Author: Momo Chan

On the third anniversary of Hazel Miller and Julian Thorne’s marriage, Hazel’s sister, Seraphina Hayes, returned from abroad. Hazel wanted to invite her sister over for dinner. But before she could, she overheard Seraphina’s emotional voice from her and her husband’s bedroom. “Seraphina, it’s been three years since I married her, and I’ve listened to you. I haven’t touched her once. When will your test finally end?” “That depends on your performance, darling!” Hazel’s lips trembled, as if she couldn’t believe the two sentences she’d just heard. Three years ago, an arranged marriage between the Miller and Thorne families was set. Seraphina Hayes was originally supposed to marry Julian Thorne. But her sister had told her, “I don’t like Julian. I don’t want to be a pawn in a business marriage. So, you take my place at the altar!” Hazel had grown up in an orphanage and was later taken in by the Millers. Their financial support had allowed her to study all the way through college. To repay their kindness, she agreed to the substitute marriage.

Then, Julian Thorne’s voice continued. “You just wanted to test if I could resist other women’s temptations, right? If you don’t believe me, let her get tested. I swear I haven’t touched her!” “Besides, our marriage certificate is fake. If you’re willing, I can marry you right now!” These words, undoubtedly, shattered all her love for Julian over the past three years. Every moment of warmth and affection turned into a cruel joke! So, everything was fake. The marriage certificate was fake, the love was fake, and even the substitute marriage was fake! She was just an experiment, a tool for her sister to test Julian’s loyalty. She was just a pathetic pawn in her sister’s and her husband’s twisted love game. For three years, she had indeed never shared a room with Julian. Julian had told her he had a medical condition that prevented conjugal relations. From the moment she got married, she decided to love Julian and uphold her wedding vows, staying by his side no matter what. So, she was willing to keep his secret. For three years, her mother-in-law constantly pushed for children, and Hazel, to protect her husband’s dignity, had always claimed it was her own problem. But she never imagined that Julian wasn’t unable to be intimate; he just refused to be intimate *with her*! Julian and Seraphina emerged from the room. The moment Julian saw Hazel, an uncomfortable flicker crossed his face. But he immediately demanded, “Why are you back? Didn’t you say you were going out to buy groceries?” Her nails dug into her palms. Hazel took a deep breath and asked, “Why is Seraphina in my room?” Seraphina smiled sweetly, “What do you mean, sis? Your husband was just showing me your wedding room.” Julian, however, grabbed Hazel’s arm, pulling her aside and scolding, “Seraphina’s finally back. Is this your attitude as a sister? Go buy groceries, now!” Seraphina also came over, taking Hazel’s hand, putting on a show of sisterly affection. “You know what I like to eat, don’t you? Your cooking is the best. I love your dishes!” In the past, if Seraphina said she wanted something, Hazel would be thrilled to learn how to make it for her on the spot. But now, she just felt a suffocating tightness in her chest. “Julian, today is our wedding anniversary,” she insisted, unwilling to let it go. Julian’s brow furrowed deeper. “Wedding anniversaries happen every year. Seraphina’s been abroad for three years and this is her first time back. Can’t you tell what’s more important?” “Besides, she’s your sister. If it weren’t for her, would you even be a Miller? Would you have married me?” Every word Julian spoke felt like a slap across Hazel’s face. Seraphina, however, feigned understanding. “Since it’s your anniversary, if you don’t want to cook, that’s fine. I’ll treat you both to dinner out, how about it?” “Don’t spoil her. This is her duty. And didn’t you say you love her cooking?” Julian then ordered Hazel, “You *must* cook today. Go buy groceries now. And remember to get bamboo shoots; Seraphina loves them most!” That one sentence completely shattered any lingering hope she had. Right, Seraphina loved bamboo shoots the most. She knew, and her husband knew too. How ridiculous that for three years, Julian had never bothered to learn what *she* liked or disliked to eat. She’d thought he was just careless, but it turned out: a willing heart needs no teaching, an unwilling heart will never learn, no matter how much you try. Enough. If everything was fake, what was there left for her to hold onto? After leaving the house, she immediately called her professor. “Professor, I’ve decided to take part in the study abroad program.” The professor on the phone sounded both surprised and delighted. “Why the sudden change of heart? Didn’t you say you wanted to focus on family after marriage?” “There’s no marriage, and no family,” Hazel said firmly. In ten days, she would exit this love game.

During dinner, Julian constantly served Seraphina food. “Seraphina, eat more. Isn’t Hazel’s cooking wonderful?” “Julian, you’re so lucky! You married such a great wife like Hazel. I heard everyone saying you two are a match made in heaven!” She heavily emphasized “match made in heaven,” with a strong hint of jealousy. To appease her, Julian secretly held her hand under the table, gently stroking it. This scene, of course, didn’t escape Hazel’s eyes. She watched their interaction beneath the table with a blank face, but her heart ached so much she could barely breathe. Just two days ago, her husband had shown her affection. Now, he was giving that same affection to another woman. Oh, no, that wasn’t right. Julian never had any real affection for her; it was all a pretense. But it didn’t matter. In ten days, everything would be over. Just then, Seraphina suddenly let out a startled cry, “Ah!!” Then, before Hazel’s eyes, Seraphina broke out in a full-body rash, looking incredibly horrifying! Seraphina’s breathing became rapid, and she cried out in pain, “Hazel, what did you put in the soup? I’m having an allergic reaction!” No sooner had she spoken than Julian shot up, angrily stirring the soup with a ladle. In a moment, he fished out a dried scallop. “Hazel Miller, don’t you know Seraphina is allergic to seafood? Why would you put dried scallops in the soup?” Hazel’s eyes widened, astonished by Julian’s reaction. Julian also realized his reaction was a bit too much. His eyes darted nervously, and he quickly tried to save face. “I… I was just too angry for a moment. Don’t misunderstand. I just didn’t want Seraphina to have an incident in our home. Otherwise, you’d feel guilty, wouldn’t you?” Hazel didn’t expose his lie. Instead, she said, “I didn’t buy any seafood. I don’t know what happened.” “Hazel, what do you mean? Are you implying that I’m trying to frame you?” Seraphina wailed, “Julian, what’s wrong with Hazel? She’s suddenly like a different person. She never used to be like this.” “I didn’t—” “Smack!” Julian slapped her hard across the face, roaring with a fierce expression, “Hazel Miller, you are truly malicious! Seraphina is your sister! Without her, where would you be today? How could you treat her like this?!” Hazel was knocked into the corner of the table by the slap, and blood immediately streamed from her head. But Julian didn’t even glance at her. He scooped Seraphina into his arms and rushed out of the villa. Hazel covered her face, silently shedding tears. Even though she had already known about their relationship, her heart still ached to the point of suffocating. It didn’t matter. She was leaving this place soon anyway. That night, Hazel was packing her things in her room when Julian suddenly burst in, panting. He violently grabbed her hand. “You need to come to the hospital with me right now, to take care of Seraphina!” “But—” Julian saw her packing, narrowed his eyes, and asked, “What are you packing for? Where are you planning to go?” “…Nowhere.” Hazel was dragged to the hospital by him. Seraphina had already woken up but looked a bit weak. “Since you caused Seraphina’s allergic reaction and hospitalization, you’ll stay here and take care of her for me!” Julian ordered forcefully. Then he turned to Seraphina, his voice incredibly gentle. “Seraphina, I have some urgent company matters to attend to. Will you be a good girl and wait for me here?” Her husband’s tender side stabbed Hazel’s heart. Only after he left did she let out a self-mocking bitter laugh. “Seraphina Hayes, you’re not allergic to seafood at all, are you?” Seraphina instantly dropped her weak demeanor, smiling provocatively. “That’s right!” “And what I overheard about you two in the room, that was intentional too, wasn’t it?” “That’s right!” “Why?” Seraphina played with her hair, a malicious smile on her face. “I thought it would be fun. I wanted to see how far Julian would go for me.” A surge of anger rushed through Hazel. She clenched her fists tightly, trembling with rage. To treat her as a piece of their twisted love game, and for the other person to be so brazen about it! But then she remembered the Miller family’s kindness to the orphanage. Hazel swallowed her anger, thinking, *If they want to play, I’ll play this love game with them for the last ten days. Consider it repayment for the Millers’ generosity.* “Want to try?” Seraphina raised an eyebrow. The words had barely left her lips when she suddenly fell from the bed, crashing hard onto the floor. She cried out, “Hazel, I’m sorry! I wasn’t trying to seduce Julian. Please don’t hit me—” Hazel’s eyes widened. Before she could even process what was happening, a sharp, stinging slap landed hard on her face. Julian, who had somehow burst in unnoticed, stood there with a furious expression. “Hazel Miller, have I spoiled you too much, perhaps? First, you intentionally caused Seraphina’s allergy, and now you’re trying to hit her? How can you be so vicious?!” “I—” Before she could explain, Julian kicked her in the back of the knee, snarling, “Get down on your knees and reflect! You won’t stand up until Seraphina is discharged from the hospital!”

Her husband was like a completely different person. Hazel knelt on the floor, large tears silently falling. Faced with such baseless accusations, she had initially wanted to explain, but then she remembered their twisted relationship, and all the words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat. *Forget it.* Whatever she did, she knew it was all part of their game. Why bother with such pathetic efforts? Seraphina was discharged three days later, and Hazel had knelt for three days. Upon returning home, Julian perhaps remembered his role as a loving husband and tried to comfort Hazel. “Hazel, I punished you for your own good. Otherwise, how would Seraphina’s parents see you? Do you want them to withdraw their funding from the orphanage?” “Don’t worry, I’ll always be your husband. As long as you’re obedient, I’ll love you as always.” “Seraphina, after all, is your nominal sister. Can you just be a little more accommodating to her? I believe you can do it. My wife is a generous and kind person!” If she had heard these words before, Hazel would have been moved to tears. But now, hearing them, she only felt like he was treating her like an idiot. For the past two days since they returned, Julian had resumed his act of an affectionate, loving husband, though his performance was even more clumsy than before. Clumsy as it was, it only made Seraphina’s gaze toward Hazel even more venomous. Hazel continued to quietly pack her belongings in her room, admonishing herself not to let those two affect her emotions anymore. Yet, the thought of her three years of devotion being utterly wasted made tears stream down her face, her heart filled with bitterness. Perhaps only the people at the orphanage truly cared for her in this world? Thinking this, Hazel decided to visit the orphanage before she left. The thought of Director Evans and the children at the orphanage brought a flicker of joy to Hazel’s bitter heart. Director Evans had always been wonderful to her since she was little, like a mother. And the children were like her younger siblings. Though an orphan, she had never felt lonely at the orphanage; instead, she had been incredibly happy. The next morning, she quickly tidied her things, composed herself, and prepared to leave. As she went downstairs, she saw Seraphina and Julian playfully bickering. “Julian, look, does this dress look good on me?” “Beautiful, beautiful!” “What about this jacket?” “Beautiful! Everything looks beautiful on you!” Hazel noticed the sofa piled high with shopping bags, all filled with expensive luxury brands. Julian had bought Seraphina many clothes, shoes, and handbags. She couldn’t help but glance at her own outfit, all inexpensive items that cost just a few hundred. Julian had once said he disliked women covered head-to-toe in luxury brands, and that he loved her simple, unpretentious style. Now she saw it was just because he didn’t want to spend money on her. Where there was love, there was money. Julian truly didn’t love her at all. Just then, the two of them noticed Hazel about to walk out the door. Julian frowned. “Where are you going with all those bags?” Hazel answered truthfully, “I… I want to visit Director Evans and the children at the orphanage.” Seraphina feigned innocence, asking, “Oh, why do you need to take so many bags to the orphanage? Hazel, you’re not taking the things Julian bought to give to the orphanage, are you?” “No, it’s not! These are all things I bought myself, just some children’s clothes and shoes!” To prove she wasn’t taking anything from the house, Hazel immediately opened her bag. Inside were indeed children’s clothes and shoes. However, Seraphina then whined, “Julian, what does Hazel mean? What do you mean ‘she bought them herself’? Didn’t you give her the money? And now she’s using your money to buy so many things for the orphanage? How can she be so wasteful?” Julian’s eyes narrowed, and he demanded angrily, “Hazel Miller, have you been using my money to help the orphanage all this time? What do you take me for? An ATM?!” “No, no!” Hazel hurried to Julian, carrying the large and small bags, looking rather disheveled. She said sincerely, “Julian, I didn’t spend much. These clothes and shoes are all very cheap. The children at the orphanage aren’t picky; they can wear these inexpensive clothes!” She then weakly pointed to one of the luxury brand shopping bags on the sofa. “Just one bag of clothes from here would be enough to buy ten bags of children’s clothes and shoes…” Who knew Seraphina would interject again: “Children’s clothes and shoes may be cheap, but no matter how cheap, it’s still Julian’s money, isn’t it? Don’t you think it’s too much to just take his money and buy clothes for the orphanage?” Before, Hazel might have righteously declared she was Julian’s wife, so what if she used his money? But ever since she learned their marriage certificate was fake, she could no longer utter such words. She hung her head, looking embarrassed and humble, asking, “Julian, can I give these clothes and shoes to the orphanage?” Julian’s heart skipped a beat. When had he ever seen Hazel so humble? Perhaps out of reluctance, he was about to agree, but Seraphina interjected again: “Julian, rules are rules. Do you want to raise Hazel to be a wasteful Mrs. Thorne? Whose money just grows on trees?” She paused, then put on a show of magnanimity. “How about this? I’m not stopping you from giving these clothes and shoes to the orphanage. After all, I care about those children even more than you do. But you can’t just spend money without earning it, can you? You need to put in some labor!” “Labor? What kind of labor do I need to put in?” Seraphina pointed to the newly bought clothes. “You can wash all these clothes. But the fabric of these clothes is very delicate, so you’ll have to hand wash them!”

Tears welled up in Hazel’s eyes. She had only ever hand-washed Julian’s clothes. Seraphina’s demand now was clearly meant to humiliate her. “Julian, do you really want me to hand-wash Seraphina’s clothes?” Julian’s tone was cold. “What’s so bad about washing clothes? It’s just as Seraphina said, you just want something for nothing!” The phrase “something for nothing” felt like a harsh slap across Hazel’s face. For three years, to better care for Julian, she had quit her job and devoted herself to being a full-time wife. Though she didn’t work outside the home, she kept their house meticulously organized, ensuring Julian always had a meal ready when he returned from work and neatly ironed clothes to wear when he left. Yet, all this effort, in his eyes, was “getting something for nothing”? Hazel swallowed her heartache and tears, taking a deep breath. “Fine. I’ll earn this money with labor!” She resignedly took Seraphina’s clothes to hand-wash. The icy water, sharp and biting, covered her hands. Tears fell, one by one, into the water. Hazel was sobbing uncontrollably. Just then, she noticed a kingfisher brooch on Seraphina’s clothes, identical to the brooch Julian had given her for her birthday two years ago. Except Seraphina’s brooch was heavier, and the gems on it sparkled with a more brilliant fire. In an instant, a chill spread through her entire body, and her heart felt like it was being slowly flayed. So, everything Julian had given her was fake. His sincerity was fake, their marriage certificate was fake, and even a simple brooch was fake! After washing the clothes, she returned to her room and unhesitatingly threw her own brooch into the trash can. Along with the fake marriage certificate, she tore it into pieces and tossed it into the bin. Hazel handed the washed and dried clothes to Seraphina, saying to both of them coldly, “Can I take the children’s clothes now?” “Ah!!” Seraphina suddenly shrieked, pointing to a barely visible tiny black spot on the clothes. “My new clothes are ruined! How am I supposed to wear them now?!” Hazel quickly interjected, “But the stain isn’t obvious. It doesn’t affect them at all!” “Julian, this is a limited-edition dress you bought for me, and now it’s stained! How can I wear it?!” Julian indulged Seraphina completely, turning to Hazel. “Go wash these clothes again!” “But…” Hazel’s eyes welled with tears, and she gasped, choking out, “I’ve only ever washed *your* clothes before. When have I ever washed anyone else’s?” Perhaps that sentence jogged Julian’s memory, and a flicker of reluctance appeared. He tried to reason with Seraphina. “Seraphina, let’s just forget it. I’ll buy you another one.” Seraphina was furious, but her eyes quickly darted around, and she came up with a new idea. She smiled, looking perfectly understanding. “Hazel, I heard you’re going to a class reunion tomorrow, right? I don’t think you have any nice clothes. Why don’t I give you this dress, so you can make a splash at your reunion tomorrow?” Hazel was too upset to go to the orphanage and instead chose to rest at home for a day. This university reunion was set at a bar. Hazel went to the reunion wearing the expensive dress Seraphina had given her. She had never worn such a fine dress before. It was laughable, really. She’d never realized that Julian, who constantly claimed to love her, hadn’t even bought her a single decent piece of clothing or jewelry. And she, foolishly and happily, had been immersed in that ‘love.’ How pathetic, how pitiful, how ridiculous! At the reunion, everyone was clinking glasses and boasting to each other. Hazel huddled in a corner, silent, trying to make herself invisible. She didn’t want to talk to anyone; mainly, there was nothing to say. Yet, someone still noticed her. “Hey, isn’t that Hazel Miller? I heard you married into a wealthy family and became a socialite?” This single comment immediately drew whispers and gasps from the crowd. She and Julian had kept their marriage quiet, so hardly anyone knew she was married. “No way? Hazel Miller, weren’t you from the orphanage? How could you marry into a wealthy family? She couldn’t possibly be a mistress to some rich guy, could she?” “Hahahahaha! Look how expensive that dress she’s wearing is! How could *she* afford it? She definitely must be a rich man’s mistress!” “Julian Thorne is rich and handsome. Why would he ever look at a woman from Hazel Miller’s background? If you ask me, he and Seraphina, the Miller family’s eldest daughter, are the perfect match! So, Hazel Miller, are you really a mistress?” These malicious words filled Hazel with shame and indignation. She suppressed her emotions and calmly stated, “I’m not a mistress. I am Julian Thorne’s lawfully wedded wife.” However, no one believed her. Just then, someone sharp-eyed saw Julian and Seraphina entering the bar and shouted, “Mr. Thorne, Mr. Thorne, please come over! Hazel Miller here says she’s your wife. Is that true or not?!” Hazel had never so desperately hoped Julian would confirm their marriage. She asked expectantly, “Julian, tell them. Am I your wife?”

Julian didn’t answer. Instead, he fell silent, then chuckled. “What kind of joke is this?” These words plunged Hazel into an icy abyss. She closed her eyes in despair. She knew it. Why would Julian ever come to her rescue? She was merely a tool for Seraphina to test Julian’s loyalty… Although she had long anticipated such a situation, her heart still ached uncontrollably. Her body trembled slightly, and her eyes stung. The surrounding classmates, fueled by his denial, began to insult Hazel even more savagely. “I knew it! How could someone from Hazel Miller’s background be Mr. Thorne’s wife? If you ask me, Mr. Thorne and Miss Miller look like a real couple!” “Exactly! Mr. Thorne and Miss Miller are so perfect for each other—a match made in heaven, truly. Hazel Miller, you have no shame!” Hearing these words, Seraphina demurely covered her mouth and giggled, then exchanged a glance with Julian. They both smiled at each other, appearing incredibly harmonious and well-matched. Hazel’s blood ran cold. Looking at the man and woman before her, tears welled in her eyes. The mockery from the crowd continued. “Hazel Miller, you’re disgusting! To stoop so low and try to latch onto a rich man for money!” “Why choose to be a mistress when there are so many other things you could do? Are all people from orphanages as shameless as you?” “No way? Hazel Miller, you were so good at school back then. Not only do you shamelessly claim Mr. Thorne as your husband, but you’re secretly a mistress? Tsk tsk tsk, having a classmate like you is truly an embarrassment!” These words were like knives, piercing Hazel’s heart. Tears finally streamed down her face. Hazel, strong and resilient, said each word distinctly: “I am not a mistress! I am Julian Thorne’s wife!” But Julian turned his head away, still choosing to ignore her. Hazel closed her eyes again in despair. This was the husband she had been married to for three years, allowing others to falsely accuse her without a single reaction. Just then, a slice of cake suddenly splattered onto her face. The perpetrator smiled maliciously and said, “Calling someone else’s husband your own and being a mistress—how shameless can you be?” As soon as she finished speaking, the other classmates found their outlet, continuously throwing cake and food from the tables onto her body and face. Wine and drinks were all splashed on her. Some even went as far as to tear off her clothes. “How dare a mistress like you wear such expensive clothes?” “Strip off all her clothes! A mistress like Hazel Miller deserves to be punished by righteous people like us!” “Mistresses don’t deserve to wear expensive clothes!!” A class reunion instantly devolved into a bullying session. Hazel’s clothes and dress were quickly ripped to shreds, barely covering her. Her head was even shoved into a cake. She weakly cried out for help to Julian, “Jul… Julian, save… me…” She didn’t know if Julian felt a second of pity, only that he stared blankly at her, still doing nothing, as if watching an irrelevant spectacle. At that moment, Hazel’s heart died completely. Three years of a loving marriage, all turned to dust. Finally, Hazel was taken away by an ambulance. Before getting into the ambulance, she glanced at Julian. Her eyes no longer held any love, only cold resolve. Julian remained stunned, his fingers slightly curled, tips turning pale. He couldn’t explain what was wrong with him, only that he suddenly felt a pang of pity for Hazel. “Julian, what’s wrong?” “Nothing… nothing…” Seraphina’s eyes darkened, then filled with venom. *Hazel Miller, just you wait!* After Hazel Miller returned from the hospital, she was utterly dejected, completely ignoring Julian and Seraphina, not a word or a glance for either of them.

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On my twenty-sixth birthday, I finally called my brother, Julian. “Julian, I’m getting a divorce.” My voice was as parched as a desert, choked with a weariness I could hear myself. Three seconds of silence stretched on the other end. Then Julian’s deep voice came through, “I told you years ago, Adrian’s like a cold marble statue; you could try forever and never warm him up.” I leaned back on the couch, rubbing my burning eyes, forcing a thin smile. “Yeah, I overestimated myself.” “Come to Switzerland.” Julian’s tone instantly lightened, like he was coaxing a child. “I’ve got plenty of charming men here, any one of them better than Adrian. If he can’t appreciate a lively, adorable sister like you, let him spend his life alone with his… whatever he’s into.” “Okay.” I mumbled, “Just let me sort things out here.” Hanging up, I took a deep breath and walked to the second floor. As I passed Adrian’s closed study, a low, muffled moan pierced my ears like a needle. The door wasn’t fully latched, leaving a narrow crack. A dim, yellowish light seeped from the gap. My hand trembled involuntarily, but I couldn’t resist peeking inside. Within the room, the scent of sandalwood incense wafted up, veiling everything like a thin mist. Adrian knelt before a small altar. His grey, specialized robe was half-open, and a string of carved wooden beads hung loosely around his wrist. But his body was trembling slightly. Beneath his lowered head was a lifelike wooden doll. The doll’s face was strikingly clear in the candlelight. Almond-shaped eyes, cherry-like lips, and a tear-mole beneath its left eye. It was unmistakably Seraphina—the “kindred spirit” who’d been inseparable from him since he was seven. I bit down hard on my lower lip until my mouth filled with the metallic taste of blood. This was the third time I’d stumbled upon this absurd scene. The first time, I just ran, stumbling down the stairs, tears streaming uncontrollably. The second time, I sat in the living room all night, staring blankly at the ceiling until dawn. But tonight, I felt only a dead calm in my heart, like charcoal embers extinguished by the wind. How ridiculous. I thought he was ascetic, cold as ice, but it turned out he just saved all his passion for someone else. I leaned against the wall, its coldness creeping up my fingertips. My mind, however, uncontrollably replayed the first time I saw Adrian. I was nineteen that year. My brother took me to an exclusive club in the city, saying he wanted to introduce me to his closest friend. That day, Adrian wore a dark grey jacket with subtle cloud patterns embroidered on the cuffs, and a string of carved wooden beads on his wrist. Among the room full of flashy, wealthy socialites, he sat alone in a corner, with only a pot of plain tea beside him. He lowered his head to pour tea, his long fingers grasping the white porcelain pot. The stream of water filled the cup, and the rising mist blurred his profile. Then he looked up and glanced my way. His eyes were as clear and cold as moonlight, deep enough to pull a person in. In that instant, my heart seemed to skip a beat. Seeing me stunned, my brother laughed and patted my head. “Don’t dream, little sister. You can like anyone, just not him.” “Why not?” I frowned and asked. “In our circle, who isn’t just playing at life?” He lit a cigarette, exhaling a puff of smoke. “Adrian’s the only one who’s been dedicated to his studies since he was a kid. Desires, affections—he won’t touch them.” I didn’t believe it. Growing up, there was nothing I wanted that I couldn’t get. I refused to believe there was a man in this world who could remain completely unmoved. So, I started pursuing him. I used every trick I could think of. When he was working on his spiritual carvings in his study, I deliberately stumbled, pretending to fall into his arms. He frowned, then effortlessly lifted me with one hand and set me aside, as if I were a package. I secretly added something to his tea—a mild aphrodisiac, I hoped—and served it to him, full of expectation. He took a sip, then gave me a faint glance. “Next time, less of that sweet floral tea. It’s too sweet.” The most outrageous time, I snuck into his study when he was on a retreat. Wearing nothing but his long jacket, I lay on his bed in what I thought was a seductive pose. He pushed the door open, and I even deliberately swung my leg, batting my eyelashes at him. He didn’t even look at me, just turned and walked away. The next day, a box of brand-new robes was delivered to me with a note: “For you. Stop taking mine.” Julian couldn’t stand it anymore. He pulled me aside and tried to reason with me. “Can’t you have some self-respect?” I retorted, neck stiff, “I’m saving him! A man this handsome being so detached is such a waste!” I chased him for five years. I tried everything, but I never even touched a hair on his head. I started to doubt if I truly had no charm. Until late on my birthday night, he suddenly called me. “Come downstairs.” I ran down in my pajamas. It was pouring rain outside. He stood under the eaves, half of his jacket soaked, a few fallen leaves clinging to his shoulder. “Let’s get married.” He said only those three words. No flowers, no ring, not even an expression. But I was ecstatic, like an idiot, and rushed to hug him. “Are you finally moved by me?” He didn’t hug me back, just let out a low “Mm.” Looking back now, that “Mm” was so dismissive. Three years into our marriage, we never once consummated it. No matter how sexy I dressed, or how alluring a pose I struck, he would always leave with a cold face at the last moment. Then he’d lock himself in his study, staying there all night. I used to think he was just too deeply committed to his spiritual practices, accustomed to solitude. Until three days ago, unable to bear it anymore, I secretly followed him into his study. Watching him lose control before that wooden doll, I finally understood—he wasn’t without desire; his desire just didn’t belong to me. He loved Seraphina. The girl who grew up with him, taken in by his family. His studies, his prayer beads, marrying me—it was all to suppress his feelings for her. In that moment, my heart turned utterly cold. Like falling into a winter lake, I lost even the strength to struggle. In his study, Adrian finally stopped. He leaned down and kissed the doll’s forehead, his voice hoarse, like he was murmuring a spell. “Seraphina, I miss you…” The sound was so soft. Yet it felt like a rusty knife, brutally plunged into my already tattered heart. Tears fell. I wiped my face and turned to go downstairs. I never looked back. The next morning, I woke up early. Adrian was already dressed and about to leave. He wore a black trench coat, his figure as tall and straight as a pine tree, the same carved wooden beads on his wrist. The distraught man from last night seemed to have never existed. As he was about to step out, I called out, “Wait!” “What is it?” He didn’t even lift his head, his voice as cold as ice shards. “Don’t bother me.” His words were like a thorn, shattering the last shred of my hope. In his eyes, I was still just an annoying nuisance he couldn’t shake. I suddenly laughed. “You’re overthinking. I just want the keys to your Bentley.” “Take another car. This one’s convenient for me.” I walked over and simply pulled the keys from his pocket. He finally looked at me, his tone still flat. “Going out today?” “Yep.” I nodded. “What for?” He asked one more question. I jingled the keys, smiling somewhat ironically. “To do something that will make you happy.” With that, I turned and walked toward the garage without looking back. Silently, I added a line in my head: To finally leave you.

I didn’t say that last line, “to finally leave you,” out loud. I just grabbed the Bentley keys and walked out the door. As the car started, I glanced back at the cold, imposing house. Adrian’s figure had already vanished from the doorway, like a wisp of wind—impossible to catch, impossible to keep. I drove straight to the Swiss Consulate. Applying for a permanent residency visa wasn’t complicated, especially for someone with my family’s backing. Years ago, the Claire family business had entirely moved abroad. My parents and brother, Julian, had already settled in Switzerland. Only I, like an idiot, stayed in this city for Adrian, refusing to leave. Now, I was finally leaving. I took the receipt from the staff member and nodded. “It should be processed in about a week,” she said, her voice as professional as a robot. I walked out of the consulate and stood on the street. The wind was a bit chilly. I pulled my coat tighter and looked down at the receipt in my hand. It was finally coming to an end. Adrian, the man I’d chased for five whole years, the seemingly detached figure I thought I could draw out of his solitary world, ultimately didn’t belong to me. I had given up so much for him. I accompanied him in drinking tea as bland as water, endured his ascetic lifestyle, and even completely shed my once flamboyant personality. All just to be a little closer to him, even just a tiny bit. But in the end, I couldn’t even touch the most private desires of his heart. I clutched the receipt and smiled. My heart ached as if I’d swallowed a sour lemon. “Forget it, Adrian. If you don’t want me, someone else will.” That night, I met a few friends at a club. Since being with Adrian, I hadn’t stepped foot in a place like this for three years. Tonight, I changed into a deep red bodycon dress, the hem short enough to just expose my upper thighs. My hair was loose, and my eyes held a long-lost wildness. I pushed open the VIP room door and walked in, heels clicking. “Claire, what’s gotten into you?” My friend, Maya, grabbed my arm, her eyes wide with surprise. “Didn’t you stop coming to places like this after you fell for that cold-faced recluse, always circling around him?” I picked up a cocktail from the table and took a sip. The liquor burned my throat, blurring my vision slightly. “Not anymore. Tonight, I’m going to have fun.” I walked into the dance floor. Lights flashed, and music engulfed me like a tide. I swayed my body to the rhythm, like a bird just released from its cage, free and a little reckless. Male club-goers crowded around me. I scanned them, a smile curving my lips. I reached out and touched one man’s chest. It felt hard as rock, eliciting a low chuckle from him. “Claire, are you crazy?” Maya rushed up, grabbing my arm. “You’re touching guys and dancing like this. Aren’t you afraid Adrian will see you and get mad?” “He’s not here,” I shrugged off her hand and continued to sway my hips. “No…” Maya paused, then leaned in close to my ear, whispering, “Who says he isn’t? He’s right there, in that booth behind us, and he’s been watching you for ages!” My fingers stiffened. Slowly, I raised my head, my gaze cutting through the crowd. Through the kaleidoscope of colored lights, I spotted him instantly. Adrian sat in the corner. In a black suit, he looked like a stark, out-of-place shadow. His fingers rested on the edge of a teacup, his eyes fixed on me with a heavy stare. I didn’t know how long he’d been watching. Just then, the music suddenly stopped. The VIP room became eerily quiet. I heard the man beside him laugh and say, “Adrian, Claire’s been dancing and touching other guys for ages. If that were my wife, I’d have flipped the table by now. How can you be so calm?” Adrian didn’t move. He just picked up his teacup and took a sip, his voice clear and cold. “She knows her limits. She won’t do anything reckless.” His words were like a venomous thorn. Plunging deeply into the softest part of my heart. “Knows her limits?” Did he think I loved him too much, couldn’t live without him, or simply didn’t care who I danced with? Perhaps it was both. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. The man continued to tease, “Tsk, tsk, your self-control is legendary. I really wonder what in this world could make you lose your cool…” Before he could finish, his voice suddenly rose. “Hey, Adrian, where are you going?” I instinctively looked up. Adrian had abruptly stood, his gaze locked firmly on the other side of the dance floor. In those eyes, usually as still as water, a flicker of jealous fire flashed. I followed his line of sight. Sure enough, Seraphina stood there. She wore a white, off-the-shoulder dress, looking like an ethereal fairy, exchanging phone numbers with a tall man. Adrian strode over. He grabbed her wrist. “Who allowed you to come to a place like this? Who said you could give your number to someone else?” Seraphina froze, her eyes reddening. “Why can’t I come? Why can’t I give my number to someone? You don’t care about me anymore, so what I do has nothing to do with you!” Adrian’s fingers tightened, knuckles turning white. His voice was low, like it was squeezed from his throat. “Who says I don’t care about you?” “You just don’t!” Seraphina’s voice was tearful. “You keep avoiding me, you won’t even see me! You used to be so good to me, how could you suddenly change?” His Adam’s apple bobbed. His voice was laced with suppressed emotion. “That’s because…” I stood nearby, my heart clutched by an unseen hand. I knew he couldn’t finish the sentence. What could he say? That he, Adrian, liked her, which was why he deliberately avoided her? That he couldn’t control himself whenever he saw her? That he loved her so much he didn’t touch me for three years of marriage, and instead released his desires in his study with her wooden doll? I tugged at my lips in self-mockery. I turned to leave, but then I heard Seraphina crying, “Adrian, can we go back to how it was before? I want the old you, the one who only had eyes for me!” Adrian’s voice was hoarse, like a sigh. “I’m married now. I can’t just revolve around you.” “So, if your wife wasn’t around, we could be like before?” Seraphina suddenly looked up, her eyes gleaming with a wild light. I had just picked up my bag, ready to go. She suddenly grabbed a bottle from the table and lunged at me. *Smash!* The sound of the bottle shattering against my forehead exploded in my ears like thunder. Warm blood streamed down my temple, sticky and blurring my vision. “Claire!” Maya screamed, rushing over. I stumbled back two steps. Before I could regain my footing, Seraphina raised a second bottle. “Die!” she snarled, bringing it down. This blow was even more vicious than the last. My vision went black. I collapsed to the ground. All I heard were chaotic screams.

Pain dragged me back from unconsciousness. The pungent smell of disinfectant needles pricked my brain, and the bright white light overhead made my eyes ache. I tried to raise my hand to shield them, but I tugged at the IV needle on my hand, sucking in a sharp breath from the pain. “You’re awake.” The nurse, changing my dressing, sighed with relief when she saw my eyes open. “Who has such a grudge against you? Two bottles to the head, forty-plus stitches.” I instinctively touched my bandaged forehead. My throat was as dry as sandpaper. “Where’s the person who brought me here?” “You mean your friend, Maya?” The nurse said, tidying her supply tray. “She stayed with you all night, but had an emergency at her company this morning. She told me to let you know she hired a caregiver for you.” I froze. So, not even Adrian brought me to the hospital. Where was he? I reached for my phone. My fingertips had barely touched the screen when a new post popped up. From Seraphina. [He’s still so easy to coax.] In the video, Seraphina held out her hand, her voice sweet and娇 as she pouted, “Look, I cut my pinky when I smashed the bottle.” The camera shifted. Adrian was half-crouching in front of her. His long fingers held a band-aid, gently applying it to her fingertip. Then, he lowered his head, pressing a suppressed kiss to her finger, whispering, “Now it won’t hurt.” I stared at the screen. The wound on my head felt as if it had been torn open again, someone stabbing it with a knife and then pouring salt in. My hand trembled with pain. I took a deep breath and dialed the police. “Hello, I’d like to report an incident.” That night, Adrian pushed open my hospital room door. He wore a black trench coat, his eyes as cold as carved ice, but a hint of anger simmered beneath. “You called the police? Said Seraphina intentionally harmed you?” “Yes.” I looked up at him, my voice calm. “Intentional assault. That’s enough to press charges, isn’t it?” He frowned, his voice deep. “She hit you in a fit of impulse, it was wrong of her. But I’ve already dealt with her, so let’s just drop it.” “Dealt with her?” I sneered. “How did you ‘deal with her’?” “She’s a bit wild. I told her not to leave the house for three days.” His tone was flat, as if it were an insignificant matter. I stared, then burst out laughing. I laughed so hard it tugged at my stitches, making tears well up in my eyes. “I got over forty stitches, and you grounded her for three days? Adrian, is that a punishment, or are you just protecting her, afraid I’d go after her?” His eyes darkened. “What are you talking about? Of course it’s a punishment.” “I’ve already spoken to the police. The case is withdrawn.” He paused, then continued, “You don’t need to call them again. No one in this city will take the case.” I gripped the bedsheets, my nails practically digging into my flesh. Words surged like a tide, but finally, only one question squeezed out: “Adrian, I chased you for five years, what do you even see me as?” “If you didn’t care about me, why did you marry me in the first place?” I stared at him, my eyes burning. His frown deepened. “Who says I don’t care about you?” He paused, his voice still cold. “Alright, let’s just drop this. I’ll stay here with you for a few days, and after you’re discharged, I’ll get you something. Stop making a fuss.” He spoke as if he were bestowing some great favor. I suddenly found it ridiculous. Yes, it was always me chasing after him, telling him I loved him, wanting to marry him, wanting to be close to him. When had he ever taken the initiative? Now he was willing to stay with me—how was that not a gift?

For the next few days, Adrian actually stayed in the hospital. He appeared promptly every day, bringing a bowl of bland rice porridge, helping me change my bandages, and even quietly holding my hand when I woke up in pain in the middle of the night. The old me would probably have been too happy to sleep. But now, my heart felt like an empty, desolate wasteland. It turned out, loving someone for five years, and letting go, could happen in an instant. On the day I was discharged, I walked to the parking lot, bag in hand. From a distance, I saw Seraphina sitting in Adrian’s car. She glanced at me, her eyes like daggers, her face clearly unhappy. Adrian frowned. “Seraphina, what did I tell you earlier?” Seraphina bit her lip, her eyes red. Reluctantly, she spoke, “Claire, I’m sorry… I was too impulsive that day.” “My brother barely paid any attention to me after he married you for years, he was completely devoted to you, so I just got angry…” She lowered her head, like a wronged child. “It won’t happen again.” Adrian turned to me, his tone calm. “Seraphina wants to stay at the house for a few days recently. You two should try to get along.” On the way home, they sat in the front. I leaned against the car window, staring at the rapidly receding streetscape outside. I didn’t say a word. But out of the corner of my eye, I could still see Adrian’s profile. He was usually as cold as stone, but his gaze kept drifting toward Seraphina. Seraphina looked down, scrolling on her phone, then suddenly laughed. “Adrian, look at this guy, he’s so handsome. Just added me on SnapChat.” Adrian’s hand on the steering wheel tightened abruptly. His voice was cold as ice. “Delete him.” “Why should I?” Seraphina pouted. “I’m in my twenties, can’t I make friends?” “Delete him.” His tone was hard, like a command. Seraphina huffed, but still obediently deleted the contact. She mumbled under her breath, “He’s stricter than my dad…” Adrian didn’t say anything. But I saw his jawline tighten. He was jealous. Back home, I didn’t even eat. I went straight to my room. From downstairs, I could hear the clatter of dishes, Seraphina’s giggling, and the syrupy background music from the TV. It was a liveliness that had never existed in the three years Adrian and I were married. I buried myself under the covers. My heart ached as if it were steeped in sour plum soup. I don’t know how much time passed. The sounds outside gradually faded. I was terribly thirsty, so I got up to pour myself some water. As I pushed open the door, I froze. Moonlight streamed in through the window, making the living room bright. Adrian was half-crouching by the sofa, quietly watching Seraphina, who was asleep. He was usually as aloof as a hermit. But at this moment, his eyes were full of soft light, as if he were looking at his most precious treasure. Seraphina suddenly stirred. Half-asleep, she reached out and hooked her arms around his neck, her voice soft as marshmallow. “Adrian, don’t leave me… only you care about me…” She tugged him unconsciously. His face was pulled down. Their lips brushed together. Adrian’s pupils contracted sharply. His breathing became ragged, like it was scattered by the wind. The next second, as if he could hold out no longer, he leaned down and kissed her fiercely.

Moonlight poured into the living room like water. I stood behind the door, peeking through the half-open crack, watching Adrian lean down and kiss Seraphina. His breath was ragged, as if scattered by a hurricane, and his fingers tightly gripped her waist, as if he wanted to unleash all the pent-up emotions of the past five years. “Seraphina…” He murmured her name, his voice lingering in a way I’d never heard before. I don’t know how long they kissed. Until Adrian seemed to suddenly regain his senses, his fingertips gently wiping away the dampness from her lips. He re-adjusted his specialized robe, returning to the cold, unapproachable recluse he usually was. I clenched my fists, my nails digging deep into my palms. The pain barely kept me from fainting. I spun around abruptly, silently closing the door, and buried myself under the covers. Outside, the footsteps gradually faded. I knew he had gone back to his study. I closed my eyes. My mind, however, was flooded with images of all the times I had tried to seduce him over the years. I once wore a nightgown as thin as gauze, pretending to trip and fall while he was working on his symbols, only for him to catch me with his palm cushioned by a piece of paper. I deliberately brought him a towel when he was showering, but he opened the door only after wrapping himself completely. I feigned drunkenness and threw myself onto him, but he merely frowned and pushed me away with a single finger. He had never wavered. I thought he was truly without desires. But it turned out, if it was Seraphina, even a single glance could make him lose all self-control. Tears streamed down my face. I fiercely wiped them away. It’s okay. I, Claire Thorne, am not unwanted. From now on, he could have his kindred spirit, and I would live my own life. The next morning, when I went downstairs, Adrian and Seraphina were already eating breakfast. Seraphina touched her lips and grumbled, “Adrian, do you guys have bugs in this house? My lips are all swollen when I woke up.” Adrian’s hand paused as he was serving food. His voice was deep. “I’ll have the house staff get you some cream for it later.” I picked up the gift box on the table. Opening it, I saw a priceless jade pendant. I tugged at the corner of my mouth, my tone a bit sarcastic. “You’re quite generous with your efforts.” Seraphina leaned over to peek, then said sourly, “Adrian, you’re usually this good to Claire? I thought you were just focused on your studies all the time, not even knowing how to spoil someone.” I looked up at Adrian. His eyes slightly narrowed. He had no intention of explaining that the jade pendant was actually compensation for Seraphina hitting my head. Normally, he wouldn’t care what I liked, let alone buy me gifts. He simply gave a faint “Mm” and stood up, saying, “I have something to do at my study. I’m leaving now.” Before he left, he glanced at Seraphina, his voice deepening. “Stay put at home. You can go anywhere in the villa, just don’t go into my study.” “Why not?” Seraphina tilted her head and asked. “There are a lot of things in there. Don’t mess them up,” he casually brushed her off. But I knew. His study hid his most unspeakable secrets. I finished breakfast and went straight back to my room. I didn’t want to spend another second with Seraphina. But when I woke up from my nap and touched my hair, I found my long hair had been cut messily, like a cat had clawed it. I rushed out. Seraphina sat on the sofa, clutching strands of my hair, smiling as she braided something. I instantly understood. “You cut my hair?” My voice trembled like a leaf in the wind. She looked up, smiling defiantly. “Yeah, our school assignment is due, and I’m making a hair accessory.” She twirled the strands of hair in her hand. “Claire’s hair is so beautiful, so black and soft.” I felt a chill run through me. Unable to suppress my anger any longer, I lunged forward and slapped her hard across the face. *Smack!*

The sharp sound echoed through the living room. Seraphina clutched her face, her eyes instantly darkening. “You dare hit me? My brother has pampered me since I was a child, he’s never even touched me. Who do you think you are?” She shrieked, “Someone! Hold her down!” The bodyguards by the door hesitated, then walked in. They glanced at me, then at Seraphina. Seraphina narrowed her eyes. “You work for Adrian. Think about it, who’s more important to him?” The bodyguards were silent for a second. Then they stepped forward and tightly grabbed my arms. I laughed. Laughed until tears streamed down my face. It turned out everyone knew how much Adrian cared about Seraphina. Only I, like an idiot, took five years to realize this colossal joke. Before I could react, Seraphina had already raised her hand. *Smack!* The first slap landed. My face burned with pain. Then came the second, the third… I struggled desperately, my throat hoarse from shouting. “Seraphina, aren’t you afraid Adrian will deal with you when he gets back?” She laughed arrogantly. “Since childhood, he’s cleaned up every mess I’ve made, including beating up his own wife.” She leaned in close to my ear, whispering, “Claire Thorne, remember this: I’m the treasure in his heart.” With that, she landed one slap after another. I struggled like a trapped wild animal, but the bodyguards’ hands were like iron chains. *Smack! Smack! Smack!* Slaps rained down on my face. My mind went blank from the pain, my face felt as if it were on fire. Tears blurred my vision. I could still see Seraphina’s distorted, triumphant face. “How many times did I hit her?” she stopped to ask a bodyguard. “Eighty-eight times,” the bodyguard replied in a low voice. “Then make it a lucky number,” she said, her smile sickeningly sweet. The final slap landed. A metallic taste filled my mouth. My vision went black, and I passed out. In a daze, I heard the door being pushed open. Someone shouted sharply, “What are you doing?!” … When I opened my eyes again, I was in bed. Adrian sat beside me, his expression as calm as if nothing had happened. “I know about today’s incident,” he said, his voice still that cold, indifferent tone. My throat was so dry it felt like it would crack. I asked hoarsely, “And then what?” “Seraphina has been spoiled since childhood,” he said flatly. “I’ve already punished her. Don’t take it to heart.” I stared at him. “How did you punish her?” He paused. He pulled a small lock of hair from his pocket. “She cut your hair, so now she’s cut her own to compensate you.” I froze. Then I burst out laughing, tears streaming down my face. “I got forty stitches, and you ground her for three days? She cut my hair, so you made her cut her own? She slapped me eighty-eight times—did you just give her one back?” His voice remained level. “Her hand swelled from hitting you. That counts as punishment.” I couldn’t stop laughing. My heart felt absurd, like a farcical play. “Adrian, how on earth did I ever fall for you?” He was about to speak. I suddenly grabbed the teacup from the bedside table and smashed it on the floor. “Get out!” I screamed, eyes red. He stood up. His tone was still unhurried. “I know you’re very upset. The doctor said you need to rest properly. Just calm down.” With that, he turned and left. The moment the door closed, I couldn’t hold it in anymore and cried like an idiot.

For the next few days, Adrian surprisingly didn’t go to his study. He stayed at home, and as if sensing my low mood, he even made Seraphina apologize to me, a rare occurrence. Seraphina stood before me. She lowered her head, her apology as perfunctory as if she were reciting lines. “Claire, I’m sorry. I was too impulsive that day.” I gave her a cold glance. Too lazy to engage, I turned and went back to my room. *Bang!* I slammed the door shut. Outside the door, Seraphina flinched. She threw herself into Adrian’s arms, her voice trembling like grass in the wind. “Adrian, she won’t hit me, will she?” Adrian patted her back. His voice was deep, like he was comforting a child. “With me here, no one can touch you.” No sooner had he spoken than a commotion started in my room. It sounded like things were being rummaged through and overturned. Adrian frowned. He raised his hand, intending to knock, but the door was suddenly yanked open by me. I emerged carrying a large box, not even glancing at him, and headed straight for the living room’s trash bin. *Whump!* Everything went in. Adrian’s eyes tightened. The box contained things I’d collected over the years. His casually written symbols, his used teacup, and the only item he’d ever given me—a string of carved wooden beads. I’d practically begged him for those. Now, I threw them all away, like a pile of junk. “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice as cold as frost. I clapped my hands, dusting them off. “Nothing. I don’t want them anymore,” I said flatly. Your things, your presence, I, Claire Thorne, want none of it. With that, I turned and walked away. I didn’t look back. Seraphina watched the scene, a flicker of triumph in her eyes. She deliberately drew out her words. “Adrian, aren’t you going to comfort Claire?” Adrian was silent for a long moment before finally speaking. “No need. She’ll come around. Soon enough, she’ll pick those things back up.” Just like the past five years, I had always clung to him, always loved him. Through the wall, I heard his words from my room. I almost laughed out loud. Wrong, Adrian. You’re wrong this time. That evening, he said he wanted to take Seraphina and me to a charity gala. I didn’t want to go. But he said flatly, “Your friend Maya will be there too. You’ve been cooped up for so long, don’t you want to get some fresh air?” I was silent for a while. Finally, I changed my clothes. Recent events had left me suffocated. I needed to find someone to have a few drinks with. On the way there, I didn’t say a word to either of them. I closed my eyes and leaned back in the backseat, pretending to be asleep. Halfway there, there was a sudden loud crash— *Bang!* Blinding headlights rushed at us. I only had time to see a runaway car heading straight for us. The next second, the world turned upside down. When I woke again, my nose was full of the smell of rust. I struggled to open my eyes and found Seraphina and me tied to two chairs. Our hands were bound behind our backs, and bombs were strapped to our chests. I remembered. Before I blacked out, the people who got out of the car that hit us were the youngest son of the Stone family, Adrian’s corporate rivals. He had kidnapped us. Was he retaliating against Adrian? Seraphina next to me was crying hysterically. Her voice was shrill like a knife. “Help! Is anyone there?! I don’t want to die!” The bomb’s countdown was down to just a few minutes. I forced myself to calm down, my fingers fumbling for the wire. But her wailing was giving me a headache. I spoke coldly, “Why are you crying? If you don’t want to die, hurry up and defuse your own.” She cried even harder. “Don’t yell at me! I don’t know how! Adrian, where are you?! I’m so scared…” Before she could finish, the warehouse door was violently kicked open. Adrian burst in.

His usually immaculate black robes were covered in dust. Blood seeped from his forehead, and his breathing was ragged, as if he’d run dozens of miles. His gaze swept over us, then sharply contracted. It was the first time I’d seen him so disheveled. This man, as cold and composed as a stone statue, actually had moments when he couldn’t catch his breath. He had clearly rushed here himself after the car crash, realizing we were missing, and sending others to search. The bomb had only one minute left. Time enough to save only one. He didn’t hesitate for a second, rushing straight to Seraphina. He crouched down, his fingers rapidly disarming the bomb on her chest. Without lifting his head, he said, “Claire Thorne, I’ll get her out, then I’ll be right back for you.” I smiled. But strangely, I didn’t feel any pain at all. Perhaps when love dies, the heart stops hurting too. He finished disarming Seraphina’s bomb. Only twenty seconds remained on the countdown. Seraphina clutched his arm tightly, trembling so hard she could barely speak. “Adrian! Go! It’s going to explode!” But Adrian pushed her away. He urged her to run first, then turned to disarm mine. I grabbed his hand. And pushed him away forcefully, my voice as calm as if I were talking about someone else’s business. “Adrian, take her and go. From today on, I don’t need you. My life or death has nothing to do with you. I, Claire Thorne, am not unwanted. If you don’t care for me, plenty of others will.” He froze. His eyes looked frozen. Seraphina on the side was crying hysterically. “Adrian! I’m scared! If you don’t leave, I won’t either!” Time ticked by, second by second. If we didn’t leave now, all three of us would die here. At the last moment, he still picked up Seraphina and ran out. I closed my eyes. My fingers fumbled at the bomb. I had taken a demolition class in college and vaguely remembered some things. “Click.” At the last second, I disarmed the wire. But the explosion still came. The heat blast threw me backward. Before losing consciousness, I thought I saw Adrian’s figure turning back. When I woke up, I was in the hospital. My arm ached as if it were being drilled by needles. Adrian sat by the bed. Seeing my eyes open, he immediately pressed me down. “Don’t move. You just had skin grafted for Seraphina.” “…What did you say?” My mind went blank, thinking I’d misheard. He paused. His voice was tinged with rare guilt. “Seraphina’s arm was burned in the blast. She was afraid of scarring, and your skin tone is the most similar to hers, so a piece of your skin was used for her.” I stared at him, utterly disbelieving. “Adrian, did you even ask me?” “I’ll compensate you,” he said, his tone soothing. “Didn’t you always want to go out with me? After you’re discharged…” “Who wants your compensation!” I violently pulled out the needle, blood streaming down the back of my hand. “You can’t treat someone like this!” He froze, as if he hadn’t expected me to react this way. “Seraphina is your precious darling, and I’m just dirt, right?” My eyes were red, my voice trembling. “You just take advantage of the fact that I like you… you just take advantage…” I couldn’t finish. My throat felt clogged. His chest felt heavy. He suddenly remembered what I’d said in the warehouse— [If you don’t care for me, plenty of others will.] He was about to speak. His phone rang. Chapter 7 His assistant’s hurried voice came through: “Mr. Adrian, the jade jewelry set Ms. Seraphina has always wanted is being auctioned tonight in London. Will you be attending…?” He gave a soft “Mm.”

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After waking up from the car crash, Adrian clutched my hand. The very first thing he did was shove a statement of forgiveness for his mistress in my face. He snarled at me, “Vivian just barely grazed you. Why are you being so vindictive?” I refused, absolutely refusing to sign, and nearly threw myself out the window to make my stand. Until the hospital room door swung open, and the woman who’d hit me finally looked up— I froze for two seconds, then suddenly loosened my grip on the window ledge. “Give me the statement. I’ll sign it.” “She nearly killed you! Why are you signing it so easily?!” Adrian demanded, utterly baffled. My voice was calm. “Because she’s beautiful.” “Just because of *that*?!” Of course not. Because she was the little girl who once curled in my arms, calling me “Mommy.” …………………… “…Ellie? Eleanor? You’re awake? Oh my God, thank goodness! Doctor! Doctor!” I blinked my blurry eyes open, a stranger’s face wavering above me. His voice was urgent, his expression a performance of overwhelming relief. His grip on my hand was so tight, his nails almost dug into my skin. Who was this man? Hadn’t I… hadn’t I been dead for years? “It’s okay, it’s okay, you scared me to death. As long as you’re awake, that’s all that matters. Good girl, just sign this first, and we can go home, okay?” The paper in his hand fluttered before my eyes, the bold black letters at the top stabbing into my still-hazy vision: “Statement of Forgiveness.” Memories, not my own but the original owner’s, came crashing down like a tidal wave. The screech of a massive brake still roared in my ears. “…Where’s the person who hit me?” Adrian’s expression stiffened for a fraction of a second, then softened, his tone patronizing, as if talking down to a child. “I told you, it was an accident. Just an accident.” “The doctor said it’s a miracle I even woke up! The person who hit me almost killed me! And you just expect me to… forgive them?!” “The person who hit you didn’t mean to! She’s terrified, too, can’t eat, can’t sleep, she’s lost so much weight!” “I’m your boyfriend! If I tell you to sign it, you *will* sign it! Our family isn’t some charity case that can’t afford the medical bills!” “This is a crime!” My voice trembled. “I don’t care who the hell you think you are, I’d rather jump out this window than sign that thing!” I tore the IV needle from my hand like a madwoman, scrambling to throw myself towards the window. At that moment, the hospital room door was violently flung open. “Ms. Vance! That’s enough! Take it out on me if you want! Stop pressuring Mr. Blackwood!” “It was just a minor accident! You’re fine now, aren’t you?!” “What’s with this suicide act? Who are you performing for? Trying to use your death to make Mr. Blackwood remember you forever, is that it?!” I stared at her, for a long, long time. Then, slowly, I climbed back from the window ledge. “Give me the statement.” “Rip it up! I can print hundreds more! I won’t give up until you sign!” I took the pen and scrawled “Eleanor Vance” with a decisive flourish. Vivian and Adrian both froze, mouths agape, utterly speechless. “She nearly killed you… and you actually signed it like that?” Adrian asked, disbelief etched on his face. Vivian stared at me, her gaze piercing. “Signing it so quickly, what game are you playing?!” I met her eyes calmly, and said softly, “Because you’re beautiful.” “Just because of *that*?” Adrian scoffed. “I bet you saw I had a woman as gorgeous as Vivian, and realized how in-demand I am!” Adrian snatched the signed statement from my hand. “See? Wouldn’t it have been easier to just do this from the start? Why make things awkward for everyone?” Over the next few days, I was as cooperative as any patient could be. Taking my medicine on time, attending all check-ups, resting quietly. Adrian’s visits grew less frequent, his stays shorter. Each time he came, the conversation would inevitably drift to Vivian. “Vivian is incredibly capable. That tricky project we had last month? She swooped in and closed the deal. The client couldn’t stop praising her.” Adrian sat with one leg crossed over the other, practically spitting as he vividly described Vivian’s cutthroat tactics in the business world. “She’d once had a rival’s teeth pulled and tossed him into the ocean to secure a deal, for which the client had nothing but admiration.” *For people and things she cared about, she would stop at nothing. Like, to get Adrian, she could disregard the law and choose to run me over.* “Vivian’s beautiful, makes me look good when I take her out, and she helps me run the company. Now, the company practically grinds to a halt without her!” “And you? What do you have, besides a family that gives you money to spend? When it comes to empathy, to capability, you’re not even fit to tie Vivian’s shoes.” “From now on, just settle down. It’s not out of the question for two women to share one man, especially since your family still has some pull.” He said it like he was bestowing a great gift. “We’ll get married once you’re out of the hospital. As for the wedding, Vivian and I will handle that.” My fingers tightened around the spoon I was holding, a surge of pure rage shooting to my head. I slammed the bowl of porridge directly into his face. “Eleanor Vance! Are you out of your mind?! Vivian is a thousand times better than you, she deserves the most magnificent wedding!” Adrian’s luck held out. His phone screen lit up, preventing me from doing more damage. It was a SnapChat message from Vivian. Vivian: [Image] Ellie, Mr. Blackwood wants me to try this one. He says it looks best on me. What do you think? The image was Vera Wang’s latest wedding dress, indeed the dream of countless women. I remembered her at seven, twirling in a pink princess dress, asking me, “Do I look pretty?” My fingertips flew across the screen. I replied: *It’s truly beautiful.* Adrian frantically wiped the porridge from his face, his mouth still going. “Eleanor Vance, nothing you do will change anything! Vivian and I are having our wedding, mark my words!” A few more days passed, and I was mostly recovered. Before I was even discharged, Adrian called. His tone was his usual commanding, dismissive one. I was about to snap back, but then he said, “Vivian had an allergic reaction to seafood and is in the hospital. I have a meeting I can’t miss, so you go take care of her.” “Stay with her 24/7. Make sure she’s perfectly fine. If anything goes wrong, I’m holding you responsible!” “Okay.” “Finally learning some manners, huh? Looks like this car accident wasn’t completely useless. At least it taught you your place and how to appease me.” I hung up immediately. Spending another second talking to that lunatic was a waste of my hard-won second chance at life. Without even changing out of my hospital gown, I headed straight to Vivian’s VIP room. “What are you doing here?!” Vivian instinctively covered her face, which was covered in red hives. “Mr. Blackwood and I are getting married in a month. I’ll be completely fine by then, so don’t even *think* about trying to steal my place as the bride!” I said calmly, “Adrian said you had an allergic reaction and asked me to check on you. What did the doctor say? Is it serious? Are you still uncomfortable anywhere?” Vivian looked at me as if I were an alien. “It’s a little itchy, but I’ve already had medicine. You don’t need to worry about it!” I nodded, then turned to the bathroom to get a basin of warm water. “The doctor said cold compresses can help relieve the itching. Don’t scratch, you don’t want to scar.” Vivian stood rigidly, unmoving. Adrian sent a video call request midway through, probably checking up on us. “You don’t have to worry, Vivian’s much better. I’ll take good care of her.” On the other end of the call, Adrian patronizingly lectured me a few more times about “being diligent” and “not slacking off” before gracing us with a hang-up. “Tha…thank you…” “It’s nothing.” I smiled, tucking her blanket in. “You rest. I’ll be right here. Call me if you need anything.” “Eleanor, what exactly are you planning?” Vivian’s eyes were full of suspicion. “When you were sick, I called Adrian to come stay with me. When I was in a car accident, he forced me to sign a statement of forgiveness for you.” “Even then, I wasn’t willing to break up with him. I clung to him, we fought tooth and nail.” “You knew about my existence all along. You loved him so much, why are you being so kind to the woman who stole your man?!” I said calmly, “What exactly is so great about this man? Is he really worth hurting an innocent person to get?” Vivian sneered. “Eleanor Vance, finally showing your true colors, are you? You know Mr. Blackwood won’t leave me, so you’re trying to work on me instead?” Watching her stand with her hands on her hips, cheeks puffed out, putting on an act, I silently sat by the hospital bed, cherishing her for a long moment. Unconsciously, I raised my hand and gently pinched her cheek. “You… what are you doing!” She seemed like a punctured balloon, her arrogant posture instantly deflating. When she was fifteen, she had stood between me and that man, scared but still fierce, protecting me. “Let’s just say I like your face.” I said calmly, a slight smile curving the corners of my eyes. Vivian didn’t speak again, closing her eyes, but her long eyelashes trembled continuously. A few days later, Adrian came to my apartment. “That black card of yours has a high limit, give it to me.” I was pouring myself a glass of water, and my movement paused at his words. He wanted money from me, and with such arrogance? I tightened my grip on the glass. “Adrian Blackwood, are you addicted to being a kept man?” “Don’t waste my time! Just give it to me! Your money is my money, isn’t it? Why are you suddenly drawing such clear lines with me?” “Vivian has endured so much for me. What’s wrong with her spending a little of your money? Come on, hurry up, don’t drag your feet!” The anger on my face almost instantly vanished at the mention of ‘Vivian,’ replaced by a compliant expression as I handed over the black card. “That’s better. Glad you know your place!” Once he had the black card, Adrian’s spending statements started flooding my phone like snowflakes. Meanwhile, Vivian’s attitude towards me subtly shifted. She started calling me “Ms. Vance,” and the sharp edges and hostility in her voice noticeably softened. She would pour me a glass of water when I came to “visit” her, and occasionally even chat about inconsequential things. Until one day, she invited me out for afternoon tea. “Ms. Vance,” her voice was soft, laced with hesitation, but her eyes were earnest, “This is for you.” I paused, then took the bag and opened it. Inside was a silk blouse, simple yet elegant, in my favorite dusty blue, and exactly my size. Excellent taste, clearly chosen with care. “I noticed you really like this color and fabric. Consider it a thank you for taking care of me recently.” “Thank you.” My voice sounded a little hoarse. “I love it.” “The money Adrian splurged on your black card, I’ve already transferred it back to another account you don’t often use. I’ll send you the statement details later.” I looked up at her, the question in my heart yearning to escape. “You don’t love that man at all, do you?” Vivian stared at me, stunned. “What…” “If you don’t love him, why are you with him?” She was silent for a long time, then finally, as if she’d made up her mind, said, “Ms. Vance, I’m not who you think I am.” “I graduated from the top university with a degree in finance, both my bachelor’s and master’s. If it weren’t for my family…” “My father owes millions in gambling debts, my mother is critically ill and needs money for surgery, and my younger siblings still need to go to school. I wouldn’t have come to this.” My heart clenched painfully. “Adrian values my youth and beauty to show off and to help him secure projects and manage the company. I’m using his money to solve my urgent financial problems.” “This past year, I’ve pretty much gotten my hands on all the company’s major projects and key client resources.” I felt myself transported back to that scorching, death-filled summer, her young face pressed against my hospital bed, holding my hand— “I got my money back from that last part-time job! I threatened the boss that I’d call the police, and he was so scared of me! I got all the money I was owed!” “Aren’t I amazing? If I earn a little more, I can cure your illness really soon!” “He’s nothing but an empty shell now, dreaming big after being completely drained.” I looked at the girl before me, stripped of all pretense. She was never a clinging vine needing to climb for support. She was calmer, smarter, but… also carried deeper wounds… “Why are you telling me this?” I heard myself ask, my voice trembling with suppressed emotion and a catch in my throat. She paused, her gaze falling on the dusty blue blouse by my hand, her eyes softening slightly. “So, why are you being so good to me?” I met her deep gaze, and after a long moment, said, “Because you’re beautiful.” “Just because of *that*?” I nodded calmly. She was a proud child, and I didn’t think she was ready to know who I was. Nor did I want the *real* me to know she had become an unprincipled man’s mistress. Her confusion hadn’t dissipated, but she continued, “As for why I told you all that—” “I think I’ve come to see you as the most important person in my life. Besides my mom, no one has ever been this kind to me.” “The wedding in a week.” She paused. “I’m going to turn it into a stage for Adrian Blackwood’s public downfall.” —截断点— The first day I wore the blouse, Adrian noticed it. “What are you wearing?” “A blouse.” “No kidding! I’m asking where you got it! That brand, that style—isn’t that the one Vivian picked out a few days ago? How did *you* end up wearing it?”

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After six years of a hidden marriage, Liam lifted our daughter, Lily, high for the very first time tonight. Five-year-old Lily burst into happy laughter. She waved at me, “Mommy, Uncle is making me fly!” A pang of sorrow twisted my heart, but I forced a strained smile as I watched them, father and daughter. Liam was drunk tonight; he didn’t seem to know what he was doing. He didn’t love Lily, and he didn’t love me. His happiness tonight stemmed purely from the return of Serena, the woman he deeply loved. Six years ago, Liam and Serena were madly in love when Serena suddenly left. Liam, on his way to chase after her, had an accident and lost the use of his legs. I was Liam’s personal assistant, staying by his side day and night, enduring his bad temper, encouraging him, and helping him with his physical therapy. The day he finally stood up again, he drank too much in celebration. That night, he mistook me for Serena and, in his drunken state, took me again and again. That’s how I got pregnant. He even agreed to marry me. But I later learned that not only did Liam not love me, but he hadn’t married me out of a sense of responsibility either. He married me solely because he saw news of Serena publicly announcing her new relationship abroad. After we were married, he was like a ghost, completely absent from Lily’s and my life. The day Lily was born, he specifically flew out of town for a business trip. When Lily was learning to speak, he’d stiffen, refusing to let her call him ‘Dad’. When Lily lost control of her skateboard and called out “Dad” once, he just stood there, cold as ice, watching her fall, letting her hit her head hard. …… Yet, the drunken Liam before me now looked at Lily with eyes full of paternal affection. After holding our daughter, he gently placed Lily on the sofa, smiling warmly at her. “I’ll be a good dad.” “Okay, Lily believes in Daddy.” He didn’t seem to hear. The intense smile remained on his face as he turned and murmured a name. “Finn.” He would be a good dad to Finn. My heart turned to ice. Finn – Serena’s son. But Lily had only heard the first sentence. She happily ran to me. “Mommy, Daddy likes me, right? I can call him Daddy now, can’t I?” “He held me, and he said he’d be a good dad.” Her eyes were filled with desperate longing for a positive answer. She truly longed to be like other kids, to cuddle into Liam’s arms, call him Daddy, and playfully complain to him. A bitter ache tightened in my chest. I knelt and pulled her into my embrace, tears blurring my vision. I didn’t want to shatter her hope. I avoided answering her question directly. I didn’t want Lily to know that this fleeting moment of happiness was only granted because of another woman and her son. “Lily, would you be willing to leave this place with Mommy?” I choked back tears. Lily paused, confused. “Mommy, why are we leaving?” The smile froze on Lily’s face, a look of bewilderment. Tears instantly welled up. “We’re a family with Daddy! I want to be with Daddy.” I raised a hand to wipe away her tears, my voice cracking. “Because… Uncle’s true love has returned, and we need to go.” “But… Daddy likes me…” Lily’s voice grew softer and softer. Perhaps deep down, she already knew Liam didn’t love her. “Mommy, can we wait until after my birthday? Let’s give Uncle a few more chances, okay? Maybe he’ll truly like us then. If Daddy is willing to stay with us, then we won’t leave, right?” I nodded, tears streaming down my face. “Alright. You decide how many more chances.” Just a few more chances then. If he still disappointed us, we would leave his world forever. “Yay! Thank you, Mommy.” “Time for bed.” After tucking Lily into bed, I returned to my own room. My marriage with Liam was a sham, existing only in name. We didn’t even bother to maintain appearances. The next morning, Liam woke up and came downstairs. Lily was eating breakfast. When she saw him, she happily put down her toast and ran toward him. “Daddy, you’re awake!” Liam’s face instantly darkened. He asked in a cold voice, “What did you call me?” Lily’s outstretched arms froze in mid-air. She was scared by his expression. “Uncle…” Lily quickly corrected herself, dropping her hands in dismay. “I’m sorry, Uncle.” I forcefully suppressed the bitterness in my heart. I walked over and picked her up. “Time to eat. You’ll be late for school.” I knew Liam’s attitude toward us wouldn’t change. His lapse yesterday was just because Serena was back, and he was too happy and had too much to drink. Liam’s demeanor softened slightly. He walked to the dining room, took a sip of coffee, and left without a word. “Goodbye, Uncle,” Lily called out to his retreating back, as she always did. Still no response. On the way to school, Lily kept her head down, silent. As we neared the school, she looked up at me. “Mommy, does that count as one chance? Let’s give Uncle three more chances!” Tears welled in Lily’s eyes. My heart ached. “Okay, we’ll do whatever Lily wants.” I watched Lily enter kindergarten, then turned and went to a law firm. I took out the divorce papers Liam had drafted and asked if they were valid. When Liam married me, it was conditional: he could ask for a divorce at any time, and I couldn’t refuse. The agreement was prepared before the marriage, with no date marked, only Liam’s signature. Once the lawyer confirmed its validity, I signed my name and asked him to handle the divorce for me. “Please, just send the divorce certificate directly to this address when it’s ready.” I left the villa’s address and stood up to leave. A familiar sting burned behind my eyes, and I tilted my head back, willing the tears away. I loved Liam, and after we married, I had tried hard, I had dreamed. But after his repeated neglect, his constant indifference, my once burning heart had slowly, agonizingly, turned to ash. Serena was back; it was time for me to go. Unluckily, after finishing my business, I saw Liam and Serena again in the main hall of a department store. Serena was stunning, radiating a bold, almost wild beauty. She linked her arm through Liam’s, beaming. Liam held her son, Finn, with one arm, his eyes filled with an almost sickeningly soft adoration. My breath hitched. How many times had I fantasized about Liam taking Lily and me shopping? Unbidden tears welled up and spilled over. I stared at them, my heart aching with an unbearable intensity. I forced my trembling legs to move, inching away. Back at the villa, I prepared a resume, along with my portfolio, and sent them to several companies I admired in Country A. Then I printed out my resignation letter and took it directly to the office. After marrying Liam, he had moved me away from his side. Now, I was just a regular employee in the admin department. The resignation process was simple. Once I handed over my current tasks, I could leave at any time. I walked from HR back to my office and started packing my things. A moment later, I heard footsteps and polite murmurs of greeting approaching the door. I looked up and saw several executives surrounding Liam and Serena as they walked in. Serena had changed clothes. Unlike her previous striking and wild style, she now looked sharp and professional, immediately capturing everyone’s attention. Liam’s arm was loosely draped around her waist, his gaze glued to her, unable to tear itself away for even a second. A fresh stab of pain pierced my heart. I looked at Liam, but he remained utterly indifferent. I lowered my gaze. The next moment, they were standing in front of me. “Clara, this is Ms. Serena, Mr. Liam’s girlfriend. She will be taking over your position. You’re being transferred to the sales department. Please ensure a smooth handover as soon as possible.” Mr. Liam’s girlfriend? Liam didn’t deny it. My eyes burned with unshed tears, and I clenched my fists. Liam was so eager to reinstate Serena, completely disregarding Lily’s and my feelings. I looked at Liam again. “Li—” Before I could finish, his icy gaze shot me a warning. “Ms. Clara, if you have any issues with your job transfer, you can speak to your direct superior.” He knit his brows, clearly wanting me to keep our relationship a secret. “She’s better suited for this position than you,” Liam added. I understood what he meant. He wasn’t just talking about work. A thousand tiny needles pricked at my heart. I forced myself to appear composed; he truly didn’t care about me. “Alright,” I nodded, shaking hands with Serena. Liam seemed satisfied. He turned back to Serena, and the harsh coldness in his eyes softened, replaced by a tenderness I’d never seen directed at me. That kind of look, Lily and I had never received. Love and indifference were so starkly obvious. Fortunately, I had long stopped expecting anything. That evening, the company spontaneously organized a team-building event, a welcome dinner for Serena. I had already resigned and didn’t want to go, but Serena insisted. “Ms. Clara, are you upset that I took your job, which is why you don’t want to attend my welcome dinner? I never intended to take anything; Mr. Liam arranged everything.” “I just started today, and I’d really love to connect with you. I don’t know many colleagues here. Could you accompany me?” I looked at her ambiguous gaze and smiled faintly, shaking my head. “You’re overthinking it. I need to pick up my daughter. I’m sorry.” “Where’s your husband? He can pick up the child!” My husband? “I don’t have a husband,” I said blandly, a bitter ache in my heart. Liam never acknowledged being my husband. Our lives were completely separate. Having one or not made no difference. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t know,” Serena apologized, but she was persistent, determined to make me attend. “Why don’t you bring your daughter along? My son will be here too; they can play together.” “No, my daughter doesn’t like these kinds of events.” Just as I spoke, a small figure ran toward me. “Mommy, Uncle picked me up from school today!” Lily bounced into my arms, her voice joyful. “He even brought me to find you!” My heart leaped. Liam didn’t even know which kindergarten Lily attended. How could he suddenly pick her up? I looked up. Liam strolled over from a distance, his eyes sparkling with a smile, fixed entirely on Serena. He didn’t spare me even a fleeting glance. “Liam, you know Ms. Clara’s child?” Serena asked, her face full of confusion. “I ran into her when I picked up Finn, so I brought her along. She’s Ms. Clara’s daughter; she’s been to the office a few times,” Liam explained, as if afraid she might misunderstand. When he spoke of Lily and me, his tone was distant, detached. It was as if we were strangers, as if he feared any association with us. Lily was about to call him. I glanced at Lily and subtly shook my head. She sadly lowered her eyes. “Oh, so that’s it. You probably didn’t know, but this girl doesn’t have a father. Perhaps we shouldn’t transfer Ms. Clara to the sales department; it’s hard enough raising a child alone.” Liam frowned slightly, shot me a quick glance, then said, “Alright, you decide.” Serena looked delighted, nodding gently at him. Their eyes locked, a silent, intimate conversation passing between them, oblivious to everyone else. Lily clutched my clothes, burying her head in my lap. “Mommy, Mr. Liam!” Finn’s voice broke their silent flirtation. He bounded forward, directly hugging Liam’s leg. “Mr. Liam, carry me!” Lily’s small body stiffened. She looked up at Liam and Finn. Liam picked him up, his eyes filled with a warmth, a paternal love that Lily had never once experienced from him. Seeing Lily look at him, his arm, holding Finn, gave a slight tremble, but there was no other reaction. Lily’s eyes welled up with tears of injustice. He glanced away, deliberately avoiding Lily’s gaze. “Finn, be good, you shouldn’t ask Mr. Liam to carry you. Come down now,” Serena said, trying to pull him away, but he held tightly onto Liam’s neck. “No way! I like Mr. Liam carrying me, and Mr. Liam likes carrying me too!” Finn planted a wet kiss on Liam’s cheek. “I’m hungry, I want cake!” “Alright, let’s go get some cake. Liam, shall we go in?” Serena smiled, following behind Liam. After a few steps, she didn’t forget to call out to me. “Ms. Clara, hurry up and follow us.” I knelt down. Lily was already in tears. She looked up at me with her small face. “Mommy, are they the people Uncle really likes?” At that moment, I could no longer control my grief. I pulled her into my arms, crying with her. The scene was too cruel, too devastating, even for me to bear, let alone Lily. I didn’t answer, but Lily already knew the truth. “Mommy, I want to go see again.” Lily wiped her tears with her hand and proactively took my hand. “I want to see how good Uncle’s favorite people are.” “Lily, let’s go home, okay?” I couldn’t bear for Lily to be hurt again. Lily stubbornly shook her head. “I want to go.” “Alright.” I took her hand and entered the banquet hall. The hall was crowded and lively, with Liam, Serena, and Finn at the center of attention. I found a quiet corner with Lily, and her gaze remained fixed on Liam. His tenderness and concern for Finn were something Lily had always longed for but never received. When she saw Liam personally feeding Finn fruit, Lily stood up. “Mommy, Uncle really likes them. Uncle is smiling so happily. Let’s go, let’s not bother him.” Lily’s words hit me like a physical blow, crushing my heart and leaving me breathless with pain. “Then let’s go home.” Lily nodded. I took her hand and walked toward the exit. “Ms. Clara, wait.” Liam’s secretary blocked our path. “Mr. Liam said he wants to take Lily out to play and asked you to hand Lily over to me.” He was the only one in the company who knew about our relationship. “Uncle wants to take me to play?” Lily’s dim eyes instantly brightened. She scanned the crowd, searching for Liam. The secretary nodded. “Yes, Mr. Liam gave those instructions.” At the same time, Liam sent me a message saying he wanted to take Lily to see fireworks. This was the first time. He had ever volunteered to take Lily out to play. A sense of unease settled in my heart, and I didn’t want her to go.

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My husband’s first love was seriously ill, and every day he secretly took the meals I cooked to her, treating me like his personal, unpaid maid. When our son found out, he didn’t side with me. Instead, he helped my husband hide it, and even accused me of having a dirty mind and being petty. The father and son were in cahoots, playing me for a fool. I watched them with cold eyes, deciding to finally get rid of both of those jerks. The moment Mark walked through the door, he ordered our son, Liam, to wash the dirty lunchbox he’d used for lunch. Liam was a senior in high school, a crucial year for college admissions. Hearing this, I couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger. I glared at Mark, who was sprawled on the couch. “What, are your hands broken? You need to order our son around just to wash a lunchbox?” Mark didn’t say a word. Liam, holding the lunchbox, chuckled, “It’s fine, Mom. Dad works hard all day. I should wash his lunchbox.” Liam headed to the sink, but he gasped as the cold water hit his hands. Seeing his hands turn red from the cold, I sighed. “Go on, I’ll do it.” Liam didn’t argue much, just said, “Thanks, Mom,” and left the kitchen. I tossed the lunchbox into the sink. Just as I was about to turn on the faucet, a splash of red on the spoon caught my eye. A clear red stain was printed on the milky-white ceramic spoon. I wiped it with my finger, and most of the red came off. As a woman, I knew a lipstick stain when I saw one. For years, Mark had always complained that my cooking was bland. But lately, he’d been asking me to cook more light, nutritious meals, insisting he needed to take them to work. Considering Mark’s sudden change in taste, I thought to myself, there had to be something fishy going on. The thought of Mark ordering me around like I was his personal chef, demanding this and that every day, made my anger boil. My mind was still reeling from the frustration when Liam’s voice suddenly broke through. “Mom, is dinner ready? I’m starving!” I snapped back to reality, looking at the spoon in my hand. I pulled out my phone and took a few pictures. I knew Mark too well. If I confronted him now, it wouldn’t lead anywhere. He’d come up with a hundred excuses and justifications. I needed solid proof.

As soon as the food was on the table, Mark grabbed his lunchbox and started piling things in. He poured out most of the chicken soup, took a few forks of vegetables, and then started on the steamed fish. The fish wasn’t very big to begin with, and he only took the best parts, leaving behind mostly the head and tail. Normally, I would have yelled at him already, but today, I just watched him in silence. Liam couldn’t help but glance at me; he really loved that fish. Just a few days ago, when Mark was shamelessly serving himself like this, I’d scolded him every time. And every time, Liam would try to calm me down: “Mom, Dad works so hard every day, it’s only right that he eats more.” Listen to that. As if I didn’t work every day, as if my job wasn’t tiring. Whenever I got angry at Mark’s laziness, selfishness, or hypocrisy, Liam would always side with his dad, telling me to be more understanding, just like his grandma. Fine. You two have your father-son bond, and I’m just the villain. So today, I didn’t care. I had no energy to care. Mark wasn’t stupid. Seeing my prolonged silence, he sensed something was off. He quickly picked two pieces of fish from his lunchbox and put them in Liam’s bowl. “Son, eat more. Try to get great scores on your college entrance exams and make your mother proud.” I couldn’t help but scoff. “What do you mean ‘make *me* proud’? Whatever he achieves is for himself.” Mark “tsk”-ed, annoyed. “Isn’t that just a way of saying it because you work so hard taking care of him? What’s got your panties in a twist today?” I wasn’t in the mood to argue with him. Instead, I looked at his overflowing lunchbox. It was a three-tiered container. One layer was filled with most of the chicken soup and chicken, another with most of the fish, and the last with rice. The remaining small portion of chicken and fish, all the good bits, had gone into Liam’s bowl. I had spent hours cooking, and all that was left for me were the chicken head and fish tail. Oh, wait, the fish tail was gone too; Mark had taken it. How ironic. My meal tasted like cardboard, but the father and son were chatting happily. They seemed to share a secret, talking in riddles right in front of me. In the past, even if I knew they wouldn’t tell me, I would have asked what they were talking about. But today, I was just so tired, so utterly exhausted that I barely had the strength to swallow my food. I ate only a quarter of my half-bowl of rice, and no one seemed to think anything of it. After dinner, both of them left the table as usual. Seeing that I wasn’t clearing the table as I usually did, Mark resorted to his old trick: “Liam, go wash the dishes.” Liam obediently stood up, collected the dishes and forks, and went to the kitchen. Then he turned on the faucet and called out, “It’s so cold!” But unlike usual, I didn’t tell him to leave. Liam endured washing a few dishes, then came out and said to me, “Mom, the water’s really cold, and I still have a lot of homework tonight…” “I’m not the one telling you to wash the dishes,” I said, looking at Liam. “Mom washes dishes like this every day, and I also think the water’s really cold.” Liam opened his mouth, then reluctantly went back to the kitchen. Mark lay on the couch like a king. “Who made you mad today? Don’t bring your outside problems home. Liam didn’t do anything to you.” I looked at the man sprawled on the couch, and a wave of disgust washed over me from the inside out. This disgust had been building for a long time, ever since I had witnessed his laziness, selfishness, and hypocrisy again and again. But before this, the disgust had always been suppressed. Because “that’s just how life is,” “it’s just a small thing, don’t overreact,” “all men are like this,” “just endure it and it will pass.” This disgust had been stifled and held back by suffocating conventions, until today, when it finally erupted. I gagged, a dry heave directed at Mark’s face. Mark frowned. “What’s wrong with you?” I stood up, gathered the trash, and muttered, “You’re stinking up the place. I’m going to take out the trash.” Mark grumbled, “Why are you taking out the trash so late at night?” He didn’t offer to do it, nor did he offer to come with me. I breathed a sigh of relief.

The dash cam in Mark’s car had been broken for half a month. When he told me, I urged him to get a new one right away, but he said he was an experienced driver and didn’t need it. Looking back, that must have been when things started to go wrong. I uninstalled my car’s dash cam and put it in his. I’d bought a very small dash cam back then to save money, and now it was coming in handy. After doing all this, I quietly waited for Mark to slip up. And slip up he did, the very next day. During his lunch break, Mark drove to the hospital. Everything started to make sense. Because that woman was sick, he had been subtly asking me to cook light and nutritious things. On the way to the hospital, I was still thinking that after I caught him in the act, I’d divorce him later. Liam’s college entrance exams were next semester, and he was under a lot of pressure. As a mother, I couldn’t ignore my son’s future just for immediate gratification. I also thought that no matter what, I should keep this from Liam for now. What I didn’t expect was to run into Liam directly when I arrived at the hospital. Liam was talking to a girl next to him and didn’t see me. The girl was quite pretty, with big eyes and fair skin, very much like a face I remembered. My heart skipped a beat. I quickly asked the nurse nearby, “Do you have a patient named Michelle Smith here? I’m her friend, and I’d like to see her.” The nurse said, “Michelle Smith is on the fourth floor of the inpatient department, room 402.”

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Midnight. One AM. I was jolted awake by a sudden burst of “Happy Birthday” from the dorm room across the hall. I stepped out to take a look. Through the glass doors of their balcony, I could faintly make out the flickering glow of candles and a huddled group of figures. I rolled my eyes, utterly speechless. *Are these people insane?* Celebrating a birthday in the dead of night, they’d accidentally set the place on fire with all those candles and no proper lighting. Still fuming, I went to the bathroom, then returned to my room, grabbed a pair of earplugs, shoved them in, and drifted back into a restless sleep. The next day, we were all woken by screams. That’s when we found out: there had been a massacre in the dorm room across the hall. Ten students in that single dorm room. None survived. **1** Midnight. One AM. I was jolted awake by a sudden burst of “Happy Birthday” from the dorm room across the hall. I stepped out to take a look. Through the glass doors of their balcony, I could faintly make out the flickering glow of candles and a huddled group of figures. I rolled my eyes, utterly speechless. *Are these people insane?* Celebrating a birthday in the dead of night, they’d accidentally set the place on fire with all those candles and no proper lighting. Still fuming, I went to the bathroom, then returned to my room, grabbed a pair of earplugs, shoved them in, and drifted back into a restless sleep. The next day, we were all woken by screams. That’s when we found out: there had been a massacre in the dorm room across the hall. Ten students in that single dorm room. None survived. The police quickly sealed off our university campus and took everyone to the station for questioning. Students from dorms near the crime scene, especially, were interrogated thoroughly. I was one of those singled out. They led me directly into a separate interrogation room, though thankfully, it wasn’t like something out of a crime show, with bright lights glaring and officers barking orders. Noticing my nervousness, the officer tried to reassure me, telling me not to worry and just to tell them everything honestly. I nodded, telling them everything I knew, leaving nothing out, and biting back the urge to ask how the victims had died. Honestly, I figured it was either carbon monoxide poisoning or alcohol poisoning. There was no way someone just barged in and stabbed them all to death, right? After I gave my statement, Detective Miller, the more stoic officer, walked out. Officer Ben, the other one, told me to wait a bit longer for further notice. As he organized his notes, he started making small talk. His chitchat was mostly about how I’d managed to resist my nosy instincts and hadn’t dragged my roommates out to peek at the drama. I gave him an incredulous look. “It was the middle of the night! I was exhausted. Someone was just being dramatic, celebrating a birthday. What’s so exciting about that? It’s not like someone was screaming on their balcony at 3 AM.” Officer Ben chuckled awkwardly at my eye-roll, then slyly asked, “So, if you’d known a murder was going to happen in their dorm, would you have watched a little longer?” “Yeah, probably… I mean, I’d have tried to warn them, to prevent something bad from happening… But who could have known something like that would occur? Speaking of which, I’m really curious: was it carbon monoxide poisoning? The fire in their room looked pretty big that night.” I replied. “Haha, that question… is classified,” Officer Ben said with a wink. “…Seriously?! So you were just trying to trick me?” My eyes widened. He nodded calmly, and a wave of indignation washed over me. Before I could retort further, Detective Miller returned, leading another student in. He motioned for me to leave. Reluctantly, I got up and walked out. I thought that would be the end of it, or at worst, another trip to the station for more questions. I never expected to be summoned again the very next day. Puzzled, I returned to the police station and walked into that familiar interrogation room. “Cassidy, are you certain you saw fire and heard birthday singing from the dorm across the hall that night?” The officer asked me again, seeking confirmation. I nodded firmly, a little confused why they kept asking. Surely they weren’t suspecting *me* of arson just because I saw a flicker of light? “You said you were woken up at 1:40 AM, right?” they pressed. “Yeah, 1:44 AM, actually. I’m a little superstitious; I always avoid numbers like that. That night, I literally watched my phone until it turned 1:45 before I got up to go to the balcony.” I nodded cautiously, feeling a prickle of suspicion that they were targeting me.

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After catching my wife cheating, I lost myself to a chilling fury. Six months later, my mother-in-law jumped from a building, my father-in-law suffered a heart attack, my brother-in-law was jailed, and my wife became infertile. They would never know that it all began with a single pair of high heels. It all started half a year ago. I was a delivery driver. This was my last delivery of the day, and my body was exhausted, but my heart pounded with wild excitement. I’d won the lottery! Ten first-prize tickets, totaling over ten million dollars! After the 20% tax deduction, I still had over eight million dollars left! I symbolically donated ten thousand dollars, and that afternoon, as I walked out of the lottery center, I felt like I was floating. Finally, I could share a beautiful life with my wife. But I’m a man who finishes what he starts. All deliveries for the day had to go out. Yet, as evening fell and I was about to make my final delivery, fate played a cruel trick on me. On a shoe mat by the door of one of the apartments, I saw my wife’s high heels. They were a custom-made birthday gift from me, engraved with her initials. C.M. – Chloe Miller! What were Chloe’s shoes doing here? A knot of suspicion tightened in my gut. Then, from inside the apartment, came the sound of a woman’s wild moan! “Mr. Davies, you’re so much better than my worthless husband. I’m utterly blissed out!” The words hit me like a sledgehammer. It was Chloe’s voice! My lips trembled. I raised my hand, ready to pound on the door, but stopped. What if they didn’t open? Was I just going to stand here, listening to them, like some pathetic idiot? A sudden, chilling calm washed over me. Chloe was cheating. This marriage was over. But I’d bought the lottery ticket while we were still married. By law, she’d be entitled to half of that almost eight million dollars. My lip twitched. Chloe was morally bankrupt. I wouldn’t give her a single penny. Not only that, I would make her lover pay too. To confirm it was truly Chloe inside, I called her from just outside the door. Her custom ringtone echoed from within the apartment. She immediately hung up and, a moment later, sent me a SnapChat message. “What is it? I’m in a meeting!” I stared at the message, a cold sneer twisting my lips. A meeting? At her lover’s lair? I didn’t reply. Instead, I snapped a photo of the delivery slip. The resident was a man named David Davies. I left the package by the door, then turned and walked away. From this day forward, there would be no peace for us. I changed the password on my newly opened bank account, a password only I knew, and kept the card hidden close to my body. Then, with an unnerving calm, I returned home. My mother-in-law, Brenda, my father-in-law, Arthur, and Chloe’s younger brother, Kyle, were already at dinner. They barely acknowledged my presence. Brenda wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Go take a shower, quick! Look at you, all filthy. You’re ruining my appetite.” My lip twitched, but I said nothing. Arthur tapped his fork against his plate. “You haven’t given us the grocery money this week. Look at what we’re eating!” I glanced at the table—meat and vegetables, far better than what I usually ate on the road. Still, I remained silent. Kyle, Chloe’s brother, got agitated. He stood up, his voice rising. “Mom and Dad are talking to you! Can’t you show some respect? I swear, I don’t know why my sister even married a loser like you. No money, no talent.” Exactly! This was Chloe’s family. They clung to me like parasites, draining me dry. I used to be a white-collar worker. Through my own hard work, I bought a three-bedroom apartment, putting Chloe’s name on the deed. After that, Chloe moved her parents and brother from their hometown. Later, I lost my job and became a delivery driver. From then on, the entire family treated me with even more contempt. I earned about nine hundred dollars a month, most of which went straight to Chloe. Yet she still treated me coldly, and her whole family constantly mocked and sneered at me. Before, I had no backbone. I could only endure their insults. Now that I had money, I wouldn’t let these leeches off the hook. If I was going to get revenge, I was going to savor every moment of it. I smiled, a slow, guileless grin, ignoring the three of them. I went straight to my room and began to meticulously plan my payback. A little while later, Chloe returned, looking tired, those glaring high heels still on her feet. She saw me lying on the bed, and her face twisted in rage. She pointed at me and yelled, “Who told you to lie on the bed with your clothes on? Are you filthy? “How many times have I told you, no bed without a shower! Are you trying to defy me? Get down right now! You’re not sleeping in my room tonight. Go sleep on the couch!” Chloe’s face was flushed, clearly still glowing from her recent ‘refreshment.’ When I didn’t move, she got even angrier. “I must have cursed eight lifetimes to end up with you! This is my damn karma! Do you even look like a man anymore? Get out!” I stood up, intending to go shower, but Chloe angrily snapped that she needed to shower first. She probably wanted to wash off the filth. Bitch. That night, I lay alone on the couch, listening to Chloe on FaceTime with someone, her voice incredibly intimate. My heart was unnervingly calm as I plotted my next move. A plan to destroy them, body and soul.

The next day, I went to my workplace and quit my job. Then I hired a private detective, giving him the address and phone number of the David Davies guy from yesterday, along with a photo of Chloe, and told him to investigate. Later, I saw a news report about a local lottery winner—me. Wearing a goofy costume and holding a sign displaying my over ten-million-dollar win, I looked ridiculous. I scrutinized the photos, confident no one would recognize me. My revenge plan was officially in motion. I started with Chloe’s younger brother, Kyle. He was in his early twenties, fresh out of college, unable to find a job, and spent his days loafing around. Chloe was a classic “brother-obsessed” type, giving Kyle five hundred dollars a month for pocket money – equivalent to half our household’s monthly expenses. My first step was to get Kyle out of the house and “motivate him to strive for success”! I had the private detective arrange a setup: a woman would “accidentally” meet Kyle. Just as they were about to enter a motel room, the woman’s “husband” would burst in! Caught red-handed, Kyle fell to his knees, begging for mercy, and blurted out his family’s contact information. That same day, I brought Arthur, Brenda, and Chloe to the motel. Kyle was beaten to a pulp, his face bruised and swollen. A burly man, looking like a mob boss, sat casually on the bed, smoking a cigarette, while a beautiful woman sobbed beside him. Brenda and Chloe rushed to Kyle, hugging him and wailing uncontrollably. Arthur’s face turned beet red with fury. He shouted at the man, “How dare you hit my son? I’m calling the police! You’ll pay for his medical bills!” The man casually flicked his cigarette butt. “Your son tried to sleep with my wife. How do you propose we settle this?” Brenda angrily stood up, acting like a complete shrew. “That’s because your wife was flaunting herself, seducing my son! You can’t control your own wife, and you blame my son?” Chloe’s face was flushed, and she glared. “This isn’t over! You hit my brother, and you’ll pay the price!” The man smirked. “Fine, go ahead and call the police. We’re not afraid of public embarrassment. “But as for your brother, fresh out of college, seducing a married woman… I’ll post it all online. Your whole family will be famous!” “You!” Everyone in the family, except me, was trembling with anger. Kyle was the absolute jewel of that family; they couldn’t stand for his reputation to be tarnished. Chloe crossed her arms, her voice cold. “So, what do you want?” The man grinned slyly. “He slept with my wife, so I’ll sleep with his sister. How about it?” I raised an eyebrow. This jerk wasn’t sticking to the script. He must have been taken by Chloe’s looks. “Dream on!” Chloe glanced at me, then snapped at the man. He continued to smile. “Alright, then just give me a thousand bucks. They didn’t actually do anything before I showed up, after all.” The man had clearly prepared this in advance. A thousand dollars wasn’t much. They feared Kyle’s reputation if they called the police, and Kyle getting a beating was a good lesson for him. Chloe helplessly turned to me for money. As if I’d give her any! I awkwardly mumbled that I hadn’t been paid yet. Chloe cursed me as “useless” then SnapChated a thousand dollars to the man. Only then did she leave with Kyle. She had no idea that I’d paid ten thousand dollars to set this whole thing up! I sighed inwardly. This was just an appetizer. The main course hadn’t even begun. Kyle felt humiliated and kept his head down, but seeing his demeanor, I knew this step had been successful. He wanted to escape this cage. He wanted to get rich. Back home, Arthur didn’t criticize his son. Instead, he started yelling at me, calling me a coward for not stepping up, a pathetic loser for not even defending my brother-in-law. Brenda droned on incessantly, complaining that a grown man didn’t even have a thousand dollars in his pocket, and his wife had to pay when there was trouble. Chloe found their nagging irritating and became even more hostile toward me. My heart remained utterly undisturbed. That night, I continued to sleep on the couch. Chloe was tainted. I would never touch her again. Chloe frowned, clearly preoccupied with something. The next day, I woke up early and left, depositing my lottery winnings into several different bank accounts. I used to be a senior programmer, and in my younger, more rebellious days, I was part of an activist hacker group. Even while delivering packages, I never stopped learning, earning several important certifications. These skills would be invaluable to my revenge. That day, the private detective informed me that he had successfully entered David Davies’ apartment and installed several hidden cameras. If they met again, he would definitely get the evidence. Everything was proceeding as planned. My expression was neutral, devoid of emotion. My heart was utterly broken and disillusioned with this family. Once I had the evidence, I would get my revenge. I would make Chloe and her parasitic family pay. Even though I was rich, I wouldn’t leave them a single penny. Step one was complete. Time for step two. That evening, I invited Kyle out for drinks. Kyle, still sporting a black eye, came along. He ordered the most expensive dishes and started chugging beer. Kyle scoffed. “Brother-in-law, did you hit the jackpot? Daring to treat me to dinner? Aren’t you afraid of Chloe yelling at you?” I smiled. I told him I knew of a way to get rich, and asked if he’d be interested. Kyle’s eyes lit up. He eagerly pressed me for details. I’d recently received a call from an old college acquaintance, telling me to go south to “make money.” I knew my acquaintance was trying to scam me, so I figured I’d pass this “opportunity” on to Kyle. I told him a former colleague had contacted me, asking me to be a “trader” at an offshore foreign company. He’d just sit in front of a computer all day, earning five thousand dollars a month, with a year-end bonus. But I couldn’t leave my current job, so I’d recommended him instead. Did he want to go? Kyle’s face beamed at the mention of five thousand dollars a month, just sitting at a computer. He didn’t notice my cold smirk throughout my explanation. Still, I pretended to be cautious. “After all, it’s an old colleague. Whether it’s reliable is another matter. Maybe you should think it over. But don’t tell your sister I told you, or she’ll yell at me for sending you so far away.” Kyle laughed. “Brother-in-law, you’re just too timid. Chloe has you wrapped around her finger. A grown man afraid of his wife? I really want this job, but I don’t have any money. Brother-in-law, could you lend me some travel expenses?” Even facing his doom, this guy wanted to squeeze me for money one last time. I “hesitated” for a long time before SnapChating ten thousand dollars to Kyle, reminding him not to tell his sister. Kyle laughed and agreed. That night, Kyle got drunk, muttering about getting rich and earning his mother’s and sister’s respect. I watched him, smiling, but said nothing. A hothouse child, longing for the outside world, but utterly unprepared for its dangers. The night passed without incident. Kyle left, pocketing the ten thousand dollars I’d given him. He even sent Chloe a SnapChat message: “Sis, I’m off to work. If I don’t make something of myself, I won’t come back!” Chloe was panicked. She frantically FaceTimed Kyle, but his phone was off. The whole family searched like mad, but found no trace of him. A day later, Kyle finally FaceTimed Chloe. “Sis, don’t worry. I’m just playing around with some friends for a couple of days. I’ll be back soon. I’m in a border town.” Seeing that Kyle was safe, and surrounded by friends, Chloe relaxed, though she still lectured him. I observed the entire exchange. The first part of my plan for Kyle was complete. Next, it was Arthur’s turn. I watched the old man, picking his teeth after finishing his meat, scrolling through videos of beautiful women on TikTok. I’m skilled in coding, and decoding. Yesterday, I used a specialized program to uncover all the family’s secrets and private information. Arthur had two SnapChat accounts. One had his actual profile picture. The other featured a handsome, middle-aged man. He listed his age as 42 and spent his free time chatting with pretty women. He’d even secretly gone on dates behind Brenda’s back. But as soon as they saw Arthur in person, the women always cursed him out and ran away. This old pervert was quite the player. He had strongly opposed Chloe marrying me. To buy this apartment, I’d emptied all my savings. My father even sold our family home in the countryside, leaving my parents living in a rundown shack. Even though I’d won the lottery, I needed to deal with Chloe’s family first, then I could properly care for my parents. Through the private detective, I contacted a nightclub dancer, paid her ten thousand dollars for some photos and videos, and told her she’d need to send voice messages and video chat if needed in the future. The woman winked at me, saying she’d do anything as long as it wasn’t illegal. I registered a new SnapChat account, using a profile picture of a seductive, well-preserved woman, filling the feed with alluring photos. Then, I started chatting with Arthur. Arthur was ecstatic that a female netizen was actively chatting with him. He sent red envelopes and emojis, acting utterly impatient. When he suggested a video call, I simply forwarded the account details to the nightclub dancer. Everything fell into place seamlessly. Arthur was quickly reeled in. As for his requests to meet, I just smiled and replied, “Soon! Just a little longer!” The real show was only just beginning!

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I was on maternity leave, taking it easy at home, when I suddenly got a SnapChat friend request: “Be careful of your husband, he’s going to kill you.” “Crazy!” I couldn’t help but curse, hitting ‘decline’ immediately. Right after, the friend request popped up again: “Trust me, I’m trying to help you.” After I declined it again, they didn’t give up: “David is going to take you on a trip soon, then he’ll make his move to get the insurance money.” Even though they sounded convincing, I didn’t buy a word of it. Our relationship, David’s and mine, wasn’t something a stranger’s few words could shake. I really wanted to type back a furious reply, but just then, I heard the front door open. David was home. I put my phone down and went to greet him, deciding to ignore the weird message for now, though I couldn’t shake the bad feeling. “Honey, you must be tired from work. The baby and I missed you so much at home.” As I spoke, I gently touched my belly. David set down his briefcase and walked over with a smile, pulling me into a half-hug. He’d always spoiled me, and since I got pregnant, he wouldn’t even let me cook dinner; he’d come home and make it himself. “What do you feel like eating tonight, sweetheart?” “Anything you make, I love it all,” I replied sweetly. I really was so happy with him. “How about some porridge then?” “Sounds good.” I leaned against the doorframe, watching his every move. Touching my belly again, I truly felt like the happiest woman in the world. Then, that mysterious friend request flashed in my mind, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of annoyance. Could someone be jealous of my happy life and trying to mess things up on purpose? The thought made me even angrier. I wanted to vent to David and get it off my chest. Just then, David finished rinsing the rice and put it in the pot. He washed his hands and saw me standing by the doorframe, so he walked over to me. His eyes were just brimming with love. With one hand on my waist, he guided me forward. “Why are you standing here? You’ll get tired. Go sit in the living room; the porridge will be ready soon.” “I just want to look at you more,” I whined playfully, letting him gently guide me to the living room sofa. David picked up a fruit knife from the table, intending to peel an apple for me. Even though I said I didn’t have an appetite, he insisted: “Even if not for yourself, you have to eat some fruit for the baby. That way, our little one can grow up healthy.” I thought David made perfect sense and nodded obediently. That’s how much David loved me, he spoiled me like a princess. “Oh, honey, I wanted to tell you earlier about…” I was halfway through complaining about the friend request when David cut me off. He looked at me with sudden excitement, as if something just occurred to him: “Sweetheart, how about we go on a trip next week?” “Huh?” I was stunned. Then he quickly followed up: “The company gave me a perk—a two-person trip to Bali! It’ll be so romantic. We never even went for our honeymoon, so this time we can really enjoy ourselves.” “Oh, and I know of a really fun spot in Bali. I’ll look it up right now…” David finished speaking, shoved the peeled apple into my hand, and grabbed his phone to start researching. I looked at the apple in my hand, then at his incredibly excited face, and just froze. Why would he suddenly bring up a trip? Before, David had always told me to rest at home and avoid going out too much during my pregnancy. Now he was suggesting a trip, and to such a far-off place? The words from that SnapChat message earlier flashed in my mind, and a cold shiver ran down my spine. David noticed my change in expression and came closer, gently patting my shoulder with concern. “Honey, what’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?” Looking at his smiling eyes, I involuntarily flinched. “N-Nothing… I’m fine.” “Are you sure nothing’s wrong? Do you want to see a doctor?” David continued to respond tenderly. But my skin just crawled. Was all his tenderness and thoughtfulness a facade? “No, really, I’m fine. I just didn’t sleep well last night.” I forced down my panic, trying to put on a calm smile, just spouting a casual lie. David didn’t press further. He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “Then make sure you get some good rest after dinner. I’ll tuck you in, okay?” “Okay…” David usually tucked me in, it was one of our little marital traditions. Normally, I loved it, but now, hearing him say it, all I felt was resistance. During dinner, David clearly noticed my distraction, but he didn’t say anything, probably still thinking I hadn’t rested well. Watching him walk off to take a shower, I let out a shaky breath, immediately pulled out my phone, and added the mysterious person. “Who are you, and how do you know David wants to kill me?” My fingers trembled as I typed. There was no immediate reply. The minutes felt like hours. “Heh, what, you believe me now?” His tone was mocking. “Cut the crap. Why do you say David wants to kill me? Do you have proof?” I didn’t waste time with him, cutting straight to the chase. “Who are you really?” My fingertips trembled as I typed. “Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is that David will kill you during your Bali trip for that accidental death insurance payout.” He knew David was taking me to Bali! I was utterly shocked! My heart was pounding, but when I replied, I tried to sound defiant. “Ha, you think I’d believe you? My husband and I are deeply in love; David would never do such a thing!” Even as I retorted, my stomach started churning. “You really trust your husband that much?” “Heh, if you want to bet on it, we’ll see.” Reading his message, I couldn’t help but shiver. I couldn’t gamble with my own life. Better safe than sorry. Did David really want to use my life to defraud insurance? I immediately started looking into any insurance policies under my name. If David had actually bought one for me, it would definitely be traceable. In the few days leading up to the trip, I tried to act normal, but secretly, I began investigating insurance information. I searched almost everywhere, but there was absolutely no insurance under my name! “Seriously, what a psycho!” I couldn’t help but curse. I really didn’t know who was playing such a sick joke, pulling such a damn prank. If I found out who it was, I’d never let them off the hook!

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That year, when I was seventeen, I discovered I was the real heiress of a prominent family. But after I swapped places with the girl who’d been living my life, something strange began to happen. My biological parents, the Harringtons, saw their business plummet, while my previously struggling adoptive parents, the Millers, became incredibly prosperous. Turns out, Serena, the girl who took my place, was a walking good luck charm. Wherever she stayed, that family would flourish. So, both my adoptive and biological parents clung to Serena. “Serena! You’re our only daughter now!” I watched them coldly from the sidelines, but I didn’t tell them the full truth— Serena was indeed a living good luck charm. But her charmed life was only good until she turned eighteen. After her eighteenth birthday, she would become a harbinger of ruin. When I returned to the Harrington estate, Serena had just been thrown out. She only managed to grab a backpack, and a woman who looked like a housekeeper impatiently shoved her. “You imposter! The real heiress is coming home today. Now get out!” Serena’s face was red with shame and resentment, just as my biological parents came out to greet me. She immediately screamed at them. “Dad, Mom, are you really abandoning me?!” Mr. Harrington didn’t even glance at her. He spoke blandly. “I’ve arranged a sum of money for you. Consider this our final settlement for the years you were with us. The Harringtons owe you nothing more.” Mrs. Harrington looked conflicted, but she also said, “Serena, take care of yourself from now on.” Serena’s eyes filled with even more anguish. She stumbled downstairs, almost tripping at the bottom of the stairs. I reached out and steadied her. “Are you okay?” I asked, genuinely concerned. But she just stared at me blankly. The next second, she figured out who I was and angrily yanked her arm away. “You’re Maya? Don’t pretend to be kind!” She yelled at me. “Do you think being the real heiress makes you special? I’m telling you, you’ll all regret this! You’ll come crawling back, begging me!” With that furious declaration, Serena spun around and ran off.

After returning to the Harrington estate, my biological parents treated me incredibly well. They gave me credit cards to swipe as I pleased, bought me expensive jewelry and designer bags, and even set up a trust fund for me. But their generosity didn’t last long. Their business ventures were plagued by one misfortune after another, leaving them struggling to keep their heads above water. “What did you say?” At the breakfast table, my father slammed his hand down after taking a phone call, his voice filled with fury. “Our newly signed artist is in trouble again? That, plus the plane crash last month, and the food poisoning incident… how many times has this happened in just two months?!” “Lower your voice,” my mother scolded him, then turned to pat my hand. “Maya, your father and I need to discuss work. You can go back to your room.” I nodded obediently, preparing to leave the dining room. But as I reached the stairs, I suddenly remembered I’d forgotten my phone. Just as I was about to turn back, I overheard my father’s voice. “Honey, what do you think is going on? Ever since Maya came to live with us, our business has been plagued by such strange occurrences. It’s like we’re cursed! Do you think… maybe Maya and I just don’t have good karma together?” “Don’t be ridiculous!” My mother instinctively retorted, but her tone was laced with uncertainty. “But things have been truly awful lately. Several of our subsidiaries have already gone bankrupt. If this continues, our cash flow will dry up completely…” I heard my father furiously kick the coffee table. He shouted. “No, this can’t go on! I need to find a mystic to take a look!”

The next day, I went back to visit my adoptive parents. Unlike Serena’s hostile departure from the Harrington estate, my adoptive parents had cried their eyes out, holding my hands and telling me they’d always be my mom and dad, urging me to visit whenever I could. So, I went back. But to my surprise, the house was empty. Not only that, all the flowerpots and shoe racks that used to be by the door were gone, as if they’d moved out. I was startled and went to ask Mrs. Gable, our next-door neighbor. “Oh, Maya, didn’t you know?” Mrs. Gable looked surprised too. “Your parents struck it rich recently! They moved into a big mansion with their biological daughter!” I was still reeling from the shock of them moving without telling me when the elevator door next to me suddenly opened. I heard my adoptive mother’s familiar voice. “Serena, you left something at the old house. I told you I’d get it, it’s so hot, why did you come yourself?” I looked up and saw my adoptive mother warmly embracing Serena as they stepped out of the elevator. They looked up and saw me, their smiles freezing. “Maya?” My adoptive mother frowned. “What are you doing here?” Her guarded, distant attitude was a stark contrast to the mother who had cried, begging me not to leave. I subtly furrowed my brow but still spoke honestly. “Mom, I came back to see you and Dad.” But to my surprise, my adoptive mother frowned even harder when she heard my words. “Don’t you dare call me that,” she said coldly. “I am Serena’s mother. You are nothing to me.” I froze. It was then I noticed that in just one month, my adoptive mother had transformed completely. Not only had her style changed, but she was covered in expensive jewelry and designer clothes, looking utterly transformed. More importantly, the expression on her face was like that of a stranger I’d never known. I was shocked by her change, but my adoptive mother paid me no mind. She simply spoke gently to Serena at her side, “Serena, go get your things.” Serena nodded obediently and quickly went into the house. She came out with a potted succulent and left with my adoptive mother. As they entered the elevator, I heard Serena pretend to innocently ask my adoptive mother. “Mom, why didn’t you talk to Maya more? It looked like she came back specifically to see you.” And my adoptive mother, completely unconcerned if I would overhear, immediately spoke with disdain. “We raised her for so many years, and everything went wrong. The moment she left, your father’s business started to pick up. If you ask me, she’s a jinx. I hope I never get entangled with her again!” I watched the elevator doors slowly close. In that moment, a certain bond in my heart snapped completely.

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My mom always said she loved me, but her ‘love’ came with strings. “Do you think I’d be this exhausted if it weren’t for you?” “If you don’t study hard, how can you face me?” “Everything I do is for *your own good*.” She forced me to choose the humanities track, even though I hated it. Before college started, she hid my acceptance letter to my dream university, pushing me instead toward a local state college closer to home. Even after I went to college, she rented an apartment nearby, just to keep an eye on me. Later, I fell in love, finally feeling a glimmer of hope. But she ruined my relationship, threatening to die if I didn’t marry a man who’d already been divorced once. After the wedding, I was constantly abused, leading to a miscarriage, and I could never conceive again. She still told me to “make it work.” Eventually, I jumped from a tall building, ending a life dictated by her. Reborn, I found myself back in my sophomore year of high school, right before the humanities or STEM track decision. “Mom, if you don’t want to drive me to my death, let me choose for myself.” 0

My words froze Mom mid-sentence. It was true; I’d never once defied her since childhood. We were a single-parent family; my dad passed away when I was very young. Everyone around us urged Mom to remarry, but she refused. “What if I remarry, and he doesn’t treat my daughter well?” she’d say. She drilled that into my head constantly throughout my childhood. At first, I felt guilty and incredibly grateful for her sacrifice. But as time wore on, I just felt exhausted. Under Mom’s constant ‘guidance,’ my thoughts twisted. I genuinely believed that disobeying her meant I was a monster, deserving of nothing. Sometimes, secretly, I’d wonder if Mom had remarried, maybe her focus wouldn’t be solely on me, and I wouldn’t have had such a hard life. But now, after living a tragic, manipulated life in my past, I understood. I needed to live the life *I* wanted. And if possible, I hoped my mom could find her own life too. She stared at me for a moment, her mouth slightly agape. “Audrey, you’ve grown up, haven’t you? You don’t listen to your mom anymore.” “I raised you from a baby, sacrificing everything, being both your mother and father. Is *this* how you repay me?” “You actually dared to threaten me with death? Fine. If you absolutely insist on the STEM track, I’ll bash my head against the wall and die.” With that, her eyes welled up, and she moved as if to carry out her threat. I lowered my gaze. In my previous life, I would have been on my knees by now, crying and begging her not to. Whenever I had my own ideas that went against her wishes, she’d pull this stunt. It always worked. Slowly, I lost all courage to rebel. But now, I just wanted to forge my own path. Mimicking her theatrics, I picked up a fruit knife from the table. Her eyes widened in shock as I pressed the blade against my wrist. “Go on, Mom. Bash your head in. If you die, I’ll die with you.” 0

Mom lunged forward, snatching the knife from my hand. She clutched her chest, sobbing, and hit me. “You heartless ingrate, you’re trying to kill your mother!” “Is it so hard to just take humanities? I’m doing this for your own good, sweetie. Why should a girl study STEM? You won’t even have an advantage on the college entrance exams!” “For my own good.” Since I was a child, my mom had controlled me with that phrase. Not just her, but everyone around us. When they heard how Mom hadn’t remarried for my sake, how she’d worked tirelessly to raise me, they looked at her with admiration. And I became the one expected to obey her unconditionally. Otherwise, I was a heartless ingrate. They’d all say, “Your mom is so good to you, you must treat her well when you’re older.” “Don’t ever cross her or make her angry.” I’d heard such words countless times growing up; my ears were practically numb from hearing them. I patted Mom’s back. “Mom,” I reasoned patiently, “I like the STEM track. Actually, STEM opens up many more college majors. My choice makes sense.” Mom didn’t reply. As if struck by an idea, she pushed me aside, wiped her tears, and stormed out. I didn’t know what she was planning, but right then, all I wanted was to focus on my studies. To get into a university I loved, have a free and loving relationship, and build an independent life for myself. But I didn’t expect a crowd to gather at our doorstep shortly after. These were Mom’s ‘reinforcements.’ Among them were some aunts who had always seemed somewhat kind to me. They were all neighbors, well-versed in our family situation. Mom stood there, arms crossed, a triumphant look on her face. It was as if she was saying, “See? If you don’t listen to me, everyone around you will point fingers and scold you.” Soon, Brenda, a neighbor, walked over and took my hand. She spoke with feigned sincerity, “Sweetheart, I know you’re a sensible girl. Your mom is doing this for your own good. Why upset her so much over a simple track choice?” Looking at her smiling face, I felt nothing but scorn. Brenda’s daughter, Skyler, was notoriously rebellious. She never disciplined her, or rather, she *dared* not discipline her. She’d boast to others that her daughter had character and independence, unlike those pathetic kids who only listened to their parents. Now she was siding with my mom, scolding *me* for being disobedient? I smiled back at her. “Brenda, you should probably focus on your own daughter, Skyler. If I’m not mistaken, I saw her with some troublemaker heading into some shady place just the other day.” “You might be a grandma soon. I’ll make sure to drop by for a wedding gift when she has to rush down the aisle.” Brenda’s face changed instantly. She pointed at me, spitting, “You ungrateful brat, how could you be so rude? I’m here trying to help you, and you spread rumors about my daughter? Clearly, a child without a father truly has no upbringing!” As she said that, my mom’s face darkened. She didn’t realize that these aunts, who pretended to be her friends, actually laughed at her behind her back for being a ‘lonely widow.’ In my previous life, I would have argued with them, only for Mom to scold me for being impolite. Now, I was going to make her see these fake friends for who they were. Brenda quickly went to comfort my mom. “Eleanor, I spoke without thinking, please don’t take it to heart.” Then, she shot me a glare before adding, “You’ve raised quite a daughter there, I wouldn’t dare say anything else. I’m leaving.” My mom lost one fake friend, and a key ally in her scheme. But she couldn’t do anything about it, only signaling with her eyes for the others to continue. 0

Patricia, another neighbor, was quite stout with a booming voice, and an even fiercer temper. Her husband couldn’t stand her fiery personality, so he constantly cheated on her with other women. She, however, spent her days ignoring her husband and children, preferring to meddle in other people’s affairs. I hated her. It was because of her that my mom had hidden my dream university acceptance letter, causing me to miss the enrollment deadline. Patricia was jealous that I got into a top-tier university while her own daughter barely scraped into a community college. So, she constantly whispered poison into my mom’s ear. She’d say that if I went to a big university, I’d never come back home. That’s why Mom pressured me into choosing a local state college, keeping me tied to her side. And it didn’t end there. After I started college, she kept pushing Mom to visit me and spy on me. She deliberately badmouthed me to my mom. This constant interference only worsened the relationship between my mom and me. She looked at me with an air of superiority. Clearing her throat, Patricia announced, “Audrey, this is wrong. Your mother raised you; whatever she tells you to do, you should obey. To defy her like this is truly unfilial.” “Back where I’m from, girls weren’t even allowed to go to school. Your mom worked so hard to support you. You’re not only ungrateful, but you’re defying her? Honestly, Eleanor, I think you should just make her drop out and get a job.” I sneered. “Patricia,” I said directly, “I truly admire you. Your husband is about to divorce you, yet you still have the energy to meddle in our family’s business. Whether I study or not, what does it have to do with you? Or is it that you’re jealous that I’m always first in class while your daughter is always last, so you’re hoping to convince my mom to make me drop out?” “You’re utterly stupid and wicked. Only my mom is naive enough to believe you truly care about her. Don’t think I don’t know you’ve always been jealous that my mom raised such a smart, well-behaved daughter.” Patricia’s face contorted with rage, and she began to hurl curses at me. “You really are a no-good, fatherless brat with no upbringing! What business is our family’s affairs to you? Do you, a little hussy, need to tell me how to live my life?” I shot back, “Oh, really? What business are *my* family’s affairs to *you*? Do *we* need you to tell my mom and me how to live *our* lives?” Patricia tried to say more, but Brenda, who had rushed back in, pulled her away. My mom’s face grew darker and darker. The remaining aunts, seeing my outburst, didn’t dare say another word. It was true; I knew all the dirty laundry of these neighbors. Arguing with me would only strip away the last shred of their dignity. So, one by one, they offered my mom a polite smile and left. After Mom closed the door, her expression was still terrible. “Who taught you to say all that?” she asked, her voice cold. I sighed. “Mom, you don’t have many friends. I saw how genuinely happy you were with them, so I didn’t want to tell you.” Tears slowly welled up in Mom’s eyes. She walked towards me and gently embraced me. “Audrey, no matter what they say, no one is as important as you are in my heart.” “I know, Mom. Sometimes my methods aren’t right, but deep down, I truly want what’s best for you.” I smiled, patting her back. “Mom, I actually hope you’ll find your own hobbies and your own life.” “Instead of making me your whole world. Only when you’re happy, will I truly be happy.” Reborn. I had resented Mom, blamed her, but I never hated her. I knew she had sacrificed a lot for me. And endured a lot because of me. Many of the things she did were indeed out of love, just misguided. What I wanted to tell Mom was that I was grown now. I had my own thoughts and my own path to follow. I could take care of myself, and I could take care of her. This time, I was determined to ensure both my mom and I had a happy ending. Mom didn’t say a word. After a moment, she sighed. “I don’t really understand much about your studies.” “If you like the STEM track, then go ahead and choose it.” I couldn’t believe my ears. I never thought Mom would actually give in to my wishes for the first time. It was a small step, but it meant the world to me. I hugged Mom tightly. Jumping with joy, I exclaimed, “Mom, don’t worry, I’ll work incredibly hard, and I won’t let you down!” From that day on, I studied even more diligently. My mom also changed. She wasn’t as strict with me anymore. I thought, maybe after that incident, Mom truly had a change of heart. A year passed like this, and I was far ahead with the highest STEM grades in the entire school. My teachers had high hopes for me; they believed I would surely be the state valedictorian that year. Tsinghua or Peking University — the world was my oyster. Just before the college entrance exams. My mom prepared a lavish feast for me. “Audrey, you’ve worked hard for three years. I’ve thought things through, and from now on, I won’t interfere with anything you want to do.” “You’re right. Actually, Arthur has been quite good to me. After you go to college, I’ll try dating him.” I was overjoyed. I accepted the glass of wine my mom offered, drinking it all without hesitation. “Mom, it’s great that you’ve come around! I promise I’ll work hard, earn a lot of money, and take care of you.” I was too excited. I completely missed the fleeting flicker of guilt in my mom’s eyes. Soon, I was drunk. My mom helped me to bed. I had a beautiful dream. In it, I got into my dream university, MIT. There, I found a supportive and understanding boyfriend. My mom had her own new family and was happy every day. But when I woke up again, rubbing my bleary eyes, I discovered something utterly terrifying.

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