Author: Momo Chan

Winter in Riverdale, 2 AM. In her drowsy state, Aria Summer felt a chill creep in. Just as she was about to pull the blanket tighter, it was suddenly yanked away. The bitter winter wind whipped through the air as strong, slender fingers tore at Aria’s nightgown. Lips reeking of alcohol frantically sucked at every inch of her pale skin. Aria squeezed her eyes shut against the searing pain below. She forced herself to enjoy this almost violent coupling, for it was her only chance to be intimate with Lucas Stark. With a click, the flame of a lighter briefly illuminated the darkness. The sharp scent of menthol cigarettes filled the air. Aria curled up in the corner of the bed, clutching her stomach. Her beautiful face was contorted with pain. “It’s not like this is your first time. Why are you still in so much pain?” Lucas’s voice was cold and indifferent. Aria opened her mouth but couldn’t make a sound through the agony. “I guess rich girls really are delicate,” Lucas sneered. With that parting jab, Lucas strode into the bathroom on his long legs. The sound of falling water droplets stabbed at Aria’s heart. Aria struggled to sit up and fumbled for the medicine box on the nightstand. She dry swallowed a painkiller. There was drinking water in the living room, but she couldn’t make it that far. And she certainly wouldn’t expect Lucas to bring her a glass. A gentle melody began to play, repeating over and over. Aria glanced at the steamy bathroom, then inexplicably answered the phone. A saccharine female voice grated on her ears: “Lucas, my flight time changed to tomorrow afternoon. Make sure you pick me up, okay? I want to see you as soon as I land!” Aria froze. She knew that voice all too well. It was her. She was back… On the other end, the woman kept calling out when she got no response. “Lucas, can you hear me? Hello? Hello?” The bathroom door opened and Lucas emerged wrapped in a towel, just in time to hear the woman’s shouts. He snatched the phone from the dazed Aria and replied softly, “Mm, I got it. I won’t be late.” “She’s back?” Aria’s voice was as cold as ice. Lucas lay down without even looking at her. “The driver will pick you up at 10 AM tomorrow to go to the courthouse and finalize the divorce. You can keep this apartment and this credit card – it’s enough for you and your mother to live comfortably.” Lucas’s deep, magnetic voice carried an air of undeniable authority. A wave of intense pain surged through Aria’s body from her abdomen. She gripped the edge of the table, her knuckles turning white. “It’s because she’s back that you want to divorce me? Is that it?” Aria’s pale lips trembled violently as she asked, as if using all her strength. Lucas paused his texting and looked her directly in the eye: “You seem to have forgotten your place, Aria Summer!” Aria’s body shook like a sieve as she collapsed to the floor. Lucas was right. In their five years of marriage, she had forgotten her place. She truly believed that holding that marriage certificate made her Mrs. Stark… But in Lucas’s heart, she was nothing more than a bed warmer. Their marriage was just her using her family’s status to trap him… In Lucas’s eyes, she was just a scheming woman who would do anything to possess him. What right did she have to argue with him? Aria Summer had no leverage! Lucas’s true love was back. It was time for the scheming stand-in to leave. What was there to fuss about? Was she really unwilling to let go of five years of devotion? Or was she just bitter about losing to his true love? “Lucas, divorce is such a big decision. Shouldn’t you at least let me discuss it with my family?” Aria’s voice was as humble as dust. Lucas put down his phone and tightly gripped Aria’s slender neck. Aria immediately struggled to breathe. “Discuss with who? Your frail, helpless mother? Aria, remember this – our marriage was always just a contract. You’ve had me for five years. I’ve given you compensation. Learn to be satisfied, understand?” Lucas released his grip and Aria gasped for air, tears spilling from her eyes along with her broken heart. Another wave of intense pain racked her abdomen. Aria finally collapsed, her entire body violently shaking on the floor. “Don’t be late tomorrow. Bring all the necessary documents.” With that cold instruction, Lucas stepped right over Aria’s prone form. His disgusted look was like he was seeing a stray dog on the street. The sharp smell of disinfectant cleared Aria’s head. She sat up straight, looking directly into the doctor’s eyes, trying to read his expression behind the mask. “Dr. Shaw, what were the biopsy results?” Dr. Shaw adjusted his glasses, hesitating. “I can make my own decisions about my health. Please just tell me – I’m prepared for anything.” Aria’s voice was as cold as if it had been disinfected too. Dr. Shaw sighed and handed Aria the test results. “Stage 2 brain cancer, with metastasis to the intestines. That’s why your stomach has been hurting.” Dr. Shaw looked at the quiet Aria, unable to hold back his regret. Twenty-five was far too young for this. “If I don’t get treatment, how long do I have?” Aria’s gaze was steady, as if discussing someone else’s fate. “You’re still young. The chances of a cure are quite high, especially if we use targeted therapy…” Aria cut him off. “If I don’t get treatment or surgery, how long do I have?” “Three to six months. But if we operate…” A small smile played on Aria’s lips as she slowly stood. “That’s enough. Thank you. Could you please prescribe some extra painkillers for me?” Aria tucked away the test results, bowed in thanks, and left Dr. Shaw’s sympathy behind the closed door. Rushing as fast as she could, Aria was still half an hour late to the courthouse. Lucas’s face was stormy as he waited in the Mercedes. With all the paperwork in order and no disputes over assets, the clerk quickly processed everything and handed over the divorce certificates. Aria carefully placed the divorce certificate on top of her medical report as she prepared to leave. Lucas’s low voice came from behind her. “Where did you run off to? Why didn’t the driver pick you up?” Aria smiled faintly. “Mr. Stark, we’re no longer husband and wife. I don’t need to report my whereabouts to you.” Thanks to Riverdale’s congested traffic, it was already dusk by the time Aria made it home. The gated community was eerily quiet, devoid of any homey warmth. After boiling some water, Aria swallowed a few painkillers and began packing her things. Lucas had left her the villa, but it was far from the city center. With no car, it would be inconvenient. Since she didn’t have long to live anyway, she might as well sell it and leave her mother some money for retirement. As Aria packed, she realized all of Lucas’s belongings had vanished. There wasn’t a single trace of him left in the house, as if their five-year marriage had never existed. It seemed she truly was just a stain on his life that needed to be thoroughly scrubbed away. Aria efficiently packed up her things and called a realtor. She climbed into the moving truck with the movers. “Ma’am, do you want to keep this photo?” Just as the truck was about to leave, Aria’s gaze fell on their wedding portrait. “No, you can dispose of everything inside as you see fit.” Aria clutched the divorce certificate in her purse and waved goodbye as the truck drove off in a cloud of dust. By the time she got settled at her mother’s place, it was the middle of the night. The next day at work, Aria had dark circles under her eyes and looked terribly haggard. Aria’s desk was in a corner, surrounded by stacks of blueprints and books. As a junior draftsman at Stark Architecture, none of her coworkers knew about her relationship with Lucas Stark.

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I sold my house and splurged a staggering nine hundred and ninety thousand credits on card packs in a livestream. The entire internet laughed, waiting for me to lose everything. I just sent one message in the chat: “You promised a hundred-times refund if someone spent a million and didn’t pull the card. Not only did I spend that much, but I just dropped another million. Let’s see how much you’ve got to lose!” In my previous life, my son, Leo, stole my life-saving medical funds for this exact card, leading to my death by illness. That “limited edition card,” however, was just gathering dust in the streamer’s warehouse. Reborn into this life, I swear I’ll make them pay everything! Chad from “Chad’s Box Breaks” and his assistant, Tiffany, were grinning from ear to ear. “Alright, everyone! Huge thanks to our amazing EmpressGale for her support! EmpressGale, you’ve already spent nine hundred and eighty thousand credits opening packs!” Chad picked up a stack of cards for Tiffany to pack. “EmpressGale, you should really stop! Don’t go too crazy! This pure gold, hidden ‘Golden Ox’ card is one of only ten in the world, it’s super rare!” Tiffany giggled, covering her mouth. “Chad, don’t say that! What if EmpressGale is the chosen one? Go for it, sis! Tiffany’s rooting for you! Maybe it’ll be in the next pack!” The chat was spammed with messages. “OMG, is this rich lady actually loaded or just insane? Nine hundred and eighty thousand already!” “I did the math. The streamer has opened 9,800 packs, at 100 credits each. That’s really 980,000 credits! All for one card?” “Someone’s definitely stealing from their company, right?” On my screen, I maintained a blank expression and bought another 100 packs. “Order placed successfully!” A collective gasp erupted in the livestream chat. Chad roared with laughter. “Incredible! Absolutely incredible! EmpressGale, to thank you for your support, I’ll personally unbox every single one of these for you, even if I have to stream until dawn!” Tiffany chimed in. “EmpressGale is so generous! Drop some lucky vibes in the chat, everyone, and cheer on EmpressGale!” I stared coldly at the two on my screen. In my previous life, these two used the same deceptive tactics to trick my son, Leo. Leo stole my five hundred thousand credits, meant for my heart bypass surgery, and blew it all in this livestream. By the time I found out, it was too late. Overwhelmed with rage, I collapsed. Eventually, I drowned in a cold, unforgiving hospital toilet. After my death, I watched as Leo was called a jinx by our relatives, who pointed fingers and shamed him. And after Chad and Tiffany ended their stream, they pulled out that Golden Ox card from their warehouse, calling their boss to boast. “Mr. Hayes’s plan is brilliant! A ‘million and no card, a hundred-times refund’ gimmick—who’d actually spend a million on paper cards? We can release this card whenever we want!” When I opened my eyes again, I was reborn. This time, I sold my only house, gathering three million credits. You thought no one would spend a million on unboxing? I’m not just going to spend it, I’m going to spend enough to make sure you lose everything!

“Seraphina! Are you insane! You actually sold the house?!” On the other end of the phone, my sister Maya’s voice was sharp with panic. “That was the only thing you and your husband had left! What about Leo? Where will you live?!” I listened calmly to my sister’s incomprehensible shouts. Watching Chad on the screen, mechanically unboxing cards like a numb robot, I couldn’t help but smile. “Seraphina, don’t smile like that, it’s creepy! Have you been scammed? I’m calling the police right now!” Maya’s voice was tearful. “Maya, don’t worry about me. I know what I’m doing.” “You know what you’re doing? By selling your house?!” I hung up the phone. I knew she meant well. In my previous life, after my death, she tried to get justice for me, but Chad’s company slandered her, accusing her of extortion. She eventually succumbed to depression. This time, I wouldn’t let anyone I care about get hurt. Soon, another 100 packs were unboxed by Chad. Still no Golden Ox. Seeing that I hadn’t placed another order, the chat rhythm shifted. “Where’d she go? Why isn’t the rich lady talking? Out of money?” “LOL, 990,000 down the drain. She’s probably getting ready to jump off a bridge now.” Tiffany feigned concern. “EmpressGale, are you still there? Don’t scare us. Card unboxing is just for fun, please don’t do anything drastic.” Chad sighed dramatically. “Sigh, I told everyone to spend rationally. This lady just wouldn’t listen. Tiffany, maybe we should call the police? If something serious happens, we can’t take responsibility.” They instantly distanced themselves. The livestream chat erupted with praises for their “conscience.” I topped up another million credits and placed another order. “Chad… EmpressGale just ordered another ten thousand one hundred packs of ‘Baby Bull Collector’s Edition’!” Tiffany’s voice, next to him, was trembling slightly. The screen immediately filled with question marks and “OMG!” messages. Chad’s smile froze. He never imagined someone would actually drop another million just for a card. Chad’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He gulped down a large drink of water to steady himself. “Cough, cough… EmpressGale, what are you doing? You must be joking, right? I suggest you don’t pursue this. I’ll have my assistant cancel the order for you right away.” His voice was now laced with an almost imperceptible tremor. Seeing his panic, I raised my hand and initiated a paid call-in, an exclusive VIP privilege that streamers on this platform are obligated to accept. “Chad, don’t panic. If I remember correctly, your livestream’s rule is: if someone spends a million credits and doesn’t pull a Golden Ox, you’ll pay a hundred-times refund on the unboxing fee, right?” My voice echoed through the livestream. The chat, which had been mocking me moments ago, froze. Everyone was stunned. Chad and Tiffany’s faces turned instantly ashen. “Sis… you… you can’t be serious, that was just for stream effect, to add some fun…” Chad started stammering, his composure completely gone. “Stream effect, you say?” I pressed on. “Your livestream’s background wall clearly displays, in bold red letters: ‘Spend a Million, No Card? Get a Hundred-Times Refund!’ Are you now telling me that was just for effect?” Chad seemed to remember something. He spun around, and the eight bold words on the background wall made cold sweat bead on his forehead. The livestream audience finally caught on. “Holy crap! There really is such a rule! I always thought it was just hot air!” “I remember too! Chad kept talking about it, saying he welcomed big spenders to challenge him!” “A hundred times a million… that’s a hundred million?!” “My God! This is going to be epic!” “The streamer isn’t going to back out, is he? This is going to be good!” Public opinion flipped. Chad looked at the chat, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word. He looked desperately at Tiffany, who nervously lowered her head. Just then, my son, Leo, burst through the door. He had clearly been watching the stream, his small face flushed. “Mom! Is that you on Chad’s stream! Are you crazy! Where do we get all that money! Stop it! Cancel the order now!”

This was the first time I’d seen my son since being reborn. Seeing his distressed expression, my heart ached. But I still pushed him away, my voice cold as I warned him. “Get out, now.” “Mom! My teacher said gambling is illegal! You’ll go to jail! I don’t want you to go to jail!” Leo cried, kneeling at my feet, pleading with me to stop. “Get out!” I snapped, my voice harsh. Leo froze, startled by my ferocity. I had never been so harsh with him, but to make him learn his lesson about card unboxing, and for my revenge, I had to be strong. I steeled my heart, picked him up, threw him out of the room, and locked the door, ignoring his cries. After dealing with Leo, I fought back tears and turned my attention back to the livestream. Hearing my conflict with Leo, Chad and Tiffany seemed to find a lifeline. Chad immediately put on a pained expression. “EmpressGale! You’re going too far! How can you do this in front of your child! You’re teaching him to gamble! Do you have any regard for him?” Tiffany’s eyes immediately welled up. “Sis, please stop. Look how scared your child is. Money can be earned again, but if you lose your family, you lose everything! For your child’s sake, don’t keep going down this path!” They instantly seized the moral high ground, portraying me as a negligent mother. The chat exploded again. “Gross, gambling with her kid’s money?” “What a crazy woman! Doesn’t deserve to be a mom!” “Streamer, call the police! This is definitely domestic abuse! Child abuse!” I looked at the chat and smiled. In my previous life, you said the same things. I ignored their accusations and continued my questioning. “Don’t be so quick to label me. Chad, answer my question first. If a million credits are spent and no card is pulled, is it a hundred-million-credit refund? Does what you advertise every day on your stream count or not? If it doesn’t, then refund me!” Chad was pushed into a corner, knowing he couldn’t just smooth things over. He gritted his teeth, forcing a smile. “Alright, EmpressGale! Since you’re so determined, Chad’s Box Breaks will play this game to the end!” He slapped the table. “I’ll unbox it for you right now! In front of hundreds of thousands of people online! If I really don’t pull two Golden Ox cards in these remaining ten thousand one hundred packs, I’ll directly pay you two hundred million! Chad’s Box Breaks always keeps his word!” He was gambling with me. Gambling that my next million-credit order would yield a Golden Ox. They were also very clever. They didn’t say they’d pay me a hundred million if the next hundred packs didn’t yield a Golden Ox. Instead, they combined the two million-credit orders, betting on pulling two cards. They could use the excuse of going to the warehouse to retrieve more packs, then secretly re-seal a Golden Ox into a pack. If they could pull one Golden Ox from the remaining ten thousand packs, this crisis would be over. If not, the time it took to unbox ten thousand packs would be enough for them to fake a Golden Ox card and re-seal it into a pack. This way, the livestream could create drama while avoiding compensation. It was their usual trick. I looked at Chad’s face, twisted with excitement, and sneered inwardly. Finally, I had lured him into the trap, making him live up to his streamer persona. The real show was about to begin!

Seeing me disconnect the call, Chad also became highly agitated. He had Tiffany bring in ten thousand packs, piling them into a small mountain. “Folks! Today, let us witness a miracle together! Witness the birth of the Golden Ox!” He roared into the camera. Tiffany fanned the flames beside him. “Card Breakers! Hit that follow button! Drop those badges! Send in those gifts! Let’s all wish EmpressGale good luck and cheer on Chad!” The livestream’s popularity peaked, with online viewers exceeding a million. Everyone was captivated by this million-credit gamble, eagerly awaiting the outcome. Chad took a deep breath and started unboxing. “Nothing!” “Nothing!” “Still nothing!” He unboxed faster and faster, sweat dripping from his face. Tiffany stood by, offering water and wiping his brow. “Almost there, almost there, it has to be soon!” “Oh my god, this is so intense! My heart’s pounding out of my chest!” Time ticked by. Half an hour. An hour. Two hours. The mountain of card packs rapidly dwindled. The “Golden Ox” still hadn’t appeared. The atmosphere in the livestream shifted from frenzied to eerie. “The odds are ridiculously low, aren’t they? He’s opened thousands of packs already?” “I’m starting to get a weird feeling. What if there really isn’t one?” “If he really doesn’t pull it in these ten thousand packs, isn’t the streamer going to have to pay 200 million?” “Dude, you’re overthinking it. It’ll definitely come out in the last few packs. It’s just a script.” Chad’s face grew increasingly grim, his movements mechanical, his hands starting to tremble. Tiffany couldn’t even manage a smile, biting her lip nervously. She anxiously shot Chad meaningful glances. But Chad ignored her, burying his head in the packs. He couldn’t stop, only hoping the company would save him soon. When he reached the very last pack, Chad took it from Tiffany. Then, he began his performance. “Folks! Wish me luck! This is the last pack! If I don’t pull two Golden Ox cards from this pack, I’ll have to pay 200 million!” After saying that, Chad clasped his hands together and began to pray. Watching Chad’s expression, I couldn’t help but marvel at their acting skills. This last pack, I thought, must be one they re-sealed, and it definitely contains two Golden Ox cards. Sure enough, just as I expected, after Chad finished praying, he picked up a pair of golden scissors. He shouted. “Folks! The miracle happens now!” Then, with a swish, he cut open the pack and pulled out two limited edition cards. Golden Ox! “Hahahahaha! We got it! Finally! Folks! Did you see that! A miracle! Two golds in one pack!” Chad laughed, tears streaming down his face—half acted, half genuine relief. Tiffany clapped excitedly. “Congratulations, EmpressGale! It’s your persistence that allowed us to witness this great moment!” The livestream chat erupted. Over a million viewers simultaneously spammed messages of congratulations. Watching them perform with such gusto, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. So, I clicked on the livestream’s shopping cart and ordered another ten thousand packs.

The livestream screen froze the moment my order went through. Chad and Tiffany’s expressions of wild joy were abruptly replaced by shock. “Chad… EmpressGale, she just ordered another ten thousand packs…” Tiffany’s voice, now laced with a sob, utterly shattered Chad’s fleeting hope. On the screen, after a brief, stunned silence, question marks and exclamation points erupted like a volcanic explosion. “Holy crap! Again? Is she an actual money-printing machine?” “Wait a minute! Didn’t she already get the cards? Why is she still buying?” “I’m confused, what is this rich lady trying to do?” Chad’s face went from ashen to deep green, his eyes glued to the “Order Placed Successfully” system notification on the screen. His lips trembled, unable to utter a single word. I didn’t give him a moment to breathe, initiating another paid call-in. “Chad, don’t just stand there, keep unboxing,” I said calmly, fighting back a smile. Chad snapped back to reality, suddenly jumping up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. “What exactly do you want?! You already pulled the Golden Ox! The event is over!” “Over?” I chuckled softly. “Who said it’s over? Your rule is: ‘Spend a Million, No Card? Get a Hundred-Times Refund,’ but it didn’t say there was a limit.” I stated my case clearly and precisely. “Let me break it down for you. My first order totaled one million credits. You unboxed ninety-nine thousand worth of packs and pulled nothing. Even in that last one thousand credits worth of packs, you didn’t pull a Golden Ox. Therefore, according to your rules, that first million-credit order already triggered the hundred-times refund clause. That’s one hundred million credits.” “As for the two cards you just pulled, they belong to my *second* million-credit order. Congratulations, you don’t have to pay for the second million-credit order, and I can temporarily ignore the hundred million from the first. Now, I’ve placed a *third* million-credit order. Please start unboxing. Millions of viewers are watching, don’t try to back out now.” My words ignited the chat once again. “Holy crap! I get it! She’s a logical genius!” “Yeah! The first million absolutely didn’t yield the card! Those two were from the second million!” “OMG, you can play it like that? So the streamer has to pay 100 million?!” “This isn’t just unboxing cards anymore, this is psychological warfare!” “It’s over, Chad just messed with the wrong person!” Chad’s breathing grew incredibly ragged. He pointed at the camera, his face contorted in a furious scream. “This is extortion! Malicious ordering! You’re trying to ruin us! I’m not unboxing! Go ahead and sue me!” He resorted to being a complete jerk. Tiffany also caught on, immediately turning to the camera and crying. “EmpressGale, why are you doing this? We’re just a small business trying to earn an honest living. You’re so rich, why do you have to pick on us? You’re trying to drive us to ruin!” They started playing the victim card, attempting to gain sympathy and shift public opinion. Some fans started defending them, but most people were simply watching the drama unfold. I coldly observed their pathetic performance. “Chad, are you sure about that? Are you admitting, in front of a million people, that the promise displayed on your livestream’s background wall is a lie? Or are you saying your entire livestream is a scam?” “I…” Chad was choked into silence. “I’ll give you two choices.” My voice hardened. “Either you immediately transfer one hundred million credits to my account and then continue unboxing the cards from my third million-credit order. Or, I call the police right now and report you for commercial fraud. You choose.” After I stated my demands, Chad slumped in his chair, remaining motionless for a long time. The livestream descended into a dead silence. Suddenly, the screen went black. They went offline. They thought going offline would solve everything? How naive. I immediately edited the recorded livestream footage, especially the segments where they promised the hundred-times refund and where they finally admitted to being dishonest. I attached all my order records and payment proofs and posted them online.

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My CEO husband loved having his friends over for dinner. He always said it made us feel like a real family. Watching me serve a table full of dishes, one of his friends grinned. “You’re truly the perfect wife, Eleanor! So gracious, so regal!” My expression didn’t change. I playfully asked, “Oh? What, do you mean there’s a *different*, less generous ‘Mrs. Blackwood’ around?” His friends froze, a flicker of panic in their eyes. Julian just laughed, slinging an arm over my shoulder. “Don’t listen to their nonsense, darling. Besides you, who else in this world could ever be my wife?” Watching him act so nonchalant, I smiled. But as I turned to leave, I dialed a number. “Marcus, Julian Blackwood is cheating. Make sure he rots in jail.” My brother on the other end of the line was silent for three seconds. “Eleanor, are you sure? Julian Blackwood, he…” I pulled off the wedding ring from my ring finger. The diamond felt like a shard of ice against my palm. “For ten years, every single cufflink he owned was custom-made, imported from Milan.” “But today, he was wearing a cheap, gaudy plastic flower. Marcus, do you really think that’s a mistake?” “You know I won’t tolerate any injustice. Expose all the dirty deeds he’s done over the years. And by the way, get me the best lawyer. I’m filing for divorce.” My brother’s voice was filled with fury. “Alright.” Half an hour later, my phone received an encrypted file. I clicked open the first photo: a seemingly innocent girl in a white shirt, her arm linked through his, was beaming at him, her smile absolutely radiant. And on the wrist peeking out from her cuff, there was a wolf’s head tattoo – identical to Julian’s. I didn’t hesitate. I drove straight to his company. A few minutes later, a girl with long, straight black hair, dressed in a white skirt, hurried out. I glanced at her employee ID: Chloe Miller. The moment she saw me, her face went instantly white. She instinctively tried to hide her hand behind her back. But I still saw it: a custom-made Swiss watch. Last year, for my birthday, I received a Swiss purchase record. A three-million-dollar watch, a fifty-thousand-dollar necklace. The necklace was carefully tucked away at home. The watch was on her wrist. I scoffed, stating directly, “Ms. Miller’s husband seems to have similar taste to mine. Even the custom-made watch designs are identical.” Chloe trembled at my words, her red lips parted and closed several times before she finally stammered out a response. “Oh… oh, really… Maybe all men just have similar taste.” Her knuckles were white where she clutched the hem of her dress. “Alright, stop pretending.” “You’re the ‘other Mrs. Blackwood,’ aren’t you?” Seeing me lay it all out, Chloe trembled even more, looking utterly panicked. “Please don’t misunderstand, it was just that Mr. Blackwood fainted again from low blood sugar, and I simply helped him. Mr. Blackwood’s friends thought I was very attentive and were just joking.” “I’m truly sorry if I caused any misunderstanding.” With that, she even exaggeratedly bowed ninety degrees to me. She put on a pitiful, fragile act, the classic ‘damsel in distress’ routine. If I hadn’t seen her manipulative tactics with Julian before, I might have actually fallen for it. Half a month ago, she posted a video on social media. A man was swiping his card at a luxury car dealership, next to a Porsche. Her caption read: “A man’s money shows where his heart truly lies.” At that time, I was home with a fever, burning to the point of unconsciousness. I called Julian, asking him to take me to the hospital. He sounded flustered for a moment, but then his voice turned hoarse, as if suppressing something. “Darling, I’ll have the housekeeper take you. I’m tied up with something urgent right now.” An hour later, I was in the hospital, fighting pneumonia. But she posted a photo lying in a car, a man’s abs clearly defined, adorned with suggestive red marks. The caption: “Both my new car and you will forever bear my mark.” Julian rushed in, his shirt still half-unbuttoned. He collapsed by my bedside, his eyes red-rimmed. Back then, I naively thought he was worried about me. But now, I knew it was just the guilt of a cheating man. A sudden wave of disgust washed over me. This cheap, manipulative woman wasn’t even worth Julian betraying me for. Too tired to watch her pitiful expressions, I turned and left. But just as I got into my car, Julian called. The moment I answered, his tone was frantic. “Why did you suddenly decide to come to the company?”

“Why?” I started the car, asking coolly, “Just happened to have a contract to discuss. Is there something you’re afraid of me finding out?” Julian seemed unprepared for my question. His breathing hitched for a moment. After a few seconds of silence, his voice softened, adopting his usual cajoling tone. “Darling, what are you talking about?” “I have nothing to hide from you. My office is just a mess, so I’d have someone clean it up before you came. Besides, why would I ever betray you? Feel free to check anything you want.” Hearing that, I was somewhat surprised. Chloe hadn’t told him that I’d confronted her. I scrolled through the evidence while listening to his excuses. Three gigabytes of files, every single day connected to Julian. Last Valentine’s Day, he claimed to be on a business trip abroad and couldn’t call, but he was actually watching the Northern Lights with Chloe in the Arctic. When my father was gravely ill, I called him over thirty times, but he didn’t answer a single one. At that very moment, he was celebrating Chloe’s birthday. “I believe you, but what about that watch?” Seeing me bring it up, Julian seemed to relax a little. He lowered his voice, the affection clearly forced. “That watch was because I suddenly fainted at work. Chloe happened to be passing by and helped me to the hospital.” He paused, then added, “She stayed by my side all night. I just gave her the watch as a thank-you gift. I forgot to mention it to you at the time.” Forgot? He must have a very selective memory. He didn’t just forget to tell me that. He also forgot they spent three days and three nights in the hotel’s penthouse suite that very same night. A cold sneer formed in my heart. “She’s certainly attentive. The black shirt you wore when you fainted? She even washed and ironed it perfectly before returning it the next day.” Julian on the other end clearly stiffened, his breathing hitched, then he chuckled, trying to play it off. “Isn’t she? The girl is incredibly meticulous.” “See, you’re always so suspicious. My heart belongs only to you, darling.” He lowered his voice, the affection clearly forced. “Once I’m done with this busy period, I’ll take you on that make-up vacation to the Maldives, alright? Just the two of us.” His gentle tone, which once melted my heart, now filled me with utter revulsion. “Sounds great,” I said, looking out at the neon lights flashing past my car, my voice as calm as if discussing the weather. “But you take care of your business first. Don’t let me distract you.” “Nothing is more important than being with you, darling.” Julian’s voice was filled with eager flattery, but my heart grew colder. Not just because Julian had cheated, but because I couldn’t believe they had put on such a long act right under my nose. My grip on the steering wheel tightened. I suppressed the urge to confront Julian then and there. I wanted him to admit his relationship with Chloe himself. Then, I would ruin that wretched pair, utterly and completely. I mumbled a few dismissive words and hung up. Just then, Chloe’s social media updated again. The screen showed her wearing an elaborately designed, diamond-encrusted wedding dress, her face beaming with joy. “Another mistress tried to cause trouble today, trying to take my place. Mr. Blackwood is making it up to me; he’s finally going to marry me!” “I only mentioned wanting a castle wedding, and he bought me an entire castle!” She curved her lips, and the camera casually panned over a property deed. “And these vineyards! He wants me to manage them! I’m such a silly girl, how could I? Thankfully, Mr. Blackwood promised to come with me to establish my authority, so those people don’t try to take advantage of me for being young!” Looking at the property deed in the video, emblazoned with my French name, pure rage surged through me. Those vineyards were my coming-of-age gift from my brother. Julian actually used them to woo his mistress! Fine, so they want to establish their authority? We’ll see how they do it in front of the *real* owner of these vineyards!

I bought a plane ticket that very night and flew to France. At the vineyard, the old butler’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw me. “Miss Eleanor, what brings you here? Didn’t you say you were lending the estate to Mr. Blackwood for a banquet today? And that all the family members were to be cleared out?” Hearing that, pure rage surged through me. Just as I was about to answer, Julian’s call came through. “Darling, I’m in a cross-country meeting. I’ll fly back to you as soon as I’m done.” Before I could reply, I faintly heard a sickly sweet female voice from the other end. “Julian, do I look good in this?” The next second, Julian muffled the phone and walked away. “Gotta go, the meeting’s starting.” Almost simultaneously, the grand, ornate gates of the vineyard swung open, and over a dozen luxury cars pulled up, parking one after another in the fountain square. Countless unfamiliar faces were being seated. I found a secluded spot and sat down. Once everything was set, Chloe, wearing a fiery red haute couture gown, made her grand entrance, radiating the triumphant arrogance of someone who’d gotten everything she ever wanted. “Let me introduce myself. I am Chloe Miller, the new owner of this vineyard.” “Mr. Blackwood said that from now on, the wine, the castle, even every grape in the vineyard, are all under my command!” “To celebrate, all the wines are seventy percent off! Consider it my welcome gift to you all!” Seventy percent off? She’s certainly generous. The cheapest bottle here costs at least a million dollars. Some are even collector’s items; even the British Royal Family would have to think twice before getting a discount like that! Mr. Davies, who had watched me grow up, was seething with anger. “Since when did this vineyard belong to her?!” “And Julian Blackwood! How dare he keep a mistress behind Miss Eleanor’s back! Is he out of his mind?!” Seeing the butler about to storm out, I quickly shook my head. This wasn’t the time to expose her. I wanted to wait for Julian to personally admit his relationship with Chloe, then I would utterly ruin that wretched pair. Just then, the ornate gates opened again, and Julian walked in, dressed in a custom-tailored suit. Seeing him, Chloe immediately ran into his arms, giggling as she shook his arm. “Julian, I told you this brand of suit fits you best.” Julian’s eyes visibly stiffened, but he managed to maintain a poker face and nodded. And the anger in my heart almost burst into flames. The founder of that brand is a sworn enemy of my family. My father, he was literally schemed against by them – it broke his heart and his health. Julian knew all about this, yet now, he was publicly slapping me in the face. Just as I could no longer hold back and was about to storm out, Julian’s friends surrounded him. “Julian, look at Chloe! She’s so vibrant, so captivating!” “Chloe, our Julian here just hands over a multi-million-dollar estate like it’s nothing! Where else would you find a man like that!” Amidst their laughter, Chloe lowered her head, blushing. Just then, Mr. Jenkins, the wine estate manager, who was delivering wine, spoke up, confused. “What do you mean ‘now belongs to a Miller’? Didn’t you just borrow this from our young lady, Miss Vance?” At his words, the guests exchanged bewildered glances, whispering amongst themselves. “What’s going on?” “I only ever heard this vineyard belonged to Mrs. Blackwood. But Mrs. Blackwood’s surname is Vance, isn’t it?” “Huh? Then if her name is Miller, isn’t she a fake?!” Mr. Jenkins’s face was already burning with anger. “Mr. Blackwood, how could you do such a thing behind Miss Eleanor’s back?!” Saying this, he reached for his phone to call me. The next second, Julian’s bodyguards swarmed forward, roughly forcing the manager to his knees. Julian’s gaze swept coldly over the crowd. “Silence him. Make him understand the price of loose talk.” His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried the ruthlessness of someone long accustomed to power. The banquet hall fell into immediate silence. Julian didn’t even lift an eyelid, his fingers idly caressing Chloe’s face. “Chloe is the *real* Mrs. Blackwood! Eleanor Vance is nothing but a servant I hired for my household!” A servant? I almost laughed out loud from sheer indignation. It seemed Julian had truly forgotten who had helped him climb to his current position of power. If it weren’t for me, he’d still be begging on the streets, getting kicked around by strangers! I stood by him for ten years, fighting tooth and nail, even taking two knives to the chest for him, while my brother helped us behind the scenes. Even when I was hovering between life and death, all I could think about was how to pave the way for his success. And now, in his mouth, I was just a “servant.” No one dared to challenge Julian, and they all quickly chimed in. “Oh, is that how it is! Mrs. Blackwood is far too generous, letting a maid use the Blackwood name to scam people!” Some even advised Chloe. “Mrs. Blackwood, a maid like that might try to seduce Mr. Blackwood at any time.” “You need to be careful! I think you should fire her!” “With such malicious intent, she should be thrown into the sea to feed the fish!” The smugness on Chloe’s face was impossible to suppress. The manager’s face was ashen, and he struggled desperately before being dragged away. “I want to see Miss Eleanor Vance! She’s the real Mrs. Blackwood!” The guests wore expressions of disdain. “This maid is truly cunning! Even the vineyard manager has been fooled by her!” “Mr. Blackwood, you can’t keep a treacherous person like that around.” Julian’s cold gaze swept over everyone, and his thin lips parted. “I’ll say it one more time: I only have one wife, Chloe Miller. From now on, anyone who dares to disrespect her will face my wrath.” The hall was silent, save for my slow applause, which drew everyone’s attention. I took off my baseball cap, looking at them coldly. “Then tell me, if she’s Mrs. Blackwood, who am I?” Julian’s and Chloe’s smiles instantly froze. The air in the banquet hall seemed to instantly solidify. The guests’ eyes collectively snapped to me. From initial confusion, they gasped in shock as they recognized my face. Chloe’s triumphant smile instantly froze.

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Princess Royal, the War Goddess, unleashed her fury after the transmigrated woman died tragically in the ancestral chamber. I am Cassandra Volkov, Princess Royal of Veridia, yet my King, my own father, decreed my death, branding me an ill omen. It was Luna Blackwood who pulled me from the wasteland of the dead, breathing life back into me, and brought me to the Royal City. She taught me strategy. She taught me how to wage war. Luna, with a bright, defiant smile, declared, “Even women can carve out their own destiny.” She also claimed her mission in this world was to protect me and reverse our kingdom’s grim fate. Veridia was plagued by internal dissent and external threats. Luna helped me on the battlefield, forging my fearsome reputation as the ‘War Goddess,’ until I forced my King to abdicate in favor of my younger brother. Once her mission was complete, Luna didn’t return to her supposed homeland. Instead, she married a man who promised to love her for all eternity. The moment my brother ascended the throne, enemy nations regrouped and attacked. I led our armies to war. “Luna, my brother and our kingdom are in your hands.” She smiled, her voice steady. “Don’t worry, I’ll be here, waiting for your triumphant return.” But when I returned victorious, she was gone. Gazing at her bloodied corpse in the old family crypt, my rage exploded.

After shattering the enemy capital and capturing their royal family, I rode back to Veridia’s Royal City at a breakneck pace. Luna, who should have been waiting on the city walls, was nowhere to be seen. I rode straight to the Thorne Dukedom. Three years ago, the Thorne Dukedom had fallen on hard times. The legitimate daughter of the prominent Li family, Seraphina—Sera—who was supposed to marry Lord Elias Thorne, the Heir, suddenly backed out. Luna, the overlooked, unofficial daughter of the Li family, was swapped in as the replacement bride, pushed into the Dukedom. Thankfully, over time, the two fell deeply in love. Elias even swore an oath of eternal devotion to Luna in my presence, promising her a lifetime of undivided love. Upon entering the Dukedom, I walked directly to Luna’s courtyard. The plum trees Luna adored had all been replaced by peach trees. As I stood there, bewildered, a woman emerged from the rooms. At first glance, I nearly mistook her for Luna. Only because she was wearing one of Luna’s specially designed dresses – a matching friendship dress that only Luna and I owned. Luna had called them ‘best friend dresses.’ On her head was the white jade hair comb I had given Luna for her birthday. Luna cherished it dearly, never daring to wear it. Now, these precious items adorned a stranger. A terrible premonition coiled in my gut. I stepped forward, grabbing the woman’s arm. “Who are you? Why are you in Luna’s courtyard?” A maid beside the woman rushed forward, shoving me away. “Watch your tongue! This is the Lady of the Dukedom!” The Old Lord Thorne was dead. Elias had no brothers. I couldn’t fathom how the Dukedom had gained another Lady. My gaze turned to ice, fixed on the mistress and servant before me. “If you are the Lady of the Dukedom, then who is Luna Blackwood?” The woman faltered, but her maid put her hands on her hips and snarled, “Is that vixen sending you? To harm our Lady?” “She truly is a venomous witch! Someone! Seize this woman! Break her legs and toss her out to keep that hussy company!” No sooner had the words left her mouth than two matrons rushed out of the courtyard, reaching for me. I kicked one to the ground, and a cry of pain echoed through the courtyard. “You wretch! Still dare to fight? Do you have a death wish?” The maid beside the woman, puffed with indignation, lunged at me, hand raised to strike. I backhanded her. She spat blood and crumpled to the ground. More maids and matrons swarmed into the courtyard. The woman’s expression instantly shifted. She fell to her knees beside her maid, tears welling in her eyes. “I know Luna always hated me. You’re her accomplice, here to avenge her.” “Every fault, every mistake is mine. Strike me if you must, but don’t hurt anyone else.” “If hurting me will ease Luna’s pain, if it will make her humble herself and apologize to Lord Elias, then I would gladly die.” I turned my head, watching the flock of servants point and whisper, and sneered. Such a pathetic display. I’d seen these tricks countless times in the palace since I was a child. My face remained cold as I stepped forward, slapping the woman across the face. I knelt, grabbing her chin. “Luna. Where is she?” Her maid shrieked, clawing at my face. “You wench! My Lady is cherished by Lord Elias! If you harm her, he will ensure you meet a gruesome end!” The maid’s attack was vicious, clearly aiming to tear my face apart. I instinctively raised my arm to block, and two bloody scratches appeared on the back of my hand.

The maid screamed at the gawking servants and maids. “What are you standing around for? Seize this woman!” “Dare to harm the Lady? Her crime is doubled! Drag her away and give her twenty lashes, just like that vixen, Luna Blackwood!” My heart plummeted. Twenty lashes? Years ago, when I led my army into the Royal City, forcing my King to abdicate, my elder brother, resisting to the last, sent assassins after my younger brother. Elias and Luna, to protect him, used themselves as bait, pretending to be my brother. When an assassin’s arrow flew towards Elias, Luna shielded him with her body. But the arrow was coated in a deadly poison. Luna barely survived, and ever since, her health had been fragile. For an ordinary woman, twenty lashes could easily be fatal. For the frail Luna, it would be a death sentence. I drew the whip from my waist, cracking it once to drive back the surging maids and matrons. I walked over, seizing the maid by the throat. “You struck Luna?” My nails dug into her flesh, blood staining my fingers. The maid stared at me in terror. “Not me! It was the Lady!” I flung the maid aside and turned to face the woman. She trembled, backing away. “You dare to harm me? Lord Elias will never forgive you!” “Hmph!” I snorted, then brought the whip down across the woman’s body. A shriek of agony echoed through the entire courtyard. I dragged the whip forward. “Luna Blackwood. Where is she?” The woman was about to speak, but she glanced behind me, then suddenly collapsed to her knees, wailing. “I’m so sorry, I was wrong! I’ll leave Elias right away and give him back to my sister!” “I just beg my sister not to hate me.” Sister? Before I could process that, two shouts suddenly came from behind me. “Sera?” A figure dashed past me, rushing to the woman’s side, gathering her into his arms with a look of overwhelming concern. It was Elias Thorne, the man who had sworn eternal love to Luna. In that moment of stunned distraction, sharp pain lanced through my arm and leg. My arm was roughly twisted behind my back, and my calf was brutally kicked. My knees slammed into the ground, the pain so intense I almost cried out. “Insolent wretch! How dare you disrespect the Lady of the Dukedom!” The voice that reached my ears was none other than my own brother, Prince Alaric. Guards rushed forward to seize me as Alaric, in his royal robes, hurried to the woman. He gently, carefully, caressed Sera’s face. “Sera, your face?” Sera looked utterly wronged, and moved her arm. “Hiss—” A gasp of pain. Elias and my brother immediately fussed over her, each taking one of her hands. “Sera, where are you hurt?” Sera glanced at me, then sweetly said, “It’s alright, Elias, Alaric. I don’t blame my sister, nor the maid she sent.” “That venomous Luna again!” Elias roared, enraged. “This time, I will show no mercy!” Alaric’s face turned dark. “Rest assured, anyone who harms you, I will make them pay a hundredfold, a thousandfold!” Alaric spun around. “Guards! Drag this common wretch away and give her a hundred lashes!” Elias yelled, “Your Majesty, I’ll do it myself!”

I burst out laughing. “Excellent! Simply excellent!” This Seraphina, she was the legitimate daughter of the Li family. I had almost forgotten that Seraphina and Elias were childhood sweethearts. Their families had arranged their marriage when they were mere children. And my own brother, Alaric, had been tutored by the Old Lord Thorne since childhood. He had spent every day with Elias, making them childhood companions as well. In that brief moment, I understood completely why my Luna wasn’t in this courtyard. Why all the plum trees had been replaced by peach blossoms. Why all her belongings were now on another woman. I raised my head, my gaze cold and detached, looking at the two men. Upon seeing my face clearly, Elias immediately dropped to his knees, his forehead pressed to the ground. My dear brother, Alaric, instantly withdrew his hand from Sera’s. A fawning look on his face, he rushed forward, kicking away the guards who held me, and reached out to pull me up. “Cassandra, the army wasn’t due back for days! Why did you return early? And why didn’t you tell me?” I slapped his hand away. He stumbled, caught by a guard behind him. “Get lost. A mere common wretch like me wouldn’t dare let His Majesty personally assist her.” Sera scurried over, pointing at me. “How dare you! Even if you are a Princess, you cannot disrespect His Majesty!” I sneered, raising my hand and slapping her. “What do *you* think you are, to lecture *me*?” Sera clutched her cheek, tears glistening in her eyes, looking pitifully at Alaric. “Cassandra, are you insane?” Alaric pulled Sera up, sheltering her behind him, and roared at me. I sneered, stepping past him, straight to Sera, and pinched her chin. “Your father is the Minister of Rites. By all accounts, the legitimate daughter of the Li family should be the most proper and dignified of women. How is it that you’ve managed to waltz into your sister-in-law’s home and take charge? Is this the ‘upbringing’ of the Li family?” Sera’s face turned ashen, her lips trembling as if about to cry. Alaric rushed forward, pushing me away. “Cassandra, do you truly need to humiliate Sera like this?” He glared at me. “You’ve been at the borders for years, Cassandra. How did you become so cruel and petty?” “Sera is a gentle soul, without a hint of malice or cunning. Are you trying to drive her to her death with such words?” “Luna snatched Sera’s rightful place as the Lady of the Dukedom. Now, it’s merely a return to its rightful owner.” I finally lost my temper and slapped Alaric across the face. Years ago, my King doted on my Queen, my mother. But my mother, targeted by these very same schemes, was framed, cast aside, and ultimately forced to take her own life to prove her innocence. Alaric and I fell out of favor, endured countless slights, eating rotten scraps and moldy bread, living worse than the lowliest servants in the palace. At the Royal Autumn Ball, I secretly hoarded pastries, intending to save them as food for Alaric and me. It was then that Luna found me hiding in a dark corner. “Princess Royal, when a kingdom falls, no one is safe.” “Our kingdom is on the brink of collapse, yet the court nobles care only for their own pleasures.” She told me that after our kingdom fell, I would be captured by an enemy general, become his trophy, utterly broken and discarded, and meet a tragic end. “Princess Royal, you are the heroine of this story, meant to be a phoenix revered by all, soaring above the heavens.” “Your Highness, let us go to the borders.” Luna used her own wealth to secure a safe, secluded cottage for Alaric. We went to the borders. Luna taught me strategy and how to lead armies. Time and again, when men in the military questioned me, attempting to steal my glory and claim my achievements, she protected me and turned danger into opportunity. We repeatedly turned the tide of battle, reclaiming conquered territories. Whenever I was in danger, she was always the first to rush forward and shield me. But she never claimed any credit for herself. “Your Highness, I came for you. I ask for no rewards. I only wish for your future to be one of flourishing beauty and radiant glory.” With her by my side, I became Veridia’s first female general, commanding vast armies. Luna quietly stepped back, marrying Elias Thorne. But what arrived before the King’s decree of my death was Luna. I led my troops into the throne room, forcing my King to abdicate. Alaric, protected by Luna, was able to ascend the throne. But now, my dear brother had forgotten everything.

I drew my whip, cracking it against the floor. Sera shrieked, clutching her head. “Elias, save me!” Elias, who had been kneeling, suddenly lunged forward, shielding Sera with his body. “Your Highness, Sera is frail. She cannot withstand your whip.” Hah! I laughed, a chilling sound. “Elias, I ask you, where is Luna?” Elias’s eyes darted away. “In the Dukedom’s ancestral chamber.” I flung my sleeve, turning to walk towards the crypt. But Elias blocked my path. “Your Highness, Luna Blackwood is malicious and consumed by jealousy. Yesterday, she pushed Sera into the pond, nearly harming her own sister.” “I merely confined her to the ancestral chamber for a day to teach her some decorum. Your Highness, please do not interfere.” I looked at Elias, whose face was twisted with disgust at the mention of Luna. It was laughable. During those years at the border, Luna spent her free time working with the common folk to improve wheat strains. The famine-stricken Veridia now saw its granaries overflowed, and no one went hungry. A few years prior, when the plague raged, it was Luna who, regardless of her own life, risked it by testing medicines on herself, saving countless lives. How could such a kind and compassionate woman become the malicious, jealousy-ridden person he described? Sera stood behind Elias, softly weeping. “Elias, my presence only makes my sister unhappy. Perhaps I should just leave.” She said she would leave, but Sera didn’t move an inch. Elias and Alaric, however, panicked. Elias grabbed Sera’s arm. “Sera, if anyone’s leaving, it’s that venomous Luna, not you!” Alaric chimed in. “Precisely. She’s merely an unofficial daughter of a lesser branch. Just because she was Lady of the Dukedom for a few years doesn’t mean she can forget her place.” Alaric turned to me, lecturing. “Cassandra, you should also distance yourself from that venomous woman.” “You don’t know, ever since Sera arrived at the Dukedom, Luna has constantly targeted her—poisoning her, pushing her into the water…” Elias’s confidence swelled. “Your Highness, if it weren’t for the fact that she saved my life once, I would have divorced her long ago!” “She married above her station, greedily seizing Sera’s engagement. Sera, in her kindness, didn’t pursue the matter. Otherwise, what right did an obscure relative have to marry into the Dukedom?” I felt as if I’d heard the greatest joke in the world. “Sera told you all this?” They said nothing. I understood everything. I brought my whip down on Elias, then stormed straight to the ancestral chamber. Such a fool. He was unworthy of my Luna. I would take her away. Kicking open the heavy door to the ancestral chamber, in the cold, dark threshold, I saw a person, lower half covered in blood, lying in a pool of it. A trail of dried blood stretched from inside the crypt to the doorway. “Luna?” Luna, ever since taking that arrow, had become terribly sensitive to the cold. My voice trembled. Elias followed behind, his voice laced with disgust as he looked at Luna on the ground. “Luna Blackwood, stop faking it!” I knelt and cradled Luna in my arms. Her face was ashen, her breath long gone. In her blood-soaked, scraped hand, she clutched a crimson-stained letter. It was my letter to her. She had been waiting for me. “Luna Blackwood, even the cheapest street performer couldn’t fake it as well as you do!” “You had plenty of strength when you pushed Sera. I only gave you twenty lashes, not enough to kill you! Get up now!” “Still not moving? Do you want me to divorce you, leaving you with nothing, not even a place as a mistress?” Elias continued his relentless threats. My body was ice cold. I let out a low, chilling laugh. Elias Thorne, Seraphina Thorne. You killed my Luna. Now, I will ensure you all die a gruesome, pathetic death. “Sister, stop pretending! I’ll give Elias back to you!” Elias’s forehead immediately bulged with anger. He lunged forward, grabbing Luna. “Luna Blackwood, stop this immediately—”

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The year I was scraping by, I overheard my roommate, Chloe, talking about the wealthy girl from the department next door, Shawn, who was sick. Quietly, I went for a kidney match. The moment the results came out, Shawn’s second brother, Liam, found me. He had me sign a contract and quickly arranged for my hospitalization. Just then, floating comments suddenly flashed before my eyes: “Sweetie, don’t sign! He’s your brother.” “Your biological one.” “Liam, you’ll regret this. The sister you’ve been looking for all this time is about to be sent to the operating table by your own hand.” I ignored them. Because I knew the man in front of me already knew the truth. He just chose to abandon me. Six days after the surgery. As the on-screen comments buzzed with the most heated discussions, I quietly checked myself out of the hospital. The dense stream of comments eagerly anticipated my return home as the true heiress, ready to unleash hell on the Vance family. “The legendary scene is coming! Our sweet Aria is finally going to have her moment!” “Big brother knows the truth now, oh yeah!” “Get ready for the groveling, this is going to be epic!” “After today, the female lead will be everyone’s favorite, finally time to get back at the family!” “Aria, make sure you really make them pay, don’t forgive them too easily.” I couldn’t help but shake my head. I was about to disappoint them. I chose to walk away just as the story was about to reach its climax. That so-called “group favorite” life? I didn’t want it.

The first time I met Liam, it was near the hospital. After hearing that my kidney was a match for his sister, he contacted me immediately, inviting me to meet. Once we confirmed the details, he handed me a contract along with a face mask: “It’d be better if you wear this outside.” I took the mask, saying nothing. I glanced at the penalty clause in the contract – a hefty sum. After I put on the mask, he looked at my eyes. The hand holding the pen paused for a moment before he decisively signed his name. Suddenly, the floating comments flashed rapidly: “Sweetie, don’t sign! He’s your brother.” “Your biological one.” “Liam, you’ll regret this. The sister you’ve been looking for all this time is about to be sent to the operating table by your own hand.” “I just re-read it. Did Liam already suspect Aria’s identity at this point?” “Definitely! With the mask on, she looks so much like their mom around the eyes. I refuse to believe he didn’t notice.” “I even suspect he knew, which is why he told her to wear the mask, so he could observe her better.” “He’s a smooth operator with a hidden agenda. Right now, he’s doing whatever it takes for Shawn. But once Aria’s identity is confirmed, he’ll frantically try to make it up to her and be a ‘good’ brother.” I remained expressionless, signed the contract, and handed it to Liam. I had to admit, Liam was efficient. He arranged my hospitalization quickly, and it was a private room. I didn’t have to worry about anything; all I had to do was sign the consent form for the surgery. During my stay, besides doctors and nurses, I saw Liam the most. But between us, there was nothing to say. After all, we were just strangers. He, however, didn’t seem to think so. He kept strolling into my hospital room. I numbly looked at him, visiting for who-knows-how-many times in two days, then at the lunch he brought. I was genuinely curious: “Are you that free?” Liam smiled and nodded: “Try it. Our chef at home specifically made it. I hope it suits your taste.” “You need to rest up well during this period.” I gave a slight tug at the corner of my mouth: “Thanks, but you don’t have to bring me food. I just ordered takeout.” At my words, Liam’s expression stiffened abruptly. He quickly recovered, his voice deep and drawn out: “Takeout isn’t healthy. Nothing beats our chef’s carefully prepared soup, don’t you think, Arie?” That nickname suddenly reminded me of Jade. She always liked to call me Arie, too. “When your takeout arrives, you can just try both, see which tastes better. I have a lot of confidence in our chef’s skills.” Just as Liam was about to say more, someone knocked on the door. Shawn poked her head in: “Brother, I knew you’d sneak off here again.” Shawn, wearing a hospital gown, walked in, a bright smile on her face as she spoke to me: “Hi there, are you the one who’s going to donate a kidney to me? Thank you, Ms. Aria. Can I call you that?” My gaze rested on her. She was clearly well-cared for: “Whatever.” Liam immediately steadied Shawn: “Why are you down here? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?” Shawn stuck out her tongue: “Not at all! I just wanted to see my lifesaver.” “And the surgery is soon, Brother. I’m a little scared.” Liam stroked her head: “Brother promises you nothing will go wrong. You’ll wake up and the surgery will be over.” “I trust you, Brother.” Shawn’s eyes scanned my room before she spoke, a hint of hesitation in her voice: “Brother, why didn’t you arrange for Ms. Aria to be on our floor? This room isn’t very big. Is she comfortable here?” Before Liam could answer, the comments suddenly flared up: “That sounds a little off, saying you’re scared in front of the donor.” “Such a green tea vibe! Oh, so *your* room is better, huh?” “Come on, guys, don’t be so malicious! She just asked casually, she’s just worried about the female lead.” “Malicious? Can’t you see the words ‘green tea’ written all over that? She’s clearly showing off how much better her room is, right in front of the female lead.” “Why isn’t Second Brother answering?” “He can’t answer. If she was on the same floor, other Vance family members might run into the female lead. The room he arranged must have been deliberate.” “Waiting for Second Brother to start groveling to win her back.” The next second, Shawn’s phone rang: “Mom? I came out to find Brother. Okay, I’ll head back with Brother now.” As Shawn left, she politely smiled at me: “Ms. Aria, Mom’s calling me. Brother and I are going back to our room now. I’ll come see you again when I have time.” A gust of wind blew outside the room, conveniently seeing them off.

As for the lunch Liam brought, it sat untouched. I sat by the bed, looking out at the view from the window. Actually, I had heard about Shawn’s kidney failure from my roommate, Chloe. The day before, I’d dragged myself back to the dorm after a part-time job, and overheard Chloe saying: “Did you hear? Shawn, that heiress from the department next door, apparently has kidney failure.” “Really?” “Totally. I even heard a rumor that her family is looking for a kidney donor. If they find a match, money won’t be an issue.” “Wait, shouldn’t a family match be better?” “Wealthy families like theirs might be different. Who’d willingly donate a kidney?” My roommate, Chloe, spread her five fingers: “I heard, if you match, it’s at least this much.” “Whoa, five million?” “Yep.” “Still, I wouldn’t do it. Losing a kidney, who knows what effect that’ll have on your body.” “The chances of a stranger matching are tiny. We probably won’t match, don’t even think about it.” “Enough about that, how were your interviews? I’m completely stressed out.” I, who was just about to go wash up, paused. I lowered my eyes. Five million. If I could match, it would be enough for Jade’s medical bills. I privately contacted someone and quietly went to get tested. After a successful match, Liam hastily arranged to meet me, hoping I would be admitted to the hospital as quickly as possible. When the comments told me not to sign the contract, what they didn’t know was that earlier, when I went to get hot water, I’d accidentally overheard Chloe’s phone call: “Mr. Vance, I’ve already told Aria. That company interview…” “No interview needed. You can start working directly.” “Okay, thank you, Mr. Vance.” I didn’t know who “Mr. Vance” was at first, until I met Liam. The man’s voice on Chloe’s phone was identical to his. That’s when I realized that the person who wanted to leak the information to me had always been Liam. He couldn’t just stand by and watch his beloved sister lie in a hospital bed. In his heart, no one was more important than Shawn. And I? I was desperate for money. Jade’s exorbitant medical bills were something I couldn’t earn enough of, no matter how many part-time jobs I took. So he knew I would actively seek out the match. He understood human nature. And he had calculated it perfectly.

So, when I first started seeing the floating comments, I didn’t react much. After all, what did blood relation matter? His calculations against me had begun even before I met him. From the comments flashing across the air, I also pieced together the truth of what happened years ago. When I was three months old, my mother and father had an argument. In a fit of anger, my mother took me and drove away. After two hours on the road, she was too exhausted and fell asleep after pulling the car over. When she woke up, I was gone. From then on, she often fell into her own emotions, unable to pull herself out. Six months after I went missing, my aunt gave birth to a daughter but passed away from massive hemorrhage. After discussion, that child was adopted by my parents and took my mother’s surname. That child became my mother’s lifeline. And my two brothers regarded her as their own sister. As for me, I was passed around by human traffickers and sold to another place. Jade, like me, was a trafficked child. The difference was, I was a baby and didn’t remember anything. Jade was four, with memories of her parents, but she could never find her family. After Jade fell ill, she was always worried I’d be alone in the future. She dragged me to the police station to register a missing person report and provide a blood sample for DNA registration. Actually, before my match results with Shawn came out, I had received news from the police station about the DNA matching for finding relatives. I thought Liam must have also received the news; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so anxious. After seeing me, he immediately arranged for my hospitalization. Most importantly, I didn’t believe that if other Vance family members knew about this, they would choose to let me stand by idly. I, on the contrary, felt that the possibility of them guilt-tripping me was much higher. After all, the child they’d raised for over twenty years and the child they’d lost for over twenty years—their feelings for the two definitely wouldn’t be the same. Which one was more important? Did it even need to be said?

Actually, during my hospitalization, Liam had arranged a caregiver for me. Then he quickly replaced her. Because Liam accidentally overheard her complaining on the phone: “People really can’t be compared. This little girl in this room is having a huge kidney donation surgery, and no one’s here with her. She’s all alone.” “I’ve only seen one person visit her these past few days. The employer and she don’t even seem close. I wonder what their relationship is.” “But this girl’s room is quite nice, what a shame.” Liam immediately called to replace the caregiver and then left in a hurry. Half an hour after he left, someone else found me. Meredith, or rather, Liam and Shawn’s mother. The new caregiver followed behind her. Gentle yet decisive – that was my first impression of Ms. Meredith. Comments quietly appeared: “It’s Mom!” “She’ll recognize our sweet Aria, right?” “Ms. Meredith looks so elegant.” “Even if she doesn’t recognize her, Aria must be different to her, right?” Meredith’s voice was gentle: “Aria, hello. I’m Liam Vance’s mother. I’ve switched caregivers for you.” “I came to ask if you’re donating voluntarily? My son might be a little too concerned about his sister; I’m afraid he might do something foolish.” I shook my head: “You’re overthinking it. I’m doing this voluntarily. Mr. Vance and I signed a contract.” Her gaze fell on my eyes, and she seemed lost in thought for a moment. Snapping back to reality, she glanced around the room: “Are you staying here alone?” “Yes.” Her voice was slightly hesitant: “Do your family know?” I curved my lips: “My consent is all that matters.” I imagined if Jade knew I was having surgery, she’d immediately rush to the hospital, drag me out by my ear, and scold me relentlessly. In her eyes, nothing was more important than my health. But in my eyes, her survival was more important than anything. Silence spread. Meredith said nothing more. Until Shawn appeared in my room: “Mom, are you here to see Ms. Aria too?” Meredith quickly went to steady her: “Shawn, why are you here? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?” Shawn shook her head: “No, Mom, don’t worry.” “I just came to see Ms. Aria, in case she’s nervous.” Shawn looked at me: “Ms. Aria, will you be scared during the surgery? Actually, just thinking about the surgery time approaching, I’m a little scared too.” Meredith comforted her: “Don’t worry, everything will go smoothly.” Just as Meredith turned to comfort me, I shrugged, my voice calm: “I’m not scared.” Just thinking about the five million after the surgery filled me with motivation. As for fear, it hadn’t even crossed my mind. Shawn’s voice carried a smile: “Ms. Aria is much braver than me. I should learn from you.” Shawn couldn’t help but lean on Meredith’s shoulder: “Mom, will you dislike me for being timid? I’m not as brave as Ms. Aria.” Meredith stroked her head: “No, in Mom’s eyes, you’re already very brave.” This scene of mother and daughter, Shawn and Meredith, always felt incredibly familiar to me. Comments quietly floated by: “Such a familiar scene! Last time it was Second Brother, this time it’s Ms. Meredith.” “Shawn is really loved by the Vance family.” “I’ve noticed, the Vance family likes to visit our sweet Aria in groups.” “Right, right.” “I wonder if it’s intentional or unintentional.” Before Meredith and Shawn left, they left the caregiver behind. I could only say that the person Meredith sent was extremely perceptive and took care of everything. I didn’t have to worry about a thing.

The day before the surgery, Jade called me. Jade’s voice on the phone was exceptionally excited: “Arie, the police might have found your biological parents!” Jade rattled on about many things, finally asking if I wanted to meet them. I knew Jade always wanted to make sure I was settled. Before I could answer, Liam suddenly burst into my room, his voice anxious: “Can the surgery time be changed to tonight?” I instinctively covered my phone, afraid Jade would hear something. I hadn’t seen Liam this anxious in a long time. Jade on the other end of the phone didn’t get my answer, but vaguely heard other voices. She paused before speaking: “Arie, are you busy? Call me back when you’re done and have thought it over carefully. If you want to meet them, I’ll come with you.” I nodded: “Okay, Jade. Take care of yourself. Rest well these days, and I’ll be home soon.” After I hung up, I looked up at Liam and slowly said: “Yes, that’s fine.” The comments again danced before me: “No, don’t!” “My heart aches for Aria. Suddenly, Liam doesn’t deserve to be a brother.” “Why the rush? Is Shawn your only sister?” “It’s just one step away! If Aria and Jade agreed to meet tomorrow, why move the surgery up?” “I’m betting a bag of chips, Liam definitely knows the truth.” “Probably because someone in the Vance family found out about Aria. Second Brother is panicking.” “Their precious daughter found a kidney donor, the Vance parents must be thrilled.” “I wonder how they’ll feel when they find out the donor is their own biological daughter, and their son personally sent his sister to the operating table.” “Didn’t Ms. Meredith feel something was off? She already saw Aria.” Liam was stunned when I agreed, then, as if by a strange impulse, he asked: “Why did you agree so readily?” I blinked: “One day earlier or one day later, it makes no difference to me.” Hearing my words, Liam’s eyes darkened: “Then remember to fast during this time.” The comments flooded in: “There IS a difference, of course there is!” “If it was one day later, I don’t believe the Vance parents, knowing the truth, would still let you have this surgery.” “Big brother, please find out the truth soon. I can’t stand Aria being wronged anymore.” “I just think it’s separate issues. The female lead isn’t losing anything from this surgery; she gets five million. And she’s doing it voluntarily. Why do you guys think she’s being so wronged?” “When she’s found and taken back, the others won’t not compensate her.” “Why do you think the newly found daughter would be more important than the daughter they raised for twenty years? Shawn is clearly more important in the Vance family’s eyes right now.” “If the female lead were taken back under these circumstances, the likelihood of them guilt-tripping her into donating would be even higher, wouldn’t it?” I skimmed the comments, my gaze landing on the last two sentences. I couldn’t help but smile; they were thinking exactly what I was. Liam quickly discussed the surgery time with the doctor. Before I was wheeled into the operating room, I saw a familiar figure by another gurney. It was Liam. The others around him must have been the Vance family. As we passed them, my eyes met with one person: Meredith. I didn’t have time to make out her expression. Once in the operating room, I quickly lost consciousness. When I woke up again, it was around three in the morning. I was in the intensive care unit. Before the surgery, I had already called Jade, telling her I wouldn’t be able to meet her for a few days due to something I needed to take care of.

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Everyone in the city’s elite circles knew the Sterling heiress, Eleanor, only dated college guys who were exactly eighteen. They were like ripe, green fruits on a summer branch, radiating a fresh, vibrant energy. Then I met Eleanor. I was eighteen, delivering food in a faded uniform, but she couldn’t take her eyes off me. Soon, everyone was saying, “Eleanor Sterling has gone completely insane.” She chased me for two whole years, showering me with flowers, cars, and even a house. She even quit drinking for me. The craziest part? She actually married me, and after that, she devoted herself entirely to me, no longer seeing anyone else. Five years into our marriage, my father was diagnosed with leukemia. Without a moment’s hesitation, Eleanor poured a fortune into sponsoring a financially struggling college student, Kai, just to find a bone marrow match for my father. But on the day of the surgery, Kai had vanished into thin air. My father lay on the operating table, his vital signs fading. I fumbled for my phone, calling Kai fifty-two times before he finally picked up. “Hello? Mr. Hayes?” Kai’s voice sounded panicked. “Kai! Where are you?!” I practically screamed into the phone. “The surgery’s been delayed for two hours! My dad, he…” “I’m so sorry…” His voice trembled. “I, I’m just so scared. I can’t come…” I was about to speak again when a familiar female voice drifted from the background of the call. “It’s okay, it’s okay. If you’re scared, then don’t donate.” It was Eleanor’s voice. I felt like I’d been struck by lightning. My phone clattered to the floor. I stumbled out of the hospital, rushing to the furthest corner of the parking lot, where I saw Eleanor’s familiar black Maybach. The window was half-open. I saw Kai leaning on Eleanor’s shoulder, his eyes red. Eleanor’s hand was gently stroking his back, a gesture so tender it made my eyes burn. “…Don’t be afraid. We can always postpone the surgery for another month. I’ll use every resource in the country to find another suitable donor during that time.” Eleanor’s voice came through clearly. “Don’t worry.” “But Mr. Hayes’s father has already had several critical condition notices, hasn’t he?” Kai raised his pale face. “He’ll be fine,” Eleanor reassured him, pinching his nose. That intimate gesture used to be exclusively mine. “Don’t overthink it.” Kai broke into a tearful smile and hugged Eleanor tightly. “Thank goodness for you, Elle. I truly don’t know what I’d do without you. I accepted your sponsorship, so I should be donating bone marrow to Mr. Hayes’s father, but I’m just so afraid…” “Don’t worry, I won’t make you do anything you don’t want to,” Eleanor’s voice was soft enough to melt. “No matter what, I’m always your rock.” The roar of an engine starting jolted me out of my daze. I ran forward and pounded on the car window, but I only managed to catch the cold outline of Eleanor’s profile before the car sped away, leaving me trembling, alone in the parking lot. My phone rang again. It was the hospital. I pressed the answer button, only to hear the doctor’s heavy voice. “Mr. Hayes, has the donor arrived yet? Your father can’t wait any longer. Just a minute ago, he passed away due to multi-organ failure, and resuscitation efforts had failed… Please accept our condolences.” My world spun out of control. I collapsed onto the cold concrete, everything went black, and I lost consciousness. I had a very long dream. In the dream, I went back five years, to when I was eighteen. Eleanor was still the most prestigious heiress in our city’s elite circles, and I was just a poor student trying to make ends meet by delivering food. That day, I went to a high-end club to deliver wine and accidentally bumped into a woman. When I looked up, I met a pair of deep, dark eyes. “I’m sorry,” I apologized hastily, but froze when I clearly saw her face. Eleanor Sterling. The Sterling heiress, famous for her sky-high standards and only dating eighteen-year-old college guys. She stared at me for a long time, then suddenly smiled. “What’s your name?” Everything that followed felt like a dream. The city’s most respected woman fell for me at first sight and began pursuing me relentlessly. She’d park her Maybach next to my delivery scooter, waiting for me to finish work. If I casually mentioned wanting pastries from the south side of town, she’d drive halfway across the city in the middle of the night to buy them. She even quit drinking for me, just because I said I hated the smell of alcohol. The most unbelievable part was that she defied her family’s objections to marry me. At our wedding, in front of everyone, she placed a priceless ring on my finger. “Liam, I’ll only love you, and only you, for the rest of my life.” After we married, her devotion to me became legendary. She’d wake up early every day to make me a loving lunch, despite never having lifted a finger in the kitchen before. She’d leave important work functions early just because I texted her, “Miss you.” My phone wallpaper was my photo, her password was my birthday, and all her social media bios read, “Liam Hayes’s wife.” Even when my father was diagnosed with leukemia, she used all her connections to find a match, eventually zeroing in on Kai, a student from a financially struggling background. She paid for Kai’s tuition and living expenses, personally took him for all his medical exams, and even arranged for the best nutritionist to keep him healthy. “Why are you so good to him?” I once asked uneasily. Eleanor kissed my chin. “Silly, are you jealous? I’m just making sure he stays healthy enough to donate his bone marrow.” I believed her. Until Eleanor started frequently accompanying Kai shopping, buying him designer clothes and jewelry. Until she abandoned an important meeting for one of Kai’s calls. Until she remembered all of Kai’s preferences, but forgot our wedding anniversary. I slowly began to understand everything. My eyes red, I confronted her. “He’s eighteen, in his prime. So you’ve fallen for him, haven’t you? All that talk about settling down for good, it was just a joke, right?” What did Eleanor say then? “What nonsense are you spouting? I’m just being kind to him as compensation. Donating bone marrow is a serious matter; I need to keep him in a good mood.” But now, every single thing she did proved she was lying. When I woke, I numbly signed document after document. My father lay there peacefully, as if sleeping. I held his large hand, the one that used to lead me to school, that taught me to write. Now, it was cold and stiff. “Dad, I’m so sorry…” I choked up, but no tears would fall. My heart felt hollowed out, leaving only a dull, aching numbness. Three days passed. Eleanor hadn’t appeared, not even a single call. I opened Ins. The first post was a nine-picture photo dump from Kai. It was a photo of him and Eleanor by a lake. In the picture, Eleanor had her arm around Kai’s shoulder, her smile blindingly bright. The caption read: “Thanks for the company, Elle. Feeling much better now.” I mechanically liked the post. Less than a minute later, my phone vibrated. A message from Eleanor popped up: 「Liam, Kai’s emotional state is unstable, so he can’t donate bone marrow temporarily. I’ve contacted the best specialists, both locally and internationally. We’ll reschedule the surgery for next month. In the meantime, I’m taking Kai to relax and get him back in shape.」 I stared at the screen and suddenly laughed. She didn’t know my father was dead. She also didn’t know I’d already overheard everything in the parking lot, that her heart had long since strayed. I closed the chat window and dialed another number. “Mrs. Sterling, I know you’ve always disapproved of me. I’m now willing to sign the divorce papers and leave Eleanor forever, with the money.” There was a noticeable pause on the other end. “But you always said you two had true love and refused to let go?” I was silent. Yes, I had once naively believed Eleanor would love me forever, just as she did in the beginning. But love is never black and white. Hearts change, vows expire, and human nature never truly alters. She only loved eighteen-year-old boys, and I was no longer eighteen. “Mrs. Sterling,” I finally said softly, “please send me the divorce papers.” Mrs. Sterling seemed to understand something from my silence, her tone suddenly lighter. “Alright. Once you sign, just wait for the mandatory one-month divorce cooling-off period to end, then leave. The money will be deposited into your account on time.” “Remember, once you leave, never appear in front of Eleanor again.” I hung up and quickly received the digital divorce papers. I read them word for word, then clicked print. The printer slowly whirred as it spat out the papers, the sound eerily clear in the empty room. When I picked up the pen, my hand was steady, without a single tremor. “Eleanor,” I whispered to myself, “this time, I’ll make you disappear from my world completely!” The next day, I went to the office. Pushing open Mr. Davies’s office door, I directly handed him my resignation letter. “Why the sudden resignation?” Mr. Davies looked surprised. “Don’t you love this job? I even approved your leave for your father’s serious illness. By now, he should have had the surgery and be recovering, right?” I shook my head. “My father is gone. And I… I plan to divorce and leave this city.” Mr. Davies was silent for a moment, then finally sighed. “…Alright, I respect your decision.” My colleagues had always liked me. When they heard I was resigning, they gathered around to say goodbye. “Liam, keep in touch!” “Your wife is so devoted to you, being a stay-at-home husband isn’t so bad either.” I didn’t explain, just smiled, then quietly packed my things. Everyone walked me down to the company’s ground floor. Suddenly, someone gasped. “Liam, your husband-obsessed wife is here to pick you up!” My body tensed. Through the glass door, I saw the black Maybach parked at the company entrance. I took a deep breath, nodded goodbye to my colleagues, then carried my box out and opened the car door. Inside, Eleanor was leaning over, fastening Kai’s seatbelt. Her hair brushed his neck, one hand on the seatback, the other around Kai. They were close, their breaths mingling. Kai looked down at her, his Adam’s apple bobbing, his ears flushed crimson. The moment the car door opened, they both turned, their expressions frozen. Kai hastily sat upright. “Mr. Hayes, please don’t misunderstand, I just didn’t have my seatbelt on. Eleanor was just helping me…” “I don’t misunderstand.” I cut him off, my voice calm, without a ripple of emotion. I didn’t want to hear explanations, nor did I want to watch their pathetic performance. Eleanor finally looked at me directly, her gaze falling on the box in my arms. Her brows furrowed slightly. “You resigned?” “Yeah, I’m tired,” I said dismissively. “I have other plans now.” Eleanor stared at me for two seconds, seeming about to say something, but ultimately just said coolly, “Get in the car.” I forced a smile. “Why did you suddenly come to pick me up?” “A new restaurant opened; the dishes are very good for recovery,” Eleanor said casually as she started the car. “I’m taking Kai to try it, and you can taste it too. If it’s suitable, we can get some for your father later.” My fingertips curled inward. It felt like a dull blade slowly carving into my chest. My father was dead. Yet she hadn’t even come to see him one last time. But I said nothing, just got into the car in silence. In the restaurant’s private room, Eleanor ordered a table full of nutritious dishes. “This rich, healing stew is excellent for post-surgery recovery.” She scooped a bowl of soup and placed it in front of Kai. “You try it first.” Kai took it, flattered, and took a small sip, his eyes lighting up. “It’s delicious!” Eleanor’s lips curved upward. She picked up a piece of steamed fish, carefully deboned it, and placed it in his bowl. “Fish is high in protein. Eat more.” Kai’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Eleanor, you’re so good to me…” he said softly. Eleanor smiled and added a sweet red date pastry to his plate. “This is good for blood.” Throughout all of this, I sat quietly opposite them, like an outsider. I watched Eleanor patiently wipe soup from Kai’s lips. I watched her softly ask him, “Is there anything else you want to eat?” I watched the gentle light in her eyes, a light that once belonged only to me. “Eleanor is so good to me, Mr. Hayes, you’re not jealous, are you?” Kai looked at me, flustered. “Please don’t misunderstand, this is all for your father…” “No, I know,” I said, looking down. My forks gently poked at the food in my bowl. I hadn’t eaten a single bite. The meal was a drawn-out, agonizing affair. When it finally ended, Eleanor took a work call. “You two go downstairs and wait for me,” she said, frowning at her phone. “I’ll be right there.” Kai and I went into the elevator together. The moment the elevator doors closed, Kai suddenly grinned, his voice boisterous. “Mr. Hayes, you’re so magnanimous. Eleanor is so good to me, yet you’re not even a little jealous.” I ignored him. But Kai persisted, leaning close to my ear and lowering his voice. “Actually, you’ve known for a long time, haven’t you? Eleanor has already fallen for me.” My fingertips trembled. “She said you’re too boring, like a block of wood,” Kai chuckled smugly. “And me…” Before he could finish, the elevator suddenly jolted! The lights flickered twice, then went out completely. “Ah—!” Kai shrieked, grabbing my arm in a panic. “What’s happening?!” I quickly pressed the emergency call button, my voice calm. “Elevator malfunction.”

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For Asher, I sold myself to Damon Sterling. In the pouring rain, inside his RV, my hair was yanked, and my thin white dress was torn to shreds. My body became the currency for this treacherous dance with my enemies. But I never imagined that this degrading spectacle, this feast where I was just a kept woman, didn’t go unnoticed by another pair of eyes. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m Marcus Sterling, Damon Sterling’s uncle.” The last final exam of my sophomore year had just ended. The moment my phone buzzed with the message, I rushed out into the pouring rain towards the hospital. “The patient’s heart stopped briefly, but thankfully, after resuscitation, he’s out of danger. We couldn’t reach you, so we contacted Mr. Sterling.” The doctor was still rambling on, but I pressed my head against the glass, letting out a long, shaky breath. The cold sweat of a near-disaster drenched my back. Damon Sterling had helped me again. Knowing him, he’d undoubtedly make me pay, in his own twisted way. Sure enough, no sooner had I settled Asher than my phone rang. Damon Sterling’s driver, Victor, subtly urged me downstairs. The car was already waiting. Stepping out of the hospital, the biting evening wind felt like a harsh slap across my face. But what chilled me more was Damon Sterling’s gaze. He turned his head slightly, his eyes meeting mine across the torrential rain. The stark, cold white light reflected off his face, his thin, chiseled lips pressed tightly together. My gut told me my sugar daddy was pissed. Without another thought, I pulled up my collar and ran towards the RV, battling the storm. Victor was already standing by the door. “The young master isn’t in a good mood,” Victor whispered, pulling open the door. I gave a barely perceptible nod of thanks as I ducked my head and plunged into the car. The door closed, sealing off all sound from the outside. “With this kind of rain, why did you come?” I tried to steady my voice, shaking off the raindrops. Damon Sterling said nothing, only hooked his finger under my chin, his rough thumb tracing the line of my lips. I avoided his intense gaze, dropping my eyes. “It’s about Asher. Thank you for your help again today.” Damon Sterling hummed faintly, his voice devoid of warmth. “Your classmate even followed you here.” I followed his gaze and looked back. Noah Jensen was still standing at the hospital entrance. I didn’t know how long he’d been watching, but the two men stared at each other through the rain. My right eyelid twitched. That possessive jerk’s jealousy was flaring up again. I got out of the car, and Victor, holding an umbrella, walked me back to the hospital entrance. “Noah, you should head back to campus. Asher’s fine, and thank you for your help today.” Noah looked at the car behind me, wanting to say something, but he didn’t push me. He nodded and disappeared into the rain. When I got back into the car, Damon Sterling had just hung up his phone. I felt compelled to explain. “I forgot my bag after the exam. Noah happened to see it and chased me to bring it, then offered to come to the hospital to see if he could help.” “That kid likes you.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement. “Noah’s just a warm-hearted person. He’s friendly to all his classmates.” Damon Sterling leaned closer, rubbing his nose against mine intimately. One hand slipped under my dress. “A toad wanting to mate with a swan! He’s completely out of his league! Doesn’t matter if he likes you, you’re mine.” His fingers were cold, and I instinctively flinched. Damon Sterling paused, raising an eyebrow. “What, are you cold?” He curved his lips into a smile, and my heart lurched. Having been with him for a year, I knew that expression all too well. Sure enough, the next second Damon Sterling loosened his tie. “Since you’re cold, let’s play a grown-up game and warm ourselves up.” “No!” I pressed hard against his chest, stopping him from coming closer. Victor was still outside the car. Damon Sterling might be shameless, but I still had some dignity to lose. Damon Sterling, with his entitled young master’s temper, couldn’t stand even a hint of resistance. His face immediately hardened, and he narrowed his eyes. “In front of me, do you have the right to say no?” “No, it’s not that. I mean, can we not do it in the car? Victor is right outside, he’ll hear us.” “Ha! You’re really concerned about his feelings. First a classmate, now the driver. You sure have a lot of men on your mind.” “No, they’re just my friends.” “You’re mine. Your thoughts should only be on me, understood?” He pinched my cheek. “But you did remind me. Victor is still standing outside. It wouldn’t be good if he caught a cold in this weather.” I should have known, Damon Sterling was a total psychopath! When he was in a good mood, he’d practically give me the world for a smile. But when he was in a bad mood, he’d stoop to the most despicable acts. Rich and utterly unhinged! He tapped on the window, deliberately calling Victor inside. The atmosphere in the car became incredibly bizarre. Victor sat in the driver’s seat, staring straight ahead, his hands gripping the steering wheel. I couldn’t tell if the drops on his face were rain or sweat. “Young Master, are we heading back to the mansion?” Damon Sterling chuckled, his gaze flitting between Victor and me. After a long moment, he slowly replied, “To Brock Miller’s birthday party. I have a ‘big gift’ for him.” The Miller family and the Sterling family were old family friends, their relationship complex and tangled. Damon Sterling’s temper was merely unpredictable, but Brock Miller, the other heir to the Miller fortune, was a pure, unadulterated madman, a loose cannon. The car started moving, but Damon Sterling hadn’t forgotten what had just happened, and he wasn’t about to let me off easily. “Didn’t you say thank you earlier?” He stroked my long hair. “Show me some sincerity now.” His gaze fell on my lips. I steeled myself and leaned in, kissing the corner of his mouth. “That’s it? Are you playing with me?” He sneered, pulling me close by the waist, not letting me move. I bit my lower lip, shaking his arm. “Just a little interest payment for now. When we go back tonight, I’ll take off my makeup and shower, then you can do whatever you want, okay?” “Not okay! Begging won’t work.” “I’ve been working like a dog all these days on my business trip, and I just landed only to rush here for your brother. Meanwhile, you’ve been living it up, and I’m practically bursting at the seams…” My face flushed, and I clapped a hand over his mouth, afraid of what other vulgar words he might utter. Damon Sterling chuckled, kissing my palm and then pulling my hand into his, playing with it. He whispered a hot breath into my ear, “I’ve changed my mind. Your cries for mercy sound so sweet, I don’t want any other man to hear them. Let’s try a different game.” He pressed me against him, my vision completely consumed by him. I shook my head frantically. Without his command, Victor wouldn’t dare lower the privacy screen or turn on the music. In the confined space, all that could be heard was my soft, desperate resistance. “Don’t cry, baby. The more you cry, the more I want to torment you.” His breathing grew heavier, his eyes fixed on my face. He licked away my tears, coaxing softly, “Now, you have two choices…” Between Damon Sterling and me, there was no ‘if I wanted to,’ only ‘if he wanted to.’ “If you’re a good girl and listen, I’ve found a special medication from abroad to ease your brother’s pain. It can be air-shipped next week.” Asher was my weakness; Damon Sterling knew that perfectly. There was no choice. All my dignity and pride were trampled under Damon Sterling’s heel. With my hair falling around me, I reluctantly lowered my head. “Hiss…” Damon Sterling’s arm muscles flexed, his throat working. I had never done this before. Outside the window, traffic flowed, but who could imagine such a scene unfolding in the opaque car? I looked up, tears blurring my vision as I gazed at Damon Sterling. What normal man could resist such a look? “Lower the privacy screen!!!” Damon Sterling roared.

Victor, as if a great weight had been lifted, quickly pressed the button. I closed my eyes, trying to empty my mind, my consciousness slowly blurring. I felt as if I was back in that cicada-filled afternoon. Golden sunlight filtered through the leaves, dappling the ground. Asher’s lean, firm arms were stiffly wrapped around me, his fingers gripping the reins so tightly they were white. I looked back and saw his ears flushed crimson, and the sparkling galaxy in his eyes. “W-what are you looking at? I’m teaching you to ride. If you’re not careful, you’ll fall and start crying again.” “What’s there to be afraid of? You’re here, you’ll protect me. Wow, Asher, your face is red!” “Such disrespect! I told you to call me ‘big brother’.” Asher suddenly spurred the horse, and I shrieked, burying myself in his arms, hearing the thunderous beat of his heart. That summer, the vast grassland, unripe fruits, and intertwined figures on horseback. A sparkling secret was etched into my life, from a time in my youth I could never return to. “Skylar, look at me, say my name!” Damon Sterling’s voice was hoarse as he patted my face. I slowly opened my eyes. The illusion vanished. I had missed that vibrant summer and lost that bright boy. Tears streamed down my face. “Damon Sterling.” Damon Sterling tugged my hair and kissed me deeply, not hearing the rest of my sentence. “I hate you…” He kissed my sweat-dampened forehead, wiping away the marks on my body, as intimately as if we were lovers lost in passion. “Sorry, I got carried away. Your dress is ruined, I’ll take you to buy a new one.” “No.” No dress was better. That way, I wouldn’t have to go to Brock Miller’s birthday party. Meeting my enemy face-to-face, I was afraid I’d lose control and stab him. Damon Sterling didn’t think much of it, only assuming I was pouting playfully. He smiled, picked me up, and wrapped me tightly in his jacket. “Alright, alright, my bad. I wore you out, baby. I’ll carry you in myself, how’s that?” Damon Sterling had already informed the store manager to clear everyone out. When he carried me in, only a few meek-looking staff stood by the door. He placed me on the sofa in the dressing room. “Don’t be shy. These guys are all trustworthy, they won’t gossip or stare.” He knelt before me, looking completely harmless. I reached out to smooth a stray lock of hair on his head, my hand lingering on his face, gently caressing it. Such a simple gesture made Damon Sterling grin like an idiot from a rural town. Even a hint of feigned affection from me was enough to send him over the moon. Damon Sterling was already deeply smitten, though he didn’t realize it. He reluctantly held my hand, kissing it for a long time before his phone rang. “What the hell are you rushing for?!” The person on the other end wasn’t bothered by his rudeness. “What’s up, buddy? So much anger. Did I interrupt something good?” “Get lost, get lost! If you call again, I’ll kill you.” Damon Sterling cursed as he hung up. The tender moment was broken. “Go take a shower, I’ll go pick out clothes for you.” When I emerged, I was dressed from head to toe, including jewelry. Damon Sterling sat beside me, propping his chin in his hand, watching me apply makeup, thoroughly pleased with my look. Beauty is tempting; it can make a king forget his duties. I knew how much my face tempted men. I also knew that beauty was just one card. Coupled with background, education, or intelligence, any one of them could be a winning hand. But alone, it was a dead end. So, I needed a teammate to help me win this game. Damon Sterling brought me to the club, but his hands were empty. “Didn’t you say it was Brock’s birthday? How come you didn’t bring a gift?” Damon Sterling smiled, kissing my cheek. “The gift will arrive on its own.” The private room was thick with smoke, making me cough. I nudged Damon Sterling inside. “I’m just going to the restroom, I’ll be right back.” This floor was for VIPs, so there weren’t many customers. I walked down the corridor to the ladies’ room. The moment I entered, I froze. A woman’s voice mingled with the sound of impacts. I instinctively stepped back, kicking a nearby trash can, which made a loud noise. The woman shrieked in surprise, and then everything fell silent. I turned to leave, but the door behind me opened and then closed. A large hand reached over my head, slamming against the door, blocking my exit. The man loomed over me. “Where are you running off to?” He had clearly come out in a hurry, his shirt unbuttoned. I immediately turned and walked a few steps away, widening the distance between us. “Little darling, you interrupted big brother’s fun. Aren’t you going to apologize?” “Fun? What kind of fun is this? This is the ladies’ room, a public place. Don’t you have any shame?” Brock Miller walked closer, looking at me like an interesting toy. “Look at you, all fired up with righteous anger. Have you never tried it in a bathroom? Want to try with me? Big brother will be very gentle.” He grabbed my raised hand, pinning both my hands behind my back. “Trying to hit me?” Seeing my mixture of fury and fear, Brock’s smile widened. He leaned in, but I dodged, and his kiss landed on my neck. “You smell delicious.” He then bit me. Just as I was about to scream for help, there was a knock on the door. “Skylar, are you okay? What’s taking so long?” It was Damon Sterling. Seizing the moment Brock was distracted, I raised my knee and brutally slammed it into him, then pushed him away and ran out. “Damon Sterling, help me!” Damon Sterling’s face instantly changed when he saw me. He pulled me behind him. “Which bastard, get out here!” The door opened, and Brock Miller emerged, his face grim. “You little brat, you dare lay a hand on me? You’re tired of living!” Damon Sterling looked at the sign on the door, then at Brock, and turned to ask me, “Did you hit him just now?” I nodded vigorously. “He’s a pervert! He was in the ladies’ room…” A scoff echoed from the end of the corridor. All three of us looked. A tall figure leaned against the window, smoking. The glowing red tip of his cigarette flickered, illuminating a sharp jawline. “Some dogs never change their spots. Brock, your bathroom ‘encounters’ habit will probably stick with you forever.” Brock Miller’s face flushed and then paled at the insult. Damon Sterling seemed frozen, as if struck by lightning, until the man in the black suit, hidden in the shadows of the night, stepped out and walked towards him, blowing a puff of smoke into his face. “Well, nephew, what’s wrong? Don’t you recognize me?” Damon Sterling, at 6’1″, actually had to look up. “Uncle… Uncle Marcus.” Marcus Sterling nodded in satisfaction, flicking his ash onto Brock Miller’s leather shoes. The smell of burning leather quickly spread, but Brock didn’t dare utter a single sound. “Uncle Marcus, why are you suddenly back in the country?” “Grandfather Sterling isn’t well. As his younger son, I came back to check on him. Do you have a problem with that?” His gaze swept past Damon Sterling and settled on me. “And who is this?” Damon Sterling’s hand, gripping mine, was clammy with sweat. He was visibly nervous. “Oh, you don’t want to introduce her? Is she that precious? Afraid I’ll steal her?” I stepped out from behind Damon Sterling, meeting Marcus Sterling’s scrutinizing gaze. “Hello, Mr. Sterling. My name is Skylar Xiao.” My position was awkward. I wasn’t Damon Sterling’s wife or girlfriend; I was just his kept woman. He smiled slightly, extending his hand towards me. I thought he wanted to shake my hand, but he gently took my fingers, lifted them to his lips, and kissed them. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Xiao. I’m Marcus Sterling, Damon Sterling’s uncle.” Marcus Sterling was a stain on Grandfather Sterling’s life, a love child born out of wedlock. His mother had been a hotel hostess back then. She’d thought she’d gain status by having a son and marry into the Sterling family as a mistress, but instead, both mother and son were exiled abroad. Damon Sterling called him ‘Uncle Marcus’ because Marcus was older in terms of generation, but in reality, he was only five years older than Damon. They shared a five-point resemblance in their features; standing together, they looked more like brothers than uncle and nephew. I had thought I would meet Marcus Sterling, but I hadn’t expected it so soon. “Uncle Marcus, Skylar is my…” Marcus Sterling’s expression instantly changed, the chill in his eyes dropping the surrounding temperature by several degrees. “My girlfriend,” Damon Sterling bit out, snatching my hand from his uncle’s and pulling me close by the shoulder, asserting his claim. His grip was so strong it hurt. He was starting to panic. “Girlfriend?” Marcus Sterling scoffed. “Have you brought her home to meet Grandfather? What did the old man say?” My heart skipped a beat. How could Damon Sterling dare take me to meet his grandfather? “Not yet, but when the time is right, I’ll definitely bring Skylar home to meet my parents and grandfather.” Damon Sterling’s urgent declaration was for his uncle, but it sounded more like it was for me. Marcus Sterling patted Damon Sterling’s shoulder. “Good nephew, remember your uncle’s words: the more beautiful the expectation, the easier it is to fall apart. Not getting what you want is the norm in life.” After saying that, Marcus Sterling gave me a meaningful look.

Marcus Sterling extinguished his cigarette and took the elevator, not forgetting to taunt Brock Miller about the “wild woman” from the restroom. Brock Miller frowned, watching Marcus Sterling’s retreating form. “Grandfather Sterling just fell ill, and your uncle returns to the country. The timing is too coincidental; he’s probably up to no good.” Outside, storm clouds gathered, a strong wind blew – a storm was brewing. Brock Miller walked ahead, Damon Sterling pulled me along behind him. Trailing far behind was the woman from the restroom. She followed us all the way into the private room, then casually snuggled into someone’s arms, getting intimate. It turned out she was the companion of one of Brock Miller’s friends. Even rabbits don’t foul their own nests, but Brock, that horny dog, clearly didn’t care who he preyed on. The private room was noisy, filled with people who were either high or simply drunk. Damon Sterling kicked someone aside and pulled me onto a sofa. Brock Miller sat across from me, drinking moodily, glaring at me hatefully. The door was knocked open, and a server brought someone in – someone I had seen just a few hours earlier. “Skylar?” Noah Jensen’s face lit up with surprise when he saw me. “Did you come to the wrong room?” I was startled, a strange premonition creeping over me, but I still held a flicker of hope. “Didn’t you ask someone to tell me to find you here, that you had something to tell me?” I immediately shook my head. No doubt, this was Damon Sterling’s doing. Damon Sterling gave me a chilling look, then beckoned to Noah. “You, come here.” “Do you know who I am?” Noah shook his head. “Reading too much, huh? My name is Sterling. When people talk about the Sterling family in this city, they’re talking about my family.” Noah stood his ground, unfazed, his expression calm. “Oh, Mr. Sterling, why did you specifically trick me into coming here?” *Smack!* Brock Miller stood up and delivered a hard slap across Noah’s face. Not satisfied, he followed it with a vicious kick. “Oh, ‘Mr. Sterling’ my ass!” Noah crashed into the corner of a table, his glasses falling to the floor. A winding trail of blood streamed down his forehead. “You bastard, who are you trying to impress?” I couldn’t control a scream. I wanted to rush to Noah’s side to check his injuries, but Damon Sterling gripped my arm tightly, holding me captive in his embrace. “Skylar isn’t a name you get to use. Stay away from her from now on, or I’ll beat you every time I see you.” Noah wiped the blood from his head. “Skylar is well-liked at school. Friends who are close to her all call her that. May I ask, Mr. Sterling, what right do you have to order me around?” Noah was on the school debate team; he had never lost a competition. But at this moment, I truly wished he was mute. “Firstly, I haven’t heard that Skylar has a boyfriend. Secondly, even if Mr. Sterling is Skylar’s boyfriend, treating her so brutally and arrogantly certainly doesn’t make you a suitable one.” “Noah, please stop talking!” Too late. Damon Sterling grabbed a wine bottle, swung it, and smashed it over Noah’s head. I watched, horrified, as Noah collapsed before me. Brock Miller caught Noah, then patted his face. “Wake up, hey! Are you that weak? Did one hit kill you?” “Brock, this Noah is quite stubborn. Help me ‘reason’ with him.” Brock Miller looked at the unconscious Noah and grinned sinisterly. I was icy cold. How could I leave an unconscious Noah behind? But Damon Sterling forcefully dragged me towards the door. “Let’s go. Don’t worry, Brock will take good care of your friend.” I clung to the doorframe, refusing to let go. “No, I have to take him with me! I won’t leave Noah here alone!” “Skylar!” Damon Sterling rarely called me by my full name like that. “Don’t add fuel to the fire. Say one more word, and I guarantee your friend will vanish without a trace, never to see tomorrow’s sun.” “You wouldn’t dare!” Damon Sterling was furious, gritting his teeth. “What wouldn’t a Sterling dare to do?!” I froze. He was right. There was nothing a Sterling wouldn’t dare to do. Damon Sterling lost his patience. “Skylar, you’re done for. Tonight, you’ll see how I punish you.” He delivered a chop to the back of my neck. Before I completely lost consciousness, he slung me over his shoulder. As darkness enveloped me, I vaguely saw Brock Miller moving towards Noah. Damon Sterling didn’t kill me in bed – not because he didn’t want to, but because he didn’t get the chance. When I woke up, I was still in the car, my neck aching. Damon Sterling was beside me, unconsciously chewing on his fingers. He only did that when he was most stressed; the last time I saw him like that was the day his grandfather had a stroke. “You’re awake.” When I stirred, he grabbed me like a lifeline, pulling me into a tight embrace, burying his face in my chest. “Skylar, what do I do? My parents… they were in a car accident…” His voice was choked with tears, like a helpless child. Damon Sterling was the Sterling family’s only third-generation grandchild, spoiled rotten since childhood, protected fiercely by his parents and grandfather. He had no ability to stand on his own when faced with a crisis. The car turned around, speeding towards the hospital. I felt a persistent unease. While Damon Sterling wasn’t paying attention, I secretly called Noah’s phone, but it kept going straight to voicemail. When we arrived at the hospital, as I got out of the car, I immediately felt an undeniable gaze from above. I looked up. Marcus Sterling leaned against a window, smoking. This hospital was a Sterling family asset. Although he was a love child, he still bore the Sterling name, and no one dared to stop him. Through the vast darkness, I couldn’t discern his expression, only the crimson glow of his cigarette, flickering on and off. “Uncle Marcus!” Damon Sterling, after all, was just a twenty-something young man. With such a massive catastrophe, the first sight of his uncle brought out his vulnerability, and he couldn’t help but feel wronged. Marcus Sterling was still dressed in the same black suit from hours earlier, the only difference being one shirt sleeve rolled up, revealing a bandage on his arm. He had short hair from living in tropical regions for so long, and a scar on his forehead, giving him a fiercely intimidating aura. “What happened to my parents?” “They were on their way to a gala, but they crashed into a truck. Now, both of them are in the ICU.” Damon Sterling’s legs gave out, and he sank to the ground. “What do I do, Uncle Marcus? What should I do?” Marcus Sterling patted his shoulder. “Don’t panic yet. I’ve already donated blood to your father. Let’s wait for the surgery to finish and hear what the doctors say.” “Thank you, Uncle Marcus.” “Don’t thank me yet. There’s a tricky situation at hand. Tonight’s gala is very important. As leaders of the business council, the Sterling family must have someone there to represent…” Grandfather Sterling was incapacitated by a stroke, and now his parents were in trouble. Damon Sterling suddenly lost all his support. “Uncle Marcus, can you go in my father’s place? I don’t understand anything about the company, and I don’t want to leave. I want to stay here and wait for them to wake up.” “Me? I don’t think that would be appropriate. I’ve been living abroad for so long, the board members probably won’t recognize me.” “No, Uncle Marcus, it’ll be fine. I’ll have Victor accompany you. He’s been with the Sterling family for many years; most people know him. Besides, we both share the Sterling name. You’re my uncle, and those people will have to accept you.” “In that case… alright, I suppose. Who else but your uncle would help you? However, besides Victor, I’ll need to take one other person with me.”

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Ryder was infamous in their circle—a wild-child heir who practically invented trouble. Fast cars, bar brawls, death-defying stunts, he mastered them all. That was until he met Iris. It was like a wild mustang suddenly reined in. She said she hated blood, so he never got into another fight. She said she was afraid something would happen to him, so he never touched a race car again. Everyone in their circle said Ryder was completely head over heels, madly in love with the sweet and innocent Iris. But it had been five years, and he’d never given her a real commitment. Five years into being by Ryder’s side, Iris suddenly got a call from one of his friends. “Iris! Get to the racetrack, fast! Ryder’s gone crazy, he’s about to run the death-defying track!” Iris’s fingers trembled, and her phone clattered to the floor with a thud. The death-defying track. That was where Ryder used to risk his life, a place he hadn’t touched since he got together with her. By the time she arrived, the trackside was already swarming with people. She pushed through the throng, but froze dead in her tracks the moment she saw what was happening. A girl in a white dress was clinging to Ryder’s waist, her eyes red-rimmed. “I don’t want that necklace anymore, please don’t go, okay?” Ryder looked down at her, a familiar, reckless, devil-may-care grin playing on his lips. “Good girl, wait for me at the finish line.” With that, he turned and climbed onto his race car. The engine roared to life, and Iris’s heart plummeted. “Ryder!” She rushed forward, pounding on the window. “Don’t go! That track—” The window slid down. Ryder’s profile was stark and cold. “Move.” Two words. They chilled her to the bone. The race car shot off like an arrow. “He’s crazy! Ryder’s totally lost it!” “That speed… Is he trying to kill himself?” “For a necklace? Is it worth dying for?!” Iris clenched her fists so hard her knuckles turned white, her eyes fixed on the car as it teetered on the edge of the cliff. She remembered how he had easily given up his beloved speed and thrill just because she’d said she was scared. But now, to earn a smile from another girl, he was willing to throw his life away! At the last death-defying curve, Ryder didn’t slow down. Instead, he slammed on the gas, tires screeching and billowing white smoke. He crossed the finish line first! “He won!” The crowd erupted in cheers. However, the sheer force of the impact made the car completely lose control, smashing violently into the protective barrier! “Ryder!” “Ryder!” Everyone screamed in terror, surging forward like a wave. Iris’s legs felt like jelly, and she stumbled, practically falling as she followed the crowd. Ryder struggled to climb out of the crumpled wreckage, blood streaming down his temple. Yet, he seemed to feel nothing, his hand tightly clutching a small velvet box. He handed it to one of his friends who rushed over. “Give this to Daisy… Quick, get someone to take her home first… She can’t stand the sight of blood…” He didn’t finish his sentence. His body swayed, and he passed out cold. Everyone frantically caught him. Some hurried to escort a similarly terrified Daisy away, while a large group scrambled to lift Ryder and rush him to the hospital. Iris didn’t say a word, following silently into the car. Ryder was taken into the ER, and time stretched on, each second an eternity. Suddenly, the operating room door opened, and a nurse rushed out. “What do we do? The patient is bleeding heavily! He has the rare Rh-negative blood type, and the hospital’s blood bank is dangerously low!” Rh-negative blood?! Ryder’s friends erupted into chaos, pacing frantically and pulling out their phones to make calls. Just then, a quiet, steady voice spoke up. “I’m Rh-negative. Draw my blood.” Everyone turned in surprise, seeing Iris standing in the corner, her face pale as a ghost. The friends exchanged glances, guilt practically radiating from their eyes. “Iris, you…” “Just draw it. Saving a life is what matters most.” Iris cut him off, her voice flat, and followed the nurse directly to the blood collection room. The needle pierced her vein, and Iris didn’t even flinch. “That’s 600cc, we can’t draw any more,” the nurse said, looking worriedly at Iris’s ashen face. “Keep going.” Her voice was soft, yet firm. “Draw as much as he needs.” Bright red blood flowed through the tube, and her vision began to blur. At 1000cc, his blood supply was sufficient. Iris, too, could no longer stand. She completely fainted. When she woke up again, she was lying on a bed in a recovery room. The sky outside had darkened, and she wondered how Ryder was. She forced herself to sit up, leaning against the wall as she slowly made her way towards his room. Just as she reached the door, she heard voices from inside. “Ryder, you used to be pretty into Iris, right? Why did you suddenly risk your life for Daisy? Do you know how much blood Iris donated for you this time? She’s madly in love with you, I didn’t even dare tell her you’d moved on.” Ryder had a bandage wrapped around his head, but it couldn’t conceal his rebellious, untamed vibe. He lazily leaned back against the headboard, lighting a cigarette. “Yeah, I liked Iris fine before, but it just wasn’t quite it. Not until I met Daisy, that’s when it finally felt right.” His casual words were daggers to her soul. “I think that was the first time I really understood what ‘falling in love’ felt like. That feeling? I never had it with Iris.” The friends gasped collectively. “But Iris was with you for five years, man! And you’re just… ditching her?” “Yeah, I’m done with her…” The words had barely left his lips when, outside the door, Iris accidentally brushed against a fire extinguisher, letting out a faint click. “Who’s out there?” “Could it be Iris?” “No way! If it were Iris, she’d be crying and bursting in here after hearing Ryder say that! Probably just a stray cat, don’t worry about it.” Outside the door, Iris slowly lowered the hand that had been covering her mouth. But she didn’t show any of the pain they expected. Instead, her face was utterly blank, not a single tear. She turned silently and walked away, then pulled out her phone and dialed a number she knew by heart. When it connected, a deep, cool male voice answered, “Hello.” “Mr. Julian. Ryder has found a girl he likes more. My ‘love’ can no longer control him. Please release me from my obligations.” Julian, the man on the other end, was silent for a moment. With his connections, he had likely already seen the news about his brother spending a fortune on a pretty face and risking his neck drag racing. After a long pause, he spoke calmly, “Alright. Thank you for your hard work these past five years. Ten million. I’ll have it transferred to your account.” “Thank you, Mr. Julian.” Iris hung up the phone, leaned against the cold wall, and slowly closed her eyes. Five years ago, she had passed countless interviews and became Julian’s secretary at the Blake Group. But on her first day, Julian didn’t give her any work. The man, impeccably dressed in a suit, sat in the CEO’s chair, his slender fingers pushing a photograph across the desk. “Do you know him?” The man in the photo had arrogant, unrestrained eyes, and a reckless smile. Ryder Blake, the second son of the Blake family, Julian’s younger brother. “I want you to get close to him, make him fall in love with you.” Julian’s voice was as cold as ice. “Use your ‘love’ to keep him in line. Stop him from playing those dangerous extreme sports.” Iris remembered being stunned for a long time. The two Blake brothers were legendary in their circle. Julian, the older brother, was aloof and reserved, taking control of the entire Blake Group at a young age. Ryder, the younger brother, was a wild card, with a face that could charm anyone, but a truly untamed spirit. Racing, skydiving, rock climbing—he’d take on anything life-threatening. Just last week, Ryder had been in the ICU because of a car race. “The compensation is ten million.” Julian’s words made her snap her head up. Ten million. For Iris, who had grown up in a tough part of town, constantly fighting to survive, it was an astronomical sum. So, she took the check and the photo, and she took on this ridiculous assignment. Julian told her Ryder liked pure, innocent girls, like a blank canvas. So, she threw away all her brightly colored clothes, wearing only white dresses. She straightened her naturally wavy hair into innocent long, straight dark hair. She wore the lightest makeup, striving to play the demure, innocent type. She appeared at Ryder’s frequent private club, staged a perfectly believable “harassment” scene, and then, feigning panic and tears streaming down her face, she threw herself into the arms of the arrogant, untamed man, clutching his sleeve, her voice trembling as she pleaded for help. He took the bait, just as expected. That very night, she feigned a weak resistance before letting him lead her to his bed. For the next five years, she stayed by his side. She spun a web of tenderness and affection, forbidding him from fighting, from racing… And he seemed to revel in it, spoiling her beyond belief. He would drive across half the city in the middle of the night to buy her favorite late-night takeout just because she said she was hungry. He would gently rub her stomach when her period pains left her sweating cold. He would seek out her face the first thing every morning, then pull her into his embrace and kiss her. Until one night, three months ago, in the heat of the moment, he was on top of her and whispered a stranger’s name: “Daisy…” Afterward, she investigated the girl named “Daisy.” She learned she was a college student working part-time at a local bar, sweet, innocent, and utterly vulnerable. Ryder had rescued her one night when a customer was harassing her. The moment Iris saw Daisy’s photo, she knew it was time for her to make her exit. Daisy was genuinely pure and innocent, while she was merely an imitation. That’s why Ryder had always felt it “just wasn’t quite it.” Now, her mission was over. It was time to live the life she wanted. As for Ryder… She took one last look in the direction of his hospital room, then turned and walked away. He would have his Daisy. And she, finally, could be her true self again. Walking out of the hospital, the first thing she did was head straight to the embassy to apply for a visa. The staff informed her she’d have her visa in half a month. She nodded, then hailed a cab and went to the villa she’d shared with Ryder. She packed all her belongings from the house and moved out. Since Ryder said he was done with her, she might as well be sensible and vacate the place for him in advance, to save them both any awkwardness. She left with her suitcase, renting a fully-furnished short-term rental apartment downtown. As she hung her clothes one by one into the closet, her movements gradually slowed. Her closet was a sea of white. White dresses of various styles—lace, silk, linen… so plain, without a single splash of color. These were all styles Ryder liked. He liked her to be “clean” and “innocent” like a blank canvas, so for these five years, her closet contained only the colors and styles he preferred. But now the play was over, and it was time to change out of her costume. So, the next day, she went straight to the city’s most bustling mall. Iris stood in front of a fitting room mirror, looking at herself in a stunning red dress. She gently twirled the ends of her slightly wavy dark hair, and for a moment, she saw the five-year-old version of herself, that vibrant red rose who used to walk through campus in a red dress, bright and bold, not the “innocent white flower” who had always worn white dresses for the past five years to cater to Ryder’s preferences. “Miss, this dress truly suits you,” the sales assistant praised from the side. Iris smiled faintly, casually swiped her card to pay. After all these years, she was finally… Iris again. Just as she exited the mall, her phone rang. “Ryder” flashed on her screen. “Iris,” Ryder’s deep voice came through the receiver. “Who gave you permission to move out?” Iris paused, surprised. She thought… he’d be happy. “Aren’t you supposed to make room for Daisy?” she asked softly in return. The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds, his breathing clearly audible. “Come to Nightshade now.” His tone was imperious. “We need to talk.” Hanging up, Iris hailed a taxi. The Nightshade Club was a glittering blur of excess and indulgence, as always. She had just reached the door of the VIP room when a slurring, drunken voice called out, “Hold it! This is Ryder’s VIP room. Who the hell are you?” Iris turned, meeting Leo’s stunned gaze. “Holy hell! Iris?” Leo almost dropped his drink, his eyes wide. “You… you’re… ” He looked Iris up and down, stuttering, completely speechless. Iris smiled faintly and pushed the door open. Inside the VIP room, the lighting was dim and suggestive, the music was deafening. Ryder leaned languidly on the sofa, his long fingers casually swirling his drink. Hearing the commotion, he nonchalantly looked up. His glass froze mid-air. His gaze fixed on Iris, sweeping from her slightly wavy hair to the stilettos beneath her red dress, inch by inch, finally settling on her vibrant red lips. Those notorious playboy eyes, usually so carefree, flashed with a flicker of astonishment, then his brow furrowed deeply. “What are you wearing?” His voice was hoarse, tinged with clear displeasure. “What I like to wear.” Iris sat across from him, crossing her legs, the slit of her red dress revealing a flash of pale, long leg. Ryder’s Adam’s apple bobbed. His brow furrowed even deeper. He put down his glass, pulled a checkbook from his inner suit pocket, and pushed a signed blank check across the coffee table. “Since you already know about Daisy and me, you can fill in the amount yourself.” His tone was cold. “You were with me for five years; I won’t shortchange you.” She already had his brother’s money; she certainly wouldn’t take his. So Iris didn’t even look at the check, shaking her head. “I don’t want it.” The VIP room instantly fell silent. Leo quickly tried to smooth things over. “Iris, don’t be like this… Ryder means well…” “Yeah,” another friend chimed in. “Just take the money and move on, it’ll be cleaner for everyone!” Ryder’s long fingers tapped the tabletop, his voice cold. “What I’ve decided won’t change. Iris, don’t cling to me.” Iris was about to explain that wasn’t what she meant when the VIP room door suddenly opened. Daisy stood in the doorway, her eyes red, looking like a startled rabbit. Seeing the scene inside, her voice trembled with a sob. “Ryder… you didn’t let me pick you up from the hospital, and here you are seeing *her*. Did I interrupt something? I’m so sorry, I’ll leave right now.” She turned as if to go. Ryder’s expression changed instantly. He stood up, strode quickly to Daisy, pulled her into his embrace, and his strong, sculpted fingers gently wiped away her tears. His voice was deep and impossibly tender. “What are you talking about? I only asked her to come here to make things clear.” Daisy looked up, tears still clinging to her lashes, and asked timidly, “Make what clear?” Ryder chuckled softly, his voice full of indulgence. “How can I be with you if I don’t break things off completely with her?” Daisy’s face instantly flushed with surprise, but then quickly turned hesitant and insecure. “Ryder, do you really like me? I like you a lot too… but it’s my first relationship, and I’m so scared of getting hurt…” She bit her lip, her voice growing softer and softer. “And, they all say you used to be a playboy, that you never followed rules, and you never made things official with any woman.” Ryder didn’t answer. Instead, he simply leaned down and kissed her! The kiss was powerful and lingering, drawing cheers and whistles from the surrounding group. Even more shocking, Ryder pulled out his phone, snapped a picture of them kissing, and immediately posted it on Ins. “Mine. @Daisy” The simple, blunt caption made the entire VIP room erupt. “Holy hell! Ryder, you’re amazing! Official? This is a first *ever*!” “Sister-in-law!” another friend chimed in. “Ryder never made things official with *anyone* before!” “Sister-in-law! This is a first *ever*!” Ryder thrust his phone screen in front of Daisy, his usually wild eyes softened with an unfamiliar tenderness. “I’ve never made things official with any woman, it’s true. But you’re the first. This time, will you believe me?” Daisy’s face flushed crimson, and she shyly buried herself in his embrace. Iris watched the scene silently, then stood up and gently placed the check back on the coffee table. “I wish you both every happiness.” With that, she turned and walked away, without a single backward glance. Watching her decisive exit, Ryder’s arm around Daisy stiffened slightly. Iris hadn’t walked far from the VIP room when she was stopped by a few drunken trust-fund kids spilling out of the adjacent room. “Well, well! What a beauty! Never seen you around before! Care to have a drink with us, sweetheart?” “Look at that figure… So hot! Come on, don’t run off!” The heavy smell of alcohol washed over her, and several unruly hands reached out to touch her. Iris’s face turned cold. She struggled fiercely. “Let go of me! Get lost!” “Damn it! You won’t cooperate? Fine, then we’ll make you!” One of the rich boys was shoved and exploded in anger, pulling at her even harder. Inside the VIP room, Leo peered through the crack in the door, a worried expression on his face. He hesitated, then said to Ryder, “Ryder, I think Iris is getting harassed by those jerks from the Zhao family… Those bastards are totally hammered and God knows what they’ll do. If we talk to them, it probably won’t do any good, so… maybe you should go check it out?” Ryder, who was toying with his glass, paused. He instinctively started to get up, but Daisy, nestled in his arms, suddenly trembled. “Ryder…” Daisy looked up, her small face pale, her eyes red-rimmed, yet she forced a small smile. “Go help Iris, please… After all, she was with you for five years…” She said these generous words, but her slender fingers were clutching his sleeve so tightly her knuckles were white. Ryder’s gaze instantly softened. He leaned down and kissed Daisy’s forehead, his voice incredibly gentle. “Silly girl, this is my first time being official with someone, so I need to learn how to be a good boyfriend.” He pinched her cheek. “Every other girl gets to feel secure. My Daisy won’t be deprived of that.” Then, he looked up coldly and instructed the person next to him, “What happens to others isn’t my concern. Close the door.” The heavy VIP room door slowly swung shut, completely cutting off the chaos and cries for help from outside. Iris was dragged into the adjacent VIP room by the drunken rich boys, her red dress already torn to shreds. Icy terror swept through her body. In despair, she found an empty wine bottle and, with all her strength, smashed it over the head of one of the rich boys who was trying to pin her down! While he cried out in pain and the others were stunned, she shoved them away, disheveled and stumbling, she burst out of the VIP room. Outside, it had started to rain heavily. She was soaking wet, her hair disheveled, her clothes torn, as she stood in the rain, trying to hail a cab. But passing cars, seeing her state, either sped up and left or turned away in disgust. Not a single one dared to stop and pick her up. Finally, she gave up. Taking off her high heels, she walked barefoot, step by painful step, towards her apartment. The cold rain lashed her face, mixing with tears of humiliation. The rough ground chafed her feet, each step like walking on knives. She didn’t know how long she walked, but she finally made it back to her small apartment. She collapsed onto the floor, looking at her wretched reflection in the mirror, her feet covered in blisters and scratches.

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For three long years, the girl who was obsessed with my boyfriend, Julian Thorne, was none other than Seraphina Blackwood—the heiress of a powerful, notoriously wealthy family in the city, and the very monster who murdered my brother. Seraphina was relentless in trying to steal Julian from me. She locked me in a bathroom, dumped a bucket of dead vermin over my head, then hired thugs to beat me, breaking six of my ribs. When she saw that Julian and I remained inseparable, she threatened me with covertly taken nude photos, forcing Julian to break up with me. But the day after we broke up, I was involved in a horrific car accident, gravely injured, falling into a vegetative state. I became a coma patient. Julian was utterly devastated, and from that day on, he stayed by my side, never leaving. Over five years, Julian transformed into a titan of industry. Single-handedly, he brought down the Blackwood empire and put out a multi-million dollar bounty for Seraphina’s capture. Privately, he practically lived at the hospital, washing my face, cleaning my body, trimming my nails—he did everything himself, meticulously. Countless women throwing themselves at him were turned away. Just when everyone was pitying him, I, Willow Hayes, woke up after five years of slumber. Tears streaming down his face, he knelt and proposed to me, having spent countless nights drawing up wedding plans and personally designing my engagement ring and wedding gown. Anything I wished for appeared before me in an instant. Everyone said Julian Thorne was the most devoted man in the world. I thought so too. Until, on the eve of our wedding, I received a call from an unknown number. “Julian Thorne’s lips are incredibly handsome. He whispers sweet nothings, and he’s… very agile.” *Smash!* My phone hit the floor. The woman on the other end of the line was Seraphina Blackwood. *** My phone screen was shattered, jagged glass shards digging into my palm. The call had ended, but moments later, a text flashed across the fractured display. It was a villa address, accompanied by a taunting message: “He’s coming tonight. Want to see how agile his lips truly are? How he makes me scream with pleasure?” My eyes were locked onto the screen. My grip on the phone was bone-chilling, my feet rooted to the spot. But after a moment, I started to question the message’s authenticity. First, was the woman on the other end really Seraphina? Even if she was, I’d been in a vegetative state for five years because of her, languishing in a hospital bed, half-dead. Julian, who’d hated Seraphina to his core, wouldn’t know where she was and *not* call the police, would he? Besides, ever since I woke up, Julian hadn’t spent a single night away from home. Just as I thought this, another message buzzed on my phone. “Willow, I bought movie tickets. I’ll pick you up tonight.” It was from Julian. I let out a slow, shaky breath. The knot of dread in my chest abruptly loosened. I copied the number that had called me earlier, just about to paste it into our SnapChat conversation. The next second, Julian’s message came through, faster than mine. “Sorry, there’s an emergency company meeting. It’ll go on late, so I can’t make it to the movie. Don’t wait up for me, just go to sleep!” The smile on my face froze, then slowly faded. My eyes remained fixed on my unsent message, a shiver of pure horror running through me. After a long pause, I deleted all my unsent messages. I hailed a cab and had it drop me outside a luxurious estate. I waited from dusk until the moon rose, my heart soaring with hope, then plummeting with dread, a relentless seesaw of emotions. Until a car’s headlights flashed, pulling into the driveway in front of the villa. I watched Julian step out. I watched him knock on the door. Then I watched the lady of the house appear… It was her! It really was her, Seraphina Blackwood!!! The woman’s hand lashed out, a vicious *SMACK!* across Julian’s face. Julian clenched his fist. The next second, he grabbed Seraphina’s chin fiercely and kissed her lips with brutal force. Seraphina struggled desperately. *SMACK!* Another slap. Julian’s eyes turned bloodshot. He began savagely tearing at her clothes, pinning her against the door, crudely undoing his tie to bind her wrists. My body trembled violently. I snatched my gaze away. “Drive!” “Where to, ma’am?” the driver asked, confused. “I don’t know! Just drive! I told you to drive!!!” I screamed, my voice shaking, tears streaming uncontrollably down my face. He had lied to me! Julian Thorne had been deceiving me all this time! He’d found Seraphina ages ago, yet he kept her trapped in this mansion, his personal canary! Julian didn’t come home that night. I sat on the cold living room floor all night. Memories, like scattered pages caught by the wind, flooded my mind. I remembered being abandoned as a child, and how my brother, Leo, who had autism, found and raised me. Leo’s mind was stuck at ten years old. Everyone mocked him, saying an idiot couldn’t raise a child, bullying him and snatching his empty bottles, scattering them across the road, then laughing as he struggled to pick them up. He never spoke of his own hurt, but whenever anyone bullied me, he would turn into a furious little beast, protecting me with his life. I had no parents. Before I met Julian, Leo was my entire world! But this wonderful person was killed by Seraphina Blackwood! She and her group of privileged trust-fund kids, drunk and high, stumbled upon Leo picking bottles nearby, and got a cruel kick out of it. By the time I arrived, the scene before me stole my breath, making me scream. Leo lay on the ground, covered in blood from head to toe, a jagged green beer bottle forcefully embedded in his forehead. His body was already cold. Clutched tight in his lifeless hand was the cheap watch I’d given him! After the incident, everyone who’d mocked Leo and pelted him with glass bottles that night was arrested. But only one person claimed she hadn’t participated. That person was Seraphina Blackwood. It was only later that I stumbled upon the truth. Seraphina was the one who suggested the game, and the bottle in Leo’s forehead? She put it there! I never imagined that when I saw Seraphina again, she would be pursuing Julian Thorne. To get Julian, she resorted to her vile tactics once more. For three years, strange things started happening, like objects falling from above when I was out. On nights I walked home from work, strangers would follow me. The lock on my apartment door was tampered with, and threatening letters kept arriving, one after another. At its worst, I was locked in a public restroom, and dead vermin and insects were constantly thrown onto me. She hired people to beat me, breaking six of my ribs. A car, seemingly driverless, almost ran me over; thankfully, Julian appeared just in time. I knew, all of it, every single thing, was Seraphina’s doing. I wasn’t afraid. But Julian was terrified, because Seraphina was a complete psychopath! He couldn’t bear the thought of a world without me, so he broke up with me. But I never imagined that even then, Seraphina wouldn’t let me go! I was hit and run, left in a vegetative state, half-dead in a hospital bed for five long years! On the day we broke up, Julian cried as he slipped a ring, already prepared, onto my ring finger. But on the day of the accident, my ring finger was brutally chopped off by the hit-and-run driver, and the ring vanished. After that day, Julian truly went insane! My heart felt like it was being torn to shreds, sliced into a thousand pieces! I couldn’t believe it. Julian would actually betray me! He hid it from me, conned me, and was sleeping in the same bed with the enemy we both hated! My left ring finger had been reattached, but the pain from that original severing seemed to have transferred to my heart. It hurt so much I couldn’t breathe. I just wanted an explanation. But Julian didn’t come home that night. When he finally did, it was through a video sent by Seraphina. In the video, Julian was “comforting” Seraphina. Comforting her until her face was flushed crimson, her whimpers echoing around them! As dawn broke, I numbly picked up my phone and dialed. “You said last time, if I transferred all my shares to you, you’d send me the video of Seraphina hurting my brother. Was that true?” “Of course! But… are you really willing to give them up?” My nails dug into my palms. “I am!” “But I have one condition. Don’t worry, it won’t be difficult for you. I’ll tell you what it is in a few days.” The person on the other end hesitated for only a moment before agreeing. After hanging up, I immediately dialed another number. “Is this Detective Miller? I want to report a crime. I’ve found Seraphina Blackwood!” When I arrived at the police station, I saw Seraphina stepping out of the interrogation room. She casually brushed her hair back, and when she looked at me, her eyes were full of mocking laughter. “Don’t go around arresting people without evidence. Can any random nobody’s words be considered proof?” I clenched my fists, ready to lunge forward. Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed me from behind. I turned, meeting Julian’s complicated gaze. He didn’t offer a single word of explanation to me. Instead, he looked at Detective Miller, who stood behind Seraphina. He remembered that Detective Miller had handled Leo’s case back then. “Detective Miller, you’ve finished your investigation, can I take her now?” Detective Miller’s face darkened. He looked at Julian, then at me. “Julian, what exactly is your relationship with her? Do you think this is fair to Willow?” The hand tightly gripping mine suddenly tightened further, as if he was afraid I’d escape. But Julian’s expression remained calm. “Detective Miller, this is my personal business.” His words landed like heavy blows on my heart, threatening to shatter it completely. My fingertips instantly turned ice-cold. I numbly pulled my arm free. “Detective Miller, I need to speak with you.” Detective Miller and I talked in his office for a long time. When I emerged, Julian was still waiting outside the door. Seeing that my eyes held no trace of him, Julian grabbed me firmly. “Willow, that wasn’t Seraphina. Get in the car, I’ll explain everything when we get home.” I yanked myself away from him, my eyes brimming with hatred. Across the street, the woman in the car watched me with a smile, an expression of absolute triumph, as if she’d won the world. She suddenly whistled at me. “Ms. Hayes seems to have misunderstood, mistaking me for someone she utterly despises. Perhaps I should explain it to her myself?” Julian’s face instantly darkened, his eyes warning her. Watching this scene, I suddenly lifted my foot, intending to get into Seraphina’s car. Julian grabbed my wrist again, but the icy coldness in my eyes pierced him. “Didn’t she say she wanted to explain it to me?” I forcefully shook off his hand and turned, getting into Seraphina’s car. Julian had no choice but to follow that car, keeping a close eye on its every move. But Julian forgot, Seraphina Blackwood used to be a race car driver. She accelerated, blasted through several red lights, and quickly left Julian’s car far behind. “Willow Hayes, what do you want to hear? Do you want to hear how Julian ruined my family, forcing my father to jump to his death, yet kept me trapped under his nose? Do you want to hear how he and I slept together countless times while you were still in a vegetative state? Or… do you want to hear how we toyed to death your brother?” She bared her teeth in a triumphant smile. My blood ran cold, my hands clenched tightly. “Heh, let me think. What was your brother’s reaction when that bottle smashed into his head? Tsk… it’s been so long, the details are a bit hazy…” “Seraphina Blackwood, you’ve got a death wish!” Faced with her blatant provocation, I could no longer hold back. I raised my fist, ready to strike her. But the next second, Seraphina sharply turned the steering wheel, and the car slammed into an obstacle in front of us. A violent crash echoed. I, sitting in the passenger seat, was violently thrown back. “Willow!” Before I lost consciousness, I thought I heard Julian calling my name. “Mr. Thorne, both of their legs are trapped. If we rescue one, the other’s legs will sustain varying degrees of injury. There’s no time, you must choose who to save first!” Blood from my forehead covered my face. I struggled to open my eyes, but all I saw was a blur. I couldn’t die! My legs couldn’t be damaged! I had to bring the murderer who hurt my brother and me to justice! “Save… save her first!” “She’s always been so proud. Without her legs, she wouldn’t survive!” Julian’s hand pointed at Seraphina, who was in the driver’s seat. When I opened my eyes again, I winced in pain and instinctively reached for my legs. My movement startled Julian, who was sitting beside me. He immediately stood up and grabbed my hand. “It’s over, Willow, I’m here! The doctor said your lower leg had been compressed for too long and needs a lot of rest.” Hearing his voice, my body stiffened for a moment. In my mind, I heard the words from before I lost consciousness: “Save her first! She’s always been so proud. Without her legs, she wouldn’t survive!” Between Seraphina and me, Julian chose Seraphina. My heart bled. Looking at the man before me, my eyes welled up with tears. “Julian Thorne, do you still remember my brother?” His voice dropped, and it seemed a long time before he answered, “I remember.” How could he forget? Back then, he was just a street punk, cornered and beaten bloody in an alley. It was Leo who shielded him, taking the worst of the blows. It was Leo, in his innocent voice, who told him to study hard and live an honest life. It was Leo and I who celebrated his first birthday with him. Tears brimming, I closed my eyes. “If you remember, then you can’t forget how he died.” I asked him again, “Was that Seraphina Blackwood?” My words resonated loudly in the quiet hospital room. My eyes were fixed on him. Julian lowered his gaze. “She was, but now… she isn’t.” My head exploded with a *boom!* His words echoed repeatedly in my ears. “Willow, Seraphina grew up abroad. Her parents neglected her, never loved her. She just fell in with the wrong crowd there, got a bit rebellious, and then made some bad friends back here. Your brother’s death, it had nothing to do with her.” “Nothing to do with her?!” My whole body trembled as I looked at the man before me, my nails digging into my flesh. I couldn’t believe those words came from his mouth! Julian didn’t answer. Instead, he bent down, slowly leaning over me. Then, he pulled out my phone, which was recording under my pillow. My eyes widened. Just as I reached to grab it back, he’d already pressed ‘delete permanently.’ He returned the phone to me, his large hand caressing my face. His eyes, however, held an unhealthy obsession. “Willow, don’t worry, I love you. But Seraphina gave herself to me a long time ago. You are my woman, and she is my woman too. I can’t eliminate her entirely.” “But my wife, that will only be you!” His large hand cupped the back of my head, slowly pushing my face towards his lips. A soft kiss landed on my forehead, but it felt cold to the bone! I bit down hard on my lower lip, my eyes burning with a raw, agonizing ache. I remembered what Detective Miller had told me: “Seraphina is a foreign national. We’ve conducted all possible tests. The results show she is *not* Seraphina Blackwood.” “Willow, you need solid evidence to make an arrest!” I raised my hand and took off my earring, the tiny diamonds glinting slyly in its crevices. Julian had underestimated me. I no longer trusted him. I would have my revenge, and I’d keep both Julian and Seraphina under my relentless gaze. As I opened my phone to retrieve the audio recording, a news alert popped up about the car accident involving Seraphina and me. The photo showed Julian anxiously carrying Seraphina onto the ambulance, while I, covered in blood, lay slumped in the passenger seat, waiting to be rescued. In the comments, almost everyone mistook Seraphina for me, marveling at Julian’s unwavering devotion. My eyes were filled with mockery. I casually deleted the notification. During my hospitalization, Julian came every day. He’d bring meals he’d cooked himself, carefully arranging them before me. The next second, I’d sweep them all to the floor. The sound of shattering dishes echoed through the room. Julian knew I was angry and rubbed his temples with a sigh. “Willow, no matter how angry you are, you still need to eat, right?” My only response was silence. Every time he brought food, I smashed it. Our commotion was too loud for anyone to ignore. Gradually, gossip reached my ears. “Mr. Thorne’s wife is truly spoiled and demanding!” “Isn’t she? With such a handsome and rich husband, she should be sweet to him, but she keeps pushing him away. I don’t know what she’s thinking!” “I heard when she was in a coma, her husband took care of her all by himself. Many women threw themselves at him, but he turned every single one down. She has a man like that and she’s still not satisfied! She’ll cry when another woman snatches him away!” “A man like Julian Thorne?” I looked at his retreating back with a cynical laugh. Faced with the scattered shards, Julian wasn’t angry at all. He bent down to pick them up, carefully sweeping, afraid of hurting my feet. Then, he forcefully pulled me into his arms. “Willow, you don’t need to worry. My feelings for her are nowhere near as deep as my feelings for you.” I looked at him with a mocking expression. Julian’s empty sweet talk, treating me like an idiot. I pushed him away coldly. “Julian, you made two identical meals. One for me, and one for Seraphina’s room. Every time I drive you away, you act like you don’t care, but it’s because you never planned to stay long anyway. Is *that* what you mean by your feelings for me are deeper than for her?” Julian sighed softly, his hand resting on my pale lips. “Willow, do you know? I miss the naive, less-questioning you.” My heart twisted in agony, and I clutched the blanket tightly. But Julian, do *you* know? How much I hate myself for ever meeting you, for ever falling in love with you! On the day I was scheduled to be discharged, Julian brought Seraphina to my room. My bloodshot eyes glared at them. “What’s the meaning of bringing her here, in front of me?” Seraphina merely glanced at me, then sneered at Julian. “I told you, she wouldn’t welcome my apology.” Julian only gave her a cold look in return. Seraphina scoffed, then tossed her handbag onto Julian and walked over to me. She bowed at a ninety-degree angle. “I’m sorry for sleeping with your man!” “I’m sorry for causing your injuries with my reckless driving, and for you having to stay in the hospital so long because he rescued me first!” “I’m sorry, on the day your brother was laid to rest, I paid someone to swap his ashes—” “Buried beneath the tombstone…” She slowly lifted her head, a sly, wicked smile flickering in her eyes. “…was actually an animal.” The cup in my hand crashed to the floor with a loud clang.

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After senior year finals, guys across the school finally let loose, eagerly handing out love letters to the girls they admired. But the biggest buzz was about Ryder Hayes, the school’s heartthrob, who was finally going to confess to me, Hazel, his childhood sweetheart. I stood by the classroom door, my cheeks flushed, my fingertips just about to touch that powder-blue love letter, when a man in a crisp suit suddenly burst in and tore the letter to shreds. He claimed to be twenty-eight-year-old Ryder, time-traveled from ten years in the future. “Don’t confess to Hazel, she’s not your true love.” He dragged his eighteen-year-old self, pointing to the girl in a faded school uniform in the corner. “See Serena Brooks? Ten years from now, you’ll love her madly, fiercely. Since you’re destined to be with her, why waste these ten years?” Eighteen-year-old Ryder thought it was utterly ridiculous, shaking off his hand. “You’re crazy! I’ll only ever love Hazel!” But that confession, in the end, never happened. Twenty-eight-year-old Ryder seized the opportunity to stay, claiming he was there to help his younger self see his true feelings sooner. Gradually, I noticed Ryder had changed. When Serena Brooks fell, he would immediately rush over, pick her up, and take her to the hospital, completely forgetting that I had waited for him for a full hour at the amusement park. At gatherings, he’d naturally remember Serena didn’t like peanuts, picking them out of the spicy chicken before offering it to me, forgetting that I was allergic to peanuts. On rainy days, his umbrella was always over Serena’s head first, even if I was standing right beside him, getting drenched. Each small shift felt like a slow, agonizing erosion, my heart sinking lower and lower. Until the day we had to choose our universities. “Hazel, I’m sorry,” Ryder’s eyes flickered, unable to meet mine directly. “I can’t go to Northwood University with you anymore. Riverdale University’s new AI program is a better fit for me.” My heart instantly turned to ice. I knew it all too well. Riverdale University was the only school Serena Brooks’ barely-passing grades would get her into. He squeezed my hand, his voice softening into that familiar, persuasive plea: “Come to Riverdale University with me? That way we can still be together. I always listened to you before, just this once, let me have my way, okay? I’ll listen to you forever after this.” His words pierced my heart like a thousand tiny needles. I silently pulled my hand away and nodded. But then, behind his back, I quickly prepared all my documents and applied for an offer from a top university overseas. Ryder, if your love isn’t solely for me anymore, then I don’t want it. … The day my acceptance letter arrived, my heart felt strangely calm. I found the large storage box, filled with everything Ryder had given me over the years. Childish crayon drawings, limited edition sneakers, a necklace engraved with our initials, a thick stack of movie ticket stubs, notes he’d stayed up all night to organize for me… Once, I cherished them like treasures. Now, I carried the box to the dumpster downstairs, without a moment’s hesitation, and threw everything inside. As I turned, I saw two figures arguing in the distance. Twenty-eight-year-old Ryder, in a crisp suit, was gripping eighteen-year-old Ryder’s wrist tightly. The younger Ryder, tall and lean, his white shirt billowing in the wind, his handsome face that made all the girls at school scream, was filled with fury. “Let go!” “Why are you still looking for her?” Older Ryder’s voice was strained. “What you should be doing right now is going to be with Serena! She’s the one you truly love!” “Nonsense!” The younger Ryder violently shook off his hand, his brows furrowed in defiance. “The only person I love is Hazel. Can’t you just disappear, you lunatic?” “Oh really?” Older Ryder sneered, his voice sharp. “Then why are you giving up your future and Northwood University for Serena?!” Younger Ryder’s face stiffened, his voice growing colder. “Who said it was for her!” I didn’t want to watch their absurd argument anymore and turned to leave, but Ryder spotted me instantly. He rushed over, grabbing my wrist, his voice softening in a flash. “Hazel, didn’t you say you wanted to see that new romance movie last time? I’ve bought tickets, let’s go together, okay?” “No.” My voice was devoid of any emotion. Ryder’s smile froze for a second, then he softened his voice again. “Are you still mad about me changing my university choice? You already agreed to go to Riverdale University with me, didn’t you? That program really has great prospects, just this once, please, agree to me, okay?” As he spoke, the corners of his eyes drooped slightly, that vulnerable expression I could never resist. In the past, whenever he looked at me like that, I’d agree to anything. But now, I just felt numb. Before I could answer, Ryder half-forced me into his newly bought sports car. Older Ryder, his face gloomy, followed and sat in the back, still in his sharp suit. The car started, and the cramped space was filled with a heavy atmosphere. Older Ryder glanced around the car and suddenly spoke. “This car is new, isn’t it? You should change Hazel’s favorite starry night air freshener. Serena can’t stand it, she likes fruity scents. Also, switch out the strawberry milk in the glove compartment. Serena is lactose intolerant, keep some plain crackers instead.” Ryder’s fingers tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. “Are you done yet? I’m telling you one last time, I only love Hazel, I could never, ever like Serena Brooks!” But Older Ryder seemed not to hear his outburst. “Oh really? Because you’re clearly going to love her to your very core, drink yourself to the ER for her, wait outside her house all night, even…” He listed one crazy thing after another that his future self would do for Serena Brooks. I sat in the passenger seat, each word like an ice pick stabbing into my heart, making it almost impossible to breathe. I looked through the car window at the rapidly receding streetlights outside, everything blurring into a painful haze. At the movie theater, Ryder bought a large bucket of popcorn and handed it to me—my favorite caramel flavor. During the movie, he’d instinctively lean over to whisper and complain about the plot to me. The screen light illuminated his handsome profile, his eyelashes unbelievably long. As I watched him, I felt a wave of daze. Memories flooded back uncontrollably. When he was three, he’d wobble into my room, hugging a small pillow, and say in a baby voice, “Mommy says boys should sleep with their wives.” When he was seven, he fought a chubby kid from the next class to get back my hair clip, coming back with a bruised and swollen face, then carefully tucked the broken clip, recovered from the fight, into his pocket like a treasure. When I was twelve, I was hospitalized with a fever. He skipped school, ran to my side, and, with red eyes, leaned over my bed, whispering, “Hazel, don’t scare me.” When we were fifteen, and love first blossomed, he clumsily wrote me a love letter, full of mistakes, but solemnly drew a whole page of hearts. I couldn’t understand how a boy who had carved me into his very life could, as that man said, fall in love with an ordinary Serena Brooks ten years later, and love her with such a tragic, subservient intensity. But everything that had happened recently made it impossible for me to disbelieve it. Just then, Ryder’s phone vibrated wildly. The name flashing on the screen was “Serena Brooks.” He glanced at it and hung up immediately. The phone rang again relentlessly. He hung up again. This repeated countless times. Then, Older Ryder, who had been silent in the back seat, suddenly grabbed his hand and urgently asked, “What’s the date today?” “The tenth, why?” Ryder replied impatiently. “Answer the phone! Hurry!” Older Ryder’s voice was filled with an unprecedented urgency. “It’s today! Serena is going to be harassed by some delinquents. To escape them, she’ll jump from a second-story window, break her leg, and be hospitalized for a month! Go now!” Ryder’s brows furrowed. “What are you talking about? Even if something happens, it has nothing to do with me. We’re just classmates at best!” “You’ll regret it if you don’t go! You’ll hate yourself to death!” Older Ryder was practically yelling. Ryder scoffed, his voice resolute. “I’d regret it more if I left Hazel here alone!” After saying that, he muted his phone and flipped it face down on the seat. Older Ryder stared at him for a few seconds, his eyes complex, then finally turned and left. “You won’t go? I will!” With that, he strode out, disappearing through the cinema entrance. The movie continued, but I could clearly feel that Ryder’s mind was completely elsewhere. He grew restless and anxious, his fingers unconsciously tapping the armrest, his eyes frequently darting towards the flipped phone, its screen lighting up silently again and again. Finally, after the screen lit up one more time, he suddenly stood up, hurriedly lying to me, “Hazel, I… I forgot to buy you a soda. Wait here, I’ll be right back!” He didn’t even dare to look me in the eye as he grabbed his phone and hurried out of the screening room. I watched his almost-running back disappear, my heart sinking little by little, down to the icy seabed. I had a strong premonition that he wouldn’t come back. Sure enough, a few minutes later, my phone vibrated. It was a video from “Twenty-eight-year-old Ryder.”

🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298552”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic