fired from your tutoring job?” I was shaking all over, my voice trembling. “You did this, didn’t you?” Chelsea stood up and walked towards me. “That’s right, we did.” “We already looked into it. You tutor every week, making quite a bit of cash, huh?” “How about it? Do you know how powerful we are now?” Megan also chimed in. “We just made a phone call, gave that parent a heads-up.” “If you don’t want things to escalate, to be completely blacklisted from the entire tutoring circuit…” “Then just be obedient.” Brittany leaned back in her chair. “Two thousand five hundred dollars. This is the final warning.” “Otherwise, the next step is to print out all your misdeeds.” “And plaster them all over campus.” “Making sure you can never show your face in this school again.” I looked at them. I thought they only wanted money, but I never expected them to be so malicious, wanting to completely destroy me. They thought they had me cornered.

My nails dug deep into my palms, and I could taste blood in my mouth. Brittany saw my pale face, thought I was scared, and reached out her hand. “Give it to us, the money.” “Once the transfer is done, we’ll immediately call that parent.” “And help clear things up for you.” Chelsea urged. “Hurry up, stop dragging your feet.” “Our patience is limited.” Megan whispered from the side. “If you give us the money, we can still be good roommates…” Good roommates? I looked at them and suddenly laughed. My laugh was soft, but the dorm instantly fell silent. Brittany frowned. “What are you laughing at? Have you lost your mind?” I didn’t answer. I slowly raised my head, my gaze calmly sweeping over each of them. I spoke softly. “You said you had nothing to lose, that you weren’t afraid of anything.” “You thought because you found my tutoring information, you had a hold on me.” “You thought by ruining my reputation, you could force me to comply.” Brittany started to get a little unnerved by my stare. “You… what are you going to do?” “I’m telling you, don’t try anything stupid!” “Stupid?” I raised an eyebrow. “Compared to you, I’m far from it.” I walked to my desk and, under their wary gaze, picked up my phone. Chelsea nervously asked. “What are you going to do? Call Mr. Davison?” “It won’t work!” “No.” I shook my head, unlocking the screen. Then, I dialed a number. The call connected. I put it on speaker, and a calm male voice came through. “Ms. Reid.” Brittany and the other three froze, exchanging bewildered glances. I looked at Brittany, a small smile playing on my lips. “Hello.” “It’s time.” “Release everything we found about Brittany.” The man on the other end of the phone replied with a single word. “Copy that.” The call ended, and the dorm was enveloped in silence.

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My son was dying. My husband, Julian Thorne, was busy preparing for the bell-ringing ceremony for his corporation’s IPO. He told me, “A sick heir will only drag down the stock price.” Then, he handed me divorce papers and a card. “Forget about the company, and forget about me. This money is enough for you to cover his final arrangements.” Five years later, at the press conference for his new wife’s prenatal check-up, he spoke as the perfect loving husband. “I’m truly fortunate. My family is, and always will be, healthy and complete.” Under the paparazzi’s flashing lights, he spotted my arms, riddled with needle marks. He cornered me in the hallway. “What, ran out of money? Looking to bring that sickly brat back to me for more?” Julian’s voice was arctic, sharp as shattered glass. I pulled a sheet of paper from my folder. “Leo’s hospital bill is due again.” He snatched the bill, his eyes scanning the numbers. Then, right in front of me, he slowly, deliberately, tore it into tiny shreds. The paper confetti rained down on my face, my clothes, like falling snow. “Stella, you’re pushing my limits.” He pulled a black card from his jacket pocket and tossed it to the ground. Metal met tile with a sharp *clink*. “Pick it up.” His voice was low, but the command was undeniable, absolute. “Crawl and pick it up, like the dog you are.” I stood my ground, unmoving. “Oh, suddenly you’re too good for it? Five years ago, you’d have sold your own son for a fraction of that. What’s with the act now?” A soft female voice floated from behind him. “Julian, don’t be angry. It’s not good for the baby.” Chloe Sterling walked over, her hand gently caressing her rounded belly, taking her place beside Julian. She looked at me, a polite smile on her face, but her words were a viper’s venom. “Miss Hayes, the Thorne bloodline demands perfection.” She glanced down at her stomach. “Like our child. Healthy. Exceptional.” “A defective product, a flaw like that, doesn’t deserve to carry the Thorne name. Do you understand?” Julian wrapped an arm around Chloe’s shoulder, pulling her close, protecting her. “This is my final warning.” His voice was devoid of all warmth. “Dare to show your face to my family again, and I’ll make sure you and your son vanish from this world, completely.” I didn’t spare them another glance. I turned and walked away. Back in the lab, the cold hum of machines and the rhythmic dance of data made me feel alive again. I peeled off my lab coat, expertly drew a vial of my own blood. The centrifuge whirred, spinning at high speed. I dripped the separated serum into a petri dish, observing the cellular changes under the microscope. Leo’s rare genetic disease has an incidence of one in a billion. My family, the Hayes, had no history of genetic illness. The source of the disease – I’d been searching for five years. My mentor, Professor Davies, walked in. He was a world-renowned expert in genetic engineering. “Stella, how’s the data analysis coming along?” “Still no good. The ‘Ouroboros’ sequence can’t achieve precise integration at the third locus. The cells just collapse.” I handed him the latest data report. Professor Davies’s brows furrowed. “We’ve hit a wall.” He looked at me. “To break through this, we need two things.” “A huge amount of money, and a ‘Prometheus’ gene sequencer.” “There are only three of those machines in the entire world.” I fell silent. I knew, I couldn’t get either of those. “Don’t lose hope,” Professor Davies patted my shoulder. “I’ve been in talks with an investor recently. He’s very interested in biological projects. There might be a chance.” That evening, while organizing my files, I stumbled upon a financial news notification. \[Thorne Corporation Invests Heavily in New Biotech Ventures, CEO Julian Thorne Personally Invites Gene Engineering Titan Professor Davies to Join] The accompanying photo showed Julian Thorne, radiating success and triumph. And Professor Davies was my mentor, Professor Davies.

Julian Thorne hosted a private investment gala for Professor Davies at the penthouse suite of the exclusive Skytop Club. Security was tight. The attendees were the movers and shakers of the industry, people whose names alone commanded fortunes. I arrived at the entrance, dressed in my lab coat, with a plain black trench coat over it, carrying project documents as Professor Davies’ assistant. The attendant at the door held out a hand to stop me. “Madam, your invitation.” I stated my name: “Professor Davies’ assistant, Stella Hayes.” He spoke a few words into his earpiece, then stepped aside. The crystal chandeliers in the ballroom made me squint. Julian Thorne was conversing with someone, standing right in the center of the crowd. He saw me too. His hand, holding a wine glass, froze. The smile vanished from his face. His jaw clenched, and his lips silently formed a single word: *Get out*. I ignored him, pushing through the crowd until I reached Professor Davies. “Professor, the supplementary data for the ‘Ouroboros’ project.” I handed him the folder. Suddenly, a figure bumped into me. A glass of red wine came crashing down, spilling all over my folder. The crimson liquid bloomed, smearing the charts and data into an unrecognizable mess. “Oh, I’m so sorry!” Chloe Sterling held up her empty wine glass, her apology on her lips, but not an ounce of genuine regret on her face. “I didn’t see you standing there. Why don’t you watch where you’re going?” Her voice wasn’t loud, but several people nearby paused their conversations and looked over. “Julian’s gala is so important. Why would you bring such things in here? What if something goes wrong? Are you trying to cause trouble on purpose?” Julian strode over in a few swift steps. He didn’t even look at me, barking orders directly to the security guard behind him. “Get her out of here.” His voice was barely a whisper, each word squeezed through gritted teeth. “I don’t want to see anyone irrelevant at *my* gala.” Two security guards stepped forward, reaching for my arms. “Mr. Thorne, quite the display of power.” Professor Davies spoke, his voice calm, yet it made the two guards freeze. He walked over, positioning himself in front of me. “You’re trying to throw out *my* person?” Julian’s face was ashen. “Professor Davies, this is my personal business. She…” “She is not your personal business.” Professor Davies cut him off. “Allow me to introduce her to you, and to everyone here.” Professor Davies turned, facing the assembled guests. “This is Stella Hayes.” “My most brilliant student, and the lead researcher for the ‘Ouroboros’ gene repair project.” The entire ballroom fell into a stunned silence. All eyes converged on me. I saw Julian’s body stiffen, his face a canvas of undisguised shock. He probably never imagined that the woman who, five years ago, was just a housewife, confined to domestic chores, would stand before him again in such a powerful new role. I didn’t acknowledge his shock, nor Chloe’s ashen face, drained of all color. From my backpack, I pulled out another folder, identical in appearance to the one that had been drenched. “My apologies for the delay, everyone.” Ignoring everyone else, I walked directly to the projection screen and plugged my USB drive into the computer. “My project is called ‘Ouroboros’.” “Its goal is to repair human genetic defects through gene editing technology.” I skipped any unnecessary background, moving straight into the technical principles, clinical applications, and the commercial value it could generate, detailing each point. As I reached the core technical aspect, I pressed the clicker, and a molecular structure appeared on the screen. “…We have constructed a new protein vector that can precisely target and repair the abnormal gene segment code-named ‘Thanatos’…” When I uttered the word “Thanatos,” my gaze swept over Julian Thorne. His hand, holding the wine glass, trembled. His entire body froze, his face completely drained of blood. The gala ended. Professor Davies, in front of everyone, walked to my side and shook my hand. Then, he turned to Julian Thorne. “Mr. Thorne, your project concept is admirable, but Thorne Corporation’s direction doesn’t align with my research. There’s no need to discuss collaboration further.” He had publicly rejected Julian Thorne. Next, he turned to me, his voice filled with praise. “However, Stella, I will personally invest two hundred million dollars in your ‘Ouroboros’ project.” It was late when I returned to the lab. The first thing I did was open the encrypted computer on my desk, ready to back up the core data. I entered the password and clicked on the folder. Empty. All the files were gone. I stared at the blank screen, my hands and feet growing numb.

Alarms blared throughout the lab. Professor Davies was the first to burst in, his face even paler than mine. “What happened?!” I pointed at the blank computer screen. “The core data… it’s all gone.” Security quickly sealed off the area. After an overnight investigation, the conclusion was clear. “No external intrusion detected.” “The data was deleted internally, directly using the highest-level password.” The Head of Security looked at me. “Ms. Hayes, only you know the password to this computer.” Professor Davies’s disappointment was unconcealed. “Stella, why?” “It wasn’t me,” I said. No one believed me. The ‘Ouroboros’ project was indefinitely suspended. I was placed on administrative leave from the lab, pending investigation. Leo’s treatment was cut off again. I stood before the hospital’s payment window, watching the scrolling outstanding balance notices on the electronic screen. A black Bentley pulled up beside me. The window lowered, revealing Julian Thorne’s impassive face. “Get in.” In the coffee shop, he pushed a contract across the table toward me. “The ‘Ouroboros’ project, including all your personal patents, I’m buying it all.” The price he offered was astronomical. “Sign it, and I’ll treat your son’s illness. I’ll find him the best doctors in the world, use the best medicine.” I pushed the contract back. “My research is not for sale.” He looked like he’d heard a joke. “Stella, you’re not in a position to negotiate with me.” “I only accept investment,” I looked at him. “Project control must remain with me.” The last trace of patience in his eyes vanished. “Do you really think you still have a choice? “You stole your own mentor’s project. Your reputation is ruined. Without me, no one in this entire industry will give you a single penny.” I stood up. “Then we’ll see about that.” Julian’s retaliation came swiftly. Every investor I contacted rejected me at the last minute. Even my friends, and even Professor Davies, subtly advised me to accept Julian’s terms. I was completely isolated. I replayed the lab’s surveillance footage from the night of the gala, over and over again. 11:37 PM. A janitor appeared in the hallway. He didn’t clean. Instead, he used a tool to pry open a network port next to the fire exit. He stayed for five minutes. Those five minutes were the exact window during which my data vanished. I zoomed in on the video, capturing a side profile of his face. After leaving the lab, he got into a car. I checked the license plate number. The vehicle registration pointed to Chloe Sterling’s personal chauffeur. I contacted a financial journalist I knew. The next day, an inconspicuous industry news item appeared online. \[Rumors of ‘Ouroboros’ Project Core Data Having Backup; Stella Hayes Poised to Announce Groundbreaking Technical Breakthrough] I deliberately leaked information, saying the backup data was hidden in a private warehouse on the outskirts of the city. And that I would retrieve it in three days. Chloe took the bait, as expected. Three days later, outside the warehouse, my pre-arranged security team caught two suspicious men red-handed. They were caught with the goods. At the police station, Chloe’s face was ashen. “I don’t know anything. I swear, I don’t.” “They’re my chauffeurs, but I never told them to do anything.” One of the thieves cracked under interrogation. “It wasn’t Ms. Sterling!” “It was… it was Mr. Victor Thorne of the Thorne family who ordered us!” I froze. Victor Thorne. Julian’s estranged uncle, long marginalized and ousted from the family’s power center. A perfect scapegoat. Outside the interrogation room, Chloe, through the glass, flashed me a triumphant smile.

I knew Victor Thorne was just a smokescreen. Chloe had gone to such lengths, even risking exposure, to destroy ‘Ouroboros.’ She was protecting a bigger secret. A secret connected to the ‘Thanatos’ gene. I pulled up all of Leo’s genetic maps again. My family, the Hayes, had no history of genetic illness. So, the source of the disease could only come from Julian. I dug out the blood sample from Julian Thorne, saved from Leo’s paternity test five years ago. I needed a comparison. I began furiously researching all records from Julian’s early entrepreneurial days. His rise to power was legendary; he’d built a business empire in just a few short years. I focused on a biotech company that had long since gone bankrupt. ‘Genesis Horizon.’ Ten years ago, this company had secretly developed a gene enhancer code-named ‘GH-7.’ It was rumored to significantly boost human physical strength and energy. But the project was eventually halted due to uncontrollable side effects, and all its data was supposedly destroyed. ‘Genesis Horizon’s parent company was Sterling Group. Chloe Sterling’s family enterprise. I tracked down the former lead scientist for the ‘GH-7’ project. He’d been retired for years. I gave him a substantial amount of money, and in return, he gave me a copy of the clinical report that was supposedly ‘destroyed.’ The report detailed the side effects of ‘GH-7.’ One of the most severe was that it could cause specific site breaks and abnormal recombination in the gene chains of the user’s descendants. The results matched Leo’s ‘Thanatos’ symptoms exactly. I walked into the executive suite of Thorne Corporation, holding both reports. Julian’s office. “If you’re here for money again, you can leave now,” he said without looking up. I slapped the DNA comparison report and the ‘GH-7’ side effect report side-by-side onto his desk. “Take a look.” He frowned, picking up the documents. When he saw the final comparison results, his entire body froze. “The source of the pathogenic gene, 100 percent, is from you.” “Your proud success, your so-called perfection, it was all bought with my son’s life.” The reports slipped from his hands, scattering across the floor. His face was utterly drained of blood. “No… impossible…” “They told me GH-7 was safe…” “I will be suing you and Sterling Group on behalf of Leo, as his legal guardian.” “Inhumane drug trials, deliberate concealment of grave risks. I will make you pay the price.” I finished, then turned to leave. Once this news broke, Thorne Corporation’s stock price would instantly collapse. Everything he cherished would crumble to dust. That very evening, Chloe, cornered and desperate, took drastic action. I was in the lab, organizing the lawsuit materials, when acrid, thick smoke suddenly billowed in through the door cracks. The fire alarm let out a piercing shriek. The entire floor plunged into darkness as the power died, and the emergency exits clanged shut, locked tight. Arson. The fire spread quickly. I was trapped in the data center, clutching the metal box containing all the evidence. Just as I was about to suffocate, the door burst open with a tremendous force. Julian Thorne rushed in, covered in ash and soot. His eyes weren’t on me, but on the box in my arms. “Give me the damn thing!” he roared at me. “Never!” He lunged to grab it. We struggled, wrestling. The steel girders overhead glowed cherry-red, emitting an ear-splitting shriek as they groaned and buckled. A massive beam, trailing sparks, crashed down towards my head. I closed my eyes. The expected agony never came. Julian, in the last second, released his grip on the box. He pushed me away, using his own body to shield me. The thundering sound of the heavy structure hitting the ground was deafening. Firefighters loaded a severely burned Julian onto the ambulance. The piercing wail of sirens ripped through the night. I clutched the metal box, standing outside the burning building, and didn’t follow.

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I followed a comfort streamer on a sleep aid app. He never showed his face, But his voice was soft. . Every night, I’d fall asleep listening to his live streams. We’d even planned to attend his offline fan meet-and-greet. One day, my best friend, Brooke, dragged me to a boxing gym to try it out. That’s where I met her cousin, Asher, who worked as a sparring partner. The guy was all rippling muscles, with an intense, almost menacing gaze. He was pounding a punching bag, radiating raw, masculine energy. I accidentally slipped, crashing straight into him and knocking the water bottle he’d just opened right out of his hand. He frowned, growling, “Hey, back off, you’re costing me money!” I quickly apologized. When he spoke, his voice was gravelly and rough as sandpaper, clearly from too much smoking and drinking. But then he took a call, lowering his voice to soothe the person on the other end, and that tone… it was identical to the streamer I adored. I froze on the spot. “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry!” I scrambled off him, fumbling to pick up the spilled water bottle. Water was everywhere, soaking his black workout pants. His name was Asher Vance, and he was my best friend Brooke Miller’s cousin. Brooke grabbed my arm, grinning as she introduced me. “Asher, this is my best friend, Chloe Sterling. Don’t be such a brute, you’ll scare her.” Asher shot me a glance, full of impatience, and grunted a greeting from deep in his throat. He bent to pick up a towel next to the punching bag, wiping sweat from his forehead. The line of his neck was incredibly sexy. But his face, though handsome, was cold. Brooke tried to smooth things over. “Don’t mind him, Chloe. My cousin just has a terrible temper, but he’s not a bad guy.” I shook my head, indicating it was fine. But my mind was racing. That phone call just now, especially that lowered “Shhh, easy there, I’ll be back soon,”—that gentle, magnetic, almost breathy murmur. It was exactly the same as Whisperwind, the sleep aid streamer I listened to every night. But how could that be possible? Whisperwind was the ultimate gentle male idol, kind, patient, who would read poetry in the dead of night and softly answer fans’ emotional questions. And the Asher Vance standing before me? Volatile, aggressive. It was the ultimate expectation versus reality clash. No, they were entirely different species. My mind went blank. I didn’t hear anything else Brooke said. Not until Asher came out of the changing room, bag in hand, ready to leave. He paused as he passed me, turning his head. Those dark eyes locked onto mine, and his voice was back to that sandpaper roughness. “Seen enough?” I snapped back to reality, my cheeks instantly flushing. Brooke quickly pulled me behind her, shouting at Asher’s retreating back, “Asher! Be polite!” Asher didn’t look back, just waved a hand dismissively and walked out of the gym. “Don’t mind him,” Brooke patted my back. “He’s totally nuts.” I watched the direction he disappeared in, that absurd thought in my mind refusing to be suppressed.

That night, I lay in bed, headphones on, and opened Whisperwind’s profile. Today’s live stream topic was “Tell us the most incredible thing that’s happened to you.” Driven by an impulse, I posted a comment: “I think I’ve discovered a huge secret, about someone I thought I knew well.” Almost instantly, Whisperwind’s voice came through my headphones, accompanied by his familiar gentle chuckle. “Oh? Our friend ‘Night Wind Rushes In,’ what secret have you uncovered? Care to share?” My heart skipped a beat. ‘Night Wind Rushes In’ was my ID on the app. When he read out my ID, his voice lifted slightly at the end, a playful intimacy in his tone. My fingers trembled as I typed a reply: “I found that someone whose voice is like an angel’s might be a devil in real life.” The comment section instantly exploded. “OMG! Spill the tea, sis!” “What’s happening? Is the streamer being exposed?” “Chloe, do you know something?” Whisperwind chuckled softly, his voice caressing my eardrums through the current. “It seems our friend here had quite a shock today. But people are multi-faceted, aren’t they? Perhaps what you’ve seen is just one part of him.” His words were perfectly crafted, giving nothing away. It was as if he was defending “himself,” yet also comforting a regular fan. I turned off my phone, spending a sleepless night. The next day, Brooke invited me to go shopping, saying she wanted to make it up to me. “My cousin was such a jerk yesterday, I have to compensate you.” She pulled me into a luxury boutique. My mind was elsewhere, filled with Asher and Whisperwind. Brooke, however, was in high spirits, holding up a bag to me. “Chloe, this suits you. My treat.” I quickly refused. “No, it’s too expensive.” “Don’t be silly with me!” Brooke handed her card to the sales assistant. “What are friends for?” Just then, her phone rang. Brooke answered, her tone instantly switching to a mix of exasperation and affection. “Hello? What now, Your Majesty?” Whatever the person on the other end said, Brooke’s brows furrowed. “Out of money? Didn’t you just yesterday…” “Alright, alright, I get it. I’ll transfer it to you in a bit. You’re a grown man, you should know how to manage your money.” She hung up, complaining to me, “My cousin, Asher, blew all his money again. All he does is beg for cash, I’m practically his ATM.” My heart stirred. I asked, pretending casual interest, “Is he really that hard up for money? I thought being a sparring partner paid well.” Brooke pouted. “What’s that little bit of money going to do? He’s always buying gear, treating people to dinner, he’s used to spending lavishly. If my parents weren’t holding me back, I’d have cut off his card ages ago.” As she spoke, she showed me a screenshot of the transfer. I saw that the recipient’s profile picture was gray, and the nickname was a simple “H.” My grip tightened on my phone. In Whisperwind’s fan group, the administrator’s username was “H.” Whisperwind had said it was the abbreviation of his name.

The clues slowly connected, and my heart sank with each realization. If Asher was Whisperwind, then why was he doing this? One person playing a gentle male god online, comforting countless girls; the other, an aggressive, moody man in reality, living off his cousin. What was his motive? Money? Whisperwind’s live stream donations and paid content certainly brought in a considerable income. But why would he pretend to be broke in front of Brooke? I decided to test him one more time. That weekend, Whisperwind’s offline fan meet-and-greet took place as scheduled. The venue was a small concert hall, with strict security, requiring ID and phone number verification for entry. Brooke had a last-minute commitment and couldn’t accompany me. I walked into the hall, which was already filled with people, mostly young women, their faces alight with anticipation and excitement. The stage was dimly lit, with only a high stool and a standing microphone placed in the center. Whisperwind maintained his no-face policy even offline. After the host warmed up the crowd, the hall lights dimmed, and a single spotlight shone on the stage center. That familiar, gentle voice, amplified through the speakers, reached everyone’s ears clearly. “Hello, everyone. I am Whisperwind. Thank you for coming tonight, for me.” A wave of excited screams erupted from the audience. I sat in a corner, my heart pounding. He began interacting with fans, answering pre-collected questions. One fan asked, “Whisperwind, what are you like in real life? Are you just as gentle?” Whisperwind chuckled, a hint of mystery in his tone. “Perhaps. But I hope you like my voice more than you like me, the person.” “Everyone wears a mask, don’t they?” At that moment, I took out my phone and sent Brooke a SnapChat message. “Brooke, my stomach feels a bit off, I’m in the restroom. Can you ask your cousin to pick me up? My phone’s almost out of battery.” Brooke replied quickly: “What’s going on with you? Fine, I’ll tell him to go. Send him the address.” I sent her the concert hall address. Then, I looked up, my gaze fixed intently on the blurry figure on stage. Next up, was the moment of truth. About twenty minutes later, my phone vibrated. It was a text from an unknown number. “Where?” Two words, concise, cold, and dripping with impatience. It was Asher. I replied: “Backstage entrance.” Then, I stood up and quietly slipped out through a side door, making my way to the back of the concert hall. Two security guards stood at the backstage entrance. I hid in the shadows nearby. Not long after, a tall figure appeared under the streetlight. Black hoodie, jeans, baseball cap pulled low—it was Asher. He walked up to the backstage entrance and was stopped by the guards. “Sir, you can’t enter here.” Asher looked up, revealing an annoyed expression. “I’m looking for someone.” “Do you have an appointment?” “No, a woman named Chloe Sterling.” Just then, a commotion erupted from the stage direction; it seemed to be intermission. A staff member rushed out of the backstage door. The door wasn’t closed properly, leaving a gap. From my angle, I could just see a corner of the interior. And I could hear the voice coming from the stage through the microphone. It was Whisperwind, talking to staff, arranging the content for the second half. That voice, so gentle it could melt your worries away, and the impatient, gravelly voice at the door, existed in the same space simultaneously. My mind buzzed. It wasn’t him? Had I made a mistake? Asher was still arguing with the security guards, looking increasingly frustrated. He pulled out his phone, seemingly preparing to call me. Just then, a man in a work uniform emerged from backstage. He saw Asher, paused, then exclaimed happily, “Asher? What are you doing here!” Asher seemed surprised to see him too. “Jayden? What are you doing here?” “I’m working part-time here,” the man named Jayden pointed inside. “There’s an event today, and they’re short-staffed.” He enthusiastically pulled Asher. “Since you’re here, come on in and sit down, I’ll get you a good seat.” Asher frowned. “No thanks, I’m just here to pick someone up.” “Who are you picking up? I can call them for you.” “Chloe Sterling.” Jayden slapped his thigh. “Oh, I know her! Brooke’s friend, right? She knows our boss, she’s in the VIP lounge.” With that, he pulled Asher inside without another word. “Follow me.” The security guards, seeing it was a staff member, didn’t stop them. I watched them disappear behind the door, completely frozen. The boss? Whisperwind was the boss here? So, Jayden knew Asher, and he knew me. Everything was messed up. My clever little test… had turned into a total bust. I took a deep breath, pulled out my phone, and prepared to call Brooke, to tell her not to send Asher to pick me up.

Just then, my phone vibrated again. Still that unknown number. “Are you playing games with me?” The cold accusation, the anger palpable even through the screen. I was stunned. Why would Asher say that? Hadn’t Jayden pulled him inside? I was about to reply when a new text came in. “VIP lounge. You better have an explanation for me.” My heart sank sharply. He knew. He knew I was testing him. I gripped my phone, hesitating whether to go in. Going in meant a potentially humiliating confrontation. Not going in meant the mystery in my heart would forever remain unsolved. As an internal battle raged inside me, the backstage door suddenly opened. Brooke stood at the entrance, her face pale. Seeing me, she forced a smile. “Chloe, there you are, I’ve been looking for you everywhere.” I looked at her. “What are you doing here?” “I was worried about you,” she walked over and naturally linked her arm through mine. “Come on, the meet-and-greet is almost over, I’ll take you home.” I saw the evasiveness in her eyes, and the suspicion I had tried to suppress flared up wildly again. She definitely knew something. On the drive home, Brooke kept making small talk. “How was the meet-and-greet today? Isn’t Whisperwind absolutely charming?” “Did you see him in person? Is he super handsome?” I leaned against the car window, watching the rapidly passing night scenery outside, and simply hummed in response. Brooke seemed a little awkward and fell silent. The temperature in the car plummeted, freezing the air between us. As we neared my apartment building, I suddenly spoke. “Brooke, are you very close with Whisperwind?” Brooke’s hand on the steering wheel tightened abruptly, making the car swerve slightly. She quickly regained control, forcing a dry laugh. “Why… why would you ask that? I just heard you talk about him so much, I got a little curious.” “Really?” I turned my head, looking straight at her. “That staff member, Jayden, just said that I know your boss.” “When did I ever get to know your boss?” Her face went stark white in a flash. Her eyes darted around, her lips moved a few times, but not a single word came out. “The boss he mentioned, that’s Whisperwind, right?” I pressed her further, step by step. “And you, you don’t just know him, you know him well. Well enough to freely go backstage, well enough for your cousin to be directly ushered into his VIP lounge.” “Brooke, what exactly are you hiding from me?” Brooke pulled the car over to the side of the road and turned off the engine. The car interior was plunged into silence, broken only by our increasingly ragged breathing. After a long moment, she spoke, her voice hoarse. “Chloe, I’m sorry.” “I didn’t mean to lie to you.” “Asher… he really is Whisperwind.” Even though I had prepared myself, hearing her admit it made my heart ache to the point of suffocation. So, it wasn’t a misunderstanding. My intuition had been right all along. Then who was that gentle voice backstage? “It was a voice changer,” Brooke said softly, as if seeing through my confusion. “And his team, they help him handle some of the live interactions.” “So, he just needs to sit backstage, in front of a computer, and use a processed voice to pull off a perfect meet-and-greet.” A bitter laugh escaped me, tears pricking at my eyes. What a grand, elaborate scam. And I, like a total idiot, had been utterly swept off my feet by him. “Why?” I looked at Brooke, asking each word slowly. “Why would you do this?” “It… it was for money.” Brooke couldn’t meet my gaze. “Asher needed money. Being a streamer is fast money, but his own voice… it wasn’t suitable.” “So you came up with this plan? To have him play a fictional persona, to swindle fans out of their donations and their emotions?” “I didn’t!” Brooke retorted, agitated. “I just wanted to help him! I never thought you’d fall so deeply!” “Really?” I scoffed. “You never thought? Then why did you introduce him to me? Why did you play matchmaker between us? Was it fun, watching me get played like a fool by you?” Brooke was speechless, her eyes instantly welling up with tears. “Chloe, I truly never meant to hurt you. I just… I was just jealous of you.” She finally confessed. “I was jealous you have everything. A privileged family background, loving parents, never worrying about money. And me? I have to fight for everything, claw for everything. And I’m stuck with a dead weight like Asher!” “When I saw how infatuated you were with Whisperwind, I admit, there was a tiny part of me that felt unbalanced. I wanted to see what your reaction would be if you found out your idol, your beloved male god, was actually my useless cousin.” “I just wanted to play a joke on you, I never thought it would turn out like this!” So that was it. The best friend I had poured my heart out to had been calculating from the start. The comfort I found in the dead of night was all her carefully designed poison.

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My husband indulged his protégée hacker, Chloe, allowing her to manipulate my life for “practice.” The first time, our smart home system went haywire in the dead of night, blaring alarms and lights, terrifying me into a hospital bed. The second time, it was a private video looping on screens during a crucial meeting, making me internet infamous. And this time, she remotely hijacked my smart car, orchestrating a horrific crash on the freeway. Lying in the ICU, covered in my own blood, I heard Julian, my husband, calmly explain as he “fixed” the system: “Don’t hate Chloe, darling. She’s just a bit childish, trying to prove she’s as brilliant as me. You know how these bright young talents are.” “She knows that no matter what happens, I’ll always save you – it’s just a game that got a little out of hand.” Before he could finish, an encrypted call pulled him away. But I saw his unsaved logs on the tablet. They clearly showed he’d known about allof Chloe’s attacks. He hadn’t just ‘condoned’ this sick ‘game’; he’d encouraged it, pushing her to ‘level up’ her skills. What he didn’t know was that his recent “fix” had just activated the ultimate command I’d buried deep within his network. In a week, his digital empire would crumble.

“I’ve already had a word with her. Anyway, you’ve always been so understanding, you won’t hold it against her, right? Just tell me what gift you want, anything, as my apology for her.” Julian returned quickly, taking the soup bowl naturally to feed me, but his words were all for Chloe. I forced a smile. They’d issued a ‘critical condition’ notice, for God’s sake, and he expected me to be ‘magnanimous’? “No need to make her feel bad, and no need for you to apologize.” Julian immediately brightened. “Oh, I have to tell her! Chloe’s been so wracked with guilt since your accident, she hasn’t eaten a thing. She’s lost weight.” I looked into his eyes, eyes that once held only me. He’d told me about his new protégée, Chloe, who resembled his late sister, taken too soon. He’d poured all his unresolved grief and protectiveness into her. I wanted to protect his solace, so I gave way, again and again. I just didn’t know at what point things went so wrong, leading us to this. Julian continued typing away, oblivious, his SnapChat avatar a photo of him and Chloe. Looking at him now, I felt sick. I found an excuse to send him away. Julian left happily, not even bothering to pick me up when I was discharged. Scrolling through my feed on the couch, I saw it—the conference video, twisted and vile, with doctored images of me plastered everywhere, fueling the most disgusting jokes. My fingertips trembled as I scrolled past the vile comments, blood rushing to my head. It was like the ghost of my younger self, Eleanor, was screaming at me: “Are you really going to just takethis?” I slammed my phone down, my nails digging into my palms. Silence? Tolerance? Never again. I opened Ins, my fingers flying across the keyboard. “The so-called ‘private video’ is an absolute fabrication! I strongly condemn this hacker attack and will pursue all legal remedies!” I paused, then typed his name. “Furthermore, I demand answers from @JulianInc_CyberSecurityOfficer. How exactly has your company’s system security become so utterly useless? Or is someone acting with malicious intent?” Seconds after I hit ‘post,’ my phone exploded with calls, ringing like a death knell. I stared at “Julian” flashing on the screen, took a deep breath, and answered. “The company’s stock just dropped three points because of your post,” his voice was laced with fury. “Family business stays in the family. Do I need to teach you that?” “Family business?” I almost laughed. “Julian, this is a crime! I’m not the one acting out here!” “Chloe’s already promised to stop. Can’t you just let it go? Do you really have to make this public knowledge?” “Our PR team will issue a statement saying your account was hacked. Understand?” He hung up, adding one last thing: “Don’t cause any more trouble for a while. Avoid the press.” I listened to the dial tone, my heart aching. He used to hold meon a pedestal. We’d been cyber prodigies, equals from childhood. But Julian had grand visions of an empire, a ‘champion’ to build it. So, I stepped back, deliberately creating openings, handing him the crown I could have worn. His eyes shone back then. I thought that was ourfuture. Now, he sat on his throne, basking in the spotlight, seemingly having forgotten the one who stood beside him, who even gave upher own glory for him. True feelings truly are fleeting.

Julian came home for dinner, Chloe trailing behind him. He placed a Tiffany blue box in front of me, his voice soft. “Eleanor, the necklace you always wanted.” He took out the diamond necklace that had mesmerized me at an auction, fastening it around my neck himself. “I only think of Chloe as my little sister. Don’t overthink things, and don’t be so confrontational with her.” Chloe tugged lightly at Julian’s sleeve, her eyes urging him on. Julian produced a brand-new smart bracelet. “This is the company’s latest health monitoring bracelet. It monitors your heart rate, blood pressure, and even emotional metrics in real-time, connecting to our central database. That way, we can look after you better.” I recoiled. It was nothing less than a 24-hour digital shackle. “I don’t need it! My health status is my private information!” Chloe chuckled softly. “Oh, Eleanor, what’s privacy compared to your health? Brother Julian is just worried about you. Besides, your smart home and car systems are already connected to our network, aren’t they? What’s one more bracelet?” Julian frowned. “Don’t be childish. This is for your own good. Your little ‘episode’ at the meeting? Clearly an issue with emotional regulation, darling. Wear it, the data will tell us when you need help.” He took a step forward, reaching to grab my wrist, intending to force it on me. I struggled, pulling away. “Julian! This is surveillance! I’m not your prisoner!” “Why do you always twist goodwill into malice?” He seemed to lose patience, his grip tightening. Chloe quickly tapped on her tablet. Instantly, the bracelet shrieked with a piercing alarm! “See! Your emotions are unstable again! The system’s even alerting us!” Hearing that, Julian pressed down on me harder. “It’s not me! She’s controlling it!” I screamed, pointing at Chloe, but Julian wouldn’t listen. Just then, the smart console cabinet in the hallway suddenly popped open, crashing hard into my shin! I stumbled, crying out in pain, instinctively reaching for the nearby smart curtain track to steady myself. Chloe’s lips curled into a cold smirk, her finger swiping on the tablet. The slow-moving curtain track suddenly accelerated, retracting with a sharp clack! My fingers were caught in the mechanical gap, sending a searing pain through me! At the same time, losing my balance, I was about to crash into the glass display cabinet beside me! “Eleanor, what are you doing!” Julian spun around, roughly shoving me away, pulling Chloe tightly into his arms. “You scared Chloe!” I, with no one to catch me, was thrown by the curtain track’s momentum, my forehead slamming against the cabinet corner. Warm blood trickled down my temple. I huddled on the cold floor, looking up to see Julian anxiously checking if Chloe was startled, his face etched with concern. He didn’t even glance down at me. “Brother Julian, I’m fine. Please, check on Eleanor.” Chloe leaned weakly into his embrace, but her eyes met mine over his shoulder, a clear, icy smirk playing on her lips. Julian finally looked at me, his eyes filled with nothing but disappointment and impatience. “Eleanor, do you haveto make such a scene! Self-harm? Smashing things? You’ve truly disappointed me!” He carefully picked Chloe up and instructed the housekeeper. “Take her back to her room. And until I say so, she’s not to touch any smart devices! And jam any internet signal up here!” I was too numb with pain to speak, only watching them leave. The attic door locked with a heavy thud behind me. Darkness enveloped me, only moonlight casting a pale patch on the floor. This used to be our first ‘lab,’ the walls still bearing the graffiti we’d drawn together – two intertwined ‘J’ and ‘E’s – for Julian and Eleanor. Now, for someone else, he had locked me in our past.

Chloe reappeared three days later. I’d been starved for three days, curled on the floor. Chloe whispered into my ear, “All I had to do was lie, say I wanted to study data recovery, and Brother Julian handed over your mother’s USB drive without a second thought.” She dangled the USB drive, letting out a mocking laugh. I used all my strength to snatch it, but Chloe feigned a stumble backward. “Brother Julian! I told you this thing shouldn’t be kept! Look how scary Eleanor is now!” Julian caught Chloe, then looked at me with cold eyes. “Chloe’s right. It’s these sad memories that are making you so extreme.” I stared at the laptop in his hands, my voice trembling. “What are you doing!” Julian approached, his voice like a doctor soothing a patient. “We need to help you move on.” Chloe stood behind him, purring like a smug cat. “Brother Julian is doing this for your own good,” she murmured. “Those sad memories, they shouldn’t be kept.” “No—” I lunged for the computer, but Julian caught me in an iron grip. His arms were like steel clamps around me. “It’ll be over soon, Eleanor.” Chloe’s fingers danced across the keyboard. “Brother Julian, the original files and backups are all found. Should I format and shred them completely?” Julian paused, then nodded. “Make it clean.” The progress bar began to move. Ten percent, thirty percent, seventy percent… I watched my mother’s smiling photos disappear from the screen, piece by piece, until it was all blank. “Those were the last things my mom left me!!” I shrieked, struggling to break free, but Julian held me fast. The arms that once sheltered me from storms were now the strongest chains. He spoke earnestly, as if comforting a child: “Once the data is gone, I’ll help you create new memories. People can’t live in the past forever. We’re just trying to help you.” “Help me?” I laughed, tears welling up. “Julian, you know what that data meant to me!” “Precisely why I can’t let you keep living in the past.” His tone suddenly hardened. “Chloe’s right. You’re too extreme lately. You need a clean break.” Overwhelmed by grief and rage, I grabbed a crystal ornament from the table and hurled it at the wall. Shards flew everywhere, and I accidentally scratched Chloe, who tried to “comfort” me. She let out a sharp gasp, crumbling to the floor, clutching her face and sobbing. “Brother Julian, it hurts so much! I was just trying to help!” Julian kicked me away, rushing to check Chloe’s injuries. “Eleanor, you’re absolutely insane!” he yelled, turning to me. “It seems you haven’t reflected enough!” “When you’ve come to your senses, then you can come out!” The attic door was locked again. This time, even the windows were sealed shut by blackout curtains. In the complete darkness and silence, all love and hate burned away, leaving only cold despair. My fingers unconsciously traced a loose floorboard – our old snack hiding spot. I carefully pried it open. Inside, a worn USB drive and a laptop lay quietly. It was a backdoor tool we’d designed together when we first started our company, capable of silently accessing core systems. Julian had laughed then, saying, “This is our last resort, our secret weapon. Only you and I know about it.” Now, it seemed he had long forgotten. But I remembered. I inserted the USB drive into the laptop, and the screen glowed with an eerie blue light. Fingerprint authentication passed. The low-level destruction interface slowly unfolded. “Confirm initiation of destruction protocol?” The system prompt flashed. My finger hovered over the enter key. My mom’s smiling face flashed through my mind. Then I pressed it, decisively. “Protocol initiated. Countdown: 168 hours.” The system prompt silently flashed, then automatically cleared all traces. When Chloe detected an abnormal access alert and rushed back with Julian, the USB drive was already back in its original hiding place. I curled up in the corner, feigning weakness. They thoroughly checked the entire system, finding nothing but that ordinary USB drive. “Stop doing useless things.” Julian warned coldly, tossing the USB drive back to me. As they left, neither of them noticed the faint vibrations from beneath the floorboards. The destruction had begun. Irreversible.

I was confined to this small attic, as if forgotten. Only endless darkness remained, terrifying, maddening. Days later, Julian and Chloe pushed open the door together. “Eleanor,” Julian handed me a new agreement. “Traditional therapy isn’t working, so we’re trying ‘mind therapy.’ Chloe has really put a lot of thought into this for you.” I glimpsed the terms on the agreement; the fine print read: “Mental disorder due to excessive dwelling on the past.” “Julian,” my voice was hoarse. “Using your most trusted logic, tell me, is locking me in a VR pod really called ‘therapy’?” “You let her set fires, but you held me back from putting them out, and now you’re saying I’mthe sick one, is that it?” Chloe suddenly started sobbing. “It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have suggested using VR to help Eleanor face reality…” “After all, anything I suggest, Eleanor naturally doubts.” “But Eleanor, I’m truly thinking of you. How can I make you believe me? Should I prove it with my life?” She made a move to bang her head against the wall. Julian flew forward, grabbing her, then turned to me with a cold voice. “Don’t betray Chloe’s good intentions. Sign it.” Seeing my resistance, he gestured to the housekeeper. Two men stepped forward and pinned me down, one of them forcibly prying my fingers open— The searing pain made my vision go black, but I bit my lip, refusing to cry out. My crimson handprint stained the agreement, like a grotesque scar. I was led into a stark white VR therapy room. Julian himself placed the helmet on me, a strange anticipation on his face. Darkness descended. Then blinding headlights flashed! My mother’s terrified face appeared in front of the car— “No!!” I screamed, but I couldn’t move. The car crash replayed again and again, from cruel angles, slowing down my mother’s final moments of agony. Chloe had even synthesized my mother’s cries, calling my name: “Eleanor—why didn’t you save me—” “Stop… stop it!” I thrashed wildly in the pod, tears soaking the helmet’s lining. Outside, Julian watched my wildly fluctuating physiological data on the monitor, his brows furrowed. “Her reaction is too strong. Should we stop?” “This means the therapy is working!” Chloe said urgently, her fingers discreetly cranking the pain level to maximum. “She’s confronting her deepest trauma! Stopping now would only harm her!” Julian looked at the data, eventually nodding heavily. “…Continue.” Inside the pod, I was curled up in agony, each crash sounding like it was crushing my bones. “Julian… please…” I pleaded weakly. “Make her stop…” But he, separated by the pod’s shell, softly reassured me: “Just bear it, Eleanor. Getting over grief always involves pain.” His words hit me like a sledgehammer, making me completely collapse, plunging into boundless darkness. In a daze, I vaguely heard Julian’s assistant frantically shout. “Mr. Julian! Our system is locked out! The core program is self-destructing!!” “Mr. Julian! All… all nodes are simultaneously offline! The backup system won’t activate! The underlying commands… they seem to be self-deleting!” “What?!” Julian’s face contorted. He completely ignored me, still unconscious in the pod, and rushed over, snatching the tablet.

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My best friend from my previous life wanted to marry my grandmother. I did everything I could to stop him, and I succeeded. Later, my grandmother married a man closer to our age, and they had a lavish wedding. My friend, Derek, held a grudge. He invited me hiking, then, at the summit, he stabbed me eighteen times before pushing me off a cliff. “It’s all your fault for stopping me from becoming rich! Everything should have been mine!” When I was reborn, I smiled as I watched him marry my grandmother. What he didn’t know was that in the past ten years, Grandma had married eight grooms. He was the ninth, and the previous eight grooms had all met untimely ends. Since he wanted to marry her so badly, I decided to help him along. “I saw your grandmother at the charity gala yesterday. She even told me I reminded her of her first love when she was young.” Derek Stone said, holding his coffee cup, his voice buzzing with excitement. He grabbed my hand, his eyes gleaming with calculation. “I want to pursue your grandmother.” I was utterly shocked. “Are you insane? She’s forty years older than you!” “Age is just a number! Besides, she doesn’t look a day over forty, not sixty-something at all.” In my previous life, this was where I’d stopped him, sternly warning him to stay away from my grandmother. He’d given me a malicious grin. “Alex Vance, who do you think you are? Why are you blocking my path?” Later, Grandma married a man closer to our age, and they had a lavish wedding. Derek held a grudge and pushed me off a cliff. “It’s all your fault for stopping me from marrying your grandmother! Everything should have been mine!” But now, I just quietly watched the blatant greed in his eyes. My grandmother, Eleanor Vance, was the head of Vance Industries, worth hundreds of billions. “You don’t object?” Derek seemed surprised by my silence. I picked up my coffee cup, a meaningful smile playing on my lips. “Why would I object?” I asked smoothly. “Everyone has the right to pursue happiness, and love shouldn’t be limited by age, right?” His eyes lit up. Clearly, he hadn’t expected it to be so easy. Derek excitedly embraced me. “That’s great! I knew you’d understand me!” He squeezed me tighter. “Don’t worry, once I’m your grandpa, I’ll take good care of you!” Where he couldn’t see, my smile vanished completely. I whispered, “I wish you success.” Grandma had already married eight grooms in the past decade, and he was about to become the ninth. What he didn’t know was that the previous eight grooms had all met untimely ends. If he was so eager to die, I might as well help him along. Leaving the coffee shop, I stood by the roadside, waiting for my driver. A black Mercedes slowly pulled up in front of me, revealing Mr. Davies, the butler’s, face. “Young Master, the old lady wants you home for dinner tonight.” “Got it,” I said, opening the car door and sliding in. “Mr. Davies,” I began suddenly, “How has Grandma been lately?” The old butler glanced at me through the rearview mirror. “The old lady is very healthy. Her check-up results last week came back twenty years younger than her actual age.” I clenched my fists. In my previous life, I’d never doubted Grandma. Now, looking back, many things seemed incredibly suspicious. The most unsettling part was that whenever a groom died, Grandma was always on a business trip abroad, with a perfect alibi. And she’d always been disturbingly cold after their deaths. During dinner, I observed Grandma. She truly did look much younger than her age. “I hear you met the Stone boy today?” My body tensed. How did Grandma know? Unless she’d been monitoring me, or Derek. “Yes, Derek. He’s a good friend of mine.” Grandma’s lips curved slightly. “He’s a very vibrant young man. My birthday party is in two days; you can invite him to come over tomorrow and stay until the end of the celebration.” In my previous life, I’d desperately tried to prevent Derek from getting close to Grandma, so he’d never received a formal invitation from the Vance family. “Alright,” I said, a pleased expression on my face. After dinner, Grandma always took her usual stroll in the garden. I seized the opportunity to find the hidden compartment in her study. Mom had told me about it before she died, but I’d never opened it. Behind the Bible on the third shelf, there was a hidden button. Pressing it revealed a small secret room. Inside, on a desk, lay a notebook and a safe. My hands trembling, I opened the notebook. What I saw almost made me scream.

It was a list, neatly documenting eight names, marriage dates, and death dates. Each name was accompanied by a photo, and I was horrified to discover that these men, to varying degrees, shared certain similarities. The shape of their eyes, the curve of their mouths, especially the last three—they were almost like replicas of the same type. The last page bore a ninth name: Derek Stone. A red question mark was drawn next to it, and the date column was blank. My gaze was drawn to the safe. A gut feeling told me it held an even more terrifying secret. But the safe required a fingerprint and a password; I couldn’t open it. Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside the door. I slammed the notebook shut and darted behind the curtains. The study door opened, and Grandma and Mr. Davies walked in. “The ninth one should be perfect,” Grandma’s voice was low and calm. “His birth attributes align perfectly.” “We’ll finally have all nine. Bring that Derek Stone to see me tomorrow.” “Yes, ma’am.” After they left, I collapsed onto the floor, cold sweat soaking my back. Grandma knew about Derek, and she seemed to be actively planning something. Even more terrifying, she seemed to be conducting some kind of ritual that required nine… grooms? The next day, my phone buzzed. It was a message from Derek. “Alex! Amazing news! I got a formal invitation from your family! Can I come over and hang out today?” I stared at the screen, slowly letting out a cold laugh. “Of course, I’d love for you to come.” Derek stayed at Vance Manor for two days, and I did my best to create opportunities for him and Grandma to spend time alone. On the day of the birthday party, basically all the prominent figures in the city were there. I stood in a corner, watching with cold eyes as Derek, arm-in-arm with Grandma, beamed with excitement. Their relationship was progressing quickly; it seemed both of them were rather impatient. “Ladies and gentlemen,” Grandma, Eleanor Vance, stood on the steps. She gently patted Derek’s hand, her voice calm yet commanding. “Thank you all for coming to my birthday celebration. Today, I have some joyous news to announce.” The entire hall fell silent, all eyes fixed on them. “Derek and I have fallen deeply for each other and decided to marry.” “The wedding is set for three days from now. Everyone is welcome to attend.” Though I’d expected it, hearing the words firsthand still made my heart involuntarily tremble. The guests paused for a moment in stunned silence, then burst into a chorus of polite, albeit hollow, congratulations. After all, a sixty-something business mogul marrying a young man in his twenties wasn’t uncommon in high society. With enough money, age was never an issue. Derek wore a triumphant smile, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on me. Was he flaunting it? I took a slow sip of champagne, my lips curving slightly. I even walked forward, my voice gentle. “Congratulations, Grandma. Congratulations, Derek.” Grandma nodded in satisfaction, while Derek squinted slightly, seemingly surprised by my composure. Then, he couldn’t wait to show his true colors.

“Oh, Alex,” he said, feigning intimacy as he clasped my hand, but his voice was deliberately loud, ensuring everyone nearby could hear. “Since I’m the future master of the Vance family now, there are some things I need to decide for you.” “Oh? What things?” He stared at me, enunciating each word. “Your engagement to Chloe Miller? It’s time to break it off.” The Miller family, a long-standing ally of the Vance family. Chloe Miller, the sole daughter of the Miller family, and I had been betrothed since childhood. Though it was an arranged business marriage, Chloe had always been good to me. And now, Derek was actually trying to force me to break off the engagement? Before I could speak, Grandma actually nodded. “Derek is right. The Miller family hasn’t been doing well lately; they’re no longer a suitable match for the Vance family. Alex, this engagement, let’s call it off.” My breath hitched. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Chloe standing nearby, her wine glass almost slipping from her grasp. “Grandma,” I heard my voice tremble, “Chloe and my engagement was arranged by our ancestors…” “That’s all in the past,” Grandma waved a dismissive hand. A server immediately brought her a cigar, and she took a deep puff. “What’s the Miller family’s situation now? Do they even match the Vance family anymore?” Whispers started to ripple through the ballroom. I saw Chloe’s face turn instantly pale, while Derek smirked triumphantly at me. “Grandma!” I dropped to my knees before her. “Please reconsider. Though the Miller family has fallen on hard times, Chloe is…” *Smash!* Derek suddenly swung his hand, knocking over a tray of red wine a server was carrying. The red wine poured down over my head. Guests exchanged uneasy glances. Some snickered softly, others looked on with pity. “Oops, my hand slipped,” he feigned surprise, covering his mouth. But then he leaned down, whispering in my ear so only I could hear, “Did you think groveling would do any good? Let me tell you, after tonight, you won’t even have the right to beg on your knees.” I looked up at him in surprise. “Enough!” Grandma flung my hand away. “This matter is settled!” Chloe crushed her wine glass, staring intently at Derek. As I went upstairs to change clothes, I saw Chloe and Derek embracing in the hallway corner. “Derek, how was my acting? He even knelt for me!” “Always walking around with your ‘fiancé’ title, it was getting annoying.” My heart ached. I couldn’t believe they had been together all this time. My judgment truly was terrible. “You disgusting pair!” I cursed. Chloe chuckled. “Watching you grovel and beg was pathetic. Did you really think we’d get married?” Derek laughed, pulling her closer. “Your woman’s been mine for ages.” They were both sickening. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell Grandma?” “Go ahead!” Derek scoffed, unafraid. “Let’s see who she believes: you, or me.” “Once the old hag dies, everything in the Vance family will be ours,” Chloe fantasized, wrapping her arms around his waist. “I thought we were best friends.” Derek sneered. “Friends, huh? Don’t pretend here. In your eyes, I was just your dog. You’d throw me scraps when you pitied me. I’m sick of it!” “Now I’m calling the shots, and you’ll do exactly as I say!” I remembered back in college when Derek couldn’t afford tuition, I’d paid it for him. When he needed living expenses, I’d share whatever I ate with him. Later, when his mother fell gravely ill, I immediately had her admitted to the best hospital available. And he saw all of that as contempt? I should’ve let him starve! I laughed, a bitter, angry sound. “Then consider everything I did for you fed to the dogs.” I wasn’t in a hurry, because soon, they would reap what they sowed.

After the birthday party, Derek officially moved into Vance Manor as the future master of the house. The first thing he did was claim my room. “Alex, this room gets the best light, it’s perfect for me,” he said, leaning against the doorframe. “You’ll be moving out soon anyway, why not get used to it early?” I stood in the hallway, watching him calmly. “If you like it, it’s yours.” He narrowed his eyes, seemingly annoyed by my compliance, then gave a dismissive laugh. “Oh, and by the way, my wife says your allowance will be managed by me from now on. After all, you’re not a child anymore, you should learn to be thrifty.” He pulled a card from his expensive designer wallet and held it out to me. “Five thousand a month, is that enough?” Five thousand dollars. That wasn’t even enough for a casual bracelet I used to buy. I reached out and took the card, a slight smile on my face. “Thank you, Grandpa.” His expression froze for a moment, clearly stung by the address, but he quickly recovered his arrogant demeanor. “Good boy.” I turned and walked to a guest room. But the next day, Derek dragged me into his walk-in closet. “Alex, look, don’t my suits look great?” He held out a brand new suit, hand-tailored by an Italian master, shimmering under the lights. I nodded. “Very sharp.” He suddenly sighed, feigning regret. “Actually, I wanted to choose your father’s vintage suit, but Eleanor said it would be unlucky.” My blood ran cold. He dared to bring up my father? In my previous life, my father had died right here in Vance Manor, his death a complete mystery. His suit had been sealed in the Vance family’s vault, a place even I couldn’t easily access. Derek tilted his head, enjoying my suddenly pale face. “No worries, though. My suit cost way more than your father’s, wouldn’t you say?” I dug my nails into my palms, just barely managing to maintain a calm expression. “Yes,” I said softly, “I hope you live to wear it for a few more days.” He froze, then burst out laughing. “Alex Vance, you’re not still thinking about revenge, are you?” He leaned closer. “Don’t forget, the entire Vance fortune is mine now.” On the wedding day, Vance Manor was decorated with extravagant luxury. As the wedding march began, Derek, arm-in-arm with Grandma, slowly walked towards the priest. Guests applauded and congratulated them, while I stood in a corner, quietly watching it all. When the priest opened the Bible and solemnly asked if they were willing, Grandma slowly looked up, her gaze not as gentle as usual, but rather holding a strange, chilling indifference. “I do.” As they exchanged rings, Mr. Davies, the butler, stepped forward, holding a delicate velvet box. Inside lay two rings embedded with blood-red gems. They placed them on each other’s fingers, completing the ceremony. I saw Grandma slowly let out a breath. The next day, the butler came rushing to find me. “Young Master, something’s happened to Mr. Stone…” “The old lady left for a business trip abroad last night…” I returned to my old room, where Derek was screaming in the bathroom. Dark bruises bloomed on his collarbone, as if an invisible hand had brutally squeezed him. Seeing me, he immediately grabbed my arm. “Alex, I didn’t hit anything last night! What’s going on?” “Probably an allergic reaction,” I said airily. Derek’s voice started to tremble. “Is your manor… haunted?”

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When I went to pay for a cake, the clerk told me my loyalty card balance was insufficient. Checking the transaction history, I discovered the card’s usage had inexplicably jumped from once a week to once a day. But my husband, Brandon, who never liked sweets, always kept the card. There’s no way he’d use it that often! I tried to reassure myself. Maybe he was secretly buying treats for our son, Leo, and didn’t tell me to avoid my disapproval. But when I went back to the cake shop to retrieve the cake I’d accidentally left behind, I saw Brandon walking in, his arm around his assistant, Chloe. I swallowed my rising anger and dialed his number. “Honey, is there any money left on the loyalty card? I’m craving some Strawberry Shortcake.” Brandon chuckled, his voice dripping with his usual affectionate tone. “Of course! I’ve loaded plenty of money on it for you, sweetie. Swipe away!” Just like always, I replied, “You’re the best, honey.” The moment I got home, I called my lawyer. “Draft a divorce agreement for me. I want Brandon to leave with nothing.”

I waited until midnight before Brandon finally walked through the door. “Honey, did you wait up long?” He slipped off his shoes, casually recounting his day. “Work was crazy today, so many meetings, I lost track of time.” “Good thing I pre-ordered your Strawberry Shortcake. I rushed straight back after work.” He knelt beside my leg, his voice laced with that familiar tenderness. “Next time, I’ll make sure to get you a fresh one, that’s when it tastes best.” Brandon was always like this. He’d update me on his schedule, and every night he’d share interesting stories from his day. Thoughtful, considerate, absolutely flawless. That’s why I never doubted him. But now, the question tumbled out. “Did you buy this cake yourself?” “I had Chloe pick it up. I just couldn’t break away.” My heart sank. Chloe. His assistant. The one he’d called a distant family friend, someone he’d known since childhood, claiming she needed his help because he owed her family a kindness from years ago. He was the one who insisted on taking care of her, bringing her into the company. I felt pity for her, not only agreeing but even specifically telling him to give her a higher salary. But now he was lying. All those tender, thoughtful updates, all those late-night chats filled with shared stories. How much of it had been real? How much had been a lie? That night, I lay with my eyes closed, unable to sleep for a long time. Late into the night, Brandon waved his hand in front of my eyes. Then he quietly got up and crept into his study in the dark. In the darkness, I switched on my phone and logged into his old, hidden SnapChat account. Blinding messages popped up, one after another. All from Brandon. “Baby, I miss you so much.” “I was watching you the whole time during the meeting today.” “Just a little longer, and we won’t have to hide anymore.”

The contact’s name was just a simple “Chloe.” That old lie, *she’s like a younger sister to me*, echoed in my ears. No need to overthink it; he had definitely lied. After a sleepless night, Brandon looked at the dark circles under my eyes with concern. “You look terrible today. Get some good rest at home.” “I’ll pick Leo up from school.” He always tried to shoulder my burdens. That demeanor used to make me feel incredibly secure. I nodded, but I still went to the school. Because last week I’d promised Leo I’d take him for his favorite burgers today. Brandon’s car slowly pulled up to the school gate. Stepping out of the passenger seat was a beaming Chloe. Leo burst out of the school and ran straight into Chloe’s arms. “Aunt Chloe! You look so pretty today!” “Even prettier than the fairy pictures Mom shows me!” Brandon stood nearby, watching the scene. A gentle smile, one I’d never seen before, bloomed on his face. I could only hail a cab, following clumsily behind their car. They went to the burger joint. Then, they headed to the dessert shop Leo had been talking about for ages. Through the bright glass window, I saw Leo holding two different toys, clearly new gifts. His cheeks were puffed out, and ice cream stains smudged the corner of his mouth. The most crushing blow came when they were drinking milk tea; Brandon naturally took Chloe’s hand. He leaned down and sipped from the straw she had just used. Their familiarity and intimacy outlined a picture of a perfectly happy family of three. And I was the superfluous observer, completely excluded. I held onto a sliver of hope, thinking Leo was young and didn’t understand anything. Until I heard his childish, loud voice, cutting through the noise with a complaint. “Aunt Chloe is the best! My mom is so stingy and bossy.” “She only lets me have one burger at a time and always forces me to eat those gross greens! It’s so annoying!” In that moment, all my strength drained away. Leo, who was already severely overweight for his age. All the adults in our family spoiled him, indulging his every whim. Only I, his mother, had to harden my heart and be the “bad guy.” Strictly controlling his diet. Using those “gross greens” and the “one burger a week” rule. Struggling to fight against his weight and the looming health crisis. In his eyes, my anxiety and discipline had become stinginess and meddling. And Aunt Chloe, who bribed him with junk food and endless indulgence, was the beautiful, generous angel. That evening, Brandon’s mom invited us over for dinner. The moment I stepped in, I saw the dining table laden with meat dishes. Brandon’s mom noticed my gaze sweep over the food and quickly cut in, smiling. “Oh, it’s the weekend, and Leo hasn’t been over in a while.” “Let him relax and indulge tonight. Don’t say anything, Elara.” I nodded, saying nothing. Leo, however, seemed to have discovered something peculiar. He walked up to me, tilting his head as he scrutinized me. “Mom, why aren’t you telling me off for eating meat today?” “Did you finally lighten up?”

I looked at him, my voice flat. “Eat whatever you want from now on. I won’t control you anymore.” He froze for a moment, apparently not getting the reaction he expected. Then he pouted, slammed down his fork, and loudly declared, “Fine! I don’t want any dinner tonight!” I watched him, my heart growing cold. “Don’t want any,” my foot. It was obvious he’d gorged himself on burgers, ice cream, and milk tea with his dad and Chloe this afternoon. Now he couldn’t eat another bite. Such a young child, yet he could lie without batting an eye. Brandon’s mom immediately panicked, grabbing her grandson who was about to slip off his chair. “You’re growing! How can you skip a meal? What if you get sick?!” Without waiting for a reply, she heaped his bowl with a mountain of rice and meat. Leo was pinned to his chair by his grandma, facing that small mountain of food, his earlier bravado gone. He turned his pitiable, pleading gaze toward me, a clear cry for help. I simply watched him. My heart felt like it was clogged with a stone, pressing down, suffocating me. But I couldn’t make any expression on my face. Brandon finally spoke. “Mom, if Leo really doesn’t have an appetite, don’t force him. Eating too much at night is hard to digest.” Brandon’s mom grumbled but let go. That night, Leo suddenly started vomiting and having diarrhea, his little face deathly pale. He was in so much pain he curled into a ball in bed, crying uncontrollably. Brandon’s mom was frantic and bewildered, muttering as she cleaned up. “What’s going on? He barely ate anything tonight…” I stayed by his hospital bed all night. Watching Leo, weak and miserable, my heart felt like it was being twisted repeatedly, and tears streamed down my face. Around dawn, the medicine finally took effect, and Leo drifted into a deep sleep. The hospital room was silent. But then, Leo frowned, muttering indistinctly in his restless sleep. “Aunt Chloe…” Those words pierced my heart without warning. Even in such a raw, instinctive moment, he called out for her, not his mother. Brandon finally rushed to the hospital as dawn approached. He was carrying an elegant cake box. “Honey, you’ve been through so much tonight. Get some energy.” I opened the box; inside was a mango cake. For a moment, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes. Had Brandon forgotten? Had he forgotten that eating mangoes gave me hives and made it hard for me to breathe? I looked up, my gaze sweeping past the cake to Chloe, who had just arrived behind him. She was also looking at the cake. A flicker of smug satisfaction, a look only another woman would understand, passed through her eyes. Suddenly, I understood everything. This mango cake was never meant for me. I suppressed the surge of icy coldness in my heart and turned to Chloe. “Chloe, I hear you love sweets?” “Conveniently, the loyalty card for the shop your brother-in-law and I used to frequent still has quite a bit of money on it. Let me check the exact amount and transfer it for you to use. No need to waste it.” Before I could finish, Brandon’s face instantly changed. He almost lunged to cut me off, chuckling nervously as he took over the conversation. “Oh, what are you saying! Chloe’s always talking about dieting these days.” “She stopped eating cakes and things a long time ago, right, Chloe?” He looked at Chloe urgently, his eyes clearly urging her on. Chloe lowered her eyelids and obediently murmured, “Mhm.” Brandon made an excuse about checking with the doctor and hastily left the room. Suddenly, the hospital room door was violently kicked open with a loud bang! A group of menacing men burst in. The leader scanned the room, his gaze suddenly locking onto me. Without a word, he stepped forward and brutally shoved me. “Damn it! It’s you!” Fists and insults rained down on me. Caught off guard, I curled up defensively, shielding myself with my arms. In the chaos, I heard Chloe’s feigned scream. “Oh my God! Elara! Who did you upset? Why are they assaulting you here, at the hospital?!” But in that instant, I clearly saw it. In between his punches, the leader of the men glanced at Chloe, swift as lightning. That look was undeniably one of seeking permission!

It hit me then. This wasn’t an accident at all; it was a clumsy performance. Rage instantly consumed the pain. I struggled to my feet. Desperate, I wanted to lunge at the woman now cowering in the corner, a smirk of triumph and mockery on her face. Just then, Brandon reappeared at the doorway. He saw me with my arm raised, seemingly about to strike Chloe. And Chloe, looking pitiful and trembling. “Are you insane?! What are you doing?!” He shoved me aside without explanation, completely ignoring any attempt I made to speak, pointing a finger at my face and yelling. “You’ve disappointed me so much! How could you lay hands on Chloe in a hospital?!” I stumbled, hitting the wall, and a sharp pain flared through my injuries. Brandon saw the bruises on my arms and the torn skin. Yet there was no sympathy in his eyes, only deeper annoyance and impatience. “You’re an adult. Go find a doctor for a few scratches! Don’t make a scene here!” He finished, then turned to tenderly support Chloe, his voice instantly softening. “Chloe, are you okay? Are you scared? Let’s go.” I didn’t cry, nor did I try to argue further. I just quietly took out my phone and dialed the number of a trusted friend. “I need you to look into a few people, and find me irrefutable evidence of Brandon and Chloe’s affair.” A fierce, tearing pain ripped through my abdomen. When I woke up again, I saw the hospital ceiling. The doctor stood by my bed, speaking with regret. “Ms. Elara, you’ve miscarried. It’s unlikely you’ll be able to have children of your own in the future.” The news reached Brandon, and he finally came. He burst into the room, his eyes red. “Elara, I’m so sorry. I didn’t take good care of you.” “I’m heartbroken about the baby too. From now on, we’ll live a good life together.” “I promise I’ll never upset you again. Please don’t be so stubborn and angry anymore, okay?” He acted utterly devastated, as if he wasn’t the one who had protected another woman and walked out of that hospital room. This belated and false concern only made me nauseous. Just then, Brandon’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen, a flicker of panic in his eyes. Though he tried to hide it, I vaguely heard Chloe’s tearful voice. He hung up, then turned, his face now etched with anxiety. “A critical project at the company has run into big trouble. I have to go deal with it immediately.” “You get some rest. I’ll come see you later.” Another lie. Watching his hurried retreating figure, my heart sank completely into an icy abyss. Almost simultaneously, my friend’s investigation results came in. A string of explicit photos and detailed hotel records lay before me. My last shred of hope was utterly crushed. My hands trembling, I opened the home surveillance app on my phone and scrolled back through the footage from when I wasn’t home. When I saw those two familiar figures in various parts of *my* house. Even brazenly entangled on the marital bed Brandon and I had shared for years. A tidal wave of disgust and despair instantly overwhelmed me. The day I was discharged, Brandon, finally “finished” with his work, appeared before me again. He wore that mask of tender thoughtfulness. Naturally taking my bag, he rambled on. “Honey, I’ve taken excellent care of Leo these past few days. His homework is up to date, and I’ve picked him up and dropped him off for his extracurriculars on time.” “He’s been very good, just kept saying he missed his mom and urged me to come pick you up quickly.” Watching Brandon perform as the model husband and diligent father. I felt an unprecedented exhaustion and absurdity. I didn’t look at him, nor did I respond to his chatter. I just quietly took out a prepared document from my bag and calmly handed it to him. “Brandon, let’s get a divorce.” He froze, the smile on his face instantly rigid. I met his shocked gaze, continuing clearly and firmly, “Take a look at the agreement. You’ll leave with nothing, and Leo will be with you.” “I’ll transfer alimony to you regularly.”

Brandon’s tender expression was replaced by incredulous shock. He sounded as if he hadn’t heard me clearly, raising his voice sharply. “Divorce? Elara, what kind of joke is this?! Why?!” He snatched the agreement, slammed it onto the floor without looking at it. “Why? Because I work myself to death at the company all day?” “Because after work, I still have to painstakingly pick up Leo and take him to his classes, not getting a moment’s rest?” “Yes, I’m busy. Yes, sometimes I neglect you, but who is all this for? Isn’t it for *this family*?!” He grew more agitated, as if he were the one who had sacrificed everything and was now misunderstood. “I earn the money to feed and clothe you, allowing you to be a comfortable stay-at-home wife, free from worries about life!” “I believe I’ve been fair to you, fair to this family!” “And what have *you* done all day at home?” “Now, out of nowhere, you want a divorce? And you want me to leave with nothing? And take Leo too?” “Elara, do you have a heart at all?!” Brandon gasped for breath, staring at me, his eyes filled with betrayed anger and confusion. “Tell me, what exactly did I do wrong?” Watching his self-righteous face, blaming me for everything. The last shred of warmth in my heart vanished completely, leaving only a sense of absurdity. I almost wanted to applaud his superb acting. Picking up and dropping off Leo? That was just a perfect excuse for him and Chloe to have secret meetings away from my watchful eye. Every pickup and drop-off time was a sweet rendezvous and shared playtime in the car for them. How could I have ever thought that was thoughtfulness? I slowly raised my head, meeting his angry gaze. “Brandon, have you gotten so deep into your role that you’ve forgotten who you are?” He paused. I continued, enunciating each word, clearly reminding him. “The ‘Story Group’ , is surnamed Su, not Gu.” (Note: The Chinese name here is a pun that would be lost in translation, so I’m focusing on the meaning: ‘My company, not yours.’) “It was left to me by my father and built and expanded by my own hands.” “You, Brandon, are merely a professional manager, overseeing a portion of the daily operations on my behalf.” “When did core decisions and financial power ever fall to you?” “What do you mean, ‘money you earned’? Every single penny of it is *my* money.” “The one paying your salary is me.” Brandon’s face instantly turned ashen. Just then, the phrase he’d sent to Chloe on SnapChat flashed through my mind. *’Just a little longer, and we won’t have to hide anymore.’* So that’s it. The “won’t have to hide anymore” didn’t just refer to their illicit relationship coming into the open. It probably also meant that he believed he had secretly planned long enough. Perhaps in collusion with Chloe, perhaps even with certain people within the company. He was on the verge of destabilizing the company’s foundations, even trying to change the group’s name, to make it “his.” The panic in Brandon’s eyes was quickly replaced by fury. “Elara! I never imagined… I never imagined you thought of me that way!” “Yes, the company was initially your family’s! But these past few years, who has been tirelessly fighting for it day and night?” “Who poured all his heart and soul into it? It was me! Brandon!” He practically roared, veins bulging on his forehead. “I always thought we were husband and wife, the closest people, that there should be no distinction between us!” “Mine was yours, and yours was mine.” “I never thought of separating things so clearly!” “But now I understand that in your heart, I’ve always just been a high-level employee?” “An outsider you can kick out anytime? What do you consider all my years of effort?!” He grew more agitated, suddenly kicking over a nearby chair. “Fine, fine then! Elara, you’re truly something!” Brandon glared at me ferociously, his eyes filled with humiliation and explosive rage. Finally, he spun around, yanked the door open, and stormed out without looking back. Watching the direction he disappeared, my heart held no ripples. Only a sense of urgency. His reaction was so intense, proving I’d hit a nerve. It also meant he might act irrationally out of anger. I had to go to the company immediately! I checked out of the hospital as fast as possible and drove directly to the Group’s main building. However, as I walked toward the executive-only access point, as usual. And habitually swiped my access card. “Beep, verification failed.”

The cold electronic voice was particularly jarring. I tried again, with the same result. Just then, a uniformed security guard quickly approached, blocking my way. “Ma’am, I apologize, but your access is not permitted in this area.” The receptionist, a young woman who had known me for years, rushed over, her face a mix of embarrassment and nervousness. “Ms. Elara, you… why are you here?” “Mr. Brandon issued a special order a week ago, forbidding any unauthorized personnel from entering the core office area.” “Especially you, ma’am. We’re just following orders, please don’t make it difficult for us.” I froze. *Especially* me? I’d only been away from the company for a few days, and it was already almost “Brandon’s”? He moved incredibly fast, it seemed this plan wasn’t something he’d conceived overnight. This disabled access card was the very one Brandon had insisted on getting for me. He had hugged me, saying, “Honey, let’s get you a special ‘partner’ access card.” “That way, every time I swipe my card, I’ll feel like I’m working hard for *our* shared home, and it’ll motivate me even more.” At the time, I thought it was sweet romance. Now, looking back, he had been isolating me from the company’s daily operations from the very beginning. Giving me an empty title, binding me with so-called affection. Tricking me into being a complacent stay-at-home wife. And now, he had effortlessly severed my apparent ties to the company. Useless. Huh. I offered a small smile to the anxious receptionist, indicating she shouldn’t be nervous. “It’s okay, it’s not your fault.” I pulled out a black metal card. This card was the highest-level security key, configured specifically for me by the tech department when the company was founded. It possessed absolute access, overriding all tiered systems. It could open any door in the Group building, access any level of data. It represented the ultimate ownership and control of the Group. I rarely used it, so much so that many people had forgotten its existence. Including Brandon, who seemed to have gotten ahead of himself. Under the astonished gazes of the security guard and the receptionist, I gently placed the black metal card against the sensor. “Beep—” A crisp, prolonged tone sounded, and a green light illuminated. A cold electronic female voice clearly announced. “Maximum authorization verified. Welcome, Ms. Elara.” The security gate in front of me slowly slid open. I walked through the familiar corridor toward my office. However, arriving at the door, I paused. The nameplate had been changed. It was replaced by a sign adorned with lace trim. It read: “Chloe’s Exclusive Lounge.” My heart plummeted. I pushed the door open. Inside, it was even more unrecognizable. My carefully chosen office furniture, my art collection, and the photos of Brandon, Leo, and me on the walls. Every trace of my presence had been wiped clean. Instead, the room was filled with stuffed animals, a pink carpet, a vanity table, and a cloyingly sweet perfume scent. Brandon had been in such a hurry. He hadn’t even bothered to maintain the slightest pretense of decency. I took a deep breath, suppressing the surge of anger, and turned directly toward the common office area. I knew Chloe would usually be there at this time. Sure enough, she was sitting at what used to be the Administrative Manager’s workstation. Imperiously instructing another colleague to handle her documents. She looked up and saw me, a flicker of surprise flashing across her face. “Oh, Elara? What brings you to the office?” “The air here isn’t great, and it’s so noisy and messy. You’re just recovering; you can’t handle this kind of stress.” “Go home and rest, Brandon and I have everything handled here~” I watched her perform coldly, cutting her off before she could finish. “What do you mean, ‘Brandon and I’? Since when did a junior assistant like you represent the company?” “And who are you to speak to me in that tone?” Chloe clearly hadn’t expected me to be so direct. The fake smile on her face stiffened, then morphed into undisguised scorn and contempt. “Elara, I’m only calling you by your first name out of courtesy, don’t push your luck.” “Everyone in the company knows Brandon got sick of you ages ago, right?” “A useless woman who only stays home and manages her kid, do you really think you’re still important?” She stepped closer, her tone vicious and triumphant. “I’m telling you, Brandon doesn’t love you anymore. His heart and eyes are only for me now!” “Who are you trying to impress with this attitude? Want me to call him right now?” “He’ll only hate you more for barging into the office and making a scene!”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298924”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic

I took Mr. Vance on a trip. After checking into the hotel, we went to the hotel pool for a swim. But a man, dressed to the nines, looked at us like we were trash, literally wrinkling his nose in disgust: “This is a high-end hotel. How can paupers like these get in? Did you sneak in to freeload off the pool?” “Sharing a pool with you, I’m genuinely worried about catching some infectious disease!” Mr. Vance and I instantly lost our good mood. I said coldly: “The hotel pool is public. Any guest staying here can use it. If you can’t handle it, build your own at home.” The man frowned in anger, yelling: “How dare you talk to me like that? Do you even know my wife owns this hotel? The most luxurious suite here is permanently reserved for me.” “I order you two to get out, now! Reeking of cheapness, you’ve polluted the water. It’s disgusting!” Mr. Vance and I exchanged a look, both seeing a cold resolve in the other’s eyes. This hotel was under Vivian’s name. When did she become someone else’s wife?!

Mr. Vance and I had wanted to keep a low profile. We didn’t show our hand when we checked in, but we never expected to run into such a scene. Our happy mood just evaporated. Mr. Vance, a veteran entrepreneur, didn’t even bat an eye at this clown. He shot back casually: “Who do you think you are to order us around? You’re the one who needs to get out.” “The real stench here is your lack of class, which is truly disgusting.” Ignoring the man fuming with rage, Mr. Vance turned to me and said: “Julian, let’s keep swimming. Don’t mind him. When we get back, I’ll go with you to ask Vivian what exactly is going on.” The man’s face turned beet red from being ignored, and suddenly a malicious grin spread across his face: “Fine! Since you love swimming so much, you can stay in the water all day!” He called over a burly man, who approached with a fawning look and said: “Leo, you called? Do you want me to teach you how to swim?” Leo pointed at Mr. Vance and me, smirking: “Mike, go give these arrogant nobodies a good lesson.” Mike immediately understood, nodding eagerly: “Don’t worry, Leo, I’m a swim instructor! I know exactly how to make someone suffer in the water!” He jumped into the water. Before Mr. Vance and I noticed, he grabbed Mr. Vance’s head and pushed him down hard. Mr. Vance was older; how could he match Mike’s strength? He immediately choked on water, struggling desperately. Alarmed, I quickly went to push Mike away. But Mike was agile. He pinned me underwater too, force-feeding me several gulps of water. Finally, I took the opportunity to kick him hard where it counts, making him release his grip. I quickly pulled Mr. Vance out. He was gasping for air, his eyes rolled back, coughing as if to throw up a lung before he finally recovered. He was a man who had always been fiercely strong-willed, with a reputation for ruthless tactics. He’d grown a modest motel into a nationwide hotel chain, treated with respect wherever he went. When had he ever suffered such humiliation? His chest heaved with rage as he yelled at Leo: “Do you know this could kill someone? You have no regard for the law!” “I’m going to have my legal team sue you!” Leo smirked indifferently: “So what if someone dies? My wife owns hundreds of hotels nationwide; she makes enough in a day to buy out your pathetic lives.” “You should have done your homework before messing with me! Lawyers? Can you even afford one?!” But this hotel was one of many Mr. Vance had entrusted to my wife. Leo’s air of being the rightful owner left me incredibly confused. Did Vivian have a second husband? I patted Mr. Vance’s back to help him calm down, then asked in a low voice: “Is your wife named Vivian?” He gloated, arrogant as ever: “That’s right. At least you’re not completely clueless.” “If you get on your knees, apologize, and clean this pool, I *might* consider letting you off the hook.” “Otherwise, when she gets here, you’ll be in for a world of pain!” A chill ran down my spine. Had Vivian, the woman who swore eternal loyalty to me on our wedding day, really cheated? The next moment, my gaze fell on the tattoo on his collarbone: a maple leaf design. I’d seen the exact same tattoo on Vivian’s lower abdomen. She told me she’d gotten it to commemorate the day we met, which was when the maple leaves were turning red. How ridiculous that I actually felt so touched back then, but it turns out it was a matching tattoo with another man. If I hadn’t stumbled upon this today, I wouldn’t have known she’d been keeping a secret lover. The angrier I got, the calmer I became. I decided to strip away his facade: “But as far as I know, Vivian’s husband is named Julian. And he certainly doesn’t look like you. You’re just a kept man, yet you have the audacity to be so arrogant? You’re absolutely shameless!” “Call Vivian right now! I want to see how she’s going to make us regret this!”

The word ‘kept man’ clearly struck a nerve. He said spitefully: “Don’t even mention that loser Julian. In love, there’s no such thing as ‘first dibs.’ The one who isn’t truly loved is the outsider.” “My wife is coming over to see me today. I’ll call her now. You just wait for it!” He picked up his phone, his voice instantly shifting to a sickeningly sweet, affected tone: “Vivian, when will you be here? These two old geezers were bullying me at the hotel pool, calling me a kept man. Hurry up and come get justice for me.” “From now on, only let me use the pool. I’ve learned a few new ‘tricks’ in the water, just waiting for you to enjoy them.” After he hung up, vanity and smugness oozed from him: “She’ll be here in half an hour. You’re dead men. She has plenty of ways to deal with you!” I was trembling with rage. The thought of Vivian pretending deep affection while sleeping with another man made me sick to my stomach. Mr. Vance understood from my reaction, gritting his teeth in fury: “Vivian, that animal! Just like her mother!” “What I can give her, I can just as easily take back!” Mr. Vance hated infidelity with a passion. Years ago, my mother-in-law cheated on him with a younger man, stripping him of everything before their divorce. He single-handedly raised Vivian while juggling his career. After all his efforts raising her, he never expected his own daughter to have inherited her mother’s fickle nature and turn out just like her. Mr. Vance owned over a hundred hotels nationwide. Although he’d entrusted a portion of them to Vivian to manage in recent years, he remained the true power behind them. I, Julian, wasn’t marrying Vivian just for show; my family background was just as prominent as hers. But I was more interested in art, so outsiders often assumed I was living off Vivian’s wealth. They had no idea I was the sole heir of the Vance family. Vivian, I’m waiting to see how you’re going to explain this to us! Just then, I noticed Mr. Vance’s face had gone pale. Worried, I quickly helped him, wanting him to get out and change. But Leo sneered and subtly raised his chin, and Mike instantly knew what he meant. Mike hoisted himself out of the water and kicked Mr. Vance square in the chest as he was climbing the ladder. Mr. Vance splashed back into the water. I quickly went to pull him out again. Leo watched from the side, roaring with laughter: “Ha! Look at you two pathetic creatures, flailing around like drowning rats. You love the water so much? Then stay in it!” “Mike, don’t let them out until my wife gets here.” Mike replied, eager to please: “Don’t worry, Leo, mission accomplished.” “When Ms. Vivian gets here, just put in a good word for me.” No matter how many times Mr. Vance and I tried to climb out, Mike would kick us back down. Our strength gradually gave out. Mr. Vance clutched his chest, struggling to breathe, unable to speak. I urged him to lean on me, then yelled frantically at the shore: “Are you trying to kill him? My dad’s heart condition is flaring up, let us out, now!” “Otherwise, when Vivian gets here, you’ll regret it!” Mike’s face paled, and he glanced nervously at Leo, but Leo just chuckled dismissively: “You old men are all the same, always playing games! Faking a heart attack? You were just having a grand time swimming a minute ago, weren’t you?” “Mike, go shut off the pool’s heater. Let’s see how long he can keep up the act then!” My veins throbbed with fury at his audacity: “I’m telling you, if someone dies, when the police get here, none of you will escape!”

He casually sipped from a glass of red wine, his arrogance dripping from every word: “Stop the act. If you want to get out, just beg me.” “Weren’t you so tough a minute ago? What, scared now that my wife’s on her way?” Mr. Vance already had a heart condition. Today, he wasn’t just fuming with anger, but he’d also choked on water multiple times and was completely drained. He was in serious pain. I bit my lip. No matter what, I couldn’t let him be in danger. I’d just swallow my pride for now to ensure his safety. I was about to open my mouth and beg when Mr. Vance gripped my arm. His voice trembling, he said: “I’ve never bowed my head to anyone in my life, much less begged someone as utterly worthless as him.” “Julian, I can hold on. When Vivian gets here, I’ll never forgive her.” “Don’t worry. I’ve been hurt by a woman’s betrayal my entire life. I’ll stand by you.” Seeing we still wouldn’t beg, Leo’s eyes narrowed maliciously, and he turned to Mike: “Go get two buckets of ice from the kitchen and cool them down even more.” The ice was dumped into the water, and the temperature quickly plummeted. I was shivering uncontrollably. Mr. Vance’s lips were already turning blue, and his consciousness was fading. I slapped his face, but he barely reacted. Gritting my teeth, I quickly swam him towards the edge, but Mike repeatedly shoved us away with a stick. Frantic, I yelled hoarsely, my eyes burning: “My dad’s dying! Let him out, now! If he dies, your hotel won’t get away with it!” “When Vivian gets here, she’ll never forgive you!” Mike, as a swim instructor, saw Mr. Vance’s face and realized the situation was genuinely bad. He quickly turned to Leo: “Leo, the older guy looks like he’s really fading. Maybe we should let him out? If he dies in your pool, wouldn’t that just be… unsettling for you to use later?” “And Ms. Vivian probably doesn’t want you causing a death, either. If she gets mad, I’ll probably lose my job.” Leo thought for a moment, then scoffed: “So you’re worried about your job, huh? I didn’t *intend* to kill anyone, but some people are just too stubborn for their own good.” “I said if they begged me, I’d *consider* letting them out.” “It’s not like they’re actually dying yet. I want to see how long they can hold out.” Mike, emboldened by Leo’s presence, looked at me smugly: “Let me introduce you. Leo is Ms. Vivian’s favorite man. This entire hotel is at his service. Everything has to make way for him.” “You shouldn’t have been let in today. If you want to live, apologize to him now. Beg him nicely.” “If you don’t wise up, no one can help you!” I bit my lip hard, seeing Mr. Vance in such a critical state. I couldn’t care less about my pride or dignity anymore. I forced the words out: “I’m begging you, let my dad out first. He has a heart condition; he’ll really die!” Leo’s lips curled into a triumphant smirk, and he drawled sarcastically: “Didn’t you just call me a shameless kept man? I want you to say it again. Say that Julian, that loser, is the kept man, and *I* am Vivian’s husband.” Leo deeply resented being called a kept man. He was especially jealous of this Julian, whom he’d never even met, a supposed loser who lived off women. How could he possibly be better than him? He didn’t realize *I* was Julian, and in doing so, he inflicted the greatest humiliation on me. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms, suppressing the burning humiliation. Word by agonizing word, I repeated: “Julian, that *scumbag*, is the kept man. *You* are Vivian’s husband!” “Happy now? Now let my dad out!”

He smiled a satisfied, cunning smile: “Haha, I said I’d *consider* it. Well, I’ve considered, and I’ve decided I don’t want you getting out.” My rage boiled over; I wanted to tear him apart with my bare hands. I had no choice but to reveal Mr. Vance’s identity. “You’ve gone too far! He’s Vivian’s father! If anything happens to him, when Vivian gets here, she’ll never forgive you!” Leo burst out laughing, completely dismissive: “You pathetic losers, you’ll make up any lie, won’t you? I just heard you call him ‘Dad.’ How did he suddenly become Vivian’s dad? That’s quite a quick identity change.” “You’ve ruined my swim today, and I’m going to make sure you learn a lesson. Next time, remember to open your eyes before you step out!” Mr. Vance was trembling in my arms, his breathing growing shallower. His heart condition had fully flared up. If he didn’t get his fast-acting heart medication soon, he would truly die. My eyes burning, I screamed hoarsely: “Help! Somebody help us! Someone’s going to die!” But the entire pool area was empty; there was no one else around. Seeing this, Mike also panicked. He said worriedly: “Leo, what if…” But Leo cut him off, completely unconcerned about a human life, saying casually: “It’s fine. Old guys like him are tougher than young people; some even go winter swimming. I bet he’s faking it.” “My wife will be here any minute. We can let them out when she arrives. A few more minutes won’t hurt; if something was going to happen, it would have already.” But a few more minutes could mean Mr. Vance’s life if we missed the critical window for intervention. Despair instantly flooded my heart. Just then, the hotel manager, Mr. Jenkins, rushed over. I yelled at him, my voice hoarse: “Help! Someone help! My dad’s having a heart attack! Get him out, call an ambulance!” Mr. Jenkins had met Mr. Vance years ago but didn’t recognize him now. He saw Mr. Vance’s condition and a flicker of fear crossed his face. He’d heard there was trouble and had come over hoping to curry favor with Leo. But with someone on the verge of death, he quickly weighed upsetting Leo against losing his job for a death on his watch. Then, he turned to Leo, a forced smile on his face, and said: “Mr. Leo, maybe we should let them out first. If something serious happens, you won’t be able to use this pool ever again.” Leo glanced at him, thought for a moment, then said haughtily: “Fine, for your sake, let them out.” Mr. Jenkins quickly had Mike pull Mr. Vance and me out of the water. Mr. Vance lay motionless on the ground. Ignoring my ragged breathing, I bolted towards the changing rooms, retrieving my bag as fast as I could. Fumbling frantically, I poured out the fast-acting heart medication, ready to force it into his mouth. But Leo suddenly kicked, sending the bottle and its contents flying into the pool. He looked at my furious face and laughed sardonically: “Alright, stop the act. You’re out. Now get lost. Next time you see me, cross the street. I’m feeling generous today, so I’ll let you two off.” My fury exploded. I lunged forward, landing a brutal punch on Leo’s face, my eyes blazing as I snarled: “If anything happens to my dad, I swear, I will make both you and Vivian pay!” He hadn’t expected me to hit him. He shrieked: “You lunatic! I shouldn’t have gone soft! I should have just let you both drown!”

I lunged to hit him again, but Mike and Mr. Jenkins grabbed my shoulders. Leo landed at least a dozen slaps across my face. The stinging pain on my face snapped me back to reality. Every second we wasted meant Mr. Vance was closer to death. I fought desperately, ripped free from their grasp, and pulled out my phone, dialing Vivian. “Vivian, Dad’s having a heart attack! We’re at the Bayview Hotel pool. Get the nearest medical team here, now!” “Any later, and Dad will be gone!” But Vivian’s voice was sharp with impatience: “Your dad has a heart condition, doesn’t he? Doesn’t he know how to take care of himself?” “I’m in a meeting. Call an ambulance yourself.” And with that, she coldly hung up. I was shaking with rage. Did she even have *any* idea whose father was having a heart attack? The next moment, Leo gasped with delight, looking towards the entrance: “Vivian, you’re finally here!” He hugged her tightly, his voice laced with affection: “Vivian, what took you so long? Those two men just bullied me so badly.” He pointed to his reddened, bruised face, whimpering: “Look, my face is all swollen from that jerk.” “You have to get even for me this time, and then spend a few extra days comforting me.” Vivian looked at his face with a pang of sympathy, her voice tightening with anger: “Who had the audacity to lay a hand on you? I’ll make sure they pay!” “Don’t worry, I cleared my schedule for a whole week just for you. I’ll make sure to spoil you.” This was the woman who had just hung up on me, the same woman who, just last night, had been clinging to me, complaining about a week-long business trip, swearing she’d miss me terribly. It was all a lie, a performance. Love vows? Utter bullshit! Leo wrapped an arm around Vivian’s waist, proudly and triumphantly leading her over to me, pointing: “This is the man who hit me. The one lying on the ground is his dad.” “Tell someone to teach them a lesson!” I looked up, my gaze locking onto Vivian. I spoke coldly: “Vivian, how exactly are you going to ‘teach *me* a lesson’?” She instantly froze, her surprise making her stammer: “Julian, you… what are you doing here?” I gritted my teeth, my voice seething with anger: “If I weren’t here, when would I ever have found out you were hiding another man?!” “Vivian, it must have been *so hard* for you, pretending to be a loving wife to me for all these years!” Panic was practically dripping from her face as she babbled incoherently: “Julian, please listen, it’s not what you think.” “Anyway, never mind that, how’s your dad?” I cut her off sharply, pointing to Mr. Vance, who was still unconscious on the floor: “Vivian, look! Whose father is this?!” Vivian’s soul nearly left her body. She gasped, her voice a terrified whisper: “Dad! Dad, what happened to you?!” Everyone froze in shock. Leo stared, disbelieving: “Vivian, is he really your dad? Then who is *this* man? Is he… Julian?!” Mr. Jenkins was terrified, and Mike, recalling everything he’d done to us, felt his legs turn to jelly. Vivian ignored him, frantically calling for the nearest medical team to save her father. Only after they’d rushed Mr. Vance to the hospital and I heard he was out of immediate danger did I finally breathe a sigh of relief. The doctor frowned, speaking gravely: “Good thing he was brought in when he was. One more minute, and we wouldn’t have been able to save him.” Vivian had learned the full truth and was absolutely furious with Leo. He tried to talk to her several times, but she completely ignored him.

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298923”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic #重生Reborn #惊悚Thriller #魔幻Magic